Dawn of a New Era
Chapter 4
Bold Barrier
"So they're pretty similar in most ways to the former Akatsuki. They are very powerful missing-nin from the different countries. For now, we'll assume they travel in two-man cells until we see fit." The Hokage, Kazekage and Mizukage have a small meeting in Konoha.
Temari stands up and sighs. "Well, Shikamaru, is this meeting...?"
"Meeting adjurned." Temari stood frozen but suddenly gathered her barrings and headed off with Matsuri. The Mizukage stood up and began to leave. Shikamaru suddenly halted her.
"One of the Akatsuki is from your village, correct?"
The Mizukage turned around, her red hair whipping across her face. "Um, yes, and actually...He is the person who stole the Hidden Lightning's scroll..."
Shikamaru's mind was now twisted. "What?! Then, what's his name?"
The Mizukage stood for a moment, taking but a second to think of the name. "Koukishi is his name. He went missing from the village two years ago...Urk..." The Mizukage and Chojiro finally left the room and Shikamaru sat in transfixed thought.
"So...Now...We have a name of one member...And supposedly one of the strongest if he was able to get by Omoi..."
A bowl-like valley...
An explosion erupted from one of the walls of the valley as Sasuke appeared from the smoke, skidding upon the ground. His shirt had fallen a bit, revealing Anbu-like gear underneath. "It's still rusty..." Sasuke tried once more with his technique.
Suigetsu sat in the center of the large, closed valley. "It must be hard to get the Chidori Drill right if it's taking Sasuke so long..."
Suigetsu shot up with his sword in hand when he heard footsteps behind him. A woman tripped and fell at the sight of the large blade.
Suigetsu recognized the figure, hair, appearance...All about the figure. "K-Karin?"
"Ugh..." Karin lurched forward as she stood up, in a daze now that she had hit her temple on rock.
"What the...How did you find us?! Why are you here and...Gah...!"
Karin stepped forward and took her hand off her temple. "I traced yours and Sasuke's chakra here. I've been on your trail for about two days. Finally...Where is Sasuke?"
Suigetsu pointed to figure constantly performing, and failing, a technique on the wall. Karin, stepping forward slowly, saw Sasuke's face when he slid back on the ground. In her eyes...His beautiful face, the expression of pure determination...She hadn't seen it in so long.
She was happy she was finally able to see his face once more...Now...
Sasuke huffed once more and pulled up his shirt around the Anbu gear and armor. "This jutsu is difficult...To get the spin, the power...I may not be able to perfect it...Eh?"
Karin had appeared behind him and stared pratically through him. Sasuke turned around and greeted her gaze. "Karin!?"
"Yup, same reation I had, Sasuke. "Suigetsu sauntered up to them. He noticed the gaze Karin was giving Sasuke. One that showed marvel. One that said you had not seen the person in a loong period of time. And it had been a long time. Five to seven years is how long Karin had to wait to see the face she always dreamt about.
Karin finally broke the gaze. "Since you two are traveling together, how about I join you again and form the old team..." She threw a hand over her mouth the instant the words, "old team" were uttered.
Sasuke looked down with a grave, dead expression. Suigetsu looked away solemnly. "Um...I'm...Sorry...Um...Travel as a team together..."
Sasuke looked into the sky. Clouds started forming, ominous, gray, dim clouds. Lightning sparked and crackled through it. "Fine."
Karin beamed and clapped her hands once, creating a loud, hollow echo. "Great!"
Sasuke looked at her with a deadly glare. Then shifted to Suigetsu. "It's going to rain. Let's at least get a small distance from here." Sasuke started walking away, the direction out of the valley. He knew Suigetsu would follow, and he half-expected Karin to stand there until they were gone.
But he was wrong. Suigetsu immediately followed him and Karin trailed behind Suigetsu by a couple feet. Sasuke was wrong by a long shot...
Cave...
Koukishi, his apparent partner, a hologram, and Kisame stand in the center. The hologram briefs the trio on a mission.
