Here is the new chapter of Echoes. Once again, I have to thank my Betas for their precious help. This chapter is the longest to date, because I'm trying to condense the Waves Arc within six chapters.
Also, I have found a way to avoid confusion. Each Naruto will use his alias name to design himself and the others.
Traveler/Original Naruto: Kazama Arashi.
Female Naruto: Naruko Arashi.
Puppeteer Naruto: Chibaku Arashi.
Werefox Naruto: Kitsune Arashi.
Deceiver/Original Madara: Tsukiyomi.
Destroyer/Rinnegan Madara: Susanoo.
Warrior/Collector Madara: Amaterasu.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto! Thanks my betas and all reviewers.
Chapter Eight: Bonds
"Royal Flush!" Naruko shouted, much to the horror of the other players, especially Sasuke, whose jaw dropped when his all-in failed, busting him out of the game. He was following Sakura and Kitsune, leaving only three players around the table, all expert players.
Well… not really. While Chibaku was an experienced cheater, having learned all the tricks from Sasori, and his newest counterpart was apparently good at the game too, if the slight alteration of his cards was of any indication, Naruko was simply lucky.
Insanely lucky.
"I fold," he said.
"I fold too," his other-self imitated him.
"What? Again?" Naruko questioned. "That's the third consecutive time!"
And that's the third time you can do a Royal Flush. "Well, I don't have a good hand," Chibaku lied through his teeth. In reality, he had four of a kind.
"I only have two pairs," the 'normal' Naruto smiled. "And I have the feeling you are on a lucky streak."
No, it's not merely luck, the blonde puppeteer thought. Three Royal Flushes, two four of a kind, one Straight Flush… that's beyond chance. Either she's a better cheater than the two of us, which I doubt, or fate has decided to screw with me today.
Somehow, I have the feeling it is the second possibility, the Kyuubi whispered. It is so hard to resist making you cry…
After receiving a new hand, Chibaku immediately knew he would have to back down. "I fold."
"AGAIN?" Naruko yelled. "What's the problem? Are you a coward?"
"I'm a survivalist," he replied. "It's not cowardice, it's strategy."
She snorted. "Yeah, I believe you."
"All-in."
Chibaku, and the more cunning members of the audience, stared at the boy in green, as if he had lost his mind… which he probably had. "Are you suicidal?"
The genin smiled at the young puppeteer. "What can I say, I'm a gambler."
"Ah, now there is someone courageous among us!" Naruko smirked.
Chibaku face palmed, and closed his eyes. "I don't want to see that."
But it's going to be funny! He's going to be humiliated, like the Uchiha! Don't be an idiot!
Sorry, but since it's me who will loose after him, it will be like watching at a picture of my future.
That's the point, moron! I will not see your face, but I want to see his!
Commanded by a demonic will, Chibaku opened his eyelids, just in time for the showdown.
His other-self had a Straight Flush.
Naruko had a Royal Flush, again.
Chibaku had to admit that the face of the blonde genin was indeed priceless… but then the puppeteer noticed the flat-lady's evil smirk, as she locked eyes with him. "Now, it's between you and me…"
It's going to suck.
Hard, the Kyuubi confirmed, laughing.
The Traveler, Kazama
"Let me get this straight," Kakashi demanded. "You're all alternate versions of Naruto and of a powerful missing-nin, who jump through different realities where history changed."
"Yes."
"Somehow, three alternate versions of Madara Uchiha followed you, and beat the crap out of you, before you successfully teleported away. So you're hiding on this island, training and preparing for them to attack you again?"
"Yes."
"And you want to recruit Team 7, and Kisame's group to face them?"
"Yes."
"And you seriously expect them and my group to accept?"
"Yes."
There was a long silence.
"I cannot believe it," Kakashi finally declared. "It can't be possible."
Kazama smiled. "And yet, you do know I'm telling you the truth."
"Yes," the jounin confirmed, massaging his temples. "It explains all the strange crap about your group, and especially the demonic chakra I noticed during our fight against Kisame." He sighed. "This is crazy."
"I know. I scarcely believe it myself," he admitted. "But things happened so fast I didn't have much time to think about it."
Kakashi stared at him with a strange expression. It was a mix of astonishment, compassion and… sadness? "You have my congratulations. I would have gone mad if I had been in your place."
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei," Kazama said reflexively, which made the man flinch. The world wanderer inwardly cursed himself. I really have to keep my mouth shut.
"Was I a good teacher?" he asked, with a pained look.
The vessel hesitated to reveal the truth, but then Kakashi closed his eyes. "Your silence tells everything," he stated. "How bad was I?"
"As incompetent as you are now," the teenager said bluntly, which made the man's facial expression worsen. "But since Kisame wasn't working with Zabuza in my homeworld, you only taught us tree-climbing. Or at least you only taught me this, since you personally trained Sasuke."
The jounin looked as if he was facing death. "I never wanted this."
Kazama inwardly cringed. He had the feeling one more bad word would send the man into depression. It was time to cheer him up a bit. "I know, and you're not fully responsible for what happened. The people who forced you to act like that were and still are."
"But if I had been more courageous, or more inventive…" he trailed off.
"We would have been removed from your care, and things might have been even worse," the vessel countered. "As much as I loath to admit it, events couldn't have happened otherwise."
The jounin chuckled. "Perhaps in another universe, then."
"Maybe," the vessel agreed. "Why not witness it together?"
Kakashi didn't answer the question immediately, and stayed immobile, probably considering the proposition. Then, he seemed to reach a decision. "After we put an end to Gato's tyranny, I will explain the situation to my team. Team 7 will come to an agreement as a group. If we accept, we will solve some of the still existing problems, like Itachi."
"About it," Kazama said, "I would want you to give me some precise facts…"
"I don't know anything beyond the fact that he butchered his clan, if it is what you desire to know," the jounin cut in. "If you want explanations, you will have to meet the Sandaime."
The vessel nodded. "Perhaps we will." He locked eyes with Kakashi. "Now, a more pressing subject. How did Sakura end up with the Kyuubi?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow at him. "I have no idea about what to say. The Kyuubi attacked our Konoha, like in your world. Why the Yondaime sealed it within Sakura, and not inside your belly? Many answers are possible to this question. Perhaps she was the closest child, perhaps the beast fought differently… I can't answer your interrogations."
Kazama sighed. The man wasn't very helpful… for now, at least. "Is my counterpart aware of his origins?"
"He hasn't learned about the Yondaime yet, but he does know he is related to the Uzumaki Clan." Kakashi chuckled. "It was hard to hide it, once his special chakra began to manifest itself."
This caught the demon container's full attention. "He has the special chakra?"
"It's in its early stages of development, but yeah, he has it."
