A Simple Glance
Well, this is official. A Simple Glance is being continued. I'd like to thank all the positive response I got regarding this fic and I just want to say it convinced me to pick up and try to write this alongside Seals. Again, DO NOT expect regular or scheduled updates. I'm exactly like JonTron on YouTube or Son Kenshin nowadays here when it comes to keeping to a schedule.
For anyone who's here just for a status update on Seals of Fate: I'm working on it. It should be done by the end of the month or the beginning of the next. I am going to be taking a 1 day break to work on a side project tonight when I'm done finishing up this chapter (5/17/2021 when I began final clean up, 5/18/2021 when it finally was finished.). I have to re-watch The Last to get some notes. We'll be seeing the fruits of the project by the end of the year, maybe even coinciding with the period of time The Last is supposed to encompass with its actual plot.
Back to this fic.
First off, Naruto being able to pick apart Hinata's praising of Neji and Hanabi is due to being able to somewhat access Kurama's Negative Emotion Sensory. For starters I wanted Naruto to be evened out compared to other Jinchuriki, who get access Elemental combinations, enhanced elemental affinities which is most notable in Yugito's case, and unique abilities tied to the Biju they possess. I will admit that the idea was somewhat inspired by The Honored Guest (though that's a fic I never finished. It bored me straight to tears within the last 20 chapters of it and I couldn't take it. Too dark and nothing actually gets better, it either gets made worse or stays somewhat the same in terms of the good guys taking one step forward that is immediately countered by one of the villains doing something that basically resets everything back by a move), though the cause is widely different. Let's just say that the AU starts earlier than we've seen.
I have no idea who I would make Naruto and Hinata's third teammate nor do I have any idea who to make their jonin-sensei. I'm not using Anko for the sensei slot again but Sasuke is in the cards for being the third genin. I know I'm hard on Kurenai but I wouldn't be opposed to having her as the Jonin sensei for this team. Wouldn't be opposed to doing a Team 8 style set up. Plus I feel like Shino gets screwed over even in fanfiction (especially Honored Guest, I had forgotten about that until I wrote this sentence {10:06Pm 4/11/2021}). The poll for chakra chains include all Stories and crossovers I publish for Naruto.
Suggestions that I have received from my fellow writer RaNK001 have given me a definitive idea for the sensei (I like using new ideas and to my knowledge this one has never been used). RaNK gave me quite a few ideas that may get explored in Omake, along with the other 3 characters who I have set up for the poll. By the way, if you were not aware, I set up a poll to determine who I should make the 3rd genin. Options are Sasuke, Ino, Shikamaru, and Shino. (Wow I just realized that most of those are S Names, sounds a little suspicious to me. I apologize for the dumb joke) the poll will close a few weeks after the opening arc concludes with posting of the final chapter of it. At this point, in my game plan, it is meant to be chapter 4.
While we're talking about RaNK, you guys can thank him for this chapter coming out by now. I sent it to him testing out how the DocX system worked in DocX and story format after I agreed to Beta for his fic Guardian of the Tailed Beasts (if you haven't checked it out, go do so, the fic is pretty damn good in my opinion)
Also: Rest in Peace UrBoiPedro12. I wasn't following Into the Abyss, rather Pedro directly, but the moment I saw the name of the chapter I clicked and read. That's a horrible way to go. I only read House of Glass and it was a great fic. Just read it last month and was looking forward to the sequel. Now it dies with him. Reminds you just how fast life can go awry.
Chapter 2
Ripple
Tobi sighed as Zetsu placed the bandaged body on a strange seal array.
Most sealing arrays he could at least make sense of due to his time studying under Namikaze Minato but this one flew completely over his head with how alien it seemed.
Nagato and Konan both stood ready but with wary expressions on their faces.
'Not that I can blame them. I've been leading them on for years. They're lucky I'm not the actual Madara or else it would be far worse for them.' Obito thought.
Nagato spoke "You believe that this can revive the dead truly, without having to sacrifice my life or risk worsening my condition?"
Tobi nodded: "I believe so. It's an idea. You bring the soul back from the dead, while Zetsu's Wood Release preserves the body and strengthens it and nature's energies restores the body to a more… sustainable…condition."
Konan raised an eyebrow pointed at the plant man who nodded with its attempts at a disarming smile which Obito always felt were so insincere that a snake could be trusted more.
Obito was growing more and more suspicious of the Artificial Human, both Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, as of late.
By now he was almost certain that Madara had been played for a fool by them. That the Black Zetsu that Madara had created in front of Obito had been killed and disposed of by the Black Zetsu Madara had found when he unsealed the Gedo Mazo with the first usage of the Rinnegan.
Though to what end was entirely unclear. Whatever plan they were working towards required Madara. That much was clear, especially with the effort they went through to resurrect him.
Nagato groaned in pain from his recent surgery before speaking: "You're certain that this will work, Madara? That what we're about to do will work?"
Tobi shrugged: "Maybe. It's a test after all. Perform the sequence I told you when I say now."
Tobi placed his hand on Nagato's shoulder and made a sign that began molding chakra into the Yin type before forcing it to flow into the Uzumaki's body. "Now."
Nagato began running through seals before clasping his hands almost as if praying: "Rinne Tensei!" Nagato grit his teeth as he began feeling the pull of his energy being drained intensely as the sky darkened and a small beam of light shot out from the darkened sky and split into four beams that hit four separate points of the sealing array surrounding the bandaged up body.
At first nothing then tree roots began to move and shot up out of the four points contacted on the seal array and began wrapping around the corpse. It formed an almost pod like structure before it pulled the pod half way into the ground and then a tree sprung up and completely encompassed the pod. The sealing array dissolved into a matrix which covered the tree before stabilizing into a few simple character covering the tree which had grown in the hidden grotto.
