Anthem Of My Dying Days
Author's note
- Thanks everybody for your reviews and advices... they surely will become the sources of motivation for me to continue writing this fanfic...
- Warning!!! This chapter will be consisting of some brutal action-packed sword-fighting... massacres and killings everywhere!!!!
Chapter 3 - Time After Time
Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick and think of you
Caught up in circles
Confusion is nothing new
Flashback, warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories
Time after
Sometimes you picture me
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you've said
Then you say, "go slow"
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I will be waiting
Time after time
After my picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray
Watching through windows
you're wondering if I'm OK
Secrets stolen from deep inside
The drum beats out of time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time
You say "go slow"
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I will be waiting
Time after time
Time After Time
by Cindy Lauper
Wisemen always say that time always keep on running, leaving those who never use them for good purpose. Clock's ticking, seasons passing by, day, months and years changing. Wise person always learn on how to manage their time accurately and efficiently while the fools always keep on delaying time, not knowing that time cannot be delayed and wasted in a miserable way of life.
Yes, it has been 4 years since Naruto had ran away from Konoha Village. He has spent 1 year to search for Kenshin Himura all over Japan, and another 3 years for learning Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu with Kenshin just after he's been released from Kyoto General Hospital. Naruto has been using these 3 years efficiently and now it will be coming into its end.
"This will be sessha's last lessons for you, Naruto-kun... These ultimate techniques will determine either you are worth of learning Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu or not... be prepared mentally and physically for today's lessons!!!"
"So, Kenshin-sensei... may I know what are the ultimate techniques that I've to learn today? I'm too curious about them..."
"Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu sacred stance Kuzu-ryusen, 'the nine-headed dragon slash' and the final and ultimate technique, Amakakeru Ryunohirameki... which mean 'dragon's flying high on the sky, initiating bright and fatal lights'... these techniques only can be used if you're in desperate situation, which will end the fight with the total victory on your side..."
"Kenshin-sensei... I just not understand about your last phrase... total victory on my side??? what do it means??"
"These techniques are created to annihilate your enemies totally, unlike other techniques of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu which can cause your enemies to faint or just unconscious if you hit them in the soft way... but these two stances have no other choice for you, except if you're using reversed-blade sword just like sessha's... that means you have to kill your enemies if you're using these techniques... sessha's experience? sessha have nearly killed sessha's own sensei to master these techniques... but sessha don't have any regret at all if today my life ends by your sword..."
"Kenshin-sensei..."
"Sessha have done too many sins, and sessha guess this is only the method that God choose to forgive sessha... to protect the weak and innocents, sessha have killed too many people which sessha don't even know their background and don't even consider anything about their loved ones... Yoroshii, shikata ga nai..."
The environment becomes silent for a couple of minutes before Naruto's wish suddenly shocks Kenshin.
"Kenshin-sensei, I want to use your sword... let us exchange swords, because I don't want to kill you... I'm going to master these techniques by my own way... please sensei... rather than kiling my own master which is very kind to me, I rather burn Konoha Village into ashes and dust..."
"Naruto-kun!!! Your wish is to dumb for sessha to fulfill... sessha won't break sessha's own promise, not to kill people!!!"
"Kenshin-sensei, please have some trust on me... you're not going to kill me because I will be the strongest of all samurai in Japan!!!", Naruto speaks as his eyes are full of determinations and confident.
"..."
"Okay, Naruto-kun... anyway, sessha's last tips for you, you have to differentiate correctly between your life and death in order to master these skills.. in other words, you must have the strongest will of survive to achieve your dream... that is the main essence of these techniques... are you ready??"
"yes, sensei..."
Their last lessons have been watched carefully by other two Demons of Tokugawa. In order to avoid been discovered, they have to fully hide their own Ki. One of them drinks sake, while another person softly lit his cigarette.
"Saitou-kun, I can't believe that Uzumaki can achieve this far... even I have to spend about 6 years learning that Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu style...", one of them start their conversations.
"ha ha ha... That brat is a clever and hardworking person, more than you're, Yoshinobu... no wonder he can achieve this far... "
"Are you saying that I'm the most dumbass samurai among us???"
"In addition, you're more dumber and crazier than that brat...", Saitou speaks before he blows away the smokes that he has inhaled just now.
"Shit, at least I'm not a heavy smoker who have a pair of so-called steel lungs... ha ha ha ha!!!"
"Shut up, monkey... at least pay a little concentration to this duel, you nuthead!!!", Saitou says in a killer monotone voice.
