So the story is starting to pick up again. The fillers are over and now the next arc will begin. On a side note I had a brain fad last chapter, I apologise if you read the first version. However, I have gone back and remedied the situation, if you have any questions please PM. I'd be happy to explain.
Please REVIEW!
Chapter Twenty-Five
My Beloved Little Sister
2 Years Later
Forest
Hi no Kuni
A team of three ran through a forest at high speeds. Two Chunin ran in front and Karin Uzumaki-Namikaze bought up the rear. Her left hand in holding the ram position as her ruby-red eyes darted back and forth scanning for enemies and threats.
"You enjoying yourself back there kid?" asked the Chunin on the left without faltering in his step.
"I'm having a fantastic time, running through a dense forest at the dead of night with two strangers with the shadow of imminent death hovering over my head", she scowled.
"Great….just fucking great", the red head shot back.
"You know, for a chick who's parents are rich as hell, you're pretty down-to-earth", chuckled the Chunin on the right.
"You are coming with me", the team stopped in their tracks forming a triangular formation.
"Karin can you-
The Chunin's eyes widened in shock as he fell to the ground, followed by his compatriot.
"Wha-
Karin felt her whole body tingle, a faint black energy washed over her.
'This feels like…..familiar, she hit the forest floor with a thud, her glasses falling in front of her.
The last thing she saw was an extremely large boot. She squinted as her vision blured due to the absence over her glasses.
'I can't….even…..damn it. If only I was strong like you….then...I'd kick his ass…..Nii-san', she let the darkness take her.
"Good luck on your mission Karin-chan", Naruto's voice was the last thing she heard before her senses were completely gone.
…..
The Raikage looked over a page in the bingo book. He sat behind his large desk, narrowing his eyes at the person portrayed in front of him.
Name: Naruto Riku Namikaze
Moniker: Jinsoku Yaiba Naruto (Swift Blade Naruto)
Village of Origin: Konohagakure
Age: 14-15
Gender: Male
Shinobi Rank: Jonin
Calibre Rank: A
Known Clan Affiliation: Namikaze Clan, Uzumaki Clan
Known Element Affinities: Futon, Raiton, Katon.
Skill List
Taijutsu: 4
Ninjutsu: 4
Genjutsu: 3
Intelligence: 4
Strength: 3.5
Speed: 4
Stamina: 4.5
Hand Seals: 3
Weapons: Legendary Sword, Orochimanji. Black sheath with golden hilt guard and Namikaze Clan symbol present on hilt.
Physical Description of target:
Height: 164cm
Weight: 72kg
Hair: Golden Blonde, spiky, bangs framing his face
Eye Colour: Dark cerulean blue
Special Abilities: Kekkei Genkai, The Swift Release, Skilled in Fuinjutsu, Kage Level Chakra Reserves.
Known Family: Minato Namikaze (Yondaime Hokage, Kiiroi Senkou), Kushina Uzumaki (Benihime), Tsunade Senju (Slug Princess), Jiraya Namikaze (The Toad Sage).
Other Information: Is known to have killed Doto Kazahana, ex Daimyo of Snow Country after invading the country's capital with only a small team of four shinobi at the age of 7. Champion of the biggest Chunin Exam in history, hosted in Kumogakure.
Bounty: 25 Million Ryo- Dead stationed by Iwagakure
Bounty: 17 Million Ryo- Dead or Alive stationed by Otogakure
"The next generation is already making waves in the world, hmm Naruto Namikaze", his eyes scanned over the page quickly before closing it and leaning back into his seat.
"Of course he'd be your son", he sighed.
"Raikage-sama!" he heard a knock at his door and called for them to enter.
The Raikage's assistant, Mabui stepped forward pushing her glasses up to the top of her small nose.
"What is it Mabui?" he asked gruffly.
"Forgive my intrusion, Ay-sama", she bowed respectfully. "Jay and the scouting squad have returned from their mission. Jay's report has confirmed your suspicions, Orochimaru did in fact have a base off the coast in Kaminari no Kuni. However, it was long since abandoned", he walked over to his desk and placed some worse-for-wear bundle pieces of paper.
Ay grabbed the papers. His facial expression growing more and more enraged with each one he read.
