Thank you for your review: Asuka!
You are standing by my side in this story for so long. Thank you from the bottoms of my heart for not giving up on this story!
A/N: I am terribly sorry for the long wait everyone! m(_ _)m Exams were such a pain in the neck! But now I am finally free again! Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto characters, only the plot of the story.
The Revival of The Clan
Chapter 38
~Yuna~
The large snow-white animal sniffed around one more time, taking in the air around us, tasting the angst and agony and fear emitting from our still and awaiting bodies. Yuna gloriously claimed his position before the door, examining the mystery-seal, scrutinizing every unattended detail. He was carefully inhaling and exhaling, breathing rhythmically as if his very breath was enough to reveal the hidden secrets behind the enemy's jutsu. His genius gleaming eyes pierced every little thing they were fixed on. His claws and teeth were bare once again. Everyone in the room including me was almost impatiently staring at him.
"What is he doing?" Naruto finally asked breaking the stifling silence. Yuna abruptly veered to fix the blond with a grim and persistent stare. For many long seconds the wolf was simply glued at the awkwardly blinking blonde boy.
"A Jinchuriki..." he exclaimed in mind surprise. "Send Kyubi my greetings, young man."
Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief at those words. "You know Kurama, wolf oo-san?" he asked in evident perplexity.
"I met the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox a long time ago. He is strong indeed." the wolf murmured, a faint growl surging out of his lungs. "But I am not the one imprisoned in a human body." he pointed out acutely. Naruto's body appeared to greatly stiffen. Definitely the Kyubi didn't like how things were going at this point.
"Yuna, please…" I whispered faintly and pleadingly. He only shook his head once and resumed his examination.
"Can this be a real white wolf. Like those from the fairy-tales?" Sakura asked.
"What fairy-tales?" Tenten asked.
"Geez Tenten. You never read any books?" Ino teased and huffed, feigning indignation.
"As troublesome as it is, I have a feeling that he is indeed a member of the White Wolves Pack." At the mention of the word 'troublesome', that freely escaped from Shikamaru's mouth as always, I sensed Yuna's chakra change. Thus, I activated my Sharingan clearly showing to him that he needed to stay calm and focus. He growled again.
"You still haven't answered me…"Naruto complained reminding me his last query. Why a summoning animal?
"Aelia, may I explain?"
I turned my head to face the voice. "Of course Tsunade-sama." I gently smiled.
"Yuna-sama?" With careful and calculated steps and a firm gaze, she genty asked for the wolf's approval as well. He nodded in response.
"Listen carefully Naruto." the Hokage started. "Lord Yuna is obviously a member of the White Wolves Pack. That probably makes him one of the most ancient summonings. His parents probably lived during the era of the Sage of the Six Paths, am I right?" Yuna snarled lowly and shook his canine head affirmatively. Naruto's eyes widened. He focused on the wolf.
"Some specific animals, like the first white wolves, the forefathers of the White Wolves Pack, were chosen by the Sage himself to witness his quest in order to tame the art of ninshu. Ninshu is, as you probably know, how ninjutsu was called back then." Naruto only swallowed. "As a result those animals' chakra was extremely gifted and it was capable to coordinate with the shinobi effectively. This is how the first summoning animals appeared." Tsunade-sama explained briefly.
"However, some animals are more gifted than others in special fields. It's something like my personal summoning animal, Katsuyu, who specializes in medical-ninjutsu just like I do. Most of the times those specially granted abilities are considered a part of the animal's traits, so they don't tend to stand out as much. However, in some species and especially in some gifted individuals those traits are way more recognizable."
"Do you understand anything Naruto?" Kakashi asked the Jinchuriki with a sigh.
"Ha…I do…Most of it." He answered rubbing the back of his head nervously.
"Once a dobe, always a dobe." Sasuke murmured to himself.
"Hey teme!"
"Not again please." Shikamaru and Sakura pleaded in unison, with the pinkette fixing identical glares to her dear friends and teammates.
"Yuna, is it alright?" I asked, fists clenched in tension.
"Have patience, girl." he retorted without looking at me at all.
"How does that explain what Yuna-sama is doing?" Tenten inquired, her brown eyes blinking once in question.
