Disclaimer: We don't own Naruto, nor do we own anything at all. Well, except for the OC's in this story.

In efforts not to ruin the story, no description shall be given. Sorry. However, this story is AU. For starters, Naruto DOES NOT know that Kyuubi is sealed within him, Orochimaru can't do any Jutsus, but can still do his soul reincarnation thing and use his arms, Gaara's sand demon was not exorcised, and this is after the Chuunin exams, and before Naruto leaves to find Tsunade. And so begins the saga of The Blood Ninja

Kumo: Means cloud. We're using it for Hidden Cloud Village

Kousa: Means golden sands. We're using it for Hidden Sand Village

Chishio: Means blood. We're using it for Hidden Blood Village

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The Blood Ninja

By: dragonsprincess and Insaneiac

Chapter One: The Prophesy

~*~*~*~ Hidden Cloud Village ~*~*~*~

The Raikage was relaxed, and enjoying a nice cup of green tea in his temple. The last few days had been unsettling at best. With the recent death the Hokage, and the discovery of the Kazekages corpse, life was tense. The village was silent, and for the most part, everyday was spent planning for "what if" scenarios. It was both tiresome and simply created more worry. Many more people seemed to only be focused on what could happen.

As the Raikage sighed, and went for another sip, one of his Jounin guards walked into the room. "Raikage-sama, you have a visitor," he said. The Raikage sighed again, and set down his cup. "Thank you, you can send them in," he replied, the Jounin bowed slightly, then walked out.

A few seconds later, a young woman walked into the room. The troubled look on her face told the Raikage all he needed to know about how this meeting was going to go. He quickly stood up, and the two bowed to each other. The motion of Raikage bowing to somebody told everyone in the room to clear out, leaving the two alone.

The Raikage and the woman stared each other in the eyes for the better part of a minute, before Raikage broke the silence.

"Was it a vision, Hatsue?" He whispered. Many people knew that she was a seer (however, some things would remain strictly between them).

"Yes Enrai," Hatsue said quietly. "It was a most disturbing vision. In fact, I believe it was a warning of something horrible. Something that will affect every ninja, from every village," she continued, the Raikage bowing his head.

"Tell me everything, Hatsue, every little detail." Enrai said gravely, staring into his lovers eyes', sharing his fear of what was to come.

"Yes Enrai," she replied gravely.

~*~*~*~ The Recollection of Hatsue's Vision ~*~*~*~

Hatsue was standing at the base of a stairway. The stairway led up to a house, one of unconceivable magnitude. Along its sides were the unmistakable signs of wealth and power. It looked as if it was the house of an incredibly fortunate person. However, as she stared at the massive house, her eyes shifted, and looked to the surrounding forest. It was then that she saw a truly horrible sight. The forest's trees all had dead bodies hanging from their branches; each body was oozing blood from multiple wounds. Hatsue tried to speak, but her throat had constricted so much that she couldn't even make a single sound.

After staring in horror at the forest of dead bodies, she finally began to walk up the stairs that led to the house. With each step she took, a pungent scent tickled her nose. It was the smell of corpses and blood. It was the smell of War. The smell of Death filled the entire mansion. Her fear doubling, Hatsue continued on towards the house. However, something soon became apparent to her. With each passing step, the house began to look more and more like ruins. Hatsue soon realize that what she was staring at was something from a time long past.

As Hatsue continued up the stairs, blood started to pour down the steps. A steady stream of thick crimson liquid was coming for the house which now lay in shambles. Only a few walls were still standing. She stared in total horror at all the dissolution around the place.

The smell of blood, and death, had now become so strong, she was beginning to choke. But still, Hatsue pressed forward, up the last few steps. She passed through a crumbled arch, and went into the large courtyard surrounding the house.

Hatsue was soon standing in the center of the courtyard. She was looking at a large stone slab. On it were countless symbols, all of them written in blood. As Hatsue stared at the symbols, they began to bleed. Slowly, the blood began to shape itself into words. Somewhere insides Hatsue's mind the words were told to her by some unknown and powerful voice.

"Within the stone pillar, buried deep in the blood tainted grounds of old, resides the Agent of Blood. His soul, sealed within a pillar of earth, is awakening, his undying eyes seeing once again. His essence shall once again breathe, his vengeance shall be exacted. The Agent of Blood is rising; the end of all is coming."

Hatsue stared in horror at the symbols, watching them slowly disappear. The sound of thousands, screaming in pain rang through the land.

