A mask falls

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Three years passed since the Akatsuki attack.

Fu recovered from the heavy injuries she had sustained in the fight against Deidara. She didn't even have any long term problems with her reattached leg thanks to the healing powers of her biju. While Fu was unable to go on missions Shino helped out as a regular Jonin in the capital and occasionally participated in missions when teams needed an additional member. After half a year of recuperation and training to get back in shape Fu reentered active duty and despite the risks she and Shino rejoined the ANBU.

Over the years the Empire managed to further consolidate its power. From its Ninja Academies graduated students that could easily compete with the students from the established academies of the ninja villages. While each of the Elemental Nations had been able to rely on the fact that they had far more trained ninja than the Empire before, their supremacy was now dwindling.

At the same time shinobi with curse marks became a true menace. They supported smugglers, drug dealers and other criminal organisations in Earth Country, Lightning Country and Wind Country. They caused serious problems in the countries' provinces and some regions fell completely under the criminals' control until the local ninja village decided to clean up. Then the strange shinobi disappeared and reappeared somewhere else. Several groups of these mysterious shinobi had tried to enter the Empire as well, but so far the Empire's intelligence network and border patrols had prevailed. It helped, too, that the Empire's citizens were extremely loyal to the government that had brought them peace and criminal organisations were immediately reported. Unfortunately nobody managed to track down the shinobis' base of operations.

Naruto stood alone on a balcony of his palace and watched his children perform basic chakra control exercises in the courtyard under the supervision of one of his paths. He had a thoughtful, almost sad, expression on his face.

"Naruto? What is wrong?"

He hadn't noticed that Hinata had entered the balcony behind him.

"Can you believe we allowed Danzo free reign over Konoha for so many years?"

"Naruto you know Shikamaru was right. After our first assassination attempts Konoha and especially the Hokage Tower were turned into fortresses. We had to stop."

"Yeah, but maybe we could have intervened sooner."

She wrapped his arms around him from behind and leaned against him.

"We weren't ready yet, Naruto. It would have been a bloodbath."

Naruto nodded absentmindedly. He had had these kinds of conversations before and knew all the arguments by heart. But he just needed confirmation once more

"And we really haven't overlooked something? Some way to avoid all bloodshed? "

"No, Naruto. I don't think so. "

Naruto sighed.

"And what about all our friends in Konoha? Tsunade-baachan and Ero-sennin? Your sister?"

"We will make sure they all survive."

The blond relaxed visibly.

"You are right, Hinata."

Hinata kissed his cheek.

"Of course I am."

Naruto smiled. Hinata's shy and insecure nature still showed from time to time even after all these years, but when he needed support he could always count on her. Hinata continued to talk, wrapping him closer in her arms at the same time.

"In a bit more than one month is the meeting of the kages we called together and knowing how much they respect you, they won't stop us. Then we can march against Konoha directly with the help of Gaara and we will make sure that there are as little casualties as possible."

A smile played on Naruto's worried face.

"And then Konoha will finally be free."

Flashback: After the match between Hinata and Hanabi

Naruto, Hinata and Shikamaru had just arrived back at the imperial palace, when the Nara dragged them into an empty room and put privacy seals up.

"Alright I want to know why you intentionally lost against Hanabi, Hinata."

"I-I don't know what you are talking about, Shikamaru."

"During the fight I was wondering why you seemed slower than usual and why you tired out so quickly. And then I saw how Naruto released his gravity seal in secret during your match. So please tell me Hinata, why didn't you remove yours?"

Hinata lowered her head and Naruto sighed.

"It's like this Shikamaru ..."

Flashback end

It was the day of Hanabi's inauguration as the Hyuuga clan head. Hanabi was dressed in the traditional ceremonial robes and was silently praying at the little shrine in the Hyuuga compound. This was part of her inauguration and she had already managed to survive through a two hour long tea ceremony.

She had been so incredibly patient for so many years, but now the endless ceremonies were severely getting on her nerves. She wanted to be done with them already and be able to complete what she had worked for all this time.

Her thoughts began to wander.

Flashback: Hinata meets Hanabi during the escape of the clans from Konoha

It was a normal day in Hanabi's training schedule in the Root training facility. Hanabi knew she didn't have anything to fear from the training. Her teachers just made sure she was disciplined and strong and they didn't try to mess with her head and switch off her emotions. Her father had called in a favor to have her trained rather than give her up to Danzo and she was most likely too old to be affected by their methods anyway.

