Byakuya

Chapter 22

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"The Coven? Would you mind elaborating?" Hiashi hissed his voice dangerous. Naruto resisted the urge to snort. After all he had been through with the Council he got the outmost pleasure out of irritating them.

"Well I would come to that if you'd realize that's its utterly stupid to doubt Gaara's abilities. He's been the kazekage of the Suna for over two years now. If not for the huge power he gets from Shukaku, how else did you think he would've been chosen as the Kazekage? It sure as hell wasn't just because his father was the Kazekage before him." Naruto sighed. The utter distrust against the Jinchuuriki could never be changed. Hiashi cleared his throat, and when Naruto brought attention to the Byakugan master again, the pale man raised a black eyebrow.

"…Yes, well anyway…" Naruto continued, deciding that pissing off Hiashi really didn't seem like a good idea, the man was, after all, the head of the Hyuuga clan. "…Gaara came to see me, and after we talked about a lot of stuff, I went with him. Ero-sennin and we came to the conclusion that it would really help if I came more in contact with my demonic roots. Gaara had heard rumours about other Jinchuuriki at the northern border of fire country and thought it would be good if I went with him, not only because I was a Konoha nin and seeing a sand nin travelling alone would be suspicious; but because we couldn't be sure if the other Jinchuuriki would want to attack us."

"At the coven I met several other Jinchuuriki as well. A man named Kisho is in charge of the Coven with a woman, Yei at his side. Yuki is the host of the weasel demon and Minoru is the host of the snake demon. Yei and Kisho have already awakened." Naruto explained.

"Which brings us to a rather funny subject. 'The awakening' is a term that refers to the moment when we start to morph and become one with our demons. The chakra's blend and the demons consciousness' disappear."

"Each and every one of the demons seals are designed for one thing. To bind the demon to a host, so that they share body, chakra, soul and mind. But binding two souls is very complicated. Hence, the awakening doesn't usually happen before your eighteenth birthday. The awakening is being any pain imaginable, I've heard… and knowing what it is to like be surged with Kyuubi's chakra, I can only start to imagine the pain in totally consuming him."

"So what does this mean? The Jinchuuriki gain abilities from their demons? Is their mind affected? As you describe it, it probably is a rather traumatic experience." One of the council members intercepted.

"You mean if they go crazy?" Naruto asked sharply. "…Well, it depends actually. Kisho went crazy and spent several months running through woods and killing everything in his path. Kisho had already found Yei before her awakening was complete, so he was able to calm her down. Her demonic senses subdued under Kisho's demonic presence; seeing as he is the five tails and she is the four tails. And now Minoru's awakening has started, but we will be there for him. He should be able to gain control over the eight tails if he survives it."

"If he survives it?" Tsunade asked worried, a feeling of dread spreading to her guts.

"Make no mistake; the death rate on the awakening is high. The Coven is full of records about seals and demons. The seals we now have are the best of their type. There have been earlier experiments of course, where the Jinchuuriki's have died or became mutated. Kisho, for example, was the 29th baby to have a bijuu sealed in him. The hosts would fail within a week of course, sometimes within hours. The possibility of death depends on several things, like how old the host is when it begins and how high the demon is on the ranking scale." Naruto explained, and couldn't help his eyes from travelling towards the wall behind Tsunade.

"And your survival rate?" Tsunade asked. Naruto couldn't answer, as he was afraid he was going to go hysterical. He was sure the council would think he had gone off his rocker otherwise. Then Naruto, not so subtly, changed the subject.

"Yeah, so anyway, when Gaara and I arrived at the coven, we fought some of the other Jinchuuriki. Not to death of course, but…violent spars of sorts. Now you have to understand that Ranking inside the coven goes by two guidelines. One is of course the strength and ability, along with age, which has brought them to respect Kisho and Yei." Naruto hurried to explain, but he couldn't help but to cringe as horror started to dawn in Tsunade's eyes, and even some council members seemed to realize that he was really trying to avoid the question.

"…Well, guess what kind of disorder I and Gaara did when we arrived? Gaara's bijuu is the weakest, but he is the Kazekage. And me, a mere genin, and yet…" Naruto caught himself on time and bit his lower lip. Tsunade was starting to look frantic.

"Naruto! Answer me god damn it! What are the chances of your survival!" The Gondaime finally demanded. Naruto closed his eyes before opening them slowly.

Saying it aloud would stop him from pretending it wasn't true, that the problem didn't exist. As long as he could pretend it wasn't happening to him, everything was fine.

But he wasn't fine, and he never would be.

They deserved an honest answer. She deserved an honest answer.

"I… don't really expect to survive my awakening… I mean, I'm not going to give up or anything! It's just… Kisho barely made it, and he was the host of the five tailed dog demon. Five tailed. I'm the host of the Kyuubi, who's probably a lot stronger!"

Naruto started to say, his eyes grave, and he realized that was probably the first time he had said it aloud.

I am the host of the Kyuubi No Yoko.

Kyuubi No Yoko

Kyuubi

"Kyuubi is the strongest of the bijuu", Naruto said, and the council exploded in outrage. Naruto gave a small, bitter smile.

