Author's Notes: Well, this chapter is kind of an interlude, since the
previous bit concluded and certain things are about to happen. This is
really the last quiet chapter before the big rush to the finish begins.
Just really tying up some loose ends and setting things to go again, but
after this, watch out.
Thanks to the reviewers out there, and I apologize for FF.net (and I even went and made the story R too)
Nalio: Small secret, at the moment all I'm doing is editing and posting, which is basically a single read through of the chapter, a spell check, and then typing up these notes (takes 15-20 minutes normally). The chapters I'm posting now are all written already (self-destructive writing weekend).
Uchiha Kumiko: Dar can probably see better in the dark (it was the middle of the night, even if that doesn't matter to Neji) by looking through his sword, since it sort of has a light of its own. I think there will be about 45 chapters in total, some of which will be quite short.
The Wind Rises
Konoha is a pleasant village in the spring, with flowers blooming and everything bright and green. There is peacefulness to the village of the Leaf, even if everything remains on edge, for the winter brought no resolution to the conflicts now happening in the shadows of the ninja world. Indeed, for those who knew, this peaceful period hid a frightful thing. Warmth had returned, snow had melted, and the roads were clear. While the farmers tended their crops throughout the shinobi countries there was now nothing to stop nations from marshalling for war.
Last summer was only the opening skirmish, aware ninja thought dangerously. The true battles are coming this year. Everyone who could was making ready.
The best way to be ready to is to strike first, before your opponent's plans come to fruition. Draci Xi thought as he stood in the shadow of a tall building in Konoha, and yet, I am stuck here. The whims of the Hokage, Tsunade, hold me back.
It had been a full week since Xi had returned to Konoha, alone, but having tracked the trail of the Akatsuki Kizen all the way to Waterfall country, he knew where that ninja was. The Akatsuki were cunning, and though they had schemed all winter long, Xi was the first to identify one beyond those already known, Itachi, Kisame, and the rogue Orochimaru with true certainty. He had seen Kizen wearing the Akatsuki robe though, and also the ring, bearing the symbol of west, the designation of the sand ninja. I wonder what ring she wears? Xi thought. I will find out in time.
Yet Tsunade had not done as Xi wished. The dragon ninja had requested a force be marshaled to go to Waterfall and demand the Akatsuki be yielded up. At the very least Xi had requested a jounin strike force be assembled and taken with him, so that he could hunt down Kizen within the Waterfall village and deal with him. But Tsunade had refused that request as well. I know you don't like me witch, but I thought you would at least believe me. Instead you demand that your own intelligence and information gatherers find out that the mummifier is there, and you send word to Sand so you can build a joint task force. Who will they send, their hunter -nins?
Admittedly, Xi was forced to acknowledge, Tsunade has cause to refuse me, I am still a lightning ninja after all. A pity there is no treaty, but the clans would never allow it. I cannot make requests of Raikage; he has his own troubles, and cannot spare anyone. Besides, there are no good hunter-nins in lightning, not since eight years ago. So I am stuck waiting.
Xi fumed at waiting, but he did nothing about it, instead he had concentrated on something else, training his students.
They had come back a day after him, Shiren carrying Neji with her. Neji bore the signs of having used Dragon's Wrath, and Xi accepted that. He had expected it, and it confirmed beyond any doubt that Neji no longer needed Xi's teaching. That evened things up, two teachers, two students. Neji worked with Shiren, and Xi with Dar. In the course of the week Shiren had finally mastered Rend, despite little affinity for the move. Training Dar, Xi found the stone ninja to be something of a different case. Three years older than Neji and Shiren, and already a chuunin of his own accord, Dar did not defer to Xi. Oh, he was perfectly respectful, but Xi recognized that he only needed to instruct the stone ninja not teach him. As Xi had expected, Dar already understood much of being a dragon ninja.
