Disclaimer: See Prologue
Author's Note: See Profile for response to reviews…
"ABC" - Spoken
ABC - Thought
'ABC' -Bijū Spoken
'ABC' - Bijū Thought
ABC – Book Excerpts
&&&& - Scene Change
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Stranger Than Fiction
Chapter Nine: Losses & Gains
It had taken me a while to calm Chibi-Hime but once accomplished I was faced with a new dilemma – Do I tell her the truth.
Looking down at her tear streaked face; I couldn't find the courage to do so. A part of me knew it would be okay, that she would accept me for who and what I really am; but an even larger part was scarred beyond belief that I may be wrong.
Fielding her many questions, I couldn't help but dwell upon the fact that I was lying to her; despite telling her everything that happened. With the careful editing I was doing, I knew that I was betraying her trust.
With my tale at an end, she simply starred at me wide-eyed. The look of awe in her eyes wasn't helping my guilty conscious. It was then as she congratulated me for becoming a ninja that I swore that when the time was right she would be the first person I told my secret to.
Letting her try on my hitaite, I couldn't help but smile. She couldn't decide where she should put it, so I did it for her just as Scar had for me. I couldn't help but admit it looked good on her.
Starring into the metal plate resting upon her forehead, it reminded me of a promise we made following our first lost to Sensei. It was the end of our first full week of joint training and Sensei wanted to test our teamwork; as expected we were thoroughly beaten.
Afterwards, as we laid face up on the dojo floor, the sound of our labored breathing the only sign that we had survived, Sensei said something that served to silence us both.
"You'll both have to do better than that if you plan to see your dreams to fruition."
That said he walked out of the dojo leaving us to our thoughts. It wasn't long till Chibi-Hime asked the question I knew was coming since Sensei exited, "Kyu-kun, what's your dream?"
I proceeded to tell her, as I do everyone, what my dream was. Fully expecting her to laugh as they all do, but instead of laughing she suddenly appeared over me. Kneeling by my head, she stared down at me with a look that I'll probably never get used to seeing in her, or anyone else's, eyes – admiration.
"That's amazing… I know… you'll be Soul and I'll… I'll be the head of your ANBU!"
I could only stare up at her in shock, not only had she not laughed but she actually wanted to be a part of my dream. Before I knew it we were both laughing as we planned our ascent to power.
I was going to be the youngest Soul ever becoming even stronger than the Fourth. She was going to be the youngest ANBU to be made captain and head of my personal detail. Then, together we'd beat anyone foolish enough to challenge us or our village and we'd begin with Sensei.
Our second match, a week later, ended much like the first. With there being one major difference, we may have lost but we lost as a team.
Watching her checkout her reflection in the pound, I knew that it was only a matter of time before that dream became a reality. But, before I could tell her as such Sensei returned, asking if he could borrow me for awhile.
Seeing Chibi-Hime pout, as she complained that she'd just got me back made me feel wanted and accepted; which after what I had been through was exactly what I needed.
Placing a hand on her head, I messed up her hair, as I reclaimed my hitaite, telling her we'd be back as soon as possible. She asked me if I promised, to which I smiled and nodded. Smiling up at me brightly, she hugged me quickly before heading into the compound proper; leaving me alone with Sensei.
"What did you tell her?"
It was a simple question, one that needed to be asked considering the topic, but it only served as a reminder of the fact that there would always be secrets between me and those I cared for.
Looking up at Sensei, the smile wiped from my lips, I shook my head saying nothing. He nodded, in understanding, as we headed for the secret exit. Emerging outside the compound's walls, we made our way towards the Soul's tower. Walking freely alongside Sensei, even at such an early hour, as life was just returning to the village was a surreal experience.
Yet, I couldn't help but imagine that it was midday and that the streets were alive with activity. As, we passed by the various stores and shops, the villagers would all smile and nod in awe of the two great ninjas, a master and his student, that passed them by. But, sadly, it was nothing but a dream. One that I added to an ever growing list of things I'd see come true one day.
Our destination quickly approaching, Sensei put a hand on my shoulder halting my progression. I looked up over my shoulder to see that he was staring straight ahead with his kekkei genkai activated. He frowned slightly before looking down, our eyes meeting, he smiled slightly, saying, "It appears, Soul-sama was correct… we will be taking an alternate route to the tower. Follow me, Child."
I could only wonder what Sensei saw that caused him to frown. As from where we stood the front of the tower wasn't visible to anyone without Sensei's gift. Putting my curiosity aside, I quickly followed Sensei to our new destination.
Arriving at an unknown location, I was quite surprised when we suddenly entered a secret passage hidden from prying eyes. Walking down the passage, I wonder where we were and how this would get us to the tower. I voiced as much, causing Sensei to look at me with that smirk of his before answering, "This is one of several routes reserved for use by only the Soul and his most trusted of associates."
My eyes widened as my surprise and admitted immaturity lead me to speak without thinking, "Then why didn't I know about it?"
Sensei smiled at me as he shook his head and said, "You know now, don't you?"
His answer and its implication brought a smile to my face; one I thought would never leave. At least, that's what I thought until we reached the end of the passage. Exiting it, we found ourselves deep within the tower on one of the upper floors.
I continued to follow Sensei as I had never been in this part of the tower before. Surprisingly, each step we took made me feel slightly more nervous than the one before it. Coming to a stop, I could hear the old man's voice on the other side of the door we now stood before. Taking a deep calming breath, to subside a severe outset of nerves, I opened the door and made my presences known.
"Yo, Old Man… sorry about earlier, you know, I…"
I was cut off by one of the room's inhabitants; his startled saying of one word left me all but stunned.
"Sensei…?"
Naruto could only stand there blinking as the implication of that word left him reeling. Looking between a shocked Iruka and a smirking Hiashi, he turned to the Hokage, his trusted source of guidance, and eloquently asked, "Huh…?"
His reaction brought laughter to the room as the three men present looked at the young boy with amusement in their eyes. Getting their merriment under control, Iruka was the first to speak.
"Naruto, this is your sensei?"
Naruto simply nods still confused, as Iruka looks to Hiashi and smiles, asking, "Sensei, he's your student?"
To which Hiashi nods, replying, "Correct, Umino-kun, the child has been so for sometime now."
To say that despite his obvious intelligence that Naruto could be a little slow on the uptake would be an understatement, so it came as no surprise to everyone present when he let loose a startled gasp before pointing at his two teachers, yelling, "So, you mean that Sensei is Sensei's sensei…?"
The three adults nodded, humoring the blonde child, till Naruto suddenly smirks, stating, "Cool."
The calm aloofness of his reply catches Iruka off guard but causes the Hokage to laugh.
"Now, that's the type of attitude I'd expect from a Hyuuga… excuse me, I mean the student of one."
Hiashi lets loose a stilted cough before laughing, asking, "And, what are you trying to imply Hokage-sama?"
"Ah, now, Hiashi, what have I told you… Sarutobi will do just fine."
"Yeah, Sensei, show the old man too much respect and it'll go straight to his head…"
"That it might, my boy… that it might." Sarutobi adds, sounding less like a Hokage and more like a grandfather conversing with family and friends.
"He means that the Byakugan isn't the only thing that runs in the blood... I guess some of your 'holier than thou' attitude must've rubbed off over the past couple of years."
Naruto's jokes go over well with both Hiashi and Sarutobi as they continue to laugh at their own expense. As, they do they share a quick look, a meeting of the eyes, that goes unnoticed by Naruto but is picked up on by Iruka. He puts it aside as he inadvertently brings an end to the jovial atmosphere as he asks, "Years… you've been training him for years? Then why… his grades were… he also knows…"
Seeing the frustration and confusion pouring off of his former student, Hiashi speaks up, "We will explain as much as we can, but first… How are Hayate and Yugao doing?"
