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I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER OR THEIR SUCCESSORS IN ANY SHAPE OR CAPACITY. I ONLY OWN MY FICTITIOUS OC'S.
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Upload Schedule:
Flaming Saga: Sundays
Silence Left Behind: Wednesdays
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Glossary: Scene breaks will be denoted by a line of X's
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Demonic or summons speech"
'Demonic or summons thoughts'
Jutsus shall be rendered in Japanese or English depending on which they are. For example, I will not be saying Almighty Push, I will be saying Shinra Tensei, or Rasengan instead of Spiraling Sphere. However instead of Raiton: Gian I will be saying Lightning Style: False Darkness, I am now starting to consider going only Japanese or English with the jutsu. Please let me know which you would rather.
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"They say everything you go through in your childhood builds character and inner strength." - Curtis Joseph
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Well it looks like my time will be shifting and being diverted between two stories. Since I only got one vote and it was approval. The stories name is Silence Left Behind. It is a Shinobi Clan War story about Shizune. I will be shifting my uploads for a Sunday release of Flaming Leaves and Wednesday release of Silence Left Behind.
As you can see I will have wrapped up this arc in this chapter. Due to the medicine I had to take I could not focus nor write that well, as seen in the previous mini-chapter. The next arc is going to be one I make, such as the Konoha Crush as in my story. I am unsure as of what will happen, but after this arc I will be doing the second movie that I promised. In between this arc, fillers, the next arc, more filler, than the movie, I am aiming for 12 more chapters till the second Chunin exams, you read that correctly, a second Chunin exams. I feel like I cheated you all out on the Chunin Exams content, so I am introducing another one. I do look forward to writing out new ideas and bringing in old ones. Till the end,
~Ardent Chronicler
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"Be careful with that! It weighs a literal ton!"
Naruto sighed looking at the film crew, an iceberg appeared from nowhere during the night and they wanted to film on it? This had a bad taste to it and Naruto knew it. H was not going to be taking chances, hence his new creation. Naruto carved the last rune into the twenty-third small wooden marble. In theory, by creating an explosive seal with a barrier built in, Naruto could use the wooden marble as a focused explosive. He of course had yet to apply them in combat, but he was hopeful.
"Naruto, can you do some scouting? I want to know every nook and cranny of this iceberg before we leave."
"Yes Master Kakashi." Naruto leapt away from the Team.
"Sakura, I want you to set traps around the perimeter, Sasuke stay close to the client. Lord Zuko, if you would be so kind, do you think you could assist Sasuke in defence of the client?"
"I would be happy to, and please Kakashi, while we are on a mission call me Zuko." Zuko walked away with Sasuke the two going to Yukies side.
"Master, do you want low yield, high yield, or non-lethal traps?"
"Go for a mix, non-lethal leading into high yield to ensure death."
"Yes sir." Sakura vanished with a blur.
Kakashi held a hand up with his ring and pinky finger extended. In a swirl of snow Shisui appeared with Kakashi.
"Shisui, you know my mission?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, when the time comes I am giving you authority of my team in the shadows. In the light Sakura is the next in line for command. See them through and protect the young Lord."
"As you say commander." Shisui vanished with another swirl of snow.
Kakashi sighed, his hands in his pockets fingering the kunai strapped to the inside of his pockets. He didn't particularly like this place, the ninja were annoying, the climate was annoying, he lost thirteen under his command, and THAT bastard was still around here somewhere. Kakashi began to walk to where Sasuke and Zuko were to inquire of the situation but he was caught off guard by a sudden blizzard just as they were about to start filming.
"Ice Style: Hidden in the Snow jutsu."
Kakashi's eyes widened, he knew that voice. God damnit doesn't his luck ever work? With a few quick hand signs he summoned the wind to his palm.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm jutsu." The wind blew harsher than the blizzard and blew away the snow only for a singular figure to be stood on a rock a good two hundred feet away.
"Well well well, if it isn't Copycat Kakashi."
"Nadare, I figured you would be dead by now."
"Not until I finally beat you, then my time will be complete."
"Sasuke go find Sakura, there has o be more of them, Zuko you pull back with Yukie to the harbor."
"Master! What about Naruto!"
"The red haired brat?"
"What'd you do to him!" Sasuke growled his hand drawing a single kunai.
"Oh, he is otherwise occupied by my colleague. Now, Kakashi, shall we pick up where we left off?"
"After you, Nadare."
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Naruto had just made it half a kilometer from the group when he had to leap to the right to avoid a large metal ball connected to a chain. Naruto took his bow from his shoulder and summoned an arrow quickly knocking it and waiting for a target. He heard it again, the roar of an object moving extremely quickly. Naruto summoned his Kongo Fusa, the chains grabbing the metal ball and pinning it to the ground. Naruto loosed the arrow in the direction of the chain and heard a strange noise. A large man, with purple hair and small circle cut eyebrows. He took in the appearance of the man as he slid down the hill on some sort of board. Naruto leapt over him his Kongo Fusa canceling out.
