Summary - Year by year the usage of chakra is getting simpler, more efficient and quite possibly deadlier. Yet, with all these "advances" and "shortcuts" these pioneers trying to claw closer to its secrets are only getting further. He is humanity's last hope as the same energy that holds together the foundation of their lives is the same thing tearing it to pieces.

Chapter 1

Tether of Hope

It was night again. The Great Oak Inn laid in silence.

Not the type of silence caused by the lacking of action but one of dread and hopelessness. If there were a wind the numerous trees surrounding they would sing. The old wooden planks would rattle and creak as an elderly man's bones do when sitting down after a walk. The miniscule specks of dirt embracing the roads would flutter, dancing happily to the tempo of the great breeze.

On a friday night one would assume an inn would be a jumble of noise. The clamor of men toasting to any and everything they could think of. A stampede of thumps as men and women alike took the floor of the inn by surprise dancing their worries away. The sound of rejection, of new found loves, of soldiers and travelers sharing stories of adventure over bread…

And yet they were nowhere to be found, even the winds. Instead, weighed upon the inn was a blanket of uncomfort. A silence fueled by the dreams of the dead.

I ran like the wind.

I stole horses, carriages and boats with the efficiency of a master thief. I transversed the thick forests of the Fire Republic; Fought the mighty sand dunes of Arabast. I even conquered the mountains of Aarn and yet it was all useless.

By the moment I arrived outside the inn, I could feel my heart wane. The thick ambiance almost made me choke. The closer I got to the door the smaller the fire in my heart bellowed. I slowly opened the baritone colored door, one thousand thoughts rushing through my mind.

My heart sank when the natural light of the moon invaded the doorway. Then the smell and I turned away from the half open doorway and let out the non existent remains of my starving stomach on the oak wooden patio.

The first to hit me was the stench of death. It hit my nostrils like a raging pack mules kick. My body seized firmly and face twisted in ways I didn't know were possible to make. The smell, my god the smell. It was not rancid, nor was it foul.

The best way to describe the smell of a dead body is sickly-fruity. Like a piece of pineapple garnished on top of rotten meat which has sat so long that it has begun to dry up-the juices saturating the bottom turning it mush. And yet that description could not encapsulate the smell. It was truly unique and unforgettable like discovering your first crush or achieving your dreams.

I regained control and made my way closer to the doorway hugging the wall as the wear and tears of my sped up travels began to become known. I stuck my head through the door, this time more alert. I breathed in the air again and shuddered but was able to fight down the urge to regurgitate.

The common area was riddled with bodies. On top of chairs and tables and pinned on the walls and even the roof. I turned my head away from the sight of the horror stricken visages on a vast majority of the victims. I tucked my head down to the floor making sure to avoid stepping on the bodies, any broken furniture, loose teeth and puddles of various liquids.

Every breath I took I got a different fragrance of death. It made me sick to the stomach. I steeled myself and began looking from body to body hoping that I could find who I came all this way for was not one of these unfortunate souls. After scouring the common area of bodies I let out a small sigh of relief.

I continued to the stairs addled on the left side of the backroom which was located in the middle of the room behind the bar. I made sure to tread carefully, slowly stepping around the dead brunette whose body was snapped in half on the stair railing. Her eyes were rolled into the back of her head.

I made it to the middle way of the stairs before my eyes met the corpse guarding the top of the stairwell. My body began to tremble, eyes watering at the sight in front of me.

"K-kander," I quivered out; my voice weak and scratchy. The tears in my eyes began flowing with the sight in front of me. Kander, the tender young teen when he left was on the top of the stairs. His head was impaled through his right eye socket on the end of the left railing. His lone eye void of the vibrant blue I remembered. The black hair I used to ruffle after a playful bout of insult gone. In its place his skull, bare for the world to gawk at.

My eyes made its way to his neck. I let out a cry as I saw it. The necklace I gave him before leaving 8 years ago.

"Ugh, I still don't get why I can't go with you ya old bastard" a young Kander said pouting with his arms crossed and his head turned to the side away from me.

I let out a bountiful laugh. "You would only slow me down, brat. Your legs are small and useless like a horse with two legs! Wait until you get the other two and I'll use you as a packing mule." In response the youth's pout turned into a scowl quicker than I could chug a mug of mead. I couldn't help myself to another laugh.

We kept walking, trading playful jabs and insults at each other in a routine like manner. It was times like this I would miss when away from the village but I had to. My dream awaits me and I wasn't getting any younger.

"W-why won't you take me"

I turned my head to my son in all but blood and my eyes softened. The boy had been trying to convince me for weeks to take him with me. Every time I went somewhere he had followed trying to reason with me.

I went up to him and got on one knee to a height where we were eye to eye. I cupped the side of his face and stared, waiting for him to make eye contact with me. I waited for half a minute and all the boy did shift his weight from foot to foot awkwardly.