Iruka's face lights up at the mentioning of his old teammates, seeing the confused look on Naruto's face, he goes about explaining who those two are.
"They were my Genin teammates, under Hiashi-sensei. As, for how their doing… well, you'll be glad to know, Sensei, that you were right about them and that they're still together after all these years… despite a few bumps along the way. Including a nearly disastrous break they took a few years back."
"A break…?" asks Hiashi, his curiosity peaked.
"You don't want to know… but you'll be glad to know Hayate made Tokubetsu Jounin three years back and Yugao is leading her own ANBU squad."
"That I did know she was assigned to tail my family as we traveled a few years back. She was quite surprised when I recognized her despite the mask. You can still get her to blush with the slightest of compliments, I noticed. A simple 'I'm proud of you' had her completely of balance."
"Yeah, that's Yugao for you…"
Watching the two of them interact like that even after years of being apart, I wondered if I'd ever have that type of relationship with my Jounin sensei. But, before I could ponder upon it any longer the old man decided it was time for the business at hand.
"Well, I think that's enough reminiscing… I believe we all know why we're here."
"Yeah…"
The word had left my mouth barely above a whisper. I stood there unmoving until Scar placed a hand on my shoulder, causing me to notice that everyone had already taken a seat.
Sitting down next to Sensei, I took a look at the room we were in. It was a large study, its walls had shelves built into them full with books and scrolls, two writing tables, one on opposite ends of each wall, a large desk at its front, and at its center two couches with a small table resting between them.
It was a nice room, cozy yet with an air of history. I kept looking around my eyes wandering over everything and anything until the sound of the Soul's voice captured my attention.
"Well, I guess we should begin with the aftermath of last night's incident."
"Agreed, what of Mizuki and the scroll?"
"No need to worry, Hiashi, the scroll is in a safe place. As for Mizuki, lets just say that your student is proving quiet adapt at applying your teachings."
Looking upon his student, Hiashi is unnerved when the meeting of their gazes causes fear to fill his student's eyes. Noticing the mixture of pride and apprehension within the Hokage's eyes, Hiashi hesitates before asking the extent of the traitor's injuries.
Sighing deeply, the Hokage lights his pipe and takes a long drag before exhaling a long stream of smoke into the air. He can practically see the tension oozing from Naruto, so he decides to put an end to the boy's misery and divulge the information.
"Well, to be blunt, even if he wasn't a traitor, his career as a ninja would be over. He was hit so many times by Naruto's Jyuuken that his chakra circulatory system and tenketsu have been damaged beyond repair."
"What… how… is that even possible?"
Iruka's outburst causes Naruto to flinch, he had wanted to hurt the traitor but not to this degree. But, what had him really upset is the fact that he broke his promise to Hiashi as he promised he would never use his style against another member of the Leaf.
"It is quiet possible, Umino-kun. You see I have been training Naruto in the use of the Jyuuken alongside my daughter, Hanabi, for the last four years. In that time, we've co-developed an offshoot of the style that we have come to call the Hakkyokuken (Eight Extremities Fist)."
The looks of absolute surprise that crosses the faces of Iruka and the Hokage cause Naruto and Hiashi to smirk. Iruka looks back and forth between master and pupil trying to comprehend what he just heard.
"Hakkyokuken…? Co-developed with Naruto…?"
"Yes, his input was most beneficial as it is a style developed for one who does not have the benefit of our Byakugan. It has only been within the last year that we've completed phase one of its development; obviously his fight with the traitor was his first time using it in actual combat."
"So, how exactly does this style differ from the Jyuuken?"
"Well, Sarutobi-sama, it varies little in appearance as I'm sure Umino-kun can attest to."
Everyone looks to Iruka, who flusters under the sudden shift in attention before nodding in agreement. "Yes, in fact, I didn't notice any differences in his stance or movement."
"That's because there isn't any, at least, not at first. Its movements flow just like the Jyuuken but the end results are anything but similar. At, first I thought it best to develop an original kata, but my student thought otherwise."
Noticing that everyone was looking at him, Naruto takes a calming breath before giving a smirk that would not look out of place upon his sensei's lips.
"Yeah, well, I figured that it'd be best to stay as close to the original as possible as it would serve to confuse my opponents. The shock of seeing a non-Hyuuga drop into the Jyuuken stance could create a possible opening for me to exploit. Also, if they're expecting to defend against the precise strikes of the Jyuuken they'll be unprepared for the crushing blows of my Hakkyokuken."
The Hokage nods, a proud smile upon his lips, at Naruto's explanation. The use of misdirection is a basic tactic that all Ninja learn to employ, Sarutobi is impressed that Naruto knows to exploit it on an instinctive level.
"You mentioned a phase one, Hiashi, what did you mean by that?"
"Well, the style is called Hakkyokuken for a reason and that reason is two fold. It refers to the targeting of eight extremities, the arms, legs, brain, heart, spine, and groin; those last four were added at the child's suggestion. It also refers to the use of eight extremities in your attacks, the fist, feet, knees, and elbows."
"The ultimate goal of the style is to break or crush the eight targets rendering them useless through the power of your blows while pumping unforeseen amounts of chakra into the tenketsu located around said targets doing irreparable damage to them."
"Now, as for what I meant by phase one. I was referring to the fact that the style is complete yet incomplete as well. The style was brought into existence by two factors. One, being that the child, despite having the chakra control of a Hyuuga has too much chakra to maintain properly consistently thus hindering the proper use of the Jyuuken. His chakra has been known to spike at the most inopportune of times, as I suspect happened during the exam yesterday. Am I right, Child?"
Naruto nods sadly, saying, "Yeah, I could feel my chakra spiking as I tried to mold it. Then at the last second it dropped drastically… either way I wouldn't have been able to make a proper bunshin with too little or too much chakra running through me."
Iruka nods solemnly, remembering the look on Naruto's face when he failed him. He can't help but smile as he compares those deformed bunshin to the perfect clones he used in defending him.
"And, that would explain why he's able to do the Kage Bunshin so successfully. Naruto's larger than normal chakra capacity is perfect for such a technique… wait, what was the second factor?"
"The second factor is simple… the child found the Jyuuken to be, I believe his words were - lacking in his hands. He complained that with his lack of the Byakugan and consistently precise chakra control the Jyuuken as is was being wasted on him. Truth be told, the Jyuuken can be used without the use of the Byakugan but as we discovered the style loses some of its finesse. So, we went about tailoring it to his talents, wants, and needs. With that said the potential for this style is limited only by his growth and creativity."
The silence that descended upon the room following Hiashi's explanation was stifling. No one knew how to respond to this bit of information. The thought that such a potentially deadly style is in the hands of Hiashi's student seems to both comfort and disturb everyone besides Hiashi himself, none more so than his student. Who's more than aware of the power he now holds in his hands.
"Well, I for one am thoroughly impressed. I take it that Naruto has also learned to utilize the Jyuuken to its fullest extent in addition to his new style."
"Of course, Sarutobi-sama, a basic understanding of the Jyuuken is required for one to even hope of utilizing the Hakkyokuken. The child can currently use the Jyuuken on par with my youngest at the moment. I can say with little doubt that if he possessed the Byakugan, he'd be something of a prodigy not unlike my nephew."
Naruto stares at Hiashi like he's seeing him for the first time. Never in the years that he's known the man has he ever heard his sensei speak of him in such a way. The pride that can be heard in every word he speaks shocks the blonde to no end. It's during this time that the conversation shifts gears to address the topic of the nights other revelation.