"Okay, okay... gruffy little old-man!!", Yoshinobu replies back.
The environment has became silent for minutes just before Kenshin and Naruto whisper in their killer monotone voice.
"Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu final techniques..."
Their Ki explodes, and finally fill the whole space of their training site.
"...Kuzuryusen!!!!"
Nine slashes has been delivered in a time by both of them, which break nearby bamboo trees into small tiny pieces.
Their attack clashes in the speed of the blink of an eye, and after that they quickly move into the ultimate stance...
"...Amakakeru Ryunohirameki!!!! Naruto-kun, show sessha your ways of the samurai!!!!!", Kenshin shouts as he dashes in his infamous god-like speed.
"I cannot afford to lose in this final moment... I have to live to achieve my dream...", Naruto thinks for a nano-second just before he get back into his ultimate stance.
the faces of every characters he has met in his life either in Konohakagure or in Japan suddenly appeared in his mind... that time he decided that he must live, to show that what is the meaning of being the strongest samurai ever in the history...
I cannot afford to lose...
I have to protect the weaks and innocents...
I must stay alive...
Must stay alive...
Must stay alive...
I MUST STAY ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!
AMAKAKERU RYUNOHIRAMEKI!!!!! Let the dragon choose who will win this final fight!!!!!
K-changgggg!!!!!!!
Saitou and Yoshinobu are in disbelief of what they have watched just now... that's the true power of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu!!!!
"Saitou, how can you have a stalemate during your fights with him during these past days?? I can't even fight against this ultimate technique even though I've think in various ways..."
"... that's incredible... so powerful for a humble hitokiri just like Himura...", Saitou replies back.
Both of the samurai stop their pace and stands in battou-jutsu stance... then Kenshin speaks, in a glad voice.
"Naruto-kun, why do you reduce your power?? You should treat sessha just like your enemies... look at sessha now, just a long scratch on sessha's chest and a torn piece of hakama..."
"Sensei, you're not my enemy at all, that's why I reduce my power... I just want you to live to witness my achievement and atone for the souls you've killed..."
"Ha ha ha... Naruto-kun..", Kenshin chuckles as he give Naruto's Nagasone Kotetsu and the scabbard of his sword to him.
"Here's your sword... and as an acknowledgement for you who have mastered Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu sword technique, today sessha give you sessha's sakaba-tou, sessha means sessha's reversed-blade sword "Shinuchi".. hope you will keep it and use it to protect the weak and innocents... do you know does it means when a samurai give his beloved sword to you?"
Naruto nearly cries as he received Kenshin's most valuable sword, which the meanings are the deepest to him.
"Yes, sensei... you must have put the whole of your trust on me in your Shinuchi...", Naruto replies back.
"No... Naruto-kun..."
"Eh..?"
"Sessha will always trust you even if sessha don't give Shinuchi to you... but now, sessha gives Shinuchi to you as an honour for you as you have mastered Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu... from now on don't call yourself a ninja, but you must claim with honour and dignity that you're a trully samurai... remember about what sessha has been telling you about the code of the samurai?"
"Yes, Bushido..."
Suddenly, a voice has been heard not far from the training site.
"Honesty, Pride, Dignity, Wisdom, Awareness, Calm, Spirit... don't you ever forget that... ".
"Saitou-kun, Yoshinobu-kun!!!", Naruto speaks as he turnis his head towards them.
"Hey, brat... remember these phrases and applicate them into your life... Aku, Zaku, Zan!!!", Saitou tells Naruto the words that have been his principles since the first day he joined the Shinsen Gumi.
"Slay the evil instantly... the Shinsen Gumi Code of Ethics... uphold the justice, slay the evil, protect the innocent citizens... I will keep them in my heart, I promise Saitou-kun!!!", Naruto says just a second before Yoshinobu interrupts their serious conversations.
"Okay, guys!!! We will celebrate Naruto-kun's success by organizing a party in Shirobeko!!!! Sake, women and..."
"Cigarette... I don't drink alcohols and I will continue the party myself with my own Tokio, during midnight...", Saitou adds in a relax tone.
- What the f... -
"Hey, come on... do pity on us... Kenshin have Kaoru-dono, they can do it after the party ends... what about me?? I need a hot girl... and some sake, too!!!"
- Is this the real life of one of the most famous Hitokiri in Japan??? -
"Yoshi-kun... I think an average party is enough...", Naruto tries to comfort Yoshinobu but later interrupt by Yoshinobu, himself.
