Summary: Minato draws a line and Kagome reveals the source of kekkai genkais
...ooO Clean Up 1 Ooo...
Sarutobi frowned. "What do you think you are doing Yondaime-sama?" The former Hokage stressed the title.
Namikaze Minato snarled. "Trying to save our necks Sarutobi! Kitsunes never attack without cause! You heard him yourself! Someone stole the original contract the Shodaime made with him!"
"We only have the word of a monster!" A faceless ANBU spoke.
Kagomes eyes narrowed dangerously turning almost steel gray. "A taiyoukai knows better than to lie to me. I am the Shikon Miko and Sesshoumarus Bitch. Death is no escape when Sesshoumaru wants information. He will be most interested in ningens twisting the terms of his vassals Gift." She turned to the Yondaime. "There is a boy that once held a kitsunes Gift in Konoha. He will most definitely need medical attention. Locate him and his guardians."
The Yondaime nodded thoughtfully. Then he spoke. "ANBU squad leaders, follow me. The rest of you wait here."
He grabbed Kagomes arm and made his way ahead of the ANBU who were quick to follow their Hokage.
Minato hurried ahead speaking in low tones to Kagome. "I need some way to detect lies quickly and painlessly. Something that can be used without your presence."
Kagome nodded. "Truth stones. Think of phrases that will screen out traitors and make them recite the terms. The stones will turn red if they lie. Give me a few minutes."
She knelt on the grass and opened her satchel pulling out a roll of canvas. She carefully unrolled it to reveal pockets sewn into it holding the satchets of powders (crushed herbs, minerals) and vials of liquids (oils, saps, body fluids). A wooden mixing bowl which she used to prepare a specific potion. A leather pouch filled with small white quartz crystals that she dumped into the bowl. A quick prayer/chant to ignite the energies. A gold glow filled the bowl and the ordinary quartz were now not so ordinary; they glowed with an internal white fire that sparkled through the facets.
She watched as Minato ordered the ANBU into three lines. She stood quietly beside him holding the bowl glowing softly from the enchanted stones.
The ANBU watched warily as their Hokage dipped his hand into the bowl and pulled out three stones emitting a white light.
"From where I stand there is a massive conspiracy at hand, treason that would have destroyed Konoha today if I did not know Kagome. I don't have time for a regular shakedown so I'm going to do the screening myself. These are truth stones. Each of you will hold one, three at a time, and repeat my words to determine if you knew of this conspiracy. If you lie the stone will glow red. If the others do not restrain one whose stone turns red I will assume you are a traitor as well." The ANBU bristled. Minato softened the blow. "Think of this as a debriefing to ensure you haven't been compromised."
That was something they were all familiar with. Three stepped forward to take the stones being held out by the Yondaime.
Minato smiled and nodded. "Just repeat these words. I had no knowledge or suspicions of a plan to steal a contract from Inaris shrine. I had no knowledge or suspicions of a plan to enhance a human with an unknown power. I had no knowledge or suspicions of any events that would have potentially resulted in a being of unknown and or great power attacking Konoha in retaliation."
The ANBU obediently recited the word. The stones glowed white. The process was repeated in groups of three until only five ANBU remained.
And then the stone of one glowed red.
"Keep him Alive!" The Yondaime snapped sharply.
The Usagi-masked ANBU reacted but his former colleagues were faster. He was disarmed, restrained then paralyzed by judicious shiastu strikes.
Now the tension ran high. One of their own had betrayed Konoha. Quickly the process was repeated on the remaining two ANBU who passed.
The Yondaimes expression was hard. "Take the truth stones from Kagome and repeat the procedure on our people in three groups. One group focus on scanning the ANBU, then high level jounin, then chuunin and down. The second work on structures of importance such as the hospitals, plants, warehouses from the top down. The last focus on the high level civilians and Council. Do Sarutobi-sama first though I am certain he will pass. Incapacitate anyone who fails or who refuse. Once a group has been cleared put them to work locating others who have yet to be cleared or detaining any unruly civilians. Eventually I want the civilians questioned as well but they can wait."
"The civilians and Council will not like this." The Karasu-masked kunoichi warned.
The Yondaime snarled. "I don't give a fuck what they like! Someone called this disaster upon Konoha! If they don't comply I'll put them outside the walls in one month when Aoshi-san returns! I will not let them be the reason why Konoha is destroyed!"
At this point Kagome spoke. "Aoshi is merely delayed. In one moon cycle he will return. If he is not satisfied that the wrong doers are at his feet or in Shinikamis Realm he will destroy Konoha. And I will Not stop him." Her eyes were cold. "Most of the people in this village are probably ignorant of the sins committed but I Do Not Care! This Community has no right to exist if it cannot control its populace or locate and punish those who break the Laws of Man and the Gods." The heel of the brass capped staff struck the packed dirt rings chiming softly. "I am the Shikon Miko and bound to defend the Worthy. If your village refuses to comply I do not find Konoha Worthy. Only Minato-kun."
A cold chill ran down the spines of the ANBU at the harsh unrelenting words from the not-kunoichi who forced the Kyuubi to a stand-still, who had his grudging respect and the support of a third party called Killing Perfection.
Minato was satisfied by the silence. It was beginning to sink into their heads. "I am the Hokage but if the Council and Konoha refuses to let me do the job of defending Konoha by finding and punishing the traitors I will resign and leave! I will not die for someone who called this disaster down on us!" Brown eyes lanced the masked faces. "When I find the arrogant Council bastards and power-hungry brats responsible for this mess I will kill them! I don't care if it will make Konoha strong. If they wish to get a youkais Gifts they will do it the old way, through personal sacrifice and bargains."