Nagato unclasped his hands and fought for breath, but his hair had remained red and his body had remained stable. He would live, the test was a success so far.
Tobi clapped: "Nicely done. I think we'll call this the Reincarnation Tree. Recover and return to Ame, Zetsu will monitor the tree. I have other business to attend to."
Tobi didn't wait for a response as he activated Kamui and reappeared inside Konoha. Obito let the Tobi and Madara personas slip as his clone came close: "The seal we integrated into our mask and cloak works like a charm! Konoha doesn't even know we're here."
"Good. Dispel and give me the memories." Obito ordered and the clone did as told.
Obito flinched a bit as all the information came into his head. It was hard to get used to using Shadow Clone and hard enough using it for long term observation. But it was an excellent tool gained from observing the brats.
Officially Obito was here to observe the two train and take notes for the formulation of a capture plan in case capture of Naruto was impossible until he became a genin.
Unofficially, Obito had no idea why he was here. Probably morbid curiosity or he truly was gathering intel for when he decided to make another capture attempt.
His notes so far had identified the Hyuga girl as a Lightning affinity based on how she molded chakra naturally with possible Fire secondary affinity and the Jinchuriki as Wind Affinity through similar tells, also with possible Fire secondary affinity, entirely unsurprising considering Fire was the most common occurring affinity in Konoha. Even if it wasn't your primary affinity, chances were it was your secondary. 'Minato identified enemy affinities based on so many visual indicators and clues like simple movements. I learned how to do utilize some of his method and whatever Zetsu and Madara did to me gave me some passive sensing capability with increased active sensory capabilities.'
A slight pit formed in Obito's stomach but he pushed it aside: 'Tch. I CAN'T be getting sentimental. I don't even know these kids. And seeing myself and Rin in both of them means nothing!'
Memories of Rin dragged themselves to the forefront of Obito's mind, most prominently her death.
In the past, that alone would have broken him, but now it barely phased
Obito watched as the two brats practiced and spared until Jiraiya showed up and began teaching. Nothing new there.
Naruto had a clone working on Fuinjutsu, while the real Blonde started talking with Jiraiya.
'Dammit, I wish I had a Byakugan. I could see what both of them are saying without having to give myself away. At least I can still read Jiraiya's lips.'
The distance Obito had to maintain was somewhat detrimental but he caught most of it.
Jiraiya had to leave for a few weeks on a couple of assignments but he was going to make it up to Naruto.
Jiraiya took the scroll off his back and unfurled it. Obito wondered what it was and wished to draw closer but dared not while Jiraiya was around. His trick that got him into the classroom most likely would fail here and he would need phasing to get through the Toad Sage's blows.
But then Jiraiya nodded and mouthed what made Obito go wide eyed: the Myoboku Toad Clan Summoning Contract. He was offering to let Naruto sign it.
'Damn, I remember some of those toads that Minato used to summon. Some of them were really great.'
Naruto bounced and nodded and ran through the steps to signing as instructed and the rest of the session before Jiraiya departed was spent learning how to summon with Hinata having to leave not too long after the boy had signed the contract but not before telling Naruto she believed he could do it and don't be ashamed if he couldn't get it done in one day and that she would see him at school tomorrow based on her lip movements.
So much like Rin.
'Oh Rin…what would you think of me if you had seen what I've become? Everything I have done to prevent more tragedies like us from one day existing. The Moon's Eye Plan. Madara and Zetsu. Dammit, why did you have to kill yourself?! Calm down. With the Reincarnation Tree, there is a chance for this world to become a little less hellish and for me to get that answer.'
'But in the end it doesn't change what I have done.' Obito thought morosely as he vanished into Kamui with Naruto leaving the grounds for the day sulking.
Xxx
-1 week later-
Hinata smiled as Naruto split his, admittedly short, attention between her and the book Jiraiya had given him a few days before he left on his assignment.
Hinata had to admit to being somewhat unnerved by the subject Naruto was studying for the last week since meeting Jiriaya-sama, the subject he was studying in the book he was reading.
Fuinjutsu, the art of sealing and seal creation and destruction.
It was petty, childish, and irrational; but Hinata could only think of the Hyuga's most notable sealing art whenever she thought of Fuinjutsu.
The Caged Bird Seal.
With how it was used, it gave the shy Hyuga a rather bleak view of the art. Used to mark children as members of the Branch House and to keep them in line with a hand seal.
The same seal could take the Cursed Seal and use it to kill.
The Branch House was a subject of equally depressing connotation to Hinata. The fact that the Hyuga was separated into two separate clans and that the Branch House members were expected to throw down their lives for Main House members out of duty rather than love or anything else and were restricted from learning the strongest techniques of the Gentle Fist spoke of darker implications than anything the Hyuga Main House or Elders proclaimed it to be.
The likely hood that the practice would continue after the next generation was highly unlikely. Hinata had distinct memories of her mother's hatred of the Branch House system and the Cursed Seal and of her father's own acquired distaste for the system. And it seemed that more and more of the Main House was growing disgusted with the practice and aware of the haunting implications it gave.
The Elders could fight back but the clan head held more power than them and with enough time and the clan's members becoming more opposed to the system they would have no choice but to acquiesce.
Hinata knew she and her sister were safe from being branded, but the elders were pushing for her to be cast aside and Hanabi being named the heiress in Hinata's place out of a belief that Hanabi's talent was a sign that meant she was more in line with their beliefs.
What the desperate tell themselves to remain calm. The system was doomed to die whether it be under Hiashi or Hanabi or Hinata herself.
There was more to the problem than the seal and the system but the problem being solved, root and stem, was an eventuality.
