Chapter 10: Lurking in the Darkness
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or HSDK, or any characters or logos associated with either series. This fan story is made for fun, not profit.
The masters and disciples of Konoha stood in lines on either side of the main meeting hall as they prepared for the big announcement, having been called together by the elder that morning. While waiting for the old man to make an appearance, the group went about business as usual. Kakashi read one of his books while Asuma and Kurenai talked amongst themselves. Lee and Guy were standing off to the side practicing their punching motions together, Jiraiya and Tsunade remained quiet, and the remaining students talked amongst each other.
"I can't believe we're finally getting another student in this dump!" Naruto smiled goofily.
Ino nodded in agreement. "I hear it's a girl… That'll be a nice change considering that Sakura and I have been the only female disciples for years now."
Choji wore a positive expression. "I think it'll be good to balance out the boy-girl ratio a bit."
"I actually would have preferred another guy." Sakura added with a playful smile. "After all, there hasn't been any good-looking boys around her since Sasuke decided to get up and leave."
Shikamaru sighed wearily. "Personally speaking, I don't like being compared to him, so I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult."
"Certainly sounded like an insult…" his overweight friend prodded him with a shrug.
"Definitely an insult!" Konoha's number one disciple squinted and stuck his tongue out at the others, his perpetual smile faltering for a moment as he thought of his lost friend. He looked at the floor for a moment and exhaled deeply. "Come to think of it, I hope this new girl's as good a fighter as Sasuke… She's definitely got a big name to life up to."
Sakura stroked her chin thoughtfully at the notion, her face displaying signs of distress as both good and bad memories came to her. Realizing her own vulnerabilities, she quickly shook off the feeling of sadness and spoke up. "It's not really valid to make judgments on people beforehand.
The blonde-haired girl looked amused by the statement. "It's not likely this new girl's tougher than him, especially since he was a shoe-in to be the top disciple before abandoning the dojo."
Naruto frowned again, only this time it looked more like a pout. "What do you mean by that? He might have been the strongest, but that doesn't mean he didn't have some stiff competition. You remember how angry he was when I tied with him in our sparring matches."
"Anyone can get lucky once and a while, and I'm almost certain the masters would've picked him to inherit their techniques if he hadn't left the dojo." Ino replied with a playful snicker. "Besides, punching you is like hitting a piece of lead. You've got more endurance than a tank."
"I didn't like Sasuke much, but I'll be he first one to admit that he was the strongest disciple out of all of us." The genius added grudgingly.
The dojo's top student looked genuinely annoyed. "I still can't help but wonder where what happened to him. If Sasuke were still around, he'd have crushed these Team Hebi guys by now."
"Hell yeah!" Sakura pumped his fist with a confident expression. "Whoever this Devil Fist guy is wouldn't stand a chance against Sasuke."
Choji shook out his long shaggy hair and scratched his head with a puzzled expression. "Didn't this conversation start with us wondering about the new girl? Will someone please tell me how it became the Sasuke fan club meeting?"
Although some of the others looked slightly annoyed by his comment, the group fell silent at the sound of footsteps coming from the stairwell. Naruto and his fellow disciples scrambled to stand besides their respective masters as they took their places on each side of the hall, the assembled fighters focusing their attention on the old man as he entered the hall. Dressed in his typical red and white robes, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained calm and reserved. He held a wooden staff loosely in his left hand and was smoking a pipe. Upon reaching the base of the stairs, he used his opposite hand to remove the pipe from his mouth and stowed it away in his robes.
The elder cleared his throat and closed his eyes for a moment before nodding to his assembled followers. "As you well know, we will be joined by a new student this morning. I trust that all students and faculty are prepared to treat her with due respect and welcome her into our extended family with open arms."
Naruto placed his hand behind his head and squinted. "Hey, old man… It's been awhile since we've gotten a new disciple here at the dojo. Care to tell us why she's dropping in like this, or do we have to start guessing."
"Ugh, why does he always have to run his mouth like that?" Sakura muttered as she looked away and internally slapped her forehead.
Sarutobi shrugged off of the boy's outburst, having expected no less from his top disciple. "It is true that the masters of Konoha Dojo typically train those students who come from families with a history of producing highly skilled martial artists. This is after all the majority of you became students and masters within the walls of this very school… This new student is no different!"
Jiraiya noticed the old man's posturing and decided to speak up. "She's actually a member of the Hyuga Clan, an old prestigious family whose ancestors helped found the dojo. Normally we wouldn't accept students of her age group, but since her father personally made the request and paid in advance, we are willing to make an exception."
"What the crazy pervert means to say is that we've running a little low on cash, and the girl's father gave us a great offer!" Anko simplified the previous statement with an obnoxious laugh, causing some of the older masters to look at her disdainfully. She glanced around and let out an irritable groan. "Don't look at me like that, you know it's true!"
"Blunt as usual, I see… Like master like student." Tsunade commented passively.
"That old psychopath was sadistic and cruel, but he taught me pretty well as far as fighting goes." The younger woman replied with a smarmy look. "As a martial artist he was definitely one of the best, but he failed miserably as a person."
Kakashi pocketed his perverted book. "Orochimaru still remains one of the most dangerous rogues in the world of martial arts. I recall he was extremely secretive and spent a lot of time away even while serving as one of the master of Konoha."
"For those reasons I wasn't surprised the day he declared himself a follower of the Satsujinken and left the dojo behind." Jiraiya replied with a thoughtful expression. "Having known him since we were kids, I always sensed that his ambitions stretched beyond the boundaries of this dojo. It was only a matter of time before he stepped into the world of the killing fist."
Naruto frowned bitterly. "The guy must've been a real jerk to go running out on his friends like that. If you ask me, that screwed up philosophy only works for someone who needs an excuse for killing other people. People fight to protect themselves an others, that's why they call it the art of self defense."
Ino shook her head stubbornly. "It's an age old debate, and you can't just settle it by declaring that the other side is wrong. This argument's been going on longer than we could imagine and will continue long after we're dead and buried!"
