AN: I know I know, all of a sudden I'm updating every few days. I'm just being getting flashes of what I need to write. I'm putting them down before I forget. So, bear with me as I charge this fic onwards. I'm sorry that this chapter is not as long as it should have been. . .oh well. . . sorry about that. THANKS to all those that reviewed. Here is a bit of shameless advertising! I recently wrote a fic for Ruroni Kenshin called Tenants. Hey, if you have nothing to do. . . why not head over there? Ha ha. Anyway, thanks for reading ppl!! Hopefully this 'hidden history' is not cliché *crosses fingers* Now, on with the game!

Individual Reponses (for new edition of chapter 10)

Xabie: Yay! You think its better too! Thanks~ I mean, I was embarrassed when I saw what I put on the internet. Phew, thank goodness I checked it before my reputation (here is the place where you're supposed to say "What reputation?") is ruined. Thanks for reading. I mean, if you ever feel like giving me constructive criticism, please, I welcome it! Thanks for reading~

G-Cleft: Wow. That was the most ego-boosting review I've ever received (head swells immensely). After reading your review, I was immediately inspired and wrote the next chapter (in 3 days). Its getting harder and harder to put my words on paper. . . *wahh* but I hope everything will turn out satisfactory. You are right. There are going to be at least a jumble of battle scenes before dear Fuuko re-appears. I mean, hey, they need to get their. . .(read chapter to insert noun) back. Then they need to find Raiha (and possibly Kurei). Oops, am I spoiling the future of the fic? I hope not. Anyway, thanks for reading.

Individual Reponses (for old edition of chapter 10)

Kaze Yurei: Ahh! Don't beat me, I promise I'll finish this monster fic. I just don't know when because the plot keeps on changing and evolving in my end *sigh* One of the wonders of writing – you never know what the hell is going on. THANKS for reading!

Dark Phoenix: Couldn't agree with you more, hence, the re-write. Get rid of Mi-chan laughing! Good lord. I read it yester-evening and was disgusted .I'm glad you liked the "gay" joke (everyone seems to think Mikagami is gay so. . . ha!) Hopefully this "edition" (as I like to put it) will turn out more satisfactory than the last.


Chapter 11: Mythology or Fact?

"How do you think the Hokage ninjas got the power to make their madogus?" Kageoru questioned silently.

"I thought the source was unknown even to the most knowledgeable Hokage ninja" replied Mikagmi, his agitated voiced betraying the calmness displayed on his face.

"Kageoru-san, if there's anything we could do to help Fuuko. . . pleases tell us" Yanagi pleaded softly. Kageoru massaged her aching head and continued on.

"I am not sure if what I am about to tell you is true. I heard this story as a little girl training to be a ninja while growing up in the Hokage village. We hear stories like these often because our parents, much those of today, wanted to keep our actions in check and our interest in our studies or training high."

"The Sun goddess, Amaterasu, after creating our land its people, blessed a certain group of individuals with the power to control and manipulate the elements of the earth. She warned them that if the powers given to them were ever used destructively, they will be cursed and their powers stripped away from them. As you might have guessed, these individuals were the ancestors of the Hokage ninja clan."

"In the beginning, only the four basic elements were manipulated – earth, water, wind, and fire. These powers were only confined to the day, active only during the hours in which the sun shone. As these powers were passed on from generation to generation, they were magnified and developed. Soon, these powers were usable during the night as well as the day and many more elements were under their control. The son or daughter of the person who possessed the power had to endure a series of trials in order to gain the elemental power."

"Many generations later, abuse of the elemental powers began because these people forgot the reason why they were granted these powers –to protect, not to destroy. The Sun Goddess's warning was entirely forgotten. The only person who did not misuse his power was the sole flame caster in the village; he remained aloof as the rest of his companions used their powers destructively."

"The Sun Goddess was displeased and stripped all but the flame caster of their elemental powers. The flame caster knew that their clan would be immersed in extreme jeopardy if they were deprived of these powers so he made a request. He pleaded to the Sun Goddess and asked her to return their powers so that they could at least protect their clan. He also assured her that if any of them ever abused their powers, he would be taken into account and held responsible. She agreed and returned their power in a different and much more limited form. She created madogus, elemental weapons. She designated the flame caster to be the leader of the clan and named them the 'Hokage, the shadow of the fire.'"

"Despite the assurance of the flame caster, she was afraid of future abuse of the madogus. Consequently, she placed a curse on each elemental weapon's controller. If a controller ever misused his power, he would be banished into the realm of nothingness and would be cursed to live forever. I, as you have guessed, are one of those people who crossed the line. By opening the time portal, I was banished into the realm of nothingness and was cursed never to die. The only reason why I could leave the realm of nothingness was because my element was the shadow and I could easily manipulate space in that realm in order to leave it. The others, though not many, weren't so fortunate. They were doomed to patrol the darkness for eternity."

