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The Revival of The Clan
Chapter 37
~Seals And Summonings~
We departed swiftly, like proper shinobi, directing our hurried steps towards the chakra of our friends. The rest of the girls appeared confused on guiding themselves in those maze-like chambers. Even Tsunade-sama looked a bit worried. Well, there was no need for that. I was a Root member after all. I easily bypassed the traps and lead us to our destination in a span of five minutes or so.
I admit I was incredibly tired. But my tiredness rivaled my urgent need to see their end. I knew Sasuke would do it. No one could deny him the chance anymore, the concession to be the one to finally deliver justice. He craved for revenge. And this one time I wished and longed for revenge as well. It's been told that the Uchiha Clan is a clan of avengers. I can finally understand why. My very own boiling blood was guiding me there.
We quickly reached the second level, where the Advisors were hiding. Those chambers were made to prevent attacks, leak of information, invasion…everything. Those old bastards probably felt safe and protected in that room. I don't blame them. This was meant for protection anyway. They even placed that suspicious seal everyone was talking about to be utterly certain of their safety.
Sadly for me, when we were finally standing some meters away I regrettably almost lost my balance in a sudden haze of dizziness. It was highly embarrassing. Some pairs of hands, though, immediately reached to save me in a matter of nanoseconds.
"Aelia! Don't overdo it!"
"I am fine Sakura." I assured the reprimanding girl and attempted to stand properly again, gaining back my lost footing.
"If I sense you are not as fine as you claim to be, I will drag you away myself!" she threatened with eyes narrowed into dangerous slits and cracked her knuckles. I only darted a reassuring smile at her direction.
When we were close enough, I realized that most of the people I care about were there. I saw Naruto, Kakashi-senpai and of course Sasuke -how did he make it here so quickly?- Kiba, Shikamaru, Neji, Yamato, Sai and some other ANBU and Root members. The rest of my friends, like Shino, Choji and Lee were guarding the other exits. I also perceived that many seemed injured, especially the Root members now lying on the floor defeated. My guess was that they were the ones trying to defend the Council.
"Kakashi, Shikamaru what is the situation?" Tsunade demanded answers as soon as we arrived. Everyone focused on us. Eyes jerked to tryst our nearing figures. One of them undoubtedly was the most enthusiastic of all.
"Tsunade oba-chan, Sakura-chan and even Aelia-chan! What are you doing here?"
"Thanks for noticing Naruto..." Ino complained and huffed indignantly.
"Aelia, are you alright?" Kakashi asked with evident worry gleaming in his eyes.
"Yeah. I am fine, don't worry." I smiled gently.
"The baby, Aelia-chan?"
"He is fine Naruto." I replied rubbing my belly slowly and affectionately.
"That's good news Aelia." Yamato noted with a smile.
"Shouldn't you be at the village with Hinata-sama?" Neji wondered, arms folded over his chest.
"Uchiha, you are allowing that?" Kiba turned to Sasuke with lifted eyebrows and crossed arms as well.
"Hn. I am not going to stop her now. If she wants to be here that's fine by me. I will protect them anyway." he stated, the last sentence hardly audible, with his onyx orbs focused on mine. I smiled to him.
Shikamaru by now has explained to Tsunade that they still haven't decoded the seal's nature and they are proceeding cautiously. It was certain that the old members of the Council were inside. The Fifth herself tried to scrutinize the seal to no avail. All of us were fixated on that door. Many have instigated brisk conversations with each other, trying to offer their own advice and opinion on how matters should be dealt with.
"Aelia?" A voice whispered at my left. I turned to face the source.
"Sai? What is it?"
"Do you remember our mission in the Land of Steam a couple of years before the War?" he asked, lips tilted up into his usual smile. I tried to...
"Yeah, I do. What about it?" I asked back in bewilderment. Why bring that mission up now? It was completely off the point. He only nodded towards the door.
"The seal…"he murmured.
Ha? What is he talking about? I had no idea what-
"KAMI-SAMA! You are absolutely right! This is almost like it." I abruptly hollered and clapped my hands against my mouth. Suddenly they all veered to look at us in utter puzzlement. "Why didn't you mention it sooner?" I asked the pale friend of mine.
"I just now remembered. You were the one to undo it along with Tora, right?"
"What is the meaning of this?" Tsunade-sama asked nearing closer with her eyes gleaming with perplexion. I was too shocked to offer a proper answer to her though.
