This is the Sequal to Dark Jewel of the Leaf Village. Krysta, Varundo and Jivana are back and having problems adjusting to life in the Blood Creed City Yukusha. When a Tournement is made to find Yukusha's strongest warrior and Orochimaru signs up, the three try everything to aviod a tragedy. There's also some new characters to enjoy! Enjoy reading. BlackCrystal34
Chapter 1
Bleeding Hearts
Some time had past since Krysta had brought life back to Yukusha, home of the rouge Ninja Clan, the Blood Creed. Since that grand day Krysta's life had drastically changed. She had been thrust into the role of leading this complex and unpredictable sect of Ninja with the added difficulty of bringing them up to speed with the times. Since the sealing of Yukusha many years had past and so those who lived within were still fighting, thinking and acting to those old styles. Yukusha was a town totally built of stone and so was seen to be sturdy and strong and it was centred around The Temple of Stars, a place where unlike many of the Ninja sects the Blood Creed had priests whose job was to read the stars and advise their leader and any about to be fighting Ninjas of what the outcome of any fights might be. The head priest's name was Chihaku and he would often speak to Krysta of her new duties and explain to her how things worked. Understandably Krysta was often left confused and exhausted at the end of the day, she blamed all Chihaku's constant lectures on her inexperience and youth, it wasn't every sect you found a seventeen-year-old running the place. She lived now above the shrine in a sort of semi apartment semi palace looking place from where she could see all of Yukusha, as it's many houses circled around the shrine seeming to fill a floor pattern almost disturbingly like the rune of the Plasma Seal.
Not everything had been stressful though, her first acts as leader were to have a large stone wall built around the outside of Yukusha to protect it from outsiders, there had been one but it had been destroyed by the fires of the sealing, as had much of the city to begin with. The rebuild had been hard for everyone but even she pitched in to help and she had added a few new things. Outside the Shrine stood statues of Blood Creed heroes and past leaders and Krysta had ordered statues of her parents built alongside them, something Chihaku was happy to allow. In her bedroom where she was now was a bed covered in red silks and a large rug in black and gold covered in different runes and symbols. There were a few personal items and something that Krysta had made herself. The Plasma Star now being inside her, whilst it had alleviated her blood lust, now gifted her with strange new powers both for fighting but for self appreciation also. She had carved herself a gemstone-like statue and hid it her room under a red silk, it was her secret, something she kept close to her even though it hurt her sometimes.
Krysta looked over her new world and sighed, in the night the stars would illuminate the sky so beautifully here, it was said this was why the founders of Yukusha had chosen this spot. The new rune on her chest would glow dimly at night, it always felt warm.
"Yukusha is so nice now, it's like it was never destroyed," came a friendly voice. Krysta turned and saw Jivana and Varundo her good friends at the door. They often came to see her when they weren't fulfilling their new role of teaching the new Genin and Chunin that came to the Shrine, much like the academy in the Leaf Village. Krysta would sometimes teach too but it was not something Chihaku would let her do often, he felt she had too much to learn herself before teaching others.
"I'm glad I could restore it," smiled Krysta going over to them.
"The ninja in this place are really tough, even some of the Genin aren't easy pushovers, even for us," laughed Varundo.
"We will one day have a refreshed militia for which to fulfil Yukusha's wishes, just think Krysta, at your young age you could easily end up running the world," smiled Jivana.
"I'm having a hard enough time running Yukusha," sighed Krysta going back to the window. Varundo looked at Jivana and left, he felt it best that Jivana talk with her alone.
"You're doing fine, Chihaku's helping you right?" said Jivana coming over.
"Yes, but there's so much to learn and so much that depends on me, it's not like before when I just led you and Varundo on mission after pointless mission. Sometimes I feel like I could use a hand with the responsibility, you know?" she replied looking out again.
"Do you feel lonely?" Jivana asked.
"Since my blood lust died I've felt a lot more calm, it's like when I was a kid, but I know I can't be a kid it's just, being heartless is a lot more difficult once you have one again," she smiled embarrassed.
"You always had a heart Krysta, but I know what you mean, you weren't always as mean and mad as you became known to be, at least you're not klutzy anymore," giggled Jivana.
"No, and somehow my power is still growing and I still hate the Leaf Village, I still want them to pay," she almost snapped, "it's just difficult sometimes, I mean, you have Varundo."
"And you have both of us," Jivana replied, "but we can't help you with everything, we understand even less than you."
"It's not your fault, I guess I'm just down, I shouldn't take it out on you two, after all, I made a promise, I know you can still help me fulfil it," said Krysta turning back to her wanting affirmation.
"Krysta, you're still planning to go through with what you said that day? You're still young there's plenty of time for you to make your own heir, there are loads of men in Yukusha, surly one will make you forget him," said Jivana saddened that he still haunted Krysta so.