Back to Naruto, the fact that he had drawn the attention of Jiraiya-sama was a surprise.
Hinata had the sneaking suspicion that Jiraiya had other reasons for apprenticing the boy of her heart.
Jiraiya knew how to engage Naruto's passion just as Hinata had learned. Almost as if he had experience with someone so similar.
And with Jiraiya's renown as one of the top experts in the art of sealing now that the Fourth Hokage was dead and the Uzumaki clan (which she found out was Naruto's clan) was gone.
Hinata felt a bit of happiness for her friend, Naruto finally had something that connected him to his roots. And it appeared that he took to them well.
Though the cheat method he had introduced called Shadow Clones and their ability to retain information had definitely been a better help than Hinata anticipated.
It would make so much of what she wanted to do for Naruto so much easier. Hinata wondered if she would have been able to double his academic catch up speed if she used Shadow Clone even if it was just to make a single clone.
After watching how much it took from Naruto's reserves to form just a single clone almost scratched that idea immediately. Maybe one day, but not today.
Though Naruto's mood had taken a nosedive following Jiraiya leaving the village temporarily on an assignment.
But the passing of the Toad Contract had more than made it worth it. Naruto was excited to have something that connected him to his hero the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato.
Naruto had failed to manage to summon a Toad on the first day of trying but Hinata had faith that he would figure it how and succeed before Jiraiya returned.
Though she was still amused by Naruto's first summon, a toad named Gamakichi who was just on the cusp of fully leaving behind being a tadpole. And a toad that had a personality that mirrored Naruto's own. The toad decided to make a visit and did so in the middle of class.
The chaos he caused with his lacking filter gave Hinata and Naruto both quite the chuckle.
Hinata winced as she grabbed a pen, her own training yesterday had been a little tense. But for once she was happy. It was mostly a review on her Gentle Fist techniques for her father who had decided to oversee it and she had outperformed expectations! Even managing to actually perform the 32 Palms properly! It was nothing compared to a prodigy like Neji, but for Hinata, she had not only managed to actually make progress but also gained her father's approval.
Iruka-sensei walked in and Hinata laid her ruminations to the side.
Naruto laid his book down and all the students gave him their attention.
Xxx
"Ugh."
A groan issued out in a large and sterile infirmary where featureless masked shinobi with the kanji for "Root" on their masks moved about.
"Danzo-sama. I'm pleased to see that you're awake." One of the shinobi said as they took a spot next to Danzo's bed.
Danzo tried to recall what happened to have him in the infirmary before he was interrupted: "Do you remember what happened? Before you woke up?" the shinobi, Ari as Danzo recalled, asked.
"We were making plans on how to retrieve the Jinchuriki and bring it under my control and then nothing." Danzo almost growled out in annoyance at the missing memory.
"I figured as much. You had a seizure. A massive one. But thankfully it didn't cause permanent damage. I followed protocol and did an examination. What I found didn't make much sense." Ari explained rather uneasily.
"No cause for such a massive event or cause but not enough to explain the event?" Danzo asked.
"I'm afraid it's neither. What I found appeared to be some form of cancer in you. But the mutated cells almost appeared integrated into your body's natural make-up. I can't remove the tumors. Not without causing massive and permanent damage to your body. The kind that merely cloning new tissues to replace the infected ones won't fix." Ari explained.
Danzo nodded: "And what do you believe to be the cause of this?"
"The arm that Orochimaru gave you, it incorporated the DNA of anything considered a foreign implant into its make-up and prevented rejection by the host. The tumors could have developed at an earlier occasion but thanks to the arm's make-up, it kept the tumors contained and slowed their progression to terminal at the cost of fusing them into the healthy tissues they were attached to and furthering the connection and integration of the masses. You likely would have died of old age before it reached critical or terminal mass. With the implant arm gone, part of the containment effect is gone and those tumors have spread and begun to reach dangerous mass. We are already cloning a new arm and it will be ready before the projected time that the tumors will reach critical mass and kill you, but it will not stop or reverse the progress of the masses. Don't expect to die of old age anymore." Ari explained clinically.
Danzo spoke calmly: "How long?"
"Without the arm, you won't even live another few weeks. With the arm you'll have 6 years at best with how badly the tumors have spread."
Danzo cursed "Damn. We'll have to accelerate some plans and re-examine others. But we'll need to get the Kyubi Jinchuriki under control. We can wait till he becomes a genin and then we can orchestrate an accident to abduct him under. Perhaps even take the Hyuga girl and have her produce a ROOT who can be used to control her clan before we have him kill her to shut down his emotions. What she would have been had that fool Hizashi not interfered. So much to do, but we have time. Time to secure the foundation of the great tree known as Konoha. Get the arm ready posthaste. The moment it is ready, I want to already be on the surgery table and pre-prepped."
Ari nodded: "Yes sir, as you wish Danzo-sama."
Xxx
Jiraiya sat patiently in the room writing on his notepad as Gerodou, a special toad, sat on Jiraiya's shoulder. It had been about a week and a half since his departure from Konoha.
Both were here for a reason.
"Man. Lemme tell ya, I can't wait to get back to Myoboko! This weather is not very comfortable for a toad of the mount, too cold and dry. And don't gemme started on the lightning." The toad complained.
Jiraiya had to agree somewhat, the Land of Lightning was far too cold for his taste, but some real beauties were able to tolerate it and dress in ways that all admirers of women could truly appreciate those women's magnificent gifts.
Though Jiraiya had more reasons to complain about where he was right now.
Kumo was arguably one of the most infamous of all the Hidden Villages. Incidents like what created the Hyuga affair 7 years ago were fairly commonly manufactured, but that incident had been the first time Kumo had been both caught, could demand reparations due to what happened, and tricked with the demand for reparations.
