Welcome back guys, I'm glad that you are enjoying the rate of the chapters. Honestly unlike my Etched in Stone story, I have this one completely planned out, even the final line to the story. I give myself an outline of what I want to cover in each chapter, then flesh it out. I'm also working on a little Fanart for the story, but don't expect that for a while. Oh and oops, I swear to god in heaven that the next chapter is goign to be departure. I'm trying to keep the characters within their manga/anime personalities, so trying to write a romantic scene without ripping Gaara or Hinata out of character is near impossible. I feel their love would come much slower than Naru/Tem and Zaia/Saku simply because of who they are. Anyway here's another chapter, Enjoy.
Disclaimer - I do NOT own Naruto
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-Chapter 21: Sins of the Past-
Zaiaku wandered the scape of his mind, 'Shiva-san?' he called out. He recieved no response, 'where am I?' Continueing down the unfamiliar corridor he saw a shadow dart across the hallway, 'Hello?' he squinted, 'someone there?' He sensed a fast approaching presence and quickly realized it was hostile, 'something is attacking me in my own mind!' Reaching down he noticed that his sword wasn't there, 'shit,' he hissed and ripped a kunai from his leg holster. 'WHO ARE YOU?' he yelled as he felt something dart past him and simultainiously rip into his shoulder.
'The question is,' echoed a soft female voice, 'who are you?'
Zaiaku narrowed his eyes, 'Zaiaku,' he replied, 'shinobi of Konoha.'
'WRONG! that is WHAT you are!' cried the voice as it ripped into the ice shinobi again. 'Are you a hero or a villian?' questioned the unknown assailent as they repeated the attack, 'a man or a monster?' A deep growl echoed off the walls, Zaiaku stepped back as two glowing blue eyes shown from the shadows, 'you are a weakling that cowers from his past. You are a child that hides in the shadow of his own existance.' The two eyes disappeared as another growl echoed down the hallway, 'I will no longer serve a lost coward.'
'I AM NOT A COWARD!' yelled the teen as he charged into the darkness, 'EVERYTHING ABOUT ME IS AN ABOMINATION!' As he burst through the shadows he came into a field of snow, two figures standing on the horizon, 'What?'
-Scene-
"Ano...Kaa-san?" questioned a little boy with shoulder length black hair
A beautiful woman with the same hair turned a warm smile on him, "Hai? my little one?"
The little boy blushed and looked down, "where is Tou-san?"
"Sen-kun," replied the older woman, "Tou-san is away, he is a shinobi, and he is required to do many things that take him many places."
-End Scene-
'Kaa-san,' whispered Zaiaku. 'WHY ARE YOU SHOWING ME THIS?" he yelled into the darkness
'Because you refuse to see it,' replied the voice, 'you will never become more than you are until you ACCEPT what you are.'
The scene shifted to a white room with a stainless steel table in the center, a small boy strapped to it, his blue eyes wide in fear
-Scene-
"T-Tou-san?" questioned the little boy, "W-what's going on, Tou-san?"
A man with light lavender hair stepped into the room, a long labcoat wrapped his form, "You're going to help me my little Senmetsu." He grinned evily as he secured the straps on the boys hands and feet, "First we're going to kill that fool daimyo, then we'll destroy any shinobi villages that stand in our way."
The small child had tears in his eyes, "I DON'T WANT TO!" he cried, "I WANT KAA-SAN!"
Rouga Nadare let out a dark laugh, "Your Kaa-san was a whore," he replied, "and once she supplied me with you, she was no longer neccessary." After a motion with his hand ten men rolled in a huge chunk of ice, the form of a woman was barely noticable encased inside, "This is Shiva," said Nadare, "she will be your energy my little weapon, NOW!" Turning he eyed a smaller man, "If you don't perform this I will have your family killed."
"Hai," responded the man and began sealing, Shikifuujin!"(Dead Demon Imprisonment)
"Tou-san please," cried the child, "Pleas-AHHHHHHH!" The little boys skin became pale and his hair shifted from black to white as the Ice Queen was forced into his small body.
-End Scene-
'Please,' begged Zaiaku as his tears fell on the floor, 'Please stop.'
'Shiva is too kind to do what is neccessary,' stated the voice, 'and this is what is now neccessary for you to wake up.'
Zaiaku looked on in horror as the scene shifted to a dark corridor, 'stop it,' whispered the teen as he shook his head, 'STOP IT!'
