AN: Another chapter done! Thank you to the few of you who have been supporting me! I'm loving writing this send me more reviews! Thank you!
Chapter 3: The Massacre
"Move out! We must avenge Shikamaru-sama's death!" Yelled one Nara clan member, directing his fellow clansmen out of Konoha. Kakashi had been informed of what had happened, and he had acted accordingly. Problem was, the squad he sent to make sure the Nara's didn't act rashly, supported their plight and had let them out of the Village. One of the maids had found Shikamaru in the state that Kakuzu had left him and immediately went to the Nara Elders, who, finally after some deliberation and fighting had deduced who did murdered their clan head. They ordered the entire clan, every shinobi higher than Chuunin, to move out and look for Kakuzu and the now free Hidan, to exact revenge for their fallen Clan Head.
And so, we find the remainder of the Nara clan now exiting the West Gate, on their way to the supposed neutral ground of the world: Amegakure no Sato, the Village Hidden by the Rain. When the ANBU recovery team had finally arrived, the entirety of the Nara clan had all disappeared. A massacre had occurred and Konoha had lost one of its oldest and most influential clans. Oddly there were no bodies to be recovered.
(Hokage's Tower, three weeks after the dispatch of the recovery team.)
"Has the ANBU recovery team returned?" asked Kakashi, who was looking out of the window, his back to the other person in the room.
"Hai, they did. They report that the clan was nowhere to be found. No bodies at all. You don't think that maybe, someone is making an Edo Tensi army again do you?" Sasuke spoke with a stern expression souring his face.
"Sasuke, anything is possible. Besides you know how the Nara clan was, determined, driven, and dedicated. If they wanted to hide from us they could. It is these virtues that will lead them to their revenge, but you know as well as I do that revenge ends in death…" Kakashi sighed heavily.
"So, you're not gonna send anyone after them?" Sasuke asked angrily.
"No. They all chose their fates." Kakashi said emotionlessly.
"Do you think any of them will survive?" Sasuke asked desperately.
"The one Shikamaru said could be the next Nara Clan Prodigy, Shiro. Thankfully his mother ensured that he wasn't a part of the strike force."
" …we can save him at least. One out of over a hundred. At least the clan has a chance to recover. All those children orphaned… do you know how bad the political shit storm is gonna be because of this?" Sasuke sighed similarly to his sensei.
"No, but I'm going to find out in precisely 3 seconds…"
"You've gotten old, Kakashi… are you sure you can sense people like you once could?"
"Sasuke… the fury of your woman—"
Kakashi was suddenly cut off by the door to the office being violently thrown open and a pair of hands being slammed down onto his desk.
"What in the flying FUCK are you gonna do about this?!"
"Sakura, I—" Kakashi was cut off once again by the red faced blonde fury who entered the room.
"NO! Don't try to sell me that 'You're on top of it' bullshit! This is too serious for your jokes! The Shinobi Council is furious! They need you and Sasuke there NOW! Speaking of Sasuke, where is he?!"
"Well… he's kind of plastered to the wall, since you so kindly threw the door into his face."
"You know what, I don't care! Peel him off the wall and get your ass to the Meeting Room NOW!"
"Sakura, please, just… calm down!"
"I refuse to calm down! This is too fucking big!"
"Sakura…" Spoke Sasuke after he peeled himself off the wall and put a hand on her shoulder.
Finally Sakura spoke after a few tears dropped from her face. "I…I… I just don't know what to do anymore…" And at Sasuke's touch, she turned around and buried her face into his chest.
"Shikamaru was a friend to us all… the remainder of us are still grieving with you, believe me."
"I-I… I wish Naruto-kun was here…"
"So do I, Sakura… we need that dobe now more than ever…"
(Random Part of Konoha Forest: One Week Later)
Teams Six and Eight had been dispatched into the forest to take down an illicit mining quarry that had been set up without the Fire Daimyo's permission. And, being a B-Rank mission, it was plenty dangerous… but the danger wasn't a concern for Shiro and his peers. It was finding the damn quarry that was the real problem. The six Genin had been split into three teams of two: Shiro and Nanako, Kyon and Yusuke, the lastly Namie and Kazuke. Currently Kyon and Yusuke were strolling along at a regular pace, nary a word being said between them, other than the occasional perverted snicker coming from Yusuke, who had his face buried into the newest of the Icha Icha Series, Icha Icha Itami (Make-Out Pain), written by a man known only as 'Uzu'. Now getting kinda annoyed with his friend's constant snickering, Kyon held up the half-ram hand seal and a root popped out of the ground, taking along with it Yusuke's treasured book. A look of comical horror quickly overtook the lecherous smile that was on Yusuke's face, "GAAAH! What the hell, Kyon?! That's my baby!"