She still hadn't heard anything about her sister since she vanished so many months ago. This worried her to no end, but there wasn't anything she could do. Whenever she asked someone about Hinata they told her she was on an extended mission. But Hanabi knew that something was wrong since her team wasn't with her and she had disappeared on the day of Naruto's escape.

Hanabi was in the middle of a training fight with one of her instructors when she heard the unmistakable sounds of real combat and screaming, which were coming closer to their room. Her instructors assumed positions in a wide half circle around the door. The door was kicked in with incredible force and in stormed a terrifying orange beast.

The beast attacked Hanabi's instructors and tore them apart. It accidently destroyed one of pillars holding up the ceiling and caused the ceiling in the middle of the room to begin to collapse, but the monster just continued to kill one Root instructor after the other. And then it suddenly stopped.

The orange chakra surrounding it receded and there no longer stood a monster, but Hinata, her sister. She looked completely exhausted and Hanabi immediately saw that she couldn't fight anymore. The last surviving instructor had remained in front of Hanabi, shielding her. Now he made his way towards Hinata to finish the exhausted girl off. Hanabi activated her Byakugan, put her hand on the correct place on the man's back and pushed enough chakra into his heart to make it explode. Hinata looked at her in shock, while Hanabi remembered to quickly get rid of the body by throwing it under the slowly collapsing ceiling, before making her way to her sister.

"Neesan!"

Hanabi hugged Hinata tight and for the first time in years she shed some tears.

"Imouto."

Hinata gently stroked through her sisters hair. Then she looked horrified at the corpses of the people she killed in such a brutal manner.

"I-I am sorry you had to see this, Hanabi. I just wanted to rescue you."

"It-It is alright neesan. I am just glad to see you are alright. I-"

Hanabi suddenly burst into more tears.

"I was so worried. I didn't know what they had done to you and I couldn't find you."

Hinata drew her sister closer.

"Shhh everything is fine now, imouto."

Hanabi calmed down a bit and after a while she felt better.

"Neesan, what kind of power was that?"

Hinata's voice grew very quiet.

"I am the new jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi, Hanabi. Naruto had to transfer the fox to me to free me from the cursed seal."

"Hah! He really must be a great boyfriend if he did that to save you. I heard jinchuuriki normally die if they lose their tailed beast."

"S-So you don't think that I am a monster?"

Hanabi looked at her as if she had grown an additional head.

"You are not a monster. You are my neesan."

"Thank you Hanabi. B-but Naruto isn't my b-boyfriend."

Hanabi smiled at her.

"Make sure you show that idiot how much you like him, so that he gets the hint, neesan. I want you to be happy."

Hinata lowered her head a bit and fiddled with her hands, but she smiled at the same time.

"Thank you."

The sound of another part of the ceiling crashing down reminded Hinata that they were still in danger.

"Imouto, Naruto is evacuating his friends and some of the clans from Konoha to the western regions. Please come with us."

"I am sorry neesan but I can not do that."

Hinata looked crushed, which hurt Hanabi a lot. But she knew that this was what she had to do.

"I promised to fulfil your, no our dream to change our clan and just like you I will not go back on my word either."

Now Hinata stared at her sister with open eyes.

"I-I hope you succeed. I just want the Hyuuga to be one family again."

She lowered her head.

"Th-the one who p-put the c-curse mark on me was f-father. Please be careful Hanabi."

Her sister nodded. She wasn't exactly surprised about this revelation about her parent. The younger Hyuuga now got increasingly nervous that someone might see them and realize she was just pretending to be the obedient little heiress. She gave her sister one last hug.

"Sorry neesan, but I have got to go."

Hanabi detached herself from her sister, turned around and ran right through the area where the ceiling collapsed, while dodging falling rubble and managed to get to the other side of the room.

Flashback end

Hanabi smiled inwardly because of the memory. It had been the only time she had ever taken off her mask and confiding in her sister had felt incredibly good and taken a huge burden off her. And it had once again assured her in her wish to change her clan.

Usually it would be impossible to enforce anything against the will of the elder council, but there was an exception. The very first order of a new clan head was to be implemented without anyone having the right to object to it. This rule had brought some important changes to the Hyuuga and it had possibly been the only reason why the Hyuuga didn't perish because of stagnation.

