First Impressions

Chapter 4: Survivor's remorse

Koomahana

Sorry guys, I wanted to update this for Christmas but it wasn't complete by then

so here it is! the wonderful Chapter 4 you've all been waiting for!

I hope you all like it :)

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine; you want the real stuff get off this site

Thoughts

Paragraphs are flashbacks

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Eight years ago

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They were all laughing and celebrating the day away, their night a blaze of endless fireworks, music and light shows. She herself spent the day tending to her new born daughter and boisterous husband, both of whom seemed to be having a blast. It was if nothing could go wrong. Mebuki stopped walking as she watched an earthen platform slid into existence, courtesy of her one of her relatives, and a flier spring into the air challenging the women of the clan to show off their dancing skills. Several of her more prideful relatives imminently jumped at the chance to dance, something everyone loved to do, and started showing off their graceful swirling and soft steps. Every kunochi of their clan soon joined in on the growing dance floor, letting their talents bloom around them in beautiful colors and elegant flairs. One made dozens of leaves dance around her as if she were a wind sprit; another had droplets of water elegantly twirling like liquid snow dancing on the wind. Grace was something their women had plenty of, elegance was earned through years of hard work and their beauty was inherited from their mothers. Suddenly one of the musicians nearby threw up a drumstick, caught it, smirked at her, and purposefully let the wind swirl around her as if mockery. Several of the dancing women each howled and whistled, their men soon joining in, a loud and boisterous challenge. She looked at her husband and saw the amused smile on his face, his blue eyes dancing proudly as he looked down at her and their daughter. With a smile she handed her seven month old daughter to her husband and hurried to the dance floor, ignoring the laughter and whistles of her clansmen.

"Go honey!" Kizashi smiled brightly waving one hand wildly in the air while her daughter giggled helplessly, "Show'em the light dance!"

"Just what am I going to do with you two?" She whispered, stepping into the middle of the dance floor, smiling as everyone scattered for her. She let the fast beat of the music fill her and soon she was glowing with the moonlight that shone from above, the lights shining from the houses and shining down on the roads were suddenly bending to her will. As a genin she had been ambushed by some Kumo-nin, they thought they could bury her alive but they were unaware of who she was. Her very first transformation was the ability to create light in the darkness that threatened to suffocate her, becoming bioluminescent wasn't easy. The sense of liquid fire crawling through her flesh to surface on her skin was alarming and she very nearly clawed her skin off to stop the sensation. However, those Kumo-nin's mistake was her survival, she grew stronger and stronger with every day that passed and eventually she was known as 'Hikari-Ōjo', the princess of light.

Returning to the present, Mebuki twirled with the music and glowing sparkles followed, she dipped and her skin flared bright white, she took one of her clansmen by the hand and led her through an elegant family dance of bending light and glowing raindrops.

Suddenly it was if someone pressed pause, everything fell silent, everyone was statue still—nothing dared to move nor breathe

Then, as if someone flipped a switch, chaos was surrounding them, screams echoed high into the air, the deafening roar of a monster threatened to burst their eardrums and a chakra strong enough to evoke that childhood fear of being buried alive resurfaced to the for front of Mebuki's mind. She could nearly feel the presence of thick damp soil pinning her limbs in place, preventing her from moving. The pure blackness of the unforgiving depth threatened to steal her last dregs of air, collapse her lungs and steal her life. She screamed shrilly as the memory surrounded her, consuming her; her power reacted without thought on her part. A blinding light burst from Mebuki's body, consuming the darkness and beating it away from her person but it didn't stop there. Her powerful and blinding light grew a hundred fold, shining brightly throughout the entirety of the village, turning their night into day, waking everyone who dared to sleep. The demon one hundred eighty miles from the walls of her village turned to her, his glowing crimson eyes narrowed in hatred. He roared and summoned up a glowing purple ball of pure miasma, aiming it straight at the blinding white light threatening to bind even him.