Rend eluded Dar almost completely, but when Neji demonstrated Dragon Fang for Shiren, the stone ninja immediately began practicing that move. Xi was shocked to see Dar attempt Fang not using his fingers, but the tip of his sword. It was a strange sensation, to see chakra channeled through a weapon like that, as if it were nothing more than an extension of the flesh. In only four days Dar had completely learned the jutsu, though only using the sword, not his hands.
Yet, it should be done now, there is no point in waiting. There may be no chances later. Xi decided, and he called off training for the next day, and ended early.
Neji and Shiren went off together, as they had done all week; Neji was finally almost completely recovered from the expenditure of his energies.
"They are going to eat together again." Dar said to Xi as they walked down into Konoha.
"It that a bad thing Dar?" Xi asked.
"No, it is actually quite impressive." Dar remarked. "Few ninja are so lucky as to be able to find the one they love, much less work with them, especially so young."
Xi detected a current of dissatisfaction in Dar's tone. "Do you not think it will last?" He asked. "Or do you feel left out?"
"I don't feel left out," Dar replied. "Not at all, Neji proved he trusted me when he took me with him to free Shiren, and she did also on the journey back here, allowing me to help her carry him." Dar sighed. "I even suspect they will endure, it just makes you feel a bit hollow, seeing them." Dar fingered his sword. "They are better friends than I've had for some time, but I suspect that as long as I bear this I cannot go farther."
There was no easy reply to that remark. Xi looked at Dar carefully. What do you want me to say? He wondered. I have given up on such things forever, my home and everyone I knew are lost to me, even though I am still part of it. "Perhaps we are not all destined to be so lucky." Xi said finally. "This world is not like that."
"How disheartening." Dar replied in a voice well beyond his years. "I suppose I will just have to do what I can then." He walked away at that point, not bothering to give Xi a chance to reply.
How terribly similar to me you seem, Kataishi Dar. Xi thought. I hope that letting you become a dragon ninja will not bring you woe. I suppose only the dragons can tell.
In the morning they met on a field outside Konoha.
Xi stood in front of the assembled three. He addressed them. "Shiren and Dar, today you will become dragon ninja in full. From the back pocket of his flak jacket he pulled out a thin and colorful scroll. "You will write your names in blood here, and give up the families of your birth, entering the ranks of the dragon ninja." Xi opened the scroll, revealing the small boxes that marched from right to left, the many names of all those who had been dragon ninja. The last row had two spaces remaining, the name above those was Neji, and above that Xi. "By placing your names here you will gain the power to summon dragons, and bind them into a contract with you. Bite your left index finger, and sign your name with your blood." Xi held out the scroll to Shiren. "You first."
Shiren bit into her finger calmly, and wrote the characters for her name into the box in small and sure script. She took the scroll in her right hand, so as to not get blood on it, and passed it to Neji, standing next to her. Neji then handed the scroll to Dar. Dar took the scroll and bit his own finger, though he seemed to hesitate for a moment when his hand passed above the point his sword hilt rested. Then, pushing forward, he made the marks swiftly, and signed his named. He sealed the scroll up afterwards, and handed it back to Xi.
Xi took the scroll and placed it back in his flak jacket. "When I am gone the scroll will pass to Neji, and then to whoever comes after." Xi said in a voice far softer than he usually spoke. "Now, there is one more thing to do, Draci Shiren, Draci Dar."
"What is that?" They asked, after feeling the names settle over them, a strange feeling, to leave behind the only name you knew. Dar seemed almost to wince when Xi called him that.
"You must each summon a dragon." Xi told them. "You have both seen it done, so I will not waste my debts demonstrating. The process is simple, you complete these seals: Claw, Fang, Gaze, Breath, Spirit, Dragon, and Circle." Xi demonstrated each of the dragon seals in turn, and made sure Shiren and Dar memorized them. "Then prick your index finger and spread your hands upon the ground to trigger the summoning. The summoning is not without danger, or without a price. You have both seen this; the dragon will stare into you with its eyes, projecting the fear that cannot be comprehended. You must fight this fear and master it. Shiren, I have shown you the dragon's eye, you are able to do this. Dar, this will be an additional test, since I am allowing this so quickly."
