A/N I Don't Own Naruto
A Dead Star , Chapter One
Fire City, Planet Mal-Kuan, Yamanaka Apartment (8:00 P.M.)
"Look at these Idiots," Inoichi said while looking at the TV screen on the wall. "They are looking at the situation wrong! We need info on the killer, not the man who was killed!"
"Inoichi, stop yelling at the news reporters. They didn't have military training like you. They aren't professional investigators like the ones on cheap cop shows. They are called the paparazzi for a reason." his wife replied.
"But still dear, this could be the serial killer who struck a few days ago… the brutal serial killer… those poor saps…" He trailed off there.
At that moment the door was flung open and a very happy looking Ino ran in screaming, "I PASSED!"
"Good for you, Ino," Inoichi replied as he stood up.
"Thanks Daddy! Will you be able to make time for my graduation?" She asked with a pout.
"He better! Unlike all the other times he shrunk from duty…" Inoichi's wife took a not-so-friendly look at him.
Her father let out an exasperated sigh. "Why me…"
"Overall, the corpse suggests that the killer is the same one who has been striking at rich businessmen as of late. No new news is being released, but be aware for suspicious activity in your…."
The newsman trailed off as the hologram closed and the screen on the wall sunk in and was closed in by the automatic sliding doors. As the family went out, the lights shut down and the apartment began its automated cleaning process.
-Unknown Location (Unknown Time)-
A lone figure sat atop a tall building. It was night time, and the two pale moon's light reflected upon the shiny structures. For a moment, part of the figure's face was illuminated by the morbid red and blue sheen. He moved his head down so that there was no more light.
He… Shall pay
Fire City, Planet Mal-Kuan, Konoha Military Branch Academy Assembly Hall (The Next Day; 10:00 A.M.)
"And I would like to once again congratulate you all on passing the tests. Welcome to the Terran Federation Armed Forces. Thank you for your commitment to it. Thank you, and goodnight. One last thing. New graduates, you are to meet here at 6:00 A.M. Sharp for your first assignment." A man in a padded combat suit and a white cloak with red flames licking at the bottom said.
This man was the Fourth Hokage, one of the five leaders of the military forces in the Terran Federation. The Hokage, the Tsuchikage, the Kazekage, the Mizukage, and the Raikage are elected by the council and approved by the senate to control military forces. He came into power after the Third Hokage retired into just one of many advisors of the council. He stood ready to fight, with his side-arm on his belt, tensed. For this is what one must do to be a kage. Always be prepared. And with the murders as of late he had no chance to scrimp on that.
As the teenagers, between the age of fifteen and sixteen, jumped for joy and hugged their parents hastily and ran out to party, he thought,
If he was alive, would he be here, coming and hugging me in a fit of joy?
With a small sense of envy and no small amount of jealousy, he walked out and congratulated the parents on guiding their children through the school. It wasn't every day someone joined the military, and it was certainly not every day that kids graduated from the special ops school. As the last few kids left the room, his thoughts lingered on the last one: Sasuke Uchiha.
He was a dark boy. Ever since the greater part of his family was killed by Itachi Uchiha, his brother, he has been bent on finding and killing him. If he knew Itachi was ordered… Perhaps the only reason he joined Spec Ops was to be put on the Itachi Case.
The Fourth dismissed that thought. He believed that time would help the boy come to terms with what has happened. Being one of the luckier ones, he didn't lose any immediate relatives, besides, of course, Itachi himself. Soon, he hoped, the boy would drop Itachi all together and perhaps even move on to another profession.
That was what he found beautiful about the Spec Ops program. A normal somewhat high-end education, for free, coupled with two years of service. After that, they could quit, if they didn't like it. Unlike the standing army draft, which was only for a couple unlucky saps, the Spec Ops program was much more easy-going and had better results in the end. It was an ingenious idea implemented during the Third Hokage's rule. One of the many things that man did.
But things have changed, he thought. The actual Hokage holds no more political influence: only militarily. Now the council holds most of the ruling power, but the senate has to approve all major actions.
Of course as the Hokage, he knows that the council has a pretty tight grip on the senate, and that the council will do whatever they want to get something. He also knows that deep down they want the best for the Terran Federation, but he is a good natured man and does not agree with their mannerisms in doing so.
