.KG: Can you people stop buying all the cream soda?! Come on man! I've been to like ten stores and there isn't a cream soda can for miles! Share some of the love, guys!
Wifey: Please, I've finally got you running after so many months. It's done your body good.
KG: Har har har!
Music of the Week: Rise of the Black Curtain by Audiomachine.
Quote: "For me to have been a fallen hero, I would have had to be a hero to begin with," by Unknown.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was not having a good day. Actually, let him rephrase that. He was not having a good week. The reason for this was because his heart was torn every time he looked out the window of his office in the Hokage Mansion.
Debris.
Construction.
More debris.
More construction.
Both of these repeat themselves like flies buzzing around the ear with great annoyance. Yet, there was no hand mighty enough to swat them away. He could only face their buzzing time after time. How...could one former kunoichi of Konoha do all this destruction?
Heh. That was a stupid question. Of course, he knew how. Inuzuka Hana, the first test subject of a secret project thought to revolutionize the very core of shinobi fundamentals. If Hiruzen were honest, if this were a simulation, then Hana would have passed with flying colors. Hell, she probably would have passed with divine colors or what have you. It became obvious to the Sandaime that...perhaps they had done...too well in their experiment.
Half the village lay in ruin. A total of 36,000 confirmed casualties with over half this number being the injured and the rest the presumed deceased. Yes, perhaps they had truly outdone themselves this time. What could Sarutobi say? He was starting to truly hate this job.
After Hana's strange disappearance from the village, Hiruzen had ordered what remained of the city into lockdown. No one could go in or out except for sanctioned personnel. If there was a reason that Hiruzen hated this week then it was because it reminded him too much of what he had to do during the Kyuubi incident twelve years ago.
For this week, Hiruzen could count the number of hours he got to sleep on one hand. Meetings with the Konoha Council, organizing the shinobi roster, speeding through documents to handle payments of repairs, funding the overworked staff at the Konoha Hospital, by the great gods above, there were times that the Kage Bunshin technique truly had its uses.
However, amidst the front of this tragedy, a dark seed of fear took root against the Inuzuka clan. There was no way Hiruzen could have covered up the fact that it had been Inuzuka Hana who had destroyed the village and terrorized its populace. Thankfully, the Hokage was able to make a story that...the stress of shinobi duty had taken its toll on the Inuzuka and she had lashed out. That...was the story to even hope to appease the civilian populace.
The truth was given to those at Jonin-rank and higher. Hiruzen would never forget the looks of shock, disappointment, and disgust on some of their faces. Try as they might, the battle had shaken them and these expressions could not remain hidden for very long. As a result, the Inuzuka clan had come under heavy fire. Trade, stocks, and capital in dealing with the Inuzuka clan took a heavy toll. Sarutobi had counted at least five cases of aggravated assault against a clan member over the week, and the worst part was that most of the clan did not know why.
Hiruzen managed to quell most of this opposition by stating that assault on village operatives would be met with severe consequences. That...seemed to stem the bleeding for the moment. It was times like this that the Sandaime was reminded of the deep fears and hatred that laid in the human heart. As much as he wished it not possible, he feared that the Inuzuka clan...would too feel what Naruto had felt for so many years.
If there was anything that helped Hiruzen through this week, then it was that none of the other nations had made any infiltration attempts...yet. In the immense casualties that laid within the village at least a good portion of that was the shinobi forces. Security was already tight and people were tired. Some had to pull double shifts and it was grating on the nerves.
Thankfully, not that he didn't have faith in the Yondaime Hokage's seal against the Kyuubi, Hiruzen had placed several countermeasures just in case the incident ever arose again. That made the transition a bit...easier, but the strain of the mental trauma on the village would be lasting for a long time.
Aside from all these things, Hiruzen had been in several meetings with high-ranking shinobi officials to discuss what to do with Hana. In that time, he had to unveil the more delicate details of Project Inugami. He gave them every detail that he could regarding Hana and how she had been made.
Sarutobi was very thankful that none commented on this even though they had every right to. Even now, as he looked down upon the sheet of paper that detailed Hana's lifecycle, chills ran down his spine.
"Hokage-sama, be frank with us. What exactly is Hana-san?" someone asked.
"That is not an easy question to answer. Hana is...many things. A young couple thought it was the solution to their problem, so they did not know any better. We took their unborn fetus and nurtured it carefully. Utilizing improved medical technology and techniques, we carefully inserted the chakra of the Kyuubi, the blood of three wolves, a modest portion of the blood from an Uchiha, the...lifeforce of an Uzumaki, and...the chakra of a Senju. We attempted to create...the nation's first Dog Soldier," Hiruzen replied.
Dog Soldier, that was the term that he, Tsume, and other facilitators of the project had given to Hana and the group that would come after her if her tests proved successful. Obviously, they did not. In hindsight, it was a good idea. The wolf, one of the world's most dangerous apex predators combined with the regenerative properties, potent chakra reserves, destructive prowess of the Kyuubi, talent and shinobi prowess of the Uchiha, the vitality of the Uzumaki, and...chakra density of the Senju, all wrapped in the intelligent brain of a human.
That...was Hana.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. Hana was supposed to be happy, thrilled, even excited when they told her of the hidden potential which laid within her body. From the time that she could crawl, Hana had an unnatural perception of the world. By the time she could read and write her brain was functioning faster than anyone was prepared for. All tests performed on her read better than they could have hoped. Yet, there was one incident that terrified them all into the realization that...Hana's power was growing too fast. When she was a genin, the only one who had chakra comparable to her was Naruto when he was three years old.
Since that incident, Hiruzen and Tsume had been supplying Hana with meals that would sate her blood so that they could test her body for more abnormalities. When Hana had spoken to them that she knew what they had planned, Sarutobi felt like his world had been crashing down. There was no choice. He had to place Hana in the Bingo Book as an S-rank threat. Alive was highly preferred, but...not a necessity. That only left one problem.
Who...had told Hana about what was going to happen to her?
Sarutobi knew that whoever had supplied her with this information was also the reason she escaped. If they were the reason she escaped, then they were a threat to Konoha. The only problem was...Hiruzen had no leads.