"Now, to the other matter at hand… Kyu, you've learned something tonight that I can only imagine has left you with many questions. So, whatever's on your mind, please, voice it?"
I could only sit there thrown by the sudden shift in topic. One moment, I'm basking in the knowledge that my sensei is proud of me the next I'm asked to address the one topic I'd rather avoid for as long as possible.
"It's all right, Kyu, this room has been sealed and no one can hear or see what is taking place within it. So, speak freely."
Nodding in understanding, my eyes lingered on Old Man Soul for a moment more before drifting away. Shifting up to the four portraits that hung on the wall behind his desk, four men, four Souls, my eyes came to rest on the fourth and final portrait. I stared at it hard before quickly looking away. I had started speaking before I even realized my mouth was moving.
"I've spoken with Sensei and I understand what I am and what I'm not. But, what I don't understand is why you never told me about this… yeah, it would've been scary to hear that I have a ninth level demon lord sealed in me but… it would have made things a little easier as well."
I paused, surprised by my own words, it turned out I wasn't the only one.
"What do you mean by easier, Kyu?"
I looked up at the old man not even noticing the tears that were rolling down my cheeks. He looked away from me, more like flinched, at the sight of my tears which caused me to lower my head.
"Do you know what its like to know that you're hated with no idea why? I always wondered what I could have possibly done to deserve it all. I thought maybe it wasn't me, maybe it was my parents and maybe they were criminals or missing-nins, thieves or murders, something terrible like that and that I was receiving what was meant for them…"
"But, you know, despite the fact that they could've abandoned me… they could've seen what I was and left me here to be hated, to be despised… I just couldn't think of them in such a way. No… it had to be me… my fault…"
"Now, I learn that it's not my fault but the fault of something inside me. Something that you all knew was there. Something put inside me by the very person I admire… funny how the reason I admire him is also the reason why my life sucks…"
"You could've told me… you could've saved me a lot of grief and doubt if you had simply told me the truth… I mean if you were just going to leave me out there to die…"
I was cutoff as Old Man Soul jumped to his feet standing behind his desk. The sound of his chair falling over caused me to look up at where he stood.
"That's not how it was, Kyu… Please, if you believe nothing else… please, believe that!"
I looked straight into his eyes, neither of us looking away, and before I knew it I had opened my mouth speaking the first thing that came to mind yet again.
"Who were my parents?"
The question came from out of nowhere and I could instantly feel its weight in the room. My gaze went from each man present, begging them to speak, falling upon Scar last. He looked at me sadly and shook his head, saying, "I'm sorry, Kyu, I would if I knew."
I gave him a grateful smile before looking back to Old Man Soul, sighing, I repeated my question and again no one answered as my gaze returned to my lap. I went to ask it again but instead an envelope appeared before me. I looked up to see the Soul standing before me with a sad smile on his face.
"Read this… it should hold some answers. But, not necessarily the one's you want."
Taking the envelope from his hands I ripped it opened and began to read its contents…
Greetings,
If you are reading this then it appears my plans for you have gone awry. Naruto, my name is Arashi but you may know me better as the Yondaime Hokage. I have no doubt that by now you know what I have done to you and before I go any further there are two things I must do.
First, let me thank you from the bottom of my heart for protecting the village I love by being the jailer of its greatest threat.
Second, let me apologize on behalf of that same village as I'm saddened by the less then ideal treatment you're no doubt receiving from some. I would love to believe that you are accepted and loved as the hero that you are, but my own experiences with the darker side of our village makes me believe otherwise.
If by some miracle you don't hate me then I thank you for that, but in all likelihood hate is the word of choice for how you're feeling towards me. I'm sorry for what I've done to you, more than you will ever know.
I hope your life until now hasn't been all negative. If everything went according to plan than you should be under the care of my oldest and most trusted associates. They should be providing for you but again a part of me senses that this will not be the case. And, again, I'm sorry, Naruto.
I'm sure you have questions, first and foremost being the identity of your parents, I'd guess. Well, the truth of the matter is that I'm not going to tell you, nor is Sarutobi-sama or my associates. At least, not yet, ask one of them for details as to when.
The reason for this being your own protection, but I will tell you that your parents loved you dearly. I say loved because I'm sorry to say that your parents died during the Kyuubi's assault. Your father fell facing Kyuubi head on and your mother, only hours after giving you life, returned to the field of battle to fulfill her role as a medic-nin. They died bravely protecting you and your home.
I knew your parents well; your father was a good man, who dreamed of having a son who would become a fine ninja like him someday. No doubt, you're well on your way to doing just that. Your mother was a beautiful, intelligent, caring woman who could make even the most stubborn of people fall for her charm. It was one of the greatest pleasures of my life to know them both.
You were not picked at random for this task, this burden, I've placed upon you. Knowing your parents I knew you were the perfect choice. I know that you will use the power lying dormant within you to protect the village and those you love, because that's exactly what your parents would have done.
Again, I am sorry for what is clearly a burden unlike anything I can imagine being placed upon you. But, I believe in you and know that you will rise above it all. For you are an Uzumaki and there is nothing you can't overcome.
With you always – Arashi
What I read was a letter from a man that understood that sometimes one must put the good of the many before the few. It was a man expressing his grief for an act he had yet to commit yet knew and feared the possible repercussions. It was a man I will never get to meet expressing his unwavering faith in me and my abilities to deal with the burden he placed upon me. It was the confirmation I needed to know that I was not wrong in believing in him or in them – The Fourth Soul and my parents.
"They loved me… He believes in me…"
I can only imagine what I must've looked like sitting there starring at the pages in my lap as I repeated those few words over and over again like some sort of mantra. I was brought out of it by the sound of the old man picking up his chair.
"Arashi says that his associates were supposed to take care of me, so what happened… He also says that you and they know who my parents are but that you won't tell me yet. He says to ask you why."
Iruka could only sit there stunned at the name Naruto had just spoken. Looking between Hiashi and the Hokage, he can tell they were expecting something along those lines.
"Arashi… you mean the Fourth Hokage wrote that scroll?"
"Yeah, see for yourself."
Naruto hands the letter to Iruka, who begins to read as Naruto looks back to the now seated Hokage. Sarutobi nods, as he lights his pipe once more. Taking a deep breath and exhaling the smoke into the air, he smiles, "You were to have been adopted by one of Arashi's former teammates, a man and a woman. They both had wanted to add you to their families but… the council, made up of my head advisors and village elders, voted against it saying that letting any one clan or family have free access to the power of the Kyuubi was too great a risk."
Naruto's eyes widen as he balls his hands tightly into fists, as only one thought crosses his mind, The council…
Seeing Naruto's reaction, Hiashi shakes his head sadly but does not attempt to intervene knowing that only Naruto can decide the outcome of this discussion and the effects that it will have upon him and the village as a whole.
"So, I was forced to put you in the orphanage until I felt you were old enough to care for yourself. You're probably wondering why you were never approached by Arashi's teammates and again I can only blame the council. I'm sorry, Naruto."
Relaxing his fists, Naruto looks up at Sarutobi as he wipes his eyes of any remaining tears before smiling. All present are comforted by the fact that it's genuine and not a sign of his defenses kicking in.
"It's all right… I'm just glad to know that there are more people out there who you know… I wonder if I've met them and didn't even know it."
Sarutobi gives the boy a knowing smile, saying, "That's more than likely… you may not know who they are but trust me when I say that when it's been in their power to do so they've aided you from the shadows."
"I'm guessing you won't tell me who they are, right?" Naruto says with a laugh.
