Chapter 1 "Caged"


Author Note: The Hellsing elements of the story come into play in chapter 3. You can skip if you are more of a Hellsing fan but do know these few chapters will help build the story and rest assured. Hellsing is prominent in this story. Most of what happens, in the beginning, is inferred to later on.


Prologue

Long ago humans were cursed to live in fear every day with the ever -present threat of death, at the hands of another man or monster. Children are forced to live in a world without any hope of permanent safety or civilization for humans.

Until one day, a woman from a foreign land came to the elemental nations and sought out the fruit of a divine tree called the Shinju. In a world of disorder, the only shared law was that consumption of the one fruit hanging from the Shinju's mighty limbs was forbidden. The woman's name was Kaguya Otsutsuki and after she ate the fruit she used the power infused into her body by the fruit to end the wars plaguing the world with her godlike powers. Kaguya later had two sons who were born different from any other child at point. One had purple ringed eyes, which was later dubbed the Rinnegan, that gave him access to several abilities his mother had and he was named Hagoromo. While the other inherited his mother's snow white eyes and equal power and he was called Hamura.

The boy had an iron-hard will to never give up on his dream to help others and trained himself to the point that he could emulate his mother's unique abilities. He could control all the elements and create new ones, he could walk on water and heal others grievous injuries, but his greatest power was the ability to inspire others and create much-needed unity. The man exterminated all the monsters with the aid of his two sons and their families.

Until the day came when he and his brother faced the creature called the Jūbi, Ten-Tailed Demon. But even they, with all the power of the Rinnegan, couldn't slay the beast, so Hagoromo sealed it within himself and brought it to his homestead. There he ripped the soul of the beast from its body and separated it into nine beings of unbelievable power. He named the beasts and allowed them to roam free as long as they swore to never harm humans without reason.

Tired and exhausted, he used the last of his strength to hurl the corpse of the Jūbi into the heavens and enclosed the great beast's body in stone until it stopped just outside the earth's atmosphere. The structure later became known as the Moon.

On his deathbed, he summoned his two sons to choose his successor. The younger son was blessed with his strong body and spirit, the older his powerful eyes and intellect. He asked his children,

"If I entrusted you with my position how would you lead our people?"

The younger brother claimed he would lead his people with love and compassion so they would be willing to follow him. While the older claimed he would rule the people with power and force them to obey him. The dying man gave his blessing to his younger son and gave him the title of patriarch of their clan. Angered the older son adopted the name Uchiha and swore vengeance on his brother and all his descendants for all eternity while his brother took the name Senju and met his challenge head on. The Senju became known for compassion, understanding, and willpower. The Uchiha were respected for their power, cruelty and their relentless tenacity in battle. Eventually, the Senju had another more hospitable split in the bloodline, causing another clan called the Uzumaki to be born.

Years upon years passed and while technology, leaders, and civilizations changed, those behind the change were always the same: It always started with an Uchiha and a Senju. Nothing changed, the history of man always has involved hate and love which would cause even more hate. But one generation something changed. An Uzumaki and an Uchiha, enemies by blood, fell in love, got married and had children. The lover's names were Miso Uzumaki and Yuuko Uchiha; their children were named Shio, Kirisuto, Mazeru, and Hanten. Their story of love, happiness and determination would make a fine story, but sadly every case of true love doesn't end with a "Happily Ever After..." This story does show the power of will and the strength that loved ones can show to each other, but it also shows one other trait that all of Humanity displays often; our ability to make each other suffer.

