Hey everybody! Here I am again, trying once more to add my own little
touch to the fanfic universe. I want to thank everyone who posted a review
for my first fic 'Rasengan' in fact, I'd like to name them off: Katsuhito
Sage, Bass Clef, Jiro, Anime Lass, RadicalL, :D, Sleepy One, Fruit-Tea1,
Efrainman, Dan Inverse, Tokki-Chan, Naruke, and Chibi0Dragon. You guys are
the greatest and really help me stay with it and I really hope you all know
what it means to get support like you all give.
Anyway on with the show!
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Believe me if I owned Naruto I would make it a lot easier to buy Naruto stuff here in the U.S. Thank goodness for ebay!
Dust In The Wind
By: Yojimbo1
Chapter 1 - Night of the Crescent Moon
A cold wind blew across the Village of the Leaf.
It was late at night and most of the towns inhabitants were inside staying away from the chilly night air. However, one young man was walking down the street alone, despite the cold. The boy had just left the bridge that was in the middle of town, which was one of his favorite places to go and think alone.
A leaf forehead protector, a symbol that this boy was a Shinobi of this town, held wild blonde hair back away from his face. Bright blue eyes shone with child like playfulness as he made his way to his home so he could be rested for tomorrow in case a mission came in.
'Probably just be hunting down another dog or cat or something stupid like that.' The boy sighed in resignation. 'If I had made the Chuunin cut I would be getting all kind of cool missions, then everyone would know just how awesome I really am.' Stopping for a moment Naruto stood still for a moment. "Damn it all!" Naruto said stomping the ground. "I keep doing all this cool stuff and nobody's around to see it except for a Pervert-Sennin and that retard Sasuke! If Sakura-Chan had seen me kick Kabuto's butt with my Rasengan she would be all over me!"
Naruto pulled his leg back and kicked a stone in front of him as hard as he could. He started to walk away but the sound of breaking glass made him turn to where the rock had sailed through the air. A nice sized hole in a store's glass display window made Naruto quickly realize what had just happened. Just as Naruto was about to make a break for it, a thing that could only exist in nightmares jumped from out of the front door, effectively making his jaw drop all the way to the ground.
The thing looked somewhat human but its face was covered in green goo. Hair that could be white or blonde was done up in curlers, making the figure look like a picture of the Medusa that Naruto had seen once. Also the creature was wearing a purple night robe as it turned its eyes upon him.
"NARUTO!" The thing shrieked.
"AGGGGHHH! MONSTER!" Naruto yelled.
Naruto took off screaming, never once looking back at the now fuming Ino 'Medusa' who quickly slammed the stores front door shut vowing that she would hunt him down in the morning.
Once Naruto had put enough distance between him and the thing he paused to look up at the Hokage monument. A slight pang of sadness hit him as he saw the face of the third, forever etched into the stone. Naruto wished that he had been able to talk to the third one last time before he had died but knew that thinking like that wouldn't help anything. Finally, his blue eyes rested upon the face of the fourth. 'Pervert-Sennin said that I remind him of the fourth.' Pride rose up from inside him as he thought about how he had learned a technique that the fourth had created. 'Don't worry Mister Fourth, I'm gonna use it to become great just like you.'
Grinning widely as he held up his hand towards the sky he said, "Someday I'll be up on that monument with you. Of course, I'll be a lot cooler and have Sakura-Chan hanging all over me but no hard feelings, eh fourth sir?"
A yawn came unbidden to Naruto. He suddenly thought about how late it was and headed the rest of the distance towards his home. Feeling around in his pockets he felt for his key. After searching five pockets and finding nothing but lint, Konoha's number one hyperactive ninja reacted as only he could.
"Oh my God! I'm locked outside and I have all that Ramen in there that will be so lonely if I'm not around to eat it!" Naruto started running around in circles, trying desperately to think of a way to get inside of his home. 'Maybe I can use the Rasengan on the front door.' Naruto smacked himself in the head for even letting himself think of such a thing. "That would blow up the whole house, idiot."
Sitting down on the front step Naruto scrunched his eyes together in concentration. Rocking back and forth from side to side he ran through several scenarios that would gain him access to the inside but all resulted in damage that was more costly than his paycheck from his sorry missions.
