Author's note: Something I wanted to try out. I've been thinking about writing this for a while now, but haven't had the time. So I attempted this first chapter in third person, but it doesn't look like it's going to work out. This is the prolog anyway. *shrug* Keep in mind, the manga is still going on, so I won't be going completely after that. This is just how I wanted the war to end. :D Anyway, the rest of the story will probably be first person. We'll see. Let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Disclaimers: I own nothing but the plot.
Warnings: None.
Word Count: 2,725
The months following the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War were those of peace. The camaraderie between the four great nations has never been so strong. Everything between the nations changed after the war. Now they perform cooperation missions between the nations and the four kage are in constant communication. All past transgressions have been forgiven and the entire shinobi as a race is starting with a clean slate. War criminals such as Sasuke Uchiha and Obito Uchiha and Madara Uchiha and Orochimaru have been pardoned by lady Tsunade after the war was over along with the consensus of the other Kage. For the first time, in a long time, even predating the First Hokage's time, the world is united under one banner.
The three Uchiha returned to the Leaf village. Sasuke was able to slip back into his role in Team Seven, making it a six man squad, and was automatically promoted to Chunin as was Naruto. It didn't seem fair to make them fight against inexperienced Genin when they had such powerful jutsu in their arsenals. Obito also returned to his post but as a Jounin and often works close with Team Seven, along with his not-so-secret crush, Rin Nahara, who was brought back to life by the Second Hokage during the war to sate Obito's rage and curse. And Madara, along with his younger brother, Izuna, also returned to the village on principle. Madara is a family man. He may not like Sasuke and tolerates Obito, but they are still his kin, and he will stay with them. Izuna, not knowing anything else, clings to the only one that he knows, his elder brother.
Orochimaru went to Tsunade's side and became one of her advisers. A part of it was so that she could keep a close eye on him but also now that the snake Senin is of clear mind, the two were finally able to start to rekindle their lost friendship. And sometimes, on dark, drunken nights, the two would remember the friendship they once had as a team, including Hiruzen and Jiriya, and the loss of forementioned men.
There was a heartfelt goodbye between Naruto and Minato. The father told the son everything he would ever need. Everything he would ever need to hear from his father. "I love you, Naruto, and Kushina and I are proud of you." And with that, Minato smiled that dazzling, heart warming smile and left, body disapearing. Naruto cried so hard his body shook. Sakura soothing rubbed his back and tried to calm him down.
The First and Second Hokage gave the alliance between the nations their blessing and said their goodbyes to Madara, Izuna and Tsunade with the criptic message of "if you need us again, call," before they too departed.
The Third Hokage welcomed Orochimaru back to the village and said his farewells to the rookie nine, Team Gai, along with Kurenai and his young grandsons, Jashiro and Konohamaru.
After that, everything fell into routine. Ninja life returned to normal. Shinobi went on missions, Shinobi died on those missions, and the nations spent a lot of time together. This time, during the Chunin exams, all of the nations showed up, and so did their kage.
Everyone in the village during the final portion of the exams was extatic over the second to last Sarutobi, Konohamaru fought against a water village shinobi, no one noticed the unwelcome shinobi slipping into the stadium. Not even the kunoichi he snuck up behind.
Sakura Haruno was on duty at the hospital for most of the final portion of the exams but was able to make it to the last bit, namely, Konohamaru's battle. As the head doctor at the hospital they require a lot more of her time then when she was just a doctor. Because she was late, all of the seats were taken, but she didn't mind. She was fine standing in the way back, overlooking the audience and squinting to see Konohamaru and his opponent.
Sakura felt the presence behind her a millisecond too late, twisting around something slams into her chest faster than she can react. In a blink of an eye Sakura goes from the very back of the stadium to the central arena, dirt spraying everywhere from her impact. The Jounin proctor barely manages to avoid being plowed over. Konohamaru and the water Genin stumble, moving away.
There is a moment of silence as the spectators try to understand what happened. The dust settles and the young doctor struggles to her feet. Before she has a chance to straighten up completely, the figure appears in front of her, grabbing her around the neck and hoisting her into the air. The pink haired girl's eyes fly open, immediately scanning her attacker only to feel her blood run cold.
The man holding her up has to be about seven feet tall, with strange white pupils and pink irises. Bald with a tattoo of a black scorpion where he hair should be. It's claws that line up with his cheekbones. It's eyes mirror his. A hard expression on his face and a nasty jagged scar across his lips all the way to his chin. His face is wide along with his large muscular body. Arms covered in tattoos of scorpions, snakes, dragons, wolves and all kinds of other things. But what scares Sakura is the familiar black cloak with distinct red clouds.