"No need to panic. I am very able to keep Kyuubi at bay now. The council had several scrolls on how to increase ones mental stability, which is how the Kyuubi is controlled. I also have a place of importance at the Coven."

"What is the Coven, really?" counsellor Aburame asked. Naruto sighed.

"The Coven is not easy to explain… its pretty ancient… organisation, you could say. Organisation dedicated to keeping all the nine bijuu sealed…" Naruto trailed off, not sure what he should say. He didn't want to spill all of his secrets after all.

"And where does your loyalty lie?" Shikamaru's father asked. Naruto frowned.

"I'm not quite sure what you are asking…?" Naruto asked in a hesitant voice, climbing up from his relaxed position to sit on his knees. Now the interrogation, the real questioning would begin. And also would begin the time when he would have to win the council on his side, and talk them over that they should start negotiations with both the Coven and the Gate.

"Before we even talk about anything, we need to know who you are loyal to. Konoha, where you were born and trained, and suffice to say, despised? Or this Coven; where you met people that have gone what you have gone through. People who understand you on levels your comrades here in leaf never have." Nara Shikato asked. Shikato had never been one to make the mistake of underestimating emotional bonds that could turn one's loyalty upside down.

Naruto's eyes darkened slightly, and he turned to stare at his knees thoughtfully for a moment, letting his blonde bangs fall to cover his eyes, an act most of the council members took as quilt.

"…see, he obliviously isn't loyal to Konoha anymore, we can't accept this…"

"…We should've executed him years ago, and now here he is, turning against us…"

Naruto would've ignored the whispers of the council members he shouldn't be able to hear, but he thought it was time to show them that he wasn't simply a Konoha genin anymore. He was an opponent, or an ally to be carefully considered.

"You are aware that I am able to hear every syllable leaving you mouth, don't you, counsellor Inuzuka; counsellor Yamanaka? I believe I mentioned I have gained some control over the Kitsune. That includes increased hearing." Naruto said his voice thin.

Stand up straight, Naruto. As a representative of the council, whether chosen or not, you shouldn't show weakness.

Naruto climbed to his feet, before tilting his head back so that he could look Shikato straight into his eyes, surprising the older clan head with the intensity of his blue eyes.

"I am loyal to my fellow bijuu hosts: whom I've sworn to help and protect with the cost of my life. I am loyal to my friends here in Konoha, who have showed me the hand of friendship where none have before. I am loyal to the Coven as an organisation, as a power that works to keep the bijuu under control. And I am, foremost loyal to Konoha." Naruto said, straightening his Kimono and standing straight.

"I will protect my friends here in Konoha, and my pakku at the Coven. I will follow the orders of my Hokage, and I will not disobey. I will kill at command, die at command, and I will sacrifice my body at command…"

"But let you be assured I am more than just a genin, and you would do well in remembering that. The Coven is old. The Coven is powerful. The Coven has a plan. I'm not saying it's a good plan, but there is a plan nevertheless."

"Have you ever wondered why Konoha has a Jinchuuriki? Ever wondered where Yondaime got the idea for the seal?" Naruto asked from them, and one of the council members, and a woman with vibrant red hair and azure eyes was clearly showing her confusion. He'd seen her many times, but never actually caught her name. She had been in the council perhaps three years, yet she never spoke, or uttered a word.

"What are you implying? The Kyuubi attacked Konoha." The woman spoke, and immediately had the whole council's attention, along with the Hokage's focused on her.

"Yes it did. But why didn't other demons attack Konoha? There were nine of them after all, and fire country is big. You would've been bound to hear of another bijuu sooner or later." Naruto said bluntly.

"Explain." Tsunade said from her throne-like seat.

"most of the bijuu, or at least those I know of, were all sealed between 24 to fourteen years ago. And not one country sealed more than one demon."

"Wait, do you mean that all the other countries have Jinchuuriki as well?" Hiashi asked. Naruto tilted his head to the side again.

"Only the biggest countries. The waterfall country has a Jinchuuriki; Yuki. The Wind country has a Jinchuuriki; Gaara. And I have my suspicions about where everyone else comes."

"There is obliviously a purpose why the bijuu were sealed at times when they were conveniently near one of the strongest villages. What was the purpose?" Shikato asked with his feet now pulled on top of the table. The red-head that had earlier spoken was sitting next to the Nara. She huffed, throwing a disgusted look at the ninja's sandals, which were; for his defence, actually quite clean.

"The Coven planned it like that. There have been multiple examples that show humans like power and seek it hungrily. Humans are very talented in destroying themselves without any outside help. Now imagine someone or someone's' powerful unite and seek the powers of the bijuu. Imagine someone taking control over several bijuu's." Naruto spread his arms to emphasize his point, and many of the council looked shocked, even Tsunade. Even though the subject of demons was often talked about, they still remained mostly a myth for the average shinobi.

"A Tyranny." Shikato stated.