Dar nodded.
"Good." Xi confirmed. "The price of this summoning is that dragons are not like other spirit creatures, they will not serve with out incurring debt. You can call their service by invoking a debt, if you are owed one, and before you dismiss any dragon, request if you may perform a task for it, so that they will owe you such debts. However, that is not important now, owing the dragons some is not a great matter so early in your lives."
Xi looked at both Shiren and Dar in turn. "For this, gather all your chakra together and use it all, so that you can learn your limits, even if later you summon a lesser dragon. This is an important gauge."
They both nodded, and stood ready. Xi gestured for them to begin. Claw, Fang, Gaze, Breath, Spirit, Dragon, and Circle. Shiren and Dar formed the seals, and then bit their fingers and executed the technique. "Dragon summoning no jutsu!"
The air lashed about them all, two counter currents of power and chakra, thrashing the field and whipping hair and cloths about, and forcing the ninja to close their eyes.
When they opened them again there were two dragons in the clearing.
In front of Shiren was a long and eel-like in form, green and blue, with a long fin stretching down the back and webbed claws and feet. The jaws were mane-covered and enormous, situated beneath powerful horns and pearly eyes. This was a Chiang Lung, a river dragon, fourteen feet in length. Shiren stared into those pearly eyes and felt the fear wash over her, but she knew Neji was next to her, and called up his image, remembering the sacrifices they had made for each other. I will not be put down by such as this! Shiren vowed. Gradually the fear faded away.
Before Dar was a very different majestic form, scaled in bright red, and coiled, he hung in the air, a dragon lacking legs and arms, but with a jaw mane-covered in all the colors of the rainbow, and a quickness and power to snap those jaws shut around anything he touched. This dragon stretched sixteen feet from head to tail; it was a guardian dragon, a Pan Lung. Dar faced the fear with the same technique he had long used, crystallizing his mind until nothing could cut it, refusing to be touched by that which projected into him, forming a wall about himself. The Pan Lung shook its mane and bowed its head after many moments.
"Ask their names." Xi commanded, noting the different summons. A Chiang lung and a Pan Lung, both of similar ages, though the Pan Lung is of course longer, I wonder why those? Both are powerful. Xi had expected that Shiren would summon a Shen Lung as he had, and Dar a Li Lung, an earth dragon. It appears I have not understood them fully. He realized.
"All honor to thee, Chiang Lung, may I ask your name?" Shiren spoke first. "I am Elisylni," The Chiang Lung said in a voice that was unearthly, but distinctively feminine, another surprise for Xi, who had known female dragons existed, but had never summoned one. "My title is the Deep Slicing Stream."
Shiren bowed.
"All honor to thee, Pan Lung, may I ask your name?" Dar requested of the dragon before him.
"I am Giraltiej, my title is the Holder in the Deeps." The pan lung answered, its voice male, and of very different timbre than the Chiang Lung.
Dar bowed.
"You stand before us, four dragon ninja." Giraltiej continued. "We, summoned into this world for the very first time. The world has changed very rapidly, even by the reckonings of men, by the reckoning of our kind it as if the decline of the dragon ninja shall have never been. Two dragons stand at once in the world of humans for the first time in over a century. It is remarkable."
"We are bound by our summons to serve, though you incur a debt by calling us here." Elisylni spoke now. "Do you ask anything of us?"
"No," Both Dar and Shiren replied. "But if there is anything we can do to help you, we would know?"
"You will go to Hidden Waterfall in time, Draci Shiren and Draci Dar." Both dragons said as one. "Travel with your companion, Draci Neji, and do not allow yourselves to become separated. By fulfilling his quest, you will aid us as well."
