Chapter 25: Why?
"Back to Konoha, huh?" thought Naruto boringly as he peered outside the window of the moving bus as it travelled through the peaceful and empty streets from his hometown.
"Being back here does bring back a lot of bad memories…"thought again with a slight frown remembering his many bad days as his schoolmates picked on him, and the townspeople always gossiped bad things about him and his mother. This in turn made his anger flare up and direct it against the man who was also his father though in his mind lacked the proper qualifications to be so.
Thinking of his father Naruto's only thought was of anger and confusion, for according to the people at the academy he had somehow messed with him and his peculiar nature as a Selvain when he was born risking the possibility of him becoming like one of those ancient things people understood as demons brought to earth to wreak havoc and sow disaster!
And to top it all he was a jerk who never deigned acknowledge him or his mother for that matter making them the only stain in the priest's otherwise pristine reputation.
But as he breathed out knowing how useless was to get upset over a past he couldn't change his mind drifted to another very different issue.
If his mother was a Selvain and his father was aware of that, why did he only learn of it the day he stepped into Crescent Moon Academy?
The other kids knew of their own natures probably since the day they could reason and understand things but he was denied that chance and instead felt his whole life among humans as a pariah of sorts.
And he kind of understood some of the reasons; after all he had been quite blessed since the cradle, for he apparently had a stronger than average body, great physical condition, and an unblemished health that so far had never been compromised so far neither by decease or injury.
He realized that being considered a bastard and then have all this godly traits about him only flared up others to scorn him and make him feel ostracized as if in some sort of punishment for daring to stand above them, despite being brought to this world already there.
This in turn surfaced a dangerous thought that he knew was the bane of many at the Academy and was quick to dismiss it as pure and simple envy and with time it could be easily overcome, all he needed was time.
Shedding away his own thoughts, he realized that the bus had finally come to a stop in front of the temple that also served as his home throughout the majority of his life and where he expected to get some answers about his origins and the why it was kept hidden from him all this time.
Stepping down from the bus the first thing that happened was a loud boom followed by a lot of yellow smoke that effectively blinded him and made him start coughing violently as it got inside his lungs.
After a long fit of coughing he managed to see the temple and this time it wasn't the traditionally solemn place where people came to make their prayers but now it was sparkling and had a large set of golden words that read "Welcome Home Naruto!"
Naruto blinked incredulously and a second afterwards was tackled to the ground and all light was blocked along with air as his mother furiously hugged him while crying of happiness.
"Wah! Naruto, my baby, is back at last! Screw the school I'll never let you go again!" screamed Kushina as Naruto tapped her arm indicating he gave up and needed some air to continue living.
"I think he needs some space Kushina…" said Minato standing next to his wife.
Blinking, Kushina noticed that Naruto had gone limp and was clearly on the verge of departing this world.
Some minutes later…
Naruto had finally got his breath back and managed to stand firm again as his mother was about to plunge on him again though this time the stern look in Naruto's eyes froze her in place making her nervous since Naruto had never looked her in that accusatory manner.
"No! Naruto doesn't like me anymore!" completely misinterpreted Kushina as she went to wail and cry on Minato's chest.
Sighing out Naruto softened his look and said "I like you mom, but why?"
"Huh? Why what? My dear?" said Kushina as if nothing had happened before.
Growling slightly, Naruto cleared his throat and said "WHY? Why did never told me who and what I was? Do you have any idea of the shock it was to find out what I was in a completely different dimension? Or better yet, that monsters are real and not just fairy tales?"
Before Kushina could reply or Naruto continue, Minato rose his hand and said "I think it would be best if we had this conversation at the house, the street where anyone could listen seems hardly an appropriate place"
Blinking son and mother smiled sheepishly in the exact same manner and proceeded to grab Naruto's stuff and enter the temple grounds.
Just the moment Naruto went through the temple's threshold though his step faltered strongly making him drop to a knee as his sight blurred and his skin felt numb.
"Oh my Naruto, it's right, I completely forgot!" said Kushina as she quickly went to an unseemly wooden tablet b the door and turned it around and at that moment Naruto's health restored itself almost instantaneously.
"What the hell?" said Naruto not certain of what had just happened.
"Holy grounds son, you aren't strong enough and lack the training to stand amidst them without your strength faltering. The tablet is a blocking device that allows the likes of you to stand within without compromising the power of the place" said Minato sagely as Naruto tried to remember a similar conversation he had with Kurenai.
