TimeShifter: Excellent guesses, but I'll leave a bit of mystery going into the next arc. One thing though, Hawk is a girl and as of yet unrevealed.
samueltm2: For some odd reason, I'm enjoying giving Naruto a hard time...
J'aime Manga: Ah, thank you. I'll try not to get a swelled head. After all, I am having some transparency issues as others will attest. I do hope you continue enjoying, especially as things get much more intense next arc.
Chapter 18:
Demons Retrieval
Hinata stared dumbfounded at Hitohana's sudden explanation. "I-I was the bait?" If she wasn't already seated, she knew her knees would be weak. If the revelation wasn't another falsehood, Hizashi was killed because her own father had been the intended target.
The elder shinobi nodded. "Even if you won't believe me, I'm not one to lie, let alone mince words. I have no reason not to tell you, and have been ordered the opposite in fact. I was chosen by Raikage-sama to serve as diplomat for one reason and one reason alone. I am loyal to Kumo and hold her interests strongest."
He paused to stand erect and rested his potent eyes on the Hyuuga heiress. "Right now, that means I forget old grievances, offer any necessary accommodations, and ensure Konoha joins us in eliminating a common threat." He set his eyes on the buxom blond seated behind her authoritative desk. "Does everybody know?"
He waited for her affirmative nod before continuing. "As Hokage-sama's assistant, I can understand your knowledge." His glare fixated on Shizune for half a second before returning to Hinata. "I haven't quite figured your connection yet, but it's no matter. Hyuuga scion, Raikage-sama holds blood relation to one Akatsuki targeted and killed."
She nodded, not quite understanding what he was getting at. "My point is…" The elder shinobi continued. "…Raikage-sama wants revenge. Unfortunately, Akatsuki is too powerful an organization to go after alone. No single village can handle them, and Konoha is no exception. I did not come here for tomfoolery. I don't honestly need your trust, but the combined effort would be served greater with Hyuuga assistance."
Hinata looked on in slight astonishment. Hitohana admitted nothing short of his own village's weakness. Admittedly, it was a weakness other villages shared. At least that's what he believed. Akatsuki was indeed a powerful organization. She had felt the weight of some of that power in Orochimaru's Oto, and even she'd heard whispers of how the great snake sannin feared his former comrades.
"You said…I was just bait." She managed to nervously speak without stutter. "What was the plan, then? How were you going to get at my tou-san through me?" She thought she might know the answer, but she wanted to hear an actual witness to the plan's birth.
Hitohana bowed his head in acquiescence. "Your kidnapper and I were the previous Raikage's most trusted advisors. Even so, I couldn't think of any means to prevent the civil war I knew was coming. If we fulfilled his desires, Kumo would have a war on two fronts, itself and Konoha." He paused. "…a war we could not win."
"The man who kidnapped you was no Juunihana no Kumo, but he was still considered quite strong and capable. It would have been nothing for him to sneak in, take you, and sneak out without notice. He was also an advisor for a reason, not to mention considered a leading ninja. He, as I, was present at the war council when the plan to kidnap a Hyuuga was laid out."
He sighed recalling the meeting. "The clans were split, and the rising star of our village was opposed to the previous Raikage's plan. He is our current Raikage-sama, by the way. In either failure or success, kidnapping a toddler ensured irreparable fissures between those supporting and those opposing. Your kidnapper had a plan."
"He presented a revised kidnapping plan at the next advisory meeting, before the previous Raikage and me. In it, he sacrificed himself to ensure Hyuuga Hiashi's capture. He managed to sneak in without being noticed, but he flared his chakra in your bedchambers. He then left a trail of breadcrumbs to be followed."
Hitohana held up his hand and started lifting a finger as he made a point. "There were several factors in his favor. One, the main and branch quarters were separated ensuring the only branch who felt his presence were night watch and maids. Two, he didn't have to worry over a pregnant matriarch. Three, the patriarch would be very, very mad that an unknown was in his scion's sleeping quarters."
Hinata's face turned downcast. "My kidnapper only had to worry about tou-san. He didn't stop when he saw tou-san out of fear or surprise. He stopped because that was part of the plan." She returned her eyes to the elder Kumo shinobi to see his affirmative nod.
"Yes, and it was a trap the patriarch couldn't escape." Hitohana spoke respectfully of Hiashi. "I have no doubt he loved his scion and couldn't bear to see his matriarch saddened. He might have known it was a trap even as he rushed forward and his target made no move to block or evade. With the leader of the peace delegation dead, retribution was demanded."
Hinata nodded. She knew the rest of the story all too well. Her cousin, Neji, hated her for countless years before he learned the truth, and had some sensed knocked into him by the number one, hyperactive, knuckleheaded, blond ninja. She was about to say something when he spoke up again.
"As I said, I need old grievances to be forgotten. Even if it's temporary, the Hyuuga's grievances with Kumo work against any alliance. As such, I am allowed to offer accommodations. As we wrongfully took the head of Hyuuga Hizashi, we offer the head of his relative Aijsai, a member of the Juunihana no Kumo."
