Chapter Eleven: The Torii of Hidden Sands

"Show me a man with a tattoo and I'll show you a man with an interesting past."
- Jack London

Ryuu, it seemed, was leading him somewhere.

To what end, that had yet to be determined but Iruka was content with letting the dragon guide him because he was lost in his own emotions at the present.

Iruka had never been a very good shinobi, he supposed. He had too many emotions and not enough strength, not enough chakra. He had convinced himself that his emotions were his strength. Always told himself that. Maybe they were, maybe they weren't. He may have been hardworking and complacent with his lot in life. He may have died for Konoha at one time…but he did know one thing for certain. He had never been the greatest tool for Konoha to wield. That had been left to the likes of Naruto or Kakashi. He was no Copy-nin. No Jinchuriki. He just didn't have that kind of skill or power.

But did it have to be that way?

Maybe there was…another way?

He had been flying through the trees silently for the past few days stopping only when absolutely necessarily. Ryuu was uncommonly silently beside him. Suddenly, Iruka stopped on a branch suddenly and turned to the dragon. Iruka was out of breath, panting lightly.

"Ryuu…I've got a question for you." Iruka breathed, licking his lips nervously. "Is there…any way that I can…obtain more chakra?"His voice was quiet, hesitant in the night air.

The dragon chuckled, it was a deep sound and a few rings of smoke bellowed out of his nostrils. "Of course, my friend. But it is a journey fraught with much peril…" Ryuu appeared as if he had been expecting this question. This turn of events.

"Great…oh…is that all?" Iruka quirked his mouth.

"You're already on the path, Dolphin." Ryuu said with a flutter of his great wings.

Iruka didn't know how to respond to that. Again he had the overwhelming feeling that the dragon had anticipated that he would ask? Did he mean that they were on the way literally or was it a metaphor? He frowned. He hated feeling like he was being manipulated. Iruka scratched at the scar on his nose and stared at the dragon. It was odd, because the damn dragon was actually quite horrible at playing shogi. He narrowed his gaze at Ryuu.

"Can you teach me how to do Madara's Space–Time Ninjutsu? I may have seen him perform it but I have no idea how to even begin contemplating how to do it. I need someone to teach me…. I mean, I know I've got the sharingan but seeing is one thing, and doing is another."

"I'm sorry, Dolphin. I cannot help you with that task. That is out of my area of expertise." The dragon managed to shrug. How that was possible with the wings and everything, Iruka wasn't sure.

Damnit. If the dragon couldn't teach him that, then that would mean he would eventually have to seek out someone he really, really didn't exactly want to seek out to teach him the jutsu. Iruka rubbed his throbbing temple at the mere concept of having to go to Jiraiya at some point for training. Would that damn old pervert, would always be a thorn in his side, no matter what life he lived? It would also mean having to probably explain everything to the man because even if he was an old pervert, he wasn't stupid. Well, he would just have to deal with that when it came to it. Which wasn't right now.

Iruka sighed, looked around at the forest and realized they were actually a few days into the direction of Kaze no Kuni, The Land of Wind, or Suna. Is this where his Ryuu's path was taking him? He had always rather enjoyed Suna, and considered the deserts beautiful. But of course, he loved the warm weather and the sun.

"What about the sharingan? Can you teach me anything about that?" Iruka asked hopefully, although he already knew the dragon could offer little assistance with it. But a man could hope…

Ryuu shook his head. "Sorry, Dolphin. Book learning only. Unless…"

"No." Iruka said firmly. There were only now six Uchiha's left in the world including Kakashi and himself into the mix and he wasn't going to any of the other five for training. He couldn't think of anyone else who could possibly help him. He sighed. He would just have to think about it later. He had been around Kakashi, Itachi and Sauske long enough…maybe he could teach himself? Maybe it wouldn't be so hard? He was probably completely kidding himself, but it was all he had right now. That's right, Iruka, lie to yourself, it makes everything better. He snorted.

"Book learning and practical hands on experience it is." The dragon nodded then looked around at the forest.

Iruka sighed pointedly. "Shall we keep going?"

"As you wish." Ryuu said with a grin.

Then they were flying off through the trees again. It took about a week and a half of days before Ryuu drew a halt to their meandering path through Suna. The days were long. After a few days they were no long flying through trees with the shade of trees to cover them. The sun beat down on Iruka's back as he jumped over sand dunes, flying aided with little pushes of chakra, little gusts of sand flying off the backs of his feet. Ryuu flew gracefully in the air beside him. He offered to carry Iruka, but he declined. It was actually kind of fun to jump with chakra over the sand dunes and then when you got to the top of one, you would slide down to the bottom of the next one. All of the sand and hills looked much the same to Iruka, but the dragon pressed on, guiding him in some direction of his choosing, a hidden compass within him, steering him up one dune and past another.

