The Root of Darkness Chapter 10: Angel's Breath, a Naruto + Harry Potter Crossover fanfic

Author's Note: I've decided to put off the decision until Mito turns 1 or 2 just so that I can continue to write in the meantime. Thank you for those who have suggested characters including Erza Scarlet from Fairy Tail and Risa from High school DXD. I hope the skills that Shiro gains in this chapter aren't too overpowered but let me know if you think they are. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day.

I left Kushina and Mito after Kushina and I briefly chatted using sign language so we didn't wake her. It was mostly me just congratulating Kushina on becoming a parent and her being irritated that she had to stay in the hospital. I think she suffers from acute boredom when she can't move around and the only reason she hadn't made a break for it is the sleeping bundle of joy on her chest. Saying my goodbyes I quietly opened the door and left her behind.

The sky was beginning to darken by the time I left the hospital so I decided to make my way back to base. Walking through the maze like tunnels was still confusing but I made it back to my room easily enough. Seeing that Saiko wasn't there I shrugged and letting myself rise into the air with chakra strings I began to work on my lightning manipulation. That was how Saiko found me later that night. Hovering in the air as lightning danced between my fingers.

"Come on down from there brat." Hello to you to sensei. I thought as she snapped at me as soon as she appeared. Never the less I dropped back down to the ground to stand before her.

"Hello sensei. What are we working on today?" I politely inquired.

"I didn't come here to train you today. I came here to inform you that after tomorrow morning I'll be gone for about a week." My head tilted at that. Minato and his team were leaving for a week tomorrow as well. Were we going on a big offensive at the moment? I thought about asking but in the end I decided against it. If we were it was probably a strictly need to know basis and I didn't need to know.

"I see. Please stay safe Saiko." She ruffled my hair in response.

"Keep up your training while I'm gone and for the next week or so you shouldn't have any missions. Help Kushina settle into motherhood, alright?" I noticed that she didn't try to tempt fate at all. Ninja can be extremely superstitious sometimes.

"I will." She left and I settled back into my previous position. The night seemed to pass slowly and as I left the base the next day I could feel a mass of ninja leaving Konoha. I guess it is a big offensive then I mused as I headed towards the hospital. When I got there I found out that Kushina had checked herself and Mito out earlier in the morning.

I guess she couldn't take laying around for that long. I'm actually surprised she lasted the entire night. Checking both her home and Ichiraku's restaurant revealed no Kushina or Mito. I did order 3 bowls of miso ramen to go and slipped them into my inventory when no one was looking. Kushina will appreciate it after a whole day without her drug of choice. The only other place I could think to look would be Mikoto's place so I made my way over there.

The guards at the gate waved me on through without a hassle and as I got closer to Mikoto's home I felt the familiar sun that is Kushina within. I knocked politely on the door and waited. Soon enough it opened to reveal Itachi.

"Hello Itachi I haven't seen you in a while. We'll have to catch up in a bit but first could you take me to Kushina?"

"Hello Shiro, Kushina is in the living room with my mother. Follow me." I took off my sandals and followed him to the living room. As we got closer I could hear excited talking and baby babble that everyone does when confronted with a baby.

As we entered the living room I saw Kushina and Mikoto sitting side by side with Mito fussing in Kushina's arms. I made my way over and Kushina looked up with a wide smile on her face. "Shiro come meet Mito for the first time."

She looked back down and carefully moved her tiny hand back and forth in a wave. "Mito this is your big brother Shiro. He might seem cold and collected but he's really a sweetie on the inside. Say hi." She moves Mito's hand again. Is that how others see me? I wondered.

Dropping down on one knee I let Mito's other hand grasp my finger. "Pleased to meet you Mito." Emerald eyes met unfocused blue eyes as I noted how similar she looked to Kushina. She began to fuss again and I carefully removed my finger from her grasp.

"Hello Mikoto." I greeted her as it would have been quite rude to ignore her in her own house. She returned my greeting with a smile and I turned my attention back to Kushina.

"I was looking for you this morning but I couldn't find you for a bit. I did pick up something for you though." Pulling the 3 miso ramen bowls out of my inventory I set them on the table in front of her. She was looking at them and literally crying tears of happiness.

