AUTHORS NOTE: Standard Disclaimer applies. I don't own Naruto or any of its canon characters, events, situations, locations and the whole shebang. All that belongs to the genius that is Kishimoto. What I do own however, is whatever madness seeps and oozes from this demented oubliette I call my imagination.
That being said, I know that I primarily write about another anime (*cough*KHR*cough). That being said, I adore Naruto fanfiction for some inexplicable reason despite my annoyance for some of its major characters (Sasuke because I could never understand what the fuck he has to be so EMO about and Kakashi because...well, it would take too long to explain) to name a few. That being the thing, you might wonder why I'm even bothering to attempt to write for such a troublesome anime and the answer is simple—my Muse is a sadistic, obsessive, utterly compulsive demanding piece of annoyance and the idea just won't leave me alone!
I am telling you! I have spent weeks trying painfully to figure out a way to write a Naruto fiction that would not have me butchering jutsus, creating improbable, highly inaccurate fight scene or even repeating the inescapable "Dattebayo". I couldn't in all conscience do it. I can't, I just can't! It's not in me. I swear it on every book I ever owned. And I couldn't just make a hash of it—it's an insult to the poor sap that might read such hapless revolting trash. I couldn't risk someone's sanity for that. I couldn't afford to pay their shrinks fee.
So I decided to compromise and say fuck it. I'll do Naruto the only way I know how. So get ready and meet the Underworld Naruto. Because as my sadistic screw-up of a Muse pointed out to me: either I write it the way the story wants to be writ or I make a hash of it and hate myself for it every freaking day of my life plagued by writer's block; either way it's out there and there's nothing anyone could do about it.
Yeah, right.
2-1-14 Update: Tweaking the timelines. So here's the 411 on this madness that spouted from some corner of my brain:
The characters will be from the canon and as much as I am able, I will keep them in character—to some degree. Their lives however will not be. The story is centered towards a turf war that's about to erupt within powerful clans and the only way to save everyone else from a long, pointless and utterly protracted bloodbath is to find someone to unite the warring families. The only problem is that the candidate that's best suited for the job has been conveniently lost for more than a decade. Now, everyone involved is scrambling to find the One. There. That clear enough? Good. Let's get cracking then.
CHAPTER I:
A MAESTROM BENEATH THE WAVES
It is a mistake to look too far ahead.
Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.
Winston Churchill
Mt. Myõboku
Fire Nation
Present Time
The mansion stood atop the hills surrounded by ruins and the sound of a tempestuous sea. The structure was elegant though forbidding on the outside with its high fortified walls and cold cool façade. The entire mansion was painted a pleasing shade of white trimmed with crimson and gold. The carefully tended and manicured garden evoked a scene of tranquility and serenity that's undeniable even in the faint illumination of the stone lamps that were scattered all around.
The interior of the mansion was a sumptuous feast for the senses. The faintest perfume of incense lingered in the air for those privileged enough to gain entrance inside its walls. Dark polished wooden floors gleaming in the soft light of shaded lamps gilded the long open halls and the grand rooms. Arch ways were framed by intricately carved lattices. Beautifully rendered pieces of tapestries lined the walls as alcoves bore within their protective wombs elegant vases or sensuous lines of calligraphy.
Here and there flowers set upon dark wooden furnishing gave a much needed touch of color in the otherwise coldly formal and somber space. The graceful decor and affluent trappings however could not conceal nor diminish the echoing silence of the rooms nor downplay its odd emptiness. Only the presence of sentinels stationed at random turns showed any sign of life within.
The figure moved along the empty shadow-laden hallway without pause or hesitation, movements betraying long familiarity and assurance of permission. With nary a look at either direction the figure approached a pair of intricately detailed doors and paused for a single breath. Smoothly the figure raised a hand and gave the door a single tap.
The sound echoed in the cavernous hall and undoubtedly inside the inner chambers. Receiving some kind of signal, the figure gave a short nod before pulling the doors open and stepping smartly into the room. With a smooth and nearly silent tread, he gained access to the room's interior until he reached a fair meter or so away from the room's most prominent feature.
The figure sank into a kneeling position and gave a low bow before speaking softly. The voice, cool as silk and undeniable in its inherent authority cut across the room's echoing emptiness.
"Forgive the intrusion my lord, but we have urgent news and I must speak with you."
The massive bed was festooned with a diaphanous canopy that wrapped all around its carven frame. Silken sheet gleamed from beneath the weight of numerous pillows strewn with careless abandon as the figure cocooned within gave the faintest stirring of awareness. The voice that issued from beneath the mound of beddings was deep and gravely with faintest taint of slumber.
"As close as we are, my dear seneschal, I do not recall issuing an invitation to my bed for this evening. I will issue an apology if that hurts your feelings but alas I find no burning need for your company tonight. You know well enough my preference on the matter."
