Welcome to the next chapter.
danielsnow; Yeah, there could be a moment or two like that~ Thanks, glad you liked it!
Skull Flame; For a short while he did yeah. She is yeah, a minor one, but her stuff fits well with Ryouta I thought so I went with it~ Hehe, yeah~
Pinkflamingwarriorofjustice; He can use them again yeah.
TheRagFromTheCrag; They'd be cool. I could see Jiraiya doing something like that.
ShadowUzumaki55; Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Ryouta and Satsuki threw quite a bit at Orochimaru and did their best. Ryouta has yeah, he's able to use his eyes pretty well now. Glad you liked the combo of those two. It is quite chakra taxing. Lee appeared yeah, and managed to save the others. She's going to be doing some stuff.
TheGreatGodzilla; I've got some plans for them yeah, I can't reveal all here as it would delve into some major plots later on. Yeah, it would do for the Uzumaki's. Yeah, depending on the kid, they'd have either their fathers, mothers, or a combination of both. I've read some of each and they're pretty solid. They're the same as they are in canon.
Silver crow; Yeah, they did quite well. He's able to use it quite well now, drains quite a bit of chakra but he can use it. She's doing her things for a reason. Yeah, maybe they could do that with Mei. Ryouta and Satsuki have flawless teamwork because of how they grew up together yeah. Haku did yeah. Ino seems to be sensing some stuff that's going on. Orochimaru got quite the surprise with Ryouta's Mangekyou. Yeah, I thought the name fit with Ryouta and that Goddess' connection with the fire God, which would connect with Satsuki as well. Orochimaru is beginning to realize that yeah. Haku's traps were pretty cool, and combined with Ryouta worrying Orochimaru with his lie about knowing Flying Thunder God, Orochimaru got trapped. Karin is a great sensor, she'll know roughly about what's going on. Lee and Ryouta have a good friendship yeah. Yeah, seems like they've had a meeting, and another one here. Garaga didn't know what to make of Ryouta, he still doesn't fully trust humans, but after seeing what he did, Garaga's a good deal interested, and is going to be keeping Orochimaru away from Ryouta and the others. That would be cool for RWBY. That would be good for Charlotte and him to have a bond. He and Vanessa would have an interesting relationship. He could be heir to some of them yeah. He'd probably have all three forms of Haki. Maybe he could do that with his eyes. Ryouta's going to be going on his own kind of mental journey. Satsuki could be more reknowned yeah. Mikoto could help with that. Naruko will be yeah. Tsunade could be like that yeah. That would be a cool cloak. Mikoto could rise to that. Yeah, they'll be meeting more now. The cyborgs are pretty cool. Ryouta will have some moments with the girls during that time yeah. Maybe some of them will come together. Hinata and Ino will be dealing with some stuff this chapter.
Guest 1; Yeah, Ryouta showed his stuff.
GuoYaohui; Yeah, you're right, that's how it is for Satsuki here. She'll be going through quite a bit during the story. Ryouta could point that out yeah. Ryouta's not used his right eye yet, but he will do.
Mrgamerandwatcher; Could be yeah~
husseinwafy9; Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Yeah, Ryouta and the others have come quite far, and have a long way to go yet~ His other eyes power will be revealed when it is necessary for him to use it. The woman in white will get some more stuff going on here. Aah, that's very kind, thank you very much!
MDM11; Yeah, maybe he could do. I don't see why he couldn't have them in a group. They'd be cool harem members. Ryouta will learn a good few Jutsu's, he might learn some or all of them~
Kylo Ren; I'm not sure yet, I'd love to do it, just have to find the time.
War Sage; Glad you liked the fight between them. It seems like Ino is beginning to sense something. Ryouta knows the full usage of each eyes now. Yeah, he's got a hang of his Susanoo. Orochimaru could be yeah. Yeah, I thought it would be a good moment for Ryouta to do that with Orochimaru. That was the scroll Orochimaru had for the Chunin Exams. She can drain chakra, more of their relationship and what she was speaking about will be elaborated on as the story goes on. We'll see what happens with him. Chakra strings like that would be interesting. Yeah, it's going to be quite the challenge. Garaga's got something's he's doing in this chapter. I will be doing The Psychic season two at some point, not sure when. Thanks for the harem suggestions!
Andrew123456; Thanks, glad you're enjoying it.
Guest 2; I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Orochimaru was quite stunned. Yeah, between the fight with Garaga, Orochimaru, and a certain woman right at the end trying to drain his chakra, Ryouta's gone through quite a bit. Yeah, she didn't make the best first impression when she tried to steal all his chakra huh? Ryouta does have something like a mindscape. I've heard of his stories yeah, I'll check it out. Thanks for the harem suggestions!
Brainstorm Sorcerer; Thanks! Glad you liked it! Ryouta did yeah, he managed to beat back Orochimaru for the time being. Yeah, it seems she's quite forceful at first. Garaga will be doing some stuff this chapter, and will be helping Ryouta out by keeping a certain someone away from him. Maybe he was Garaga's partner. Yeah, it was a scroll for the Chunin Exams. Just the arms and ribcage, he can form more but it is taxing. Ryouta can use acid from his left eye. Orochimaru's face is exposed yeah. I could see Orochimaru considering them both valid opponents, and that was just a regular sword from Orochimaru. Satsuki knows about it yeah, only she and a select few others know of it. I thought it was a fitting name and I'm glad you like it too~ Hehe, that was Minato's. Lee did yeah, he showed up and saved them as they were nearly out of chakra. Lets see what happens next yeah.
Hinata fan; They did yeah, quite well~ He'd be able to fight yeah. We'll see what's gonna happen next.
Well, with those reviews out of the way, it's time to start the chapter!
Panic in the forest!
"Shi-chan...teach me something cool..."
"Cool huh? How about the Shuriken Jutsu?"
"Y-Yes!"
A young Ryouta, around the age of four, and Shisui stood within a wooded area, and Shisui was teaching him how to throw shurikens perfectly.
"Look at this~" Shisui did a sleight of hand, and had a shuriken appear, the young Ryouta smiled brightly. "Dad taught me when I was young, so watch this!"
Twirling the shuriken, he tossed that, and several others, and had them collide together, until they reached a tree, and formed the letter R, causing the young boy to grin up at his elder brother.
"Wow Shi-chan...so cool..."
"Hehe, you try, okay?"
"Ooh...Okay!"
Watching the interaction, was the real Ryouta.
He watched this memory play before his eyes, and he smiled sadly.
He was happy to see Shisui...but he was sad that Shisui didn't see him.
He tried speaking up, but Shisui didn't answer.
It was but a memory, a memory that Ryouta held dear to his heart.
