Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be seeing the first obstacle Team Seven encounters with the Demon Brothers, only for the encounter to go very differently than in canon along with the outcome, before we also get a look back in Konoha. So, without further ado.
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"Uh, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura said, looking at the Jōnin as they walked down the road.
"Yes Sakura?" Said Kakashi, glancing at the pinkette.
"I'm just wondering, we're going to the Land of Waves, but Tazuna came all the way to Konoha to hire Ninja as protection. Aren't there any Ninja in the Land of Waves?" Sakura asked, wondering why Tazuna didn't try hiring Ninja from his own home country, instead of traveling to another village.
"No, there aren't any Ninja in the Land of Waves. Smaller nations like the Land of Waves don't have the resources needed to create Hidden Villages like Konoha, leaving them with no way to train to become Ninja. But there are some small nations that do have Ninja Villages, like Takigakure in the Land of Canyons or Amegakure in the Land of Rain. While each Hidden Village has their own customs, traditions, and cultures. To the people of this continent, the existence of Hidden Villages means military strength. It's how they protect themselves and maintain the balance of power with neighboring countries, with Ninja Villages acting independently of governments, they're all equal in status." Kakashi explained, with the three Genin listening to his explanation.
"So that's why Tazuna came to Konoha, because it was the closest Hidden Village." Stated Sakura, with Kakashi nodding in response.
"That, and because unlike Minor Hidden Villages, Major Hidden Villages like Konoha are able to produce far more skilled Ninja, more often than not. Due to them having better teachings, equipment, funding, training, and Ninja Techniques, allowing them to be superior to Ninja from Minor Hidden Villages. This is why clients usually go to one of the Five Great Nations, the Land of Fire, the Land of Water, the Land of Lightning, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth. All five have Hidden Villages that produce some of the strongest Ninja in the world, thus making them get more mission requests." Said Kakashi.
"Though, that doesn't mean Minor Villages can't produce powerful Shinobi. Hanzō of the Salamander is one of the most powerful Ninja in the world being capable of defeating all three of the Sannin at once, while fighting on the same level as Granny Chiyo, who's also known as one of the most powerful Ninja from Sunagakure and a master of Kugutsu. Having taught everything she knew to her grandson, Sasori of the Red Sands." Naruto said, knowing that not all powerful Ninja come from one of the Five Great Nations.
While what Naruto learned of Chiyo and Sasori had made him interested in Kugutsu, with him being thankful that Mizuki had some scrolls on it. Along with the Kunai Balancing Exercise really helping with his Chakra Control and focusing Chakra into his fingers to form Chakra Threads.
With the others looking at him in surprise at his knowledge, especially Sasuke and Sakura given none of that was explained in the Academy.
"Yes, that's correct Naruto. While it's rare, Minor Hidden Villages will sometimes produce Ninja that are on par with or even exceed those from the Five Great Nations. It's also impressive you know this, as it's not exactly something taught in the Academy." Kakashi said, seeing he's caught up to the rest of his peers in terms of knowledge, along with surpassing them by knowing about these legendary Ninja.
"After going through all the Academy textbooks I had, I just kept learning more and more information. Getting more books on Legendary Ninja, even a Bingo Book detailing them, and some of the older ones as well. As if you want to be the best, then you need to know who is and was the best." Replied Naruto with a shrug.
Even if he has no desire to become Hokage anymore, he still wants to become a great and powerful Ninja. And the only way he can do that is to learn about those that became the best and what made them so great.
"True. But I wouldn't worry about us needing to fight any Ninja, as C-Rank Missions aren't typically that dangerous, maybe some bandits or wild animals. Nothing you three can't handle." Kakashi said with an eye-smile as they continued on their way.
"What about the other Hidden Villages besides Konoha and Suna?" Sasuke asked with a frown, wondering if it would be a good idea to learn about other famous and legendary Ninja, if any information would be useful in his goal.
