The balcony during the attack, day~
It's hunger that woke Chi. She was lying on a stone floor, on her stomach and there was drool sticking to her cheek. With a groan, she pushed herself on her back and squinted against the light filtering through the canopy. Her head spun. She rubbed her face and closed her eyes again. A single word echoed through her head over and over again.
Green...
That didn't make sense. Her eyes snapped open.
Green everywhere, in all shades. She turned her head to the sides. Brown and more green. Chi gaped and laid back down as realization crashed down on her. There was a forest growing out of the floor of the balcony. Her memories returned in a rush and she scrambled to her feet, only to get knocked down by a nearby explosion. Chi landed on her stomach, covering her head with her hands. Once the ringing in her ears had subsided, she got to her hands and knees.
There was a battle happening right next to her, though she was protected by the towering foliage. Chi crawled closer, pushing some branches aside to peek through. Her heart hammered in her chest. On the other side were two men standing opposite each other. A large crater was in between them, smoke still rising from its epicenter.
Orochimaru!
The snake Sannin himself was smiling at his opponent in his signature creepy way. Opposite him stood the Third Hokage in his battle gear. His white robes were discarded on a bush. Killer Intent blanketed the make-shift battlefield. Chi sat on the ground, clenching her shaking hands into tight fists. Ibiki's training and all his lectures raced through her mind. All the jutsu's she painstakingly memorized and practiced. All of those, against Orochimaru.
I can't fight him.
She wanted to hit herself. There was no way a Genin, especially one with her low grades and questionable jutsu's, could even try to join this fight. Chi rubbed her chest, trying to physically calm her nerves down. Her stomach was twisting and despite not having eating anything for the whole day, Chi thought she might throw up. Different chakra tugged at her own. Every now and then, she thought she saw the shadow of a tail in the corner of her eye.
What the hell is Naruto doing?
It wasn't just Naruto, though his influence was the strongest. All her classmates were fighting, unwittingly pulling at her chakra. Only Sakura seemed to actively avoid her. Chi's blood boiled. She rubbed her eyes, trying to get the spots out of her vision. When she opened them again, a Sound ninja stood in front of her. Chi froze. The ninja was torn apart and evaporated.
What was that?
She panted and scooted back, wrapping her arms around her knees. The spots in her vision were shapes, moving all around her. Chi buried her face in her arms. Explosions, bits of words and screams reached her.
Make it stop.
The Forest of Death, night~
Chi ran. The forest was a blur around her. Dark and grim shadows. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest. Blood. Blood was everywhere. It clung to her, it followed her and it awaited her wherever she went. Chi never hated it before but right now she wanted to rid the world of blood.
There was a face in front of her and she tripped over her feet, crashing to the ground. Pain run up her arm but she ignored it. The face was close to her when she lifted her eyes. Two dark, hollow eyes and a similar gaping mouth stared at her. Her breath stopped.
The face didn't react. It was frozen in time. With her good hand Chi reached out. Her fingers touched something rough and hard. She got to her knees and looked up. It was the trunk of a tree. A face in the woods. Chi couldn't stop the chakra that gathered in her fist. The tree burst when she punched it.
Splinters flew around her, scratching her face. The rings around her fingers hung from the little chains that connected them. Her bruised fingers were free. Chi ran again.
The balcony during the attack, day~
The three coffins opened. The lids fell forward and landed with a dull thud. The third one didn't come as far. Hiruzen was just in time to stop it. A large branch pierced it. Two figures stepped out of the other two. Chi choked on air.
Legendary shinobi. Legendary Kage. The faces that were carved in the mountainside. They stepped out of their coffins and into the light. The First and Second Hokage, in the flesh. Hiruzen's face twisted with emotion.
Chi felt her heart beat in her throat as she shuffled backwards. Her mother's voice crept in her head, echoed by hundreds of others. Chi had to listen to the Hokage's. Obey their every word. That was when there was only one. Now there were three.
She stood on trembling legs and formed a sign. Shadow clones were always useful. Her chakra didn't budge. Chi ducked down again. She was useless.
What was I thinking?
The Forest of Death, night~
Chi skidded to a halt but she was too fast. She slammed into the tree, breaking through the trunk and landing on the other side. The tree fell down behind her. Chi gasped for air. Fresh cuts stung on her face and hands. Her haori was kept together by threads.
She cried out in anguish and turned around. High up between the canopy she could see the pastel blue of the night sky. Chi screamed again. Wind blew the leafs away. She panted and let the tears run down her face. Her broken ribs hurt and breathing was becoming harder. Blood filled her mouth.
I'm sorry.
