Wow, major response to the previous chapter. Quite a lot of hate on Neji, though it's to be expected, isn't it?
Also, lots of thoughts on my OC Mukei. Guess we'll see what becomes of him here, won't we?
And also, please take a look at the poll on my profile. It might determine the eventual birth of a new fanfic in a brand new category for me, so please vote on it.
For now, let's get on with the chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Assassin's Creed. They are the property of Masashi Kishimoto and Ubisoft respectively.
Chapter 15
Behind the Scenes
Hirzuen Sarutobi quietly stared at the man sitting opposite him. "I hope you understand the gravity of this situation, Hiashi-san," he said. "Because of your nephew's actions, an Academy Student and even the village itself were put at risk."
Hiashi seemed unconcern. "I was under the impression that the seal holding the Kyuubi was intact, and that the jinchuuriki was still alive and was not crippled in anyway," he said indifferently.
Sarutobi's eyes narrowed at Hiashi. "That is beyond the point Hiashi. The fact is Neji disregarded the rules put in place to ensure the safety of the Academy students, and in doing so, he put us all in risk. This situation must be dealt with, and he must be punished."
"Very well, what punishment do you deem worthy?" Hiashi asked, smirking slightly.
Sarutobi growled softly, knowing what that smirk was about. "If I could, I would charge him with treason," he said. "But doing so would mean having to repeal my law regarding Naruto's burden in order to properly charge him with treason for attacking the village's jinchuuriki, since he is a minor and unaware of Naruto's status. However, I can still punish him for disobeying the orders of an Academy teacher and assaulting a fellow Academy student with malicious intent. I hereby decree that Neji Hyuuga will be suspended from the Academy for no less than five months, will be sentenced to community service during the duration of his expulsion, that he'll not be allowed to train in any ninja OR Hyuuga arts until his expulsion is over, and that half of the earnings he gains from the D-ranked missions given to Academy students will be given to Naruto Uzumaki as compensation."
Hiashi's smirk disappeared, replaced by an angered scowl. "Surely you cannot be serious. Neji is showing great progress in the Jyuuken. You would cripple his advancement?"
"I will not see someone who is willing to attack a comrade rewarded," Sarutobi said. "And speaking of crippling his advancement, unless Neji shows a change in his attitude, he will also be barred from advancing in rank beyond genin for at least three full years after graduating."
Hiashi snarled. "Hokage-sama, this is ridiculous!"
"No Hiashi! What is ridiculous is you and your clan's belief that you are somehow superior to the other people of this village. Be thankful I cannot charge Neji with treason or else he would be placed in prison for just that!" Sarutobi snapped, causing Hiashi to cower slightly. Sarutobi sat back, sighing angrily. "If I find out that you've been training Neji in secret, then any Hyuuga who trained him will be arrested for disobeying the Hokage's orders, and Neji will have his chakra sealed away permanently. Dismissed," he snapped.
Hiashi just stifled stood and left, as Sarutobi sighed in annoyance and exhaustion. He quietly sat in his chair for several moments, before there was a knock at his door. "Come in."
A chuunin ranked shinobi entered, bowing to the Hokage. "Hokage-sama, I have a status update on Naruto Uzumaki," he said in a neutral but respectful tone. Sarutobi straightened up and nodded, so the chuunin continued. "Currently, patient Uzumaki is stable and recovering. The doctors believe he'll be up and awake sometime tomorrow. A member of the Fuinjutsu corps also took a look at the seal, and to the best of their knowledge, it still is intact and stable, though they do say they may have detected a slight weakening of it. Not enough to threaten the seal though."
Sarutobi let out a sigh of relief, before nodding. "Very good. Thank you for the report. Dismissed," he said.
As the chuunin left, Sarutobi set out writing a note, before summoning a small monkey onto the desk. Holding up the note, he handed it to the monkey. "Please see to it that this is sent to the toads and through them to Jiraiya," he said.
The monkey nodded and disappeared in a cloud of smoke, as Sarutobi turned to his desk, and began working on his paperwork once more.
Unknown Location
Naruto groaned as he slowly sat up, rubbing his head. "Ugghh, what happened?" he murmured, his eyes closed. When he opened them, he blinked in surprise.
He found himself sitting in the middle of the warehouse the Assassins used to train in and meet when they had things to discuss. Surprised, Naruto slowly got to his feet. "How did I get here?" He mumbled in surprise.
"I have to say, this is much better than my previous prisons." A deep, booming voice rumbled behind him.
Naruto whirled, his eyes going wide. Where there should be a wall with the door leading out of the warehouse, there instead was a massive gate made up of thick steel bars, with a small piece of paper with the kanji for seal keeping the gate sealed shut. Beyond the bars was utter darkness, though Naruto felt like there was something massive hidden away in the darkness.
"W-who's there?!" He demanded, taking a step back.
The voice let out a rumbling chuckle. "Who indeed, little ape," the voice said mockingly. "So you're my new warden, are you? Not much to look at."
Naruto trembled in fear, confusion, and some anger at being insulted. "Who are you?! Show yourself!" He demanded.
The voice now growled in anger. "Do not make demands of me, welp!" The voice roared, the wind from its voice knocking Naruto off his feet. "If I were not held behind these bars, I would destroy your pathetic soul before bursting free into the world, to take my revenge on your pathetic village!"
Naruto trembled in fear, as he slowly got back to his feet, as the voice spoke in a softer, though still angry tone. "You ningen are all alike, thinking you can demand and take anything you want. Well you will get nothing from me unless I decide to give it, is that understood WELPING?!"
Naruto trembled but nodded. "I-I'm sorry," he said in a quieter voice. "I-I'm just confused and scared, because I don't know where I am."
The voice snorted. "This is your mindscape, a representation of your mind. You are unconscious and in the hospital."
Naruto looked around. "My mind? I'm in my mind? B-but who are you then? How are you in my mind?" He asked, looking back at the cage.
The voice rumbled in amusement. "Who am I? That is the million ryu question, isn't it? Who am I is simple," the voice said, as something moved from the shadows of the cage.
Naruto's eyes widened as he saw a massive pair of blood red eyes with black slit like pupils open up in the darkness. He trembled as an evil looking grin full of sharp pointed teeth leered down at him.