"Sai... that was pure luck. I don't even know how on earth I did it. Tora doesn't know either. We just did ... something… and I was just following his orders."
"But you did deactivate it." he stated decisively.
"Yes but I had help. It was a collaboration. Plus, I had the mask on and momentarily activated the Shari..."I stopped myself abruptly to think it over.
"We already used the Sharingan." Kakashi informed, realizing what I was going to say.
"You know how to undo it?" Sasuke asked me, eyes wide with anticipation. I sighed.
"No. No clue." I answered bluntly. By the huffs and snorts I heard I gathered that they all seemed disappointed. "But I can try…" I promised with a timid smile. Could I really try? Or was that only a void promise? I certainly hoped I could offer something to help too.
"Aelia, you don't have enough chakra to spare around." Sakura reminded me, voice increasing in a mild scolding tone.
I raised pacifying hands."Don't worry about that, Sakura."
Shortly, I performed the right signs and undid the seals on my eyes. I blinked, transforming my brown and onyx orbs to scarlet and black. It stitched just slightly.
"I still haven't used to that." Naruto mumbled, blinking and pouting upon perceiving my eyes.
I approached the sealed door and tried to examine every inch up and down. For a while everyone was silent. Every loud breath was halted in anticipation. I almost felt dissected under their anticipating and scrutinizing gazes and I bit my lower lip in constraint. Heaving another weary sigh, I finally spoke.
"You are right. The Sharingan can't give answers at this point. And certainly not my Sharingan. If Sasuke and Kakashi-senpai haven't found any clues yet, I see no reason for me trying any further. They are much more skillful." I mumbled while exhaling, closing my eyes for an infinitesimal second.
"But you have seen it before." Naruto noted.
"Yes. But, as it seems, it wasn't exactly the same and I don't even remember how we deactivated that one all those years ago. I may have been among the ones who have found the solution back then, but a seal's efficacy also depends on the caster. I don't think it will be simple this time."
"Aka." I turned to face the source of the voice. "Please do what you can. I am counting on you." An ANBU member pleaded with wide eyes under his mask and a demanding tone. I..I was certain I knew this man.
"Midori." I acknowledged his name and swallowed. "You are putting too much faith in me. I already told everyone that-"
"Aka..." he interjected and paused for a second. "I am sorry; I mean Aelia-san." he corrected himself. "We have been in many missions together so many times before in ANBU and Root, haven't we?" The blonde boy was right. Midori and I have lived through so many missions, hard, easy, short and long.
"Yes. Yes, we have." I answered honestly.
"When things seemed to reach their darkest peak you showed us the light, by encouraging us. Always…" he trailed off. What he said was mostly true. I always tried to hearten my comrades and give them volition to move on, especially during the time I was the captain of a platoon. The reason was quite simple really, and nothing too flashy or glorious or gallant.
I have lost many things before; objects and people alike. I have lost my entire life once already. The only thing I had left was my life as a shinobi. If I happened to also lose my decisiveness and volition during an important mission, then I could count on nothing. Nothing. Thus, I always tried my best to embolden my nakama too. It was another means to achieve our goal; the success of our mission.
"Despite being younger than me, you were even placed as my captain a fair lot of times. When I found out about your age, I was furious, I admit. You remember that time, right?" I nodded affirmatively and livid images from his outburst against me all that time ago traversed through my mind.
He promptly continued. "But... in the end you were the one that gave me the will to move on as a captain in the ANBU. You, inadvertently or not, gave me the volition to move on and prove to everyone that I can be a capable Captain too." his voice came out steady and clear, more determined than I ever expected. "Remember what you told me during that mission?" His eyes demanded an answer.
I remained silent for a couple of seconds, trying to focus my mind's attention all those years back. During that very mission when Midori lashed out at me. During that very mission we finally ceased fire and called a truce. With a price though. The scars we acquired back then took very long to heal. I unconsciously reached for my thigh, were I was injured back then. Luckily, the physical scar was long gone. The mental one never did.
"I told you..." I gulped. "...to never give up. That you were placed in that mission for a reason. That you could lead the mission to success, even though you were wounded. That, if you play your cards right, the death of your comrades and friends…" I paused.
"…will never be meaningless." the blonde ANBU member continued for me. "You told me that you just have to find the piece of the game that represents you and the one you are missing. Grasp the piece you are missing, make it an integral part of you and finish the game victoriously." Midori finished and clenched his fists.
