Journey to the Dawn
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters associated with it
The Mysterious Traveler . . . .
"Itachi Uchiha huh?" said Naruto. "Where are you from?"
The stoic man continued to look to the river. "I'm from a lot of places. But it shouldn't really matter where I'm from right?"
"True, so what brings you to China?"
" . . . . Just some business I needed to attend too. I recently just finished what I had to do here. So I'm soon going to be shipped out to a new assignment very soon. But before I go I decided to get some lunch".
The blond smiled widely to this as he waved his fishing pole. "See, great minds do think alike".
The traveling pair then sat next to the dark figure as they reeled their lines.
Hinata unable to resist the urge to ask was curious of the talisman sown to the man's right shoulder. "That's a very interesting configuration of runes. But if it's not too much to ask, what do they mean?"
Itachi gave a low chuckle. "Why do you ask?"
"I'm just curious".
" . . . . It's comes with the job of needing to go places rather quickly".
Naruto took a look as he expressed awe at the site. "Wow, they're very similar to the runes in my watch".
The stoic man's interest was piqued slightly. "Is that so?"
He then showed his watch to him as he started to examine the configuration.
"This is quite interesting, so do you use this for your transportation?"
"Yeah, it's a bit of a hassle needing to always show papers when going to a new country. So it's just better to 'jump' to a new place whenever we want to go somewhere".
"So were you the one who wrote this?"
Naruto shook his head. "No my dad was the one who wrote this".
Itachi gave a slight smirk. "So he still hasn't learned the full ability of the watch huh?" "A very interesting tool with the ability to manipulate time and space, but do you understand how this all works?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you understand how this all works?"
Naruto opened his mouth but then became stumped. "I have no idea".
"It works through the specific use of runes within a specific sequence" said Hinata.
"Very good Hinata-san" smiled Itachi. "But do you understand how or even where those runes are derived from?"
" . . . . Ehh". This question stumped the Hyuga heiress as truthfully she never really thought about it.
The stoic traveler gave a low chuckle. "Well if it doesn't bore you, than allow me to educate you on the concept of the history and usage of magic".
Naruto and Hinata listened intently as they were now losing concentration at catching lunch.
"Now contrary to what most people think magic isn't some mystical force that can be explained through superstition as that would be absolute utter nonsense. But in actuality, magic is a science based on symbols which our ancestors and their ancestors and the ancestors before them used before they truly understood the power they had. But here 's a question, do you know how the foundation of magic was derived?"
" . . . . from our teachers?"
Itachi looked to the blond as he gave a low chuckle. " . . . . no".
"No one . . . . . actually knows" said Hinata.
"Exactly" then said Itachi. "Even with the best anthropological work, no historian or scientist can really say how magic came to be. To be rather frank, it's almost like it just appeared out of nowhere. But now we're getting off topic" as he pulled a fish out of the water. "Like technology that is more commonly being developed in Europe, magic also follows your basic laws of matter, energy, and space to which in addition they also follow the ideas to inverse and proportional values of pressure, temperature, volume, density, and etc. However symbols are only symbols as they are only meant as a medium to put into motion a certain action. Now of course magic is the source which powers these symbols. But as I'm assuming you already know by now, the term 'magic' is an idea primarily used where I'm from. But if you look around these eastern parts there are several names magic has gone by such as chi, ki, prana, chakra, and etc". Itachi then gave a deep sigh. "But it's nice to see these lands so full of these radiant energies unlike the tragedy that faced most of Europe which resulted in the great loss of a lot of our magical knowledge".
"Are you talking about the great witch purge of the last century?"
The stoic man nodded. "Faith can be a very powerful weapon that can be used to save a million lives or destroy them. But because of religious movements magic was deemed evil and anyone who knew it was put to death".
"That's horrible" said Hinata.
"Well that's life. But getting back to my lesson" pulling out another fish. "Magic is actually stronger then technology in a lot of ways. However the drawback behind it is the need for the user to be strong to be able to put it for practical application to which technology makes up for in its shortcomings. Mostly for this reason alone is why magic is not so much practiced anymore in which technology is more heavily favored". Itachi then pulled out another fish. "But even at the peak of what we knew then, there are still so many mysteries in the world surrounding the idea of magic".
