BEST VIEWED IN 1/2 FORMAT!
YOU UNDERSTAND/GET MORE!
The room was dead silent except for the sound of shallow gasping breath, a candle, set high near the ceiling, cast the small room in a ruddy yellow pallor. A long leg, emerging from the darkness near the shadowed outline of a bed, stretched languidly, causing the rich red sheets to fall into the twilight below. From the manicured toes, painted in a deep orange-red, down the smooth hairless leg, down, down into the shadowed body writhing and stretching under a thin satin sheet. Up over the generous swell of the breasts, poorly hidden beneath the half-raised sheet. Up, up to the auburn hair framing a horribly grinning skull, jaw open with all manner of horrible creatures spilling out, ripping, biting, tearing, killing...
---
Naruto sat up instantly, gasping for the breath he denied himself for several minutes. The twilight of a half-raised sun was over shadowed by the obscuring clouds and tall buildings outside of his bedroom window. He palmed his forehead to find it wet. He pulled back his hand to find it stained a crimson red. Groaning, he rolled out of his bed to find his back, nay, his whole body and bed covered in sticky red.
"What the fuck?" Shaking his head, he filed it away as something to ask Morgana about later. Reassuring himself that she still rested upon a pillow on top of his side table, he walked into the bathroom for a shower, leaving a trail of red footprints all the way.
Naruto looked at himself in the chipped mirror shoddily nailed to the wall over the sink. He was entirely covered in the red substance, which after a quick taste he determined to be blood. Shaking his head, sending small splatters of blood everywhere, he stepped into the shower and proceeded to take a lukewarm shower. What do you know; the landlord must have forgotten to turn off the hot water.
In the back of his mind Naruto could hear Beast grumbling about something, but didn't pay attention, or care, enough to actually listen in on himself. Hmm, listening in on yourself? Weird thought. Rivers of red swarmed down his body like the rivers of the the Elemental Countries, clear on top, blood underneath. It brought a smile to his face.
He noticed something off about himself, where once was healthy tan skin, there was now very, very pale skin, paler than it ever had been. There also seemed to be a lack of something, but he couldn't put his finger on it...it almost seemed like... Naruto immediately covered his ears with his hands...nothing. This scared the metaphorical shit out of Naruto.
Leaping from the tiled shower stall, Naruto slides over the wooden floor and snatches Morgana from her resting place. Shaking the book and screaming incoherently for a moment, he finally demands, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!?!"
Morgana's mental words came out garbled. "Wh-t --e t----n- ab---?"
Naruto forced himself to calm down and in a tone sharply edged with hysteria, "What Did You Do To Me."
"Again, dear Naruto, what do you mean?"
"Why do I have no pulse, no heartbeat, no fucking blood?!"
"What do you...oh, that? Don't worry about it for now, I'll tell you once you're, ahem, decent."
Realizing his state of undress, as well as feeling the cool breeze let in through his partially open window, Naruto threw the tome upon the bloody bed and sprinted back to the bathroom.
Morgana's pages fluttered in the book equivalent of a laugh. "Ah, little Naruto, you provide so much entertainment."
---
Hana Inuzuka jerked awake; she had apparently fallen asleep after one of her dozings. Her back seemed like one big cramp, but that's what you get when you're shackled to the wall for a night. After the Sandaime dropped the bombshell, he ordered her arrested for possible treason. The real reason was to prevent a leak and warn her mother of what the Hokage planned to do. She was fitted with chakra restraints and stuck in one of the more upper-scale cells. Her bladder and bowels were uncomfortably full and she feared that if she wasn't released soon, she would have an accident.
Luckily for her, she didn't have to wait long. A guard came around and unlocked her chain from the wall. He brought her around to the washroom where she relieved herself and washed up while still attached to a length of chain leading out of the door for a bit of privacy. She redressed and was lead up several flights of stairs to a pair of large wooden doors. The guard confirmed his and her identities and led her in. A council meeting seemed to be already in progress, a few of the civilian members arguing over trade routes and costs while the others looked bored out of there skulls. All except for the Hokage who was suppressing a growing fire behind his eyes.
All eyes turned to them at the sound of the doors opening and the rustle of chains, everyone looked curiously over, then Tsume's eyes widened at seeing who was on the wrong side of the chain, so to speak. Kenji's eyes glimmered in the faint light, two embers greedily devouring the growing horror of the Inuzuka clan leader.
