Wow, i actually got to the first chapter! At any rate, thanks for all those who reviewed previously. Especially Vic since she doesn't even watch/read naruto. Special thanks also to Big Bird, upon whose comments i get encouragement and some useful critique - big thanks for being the first person to read my stuff, even though i am but a warty toad compared to you (what a terribly cheesy comparison, but hehe, its all this toad can manage).
As for the rest of you guys, thanks for reading and the comments, much appreciated. What is the Ascent you ask? Well read on for more intruige and mystery in (cue cheesy detective music) Fraudulent Realities, Chapter 1.
Fraudulent Realities
Chapter one.
Compared to the soothing pale brow of his apartment, which was decorated in the typical Huuyga decor, Neji always found the streets of Konoha to be excessively noisy. By the time he had reached the streets, that strange wave of emotions had left him feeling drained and bewildered. What's more, his efforts at recollecting whatever important thoughts he had been mulling over have been completely futile. As such, the Hyuuga was considerably less courteous with the rank and file on the streets. Being one of the most powerful ninjas in the village, it suddenly struck Neji had how blank and empty the average ninja on the street seemed. Everyone walked around with a dazed expression. Faces that passed were blank and devoid of feelings. The poor unfortunates who got in his way were coldly brushed aside.
As he progressed towards the administration center, he could not help but marvel at the sprawl of city. That same rush of wonder and awe for Konoha again crept into Neji. Certainly, the city was quite a sight. Since the Ascent, Konoha had undergone immense structural improvements, and the new developments in chakra channeling had been integrated into everyday living. The first thing one would notice was the sheer altitude of the city. Gone were the days when the village was a messy affair on the ground – the first thing the Hokage had done after the Ascent was to elevate the entire village on a ring of seven immense pillars shaped from the bowels of the earth with enormous amounts of chakra. This was to protect the village from further conflict the high altitude became the first line of defense. The next distinct feature was the second part of the village's defense system – the giant chakra dome, Konoha's Absolute Defense. In a recent assault, the enemy from Hidden Mist had been completely stopped short by this dome, which stretched from the bases of the foundation pillars, all the way to the highest point of the city – the Hokage Tower. It was there which Neji now made his way to. At the tip of the tower, conducts constructed by the Hokage himself channeled chakra and dispensed it to power the dome. The amount of power was in such amounts that should a person be caught in any one of the beams powering the dome, he would immediately be disintegrated by the raw energy. The dome it self did not bear the same familiar hue of blue chakra that ninjas used. Instead, the blue was tinged with a strange dark reddish essence, causing the chakra barrier to glow a dark purple. Neji remember reading somewhere that the dome was a large scale barrier jutsu, akin to those used by barrier ninjas. With the dome however, chakra was instead supplied by the chakra well deep within the Hokage tower, which was said to contain vast amounts of replicating chakra. Although no one but the Hokage and his closest aides were allowed in those chambers, Neji was well acquainted with the untold amounts of chakra at Konoha's disposal – the prime weapon which the village employed to keep their enemies at bay.
In fact, one had to merely glance at the village within in dome to behold how powerful this chakra source was. Chakra was channeled through numerous smaller conducts to power special light jutsu to continuously brighten up the streets. For while the dome protected the village, it also blotted out most sunlight. Still, most ninjas have long since gotten used to the purplish hues of the village, and the continuous light jutsu ensured that Konoha was never asleep. Chakra conducts also powered public dispatch units placed at strategic intervals in the village. Every plot of available land was developed and built upon to create a vast sprawl of towering structures. Streets were built upon streets, buildings upon buildings - from where Neji was traveling, buildings rose like canyon walls on either side of him. The name village was merely a formality – Konoha was a city of powerful proportions, its population vastly increased by the assimilation of the nations of Wind and Sound into Fire.
For many, the village would have been an intimidating, harrowing experience, had it not been for the reassuring images of the Hokage, who's face was depicted in a generous amount of posters and banners everywhere. The image of the man, face shrouded in his head dress of office, provided a point of stability and familiarity for people. Many felt better by simply catching a glimpse of a poster or two.
Such were the marvels of the Ascent, made possible by the visionary man whose stern gaze was hung all over the city. This myriad farrago of wonders were reflected in the eyes of Neji, who despite having seen it many a time, paused for a moment to simply take in the sights. Still, a small part of him was feeling strangely... disturbed. As if he was beholding something utterly perverse and unnatural. A small part of him cringed when he glanced at one of the few trees left in the village of the leaf – the lack of sunlight having killed off most of them. This tree bore the same twisted and contorted limbs as those that remained, its branches clawing at a sky that would never again shed its light. The leaves all bore the same color of the dome, a dark purple that almost looked red in the glow from the chakra dome. A dark red that looked almost like blood...
For the second time that day, Neji was ripped away from his thoughts, this time because he had bumped into someone. Blinking back to reality, Neji realized that he had finally reached the administration building, located in the upper levels of the Hokage tower. The tree in question sat pitifully on one of the many balconies of the tower, so shriveled that the pot it was in dwarfed the plant itself. The person he had bumped into wore the garb of the newly reinstated police unit, and stood impassively beside the entrance to the admin levels. With uniform so crisp that it made Neji's own normally smart attire look shabby, the officer continued to gaze forward – eyes transfixed upon some imaginary target in the distance. It almost seemed as though the guard had not notice Neji at all.