Kagome laughed throatily. "I'm certain the inbred kekkai genkai clans are well aware of the prices that must be paid. The Uchihas certainly do since Madara pledged his descendants to Miyagami."
The Yondaime stiffened. "What?"
Gray-blue eyes batted innocently. She pointed at a Mibu-masked ANBU and moved to stand before him. Then she reached up to remove his mask. He moved to stop her but stilled under the Yondaimes glare. The porcelain and wood creation hid the pale complexion and dark eyes framed with black hair. A typical Uchihas coloring.
A slender finger brushed the skin under the dark eyes. The Uchiha flinched and activated his Sharingan.
The miko laughed. "Your illusions cannot trap me. They are enhanced by the youki in your blood and vulnerable to my purification. But the balance is... Off." Her voice trailed and her eyes became unfocused. "Your Clan has forgotten. You no longer sacrifice to Miyagami. You do not celebrate the bargain or renew the pledge. He has abandoned you. Your blood lust runs rampant with few rare exceptions who remember and practice the Old Ways." Her voice was chilled. "Remember. Those who forget will repeat the same sins. Madaras grandchildren forgot in their hubris and he was forced to kill them. If your entire Clan has forgotten there will be a true Heir born, one who practices the Old Ways, one who will renew the pledge with blood by cutting down the Oath-Breakers to atone to Miyagami."
Uchiha Kishan flinched. "Miyagami is just a fairy tale."
The miko stared with clear disbelief. "I spoke to the fairy tale a few months back." She held out her hand palm up at the waist and lifted it. A column of sparkles swirled and coalesced into an image of a tall slim male with snow white skin and knee long black hair. His features were delicate yet refined with a strong hooked nose and penetrating eyes accented by feathered brows and pointed ears. He wore close fitting black leather pants and boots and a black silk Chinese style tunic accented with silver feathers. "He is a tengu. His other form is of a koppa-karasu. Delicate but savage, a stealthy thief, an unrelenting enemy and ally once moved.
"Madaras mother was a Branch House Hyuuga who was killed when she tried to flee. They left him bleeding to death when Miyagami found him and made the Bargain. Madara lived and was Changed, forever marked as his descendants would be; to bear the features of his Gifter."
Everyone stared at the Uchiha who was bewildered and terrified by the complete certainty in the mikos voice.
Her eyes skimmed over each masked visage. "Each of you has been Touched. The original Chakra users were jump started by youkais who have always had better access and control of their personal energies. But kekkai genkais... They always come with a price. I do not know of all the clans in Konoha but if I stay here long enough I will narrow the domain and subclature of the youkai Gifter. Then it is childs play to determine the name. Only the tais can bestow a Gift and Sesshoumaru knows all the tais of Makai.
"Minato-kuns ancestors bargained with Kagura, the kaze-youkai. The price was to create beauty that pleases. Kagura-chan loves beautiful things. She wears the most beautiful kimonos, sponsors the most talented artists and musicians in Makai, her courts and properties are showcases of taste and skill. Invitations for any event she hosts is always highly sought after. Minato-kun has always done calligraphy, sketches and paintings. Recently he expanded into stone sculpture."
The Yondaime grinned sheepishly scratching the back of his head. "Rasengen was originally designed to be a stone polisher; but then the war with Iwa heated so it became a battle jutsu. I've met Kagura-dono. She is flighty, more like a society matron than a kunoichi." Everyone blinked at this bit of trivia about their Hokage. "But none of you should be too concerned about my hobbies so get to it!" He snapped sharply. "Divide into groups and split the stones. I want a good portion of the shinobis cleared or secured!"
Quickly the ANBU obeyed, splitting the stones in the bowl among themselves and then moving to carry out the orders of their Hokage.
Minato watched them move efficiently, clearing their fellows, higher ranked jounin outside the wall, integrating those cleared into groups and knocking out those that failed. And many did fail the Test.
The shinobis were bewildered by the process and swiftness with which guilty were weeded out but followed the lead of the ANBU and moved to sweep Konoha itself. Quite a few of the Clan Scions did not pass.
Kagome watched as many were knocked out by paralyzing drugs and Jyuuken strikes from the Hyuuga ANBUs.
Minato sighed as he watched many men and women he trusted fall.
"Do not be too concerned Minato-kun. The wording of the phrases are suitably vague. They may be guilty of other sins, crimes that do not involve the Contract and Aoshis Gift."
The Yondaime glanced at the petite form that barely came to his shoulder with troubled eyes. "They are guilty of Something; crimes I never would have suspected if I didn't authorize the widespread use of your Truth Stones."
Kagome tapped her staff smartly against the packed dirt. "Perhaps Minato-kun, they do say ignorance is bliss." Then she challenged him. "Would you prefer to remain ignorant? A lamb to the upcoming slaughter?"
Minato stared down at the old, knowing eyes set in the young luminous face. "No. That is the cowards way."
"And you are no coward Minato-kun." She spoke serenely. "Come. Your people need leadership. They are confused and afraid."
The Yondaime looked at the milling mob and could literally sense the emotional storm brewing. "Give me a break. They want someone to scream at. Someone to blame and accuse."
"And you will give them that. You will find those involved and throw them to be judged by their peers before casting them to Aoshi."
A broad smile spread across his face and he laughed. "Oh yes." He grabbed her arm and walked quickly, forcing her to jog to keep up.
...ooOoo...
TBC…
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