Naruto: Tornado of Souls Final

Blanket disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or RWBY

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Yes, Kakashi is really gone and Anko has had to step in. A few points regarding the Konoha/Oto war: The war itself is mostly unchanged as I liked it the way it was. Grammar and spelling has been cleaned up but the war plot itself is unchanged. On the other hand, Sakura's plot has changed drastically as there is no longer the Raven subplot and the Malachite twin's subplot has been removed entirely. You will see a lot of old material with snippets of new material throughout. Lastly, Anko has replaced Kakashi in events concerning Team 7. Here is chapter 10. Enjoy!

Last time:

Training Ground 9

Maito Gai was sitting in front of Neji and Tenten. "The unyouthful actions of our enemies have left Lee-kun injured and that will have to be dealt with by our medics. Neji-kun, I am afraid that your chance to display your Flames of Youth in the Chunin Exams has been denied this time. Do not despair my disciple. You are still in the Springtime of Youth! Tenten-chan, since you have fully recovered from your previous injuries we need to work hard to stoke your Flames of Youth as well. Never fear, Neji-kun and I are here for you. We will also be visiting Lee-kun when we can to show our support to him in his time of need."

Tenten asked, "Gai-sensei, what will our duties be since the bulk of our forces are at war?"

"An excellent question Tenten-chan." said the Green Beast. "Our duties are primarily going to be geared towards patrol and guard missions. While these jobs are not glorious; they are vital to Konoha's security! Also we must do our best to do Lee-kun's part as he cannot participate."

Neji shook his head and thought to himself, 'It seems Lee's fate is set in stone. He wasn't meant to be a ninja any more than that failure Hinata-sama or that fool Uzumaki.' "Are we going to get someone to replace Lee-sensei?" Seeing the look of horror on his sensei's face Neji quickly covered his faux pas by adding, "I mean temporarily until Lee is well."

Tenten saw her sensei's body lose its tenseness and let out a breath of relief. The possibility of an Explosion of Youth absolutely terrified the weapons loving kunoichi. She said, "Lee is irreplaceable, but it might be a good idea to get a temporary teammate just in case."

Gai stroked his chin. "Perhaps you are right my students. It would be unyouthful to not err on the side of caution in these trying times."

Neji said, "As loing as we don't end up with that loser Uzumaki. It seems Team 7's fate was to fail."

Tenten sighed. 'Neji's obsession with fate is still going strong. He'd be dateable otherwise.'

Gai simply said, "Neji-kun; you will see the truth one day or my name isn't Maito Gai. I believe in Uzumaki-kun just as I do Lee-kun. After this war ends our genin teams should have a youthful, if unofficial, tournament to stoke our Flames of Youth! Perhaps you can test yourself against young Uzumaki Naruto after all."

…

Yakiniku Q Restaurant

Asuma was sitting with Team 10. Shikamaru had been practicing for the Chunin Exams and was relieved that it had been called off. It was all just too troublesome for his tastes. The main concern of the whole team was taking care of their kunoichi teammate though. Ino was very distraught over the situation with Sakura and was saddened by the loss of the boy she was infatuated with.

The thought creeping through Ino's subconscious was the deaths of Kakashi, Mebuki and Kizashi all led back to the Snake sanin. 'Orochimaru sent his people to kill Naruto as well. This is all Orochimaru's doing. Sakura-chan is gone…and Sasuke-kun is missing.' Ino was shaken out of her musings by Choji placing his hand on her shoulder with compassion in his eyes. She saw Shikamaru and Asuma both looked equally concerned. Ino hugged Choji and let the tears fall quietly. "Thank you…all of you."

It took a while for Ino to calm down, but the food soon arrived and Asuma soon started outlining their new training and what their duties were defending Konoha. They would commence regular patrols in the next couple of days once the jobs had been doled out. The Second Division was leaving tonight so there would be plenty of work for the genin to do.