"Aside from those two, there's also Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning, Kirigakure in the Land of Water, and Iwagakure in the Land of Earth. And all five of these villages are led by a Kage; the Hokage, Kazekage, Raikage, Mizukage, and Tsuchikage, who are all charged with defending their villages no matter what, as well as being among the most powerful Ninja in history." Explained Kakashi, with Naruto frowning at the latter part.
'Isn't that the truth.' Naruto thought, knowing firsthand how far a Kage would go to defend their village, no matter the sacrifice.
Though as the group walked down the road, they passed a couple of puddles, with Kakashi giving them a quick glance before looking forward. Knowing for a fact it was an ambush, he just wasn't sure for who exactly and wanted to see what they'll do. Along with seeing it as a good chance to see how his students react in such a situation.
With them continuing on their way, only to stop when suddenly two Ninja emerged from the puddle and charged at them.
The first had shoulder-length, straight dark-brown hair and dark eyes. He wears a rebreather that covers the lower half of his face and a large, clawed, gauntlet on his right arm which had a chain coming out of it. He wore a camouflage suit with bandages around his waist, dark-colored, knee-length sandals and a ragged black cape. And a forehead protector with four wavy lines and a slash through it, and had a single horn.
And the second also shoulder-length, wild dark-brown hair and dark eyes. He wears a rebreather that covers the lower half of his face and a large, clawed, gauntlet on his left arm which also had a chain coming out of it that was connected to the first Ninja's chain. He wore a camouflage suit with bandages around his waist, dark-colored, knee-length sandals and several pouches around his waist. His scratched forehead protector had two horns on it instead of one.
"What?!" Kakashi said in "shock" at the Ninja's sudden appearance, while recognizing them as the Demon Brothers Gōzu and Meizu, before gasping when they wrapped the chain around his body.
"One down!" Gōzu said, pulling on the chain.
"Three to go!" Said Meizu, pulling as well, with Kakashi crying out as the chain ripped through his body, shredding him to pieces.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura screamed in horror at the sight of their teacher getting ripped to pieces.
"Now for the second one." Said Meizu as he and Gōzu suddenly appeared behind Naruto.
"And then just two left brother." Gōzu added wickedly, while raising their gauntlets and chain into the air to shred the whiskered blonde as well.
Looking at the Demon Brothers with wide eyes, Naruto began falling forward as if frozen in horror that he was about to die. Only for the Uzumaki to suddenly roll backwards right underneath Gōzu's and Meizu's chain, surprising the Demon Brothers at his sudden movement. Before Naruto stood up on his hands, bending his legs and began kicking the two repeatedly, making them grunt at the kicks.
With Sasuke then taking the chance while they were distracted, throwing a shuriken and kunai at their chain, pinning it to a tree.
"What?!" Gōzu said in disbelief, both at the sudden attack and now their chain being pinned to a tree, before the Uchiha landed on top of his gauntlet and slammed his foot into his face, knocking the Demon Brother back.
"Brother!" Said Meizu releasing the chain from his gauntlet and rushing to help his brother, only to be stopped when Naruto got in front of him, delivering a double palm strike that sent him skidding back.
"Be more worried about me, than him." Naruto stated, speeding towards Meizu, who growled in annoyance.
"Little brat! Die!" Meizu said, rushing Naruto with his gauntlet to impale him.
Only to be stunned in confusion, when the whiskered blonde seemingly tripped and fell to the ground, before Meizu gagged in pain. As just before Naruto hit the ground, he suddenly caught himself and closed the distance between them, slamming his fist straight into his chest. With Meizu tasting blood filling his mouth, along with feeling several of his ribs cracking under the force of the blow.
With Naruto then falling into a crouch and quickly turning around, charge-leaning Meizu with the back of his shoulder, making the Demon Brother gag again at the added pressure. Sending Meizu crashing back into a tree, only to soon gasp as he felt his damaged ribs now start breaking when Naruto finished it with an elbow strike to his stomach.
"H-ho…how…" Meizu muttered in disbelief as blood leaked out of his rebreather from not just his broken ribs, but his now ruptured stomach, not believing a kid could have this kind of power, before falling to the ground.
'I really was holding back, wasn't I.' Naruto thought while seeing the damage he did to Meizu, comparing it to what he did to Iwana and Bekkō, seeing how easy he went on them.
