Zabuza sat in the small tent the woman had given him, tearing viciously into the small amount of food she had been able to find. Haku had already eaten the portion Zabuza set aside for him, and had fallen asleep next to the teen rogue's sleeping mat. He ached; there was really no other way to say it. He closed his eyes for a few moments, once again seeing Yagura's sudden burst of demonic chakra, the Mizukage blasting and escaping through a load-bearing wall, the entirety of the tower nearly collapsing on top of the teen as he made a frantic escape. So close… he thought yet again, feeling sleep begin to creep in on him. Well, he thought, glancing at his young ward, let's see what these Uzumaki can do for us, eh?
Naruto was crying. Kushina woke quickly from the light vestige of sleep she had managed to fall into, gently lifting her child. "What's wrong, little one?" she cooed softly, rocking him gently as she felt him over. Doesn't need a changing, and I fed him just before I fell asleep. He's probably just fussy. She rocked him softly, humming tunelessly as she just stared at him. "I don't know how I'm going to build the world I envision for you," she said, staring at the innocent face as he slowly drifted back to sleep. "Things will work out somehow."
She set him back into the makeshift cradle, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples for a few moments before she rose, stepping out of her tent. Kakashi was on guard tonight, and after leaving him with instructions to watch Naruto while she took a walk, she strode aimlessly through what little rubble remained, looking at the emptiness of the once great Village yet again. We'll need to rebuild to a fantastic scale, she thought to herself, imagining the buildings and Imperial Tower. We have to show opulence we do not have. We will need to create an especially wondrous gate that will inspire awe when seen. With my knowledge of seals it will be enforced no matter how impractical, so it will have to be more fantastic than functional, though it will still have to be able to open and close. Within a few minutes she stood before Momohime's statue, observing the weathered stones, the missing arms, the face that could shift to that of whatever Uzumaki used it as a medium, but on its own was almost featureless. Repairing you will be another step in the right direction, she thought.
"When you were little, you used to dream of being like her," Sato said, appearing next to his daughter. "You used to tell me how you would someday create a home more beautiful than anything we could find here. You used to tell me all the rumors and stories; how there is a kingdom's worth of gold under the statue if you could just find the seal to unlock it, or how it used to walk on nights that the fog was thick and no one could see if she was absent from her pedestal." Kushina nodded silently, no humor in her eyes, and Sato sighed. "I suppose the fox stole a good deal of innocence once he was sealed within you."
"There are a thousand ways to lose your innocence in this world, father. When you're a child the world is full of magic and wonder. But we grow up so fast; magic turns into lies, while wonder turns into pessimism. I lived with a burning hatred that swirled within me, yet was not a part of me, while I knew that if I slipped up for even a moment it could mean the destruction of everything I had managed to find dear. I now live with the fear of what kind of world my son will live in, and the crushing weight of the goals I have set to change that world." Kushina took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, and let it go. "Winter is coming," she said calmly, looking around at the island. "I've felt it on the air. I don't know how we're going to survive it."
"Well, there will be one less mouth to feed soon enough," Sato said tiredly, and she turned to her father in alarm. "Even as you can feel the coming snow, I can feel the night fall. I am old, Kushina. Ninety-seven winters have passed, and I have weathered them all. Our blood grants us extended life, but it boils as payment. I have resisted my nature, practiced peace for so long, and twilight passes so much faster when you watch it with a clear mind." There was the slightest hint of tears in his daughter's eyes, but Sato remained stoic as ever. "Before I pass on, there is one last thing I must do. I am the Clan Head, and I know the history and techniques of our clan. Momohime was the very first, and she created a seal formula that would transfer knowledge and power from one to the next. Your chakra coils are too damaged for it to work on you, Kushina; I will transfer all of my power and knowledge to your son."
"He is still a babe!" she exclaimed, her entire demeanor becoming agitated. "You would age his mind beyond his years and subject him to all the horrors of the past?! I prevented Minato from sealing the Kyuubi within him to prevent exactly that!"
"Naruto bears the Kyuubi's chakra regardless, child. He lived in your womb for nine months, did you not believe that even a little would leak into his system? He has bonded with some of the creature's chakra, and it will strengthen him. He will bear the healing factor, he will have a higher reserve than many would normally possess, his senses will be heightened. He is superior, Kushina, and if you wish to make him an Emperor that is exactly what he needs to be." She shook with the effort of trying to contain her anger, her face stormy as the logic warred with her protective instincts, and Sato gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "He will have knowledge of how to use our techniques, and he will know our history. He will not possess any memories of violence or pain. He will simply possess knowledge." With that, he turned, and walked away into the shadows.
With Zabuza and Haku assisting with the rebuilding, progress was being made much more quickly than she had suspected. The young rogue's arsenal of Water Jutsu proved to be very useful at moving rubble when fueled by the waves surrounding the island, and the work she had suspected would remain into February was done by the first week of December, just in time for the first snow. It was a snowfall that seemed to dampen all sound; fat, slow flakes drifted leisurely down, creating an inch or two of powder on everything. Sato arrived in her tent just after sundown in the grey hours of twilight, his shoulders matching the fall of white hair and the powdery crown upon it. "It's time," he told her, and he hesitated for a moment before she gently lifted Naruto, carrying him along as Sato led her to the statue of Momohime.
