Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto Franchise that belongs solely to Masashi Kishimoto; I do not own Heaven's lost Property, High School DxD or any other Anime I borrow themes from. The only thing I claim is my OC's and original Story Plot.
Author's Note (A/N): Hey guys I'm back! We have the next installment of this mini arc and it gets extremely emotional. As the title of the chapter suggest it is a chapter that highlights the grieving period for the aftermath of Hiruzen's death and the kidnapping of Naruto. The many characters who knew both Hiruzen and Naruto react in different ways as we see some surprising different sides to some of our favorite characters. Shoko's character is focused heavily on in this chapter as she goes through an emotional rollercoaster ride of emotions as her character is explored in depth alongside another surprising character that we can't get enough of.
My birthday is coming up in a few days at the end of the month. It is my goal to have this arc complete and uploaded by my birthday so that I can continue to follow my trend of posting a chapter of significance or importances to the story.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy.
Chapter 67
[Fire on the Mystic Island Arc]
Hōrai Island: Part 2 – We Grieve, and We Grow
Funerals were always tough to be apart of. But when it was a mass funeral for the deaths of over 200 leaf shinobi and unfortunate civilians caught in the crossfire and one of those individuals included the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi then it was especially tragic. Konohamaru was especially devastated of the news that his grandfather died fighting Orochimaru. The young child was beyond reconciliation with his uncle Asuma trying his best to sooth the boy whose heart was broken. Puma without his ANBU uniform on was standing behind Konohamaru and had his son within his embrace. No one recognize him for who he truly is considering he is on duty for 99% of the entire year. He only takes off his uniform within the safety and seclusion of his own home at night time. Puma looked very similar to Asuma in size and stature. He had the same spiky hair as his father and brother but his was slightly browner and far shorter than either of his relatives. He had a very thin beard and dark blue sharp eyes just like the other members of his clan.
"Daddy… where is Naruto? Shouldn't he have be here?" Konohamaru asked as he berried his face into his father's knee. Puma happened to be very tall just like his brother. "Konohamaru I need you to listen to me son… I have more bad news." Puma spoke with a deep baritone like voice. It was very rich and distinct sounding just like his younger brother and father. This wasn't something Konohamaru wanted to here as his father gently placed his hands on his shoulder. "Naruto Uzumaki is M.I.A right now son. No one knows where he is and if he is ok. Search parties are out looking for him right now." Puma explained to his distraught son who appeared to be having a nervous breakdown. "How come no one can find him? What happened to him? Are you going to look for boss!?" Konohamaru fired off question after question with tears falling down his face.
"We are going too. We will find him and bring him home son, but I need you to be strong for yourself and your mother. You are a Sarutobi and deep within… you carry the Will of Fire in your heart. It will give you strength in your darkest hour. You will pull through this." Puma encouraged while ruffling his son's hair. He had a usual stoic facial expression from being in the ANBU most of his life but right now he had a tender and fatherly looked on his face as he addressed his son and instilled within him encouragement like any good father would.
"Asuma can you look after Konohamaru and my wife please. I have a lot of work to do." Puma asked his younger brother who had an air of depression around him. Despite the differences that he and his father had over the course of his lifetime Asuma still loved and cared about his father very much. His premature death at the hands of Orochimaru hit him to close to his heart. It hurt a lot since up until this day he was still on rocky grounds with his father. They never had a time to properly reconcile with each other. "Yeah, sure I can do that." Asuma quietly said as he guided Konohamaru and his sister in law away. Kurenai was there with him as she helped attend to the distraught family.
Leaving the venue and cemetery that was housing the funeral Puma disappeared down an alley way where he reemerged donning his full ANBU uniform. Racing to the Hokage Administration building he entered the Hokage's office where the senior members of the village had gathered for an important discussion.
"Puma now that you're here we can begin." Koharu Utatane spoke while seated in a chair. She didn't show any kind of visible emotion about the recent passing of her oldest teammate and neither did Homura for that matter but Danzō's face was especially blank. You couldn't read him even if you tried. The others in the room included Jiraiya, Shoko, Shikaku Nara, Hiashi Hyūga, Chōza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, Shibi Aburame, the old Hokage Guard Platoon, and Dino. Puma was emotionless as he took note of Shoko's battered form. The powerful woman had cuts and bruises all across her body that was healing over at an accelerated rate. She was beyond exhausted and drained from her fight with Jūra, but she wasn't done yet. The look in her eye promised hell on earth to the group of demons who took Naruto and his family away.
"The death of our Hokage is a major blow to our military strength and is a serious problem that we must correct immediately. The Fifth Hokage must be selected as soon as possible." Danzō spoke with his hazed voice. He gave nothing away to his intentions but the point he brought up was valid. The village was without a Hokage. The other Four Great Nations would be looking towards the leaf with great interest to see if they were going to crack and fall apart. They needed to elect a new leader as soon as possible to keep face with the global stage so that the risk of invasion would be lifted from their minds. "There are only a few candidates in the room qualified to take the position. Those being Shikaku, Hiashi, potentially Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy, Jiraiya of the Sannin being a highly recommended choice, and Shoko Higarashi. We need to choose immediately." Homura spoke as he adjusted his glasses a bit. He was being practical and pragmatic in his choices, but they were the only ones in the entire village who was qualified to lead.
"Shoko is an unviable choice. She's not a listed active service shinobi in our roster. She retired a decade ago. Not to mention her reputation is less than reputable." Koharu snidely interjected with a hint of venom in her voice as she eyed Shoko who gained a murderous look in her eyes. "Would you like for me to show you again why that is, you old witch?!" Shoko seethed as her eyes reflected a deadly if not slightly unhinged psyche. The emotional woman was hanging on by a thread as the fate of her family was unknown to her. It was eating away at her insides to not be out their searching for Naruto and the others. Koharu frowned at this behavior as she leaned forward in her chair. "You aren't mentally fit much less physically fit in your current condition to take up the mantle of Hokage. You're a poor choice." The old woman didn't pull any of her punches as Shoko's eyes gained a dangerous gleam to them.
"I never wanted the damn job in the first place. So, you can take the damn offer and shove it! All I want to do is find Naruto before it is to late." Shoko yelled as the others backed away from the powerful woman in concern. "Such selfishness. That is why you'll never be Hokage. You would fail at that job just as you failed in the past which is why our Jinchūriki is gone now. You and your teammates should have killed those demons long ago but instead you squandered every opportunity." Koharu bit back as she stood up from her seat in defiance.
"Not only is our Hokage dead but our resident Jinchūriki has also been kidnapped. Our overall military strength and the balance that we keep with the other nations has been broken. If they find out about this, it will lead to all out war. The Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud Villages will surely invade to finish us off in our time of vulnerability. You are partly to blame for all of this little girl!" The elder ranted as Shoko's face contorted in a manic state. In seconds she had her sword out as she attempted to chop the old woman's head clean off. It was clearly obvious that Koharu hasn't experienced any high-level combat or combat in general for many years as she didn't move or react to Shoko's nearly invisible swing. While Koharu couldn't react as fast as she may have once could Puma and the others in the room did as Shoko found herself crossing blades with the ANBU Commander who has his sword out in less than a second. A sudden paralysis overtook Shoko as she found her shadow connected with Shikaku's who had a stern but understanding look on his face. Out of instinct alone Jiraiya had moved as well and had his arms holding Shoko around the waist and by her arm that had her sword in it to prevent her from killing the elder.
