Chapter 2 The Coming Crossroad
Hikawa Shrine…
Dream…
A great battle was taking place in cold white winter, then a great darkness appeared over the horizon. The scouts were lying injured. Then there was nothing, several symbols began to appear. An hourglass, waves, a stone, what looked like clouds, and the last one stood out the most, it was a swirl in the shape of a leaf.
Hino Rei suddenly woke up from the dream, her head was throbbing, and she began to sweat, as well as panting.
"What was that?" thought Rei, she looked around a bit more then decided to go back to sleep.
Hikawa Shrine…
The next day it was the afternoon, five girls were hanging out at Hikawa Shrine along with a black and white cat, and the summer break was ending as fall semester was about to being.
"Oh, summer's ending, I wish it was longer, said a bored Usagi, "but still I graduated High School!" Usagi got up and started to dance in excitement.
"Still wonder how you did it Usagi," said Makoto.
"Maybe someone replaced her during the exams," said Ami cutting in.
"I now know someone who graduated with low grades," said a cheerful Minako.
(Anime Fall) "You are all so mean," cried Usagi getting back up.
"Calm down Usagi, we were only kidding," chuckled Ami.
"Yea Usagi, in all seriousness congratulations," said Makoto smiling.
Rei was silent the whole time until, "Rei, are you all right, you've been quite this whole time," said a concerned Luna, "Is something the matter?"
"Well it's just I had a dream last night," replied Rei with a down look.
"What was it about?" asked Makoto.
Everyone turned their eyes to Rei as she began to speak, "Well, I saw a great darkness in a cold place, we were all down, then I saw five symbols, but there was one that stood out the most, a swirl in the shape of a leaf."
A silence filled the room, then broken by Makoto. "Is it a new enemy?" asked Makoto sounding a little uneasy.
"I hope not, the fight with Galaxia seven years ago was not easy and we have been at peace." said Minako.
"So, what were the other symbols?" asked Luna.
"There was an hour glass, a set of waves, clouds, and a rock," answered Rei. "However, that leaf symbol just stood out the most, its like it got most of my attention."
"Artemis, what do you make of these symbols?" asked Luna.
"No idea Luna," replied Artemis.
"Whatever, this enemy is we will be ready," said Ami.
"Right", Artemis, "it is your duty as the Sailor Scouts to fight evil that threaten this world, and I will honestly say, you've all become great warriors.
"Even you Usagi has improved the most," said Luna.
"Well whatever comes we will defeat it," said Usagi with confidence.
"We will thrash whoever or whatever comes," said Makoto.
"Now what do we make of the leaf symbol," asked Ami.
"It could be the symbol of the new enemy, for now let's be careful," replied Luna."
"Should we call the Outers for help?" asked Usagi.
"Not yet," replied Rei, "besides they will just blast everything, they should be coming back from a tour so Hotaru can continue High School."
"Hotaru has really grown," said Usagi.
"Alright everyone I got to go, I have to finish this assignment for school," said Ami, as she was packing.
"Yea I have to go also, I'm volunteering to help cook for the poor," said Makoto.
Everyone else saying their goodbyes went their own separate ways but would prepare a few funs days before their first semester of college. "I hope Rei dream was just a dream," said Usagi.
"Just be ready for anything," said Luna, as they were both walking home.
Leaf Village, Ichiraku Ramen Shop…
(Slurp) "Ah, this is the good stuff," said Akito slurping his Ramen.
As Akito was eating his Ramen, unnoticed to him another customer walked in,
"Long time no see Akito," said an unknown yet familiar voice.
Akito turned his head around and smiled, "Uchia Kyoji, my old friend," said Akito forming a fist as Kyoji responded to the fist pump.
Kyoji took a seat next to Akito, "I'll have the regular please," said Kyoji.
"Coming right up," said Teuchi.
After a few minutes, Teuchi laid a bowl out for Kyoji, "Enjoy the food," said Teuchi.