"Precisely…" Kakashi added in a somber tone. "Some things in this world will never be resolved within living memory."
Seeing that they were beginning to lose track of the subject, the elder cleared his throat again to silence the group. "Regardless of our former comrade's defection and beliefs, this is neither the time nor place to discuss it." He began calmly before tapping his walking stick against the floor/ "Speaking of which, I believe our guests have arrived."
The doors to the hall opened, revealing two figures unfamiliar to the students. Konoha's residents fell silent as Hiashi Hyuga entered the hall, his wealthy appearance and stature giving off an elitist presence that had most of the disciples in awe. The man wore a blue haori over his suit, further enhancing his royal appearance. His daughter was a fair-skinned girl with pale features and eyes matching those of her father and dark blue waist-length hair cut in a hime-style. She wore a black top, navy blue pants, and black shoes, a long-sleeved lavender zip-up jacket covering her rather shapely physique.
Despite having similar features to her father, the young girl lacked his aura of superiority and instead seemed very reserved and timid even at first glance. She glanced around the room nervously, looking slightly bewildered for a moment while making eye contact with her fellow disciples. The new girl locked eyes with Naruto for a moment, but she felt a small blush come to her cheeks and quickly turned her head forward again. Her father prodded her in the side with a very stern expression, prompting her to stop.
Without so much as glancing back at his child, Hiashi stepped forward and bowed his head to the elder. "I thank you for allowing my daughter entrance to Konoha at such a short notice."
"It is always a pleasure to welcome someone a new student, especially one of such an old and prestigious lineage." Hiruzen nodded once with a stony expression.
The Hyuga clansman returned the motion. "In my experience, just because someone is born to greatness, does not necessarily mean that they can live up to that destiny." His shifted back to his daughter for a moment as he spoke. "I trust you and the other masters will not grant her special treatment while she is studying the martial arts here."
"We treat all of our students equally here, and it is up to the master in question to enforce their own rules while raising a disciple." The old man glanced at the woman standing to his right. "I am certain that we will do well in passing down her teachings to your daughter…" he paused and scratched his chin with an innocently befuddled expression. "Come to think of it, I don't remember catching her name."
Hiashi nudged her roughly, his gaze hardening considerably. "Introduce yourself to your new companions." He hissed impatiently.
She stumbled forward and bowed with a deep blush. "My name is Hinata Hyuga!" she blurted out nervously. "It's a pleasure to meet all of you, and I look forward to getting to know you all."
"Yes, splendid!" the elder replied with a light-hearted smile, gently placing a hand on the girl's shoulder in an attempt to set her mind at ease. When she managed a smile, Hiruzen gestured to her new teacher. "Before we proceed, I would like you to meet the person who will act as your mentor while attending this dojo."
The red-eyed woman stepped forward from the line and approached the girl. "I am Kurenai Yuhi, Konoha's master of Baguazhang." She smiled welcomingly. "From this day forward, I will be your personal instructor."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Kurenai. I promise to do my very best for you." Hinata bowed politely.
"In the martial arts, it is important that you do the best for yourself as well as others. Remember this well." The older woman added with a serious expression before returning the bow.
With this said, Hiashi turned to face the elder again. "I've already instructed some servants take my daughter's luggage to the disciple barracks, so there will be no need to worry about that. So long as she lives under this roof, I will wash my hands of her. I entrust Hinata into your care in the hopes that she will prove more perceptive to your teachings than to my own."
Hiruzen considered him for a moment before agreeing. "We will do our best to train her into a competent young fighter. You have my word as a martial artist and the grandmaster of this dojo."
"See that you do…" The Head of the Hyuga Family turned his back to the old man and began walking towards the exit, his steps halting for a moment as he passed his daughter. Although he refused to even face her, she felt a shiver run down her spine. "Do not disappoint me again." He whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
Hinata found herself staring at the floor again, the corners of her mouth twitching as if she wanted to cry out. "Yes, father…" she whispered timidly, quietly swallowing the lump that had begun to form in her throat.
With a swish of his haori, Hiashi Hyuga strode from the meeting hall, the doors echoing with a loud thud as they closed behind him. Jiraiya watched their visitor go with a slightly distasteful expression, a notion seemingly shared by Tsunade. Kakashi let out a small barely audible sigh, while Guy inclined his head, looking as though he sympathized with the young girl's feelings towards her father. Anko openly frowned once the elder Hyuga had gone, since she had never been fond of his elitist attitude, although she quickly tried to hide these personal thoughts behind an empty expression.
Kurenai approached her new student with a kind expression. "If it's all right with you, perhaps we could start your training tomorrow instead of this afternoon. Is this all right with you?"
"I'll be fine if that's what you want, but my father requested that we begin immediately."
"While within these walls you are no longer directly bound to his teachings." The red-eyed woman replied with a more serious look before casually gesturing towards herself. "As your master it is my responsibility to coordinate, teach, and supervise your training, not his."
Hinata seemed to take a moment to register this. "I understand, Master Kurenai. Please forgive my impertinence."
The elder stepped forward with a welcoming expression. "You needn't worry about your training immediately. Perhaps you should take this day to settle in and unpack your things while getting a chance to know your fellow disciples. Living together in the same building, you'll naturally be seeing a lot of each other from now on. It will make life much easier if you learn a little bit more about your housemates."
"Thank you very much for the wisdom, grandmaster." The timid girl placed her fists together and bowed her head courteously.
"You are very welcome, my young disciple." Hiruzen clapped a hand on her shoulder with a wizened expression before returning to his position at the base of the steps. He smiled at his remaining charges and gestured widely with his free hand. "This meeting is adjourned… In any case, I trust you would all rather be outside on a glorious afternoon such as this!"
"Perhaps the rest of you would be so kind as to give Hinata a tour of our facilities?" Kakashi suggested to the disciples.
Sakura nodded in agreement. "We would be happy to show her around, isn't that right guys?"
