Disclaimer: Shorinji Ryu doesn't own Naruto. However, Shorinji Ryu does like to talk in third person.
A/N: Sorry about the hiatus everyone... many unfortunate events have kept me from getting this chapter out, including the loss of my flash drive. I know excuses, excuses but it's difficult to start over. So without further wait...
The Ballad of Hyata Tadashi
Chapter 4
The Honor of Fallen Heroes
Opening theme: Unchained by Van Halen
I couldn't see out of my left eye. Not after Kazumi woke up anyway. I spent all that night at her bedside waiting for her, only to receive a right jab to my face and to be called every profane name in the book, and then some.
Granted, I did knock her out for the better part of three days, gave her unconscious body to complete strangers in a foreign nation, who were so kind to put her in a small room with no windows. Still, that was no cause for her to fucking hit me and chew me out.
Well, after about ten minutes of listening to her "vent", the most awkward thing imaginable happened. She kissed me, and no, it wasn't a peck on the cheek, it was a three second, full blown make-out session. "What the hell, Kazumi!" I yelled as I pulled away, startled by her kiss.
"You maybe the the worlds biggest ass-wipe of a douchebag, but you still saved me. Consider that as a reward." Kazumi giggled and blushed. However, I've had "reward kisses" before, and that kiss was too sensual for it to be that. As I mused further about that sign of affection, another fist slammed into my right eye.
"What the fuck! Are you bipolar?" I yelled as I clenched my eye in pain.
"That was for taking my clothes off without permission, dickhead!" She raged with her hand still balled up in a fist.
"It's not my fault that you soiled yourself..." I tried to reason... or yelled.
"You administered the sedative, so it is your fault," she fired back, "and knowing you, you probably ogled at my tits for at least ten minutes before you redressed me."
"I did not," I scoffed, "and it's not like I've never seen you naked before..."
"That's not the point," she retaliated, "it's important for us girls to be modest."
"You weren't too concerned about your modesty the last time I had you sit on..."
Just then, we realized Sakura was standing in our room, holding a breakfast tray with her face as pink as her hair.
"Uhh, how long have you been standing there?" I asked as we both blushed beat red.
"Well," she started, trying to regain her composure, "I was going to give you guys breakfast, and I heard a person yell in pain. So I came in to help."
"So, was it the first or second punch?" Kazumi asked.
"Wait, two punches?" Sakura said confused.
I tuned my head so that she can see my left eye. "Well, that gives us that answer," I said as I pointed to the wound.
"It's swollen shut, it's going to need treatment." Sakura said, going into doctor mode. "Please come with me."
"You know this isn't over," Kazumi glared as I stepped out of the room, and I knew it too well that she was right. Trying to win an argument with Kazumi is like taking on all the members of Atkatsuki at the same time. You won't win and there will be lots of blood loss. Goody.
Sakura led me to another room, where she had me sit on an examination table. She sat down on a small rolling stool, examining the bruises on my face. She then started channeling a green chakra around her hand and placed it over my injured eye. The method she used to heal me gave of a strange tingling sensation and it didn't take long for her to switch to the other eye.
"So, that girl," Sakura broke the silence, "is she your girlfriend or something?"
"We were once, not anymore, though." I answered as she pulled her hand off my eye. "It was a bad break up, too. She wouldn't talk to me for weeks."
Sakura looked at me confused. "So what happened? How can you stand each other?"
"Well, at first our relationship was purely professional. She doesn't look the part, but she's a premier weaponsmith in Kumo; all of my equipment is of her design." Sakura nodded in comprehension. "We basically just reverted back to how it was then. I needed her weapons and she needed my money. It took us a little while to become friends again."
"What's going to happen, if you or her wants something more though?" Sakura asked a bit sheepishly. I knew exactly where she was going with this.
"If that happens, it happens, but I've got a feeling that this conversation isn't about me and Kazumi, isn't it?" The answer obvious, Sakura stayed silent.