-Scene-
"Sakura!" yelled Zaiaku as he charged down the hallway, cutting down shinobi like overgrown weeds, "Sakura!"
-End Scene-
Zaiaku pointed his kunai at his throat, 'I-I can't,' he hissed as he readied himself to end his own life. 'NO MORE!' he cried as he brought the dagger to his neck.
His hand was stopped by something clamping painfully on his wrist. Opening his eyes, Zaiaku stared down at the form of a pure white wolf, her teeth embedded in his arm, 'Still ever the coward.'
'Wh-who are you?' questioned the teen.
Releasing him the white beast stared at him, 'I've fought beside you for two lifetimes, and you still don't know me.'
'Shimotsuki?' stammered the teen, 'Why?'
'You're almost dead,' replied the wolf as she walked down the corridor, 'You're bond with Shiva is nearly severed, only I can speak with you now.' Turning her head she glared, 'Follow me Zaiaku.'
Zaiaku complied, 'Where are we going?'
'Do you know why I showed you only those three memories?' questioned Shimotsuki as they came to a door, 'Those are what drive you to fight, your fuel for battle his hate and anger.' Shaking her head she pushed the wood door open with her paw, 'That will no longer suffice Zaiaku.'
The ice shinobi watched as the door swung open to reveal the lush greens of Konoha, 'What do you mean and why are we here?'
'Despite what you think, you are fighting to kill,' replied the wolf, 'not to protect, and it is driving me into madness.' Stepping onto the soft green grass the two made their way down a sunlit path, 'I'm here to show you what your heart is telling you, but you refuse to hear.'
-Scene-
"ZAIAKU-KUN!" shouted a giggling Sakura, "Put me down!"
A twenty year old Zaiaku sighed dramatically as he neared the lake, "If you insist, Hime."
"NO," shouted Sakura, "WAI-" she was cut off as she was dropped into the water. "Zaiaku-kun," growled the soaked Kunoichi
"What is the problem dear Hime?" questioned the white haired man in mock confusion, "I only did what you requested."
-End Scene-
'Hime,' he whispered
-Scene-
Zaiaku drew his sword as he stepped into an empty house. When he entered into the living area the lights flicked on and someone was instantly latched on to his neck, "Happy birthday, Zaiaku!" shouted the room full of people.
"Arigato," choked Zaiaku as he wrapped his arms around his pink haired Kunoichi.
-End Scene-
Zaiaku smiled wistfully, 'My friends.'
-Scene-
A twenty year old Zaiaku stood on the top of the Hokage monument, "I wasn't born here," he said as he felt his two friends approach.
"Why do you fight for it then?" questioned Naruto
Zaiaku smiled, "Because it's my home."
-End Scene-
Zaiaku clenched his fist, 'Home.' Reaching up he wiped his silently falling tears, 'when Sakura died I lost sight of everything, I didn't care anymore, I was just angry.' Dropping to his knees he bowed his head to the wolf, 'I'm so sorry.'
'What do you fight for, Zaiaku?' questioned Shimotsuki as she gazed at him
Zaiaku raised his head and blue eyes locked on blue, 'For the protection of everyone: Sakura, my friends, and Konoha."
Stepping up to the boy Shimotsuki rested her chin on his shoulder, on instinct the teen wrapped his arms around her neck and cried two lifetimes worth of tears, soaking her pure white fur. The wolf smiled when she felt his body fall into a exhaustion induced sleep, 'Now we can become stronger, Zaiaku.' As she laid him on the ground she felt a presence approach, 'So you decided to come?'
Shiva smiled at the wolf as she lifted the form of Zaiaku, 'Hai, were you successful?' The wolf nodded, 'Time to go back little one, Sakura-hime has waited long enough.' Turning she smiled at Shimotsuki, 'Hopefully we won't see each other again too soon.'
The Wolf barked in laughter as she returned to her dwelling in the frost blade, 'A human's lifetime is so short, it will come sooner than you think.'
Zaiaku had an odd feeling, his head felt warm and wet, "...and I can't believe they asked Tsunade-sama to be the next Hokage," said a voice. Looking up he saw Sakura talking animatedly with soap covered hands, "I just hope she doesn't spend all day drinking sake and giggling at Jiriaya-sama."
"Sa...," choked Zaiaku, the medic-nin's rambling immediately stopped, closing his eyes he concentrated, "Sa..ku..ra."