"There are blood seals upon this statue, my daughter, the design of which is older and more complex than any seal known today. It was a creation of Momohime that she kept from her successor, and therefore is unknown to me. What I do know, however, is that what I will show you will never be seen again by mine eyes." At that, his weathered fingers began to flow in a series of hand signs, sliding from one to the next with an ease that they had not known in years. Small lights began to appear, hovering like fireflies of every color, casting a beautiful hue on the wintry scene. Naruto's eyes were wide with wonder, reaching out to try and catch one whenever they floated by. The chill of the air seemed to disappear from that clearing, and despite her misgivings, Kushina felt a childlike wonder at the scene.
"Bring him here," her father said softly, and she walked forward until she was a few inches away, passing her son carefully to his grandfather. As the old man gazed down at the child, she saw the hard features soften in a way she remembered from her own childhood years, and he gently brushed a finger on Naruto's soft cheek. "Naruto Uzumaki…" he whispered, gently pressing his thin lips to his grandson's forehead. The lights froze in place in that instance, beginning to pulse, and the colors began shifting as though trying to decide their mood. Sato's eyes released a burst of white light, and Naruto's own eyes released a similar light, before all of the light and color disappeared, leaving behind the dark grey of the twilight. Sato sighed, sitting at the feet of the statue with a long breath, cradling his grandson for his remaining moments. "The only blessing I have left to give you is my love," he said simply.
With that, he gently leaned his head back against the cold stone, and breathed his last.
The Ame Orphans left to continue their battle, with the promise of an eventual return. A few more weeks passed, and there came the day when Zabuza came back, leading a young boy holding an infant in his arms. From one look at the boy, she immediately recognized him as Mikoto's son, Itachi, but she was amazed at how wild he looked. His hair had grown past his shoulders in a mess of dirt and leaves, and his visible skin was covered in small cuts as if he were constantly running through thorns. She quickly brought him to a tent, gave him food and water, and brought the child to Hiashi's wife, who had just a few days before given birth to a baby girl they had named Hinata.
"I should be able to feed him just fine," the woman promised, and Kushina quickly ran back out when she heard Kakashi yelling for her. Upon exiting the small cluster of tents the Hyuugas had set up in a small parody of their former compound, she saw the young Jonin standing with a cluster of people who looked almost three times as wild as Itachi. After several moments, she saw dogs pacing amongst them, and recognized them as the Inuzukas. There had to be at least twenty-five of them, ranging in age from a grizzled man in his early sixties to Tsume's baby, Kiba. Each adult was hauling a cart behind them; Kushina almost cried when she saw the quantity of meat and furs they had brought along, more than enough to last the entire winter.
"Ya just gonna stand there, Kushina, or are you gonna welcome us to your new Village?" Tsume asked with a fanged grin, and she quickly went about showing them the island as it stood, and a place to set up tents or whatever accommodations they so desired. She was engaged in an informal debriefing when a sudden boom sounded near her quarters, and a moment later the village erupted into a small battle. She bewilderedly took in the scene, and realized that the former Main branch of the Hyuuga was attacking…
NARUTO!
Within seconds she was charging into the fray, the Inuzuka Clan hot on her heels. Zabuza was defending Haku and a group of young children from the attackers. The main point of battle, however, was where Hiashi was facing off against Kakashi, the young boy trying to keep the older Jonin away from where his Shadow Clone was protecting Naruto. In that instant, Kushina's vision turned red, and she charged forward, uncaring of her lack of chakra or healing ability. In one moment she was the composed leader of a fledgling village; the next, her primal motherly instincts took control.
When she came back to herself, her katana was in hand and she was soaked head to toe in blood. Hiashi lay on a small mound debris that had not yet been cleared, blood trickling from his mouth as he struggled to breathe, his left arm gone at the shoulder. "Finish it," he rasped, his eyes burning with hatred. "You've destroyed half of my branch, might as well finish me off."
They only managed to kill three people, she thought, looking at the assemblage, but they were Karin's parents and Hizashi's wife. What do I do to a kinslayer and slayer of an Uzumaki? Death is too good for him. "Round up the remainder of his branch and keep them under guard!" she ordered. I need to figure out what to do with them all.
Two days later she sat in her tent with a small group she had decided would serve as a temporary council. It comprised of herself, Zabuza, Kakashi, Tsume, and Hizashi. "The fact of the matter is that Hiashi incited a violent uprising against the rest of the village, culminating in an assassination attempt on my son, and the death of three members of the community, including his own sister-in-law. These crimes are severe in the extreme, and while a sentence of death would be reasonable, we need to try and assure that a repeat event will never occur. We need to assure that, should Hiashi be executed, we won't have another take up his cause."
"An option that remains available to us is to execute the entirety of Hiashi's branch to a man," Tsume said simply. "We can also strip them of their Clan."
"Exile won't work in our favor," Zabuza stated, leaning back into his chair and crossing his arms. "Sure, take away their Clan name formally, but they'll still call themselves Hyuuga. Plus, you give them the chance to run to the enemy, and we'll wind up having to fight against the Byakugan. As good as I am, I'd rather not try that out."