He would know, for he lost so much. Perhaps it was his fault, falling in love with an Alleurian. Forbidden love, and before he even got its fruits, the council and senate split them up, and both the baby and his lover were separated and lost.
She hates me, probably, he thought. For losing the child. It would explain why she doesn't reply to my messages more than once every six months or so. I deserve it too, for it was my fault. I could have stopped them.
He left the assembly hall, barely thinking about the stack of paperwork he still has at his desk, or the meeting he has to go to in an hour.
Fire City, Planet Mal-Kuan, Konoha Academy Assembly Hall (The Next Day, 6:00 A.M.)
Hatake Kakashi stood in the hall overlooking the recruits. He, along with Yuuhi Kurenai, and Sarutobi Asuma, would be taking 8 of the new recruits to work on the recent killer case. Along with Maito Gai's team, but they weren't rookies, and therefore were not nearly as much work. He sighed. Kurenai tricked him into coming this early. He knew he shouldn't have believed her when she said to meet at 3:00 AM, but his skepticism didn't pay off, and, being three hours late, he was on time.
He sighed again.
"OK, listen up rookies, we are working on the recent killer case, codenamed Case K561 DT008 meaning Killer case 561; Death Toll 008. Meet at 6:00 A.M. at Spec Ops station 3.8. Ja!" He started and ended quickly, followed by promptly leaving.
Following suit, the other Jonin left after him.
Being Jonin, the highest of the three ranks given to Spec. Ops, they had all sorts of privileges in the military, such as reserving Spec Ops stations, which consisted of a hangar open to the air, several large work rooms, and a barracks, for personal use such as private training. Although they must stock their own space fuel to use, it is definitely worth it.
Private training, meaning partying, and space fuel meaning alcohol. Many a party took place in the stations.
However, in this case, Kakashi has had the station 3.8 actually given to him for the length of the case he was involved in. That doesn't happen a lot. And to a teacher with rookies no less. Still, a station was a station.
As the Jonin walked out, the room was silent. A long bead of sweat rolled down one large forehead framed by bright pink hair.
"WHY BRING US OUT HERE TO JUST TELL US TO MEET TOMARROW AT THE SAME TIME!" the owner of this forehead screeched.
Murmurs of the same feelings came from the other graduates.
Fire City, Planet Mal-Kuan, Commercial Service District (6 hours later)
Haruno Sakura considered herself to be a good person. With good grades, many friends, several boys always flirting over her. Her "outbursts" are only her small outputs of pent up frustration over "stress from being in the military" as she says.
Always living in a city, she has seen it all and done it all, or so she thinks.
So, when walking in an alley, seeing a dark cloaked figure about a head taller than her, holding a bulky bag on his shoulder, she paid it no mind.
For, she has seen worse than this. This was nothing. Right?
Fire City, Planet Mal-Kuan, Spec. Ops Station 3.8 (The Next Day, 6:00 A.M.)
The 8 Genin: Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, Inuzuka Kiba, Hyuuga Hinata, Aburame Shino, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akamichi Chouji, stood before the three Jonin.
"O.K., we are going to give you your Genin test." Kakashi said with a sickeningly sweet smile on his face, not that you could see it, for a facemask was covering it. "I know you all already got to Genin level, but we have to test your skill, and weed out anyone who isn't up to snuff."
"But sensei, we already took the test, didn't we?!" Haruno Sakura yelled out in a stupor.
She had gotten up, and just started to get ready, when she realized that it wasn't a normal Saturday, and hence, she could not sleep in. In a rush, she did only the bare necessities to get ready and ran over to the station as fast as possible.
"Of course, but this is a special test. One that is less forgiving and actually tests your combat abilities," He replied, smiling at his flustered Genin prospective.
"EHH?" she questioned.
"For once I agree with Forehead girl," Yamanaka Ino stated. She was better off than her pink-haired counterpart, but not by much.
Murmurs of agreement were spoken aloud among the other six candidates.
"Well, your academy teachers taught you everything you need to know about combat. At least you think they did. While it is true that combat is only required of high-Gennin to Chunin, you still need to be capable. Here, we are going to test you on that capability with a combat simulator. An old academy favorite with a twist. VR: Search and Destroy, Ouch version." Kakashi said, with a small smile growing bigger and more evil with every word.