"It has come to my attention that we have a clan of traitors in our midst." A wide grin grew on Kenji's face as the council began to argue. A quick few handseals later, a piercing noise made everyone cover their ears, those too slow merely screamed in pain as their ears began to bleed.
"Now that I have you attention, from the testimony of several reliable sources, it seems that not only are the civilians trying to subvert my power, but the shinobi as well." Many of the Clan Heads looked at the Hokage in astonishment, others looked stricken. Like Tsume.
As you know, this is punishable by immediate execution without council approval, but in this case I make an exception." Kenji turned to one of the ANBU hiding in the chamber. "Bring in the others."
The ANBU nodded and signaled for the doorman, he nodded and opened one of the double doors. A group of no less than eight, including Nosai Inuzuka, was led into the chamber. Chained, bruised, and bloodied, they were in far worse shape than Hana was. They were all led into the center of the room next to Hana and had there knees kicked from under them. Only one whimpered.
"The Inuzuka Clan have been withholding information for several months, as far as the Interrogations have gone. They have all professed guilty and have therefore been sentenced to death, effective immediately." Eight ANBU ghosted from the walls, unsheathing their katanas. No one dared to make a sound. Eight slices, eight thumps, eight headless corpses resting on the council floor.
Hana shook and tore her eyes away from the bodies of her family, staring up at her mother for support, but she found none. Tsume hid behind an emotionless mask, but what little fear Hana saw wasn't for her, but for Tsume herself.
"And being the generous Hokage I am, I'm allowing for the Clan head to give up the names of those who have actively defied the law of shinobi so that they may be banished. Otherwise, the entire clan will be exterminated, guilty or not. It's your choice, Tsume."
"Sarutobi! You can't do this!" Agreement from many civilian leaders, as well as a few shinobi clans, rose in agreement. Another ear-shattering noise pierced the air, louder than the first. One weak willed civilian screamed, cried, and burst frorth blood from his facial orifices before slumping over, dead. Again the room grew dead quiet as the Hokage released the jutsu and started speaking in a deadly quiet voice.
"I can do whatever the damn hell I please, this council was established as a forum for the common people to offer advice and counseling, not to the extent by which it now finds itself. I could abolish this council with little trouble, would you like that? To be ruled by a dictator, a despot if you will. Effective immediately, all power that this council has wriggled out of me is now hear-by repealed. So I'd highly suggest you shut the fuck up and sit the fuck down, now!" The entire council obeyed at once.
"Now, Tsume. What is your answer?"
The normally calm & collected Tsume Inuzuka lowered her head in defeat. "I will give you the names, Sarutobi."
"Good. Council dismissed." Things were finally starting to look up for Kenji.
---
Naruto was now clad in a pair of black pants. The sheets and mattress had been burned and thrown out the window, leaving the solid frame behind which his feathered robe was lain over. He stared intently at Morgana's cover black and grey patched with the crimson of his blood staining the lighter parts.
"Start explaining, Morgana."
"Aw, no oneechan? I'm hurt Naruto." Receiving no other expression than Naruto's suppressed annoyance she huffed and started talking. "The reason you have no blood, my dear Naruto, is for the fact that it was...inferior."
This threw Naruto for a loop, momentarily forgetting his anger before it came back full force. "What do you mean 'Inferior'?"
"Well, for the fact that 1)it doesn't carry the necessary genes to attune and amplify your natural magics. This world, while having more adepts and sorcerers than real wizards, has far more magic in their blood than many planes in the Multiverse."
"Multiverse?" The gears started turning in his head, slowly but surely.
"Another time Naruto. As I was saying, because you have a form of magic within your blood, 'chakra' by what you call it, your race can cast demi-spells. True spells have FAR more ranging effects and abilities. All chakra is good for is big elemental-type attacks. But for each school there are exceptions, as they say."
"Because your blood wasn't potent enough to handle the magic you'll be receiving over the next few months, I had to get rid of it before it caused permanent damage."
"...So to save my life...you got rid of the only thing that kept me...living." You could hear the gears in his head cracking and springs imploding.
"Well, I suppose you could look at it that way, Mister Negativity. I prefer to see it as remaking your body to better suit your chosen profession. By now you must have seen some of the more prevalent changes."
