Welcome to the New Year.. the Year of the Tiger!!! well for the first chapter of the new year here you go. I hope you enjoy!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto... but Ocs are mine
Chapter 9: Feelings of the Past
The day was overcast and windy, as Kakashi and Kurenai watched over Tazuna and his crew work on the completing the bridge. The crewmen were paranoid, afraid that Gato would send mercenaries to kill off any who opposed his law. Many of the workers and villagers saw the Ninja hired by Tazuna and his partners, to be weak and are not strong enough to defeat a man as powerful as Gato.
A middle aged man with graying bread and ragged clothes walked up to Tazuna, who was looking over the blueprints for the bridge, "Tazuna-san…can I speak with you in private?" the man said meekly. Tazuna looked up from his plans and looked at the man with worried eyes.
"Sure Mako-san." Tazuna put down his plans and walked toward the end of the bridge were he and Mako talked.
"Tazuna-san…I'm afraid that I can't risk working here anymore." He looks saddened and terrified. Many people in the Wave have suffered from starvation and strong-arming by Gato's thugs and mercenaries. The many citizens walk in terror before Gato, having had their spines ripped out and cast away from them. He is the source of all their sorrow and all their suffering…yet he is still let alive. These people have no longer any pride or honor. No courage, no bravery… Gato will be the death of these people if they don't stand in arms against Gato.
Tazuna's face contorts in anger, "Why! Are you still afraid that he will come after us for doing this? It will be his end when we finish building our bridge!" Tazuna's words are heard by everyone and everyone turns to watch the exchange. "Are you just going to lie down and just give up your life and what is yours? That demon is going to kill you and think nothing of it!"
"But what can I do against a man like him. I understand Tazuna-san I do. But I'm thinking about my family and what would happen if I died." Tears were now streaming down the man's face as he fell to his knees, sobbing. Tazuna placed a hand on the sobbing man's shoulder and helped him to his feet.
"We are going to lunch…I'll understand if I you don't return." The words he spoke were sad and yet understanding, many of these men were risking their lives in helping complete the bridge, and Tazuna understood that. He too was risking the lives of his daughter and grandson.
The sun was in high noon when everyone left to lunch, which many men would not return. Tazuna made his way to Kakashi and Kurenai who watched him with saddened eyes. "Are you sure that letting them leave is a good idea?" Kurenai said as Tazuna stepped before them.
"I'm not Gato… If they want they can leave. But they will regret not helping construct this bridge." Tazuna took a swig from the sake bottle tied to his belt; the taste of the Sake was sweet and crisp. The burn he felt as it traveled down into his stomach was a welcome comfort in his stressful life. Tazuna finished the bottle and he shook it hearing only empty air, and it saddened him some. Kakashi, who has been read his book, finally closes it and stands before the two others.
"We better get going we have a long day ahead of us when we return." Kurenai nodded and they made their way to Tazuna's home to get something to eat.
Sounds of battle could be heard as Naruto and Kiba were sparring atop the water's surface. Naruto having learned and mastered the water walking technique was faring better then Kiba and his partner Akamaru who were having a hard time staying afloat. Naruto unsheathed Kagetora as he tossed his Dogi to Toshitsune who was watching closely examining his brother's movements and how far he had come.
Kiba was on all four as he rushed Naruto barring his fangs and Akamaru flanking Naruto on his left. Naruto sidesteps Kiba's slash and diverts Akamaru past him; Naruto jumps over Kiba using his back as a platform and launches up into the sky. Akamaru jumps on Kiba's back, and they perform a jutsu.
"Juujin Bunshin!"
Akamaru disappears in a puff smoke and becomes an exact copy of Kiba. Together they follow after Naruto, jumping into the air and they begin to rotate rapidly. Naruto brings his sword up above his head he starts to pump chakra into it. Kiba and Akamaru are now rotating rapidly forming two little twisters aiming to tear Naruto apart.
"Iwakiri!" "Getsuuga!"