A knock on the door surprised the Sandaime from his thoughts. How he wished he could just tell the person behind the door to go away. Then again, what kind of leader would he be if he did that? He had already burned pieces of his reputation away with the select high-ranking shinobi knowing what had happened before.
"Enter," he said.
The elderly man looked up from his work to see the matriarch of the Inuzuka clan walking through the door. She didn't look good. Aside from the dark rings that surrounded her eyes, there was a bruise against her head that he didn't remember seeing over the week.
"Training accident, Tsume-san?" Hiruzen asked.
The female head of the Inuzuka clan grumbled to herself as she rubbed the side of her cheek that had been unfortunately struck by a flying stone on her way to the Hokage Mansion.
"...Yeah, something like that. Hokage-sama, I have to ask. Do you think we made a mistake?" Tsume asked.
"I cannot answer that, Tsume-san. I do believe we made a mistake in our approach, but I can only hope that everything works itself out in the end. I will never deny that it was for the sake of the village. We must have an end goal in sight. If we don't, we will be driven insane by the actions around us," Hiruzen replied.
He watched Tsume muddle over these words for a little while before she decided that she would speak. "Are you sure it's a good idea to keep Jiraiya-sama here? Shouldn't he be out there looking for Hana?" she asked.
"Right now, Jiraiya is working with Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun. If anything, this incident has shown me that Kakashi was right. We will need both Naruto and the power of the Kyuubi to deal with Hana and other outside threats. If Sasuke-kun can get stronger from his rivalry with Naruto-kun then we will have two defenders against threats as well. Even now, there is a thought to have them on the same team if they graduate," he answered.
"Shouldn't it be 'when'?" Tsume asked.
"There are no absolutes in life, Tsume-san. As much as I will try to protect Naruto-kun, I can't save him from everything. I can only hope that fate needs him as much as Konoha does. I feel the same way with all our forces," Sarutobi replied.
Tsume slowly nodded. "Heh, the arrogance of humankind is trying to play like the gods. Hokage-sama, be honest with me, what makes us different from Orochimaru?" the Inuzuka matriarch asked.
Hiruzen stopped writing. He looked at the papers under his gaze with a dim fire behind his eyes. Memories of times that he wished he could forget. He exhaled. Perhaps...now would be the time to start looking for a successor. Sarutobi was not sure how much longer he could keep up the pressures of being the Hokage. Sometimes, just having the wisdom is not enough.
"That is a reason that you must find for yourself, Tsume-san. As for me, what keeps me going is the village. We perform the bad deeds so that they can keep smiling, so that they can live these carefree lives, and so that they don't have to experience the negative side of Fate's cruel hand. Orochimaru seeks knowledge for himself. I believe that we seek this knowledge for the benefit of others," he stated.
Tsume touched the window pane that separated the Hokage from the outside world. "A monster...is still a monster, no matter how many smiles it may try to bring," she said to herself in a mumble.
A sigh, the Inuzuka matriarch cleared her throat. "I pray you're right Hokage-sama. Because while sacrificing the one for the many may be a good excuse to help us sleep, it's a different matter when the one is capable of...what happened here,"
Tsume didn't wait for Hiruzen's response. Instead, she excused herself and walked out the door. Once she left, the Sandaime stared out his window. Yes, it truly was time to find someone else to perform this job. However, until that time...he would keep trying.
-x-
"Dammit Brat, how many times do I have to tell you? Apply the chakra to your feet! That is the first step of chakra control! Look, it's so stupid easy even an Uchiha can do it!" Jiraiya yelled as he watched the Naruto clone fall to the ground for the tenth time while the Sasuke clone walked up the side of the wall, and over the ceiling.
"Would you stop yelling at me?! I've been trying dattebayo! You try doing this shit with a giant ball of chakra stuck in your gut!" The Naruto clone said before it was smacked over its head.
"No excuses! Do it again until you get it right! I don't care if we have to send you to the hospital for brain damage! You're getting this exercise down!" Jiraiya fired back before he stomped off. Tch, this was such a lousy day. Because of Hana, he couldn't even conduct his research! Of course he knew the severity of the situation, but...at times like this, one had to look for humor where it could be found.
Once both clones were sure he was gone, the Naruto clone effortlessly attached to the wall. He then walked up and down it like he had been doing it his whole life. An arrogant smile appeared on the clone's face. "I suppose it's true. People only see what they want to see. Though as long as that dumbass walks around us we'll have to keep our guard. The village has gotten stricter,"
"Well, considering what the whole village is saying Hana and the Inuzuka clan did, I can see why. Kind of glad I'm the Sasuke and you're the Naruto. People glare at you more than they do me," the Sasuke clone said.
"Well, it's good those idiots are too afraid or busy to try to mess with me. It'd be rather suspicious if all the people who attack me suddenly disappear. That's even counting if I had Izumi's help. I haven't even been able to see Hanabi-chan, we've been so busy." the blonde replied.
The Sasuke clone landed on the ground. "By the way, why are you pretending to be weak? Imagine them calling the deadlast a prodigy. Sakura might actually like you for a change," the Sasuke clone said.
The Naruto clone growled and sucked his teeth. "Don't even make me think about her. If I have nothing else to thank these powers for, then I'm blessed to not be attracted to that idiot anymore. She's a smart girl, but she whines way too much about everything. I'm tempted to have the original kill Sasuke just so I can present his headless corpse to her,"
"That bad?"
"Worse. I know when the original and her were older, he was thinking of fucking her out of spite. Think I'm gonna tell him not to bother. He'd probably be annoyed afterwards. Plus, I don't want the thought in my head anymore. Let's just finish this shit and be done with the day. I'm annoyed enough," the clone said.
With that conversation done, the Naruto and Sasuke clones practiced more techniques that they could perform with the powers that had been mysteriously granted to them. By the time Jiraiya had returned, he was pleased to see Naruto showcasing a firm understanding of chakra control. The sage had made a comment about chakra control being so easy that even idiots could do it. Of course, both clones led in their irritation and, after a few more lessons regarding taijutsu, weapons, and form correction, both were allowed to go.
