Hello, people. Long time no see... I hope you spend a good end of the year, and began 2012 without problems. I want to personally thanks all the people that followed my story in 2011, and hopefully, will continue in 2012. Especially my betas, Third Fang, ABitterPill, and Alpha142, for giving me their very precious help and support.
With the vacations, exams, other activities and the like, I unfortunately couldn't finish this chapter before now. Fortunately, the next one has been almost completed, and will probably be updated next week or so. So rejoice.
Traveler/Original Naruto: Kazama Arashi.
Puppeteer Naruto: Chibaku Arashi.
Werefox/Hybrid Naruto: Kitsune Arashi.
Female Naruto: Naruko Arashi.
Deceiver/Original Madara: Tsukiyomi.
Destroyer/Rinnegan Madara: Susanoo.
Warrior/Collector Madara: Amaterasu.
Disclaimer: I don't owe Naruto. I do not have the rights over a story of badass ninjas... I'm so broken.
Chapter Twenty: Wanderers
The sky was yellow.
Yellow, a sick, strange yellow. Not blue. Taking mental notes, Kuebiko briefly used a jutsu to test the atmosphere's composition. Unknown substances were involved, along with a very high percentage of water, which was strange, as there were no clouds. Absolutely lethal to humans and most species.
Fortunately, the traveler had a formidable protection. The shapeless white helmet he was wearing sustained him with purified air, allowing its wearer to survive the hostile environment.
"Reality-526," he said, his helmet recording his words and sending them to the scientist's colleague. "The atmosphere is completely unfit for humans, explaining why I have detected no hint of our species' existence on this planet." He observed his surroundings, endless plains of grey rocks. "The soil's composition is similar to the common Earth, but I have yet to find a life form. Any life form."
"Not even bacteria?" his partner, Fukuro, whispered to his ears, communicating through the helmet.
"None," Kuebiko replied, advancing toward a local hill made of salt and what looked to be concentrated calcium. "This whole rock seems to be a lifeless husk."
The other scientist grunted. "However, we have already seen various species adapting to much, much worse conditions. While human life can't live there, it can be the case for others species."
"I agree…" Kuebiko began to climb the cliff. "It is entirely possible life indeed existed on this world, until a critical event. A meteor impact, perhaps?"
"One big enough to wipe out every creature on a whole alternate Earth, even microscopic ones, would be multiple times bigger than the Moon," Fukuro chuckled. "There wouldn't be any planet left after this kind of cataclysm. Maybe a solar event?"
"I can't tell, I lack data," Kuebiko said, reaching the hill's top. "Has my suit sent you any noteworthy info?"
"No," the distant scientist replied. "Well… until now." He grunted. "Kuebiko, be wary, it's detecting a spike of alien chakra…"
"I sense it," the masked man cut in, staring above him. "It's very enormous. Prepare the next jump, just in case."
"My friend, not to be pessimistic, but you should jump right now. There's a big mass of chakra coming right at you and it's colossal!"
"I'll be ready," Kuebiko replied, before frowning. "Wait… what do you mean by mass of ch-WHAT IS THAT?" He shouted, observing a black mass descending from the skies.
"Kue, what the hell is happening?" His partner's voice was laced with concern, and rightfully so.
"I… I can't…" Kuebiko replied, observing the shapeless network of tentacles, eyes, horns, mouths, and strange appendages floating toward him. "I can't find the words to describe this… thing!"
"That's helping me a lot, thank you," the scientist deadpanned. "Can you be more precise?"
"Well… can you picture, in your mind, a squid and a human woman having a baby, which was born infected with cancer, transformed into a living tumor until it reached the size of a mountain?"
"Absolutely not."
"I envy you, as it is ten time worse." Using a jutsu, Kuebiko analyzed the creature's chakra. He instantly recognized its composition. "A Bijuu?"
"Not any Bijuu…" Fukuro stated darkly. "The first of them all, the great ancient…"
"The Juubi…" Kuebiko realized, the monster's thousands of mismatched eyes noticing him. He cursed. "By Izanagi's toilets…" Gritting his teeth in dread, the man touched his helmet, hoping he would escape in time. "JUMP!"
The Juubi began to shine like a living, ill sun, radiating nauseous, destructive chakra. Kuebiko's suit protected him from the toxic, malevolent power, and began to analyze it…
"Human chakra detected…" Kuebiko whispered, his eyes burning. "A Jinchuuriki…"
"The life disease…" A maddened male voice muttered in the scientist's mind, intruding it like a sentient and disgusting poison. "It must be cured… it must be burned…"
The Juubi's eyes snapped widely open, and unleashed a powerful beam of light at Kuebiko, intending to annihilate him. The scientist stayed motionless, facing death…
Less than a second later, the monster vanished, being replaced by a blue, beautiful sky full of clouds. The rocky desert and the hill were now a beach of shining sand, with crabs and birds walking on it. No human was around… A deserted island?
"Kue?" His partner's voice whispered through the helmet. "Kue, are you alright?"
"That was… one of the most horrifying experiences in my whole life," Kuebiko said. "I've seen worlds populated by monsters, but this creature was…"
"I can imagine," Fukuro muttered. "From what your suit have gathered, we can confirm it was a Jinchuuriki. Maybe the Sage of the Six Paths, I can't be positive."
"Impossible," Kuebiko replied. "He wouldn't-"
"First rule of physics: the absolute zero possibility doesn't exist in the Infinity, and since everything that can happen will happen, the impossible cannot be," Fukuro replied, quoting Kuebiko's own research. He, of course, knew his friend had learned them by heart. "Your statement would contradict everything we know about reality's splitting laws."
"Alright, alright, it's possible the Sage lost control of the Juubi. Happy?"
"Completely," Fukuro mocked him. "I suppose I classify that world as a Class-X world?"
"It would be madness to return there," Kuebiko agreed. "We can guess the diverging element was the Sage losing control of the Juubi, or something of the kind. We won't try to confirm it by investigating, so Vajra has to accept that explanation." The scientist observed his surroundings. "Where did you send me, exactly?"
"Reality-355, codename Responsible Jiraiya World. The diverging element was Jiraiya taking his responsibilities and adopting his godson, Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, after the Kyuubi Incident. Omoikane discovered it two years ago. It's a relatively stable and harmless place, hence why I teleported you there. You must be on an island near the Land of Fire's coasts."
"I see…" Kuebiko trailed off. "Could you make me jump back to the base? I'm kind of tired."
"Don't you want to take a break? It's a beautiful play- hey, what's that?"
"Problems?" The scientist asked to his friend.
"Your suit detected a spatial anomaly in this reality," Fukuro stated, transferring some data to the helmet. "A few miles away from you, in fact."
Raising an eyebrow, Kuebiko made a few hand-seals. "Extrasensory no Jutsu," he whispered, focusing on locating the anomaly. His mind, temporarily freed of the limits of the human body, quickly noticed the tear in the veil of reality. "It looks like a breach in space… I think. I can't be sure, I have never seen this kind of anomaly."
"Then go ahead and investigate," the other replied, as if it the most obvious thing in the world to do. He had, apparently, completely forgot about advising his partner to take a break…
"Prepare a jump, just in case," Kuebiko said, preparing a teleportation jutsu. "Who knows, another cosmic horror might be lurking around."