Iruka was very surprised when suddenly the sand dunes began sloping downward and opened up into a small valley. There were tall palm trees and even a small pool that was deep and black. Beside the calm pool there were a few palm trees and a red Torri gate. A shrine in the middle of the desert, Iruka thought. The little oasis was really quite beautiful with the pool and the palms and the Torri.

He turned to the dragon and arched an eyebrow in surprise but before he could say anything Ryuu spoke.

"This is our destination, Dolphin." Ryuu said with a broad smile.

Iruka turned around and looked again. They had obviously come because of the Shrine. It was the only reason for the destination. There was nothing else here. But…why? How as this supposed to help? He narrowed his eyes.

"Ryuu…please explain." Iruka said starting to get angry. "We have just traveled to all the way to Suna for almost two weeks. I admit, this place is very pretty. But I'm not getting it."

"Now, Dolphin. Let me explain." Ryuu smiled again. "This is The Torii of Hidden Sands."

"You say that like that is supposed to mean something." Iruka said, his patience wearing thin. Very thin. He needed to eat. He had been living on ration bars for the past two weeks. Iruka liked to eat.

"Oh, but it does." The dragon said patiently. "Do you remember me telling you that I was over five hundred years old? I truly am. And part of that goes with the knowledge of many things. You asked me how you could gain more chakra and here is a way." He paused and seemed to be listening to the wind for a moment almost. And maybe he was. "Iruka…have you ever heard of… The Enenra?"

Iruka had been watching the dragon curiously and he pulled back in shock, tripping over a rock and falling onto the ground landing on his ass. He felt stupid but he didn't care. Iruka sat there and stared up at the dragon. "What!"

"The Enenra." Ryuu repeated.

"I heard you the first time, you brainless dolt." Iruka muttered. "Those are bedtime stories made up to frighten children, Ryuu."

"No, they are not." The dragon said. "Well, I suppose they are, but they are also real."

Iruka stood up and pointed at Ryuu. "What are saying?"

Ryuu started to speak but Iruka cut him off.

"The Enenra are monsters!"Iruka said uncaring that his voice had gone up an octave in anger.

"Would you hear me out, Iruka?" Ryuu said, his voice gruff, actually using his name, his real name for the second time in a span of a month. "Damn gay ninja." He added after a second under his breath.

"Fine, what." Iruka said, arms crossed across his chest.

"The Enenra…are extremely powerful. They are beings of air, wind and smoke. Their power isn't not wholly, inherently evil. The power is all in the wielder, Iruka. It's just power. It is who employs the power – to be employed in whatever fashion it's wielder chooses. Don't you see damnit?" Ryuu said loudly.

Iruka looked at the dragon carefully for a few minutes and exhaled.

"Why Ryuu? What is your fee? Your toll? What do you get out of all this? Madara knew you. Madara was genuinely afraid of you. I find it hard to believe that you're doing this all out of some altruistic need…tell me Ryuu…what do you want from me. Why me?"

Ryuu laughed heartily. "You know, it's funny. I'm not sure myself. In all my existence I've never met anyone quite like you. You asked me to be your friend instead of commanding me. It's the funniest thing. I've been summoned and commanded my whole existence and now I want nothing more to see your dream of a peaceful Konoha coming true. Is that the gayest thing you've ever heard or what?" The dragon laughed again a few smoke plumes emitted from his nostrils.

Iruka looked at him and nodded. "That is pretty gay."

"Shut up." Ryuu snorted.

"And Madara is completely off his rocker and I am not." Ryuu added.

Iruka uncrossed his arms and sighed then looked up at the stars in the sky for a long while. Neither of them spoke for long moments.

"Tell me more about these…Enenra." Iruka sighed again.

"They were once monks but they were murdered, here at their shrine, The Torii of Hidden Sands." Ryuu paused.

"Why were they murdered?" Iruka asked.

"Roving band of marauders. Rock ninjas, if I remember my lore correct. As they lay dying they cursed the Torri gate that if anyone disturbed their slumber that their power would comeback thousand-fold and they would die by the air, wind and smoke of their hate." Ryuu said. "They were all burned in a giant bonfire."

"That's terrible!" Iruka was horrified.

"I agree." The dragon agreed. "Remember when I said that the journey would be fraught with much peril?"

Iruka eyed the dragon warily, remembering their earlier conversation. "Yes."

"Well, we're going to get to that part soon I think." Ryuu stated.

