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The Shinobi Knight
Chapter21: Better the Devil you Know
Land of Hot Water: Forest / Hideout
Jiraiya of the Sannin, former shinobi of the now destroyed Konohagakure no Sato and the man who trained the legendary Yondaime Hokage had retreated to his hideaway in the Land of Hot Water, far from the battlefield that was the Land of Fire. His spy network was still active so he knew that both Iwa and Suna were still fighting over the former Konoha-controlled territory even after three long years of war.
He knew that Kumo was quite happy letting them beat each other into the ground and hopefully destroy one another while Kiri was still recovering from the Bloodline Purges and the civil war instigated by the Yondaime Mizukage. He was thinking about paying a visit to Kiri, if for no other reason than to find out if it was true about the Godaime Mizukage being a woman.
The Konoha Remnant as they were known had migrated to the Land of Hot Water; most of the civilians had left to seek work somewhere away from the war while the shinobi were struggling to survive without a home. He knew it was only a matter of time before they were hunted down and either killed or worse, captured by another village.
The Hyuga clan especially was terrified of the idea that their Byakugan might fall into another's hands; they used to be the strongest clan of Konoha and now they were nothing more than travelling nomads. It was a textbook fall from grace if there ever was one and they knew that without a home their future looked grim.
"We should head for Kumo," Jiraiya spoke up catching everyone's attention.
"Kumo? Are you insane?" Asuma questioned. "You can't honestly be considering their offer can you?"
"They've offered sanctuary and more importantly, we're allowed to settle down in their village. Right now we need the help," Jiraiya said clearly.
"Hiashi-sama," Neji almost pleaded. "I beg of you, we cannot seek help from those people. After what they did to my father...after what they did to your brother-".
"Enough Neji," Hiashi grunted. "I understand what you are saying but I must think of the clan first and put my personal feelings on the matter aside."
"Hinata-sama!" Hyuga Ko shouted out as he watched his charge flee into the forest.
"Let her go," Hiashi said clearly. "She still has much to learn," he muttered upon thinking of his daughter's third birthday.
"Yes Hiashi-sama," Ko bowed.
"There is another reason we should go to Kumo," Jiraiya spoke up. "My new student resides there and he can vouch for us...the Raikage will listen to him."
"You mean the Kyuubi brat?" a Chunin sneered. "After what he did to Konoha? I always knew he would come back and destroy us if we let him live. We should have killed him when we had the chance and none of this would have happened."
"Say that again and I'll kill you myself. That boy is my godson," Jiraiya shot back. "It wasn't him that attacked Konoha, more like a clone of him was the culprit."
'Kumo...Naruto-kun...why? Why did this have to happen to us?' Hinata cried as she sat down on a log.
"Hinata-sama?" Neji asked as he appeared from the trees.
"N-Neji-nisan p-please just leave me alone," Hinata pleaded.
"I always knew you were useless but I had no idea you would be this pathetic," Neji told her. "It was fated that Konoha would be destroyed and it's only a matter of time before the elders place the mark on your head too."
"I-I'm not-" Hinata stuttered.
"You keep pinning over that loser even after he destroyed all we ever cared about and for what? Out of some childish crush? It was fate that decided you would be alone forever and now you've finally realized that. You cannot change your fate," Neji sneered.
"You sure do like to listen to yourself talk huh?" a voice asked from behind him.
"Byakugan," Neji turned quickly only to find himself struck by a barrage of Jyuuken strikes.
"Hakke Hyaku Nijūhachi Shō!" the attacker exclaimed as he blew the Hyuga male back into a tree.
"N-Neji-nisan!" Hinata shouted in surprise.
"Y-You..." Neji rasped out as his attack stood over him. A foot was planted on his chest and a flicker of blond hair waved in the wind.
"It took me awhile to find you but I did in the end," spoke Uzumaki Yami with white eyes looking down on him amused. "Hello Hinata-chan...Let's have a little chat...shall we?"
"N-Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked hesitantly.
"Sorry love but I'm not that fun-loving moron," Yami gave her a condescending smile. "Fu-chan, would you please make sure she doesn't run away?" he asked. Fu suddenly appeared behind Hinata and grabbed arms, poring bugs into her clothes.
"If you move then I will kill you," Fu said simply.
"W-what do you want?" Hinata stammered.