The Victim, Kitsune
"Hello, Naruto-kun," Hinata welcomed Kitsune in the Academy's courtyard, bowing slightly in front of him. "I hope you slept well."
"I did, Hinata-chan," he replied with a grin. "Even if I had strange dreams... And you?"
The Hyuuga heiress smiled slightly. "I dreamed of our graduation. We ended in the same team with Sasuke, under Itachi-sensei. Together, we passed the test with flying colors, become the best genin of the year." She stared at him. "You said you had strange dreams?"
"More like nightmares," Naruto replied, shuddering when he remembered the gruesome part where he became a monstrous fox and killed Sakura in the streets. He didn't inform Hinata of it; his friend had a fragile constitution and would be deeply disturbed. "In them, I was traveling in different realities."
"Different realities?"
"Imagine worlds where history changed slightly." He stared at the street, knowing Sasuke would soon come to school. "Like... what if I was born as a girl, and not a male, or what if Tsunade-hime had had a son with the Yondaime Hokage."
Hinata chuckled, amused. "It is hard to imagine that."
"More strangely, I met copies of myself," he laughed. "All special and unique. We hung out together and had crazy adventures... we even fought the legendary Madara." He chuckled. "He kicked our asses so hard it wasn't even funny."
"Really?" Hinata asked, putting her fingers on her mouth, horrified. "That's terrible."
"I awoke right after that," Naruto concluded. "Really, it was a strange dream." He frowned, trying to locate the Uchiha brothers among the people crossing the street. "What is Sasuke doing? He's never late."
"Maybe clan matters?" Hinata asked.
Naruto smiled. "You're the respected heiress of the Hyuuga. Your father views you as the next coming of Tsunade-hime, and yet you always manage to be right on time. Sasuke is just Itachi's little brother, he doesn't have work." He stared at the end corner of the street, hoping to see his friend...
Instead, two completely white eyes stared at him blankly.
A teen whose body was as black as night, save his white eyes, hair and mouth, was standing at the end of the street. His face was devoid of any emotion, and an unnatural aura was emanating from him. Naruto immediately recognized his features.
"Kazama?"
The figure had vanished.
"Naruto?" Hinata asked, taking his arm. "Are you alright? You are pale."
"It's... it's nothing," the boy replied, trying to understand what just happened.
The heiress frowned, obviously not believing him, but then tilted her head to the side. "Sasuke is there."
With a smile, Naruto stared at the incoming boy, who was accompanied by his elder brother. "Hey, Sasuke, you're late!"
"I needed sleep," the Uchiha replied with a smirk. "I'm sure you understand. After all, you made me wait one hour last time."
"That was an accident!" Naruto shouted. "My alarm didn't work!"
"Right," Sasuke snorted, while Hinata giggled.
"If this is all, I have work to do," Itachi stated, bowing slightly. "Naruto-san, Hinata-sama. Sasuke, have a nice day."
"You too, Itachi-aniki!" He shouted, as his brother disappeared faster than the eyes could follow.
"Class, it's time," Iruka announced.
"Right!" Naruto said, entering with his two best friends.
He smiled. He was Konohagakure's best rookie; he was loved by everyone; he had Sasuke and Hinata.
He had everything he ever wanted.
The traveler, Kazama
His eyes closed, Kazama focused on the world surrounding him, trying to visualize the energy in the air and earth. He tried to picture the woods, the trees, the soil…
The Azure Dragon knows the world is divided in two. In and Yo, Yin and Yang, negative and positive, darkness and light. The Azure Dragon is the ruler of the tempest because it does not master one, but both.
By separating the two-as-one, the Azure Dragon releases the primal power of lightning. His devout follower, by separating the Yin and Yang of his chakra, can command the Divine Lightning; by gathering it at his fingers and unleashing the celestial punishment at his enemies, the follower can destroy any target without fail.
To separate the Yin and Yang is a difficult task. The follower of the Azure Dragon must have a will of steel, and a total absence of trouble; the mind must be at peace, untroubled by the sensible and by emotion. At this moment of perfect stillness, the follower must then split the self in half. From the unbalance, a great power shall be born, one without mercy.
"The basis is to divide the Yin and Yang natures of your chakra," Jiraiya stated. "… Which is kind of hard."
"Good to know," Kazama deadpanned. "Can't you be more helpful?"
"Apart from telling you have chosen a very difficult technique…" The sage chuckled, obviously amused by the struggling blonde. "This is not Lightning Release, boy, but Lightning Creation. The first is about vibrating your chakra until it becomes a pale imitation of true electricity. The second is about creating a lightning bolt, aka a lethal discharge of electricity that will annihilate its target and probably start a fire at the same time."
"You make it sounds as if it was a strange thing," Kazama replied. He had seen people summoning giant beasts, creating ice, or fashioning tidal waves, so why should he be impressed? "It seems difficult to pull off, but not so dangerous, in my humble opinion."
"Normal for you, you're an Uzumaki," the man shot back, adopting a 'lecture tone' similar to Iruka's. "Your chakra is so potent it will protect you from the nasty side effects of this technique, like the intense heat. It will act as an insulator and direct the lightning somewhere else than your body, but not everyone has this chance. Any other person would lose his hand, or even his life."
"This technique belongs to my clan," the world wanderer said calmly, trying to achieve the state of perfect stillness necessary to use sage mode. "Hence why it can only work with them." For once, he would actually live up to the Uzumaki name…
"Then prove it," Jiraiya replied softly. "You are a master of the Kage Bunshin, a Yin-Yang release technique. After using it so much, I'm sure you have developed a good affinity with it. Just stop thinking; a human is a being of emotion. A momentary lack of any would 'cut the self in half', as they say. Just have a feeling of detachment…"
Kazama ceased to listen. The world around him was silent, and he himself stopped moving. In this perfect moment of stillness, he tried to clear his mind, ceased to think about Konoha, Madara, the Multiverse, Orochimaru, Naruko…
He pointed his fingers in front of him… and nothing happened, images instantly filling his thoughts.
"Crap," the blonde muttered, disappointed as he opened his eyes and observed the forest surrounding him. "I can't get it. The rightful state of mind, I mean." Then again, he had so much to think about…
He couldn't stop thinking and wondering and speculating. Who exactly could be dangerous enough to control the Inner Council? What had Jiraiya, his Jiraiya, planned to do with him? What were his locked memories hiding, and who sealed them in the first place? Plus, all the usual thoughts about his counterparts…
Naruko had told him she intended to train under Yugito alongside Gaara to learn how to work with her Bijuu. The world wanderer had said yes, slightly disappointed he couldn't teach her a few things he knew. Reason had triumphed over feeling though. The blonde knew he couldn't do all of Naruko's formation himself, and Yugito seemed to be a nice and powerful kunoichi. It was for the best…
"With all the events that happened to you, I guess it was to be expected," Jiraiya grunted, giving Kazama his scroll. "To be honest, if you had done it on your first try, then I would have thought you were either a sage in disguise or a total psychopath. Both these two have the peace of mind necessary for this… the sage, because he can control his heart, the psychopath, because he doesn't have one. Want to try a new technique?"
