LC; Ooookay! On to my story!
Naruto; Quick question, why do you write so much?
LC; Because I like writing and reading!
Sasuke; How do you update so quickly though? It only takes on average thirty days for you!
LC; Well, I guess It's because writing a chapter isn't all that hard.
Naruto; Yeah right, if it wasn't hard everyone would update every day!
LC; I've just never had trouble writing something with over 3000 words!
Sasuke; You are one of the seven wonders of the world alright.
Naruto; Truly a subject for further research.
Sasuke; You'd need a grant the size of Rushmore to get me to study that! *Points to LC who is eating a lolipop*
LC; To my story now!
Disclaimer; I do not own Naruto! I do own the Hirogane clan and their bloodline though. Trade?
Chapter 9; Black cloaks, red clouds, and fancy rings!
Rain fell in a steady drizzle. The outlook of the view from the window was gloomy, as though Death's hand shadowed the land.
Looking out the window was a blue haired woman, a paper flower tucked over one ear. She was beautiful, called by her people an angel of their god.
Behind her approached an orange haired man with eyes like a disturbed lake. He stood by her side for a moment, neither saying a word.
"Soon peace will reign." Pein, Ame's God stated.
"Something has upset the balance." Konan said to her friend.
"We will wait for a few years yet before taking the tailed beasts." Pein said suddenly, after a long silence.
"Soon, when we have the power, this world will know pain." Konan bowed her head in acceptance as her once friend turned and left her alone again.
"Nagato, what happened to our dream?" A single silver tear fell down her cheek.
"It's always raining." She stated, before turning to follow her leader out the door.
Kakuzu could honestly say he couldn't have been paired with a more annoying man than Hidan, a jashinist.
He watched from the side lines as the foolish man used his ceremonial jutsu to sacrifice a young woman who hadn't brought him his drink fast enough.
"Hurry up Hidan, your wasting time." The woman was as good as dead anyway.
"Fuck you cock sucker!" The blackened and bloody man cursed in his direction.
"Jashin-sama needs a sacrifice daily, otherwise he will be angry with me!" Kakuzu wasn't a religious man by any stretch of the word, but he could at least acknowledge their presence.
He knew that the things that happened in nature were the work of the Gods, and he knew they existed.
He just chose to ignore them. That however, was impossible with such a zealot on his team. He could not say Jashin was a figment of his imagination, as that so called God was the one who granted his teammate immortality.
That didn't mean it was any less annoying when Hidan toyed with his sacrifices for so long. Time was money!
"Damn that hurts like a bitch!" The foul mothed heathen cussed, clutching his bleeding neck as he had finished the job of the impudent woman.
"Then why do you do it?" Kakuzu countered, using a few of his threads to sew the idiotic worshipper back together again.
They kept up their annoying banter until they reached the outskirts of the town they were in. Hidan felt as though he were being watched and turned quickly to see a girl ducking back into the alley.
Normally he would ignore something like this but something felt different today.
Besides, taking his time to do things annoyed the hell out of Kakuzu and he enjoyed doing that since he couldn't just sacrifice him to Jashin.
Blatantly ignoring the shouts of his partner he walked to the alley and stepped just inside. A girl about the age of seven was hiding behind a bin, reading a very familiar book.
Hidan was momentarily stunned when he realized it was a Jashin bible and checked his pockets to confirm he still had his.
Luckily for the girl he did.
"You worship Jashin-sama too don't you?" Hidan looked up at the girl who was shyly peeking out at him from behind the bin again.
She was holding the book close to her heart.
"It's always good to see fellow worshippers of Jashin-sama!" He greeted her, in a much better mood now that he knew she shared his faith.
"I saw you give Jashin-sama a sacrifice earlier, you did it beautifully and I'm sure he was pleased." She said kindly.
"What is your weapon and how many have you sacrificed?" Hidan asked her.
"I use a tanto and I have sacrificed five men and two women." She answered, revealing her weapon previously hidden beneath her short kimono.
"What's your name brat?" Hidan asked.
"Rukia." She answered, giving him a slight bow.
