LAST FILLERS!! Next chapter is the first of the last part of Tsurugi! That means; back to the chunnins exam... but also for... spoilers

Chapter 18: A night in Konoha

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Night 17 of 30 before the third exam.

-Eh, Akamaru fell asleep... he's cute, said Syng, looking at the puppy in Kiba's coat.

-Yeah, answered back the Inuzuka.

-Why don't we head out to sleep like the others? Asked Shikamaru.

-Because the night is still young... we'll spend the last days training together Shikamaru, so we'll get no fun! I want to have good memories of Konoha, just like sensei had when he first came here, explained Syng while looking at the starry sky.

The two other boys looked up the sky too. The three of them stayed silent a while.

-Say, why don't we go to the hot springs? On my first night in Konoha I went there with Naruto, we could wash off the sea salt from our skin and relax, said Syng.

-Good idea! Answered back Kiba.

-Ok, simply said Shikamaru.

While the boys were heading to the hot springs, three girls known as Tifa, Tenten and Ino were talking in a restaurant while drinking a cup of tea.

-Say Tifa, you sleep at my place, Syng at Shikamaru's... where does Misty sleeps? Asked Ino.

-Yeah, she often... "disappear", I've always wonder where she was going every time, continued Tenten.

Tifa stayed silent a while before talking... she then closed her eyes.

-Misty... cannot sleep anymore. She... have nightmares...

-Everyone haves nightmares... said Ino.

-Misty... can't sleep since that day... our sensei...

-I've been meaning to ask... everyone talk about Tsurugi since you came, even our sensei and the Hokage, I heard him when I came back from a mission... They say... your sensei... tried Tenten carefully.

-Its okay Tenten, Juusan is dead, and we know it.

-How...did it happened? Said Ino on a calmer note than usual.

-Well... it's a long story, you know...

-The night is long, but its okay if you don't want to, smiled Tenten.

-Thanks... I'll... It began when... we first became genins...

Flashback Tifa age: 12

-So you three will be under my command? Said the tall guy.

-Don't get your hopes up, Juusan! Answered back Syng with a dark smile.

-That's sensei for you! Said Juusan while pointing a sword at Syng's neck.

-How did you do that?! Said Misty, impressed. You haven't performed any seals!

-Glad you asked Misty! It's a special technique in Tsurugi that enable the body to summon and control up to 12 swords!

-Only 12? That would do no good in a war... Sais Syng.

-Oh shut up, you'll have to listen to him from now on! Said the little Tifa to her friend.

-I heard you two were already friend before becoming genins? Fine, Tifa you're in charge of hitting Syng on the head each time he'll do something stupid!

She listened to the command.

-Ouch! Why did you do that, sensei?! Said Syng rubbing his head.

-See? You're already calling me sensei now! Laughed the tall guy.

/Flash back

Sakura had came back from her house during the explanation of the kunoichi. The pink-haired girl was now listening like Tenten and Ino. Hinata had came back from the Hyuuga's house with her, wearing her usual clothes.

-He explained to us that he was developing the jutsu of the sword... Syng was right... 12 sword in a war would do no good, but 13, a single sword more, could make a difference. Each sword take a little of the user health... It cut, hurt and make the user suffer to summon each single sword... It also takes a little bit of the mind, making the user go berserk after the summon of the fourth sword... but our sensei could summon up to 9 sword without losing a single pieces of his mind... It was a year later...

Flashback Syng age: 13

-Good Syng! You can now summon 3 sword easily! You still have 9 to go!

-What about the thirteen? Said Syng.

-Its not yet... smiled the sensei.

-Say Juusan-sensei, started Misty. Wouldn't the 13th sword be fatal to the user?

-If its to save someone's life, then what's the problem? Answered the sensei with a smile.

-WHAT?! Shouted Tifa and Syng.

-Sensei... you would give up your life for someone? Blushed Misty.

-For someone... for Tsurugi... for every single person from this village... Yes, I would without hesitation!

-That's plainly stupid Juusan! Shouted Syng. This village is dying, the people here aren't worth a single life... it would be a waste. Now for Konoha, wouldn't it great? You said that village was so beautiful...

-If you'd give your life for Konoha, you would give your life for Tsurugi... trust me. You can't accomplish anything without appeasing your heart first, Syng. Our village is tough on the people... the training and the missions are hard, I know... but we have an heart...

-Well if its like that, then I don't have an heart! I don't want that seal anymore! Shouted Syng while running and holding the back of his neck.

Juusan fell on the ground of the forest they were training into.

-Sensei, smiled Misty kneeling before Juusan. He doesn't think what he said... his lock seal is precious to him... it's the strongest, right?

-Right Misty... Everyone with that seal can summon the swords... and protect Tsurugi...

/Flashback

-Misty always wanted Syng to love Tsurugi... He could never forgive our sensei... and turned back on the true heart of Tsurugi, even attacking our village elder... Misty had developed a kind of love for our sensei. The only time she was smiling was when Juusan was with us. Syng was silent almost every time, except when he was alone with me... He couldn't bear the fact that our sensei would give his life for Tsurugi at the first occasion... but then, sensei was send on a mission and the same night, Syng disappeared.

Flashback

-Misty! Shouted Tifa in her fighting clothes running to the girl.

-Tifa! I'm ready!

Both girl got out of the village running. Tifa summoned her panther on which both girls sat to go faster. After some time, Tifa started feeling tears on her shoulder as Misty was holding her.

-Misty... softly said Tifa.