"Extra pork on us," said Ayame.
"Thank you," said Kyoji beginning to eat the Ramen.
"So, I heard you took out some bandits in the mountains," said Akito.
"Eh," with a frown, as he was slurping noodles, "It was not too hard, wish I had something better than C ranked missions right now," said Kyoji taking another slurp of noodles. "Seriously when I first arrived, the bandit surrendered, it was boring." "Most of them surrendered when I arrived, and those who didn't were easy." "Speaking of missions, heard you had a run in with a monster in some village near the Land of Rice border," said Kyoji.
"You've only heard the half of it." "Only two words to describe it all, crazy shit," replied Akito sipping the last of his Ramen broth.
"What else was it?" asked Kyoji.
"Sigh, well, Sasuke arrived and told us he was tracking those monsters called Youma for a few days, they were actually four of them originally," said Akito. "Sasuke eliminated one of them but those other three escaped, he said he interrogated the Youma he defeated for a few days, they are from some place called the Dark Kingdom, and their leader is Queen Metalia," said Akito, "but there is more, after Sasuke helped us with the last Youma in that village, he asked me and Shikamaru to follow him. "
"What did Sasuke show you?" asked Kyoji.
"He leads the both of us to some hill, but the hill had some passageway that went underground, we went deep, then we came onto something," paused Akito, "it was a portal to another world."
A surprised look formed on Kyoji, as he was drinking some broth almost choking. "What! You're kidding, right?" said a shocked Kyoji.
"Come on Kyoji after on the things we've seen in the last Great Ninja war, your surprised?" asked Akito.
"You have a point, so what happened next?" asked Kyoji getting Akito to continue.
"Well after Sasuke showed us the portal, Shikamaru ordered me to bring reinforcements, after I brought them, Sasuke was gone," said Akito.
"So, where did Sasuke go?" asked Kyoji.
"He went into the portal and said he would give us word on what he has found, but that was about two week ago, after that I stayed in the village to help the civilians recover and rebuild, then I could return to the Leaf," said Akito.
"Sounds like another mess," said Kyoji finishing his broth, "You've been through a lot of shit."
"Yep, and I feel like the piles just going to get bigger to cleanup," replied Akito.
"Well lets just be ready for anything that comes up," said Kyoji.
"I've been away from the Leaf, how is Hana doing Kyoji?" asked a curious Akito.
"She is doing a lot of training and trying to get back into being a Shinobi again, I do not see her too often," said Kyoji.
"Guess we will have to delay the Team 2 reunion," said Akito with a small frown. "It's been tough, the jobs after the war have been kind of easy, though you had some Anbu missions, I'm having trouble finding legitimate opponents" said Kyoji, plus you fought that Youma you call it?"
"It was nothing to boast about," said Akito, "I did what had to be done."
A few minutes of chatting took place between the two friends, but then, "Hey you two," said a familiar voice.
Both friends turned around and saw Shikamaru, "Shikamaru, what's up?", said Kyoji.
"You here for lunch or business?" asked Akito.
"The Hokage has requested both of you immediately," ordered Shikamaru, Akito and Kyoji looked at each other and nodded, they proceeded to pay their bill and headed to the Hokage Office with Shikamaru.
Hokage Office…
Shikamaru, Akito, and Kyoji opened the door to the Hokage office, a man with a Kage robe and a mask on, with white hair and the three Shinobi stood in front of him.
"You wanted to see us Lord Hokage," said Akito breaking the silence.
"Please, drop the lord, I'm not used to being called that." said Kakashi.
"You have a mission for us, Kakashi-sensei?" asked Kyoji.
"Yes, a message from Sasuke has arrived," said Kakashi putting the office in silence.
The silence lasted for a few minutes, but was broken, "So, what does the message say?" asked Kyoji.