"I'll say, let's get to it!" Naruto shouted as he paraded through the door. When no one followed immediately, he turned back to the others. "So, you guys coming or not?"
"Might as well, I don't have anything better to do?" Shikamaru removed his hands from his pockets and reluctantly began to follow.
Although Hinata hesitated for a moment, she was quickly swept into the group and escorted from the room by her new classmates. While the girls seemed happy to have another female in the group, their outgoing personalities seemed at stark contrast with the shy and introverted girl, but at the same time they all seemed quite cheerful. The group left, leaving the masters standing alone in the main hall. The adults began murmuring amongst each other, although the elder waited for the footsteps of their disciples to die away before speaking to his colleagues again.
"I have some important matters to discuss with the rest of you. Please come to my study and we will continue this conversation in private." He stated with a solemn expression.
When no one objected, he ascended the stairs, closely followed by the others. Once they were all gathered in his office, the elder closed the door behind them and took a seat at the table in the center of the room, the remaining masters standing off to the side. Hiruzen folded his hands and exhaled deeply. The others remained quiet in his presence, whether out of anxiousness or respect. Guy shifted uneasily as he imagined what this meeting could possibly be about, although it seemed that the old man picked up on this quickly. Very little managed to escape the elder's keen sight, something that his students and colleagues knew all too well.
Sarutobi glanced up at the assembly. "Since the first order of business has been taken care of, I feel it is imperative that we move onto some of some more pressing matters." He turned to the bushy-browed man. "Last time I requested that you gather some information on the current situation. What have you to present?"
The green-clad master nodded. "I spoke to Lee during our last training session, and he willing told me the truth. Just as we expected, Team Hebi has targeted our students for elimination. Those injuries Lee sustained at the beginning of last week were actually a result of a nasty run-in with those thugs, but from what little we know it would appear that they've largely been able to handle the onslaught."
"I wouldn't expect anything less of our disciples." Anko commented with a satisfied smirk. "It'll take a lot more than a mob of street thugs to take on real fighters!"
"During a trip to Ryozanpaku, I learned that their disciple and a few of his buddies have also been running into some problems with these people." Jiraiya added with a serious look.
Tsunade folded her arms beneath her rather large breasts. "Speaking of which, why were you of all people visiting those arrogant rats at Ryozanpaku?" she considered him for a moment, her eye twitching irritably. "Please don't tell me that you and Kensei Ma were coming up with some new scheme to satisfy your lecherous desires."
"Relax, the whole thing was just one colleague visiting another. It's not like I was helping him plant hidden-cameras or trading playboys, all I did was lend him the pre-release copy of my newest book so he can provide some quality feedback." The white-haired master replied with an innocent look.
"Quality feedback, my ass!" Anko spat with an evil expression. "All you needed was someone as messed up as you to critique how well the world's perverts will appreciate your crappy writing."
"Hey, a guy's gotta make money somehow… Being a martial arts master doesn't pay the bills nearly as well. I'll have you know the vast majority of this dojo's profits comes from my fine publications. You got other talents, it's good to exploit them!" He added with a hasty shrug.
"Don't get too arrogant, especially since you spend most of your extra money on expensive sake and women." Tsunade added bitterly. "If you ask me, my clinic brings in more money once we subtract the profits that you so carelessly throw away on frivolous vices."
Anko snickered at this last comment. "You seem to be forgetting those trips you make to the racetrack, the casino, and the underground fighting arena. Something tells me you don't just go there to watch the events if you know what I mean? There's a reason why everyone in the martial arts world calls you the legendary sucker!"
The older woman felt her temper flaring up. "You insolent little brat! I may have my hobbies, but gambling brings in a lot of profit when I win it big."
"Comparing what you make to what you lose, I can see why the casino owners love you so much." The younger master sniped with a gutsy expression. "If you went down there every night, we would be living in a shack by the river like James Shiba!"
"Don't start comparing me to that idiot…" she replied with an irritated expression.
Hiruzen watched the derailed conversation for a few more seconds before finally putting his foot down. "That's enough!" he stated in a calm yet strong tone, causing the others to stop. "I do not care what you do once we are through here, but at the moment it may be in our best interests to continue with the previous discussion."
Despite having been watching the other bicker, Guy picked up the subject. "We were right to expect that this enemy gang has a desire to prove their power against strong martial artists, but until now I never imagined that anyone would pick a fight with Ryozanpaku at the same time."
Kakashi nodded in agreement, his hands clenching anxiously as he prepared to make his big announcement. "After spending most of last week undercover, I discovered that we were correct about several things. Just as we expected from the beginning, the leader of Team Hebi has been confirmed as none other than Sasuke Uchiha."
"Most of us saw that one coming…" Asuma lit his cigarette with a grim expression.
"This also means that my old master is probably involved in this affair as well." Anko added through grit teeth. "I can't believe that bastard went back to testing his martial arts experiments on kids. You figured he would've learned by now!"
"Orochimaru is indeed very dangerous, but I find it much more disturbing that he is attempting to eliminate our disciples through the use of his own." The elder Sarutobi added solemnly.
The bushy-browed master looked terrified by the thought of losing his apprentice, but he quickly regained his composure. "I have a feeling that there's more to it than that."
Tsunade placed her hands on her hips and frowned. "Just what exactly do you mean by that?"
"Well, when I was talking to Lee, he mentioned that Team Hebi's hidden desire is to prove the superiority of the Satsujinken as the true path of the martial arts. Apparently several enemy fighters they've encountered have been spouting stuff along those lines, and it's got him a little freaked out." Guy stroked his chin thoughtfully. "You don't think that Orochimaru could be…"
"It's not a possibility that we want to consider, although due to his beliefs and past actions, we cannot dismiss the possibility." Jiraiya replied tactfully, a note of fear concealed behind his calm words. "If this is the case, then allowing our disciples to lose to Orochimaru's followers could be more than a matter of pride or bodily harm."