Time seemed to resume from Koharu's point of view as she stumbled back and fell into her chair ungraciously. "Shoko calm down before you do something you'll regret!" Jiraiya warned as Shoko struggled in their grips. "I've given up everything for this god forsake village! I've lost every friend and teammate I ever had. I dedicated my entire life to this village because I'm an orphan and I wanted a home! I've sacrificed everything including my own child and husband. What more do I have to do you ungrateful bitch! I'm a pariah in my very own home and disgraced from the ninja forces because of your slander. All because I chose you all over my family!" Shoko roared as her titanic chakra reserves exploded from her body shaking the entire administration building to its foundation. Everyone in the room had to hold onto the closest thing they could reach as Shoko's power shook everything around it like an earthquake.
Danzō tightened the grip he hand on his cane as he stared down Shoko and her outburst of power. He acknowledged the young woman strength as something one could only find in legends. Her and her teammates who made up the legendary Titans were truly shinobi to be feared.
"What have you had to sacrifice that would match my pain!? You all still have your families. You have grandchildren you can always go home to. I have nothing! The only one you ever lost that was precious to you was the Second Hokage and you didn't even have the guts to be the one to sacrifice yourself in his place! You cast me aside just as you did Naruto which is why he grew up suffering the way he did and all because of your bureaucracy!" Shoko ranted with tears falling from her eyes. The poor woman had snapped as she couldn't take it anymore. She wouldn't have her past failures be thrown back in her face by an elder who was partly to blame for the life she's led. Shoko's never spoken a word about it before but in her frenzied state she accidently let it slip that she had a husband and child. Those in the room have never heard her speak one world of that taboo subject in a decade but the fresh distraught tears in her eyes were enough to make it clear that the kunoichi was hurting.
She truly has lost everyone and everything she's ever cared about. Shoko was forced to resign from the shinobi forces following an incident about a year and a half after Naruto's birth. After the incident she was left a disgrace with slander from the higher ups adding fuel to the fire. She lost both her husband and child on that day and after that she fell into a deep depression. If it weren't for Dino coming along and offering her a home and a place to belong within his casino and mafia many speculated that Shoko would have quickly and eventually committed suicide. She's never been to a doctor since so she's never gotten a psychiatric evaluation for the PTSD that she suffered following the Third Shinobi World War and the subsequent tragic events that would unfold a few years later. If she had gone it would have clearly shown she's mentally damaged from her PTSD that has followed her for the last decade of her life. Shoko was a broken woman.
"How dare you!" Koharu trembled in rage as she scrambled to her feet. She looked taken aback by Shoko's harsh words at her past. She missed the Second Hokage greatly and it always ate away at her how she knew she was nowhere near strong enough to fight off the powerful Kinkaku Squad. The fact her teammate Hiruzen Sarutobi who was vastly more powerful than her at the time offered always hurt her deep inside. It only made it worst when Tobirama Senju elected Hiruzen to be the Third Hokage right then and there on the spot. Like Danzō its been a shame she's carried with her all of her life.
"Councilor that's enough. Shoko calm down now!" Jiraiya roared as he raised his voice and got between the two woman. He placed his hands-on Shoko's shoulders and forced her to look him in the eyes. Jiraiya couldn't help but grieve internally as the broken and damaged look in his surrogate daughters eyes. She was hanging on by a thin wire. Too much stress was placed on the woman's shoulders who has fought in bloody conflicts and wars all her life. She's a killer and an unhinged individual who has had almost everyone she's ever loved ripped away from her. It took a few minutes but Jiraiya eventually managed to get Shoko to calm down. Tears were in her eyes as Jiraiya hugged her to his broad chest. "It's ok… right now we need to focus on finding Naruto as soon as possible. Who knows what Lilith and her goons have planned for him. Whatever it is we can't let that little psycho fairy accomplish that." Jiraiya spoke as he gave Shoko a pep talk. The sentiment and actions were appreciated by the purple haired woman who nodded silently to what her father figure had to say. She wasn't ok in the slightest, but she was willing to follow Jiraiya's lead on this.
"We need a new Hokage soon. I vote for Danzō. His experience as Hiruzen's rival will be invaluable." Koharu mumbled in barely constrained contempt while eyeing Shoko. She wanted to say more to the woman but knew now was no longer the time. The village was in a highly vulnerable state right now and the government had to do something about it quickly. Shikaku who had calmed down from restraining Shoko instantly tensed as he got back on guard. He couldn't let someone like Danzō get into office. Hiruzen had advised Shikaku about the fact Danzō still had his ROOT organization open upon their mutual unofficial allowance. Hiruzen recognized the need for the secretive organization that handled things the leaf couldn't publicly do but Hiruzen also knew very well that Danzō had his own agenda to attend to. Advising his Jōnin Commander and ANBU Commander about ROOT's existence was the first step Hiruzen took for preemptive measures against his rival just in case things got out of hand in the future. Now that Hiruzen was dead it fell to Shikaku and Puma to keep an eye on Danzō. Jiraiya and even Dino were also aware of ROOT's existence which was why both men looked up in alarm.
"I don't think that's a good idea PR wise. Danzō is just as old as the late Third. Putting him in the chair would only signify to the other nations that our younger current generation is very weak. It may also say that our generation has taken significant blows with this invasion. We need someone younger or at the very least with a high pedigree to take the office. The only two that could do that are Lord Jiraiya and Lady Shoko. I'm not the best fit possible while Kakashi and Guy aren't fully their yet. Hiashi is another sufficient choice but one that should be kept in our back pockets." Shikaku explained as he shot down Danzō's attempt at the Hokage mantle. The old man didn't even twitch a facial muscle at Shikaku's words but on the inside, he was far from pleased. That chair eluded him for well over three decades since Hiruzen has been the longest reigning Hokage in the village's history.
"I suggest we hold off on an election until after we retrieve Naruto. I can step in and help guide the village, but a strike force needs to be sent out to find the young boy immediately. We can't let him be in danger any longer." Dino spoke as he threw in his own words of wisdom. "Who would be on this team. If we were to choose a Hokage I'd go with Jiraiya. Someone powerful needs to stay." Homura countered. He was a more pragmatic individual at heart and only dealt in logic.
"I don't want the seat councilor. I'm not a good fit for it. If I had to suggest someone then I would suggest either Shoko or more importantly my old teammate Tsunade. She has the lineage, pedigree, and skill for it. If you want someone who exudes power, then it's her." Jiraiya rejected as he casted his own opinion on the matter. Homura frowned at this as they were now at a stalemate. "That all depends on whether you can find her and convince her to come back Lord Jiraiya." Shikaku added in. Jiraiya nodded to this but a small playful smirk was on his face. "I agree, but I know my old princess. I have a way with words. I can get her. But we need to find Naruto first. We have a small window of time before the other countries can act on our current state. Lord Dino should stay while me and Shoko go find Naruto. Shikaku and Puma need to start pulling double shifts along with all of our senior Jōnin in the village like the clan heads. We need to put up a strong front and show the world the village is fine. If we find Naruto and get back fast enough, then I can go and search for Tsunade and have her back here in a matter of weeks." Jiraiya stated as Shikaku nodded to this. It was the best course of action that also kept the elders away from the Hokage seat. The Sand would never attack them since they just finished surrendering following the invasion. The news that the Fourth Kazekage was murdered by Orochimaru spread throughout their ranks which took the fight right out of them. They would want to rebuild and lick their wounds and hope for a way to get back into the leaf's good graces.
