Well, I hope that you guys enjoyed Chapter two, 'cuz Chapter Three is here! Let me recap the story:
The last time on Project Demon Avatar:
The Hyuga clan is banished from Konoha, and a civil war is brewing. Amidst the war clouds gathering, Naruto and his new friends have arrived in the land where his clan's founder had been born.
Chapter Three: Hyougakure and Prelude to the Storm
The train that was bound for the port of Kokuho was zooming through the mountains. Naruto was looking down to the ground after he found out about what happened when he was exiled.
"We had to get out of Konoha when the one armed bastard sent his men after us. If it wasn't for Mamoru-san, we would have been dead." Naruto said.
"Well, that can't be helped." Tenten said as she looked at the window. "I heard that other clans are going to be exiled as well."
"Since they supported the Shodaime's policies, they're considered enemies of the village. Almost 98 of the population of the village supports the evil regime, so a civil war like this would end shortly. However, I was wondering what would happen if the conflict had spread to the rest of Hi no Kuni." Neji said as Mamoru came up to them. "What is it?"
"We're getting close to Kokuho, so get your gear ready, since it's gonna be a long trip from Kokuho to Hyougakure." he said. "Your clan will reach Hyougakure from the capital."
"We passed the city of Yangchen, didn't we?" Tenten asked.
"The city of Yangchen is also an important city, since it holds the road to the rest of the industrial towns and cities." Mamoru explained as the train entered the port city of Kokuho. The group then went to get their gear from the compartment and waited until the train stopped at the station. They got off the train as soon as it started to unload its passengers. Mamoru then led the expanded group out of the station and started to run towards the village.
Mamoru was leading the missing nins towards Hyougakure when he spotted two Hyou chunin that were standing guard in the snowy forest. One of them had a weird kekkei genkai on his eyes while the kunoichi had a very long black hair and a well built body. They seem to know Mamoru because they came up to him.
"Mamoru-sensei, who are these newcomers?" the kunoichi asked.
"Sorry about that, Amaya." Mamoru said as the missing nins came closer. Naruto was carrying Koyuki on his back while Tayuya and Jirobo were escorting them. "This is Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, and the other seven are Neji Hyuga, his friend Tenten, the ex-Sound Five." He pointed out to each individual clockwise.
"I'm Amaya Musashi." Amaya said as she introduced herself. Then she pointed the boy with the weird kekkei genkai. "That red eyed jet black haired guy is Shinosuke Asuka." (For his appearance, think of Shinn Asuka from GSD)
"Hello, you guys." he said as the missing nins waved. "We're in the chunin rank, 'cuz we passed the chunin exams that were held six months before the one held in Konoha."
"All right, Shinosuke." Mamoru replied. "I may have found you guys a replacement because your other teammate has already left the village."
"Oh yeah, he didn't stay because he was just a temporary teammate." Amaya explained. "This guy had a burn in his face. I swear to Kami that he must have gotten hurt in a fight."
"That guy just happened to be from the Mokushi continent, same as that Kyoshi warrior that is part of Iwa." Shinosuke said. "It's not everyday that we have the Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation as part of our team."
"Oh yeah, we met the Kyoshi warrior back in Iwa." Mamoru replied as Naruto looked at the two teammates. Amaya noticed his eyes and blushed.
"I already have a girlfriend." Shinosuke said. "Her name was Kinuko Takahashi, and she is also chunin in Matsuhito-sensei's team."
"Yeah, and I haven't gotten a boyfriend yet." Amaya sighed in disappointment. She looked at Naruto with interest. "Maybe that guy would be perfect."
"Naruto hasn't even got a clue about what to do when a girl likes him." Neji said as Shinosuke snickered. "Hinata-sama had a huge crush on him, and he didn't even notice."
"Seriously, you must be the biggest idiot that ever lived." Shinosuke sighed as they were nearing the village. The missing nins were awed by the design of the defenses of the village, which consists of three walls.
"Hyougakure is designed by the same people that designed the Earth Kingdom capital of Ba Sing Se. It has an Outer, Middle and Inner rings." Amaya said. "Besides the foor soldiers that you guys saw in the rest of Hyou no Teikoku, there are benders in the army as well. I guess that you saw Koyuki-itoko's waterbending moves."