~*~*~*~ The Raikage's Temple ~*~*~*~

"That is it. That is the vision," Hatsue said, tears streaming down her cheeks after recalling her nightmarish vision.

Slowly, Enrai's head raised itself, and stared, once again, into Hatsue's eyes. "Repeat the prophecy once again, please," he said, doing his best to keep his voice steady.

"Yes, at once, Raikage," Hatsue said, realizing that Enrai was speaking to her not as Enrai, but as the man of the title he held. She repeated the prophesy, she'd never forget those words. However, as strong as she was, she was still unable to stop the tears.

Raikage broke eye contact again. He stood up, and walked towards the door. "Stay here, I need to assemble the council. I believe the death of two Kages just became the least important thing as of right now," Enrai said, before leaving the room.

Enrai walked towards the main hall, and to the double sided staircase which adorned the main entrance. At the bottom of the main entrance, two Jounins stood, and immediately stared up at the Raikage. "Assemble the council," Enrai said. "Tell them to meet me in my quarters, right now." He said shortly, before walking back to his room. The two Jounin were gone soon after, going about their task.

Within thirty minutes, the entire council had assembled in the Raikage's quarters. All eight members sat at a large table, four per side. At the end sat Enrai and Hatsue. With a meeting called so quickly, the council members soon realizing that woman beside the Raikage was the woman who'd been responsible for many true predictions before.

"We have a serious situation to deal with. I have just been informed that a great evil is reawakening. I have a clue as to what it may be, but I think before all else, the prophecy should be recited in front of the entire council. That way we can all grasp the graveness of the situation." The Raikage declared, signaling Hatsue to talk.

"Within the stone pillar, buried deep in the blood tainted grounds of old, resides the Agent of Blood. His soul, sealed within pillar of earth, is awakening, his undying eyes seeing once again. His essence shall once again breathe, his vengeance shall be exacted. The Agent of Blood is rising; the end of all is coming." Hatsue once again muttered; the entire council stared at her in shock.

"This is preposterous." One council member began, "what she is saying is impossible. 'Undying eyes, sealed souls'. The words she speaks seems to be describing a. . ." he stopped, realizing what the vision had been about.

"Now you see. What my friend speaks it true," Enrai began, slowly making eye contact with each member of the council, "a Blood Ninja survived."

The council was soon a bewildered mass of shock and worry. It took Enrai's booming voice to silence them all again. "Send messengers to Mizukage, Tsuchikage, and to the councils of Konoha and Kousa. Tell them the prophecy that was recited here, and to send a squad of Jounins each to the site of Chishio, and tell them to wait there until it comes. GO NOW!" Raikage demanded, the entire council exited Enrai's chambers, and returned to their rooms. Hatsue too turned to leave. However, just before she left, a hand came down on her shoulder.

"Hatsue," Enrai said. "I'm sorry but-"

"I understand. Right now your responsibilities to the world's ninjas are more import than your responsibility as the man I love."

Enrai looked into Hatsue's woodland eyes; beautiful green eyes which held specks of gold. He smiled, remembering why he loved this woman. He bent down and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow, Hatsue," he said. "Right now I need to think."

Hatsue simply smiled at him, nodded, then left the room.

As soon as she left, Enrai locked the doors to his room, and darkened the room, shutting off all but a small lantern. Using the light, he walked towards a statue in his room, and bowed before it.

"It seems that fate has come to settle an old grudge that you started," Raikage said to the statue, before turning around, and facing the entrance into his room. He closed his eyes, and merely began to concentrate on what he could do to stop the impending disaster.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Insaneiac's notes: Jesus, aside from 19 freaking prophecy rewrites, and the very tedious breakdown/cram session with one psycho female author counterpart, this was abnormally easy to accomplish. So basically, it was hell on bloody freaking earth (dragonsprincess: Are we on earth?). And btw, the changes of words belong to the talents of dragonsprincess, BUT THE PROPHECY IS MINE DAMMIT. ALL MINE!!!!!!!!!

dragonsprincess' notes: Yes, a female/male reader of all kinds, shapes, and forms, the fluff was mine (*goes and kills Insaneiac who just made a really vulgar comment, comes back after cleaning katana* so where were we?). Oh yes. The whole Enrai/Hatsue thing was my idea. And if I get my way (always do) we'll be seeing a lot more of them.

Signing off: dragonsprincess

From 6 Feet Under: Insaneiac ("These maggots taste funny")