"THAT FREAK!" he exclaimed and brought his fist down like a hammer onto his desk. The wood split in half. The hulking man growled and clenched his fist.
"How could this have happened! The Leaf village should have dealt with him, now he's becoming a problem for the entire shinobi world. If something isn't done soon he could threaten the cloud as well", he sighed angrily and sat back down.
"Not mention that now he has an Uzumaki, this doesn't bode well", he adopted a thinking pose but his train of thought was abruptly interrupted.
"That's the fourth one this week, honestly sir", Mabui ran her hand through her hair and blew a stray strand of her locks out of her eyes.
…
A flurry of Ki burst forth from the Hokage building. The two Chunin that stood in the Hokage's office fainted. Minato's grip on the wooden desk caused the wood to splinter under the pressure.
"I am sorry Minato-kun, you suffer now because of my soft-heartedness. If I had only been a stronger Kage", Hiruzen apologised from the couch with a sorrowful look on his face.
"I don't blame you", said Minato gritted his teeth. "Asking of you to kill your student, is cruel. But I can't promise you that I'll show him the same mercy", the fire in Minato's calm blue eyes were testament to the truth of his words.
"What Orochimaru wants with my daughter is…unclear but I do have a few hypotheses", he rested his hands beneath his chin.
"What are you going to do Minato-kun?" asked Hiruzen.
"The kidnapping of a nation's Jinchuriki is a crime feasible for a war", Minato sighed. "However, Karin's status as half of Kyuubi's vessel isn't common, knowledge. To justify a full-scale invasion of the sound I'd have to reveal this fact to the general populace of Konoha. She wouldn't have a chance at a normal life", he slammed his fist against his desk.
"Worst of all….she's my little girl", a tear streaked down the father of four's face.
…..
Naruto clenched his fists as he looked at himself in the mirror. The Namikaze household was quite, which was extremely rare. The only thing that occasionally broke the silence was his mother's muffled sobs and his father's comforting reassurances. They had sent search parties out for Karin, yet Naruto knew in his gut who had taken her. He looked himself in the eye and touched the crystal necklace that Tsunade had given him.
"You were all heroes…..maybe one day I could measure up", he turned away sharply and grabbed his sword and holster off his dresser.
He then walked over and opened his closet door. He grabbed his black jacket and zipped it up, creating a V-shape at the front. He tied his sword up over the top. He grabbed his scroll-belt from the compartment in his dresser. He clipped it up around his waist, he pulled out two scrolls and placed both of them in the holder of his left thigh. The blonde walked to his dresser and pulled out his metal-plated gloves. He then grabbed his forehead protector and tied it around his forehead tightly. Then finally he pulled out a large draw of his dresser, the only piece of clothing in the draw was his large white cloak with black flames at the bottom.
"Nii-san, Tou-
Kari's eyes widened when she saw her brother swiftly move an arm into the piece of clothing. The kanji for fire proudly displayed in black on the back of his cloak.
"Nii-san what are you doing?" the ten-year-old girl looked up at her brother with confused eyes.
Naruto turned around with his ninja gear fastened to his body. He walked up to her and crouched down placing both his hands on her small shoulders.
"Listen Kari-chan", he smiled at her. "I have to go-
"No!" she cried and grabbed ahold of him as tight as she could. She sobbed and Naruto frowned for a second.
She was afraid of losing him, like Karin.
"I don't want you to go away to", she squeaked from his chest. He rubbed her back soothingly.
"I'm going to bring back Karin-chan. Then we can all be together again, you, me, Karin, Ren, Tou-san and Kaa-chan", he smirked at her as she looked up at him.
"B-But what if….
"You can't live your life wondering about what if y'know", he chuckled. "Karin needs her big brother, so I have to go. I know you're still little and you don't quite get it", he wiped the tears from her eyes.
"But I can't live my life wondering about what if, what if I could have saved her. Now don't look so sad", he reassured and kissed her forehead.
"But I need you too", she sobbed.
"I'll be back soon, so don't worry about it. Look after Ren okay. I love you", he smiled and sent a jolt of chakra through her system knocking her out. He picked her up gently and placed her on the bed. He took a few moments to smile down at her, before opening the window and leaping out into the night.
...