She continued with the ceremonies, but the motions were so ingrained in her that she could allow her thoughts to wander again.

Flashback

A four year old Hanabi was happily playing with her sister in the gardens of the Hyuuga compound. Their ball rolled through a few bushes and behind a building and Hanabi went to get it. She found it under an open window, grabbed it and was about to walk away when she heard voices.

"You have to understand our position here Hiashi. Hinata is far too soft, she must not become clan head under any circumstances."

Hanabi froze and remained as quiet as she could. Next she heard the voice of her father.

"Hinata may be a lost cause, but with a bit of discipline Hanabi could still become a respectable clan head."

"Of course. She is still young. But if she doesn't change we have to take action. You know that one of your children is bound to become clan head by tradition, if you have any."

"Don't you dare lecture me! I always put our clan above all else, even my daughters. If Hanabi doesn't change we will get rid of them both."

Ten minutes later Hinata found her sister. She was crying under a tree in the gardens. Hinata wanted to console her, but Hanabi swatted her hand away and stormed off.

Flashback end

That day had been the end of the old joyful Hanabi and the birth of the new cold and disciplined heiress. A single tear ran down Hanabi's face when she remembered how she had treated her sister to keep up appearances. Hanabi quickly wiped it away before anyone saw it.

Half an hour later the ceremonies were finally over. Hiashi declared her to be the new clan head in front of the elder council and after that she made their way to the biggest courtyard in the compound, followed by the elders, to be introduced to the branch family as their new clan head.

The courtyard was filled by members of the branch family of all ages as they waited for their new clan head to make her inauguration speech. Hanabi stepped in front of all of them confidently. After everything had quieted down she began.

"I am Hanabi Hyuuga, new clan head of great the Hyuuga clan!"

The members of the branch house were anything but excited. To them she was just a new face for their leader, while the elder council would continue to hold the real power. In addition to that she hadn't exactly been very kind to the members of the branch family in her overall behavior.

"My first act as clan head is not to enforce something new, but to go back to the traditional ways of our honorable clan."

A groan went through the members of the branch family. They suspected that some stupid old tradition was about to be unburied.

"Two hundred years ago a new custom was introduced to the Hyuuga that weakens our great clan to this day."

This sparked some low whispers among the crowd as they wondered what she meant.

"Two hundred years ago a new custom was introduced that split our clan, our family and turned most of us into slaves. The Caged Bird Seal was introduced as a way to protect our bloodline, while in reality it is just a way to enslave those that bear it."

For a moment there was complete silence as everyone stared at her in shock.

"Hanabi Hyuuga stop this at once! I forbid it!"

That was the voice of her father. She ignored him.

"I, Hanabi Hyuuga, head of the Hyuuga clan decree as my first act as clan head to remove the Hyuuga cursed seal from all members of the branch family. Our family shall no longer be divided into slaves and masters. Therefore putting that seal on anyone is from now on to be considered an act of slavery and punishable by death."

There were actually some cheers among the usually very dignified crowd of Hyuuga.

"I know about the necessity to protect our bloodline and we will ask the seal masters of the village to create a new seal without the ability to control its bearer. But this new seal will be put on the whole Hyuuga clan and not only the branch family."

The new clan head smiled encouragingly towards the big group of Hyuugas.

"Now step forward so that elders and I can undo your seals."

An excited boy, about nine years old immediately ran forward and stopped right in front of her. Hanabi smiled at him. Then she took a kunai from her pockets, slashed her thumb and put her bloody finger on the youth's forehead. With a few one handed hand signs of her other hand she performed the secret jutsu she had found in her clan's library. The boy cringed a bit as he felt the seal dissolve, but when it was gone he smiled happily, hugged Hanabi and then ran towards his parents.

Nobody had tried to get their seal removed from the elders so far, but Hanabi had expected this. She put her hand on the forehead of the next branch member when someone swatted her hand away. It was her father.

"This farce ends now!"

Hanabi glared at him.

"There is nothing you can do, father. By law and customs of the Hyuuga clan nobody can object to a clan head's first decision."

"You are not the clan head Hanabi. You are a failure just like your sister."

The young Hyuuga would have laughed in her father's face if this matter wasn't too important. She had spent so many years of her life just for this moment and she wasn't going to let it all just be taken away.