In the meantime, Asuma decided some light sparring was in order but keeping everyone's spirits up was paramount as far as the cigarette smoking jonin was concerned.

…

Chapter 10

Training Ground 52

Anko decided that Training Ground 52 was preferable for Team 7 since Training Ground 7 had bad memories for Naruto. Besides, the kids just kind of led her there automatically as they'd more or less claimed the place for themselves. She tested their affinities with chakra paper and confirmed Naruto's wind affinity was off the charts as Jiraiya had indicated. Pyrrha's affinities were both equally high in wind and earth and it had already been proven that she had the power of Magnet Release. That was all expected by the snake princess. Blake shocked her though.

"Your primary affinity is Yin Blake-chan -but you seem to have a minor affinity for all elements." said Anko looking at the pitch-black chakra paper. "This is a higher affinity than a Nara's. No wonder your ability with genjutsu is so high…Still, that doesn't explain why you can make earth, water and mud clones so effortlessly. Try an ice clone."

Blake flipped backwards and in her place was a clone of ice formed as if she possessed the Ice Release. She smiled and said, "Let me try a clone of fire." She sidestepped and a clone appeared but when it was hit with a shuriken it turned into a fireball and scorched the earth. "It seems I can will any element I want into a clone Anko-sensei."

Mitarashi's eyebrows shot up as she soaked up the tactical advantages having all the elements at their fingertips. "With this team we have offensive and defensive abilities through ninjutsu and genjutsu that are unbelievable." she thought aloud.

"You seem rather pleased Anko-sensei." said Pyrrha in her usual polite manner. The smile on her face was rather telling of her amusement.

"It's a shame we can't get more specialized weaponry like you described to me Blake-chan." said Anko.

"Actually, Hinata was kind enough to place an order for a new Gambol Shroud for Blake and a new Miló and Akoúo̱ for me." said the resident redhead. "They are made of chakra metal so they should have many of the same capabilities of the originals. She's even paying for them."

"My question is why she did this…" said Anko.

Blake explained, "Hinata said it is a way of trying to make amends with Pyrrha and I."

"I thought you were all already friends with each other Blake-chan." said Naruto.

"There is a lot to explain…." said Pyrrha.

"Perhaps it's time we all had a good talk." said the Snake mistress. Pyrrha nodded, Blake looked concerned and Naruto looked confused. "There is a lot you don't know about yet Naruto. You deserve the truth about a place called Remnant."

"What do you mean Anko-sensei…?" asked the blonde prankster.

…

"…So this Remnant place; what exactly happened to it after you all…well, died?" asked Naruto. It had taken some time to convince Naruto that this wasn't some prank -and that his friends weren't zombies. "This all so totally fucked up." he said holding his head.

"In answer to your question we don't really know what happened back in Remnant Naruto-kun." said Pyrrha kindly. "We wanted you to understand the truth about things and where we are from."

Anko could see that Blake was still worried about her status as a faunus and Naruto had a hand over his seal that kept the Kyubi in check. 'They aren't ready for that step yet. Well, one day at a time.' "Alright everybody, we're good and rested from our chat so let's get in some sparring. Naruto, you are up first. I want to see some of what Jiraiya-sama has taught you. Let's stick with weapons and taijutsu, no ninjutsus."

Naruto stood up and smiled at his teacher. "Let's get wild Anko-sensei!" he rapidly spun two kunai in each hand and eagerly charged his new teacher. The Snake mistress blocked the kunai with her own only to realize Naruto was streaming wind chakra through his whirling weapons forming two discs of cutting wind.

She barely blocked the discs of death using chakra to reinforce her own kunai. Anko snap kicked Naruto back but the blonde flipped back and landed on his feet. 'Good gods what has Jiraiya been teaching him?! That should have flattened a genin. I had some idea but he's far stronger than I realized…' Naruto edged his feet with enough wind chakra that it was visible to the naked eye and tried a roundhouse kick that Anko dodged but felt the fabric of her coat rip. The purple haired woman smiled a jumped back.