The Hidden Mist was in their civil war, so they couldn't afford to mettle in the affairs of the other great nations. The leaf even in the state it was in now could handle an invasion by any of the other minor villages with minimum difficulty which only left the Hidden Stone and Cloud as a threat. They received reports that the Hidden Cloud was mobilizing before the Chūnin Exams which worried the upper brass greatly but without warning or explanation they all stood down. While the leaf was grateful for this it did leave them confused and cautious. The Hidden Stone was quiet throughout this entire event, but it didn't ease the minds of the Hidden Leaf either.
"Sounds like a plan Lord Jiraiya. Tsume and the trackers from the Inuzuka Clan came back with their initial report of not finding anything on Naruto's whereabouts but she said she would continue her search before leaving the village again." Shikaku explained as he stroked his goatee. He was worried for Naruto as well. He wanted him to return safe and sound.
1 Hour Later
Shoko and Jiraiya were at the main gate getting ready to search for Naruto. They didn't know where he was taken but it wasn't going to stop them from finding him. At the gate ready to see them off were Kakashi, Guy, Asuma, Kurenai, Hiashi, Shikaku, Anko, Aria, and Dino. The Genin teams of the Jōnin were also present including surprisingly enough Fū and Karin. "Are you going alone?" Anko questioned with trepidation within her voice. She wanted Naruto and the girls back more than anything in the world but just having a search party of two was insufficient. Not to mention even if the two of them were Kage Level dealing with that group of demons would be difficult for anyone, especially if Lilith was involved.
"I won't leave his fate in the hands of anybody else. I will find him and save him." Shoko declared as she looked into Anko's eyes. "Lady Shoko, please let me come with you. I want to help find Naruto and the girls. I want to know they're safe." Hinata requested with a twinkle in her eye as she had the most concerned look out of everyone there. A distraught look was on Hinata's face as the others could tell she was going to go whether she had permission or not. "No… Hinata! I absolutely forbid it. You are in no condition to undertake a mission of this magnitude. You'll be killed." Hiashi protested with distress in his voice. He stepped forward and placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder, but the young heiress shrugged her father off.
"No father… I have to go. If our roles were reversed Naruto would do the same for me. That family means the world to me and I want to make sure they're ok." Hinata passionately pleaded to her father who took a small step back in surprise. He wasn't prepared for Hinata's sudden outburst. He was used to his daughter being very shy and soft-spoken. As a Hyūga who is trained since birth to master the art of cold reading and the study of a person's body language Hiashi has noticed quite a few subtle changes with Hinata over the years and it all started with her connection to Naruto. That boy was a nexus point for a lot of things to happen in the village and more importantly in the life of his two daughters and nephew. Hiashi didn't think bad of Naruto contrary to how his daughter may have thought and he was well aware of who his parents were. He was in no position to adopt Naruto in the political climate that was caused by the Nine Tails attack. The Uchiha Clan was under heavy suspicion following the incident and none of the major clans could make a bid for adoption on Naruto as it would be seen as them having an influence over the Jinchūriki. Danzō himself added that stipulation during the deliberations in the council meetings that followed in the weeks after.
"Hinata it is too dangerous… you're not strong enough for such a task!" Hiashi protested while keeping in the back of his mind the reports he received of Hinata's performance in the Chūnin Exams against Neji. He was shocked beyond belief that Hinata was able to fight Neji on equal grounds. He questioned her after the exams while in the hospital and she demonstrated the fact Naruto has helped her train over the years and gave her access to Yōki. Once again hearing Naruto's name brought up pushed Hiashi to confront Naruto in the hospital and request that he attend a dinner in the future as well as the stipulations he placed on him when it comes to how he is allowed to spend his time with Hinata.
Hiashi was well aware of his daughter's feelings for Naruto. She acted the same way her mother acted towards him when they were younger, so it wasn't very hard for the middle-aged father to figure out that his own daughter in turn had feelings for a boy. Of course, a part of him didn't like this fact as any good father would considering it was his daughter in question and because of their age, but Hiashi could tell that the feelings the two had for each other were strong and growing each and every day. It helped a lot that he knew Naruto's character and that he was a gentlemen by nature. The dedication he showed to defending his daughters honor in his fight against Neji earned him Hiashi's immense respect.
"Yes, I am! With my Byakugan I can find him!" Hinata insisted as she attempted to activate her Byakugan as emphasis to show her father her resolve but then the unexpected happened. Grasping her chest in sudden surprise Hinata gasped as she dropped to her knees. "HINATA!" Hiashi yelled as he immediate grabbed his daughter who was grabbing her chest. "I feel something in my heart! Its trying to break out." Hinata gasped in surprise. She was shocked to not feel so much pain considering how damaged her heart was by Neji. If anything, it was like a pressure was building up from inside of her heart. In seconds her entire body felt hot as a golden glow came from Hinata's chest where her heart was located.
"Hinata are you ok?" Kiba shouted as he attempted to hold Hinata but he and everyone else jumped back when ethereal golden flames suddenly shrouded Hinata's body. Hiashi nearly had a heart attack right then and there as he didn't understand what was happening. The Hyūga heiress didn't scream in any pain at all but a huge gasp of air left her lungs as the flames around her body died down and traveled to her eyes. When Hinata opened her eyes, there was a deep golden ring around her Byakugan where her pupil is supposed to be. A faint flower like patterned could also be seen rippling out from the pupil area as well.
The others gasped in shock at the new look to Hinata's Byakugan while her father rushed over to her to check her over. "Hinata what happened? What's going on?!" Hiashi was analyzing the changes to his daughters eyes but he couldn't tell what really happened. "I can see so much… this energy?" Hinata whispered in shock as the others gathered around her in curiosity and concern. A very prominent golden energy band that looked like flames was floating through the air in front of Hinata's vision and looking up in wonder she could see that it lead out of the village and far off into the distance. All around her she could see tiny sparks of different colored energy all across the village and of course the normal coloration of chakra that her Byakugan gives her. There were random splotches of these unique colored energy sources that just didn't just have a unique color but also shape and style to them as well. It took Hinata a few moments to realize that what she was seeing were supernatural creatures hidden in plain sight amongst the villagers and in their homes. It was a great shock to Hinata to see all this but the golden band of energy floating high in the sky was far too distracting for the young heiress to ignore.
Mentally mapping out the source of the energy band Hinata figured out that the mass of concentration was centered around the neighborhood she instinctively knew to be where Naruto's apartment was located. Another large concentration of this golden energy was a few miles east of the village in what Hinata could only assume was the site in which Naruto had his battle with Gaara. Both sources converged in the air high in the sky outside the village and shot off in one single direction that was northeast of the village.