It made every Hidden Village weary of Kumo, and permanently ensured that Konoha would not be susceptible to second infiltration like that.
However, the most damming thing about the entire incident was revealed by Jiraiya's ROOT raid, Danzo knew what was happening and allowed it to proceed with no warnings.
Even worse was that his ROOTs had confirmed that the Hyuga's security surrounding little Hinata had been weakened the night of the incident.
It was an inside job. Danzo wanted a war and some Hyuga with more power than sense wanted Hinata gone. Danzo probably wanted the girl inducted into ROOT and with her being unmarked she would be able to use the Caged Bird Seal to control the Hyuga should the threat of a coup arise from the clan.
But that link gave Jiraiya a lead, and the network here churned out something that could force proper restitution for what happened.
An old mission document titled Operation Byakko.
Normally, Jiraiya would have just used that as his primary leverage for negotiating but the lead had churned out even better information to be used as part of the carrot to force Kumo into compliance.
Gerodou was the stick. Or rather, what he held was the stick.
Jiraiya responded: "I don't want to be here any longer than you do but the Village needs it, and please tell me you're keeping our trump card under wraps? If they find out before we can corner them, this is going to be a bust."
Gerodou scoffed: "Who do I look like, some punk shaking down the neighborhood for money? Of course I'm keeping my chakra under control."
The rather attractive secretary, Mabui, stepped out and spoke: "Jiraiya-dono, A-sama is ready for you."
Jiraiya nodded and stepped into the office.
A's office was a mix of an office and rec room. Four ninja stood alongside the Fourth Raikage.
Darui, a holder of Storm Release and user of the Third Raikage's Black Lightning and front runner for the Fifth Raikage.
C, a talented sensor and Genjutsu user and rising star of Kumo's sensor unit.
Ni'I Yugito, Jinchuriki of the Nibi.
Killer Bee, Jinchuriki of the Hachibi and master of the acrobatic eight sword style.
And those four stood flanking the Fourth Raikage, A, current fastest Shinobi alive.
Jiraiya grimaced internally at the possible fight in front of him. He was confident he could handle Darui, C, and Yugito with ease. Killer Bee would require advanced seals to keep him from simply overloading any seal placed to lock down his ability to draw out his Biju's power. But A himself would require Sage Mode.
Unless Gerodou was able to play the trump card before A attacked.
Jiraiya walked forward and took his seat: "A, you bastard! How long has it been?"
A's frown didn't budge: "Depends on what you mean. You've been sneaking around for a while now."
Jiraiya lost the smile but kept the cocky attitude: "Well, I couldn't resist. Especially after what I found from Danzo after he gave me enough reason to raid him."
A's face tightened: "And what would that be?"
"The fact that he knew about your Operation Byakko and did nothing to stop or warn us."
The room went quiet and still.
Jiraiya continued with a grin: "My sneaking around was to get intel on it and low and behold, you left a mission document and statement: kidnap the Hyuga heiress, and failing that, force death in a fight against any member of the Main House. I decided to relieve you of other such documents."
The Killing Intent began leaking in the room aimed at Jiraiya but Jiraiya remained unaffected.
Jiraiya finished his statement: "I'm here as an envoy and diplomat of Konoha to lay out our terms for Kumo's reparations of your flagrant abuse of our trust and damage of our reputation and the harm you have caused to the Hyuga Clan. Failure to work with us will result in a total ban on Kumo and the Land of Lightning by the Land of Fire and all her allies."
A wasn't happy but he growled out calmly: "What is the terms?"
Jiraiya went serious: "You will return the body of Hyuga Hizashi back to Konoha and issue a formal apology to not only the Hyuga Clan but Konoha as a whole, Operation Byakko will be made public and Kumo will issue a statement that announces the details as the complete truth, and Konoha's Jinchuriki will be granted to Kumo's Jinchuriki training process and Shimogami island without having to renounce Konoha and defect to Kumo."
A moment of silence and then laughter came from two of the five Cloud shinobi.
A regained composure the fastest: "If you're this good a comedian than you should have taken up comedy over writing."
Yugito spoke next after managing to stop her laughing: "You can't be serious about us betraying our village like that?! We're Ninja, our village comes first and anything else can burn."
C never laughed but he spoke: "Operation Byakko going public is in our best interest to remain secret, demanding it to go public is against our best interest."
Bee kept quiet as though he understood already that things were far more serious than they appeared.
Darui kept quiet as well but his hand slowly began reaching back for his sword and muttered under his breath: "Never a dull moment around here when someone uninvited shows up."
Jiraiya's neutral glare turned to a predatory smirk and his own Killing Intent began leaking out: "Trust me boy, the alternative is far, far worse. Gerodou, show 'em."
Gerodou nodded: "You got it boss!" and opened up to reveal his tongue. A small cavity on the tongue opened and after a moment the Kumo side collectively paled, cursed, and felt their hearts stop.
Jiraiya smiled: "Judging by your looks you already know exactly what that is, who it belonged to, and what it can do. Failure to comply will result in this measure being taken and the reparations will be everything we demanded and so much more. In addition to compliance no longer being a factor, Kumo will be compliant with further orders and the Nibi will be taken, extracted, and sealed inside a new Jinchuriki loyal to Konoha. And once they've been taught your perfect Jinchuriki method, so will the Hachibi. Everything I have dug up on Kumo will be made public and you will acknowledge it as the truth. This consequence will be the price you will be made to pay if we find out that you are going to break our deal."
Yugito was sputtering: "This is insane! This would destroy Kumo!"
Jiraiya nodded: "It would, but this is also the moderate terms that Hokage-sama approved after much discussion with both myself and the honorable advisors. We're Ninja, our village comes first and anything else can burn."