Gritting his teeth, Kizashi quickly kneeled onto the ground, forming a single hand sign to do his bidding. The earth surfaced and swallowed his daughter whole, protecting her from the blinding light emitting from her mother. Then he sat back, staring fondly at the earthen dome, and rose to his feet again. Kizashi widened his stance, slapped his palms together and glared right back at the demon threatening his family.

He was unafraid

"Spring style: Nature's purity!" Kizashi slammed his twisted his fingers into an odd symbol, his middle and thumb connected and looped with the same fingers of his other hand, his remaining fingers spread out wide. His own special bloodline activating to create its own brand of chaos; filling the occupants of the village with serenity and familiarity. The monster fired his Tailed Beast Ball, seemingly smirking as it sailed faster than the speed of light towards the village he so hated. Then he felt a burst of power fill and surround the village, his attack hit but didn't seem to do any damage, it just dissipated on impact, leaving nothing behind but wisps of smoke. At first he thought that the light was doing something, preventing his attack from hitting perhaps, but he soon realized that the power from the village was racing towards him and he jumped to avoid the wave just in time. Realization struck him with cold dread as he saw the very trees attacking his form, preventing him from getting too close to the village and protecting if from every chakra powered attack he threw. The trees were absorbing his attacks and neutralizing them, even giving the wasted energy back to the shinobi of the leaf, healing their wounds and giving them strength while at the same time sapping his own.

"Kizashi of the spring," the man on top of the demon drawled, "who knew he was this strong." He stared dully at the blinding light encompassing the village, aiding the leaf shinobi but hindering his vision, "and Hikari-Ōjo as well… never thought the two of them could stop the great nine-tails." He never thought the two of them could be much of a threat, Mebuki never liked to show off her power and Kizashi was still labeled as a Genin. It would seem that Konoha retired him forcefully regardless of his rather impressive skills.

"Doesn't matter in the end," the man drawled, ignoring the trees clueing themselves to the fox's feet. He wouldn't be able to move but he could still use his tails and his Tailed Beast Balls were still effective even from this range. "They'll still die… along with that disgusting village," He watched blandly as a burst of smoke appeared just before the village gates and a great crimson toad stood defiantly in his way.

"You're done for Madara!" the Yondaime shouted at him, "That light is 'Shihikari', Mebuki Hattori's strongest technique! It'll prevent any harm from ever coming to any Leaf shinobi and reflect all damage back onto the caster! And the trees wrapping around the Kiyobi's feet are Kizashi Haruno's specialty! The technique his family created to counter the nine great Bijuus! That demon will never move beyond that spot!"

"Ah but the Haruno clan are down to just one member are they not?" the man countered easily, "and this forest technique requires more chakra then that man has." The Yondaime flinched at the information, realization filling him. "That's right, Kizashi Haruno will die and so will his bloodline, legacy and everything else related to him. He is after all, the last of his kind."

"You're wrong!" the Yondaime screamed out, his toad jumping forward to attack, "Kizashi is strong enough! He will survive! Because he has something you don't know about!"

"And what is that?" Madara asked lazily, watching one tail smash into the toad, only to have the Yondaime jump off and run along the very same limb

"The ability to merge with Nature itself!" the Yondaime screamed, disappearing from the tail only to reappear in the sky, "Kizashi can manipulate the natural chakra's surrounding him, he can merge with it!" he disappeared again and this time Madara had to dodge the Rasengan, letting it slam straight into the Kiyobi's forehead, "He will survive!" the demon roared in pain, one paw ripping out of the tangling trees to scrap irately at his nose, trying to remove the blonde menus. The Kiyobi backed away, shaking his head, but his paw was reattached to the forest floor with a great lunge of the trees, grabbing hold of him and pulling him straight down. The endless sea of sentient trees was soon joined by the golden glowing chains of the last known Uzumaki, Madara snarled as his beast was caught and made a hasty retreat. Not even the great Kiyobi could fight the chains of the Uzumaki heir; she was a force not to be taken lightly.