"Meizu!" Shouted Gōzu in horror and concern at seeing his brother go down that quickly.
Before giving an angered shout and charged Naruto to kill him for what he did, only to gasp when Sasuke clotheslined him, slamming his arm into Gōzu's neck. With the ravenette then quickly getting behind the Demon Brother and kicking his legs out from under him, while keeping his arm wrapped around his neck.
Sasuke then jumped and slammed his foot into the back of Gōzu's head, sending him crashing into the ground, groaning in pain. While Sakura and Tazuna looked on in disbelief at how quickly and effectively they took out the Demon Brothers. The bridge builder also reconsidering his earlier opinion of them just being kids, if they could do this.
Before they were further surprised when Kakashi suddenly appeared, much to their relief at seeing he was still alive.
"Kakashi-sensei, you're alive!" Sakura said in relief, before looking at what she thought was his remains, only to see they were replaced by a shredded log.
"Yeah, I used a Substitution Jutsu and some Genjutsu to sell the act that I was dead, as I wanted to see who exactly the Demon Brothers were after. And good job, Naruto, Sasuke, you two managed to take them down without any assistance." Said Kakashi before going over and tying the Demon Brothers up, while glancing at Naruto.
'That fighting style, there's no doubt it's Bajiquan, but there were also elements from the Drunken Fist and Gōken in there as well. And the only person Naruto could have learned those from is Gai. Has he been training with Gai and his team?' Kakashi thought with a frown behind his mask, not thinking one of his students would actually go to another team for training.
The Copy Ninja was beginning to wonder if maybe he has been focusing too much on teamwork and not enough on actually training their individual skills. If they're now going to other Jōnin for training to improve themselves.
"Now then, Tazuna, we need to talk." Kakashi said, narrowing his eyes at Tazuna once the Demon Brothers were tied to a tree.
"Y-yeah, about what?" Tazuna asked nervously.
"The Demon Brothers were Chūnin from Kirigakure before defecting and becoming Missing-Nin, working as mercenaries. Their disguise wasn't even that good, hiding as puddles when it hasn't rained in weeks. I could've dealt with them, then and there, but that wouldn't reveal just why they were waiting to ambush us. The obvious answer would be me, but instead they kept attacking. So that means…you were their target." Kakashi said, making Tazuna gulp.
"The request you put in was C-Rank, meaning the most danger we should have encountered were bandits at most. Instead, not long after leaving the village, we run into two Chūnin-level Missing-Nin, automatically meaning this mission should be B-Rank, maybe even higher. If we had known this you would've received a different and more prepared team, along with being charged more for the actual rank. Now obviously, you must have your reasons for lying about the dangers of this mission, but that doesn't make it acceptable, as your lies could have easily cost these Genin their lives. So…talk." Said Kakashi, wanting to know the reason why Tazuna lied and why he has Ninja after him, with the bridge builder sighing, knowing he couldn't keep it up anymore.
"Alright. This is a mission beyond just C-Rank, I didn't just hire Ninja to escort me back to the Land of Waves and protect me while I finish my bridge. But also because someone wants me dead, to ensure I never finish it, his name is Gatō. I'm sure you've heard of him." Revealed Tazuna, making the Jōnin frown.
"Gatō, the shipping magnate? Of Gatō Company?" Kakashi asked, not expecting someone like that to be after Tazuna.
"Yes. On the surface Gatō is just a very powerful business tycoon, but beneath that he's a drug-trafficker and transports illegal contraband. Ruthlessly crushing anyone who gets in his way, using gangs and Ninja he has hires to do his dirty work. And one year ago, Gatō came to the Land of Waves, using his wealth to take complete control of our transport and shipping, while anyone that got in his way was killed. And as an island nation, Gatō's control over the sea means he controls all of the Land of Waves. But there's one thing he's afraid of, my bridge. With my bridge completed, we'll finally have a new means of trade and shipping, breaking his control over our country, something Gatō refuses to let happen. So that's why Gatō is targeting me, without me the bridge will never be finished and if I'm dead…then there will be no more hope for the Land of Waves." Tazuna explained, much to their disbelief and realization.