"Looks like I'm going to have to get serious." The jonin moved swiftly inside Naruto's guard but Naruto folded into the splits to avoid getting punched. Naruto went for a foot sweep that Anko avoided easily with a flip. When Naruto rolled back to his feet he found she was waiting for him. The jonin shot behind Naruto too fast for the blonde to react and kicked the orange prankster in the back sending the boy flying.

Anko saw Naruto land and roll to his feet after a controlled shoulder roll and Naruto charged. After about ten minutes she held up her hand to stop. "Very good Naruto-kun!" said Anko with enthusiasm Naruto never thought he'd hear from his new sensei. Both girls cheered. The blonde genin beamed at the praise.

The snake princess motioned Naruto to sit with the girls and said, "Which one of you girls would like to go first?"

Blake was going to hop to her feet but found Pyrrha was already standing. "I would be honored sensei." The impeccable politeness of Pyrrha's speech barely hid the fire in her green eyes to prove herself. Anko motioned her forward and she got her weapons in a ready position. Nodding to begin the jonin found herself under a rapid flurry of sword strikes that she parried with kunai followed be a hard shield charge from Pyrrha that caused her eyes to widen.

Anko leapt over Pyrrha's rapid charge and landed behind her only to get mule kicked. 'Ouch. Her situational awareness is excellent.' Mitarashi took the offensive, but Pyrrha used her shield to deflect the force of the blows. For several minutes things were at an impasse until Anko took the full offensive. The redhead countered with a spin kick that knocked the jonin back. She attempted another to follow up, but Anko anticipated her move and caught her foot before sending her flying.

Pyrrha corrected her attitude in flight and hit a branch feet first before using it as a springboard to launch herself back at her sensei. The purple haired jonin rolled out of the way of the red haired meteor as she shot by in a blur. Using chakra to regain her traction, Pyrrha was up in the ready position when she saw Anko signal to stop. "Excellent Pyrrha-chan!"

Pyyrha smiled and bowed, "Thank you for your praise sensei."

As she sat down by Naruto and Blake the blonde ninja said, "You were awesome Pyrrha-chan!" Blake smiled and nodded in agreement.

The jonin thought to herself, 'I'd better gauge Blake at a higher speed than the others.' "Come when you are ready Blake-chan." said Anko with an evil smile.

Blake disappeared from her sitting position, appeared above Anko and shot downwards at her from above. Seeing the cat eared girl screaming down upon her with a heel drop the purple haired jonin crossed her kunai above herself and deflected the black-haired girl backwards. Blake soared and flipped backwards nimbly landing on her feet. Anko charged at her and jumped over a brace of senbon Blake shot at her. Anko's eyes widened as she came into land as the cat eared girl was under her with a scissor kick that sent the jonin airborne again.

Anko righted herself midair and launched a pair of kunai Blake had to deflect with her katana. Then the jonin shot towards her and Blake met her halfway in a zigzag pattern. To Blake's credit she kept her momentum up but she didn't have the raw speed Anko did and after several minutes was sent cart wheeling across the training grounds. She got up and prepared to renew her assault but the snake princess motioned for her to stop. "Very good Blake-chan. Not once did you attack me from the same angle and despite me increasing my speed way beyond chunin you kept up well."

"Way to go Blake-chan!" cheered Naruto.

Pyrrha said, "Yes Blake, you did very well."

As Blake sat back down between Pyrrha and Naruto; Anko said, "You've kids have all exceeded my expectations. Tonight, I'm going to start outlining a training regimen for all of you. I have old notes notes from Kurenai and Jiraiya-sama in addition to my own so I think those will be a good starting point. Meet me here at 7 A.M. in the morning."