Pulling me into a one arm hug she then began to devour them with gusto. "See what I mean Mito. Your big brother is the best person in the whole wide world." Out of the corner of my eye I could see Mikoto's face was in open shock and her eyes were set in the infamous red of the sharingan. Looking around at Itachi his eyes were also widened.

What? What happened? All I did was… oh. I used my inventory in front of them. I felt like smacking myself. Saiko's words of guarding information come back to me and I shudder at how my next training session with her will be like.

"Ah, wow how did those bowls get there? Haha." Wow that sounded horrible. Kushina even looked up from her ramen at that, a most heinous thing to ignore ramen, and caught sight of Mikoto's eyes.

"Oi, Mikoto put those things away. It's a bloodline secret." Almost instantly her eyes returned to normal and she stood up from the couch to bow at me.

"I apologize for my rudeness. Taking the ramen out of thin air startled me but I should not have pried like I did." Ah, how did this go again?

I stood up to my full height. "There is no need to apologize I performed an unknown technique within your house and you had every right to investigate. I simply ask that you do not pry into the affairs of my bloodline." Like that's going to not happen. Ninja are a truly curious bunch and I did the equivalent of dangling a steak in front of a starving dog. This was just the polite talk that came after revealing a portion of information and then getting caught seeking answers.

Even Kushina let out a snort at that then went back to eating. Mikoto straightened from her bow and gave me a demure smile. "Of course. Why don't you and Itachi go and play while Kushina and I chat for a bit."

"Of course." I'll leave you to pry Kushina for information then. I turned to Itachi and we left to go to the garden. We sat down underneath one of the trees facing each other.

"So you were gone for a while. Where did you go?" I started playing with a piece of grass as I spoke.

Itachi's normally impassive face hardened and he gained a far off look in his eyes. It took him a while before he began to speak and even when he did it sounded slightly haunted.

"My father brought me near the frontlines for my birthday." I started at that. Wow what a shitty birthday present. I hope he's okay but he really doesn't look it. "He brought me to several of the main collection points for bodies and told me that this was the harsh world that we lived in. He told me I had to be strong. Strong enough to prevent this from happening to my clan, my family. They looked like hills from the distance until you got close enough to smell them. Flies were everywhere and you could smell the rotting or burning flesh as they set fire to some piles."

Father of the year right here. God Itachi is almost ready to enroll into the academy and I have no doubt that given a few years he will be a force to be reckoned with. Showing him that this early in his life could have broken him. What where you doing?

"He shouldn't have done that Itachi. I'm sorry." His onyx eyes focus on me as I said that.

"You've seen something similar or you've killed before haven't you?" I wanted to curse. Sometimes being around a genius is difficult. Try to skirt around it.

"What makes you think that?"

"You didn't flinch at all from my description at all. How old were you when you first killed?" I'm not even sure I can talk about it with the seal. I'll give it a try I guess.

"Three."

"I see." He closes his eyes and leans back against the tree. Silence descends between us and I let him take the time to gather his thoughts. Opening his eyes and focusing on me he begins to talk.

"I will seek peace now. War is something that no one should have to experience."

I tilt my head at that. "What do you mean peace and how will you seek it?"

"I would see an end to all conflict and I do not know how I will achieve it." His stare is intense and I have to take a moment to focus my thoughts.

"All conflict? Would you have an end to every argument between people or would this be an end to the violence between villages?" He seems confused and I continue. "If you seek to end every conflict you will need to take away a part of what makes us human. Our anger, our jealousy and all the other negative emotions that are a part of us." The widening of his eyes reveals that he had not considered this.

"If you do this you will not be creating peace but the enslavement of free will and people will always oppose something like that. If on the other hand you seek to end the conflicts between the villages you will need something."

"What would I need?" He asked.

"Power." I said plainly. "Enough power to make the kages stop and listen for fear of angering you. Enough that the daimyos keep their armies at home. Enough that everyone will take notice of you and listen when you talk." He's listening closely now.