"You regard a book as a family member? I should be the one to say... What the hell is that thing?!"
"Nani? (What)" turning his attention to the path before him, Yusuke had spied a snake that was way too big for its own good. "Uhh… I think it's supposed to be a snake." Yusuke said scratching his head.
"That's not natural!" Kyon bellowed at the top of his lungs.
"You would know what's natural, wouldn't you?" Snickered Yusuke. "Now, give me back my book!"
"Kill that thing first!" Kyon barked at Yusuke.
"Give me the book and I'll kill the snake." Yusuke demanded.
"Kill the snake and I'll give you the book!" Kyon rebuked.
"Give me the book or I swear on Naruto's grave, I will not hesitate to level this forest Tamari-sama style." Yusuke's lips curled into a wicked smile.
"… You wouldn't dare." Kyon's eye twitched in pure fear.
"Wanna try me?" A hissing noise pierced the air as the snake struck out at the two boys. Yusuke dodged to the left while Kyon took three quick steps back barely staying out of reach of the snake's fangs. Yusuke put his hands into a horse sign and created a spear of lightning. "Lightning Release: Blinding Spear Technique" Shouted Yusuke as he tossed the jutsu, a blue blur flying into the side of the snake distracting it from Kyon. The snake's tail raddled and hissed again as it struck out at Yusuke.
"Wood Release: Hand of Kami!" A giant wooden hand lurched out of the ground grabbing the snake clean out of the air. "Yusuke kill that damn thing right now!"
Yusuke's hands flew into a dragon sign, "Shinigami's Claws!" Black and white sparks extended out of his hands forming claws as he tore the snake into ribbons. The wooden hand retracted into the ground as Kyon walked back to Yusuke handing him his book, smiling at him. "You're not so bad Kyon." Yusuke smiled taking the book back. The two went back to walking down the path laid out before them. Yusuke returned to his reading this time remaining silent out of respect for his partner. Several moments passed when the silence was pierced by a loud wailing in the distance. The two boys looked at each other than and nodded. Kyon pressed a button on the device in his ear. "Haru-sensei, Fai-sensei, I think we've found something, some kind of a loud noise to the southeast. Yusuke has taken the lead, I'll be following close behind."
"Good. The other two groups have reported a similar occurrence meet up with the others then wait for us to arrive." The female voice on the other side said.
"Hai Sensei." Kyon took off after Yusuke.
(Another part of Konoha Forest)
"Earth Release: Shadowed Fang" Namie yelled as Kiba turned into a clone of herself. The two charged the lone shinobi who wore an all-black cloak that concealed their face. Namie went left, Kiba right as both of them slide into an all fours stance and they both burrowed underground disappearing from the battle leaving Kazuke and the black clad shinobi alone. Kazuke let a small smile slip from his otherwise blank expression. The enemy charged head first at Kazuke with a wild haymaker that he received with a laugh as his a log appeared in his place and a torrent of wasps flowed out of his jacket stinging the enemy in the back thousands of times. Kazuke let another smile pass his lips. He approached the shinobi who began to laugh paralyzing Kazuke with fear.
"You think you can harm me boy!" The voice growled with pain. "I am chosen! You can't harm me!" Kazuke tried to get away, but something held him in place as if his body was under increased pressure. The shinobi approached him, his kunai drawn.
"Stay away from him you monster!" Namie and Kiba burst from the ground hitting the shinobi, Namie first from the left, than Kiba from the right. The shinobi took both hits and flew across the forest floor. He stood back up his hood now fallen off. His hair was midnight black and he wore a Konoha headband. He looked like an older version of Shiro. Namie was appalled as the black-eyed monster slowly walked towards his targets.
"What's the matter little girl didn't they ever teach you not to bite off more than you can chew!" The monster of a shinobi placed his palms together. "Shadow Posses…" The shinobi was cut off by a sword through his chest. Another shinobi, this one in an ANBU outfit was standing behind the enemy.