Not just Sirachi, what is happening in Waterfall concerns all dragons! Xi thought, surprised and almost frightened. Whatever is being done there bears importance to all ninja. The schemes of Mehize Kizen must be stopped it seems, or even these great spirits will suffer. I must convince Tsunade!
"You are free to go." Shiren and Dar intoned, and the dragons vanished.
"Well," Xi looked at them when they were gone. "I suspect you two are tired." He was greeted with nods. "Summoning dragons is not easy, even for me." Xi told them seriously. "Still, I want you to come with me, all of you." He included Neji. "What was said here needs to be taken to the Hokage, and I will not waste any time."
It was only a few minutes later that they stood outside the Hokage's office, and only minutes after that when a chuunin ushered them in. Xi was surprised, for Tsunade had always made him wait before, seeming to take a bitter satisfaction in it. Something has happened, I wonder what it is.
The four dragon ninja entered.
"All four of the merry band of killers?" Tsunade looked up in surprise. "I didn't expect that."
"There has been a development." Xi told her, not rising to the baited remark, indeed not bothering to deny the truth. The hypocrisy is yours, not mine, healing ninja.
"Really?" Tsunade looked at Xi strangely. "Something has happened on my side as well."
The Hokage's grim voice was hardly comforting. "What happened?" Xi asked darkly, suspicious.
"Here." Tsunade flipped a sheaf of paper at him. "The latest report from Hidden Stone, three of their jounin were slain, supposedly by Waterfall ninja." Tsunade grimaced. "Who knows if that's true? Anyway, Stone has withdrawn its alliance with Waterfall, and considering who was killed its not surprising."
"So who died?" Xi asked. "I wouldn't have thought the Waterfall could muster the strength to kill three jounin so easily, not with their losses this winter. Kizen must have aided them."
"There's little doubt about that, the jounin who were killed were the guardians of Mount Shinogami." Tsunade hissed out the name.
"The burial mountain." Xi said flatly. "How grandiose of him."
"How foul!" Tsunade spat. "The veterans of the last great battle of the great shinobi wars were buried there, I don't know what he's planning to do with them, and the Stone report didn't say, but I'm sure he took them back to Waterfall." The Gondaime Hokage looked up at Xi. "I thought it would never happen, but I am going to accede to your request, Xi. Konoha will gather a force of its strongest jounin and chuunin and deal with this matter. I will send to Stone for support as well."
"Tsuchikage will grant it, he will try to conquer Waterfall afterwards, but perhaps that should happen." Xi said simply.
"No war is a good war!" Tsunade barked. "But if he can quietly annex some of the country very well. Regardless Xi, I will allow you to go, but only if your students come along. Draci Neji, as a leaf chuunin your presence is mandatory regardless of Xi's decision."
"Don't worry," Xi replied. "I'll be going, and Shiren and Dar as well, the dragons practically demanded it not an hour ago."
Tsunade gave Xi a blank look. "You're telling the truth, aren't you?" She sighed. "I was hoping this report was a lie. Very well, I hope you all can make a difference. Regardless, it will take several days to prepare the force. I will place Aoba in charge."
"Then I will consult with him, Neji as well." Xi vaguely recalled the jounin Tsunade had named. "We are familiar with the area and the abilities of the Waterfall ninja."
"What about us?" Shiren asked immediately.
Xi gave a half-smile, but his eyes were predatory. "You and Dar should go to the northeast reaches of Fire country, practice your skills there, but don't be quiet about it. Try to get discrete word to the Cloud ninja, but trust only the ANBU." Xi repeated himself. "Only the ANBU, none of the rest are necessarily loyal to Raikage. If you can get word he may be able to offer some small support at least."
"Even drawing ANBU back from the border would free up some of our ninja." Tsunade remarked. "You are surprisingly helpful today Xi."
When three different breeds of dragons ask something of you, you do everything in your power to see it done. Xi thought, but said nothing. "How many days?" Was all he asked.
