A/N: Hey guys, I'm kind of new to the writing half of the fanfiction game, but I thought I'd give something besides reading them a try. Also, I love Mattel's new IP Ever After High and I remember there being an awesome fic on here once with someone who managed to combine Naruto and MLP together, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
I'm also taking a lot of liberties with the concept of ninjas and warriors so, please, be gentle.
A long, long time ago... In a distant but intimate land...
There were several mighty villages filled with strong, skilled warriors and vicious monsters. The warriors were called 'ninja'. The ninja of the different villages had many different skills.
Some controlled fire, others fought with water; some were strong like stone, while others could call down lightning from the heavens.
All powerful in their own ways, all flawed in at least one.
The demons themselves were powerful, mighty, blood-thirsty beasts who would only subdue for those seen as honorable enough.
There were organizations and groups who sought to change this land: some who bore the marks of red clouds, others whose grief and jealousy glimmered in their crimson, wheeled eyes had caused them to grow mad. The power of the demons would help them in their means.
It all culminated in a grand war the likes of which none had seen before... And that none have seen since.
The ninja of the past, those who remained, lived on. They started families, they created new villages, and they kept their skills and powers burning bright throughout their bloodlines.
Even now, in the modern age where the names of the villages had been long scattered through the wind, the strength and unique powers and skills still remain in the descendants of those powerful ninja.
Their story... Begins now.
The evening air was cool, crisp to the tongue but still sweet on one's sense of smell. Evening birds, the owls, the dove, the adventurous peacock, flew through the air over a large stage. The stage had been decorated with large blank rolls of calligraphy paper: shifting kanji and calligraphic pictures dancing on them.
The audience was filled with teenagers and young adults. All of them were dressed in traditional garb: kimono and yukata, hakama and armor... They were all waiting for their turn on the stage: an older man dressed in a red and white ceremonial robe keeping a careful but glaring eye on all of them... Particularly the young man standing in center-stage.
Thunder crashed through the dark clouds looming overhead. Deep, dark eyes that could hold a savage hunger but, instead, were filled with concern, fear, and uncertainty... They looked up before looking out to the audience.
"I..." Teeth that were sharper than daggers and rowed upon one another like a shark's grit against each other, the low rumbling voice unhindered by the gesture. "I announce my name..." Deep cobalt hair was covered in an ornate helmet, much like what would be worn by a warlord. It was decorated in metal ornaments carved to be like sharks leaping out of the water.
The armor on his broad, corded body clinked with each haggard breath he took: his heart racing due to his nerves fraying, the pressure of the world collapsing onto him. His skin would be flushed if it weren't its cool shade of blue: a trait he had inherited from his ancestor.
It was said ancestor who was the reason he was in this wretched situation.
"...Hoshigaki Kisame." The young man announced, though he was one of the older individuals in the group that was the audience. "Descendant of the Legendary Demon of the Hidden Mist. And..." He looked to the ground, then to the podium he was standing at, "And... I... I p-pledge my..." He glanced behind him, seeing the bouncing form of an excited blonde.
He was dressed in an orange and black jumpsuit with a red scarf: the choice of dress for his ancestor. Blue eyes were bright as he smiled, the whisker-like scars on his cheeks (a trait inherited by his ancestor) curving with the motion, "Come on... You can do it! Do it, do it, do it!"
"I..." Kisame repeated again, his breathing becoming short. All eyes were on him: the blonde's, the old man, the audience...
It was the most important choice in his –
Oh, come on. Stop with the overdramatics!
Yes, because you would do this so much better..!
Well... Yes! First and foremost, you started on Fate-Staining Eve?
Well... Why not?
Start at the beginning, would you? Poor readers are probably confused senseless...
… Oh, fine...
Come, one and all, as we exchange a wondrous tale of choice and consequence. For, you see, even though the villages and ninja of the past are no more, their bloodlines and skills have been reincarnated for centuries upon centuries.