Hinata's eyes widened as she stood and stomped a foot. "No! I will not dishonor Hizashi-ojisan like that!" She turned her gaze intently to the floor and clenched her fists. "There-There's been enough bloodshed already." She shook her head and stared directly into those sickly eyes. "I am a loyal shinobi of the leaf, and I will do what is in the best interest of my village!"
Hitohana took one look at the adamant stance before turning towards Tsunade. "I trust I've answered all questions adequately. The Hyuuga scion now knows the truth, and I'm sure you understand my delay. If the Hyuuga scion would like to add anything, however…"
With a sigh, Hinata contemplated everything. In all likelihood, Tsunade wanted the full debriefing after her conference with the Kumo delegate. She wanted to attend to Shion and Momiji to make sure they acclimated well to Konoha for their visit. With a bob of her head and resolve, she looked to her superior. "No Hokage-sama, I have nothing to add now. I'll give my full report when you're ready to debrief Demons-sama and me."
Tsunade nodded and dismissed the young heiress. She was glad the shy girl was as capable at keeping her head as others in her clan. With her departure, the slug sannin turned to her guest. "Hitohana, I can understand Raikage-sama's urgency in this matter, but it is rather unusual that he actually sent a representative rather than discuss everything at the Shadow Council."
Hitohana nodded as he affixed his sickly eyes on Konoha's esteemed leader. "Unusual as it might be; it is also highly necessary. As I said, my mission involves grievances and accommodations. My utmost loyalty is to Kumo, and a grave sin has been committed. Hokage-sama, I hope you understand that, right now, Kumo hates Uchiha Sasuke and the organization he worked for."
Tsunade sighed. First, he worked for the snake sannin and his Oto. Now of all things, he'd been recruited by an even more fearsome organization. "I wanted to try capturing the last Uchiha alive, but I suppose I have little hope of that now. You are, after all, requesting permission to hunt him exclusively."
With a nod, the elder shinobi expressed his understanding. "Of course, I'm sure you still consider the Sharingan a valuable asset to your village. They were a founding clan, and their kekkei genkai has brought Konoha both glory and clientele. However, he attacked Kira Bii for no other purpose than to extract that which is contained within him. All Akatsuki members are to be hunted as criminals for much the same, so the last Uchiha scion will receive no better treatment."
The aged medic set her chin atop steepled hands. The news was going to be hardest to break to Kakashi's team. The copy nin himself would take it as part of the job. He'd grieve, but he wouldn't purposely disrupt much longed for peace. "I can no longer justify his actions. Though he fought and nearly killed one of our shinobi, he spared him in the end. He also was the one to end Orochimaru's terror, an unexpected boon." She sighed. "I'll allow your request."
The elder shinobi expressed his thanks with a deep bow. "Thank you for your understanding, Hokage-sama. Raikage-sama appreciates your cooperation." He stood erect and focused his sickly eyes on Konoha's leader once more. "There is much to discuss, and we have little time. According to our sources, Akatsuki is on the move."
An army of blond, blue eyed clones faced down their adversary. A lone blond stood against them. His eyes, though blue, looked vaguely toad-like as he stood in the familiar battle stance the elder toad taught him. The clones rushed forward, and the lone warrior tensed.
The first clones to reach the lone warrior exploded as they came in contact with the first attack. As displaced air rushed into the collapsed space, the newest senjutsu master looked out on his quarry, nearly one thousand replicas of himself.
Fukusaku never said it out loud, but he was proud of the progress Jiraiya's 'destined child' had made. Uzumaki Naruto was as surprising as his reputation. He had mastered the Rasengan to such an extent that he had large, small, and elemental variations of it. In fact, the elder toad watched as the clones backed away from the largest variation as it managed to stay in existence even after wiping out an entire column.
"Not enough…" Naruto groused as he released his attack and rushed forward. In sage mode, he could sense chakra as he never could. He almost felt like he could predict movements by paying attention to where or how it was flowing. He knew it was impossible, though. His latest sensei told him senjutsu couldn't be used that way.
He pressed forward and another few dozen clones dispersed. Hoping to take advantage of momentary blindness, more moved in only to be slaughtered. "Not enough…" The original complained as he created another swirling, compact ball of death. He drove it forward like a sword and plowed through another rush of clones.
Fukusaku shook his head. His latest protégé never thought his clone army was enough. He could wipe out all one thousand in a matter of minutes and never take a hit. He complained that senjutsu would make any normal, sane opponent he might face flee in abject terror. He wasn't facing either normal or sane opponents in Akatsuki.
He also contemplated something else as he listened to displaced air rush back into place as clones popped out of existence. Kyuubi no Kitsune, a bijuu who could exude fear, was frightened of the terrorist organization. Though admittedly, the loud blond had somehow managed to keep the terrible beast from taking over even in some extreme emotional conditions.
Fukusaku came to a sad realization as the last few clones popped out of existence and looked on a barely winded Naruto. The hyperactive blond was no longer his best training partner. With a sigh, the elder toad turned around to fetch his last resort. It heard senjutsu-based clones pop into existence as he made his way from the training area. "Well tadpole, let's say we step things up a bit."
