The League of Legends
The Card Master of Konohagakure; Naruto Uzumaki, the Twisted Fate!
-+[Seal of Change: Review Corner]+-
DeCkLaRation: I hope there come some!
-+[Seal of Change: Situation]+-
Silence. It was the only thing clouding the narrow staffed room as a crowd, divided by their own held position into two factions, was starring at a saddened, old man. His robes, which used to be ceremony ones, were torn by burns, by blood and by strains of dirt.
Sitting before the crowd in a chair traditionally meant for "high-ups" between the small gasp, he watched as his trusted interrogator Ibiki slowly stepped towards a corner of the room. His eyes gave no feelings, however his expression showed that the previously given report eased his mind slightly, if only to loosen up on tensions.
He seemed to grow more older and more colder with each passing moment, just to be remembered by his own age each time. The room was embraced by his own killing intent while radiating a twisted mix of feelings. Many questions were asked but also answered, however one never crossed their minds; Where was the corpse ? Some answered it for themselves, however, this would remain a mystery to others.
The eyes of the old man showed displease while also had a hint of red in them, as the expressions of the observers were as mixed as they could be. Some looked saddened by what happened, which clearly encased the faces of the people replacing the "common man". The other side however, was sickened.
Some looked rather twisted in their respective feelings, showing no straight hint of what was going through the mind. A mix of sadness, happiness, confusion and a hint of disgust lied on their very features like a hat, a shirt, pants and shoes clothings on a body. It was hard to make a clear declaration of their state.
However, one thought was forced and focused within the minds of the currently persons. They had failed in a hell-high way; Only Yami would be able to support them if the report held true. The first spoken words were done by one of the Hokage's most trusted advisor and late teammate, the male Homura.
"So you basically try to tell us that the only legacy of the fourth was killed because we have let the villagers do as they please ? On top of that, the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi was his own son ?", he spat the words out like remaining venom in his mouth. He couldn't help but notice the irony of how the shadow of despair cloaked the Fire Shadow in the room. Despite everything however, he felt a little down as well.
"We failed. To top even that, as soon as it reaches the people that we killed the child of our own legendary Kage just because he was a burden in our view for something in higher control, we will have Iwa, Kumo and the Sand on our trails. Each would cause another Great Ninja War just to get their hand on the son of one of the most feared Hokage ever and the jailor of the strongest beings ever known.
Not to forget that the Jinchurriki hold a certain authority in their respective area... Adding this to everything, we might have rough politics ahead of us. Especially if this incident is spreat public.", Shibi concluded as he remained cool.
Whispers started to spread, just to be ended by a mid-aged man in the civilian council. "This all may be, but you killed numerous people of this village in your outburst! I, as a man of common people, request the down stepping of the Hokage in return for the taken live-"
He didn't get further as he had kunais all over his body, each in different parts of his anatomy. A try to scream was useless effort as his vocal-cord was a side-way slashed by a bypassing kunai. "Anyone else want to speak their similar opinion up ? Go ahead, we are listening.", a deadly calm Tsume spoke with malice in her voice.
Her eyes slowly turned into one of a predator, as it targets it's prey for a celebrating feast. The calming hand of a lesser-calm Inoichi moved to her shoulder, easing her reaction a little. ANBU quickly moved in and took the humiliated, close-to-death councillor to the hospital.
"This is not the time, and not the place for this. ", his eyes took a close glance at the civilian council, which finally remained silent for a change as they observed their fellow go in such disgracing manner.
"The Hokage was within his rights to kill each of the civilians as each of them broke his own law, forbidding the naming of... "his" tenant around him. The punishment for this is the immediant execution. However, there was even more reasons he did this. Civilians killing a innocent child for the sake of something impersistent like revenge, just to give a example. Their deeds are unforgivable."
Inoichi looked at the Hokage. "Furthermore, you can see how tired the Hokage got by this. If you look closely, you'd seen that this is not a proud deed for our sake.", the adult blond of the Yamanaka clan stood slowly up, raising his body while lowering his head in shame. "This is a sad day in the history of Konoha.
We have the mourning of a innocent child, which happens to be the son of our beloved Fourth. While the civilians might have gotten their revenge on the nine-tailed, it is only a question of time until he might return. The Bijuus are no little, but a persistent treat; They are beings of pure Chakra, spoken to able to reincarnate eachselves after some time in a different being and personality. While the treat is, therefore, briefly stopped, it will return. Leaving us with no more but shame..."
The words came out like a exclaiming of a prophet. Standing before the crowd of the council, his eyes fixated on the Hokage. "We are no more worth the title of the strongest Village of the five great nations. We lost that right as soon as we have let out feelings cloud our mind and lost the trust towards our Kages."
A quick handsign as a sign of dismissal made everyone quickly leave, leaving Inoichi as the Head-Jounin of Konoha and Sarutobi all on their own in the room.
