A/N: Okay, this is a story based on another story that I did, but never finished. It is pretty much a 'royal' twiston the canon storyline, with some original characters mixed in here and there of course. The Fire Princess and her team are all my creations, and I hope you all enjoy!
P.S. Some characters that are usually dead in canon will be alive here in this story! Enjoy!
P.S.S. Boldface means that a bijuu/tailed beast is speaking. Italics means the jinchuriki is speaking. This line of conversation will usually happen in the jinchuriki's head.
Chapter 1 - The Mission
Many years ago, during a time simply known as the Warring States era, all that was to be seen across the various lands were strife, resentment, deceit, and worst of all, war. Various shinobi clans, most with abilities that mere mortals could only dream of, battled each other to the death over territory, money, and power, not caring about the damage they caused, only wanting the glory and satisfaction of beating their various enemies.
However, in time, certain clans began to rise above the rest. They used their powers to end the wars and unite clans together to form great nations and vast kingdoms. The clans that took such an initiative became the ruling families of their respective dominions, all of them overseeing their territory with keen eyes and an iron fist.
Out of the many kingdoms that formed, there were five that grew to become major powers within the Elemental Nations, becoming known as the Imperial Five.
There was the Water Kingdom to the east, a land of islands and mist, ominous in legend as well as in real life. It was one of the more isolated kingdoms in the region, and one of the most war-ravaged, with its capital, Kirigakure, being one of the more difficult to find in the entire landscape.
There was the Lightning Kingdomto the northeast, mountainous in its terrain, and shameless in its thinking. This was a kingdom that went to great lengths to achieve its success. Only its fiery neighbors to the southwest beat them in terms of power and prestige, a stinging rebuke to some within its nobility.
The Earth Kingdom was located in the northwest, and despite the desolation of the deserts and the mountains that lied within the Land of Lightning, it was considered the bleakest of the Imperial Five. Covered in rocky areas as far as the land could see, the terrain was as sturdy as its people, who would never hesitate when an order was relayed to them. These rock-hard attitudes were great for missions, but it didn't make them the best of friends with the other nations.
Lying within the center of the Elemental Kingdoms was the Fire Kingdom, the largest, eldest, and most powerful dominion in the land. Its capital, Konohagakure was the strongest of the lot, with the highest concentration of ninja clans around, including some of the most powerful families to ever walk the earth. This kind of power made them both feared and respected, something that they surprisingly didn't flaunt as much as you'd expect them to.
However, our story begins in the final member of the Imperial Five, the Wind Kingdom. Located in the southwest, it's mostly desert environment has led the kingdom to become one of the hardest to invade. In turn, it grew to have one of the largest populations, most of them spread out across the arid landscape either in merchant caravans or enclaves and towns built around various oasis.
Its capitol, Sunagakure, was by far its largest village, and it is here where our story begins, with a certain redhead sitting on the roof of the largest building, his eyes staring up at the full moon overhead. . .
A - x - R - x - S
Sunagakure, the capital of the Wind Kingdom, was quiet. Village guards silently moved along the streets and rooftops, the wind their only company as they remained vigilant. Stragglers that had enjoyed one too many drinks at the bar struggled and lumbered their way through alleys and avenues, trying to make their way back home in one piece to join the many others already in their beds and futons, sleeping the night away.
One certain person couldn't enjoy such a luxury.
That person was silently sitting on the highest roof that the Wind Palace - a building made from the finest stones found throughout the kingdom - could provide. His gaze would occasionally scan the surrounding area to see if something was off, but he'd always find gaze back on the large beacon in the sky.
When it came to sleep, he didn't think of it much.
Simply put, he couldn't sleep. Ever.
He had lost the ability to do so before he was even born. His father had taken the choice away from him; a decision that had stark repercussions for all those involved. The dark rings that rimmed his jade green eyes were proof of the many years he spent living through sleepless night after sleepless night. If he ever tried to even take the smallest of naps, it could lead to disaster, not just for him, but for the entire kingdom as he knew it . . .
. . . Or, that's what the legends supposedly say.
"Oi! How long are you going to mope around like this?!"
The silent green-eyed roof dweller let out a small breath as he listened to the voice that bellowed from somewhere in his mind, its agitation and restlessness hard not to mistake as he brushed a hand through his blood red hair.