"Yes," he said, skipping the Divine Lightning chapter. "However, I would have preferred using the Sage Mode…" He was still feeling disappointed by what happened…
"I've told you a hundred times, you can't," Jiraiya complained. "Haven't you learned that yourself?"
"I have," Kazama said harshly, remembering the hours he had lost, trying to activate this power though meditation. It had been all for naught, the blonde was not able to channel natural energy. "But I'm very angry to have been prepared for a technique I can't use."
"Your seal is wonderful, kid," the toad sage said. "Thanks to its secondary abilities, no sensor will ever be able to locate you, not even Sage Mode users. However, this power to appear invisible to detection also makes you unable to master natural energy. How could you be? Nature doesn't even notice you. You are unfortunately too… too…"
"Unnatural?" Kazama proposed.
"Yes, that's the right word," Jiraiya nodded. "You seem so alien to nature its chakra cannot mix with yours."
"Great…" the blonde trailed off. "I guess I will have to rely on myself again…" he stated, reading the instruction of a new technique.
Chakra Pulse.
The Azure Dragon is the king of the proud and the mighty. As such, it possesses the power of censorship, preventing others from attacking. His followers are imbued with the same power, in order to defend the good name of the Azure Dragon and of the virtues it embodies.
The power of the Chakra Pulse allows its user to reduce every technique within a given perimeter to its primal state of spiritual and physical energy, thereby neutralizing it, by releasing its own, vibrating chakra. The perimeter varies with the user: one with a frail body can negate only attack reaching his skin, whereas someone graced with the blood of the Uzumaki can negate techniques coming from a whole mile.
However, the power of censorship has a great cost, and will burn out a great quantity of personal energy. The Chakra Pulse applies to every technique in the area, even those from allies. As such, this power must be used carefully.
"This is exactly what I need," Kazama stated, memorizing the necessary hand-seals. "A defensive jutsu that can also serve as an offensive one." He remembered his old battles, and was aware he severely lacked in defensive techniques. He hadn't needed one most of the time, as he could use his clones to protect himself, but against large-area jutsu like Madara's…
"Good choice," Jiraiya nodded. "However, as I told before, it's a Lightning Release, an affinity opposed to yours. It will give you more versatility, but it is far more difficult to learn it than another Wind jutsu." He smiled. "Then again, you pretended to have enough techniques based on this element… overspecializing is generally rather risky, because you can't beat a threat designed to counter your area of expertise."
Kazama nodded, remembering Temari's fight with Tenten, back when he was still a Genin of Konoha. The latter had been utterly trashed by the former, whose Wind jutsu couldn't be overcome by the weapons of Lee's teammate.
"Now, we need to discuss a more important subject," Jiraiya said gravely, locking eyes with Kazama.
"Which one?" Kazama raised an eyebrow. Maybe it was about the Inner Council, or Madara…
Jiraiya grinned ear to ear. "Which girls in your group do you plan to date?"
… or maybe not.
"Oh come on!" Orochimaru's killer groaned loudly. "Can't you stop thinking about girls for one day?"
"I can't get past the morning," the pervert sage laughed. "Come on, I don't understand you. There are three beautiful ladies in your team, and you haven't even thought of asking one out? In your place…"
"Stop talking," Kazama shuddered. "Your counterpart already had a similar discussion with me, and I still have nightmares remembering it."
Jiraiya grinned wickedly. "Let me guess… he told you about the birds and the bee-"
"Just shut up, I'm trying to become deaf."
"Did he teach you courting? Because I can tell you how to woo that Yugito hottie, or miss Haku… if you can get past Zabuza… and I'm not so confident about this girl from Suna…"
Kazama struggled very hard not to shout angrily at Jiraiya. The debacle at Wave had been bad enough, but Jiraiya was on a whole new level…
"I am not interested," the blonde replied. "We are currently fleeing a group of near-indestructible mass-murderers. I'm not really in a good position to start a romantic relationship." True, Haku, Yugito and Gaara were beautiful girls, and he liked them all, but they were his companions. He had other things to think about than starting a relationship with one of them.
"Your loss," Jiraiya shrugged, disappointed. "You know who to speak with in case you need advice."
"An advice for what?" Zabuza asked with a grumpy tone from right next to them. Kazama hadn't even heard him arriving. Damn assassin training… why can't I sneak up on others instead of always being surprised? "How to be a pervert, a loser and a senile old man?"
"Hey!" Jiraiya gritted his teeth, his pride wounded. "I'm not senile! And I barely hit fifty!"
"I don't care!" The swordsman glared at the sage, his eyes blazing with fury. "The next time I see you and your damn apprentice look at Haku's chest again, you will learn why I have been nicknamed the Demon of the Mist!"
"Argh, an overprotective dad…" Jiraiya shook his head sadly, putting his hand on Kazama's shoulder. "You will have a hard time getting rid of that if you want to date the little lady…"
If glares could kill, the Sannin would have fallen dead instantly, burned alive by the blonde's angry stare. Zabuza eyed the teen suspiciously. "I hope for your sake that's just one of his jokes, or else I will castrate you," the swordsman said. "I really mean it."
While the world traveler simply cringed, the Sannin snickered. "You can't keep her as an infantile child forever. She is what, fifteen, sixteen? It would be good for you to let her grow now, as you won't be always there to make decisions in her place."
For a few seconds, Kazama wondered if Zabuza was going to kill Jiraiya on the sport, as the blonde fully expected him to. Instead, the swordsman frowned sinisterly. "Old man…" he growled. "Do you know how much I would have given up to stay pure for a few more years?"
The tone was cold, but the world wanderer detected sadness behind that veneer of detachment. The teen was genuinely taken aback by the reaction. Zabuza…
"Haku already lost enough of her childhood," the missing-nin declared. "If I can make her profit off whatever is left of it, then I will. I owe her that, at least."
Kazama's eyebrows raised in surprise. He's like me… he realized, empathizing with the swordsman's feelings. I'm acting like him…
"You cannot stop time," Jiraiya pointed out. "All you will manage is to make her less adjusted to social life and more dependent on you."
Too true… Kazama thought, remembering Haku's fate on his homeworld. It had been a terrible loss, and she didn't deserve to die again.
Zabuza shrugged, unconcerned by the Sannin's critics. "We shall see… I'm not here to talk about parenting," he declared with a laconic tone, locking eyes with the blonde. "I'm here for your trophies."
"My trophies?" Kazama raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Of course, change the subject…" Jiraiya grumbled. "You are not correcting your problems, only delaying them."
"The blades you took from Orochimaru," Zabuza grumbled, blatantly ignoring the toad sage. "Isn't it obvious?"
Frowning, Kazama took a sealing scroll from his belt, a gift from Sasori. Releasing the two sealed blades, the world wanderer seized their pommels. "What about them?"
"I don't know, they're just two swords with special properties," Zabuza deadpanned. "I thought you would like to practice with them."
"They belonged to my teammate," Jiraiya added. "That fact alone is disturbing. They might even be cursed if all the rumors on the Kusanagi are to be believed."