"So these guys, the Demon Brothers, they were sent by Gatō." Stated Sakura, looking at the Demon Brothers.
"Yet that still doesn't explain why you hid all this information. Why didn't you just tell the truth right from the beginning?" Kakashi asked, given if he'd told the truth he would've gotten a far more experienced team to handle whoever Gatō hired.
"Because the Land of Waves is a small and impoverished nation, even the nobles have little money, leaving me only able to afford a C-Rank Mission. And if you were to end the mission now and return to your village, then there's no doubt I'll be killed before I even reach home." Said Tazuna, looking down before glancing up at them.
"But, of course, I completely understand if you choose to end the mission now! It's no problem, just the hope of my entire country depending on the completion of this bridge! And then there's my family, my daughter would be all alone and my adorable grandson will be upset, and he was just going to turn eight soon! I'm sure they'll just be devastated to learn they'll never see me again! My daughter will also no doubt condemn Konoha for abandoning her father to die and live the rest of her life in sorrow!" Tazuna said, making Team Seven look at him blankly with his guilt-trip.
"Ugh…what do you three think?" Kakashi said, looking at his students, deciding to leave the decision up to them.
"I mean…even if he lied, Tazuna is doing this to help the Land of Waves be free from Gatō. So, I think we should complete the mission, rather than leave them to suffer." Said Sakura, not wanting to just abandon the Land of Waves when they could help them.
"Yeah, even if he's annoying and insulted us, this Gatō guy sounds like a real bastard that needs to be taken down. Besides, I'm not passing up the chance to test myself against any other Ninja he hired, since these guys weren't that big of a challenge." Naruto said, refusing to miss the chance to test his abilities against a better challenge than the Demon Brothers.
"Agreed, we're already here, it'd be foolish to turn back now, especially if Gatō is serious about wanting Tazuna dead, then the next Ninja he sends will be even stronger." Added Sasuke, knowing this is his chance to finally see how much he's improved.
"Well, it seems I'm outvoted, so we'll be continuing the mission." Kakashi said, much to Tazuna's relief.
"Oh, thank you! I'm so relieved to hear that!" Said Tazuna, while mentally cheering that he was able to convince them to continue the mission.
"But first, let's see what information we can get out of these two." Kakashi said, going over to Gōzu and Meizu to interrogate them, only to frown when he saw Meizu wasn't moving.
Crouching down, Kakashi checked for a pulse only to find that he's dead, likely having succumbed to the injuries he suffered.
'He's already become skilled enough to deal lethal blows with the Bajiquan, and he'll only continue to improve the more he trains and fights. At this rate, he may very well surpass his parents, soon.' Thought Kakashi, seeing how much Naruto's grown in such a short amount of time.
"He's dead, isn't he." Naruto stated, making the others look at him, with Kakashi nodding before turning towards Gōzu.
"Yeah, he is. This one's still alive, though." Said Kakashi, raising his headband up and slapping Gōzu awake.
"What?! Where-" Gōzu said only to look directly into Kakashi's Sharingan, with the Copy Ninja extracting all the information he can out of his mind before knocking him out again.
'So, Zabuza Momochi huh. This mission really is much harder than I expected it to be.' Kakashi thought, lowering his headband and standing up.
"Sasuke, finish what you started." Kakashi said, stepping aside to let Sasuke finish Gōzu off.
Looking at the Jōnin for a moment, Sasuke pulled out a kunai before throwing it right into Gōzu's throat, the Demon Brother gasping and gurgling on his blood before slumping forward. With Sasuke not reacting much besides feeling his hands shake at just taking a life. Though not as bad as one would expect, given how desensitized he's become to death after being forced to watch Itachi slaughter his clan on a loop, as well as how his goal is to kill Itachi.
"Dibs on the gauntlets." Naruto stated, going over and grabbing the gauntlets, figuring that even if he can't use them himself, he could still have them taken apart to see how they work and have new ones made.