It was to be expected, Kazama thought. Without a demon sealed within his belly, screwing around with his chakra, his gift must have formed naturally. "I'm happy for him," the teenager declared. "Can he learn ninjutsu quickly?"
"Yes," Kakashi nodded. "Intensive training should awaken Sasuke's sharingan, and Sakura's shadow clones are an incredible learning tool. With a few team sessions, the trio should be of low-chuunin level within the next three days. Not enough to fight neither Zabuza nor Kisame, but my students should be able to defend themselves against their apprentices."
"If everything goes along with our plan, then there won't be a fight at all, in the best case," the vessel said reassuringly. "But better to be prepared than to be killed. The negotiations might end badly."
"You have no idea of how many times I've seen an advantageous situation going straight to hell," the jounin stated. "No plan survives its contact with the enemy."
Kazama nodded in agreement, before locking eyes with the man. "I have one last question."
"Please, tell it."
"How were… how were my parents?"
Silence installed itself within the room, and Kakashi did not move for a moment.
"They were the greatest people I have ever known," the man declared. "Your mother, Kushina, was very beautiful. She had long red hair and purple eyes. She was very kind, if a bit hyperactive. Loyal to her friends, and ready to sacrifice her life for her loved ones. She was one of the strongest kunoichi I have ever seen, and probably the greatest seal master of all times. She was feared as the 'red menace' of Konoha."
He smiled. "Your father, Minato, was my teacher. He was a charismatic and level-headed leader, and a good man. He was feared at the 'yellow flash' of Konoha, and the strongest ninja to have ever lived. You look a lot like him, but you have your mother's face. He was handsome, with a lot of fan-girls. Dozens of women cried when he began to date Kushina." His expression was nostalgic. "They were heroes, in all the senses of the term. I can tell you a thousand stories about them, but none is as glorious as they were. You can be proud of your parentage."
The demon vessel closed his eyes, imagining himself in their arms. "Thank for your answers," Kazama said, before rising up. "Our teammates are probably wondering what the hell we're doing." He gave his old teacher a hand. "Want to come?"
"With joy," the man replied as he shook hand with the vessel, like two accomplices formalizing their alliance.
Once the duo reached the salon, they found a very strange scene. Five children were pale, and looking at five cards on a table. Naruko was grinning widely, and maliciously touching a large sum of money, much to the despair of the others. Chibaku especially looked downright depressed.
"Okay," Kakashi muttered. "What happened?"
"Nothing," five of them answered, while Naruko's smile only widened. "Nothing at all."
The Ice Princess, Haku
"What do you mean, your masters aren't ready to receive me?" Gato snarled. "I am your boss!"
"Zabuza-sama's orders are clear," Haku said to the little businessman and his bodyguards. "He is occupied, and Kisame-sama too." They were resting behind the door, and did not want to be disturbed. Especially by an arrogant dwarf and his cronies.
The man frowned. "I don't give a damn about their wishes! I'm their boss!"
Kimimaro shook his head. "You are our employer, nothing more. We will accomplish the task you paid us for, but that is all."
Gato glared at them. "You didn't! The bridge-builder is still alive, and the trashes you call masters have fled with their tail bet-"
A strong hand interrupted the midget's rant, by grabbing his throat. Kimimaro effortlessly lifted him in the air, with an emotionless look on his face. It had happened so fast that the two thugs behind the businessman were still under the effect of surprise.
"I won't let an inferior vermin like you insult our teachers," the Kaguya declared. "Have I made myself clear?"
Waves' tyrant was pissing himself. "Kill th-"
A second later, his bodyguards were transformed into two statues of ice by a quick jutsu from Haku. Gato paled even more.
"If you do not want to be transformed into a snowman," she declared with a cold tone, "you will have to apologize."
The dwarf locked eyes with her, his rage overwhelming his fear. "My men will inform Kiri of your location if I'm not back to my base within the hour!"
"And?" Haku asked, completely unfazed. "The Village is in the middle of a civil war, right now. Our presence here is the last thing they care about. You will have to find a better threat."
Kimimaro smirked. "You know, an hour is enough to make you loose a few limbs… a minute will suffice, in fact." Four horns of bones formed on his head, giving him a demonic look. "So apologize."
"I'm sorry!" the coward shouted. "I'm truly sorry!"
The Kaguya dropped him on the floor. "Much better." The businessman got up and escaped at full speed.
"He runs rather fast for his height," Haku noticed.
Kimimaro chuckled. "If he tries to menace us again, his speed won't matter at all."
The Traveler, Kazama
In the forest near Tsunami's home, Kazama eyed his gathered counterparts, minus Kakashi's student, who had left to train with his teacher, much to the teenager's pleasure. Sasori was with them, standing under a tree, and his werefox-self had new, clean clothes, offered by Tazuna. It was only a white shirt and black boxers, but the boy had been happy to receive a gift.
"Before we begin this lesson," the oldest Naruto announced, "I want to know what you know about your family."
The crowd did not respond immediately. The teenager sighed. Just as I expected, they are still in the dark.
"My parents were two ninjas whom I do not know anything about, beyond that they sacrificed themselves during the Kyuubi's attack," Naruko answered, breaking the awkward silence. "At least, that's what Sandaime-jiji told me when I tried to learn who they were."
"My parents were a beggar and a whore, who got rid of me at the first chance they had," Kitsune said, scowling. "That's the response I have always got when I asked the question."
Kazama eyed him with seriousness. What kind of sick people had been vicious enough to tell that to a child? "It's completely wrong."
"Yeah!" Naruko cheered him up. "Don't believe these lies! I'm sure they loved you, but died during the Kyuubi's attack, like mine!"
The boy seemed relieved, as if he had been freed of chains he had thought unbreakable. "Thanks."
"Don't!" she shouted. "After all the horrors you suffered in your life, you deserve to feel happy."
He reddened a bit. "Well, let me thank you anyway."
"Anyway," Chibaku cut in. "My parents, too, were ninjas who died during the Kyuubi's attack, so it might be an universal fact. I don't know about my dad, but mom's name was Kushina Uzumaki, and she was related to the famous Uzumaki clan."
Kazama nodded. "Kushina Uzumaki was our mother, to us all. She was effectively a member of the Uzumaki clan, the rulers of the Land of Whirlpool. Unfortunately, another nation destroyed them, and most of their knowledge."
"During my travels," Sasori continued the explanation, "I recuperated some of the last scrolls created by this clan, containing information on their techniques. I intended to keep them for later, but…"
"The Uchiha Trio came," his apprentice guessed.
"Yes," Kazama nodded. "They're far too strong for us as we are now. They underestimated us last time, they allowed their pride to take over their reason, but I doubt they will make the same mistake next time." He showed them the scrolls, and put them on the ground. The group gathered around them to observe these artifacts more closely. "So we're going to train. Intensively."