Wherever that stream of energy was going, it was far. There was no end in sight to where it was leading, and it exceeded Hinata's maximum visual range by a large margin she was sure. The others were worried for Hinata who had a bewildered and awe filled expression on her face as she looked around the village like a fish out of water. "Father… I can see so much… I see Iris's aura. It's leading out of the village to the northeast. That's were Naruto must be." Hinata pointed out which surprised the others. It took a few minutes but Hinata managed to describe for everyone else what happened to her.
"Is this what Iris did to you during your match. Naruto told me about the strange anomalies he found in your medical charts concerning your heart. She implanted some of her grace within you to hold onto when she healed you. This is your first time using your Byakugan since your match. Her power must have been lying dormant inside of you waiting until you used your eyes again." Shoko theorized as she ran a basic diagnostic technique over Hinata's eyes to check her condition. She was completely healthy. In fact, the rest of her body was healed completely by the golden flames. Her bloody cough and chest pains that she was suffering from were gone.
"I knew Iris did something to me back then when she saved my life. She never told me what it was… and I had a feeling she'd never tell be… but I think she planned this. I wouldn't put it passed her." Hinata stated as she felt the peaceful aura of Iris flowing through her. It was in this moment that Hiashi remembered a phrase that Hinata uttered to Naruto after he came to check up on her in the hospital. 'I think the praying I do at night helped more than I thought. I had the blessing of a god on my side yesterday or else I wouldn't have survived.' This particular statement stood out to Hiashi then and it triggered him to remember it now with Hinata's words. 'Could it be… could that little girl possibly be a god? That's impossible. But in the slightest chance that it is true…' Hiashi privately thought to himself as he gazed at his daughter in worry and caution.
"I agree… that child isn't who she says she is…" Jiraiya pointed out which levied a weight of concern for the others present. "Then do you know what she is or if she's dangerous Lord Jiraiya?" Shikaku asked in concern. A frown came to Jiraiya's face as he recalled the tense conversation he had with Sōkyoku who revealed herself to him. A god or at least something equivalent to one as she eluded to the fact she was something much more. To know that such a being was right under their nose for the last six years and was with his god son the entire time was heart pounding to Jiraiya. "I know who and somewhat what she is but I'm not at liberty to say and I can't be for sure 100% if she means him any harm… all I know is that she isn't human and that she has special plans for him and apparently for Hiashi's daughter here as well. This was premeditated for her power to activate at this exact moment when we need it the most. Now we know where to find them." Jiraiya explained as he placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder. "We need your daughter to come with us Hiashi… I promise on my life I'll keep her safe." Jiraiya stated as he bowed to the powerful clan head and worried father who bowed back deeper in a sign of respect for his superior and acknowledgement of a man to man promise. "Please bring her back safe to me Lord Jiraiya." Hiashi resigned himself with a soft reply.
He knew he couldn't properly talk his daughter out of leaving and now with one of the Sannin requesting for her to come along his hands were tied. He didn't fully understand what Hinata's special enhancements to her eye meant but the Hyūga in him was dying to find out. He would just have to hold on to that patience until then.
"If you're going then I'm coming too Hinata." Aria stepped forward with Anko doing the same. Kakashi and Guy both shared a glance before stepping forward as well. Fū and Karin also shared their own glance before stepping into the growing circle. Jiraiya looked over the group that volunteered and nodded. He got a curious look on his face as he stared at Karin as a sense of familiarity bloomed within him. Her red hair was far to distinct and the fact that she didn't have on a headband was also noticeable. As he gazed at Fū he mentally tallied off the fact he knew who she was. His spy network already complied a file on her so Jiraiya already knew that Fū was the Jinchūriki of the Seven Tails.
"Well alright. We can't afford to take anymore with us. The village needs every active shinobi it can manage. Team 7 I know Naruto is your teammate, but I need you to stay behind." Jiraiya declared as he saw Sasuke and Sakura opening their mouths to volunteer. Naturally they protested this decision but Kakashi managed to placate their anger. "Sakura you have several bruised ribs and one broken rib from being crushed by Gaara's sand hand and Sasuke you used the Chidori more than twice during the invasion. You were diagnosed with major chakra exhaustion, not to mention I received reports from Anko that your curse mark briefly flared up during the battle in the Hidden Sands base. I'm happy you were able to contain it immediately so that it didn't become an issue, but the fact remains you and Sakura aren't healthy enough for this mission. Just stay put and recover. We'll get Naruto back I promise." Kakashi said with reassurance in his voice. Kurenai did the same in keeping Kiba and Shino from interfering with Kiba having a concerned look for Hinata.
"We don't have much time to waste guys. We're on a time table and need to get going. I expect everyone here to hold down the fort while we're gone. We're taking some heavy muscle with us, so everyone left is going to need to pull their weight to make the village appear strong." Jiraiya mentioned as he stared at all of the high ranking Jōnin before him. The village was in a crippled state with the lost of the Hokage and its Jinchūriki. Not to mention the fact it didn't have an extensive bullet proof list of powerful candidates to take the office and have enough left over to bolster their defenses. This was a critical time for the village with it being as vulnerable as it is now.
"Understood Lord Jiraiya. Just get Naruto back safe and sound. We'll handle things here even if its going to be a drag." Shikaku said as the Jōnin Commander gave a nod of reassurance to the Legendary Sannin. He would keep the village safe while its top shinobi were away on an important rescue mission.
"Good… alright everyone tighten up. We're leaving." Jiraiya ordered in his serious voice as the group formed up on him. They all wore equally serious facial expression on their faces. "Hinata please be safe." Hiashi quietly stated while placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder. He's had a lot to think about over the month she was in the hospital when it came to the way he treated her as a child. He was extremely hard on her and had no faith in her abilities. The death of his wife and twin brother was a serious blow to his heart and not being the overly expressive person by nature made it extremely hard for him to emotionally connect with his children. He pushed her way to hard and emotionally and even physically abused her for being weak in his eyes.
Now he sees how wrong he was. The strength that she reportedly showed to Neji in their preliminary match was exemplary and also revealed to him that she was hiding her true abilities all of this time just so that Hanabi wouldn't potentially face the threat of being given the Cage Bird Seal. Hinata's emotional strength most of all impressed Hiashi and made him immensely proud of his daughter. He came to these epiphanies over the course of Hinata's hospitalization and now he has encouraged himself to take steps to correct his past mistakes. He wanted to have a proper relationship with his daughter instead of the antagonistic one he previously had. Now that she was going off on such a dangerous mission he was afraid of the thought of losing her. It would be too much for the weary man to take when he's lost so much as it is already.
"I will father… and… I… I love you." Hinata softly spoke as she gently hugged her father with all of the affection she could muster. She wasn't used to giving her father physical displays of affection, so she stuttered as she spoke such a heartfelt statement. Hiashi silently gasped as he awkwardly hugged his daughter back. He's never given either of his daughters signs of affection before, so this was a new experience for him. Privately in the back of his mind he silently thought to himself that having his daughter hug him and say those affectionate words were the best feeling in the world. It reminded him of his wife and how she cared little for the conservative rules of public displays of affection that the Hyūga Clan follows in its ancient traditions.
