Hey, it's had been awhile since I have even looked at this to be honest, but I don't like leaving things unfinished. So since I want to write more someday, maybe make a living out of it, I figure that I should finish this first. So hope it hasn't been too long. Enjoy.
Thousands of reports and papers covered every inch of available space in the office. Reports from the North packed in one corner and East in the other. Another corner taken up by just escort missions alone and the other with every message sent from the other Kages. The Lady Hokage sighed as she read the latest one. She didn't want to believe that the daughter of her old friend could be doing such things, even under the contract the young Kage saw her sign. Even without freewill there could be ways around things. Killing quickly, not dragging out the slaughter of more people than papers in her office. Not relishing in the blood of battle and destruction. This was not how Hikari was raised. This was not the Hikari anyone knew.
"What happened to you?" she whispered.
The last ring of nin fell around their leader. They had tried to delay the creature as long as possible while the others ran but it had taken less than a half hour for the beast to cut them all down. The leader now stood alone, eyes locked with the dragon's. The dragon's master then appeared from behind one of tails. "Why? We have nothing left to offer you. Why do you need to silence even the smallest of villages when we have never quarreled with any of the Great Nations?"
"Because I want to see what my pet can really do. What better way to fuel anger than to destroy everything one holds dear?" These were the last words the leader heard before being burned alive with black fire.
"The survivors arrived in the nearest town only to be killed along with the rest of the village only a few hours later. They now have only few days journey before they reach the Land of Lightning and destroy them to. Then it's only a matter of time before they circle back for the Land of Water then only the Hidden Leaf will be left besides us. Even if he does keep the terms of the contract there is no way we can provide for the massive number of refugees that are going to be coming here. There is no other choice. We have to stop them. How would you ever explain to them that they would come here and do what they have done to the rest of the villages? We have to stop them before they destroy Kohona."
The Kazekage listened to his brother with cold dread. He knew he was right. He knew that they had to stop the crazed man before the whole land was destroyed and the rest of the world soon after. He knew that after what Naruto had told him about his fight with the dark dragon in training that killing the master would not end it. And he knew that even if they somehow stopped the raging Jubi and split it into 9 again, that they would never allow its former host to live.
We are almost at the Land of Lightning now. Only a few more countries left before I can avenge my people and kill the monster that murdered my mother. Master continues to help me learn to control my power while still letting go in order to release her greater power. I'm starting to forget parts of battles but he assures me that if I was ever in any real danger that he is always there to snap me out of it. He says that getting deeper into her dark nature will allow me to summon the power I will need to kill the Nine-Tails, and anyone else that gets in my way. Then perhaps when this is all over I can find my old friend and try to explain what happened. Master told me not to get my hopes up, but he is the only other person from my past that is left.
I want to remember what my life was like, even the bad parts. I want to be a whole person again. Master as helped all he can, but he was busy in his own country so he doesn't know more of the details of my life that a friend would. My favorite food. My favorite place to watch the sunset. My hopes and fears. I hope to reclaim them someday…
I put my brush and journal into my bag as I heard his footsteps from the hall. We were staying in an inn a half days journey from the border of the Land of Lightning. "Are you ready for today Kurai?" He said as he opened my door.
"Yes, Master. I'm just getting my things put away." I quickly gathered the rest of my trinkets I had brought with me, the necklace from Garra, the white choker, my white kunai holster and put on the new bracelet Master had given me for my birthday. It had symbols of all the Nations and villages on it, and as we crushed each one, their symbol turned black, outlined in silver on the red band. I followed him out of the inn and Zetsu was already waiting. We ran the rest of the way to the border since Master didn't want to me waste my chakra. I easily took the Hidden Rock but they hadn't been expecting me and the Cloud has had many weeks to prepare their defenses for our arrival. As we crossed the border I could sense no one for kilometers around. "They must have already moved everyone south besides the forces in the main village," Master said, answering my silent observation.
With no reason to burn the other villages it took only another day before we came within sight of the Village Hidden in the Clouds. I could sense a good number of nin, but not of them felt like any elite forces one would meet when attacking a city. "They must of had all of the young and experienced nin leave with everyone else. They must be trying to form an army with what is left of the other Nations to try and stop us. The coming battles will be harder, Kurai, but much more fun," my Master answered my thoughts again.
Fun. Yes. Fun was the right word.
"Lady Tsunade the last of the Cloud have arrived in the village," Shizune said as she walked into the office and over the mountains of paper.
"Good," the Hokage answered. "What is the last know position of the Jubi?"
"They were last reported stopped not far from the Hidden Cloud, but that was several days go so I would assume that it has already been turned to rubble…" she dropped off.
"The they should continue up the peninsula then either turn south to the Land of Water or perhaps return to Land of Iron and rest for a while. Either way it still gives us some time to organize ourselves. But it would be better for them to stop. It would give us enough time to possibly stop them before they get to the Hidden Mist."
"Yes, but we can't count on that Tsunade."
"Has the Mist contacted us about how they wish to proceed?"
"I have heard nothing yet mam."
The Hokage let out an exasperated sigh. "It would be nice to know if we can count on at least some help from one of the only other remaining villages. But, if they wish to wait to see their own land burn when they could have stopped it then let them. At this rate though there won't be enough supplies to support all of us let alone attack before our own home is destroyed." She sighed again. "But as long as I am Hokage I won't let everything that generations have built and created be wiped to ash. Go. Find the Cloud's council and bring them here. We have to discuss how work and food will be distributed."
"Right away Lady Hokage," and Shizune left with papers scattering in her wake.
Tsunade rubbed her temples and turned to look at all she now responsible for. "I'm sorry Ash. There is no other way."
In the pale moonlight the massive fire danced. It cha-chaed and tangoed, jived and waltzed, following the tempo of the night. It took partner after partner, none lasting long in the fire's embrace. By the end of the dancing it too was tired, and fell asleep in the dying embers.
By the way Master had talked I had expected more from the second Hidden Village. It fell almost as easily as the others. They had barely left enough ninja to form any sort of suitable defense. It took only an hour to depose of them and then I let the fire do the rest, or more Master made me let the fire do the rest. After all his talk I was still itching for more, even destroying the buildings myself would of help. I wonder why he stopped me. It's not like I would have gotten hurt. Fire is nothing to me. Nothing I have seen has been the slightest challenge to the training I have been given. He assures me that once the Mist is gone then I will have my challenge will the Nine-Tails and his mentor. I hope he is right. I yearn to see his crimson blood on my claws, to see the life leave his eyes. After that I shall have my peace, and I will help rebuild this shattered world into one where none are stronger than others. Where no one is an outcast because of something they can't change. There will be peace under us, for none will match our strength. And when you know you can't win, there is no reason to fight.
I'm not sure how many more chapters I'll be able to make out of this, but I don't want to rush it. Since school has started again I'm not when the next update will be, but I want to have this done by the end of this summer so I can start off school next year with a nice "I actually did something this summer" feeling. Hopefully you'll hear from my again soon.