"How can we surpass three Kage-level ninjas within a few days?" his puppeteer-counterpart asked. "Not to sound pessimistic, but we have a lot to learn in a very short time."
"You're right," the teenager conceded. "But we have the Kage Bunshin to correct that. Naruko and your other counterpart already know it, and I have explained the technique to Sasori a short while ago. He will teach it to you, my puppeteer-me."
"But why will it help us?" Naruko asked. "Solid clones are helpful, and they make good adversaries for spars, but beyond that…"
Kazama smiled. "The Kage Bunshin was originally a spying tool, because of one of its main features. Each time a shadow clone is dissipated, its memories return to the original. If a thousand clones practice a hundred jutsu during a whole week, you will absorb all their knowledge and experience."
"This is fantastic!" his female-self jumped on place. "With our chakra reserves, just imagine how many clones we can make!"
Chibaku nodded in understanding. "It will be an amazing shortcut."
The teenager nodded, before locking eyes with Kitsune. "Since you have some difficulties with the technique, I will teach you first some exercises to increase your chakra control." The boy nodded silently.
"And now, let's open the scrolls," Kazama declared. "I only read a small part of the White Tiger, and only about some wind techniques."
They all focused on the paper, once the vessel's chakra revealed the words on the paper. Kazama began to read out loud the beginning of the blue one.
"The Azure Dragon is the bringer of the spring, that ends the winter to give life to the flowers. It is the one that protects the East, the keeper of the forests.
To follow the Azure Dragon, is to follow the path of precision. He who commands the lightning must be fast and deadly, and strike to kill. The thunder doesn't announce where it will attack, but its judgment is absolute, and death always the punishment of he who defies the storm.
The Azure Dragon is the master of energy. The Azure Dragon is powerful, but its judgment extreme. It kills but does not spare. The Azure Dragon mustn't use its power until its opponent is beyond salvation. If it wants to let its enemy lives for another day, the Azure Dragon redirects the energy of the adversary against him, preserving its own forces for the killing blow.
The Azure Dragon believes in power above all else. It is the king of all kings, the one that no one should defy without being prepared to pay the ultimate price. Only those who are ready to be killed should have the right to take a life. Power is the essence of lightning, the sword of heaven. The Azure Dragon knows power is ephemeral and respects those who want to use it to achieve their vision, but loathes those who seek it for its own sake.
He who follows the Azure Dragon seeks to live through fear, fear of its power and its judgment. He who follows the Azure Dragon knows the terror of the people is what keep their greed in check, and they act only when their pride overrules their prudence. He whose rages are rare but deadly will prevent a thousand battles, because his enemies will not attack him, and leave him in peace."
"What is this gibberish?" Naruko asked. "I don't understand how this crap is supposed to help us train."
"On the contrary, I think it is important to listen," the blonde puppeteer said. "This prologue gives us a philosophy and wisdom."
"Exactly," Sasori stated. "The Uzumaki had five different schools of warriors, five branches, that each followed a particular way of life. They conceived things like war, peace, and power differently. Also, I noticed the premises of a fighting style within this text."
"A style that redirects the opponent's energy against him, and that is focused on precise, deadly blows?" Kitsune asked.
"Yes," he confirmed, before facing the teenager. "Please, continue to read, Kazama-san."
He obeyed, and took the red scroll.
"The Vermillion Bird is the bringer of the summer, that ends the spring to make the flowers grow beyond birth. It is the one that protects the South, the keeper of the skies.
To follow the Vermillion Bird is to follow the path of destruction. He who commands the fire must be powerful and remorseless, and hit to wound. The blaze doesn't fight, it consumes everything on its path, and its hunger is only satisfied once the whole world is devoured.
The Vermillion Bird is the master of strength. The Vermillion Bird strikes to harm, and its advance cannot be stopped. The Vermillion Bird must break its opponent with strong and vicious blows. If it wants to protect itself, the Vermilion Bird counters strength with strength, and transforms the offense into defense, making attack the best of all shields.
The Vermillion Bird believes in will above all else. It is the determined ruler, the one that no one should try to stop. Only those who are ready to fail in their goal should have the right to hinder the dreams of others. Will is the essence of fire, the drive of the inferno. The Vermillion Bird knows will is precious and respects those who struggle to achieve their goal, but loathes those who back down before the unknown and cower in fear of the obstacles.
He who follows the Vermillion Bird seeks to live through war, a war that will allow him to gain the resources he needs. He who follows the Vermillion Bird knows that peace weaken the warriors, and that only his strength keeps his opponents from increasing their own. He who fights a hundred battles will win a thousand wars, because he will learn from his mistakes and keep his edge."
He posed the scroll on the ground and took the white one.
"The White Tiger is the bringer of the autumn, that ends the summer to leave life the time to prepare for colder days. It is the one that protects the West, the keeper of the plains.
To follow the White Tiger is to follow the path of speed. He who commands the wind must be evasive and unrelenting, and attack all the time. The gust is always blowing, and its constant assault can make even the greatest mountain bow before the skies.
The White Tiger is the master of breath. The White Tiger always surprise, and its blows are numerous. The White Tiger must use its power to continue to strike, until its enemy falls. If it wants to protect himself, the White Tiger avoids and evades, staying untouchable but never backing down, even before stronger than itself.
The White Tiger believes in freedom above all else. It is the lone beast, the one that no one should try to restrain. Only those who are ready to be stripped of their freewill should have the right to enslave others. Freedom is the essence of the wind, the state of the skies. The White Tiger knows freedom is a constant fight and respects those who try to preserve their own, but loathes those who let their captors rule with impunity.
He who follows the White Tiger seeks to live through trickery, a trickery that will allow him to redirect his enemy's efforts toward another menace. He who follows the White Tiger knows that peace never lasts, and that cunning is what protects him from destruction. He who manipulates his adversaries into infighting will be left alone forever, as ruinous wars will happen between others."
Then, it was the turn of the black scroll.
"The Black Tortoise is the bringer of the winter, that ends the autumn to make all creatures rest before the awakening. It is the one that protects the North, the keeper of the seas.
To follow the Black Tortoise is to follow the path of resistance. He who commands the water must be swift and enduring, and counter all strikes. The waves face all obstacles and survive to all attacks, changing form to continue advancing.
The Black Tortoise is the master of adaptation. The Black Tortoise waits for the opponent to come, to better counter his blows. The Black Tortoise must always pare, to better outlast. If it wants to attack, the Black Tortoise prepares and traps, being as patient as a calm river and as treacherous as a tempest, to exploit all weaknesses.