Land of Waves 13 2E, The Thirteenth Year of the Reign of the Second Emperor

It was an everyday boring day for Tadaki Ryoka, the commander of the Akatsuki Remnant outpost located in the Land of Waves. Ryoka was also annoyed; Ever since he was given a field promotion to Jonin he was ecstatic to get a leading position of an outpost in a country bordering the heart of the Elemental Empire. After being dominated by the Big Five Nations for centuries, the minor countries of the Elemental Nations were sick of their position and banned together with an Akatsuki occupied Land of Water. Having been born and raised on a poor farm in the Land of Rivers, he came to the Land of Waves often to gather supplies with his father before he was murdered by accident in a village revolt. "I came here thinking I would be able to avenge his death, yet besides overseeing the transformation of this base from a bunch of tents into a fortress, I've done nothing." Ryoka stared at the wall directly south of his office through a reinforced window. "I feel like I won't get the chance." He said to himself before shaking his head clear of the thoughts, filling his head with thoughts of bravado and glory instead.

Meanwhile, eight figures covered with black cloaks and adorned in porcelain white masks stood by a huge wall of the fortress. One silhouette, with a mask, adorned with turquoise stripes and the kanji for the number one, stepped forward and raised three fingers followed by five then pumped a fist. Two silhouettes stepped out of formation and withdrew two separate objects from within their pitch black garb, one held a matte- gray lusterless metal can which was promptly ripped open before the holder molded the onyx dough like material within into a sphere which was pressed onto the wall. The other silhouette, wearing a mask with two horns on either cheekbone and the kanji for eight over the mouth area, withdrew a small two-inch metal bolt with a minuscule hole facing the shadows and placed it into the substance. The last stray silhouette returned to formation then One raised and outstretched hand, causing a stream of sand to cascade in the air towards the hole after escaping the brown cylinder shaped pouch on her belt. She snapped her fingers and momentarily the telltale sound of grinding metal reverberated in the air before the roar of an explosion dominated the area.

Ryoka was forced out of his premonition of failure by the sound of an explosion from the southmost wall, directly parallel to his office. While most of his fellow officers most likely panicked upon seeing this, Ryoka grinned. The chance of fulfilling his thirst for vengeance outweighing the thought of his troops' safety. Ryoka bolted toward the code -locked officer standard issue armament locker seeking out his body armor, more .45 rounds for his revolver, Kunai, and a couple of Explosive Tags.

A run of the mill grunt burst through the door and kneeled quickly. "Has the explosives specialist been able to identify the mystery device?" Ryoka said as he double checked that his revolver was loaded as he barked orders to the Grunt. "No Sir, he was killed in the explosion, the fragmentation got to him before the medics could heal him enough to talk." The grunt said as he scratched at the navy face mask concealing all, but his downcast, somewhat unnaturally black eyes. "Damn shame," Ryoka said in a voice laced with a large amount of apathy. The grunt glared at him. "The sorrow you feel for the fallen is most inspiring, Ryoka- taichou. " The Grunt replied in a harsh voice with a sarcastic edge. Ryoka turned and glared hard at the grunt. "Mind your tongue boy. What did the strategist guess their next move would be?" He demanded as he flicked his wrist, causing the cylinder of the revolver to fall back into place with a quiet click.

The foot soldier looked the ground, avoiding his glance as if he had problems speaking. Ryoka pushed aside the desire to call this troop a freak and motioned to continue with his handgun. "Infiltrate the ranks, assassinate high-ranking officers to lower morale and mess with the cohesion among the lower ranks." Ryoka raised an eyebrow as he stated, "That's weird." The grunt's gaze adopted a curious glint. "What is abnormal, Sir?" The soldier asked. Ryoka turned his back to the grunt to observe a layout of the base. "That fool has never assessed a situation this well." He muttered before motioning for the grunt to move along. Instead, the Grunt rose to full height and withdrew a revolver of his own from within his cloak, his hand kissing a white material stained with the blood red kanji for "nine" momentarily. "That's because your strategist didn't, Tadaki Ryoka." Nine stated, slapping the hammer of the gun and shooting quickly from the hip. The Akatsuki Separatist leader of the Waves Outpost slumped over his desk with a hole gaping where the base of his skull once was.

I hopped out a window by the north wall, now wearing my mask and using my throat mic to inform my superior of my success. "Kite to Eagle, do you copy, over?" I asked observing the horizon for targets. "I hear ya, Kite, did you complete your objective?" Eagle said before pausing to drink something from a can loudly, causing me to grit my teeth. "Yes Eagle, Ryoka is dead and his corpse will be taken care of," I said before scoffing.