Hinata was sitting with Shion and Momiji in a high class restaurant. It was the priestess daimyo's request, and the shy heiress saw no reason to deny it. As they sat down, a waitress was more interested in cooing over the young red-head than taking their orders. Neither teenage minded, and they laughed slightly as the overly shy child blushed profusely and sunk into herself.
When the waitress finally took their orders and disappeared to fulfill them, the heiress and daimyo decided to talk. Momiji was given some crayons and color-by-number puzzle, so she was engrossed in her own thing. Besides, the teens knew their discussion would bore the child to tears.
They talked about the events of the past few weeks and exactly how to talk about the attack on the royal caravan. Though they were going to hide nothing from Tsunade, they wanted to confirm each others' stories. They knew they had a while since official business was being discussed between two villages.
When their meals came, they had to carefully watch the red-headed child as they ate. At times, one or the other would break from their food and discussion to assist the three-year-old girl. Her face would quickly become a mess; though, she was behaved enough not to toss food around.
With their hunger satiated, they left the restaurant. Momiji walked, as usual, hand-in-hand with Shion. From time to time, she would thoughtfully peer about with a finger in her mouth. If anybody got too close to her, she ducked behind her adoptive mother's leg. If she couldn't hide there, she somehow managed to dash between Hinata's instead.
"Where will you be staying while visiting?" Hinata asked on a whim. She was curious because she wanted to be able to see the red-headed girl. She was only slightly less enthusiastic about seeing her new friend and rival.
"Hmm?" Shion looked on in thought for a moment. "I guess I'll stay at a hotel until my fiancée returns." She hadn't really concerned herself with the details. That was Mizukura's job, anyway.
Hinata looked up in thought for a moment. There were many splendid hotels in Konoha. She couldn't deny that fact. She, however, decided on another course of action. "Well, I'm sure the hotels will be full enough with all your soldiers...unless they decide to make camp outside Konoha. Anyway, there are plenty of guest rooms at the Hyuuga estate. Why not spend some time there?"
She was surprised by the sudden and grateful reaction. Shion managed to appear in front of the shy heiress with a speed a civilian shouldn't have. She grasped her hands in her own as a sparkle came to her eyes. "You mean it! I've heard the Hyuuga estates are lavish and comparable to most daimyo's!"
Her excitement seemed to rub off on Momiji. "Really, nee-chi! Really, really?!" She was nearly jumping up and down as she clasped her tiny hands into fists. When she saw the surprised heiress nervously nod her head, she really did jump as she shouted her excitement and thanks.
Hawk picked that moment to appear, kneeling in a proper bow to two she recognized as authority figures. "Hinata-sama, Demons-sama, Hokage-sama informed me she will see you one hour from now." She looked to the two and Momiji in turn. "If you wish, I can ensure preparations for Demons-sama stay."
Hinata wasn't surprised to see the ANBU captain suddenly appear. Shion was slightly startled but otherwise okay. Momiji, though, was cowering behind her adoptive mother's legs. In her eyes shone a mix of awe and fear, mostly the latter. Hawk would have berated herself for frightening the child if she had time to worry about it. Just as quickly and silently as she appeared, she melded into the shadows and out of view.
"Well, we have some time. How about going to the park?" Hinata knew there were several parks, but she knew the perfect one to bring Momiji to.
"Sounds wonderful." Shion picked the small girl up and followed her friend and rival. A day at the park sounded like exactly what Momiji needed. Besides, a village as large as Konoha was bound to have plenty of children the red-headed girl's age to play with.
As they made their way to the park, Shion noticed Hinata look around every once in a while. With the park in sight, the shy heiress let out an exasperated sigh. As she came to a stop, the priestess daimyo followed suit. She looked around confused before she heard a loud, familiar voice.
"See, I told you she had returned with company in tow. You did not believe me." Lee approached with Kiba, Akamaru, Shino, Chouji, and Ino. He practically ran the last few strides before coming to stop in front of the three girls with a massive grin and salute. "It is good to see you again, Shion-sama. What brings you to our lovely village?" Perhaps thankfully, he hadn't yet noticed the timid girl trying to sink into Shion's chest.
Ino heaved a heavy sigh. "Would you give it a rest, Lee? We never said we didn't believe you, and Kiba was there with you when they all arrived." She paused as she came to a stop to cross her arms over her chest and look on the scene. "Besides, what I said was that I doubted the Demons garrison was allowed through the gates; at least so quickly."
"Yeah, but I still don't see why you had to drag us all away." He munched on chips as he backed his teammate up. "We just got back from a mission and were on our way for a debriefing."
Shino politely nodded towards Hinata as he came to stand next to her. He raised a brow when he spied the obviously frightened child, and he could tell from his insects' reports that she was quite timid. Kiba seemed to sense it too because he placed a hand on his friend's should before pointing her out. "Hey, who's the runt?"
Shion was incensed. She didn't understand the Inuzuka clan ways and misunderstood him. "She's not a runt! She's my precious daughter, Momiji!" She held her adoptive child more protectively as Hinata shook her head, forehead in palm. All around, faces were perplexed.
Lee, however, had a fire in his eyes. "Oh, the flames of youth are so strong!" He looked at the red-headed child, managing to frighten her further. "She looks like a splendid child, and I bet her youthfulness will blossom like a rare rose!" In a sudden bout of curiosity winning over his usual boisterous nature, he asked a question. "Who's the father?"