"...I always love this memory, it was one of the first I remember Shi-chan teaching me. I wish he could see me now...I wish I could tell him about everything that's happened...becoming Genin...and now doing the Chunin Exams..."
While he thought about it, he watched as young Ryouta tossed two shurikens, but didn't collide in the best way, leaving Shisui chuckling, and then patted the young boys head.
"Aah, you'll get it soon, takes practice! I remember doing it the first time, and nearly hit Mom~ She didn't take kindly to that~"
Shisui laughed his signature goofy laugh, warming the real Ryouta's heart.
"...This memory, is one you play often when you fall asleep."
Ryouta widened his eyes, and looked behind him, seeing the woman in white stood there.
"You again..."
"I told you, you'd come back here."
"Who are you?"
"My existence is no concern to you."
Ryouta pulled away.
He thought about releasing a Jutsu.
But he felt so weak, his chakra was minimal, and he could only presume because it was in the real world.
"What is this? This isn't an ordinary dream, Genjutsu maybe?"
"This is the world we've created together. No more fears...no more anger...no more hate. Now come here...it's time to accept my power."
"Tell me...why do you want me? There's got to be others...right?"
"Special circumstances, allowed me to finally speak with you, we can bring peace to this world. Isn't that, what you also desire? I've watched you all your young life, you want peace not war."
"...Though your words aren't wrong, I also feel like there's more to it."
Without answering, her long hair extended, and shot for him, so he dodged right, allowing the hair to go by him.
The hair pierced a tree, destroying it.
But the memory Ryouta and Shisui didn't react.
Ryouta looked back to see the woman's hair turning towards him, and then was being released in the form of senbon's.
Pulling away by back flipping, he shot left, and began hopping across the trees.
The woman stood silently, and looked towards the fleeing boy.
"Can you run for so long? You have no chakra, that is why you need my power."
The woman explained, as she waved her hand at the dream Ryouta and Shisui, causing them to disappear from Ryouta's eyes, he felt disheartened, wishing he could have lived in the memory a little while longer.
"...I wont ever stop defying you as long as you're attacking me."
Ryouta took off running, with the woman in white lifting her body off the ground and began chasing after him...
As that was going on, in the real world, Orochimaru leaned against a tree, as Kabuto was healing his wounds. He didn't have enough chakra to replace himself. Escaping the wave of acid was difficult, the power Ryouta had surprised him enough that he didn't even think he'd waste this much chakra.
But it only prepared him for what was going to happen next.
"Orochimaru-sama, while the boy is down, I'll go and get both Uchiha."
Orochimaru turned his devilish eyes towards him.
"No, send the Genin team of Oto as a distraction, then you can get them. They should be useful enough to do that."
"Yes, I'll send word right away. Though, they are reckless, especially Zaku and Kin. Dosu also might not be able to do this task."
"They're nearly out of chakra, and if those three can't even handle that Taijutsu boy, then they're not worthy of being from Oto. Go and send word...damn boy, making me waste so much chakra like this..."
At that moment, Orochimaru felt something, so he turned right.
Orochimaru's eyes widened, seeing a number of venom shots coming for him.
Jumping back, the venom hit the ground and caused some of the stuff it hit to begin turning to stone.
Orochimaru's eyes went towards what was attacking, seeing the giant red snake coming for him.
"You...so you're here as well?"
"It's too bad that boy didn't kill you as well. Going after him huh? As expected of a disgusting creature like you."
Orochimaru growled.
He felt his chakra pool, and knew that he didn't have enough to replace himself now.
He didn't have much rest.
And if he got hit by the venom and got turned to stone, he very well could end up in a position that he didn't like.
Kabuto took out a kunai and went to charge him, when the red snake lifted its tail and swung for them.
"Get lost."
Orochimaru dodged it, but Kabuto's leg got hit as he tried to dodge it, and sent him smashing through a tree.
Orochimaru landed a good distance away, as the red snake approached very fast.
"So what's this? Are you going to try and kill me now?"
"The boy from Uchiha caused you to waste a good deal of chakra, perhaps it's time for me to finish you off. Then I'll be going after your precious Manda, if he doesn't want to eat you himself. Now die!"
While yelling, he spat out several blasts of his venom, Orochimaru breathed out slowly, and then turned his lower form into that of a snake, and shot away from the area, with the red snake following, ignoring the groaning Kabuto who felt dizzy from receiving even a little bit of the attack.
Orochimaru looked back to see that the snake was beginning its chase after him, and was deadly on target, ready to kill if he was given even a moment...and Orochimaru knew that this was going to be a difficult problem to get out of.
A little before that happened, Sakura and Karin, left behind to make sure they had a good enough base to be secure, was looking after Naruko after Orochimaru did what he did. Karin was using her sensing to tell Sakura what was going on during the battle a good distance away.
"Geez, that guy Orochimaru is relentless, I can sense the large amount of chakra that all of them are releasing, and they still aren't able to shake him off. Plus, added onto that the fact that I can see the rapidly decreasing chakra of Ryou-kun and the others. If worse comes to it, then we'll have to step up and fight as well."
Karin explained, with Sakura pulling out a cloth, and placed it on Naruko's forehead.
"I hope they're alright...and Naruko as well, what did he do to her?"
Karin shook her head.
"I don't know, but I'm feeling some weird chakra coming from her stomach. It almost feels like a seal, but I don't know what kind of seal it is. I'd have to presume it might have sealed chakra, or maybe one that would seal her so she'd fall asleep for a little while, something's like that."
Sakura hummed, as she watched over Naruko.
Soon however, Karin then gasped.
"It seems that Lee has joined them in the fight."
"Lee-san?"
"Yeah, he's joined them and I can sense he's fighting off someone...either way, it seems that our comrades have some back up now."
"Yeah...I hope Lee-san is able to fight them off...damn it, I wish I could do more."
"We have our duty to make sure that Naruko is safe, so we have to make sure that she is. And we have to believe in our comrades, they have their duties, and we have our own as well."
Sakura knew that she was right.
But at the same time she did worry about her teammates and if they were okay.
However, eventually Karin felt the chakras of the others coming in, and informed her of what was going on.
Sakura disarmed some of the traps, and helped them come in close.
Pulling forward, the Ninja consisting of Lee, unconscious Ryouta, Satsuki, and Haku who both also looked exhausted, went into the tree that Sakura and Karin had made the base. It was large enough for them to go inside, they could have a natural barrier for the moment.
Satsuki leaned her back against the tree, while Lee placed Ryouta next to the unconscious Naruko.
"Geez, it seems that these two have been through a lot. Though I didn't see him, the others told me of this Orochimaru and what he was capable of. It seems that it was a harsh battle but my rival pulled through!"