"I'm sorry!" Chi screamed over and over again. Hot tears ran down her cheeks. Her body was on fire.
The balcony during the attack, day~
"Hiruzen," Hashirama said, "we're sorry for this."
"It's is not your fault." The Third replied. "I'm just sorry that this has happened."
Tobirama opened his mouth to speak, but froze. Their eyes went blank and Orochimaru grinned. Hiruzen stepped back and braced himself.
"You will pay for this. How dare you insult their legacy like this!" Hiruzen growled.
"Save me the dramatics." Orochimaru rolled his eyes. "Prepare to die, Hiruzen."
The Third clenched his jaw as he ran through battle strategies in his mind.
"Don't you think this is a bit unfair, Orochimaru?" he said, "There's three of you, and only one of me."
"Three against one?" Orochimaru rose his eyebrows. "My, sensei, I believe it's three against two."
Hiruzen stiffened. Chi's heart skipped a beat. Orochimaru's eyes turned and looked at her. Chi couldn't breathe. Dread filled her as every internal alarm she had started to whine. For a second, everything stopped. Then, there was a flash of purple.
Chi dove aside just a second before the massive snake crashed on her spot. She screamed and fell back against a tree. The snake wrestled its heavy body up and stared at her, forked tongue flashing. It waited for a command.
"Chi, my darling." Orochimaru purred. Hiruzen's eye twitched.
Chi was torn between apologizing and fighting for her life. When the snake lurched towards her, she made her choice. She pulled her beloved kyoketsu-shoge out. Her chakra latched onto the blade as she gave it a spin.
"Wind-style: Razor wind!"
The following gust cut through the snake's thick body and sliced it in half. The upper part fell down and twitched for a moment. The lower half swung around and collapsed with a wet smack on the ground. Chi panted, staring a the body before raising her eyes to meet the Hokage's. He was glaring at her, but didn't seem too surprised. Chi offered a sheepish smile that only made him angrier.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Orochimaru said, drawing her attention. "Chi-chan, do you remember our conversation?"
Hiruzun's eyes narrowed. Chi paled.
"What conversation?" Hiruzen asked. Chi flinched and looked at him with wide, guilty eyes.
Orochimaru laughed, throwing his head back. "So cute, you were cute back then as well. So desperate to be useful. You wanted to bring them back, right?"
On instinct, Chi lowered her stance, allowing her chakra to fill every part of her body. Her blood roared in her head. She remembered what he was talking about. The conversation between a naive child who committed a grave mistake and a cunning man with dangerous promises. It after that day that Danzo started to haunt her.
"Chi?" Hiruzen's voice cut through the silence. Chi snapped up but she looked straight through him. The Third reeled back. Chi's eyes were turning yellow, matching her haori. The braces she wore to stop her spasms, were glowing a pale blue. They were damaged.
I've got to get her out of here.
"Chi?" he tried again.
Orochimaru looked between them with interest. "Sensei, don't tell me you don't know?
Hiruzen send him a dark look. "Stop playing games, Orochimaru. Leave Chi out of this. This fight is between you and me."
His former student grinned "Oh, you really don't... Hmm, that old man is good at keeping his secrets, even from you."
"Shut up."
Both men looked back at Chi. Her voice was low. A cruel and rotten aura radiated from her. Her eyes were two bright candles. The braces whined. Chi bared her teeth.
"Shut up."
Orochimaru smiled at her. "I can still do it, Chi-chan. You know I can, you saw me bring back two of the most powerful shinobi in history."
The ground underneath Chi's feet exploded. She charged at him as clones appeared all around them. Hiruzen's warning didn't reach her in time.
"Ketsueki style: Dragon's Fist!"
Hiruzen jumped back and watched in morbid fascination as the hands of all the Chi's started to swell up and turn deep red. The Chi's surrounded Orochimaru and moved as one to punch him. The following crash nearly broke the balcony in half.
The two halves threatened to fall apart. Wooded branches shot out and embraced them, forcing them together again. The dust cleared. Chi was crouched on the ground, holding one hand tightly. There was no dead Orochimaru near her. From the other side, Tobirama disappeared.
"Chi!" Hiruzen screamed, "Get away-"
Chi looked up and got to her knees. She barely had time to register the situation when Tobirama appeared and punched her in her stomach. Her ribs snapped with a loud crunch. Chi flew up but Tobirama grabbed her neck and kept her on an arms length in the air. Blood filled her mouth. Her legs felt heavy as lead. Chi grabbed his hand, attempting to pry his fingers away, but his grip only tightened. Black spots started to swarm her vision.