"You three are to penetrate the defenses of Iwagakure and the Hidden Stone Village and retrieve the Scroll of Hope. There's no room for failure you three. Get moving." Koukishi tapped a foot, but shrugged off a dispute.
Jinrai was less soft and stepped forward. "Wouldn't it be better if we stay in our two-man cells?"
"No," the hologram stated sternly. "This mission will be incredibly difficult as Iwagakure's strength is the second highest of the five countries."
Kisame recited the order of strengths subconsciously in his mind from weakest to strongest. "Kirigakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Konohagakure...hmm..."
"Go."
The trio felt the strict vibe in the voice of the hologram and immediately headed off.
"Iwagakure...The Hard Country...Hmph..." Jinrai kept his eyes closed the entire way.
Outside the Hidden Stone Village wall...
The trio stood, reciting the plan of action. Koukishi came up with the main operation. "Jinrai, you penetrate high in the wall structure, make sure it's a large hole. Kisame, you infiltrate the village and use your Water Shockwave along with me. Use your sword and hack your way through the defenses and into the shrine. I'll get the scroll and then we make a hasty retreat. Understood?"
Kisame grimaced the whole time Koukishi spoke. "Hmph...Fine..."
Jinrai jumped into the air and formed a hand sign. "Lightning Style: Twin Wolf Turbine!" Two wolves formed from lightning span quickly, as if turbines, towards the wall. Finally reaching the wall, the penetrated and caused an explosion, the smoke being their cover to quickly get inside without being noticed.
Inside, Kisame and Koukishi dashed into the air, both forming hand signs at the same time. In unison, they shouted, "Water Shockwave Jutsu!" Water rushed in through the hole and over the peak of the wall, drownning houses and people under. Kisame surfed down the water and released his Man Eating Sharks to clear a path towards the shrine. "Koukishi!"
Koukishi's Sphere of Stone erupted from the water and floated above the new ocean-like landscape towards a medium-sized tower. Koukishi released the ball of stone into shooting pieces of rock at the Shinobi coming after him. "No interferance!"
Koukishi landed on top of the shrine. Breaking inside, he fell to the wooden floor boards. "Ah! And there it is, the scroll!" As he reached for it, the shrine around him felt apart and he was surrounded in total darkness. He realized his legs were stuck inside a bayou of muck. "What- What is this!?"
"Black Phoenix!" Koukishi suddenly was inside the shrine, but noticed the scroll was gone. He heard and tried to analyze where those words came from. Suddenly, the entire shrine was enveleoped in the shadow of a large, black phoenix, still unbeknownst to Koukishi. The phoenix slammed down on the shrine, obliterating it in seconds. Kisame hopped off the water and witnessed this sight. Jinrai leaned up against one side of the hole in the wall and sighed. "I thought his self-sonfidence would be the death of him..."
In front of Kisame, Sasuke Uchiha appeared. "Hmm, Sasuke Uchiha. Long time no see."
"Cut the small talk." Sasuke hid the scroll in on of his pouches. Suigetsu and Karin appeared alongside him. Suigetsu drew his sword and smiled mischieveously.
Jinrai sighed once more form the hole. "I guess I have to go help him now." Jinrai shot off the wall and appeared in seconds behind Kisame. Kisame was unaware of Jinrai's appearance.
Sasuke held his hand on the handle of the Chokuto. "So you wanted the scroll...For what reason?" Jinrai scoffed from behind Kisame, making himself known that he was in fact present.
"We shouldn't have to explain ourselves. If you want to know that badly, hand over the scroll and you'll find out soon. Or we could take it by force. I'm giving you an option. Make a choice." Jinrai opened his eyes, revealing a shimmering blue scheme.
Kisame smiled and latched his sword onto his back, knowing he will not require it. Suigetsu loosened the grip on his sword frequently. Karin stood, eyeing both Kisame and Jinrai, also throwing her gaze at the destroyed shrine.