"Let me guess, you're still in love with Naruto, even though your with Sasuke and your upset that he's with the bitch with cataracts." That got her talking.
"I just don't get it," she confessed, "how do you leave those feelings behind?"
"It's simple, really." That quickly got her attention. "You don't. At least I never did."
"Wait, you still..." The doctor was shocked to hear that.
"Yup, but your in a different position than me. Sometimes the only way to move forward is to step to the side first." She looked down, almost looking disappointed. "But, how can I cope?"
"Focus on Sasuke." I quickly responded. "The more you do that, I'm sure things will look up." She looked up at me and smiled. "Thanks, Tadashi."
.o.O.o.
After Sakura's therapy session and checking out of the hospital, I decided that going to my apartment and unpacking was the best. Using Parkour in excess, I jumped, flipped and skidded among the various rooftops of Konoha to get to the apartment complex, which happened to be the one topped with Naruto's penthouse.
Walking into the Elevator, I pressed the button for the nineteenth floor. It took no time at all to get up there, and to my surprise my room was directly in front of the elevator. Opening the door with the key Naruto gave me, revealed a spacious, fully furnished apartment. I expected my things would still be in boxes, but to my surprise everything was put away.
I wandered into my bedroom, to find my weapons decoratively laid on one of the dressers, and my clothes neatly put in their drawers and hung. On top of the perfectly made bed, was a note folded in half from Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Hinata. The short message in beautiful calligraphy read:
Hyata-san, we hope you're comfortable in your new surroundings and to aid you, we took the liberty of unpacking you. If, there is anything you need assistance with, feel free to request our help. Sincerely, Hinata and Naruto.
After reading this it was obvious who did all this, and I was starting to feel sorry for calling her a bitch with cataracts. Suddenly, however, I heard a door open. As I looked out of the bedroom door, I found Naruto lounging on my new sofa with his feet on my new glass coffee table switching through the channels on the flatscreen.
"Uh, excuse me," I said, getting Naruto's attention, "Do you mind knocking next time you barge into my apartment."
"Well, that's no way to treat your landlord, is it? Especially when your rent is on the house." Naruto scoffed. He got up and started raiding the fridge.
"Well you took my chore for the day, so I got nothing better to do." I joked.
"Actually, Baa-chan wants to talk to you today about Kagerou no Sato, but I want you to meet someone first." Naruto answered.
Then, as if my life were a poorly written sitcom with too many penis jokes, someone knocked on the door.
"Alright, come on in mystery person," I sarcastically scoffed, "even though it's obvious your Naruto's fiancee."
"God damn it!" a masculine voice screamed out on the other side of the door. "Why, does everyone think I'm gay?"
That, got me curious. Opening the door, I saw a tall, long haired shinobi wearing a fishnet shirt under his flack jacket, fingerless driver's gloves and standard black pants all under an open trench coat. It was Uchiha Sasuke.
"Hey, Naruto... Oh, shit." Once he saw me he turned on his Sharingan and reaching for his sword, Kusanagi. At that time, Naruto leaped forward getting in between us to prevent a breaking out.
"Naruto, get out of the way!" Sasuke commanded. "Do you even know who this bastard is."
"Actually, I do." Naruto retaliated. "He used to be the bounty hunter from Kumo who was after your head, now he's a political refugee."
"Wait a second, you didn't tell him I was here?" I was appalled.
"Well, then he wouldn't have come at all..." Naruto tried to explain.
"You got that right, dobe." Sasuke glared.
"Ugh, This was not supposed to happen." I groaned. "I knew that when I came to this village I'd run into you, but I was planning to do it much, much later..." I glared at Naruto, "...and definitely less awkward."
"To be honest with you, you two would have met at the Hokage's summons today, anyway..." Naruto confessed.
"That still would've been less awkward than this." I fumed.
"C'mon... let's go before we're late..." Sasuke said, annoyed and still with his sword unsheathed.
.o.O.o.