"Didn't they ever teach you not to pick on those smaller than you?" The black haired man said through his mask. "Umi, would you come seal this guy already?" A young, masked, blonde haired girl stepped out from behind a tree and walked over to the enemy shinobi, and began wrapping it. Another masked girl, this one with short black hair. "Haruhi take watch. Wouldn't want any more of those freak things attacking us." The masked boy turned to the two younger shinobi. "You two did pretty well for newly named Genin." The man smiled at them.
Kazuke's expression had returned to its normal blank state and Namie smiled. "It was nothing." She laughed.
"Yeah" He chuckled at them. "Don't you have a sensei to check into with?"
Kazuke sighed, "I already checked in. Narria-sensei said to stay put the others will be here soon."
"Good." The masked shinobi said. "We'll stay here in case any more of those guys appear okay. I'm Itachi." He smiled. Namie's cheeks turned scarlet.
"T-THE Itachi Uchiha?" Namie stammered.
"Please I'm just a normal shinobi. Now tell me more about your pup."
(Yet Another Part of the Konoha Forest)
"Are you still mad about the book fiasco?" Shiro asked Nanako, who had been keeping a fair distance as they continued their search for the quarry.
"Of course I'm still mad dobe!" Nanako yelled at him. "I mean come on did you have to make me, the best looking girl in the village, upset." She teased. He had to admit she was easily the best looking girl in the village. She had beautiful long black hair and stunning hazel eyes. She wore a dark green flak jacket with her yellow headband tied around her arm like Shiro's. Her belt was a bright blue filled with dozen of special kunais meant for close quarters combat. "Shiro don't you ever think about what you're doing?" I thought you Nara's were geniuses or something?" Shiro stopped dead in his path.
"Fine let's settle this here and now Nanako-chan." Shiro said his voice full of fire.
"Fine!" She shouted. "What shall the wager be this time?" Nanako smiled. She'd won ever wager before she had no worries at all.
"Loser takes the winner on a date." Shiro said a smile escaping his otherwise blank face. He had let her win every time before now it was time to win. He chuckled as Nanako's face turned a scarlet red. "You know, Nanako-chan, you're cute when you're embarrassed."
"S-Shut up Shiro-kun"
"Any chance that you can back up that attitude of yours, or do I actually have to come at you full force this time?"
"You wouldn't…"
"You know I would, Nana-chan."
"I said s-shut up."
"Aww, you're so mean…" At this point, Shiro had literally moved faster than Nanako could track and ended up behind her. His breath on the nape of her neck alerted her of his location and she froze at his touch. "And I'm alright with that."
"N-Not here, Shiro-kun. N-Not on… a mission."
"We've been together for four months… I say fuck it, people need to know about us."
"Not yet… soon, but n-not yet." Said the Sarutobi while turning around to face her boyfriend. Shiro moved into kiss her and missed as she stepped out of the way water sweeping him off his feet.
Managing to backflip out of the sweep, Shiro also went into his hip pouch with his right hand and extracted the limited edition version of Icha Icha: Itami, flipped it open to a page about midway through the book and began reading at a leisurely pace, not paying attention to Nakano whatsoever.
"O-Oi! THAT'S where it was?!" Fumed Nanako.
"Yep. And I must say, it's very… interesting." A few perverted snickers escaped Shiro as he effortlessly leaned out of the way of a thrown kunai, looped his left middle finger through the circle and began twirling the kunai by said circle, all the while still reading the steamy novel. "I should have known he would have gotten together with…" Shiro was cut off by force of scalding water bursting all over his hand. The kunai in his hand was gone as was the Icha Icha book. The two shinobi stared each other down their eyes locked in a stalemate. Nanako made the first move, propelling herself forward diving as she scooped up the book. "Kage Mane no Jutsu (Shadow Possession Technique)." Shiro said standing across from Nanako. Her whole body tensed as she was forced to stand straight up.
"Shiro what the hell! You said you wouldn't use this!" Nanako was desperately struggling to move. All she needed was to get off one jutsu that's all.