I let go of his face and his head dropped even lower. I knew the gist of what he was thinking.

'He must think I am weak and a coward'

I put my hands behind my head on the base of my neck and unclipped my necklace. I held the two ends with my left hand and brought them both forward. I stared at the necklace. The boy was still facing the floor.

I grabbed one of the ends with my right hand and brought them over Kanders head and snapped them in place. I let it go and watched as it fell. The necklace hung deep on him, almost to his belly button.

His eyes snapped up to meet mine and I could feel his demeanor change instantly from fear to a confusing awe. He wrapped his tiny hands around the amulet hanging from the golden chain and stared, making sure to memorize every crevice of the glimmering red jewel.

"I am not leaving you here because I think you will hinder me."

His eyes snapped away from the necklace back to me. I could see the tension in his shoulders ease a little.

"Then why."

I stopped myself from giving a routine quip. I took some time to regain my thoughts so I can get across what I wanted perfectly clear.

"My son," Kander startled. We both knew our relationship was close enough but it was one of the nuances that were never spoken about. His eyes began to water, "The reason I leave you here is not of ill intent nor do I believe you incapable in anyway but, this is not your road to travel. If I take you with me I will be taking away your opportunities to find your own path and dream."

Kander bristled at this, tears still running down his face. "What is so wrong with wanting to be like you dad!? You think I can't become my own person, develop my own dreams and goals with you? What kind of shit is that!?"

I took his hands in mine, "The road that I am journeying is one you cannot back out of. It is the most dangerous in existance and is something I am willing to die to accomplish." The boy bit back vigorously.

"And? I am not afraid of anything, not even death! I am not a coward!," I shook my head in disappointment at his words.

"Do not speak like a tool Kander, " he bristled, "Having no fear does not make you brave, it means you are too foolish to be afraid."

Nothing was spoken between us as we stared at each other, searching each other's eyes. He is wondering why I am saying such hurtful things while I am trying to find a way to make him understand my view.

I sighed and rubbed the top of his head in a loving way. He scowled, "Another reason why I don't want you to go is because I need you to stay here and protect her for me. Promise me you will," I asked in a hopeful tone. All I got in return was a slap on my reaching hand and a turned back. He didn't show up to my farewell party. I made a promise then and there to make it up to him when I came back.

I sprinted up the stairs, ignoring the other dead bodies as I stepped on them to get to his body. I remember a lot of things but the squelching sound it made when I pulled him out of the railing will stick with me forever. My legs couldn't take it anymore as I had his limp body in my arms. I collapsed to the ground, his body limply in my arms.

"My son…," I struggled out; my burning throat felt as if it were wedged between iron clamps. I couldn't remember how long I sat there, mindlessly holding him. When I regained control I caressed his cheek, closed his untouched eye and gave him a kiss on his forehead. I set him down gently before picking myself off the floor shakily and making my way down the hallway to her room.

Unlike all the other doors in the hallway hers was the only one seemingly untouched. In front of the door was a woman slouched forward in an impossible angle. The back of her shirt split at the middle of her back, the tattered edges littered with blood. A good chunk of her spine was removed in a sadistic, cruel way. The ones that were still in her were rough, as if someone took the rough side of a chisel and sawed away at it like shaping a piece of wood.

At this point I wasn't even sure I was sane as I kicked her out of the way of the door; her corpse slamming hard against the wall. I grabbed the door knob and turned it gently and what I saw sent a wave of nostalgia throughout my body; shaking it to its core.

Everything was how I remembered it: the aroma of sweet peaches and lavender enticing my nose replacing the horrid smell of death from below. The huge bed with a cloudlike comforter neatly tucked into the frame seated directly below the huge heaven's gate shaped window. I turned to the left and saw her desk with a mirror attached to its top. Painting riddled the cracks between the mirror and its frame.

My eye caught one in particular. I plucked it out of its confinements gently, holding it delicately as if it would crumble if I put any more force then it would crumble to sand. It was their first date; she was wearing a beautiful black dress that day. Her hair was put up, held together with a black pin which disguised well in her black hair.

I was there as well, holding her arm in arm with the biggest, goofiest smile I had ever mustered in his life. My mind reeled me back from my fantasy. I placed the photo down gently before searching the room. I tore the room apart, pulling everything out of the closet, toppling her dresser to check the safe room behind only to find her not in there.

I let out a growl of frustration. I reeled my breath in about to call her name out when I heard the sound of cloth being shifted. I turned to the bed to find the comforter being shifted from underneath! Did she sleep through it all!?

I swiftly made my way to the side of the bed and pulled the covers off, my mind praying it to be here. Instead, I found a little girl, maybe 6 or 7 with a pale complexion. Her hair was dirt brown, just like mine. She was wearing a white nightgown; on her stomach her arms clenched a brown leather backed journal. She was abnormally skinny to the points when I could see her skeletal structure.