"Explain yourself, dragon." Iruka said curtly, reaching for a ration bar in his kunai pouch. It wasn't a meal, but he had a feeling he was going to want something to eat.

"Heh. Well…see…The Enenra…are picky. It is said that an Enenra can only be seen by the pure of heart. This is why I thought immediately of you. You're so good and true and…well nice." Ryuu said honestly. "You have to wait until they choose you. It won't be painful or anything. Just wait and see if they choose you. The painful part is the process, that's all."

Iruka chewed steadily on his ration bar, eying the dragon.

"What process?" He asked.

"Eh…well, see…" Ryuu scratched the side of his head with the tip of his wing.

"What process, Ryuu…!" Iruka pointed at him with the last half of the ration bar.

"Well, they infuse you with their chakra. It will give you more chakra, Iruka." The dragon said quietly. "A lot more."

Iruka considered this. "But what do I give up? What do I become? Would it be like Naruto? Would I have something like the nine-tails inside me?" He couldn't help it but his hand was trembling slightly. The ration bar felt like a rock in his stomach. Oh kami, was he going to throw up?

"No, nothing like that I think. You would need to talk to them actually if they choose you. Honestly they haven't chosen to accept anyone in hundreds of years so… And if you are chosen you become a wielder. You can wield the Enenra – Uhhh…I think." Ryuu frowned. "I'm not exactly sure of the particulars."

Iruka looked pissed. "If they haven't accepted anyone in hundreds of years…why in Kami's name do you think they'd take me? I'm just…me!"

The dragon sighed. "Well, all of the monks each have different personalities and agendas. Maybe one of them will take a shine to you."

"You brought me all the way out here and you don't even know exactly the process or how it works…all on the bare sliver of a chance that they may like me? This is ridiculous, Ryuu!" Iruka's voice erupted in anger. "I can't believe I let my hopes get up for this. Honestly!" He ran a hand through his hair and looked around at the tranquil setting. He kicked a rock and set his pack down. At least they would make camp. He was too tired to leave.

"I think it's more than bare sliver of a chance, Dolphin." Ryuu said.

"Oh shut up." Iruka snorted and pulled out a bar of soap, a blanket and a book from his bag. "Do you think it would offend the monks if I took a bath in that pool?"

"I don't think so?" The dragon said cautiously.

Iruka walked over to the pool and took a quiet bath, happy for the first time in weeks to be clean. The water was very cold and he couldn't feel the bottom but he made it quick and he pulled himself out, dried off and redressed himself quickly. He walked back over to his pack, started a small fire within a sealed circle so that it couldn't be seen from any intruders. There was no smoke, heat or fire could be detected, yet he could feel the warmth. It was a nifty jutsu Izumo had taught him years back when they were both genin together.

He was sighing over his memories when he saw the first one.

At first he thought it was just his mind playing tricks on him. A breeze lifting the sand…but then he realized it was a figure. And not Ryuu, because the dragon had settled into the sand to sleep beside him. The figure was…transparent like smoke…slightly akin to a shadow, but with two eyes like fire peering at him. It was drifting just past him hazily, almost warily. And then it was gone. Iruka sat up instantly, the hair on the back of his neck standing at attention. The Enenra were…the things of ghost stories, after all. They were the things that went bump in the night. He swallowed instinctively and shivered as his arms rose with gooseflesh even though the night air was very warm in Suna.

He desperately wanted to call out into the night, to ask who was there, but he didn't. After all, he knew what was there. Ryuu had told him. It would just sound silly and stupid. And Iruka was neither. He saw another figure to his left, much the same, transparent, this one taller, and its eyes staring at him as well. Then it was gone. This continued and Iruka frowned. Were they going to…talk to him? Ask him any questions? How were they going to know if he was acceptable if they just stared at him? Honestly, it was kind of rude really. He went back to his book and decided to ignore them if they were just going to stare. Iruka could be rude if they were going to be rude, too.

This mutual ignoring continued for about two weeks, while Iruka continued camping at the shrine, trapping for small animals, eating meals and reading his books. He practiced his katas, worked with his wakizashi blades as best he could by himself, trained with Samehada, went back to reading, created a few new genjutsu's. He even started practicing some of the kobudō techniques from the purloined book of Itachi's even if it hurt to look at the book. There were now about thirty different Enenra studying him from his last count. Apparently they were okay with letting him see them. Occasionally one of them would brush past him but mostly they kept to themselves…and ignored him. Which was pissing him off.