In a panic, Hinata almost managed to cover Shion's mouth. The priestess daimyo managed to speak first, however. "Oh, Naruto's her papa...oh-oomph!" She blinked as her mouth was covered and watched the expressions on everybody's faces drop, except the stoic Shino.
Hinata managed a nervous chuckle before making her suggestion. "L-Let's go to the park. We'll explain everything there." She was relieved when they all nodded in acceptance, but she was less enthusiastic as she noticed an insect silently crawl into the clothes of each of her charges.
"Yes, I'd like to hear about this, too." Her eyes widened as she spun around to see Neji walking up with Tenten, Shikamaru, and Temari. It was her cousin who spoke. He was almost past them before he spoke again. "Let's not delay here too long. You'll only attract a larger crowd."
Hinata looked dejected. Only one thing could make her mood worse. She felt an arm wrap around her shoulders and saw pink flash in her peripheral vision. "Yeah, come on, let's go!" Things got worse, and Sakura somewhat forcefully dragged Hinata to catch up with everyone.
Hinata introduced Shion and Momiji to everybody. Shion encouraged Momiji to go into the park to play before she cleared her throat to tell the tale everybody awaited anxiously. Even Hinata was anxious to hear. She only knew that Momiji was not Shion's natural daughter, and she had the ability to 'speak' with animals. The priestess daimyo cleared her throat to capture everybody's undivided attention.
Sasame carefully weaved her medical threads over Gayt's armor. He kept his quiet gaze on her as he simply observed. She was slightly nervous about the flickering Star. The fleck of light seemed to flash red. "I wonder if that means she's angry. For that matter, she might be jealous if she's a girl... Gayt always refers to Star as 'her' even if he can't really answer any questions."
It wasn't her first time checking up on the quiet man with a powerful presence. She still couldn't sense his chakra, but she was used to him. She could tell when he was there and when he wasn't. She was also getting a feel for Star and her moods. It was odd for her to acknowledge it, but it made her feel like she was making progress.
They were still the most mysterious beings she had ever met. She couldn't bring herself to think of either of them as human. Gayt moved swiftly in his armor and pulled of some amazing techniques, yet he, as her analysis once more indicated, had no discernable chakra. Star, on the other hand, traveled as little more than a fleck of light only her stout companion could understand, or even hear.
As she ended her technique with a heavy sigh, Gayt finally spoke up. She was still curious how he managed to maintain a deadpan tone with his overemotional companion. "Is there any change?" He studied her for a moment, silently acquiring his answer. "I see."
As he rose, Sasame stopped him. "Wait!" He halted once he was fully erect. She rushed forward with a pleading face only for Star to come between them. With a sigh, she rolled her eyes and continued anyway. "Why don't you...How don't you have any chakra? It's like you're not even alive..." She trailed off not sure if he'd be insulted.
"I don't know." His response was laden with no malice or hesitation.
"Huh?" His mater-of-fact tone confused her.
He turned his gaze fully upon her, and she almost made out his eyes in the barren darkness of his helm. Star flickered angrily between them. "As I said, I do not know. I simply remember awaking in a forest when Kanaeru-sama found me. I remember her treating my wounds and applying this armor to me. I became her kousotsu as thanks."
Sasame nodded. She had never asked, so he never volunteered the information. She decided to press forward, perhaps enlighten herself to the situation. "The armor is very intricate, and I can feel power emanating off the seals adorning it." She paused to collect her thoughts. "My medical threads tell me it's drawing chakra into its...or your core."
Gayt nodded. "Yes, that's the purpose of the armor. Eventually, I should be restored, mind and body." He found no reason to hide the information, and he wasn't surprised by the stunned expression the medic wore. "It is not something I expect you to understand. All that you need to know is that this armor protects me as it painstakingly restores me."
She slowly nodded before looking over her shoulder to the tent Kanaeru and Isaribi occupied. She was beginning to wonder if she had gotten in over her head in volunteering to oversee the armored man's health.
Isaribi looked over the 'map' Kanaeru was just finishing up. "Will this really work?" She was curious as she compared Minato's notes to the massive Fuuin. She was no seal master, but she did care for Naruto's safety.
Kanaeru waved the question off with a laugh. "Of course it will! They don't label just anybody a sumitsuki, after all." She applied the finishing touches before leaning back to scrutinize her own work. "It's a masterpiece only a Fuuin master of my caliber could complete."
Konoha's latest spymaster arched a brow. "Are you sure you're not getting too full of yourself?" She was amused that the two members of the Uzumaki she knew resembled each other so much in personality.
The red-headed kunoichi puffed her chest and made a show of patting one side. "I'm a proud sumitsuki of the Uzumaki clan! When it involves family, we don't make mistakes." She pointed to one section of the massive seal. "This part here's the key, though. Without it, Naruto can't properly balance Kyuubi's chakra with his own."
Isaribi considered the portion for a moment before commenting. "It's the center of the array." Her realization brought her further confusion. "I thought it was more important to separate the Kyuubi's mind and negativity. It's done a lot of harm to him in the past, and I imagine it'll only get worse." She heard a chuckle and looked at her companion oddly. "What's so funny?"
