Dreams & Hopes
Book I - Stitch by Stitch
Chapter 3 - Gathering the Order
Mitarashi Anko was not a woman easily spooked, by rule… but the home of the, by that point, legendary Kagetora Menma was an exception to any aforementioned rule.
Anyone that was crippled, yet carried the nickname 'Dragon of Konoha', deserved such fear.
The home was huge, being a royal mansion that once housed a large civilian clan, and with only one inhabitant living there as of now, that point was even more eye glaring. Or, at least, it should have been.
The reason for that, was that the massive home wasn't empty, not even close! The entire mansion was filled with clones, shadow clones.
This only served to unnerve Anko and company, more.
Of course, Anko was not alone in this intimidating mansion, as she was followed by her best friend, queen of Genjutsu, Yuuhi Kurenai. The beautiful woman with strikingly beautiful, wild black hair and crimson eyes, her gorgeous figure and beauty beyond comparison, though Konoha didn't lack exquisite beauty. But back on track, Kurenai seemed to be as equally disturbed by the home as her longtime friend.
Finally, one of the Bunshin that were swarming around, took notice of the two women, and smiled happily.
"Ah! Anko-san! You have arrived, the original has been awaiting you. Please, follow me."
The two kunoichi gulped nervously at that, but followed the Bunshin that had spoken, nonetheless.
Menma carefully looked over the data he had managed to acquire from the Land of Snow, and he was pleased with how good the info was, this would speed things up, immensely.
"This will speed up project 'Legacy' nicely. Any thoughts on the matter of even better information deposits and improvements?"
The silver haired ANBU, and another person, both shook their heads in the negative, until the second person looked up, and retreated into the shadows, masking their presence.
Menma smiled when he saw Anko and Kurenai enter, and his heart warmed at seeing the woman whose life was so similar to his own, he would give her some answers today, and he felt proud of that achievement.
Anko and Kurenai both bowed to the heavily crippled child, surprised by the immensely powerful aura he exuded, despite his visibly incapacitated state.
"It is nice to make your acquaintance, Mitarashi-san, Yuuhi-san. I am Kagetora Menma, advisor to Sandaime-sama, and inventor extra-ordinaire to Konoha."
His voice was softer than what the two women expected, and he seemed quite versed in flirting, as he kept giving them a smile that made them blush and fidget like nervous fan girls before their crush.
Kurenai decided to speak up first, uncomfortable with the boys warm and friendly gaze. "I apologize for intruding on your meeting with Anko, Kagetora-sama."
Menma chuckled, his eye glowing warmly at the crimson eyed woman, slightly deepening her blush, but lessening her fidgeting. "I could never think of someone of your skill and beauty as… intruding, Yuuhi-san."
Kurenai's cheeks were sent ablaze with that statement, as she looked down at her feet, unable to meet the Kagetora's warm gaze. Anko stifled a giggle at her friends shyness, and noticed the golden eye moving onto her.
"And here stands the number one sexiest kunoichi in all of Konoha, Mitarashi Anko."
Anko blushed at him quoting her introduction phrase, before the boy made a flourish motion with his only hand, striking a pose, despite being in a wheelchair. "Kagetora Menma, sexiest brain in all of Konoha, girl!"
Anko simply stared at Menma for a long moment, before she burst into laughter, nearly dropping onto her ass.
Kurenai looked at her friend disapprovingly, before noticing Menma's smile.
"Good, there was no reason for you two to be so tense, in the first place."
Menma's eye motioned at the seats, before he spoke again. "Please, sit down."
The two women felt slightly awkward, looking at the crippled genius, but he seemed more focused on the shadows of the room, until an ANBU stepped out.
Anko and Kurenai immediately knew who the man was, as his dog mask easily gave the information out.
"My guardian ANBU here, mentioned how a friend of his had some issues with a gift left by a traitorous snake, and asked me to have a look at it."
Anko was shocked at that, and looked from the Kagetora to the dog masked ANBU, unsure what to feel. Menma could easily discern the issue. "I am just going to see if I can either improve the lock on it, or maybe even remove it."