"You're quick little shit. Though, with my Chakra armor I am invincible!"
Naruto scowled leaping out of the way of the sliding ninja again. Naruto smirked his hand glowed blue for a second and he shoved his hand onto the ice quickly. He saw the male charging once again like a bull and instead of dodging he threw up his barrier the ninja smacking into it like a bug on a windshield. Mizore had been thrown over a hundred feet tumbling and toppling end over end.
"How's that for invincible."
Naruto shook as a large creature made of ice that looked like a whale met with another before crashing into the ocean. Naruto took this time to turn and make his way back to his team unsealing another arrow and knocking it.
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Sakura grinned like a child in the candy store, this woman was not half bad.
"You're not bad, but the ninja of Yukigakure are the best."
"Yadda yadda, you've been preaching about your greatness since I came here, so shut the fuck up and dance bitch!" Sakura pushed hard and Fubuki had to leap back. Sakura didn't give her time charging into the fray. The two met with a shower of sparks Sakura's katana to Fubuki's kunai. Ducking the overhead kick Sakura spun low and striked with her katana hoping to take the kunoichis legs from her, though it seemed not to be. A circle appeared and Sakura was flung several yards before landing in a crouch.
"See, you can't kill me you little bitch. You can't even touch me! This is the power of the Yuki ninja!"
"Oh please, trust me, you ain't seen anything yet." Sakura smirked, it was time to take the kiddy gloves off. Sakura stood and let her left hand drop from her katana, she stood facing to the side though her head turned to meet her opponent. Clenching her right hand her loose grip on her katana straightened out and Sakuras smirk fell, in its place a mask of indifference. She intercepted Fubukis Ice Prison technique and vanished in a blur, Fubuki was only saved from a killing blow y her Chakra Armor. Sakura vanished again in a Shunshin appearing in front of Fubuki.
"What!"
Sakura instead of attacking with her katana jabbed Fubuki in her lower abdomen, the strength of the hit lifted Fubuki off of the ground. Sakura snapped a roundhouse kick into Fubukis side and sent the Yuki ninja tumbling through the snow.
"You see, miss yuki ninja. You have the wrong opponent, between the three on my team, I am your worst match. Give up now and you won't die."
"Hah, save your Konoha garbage spill for another time."
Sakura was about to use the Shunshin technique again when a massive fireball tore through the spot Fubuki was. Sakura cut her eyes and saw Sasuke land beside her.
"Figured you could use some back up."
"I had it covered."
"Right, so why isn't she dead then?"
"Oh shut up."
"Plan A?"
"Nah, Plan B."
"Got it." Sasuke made a hand sign and dozens of his Demon Lanterns appear. Drawing a kunai Sasuke charged forward intent on meeting Fubuki in close combat, using his Demon Lanterns to hide his and Sakuras approach. When the tenth Lantern exploded Sasuke was in her guard, he pelted her with blows she couldn't fight and would not let up from the intensity of the combat. Sakura appeared behind her and began to use her own taijutsu to assault Fubuki. The Tokubetsu Jonin had never felt outclassed in her life. Sakura landed a solid blow to Fubukis back that caused her to stumble for a single moment, right into Sasukes uppercut. Fubuki's chakra wings spread during her flight and she took off quicker than the two could attempt to stop her.
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Shisui cursed as he felt the burst of chakra and saw the white whale leap through the air rupturing the iceberg.
"Lord Zuko! You need to get back to the ship now! I have to go assist the team."
"I understand, go."
Shisui vanished in a burst of speed and time after time he used his Shunshin that gave him his nickname. He appeared over the slope where Naruto had left Mizore and he looked down into the eyes of Mizore. Appearing before Mizore in another Shunshin Shisui grabbed Mizore by the throat and grabbed it tightly. In some last ditch effort Mizore punched Shisui in the face with his metal hand but it didn't work. Shisui tensed his hand and the crack that Mizores neck made ended the fight.
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Naruto placed the final box of equipment on the ground and wiped his forehead, more in a symbolic way than anything.
"Good, we are now officially in the Land of Snow, so be wary."
Naruto nodded to Kakashi and began to walk the length of the harbor, it wasn't big by any means, but it was filled to the brim with the movies equipment. For a place named Land of Snow, it sure as hell was hot on the pier.
"Hey Naruto."
"Oh, hey Zuko."
"You fought one of those ninja correct?"
"Yeah, he was easy enough once I knew he would just charge in blindly."
"Oh? I take it he underestimated you."