Once both were out in the streets, the Naruto clone was, once again, subjected to the malice of intent from the civilian populace. Given that the Sasuke clone was next to him, the blonde figured no one would try anything too obvious. Instead, the crowds focused on harsh whisperings. Some were not so quiet as both heard rumors that 'the boy' had corrupted the daughter of the Inuzuka matriarch. Honestly, people would believe anything. Though technically, they...weren't wrong.
If there was some measure of enjoyment in the clones' walk, it was when they passed by a store that hadn't been destroyed. The source of their enjoyment was understandable.
"There! You have your stuff! Now get the fuck outta my shop! I always knew you Inuzuka members were nothing but wild beasts! Get lost!"
"Well fuck you too, old man! I just wanted a damn bento! Our clan didn't even do anything!" An Inuzuka chunin, they assumed, had spoken.
"You want a damn bento?! Here take it! Take one! Take two! Take three! Just get the hell outta my store, you damn savages!" the store owner said with a growl before throwing three fully-packaged lunch boxes to the floor before he shut the door behind him.
The chunin growled as he knelt to pick up the fallen lunches. "Ungrateful pricks!" he muttered to himself.
"You get used to it," a voice spoke and a hand reached with a bento that had been dropped. The Inuzuka chunin turned and noticed the Naruto clone handing it to him.
"Thanks, but the last person I'd want to feel sympathy from is you, boy," The chunin said. He then grabbed the lunch from the clone and walked off until he was no longer in view.
The Sasuke clone glanced at his partner. "Misery loves company?" he asked.
"Yup, but I know something that'll make the original us a bit happier now that this is happening. What say we work on two special projects when he returns in a year?"
"Why two?"
"Because I'll need the work to keep me from being distracted by that Uchiha dick-loving preadolescent bitch," the Naruto clone said as both clones walked towards their respective destinations.
-x-
Hana stared at her reflection in a nearby stream. It would not be long before the group arrived at Hozuki Castle. Another half an hour, and a boat ride, then the facility would be in sight.
The group had stopped for a moment's rest and meeting before they would arrive there. For Hana, this was a good time to make some...necessary changes that she figured she would need. Even now, as she looked at her face, it annoyed her for some reason that she couldn't place. What else had Konoha done to her? Could she even handle the pressure of knowing? Could it even be as terrible as what they were going to subject her to?
She had the answers to none of those questions. However, she did have an answer for her own identity right now. She grabbed her hair in one hand and took a kunai in the other. With a tightly held hand, Hana cut the length of her hair away and, with a worn rag, scrubbed the Inuzuka clan markings off her cheeks. Even with her strength, this took some effort as Inuzuka markings, by design and tradition, were never supposed to be removed once they were given.
Harder and harder, Hana scrubbed and scratched her skin until her efforts were rewarded with a clean, marking-free face. As she stared at her reflection, she noticed the cuts her claws had done to her face during her...cleansing. However, no sooner than her accepting them as a severe necessity did her wounds start healing. Due to the sheer sharpness of her eyes, she could see each piece of cut skin seal itself until there was no sign that the scars were even there.
"Wonder how much that was coming in handy when I fought literally the entire village. Hell, it could be that pill that Naruto gave me," Hana thought to herself. Well, she hoped it was from Naruto. That made her happier than imagining it was another genetic ability that had been spliced into her body by someone else.
Once Hana returned to the group, she spotted Ryuzetsu staring at Naruto as he started packing up the sleeping bags that everyone had been using. For the past week, the former Inuzuka had been seeing these little glances and nods when both were sure the redhead wasn't looking. It was fairly obvious the girl had some small attraction to Naruto. Hana wouldn't say she was jealous because she had seen Akari, on more than one occasion, kiss Naruto hotter than any Redlight District prostitute, but it wasn't like Hana hadn't done the same...occasionally.
She couldn't explain why. Ever since she had finished her transformation in Konoha, her entire blood screamed for her to mate with the strongest male in a hundred-mile radius. Granted she had seen too many men during this week, but...her eyes kept her pinned to Naruto. She didn't exactly know why. Perhaps it was the ruthlessness, the ingenuity, or that fuckin' gorgeous red hair that made her think to forgo Naruto's desire to be of age. Yet, he always seemed to smile at her as if to know what she was thinking. It irritated her.
All Hana knew was that no one was going to get in front of her if she could help it.
Hana's return drew the attention of the others. Naruto stared at her new appearance and sighed briefly. "A pity. I liked your long hair," he said as he finished the last remains of packing. A hand on his shoulder alerted him to the fact that his recent Uzumaki princess had come close to him.
"Hurry up and get older, and I might grow it back for you," she answered. She then walked off to collect her own things. As for Naruto, a dark chuckle expelled from his lips. Perhaps he would need that fool of a Hokage to call him a 'hero' again. That had made him so angry that his powers had aged his body. How could he do that again? Better yet, how should he get someone to observe these changes?
"Hmph, perhaps I could get that bastard snake's help, but dealing with Orochimaru in any capacity is going to require more knowledge than I've got. Somehow, even the greatest minds are still toys to him. I'll have to tread carefully if I conduct more personal business with him," Naruto thought to himself.
Once everyone was together, Akari pulled out a map. "Alright, we've had a week to go over this. I want no screw ups from anyone. This is a vital mission that must succeed. Once we have located the artifact, we leave with the obtained knowledge. Remember, this is a mission under the disguise of a routine prison assessment. Do not interact with the prisoners. Do not answer their questions. Do not engage with them unless I give the order via radio channel," Akari said. She pulled out three wireless radio headsets.
"I didn't pack any extras, so we'll just improvise. Uzumaki, this is your contact so you're the one in charge of her. If she slips up, then that is your responsibility. I'll team up with Ryuzetsu. I think this is obvious, but don't get caught, understood?"
"Understood," Naruto, Hana, and Ryuzetsu said.
Once she saw this, Akari nodded as well.
The group of four then quickly headed for the meeting point. As they ran, Naruto kept a watchful eye on Ryuzetsu. A smile appeared on his face when he saw the lifeless look in her eyes. It was obvious that the girl hadn't been sleeping very well as of late. It was no surprise as to why. Every night, Naruto spoke sweet and sour words into her ears. That dark frown in her eyes made him blush. She looked so beautiful like that, with nothing and no one to chain her down to petty nonsense. Of course, she still seemed to hold some piece of reason that kept her from fully submitting to his embrace, but that reason was slipping faster and faster. Naruto was sure that by the end of the mission, Ryuzetsu would be the lovely poison flower he dreamt she could be. Then, he...would be the one to direct that poison and that growing contempt within her. Within her was enough anger to rival his own.