"Temples are built as beacons for humanity's faith in something superior to them but they have a more practical function and that it's to make them places where spirits, monsters and magical beings become weak, repelled or easily defeated. These is achieved through the standard construction, the design, the relics, the priests and the collective energy focused from the faith of those who attend it regularly" continued Minato helping a dazed Naruto back to his feet.
"Never thought of them like that. But why by turning that wooden tablet I no longer feel ill?" asked Naruto shaking his head to clear his sight.
"Temples, churches, mosques, synagogues and any other holy ground in the world that still serves as such have a careful arrangement to themselves in crucial spots. That's why they all share similar constructs and decorations within that not only makes them friendly to occasional visitors of different locations but also are important to keep them functional as beacons of light. That wooden tablet by the entrance is charged with yours and your mother's energy and by integrating them to the temple's structure it flows within allowing you two to live here normally" said Minato making Naruto wonder how much his father did knew of such things.
"And why was mother alright when I got here?" asked Naruto finally getting his bearings.
"Because your mother is mightily strong and this temple isn't enough to bring her down" replied Minato making Kushina blush over the rather strange praise.
"Oh…" said Naruto as he and his parents entered the house by the side of the temple main building.
A change of clothes and some hot chocolate later…
Wearing a big green sweater clumsily knit by his mother Naruto sat at the winter table with a large blanket covering their legs and feet due to the cold weather outside.
Minato sat straight ahead of Naruto with his eyes closed and sporting a thinking semblance on his face. Kushina sat to his right with a bright smile enjoying her time with her two most important people in the world and Naruto just observed them with some distrust given that they were still avoiding giving him some answers.
"Mom…why did you never told me I was a Selvain? All that time and all those things I had to stand…why?" said Naruto with some sadness in his face since he didn't want to start distrusting his own mother.
Almost cracking over Naruto's face Kushina swallowed her own tears and began "Tell me Naruto, were you surprised when you got to the academy and found out that all my bedtime stories were real? That monsters were very real and not only that they existed in our world as productive members of the society?"
Naruto almost complained at the fact that his question was answered by a question but he had to acknowledge that it was a rather irresistible one and so he said "Well of course I was surprised! This is how a scientist would feel if they were suddenly encountered with an alien! But I was even more surprised to know that I was a monster too!...Of sort…"
"And tell me son, when you got to know these monsters, were you scared of them?" asked Kushina now with a gentler smile on her face as if something important was accomplished.
"Well at first I was, well not entirely except for a few occasions but I get that it's how they are and you can't be very judgmental about it…and after getting to know them I was no longer afraid…it's fun actually" said Naruto becoming aware of his own words.
"And what do you think of humanity now Naruto?" asked Kushina a bit more seriously.
"Well I am mainly human except for the fell within me…and well the humans of this town were never really kind to us, but you always said that the world was a big place full of different people and that out there I would find nicer ones" said Naruto now becoming suspicious of the unintended lesson.
"And tell me Naruto, had you known what you truly were, how would you look at both communities?" said Kushina with a winning smile this time and lifting a finger in the air.
Naruto was about to answer but the moment he opened his mouth no words came out for a lot of different memories came to mind from all the times he got to meet with each and every one of his friends and the events that occurred with them.
They had behaved as per their species, but he had reacted as a human to each and every one of them and despite the difficulties, the wounds and the awkwardness he had brought together a band of monsters into becoming good friends to one another making his world fuller, more complete one would say.
His human values and morality had come weirdly to every one of them but in the end he realized that the common link between them was himself…
"I would have treated them differently, I would had stood with my own kind, I would have taken them all for granted and very likely leave them be as they were…I wouldn't have become friends with them…And I would see at humans with fear and suspicion above all" answered Naruto looking at his hands.
"As I once did my precious son…" said Kushina stretching a hand to his child with the most motherly smile her face could make.
Naruto took it and said with a smile of his own that was fueled by the memory of each of his friends, and said "I guess a thank you is right…"
And so everything was alright at the temple once more and Naruto was ready to have a wonderful holiday in the company of his mother and his less than charming father…yeah right.
Squeezing his mother's hand slightly hard Naruto opened his eyes and gave Kushina a "not so fast" look which made her smile nervously and his father sigh knowing that his son wasn't that dense.
"Mommy, Principal Tsunade was very kind to tell me that dad played the mad sorcerer with me when I was born and somehow messed up my nature as a Selvain, would you be so kind to explain how a mother lets his child be played around like that?" said Naruto sweet tone that at the same time was quite threatening and bordering on becoming a fit of rage.