"Correct, that piece of information along with the identity of your parents is only to be revealed when one of two conditions are met. When you attain the rank of Chunin or the legal age of 16 whichever comes first."
Jumping to his feet, Naruto is barely able to contain himself. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he begins speaking, "Sixteen… but that's… Wait, how do I become a Chunin?"
Laughter from beside him causes Naruto to look at Hiashi, who rising to his feet walks over to the wall across from them and removes a scroll. Handing it to a confused Naruto, Hiashi takes his seat again, saying as he does, "That, Child, is a break down of the various ninja ranks and the system of promotion. As, you can see after Genin there's Chunin and just as you've taken an exam for your current rank you will take another to advance."
Naruto nods, as he continues to read over the scroll when something catches his eye. A smirk graces his features for only a moment but it's caught by all present.
"Found something interesting, Naruto?"
"Yeah, Iruka-sensei, it says here that the test we took wasn't the real Genin exam and that it will be given by our Jounin sensei."
The Hokage glances to Hiashi, who meeting his gaze simply shrugs his shoulders before looking away. Seeing this little interaction, Iruka laughs, "I see you're still making sure your students have every possible advantage, Sensei."
"Being prepare is always an advantage… and, yes, Child, you will be given a test administered by your new sensei. It's supposed to be a surprise so I recommend you act as such."
Naruto nods, laughing, "Don't worry, Sensei, I can pull it off. Now, about the Chunin exam…"
They explained that the exam is held twice a year with the cooperation of all the hidden villages. It's held at a different village each time and as luck would have it we were going to be the next host village.
With that out of the way our conversation turned back to the letter I had received from the Fourth Soul. Scar handed it back to me and I passed it to Sensei so that he may read it as well. I figured they all should read it as those present would come to be the only people in the village, make that the world, who knew the real me.
In the end, we had discussed it all, my origin, my childhood, my training, my future, and my hidden power. We came to agree that it be for the best if I continued to keep my true abilities hidden. The continued use of my mask wasn't agreed upon easily, as surprisingly it was Scar who was most adamant that it shouldn't be necessary. But, in the end, he agreed that it was sadly necessary.
I was left feeling that everything had worked out for the best. I now knew that my parents loved me, that I had the support of the greatest ninja who ever lived, that there were more people our there who accepted me than I ever thought possible. It all seemed too good to be true but as usual for every positive there was a negative.
I learned that I carried a power and a responsibility that would both hinder and assist me in achieving my goals and dreams. I only wished that it hadn't come at such a high price. That price being my innocence alongside the lives of my parents and everyone else that fell that fateful day.
It was for them that I swore to achieve my goal of becoming Soul, so that I could protect the village with the very power that had taken their lives. It only seemed right, but before I could become Soul I had to become a Genin by passing my new sensei's test. But, before I did that I had another test to face – parting with Sensei and Chibi-Hime. It was a test I would not fail, but one I wished I never had to face.
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Too troublesome for words, I can't believe they're allowing this thing to be released. What is the Hokage thinking…?
Shikamaru looks up from his copy of KNC to glance around his surroundings. To his surprise, Chouji still hasn't touched his meal. Shaking his head, he looks to the rest of the inhabitants of the Ichiraku Ramen Bar. He spots the owner and his daughter giving him and Chouji knowing smiles before returning his gave to the open book before him.
They seem to know what we're reading which means they've already read it. If they've received a copy then that means we're not the only ones who got a copy early. Obviously, the Hiashi has received a copy but who else…
Shikamaru can't help but be pulled into the mystery that is this book. The secrets it reveals, the conspiracies it hints at, all seem larger than life and yet they all make a strange kind of sense. This leads him to the source of the mystery, Naruto Uzumaki.
He always was troublesome, but this is on a whole other level. The trouble this book can cause not just for him but for the Hyuugas, the Hokages, and Konoha as a whole is staggering. What was he thinking in writing this thing?
While Shikamaru is trying to wrap his head around the potential repercussions of this books release, Chouji's thoughts are along an entirely different wave length.
Naruto has the Kyuubi sealed in him… Cool!
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With only three days left until me and Chibi-Hime faced Sensei's test, I figured I should get some better supplies. After having been thrown out of nearly every weapons and supply shop in town, I was about to give up on buying my own supplies when I found myself standing in front of what was my last hope of finding at least one shop that wouldn't ban me on sight.
Entering, I was confronted by possibly every weapon you could ever imagine. Swords, knives, clubs, staves, axes, kunai, shuriken, and many other deadly instruments of all sorts of sizes and styles stood before me. I got a sudden case of Déjà vu as I approached one of the sword racks resting along the wall at the rear of the shop. Sitting atop the rack was this amazing looking sword, I was compelled to touch it but before I could a voice rang out behind me.
"I wouldn't touch that if I was you… they say it's cursed."
I turned around to find a girl with her hair up in two buns looking at me from behind the counter. How I didn't notice her sitting there is beyond me but I was instantly captivated by both her smile and eyes which were full of curiosity and mischief.
"Cursed…?"
The word came out of my mouth barely above a whisper, as she rose from her seat making her way from behind the counter towards me.
"Yeah, they say that if anyone but its master touches it they will die…"
It was at this point that that feeling of Déjà vu kicked in again and as she came to a stop next to me I got a good look at her. My breath caught in my throat as I suddenly realized where and with who I was.
To think that after all these years I would wander into that particular shop, to find that same girl sitting behind the counter, or that she would try to play the same trick on me again, was simply too ironic. Shaking off my surprise, I played along as I remembered where this was going.
"Die…?
She giggled slightly at my mumbled response. It took everything I had not to giggle along side her or to scope her up into a big hug and thank her for helping me so long ago. Here was the girl who had saved me that awful night and showed me such kindness. Pushing those thoughts aside, I continued to play along wondering if she'd really go through with it again.
"Yep, wanna know how I know this?"
I nodded slowly as she once again had me hanging from her every word. Her smile brightened as she slowly leaned into to me whispering as she did, "I know this because…"
She paused now leaning against me; I noticed that she was still taller than me but that was to be expected, I guess. More importantly, I suddenly realized that she was cute, cuter than I remembered, and that she was still leaning on me.
I can only imagine the blush I must've had on at that moment. I was pulled from my sudden realization as she spoke again, barely above a whisper, "I did this once and…"
Reaching out, she touched the sword's hilt before suddenly going limp and dropping into my arms. I stared down at her still frame shocked by what had happened. This was definitely different from last time. Looking around the shop for any clue as to what I should do, I was saved from passing out myself by a voice coming from the stairs.
"All right, Heaven, you've had your fun… get up before that poor boy has a heart attack."
Looking at the woman who was now standing behind the counter, I could instantly tell she was Heaven's mother. Glancing down at the girl in my arms, one of her eyes suddenly opened and winked at me before she started to laugh.
Helping her to her feet, I laughed as well, until suddenly a voice came from behind me scaring me half to death.
"Pardon my daughter; she suffers from something of an odd sense of humor… if you catch my drift."
Jumping from the sound of her voice, I looked behind me to find Heaven's mother smiling at me brightly. I couldn't help but glance back and forth between where she now stood and behind the counter wondering how she managed to get behind me so fast.
Noticing the shocked expression on my face and the playful smile her mother had on, Heaven laughed, saying "You're one to talk… I wonder where I get it from."
"Whatever do you mean, dear?"
Her innocent tone of voice didn't match the mischievous look in her eyes. Seeing this, Heaven replied by sticking out her tongue before laughing as she headed for the exit.
"Well, the shop's all yours; I'm already late meeting my team… Later, Mom… See ya, Red!"