…

The Fire Country/Rice Country Border

Jiraiya was addressing his jonin of the First Division. "We can expect much stiffer resistance once we enter Rice Country. The majority of the enemy's bases are underground in Oto according to our intelligence. Our advanced forces are already striking behind their lines and disrupting their communications and logistics. Our Second Division should leave Konoha tonight. They will comprise the other half of the pincer when we hit Oto Village itself in four days."

Nara Shikaku spoke up. "In spite of the fact we are ahead of schedule we're going to keep going come first light. The harassment raids behind enemy lines should keep the enemy up all night and unbalanced while we are going to be fully rested. With the momentum we have there is little reason to hold back as long as we don't expose our flanks."

"What about Suna?" asked Inuzuka Tsume.

"Their forces have fallen back well behind the Wind Country borders." said Jiraiya. "If we're lucky they'll stay out of it but we can't afford to let our guards down."

"In a worst case scenario, the Second Division could intercept incoming Suna forces." said Shikaku. "That's way we have two divisions plus our reserves. We will not fail."

…

Konoha, the Yamanaka Residence

Ino got home from Team practice and felt a bit better about things. Her teammates were her friends and they had been very supportive. She thought about her father Inoichi and how the original Ino-Shika-Cho left with Jiraiya and the First Division. Coming in she saw her Mother Ayano was in the kitchen making dinner. "Mom, I'm home!" said the blonde kunoichi.

"Welcome home Ino-chan." said Ayano. "How was your day?"

Ino smiled softly and said, "It was...It was good. I'm lucky to have my Team."

Ayano smiled. "I'm glad Ino-chan. Pyrrha-chan got home a few moments ago and is showering. She looked like she'd be playing in the dirt." she added with a chuckle.

Ino laughed and sat down. "For all her ladylike manners, Pyrrha-chan is quite the tomboy when it comes to training. She must have been with Blake."

Pyrrha soon came out of the shower in her civilian clothes. "Hello Ino-chan! How are you doing today? The shower is yours whenever you are ready."

"I'm okay; who is watching over your training?" asked the blonde. "Did Hokage-sama assign somebody to help?"

The redhead said, "Naruto-kun, Blake and I are training under Anko-sensei. Due to the recent tragic events a new Team 7 had to be formed."

Ino looked a little downcast but said, "That makes sense forming a new genin cell. How is Anko-sensei?"

Pyrrha chuckled, "Anko sensei says she will train us to survive if it kills us."

Ayano shook her head. "Only Anko…"

…

The Hyūga Compound

Hinata was putting her things away for the night and was about to go to bed when there was a knock on her door. Hinata slipped her yukata back on over her chemise and answered the door where she was slightly surprised to see her father Hiashi dressed in his Konoha jonin uniform. Hiashi said, "If you have a few minutes I'd like to talk before I go Hinata-chan."

Hinata raised an eyebrow and invited her father in. "I wasn't expecting to see you before you left Hiashi-sama." said the heiress as she quietly closed the door behind him. "What brings you here?"

Hiashi said in a quiet tone, "I came to see the Clan Heiress and more importantly my beloved daughter before I departed for war." Her eyes widened slightly at his choice of words. Hiashi said, "Hinata-chan; our relationship has been very strained of late and I am to blame. I want you to know that I love you and Hanabi-chan with all my heart and that the two of you are my greatest treasures. I am very proud of you and I know you can take care of the clan in my absence. Should the worst happen to me you have my permission to get rid of the Caged Bird Seal by force if necessary. I know you will do the right thing Hinata-chan."

He was surprised when Hinata hugged him and said, "Do not talk as if you are not coming back Father."

Hiashi embraced his daughter and said, "That's the first time you've addressed me as Father since the before Chunin Exams. When I come home, I want to mend our broken relationship Hinata-chan." The Father and daughter held each other in silence before they separated and Hiashi said, "You are becoming as beautiful as your mother was Hinata-chan. I will see you when I return." Then they bid each other a quiet farewell.

Hinata sat on her futon after her father left and thought to herself, 'Perhaps we can patch things up. Being closer to Father would be…nice.'