"Four." Tsunade answered simply.
"Four days then." He repeated to Shiren and Dar. They nodded.
Thanks to the reviewers out there, and I apologize for FF.net (and I even went and made the story R too)
Nalio: Small secret, at the moment all I'm doing is editing and posting, which is basically a single read through of the chapter, a spell check, and then typing up these notes (takes 15-20 minutes normally). The chapters I'm posting now are all written already (self-destructive writing weekend).
Uchiha Kumiko: Dar can probably see better in the dark (it was the middle of the night, even if that doesn't matter to Neji) by looking through his sword, since it sort of has a light of its own. I think there will be about 45 chapters in total, some of which will be quite short.
The Wind Rises
Konoha is a pleasant village in the spring, with flowers blooming and everything bright and green. There is peacefulness to the village of the Leaf, even if everything remains on edge, for the winter brought no resolution to the conflicts now happening in the shadows of the ninja world. Indeed, for those who knew, this peaceful period hid a frightful thing. Warmth had returned, snow had melted, and the roads were clear. While the farmers tended their crops throughout the shinobi countries there was now nothing to stop nations from marshalling for war.
Last summer was only the opening skirmish, aware ninja thought dangerously. The true battles are coming this year. Everyone who could was making ready.
The best way to be ready to is to strike first, before your opponent's plans come to fruition. Draci Xi thought as he stood in the shadow of a tall building in Konoha, and yet, I am stuck here. The whims of the Hokage, Tsunade, hold me back.
It had been a full week since Xi had returned to Konoha, alone, but having tracked the trail of the Akatsuki Kizen all the way to Waterfall country, he knew where that ninja was. The Akatsuki were cunning, and though they had schemed all winter long, Xi was the first to identify one beyond those already known, Itachi, Kisame, and the rogue Orochimaru with true certainty. He had seen Kizen wearing the Akatsuki robe though, and also the ring, bearing the symbol of west, the designation of the sand ninja. I wonder what ring she wears? Xi thought. I will find out in time.
Yet Tsunade had not done as Xi wished. The dragon ninja had requested a force be marshaled to go to Waterfall and demand the Akatsuki be yielded up. At the very least Xi had requested a jounin strike force be assembled and taken with him, so that he could hunt down Kizen within the Waterfall village and deal with him. But Tsunade had refused that request as well. I know you don't like me witch, but I thought you would at least believe me. Instead you demand that your own intelligence and information gatherers find out that the mummifier is there, and you send word to Sand so you can build a joint task force. Who will they send, their hunter -nins?
Admittedly, Xi was forced to acknowledge, Tsunade has cause to refuse me, I am still a lightning ninja after all. A pity there is no treaty, but the clans would never allow it. I cannot make requests of Raikage; he has his own troubles, and cannot spare anyone. Besides, there are no good hunter-nins in lightning, not since eight years ago. So I am stuck waiting.
Xi fumed at waiting, but he did nothing about it, instead he had concentrated on something else, training his students.
They had come back a day after him, Shiren carrying Neji with her. Neji bore the signs of having used Dragon's Wrath, and Xi accepted that. He had expected it, and it confirmed beyond any doubt that Neji no longer needed Xi's teaching. That evened things up, two teachers, two students. Neji worked with Shiren, and Xi with Dar. In the course of the week Shiren had finally mastered Rend, despite little affinity for the move. Training Dar, Xi found the stone ninja to be something of a different case. Three years older than Neji and Shiren, and already a chuunin of his own accord, Dar did not defer to Xi. Oh, he was perfectly respectful, but Xi recognized that he only needed to instruct the stone ninja not teach him. As Xi had expected, Dar already understood much of being a dragon ninja.