"Yes. This is exactly what the Coven wanted to prevent. After all, once such tyranny is formed, it will be very hard to break. So they did everything in their control to place one bijuu per shinobi village to be sealed. The Jinchuuriki were designed as a tool. A protector of the village's if you believe. The village can't use their power after all, if their opponents have the power to set their own Jinchuuriki against them. It would cause the extinction of the human race if all the bijuu's were set loose." Naruto said, the edge of his mouth curving to a smile. He quite enjoyed the shock on the council members' faces when they realized that he was actually mean to protect their village against other Jinchuuriki.

"That tyranny is also exactly what the Akatsuki wishes to accomplish. So in essence, the Coven is the exact opposite of the Akatsuki. But There is another organisation you should be aware of." Naruto said. Hiashi raised an eyebrow at the blonde.

Funny how I've never noticed he does that so often before. Wonder if it's only him or if it's a Hyuuga thing…Wonder if Neji raises his eye brows often? Naruto thought to himself, before trying to imagine Neji wiggling his eyebrows madly, before elating into giggles inside his head.

"And what is that?" Hiashi asked.

"The Gate. It is an organisation too, like everything is these days. The Gate is now in very bad management, and is literally bringing half demons from the other side."

"Half demons?"

"Mutated humans with demon abilities and looks. Like fangs, claws, better hearing, better sense of smell and the list goes on. Usually they are about jounin level, but some are trained better than others, and I think there may even be some that are near Hokage level."

"And these things are brought from the other side of what?"

"Sanity. We've done some spying lately, and it appears as if they have some sort of connection with a bijuu or some lower demon. They expose babies and small children to demon chakra under the time of years, which mutates them. They often became insane and start to act like animals." Naruto explained, and Tsunade leaned forwards to rub her temples.

"That's it! I'm getting a head-ache for this stuff. We can talk about this later. Now, Naruto, show them what you can do so we can all go to do something else." Tsunade explained exhausted. They al had a lot to think about, now.

Naruto nodded, smiling slightly, wanting to get out of the room himself.

"All right, Bitches and beggars! Gather around and let the future Hokage tell you about his travels!" Naruto started with a bad imitation of an old story teller, intending to lighten the mood. It worked, though it did get Tsunade to snap at him.

"Naruto! Get on with it!" Tsunade said with a nasty glimmer in her eyes, and Naruto, noticing it, bowed respectfully.

"Of course Hokage-sama." He said respectfully this time, and Tsunade sighted.

"All right, I've learned tons of jutsus, some sand jutsus, some water jutsus, some air jutsus, along with dozen other tiny skills like creating ice senbon out of thin air. That isn't such a big deal. Umm, then there's the Kyuubi, which I've learned mostly to control…oh, yeah, and I've accomplished my Fuketsu Koodori training up to level five or so." Naruto rambled, adding the bit about Fuketsu Koodori more as an after thought.

The council didn't react quite as he expected them to.

Nara Shikato looked shocked.

Tsunade groaned and buried her face into her hands.

The old lady Inuzuka fell of her chair.

Inoshi Yamanaka's jaw fell open with shock.

The rest of the council members looked just generally confused before their eyes widened comically.

Hyuuga Hiashi was looking him with the most surprising look of them all. His face more signs of surprise and curiosity, along with a touch of admiration.

Umino Iruka, one of the council members, Naruto's old academy teacher and the last ninja of the long line of Umino ninjas dropped his pen before his mouth opened in outrage.

"WHAT!"

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A/N: Hah! I bet you weren't expecting that! And, Iruka is, still a chuunin and an academy teacher, even though he is a part of the council.

You know, the most awful thing happened to me and then lasted two days! Believe or not, I was hit with a writers block. The thought itself is horrifying. I mean, think if I had been stuck like that forever? (oh the horror! The horror!) …'kay, now that I've cleared that out of my system.

About the whole vote thing, I'm really supriced how many people accepted the idea of Naruto and Kiba together, something I'd never had actually thought about until I stumbled on it in this story.

But I've decided following; This will be NaruSasuNaru in the end (don't kill me if I change my mind later), but however, before that I have plenty of time to play with Neji and Kiba. Now some people voted strongly for Gaara, but the relationship he and Naruto haves is already in my mind, clearly pictured. And, their relationship based pretty much on sex. They love each other, but they weren't exactly in love. Their relationship is pretty much frozen when one of them starts to date, you know?

Oh, and this story id long. Longer than I planned. Heck, I was planning for 3 chapters or so.

Start expecting for about 50 chapters or so.

I was really getting bored of the whole meeting with the council, as you surely are as well, so it's going to end in the next chapter. There's also a bit interaction between Hiashi and Naruto too. And if you think it's weird how Iruka didn't react stronger at the council at the beginning of Naruto's tale, he isn't exactly comfortable with his position in the council. In fact, not many people even know he's in it.

Bijuu A tailed demon, in case you didn't know.

The Gate Umm…yeah. It just kind of came to me a week back or so… my imagination really is killing me, because this plot is getting more and more complex…T-T sigh

The half-demon thingy is going to be a present issue soon too.

Right… I'll try for another two chapters this week. Like… Thursday and Saturday perhaps?

--Dark

And GODDAMN it! REVIEW! Don't ya think I've deserved it…? I really worked hard for this chappie.

(sorry for being so whiny, I'm just way too tired right now.)