The Black Tortoise believes in change above all else. It is the moving animal, the one that no one should try to immobilize. Only those who have achieved perfection should have the right to halt evolution. Change is the essence of the water, the drive of the sea. The Black Tortoise knows change is important and respects those who try to reshape the world, but loathes those who hinder transformations out of fear of what they do not control.
He who follows the Black Tortoise seeks to rule through preparation, as preparations will make him foresee and prevent all problems. He who follows the Black Tortoise knows that dangers are always present, and that anticipation will preserve him from everything. He who is always on the defensive will survive until the twilight of the world, as his shield refines itself as time will pass."
Finally, he read the prologue of the golden scroll.
"The Golden Unicorn is the foundation of all seasons, that maintains the universal order by existing and nurturing life. It is the one that protects the Center, the keeper of the mountains.
To follow the Golden Unicorn is to follow the path of survival. He who commands the earth must be determined and stubborn, and endure all blows. The land resists all assaults and stays still, healing from its wounds over the years.
The Golden Unicorn is the master of stance. The Golden Unicorn is slow, taking its time to inflict crushing damages upon he who defies the rock. The Golden Unicorn must not avoid and must not flinch, to better prepare. If it wants to attack, the Golden Unicorn waits before striking, like a landslide tearing down everything in its path.
The Golden Unicorn believes in stability above all else. It is the eternal pillar, the one that no ones should try to break. Only those who do not want to rule should have to right to take down the natural order. Stability is the essence of earth, the foundation of the world. The Golden Unicorn knows stability is fragile, and respects those who strive to create a better law, but loathes those who do not try to fight crime out of indifference.
He who follows the Golden Unicorn seeks to live through harmony, an harmony that will keep him and his allies united against a common foe. He who follows the Golden Unicorn knows that being divided makes another's conquest easier, while solidarity enforces an everlasting peace. He who form bonds with others will preserve is own existence, as he will support and be supported."
Kazama posed it. "The rest of the scrolls is organized the same way: a taijutsu section, a ninjutsu section, a genjutsu section, a fuuinjutsu section, a specialized section, unique to each scroll, and a coded version which I haven't been able to decipher." Yet, he added inwardly. The language was simply incomprehensible, but the vessel was determined to crack the coding one day. "As you have understood, they are all linked to a single affinity."
"Affinity?" Naruko raised an eyebrow.
"One's chakra is familiar with one element," Sasori explained. "Fire, Water, Earth, Wind and Lightning. If you have an affinity for Wind, you will master aerial techniques faster and use them more easily." He took one piece of paper from his sleeves, and gave it to the werefox-Naruto. "Blood tests have showed me the affinity of most of you, but since you're the latest arrived... channel chakra in your fingers."
The boy obeyed, and the paper was cut in half. "You're Wind natured," the puppeteer stated. "Like everyone except Naruko."
"Hey, what am I?" the girl asked.
"For some reason, you are oriented toward Water," Sasori stated. "You probably inherited that from your mother Kushina."
"So I will be able to create tsunamis?" Naruko squealed. "AWESOME!"
"Not yet," Kazama said, before smiling. "But in time, why not?"
"Yeah," she stood up. "Everyone, cower in fear of the almighty ruler of the sea, NARUKO 'TSUNAMI' UZUMAKI!"
The reactions to her outburst were mixed, going from cheers, to laughs, to sighs.
"Anyway," Sasori declared, "all of us will create as many clones as possible and train in specific techniques, chosen by I and Kazama-san. I will take you," he eyed his apprentice, "a bit away, so we can create stronger puppets in peace. I have a few ideas to counter the Madara Trio's intangibility."
"It promises to be great," the boy whispered.
"I," Kazama gazed at Naruko and Kitsune, "will be your tutor. We will go near the river, to train discreetly."
The two smiled. "Okay, Naruto-sensei," Naruko smirked cheerfully. "I want to train until I can't stand on my legs."
He nodded, but then noticed Sasori looking at him. "Can I do something for you?"
"Yes," the puppeteer said. "Can we talk in private, for a short while?"
The youngster frowned. "Why not?" they walked away, reaching a nearly river. "What do you want?"
"Your narration of your last battle with Zabuza ticked me off," he declared. "I want to test something. Do you have the time for a taijutsu spar?"
"Of course," he took a defensive stance. "It is about my fighting style, isn't it?" Kazama guessed.
"Yes," the missing-nin confirmed, before attacking.
The fight… went badly for the teenager. He parried most of the man's attacks at the beginning, and almost hit him once or twice, but then he got defeated. In a fast gesture, Sasori kicked the blonde's legs before punching him in the face with impressive strength, making Kazama fall on the ground. The redhead frowned, before helping the vessel rising up.
"I'm sure of it, now," he muttered. "Who taught you this style?"
"Ero-Sennin… I mean, Jiraiya," Kazama corrected himself. After refusing to adopt him, his godfather didn't even deserve a nickname anymore.
Sasori locked eyes with the teenager. "I have a truth to tell you… one that you won't appreciate."
Kazama scowled. "I suck at taijutsu, isn't it?"
"Worse," the man said. "I think your training has been sabotaged."
The teenager's eyes widened.
"Your style is full of flaws," Sasori explained bluntly. "It is effective, but an adversary experienced in taijutsu can notice glaring openings if he takes the time to observe it. There is a distinct pattern of attack, your legs are easy targets, you do not fully protect your head, you cannot defend yourself against a speed demon… you can face chuunin and most jounin, but you're a joke against someone that knows the basics of this style, or is sufficiently experienced to understand it mid-battle." He sighed. "Honestly, it's a miracle you're still alive."
Kazama stayed silent. How can I be so weak? Jiraiya spend three years teaching me thi- he paled, as a terrifying possibility came to his mind. "Sasori… are you implying that Jiraiya taught me a flawed style on purpose?"
"Yes."
The teenager didn't move. He didn't flinch. He didn't think. A few strays memories rushed through his mind, of his time with the toad Sannin, of three long wasted years.
And then, a rasengan shattered the ground. And another. And another, for five minutes. He continued to destroy the clearing, until his tiredness overcame his rage. The vessel was standing in the middle of a crater, Sasori gazing at him without showing any emotion. The puppeteer had stayed silent during the whole tantrum.
Having calmed himself, the teenager remembered the words within the blue scroll. "He who commands the lightning must be fast and deadly, and strike to kill," he muttered. "Sasori."
"Yes?"
"As soon as we can, we will find Jiraiya," the teenager's eyes were filled with hatred. "I will talk to him. And he will need a good excuse."
Sakura
Sasuke's sharingan activated, allowing him to avoid all of Naruto's kunai. The Uchiha's counterattack was a lot more violent. "Fire Release: Dragon's Breath!" The boy unleashed a cone of fire from his mouth.