Slowly, the shadows in the cage faded, revealing a massive, orange-red furred fox with long, almost rabbit like ears and black markings around its blood red eyes that ran back into the insides of its ears. Its body was lithe, with massive clawed paws that were almost like hands, and nine massive fox like tails whipping around from its backside.
The massive fox grinned even more as it stared at Naruto's trembling form. "I am the Kyuubi no Kitsune, mightiest of the nine biju!"
Naruto's eyes were wide with terror and shock, as he stumbled back, falling on the floor. The Kyuubi laughed at his display, enjoying the fear the young boy was emanating. "That is more like it," he rumbled. "The fear on your face, far better than the looks of defiance and contempt on their faces." He spat out the word 'their', his grin fading away.
Naruto just stared at the fox. "Y-You can't be here," he finally whispered out. "My father killed you!"
The Kyuubi let out a howling, derisive laugh. "Kill me? Pathetic boy, I'm a biju! No one Kage could ever hope to kill me. But seal me…that is a different matter," the Kyuubi said, slowly lowering its head to stare at the boy. "Do you not begin to understand now, little welp? I'm not dead…I'm merely trapped. Trapped here inside your mind and body. Locked away, like some common animal!" It roared, slamming into the barred gate.
Naruto yelped in fear, scrambling back, but the gate didn't even tremble, as the Kyuubi sneered. "The Hokage knew his seals, I will give him that much. But when your wife is an Uzumaki, and your sensei is a master of seals, what do you expect?" It groused, before settling it's head on its front paws and stared at the boy. "Stop your cowering and stand up. I'm not going to hurt you, unless you wander closer. I could probably gut you with one of my claws if you did," it said, pushing the claws of one paw through the gaps between the bars, but coming nowhere near Naruto's position.
Naruto slowly got to his feet, as the Kyuubi huffed. "There now. So, little welp, what brings you here? Decided to finally meet your burden?"
Naruto trembled, staring at Kyuubi. "I-I didn't even know you were here," he said softly. "I don't know how I got here…I was sparring against the jerk Neji, then he hit my stomach and I…I felt really hot, and in pain."
Kyuubi snorted. "I see now. Somehow, when he hit you, he disrupted the seal slightly. I was wondering about that sudden drain of my chakra. And that disruption led you here to finally meet me. So the real question now is what do you intend to do?"
Naruto bit his lip. "I-I don't know," he said. "What do you mean?"
"Do you intend to demand my power? Do you expect me to be your little ace in the hole?" The Kyuubi snarled, watching Naruto intently. "That is what you apes do, isn't it?"
Naruto looked up at him. "I…I don't think that'd be a good idea," he said. "Y-Your chakra really hurt when it came out of the seal. A-and you don't sound like you want me to use it anyways."
The Kyuubi raised an eyebrow at that. "Surprising. The last time I was stuck in one of your kind, they yelled and blustered at me, and forced me to give them chakra. Of course, they were older then you are, and they knew about me in the first place. Still, I expect with time you'll be no different than them," it said, studying him.
Feeling a little embolden, Naruto stepped forward. "You were in someone before me?" He asked.
"Yes. I was sealed into two jinchuuriki before you. But if you want to learn more about them, ask your leader," Kyuubi said, before closing its eyes. "Now I think it's time you left. I am tired, and have no patience for your inane questions. Perhaps we'll speak again in the future," it muttered, eyes still closed.
Naruto blinked at being dismissed, before looking around. "H-How do I leave?"
The Kyuubi opened one eye, staring at him in annoyance. "Simply will it and you can leave. And in the future, you can will yourself here as well. Though doing so will more than likely annoy me," it growled, closing its eye again.
Naruto just blinked, before closing his eyes and soon fading form his mindscape. As he did, the Kyuubi opened one eye again, watching the spot where he stood.
"…intriguing," it mumbled, before closing its eye again.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes, before groaning as he closed his eyes against the bright white that had greeted his vision. Blinking a few times, he found himself staring at the white ceiling of a hospital room. He slowly looked around, finding himself alone, before he sat up. He slowly placed his face into his hands, as he thought about what he had just encountered.
'Was that real? It felt real. Or was it a dream?' He thought to himself, trembling a bit.
He looked up as the door opened, and a nurse entered. Said nurse blinked, before nodding. "I see you're awake. Please remain in the bed," she said in a neutral tone, as she turned and left, closing the door behind her.
Naruto just sat there, before lying back in bed, sighing quietly as he looked over at the window. The sun was shining brightly, and he smiled a bit at that.
Several minutes later, the door opened against and this time the elderly form of the Hokage entered. Naruto glanced at him as he smiled at Naruto. "It's good to see you awake Naruto. How are you feeling?" He asked.
Naruto slowly sat up, sighing. "Tired…achy…and confused," he said softly. "Jiji…do I have the Kyuubi sealed in me?" He asked.
Sarutobi kept his face neutral as he sat down. "Why do you ask, Naruto?" He asked as he watched him.
Naruto looked up at him, looking him dead in the eyes. "Because I just talked to him," he said softly. "In my mind, while I was asleep."
Sarutobi's face remained neutral, even as his heart sank. "Are you sure it wasn't just a vivid dream?" He asked.
Naruto looked down. "M-Maybe it was but…w-when that Neji jerk hit me…I felt like I was on fire. And I saw that red chakra coming out of my stomach. Jiji…please tell me…is the Kyuubi in me?" He asked, looking up at Sarutobi, his blue eyes fearful.
Sarutobi sighed quietly as he stood and went to the window, looking out it. Finally, he spoke. "Yes…you do Naruto," he said quietly.
Naruto shuddered at the confirmation that what he went through wasn't a dream, as Sarutobi turned to him. "It was the last secret that I hadn't told you yet," he said. "I believed that you would be mentally prepared for such a revelation after you graduated and became a genin. However…much like with your parent's identities, it seems the truth must come out sooner than expected."
Naruto looked up at him, tears falling from his eyes. "W-why?" he whispered. "W-Why me?"