Laughing nervously Kushina tried to pry her hand back but winced slightly when Naruto tugged it back still keeping his smile and his own small fit of laughter that made Minato slightly nervous about the next instants.
"Well?..." said Naruto suddenly opening his eyes with a dead serious expression that made Kushina almost scream over how scary her son could be.
"I think, I have enough head and temper to explain this part Kushina, may I?" said Minato putting down his cup of chocolate and catching Naruto's eyes with his own.
Naruto let go of Kushina's hand as he placed his full attention on his dad. The very character he was most puzzled with in the whole world over a multitude of questions which so far the provided answers seem short to define satisfactorily.
Before any words were exchanged Kushina spoke up making certain that feelings wouldn't rise into actual violence with "Son, before your father says anything, just know that I asked him to do it"
Naruto's eyes went wide at this piece of information but before he could utter a single word Minato began his own account…
"Years ago Naruto, before you were born I used to attend the Sun's Spear Academy, and there I was taught about the world of monsters, of spirits and the correct use of my spiritual powers to protect mankind from them…" said Minato making Naruto react visibly since he knew another two students from that academy.
"Long ago the factions ruling the monster society came to an understanding with the factions protecting mankind, marking the rules the monster society has to keep in order for it to be allowed a regular life in society, but should one of their elements behave "improperly" and they failed to clean their own mess, the protectors of humanity would step in and fix the problem, plus deliver retribution upon those who failed to fix it in the first place" said Minato allowing Naruto sometime to process the information.
"The leaders of both academies from time to time organize exchanges among students to see how well are monsters integrating into human society. Back then I was chosen by Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi to be the exchange student due to my high qualifications and greater than average powers, but as I would later learn, also to smooth my extreme views over my duties as a protector of mankind" said Minato making Naruto look at him with new ideas.
"It was during that exchange that I met my match, sort of speaking, in views and power within your mother. Who at the time was head of a disciplinary squad and held humanity in the lowest regard imaginable and fiercely advocated for the union en masse of all monster species to form a more solid block before humanity" said Minato with a slightly annoyed gaze at the innocent looking Kushina whose hand was still being forcefully grabbed by Naruto.
"In short, it didn't take long for us to clash beyond words, annoying pranks and Mexican standoffs. We ended up fighting it out and after a couple of days of nonstop fighting we had to call it a tie" concluded Minato scratching the back of his head in a copy of Naruto's custom.
"Alright, you two were out for each other's blood so what eventually got you…you know, that story that ends up with me being here?" asked Naruto the rather obvious question.
"Since we were so tired of our scuffling, while we rested from the fight we kept at it through words and after a long debate we concluded that the source of the conflict that was born during the sinking of ancient Atlantis, was the divergence of species and the inevitability of a clash of civilizations" said Minato as Kushina was trying to pry her hand still firmly held by Naruto.
"So the conclusion was that it took a greater spirit to accept each other as we were and on that we took the challenge to find a way forward for humanity to someday accept and mingle with the creatures of the night" said Minato still with a level tone.
"But the biggest challenge wasn't on the human factor of the equation sadly…Yes humanity can be very judgmental and racist but the tide is slowly turning in the world as news can show, so the time when human spirit reaches a new height is coming. But among the monster society they remain highly split, from the Regali Families ruling each continent and the existing monster societies on them. Monsters rarely breed between one another and distrust each other highly due to their more basic instincts" said Minato not noticing the S.O.S sign Kushina was sending his way as her hand apparently had went numb.
"So not having easy answers Kushina and I moved on with our lives until the joyous day she told me she was expecting…and on that time we were faced once more with the question of how our child would grow, specially being the child of a Selvain and a human…" said Minato now closing his eyes thinking of the fear he had felt back then.
"We wanted our child to love the whole of the world, humans, monsters and sorcerers alike. But being a Selvain would always make him one of them, sort of speaking, marking a clear distinction that could seed hatred and distrust" continued Minato.
"So we searched for a way in which you could be all at once and avoid hatred being lodged inside you…" ended Minato waiting for some response.