Yugito paled further and almost appeared to be getting sick while Jiraiya chuckled: "Not so fun when you're on the other side of that philosophy rather than hiding behind, huh? Oh, and keep this little eye-dea(I feel bad about that pun, but I REGRET NOTHING!) between the six of us. I don't think you need to be told what will happen if it gets out. So what will it be, your pride or the survival of your village?"
A growled, defeatedly: "We agree to the terms laid out."
Jiraiya laughed: "Pleasure doing business. Need you to sign this."
A sighed as he signed the treaty Jiraiya had presented him.
Shisui's eye had managed to truly help Konoha for the first time in 5 years.
Shisui was probably smiling from beyond the grave.
Xxx
Naruto felt his lungs burn as he dodged another strike from Hinata.
Naruto tried to slip in a retaliatory strike but his hand got knocked away.
It was frustrating, to realize just how much he was behind Hinata but it gave him the motivation to keep trying.
Both were grinning, but the blonde prankster was smiling his vulpine grin while Hinata was smiling in a more subdued fashion.
Naruto was about to respond when he felt the same pull tug at his mind that he felt when he was talking to Hinata for the first time, when he could…pick apart…the negativity hidden behind her praises for her family.
It wasn't the first time it had happened and it wouldn't be the last most likely.
Hatred, self-righteous anger, hypocrisy, and a budding desire to kill.
'Dammit, why is this happening? And right after that Ero-sennin left on whatever! That mission was probably a load of crap to spy on girls!'
However that one moment of distraction gave Hinata the opening to finish the bout.
A swift palm strike to the right shoulder followed by blows to a few additional areas had Naruto falling to the ground in defeat.
Hinata looked somewhere between elated and displeased and tried to help Naruto up before he waved her off and got up on his own.
Almost anyways, the numbing from the palm strike had made it a bit difficult to stand under his own power. Hinata helped steady him, whilst fighting down the blush on her cheeks.
Naruto grinned as she helped him over to a bench and began attempting to work feeling back into the places she had numbed. "Damn, Hinata. I let my guard down for a second and you pounced. I told ya, I frickin told you that you were better than you thought!"
Hinata blushed but resisted the urge to twiddle her fingers at the praise. "W-well, Naruto-kun, you said it y-yourself: If you h-hadn't gotten distracted, I-I wouldn't have been able to g-get that hit in."
Naruto wanted to admonish her but instead chose to speak softly: "Hey, don't worry about it. If you hadn't actually bothered to teach me how to fight right, I'd probably still be getting my ass kicked by you, y'know. You get tired faster than I do. It's nothing to be ashamed of…you helped me learn that we can't always reach as far as we need or want or have to on our own. Sometimes we need some help. You helped me learn how to actually fight, I'm gonna help you learn how to stop talking down on yourself. Among other things."
Hinata didn't answer vocally but she nodded.
Naruto felt that sensation again but this time he could determine where it was aimed.
It was aimed straight at Hinata.
It was rolling off of that brown haired pretty boy who was drawing close with new sensations rolling off as he drew closer. Naruto instinctively stood up as his anger spiked, feeling returning in his numbed limbs almost instantly, and placed his body between Hinata and this asshole.
"My, what an accomplishment. Hinata-sama finally managed to knock down an opponent. Might be impressive even, if the opponent wasn't more of a loser than her." The boy said dismissively.
Hinata mumbled: "Neji-nii-san…."
And that name alone sent Naruto's anger soaring: "What the hell?! You're Neji!? She looks up to you and you choose to spout that crap?!"
Neji cut in before Naruto could continue: "Silence, dog. You have no importance here. Fate wouldn't mind me removing you from its plans. I doubt it has anything for you really."
The death threat hung in the air and Hinata's eyes widened in surprise before they hardened in response to the threat.
Neji noticed none of the changes and continued: "Though dog does fit you. You're a stray that someone took pity, brought into their home and fed, and then began training to suit their needs. It looks to me like Hinata-sama needed someone she could beat to give herself the validation that she might not be completely worthless as a Hyuga."
Blue eyes were shadowed over as Neji kept prattling on, all insults and backhanded praises that kept bringing Hinata's self-hatred for perceived worthlessness to the surface and intensifying it.
Had Naruto actually focused on her at the moment, he would have noticed that she wasn't wilting under this belittling. She was staring pointedly at Neji with a look that was slowly becoming a glare with her hands trying to decide whether to curl up into fists or flatten out for palm strikes while her legs slowly began tensing. Hinata was planning on making Neji be quiet for that threat he had made and the insinuation he had made about her intention regarding Naruto.
Hinata just couldn't figure out how she wanted to shut him up: Palm strike straight to the chest, or tackle him and start punching till he stopped.
Neji was about to fill the air with one final barb and leave but before he could open his mouth a hand lashed out and grabbed him by his collar and dragged him down to eyelevel roughly to face shadowed eyes and blonde hair.
Naruto still hadn't opened his eyes but Neji was paralyzed by the aura that radiating off the blonde and being directed at Neji and Neji alone.
"Apologize to Hinata. Now." The boy said in a clipped tone that showed he was fighting back screaming his words in rage.
Neji scoffed despite the position he was currently in: "And why would I do…." But got no further.
A fist to the gut had him on the floor and when he looked up he saw the blonde's eyes had changed from being blue like Sapphires to being red like Blood with a cat like slit.
Neji almost instinctively activated the Byakugan in panic, while his mind raced. 'What is he? What the hell is he?! This…this can't be normal! I feel like I'm staring death in the face! Is this what it is like to face one of the Biju? Is this what those who faced the Kyubi 10 years ago experienced before the Fourth Hokage dragged the monster into a pit of hell that wouldn't spit the creature out? It's impressive that he managed to do that while facing this feeling.'