"I am Hidan, level ten servant under lord Jashin and your fucking superior! I have sacrificed four hundred and fifty seven lives to Jashin-sama and have been blessed with immortality that I might serve him forever." He said, pronouncing his official title among fellow Jashinists.
Rukia gasped as she met for the first time her hero. He was even braver and more fiersome than she had anticipated.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Hidan-sempai." She said with an even deeper bow than before.
"Whatever kid, don't give your pleasantries to me, give them to Jashin for allowing us to meet." He instructed.
Just outside the alley, Kakuzu watched with a growing impatience stifled by the sudden feeling of intrusion.
He felt like he was imposing on something sacred and felt as though the very gods knew it. Slowly, he backed away from the alley where the two jashinists spoke to wait by the gate.
"Rukia, if you stay in this town you won't get very many sacrifices, let alone get stronger." Hidan had never gone so long without cursing, he found it to be quite the acomplishment.
"I know this Hidan-sama, but without money, I lack the necessary supplies." She said sadly. She could only get sacrifices every now and again and if she didn't get ten by her next birthday Jashin-sama would be angry.
"Then you will travel and be trained by me till I deem you worthy of fighting for Jashin-sama, or dying for him." Hidan said dismissively, turning to leave the alley.
She was stunned by his offer but followed closely, eager to learn from someone so close to Jashin himself as to gain immortality.
Back with Naru and Haradai!
The creature that had been watching them left after the last carriage had passed. It trotted to an over-turned log, his den, where he could report his findings.
Keisuke Urahara looked up from the pitiful meat before him to see his companion Ururu returning from surveying the road.
"Master, a carravan of the Hirogane clan led by a young woman and man has just passed." The creature's fur began to shed away and it began to grow in size.
After reaching the size of a normal human child, it rose on it's hind legs and finished the transformation.
Keisuke had found this young girl scavenging in th trash one faithful day and had taken her in, training her in the strange power within her.
For she had the power to transform into a dark, shadow like creature.
"Things will be getting interesting." Keisuke turned slightly to see a third figure previously hidden by the shadows as she now stepped forth.
She was old, ancient some might say, and had seen the first of the hidden village's founding.
Her name was Yuzu Higurashi, the next to last of the future seeing clan. She and her descendant, Youruichi, were the last.
Behind her stood the three year old boy, Youruichi himself.
Yuzu was ancient, her once black satin hair now a graceful grey. The wrinkles adorning her face were many but gentle, as though reluctant to marr what was once beautiful.
In the child one could more prominently see the clan's features. His hair was black as coal, but his eyes a purer white than those of the Hyuga.
"I see that young woman doing many things. She will be important to this world's future." The old woman stated, her blind eyes as perceptive as ever when faced with the happenings of what was to be.
Naru felt a chill race up and down her spine but payed it no heed other than to mentally scan the area they were travelling through.
Why did she have such a feeling of foreboding?
Haradai glanced over to his mistress and knew despite her calm demeanor she was on guard. He tried to stretch his senses, hoping to find what she was worried about, but couldn't locate anything.
"Naru-sama, will we be taking the direct path or changing direction at the interpass?" He asked, trying to discern her plan.
"I think it would be safer if we took a boat at a nearby port. It would be faster as well since we wouldn't have to cut through any of the smaller countries to get back home." She informed him.
She had counted the money and it would be enough for all of them on a small barge. She was glad Uzu no Sato had once been so rich a city.
They reached the port city of Kazukuro and restocked on their supplies as well as purchased their board on a bardge heading to the Unnamed lands.
Naru looked at the planned out route the ship was going to take and nodded as it was only a day's trip to the Uzu mountain range.
While paying for their tickets, Naru accidently brushed against a man with silver hair wearing a black cloak with red clouds.
"Excuse me, my fault." She apologized swiftly, upon seeing his angered face. She could see Haradai placing a hand on his blade out of the corner of her eye and knew he'd have her back if trouble broke out.
"Hidan-sempai, the ship will leave in the morning!" Came the cry of a young girl. Naru took this as an oppurtunity to get away while the man was distracted.