Her eyes opened weakly. I would have believed she was blind if she didn't turn to look at me. She tried to sit up but fell back down, her body too weak to do such a simple task. I looked at her arm closest to me and a grim expression came to me.

Two puncture marks could be seen on her arms if looked at close enough. If this were any ordinary puncture mark then I could cure her but this… this was a star rebellion, a snake with a fatality rate of 100%. Once bit, the recipient would die a slow and painful demise over a month. Their insides would liquidize, leaving the corpse a sack of skin holding an organ slushie.

"P-please sir. Deliver t-this to my f-father"

I broke out of my daze and stared at the girl. She mustered enough strength to lift the journal to me. I took it wordlessly, looking her in her weary eyes and nodded grimly. She began to cough but I wasn't paying attention to her anymore.

I closed my eyes and steeled my nerves. I placed the journal down before grabbing the pillow by her foot and holding it to my chest. My knuckles began turning white as I turned to her. She looked at me confused. Before she could say anything I smothered her with the pillow using my full weight.

Tears fell from my eyes as I turned away. The only resistance was her attempt to call out to me. I ignored her muffled pleas as best as I could. Her body began to tremble violently but none of her limbs ever touched the pillow suffocating her. When she stopped moving I felt numb. My mind, body and soul.

I let go of the pillow and let it stay on her face. I wouldn't… no, I couldn't dare look at her otherwise my mind would break. The best thing I could do is deliver this journal to her father, let me see what his name i-

To: Akagi Takahashi

From: Ai Takahashi

"B-but i-im"

I turned to the little girl on the bed.

"nonononononononoNONONONONONO!" I screamed in terror, the tears redoubled on my face. I pulled the pillow away from her face and the fire within my heart died. I could see it now. Her hair was not a dirty brown but was that color because she was dirty. Her facial structure exactly like mine but with her being so bony It was hard to tell. I...I had killed my own daughter that I didn't even know about.

I got on the bed with her and held her to my chest as I wept. Crying for a god to bring her back! After 30 minutes I began to curse them. An hour later I began to curse myself. I got off the bed and went to the glass mirror and stared at myself in disgust. I punched it hard, shattering the glass making all the painting scattered around in the air.

I grabbed the biggest piece of glass I could find and held it to my throat. There was so much negativity going through my mind I couldn't bear it. I wanted to-no, deserved death. I clenched the glass till my hand began to bleed, reeled it back and went to end my life then and there but I stopped a breadth from my throat. I dropped the glass.

"I don't deserve this release" I told myself, my eyes open wide and red like a crazed lunatic. If anyone should kill me it should be her. I went to the bed and grabbed the journal to look for clues for where I can find her. I needed to find her so she could kill me.

I opened the first page and began to read.

I dropped the journal with shaky hands. My eyes were filled with unbridled hatred. I clenched my fist time and time again. I dug my toes deep within my boots till they bled. Every vein in my body felt like they were going to explode. This journal wasn't his daughters. It. Was. HERS.

I finally found him, the perfect subject for project beast. He leaves tomorrow, the plan is to inject him tonight. Damn fool doesn't even suspect that i'm pregnant with his child. She too shall be an excellent test subject.

It has been 3 years since subject Aka has been gone. He still does not suspect a thing is amiss and doesn't know he has a daughter. Speaking of, subject Ai's condition is getting considerably worse. It seems the serum is not suitable for young children like we suspected but predictions only get you so far and one girl for the sake of our family is a worthy sacrifice.

It has been 7 years since subject Aka has been gone. subject Ai no longer has the ability to walk, soon she will lose all motor skills and pass away but, the data that we have gathered from her will help our family stand above. We will ascend and become god.

Anger took over my body. It took over my mind. It shaped my soul. I could feel it, points of warmth appeared all over my body began to energize. If I could count them all I would count 361 of them. My bloody hand began to steam, my eyes began to narrow, the outline thicker and darker. My nails grew to the sharpness of razors and my body began to grow more animalistic and bigger.

As my clothes ripped I began to grow something all over my body. It was… fuzzy? Like peach fuzz after a day of shaving but then it became thicker and orange. Before I knew it I was towering over the inn, taller than the mountains I climbed to get here. I could see the deserts I almost perished in while crossing. It all seemed so… small. I could feel and control new body parts as well. 9 of them to be exact, all on my lower back. This… this was all so strange.

But the biggest difference? Was the hellfire inferno rampaging within me. I could feel the chaos harnessing within, my blood calling for blood. Specifically one person blood.

"KAGUYA"

My name is Kurama, or formerly known thousands of years ago as Akagi Takahashi. The Nine tailed demon fox. The protector of the elemental nations and the last being to walk the Forsaken path.