"Keep them, I just want any kunai and shuriken they might have, along with any Jutsu that they may have on them." Said Sasuke, searching their pouches and taking any kunai and shuriken, while seeing if they had Ninjutsu Scrolls on them.
"Oh, here are a few, but they're all Water Style Ninjutsu. Though they do have ones for the Hiding in Water Jutsu and Hidden Mist Jutsu, those should be useful, no matter what." Said Naruto, sealing the scrolls away while giving Sasuke copies of the Hiding in Water and Hidden Mist Jutsu.
"The rebreathers could be useful if we ever encounter any poisonous gas." Sasuke stated, with the Uzumaki nodding in agreement as they took the rebreathers.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." Sakura muttered, feeling sick at the sight of her teammates having killed two people and were now looting their corpses, a sentiment Tazuna shares while also frowning sadly at the sight.
"I knew Ninja did a lot of things…but I never thought I'd see two young kids doing something like this." Said Tazuna, seeing they weren't much older than his grandson, yet had just killed like it was nothing and now were casually looting bodies.
"It's not pretty and some would even consider it evil to do such things, but this is the truth of the life we choose to live. We kill those that try to kill us and we take what we can for ourselves, it's not right or wrong, it's just the way things work. You either kill and take what you need to survive or you die and your body is the one being looted. And it's for situations like these that the Hunter-Nin are sent out." Kakashi said, knowing this was just the cold truth of their lifestyle.
"Hunter-Nin?" Questioned Naruto, turning towards the Copy Ninja along with the others, curious of what those were.
"They're a special branch of Kiri's Anbu, they train specifically to hunt down and kill Missing-Nin. As the bodies of enemy Ninja can possess valuable secrets, the Hunter-Nin are to ensure those secrets aren't discovered, tracking Missing-Nin and killing them before destroying the bodies on sight. Like say if I were to be killed, my body would need to be destroyed immediately to make sure the secrets it has are never discovered, especially to make sure my Sharingan isn't taken by an enemy village." Explained Kakashi, making them frown but nod in understanding, before looking to Naruto and Sasuke as they finished getting what they wanted before the former sealed the bodies away.
"So, I'm sure these guys have a decent bounty on their heads. Split it fifty-fifty." Naruto stated, looking at the Uchiha, who nodded in response since they both killed one of the Demon Brothers, each.
"Well you're in luck, as there should be a bounty station just up ahead. Tazuna, is it alright if we make a quick stop?" Kakashi asked, looking at the bridge builder, with Tazuna nodding slowly in response.
"I suppose not." Replied Tazuna, not seeing the harm in them making a stop at a bounty station.
Though unknown to the group as they continued on their way, they were being watched by someone from the trees, before the person vanished in a swirl of snow.
*Gatō's Base*
"Zabuza-sama, the Demon Brothers are dead, killed by the Ninja that the bridge builder has hired." Said the person who spied on Team Seven and Tazuna, with Zabuza and Gatō both being in the room.
With the person being a teenage girl with pale skin, dark brown eyes, long black hair was gathered in a white bun holder, while two locks of their hair were left loose framing their face, bound with metal hair cuffs at the ends, and a slender frame. With her wearing the standard Kirigakure pinstriped outfit which stopped at her knees. Over this she wore a green haori with white trimmings, and around her waist a brown sash with a fringed trail wrapped around her waist twice. She also wore light-brown platoon sandals with straps in the same color as her kimono and nail polish on her fingernails and toenails in a matching blue-green color. She also wore a black forehead protector with Kirigakure's symbol upon it.
While Zabuza is a tall and noticeably muscular man with light grayish skin, short spiky black hair, dark brown eyes, and small eyebrows, along with bandages wrapped around the bottom half of his face. With him wearing a belt across his chest which he attached his sword, the Kubikiribōchō, baggy pants with the striped pattern typical of Kirigakure and mimetic wrist-warmers extending up to his elbows, with matching leg-warmers, and black Ninja sandals underneath.
And Gatō is a short man with shaggy brown hair and sports a pair of small, circular black glasses. He wears a black suit with a purple tie, a yellow shirt underneath his coat and closed-toed shoes.