Hinata stood transfixed by the exchange, her rage at her cousin's insult and threat to Naruto forgotten in face of the change, and she was unable to decide who to help.
Part of her wanted to keep Naruto from hurting Neji, part of her wanted to sit back as Neji got what was coming to him, and another smaller part wanted to help Naruto make Neji eat his words.
Neji realized the unspoken threat that hung in the air. If he wanted to be able to leave under his own power, he had to apologize and make it count.
Of course, a meaningful apology wasn't going to be what they got. "I'm sorry." He said with as much false sincerity as he could muster before he left.
Hinata's eyes went downcast and mumbled sorrowfully: "It's alright… I forgive you."
Naruto's eyes lost the red color and the slits but he snarled: "Bastard! He didn't even mean it in the slightest. I'll wring a good one out of him next time. You can bet on it."
Hinata tried to hide the slight reddening of her cheeks: "I b-believe you, Naruto-kun. J-just please go e-easy on Neji-nii-san, for me?"
Naruto lost the glare at the direction Neji left in and turned to Hinata confused: "Why do you stick up for him when he treats you like that? And what's his problem? You're nice to everyone, even him when he was treating you like crap."
Hinata turned her eyes downward: "It's not my place to share. P-Please don't be upset with me."
Naruto grabbed her hand and she looked at his eyes to see the sincere look in them as he said his next words.
"You're my friend. I could be angry, but I'll never stay angry or upset at you, you mean too much to me, y'know?"
Hinata couldn't help the beautiful smile that formed on her face with her cheeks reddening somewhat.
Though elsewhere, this moment had marked something awakening. Though that was the incorrect term. Returning to full awareness of self was the better fit.
The process had begun weeks ago, the anger the boy had felt had drastically hastened the end of the process.
Though the entity was trying to piece together who it was and what was wrong with it.
Concentrate despite the pain…I am called Kurama. I am the first of the Nine Biju born from Hagaromo-jii-san, known to mankind as the Sage of Six Paths or Rikkudo Sennin, splitting apart the Jyubi using the Creation of All Things.
I have eight true siblings, and two others from my connection to my father: Ashura and Indra. My true siblings are Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokuo, Saiken, Chomei, and Gyuki. We've had our differences, our scuffles, and our grudges against one another but we have always come together when the cards are down.
I am sealed inside a Jinchuriki. This is my third one. He is the child of my second one. My state is unique from my previous two because the Shinigami was invoked in the process of the sealing to split me in half. The split is imperfect from what I can determine, whatever half of my chakra that was sealed inside the death god had a sizeable chunk of it remain with me while the half I'm conscious in has had a chunk of split off and sealed with the missing half. I believe that should the right method be used, the missing half can be pulled free and drawn into myself within the seal by using the chunks of the opposing halves as magnets of sorts.
At one time, I had propped myself up as the Incarnation of Hatred and Nature's wrath and Divine Judgement upon mankind.
I swore to exterminate the Senju and Uchiha clans for Uchiha Madara's usage of me as a weapon and for Senju Hashirama sealing me once the battle was done. And then kill as many humans as I desire until my vengeance against Namikaze Minato for splitting me and sealing me inside my new Jinchuriki was sated.
I hate Mankind and remember all the reasons why I do so…But I don't understand WHY! Was I not the one who drew first blood by acting as Nature's wrath? I made the legend of the Kyubi no Yoko. And I did so of my own choosing.
My other half might understand but I must admit that I have no immediate desire to reunite with that half until I can form my own thoughts and opinions on the matter, ones I can understand, because if that half understands our reasons for hating than I must be able to counter it. Otherwise our merging may just compromise any progress I make.
Hagoromo prophesied a Child of Destiny who may be able to conquer the Cycle of Hate that dominates life or make it worse enough that the world becomes beyond saving.
I must find them. I must ensure that the hate is brought to an end. Only then could I hope to conquer my rage and hate. By conquering my own, they would be able to surmount any hate that they would have to face.
Kurama monologue aloud as he contemplated his existence and what he would do.
9 massive tails covered in red fur swept along the cage as Kurama decided on what to do.
Though this boy may be worth getting to know.
Back in reality.
Hiashi sat in his study watching on.
Hinata's newfound inspiration was quite the breath of fresh air for him. And a bit of hope that she could prove herself to be far more than the failure that the clan believed her to be.
Hinata had been hesitant to inform him of her befriending the Jinchuriki, a child shouldn't be scared to share such information with their parents unless it was truly shameful.
'The fact that she was scared and reluctant to share such information is distressing. It doesn't say anything good about my mistakes with Hinata.' Hiashi thought morosely.
He didn't know how to parent her or teach her. Hinata was so much more likely to fold under being pressured to advance rather than learn and grow. Hanabi didn't.
Add in a passive personality and a distaste for the House system and the Caged Bird Seal that she made more or less open, and it made for massive push against her becoming head of the clan in any capacity.
Hinata truly was the spitting image of Hitomi. And Hiashi was confident that the resemblance between daughter and mother would grow as Hinata got older.
He only hoped Hinata didn't follow Hitomi to a grave far early than they should have.
Hiashi wished he knew how to motivate her, but the method he learned from his parents and the methods employed by many within the Hyuga only seemed to discourage Hinata.
But her determination to learn and improve that came from her befriending Uzumaki had pushed her to actually improve far more in four weeks than Hiashi or anyone of her tutors had been able to push her along in almost 6 years.
It gave him hope that she could prove worthy of being the heir to the clan. Minato-sama's son would always hold that debt of gratitude from the Hyuga clan head. Perhaps there was a way to begin repaying it. 'He lives in that apartment complex run by that lowlife. Price gouging and improper utilities are most likely a problem. Perhaps a stern talking to can help fix that or failing that, better accommodations can be granted to him. I know there is a better complex not too far from the compound. It would mean that he could visit Hinata more.'