"Damn!" Naruto yelled jumping to his feet. The feeling of something poking into his foot made Naruto wince. Sitting back down Naruto pulled off his boot and watched as a single key fell to the ground. Reaching down he picked the key up and saw that it was his house key. He sat there for a moment pondering why he would put that in his boot.
"Oh that's right, I forgot that I put my key in my boot so the Pervert-Sennin wouldn't try and bet my house when we went to find Tsunade." While Naruto didn't really believe that Jiraiya would purposefully sell his house, he didn't fully trust him if a woman was around while he gambled and he tried to act big to impress her.
Wondering why he had to have such a weird mentor, Naruto entered his house. Sighing as the familiar smell of his home greeted him, he headed towards his bedroom. Opening the door to his room he thought about how he might need to clean it sometime soon but thought better of it. 'No idea what could be living under all this junk.' He said stepping over some empty Ramen containers, countless scrolls and a couple dirty clothes. Changing into his bedtime clothes, Naruto reached over and pulled his odd nightcap on before climbing into his unmade bed.
It was only a few short minutes later that Naruto fell asleep, never knowing that many things would change in the village before he would next awake.
---------------------------------------
As Naruto lay asleep in his bed, another young man half way across town was doing something that would change his life forever.
Sasuke laid the unconscious Sakura on a bench at the side of the street. He paused for a moment to look at the girl who always seemed to get in the way of what he wanted to do. When a slight feeling of pity came to him he quickly locked it inside him. It was her own fault, not his. He told her before, he was an avenger and nothing would come between him and that dream. Nothing. If he was ever going to beat his brother, he had to get rid of these emotions that caused him to act rashly. The image of him saving Naruto from Haku's needles came to his mind. 'I almost gave my purpose in life up to save that idiot. I can't afford to let that happen.'
A cold breeze blew at his hair that now hung limply on his forehead now that his normal headband was absent. His dark eyes looked towards the Hokage monument that sat at the back of the village. Upon it were the faces of the four Hokage of the town. He scoffed as he thought about how all had been called great but all they had done was sacrifice their lives. Anyone could do something like that. Did that make a person great? Did he really care about greatness? 'No. I only care about power. The power to beat my brother once and for all.'
Sparing on last glance to his unconscious comrade he walked outside the gates of the city. Waiting for his arrival were four ninjas, who he had come to know, worked for Orochimaru's organization.
"We've been waiting for you, Sasuke-Sama." The female of the group said.
"What do you want?" Sasuke said sounding more than a little irritated.
The woman made a clucking sound with her tongue, "Manners, manners Sasuke-Sama." She scolded. "When we left our village it was decided that you would be our new leader." Bowing over, she said, "Please forgive our rudeness at our first meeting but it was necessary."
"I don't care about that." Sasuke said brushing the apology away. "Let's just go."
Sasuke pushed past the four ninja's and started towards the crescent moon in the sky. As the four ninjas began to follow him he looked once more at the village where he had grown up. Only a few seconds passed before he turned back. Sasuke buried all his feelings with that last glimpse of the village. 'Now it begins.'
Slowly the group of five made their way towards a future yet unknown.
--------------------------------------
Two shadowy figures stood on a hill overlooking the Village of the Leaf.
Both were clothed in black cloaks that started slightly below the nose and ended at their ankles. Upon one was a baldric of leather, which seemed to snake its way around the figures body so a large sword, wrapped in white cloth, could be held in place on his back. Upon the figure with the weapon, a headband with the symbol of the Hidden Mist Village rested against his forehead. However, across the surface of the forehead protector, a single slash ran lengthwise denoting that this person was a Missing-Nin, a deserter to the people of his homeland.
Turning to look at the person to his right, white eyes that were almost completely hollow save for a dot of black that served as a pupil, fixed upon the other man. In a low hiss, almost like that of a reptile the thing asked, "How much longer till it starts?"
Never moving the other figure responded, "It has already started." Pausing for a single moment as the wind blew a strand of black hair in front of his eyes he continued, "The Sand and Sound Villages are mobilizing their forces this very moment. It will not be much longer until the combined host of those Shinobi will begin to openly attack the Village of the Leaf. Soon all this," Waving towards the land around them, "will be no more. "
A sound that sounded like a cough sounded from the other at the remark. "Your people are about to be slaughtered yet you sound so relaxed."