Lee said with joy at the fact that his friend was safe and sound.
Though he also did worry for his condition.
"He's dangerously low on chakra." Karin informed and bitterly said, while Sakura placed a hand on his face, and then placed a wet cloth on his forehead. "I can't sense that guy around here, so what's happening with him?"
"All we know right now is that he isn't pursuing us."
Haku said, wishing she knew more than they did.
"This Sannin guy though, what are we going to do about it?"
Karin asked the others, with Haku shrugging.
"If we alert the other people in the exams now, mass panic could ensue. Yet, if we say nothing and Orochimaru is left to his own devices...then he could cause a lot more trouble. For us, for others. We don't know entirely what his goals seem to be, beyond trying to bite and mark Satsuki-san and Ryou-kun with something called a Curse Mark."
The Ninja's around all stayed silent.
They thought about what would be for the best, what they'd be able to do.
"Maybe it would be best if we sent word to Hokage-sama."
Sakura put her thoughts forward.
Haku thought that was a good idea.
"Maybe it would be best, but we don't have anyway of doing that, do we? I know that Ryou-kun has a crow deliver messages to other lands, but he's unconscious, and I don't have anything like that. Does anyone else?"
The others began shaking their heads.
Besides Satsuki who hung her head down as she looked at the unconscious Ryouta.
"Those eyes must have really pushed him hard, being unconscious as he was...but they also held great power. Has his eyes lost some light because he used Mangekyou?"
Satsuki thought deeply about it, while the others talked.
"Satsuki-san, are you alright?"
Haku asked kindly, Satsuki shifted her eyes from Ryouta, towards Haku and the others.
She inhaled briefly, nodding a second later.
"I'm fine, just exhausted."
"We've been talking, did you hear what we said?"
Sakura wondered, Satsuki nodded.
"Yeah...we need to contact the Hokage, and tell him what's going on."
"Problem is that we don't have a way to do that."
Karin added, Satsuki however brought out something from her pouch attached to her hip.
It looked like a flute.
Confusion came to them as Satsuki began to play the flute.
Watching for a few moments, a hawk then came from the sky, and flew down fast.
"A hawk?"
Lee murmured, Satsuki pulled the hawk closer.
"It's a creature that my Mother has close connections with. Lets write a message and send the hawk off."
"Right, lets do it."
Sakura pulled out a piece of paper and began writing.
As she did, Karin interrupted.
"Also add about Zosui from Kusa, he and his men most likely are also with Orochimaru. We know that Zosui at least is."
"Right, I'll add that."
Sakura did just that, and she then finished off the message.
As she did, Satsuki also secretly added something else, something that she couldn't reveal about.
"I'll send this, and until we've recovered, we'll have to rest here."
Haku nodded, and watched Satsuki place the letter she had with the hawk, and took off.
"By the way Lee-kun, what about your team?"
Haku wondered, Lee's face dropped.
"Ooh...I totally forgot about them!"
Satsuki and Sakura face palmed, while Karin shook her head.
Haku however remained smiling, she always did find Lee's eccentric ways a little funny.
Meanwhile, Team Ino, Shikamaru and Choji made their way through the forest, intentionally making sure that they avoided the areas that had been set ablaze, Ino didn't get a good feeling however, and felt as if she should have gone over there to see what was going on.
"Geez, you've been distracted Ino, what's going on?"
Choji asked, Ino shook her head.
"It's nothing."
"He's right Ino, you've been distracted. Is there something wrong with you?"
"No...not at all...I don't think so...just something inside of me...feels weird..."
While they were searching around, Shikamaru caught the sight of Neji coming, so he grabbed his two teammates, and pulled them into the bushes. Hiding as quickly as they could, they watched as Neji came walking along.
Neji was looking for Lee since he had disappeared.
But hadn't found him just yet.
The trio panicked, knowing they'd not be able to take Neji.
However, he paused as he looked at the bushes.
Activating his Byakugan, he looked to see who was there.
"You might as well come out, you aren't hiding very well."
They all grimaced.
Being caught by Neji, they didn't know what they were going to do next. They didn't even know if they'd be able to win if they all teamed up. Being a member of the Hyuga, and as someone that had great skill...they were naturally worried about what was going to happen next.
Ino stood up first, and looked at Neji, before pointing a finger at him.
"D-Don't come any closer..."
Neji blinked, as Choji and Shikamaru also stood up.
The trio grimaced as Neji walked a little closer.
He paused as he saw them shaking, and then turned his head.
"I'm not wasting my time fighting you. Taking your scroll, I'd be the laughing stock of the village."
Ino widened her eyes as Neji turned away from them.
She then thrusted her fist out, and growled.
"I didn't even get to try my techniques! Damn!"
Neji paused, and then turned back towards her.
"Techniques did you say?"
Ino grimaced, and thought "I was only going to try and trick him to leave." but she didn't want to reveal that.
"N-No, you misheard~"
"I thought so. I saw it back in the first exam, you exchanged a romantic moment with the Uchiha, so his girlfriend is weak, I guess that means he is also."
"Ryou-kun is not weak! And neither am I! I've trained hard you know?"
Shikamaru placed a hand on his forehead as he thought "She's not even denying the fact that Neji there thinks she is Ryouta's girlfriend. Good thing Satsuki-san isn't around." while also thinking that it was a drag.
"Is that so? Maybe I could fight you."
Ino grimaced, shaking her head.
"No, no~ That's not necessary~"
"I see, as I thought. Then watch later as I destroy your boyfriend in a fight, destiny has been decided."
Ino growled as Neji's cold eyes went towards them.
Neji then walked off, leaving the others alone.
"Geez, he's gunning for Ryouta-kun huh?"
Choji murmured, Shikamaru stretched his arms.
"Yeah, what a drag."
"Well, even if he is, Ryou-kun will show that guy! Destiny hasn't been decided at all!"
Though she said that with confidence, deep inside Ino felt as if something was wrong, but she didn't know why she felt like that, and could only hope Ryouta and the others were okay.
Back within the dream world, Ryouta ran away as fast as he could. Images, flashes of his life filled his eyes. Memories that he remembered clearly, and ones he didn't remember as much due to him being a very young child.
He turned and ran into a door, going inside, he stopped when he came face to face with Itachi, or more like, half of Itachi's face as he was stood a little ways from the door, and his eyes were going towards the right of the room.
He was back in his home, and seeing Itachi stirred old feelings, feelings he wasn't sure what to think about.
"Itachi..."
Ryouta briefly forgot he was in his dream world when seeing Itachi…
But then his senses came back as he saw Itachi's eyes going towards Izumi who was sat on the couch. He walked over, and sat down nearby. Ryouta in the memory was sat across from them, together with a young Satsuki.