Naruto made Hinata happy. The father in the stern man just wanted his daughter to be happy after the tragedy that had plagued her.
Though Hiashi would have to be truly ignorant to not see the look his daughter gave the boy. Though whether it would bloom into genuine love or fade into their friendship as time progressed, Hiashi could not say.
Hiashi wouldn't object to their relationship if it did come to pass in the future, but Hiashi did personally hope that Naruto would grow up and mature past the more childish antics he exhibited in his behavior before it occurred.
Though Hiashi would be duty-bound regardless to scare the living daylights out of the boy with the standard father-daughter's boyfriend speech and accompanying promise, regardless.
Perhaps Hinata's path would take her to other destinations but the Hyuga Clan Head wanted her to at least prove to the clan that she was worthy of her birthright, worthy to lead the clan one day if she so chooses.
Though the fools known as the elders viewed her as a threat to their power and to the traditions they held as sacred and immutable. Hinata probably didn't realize just how much she and her father were alike. Both saw those fools as desperately clinging to a past long gone rather than moving forward with the times.
Hiashi had made it clear to them that Hinata was not to be branded, but every time a meeting occurred, the Elders always pushed it forward.
'Such troublesome old men. How many problems would be conquered with ease if they were to disappear or be disposed of?' Hiashi thought to himself darkly in a moment of frustration.
(The moment Hiashi finished that thought: for no apparent reason, in the Nara clan compound, the clan head and his son, who were playing a match of shogi, sneezed at the same time, blowing off some pieces off the board.)
His ruminations were disturbed by a new presence within the room, an ANBU kunoichi wearing an Owl Mask with visible features (most notably the barely visible white-lavender orbs in the lenses of her mask) that marked her as a Hyuga: "Forgive my intrusion, Hiashi-sama. Is Uzumaki Naruto within the compound?"
Hiashi mentally spotted her as Hyuga Kyoshi, a member of the Main House and a daughter to an Elder. If she was sent then there was something happening that the Hokage needed a member with direct access to the Clan Head at the exact moment. "He is."
The ANBU nodded: "Good. Keep him here and ensure that he does not begin using the Biju's power. We have infiltrators working for an organization with eyes on the boy. We believe that the disgraced Weasel is a member and is here."
Hiashi noticed the way she said Weasel and immediately realized she was referring to an ANBU. Who had held the weasel mask and call sign but had been disgraced?
Hiashi's eyes grew wide and he almost cursed: "Itachi."
"Indeed. I shall be remaining here to keep the boy safe should they turn their sight to the compound."
Hiashi struggled to maintain composure: "Should I alert the clan or merely act as though nothing is happening?"
Owl recognized the tone, it was a tone Hiashi used ever since the Hyuga affair to express displeasure at a choice he would want to make being removed from his hands entirely. Owl calmly responded: "Don't do anything to visibly suggest to a traitor that we are trying to protect something, beyond that, it is yours to make."
Hiashi nodded: "Before you take your position, alert the guards to be on the lookout and ready for a possible attack. I'll take measures to have any active Shinobi in the clan on alert."
Owl nodded and vanished.
Hiashi sighed. It was going to be a long and painful evening.
Xxx
Sunset fell on Konoha.
Unfortunately, this twilight heralded an incursion.
An incursion of the Rising Dawn.
Itachi's crow circled above him and his partner for his assignment.
The crow landed on Itachi's outstretched arm. The Uchiha shifted his arm so that the crow's eye was making contact with his own and the crow's eye shifted to a three tomoe Sharingan that casted a Genjutsu on Itachi, telling him everything he needed to know.
Itachi smiled internally but kept his face neutral: "Our target was spotted entering his apartment. He is currently the only one at the complex. He is alone, and it seems that he is no longer under a constant ANBU guard anymore. Most likely due to age and Jiraiya's reported return to the village if Zetsu is to be believed."
The hooded figure let out a deep chuckle: "Good. They have tightened up security since my infiltration to assassinate Hashirama, but the hole I used to get in is still there. We can use that to get in. The Kyubi will be an easy grab and we can nab quite a few high value corpses for the bounties."
Itachi closed his eyes: 'His focus on the monetary gain should hopefully cloud his judgement somewhat. He will be too focused on gain and won't exercise caution that will lead to his demise. He doesn't need to know that the real Naruto is at the Hyuga Compound, for Kami only knows what reason. If we are not forced to retreat I can use that.'
Kakuzu waited patiently for an exact moment: "Now! The patrols are swapping shifts."
Itachi nodded. "Lead the way."
The two missing nin quickly breached the perimeter and made their way to the apartment of their target.
Itachi glanced around and spoke quietly. "We've been noticed already."
"Argh, tell me something I didn't know."
"They know we're within the village just not who and where we are."
"Wonderful."
Itachi glanced around once they made it to the apartment complex. "They've rigged the apartment with traps designed to ward off any forced entry. At least 5 methods, maybe more."
Kakuzu might have raised an eyebrow under his hood, but he did say: "Do you think they have this kind of protection for their Jinchuriki all the time or is it just because they caught wind of us?"
Itachi answered honestly. "Both."
Kakuzu raised his hand to the doorknob and threads came out of his hand and into the keyhole.
The threads moved around until Itachi assumed they matched the tumblers of the lock.
Kakuzu ran through a series of one handed signs that Itachi's Sharingan burned into his memory before whispering: "Earth Release: Earth Spear." The threads took on a metallic tone and began attempting to open the lock like the key was being used.
Eventually, the mass began to shift and then the lock clicked.