Rend eluded Dar almost completely, but when Neji demonstrated Dragon Fang for Shiren, the stone ninja immediately began practicing that move. Xi was shocked to see Dar attempt Fang not using his fingers, but the tip of his sword. It was a strange sensation, to see chakra channeled through a weapon like that, as if it were nothing more than an extension of the flesh. In only four days Dar had completely learned the jutsu, though only using the sword, not his hands.
Yet, it should be done now, there is no point in waiting. There may be no chances later. Xi decided, and he called off training for the next day, and ended early.
Neji and Shiren went off together, as they had done all week; Neji was finally almost completely recovered from the expenditure of his energies.
"They are going to eat together again." Dar said to Xi as they walked down into Konoha.
"It that a bad thing Dar?" Xi asked.
"No, it is actually quite impressive." Dar remarked. "Few ninja are so lucky as to be able to find the one they love, much less work with them, especially so young."
Xi detected a current of dissatisfaction in Dar's tone. "Do you not think it will last?" He asked. "Or do you feel left out?"
"I don't feel left out," Dar replied. "Not at all, Neji proved he trusted me when he took me with him to free Shiren, and she did also on the journey back here, allowing me to help her carry him." Dar sighed. "I even suspect they will endure, it just makes you feel a bit hollow, seeing them." Dar fingered his sword. "They are better friends than I've had for some time, but I suspect that as long as I bear this I cannot go farther."
There was no easy reply to that remark. Xi looked at Dar carefully. What do you want me to say? He wondered. I have given up on such things forever, my home and everyone I knew are lost to me, even though I am still part of it. "Perhaps we are not all destined to be so lucky." Xi said finally. "This world is not like that."
"How disheartening." Dar replied in a voice well beyond his years. "I suppose I will just have to do what I can then." He walked away at that point, not bothering to give Xi a chance to reply.
How terribly similar to me you seem, Kataishi Dar. Xi thought. I hope that letting you become a dragon ninja will not bring you woe. I suppose only the dragons can tell.
In the morning they met on a field outside Konoha.
Xi stood in front of the assembled three. He addressed them. "Shiren and Dar, today you will become dragon ninja in full. From the back pocket of his flak jacket he pulled out a thin and colorful scroll. "You will write your names in blood here, and give up the families of your birth, entering the ranks of the dragon ninja." Xi opened the scroll, revealing the small boxes that marched from right to left, the many names of all those who had been dragon ninja. The last row had two spaces remaining, the name above those was Neji, and above that Xi. "By placing your names here you will gain the power to summon dragons, and bind them into a contract with you. Bite your left index finger, and sign your name with your blood." Xi held out the scroll to Shiren. "You first."
Shiren bit into her finger calmly, and wrote the characters for her name into the box in small and sure script. She took the scroll in her right hand, so as to not get blood on it, and passed it to Neji, standing next to her. Neji then handed the scroll to Dar. Dar took the scroll and bit his own finger, though he seemed to hesitate for a moment when his hand passed above the point his sword hilt rested. Then, pushing forward, he made the marks swiftly, and signed his named. He sealed the scroll up afterwards, and handed it back to Xi.
Xi took the scroll and placed it back in his flak jacket. "When I am gone the scroll will pass to Neji, and then to whoever comes after." Xi said in a voice far softer than he usually spoke. "Now, there is one more thing to do, Draci Shiren, Draci Dar."
"What is that?" They asked, after feeling the names settle over them, a strange feeling, to leave behind the only name you knew. Dar seemed almost to wince when Xi called him that.
"You must each summon a dragon." Xi told them. "You have both seen it done, so I will not waste my debts demonstrating. The process is simple, you complete these seals: Claw, Fang, Gaze, Breath, Spirit, Dragon, and Circle." Xi demonstrated each of the dragon seals in turn, and made sure Shiren and Dar memorized them. "Then prick your index finger and spread your hands upon the ground to trigger the summoning. The summoning is not without danger, or without a price. You have both seen this; the dragon will stare into you with its eyes, projecting the fear that cannot be comprehended. You must fight this fear and master it. Shiren, I have shown you the dragon's eye, you are able to do this. Dar, this will be an additional test, since I am allowing this so quickly."