I stood there shocked at the sudden nickname I was given. I was snapped out of my daze by a hand on my shoulder. Looking up at its source, I found Heaven's mother giving me a warm smile.
"All right, now, how can I help you today, young man?"
"Um… I was hoping to get some supplies, ma'am."
"Call me Forge… ma'am sounds too old. Do I look old to you?"
She suddenly leaned forward, not unlike her daughter had only minutes ago, looking me straight in the eye. I could only shake my head 'no' which brought a playful laugh from her.
"Well, we obviously have supplies here… anything in particular you're looking for, um… I could call you Blondie but I have a feeling that's not really your name."
Shaking his head, he quickly answered, "Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki."
"Well, Naruto, it's a pleasure to meet ya."
"Same here… Taki-san."
"Taki will do… so anything caught your eye… besides my Tenten?"
Naruto shook his head before quickly nodding instead. His reaction caused Taki to giggle as she ruffled his hair, "I like you, kid. All right, how about I tell you a story about this blade while you try to figure out what you want to take home with you… besides my Tenten that is."
I instantly liked this lady, Forge; she was different from the other women in the village. She didn't look at me as if I was going to kill her and violate her daughter. She actually smiled and laughed with me. When she looked at me I noticed she had the same look in her eyes when she was with Heaven. Protective, playful, and proud, it left me feeling warm inside; making me wondered if that was what it was like to have a mother.
"This blade here is a replica of my grandfather's greatest accomplishment – a chakra saber. Of course, the maker of the blade is nowhere near as famous as its wielder."
"Why is that?"
She laughed at my question but it wasn't a mocking one, it was simply full of amusement. She picked up the blade and placed it in my hands. I marveled at the blade, I had never held anything like it before but the blade felt amazing.
"Well, to be blunt, no one ever remembers the maker of a weapon only the deeds done by the one who wields it. Now, how does it feel?"
"Its… it's so light yet sturdy; I don't know how to describe it really. But, what exactly is a chakra saber?"
Taking the blade from my hands, Forge replaced it upon its rack. I was amazed by how delicately she handled the blade, like it was a piece of fine china and not an instrument of death.
"It's a blade that when the user pumps their chakra into it, strengthens tenfold allowing it to cut through nearly anything… or so I've been told. It was identified by the glow it gave off when infused with the user's chakra and the trail of light it produced when swung."
"Awesome… Hey, why haven't I ever heard of such an awesome weapon or its owner before… shouldn't they be like super famous or something?"
I was startled by the reaction my question caused in the woman. She suddenly got very quiet and a look of utter sadness and regret filled her eyes. I quickly apologized thinking I said something wrong but she shook her head saying it was alright.
"No, you're correct… the owner of this blade was quiet famous. In fact, he was once as respected as the Sannin by his peers and as feared by his enemies. But, that all changed following a failed mission. You see, that man choose to save his comrades' lives at the expense of a critical mission. The failure of that mission caused the country and village severely and as a result he was seen as a disgrace, even by the very comrades he had risked his life and mission to save."
The anger I felt welling up within me as I listened to her speak surprised me. I simply couldn't understand how they could treat him that way. He was a hero wasn't he; I was confused and asked Forge to explain how they could act like that; her answer only help to increase my ire.
"Remember, Kyu, a ninja who breaks the rules will always be seen as trash… no matter the reason."
I could only nod my head in agreement, as I had been taught as much by Sensei and Scar. But, I couldn't help but feel that it was wrong somehow.
"What happened to him and his sword…?"
"Sadly, following his disgrace the man feel into a deep depression causing his skills to lessen… finally, at the height of his sorrow, he committed seppuku taking his own life. As for his sword, it was left to his only child. A boy that grew into a man whose skill has surpassed that of his father. The sword, last I heard, was shattered in battle."
What happened to that man and his blade weighed heavily on me. Why did the life of someone so honorable end in such a way; he was a hero and his friends betrayed him, all because of some stupid rules.
"Why did he have to die like that? He was a hero, right, Forge? I mean, he saved his friends lives and protected this village so… why?"
Forge looked at me with a bright smile as she ruffled my hair. Kneeling before me, she looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Yes, Kyu, that man was a hero. I agree with you completely on that point, as did my Grandfather, Father, and teammates. But, remember, we are ninja and the rules come before everything else… it's a sad truth we all must live with."
I shook my head, I couldn't agree with that. She saw the look in my eyes and that look of pride she had earlier returned as I spoke.
"I don't like that... that some stupid rules can cause so much pain. When I'm Soul I'll make sure that never happens again… rules and missions maybe important and those who break them maybe trash but… sometimes rules are meant to be broken."
"I've heard something similar before… They were spoken by the student of a friend of mine and he died for his belief in them and his friends. Would you be willing to die for your beliefs, for your friends, Kyu?"
"Of course, I'd gladly died for what I believe in and those I care about. And, this village even if they ha…"
I cut myself off, as I nearly said too much but by the look in her eyes I could tell Forge knew what I was about to say. Smiling at me sadly, she looked at the blade once more as she suddenly put her hands on my shoulders before staring me straight in the eyes.
"That's good to hear, Kyu. A Soul must be willing to sacrifice his life for all within his village, not just those who like him. You're well on your way to accomplishing your goal with that frame of mind."
I smiled brightly till she put a hand on my cheek. Running her thumb across the birthmarks that rest there she smiled sadly.
"Remember, Kyu, there will always be those who hate, even fear, you for things you did or did not do. Even if it's something you had no say in, something beyond your powers to control, they will condemn you for it. But, despite that you must never let it stop you from doing what is right or seeking those who can see beyond such things. In time you may even be able to show them how wrong they are. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
I couldn't help but blush under her gaze as I nodded slowly. I felt as if she was looking beyond the mask, to my very core, seeing the real me. Trying to get her attention off me, I asked her what I thought was a simple question, "Hey, if the blade shattered can't it be fixed… or how about a new one?"
Smiling, she rose to her feet and shrugged her shoulders, "Well, as to fixing it… I think I could manage that but the whereabouts of its remains are unknown; his son may have them, I think. As for making a new one… my grandfather was the only one who knew how to make such a blade. I've made some impressive blades in my day, including a type of kunai that is quiet legendary if I say so myself, but that blade was my grandfather's alone."
"I see… hey, what did you mean by legendary kunai?"
The look on her face following my question would have been comical if it didn't result in my question not being answered. Sweeping me up in her arms, she threw me over her shoulder and took me to the front of the store, saying as she did, "Well, that's a story for another day… How about we get you that gear? I'll even make sure it's the best we got; nothing else will do for our future Soul. Who knows maybe someday me or my Heaven will make you a legendary weapon of your own."
We spent the next hour looking over various gear and supplies. She wasn't kidding when she said she'd get me the best, even more surprising was when she offered me a discount but I refused; so we compromised with the balance being put on my newly opened tab. I left Forge's shop feeling great, not only had I found the exclusive source for all my weapon and supply needs but I also found a friend in an unlikely source.
It wasn't until I was halfway home that it dawned on me that I still hadn't officially met Heaven yet. At least, I knew her name now even if she still didn't know mine. It also occurred to me that Forge had never mentioned the identity of the chakra saber's owner. I still don't know who he was but I do know without a doubt that he was a true hero. One, whose courage and loyalty, I'll always strive to match and never forget.
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A true hero… huh…
Rising from his bed, a man stands before his closet with a determined look. Opening the closet, he goes through a series of seals before slamming his hands down on the closet floor. A series of intricate seals appear across the floor before fading away.