…

Rice Country, the Village of Oto

Orochimaru was looking over his maps of Rice Country. Today had been an epic failure. Something went wrong with the Edo Tensei. The Snake Sanin's intention to unleash the First Hokage on the Konoha forces led by his ex-teammate Jiraiya only revealed a coffin filled with blood, dirt and ash. Orochimaru was baffled. 'It should have worked perfectly! I thought I perfected the jutsu. My efforts to gain the First and Second Hokages is a failure and I don't have the materials to try again.'

…Fortunately for the Konoha forces he didn't try to summon the Second Hokage…

Kabuto entered with the latest set of battle reports. "The last of our forces that were hidden in Fire Country have been destroyed Orochimaru-sama. They are taking no prisoners. As you predicted; without the element of surprise our forces are inadequate against Konoha's in a straight up fight. Should we fall back to our Northern Base with our vital personnel?"

Orochimaru growled. "I can't believe this has happened! There must be a spy in our midst or Suna betrayed us."

"Is there any hope of convincing Suna to attack Orochimaru-sama?" asked Kabuto.

The snake summoner shook his head. "Short of me killing the Kazekage and taking his place as I originally planned there is no chance of that happening. All attempts at reaching Rasa-sama have resulted in nothing. We are on our own Kabuto. I want you to personally supervise moving the labs and their equipment to the north."

Kabuto nodded. "What of all the prisoners for future experimentation we procured? Moving them would be a logistical nightmare."

"Leave them behind." said Orochimaru. "When Jiraiya finds them and 'liberates' them it will bog down the Konoha forces enough that the core of our army can withdraw intact." 'Damn you Sarutobi-sensei. It will take a decade to rebuild from this disaster.' "Still, I'll have to go out and battle Jiraiya along with our…more disposable forces. We must at least put up an effort to stall Konoha or Oto Village will be overrun before we can pull my precious research out."

…

Konoha, Outer Wall

Early the next morning Team 8 was on patrol around the Hokage monument when Hinata giggled. Kurenai smiled at her favorite student and asked, "What has you so tickled Hinata-chan?"

"I was just thinking about Naruto-kun redecorating the Hokage Monument before we became genin." said Hinata. "It was quite a spectacle. The chunin and ANBU chased him for three hours before Iruka-sensei caught up with him."

Kurenai shook her head, "I was out on a mission at the time but when I got back it sounded like Uzumaki Naruto turned the whole village upside down."

"Yeah, that cost me my allowance that week." said Kiba. "I bet him twenty ryo that he couldn't pull it off but he proved me wrong."

Shino said in his usual monotone, "So that's what you were lamenting about that day. I always wondered."

Their morning patrol route proved to be peaceful and the group chatted quietly as they looked around. "The village is so quiet." said Kiba. "It's kind of eerie."

Kurenai said, "Konoha hasn't been in a major conflict in a long time. Back when the Third Shinobi War was going on it was often quiet like this. In the mornings people tended to stay in unless they had to come out. It's very sobering knowing your friends and loved ones are putting their lives on the line. I was a genin back then and my team was always on the dawn patrols. I always thought of the sun rising to be a reminder that a better tomorrow will come. I find it reassuring. My teammates Raido and Asuma hated to get up so early though." Kurenai chuckled. "That seems like ages ago now."

"Do you mean Asuma-sensei was on your genin team?" asked Kiba.

The Genjutsu Mistress nodded. "I've known Sarutobi Asuma since we were children. It really takes me back since we once patrolled just like this."

…

Konoha Strict Correctional Facility*①

The quiet over Konoha was everywhere, even the prison. As there was a war on many of the prison guards were called away to active duty and the prison was short on manpower. "This will be too easy." said Mizuki. The former chunin and Academy Sensei saw the lapse in Konoha's defense forces as a golden opportunity to escape by staging a prison riot. He quietly said to the group he'd gathered, "This is the time everybody. With so few guards and just a few genin weaklings patrolling around the village escaping will be a cakewalk." He'd convinced several others to join him since most of the village was unprotected compared to normal.