"Akatsuki," Sakura whispers, horrified.
The man looks troubled. "I apologize, Ms. Haruno," he says in a deep baritone, a heavy accent she doesn't recognize. "It is nothing personal. I will make your death swift."
The shock wanes enough for Sakura to launch into action, charging chakra into her left leg, she brings it back and swiftly kicks the mysterious Akatsuki wannabe beneath the chin, sending him flying through the air. Sakura hits her hip on the ground and rubs her sore throat, fatigue washing over her. Perfect. She had just finished a busy shift at the hospital and is low on chakra.
People have already started getting over the shock and have begun panicking. Well, mostly the nobles the frequent the events in order for cheap entertainment and the chance to see who might be the next big hero in the shinobi world. This was more than they bargained for. This is the second time the Leaf has been attacked during the Chunin exams.
"Sakura!" Naruto yells, rushing past the Jounin proctor trying to usher Konohamaru and the other Genin out of danger, ignoring the honorary grandson's protests. Kakashi and Tenzo following suite.
Naruto reaches her first, reaching out to help her up.
"Naruto, look out!" Kakashi calls, but it's too late. The Akatsuki wannabe lands behind the blond, aiming a kick right in the center of Naruto's spine. The nine tailed host's face smashes into the concrete side of the stadium and hits the ground hard.
"Naruto," snarls Kurama, "watch it. That nearly snapped your spine in half."
Naruto coughs, winded, eyes bleary. "Am I okay?"
Kurama sighs. "Yes, I was able to protect your spine from shattering into a thousand little pieces, but barely. Give me some warning next time."
Naruto waves off the old demon's concerns, struggling to his feet, ignoring the shooting pain through his spine. "Man, Karama, this guy is fast. Who is he?"
"No clue, but Naruto; look at his cloak."
Blue eyes flicker up to the mysterious shinobi currently avoiding Kakashi's lightening blade while Tenzo grabs Sakura's arm and yanks her away from the immediate danger. The mysterious man was able to avoid Kakashi's sharingan but no Sasuke's. The blue haired man impaling the man on his blade and sending his lightening chakra into the man's body.
Naruto's eyes hone in on the cloak. "Akatsuki? But... how?"
Kurama's red eyes narrow. "Obito betray us?"
"No," Naruto says definitely. "He wouldn't." His immediate response answered when said shinobi breaks from the line of ANBU circling the area to ensure that the Akatsuki does no escape and joins the fight.
The man pulls away from Sasuke's sword like it had no affect and spins around, kicking Sasuke in the side of the head and sending him sailing into the dispersing crowds in the seats.
Naruto growls, charging the man, charging up the normal rasengan, Another figure falls in front of him, a small girl, looking no older than twelve. White eyes and long black hair, also donning an Akatsuki cloak, holds out her hand level with the rasengan , the jutsu dissipating before it gets too close. Naruto falters, slowing to a stop, eyes wide.
"She absorbed the jutsu," Kurama observed. "Be careful. Taijutsu may be the more effective coarse of action against this one."
"But how did she do it?" Naruto asks through gritted teeth, falling into his taijutsu stance. "Is it a blood limit?"
"Perhaps. Not one I know of, though." Kurama murmurs. "Be vigilant." Naruto grunts in acknowledgement before charging the small girl, surprised at how agile and swift she moves, avoiding all of his punches and kicks.
"Yami," the man says, blocking Kakashi's kunai with his own. "I can handle it on my own."
The girl, Yami, shrugs, closing her eyes. "The boss needs this handled right away, Toroh. Kill the Haruno girl so that we can leave."
The man, Toroh, sighs and looks at Kakashi. "I am sorry to have to kill your student. It's nothing personal."
"Then why do it?" Kakashi asks, sharingan flickering over to where Tenzo is aiding Sakura in escaping, having heard the conversation. "Why would you want to kill Sakura?" he asks, hoping to stall for time.
Toroh shakes his head. "She cannot to be allowed to live."
Obito soars through the air, nailing him in the face with his knee. "You will have to go through us to accomplish your mission."
Toroh only stumbles back fifteen feet before steadying himself, wiping the blood off his face and cracking his nose back into place, not looking all that bothered. Kakashi and Obito share exasperated looks.
"What is this guy made of?" Kakashi asks, moving into position next to Obito, falling into a similar stance.
"No clue," Obito murmurs.
Toroh looks at Obito for a long moment before sighing again, like all of this is just an inconvenience. "Yami, Ms. Haruno is gone. I have to go get her, will you be fine on your own?"