"If what you said about these weapons' history is true," the swordsman from Kiri explained, "then your skills at using them should have increased as you killed their last owner for real this time." He frowned. "You didn't even consider testing them?"
"I had other matters to think about," Kazama replied, waving the weapons. He had already noticed they were easier to manipulate, yet… in his hands, they seemed like feathers. "Plus I-"
His reflexes saved his life, making him jump backward and dodge Zabuza's incoming blade. "What the hell?" The teen roared in surprise, the missing-nin preparing to strike once again.
"Back up," the former Kiri-nin told Jiraiya, who was forming a Rasengan. "What better than a fight to test his skills?"
Kazama glared at Zabuza. "Fine… I will kick your ass the way you want." He stared at the still tense Jiraiya. "I'll take care of hi-"
The swordsman of the Mist was already charging, trying to slice the blonde vertically. Compulsively, the world wanderer moved to the side, and attempted to stab his adversary with one of the Kusanagi. The missing-nin leapt backward, dodging the attack.
Or so he thought, Orochimaru's former sword extending on its own, almost impaling Zabuza's chest. The man used his huge blade as a shield, which barely stopped the murderous Kusanagi, which, continuing to grow, pushed the Kiri-nin to a tree's bark, before retracting.
Kazama hadn't even used chakra to do this. These blades… he frowned, remembering what happened after killing Orochimaru. Are they really sentient?
The two weapons briefly lightened, as if they said yes.
Great, you can hear my thoughts… the blonde smiled. What else can you do?
Images suddenly filled his mind, making him jump on place. He saw Orochimaru wielding them, then a disfigured man, a Samurai, a criminal… he saw hundreds of people using them to fight and kill, until he saw a large being of light defeating a colossal black snake with eight heads. The creature roared, and Kazama returned to reality.
So this was your life and experience? He thought, once he returned to reality. The blonde remembered how people used to swing them, even if he had never met them in the flesh…
The teen's attention returned to Zabuza, who was charging again. Instinctively, the world wanderer threw one of his two weapons at him. He of course dodged it, but Kazama's will made the sword change course. As the blade turned around to stab the missing-nin in the back, the blonde attempted to flank him at the same time, confident he wouldn't be fast enough to dodge both attacks.
Instead, Zabuza deviated the flying sword with his own, and punched Kazama in the face with his other arm, propelling the teen to the ground. Before the blonde could react, the missing-nin put his sandal on the teen's face and kept him pinned on the soil.
"That's better," Zabuza said, absentmindedly dodging the flying sword and catching its pommel with his free hand. "So you do know how to use these blades…"
"You punched me…" Kazama muttered, shocked by the man's pragmatism. "In a sword fight."
"And?" Zabuza chuckled. "A ninja uses every tool he has to win a fight. In battle, the only rule is to have none." Throwing the Kusanagi next to the Uzumaki's neck, the swordsman then grabbed his opponent by the collar and forced him to stand up. "Plus you're the one that tried to stab me from behind… or maybe was it the sword itself?"
"It was me," the blonde admitted, defeated. "I can command them at will, like Orochimaru."
"You can do much more than that," Zabuza snorted. "You had the reflex to flank me, and your moves were sloppy yet professional." He chuckled. "You weren't wielding your swords, isn't it? They were wielding you."
Kazama didn't answer, thinking about what happened. "They gave me their knowledge… their memories…" he said. "I knew how to use them instinctively."
"Memory transplantation?" Jiraiya raised his eyebrows, before paling. "Oh crap… now I know what inspired Orochimaru's weird reincarnation technique…"
"You may know how to use them, but you can't do it right yet," Zabuza grumbled, ignoring the Sannin. "You lack all the reflexes needed, the muscles, the experience… your blades are good, but you aren't. You know the theory, but not the practice." He wavered his huge sword. "I have a good solution to that problem."
Kazama cringed visibly. "Trying to kill me?"
"To maim you," Zabuza corrected with a sadistic tone. "The brain is a fantastic machine. It will build you good reflexes after you manage to dodge many blows, and increase your awareness of your opponent's reactions."
"Ah," Jiraiya smiled. "So there is a reason behind this behavior. I thought you were simply a sadist."
Kazama found Zabuza's lack of an answer deeply disturbing.
The Sand Witch, Gaara
Gaara didn't understand what pushed her to sit in front of this rock called a house, listening to a lesson given by the older Jinchuuriki. Naruko had offered her to come with her and she had accepted almost compulsively, not even thinking…
"Girls," Yugito started, sitting in front of the two and next to Haku, who was simply assisting to the lesson because she had nothing else to do. Kitsune was peacefully sleeping at her side. "The basis about Jinchuuriki training is the need to have a good relationship with your Bijuu. If you are on bad terms, your respective chakra won't mix well and it will cause more harm than good, both destroying and regenerating your body and costing you years of your life for nothing." She looked at Naruko and Gaara. "Are you on good terms with your Tailed Beast?"
Of course, her mother rasped angrily, furious at someone doubting of the bond she shared with Gaara. Isn't it obvious?
"Mother and I are close," Gaara whispered softly. Mother had always been close to her, comforting her when she was alone, cuddling her with the desert's sand… Yugito couldn't know that, and Mother grudgingly agreed.
"Kyuubi and I are good buddies!" Naruko smirked. "It gives me chakra whenever I ask!"
"Good," Yugito smiled. "Could you channel a bit of your tenant's chakra? Not much, just enough to enhance your abilities."
We can take her by surprise, my baby, her mother whispered. I can crush her and drink her blood… you just have to ask, and she is dead in the minute.
Gaara listened to the offer, but the answer was obvious. No, Mother… they believe in me.
The Shukaku growled. Nothing is more fragile than trust, my dear Gaara… but if it is your wish, I will do what she wants.
Joining her hands, Gaara drew into the Bijuu's chakra, her eyes taking a golden color. Naruko's became red, and her appearance turned more bestial.
So Kurama has indeed taken a liking to its container, the Shukaku chuckled. It seems I'm not the only Bijuu with parental instincts… that's one thing we have in common, apparently.
"Very good," Yugito said. "Your chakra mix well with those of your sealed Bijuu. Now… what can you currently do with your beast's help?"
"Well…" Naruko scratched the back of her head. "Kyuubi can shape a cloak of chakra around me and create tails."
"Tails of chakra?" Yugito raised an eyebrow. "How many of them?"
"Two," Naruko replied. "I never get past two."
"I see…" the eldest looked at Gaara. "And you? I already know you can fully transform into Shukaku, as I fought you in that form before, but what else can you do?"
She might use this information against you, her mother whispered, cautious. Are you sure you want to give her a chance? Except for me, everybody you trusted has betrayed you, don't you remember?
Gaara hesitated. Uncle Yashamaru died for me.
My brother was the exception that confirmed the rule, the Shukaku replied bitterly. He sacrificed himself so my husband could think you were the emotionless killer he wanted, and leave you alive. But there is no common blood between you and these people. The little blonde saved you, and I am grateful for this, but can you really trust the rest of them?
"I…" Gaara muttered, unsure about what to say.
"Gaara…" Yugito whispered kindly. "Nobody forces you to talk about this matter, so if you don't want to, I respect your decision..."