Naruto using the full force of his weight; swings his blade horizontally and collides with Kiba and Akamaru. They are now locked in a battle for dominance as they unlock and fall back to the earth. Naruto landed on his feet sweating pretty heavy, having to block two spinning razor winds. Before the spar Naruto dulled his blade as not to injure Kiba or Akamaru. Both Kiba and Akamaru didn't land on their feet; instead they plunged into the lake, soaking them from head to toe. After several seconds they both surfaced and Naruto, in a sign of friendship extended his hand to Kiba. Akamaru managed to doggy peddle to shore and shook the water off of his body, and jumped into hinata's arms as she held a towel for him. She softly rubbed Akamaru's little body, drying him completely.
Sheathing Kagetora Naruto and Kiba made their way to shore, "Man, Naruto Akamaru and I almost had you!" Kiba was swaying his arms in the air to emphasis his point, "We just need to train harder the well be able to defeat you and…"Kiba's eyes dart to Toshitsune, who is sleeping now under the shade of a tree, and Akuma who was glaring at Akamaru that was in Hinata's arms. The others were there as well; Shino was off in the woods searching for new insect species to add to his collection. Sasuke was trying hard to avoid Sakura who bugged him to no end. She was nothing more than a tiring fan-girl that showed no promise and would just hold him back in his training.
"Hey Sasuke!" Sakura said in a seductive tone, as she ran her hand up and down Sasuke's back, "Do you want to go down by the beach and have a romantic dinner?" Sasuke looked at her with unpleasant eyes. He took in a deep breath and tried to think of the words to let her down easy.
"Sakura listen to me! I will never, never ever go out with you, now or ever!" Sasuke screamed at her face as he jumped into the trees heading to the house. Sakura's self esteem seemed to have dipped low but her inner self stepped in and saved her.
"Don't worry…he just needs some time to think it over and he'll be at your feet worshiping you!"Even Sakura's inner persona wasn't so sure about Sasuke but she had to convince the outer persona, and it worked. Sakura pumped her fists into the air as she screamed Sasuke's name into the world. She stopped when she heard someone laughing. She turned and saw Toshitsune slightly rocking because of his laughter.
"And what's so funny mutt!" She glares at him.
Toshitsune looks up from his pseudo- sleep and smiles at her, "Nothing, just the fact that you have tricked yourself into thinking that, Sasuke in some universe out there will ever want you. It's just sad to see you chase after someone who isn't interested in women." Sakura was seeing red as she stalked closer to Toshitsune, kunai and shuriken in hand. Toshitsune slowly stood and parted his arms wide, saying that he was unarmed. Sakura rushed forward with the kunai aiming to pierce him in the gut. Toshitsune caught the arm holding the kunai, and used the force of her attack and threw her over his hip to the floor hard. He flipped her over, still holding onto her arm and twisted, placing a foot on the back of her head. Effectively immobilizing her and disarming her.
Sakura struggled hard against Toshitsune's hold, "Let me go, you Mutt!" Sakura cried, as she thrashed about trying to force her way over Toshitsune. "If you don't let me go I'll…"
"Enough!" Toshitsune's voice as firm and gaze as cold as ice. Sakura immediately opted to shut up in fear that Toshitsune would hurt her. "I am tired of listening to you ramble on about Sasuke and how perfect he is! Why can't you get it through your thick skull…hasn't Anko-sensei and Kurenai-sensei lessons and lectures gotten through to you!"
Toshitsune loosened his grip on Sakura's arm and stepped off her head, letting her stand and face him. Sakura was rubbing her arm sorely as tears escaped her eyes. "Has anything that they say ever reach you." He looked frustrated as he reached and placed a hand on her shoulder, "You have to stop chasing after him if you want to survive the life of Shinobi! The more you focus on him, the less you focus on your training. Tell me Sakura, what you see in a person like Sasuke anyway. He thinks only about himself and thinks of no one else. What does he possess that attracts you to him so much?"