Mizuki had been biding his time ever since he received the instructions from Orochimaru to create a chemical called the Animal Curse Seal which would increase his strength and power. 'With this power I'll be unbeatable.' he thought greedily. The crooked ex-chunin hoped to use this power to get revenge on Umino Iruka and Uzumaki Naruto who were responsible for his incarceration. 'If it hadn't been for those two I would have escaped with the Forbidden Scroll and would have delivered it to Orochimaru-sama without issue. Damn Iruka and that brat! Taking revenge on them is going to be a pleasure.'

When the prison riot took place most of the village was still asleep. The general alarm didn't go off due to the siren being sabotaged so the Konoha forces didn't even know to respond. Nevertheless, the prisoners found the 'easy escape' to be like running a gauntlet. Most of the rioters were brutally beaten down before they escaped and only three succeeded in breaking out. Mizuki was one of them. He managed to escape but found the 'genin weaklings' he'd thought of with such derision were a lot more dangerous than he expected. It took some time to throw off his pursuers. Twice he was nearly caught before the genin teams were recalled to regroup.

Team 8 was among them and figuring out which prisoners actually escaped was difficult until the rioters were all subdued and tied up for an actual head count. Kurenai said to her team, "Our team managed to subdue six prisoners and the numbers are in. Only three actually escaped in total. She held up the pictures of the escapees and said, "Since our specialty is tracking we have to go after one of them. Which do we want?" All three genins pointed to the picture of Mizuki without hesitation and Kurenai raised an eyebrow. "You all know this one? I remember him."

"He used to be our Academy Sensei before he disappeared." said Kiba.

Shino nodded, "Imprisonment would explain why he fell of the face of the earth."

Hinata smiled meanly and said, "It seems he still isn't done misbehaving and needs a detention."

Kurenai hid her smile and said, "We'll take Mizuki then." After verifying things with the warden Team 8 set out after their quarry…

…

With Mizuki…

The first thing Mizuki did after he lost his immediate pursuers was to go to his ex-fiancé Tsubaki's house to get some supplies and a change of clothes. He found that was an easy enough task to break in as she was off to war. He saw all the decorations of pictures of him had been conspicuously removed. He also saw a picture of someone he hated with Tsubaki. It was Umino Iruka. 'Damn that bitch! She dumped me for that bastard Iruka! After I kill Iruka I'll take good care of her as well.' Mizuki wanted to wreck the place just to spite her but he knew that making noise would attract attention and calmed himself down.

Mizuki heard a tracking team go by outside and focused back on escaping. Knowing he was actively being hunted and needed an edge; Mizuki decided to go over to a storage lab used by the Nara Clan to steal the chemicals necessary to concoct the potion to enhance his strength. Orochimaru's instructions were very specific to go there. 'I never even knew about this place the Naras have.' thought the crooked ex-sensei as he crept out and headed over to the Nara Clan grounds.

It took a while but Mizuki located the lab. It looked like an ordinary storage shed from the outside. The actual lab was underground. As it was the lab was unguarded and once again Mizuki was fortunate enough to be able to break in without drawing attention to himself. Once he gathered the necessary components in Orochimaru's instructions Mizuki carefully started concocting the chemical called the Animal Curse Seal. He was quite convinced would make him invincible. 'All I need to do is let the chemical cool and then drink it. It should be like an elixir. I should be able to practically walk out of Konoha at my leisure with the power I'll have at my fingertips.'