"From you? Nothing at all...from that dumb fuck Jiraiya? His life," Yami replied darkly. "Fu-chan, knock them both out and then the real fun can begin."
"W-wait-" Hinata started only to suddenly fall unconscious along with Neji.
"Can't we just kill them?" Fu whined.
"No, we're going to use them as bait to catch a much bigger fish," Yami responded. "Now that we have the bait...our trap is set...now let's see if that fuck-up who calls himself my godfather is worth his titles as a Sannin and a man."
"So let's call a vote," Inoichi spoke up. "All in favour of going to Kumo raise your hand," everyone but the Hyuga clan raised their hands.
"Then it's settled," Jiraiya nodded.
"Where is Neji?" Hiashi inquired when he didn't see his nephew.
"Neji went after Hinata-nichan, tou-san," Hanabi spoke up.
"What-" Hiashi started only for the booming sound of an explosion filled the air sending everyone on edge.
"What the hell was that?" Inuzuka Kiba shouted out.
"It was an explosion, obviously," Tenten responded.
"Byakugan," Hiashi muttered as his eyes pulsed. "It came from the direction of...Hinata," he was suddenly running through the trees with Jiraiya at his side and several of shinobi close behind.
"Now that just isn't fair," a girl's voice said playfully as Fu appeared in front of them forcing them to stop. "Only Jiraiya of Sannin may pass...the rest of you will have to play with me," she smiled.
"Out of the way girl," Ko said as he rushed forward and struck her with a Jyuuken strike. "Hakke Hasangeki!" she slammed through a tree before falling several feet.
"You need to try harder than that," Fu told them as she jumped back up before they could continue.
"How could you-" Ko started.
"My body is virtually invulnerable in this state," Fu explained. "You physically can't hurt me...and time is running out for the little Hyuga Heiress and her bitch of a cousin."
"Go on ahead Jiraiya-sama," Hiashi said clearly. "I will be along shortly once I've dealt with this trash."
"Alright," Jiraiya nodded before jumping passed the Nanabi Jinchuuriki and continuing on ahead.
"Who wants to play first?" Fu asked cheerfully.
"Out of my way," Hiashi demanded coldly as he lunged forward. "Hakke Rokujūyon Shō!" he called out as he struck her with a fast-paced barrage of Jyuuken strikes. Everyone dropped down to the ground and stood in what seemed to be a clearing.
"I thought I told you that that won't work on me," Fu chuckled as she rose to her feet once more.
"What are you?" Hiashi questioned. "No normal kunoichi should be able to get back up after taking that kind of attack...and you don't even look hurt at all."
"Now that would be telling," Fu said cheekily. "Oh and...You've got a bug on your shoulder," she said with a smile.
"What?" Hiashi demanded as he was suddenly swarmed by a large amount of bugs.
"Hijutsu: Mushidama!" Fu exclaimed as the bugs grabbed onto him.
"Hiashi-sama!" several Hyuga called out.
"Hakkeshō Kaiten!" Hiashi exclaimed as he spun, creating a spinning barrier of chakra which shredded the bugs.
"That was..." Aburame Shibi mused.
"An Aburame hijutsu, yes," Fu nodded with a smile.
"So...you are the Jinchuuriki of the Nanabi no Kabutomushi," Shibi declared to everyone's surprise.
"So you've heard of me?" Fu's smiled widened. "Yes I'm the Nanabi Jinchuuriki...my village, Takigakure no Sato was attacked and destroyed by Oto so I had nowhere to go but with the first guy to offer me a way out."
"Who?" Shibi inquired.
"Now that would be telling," Fu teased.
"Then we'll make you talk," Inoichi said as he stood up and made a familiar hand-seal.
"Dad! No!" Ino shouted but it was already too late.
"Shintenshin no Jutsu!"
Fu's Mindscape: Jinchuuriki Seal
Yamanaka Inoichi opened his eyes and found himself in what seemed to be a prison with empty cells littering the walls. It was a dark and disgusting place he had found himself in. He could see red liquid running across the ground and knew its demonic origin would be located at its source. He soon found himself in front of a large cage with a vacuum sealed door and the red liquid leaking out from the sides. On the front of the door was a wheel with a tag placed on it with the word 'seal' written in kanji.
"Arrogant little mortal! You dare to enter my presence uninvited? Leave now or face my wrath!" the Nanabi snarled from behind the cage bars.
