Well, I'm back! And now, I'm in Naruto mode (the reason I haven't really been working on my other story... Gomen!) I started writing this several weeks ago, due to boredom while one of my teachers were giving a lecture. (I think it was my math teacher...) Anyways, I have some plans for this story, and I'm trying to be much more descriptive! Be prepared for several paragraphs of DESCRIPTIONS! (le gasp!) This is an Alternate Universe, and it takes place shortly after Naruto and gang return from their mission to Sand to rescue Gaara, so there are going to be spoilers FOR THE MANGA! Not the anime, for the anime isn't that far yet (I wish it was... Deidara and Tobi are my favorites! And Obito... but he's dead... (cry...))
Roy: We've been replaced... By ninjas...
Marth: (throws kunai at Roy) Come Roy! This is fun!
Roy: Whatever. Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!
Tobi: (stumbles in and hit head) Yowch! Hello, I'm Tobi. I'm going to join Akatsuki someday!
Deidara: (snorts) As if. Aru doesn't own anything except her characters
Obito: Well, here goes nothing...
Chapter 1 – Old Team, New Mission – Kawagakure's Team Claw
The sky was dark, the clouds frowning down upon the forest, growling and letting out flashes of cold light. Rain then began to fall in sheets, soaking everything in such little time. Eventually, hail began to fall, each stone the size of a large pebble. Smaller animals fell to the dangerous stones as their bodies were smacked, fragile bones being shattered, death lurking in the shadows.
Then there was a break in the forest; a large village, half protected by a tall jagged cliff, the normally golden sandstone dulled under the pressing rain and hail. At the point created by the meeting of the cliffs, a roaring cascade fell into a large circular pool, which was surrounded by intricate patterns of stone and plants with the likeness of animals implanted in the stone. A small river ran from the pool, joining with other small creeks flowing from under the cliff.
The hail slacked off, leaving the pouring rain to gush from the skies.
A tall wall protected the front half of the village. The center was graced with a large gate, the kanji for "Beast" inscribed across the two doors. The further away from the gate one went, the thicker the walls got. Every two hundred feet, there was a tower where the guards watched relentlessly.
The village was colorful, with gentle sloping roofs of numerous colors and shades. There were wide streets, filled with mud and melting hail. Not a living soul was in sight, though several lights shone through the sheets of icy rain. Decorations of all types were still out, getting thoroughly soaked through. The buildings were only the heart of the village, though. The area between the inner village and the outer village were training areas, each with forests, clearings, and the river flowing from the pool at the point of the cliffs. A wide trail led the way from gate to the inner village, with ornate bridges with roofs to keep the bridge from being too slippery or to shade the casual passerbyer.
In front of the cascade, a long bending building sat, protection the village's wonder and also acting as office for the village's strong leader, the Godaime, Yajuukage, or Beast Shadow. The village was named for each of the village's citizens, who seemed to have a way with animals. The stronger shinobi could also summon, though none but the highest leveled shinobi of the village could summon the Lord Animals of their summon contract. The name was Kawagakure, or Village Hidden in Fur. Or, for short, just Kawa.
In one of the more remote training areas, two figures flitted through the rain. They were covered in mud, but the rain was rapidly washing it away. As the figures met, there was a kachink! Sound as kunai met kunai. The figures disappeared, only to meet again several feet away. As the attacked again, going in for a kill, a small pig with a headband sporting a metal plaque with a paw print appeared, blocking both kunai expertly.
"Yajuukage has summoned you." The pig spoke in a high squeaky voice, its snout twitching thoughtfully.
"Now what does the old man want?" one of the figures asked.
The figure was a girl with wild obsidian hair, plastered to her head by the rain and deep azure blue eyes. She wore a long jacket with the kanji for "storm" and "fire" on the back. The cloth was normally snow white, but now it was muddy brown. The kanji were blue gray in color, but they were hidden beneath the wet mud. At the bottom of the coat, which ended at her heels, the snow white turned blood red. Most villagers believed the red was a bloodstain from the girl's many higher ranked missions, including several assassinations. Under the coat, she wore a dark steel gray t-shirt with a chain link shirt peeking through underneath. On the corner of her shirt was her clan symbol – three blood red slash marks cutting across a silver circle. On her hip sat the traditional ninja pouch, its leather worn out with use. She wore coal black khakis with the traditional shuriken and kunai holster on her right thigh. Her khakis ended halfway down her slender calves, where tape took over. Finally, coal black shinobi shoes graced her feet. On her wrists she wore wrist protectors was the same paw print the pig had. Her hands were half hidden with fingerless gloves to match the rest of her outfit. Her wild hair was held back by a Kawa hitai ate forehead protector, proudly sporting a paw print.