Sarutobi slowly sat on the bed, looking at him. "There are several reasons why Naruto, though I don't know if any of them will help ease the pain and fear you're feeling," he said. "I suppose one of the easiest reasons to explain is that it has to do with your Uzumaki heritage. The Uzumaki were famous for their mastery of Fuinjutsu, their longevity and strong life-forces, and their unique chakra and extremely large chakra reserves. And it was this unique chakra that allows those of the Uzumaki heritage to successfully contain the Kyuubi within them. If anyone else were to try and seal the Kyuubi within their own bodies, the Kyuubi's chakra would poison them and lead to their death."
Naruto looked up at him. "D-Does this mean t-there were others before me? O-Other people holding the Kyuubi?"
Sarutobi nodded at that. "There were, Naruto. It goes back to the time of Hashirama Senju, the Shodai Hokage. He fought the traitor Madara Uchiha at what became known as the Valley of the End, and there, Madara somehow took control of the Kyuubi. But Hashirama was able to free the Kyuubi from Madara's control and drive the Uchiha away. Afterwards, he deemed the Kyuubi too much of a danger to let it go free, and so he and his wife, Mito Uzumaki, sealed the Kyuubi within her, making her the first jinchuuriki, the term used to describe people like you," he said. "When Mito was nearing the end of her life, another Uzumaki was called upon to hold the Kyuubi…your mother, Kushina."
"M-My mom?" Naruto asked in stunned silence, his eyes wide.
"Yes. When your mom was young, she was made the Kyuubi jinchuuriki, to keep the Kyuubi from escaping into the world and more than likely destroying our village. And then, on the night of your birth…the Kyuubi escaped, and your father had to seal it within you Naruto," Sarutobi said.
Naruto looked down at the sheets still covering his lower body, gently gripping them in his fists. "H-How did he escape?" He asked softly.
Sarutobi raised an eyebrow at Naruto calling Kyuubi a 'he', but answered. "It's hard to explain Naruto, due mostly to you needing to understand where babies come from to truly understand what happened. What I can say is that due to your birth, the seal holding the Kyuubi in your mother weakened. Your father was there to reinforce the seal, but from what I understand, they were attacked, and your father was forced to protect you, leaving your mother vulnerable to the attacker. He extracted the Kyuubi form her body, and then took it over, forcing it to attack Konoha. Your father, after securing your mother and yourself, fought the man controlling the Kyuubi and defeated him, releasing the Kyuubi form the man's control. However, the Kyuubi was enraged, and attacked Konoha, leading to your father and your mother working together to seal the Kyuubi within you. They sacrificed themselves to protect you, and the village."
Naruto shuddered, tears falling from his eyes. "S-So it's my fault they're dead," he whispered softly.
Sarutobi reached out, pulling him into a hug. "No, Naruto," he whispered, his heart aching for this small boy. "They fought and died to protect you Naruto, because they loved you. Because you were their joy. It wasn't your fault. It was the fault of the man who attacked, who took your mother away and extracted the Kyuubi from her. Do not blame yourself for what he caused."
Naruto just kept crying, hugging his grandfather figure, as Sarutobi held him there, letting him cry himself out against him.
Eventually, Naruto's sobs subsided, and he remained against Sarutobi, shuddering softly, before eventually pulling away. "S-Sorry jiji," he said, wiping a few stray tears away.
"Don't be Naruto. It's alright, Sarutobi said quietly. "How are you feeling?"
"A-A little better, I guess," he said softly.
"Naruto…I want you to understand two things. Two more reasons why your father chose to seal Kyuubi inside of you," Sarutobi said. "Your father, as Hokage, was charged with protecting the village. As Hokage…it is our responsibility to ensure the welfare and safety of everyone in the village. When your father had to seal the Kyuubi away…do you think it would have been right of him to ask someone else to give up their child so the Kyuubi could be sealed in them? Do you think it would be fair for him to ask someone else to do what he, the leader of the village, was unwilling to do himself?"
Naruto looked down at that, shaking his head. "N-No…t-that wouldn't be fair," he said softly.
"But…and I think this is the true reason above all else, Naruto…I think your father and mother sealed the Kyuubi in you, because they saw in you the potential for greatness. And they believed that you could keep the village safe, by holding the Kyuubi at bay. They believed you would be a great hero Naruto. As do I," he said.
Naruto looked up at him, some life returning to his eyes. "Y-You really think so?" He whispered softly.
Sarutobi touched his shoulder. "I know so, Naruto. I know so," he said.
Naruto looked down, before nodding. "T-Thank you, jiji-san. I-I have a lot to think about."
Sarutobi slowly stood. "Before I go Naruto, I need to tell you two things. First of all, this is a very important secret. Other than myself, Anko-san, Raphael-san, and Yugito-san, you can't tell anyone or talk to anyone about this. At least not yet, okay?"
Naruto blinked at him. "Y-You mean they know as well?" He asked softly.
"Yes, but they couldn't tell you Naruto. It's part of a law I put in place to try and protect you. But now, you can talk to them, if you want to. And Yugito might surprise you," he said. "The other thing is this Naruto. If you and the Kyuubi start talking, be careful. The Kyuubi might try to trick you, in order to escape."
Naruto nodded softly. "I understand. Thank you," he said.
Sarutobi just smiled at him. "Try and get some rest Naruto. I'm sure Anko and Hinata will want to visit you soon," he said.
Naruto just nodded again, as he lay back in bed. Sarutobi watched him quietly for a few moments, before sighing and leaving. He hadn't wanted to burden the boy with this knowledge, but the situation had forced his hand. Now, all he could do is pray that Naruto could handle the burden. Shaking his head, Sarutobi returned to his office.
Lake Sokonashi
Sokonashi was one of the largest inland lakes of Mizu no Kuni, and was a large supplier of fish and other aquatic based foods for Kirigakure no Sato. This was made possible by the large fishing town built along the banks of the lake, with the fishing docks and some buildings built on raised platforms over the shallower part of the lake. At least three roads entered the town; two of them running north-south into the town along the banks of the lake, and the third entering into the town form the east.
The wagon full of weapons was rolling into town, coming up from the southern lake bank road. The southern part of the town was made up of warehouses and workshops, and it was here the weapons taken from Buru Jinkoukou were destined.