Meanwhile

The activated Explosive Tags that blanketed the inner pockets of the late Tadaki Ryoka ignited and seconds later exploded, killing multiple people, both military and civilian.

Back with the Birds

"Good to see you're not completely useless. Come to HQ while your Nii-sama gets ready to move out and finish off the base solo like the legend he is. " Eagle said with an egotistical hum reverberating throughout his voice. "Legend my ass. You were afraid of the loud toilets until you were like 13. Also, you totally just revealed personal info over an insecure channel, dumbass." I said resisting the urge to facepalm. "Well, at least I can do Rasengan without Kage Bunshin." He said haughtily. "At least I didn't believe that belly button lint was actually eggs to a bug that will burrow into your stomach and eat you if you didn't clean it out every once and a while," I mumbled causing my...Nii -sama to gasp. "I trusted you..." He started before I cut him off briskly. "More like you were so mentally challenged to also think that dogs can't look up," I replied as I could our base camp a few chakra enhanced jumps away. "They can't though." He stated as if it were a fact to my displeasure. "Fucking..." I said through grit teeth as I arrived at base camp yelling at my older brother as soon as my feet touched ground, after nearly two straight minutes of trading vocal blows I coughed to get my brother to stop. He popped his neck, trying to act cool, and craned his head towards the others. "Let's continue this some other time Shi -nii, before the others ride my ass for actually speaking moan to Mommy and Daddy about the scary Uchiha," I stated with disdain at people referring to me with my mother's family name as Shio merely grinned cheekily while my 'team' bore holes into me.

"Wouldn't be the first time some of these brats moaned because of an Uzumaki. Nudge nudge." My brother said with a Cheshire grin. I giggled ferociously as a certain prime number got kinda pissy. The leader of our team, with a mask emblazoned with the number 1, stepped forward adjusting her cloak and spoke in an annoyingly monotone voice. "Shouldn't you go do your job so we can get out of here, sleeping near your smelly ass is terrible for the soul and body. Plus since your Aniki is here you are getting quite presumptuous, to be honest it's annoying. You are much better when you shut up and sulk in the corner where you belong. " She ordered. "Shut your mouth, woman or you'll choke on blood. " My brother growled through grit teeth and his Sharingan ablaze causing her to look down but kept her bitchiness. "I don't discourage bloodshed at all, Shio -kun."

I scoffed and whispered loud enough for our teammates to hear as well as my brother. "At least it means you aren't pregnant. But with your lifestyle your might have to watch out for an overdose. That's a lot of pills just to prevent another one of you to walk around. " I said in as flat a tone as One. My brother burst out laughing as One bolted towards me only to meet a solid wall of wood that rose 9 feet high as my brother's laughter died down. "This was fun but we must get going. If you eight are as easily irritable as your leader I'd rather not let you watch my back. No offense but you ROOT members are strategically inferior to the ANBU on many levels, you make up for it with stopping power but this mission requires power and precision to finish off the base. So cleanup here and pack up camp or something. Kirisuto and I can handle it. " My brother explained in his "I'm a Kind Nii -san" voice causing all the members protests to die down, excluding One.

Not wanting to overstep my boundaries I cleared my throat. "Actually I suggest bringing Natsumi and Tsukiko, um I mean Seven and Ten." I started stumbling with my words since I'm not used to talking in front of others, especially when I'm arguing for them. "They host the Nanabi and a Jūbi fragment, they also have excellent chakra control and are on a first name basis with their Bijuu." I continued as my brother grew an amused grin causing me to frown, scared about what was going on in that warped, empty ass head of his. "Ok, I'll let your Girlfr . . .kidding. Very well they can come but you three must use your telepathy to remain in touch to synchronize your attacks." My brother responded, thankfully bringing my embarrassment to a minimum before jumping to the trees and getting a head start. I motioned for my two fellow Jinchūriki to follow me they stepped forward remaining silent as I usually am, hence why the others called us three the 'emo trio's of our group. I personally find this creative name a thrilling example of the average Imperial's intelligence.