"Changes?"
"Of course. I've rewired your brain a bit to be more open to impossibility created new thought pathways, and other such things to increase you Intelligence exponentially. Cosmetically, your hair will grow longer and lighter, eventually becoming pure white. Your eye color can take several different paths, depending on what school you excel in. Your skin will remain bone white for the rest of your days, and it will become more resistance to attacks, both magical and physical. There might be more, but they're individual to the user."
"...Schools?"
"Ah yes, the eight schools of Magic: Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, and Transmutation. Each has their strengths and weaknesses.
Ahem, Abjuration is the art of protective spells. They can create barriers, magical and non-magical, negate special powers, such as chakra, send summoned creatures away, harm trespassers, and other such things. Unfortunately, Abjurers seldom work together as their spells interfere with each other and can even cancel each other out.
Conjuration is the art of summoning creatures, items, etc. to help you out. They can also travel over long distances and even across planes as well as transport objects and create items on the spot. However, there are limitations for even the strongest Conjurors. There is a chance that one of their spells will foul up and the summoned creature or effect will instead turn against them.
Divination is the art of Searching. Utilizing it you could unearth long forgotten spells and secrets, predict the future, find lost items and people, and foil enemy plots and plans. Their strength is also their weakness; a skilled Diviner can easily plant false information and lead a lesser Diviner to their deaths.
Enchantment is the art of Charming. Controlling behaviors, influencing crowds, controlling the mind; all are feats easily within the power of the Enchanter. This is also there downfall, when the Enchantment finally breaks they will be furious with the caster and will fight with whatever they have.
Evocation is the art that defies Law. With it you tap into the energy or power of things to manipulate them to creating a desired effect, mostly offensive. With it, they create something out of nothing. The downside to this is that the attack can grow too powerful and consume the caster as well as the victim.
Illusion is the art of...well, Illusions. They deceive the senses and minds of others, creating things that aren't there, phantom noises, false memories...The reverse of this is more sad than harmful. Eventually, one (or more) of an Illusionist's spells will backfire and cause them to retreat within their own minds with their Illusions.
Necromancy is the art of Life and Death. With it they can bring the dead to life, create unlife, or send others to oblivion, or anything in between. The downside is that we can become consumed by the very techniques we learn, turning us into an undead creature ourselves.
Transmutation is the art of Change. Mixing DNA, changing shape, creating hybrids, and gaining traits of others; all are well known feats for a Transmuter. The downside of this is horrifying. After a while spent near the Chaos energies, the Caster's body starts to morph and atrophy, sometimes to advantage, sometimes to death.
As you know, you'll always be bound irreversibly to the Necromancy School, but that doesn't mean you can't dabble in the other schools."
"Ah...well, seeing as how I'm a FREAKING BEGINNER, I think I'll just stick with Necromancy for now. Now how the hell am I still alive with no blood?"
"Oh, that's simple. Magic."
"...I foresee this as an excuse for many things in the future."
"Hmm, looks like you have a bit of skill in Divination, little Naruto." Morgana gave a small laugh accompanied by a page flutter. "The reason is Magic, but you're asking for the how, am I correct?" Without waiting for a response she continued. "In the place of blood, which you're body excreted through you're pores last night, you have a liquid form of magic stabilizing you're body as it changes the DNA in you're marrow to produce Magic-conductive blood cells. If you were to come into contact with a, Nerull-forbid, Anti-Magic Field, you'd be dead instantly. Luckily for you, there are very few on this plane and none around Konoha."
"So how long will it take to get my blood back? And what happens to the 'liquid magic' when it does?"
"Hmm, I'd say that you'll finish no later than tomorrow noon. As to what'll happen to your Magic, it'll dissipate back into your body allowing you to cast spells again."
"Oh, okay. That sounds...wait, WHAT THE FUCK! I can't cast spells!?!" He dropped Morgana on the floor and began pacing the small confines of his room.
"Only for today and half of tomorrow, it's not that bad."
Naruto stopped pacing, looking at the thick tome lying on the floor. "Oh, yeah, it's not so bad. I'm just defenseless in the middle of a freaking city that loathes me with every fiber of their being. Oh yeah, it'll be a freaking walk in the park."