His adversary put his hands together. "Wind Release: Aerial Wall!" A strong draft circled him, deflecting the fire on his sides and shielding him from the heat.
"Very good," their teacher praised them, while Sakura and her clones clapped their hands. It was the fifth match today, and the constant threat of injury had finally awakened Sasuke's bloodline, much to his pleasure. In fact, he had never seemed as happy as he was today.
"Now, the next match: Sakura and Naruto, ninjutsu only."
Sasuke retired beside Kakashi, and the girl took his place. Her clones exploded in a puff of smoke, and their memories were immediately assimilated by the original. They had practiced the techniques Kakashi-sensei had taught her the entire day. They were only two, but were versatile and hard to perform for a debutant.
The SCATM (aka Shadow Clone Advanced Training Method) was truly efficient, and a formidable shortcut. The cursed fox had least one advantage…
Naruto slightly bowed before her. "Let's make this battle memorable, Sakura-chan."
She smiled. "I intend to, Naruto-kun." It was perhaps the time to impress her crush. The girl had never mustered the courage to ask the blonde out, but with the current situation, she had the feeling she would soon…
"I won't go easy on you," he said.
"I know." A fact she secretly hated. Sakura had hoped Naruto would be a bit more gentleman-like with her.
"Begin!" Kakashi shouted.
"Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm!" the blonde boy clapped his hands together, and a powerful gale blew toward Sakura.
"Water Release: Tornado of Water!" a spinning vortex of liquid, formed from the water her clones had gathered in a gourd, shielded her from the wind. The girl struggled to maintain the protection until the wind ceased to menace her, but Naruto fortunately ended his attack before her defense could crumble. She decided to attack. "Water Release: Violent Water Wave!" Water gushed out from the girl's mouth like a waterfall toward Naruto.
"Wind Release: Beast Tearing Palm!" Summoning chakra in his right hand, the blonde swung his arm. A wave of air sliced the jet of water, but did not reach Sakura. Naruto gritted his teeth. "Not strong enough."
"Yet," Kakashi said. "You still lack in speed. By repeating the same moves again and again, your wind will soon be able to cut everything, even rock."
"Well, at least it didn't cut me in half!" Sakura shouted. "How was I, Kakashi-sensei?" she asked him, even thought the real target of the question was Naruto.
"Very good!" He smiled. "Your progress is impressive. At this rate, I'm going to teach you a B-Rank ninjutsu within the next days."
She jumped on place. "I'm the best!"
"Anyway," her sensei declared. "It's almost night. We stop for today. Tomorrow, we will practice these techniques again, until you're able to use them to their full potential."
The students nodded, and began to walk on the way of Tazuna's house. Naruto approached her, and she did her best to maintain a confident façade. "You were great, Sakura-chan," he declared, smiling. "Way better than me!"
She smirked. "Thank you. You were good too." Damn, that was lame. She had to ask him out…
"Not as much as you," he said. "I must say that at first, I thought you would simply be a dead-weight, but now, we're going to be a great team."
Her blood froze, but she managed to hide it. Her crush had considered her a dropout? It was only now than he viewed her as competent? And his next words… she was simply a teammate for him. Sakura forced herself to smile, this smile her mother taught her to present every time she was unhappy. "You see, I'm going to be the first female Hokage ever!"
"You will have to defeat me first!" he shouted amically. "From now on, we're rival for the title!"
Yes… rivals, the girl thought. Not friends. Her mother's last words filled her mind.
Who would love a monster?
The Girl, Naruko
She got her wish. Naruko's clones vanished, and she attacked.
"Water Release: Snake's Mouth!" She transformed the water from the nearly river into a liquid snake, which tried to bite Naruto-sensei, who only moved his hands.
"Wind Release: Heat Wave!" A powerful hot gust of wind evaporated the snake, before sending Naruko flying away and crash on the grass. She rose up immediately, and the boss looked at her with concern. "Are you hurt?" he asked.
"Not at all," the girl replied. "I have recuperated from my injuries, so it's no big deal. The furball has at least one use." A big fox roared in the back of her mind. She ignored it, beginning another jutsu. "Water Release: Stormy Blockade."
Normally, this technique transformed the humidity in the air into concentrated liquid, but since Naruko did not have enough experience, she used the river again, forming a stream that flooded the clearing. Unfortunately, her teacher used his Heat Wave again, and pushed the water back, much to her unhappiness.
"Your techniques are good, but too predictable," Naruto-sensei stated. "Try to push your opponent toward the water, so you can enchain them faster and reduce your adversary's movements."
"Okay," the girl said. "Next time, I will use my clones to push my enemies near a water source."
The teenager nodded. "Remember the scroll: water doesn't charge, it traps." He turned around, and eyed his foxy-double, who was still trying to reach the top of a tree, without much success. "Are you still having problems?"
"The voices are disturbing me," the boy answered, as he stared at the shaft. "They are shouting in my mind, undoing my focus."
"Then tell them it's for their own good," Naruto-sensei put a palm on his shoulder. "They will die with you, if you stay weak."
"They say they're strong enough," Kitsune replied, holding his head with his hands. "They say I must rely on them, since they are me."
"Well," Naruko frowned, "these voices are stupid. They got crushed by Amaterasu, and without Kakashi's help they would have lost against Kisame! They are strong, but not invincible!" She hated to see someone being kept on leash like a dog, and especially by disembodied sounds.
"She's right," her teacher declared. "You have to develop your own abilities if you want to survive against these enemies."
He stayed silent a moment. "The voices say that exceptionally, they will agree, as long as it is about destructive techniques."
"And about chakra control?"
"They say I don't need it. They can 'fix' that problem anytime they want."
Naruto-sensei looked thoughtful. "So that's why you were able to walk on water during your fight with Kisame… your inner demons were controlling your chakra…"
Kitsune nodded. "But they say they can't help with the Kage Bunshin. Apparently, when I duplicate myself, I create doubles of them too, and without enough chakra to support them, the clones implode."
"Well, crap," the boss scowled. "Since your werefox is strong on his own, why not teach you a few jutsu that could be used with it too? Like fire and wind techniques? So many options…"
"Why not wait for tomorrow?" his male student asked. "The night is near."
"Ah…" he trailed off, before observing the sky. "You're unfortunately right. We'll continue the next day."
The Puppeteer, Chibaku
"How was your training today?" Kazama asked him, as soon as they entered the house.
"It was… terrifying," the blonde puppeteer finally answered, and Sasori smirked… the creepy bastard.
They had gone on a search of material, aka hunting human beings to transform them into living puppets. Gato's thugs, mostly, the sort of guys nobody was going to miss. Chibaku had done that many times, so it was something habitual…
But this one day, Sasori had forced him to help with the procedure.