The group of four walked to a lone ship with about five guards clothed in bamboo hats and woven robes. Naruto, Ryuzetsu, and Hana spoke not a word to them. Instead, Akari was the one to take charge of the introductions and the reason for the squad's arrival.
It took a moment of time, but finally the four had begun sailing through the harsh waves and covered mist. After about half an hour, the boat was pulled ashore and the squad was escorted towards the prison. Its high walls, imposing stature, gloomy appearance, and fortress-esque body was a sight for the eyes.
As the iron doors to the entrance opened, the four were greeted by numerous guards with weapons in their hands. No sooner than them stepping into the iron fortress did Naruto's body shake like a severe blizzard had washed over the land. The hairs on his head stood on end, a painful thump ruptured from his heart and through his veins. Yes, it was here. The pressure of its ungodly chakra rippled through his body. Even now he could feel the dark energies within him mixing with the malicious energy of the box.
Unfortunately, the chakra was too dense around the prison for him to pinpoint its location, but that didn't matter. He would find it eventually. For now, he hoped he could find a private room to cultivate this chakra. There was so much material to work with here that he had to restrict his body from achieving a minor breakthrough already.
Suddenly, Naruto noticed that the guards were immediately on alert. It didn't take him long to figure out why. He turned to see Hana's eyes reliving that same bloodlust from a week ago. Her body seemed ready for combat and ready for destruction. How odd, it wasn't even a full moon yet.
Naruto grabbed Hana's hand and tightly held it. She took a deep breath and exhaled. "Sorry, I just...felt really good just now," she said.
"I understand, dattebayo. I feel good too," he replied. She smiled at him suggestively, but he pretended to not notice. If he did, then he wondered if she would actually jump him in front of all the guards. He'd rather not take the chance...even if it was enticing.
The two release their hold of the other when they spotted what Naruto assumed was the warden of the facility by his more...professional attire. He held dark green eyes with beyond shoulder-length hair. His attire was just as gray and depressing as the establishment he governed. The harsh thuds of his boots knocked the dirt and gravel on the ground.
As the warden came into view, Naruto also noticed something interesting. He noticed the look of barely concealed rage in Ryuzetsu's eyes. What surprised Naruto more than this was that, despite this rage, she was able to conceal it so well from others. He could see the left corner of her lip sucked against the edge of her teeth even to draw blood.
"Oh, so this man is the one who has Ryuzetsu-chan so restrained. We'll have to do something about that," Naruto thought to himself.
"Welcome to Hozuki Castle. I am the newest warden, Mui. What is a Kusagakure team doing here?" he asked. At this, Akari distinguished herself from the others.
"Greetings, Mui-san. Sir, by orders of the Kusagakure officials, this cell is to perform maintenance of prison security system for unspecified time. Once reports have been documented, we will head back to the village with details to higher authorities," Akari said. She then held the mission scroll and appropriate documents for him to take.
The man, Mui, grabbed the documents and looked them over. Once he noticed the Kusagakure seal, he returned the papers. "Very well. After a brief inspection, I'll have your quarters set up. Just keep in mind that this is still my jurisdiction. If any of you cause trouble then I'll make sure you regret taking this assignment. There will be no second chances," he remarked.
"We'll be thorough. You can rest assured of that,"
Akari was not the one to say this. All eyes stared at Ryuzetsu while she glared at Mui hatefully. He took notice of the green bandana on her head before closing his eyes. He walked away.
"Ryuzetsu, what's wrong?" Naruto asked.
"Nothing. I...I just want to be done with this mission!" she exclaimed. How could she tell the redhead that she was inwardly smiling at over a thousand ways she could break the man in front of her for what he had done to her friend? How could she tell him that...the thought of his suffering, of Kusagakure's suffering, filled her with joy?
Unknown to these thoughts, Akari nodded. "Then I suggest we get this over with. As we discussed, Ryuzetsu with me. Naruto, Hana, you're together! Let's move," Akari ordered.
"Hai!" they saluted.
As Akari and Ryuzetsu walked away, the Kusa chunin gave one last look to her wicked little master. When he took note of her gaze, his eyes shined as red as a dark sea of death. Those eyes told her all that she needed to know of her true mission. Ryuzetsu was so close to the edge. All she needed...was one more push! The dark-haired Kusagakure chunin received her orders and swiftly obliged.
While Akari and Ryuzetsu were guided to their quarters, Hana and Naruto were taken to theirs. After a swift inspection, both were free to roam the facility. As soon as their rooms were shown, Naruto dropped his things and sat on the floor.
Once he sat down, he pressed his palms together and Hana could see the swirls of malignant energy concentrating themselves into the palm of his hand.
"What are you doing?" Hana asked.
"Cultivating," Naruto replied.
Hana waited for a further answer, but she found that she wouldn't be getting one when Naruto stayed silent. However, what she did get she wasn't expecting. She wasn't prepared to suddenly see Naruto without clothes on. The young boy was...very naked...and...much more toned than any boy his age should have been. Plus, there were two orbs floating just above his shoulders.
"Like what you see, Pervert?" Naruto asked with his eyes closed. Hana turned around when she realized she had been staring.
"S-Shut up! You're the one who decided to go commando," she answered. She heard Naruto laugh behind her as the swirling energies grew stronger. It was a shame. If only he was inside the box then who knew how powerful he would become?
"Hmm, perhaps you're right. Now, be quiet. I never thought I'd say this, but I need to concentrate," the redhead spoke. Then, he tuned himself away from the outside world and Hana.
For the next two hours, Hana began to question if Naruto had truly been the loser her...former little brother had always claimed him to be. As time grew longer, and the more she observed him, Hana saw the two orbs turn into a myriad of shapes and objects. So voracious was their nature that she couldn't get close without one attempting to slash her to pieces.
