Chapter 39: Fury
Naruko walks slowly home to the clan compound dreading the conversation the she has to have with Mikoto. She turns to look at her side to see Izumi walking with a dead expression on her face as she holds back tears. Naruko takes her hand and Izumi clutches it in her hand as they enter the compound. They see Mikoto rocking her daughter to sleep and putting her to bed. Mikoto notices them and the look on their faces.
"What happened?" Mikoto asks worried
"Itachi...he...died." Naruko says with a solemn look on her face as she breaks the news.
"I see." Mikoto says as her face becomes one of grief as Izumi bursts into tears and runs and hugs Mikoto.
"I'm Sorry! We tried to stop Itachi, but he just wouldn't stop!" Izumi says while, sobbing into Mikoto's chest. Mikoto holds Izumi's head to her bosom.
"What about Sasuke?" Mikoto asks while weeping
"We don't know by the time we arrived at the scene of the battle there was no trace of him or Itachi. We believe Akatsuki has him, but we aren't sure." Naruko says grimly
"I see" Mikoto says as her tears continue to fall
"Itachi entrusted Sasuke to me and I won't let his death be in vain I'll bring Sasuke home to you I promise." Naruko says firmly as she let's her own tears fall.
"Thank you! Naruko but, you know the chances of Sasuke returning peacefully are slim to none now. Just be careful I don't want to lose you too." Mikoto says as she sniffles
"It won't stop me from trying Mikoto." Naruko says as she takes her leave to give the two women their time to grieve over their lost loved one. Naruko heads out of the compound to head to the training grounds to get some training in to prepare for a future confrontation against Sasuke certain that it will come down to a fight. As she is training she is approached by Sakura claiming that they're being summoned by the hokage so, they head to the hokage's office.
"What did you summon us for Baa-chan?" Naruko asks
"I received an emergency communicay that the Tsuchigumo mountaintop fort was under attack and needed immediate assistance." the hokage says
"The Tsuchigumo you mean the clan?" Naruko asks
"Yes the same clan we have treaty to come to their aid in an emergency in exchange for them sealing away a powerful kinjutsu." The hokage explains
"I understand so, you wish to have us leave immediately." Naruko says
"Yes your team is already most likely at the west gate waiting for you to head out. You're dismissed." the hokage says
" Ok see you later Baa-chan" Naruko says as she and Sakura rush off to the west gate and meet with Yamato and Sai and head out. They make good time heading to the mountain fortress when they arrive they climb the fortress to find its keeper Tonbee heavily injured. Tonbee tells them that the group that attacked them are after the kinjutsu that Hotaru has and has the team go in search of her as Sakura stays behind to tend to his wounds. Naruko, Sai, and Yamato head out into the forest in search of Hotaru. But, Naruko runs into someone unexpected.
"Kabuto! What do you want!" Naruko says as she gets into a defense position as Kabuto who is covered in a cloak slowly approaches her.
"Nothing much I just came to deliver this to you." Kabuto says as he throws a book at Naruko's feet.
"What's this?" Naruko asks suspicious
"That contains all the information I have on Akatsuki." Kabuto says with a smirk
"Why give me something like this?" Naruko asks keeping her guard up
"You become a thorn in Akatsuki's side and I wish to see akatsuki crumble for my own reasons." Kabuto says with a shrug
"You seem to be acting strange." Naruko says eyeing Kabuto
"I suppose I should be without Orochimaru. I find myself without a purpose and I suppose I'm on a journey to discover who I am." Kabuto says
"What have you been doing?" Naruko asks
"Just a little experimenting to help me along my journey and I suppose I found myself emulating you an orphan who had no one but, carried a great burden." Kabuto says removing his hood and showing his arm that is turning white and being covered in scales.
"What have you done to yourself!?" Naruko asks shocked
"I've absorbed some of Orochimaru's cells and I'm finding them hard to control as they have begun slowly taking me over. I wonder what will I become? It doesn't really matter I suppose." Kabuto says with a manic grin.