Kurenai observed Menma, as the compassion in his eye seemed to speak of personal experience… a personal experience with unwanted seals. Then it hit her!
"You're Uzumaki Naruto!"
Menma didn't go wide eyed, rather his mouth curled in annoyance at Kurenai's statement, before he snarled, almost angrily. "Uzumaki Naruto died nearly three years ago… I am what has risen from the ashes of his disrespected grave." Kurenai immediately grew quiet at that statement, embarrassed by losing control of herself in that type of manner, and shouting it out loud.
Menma sighed, his eye loosing some of the shine, and his voice growing sadder as he spoke softly.
"Many of this village couldn't value the sacrifice I have made… Even my own family couldn't value that sacrifice."
This caught both Anko's and Kurenai's attention, and they really wanted to ask for clarification, but held back, not knowing the Kagetora all that well, yet…
Kakashi was surprised that Menma didn't deny who he once was… but given the offer he was about to present to the two women, felt that it was quite a good show of faith to them.
Menma pulled out a envelope with the name of the snake Sannin written on it. Anko looked at the file with some trepidation, and Kurenai glared at it with a burning hatred…
"In this file are many answers to questions you hold… some of them might set you free, others might ensnare you in pain." Menma warned her sharply, as he placed the file on the table.
Anko looked at the envelope, a war in her mind, before she finally took a deep breath, decision made.
"I want to know, why my father left me."
Menma smiled sadly, knowing that feeling well, and pushed the envelope towards her.
Three hours… Anko had been reading the info package for a full three hours. Menma knew that what she read would sting her soul… he could understand it, all too easily.
Finally, Anko finished, and closed the file, her eyes full of unshed tears. "Thank you." She whispered, her tears finally spilling free to the world.
Menma then pulled out a new file, one that read 'The Zero Hour Division', and handed it to her. "Now you might understand why I am making you this offer, Anko-chan, since I trust you."
Anko took the file with a trembling hand, her mind slightly clouded still by grief, but as she read the file, that cleared, and a sadistic grin broke onto her beautiful face. "Is this for real?"
Menma gave her a matching grin at the question. "Approved by the Hokage, himself."
Kurenai was confused, until Menma extracted a new envelope, this one with, again, a single word on it, 'Yuuhi'.
Menma sighed as he placed the envelope in front of Kurenai. He just knew this would require a box of Kleenex, for sure. It took almost two hours to calm the almost hysteric Yuuhi down, bit finally she was calmed.
"And I thought I hated the Uchiha before." Anko said in shock, having read the file of her friend. Menma calmly waited for the two women to compose themselves, before extracting two sheets of paper, his eye twinkling in some mischief. "Now… signing this will start you off, on a new future, if you want and wish."
The snake and Genjutsu mistress of Konoha both quickly read through the paper, before signing it, and returning it to Menma…
The young genius gave a big grin to the two women, before tossing them two elaborate badges, one having on it a snake wrapped around a sword, the other having a goat ready to ram into something. "Welcome to the Zero Hour, Serpents sin of envy, Mitarashi Anko, and Goats sin of lust, Yuuhi Kurenai."
{§}
Menma smirked as he was wheeled through the ANBU high security ninja prison, behind him ANBU Inu. The ANBU felt slightly worried as he wheeled the young boy through the corridor, unsure of the assuredness for his safety…
Finally, they stopped at a door, and Menma handed to the ANBU guard a letter with the Hokage's stamp. "Kagetora Menma and ANBU operative Inu to visit Chuunin prisoner Mizuki." The ANBU checked the letter, before nodding in satisfaction, and permitting them entry.
Menma calmly observed the chained prisoner, his golden eye glowing in the dark room. Mizuki, as well, observed the legendary Kagetora Menma, and wondered why the child was visiting him. "Do you know who I am, Mizuki-san?" Menma asked of the once Chuunin instructor, eye shining with something the Chuunin couldn't discern. Mizuki wanted to be arrogant, but something in the air, stopped him, and his voice came respectful and polite. "I am aware of your feats, Menma-sama." He responded, eyes watching the crippled boys every breath.
