Naruto: Chronicles of Darkness Chapter 3.
Index
"Speaking"
'Thinking'
Written words
"Demon/Summons speaking"
'Demon/Summons thinking'
Chapter 3: Meetings and Weapons.
Team 7, with Genya, finally stepped through the giant gates of Konohagakure no Sato. They were happy they made it home and in good condition. Sasuke was still a bit worried about Naruto, but she knew he'd be all right. They eventually made their way to the Hokage Tower, and navigated their way to the mission's room. The Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was thinking heavily on the mission reports from teams 8 and 10.
'Both teams have had encounters with monsters in these reports, but monsters never show up in the public eye unless the lord of darkness is near. What could this mean? Is the seal that holds Dracula weakening, or is it something else entirely?' The elderly Hokage thought as team 7 entered the room. Sasuke had a stoic, almost superior, look on her face. Naruto seemed down, and Sakura was a little scared.
"Hokage-sama, Hatake Kakashi, jounin leader of team 7, reports the mission complete. However, there some complications." Kakashi said. He then told the entire story. From when the demon brothers ambushed them, and to when they fought on the bridge. He did his best to speak only the truth. Sarutobi wasn't pleased that Tazuna had lied, but was impressed that three fresh genin had fought a jounin of Zabuza's caliber and won. He was alarmed that team 7 had also encountered monsters. He then turned his attention to the fifth person in front of him.
"Thank you for your report Kakashi. Team 7 is dismissed as I have important business to discuss with Arikado-san."
"Actually Hokage-sama, If you do not mind to much I would like Naruto to stay. I have a few things to discuss with him." Everyone's reactions to Arikado's words were mainly surprise, but it was allowed. Sakura and Kakashi left, but Naruto and Sasuke stayed.
"Anything you have to discuss with Naruto can be discussed with me as well."
"Arikado-san, you'll have to forgive Sasuke-chan. She is very attached to Naruto and she doesn't like it when others know more about him then she does." Sarutobi explained to Arikado. He simply nodded his approval hoping his trust wasn't misplaced.
"Naruto, I saw you fight the monsters on the bridge for a bit. You have the power to rule over the souls of the monsters you kill." Naruto and Sasuke stared wide-eyed at Arikado. Naruto had the power to rule over monsters?
"The color indicates the type of soul you have gained. Red souls are bullet souls; they grant powers that are mainly offensive. Blue souls are guardian souls, and they're powers vary from sustained attacks, summoning familiars, and even transformations. Yellow souls are enchanted souls; while they do not consume magical power they do alter your fighting conditions. Finally are silver souls, and they grant special abilities that do not consume magical power. However, they are not usually used for combat." Arikado finished his explanation. It confused the two genin.
"Um, Arikado-ojiisan, what's magical power?" Naruto asked the pale man. Sasuke stayed silent the entire time thinking, and hoping, that this power won't change her Naruto.
"Ah, I forgat that ninja refer to magical power as chakra, but I do recommend that you buy weapons for combat. This is in case you need to fight, but you have run out of chakra." Naruto nodded at the wisdom of the older man, but wondered where would he find a store that wouldn't just overcharge or throw him out entirely.
Naruto and Sasuke left the building. One was wondering where to get weapons and the other was thinking of how to comfort him. Then suddenly they spied a store: Golden Hammer General. They decided to take a look inside and saw a variety of things: medicines, foods, weapons, armor, and even various magazines.
"Welcome to the Golden Hammer, what can I get for ya?" said a bald man at the counter.
"Ano, who are you?"
"Name's Hammer, and I own this place you looking for something with your girlfriend?"
"Hn, we were just browsing for weapons Hammer-san."
"Well, you can browse all ya want. Just let me know if ya'll need anything." Hammer said in a friendly tone shaking off Sasuke's cold remark. Naruto found some weapons of interest, a short sword, a spear, and some brass knuckles.
"I'm guessing those caught your interest eh? If you want you can have the three weapons for 4000 yen." Naruto quickly and took up the weapons, and a pack of shuriken. The total shopping trip cost 5500 yen. Other shops would have had him pay 16,500 yen. Afterwards told him to come on back, and on their way out they bumped into a girl with brown hair in buns wearing a pink Chinese shirt.
"Gomenasai, I wasn't looking where I was going." Naruto said to the girl.
"Who are you?" Sasuke said in a cold manner. Just because she acted cold to a lot of people and didn't socialize a lot doesn't mean she wasn't like any other girl.
"My name's TenTen. I was just doing some minor shopping." TenTen said while eyeing the weapons Naruto had.
"You're a weapon user?"
"I'm going to become one. It was recommended by one of jiji's friends."