Hiruzen charged but Hashirama appeared in front of him. A wooden cage grew out of the ground, stopping Hiruzen from moving. Orochimaru stepped closer. The Third looked at Chi, who was still squirming though her lips had turned blue. Tobirama seemed content to hold her until she choked to death.
"Why are you here, Orochimaru!" he spat. In his head he formed a plan. It was the only thing that would work. He just needed time.
"I have something to show you, sensei." Orochimaru replied with a grin. With that, his jaw tore open.
The Forest of Death, night~
Chi panted as she reached a crossroad. Her lungs were on fire. She touched her neck. The brace was gone, destroyed when Tobirama had grabbed her. Her fingers were freed too. They were cold. Almost as if they had touched it themselves. Chi shuddered at the memory of the deity. She looked around. These roads were as familiar to her as the back of her hand and yet she was lost.
What was it her cousin had said? Ketsueki Kosuke with his warm hands. He smiled at her, at everyone, and half joked that whenever you reach a crossroad and don't know where to go, pummeling straight ahead is the answer. Chi looked ahead and saw darkness.
The Forest of Death was were she belonged. It was always hungry for blood. Chi took a step and stopped. The remains of her haori clung to her, soaked with sweat and the yellow color long gone. She shredded it and left the bits to fall to the ground. Her braces were next.
Chains snapped and chakra flowed. Chi hit the brace around her waist with brute strength. The already damaged steel caved and she pulled it apart. She yanked at the braces, ignoring how they dug into her flesh. One by one, the braces fell to the ground in a heap. By the end of it, Chi's body was bruised and her skin torn. The braces aid on a heap on the ground, wrangled and broken.
Looking at them, all she remembered was Ibiki's eyes whenever he caught a glimpse of them. Chi never hid them, as a petty revenge, but they were not often visible. Ibiki always stared, as if he was trying to learn from them. Chi was not allowed to take them off at any times. The doctors had warned her that they were the only things controlling her chakra.
Those miserable, hard rings were the only thing keeping her from her true potential. Chi's lips twisted into a grin. She was ready. Ready to show the world who she truly was. Her eyes reflected on the braces. They had to go. Chi reached to her thigh, to get an explosive tag, but the seal was on the brace. She laughed until she cried, as the spasms began and she fell to the ground.
The balcony during the attack, day~
"Chi..." Hiruzen breathed, lips red. "It's alright, Chi. It's fine- you can let go..."
Tears glittered in his eyes. Chi shook her head. She couldn't speak. Her cold, clammy hands found the Hokage's and she squeezed.
"Take care... of Sasuke." Hiruzen continued. "He needs... his friends..."
Chi nodded. Her knees shook, with shock or exhaustion, she didn't know. With her neck brace gone, she couldn't stop herself from shivering.
"Let go." he urged her again.
"I can't..." she whispered back "Please, don't-"
Hiruzen held her hands tighter. Chi could feel his heart slow down and forced more chakra in his body. Her vision turned black again and her knees buckled.
"Chi!" Hiruzen called her, shaking her arms. Chi looked up, eyes barely focusing. "Let go."
Chi shook her head.
"That's an order, Ketsueki!"
The world paused. Chi found his face amidst a blurry mass of colors. He was telling her to let go. Chi couldn't keep this up for much longer. The battle outside was still going on, no one would reach them in time.
Tears spilled. "I'm sorry." Chi choked out, "I'm so sorry!"
Hiruzen shook his pale face, smiling. "This had nothing to do with you. It's my choice, as a shinobi... a human being... Thank you for not letting an old man die alone."
Chi could feel her hands numbing as the blood failed to reach it. It was pure chakra that was pouring into the Hokage. Her mind was no longer in control. It were the voices of her clan, who told her that this was her duty.
"I don't know-" she panted. Her blood would not obey her. Her head was light.
"Just... Let go..."
It fell back into her. Hot and strong. Blood and chakra, her own and that of so many others. She could see them flash in front of her. Chi felt like she was going to blow up. Hiruzen's face came close, bright and alive, but it faded and revealed his back. The Third Hokage called upon his famed strength once more.
There was a huge surge of chakra. Cold hands brushed her cheeks. Through her blurred vision Chi could see a white body appear. It was the Grim Reaper himself, to get his final sacrifice. Orochimaru screeched.
Chi waited quietly as the Reaper pulled and pulled. The entity left after a few minutes. Hiruzen stumbled and sighed. His body fell down against her, warmth seeping out of it. Chi stared ahead, to where Orochimaru was trying to get up.
Why?
Her arms were like lead. Hiruzen was getting heavier. Blood pooled around them.
I failed?