Anko sneered with a bitter expression. "My former teacher believes the martial arts to be the art of killing, so I have no doubt that he's instilled this same philosophy into his own disciples just as he tried with me. He considers those unwilling to do whatever it takes to be failures."
"Because of his involvement, the lives of our students are constantly in danger." Guy frowned.
Kakashi nodded in agreement. "I believe Jiraiya was also referring to some connections that Orochimaru made in his desire for power. If he made contact with Yami, any of his disciples will naturally fall under the jurisdiction of Yomi. If our students lose this battle with Team Hebi, the practitioners of the Satsujinken will have come one step closer to proving the superiority of their philosophy on a global scale."
Kurenai had remained silent so far, but finally decided to speak up. "As far as I know, we don't have any solid proof that Orochimaru sided with Yami. I don't think it wise to make assumptions and assume the worst possible outcome before we can be certain it is the truth."
"That's not entirely true." Jiraiya began with a look of deep concern. "While off on one of my information gathering missions, I discovered some interesting documents indicating that the old snake has been in contact with one of the Nine Fists, and inadvertently the One Shadow himself. It's likely our worst fears have come true."
Anko crossed her arms and shook her head stiffly. "My old teacher's way too arrogant to work for anyone but himself. I find it hard to believe that Orochimaru would ever bow down and kiss someone's ass, especially considered that prick considers himself beyond human."
"There's a difference between pledging one's allegiance, and agreeing to cooperate under the promise of mutual benefit." Asuma paused to take a puff from his cigarette, gently exhaling a small cloud of smoke from his mouth.
"Yami has enough resources and money to be considered it's own nation. This would appeal to someone like him." Tsunade finished with a note of bitterness.
Jiraiya's expression remained deathly serious. "Orochimaru respects those with real strength, even if it's only an admiration for some skills that he doesn't possess. The One Shadow of Yami possesses power surpassing that of any other martial artist I've ever met."
The Serpent God's former student remained undaunted. "I still find it hard to believe, especially when you consider my master spent years trying to cripple their operations. Besides, I've never even seen these people in action…"
Hiruzen seemed to consider her for a moment, his hesitation showing as he pondered whether it would be wise to share this next piece of information. While most of the masters already knew the truth, Anko was the youngest member of the group. Furthermore, she had only been a child at the time of the event and was never let in on the secret before. It wasn't something he had been willing to share with too many people aside from the limited inner circle of Konoha, but at the moment he figured she was ready to know the truth even if their disciples were not.
The elder took a deep breath as if testing his own resolve before speaking up. "Anko…" he addressed her with a dismal tone. "I am certain you are remember who exactly Naruto's parent were when they were alive."
"Who could forget the Yellow Flash God and the Burning Red Fist of Konoha?" the youngest master grinned at the memory of two of the dojo's most powerful fighters, having seen them as strong role models in her youth. "I remember Minato Namikaze was considered one of the fastest men alive, and was even next in line to undergo the training to become the grandmaster!"
Everyone else seemed to fall silent as they knew what was coming next, this sudden change in atmosphere catching the attention of the youngest master. The elder decided it was best not to keep her in suspense. "No doubt as a child you were told that they were killed in a battle against a powerful enemy, am I correct?"
Anko gave him a slightly distasteful expression. "Everyone knows that, but how does this have anything to do with what we were talking about?
The elder's expression remained impassive. "Almost fifteen years ago when Naruto was an infant, the One Shadow of Yami tested his skills by attacking some of the most powerful masters who preached the beliefs of Katsujinken. Losing a battle with a practitioner of the Killing Fist undoubtedly means death, something that Minato and Kushina learned during their fateful encounter with this man…"
"They were two of the most gifted masters Konoha ever produced, widely known as for their skills and teamwork! There's no way a single man could have possible defeated both of them at the same time!" She screamed with a look of outrage, her eyes taking in the deathly serious expressions of her fellow masters. "How is this possible?"
"Saiga Furiniji is the son of the Invincible Superman, Hayato Furiniji. He possesses power that surpasses that of any other fighter I have ever met. I saw this strength firsthand while witnessing his battle with Naruto's parents over a decade ago." Hiruzen stated with a dismal expression. "I doubt that I could have been his equal, even during my prime."
"I doubt any of us could fight an opponent of that caliber with any hope of winning." Jiraiya added with a grimace. "Someone with power beyond that of an S-Class Master is not the type to be taken lightly, even by those of us who have mastered their branch of the martial arts."
Anko bit her lip for a moment before regaining her composure. "Now it makes sense… I can see why Orochimaru would ally himself with such a man. He was always the kind of person to use other people in order to satisfy his own desires."
Asuma tapped the side of his cigarette before removing it from his mouth. "The point is that our disciples might have gotten themselves involved with something much bigger than a few street fights this time… As masters, it's up to us to decide what precautions to take for the future."
"If it comes to it, we may be forced to put an end to this danger personally." Kurenai stated with a resolute stare.
Kakashi shook his head disapprovingly. "You know as well as I do that masters must not involve themselves in the fights of their disciples. This is simply the way of the martial arts, an ancient law that goes back much further than any of us could possibly remember."
"So you suggest we just sit by and watch while they put themselves in mortal danger?" the red-eyed woman retaliated.
"They aren't kids anymore, and we've done everything we can to pass down our techniques to our students." Tsunade explained stoically.
"She's absolutely right." Hiruzen agreed without hesitation. "From this point onwards, we can do nothing but hope for the safety of our disciples. The only thing we can do to help them is to continue training them to the best of our abilities… As masters it is our duty to ensure that they are prepared for what he future may hold!"
As the meeting of the masters continued inside the elder's office, the students were busy giving their newest classmate a tour of the grounds. So far they had shown her most of the training areas and even Kakashi's meditation hut in the woods. In addition to the obstacle course and the track used by Master Guy, the group had explored some of the sparring rings set up by their masters in some of the smaller buildings. Although the main complex was not available for touring at the moment, the group had decided to take her to the barracks where they hung out while not training or at school.