One of them, though, a short one, with round purple eyes usually tended to be close to him, Iruka noticed. Maybe that one was keeping watch over him. He had no idea. How was he supposed to know what was going on in the minds of monsters? Especially when they didn't speak? Oh, and don't get the wrong idea, he tried talking to them. He talked to them all the time. He talked to himself. The Torii of Hidden Sands was constantly filled with his voice when he spoke with Ryuu or just muttering to himself. They just never spoke back. He was getting pretty fed up. Ryuu was even starting to doubt it and that was saying something since he had been pretty confident in the beginning. But after two weeks, well, it's enough to shake anyone's confidence. Even Ryuu, whose confidence is as large as the Hokage monument is tall.

Iruka was reading the book on kobudō one afternoon with his feet in the pool, reclining back. He had taken his shirt off and ripped one of the pairs of pants into modified shorts; it was too dammed hot in Suna to think of wearing anything except shorts. He was sun bronzed and tanned, his hair unbound and laying around his shoulders.

"Tell me your story, mortal." A voice asked politely, quietly.

Iruka looked up in alarm, dropping the book. It was that short Enenra. It was speaking to him. And it had a shape, a body. It was a short little blue man. No, it was a regular man but it was wearing some sort blue paint over his body with two red dots on one on each of his cheeks. Not to mention his purple glowing eyes. It was very unnerving. It wasn't a human. It was…an En-en-ra!

"Uh…uh…" Iruka tried not to pull away from the man but it was hard not to. He forced his breathing to a more normal pace and picked up the book he had dropped. This is what he wanted, right? They had been waiting for weeks for one of these damn spirits, these monsters to speak to him. And now it was approaching him and he was stuttering and shaking like a child.

He took a deep breath. "My name is Umino Iruka." He stated in a clear voice.

The little blue man nodded. "I know, mortal. You talk to yourself a lot." The man seemed to smile slightly. "And your dragon companion does call you Dolphin."

Iruka's eyes widened slightly. He felt the sharingan whirling to a life of their own.

"There are no shortage of mortals who long to kneel before us. Always have been. They all want our power. This is not new. They bring us gifts and promise us tithe. I've never seen anyone camp out here and read before. You appear to be ignoring us for the most part. Are you arrogant or just dim-witted?" The short Enenra inquired, its purple eyes peering into Iruka's soul.

Iruka's eyes widened even further and he blushed.

"I was bored!" Iruka stated finally, and a little loudly, he realized belatedly, his anger getting the best of him. Did he just yell at the man? Damn, his cursed anger!

The Enenra continued to watch him.

"Eh, Ryuu said to just wait so I did and I got bored so I read and practiced my katas…" Iruka finished lamely.

"Tell me why you have sought us out." The blue man sat down across from Iruka, crossing his legs and nodded.

Iruka looked at the ethereal monk with his blue painted face and for the life of him he couldn't think of why he sought them out. Frankly, this place was Ryuu's grand idea. He had never heard of the damn place. He really didn't know why he was here. He just wanted more chakra. So he told the Enenra, might as well be honest.

"I need more chakra." Iruka said simply.

The blue man nodded.

"Do you know what we are?" The monster asked.

"You are the Enenra." Iruka answered.

"Yes and No." He answered. "That is what we have been called at times, yes. But it is not all that we are." He paused his strange purple eyes glittering brightly. "We are the air in the trees, the wind in the storms, the smoke in the fire, the shadows at night. We are tornados, hurricanes, and firestorms. And if you wield the Chikara, you can have that in your hands. Is that what you want?"

Iruka gave the man a quelling glance. "Honestly, I'm not sure."

"Damnit, Dolphin, what sort of answer is that!" Ryuu interjected hotly.

Iruka turned and shook his fist at the dragon. He hadn't even sensed the damn creature coming up behind him, because he was so intent on the visitor.

"I'm being honest, Ryuu! I'm not going to lie!" Iruka yelled at the dragon. "You didn't even tell me what the damn mysterious process is and how exactly do I get infused with all this chakra? You said it was painful! I'm waiting for the catch, Ryuu. This all sounds a little too good to be true…!"

Iruka turned back towards the little blue man and sat down, blushing fiercely. He hated it when he lost his temper. He scratched at the scar on his nose and huffed.

The small man was slightly smiling at him. "Of course there is a 'catch' as you put it. A few of them." He nodded to Iruka. "First, we haven't even agreed to accept to you. Secondly, if we do choose, it is very painful. You may not even survive the process. If you do, of course…you are forever bound to the power or Chikara through a tattoo or Irezumi that will mark your body. The bond forged between you and that Enenra that chooses you is forever. That bond, or Saiken, is forever. It is somewhat like when you have a summon creature…but different. Very different. You will be able access the power through the Chikara or fight side by side with your Enenra…or both. It is different for everyone." Finally the blue man stopped talking.