Akatsuchi and the Tsuchikage stood in front of the shrine, obviously aware of the standoff up ahead, they were confident that the aid would be able to handle it. Akatsuchi analyzed the wreckage. "Hmm...The life form that was inside...Isn't here anymore. But it wasn't killed." The Tsuchikage whirred around to see three people now standing off with their apparent aid.
Kisame threw his gaze at Koukishi, who was now standing on his left. "So, you survied I see."
"I almost didn't...That damn attack was almost inescapable. But I managed. Let's hurry this up, shall we? I'm tired of Jinrai always stealing my thunder of the polite act..."
Jinrai scoffed at the comment. "You idiot..." Sasuke listened to their banter with a dead expression, as if he didn't care how long they standed there as long as the enemy left without the scroll.
Karin sighed once. Kisame kept his attention locked to Suigetsu, and vice-versa.
"What's your answer?" Sasuke smirked.
"We're obviously not going to give you the scroll. I'm waiting for you three goons to decide when you want to leave and how. In full...Or in pieces." Sasuke's Sharingan tomoes started to spin slowly.
Koukishi beamed. "You haven't realized it yet have you?" Sasuke's eyes were filled with bewilderment. His hand scurrid to the pouch where he found that the scroll was gone. Koukishi threw it into the air and Kisame grabbed it and put it inside his cloak.
"We were waiting for you to notice. Koukishi lifted it when he came over here, idiot."
Just two minutes before...
Akatsuchi analyzed the wreckage.
A figure darted from the falled shrine. The figure lurked by Karin, avoiding her notice, sweeping across the side of Sasuke, snatching something from a pouch.
Present...
Sasuke's face twisted into a sour grimace. "How'd you do that!? You scum..." Sasuke, instead of drawing the Chokuto or Kusanagi, used a Chidori to start the Chidori Blade and target the enemy. Kisame slipped under the blade and scurried away from the scene. Jinrai held a hand out and, shockingly to everyone, grasped the blade, with no effect to him. He snapped it and the energy stopped flowing. "How'd you...?"
Koukishi and Jinrai fled the scene and joined Kisame, leaping from the wall and outside the village. Akatsuchi and the Tsuchikage greeted the trio, but finding the scroll had been stolen.
Status of Scroll Theft: Code Yellow
Hidden Leaf Village...
Uzuna and Hizuka sit in front of the Hokage Mansion. Hizuka rubs his face, as he was not fully awake. He wished his father would help him with his Taijutsu and mediacl-nin. Suddenly, the both of them heard a small yip and Hizuka's face brightened as his gaze was thrown to his left. He saw a (4 month old) puppy scampering his way. he flew up and picked him up. Kiba appeared with him, smiling. Hizuka knew why this puppy was here. "This is your birthday present, Hizuka. And we'll train you to work together with him and make him like Akamaru: A partner ninja hound."
"Thanks dad." The puppy was black, with white paws, white-tipped ears and tail and a white streak down his back.
Uzuna smiled at Hizuka and left him with his puppy. He had decided to take a stroll, to think about his life at the moment, and what he was going to be doing for awhile. "Ugh. I wish Iruka would call for a training session. Or some sort of dangerous mission. Or even some around-the-village duty! Anything!" Realizing he was talking to himself in midday, he shut his mouth and continued his walk in silence.
Anbu Training center...
"Sai? Hello?" Naruto noticed a few Anbu members sprring and training inside, but did not see Sai. "Maybe he's left."
From the shadows of a corner, Sai emerged, looking at Naruto with a joyous expression. "Hello Naruto, haven't spoken to you in 4 years. How are you?"
Naruto nodded and smiled. "I've been well, I suppose. But I needed to speak with you about urgent business. Are you busy?" Sai shook his head.
"No, not at all. Shino and Neji are still on guard duty and there are no missions. I have time to speak with you, if you with, Naruto-sama."
Leaf Hospital...