After sneaking by Izumo and Kotesu, Naruto walked through the Hidden Leaf forest with a look of neutrality on his face. The warm breeze made the tree's at either side of the path he was taking sway in the moonlight.
"So you're set on taking this course of action", Naruto adopted a smirk as Itachi appeared in a swirl of leaves in front of him, blocking his path. Itachi also sported his ninja equipment and his headband proudly displayed on his forehead.
"Are you here to stop me?" asked Naruto.
"What you're doing is breaking the law, you'll be marked as a missing ninja and put up for execution for leaving the village without permission", said Itachi looking down at his boots.
He sighed and silence feel on the area for a few moments, not before he looked up at his best friend with a grin.
"Itachi", Naruto was at a loss for words.
"Don't thank me, you can after we rescue Karin", Naruto's smirk grew larger as he felt another presence enter the area. In between the two appeared Yugao with a smile on her face.
"Yugao Uzuki reporting for ass-kicking duty", she giggled and pulled both of them into headlocks. "You really think that you're going to charge to your deaths without me, you wouldn't last a second", the purple haired Konoichi let both of them go.
Naruto stepped back and looked at the pair. He felt a tear escape his right eye and he quickly wiped it away.
"S-Something in my eye", he hiccupped and sniffed.
"Aw it's okay big guy", Yugao patted him on the back.
Itachi held his pinky out.
"Isn't this is what we're supposed to do now?" he asked sheepishly.
"Team 7!" shouted Yugao joining fingers with him.
"You guys", he sniffed. "Y'know!", Naruto wiped some more tears from his eyes and joined up with them with a beaming smile.
"Oh I did call for some help, foreseeing this circumstance", said Yugao with a smirk. Suddenly as six more chakra signatures entered the area, making Naruto's eyes widen.
"Naruto-kun!" a green blur tackled him in a hug making him stumble back.
"L-Lee", he said in shock as his friend cried.
"I'm with you all the way, no matter what! To the bitter end for you my sibling disciple!" declared Lee as Hana and Neji pulled him off of Naruto.
Hayate coughed in the background.
"What Lee is trying to say is", started Hana.
"Is that, we're behind you no matter what", finished Tenten.
"I don't want you risking your lives for me", stated Naruto turning his back. "It's to dangerous", he pressed gritting his teeth.
"Idiot", Yugao boinked him over the head. "We aren't doing this just because you're our friend, it's for that scared little girl who's all alone. And well, for the future of Konoha", she scowled and crossed her arms.
"We need someone to lead our generation through these times. We couldn't think of a better person to do that that you, Naruto", said Neji placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Me", squeaked the blonde.
Naruto looked as Neji's mouth crept up into a smile.
"This could mean the end of your ninja a careers. You could all become criminals", Naruto pleaded.
Hayate coughed again.
"It's been a good run", he chuckled nonchalantly.
"Naruto…..are minds are made up", said Itachi. "The only thing you should be thinking about is what we'll do next", the Uchiha chuckled at his shocked expression.
"So lead us", said Yugao.
"Yeah Naruto what should we do?" asked Hana.
"Burning spirit!" shouted Lee to the heavens.
Naruto sighed and walked forward looking up at the moonlight.
"I swear we're destined to go down as the most foolish generation Konohagakure has even seen", he chuckled and turned back to them with a wicked grin. "It's a good thing that I'm the king of fools then isn't it?" he laughed cheerfully making them all smile.
….
Four Hours Later
The news had reached Kumogakure, the gossip vine was abuzz. The Hokage's daughter was taken by Orochimaru. Many had differing opinions of the situation, sticking a blow to the Leaf Village brought a smile to many seasoned shinobi's faces. Young mother's and father's empathized with the family, the pain of losing a child is the worst thing any parent could endure.
One Konoichi was rushing over the mountain tops toward. The buxom blonde arrived at a small house. She didn't bother knocking and she burst through the house breathless. She wore a pair of grey pants and black konoichi heeled boots, showing off her red painted toenails. She wore fingerless gloves and a purple and blue t-shirt with a cloud design over her sizable bust. Her long blonde hair tied together in a braid behind her and the cloud hitate displayed proudly on her forehead.
"Samui-chan!" she burst through the creaky door. Looking through the empty rooms, she growled in frustration when she felt someone walk from the living room slowly.
