Disclaimer: I do not own anything
Summery: There are thousands of worlds in this universe. In this one, Hinata grew up as a Jinchuuriki, hated by most, shy and unconfident. Naruto was raised as the Uzumaki heir, arrogant and proud. When their lives cross, they'll find that some worlds aren't so different after all.
Author's Note: I told you I'm a slow updater… Sorry? But for those of you in the US, Happy Labor Day! No school ;)
Unparalleled
Chapter Seven
Minato was gone in a flash. Yellow Flash of Konoha, they called him. It seems that even years after the war, he still lived up to his name.
Sasuke was screaming still, overcome with a hot rage the moment his eyes saw the three black commas rotating in a sea of blood; the blood of his mother and father and family.
He had immediately known who it was – he hadn't spent five years remembering, remembering the blank, crimson eyes and the emotionless, painful voice of his brother only to freeze when he did see him. Sasuke wasn't nearly ready to kill his brother, but he would be damned if he didn't try.
Swiftly, his path was blocked by another, more intimidating figure. Minato stood there, partially in front of Sasuke, eyes fixed upon his opponents.
"Stay back."
His teeth gritted, holding back a sharp retort. No, he didn't want to stay back. But he would. Because there was that sound in the Hokage's voice – one of a ninja. One that knew years more than he did. So he stayed back, and retreated slightly next to Hinata and Naruto.
"Yondaime-kun… You're being very impulsive today…" The shark-like man grinned. "You should know best that attacking hastily could lead to many… accidents."
Minato smiled a little half-smile in response. "A shinobi rarely asks before attacking. And I know enough about you…" his eyes darted towards the other, silent man, "to know that you're dangerous."
"So you've heard about me. I'm so pleased."
"Hoshigaki Kisame, missing nin from Kirigakure." The Hokage paused, as if contemplating every reaction to his next words, before saying, "And Uchiha Itachi. Missing nin from Konohagakure."
Hinata inhaled sharply. Uchiha? Konohagakure? Sasuke-kun… he had no family, she knew. Like her, he lived alone. But – who? This man that bore a striking resemblance to him and shared the same name. Who was he? Why had Sasuke reacted so violently to his appearance?
"…I have an ambition that I have no intention to leave as just a dream. The revival of my clan, and to… kill a certain man."
She paled. Not now. Not now; not so soon after they had become a team.
But the battle had already begun, and there was no turning away from it now. All that was left to do… was wait.
A thick, ripping sound penetrated the air and scraps of mutilated cloth fluttered in the air. The Yondaime stood, fairly indifferent as Kisame held up his legendary sword.
"Samehada," he said, grinning as he wielded the sword. "It doesn't cut…" he added, and his lips stretched unpleasantly. "It shaves."
"One of the legendary Seven Swords of the Mist, held only by the Seven Swordsmen?" Minato smiled pleasantly. "Good for you."
Kisame laughed loudly, swinging Samehada in a wide arc. "Ha! Itachi, let me take him. I haven't had a good battle in a long time."
Itachi eyed him and raised an eyebrow. "For now," he said and stood a half step back from his partner.
In a blur, the Yondaime rushed forth.
Drawing out a kunai, he swiftly moved towards his self-proclaimed opponent. Kisame watched him approach, unconcerned. It wasn't until the last second that he swiftly evaded a possible attack.
"I'm disappointed, Yondaime-kun," he said, appearing a few steps away, Samehada still firmly in his grip. "I expected something more exciting from the legendary Yellow Flash. Are you holding back – or are the years getting to you?"
Itachi watched silently, internally processing every move they made; every slight shift in Yondaime's stance could spell disaster if they were caught off-guard.
Of course, Kisame was no pushover.
As if reading Itachi's thoughts, the rogue ninja appeared suddenly in front of Yondaime, Samehada ready; it sliced quickly through the air, catching a stray scrap of fabric, which fluttered feebly in the air.
Hinata gasped unconsciously. She had, at first, been completely frightened of the swordsman himself, but now she couldn't help but wince at the sight of that sword, thin sheets of deadly metal layered over each other until they formed a terrible sight. She was scared; admittedly, flat out scared that this would end up badly, that the Yondaime's years of being Hokage during peace would have softened his skills.
As if appearing from a dream, Minato emerged from behind Kisame.
"Fuuton: Kiroi Shippu."
A blinding whirl of wind whipped around the area. When it cleared, Kisame was gone, and only a few drops of water remained. .