The other figure also had wild raven hair, though shorter, and had one onyx black eye and one dark green eye. Over his eyes he wore orange tinted pearl-framed goggles, which covered his ears yet still allowed full access to hearing. He wore a dark navy-blue jacket with an orange collar and matching trim with navy blue khakis held up with a white clip-together belt. His khakis also stopped halfway down his calves and were taped down to his shinobi shoes. He wore his ninja pouch just above his rear and his holster on his right thigh, just above his knee. His hitai ate sat just above his goggles. His hands were hidden by black gloves with a steel plate bearing the same paw print as the hitai ate.
"He wants to tell you himself." The pig told them, wagging its little curly pink tail.
"Sure thing. Hope he doesn't mind us being muddy." The boy chuckled. "Let's go, Mai."
"Hai, Obito." The girl smirked as she put her now chipped kunai into her holster.
The two shinobi and the hog disappeared in an instant, jumping from tree to tree to building, until the arrived just outside the Yajuukage's office. They entered, still dripping wet, their shoes squeaking slightly on the marble floor. The pig led the way through the lobby, by-passing the masked hunter-nin, also called ANBU, until they came to a stairway. They climbed a couple flights of stairs, passing many different people--it was a busy time since their country, Beast Country, was at war with Rice Field country and Wind Country, though the two were also at war with each other, giving Runa a bit of relief. The three saw decrytors, spies, and tons of paper work. But they were used to the hustle bustle, and continued on.
Two ANBU stood protectively outside the main office. Both Mai and Obito nodded to the ANBU, both having known what it was like having guard duty.
"The Yajuukage has been expecting you." One of the ANBU nodded to them, his face hidden behind a bear mask. The ANBU pushed the large doors open and led the way inside.
The office looked down upon the crystalline pool and garden. A protective cover had been put on the maroon plush carpet to protect it from the wet feet of coming and going shinobi. There were three pictures on one of the invitingly warm maroon walls, each a former Yajuukage. Not one was smiling, their serious faces strange in the warm and inviting room. A cherry wood desk was in the middle of the room, perpendicular to the thick glass window. The desk was only home to a small stack of important documents, a hog shaped paperweight, a set of paintbrushes, and a handful of blank scrolls. In an extremely comfortable looking chair, its leather matching the maroon walls as it had a soft, used, overstuffed look to it, was sitting an older man looking to be in his sixties or so.
The old man wore a large rice hat, the kanji for "Beast" inscribed in blue on its white background with streamers hanging off the sides and back. His robe matched the hat; its flannel material folded neatly in bunches as he sat, looking rather comfortable. His hair had long gone white in color, though once it had been a rather intense brown in color, matching his deep, elderly brown eyes. These eyes could tell you they definitely had more wisdom than the other two in the room put together had. A pale scar ran down his elderly face in a slashing look, telling that this man deserved his current place.
"Ah. Shiki Mairu and Ookami Obito. You're early for once, Obito." The old man chuckled warmly.
"Yes, well, there weren't any old ladies out in the rain calling for help." Obito chuckled.
"Well, we still have to wait for the rest of your team." The old man patted the little pig as she trotted smugly over to him.
"Are we finally getting a mission?" Mai looked genuinely excited. Though she was now nearly twenty eight years old, she was truly a kid at heart. Some said it was due to how serious she had been during the war fifteen years earlier.
"Yes, you are. This is a pretty important one too." The Yajuukage looked serious now. Mai and Obito nodded, dropping their happy-go-lucky demeanor. Just at that moment, the door was opened behind them again, the ANBU having not stayed in the room with them.