Kakashi walks outside, stretching his arms and feeling refreshed. "A couple days of rest after using my Sharingan is what I need, ahhh..." He looked around, noticing he was alone and started walking towards the Village center.
Soon, he spotted TenTen and Lee scanning merchandise inside a market. TenTen's eyes darted around numerous kinds of kunai, explosive tags, shuriken, smokebombs, trap kits, and various other ninja tools. Kakashi knew she probably didn't need them, but she loved looking at them anyway.
Lee was searching through the different weights and sizes of leg weights and arm weights. Kakashi's eyes shot down to his legs and he noticed the weights he were wearing were tagged, "900 lbs" and he sighed.
"He puts himself through a lot..."
Kakashi greeted them, TenTen and Lee saying hello back. "How're you Kakashi? Feeling any better?" TenTen inquired, obviously worried about his well-being.
Kakashi gave her a reassuring expression. "I'm well TenTen, no need to worry like that." Kakashi said goodbye and was on his own way. He finally stopped after a while inside the dumpling shop so he could think better.
"What was Kisame out there for...? Is he apart of that new organization? I doubt it...but it's very possible...but it doesn't explain what he was doing out in the middle of the ocean."
Cave...
Jinrai, Kisame and Koukishi revealed themselves in front of a hologram. Jinrai presented the scroll. "Easy takings, however we had some issues with Sasuke Uchiha and his team. Not much more of a hassle, anyway."
The scroll levitated and disappeared as the one before it had before. "Kisame, you were the other 'semi-close' person to Kakuzu and Hidan. Do you think Hidan could still be alive?"
Kisame closed his eyes and thought, finally speaking afterwards. "Well...He has immortality, but it doesn't last forever unless he constantly fulfills Jashin's needs. And he was buried alive...And if the immortality ran out, the decapitation would have reached him before the suffocation effect did. I would say the likeliness of him being alive is one in a million."
The hologram sighed, disappointed. "Hmm, he would have made a nice addition...But I hate statistics to I want you to use the KeiraKurei to find out for sure."
Kisame's eyes blew open, flabbergasted to a full extent. "WHAT!? The KeiraKurei?! I've never even used the damned thing!"
The hologram sciffed, disapprovingly. "I don't care, use the sword and find Hidan!" Jinrai and Koukishi threw each other glances and suddenly disappeared. Kisame growled deeply and placed his hand on a second handle of a sword on his back.
"The Samehada drains chakra as it shreds the skin...But as I've heard, the KeiraKurei eternally damages chakra points...Hmph..."
The next day, in the Nara Forest...
Kisame dashes stealthily through the trees, on his way to Area 1 Ruins, towards his objective.
As he passes a tall, bulky tree, a figure notices him and starts to follow him in the shadows. "Whoever that is, shouldn't be in the Nara forest without clearance...Better trace him."
Kisame finally approached his destination and searched around the tablets and broken pieces of pillars. After searching for a few minutes altogether, he noticed a spot in the stone floor where it was filled in some time in the last 15-20 years. "I guess this is the spot."
He unsheathed the KeiraKurei and gazed it it's sleek blade. "Hmm, damages chakra points...But how will it help get this dug up? I guess I just swing and find out!" He threw his weight through the handle backwards, and then slung down quickly at the spot. Suddenly, when the blade came into contact, the ground exploded upwards and sent Kisame baclwards a few steps, the sword singing slightly. The stones and dirt flew around the "hole" and revealed a large crater, where the dismembered pieces of Hidan lay.
Scanning and analyzing the crater, he soon found his head laying alone. taking a chance, he picked it up by the hair and revealed its face. After a minute of staring, the head uttered words. "What the hell are you just staring at me fore Kisame?! Get me the hell out of this hole!" In Kisame's mind, he was hoping that Hidan was actually dead, his heart sinking when he heard Hidan's cracked, loud voice.