"Fucking brat, I was going to sacrifice this fucking stupid girl to Jashin for bumping into me!" He growled to Rukia, who bowed her head in shame and asked for forgiveness.
"I'm sorry Hidan-sempai." Naru went to the outskirts of the town, where everyone would be camping out to wait for their barge tomorrow.
"Naru-sama, there was something about that man." Haradai trailed off, not sure what he meant and not wanting to sound foolish.
"I know, I felt it too." She replied quietly.
That night the clan slept peacefully. Some of the younger men were standing guard and Naru was meant to be resting, but she lay awake.
She couldn't explain it but she had trouble sleeping whe not in Uzu no Sato. Otherwise she would think of things needing to be done, problems yet to be solved, and the people under her care.
Finally giving up on slumber with a sigh, she rose from her pallet and left the tent wearing only her yukata.
Once outside she stretched her arms to their fullest and took a deep breath of the late night air.
"Couldn't sleep?" Naru nearly jumped a mile and turned to look at Haradai who had been standing watch outside her tent.
She hadn't known he was there, otherwise she would have dressed instead of walking out in only a yukata.
"Nope, I'm too excited!" She proclaimed.
"You should rest though." He protested. He knew she hadn't been sleeping lately and he was getting a little worried about her.
"But I'm not tired." She whined.
"Naru-sama, I respect you and I swore to serve you, but I'd prefer if I served you while fully rested." He said warningly, pointing to the tent like she was a small child.
"Your no fun." She pouted, going back into the tent and laying on the pallet.
The next morning the entire Hirogane clan and their escorts boarded an impressive vessal destined for the Unnamed lands.
"Uzumaki-sama, after we depart the ship how far is Uzu no Sato?" Takishi asked wearily as he felt the boat rocking on the waves.
He had never been much of a sea-faring man.
"A day's journey to the Uzu mountains, from there only a few hours if we take the shortcut." She told him.
He thanked her and went to where his clansmen were resting to inform them how close they were to sanctuary.
Before the ship departed, three more people boarded. Kakuzu tuned everything the two jashinists talked about as he walked up the gang plank.
One of his hearts was getting too old and he would have to replace it soon with someone who had a water affinity's heart.
He was wondering where he would find a shinobi with a water affinity in the Unnamed lands when he saw a young blonde woman near the railings.
He would have passed right over her if not for the fact she appeared to be holding an orb of water between her hands.
He smirked as he found his next target. She was young and looked healthy, her's would be a good heart.
He would take it the first time the oppurtunity presented itself. His eyes turned to the young kenjutsu user standing next to her. He read a word on his lips.
'Naru-sama, so this young lady has a vassel. He might be a problem.' He shrugged before figuring he would leave the man for Hidan and that Rukia brat.
He had to keep the two heathen god worshippers happy after all.
Two children wouldn't be missed after all.
That night again Naru left her bed to take a walk. This time Haradai did not protest and merely followed her to the deck.
It was a beautiful night, the stars shone brightly, reflecting off the calm waters. Naru leaned over the prow of the ship and took a deep breath of the sea air.
With her hair down and loose blowing all around her Haradai thought she looked more gorgeous than the entire night.
"Naru-sama, at this rate we'll arrive two days before the deadline." He said suddenly, stepping up next to her and carelessly placing a hand on the hilt of his sword.
He had seen the minute seazing of her muscles and knew someone was watching them. He could sense three chakras, two appeared very strong.
"I can't wait to see everyone again." She said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. 3.
"Don't you think it's a beautiful night?" He asked. 2.
"It's too bad that soon it will be spoiled." 1.
"Sorry to interrupt you two love birds." Naru waved her hand and an army of water senbon appeared around the intruders.
Haradai's blade was in his hands and he was ready to fight for his mistress.
"I don't suppose we could settle this peacefully?" Naru said hopefully, momentarily lowering her arms and her weapons.
"Sorry, but I need to replace one of my hearts and your it." Kakuze said, his threads snaking from his body, sneaking towards the young nin.