A man, his hair bright red in contrast to gentle sky blue eyes, stood in the doorway. He wore a large jacket, the material thick and unyielding, colored red with white trim. His body was a bit on the thicker side, though that gave him an advantage when it came to brute strength. He wore white khakis that were cut off at the knee, where he taped them down to the ankle, joining with his blue shinobi shoes. His hitai ate headband was around his upper arm, leaving room for a simple black headband with the kanji "Wolf" on it in beige thread. The headband kept his long unruly hair out of his face. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail that fell halfway down his back. He also had a steel arm guard on his left arm, and two shinobi pouches hanging from a nearly invisible red belt. His holster was on his left thigh. His clan symbol, a fang and tooth, half red, half white, and outlined in black, was on the sleeve of his jacket and on the back of his jacket.
Behind him was a rather smaller man, with very short pale brown hair. His outfit consisted of extra dark sunglasses that hid his eyes entirely and a white obi. His hitai ate sat on his forehead where it was supposed to go. At his side was a forest green bag, a black bear's paw print imprinted. There were a couple dark stains that were from blood. On the white obi, the bear's paw print was seen again, for this was his clan's crest. His shinobi shoes were white as well, giving someone the impression of a medic. There were brown splotches on the white though, due to the storm outside. He had a holster on both his thighs, seeing as he was just as deadly with his left as he could be with his right hand.
"Ah, so the team is almost assembled." The Yajuukage nodded to the newcomers.
"You called, Buta-sama?" the pale brown haired man asked.
"Yes, Kangehei Tsume. And Ookami Akai. Say, Akai, Obito, how has the clan been?" Buta, the Yajuukage asked the boys.
"Not very good. The family disease has been spreading pretty wild. I've taken to staying with Obito most of the time." Akai, the red head closed the door behind them and took a seat on the ground.
"Maybe the Kangehei should take a look at your clan…?" Tsume spoke up, running a hand through his pale hair.
"I think so, but Kaa-san is still being her old proud self." Akai sighed. He was coming to twenty-eight years of age, but he never actually acted his age. Sometimes he'd seem older, more mature, and sometimes he would be like Mai, and be a young teenager.
"Well, let me at least take a look at you later, alright?" Tsume asked. Tsume was twenty-seven like Mai and Obito. He always acted more mature than Mai, Obito, and Akai put together. His families were known medic-nins, and Tsume was no exception. Each member was also able to summon a bear familiar, thus a bear's paw print as the family crest.
"So who else is on our team for this mission, Yajuukage-sama?" Mai asked, looking at the other team members. In fact, Mai, Tsume, and Akai had been on a genin team together. After a mission, they had gained Obito for a five-man team, including their sensei.
"I'm the last member." Another figure entered the room. Mai's face lit up. "Sensei!"
A man with silver streaked black hair stepped into the room. His hair was tied back similar to Akai's hair, though his was shorter. He had bright blue eyes that seemed to be laughing and a smile on his face. He wore a long light blue jacket similar to Mai's, only it had short sleeves and ended at the knees. Tape was wound around his legs from the knee down, connecting to boot style shinobi shoes. His hitai ate was also on his forehead, half hidden behind the wild bangs of his hair. A scar on his cheek gave him a ruffian look, though many of the village's single women often said that it made him "sexier" in a rough sort of way. A katana came out over his shoulder, the entire handle and scabbard a rich obsidian black. A single strap held the sword to his back. Under the coat was a black shirt with chain armor beneath in the same fashion as Mai. His pants were plain and black as well, ending at the knees. His shuriken holster was on his right thigh. On the back of his jacket was the three blood red slash marks across a silver circle; the Shiki Clan Crest.
"Ah, and last but not least, Shiki Tsuki." The Yajuukage chuckled. "How we got two families onto one team, I'll never know. But now that everyone's here, I'll begin explaining the mission."
Sitting in a semicircle, with Tsuki in the middle, the five shinobi looked to their Yajuukage with complete respect and a tinge of excitement.
"You actually have about three missions. The overall mission is to repay Konoha for a debt we owed them." Obito gulped at this. "I have sent a message to Lady Tsunade, and she agrees that the debt would be best paid off soon. She told me she has a couple s-ranked missions. The next mission is to befriend Konoha and become allies. By paying off this debt, we should be able to do so. Finally, Tsunade has warned me that the Suna's Kazekage is in town. This is our best chance to make amends with at least the Wind Country's ninja. Now remember that though the Kazekage is only about fifteen years old, he is indeed a Jinchuuriki, and therefore possibly above your level in expertise, though there has been a rumor that he no longer has his Bijuu."