"I…" the sand witch trailed off, ceasing to hesitate. "I can transform partially into Mother…"
Gaara…
"Partial transformation?" Yugito's surprise was obvious. "Can you show me?" Nodding, Gaara transformed her hand into her mother's paw. "I'm impressed… but if you could transform fully, it was to be expected." She frowned. "However, something bothers me. When we fought on the battlefield, you seemed to have been completely overtaken by Shukaku. Did you temporarily lose control of it?"
She shook her head in negation. "When I sleep, mother awakes and we switch places in the seal. She is in control when it happens, until I wake up."
"Ah, so it's only a pseudo-full transformation," the Kumo-nin nodded. "And can you make a chakra cloak around yourself, like Naruko-san?"
The redhead shook her head again. "I can only transform partially or let Mother takes over my body."
"Alright," Yugito said. "Then this first lesson will be on the different stages of Jinchuuriki forms."
Gaara and Naruko nodded, and listened.
"First thing, you all know that there are nine different Bijuu?" Yugito started. "Their chakra reserves depend on the number of their tails: the Shukaku's are similar to five Kage ranked shinobi put together, while the Kyuubi's can seem near-limitless. However, all Tailed Beasts possess different abilities that allow them to match each others, depending on the circumstances."
Hear that, Kurama? The Shukaku chuckled. Even humans disagree with you!
"For example, the Ichibi is nigh-unstoppable in the middle of a desert like Suna," Yugito stated. "It took hundreds of ninja, multiple sealing techniques, and me fully transforming to restrain it the last time we fought. In fact, all Bijuu, except the Kyuubi, possess a specific ability that can be transplanted to their container. The Kyuubi, having enough chakra to destroy mountains and create tsunamis easily by just moving, doesn't need any secondary offensive power. Its strength is simply enough to overcome every kind of opposition.
"All Jinchuuriki, despite their differences, can access four different stages of transformation," Yugito stated. "The version 1, the version 2, partial transformation, and the full-transformation."
"Version 1 and 2?" Naruko repeated. "What does that mean?"
"We call version 1 a special state where a Jinchuuriki is covered with a shroud of animated chakra," Yugito explained. "This is basically your two-tails form. This state allows you to enhance all your basic abilities more than when you tap a little in your Bijuu's chakra, and also gives you a protection, as the chakra will move to fight alongside you and shield you from blows.
"Version 2 is a more advanced form where the cloak of chakra is modified to become physical matter. It basically turns into flesh, blood and muscles, making you look like a deformed, miniature version of your Bijuu. While you don't have the chakra control necessary to use complicated jutsu anymore, you become a true juggernaut. Your strength is multiplied, and almost no attack can break through your second skin. While you do not have the sheer destructive power of a full transformation, you can fight without the risk of hurting your allies so long as you remain in control.
"Partial transformation is simply you manifesting a part of your Bijuu's body, like the tail," Yugito continued. "A full transformation is when you assume the appearance of your Tailed Beast without breaking your seal. In this state, you can cause mass destruction, but also endanger your allies.
"Most of the time, apprentice Jinchuuriki begin by learning the version 1, continue with the version 2, then the partial transformation, and finally the full transformation. This is to allow them to have the perfect control of the Tailed Beast's chakra that makes a full transformation possible." Yugito eyed her two students. "As such, Naruko, I will teach you how to achieve the version 2 state, while I will teach you, Gaara, how to use the version 1. Are you okay with it?"
"Of course!" Naruko grinned. "I'm going to become even more badass!"
Yugito smiled kindly, and locked eyes with the sand witch. "And you, Gaara?" she asked. "I know we have met on bad terms, but… I think we can actually become close, the two of us…" Her tone was embarrassed, and she presented her hand to the redhead. "Can we make peace?"
Gaara looked at the hand.
And shook it.
The swordsman, Zabuza
The brat was walking. Bruised, yet walking. Zabuza refused to admit it out loud, but he was genuinely impressed by the blonde's affinity with his blades. The missing-nin had judged him not to be really made for Kenjutsu, due to a lack of balance and precision… until now. Killing Orochimaru had done him a lot of good. Why didn't he do it sooner?
However, it wasn't enough.
It was clear the brat was suffering from the flaws of dual wielding styles, in spite of whatever boon he had gained after murdering the Snake Sannin. The brain wasn't really hardwired to hold two weapons simultaneously, and Kazama wasn't ambidextrous by birth. Dual wielders also had to keep track of far more variables in a fight and if they were in deadly duels they couldn't parry most attacks as easily as someone with one weapon since they only had a weapon in each hand, while others would have two hands to hold their weapons giving them more stability. This made melee combat extremely risky.
In retrospect, it could explain why Orochimaru had been defeated. The fool had fought a literal one-man army with a style made for dueling. What a fool…
"That's awful," Zabuza stated. "You're pathetic, but it can be excused by your stupidity… you're using two swords while you aren't ambidextrous." The words were harsh, but necessary. The blonde had to build a resistance to insults in battle, or else he might lose his cool and become sloppy. Better badmouth his abilities than see him getting killed.
"Then what am I supposed to do with them?" The brat frowned, still weary about a possible surprise attack.
Good reflexes, the missing-nin thought with appreciation. The boy was improving, and rather quickly. "Use only one sword, and keep the other as a replacement, or give it to someone more worthy than yourself, like one of your clones," Zabuza snorted. Maybe Kitsune would use it well once he regained his original form. Seeing the boy in such state was terrible and the swordsman hoped the problem would be solved quickly. Jiraiya had said a Yamanaka would help the werefox, but Zabuza wasn't so optimistic…
A boy possessed by demons was a special case. Yagura had been a clear proof of that.
The blonde glared at him, before staring at the Kusanagi in his left hand. Zabuza briefly wondered if he was actually talking to his weapon, and the scene reminded him of Kisame's relationship with his sword, or Yagura's trances. The mad Mizukage sometimes seemed lost in his thoughts, but only a few people knew he was instead talking to the sinister demon lurking in his head, debating with it whether or not a bloodline user was to be skinned or burned alive, or if Zabuza deserved to be eaten alive by the monstrous Sanbi for his treason…
The sudden transformation of the Kusanagi into a small, purple snake snapped Zabuza out of his sinister memories. The reptile winded around Kazama's arm, disappearing inside his clothes. The blonde smirked. "I'm loving them more and more with each passing day."
"Good for you," the missing-nin grunted, secretly preparing to strike again, just to see if the brat would react fast. He however changed his mind, seeing the tension in the blonde's neck. Smart boy… he's trying to hide the fact he knows I'm going to attack… plus that snake will try to bite my arm the moment I try, I'm sure of it. Smirking slyly, Zabuza decided to disappoint the boy. "I want to you to do some exercises to practice," he showed him some swings of his blade. "Repeat this again, and again, and again, until you can do them perfectly without even thinking about it… now!"
Compulsively, the blonde obeyed, much to the missing-nin's delight. It was just like the time he trained Haku and Kimimaro… the two had been far more disciplined and obedient, eager to please their adoptive father.