One of the drivers winced, as under the cloak he was wearing, he was heavily bandaged around his right arm and left calf. He tried to steady himself on the wagon seat, looking to his partner. "Steady there," he said.
The other driver sighed but did slow the wagon a bit. The pair had been released by their captors to bring their weapons to their destination, but had been ordered not to reveal anything about what had happened.
Behind them, two figures entered the town as well, dressed in civilian traveling clothes. Raphael and Yugito were chatting like two normal people, not letting on that they were subtly following the wagon. They knew that Mukei and his crew were outside the town, the crew dividing into several smaller groups that had scattered around the town, and would slowly enter in small numbers over the course of the next day or two.
Raphael glanced around as they walked along the road. "This place seems quite prosperous considering this land is in the middle of a civil war," he said.
Yugito nodded softly at that. "It makes sense. This place is of importance to Kiri, and therefore they probably make sure things run smoothly here. Not to mention if the Kekkei Genkai rebels attacked here, they'd draw the ire of the daimyo upon them. So this place probably hasn't felt the effects of the civil war."
Raphael was about to respond when they saw the wagon turn onto a smaller street. As they passed by the street it turned onto, they saw the wagon stop outside one warehouse. The pair stopped at the corner and Yugito pressed up against the wall of the building, watching around the corner as the doors to the warehouse were opened, and the wagon rolled in. Yugito quickly began scanning around, before pulling back. "One person on watch on the rooftops. By his appearance I'd say he's a common thug," she said.
Raphael risked a quick glance, before pulling back. "That's no thug," he said quietly. "His posture is too good. He has training, either samurai or shinobi training," he said quietly.
Yugito blinked. "You can tell? Just from one look?" She asked.
"When tracking a target, it pays to be able to quickly gather details with a glance. When a target is hiding, even the smallest thing can give them away. A noble posing as a merchant or peasant will flinch away from things he considers disgusting or uncouth, and will still hold himself proudly, as he was trained to do from a young age. A warrior or soldier can blend more easily in a moving crowd, but they will always hold themselves at the ready, body tense and ready to fight at a moment's notice. Whoever that is, he's a well-trained fighter," Raphael said. "For now, we've got the location. We'll need to study it later. Let's go," he said.
Inside the warehouse, the uninjured driver helped his partner down, only for both of them to look up as they heard a voice coming from a walkway above them. "You are late," the voice said.
Above them on the walkway was a figure shrouded in shadows. The uninjured driver spoke. "We were attacked by bandits. We managed to escape but he was injured," he said, indicating his companion. "We got all the weapons here safely."
The figure remained where they were, studying them, before answering. "Your payment will be in the usual place at the usual time. We will not be requiring your service again for some time," they said. "Now leave."
As the two drivers left, the uninjured one helping the limping injured one, the figure turned and headed down the walkway to an office. There another figure was waiting. "Keep an eye out. Our location may have become compromised and we may need to shift our base of operations elsewhere."
The second figure nodded, before handing a piece of paper to the first figure. "The mission into Kiri was successful. The subject is currently sedated and locked away. They'll be ready for transit within five days."
The first figure read the paper, before handing it back. "Ensure the subject remains secure and silent. The buyers from Kiri will be here in three days."
The second figure nodded and headed off, as the first figure sat down to begin filling out a report. As they did, the bottom of their face was illuminated by a candle on the table they sat at, revealing that they were wearing a blank mask.
The next day, Yugito quietly laid on the roof of a warehouse a few buildings over from the target warehouse, and quietly studied the building with a pair of binoculars. She had made sure to put the sun to her back so the light wouldn't reflect off the lenses of the binoculars. She slowly passed her gaze over the building, seeing nothing suspicious except for the thug on roof. It was a different person, so Yugito could now guess that her target had at least two helpers. And after studying the way the man moved and stood, she could understand what Raphael meant. She had been around shinobi enough to recognize the subtle stance of a ninja trained fighter.
She lowered her binoculars, chewing her lower lip in thought. Last night Raphael had told her that this was her show. He was here only to advise her, and to handle the target if she failed. So basically, it was up to her how she investigated the target, and how she dealt with him. Hence her current dilemma: she could move in closer to investigate, or she could continue to investigate from a distance. Moving closer would give her far more details but increase her chances of being seen or caught. But she couldn't get enough information hanging out at a distance.
She kept watching the building for a few moments before making up her mind. Slowly sliding backwards, she moved out of view of the sentry on the roof and climbed down to the ground, before slowly making her way to the target warehouse.
She slowed as she neared the warehouse, and began carefully searching for any signs of alarms or traps, as well as additional sentries. Finding nothing, she slowly approached a door, and began to examine it. She stopped as Nibi sensed a small patch of chakra on the inside of the door near the door knob.
'An alarm seal, huh? Definitely shinobi then,' she thought. Standing up, she glanced along the walls of the warehouse until she saw a small window higher up. Slowly looking along the wall, she didn't see any real footholds or ledges she could use. She didn't want to risk using chakra either, as that might alert anyone inside, so instead she slipped her hand into a supply pouch and pulled out a few new toys Ganzo had made for the Assassins. She grinned, sliding on small leather gloves with spikes on the palm, before sliding coverings over her zori that also had small spikes now covering her toes. Testing them to make sure they were all secure, she slowly and as quietly as possible reached up and pressed her left palm into the wall. Feeling the blades there sink into the wood of the building, she did the same with her left foot, then her right foot higher up, and finally levered herself up, reaching higher with her right hand.
Ganzo had developed these implements as a stealthy, non-chakra based way to scale the side of walls that didn't have many hand or footholds. The blades were designed to easily sink into wood or soft stone, though they were far less effect on harder types of building materials. The blades were designed to easily enter walls, and then be pulled free just as easily. They also could be released instantaneously with a small burst of chakra to the hands and feet.
Now Yugito, as stealthily as possible, began to climb the wall, heading to the window. Reaching it, she very slowly reached up and peeked inside.
What she saw was the main interior area of the warehouse, which was mostly filled with boxes. The wagon that had carried the weapons was sitting in the middle of the warehouse, most of its contents stacked nearby. A masked figure was busy unloading the last of the crates.
Yugito was forced to duck down as two figures moved in front of the window, stopping for a moment. One of them was speaking, so Yugito tried to listen in.