In moments the father and daughter had to separate since time was critical. Hinata adopted a serious facial expression that Hiashi's never seen before. It was one her classmates were familiar with as they saw it during the Land of Wave's mission and during her fight with Neji in the Chūnin Exams. She looked like a true shinobi in Hiashi's mind and that caused a swell of pride to build up in his heart.
After saying last minute goodbyes Hinata activated her unique Byakugan and the rescue party was off in seconds with the thought of rescuing Naruto and his family fresh in their minds. The great main gate of the village closed behind them as the village was going to go into a mild lockdown. They had to shore up their defenses and ensure the village's security in its time of vulnerability. Now was the time spies and enemies would want to infiltrate the village to destroy it from the inside.
7 Hours Later
The group kept a steady pace for over 7 hours of grueling high-speed shinobi travel while heading northeast towards the coast of the Land of Fire. They were making good time but with night falling on them Jiraiya made the decision to set up camp a few dozen miles from the coast. They would need all the rest they could get. Jiraiya's preliminary thoughts were that the demons were held up in a small town or remote location on the coast of the continent which was why he chose to stop at this precise distance. This distance was just far enough that they would be out of the sensory range of any powerful demon or human. No one should be capable of sensing them at this distance which was a little over 30 miles away from the coast. Setting up camp here was the most strategic decision the wise and experienced Sannin could rationalize at the time. Jiraiya himself had no idea that Naruto was out farther than the coast of the continent. He was in a very special place and the fact he already tried Reverse Summoning him with the Toad Contract the moment he found out of his kidnapping told Jiraiya that Naruto was somewhere out of his reach.
Setting up camp in a nondescript clearing deep in the forest the group set up basic defenses that shinobi camps employ and brought out their tents. It was nearly past 10:00 and midnight was fast approaching. They covered a vast distance as it was already and Jiraiya was satisfied with their progress. Getting the camp fire going with a basic Fire Style technique Jiraiya sat down on a log with a small sigh. Shoko hadn't spoken a word since they left and was completely silent to everyone. A semi-dead look was in her eyes along with dark bags underneath them that spoke to her mental state and mental exhaustion, not to mention the physical exhaustion she must feel from fighting in the invasion. The purple haired Titan was far from being okay mentally, but no one had the guts to bring this up to her face. Jiraiya kept a close eye on his surrogate daughter but that was about all he could do. He didn't want to agitate her and set her off.
Hinata and Aria were sitting next to each other only a few feet from Shoko but both girls instinctively knew not to bother the woman right now. Fū and Karin struck up a conversation with the two friends and for the most part besides the fact they were keeping the voices down it was all going well. Kakashi and Guy took to look out positions around the camp to begin first watch while Jiraiya cooked the minimalistic ration dinners shinobi tend to eat on long distance missions. While this was happening Anko was sitting next to Shoko and was working up the courage to talk to her long-time partner and occasional lover. It went without saying that Anko was incredibly worried for the purpled haired Titan who was mentally in a very dark place. In addition to this Anko herself had her own private concerns of her own as she checked up on her own team after the invasion only to discover that Fuki was missing. Ami and Kasumi were accounted for, but no one could find Fuki. Due to the mass funeral and garrison duties all active and inactive shinobi had to participate in to bolster the village's defenses Anko never had time to search for her third student. She could only hope that the girl was okay. Before leaving Anko had made sure to pass this information off to Shikaku which was the only thing Anko could do.
All was peaceful until the snapping of a tree branch caught the attention of the group. Shoko's sword that she keeps in a seal on the palm of her hand was out in an instant while everyone else focused in on the source as well. Out of the shadows of the forest walked out a person none present were expecting and it caused the hairs on Shoko's neck to hackle in distress. "Well isn't this just a nice campsite here. What an atmosphere." A very familiar smoky voice purred out as Balalaika made her presence known.
Shoko was on her feet immediately as she gripped the handle of her katana. A dangerous look was in her eye as she glared daggers at the Kingpin of Hotel Moscow. "Balalaika… what are you doing here?" Shoko hissed in a dangerous tone while Jiraiya frowned and stood to his feet. Hinata and the other Genin backed up as they saw the adults take guarded positions. Kakashi and Guy both appeared before the four girls and stood in defensive postures. Balalaika grinned at the expected hostility while drinking it in with silent pleasure. She was eagerly anticipating the reactions from the group once she revealed her surprises. 'It's that lady again. She appeared before us when we were going to help Team 7.' Hinata thought in shock as she recognized the King Pin who stopped them on their way out of the village many months ago. 'Who is this lady and why does Chōmei feel so agitated by her?' Fū thought to herself with fear creeping into her heart. Her resident which was Chōmei the Seven Tailed Rhinoceros Beetle was buzzing around in the back of Fū's mind. The two of them share a very close and symbolic relationship that was far from the antagonistic one that Naruto had with the Nine Tails or the one Gaara had with Shukaku. Chōmei was warning Fū to not cross paths with the woman before them. She had as much chakra as it had if not more.
'Such chakra… it's like being next to a sun. It's so much. What is she?' Karin trembled in fright while falling to her knees. Her head felt like it was seconds away from exploding with the sheer magnitude of Balalaika's chakra reserves becoming present to her. The sad thing was Balalaika wasn't even flexing her chakra or surging it out into the world. She had all of it tightly contained calmly within her body. 'It's the King Pin of Hotel Moscow. The one that showed up to the casino when Naruto was going off on his mission to the Land of Waves. Her power was incredible back then when she was confronted by Shoko… not to mention her very aura itself. She's dangerous.' Aria noted while standing protectively in front of Hinata and Karin who was being supported by Fū. Anko had to recollect the breath that got hitched in her throat upon seeing the strongest woman in the world emerge but getting herself together she went to stand with her fellow Jōnin.
"Oh… isn't it obvious. I'm here to join your little merry band of rescuers. Naruto is just as important to me as he is to you or did you forget that fact Shoko?" Balalaika stated and as she had silently predicted before revealing herself Shoko exploded in rage. "ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Shoko's unstable chakra rolled out in waves around her with a predictable smirk working its way onto the business woman's face. "How dare you stroll up to us and decide such a thing. I don't want you anywhere near my baby boy. You're nothing to him!" Shoko yelled as she bared her teeth at Balalaika who smiled in Shoko's face. "Not that it's really your choice on what I do, but I must inform you that I'm not the only one joining us tonight." Balalaika grinned as a second figure walked out from behind her and the second Jiraiya, Kakashi, Guy, and Anko saw who it was all of them paled noticeable. "Karasuba…" Shoko whispered with an unstable look in her eyes as she held her head in delusion. The Black Reaper and Titan of the Hidden Stone was accompanying Balalaika tonight and her razor-sharp eyes zeroed in on her old rival who was hyperventilating. "The years have surely been far to long Shoko… how I've missed my eternal rival so much." Karasuba purred with a deadly look in her eyes that was outmatched by Shoko's who disappeared from her spot before anyone could blink. A blur shot past Balalaika who even blinked in mild surprise as a sonic boom tore through the clearing knocking everyone and their belongings away with a shockwave.