Twisting his head sharply towards the man with the sword, the figure stared at him with the three spirals of the Sharingan. With absolutely no emotion in his voice he said, "They are not my people, Kisame." The three spirals in the man's eyes moved dangerously as he added, "I desire only power and I care not for who's body I have to step over to achieve that. You would do well to remember it."
Kisame's voice came in a strangled gasp, "Yes, Itachi."
Itachi returned to staring at the village below, allowing Kisame to let go of the breath that had became lodged in his throat. A cold wind blew across the hill making both black cloaks flutter in the wind. Motion to the men's left made them look at the crouching figure that had joined them.
"Master Itachi, the one known as Sasuke has left the village with four members of Orochimaru's followers."
Nodding slightly, Itachi said, "Follow them at a distance until you know where they are headed. Then return and tell me of their destination."
"Why do you care if Orochimaru has Sasuke? Its not like he will amount to anything. He's too soft." Kisame said with a small chuckle.
"It would not be good to underestimate Sasuke. He comes from them same bloodline as I do and could prove to be a nuisance if he mastered the Sharingan before I obtained my goal." Looking at Kisame he added, "Besides, I like to know exactly what is going on around me all the time, even if it doesn't concern. For it might when I don't realize it." Turning back to the figure he said, "Leave."
The crouching figure disappeared as quickly as he had come. Itachi's cold gaze settled once more upon the village of his birth. A single thought ran through his head. Soon, very soon he would have the ultimate power. A power that would make all those around him bow down in front of him.
"The time is coming for you." Itachi whispered softly as he absently picked up a rock from the ground. "When I have you, the power of the Kyubi will be mine." The audible sound of something being crushed could be heard. "Then this village will be nothing more than dust in the wind."
Itachi opened his hand. The remains of the rock he had once held were carried away by the cold wind, dancing and twirling into the nothingness of the night. "It is time to leave Kisame."
Kisame nodded and left the hill but Itachi lingered for a moment. Looking towards the sky where a crescent moon hung lowly in the sky, Itachi thought of the coming conflict. With a feeling of certainty he looked at the village, almost as if he expected to see the one he sought in the inky darkness. "I'm coming soon, Uzumaki Naruto." With that final statement the former leaf clansman disappeared into the dark, leaving no sign that he had ever been there.
(AN) Read and review! Remember, I continue this story only if you all like it.
Anyway on with the show!
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Believe me if I owned Naruto I would make it a lot easier to buy Naruto stuff here in the U.S. Thank goodness for ebay!
Dust In The Wind
By: Yojimbo1
Chapter 1 - Night of the Crescent Moon
A cold wind blew across the Village of the Leaf.
It was late at night and most of the towns inhabitants were inside staying away from the chilly night air. However, one young man was walking down the street alone, despite the cold. The boy had just left the bridge that was in the middle of town, which was one of his favorite places to go and think alone.
A leaf forehead protector, a symbol that this boy was a Shinobi of this town, held wild blonde hair back away from his face. Bright blue eyes shone with child like playfulness as he made his way to his home so he could be rested for tomorrow in case a mission came in.
'Probably just be hunting down another dog or cat or something stupid like that.' The boy sighed in resignation. 'If I had made the Chuunin cut I would be getting all kind of cool missions, then everyone would know just how awesome I really am.' Stopping for a moment Naruto stood still for a moment. "Damn it all!" Naruto said stomping the ground. "I keep doing all this cool stuff and nobody's around to see it except for a Pervert-Sennin and that retard Sasuke! If Sakura-Chan had seen me kick Kabuto's butt with my Rasengan she would be all over me!"
Naruto pulled his leg back and kicked a stone in front of him as hard as he could. He started to walk away but the sound of breaking glass made him turn to where the rock had sailed through the air. A nice sized hole in a store's glass display window made Naruto quickly realize what had just happened. Just as Naruto was about to make a break for it, a thing that could only exist in nightmares jumped from out of the front door, effectively making his jaw drop all the way to the ground.
The thing looked somewhat human but its face was covered in green goo. Hair that could be white or blonde was done up in curlers, making the figure look like a picture of the Medusa that Naruto had seen once. Also the creature was wearing a purple night robe as it turned its eyes upon him.