"…and we'll need to move our base of operations after the buyer has come to receive the merchandise. I want everything ready to move within three days, is that understood?" One of the figures said.
"Understood sir. Everything will be ready to move the day after the buyer arrives. What about the package?" The second one asked.
"We'll send the package to headquarters before we move to our next base. For now, keep the package sedated and secured," the first responded.
Yugito's eyes narrowed a bit at hearing the sedated part. That meant that whatever this package was, it was alive. Deciding that she had enough info, she began to slowly climb down the wall, only to stop as she heard a noise. Glancing up, she froze as she saw the rooftop sentry now standing on the roof above her. She remained still, watching them glance around slowly, before they turned and moved away. Letting out a sigh of relief, Yugito quickly but stealthily climbed down. Once on the ground she quickly removed the wall climbing spikes and left the area.
Meanwhile, Mukei and Raphael were walking near the west part of town, near the docks. They were discussing possible plans to deal with their target and the spoils they might uncover.
As they rounded a corner, Mukei finally spoke. "So I need to ask…out of all the people you could be hunting down to kill, why this one person? This weapon merchant or whatever he is?"
Raphael blinked at him. "What do you mean exactly? Why not this man? He's profiting off this war, perpetuating it for his own greed."
"Yeah, but wouldn't it make more sense to attack the people behind the war? The Mizukage, or the rebel leaders? You'd end the war if you took one of them out. Seems to me that would make more sense than target some middle-man profiting from the war," Mukei said.
Raphael chuckled softly. "I'm afraid it's not that simple, really. If I was to kill the Mizukage, would that end the war, or would it escalate it? Who's to say it wouldn't make the war worse, and cause more people to die? Or the same with the rebel leaders? Not to mention that, in their own ways, both sides are doing what they're doing to protect people. The Mizukage is attacking kekkei genkai users because he believes they are a threat. The rebels are fighting to protect the kekkei genkai users. But this man we're targeting…he is perpetuating the violence and death for his own personal gain. Tell me, which seems like the more logical choice to kill, to help the people of this country?"
Mukei nodded quietly. "I suppose I see your point. But why are you even bothering with all this in the first place? What do you really gain out of this?"
Raphael glanced at him. "To be honest? Nothing really. Probably seems crazy, but it…well it's hard to explain without divulging all my group's secrets. Suffice to say…my group strives to try and protect the freedom and wellbeing of the people of the world from the shadows. We target those who would threaten that wellbeing and freedom, and ensure they can no longer continue with their plans."
Mukei tilted his head. "So that's it? Why would you do something like that in the first place?" He asked.
"The group I belong to…it's ancient. At least a thousand or two thousand years old. In the old times, they sought a way to bring peace to the world, to unite the people in brotherhood and fellowship. They targeted warmongers and criminals to try and create peace in the world. But as time went on, there arose those who both shared their ideals, but also opposed them. This other group believed that peace in the world could be attainted, but only by forcing the people of the world to follow their ideals. So, our group and theirs fought, and in doing so, our group altered their goal. While we still strive for the day when all men might set aside their differences and greet each other in friendship, we focus instead on protecting the freedom of people, so that they may one day choose the peace we seek to bring to them," he said.
"But…if you're protecting people's right to choose and stuff…then how are you different from the group you were at war against if you're attacking people for the choices they make? Like this weapon merchant or whatever?" Mukei asked, confused.
Raphael chuckled softly. "You're awfully inquisitive about my group. Thinking about asking to join maybe?" He asked with a grin.
As Mukei gave him a bit of a glare, Raphael answered. "We respect and encourage people to choose their own way. But we also believe that people should face the consequences of their choices. If someone has an ideal or belief, that is their right and no one has the right to interfere. But when they try to enforce their will on others who are not willing, when they harm others for their own personal greed and gain, that is when we step in. They made their choice, and thus they must face the consequences of their actions," he said. "I can understand that it is complicated and confusing. But I can't really make it any clearer without divulging secrets of the group," he said simply.
Mukei just blinked at him. "You are really one strange man," he said. "But…I suppose I could see the allure of helping people in need," he said softly.
Raphael grinned at him. "Sounds like someone wants to be more than a pirate," he said.
Before Mukei could respond, they found themselves stopped by Yugito popping up in front of them. "I've got some information," she said quietly. "We should find somewhere private and talk."
Raphael just nodded, and the trio headed towards the inn they were staying in, to make plans.
Konoha, two days later
Naruto sat in the Assassin's warehouse, quietly studying the two scrolls in front of him. They were the ones he had received from Sarutobi some months earlier, when the Hokage had revealed the identity of Naruto's parents to him. He had already looked through each of them, happy to have some connection to the parents he never knew. Each of them contained a letter from his parents, as well as photo albums of their lives, and a gift from each of them. Being shinobi, they knew how dangerous their lives could be, so each of them had prepared these 'just in case' scrolls, in the event one or both of them died before Naruto was old enough to understand what was going on.
Both scrolls had contained messages from his parents, telling them about their lives as children, their time at the Academy, which was where they met. He had laughed when he heard his mom describe Minato as being wimpy and girly looking. And how Minato had talked about how his mom viciously beat down some kids who made fun of her.
Their messages each talked about their friends and adventures in the Academy, and how they had graduated. They then both fondly talked about the time when Kumo shinobi had kidnapped Kushina when she was a genin, and how Minato managed to rescue her, thanks to her leaving a trail made of hair she pulled from her head. About how that was when they started dating. They talked about their adventures as shinobi, their friends and comrades and teachers, before coming up to when Minato asked Kushina to marry him right on top of the Hokage's Tower. The messages then talked about their marriage, and Minato's appointment to the Hokage position, with him having Kushina as an unofficial advisor and 'co-Hokage' as he put it.
They then had talked about when they learned that they were going to have a baby, and how excited they both were. Before each of them apologized that they couldn't be there for Naruto, and wishing him the best of luck in life. Kushina had listed a whole bunch of advice like eating healthy food (and a lot of ramen as well), getting lots of rest, wearing clean underwear, and to find a girl that made him happy, like she had been happy with Minato. Minato had simply told him to follow his own path in life, and to listen to everything his 'blabber mouth' mother said. And then both of them had told him how much they loved him.