After a rather long moment of silence in which Kushina had already resigned herself to a numb hand still being squeezed by his son, Naruto finally sighed out and began "I kind of understand your desires, no wonder why you brought me up as a human until some months ago…It really gives me a unique perspective and makes the line between humanity and monsters thinner and easy to ignore. But why mess around with what's lodged inside me? I was told Selvains could live on never learning of their true nature, and only very few ever did learned of it and actually did something out of it…But I also learned of what they could become if someone defied the wisdom of the spirits…"
Finally prying her hand back Kushina shook it to let some blood back into it while thanking the heavens and feeling surprise over the "monstrous" strength her child had now.
"That Naruto, was my idea, you see, Minato and I knew that you would be born a Selvain for such things are like that and has been for a very long time. But I also knew that you would be born with tremendous power, one that would certainly call forth a mighty spirit to occupy your body and keep it safe from corrupted spirits" began saying Kushina with a bright disposition and keeping her hands away from Naruto.
"So in our desire to make you a whole being, we tried to bargain with the spirit, so you could learn from it for it certainly was wise beyond anyone's years and show the path to a better future for mankind and monsters…" said Kushina averting her eyes by the end of her speech.
Noticing that there was something amiss Naruto asked wryly "But something happened right? Because I never learned of my nature until much later…"
"You see son, there's much of the world of spirits that no one knows and treading that path of knowledge is hard and confusing and we clearly overestimated the intelligence of this spirit…" said Kushina with a trembling smile that almost seemed of amusement to Naruto.
"What happened?" growled Naruto tired of being given evasive answers.
Sitting by Minato's side and well away from Naruto's immediate reach Kushina said "The spirit occupying your body turned out to be one of a very mischievous kind, not really evil, but by no means a wise one…so while you were a little baby and your powers went out of control, you did quite a number on the town and its people…"
Naruto's eyes shot wide open and quick enough he made the math of why the people of the town had it against him and his mother.
"What did this thing did?" said Naruto patting his stomach with some force as if to hurt the spirit.
"This and that…that's why we had to seal it back and keep you from your true nature during all this time…" said Kushina averting her eyes while trying not to laugh at the memory of the mayhem the spirit unleashed upon the town.
"Well that explains some of why everyone here treats me like some sort of undesirable but why don't we have the same surname as dad?" asked Naruto briefly accepting the answer as it seemed plausible since he enjoyed playing pranks on the townspeople too.
"As I already explained Naruto, his superiors frowned deeply at him when we got together so I granted him the freedom to slight me so they would leave him alone" said Kushina.
"Then why do you have to be such an ass and let everyone say those awful things of her and treat us like vermin dad?" asked Naruto with righteous anger.
"What happened to the townspeople due to your birth, also timed with the time I brought your mother to live with me and that combined with the fact that she wasn't officially my wife made them believe that it was some sort of curse brought upon by my, you know…" said Minato not wanting to utter the word.
"That still doesn't explain why you are an ass…" said Naruto not catching the point.
"We knew that the townspeople would treat you poorly and would likely push you to hate them and wish them ill. We didn't wanted your heart to become sour of soul so I decided to take all of your hatred and anger unto myself Naruto, better you grow to hate one person than hate a whole town…" finished saying Minato with closed eyes.
Naruto's eyes went wide again and with a single stroke of truth his anger for his father was dispelled and turned into confusion.
"Why wait so long to tell me? Asked Naruto wary of what could happen next.
"You weren't sufficiently educated, you needed background to understand our reasons…" said Kushina with a single tear rolling down her face as she leant on Minato.
Naruto averted his eyes and pondered this, and indeed had he been told all this before he departed to the academy he wouldn't had believed it and much less thought better of his dad. But now he could and was willing to understand much more than usual.
Scratching the back of his head Naruto sighed and said "Boy that's a lot to take in and I still have plenty of questions but there's one thing I do need to say before anything else…and that is; dad I guess I owe you an apology for the snide comments I have been making my whole life about you, the curses I attempted, the pranks, the doodles I made, the etc etc etc…"
Naruto went on with his apology making Kushina hold back her laughter while Minato's eyebrow twitched in flaring anger as he had never learned of half the things Naruto did during his growing up.
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Sun's Spear Academy, a place where the guardians of mankind learn, train and develop the ancient arts and powers by which they carry their oaths to forever keep humanity safe from the corrupting forces of the night to which monsters and certain kinds of sorcerers belonged.
Here also were trained those who would oversee the integration of the monsters into human society as agreed centuries ago by the legendary Count Teppes when both societies had been pressed to counter a world threat.