"You are the Nanabi no Kabutomushi..." Inoichi trailed off.
His own experiences with entering the mind of Naruto when he was younger was different and yet similar than this particular Jinchuuriki. The mindscape clearly depicted a harsh and lonely life with the demon trapped at the center however unlike Naruto who didn't know about the Kyuubi, this Jinchuuriki clearly knew about the Nanabi and had remained 'human' for lack of a better term from a much younger age. He idly wondered if things could have turned out differently if Konoha had actually accepted Naruto...it didn't matter now though.
"You dare to enter my head, mind-walker?" Fu asked darkly as she appeared behind him.
"How can you-" Inoichi started in surprise.
"Be gone!" Fu shouted and the invader was blasted out of the mindscape.
"Kill them all! I want them turned into a smear on the countryside!" the Nanabi roared.
"Finally we agree on something," Fu smirked up at the demon beetle.
Land of Hot Water: Forest / Battlefield
Inoichi fell back into his daughter's arms as he clutched his forehead and pain pulsed through his mind in waves.
"Are you alright daddy?" Ino asked almost frantic.
"I'm fine," Inoichi rasped. "She threw me out...it wasn't her demon...it was only her."
"What does that mean?" Chouza asked looking over at his wounded friend.
"It means I have full control of my demon," Fu smiled as the ground began to rumble and the clouds above them started to darken. "Let's play," she whispered as red chakra exploded from her body. It wrapped around her and completely covered her before an antler of chakra sprouted from her forehead and three tails of chakra sprouted from her spine. "Come here!" she jumped at them at a speed that caught them completely off guard.
Her hands—claws—slashed through Hyuga Ko's face with one strike and sending the now deceased body down to the ground a few feet away. Fu immediately turned and roared, sending out a large shockwave and blowing away a number of former Chunin and Jonin. Shikaku and several other Nara clan members connected their shadows and stopped her from moving.
"Kagemane no Jutsu," Shikaku whispered. "Now!" he shouted a second later.
"Bubun Baika no Jutsu!" Chouza and Chouji exclaimed as they descended on the Nanabi Jinchuuriki and punched down with their enlarged fists.
"Did we get her?" Tenten asked the question as the dust cleared.
"Of course not!" Fu shouted back as the chakra around her started to solidify. It quickly changed into a crimson shroud of power with a black mask over her face and five tails swishing behind her.
"Kill them! Kill them all!" the Nanabi shouted in anger.
Fu roared as bones started to form over her body and a second later she disappeared. She reappeared in the sky above them and swung down with her fists. The impact with the ground released a shockwave hundreds of feet high and blew away everyone in the clearing and the surrounding area. All that was left was a crater about half a mile across where there had been trees and ninja only moments ago.
Ino coughed as she came too and pushed herself onto her knees. She looked around and saw nothing but destruction around her. Rubble was clustered all around with fallen bodies of people she only knew in passing but when she spotted her father buried under a chunk of rock she quickly ran over to him.
"Hold on dad," Ino said frantically as she kneeled down at his side.
"No," Iniochi coughed. "Ino...you have to...get out of here...now...before things get any worse."
"I'm not leaving you here," Ino said back as she tried to push the rock off of her father.
"Ino...please...go," Inoichi pleaded. "For once in your life...please...listen to me...Ino."
"B-but-" Ino stammered and the noise of a rock falling caught her attention, it was Shikamaru.
"Come on," Shikamaru said as he grabbed her arm and pulled.
"But—my dad," Ino protested.
"If we stay here then we're dead!" Shikamaru shouted at her. "Come on! We've got to get the hell out of here!"
"Go...Ino..." Inoichi told her as the two fled into the forest at the edge of the cratered rubble.
"Well isn't that sweat?" Fu's voice purred as she landed only a few feet away from him. "Don't worry; they don't concern us...I was just supposed to hold you all here but when you went into my mind you really pissed me and Nanabi off...what do you have to say for yourself?"
"Screw you," Inoichi rasped out his last words.
"You're a little too old for me," Fu smirked and opened her mouth. Chakra quickly gathered from the air and compressed into a solid ball of black chakra. "Bijudama!" the ball exploded right in the Yamanaka clan head's face and consumed the world in light.