"You do make a good point, which is why I'm going to help you finish you're scythe."
"How is that going to help? I don't even know how to wield it."
"You will soon enough. Now grab the staff and let's get started."
---
"Father, may I have a word with you." Shino Aburame stood behind his father in their meditation glade, a haven for insects of all types.
Shibi turned his head a fraction from his meditative position in the center of the glade, the bugs streaming in and out of his skin dissipated and the holes closed. Shibi stood up and calmly made his way over to his son. "Yes, Shino. What is it?"
"I...say I have recently discovered a...power that can boost our clan to new heights. It will secure us as much prestige and respect as ever was gained by the Uchiha Clan. Say it can boost our personal powers far beyond what we could think. Would you take this power? Not for yourself, but for the Clan?" All through this Shino stared at his father's feet, not thinking himself worthy to look him in the eye.
"Hmm, what are the drawbacks?"
"I...I don't know."
"So, you're saying that the clan could have great power and prestige, but you wouldn't know the cost? What if the cost was you're clan?"
Shino flinched at the barely disguised Uchiha reference, the same response he feared. "Then I--"
"Don't say such a thing son, for none of us knows what we would do in any given situation. It all depends on the circumstances in which you find yourself at the time. But I would suggest researching this power if you can before you make a final decision."
Shino nodded. "Thank you father. I will see what I can find out."
"Remember Shino, 'Knowledge is the most potent power of all.'"
"Yes, father, the clan motto."
"Good Luck, my son."
"Good training, father."
---
Kiba Inuzuka was worried; his mother hadn't come back from the council meeting yet. She said that she would see him off to his first team meeting. She rarely broke her promises. Just as he was about to leave, he noticed a couple figures off in the distance, the foremost being his mother. He waved his hand above his head to get her attention. "Hey mom! Where've you been?"
Akamaru started to whimper as the procession grew closer. He could now see his mother was restrained by several chains held by four ANBU. His blood froze in his veins, what was happening?
An ANBU split off from the group, one of the ones not holding a chain, and addressed the boy. "Kiba Inuzuka, your family has been charged with treason. Luckily your name was not mentioned among the dissenters. But be aware that a majority of you're family, including your mother, are to be banished. Make no mistake; you will be under heavy watch from now on." The ANBU pushed past the boy and signaled the rest of the ANBU into the building.
Kiba ran to his mother, only to be repelled by the ANBU. on his knees in front of the chain-weilding ANBU he begged his mother, "What happened Mom? What's going on?"
Tsume managed a sick smile as the sounds of screams and breaking furniture filled the air from inside the compound. "Sorry Kiba, looks like I won't be able to see you off today."
---
Ino was happy, plain and simple. The dinner last night went without a hitch. 'Mom really seemed to like him, it was too bad that Dad wasn't here.' She mused to herself as she brushed her hair in front of the vanity mirror. A knock at her door disturbed Ino from her thoughts "Come in!"
Her door opened, revealing the tall form of her father. Ino leapt up from her chair and engulfed her father in a hug. "Daddy! When did you get back?"
Inoichi returned the hug his eyes dark and a bit sad, though Ino couldn't see them. "Oh, I got back late last night. How are you doing, princess?"
Ino pulled back and smiled at her father, "Pretty good daddy. Naruto came over for dinner last night. I hope that's okay."
Inoichi wasn't surprised, seeing as how he was the one who had dinner with them. Still, he let a look of mild surprise cross his face. "Naruto? You're teammate? Did I miss much?"
"Not really, we had a nice dinner. Mom and Naruto really seemed to get along well."
"Oh really? That's good to hear." Inoichi felt like a heel for lying straight to his daughter's face. "Speaking of which, you're mother's not feeling well today. She'll be resting in bed today."
"Oh? She acted a bit off last night; maybe it was something she ate?"
"Ino…how well did you know your classmate, Inuzuka Kiba?"
"Kiba? Well, he was always a loudmouth, kind of like Naruto was before…whatever made him change. Uh, he always had his dog with him, Akamaru I think it was, and he was easy to anger. Why? Did something happen to him?"
Even though Inoichi wasn't responsible for the Clan's sentencing, he couldn't meet his daughter's eyes. "His clan, the Inuzuka, have just been sentenced to be exiled from Konoha."