Every so often, the youths who have been blessed with their ancestors' glorious purposes are sent to attend school and learn about their noble, rich bloodlines.
Yes, but this year... something changed in our little setting. A change for the better...
Or, for the worse?
Hoshigaki Kisame: A Dreamer's Curse
It was the beginning of the year at Remembrance Hall: the prestigious academy that would host the descendants of the great ninja and warriors of the past until they learned and took on their ancestors' glorious purpose.
Teens and young adults alike were walking around the academy. Some were making friends, some were gossiping about their ancestors, and others were simply trying to find their way around the large school-grounds that were more like a university.
A dragonfly flew took close to the nearby river and was promptly eaten up by a hungry toad. The toad hopped away into the water to flee the sound of footsteps when two men walked by... Just to be eaten by a hungry fish.
The smaller of the two men had a trait that most people immediately keyed in on and hassled him about: his albinism. He kept his short white hair slicked back but his ruby eyes would always draw attention to his... condition. So, he just ran with it: incorporating elements that would accentuate his odd looks and imagery from his ancestor's bizarre religion into his fashion, which consisted of torn, open vests and torn black jeans covered in pins of upside-down triangles inside of circles.
The other man, occasionally looking over to the river to make sure that his luggage, which he was using the water of the river to carry, was keeping up, was Hoshigaki Kisame. Though, everyone knew who he was with just a glance at his cool blue skin-tone. Even his black sweater that spread tight of thick, broad muscle and his cargo shorts or his messenger cap could hide that fact.
These two fine young men had better get to class so they can start learning about their ancestors' glorious purposes-
And how to accept them without question-
I'm sorry, who is telling the story here?
The narrators were soon squabbling again, the albino glaring up into the sky as he heard every single word. Finally, he had reached his breaking point. "Oh my fucking Jashin!" He shouted, "Would you two stop arguing and just fuck already?!"
Kisame stopped walking to, one: let his friend catch up, and, two: to see what the heck Hidan was on now.
"Hidan," Kisame began once Hidan had caught up, "Not that it's any of my business, but who are you talking to?" Hidan groaned,
"Right, you can't hear them. They're our fucking narrators who never know when to shut the fuck up and do their fucking jobs!"
Kisame watched Hidan scoff and mumble more profanities at the unseen 'narrators' before asking, "Can I talk now?"
"Go on," Hidan replied, "Not like they're saying anything worthwhile anyway." Kisame rolled his eyes, sighing,
"Yeah, I just... I'm just not too sure about this. Ever since I hit puberty and this," He circled his hand around his face; gesturing towards the blue skin and gill-like marks around his eyes, "Happened I've been dealing with people calling me 'demon' and treating me like I'm evil. I mean..." He grit his teeth, the waters in the river beginning to boil and churn, "Just because my ancestor was some sort of evil monster doesn't me that I'm the same!"
At that last shout, the water of the river burst up into a geyser. It sent Kisame's luggage flying into one of the dormitory windows, Kisame slapping his hand to his forehead.
"Hey..." Hidan walked over, resting a hand on Kisame's shoulder, "Come on, Big Blue, you're acting crazy. Nobody thinks you're a monster, you're too much of a fucking pussy for that."
"Shut up!" Kisame playfully shoved him away, "Also... The descendant of the 'Blood-Stained Zealot' calling me crazy?"
Hidan slipped behind Kisame, pushing him towards the front doors of the academy, "Stop worrying~! Everyone's going to want to meet you, maybe fuck you – it's going to be great!" The moment they walked through the doors, everyone who had been talking, texting, and socializing promptly ceased.
They looked over and, immediately, someone yelled out, "It's Hoshigaki Kisame!"
"The Demon Hidden in the Mist?!"
"RUN!"
"He is evil!"
"Run for your lives!"
In a great sound akin to thunder, everyone had cleared out of the main hall. "Damn it..." Kisame sighed, walking through the quiet area.