"What do you mean they're dead?! How hard can it be to kill one old man?!" Gatō demanded, scowling in annoyance and anger that the Demon Brothers failed, with the Hunter-Nin not giving the business magnate a single glance.
"Who killed them Haku? A Jōnin?" Zabuza asked with a raised brow, given the Demon Brothers were at their best when working together, only for Haku to shake her head.
"No. Though there was a Jōnin, one I recognized as the Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake. The ones who killed the Demon Brother were two Genin from what I could tell, one of them had the symbol of the Uchiha Clan and the other a blonde boy with whisker marks, as well as appearing to be skilled in Bajiquan." Explained Haku, with Zabuza being intrigued by this while Gatō was only annoyed and angered.
"They couldn't even handle two brats?! What am I paying you Ninja for if you can't even handle a few-" Said Gatō, only to be silenced when Zabuza stabbed his sword into the ground.
"Shut it. Obviously these Ninja are more skilled than we anticipated, so I'll just handle them myself." Stated Zabuza, seeing he'll need to go after Tazuna himself.
"And how I do I know you can handle them? I've heard about this Copy Ninja guy; he's apparently mastered a thousand Jutsu and even has one that can cut lighting! As well as how the Uchiha Clan were known as one of the most powerful and infamous Ninja Clans back when they were at their peak. While numerous royals and Daimyō's have their bodyguards learn Bajiquan to keep them safe!" Gatō retorted, doubting Zabuza would be able to kill Tazuna with Ninja like those protecting him.
And while he's not a Ninja or a martial artist, Gatō has heard of Bajiquan with how it's used by bodyguards, and how devastating it can be. With even some assassins having taken to learning it, given how it can cause devastating internal damage. Basically ensuring that anyone they hit, if they aren't instantly killed, then they won't live much longer.
"It doesn't matter how skilled someone is if they can't see or hear what's coming. And the last thing they'll see, is their executioner." Zabuza said, confident he can handle the Ninja himself no matter what their abilities were.
*Konoha*
Meanwhile, back in Konoha within the Hyūga Compound, Hinata was standing across from her little sister, Hanabi Hyūga.
Hanabi is a young girl, being seven-years-old and soon to be eight-years-old, with fair skin, long dark brown hair, that reaches down to the middle of her back, with long parted bangs with a single lock of hair falling into her face, along with large white eyes with a lilac tint. With her attire consisting of a sleeveless, navy blue v-neck shirt with mesh armor underneath, navy blue shorts, and blue Ninja sandals.
While off to the side was their father Hiashi Hyūga along with the Hyūga Clan Elders, including their grandfather the Head Elder. As well Neji, with his team having returned not long ago from their mission, and Natsu Hyūga, Hanabi's caretaker.
Hiashi has fair skin, long brown hair, and featureless white eyes like all members of his clan. He wore very traditional, loose fitting robes with a long-sleeved, brown haori.
While Natsu has short, dark green hair and like the rest of her clan, she has large white eyes with a lilac tint. Attire-wise, she wore a black, full-length kimono with a white apron on top along with the village's forehead protector around her forehead, and black Ninja sandals.
At the moment, they were gathered together due to the fact that Hinata had challenged Hanabi for the title of Clan Heiress. Something that she did have the right to do, despite having already lost against her sister once before. With Hiashi and the elders being unimpressed nor amused, but decided to let her go through with the challenge.
'It seems your fate has finally caught up Hinata-sama. After today everyone will finally see you as the failure you've always been.' Neji thought, taking enjoyment at having returned to see how things will play out.
Especially since to show how unamused they are, Hiashi and the elders had made it clear that the loser will be branded with the Caged Bird Seal and moved to the Branch Family. With everyone being able to see they intended for Hinata to lose and receive the penalty.
'Hanabi-sama, please be safe.' Thought Natsu, looking at her charge in worry.