Thinking about Haku made Zabuza remember what Jiraiya had told him. Even if the Sannin wasn't really a great example of good parenting, he did have a point. Haku is growing up, he thought laconically. She's almost a woman, now. Maybe I should give her more freedom, indeed…
"Tell me, Zabuza," Jiraiya's voice whispered to his ear, snapping the man out of his thoughts. "Why are you always so harsh with others?"
The missing-nin snickered. If you're too soft, people mistake your gentleness for weakness, Kisame had told him when he was young, the day Zabuza massacred a genin class. Better to be feared than loved… today, Zabuza, is the day you will mark your name in the minds of these sharks. May this ultimate crime end this madness once and for all.
"You didn't answer."
"You never learned, old fool," Zabuza asked, "that to gain respect, you have to prove yourself as the biggest shark of the pool?"
Jiraiya said nothing. For once, he seemed to have put his brain to work and wisely decided to shut up. Zabuza focused on his blonde student…
And then on the man spying on them.
"Drop the genjutsu," he ordered, staring at a tree's branches. "The scent of oil is quite different from the wood's, so I can smell you. I can cut this plant in half, just to be sure if you continue to stay hidden." Just how long that person was there, spying on them, he didn't know. He or she appeared to be quite skilled at stealth, to be able to sneak up on him…
Kazama's eyes drifted from his sword to the tree, while Jiraiya assumed a bored expression. He had obviously noticed the intruder early, probably at the same time as the swordsman. "Too bad… I wanted to do the reveal myself more dramatically."
Zabuza simply snorted, as the branches changed shape, taking the form of a… well, of somebody. The person was clad in a grey and black, thin armor covering his whole body, and a shapeless white helmet covered his face. The mysterious figure leapt on the ground quite gracefully, his attire perfectly espousing his body movements.
"Who are you?" He or she stinks oil… Zabuza thought. "A spy? An assassin?"
"Only a scholar," the armored person declared with a soft, male voice. "I apologize for my behavior, but I didn't want to disturb your training… my name is Kuebiko."
"Kazama Arashi," the blonde replied, apparently taking the man's lack of hostility for friendliness. Then again, if he had wanted to attack them, he would have already.
"Is it?" The armored man touched his helmet. "I guess it's true… depending on the world which you do belong, you could have been called Uzumaki Naruto. How did you cross into this universe?"
Zabuza felt his blood freeze in his veins. Judging their expression, his two companions were in the same state of shock. "What did you say?"
"I asked how did you opened a way between this reality and another," he replied. "My helmet indicates your physical signature is different from this reality, proving you aren't from it originally. The data I gathered on the breach indicate thirteen people crossed it, and since your physical signature is different from the reality you left, the only explanation I find is that it's not the first time you did it." The man explained, looking at Zabuza. "And your own signature is different from your companion, so one joined the other during the other's travel. Am I right?"
Zabuza's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you?"
"Well," the man shrugged. "Someone like you… another world wanderer."
The puppet master, Sasori
"It's not what you think!" Chibaku stated, trying very hard to hide the stolen bra behind his back. "I swear!"
"He's telling the truth," Kakashi nodded. "I was there."
"We were absolutely not stealing girl's personal possessions," Chibaku's perverted counterpart smiled innocently. "It's a big misunderstanding."
Sasori eyed them blankly. "Do you really think I'm going to believe you?" Do they think I am a fool?
Chibaku shrugged. "Oh come on, Sasori-sensei…"
"You always use that nickname when you lie to me, or, rather, try," the puppet master cut in. "If you ever want to hide something from me, you still have a very long road in front of you, my disciple."
"… crap," his student cursed. "I forgot you were a living lie-detector."
Sasori angrily sat on Haku's bed, joining his fingers. "So, can you explain me why were you breaking into one of your comrades' room and stealing her bra? I hope you have a good excuse, because I certainly will have a hard time believing it."
"Well…" Chibaku smiled, embarrassed. "If I say it was to increase my infiltration skills?"
"Then you certainly did a sloppy job," Sasori deadpanned. "It took me only one minute to hear you unlock the door and intercept you. Plus, if you really wanted to train, you would have asked for advice from me and certainly not these two," he pointed out, eying the two covert and outspoken perverts before shrugging. "I thought your perverted streak wouldn't advance to this stage, but I was apparently mistaken. Those photos were bad, but nothing compared to this. I hoped you wouldn't follow their example…"
"Wait!" Chibaku jumped on place, as pale as a ghost. "YOU KNEW?"
"You can't spend years tutoring someone without discovering at least a few of his hidden dark secrets," Sasori said. "I tolerated your… eccentricities… as they weren't really harmful to your development. I was sure it was simply a minor quirk you would get rid of on your own, so I didn't bother correcting it… how could I have been such a fool? I was impressed you managed to take photos of an elite kunoichi without getting caught, but now you have lost all common sense."
"Oh come on," the pervert Naruto complained, Chibaku being obviously crushed mentally. "What is wrong with being a pervert, anyway?"
"It's a waste of your potential," the redhead puppeteer replied, before locking eyes with his student. "Chibaku, don't you understand that obsession with naked women is a loss of time? It occupies your mind and prevents you from doing developing your creativity. It adds tension and mental instability. And it makes you act like a socially maladjusted idiot. And it will weaken you on a battlefield. And-"
"I can't stop myself," his student whined, theatrically putting his hand on his chest. The boy was a good actor… "I have this perverseness inside me. Like a darkness corrupting all my thoughts…"
"I guess I will have to cure you manually, then," Sasori replied, cracking his artificial fingers. "A few seals should make your sexuality completely nullified."
"Wait, that's brainwashing!" The pervert Naruto put himself between his counterpart and Sasori. "That's criminal!"
"It's pragmatic," Sasori countered. "And it's not like I didn't test these seals. I have put them on myself, and never before have I felt this good."
"Hmm…" Kakashi rolled his one eye. "I almost said you were not a good example, but not being one myself, I guess it would be hypocritical."
"But Sasori!" Chibaku complained. "You told me thousands of times that I shouldn't become a carbon copy of yourself!"
"I meant it," Sasori stated. "However, I cannot tolerate such behavior from you ever again."
"They corrupted me!" His student pointed his finger at the two perverts accusingly. "They used some damn book to-"
Suddenly, the pervert Naruto slammed his hands together, filling the whole room with smoke. Taken by surprise, Sasori prepared to release his puppets. Have they betrayed u-
"Let's do this!" Dozens of girly voices shouted. "Harem no Jutsu!"
When the smoke cleared… Sasori gaped in pure shock.
Dozens of naked girls surrounded him, seizing his arms, entwining him… his student's nose was bleeding profusely, while Kakashi was laughing loudly.
"… What?" Was the only word Sasori's lips managed to blurt out.
"It's the ultimate perverting technique!" One of the girls smirked. "No man can resist it!"
Sasori disagreed as he regained himself by poking her face, dispelling the Henge. He then used a chakra disrupting seal he had placed on the room's ground to eliminate all the Bunshin.
"How?" The pervert's eyes were wide open, just as his mouth was. "That's impossible!"