Naruto remembered sobbing when he had read the last part, happily clutching each scroll to him, ecstatic in the knowledge that his parents had loved him. He had eagerly poured through the photo albums they had left him, soaking up the images of their lives.
Lastly, he had turned to the gifts each of them had left him. Minato had left him a book written by Jiraiya the Sannin, called The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, saying it was what inspired them to name him Naruto. Kushina had left him a stuff plushie of a fox, which she had intended to give him to cuddle with in his crib as a baby. Naruto had happily accepted both gifts, and had been reading the book his father had left him since then.
Now, as he studied the scrolls, he couldn't help but feel warring emotions. His parents had died, putting the Kyuubi in him. They had protected him, but they had also cursed him. Cursed him to hatred and loneliness. He knew he couldn't blame them for that, they couldn't have known. But he still felt a part of him blaming them for the loneliness he had suffered until he was six years old.
He was drawn from his thoughts when the door opened. Glancing up, he pushed his thoughts away as he saw Anko enter, grinning at him. "Ahhh, there you are Naruto. I heard you got out from the hospital today. Sorry I wasn't there to pick you up, but I was a little busy," she said.
Naruto nodded softly. "I understand Anko nee-chan," he said, stuffing the scrolls into one of his supply pouches. "How's Hinata?"
Anko grinned. "Why don't you ask her yourself?" She asked, standing aside and Hinata shyly stepped forward. Naruto's eyes widened, seeing her wearing a lavender Assassin recruit tunic.
"H-Hinata? Y-You became an Assassin?" Naruto asked in surprise.
Hinata just nodded. "I-I have Naruto-kun," she said a bit shyly. "You…you all have helped me grow stronger. And you were there f-for me when my…w-when the Hyuuga abandoned me. I-If I can grow stronger, and repay you all for helping me by joining your group…t-then I want to become an Assassin."
Naruto just grinned. "Hey, you don't need to repay us for helping you grow stronger. That's what friends do," he said, as he moved closer, only to yelp as she hugged him.
"I-I'm glad you're okay," she said. "I-I was so worried, after what happened to you," she said.
Naruto just hugged her back, grinning awkwardly. "H-Hey now, no little slap is going to keep me down," he said, trying to reassure her. She just kept hugging him.
"I-I'm sorry…you got hurt because of me," she said softly. "N-Neji…h-he hurt you because he knew you were my friend."
Anko growled. "Well maybe I should go and pay him a visit, teach him a few lessons about messing with you two?"
Hinata's eyes widened as she let go of Naruto and turned to her. "N-No! You don't understand why he's angry," she said, before looking down a bit. "I-It's my fault his father's dead."
Naruto blinked at her in confusion, but Anko's eyes widened in understanding. "His father was Hizashi, wasn't he?" She asked softly. Hinata just nodded in confirmation.
"I'm confused. Who's Hizashi?" Naruto asked.
"Hizashi Hyuuga. He was the twin brother of Hiashi Hyuuga, Hinata's father and head of the Hyuuga Clan," Anko said. "About six years ago, Konoha and Kumo were at war, but wanted to end the conflict. The Head Ninja of Kumo came to Konoha to sign a peace treaty. That night however, he broke into the Hyuuga Estate and kidnapped Hinata."
Hinata shuddered as she heard that. "I-It was my birthday…I-I had just turned three years old," she murmured softly.
Naruto's eyes widened and he touched her shoulder, offering her comfort, as Anko continued. "Before he could escape, Hiashi intercepted and killed him. Kumo however denied any knowledge of his intention to kidnap Hinata, and demanded that Hiashi be handed over to them to pay for the crime of killing their ambassador. Hokage-sama tried to find a way to keep the conflict from renewing itself while also not meeting Kumo's demand. I'm not sure of all the details of what happened next, but essentially, the Hyuuga clan pulled a fast one on Kumo. They gave them Hizashi instead of Hiashi. The two of them were identical in appearance, except that Hizashi was the younger of the two, and thus was part of the branch Family of the Hyuuga."
Hinata looked down, still shuddering. "N-Neji never forgave me…b-because of me, his father died, and he was forced to grow up without him," she whispered.
"It's not your fault!" Naruto said. "You were only three years old, and Anko just said the guy who kidnapped you was the Head Shinobi. That must mean he was really powerful, right?" He asked, looking at Anko, who nodded.
"Got that right gaki," she said. "Hinata, you can't blame yourself for Hizashi's death. No one could expect a three year old, especially one who was in the safety of her own home and who had just celebrated their third birthday, to be able to defeat a jounin level shinobi. Especially one who was as experienced and as skilled as he was. Kumo is at fault for Hizashi's death, not you," she said.
Hinata bit her lip. "B-But still…I-," she said, only to be interrupted by Naruto.
"It wasn't your fault Hinata! And if Neji can't see that, then he's a blind jerk, just like I thought he was when I fought him!" Naruto shouted. "So stop blaming yourself for something that wasn't your fault."
Hinata just nodded hesitantly, as Naruto grinned. "Good. Now let's get to training so we can show that jerk next time we fight him! We'll both be so strong he won't know what hit him. Right?"
Hinata nodded a bit more confidently. "R-Right!" She said.
Anko grinned. "Alright then you two! Glad to see you're fired up! So let's get to work!"
The two nodded, and followed her to start training.
Mizu no Kuni
Yugito stood in the room she and Raphael had rented in one of the inns in Kiri, facing Raphael, Mukei, and two of his higher ranking crew members. In the middle of them all was a rough model of the warehouse where their target was, and the surrounding area.
"So, this is the plan," Yugito said as calmly as she could. "Based on the information I gathered, we know that our target has at least two assistants. In all likelihood they're all shinobi or at least have shinobi training. We also know that a buyer from Kiri has arrived in town, and will be going to the warehouse later to purchase the weapons. Most likely the Kiri buyer is also a shinobi."