The people at this academy no longer believed in the utopia of ancient Atlantis and just accepted that monsters had at least earned their right to have a chance at a normal life among human society though some were on the side of denying even that as from time to time some monsters went overboard and gruesomely killed a human or two.
Usually the problem was dealt by representatives of the Regali families but if the threat overwhelmed them, then the Sun Spears would step in and fix the problem permanently.
But despite the gruesome nature of their duties, the men and women of this organization flocked from all over the world and all the religions as their collective mission was more important than the petty differences of their creeds, making an incredibly tolerant environment where no good deed went unrewarded.
For the past century the academy has been led by Hiruzen Sarutobi, a powerful Shinto Priest and master of elemental geomancy, with great success and with a revolutionary set of ideals to lead the ancient organization into the ever changing ways of humanity's future.
The most controversial so far had been as more merciful approach to the increasing number of monsters living in human society. Since an open hand is always more useful than a clenched fist.
But today the academy saw two of its most powerful students return for the winter holidays and to report their activities at Crescent Moon Academy.
Rock Lee and Shion Kamigami once more dressed in their original uniforms arrived to a semi empty academy as most students had already gone back to their homes.
Unlike their other peers, it has been years since either of them had really gone home for anything at all since their extreme powers made them quite fearsome even to their own families.
Shion's priestess skills always made others treat her like some sort of earthly divinity worth venerating and treating with the upmost respect making her family encounters rather tiring, boring and not intimate at all.
While Lee's great powers inherited from ancient heroes like Hercules, Achilles, Momo Taro and others of their fine ilk; always made his own parents fear his terrifying strength and feel somewhat embarrassed by his extreme sense of justice and righteousness.
These two traits attracted the attention of the Academy back in the day and immediately brought them in for proper training and induction, effectively becoming a more welcoming place for them where they found people similar to them and respected them in the proper measure despite their personal quirks.
Both students went straight to the Principal's office to pay their respects and present their first impressions of the mission they currently carried out.
"Excuse us honored Principal" said Shion in a court voice as she and Lee made their way into the comfy office of one of the most powerful being on earth.
Placing apart his pipe, Hiruzen coughed slightly and drawing a smile on his old face said "Welcome home my children! This old heart soars when it sees you both!"
Both Shion and Lee smiled broadly as well and went to seat quickly in the two comfortable chairs in front of the large wooden desk to have one of the many grandfatherly talks they have had with the principal over the years.
"So how have you two been doing among the children of the night? Bet its nothing like you imagined in the first place, huh? So what's on your minds boys?" said Hiruzen almost laughing.
Shion coughed slightly and composing herself she began "Well, to be honest my point of view about them has certainly improved, still they have some severe morality flaws which I have taken the personal mission of helping curve to a more acceptable level"
Hiruzen laughed hard at this and then allowed Lee to speak.
"My Lord! I have to say that the people of that academy is much more youthful than I imagined! Great friends of one another and are also very hard working youthful people!" boasted Lee making Hiruzen smile broadly and with satisfaction.
"Good, good, it would be great if more people could see them as you do now. Well, unto more serious affairs before you two go prepare for the winter holidays…How did your mission went on?" said Hiruzen opening and ancient leather bound note book of pristine white sheets.
Clearing her throat Shion began her account of her days in Crescent Moon "Well, on the first day we got transferred to the academy we successfully got assigned to the target's class and also acquired seats nearby effectively giving us an advantageous observing position"
Hiruzen laughed slightly as he wrote kinder words on the notebook and nodded her to continue.
"There we ascertained the target's identity and proceeded to make the required assessments. Our finding is that Naruto Uzumaki is a well-adapted person and represents no immediate danger to others or himself. Though his abilities as a Selvain are quite intense and seem to respond heavily to the swing of his moods" said Shion.
"I see…It's good to hear that Shion, and what about you Lee?" said Hiruzen while scribbling.
"My lord, I vouch for Naruto's youthfulness! He's an inspiring man in every sense of the word I can possibly imagine! He's strong, brave, noble, honorable, easygoing and the greatest shining beacon of manliness I have ever seen since Guy sensei!" said Lee with stars in his eyes.
"Care to elaborate on that?" asked Hiruzen truly interested as Shion ahd tried to silence Lee.
"Of course! He's friend to many different people, helps those in need, protects his friends against anyone and many girls seek out his affections! As I said, he's the greatest man I have seen! He inspires me to reach new heights!" said Lee making Shion scream silently.
Hiruzen blinked in surprise at this information while Shion seemed petrified.