"One question though…the Saiken will bind us together, but…does it…?" Iruka asked tentatively, unsure what he was trying to ask.

The blue man shook his head. "The Saiken, Irezumi or Chikara; none of them enslave you Iruka-san. They do not impede your ability to think for yourself, to make your own decisions. Your heart will be your own."

Iruka stared. Okay, that didn't sound that bad. Well, maybe it did, he didn't know. It sounded okay in theory, he supposed. There was pain, this binding process…a tattoo, that couldn't be so bad. He could probably cover up the tattoo discretely. And he already had one summon creature, what was one more? And like Ryuu said…the power wasn't evil…it was all about who wielded the power.

Iruka swallowed, and then nodded. "Okay, so…"

"I have chosen you." The small man said suddenly, his purple eyes glowing.

"Oh." Iruka said and he pulled his legs out of the water, suddenly feeling like he should sit properly or offer him tea or something. He sat up properly and ran a hand through his hair. "That makes sense; I assume you don't usually speak to people or tell them about the process unless you have already chosen them?"

"You are correct." The blue man smiled.

"What can I call you? I think if we're going to do this I should know your name. Forever is a pretty long time…" Iruka smiled crookedly.

"Kokoro." He stated.

"Nice to meet you." Iruka said inclining his head. "I'm Iruka, and I'm a bit of a thief. You said you wanted to hear my story and that's kind of where my story starts….I was fourteen and I broke into a secret place and stole a very special scroll. I didn't know what it was at the time, but it was to change the course of my whole life. Konoha's destiny, actually. It was a scroll for time travel." Iruka paused to let that take effect. Of course the blue man with the odd blue dots on his cheeks didn't seem to be phased really so he went back to his story.

Iruka continued, "I kept the scroll hidden. I didn't really have any idea when I might need such a thing. And frankly the scroll requires one to pulse your entire life's chakra into it. So I would have to, well, die to do it. I was twenty-seven when such an occasion actually arose. I was murdered. Well…I'm getting ahead of my story actually, because this is a pretty good story."

The blue man stood. "Iruka, while you tell your story, I will begin the process if you don't mind. It will keep your mind off the pain."

Iruka looked at him in apprehension. "What? You're going to start now?" He asked the blue man.

"Yes." The Kokoro stated.

Iruka took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay…what…do I have to do?"

"I will need you to strip and purify yourself in the pool, please. They lay down before the Torii gate. It will be very painful and may take a few days for the process to complete. You may pass out from time to time from the pain. You must be awake while the process is going on so I will have to wake you up and then start up again. You are only allowed ten minutes of slumber, though because the dyes used in the Irezumi can be toxic in large quantities and I need to monitor you for blood poisoning."

"Large quantities? How many tattoos am I getting?" Iruka said in alarm.

"Just one." The blue man said calmly.

"Oh, okay." Iruka, nodding to himself. Okay, he could deal with one tattoo. "I'm going to take the bath now."

Iruka quickly took his shorts off, and then jumped into the pool. The water was as icily cold as before. He dunked his head and slicked back his hair, then hopped out. He padded over to the Torri gate and sat down looking at the man anxiously. He had a red bowl full of black ink and was holding needles. He really was going to get tattooed. Boring, desk ninja, chuunin, academy sensei Iruka-sensei was getting tattooed in the middle of the desert in Suna. He couldn't suppress a small nervous giggle as he sat down. He laid down on the flat rock that the blue man was gesturing towards. It was vaguely rust-colored and oddly comfortable. He sighed.

"Tell me your story, Iruka." The man prompted. "It's important. Your story is part of the pattern in your Irezumi. Your Irezumi will tell the story of who you are, where you've been, where you're going and who you will be one day." He said starting to poke him with his little needle in his chest. Thankfully it was somewhere which would be covered with a shirt.

For some reason, Iruka was starting to feel sleepy and he started telling him about being a child, about growing up in Konoha. About the nine-tails attack and his parents and childhood. About falling in love with Kakashi. About team seven and Naruto. About that point he passed out from the pain. A short while later Kokoro woke him up. Iruka groaned when he started poking him with his damn needle again. His whole body felt on fire. He couldn't even see. The man kept telling him to tell him his story. Where was he? Oh yeah, the Akatsuki. So he told him about the Akatsuki, about each of them even though it was a pointless exercise. Madara was sure to probably use different people this time.