"You've been sitting in the exact same position for more than two hours now! What are you? A GARGOYLE?! How long are you going to keep this up?! Your inactivity is boring me to tears!"
"It's nice to know that you are willing to show some concern for my well-being after all Shukaku," said the redhead as he continued watching the moon. "Usually, you just complain about being locked up in me, or rant about the pitiful humans worrying about trivial things like schedules and napkins . . ."
"Don't get all snippy with me, you redheaded brat! Besides, what I said is not what you think. You are my host.My vessel. My fucking human prison! If you die, I die, well, for a while. . . . You have no idea how much of a fucking hassle it is to regenerate back into my original form after I get wiped out Gaara, and I have no plans on having that happen to me again anytime soon!"
"Oh yes, I should have known that this would lead back to you Shukaku," said Gaara as a small gust of wind brushed past him, ruffling his spiky hair. "Nothing can make a tailed beast focus more than its own self-preservation."
"Damn straight. Preserving our own asses is a highlight of being a tailed beast, unfortunately . . . And out of all the people I could have possibly been sealed away in this forsaken kingdom, I had to be sealed away in you, one of the prized princes . . ."
"Not like I had any choice in the matter. You were sealed in me before I was even born," the prince reminded himas a dark cloud crossed over the moon, momentarily obscuring it from view. "Sealing you away is basically a family tradition at this point."
"Don't remind me . . . If it wasn't for your family's knack for the Magnet Release, I would be roaming the deserts right now, terrorizing anyone and everyone who dared crossed my path!"
"When you put it that way, it's good that you're sealed away and not out there wrecking the place. . . On the other hand, it's bad for me because I'm basically stuck with you in my head for the rest of my life," Gaara mumbled as the sounds of footsteps coming toward him reached his ears. "You've already ruined 13 years' worth of nights for me with your ranting and complaining. You can at least give me one night of peace and quiet, or is that too much to ask?"
"Well now, aren't you just being a sensitive little prick? If my ranting and complaining annoys you so much, then I'll take my words somewhere else dammit!"
"You can't take your words somewhere else. Where else can you go if you're sealed inside of me?" Gaara grumbled as he closed his eyes. When the tanuki never replied, he took that as a momentary reprieve from the inner spirit.
Noticing that the footsteps had stopped somewhere to his left, he turned his head to find a tall man in flowing robes standing a few feet away. A white turban covered his head, with a strap of the remaining cloth covering the left side of his face. Two reddish markings decorated the skin on the right. "What do you want Baki?"
"Your father requests your presence in his private office Prince Gaara. Your brother and sister are making their way there as I speak." he calmly replies, his voice clear and deep as his eyes looked toward the village around them.
"I see . . ." Gaara mumbled, slowly getting up from his seated position, his voice filling with disdain at the prospect of seeing his father again. "Well, I better not keep the king waiting then."
All of a sudden, wisps of sand swirled around the young redhead until he was completely encompassed by it. It moved as fast as it appeared, swirling right past Baki and through the lone doorway that led to that part of the roof. The sand traveled through the palace's dimly lit hallways, passing by startled maids and servants alike as it traversed the floors.
Eventually, it reached its destination, depositing Gaara right in front of a large set of bronze doors before dissipating from view, not even leaving a speck of sand on the boy as it went.
"Figures you would use your jutsu to get here before either of us!"
Gaara turned his head in the direction the voice was coming from, finding a boy a little older and taller than him walking up dressed in an old set of black pajamas. Following him was an older blonde girl dressed in a purple nightgown, scowling at nothing in particular as she looked around with tired eyes.
"It's convenient for me. What else can I say Kankuro?" Gaara replied as he turned his attention to the girl. "You look worse for wear Temari."
"I'm justified. Father and Baki put me through hell during training today, well, yesterday actually. I could barely stand because I was so drained of chakra afterward . . ." she grumbled, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"Well, it's pretty common for the ruling monarch's heir to be trained more than his or her younger siblings. It's the luck of the draw, and you ended up with the short end of the stick big sis." Kankuro couldn't help but tease, smirking with tired glee.
"Oh, shut it Kankuro!" Temari grumbled as Gaara moved his attention to the door. "So, do either of you have any idea why Daddy Dearest decided to call us to his office this late in the night?"