"The wolves for example-" Tsunade-sama continued. "-have an exceptional ability to distinguish chakra, but also ninjutsu. That's probably why Aelia chose to summon him." I silently nodded at the Hokage's words and meaningful glance.
"What do you mean?"Kiba questioned. "What is the exceptional?" At his words Yuna snarled aggressively. "I did not mean it that way, Yuna-sama!" Kina rushed to rectify, gulping audibly.
"It's quite simple. Those animals can understand the nature behind every jutsu, even the Kekkei Genkai." Kakashi-senpai explained.
"That ability grants them a bigger perspective and knowledge." Tsunade-sama added.
"How did you manage to acquire such a summoning animal?" Ino arched a questioning eyebrow.
Tsunade-sama turned to face me too, in an almost accusing stare. "How indeed...?"
"I did not. He came to me. Although, that is a completely different story, Ino. I will leave it for later if you don't mind, Tsunade-sama." I replied, making crustal clear that my impatience to sort this out eventually once and for all was quite urgent.
"I will be expecting a fully detailed report on that." Tsunade-sama leaned towards me.
"Tell me young ones." Just by glancing I realized that Yuna was referring to Naruto and Kiba. "Are you aware of the fact that ninshu is somewhat different than ninjutsu?" he asked. Kiba seemed confused while Naruto remained silent and his body turned stiff and still again.
"Kurama agrees with the wolf oo-chan." He finally announced.
"Of course. The Kyubi is far older than I am. He certainly knows more." Yuna confessed. "The differences cannot be distinguished by ordinary shinobi. As a matter of fact there is no need for that, because they never pose a problem. And the differences themselves are too subtle to notice." He continued turning completely around to face us with his back to the door. "However, when used in sealing formulas like this one, they pose a problem." He stated confidently.
"I knew it!" the often hot-tempered Fifth Hokage mumbled and clapped her hands once.
"So there is a ninshu seal in front of us?" Sakura asked hesitantly.
"Not exactly girl. I am sure the Sharingan users or the Byakugan users didn't notice that."He said while looking at the respective owners of the ocular powers. "It is impossible to recognize, if you do not know what you are looking for."
"What do you mean?" Neji and Sasuke asked simultaneously. They were definitely offended by that last statement.
"Listen to me, young shinobi. Ninshu and ninjutsu only differ when it comes to the distribution of chakra. As I already mentioned, the differences are too subtle. In a way there is no difference at all. You might have encountered ninshu and you didn't even notice. Your ocular powers allowed you to 'see' the seal, am I correct?"
"Yes." Sasuke answered and Neji nodded. Yuna glowered at Sasuke but promptly continued.
"Generally those two are the same thing. It's just an old way to manipulate chakra. However, there is one small problem, which is also the case here."He paused for a second. "Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuuga kid, come closer to the seal." he nodded to the boys. Without hesitation or fear the two geniuses approached the seal and activated their powerful eyes. Kakashi-senpai and I did so as well, even though we stayed at our respectful places further away.
"Are you able to see it?" Yuna asked. I instinctively moved closer as well.
"There is-"
"There are differences. The chakra is slightly different. In every inch." Sasuke interrupted Neji.
"That is correct."Yuna answered quite reluctant to praise Sasuke in any way. I leaned even closer.
"I don't see it."I stated.
"Look closer."Yuna encouraged me. I focused more and more intently. For many long moments I found nothing there. Just when I was about to give up and declare my surrender, I stunningly realized that what Sasuke stated was indeed true. The seal's chakra changed slightly at its length. The color was just a little bit darker or lighter as my eyes moved. It was almost impossible to realize.
"Aaah...I think I can see something." I mumbled stepping back.
"The people you seek have distributed the chakra on the seal differently." The wolf informed for all to hear.
"So, in a few words they 'mixed' the ways of chakra distribution? That way you won't be able to break it with chakra. You have to scrutinize every single centime of the seal and dart your own chakra accordingly." Shikamaru continued
"That's also correct. You seem smart, boy. Nara Clan?" Yuna complimented in a rare recognition of abilities. Shikamaru shrugged, but dipped his head slightly nonetheless.