"Naruto-kun, sake is samurai's life, and they are extremely tasty, too!!"
The surroundings become silent, with all eyes glare towards Yoshinobu.
Kenshin : I swear I'll kill you if you dare to give Naruto-kun, even a cup of sake!!! You're trully the example of an immoral samurai, for sure...
Saitou : Fool plus ahou plus dumbass plus crazy plus immoral plus baka plus bagero... equals to Yoshinobu the stupid wolf... you deserved that well!!!
Naruto : I won't need any sake or hot women... I prefer cigarettes more, to be honest... they're cools, just like Saitou-kun himself...
Kenshin : What the fuck, man??! There goes sessha's baka-deshi again... Saitou-kun!!! Sessha must kill a smoking devil just like you!!!
Saitou : Ha Ha Ha... your too-kind role model goes nothing for him... Yeah that's good, Naruto... spend an hour with me and we'll learn the art of smoking together... oh, here's a cigarette, a quickstart for you to live a cool man's life...
Naruto : The cigarette brand?
Kenshin : Saitou...
Saitou : Alfred Dunhill's Filter Deluxe cigarette... you can only find these high-quality cigarette in Kyoto... the price?? Only 7400 yen and you will taste the finest tobacco of your life...
Kenshin : Saitou...
Naruto : Oh, that's too great... at least I've to by about 20 packs, ammunition purpose...
Saitou : Good, that's my wolf brat...
Kenshin : Sessha afraid sessha have to kill you... You have taught a 17 years old boy to smoke!!!!! Who the hell do you think you're??!! Draw your sword, Saitou!!!!
Saitou : Try me, Morality-Lecturer wannabe!!!! If you have Amakakeru Ryunohirameki, I still have my Gatotsu - Ziroushiki!!!! Bring it on, redhead!!!!
Naruto : ...
Yoshinobu : Here we go again... a fight between a cute-redhead and a too-heavy smoker will begin in anytime... okay, the bet table will now open!!!!
- People think that the samurai are heartless, yet they still have time to fool themselves around... -
That night, after some small party by Kenshin-gumi plus The Demons of Tokugawa, Naruto slowly get up and announces a shocking decision.
"Thanks for your concerns towards me, but I'm afraid I have to continue my journey... just now, I have discuss about with Saitou-kun about it, and I think that my power is needed to help the innocents of Sapporo War between Satsuma Rebels and government soldiers... :", Naruto speaks once he is ready to continue his journey again.
"Hei... hei ... hei... what's the hurry??", the group suddenly voice.
"I just don't know... just following my instinct..."
"If you follows what that spider's legs-haired just told you, then you better jump into the hell pit... his words has no use at all...", Sanosuke sighs.
"Fuck you, chicken... just admit that you have no idea about my discuss with Naruto, not to be such an arrogant but stupid lil chicken...", Saitou protests but in a calm voice.
"Why you...!!!", Sanosuke has just going to ruin the party before Kenshin immediately stops him.
"Hei, Kankyo Kanashii... better to call you by that name from now on... good luck!!! don't forget to change your hairstyle and colour, okay??!!", the group bid Naruto a farewell before he starts wandering again.
"Okay, friends... Yoshi-kun, Saitou-kun, Kenshin -sensei, we'll meet in Konohakagure!!! That time I will help all of you to gain the peace treaty agreement between Japan and Konohakagure!!! Bye, Minna-san!!! Don't forget to pay me a visit in Konohakagure!!!"
"Bye, Kanashii... we'll surely meet again..."
"Bye, Kenshin-sensei.. and thanks for everything..."
Just a week before The Demons Of Tokugawa and Tochimiko Okubo, Japanese Internal Affair minister departed to Japan, they were surprised to hear that all of Satsuma rebels have been slaughtered in a big war near Sapporo, yesterday. 700 of them had been slaughtered by a person who has a brown-greyish coloured hair and ponytail hairstyle, by the name of Kankyo Kanashii the Shadow Hitokiri, the successor of the title of Battousai Hitokiri.
-End of Chapter 3 -
- the main hint for chapter 4 :
1 - Kanashii has come back to Konohakagure, without any Konoha ninja knowing that he's actually Naruto
2 - Jiraiya is a lil bit curious about Kanashii's background
3 - Things get messed up when Hyuuga Family decide to challenge Kanashii into a duel, to discover the secret of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu
4 - Kakashi-sensei knows the true identity of Kanashii, finally
that's all for now... thanks for giving me supports!!!
Stay tune for Chapter 4 - True Colours