Kanaeru shook her head. "Nothing, nothing..." She paused to lean in. "Want to know a secret?" A smirk crossed her lips when she saw the affirmative nod. "When this seal takes over, it's going to be a lot easier for Naruto and Kyuubi to talk with each other." The expression on the mutated girl's face almost made her fall over laughing.
"No!" She was nearly frantic. "You can't do that! Naruto's already had it hard enough! If you let... Hey, stop laughing!" She puffed her cheeks and planted her hands on her hips as she was ignored. When her elder finally calmed down, she continued. "If you let Kyuubi communicate more freely with Naruto, it'll only cause more trouble."
The Whirlpool shinobi remained quiet with her confident smirk as she rolled up and sealed the scroll the array was laid out on. "I think you'll have a change of heart after you see the results." She opened the tent flap and walked out. She was going to spar with Gayt to keep her body and mind in shape, a daily routine.
Left behind to contemplate, Isaribi added to Kanaeru's retreating form. "I certainly hope so. I've grown rather fond of Konoha. When I was saved by Naruto, Shino, and Ino, I never thought I'd learn to accept myself or people again..." With a sigh, she decided to leave the tent and observe the spar. At the very least, they had interesting fighting styles.
Well outside Konoha, a man in a swirling, orange mask looked into a puddle. A shadowed figure looked up at him as it rippled under the immense chakra. "The eldest two are dead, but I've left the younger two alive for the moment." The voice was gruff like an old soldier.
Madara left his idiot persona behind for the moment, even with the mask on. "That wasn't your task. I asked you to kill all four of them." He was displeased, but he already knew why his exact orders weren't carried out.
The shadow nodded his head. "I know. However, I am under heavy surveillance. I can't move freely, and I think their kekkei genkai will come in handy."
The immortal took in and exhaled a deep breath; though, he did not sigh. It was exactly as he had expected. "Pein will be attacking soon. There's no guarantee they will survive, and they might become threats. I command you to remove all threats to my plans."
The shadow paused to consider his orders before nodding his head. "If you are concerned about threats, they are nothing compared to a new development. An alliance is being formed against your plans, and it might be enough to disrupt them too prematurely."
The eye visible through his mask's hole twitched. "You cannot allow the alliance to be forged. Do whatever you can to crush it. I want this problem nipped in the bud, and I mean immediately!" He paused to consider his exact orders for a moment. "Be creative, but ensure one party or the other will never again consider talks."
With a bow, the shadow in the puddle disappeared. Madara was left alone to consider everything that had happened. He still held the most powerful pieces, and nobody had caught onto his true intentions. He intended to keep it that way.
He turned around before disappearing in a swirl of leaves. When he reappeared, he was in a cave already occupied by two shadows. He looked at them with satisfaction. "Are you two almost ready?" He was tired of waiting, but two of his toughest pieces were almost ready to move.
The six 'realms' of Pein surrounded a sickly figure held aloft by an ancient machine. By his side, Konan stood as serene as ever. The sickly figure lifted his thin, pale face to look the seeming immortal in the eyes. "I'm recuperating my energy from the move." He paused to suck in air. "Soon Konoha will feel true pain."
Satisfied with the answer, Madara nodded. "There is one more threat to eliminate. While your 'realms' are sweeping the village for the Kyuubi, that threat will be taken care of." He paused to reflect on a recent failing. "I'm tired of mistakes. If you can't capture Kyuubi because he isn't there, fine. However, don't return without the prize if he shows up."
The sickly figure nodded in understanding. He wanted the coming victory as much as the immortal. He would finally visit Pein upon the denizens of the shinobi world, starting with its most powerful state. "I mean no disrespect, but could you leave me to contemplate how to leave the most pain upon the spite-filled shinobi of Konoha."
Madara smirked underneath his mask. "Oh, I'm sure I'll enjoy this. He's already imagining how pain equals Pein." He resisted chuckling as he held his hands in a simple hand sign. "Do not disappoint me, partner." He disappeared in a swirl of leaves to leave his two companions alone.
Konan turned to the sickly figure. "Nagato, are you sure we can trust him?" She had her suspicions and brought them up with her childhood friend, but she never dared defy any orders given her. As long as Nagato was safe, she was fine.
He rested his tired eyes on his 'angel' messenger. "The world will soon find salvation. Though it will suffer Pein, peace will finally outweigh injustice. Shinobi are the root of this world's injustice, and Pein is not blind. We can trust him because he has seen pain and injustice."
She nodded. She couldn't argue with him. Since they lost Yahiko, she had watched him slowly deteriorate into his sickly almost anorexic state. His six 'realms' were developed as both his ultimate defense and ultimate offense. Even their sensei, the mighty toad sannin Jiraiya, fell to their awesome power. She placed all her faith in Nagato a long time ago.
Rikka stood before her classmates as she introduced herself. Very few students knew what adorned her shoulders or midriff, but those who did wore expressions of shock and confusion. She stood with a level of confidence nobody else had, and she looked utterly bored.