'I'm imagining things,' thought the pink haired girl. Looking down her green eyes met his ice blue ones, "Zaiaku-san?" she whispered. She felt his head move in a nod, against her will tears formed in her eyes, "Hi." She noticed him glance questioningly at her soapy hands, "Ah,' she blushed and wiped them on a towel, "I was washing your hair."
The white haired teen smiled, "Tha...-"
he was cut off as she placed a softt hand over his mouth, "Shh," she commanded, "I have to go get Tsunade-sama, I'll be right back. Don't move!"
Zaiaku cocked an eyebrow at her retreating form, 'don't move?'
'Sakura-hime has been here everyday,' stated Shiva, 'she was very concerned for you, little one.'
A few moments later a flustered Tsunade entered the room, "Well," she said as she performed several scanning jutsu, "didn't expect to see you so soon." She noticed his mouth moving and only a choking noise coming out, "You've been unconcious for a week," she said, "Sakura get me a glass of water." Reaching down she supported the teen's head and lifted the glass to his lips, "There."
As Zaiaku laid his head back he looked at Sakura, "S...oap," he gasped
Tsunade let out a light laugh, "Sakura, I believe he wants you to get the soap out of his hair." The ice shinobi nodded in confirmation, eliciting another laugh from the sannin, "Alright, I think I'm done here," she said. Leaning down to Sakura she grinned, "Have fun."
Sakura blushed as she resumed her position, hesitantly she reached up and began to rinse his hair, "This was easier when you were unconcious," she murmured. Looking down she saw him watching her, "and when you weren't staring at me!" As she finished drying his hair she heard a set of boots pounding down the hallway, "That would be Naruto."
On cue the door blew open, "OI! FROSTY!" yelled Naruto as he, Gaara, and Zabuza entered the room. "Oh," said Naruto as he took in the familiar scene, "this is the second time I've found you with your head in Sakura-chan's lap."
Zabuza let out a chuckle, while Zaiaku looked at Gaara, "Hit," he stated simply. His redheaded friend smiled and complied, smacking Naruto in the back of the head.
"Itai!"
The next three days consisted of Zaiaku consistantly regaining strength and moving around more. Currently though, the members of team oni were in a deep discussion, "So now what?" questioned Zaiaku
"I am traveling to Suna for a little while," replied Gaara, "I will utilize that time to train in the desert."
Naruto nodded, "No way we can fight Akatsuki like this," he said, "I can't believe we relied on them so much."
"I have a lot more to learn," added Zaiaku as he glanced at his sword, "I can't even tap a third of Shimotsuki's power. Fantomu taught me that much."
Zabuza sighed, "I guess I better train as well," he said. Zaiaku threw him a questioning glance, "Like I'm going to let you three do this alone," replied the jounin with a grin.
"So," said Naruto sadly, "This is it for team oni."
"Of course not," replied Gaara, "everyone has to train to become stronger, we are no different. However if we trained here we would undoubtably level the land scape." Leaning back against the wall he continued, "Besides we don't want Konoha caught up in an Akatsuki attack if it comes."
Zaiaku nodded, "A month," he said, "We'll depart in a month."
"A year should do it," added Naruto, "any longer than that and we are going to take the chance that Akatsuki preempts an attack."
Outside the door Sakura stood in silence, "You're leaving, Zaiaku-kun?" she whispered and bolted back down the hallway. She had some decisions to make..
Later that afternoon Gaara was meditating on the training field when he felt someone approach, "You should make more noise Hinata-san," he said, "someone might think you are attempting to ambush me." Cracking an eye open he smiled inwardly as she blushed.
"Temari-san s-said that y-you are leaving f-for Sunakagure with them," she stated. Gaara nodded in acknowledgement, "How long w-will you be gone?" she questioned
"No more than a year," he replied, "Why?"
Hinata flushed completely and stared at the ground, 'I have to make my decision,' she thought. Standing up straight she calmed herself, "Would y-you like to accompany me for dinner?"
Gaara sat wide-eyed, Hinata's words were very slowly being processed by his brain in an attempt to ensure that no mistake was made.
Shukaku sighed, 'This is where you say "yes," Casanova.'
Ever calm and collected Gaara blushed, "I would love to, Hinata-san."
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End Chapter 21: Sins of the Past
Read and Review - Yay, no one is dead! this was originally supposed to be part of the last chapter so apologies for it being a bit short, but I felt like Naruto's last line was a perfect place to end it. This chapter was more centered on Zaiaku than anyone else, to show his mindset and to show that he didn't have it as all together as he seemed.
Preview Chapter 22: Departure - I SWEAR THIS TIME!