She noticed his red hair grow even longer. It already began to lengthen past his shoulder blade. The former Inuzuka honestly wondered if he was somehow channeling the powers of the Kyuubi through his body, but...for some reason, she didn't think that was it. No, it looked as if the former blonde had somehow managed to channel the very nature of malice, hatred, chakra, and his own blood abilities into another energy source that no one had ever seen before.
Something must have gone wrong, because Naruto began sweating. His teeth began clenching and his body must have been under some form of intense stress because Hana could see the veins pulsing angrily across his body. The walls cracked and the beds were violently pushed away.
Suddenly, the room grew in temperature. It became hot. It became...very hot. It became so hot that Hana forwent modesty and took off as much clothes as she felt she needed to without reverting back to the night that she had been high on her own adrenaline and power. Not once did she leave the room. She merely withstood this pressure and this heat to watch the redhead attempt to cultivate the balance of chakra from the Box and his own body. Hana watched Naruto grunt in pain as about fifteen blades of blood exploded from his body before they retracted themselves.
For his efforts, he was rewarded with a glob of blood spilling from his lips.
"Hana, reach into...my bag. Pull out the white pill...jar and hand me...three of those!" He said. The claimed Uzumaki stood up and reached into her redhead's bag. She pulled out the white pill jar and took out three blood pills. She then handed them to him. He took all three without intercession and quickly returned to his work.
By the time Naruto was done, Hana had come to the realization that whatever the village had done to Naruto, even if she decided to keep them standing….she might not be able to. The pressure around him stilled. The violent and unstable swirls around him had finally made some sort of peace with themselves. His eyes opened and just staring at them made Hana's internal instincts grow mad.
Breed a strong litter with this male. That...was what her body told her. Thankfully, she held enough reason to resist. Though, the longer he stared at her with those eyes would only make it harder.
Aside from before he started, Naruto's appearance had only changed slightly. His hair was still long, but during the process some of it had been shaved away. His body had grown more defined and the muscles which had been barely noticeable before were easy to see now. The orbs which had also been floating aggressively had now collided with his body and formed new clothes once again.
"Thanks for that. Turns what I cultivated was the Box's leaking chakra. I guess I'm lucky you were with me. If I was on my own, I probably could have died from the pure, demonic energy it possesses. You know, I thought having the Kyuubi sealed within me would give me some natural affinity to demonic energy. I guess I was wrong." Naruto stated.
"Well, you've never used the Kyuubi's chakra before anyway. Maybe that's why," Hana replied.
Naruto thought on that for a moment. Hmm, that was indeed true. Perhaps it would be time to say hello to his tenant when he had the time. Well, that would be for another time.
"Anyway, let's get this mission started. Hopefully by the end of this mission, we'll both be a little more satisfied," Naruto said suggestively. Hana knew what he was implying, but wasn't sure how he could deliver. As far as she was aware he was still around thirteen. Oh yes, she had been shocked out of her mind when he told her that he was technically still around Kiba's age, but a previous breakthrough had aged his body ahead by two years. So...if another major breakthrough like that happened, then…
"Perhaps. I'll try not to rough you up too badly," she said with a suggestive smile of her own.
"Likewise," he returned as they both left their room.
-x-
"Akari-san, I'd like to have a word with you," Ryuzetsu said from her side of their quarters. She turned around and noticed Akari quickly unpacking her own things.
The chunin swiftly nodded. "If it's about Mui-san, then try to forget about it. I know why he makes you angry. If it's about Naruto, then...I can already tell you think fondly of him. Though I hope you're not thinking about him so much that you forget to sleep. You've been looking tired lately," Akari replied.
The young genin wasn't sure how to take those statements, but she hoped that the embarrassment didn't show on her face. "I...don't think that fondly of him," she said.
"Ryuzetsu, you're a young girl entering the stages of adolescence. It's normal to be attracted to a boy. Especially one with that gorgeous red hair of his," the female chunin noted.
Ryuzetsu's mouth thinned. This was not what she was expecting of this conversation...even if Naruto's hair was nice to look at. She shook her head. "Please, try and be serious here. I...I want to ask you, do you think the Box of Ultimate Bliss needs to be destroyed?" she asked.
Akari processed this question for a little bit. If she were asked this question about a month ago then her answer would not be what it was now. She would say yes, but could she say yes? She didn't think so. Even now, the dreams that haunted her of her former colleagues, her betrayal, and their deaths, seemed so inconsequential to the grand scheme Naruto continued to plan. Had she not chosen her side...then no doubt she'd already be a part of him in less romantical ways.
The chunin already knew that with some given time, Kusagakure would come into Naruto's possession. The simple reason for this was because he was growing too fast. His ability in taking the memories of those whom he had killed had not only added strength to his lifeforce and years to its form, but also gave him wisdom which he could spend hours and days cultivating to understand. It was as if the knowledge he gained from the memories of people, in addition to their experiences, had grown this twisted wisdom further than anyone else could think. Just thinking of where he would be in about five, no two years, was enough to make her shiver.
"Then let me answer that question with another question. Why do you want the box destroyed?" Akari asked her.
"I…,"
Ryuzetsu did not continue with her comment. She was not sure what to say to this question. The box had taken her best friend. The box was rumored to have caused terrible tragedies even before the rise of Kusagakure. There were rumors of a malevolent demon within its confines. What other reasons could she possibly give that would justify destroying it? Try as she might, she couldn't think of anything. The days without sleep had begun to weigh on her mind.
"Be honest with yourself, Ryuzetsu. There's no shame in admitting that you're...afraid of it. That's why you really want it destroyed, isn't it?"
Akari's voice seemed like a stone crashing into the frail glass that was Ryuzetsu's mind. She was...afraid of it? No, that was stupid! What did she have to be afraid of? She wasn't some weak academy student that had never learned how to take a life! She...she couldn't possibly be afraid of it. She just realized the gravity of the situation if it were unleashed. She wasn't afraid. SHE WAS NOT AFRAID!
"Why would I need to be afraid? I'm not…,"
A sharp thud alarmed the young white-haired kunoichi. She looked down and she noticed a kunai and a shuriken. "Are these evil? Are you afraid of these weapons?" Akari asked.
"What would I need to be afraid of two simple weapons for?" the genin returned.