"I don't want to love again Jivana, you and Varundo are all I want to care about, and maybe the people but never another man, it, it just isn't me," replied Krysta sadly issuing her friend leave her. Once she was gone she threw the silk off of the marble statue and glared at it hatefully.
"It feels like eternity since we were together, and still you refuse to leave my dreams, you won't break me Orochimaru, I told you, I can live without you, even if I don't want to!" she shouted angrily. The statue truly was of him created to his exact height and dimensions, he had his hands and arms gestured forwards as if to embrace her but the look on his face though it was a smile was there to remind her of the evil he truly was.
The next day Krysta came down into the temple to watch the training that was going on. Chihaku met her at the door. He was dressed in a hooded white robe with a red trim and he had a small grey beard and pale blue eyes. He was a rather old man but still very kindly and had been advisor to the previous king.
"Lady Krysta, good morning," he said bowing slightly.
"Hello Chihaku, is there anything for me to take care of today?" Krysta asked hoping that for once he would tell her no.
"Several things," he said and Krysta rolled her eyes disappointed again.
"First there is a meeting of the Yukushan spies in the alter room, and then the counsel is to convene and then…" he started but Krysta interrupted him.
"Yukushan spies! You mean there were others then my parents?" she gasped.
"Of course, come they are waiting," smiled Chihaku leading her to the alter room. As the name suggests it was the room where there was a hole in the roof looking up to the stars and beneath was an alter and a small pedestal where the Plasma Star used to be on display. Inside there were several strong looking Ninja teams of two and three each wearing bandanas of their respective adopted villages.
"We look to the stars!" they all said when they saw her, Krysta was a little surprised.
"May they shine their light upon you," said Chihaku and the Ninja all nodded.
"What was that?" asked Krysta.
"The password of course, the blessing of the star given to those who long for it, an ancient teaching," he replied.
"Lady Krysta, this is our first meeting, we all thank you for releasing us," said a young woman with long orange hair and a crimson battle suit wearing a grass village bandana.
"Umm thanks," said Krysta going to look at them. They all split into their groups and Krysta looked at their bandanas.
"Grass village, Sand village, Rain village but of course no Leaf Village, or Sound Village," sighed Krysta.
"That's odd, Jun, Yumako and Kumico should be here," questioned a young male with silver hair and wearing a rain bandana.
"My parents are dead," snapped Krysta.
"Your, parents…" he replied shutting up.
"It's ok, but you make a good point, Chihaku, where is Kumico, I want to speak with him," she glared at Chihaku.
"Your parents died outside the town Krysta, surely, Kumico was with them," replied Chihaku.
"No Kumico died in the sealing, just like everyone else, now where is he," she continued still annoyed.
"They survived the sealing, they escaped, how, we were all taken by surprise?" asked the woman from the grass village.
"A friend led them out of there, they died when they returned to the Leaf Village," she replied dully.
"I'm sorry Krysta, we've seen neither hide nor hair of Kumico since we were resurrected," said Chihaku.
"Then perhaps the Star has done my job for me and obliterated him," she replied going back to the ninja around her, she went to the woman with orange hair.
"Your name?" she asked.
"Yuki m'lady, and this is my partner Shou," she replied indicating a tall man with brown hair and clothes beside her.
"You are stationed in the Grass Village? What's it like there?" she asked calmly.
"It's a big grassy plain, I don't know why they call it hidden really, you can see it for miles," she smiled happily. Krysta walked over to the man from the Rain Village.
"And your name is?" she asked.
"His name is Nukio and mine is Fytiko, I'm the leader of this group, this is my lovely partner Ryuna," smiled an arrogant blonde haired man from beside the weak looking Nukio.
"I see, and I guess it rains a lot in the Rain Village," she asked somewhat insolently.
"You'd be right there," giggled the carefree woman beside Fytiko, she was taller than Krysta and very lanky, her hair was a dyed and streaky blue, probably done to blend in with the Rain Ninja. Krysta went over to a set of shady looking Ninja, a man and a woman both with sandy hair and both sitting on large stones as if they didn't care she was there.
"And you are?" she asked a little unnerved.
"I'm Kiluta and this is Mikato, and the Sand Village is covered in Sand," said the girl dully.
"Right?" said Krysta going back to Chihaku.
"I don't get it Chihaku what am I meant to be doing?" she asked frustrated.
"They are about to return to their villages, hopefully the gap in time isn't long enough for the leaders to forget them, but this leaves the Leaf Village unscouted," replied Chihaku. Krysta thought for a moment.
"Leave that with me a while, much like finding spies for the Sound Village this will be a problem, both know we exist through knowing me," replied Krysta.
"Lady Krysta who are these Sound Ninja you speak of, surely they do not hide in sound waves, they would be microscopic?" asked Yukila.