"NARUTO!" The thing shrieked.
"AGGGGHHH! MONSTER!" Naruto yelled.
Naruto took off screaming, never once looking back at the now fuming Ino 'Medusa' who quickly slammed the stores front door shut vowing that she would hunt him down in the morning.
Once Naruto had put enough distance between him and the thing he paused to look up at the Hokage monument. A slight pang of sadness hit him as he saw the face of the third, forever etched into the stone. Naruto wished that he had been able to talk to the third one last time before he had died but knew that thinking like that wouldn't help anything. Finally, his blue eyes rested upon the face of the fourth. 'Pervert-Sennin said that I remind him of the fourth.' Pride rose up from inside him as he thought about how he had learned a technique that the fourth had created. 'Don't worry Mister Fourth, I'm gonna use it to become great just like you.'
Grinning widely as he held up his hand towards the sky he said, "Someday I'll be up on that monument with you. Of course, I'll be a lot cooler and have Sakura-Chan hanging all over me but no hard feelings, eh fourth sir?"
A yawn came unbidden to Naruto. He suddenly thought about how late it was and headed the rest of the distance towards his home. Feeling around in his pockets he felt for his key. After searching five pockets and finding nothing but lint, Konoha's number one hyperactive ninja reacted as only he could.
"Oh my God! I'm locked outside and I have all that Ramen in there that will be so lonely if I'm not around to eat it!" Naruto started running around in circles, trying desperately to think of a way to get inside of his home. 'Maybe I can use the Rasengan on the front door.' Naruto smacked himself in the head for even letting himself think of such a thing. "That would blow up the whole house, idiot."
Sitting down on the front step Naruto scrunched his eyes together in concentration. Rocking back and forth from side to side he ran through several scenarios that would gain him access to the inside but all resulted in damage that was more costly than his paycheck from his sorry missions.
"Damn!" Naruto yelled jumping to his feet. The feeling of something poking into his foot made Naruto wince. Sitting back down Naruto pulled off his boot and watched as a single key fell to the ground. Reaching down he picked the key up and saw that it was his house key. He sat there for a moment pondering why he would put that in his boot.
"Oh that's right, I forgot that I put my key in my boot so the Pervert-Sennin wouldn't try and bet my house when we went to find Tsunade." While Naruto didn't really believe that Jiraiya would purposefully sell his house, he didn't fully trust him if a woman was around while he gambled and he tried to act big to impress her.
Wondering why he had to have such a weird mentor, Naruto entered his house. Sighing as the familiar smell of his home greeted him, he headed towards his bedroom. Opening the door to his room he thought about how he might need to clean it sometime soon but thought better of it. 'No idea what could be living under all this junk.' He said stepping over some empty Ramen containers, countless scrolls and a couple dirty clothes. Changing into his bedtime clothes, Naruto reached over and pulled his odd nightcap on before climbing into his unmade bed.
It was only a few short minutes later that Naruto fell asleep, never knowing that many things would change in the village before he would next awake.
---------------------------------------
As Naruto lay asleep in his bed, another young man half way across town was doing something that would change his life forever.
Sasuke laid the unconscious Sakura on a bench at the side of the street. He paused for a moment to look at the girl who always seemed to get in the way of what he wanted to do. When a slight feeling of pity came to him he quickly locked it inside him. It was her own fault, not his. He told her before, he was an avenger and nothing would come between him and that dream. Nothing. If he was ever going to beat his brother, he had to get rid of these emotions that caused him to act rashly. The image of him saving Naruto from Haku's needles came to his mind. 'I almost gave my purpose in life up to save that idiot. I can't afford to let that happen.'
A cold breeze blew at his hair that now hung limply on his forehead now that his normal headband was absent. His dark eyes looked towards the Hokage monument that sat at the back of the village. Upon it were the faces of the four Hokage of the town. He scoffed as he thought about how all had been called great but all they had done was sacrifice their lives. Anyone could do something like that. Did that make a person great? Did he really care about greatness? 'No. I only care about power. The power to beat my brother once and for all.'
Sparing on last glance to his unconscious comrade he walked outside the gates of the city. Waiting for his arrival were four ninjas, who he had come to know, worked for Orochimaru's organization.
"We've been waiting for you, Sasuke-Sama." The female of the group said.