Even though we were technically late, due to a stop at Ichiraku's, the meeting didn't start until two hours after we arrived. It wasn't until a specific silver-haired ninja showed up that the meeting actually started. His excuse was that he simply got lost on the road of life... yeah.
The next five minutes were spent by The Hokage and Naruto, chewing out the lazy ninja, now known to me as Kakashi. Also known as Hatake Kakashi, the copy ninja. How did this guy get such a reputation, I wondered. "So, you're Hyata Tadashi." The famous ninja snapped me out of my thoughts. "I've heard things about you."
"That's probably because I'm in the new Kumo bingo book, right?" I figured.
"Yup," Kakashi held up a white book, "that and I take special interest in newcomers to our village." He passed the book to me. "Welcome, by the way."
I flipped it open to where he bookmarked it and saw my stats. "Wait, this isn't right." I pointed at my rank.
"What's wrong?" Naruto asked.
"It has me down as an upper S-rank missing nin." I explained. "I'm lower S-rank, mid S-rank on a phenomenal day and the price on my head is outrageous."
Tsunade was astounded by the number. "Fifty million ryo!"
"It's a lot of money, but I remember Sasuke's being a lot higher, somewhere in the five hundred million range." I said as everyone gaped at the number. "However It's dropped considerably..."
"I was never taken off?" Sasuke asked.
"Here's the thing about the bingo book," I clarified as I switched over to Sasuke's page, "once you're in, you never come out. Wait a minute..."
"What is it?" Kakashi asked.
"Sasuke's bounty rose from the last issue, before it was around fifteen." I displayed the book so that every one can see. "Congratulations, your bounty has tripled. What the fuck did you do in the past month that pissed off someone so much that they triple your bounty?"
"Well, if I did, they wouldn't know it was me." he replied. "I wear a mask when I'm out on missions."
"Look's like we have to watch our backs, especially on this mission." Tsunade stated sternly, which got everyone's attention. "This one is different, a rescue mission for the inhabitants of Kagerou no Sato." She gestured towards me. "Hyata-san has located the village and will be your guide for the mission."
"As for your role, Kakashi," she changed the focus of the conversation, "The surviving inhabitants are under fuuinjutsu, one that literally seals their physical state, so they don't age, die or grow hungry..."
"Hm, I have heard of that seal before..." Kakashi mused out loud. "I believe it's called a mass time stop seal."
"Yes," Tsunade confirmed, "our source also describes what is required for releasing the seal. As our top seal master, I have enlisted your help."
"What about the four others required for the removal process?" asked Kakashi, who obviously knew the seal's inner-workings already.
"The four I've selected are Shizune, Haruno Sakura, Hyuuga Hinata and Yamanaka Ino." She announced.
"Then why are we even here?" Sasuke grilled, frustrated at the thought of the Hokage wasting his time.
"One, the mission is close to the border of Thunder, whose hunter-nin are after Hyata-san's bounty. You two are his escort." Tsunade explained. "There may be dozens of survivors to tend and protect on the way back; I'm having Shikamaru and Chouji go, as well as Kiba, Shino, Neji, Tenten and Rock Lee."
"Damn, that's a hell of a lot of manpower..." I speculated out loud. "Fifteen Jounin level shinobi on the same mission..."
"This is a political mission with many lives in the balance," Tsunade elaborated. Then she crossed her arms and smirked. "Plus, Konoha's elite haven't really had any good missions since the war."
.o.O.o.
Today proved itself to be difficult for the Fourth Raikage. Each day, tasks were getting more and more challenging, his mind clouded and his motor functions decreasing. However his job was more important, which was to complete any task given to him from her. He walked down the halls of his compound finding the chamber of his master.
"Ma'am," the Raikage addressed his involuntary overlord, "The reports from Konoha are in."
"What is Konoha's report?" the long haired maiden asked.
"They claim they have not seen Tadashi but they swear to actively search and apprehend him if he is found." The man replied.
"Hmm, so they're protecting him," mused the leader as she stepped out of the shadows, revealing a pale beautiful young woman, her long light blue hair draped over a black kimono. "This is unexpected." She said as her anger showed through her yellow eyes.