"It was a long message but to sum it up, here what it says," as Kakashi began reading the important parts of the scroll, "According the Sasuke, this other world is way more technological and he has already acquired samples, we began to reserve engineer it, and mentioned a big city, he also has talked to the local population, reports that they likely do not have anything to do with the Dark Kingdom, but he also reports of heroines called the Sailor Senshi,", said Kakashi putting down the scroll.
"So, what is the mission, and what else does Sasuke say about these Sailor Senshi, can we trust them?" asked Akito.
"From what Sasuke says, the people speak good about them, though they have not been seen or heard from in four years," replied Kakashi.
"So whats the missions?" asked Kyoji.
"This will be an S-class mission, your mission is to establish an outpost in the world, find the Sailor Senshi and see if they are friend or foe, if they are friend, establish an alliance, if they are enemies, eliminate them, and finally gather information on the Dark Kingdom," replied Kakashi, "you are to prepare to leave in about one week, Yuki Akito and Uchiha Kyoji." "Also, your teammate Hyuga Hana will join you as soon as she is done training and if she can overcome her condition, otherwise I will send someone else" added Kakashi, now are there any questions?" asked Kakashi.
"Where are we going to live in big city and where will funds come from?" asked Akito.
"Living in a world like that sounds expensive, so I am sure that we will need more than the Leaf's check book for this," added Kyoji.
"Sasuke will have everything you need when you go through the portal, he will meet you on the other side," answered Kakashi, "as for funding, I asked Naruto to send Jiraiya books and have them published in that world," said Kakashi.
A silence suddenly filled the room and sweat dropped from Akito and Kyoji, with their faces red the… (Anime Fall down), getting up, "Um Kakashi no one will think we are the authors, right?" asked a scared Akito and Kyoji having a similar expression.
"Not to worry, fund will be sent to your account, Sasuke will set things up and will give more instructions when you arrive, and one more thing, do not forget to keep in touch," answered Kakashi. "Just to remind the both of you, keep your identities as ninjas a secret unless revealing yourselves become necessary and keep under the radar," said Kakashi, "you will prepare to leave within a week", your dismissed."
"Hai," replied Akito and Kyoji as they disappeared.
"Will they be ok?" asked a concerned Shikamaru.
"They will, Akito has been a fine Shinobi for years now, not to mention one of my best Anbu operatives, and Kyoji, well, has done some Anbu work, but remain a fine Shinobi none the less, they will succeed," replied Kakashi smiling under his mask.
"Oh, and Shikamaru, could you bring some Ichiraku Ramen?" asked Kakashi.
"Sure, why not," replied Shikamaru with a smile.
"Another mess we have gotten ourselves into," said Kakashi,"
"Yep, but trouble found us this time" replied Shikamaru as he was leaving to get takeout.
Outiside the Hokage Office…
"Finally, a real mission," said an excited Kyoji.
"It has been while since we teamed up for a mission," said Akito, "Like old times." "We have a week before we leave, lets get medicine, kunai, and tags."
"I will get the kunai and shuriken," said Kyoji.
"Right, I'll take care of the medicine and tags, a quick visit to Sakura and Lady Tsunade should help," said Akito.
"I'll go see Tenten, see always has plenty of kunai and shuriken to spare," said Kyoji.
"We should also do some training to get back into synch, will meet at the training grounds tomorrow," said Akito as he began to turn his way towards the Leaf Hospital. "I'll cya later Kyoji."
"Bye," replied Kyoji as both shinobi began preparing for their mission.
Hyuga Household…
A training session was going on between a young lady and one man. Then suddenly the young lady collapsed to the ground shaking. The man ran over immediately and with concern, "That is enough for today Hana," Get some rest and come back here tomorrow," said Hiashi as young lady recovered from her shaking, got up and a small bow to her uncle and left.
"I truly hope you can recover from your condition, the last Great Ninja War has affected you greatly," said a concerned Hiashi.
That's it for this chapter, please review and enjoy. If you have questions, ideas or advice for me, let me know in the review. Q Bob Out.