As they walked towards the building, Naruto found himself pondering the recent meeting. "Is it just me, or did the room get colder when Hinata's dad was around?" he whispered to his left.
Sakura paused looking slightly uncomfortable. "It's not our place to make judgments about the way a master chooses for his disciples, even less so when the person in question is also a parent."
He narrowed his eyes with a sour expression. "That doesn't mean that old cloudy eyes was any less of a jerk. I'm just glad Master Jiraiya was never like that, or I would've quit my training and became an accountant instead."
"After seeing your grades in math, something tells me you would be better off sticking with your first goal." She replied with a roll of her eyes.
At the head of the group, Ino was chatting with their newest companion. "Here we are!" she announced as they reached the front door. "This last stop on out little tour is where the students of Konoha live and sleep, although I'm guessing you already knew that."
"It looks lovely…" Hinata commented with a timid expression.
"We were forced to build it ourselves during one of the elder's intense training sessions!" Lee shouted proudly, causing the girl to flinch. "Yes siree, this is the kind of old-fashioned quality you don't see anymore. Nice sturdy walls and no leaks!"
Choji happily agreed. "We had a lot of help from the masters, but the process of building this thing helped us learn valuable teamwork skills."
The pink-haired girl standing behind him smirked. 'Not to mention Lady Tsunade gambled away most of the budget and the dojo didn't have enough money to hire a professional crew."
"Who needs a bunch of guys in helmets? They don't make 'em like this anymore." Naruto rapped his knuckle against the door, causing it to hall off its hinges. He blushed with a slightly humiliated look. "Of course there was a little incident this morning where Master Guy kicked down the door because he forgot his keys. We still haven't got around to fixing the hinges."
Shikamaru rested a hand on his forehead and sighed wearily. "That happened over a week ago knucklehead, you were just too lazy to fix it right away."
The blonde boy fired up instantly. "You of all people have the nerve to call me lazy!" he blurted out incredulously.
"We drew lots and you lost… Get over it and take your punishment like a man!" Ino responded.
"Master Guy was the one who broke down the door, so why do I have to be the one to fix it? Why should I have to pick up after that goofball?"
"How dare you refer to Master Guy with such disrespect! Take it back!" Lee clenched his hand into a fist.
"Sheesh bushy-brows, no need to get your undies in a bunch." Naruto replied dismissively, only further enraging the green-clad karate fighter.
Sakura heard a tiny to her right, only to find out that the new girl was the source. "I'm sorry, but they're always like this." She apologized with a friendly sense of empathy. "If you spend enough time with them, I'm sure you'll get used to it eventually."
Hinata let out a small giggle, her cheeks covered in a cute blush. "Your friends are quite lively… They seem like a lot of fun to be around."
"Try living with them twenty-four hours a day and then we'll talk." The other girl replied with an odd mixture of humor and frustration.
The cloudy-eyed girl smiled again, her attention shifting to the pink-haired fighter. "At home, I never really had anyone my age to talk to and spent most of my time training with my father and sister. He spent most of his time trying to teach me everything he knew so that I could take over as head of the family one day."
"I've never had to endure something like that before, since I didn't come from a family with a prestigious lineage or anything like that, let alone people who practiced the martial arts. I can imagine it would get boring after a while even if my family was like yours."
"It's a nice change to be around other people and live life the way everyone else does." Hinata added with a bashful nod, causing her new companion to smile back.
"Hey! Are you ladies coming in or what?" Shikamaru gestured to the open door, indicating that the others had already gone inside.
As they entered the common room, the guys were already sitting, so Ino decided to finish up the tour in their stead. "Welcome to your new home." She greeted with a friendly smile. "This is the main living space where we lounge around during free time. The door to the right is the kitchen, the left is the bathroom, and the staircase leads to our rooms." She pointed to each area in turn. "So, any place you wanna see first?"
Hinata eyed a pair of familiar suitcases near the door. "Well, I probably should unpack my bags and get settled in. If you don't mind showing me the way that is?"
Ino retrieved the luggage and headed over to them. "No problem, we're happy to help you out in any way we can."
"No, that's all right… I can carry my own stuff." She answered with a genuine smile.
"I insist… The disciples of Konoha stick together and help each other. Don't be afraid to let friends do you favors, especially since we're all going to be living together for a while." the blonde girl replied cheerfully.
"I'll do ya one better!" Sakura replied with a wink before shouting at the boys. "Yo Naruto, I need a small favor!"
He hurried over and grinned. "Sure, anything you need just ask me. Always happy to help!"
The pink-haired girl decided to demonstrate how to take advantage of her friend's good-natured charms. "Could you carry Hinata's luggage to the newly refurbished room a the end of the hall?"
"Sure thing!" he replied, only to have the wind knocked out of him as Ino thrust the bags into his outstretched arms. "Ugh! What do you keep in these things, are they bricks or dumbbells?" He stumbled around for a moment before righting himself and clamoring up the stairs.
Hinata found herself smiling again, something she rarely remembered doing at home. "Your friend… He seems quite lively." She watched him go with a warm expression.
Sakura shrugged off the comment. "Naruto's always been an overly eager hyperactive nutcase, but we've been friends for a really long time." She smiled at the thought. "Regardless he's the kind of guy you can rely on no matter what happens. He might come off strongly when you first meeting him, but I'm sure you'll eventually get used to him."
The new disciple realized that her statement had been misinterpreted. "That's really not what I was trying to say. I just think that he's…"
Before she could finish, Ino wrapped her arms around the others and grinned. "So what are you girls waiting for? Let's get this show on the road!" she shouted, giving them an impatient push towards the stairs.
The group made their way upstairs and down the hall quickly with Sakura leading the way, since she had personally helped redecorate the room and knew exactly where it was. She and Kurenai had been sure to prepare the room for the new student the previous night, and had even added some furniture and a new closet organizer. Coming to a stop when they reached the end of the hall, she pushed the door opening, allowing them the join Naruto. The orange-clad boy sat on the floor in the center of the room, having decided to rest after putting down the luggage.