"I showed them how it's done." Koyuki said as Shinosuke continued to talk.
"Well, don't be so scary about it." Amaya said as Naruto didn't get what she was saying.
"What do you mean by not being scary?" Naruto asked.
"Koyuki-itoko is a star prodigy in the Kazahana clan, as I am also a star prodigy in the Musashi clan. Everyone that became a ninja in Hyou is a star prodigy in their clans. We recently accepted shinobi with a kekkei genkai from Kirigakure after the kekkei genkai purge." she explained as they entered the village. "Our Hyoukage is the Kyuuhyakukyuujuukyudaime Hyoukage. That means our next Hyoukage will be the Sendaime Hyoukage."
"I understand the part about Hyougakure existing for almost ten thousand years." Sakon said. "But how could the village go through this stuff when the rest of the villages have suffered?"
"During the three Shinobi World Wars, Hyou played a vital role in taking in refugees that were uprooted from their homes." Shinosuke said as they walked through the village. Everyone that saw Naruto bowed to him, even the shinobi that were like ROOT. "We have an elite ANBU called FROST. They were based on the Dai Li, but with a killer instinct."
"They were like ROOT, but unlike those bastards, FROST ANBU promotes the solidarity between humans, demons and jinchuuriki." Amaya replied. "However, the demons were hesitant to settle in this village because of the chaos that they could bring."
"That's great." Tayuya said as they continued their path towards the Hyoukage tower, which is a walled fortress with volley guns mounted on the turret. "I guess that this village is obsessed with fortifications."
"Don't forget, Hyougakure and the rest of the country was once part of the Water Tribe." Mamoru answered as they arrived at the Hyoukage tower. The sentries bowed to the group as Naruto was looking around the palace hallways that they entered. He then came up to the two shinobi that were assistants of the Hyoukage. "We're here to see the Hyoukage."
"Right away, sir." the shinobi said as they entered the room. The Kyuuhyakukyuujuukyuudaime Hyoukage was slaving away in the paperwork when he saw Mamoru arriving with Naruto in tow. The old Hyoukage gasped as he saw the blond and gave him a bone crushing hug.
"Naruto-sama." the Hyoukage said as he hugged him. Naruto hugged him back as Mamoru tapped on his shoulder. "Well, I thank you for bringing me back the heir to the Avatar royal bloodline."
"It wasn't a problem. Konoha knew what it was doing when he returned with the Uchiha in tow." Mamoru said. He then introduced the new people to him. "These are missing nins from Oto and Konoha."
"Well, it doesn't hurt to add more shinobi to our ranks. By the way, my name's Tatsuzo Yamato of the Yamato no Tengoku." the Hyoukage said as he looked for a registration form for the new ninjas to fill out. The Hyoukage handed out the forms to each individual as Naruto took one as well. "After you all register, I would have to get you all assessed for your proper rank."
"All right." Neji replied as he filled out the form. After they filled the form, they handed it to Tatsuzo as he looked at the form that they wrote on.
"You eight are not yet qualified as Hyou ninjas, but you guys are granted the citizenship of Hyougakure no Daitoshi. All I have to do is to give you guys the forms for applying for the citizenship of Hyou no Teikoku." he said as an aide gave Naruto and his friends the envelope that contained the papers that they need to fill in order to be a certified Hyou no Teikoku citizen. "Send it to the capital of Mokushi by mail. It'll take you too long by walk, and the trains may not take the mail."
"Okay, but when they are going to be inducted to Hyou's shinobi ranks; I'll take Naruto in since my team needs a replacement. Seeing as my third student became KIA during the last mission." Mamoru explained. "I'll also have to teach them how to bend as well."
"You'll go do that. All right, why don't we have the assessment tomorrow? Then, I'll get you to train the new ninjas for two months, one of them being the month needed to learn how to bend. They'll also need to build more chakra reserves for using Kage Bunshins, because they will need to learn it to speed up the learning process." Tatsuzo explained. "I have a contact in Ba Sing Se that would like Naruto and his friends to be included in the Dai Li."