It was originally Mizuki's intention to join up with Orochimaru but he decided that it wouldn't be necessary until this war was over. 'Once everything settles down I'll see about finding Orochimaru-sama. It would be stupid just to walk into a war zone.' It took time to make the chemical but once he had; Mizuki ingested it as quickly as possible. The effects were immediate and quite painful. The ex-sensei howled in agony as he grew in both strength and power and his arms gained a great deal of mass as well as claws. His body took on many tiger like elements such as fur, stripes and a burnt orange coloration. The former prisoner looked like a humanoid tiger now. Mizuki panted in pain from the rather grotesque transformation and reveled in the power now coursing through his body…

…

It was about that time that Team 8 managed to track him down. "I still don't understand why we haven't raised a general alarm." said Kiba.

"They are trying to avoid frightening the populace Kiba." explained Kurenai. "With the war going on it could cause chaos. Besides, with only three prisoners actually loose capturing them shouldn't be a huge issue. Subtlety is the key here Kiba."

"Well, Mizuki's stench leads over to the Nara Ranch." said the dog lover. "I wonder if any of the Naras are even aware."

Shino asked, "Do you see anything Hinata?"

Hinata had been activating her byakugan periodically and zeroed in on a nondescript building on the Nara lands. "There. It looks like someone is in that shed in an underground area I can't see very clearly."

Team 8 carefully crept up carefully on the shed and Kiba confirmed Mizuki's scent led straight in. That's when they heard the agonized howl from Mizuki transforming. "What the hell?" asked Kiba. "That noise wasn't human."

About that time the front wall of the shed came flying out and knocked Team 8 to the ground revealing a laughing Mizuki. "Now this is power!" cackled Mizuki as he looked at the downed Kurenai and Hinata. (Kiba and Shino were under the collapsed wall). "Well, well! If it isn't Kurenai! I'd love to play but I have some appointments to keep."

Kurenai got unsteadily to her feet and said, "What the hell have you done to yourself Mizuki?! You are no longer human."

Mizuki backhanded the still dazed Kurenai back into Hinata and bowled them both over before he laughed and said, "I have all the power I need thanks to those lazy Nara's chemical supplies! This new form is magnificent. Orochimaru-sama is a genius!" Mizuki then headed towards the Village to find Iruka and crush him.

Hinata shook off her dizziness and helped her sensei up. "Kurenai-sensei; we have to help Kiba-kun and Shino-kun!"

Kurenai nodded and they saw Kiba crawling his way out from under the shed's wall. "Ouch." he said. Akamaru barked and trotted out unhurt. Kiba had shielded his partner.

"Kiba, are you injured?" asked Kurenai. "What about Shino?"

Shino croaked from under the wall, "I'm alright Kurenai-sensei. I am stuck however."

Kurenai thought for a second and said, "Hinata-chan; can you still see Mizuki?"

Hinata activated her byakugan and said, "Yes sensei. He's moving away rapidly."

"Go after him Hinata. Delay him if you can." said Kurenai. Seeing alarm on her favorite student's face the genjutsu mistress said, "Kiba and I will get Shino out and catch up. Go!"

Hinata nodded and raced after the fleeing tiger man…

…

Konoha, Hashirama Lane

The members of Team 9 were discussing what to have for lunch and were nearly bowled over by a huge man with tiger stripes running down the street from something. Suddenly a red and gold blur shot by them and nailed the massive man in the spine feet first making him eat the dirt. Hinata acrobatically flipped over and landed in front of the brute after she flattened him and said in a condescending tone, "Ah, Mizuki-sensei. How the mighty have fallen. As strange as it sounds coming from a kunoichi; stealing is wrong. The Nara's probably aren't too happy you broke into their place to make yourself all fuzzy. Are you absolutely sure you don't want to surrender and go back to prison?"

Mizuki struggled back up to his feet. His Animal Cursed Seal form should have given him the strength to crush a jonin and this brat was toying with him! "Who the hell are you little girl? You should be running in terror!"

"Really?" asked Hinata sarcastically. "I'm genin Hyūga Hinata, a former student of yours."