Menma smiled calmly, before extracting an envelope from his grey coat, and tossed it to the ex-Chuunin. Mizuki blinked in confusion, before opening it.
Immediately, the Chuunin growled in anger. "How dare he betray me!" The Chuunin thundered in his anger.
Menma was calmly observing the Chuunin, as he went berserker, a small smile tugging on his lips, information was power, after all. Mizuki looked at the child, only to find him holding a paper. "Interested in joining a little project of mine?"
Mizuki took the paper and pen, before reading through it, and then immediately signing it, much to Menma's delight. "Welcome then, to the Zero Hour Division, Eagle's sin of pride, Tojuro Mizuki." He proclaimed with a large grin, one more sin has been found.
{§}
Patience is a virtue, but laziness while waiting was a ninjas sin. A simple fact, and one Momochi Zabuza knew all too well, as he waited for his new employer. Haku was hiding in one of the trees, his hunter-ninja outfit in place, as they were on the lookout for any foul play by the new possible employer.
Zabuza nearly chocked on his spit, as his eyes caught sight of a wheelchair bound child. He easily saw the Bunshin that was pushing the wheelchair, and quickly took in the boys features. 'White hair, one golden eye, left arm and both legs missing, eerie, yet warm smile… Holy Crap! I am in the presence of the fabled Dragon's wrath of Konoha!'
Menma easily saw the mist nuke ninja panic in recognition, and gave him a reassuring smile, eye warmly asking for trust. "I am not here to betray or doublecross you, Momochi-san." Zabuza blinked in shock at the soft voice of the Kagetora, something that happened quite often, Menma mused. "What do you want with me?
Menma's smile lit up the clearing as he extracted two files, one read 'Yukie', the other read 'Project Humanity'. Zabuza took the files and read them, his eyes going wider and wider, until he finally faced the boy again, eyes the size of diner plates. Menma already held out the paper that would add Zabuza to the Zero Hour Division. "Welcome to the Zero Hour, Zabuza-san."
The Foxes sin of greed, Momochi Zabuza, acquired.
{§}
Menma knew he would have to play the next part by ear… As he had no information of true value, to go with.
He was being wheeled through the long halls of his home, speaking with a clone. "Report." The calm order was immediately obeyed, the clone opening a ledger.
"Our businesses in Suna, across Fire country, and those in the smaller nations Konoha is allied with, are flourishing. The only one having issues is the one in wave country, as someone is attempting to leach the life out of that land." The clone reported to the original, who frowned at the last part.
"I want a more in depth report by the evening about what is happening in Wave. Also I want a full report on the numbers of the other businesses." The white haired boy seemed displeased by something standing in the way of his plan, but unplanned things happen… maybe he could bring the entire situation more towards his favor, saving a country in the process.
Finally, Menma arrived at the room he would be holding the meeting in, and paused. The Bunshin knew easily what was bothering its creator, and knew the Kagetora original had to gather himself personally.
Menma chuckled softly as he motioned to the Bunshin to wheel him in, eye ablaze with dedication.
In the office were the legendary Ino-Shika-Cho, and their wives. Not a group anyone would want to anger, or insult.
"Honorable heads and matriarchs of the Nara, Akimichi and Yamanaka, I thank you for agreeing to this meeting." Menma spoke up in a smooth voice, his eye glowing in appreciation.
The Nara clan head seemed to awaken on that one, and sat properly, much to his wife's shock. The Akimichi clan head turned serious, something that wasn't lost to his beautiful Amazonian wife, a dark skinned and heavily muscled beauty known as being the legendary 'Heavy Metal Sister'. The Yamanaka seemed to be the most relaxed in his presence, which wasn't exactly comforting.
The golden eye Kagetora smiled softly, his eye shining as he opened the discussion.