There was a shocked silence; a look of horror froze Ino's face. Neither spoke, but then again no words were needed.
"T-The entire clan? What did they do?"
"Not all of their clan closer to 80 percent. They were found guilty of committing treason, that's all I'm allowed to tell you, and that the Hokage gave them the choice of exile or execution. There will be a public announcement when the Inuzukas responsible are rounded up and taken to the main square. I-I thought it would be best if you knew ahead of time that Kiba wasn't among the traitors."
"Okay, daddy…thanks." Ino sat back down in front of her vanity mirror and absently began brushing her hair, obviously thinking on the betrayal.
Inoichi sighed, for all the world wishing this hadn't come to pass. If the Hokage wasn't careful, the civilians would rise up in rebellion, fearing the Hokage's power. He had no desire to kill civilians, but Inoichi's place would always be at the Hokage's side as a shinobi, no matter what happened.
"Don't forget Ino, your team is meeting today. Training Ground 11, I think." Ino didn't respond, just continued to brush her already brushed hair. Inoichi sighed quietly and vanished in a small puff of smoke. He hoped Ino would be alright.
---
Kenji Sarutobi watched as the capture and detainment of the traitorous Inuzuka through his newly repaired crystal ball, a dark grin twisting his face in a hideous fashion, accentuated by the shadows and burning light of his eyes. Things were falling into place nicely, very nicely indeed. Kenji's thoughts turned to a stray thought; what would happen to the exiled Inuzuka? Without a doubt they would try to join another village in hopes of revenge, but what village would want proven traitors? Easy, a village that wants what sensitive information the clan has about Konoha and its defenses.
The Hokage's face turned impassive as he watched a child pulled screaming from her mother as then mother was taken into custody. Kenji couldn't let them live, of course. To do so would be foolish, yet he couldn't be traced back to their deaths or it would look very bad for him. He could hire bandits and mercenaries, but that would leave a paper trail back to him too. Danzo would never go with it, especially with his Root ANBU 'disbanded' as they supposedly were. He wouldn't be foolish enough to acknowledge their existence, let alone allow him to use them without some sort of penalty or bribery.
Two brothers and their dog companions were brutally slaughtered after trying to resist arrest, they were in a highly populated civilian area. There was a possibility, though he would have to show his hand a bit to make it work. He should be able to handle it though.
He reached over on his desk and pressed the intercom button as he watched most of the traitors being hauled to the Main Square, where the announcement would be made. "Karin-san, bring me Uzumaki Naruto...after I deal with a little business."
---
Aforementioned boy hobbled down the suddenly emptied streets of Konoha Marketplace. Leaning heavily on a gnarled staff a bit taller than himself, Naruto stopped and shivered badly, as if unprotected in a blizzard. The boy was pale, paler than usual, and never seemed to move his right hand from the staff.
IF any were close, which none were, they would be able to hear the boy quietly mumbling to himself. "W-why i-is it is-so c-cold?"
"It's not that it's cold, it's that you're losing a lot of your magical essence, the thing which is keeping you alive. What you are now experiencing is a mild form of shock because of the constant near-death state you find yourself in." Morgana was currently secured in an elaborate harness of leather straps and reinforced bone segments that held her close to his hip. Her voice was crisp and distant, though you could hear a faint tremor of concern if you listened closely enough, unfortunately Naruto was solely focused on making it down the street.
"Well why the Hell are you making me do this then? A staff is worthless without a wielder, and I seriously doubt there's anyone is even able to wield it anyway." Naruto stopped and shivered violently again, nearly falling to his knees.
"Well, I'll admit it wasn't the best idea. Usually the medium is a Necromancer's blood, which is produced very quickly by the body. It would only result in light headedness or a mild form of shock, but because you're living off of magic, which is produced FAR slower, what you're going through is by far the least of your worries. Don't worry too much, dear Naruto, the drain will lessen over time." Of course, there was a good chance he would die before that happened, Morgana thought.
"Why again...am I doing this...when I'm at...my weakest?" Naruto breathing started to rag, his wheezing extremely loud on the deserted streets.
"Because, dear Naruto, magic in it's purest form is always stronger than blood, which only has a fraction of the power that your magic is currently outputting. So this, while VERY dangerous and, quite honestly, a bad idea, if you survive it, you'll be more powerful than 80 percent of all Nerull's clerics."