"What is it?" asked the Konoichi in question.
She has blue eyes and straight, blonde hair framing her face cut in an asymmetrical bob style with the front bangs reaching her shoulders. She wore a very low-cut outfit which displayed her developing cleavage, with mesh armour underneath, a short skirt. She also sported a modified Kumogakure Jonin flak jacket that covers her stomach only. She wore strapping over the bottom half of her calves. She placed her hand on her hip and faced the Nibi Jinchuriki.
"We have to go", she insisted grabbing her hand.
"Go where exactly?" she asked.
"You can't be that far out of the loop, Orochimaru's kidnapped an Uzumaki", she pulled her toward the door.
"An Uzumaki-wha-wait", she pulled her hand away. "What's this got to do with us?" she asked.
"It's Naruto's sister you big dummy!" she shouted. "For a sensor you aren't so good at this. Nibi picked up on a small force moving rapidly through Rice-Country. She felt it going toward the Kyuubi's chakra, don't you get it!" she roared.
"Naruto's going to rescue his sister and we have to help?!" she yelled in fustration.
Samui blinked twice.
"N-Naruto?" she looked down. "That fool is going to fight an entire country, with a small band of ninja, wining is an impossibility", the blonde Jonin shook her head. "That idiot!" she shouted.
"Look I know you want to save your boyfriend but we need a plan. We can't catch up with them by just running", stated Yugito.
Samui rushed up stairs and grabbed her ninja gear. She ran past Yugito who took a second to register what Samui had just done.
"Hey wait", she chased after her. "How do you plan on getting there?" she asked.
"I have a plan!" she shouted back strapping her sword to her back. She then fastened her gloves to her hands.
…
"THAT RECKLESS MORON!" Kushina snapped in the Hokage office. Her husband sighed and slumped back in his chair.
"Kaa-chan….
Ren held his arm out as if he wanted to say something but his words died in his throat from behind his mother.
"I can't say I'm surprised", Minato chuckled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head.
"This is all your fault!" she grabbed him by the collar. "Filling his head with your tales of grandeur and heroics. YOU'RE an even bigger moron than he is. Our son is exactly like you, acting like a hero. Minato, what do heroes do?" she didn't wait for a reply.
"They save the ones they care about and stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. My daughter is out there scared and alone, my little boy is chasing after her, not to mention all of his friends are off to help them and you won't do anything, why!?" tears streamed down her face, her lips mere inches from his as she leant over his desk.
"You don't have to worry yourself, Kushina-chan", he spoke calmly to her. "Because he is our son, and he'll bring her back", he rubbed soothing circles on her back.
"As the situation stands, my hands are tied. We've almost recovered from the last war and I can't risk the village's security", he sighed and closed his eyes hugging her close.
"It's in Naruto's hands now, we just have to trust our boy, he's never let us down before", he chuckled half-heartedly.
The redhead looked up at him. He gave her a lopsided grin and wiped away the tears that fell from her eyes.
"We all have to believe in him", he reassured.
…..
The small team from Konoha jumped through the forest in the dead of night.
"Neji, do you see it?" asked Naruto.
"I'm not quite sure as to what I'm looking at, the chakras are….malevolent and twisted", he answered. "And there's a lot of them, all converging on one spot. In and around….some…citadel", Yugao raised an eyebrow.
"How could have he built a small empire and none of the ninja villages were aware", she voiced.
"That's just it isn't it", Itachi narrowed his eyes as his Sharingan blazed to life. "He shouldn't have been able to", his tome spun anti-clockwise.
"Everybody jump back!" shouted Neji. As a large fist came mere inches away from Naruto's face. His expression remained neutral as he and the rest of the Konoha team jumped to the forest floor. The same punch was responsible for the destruction and moderate sized crater in and around the area.
The team stood on the edge as the dust cleared the creature responsible came into view. It roared at them, whipping their clothes up behind them. The creature in question was a gigantic Golem. massive flesh golems are comprised of the remains of fallen warriors. Tattered bloody bandages hold the abomination together where alchemy cannot. The giant is attired with armor and carry iron headgear on their heads. Despite its patchwork appearance, the Golem's chakra felt quite powerful.