For a number of reasons, she was an instant hit in the classroom. She was mysterious. Her past was veiled, and nobody knew the reason for her tattoos. She was ranked at the top of the class because of the skills she demonstrated. To them, she was incredibly mature for her age and had sharp eyes.
Iruka shook his head as Yuuhi Rikka, the last student to introduce herself, took her seat at the back of the class. It was always the 'brooding' ones who captured the attention and imagination of the class. As he started his lessons, he wondered if there was anything new he could actually teach the late addition.
Three human-sized toads rushed in with weapons drawn. Naruto looked on calmly as he easily slid into his stance. He recognized the toads; though, they weren't related to Gamabunta...directly anyway. He waited for them as they progressed forward, slipping into a wedge formation. He noted their positions.
The spear-wielding toad bore a striking resemblance to a poison dart frog, a comparison he hated. He was in the center of the wedge, the proposed first contact. He had most balanced offense and defense, and he boasted the longest reach with his impressive weapon.
The axe-wielding toad bore a striking similarity to Gamakitchi. His body was a light shade of forest green, and his highlights were a dark orange bordering on brown. He was heavy on offense with a very short reach. He was obviously the bruiser meant to leap in at a moment's notice from the left.
The sword-wielding toad looked like a cane toad; light yellowish-brown with dark brown speckles. She was extremely agile with the best defense. Approaching from the right, she was obviously meant to make openings and step in when dodging, countering, and parrying were most important.
Naruto smirked. He hadn't gotten a workout quite to this extent in a while. The there of them might be nothing compared to Pein, even combined, but they were a better solution than constantly sparring his clone hordes. He watched and waited, and he struck with a flourish of motion.
He allowed the spear-wielder to be first. He ducked under the initial swing to send a bone-jarring uppercut into his jaw. He wasn't surprised when the sword-wielder slid between them and parried his blow away. He barely jumped back to avoid a powerful downward swing from the axe-wielder. A smirk crossed his face as he concentrated on a hidden, open palm.
The toads jumped back into formation when they felt the vacuum from behind the blond shinobi. They knew what it meant. They'd felt the effects plenty of times while fighting alongside Jiraiya and, later, the tadpole before them. They also knew they couldn't let him complete the technique.
They sprang forward. The spear came down fast, forcing Naruto to backpedal. The axe came down hard behind him, nearly grazing him and mowing his back. The sword sang as it nearly cut his cheek, prepared in ambush. The entire time, the blond shinobi's smirk grew. They provided a much better challenge than his clones!
It was too late, however. The Rasengan completed, and he pushed it forward. Knowing it was best to defend, the sword-wielder jumped in front to hold off the attack with her weapon. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, the spear-wielder attempted to bring their adversary's feet out from under him.
Naruto jumped, and the axe-wielder was ready. He swung in a well-aimed vertical strike. The blond was forced to spin in midair, but he kept feeding chakra to his spiraling sphere of death. He kept his concentration as he shifted his weight expertly and came down behind the she-toad.
With a shrill cry, she leapt away grasping her shoulder. No blood was drawn, but she had barely gotten away before the powerful sphere could blast her away. "Ugh, my shoulder's dislocated. Yusuke, Kuwabara, you'll have to handle him for a bit."
Kuwabara, the poison dart frog who was actually a toad, nodded to the cane toad. Yusuke, Gamakitchi's lookalike, heaved a breath. "You've gotta be more careful Keiko." He looked directly at her. "You're our best defense, can't be balanced without you."
Keiko rolled her eyes and pointed ahead. Naruto was already rushing them. "Don't forget about me!" He might be easily distracted when his friends were in trouble, but he wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of an opening.
Without their sword, the spear and axe had a lot more difficulty. They no longer had the dexterity to drive the blond off, so they had to rely on reach instead. Their balance disrupted, Naruto slipped inside their defenses and resorted to Uzumaki Naruto Rendan. He targeted Kuwabara to remove the reach.
The poison dart frog lookalike hit the ground with a resounding thud. He coughed loudly as the wind was knocked out of him before shakily raising a thumbs-up to indicate he was alive...and promptly fell unconscious. The Gamakitchi lookalike was forced to jump back from further retaliation.
He landed next to the cane toad. "Well Keiko, this doesn't look so good. The tadpole's really improved since the last time we sparred with him." He held his axe defensively in front of him. He knew it was a weapon not designed to be used like that, but he still felt safer.
Naruto's smirk fell. "Come on guys!" He paused to wave his hands emphatically in the air. "I'm not even using my best moves!" He pouted. He didn't want to cause them permanent harm let alone kill them, but they were no comparison to members of Akatsuki if they couldn't force him to resign to them. If he could admit he needed his most powerful techniques, he could accept going full-strength in the spar.
Fukusaku had other plans. "That's quite enough, tadpoles." He looked to Keiko and Yusuke. "Why don't you help Kuwabara out? I'm sure you could all use some rest." They bowed with an affirmative and carried out their orders. The toad sage turned to Naruto and sighed.
"Really, what am I going to do about you? You have too much energy. The tadpoles can't match your strength, and the full-growns can't keep up. Our only advantage is our genjutsu, but that won't prepare you. After all, ma and I will be there to handle those." He released another sigh. "Your clones are also too weak, unless they also use senjutsu. You can use deadly force against them without fear, though."