"T-Tou-san…" Naruto hesitated, breathing deeply, eyes wide. "Did… Did you-?"
"No," the Yondaime said quietly.
"Hah. So you knew?" Kisame's voice resonated through the area.
Minato snorted softly to himself. "As I thought. The entire time you were fighting with a water clone."
"Suiton: Bakusui Shoha."
An avalanche of water surrounded the area, flooding the land. The three Genin instinctively stumbled away as they watched the waves of water settle, just beyond them. Minato stood, having easily navigated himself on top of the water, now standing there, watching the figure just off to the side.
Kisame materialized, the real Samehada hefted across his shoulder, resting lightly.
"Suiton: Suikoudan no Jutsu."
The water lifted and shaped itself into a monstrous shark, charging swiftly at Yondaime.
Minato tensed, waiting as the water barreled at him at an alarming speed. He had encountered water jutsus numerous times before; it wasn't like he was unfamiliar with them. But it was easy to tell that this one was infused with considerably more power and speed than any he had fought before.
At the last minute, just seconds before he would have been destroyed by the water, the Yondaime expelled a concentrated amount of wind-based chakra from his hands, directing it towards the center of the shark. It split smoothly, the jutsu falling apart as it succumbed to the swift power of the wind chakra. The water crashed back into the pseudo-lake, shuddering as it accustomed itself back to its surroundings.
Kisame watched, completely unconcerned. Typical water jutsus had no effect on the famed Yellow Flash of Konoha. No surprise there.
Itachi stared. Both were clearly holding back, neither wanting to provoke the others true power. The fight had gone on long enough.
"You're such fools."
Yondaime stiffened and drew back slightly, absently wiping a drop of sweat from his face.
"Why would you say that?"
Kisame laughed, and looked over at Itachi.
"They still really have no idea, do they?" He turned back to Minato. "Think, think about why we came."
"Why…" His eyes narrowed. "I have an idea. But please, enlighten me."
"We're not interested in you, Yondaime-kun. You, or your kid or the other boy."
Sasuke's eyes flashed sharply. So. His brother had come, come back, and it had nothing to do with him. So. He was that insignificant in his brother's eyes – the eyes he had once run after for completely different reasons.
Naruto frowned. Not his dad… and not him… and not Sasuke? He may not have gotten the best grades at the Academy, but he could still figure that –
Minato bit back a yell. He wasn't sure if she knew – he wasn't sure if he wanted her to know. For twelve years he had lived, with a shadow of guilt and doubt gnawing at his mind, a figure with wide eyes, tearful eyes as she cried for the lives that would be lost and the sacrifice a child would make. For twelve years he had waited, knowing that fate would eventually lead him here, knowing that he couldn't run from the monster he had created. In that moment, he felt like he would do anything to rescue her, to save this child from the burden he had thrown across her shoulders.
Hinata!
Hinata's breathing quickened. His words… the words of that powerful, frighteningly so, shark-like man… did they mean…?
"We came for one thing. The Demon."
She gasped loudly, a strangled, fearful, jerking cry. In that moment, her chest tightened, and her throat felt dry, hoarse, as that one word slammed into her with the force of the hate it contained, the years and years of pent-up frustration and sorrow and agony. Hinata touched her cheek, and she couldn't tell if the moisture she felt was a cold sweat of fear or a tear.
Demon? Naruto looked at Hinata as she let out a choked cry. Demon… demon… why demon?
"That's stupid," he said, without quite realizing it. "Hinata's not a demon." He froze suddenly, when everyone glanced at him, and the shark man smiled.
"Not a demon?" Kisame snorted. "Not too bright of a kid, I see."
"Kisame."
"Yeah, Itachi-san. I know. Don't take it too far."
"You can stop there, as far as I'm concerned," the Hokage said, eyes darting back towards Hinata, who stood, eyes fixed on Itachi and Kisame, her fingers clenching and twisting around each other unconsciously.
"No, no… Didn't you learn, Hokage-sama… that the longer you keep a secret… the worse it is when it comes out?" He shrugged, swinging his sword absently. "It's been… twelve years that this one's been festering – let's slice the wound open before it infects."
"It's been twelve years," Itachi said. "Twelve years since that night of disaster, of death. Twelve years since the last of the Bijuu were sealed. Twelve years since a girl was born."
Me, Hinata thought dimly.