The chunin picked up the kunai. "Alright, then would you classify these as evil? These have taken more lives than the Box ever could. So what about these?" she asked once again.
If anything irked Ryuzetsu more, then it was when people treated her like she was an idiot. She was angry. She was upset. She was...not happy! She could feel her mind slipping away. She could feel hatred at the disunity of her thoughts upon her.
"Alright fine, I know the answer. They aren't evil. It's the way people use them that makes them evil! Then what am I supposed to do?! It still took my best friend! If I don't destroy it, then what meaning is there in Muku's death?!"
"Keep your voice down! Need I remind you that we're still on a mission? Don't get complacent just because we've been received without issue," Akari criticized.
Ryuzetsu felt so angry she could cry. After so long, she thought her tears had just dried up and her eyes had turned into a barren desert. Apparently, she was wrong. She only remembered crying during Muku's death. Not a tear had been spared since.
"Blame the box, blame Kusagakure, blame Mui-san, or...blame Muku-kun for being weak,"
No. Not that. Anything but that. Akari's words, like water laced with sweet honeyed poison, poured themselves onto the growing stem of doubt in Ryuzetsu's mind. She felt like her body wasn't even in the room anymore.
"Face it Ryuzetsu. You have no need for that weakling!"
"The box isn't evil, Ryuzetsu. Muku was just too weak to properly wield it,"
"Ryuzetsu, sometimes...in order to keep the garden fresh, the weeds must be plucked, cut, and burned,"
"All he wanted was a peaceful life with you and his father? Don't delude yourself. What are the hopes and dreams of a person with no strength to see them through? Do you know why he fell to the Box? HIS CONVICTION WAS TOO WEAK! HE WAS TOO WEAK!"
"What are insignificant worms to a girl as amazing as you? While you achieve success, you are weighed down by the obligations of a crutch that holds you back from achieving the greatest of heights. In order to succeed, one must...cut off withering branches,"
One too many voices rampaged through Ryuzetsu's head. Try as she might she could not stop them from coming. She could not stop them from corrupting her. She could not stop herself from...believing them. She couldn't stop herself...from accepting their proverbs. Within the depths of her mind, Ryuzetsu was cloaked in the aura of these dark thoughts and hymns of praise to herself.
Ryuzetsu stood in silence while Akari continued to observe her. The girl had remained motionless for a rather long time before she tilted up her head. Her once grey eyes, filled with multiple circular patterns, now bore a harsh field of red that even unsettled Akari for a moment.
"Then what would you have me do?" the young girl asked.
Akari grabbed her headset as well as a notepad. "I'm not going to answer that. However, I look forward to seeing what you settle on. There is a reason why tree pruning is such a respectable hobby," the chunin answered.
She did not wait for Ryuzetsu to gather her thoughts. She did not wait for Ryuzetsu to come to some sort of realization. She just left without another word. Once Akari closed the door, she smiled. "I hope Naruto-sama rewards me for this," she thought to herself before she decided to start searching for the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
-x-
Another week passed by for the Kusagakure team. Day and night, they tried searching for the Box of Ultimate Bliss, but Naruto had to hand it to the prison, there weren't so many openings to find. He had created a tiny blood clone to perform surveillance on Mui. Unfortunately, the man had not showcased any strange behavior over the past seven days.
The redhead had even tried to see if there was anything strange with the prisoners or the prison staff. Aside from a couple of rowdy idiots, there wasn't anything to take a hold of. Those the aura of the box was so dense, only he and Hana could properly feel its presence. Yet, that was the problem.
It was everywhere. It was so dense that there was no single spot that felt more concentrated than others. Of course, Naruto's cultivation had been great with so much of the aura to draw from, but...none of this could compare to what laid within that box if he could open it.
However, there were a certain number of things that had begun to add up for the redhead. The Box had to be opened, and the way to do that was with chakra.
Perhaps, it was time for some...innovation, and that innovation would come from a certain person Naruto had observed for a time.
Naruto and Hana watched the newest arrival of prisoners to the island. The two Uzumaki stared at the incarceration of these lowlifes for a short while. More specifically, Naruto watched Mui use his technique of binding the prisoners to prevent their escape. It was a rather interesting technique especially when one considered its parent family of Katon techniques. Perhaps he should try learning it.
"Come," Naruto said. He walked away from the scene and Hana wasn't far behind him.
"So, when are you going to practice this...dual cultivation with me? I don't bite," Hana replied.
Naruto laughed as they continued to walk through the halls. They turned around a corner. "I think you need to remember that my abilities require a bit more direction than yours do, but we'll find some time. You're stronger than me after all. Imagine how fast you'll improve since you've taken that blood pill. Just wait till I start creating even more pills. I'll make the soldier pill seem like a damn child's snack,"
"You'd be breaking the economy if you did that," she replied.
"Oh trust me, Hana-chan, that'll be the first of many things I break," he answered.
Hana rolled her eyes, but only from the way she had been answered. She had no doubt that he had some plan to do these things. He was a crafty one, even before the whole dark persona.
The two heard the sound of the alarm that allowed for prisoners to get their lunch and their recess period. Hana could see the smile on Naruto's face grow wider as they entered the eating area for the prisoners. She saw him look left and right for his target. He must have found the person he needed because he started walking.
Now that Hana knew what to look for, she saw a rather tall, and bulky, man with red-orange hair. He wore a sleeveless blue shirt with dark grey pants. Whatever slop he ate on his plate seemed to satisfy him for the moment. It was only that he stopped when Naruto appeared in front of him.
"Never did I think the renowned arms-dealer, Bando, would be wasting away in a Kusagakure prison facility. Hard times must be on the underworld empires," Naruto said. In the many lifetimes he had seen from the people he killed. More than a handful had at least some past relationship with this bulky arms-dealer. Even Takamura Shingen had used this man's services before. Nothing could stop Naruto from doing the same thing.
"Beat it, brat. Don't think that just because I'm restricted by this damn seal that I can't kick your ass. I've fucked up plenty of shinobi. I still can. Get out of my face," the man replied. He went back to eating his food before he closed his eyes to have some type of peace.