"So, it is for power I am risking my life." Naruto's shoulders shook with either pain or silent laughter, it was hard to tell which.
"No, little Naruto, you risk life for survival. Nerull's priests are not of, shall we say, a welcoming are murders and madmen, thieves and mercenaries, pirates and blackguards; all of them evil and coldhearted. When you meet them, you'll need to immediately establish yourself as strong, or else you'll be killed. Literally."
There was a long silence, well, as silent as you could get with your lungs feeling like they were set aflame and torn to shreds. "Don't...don't you mean...if...I meet...them?"
Morgana was silent for a long time, as they neared the Main Square a battle cry rang out, two figures (one obviously bestial by build) tried to run past them, only to be intercepted by another two figures. The human of the first pair was roughly pulled back by her hair, dragged kicking and screaming back toward the market square. The animal, a dog as it turned out, was hogtied by the quick moving partner of the second pair. It too was dragged back snarling and yipping.
"It was always my intention for you to leave this backwater plane, why Father chose it as a home site, I'll never know. It won't be until you're powerful enough though, dear Naruto, so don't let it trouble you. I believe the reason will soon be apparent."
Naruto continued his shuffling gait toward the screams and shouts echoing over the Market Square. As he made it to the backs of the villagers forming the outside of the crowd he let out a violent cough which descended into a racking cacophony of gasping and coughs. He didn't falter in his gait though, for fear of falling and never getting up.
A villager turned angrily around to see what was making the racket so that he couldn't at least listen to what was happening. The blood drained out of his face at the sight of the robed goggled visage of plague and death. Stumbling back into the mass of people, he tried to get as far away from the thing as he could. More and more villagers, both young and old turned and immediately parted for the corpse-like boy. It could be equatable to the Bible's parting of the Red Sea, but some Christians might be offended by the reference.
Naruto continued to stumble and falter toward the center of the Square, gasping and coughing all the way. The villagers didn't know what to make of the figure, none recognized the boy, but hated and feared him just as much for his new appearance. Finally reaching the barricade the ANBu had set up, Naruto stopped unsteadily, bracing himself against the barricade with his left hand, his right still firmly attached to the staff.
He watched as the spectacle unfolded.
---
Kenji stood in the center of the square upon a hastily-constructed platform, the traitors of the Inuzuka shackled and bound behind him. Off to his left he noticed the crows parting allowing a sickly, stumbling figure to pass up to the guardrail. Kenji smirked at the turn of events, he planned to let the boy...well, time for that later. Now he could cull the herd a little.
Turning to the crowds Kenji used a small jutsu to amplify his voice over the loud din of the crowds. "People of Konoha!" The sheep immediately quieted down to listen to their shepherd. "Today traitors have been found among our ranks!" A resurgence of the outcry met his words. A nasty gin ghosted across his face before the crowds quieted again."Never Fear! The traitors have been caught and are before you today!" He waved his arm grandiosely at the bound Inuzukas behind him.
Another outcry, along with several loyal Inuzukas trying to storm the stage met his statement. The loyal Inuzukas were repelled by both the Hokage's glare and the numerous ANBU stationed around and in the crowds. "From a loyal clan member we received unshakable proof that most of the Inuzuka clan have been knowingly subverting information and power to their Clan Head. An offense that is punishable by immediate execution!" If the crowd wasn't already silent, they were now. Only the ragged breathing of the "unknown" figure cut through the silence.
"But, being the generous Hokage I am, I'm allowing each of them a choice. Exile or Death!" Tsume's head popped up from it's bowed position, there was never any mention of this! "Now, if the executioner will ascend to the stage!" A long sweep of his arm singled out the lone figure of to his left.
---
Naruto cocked his head to the side, well, jerking would be a more appropriate term. Who knew that he was supposed to be here. Naruto felt very reluctant to comply with the Hokage's orders before Beast threw in his bit of Wisdom. "Why are you hesitating, idiot? Don't you see? He's giving us a golden opportunity to sacrifice a couple humans to our Lord! Hurry the hell up and get up there, fool!"
Two ANBU removed the guardrail and escorted him up the stairs, helping him when needed. Naruto stood before the Hokage, dropping to a knee in both respect and pain as another seizure contracted his lungs.