...Find what you are missing...Make yourself complete... Those words were, of course, not mine. They belong to a certain courageous woman from the Senju Clan; the very same woman who begun my training, the very same woman who brought me up, the very same woman who gave birth to me. Hearing her words coming from another person, made my heart scream in joy.
"You gave me inspiration and you only were 14 when you spoke those words." He send a kind smile at me, earning a highly threatening glance from Sasuke, that went mostly unnoticed. The Uchiha was glowering at my ex-teammate grimly, ready to attack if necessary.
"Aelia-san..." the use of my name from Midori surprised me. "Find the piece you are missing, even though you are wounded mentally and physically. Find that piece, whatever that might be. I want those people there dead as well." he pointed a nearly trembling finger. "They compelled me to kill my brothers. They had me thinking this was the right thing to do. They have tortured us along with Lord Danzo."
"How dare you speak like that for Danzo-sama, Midori?" an injured Root member yelled from the floor interrupting Midori. "This is how you are proving your loyalty?"
"My duty and loyalty lie with the Village Hidden in the Leaves." he casually answered calmly and steadily.
I sighed deeply. "My resolution is not in question, Midori. It's not about giving up."
"It is. You just said you can't see what the other might be able to see. Believe in your powers. You didn't deactivate the seal back then out of luck." he insisted.
"I did." I almost yelled in indignation. "Don't make me look like a hero, who is supposed to save the day. I am not Naruto." I stated looking at the aforementioned Jinchuuriki for an infinitesimal second. He looked a bit confused. Then, I stepped back and sat down on the ground, trying to think. "I just can't act like the person capable of achieving what the others couldn't. I am not strong enough for that." I murmured and sighed again.
"What about the Byakugan? Can you find anything, Neji?" Tenten inquired at last. He shook his head.
"I have already tried. I see nothing that can bring this to an end." Neji replied monotonously.
"Damn it. Now what?" Naruto wondered out loud. Sasuke was walking up and down, trying to think of something.
"What if we use Gatsuga(=Fang over Fang)? Or maybe Garoga (=Wolf Fang Over Fang)?"
"Haven't we already established that physical attacks will not work if the seal is not deactivated, Kiba?"
"Then what are you proposing, Hyuuga?"
"I propose that you should learn to use your head for once!"
"What about Naruto's Rasen Shuriken? This technique is strong enough anyway. It doesn't matter that it's physical."
"If the seal is as strong as we have gathered, then Rasen Shuriken will only destroy the bulding and us and they" Shikamaru pointed at the door "will remain unscathed. It will only be prooved troublesome for us, Ino."
Another round of silence for a while, that was soon to break.
"Teme? What now?"
"Just shut up, dobe! You already asked! I am trying to think."
"HEY! AND I DON'T?"
"Naruto! Stop bickering with each other in such a time!"
"But Sakura-chaaan..."
The small engine was roaring in my mind like crazy, almost causing me an insufferable headache. Until it finally made contact with something mostly unfathomable. "I think...I may...have an idea…." I started and all eyes focused on me. I hardly resisted the desire to shrivel under their gaze. "But I don't have enough chakra for some things…" I confessed honestly earning Sakura's grin.
"We can help." Ino offered and made a step forward in determination.
"Sure thing." Naruto added and all agreed verbally or just nodded.
"There is a high chance that I will need yours as well later. But for now I will resort to something else." I informed. Then, I stood up and bite my thumb.
Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram: "Kuchiyose no Jutsu" (= Summoning Technique). At my words my own personal summoning appeared. In a dance of white smoke a giant and intimidating form rose. He was a proud white wolf, with gleaming threatening green eyes. A relatively large animal for his species. His muscles clenched in his every move. Ino screamed at his presence, while some other just looked surprised or awestruck.
"Yuna!" I greeted and titled my head to bow in respect. "Sorry to call you..." He just growled as an answer.
"What now, girl?" he finally snarled and almost interrupted himself when his eyes locked on me, scanning me from head to toe. "You look horrible." he noted with his bass animal voice.
"Never mind me. I have something for you to do." Yuna didn't respond. He just came closer to me and poked at me with his nose. I always was astonished that such a large (his back was up until my chest) and proud animal could feel comfortable around me and even listen to my commands.
Yuna started sniffing around me all of a sudden, without bothering to look at the rest of the people present. I could almost hear his big claws scratching the ground mercilessly.
