*Intro Updated 01-19-09*
Hey guys, this is my first story so I hope you won't be too hard on me ^_^. I was inspired to make it after thinking about who would win in a battle between Toph and Gaara, which led me to consider the pros and cons of ninjutsu vs. bending arts. I hope what follows will be enjoyable for you ^_-
Just so you know, this story uses anything that happens in the Naruto Japanese manga up to the most recent chapter. As such, it contains some spoilers. You've been warned!
Timeframe note: In the Avatar world, this story occurs 3-4 years after the defeat of Fire Lord Ozai. In the Naruto world, the story picks up after Shippuuden 141 (when Sasuke forms Hawk after killing Uchiha Itachi.) It basically centers around the timeframe when Konoha is preparing for the attack by Pain, which never comes. Instead he finds out something which causes him to choose a different path.
Given the timeframe, at the start of this story these canon events are taking place: Most of the Konoha ninja are in the village trying to unlock the riddle of Pain. Naruto is off getting sage training with the frogs. Yamato, Anko, and Sai are on their "track Kabuto" mission. Team Gai is also out on a mission.
However, Sasuke has decided to not capture the 8-tails after a certain "event," which drives this story ^_^
This work is a crisis crossover that will reshape both worlds in its aftermath, as well as giving some insight into what may have happened to Aang and his friends after their oh-so-happy ending in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Of course, I do not own Naruto or Avatar at all, and in fact I'm indebted to them for opening up my imagination and getting me to write again! Don't sue me ^_^
Any that's enough talking from me, please enjoy the first part of Ashes to Ashes: The Seventh Path of Pain
Chapter 1: The False Mountain
"Your loyal puppets have clipped their own strings, eh?"
"If only I had known their meeting would cause this much trouble... but there's still an opportunity to be had in all this."
"Oh? Do tell."
"This development will sow the seeds of chaos in the ninja world that I have dreamed of, giving us ample opportunity to capture the remaining tailed beasts."
"So you plan to catch Naruto by yourself, even with Nagato and Sasuke acting on their own?"
"Don't worry, Zetsu. The puppets think they are free, but they are still dancing along to my tune. Besides, the one who has joined them will never be defeated by Naruto's ultimate power."
"Is that so? So even the mighty Madara is afraid of the rasengan?"
"I wasn't referring to that pathetic excuse for a jutsu. I was talking about his ability to open people's hearts, which I'm afraid Nagato might yet be susceptible to. If he confronted Naruto directly I would be afraid of him wavering. The girl, however, will have no such qualms when it comes time to crush him."
"I'd like to see that! I'd better be off then, I don't want to miss out on my front row seat."
"Don't forget the popcorn."
– – – – – – –
Yamato, Anko and Sai glided quickly over the treetops on the latter's painted hawks come-to-life. The forest rushed underneath them in a blur, and Anko noted how similar the dense canopy was to that endless ocean from her past.
The ocean, Orochimaru, Kabuto...
"Anko, stay sharp," Yamato clipped. "I'm sorry too that we couldn't continue the hunt for Kabuto, but you know this mission takes precedence over everything!"
"Sorry," Anko said, snapping back to her senses. "Are we getting close?"
Yamato shielded his eyes against the harsh sun. "Yeah, it's straight ahead."
"Isn't this the border with the Wind Country?" Sai asked out. Looming in the distance were the mountains marking the border with the Fire Country's allies. "Is there really something important out here?"
Yamato pulled his bird closer to Sai's and gave him his patented no-nonsense death stare. "It's more than important. It's the location of a closely guarded seal that is more valuable than the tailed beasts, than our lives even. That seal is now, impossibly, breaking down. We can't let that happen." Sai recoiled in horror and decided he'd better fear his captain more than the mission, as usual.
"At any rate, Team Gai should be on a mission in this area as well," Anko pointed out. "We won't be all alone out here."
The hawks neared the first mountain in the range, which began to shimmer and flicker like a desert mirage. They were nearly 50 feet above and in front of the peak and getting closer.
"Be ready for anything," Yamato warned. "Whoever is breaking the seal must have been powerful enough to take out the squad of ANBU guardi..."
Suddenly a huge flash of light shot out of the peak of the mountain, sending shockwaves out in all directions.
"Shit! I'm losing my chakra control!" Sai yelled. "We're not gonna make it!"