Trying to dispel the disturbing memories of the last instants of these poor brigands, the boy decided to drop the subject. "And yours?"
"Useful," the teenager declared. "First of all, we've all begun to practice some techniques, two from each scroll, and I have begun to practice the Azure Dragon's taijutsu style." The blonde puppeteer briefly noticed a glint of scorn within Kazama's eyes. "I think that our accelerated training will allow us to master these jutsu within the three days before Kisame's team assault the bridge."
"Good," Sasori stated. "Our counter to the Madara Trio's intangibility will also be finished quickly. However, it's still a prototype, so I can't affirm it will work."
Kabuto will be avenged, Chibaku promised. His assassins will pay.
"Well, it's better than nothing," the teenager replied. They reached the dinning room, where everyone was waiting for them. The table was laid, and the trio sat. Soon, Tsunami came with the food and the rest of her family.
The dinner went well. Sasuke was smirking and talking with Chibaku's normal and werefox selves, while Naruko was talking with Sakura, about something girly, if their squeals were of any indication. Inari was sulking silently on a corner of the table, eying the blonde girl. Tazuna and Sasori were debating about the best way to construct bridges. Kakashi… was reading porn, much to Tsunami's obvious displeasure.
The blonde puppeteer wondered how the man could eat while reading… and then realized that the book was there to hide his mouth! The jerk had taken his mask off, but was dead-set on keeping his whole face a mystery of the age.
Tsunami's interactions with his older counterpart were truly funny. The woman was gazing at him sideway, and the young ninja was completely oblivious of her crush. Chibaku could understand the lady's actions. Her prey was handsome, cute, friendly, charismatic, and polite. A true gentleman. If he was more… decisive, he would be a lady-killer in no time.
When she got up to bring the dessert, Chibaku approached Kazama. "When are you going to make a pass at our hostess?"
He locked eyes with him, frowning questioningly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Damn, you can't be that dense," the blonde puppeteer whispered. "Just look at her, she's has been eying you since the beginning of the dinner. She's hitting on you."
"She's more than ten years older than I am," the teenager pointed out. "And looks doesn't equal to attraction."
Chbaku rolled his eyes. "You can't be that naïve…and who cares about her age? Experienced women are always out for young blood. She's a babe. You're a handsome teenager with hormones. Get to work."
"And what am I supposed to tell her?" he replied, slightly blushing.
The puppeteer rolled his eyes. "Let me guess, you have never been on a date with a girl before?"
The teenager's obvious embarrassment gave him his needed answer. The boy put his hands together. He called that the 'Sasori's lecture' pose. "Compliment her. Praise her courage, her looks, whatever. Not too much, but enough to flatter her. Ask questions about her personally, show interest in her. Believe me, these tricks always work."
"And may I ask how do you know that?"
Chibaku grinned sheepishly. "Well, one of Sasori's agents detailed them to me, after his last 'researches', if you see what I mean…"
It was the worst day in my entire life: the day you developed a perverted streak.
I already told you, I'm not a pervert.
The Tailed Beast snorted. Still in denial, as I see…
Ignoring the creature, the blonde puppeteer noticed Tsunami returning, and stared at his counterpart. "Make me proud. Make us all proud."
"What are you talking about?" the woman asked as she sat beside Kazama, giving him her best smile.
"Well…"
"We were talking about you," the puppeteer interrupted the teenager. "Kazama-san was amazed by your cooking skills."
"Really?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes," Naruto's double nodded vehemently. "I really like it. In fact, I wonder where you learnt to prepare these wonderful meals."
Tsunami reddened at the compliment. "It is natural, but I think I began to…"
And the conversation continued, much to Chibaku's amusement. While he knew Tsunami won't score with the teenager, since they would probably leave this world soon, it was still fun to see that attraction could blossom everywhere, even if it was temporary.
He quickly noticed someone else observing the scene. Hidden behind his Icha Icha book, Kakashi Hatake was eying the pair with interest. Chibaku approached him. "Happy of what you see?"
The jounin sniffed. "Youngsters grow up so fast nowadays. It's like an adaptation of a scene from Icha Icha."
"That smut?" the puppeteer asked. "Life doesn't work like that. They won't go from 'flirting' to 'get to bed' in one night. It's a slow process, guy."
"I know," he said. "I did date a girl before, someone called Rin. I even considered marrying her."
"What happened?"
"An old enemy of mine murdered her to break me down." The statement was laced with a faint taint of sadness. "Her death is one of the many failures in my life."
"… I see," the puppeteer said lamely. "Sorry to have reopened an old wound."
"You couldn't know," he replied reassuringly. "I only hope you and your friends won't suffer as I had."
"We're a band of outcasts, with varying consequences," Chibaku stated. "We have all experienced pain. That's what made us strong."
"Kitsune's case blows this reasoning up," Kakashi said. "Pain always breaks. How you reconstruct yourself after hardships is what truly matters. Some people became better persons after suffering, some go mad, some abandon morality for a destructive lifestyle, and some never fully recover. I'm a typical example of the last category." He eyed the werefox in human form. "Friends are here to help with this reconstruction. If you hadn't come to his help, he might have evolved into a monster."
"That's why we will always be there for him," Chibaku declared.
The man nodded. "It's strange to talk psychology at a dinner."
"Yes," the boy replied, as he began to eat again. "Let's return to the our two lovebirds… I have an idea to help him subtly."
The jounin stared at him questioningly, and Chibaku explained him his plan.
The Normal
"And then I punched him in the jaws," Sasuke explained. "After he fell, I kicked him in the balls so hard that his grandchildren must have felt it."
"But then I rose up and gave him a good head butt in the torso," Naruto continued, explaining how his first fight with Sasuke went. "Then, the battle evolved into a savage brawl."
"I don't even remember how we ended bruised on the ground, but we did," the Uchiha said, as he drank another glass. "After that… we 'connected', or something."
"You mean, you became friends?" Kitsune asked.
"Yep," Naruto said. "We took the habitude of hanging out together. Mostly to train, but sometimes to eat or to do other activities." He smirked. "In fact, I was the only guy willing to pass the day with him!"
"Yeah, I needed a punching bag, and I found one. How could I have wasted it?" the Uchiha deadpanned. "That, and you weren't a loud fan girl." He scowled. "You can't know how MUCH I hate these creatures."
"Hey, I had some back in the Academy," the blonde boy pointed out.
"But they abandoned you once you graduated. They're still after me."
"Say that to Hinata," he replied. "Man, she's stalking me, and it is creepy."
Sasuke snorted, and Kitsune seemed to… stiffen. Naruto eyed him. "Did I say something wrong?"
He shook his head. "No."
"It's bad to lie," the genin replied. "What's the problem?"
He seemed really uncomfortable with the question. "A friend of I was called Hinata."