Shoko and Karasuba were joined together in a deadly blade lock with each of their swords pushing against one another. The trees in the surrounding forest were bent back at a dangerous angle from how powerful the shockwave of their clash had been. Jiraiya skidded on his wooden sandals before coming to a stop. Everyone else including Kakashi and Guy were blown back to the edge of the clearing by the intensity of these two Titans who were living up to their world-famous titles with just one move. Buffeting winds were blowing in everyone's faces as the two women grinded their swords against each other. Shoko was huffing and blowing out big gasps of breath but not out of exertion. Her mental state could be called into question here as she pushed Karasuba back who wasn't expecting this if the surprised look on her face showed.
"What's this now babe… you missed me that much over the years. You must have really missed all of the rampages we used to go on during the war! All that destruction and chaos!" Karasuba egged on with a crazed grin that waned a bit once she saw the very real disturbed visage of Shoko's face who was seething at the mouth. "I hate you…" Shoko growled as she pushed Karasuba into a nearby tree that immediately startled to buckle under the immense strength of Shoko's wrath. "I'm going to kill you both for everything you've done! It's all your fault all of this is happening!" Shoko cried as Karasuba growled a bit in anger. "And those demons will get what's coming to them. They're nuisances that's bothered even us in the past." Karasuba stated as she started to push back against Shoko who was pushed her forehead into Karasuba's. "THEN WHY DID YOU ALLY WITH THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE!" Shoko screamed as she spun her sword around and pushed Karasuba's sword off to the side. The sheer act of knocking both their swords to the side sent out a rippling shockwave that for a lack of better words deleted an entire section of the forest near the campsite. For over a hundred yards next to them the entire forest was devastated beyond habitability with trees and flora uprooted from the ground that now had a deep trench in it that was at least 10 feet deep.
Ordinarily Balalaika would enjoy such a chaotic scene of destruction from two powerful individuals, but she started to look at Shoko closely. Taking a look at Shoko's eyes and facial expression a frown came to her face. She was now just noticing that something wasn't quite right with her old enemy. The look in her eyes wasn't the look of a completely sane individual and proper shinobi. Shoko was mentally off balanced and ill. "Shoko stop! You'll accidently kill some of us if you don't calm down!" Jiraiya roared over the howling winds of destruction ravaging the forest. He had to jump in the way to protect Hinata and the other children who were nearly blown away by Shoko's outburst. Using his own sturdy body as a shield Jiraiya took the full brunt of the fallout backlash from Shoko's and Karasuba's clash.
"Enough! Summoning Jutsu: Toad Mouth Restraints!" Jiraiya intoned as he transformed the ground around him into the surface of a toads intestines. Multiple tendrils of intestinal cords flew off from the ground and wrapped around Shoko's unsuspecting body that forcefully dragged her back to Jiraiya's side who grabbed Shoko once she got into his range and disarmed her of her sword. Wrapping his massive arms around Shoko's lean frame the Toad Sage restrained his surrogate daughter while yelling at her in a gruff and serious tone. "That's enough Shoko! Get a hold of yourself!" Jiraiya was becoming increasingly concerned for Shoko and her mental state. She wasn't acting like the woman he knew. Something was definitely wrong with the powerful Titan.
"This is all their fault master! If they didn't ally themselves with those damn bastards in the past, then the whole Third World War would have never happened! They're the cause of all of this!" Shoko ranted with small tears coming from her eyes. Dry sobs were coming from the woman who was being restrained by Jiraiya that had a sympathetic expression on his face. He understood the frustration and anguish the purple haired woman had as he lost many friends during the Third Shinobi World War that unleashed so much destruction and bloodshed onto the world. It was a deadly conflict like its predecessors and many good shinobi on all sides of the conflict lost their lives prematurely due to the actions of a set few individuals that plunged the world into chaos.
"Is that right!" Karasuba growled as she charged forward in offense. The history between the Titans was a bloody one that caused the entire Third Shinobi World War. While she couldn't act in righteous indignation towards Shoko's words considering what the distraught woman said was true Karasuba still couldn't accept Shoko's words lying down. Balalaika seeing Karasuba charging in disappeared like a wraith in the night without a single sound being made. Karasuba's retaliation was stopped cold by Balalaika who grabbed the ash grey haired woman's sword with her bare hands. Karasuba's momentum grinded to a halt as she stared up at her leader in surprise. "Boss?" This wasn't a normal occurrence for Karasuba as she saw the thoughtful if not contemplative and worried look in her leaders eyes.
"That's enough Karasuba. Stand down." The mob boss commanded as Karasuba immediately sheathed her sword in obedience. She too had a thoughtful look on her face as Balalaika stepped forward. "It's no fun to kick a person while they're down, especially when I wasn't the one to put them there." Balalaika commented as she looked Shoko up and down. "What happened to you Shoko? You're not yourself." The scar faced woman asked with a hint of worry in her voice. The look in her old enemy's eyes was not something she wanted to see. "Oh, you care now… you're what happened. This is all your fault why I'm like this. I've lost everything." Shoko grieved as she went slack in Jiraiya's arms. She dropped to her knees as silent tears fell down her cheeks in emotional distress.
"You're acting reckless and your too emotional. Someone of your stature should always act like a true shinobi. You need a break and some help." Balalaika spoke as she walked up to Shoko with a softer look in her eyes. "I don't need help! I'm just fine. Because of your past actions you have no room to talk and don't try to act like you're my friend! We were never friends!" Shoko snapped as she got into Balalaika's face who didn't budge but her frown deepened. "Maybe not but we were sworn bitter rivals who forged a bond in blood and destruction the likes of which hasn't been seen since the time of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. The clash of us Titans have become legendary. I value what our two sides had. I'm as powerful as I am now because I had worthy opponents to push me to my utmost limits and beyond." Balalaika said softly with Karasuba having a stunned look in the background with those expressions being mirrored by Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Guy. They knew of the titanic forces of the Legendary Titans and their exploits during the Third Shinobi World War. Kakashi and Guy were only young teenagers when the war concluded. They spent most of their young childhood fighting in the bloody conflict that took the lives of so many they held dear. They were even lucky enough to bare witness to a few of the battles between some of the members of the Legendary Titans on each side of the war.
But even then, they didn't know of the exact dynamics and relationships those 8 individuals shared with each other. Everytime they met on the battlefield the entire region would be reshaped in a catastrophic disaster because of their destructive power. "I've lost everything because of that so-called bond Sofia! It's given me nothing in return." Shoko growled back which caused a sneer to come to Balalaika's face. "I've told you time and time again that…" The mob boss began but was cut off by Shoko who gritted her teeth in contempt. "… yes, I've heard it a million times that only Kushina could use your real name, but guest what! Kushina is dead! Minato is dead! Kazehana is gone and most likely dead! My husband left me! My only child is dead! And now Naruto was taken from me! My baby boy is in the hands of those filthy bastards that you allied yourselves with back then! I've lost everyone I've ever loved so you tell me what has our bond done for me?!" Shoko ranted with anguished tears pouring out of her eyes. Heart wrenching sobs came from Shoko's mouth as she gripped her frazzled hair in painful bundles.