Mizuki charged and took several swipes at the heiress with his claws before her fingertips burst into flames. He was soon howling in pain at the scorch marks on his overly muscled arms as Hinata nimbly danced around Mizuki's claw strikes. The rest of Team 8 came roaring around the corner and saw Hinata engaged in battle with Mizuki. Kurenai looked pissed. She yelled to Hinata, "New orders; take him out!"

The cat like man laughed and said, "Take me out? Who are you kidding Kurenai? You and your team of misfit brats haven't got the strength!" That's when the ex-sensei felt a terrible killing intent coming from Hinata.

The Hyūga Heires spread her arms wide and rose in the air as multiple rings of fire danced around her. An all-consuming flame blazed in her byakugan eyes and made Mizuki shiver. She said in a dark tone, "Burn forever in eternal pain." The concentrated firestorm she unleashed on the mutated Mizuki left only his silhouette visible as he screamed and thrashed. A smoking, writhing body hit the ground moments later. The fur was burned clean off the sensei turned criminal.

Hinata landed nimbly as her team rushed up. "Are you all right Hinata-chan?" asked a concerned Kiba.

"I am fine Kiba-kun." asked Hinata. "Are all of you okay? I was worried about that wall falling on you when he escaped us."

Shino said, "We are only scuffed up Hinata. The wall didn't actually crush us. It just pinned us."

"What about Mizuki?" asked a dust and dirt covered Kurenai.

Hinata looked at the unmoving Mizuki's form with her byakugan and said, "He won't hurt anyone else sensei." She then leveled her burning gaze at the dumbstruck Neji. "Well, hello there Neji nii-san. I haven't seen you since you tried to kill me at the Chunin Exam Preliminaries."

Neji was too shocked to speak but Tenten said, "Is that really you Hinata?"

Gai was over with Kurenai checking Mizuki. "He seems to be withering away back to his normal size rapidly." said the Green Beast. "What happened to him?"

Kurenai shook her head. "Mizuki broke out of prison and apparently concocted a potion that was of Orochimaru's design. We caught him in a building that he tried to collapse on us so he could escape. I had to send Hinata after him alone to delay him but that turned out to be a non-issue."

Gai said as he checked for a pulse, "It seems Mizuki is still alive but barely. I shall take him to the hospital for treatment. Tenten-chan, Neji-kun; follow Kurenai-sensei's commands until I return. You will be required to fill out after action reports about this incident." The Green Beast vanished in a swirl of leaves...

…

Konoha, Mission Hall

Kurenai led her team plus Neji and Tenten into the Mission Hall and reported on Mizuki's violent removal from the playing field. Needless to say, written reports were required and the group of five genin and one jonin were soon at it…

'How can this be?!' thought Neji. 'Hinata-sama's destiny was to be a weakling and a loser. Fate cannot be changed! What is going on?' The Hyūga prodigy had no idea how he could accept this… After seeing Hinata destroy the mutated Mizuki; Neji was in shock. He'd heard gossip around the compound that the Hyūga Heiress had revealed that she was much stronger than she ever let on, but Neji knew her fate to always be weak was unchangeable.

Now the Hyūga prodigy could only stare in shock at his cousin from across the mission hall where Team 8 and Team 9 were filling out their after-action reports regarding the recapture of Mizuki. Neji was dumbfounded by Hinata's appearance as well. The Byakugan Princess cremating Mizuki alive was hard enough to swallow without her turning into some stunning vixen of a kunoichi overnight. The last Neji heard (not that he cared) was Hinata hadn't fully recovered from the Chunin Exams. Now he was worried at what she might do to him…

Tenten had seen Hinata since her injuries and knew the Hyūga Heiress changed her look a great deal but the Fire Juken had Tenten dazzled and a tad frightened. 'Hinata must have held back at the Chunin Exams because she would have killed Neji with that kind of power.' The weapons loving girl wondered, 'Just how long has Hinata been hiding this away?'

…

POSTSCRIPT:

*①: That's what they called it in the show. Konoha Penitentiary or Prison sounds better to me but what do I know?

See you next time. Blue out. 4/17/22