It was a relatively small room with a wooden floor and plain white walls, a simple dresser and twin-size bed being the only things present aside from what they had brought. There was a small closet with a sliding door and an exercise mat on the ground for morning stretches. Being martial arts students meant they had to constantly stay in shape and prepare diligently before each training session. Hinata had seen much more lavish accommodations in her own house, but for some reasons she wasn't bothered by the simple comforts they offered here.
"Thank you very much! I really appreciate you helping me out." she bowed her head kindly.
"No prob, I'm always glad to give my friends a hand." Naruto grinned widely before waltzing from the room, calling over his shoulder as he left. "If you girls need anymore help, just yell like you always do and I'll be right there!"
Once he had left, Ino placed her hands on her hips and sighed. "Well now that's he's gone, we can get down to business."
Sakura hoisted one of the bags onto the bed. "It's not right to go through someone else's stuff, but we would be happy to help you unload if it's all right with you.'
"I only brought the essentials so it's fine with me." The new disciple replied brightly.
The blonde girl clicked open one of the cases. "I'll take that as a yes… All right then, let's get you settled into your new home!"
Meanwhile…
Sasuke stared down at the arena from his seat as he and the Demons of Team Hebi watched the battle going on below. Since the punishment rounds were over, the group had gathered to watch the low ranking members of the gang fight for their own amusement. Despite how pedestrian it was for martial artists to watch normal brawls between thugs, it did have a certain appeal for those who reveled in violence like the majority of the gang. Although most of the others were actively involved in watching the fights going on below, their leader seemed to have grown bored with the proceedings.
The Devil Fist crunched his knuckles irritably, quietly wishing he were the one dealing death blows to his enemies right now, but due to his master's orders he had been banned from acting directly unless there was an emergency. Sitting beside him were Jugo and Suigetsu, the latter of which had only recently been released from Orochimaru's care. The insane swordsman seemed particularly bloodthirsty at the moment due to his long absence from the field, and looked as though he was deeply enjoying the battles going on below.
"That's it, go for the eyes! Knock his teeth out! Make him squeal!" he screamed, looking very much like a crazed sports fan.
"Will you give it a rest, you're spoiling my concentration." Kimimaro stated with an eerie calm.
Suigetsu bore his sharpened teeth like an angry shark. "The fight's going on down there, so why are you wasting your time meditating when we've got free entertainment?"
The other man relaxed his shoulders, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Not all of us require the thrill of battle in order to relax. There is a large difference between a fighter and a murderer, and at times you cross this line."
"We were getting along better without you, especially with all of the new recruits." Karin added with a humorous expression, her gaze lingering on some of their members. "I think it's safe to say that you guys have proven yourselves much more competent then this buffoon."
"Don't drag me into this!" Kiba snarled, his eyes moving back towards the matches in the arena.
"Go to Hell, all of ya! If you keep pushing me I'll make your trip there a whole lot faster!" the swordsman screamed, his eyes settling on the others. He grit his teeth, sending a strong negative vibe throughout the room. "I don't care if you idiots recruited more guys while I was gone, five weaklings or a thousand, doesn't make a difference to me!"
"Are you picking a fight asshole?" the dog-like man stood up, the pupils of his eyes becoming feral and slit-like.
Suigetsu reached over his shoulder pulling out a much larger weapon than his previous wooden swords. Made out of a strong heavy wood, his new sword was undoubtedly sturdier and more powerful than the others. "If you wanna bare your fangs at me, I'll make sure you don't live long enough to make a difference."
Neji shook his head and groaned. "How disgraceful, acting like a pair of disobedient children… You're both an insult to the martial arts."
"Who asked for your opinion, pretty boy? Sure in Hell wasn't me!" Kiba let out a throaty growl as he glared through the darkness.
"You wanna challenge me in his place, Neji?" The swordsman glanced over his shoulder maliciously as if he were daring his opponent to say yes.
The Hyuga clansmen turned his head in the opposite direction. "I would not wish to waste my time on someone of your caliber."
"The Great Serpent God performed some interesting experiments on me during my absence. You might be surprised by how much more powerful I've become since the last time we fought!"
"Giving enhancements to someone who was weak from the start makes them mediocre at best. That would still place you firmly below me."
Suigetsu felt his temper slipping as he stood up. "Why you arrogant little piece of shit!"
Jugo stepped between them, his expression blank. "I suggest you sit down before I am forced to reprimand you. You need not act so shamefully in the presence of our leader… It makes you look weak."
The swordsman glared at him for a moment before sheathing his weapon, looking both annoyed and disappointed at the same time. "You guys are all a bunch of party poopers…" he snapped with a note of amusement, a look of interest emerging as he remembering something. "Speaking of which, anyone care to tell me what happened to that bleeding heart, Haku?"
"He spoke out against the ways of our organization and was deemed a traitor. He will remain under house arrest until the time for his execution draws near, and then sent to the arena to endure his final punishment round." The Devil Fist replied without a hint of remorse.
"Damn, it's about time someone got rid of that useless pest. Would've done it myself about a millions times if you guys didn't stop me." The swordsman replied with a sinister smile.
Karin folded her arms, sat back, and kicked up her heels. "If the rest of you are finished talking like bunch of cold-blooded murderers, what's the new plan for eliminating our targets?" she eyed their leader with a sense of hunger before addressing him directly. "You said yesterday that I was to be in charge of this operation, and yet we have yet to discuss the specific terms and conditions involved."
He let out a dry laugh. "Just let me handle them, this time I'll be ready for that bastard, Hermit and his fancy techniques!"
"Just like you were the last time? Forgive me for doubting you, but you barely survived that last battle with your life, and now we have the Konoha disciples to worry about as well." The redhead retaliated with an enticing smirk.