"One of your hearts?" Naru repeated, suddenly feeling slightly sick.
"I have five, and whenever one is damaged or aged, I replace it with another." He explained, pointing at her.
"You have my new heart." Hidan and Rukia charged Haradai, ready to sacrifice him to their lord.
"In the name of Jashin-sama, die!" Rukia cried childishly, thrusting with her tanto.
Naru sent her water at the threads on the deck creeping toward her and used a wind jutsu to freeze the waters, trapping the thread.
"Haradai, make short work of them!" She ordered before moving to her own battle. Before the sun would rise, this deck would be washed in blood.
Back in Uzu no Sato, The Beach.
Isamu looked up from where he had been fishing on a canoe over the water as he felt a sudden chill in the air.
He looked out over the ocean and could somehow feel something bad about to happen.
"Isamu, is something wrong?" He looked over to Kisuke who had joined him on the surface. They had found a secret entrance to the city and had been using it since lady Uzumaki wasn't there to make the water dome.
Of course, with Isamu's gills and fins, he didn't need to use the secret entrance, he just did it for Kisuke's sake.
The kid was only ten after all.
"I feel like something bad is about to happen at sea." He said cryptically, turning to look over the deceptively calm waters.
It was late, soon the Sun would rise. They knew they were expected by Iruka-sensei and Anko-sensei to return to the city before the Sun rose, but they had to investigate.
"I'll go back to the city to get Anko-sensei and Iruka-sensei. You swim out to see what's up." Kisuke said, leaping from the boat and swimming for shore.
"Don't do anything stupid Isamu-baka!" He called over his shoulder.
"No promises." The quiet boy murmured back. He concentrated on giving his gills chakra to get them working before diving into the cold waters below him.
He just hoped he wasn't too late.
Back on the Ship, Haradai's Fight.
He could feel Shupaname warning him against being struck by their blades. At first he thought maybe they were covered in poison, but that wasn't right.
Still though, it wasn't too hard to use his superior speed to out maneuver these two.
He would later feel bad about killing a child but he had to keep his mistress safe. These two were his enemy and he had to follow orders so he could protect his mistress.
"Damnit hold still!" The one named Hidan cursed, swinging his scythe at him only for Haradai to duck below it and deliver a crushing blow to his ribs.
"Fuck you, that hurts!" The man screeched, holding his side with one arm.
Haradai could only stare in shock as the man held what should have been an instant killing attack.
There was no way that man could have survived that blow.
He stopped his track of thoughts immediatly as he deflected a blow from the girl before pushing her over the edge of the rails.
He shivered at her screams as she fell to the waves below. Yep, he would most definitely be having nightmares tonight.
"Rukia!" Hidan cried, running to the edge and seeing the girl floating below him with blood flowing from a head wound.
"Damn you I'll send you to Jashin!" He swore. He usually liked taking his time but he couldn't leave Rukia to drown down there.
As much as he would hate to admit it, the girl's bright attitude and loyalty to Jashin had grown on him. He wouldn't let her die yet.
"Your next! Crescent Moon Slash!" His opponent yelled, seeming to split into two. One to attack high the other to attack low.
Unable to tell which was the original Hidan swung at both of them. Though he nearly lost his head, he got the blood needed for his ritual.
"How are you still alive?" He questioned in disgust and amazement as the man's head hung by a thread.
"Jashin-sama has blessed me and now he will curse you!" Hidan vowed, his form already changing to his ritual form and his foot drawing the symbol.
"Now die!" He dug a kunai out of his sleeve and pierced himself in the stomach, creating what should have been a fatal wound.
Haradai tried to figure out his logic when suddenly his very guts began screaming in agony.
"HARADAI!"
THIS IS THE END OF THE CHAPTER AND I AM THE LINE!
LC; Okay, very good. Very nice.
Naruto; What was with the random people and the shape shifting girl?
LC; They'll be important later on.
Sasuke; You killed Haradai? I thought he was going to be Naru's love interest?
LC; Well maybe I changed my mind.