Dar nodded.
"Good." Xi confirmed. "The price of this summoning is that dragons are not like other spirit creatures, they will not serve with out incurring debt. You can call their service by invoking a debt, if you are owed one, and before you dismiss any dragon, request if you may perform a task for it, so that they will owe you such debts. However, that is not important now, owing the dragons some is not a great matter so early in your lives."
Xi looked at both Shiren and Dar in turn. "For this, gather all your chakra together and use it all, so that you can learn your limits, even if later you summon a lesser dragon. This is an important gauge."
They both nodded, and stood ready. Xi gestured for them to begin. Claw, Fang, Gaze, Breath, Spirit, Dragon, and Circle. Shiren and Dar formed the seals, and then bit their fingers and executed the technique. "Dragon summoning no jutsu!"
The air lashed about them all, two counter currents of power and chakra, thrashing the field and whipping hair and cloths about, and forcing the ninja to close their eyes.
When they opened them again there were two dragons in the clearing.
In front of Shiren was a long and eel-like in form, green and blue, with a long fin stretching down the back and webbed claws and feet. The jaws were mane-covered and enormous, situated beneath powerful horns and pearly eyes. This was a Chiang Lung, a river dragon, fourteen feet in length. Shiren stared into those pearly eyes and felt the fear wash over her, but she knew Neji was next to her, and called up his image, remembering the sacrifices they had made for each other. I will not be put down by such as this! Shiren vowed. Gradually the fear faded away.
Before Dar was a very different majestic form, scaled in bright red, and coiled, he hung in the air, a dragon lacking legs and arms, but with a jaw mane-covered in all the colors of the rainbow, and a quickness and power to snap those jaws shut around anything he touched. This dragon stretched sixteen feet from head to tail; it was a guardian dragon, a Pan Lung. Dar faced the fear with the same technique he had long used, crystallizing his mind until nothing could cut it, refusing to be touched by that which projected into him, forming a wall about himself. The Pan Lung shook its mane and bowed its head after many moments.
"Ask their names." Xi commanded, noting the different summons. A Chiang lung and a Pan Lung, both of similar ages, though the Pan Lung is of course longer, I wonder why those? Both are powerful. Xi had expected that Shiren would summon a Shen Lung as he had, and Dar a Li Lung, an earth dragon. It appears I have not understood them fully. He realized.
"All honor to thee, Chiang Lung, may I ask your name?" Shiren spoke first. "I am Elisylni," The Chiang Lung said in a voice that was unearthly, but distinctively feminine, another surprise for Xi, who had known female dragons existed, but had never summoned one. "My title is the Deep Slicing Stream."
Shiren bowed.
"All honor to thee, Pan Lung, may I ask your name?" Dar requested of the dragon before him.
"I am Giraltiej, my title is the Holder in the Deeps." The pan lung answered, its voice male, and of very different timbre than the Chiang Lung.
Dar bowed.
"You stand before us, four dragon ninja." Giraltiej continued. "We, summoned into this world for the very first time. The world has changed very rapidly, even by the reckonings of men, by the reckoning of our kind it as if the decline of the dragon ninja shall have never been. Two dragons stand at once in the world of humans for the first time in over a century. It is remarkable."
"We are bound by our summons to serve, though you incur a debt by calling us here." Elisylni spoke now. "Do you ask anything of us?"
"No," Both Dar and Shiren replied. "But if there is anything we can do to help you, we would know?"
"You will go to Hidden Waterfall in time, Draci Shiren and Draci Dar." Both dragons said as one. "Travel with your companion, Draci Neji, and do not allow yourselves to become separated. By fulfilling his quest, you will aid us as well."
Not just Sirachi, what is happening in Waterfall concerns all dragons! Xi thought, surprised and almost frightened. Whatever is being done there bears importance to all ninja. The schemes of Mehize Kizen must be stopped it seems, or even these great spirits will suffer. I must convince Tsunade!