Yami, dodging Naruto's uppercut, kicks him in the gut. Naruto stumbles back two steps to catch his breath, providing her enough time to respond. "Yes, fine." She puts her hands together and does a few hand signs before opening her eyes and laying her hand on the ground. A pop of smoke appears and when it clears, girl is in it's place. She looks almost exactly like Yami but with white hair and black eyes.
"Hello, Yami," the black eyed girl says softly.
"Hello, Yamu. We need you to provide an opening for Toroh to get past Obito Uchiha."
Obito twitches, widening his stance slightly.
Yamu's black eyes turn slightly to lock onto Obito's sharingan and rinnengan eyes. "Very well." She blinks a few times before those red eyes morph into Obito's sharingan.
The Uchiha falters, stunned. "What...?"
Kakashi feels fire flood his belly. "She can mimic the sharingan? How?"
Obito shakes his head, tightening up his defensive stance. "No clue. Be on guard."
"This fight just got harder," Kakashi murmurs, grimacing.
"Yeah."
Toroh darts toward the line of Shinobi, not the least bit put off by their overwhelming numbers. On the plus side, when he charged the line, he didn't notice the Raikage charging him from the left, barreling into him with a shout, "Larriet!"
Yami narrows her eyes. "That's right A is here."
Yamu sighs, looking at Obito, then Kakashi, before looking up at all the surrounding shinobi. "Perhaps the opportunity to kill Ms. Haruno has already passed. We may have to retreat and try again at a later date."
Yami nods. "I believe that would be wise."
Toroh punches the Raikage in the jaw, sending him flying into the wall on the other side of the arena. He crawls out the hole the Raikage plowed him into, looking about confused. All three of their heads tilt down to the Akatsuki rings on their fingers, as if hearing something on the other side.
Obito charges the twins. "No, you don't," he says, knowing full well they are being spoken to by the leader. Probably giving them their next objective.
Yami raises her gaze to see Obito racing toward them, she holds her hand out and charges up the rasengan. Obito falters for a split second before brushing it off, accepting that this is part of her capabilities and takes it in stride.
"No effect," Obito murmurs under his breath, sliding past her hand and launching a fist into her chest. The horrible sound of her ribs crushing under Obito's superior strength.
Yamu's eyes widen a fraction, watching her sister fly up into the air a bit, the rasengan disapating, before crashing to the dirt on her back. Dirt kicked up around her deathly still body. Obito circled the small crater, no at all convinced this was the extent of someone who claims to be an Akatsuki is capable of doing. After a moment of silence and stillness. Yami appears in front of Obito, only about half his height, brings a fist up to his gut with equal strength that he delivered to her. Obito gasps, face contorting in pain.
"Obito!" Kakashi calls, looking away for a split second.
"Yami," Yamu says in her identically young 12 year old voice, "Boss says the mission was a failure. We have to return."
"I understand," Yami says, jumping back to be level with her sister. "Toroh, we must leave. You have failed in killing Ms. Haruno."
Toroh nods, dodging another larriet from the Raikage and moves to the sisters' sides. "Next time," he says, assuredly.
"Next time," they agree.
"Goodbye, Kage," Yami bows her head respectfully.
"And other shinobi," Yamu bows her head too.
Toroh merely tips his head down. "Next time, the Akatsuki will get their goal."
"What do you want with Sakura?" Kakashi asks, eyes narrowed.
All three exchange looks. The air in front of them shimmers slightly and then a man appears in front of the three, donning an Akatsuki cloak. He bows deeply, looking up at Kakashi. Or, at least his head is turned in the direction of Kakashi, a mask covers his face, without eye holes. It is completely black with the exception of a simple question mark in the center.
He straightens and tilts his head in a very Tobi impression. "This was not expected to be a success. I knew that my Akatsuki would be unable to fight against all five nations and their shinobi in one place. This was merely a warning, honorary Kage." His voice is light and airy, like he was talking about the weather. His head tilts toward the four Kage from the Leaf, Sand, Mist and Rock stand up in their private viewing area. Angry looks mar each face, but black fury painted Tsunade Senju's face. "This is merely the beginning. We will be back. We have something to prove."
"And that is?" Kakashi asks, hand flexing behind him, slowly pulling out a kunai from his pouch, trying to keep him talking.
The man chuckles lightly, waving his hand out before him, a question mark appears. "What that is, Copy-cat ninja Kakashi Hatake, is that we will not fail our goal as the illustrious Obito Uchiha has done before us." There is a smile in his voice. "Sorry for interrupting the Chunin Exams. I have to say though, my bet is on the Sarutobi boy." He shrugs. "I bid you all, ado."
Another bow. He tosses the question mark on the ground and all four of the Akatsuki dissapear in a hail of fireworks. All black and red with it's finale as a red cloud.