Sakura looks down with a shade of blush over her cheeks, more for being embarrassed then thinking of Sasuke, "Well Sasuke is strong and he comes from a protégés clan and…"
"You know what I'm hearing Sakura?" Toshitsune interrupted Sakura, "I'm hearing the rambling of a shallow girl who thinks only of what someone has and not whether the person his good or not. You are shallow and superficial and will amount to nothing more than a burden to our team and to the village." Those words struck their mark as Sakura burst into tears and fell to her knees, loudly sobbing and trembling. The feelings that she has been keeping in for all these years were finally surfacing as she was thinking over why she liked him. The feeling of being rejected over and over again, of feeling so very lonely that the only hope of salvation and sanity lay with being with Sasuke.
"Please think over what I have said to you Sakura, maybe something that I have said will stick with you and will help better yourself." Sakura looked up with tear filled eyes and saw Toshitsune in a new light. Maybe clan status wasn't everything to her anymore.
As the day came to a close, the group gathered in the house to enjoy a home cooked meal prepared by Tsunami and Hinata. They enjoyed a Red snapper, seasoned with fresh herbs and spices, with a side of white rice with steamed vegetables. They were gathered around a large table everyone when Inari came in slamming the door behind him. Everyone looked up and saw that he stood there staring at them with a dead gaze.
"Inari dear, where have you been…" Tsunami walked up to him and placed a hand on his back, "come dinner is ready." Inari followed his mother and sat across from Naruto and Toshitsune. He just sat there looking start ahead, eyes trying to pierce through the enigmas that were Naruto and Toshitsune. Tsunami came back in with a platter for Inari, she placed the plate in front of him, and that was the signal for all hell to break loose.
"Why?" Inari spoke softly, his question was for everyone, but was mainly directed at Naruto and Toshitsune.
Naruto looked up from his fish and stared questionably, "Why what?" Naruto looked around and saw Tazuna shake his head slowly and take a swig of his sake.
"Why…do you even try?" This time Inari was bold enough to look up from his plate and face Naruto directly. "Why do you try to fight Gato even you're going to die?"
Everyone looked up from their plates and looked at him, "Why did you come?"
Toshitsune was the one to answer his question. "We came because your grandfather sought help from our village. We came because your people have been suffering under the control and tyranny of Gato." Toshitsune looked at him with a sorrowful face, "We understand what you are going through…we all do."
Inari snapped and quickly got to his feet, his face full of hate and anger. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF SUFFERING?" Inari was seething and breathing heavily as he glared hatefully at Toshitsune, "What do you know of our suffering? What do you know of going hungry every day? What do you know of losing someone you love?" That was the string that snapped inside Naruto and Toshitsune. They both knew exactly how it felt to go hungry, to suffer and…to lose someone they loved. As they thought of these things an image of their adoptive father Minamoto Koga, the only man next to Yoritomo that they could call family.
The temperature in the room dropped to very low temperatures, chills were running down every one's spines. Naruto's breathing was haggard and uneven; his eyes were hidden behind the veil that was his hair. Toshitsune looked straight ahead at Inari with hate filled eyes, and together they spoke in deep voices.
"We know more than anybody what it means to suffer…" Naruto looked up and the face he made scared Inari to his very soul, "We have lived our lives on the streets for some years, we have begged and been beaten for what we are." Tears know were streaming down his eyes, "We have lost the only man that we have known as our father slain before our eyes and most of our clan was destroyed and only a fraction of us have survived. The hate, the tears, the random beatings, I have suffered and survived the life of an orphan on the streets of my village." Suddenly the room was very silent and solemn as they registered what Naruto and Toshitsune said to them.
Naruto and Toshitsune both stood and raced for the door, but Naruto stopped and turned to face Inari and the rest of the group, "You're not the only one to have experienced suffering, many people have suffered more than you…At least you still have your mother and grandfather…when I was young I had no one to silence my tears."
And with that Naruto disappeared from the doorway and into the cool night.
Hinata made a move to run after them but was stopped by Kakashi, "They need some time to sort out their feelings right now."
"But Kakashi-sensei what if something happens?" worry filled Hinata's voice. She looked out the open door with sorrow cleared stamped on her face.
"Is what they said true Sensei?" Kurenai didn't know what to say, she just shrugged her shoulders and looked down and away from her students. 'They have endured so much for children so young. Having to fight and cling to the little things they have in life to survive...poor things'
Kakashi thought otherwise, 'they have grown strong from their experiences and the hardships that they have faced.'