Back in the Hattori clan compound, the clansmen were scattering to send their children to safety, set up the emergency seal array their ancestors built and avoid the growing panic of the civilians. Once Mebuki realized that there was something wrong with her husband's chakra signature, she calmed down enough to look for him. Her white light dissipated to reveal a great tree growing in her husband's once place, at the base an earthen bed sat with a hysterically crying toddler inside. Mebuki ran forward in a panic, her skin still glowing to counter the sea of darkness of her compound, she skidded into a stop and wrapped her arms around her hysteric child.

"Mebuki-chan," she snapped her eyes up, searching for the voice of her beloved, her green eyes imminently landed on the still growing tree in front of her, the gruffly face of her husband smiled sadly back at her. She stared horrified up at him, knowing that he was performing the forbidden technique of his clan, the earth-bind-seal. The technique would forever bind him to the earth in the form of a tree; in return the caster will live on eternally as that tree, their chakra forever bound to Nature's. Their last, dyeing will, lived on in the surrounding area for all of eternity.

"Kizashi," Mebuki whispered in horror, her eyes wide as tears steadily slid down her still glowing cheeks, "Of all the stupid things for you to do…"

"It was the only way to stop him," Kizashi whispered, his tanned cheeks browning to match that of the tree he was slowly becoming, "the Kiyobi was resisting the Nature bind seal so I was forced to use this… I'm sorry love."

"Just how do you expect to raise Sakura-chan like that huh?" Mebuki asked, sniffing to keep the snot from rolling down her lip

"Oh love, I'll always be with her like this," Kizashi chuckled, "just as I'll always be with you. So long as you remain in the land of fire, the trees of this country will protect you."

"Mebuki!" she looked up at the strangled sound of her mother, her voice choked with tears and panic, "Mebuki we have to get underground! The miasma will enter the compound in five minutes!" the white haired woman slid to a stop, her teal eyes growing wide as she stared dumbfounded at the tree with Kizashi's face, understanding filling her as he smiled sadly back at her.

"The seal will be activated?" Mebuki asked with a sniffle, whipping her wet nose against the long white sleeve of her dress, "but that would destroy the compound."

"Better than the village and hundreds of innocent lives," her mouther countered, shaking herself out of her surprise and grief, "You know the price for the seal. You have to move."

"Yes mother," Mebuki stumbled her way onto her feet and started running for the compound barracks, she stopped once to look back at the only thing remaining of her husband. "I love you," Mebuki whispered, hugging her child close as the girl wailed in her ear, one hand fisted into her neck line. Mebuki took off again, hurrying to the underground safety network. It wasn't long before she was flying through the darkened halls of the massive underground network, her body glowing to counter the darkness. Her mother was close behind and her daughter's wailing had subsided into terrified sobbing, Mebuki tightened her hold on her daughter briefly. Suddenly the wall of the hall cracked and burst open, her mother shouted as a large chunk of it slammed into her, pinning her to the opposite wall.

"Mom!" Mebuki screamed, sliding to a stop to look back at the elder woman

"Run," the woman coughed, blood dribbling past her lips, "you have to run…" Mebuki looked at the destroyed wall, her eyes widening as wisps of orange smoke filtered into the all, restrained only by the roots of a tree high above them. "Run," her mother wheezed, "You have to… run…" with a sob, Mebuki turned and ran again, her skin glowing and lighting her way through the darkness of the halls. She tried to ignore the sobbing of children, the screaming of the wounded, the cries of orders given; it was by far too much for her take on all at once. She knew about the kiyobi just as all Hattori's know, and she knew that it was sealed within her teammate and best friend Kushina Uzumaki. She didn't know that the demon's miasma would be so powerful as to rot away their ancient underground network, designed to protect them from the very thing killing them.

"Computer!" Mebuki screamed as she took a sharp corner and barely managed to avoid a sentient cloud of miasma, "Show me to the heart!"