"I have asked for your presence for many reasons, but I shall start with the more pressing one. Could you please hand them the files?" Menma asked of the Bunshin behind him, who immediately took the files off of Menma's lap, and began placing them in front of the clan heads and matriarchs.
Menma knew the information wouldn't sit well, and he honestly didn't know who would have the most destructive reaction.
Finally, the Akimichi matriarch roared in anger as she slammed the file onto the table, her eyes trained onto Menma.
"How secure is this information?" She growled out, eyes shining menacingly. Menma honestly wondered if he had to anticipate an attack.
"It was acquired from the Uchiha's secret black ops files, hidden in a special seal in their shrine under the clan grounds." He answered hesitantly, only to then have his eye go wide when tears gathered in the Akimichi's eyes.
"How could Mikoto do that to us? We thought she was our friend!"
Menma felt his heart sting at that, as he saw it was the betrayal of the worst kind…
And he couldn't do anything to help.
Nara Shikaku immediately spoke after the matriarch of the Akimichi, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"I am to presume that you wish to counter this? And that you already have a plan?"
Menma chuckled as he knew that it would only be a Nara that could see that so swiftly.
The one eyed bleach hair boy placed two files on the table.
The first one read 'The Zero Hour Division'.
The second one read 'Project - Saviour sin'.
The Nara clan head lifted both, reading through the papers with heavy intent. Menma was carefully observing the clan head, eyes watching for any show of his thoughts… any muscle twitch or change in breathing.
To his surprise, the clan head chuckled, eyes moving to meet the golden eye of the Kagetora.
"Some of the data has been blacked out, but that is pertaining research and such, and it was blacked out by the Hokage, so I am to presume he knows?"
Menma laughed, surprised by how quickly Shikaku figured that out. Leaning back with a smile, the golden eye youth began the explanation.
"The Hokage knows, as he agrees that he has allowed much about Konoha and its true beauty, to degrade."
This was said with a forlorn look, remembering how sad and crushed the Hokage was, upon learning of Konoha's corruption.
Shikaku could tell Menma wasn't swimming through good memories, rather he was in a sea of bad ones.
Menma sighed as he then spoke up again, voice smooth, yet somewhat cold.
"I am uninterested in small talk on the matter… What is your decision?"
Shikaku slowly thought through the information, before giving Inoichi and Chouza a look, after each of the clan heads returned the nod, he faced Menma again.
"Our decision needs some thinking and talking." The clan heads carefully observed Menma, as he thought over their request.
"I can work with that… Just make sure no one, even your fellow clan members, hear you speak on this manner."
Menma placidly observed as the clan heads and matriarchs nodded, then rose and left. Once the clan heads left, Menma did a quick snap of his fingers, and a ANBU appeared, shadows half hiding any possible features not covered by the mask and outfit.
"What do you want me to do, Menma-sama?"
The white haired boy was silent for a moment, then…
"Watch over the clan heads. If anyone attempts to spy onto their talks, slaughter them."
The ANBU nodded swiftly, and vanished in a Konoha shunshin.
{§}
Menma chuckled as his left hand softly painted a portrait from memory, the beautiful form and person coming to show more and more.
The pale skin, the slender, still developing curves, and the femininity… Menma smiled in enjoyment, with the stress of many secrets and the many arguments and political warfronts… he needed something to relax. The white haired genius had to admit that he was happy with having at least one hobby not connected to bloodshed and war, it was refreshing to bind oneself and create, rather than devour and destroy.
The ANBU had reported only one spy, Danzo's spy. That man was becoming a highly distracting wrench to his plans. Without Danzo's interference, he knew his plans would be moving along much swifter, but the man was poison.
Menma had to find a way to get rid of Shimura Danzo, before the man found out and started sabotaging his plans to cleanse Konoha.
Menma growled angrily, his eye twitching in anger, irritation colouring his movements, the painting reflecting that anger immediately. "Ugly girl! Something like you will always be ugly!" Menma's ears picked up the shout, twitching in irritation, and his eye immediately found his clone's.