A small smile slashed across the figure's thin lips and reply when it came, was filled with clear, if aggravated affection. But eyes, though downcast in customary respect, held traces of urgency that cannot be held at bay for long.
"As tempting as you may think that notion to be, I must thankfully disillusion you, my lord. My presence here has nothing to do with my unending battle not to end up in your bed. It is for a different pressing matter altogether. One that I believe would please my lord."
A snort and even more rustling of the bed covers filled the darkened room. This time the voice was a bit clearer though the allure of its deep register was not diminished nor it's lazy, teasing inflections.
"You hurt my feelings so dear Yahiko, especially when it is you who came into my bed chambers so imperiously and with no apparent cause. And you didn't even bother to dress for the part—or undress for that matter. Any self-respecting seducer should know their part well; otherwise, it's just an utter failure of the plot."
"My lord—!" the figure sputtered in outrage when a large hand bid him to be still.
"Did you even bother having someone send for some sake? You know as well as I do that my brain refuses to function without some stimulation. "
The figure straightened from his bow and nodded, settling on his knees once more, feet tucked politely beneath the fall of silken robes.
"I would not have dared if the news I bring were not of import my lord. As for refreshments, I took it upon myself to send for the sake, it is on its way even as we speak. I have a feeling you will need it very soon my lord."
"You should hope so. I would have despaired for you had you ordered tea instead. At times I fear that you have no seduction or imagination in your soul, young man. If Nagato wasn't such a bore with his idealism, I knew I should've insisted that Konan be my attendant even if she did threaten to inflict bodily harm. At least I would found something pretty to look at.
"My lord…need I remind you of the threat that idealistic Nagato already promised to inflict upon your person should the matter of Konan's duties be ever brought up?"
"Fine, fine. You've made your point, spoilsport. Speak your mind then Yahiko so that I may attempt to sink back into my dreams which you so rudely interrupted."
"The council has made their move. The selection for the next candidate will begin come late spring of the next year. All eligible clans within the village have begun preparing their heirs and champions for the inevitable battle."
The rustling of blankets suddenly fell silent and everywhere else the night held its breath in anticipation. The slither of silk curtains parting made only the slightest of sound, as if even it would not dare intrude upon the tension that currently grips its every corner. Yahiko's ears heard the faint sounds and wondered at first what the unfamiliar noise was. It took him a few seconds to realize that it was the sound of a clearly amused chuckle.
"My lord?"
The rest of the room remained unlit but there was no mistaking the gleaming lights that were burning merrily in the dark pair that was staring straight at him. The slash of white that flashed at him did little to intimidate Yahiko. The figure bounded out of the massive bed and prowled towards the intricately designed sliding doors without a word.
"They have grown impatient over the years, I see. Is there any reason for this shift in the tide of time and man? Why are they re-instituting such antiquated methodologies again?"
"I believe that the current Head has expressed some desire to retire. With no other available heir at hand, the only solution that may be had falls into the chaos of outright battle. The Head wants to avoid any bloodshed such conflicts would inevitably cause. The council expressed their intention and from our sources, it seems like the Head would approve of their decision."
"He would have had no alternative anyways. Though I pity the Head for his situation—he has had the perfect heir and that has been taken from him in such a manner. Still, I find his council distasteful in their blatant power-mongering. It is time to settle the matter and make them remember their place in the natural order."
He stalked forward and with a quick flick of his wrist slid the shoji doors open with a bang. Uncaring for his apparent nudity or the noise that his actions caused, he stepped into the porch and stood beneath the bright illumination cast by the moon, lifting his shadowed face towards the cool breeze that blew into the room. Eyes closed and arms spread out wide, he spoke once more.
"I guess it's time for us to get started then. Good...I was getting bored. Time to provide myself with suitable entertainment, I cannot allow myself to fall on the wayside, now can I? I have idled my days away long enough."
"My lord?"
"Call for the others Yahiko. Tell them that our little game of throne's about to begin."
"I will inform them right away lord. Shall I also inform My Lady?"
"You know better than try and stop her from participating in this little scheme. I do not wish for an early meeting with my maker Yahiko and that's likely to happen should I try and keep her away."
"I understand. That's a very smart move on your part milord."
"Yahiko?"
"Yes, my lord?"
"Why is it that when you compliment me it faintly reeks of the stench of an unmistakable insult?'
Yahiko merely blinked at his master's inquiring look before waving aside the man's inquiry. "I dare say you are merely imagining things, milord."The man gave his seneschal a brief glare before his eyes turned introspective once more. This time Yahiko's eyes narrowed in concern. "My lord, what troubles you?"
"I wonder, is the child being treated well?"