"The plan is this: Raphael and Mukei will intercept the buyer and Raphael will take his place, infiltrating the warehouse. I meanwhile will sneak up to the roof and kill the guard there, before sneaking into the warehouse. Mukei, you and your crew should wait outside. If I can, I'll attempt to sneak close enough to assassinate the target stealthily. If I can't do that, I'll set up a signal instead. Once it goes off, Mukei and his crew will charge into the warehouse. The target will hopefully flee to his office, where I'll be waiting to finish. Raphael, you'll engage the remaining shinobi if he's present. Afterwards, we'll divide up the spoils, and that will be that," Yugito said. "Are there any questions?"
One of Mukei's officers, his quartermaster, raised his hand. "Yeah…how do you expect us to fight against shinobi when we charge in? We're not exactly well trained soldiers or anything."
"You're more of a distraction," Yugito explained. "If you charge in, it'll draw attention off of me and Raphael. Not to mention that these shinobi won't be able to use a lot of ninjutsu, not without damaging or destroying the weapons and other supplies they have in the warehouse. They'll have to utilize taijutsu and genjutsu."
The quartermaster nodded, and with no one else asking questions, Yugito nodded. "Then let's get to work."
Following the information Yugito gathered from her reconnaissance mission, they had begun a watch both at the roads leading into town, and on the warehouse, to try and identify the buyer of the weapons. There hadn't been much success identifying the buyer before they entered the town, as while several Kiri shinobi had entered the town over the past two days, most simply were passing through.
However, by also keeping an eye on the warehouse, they were able to get the identity of the buyer. One of the three shinobi in the warehouse had left the warehouse, and after meandering through the town to throw off any trackers, he had headed to one of the inns, where he left a message with the inn keeper to be given to one of his customers. One of Mukei's crew, who had been sitting at the bar in the inn, managed to follow the message to the room of its recipient, and then relayed that information to Mukei, who relayed it to Raphael and Yugito. The pair of assassins then scoped out the room, and identified the buyer of the weapons.
Now, with their plan set before them, all they could do is wait for the buyer to head out to pick up his weapons, and they would set their plan in motion.
Yugito finished checking her equipment and supplies, and nodded to Raphael. "I'm heading out. Let me know when you intercept the buyer, Washi." With a nod from Raphael, she quickly headed off, while Raphael adjusted the radio communicator around his neck.
About a half hour later, one of the crew knocked on the door. "Cap'n, the target's heading out."
Mukei nodded. "Show time," he said with a grin, as he and Raphael stood.
Chouseki adjusted the kimono he was wearing and sighed as he walked down a street towards his destination. He hated having to wear these merchant clothes, but the Mizukage had ordered him to remain undercover while purchasing the weapons for the war effort. His chuunin uniform would have made him an obvious target, and discretion was mandatory in this situation.
Rounding a corner, Chouseki barely had time to react before a figure bumped into him. "Whoa, sorry there," the man he bumped into said, steadying him. Chouseki just nodded in gratitude.
"Thank you," she said, blinking though as his left arm itched a bit. Shrugging he began to head off, not noticing the man grin a bit as he retracted a thin metal blade into the bracer around his right arm.
Chouseki blinked, touching his left arm which was really itching now. He also felt a bit weak all of a sudden, and dizzy. Stumbling, he blinked again, trying to clear his blurring vision. People in the street blinked at him, curious about why he was stumbling, until two men walked over, steadying him. "Easy there lad," one said, as they steered him towards an alley.
Chouseki shook his head, realizing what had happened now. "N-No…let me go," he said, struggling to fight the effects of the poison in him. The two men merely kept walking and supporting him until they reached a secluded area. There, Raphael joined them as they began removing Chouseki's kimono.
"He'll remain knocked out for several hours. Make sure to get him back to his room," he told the two pirates, who nodded as they handed him Chouseki's kimono and shoes, as well as a few storage scrolls. Raphael removed his assassin robes, shirt and boots, before slipping on Chouseki's kimono and sandals before henging to look like Chouseki. Taking a deep breath, he nodded. "Let's do this," he said.
Yugito stealthily climbed the side of the warehouse, going slowly to ensure she could hear the rooftop sentry, and not give away her own position. She reached the lip of the roof, and very slowly peeked over the edge.
The sentry currently had his back to her. Yugito could try and go for a hidden blade strike, but given that he was a shinobi, if he even heard the slightest noise or sensed her in any way, her attack would fail. So she would need to strike from range. Very slowly she lifted herself up and crouched on the edge of the roof, silently removing a shuriken from one of her ammo pouches on her belt. With a flick of her wrist, the blade shot out almost silently, nailing the guard in the back of the neck.
The man's body went rigid, and his arms twitched as he feebly tried to move them, a sign that she had nailed his spinal column and disrupted his brain's connection to the body. As quickly as she could she moved to him, placing her right hand over his mouth while keeping his body standing. He was still weakly struggling, so she quickly stabbed her hidden blade on her left arm into the back of his heart, ending his life. Slowly, she lowered his body down to the ground, removing the shuriken as she did so.
With the sentry down, she slowly moved to the front edge, and kept watch. Soon enough she could see Raphael approaching, wearing a kimono she might expect a merchant to wear. With a grin, she quietly slid to the back of the warehouse, and climbed down the wall to the window she had seen earlier. She quietly scanned for any sign of the two remaining men in the warehouse, and not seeing them, she quietly worked the window open enough to lithely slide inside. She slid into some nearby shadows, and waited.
Raphael took a deep breath before knocking on the door of the warehouse. He waited a few moments, before a slat opened on the upper part of the door. "Chouseki-san?" A voice from behind the door asked.
"That's me," Raphael said evenly. The door opened and Raphael slowly entered.
The man at the door was wearing what appeared to be an ANBU uniform with a blank mask. Raphael slowly looked up, seeing another figure on the catwalk.
"Chouseki-san," the figure said. "Do you have the money?"
Raphael pulled out a scroll and unrolled it. Placing one hand on a storage seal, he unsealed a small pile of money. "Here's some of it," he said. "Where are the weapons?"
The masked shinobi went over to a stack of crates and removed the lid from the top crate. Inside were boxes of kunai and shuriken. Raphael went over, and began to inspect the merchandise, before nodding. "This all looks good," he said. He went back to the scroll, resealed the first batch of money, and held out the scroll to the masked figure. As he did, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He mentally grinned, seeing Yugito make her move.
