Author Disclaimer: The Drill is the same as the last eight chapters.
Author's Note: My sincerest apologies about not updating. My life has been a little hectic of late; University has taken up most of my time seeing as I am now an official History Major. Plus there's been a few complications in the Family . . . My aunt has been re-diagnosed with breast cancer and we're all wishing for her speedy recovery. On a little note, I send this chapter as an early Christmas give to all those Reviewers that demanded that I update. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah!!
Chapter Nine: The Clashing of Powers
Tsunade wipe her brow as she finished healing the last of Naruto's maternal relatives. She gazed at the sleeping Shinobi; Aokusa was what Jiraiya had called him . . . Naruto's youngest Uncle. Tsunade turned to see her sleeping Nephew curled up to the eldest of his mother's siblings, Asahi. She exited the room to where the others had gathered; they had attended to their wounds, leaving Tsunade to care for Aokusa.
She sat at Jiraiya's side facing the conscious members of Imahitotsu Clan. "Tell me, what happened?" Tsunade inquired. Jiraiya, Kakashi and Iruka voiced their curiosity as well. Fokkusu looked at his brothers then nephews before turning to the Fifth Hokage and sighed.
"We had no warning" Fokkusu answered. "We maybe the best of the Best, Hokage-Sama, but we are a peaceful people. We are only summoned to do High profile Assassinations and War". Fokkusu rubbed his eyes and looked at the ceiling.
"We did not know who are attackers were" Tsuki began. "They bore no symbol of their home Village or anything. They fought relentlessly; tearing down anything in their path. Unarmed villagers . . . Women . . . Children . . . No one was safe". He gazed evenly at the others on the other side. "We fought the best we could on such short notice, even made to make then retreat until . . . ."
"Until?" Jiraiya prodded.
"He arrived" Tsuki growled. "That bastard, Orochimaru. He murdered Okaasan before us . . . She was unarmed, not even trained in the Ninja arts! He murdered her because she was doing her best to defend a group of school children". Ginrei placed a hand on his brother's shoulder; Tsuki took a deep breath, evening out his nerves. "He was the one behind the attack, though no longer did he have the Hidden Sound Village. It was something else".
"Slimy Snake" Jiraiya mumbled under his breath.
"Otousan and Aokusa fell not long after Okaasan, though not dead . . . Gravely wounded" Tsuki continued on. "We had no choice but to flee the village. It was over run and we were out numbered by far". Tsuki's eyes adapted a glazed look before shaking his head, clearing his thoughts. "We used our forbidden Techniques to escape with the number of our people that we could".
"We came here" Ginrei added. "Otousan was on the verge of the Mists; Our Clan has long ruled Air, Naruto would be the new ruler".
"But he's a child!" Tsunade exclaimed.
"He is the Heir" Idunza said, gravely. "He is the only child of Ayame, who is the eldest of Byakko. There is no other say".
"Do I have a Say?" came a soft voice. Everyone jumped in surprisement and turned to see Kurai and Kage standing in the shadow. "You forget that Naruto is not only heir to Air but to Leaf and Shadow as well".
"Shadow?"
"Yes, Tsunade-hime's brother married my only child, my Nisshoku" Kurai said, sitting. "He is ruler of the Mei Clan once I have passed". The group sat there, quietly.
>>
Temari waltzed into her hotel room that she shared with her brothers and father. Kankorou noticed how happy she looked and raised an eyebrow, he looked over to his father. The Kazekage was also a little surprised at how happy his daughter was, that was until he noticed the ring on her finger. He chuckled and shook his head, looking back at his paper work. It would seem that he would getting a son-in-law, rather soon if Temari had anything to say about it.
"Touchan, Gaara wants to go out and play" spoke the little redhead that stood at his father's side, pulling on his robes. Dark eyes looked toward his small son, sighing.
"Touchan can't play right now, Gaara" the Kazekage answered. "Why don't you ask your brother or sister?" He gave Gaara gentle shove toward his elder children and returned to his work; Gaara pouted and crossed his arms. He didn't want to play with his siblings, he wanted to play with his father.
'Maybe Niichan will play with Gaara' thought the child, grinning. The tiny redhead walked toward the door and snuck out, unaware of the gleaming eye that was following him. Gaara had no warning when the shadow struck and he was render unconscious. The Shadow smiled at his prey and vanished just as a maid walked down the hall, never noticing what happened.
Naruto bolted up, his hair tumbling down his shoulders. His chest heaved as Naruto clutched his veiled mark and attempted to calm himself; he noticed that he was in his bedroom and curiously wondered how he got here until the memory of his grandfather's death came crashing down upon him.