"So, what do you suggest?" The Raikage wondered. "Do we march on Konoha?"
The woman laughed lightly. "You know those are not my methods, Raikage-kun. This is a delicate situation that needs a delicate resolution."
The Raikage humbly lowered his head in submission. "What would you have me do?"
"Send those two." She ordered. "They know him best, next to Kazumi-chan."
"Yes, Ma'am." The Raikage bowed.
"Time and time again the methods of men have been used; war is indeed a useful tool. However, my goals cannot come to pass with mass bloodshed." The beautiful mistress smiled. "I will come to power by the subtle ways of assassination, espionage and corruption, however." Her yellow eyes glowed. "What sort of kingdom has it's ruler despised by it's subjects?"
.o.O.o.
The campfire was bright, lighting the whole camp and casting shadows of three shinobi among the trees surrounding the clearing. Over the fire, they were cooking up a rabbit they found while on patrol. After eating, one of the ninja went into his tent to sleep. I was that ninja.
As I prepared to sleep, I heard a scream and a yell come from outside. Without thought, I grabbed a kunai and rushed out to see what had happened.
The ground was littered by numerous kunai, which had also covered my two slowly dying companions. I looked around frantically, watching the ambushers come out and surround me. They were all missing nin, almost all of them from Iwa. One of them charged, sword in hand, aiming for my chest.
Using the kunai in reverse grip, I parried the deadly charge to the right while spinning out of the way, only to have another attacker drop from the sky.
Bringing the kunai up to block just in time, I kept in contact with his knife as he came down. Now facing the side of my opponent, I thrust the kunai up into the man's face, throwing his dead body into another charge from my first attacker.
Next, three shinobi came at me at all angles, and with me now weaponless, I launched myself in the air and the three gave chase. Not for long however, for as I leaped I did a few hand signs. "Fire style, great fireball jutsu!" I watched my pursuers remains fall to the ground, still burning.
Landing by my incapacitated but still alive friends, more ninja crept out of the shadows and yet none of them had done any Jutsu. "Who the hell are you!" I challenged, but all I got back were smiles and laughter. More and more gathered around me. I started going through another set of hand signs when multiple sharp pains shot into my chest.
With seven kunai buried within me, I staggered back, leaning up against a tree. Just then, a sword plunged into my stomach, pinning me to my support and as a last ditch effort, grabbed the swordsman's arm, pulled a kunai from my chest and put a hole in his windpipe. After that, the world was sent spinning and all I could do is hear the sound of my two best friends being tortured and raped.
Then I woke up in my new, lavishly appointed apartment. I've been having the same nightmare for the past year, of how Shadow and Raven died. Hell, their bodies were so mangled that I couldn't recognize either of them. Knowing that I had a mission this morning, I couldn't dwell on the past for long, for I knew I had to prepare for the worst. After strapping on my effects and having a well balanced breakfast (which in my dictionary means eat an ass-load of bacon) did I feel comfortable enough to head to the gates.
Running, jumping and sliding among the rooftops of Konoha, I headed towards the gate. Looking down towards the street I saw a familiar plume of silver hair walking in the opposite direction. I decided to follow him, knowing that the mission won't start without him or myself for that matter. Dropping onto the street in front of him didn't phase Kakashi at all, he just lowered his little book and eye-smiled at me. "Oh, how are you, Tadashi-san?" He asked casually.
"Feeling pretty good actually." I said as I stretched my arms, walking with him. "How 'bout you?"
"Fine, I guess." He resumed reading his book.
"You do realize that the gate is the other way, right?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yup" was all he gave. "So, where are we walking to? Granted, I'll find out where we're going when we get there..." I prodded. Kakashi just sighed as we continued on our way.
It was some time before we arrived at our destination, It was a stone monument with hundreds of headstones among it, entitled "The Will of Fire". "This is the place that our heroes are honored. Most of my friend's names are on this statue, I come here to pay my respects everyday." Kakashi said looking at the statue.