Lifting his hands, a latch has appeared beneath them. Pulling it up, he reveals a secret compartment hidden in the floor. Reaching into it, he removes a bundle wrapped in fine silk.
Sitting on his bed, he places the bundle down next to him. Opening it to reveal the shattered remains of a blade and its sheath, lifting the sword's hilt, his one uncovered eye scans the blade before a sad smile graces his hidden lips.
"So, you think my father's a hero, huh, Naruto?"
Placing the hilt down, Kakashi Hatake, son of the legendary Konoha White Fang - Sakumo Hatake, thinks about his father's legacy as a bright smile finds a place upon his lips.
Naruto's probably more like you then I'll ever be… a true hero, right, Tousan…
Gathering up the buddle, Kakashi grabs his disguised copy of KNC, sticking it into his vest before heading for the window. Opening it, he steps onto the ledge outside as his gaze falls to the photos sitting on his desk as he closes the window.
One shows his Genin squad consisting of himself, Rin, and Obito with their Jounin sensei, Arashi. The other is of himself with his squad, the similarities he's come to see between them is startling yet comforting. It leaves him feeling that everything will be all right in the end.
Leaping away from his home, Kakashi laughs, thinking, Time to visit an old friend about a blade.
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The time had finally come for us to face Sensei; this was to be our final test and last act, for now, as a team. Looking at Chibi-Hime, who stood next to me looking as nervous as I felt; I couldn't help but dwell on the fact that my time with her was nearing an end.
Despite the fact that I should've been focusing on the task at hand, I dwelled upon the emptiness that had been slowly swallowing me whole that entire week. I was going to lose my closest friend in exchange for being paired with two kids and a Jounin who could possibly hate me. It was anything but a fair trade.
Looking away from her, I studied our surroundings. We were standing in a training field, a couple of miles away from the village. Sensei had asked Old Man Soul to arrange our use of it, the old man gladly helped in exchange for, as he put it, the privilege of observing our match.
Glancing at the old man, wearing his Soul robes, as he conversed with Sensei, I couldn't help but feel my nerves threatening to smoother me. As if there wasn't enough pressure before, now, we were fighting before one of the greatest ninjas who ever lived.
I spotted Blue standing under a tree; she smiled giving us a thumbs up. She was here in the role of medic, as Sensei had made it perfectly clear that we would be getting hurt. This was no longer training, this was a fight, and one were we could be severely injured.
Taking a deep claming breath, I placed my hand on Chibi-Hime's head getting her attention. I smiled at her which she quickly returned.
"Don't worry, we can do this… remember the plan, if all else fails we go down fighting."
The look of determination that filled her eyes helped fuel my own. Here we were, a twelve year old vessel and a seven year old heiress, about to face our sensei, the head of our village's most prestigious clan and one of the strongest ninjas said clan has ever produced, and the odds weren't in our favor.
"All right, you two, this will go exactly as we discussed. You will come at me with the intent to kill. This fight will only end when you've managed to land a damaging blow upon my person or when I decide to incapacitate you."
"Yeah, thanks for the boost in confidence, Sensei. No need to sugarcoat it for us."
Naruto's quip brought a much needed air of levity to the proceedings but it quickly left as the Hokage walked to the center of the field. He looked at the combatants on either side of him, the difference in age and experience bringing an amused glint to his eyes.
"Like Hiashi has said this match will end in only one of two ways. As, for the first, I will be judging what equals as a damaging blow so expect complete impartialness on my part. You may begin on my signal… Fight...!"
Dropping into the traditional stance of the Jyuuken, Naruto and Hanabi focus on their target. The thought of a surprise attack came and went as Hiashi activated his Byakugan. Naruto cursed under his breath as he realized that Hiashi wasn't giving them an inch.
Looking to Hanabi, he nods which she returns as they suddenly charge their target. Coming upon him quickly, Naruto spots the smirk on his sensei's face only a moment before receiving a blow to the chest. Landing on his feet, he looks to see father and daughter exchanging blows. He studies them for only a moment before charging headlong into the melee.
Hiashi looks upon his students with mild amusement, as they obviously know they can't win this way. Causing him to wonder why they would choose such a course of action. He's drawn out of his thoughts as Hanabi nearly manages to land a blow to his ribs as he ducks a reverse roundhouse kick from Naruto.
Catching Hanabi's fist, he twists her arm behind her back before shoving her into an attacking Naruto knocking them both of their feet. Rising in a slight daze, Hanabi glances to see Naruto glaring at her father. She looks to see that ever-present smirk on Hiashi's lips causing her to growl in frustration.
Hearing her, Naruto laughs before shifting back into his stance. She looks at him wondering what's so funny. Noticing her questioning gaze, Naruto says, "Don't worry, you almost had him with that last attack. We simply need to double our efforts and better synchronize our attacks."
"Sound advice but I have some of my own… if you don't use the Hakkyokuken you have no hope of damaging me, Child."
The look of shock on his student's faces brings a smile to his. But, it quickly fades upon hearing the words that crosses his blonde student's lips.
"But, what about never using it against a fellow member of the Leaf? I could hurt you badly, Sensei, even kill you."
That last statement hit his pride. To think that the boy actually thinks he could kill someone of his stature nearly caused Hiashi to laugh but instead he asked a simple question.
"Do you really think you could beat, let alone kill, someone like me, Child?"
Now, Naruto didn't know how to respond at first but in mere seconds he replied, "Of course, with this style that we created, I can."
The look of shock upon the faces of everyone present surprised Naruto. It made him wonder if he said something wrong, but he couldn't fathom what that could be as he was just being honest.
"I see, Child. Well, I guess I'll need to show you the vast difference in our levels. What about you, my daughter, do you believe you can defeat me?"
The sudden heaving of attention upon her threatened to crush Hanabi. She had no idea how she was supposed to respond. Of course, she didn't think she could beat her father. Hell, she doubted she could beat her sister at this point, despite not having faced her in two years. But, as her eyes drifted away from her father to land upon the boy at her side. She was suddenly filled with an overwhelming confidence as he smiled and nodded at her.
Their interaction didn't go unnoticed by the adults present and it brought a smile to the Hokage's lips. Sarutobi until now had only heard of Naruto's interactions with the Hyuuga sisters from their father. Seeing them together, he can't help but expect great things from them all.
Staring her father straight in the eye, Byakugan meets Byakugan, as Hanabi smirks at him, saying, "Together, we can defeat anyone… even you, Father."
To say that he was shocked would be putting it lightly, never had Hiashi heard his daughter speak with such confidence. He laughed to himself, as he thought, Respectful yet cocky… I'll have to knock them down a peg or two.
"Very well, I will teach you both a valuable lesson… confidence is important but too much can get you killed."
Before either knows what's happening Hiashi covers the distance between them landing a punishing palm to their sternums sending them both soaring before landing hard several feet away. Struggling to stand, they face their opponent with fire in their eyes. Dropping into their stances, Hiashi notices that Naruto has ever so slightly altered his stance as Hanabi comes to stand right in front of him.
"Still confident in your abilities or have you realized your place?"
Spitting to clear his mouth of some blood, Naruto smirks at Hiashi causing the clan head to raise a brow.
"Of course, what type of ninja would we be if we gave up so easily?"
With that said, the duo charges forward meeting their opponent with a flurry of blows. Sarutobi can only smile at the display, as they use the differences in height to their advantage. Naruto focuses on creating an opening for Hanabi to attack by blocking and attacking Hiashi's arms with his Hakkyokuken, while a crouching Hanabi tries to take out his legs by sealing off his tenketsu with her Jyuuken.