"Lovely images flow through that pretty head of yours, doesn't it" came a seductive hiss. Naruto jumped and turned to see Orochimaru standing on his window sill; the Blonde reached for his hidden kunai when he was knocked to the floor and a larger body perched upon his. Naruto struggled under the traitorous Shadow Ninja; he glared at Orochimaru, who landed gently on the floor. Orochimaru knelt and grasp Naruto's face and lifted the boy's face to look at him, before trailing his hand down to the mark.
Suddenly Orochimaru and shadow-nin flew backwards. Inari stood protectively over his human counterpart; His muzzle was drawn back in a snarl, his amber eyes darkned considerably. Orochimaru glared at the fox, snapping his fingers and smiled cruelly. "Gaara!" Naruto cried as the little auburn haired child appeared from the shadows. Wide green eyes looked, terrified, at Naruto who couldn't keep from scowling at Orochimaru. "Let him go! He is not apart of this!"
"Isn't he?" Orochimaru inquired. Naruto glared at the S-class Criminal; Orochimaru smiled and turned away. "If you wish to get this little One back, meet with me at Forest of Death, alone. Or I'll kill the Little One". With that Orochimaru and the shadow-nins disappeared ; Naruto hoisted himself off the floor and grabbed his clothes that were sitting on the dresser and quickly adorn them.
-- You are not seriously thinking about meeting with that snake, are you? – Inari demanded, following behind his human. Naruto nodded and quickly assembled himself, arming himself with various weapsons. – Naruto, Are you out of your mind? Are you forgetting your seal? –
"I am forgetting about my seal" Naruto said. "What you have me do? You what Orochimaru said . . . He will kill Gaara if I do not come alone or not at all. I can not let that happen to Gaara. . . I will not let that happen, Inari". The Fox growled and grabbed some of his human's pants and gave a yank, sending Naruto tumbling backwards. "Inari! What was that for?!"
-- Trying to knock some sense into that head of yours – Inari growled. – You know he will activate your seal, yet you still want to go -- .
Naruto smiled and touched the Fox's head. Inari tensed and fell to his side, asleep; Naruto stood and headed to his window. "Sorry, everyone" Naruto said, jumping from the window and vanishing from sight.
>>
Gaara struggled a little in the binds that held him, glaring up at Orochimaru every few minutes. "You won't beat Niichan" Gaara said, convicted. Orochimaru ignored the little redhead; his eyes were trained on the surroundings. "Niichan is going to kick your ass".
"He's here" Orochimaru said, smiling.
"Hi Butokai: Hoshi Bakuhatsu!" (Fire Ball: Star Expolsion!) Orochimaru dodged, countered with a Water technique and landed in a tree, he looked down to see Gaara was gone. He smiled, a evil smile; he had been played. The young Fox knew that he would dodge any of his attacks and then went in and rescued the young hostage.
"Well Done, Young Fox!" Orochimaru called, knowing that Naruto was still somewhere in the area. "I applaud you! Now it is my turn . . . Atokaka Wana: Me no Ankoku". (Shadow Trap: Eye of Darkness)
Naruto cursed as he heard Orochimaru call out an attack. Gaara looked up with frightened green eyes. "It will okay, Gaara" Naruto said, he hoisted himself up and, single-handed, created a seal.
"Atokaka: manto no Akumu" Naruto whispered. (Shadow: cloak of Nightmare) Naruto smiled as he heard screams erupt around them. "Seishin Bunshin no Jutsu" (Spirit Clone Technique). Naruto watched as an exact duplicate of him and Gaara appeared. "Go that way, lead them away from us". The Clone nodded and dashed away; Naruto turned the other way and dashed away, flipping into a tree and used the foliage as cover as he made his get away. He was suddenly stilled as a burning sensation in his shoulder; Naruto rested Gaara down and grasped his seal.
"Niichan?" Gaara inquired. "What's wrong?"
"Bunshin no Jutsu" Naruto gasped out. Another replica of Naruto appeared. "Get him out of here! Go!" The clone gathered the child and disappeared into the trees; Naruto whimpered as he struggled against the dark hold of the seal.
"Why do you fight it?" came an inquiring voice.
"Shut up!" Naruto growled out. "I will never hand myself over to you!"
"Hi: kumo no Su (Fire: Spider's Web)" Orochimaru called out, after making the necessary signs. Naruto propped himself up and his hands flashed through a seal.
"Suiton Suijen heki!" Naruto shouted. (Water Element: Water Barrier) Orochimaru's attack struck the water barrier that encased Naruto's proned body.
"Ooh, very clever" Orochimaru said, smiling. "But can you keep it up? After all, my beautiful seal is spreading and you are having a hard time countering it".
Naruto gasped and whimpered, his hand clenching on the seal. "I will not give up" Naruto said. "You can have my body when I am dead!" He glared at Orochimaru through the wavering barrier. 'Aniki . . . Temari . . . Gods, I failed you'.