"You know Itachi-kun, I've learned something cool recently. Want to help me try it out?"
Ryouta smiled, hearing Izumi's voice again.
It had been so long since he had done, and seeing her being genuinely happy, it was a joy to see.
"Every time I do, you always make me feel weird..."
"Ooh Itachi-kun, don't be mean~ Maybe I could cuddle you~?"
She lightly teased, Itachi remained stoic faced.
"That's fine."
As he said it, Shisui came down the stairs, placing a hand on Itachi's head.
"Itachi, you shouldn't refuse a hug from your girlfriend, she's cute you know?"
Ryouta smiled as he saw Shisui tease Itachi playfully.
"S-Shisui...it's not something-"
"You're comfortable with, I know~ But you're among friends, so you can relax around us~"
Ryouta continued to smile, and a small tear came to his eye, watching Shisui encourage Itachi.
"I wonder...if Shi-chan had stayed alive, would the Massacre have happened? Maybe...he did it because Shi-chan died...and blamed the clan? Though Tobi also was involved...I don't know what to think..."
As Ryouta thought about it, the kid versions of Ryouta and Satsuki laughed.
"They cuddle all the time, when they think we aren't watching, don't they Satsuki-chan?"
"Yeah, they even kiss a lot too~"
Ryouta smiled at how he and Satsuki were as kids, teasing Izumi and Itachi.
Seeing how nonchalant Itachi was, how he was so relaxed, and even offering a small smile…
Ryouta wished those carefree days could have lasted forever...
As he thought it, the door burst open, to reveal the woman in white.
Jumping back and flipping in the air, he landed on the ground as the woman's hand went out towards him. However, the moment she went to grab him, he jumped up, and landed on her extended arm, before pushing away from her, using the force to push her back.
However, she didn't move hardly at all, and placed her hand out towards him once more.
"These memories are in the past, your life will never be like this. No matter what you achieve, you'll never regain these again."
Ryouta nodded.
"Yes, I accepted that when Shi-chan died, that life wouldn't be the same. But, I still have these memories inside...and they're still with me. I might not know what happened back then...but I trust what I know, and I'll find out what I want to know."
The woman approached Ryouta, but he took a few steps back.
Even now, he defied her...and she was baffled.
"Why do you resist me? Even when your power is vastly below my own, you put up resistance against me that isn't working."
"You haven't answered any of my questions, so why should I answer yours?"
Ryouta expressed, the young woman tilted her head.
"I told you, you are necessary to me. Give into my power, and I'll make you strong."
"I make my own path, and I do not bow down to anyone that is threatening me, draining my chakra when my loved ones could have died."
Ryouta turned and ran for the window, jumping out of it, or he tried to do that when she shot forward.
Appearing before him, her arms widened, and she tried to wrap her arms around him in a crushing hug.
Quickly using his feet, he pushed off of her right arm, and then shot out of the door, surprising the woman.
"This is...interesting."
The woman continued forward, and went after him once more, her strong eyes displaying her feelings deep within her.
Meanwhile, traversing the forest within the real world, was Hinata, Shino and Kiba. The three of them were stationed near where the fight with Ryouta, and Satsuki against Orochimaru began. With the flames slowly dying out, they looked at the flames, and the destruction around.
"This must have been a devastating battle. I'm just glad that we weren't involved..."
Kiba noted, Shino agreeing.
"The forest is burning and has only begun dying down. Why you may ask?"
Kiba shook his head.
"I already know why! But I can smell Ryouta and Satsuki here."
"T-They were?"
Hinata gasped out.
If Ryouta and Satsuki were in danger…
She activated her Byakugan, and looked around as far as she could do.
"If it was them, then whoever they fought must have also been monsters in combat. Them teaming up, not many of the people in the exams would be able to take them. No matter how much I wanna beat Ryouta!"
"You only wish to beat him because he scored better than you in the exams."
Shino pointed out, Kiba growled.
"Grrr! Don't say that as if it always happened!"
"It did always happen though."
Kiba didn't look happy, Hinata's mind was casting back to her friends, those she cared for, and those she hoped were okay.
"Shino! Why do you have to say it like that?! With your damn monotone voice huh?!"
"I do not understand, I am only pointing out facts. Logic, simple. Yes?"
Kiba grit his teeth, while Hinata's eyes caught the sight of something.
It was a large snake, coming for their direction.
Not only that, someone was also running away from the snake.
"E-Erm...t-there's a snake...c-coming here..."
"A snake?"
Shino wondered, Kiba raised a brow.
"What are you worried about a snake for?"
"T-This is a huge snake...very huge..."
Kiba grimaced, but then stopped when he saw Hinata looking towards the left.
"What is it Hinata?"
Shino asked calmly, Hinata looked on and widened her eyes.
"That girl...from Suna...and her teammates..."
"Lets get out of here then!"
Kiba ordered, but Hinata shook her head.
"N-No...it's too late, they'll be here within seconds...and if we try to run now, they'd see us..."
"We should hide and make a silent retreat."
Shino spoke up, and hid the best they could.
A few seconds later, Gaara showed up.
Landing on the ground, her eyes went across the fires that still burned, and her dangerous eyes turned towards her siblings.
"He was here..."
"Gaara, we can't go around chasing the Uchiha boy, what about the exam? We've already got our scroll, lets just pass it already."
Temari spoke up, knowing that this wouldn't lead to anything good.
Whatever it was about Ryouta, Gaara couldn't let go, and seemed dead set on fighting him.
"It can wait...I feel it here..."
"Gaara..."
Kankuro tried to speak, but Gaara silenced him with a cold look.
Hinata and the others thought about making a retreat...
But Gaara's eyes went towards Hinata and the others.
"Stop, there."
Hinata and the others winced, as Gaara caused her sand to go forward, and sweep away the bushes.
Hinata looked back to see Gaara looking darkly towards her.
"...You were with that boy. Where is he?"
"W-Who?"
Hinata didn't want to reveal anything, she didn't know anything in the first place.
But seeing the look on Gaara's eyes, and face, it was clear that if she had her own way, then she'd end up killing them.
"Ryouta Uchiha...tell me where he is."
"I-I don't know..."
Hinata told the truth.
Even if she did know, she wouldn't say.
She didn't want Gaara doing anything to Ryouta, as it was very clear on her face that was the case.
"You're lying..."
"Look, we don't know where he is! Now get lost!"
Kiba yelled at Gaara, but she didn't take kindly to that, and her sand began to twitch.
Shino stepped forward, fully ready to fight if it came down to it.
"Gaara, we've got the scroll we need, maybe we should go."
Temari tried to be the voice of reason.