"He did, it was slightly comical when he smacked into my barrier. IT kind of made a weird thumping noise."
"I see, well, I better get back to Yukie."
"Talk to you in a while, Zuko."
Kakashi sighed deeply, he was honestly already hating this mission, but he has to see it through to the end. Kakashi looked over to Sakura, the female of the team talking with Koyuki. Kakashi strolled towards them, it was really cold, almost too cold for his liking. Tightening the scarf around his neck he smiled to the two women.
"Ah, Master Kakashi, do you need us for anything?"
"Oh, no, I was just coming over to commend you and Sasuke, both of you took down a strong opponent today."
"Oh, it wasn't really anything, to be honest Sasuke did most of the work."
"Humility isn't really your strong point Sakura."
"Yeah, well, thank you anyway Master Kakashi."
"Of course, can you go find Sasuke right quick, I wanted to talk to him."
"Oh, yeah. Be right back Yukie!" Sakura smiled to the woman and waved.
Kakashi had to do a double take, was Yukie blushing? He sighed and sat down across from her.
"What do you want?"
"You were never planning on telling them were you?"
"Ha, like I even want to be here."
"Koyuki, look I know you must be angry."
"I am beyond angry at you. You took me from my home and saved me, then just dumped me off at some strangers door! You promised me you would take care of me! I was barely even ten!"
"I had orders Koyuki."
"Don't give me that condescending tone or your bullshit, you ignored and abandoned a defenseless little girl to a home that didnt want her."
"Koyuki, you need to tell them."
"Never, I will die Yukie Fujikaze before I announce I am Koyuki Kazehana."
"If you don't, I will. They don't even know why we were attacked by your uncles men."
"They want the helix."
"I figured the same, you need to tell them, give the crew the option of turning back before it gets too late."
"They said their piece."
"Koyuki, this isn't a game."
"I never fucking said it was! I don't want to be here Kakashi, I never wanted to be here. Just, leave me alone."
Kakashi sighed, rubbing a hand through his hair he stood and walked away from the scene.
Koyuki sighed placing her head in her hands and leaning her elbows on her knees. She just couldn't handle the shit on her plate right now. She sat up and slicked back any loose hairs from her face and looked around. These men were here for one purpose to her ad one purpose only. They were bodies she could throw in between Doto and her so she could escape again. She smiled when she saw Sakura sit down across from her again.
"Hey, sorry about that, Master is relentless with the drilling."
"Oh, it's fine. Oh, and about the other night, on the ship."
"Oh, don't worry, I didn't hurt you did I?"
"I may have a small limp from it. Though you are the most attentive lover I have ever slept with." Koyuki leaned forward kissing Sakura deeply, the pink haired girl groaned into the kiss. Koyuki pulled back and smiled to Sakura.
"I'm probably going to get quite a bit of alone time, think you could talk your Master into letting you take over my guard duties?"
"I think I could swing something." Sakura leaned forward and kissed Koyuki one more time before standing and heading off to find Kakashi.
Koyuki sighed again, that pink haired girl was one of the best things to happen to her in a long time. She smiled softly brushing her bottom lip with her thumb. Sakura, she was, nice, a break from the past, a refreshing dive into warmer waters in this hellish tundra. If Koyuki had her way, Sakuras would be the last body she threw at Doto before escaping.
"Oi, Miss Yukie, you need to come on. The Rovers are ready to go and we need to hurry."
Koyuki looked up and saw the pale redheaded ninja, she groaned.
"Just leave me alone."
"Nope, you have a country to film in."
"Why do you even care? This land is cursed, it has brought nothing but death and ruin to me. My own father slaughtered like a pig! This was supposed to be my home, my own uncle tried to kill me, and when it was all said and done my so called protector abandoned me. I was alone, scared, and where was anyone huh? No where, this land is cursed, it only breeds tragedy, and it sickens me. You can have this land, it's nothing to me."
"Can you even shut up for one minute? This land isn't cursed, you aren't tainted, this land is under control of a madman but it is our inner strength and will that pushes us to grow and overcome our obstacles. YOU have the capacity to change, to become better, to become more than what you are, to mean something. That growth has to come from within, not without. So take your self entitled whiny person to the rovers before I force you into one hogtied!" Naruto growled out the last few words, he was losing his patience with this woman.
"What would you know about being cursed."
"I know everything, about being cursed." Naruto cut his yes to the woman and grabbed her by the back of her Yukata. Naruto began dragging her to the rovers, unceremoniously tossing her into the ne she was assigned to.
"Now stay there!"
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Naruto sighs, he found the little escapee. Laying on the ground in the snow, conscious but just not moving. Naruto walked over to her the crunch of his feet on the ground pulling her attention to him.