"What do you mean Itachi-kun?"
"One of those things are one of them" as he pointed to Hinata's bracelet.
"Ehh?"
"That's an artifact isn't it?"
"How did you know?" asked Naruto.
Itachi turned the pale girl's wrist over to show a few runes inscribed on it. "I just had a feeling about it". He then pulled another fish out of the water. "Now these artifacts are indeed a great mystery. But by accordance to the British royal academy of science, these artifacts have come to be dubbed as O.P.O.'s".
"O.P.O.'s?"
"They stand for 'out of place objects'" clearing his throat. "Just like magic, these objects almost seemed like they appeared in this world out of nowhere. However there have been a few cases where we did acquire some recordings of history of people managing to forge them. But most them are actually recorded in folklore and mythology. So a more logical person would disregard these tales. However there does always lie a bit of truth within legend. It just depends on what you want to take as fact and what as fiction". Itachi then began reeling in back his line. "But more interestingly, these objects can't be reversed engineered as our current understanding of technology and magic doesn't even come close to understanding them fully. However there is one binding factor behind all these stories and that is the tale of a great treasure beyond humanities wildest imaginations".
"Wow! What in the world could it be?"
Itachi shrugged at this. "No one really knows. For all we know, it was just some bed time story told to children long ago". But then a small smirk escaped his lips. "But in truth, the treasure is in and of itself the question".
"Huh? What is that supposed to mean?"
The stoic man gave another low chuckle. "That . . . . I won't tell you".
"Ehh! Why not?"
"I'd rather not give you so many spoilers. But I assure you that you'll eventually learn what it is as you travel through this world". He then got up as he took a few steps away. "But there is one more mystery in this world I'd like to tell you. But it's probably better that I show you".
"How's is that?"
"Through a friendly match of course" smiled Itachi.
"Wait! Are you sure about this?"
"Of course, but I can assure you that I'll be more than a match for the both of you".
"Ehh!" as Hinata snapped up at the suggestion. "But Itachi-kun, you can't fight both of us like that".
"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't sure".
Naruto smirked as he cracked his knuckles. "Alright, you asked for it then". He then dashed forward swinging his right fist as it was only a meter away from hitting him. But on the moment of impact, the stoic man appeared to have exploded into a flock of crows as the blond soon fell to the ground from the momentum. "What was that?" He looked back to see Itachi still standing there as if he never moved.
"You're going to have to try harder than that if you want to hit me".
The blond jinchuriki grunted as his ego now felt a bit bruised. "Oh yeah! I'll show you". So putting his fingers in a cross formation three bunshins appeared as they had their target covered from all sides. But upon attacking him, they all ended up hitting each other. " . . . . What is going on?"
"Do you understand now? Or shall we continue?" Itachi's eyes widened at feeling an aggressive aura right behind him. He immediately dashed forward and did a one-eighty turn to not only get out of Hinata's attack range but to keep her in site.
"Eight Trigram, Empty Palm!"
Surprised at the move, Itachi was blown back slightly before bursting into crows again. His body then appeared to have 'materialized' right behind the pale girl.
"Kaiten!"
He 'disappeared' again as Naruto followed with his own attack as Hinata joined him on the other side. Itachi started moving back as he was stuck on the defensive blocking their moves. An internal smirk made its way in him as he watched them both. "How interesting . . . . when one of them moves the other compliments their action . . . . have they practiced together like this before or are their bodies allowing them to work naturally together like this . . . .". He then gave an internal chuckle. "They really do make a good pair".
"Take this!"
In another 'disappearing' act Itachi reappeared behind them as he subdued both of them.
"How did he get behind us again?" said Hinata.
"Ahh! I thought we had him for sure!" said Naruto.
"Better luck next time. But now that this is over let's go eat now".
The trio then took a seat as Itachi prepared the fire while Naruto and Hinata prepped the ingredients. After a good few minutes of cooking, the three sat down to eat. "By the way, what was that other mystery you were talking about?"
"You haven't noticed during our match?"
Naruto thought carefully about this. " . . . . hmm, I'm not entirely sure. I kept getting this weird feeling every time you turned into those crows. But other than that I'm not really sure what to make of it".
"Could it be . . . . the Sharingan eyes?"