The Golem roared again and jumped toward the group with its fist cocked.
"You're in my way, move it", said Naruto narrowing his eyes.
The Golem responded with an angry war, moments later Naruto clenched his right fist.
"Third Gear!" shouted the blonde.
The groups' eyes widened as the night was coated in a golden yellow. They blinked in confusion, in an instant the Golem was sent sailing into the forest, destroying the trees it plowed through.
"What the hell was that?!" shouted Yugao.
"Don't worry about it", the yellow colour died down and he turned to them with a serious look. "Let's just keep moving", said Naruto as he took off followed by the rest of the Konoha team.
…..
Ay sighed and leaned forward. Two of his strongest Konoichi held baited breaths in front of his desk.
"This little plan of yours is quite innovative", he growled. "But do you really expect me to approve you charging off by-yourselves. To back up a bunch of Konohagakure shinobi!?" he roared.
"Orochimaru will become our problem to…eventually", Samui swallowed. "Wouldn't a small war be best than involving the entire village?" she asked nervously.
"What's your point?" he asked.
"We…can beat them", she said softly.
"Raikage-sama you worry to much, as protector of Kumo shinobi and the village I request to accompany Samui on this mission", she giggled. "To eliminate Orochimaru and bring peace to the shinobi world", the blonde dramatically posed.
"Idiot", the Raikage grumbled as Yugito sweatdropped.
"Ouch", she pouted and crossed her arms. "Look are you gonna let us go help out a friend and possibly Samui's future husband-
"Yugito!" snapped Samui her face flushing.
"Raikage-sama, just let them go", Mabui stepped into the room with a smile on her face. "Although the cloud has no business in dealing with Konoha's problems. If you gave them a mission to aid in the destruction of a possible threat to the village's security, it would be a different story. Different to them gallivanting off to some battle field to die", she walked over and placed a hand on either of their shoulders.
"If there's any trouble, I can use my teleportation Jutsu to bring them back", she reassured.
"I'm aware of your talent in that Jutsu Mabui. But it's used to transport objects back and forth, not for people", he sighed. "What am I going to do with you both", he said begrudgingly slamming his fist into his chair, it shook a little.
The three Konoichi leaned forward, not wavered but the outburst of anger.
"Fine!" he bellowed. "But at the first sign of trouble, you both will send a signal through the chakra transmitters Mabui gives you, you will both teleport back here and give your report on what transpired", said Ay narrowing his eyes.
"Do you understand girls?" he asked. "You are to not engage the enemy in combat under any circumstances", he ordered.
"Of course Raikage-sama, we promise", said Yugito crossing his gloved fingers behind her back.
"Very well, Mabui. Prepare the transporter. Samui lock onto the coordinates with your sensor abilities, you'd both had better come back alive!" he growled waving them off.
"Now get out of my office, brats", he dismissed.
"Love you to pops", Yugito giggled.
….
The group of Konoha shinobi stopped at the edge of their objective. At the edge of the northern coast of Rice-Country. The sea pounded against the rocks on the shoreline. Two large polls engraved with the symbol for sound stood proudly adjacent to each other. They marked the start of a bridge that lead outside the bay into the visible citadel in front of them. There traps all over the bridge that would set off kunai, paper bombs and all manner of things that would do anyone arm. Judging from the angry seals displayed on the stone. The bridge was supported by stone pillars that were erected every ten meters, up from the ocean.
"Neji, what do you see?" asked Lee as Neji's Byakugan flared to life.
Out in the distance a two large buildings were visible. The first being one behind a very large gate in the shape of the Rashimon summoning wall. Around the island was a large stone wall will sentries armed with rifles scanning the in the distance. The first rectangular building that stood, slightly smaller than the large one in the further distance. Around these two towering structures were what looked to be abandoned buildings, judging from their condition.
"A few very big problems", he scanned the island. "My best guess is that they're keeping Karin in the tallest skyscraper, which appears to be the most heavily guarded", he surmised.
"What would Orochimaru want with a little girl?" wondered Yugao.
"That doesn't matter", said Itachi. "She's a shinobi of Konoha, whatever Orochimaru wants with her does not concern us, merely her safety, is our top priority", he scanned the fortifications himself.
