Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto; but I'm sure almost everyone who might read this wishes they did!
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Chapter 2: A New Sensei
After gathering their weapons and other tools, Sasuke and Tatsu met in a clear area behind the Uchiha formal garden. They faced each other about ten paces apart and waited for the first move. Without warning, Tatsu did a few hand-signs and then flung two kunai at Sasuke. He dodged the first one, and then the second, but not the third hiding in its shadow. "Kage Shuriken no Jutsu, you'll have to try harder than that if you want to win." Keeping his eyes fastened on hers; he brought his arm to his mouth and slowly licked the blood from the cut. "Mmm." He giggled, the voice in his head begging for more of the rich life-holding liquid.
Tatsu raised an eyebrow at his demonstration, secretly disgusted at his warped display.
Exhibiting some of the speed he was known for, the raven-haired young man completed his seals and yelled "Kanton Housenka!" before spitting several medium-sized fireballs at his opponent. While he was engaged, he missed her finishing a jutsu of her own. At least two of the fireballs seemed to be direct hits, leaving Tatsu completely unscathed. He closed in on her, burning himself when his foot connected with her blocking arm. He jumped back to gain some space simply to be hit in the back and sent flying forward. He quickly stood to his feet, slightly favoring his right leg. "Kanton Bunshin no Jutsu?" He quickly sprang to the left with a roll when he felt the presence materialize behind him.
The two Tatsu's nodded and one closed in on him with a preliminary wide throw of several shuriken with exploding notes attached. The second copy began doing a variety of seals and then slammed her hands down on the ground. He crashed into an invisible barrier while trying to avoid the last exploding note, his sharingan unable to catch any but the last two of her seals.
He sent several shuriken at the closest clone, and it poofed out of existence having taken too much damage. He noticed several Anbu running at them, only to bounce harmlessly off the invisible wall.
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Tsunade jerked her head off the desk, awaking quickly at the surge of raw power that slammed through the Hokage Tower. She threw open the door and quickly began yelling commands at the groups of Jounin and Chunin who were standing around in shock. "All of you come with me!" Running out the main door, the group jumped to the rooftops to make travel easier and sped off in the direction of the Uchiha Estate, where the power had originated.
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Tatsu closed in, and they traded blows, each easily blocking the other. When she saw the Hokage and a large group of shinobi come through the gate, she spoke for the first time since the discussion in the kitchen. "It seems we have attracted an audience, we need to finish this."
He nodded, not wanting their fight to be interrupted either. The curse seal burned as he gathered a great amount of chakra. "Kanton Goukaryuu!" When the smoke cleared, there was a very charred looking opponent crouched in front of him. He grabbed two new kunai and sprang, slashing viciously while she attempted to block with her burned hands. He kicked her legs out from under her, and she fell heavily to the ground, groaning in pain. Smiling victoriously, he grabbed her by the hair and pulled, barring her neck to his next slash. In the next instant, he could only grunt as a pair of hands pulled him underground.
"Doton Decapitation!" The figure in front of him stood up and released the henge, turning around slowly. "Lesson one, always overestimate your opponent." Sasuke growled, the voice calling for him to gut her as soon as he got free. "Well, can you get up and continue?"
He couldn't even twitch a finger. "Then we're done here." She grabbed his collar and yanked him roughly from the ground. "Now go get a shower and get something to eat. I need to speak with your Hokage." She turned her back on him and walked over to Tsunade, bowing low before beginning the seals to release the air wall.
Sasuke was seething at how he had been easily beaten and then summarily dismissed. His head was pounding from gritting his teeth so hard against the pain in his neck. A year of training since being brought back to Konoha and he couldn't even beat some stranger off the street. Letting his emotions get the best of him, he quickly finished the seals for Kanton Housenka. The embedded shuriken in the fireballs hit the figure of his would-be sensei dead on. She didn't even have time to dodge.