"From the few reports our men has given I assume that the child has been treated as well as could be hoped, my lord. It seems the child lives a pleasant existence."
"Good…that is good to know." The moment of silence settled into the room, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Indeed it was filled with quiet speculation. "I had thought of assigning someone to oversee the child's growth but I fear someone stumbling across them and finding out about the child. That is something I cannot allow."
Yahiko watched as his master slowly paced the smooth floors of the wooden porch that wrapped around the mansion. His master's movement like always were smooth and coordinated, seemingly flowing from one step to the next, his head bowed in thought even as his eyes continued to hold such intense introspection. When he spoke, his voice has lost much of its teasing quality and has reverted into more formal tones. "What troublesome imaginings disturb my lord's thoughts so?"
"Do you know what manner of person found the child?"
"Reports stated that it was an individual who runs a small country school, I believe."
"A teacher? Well, that is something wholly unexpected isn't it? The child could've done much worse than a limp-wristed pencil pusher. By the gods, can you imagine the irony of the child being raised by such a peace-loving, tree-hugging mother hen?"
Yahiko watched as an unusually wicked smile bloomed on his master's usually droll visage. Although his master has long since displayed outright and at times, ill-timed glee—this time there's no denying the mischievousness of the grin decorating his animated face.
"Yes, indeed my lord. However, I dare hope that this might prove beneficial to all in the end. Someone reasonably tractable and already educated will go a long way in making the proper impression."
"Indeed. If only impressions are the least of our problems but I very much doubt that. The child would need much in terms of training. It would not do to send such paschal lamb to the slaughter."
"My lord, if I might be so bold as to ask, how did you find the child? Not to demean our resources—but we've found nothing—no hint, no clue—for years and suddenly, after more than a decade of silence the location was brought to us."
The smile that painted his master's lips was bitter and just a tad vicious. "The location was sold to one of our information brokers by a certain individual who owed someone a considerable debt. A distasteful means of paying off one's responsibility, to be sure, but in our world tradable commodities flow in all shapes, sizes and forms. And though the information traded was priceless—the informant was not someone who deserved having his reward."
"Is it safe to assume someone sold off the information to pay off a financial obligation? He betrayed someone's trust to get out of debt?"
"Indeed. You must understand that while I was grateful and relieved to finally know the child's location after so long—it was the nature of his reason for revealing the location that made me resentful of the largess I had put up in hopes of finding reliable information."
Yahiko nodded in understanding. While it was true that his master—indeed his master's connections and inner circle—were happy with the knowledge that they now held, it was the nature of the man who brought it that tainted the joy his master felt. The man sold out his friends, betrayed them for the prize his master so willingly offered to save his own neck. In essence, the man endangered the child to the highest bidder. It was only fate's benevolent hand that led the betrayer to the one person who would not abuse the information. Even he could not fathom the magnitude of trouble that would've arisen had the information been given to anyone else.
"My lord, forgive my presumptuousness but may I inquire as to where the child was found? I admit to being a poor prey to my curiosity."
This time around the expression that painted his master's visage could only be described as nostalgic. "You would not believe it, but ironically the child has been very close this entire time."
"Close? Oh? How close?"
"The child has been located in Wave Country."
Yahiko's eyes widened in delighted surprise. "Oh…isn't that rather poetic?" He gave in to the urge to grin and flashed twinkling eyes at his clearly amused master. "The land of waves?! How utterly fitting, is it not?"
"The irony will surely not be lost on anyone once that knowledge is made public. I assume many would find it amusing once the matter becomes known."
"Indeed, milord."
"Now, Yahiko, I have a special need for you and seeing as how I am already awake at such an ungodly hour I might as well deal with the matter."
"You have my sincerest apologies milord for every inconvenience I have brought upon you."
His master merely snorted. "I would rather have your speed than that. Send word out to those whose talent we will need…tell them that we have found a little maelstrom hiding just beneath the concealing waves."
The wording of his orders amused Yahiko and he couldn't help but relish the image of surprise that he knew would paint a few faces that morning. "It would be my pleasure, my lord."
The man turned from his servants and with a grace visible even in the waning light of the moon, stepped out from the covered porch and into the dew-kissed grass below. He didn't pay much mind on the sliver of shadow that detached itself from its dense counterparts to follow him. Without a single parting thought for his nudity or the coldness of the night, he strolled towards the edge of the mansion that faced the sheer cliff's end and the churning sea below.
Silhouetted against the dark, star-laden skies, the figure stared at the waves that broke against the rock face and murmured as if to the very winds
"I have found him…I have found your heir…and soon…soon, I will restore him to his proper place and your spirit will have found peace at last…"
The sliver of shadow fluttered briefly before a gust of wind blew it away, allowing it to take form and glide out towards the quickly lightening horizon.
TBC