"Kyuubi Kitsune, the Nine-tailed Fox, the most powerful of the nine Bijuu, attacked the Fire Country twelve years ago. It was fought by our great Yondaime-kun." Kisame shifted his sword, the others staring at him in uneasy anticipation. "Would you care to finish the rest?"
Minato exhaled, his breath shortening as Hinata turned to him, her eyes wide. He couldn't remember the last time he had experienced this sickly feeling in his stomach, one that made him fell absolutely wretched and despicable, one of hopelessness.
And then he remembered.
The last time he had felt like this was twelve years ago.
"Hinata…" His voice came out scratchy, and he coughed, not wanting to mess up his last chance. "I… I'm sorry. Konoha… Konoha was being destroyed. And… I knew only a newborn baby would be versatile enough to adapt to the Kyuubi's chakra. I'm sorry…" He couldn't bear to meet her eyes, and he couldn't even think about what his son would think of him from now on.
"I've watched you, for twelve long years, and I've never had the courage to say anything. I don't deserve…" The powerful Hokage stopped, and he swallowed painfully.
"T-Tou-san… I don't understand." Naruto's eyes swung from Hinata to his father. "Hinata… what about Hinata? What do you mean, twelve years ago? What about this Kyuubi?"
"Naruto-kun." Hinata's voice stopped his rant. When he looked at her, she gazed back with sorrowful, pain-filled eyes. Her voice was gentle and weary. "Twelve years ago, when I was born, the Kyuubi attacked our village. Your father… Your father sealed the demon into me to defeat him." She looked over to the Yondaime, and he stared at her, eyes wide and remorseful.
"No… You mean…" Naruto was frowning, his breathing erratic as he tried to process all this new information.
"You are a Jinchuuriki," Sasuke said. Hinata winced and looked at him.
"Sasuke… Sasuke-kun… I-I'm sorry…" Her voice faltered as he turned away from her to stare again at Itachi.
It explained a lot of things, Sasuke thought. Her unusual power, the strange stares she received from the villagers, the Hokage leading their mission, her lack of a family… Perhaps even her eyes. Sasuke frowned – it did not, however, fully explain why his brother was here.
"My family!" Hinata said suddenly. "H-Hokage-sama, please… I… I must have had… a-a family. What happened…?" Her voice trailed off when he shook his head sadly.
"Well, this is touching and everything," Kisame's voice cut sarcastically through the four, "But shall we get on?"
Minato turned to him, and shook his head. "What a callous way of revealing such a thing. You never even stopped once to think."
"What we thought about," Itachi said. "Was our mission. Kisame."
The shark-like man laughed in response. "Right, Itachi-san." His hands came together, Samehada deftly held so that they provided no burden.
"Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu."
A small cyclone lifted from the water and ripped through the four, tearing them apart. Yondaime braced himself, leaping to the side, watching as the Genin staggered away, sloshing clumsily through the water and being blown away by the force of the wave.
His teeth clenched; it was a precarious situation here. Three inexperienced Genin who were all just happening to be going through some sort of traumatizing experience, against two of the most infamous ninjas of their generation.
Well then, he thought with the smallest of grins. The only way to get the initiative in the battle would be to attack first.
And really, there was nothing else a trained ninja could do in this situation.
So that's what he did.
"Kenkaze!"
A blade of wind lifted around Kisame, surrounding him completely, whipping through him.
Kisame teleported away in a puff of smoke, appearing just beyond the cyclone of wind. He advanced on Minato, swinging Samehada in a wide arc. Minato avoided the blow and retaliated with a volley of kunai and shuriken. Kisame batted them away easily, taking a half step backwards.
At that exact moment, another stream of weapons cascaded from above. Kisame looked up and snarled briefly; he should have expected a trap from this. Seamlessly, he performed two jutsus at once – a simple Replacement technique and a complicated water jutsu.
A wave rose up around Minato. His eyes narrowed – this one seemed unfamiliar; at the very least, it had something typical Suiton jutsus didn't. He waited, as the water rose above him creating a circular wall that surrounded him.
Naruto let out a yell – he knew his dad was the best ninja, but he had never seen the Yellow Flash in a battle before. Never a real one, never one as real as this. He looked around him. Sasuke was distracted, completely engrossed with glaring at his brother, his fingers twitching and his body tensed. Hinata was still sopping wet, unable to keep her balance and unfocused, her concentration slipping as her eyes darted around, from the Yondaime to her teammates.
He had never felt so useless in his entire life.