"Ouch version?" Kiba Inuzuka, with a small mechanical dog on his head yipping. He came from an illustrious family of A.I. engineers whom would build each of their members one or more combat programmed companion pets.
"With feeling. All feeling," Kakashi replied, and with looks of horror from all of the students, including Shino and even Sasuke.
VR, meaning virtual reality, was a program invented by Dr. Mann Charles, was a program that allowed someone to experience something without actually feeling it. The one controlling it could remove or add senses to the person experiencing it to train people in different abilities and skills.
For the military, VRs were used mainly for combat simulation, or combat sims. They didn't include pain, but rather a video-game like death.
Search and Destroy particularly was a favorite for academy teachers because its scenarios offered many possibilities for training including both piloting and ground combat. The people in the simulation would start at a space dock, board their ships, go to a rally point and search for a target. Once they found it they would destroy or capture it. Often times someone would be the goal whom would have to run away from everyone else. Both teachers and students favored this combat "game" over most others due to its competitive aspect of placing students in different locations to confuse them.
However, an "Ouch Version," includes all feelings of pain, and it doesn't have the same psychological limits on it.
Thus the reason the other Jonin were beginning to join in to Kakashi's mad cackling.
After setting up the equipment for the VR combat sim for about two hours, the three Jonin were very anxious to see how their students would react. Even Kakashi showed up on time, much to the other two adult's surprise. He didn't usually show up on time unless the world was ending or he was very antsy about something.
"Now everyone come here to get strapped in," Kakashi ordered, his eye almost seeming to smile eerily at the new recruits.
They reluctantly prepared for the trial to come.
Virtual Reality Simulation: "Star Belt 001, Central Initiation Hub"
The whole ensemble of Genin appeared in a plain white room. Most were already used to the starting interface. Slowly the faces of Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma appeared in the glaring brightness of the room.
"There are eight doors that will appear once we leave. Each one to a different space station and a different class and style ship. Some of you will have a better chance. Others not so much, however, every ship does have a stealth drive."
Stealth drives were installed on ships to quiet their emissions and basically lower their profile and erase the jet stream coming out the back of their engines. The ships are not erased from vision or radar, but they can be mistaken for a rock or floating debris. Ships using stealth drives must move slowly and not make sudden changes in direction for the drive not to act up.
"To complete this exercise, you must find an artifact. There will be only one artifact. The artifact makes your ship a beacon of flashing light to everyone. It can be found in the largest asteroid. To win, bring it to the central station at the center of the sector. There will be a large bay. Go inside the bay and put the artifact inside the slot for it."
Everyone groaned at this. Asteroids, no matter how large, were very difficult to locate and get to. The easier it was to find, the more complex the caverns were. The larger the caverns, the more "surprises" there are. Either way, no one liked asteroids.
"One more thing, don't forget to use te-" Asuma cut in, but the communication between the students and the teachers cut off.
The eight doors appeared, and each of the eight cadets went in one.
-
"You think they can manage that asteroid Kakashi?" Kurenai questioned
"They will have to, if they want to make it in the military. They have to prove themselves as an adaptable group of people," he replied.
"But… the last cadets to use that asteroid were so scared they had to be discharged," Asuma spoke.
"I… have faith in them," Kakashi said after a pause, a certain raven-haired boy coming to mind.
-
Akamichi Chouji, the biggest of his class, was surprisingly good at heavy combat. His choice ship in simulators was the CCG (Close Combat Gunship). It had power, and it had strength. It was exactly what he was used to working with.
So, when he found that his ship was a LRS (Long Range Scout), he was horrified. No machine guns, no auto-turrets, no missile bays, nothing! Just a small hand-held outboard laser turret! He cried a silent but proud warrior's tears.
His luck was the worst. Right?
-
Hyuuga Hinata always preferred the sleek silent class ship of the LRS (Long Range Scout). It was small and maneuverable, and, if you knew how to target things with its handheld turret like she did, it was a powerful tool. Very little micromanaging was used in piloting it. Drive and shoot.