"Why a summoning animal?" Naruto asked me suddenly in pure puzzlement. Yuna, turned to growl to Naruto in irritation. He never was a tolerant character.
"Pff...that is your question? Look at him. He is one hell of a summon." Kiba noted while petting Akamaru, who seemed to deeply respect the white wolf. Yuna turned towards me again.
"You haven't summoned me for so long. Is this the reason?" he asked pointing at my belly with his nose. "Why haven't you told me about it?" he growled again. I tried to caress his silk fur.
"Hey, Yuna, don't be like that. What did you want me to say? Hey, if you have time in you busy schedule, please come and see how my life turned out?"
"I did expect you to call me after you announced you are going to get married during the mission in the Lightning Country." I rolled my eyes. "Where is the bastard that impregnated you?" I flushed a bright red at those words. "I am going to tear him to shreds and eat him alive." Yuna threatened baring his sharp and white teeth.
"Please. I didn't call you here to make a scene." I warned tentatively, trying to appease him and overcome my obvious embarassment and blush. I sensed steady steps coming closer.
"I am the man you are looking for."Sasuke stated coming forward, closer to Yuna and me. The wolf turned to face him with his claws and teeth bare.
"So you are Uchiha Sasuke." he growled. Sasuke held his ground proudly.
"I am." At Sasuke's confident answer Yuna growled louder, taking a defensive pose in front of me.
"You are dealing with me, kid." The wolf threatened.
"Yuna! I didn't call you here for that. I want you to do something. It's urgent!" I yelled at him almost desperately. Ok...my last statement was not entirely true. He doesn't listen to me and my commands all the time. Only when he wishes. Oh Kami-sama...
Yuna surprisingly seemed to back off a little bit. He took a look around. His piercing eyes came to rest on the door.
"I can do it." he said reading my thoughts.
"I am counting on you." I smiled gently.
"Although, I am never going to cooperate with this kid." he pointed at Sasuke's general direction. "I thought you had better taste, woman."
"Yuna!" I gently reprimanded him again and tugged some strands of my hair behind my ears.
"Hm. He seems too hostile." Sasuke mumbled and neared even closer. "Tell me wolf…what can you do to keep me away from my wife and son?" Sasuke mocked being all possessive, even though we were all in the middle of something important.
"Sasuke...please don't..." I trailed off and my head dropped in surrender. Like, if I reprimand Sasuke, there is a chance for him to listen to me... Ha... I slapped my palm against my forehead. Yuna, on the other side of the spectrum, was growling like crazy.
"Sasuke don't play games with him." Kakashi warned more authoratively. Sasuke only glared back.
"Aelia, is this one of the White Wolves Pack?" Tsunade-sama asked me, slowly walking towards my direction. I set my eyes on her.
"Yes." I answered quite timidly. Tsunade and most of the people there -those who were familiar with the meaning of those words and title of course- wiggled their eyebrows, widened their eyes and bowed slightly to his presence in acknowledgement.
"How did you manage to get a summoning like that?" Kiba questioned.
"Kid, I am the one who chose her." Yuna almost barked, claws scarring the tiles.
"This is not the time or the place for that." I chided again. Yuna appeared highly annoyed in my eyes now, even irritated. But soon he was gracious enough to provide me with an answer.
"All right. I will help you, Aelia. I will even protect the son you bear. But do not expect me to collaborate nicely with the father of this kid." he declared and bared his teeth once more threateningly, momentarily glaring at Sasuke.
"You don't need to for now. We will work this out later. Now, Yuna please grant us your special chakra for a while."
Author's note: Hello everyone! (^.^)/ I am sorry for being late again, but my studies are my priority now that exams are so close. First test is scheduled for Monday T.T And I had to prepare the next chapter of my other story too. I do hope that the next chapter for "The Revival of the Clan" will come out soon.
So...you have met Yuna, the white wolf! To those of you who are interested, I have planned out most of his story, of how he met Aelia and what he meant by "I am the one who chose her." If you are willing to read it, I will gladly write a side story for it the moment I get the proper chance. ^.^ If not, I will not bother. It's up to you really. You will learn more about him in the next chapter anyway though ^.~
*Yuna means Moon in the Japanese dialect spoken in Okinawa. If this is not correct please excuse me. I found it on a site when I was writing this part of the story. ^.^'
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