But Gaara ignored her, and turned her sand onto the Konoha Genin.
"Tell me his location...or I'll kill you."
They all, besides Shino, felt intimidated by what was being said, how it was being said, and how Gaara was.
But Hinata fought down her inner worries, and insecurities, she tried her best to stand up to him.
"W-Why do you want Ryou-kun?"
Hinata asked, trying to be brave.
But, Gaara shut that down with a single look, igniting fear within her.
"He...His eyes, I don't understand...if I fight him...then I'll understand what it is that I'm looking at..."
"But he isn't...someone you need to fight..."
"He is someone I will kill."
"N-No, I wont...I wont let you!"
Both Kiba and Shino were surprised by Hinata standing up to Gaara.
Gaara herself looked on, tightening her hands as the sand began to form around her.
"Are you...going to fight me instead?"
"I-I can't let you...kill Ryou-kun...he's a good person...a-and I...I..."
Hinata watched as Gaara pulled forward.
She almost took a step back, but stopped herself.
She knew if she did, and Gaara was able to get Ryouta...then he could die.
She didn't know of the situation he was in, if he was injured, or even worse than that.
All she knew was that he fought someone that caused him to bleed.
She just hoped he was okay, but on the off chance he wasn't, she wouldn't allow Gaara to do anything to him.
"Tell me, now."
Gaara demanded, as Shino noticed Orochimaru escaping from up above in the trees. Because he moved so fast, he didn't see who it was, but wondered what was going on.
Hinata however found inner courage, and shook her head.
"I wont...I wont let you kill Ryou-kun!"
Declaring that boldly, Gaara, and especially Kiba and Shino were surprised.
But Gaara gained a deadly smirk on her face.
"Then perish…!"
Gaara gathered sand around her. More and more came out of gourd on her back. Surrounding her like a twister, Hinata's eyes activated, and she got into a defensive position. She knew Gaara was strong, and perhaps she couldn't win, but if there was a chance she'd be able to protect someone that she cared for.
Just as Gaara launched an attack…
The giant red snake suddenly came between them, halting the sand, and caused a shockwave strong enough to even force Gaara to fall down onto the ground.
"Get back here you bastard!"
Each person present looked shell shocked by how the snake was talking.
"Get out of my way..."
Gaara threatened, the snake looked towards Gaara, then huffed.
"Attack me, I'll turn you to stone and shatter you! Got it!?"
Gaara was dumbfounded.
The snake wasn't afraid.
If anything, it looked as if it was ready to brawl at any moment.
"Are you going to fight me? My existence fighting a snake..."
"I don't care about that, leave right now! Don't you interrupt me attacking a vile creature!"
Gaara growled, and send her sand towards the giant snake.
But the snake quickly moved its body and smashed through the sand, surprising Gaara and the others, and then came at Gaara.
Gaara placed more sand out, creating a thicker wall of sand to protect herself.
The snake felt some resistance, but using his incredible strength, caused the sand to be blown away, and slammed against Gaara.
Gaara was shocked as she was sent flying, nearly hitting a tree, if she didn't manipulate the sand to stop her from hitting it.
But then saw that the snake spat out its venom, hitting some of her sand, but turned it to stone.
"...It can even turn things to stone?"
Kankuro was stunned, the snake however laughed.
"Don't even try to fight me, you best leave before I become serious."
Gaara gritted her teeth, Temari however knew that this was a real deal.
If the snake did anything with the stone venom on them, then they could lose.
"...Gaara please."
Gaara glared at the snake who did the same thing.
Sharing such harsh glares, the pair didn't back down.
Gaara was surprised the snake felt no fear when looking at him.
Gaara turned her head, she didn't want to waste time.
"...He isn't here, lets go."
Gaara and her siblings disappeared.
Once confirming they were gone, Hinata, Shino and Kiba took a relaxed breath.
"T-Thank you very much..."
Hinata bowed to the snake, but the snake merely turned its head.
"I didn't do it for you."
"I-I see...but even then...th-thank you..."
The snake looked slightly taken aback by that.
Hearing this girl thank him was a strange thing indeed.
Turning from them…
The snake stopped, and then turned towards Hinata.
"Hey you, Hyuga girl."
Hinata gasped, looking at the large snakes eyes.
"Y-Yes?"
"I overheard the conversation you were having with sand girl, you know that Uchiha boy?"
"Y-Yes...I do."
"I see...heh, he's pretty strong, tell him that I want to see him again, got it?"
Hinata was surprised.
Yet at the same time she didn't want to argue with the giant snake either.
She was a little intimidated.
"O-Okay...b-but may I ask why?"
The snake smirked as he turned his head.
"Because he gave me a satisfying time in hurting someone I really, and truly hate. Seeing that bastard in pain, thanks to that boy...hah, that was so freaking good! I wouldn't mind having another fight against him. There was only one I truly could call Master...but, anyone that hurts that bastard is good to me...I haven't seen a human self sacrificing in a long time..."
"Self...sacrificing? He...saved some people?"
"The kid went above and beyond...I was surprised. The other Uchiha...and his comrades. Are humans better than I thought? I don't know...I've seen mostly evil humans...not since that other human..."
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologize girl, that's how human nature seems to be...but, that Uchiha human is rather interesting."
The snake began to leave, when Hinata gained some courage as she spoke up.
"E-Excuse me! C-Can I ask...o-one more question?"
The snake stopped, and looked back.
"What? I'm busy."
Hinata winced.
She could hear the annoyance in the tone.
Yet, he wasn't moving to attack either, so she took that as a good sign.
"I...Is he okay? Is he..Ryou-kun...is he...alive?"
"He's still alive, he's in the forest, from what I saw, he burned through a lot of chakra and lost consciousness."
"I-I see...t-thank you."
"Heh, weird a human thanking me for nothing at all. Now I've got me a bastard to petrify! You wont escape me!"
Hinata, Kiba and Shino watched as the giant snake slithered off into the woods, followed by a few seconds later by a scream followed by a shockwave that blasted a few trees away.
Hinata looked on, and though didn't know what was going on, even with the snake appearing rough around the edges, she felt he genuinely was a good person thanks to the snake saving them when he didn't have to do that, and could have carried on, but the snake chose to stay and stop Gaara from attacking...
Meanwhile Satsuki looked at Ryouta, who looked uncomfortable, she also noticed that the silver in his hair had grown a little more. His face told her that he was in pain, so she took his head, and placed it on her lap while running her hand through his hair, Karin and Sakura both turned their scary eyes towards the young girl.
"Satsuki, you're a bit tired, so why don't you let me put his head on my thighs?"
"I don't trust you."
Satsuki snapped back at Karin who looked insulted.
"Excuse me?"