"You've clearly lost it." Naruko says shaking her head
"Maybe I have but, like I said I don't care. I'll be going now Naruko I'll be seeing you again." Kabuto says as he slowly sinks into the earth and out of sight. Naruko tries to determine where he went but, doesn't sense him so, picks up the book and begins to resume the search for Hotaru. She encounters Hotaru and her companion who attacks Naruko with soap bubble ninjutsu. Naruko jumps away from the soap bubbles as they explode and charges the man who released them. She draws her tri pronged kunai and attacks, but her kunai is blocked and parried by the man's bubble pipe. They continue to fight until Yamato tells them to stand down and informs the man that they're shinobi of konoha. The man whose name is Ukataka entrusts Hotaru to the konoha ninja and takes off on his own. Hotaru initially refuses to be escorted by konoha shinobi to Tsuchigumo's secret village. But, she eventually relents and they successfully escort her there and plan to leave her there but, Naruko grows suspicious of the villagers from the looks they were giving Hotaru. Hotaru's uncle betrays her to the bandit group called the Magaki group and Hotaru escapes leaving a scroll behind for the bandits that believe it to contain the kinjutsu but, it turns out to be a bomb. Hotaru flees into the forest to come across Ukataka who had a run in with the bandits previously. The Magaki group tracks Hotaru down and they fight Ukataka who stops repelling them and flees with Hotaru and they manage to escape. Once they are safe Ukataka attempts to go his separate ways with Hotaru but, she begs him to stay and removes her shirt showing her back that contains the kinjutsu shocking Ukataka. As they make their way through the forest they are attacked by kiri anbu who reveals that Ukataka is in the bingo book as a missing nin for killing his master. Ukataka is bound in water release: water whip and is electrocuted with lightning release: electromagnetic murder. Naruko and Sai arrive to fight off the kiri anbu until Yamato stops the fight to talk the kiri anbu's leader Tsurugi and they come to a compromise that Ukataka is to stay with Yamato's team until Hotaru is safe. The kiri anbu leaves as the team heads out but, Hotaru begins to hurt from an injury she sustained Naruko has a look at her and spots the kinjutsu sealed into her back. Ukataka mentions his disdain for people who take advantage of people's loyalty. They make their way back to the mountaintop fort where Hotaru explains that she requested the kinjutsu be sealed into her back.
"Why would you ask for something like this." Ukataka asks
"I wanted to make my grandfather's dream of restoring our clan's glory to come true." Hotaru says
"Unfortunately the clan has lost too much strength for the clan to return to prominence so, it's probably for the best that the kinjutsu be destroyed." Tonbee says
"But, if we do that my grandfather's dream will end!" Hotaru says
"It's for the best Hotaru a clan can't be restored to prominence through a single jutsu such as a kinjutsu." Ukataka says
"Alright but, there is someone I believe who could put the jutsu to good use a man who studied my grandfather's teachings his name is Shiranami." Hotaru says
"If that's how you feel while, everyone here prepares to remove the jutsu I'll use the next couple of days to search for him." Naruko says
"Would you do that for me?" Hotaru asks
"Yeah if there's a way to help your clan then, I'll be happy to help." Naruko says as she takes off down the mountain and makes a bunch of Shadow clones to search for the man Shiranami. She scours the local area and locates the man's home. Inside Naruko is trapped by the infinite embrace jutsu by the Magaki group who reveal they work for Shiranami. Naruko breaks free of the jutsu draining her chakra by accessing the kyuubi's chakra. She takes off to head back to the mountaintop fort. Meanwhile, Ukataka has left once again making Hotaru sad. Hotaru runs off to find Ukataka only to run into Shiranami who convinces her not to destroy the kinjutsu so that they might restore the clan. Hotaru sends a message to Ukataka but, Shiranami reveals his true intentions and knocks Hotaru out and takes her back to Tsuchigumo village. Ukataka receives the message while searching for Tsurugi having a bad feeling. He goes to search for Hotaru to discover that Shiranami is the leader of the Magaki group. Naruko meets up with Ukataka and they head to Hotaru's village where they discover the villagers are being controlled by Shiranami's jutsu Character Bind. As Naruko and Ukataka fight off the villagers Naruko's teammates arrive and takeover the fight as Naruko and Ukataka head off to rescue Hotaru from Shiranami who has placed the Tsuchigumo style: Forbidden life technique release: creation of heaven and earth jutsu on Hotaru to control the kinjutsu Fury. Naruko faces off against Shiranami while, Ukataka uses the power of the six tails to destroy fury before it can go off saving Hotaru. Naruko finishes off Shiranami with a rasengan defeating him just as her team defeats the Magaki group. Team Kakashi leaves after returning Hotaru and Ukataka to the mountaintop fort where they discuss what hotaru and Ukataka will do. Hotaru decides to leave the village to follow Ukataka and get stronger. Ukataka leaves Hotaru behind to talk with Tsurugi but, finds him and the kiri anbu slaughtered by a Masked man and his 9 masked beasts that manage to defeat and capture him. Ukataka sends a message to Hotaru telling her to live on.
When Team Kakashi returns to the village the team heads straight to the hokage's office. As soon as Naruko enters the room she is detained by the Anbu who put a chakra restraining seal on her.
"What's going on Baa-chan?!" Naruko shouts
"Naruko you have been charged with attacking the 4th raikage and killing several Iwa, kiri, and Kumo jonin." The hokage says showing the illustrations of Naruko from Kiri and Iwa.
"I don't know what's going on! I'm being framed!" Naruko says as she struggles against the hold the anbu has on her.