"So, these are Konoha's martyrs. In Kumo, we have an annual festival called 'The Day of the Fallen' to commemorate all that have died for the village." I crossed my arms. "The day I was accused of leaving the village." I started to get visibly upset. "How dare they, when they know my team is among those celebrated that day." I muttered under my breath.
"It seems you've inherited The Will of Fire already, then..." Kakashi speculated out loud.
"What do you mean by 'inherited'?" I was thrown off a little by his comment.
Kakashi sighed. "The Will of Fire is not just this statue's name. It's the will to basically give up everything for the sake of the village." He crossed his arms. "Sure, people have their reasons for becoming a ninja. However, the one's who change their reasons to this will, shall be immortalized as heroes."
"Hey, Kakashi," I said as I pulled out a metal flask from my jacket. "For our fallen comrades and friends..." I took a shot and handed the flask to him.
"For our comrades and friends..."
.o.O.o.
Kakashi and I made it back to the gate about three hours after we were supposed to be there. Needless to say, Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke were absolutely pissed off. "WHAT THE HELL, KAKASHI!" They yelled in unison.
"Well, uh, you see, a lady lost her purse and..."
"YOU USED THAT ONE ALREADY!" The three exclaimed, cutting off Kakashi's explanation. "Wait, why the hell are you late?" Naruto pointed at me.
"Me? Well, I was helping Hatake-san with the purse." The three accusers facefaulted.
"Oi, Naruto, who is this guy anyway?" A ninja sitting on top of a large dog belted out.
"Ah, yes, sorry everyone..." I addressed the small crowd. "My name is Hyata Tadashi. I will be your guide as we set out for Kagerou no Sato."
"Oh, so you're the one Hokage-sama was talking about!" Shouted a green clad shinobi with a rather spirited demeanor. "I am Rock Lee, it is an honor meeting such a youthful one as you Tadashi-kun!" He gave me a huge smile and a thumbs-up and to wrap it up, a wink.
"Sorry buddy, but I don't bend that way," I quickly replied, which received a confused look from Lee. Quickly, a woman squeaked in between me and Mr. Inappropriate. Smiling and waving her hands she tried to excuse the guy's upfront behavior.
"Please do not misunderstand my teammate, he is just a bit eccentric, that's all..." The kunoichi said apologetically.
"It's okay," I replied, "Just as long as I don't share a tent with him." I turned back to the group. "Any questions before we leave?" Many hands were raised.
I pointed over to a Hyuuga-clan member, which was obviously not Naruto's fiancee. "Okay, state your name and your question."
"Hyuuga Neji and my question is where exactly is Kagerou located?" The white-eyed prodigy asked.
"To be completely honest with you Neji, I can't give you those details until we arrive. However, I will tell you that we will be in close proximity to Lightning Country, whose ninja are currently after my head. So keep on your toes. Any others?" Most of the hands were put down. I pointed to
the loudmouth with the dog.
"Inuzuka Kiba and this is Akamaru," the dog barked after it's master's introduction. "I just want to know why Kumo is after you? What did you do that makes them want to kill you so bad?"
"That is a very good question. To be frank, I'd like to find that out myself one day. Okay, anyone else?" This time no hands were raised; it was obvious this team was well briefed. "Alright, let's go."
Leaping through the trees at incredible speeds, I took a glance towards my team. Seeing their Konoha Insignias on their foreheads somewhat startled me, as I was brought up to not trust Konoha. Logic settled in, however, letting me focus on my objective.
Looking back to check on my teammates again, I saw none of them lagged behind, despite how fast we were going. Even though I knew Tsunade wouldn't give me a bunch of cannon fodder, I was still impressed by this group's speed and stamina. Despite our late start, we were well into Valley Country by nightfall. It was then when we decided to set up camp.