"I don't have hormones anymore," Sasori told him blankly. "That's a very crass technique you have there, but since it managed to make me blink, I assume it has a lot of potential for surprise attacks…"
"That almost killed me…" Chibaku whined. "How did you get the idea?"
The pervert smirked. "Jiji told me no technique could beat him, so I invented this on the spot to prove him wrong."
"Cool… how does it work?"
Sasori absentmindedly looked through a window, barely listening to the conversation. His student's obsession had grown out of control, but he had a point. A seal might not be the best option. He would reeducate Chibaku for the better, or maybe transform him into a puppet too, removing the limits of the flesh…
The puppeteer almost had an heart attack.
A masked man was observing the house from the outside. His mismatched eyes met Sasori's, and he joined his hands.
"Everyone!" Sasori panicked, unsealing his puppets. "Mada-"
Everyone barely had the time to blink before a powerful shockwave blew the house apart.
The Sage, Jiraiya
Jiraiya had a bad feeling about today.
Not that he was naturally pessimistic, quite the contrary… yet his intuition never tricked him. When he had a bad feeling, catastrophes always happened: Tsunade discovering him peeping on her, the Kyuubi being released, a crazy Uchiha trying to murder Naruto, and so on. It was exactly like Tsunade's winning streaks.
Strangely the new guy was very strange, Jiraiya didn't feel uneasy around him. It had to be something else…
"You are a world wanderer?" Kazama asked, pale. "Like us?"
"Not like you," the other shook his head. "We do not use the same method to travel… yours is so much better!"
Much to Jiraiya's surprise, the mysterious man shook hands with the shocked Kazama. "Please," Kuebiko said, "what kind of power allowed you to transport multiple people in another reality? We never managed to get past two-hundreds kilograms on one jump, yet you did without the use of a dimensional resonator! You cut through the Veil without creating a mass imbalance between two universes! How? Did you use protons, quarks, a particle accelerator?"
"Stop the gibberish," Zabuza grunted. "I did not understand anything."
"Me too." Kazama frowned. "Could you first explain things in comprehensive terms?"
"Forgive me," Kuebiko excused himself. "When I'm speaking about science, I can't stop myself. Then again, it's my job."
"You're a scientist?" Jiraiya asked. "You said we…"
The man nodded. "I am a member of a small group of scientists studying the Infinity. We are trying to explore and map all the realities we discover. I was visiting this reality when my equipment noticed an anomaly, and I came to investigate. I found the breach, and then you."
"The Infinity? You mean the multiverse?" The teen's surprise was obvious. "There are other people traveling though realities?"
"You are the first group I met," Kuebiko replied. "Our own is composed of four people, and we thought we were the only ones… you just proved we were wrong. I should have expected this, as everything is possible in the Infinity."
"Wait." Zabuza's jaw dropped. "You said you were trying to map the multiverse? Isn't it impossible?"
"This is our goal," Kuebiko nodded. "We explore it and study it. The Infinity is full of wonders, and for every thing we discover, ten new mysteries pop up. Our quest is long and hard, and might never end, but it is very rewarding. I suppose your own travels were marvelous too?"
Zabuza and Kazama locked eyes, embarrassed. "Well…" the former trailed off. "To be honest, it sucked. A lot."
"Ah…" Kuebiko said. "Let me guess, you visited a reality were lizards became the dominant specie instead of hominoids?"
"Not really." The blonde breathed deeply. "We have been attacked."
It was at this moment Jiraiya realized the source of his bad feeling, and stared at Kuebiko. "Wait… did you say thirteen people crossed the breach?"
"Yes, that's what my helmet concluded when I analyzed the breach." He seemed surprised by his interlocutors' horrified faces. "It is a problem?"
"Shit!" Kazama shouted, taking Kuebiko off-guard. "They are here, so soon!"
"Good," Zabuza snickered, even if his tone was saying otherwise. "They owe me a companion, plus interest…"
"No, it's not good," the blonde snapped. "Jiraiya's house is not far from the breach, and our friends are unaware of the danger. Scratch that, Madara must already be attacking them!" He showed the palm of his hand. "Worse, the counter indicates I still have to wait one whole day to use the transport safely, so we can't escape!"
"Keep your composure, brat," Jiraiya said, preparing to unleash the Sage Mode. "We can save them now, if we hurry, and kick your pursuers' asses at the same occasion." Or I hope… Madara Uchiha helped found Konoha, and was one of the strongest ninja to ever live. Three would be extremely hard to deal with.
"I'm afraid to be lost," Kuebiko interrupted them calmly. "You are under attack? Maybe I can help you?"
"Really? Thanks! I will explain you on the way." No sooner did Kazama finish did he ran toward Jiraiya's house.
"Can you give me a quick briefing about our enemies' competencies?" Jiraiya asked Zabuza as they followed. "We can make a strategy and prepare."
"There are three of them," the swordsman explained. "All with the Sharingan. One has some strange powers over gravity and can shoot lasers, and also reanimate corpses to control them. Another is a master swordsman and a real powerhouse, with a huge collection of weapons and a Bijuu-killing technique."
"Bijuu-killing?"
"I'm not sure how it works, but the guy lost his eyes in the deal, so I doubt he will do it again. I don't know much on the last one, but I heard he can survive lethal wounds easily."
"Great, three immortals," Jiraiya gritted his teeth. I guess I might have to use that technique… dying would be nothing compared to losing my pupil. The Dead Consuming Seal would probably be able to take care of them. "Nothing else?"
"One can apparently summons strange masked beasts, I'm not sure."
"Uchiha Madara?" Kuebiko wondered out loud, interrupting Jiraiya's discussion. "You are pursued by Uchiha Madara?"
"You know him?"
"Yes," the armored man answered to Kazama. "Probably more than you all. Is he the same madman obsessed by Hashirama and his clan's betrayal? A stupid question, of course he is… I guess some things never change…" He shrugged. "It will be an honor to fight at your side."
"We should prepare a formation," Jiraiya said, unleashing his Sage Mode. "Maybe-" He stopped talking, as his brain computed new information. "No…" He trailed off, recognizing the too well-known scent of dead corpses burning. "Please, it can't be possible…"
Yet, the second he saw what was left of the village near his mansion, he realized that yes, it was. Houses were burning, consumed by a black fire; the earth had been scorched and blood had been shed.
"You are so slow," a masked man whispered, his armor red and his arms crossed... He was standing atop a pile of corpses. Jiraiya recognized the villagers he used to visit from time to time… all of them. The baker selling him bread, the pretty daughter of a merchant, the kids attending the local school…
"I almost thought you fled, depriving me of a good fight," the monster stated calmly. "How fortunate: I was wrong."
"You bastard…" Jiraiya growled, his rage boiling. "You didn't need to kill them! They were defenseless people!"
"Don't be so bothered by this vermin…" Uchiha Madara declared softly, descending from his makeshift mountain. "These rats did not deserve to live. They didn't even have the will to protect their home or flee to save themselves. They simply whined, hoping you would bail them out of trouble." His tone was full of disgust. "Culling the weak is the strong's right and duty. Once-"
"Once all those unworthy to live have been wiped out from the face of the earth, then the worthy will strive," Kuebiko continued. "Violence shall break men and free them in a way they cannot understand. The flames of war shall purge them from their flaws, and in the burning world, life will not be offered, but earned."