Coughing lightly Hiruzen laugh lightly and whispered to himself "What an interesting child Minato…"
"Well it's good to hear that this boy has so many redeeming qualities, and it's also good to know that he's no threat at the moment…So I suppose your mission has been a success and I can recall you both to the academy" said Hiruzen expecting his question to bring out the information they have been holding back.
At this, both Shion and Lee almost jumped from their seat and almost at the same time said "W-Wait my lord, there are still things that needed further evaluation!"
This made old Hiruzen crack up in laughter and said "Easy down kids! Calm down, take a breather and explain why I should extend your mission when it's obvious that Naruto is no threat to anyone!"
Shion and Lee stammered slightly not knowing exactly what to say, so they went with the most honest truth they could find in their souls.
"My Lord, it shames me to say that I have fallen for a maiden from the night…her heart right now belongs to another as far as I know but still, I wish to try and …well I don't know, its only that I feel joyous there…" said Lee not finding the real reasons to stay there.
Seeing Lee's hesitation and feeling slightly bad for him, Shion began her own account "My Lord, I am a priestess of the light, my duty is to fight back the shadows that would swallow mankind and for a long time I thought that those shadows stem from the monster society and the sorcerers. But during my time at the Crescent Moon Academy, I am yet to see any of these shadows, quite the contrary I am finding everyday people worth my respect time and time again thought their morality could improve by leaps and bounds. What I am saying my lord is that I wish to know more about them and learn to discern between the night and the darkness that fights the light..." said Shion with more certainty.
"I see…well if that how you two feel, then I am pleased to give you my permission" said Hiruzen closing his notebook.
"W-What?" said both Shion and Lee not knowing what to say to the sudden kindness of Lord Hiruzen.
Before any could voice a question Hiruzen began "For years, I have been trying to cast light to my very blind and stubborn followers here and around the world to see the society of the night with more "clear" ideas beyond those found in the old dusty books you instruct yourselves with. But so far people has been very resistant to my ideas and I don't have the necessary arguments to push forward a more comprehensive integration"
Shion and Lee's eyes went slightly wide as they took this new piece of information.
"So when Lady Tsunade contacted me to help her with this unique boy, I saw a chance to prove my point by lending her two of my best students upon who many has placed their faith in! If you two could see the truth of the monster society then, maybe you two could be the first of many who will bring a new era of integration beyond simple assimilation, for the utopia of Atlantis was once real and I believe it can be again" said Hiruzen with a light Shion or Lee had never seen in his eyes.
Not knowing what to say both Shion and Lee exchanged a look and then addressed their beloved leader "Thank you very much my Lord, we promise not to disappoint you and work towards the rebirth of Atlantis"
Laughing heartily Hiruzen said "Thank you boys for proving me right for a chance! Now go and enjoy your holidays! Lee, I am sure Guy will be delighted to see his star student again!"
Lee immediately left to look for his role model while Shion sighed to his companion's rude manners.
"Shion, one last thing if you may" said Hiruzen with more seriousness this time.
"Yes my lord?" replied Shion curious about his superior's sudden change of tone.
"I know it's hardly my business but your superiors at the priestess hood has been nagging me to remind you of your duty to provide an heir for your line and to keep providing strong servants of the light. Now I won't ask you to look at the references for possible good matches, but you know how insisting they can get" said Hiruzen not really enjoying such a talk with a girl in her teen years.
Shion on her side didn't seemed to be very bothered by it and replied coolly "I know of my duties lord Hiruzen but none of the candidates they have presented is of the divine spirit nature so any offspring I sire with them is to be guaranteed to inherit my unique abilities. So I won't consider a candidate until they meet that necessary requirement"
Hiruzen sighed at this, for he knew that indeed, humans born with the divine energy were rare and far between and Shion was one of such kind.
He also sighed due to the priestess hood often sought these breeding experiments to produce children with that energy but often failing several times before having any success, delivering several children who had to be directed to other schools of learning away from its parents who many times didn't even loved one another. A cruel but necessary thing he had to allow in order to keep the Priestess of Light on his side, for many where the different orders defending mankind.
Before Hiruzen could speak again Shion said "As a matter of fact, the last student here who ever possessed such kind of energy was the famed and revered Minato Namikaze, if it were someone like him then I may consider it"
Hiruzen almost cracked up in laughter but managed to contain it knowing that no one liked others laughing when speaking of their heroes.