"But that's impossible!" Mai spoke out. Tsuki shot her a warning glance, but Yajuukage nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. But one of the Suna villagers knew a technique to sacrifice their own life to bring someone back, and they did just that."
The room went silent. No one said a word, as their minds rushed to their lost loved ones. Only Obito seemed unaffected, though he had been terribly sad at the funeral for the man who's eye he now used. After a polite cough from the Yajuukage, they returned their attention to the man.
"Due to some of your… pasts… I'm going to have you go in your ANBU uniforms. Or at least wear your masks." At this, the Yajuukage looked to Obito, who laughed hollowly. " You know the normal rules for missions that last longer than a week. You are to meet at the gate by nine-tomorrow morning, with all your supplies. Remember, this is a half-year mission, or until Tsunade lets you go or your missions are completed. The leader for this mission is Tsuki. I will meet you at the gate with your passes. Do not be late." Each member automatically caught onto the code. Obito, who didn't know the code, simply nodded. The code was "meet at noon" instead of nine, seeing as Obito was constantly late.
"Alright, dismissed. Be ready." The Yajuukage waved them off, patting the two ninja-pigs. "I'll meet you at the gate."
The five shinobi stopped in a group down in the lobby. "Alright, it's been forever since we've gotten a mission!" Akai couldn't help but feel excited.
"Akai, don't forget your extra clothes like the last mission we had." Tsume lectured. Obito and Mai gave a visible shudder, while Tsuki laughed. That had been nearly a failed infiltration mission, due to the odor on Akai's clothes. It wasn't body odor though, since Akai was actually quite the clean freak. Rather, it was the smell from the food that Akai liked to eat.
"At least its not infiltration this time. It's a right out entrance. Do you think Konoha has some decent hot springs?" Mai asked. She was impartial to hot springs, but she rarely was able to actually take a break in them, between her jam packed training schedule and clan duties.
"I'm sure they do. It's Fire Country, so how could they not? I've heard they're second or third best in the world, next to Water Country's hot springs." Tsume fixed his sunglasses. "Obito?"
"Yeah, I never really went to them though. I know my old sensei used to love going to the hot springs with his sensei before the Sannin all left Konoha."
"Oh yeah, the legendary Sannin. Are they really as strong as everyone says they are?" Tsuki asked his old student, showing no sign of jealousy. He was a happy-go-lucky kind of man, but when need be, he could be more serious than Tsume.
"Yeah! They're probably better than Yajuukage-sama, sorry. I've heard that one of the three are now Konoha's Hokage, another is Oto's, and the third is working in Konoha directly under the Hokage. He's also the writer of those Icha Icha Paradise books." Obito laughed hollowly.
"Well, its about time we go get ready. Remember, nine at the gates. Don't be late." Tsuki turned to go. "Oh, and Mai, stop at my house sometime tonight." He waved to his team then disappeared out into the rain.
The three boys looked at Mai. "What?"
"Why does he want you to go to his house, Mai-Chan?" Akai grinned. He was the oldest of the group, nearly seven months older than Obito, eight months older than Tsume, and eleven months older than Mai. Only Tsuki, who was thirty-eight, ten years older than Akai, was the true oldest member of the team.
"Akai, you and your dirty mind. He's my uncle, you idiot!" Mai playfully smacked Akai's rather large shoulder. Being the only female of the group could be quite trying.
"Excuse me, but could you move along? We're quite busy as it is without a group of idiots just standing about." An ANBU called. The group got the point, and with promises of meeting at the local ramen house, they set of to get ready.
Well? What do you think? The next chapter has the more known characters. Actually... The only character anyone could know in this is Obito... And everyone loves Obito, right? Right?
Obito: Um... That's okay, Aru... I don't think I need a bunch of fangirls and boys.
Tobi: But that's the best part of being an anime character!
Deidara: Even if you're dead. But how could anyone dislike these looks? (poses)
Shikamaru: Troublesome.
Kankurou: Well, we'd better not let Shikamaru be the one to say "Review!" He'd probably just say...
Shikamaru: Review unless its Troublesome.
Kankurou: Exactly.
All: Review!