He told Kokoro about being captured by the Akatsuki because he was Kakashi's lover and Naruto's father-figure. He told him about being tortured and finally being killed by Itachi. But before dying he had used the scroll that he stolen all those years ago to come back…that the body he had right now…this eighteen-year old body…well, it was really merely a vessel. He told Kokoro that was why he had sought him out, because he wanted peace for Konoha. That there was a battle coming and someone had to be there to defend his home.

Iruka passed out again and then woke up to find Ryuu watching. He continued telling his story. The man was right; it did help take his mind off to tell his story. He told him all about Itachi, about his guilt, how he had tried so hard to change things but instead he had just messed things up worse. Madara had come and taken Shisui, and killed the entire clan despite all of his plans. He was still partly in love with Kakashi, he couldn't help it. But he also couldn't help all of the new feelings and emotions that he was feeling for Itachi. He laughed when heard Ryuu muttering 'damn gay ninjas' under his breath. Where was the dragon? He still couldn't see…the pain was so much.

He passed out again. Kokoro was waking him again, his body was humming with pain, he was shaking with a fever, and he could feel it. His lips were parched. He asked for something to drink and some water was pressed to his lips. It wasn't enough but the Enenra told him if he drank any more he would most likely throw it up from the pain. He was probably right. Iruka shivered and tried to nod in agreement but he wasn't sure if the gesture was noticeable in all his shivering. He heard Ryuu asking Kokoro if this was normal, if he was going to be all right but he didn't hear the response because he closed his eyes and darkness followed. He passed out.

Iruka woke and Kokoro was speaking to him. It took him a few shakes of his head to focus on him. He was talking, telling him something.

"You have a task, Iruka-san. Part of the Saiken process…it requires a blood sacrifice." Kokoro said simply.

He realized he could see again and he was looking into the face of the blue man, although the two blue dots on his face were swimming in front of his face, so maybe he couldn't quite see that well. Iruka's body was still wracked with shivers and he wasn't sure he could stand. A blood sacrifice? What was he talking about?

"Like killing a goat or something?" Iruka said weakly.

"Not exactly." Kokoro stated. "You must kill all of us again; it is a ritual reminder of our slaughter."

Iruka blinked. "What?" He looked around and realized all of the shadowy Enenra were now also in human forms, also painted blue with the two blue dots on their cheeks, much like Kokoro. All thirty of them were standing around on the dunes surrounding the oasis, watching them.

"You must kill all of us. And drag our bodies into the pool." Kokoro paused. "Kill me last, my blood must be spilled over your body, it is part of the binding ritual, part of the Saiken that will bind us together." He explained it so matter of factly as if he wasn't talking about Iruka walking around slaughtering thirty people. Thirty people who were just standing there. He didn't want to kill them.

"Kokoro…I don't want to just kill everyone. That's terrible. I feel horrible about you guys getting killed the first time…it seems…wrong, don't you think?" Iruka's sad brown eyes, full of pain from the process; groggy and confused couldn't seem to make sense of this. There was an odd expression on the short blue monk's face. "Isn't there any other way?"

The smaller man sighed and Iruka realized it was wistfulness. "I'm sorry, but this is our curse. And this is part of the Saiken."

Iruka nodded and stood with difficulty. He was still having trouble seeing and wasn't sure why his limbs were not cooperating properly. His entire body was on fire and he was still shaking with a fever. But he would deal with that later. It seemed he had to finish this. He thought about calling to Samehada but that sword was too big for this task. He limped over to his campsite and picked up his wakizashi blade, caressing the Uchiha fan on the hilt lightly, absently, unaware that he was even doing it. Kokoro watched him as he walked up to the first of the other monks; Iruka bowed respectfully and thanked him and ended his life as quickly and humanely as possible, then carried him to the pool carefully and gently laid him into the water. He repeated the process for the rest of the monks, occasionally taking breaks because he was very weak and shivering. He almost passed out at one point and he might have gotten lost behind a rock because his vision was impaired but a very kindly smiling Enenra helped point him back the right way towards the Torri gate before he bowed and sacrificed him. Vaguely Iruka wondered in the back of his mind if these spirits would be back later in their spirit form?

When he was finished he limped back over to the rock where the Irezumi had been preformed, where Kokoro was waiting. Iruka sighed and sat down.

"Now you just have to kill me and make sure to smear my blood on your body." Kokoro said.

"Gah, that's so…ahh…kinda gross." Iruka managed to say. He was very tired and so much pain at this point. His body was on fire and the shivering was back.

"My blood is the final seal to forge the bond or Saiken between my chakra and yours. It must be done." Kokoro said forcefully. "Now kill me."

Iruka said as a fierce shiver wracked his body. "I hate killing."

"Then you picked the wrong profession, mortal." The Enenra stated, looking down at him curiously.