"You're too much of a wild card, I can't be sure what you're going to do next."
Karin didn't like the sound of that.
"You make me out to be someone that isn't even...ugh!"
Satsuki shook her head, while Sakura looked on.
She thought of maybe approaching the situation a little differently.
"Y-You know Satsuki, maybe you should get some sleep as well? I'll take care of Ryou-kun while you're asleep."
"I'll sleep when he wakes up."
"B-But..."
Sakura grit her teeth, as she wished to do what Satsuki was doing with Ryouta.
"It's fine."
Sakura twitched her eyebrow.
"R-Really, it's fine...let me take care of him..."
"No, I'll do it."
Karin coughed into her hand.
"You know, when he wakes up, maybe I should let him bite me...maybe to restore his chakra a bit...ooh, maybe from the lips…?"
""Maybe not.""
Both Sakura and Satsuki shut her down, causing Karin to huff.
While they spoke, Haku noticed something about Ryouta, so she moved closer.
Placing a hand on Ryouta's face, she felt the heat he had coming from him.
"It feels like he's got a bit of a temperature...maybe it would be best to get some medicinal plants just in case he develops a fever. Yes, I think there are some in the forest that we can use. But...it is a little bit of a distance from here…."
"Then leave it to me! I'll go and get them!"
Lee offered, Haku smiled.
"Thank you, but you wouldn't know what to look for, and it's hard to explain since the supply I know of, is surrounded by very similar ones with some being poisonous, and I don't have any pictures to show you…."
"Then we shall go together!"
Lee being as ever optimistic spoke up.
Karin looked at them.
"But, what if Orochimaru comes back? If he takes you by surprise..."
Karin expressed genuine worry.
She didn't know what was going to happen, and having to take care of two people while someone like that could attack, she knew it would be highly dangerous.
"Karin go with them. Sakura and I will stay here." Satsuki spoke up. "If he does show up again, you can alert them and escape. And if he comes here, you can alert your group to come back and give us assistance."
After mulling it over within her mind, Haku wasn't against it.
"Yes I think that's the best decision that we could have."
Karin shrugged.
"If that's how it is, then I don't mind. B-But you better take care of Ryou-kun and Naruko while we're gone, okay?!"
"Of course they'll be fine, don't worry."
Sakura assured them, so Haku, Karin and Lee got up and left, leaving Sakura and Satsuki alone together.
For the moment, all they could do was hope the pair would wake up soon enough.
Back with Ryouta in his dream world, managing to escape the woman once more, he thought about what he was going to do next. He didn't have the power to defeat her, he felt the difference between them, and if she caught him, he didn't even know what was going to happen.
He wished that he could wake himself up somehow.
Though he wasn't sure how he'd even go about that.
He felt more and more tired.
The more he moved, the more fatigued he became.
Physically, and mentally, he became exhausted.
Running didn't seem to do any good, he didn't know where he was going.
Everywhere looked like a void, and the places he saw in the distance never seem to get any closer.
He felt like the woman was either toying with him, or observing him to see what he was going to do next.
When he couldn't move anymore, Ryouta fell onto his knees, and then sat down.
He looked around, and couldn't see the woman, so he thought maybe he'd be able to rest…
But that wasn't to be.
When he felt a chill down his spine, he turned to see the woman appearing, and making a grab for him.
Ryouta pulled forward, running as fast as he could, and watched as the woman looked on towards him.
"Running around, this place is all under my authority, I know where you go, what you do, and how you do it."
"If you're like that, why haven't you stopped me yet?"
"...I am intrigued by your resistance."
Ryouta half expected that.
But at the same time didn't know how genuine she was being.
"No one's ever resisted you before?"
"They have, but they failed. Even if it looks as if they succeeded, they'll fail in the end."
"Failing perhaps, but I'll fight you and resist you with everything I have."
"Why do you resist me?"
Ryouta furrowed his brows, he didn't know how he was supposed to answer that apart from the obvious.
"I don't know what you are, I don't know what you want. But you keep attacking me. So I have no choice but to resist."
Ryouta pulled back, and took off running.
The woman watched briefly, and saw how sluggish his movements where.
She knew, he couldn't resist much longer...then she'd make her move.
Meanwhile, with Sakura, Satsuki, Naruko and Ryouta. With the others having stepped away for the moment, it was only Sakura and Satsuki that was left to watch over the others. Sakura could see that Satsuki was being quiet, so she tried to speak up.
"Satsuki-san..."
"What?"
"You're exhausted, why don't you get some sleep?"
Sakura asked, hoping that Satsuki didn't push herself too hard.
Satsuki shook her head however.
"Not yet, I have to wait until he wakes up..."
"But by being exhausted, you aren't going to do anyone any good."
Satsuki's eyes landed on Sakura.
"If I fall asleep..."
"I'm here, you can rely on me you know?"
Satsuki furrowed her brows.
Relying on others…
The only people she felt like she could rely on were her Mother, and Ryouta, because of they've always been with her.
Trusting others, relying on others, especially after the Massacre of the Uchiha, it was difficult.
When she didn't answer, Sakura exhaled slowly.
"We're teammates. You did your work, you saved us together with Ryou-kun and Haku-chan, and even Lee-san. Now, rely on me to keep you safe. I know that I'm not as strong as you, but I wont do anything other than my best. I'll protect you until I can't anymore. Kakashi-sensei would say the same. Teamwork is essential, we can work on different fronts. Think of it like you're resting now, so you can take over from me later on. Since I didn't waste nearly as much chakra as you, I can keep going for a good while yet. Trust me, Satsuki-san."
Satsuki inhaled slowly.
She looked down at the young boys head resting in her lap.
She wondered what he'd say right now.
If he would fall unconscious and place his and others safety in someone else.
Sakura had proven that she is quite capable, and was smart.
If anything happened, Satsuki knew Sakura would take the right actions to ensure their safety.
She felt her eyes closing ever so slightly, as she yawned.
"...Right, I'll trust you."
Sakura took that as a good sign, and watched as Satsuki leaned back against the tree.
Her eyes slowly closed and soon she fell asleep, leaving Sakura alone to guard them.
For over an hour, Sakura watched the others sleeping soundly. Satsuki, Naruko and Ryouta.
As Sakura waited, she kept her eyes focused.
She was also a little tired...
But then as she did wait, she saw a squirrel coming down a tree, and heading for her.
She looked at it with somewhat sleep deprived eyes, but she focused in as best as she could, and saw on the squirrels back there was a paper bomb attached to it, causing her to gasp, and throw her kunai at it.
Stopping its movements, the squirrel pulled away as Sakura came out of the tree she and the others were in, and took out a kunai, looking everywhere for the intruders. She knew this would be for the best since she didn't see any alternatives.