"Only then once people fear you enough not to go against you will you be able to set the framework for lasting peace. With enough power you could get the kages to sit down and talk instead of threaten or coerce one another. As they talk they could grow to trust one another and through trust comes friendship. From friendship comes alliances and from that comes comradery." I give him a small smile. "Once you are comrades you have no reason to fight."

I could see his mind at work as he processed that. "There will still be conflict after we are comrades though." I nod at that.

"Even in peace there will always be conflict because not everyone is created equal and not everyone has the same level of power. That power can mean money, influence or even personal might but unless everyone is equal there will still be conflict."

He closes his eyes again. "You make it sound as though peace is impossible."

I shake my head even if he can't see it. "True peace is impossible but if you aim for peace between the villages as we unite together to make the world a better place." I smile. "That is possible."

"You sound as though you've thought about this a lot." His eyes are still closed.

"I never sleep so I have a lot of time to think." I don't mind telling him that. It's not information that can really be used against me and I think he knows the importance of secrets.

"Do you aim for peace as well then?"

I thought about it for a while before answering. "I aim to allow those I care for experience peace. I don't dream big enough to try for world peace. Without sleep I don't really dream at all actually." I don't tell him I'd let the rest of the world burn to allow them their peace. I don't think that's something he'd like to hear.

Silence fell between us as we both got lost in our thoughts. Finally Itachi spoke up again. "Thank you for showing me a path to peace even if you don't walk it."

"Just because I don't walk in front doesn't mean I won't walk behind." He gave a thoughtful nod at that and I heard Kushina shouting my name from inside the house. "If you'll excuse me my sensei seems to be calling for me. Have a pleasant day Itachi." I left him there under the shade of the tree and together with Kushina we went back to her house.

For the next week I spent most of my time at Kushina's house either training or watching over Mito. I don't think Kushina has ever been more grateful of my ability to not sleep than she was that week. Mito constantly woke up in the middle of the night and while most of the time I was able to get her back to sleep sometimes she needed food which meant that I had to wake Kushina up. At the end of the first week she was looking a little haggard even with my help.

I was sitting on the couch with Mito in my arms, rocking her gently, when I heard the door open. Kushina was cleaning dishes when it happened and with a yell of, "Minato," she ran for the door. I stood up carefully and made my way over. Kushina was hugging Minato, who looked sad, while Rin and Kakashi stood behind him. Kakashi had a bandage over his left eye and both of them looked like they were injured.

Where was Obito? Minato caught sight of me standing there holding Mito and gently disengaging with his wife he walked over. "Hey there baby girl, how are you? It's me, your father." He made to hold her and I carefully placed her into his arms. "I've missed both you and your mother so much." Giving her a kiss on her brow and a real one to Kushina he motioned us over to the living room area.

Once everyone was situated he began to explain what happened. He told us about how he had to leave the team with Kakashi in charge, Kakashi flinched at that, and how he had gone on to reinforce a vulnerable portion of the frontline. How he had singlehandedly slaughtered over a 1000 enemy ninja by himself with the use of his recently completed jutsu and how he had to rescue a battered Rin and Kakashi from enemy forces.

Kakashi took over at that point and told us about his disastrous first mission in command and how Rin had been kidnapped and they had been forced to rescue her. That Obito had died a hero and given Kakashi his newly awakened sharingan as he died. As they battled enemy forces Minato had arrived from his slaughter and saved them then went on to complete their objective to destroy Kannabi Bridge.

I could tell they were leaving out quite a bit of their story but I didn't ask for more details. Just talking about it seemed like it was causing both Rin and Kakashi pain. Both of them were enveloped into a hug by Kushina as the story ended. They both seemed to draw back from it at first and then like a dam bursting they both started crying on her shoulders.

I frowned when a chakra signal started pulsing outside the house. It meant I had to return to base. Minato looked at me and nodded. I quietly slipped out of the house and left them to their grief. The Root agent motioned me to follow him and I did so. They brought me a portion of the base that I had never been before and as the wall slid down it revealed a hospital. Why… Saiko!

I rushed over to her bed. Her brown hair was matted and dirty while her black eyes focused on me as I neared. She was missing her left arm and right leg at the knee. "Saiko!" She chuckled.