As everyone pitched their tents and searched for firewood, I went around setting up traps for fools who would dare attack us. I'm particularly proud of one; it uses the torsional resistance of a few branches to swipe a makeshift blade across the back of an intruders knees, amputating the would-be assailant. After setting a numerous amount of traps (most of which involved explosion tags) I finally took my place around the campfire.
"What's the matter Tadashi?" blurted out Kiba as I sat down. "Afraid of an ambush even though you're surrounded by an army of A and S-rank shinobi?"
"Well, the last time I didn't setup traps around camp, my team, comprised of ANBU, was destroyed and I was almost killed." I stood up and took off my jacket and mesh shirt to reveal a large white scar on my stomach and several others all over my torso. "Even the most competent shinobi are susceptible to the element of surprise."
Kiba backed off while Akamaru gave a small whimper. Honestly, I knew that he was just teasing, but now wasn't the time or place and he realized it. Crossing my arms, I addressed the entire party, "We've got a long day ahead of us, so I suggest we get some rest." I stretched out and gave a big yawn. "Unless anybody else has another burning question about me or my routine?"
"Just one." Stated a man wearing sunglasses, despite it being night. "What is the purpose of wearing two forehead protectors?"
I just smirked and said, "To remind me why I got the scars in the first place." With that I went into my tent, to once again relive that night in my nightmares.
.o.O.o.
Waking up to get an early start and to compensate for our tardiness yesterday, I stretched as I walked out of my tent. My body was sore from sleeping with full gear on, but that didn't matter to me that morning; I knew there were more important things to do than complain. Kakashi and Shizune were waiting for me, cleaning up the campground and packing their tents. "Hey, I'm going out and disarming my traps,"
I told the two.
"No need for that Tadashi-san," said Neji as he and Hinata came out of the forest. "That has been already taken care of."
"You sure you got all of them?" I said with skepticism. Everyone got a laugh from that one.
"I didn't think we'd have to remind you who your team consists of..." Neji smirked.
"Oh, leave me alone. It's early and I'm from bloody Kumogakure, I'm not used to having team members with the motherfucking byakugan." I mumbled as I grabbed a scroll from my jacket and unfurled it in front of my tent. Clapping my hands together, my tent "poofed" out of existence and was sealed into the scroll.
As I rolled up the scroll, the others came out of their tents and sealed them, already prepped and ready to move out. "Damn it, I should have known Konoha was full of 'morning people'..." I grumbled to myself.
"How are you this morning, Tadashi-kun?" Lee greeted joyously. "I hope you had many youthful dreams last night!"
"Yeah, thanks..." I said, creeped out and feeling a little violated. I reached into my pocket and I grabbed my secret weapon, caffeine pills.
"Uh, what was that?" Lee asked confused.
"Let's just say they make me feel more... youthful..." I tried to explain.
At that, Lee's eyes widened. "Amazing! I must obtain some of these! Do you have any extra?"
"No, no, no, no, no, no... don't give him any!" Both his teammates pleaded as they pulled him away.
"Alright, is everyone ready then?" Kakashi questioned. All of the ninja nodded. "Okay, Tadashi lead the way." With a nod, I led the large force, running through the valleys and into steep mountain passages.
Deep in Mountain Country, the air was starting to fog. Uncomfortable with their vision clouded, the two Hyuuga activated their byakugan and gasped at the sight of the ruins of Kagerou no Sato. "So that's why they could never find it." Hinata said astounded.
"All the search teams were looking for was a small outcropping of buildings..." Neji agreed.
As the team moved forward, one by one they realized what this village used to be.
"Kami, it's a city..." Kakashi said with awe. Before we knew it we were at the city gates.
"It's like a mini Konoha..." Sakura exclaimed.
"With one exception," Sasuke pointed out. "Everyone is dead..."
End Chapter 4
Ending theme: State of Emergency by Pillar
A/N: Okay everybody, I hope you guys liked the chapter. Now you know some of the details concerning Tadashi's past and a part of his true enemies plans... and yeah I did leave a little bit of a cliffhanger, but I think you guys can handle it. Remember to review and favorite! -Shorinji Ryu