"You must be more careful Neji-san.", the officer intoned in a deadpan voice. As robotic as he sounded, Neji detected a hint of familiarity. Looking at the officer closer, he was considerably taken aback when he recognized one of his former students.
"Konohamaru, good to see you again" Neji broke into a rare smile. While he detested whimsical greetings, this student was different. At first, as a boy Konohamaru had been lonely and alienated, especially since no one could remember any living relatives of his. The orphan hence relied on loud mischief to assert himself and gain him recognition. He remembered having to teach the over enthusiastic boy and watching him mellow over time. Konohamaru's bearing had always reminded him of someone, although he couldn't exactly place a name on that person. And here he was, the boy grown up, looking impressive in his police uniform and bearing the personal signet of the Hokage tattooed on his left arm. Certainly, times seemed to have passed well for Konohamaru.
"Neji sensei, do not waste the Hokage's time. Report to the admin office now." The cold, curt reply shocked Neji. It had been uttered without a twitch of facial muscles, leaving the face as expressive as a marble statue. Where was the loud mouth boy that he had thought? Where was the pervert who constantly performed the god awful sexy-no-jutsu? Could a person change so much in just a few years?
Trying a different approach, Neji strolled up to Konohamaru once again and gave a friendly nudge.
"Now, no need to be over zealous Konohamaru. It seems that you are really fulfilling your destiny for greatness, but don't take it all too seriously." Neji tried this with another smile (this time quite fake) plastered on his face. Surely Konohamaru would respond now.
Konohamaru's eyes flickered. It was only for a moment, but Neji's buyakugan, even deactivated, saw it all, and what he saw caused him to widen his eyes in alarm. Just for an instant, he saw a frightened and lonely boy. He saw someone whose entire being was laced with pain and confusion. Then he saw a spasm of sorts, barely noticeable, and the eyes were washed over in pain, the pupils contracting until finally, the eyes once again regained the expression of steel and focus. All this in the window of a few seconds, leaving Neji wondering and alarmed. What was wrong with Konohamaru?
"Neji-san, please, do not tarry any longer. The Hokage will be angry." Again that same monotone.
Left with no choice, Neji soothed away the turbulence in his mind, quietly reprimanding himself for being so worked up over something so insignificant. Konohamaru was no long his concern, and to worry over him was simply a waste of energy. Pushing mental distractions aside, Neji glanced once more at his former student, now with eyes that were as distant and cold as snowy mountains. A quick nod, and the Hyuuga stepped into the admin center.
The admin center had previously been where ninja missions were allocated, but since conflict with the village of hidden mist had erupted, it now acted as command post for Konoha's armies. When Neji entered the briefing room, he realized that the meeting had just begun, with the Hokage himself standing beside a large map, flanked by members of the anbu, his personal bodyguards. Inwardly, Neji was surprised at the seeming importance of this mission, as reflected by the persons in attendance. Besides the afore noted Hokage and his anbu escort, Neji spied the anbu captain himself standing in a darkened corner. He had once been a shinobi of the sand, but now served the Hokage with brutal efficiency – the name Gaara was whispered in hushed tones for good reason. Present too was the head of the Hyuuga clan, Hyuuga Hisashi, Neji's uncle. Recently having attained the rank of senin, the Konoha noble surveyed those present with a sneer. Other notables included the chief medical nin, a close aide to the Hokage, as well as the usual collection of special jounins.
"Ah, Neji", hissed the Hokage, clearly displeased. "So nice of you to finally decide on turning up"
"Gomen Hokage-sama, I was... held up at the door", Neji replied, bowing to the robed figure. Turning, he gave another (though considerably shorter) bow to Hisashi – him being Neji's direct superior from the Main house. Even so, Neji performed his bow with curt efficiency. Hisashi might think that he has pre-destined power over Neji, but Neji would rather die than believe that. Ignoring the annoyed narrowing of Hisashi's eyes, Neji walked towards the back of the room and sat down, away from the main congregation.
"I'll keep this short, since time is of the essence in this mission" the Hokage intoned, once the murmuring resulting from Neji's arrival had died down. "Our anbu teams have finally located what we believe to be the base of operations for the rebels who have long sought to wreck anarchy on our great village. As this map shows, the rebels have been hiding in the bowels of the village, in the lower levels near the foundation pillars. Since the area has been sealed off for the last 5 years since the Ascent, they have been undetected thus far. Your mission is to go into the area and assassinate their leader, whose face I am sure you are all well acquainted with. However, beware since the area is on actual ground level and contains the ruins of the old village – what you see there might bewilder and disorientate you. The mission commences tonight, and Konoha wishes you luck in bringing stability to our village."
Conversation erupted across the room as Hisashi began to organize the 11 jounins present into teams of three. Neji felt the familiar rush which came before battle – finally he thought, lips twisting into his characteristic sardonic smirk, a true test of my ability. He glared at wanted poster of the rebellion leader which had been hung on the main wall ever since the rebels had begun their insurgency. It was the face which every citizen of Konoha had been taught to hate and despise. It was the face which every now and then, tried to swindle disillusioned ninjas to his unworthy cause. It was the face which threatened everything the village stood for, a traitor who turned his back on the village which made him.
Neji stared at the face of Nara Shikamaru, wanted S-class criminal and leader of the rebellion. The man he was going to kill tonight.
Dun dun duh!
More intruige! Hoped you enjoyed it... please review.