She got up and gently laid the Hokage's body down. He was still warm and supple. Soon he would become cold and stiff. The kind Hokage would whither away. If she really put her mind to it, she could imagine him sleeping, but he looked dead.
As if in a dream, she went over to Orochimaru. He stilled and glared at her. His arms were shriveled and gray, his legs not much better. The Reaper had sucked out his flesh and left only the snake-skin. She dropped to her knees and grabbed his chin.
"What are you planning?" Orochimaru hissed. Sweat dripped down his brow.
Chi yanked his head aside, exposing his neck. There was still some blood left. He realized that too. Heedless of his cries and attempts to wriggle out of her grip, she leaned forward and bit through his skin, right where his artery was bulging out.
Bitter, dark and tainted blood spilled out. Orochimaru shrieked. Chi pulled away. He stared at her. His blood dripped down her chin. A single gesture of her hand stopped the gushing from the wound. Her eyes were almost white. She stood, letting him fall down.
"We have your friend you know." Chi whispered. "He will never be the same."
Orochimaru turned around, to his back. His thin lips turned in a smile. "I know... No worries, he'll be out soon."
Chi shook her head and limped away. Her legs felt really weak. Orochimaru's blood roared in her veins, demanding things she was incapable of doing. She passed the First, Second and Third Hokages' bodies without a second glance, instead focusing on the light that was coming from behind the trees.
The first to see her outside was Ino. She screamed and jumped up and down to get Chi's attention. She waved her arms, before turning to punch a shinobi. Her other classmates started to notice her too. Chi ignored them.
She was hungry. So very hungry. From her spot she could see the entire arena. She saw her classmates fight for their lives but she couldn't leave. She had to guard the Hokage.
The Sound shinobi saw her too.
They are coming here.
Chi lifted her hands.
I guess it's alright.
It was as if her grandfather was there again, right behind her shoulder. He whispered in her ear. Telling her that it was alright, that she had to do this. That she would be forgiven.
By who?
She never asked him. Chi shivered. Am I dying too?
"Ninja art, Ketsueki style: Extract."
It was so red. Warmth. She threw her head back and relished in the heat that blanketed her.
"CHI!"
Shikamaru was screaming her name. She opened her eyes lazily and looked at him. His face was pale as a sheet. Chi grinned at him. Blood dripped down her face. It was too much to absorb. Shikamaru was close enough for her to sense his pulse. It sped up. He staggered and pressed a hand against his chest, looking up at her with disbelieving eyes.
"What the hell are you doing?" he grunted.
Chi shrugged and let him go. Her eyes turned a venomous shade of yellow. "He's dead."
Shikamaru panted and got up warily. "Who died?"
Chi shook her head. "Go."
"Chi..."
"Go!" She shouted back. The bodies besides her exploded. With a yelp, Shikamaru jumped back. His face turned ashen as his mind caught up to the situation. He stared at her in shock and then fled. His heart was racing in fear. Chi felt tears well up in her eyes.
That's right. I am a monster.
More Sound nin appeared. Her tears dripped down her chin, leaving trails on her cheeks. The shinobi came closer, confident smirks on her faces. It was four Chuunin against one Genin. Chi bared her teeth and felt Orochimaru's foul blood course through her veins. He still had enough chakra left to donate some to her.
Give it up, old man. Fulfill your promise and give me your power.
It struggled for a moment, a game of tug, before the chakra flooded her system. His blood boiled. Chi inhaled the scent of the battle. The Sound nin were so close, she could hear their pulses. She shouldn't take their blood. It was useless. They had no special gifts and she didn't need to stay in touch with soon-to-be dead men.
"Give it up, kid." A tall man laughed at her, eyes glinting devilishly. "You are no match for us."
Chi lowered her stance and caught the first kunai with her hand. Her hands still hurt from the jutsu earlier. She gritted her teeth and flickered close to the attacker. He tried to step backwards but Chi thrust the kunai upwards into his throat. He stumbled and fell to his back. Chi twirled around to catch the foot of another one. Using their momentum, she turned and threw the shinobi over her head.
All thoughts evaporated and all that was left was the rapid beat of her heart and the adrenaline in her veins. Chi gave herself to the fight.
The Forest of Death, night~
Someone was waiting for her in the district. She could sense it even though she was only halfway through the forest. Her chakra moved around her like a giant spiderweb. Every moving object send vibrations all the way to the center: Chi. She stumbled to a halt. Sweat gushed down her face, washing down grime and blood along the way. Her remaining clothes stuck to her body.