"Why won't you just leave me alone."
"Because it is my job to make sure you get through this in one piece."
"Just leave me."
"No, not going to happen. So either you can get up or I am going to carry you."
"Why do you try so hard? Why does this mean so much to you?"
"One time, when I was younger, I found out I was adopted and was told the story of the night of my birth. My mother died when I was born, killed by a demon. She was stolen, raped, beaten, she used the last of her strength to seal the demon into my body. That night I got this scar that is on my face, it reminds me every single time I look in the mirror. I was born cursed, without meaning or strength. I was angry, spiteful, I felt it was my fault, my cursed birth. I was pulled aside by my best friend when I went to spend a day with him. HE told me some words that have stuck with me."
"What did he say?"
"'It wasn't your fault.' Those words seem so cliche, but when I finally worked through my grief, my self loathing I realized that he was speaking the truth. It wasn't me who killed my mother, it was that Uchiha bastard. It wasn't me who caused any of it, I was just a victim as much as my mother. So, I learned to live with it and move on. So I'm going to tell you the same thing, Yukie. It wasn't your fault. So grow from your experiences, make sure you grow and become something your father would be proud of, someone your country can be proud of." Naruto hoisted her onto his back, placing his hands on the back of her thighs he hoisted her higher to get a good grip and started the slow walk back to the rovers.
"I told Doto about the crystal."
"What?"
"Doto, my uncle, I told him about my dad using the crystal as a key to start the device. I was so proud of my dad that it blinded me. Doto attacked the next day."
"I give you my condolences, it wasn't your fault. You were a child, you had no way of knowing what he would do."
Koyuki just sighed and buried her face into the crook of his neck ending their conversation. She felt him tense and knew he was about to say something but a hissing sound roared through the ice tunnel they were in. She looked to the ground and there were tracks, train tracks. A loud whistle echoed from the cavern behind them.
"Naruto!"
"I KNOW, HOLD ON!" Naruto pushed himself, he began running as fast as he could, trying to reach the end of the cavern. Naruto growled, it wasn't enough, the train was gaining on him. Naruto pulled on the Kyuubis chakra, and he gained a tailed cloak form. His speed doubled and he began to just slightly outrun the train. The mouth of the tunnel was coming up quickly and he leapt from the entrance into the snowy dunes, the train inches away from removing his leg. Naruto saw a tall dark haired man in a regal Kimono standing between two of the Yuki ninja from earlier. A clicking noise resounded across the area.
"Koyuki, come out now and I won't kill your friends. I'll give you one chance to give me the crystal, or they all die."
Koyuki was about to stand but NAruto pulled her down and covered her mouth. She glared at the blonde but there was a noise, it started low but it grew into a thunderous roar. Dozens of men in armor she was all to familiar with stood on a hill. She couldn't hear what they were shouting but they charged. Her eyes widened as she saw what happened next, hundreds of kunai, launching from the train, skewering the men, shredding them to pieces. She was struggling against Narutos grip she needed to get away, to run, to not be seen.
"Calm down, stay here. I need to help my team drive them away." Naruto stood and summoned his bow to his hand, summoning an arrow he attached one of his Kongo Fusa to it and took aim at Doto. Naruto fired his arrow but it was intercepted by Nadare.
Kakashi leapt from the cliff face above the train charging as much chakra as he could to his hand. Kakashis fist impacted the train an explosion of force ripping compartments apart and crushing many of the carriages. Hearing cloth ruffle Kakashi saw Fubuki and Nadare taking Doto away. He saw Sasuke about to begin pursuit but he let out a whistle and Sasuke stopped. Leaping from the debris he stood looking at Naruto and Koyuki coming from one of the dunes.
"Master, are you alright?"
"Ma, this is nothing, just a borrowed trick from Tsunade." Kakashi stretched his right arm and flexed his hand, still numb from the impact.
"This, why, why were they so foolish. They threw their lives away for nothing, no purpose. Why would they do this?"
Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a squeeze.
"They were defending their home, fighting for it. They found their strength, you couldn't hear it but I could. They didn't shout for the Kazehana name, they shouted yours, Koyuki. They found their strength, and were willing to die for their beliefs that you would bring the peace and justice they deserved." Naruto was about to say something else but he was wretched from Koyuki and heard her scream. He turned and sa Fubuki flying off with her and saw the airboat many hundred feet in the air. Naruto nocked an arrow connected to the Kongo Fusa and let it loose, the arrow flying into the side of the balloon. Naruto pulled on the chakra in his wrist and as he pulled the chains pulled him closer and closer to the boat.
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The Land of Snow will be wrapped up next chapter before we begin into the next arc. I look forward to seeing you all in a new story, a new world, and Sunday with the Flaming Series.
~ Ardent Chronicler