"I told you I'd never use it during practice." Shiro snickered. "Now, about that book." He pretended to throw the book in the air, and Nanako mimicked him the book leaving her hand, flew into the air. Shiro dropped to the ground and released it as he hit the floor of the forest. He pushed himself up without ever stopping his momentum, and snatched the book clean out of the air before Nanako could ever move. He chuckled as he landed on a branch and returned to his page in the book.
"Poor Shiro, you always think you're ahead of the enemy." Nanako giggled in Shiro's ear. He jumped away, but not before losing the book to Nanako. His eyes darted to the place where Nanako should have been. In her place was a puddle of water. Damn it I should have noticed it was a clone! Shiro chastised himself and pressed his hands together.
"Shadow Melting Jutsu." Shiro's entire body melted into the shadows of the trees. Nanako panicked. "Miss me?" Shiro whispered into Nanako's ear sending a shiver down her spine.
"It's not a matter of if your little girlfriend here missed you or not… it's a matter of will she miss you once you're dead…" Came a shrill voice behind the pair. There, in front of them, stood Hidan. "…Because that is the only reality she shall know past this day."
"Y-You…" Muttered Shiro through the pressure he was now feeling, because of Hidan's chakra.
"Yeah… me. Here I am, right in front of you and your little whore. What are you gonna do about it, kid…?"
"Oi! Wanna say that to my face, shithead?!" Yelled Nanako at the immortal Akatsuki member.
"You want to try me, bitch? Your boyfriend here's paralyzed because of my Chakra's pressure… we got all the time in the world to play." Nanako tried to move to run but her body wouldn't budge. Hidan let out a blood curdling laugh as Nanako continued to struggle. "Oh come on I thought you Sarutobi bitches were supposed to be strong. You can't even escape a little Chakra pressure. Pathetic!" Nanako began to scream in sheer terror. She knew that this would be it. Hidan walked towards the now crying Sarutobi child. She struggled and struggled to move but her body wouldn't budge.
"Don't you go near her, you sick bastard!" Hidan turned to see a purple chakra like cloak seeping out of the ring on Shiro's right hand. Slowly the purple chakra turned an orange-red color and surrounded Shiro in the form of a fox. Once the fox cloak was complete, a single tail of Chakra then formed and started to swish behind the Nara Prodigy lazily. On Shiro himself, prominent whisker marks appeared on both his cheeks and his hair now had a slight tint of red to it. His finger and toenails had become claws, his canines were more pronounced and his irises were now purple, with his pupils now being slitted.
Slowly, Shiro's mind was being taken over, but one voice assured him that nothing would happen to him. Let me take over, kid… let me take over if you want to live.
Slowly, but surely, Shiro's consciousness faded into the back of his mind as this new consciousness took over. Once done, the transformation was complete. There stood Shiro, in a Jinchuuriki's One-Tailed State. Purple eyes met purple eyes as Shiro and Hidan stared each other down.
"I'm fighting you, Hidan…? Heh… my luck really is sour… not even worth my time."
"What the… fuck…?
"You Akatsuki should know a Bijuu when you see one… now, begone!"
At this point, all Shiro did was wave his hand in Hidan's general direction, sending Hidan flying back into the forest from which he came.
"Know the power of the Kyuubi…"
And with those words, the Kyuubi no Kitsune, Kurama, took back his Chakra and receded back into the ring, but not before saying one last thing…
"You're the sixth Jinchuuriki for me, kid. But just because you're the newest Jinchuuriki for me doesn't mean I respect you yet. In fact, I hate you and I hate your guts… but if it means my survival, I'll cooperate. Just know that you will NEVER compare to him…"
Shiro fell to the ground completely unconscious. Nanako stared at him still horror struck. Fai and Narria came upon the two Genin.
"Nanako w-what happened to him?" Fai asked spying the ring on Shiro's hand. No please not him. Please don't let it be him. Nanako barely talked above a whisper.
"He… I don't know… This crazy freak with a scythe came out of nowhere… He was so powerful… Than this crazy purple stuff started to come out of Shiro's ring…. He was a monster…." Nanako fell to the ground as she had been defeated not Shiro.
"So it's happened then." Fai shook his head and walked over to Shiro and checked his vitals. A faint heartbeat resounded inside of Shiro's chest. "He's alive. That's a relief." Fai scooped up Shiro and started to walk away. "Ladies this doesn't leave the three of us. Understand!" The girls nodded and the Shinobi left to join the rest of their squad.