"You are free to go." Shiren and Dar intoned, and the dragons vanished.
"Well," Xi looked at them when they were gone. "I suspect you two are tired." He was greeted with nods. "Summoning dragons is not easy, even for me." Xi told them seriously. "Still, I want you to come with me, all of you." He included Neji. "What was said here needs to be taken to the Hokage, and I will not waste any time."
It was only a few minutes later that they stood outside the Hokage's office, and only minutes after that when a chuunin ushered them in. Xi was surprised, for Tsunade had always made him wait before, seeming to take a bitter satisfaction in it. Something has happened, I wonder what it is.
The four dragon ninja entered.
"All four of the merry band of killers?" Tsunade looked up in surprise. "I didn't expect that."
"There has been a development." Xi told her, not rising to the baited remark, indeed not bothering to deny the truth. The hypocrisy is yours, not mine, healing ninja.
"Really?" Tsunade looked at Xi strangely. "Something has happened on my side as well."
The Hokage's grim voice was hardly comforting. "What happened?" Xi asked darkly, suspicious.
"Here." Tsunade flipped a sheaf of paper at him. "The latest report from Hidden Stone, three of their jounin were slain, supposedly by Waterfall ninja." Tsunade grimaced. "Who knows if that's true? Anyway, Stone has withdrawn its alliance with Waterfall, and considering who was killed its not surprising."
"So who died?" Xi asked. "I wouldn't have thought the Waterfall could muster the strength to kill three jounin so easily, not with their losses this winter. Kizen must have aided them."
"There's little doubt about that, the jounin who were killed were the guardians of Mount Shinogami." Tsunade hissed out the name.
"The burial mountain." Xi said flatly. "How grandiose of him."
"How foul!" Tsunade spat. "The veterans of the last great battle of the great shinobi wars were buried there, I don't know what he's planning to do with them, and the Stone report didn't say, but I'm sure he took them back to Waterfall." The Gondaime Hokage looked up at Xi. "I thought it would never happen, but I am going to accede to your request, Xi. Konoha will gather a force of its strongest jounin and chuunin and deal with this matter. I will send to Stone for support as well."
"Tsuchikage will grant it, he will try to conquer Waterfall afterwards, but perhaps that should happen." Xi said simply.
"No war is a good war!" Tsunade barked. "But if he can quietly annex some of the country very well. Regardless Xi, I will allow you to go, but only if your students come along. Draci Neji, as a leaf chuunin your presence is mandatory regardless of Xi's decision."
"Don't worry," Xi replied. "I'll be going, and Shiren and Dar as well, the dragons practically demanded it not an hour ago."
Tsunade gave Xi a blank look. "You're telling the truth, aren't you?" She sighed. "I was hoping this report was a lie. Very well, I hope you all can make a difference. Regardless, it will take several days to prepare the force. I will place Aoba in charge."
"Then I will consult with him, Neji as well." Xi vaguely recalled the jounin Tsunade had named. "We are familiar with the area and the abilities of the Waterfall ninja."
"What about us?" Shiren asked immediately.
Xi gave a half-smile, but his eyes were predatory. "You and Dar should go to the northeast reaches of Fire country, practice your skills there, but don't be quiet about it. Try to get discrete word to the Cloud ninja, but trust only the ANBU." Xi repeated himself. "Only the ANBU, none of the rest are necessarily loyal to Raikage. If you can get word he may be able to offer some small support at least."
"Even drawing ANBU back from the border would free up some of our ninja." Tsunade remarked. "You are surprisingly helpful today Xi."
When three different breeds of dragons ask something of you, you do everything in your power to see it done. Xi thought, but said nothing. "How many days?" Was all he asked.
"Four." Tsunade answered simply.
"Four days then." He repeated to Shiren and Dar. They nodded.