"What do you want?" Sasuke said sounding more than a little irritated.
The woman made a clucking sound with her tongue, "Manners, manners Sasuke-Sama." She scolded. "When we left our village it was decided that you would be our new leader." Bowing over, she said, "Please forgive our rudeness at our first meeting but it was necessary."
"I don't care about that." Sasuke said brushing the apology away. "Let's just go."
Sasuke pushed past the four ninja's and started towards the crescent moon in the sky. As the four ninjas began to follow him he looked once more at the village where he had grown up. Only a few seconds passed before he turned back. Sasuke buried all his feelings with that last glimpse of the village. 'Now it begins.'
Slowly the group of five made their way towards a future yet unknown.
--------------------------------------
Two shadowy figures stood on a hill overlooking the Village of the Leaf.
Both were clothed in black cloaks that started slightly below the nose and ended at their ankles. Upon one was a baldric of leather, which seemed to snake its way around the figures body so a large sword, wrapped in white cloth, could be held in place on his back. Upon the figure with the weapon, a headband with the symbol of the Hidden Mist Village rested against his forehead. However, across the surface of the forehead protector, a single slash ran lengthwise denoting that this person was a Missing-Nin, a deserter to the people of his homeland.
Turning to look at the person to his right, white eyes that were almost completely hollow save for a dot of black that served as a pupil, fixed upon the other man. In a low hiss, almost like that of a reptile the thing asked, "How much longer till it starts?"
Never moving the other figure responded, "It has already started." Pausing for a single moment as the wind blew a strand of black hair in front of his eyes he continued, "The Sand and Sound Villages are mobilizing their forces this very moment. It will not be much longer until the combined host of those Shinobi will begin to openly attack the Village of the Leaf. Soon all this," Waving towards the land around them, "will be no more. "
A sound that sounded like a cough sounded from the other at the remark. "Your people are about to be slaughtered yet you sound so relaxed."
Twisting his head sharply towards the man with the sword, the figure stared at him with the three spirals of the Sharingan. With absolutely no emotion in his voice he said, "They are not my people, Kisame." The three spirals in the man's eyes moved dangerously as he added, "I desire only power and I care not for who's body I have to step over to achieve that. You would do well to remember it."
Kisame's voice came in a strangled gasp, "Yes, Itachi."
Itachi returned to staring at the village below, allowing Kisame to let go of the breath that had became lodged in his throat. A cold wind blew across the hill making both black cloaks flutter in the wind. Motion to the men's left made them look at the crouching figure that had joined them.
"Master Itachi, the one known as Sasuke has left the village with four members of Orochimaru's followers."
Nodding slightly, Itachi said, "Follow them at a distance until you know where they are headed. Then return and tell me of their destination."
"Why do you care if Orochimaru has Sasuke? Its not like he will amount to anything. He's too soft." Kisame said with a small chuckle.
"It would not be good to underestimate Sasuke. He comes from them same bloodline as I do and could prove to be a nuisance if he mastered the Sharingan before I obtained my goal." Looking at Kisame he added, "Besides, I like to know exactly what is going on around me all the time, even if it doesn't concern. For it might when I don't realize it." Turning back to the figure he said, "Leave."
The crouching figure disappeared as quickly as he had come. Itachi's cold gaze settled once more upon the village of his birth. A single thought ran through his head. Soon, very soon he would have the ultimate power. A power that would make all those around him bow down in front of him.
"The time is coming for you." Itachi whispered softly as he absently picked up a rock from the ground. "When I have you, the power of the Kyubi will be mine." The audible sound of something being crushed could be heard. "Then this village will be nothing more than dust in the wind."
Itachi opened his hand. The remains of the rock he had once held were carried away by the cold wind, dancing and twirling into the nothingness of the night. "It is time to leave Kisame."
Kisame nodded and left the hill but Itachi lingered for a moment. Looking towards the sky where a crescent moon hung lowly in the sky, Itachi thought of the coming conflict. With a feeling of certainty he looked at the village, almost as if he expected to see the one he sought in the inky darkness. "I'm coming soon, Uzumaki Naruto." With that final statement the former leaf clansman disappeared into the dark, leaving no sign that he had ever been there.
(AN) Read and review! Remember, I continue this story only if you all like it.