"Don't be so worried brat. It's just an arm and a leg. You should see what I did to the one who did this to me." I felt fury before it was washed away by calm.

"Please don't joke about this sensei."

Here voice became as sharp as a blade. "How else am I supposed to deal with this?" She stopped and then sighed. "It's fine Shiro. My kunoichi days are over and there is nothing anyone can do about it." I could.

The words thundered in my skull and no matter what I did they stayed at the forefront of my mind. I could save her. I knew my power was able to develop powers outside the norm but I had refrained from doing so. I was already abnormal enough and I didn't want that to change from abnormal to threat. If I became perceived as a threat by the village I had no chance of surviving yet I could save her.

I could create a healing power to bring back her limbs and heal her wounds. A healing power wouldn't be taken as threatening would it? I tried to rationalize it in my mind. I could then go on to save other loyal ninja of Konoha. My importance would increase and I would be allowed more leeway and possibly skills in exchange. An increased importance means greater enemies a traitorous part of my mind said. Stay abnormal and increase your ability to fight before you do this. It's not like she's dying she just lost 2 limbs. I slapped that portion back down.

Testing the waters I thought of a power to restore people to full health and a screen popped up before me.

Ding! The skill you want to learn requires the following:

INT 100

WIS 80

I wanted to bite my lips at that. It would require 62 of my stored 70 points to achieve. People would also take note of such a large jump in chakra as well. There would be repercussions of this I thought. Serious ones that I have no ability to predict. She's one of the few people here you try to care about a portion of my mind spoke up. If you don't do this than what are you but an emotionless killing machine? Who would want to stand by such a thing?

That decided it. I liked human interaction even if I couldn't feel regular emotions. It kept me sane enough to face every day. Without it I would be lost. I put the points in.

"Arghhh." I fell to the ground clutching my head as I felt my mind readjusting itself. My thoughts sped up and it felt like a fog had been lifted.

Ding!

For reaching 100 INT Lesser Chakra Pool has evolved into Chakra Pool.

Chakra Pool (Passive) LVL MAX: Grants a 20% increase in Chakra capacity

Random ability rolled for. Random ability gained.

Photographic Memory (Passive) LVL MAX: Grants exactly what it sounds like. Now you no longer need to worry about forgetting anything.

I struggled through the pain and waived off the glowing green hands of the medics trying to help me. Saiko's voice sounded worried but I didn't pay attention to it. Now for the skill.

Ding!

Learned Angel's Breath ( S+ Rank Active(10,000(8,125))) LVL 1 – 0%

Restores the target to optimal health. Cures wounds and regrows limbs. Cannot be used more than 3 times per day. Cannot be used on self.

Decreases casting time by 1%

A stream of hand signs flowed into my head. The skill used 240 hand signs in total so an eternity to cast in combat. I shook my head to clear it and checked my stats.

Name: Shiro

Age: 4 year - 0 months

Title: Rookie Root Shinobi

LVL: 14 - 4% to next LVL

HP: 690/690

Chakra: 22,806/22,806

Elemental Affinity: Water

STR: 79(86.9)

VIT: 69

END: 75

DEX: 92(101.2)

INT: 100(104)

WIS: 80(83.2)

LCK: 15

Points: 8

Money: 74,540

I stood up and ignored the hovering medics and the wide eyed stares from the rest of the room. What they've never seen a guy double his chakra pool in a second? I focused on Saiko who was giving me worried looks.

"Saiko I know how to give you back your limbs. Do I have your permission to perform the jutsu on you?" If anything the surrounding ninja's eyes widened even more. Most of them in disbelief. I saw a flurry of emotions pass over Saiko's face before it settled on hope.

"Do it. If you're joking though I'll kill you." I nod and then begin. The surrounding medics backed up as I used more than a third of my chakra to power the jutsu.

"Angel's Breath." The power flowed out of me and into Saiko. Her back arched and the surrounding ninja watched in amazement as bone protruded from her severed arm and leg. It grew until a completely skeletal arm and leg were connected to her body. Then flesh began to grow outwards from the bone until Saiko had 4 fully functioning limbs again.