"They used to call me Iruka-sensei…" Iruka said wistfully to himself, picking up his blade. He realized he wasn't making any sense. It was the fever talking. The pain talking. Possibly having recently told his memories to the little blue man.

Kokoro smiled brightly. "I think I have a better name for you actually but I'll tell you later."

Iruka sat up and easily killed him. It wasn't hard, none of the monks fought back after all. And they were shirtless. The blade easily sliced thought their soft bellies. They didn't even have a surprised look on their face. Just…an accepting one.

But…Kokoro's face looked…eager, excited though. No, that wasn't it. He looked…Happy. That was interesting, Iruka thought as the man lay dying on top of him, his blood spilling on top of him. Iruka was very grossed out at this point, but he did as he was instructed and rubbed the blood onto his body even though it hurt very much. His body was already screaming in agony just doing nothing, but touching his skin. He exhaled through his teeth in pain.

Wait, Iruka wondered, did he have to carry Kokoro to the pool, too? He probably should. He had done so with all the other monks. He unsteadily got to his feet and gently carried the man to the pool and laid him into the black water, watching as the little monk was quickly overtaken by the liquid and soon disappeared from sight.

It wasn't long before Iruka felt the change in his body. Like a jolt of electricity, really. Not a sexual one. It was like it coursed over his whole body with…power. With…vitality. With…Chakra. This was it. He realized he wasn't feeling so bad anymore, the fever wasn't so overpowering and the shaking had subsided. He was still in pain but he could see better. He looked down at his body and belatedly realized that he was literally covered in tattoos. From his ankles up his calves and thighs, along his abdominals and chest, he turned his head and it looked all along his backside as well, on both his arms – he was decorated with swirling tribal tattoos. Not completely covered in the sense you couldn't see his skin or anything. No, they complimented his tanned flesh quite nicely. It was one long, delicate swirling tattoo from one end of his body to the other.

Well, this was not going to be covered up as easily as he thought idly. Iruka scratched the scar on his nose absently. Maybe he should've asked Kokoro more clearly exactly how large the one fucking tattoo was going to be before he'd allowed him to tattoo him.

"Ryuu?" Iruka asked, his voice hoarse. He turned and looked at the dragon, his eyes narrowed.

"Yes?" The dragon said, his voice surprisingly close.

"Please tell me my face isn't tattooed."

"No, Dolphin. Your face is unmarked except for the usual scar." Ryuu said. "You look totally of badass."

At least his face wasn't tattooed. His cock was did not make it so unscathed. He was going to kill Kokoro.

Iruka sighed. "I don't want to look badass. I want to look like me."

"Looking like a badass has some advantages, Dolphin." Ryuu stated but Iruka wasn't listening.

"There is a tattoo on my penis, Ryuu." Iruka stated.

Ryuu looked.

"Don't look!" Iruka turned around.

"I told Kokoro you'd be pissed about that." Ryuu laughed merrily. "At least he didn't put one on your face, right?"

Iruka pouted. "What will they say when I go back to Konoha looking like this?"

"Itachi will think it's hot." Ryuu snickered and Iruka shot him a dark look.

"Don't be cranky. Want me to get something for dinner?" The dragon offered. "You're always bitchy when you need to eat."

He looked at Ryuu and tried to fight a smile. That was an usually nice offer from him, especially since Iruka typically did the cooking. But honestly he didn't want to eat anything the dragon would cook. He was spectacularly bad at food preparation. Although sometimes he wondered if he did it on purpose just to make Iruka cook because he knew that Iruka would never eat bad food. He wouldn't put it past the lazy creature to do pull stunt like that.

"No, I'll cook something. You burn water." Iruka said with a sniffed then walked over to their campsite gingerly. Tattoos hurt.

Iruka was making a stew of sorts with some left over rabbit that Ryuu had caught sometime before when the Enenra approached. It had keen purple eyes and it spoke softly. Its voice brushed against Iruka's skin.

"The Saiken is complete. I'm glad you survived the process, Iruka-san." Kokoro's voice said in the wind.

"Are you going to take human form, Kokoro? I have a few bones to pick with you…" Iruka said menacingly. He was trying to stay calm but it was hard. He was still in a lot of pain and every time he looked down he kept seeing the tattoos everywhere all over his body and it kept pissing him off. There were tattoos on his penis for Kami's sake! Was that truly necessary!

"I will, I was just deciding on my form." The transparent smoke Enenra stated somewhat shyly. "You see, once I choose form that is it unless you were to use extend your own chakra to henge on me. So I just wanted to make sure that I am happy the form of my choosing. Although I suppose I've had centuries to decide."