"No, they are mysterious and evil led by a fearsome man who I have come to know quite well, their minds are sharp, it will be difficult to disguise our kind there, he knows what to look for, I am also unsure as to their location, even the encampment I occupied with them will be long since deserted by now," she explained.
"You are all dismissed, good luck and good gathering, may the stars protect you, with light and splendour," said Chihaku bowing and issuing them leave.
"You have often spoken with this evil man?" Chihaku asked.
"It's not your concern, he won't find us, that is the job of the wall, to keep those like him away, never to hurt us again," she sighed trying to seem strong.
"Ah the wall, that is what the counsel wish to speak about, you see, they believe that now we are back we should no longer hide, it is said your birth was to end our time of being hidden," replied Chihaku as they walked through the corridors.
"I simply wish to protect the people, there are many out there who still may long for the star, they may come here and lay waste to this place, we are still not strong enough, it's still too soon since the healing," she replied wisely.
"The counsel will heed your words, but there are issues here besides security, trade for instance," he told her.
"I see a balance is what you and the others wish for, well lets see if we can create one," replied Krysta walking into a large hall where her counsel were waiting for her.
Naruto and his friends were training on their own in the woods just outside the Leaf Village, since the threat of Krysta's Plasma Seal life was back to being quiet and uneventful, training was the only thing they could do to keep from being board, there were not very many missions coming to the Sensei's attention. Naruto was chasing Sasuke through the tree branches whilst Sakura watched happily from below giggling every time Naruto would run into a suddenly flapping branch, but determined as ever Naruto wouldn't let a little falling stop him and was back on pursuit. However soon he tiered out and they both came back to the ground.
"You can't catch me Naruto," smiled Sasuke.
"I will, one day…" panted Naruto.
"You're both getting better though, if he wasn't always falling out of the trees Naruto would have caught you Sasuke," giggled Sakura.
"Ah speed isn't a real test of our skills anyway," said Naruto.
"Oh really? Then what is?" smiled Sasuke. Naruto looked around until he saw a row of bushes in front of them.
"Lets throw kunai at those bushes, whoever throws them farthest wins," he replied grabbing a kunai.
"Oh Naruto that's so childish," snubbed Sakura.
"Hey if he wants me to humiliate him let him, you can try too if you want Sakura," said the ever arrogant Sasuke grabbing a kunai himself. They stood in a line before the bushes and looked towards them.
"See that tree behind them all, see if you can hit it," said Sasuke throwing the first kunai, it flew straight into the tree.
"Oh yeah, well I'll get it higher than you!" yelled Naruto throwing his, it hit the tree, at the roots anyway.
"Oh really?" said Sasuke, "your turn Sakura." Sakura giggled smiling and then threw her kunai, only her hand slipped and it went flying much lower than the others flying through the bushes until they heard someone cry out in pain.
"Oh no, I hit someone!" worried Sakura as they ran over.
Behind the bushes was a small clearing and sitting within with a kunai now stuck in his leg was an odd looking old man, he was sitting as though the kunai didn't bother him, despite the cry.
"I'm sorry sir are you hurt?" asked Sakura coming out of the bushes with the others. The old man had a long grey beard and spiky white hair that looked more like a lion's main despite it being tied back a little with a thin blue headband.
"Who's this guy, I've never seen him before?" asked Naruto as they walked over.
"Is this kunai yours little girl?" he asked in a calm tone.
"Yes, I'm sorry we were practising and I kinda slipped," she replied embarrassed.
"No worries," he said pulling the kunai out of his leg, it turned out it was made of wood!
"Hey that leg's fake," said Sasuke.
"But he cried out in pain?" asked Naruto.
"That was a cry of surprise, I was sitting here resting after a long wander when suddenly this kunai flew out of the forest and hit me, took me quite off guard it did, I'm certainly glad you youngsters aren't enemies," he smiled standing.
"Can we help you at all sir? Where do you live?" asked Sakura.
"Oh, a long way from here young'uns, in fact I've been a wandering around here a while trying to find a place called the Village Hidden in the Leaves, do you know of it?" he asked.
"Sure, we're actually Leaf Ninja ourselves," smiled Naruto.
"Is that a fact? Well I sure would appreciate a helping hand getting there, old bones you know," he asked them.
"Sure we can take you," said Sasuke and they led him back to the village.
Near the forest edge they met up with Kakashi, he looked at the old man puzzledly, something was a little odd, and it wasn't just the fake leg.
"This guy said he was trying to find the Leaf Village, we found him in the forest," said Naruto.
"You thought it was a good idea to bring a stranger here?" asked Kakashi amazed at such a dunderheaded plan.
"Well we kinda accidentally almost attacked him so it was the least we could do," stuttered Sakura.