>>
Iruka looked up from grading his papers, something was tickling in the back of his mind. But he didn't know what it was and he didn't like it; Iruka stood and walked to the window and gazed out. The Earth was trying to tell him something but he couldn't make what it was; he had been gone too long from the Earth's tender embrace. "What is it?" Iruka whispered. "What is it that you are trying to tell me?"
The Earth rumbled again, growing louder and louder each time. Iruka cried out in surprised as the building shook around him. He grasped the window and crouched down, gazing around. Something was definitely up and Iruka knew that it wasn't good. A loud crack of Thunder and flash of lightening caused Iruka to look out of the window.
Temari looked around the market place. She could hear whispering in her ear but no one was around her; what was going on? Temari rubbed at the back of her neck and shivered against the cold wind that blew against her body. There was a loud crack of thunder and a flash of lightening; Temari and several other of the customers looked up at the sky then the earth shook beneath them. Temari screamed and crouched down, protecting her head as items fell and rattled. What was going on?!
"Ane! Ane!" came a shout. Temari turned to see Gaara running toward her; the elder sibling scooped up the auburn haired child and held him close. "Ane, you gotta help . . . It's Niichan! Snake Man has Niichan!"
"Orochimaru?" Temari whispered. "Oh no . . . Naruto!" The Blonde was up and running, Gaara still stowed safely in her arms. She stopped at the nearest Leaf-Nin; Ino, she remembered. The younger Kunoichi looked at the gasping Sand Kunoichi; "Alert the Hokage! Naruto is in grave danger . . . Orochimaru has him!"
"What? How do you know this?" Ino demanded.
"He kidnapped Gaara" Gaara explained. "Used Gaara against Niichan! Niichan is in trouble".
"Alright, come with me" Ino said. She beckoned Temari to follow her but the Snad Nin shook her head.
"I must go to him" Temari said, she handed Gaara over to the younger Kunoichi. "Gaara, be good". Temari dashed off heading to where her heart was leading to her; halfway there, she encountered Iruka.
"Something is wrong!" Iruka said.
"I know . . . It's Naruto" Temari explained. "Orochimaru has him! He kidnapped Gaara to use against Naruto, apparently it worked". Iruka growled and pushed himself faster, Temari keeping up with the pace. Suddenly, the two were thrown back; Iruka flipped up and glared at the traitorous Shadow Nins. Temari was up and her fan snapped open. The two looked at each other and dashed into the fray, nothing was going to keep them from getting to Naruto.
>>
Tsunade and the Kazekage looked up as Ino burst into the room, carrying Gaara. The little Boy, seeing his father, reached out. The younger Kage gathered his youngest child into his arms. "Ino, what is wrong?" Tsunade demanded.
"Orochimaru has Naruto!" gasped the younger Kunoichi. "Temari, and I believe Iruka-Sensei, have gone after him".
"What?" Tsunade cried; She quickly turned to her aide, Shizune, "Summon the Anbu!"
"Right away" said Shizune, who bolted away. The group was startled when several Shadow Nins appeared with Air Nins mixed in. "Hokage-sama?"
"We will help" said one of the Air Nins. "Naruto-Sama is our Leader, we pledged to keep him from harm and thus will do so". The Shadow Nins agreed; Tsunade nodded and turned to Shizune waving her way.
"You Shadow Nins are more capable trackers" Tsunade said. "I want my nephew found! Do not engage Orochimaru unless necessary". The Shadow Nins nodded and disappeared into the Shadows; her attention turned to the Air nins. "I will need your help on the fortification of the Village and the protection of the Civilians".
"Of course". The Air Nins disappeared into thin Air.
"I pray the Gods are merciful" Tsunade whispered.
"I will prepare my Sand Nins for Battle" Kazekage said, "Leaf and Sand have been allies for many years despite the many battles we have had to fight. Naruto is engaged to my daughter, thus making him of my family. No one tries with my family".
"Thank you".
>>
Naruto cried out as the Seal tore at his soul, staining it with darkness but the light of his soul was not giving with out a damn good fight. Naruto gasped and heaved while Orochimaru watched, smirking. The Snake Sennin was finding this terribly amusing and couldn't help his smirking. "When I am rid of this cursed mark" Naruto snarled out, "I will enjoy taking you down, measure by measure". He cried out again and heaved.
"This would be less painful if you just give up" Orochimaru said. "Would it be that difficult to give in?"
"On pain of Death . . . On my honor as Heir to Leaf and Air and Shadow" Naruto said. "I shall see you Dead, Orochimaru!"
"I grown tired . . . . Fuu no Yami-----" Started Orochimaru (Seal of Darkness)
"No! I will not allow this!" Naruto cried. "I will not let you use me as a weapon against my people!"
"Houshutsu!" (Release)
Naruto's scream of agony pierced through the raging storm.
TBC