We turned and at the last possible second I looked over my shoulder at my leader and bowed my head slightly. "I apologize for my irregular behavior, I honestly do act different around my family. I promise I'll try to get him to behave from here on out, I dislike upsetting you. I'm also sorry for insulting you." I said before I pumped chakra into my legs and jumped onto a nearby tall tree before pursuing my brother with Seven and Ten in tow. The remaining soldiers went back to their duties at One's orders and then began to pace around camp angrily. "Who does that mongrel think he is! Calling me inferior and Nine...he is better when he's quiet. Though...I like the way he sounds when he shows humility...I want to hear him squeal. Hm...Anyway only one more day and I'll get to help myself to plenty of that. " She thought to herself as she made her way to her tent.

A Few Day Later, Konohagakure District

After a particularly uneventful but amusing trip back to the Konoha district of the empire following the success of the mission, I walked toward the Emperor's palace with Shio in tow. "For such loyal dogs they are quick to avoid their master's orders when they have to travel with wolves, right brother?" I mumbled fidgeting with the Ninjatō slung across my shoulders. "Don't be rude Kiri..." My brother chided me before continuing. "...we like dogs so don't compare them to such sad, pathetic creatures." I grinned but shook my head to the negative as I thought to myself. "My face hurts...has it really been so long since I smiled so much?" I shook my head slightly as I dismissed the thought and then turned to my brother saying in a corrective tone. "Snakes and Foxes are way better though. " My brother shrugged. "Well, when you're stuck from an avalanche I'm going to laugh my ass off when a little fox is carrying a tub of brandy bigger than itself to your whiskered ass." I laughed. "It must have been a year or two since we were on a mission together...we don't talk much because of that. Sometimes I regret joining the ROOT as opposed to the ANBU. A team only of Jinchuriki, people who understand you...bullshit. Team Nakama is full of assholes while Nii -san's Team Ember has tons of family friends. Hatake- chan, Mitarashi and Daisuke are on there too..." I thought to myself before my brother popped me on the stomach with the end of his soda bottle. "I know why you're upset." My brother said with a smile on his face. "You do?" I said with a raised eyebrow. "Yep...you like Nanami AND Tsukiko right!? That's so... FUEHHHH" My brother started before he was silenced from a well-placed punch to the diaphragm. I then looked around to see if anyone heard my brother's heresy and my eyes quickly came upon an unfortunately close group of teenagers bearing the Haruno clan insignia who looked at me with a combination of hatred and mirth. The hatred I was used to but the mirth...well...I did my best to deal with it. "LIES! He's drunk I swear! I've never even talked to them until like a year ago. We are just teammates- ttebayo!" I yelled before covering my mouth, annoyed at my slip of the tongue and my cracking voice. "Why'd my voice have to crack now!? If there is a God he, I hope he is a he because if not my stupid ass is screwed, must be quite the humorous bastard." I screeched to myself mentally. The lead girl, who seemed to cover her face with a plastic bag before putting on her make up with her pink hair adorned with blond highlights cooed, "Aw...the way you turn red is almost...well cute...if you weren't a baby- killer of course." The leader of the Ganguro skanks exclaimed, obviously one those anti- war bitches who like to insult me for doing something about idiots who'd rather live in a giant dream than face real life with some testicles. "Holy shit. It's trying to be intelligent, even with all those chemicals seeping into its scalp and overabundance of oxygen due to their unbelievable small chests! " I said as I lead my gasping brother to the Emperor's compound. Savoring the indignant screams all along the way.