As the walls of water came crashing down, Minato was frowning, and his eyes were furrowed in intense concentration. Something was wrong – something was supposed to happen, he knew. The only question was…
A few droplets of water lingered in the air, slowly raining down upon the Hokage. Still drenched, he didn't think about the last remains of water, and prepared to leap away.
In a sudden burst of energy he moved, only to find his movements inhibited. He twisted, attempted to summon chakra, only to find his reserves low and his reflexes sluggish.
"Araimasu Suiton."
"So the water is fused with chakra to cling and wash away energy and chakra." Minato smiled coldly. "I see."
"You're trapped, Yondaime-kun…" Kisame said, pulling Samehada into a ready position as he approached the Hokage.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Puffs of smoke surrounded the area as dozens if Narutos' popped into existence. They rained down upon Kisame, yelling loudly in unison.
Minato's eyes widened; when had Naruto learned Kage Bunshin? And since when did he have enough chakra to perform such a high-level Jutsu? He smirked; Kakashi… he had become such a troublemaker… though he had a penchant for noticing talent. He supposed he would have to thank his wayward student once they returned.
Hinata watched in horrified amazement as Naruto jumped towards his father and Kisame, activating the Jutsu he had spent weeks working on. A trembling smile spread on her face; he had known he could do it. She had always known that he was something else, someone different.
Naruto-kun! Be careful!
Sasuke's head snapped around to watch as Naruto leaped away from the three to confront Kisame.
He stands no chance… But, he supposed, he would pray for him still. When his head turned back to face his brother, he found nothing there.
No…
"Foolish little brother… Your teammate has such a high-level Jutsu, and his showing courage in the face of danger. What have you proved so far…?"
"Itachi…" Sasuke snarled as his eyes focused on the menacing figure, suddenly in front of them. Behind him, he heard Hinata yelp in dismay. She began to move away, instinctively, but hesitated as she reached for Sasuke.
"S-Sasuke… kun…."
"Go," he said. "This is… my battle."
Hinata paused, biting her lip. She felt so useless; Naruto had found the bravery to save his father and Sasuke was now confronting this other man. Both their opponents were after her.
"I-I-"
"This is my fight! Don't interfere!"
Swallowing painfully, Hinata nodded, hearing the underlying pain in Sasuke's voice. As she darted away with one last glance towards the both of then, she prayed for their safety.
Sasuke turned his head back to the man before him. Ignoring any small talk, he raced forward, hands moving in the familiar seals.
"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu."
Itachi watched, unconcerned as the flames sped towards him.
"Suiton: Suishi no Jutsu."
A small torrent of water doused the flames, and Sasuke scowled. He charged at Itachi, not caring anymore. Not caring about his team, or the other ninja – only his once-brother, standing here.
As he approached him, Itachi lifted his knee slightly a let out a swift kick, slamming his foot into his brother's stomach. Letting out a choked gargle, Sasuke was flung back, hitting a nearby tree harshly. Panting, he stood again, eyes crazed and intent on his brother.
He couldn't see, he couldn't think. All he knew was that the man he wanted to kill was in front of him, and –
And he couldn't do anything.
It was endless; charging, screaming, yelling. Itachi blocked his every attack, continuing to punch him, kick him, and throw him away uselessly.
He doesn't even bother enough to…!
"Let's end this." Itachi eyed his brother coldly before putting his hands together and sealing rapidly. "Katon: Housenka no Jutsu."
Small bursts of flame shot at Sasuke. He breathed heavily, watching them, dodging, then stumbling slightly and waiting; moving as they approached. A few stray ones caught him, and he doused it in the water before moving on.
Itachi watched. It was no problem for him to continue fighting. Sasuke's body was already becoming slower, and his reflexes had a harder time reacting. However…
There was something about his movement. Something that allowed him to predict the fireballs. Itachi's eyebrows rose slightly in half-surprise. He sped up the fireballs.
And we'll see what happens…
Sasuke panted. It was clear where this battle was heading. But still…
Focus.
Concentrate.
Move!
A particularly large flame sped towards him, and the Uchiha started, moving quickly to avoid it, falling ungracefully to the ground. His head was lowered, but his eyes were wide. His breath came in short gasps, but there was a new energy in him.
When he lifted his head, his eyes were red.
Sharingan!
"Foolish little brother…" Itachi tilted his head, eyeing Sasuke with identical eyes. "Is this the first time you've activated the Sharingan? Weak…"
Sasuke stumbled to the water and stared at his reflection. Red eyes, burning with the power of the Uchiha and the hate for his brother stared back at him. His head turned slowly towards Itachi.