"You mean Long Feng? He would have to wait, seeing as Naruto hasn't even known what the art of bending is." Mamoru said as Naruto stood around. He then gestured for him to leave along with his friends. "Or I may have to do that jutsu."
"You mean the jutsu that involves slowing time for the purpose of training them for what it seems to be three years. You'll have to do that, because bending takes a long time, a very long time to master. They'll need to learn it before the upcoming wars that will plague our city as well as our country." Tatsuzo said. "Naruto needs to master all elements, because he's poised to be the next Avatar after Avatar Aang, who by the way we don't know where he is. As for his friends, they can master all elements as well. They need to master all of them, because they are going to be a part of Hyou's family from now on. Time is short; we may have a war that will be on the rise with the situation in Konoha. I fear that the regime there would undergo an ideological transition for the worst. Danzo's New Victory Party would influence the southern parts of Hi no Kuni. Plus we have a situation in Kazan no Kuni with those fascists that are targeting Mizu no Kuni. I don't know whether the Earth Kingdom can survive the war against the Fire Nation with limited help. Even the men form the Southern Water Tribe may not be of much of a help."
"We have to do what we can. Naruto's also poised to become the Sendaime Hyoukage." Mamoru replied.
"All right, Mamoru. We'll discuss more tomorrow after that assessment test." Tatsuzo said as Mamoru left the office.
In Konoha, there were fears of a civil war that could break out within a minute or an hour. The villagers have thrown their lots with Danzo's faction, which adopted the manji for the symbol. For some reason, the clans that were labeled 'undesirable' started to gear their people for war. With the Hyuga clan banished as well as two of the Legendary Sannin on the run, the war would be a very difficult one for the heroes that resisted the tyrant's iron fist regime. Danzo was standing on the balcony as he was giving a speech.
"As we embark on a new journey towards a new world order, we will make sure those traitors are hunted down and killed for aiding the filthy demon that should have been killed!" Danzo thundered as the crowd was chanting 'victory' and raising their hands that would reach the sky.
"VIC-TO-RY! VIC-TO-RY!"
"WE will pursue those traitors until the ends of the earth and slaughter them!" Danzo yelled as more people cheered in utter savagery. "We will show them that demons have no place on this new order, and traitors are also no longer welcome!"
"Danzo-sama sure gives a very inspiring speech, doesn't he?" Homura asked Koharu while listening to the speech.
"He sure does. It's about time we had a Hokage that can rule effectively. Sarutobi was too soft, that traitor from the Namikaze clan was too soft, heck even Tsunade was too soft towards that demon." Koharu replied.
"Danzo-sama will place the manji on top of the world by the time we have wiped out those demon ingrates from the world." Homura replied back. "We are doing this for the preservation of our blue and pure world."
Meanwhile, Kakashi Hatake was not a happy camper. After finding out that the Uchiha had escaped once again in search of power, Naruto being banished and marked for life, and Sakura joining the group that opposed the Sandaime's policies, he was blaming himself for what he couldn't do in the past. His friends were upset, but Maito Gai of all the people was saddened that two of his students were also marked for life seeing as Neji's clan was banished for speakingout against Danzo, and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio also were talking about joining the Hyuga clan in Hyou. Kurenai Yuuhi was anxious to meet the person that single handedly defeated ten ROOT ANBU shinobi, but couldn't figure out where he would be, and Asuma Sarutobi was cursing Danzo for denouncing his father's policies. They were camped in the forest outside the border with Kusa, talking about the future.
"For some reason, I felt attracted to this unknown person." Kurenai said as she looked at the sky, which was darkening as night began to fall. "Kakashi, do you know who the person that single handedly defeated ten ROOT ANBU shinobi?"
"Well, form what I heard; he uses bones to battle, so he's a Kaguya. But he was reported to have the Sharingan, so he's part Uchiha. But I never heard of manipulating elements without handsigns." Kakashi replied.
"I knew that guy." Gai said as they turned their heads towards him. "He participated in the Third Shinobi World War as a part of a secret Hyou battalion that aided Iwa. He was reported to have even survived the late Yondaime Hokage's Hiraishin no Jutsu. But Minato didn't kill him for some reason."
"You mean, sensei's opponent in the last war was the very same man that was once part of Kiri's shinobi ranks?" Kakashi said.