Hiashi can feel the slight effect Hanabi's attacks are having on his legs. While nowhere near damaging, her attacks are having an effect despite consisting of nearly nothing but misses, it only serves to show the effectiveness of the Jyuuken style.
A higher chakra capacity and she could be doing some real damage. Impressive tactic but lets see how they react when one of them is singled out.
With that thought, Hiashi goes about implementing the next stage of his test. Catching Naruto's right fist in his left hand, he pulls the boy directly at him meeting the child's ribs with his fist. The wind knocked out of him, Naruto can't defend as Hiashi tosses him aside with ease before doubling his assault on Hanabi.
Struggling to recapture his breath, Naruto watches as Hiashi goes about making short work of Hanabi. He studies Hiashi's movements to the best of his abilities as he rises on shaky legs.
He's cutting us off from each other… but, why focus on her… is she the greater threat or the weaker link… doesn't matter, I have to get back in there.
Sneaking around to Hiashi's rear, Naruto attempts to get the drop on him only to receive a boot to the face as Hiashi grabs Hanabi by the arms and swings her at the boy. Watching Hiashi's more then surprising attack, Sarutobi laughs, thinking, I wonder whose influence I should blame that on… Naruto's or…
Sarutobi's thoughts are cut short as Naruto surprisingly intercepts a blow meant for Hanabi. The young girl tired from the seemingly endless assault would have never been able to dodge the crushing blow heading straight for her head.
The blow catches Naruto in the back as he jumps between father and daughter. He and Hanabi are sent skidding to a stop a few feet away by the powerful blow. Struggling out of her partner's arms, Hanabi looks at him with wide eyes, asking him if he's all right. She receives no answer before jumping to her feet ready to protect him as she notices Hiashi's slow approach.
Aoi could only flinch as the blow landed; she hadn't even seen Naruto get up from Hiashi's last attack before he suddenly appeared between them. But, she's glad he did as she has no doubt that blow would've done some serious damage to the small girl.
Hiashi-sama, I hope you know what you're doing…
Looking upon the still form of his blonde student, Hiashi wonders if perhaps he's taken it too far. Then noticing the look of determination in his daughter's eyes, as she struggles to stand let alone protect her fallen teammate assures him that he hasn't.
Damn, that hurt… how the hell are we supposed to stop him… and he's still focusing on Hanabi. Is it because I'm not a threat… no, I'm using the Hakkyokuken, so why…
Naruto's thoughts are cut off by a sudden injection from his own mind. The words he hears serves to silence any other thoughts he may have had at the moment, as they leave him doubting himself.
'Are you really, now, because last time you used it you rendered that traitor impotent… You could crush this man and you had better start considering it before your partner is the one to suffer…'
Rolling onto his back, Naruto looks over to where Hanabi is struggling to fight Hiashi. Every time she attacks he simply brushes her off as he continues his achingly slowly approach towards were he lies. Seeing her struggling desperately to protect him causes Naruto to see the truth of those words – 'before your partner is the one to suffer…'
Hanabi continues to attack with everything she has. Never has she been pushed this hard nor has she ever felt so desperate. She has long forgotten that this is a test or that the man she is facing is her own father. Only one thought drives her on – I will not let you hurt, Naruto-kun!
Byakugan blazing, she charges in once more managing to dodge three rapid blows, grazing each with her counterstrikes before catching a surprising knee to the ribs followed by an uppercut to the chest that sends her flying.
Bracing herself for impact with the brittle ground, she's surprised when she hits something firm yet soft. Opening her eyes, she finds herself staring into the cerulean pools that are the eyes of her teammate and friend. Sighing, she relaxes momentarily in his arms, asking, "What took you so long?"
Shaking his head, Naruto replies, "Sorry… but, don't worry I have a plan. Follow my lead…"
Hanabi nods as Naruto stands her up and motions for her to get behind him. Hiashi laughs at the gesture, saying, "Well, welcome back, I thought that last blow had put you out of our little test."
"You wish… now, let's see you deal with this!"
Naruto goes completely still leaving Hanabi and Aoi to wonder what's going on, but Hiashi and Sarutobi know exactly what he's doing.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu…"
The field is suddenly filled with nearly two hundred Narutos, as Hanabi looks around amazed by what she sees. Tugging on his jacket, Hanabi shouts, "That's so cool!"
Laughing, Naruto whispers over his shoulder, "You haven't seen anything yet… hold onto me no matter what and don't make any sudden movements."
Seeing Hanabi nod in agreement, Naruto turns to face Hiashi who shakes his head stating that numbers alone won't win this fight. Naruto nods his head in agreement, saying, "Yeah, but who said numbers is all I had…"
Everyone raises an eyebrow at that, as Sarutobi and Aoi stand eagerly awaiting Naruto's next move. To say that it was anything but unexpected is an understatement.
"Ready, here we go…"
Suddenly every Naruto in the field is hidden in a cloud of smoke, except from those with the Byakugan who can see them all. Hiashi and Aoi are surprised when all the clones start huddling together and running around randomly. Aoi is surprised and Hiashi more then a little upset when they realize that they've lost track of Hanabi and the original Naruto.
Calming himself, Hiashi remembers the goal of this test. He knows that no matter what they must come to him if they hope to pass. Waiting the smoke to clear, Hiashi is more then a little confused when he starts spotting patches of black clothing through the smoke.
When the smoke clears, everyone is left speechless as standing before them is an army of identical Hanabis. From the black Hyuuga training gi to the various scrapes and bruises to the intense gaze of her Byakugan, every clone looks identical to Hiashi's daughter.
Dropping into the traditional Jyuuken stance, the clones slowly converge on their target while remaining huddled in groups of seven or more.
Sarutobi can only laugh at the tactic Naruto has utilized. Knowing that the Byakugan can see threw the Henge to his chakra system, the boy has had his clones huddle together in an attempt to confuse Hiashi while hiding the location of the real Hanabi amongst their numbers. It has seemingly worked, as he notices Hiashi scanning the crowd searching for something.
"Well, Child, you've somehow managed to eluded my detection but for how long… remember you have to attack me to pass this test."
"I haven't forgotten, Father."
Everyone is more then a little thrown as the clones speak as one, all sounding identical to Hanabi. Even their movements and mannerisms are a perfect match to the original. Hiashi shakes his head at the child's antics before dropping back into his stance.
"You do realize that since these are nothing more than kage bunshins, I no longer have to hold back."
The army of Hanabis smirks at their father before replying as one, "True, Father, but remember I'm in here somewhere."
The playful tone with which she finishes speaking irks Hiashi more then he'd like to admit. Clearing his head of such baser emotions he charges head long into the army of clones. Only for him to be surprised when they all start attacking him with the Hakkyokuken.
Backing off momentarily, Hiashi calms himself down. As, he does he wonders if this is what it was like for Mizuki but he quickly counters that thought thinking, At least, he wasn't facing an army that looked exactly like his little girl.
Scanning the crowd, Hiashi is instantly on the defensive as the clones attack as one pushing him back. He's attacking and dispelling clones all around him yet the numbers don't appear to be dropping.
That's when it hits him, a blow to the ribs that leaves him slightly winded. Despite only grazing him, the amount of chakra being released by the blow does its damage. Jumping away from the clones into an open patch of land at the edge of the clearing, Hiashi checks himself for any damage. Only to be surprised at the extent of his injuries, while none a nearly enough to hinder him, the amount of tenketsus the clones managed to shut is impressive.
All along his arms and legs a small number on each has been shut. It makes him realize that against an opponent who isn't expecting such an attack the damage would have been double maybe even tenfold.