While she's confident in Hanabi's strength and the training she's completed, the greenette couldn't help but feel uneasy when Hinata issued the challenge, showing none of her usual shyness or kind personality. Not only that, but she couldn't help but notice the bluenette seemed to have a dark glint in her eye, as if she's planning something. Making Natsu worried of what might happen to Hanabi, only hoping that she'll be safe.
"You may begin when you're ready." Hiashi said, dropping his arm between them, signaling the match has begun.
"Let's just get this over with quickly." Muttered Hanabi, not even wanting to do this after how she already beat Hinata before, but also what was at stake.
As despite how she lost and forced Hanabi to become the Clan Heiress, part of her still cared about her sister and the last thing Hanabi wanted was for her to be branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
"Yes, let's end this." Hinata said with a dark gleam in her eyes, before she rushed Hanabi with surprising speed.
Hanabi's eyes widened at how fast her sister moved and was now in front of her, barely having any time to deflect her below before delivering a palm thrust to Hinata's abdomen to end the match quickly. Only for Hinata to deflect this and slammed her palm right into Hanabi's chest, making the brunette gasp in pain and be sent skidding back.
"You're with my range of division, imouto. Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Hinata said wickedly as she charged Hanabi and began striking her Tenketsu.
"Two Palms!"
"Four Palms!"
"Eight Palms!"
"Sixteen Palms!"
"Thirty-Two Palms!"
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Hinata said, delivering a final palm strike to Hanabi's chest, much to everyone's shock and horror, only for them to be further horrified at her next attack.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!" Said Hinata, thrusting her other hand forward, only stopping shy of hitting Hanabi.
Releasing a compressed vacuum shell of air that sent Hanabi flying back and crashing into a wall, before she fell and hit the ground. The brunette gasping and whimpering at the pain coursing through her body as tears leaked out her eyes, while not believing how hard Hinata struck her.
While Hiashi, Natsu, Neji, and the elders looked in shock and horror at what they just witnessed, with Hinata looking at them with a dark smirk.
"I believe this now means that I'm the heiress, again." Hinata stated, making the elders look at her.
"Hanabi!" Screamed Natsu, running over to her charge, horrified at she just saw, with the greenette going down to her knees and picking Hanabi up.
"N-Na-Natsu…" Hanabi muttered hoarsely with some blood dripping from her mouth, with Natsu wiping it and the tears away while activating her Byakugan, only feeling slight relief to see that the damage wasn't critical or lethal.
"It's okay, you're okay." Natsu said, holding Hanabi gently to avoid hurting her further, horrified at what Hinata just did to her own sister and what it now meant.
With everyone being too shocked at how unexpected the outcome was, making them unable to see the growing darkness in Hinata's eyes. The new Hyūga Heiress pleased at her victory and showing her mastery over the advanced techniques. Having thrown herself into her training ever since the fake showed up, preparing for when she'd deal with it.
'And now that I'm heiress, I'll have all the Hyūga Clan's resources and backing to make sure the fake suffers for what it's done.' Hinata thought, not even caring about the cost of her victory, that Hanabi would now be branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
Not caring how this will affect Hanabi going forward, both mentally, spiritually, and socially from within the clan. The only thing Hinata cared about was the power she'll now gain to make sure the fake suffers and pays.
"It would seem we underestimated Hinata."
"Indeed. I had no idea she already mastered the Sixty-Four Palms and Vacuum Palm."
"Perhaps becoming a Ninja has finally awoken her sense of duty to the clan."
The elders muttered amongst themselves after coming out of their shock, having a hard time believing what they just saw. But also couldn't deny the results at seeing Hinata's growth to defeat Hanabi so quickly and brutally, seeing that perhaps they were wrong to originally dismiss her.
"Hiashi, remember the penalty for the one that loses." Stated the Head Elder, snapping Hiashi out of his shock while Hanabi and Natsu look at them in horror, with the brunette being helped into a sitting position.
'No! No they can't do that to Hanabi! Not after…after that! She can't be branded!' Natsu thought, wanting nothing more than to beg and plead to not let Hanabi be branded, but knew her word meant nothing.