"Yes, Sakura. Every word that they said is true. They both were orphans and suffered greatly. But they were later adopted into the clan of Samurai known as the Minamoto clan."
Inari was soaking in everything that Naruto had said to him before he left. The sadness in his voice, the hurt look upon his face, it made him think of his situation regarding Gato and his anger towards him. Naruto had suffered for some time, living on the streets for almost a year and having to survive at a young age by himself. Inari thought he couldn't have survived in his situation. They were the same in that they lost someone they both saw as a father figure. Both slain defending the people they loved and cared for. Tears slowly made their way down his dusty cheeks, and he ran to the safety of his room to be alone.
"I'm sorry if Inari offended your students…it's just that he lost some one very close to him." She looked up to the wall behind her where there was a photo of the family but there was a man in the picture with his face torn out of it. Tazuna began to tell the tale of "the Hero of Wave", Kakashi and Kurenai listened closely to everything that he said. Trying to piece together Gato's profile. Never noticing Hinata and Sakura slip out the back door to search for Naruto and Toshitsune, Akuma noticed but said nothing and followed as well.
The night was quiet and cool, very different from the nights in Fire Country, where the nights were mild and were filled with the sounds of wildlife from the surrounding forests. The cool wind licked Naruto all over his body, taking in deep breaths to calm his rage and anger. But the thought of someone disrespecting him and his brother. They more than anyone have tasted the bitter fruit of sorrow and death. The death of their father has yet to settle within Naruto and Toshitsune; he still sees the look on his father's face with the Nin-jato entered his body; the pain, and the sadness it brought Naruto seeing his father die before his eyes.
"Naruto." A gentle called from behind him. He turned and in the moonlight saw what he thought was the moon goddess, Tsukuyomi, herself. He drew in a quick breath and looked up Hinata and the way the sliver light reflected off her midnight blue hair. Her eyes were a brilliant shade of lavender, as he locked eyes with her.
"Hinata?" he asked reaching out his hand, "What are you doing out here?"
Hinata reached for his hand and as soon as her hand touched his ethereal white skin, it sent a jolt of energy running through both of them. Hinata breathed deep and relaxed a bit.
"Is everything you said in there true, Naruto-kun?" Naruto's eyes fell to the floor and he turned his back of her, trying to shield himself from her gaze.
"Yes…I have strived to survive." Naruto turned and started to stroke hinata's soft white cheek, "I have done things that I'm not proud of, Hinata-chan."
"What kind of things have you done?" she said in a shaky voice.
"I've killed in cold blood, and I loved the feeling it brought me." Tears were now falling down his face, blurring his vision. "It was just two weeks after I was rescued from my village, my older brother, and Toshitsune were on our way to Mori no Kuni. We were a day way from his village so we settled down for the night, and Yoritomo went out to search for fire wood. We were ambushed later by a squad of shinobi. They surrounded us and attacked, they first went after Toshitsune…" Naruto choked up, tears still falling, "They hurt him. They were trying to kill him, when something in me broke."
Naruto looked up into the sky trying to find the words, "Something…inside me…woke up."
"Woke up? What do you mean by that?"
"A powerful energy woke up from within me." Naruto placed a hand on his belly and separated his Dogi. "Just watch what happens when I shape my chakra."
Hinata was amazed when she saw a seal appear on Naruto's chiseled abs. Her hands immediately went to touch the seal and she activated her Byakugan to examine the seal. She was taken back when she noticed where the seal was located a big source of chakra was being stored. She could feel, just by looking at the seal…something big and angry was behind it. Her eyes traveled up and she was staring into Naruto's sapphire eyes, as Naruto stared into her lavender ones.
"I'll understand if you don't want to be near me anymore." He broke eye contact, but Hinata stopped him with her soft hand.
"Please Naruto…don't ever think that because you did something for the greater good, that I will ever stop caring for you."