"Access denied," the voice of the computer network replied calmly, "information permitted only to the clan head."

"My mother is dead!" Mebuki screamed, green eyes glaring coldly at the nearest wall and rails, knowing that the cold blue light was the computer's 'eye'. "I am Clan head now so do as I order you!"

"Confirming lady Ainoi's death," the computer replied, making the blonde woman scoff, "confirmation of lady Ainoi's death, repeated news to all clansmen. Mebuki Hattori is now clan head, request granted. Please jump off the railing in five seconds." Mebuki grunted, her eyes locking in on the break in the railing, she looked down to the left seeing nothing but an endless sea of blackness.

"If I die for this you are to self-destruct," Mebuki grumbled as she grabbed the rail and sling-shot herself into the empty space of pure darkness.

"Request denied," the computer retaliated emotionlessly, "Creator permitted self-destruction on the condition that the entirety of the Hattori clan is whipped out."

…

She stood proud and tall in the very center of the seal array, knowing it didn't span just the entirety of the clan compound but also the entirety of the village. Several other clan members surrounded the edges of the seal, each covered in wounds, some more serious than others.

"How much time do we have?" Mebuki asked, her skin still glowing despite the illuminating golden light of the massive seal

"None my lady," the nearest elder answered sorrowfully, "the hope of our clan now rests on your shoulders."

"May destiny shine in your favor," the others murmured, far into the corner Mebuki spotted the last children of her clan, each of them were as young as a few months old and some as old as fourteen. She knew her people were strong, they endured and survived where all others had fallen and died, but it would seem that not even her people could adapt to the Kiyobi's toxic miasma.

"I pray that Destiny will be kind to us," Mebuki whispered, watching her power grow with the strength of the seal, beginning to shine throughout the entire room to reach every nook and cranny. "May she guild us, protect us, and let us survive this strife," Mebuki held her daughter out in front of her, tears streaming down her face as she stared up into those fearful, sleepy orbs. She felt the moment the miasma broke free of the half-mile thick door, entering the white washed room with a furious vengeance.

"Protect us all," Mebuki whispered, letting the Kiyobi's power surround her, "Protect us…"

"Forbidden art: Black chakra purification!" Mebuki screamed as she was forced to fuse with the lethal seal, her daughter all but ripped from her hands as she tried to remain sane in the storm of pain and despair.

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…

The image on the orb faded into brilliant white as the seal activated and consumed his friend's body and soul. Her screams no longer sounded but he could still hear them echoing in his mind. The images faded to reveal what was inside the orb, the curled up form of his friend, still glowing soft white despite the orange of the fox's chakra and the golden light of Nature. Slowly Shikaku turned to stare in complete horror and awe at the little girl standing beside him, realization slowly creeping through his veins. He watched as the little girl's image flickered again, confirming his suspicions and evoking more questions.

"You…" Shikaku whispered, watching as the girl turned dispassionate eyes towards him, "You're not human… are you?"

She blinked slowly at him, as if she hadn't expected that question

"No," the girl answered, "When did you know?"

"Your image flickered when you showed me Mebuki," Shikaku answered slowly, "Where is the real Sakura Haruno?"

"She is safe," the false pinket replied giving up the charade, "and she's a Hattori."

"Perhaps, but her mother cave up that name when she married Kizashi," Shikaku countered, "That makes her a Haruno. Now, are you a hologram as well?"

"That makes no difference to us," the girl replied, "and… it'll be too difficult to explain what I am so yes, you may think of me as a hologram."

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…

Ino panted as she focused on sensing the chakra signatures around her, running and sensing wasn't easy for her but she was getting better at it. Now that she had a taste of the miasma she knew how to sense for it and as such, avoid it—well, avoid it as best as she could; there was only so many places she could get too. Suddenly the rubble beneath her feet gave and Ino gave a startled shout, her eyes widening to watch in slow motion as one hand stretched out to the top of the wall she had been climbing. Just as sudden as the giving of earth, another hand wrapped around her wrist, keeping her from falling into the orange mist of the Kiyobi's miasma.