After stepping out of the main office of the compound Shio sighed. "Of course the Shitlord wouldn't be here..." My brother muttered under his breath as we left the office of the compound while I made sure to sneak in a middle finger directed toward the bigot of a secretary as we left. My brother noticed. "What'd she do exactly?" He said referring to the late 20 something red headed woman. "Remember how I let you sit and rest while I went to ask if the Emperor was available?" I started with an expression reeking of distaste, this didn't help my reasoning for being antisocial at all. "Yeah, you took like ten minutes." He responded with a confused expression. "Well, that waste of nine months decide to get me to show my ID, my forehead protector, and did a blood seal test for the validity of my Root membership...three times. I swear the bitch must be into Femdom or something. " I said emphatically. My brother made an expression of realization then turned and flipped the secretary off as well. "Sounds like my Ex." He exclaimed with a pouting face. "I wouldn't know. Anyway she said he was going to speak with the Hyuuga head and since it's so close to home I can go and give our report while you go...do whatever romantic shit you do with Kanade that you always do." I said rubbing the lining of my mask. Shio stopped me with a hand on the shoulder at the intersection between the Hyuuga District, the road leading to Downtown, the path to the Emperor's compound and the original exit of the village. "While I am thankful for being bought time for loving you must understand that any act of love your Aniki dishes out is one in a million!" My brother said accentuating said notion with a thumbs up and a sparkly smile. "I know...love is better than war yadda yadda yadda. Ya know I think it's all horseshit but please, if I agree will you stop talking like Lee -sensei from my Team 13 days?" I asked. My brother nodded and bolted towards his girlfriend's apartment yelling thank you over his shoulder.

I smiled softly then touched a seal on my right wrist that was kanji for black. In a puff of smoke a solid black fox the size of a puppy appeared and hopped on my shoulder and unintentionally mimicked a scarf with a yip. "I missed you too, Miso. Let's go look for the Emperor together, okay." I said in a voice resembling one said to a baby as I pushed the canine's lower jaw up, causing him to crane his head up. Much to the disgust and unintentional amusement to some, of those in the crowd close enough in proximity to hear me. "Eighteen may be a bit too old to talk to your pet like that but I don't give a fuck. Miso can kick ass and be adorable simultaneously, he is a Boss." I thought as I practically marched toward the Emperor's last know whereabouts.

While thinking of how bombass my fox was I unintentionally bumbled into someone at the entrance to the Hyuuga District. "S sorry are you...ok?" I mumbled out with a stutter and a crimson face, I am not easily embarrassed but when I am I always react like an idiot. Also, I just happened to have bumped into the Emperor, who isn't very fond of me on a regular day, particularly when I tackle him. Dear God, I hate being in public so much..."Well, this is Fan-tucking- fastic." I mumbled in my head only to get my demon's, Kurama the Nine-Tailed Fox, laughter in response.

The Emperor stated he was on his way to talk to the Uzumaki Clan head for the monthly report so I offered to lead him to my house to talk to my Mom since my Aunt was away on a mission along with my Uncle. He nodded and wordlessly followed me home as I gave my report regarding the Waves Outpost, more specifically detailing the destruction my Brother and I caused with our Mokuton (Wood Style) and Hyoton (Ice Style) Kekkai Genkai (Bloodline Limit) abilities respectively.

When we arrived at my house my Mother let us in and asked if we wanted to have some tea. Well, actually she didn't ask me because tea tastes terrible to me so I grabbed some cola from the refrigerator. Shimura sat on his knees by the small table covered with two cups of tea and a cola, in the rather large living room of the building. I sat on the nearby couch with my mother eating a half- eaten sandwich that I had began devouring like three days ago...don't you wonder why I'm single?

He shifted the eternally present hood he wore, only revealing his jawline from the bottom of his nose to an apparently more comfortable position. He drank his tea slowly then looked at the onyx- eyed people before him with a gray colored iris that his hood had shifted to reveal. "I have considerable reason to believe there may be a turncoat in the village who could become a substantial threat." My eyes widened in surprise, I don't recall there being a traitor from Konohagakure since before the formation of the Empire, if my memory from school rings true the last was during the reign of the Fifth Hokage...when we still had Kages.