"Thank you Hinata." Naruto spread open his arms and invited her into his arms, she graciously walked into his embrace. With Naruto's Dogi still open she was embracing his bare chest, she could feel the strength of his arms that were tightly wrapped around her lovingly, the feel of his chest rising and falling as he took in deep breaths, and the feel of their hair interlocking and mixing into one. Under the full Moon and in Naruto's embrace, she could want nothing more than for his love. But as things were that would be impossible…
Powerful waves were crashing on the shore, as Toshitsune stared out into the night sky thinking about the past and his role in the future. He was lost in thought when someone brushed up on his left side. He looked and saw that it was Akuma; his long time friend and protector since he could remember. They first meet atop a snowy peak in the mountain ranges of the Land of Lightning, when he was but five years old and Akuma two years old.
"What's troubling you're young mind, Pup?" Akuma spoke in a fatherly tone. Toshitsune brought his knees up to his chest and his arms around them, Toshitsune to Akuma never seemed as vulnerable as he is now.
"I was thinking about…who my parents are?" Akuma looked out into the dark night with a sense of understanding. "I mean…What was I doing a top a frozen mountain? And why was I alone?" he looked up and locked his gaze with the full moon. "I just get the feeling that I'm meant to be alone."
"But you're not alone!" Akuma shouted, "You have your brothers, your clan and you have me. Isn't that enough?"
Toshitsune shook his head, "That's not what I mean…what I meant was…Will I ever find my soul mate, If I have one."
Sakura was walking along the path leading to the shore, searching for Toshitsune, ever since Toshitsune spoke to her, her thoughts kept going back to him. She was even saddened to hear what happened to his clan and father, the look on his face, the sadness, the anger, and the pain; for some reason it bothered her to see him in such torment.
She was nearing the beach when she heard someone talking. "Who can that be?" she heard the voices coming from the beach, so she used whatever stealth she possessed and hid in the trees by the shoreline. She looked around and notices that it was Toshitsune and Akuma who were talking about something. She crept closer trying to get a better position, when she heard something that started her.
"What about Sakura? You seem to care for her, and you make a great deal of effort to keep her on track with her training." Akuma said offering his opinion.
Toshitsune's went wide when he heard what Akuma had said, "Wha! What do you mean?" Toshitsune's face went a darker shade and his breathing became faster.
"You seem to like Sakura more than a teammate." Akuma looked at him accusingly. Toshitsune could make eye contact and stared at his feet.
"Well…I do care for her, she has so much potential to become some one great. If only she applied herself." His eyes never let his feet when he confessed something else. "She's the only one who can rival me and possibly give me a run for my money in battle. She as beautiful as the full moon on a clear night, and…I don't know she just stirs something in me."
"You think it could be something primal?" Akuma asked letting the question hang in the air.
"You think my attraction has something to do with just lust?"
Sakura gasped when she heard Toshitsune say lust, but in doing so she had announced herself to them. She ducked down behind the trunk of the tree and held her breath, trying to clam herself. Sometime went by and she carefully looked back to where Toshitsune and Akuma were, and they weren't there. She released her held breath and jumped on to the beach. See looked where they sat and noticed that there were no foot prints leading away from the area.
"What are you doing here Sakura!" the voice startled Sakura, as she twirled around and stood face to face with Toshitsune.
"Ah, Toshitsune what a surprise to see you here!" she said smiling, trying to hide her nervousness from him. Toshitsune was smarter than that; he could tell by her behavior that she was nervous.
"What are you doing here Sakura?" this time he said in a firm voice, demanding control and attention. She shrunk back trying to make herself as small as possible.
"I came to see if you were alright." She said softly.
Spreading his arms wide open, palms up to the sky, "As you can see…I'm perfectly fine." He took a step toward her, "Shouldn't you be taking care of Sasuke, I bet he actually misses your presence next to him." There was a trace of sarcasm in his voice.
Sakura heard the sarcasm and it hurt, wasn't this the boy who cared for her. "I don't think he even notices."
"Wait." He leaned forward placing his hand on his ear in a cupping shape, "What was that again?"
A dark shade of crimson touched Sakura's as she took a deep breath, "Sasuke doesn't care for me!"