"Ino," she stared up into warm emeralds, a smile slipping onto her face as the younger girl pulled her up to the top of the damaged wall

"Sakura," Ino greeted warmly, her blue eyes dancing in the moonlight of the night

"Not safe," Sakura whispered rising to her full height and tugging her hood on over her head, "Shadow animals followed."

"So I was right that someone was following," Ino sighed, her shoulders slumping, "I'm sorry."

"No," Sakura smiled at her, "Friends?"

"Ah, Shikamaru and Chōji!" Ino gasped in realization, "the Miasma got to them, they're—"

"In danger," Sakura frowned at her, "lead me."

"Of course," Ino smiled at her and followed the pinket to the safest route out of the ruined compound, her blue eyes watchful as she studied her surroundings. They passed a half destroyed house, a baby crib dangling dangerously from the edge of the second story floor, a teddy bear nestled in the bottom corner. Ino stared at the crib for a moment before she continued on through the dangerous path, sticking as close as she could to Sakura. She stopped with Sakura on the end of their stone wall, staring at an ancient tree with a large stone platform sitting just beneath it, what could only be described as a baby's stone crib sat close to the tree's base. Nearby, Ino could see other children's toys, little dolls and toy trucks, wooden kunai and shuriken, as well as building blocks. She could even see large wooden stands that she imagined once sold food or perhaps sold masks or even gold fish if you could catch them. it was as if the Compound was a miniaturized version of the village, the sector they were in was like the street market flanked by the houses on the far end and a children's park on the other. As if their compound had their houses to the edges and all of their entertainment in the center, their daycare centers, parks and even the market.

"October tenth," Sakura whispered mournfully, "Celebration day…"

"The day of the Kiyobi attack," Ino whispered in horror, her eyes widening as she realized that there was more to the story then just what they knew. Ino swept her eyes out over the abandoned destroyed compound, covered in dust, poisonous gasses, debris and what she could now make out to be the skeletons of those too slow to retreat.

"Best this way," Sakura whispered turning to look for their newest safe path, "Better us then entire village." At first, Ino didn't understand, she couldn't comprehend the meaning of the girl's words but she did slowly begin to understand as they returned to traveling again. Her friend may not have been able to speak when they first met three months ago but the girl was a fast learner and was smarter than anyone would've thought her to be. She could read and wright and she could do math, she was like a sponge that absorbed everything without letting a single drop of information slip past. It was as if she couldn't let go of any kind of information, once she saw it, heard it, felt it, tasted it, it was memorized down to the finest details of the seconds.

Ino may not have understood why Sakura believed that it was best for her clan to be sacrificed in the Kiyobi attack rather than someone else's, but she did understand the cold logical opinion. Fifty people dyeing were better than one thousand and one clan's annihilation was better than the entire village's destruction. She couldn't imagine what it must be like to walk through these haunting husks of her once powerful people, nor could she imagine the entire village taking place of this compound. The village survived the Kiyobi's attack, even progressed and developed from it but its survival was at the coast of the entire Hattori clan. The clan could've designed their compound to be protected from the attack of a Bijuu and left the rest of the village to fend for itself but they didn't. Their ancestors, the final key of founders of their village, thought it best to sacrifice their very souls for the sake of the village and that mind set didn't die with them. Ino was looking at the last survivor of the clan and she knew the girl had the same mind set as her ancestors; the belief that sacrifices for the greater good were necessary for survival.

Ino doubted anyone else in the village would feel the same as her friend. After all, who would willing sacrifice their own clan for the sake of the village?

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I don't know if I'll be able to produce another chapter any time soon but I'll try, it's a little difficult getting used to writing three or four stories at the same time.

How I did I do it the first time?

Thoughts are helpful

Opinions are Wonderful

Helpful criticisms lovely! Just don't cripple me okay?

And don't forget to rate and review!

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