"Was?" the two ninjas blinked. "Is she dead?"
"Yes," the strange boy muttered. "I don't want to talk about it."
At that moment, Naruto felt a string of sympathy for the boy. Having been an orphan, he knew how much friends were precious. He didn't know what he would act if Sasuke ever died, but he had the feeling it wouldn't be pretty.
The Uchiha gazed at Kitsune with a nostalgic look. "It's a thing we have in common." He joined his fingers together. Naruto recognized the gesture: the 'I must avenge my clan' pose. "I have, too, lost people close to me."
The young boy nodded, before smiling sadly. "At least they continue to live, within our hearts."
"Yes," the Uchiha replied. "They're always with us. Always."
The Traveler, Kazama
"I must say, Kazama-san," Tsunami began, "that I still don't understand why you're helping the Land of Waves. We don't have anything to give you."
Kazama smirked. "Simply seeing you people happy is enough, Tsunami-san. Your pretty smile is the only payment I need."
She blushed a bit, before smiling at him. "Is that what you want?"
"Yes," he said. It was still strange, flirting with a woman probably fifteen years older than him. Not that he really complained. Tsunami was beautiful and kind, and in a way, Kazama was happy to receive such attention. It's just that he had no idea how to react to her advances. His only romantic interactions with the other gender were with Sakura, who generally punched him as soon as he opened his mouth.
Now that someone seemed genuinely interested in him…
"Kazama-san," Tsunami whispered. "How old are you?"
Crap. "Eighteen," he lied. In fact, he was sixteen, but really looked older than he was. He didn't know how Tsunami would react if she learn she was hitting on a minor.
She simply nodded, believing him. "Just what I expected."
"And you?" he asked.
"Twenty-nine," Tsunami answered. She was younger than Kazama had expected. "It's not really polite to ask a lady her age."
"It's just that you look in your early twenties," the teenager replied.
"Thank you." she smiled. "Are you hitting on me, by the way?"
"Well, I was wondering the same thing, since I noticed you looking at me sideways," he pointed out, and she reddened a bit. "Is there another reason?" He was now sure that his puppeteer-self's intuitions weren't exact. Too bad.
"I'm…" Tsunami muttered. "The way you act… it's like my dead husband…"
Kazama's blood froze. She sees Kaiza in me? "Who was he?" the teenager asked, even if he was already aware of the answer.
"A hero," the woman answered. "He helped people without expecting something in return, and sacrificed his life for the Land of Waves. You have both the same personality."
"But I'm not him," he pointed out.
"No," she agreed, drinking a glass. "No, you aren't."
A beautiful music interrupted the awkward silence.
"They were two, two lovebirds! A boy and a girl! The girl wanted to jump the boy's bones, but he was too shy! He should praise her, talk to her… What?" Chibaku asked, as Kazama glared at him. "What's wrong with singing a serenade at this exact moment?"
Kakashi nodded, continuing playing banjo… Wait, how did he get one in the first place? the teenager wondered. "It's free-speech. It's totally not a subtle and highly efficient plot to help you woo a girl far older than you, Kazama-san."
Kazama resisted the urge to face palm.
"Anyway," the blonde puppeteer claimed, "let's return to our musical show. He should flatter her, tell her how much he loved her…"
"Living in the past is not a good thing, Tsunami-san," Kazama whispered to the woman, ignoring the two idiots singing beside him, who were completely misinterpreting the conversation. "I have made this mistake for a long time, and now I realize how much it was a loss of time."
She frowned at him angrily. "What is wrong with remembering about the dead?"
"It's wrong when they stop you from moving on," he answered. "The memories of the deceased is important, but they shouldn't govern our life." Images of Sasuke filled the teenager's mind. "A friend of I made the same error, and it ruined his life. I am not talking about forgetting Kaiza completely, but you shouldn't project him onto others. Otherwise, you are doomed to loneliness, since your husband was unique. You won't find someone exactly like him."
She stayed silent a moment, before nodding. "You're right."
"He should take her hand, take her hand…"
"Thanks you for your advice," Tsunami said.
Kazama smiled. "It was a pleasure. I hope you find love again, one day."
"He should kiss her, kiss her, kiss her…"
"I think you have more chances than I, Kazama-san," she replied, standing up. "With a little more attitude, you could be a real lady-killer."
He grinned sheepishly. "I haven't had much such success, yet."
"Then consider me as your first conquest," Tsunami declared. She approached her mouth… and kissed him on the forehead. The blushing boy heard the two singers squeal behind him.
"Once you really hit eighteen," she said, making Kazama redden even more. "Come to see me. I will be happy to give you a chance." She left the dinning room, the stare of the teenager following her.
But then the two idiots ruined his mood…
"You see, my plan worked!"
Infuriated, Kazama glanced sideways at the duo… and dropped his jaw.
"Oh great god of romance," Kakashi declared, kneeling before Chibaku, "your humble servant begs you to teach him the secret of your success." He showed him the banjo. "Please, accept this object, as an offering."
"Yes!" the boy shouted. "I already have one follower! Horny teenagers and closet perverts, worship me! Honor my name, and you shall obtain what you want: a reluctant kiss!"
Kazama sighed. "You're driving me insane. Both of you."
The Girl, Naruko
The view was beautiful. Thousand of stars were illuminating the sky, and the moon was completely full. Light and darkness were cohabiting in a perfect harmony.
"That's great," Naruko declared, as she sat to observe the celestial luminaries. She and Sakura were on the roof of the house, alone.
"Wonderful," her newest friend agreed. "When I was young, the old man would come and explain me where to look for the constellations. I have always been fascinated by the sky."
"It's incredible," the demon vessel said, "to think that the stars were already looking at the first man, and would continue to observe the earth long after we're gone. Thinking like that makes us look like mayflies."
Sakura smiled. "But life is beautiful because it ends one day."
"Yes," the other girl replied. "Eternity just seems plain boring to me."
A light crossed the skies. Naruko got up. "A falling star!" she stared at Sakura. "Have you made a wish?"
She nodded. "And you?"
The demon vessel smiled. "I asked for a perfect future, for all of us."
"That's… that's a good wish," the girl said lamely. "Mine is a bit more selfish."
Naruko raised her eyebrows questioningly.
"I wished for my mother to come back."
The blonde girl paled, before sitting beside Sakura. "How was she?"
"She was kind and gentle," the girl whispered sadly. "She was always there to console me after the other children had bullied me. She was always there to help me, to comfort me when I was afraid."
"How did she die?" Naruko asked.
"Disease," the girl said, looking at the sky. "One day, she became ill, and her condition worsened over a month, until she died."
"That's sad," the blonde muttered. "I never had any parents, so I can't really understand what you went through, but… I can imagine. You have my support."