"Satsuki...get up..."
She shook Satsuki.
She knew the other two wouldn't be able to get up even if she shook them.
Satsuki stirred, as Sakura gave her one final shake.
Waking up, Satsuki saw Sakura stepping outside.
"...Are we under attack?"
"I think so. Stay here...I'll deal with this. I don't think it is that guy Orochimaru. He would have attacked by now."
Satsuki grit her teeth.
She hated that she didn't have any chakra left to assist. She could only watch over Ryouta and Naruko.
Sakura pulled forward, kunai in hand and looked around once more.
"I know you're there, you might as well come out."
Responding to that, she heard a high pitched noise.
She looked towards it, and saw some kind of wave coming for her, so she jumped out of the way. The wave of sound hit the ground and caused it to explode, sending rocks up towards Sakura who dodged out of the way.
However, as she did, Dosu came running towards her.
"Are you challenging me girl?"
As he said it, Kin came down and went towards Satsuki.
Satsuki growled, but Sakura didn't even bat an eyelid, and pulled her kunai, tossing it towards Kin. She laughed, and simply dodged it, and mocked Sakura with a wave of her hand.
"You missed me."
Sakura didn't reply as Dosu came up towards her, swinging rather fast.
But she wasn't deterred in the slightest, withdrawing a kunai and by stabbing it towards the gauntlet he wore, catching one of the holes inside of it, she pushed him away, his arm going out, leaving Sakura to tighten her hand, lacing it with chakra, and sent it for Dosu.
He was surprised that she didn't even seem to be reacting with fear, and looked so concentrated in fighting, so he pulled away from her, as Kin saw that the kunai she threw sliced through a very well hidden rope, which released a number of large stones down towards her.
They were hidden within the trees so well by the nature that even Dosu didn't see them until they began raining down onto Kin, showing that the trap was enough to surprise even people like Kin and her teammates.
"Aaah!"
They moved fast, and she thought she'd not be able to get out of it. She dodged one of the stones, but another one hit her shoulder as she moved, causing her to begin bleeding, and feel pain surging through her arm.
She saw another coming for her, so she back flipped, when Sakura took out a shuriken, tossing it for the back flipping Kin, while also keeping her eyes on the approaching Dosu, which she began doing some hand signs for.
"Aah!"
Kin pulled forward, avoiding the shuriken, but another large rock came for her head, threatening to crush her.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Zaku jumped out of the bushes, and shot off his sound waves, breaking through the dangerous large stones, long enough for Kin to make a retreat, and then Sakura finished her hand signs, as Dosu punched her head on…
However, she was replaced with a log, Dosu being mildly surprised.
Sakura then silently appeared near Zaku, intending to stab him with her kunai.
Zaku saw her coming, so turned his hands on her. She saw coming from the holes in his hands, he was releasing sound waves. It was so unnatural that even Sakura didn't know how it was supposed to be accomplished.
"Get lost girl!"
Zaku blasted at the young woman, who in turn jumped away, landing before Satsuki and the others in a protective move with a kunai in front of her.
Zaku laughed at her by saying "You've got nothing but tricks." however Kin remained unsure, and had a mix of a laugh and intrigue more than anything as she placed a hand on her bleeding shoulder, seeing that she was mildly hurt.
Dosu however remained calmer, and didn't mock Sakura, seeing that she held determination on her face.
"She actually managed to repel all three of us at once. She didn't even blink when we attacked, she moved and fought, reacting to each of us while even making sure that her comrades were safe. That was the determination of someone who wouldn't back down for anyone at all. I don't know her skill level, but she isn't stupid from what I saw, this could be tricky if she's got some useful skills up her sleeve."
As Dosu thought about it, Zaku smirked at Sakura.
"Well, well, well. You look a little beat up, did something happen?"
Sakura grit her teeth, and looked between them.
"Why are you here? For our scroll?"
"Your scroll huh? No, we came for the boy. Now hand him over nice and easy, and we wont have to kill you. Can't promise about not hurting you though."
Both Sakura and Satsuki scowled as a response.
"You wont get your hands on him."
Satsuki snarled out, while Zaku continued to laugh.
"No offence, but what are you going to do? You look too exhausted to even fight against us."
Satsuki hated admitting that he was right.
Sakura however didn't even think, she just acted, with her kunai.
"You wont have to worry about her, because I wont let you by me."
Zaku and Kin laughed to each other.
Dosu didn't however.
He wasn't sure what Sakura had up her sleeve.
If she had the power to fight them, hidden tricks up their sleeve.
However, none of them knew that Kabuto was watching on, biding his time and allowing them to waste their powers so he could grab Ryouta and Satsuki for Orochimaru...
Back within the dream world, Ryouta made it to his bedroom.
He looked around it, before sitting on the bed.
He felt so tired.
He felt mentally drained.
He presumed it was thanks to the woman in white.
What she was doing to him.
Chasing him, causing him stress…
He didn't even have a minute to relax as she appeared from the door.
"Why do you keep following and attacking me!?"
Ryouta jumped out of the bed, while she gracefully fell down and landed on said bed.
Resting on it, Ryouta grabbed a nearby kunai, and held it in front of him.
"...You can't hurt me, you don't hold power here."
"You stole my chakra during a dream like state and you keep trying to attack me and you bound me, so I'm going to guess that I can hurt you if you can do that. I can at least stun you if nothing else."
Ryouta replied, not wanting to show his fear of this woman.
He felt like she was incredibly powerful, that he didn't have even a hope of winning in a fight.
But, if he showed that, then she'd instantly win, and he wanted to resist her if it was possible.
"You can't oppose me, I rule here."
"If this is my dream, then I rule here too."
Ryouta argued, the woman furrowed her brows.
"What is a dream? Is it merely a place you go when you fall unconscious? Or is it a new world that is created with your mind? This world is one that exists within you, and I exist within this world. I've observed you for many years."
"If you've been with me that long...what exactly are you? Some Chakra ghost...Some kind of entity like the Nine Tails?"
"The Nine Tails...you are in contact with the host of that."
Ryouta wondered more about who this woman was, and what she wished for.
"You know of the Nine Tails?"
"I know of all Tailed Beasts. This world is my nursery, and this worlds chakra belongs to me."
"Belongs to you? Who gets to make that decision? You can't steal chakra from every living being, they'd die!"
"Death is an eventuality."
"Death might be coming for everyone, but its what we do is what counts. Shi-chan said that to me once."
Ryouta's counter argument caused the young woman to look on with a curious gaze.
"I do not understand, why dream about someone that has been deceased for years? Shisui Uchiha, this individual, why is he someone that you are thinking about? Why...does he occupy your mind so much?"