"You would know that much sooner if you all just stepped into his office already," said Baki, suddenly appearing beside Kankuro. "Do you really think it is wise to keep your father waiting like this?"
"Hey! It's late! Can you blame us for being a little crabby right now?" growled Temari, irritation the dominant emotion she was feeling as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Not everyone can go a full night without sleep like you and Gaara can Baki."
"That may be true, but still, you have been trained well enough to withstand long hours of sleep deprivation. Really, this should be a cakewalk for you," said the older man as he turned to the door, ignoring the scowl that was etched across the blonde's face. "Anyway, enough talk. Let's go. We've kept your father waiting long enough."
He walked forward, pushing the doors open with both hands before stepping off to the side. Taking that as their cue to enter, the royal siblings walked in from eldest to youngest, with Baki bringing in the rear.
Their father's office was a large room decorated with the best pieces of furniture that the kingdom could offer. The room was simple at best, save for a few portraits of desert landscapes that hung on three of the walls, and the large bookcase that covered the far wall. In the center of the room stood a large mahogany desk, the table's surface messily covered with important documents and books.
Sitting behind the desk was a middle-aged man with disheveled brown hair dressed in flowing white and green robes, a stern expression plastered on his face as he looked at the three children and grown man coming up to him.
"Someone doesn't look happy . . ." Kankuro mumbled as the four lined themselves up in a straight line a couple of feet before the desk.
"If you're wondering if it's because I think you four have come later than I expected, don't worry, it's not that," said their father as he weaved his fingers together. "A few hours ago, I had a meeting with some members of the Council. According to them, things are not looking too good for our kingdom right now."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Temari as concern spread across her face as Baki remained expressionless. Kankuro raised an eyebrow, while Gaara just looked disinterested, like always.
"The kingdom is losing valuable profit from the shinobi division due to clients looking to other kingdoms for better prices." said the king as he flipped through some of the documents on his desk. "Simply put, the lack of shinobi work is hurting our country's bottom line."
"Well that can't be helped," grumbled Kankuro. "Our homeland is at a natural disadvantage due to our location alone. We're basically on the outskirts of the lands compared to the other kingdoms. Plus, crossing the desert itself is never a walk in the park in the first place."
"All of what you said is true Kankuro. What you mentioned is indeed something that we can't help," said the King as he leaned back in his chair. "Due to our 'natural' circumstances, we can't afford to lower prices on the services our shinobi provide. The Council is getting worried that if this keeps happening, then the worth of our ninja will begin to diminish in the eyes of the other kingdoms."
"Our reputation would be diminished. We'll be seen as weak," Temari mumbled as she brought a finger to her chin. "And yet, I still don't see why you've called us in here exactly."
"Don't worry, I was just getting around to it . . . In two weeks' time, the biannual Shinobi Showcase will be taking place. The Fire Kingdom will be hosting it in its capital, Konohagakure, and I have decided to send you three as one of the teams representing the kingdom. Baki will be going along with you as your team's mentor."
"Wait? Us?" asked Kankuro, his eyes wide in shock. "Why? Because of our status as your kids and how young we still are, you barely allow us to go out on missions of this magnitude, especially Gaara . . . What's with the sudden change of heart?"
"He believes if we have a good showing during the Showcase, then potential clients will become interested in Wind shinobi again, thus bringing back more revenue to the kingdom," Gaara answered, finally injecting his thoughts into the conversation as his gaze took aim straight at his father. "And who better to entrust this mission to than the three teenagers that went through the best training that the Wind Kingdom could provide. . ? Did I get all that right, or am I missing a detail or two?"
"What you said is correct Gaara," his father's stern eyes never left his youngest son's gaze as he addressed him. "The Council believes that if the country is going to have a good showing at the Showcase, we have to send our very best to represent us. Your tutors, mentors, and I have all agreed that all three of you have been excelled well enough to warrant making you prime candidates for this mission . . . You are some of the best that our kingdom can offer, and what's a better way to attract clients than by showing off the very best?"
"I see, and since you're handing us this mission personally, it's definitely not a mission that we can take lightly," said Temari, shaking her head. "The Shinobi Showcase always attracts a multitude of teams from all across the Elemental Nations. Are there any that you know of that we should be particularly wary of?"