"Father please trust me, this is for the good of the clan. Once our families are united we will be stronger."

"No Hanabi, my blinded child. You are hurting this clan more than you know. I have to stop you."

Hanabi's voice got an icy tone.

"Father if you stop me now you would go against one of the most sacred traditions of our clan. You would throw away your honor, that you hold in such high regards, just for the feeling to have power over this people. It would make you a hypocrite."

Her father's face became really thoughtful for a while and Hanabi hoped she had managed to convinced him. But then his expression turned hard again.

"Hanabi Hyuuga, for pretending to be the Hyuuga clan head and attempting to start a rebellion against the council of elders we put you under arrest."

Hanabi now had tears in her eyes as she wondered how this could have happened.

"Take her away!"

Hanabi noticed that the members of the branch family stepped close to her. But in her upset state she didn't realize that they were shielding her instead of apprehending her. Then five of the branch members attacked the elders and they were immediately stopped as their curse marks activated. But the elders didn't stop there and everyone could see they were about to kill the attackers to make an example out of them. This brought Hanabi back to reality.

"No!"

With a scream she threw herself against the elders and managed to kill three of them before she was surrounded and incapacitated. She never noticed that others had followed her charge as well.

Three hours later Danzo stared in disbelief at the ANBU who had finished his report about the events at the Hyuuga compound. The fact that Hanabi Hyuuga had fooled them all was a surprise, but it was something he could have dealt with. She might have been a tough opponent during council meetings, unlike the other current clan heads, but she still would have had to obey her Hokage.

But what Hiashi Hyuuga had done was inexcusable. Thirty members of the branch family and three elders had died during the short revolt. They had for the most part been shinobi in their best years, even four ANBU were among them. In just one day they had lost two thirds of the clan's active shinobi.

Hiruzen would have probably arrested Hiashi and the rest of the Hyuuga elder council immediately and reinstated Hanabi as clan head, but Danzo couldn't do this. He couldn't risk to further weaken the clan. Danzo stormed out of the office and headed to the dungeons in the village's prison. He needed something, or someone rather, to vent his anger.

Three days later

A terrible sandstorm blew through the Suna desert. Normally even the most experienced shinobi squads would seek shelter under these conditions, but the group of genin under the command of Jonin Jun Hishimari had found tracks in the sand right before the storm hit them. Jun had seen immediately from the distance between the tracks that the person must have been a shinobi. Now they had zero visibility thanks to the storm and Jun hoped the person they had been chasing had stopped and looked for shelter. He was certain of his ability to keep going in one direction even under this conditions, but if their target wandered off track they had no way to find him or her. In the next moment Jun almost stepped on a body lying face first in the sand. Jun gave a signal and his genin immediately started building a shelter against the storm.

The jonin took a closer look at the stranger. He was definitely male even though he had long dark hair and he was dressed in some kind of kimono. Jun turned him around and saw the signs of dehydration and terrible sunburns on his face, but he was still alive. Around his forehead was a Konoha headband. Jun wondered what had driven this shinobi to come to the desert so unprepared.

The Suna shinobi grabbed for his water bottle, uncorked it and poured the liquid into the stranger's mouth. The man slowly came to and coughed up sand and water. Jun waited till he was done and then gave him more to drink, which the stranger swallowed greedily. When the bottle was empty Jun put it away and tried to get some information. The man however was visibly close to lose in his efforts to stay awake, so Jun slapped his face a few times to keep him conscious.

"Who are you?"

"N-Neji H-Hyu."

"Hyuuga. I can see that thanks to your eyes. What is your business here in Suna, Hyuuga? Konoha shinobi aren't exactly welcome here anymore."

"N-need to sss-sss Hn-Hn-nata."

Neji groaned and lost consciousness. The experienced Jonin's face became thoughtful.

"Sensei do you know what he wants?"

"Of course. He wants to speak to someone specific. I know only one former Hyuuga that lives outside of Konoha and to our luck her first name is Hinata."

The eyes of two members of his genin squad went wide as they realized who their sensei was talking about. The third one had no clue.

"Who is she?"

Jun sighed because of the boy's lack in general knowledge.

"The Empress of the Western Empire."

A/N:

Wow, I can be a mean bastard to beloved characters. And having chapter 13 be a complete catastrophe story wise is a fun little coincidence.