The ninjas clutched their hawks as they shot forward with all their might. The chakra beasts started to flicker and lose their forms before bursting completely back into dark, sticky ink. As they fell towards the earth, they had time to see that the top half of the mountain had completely disappeared, and was instead replaced by a totally smooth plateau 100 yards in diameter. The edges of the mountain had also turned into a sheer cliff face.
Anko quickly decided that any admonishment on the use of forbidden jutsu would preferable to smashing against that cliff. "Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" she called out, pointing her left hand skyward and her right hand toward her companions. Numerous green snakes shot, both catching Sai and Yamato around the waists, and creating an anchor with the top of the plateau. Anko shifted her weight and used her companions like a giant pendulum to swing them back up and over the top of the rim. All three landed unceremoniously on their bottoms
"Thanks, I, um, owe you one." Sai said, while trying not to freak out about the slimy snake wrapped around his taut, exposed belly. Yamato simply averted his eyes, not wanting to be reminded yet again of the techniques that came courtesy of Orochimaru.
"Just buy me some dango later if you really want to make me happy." With that, Anko retracted her snakes and stood up to brush herself off. By this time the light's intensity had receded, and in it's place the ninjas could see its source. A giant red gate stood in the center of the vanished mountain-top, its massive doors slowly opening and giving off a pale glow. Around it lay the broken bodies of the ANBU squad. Four smashed sealing pillars the shape of black obelisks were set in a square pattern around the gate.
"What's going on?" Sai exclaimed. "Wasn't there just a mountain here?"
Yamato recoiled in shock. "We're too late. Those sealing pillars formed a powerful barrier / genjutsu to keep that gate hidden. This is its true form. Now that it's broken..."
"Something's coming out!"
The gate had opened widely enough by that point for a person to get through, and no sooner had it when a group of four helmeted soldiers in black and red rushed out towards them. There faces were obscured by visors, and they bore no headbands.
"What exactly is that gate, Captain?" Sai asked, completely puzzled.
Before Yamato could answer, one of the soldiers leapt into the air and shot his hand forward, sending a rushing column of fire straight towards the trio. Anko rolled swiftly to the left, Yamato to the right. Sai, who had been standing in the middle, staggered backwards and fell straight off the edge of the plataeu. "Sai!" Anko called out.
"He'll be ok. Try not to get yourself burned to a crisp." No sooner had Yamato said that then several more shots of fire blasted towards them. Both ninjas took off running, Yamato at an angle towards the gate, and Anko around the rim of the cliff.
I have to reseal that gate, Yamato thought. But what is with these guys? They don't look like ninja, and they certainly aren't forming hand-seals to pull off those fire Jutsu.
Yamato looked over at Anko fighting with two of the soldiers who had caught up with her. The soldiers came at her with leg sweeps and jabs, each of which was accentuated by a burst of fire. Anko was desperately trying to form seals, but she was fully occupied in dodging her assailants. Suddenly, a group of ink jutsu mice pored over the rim and jumped at the soldiers. They crouched down at shot fire at them, but they exploded on contact and spattered like oil left to cook too long in a fire. The helmeted soldiers jumped back to avoid them and hesitated for a brief moment.
"Thanks Sai, now's my chance. Let's fight fire with fire." Anko quickly set her hands and fleshed out the Snake-Dragon-Rabbit-Tiger seals in rapid succession. "Fire Element: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" She pursed her lips, sending out a torrent of flame which reared it's head up as a great dragon. It considered its targets for a moment before hurtling down towards the two hapless soldiers.
They aren't even trying to dodge, Anko noticed. I've got them!
Suddenly both soldiers bent at the knees with their hands up palm-up towards the fiery beast. In a single motion they split their hands in opposite directions, and the dragon cleaved in half, its flames harmlessly shooting off to their sides.
"What in the world?" Anko barely had to wonder how her attackers had dissolved her jutsu before they lunged at her. One went for a low sweep and took out her legs, while the other caught her in the gut with a jump kick which sent her plummeting off the edge.
– – – – – – – –
That's chapter 1, thanks for reading all the way! Any comments would be greatly appreciated, even constructive criticism! I have the story planned out quite a bit, so if you're interested I will keep it up. Also, sorry that there's only a few nameless firebenders in this chapter, but chapter 2 will explore the Avatar world a bit, I promise!