"The other members of the Imperial Five have always sent formidable teams to the Showcase, with most of these teams comprising of members from well-respected and powerful clans," said the King as he picked up a small stack of documents from off his table. He held them out to Baki, who took them from his hand. "One thing is certain: you will not be the only royals competing in this particular Showcase."
"The children of the Fire King and Queen are also competing," said Baki as he perused the papers. "They're twins, a boy and a girl. However, they are not part of the same team."
"That is kind of expected . . . Most kingdoms usually don't allow their royal heirs to be on the same team," Temari mumbled, her face looking slightly interested as Baki passed the documents to her. She quickly scanned through the sheets before handing them off to Kankuro, a small pout lining her face. "Hmm, should have figured there wasn't going to be much information on the royal twins. All that's written in there is their bio stats. Nothing else."
"Info on those two is surely lacking in the official files. The Fire King is known to have a protective nature, especially in regard to his own family," said the King as he slowly stood up. "At best, it is easy to assume that the Fire King and Queen have taught their children some of their own jutsu, but you shouldn't be assured by that fact alone."
"Of course not . . . The jutsus used by the Fire Monarchs aren't the most well-known, but everyone agrees that they're still quite powerful. They don't usually go all out in battle, but when they do, their opponents don't really see the light of day long enough to blab about their experiences," Temari added, shaking her head. "At best, if any one of us goes against their kids, we would be going in blind."
"You're not including Gaara in your assessment, are you Temari?" Kankuro asked, an eyebrow raised. "Gaara's sand is an ultimate offense and defense, all in one. In truth, he probably has the best chance against either of those two."
"Your brother sounds like he has so much faith in you."Shukaku couldn't help uttering, a small chuckle slipping by his teeth."Almost sickening, if you ask me. I bet he believes that if you handle the Fire King's brats, he won't have to."
"Just shut up," Gaara mumbled, refusing the urge to roll his eyes. "I don't need your damn commentary right now."
"Aw, your words wound me."
"You say that Gaara has the best chance out of the three of you against either of the Fire King's children Kankuro. It's a fair assessment. However, even he may have a hard time if he had to battle one of them." said the King as he walked over to one of the windows.
"What do you mean by that my king?" Baki asked as Gaara shot his father a narrow-eyed glare, slightly irritated with the man's sudden critique of him. "Is there something you're not telling us?"
"You see, we all know that the royal families of the Imperial Five have had close ties to the tailed beasts for many years. The Fire royal family has been linked to the Nine Tails ever since its kingdom's founding," mused King Rasa as he looked out the window. "Hmm, it is possible that the Nine Tails' chakra could come into play if one of the twins is pushed enough."
"The Nine Tails? Now things just got a little interesting,"Shukaku mused, now sounding intrigued. "I haven't seen my older brother in ages! It'll be nice to finally say hello to him after all this time apart!"
"Why do I have the sudden feeling you want to say more than just 'hello' to your sibling?" grumbled Gaara as his father walked away from the window. "What? Do you have some kind of vendetta against him?"
"You have no idea."
"Okay, so our goal is to either win or have a very good showing in the Shinobi Showcase, but we have to be wary of our competition, particularly our fellow royals," mumbled Kankuro as he thought it over in his head. "Is that it?"
"Hmm, there is one more thing that I should mention to you four," said Rasa as he brought a hand to his chin. "What I said about the Fire royal family and its connection to the Nine Tails has been true for the longest time. However, times change, and the Nine Tails is no longer the only tailed beast they're linked to."
"My king, are you saying that the Fire Kingdom has somehow managed to gain a second tailed beast?" Baki asked in surprise, his voice practically an octave higher.
"According to my sources, the royal family came into possession of a second tailed beast around the time of the twins' birth . . . There are ten beasts in total. We hold the One Tails. Lightning holds the Two and Eight Tails, while Water holds the Three and Six Tails. The Four and Five Tails are in the Earth Kingdom's possession, and the smaller Waterfall Kingdom holds the Seven Tails . . . How the last one managed that feat, your guess is as good as mine" said Rasa as he listed them down with his fingers. "I have failed to mention the last one, but I think you all can figure it out if you really think about it."
"No way . . . When you think about it, then that means Fire now holds the Ten Tails! They have the two most powerful beasts in their possession! You gotta be freaking kidding me," grumbled Kankuro, bringing a hand to his forehead. "You know what that means?"