For the briefest moments a pained look came to Balalaika's face as she closed the distance between her and Shoko and brought the distraught woman into her embrace which left those around speechless. Jiraiya never thought he'd ever live to see the day two of the opposing Titans acting so civil and compassionate towards one another. Every time he ever bore witness to them crossing paths it would always inevitably lead to a climatic battle that would reshape the landscape around them. They were walking natural disasters on par with the Tailed Beast during the great war with the clashes between Balalaika and Kushina being on the levels of the gods themselves that was very reminiscent of Hashirama and Madara.
Civility and compassion were two things he never associated with the opposing legendary Titans and now that he's seen it he could honestly say he's seen everything in life now. "You may have lost everything but don't lose your mind as well! Don't let the legacy of the Hidden Leaf's Titan's end with you dead because of your self-destructive recklessness or in some insane asylum. Naruto is still within your reach to save… you haven't lost him yet and I want to help. Those demons are abominations that I shouldn't have had a hand in creating." Balalaika whispered as Shoko lowered her guard in the mob bosses embrace. Never in a million years did she think she would ever be hugged by her sworn enemy but as things stood right now she was at an all time low in her life. Anything was possible at this point.
"I promise on my honor and life that I will help you rescue Kushina's legacy. Neither I or Karasuba will stand in your way of doing this. We will aid you so please I implore you to call a truce between us for the time being. For Naruto's sake." Balalaika negotiated as she pushed Shoko back enough so that they could look into each other's eyes. The two Titan's stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like hours but in reality, was only 10 seconds. Shoko's light purple eyes met Balalaika's usually soulless pale blue eyes that now had a spark of humanity and compassion in them. A single extra tear fell from Shoko's blood shot eye as she nodded her head in acceptance to Balalaika's proposal. In the custom of those who work for the mafia the two-woman backed up and shook each other's hand while placing their opposite hands on top of the handshake. "I accept this pack." Both woman said simultaneously with a nod of their heads.
Their truce was now official and for either of them to go back on it and break this agreement would be seen as the ultimate sign of disrespect in the eyes of the Mafia. Their pride in what they do as the mafia and as shinobi were on the line with that handshake and as two of some of the most powerful kunoichi to ever live their pride and respect meant more to them than anything. There would be no further hostilities between the two parties and that was a guarantee. The power of their pride and respect in their handshake was just that powerful.
"Why are you so obsessed with Naruto…? Why do you want him so bad?" Shoko said in a whisper as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She absently grabbed her sword from Jiraiya who passed it to her and resealed it into her storage seal on the palm of her right hand.
Balalaika hummed a soft hum as she looked at those around her before addressing Shoko. "Because he is Kushina's legacy. He will grow to be powerful and one day he must defeat me. I must feel that power once again. The power of Kushina's resolve lives on in that boy and it was that resolve that granted me my first ever defeat at the hands of a worthy opponent." The tall blond spoke with a certain layer of passion intertwining within her voice. A certain fondness was in her tone as she reminisced about her many climactic battles with Kushina that reshaped the land around them and brought forth chaos and destruction none have every seen before.
"If that boy truly is Kushina's son, let alone Minato's then he will weather the storm those foolish demons throw at him long enough for us to find and rescue him. If he can survive them then I know he has the resolve to one day become something truly powerful. The day will come when I challenge him to a battle and if he doesn't shake this very world to its core with his power like his mother did and crush me under his might then I will have no choice but to kill him on the spot. I will not have Kushina's legacy be tarnished by his failures. For his sake you must ensure he is ready to face me when the day comes." Balalaika said as she gave Shoko a look she's never seen before. The most powerful woman in the world had her eyes misted over in moister as she took a deep and trembled breath full of stuttering emotions that shook Shoko to her core.
"All of my life all I've ever known is triumph and victory. I've destroyed every opponent to ever oppose me. Then one day Kushina came along and not only defeated me but utterly crushed me under the full might of her resolve and convictions. Resolve and convictions that she carved into my body with these scars that I have that will never heal. They serve as a permanent reminder of my pride and the single greatest moment of my life of finally meeting my better. If her child cannot offer me the same thing then I will kill him were he stands. That is the promise of my own resolve and convictions." Balalaika stated with the utmost passion in her voice that honestly moved Shoko and those around her. Even if they didn't agree with her goals, they couldn't deny the passion that she spoke with. Her many deep burned in scars all across her face and body could be seen by those around as Balalaika traced over them with her finger in melancholy. She felt sparks of memories each time she traced over one and for the young Genin this was an extreme eye opener to them who see a true shinobi in front of them. None of them have ever seen a woman quite like Balalaika before except for Hinata who only briefly met her when team Kurenai and Anko were heading out to reinforce Team Kakashi during the mission in the Land of Waves but even that felt like eons ago for Hinata who involuntarily opened her mouth to speak two words that would forever change her life and set her down a road she would have never thought possible.
"You can't." It came out as a whisper. Something barely audible for anyone to hear but Balalaika heard it as she turned to the one who spoke and saw Hinata with a worried look in her lavender tinted colored eyes. "Oh… and why can't I? Our lives are intertwined by fate. He must defeat me, or I will kill him little girl. What right do you have to object?" Balalaika questioned as she bared down on Hinata while releasing a sliver of her killing intent that was much more than what she unleashed upon C in the Raikage's office weeks ago.
Hinata's heart painfully stopped while her legs were rooted to the ground like deadweight as Balalaika towered over her with all 6'4 feet of her mountainous height. As a child Hinata was nothing more than an ant compared to the strongest kunoichi alive who wanted to see Hinata's response. Reaching her hand out to Hinata whose facial expression transitioned from worried to absolute terrified, Balalaika zeroed in on Hinata's eyes that were enlarged in terror. "Such pretty eyes, even for a Hyūga… it would be a shame if you were to lose them for speaking out against me little girl." The King Pin uttered her threat for everyone to hear as Jiraiya reached out to stop the dominant woman from harming the Hyūga heiress. "Balalaika stop!" The Sannin warned with the woman's hand only inches away from Hinata's face.
In seconds Hinata's hand lashed out and grabbed the hand inches away from her face with an iron grip. The dirty blond-haired woman rose her eyebrows in pleased interest while everyone else felt time stop with their breathe caught in their throats. "Oh… what have we here?" Balalaika whispered as she saw that Hinata was on the verge of hyperventilating due to her stifling killing intent. "I won't let you kill him… he's my best friend. He's precious to me." Hinata stuttered out horribly but her grip didn't loosen in the slightest. "He's precious to you huh…? Fascinating. That look in your eyes is unmistakable. You're in love with the boy and at such a young age as well. Behind all of that fear for me I can see that bright light in your eyes. Your love… your resolve and convictions. Yes… good. Very good." Balalaika whispered in pride as Hinata's grip involuntarily got tighter as the woman tested Hinata by pushing her hand forward. Her fingernails were mere centimeters away from Hinata's eyeballs, but her grip only got tighter and tighter.