"Thanks." She seemed happy… and then turned around. Naruko imitated her.
Inari was looking at them with a strange face.
"Sorry to have interrupted you," he said. "I was going there to watch the sky, and I… overheard… your conversation." He sat between them.
"I didn't know what you went through," the boy declared to Naruko. "So excuse me for my words, last time."
"No big deal," she replied, wavering her hand. "I'm not bitter."
He smiled a bit, and stared at the moon. "I have too lost a parent, so I know your pain."
The girls eyed him.
"He wasn't my father by blood, but it didn't matter," he explained. "He was a fisherman named Kaiza. He saved me from drowning, and I don't know how, but we went along well. He quickly became a member of the family, and married mom." His expression turned into one of sadness. "When Gato came, Kaiza tried to stop him. Gato captured him and killed him in public."
Sakura put a hand on his shoulder. "Gato will pay for what he had done to your countrymen."
"He can't be stopped," Inari said. "I thought heroes existed in this world, saving people from monsters… but in real life, the monsters are the winners."
Naruko bit her lower lip, and rose up. She had reached a decision. "Inari," she told him, "when we will have finished our training, we will attack Gato. Not by creating a bridge, but by bringing him to the justice of Waves' citizens. And we will succeed."
He stared at her with skepticism. "How can you be so confident?"
"Because," Naruko explained, "Heroes do exist, and I intend to prove it!"
The Deceiver, Tsukiyomi
In a large town, somewhere on the continent, a deicide had occurred, within a tower under the rain. The night had been bloody, and a god had fallen.
The ruler of Amegakure, Pain, had died, and nobody was aware of his disappearance. The bodies he had been controlling ceased to function the second Nagato's heart stopped beating. His loyal teammate, Konan, was lying beside his corpse, having used the last seconds of her life to crush the Rinnegan, preventing their killers from obtaining the precious bloodline.
Two masked men looked emotionlessly at the former leaders of Rain. They were disappointed and restless. "So," Amaterasu said, "this is what my Nagato could have been if the Rinnegan had matured under his possession… I expected more."
Tsukiyomi shook his head, putting his foot on the handicapped man's head. "The Statue of the Outer Path destroyed much of his abilities, and without me to guide him, he never achieved true greatness. My Nagato was a force to be reckoned with, not this… indignity."
"But now we're sure that our counterpart died in this world at some point," his counterpart stated. "Probably against the Yondaime Hokage, since the Kyuubi still attacked Konoha."
Tsukiyomi nodded. He glanced sideways at a materializing Susanoo. "Have you located them?"
"No," he answered. "They are not in Konoha. I visited every damn street, read the mind of everyone worth interrogating, searched for their chakra everywhere… and nothing." He briefly eyed the two cadavers. "It seems that gruesome killings are a specialty of ours. Are they these kids from the Akatsuki?"
"Yes," Tsukiyomi confirmed. "Yahiko died in this world, and the duo took over Amegakure after killing Hanzo. We tried to speak with them, and once they answered our questions and refused our propositions of alliance, a fight erupted… which they lost."
"I see…" Susanoo whispered. "What about our counterpart?"
"They never met him," Amaterasu explained. "We didn't sense him warping space, because, well, he's probably dead. Since these two confirmed the attack of the Kyuubi, then it was probably against the Yondaime Hokage."
The fallen Uchiha blinked. "A pity. But it was expected. This man was the only ninja strong enough to rival us after the Shodaime's death. You said they refused an alliance?"
Tsukiyomi chuckled. "They were uninterested. Of course, when we decided that a second set of Rinnegan was too precious to be wasted, we attacked… but that chick," he eyed Konan, "destroyed the eyes before we could extract them. Unfortunately, they hadn't gathered the criminal Akatsuki yet, so we do not have any servant to recruit."
Susanoo snorted. "So our problems are still the same? We're only three, and we have no idea where our targets are. Until the traveler uses his power to alter space, we can't track him down."
Amaterasu nodded. "If only we had spies…" he trailed off.
Suddenly, an idea came to Tsukiyomi's mind. The Uchiha stared at a window, where he could see the clouded skies. The rain was falling, crying over the world's eternal suffering.
The heavens were mourning their messiah.
"I almost forgot how much the rain loved this country," he whispered.
"It is washing away mankind's sins," Susanoo said, eying the sky. "Rivers of blood will be purified, before the battle begins anew."
"But no matter how much heavens will cry," Amaterasu declared, staring at the clouds too, "war will never end. Conflict is the essence of humanity, the primal instinct, that exists within all of us."
Tsukiyomi chuckled. "Be wary, Hashirama must be glaring at you from the afterlife."
"He was a great man," the warrior said. "He had a conviction and the will to defend it, even if it turned out to be false. Peace is an illusion, as man can only strive through war and competition."
"Explain," Tsukiyomi asked.
"People have desires. They want to eat, they want pleasures, riches or power. But there isn't enough resources on this earth to satisfy everyone. So men have to compete for them. The winners are the strongest, the most cunning, the most determined, and they improve humanity as a whole, by culling the weak."
The deceiver observed him for a moment. "It's a thing we do not agree on."
"Then in what do you believe?"
"In inequality," he declared. "People follow a herd mentality. They obey because they fear what they don't control; they try to stop the future, to stop change. The masses only live to lift up the few exceptional men or women that decide to make their own choices. You, me, the Shodaime, Naruto Uzumaki… we are all exceptional, because we resisted the tyranny of the many and struggled to shape the world into our image. But there is so many obstacles… so many talents are wasted because they don't have proper guides. That's why prodigies should help each other, instead of competing. Enslaving the many will give us the resources we need, and peace will finally be achieved under the rule of the few."
Amaterasu chuckled, before looking at Susanoo. "And you?"
"I believe in fate," the ninja with the Rinnegan replied. "I believe that man does not control his future, and that our destiny is decided at birth. History repeats itself, like an endless cycle, and multiple prophesies have been realized. The Uchiha's fate is to destroy the Senju, and I will accomplish it. Izuna prophesized I would bring forth an everlasting peace and a true utopia, a world where those destined to rule will shape a golden age, and that future, I promised to realize it on my brother's deathbed."
An uneasy silence filled the room. "Izuna… I wonder if in one alternate universe, our counterpart saved him from the claws of death," Amaterasu whispered.
"I hope to see him again one day," Tsukiyomi declared. "In this world or in the next."
"With the Uzumaki's help," Susanoo said, "this hope can become a reality."
"Yes," the deceiver replied, looking at the clouds that would help them locate Uzumaki Naruto. "We will see Izuna again, and realize his dreams… even if we have to burn the world trying."
Author's Notes:
The Tsunami scene was added for the sake of humor. Don't think it has any importance.
Write you soon.