Chi's hand hit a trunk and she stepped away. Her knees buckled but she managed to stay upright. Despite the warmth, she was shivering uncontrollably. The battle was far away now. Her thoughts plagued her in the deadly silence. The final piece of her memories of today started to play in her head. She stopped fighting it. Today could not be worse than what was waiting for her at home.
The battle arena, evening~
"Why didn't you do something!"
It was Kakashi's reflex that kept the boy from attacking his friend. Naruto seethed in his teacher's grip. Chi lowered her head, feeling the weight from eyes. Everyone was looking at her. Smeared in blood and filth, she made a poor sight. But they didn't care for her injuries or her mental state. The Hokage was dead and she was there. He died, Orochimaru was gone and she was there.
She couldn't even face her team though it had been while since they had spoken. All Chi could do was point Ibiki to where the Third's body was. It was as she had shown him the body of his father. The devastation on his face when he returned, without the body because that was not his place, was enough for the others to realize what had happened. Asuma let out a cry and sprinted passed Ibiki, Kurenai on his heels.
Chi shuddered, holding her stomach. Her mouth tasted bitter. Ibiki grabbed her wrist and she couldn't stop her wince. He pushed her chin up. His eyes were drilling holes in her skull, trying to find out what happened. His lips moved but she couldn't hear the words. He shook her and sound flooded her mind.
"What happened!" He yelled.
Chi flinched and freed herself from his grip. Her mouth was filled with something. It was thick and syrupy. Is that my blood? She had to swallow it down, it was her own. She couldn't. It wouldn't go down. Chi gagged and spit it out. It was a black liquid, with an oily sheen. She coughed and wiped her lips. More liquid dripped down. It was blood for sure.
"What is that?" Ibiki asked tersely. "Chi, what's happening?
Chi looked up. Her eyes were bloodshot and turning a deep shade of red. Blood dripped down her chin. Help. She stepped closer. Almost automatically, Ibiki stepped back. Chi froze. Ibiki didn't realize his mistake until a split second later, when Chi let her head down and stood straight. She turned around.
"Chi..." It didn't sound like an apology, but like a warning. Ibiki looked at his student's back warily. The crowd was hushed. Wind blew through her hair when Chi looked up. Her eyes were nearly black, in sharp contrast with her ashed face. Chi looked at her classmates, all of whom had white faces and a mixture of fear and anger in their eyes. The wind blew harder and Chi flickered away.
Ketsueki district, night~
He always wore those bandages, Chi observed. What secrets did he hide underneath them?
"Welcome home." He said, in a tone so warm it send her mind into high alert.
Danzo turned around and smiled at her. He stood in the entrance of the district, waiting for her to step closer. "I hope you don't mind having a visitor."
Chi stepped into the faint moonlight. She saw his gaze harden when he noticed the distinct lack of metal on her body. Chi stopped, searching for her voice.
"Come on now Chi." He said. "Don't keep me waiting."
"Why..." She started. "Why are you here?"
Danzo smiled again. "We have so much to discuss."
Chi walked closer and he stepped to the side, clearly expecting her to open the gate for him. That thing doesn't work. Chi's limbs felt as heavy as lead. She stood in front of the door and plopped down.
"What-"
Chi interrupted him with a yawn. It had been a long day, even for her standards. The wound of loosing so much at once was still fresh and hurt with every breath she took.
"Discuss here then."
Danzo's smile hardened. "Inside, Chi."
"Never."
"It was not a question." He said quietly. "Do not forget who I am."
Chi looked up with venom in her eyes. "Fine. Stay here and rot to death."
"Chi!" The ground burst underneath his feet.
"What?!" Chi jumped up, matching his Intent with her own. Orochimaru's blood pumped enough chakra in her system to match even Naruto's, though only briefly.
Danzo narrowed his eyes, all pretense gone. "Did you kill the Hokage?"
Chi bared her teeth. "Did I ruin your dream?"
She was on thin ice. There were probably a dozen of his minions hidden all around them, ready to strike her. Chi didn't care anymore.
"Orochimaru did." She bit out.
"Where is he now?"
"Hell if I know!"
They stared at each other for a moment. Danzo nodded "I believe you."
"I don't care." Tears of frustration jumped in her eyes. "Leave."
Danzo huffed and turned away. He reached into his pocket and produced a scroll. It was thick and sealed with the Ketsueki logo. "I suppose you don't want this then?"
"What the hell is that?" Chi ground out, eyes fixated on the seal.
"It's the secret to your bloodline." He answered. "I'm guessing you don't exactly know how it works, do you? Why you felt sick after taking that Hayate's blood?"
Chi tensed. Danzo smiled. "Will you let me in now?"