Ryouta sharpened his gaze as he moved closer to the exit.
"Because he is my brother, he raised me and taught me how to be strong. I love him unconditionally."
"Love...unconditionally. I do not understand. Love, gets betrayed. Why are you betraying me?"
"How can I betray someone I know nothing about?"
Ryouta countered, as the woman leaned forward.
"You have been betrayed. The Uchiha clan, despised you, they turned on you. The pathetic one known as Yashiro tried to kill you. Yet, you hold Uchiha in high esteem. You should join me, I wont betray you."
"For better or worse, that's my clan, and I cherish the good in my clan. The one Shi-chan told me. Uchiha are full of love, that can lead to hurt and pain. But, I wont fall to that, no matter how hard it is. And if I do join you, what will happen? If you want me to understand, explain so I can."
The woman pulled closer, so Ryouta moved back.
The woman tilted her head.
She thought about what he said.
Ultimately, she understood what she needed to say.
"I seek peace. The peace I wished for, was one that didn't come about. I couldn't achieve what I had hoped for. Together, we shall attain the peace that I desire."
"Peace is hard, it is something that may never truly happen. Not everyone in the world is going to agree with how you think, how you feel. It is why I am a Ninja, to give those that can't fight, safety, and let them live happy and fulfilling lives. Protect the innocent from evils like Orochimaru. And let me ask...if you have all this power...why do you need me? You're leagues above me in power...so why me?"
The woman looked on for a few brief moments…
Then she spoke up.
"An innocent soul...I saw a bright sparkling light, from the sun, and the glow of the moon. They converged, and we came together. Watching through your eyes, I have discovered the world...I've been observing you, watching your young life, full of suffering, events that shouldn't happen. People need to be nurtured, we can nurture them together. Alone, they turn to violence, and hate. You and I will come together, and nurture them."
"From what you've said...you care and have a deep affection for people. I've felt you for so long, I always felt when I was alone, I truly wasn't alone, I couldn't explain it, then when I saw you within Itachi's Genjutsu, things began to make sense. You were always with me. Yet...I still don't understand what you truly are."
"I am your future, you are mine. We belong together. We will always be together. The sun, and the moon, have converged, and you are now with me."
Ryouta blinked, wondering what that truly meant.
"So if that's the case, why are you trying to force your ideas on me? You're forcing me to have your chakra, by taking my own. If you want me to understand you, accept you and be on your side, attacking me and draining me of my chakra to the point I nearly couldn't protect those I care for isn't going to do that. Let me decide what I want, not what you force me to have. Can't you see? You believe in peace, you said as much. Forcing it upon others isn't true peace."
The woman stopped, and looked upon him for a few moments.
But then she gained a cold look in her eyes.
"You will accept me, you have no choice. You belong with me."
Thrusting her hand forward, it sank through a portal, Ryouta looked around, only to see one opening towards his right hand side.
She grabbed him, and pulled him through the portal.
She was so fast.
Yet, he felt as if she wasn't even anywhere close to her full power.
Keeping him up in the air with a single hand, her fingers brushed against his right cheek, before she leaned forward. Placing her head against his own, Ryouta once more felt the little reserves of chakra he had being absorbed by her.
"S-Stop this! You keep saying you want me to be beside you, yet if I am drained completely, then I'll die! Is that what you meant?!"
"To replace your chakra, with my own. Then you'll come to understand how you'll need me. I am showing you the true power you could possess. I could even give you the power to change this world."
"C-Change it to your will...but that's not my will..."
"It's my will, and if I want you to receive my chakra, then you will do so. You do not have a choice."
Ryouta struggled with her, her grip was tight.
He felt himself weakening more and more.
To the point that he felt cold on the inside.
All of his chakra was going, and the woman simply stared at him as if she was doing it for a good thing.
He could see in her eyes she genuinely believed this was the right path to take.
He also began feeling this woman's chakra beginning to force itself upon Ryouta.
"Everyone...has a choice...and I don't...choose this!"
He resisted.
Even though he was physically exhausted.
Mentally exhausted.
He had next to no chakra while hers was vast.
He kept resisting her.
The woman was perplexed.
She hadn't ever seen someone resist her so much when they didn't have a chance of winning.
Just then, she was blind sided.
For a moment, she slipped, and the result of that was Ryouta being freed of her hair, and she was blasted away by a large ball of fire. While not doing true harm to her, it caused her to be stunned for a moment.
In that moment, Ryouta felt himself being in the arms of someone, someone he was very familiar with.
"You..."
The woman growled out.
Ryouta's eyes looked up at the face that had saved him.
Once more, he saw the person he desired to always see but never could.
The elder that he wished he could have shared many things in his life with, but circumstances drove them apart.
Who appeared...was Shisui, carrying Ryouta away from the woman.
"Shi-chan..."
"Did you forget? I'm always with you."
Ryouta cried tears of joy.
Seeing his elder brother again…
If it was a memory.
An illusion.
Something he created from the depths of his soul.
Something that even Ryouta couldn't explain.
Whatever Shisui was before him, Ryouta couldn't help but show his deepest emotions and cried happy tears while smiling up to his elder brother.
End chapter!
So, we got a bit of an update on what's going on with the others. With the red snake going after Orochimaru with murderous intent, Hinata, Shino and Kiba came across Gaara, who's trying to find Ryouta after their confrontation before the exams begun having effected her, Hinata showed some more courage, and stood up to Gaara as best as she could, and before Gaara could attack, the red snake came in while chasing Orochimaru and stopped Gaara. Ino and the others are still making their way through the forest, and ran into Neji.
Sakura, Satsuki, Karin, Haku and Lee are doing their best to look after the unconscious Ryouta and Naruko, with Lee, Karin and Haku going to get some supplies after sending a message to the Hokage about Orochimaru and the rest of the events going on in the forest.
Ryouta on the other hand was being chased by the woman in white, who tried to escape her while seeing some past memories as she was intrigued by his resistance. Speaking together, her showing some more of herself to him, for the moment seems hellbent on doing what she wishes and not listening to reason, Ryouta resisted the best that he could, and at the end, his big brother came back to save him! If that's Ryouta's will taking that form, or something else, Ryouta doesn't care as he gets to see his elder brother once again.
While that went on, Sakura's been confronted with the Sound Genin! With Satsuki's very low chakra levels, and her on her own for the moment, Sakura's going to be standing up and protecting them with everything's she's got!
Well, until next time, thanks for reading!
Ryouta; Satsuki, Sakura, Naruko, Hinata, Gaara (fem), Ino, Haku (fem), Kurotsuchi, Karin, Konan, Mei, Anko, Samui, Hanabi,