"See?" Hidan laughed, "They love you enough to clear the fuck out and let you get to your class!" The two walked through the hall, passing a large flat-screen monitor that showed a young woman with long, navy hair and pale eyes handling the academy's news broadcast.
Hidan felt a vibration at his hip. He struggled to pull out his crimson red, Jashin rosary decorated cellphone before looking at the notification that had popped up. "Whoo!" He shouted, pulling a saber out of nowhere, "Prayer-time!"
Stabbing the large blade into himself, blood splashing to the floor and taking on the same circle and inverted triangle design of his rosaries, Hidan had to be a bit thankful that his one of his ancestor's traits was immortality and a body that received pain as pleasure.
Kisame rolled his eyes, "Hey, look, I'm going to go get something to eat. Catch up to me later?"
"Mm-hm~" Hidan moaned back, Kisame deciding to leave before his friend popped a boner.
And so, life would continue on for Kisame: an existence of loneliness and isolation...
As it should be. Remember, he is destined to be evil.
Can I talk for one minute, woman?!
Kisame sat at a large table that was empty aside from himself. The cafeteria around him was filled to bursting with activity, but, of course, no one wanted to sit with the descendant of the Demon of the Hidden Mist.
"Oh..." Eyes that were a perfect mixture of rust red and chestnut brown looked at the last plate of dango dumplings that was available that day. Pale hands reached for it, just for it to be snatched away. The figure sighed, turning around with long ebony hair dancing to the motion.
However, when they turned they saw Kisame sitting alone at the table. He had heard of the other man, of course, who hadn't, but he hadn't expected them to be so...
So...
He didn't quite know. But, whatever it was, it was enough for him to walk over to the blue man. "K-Kisame." Kisame looked up to see one of the most beautiful creatures he had ever met looking at him, nervous in his own way despite his cool air. "You look good. I mean – No. Let's try that again. How are you?"
"Oh, hey!" Kisame smiled once he had enough brain-power to not be dumbfounded by this guy's beauty. "You... wanna sit down? I mean, I'd offer but, you know, the whole 'evil monster' thing?" Kisame finished off his soda before adding, "To sit with me, you'd probably be pretty sui..."
Both men cringed and covered their ears, as did many others, when loud, excited squealing hit their ears. Kisame looked over to see a peppy-looking, spiky-haired blonde walking over with a teen that looked like a younger, shorter-haired version of the man he was talking to. "Sasuke?" Kisame asked, the man next to him clearing his throat.
"Yes, yes that is Sasuke: my baby brother. But, come on, look back to me: Uchiha Itachi. Please, let's not call over their attenti-"
The blonde, glanced over and was immediately more smiles than before. "Kisame!" He pulled Sasuke over before bouncing on his heels, "How's every awesome thing?"
Kisame stood up, towering over the other three. "Uzumaki Naruto... Good to see you. Hey Sasuke." Sasuke looked around, taking a breath of relief,
"Okay, just going to warn you now: I guess a year of not seeing me has given some of these girls time to perfect their fangirling." As if to prove his point, there was another excited squeal from one of the balconies.
The soft, dulcet tones of the academy bell rang, Naruto laughing, "That's the bell! This year is going to be so cool! I've got to get to Lessons of Unity and Heroics 101! Kisame, what's your first class of the year?"
Kisame felt a little off about someone who had to be at least 8 years younger than him talking like they were classmates. But he did pull out his schedule to read out "History of... Torture and Dismemberment... Fuck..."
Naruto only laughed again, "Wow... That is so perfect for you!"
Itachi noticed how uncomfortable Kisame was, so he spoke up, "Sasuke, let's go make sure that you've been put into the right classes." Sasuke nodded, following Itachi out of the cafeteria. On the way, they almost bumped into one Inuzuka Kiba: dressed in a furred, hooded jacket to try and covered all of his hair and some of his face.