A voice spoke behind him, "Kanashibari no Jutsu. I warned you not to underestimate your opponents." He tried to turn around and defend himself, but his body was frozen in place. She continued, "I warned you about forcing the issue." He felt her grab the side of his neck, the side with the curse seal, with one hand. "Chakra Kyuushuu" A pain as great as when Orichimaru first bit him swarmed over Sasuke's senses, and for one of the few times in his life, he passed out. Tatsu grabbed his body as it fell and threw him over her shoulder, bringing down the barrier as soon as he was stable.
Tsunade, Kakashi, and several other Jounin carefully approached the stranger who had just knocked one of the most powerful Genin out cold. "Who are you and what are you doing in Konoha?" Tsunade readied herself for an attack and motioned for the waiting Anbu to surround the figure.
The mystery shinobi chuckled and readjusted the limp body over her shoulder. "I leave for fifteen years and on my return, everybody is trying to kill me." She shook her head. "I mean, I didn't check in last night because it was so late but this is overkill, don't you think?" She looked around at the surrounding circle of Konaha shinobi before facing Tsunade again. "I was planning on coming this morning to officially meet you, but I kind of got side-tracked. I knew putting up the air barrier was a risk, but I couldn't have anyone interrupting the fight." She shrugged. "It's a family matter that has gotten way out of hand." One of the jounin spoke up, "But all the Uchihas were killed by the traitor over six years ago." Tatsu sighed and rolled her eyes. "Look, if it bothers you that much, I'm sure Hyuuga Hiashi would be willing to identify me." She pointed to the same Jounin. "Go get Hyuuga-san please." At Tsunade's agreeing nod, the unnamed Jounin left quickly to go get the head of the Hyuuga clan.
Tsunade stared hard at the stranger. "You're an Uchiha?"
"You could say that. My name is Kuragari Tsukitatsu."
At that moment the panting Jounin arrived with a collected Hyuuga in tow. Tatsu waved lazily. "Greetings, Hyuuga-san. Will you please confirm to your esteemed Hokage that I'm who I say I am?"
"Byukagan" Hiashi stared at the stranger for a second before nodding and bowing. "It is good to see you again Kuragari-sama."
Tatsu bowed back. "The same. I will be calling upon clan Hyuuga in a few days, when things here get settled, to renew old ties." Her gaze flicked towards an Aburame. "The same goes with clan Aburame, if you could be so kind as to let the Clan head know." The singled out Jounin nodded in silent agreement.
Tsunade took the opportunity to study the stranger once again. It was amazing to see how she could seem so rude and short but then exchange formal pleasantries with the stuffiest of clan heads. Who exactly was this person? She silently dismissed the group of shinobi, leaving herself, Kakashi and Hiashi the only ones present.
Kakashi chose at this moment to speak up. "If you have been gone for fifteen years, why return now?"
Tatsu turned a cold gaze on the Jounin, losing any agreeableness in the process. She hefted Sasuke down and before anyone could act, withdrew a kunai and slit his shirt open. Pulling it back, she revealed his chest and upper body. "LOOK at this boy, and ask me why I came back. If YOU had done YOUR job properly, I wouldn't have too!" The last ended in almost a growl, more fearsome for its quietness.
Even Kakashi was shocked at Sasuke's appearance. He had several large wounds, which appeared to be slightly infected. Other scratches, seemingly self-inflicted, covered his chest. He also seemed to be suffering from severe malnutrition, as his ribs were easily viewable under his skin.
Tatsu looked back up, her eyes sparking in anger. "Now you tell me, Sensei, how did your student get in this condition?" Not waiting for his reply, she picked Sasuke, up again and began walking towards the house with him.
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Author's notes:
Thanks to Kiyoshi who has taken on the scary task of being my Beta. Mwhahaha! Be afraid, be very afraid!
Cfox- Well thanks for the vote of confidence. Hope I can keep you interested.
Jutsus Mentioned:
Kage Shuriken no Jutsu: Shadow Shuriken spell
Kanton Housenka: Mythical Fire Flower ?
Kanton Bunshin no Jutsu: Fire Shadow spell
Kanton Goukaryuu: I forget the translation for this, but it makes a huge fireball
Doton Decapitation: Earth Decapitation
Kanashibari no Jutsu: Freeze spell
Chakra Kyuushuu: Chakra Absorption