The form suddenly took shape in front of Iruka. He had been expecting to see the short blue man, except not blue. He was completely perplexed when instead the form took shape he realized he was looking at a small child. A girl. She was about 8 years old with electric neon blue hair in pigtails wearing the cutest a pink kimono with sakura blossoms on it, complete with tabi socks and pink zori sandals.

Iruka blinked at her a few times.

"Kokoro?" He heard himself asking stupidly.

The little girl walked over to the campfire and grinned wickedly. No little girl should ever grin like that.

"So, where are we going, Otousan?" Kokoro asked sweetly.

Iruka's eyes slitted dangerously at the girl. "First of all, I'm still pissed about the tattoos. You said one tattoo but you did not explain that it would cover my whole body…!"

"I think it looks pretty." She said happily.

Iruka stirred the stew so violently some of sloshed over the sides. "Secondly, I'm in pain from all of the said tattoos all over my body which hurt, thank-you very much."

"Don't be such a baby." Ryuu said. "It was just one tattoo after all."

Iruka shot the dragon a glare.

"Hey, a little girl, huh." The dragon was looking down at Kokoro. "I admit I'm a little surprised."

"Strength is but the vessel, not the source, of power." Kokoro said mysteriously.

Iruka shook his head. "And thirdly, I think I need some practice using this extra chakra before I try seeking out any training."

"I agree, Otousan." Kokoro said.

"Don't call me that." Iruka said, pouring himself a bowl of stew. He ladled up bowls for Ryuu and Kokoro as well. He managed to sit gingerly. At least his ass had managed to escape being tattooed. Surprising, but true.

"Why can't I call you that?" She asked curiously.

"Because I'm not your father." He said with a patient tone of voice, then: "Itadakimasu."

Soon the night air was punctuated by the sound of their eating. Kokoro swallowed gleefully. In a matter of minutes, she was already going back for seconds. It may just be some campfire stew, but it was her first corporal food in centuries.

"But you did give me form." Kokoro stated doggedly. Already eating her third bowl.

Ryuu sniggered.

"I think that would make me more like your master, I guess technically. But you are not to call me that." Iruka frowned.

She stared at him with her bright purple eyes, unwavering. It was really an unnatural color. Along with that electric blue hair. It rather reminded him of Sakura in a way. He'd always liked Sakura. She'd always been a good student and such a sweet child. Iruka grumbled, feeling that he was caving to her cute childish peer pressure. But he did it anyways. She wasn't even really a cute child. He knew it and he still caved anyways. Damnit!

"Fine, you can call me Otousan, I suppose. It is a good cover story especially when we will be traveling in cities and villages." Iruka glared at her for good measure before he went back to eating.

She nodded, as if expecting his consent. She would bear watching, he thought to himself. It was obvious that she was smarter than Ryuu and definitely more manipulative than the oafish dragon.

"So, Otousan, tell me more about what you wish to accomplish and what we can do to further your goals." She said in utter seriousness.

Later that night, after much discussion between the three of them, even though they knew that he was truly the kind of person who would return from the dead just to achieve his goal, peace for Konoha and go to any means to achieve it. The point was that other people had to believe it. It was time to start making a name for himself. The battle with Madara had taught him two very valuable lessons; one he did not have enough chakra for battles and two; he sucked at battles. Well, now he had the chakra. He needed practice; badly.

Everyone (including Iruka) agreed that 'Umino Iruka' was not the kind of name to be whispered about in the far corners of the world. He would need another guise. Umino Iruka was not going to cut it. Who was afraid of Umino Iruka, after all? Dolphins do not strike fear into man. And no one was afraid of a mild mannered sensei. Umino Iruka was not a man of myth and legend, someone who instilled fear in his opponents and had the ability to back up his threat. And besides, if he had another name, that way he could go back to Konoha and to his old life, right?

That night Harbinger was born.

A/N: Hope you liked the chapter. First chapter of the 'Harbinger Arc' part of the story…I'm already working on the next chapter. Very, very fun stuff in that one. Well you'll see soon. Hope everyone has a wonderful week! Monday's suck so I hope I make your Monday brighter by giving everyone a lovely chapter to make it brighter!

Please Review: ^_^

New Vocabulary:

Enenra = Japanese monster, which is composed of smoke. It resides in bonfires and, when it emerges, it takes the form of a human. It is said that an Enenra can only be seen by the pure of heart. (Everything else, the Chikara, Saiken, Irezumi, that is all stuff out of my imagination. I also changed things around a little and made it more about the elements and less about bonfires. Just bonfires seemed a little tame).
Chikara = Power
Saiken = Bond
Irezumi = Tattoo
Otousan = Father