"You're to be transferred to Hozuki castle known as the blood prison in Kusagakure. Until this matter is settled." The hokage says as she orders Yamato to restrain Naruko using Wood Release to create a cage around Naruko and places a seal on it. The Anbu begins taking away the cage and Naruko is taken to Kusagakure where she enters into the blood prison. She is met at the entrance of the prison by Mui the warden of the prison that places the Fire release: heavenly prison seal that seals Naruko's chakra. She is taken to a room and is stripped searched and has a cavity search. She is given back her clothes and sent to her cell for her first night in prison. She creates a shadow clone with what little access she has to chakra. She's abducted from her cell and brought to a lab but, it's revealed the abductor captured the shadow clone while the real Naruko was in her cell. When she is later caught trying to escape she is put in solitary confinement. She overhears a mysterious voice says that if she can defeat Mui the seal will disappear. When she gets out of solitary confinement she confronts Mui in the courtyard and fights him using Gentle fist but, after a tough fight Mui defeats her.
"Why do you insist on fighting?" Mui asks
"Because, I have a home to return to." Naruko says holding her injured side.
"You don't understand do you that to be here means your village has given up on you." Mui says calmly
"They only did it to avoid conflict with the other villages besides they know I'm innocent." Naruko says
"Even if it's true they will keep you here to avoid causing tension between villages." Mui says
"They'll prove my innocence and I'll be free to return in the meantime I'm going to break out of here." Naruko says
"In the world of shinobi innocence is a difficult thing to prove besides even if you did bust out of the prison the seal on you will burst you into flames before you get too far." Mui says
"If there's a way to escape then, I will find it both from this prison and this jutsu." Naruko says heatedly
"Till then you can keep yourself company in solitary confinement." Mui says as the guards drag an exhausted Naruko back to Solitary. When she gets out she goes to the cafeteria where she punches one the guards causing a fight to break out. Naruko steals the guards clothes and switches out with a shadow clone that stays behind. Naruko goes to the edge of the island that Blood prison is on. A prisoner Ryuzetsu tells her to stop. But, Naruko doesn't listen and jumps into the sea full of whirlpools. She nearly drowns but, is saved by Ryuzetsu who tends to her in a cave. Ryuzetsu reveals that she is in the prison to kill Mui and to stop the box of ultimate bliss. Ryuzetsu reveals that Mui sacrificed his son to the box and had Naruko set up knowing she would be sent here. Ryuzetsu asks Naruko to help her destroy the box to which Naruko agrees. The next day Naruko again challenges Mui to a fight again and is defeated once more and is sent to solitary. Where she works on a counter seal to the heavenly prison seal. While Ryuzetsu attempts to assassinate Mui but the plan fails. The next day when Naruko is out of Solitary she pretends to start a fight with Ryuzetsu starting a brawl in the courtyard. Naruko sneaks into the wardens study in order to locate the box. But, Mui captures her and siphons her chakra off to the box reviving it. The box bursts from the underground to the surface allowing Naruko to escape. Mui asks the box to return his son Muku. The box grants his wish releasing Muku. Muku impales Mui with his own hand as he transforms into a demon called Satori that Kills Kazan the one who impersonated Naruko and did all the killings. Naruko manages to break the heavenly prison seal on her by creating a counter seal the earth liberation seal. Naruko with access to her Chakra attacks the box with a ultra big ball rasengan but, doesn't even put a dent into it. Naruko begins to attack Satori with Adamantine sealing chains but, can't land a hit on Satori who seems to be able to read her movements before hand. Naruko summons Gamabunta and they both attack Satori but, it continues to predict both of their movements and attacks Naruko with a giant sphere jutsu but, Gamabunta blocks it with his body causing him to dispel. Naruko is about to be attacked again when the attack is blocked by Yamato using wood release: wood locking wall. Naruko is surprised to find her friends there but, Kakashi claims the hokage knew all along that Naruko was innocent and that her mission was to destroy the box. The konoha 11 and their sensei's begin to attack Satori but, can't land a hit on it. As she watches them fight Satori she realizes that it can't read minds but, can read people's fears. Naruko channels Kyuubi's chakra and enters a 5 tailed cloak state and launches an attack against Satori and manages to land blows on him. Naruko begins to generate a huge ultra big ball rasengan but, Satori impales her along with Ryuzetsu who gets in the way of the attack. Noticing that the heavenly prison seal is still active on Ryuzetsu means Mui is still alive, so Naruko calls out to him causing Mui to awaken. Naruko creates a wood release: wood dragon to ensnare and wrap around Satori trapping it's wings so, it can't escape as Mui uses Fire release; great fire heavenly prison on it binding Satori further as Naruko hits Satori and Mui with a ultra big ball rasengan. Returning Muku to normal who uses feather launching technique on Mui killing him as Muku dies and Satori's Soul returns to the box that seals itself. Due to the injury that Naruko sustained she is slowly dying so, Ryuzetsu uses her jutsu Dragon life reincarnation to revive Naruko at the cost of her life. Mui and Ryuzetsu are buried together while, the konoha 11 and their sensei's round up the escaping prisoners that flee once Mui died. The Box is placed in the sea where no one can reach it among the whirlpools. Naruko Hiraishin's everyone home once Kusa anbu arrives to secure the prison and its prisoners.