"There has to be some way to solve this without bloodshed," Kakashi replied. "As much as I agree they deserve it, we still need all the help we can get with building this Village. Between my fledgling Earth techniques and Zabuza's Water jutsu, we'd be alright for a while, but we'll quickly find ourselves disadvantaged."
Hizashi slammed his fist onto the table, silencing everyone. "My brother slaughtered my wife," he hissed. "He made his branch traitors. When they were the Main, they enslaved us with their seal. I say we do the same to them now." Further silence followed the comment, before Kushina spoke cautiously.
"I understand the emotions that must be running through you now, Hizashi. If we enslave them, that could set a precedent. I say that before we make any kind of decision on whether or not to punish them with such, we need to vote on whether or not slavery should be legal."
"Much as I hate to say it, there is history for it in the original feudal systems," Tsume began. "However, if we were to just go around enslaving everyone we didn't like or conquered in battle, we will very quickly find ourselves with a great deal of enemies."
"Enslavement without just cause is even worse than having children slaughter each other," Zabuza snarled. "Remember what I did in reaction of that policy."
"There would be cause!" Hizashi snarled back. "I lived as a slave, do not forget! I say that slavery should be a legal punishment for severe, capital crimes!"
"Alright!" Kushina shouted, slamming her fist on the table to silence everyone. "Here's what we'll do; we'll put it to a vote. Here are the parameters; slavery should be legal as punishment for those most severe crimes, namely, capital crimes; and in those sentences, it should be for life. Any child born to a slave shall be a free man or woman, and will be raised by the Imperial Court until they come of age and choose their own path. Anyone caught illegally enslaving someone shall themselves be enslaved, and the slave shall go free. Because of the seriousness of this, the vote will have to be unanimous."
"Aye," Hizashi grunted.
"The terms are fair. Aye," Tsume softly replied.
"Under those conditions, Aye." Kakashi muttered.
"I don't like this," Zabuza growled. "However, if these conditions are carried out without exception, than it is a fair legal punishment. Just remember, if you break your word, I have no qualms about orchestrating coups."
"Then it carries," Kushina said solemnly. "Now, am I to assume that the first criminals to face this law shall be the Hyuuga?"
"Aye," came the unanimous reply.
"Very well," she said. "Now, we know that those who actively participated in the attack will be punished. However, we also know that the young child Hinata and her mother were apart from this. Do we extend the punishment to the entire clan, or do we leave them free?"
"Leave them be," Zabuza growled, glaring at the assembly as if daring them to challenge him. When no one spoke against him, Kushina nodded.
"Very well."
"Hiashi Hyuuga, you and your conspirators stand accused of three charges of murder, one charge of inciting a rebellion, one charge of treason, and two charges of attempted assassination," Kushina listed. They had set up a mock-courtroom in what currently passed in the town square. Lines of stone benches were available for those watching the trial, while the twenty men and women on trial stood in a row in front of them all, manacled with seal-heavy shackles to prevent any jutsu from being activated. Two days had passed since the Small Council, as they were calling themselves for now, had decided on the issue of slavery as a penal measure. The Small Council sat before them all, on an elevated bench to overlook the entire crowd, with small makeshift podiums before each of them.
"You have been found guilty of all charges. The Small Council has decided that, while execution would be a fitting punishment, you would be viewed as martyrs for those enemies who will oppose the Empire we attempt to build here. Furthermore, as our Empire is in its fledgling stage and labor is still required, it has been determined that, in addition to being stripped of your clan, a fitting sentence will be punitive slavery for the duration of your lives."
The Hyuuga began screaming in outrage, and the audience looked somewhat taken aback. "Silence!" Zabuza shouted, slamming the flat of his blade against his podium. The resulting boom brought the desired silence, and Tsume rose to speak.
"This measure was debated thoroughly, and not one we take lightly. It is based off of the Hyuuga clan's policy of enslaving those members of their own family who were not deemed suitable to carry on the prestige of the Main Branch. Furthermore, this punishment will be used only for those crimes most severe, being those of a capital nature. Any child born to a slave will be a free man or woman to be raised by the Imperial Court until they come of age and choose their own path."
"Hinata Hyuuga and Hoshi Hyuuga are found to be innocent of all list charges, and are therefore free to go," Hizashi added. Two members of the Hyuuga escorted their former brethren away, and the crowd began to disperse.
"Zabuza," Kushina called, and the young man turned to face her, weariness from the trial's results evident on his face. "First off, I thank you for retaining your allegiance to us during this sentencing. I know that the punishment was difficult for you to agree to, in light of your past." The young rogue nodded, waiting for her to continue. "Now that the Inuzuka have joined causes with us, I think we're ready to start your coup."
So, I know this chapter is short, and it's been a long time coming. It took a while to try and make the ending work. As I know more about the Roman Empire than the Japanese Empire, aspects of the Roman will show up, but slavery was present in both during the early days of the Empires, though it was far less frequent in Japan. Hope you guys liked it. Please Read and Review.
-Zeratide, out.