Toshitsune was speechless! Had Sakura actually admitted that Sasuke doesn't care for her? Had she finally seen the light!
"Unlike you do…Toshitsune." Sakura pouted and placed her index finger on her bottom lip, making her look innocent.
"What did you say?" worried that she might have been listening to his and Akuma's conversation.
She stalled a bit, trying to think of what to say, "Well I was walking by…"
Toshitsune interrupted, "Followed." He corrected.
"Ok…I was following you and overheard you say some things about me." Toshitsune was sweating bullets, she had heard the conversation, and now she was calling him out.
"Well…" he gulped hard, "What did you hear?"
"I heard you say that you…um, care for me?" she looked uncertain as she looked at Toshitsune. Toshitsune just stood there with a stoic face and looked straight ahead.
"It's true." A smile spread across her face as he admitted it. "But…" the smile disappeared instantly. "I don't see how we could function. I like you and the things you can do and can become, but I don't like what you do and how you do it."
Sakura was astonished, was he confessing or rejecting her. Not understanding she asserted her misunderstanding.
"What do you mean, what I do and how I do it?"
Toshitsune took a deep breath and released it slowly, "I mean that you are in the profession of a shinobi, but are too weak and uninterested about doing your job to function. Your only interest is boys, and that hinders your performance. I'm sorry Sakura, but…I like you but not the 'you' you are. Not this fake I see before me, I will not acknowledge my feeling for you until I see your true self."
She was shocked but understood; tears were rolling down her soft face. Toshitsune felt badly for making her cry so he stepped up and gave her a hug.
"Come on, I'll walk you back to the house." She nodded, wiping the tears from her face.
They got on the path that lead from the house to the beach, the walk was quiet and the night was cool, Sakura walked at a slower pace than Toshitsune and kept her eyes on her feet. Toshitsune walked with his hands behind his head and his Dogi wide open, wanting to cool down his hot body. His body was overheating and sweat dripped down his brow in heavy drops. Since Sakura was behind him, she didn't see his tattoos that covered his upper body. Toshitsune tied his long hair and spun it into a pony tail. The sweat was covering his entire body; he was constantly wiping the sweat off his face.
'What's happening to me? I'm so hot and my body feels so heavy. My head feels like it's going to fall off.'Toshitsune's vision was starting to fade and go black, as he started to stumble and sway from side to side. The feeling of his body and this heat was too much and he collapsed on his face in the middle of the road. Sakura realized something was wrong when she saw him just lying there. She rushed to his side and started to shake him, calling out his name.
"Toshitsune! Toshitsune! Wake up!" she flipped him over so she could see his face, feel his head. He was boiling and sweat drenched his Dogi, she placed her head on his chest. She could feel his chest rise and fall, in rapid succession and his breathing was shallow and his eyes were dilated.
"Toshitsune!" she screamed into the night air, her voice carried for miles.
Rushing through the low bushes of the tropical island, prey was limited to wild boar and small rodents, such as rats, and squirrels. He crouched low and moved south to avoid being detected by his prey. The boar was digging, snout in the earth looking for roots and seeds. Akuma approached slowly, exposing his teeth and taking in deep breaths. The boar was still oblivious to Akuma as he was feet from him. Akuma was about to attack when something changed, the wind had shifted blowing north now and sending his sent to the boar who caught it and ran!
Akuma mad that his surprise attack was foiled, but why have an easy meal, when you can enjoy the thrill of the hunt instead. Akuma deliberately let the boar run just wanting to enjoy the beast's attempts to escape…basically assessing the beasts intelligence.
The boar runs out of the trees and out onto the cliffs, where jagged rocks and crushing waves awaited below. The boar was cornered, so as any animal that was cornered it dug in its feet and psyched itself and prepared to fight. Moving as a shadow, Akuma used his brute strength and speed to attack the animal. Using hit and run tactics, Akuma was wearing it down with gashes to its side and feet. The beast was weak now bleeding badly and on the brink of death. Akuma calmly strolled up to the boar and smiled his wicked smile,
"To bad…" he said licking his lips, "You were a pretty smart animal." and with that he bit down and tore the boars throat open. The boar gasped as its late seconds of life faded away. Akuma began to rip open its belly when he heard something on the wind.