"Then why don't we train together? I bet you don't even know how to use the weapons you just bought." TenTen said when a civilian showed up looking at the group. What made them even more aware was the fact he was looking at Sasuke specifically.
"Uchiha-sama, the civilian counsel has summoned you to appear before them. I was sent to inform and guide you to them." The messenger said before bowing.
"*Sigh* I'll see you later Naruto, and don't worry about dinner tonight." Sasuke said confusing both TenTen and the messenger before leaving with him.
The counsel chambers in the Hokage tower had been filled on one side. The counsel itself was made to aid in the creating and keeping of laws. No one side had absolute authority over another. Sasuke had stepped forward to the center of the room while keeping a cold expression on her face to prevent the others from reading her too much.
"Honorable council why have you asked for me?" Sasuke asked. She hated politics, but being the sole survivor of the Uchiha clan had forced her into it.
"We have received reports of monsters being seen once more. Is this true?" Said one councilman.
"Hai, my teammates, jounin sensei, and I have fought some firsthand, but is this all you have summoned me for?" Sasuke asked the counsel. She really wanted to go home and start on dinner to show her fiancé her appreciation.
"No, we believe that Dracula maybe returning to power." An old man with bandages and a walking cane said.
"We believe it is in the interests of the Uchiha clan if you retire from the shinobi corps and take a groom. We have selected a few eligible suitors for you to marry." Said a particularly fat councilman with a gleam of lust in his eyes.
'How dare they demand I marry anyone outside of Naruto-kun! When he becomes Hokage I'm going to recommend that he oust the current civilian council and get some new ones in power; those with proper respect.' She thought while glaring a bit at the fat man who backed away a bit.
"I don't believe that. Who I marry is the business of the Uchiha clan, and since I'm the only it is MY business alone. I also believe that I am in a better position to aid Konoha by being in the shinobi corps. Also, you cannot simply command me without the Hokage's permission or support from the majority vote of the shinobi council." Sasuke said backing them into a corner. She knew every law in place due to the fact that the majority of the police force was the Uchiha.
"We didn't come here to bicker like children. I do have a private mission for you Uchiha-sama. We have with us a weapon to be used against Dracula should he ever rise again." The bandaged man said and made a beckoning motion. Two shinobi with masks bearing the kanji for root came forward carrying a chest. They opened the chest to reveal a simple leather whip.
"I hardly believe this is a weapon to slay Dracula." Sasuke said to the bandaged, and he told her,
"This whip is called the 'vampire killer'. It is the whip a clan called the Belmont used for centuries to kill Dracula. This is merely its sealed form, and we will find a way to unlock it's true power. Your mission is to use this whip to kill Dracula and prove that the Uchiha is the strongest clan in the world." Said the bandaged man getting cheers of agreement from the civilian council.
"Very well, I'll accept this mission and prove to the world the strength of my clan." Sasuke said as she took the whip and walked out. No one saw the smirk on her face as she left.
'Fools, they believe I'll simply bow down before them. They can't control everything, and I'll prove it too. I'll show them all what the future Uzumaki clan can do. No one would dare mess with the husband if the wife is strong.' She thought before heading home to prepare dinner for her future husband.
Naruto was heading towards the Uchiha district of the village after a productive day of training with his new weapons. He made his way through the abandoned district. Sasuke and he both felt lonely since it was so empty. He wasn't that fond of many older Uchiha due to the fact that many of them had a god-complex.
"Tadaima!" Naruto called out as he entered the home of the clan head. This place had been his home since some time after the massacre. It was also the time when their betrothal was announced to them.
"Welcome home Naruto-kun, dinner will be ready in a little bit." Sasuke said to her future groom. This house had so many memories for them. Memories that was both good and bad. A little while later dinner had been served and they had a bit of a dinner conversation, during which Sasuke told Naruto of the council's special mission to her.
"Why would they do that? I mean, the Uchiha are already known to the strongest in Konoha, so, why'd you take the mission?"
"I'm going to show the world our strength Naruto. We can beat Dracula. Between my skill, the vampire killer, and your power of dominance who can beat the Uzumaki family!" Sasuke said while she pumped her fists for emphasis. The two laughed together. After they cleaned up the dishes they spent some time together simply stargazing. That night they simply enjoyed the moment.
BREAK!
Glossary
Weapons:
Short Sword: A sword with a stubby blade. Easy to use and good for taking on groups
Type: Sword. Attribute: Slash
Spear: A simple spear with a double-edged blade at the end. One needs a bit of training to work well.
Type: Spear. Attribute: Pierce
Bronze Knuckles: Knuckles made of simple bronze. Good for intimidating and for throwing a mean hook.
Type: Knuckle. Attribute: Bash
A/N: That's a rap for chapter 3. Sorry no omake this time.