Unfortunately, that peace didn't last for long because he heard a small clatter on his table. When he opened his eyes and widened his eyes when he saw ten solid gold coins in front of him. He stared back at Naruto. The blonde's smile infuriated him, but his eyes...seemed even more uneasy than any other client he had ever worked with.
"That's yours, Bando. All you have to do is do something for me," Naruto said.
Bando looked at the coins for a moment. His eyes then looked around the room. No one had noticed anything just yet. If anyone saw such a haul then not even the guards would be able to stop a brawl from starting out. Yet, the blonde wasn't even concerned with that. He just kept looking at the man like he was but a leaf on a tree in a forest. With so much gold, one could eat in luxury even in prison. He wouldn't have to question what he was eating each time he looked at his bowl.
Bando closed his eyes and exhaled. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Call me Uzumaki Naruto. This is Uzumaki Hana, my future wife. And, what would you think if I told you I was the newest owner of The Red Dragon?" Naruto asked.
Bando had to stop himself from busting out laughing which would alert everyone around him to their conversation. Of course he had recently heard the news that ever since last year the Red Dragon group had been under new employment. That news had thrown the world's ruling underworld into chaos before the new power had quickly established itself in an even grander position than even Takamura had done. It was for that reason...that there were talks of another overthrow.
"Then I'll have a fun bedtime story for myself to take away my boredom. Is that why you're bothering me? You're here to give me fantasy tales?" he asked, a chuckle on his lips. However, that chuckle didn't last for very long because Bando felt something painful stabbing into his left leg.
The bulky man looked underneath his table and he widened his eyes when he saw a thin needle of blood pierced into his knee. That long trail of blood rested at Naruto's fingertips which the redhead laid beneath the table as well.
"Eyes forward, Bando-san,"
The man looked up at the grin on Naruto's face. The pain accelerated through his leg. Each muscle was being pumped, stretched, and pierced like a half-filled bomb. Sweat began to pour from his face. His vision grew blurry. Feeling was beginning to leave his hands. He tried to speak, but no sound came out of his throat. Instead, he felt a sharp pain in the region of his neck. If anyone were to walk too close to their table, then the person would have seen dark purple veins crawling, climbing, infecting their way up the tall man's body.
"Good. Now that we've got the funny out of system, I think it's about time we return to that thing I wanted you to do for me. You see, Bando-san, I've taken up a hobby of...box collecting. I'm not here about some stupid security maintenance dattebayo. I'm here to collect this box. However, I can't seem to find it. But, I've thought of a way to get to it. And, for those gold coins, I'd like your help. Sure, you'll have to deal with some...unpleasantness, but if you do this for me then I might think of taking you on in a future project. You stand to make more than you ever did. You either take that deal, or I find a more permanent method to your servitude. Spoiler, it might be your body, but you won't be in it. Nod if you understand," Naruto said.
Slowly, Bando nodded his head. This made Naruto's smile widen.
"Good. Now nod if you accept my proposal. Shake your head if you don't. No worries, I'll let you think it over," the redhead claimed.
Bando tried to weigh the advantages and disadvantages, but how was he supposed to rationalize this threat with so much pain burning and striking within him. He could feel something strange wrapping around every sliver of his body just waiting for him to voice his defiance. In fact dare he say it was hoping that he would.
Time passed so slowly that Naruto was beginning to get annoyed. He looked over to Hana for the time and she quickly told him that ten minutes had passed. Once he knew that, the frown on his face grew deeper. Tch, fuckin' prison dog.
"You seem to be having some trouble in making a decision. I understand. I wouldn't want to follow a brat like me either dattebayo, but I have better things to do. So, I'll offer one more incentive. I plan on heading in the direction of Kirigakure in about two to three months. I heard a civil war has been raging over there that I'd like to be a part of. I'll grant you twenty percent of the spoils from that war in exchange for an extra ten seconds to think. I'd suggest you make your decision now,"
As soon as those words left Naruto's lips, the blood from his finger continued to dig itself into the body of Bando. So intense was the pain that he thought he would pass on into the afterlife. How many seconds had he already used up? He couldn't count. He couldn't think. Twenty percent? A civil war? Was he...going to die?
By the tenth second, Bando nodded his head up and down. Seeing this, Naruto chuckled. "I look forward to your results from working for me, Bando-san. I'll make sure you know you chose the right investment," Naruto said. He swiftly began drawing the blood from Bando's body until the man felt no more discomfort. Once it was all gone, he fell to the table and panted heavily.
"Finish your lunch quickly. You've wasted enough of my time. We have a play to reenact," the redhead said. He and Hana then proceeded to walk into the courtyard area.
"Tch, fuckin' bastard. I'll take a minute longer just to piss you off," Banda mumbled to himself before he started eating. Unfortunately, he couldn't concentrate on his ire for long from the feeling of actual gold in his hands. It was enough to make a grown man cry.
"Where did you get that gold?" Hana asked.
"Hell if I know. I don't remember every noble carriage I kill and steal from," the blood wielder answered. The wolf hybrid laughed.
Soon, Bando joined them in the courtyard. "Alright, you got me out here. What's this play of yours?" the tall man asked.
"Punch me in the face,"
…
"Punch you...in the face?" he asked.
Naruto nodded. "Yup. Well, let me elaborate. Punch me, and her, in the face. Don't worry, I won't kill you for it. I'll make sure she doesn't kill you either," the Uzumaki stated.
Bando folded his arms together. "Gee, thanks for the mercy. Fine, I won't hold back you know," he said.
Hana rolled her eyes. Given what she had been through a couple of days ago, she doubted a punch from this idiot would do little more than annoy her. She didn't know why she had to be punched too, but whatever made Naruto's plan work in the end then she would do too.
"Nix the male bravado. Hurry up before I turn Naruto into a liar and turn you into a smoldering crater in this prison. I'm annoyed enough," Hana decided to answer.
"Fine, but don't blame me for dismembering your faces!" Bando shouted as he rolled his fist back and socked Naruto across his cheek before delivering another powerful blow to Hana as well. Both...were a bit surprised when they were sent flying into the opposite wall from where Bando was standing. Oh, okay so the man was a teensy bit stronger than they thought.