"So, how do we counter?"Kiba asked next to a barking Akamaru.
"Simple. It is just like untying a knot. You go back the way you came."Yuna stated, while meaningfully glancing at my direction.
"Yuna, I ...I can't do it. You have to find someone else." I informed my summoning. He growled once more.
"Do what?" Naruto asked.
"You have to distribute your chakra accordingly, Naruto. And if I am not mistaken you have to get Yuna-sama's guidance, right?" Kakashi said.
"Why? The Sharingan can do it without his aid." Sasuke spoke up. Yuna barked at him menacingly.
"We have to utilize Yuna-sama's abilities to be absolutely safe, Sasuke." Tsunade-sama insisted. "He knows better that us what to do here." Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"See? I am not going to join forces with this insolent kid." Yuna snarled and glared accutely at him.
"Ok…ok. " I tried to calm him down in vain.
"Then how?" Neji asked.
"Hyuuga kid, I can guide you. I can also guide the one with the single Sharingan there." He said pointing at Kakashi.
"Yuna-sama, I am not the most suitable for this job. I cannot distribute chakra that accurately." Kakashi retorted with raised hands.
"I have an idea…." I started saying and heard Ino snort teasingly mumbling a hardly audible "Again."
"What?" Sasuke asked.
"Use a medical ninja." I suggested. "They have extraordinary chakra control." I looked at Sakura briefly.
"But Aelia, I don't have ocular powers. Tsunade-sama and Ino do not have either." Sakura stated the obvious.
"Sakura, you are used to chakra. With Yuna's guidance you can do it." I reassured her, while Lady Tsunade sent her a confident smile. "I don't have enough chakra to help. But you have. Plus, we have one more hidden asset."
"And what is that, Aelia?" Yuna asked.
"Yuna…please tell me…will senjutsu help?" I asked glancing at Naruto.
"That's what I thought…."Kakashi murmured contentedly.
"Senjutsu? Of course, but do you know any Sage around?" Yuna mocked. I only nodded happily and gave Naruto a smirk. Yuna seemed surprised.
"Yosh! Let's do this thing." Naruto exclaimed with his usual unrivaled excitement.
Shortly, under Yuna's guidance, Naruto in his legendary Sage Mode, Neji with his Byakugan and Sakura with her amazing chakra control were working on the formula diligently. We stared in awe as the shield was starting to open; only a little bit. However, this procedure required a fair amount of time. I sensed Sasuke's 'irritated' chakra.
"How long?" he impatiently asked. Yuna growled again at his direction. I heaved a weary sigh. I haven't seen him growl and snarl so frequently before.
"That's it. I am helping." Sasuke stated in pure decisiveness and approached the door. Despite Yuna's disapproval Sasuke joined the team in order to break the seal as well. Surprisingly, after a long while of barking, bare claws, menacing activated Sharingan eyes, stubbornness, glares and carefully executed jutsu they coordinated beautifully -in a very peculiar way- and the procedure moved on a lot faster.
Ten minutes elapsed and the seal was almost at its ultimate breaking point.
"Now all it needs is a stong and steady impetus." Yuna noted. No one spoke a word except-
"Teme, let's do this." Naruto finally suggested, looking at Sasuke with solid determination. Sasuke nodded without a single hint of hesitation and the two of them thrust forward to begin the final step. Everyone was ready. Fists clenched, jaws stiff, teeth gritted.
With a loud thunderous bang the door and the seal alike crumbled down in a haze of smoke and a storm of debris. The path to the Advisors' end was as close as ever.
Author's note: Again I am so very sorry for the delay. I haven't even taken a nap after the exams finished you know T.T I tried to have this chapter ready for you. Also, please bear in mind that the information and details about ninshu, nijutsu the animal's abilities and stuff are mostly products of my own poor imagination. If you wondered about their origins, there you have them. I hope it was not extremely confusing ^.^' I am always available to answer your questions. Well now I am available again after all those weeks.
Please expect the next chapter soon!
Please do not forget to review! I was quite disappointed by the lack of reviews last time, so please be kind enough to tell me if you enjoyed my work. The next chapter might be the last one you know...