As soon as the flow of chakra stopped medics rushed Saiko with their hands glowing green. I could see the look of amazement on her face as she tested her newly grown limbs and it made me feel good before I was once more calm. All around me I heard mutters of 'Kai' and people pinching themselves to dispel any possible genjutsu that was cast on them. Struggling through the medics Saiko lifted me off the ground and then she was hugging the life out of me.

"Thank you." I heard her whisper through the commotion around us. It was worth it I thought in that moment. Her next words did fill me with a certain amount of dread. "Lord Danzo and Lord Hokage must be informed immediately. You,' she grabbed one of the medics still analyzing her, 'come with us."

We all flickered out of the room and reappeared kneeling in front of Lord Danzo. He looked up and I could see him glance at me. "Report."

The medic kneeling next to me began talking. "Shiro was admitted to the hospital ward to see Saiko who had been maimed in the line of duty. Upon talking to her briefly he suddenly screamed in agony and fell to the ground clutching his head. Upon his recovery he had somehow doubled his amount of chakra and claimed to be able to restore Saiko's limbs if she would let him."

Lord Danzo's eye flickered to the fully limbed Saiko and I could see the amazement in his eye before it disappeared. "Upon consenting Shiro utilized his unknown jutsu and as you can see she appears to have 4 fully functioning limbs." Lord Danzo leaned back in his chair processing this then he turned to me.

"Shiro, could you replicate this technique."

"I feel that I can Lord Danzo. I must however state that I feel as though I could only perform it twice more today no matter how much chakra I use."

"Do you know why this is?" He inquired?

"I apologize Lord Danzo I do not."

"Everyone put on their masks. We are going to the Hokage's office." We did so and then flickered after him. Lord Danzo didn't seem to feel like he could wait for an appointment. Flaring his chakra in an unknown signal the office window of the Hokage's tower opened and we all jumped inside.

Minato was in the office as well as Lord Hokage. Saiko, the medic and I kneeled as Lord Danzo walked forward. "Seal the office for a possible S rank secret." I felt a trickle of sweat run down my back at that. Immediately, Minato and the 4 ANBU jumped out of the window which then slammed shut and seals flared up on every surface.

"What is it that requires these precautions?" Lord Danzo motioned to the medic and he recited everything that he had told Lord Danzo as well as my response to his questions.

"I see." The seals on the room deactivated and an ANBU appeared before Lord Hokage. "Bring me a volunteer ANBU who has recently been maimed in the line of duty." The ANBU bowed and disappeared. They reappeared carrying a ninja with no legs. "Leave us." The seals on the office went back up.

"How may I serve Lord Hokage?" He bowed as best he could.

"There is an experimental jutsu that could possibly give you back your legs. If you volunteer this jutsu will be cast on you. There will be no dishonor if you do not accept. What is your intention?"

There was longing and hope in his voice when he spoke next. "I accept." Lord Hokage nodded and motioned me to step forward. I had him take off his pants so they wouldn't interfere when his legs were growing and cast the jutsu.

"Angel's Breath." Chakra flowed out of me into the man and once more limbs were grown before our eyes. As soon as the jutsu was finished the man was cautiously testing out his new legs. Finding them satisfactory he stood and as he did he bowed deeply as tears ran down his face.

"Thank you for allowing me to serve once more." Standing tall once more he knelt before the Lord Hokage. "I live to serve Lord Hokage."

"Rise and put on some pants first." That drew a weak laugh from the man and he complied quickly. Lord Hokage turned back to me. "You can do one more today correct?"

"I could Lord Hokage. I would need to regain some chakra first though."

"Do so." He commanded and I sat down in a meditative state. I came out of it when I had around 10k of chakra available. Before me was a horribly burned woman. The left side of her was charred and she was missing an eye. "Heal her."

I proceeded to do so. "Angel's Breath." Her flesh reformed and an eye grew from her socket. I vaguely heard her gasp in astonishment. Everything felt fuzzy and woozy. Steady hands caught me as I started to fall.

"My apologies Lord Hokage I do not feel well." As soon as I said that I fell unconscious. The last thing I say was a green glow hovering in front of my face.