"Holy shit! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"
A chorus of chants erupted from the prison courtyard. Naruto leaned up from the debris and chuckled. "Bastard! You're gonna regret that!" Naruto hollered as he dashed from the wall and into Bando. Hana was not far behind him. All three crashed into each other and began flailing like mad beasts.
"Don't lose, Bando-san! If you lose to a damn brat everyone's gonna make fun of you!" someone cheered. It wasn't long before more statements were made by the surrounding inmates.
Bando kicked Naruto away before he pinned Hana to the ground. "Shouldn't mess with inmates, girlie! We like to get rough sometimes," He chuckled at her, but Hana wasn't so amused. She quickly tied her legs around his thigh and swung him over her until she could stand. She then grabbed his collar and firmly planted her knee into his stomach.
"Don't push it if you still want to start a family of your own one day," she whispered to him. He slowly nodded before she allowed him to knock her in the face again.
In a matter of moments, Ryuzetsu, Akari, and the prison warden, Mui, arrived on the scene. The latter quickly pushed through the crowd. "All of you, stand down this instant!" he called.
"Someone punches me in the face and you tell me to stand down?! Move aside old man! If your inmates have a death wish! I'll be happy to comply!" Naruto yelled as he slapped his hands together. A shame this would be just for show, but...he couldn't afford to scare them all too much.
With a roar, Naruto's body exploded with a level of chakra that no one in the prison was prepared for. Not even Bando could hold his surprise as he saw the aura of a black mist expel from Naruto's body.
Another source of mighty chakra exploded which drew people's attention to Hana. The ground cracked beneath her feet as the weight of her chakra surrounded the prison. Both were treated to the sight of Mui's astonished face. The combination of their chakra drained life from the trees, grass, and air around them. So dense was it that the prison walls ruptured. Each feat made Mui's eyes grow wider and wider.
"Enjoy your time in hell, bastard! You punched the wrong guy!" Naruto chuckled as he charged at Bando with a speed that could have destroyed the ground if he desired.
Before he could even get close, Mui stood between Naruto and the bulky man. "Uzumaki Naruto, stop now or I will detain you!" He called, but Naruto ignored him. He kept his charge without end. Seeing this intent in his eyes, the prison warden intercepted the redhead. Of course, Naruto allowed the jonin to slip through his defenses enough that the old man was able to place a hand on his chest.
"Katon: Tenrō (Fire Release: Heavenly Prison)," Mui called out as a seal of fire pulsated from his hands and into Naruto's chest. The blood user grunted in pain before the force of the blast sent him crashing back next to Hana. The former Inuzuka snarled before she charged at him as well. Of course, she knew her role as well and tried for a more...direct approach with some brief combat, but in the end the same jutsu was used on her and sent her crashing next to him.
The courtyard grew silent. Mui turned around. "All prisoners back in their cells! Guards, take these two back to their quarters and keep them there until I give the orders. The same goes for their teammates over there. As for you, Bando, we've had issues with you in the past. A week of solitary confinement should fix your attitude. Take him away,"
Guards moved and so did prisoners. Akari and Ryuzetsu were wordlessly ushered away by two guardsmen while another group picked up the unconscious Naruto and Hana. Both were taken back to their quarters as well.
As the two were taken away, the gaze of the prison warden was upon them. His eyes looked upon them like the eyes of a pirate upon buried treasures. For so many weeks he had been stumped in trying to figure out ways to open the Box of Ultimate Bliss. Now, as if Heaven itself had answered him, a potential solution of vast, nigh bottomless chakra in the bodies of a small boy and young woman had presented itself to him.
Mui asked for a guard to call the four council elders who helped him maintain the prison. It wasn't long before they were all seated.
"I called you all here because we have made a recent discovery. About twenty minutes ago, a fight was happening in the courtyard by two members of the Kusagakure team and an inmate. Before the fight could escalate, all have been dealt with, but it is possible that the young man and woman are the keys to opening the box. I saw their chakra. It was mightier than any I had felt before. I dare say the woman alone had the chakra of at least a hundred jonin," Mui said.
The four council members were silent for a moment. "Such a woman cannot exist. Unless…,"
"Unless she were potentially a jinchuuriki. But Kusagakure does not have a bijuu as far as I recall," One of them said.
"Agreed, but there are many secrets to the world that not even we know. And the boy?" another asked.
Mui thought back to that time for a moment. "His was not as potent as hers, but...it felt heavier and much richer than the girl's. It is possible that with them both, we can keep the box open permanently. If we feed it chakra from them both then...it's not impossible that we can make consecutive wishes upon it," he said.
The four council members thought on this for a moment. This situation sounded almost too good to be true, but none had ever come to doubt Mui's word. They had seen the man coldly and heartlessly sacrifice his son for the benefit of Kusagakure. None could question his devotion, but...it would feel awfully convenient for not one, but two powerful sources of chakra to come into the prison at the same time. However, such an opportunity wasn't so disadvantageous. Mui had placed the fire seal on them both. They were already unconscious. If they prepared the equipment tonight…
"Very well. We'll follow your lead, Mui. Set up the equipment for the midnight. Be sure to give them both heavy sedatives to make sure that they aren't awoken. We must also come up with a plan to speak with the chunin operative and the other genin to avoid suspicion," one said.
Mui readily agreed. "That will not be a problem. I am still a jonin. Integrity of her mission aside, I'm still her superior officer. She runs the risk of being court martialed. Those two will not be a problem," he answered.
"See that they aren't. Very well, dismissed," the last of the four said.
As the group of five dismissed itself, no one noticed a deep red, incredibly tiny figure on the ground. It smiled evilly before it slipped into a pool of liquid and swam away into the darkness. As it swam away, a laugh echoed from its tiny vocals.
KG: You'd think this quarantine would give me more time, but my job says no! Anyway, I have set up a discord which is on my profile page. Again, join or not, it makes no real difference to me. You're not required to. It's just better to reach me there rather than PMs. I hope some people will drop by and say hello.
Wifey: You're gonna get trolled.
KG: Probably, but I get trolled in League all the time. What's the difference?
Wifey: Oh stop.
Derek:...
Wifey: Aww, you're so cute! Couldn't have been from your Dad's side of the family.
KG: Definitely wasn't from your mom's.
WIfey: What was that, dear?
KG: Nothing, sweetie. Cya!