"The very same. Mamoru Uchiha Kaguya Hibiki was the most feared shinobi in the entire shinobi world. I wouldn't say the most youthful, because he fights like his mirror image Itachi. In a way, he's like Itachi with the mix of the last Kaguya." Gai said.
"I saw him when we were scouting for enemy reinforcements. I swear that he's also the most honorable man that I ever met. He didn't kill me when I was outnumbered by the Iwa nin. He ordered the Iwa nin not to torture me or anything because he followed the code of bushido." Kurenai said. "Mamoru was also known for his skill in elemental whips."
"No surprise there." Asuma said. "Mamoru was deadly at the same time. He even learned and modified theYondaime's Hiraishin."
"Of course. The Kaji Hiraishin leaves a burning trail whenever he goes to kill many shinobi. It also seems that he's also on a flee-on-sight list for us, given that he can wipe out the same number of shinobi as Minato himself. The Mizu Hiraishin works only in the water, and the Kaze Hiraishin works whenever Mamoru gathers more chakra to wipe out a fortress. Perhaps the most deadly jutsu that he's created is the Kage Hiraishin. In the shadows, he can kill anyone without making a sound." Gai explained.
"So Mamoru's like me, a prodigy?" Kakashi said.
"Yep, and a more worthy opponent too." Gai replied.
"I have to go to Hyou to see him I haven't thank him properly, and lately I've been dreaming about him as well." Kurenai said.
"Well, that's okay for me." Asuma said. "I prefer going to go chase after strippers anyways."
"Well, Asuma. I prefer reading my favorite books." Kakashi replied. Kurenai glared at the copy nin at the mention of a book.
"You know I detest those smut." Kurenai bluntly said. "And Gai, can you at least give up the jumpsuit? You don't get enough ladies with that thing."
"Kurenai, it keeps my flames of youth burning whenever I wear it with pride." Gai said.
"We'd better get to sleep for tomorrow." Asuma said as they tucked in to sleep. "We may have to go to Hyou tomorrow."
"All right." Kurenai replied as she fell asleep.
The morning came nicely for the people of Hyougakure. After moving in to Mokushi's old home last night ("I swear to Kami that the house looks so ancient." Naruto said when he looked inside the house.), Naruto and his new friends plus Neji and Tenten settled in their new home.
"What's for breakfast?" Naruto asked Kimimaro who happened to go first to the kitchen.
"Well, there won't be any ramen for sure." Kimimaro replied, causing the blond to go pale. "You need to eat something else besides ramen."
"I guess you're right, Kimimaro." Naruto said as he got out a couple of eggs to cook for the group. While breakfast was being made, Tayuya and Jirobo were looking around the house, followed by an irate Sakon.
"Geez, you two headed freak. Why did you drag yourself along with us when we told you that you don't have to?" Tayuya asked angrily.
"Kidomaru woke me up, not you two." Sakon grumbled as Kidomaru joined the group.
"Spidey, what the (bleep) is wrong with you? You woke Mr. Siamese Twins here, and fatass here is just plain sleepy." the redhead asked angrily.
"Geez, Tayuya. You should watch your mouth." Jirobo said as there was a knock on the door. Kidomaru opened it, and Mamoru was standing on the door.
"I guess that you're here for our test." Kidomaru said.
"Right you are. Plus, I happened to have bumped into this young lady here." Mamoru said as a black haired girl with a scratched hitai ate came into the house.
"Kin!" Kidomaru said as he hugged her. "What happened?"
"After Orochimaru-teme left us to rot, this guy was happy to see me." Kin said as Tayuya hugged her. "I heard that the blond boy is here."
"Yep, Naruto was the one that saved us, with a little help from Kimimaro." Jirobo replied.
"That's settled, we can start on the assessment." Mamoru said. "If I want to form a three man cell, I have to bring out an extra girl seeing as you guys also need more of them for your team." Mamoru replied. "Naruto, where is Naruto?"
"Making breakfast with Kimimaro, and complaining because he won't get to eat ramen for breakfast." Neji said as he and Tenten appeared in the doorway. "All he eats is ramen, no wonder why he's obsessed with it."