Kisame gathered his pieces and layed them down in body form, apart, on the ground. "Kisame, where is Kakuzu!? I need him to sew my head back on! Get him here immediately!"
"Shut up, will ya! Kakuzu's been dead for a long time. You're going to have to wait!" Suddenly, Kisame noticed movement from a tree and then an explosive tag kunai land behind him. Before it set off, he spat some water on it and put out the fuse. "You're not supposed to be here so get away!"
Azuma Sarutobi Jr., now 16 year old Chuunin, appeared on a fallen pillar, glaring at Kisame. "Hmph, you sound pushy. I'll be away from here soon..."
"You'll be away from here now!" Azuma uttered calmly as he snapped a twig in his fist. Kisame scoffed brightly.
"Really? I see...Then if you think that, why not come over here and deal with me?" Azuma beamed.
"Glad to!" From his pouch, he pulled out one of the same knives Azuma Sr. held. He dashed forward, the wind chakra surrounding the blade. Kisame drew the KeiraKurei and swung it at Azuma. Azuma clashed with the blade, only to find himself being pushed back by a huge gravitational force.
Kisame noticed Jinrai's appearance. "Kisame! What are you doing? You're mission was to find Hidan and get out of here! Not pick a fight wherever you can find one, you idiot!" Kisame frowned and threw a deadly gaze at Jinrai.
"Just sew him up while I deal with this little bastard! And do it quick!" Azuma dashed back forward, now a blade on each hand.
Jinrai took two fingers and a smal lightning "scalpel" appeared from the tips. he went to his job at sewing Hidan's pieces back together. Soon, he was finished and he helped Hidan up to his feet. Kisame drew back and slid, sheathing his Samehada and KeiraKurei all at the same time. Jinrai scoffed. "You used both? Heh..."
Kisame snarled. They fled and Azuma was left alone, huffing, now out of breath and energy. "At least they left...But they took that guy...Wasn't he the one who...?" Dammit..."
In a while...
Inside the cave, Jinrai and Kisame appeared, Hidan on Jinrai's shoulder. The hologram clapped and gave what somewhat looked like a smile.
"We're now complete...Kisame, did you happen to find his scythe?" Kisame reached inside his cloak and pulled out a small, metal shaft.
He pulled it apart and it slid into a "pole" and then the three scythe blades flung out, reveaing the shadowing three blades. Kisame handed it to Hidan, chain and all, and Hidan smiled. "How long was I in that pit anyway?"
Kisame crossed his arms. This was the moment he waited for. "You've been in there almost 20 years." Hidan chuckled disbelieveingly.
"Right..." but then looked at Kisame's face, deadly serious. "WHAT!?!?"
Hokage Room...
Azuma appeared before Shikamaru, still huffing. "Um...Shikamaru-sama, you remember that guy that you buried some 17 years ago right?" Shikamaru's expression became grave.
"Yes, what about Hidan?!"
Azuma sighed. "He...Was...Unearthed and taken away." Shikamaru almost fell out of his chair but immediately gained his bearings, standing up and heading out of the room with Azuma.
Shikamaru's thoughts battled around in his head. "This is bad...Hidan was unearthed...Gah...All these things..."
As he opened the Mansion main door, Kurotsuchi slammed into him. Shikamaru stood straight and helped her up. "You're the Hokage, correct? Shikamaru-sama, the Tsuchikage sent me here to inform you that the Iwagakure Scroll of Hope has been stolen!"
Shikamaru's face turned as bright red as a tomato and he became flustered.
Azuma sighed heavily.
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Yup, Shikamaru sure is angry! And overworked!
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I tried to make up for the last two chapters by spicing this one up with some interesting stuff! So, how was it guys? Like it? AND! I'm adding this chapter to my record book as...MY LONGEST CHAPTER EVER!!! Hope you guys liked it and I'll see ya next time for Chapter 5! SEE YA!
Special Thanks to:
Author: me of course ;P
Friend: For allowing me to use their computer while mine is having technical difficulties!