"Toshitsune!"it sound like a female voice was crying out to Toshitsune. He left his kill thinking now only for the safety of his master and friend.
Naruto and Hinata were now back at the house, having had a wonderful talk and walk in the forest. When they heard the scream. Naruto immediately turned to the path leading to the beach which span a mile away. They immediately dashed for the path, taking to the trees for a faster approach. They got there just as Akuma breeched the tree line. What they saw was Sakura lying over Toshitsune's bare chest sobbing and screaming.
"Sakura, what happened?" Naruto said as he got to his brother's body.
Sakura couldn't stop crying and wouldn't let go of Toshitsune's body. Hinata grabbed Sakura by the shoulder and forced her off Toshitsune. Naruto began to assess his brother's symptoms; he placed his head on Toshitsune's chest and took his heart rate. Next he took his temperature by placing his hand on Toshitsune's head, it was hot. Akuma was pacing back and forth looking at his friend with eagerness in his behavior.
"What's the matter with him Naruto?" Hinata asked with Sakura clinging to her shoulder crying.
Naruto's was rushing to find the source of his brother's illness. Naruto open his eyes and understood right away, he then checked his mouth and hands…fangs and claws.
"Akuma…take Hinata and Sakura back to the house, and then meet me after." Akuma nodded and was in front of Hinata and Sakura very quickly.
"Come…Naruto can handle the situation. We must leave this to him." Sakura shook her head in defiance.
"I can't leave him! He needs me!" Sakura struggled against Hinata's trying to get to Toshitsune.
"Calm her down!" Naruto's voice was fierce and held no point for protest. Hinata struck Sakura in the neck, effectively knocking her out.
"Quickly put her on my back!" Hinata lifts Sakura onto Akuma and they were off, racing against the wind.
"Finally…now where is that scroll?" Naruto was flipping through his Dogi and pouch. There was a scroll specifically given to Naruto by his brother, Yoritomo, which would help Naruto deal with Toshitsune's forced Lycan transformations.
"How could you have been so careless!" he screamed still shuffling through his scrolls. "You could have killed her! You know that right!" he finally found the scroll at the bottom of his pouch. It was pitch black with the print of a Wolf on the seal. Naruto sliced his thumb with his blade and watched as blood seeped through the cut. He swipes the blood on the seal and watched as the wolf disappeared and the scroll opened. He read through the text…
TEXT: During certain times of the year the moon's phases will enact a person to transform unwillingly. You must look for certain signs; they will appear minutes before the person will begin the transformation. The process of the transformation is different between individuals, some will transform within minutes and other it might take hours. But during those times they will be vulnerable to attack and death. You must find a place of safety for said individual, and once you do you must restrain him, for once transformed he will no longer be the person you know. He will be an animal body and mind, a true Lycan, which lives for the hunt and death of his prey. Be careful when moving the person, he will periodically spasm and he may swipe out with his claws. Now for the signs.
Heavy sweating
Fatigue
Fever and heavy breathing
Body aches
Hot spells
Blacks out
This Jutsu will help restrain the person: first you must draw the person's blood and mix it with ink that contains your blood. Center him and begin drawing the seals beginning from the center of his chest and outwards. This will create a gravity field around the person. The seals are as follows: Tora, Tori, Tatsu, Inu, Saru, O-Hitsuji, Inu, Tora, Tatsu, O-Ushi, Uma, Tatsu, Hebi, Usagi, Tatsu, O-Hitsuji, and Uma. Be careful this jutsu requires large chakra amounts. Take care of him.
"Great, now I need to move him." he placed the scroll back in his pouch and moved to lift Toshitsune. He swung Toshitsune's arm across his neck and placed his arm under his. He was about to jump when Toshitsune spoke.
"Naruto?" Toshitsune spoke weakly; he was slipping in and out of consciousness.
"Yeah, it's me Bro."
"What is…happening…to me?" he tried to open his eyes, but they were too heavy for him to lift.