"No Kankuro, I don't," said Temari, sarcasm lacing her tone. "Enlighten us will ya?"
"It's pretty obvious. It means that Wind is the only one of the Five Great Kingdoms that has one beast!" Kankuro, absolutely serious and not showing a hint that he knew that Temari was simply pulling his leg. "That puts us at a disadvantage compared to the other kingdoms sis."
"Ten Tails he says? So, that's where Ryuna has been these past few years." Shukaku grumbled, his voice sounding slightly contemplative. "She was always the best at avoiding capture. She's rarely been caught since we were originally formed, and if she was caught, it wouldn't be for long. Many have tried their hand at catching her, but they've all failed one way or another, going to the wrong location, running into her and dying as a result . . . I wonder how those Fire shinobi finally managed to do what no one else has done."
"Father, you mentioned that the Ten Tails was captured around the time the twins were born. Is it possible that one of them were used as its vessel?" asked Temari, already thinking about the possibilities.
"That may very well be the case," said Rasa as he sat back in his chair. "For now, you need to prepare for your journey, because you will be leaving as soon as the sun rises. The quicker you move, the sooner you can reach Konoha to assess your competition . . . I don't need to stress how important this mission is for the sake of our kingdom's economy. Failure is not an option."
"Of course, milord," said Baki, his head bowed. "We will see to it that this mission is a rousing success."
"See that you do. You are dismissed."
Baki bowed once more before turning to leave, followed by Temari and Kankuro, with Gaara bringing up the rear; however, he didn't get far. "Gaara, stay for one second."
"Now what does the bastard want now?"Shukaku grumbled as Gaara stopped walking. The redhead's siblings shot him curious glances before leaving for their respective rooms, leaving Gaara to deal with their father alone.
"If you have asked me to stay behind just because you want to remind me that it's best if I don't lose control over Shukaku, then stop. You would only be wasting your breath," Gaara quickly said as he turned around. "Besides, I've heard the speech before."
"Must you speak to your own father like this?" Rasa asked, an eyebrow raised as his youngest child's indignation.
"Hmm, that depends. Did you have to seal a demon inside me? Before I was even born no less?" Gaara asked in return as he took a step forward. "What you did to me was a great way to start off my life Father, real nice."
"Sealing a tailed beast within a member of the royal family is how we maintain our power," his father reminded him, his tone serious as he addressed the boy. "You were the one deemed the most compatible with Shukaku's chakra. That compatibility made you the prime candidate for the sealing."
"Yeah, but at the cost of my ability to sleep," Gaara mumbled. ". . . And somebody's life."
Rasa visibly flinched when Gaara said those words, his face somber as he leaned back in his seat. His eyes went to one of the two picture frames that stood on his desk, his gaze momentarily taking in the picture of himself holding a smiling blonde woman in his arms. His late wife, his queen . . .
. . . Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro's deceased mother . . .
"It's no secret that your mother's death has affected this family. However, we cannot let past events affect our actions now, especially when you have such a big mission ahead of you Gaara," said Rasa, addressing his son more like a king and less like a father. "Go and get ready. Remember, you leave in the morning."
Gaara stared coldly at his father before summoning his sand. The beige, multi-grained cloud swirled around the young redhead before flying out the room, swiftly taking the prince away through the open doors, and leaving the King of the Wind Kingdom alone to his weary thoughts.
A/N: A few things . . .
1. Gaara has a relationship with Shukaku where they're at least on speaking terms with each other. This will be the same, more or less, for all tailed beasts and jinchuriki that'll be introduced in this story.
2. I'll be honest; I'm not really a fan of the Ten Tails' design in the canon storyline, so I'm changing its look in the story, which will be further explained as this story goes on. And the Ten Tails will be much more relevant here as well.
3. The canon Ten Tails was never really given a proper name in the storyline from what I remember. Like, we know the Nine Tails name is Kurama and the One Tails is Shukaku, but it's not clear to me what the Ten Tails' name actually is. So, for my story, the Ten Tails will be known as Ryuna. Yes, she'll be a girl. So many of the beasts are boys that I figured it was best just to make Ryuna a girl on this one.
I hope you all liked this first chapter! Thanks for reading!