The figure on the catwalk didn't even notice as Yugito stood up from the shadows. But they did notice the kunai that buried itself in his right knee, followed by another in his right elbow and a third in his shoulder. His right leg gave out as Yugito rushed forward, extending her hidden blade. He managed to yank a tanto out with his left hand, and used it to block Yugito's attempt to stab him, only to find his tanto caught in between two of the three blades of Yugito's right katar. With a twist she snapped the blade and lunged with her left arm, stabbing him in the chest.
On the floor, the masked figure had been reaching for the scroll of money when he heard the commotion on the catwalk. He turned his head to see what happened, only to feel pain erupting through his chest. He turned to look forward, only to find Chouseki no longer looked like himself, while his right hand was pressed against his chest. As Raphael pulled away, he retracted the hidden blade, only to find no blood. In front of him, the masked figure poofed into a log. Raphael cursed as he rushed to the warehouse door and opened it, signaling. Mukei and his crew rushed into the warehouse, weapons drawn.
On the upper level, Yugito quietly removed the blank mask her target wore, finding herself staring at a somewhat pale face that was locked in an expression of mild surprise and pain. She sighed, slowly closing his eyes. "Rest in peace," she murmured softly, before standing up.
Raphael shed the kimono, receiving his clothing and equipment from one of Mukei's crew. "One of them escaped. Search the warehouse," he said. Mukei's crew scattered throughout the warehouse, as Raphael finished putting his Assassin robes and equipment back on.
Yugito leaned over the catwalk. "The office is up here Washi," she said, before turning and heading towards said office. Raphael and Mukei soon followed.
Yugito was slowly examining the room when they entered, before turning. "There aren't a lot of documents," she said, stirring a small stove with a fire in it. "From what I've seen, they were destroying a lot of their documents. Probably to keep them from falling into enemy hands. However…apparently they had some documents they hadn't gotten round to destroying yet," she said, indicating a small stack of documents.
Raphael went over to the stack, and began to look through them. "Hmmm…there are a few reports here. Mostly about requirements for next shipments…wait…what's this?" he asked, pulling out one document. He read it, before his eyes hardened and he quickly stuffed it into his robes.
"Washi, what is it?" Yugito asked, only for Raphael to shake his head.
"Not here Neko," he said, as he went through the other reports. He pulled out another one, studying it. "…they apparently were planning to send a kidnapped Kiri kunoichi back to their headquarters. An…Ameyuri Ringo," he said, reading the report. "They apparently learned that the Mizukage declared her a traitor and ordered her to be poisoned, while making it look like she died of an illness. They managed to sneak into the hospital and make it look like she died, while taking her away to send back to their leader."
At that moment, one of the crew called from the lower part of the warehouse. "Hey cap'n! We found a girl down here!"
The trio stepped out onto the catwalk, where they saw several of the crew supporting an unconscious woman. She was dressed in a hospital gown and pants, with a straight jacket pinning her arms to her side. She had long, very dark red hair, with pale skin. She also was rather short in stature.
Mukei leaned over. "Is she okay?" He asked, as one of the crew checked her over.
"She's just sedated cap'n. She'll be alright after a lot of sleep," he said.
Mukei nodded at that. "Then make sure she gets plenty of rest. The rest of you, start taking inventory of everything here in the warehouse! Let's see what valuables we have to sell," he said, as several of the crew grinned and went to work. Mukei went off to help them.
As Mukei left, Yugito turned to Raphael. "Raphael, what was on that first report?" She asked softly.
Raphael sighed quietly as he pulled it out and handed it to her. "We have some major problems," he said softly. "This is a communication from their leader, giving them new orders. Read the name at the bottom, the name of their leader."
Yugito quickly scanned the report, eventually reaching the bottom. Her eyes went wide at whose name it was. "Major problems is an understatement," she said, staring at the name at the bottom: Danzou Shimura.
So yeah…finally got this chapter done, and…well I don't feel that great about it. Not sure why. *sighs* Still, I hope you all enjoy it.
Hopefully, the next chapter will be much better, but guess we'll see, won't we?
Again, please visit my profile and vote on the poll there. It would be greatly appreciated.
Also once again, big thanks to my betas Bill Alain and Kyuubi123.
And now, please enjoy this omake.
Omake Inspired by Mandalore the freedom
The Onbaa of Konoha
Naruto's class was huddled in their classroom, watching a thunderstorm outside, as lighting flashed through the sky. Several of the children yelped in fear at the lighting flashes or loud rumbles of thunder.
Their substitute sensei Iruka smiled. "Now now kids, nothing to be worried about. You're safe in here," he said. "Now gather around, and I'll tell you about the legend of the Onbaa."
The students all blinked curiously, and moved closer, as Iruka began. "The Onbaa are mythical creatures said to live in the forests surrounding Konoha. No one knows what they look like exactly, except the Legendary Jiraiya of the Sannin, who claimed to have wrestled one when he was younger, and wrote a book about it. What we do know is that they are very tall, taller than the largest man, and with the strength of three men. And they are covered in thick gray fur."
"I-Iruka-sensei, are they dangerous?" Asked Ino, hugging her knees to her chest. Everyone yelped as there was another flash of lighting.
Iruka smiled a bit mischievously. "No one knows that either," he said. "Some say they are vegetarians, or omnivores," he said.
"Omnivores?" Kiba asked, tilting his head.
"It means they eat meat and vegetables," Sakura said, using her knowledge.
Iruka nodded at that. "Very good Sakura. But me…well I've heard something different," he said, leaning forward. All the students did as well, as he spoke softly to them. "I've heard that they…EAT CHILDREN!" He suddenly yelled.
At that moment, there was a lighting flash followed almost immediately by a rumble of thunder, causing all the children to scream. Their screams intensified as the door opened, revealing a figure covered in what seemed like gray fur. "THE ONBAA!" Chouji yelled.
A few minutes later, the headmaster of the Academy arrived, wanting to investigate all the screaming, only to find a peculiar sight. Mizuki was laying on the ground, covered in a gray wool cloak as several students were attacking him, and Iruka tried to get them off him. He sighed as he crossed his arms, trying not to laugh.
From that day forward, Iruka never told little kids monster stories, and Mizuki never wore that cloak again.