---
The Hokage gave a small affectionate smile toward the boy, even if he couldn't see it, and placed a hand on his shoulder. Frowning at the ice-cold temperature of the fabric, and by association his skin, he filed it away as something to ask about later. Letting the boy rise to his feet, Kenji turned to the first in the long line of Inuzuka. "Rai Inuzuka, which do you choose? Exile or execution?"
The bleeding boy of 24 merely stared at the Hokage with hate. "You killed my brother and both of our companions. I choose Death, so that I might be able to see them. Hope to see you in Hell soon, bastard."
Kenji didn't reply or change facial expressions, merely waved Naruto forward.
The boy didn't move for a second before his whole body bobbed and he took several shuffling steps forward lifting his staff as he did so. The more experienced ninja saw an almost invisible shiver at the top of the staff, the civilians saw nothing, which is why they panicked when, as Naruto brought the staff down close to Rai's head, The ninja's head rolled off, completely severed. The other Inuzuka trembled as a grayish mist poured out of Rai's neck and into the tip of the boy's staff, giving the tip a swirling phantom blade, not unlike a scythe's.
Kenji just stood there impassively, watching with little interest, as if he had seen it all before. He turned his head to the second in line, a young Genin by the name of Kin Inuzuka, golden hair slightly bloodied by Rai's death. "Kin Inuzuka, Exile or Execution?"
Kin swallowed hard, but didn't met the man's eyes as she gave her answer. "If it's all the same to you, Hokage-sama I think I'll choose Exile."
---
And so it continued, in full view of the village, many chose Exile, a few with little to lose chose Execution, feeding the executioner's ghostly scythe, the blade becoming more visible and red as more lives were taken. The few who recognized the executioner didn't say a word, and those who didn't both feared and were curious as to the identity of the robed man.
---
Anko bit her lip for two reasons; One to make sure that this wasn't a Genjutsu. That was her student up there acting as executioner for the Hokage! That in itself was both an honor and suicide, well, socially at least. When others found out you executed a Clan on the Hokage's orders, your social standing did tend to plummet. Second was to bite back a pleased moan. All of that blood was making her a bit horny, not that she'd act on it with her student of all people...of course not.
---
Kurenai barely gave a glance at her quivering friend, having a pretty good idea of what was going on in her friend's slummy mind. What really got to her was the duality of what her student was currently representing. On one hand, he could barely stand with the coughing and shaking he was doing, yet he killed each of his targets with perfect precision. The ideal ninja...the perfect ninja...
---
Ino watched with a blank sense of pity for Kiba, having to watch his family die with no way to stop it. At least his sister wasn't caught. Kiba's mother is next, Ino thought...Exile, at least Kiba'll know that his mother is still alive, wherever they go.
Ino flinched as the next Inuzuka chose death, head neatly severed from her neck as the 'blade' of Naruto's weapon became redder from the blood of the corpse. Her father hugged her tighter to him, as if trying to shield her from what was happening. Too late, she thought, far too late.
---
Shino watched with interest, perhaps this was one of the side effects his father had mentioned; bouts of debilitating sickness. Although it didn't look as debilitating as he thought with the unerring cuts from Naruto's scythe. A facade perhaps? Just another in a long line of questions the young Aburame had stored in his head. His bugs buzzed and shifted uncomfortable under his skin, they were uncomfortable with their host's line of thought but, as stated previously, would follow him even after death.
---
Kiba just cried as he saw most of his family meticulously killed off or exiled. The uncle who had taught him to interpret a dog's barks, killed. The aunt who always greeted him and Akamaru with cookies and biscuits, exiled. His own mother, the one who raised him, the supposed ringleader, Exiled.
It wasn't fair! He had just been assigned to his own team; sure it was comprised of an emo, a fangirl, and an extremely lazy sensei, but it was his damnit! Why is it when he gets something he wants, he loses something of equal value?
When he got Akamaru? Akamaru's mother died. When he entered the Academy? His father died in a battle. And now this? maybe he should just quit now and become a... a... hell, he didn't even know what he wanted to be if not a ninja! Hana just stood off to the side, dead to the world. she had been like that ever since he met up with her after they drug Mom away. At first he tried to talk to her, ask her what was wrong, but she wouldn't respond, just stand still or follow whoever was leading her.