Hinata's entire body was shaking uncontrollably from the killing intent Balalaika was leaking out which she was focusing entirely on the young girl. The woman grinned a proud grin as she kneeled down to a knee to be at equal height with Hinata. "Listen to me girl and listen well. Keep your resolve strong if you want to back up your words in life. I have no patience for those who go back on their word. In this world we live in some think that emotions in shinobi are useless and that our passions, resolve, convictions, and goals are useless hindrances. But they are what makes us strong. It is what has made me strong. If you hold onto that feeling in your chest right now, then one day you too will become strong!" Balalaika spoke with thunder and power in her voice that would have rooted Hinata to her spot if she wasn't already. Everyone else could feel a stirring in their chest as they listened to the powerful woman lecture Hinata who didn't dare look anywhere else but into Balalaika's soulless eyes that seemed to shine with so much life. The King Pin was thinking of Danzō in particular when she spoke of individuals who disregarded emotions in shinobi. She didn't like the old war hawk for his radical and extreme philosophies. They didn't match up with the ideal traits she admired in those she respected.
The fear was still in Hinata's eyes, but Balalaika was pleased to see a stirring within Hinata's subconscious as an ember of defiance and resolve erupted into a raging inferno that burned deep within her eyes as the Hyūga heiress tightened her grip to what would be painful levels on Balalaika's wrist, but the woman paid this no mind as she didn't feel any pain at all. If anything, the act itself was what got an actual reaction out of the King Pin.
"Good… congratulations little girl on getting on my radar. I now have high hopes for your future. As of this moment I forbid you from dying before reaching your fullest potential. If you intend to defy me and stand by Naruto, then that means you stand in the way of my goals. You are now an obstacle I must crush… you are my rival… do you understand?" Balalaika decreed with the base of thunder in her voice as if she were baptizing Hinata. Hinata's heart was beating painfully out of her chest in justified fear but she managed to steady her shaking hand long enough to grip Balalaika's hand in the firmest unshakeable bond she could manage. "I understand." Hinata spoke with determination clear in her voice while managing not to stutter once.
A dark and foreboding smile came to Balalaika's face as she moved her hand down and caressed the side of Hinata's cheek much like how a loving mother would comfort their own daughter. "Good… then you and I will get along just fine." A bolt of real lightning struck the ground behind Balalaika over the horizon from Hinata's perspective as everyone now took notice of the fact it was raining heavily all around them. Hinata couldn't help but shudder as she felt she just made a dangerous deal with the devil.
Land of Whirlpools/ Hōrai Island
'I've arrived…' Itachi silently thought to himself as he pulled himself out of the water with his cloak soaking wet. Turning to look out at the ocean he could barely see the continent of the Elemental Nations with his enhanced vision granted to him by his powerful Sharingan. They were far out and well out of visual range of the mainland. The whirlpools that surround the island made it extremely difficult for the mysterious Uchiha to navigate as a pale red aura shimmered around his form. The spectral image of what appeared to be a skeleton dissipated from around his body before disappearing completely. His journey was treacherous with his death being something that could be put on the table with the powerful whirlpools forming an impenetrable barrier by sea around the island acting as its staunch and loyal defense. But against all odds Itachi made it with his mission clear in mind.
"Naruto… I'm coming."
To be continued...
[Fire on the Mystic Island Arc]
Jutsu Library
1.) Reverse Summoning Jutsu - The counterpart of the Summoning Technique, this technique allows an animal to summon humans that they have a contract with.
2.) Summoning Jutsu: Toad Mouth Restraints - A variation and sub technique of the powerful Summoning Jutsu: Toad Mouth Trap. This Jutsu only summons the tendrils usually associated with its parent technique to quickly grab single opponents or multiple individuals which are then restrained and forcefully retracted back to the origin of the technique. The tendrils of intestines and organs are fire resistant and are very durable requiring a high amount of cutting power or immense brute strength to overcome. Another highlight of this technique is the speed in which it can be deployed and the versatility in which it can be utilized as the user isn't required to be in a specific location or to have preset up specifications in order to activate the technique.
Author's Note (A/N): This is a lot to take in. Without a doubt this was definitely one of the most tense and nerve wracking chapter to come out. The bid for the seat of 5th Hokage is stalled by Shikaku and the upper brass preventing Danzō from getting his hands on the Hokage hat. Koharu and Shoko get into a vicious argument that ends with the old councilor almost dying at the young vengeful woman's hands. Shoko's mental psyche is explored in this chapter with it being discovered that Shoko has startling amounts of severe PTSD that she hasn't sought proper help in managing for well over a decade. The lost of so many crucial and important individuals in her life has formed cracks in the strong woman's mind that has finally broken in this chapter as we see sides of Shoko that have been hinted at since the debut of her character.
Hinata gets some heavy focus during this chapter as she stands up to her father who is shown to have changed his perceptions on how he views his daughter. Hinata is adamant about rescuing Naruto and to prove it she accidentally activates a special upgrade to her Byakugan that Iris implanted within her in the final moments before Neji attempted to kill her in the exams. I've dropped several hints to keep that plot thread going and now it pays off with Hinata gaining new traits to her Byakugan. She also reconciles with her father and forces him to see her in a brand-new light with her actions.
The real meat of this chapter happens when Balalaika and Karasuba show up to join the rescue party. Shoko is immediately against this predictably and it escalates into a physical confrontation where we catch a glimpse at Shoko's and Karasuba's destructive power. Expectedly it is revealed that Karasuba is Shoko's rival in the Legendary Titans group and furthermore it comes to light that the Titans were the ones to start the Third Shinobi World War and were its main factors including the Four War Gods. Shoko has a nervous breakdown and in response to this Balalaika shows off a side to her that none of you would have thought she had.
Balalaika's character gets tremendous amounts of character development as she shows her true colors by expressing her genuine concern for Shoko's mental health and the tragedies that have battered Shoko over the years. The Mob boss offers a truce to settle the animosity between the two groups for Naruto's sake which Shoko accepts after a surprising embrace by Balalaika. She the goes on to reveal her motives behind her interest in Naruto which she explains in gripping detail while also shedding some emotions that those who know her are not familiar with. Hints and pieces of her background with Kushina and the general history of the war is touched on in the chapter that hints at things to come and things from the past.
This of course all takes a dramatic turn when Balalaika makes it known that if Naruto doesn't become powerful enough to beat her then she will kill him on the spot. Hinata can't accept this and ends up in the lions den with the strongest Kunoichi alive who takes an interest in Hinata who justifiably is shaken to her core with terror. Balalaika plays her mind games with Hinata while also lecturing her on what it truly means to be a shinobi and to hold on to one's convictions. With a foreboding turn Balalaika acknowledges Hinata as her rival and makes her intent known that she will one day kill Hinata as long as she grows powerful as well.
The chapter ends with Itachi sneaking onto Hōrai Island in his secret mission to rescue Naruto. What will happen next and what has been going on with Iris, Chaos, and Evangeline while Naruto was having his trials and tribulations? All will be explored in the next chapter so be prepared!
Next Chapter: Chapter 68 (Hōrai Island: Part 3) – Tortured Souls of the Uzumaki
That's the end of Chapter 67 I sincerely hoped you enjoyed it.
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Published: 6/22/2018