"The Sun Goddess also sent her daughter *Point A – definite mythological mistake, please forgive me* to watch over the Hokage clan as a 'healer' whenever the clan was in dire need of protection. It used to be said that if a 'Healer' was born, the Hokage would know that they were about to conquer a near impossible task."

"She also placed a curse on the flame caster, the clan's leader, because she wanted him to protect her daughter and keep the clan from abusing their madogus. The flame caster would be doomed to become a flame dragon if he could not protect someone or something important to him."

"There are some elements of truth in this story, but, on the whole, I am not sure." Kageoru heaved a huge sigh of relief, it was difficult telling this story because of the painful connotations it brought.

"Kageoru-san, when Recca's father, Resshin, said that he wanted to end the Hokage, was it just to terminate this curse?" Yanagi stared intently at Kageoru, waiting for an answer.

"I don't know" replied Kageoru, "please don't take everything in this myth at face value. . ."

"That could be. . ." reasoned Mikagami. "All myth originates from fact and we know the curse is no longer extent because our madogus have shattered." He paused slightly to finger the place where his madogu used to rest. "I wage that Resshin's ultimate goal was not to destroy the Hokage but to create a new generation of ninjas that did not have to rely on madogus for power."

"I highly doubt that Resshin-sama would believe in such myths and act on it. . . this story was for cajoling children to bed" Kageoru defended her deceased husband adamantly. She had no idea why these strong emotions came over her so suddenly, but she felt the need to protect the integrity of her late husband.

"There must be a reason why you've told us this story" Recca rubbed the underside of his nose "What is it that we have to do?" Kageoru smiled, her son was exactly like his father – get to the point and act on it. Keep life simple and stay happy.

"What I told you was the myth that parents told their children. There are other legends and related literature that the leaders of the Hokage discovered upon studying and deciphering the scrolls that recorded our history." Kageoru's eyes widened suddenly as she remembered a specific evening where she witnessed her husband diligently examining similar scrolls. That was not long before he made the decision to give birth to Recca, the cursed child of the flame who was destined to destroy the Hokage. Could there be more truth to these myths than she imagined?

"These scrolls could only be accessed by the leaders of the clan, no one else. I could only guess the reason to be that they contained information that would lead to the total annihilation of the Hokage. I was privy to some information because Resshin-sama was generous with this information" Recca snorted as he remembered the few encounters with his loud, genki father and earned a slap in the head chastisement by Yanagi.

"For all we know, these scrolls are lost. . ." Domon sighed, he had been silent all this time, contemplating the impossibility of the task they were about to face. He glanced around the room and observed everyone's reaction; they all seemed to be taking the news extremely well. He was certain they could pull through. They left USB tournament with glory and were able to destroy 'Heaven and Earth' – what more could you ask of adolescents? He didn't know whether or not he wanted this adventure, but, like it or not, it was going to happen and he was going to succeed.

"Maybe not. . ." stated Mikagami silently "If we were basing all our speculations on this myth, we could assume that only the history concerning the cursed part of the Hokage was erased, everything else before it should have remained intact." He brooded a while longer and ran his fingers through his hair "Recca, do you know if ______ Sensei still has his collection of Hokage related items?"

"I don't know. . ." Mikagmi's logic dawned on Recca as he grinned "Gee, you do think fast fridge man, they don't call you smart for nothing"

"Thanks monkey" This seemingly condescending remark did not faze Recca for he realized that, although the change was small, Mikagami has indeed thawed. He almost dared to label Mikagami's sarcastic statement as playful banter, not pure insult.

"Remember how Sensei had that one scroll that detailed many things about the Hokage that we knew nothing about? Perhaps the information we need is in there" Recca glanced around the room for approval and was surprised to find agreement in everyone's eyes.

"Tomorrow," declared Kageoru "We ask him tomorrow. . ." She paused while she stifled a yawn "Please, get a good night's sleep . . .I have a feeling that this will be the last semi-peaceful rest we get for a while"


AN: Was that satisfactory? I know it is pretty short but it took me forever to write. Goodness gracious, this fic is turning out to be longer than I ever imagined it to be. I'm thankful to those that are/will stick with me to the bitter end. You guys are the best~ So, preview for next chapter. It is called "Facts Retrieved from Fiction". . .not hard to guess what's going to happen, huh? Please review if you'd like, constructive criticism is more than welcome. Otherwise, till next time, I bow my head in appreciation.