So, when she found that her ship was the CCG (Close Combat Gunship), she was horrified. So much to manage! Too many guns to watch ammo counters! She always preferred lasers. They were much sleeker and required less maintenance.
She probably had the worst luck of all her piers! Right?
-
When in doubt, Uchiha Sasuke always had his skills. He was proficient in all modes of space combat, from small fighters to transport vehicles. When he considered what ship he would choose, given the choice, he never could decide. When he arrived at his small station, with nothing but a space suit laying in pieces on the ground, he was left dumfounded. He imagined a weak fighter or a bulky frigate, but not this!
Begrudgingly he put it on, piece by piece, he was sure that the whole process took over thirty minutes. When he finally put his nose out the door, he was relieved to find that, at least, the target asteroid, which the others might find hours locating, was right there.
He used his jet pack to jump towards it. It was medium-sized, but due to the standing-out color of it, he was sure that it was the one.
As he grew closer, he prepared to land. After awhile, he realized that his perception of how far away it stood was incorrect. After about thirty seconds with the asteroid only getting bigger, he decided to some calculations (mentally) as to how far and large it actually was. As he slowly figured it out, his eyes widened.
132x98 Kilometer span, widest point(s)
-
Nara Shikamaru slowly navigated his CFm2 (Combat Frigate mark 2) through the asteroid. With its size, it was not a surprise to him that it had enough room for a ship or two. He was not particularly pleased with this ship. It required so much micromanaging of proportions. While it was small enough to navigate the asteroid, it took time and concentration (his banes) to keep it from bumping against the various sides of the cavern.
He sighed, and laid back as he finally found a larger cavern to float a bit more freely. He sat back.
"Troublesome."
-
A thunderous screech sounded throughout the hull of the LRCG (Long Range Combat Gunship). It had scratched the side of the cavern it was in.
"Damnit!" a boy with a mechanical dog at his side yelled.
Kiba was not pleased. First, he was stuck with a long range artillery ship! Artillery! He didn't have the patience to pinpoint accurate shots over multiple kilometers, or to navigate with the slow engines of the ship. He, of course, knew that the engines were slow to keep the explosive cargo in check, but still, he was annoyed.
The ship was difficult to maneuver in a tight spot, which conveniently was what he was in right now. Cramped through small tunnels in a tight asteroid.
The hull screeched again, and he yelled multiple obscenities.
-
As Kakashi watched them from his observation room with the two other Jonin, he chuckled.
"Those fools…" he trailed off.
The other Jonin looked at him curiously.
Fire City, Planet Mal-Kuan, Hokage Mansion Memorial Shrine (Same time)
"What would it have been like for you to have been alive? I wonder this every day, you know. Would I see your smiling face? Would you take after me or your mother?"
A blond-haired man with a white cloak with red flames at the bottom sighed as he began to talk to no one in particular.
"I'm sorry. I know I said this more than once. It isn't fitting for me to be saying this, nor do I have the right to forgiveness, but still, I am sorry."
"I could have stopped them, I could have! Those bastards on the senate are all too happy to accept their bribe from the council and vote who-knows-what. Those son-bitches would never know the difference between a declaration of war and a contribution to charity."
"Sorry, once again. I shouldn't swear in front of my son. If you are listening."
"I failed again. I know it. The colony was all my idea. I was cocky. I thought it would work. I don't even know how it failed, but it did. It's my fault they all died. Can't get it from my conscience."
"Funny that I can be in the army, killing every day and still feel guilty for some deaths that inadvertently weren't even my fault."
"I'm pathetic. Sorry."
"I guess I don't have the right to say sorry, do I?"
"What would you think, had I the ability to hear your reply?"
"Hmm, Naruto?"
-
A/N
I would have published this later, but it was so good (at least, among my other works) that I felt the need to put it out there. Rest assured, I have at least Arc 1 (presumably three chapters at least this length), already planned out with more to come. This is NarutoTayuya. I haven't mentioned her yet, but I plan on it. I am not making any promises on an updating schedule. Hopefully, the next chapter will be out as early as late November/early December.
I am open to flames. I welcome them, and challenge anyone to flame me. Give me your worst review (hopefully followed by your best one :D)
This is DarkNaruto for the first arc. He will become less and less dark. He is dark, not evil. I won't specify further than that.