"Sounds like things panned out just the way we were expecting, although I don't get why you're putting that shameless bitch in charge of something so important." Suigetsu commented.
Sasuke nodded stiffly before lowering his shroud, revealing his pitch-black gaze. "The last few attempts we made to exterminate our enemies ended in failure. It is clear to me now the direct approach may not be best for dealing with two opposing groups at the same time."
Karin listened with a mischievous expression, her gaze moving to the shrouded figure sitting beside. "I'm certain the bandage company's new spokes model would be more than happy to testify on behalf of your claim."
"Shut up!" Guren removed her hood, revealing a neck brace and a series of bandages wrapped around her head with one running across the center of his nose and cheeks. "I came very close to killing my target, but was interrupted by a whacked out opera singer and two Konoha Disciples. Against such odds, you would have faired no better!"
"I wouldn't have engaged the enemy without doing the proper research first to take all factors into account. In the middle of a war, having power will only get you so far… You need what's in here too." The redhead replied, gently tapping her forehead with her index finger.
Sasuke inclined his head in approval. "That is precisely why I chose you as field commander for this operation. We need someone with a more tactical mind to handle such a delicate battlefield. I believe you may succeed where the other Demons have failed."
Karin blushed slightly, a lustful glint in her eye. "I'm flattered, Great Devil Fist… It is a great honor to be allowed this opportunity to show off my skills as a tactician."
"Since Kiba volunteered during our last meeting, he will be placed under your supervision during this mission. You may choose anyone else to go with you from among the senior ranks of Team Hebi or below, and I will allow you to take your pick of any one of your fellow Demons aside from those who serve directly beneath me. Can you work properly with these conditions?"
"Of course." She straightened her glasses with a cynical expression. "You've given me enough resources to turn this operation into a very interesting game, although I do question the wisdom of burdening me with that flea-bitten mongrel."
"You're no prize yourself, ugly!" The Dog Kung-Fu user spit at her, causing her to throw a knife in retaliation.
Suigetsu laughed wildly. "Looks like you pissed her off… Not something I'd recommend."
He caught the weapon between his fingers and flicked it aside with a bitter expression, but instead chose not to attack either of them. "I honestly don't care who's in charge so long as I get some action soon. Sitting in the dark with you guys all day gives me a headache."
"I trust you'll be satisfied engaging the enemy directly since they've already proven themselves more than a match for several of the others." Kimimaro added.
Karin's anger evaporated to reveal signs of amusement. "I don't see why we can't just engage them as a group and wipe out our enemies in one fell swoop. Something tells me they wouldn't stand much of a chance if we attacked with full force."
Neji shook his head disapprovingly. "We're martial artists, not common street trash. It would make us look weak if I allowed you to resort to such barbaric tactics. Those without strength are known to believe that strength in numbers is the best approach, but such methods are better left for the weak."
"I agree completely." Suigetsu added without hesitation. "Where's the fun if we end things too quickly. I'm willing to get that Jugo could take out half of them by himself, and don't even get me started about what would happen if the boss decided to step in."
"Well at least you people have some shred of dignity…" Kiba remarked loudly, earning an angry glare from several of his teammates. He ignored them and instead shifted his attention onto their leader. "So Devil eyes, you said there was a big announcement you had to make… Don't tell me shark boy's return was the only reason you dragged me to this dump."
"I should thank you for the reminder." Sasuke replied in a light, emotionless tone. He stood before his fellow gang members and faced the group once more. "While conducting my search last night, I found someone from among the senior members who might be worthy to take Haku's empty seat as a temporary replacement."
The Devil Fist gestured towards the arena as a cloaked figure stepped through the open gates. He was a reasonably tall man with a well-muscled physique and broad shoulders, his features concealed by the hood. The other recognized the shroud he was wearing as sign that he had been given the rank of Demon, as only the most powerful members of Team Hebi were permitted to wear those kinds of cloaks. Another thing that caught their attention were the oddly patterned gauntlets covering his fists, something that was not typically part of the gang's uniform.
"Who's this joker supposed to be?" Suigetsu questioned with a sneer. "He doesn't look all that tough, if you ask me."
"If you need a demonstration, I'm certain that our guest would be willing to oblige." Their leader replied with an evil smile.
Sasuke stepped forward into the dim light of the room and snapped his fingers, causing the gate on the other side of the stage to slide open. Ten large men entered the arena, some completely unarmed while others wore brass knuckles or carried knives. They were large brutish types who served as the enforcers for Team Hebi, quite a few levels down from the top brass but quite a bit stronger than the common grunts that comprised most of their forces. While many of the lower ranking subordinates were simply thugs, these men were all personally trained by Kimimaro to act as the group's personal Gestapo.
"Kill!" Sasuke ordered prompting the referee strike the large gong standing beside the ring.
The shrouded man shot his fist out, knocking out one of his attackers without so much as a moment's struggle. Another man came at him from behind, but he struck back with a barehanded strike, his finger pushing the button on the stun gun he had hidden up his sleeve. After paralyzing two more of his opponents with a quick jolt, the mystery man followed it up with a series of low kicks. The remaining thugs charged as a group, but he countered by thrusting his hands out and into his opponents' midsections. He struck the last man in the stomach with his fist, causing him to double over just in time to receive a second punch to the center of his face.
"He's a little sloppy, but the punk's not too bad compared to what we expected." Suigetsu replied with a note of amusement.
Neji crossed his arms, his face displaying signs of disgust. "He fights dirty… I don't like it."
"Yeah, and those cheap shots with the taser weren't so impressive either." Kiba agreed with an uneasy expression.
"He's obviously a karate user, although I recognized some pure brawling methods were mixed in with his martial arts style. Some dirty tricks as well." Karin deduced with an analytical expression, the light shining off of her glasses menacingly. "Interesting how he aims to win no matter what methods must be utilized."
"Thank you, I appreciate the compliments." The cloaked man replied with a dubious smile.
"Never mind that static… Show us your real face." Guren demanded impatiently.