Naruto clenched his fist. He took a step the bridge, instantly regretting his decision. The entire bridge was illuminated in a red colour that outlined the structure. The ground beneath them shook and from either side of group the earth split apart. After a few moments, stairs appeared and myriad feral battle cries reached their ears. Everyone drew their weapons as the chorus of a rampant stamped made many of them narrow their eyes.
"Here we go", said Naruto drawing Orochimanji.
All manner of monsters, creations of Orochimaru's charged out of the two exit points. The intent to kill evident in their bloodthirsty cries.
…..
At the top of the tower, farthest from the entrance to the citadel the snake Sannin sat down in the candle-lit room. The room was damp and musty. The windows were boarded up and the only things in the room was his seat, a table in front of it and candles that dripped wax onto the stone floor. He had taken this old war outpost from the third great shinobi war. Having been abandoned by Iwagakure when their assault on Uzu proved to be fruitful. The citadel had seen a great battle and many deaths had occurred on and around the island.
Abandoned until a few months ago.
Orochimaru had taken it upon himself to take the once great fortress for himself. Using it as a vantage point to steal experiment test subjects from the surrounding nations. Taking only one at a time and a few months apart from different nations, raised little suspicion. He used the island to conduct his body enhancement experiments, using the blueprints for animals and fusing them with live test subjects bore great results. He had used these enhancements to improve the fighting capabilities of the ten-foot figure that stood in the corner of the room.
The sound of shakles scratching against the floor reached his ears, chuckling at his captive. Who sat on the floor struggling against her bonds. The metal dug into her wrists and blood ran down her wrists from how tight they were fastened, yet she persisted.
"I trust you're enjoying your stay my dear Karin-chan", she stopped at his taunt.
"Go fuck yourself", she struggled angrily.
"Such language unbecoming of such a…lovely young lady", he shook his head and rest his hand on his cheek.
"You're gonna be sorry, my brother is gonna smash your face in!" she shouted, her cry echoing through the empty halls.
Orochimaru sighed and stood up.
"Although your brother may be very strong, he isn't very clever. Challenging an entire nation with not but a band of ninja, such pride in his own abilities", he cackled and crouched down and stroked her cheek.
Suddenly she became very afraid.
"Oh look you're shaking", he said gleefully. "You don't have to afraid my dear, my dear friend Danzo ensured that you were looked after nicely. My you've grown since that time I saw you in Kusagakure", he chuckled at her shocked expression.
"Y-You….
"That's right, you were never meant to be a Konoha shinobi, you were never meant to be adopted by the Hokage. Accepted as one of their own. That Kushina-chan, she saw it, like I have. You are very special my dear", he chuckled as she squirmed away.
"Sweetheart you done have to be afraid", he stood up. "I am going to use your power, you will become a part of me", he licked his lips.
"You will bring me one more step to achieving my dream", his golden eyes burning holes into her red ones.
He then stood up, his hand leaving her cheek.
"I'll show the world", he walked over to the far corner of the room. Another dusty table was suddenly illuminated in the dark as a few candles lit themselves.
On the table was a moderately sized droid. A large, high-tech camera replaced the typical spot for a head. Its body was rectangular and a mess of buttons and switches. It had no legs and its arms were cut off by the mid-forearm. From them on downward lights in the form of cylinders were present.
He pushed a button in the middle of the droid, it disappeared in a flash of white light. Orochimaru then walked over to his desk and pushed a button underneath the rotting wood. A screen emerged from the roof behind him. The image of Naruto appeared cutting down numerous of the sound leader's experiments.
"I'll broadcast it to the world", he said with a far off look. "Where my ambitions will be made clear to every man woman and child", he looked right at her but her attention was on the screen.
Karin's bottom lip quivered, she bit back tears as the chains dug into her wrists uncomfortably.
"He came for me…..Nii-SAN!" she cried.
Chapter End
Hope you all enjoyed the latest chapter. I've thought this arc out so that we'll see development in most characters. Also Naruto and Samui's relationship, which is the primary pairing for this story.
So leave a REVIEW, I'd really appreciate it.
Ages for this arc
Naruto, Yugao, Itachi, Samui and Yugito - 16 – 17
Konoha Team – 15 - 16 - 17
Ren – 10
Kari - 8