"Oh no worries everything's ok, my name's Ocimuk, I've come because I need the help of some of your ninja's, I'm happy to pay any price," he smiled cheerfully.
"I see, come with me and I'll take you to Hokagi to explain yourself," replied Kakashi taking him away.
"Ocimuk? What kind of a name is that?" asked Sasuke sarcastically.
"I wonder if he's in some kind of trouble?" asked Sakura.
"Well, why don't we go find out," smiled Naruto excited and he ran off after them.
"Hey come back!" cried Sasuke following.
"Wait up!" called Sakura.
"You want to open the gates to travellers and traders!" cried Krysta having heard the counsel's concerns over her wall.
"Lady Krysta we are still fledgling in this land, the world has changed and we will require the knowledge and goods of these people in order to catch up," explained one of the priests.
"Krysta your birth was to bring Yukusha out of hiding, this is exactly that," explained Chihaku.
"I was also supposed to protect it and avenge the deaths of my parents; I didn't know when I brought Yukusha back all these people would re-emerge. Is your goal not the same as before? To rule over the other lands and conquer them?" she asked them calmly as she could.
"The Plasma Star sealed us away for such actions, whilst we still use our spies we are yet to decide if conquest is the right course of action, soon word will spread Yukusha is back and people will come here having searched for it, it would be wise to allow them entry," explained another priest.
"And what if they wish to harm us, many maybe coming once again looking for the Plasma Star, wishing to steal it, therefore wishing to obtain me. The Star is inside me, if conquest was wrong surly I would be suffering," she told them, "but I understand what you mean. I shall allow this, however post guards at every gate, if anyone so much as looks suspicious capture them, and if they are from the Leaf Village bring them to me!" Krysta left them she could not stand to talk with them any longer.
"Do as she says, for now this is a good compromise," said Chihaku.
"Such a thirst for the old ways, right now we need a thirst for the new," huffed one of the priests.
"Hukino we cannot go against her, she is the very voice and will, the embodiment of our magnificent Star, she is only thinking of our best interests. However we must make her useful. She is far too young for her role, I can teach her all I can but she requires the guidance of an elite Yukushan warrior, send word throughout the city, the greatest of our kind shall fight a tournament, the winner is to be named our Lady's partner, Yukusha will have a king and the Monolo family will be continued," decided Chihaku.
"I heard you have been searching for our village, how can we be of service?" asked the Hokagi when Kakashi had told him what had happened.
"My name is Ocimuk great Hokagi. I have come because I am in need of help, my daughter, she has disappeared," he explained respectfully. Hokagi sat upon his chair and wished him continue.
"We lived in a small village not too far from here and my daughter is a very intelligent archaeologist. I'm used to her coming and going at a moments notice but a few weeks ago I was left a note that she had gone somewhere totally different. Several months ago there was a red light piercing the sky on the horizon of our home, such a thing was an easy temptation for my daughter and I fear she has gone in search of it, all was well she always sends letters but then one day I received a letter stating she had found a completely unknown and unheard of city. Bustling with activity but surrounded by a huge wall, she said it's placing upon the edge of the desert ruled by the Sand Ninja could mean it was only one place, the city of Yukusha," he explained.
Suddenly Naruto and his friends crashed though the slide door they had been eavesdropping behind.
"Yukusha!" cried Naruto getting up.
"Naruto! Get out of here, this doesn't concern you!" snapped the Hokagi.
"You children know of Yukusha?" asked Ocimuk.
"We know it's ruled by a monster," said Sasuke numbly.
"Sasuke," shushed Kakashi.
"A monster!" exclaimed Ocimuk.
"Sir please Krysta isn't a monster, she's just misunderstood, forgive Sasuke, he still won't accept the truth," said Sakura calmly.
"So she really managed to bring Yukusha back, she, she really is strong," smiled Naruto.
"If your daughter has gone there, you won't see her again," continued Sasuke.
"Pay these children no heed sir, Kakashi get rid of them," said Hokagi embarrassed.
"No wait, these children know of that place, maybe they can help me. I have been to that place, my daughter called me there after saying she saw a strange being lurking the shadows. When I got there her camp, just on the wall, was deserted there was evidence of a struggle, I think they took her inside the walls," he explained.
"You are asking a suicide mission," said Hokagi.
"I told you, I'll pay you anything, and if these children know the leader of that place, then maybe they can secure my daughter's release. I'll take them," said Ocimuk.
"All right! A mission!" cheered Naruto.
"Naruto, this is too dangerous for you," said Kakashi.
"They are young, take Kakashi with you too, if your mission is successful then we shall talk about payment," said the Hokagi leaving.
"Thank you all, you have my gratitude," smiled Ocimuk. Kakashi looked at the old man warily a mission to Yukusha so soon after Krysta's idea of a truce, it was dangerous but they had no choice.