Naruto rubbed his nose and let his fox grin take over his features. "Don't worry, Fukusaku-sensei! I'm ready for anything dumb-ol' Akatsuki can throw at me!" He was brimming with confidence. Though many a sensei had pounded it in as a bad habit, it was still something that brought out everybody's full potential
Fukusaku nodded with a grin of his own. "I've no doubt, tadpole. Now, let's get home to a scrumptious meal!" He heard his young disciple grown and thought nothing of it. He was hungry and expecting an enticing meal. He still didn't understand what Naruto didn't enjoy about their home cooking.
A small girl ran through the crowded street. She was no older than three, and her face was as brown of dirt as her dull hair. Her clothes were torn and dirty. They were little more than rags. She was covered in cuts, scrapes, bruises, and blood. She was franticly running to get away from something behind her, something dreadful.
The reactions of the people on the streets ranged from horror to fright to pity. The girl was a demon to the people of the small village, but she was still a young girl. Any children out and about were immediately pulled to safety. They were hidden not from the sight of a terrified girl but from a demon whose wrath might be unleashed at any moment.
A loud throng of torch and pitchfork bearers followed shortly in the girl's wake. They were slowed more by the crowds than she was, and she was able to gain much ground. Her limbs, however, were much shorter, and her stamina was running out. The bottomless well that always seemed to feed her couldn't replenish her worn muscles.
She started to stumble. She fell once, twice to skid across the ground. She pushed herself up, knees and palms bleeding. She had to get away. She heard cries of hatred. "Demon!" She heard. "You're just biding your time to bring your wrath to us!" She shuddered. "What did you tell those forest animals?!" She cried in terror, but she did not scream. No, her throat was too sore for a voice to escape.
She looked around to gaze at the building tops. Were her protectors going to save her again? Was her uncle going to spring into action any second? She could barely see through tear fogged eyes. She could only feel the street gravel on her bare feet as she pumped as much energy as she could into her worn muscles.
The streets were emptying. She could feel it. She never understood it, but she could always tell how many people were around and approximately where. There were buildings to either side of her, too tight to allow for alleys. People were inside, watching in fright or pity. She knew; she could feel it. Most were afraid of her, but a few did pity her plight.
She was trapped. There was nowhere to go but forward or back. If she went back, she was certain to meet death. The angry people with torches and pitchforks were back there. The innocent girl knew nothing of death, but she knew pain. She knew the pain they had inflicted and wanted to inflict. She kept running forward, feeling them shorten the distance with every passing second.
She knew people were up ahead, too. They hadn't seen her, so their feelings towards her were neutral. Would that change when they saw her? Were they her best hope? They were different people, too. She didn't recognize any of them, and one shone with unusual brightness. The unusual one was kind and gentle. It was a warm and bathing light to her weary body.
Somehow, she was able to pick up speed. The bottomless well fed her. It nearly overwhelmed her. She felt the energy surround her, and she saw red flicker around her. It was happening again. As her negativity grew, her powers increased, and she saw colors. She could tell something was different, though. She saw flecks of blue in her peripheral vision. What was happening?
She saw the new people as an arrow barely missed grazing her. She saw soldiers. She heaved, but she continued forward. If she was going to have to get through them to meet the amazingly bright person and only possible chance of salvation, she would. As fresh tears streamed down her face from ducts she thought dry, she wondered what the soldiers would ultimately do.
They looked at her. They felt neutral. They looked at the crowd behind her. They felt enraged. What was that? They weren't angry or horrified of her? They were, instead, angered by the crowd behind her? It was a new and alien experience. Only her protectors ever cared about her. Only her protectors ever drove off the scary people.
She felt the amazingly bright person break from behind the soldiers. She suddenly felt protective arms around her and dreadful weight off her tired feet and strained muscles. She shuddered reflexively in the arms of the bright person. She felt kindness and gentleness direct towards her even as she felt rage directed towards the crowd. "I like this bright person..."
"Why are you protecting that demon?!" She shuddered. "She's none of your concern! Leave her be!" She heard. "She was telling the animals to attack our village! Our lives are in danger as long as that demon draws breath!" She cringed, and then she heard gasps. "Dai-Daimyo-sama!"
Daimyo-sama, what did that mean? The child had never heard such a phrase. She had also never heard nor felt such respect. It was directed towards the amazingly bright person. Instinctually, she held tighter and tried to sink into the incredible warmth. Then she felt a familiar presence; though, she dare not look in its direction. Her protectors were coming, and her uncle was leading them!
"What is this?" A woman's voice, the child recognized. The voice belonged to the warmest, brightest person she had ever felt. She was protected by that warmth. She was embraced by that brightness. "You dare raise such violence against a child?!"
"With all due respect Daimyo-sama, that child is a demon." A powerful man spoke, obviously the leader. The child didn't recognize his voice, so he probably chose to remain silent to conserve breath. "She talks with animals, waiting to invite disaster. Since that scourge has arrived, we've lost more crops and livestock."