What had he done to deserve this? Why him, why the fuck did the Kami have to choose him of all people to screw around with? Another of his family fell to the bastard's blade, Kami...no, Shinigami damn him! As if struck, the executioner whirled around, sending a spray of blood into the crowd as his latest victim's head thumped to the floor.
As Kiba's eyes met the executioner's bloodstained goggles he swore two things; he would restore his Clan to greatness, and get revenge on both Kami and that bastard executioner!
---
A man at the back of the crowd leaning against a storefront window merely smirked at the notepad in his hands as he continued writing. The top hat he had tipped seemingly over his eyes seemed to tip even more to where it looked to topple off his head at any moment. "I welcome the challenge, little one. Let's see how far you can go."
In a whirl of coattails and black pinstripe, the man vanished into thin air with nary a whisper.
---
They were almost to the last, another had chosen Death and his family on either side had the bloodstains to prove it. They had now come to the last, a girl no older than 12, 14 at the most. It is here that we resume Naruto's perspective.
---
Blood. It stained his robes and coated his mouth, it accompanied every prayer to Nerull and warmed him more than any other fire could. He felt ultimately and unusually content as he swung his scythe. At least the drain has lessened and the pain wasn't so bad..
It was down to the last Inuzuka, like all before the Hokage stepped up to them and asked them a simple question. "Kaori Inuzuka. Exile or Execution?"
The only difference is that she neither looked at the Hokage nor responded. While this wasn't unusual, what was was that she was staring directly at me. A spatter of crimson marred her slightly tanned skin, a testament to her outdoor lifestyle, yet she didn't even seem to notice as the Hokage asked a second time. Instead she mouthed the word, "Beautiful" while looking Naruto directly into his goggled eyes.
Naruto didn't know what to make of the girl, he remembered her vaguely from his class, always carring around a camera and snapping shots of random things. She even took a couple of me when she though I wasn't looking, Naruto remembered.
The Hokage asked for a third time and, with no answer, waved Naruto forward to finish the job. Naruto did not wish to kill someone who though of him without hate or prejudice, yet it was his duty. He stepped up to her and raised the scythe high above his head like he had done for score before. Kaori merely smiled sadly with a look of acceptance in her eyes. She closed her eyes and bared her neck, to make it easier for him.
Naruto was about to bring the blade down on her exposed neck when he felt a malicious presence behind him, killer intent blazing. With a sweeping rake, Naruto went over Kaori's head and slashed at the presence ehind him, slicing off an armed hand int the process, with an expert backswing he separated the man's upper body from his lower. As blood sprayed everyone onstage and the first few rows of the crowd Kaori opened her eyes and gave a watery smile. "Beautiful."
Naruto turned from the body and limped over to the Hokage, ignoring the screaming as best he could from the crowd. Waiting until the Hokage was done with the ANBU that materialized into being he beckoned the Hokage down to his level so he could whisper, the best he could pass for "talking" right now, into the old man's ear. "I wish to keep this one."
---
Kenji merely raised an eyebrow; an assassination attempt and he wants to keep a traitor? "How do I know she won't betray the village again?"
The boy dropped a shaky bloodstained hand to stroke the holstered book at his side almost lovingly and replied in a croak, "We have our ways."
Kenji didn't reply. Instead, he turned to the horror-striken crowd and proclaimed, "The traitors have been either exiled or eliminated! Let us pray an... incident such as this will never have to be repeated. You may go back about your business."
"Oh, Naruto." The Hokage called in a lower voice. "I expect to see you in my office in no less than an hour; we'll have lunch."
---
Gah, I know I know, too short. But it was the best I could do for tie time alloted, which may seem like a lot to some, but really it's a crunch. Not to mention New Years and Christmas taking place. Anyway be ready for a massacre next chapter and Naruto's first mission!
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Thanks to everyone who's ever reviewed and to all who will continue to review. I honestly appreciate your feedback. Look periodically at both my profile and forum for new polls, topics, discussions, etc.
Post Script- I can't believe that I spent over 7000 words on ONE MORNING! It's not even 12:00 story time. Talk about slow, huh? Oh well, I'm proud of myself and yet I'm ashamed as well. I was actually supposed to have this chapter at about 9000 words, but it seemed like the best place to stop. Sorry about that. I'll have the extre 2000 words next chapter.