"Kiba." Sasuke called over, "You heading to class?" Another chorus of squealing chimed out, Kiba clutching at the top of his head and whining much like a pained dog. When the noise subsided, he growled over at the two Uchihas before clearing his throat.
"S-sorry. It was a long... car-ride." He quickly bounded away, avoiding any other questions.
There was only one class that day, so that new students wouldn't be overwhelmed on their first day at Remembrance Hall. Kisame rubbed his shoulder as he walked down the dormitory halls, wanting nothing more than to get some sleep.
Luckily he had been given a room with Hidan who, once he finished his evening 'prayers', usually went out like a light. Nevertheless, when he got to his door, he knocked, "Hidan? You decent in there?" When he didn't get a response, he opened the door and walked right in.
However, instead of blood on white hair, he was welcomed with the sight of Naruto looking out of the window with a worried expression.
"Naruto?" Kisame asked, "Was there... something you nee-"
"Welcome home!" Naruto turned around, smiling again, "Roommate!" Kisame's left eye twitched. He then, nervously, tried to get some understanding to this situation,
"Um... Heh heh, I don't follow. I was supposed to be rooming with Hidan this year."
But Naruto shook his head, "Not anymore~!" Completely oblivious to how Kisame's face fell, Naruto continued, "Since you are such an important part of my ancestor's glorious purpose; your power shifts the tides of balance, an evil organization is formed-"
"The Prodigal Son attempts to destroy them, you'll try and chase him down to come back home through heroics and friendship..." Kisame rubbed his temples, "Look, I get it!"
"Yeah!" Naruto laughed, "So, I asked Headmaster Sarutobi if we could room together and he said... Yes!"
Kisame took a subconscious step back: Naruto's smile and golden personality rubbing him in all the wrong ways. "But, I really don't want-"
"You're going to love living with me!" Naruto hugged Kisame as much as he was able with the man's large frame. "I'm awesome, handsome, I know over 300 recipes for ramen, and I make the most awesome speeches about friendship!" He took a deep breath, Kisame whispering,
"Please don't."
"We can't do anything without friends to support us through thick and thin!" Naruto recited, "Friends are the greatest source of power besides believing yourself!"
Kisame walked over to the window, whispering, "I wonder if I would survive a fall from this height." A baby owl landed on the windowsill, Kisame petting the small bird with a single finger. Naruto popped up behind him,
"And... I already decorated your half of the room!"
"You did what now?" Kisame asked, looking at his half of the room and seeing the imposing looking dresser, the wall covered in whips and chains, the arm-chair composed of bone and tanned leather.
Naruto smiled up at him, "Isn't it just the evilest, greatest thing?"
Kisame made a silent prayer of thanks that his bed had been left alone. He turned back to the owl and sighed, "This is going to be a long year..."
The second day at Remembrance Hall was dedicated to Fate-Staining Eve recitals. Such an important event demanded perfection, so Headmaster Sarutobi was on hand to make sure everything went well during recital. And to see that everyone understood how crucial this was.
"When your Bloodline Dagger appears," Headmaster Sarutobi explained, holding a replica of one of the ornate knives used in the ceremony, "You take it in hand and announce your name and your acceptance of your destiny for everyone to hear! Then you quickly and cleanly move the dagger across your palm and let the Stained Glass of Memory drink your dedication." He nodded, "Any questions?"
Kisame, who was on stage with some of the other students and faculty members who had to take their pledges as well, raised his hand, "Headmaster Sarutobi, can I just ask-"
"No questions?" Headmaster Sarutobi smiled, "Good. Now, we will be practicing on this gorgeous plate engraved with the academy's rules. The plate was set upon the podium before Sarutobi called out, "Alright, recitals will begin now!"
Hidan walked up to the podium and picked up the dagger before he announced, "I announce my name: Shiroi Hidan, descendant of the Blood-Stained Zealot. I pledge my mother-fucking life to honoring my ancestor's glorious purpose!" He looked at the dagger in his hand for a moment, saying, "You know, I wonder just how sharp this thing is-"
"Next!"