However, my Mother merely put a hand on my shoulder and continued to keep her narrowing eyes on the Emperor. He slurped his tea loudly then continued. "I am aware that the general population of the Konoha district is particularly hostile towards those relating to your bloodline, you're Sister- in-law and her family included, Uzumaki. The traitor seems to harbor a strong hatred of your family and his only motive is your utter extermination to ease his desire for vengeance."The Emperor said as his tan hands started to subconsciously tighten and crack the teacup. I remained seated with a grimace. "So did you tell the Hyuuga this as well? Or did you really take their report?." Is asked before blushing at my inability to read the mood. My mother merely shook her head with a smile at my random burst of hyperactivity that the Uzumaki are known for. Shimura frowned and said in a stern, commanding tone. "No...they received similar information. You will not pursue this target in any way, Raven. You are a Jinchūriki and a superb ROOT member, hence, you are an effective tool of the empire that can't be used it slaughter any old pig that stumbles to our door. Acts of recklessness such as this is exactly what caused your Father's death." I frowned and merely sighed in exasperation.

"I see no reason I can't. If I were to die, which I highly doubt, then the twins could be given halves if the Kyūbi so there would be no risk there. Also, I don't really care what you or anyone else thinks about anything, especially my father. I have been considering transferring to the ANBU since they seem to put team cohesion ahead of appearance like One does, sir." I said before Shimura's infamous temper bore its ugly head. "He let his paternal instincts for you cloud his judgment and cost this nation a skilled S -rank Shinobi. He was a failure as a warrior and died for a sociopathic, bed- ridden, antisocial broken weapon of a son." He said as he stood to his feet with a growl. I smirked. "Well, Minato Namikaze died for someone he saw as important, Naruto Uzumaki, my grandfather and a fellow Jinchūriki, who created the Empire you adopted." The older man's glare darkened but his countenance remained motionless. "The idea of a Konoha that dominated the world was created by my father, Danzo Shimura, a man that was the denotation of a true Shinobi. He wasn't a failure that let his emotions guide him to an early death." I sighed, I really didn't expect to speak this much today or to get in a dick measuring contest with the fucking Emperor either. I once again tapped into my snarky black heart and fired a load of verbal artillery. "If Grandpa Sasuke wasn't bullshitting me he said that Danzo hid like a bitch multiple times in battle. He hid underground with his illegal Root forces while Orochimaru and his Oto and Suna forces decimated the village and assassinated the Sandaime Hokage. " I started as I flashed my Sharingan for added effect. "All that meticulous planning only to die because he assumed someone would be humane in a fight, he who brainwashed children to be emotionless, never imagined Sasuke would be heartless enough to kill his own minion in the process. Ironic that some one who fled death so long was killed by a 16-year-old rogue Genin." I said with a haughty tone as possible.

Shimura drew a Wakizashi, that was immediately cloaked in sickly yellow wind chakra, swinging in a diagonal arc towards my shoulder. I met the challenging blade with my pitch black Ninjatō, cloaked in my own amber wind chakra, our blades created loud cracks of escaping pressure to pound our ears as we fought for dominance. My mother surrounded Shimura's back and neck with more razor-sharp icicles than I could count in seconds before stepping before I and declared in a voice that exhibited finality. "You are leaving Shimura -san and you will never speak to any of my children without my attendance for here on out. Kirisuto, you will go to your room and rest. " I nodded and turned to leave as Shimura pleaded as he was being led out. "Forgive m..." My Mother held up her hand and silenced the man standing in the doorway, she sighed and rubbed her eyes before starting to speak. "I lost my husband years ago, my parents as a teen and have had little to no contact with others on a monthly basis, so forgive me if my communication skills are rusty. But if you ever threaten any of my family again, especially in front of me, I will kill you where you stand. I won't challenge you at duel, or fight, I will simply slaughter you like a dog before you can even comprehend my actions. Goodnight Shimura -san." Was what my mother said I avoided radiating with barely reigned in hatred.

I snickered as I walked to my room; unaware of the dire events that'd occur tonight.

Chapter End