Their visitor exchanged glances with Sasuke, who nodded to signify that it was all right. Without another moment's hesitation, the man removed his cloak, revealing his true appearance beneath. He wore a form-fitting dark blue bodysuit with a belt and darker pants, the majority of his outfit partially covered by a light brown, long-sleeved trench coat. He had light bluish gray hair and wore a yellow headband to keep his bangs away from his eyes, both of which were covered by the paukbrille goggles typically used in academic fencing.
"What a crazy look… Who are you supposed to be?" Kiba asked with an obnoxious laugh.
"You got a lot of nerve talking to me that way, kid. Since you've got such a big mouth, it's pretty clear you have no idea who I am." The man replied with a sinister grin.
Sasuke stepped in before he could continue. "Allow me to introduce you to Loki, the former Fourth Fist of Ragnarok and former divisional member of Team Hebi."
Their newest comrade held up his right fist, showing a gold symbol emblazoned on the back of his glove. His crest consisted of an ouroboros depicting one snake devouring the other, and the Roman numeral for the number four in the center of the serpentine circle. "I'm glad my reputation precedes me!" He declared with a chuckle.
Suigetsu seemed to find the situation humorous. "That idiot was the Fourth Fist? Odin must've been pretty desperate if he let this guy hold one of the top spots in his gang."
"If you were such a big shot in Ragnarok, how did you end up in the lower ranks of Team Hebi?" Karin interrupted with a curious look.
"After our boss was defeated by Kenichi Shirahama, the remnants of the gang spilt apart. Quite a few of the grunts joined the ranks of Team Hebi, and I figured it would be a good place to lay low for a while until I was able to get back a shred of my former glory." Loki stroked his chin with a sneaky look. "You might say I was more than a little happy when a position finally opened up at the top."
"To be more precise, we were simply in need of a replacement field commander. At such short notice, you were the only candidate among the lower ranks with the skills to receive a promotion even on a temporary basis." Kimimaro corrected him.
"Be that as it may, it's truly an honor to be allowed to serve beneath the invincible Devil Fist." The trickster replied, his eyes settling on his new leader. "Word on the streets is that your fighting abilities surpass even those of the First Fist Odin, and that guy was one of the scariest people in the business."
Sasuke remained indifferent to his attempts at flattery. "Don't compare me to that weak-hearted fool… I don't consider it a compliment."
"You misunderstand, I believe you to be a much more powerful and efficient leader than that idiot. He didn't have the guts to do whatever it took to get the job done, but it would seem that you don't have the same reservations as those fools in Ragnarok."
Kimimaro exhaled deeply, his expression betraying signs of disapproval. "Speaking of which, there are some things we wish to discuss with you before finalizing this appointment."
The Devil Fist stepped forward, bearing down upon their newest recruit. "Word on the streets is that you betrayed your former superiors within Ragnarok in an attempt to seize power to satisfy your own ambitions."
Karin leaned forward anxiously. "He's absolutely right to be concerned…. Such actions cannot be ignored, especially since the possibility exists that you may try the same thing again."
"Would you care to rationalize your actions to us?" The Uchiha added.
"The only reason I attempted to remove Odin is because the gang had become only a shadow of its former self while under his poor leadership. That idiot blatantly led his own subordinates into certain defeat and I couldn't bear to watch any more." The trickster explained in a matter-of-fact tone. "Truth is, I wouldn't dare do the same to a leader like the Devil Fist who has proven himself infinitely more powerful and competent."
"You'll pardon me if I choose not to believe you as face value." Kimimaro replied icily.
Loki bowed as he turned to face them once more. "I have no intention of betraying Team Hebi for several reasons, mostly because I know what the repercussions would be if I was foolish enough to try." He smirked with sadistic amusement. "Those punishment games of yours are quite entertaining to watch, but I wouldn't want to participate in them myself."
"You needn't worry about that, because if you show any signs of betraying Team Hebi, I will personally end your life." Sasuke looked down upon their newest member, his eyes blazing with a fire that could have frightened a lion into submission.
The trickster found himself unable to move as he made eye contact with his superior, his blood running cold as beads of sweat began forming on his brow. The powerful killing intent radiating from the Uchiha had affectively paralyzed him on the spot, and a sense of rampant fear filled his entire body. Despite his dirty tactics, Loki was hardly the type to scare easily, and this was one of the few times he felt completely overwhelmed by the emotion. The only other person to have ever invoked this feeling in him was Odin, but even the First Fist's killing intent wasn't so dark and intense.
Sasuke relaxed again, a small look of satisfaction gracing his pale features. "Do you accept my terms, or will you refuse my generous offer. As long as you remain loyal to me, there is no reason to be concerned. Whether you say yes or no, at least I will know your true intentions."
Loki swallowed the lump that had begun to form in his throat and shifted uneasily in the face of his new superior. "Yes, you have my word…"
"Welcome to the inner circle." The Devil Fist replied nonchalantly earning a few murmurs from his underlings.
Note to Readers: Next chapter Naruto gets a piece of the action… With so many characters in this story it took a while for him to get involved, and he's supposed to be the main character! Hinata's here, but she's in for a shock next time when she finds out her friends are in the middle of something that she wasn't expecting to be involved in. Big clash next chapter… Any particular fights/match-ups you wanna see now or in the future, feel free to drop me a line.
Major developments include the introduction of Orochimaru's true allegiance, although what he's planning is still a mystery. Not to mention that we now know why Naruto's in orphan in this story. Loki makes his grand entrance as the member of Ragnarok who hasn't reformed. (He became a spy for Nijima later in the manga, but that hasn't happened in this story yet) Can he be trusted? Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Sorry if there's typos, or errors in spelling and grammar, but write chapters for my stories late at night most of the time.
I would really love to hear some suggestions so keep them coming if you have some. Please feel free to comment if you liked something, want to see something happen, or have any guesses or predications as to what will happen next! Don't forget to REVIEW! It really motivates me to keep working on this story!