Uchiha Madara stayed silent a moment. "How do you know the creed?"
"Because you would never cease repeating it to Hashirama," the armored man explained, taking off his helmet. "That motto… reminds me of old times."
Jiraiya blinked, recognizing the familiar, wrinkled face. "Impossible…"
"You?" Uchiha Madara asked, imitated by Zabuza and Kazama.
"It has been a while, Madara," whispered the lips of Tobirama Senju, Nidaime Hokage of Konoha. "I hope kicking your ass will be as satisfying as it was decades ago."
The Cat, Yugito
Getting up, slightly dizzied, Yugito quickly regained her awareness. The house had been brought down, a few meters away, reduced to a pile of rocks and wood. In the center of a large crater encompassing the whole area Naruko, Haku, Gaara and Kitsune were standing, recovering from the brutal shock that had put them on the ground.
Nibi, I need the soul vision. I need to check up the rest of us. They were in the mansion…
No problem, kitten. I assume we are under attack?
Yes, the lady replied. Her sight changing, Yugito scanned the remains of the house. Fortunately, Sasori, Kakashi, Chibaku and his perverted counterpart were still alive, protected by what looked to be a summoned huge toad…
"Hello, my friends," a deep voice declared, Yugito's eyes immediately drifting in its direction. Two masked men appeared atop the ruined house, one with one Sharingan, the other with mismatched Dojutsu. The one-eyed ninja stared at Naruko, his soul a literal endless pit of hatred and sorrow. "We were visiting this world, so we decided to drop by. I unfortunately forgot to bring you gifts."
"Jerks," the blonde little girl snapped, Kitsune roaring next to her.
"Oh, so you decided to recruit?" The man with mismatched eyes glared at Yugito, and then at Gaara. His soul was one big ball of depressing fatalism and pessimism. This man did not care about anything, and hated the world… but especially himself. "How futile."
"Mother doesn't like you," Gaara hissed, sand whirling around her. "She wants your blood."
"I am afraid I will have to deny her request," the man replied. "I assume you are talking of the Shukaku? Only its vessel can conjure the power of the desert, after all."
"Your visage reminds me…" The one-eyed man peered at Yugito's face, and probably recognized her. "Yugito Nii, Jinchuuriki of the Nibi. Enchanted to meet you."
For someone wanting to kill kids, he's surprisingly polite, the Nibi mused.
Not bothering to answer, the blonde lady quickly made hand-seals. Mouse Hairball, she thought, firing mouse-shaped fireballs from her mouth at the two Uchiha. The one-eyed Madara shrugged, air twisting around him to consume the projectiles. "It's not polite, to show disrespect to your elders… kid."
"Talking to you is a waste of time," she replied, preparing to strike again.
"Right," Naruko agreed, forming a Rasengan in her hand.
"Don't you ever learn?" The Uchiha with mismatched eyes asked. "How many times will I have to beat you into submission, until to cease to rise up?"
"I will never surrender!" Naruko boasted. "Even if you break my legs, even if I can't stand, I will just crawl and bite you!"
Well said! I like this kitten more and more with each passing minute…
Naruko… Yugito smiled. This determination will get you far.
The man fell silent, narrowing his Dojutsu. "I do not understand… why are you still fighting? I outclass you so much, it's like a mouse fighting a dragon. Fate has clearly designed me as your superior in every domain… so why won't you give up?"
Naruko smirked. "To spit on you, and prove your 'fate' is just crap!"
Everyone stared at her in shock.
"I am sick of your fate talk!" She shouted. "Yes, I was born with the Kyuubi. Yes, I'm not born with super-powered eyes! I don't have a bloodline limit, a clan, a cool sword, talent, or whatever! Ever since I tried to become a ninja, people told me I would stay a friendless loser forever! And I proved them wrong!" The girl glared at Uchiha Madara, who was obviously taken aback by the outburst. "I have found a family! I have found friend! I have trained until I could fight a Bijuu! So screw fate! It's just a scam!"
Silence.
"… a scam?"
The Madara with the mismatched eyes leaned his head to the left side, his stare full of hate. His soul began to burn with the fire of rage, and Yugito annulled the vision before it could blind her. "Fate… a scam?"
Then, he roared, laughing madly.
While his partner cringed slightly, the girls were simply astonished by the spectacle. "Do you know how much this scam took from me?" The Uchiha glared at Naruko, and if looks could kill, she would have dropped dead on the spot. "DO YOU KNOW?"
Yugito winced at the shriek, and Naruko apparently didn't find anything worth replying.
"Do you know how much I lost and sacrificed on the altar of this scam?" Madara shrieked, any hint of composure having vanished. "I lost my brother, my clan, my freedom, my life! It left me nothing but memories, so I could revel in fear of its almighty decisions, and a destiny to fulfill! What does a immature child like you knows of fate?"
"… I'm sick of hearing you talk."
Suddenly, something sent the remains of the house flying, making the two Uchiha leap a few meters backward. A huge red toad emerged, four males under it.
"You're just whining," Sasori stated, two puppets, looking like armors of wood, standing next to him. "Fate is the excuse men use to better accept their current condition, or find answers to question he doesn't bother to find the true answer. Yes, you suffered and lost people, probably for nothing. Deal with it."
"If fate does exist, then I must thank it for making us cross path again," Kakashi stated, taking back the part of his mask covering the Sharingan. "Give me my students back. Now."
Madara chuckled madly. "With pleasure."
Two objects descended from the sky and crashed where Kakashi used to be before he jumped to the side with the others. Two boys stood, wearing white robes meshing badly with their strange, purple eyes.
"Kakashi-sensei," they both declared at the same time, "why did you abandon us?"
"I…" The grey-haired man didn't finish his sentence. He looked at the rest of his group. "Leave… leave them to me… it's my duty… I owe them this."
"Alright," Yugito stated, glaring at the Madara with mismatched eyes. "You use his own students against him? How can you be so despicable?"
"It doesn't matter," the man shrugged. "Nothing matters. We are just puppets, submitted to the strings of a will none of you fools can understand. Nothing of what we do matter, in the end." He raised his arms. "Only those fulfilling their destiny can progress and strive, and those who resist it are doomed to be crushed! I will prove it, by crushing your empty, meaningless lives!"
"Bring it on!" Naruko snapped, charging.
Author's notes:
First thing, I originally didn't plan this chapter like it. In the original plot, Madara would have intercepted them a few chapters later, and Kuebiko wouldn't have appeared until later. The Arc would have continued with the group crossing multiple worlds. I unfortunately realized it didn't mesh well with what I wanted to do.
I wanted to spend most of the second half of the Great Chase Arc focused on character development, and one battle in the middle of it didn't seem right to me. So I instead moved it in the next chapter. After the following one, there won't be a real big battle until at least four chapters.
Plus, the same formula of the characters visiting one world, meeting people, then moving on, seemed to become a bit repetitive. So I found an alternative, that you will discover in the next chapter. To be honest, this one is just a transition until the next one.
Also, the other world travelers will appear again, and have a major role in the story.
As ever, give your point of view with reviews, and write you soon.