So calming down he said smartly "Funny you say that my dear, did you know that Naruto Uzumaki is Minato's flesh son?"
At this Shion went rigid…
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The Shadow dimension, well one of the many created by ancient powerful sorcerers to keep the most troublesome, dangerous, and uncontrollable of the monsters in the night children's society.
Some dimensions held several kinds of creatures and within them they tried to carry an existence surrendered to their basic instincts and that often led them to sad endings.
The Oni on the other hand had a dimension of their own given that the entire community had been unable to prove themselves fit to live among humans without losing their transformations or improving their manners before them.
Their dimension resembled a large rural population with large farmlands between each household and the skies here were almost blue if only of a darker shade. One could almost think this were the farmlands one could see every time they drove out of the city, at least until they laid their eyes on the locals.
Tayuya pulled her wheeled luggage towards her home, while some neighbors waved at her friendly and she forced herself to smile back at them though she didn't really wanted to. In her mind, for creatures that looked so demonically, they behaved too well! Shouldn't they be fighting over a recently slain prey? Or quarreling over some territorial dispute?
She knew she should be grateful but deep down she still felt too out of place here despite it was her home and where her family dwelled. But no one could judge her for her dreams went beyond an endless farmland.
Tayuya sighed at this and knew that if any of those who didn't knew the Oni dimension, saw it, then they would accuse her of complaining over a very peaceful existence that at many instances far surpassed that of humanity.
But to her this peace was unnerving and she yearned for the mayhem of a human existence, and the fame of the great musicians was like a mermaid calling to her willing doom.
But this time she was confused, for where every Oni here had horns or tusks sprouting out of them or their skin was completely red or blue. She didn't have any single visible trait of her species luring the curious looks of several neighbors who had always known her and her nasty personality.
Tayuya smirked at this and patted her head to make certain that the horns weren't poking upwards making her heart soar with joy and pride.
Still knowing this she realized that she was the first Oni to ever fully control her transformation in centuries which meant that if she managed to stay under control until her graduation she could stay in the human world, and that meant being completely alone. The only Oni in the human world, one among millions.
This thought made her shudder with fear but at the same time she always shook it knowing the great favor whiskers had done for her and she wouldn't waste it over some nervousness.
Tayuya clenched her fist and flashed her teeth with confidence knowing that she would be the only one! And the first to be out of this mind numbing paradise!
But before she went to meet the clan, she had a stop to make and one that filled her with excitement.
So getting off the main road she began skirting the nearby river until she got to a small but nice house hidden from the view by several large bamboo shoots.
The house had a small pier and a boat tied to a wooden post, and it had its walls painted in a white that showed some dust by the ground.
Tayuya at first didn't saw anyone but the moment a guitar started to slowly play she almost jumped and went further around to see one of his best friends ever and the man who seed the dream of becoming a famous musician into her.
Kimimaro Kaguya was gently caressing his guitar allowing gentle music to float over the sound of the slow running river while his eyes lazily drifted over the skyline to the setting sun in the end of another boring peaceful day.
Abruptly his peaceful and boring afternoon was interrupted by the loud mention of his name by a voice he knew very well and grew fond of during his last year at the Crescent Moon Academy.
"Ki-mi-ma-ro!" said Tayuya with obvious glee at finally being reunited with his beloved upper classman.
"Tayuya…" Kimimaro said gently with a smile on his face as he placed the guitar to a side and stood up to properly greet the fiery red head.
Suddenly both stood in front of one another with looks of surprise for neither was like they remembered each other.
Tayuya was surprised to see that Kimimaro was still of alabaster skin but four large bone spikes protruded from his back clearly indicating that he couldn't control his transformation anymore and not due to lack of personal strength but due to a rare genetic disorder unique to his clan that manifested every couple of generations.
On the other side Kimimaro was surprised to see Tayuya without her hat and even more to see no evidence of her horns making him wonder for a second if she had managed to arrange her hair in a fashion that could conceal them.
Noticing where his eyes lingered and trying to not sound sad over seeing him in such state, Tayuya grinned and patting her head she said "Surprised? No horns anymore, human world tremble for Tayuya is coming!
Kimimaro closed his eyes and gently smiles while going to envelop Tayuya in a large hug that made the redhead stammer nervously for she wasn't used to intimate expressions of friendship or caring. Not that she didn't received plenty at home but outside the family she always felt shy and nervous to the point of exercising violence on those who tried.