The next individual to try and come up was one of the teachers. "I announce my name: Umino Iruka, descendant of the Warm-Hearted Guardian. I pledge to watch over the descendant of the Golden Hero," At this Naruto began waving excitedly, as if there was anyone who didn't know who he was, "And the nurture new talent whenever I see it." Iruka waited a moment before bringing out his tablet and scrolling through the displayed pages, "But, now that I have your attention, I would like to say a few things-"
"Next!"
"I announce my name: Rock Lee, descendant of the Green-Clad Warrior!" The next student stood up to the podium and announced, his black bowl-cut staying perfectly still with his excited motions, "I pledge to follow the noble footsteps of my ancestor and take on any challenge that comes my way! Though..." He hummed, "From what I read, there were a few challenges he faltered on due to his only being able to use 'taijutsu', but I would at least try to learn the other arts, I mean: I wouldn't want to go into a gunfight armed with a sword, am I right?"
"Next!"
Finally, it was Kisame's turn. He walked up to the podium and took the dagger in hand. "I announce my name: Hoshigaki Kisame, descendant of the Legendary Demon of the Hidden Mist. And I..." He bit his lower lip before holding up a hand, "Actually, could I just ask a quick question?"
"What," Headmaster Sarutobi asked, his face set into a frown, "Is it?" Kisame began again,
"I was just wondering... What if I don't feel comfortable taking this pledge?" There were many different reactions to this statement, but a few choice ones were:
A manic grin growing across Hidan's features.
Iruka fainting.
Itachi... not being able to comprehend what he had just heard.
And Naruto's jaw dropping so far that Sasuke had to manually pick it back up.
"What?" Kisame frowned at all of this, "I think that, this being something that will affect my life, I should be able to ask some damn questions!"
"And this," Headmaster Sarutobi walked over to Kisame, "Is your answer: if you refuse to accept your ancestor's glorious purpose, for any reason, your bloodline will be wiped from the face of history."
Kisame felt everything drop from underneath him. "No..." He whispered, "But, then, what would happen... To me?"
Headmaster Sarutobi's face was set in stone as he said, "You will perish." Kisame insisted further,
"But, that can't be right! There has to be-"
"Perish!" Headmaster Sarutobi snapped back. Kisame did quiet down, allowing him to rest a hand on his shoulder and say, "Now, Kisame, please continue."
Kisame looked at the dagger, then he let his eyes roam over the audience. He turned to see Naruto wringing his hands together; trying and failing to keep his smile on his face. "I..." He shook his head, disgust marring his features as he twisted out of Headmaster Sarutobi's hold, "I'm not doing this right."
The horrified gasps were deafening as Kisame stormed off the stage, running off the academy grounds. "This isn't happening!" Naruto pulled at his hair. Sasuke was attempting to calm the blonde down but, on the other side of things, Itachi still couldn't believe it.
Was Kisame really refusing fate?
Could such a thing be done?
Deep within the winding basements of Remembrance Hall, someone else had been astounded by Kisame's actions...
A rasping, crazed laugh hissed out as an older man slithered and wound through his piles of books, ink paintings, and research. His long black hair was unkempt due to his time hidden down here, but Orochimaru, a former teacher at the academy, cackled as the exchange from up above echoed into his chambers.
"The fish scurries,
The clouds, they weep!
What shall happen...
When the tides sink deep?"
Kisame finally stopped running when he had found where the river near the academy let out: a small beach welcoming him into its secluded embrace. "Damn it..." He sighed, walking to the warm, salty waters, "Why couldn't I have just been born normal?"
Wait, that's it? That's how you're ending it off?
Will you just let me tell a story, woman?!
Your story-telling skills are awful! I can not wait until it's my turn...
Well then, by all fucking means!
A/N: Well, that's chapter 1! Destiny is a real mess when it comes to people wanting what their hearts truly desire, huh? Well, please give some feedback if you liked! Thanks for reading!