"Uchiha… Itachi… I've waited for this day. I've lived for this day." His eyes blazed as he stared his brother head-on. "For the day I would kill you!" With a final burst of speed, Sasuke charged at Itachi. The older Uchiha grabbed his arm, twisting it violently, before kneeing him in the stomach.
Blood dribbled out of Sasuke's mouth as the pain filled his head. Pain that was more than physical; pain that came from being weak, from having trained for years for it to only come to this.
Itachi slammed Sasuke against a tree, holding him by his neck, eyes dark.
"You are weak. Why are you weak?" Itachi leaned forward, as if confiding a terrible secret. "Because you lack… hatred." He drew back, and then slowly opened his eyes, revealing three vicious black tomoe.
Sasuke's eyes flew open, the Sharingan having disappeared. His world spun, before blackening and then turning a terrifying color.
The color of blood, the color of hate.
The sky turned a dark, cruel crimson that was chillingly familiar.
And then he knew nothing.
--
"Ah, Yondaime-kun… What will you do now?"
Kisame smiled at the blond ninja. Minato scowled heavily, breathing heavily, quickly dodging another blast of water.
Naruto was trapped inside a bubble of water, pounding at it futilely, yelling and choking on his words.
Damn, Minato swore. He could only think of one other battle in his life where so many of his precious people were in such perilous danger, and no other times where he had faced such deadly opponents.
Naruto, you stupid boy.
Hinata was behind him somewhere, he could sense her. He prayed that she wouldn't try and mimic Naruto's actions to help him; he couldn't deal with that right now, especially since she was the one they wanted.
Sasuke was fighting Itachi; "fighting" used objectively. Minato grimaced – that was likely the worst situation, considering the past between them and the dismaying difference in abilities. He knew something of the Sharingan, but less of the Mangekyo. He did know, however, that it was not something he'd like to be on the receiving end of.
In his distraction, Minato never noticed the disturbance in the water underneath his feet. He never noticed how Hinata was watching both fights, tears falling from her eyes as she felt that overwhelming despair, hate and hopelessness.
"Tell me," Kisame said, pointing Samehada at Minato. "Why do you fight so hard for a demon?"
Demon.
There it was.
That one word that dictated her entire life.
That one word that would bring villages to ruin and great leaders to their knees.
That one word that would end up destroying everything she loved.
Sasuke, fighting against his brother, fighting for his family.
Naruto, fighting someone he knew he couldn't beat, but doing it anyways to save his father.
Minato, who still protected her, even as she existed as the cause of all his misery.
Hyuuga Hinata, who stood there, watching as the ones she loved most wasted away slowly, too cowardly to make a move, too afraid to cry out.
"Why?" she whispered, eyes darting around frantically, glistening. "Why? Why… Why do you call me a Demon?" she sobbed, letting out a fitful, agonizing cry as she hunched, falling to her knees.
There was something inside of her, something that cried and screamed; that longed to be free.
Since she had young, Hinata had never spoke out, never cried out, and never complained. She had never been strong.
She wished her voice wouldn't tremble so much.
… she had no intention of being yelled at again.
…stumbling along behind the group, as if she didn't belong…
She was such a freak.
She glowed, pure chakra illuminating her being, before it slowly darkened.
Slowly, a vicious red chakra began to surround her. She cried out, and when Hinata's eyes opened, the brilliant white had given way to a sinister color.
The color of blood, the color of hate.
The color of a demon.
Xue: Well, that's one heck of a chapter. And goodness - another cliffie! So hey, review, and I may be induced to update faster next time. No, really. And below are some jutsu translations for those of you who are dying to know. Reading through the chapter again, I think I may have missed a few, but here's most of them.
Jutsu Translations:
Fuuton: Kiroi Shippu (Wind: Yellow Hurricane)
Suiton: Bakusui Shoha (Water Release: Exploding Water Shockwave)
Suiton: Suikoudan no Jutsu (Water Type: Water Shark Blast Technique)
Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu (Water Type: Great Waterfall Technique
Kenkaze(Blade of Wind)
Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu (Flame Type: Powerful Fireball Technique)
Suiton: Suishi no Jutsu (Water Element: Water Drowning Technique
Katon: Housenka no Jutsu (Flame Type: Mythical Fire Flower Technique)
Bold indicates self-invented jutsus