-Its... an undercover war with the sand country... right? If sensei mission fail... the sands will probably destroy Tsurugi, right? And... if sensei...

-He won't do it... he won't have to... "Syng, please, stop him... you have an heart..." she then taught.

The sand village was now in sight, but countless peoples were fighting, dying...

-There! Its sensei with Syng!

Somewhere near the gates, exactly 24 swords were spinning, slashing everyone moving at first sight... the only resistance against the sands-nin! Both Syng and Juusan had taken out countless of soldiers alone...

-Syng can summon 12 swords!? Said Tifa, getting off of her panther quite a long way before the boys.

-Don't you understand, cried Misty. He doesn't want Juusan-kun to summon his thirteenth sword!

/Flashback

-But Gaara of the desert appeared out... continued Tifa.

Flashback

-Syng! Get outta here! This guy is a demon! He'll kill you in a instant!

-No way! I'm gonna prove you I'm stronger than you because I don't have an heart!

-You baka! Shouted the sensei.

Juusan turned himself to face Syng's back and took the boy. He threw him outside the sphere of swords, dispelling the 12 tsurugi of Syng.

-Sensei! Shouted Syng getting back up.

He had lost too much blood and couldn't stand up. There's wasn't much soldiers left has Tifa and Misty were running to their friend...

-Demon Gaara! The weapon they will use against Tsurugi! I won't let you!

The weapon was only a young boy... younger even than Syng, Tifa and Misty... The sand was starting to envelop the men. The little boy was not even moving.

-SENSEI! Screamed Syng in tears.

Misty watched Syng running to Juusan. She couldn't let him die, both of them... She dispelled herself in the shadows to stop Syng... and run to Juusan instead of him.

-Misty! Syng! Shouted Tifa, running to the unconscious boy.

The little girl ran to her sensei has both a them were enveloped in a sphere of sand... and inside, the little girl was holding the men she loved...

-Misty... Softly said Juusan.

-Don't summon the last sword... don't die...

-We'll die anyway now... but I won't let the demon kills you... the last sword will not kill, the last sword... will give life... once its summoned... the last sword take fully control of the body, since... once it is summoned, the caster dies.

-What!?

The sand was closing on them.

-The last sword gives life, never it will take it! Say this to Syng... please... continue to smile... Say to Tifa to watch over the boy... and yourself watch over him, he's a good boy...

-Sensei!? Cried the girl.

/Flashback

-But it was too late... from my point of view, I saw the sand exploding as a giant sword was cutting the sand, the remaining ninjas and was now slashing the boy. Misty went back running and crying to us... Gaara is no human... he transformed into a monster of sand... even the thirteenth sword could not do it. The body continue to fight with the last sword even if the user is dead... The remaining chakras in the body make it possible, but once that chakra is used up... the sword shattered and the body fall dead.

-Wow... how sad, said Hinata.

All the girls were crying in silent, listening to the tale of Tsurugi.

-Misty could never forgive herself... that night, she cried a long time... Syng waked up soon after. He didn't talk until a week after the funerals of Juusan. He did not came to it... he came only after everyone was gone... We all had quite a happy childhood... but it's a few month ago only that we became full fledge ninjas.

-A few months? Gai-sensei said that... started Tenten. So, you've been...

-A week after sensei's dead, we left Tsurugi and lived like renegades, outcast ninjas. A month before coming here, the elder of Tsurugi summoned us back. He wanted us to become chuunins and continued our missions... We were so tired, hungry... we accepted.

-And then you came, said Sakura, remembering when they had arrived.

-But I saw Misty smiling quite a number of time, said Ino.

-S-she's been smiling when s-she's with Shino... said Hinata.

-I wonder what she likes in that guy! Exclaimed Tenten.

-Well... Our sensei liked to show us things... Swords were fascinating Syng, but he was the only one with the lock seal. My seal gives a plenty support of chakras... So one day, he came and gave me a kitty. He told me to take care of it, and so I did. After a month, he taught me how to summon felines, like he used to. Also... when we were training, he was often showing bugs to Misty... The three of them used to scared the hell of me with their bugs... it was a great time, back then...

-That's why Syng wants to fight Gaara... understood Tenten.

–

Konoha's Hot springs.

-Wow... must've been tough on ya... said Kiba seriously.

Even Shikamaru had listened to the story.

-Yup... but that time, I promised myself that the last sword would avenged my sensei, ended Syng.

-A demon? said Shikamaru. Just like the Kyuubi who attacked Konoha...

-The water feels great... but that reminds me... Where's Naruto? Calmly said Syng.

-He went off training weeks ago... for the final exams! Explained Kiba.

-He had luck... if the fight wasn't stopped, you would have killed him... yet, both of you have won, said Shikamaru.

-Don't complain, Shika, maybe I'll fight you! Laughed Syng. (Kiba was crying in his corner since the boy had lost)

–

Aburame residence.

-You sure its okay? Asked Misty.

Shino and her were siting on the roof of Shino's place. His parents had agree to let Misty sleep inside the guest room for the rest of the time she would spend in Konoha. Of course, Shino's father had put strict rules about it, like, they couldn't go in the other room when the lights were out and such, not that they would.

-Yeah. Simply said Shino.

-Can I... started Misty.

The boy looked at her, confused. Without asking for more, Misty got near him and removed his glasses. The both leaned down on the roof, looking at the starry sky. Somewhere near them, Shino's father was looking at them and nodded to himself. Konoha's will... Tsurugi's will...