Kakuzu growled: "There's something off about this lock."
Itachi almost broke his character and rolled his eyes but instead merely asked: "How so?"
"It was far too difficult to open for how simple the tumbler pattern was and the lock's quality."
Itachi nodded in a contemplating fashion before the two opened the door.
Itachi had only seen the inside of the apartment once, one of his assignments to throw his clan off to his assistance with stopping the coup, and it didn't look much different.
The windows had seals on the framing to both reinforce structure and provide alarming.
But the overall apartment seemed bare, especially compared to after Naruto first moved in.
Kakuzu mumbled: "This place seems rather Spartan for having been lived in for almost 4 years."
Itachi responded as he began looking around: "If Naruto's circumstances are similar to how they were when I left, then he has few people who care or give gifts. He would have little of personal or monetary value."
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed: "Even so…"
Itachi spotted ANBU seal work on the walls. 'Blast direction seals, used to direct a blast wave and fireball away to prevent collateral damage to surrounding structure. Why would…oh, that's what they're planning with the warning I gave.' Itachi thought as he noticed the seal work was on the structure of the entire apartment.
Itachi noticed the explosive notes hidden in various spots and noticed that they were already armed and preparing to detonate, Itachi smirked internally 'Perfect.' While externally he shouted: "Explosives! Take Cover!" and bolted out of the apartment and away from the door, the exact moment the explosives detonated.
Kakuzu was unable to make it out of the apartment but Itachi knew he heard the man shout: "Earth Spear!" as the explosive roared.
After the explosion ended, Itachi looked inside and found Kakuzu still alive and standing, panting and with his cloak and shirt destroyed.
"A little bit more warning would have been appreciated, DAMMIT!" the Five Hearted bounty hunter snarled.
Itachi waved him off: "There will be time for gripes later, we've been had. Konoha knew we were coming and knew what we were after and played us. Should we continue or retreat?"
Kakuzu growled as he walked out and the Air Heart Mask on his back lifted off and separated from Kakuzu into a mass of threads with the mask on it before taking the shape of a flight capable creature. "We find the little fucking bastard! We'll punish this damn village for this and make sure their effort to protect the bastard goes straight to fucking hell!"
Itachi nodded: "Understood, but we have company."
Konoha ANBU and Jonin poured into the area as the two Akatsuki jumped to the ground and the Air Heart Mask Creature took to the skies.
Itachi scanned the mass of ANBU and found the familiar silver grey hair and gravity defying hair style of Kakashi, face covered both by his Dog Mask and the cloth mask he wore and the glow of a Sharingan visible through the lens of the porcelain mask.
A battle over the legacy of the Fourth Hokage was soon to begin.
End Chapter
Well how was that?
That scene with Shikamaru and Shikaku is in no way meant to imply that Shikamaru has been settled as the choice being selected.
Did you catch that small detail from Kurama? Things are far more than they appear. The overall plot I introduced there is based on an observation made by Samus Aran in Metroid Fusion about the game's antagonists the X-Parasites during one of the game's infamous walls of text during certain elevators after a major development of the plot. Well really two. She makes observations about the X-parasites during the elevators following her killing and predating both the Scientist Mimic attempting to overload the station's boiler, or the X-Scientist, and the X-Ridley. The Scientist Mimic makes her realize that the X are naturally intelligent and once they infect and copy a host's DNA, they can steal their knowledge and memories as well. X-parasites form avatars based on the hosts that their progenitors have previously infected and tend to enhance the avatar's species by attempting mutations of preexisting traits in mimicked host or inducing traits from other hosts to strengthen the host avatar. X-Ridley is considerably more dangerous than the Original Ridley by a fairly strong margin on paper, but ultimately falls short from the Space Pirate's Grim Reaper due to, as Samus observes, lacking Ridley's soul. The X-Ridley knows it should hate and has all the memories as to why, but lacks understanding of what truly makes Ridley himself so in the end it lacked Ridley's unyielding will to survive and kill that allowed him to outright cheat death multiple times and the sheer hatred and contempt Ridley held for Samus that made the two archenemies and allowed Ridley to pull through multiple almost confirmed kills of him.
Danzo's plotline has been established. He's going to be far more hurried to accomplish his plans now.
Considering how short Kakuzu's temper is in canon, I believe this would be perfectly in character for him to do. The little trick he does with Earth Grudge Fear threads to pick a lock is a reference to a fic called Raised a Criminal, where Kakuzu is a main character, uses the Earth Grudge Fear threads to pick locks, and he is the eponymous criminal raising Naruto (long story to explain. If you're alright with reading fics that never got finished then go ahead, but where it died will leave you thoroughly unsatisfied: Kazekage Retrieval; and it ends with Hinata being grabbed by Tobi to be used to kill off the last little bit of Naruto's humanity that was cultivated by his time in Konoha despite being used as a Sasori sleeper agent during Part 1. Naruto has two older sibling. A brother Itachi's age and an elder twin sister and she is the Kyubi Jinchuriki. Minato is alive because Hiruzen sacrificed himself to seal Kurama using Shiki Fuin and Kushina is alive as well. Kakuzu has Naruto because he was hired by Iwa to grab the Kyubi Jinchuriki and the thugs he outsourced to completely fucked up), though here he also uses Earth Spear to pick the lock.
I'm one of the few who doesn't outright despise A for his actions, even though I do hate what he did that made the Hyuga affair, but even I will admit that Kumo needed to be put in their place for what they've done.
I despise Neji's pre-character development self. Anything I can do to speed up the process of him getting over to his Shippuden personality is being considered.
So the stage has been set for the finale to this opening arc and its aftermath.
Don't expect a speedy update. But expect it by August.
Until Next Time:
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!
SEE YA LATER!