"Go!" The clone immediately made his way to see what it was, and leaving Menma to relax slightly.
Only a minute later, the clone reappeared with a girl Menma's age, who looked startled at their swift movement.
Menma observed the girl, whose indigo hair and porcelain skin, as well as pupil-less lavender eyes, quickly allowed him to discern who she was.
"Hello, miss Hyūga, I am Kagetora Menma, are you alright?" He observed as the clone made a clone himself, then dispelled it, allowing Menma to see what had happened.
"I see they bullied you, I hope they didn't harm you?" The girl shyly shook her head no, her cheeks covered in a soft blush.
"I am Hyūga Hinata, thank you for your assistance." The girl said in a voice so soft, Menma had to strain himself to hear it.
"Ah! Hinata-san, you must be Hiashi's older daughter, making this meeting even more favourable."
The shy girl seemed confused by his words, until she took in his appearance.
The shy Hyūga took in slowly the shoulder length white hair, the one golden eye, the scar riddled cheeks, and to add to it, the lack of an arm and both legs.
Hinata immediately came to a realization, as all of the visual clues came together.
"M-M-Menma-sama! I-I a-apologize f-for not recognizing y-you." She apologized quickly, trying to figure out how she got in this situation.
Menma chuckled softly, his golden eye softening considerably.
"No need for that, Hinata-san. I simply passed by, and we have never met before, how were you supposed to know me?"
Hinata fidgeted slightly, nervous of matching gazes with the legend that even her father feared.
Menma smiled slightly wider, as he observed her nerves.
"How about you join me for some tea, Hinata-san?" He asked the girl softly, charming her to the max with his warm smile and glowing golden eye.
The poor heiress didn't know what hit her, as she succumbed to the appeal of Menma, and the two made way to a nearby tea house.
Hiashi felt nervous as he entered the tea house, finding Kagetora Menma there, sitting with his daughter and chatting pleasantly.
'She isn't stuttering at all… is she so at ease around him?" The clan head had to wonder, gaze resting on the two.
Menma chose that moment to laugh heartily, causing Hinata to give an adorable pout.
Hiashi felt bad for having to invade such a moment… but it had to be done.
"Hinata." The moment his voice called out, he saw Hinata revert to her shy self, fidgeting nervously.
Menma didn't like how Hinata reverted to her shy self, but decided to wait upon the matter, so he turned to face Hiashi.
"Hiashi-sama, good to see you again." Menma noticed with a pleasant smirk, how Hiashi twitched upon him speaking.
"Menma…-sama, how are you?" Menma felt pleased by how Hiashi addressed him, feeling proud at having intimidated the proud prick.
Hiashi was more and more nervous about Menma's knowing smirk, before the boy seemed to blink, having remembered something.
"Oh my, I am late to a meeting with the Sandaime. I hope we meet again, Hinata-san."
{§}
Menma wanted to chuckle as he relished in the vivid memory of the Hyūga heads nervousness.
But currently he had a more pressing issue, as he observed the cloth covered mass in front of him, a soft hum of power saturating the air.
The object in front of him was his legacy, the reason his name would one day, greatly shine through…
"I guess it's time to reveal some hell on heels… I hope they know the thrill."
Menma chuckled as he gazed at something else in the room, something highly specific.
It was a display case, and in it, was a set of armour, black and sleek, covered in a tribal like, crimson design, dragons wrapping around the sleek metal…
It was beautiful, it was breathtaking, and it was Menma's masterpiece.
"Here is my legacy, great it shall be!" The white haired boy said softly, raising his glass, and took a nice, long sip.
Menma's eyes then fell on a scroll, open to show detailed sketches of a beautiful, crimson katana, a beauty of slaughter, incarnate.
"Oh, I've got some really good ideas for that."
With those final words, and a devilish grin, Menma retreated back into the shadows.
-AN-
And chapter number three is here!
As always, Naruto and characters are owned by Kishimoto, not lonely ol' me...
Well... read, and please, review.
Your friendly neighborhood writer, Nicholai Black.