The woman looked gently down to the child, but she couldn't see through fogged vision. She cringed when something came to close to her, but she recognized the softness as flesh. It felt like when uncle wiped her tears away. She instantly relaxed under the gentle caress even as her body convulsed under waning sobs. "Shush now child, you're safe with me. I won't let the bad men hurt you."
She couldn't talk, throat sore and aching. The child barely nodded her head as she hiccupped and convulsed. She was scared of the crowd, but she felt more reassured than ever in the kind woman's grasp. "Daimyo-sama must mean kind woman..." Her childish mind reasoned. She had no concept of honorifics.
"Shion-sama, shall I handle this crowd?" Another new man's voice spoke out. The child didn't feel the same kindness and warmth from him, but he held no negative emotions towards her. He was an oddity to her, completely neutral. She felt no formed opinions even after the cruel words of the crowd. No, she felt spite towards the angry crowd. She didn't understand.
"Try not to hurt anybody, Mizukura-taichou." The woman responded. The child grew confused. Did the woman have two names? Was one a title? Both names were spoken with the utmost respect. She felt her savior moving, backing away from the angry crowd and into the neutral soldiers. Neutral, they were neutral towards her.
The soldiers were soon joined by her protectors! The girl turned her head to see her uncle, brilliant red hair chaotically dancing atop his head, facing the angry crowd. The soldiers had stopped. She felt their confusion. Her uncle turned to look over his shoulder, confident his allies and her protectors could fend off the crowd if they decided to attack.
Her tearful eyes latched onto his brilliant red-green orbs. He was angry, angrier than he had been in a while. While he directed gentleness towards her, his rage was apparent and nearly overpowering. He turned his gaze towards the amazingly bright woman. "I thank you for your intervention Daimyo-sama. Shall I leave these ruffians to your men, then?"
The warm, bright woman nodded. The child watched as her protectors bowed and backed away from the coming scuffle. She felt their intentions. They were not going to interfere. She was confused, very confused. The events weren't unfolding as they usually did. Usually her protectors were able to arrive sooner and drive the bad men off. Now, she was protected by an amazingly bright woman who went by both Shion and daimyo. She wanted to feel the kind woman's warmth forever, and she felt her lids grow heavy from fatigue.
"After Mizukura handled the unruly crowd, I had a long talk with the child's protectors. They were late because they hadn't even noticed her missing. That child in those torn and dirty rags with skin and hair brown and dull from dirt and blood was my innocent Momo-chan."
Shion looked around the gathered crowd. Though she despised the story because it showed the worst of humanity, she was pleased with the reactions. The look of disgust was all she could see on the shinobi's faces. They truly were Naruto's friends. She knew they would understand.
Shikamaru stuck his hands in his pockets and settled and uneasy gaze on Momiji. She was sitting at the edge of the playground watching the other children play. She wasn't joining, and she even shied away from any invitations. He turned his unwavering attention to the daimyo priestess. The story was awfully familiar to Naruto's.
Temari was visibly shaking, from both fright and rage. She was disgusted at the treatment the innocent child had received, and she was reminded of her youngest brother's unjust treatment. She wanted little more than to take out her fan and wipe that disgusting village off the face of the planet.
Hinata and Neji looked at one another and nodded. They were going to take an opportunity to examine Momiji later. They looked to Sakura and Ino. The medics seemed to understand and provided assurance that they would do whatever was necessary.
Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru quietly walked closer to the red-headed child. She was in no danger in Konoha, but they weren't taking chances at the moment. They also figured that Akamaru would make a good playmate if she could communicate with animals. Chouji, the gentle soul he was, could only watch sadly as he wondered how to get the girl to be less timid.
Lee, for once, was dumbstruck enough to remain silent. His face expressed his sadness. Tenten resolved to ensure the innocent child was trained to defend herself. If she was going to be adopted by Shion and Naruto, there was little chance in her having a normal life even if she never returned to Demons.
The 'kidnapping ruse' idea actually came to me a while ago after watching the whole scenario again and reading a few fan fiction depictions of the events. Plus, there's no way the Raikage would want Konoha as an enemy while going after Akatsuki.
The toad names were out of boredom and laziness.
April 12 is Easter Sunday, and I will not be working on this fan fiction that week. As you might expect, that means three weeks until my next update instead of the usual two. I hope to have a release of Fate, Alchemy, and Bridges and/or Memoirs of a Hokage out during that time, however. On that note I have a warning ahead of time, I have a family reunion ("Christmas in July") in a rather easily guessed month. The same will apply then, but I'll still give a warning the update before I disappear.
A final plea, my poll regarding the name of Sasuke's team will be up for the final leg before I start the next arc. If you haven't already voted, don't assume the name you like will win! It's not story critical, but it is for aesthetics.
As always, reviews are appreciated, and flames outright ignored.
Story Word Count: 8,076
Story Page Count: 17
Terms and Jutsu:
Kumo no Juunihana - Twelve Flowers of the Cloud: Hitohana, Aijsai, Tsutsuji, and Kinofuji are all names of flowers. Though Momiji and Momo are also flowers, the red-head child is obviously not a member, nor is she from Kumo (therefore disqualified anyway). I thought you might enjoy this interesting factoid.