"Well, let's get started after eating breakfast." Mamoru said as he came in to the house and grabbed an egg and a potato to go on his plate. After cleaning up and finishing breakfast, Mamoru had invited Tatsuzo to Mokushi's house to assess the skills that the new ninjas are going to demonstrate. Tenten was the first person up to be tested as she got out three kunai. She threw them in a precise movement, and all the targets were hit perfectly. Neji demonstrated the Kaiten as well as the Jyuuken.
"The Hyuga clan fighting style would fit in the category of airbending." Mamoru told Tatsuzo.
"You're right, it seems like that Hyugas were meant to be masters of air." Tatsuzo replied.
Naruto demonstrated by using his kage bunshins, as well as using the rasengan on a tree. Kimimaro used the Shikotsumyaku to cut the leaves into three pieces. Tayuya summoned the Doki to do a dance, while Kidomaru showed his spider techniques. Sakon and Ukon have summoned Rashomon, while Jirobi had surprisingly lifted the entire tree in the backyard. After Mamoru was done assessing the ex-missing nins, he also received the results from the Chunin exam when Tatsuzo gave him more papers to work on.
"Well, seeing as all of you have demonstrated your skills, congratulations. I hereby commission all of you to Hyougakure's shinobi ranks as Chunin." Mamoru said as he got out a white camouflage Chunin vest that is reserved for chunin. "We have three months until the Jounin Exams, so for the entire three month period, I'm going to train you all up in the arts of elemental bending as well as learning more jutsus."
"Bending is the manipulation of water, earth, fire and air, Mamoru-sensei?" Naruto asked. Just then, Shinosuke and Amaya entered the compound accompanied by a butler.
"Yes, Naruto. As for the three man teams, I'm going to be the sensei of all the teams because I have to train you all up as I said earlier." he said. "Kin, Kidomaru and Sakon will be one team. Naruto, you will be with Amaya and Shinosuke. Jirobo, Tayuya and Kimimaro will be another team. As for Neji and Tenten, I have found a perfect replacement for you two."
"Who is it?" Neji asked.
"He is a prodigy of the Kikuchi clan. His name is Kazu Kikuchi, and he can manipulate all elements as well. His special ability is elemental barriers." Mamoru said as a boy with a blue hair and green eyes had appeared beside Tatsuzo. (Think Athrun Zala)
"Anything else?" Tatsuzo asked.
"Yeah, he should be arriving at the moment." Mamoru muttered as a man in his forties with a partial bald hair and a green outfit entered the compound, accompanied by men in a hat and an arrow on the top. Mamoru introduced the newcomers to the now-commissioned-Hyou shinobi. "This is Long Feng of the Dai Li."
"Well, I never thought I'd be meeting the descendant of the Avatar that created the Dai Li." Long Feng said as he bowed to Naruto. He then looked at the rest of the group. "Mamoru, if you can train them in the art of earthbending, they can be a vital asset to the Dai Li. But I don't need emotional people in it."
"Long Feng-sama, I won't let you down. I will conceal or kill my emotions to get any job done." Naruto said.
"Naruto, I did say that I don't need emotional people, but I also don't want you to kill your own emotions." Long Feng replied as one of the Dai Li handed the group an important piece of paper. "This paper will tell the tour guide when you all reach Ba Sing Se about visiting me. Her name is Joo Dee, and she'll help you guys around. I hope to be working with you all someday. Especially you, Naruto. But for security's sake, you should get a better name."
"How about Ming Wen?" Naruto said.
"Done, as of this day, you are Zhao Ming Wen." Long Feng said to Naruto as he and the Dai Li had left. Mamoru smiled at the new crew that he had rescued. This is going to be a long day that will result in a stronger group.
Well, this chapter is a set up for the story arc of 'Training Regimen Arc', as well as the Konoha Civil War. As for the next chapters, the events that will take place will be based on historical events from Harry Turtledove's alternate history that involves an independent Confederate States of America.
Note: For Konoha, I had to make them an antagonist, because they are going to be the vocal point of the story. The actual Avatar timeline won't happen until early into Shippuden era. Also, there will be some Gundam Seed references, most notably Danzo's personality with that of Patrick Zala in this fic.