"Your Transforming!" the urgency of his voice bothered Toshitsune deeply.
"But I don't want to."
Naruto smirked, "I don't think that's up to you." Toshitsune nodded and blacked out again.
Akuma landed in front of the back door, with Hinata trailing behind him. He smashed through the door and forcefully dropped Sakura on the floor, everyone in the house immediately were there. Kakashi stepped from behind the doorway and Kurenai from outside. Kurenai went forward and looked over Sakura who was still unconscious on the floor, she saw that she had been crying and saw bruising on her neck.
"What happened to her, Hinata?" Kakashi asked from where he stood. Hinata gasping heavily trying to catch her breath, she stood beside Akuma, sweat dripping from the Fast pace that the Wolf had set.
"Toshitsune…Collapsed…Naruto…Help?" she managed to breath out. Kakashi was out the door before Hinata could stop him and Akuma right after.
"Kakashi!" Akuma speed next to him keeping pace. Kakashi stopped a few tree branches later. He looked at the wolf with unbelieving eyes.
"Uh…You can talk?" Akuma nodded, "Yes but now is not the time. Naruto needs my help, but you might be of some use."
They were at the other end of the island, surrounded by sear cliffs and massive waves, there was a small cavern leading into a cave system. Naruto managed to climb down with Toshitsune strapped to his back and secured by chakra. He made it to the mouth of the cavern and lurched slowly into it and placed Toshitsune well within the cave. He pulled off Kagetora and flipped the sheath over. He pressed a button that ejected the false bottom to reveal an ink well and brush; he cut open his thumb and mixed a few drops into the ink. He then moved next to Toshitsune and slit his hand open; he needed as much blood to mix with the ink as possible. Mixing the ink he began to draw the seals, the task would take a while, but Naruto had to move fast and sure. Minutes passed by and Toshitsune morphed more and more into his Lycan form. His hair was growing longer and his fangs protruded out of his mouth now, Naruto was running out of time and Akuma had yet to return.
Finally the seal was finished and Naruto sat cross-legged in front of his brother, "It's time to begin the Jutsu!" Naruto started to gather the chakra necessary to initiate the Jutsu when Akuma and someone else showed up at the mouth of the cave.
"Naruto!" the person cried out, Naruto recognized the voice as Kakashi's.
"Kakashi-sensei?" he saw that Kakashi and Akuma's breathing was labored and quick. "What are you thinking, Akuma! Kakashi can't be here!"
"We could use his support!" Akuma and Kakashi walked and examined Toshitsune.
"Wow, Naruto some impressive seal work." Kakashi said examining the seals.
"Look I don't want you here Sensei…" He looked at Toshitsune and Akuma, "…But I need some support."
"Whatever you need of me, Naruto I'll do it."
"Ok…I need you to stand guard by the entrance, and protect Toshitsune and me. Can you do that?"
Kakashi nodded and watched as Naruto began the Jutsu again.
Naruto gathered the Chakra and began to chant the seals, 'Tora, Tori, Tatsu, Inu, Saru, O-Hitsuji, Inu, Tora, Tatsu, O-Ushi, Uma, Tatsu, Hebi, Usagi, Tatsu, O-Hitsuji, UMA!' his chakra became visible to the naked eye, surrounding him like a flame of energy. Naruto snapped his eyes open and spoke in a demonic voice.
"LET'S DO THIS!" he slammed his right hand onto the outer edge of the seal and pumped his chakra into it. The seal activated and began to bleed a dull red. When that happened Toshitsune let out a furious roar and his transformation sped up. He lost all his human features as the wolf within was unleashed. Kakashi stepped back in fear and was in horror when his eyes locked with what had been Toshitsune's eyes. His deep crimson eyes reflected what little light was in the cave, the sight of a predator looking at you as his prey was unnerving. The Wolf Lunged forward trying to get at the group.
Naruto released the jutsu and activated the seal. "BUSHI MARYOKU: FUTSUNO NANATSUNO FUUIN!!!!"
Bushi Maryoku: Futsuno nanatsuno Fuuin - Warrior magical power: Seven seals of Buddha
IwaKiri - Stonecutter