But Tayuya didn't moved until Kimimaro stepped back and watched her full once more and said "I don't believe it Tayuya, how did you? You know?"
"What? Can't believe that your star flutist couldn't make a couple of horns go back?" said the grinning Tayuya feeling her self-esteem soaring.
"No" said Kimimaro flatly making Tayuya drop to her knees with her Self Esteem crashed to the ground.
"That's mean Kimimaro! Alright, so I got some help but it was just like 2.5% of the work! The rest was pure me!" said Tayuya stepping up to Kimimaro's face who in turn laughed heartily.
"Are you certain you have it under control? No skin colorations? No other horns sprouting? Your eyes remain brown?" asked Kimimaro with all seriousness as he scanned Tayuya making the girl feel somewhat embarrassed over a guy inspecting her so closely.
"I am certain…I am calmed and focused. I made you a promise to become a great musician and I intend to keep it!" said Tayuya pushing Kimimaro back.
Kimimaro just wiped a tear away and laughed heartily to the setting sun making Tayuya to also laugh a little.
"This is wonderful Tayuya, be certain to thank properly the person who helped you. For us Oni, to have one of our own finally accepted to live in the human world, its nothing short of historic! You'll bring hope to those who have never known it before, perhaps a child of mine will be able to see the wonders of the world someday!" said Kimimaro feeling stronger and happier than ever before.
Right before she could say anything else the laughter of four men resounded behind them.
"Hey there Tayuya! Have you told Kimimaro about your beloved golden haired prince?" said the annoying voice of Sakon making Tayuya turn around with her face the same color of her hair.
Coming around the road the other three members of her failed Rock band came not even trying to conceal their Oni traits but rather showing their own peculiarities.
"Guys, so good to see you all!" said Kimimaro greeting them with his brightest smile.
"How not to come and see our boss!" said Kidomaru putting two of his arms behind his head and two in his pockets.
"I see our little flutist beat us to the place. Seems like she's still excited over being capable of going to the human world" said Jirobo in a more court tone.
Tayuya wanted to transform and rip them apart but when she saw that they were also happy about her she scuffed and crossed her arms letting the slight pass over.
"Come come, let's have some dinner together to celebrate the reunion of our band!" said Kimimaro beckoning them to enter his small house.
The band smiled and made to follow Kimimaro when he suddenly stopped on his tracks.
"By the way Tayuya, what's this about a golden haired prince?" asked Kimimaro with a smug look.
Before the once more blushing girl could answer, Ukon started "It's some pretty dude that charmed this foul mouth here and got her horns down!"
"And then took her to the dance and sat the dance floor on fire!" completed Sakon.
"And because of him she no longer wears that smelly hat!" added Kidomaru.
"And she gave him a cute nickname" ended Jirobo.
"Oh, what a surprise" said Kimimaro as he withdrew to his house knowing what was going to happen.
In a flash Tayuya had transformed to her full Oni form and letting out a roar leapt upon her fellow band members with a red embarrassed face.
xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo
The Aburame household as always remained pleasantly quiet as its two sole current inhabitants sat at the living room reading quietly as the day went by.
Shibi and Shizu Aburame as always spent their afternoons together after their work was done at the local university where they studied the impact of insects in the world's biosphere.
Shibi was dressed in his usual attire of a green sweater, pale green pants and comfy green sleepers while his wife was dressed in a burgundy sweater, blue jeans and black sleepers. Their common trait was their thick afro style haircut and their black Elton John's dark glasses covering their eyes completely despite being indoors.
As they almost turned pages at the same time the door of their house was opened as silently as possible and soon a teenager boy covered in a large white coat stood at the entrance of the living room staring silently at his parents.
"I'm home…I'll be in my room…" was all that Shino muttered to his parents before he walked away to his room.
When the music began to sound through the walls, Shino closed his books and turned to his wife.
"When did he went out?..." said Shibi as he stared at his wife.
His wife didn't stop reading and replied "Beats me, he never says much…"
With a slight sigh, Shibi went back to his reading as if nothing happened.
AN: Done!
At last the muse of inspiration is back at my mind and apparently my employment issue is finally getting fixed so "YAY!" for me.
Hope you like this rendition and as promised I gave you the rest of the characters home return.
On next chapter, our students go back to school with new agendas and at last the long awaited introduction of a very popular character will arrive along with the last of the Rosario+Vampire characters given a Naruto mirror.
Guess who they are?
As always, leave reviews and share ideas.
Read Enjoy and Review!