"T-To-Tou-san…" Said Hanabi as she looked at her father pleadingly, hoping and praying he wouldn't actually let her be branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
With Hiashi looking between his daughters, seeing the smirk on Hinata's face and pleading expression Hanabi was giving him. Two expressions he never thought he'd see on their faces, with how Hinata was so kind and loving that it seemed impossible she'd ever hurt a fly, let alone her own sister. Yet now looked even pleased with herself at brutalizing Hanabi, or even caring that she'll be branded.
And Hanabi who was always strong and stoic ever since she gained the title of Clan Heiress, taking any training he gave her without complaint and never giving up. Only now seeing her as the little girl she actually was, a little girl that was scared and pleading to not be tossed aside and branded.
'Is…is this my fault?' Hiashi thought, wondering if this was his fault, if he'd really pushed his daughters this far.
"…Yes. The terms…of the match will be met, Hinata is once more Heiress of the Hyūga Clan. And Hanabi…shall be marked with the Caged Bird Seal…and placed in the Branch Family." Hiashi declared, much to Hanabi's and Natsu's horror, with the former feeling like her entire world was falling apart.
Believing she had one last hope, Hanabi looked toward her sister, only for her hope to shatter when she saw Hinata not even give her a glance as she exited the Clan Dojo. With Hanabi feeling tears of pain and despair stinging her eyes, not believing how her own sister, someone she thought would never hurt her, just tossed her aside.
'She…she threw…she threw the…match.' Hanabi thought in realization that the first match they had, she only won because Hinata let her, making the brunette feel even more pain, despair, and horror.
All the while Neji hadn't moved, only looking at where Hinata had been standing with wide eyes, refusing to believe what he just saw.
'No…no, no, no, no! That…that doesn't make any sense! Her fate was decided, she was destined to be a failure! She…she lost when Hanabi barely had training, yet she somehow wins now?! It's…it's not possible! How did this happen?!' Neji thought, having difficulties understanding what just happened, unaware of the monster he created by unknowingly stroking Hinata's darkness and delusions.
With none of them realizing what a mistake it'll be to let Hinata become heiress again, a mistake they'll only see when it's too late.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Team Seven and Tazuna on their way towards the Land of Waves, with Kakashi explaining more of the Hidden Village System, Naruto throwing in his own knowledge as well. Before they're attacked by the Demon Brothers with Kakashi being seemingly killed, only for Naruto and Sasuke to then take the Demon Brothers out, with Naruto showing his skill in Bajiquan, along with elements of Drunken Fist and Gōken, allowing him take out one of them with his injuries soon killing him, while Sasuke deals with the other one.
Then we see Kakashi reveal himself, congratulating Naruto and Sasuke, along with noting the formers use of Bajiquan, knowing the only person he could've learned it from is Gai, making te Copy Ninja start realizing his failings as a sensei. Before Kakashi then questions Tazuna, realizing he was the Demon Brothers, with Tazuna revealing the truth of Gatō and his hold over the Land of Waves, before guilt-tripping Team Seven into continuing the mission, which they agree to.
Kakashi then extracts what information he can from the still living Demon Brother before having Sasuke finish him off, with Naruto and Sasuke then looting their bodies for anything useful, much to Sakura's and Tazuna's disgust. With Kakashi explaining that's the way things are, along with revealing the existence and purpose of Hunter-Nin, before they then leave with Naruto and Sasuke intending to split the bounty on the Demon Brothers.
We then get a brief look of Haku reporting to Zabuza and Gatō what she saw, and how the Demon Brothers were killed, leading to Zabuza intending to face the Ninja on his own, confident he'll be able to handle things.
Finally we then see Hinata and Hanabi fighting for the title of Clan Heiress, only that this time the penalty is the loser will be branded with the Caged Bird Seal and put in the Branch Family. While Hinata's officially crossed the point of no return when she brutally and quickly defeats Hanabi, uncaring of what will happen to her, only what she now gains as Clan Heiress. With Hiashi being left with no choice but to follow through with the penalty, much to Hanabi's and Natsu's horror, with the former also realizing Hinata let her win their first match. While Neji tries making sense of what he just witnessed. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.
Storm out