Miles away Ino and Shikamaru were carrying a wounded Tenten and Chouji when they saw a bright light engulf the horizon where behind them. This was accompanied by a massive shockwave and the sound of a deafening explosion forcing them to the ground. They looked back and saw only smoke rising up from where they had fought that monster...
Back on the battlefield Fu smirked as she gazed over the mile long scar on the earth she had just created. The wide cavern was like a smooth line straight stretching from her current position to the edge of the world as a monument to her new power. When Yami had told her that he could teach her how to control her Biju she had been hesitant however that soon changed when she found out that his captured Sharingan from that nobody Uchiha Sasuke can control even the most violent of beasts if it were in the right hands.
Yami had entered her mindscape and ripped the Nanabi's darkness from her with his Sharingan allowing her to tame the beast and giving Yami the ability to evolve the Sharingan into the Mangekyo Sharingan. A useful tool for what he had in mind...what she would help him do to the world which had forced her into this life.
"Mokuton: Jubaku Eisō," suddenly a tree shot up behind her and grabbed her with its branched. More branches quickly grew from the tree and pulled her back, restraining her. "You'll pay for what you've done here," said a man wearing an Anbu mask as he appeared in front of her with several other Anbu.
"This is...girl, this is a bastardised version of Mokuton ninjutsu...nothing more than a copy of its true power," the Nanabi spoke in disgust. "This has become boring...kill them and finish this."
"Heh heh heh heh!" Fu laughed as the red chakra started to bulge against the restraints. "I don't know who you are but you don't know what you're getting yourselves into! This is a war but not any war you or the rest of the Shinobi villages can understand or fight against. You're nothing...Konoha is nothing...Kiri, Suna, Iwa, Kumo...they're all nothing compared to what's coming! This is a war between the two major factions of the world...good and evil. Compared to them two...even I am nothing but a child," Fu continued laughing as her body expanded.
"Tenzo-taicho! What do we do?" an Anbu asked the Shodai Hokage knockoff.
"I'm...trying...to hold...her...down..." Tenzo strained only for Fu to completely break free of her restraints.
"It's over!" Fu roared as seven tails formed and her body expanded fully into the demon beetle she contained. "Die! Bijudama!" she gathered chakra at her mouth and fired it as one massive sustained beam.
Silence...
Author's Notes:
Fu annihilates the Konoha Remnant! Completely outclassed and overwhelmed the senior members of the Konoha Remnant are massacred by the Nanabi Jinchuuriki whom has conquered her inner demon. But what does Yami want with Jiraiya? And will Hinata and Neji be saved? Find out next time on Naruto: Dragon Sage Chronicles...
Now to answer a few things that have come up...Nibi is like the rest of the Biju in that she wants to escape and live her life as she sees fit, not trapped in a human host for forty to seventy years. Of course she would fight and try to kill Yugito if it meant that she could be free again since I can't imagine she would have a pleasant time simply being transferred from one host to another.
Another thing is when someone transforms into a knight they become supersized, roughly the same size as a Biju minus the complete Kyuubi of course (that thing is huge even compared to other Biju).
List of Knights:
Uzumaki Naruto – Duke the White Knight – Lightning and Energy Manipulation – Sword & Shield
Uzumaki Yami – Crusader the Black Knight – Lightning and Fire Manipulation – Sword and Wings
Momochi Haku – Eternal the Ice Princess – Extensive Ice Manipulation – Sword and Wings
Nii Yugito – Freedom the Earth Queen – Extensive Earth Manipulation – Sword and Gauntlet-Blades
Fu – Justice the Sky Empress – Extensive Wind Manipulation – Sword and Six Secondary Swords
Translation
Hakke Hyaku Nijūhachi Shō = Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms
Hakke Hasangeki = Eight Trigrams Mountain Crusher
Hakke Rokujūyon Shō = Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms
Hakkeshō Kaiten = Eight Trigrams Palms Heavenly Spin
Hijutsu: Mushidama Secret = Technique: Insect Sphere
Shintenshin no Jutsu = Mind Body Switch Technique
Kagemane no Jutsu = Shadow Imitation Technique
Bubun Baika no Jutsu = Partial Multi-Size Technique
Bijudama = Tailed Beast Ball
Mokuton: Jubaku Eisō = Wood Release: Curse-Binding Nest
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See Ya Later…