He's brought out of his musings as he notices that the clones are all huddling together preparing for one group assault. Counting their numbers, Hiashi is shocked to discover that there still remain ninety-eight clones. If they were to attack as one even he may end up taking a hit that could cause serve damage.
But, before he can react they descend upon him from all angles. Dispelling clones left and right, Hiashi is shocked when he fells a solid blow land against his left thigh numbing it slightly. Gritting his teeth, he laughs to himself, thinking, Thirty-seven remain… I can't believe it's come to this… if you're in there somewhere, Children, brace yourself.
Coming to a complete stop, Hiashi allows the clones to surround him on all sides before taking a deep breath; exhaling as he closes his eyes before dropping into a new stance.
Seeing the stance Hiashi's in, Sarutobi and Aoi's eyes nearly jump out of their sockets. As, one shared thought crosses their minds, He's not really going to use…
Seeing the new yet relaxed stance Hiashi's taken, the clones all smirk thinking they've tired him out. Nodding to one another, they charge full on at Hiashi who just as they're upon him opens his eyes shouting for all to hear.
"Kaiten…"
What happens next is nothing short of humbling, as every single clone within several feet of Hiashi is chucked away by the force of his maneuver. Expelling chakra from every tenketsu, Hiashi creates a chakra cocoon around his body blocking all their attacks before spinning like a top forcing out his chakra in a wave that reflects and repels his attackers.
Coming to a stop, Hiashi scans the clearing to find himself face to face with only two images of his daughter as the rest vanished in puffs of smoke. The look of utter shock on their faces brings an even cockier than usual smirk to his lips.
"Well, Child, I hope you now see the difference in our levels."
To the surprise of everyone present one of the two remaining Hanabis lets loose a feral growl before shouting out her technique. Suddenly, six more Hanabis appear surrounding Hiashi.
"I guess you'll never learn… eh, Naruto?"
Shouting at the top of their lungs, the clones charge Hiashi only for a repeat of their earlier attack's result. Coming to a stop, Hiashi is surprised to find Hanabi flying at him with a jump kick. Swatting her aside, he's shocked when right behind her is another one attacking with an axe kick aimed for his head.
Dodging at the last second, Hiashi is shocked as he suddenly feels blood dripping down his cheek, reaching up to touch it he feels the cut under his fingers. He's so shocked that he doesn't notice Hanabi following up with a perfectly landed mule kick into his midsection, pumping him full of chakra and sending him skidding back a few feet.
Quickly, getting his wits back about him, Hiashi is once again shocked by the sudden pressure on his back and the kunai being held to his throat. Glancing over his shoulder, he finds Hanabi hanging on his neck with a triumphant smile. Looking in front of him, he watches as that Hanabi vanishes in a puff of smoke to reveal a battered, bruised, and bleeding Naruto.
"We win..."
Is all I would get out before I collapsed; the last thing I remember hearing was Chibi-Hime shouting my name as I feel into sleep's sweet embrace. I awoke a short time later to find myself leaning against tree. Feeling something on me, I looked down to find Chibi-Hime asleep in my lap.
"She was worried you know?"
I turned to find Blue and Sensei sitting on a blanket to my left.
"Sorry…?"
I suddenly noticed that Old Man Soul was gone and started looking around for him. Seeing my shift in attention, Sensei spoke, "Soul-sama needed to head back to the village. He told me to congratulate you on a fight well fought. And, that he wishes to discuss it with you as soon as possible."
I nodded, understanding that meant he would summon me when he got the chance or I would just show up at his office whichever came first.
"So, how does it feel to defeat the all powerful Sensei?"
Blue's joke got a laugh out of me and a glare from Sensei which only caused us to laugh even harder. Getting my laughter under control, I told her the honest truth.
"It feels great… now, I just need to beat the old man and the title of Soul is mine."
The laughter that followed my declaration was something along the lines of disbelieving and maniacal. Causing me to get odd looks from Sensei and Blue, but the fact was I couldn't believe we actually won. It seemed too good to be true.
"Well, Child, I must say that you impressed me greatly… you both did."
"Thank you, Sensei."
"Now, there are some things I must know. Was having Chibi-Hime attack me from behind your plan from the beginning and what was that final attack you used? It actually managed to cut me."
Looking at Sensei's face, I noticed the bandage on his left cheek. I was shocked to think that I had done that but the proof was staring me in the face.
"Um… well, the plan to attack you from behind came to me after I got up from that blow to the back. I realized that I wasn't going all out against you as my fear of hurting you was holding me back… I'm sorry about that. If I had just gone at you like you asked Chibi-Hime wouldn't have gotten so hurt."
"So, you devised a way that would allow you to take the brunt of the damage while she waited for the perfect moment to strike… smart. Now, if you had kunai why didn't you use them?"
"I figured you'd simply block or dodge them so they'd prove useless."
"Wise decision… now back to that final attack?"
"Oh, well, you taught me that with enough focus one can force chakra out of nearly any limb. Well, I've been practicing on my own hoping to find a way to have all my attacks release chakra instead of just my hands. I mean, wouldn't it be cool if my attacks using my feet, knees, and elbows did damage to the tenketsu as well as the body… isn't that the whole point of my style?"
The look Sensei and Blue gave me was confusing, it seemed to be a mixture of distress and pride. But, it quickly became one of overwhelming pride as Sensei laughed.
"Yes, it would, Child. So, you sent your last clone at me so I'd think you were the real Chibi-hime; only to follow in its shadow, hoping to deliver a conclusive axe kick."
"Sort of… I knew the kick would probably miss, so I focused on pushing as much chakra as possible into my feet hoping it would reach you. I remembered the tree climbing exercise, and how if you pushed too much chakra into your feet the tree repelled you, and the water walking exercise, where you needed to send out a constant stream of chakra to stay afloat. I figured if I did something similar to them my chakra would reach you even if I missed. I didn't think it could cut you…?"
"Well, Child, that is for another discussion on a later date. Right now, all that matters is that you two have managed to best me… and, I couldn't be prouder."
"Thanks, Father."
I jumped at the sudden sound of Chibi-Hime's voice; I looked down to see her laughing at my reaction. Smiling, I messed up her hair asking her how long she's been awake.
"Since you did that scary laugh… how could I sleep through that?"
"Sorry… wait, if you were up this entire time then why didn't you get off of me?"
At least, she had the decency to blush as she laughed, saying, "I'm comfortable right here, thank you."
"Oh, you are… well, what about now?"
The discovery that Chibi-Hime is ticklish happened about three months into our joint training. She was sparring with Blue, me with Sensei, when her laughter caught my attention. I noticed that Blue had gotten her to submit rather quickly and when I asked her how Blue informed me of my partners surprising weakness. It has been a valuable tool ever since.
Her laughter filling my ears would be one of my last memories from our time together. The following day we parted ways, me to join my Genin squad and her to continue her training under Sensei. We spent that day simply being together, as we sparred playfully, had an amazing lunch prepared by Blue, and received our final lesson from Sensei. His words have stayed with me to this very day.
"Though you maybe separated, now… Never forget that you are a team, strong independently but stronger as a whole. In time you will be allowed to walk these streets together, my daughters and my student, but the barriers that separate you all now will still remain…"
His words filled us with a determination I knew Chibi-Hime saw in my eyes as I did in hers. My thoughts then turned to the one who was not there with us, but who was never far from my thoughts.
Hime…
I smiled brightly at Chibi-Hime as she took my hand squeezing it gently. Sensei continued to speak, each word slowly filling the emptiness within me, leaving me with a new found hope for the future.
"Be they class, age, or creed… You, three, will face them head on and you will triumph… I'd expect nothing less from any of my children."
To Be Continued…