"Sharingan eyes?"
Hinata nodded, "I've only heard my uncle talk about them once when he confronted a foreigner with strange eyes. He said that every time they exchanged attacks he found himself unable to concentrate as if he was under a spell of illusion. But by the end of the battle the best he could do was force it to a draw".
"That is correct. The Sharingan eyes are a genetic trait inherent to my family which brings me to the next point, and that being the blood line limits. Just like magic and the O.P.O.'s, blood line limits is another mystery that just seemed to appear in the world all of the sudden. But unfortunately just like magic in the last century, many limit users are no longer on this Earth due to the witch hunts".
"But couldn't it be a sign of human evolution?"
"You see, in the world of science whether it being technology or magic, there's a difference between coincidence and an unnatural event. The fact that so many people suddenly gained a blood line limit is far too coincidental to be a natural occurrence. Although it may have seemed to appear naturally, there were simply too many users to be recognized as such".
"I see . . . ."
After a bit more talking they eventually finished lunch as travelers were soon ready to part ways.
"If you want to see some good sites then I suggest you go up north to a village right over the hill over there" said Itachi. "You might find a couple of things worthwhile to see".
"Sounds like a pretty good idea" smiled Naruto. The blond then began to walk as he waved for his pale companion to come along.
But just before she could move, she was obstructed as the Uchiha had grabbed her hand. She looked up to him, "Itachi-kun?" She then felt a piece of paper in her hand as she was now curious to what it was.
"I know it isn't my business to tell you what to do, but I feel that meeting this master may greatly benefit you along you trip".
Hinata unrolled the parchment to see an address written on it.
"Your style is pretty good. But I sense that this master can teach you something that is more coordinated to how you prefer to fight".
"Oye! Hinata! What's taking so long?" called Naruto.
Itachi let out a slight chuckle. "Well you better get going before he gets overly impatient" as he pushed the brunette along.
"Thanks for everything Itachi-kun. I hope we meet again!" as Hinata waved the mysterious traveler good-bye.
The Uchiha followed the same action. But after some time after they were well out of site his face became cold as he turned to leave.
"Hey! Itachi! Wasn't that one of the bijuus we were supposed to capture?" said a blue shark looking man that had just appeared to his side.
Itachi gave a glimpse before looking straight again. "In time Kisame, but Akatsuki has other plans that needs to be accomplished first as it would be too dangerous to collect all the bijuus now".
"So why did you tell them all that stuff?"
The stoic individual looked towards the sky as he gave a small smile. "No particular reason".
To be continued . . . .
~ Omake ~
Hanabi was getting irked as more strange sounds emanated from the nurses office. So finally getting fed up, she forced open the door as she was now ready to face her cousin. "Neji! I demand you explain to me exactly what you've been up too!" She then stepped back slightly as the sight before her. Her eyebrow then lifted expressing uncertainty. "What are you doing?" In front of her now was a woman laying on her stomach on the table as her cousin seemed to be pressing Jyuken points.
"She was having an unnatural amount of stress build-up. So I was releasing it by rerouting her chakra channels to better relieve her of her ailments".
". . . . So . . . . you're a masseuse?"
"In a matter of speaking . . . . Yes, Hanabi-sama".
"Then why have you've been doing it? You practically left me to do all the work to pay off our loan!"
"Actually, the loan has been paid off for quite a while now".
" . . . . What?"
"Ever since my first patient, more people started coming in complaining of aches and ailments. Of course at first I refused as I had my job with Iruka-sensei. But after learning of the payment, it seemed the fastest way to pay off our debt".
Hanabi then became completely dumbfounded. "If you already had the money then why did you keep it to yourself?"
"Initially I was planning to tell you Hanabi-sama but a lot of things started coming up like training, getting territory, who was in charge, costs, getting foreign connections . . . ."
"Wait! What are you talking about Neji?" the young Hyuga then interjected.
Neji then picked up a billboard to show his cousin. "I just started a business".
" . . . . huh?"
Authors notes: And that's the history behind magic. So I hope this chapter was an OK read for everyone as I wanted to get all the technical stuff out of the way before moving on with the story.
So I thank everyone who has been reading thus far and I further extend my gratitude if you can review it as well.