The next days to come were hard, but nothing compared to what would happen in the upcoming future. While the lose of many civilian made voices raise for the down stepping of the Hokage, they quickly were silenced by the Ninja Side.
Sand cancelled their alliance with Konoha as soon as the incident got known, lowering Konoha's status in significant ways. Iwa for once actually was happy about the incident, which they of course did not voice in public. However, the death of their most feared enemies' legacy bought disgust and happiness to Iwa.
Kumo did not voice their opinion, but it was likely that a ambassador would come soon and voice their following steps. Incidents on this level were NEVER easy, considering the circumstances.
-+[Seal of Change: Situation & Time]+-
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly wandered a stone encased path into the mountain behind Konoha. He took all time of the world while every step seemed more of a burden to him than the last. The hallway was a relative small one, as he stepped through a door-step like gate into a room. There were torches hanging on the wall as the small room was brightened up.
In the middle of the room stood a heightened coffin out of wood. It was filled with the course of one Yondaime Hokage; Undisturbed by any thing happening on the outside, he lies peacefully where no one could molest his remainings in any way. Beside the wooden container rose a seemingly coffin created out of stone. In it lied the wife of prior named man, Kushina Uzumaki-Namikaze.
Both fell at that night for their belief in Konoha and in their son. It was sad that soon another Coffin would be added; The coffin of one Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze, who died far too early without the acknowledge of his parent's wishes towards the Village.
The old man sighs softly as he felt ashamed. If he didn't knew any better, he would expect them to come soon. However, his Godparents didn't even know of his early decease. The Sandaime concluded that he would keep this to himself for some time. There however was another part bothering him; The Coffin would remain empty.
Nothing of the corpse, as Sarutobi had to word it in disgust, was left for him to bury his Everything-but-Blood Grandson. Only weird-looking cards, which belong into Naruto's possession would be given into it.
The Wonder, where these Cards came from however, was nagging at Sarutobi. He couldn't remember having seen them ever on him, but they felt as if they belonged to him. What was even more weird to Sarutobi were the attributes of them, as they seemed delicate to Chakra.
Slowly wandering out of the stony halls again, he closed the grave behind him with a half Ram seal. He took all time in the world to return to the village, as he knew that he had by far more time actually spent then certain others had the chance to spend. It was depressing for him to face the facts, but he failed in every aspect Minato would have given him a word.
/Forgive me, Minato.../, were the only words laying like monuments in the mind of the formerly unmatched "God of all Shinobi".
-+[Seal of Change: Situation & Time]+-
It was silent in the village down the unspoken river. Being a "abandoned" city in the shadows of the glorious flames, no one sane dared to enter it for the sake of surviving. It was tormented by criminal and ruff-headed scum alike, which took the place as a sanctuary to rest... may it be the last forever or for a period of time.
The dry earth, which slowly mixed with sand as it was on the near border to the Wind Country, was seemingly watching a certain blond with a splendid hat wandering aimlessly on it. The clothings he wore would still be identified years from now on as his trademark, despite the stealthiness of Ninjas.
If one would also have taken the time, they'd notice the stiffness in his step and the steady flexing of fingers, as if the person prepared to immediately engage. Dim blue eyes pierced through the shadows as every mouldered house was carefully analysed for possible threats.
Another pair of eyes was watching the hat-wearer. The flashing of a knife being drawn quickly flicked through the shadows, as it reflected the moonlight before enclosing the distance to the seemingly unaware man. It happened to quick to actually take notice that a muffed cry erupted before the attacker laid on the floor, a clean cut through his throat being caked by his own blood.
Being not fazed, the blonde walked steady on. A rather-modern house caught his eye quickly, recognizing it as a possible gamble hole for the likes of him. A quick smirk flashed upon his face similar to the knife having been quickly drawn as Naruto walked towards, and afterwards into the house. The letters "Gamble Den" were rather scratchy carved into them, being oddly lightened by candles. It had a very dark ambient, not that Naruto mind as he was stepping through the door.
-+[Seal of Change: Situation & Time]+-
The "Gamble Den" was rather modest in furniture, however possessed quiet stylish individual items. The most noticeable thing was however the large bar spotable at one wall opposite to the door, having a large and rather sturdier man clean some glass. He seemed to be a barkeeper, however Naruto recognized him from Kyuubi's Memories.
"Keeper ?", came Naruto's voice as the blonde sat down on a stool, his arms on the thick wood of the bar with his cards intricted within his fingers. The glance was piercingly, however mostly hidden by the hat as only one eye seemed halfway visible fixated on him. He ignored the other persons around, which were minding their own buisness anyway.
Said man quickly looked, widening his eyes a little in surprise before calming down again, seemingly dismissing his own thoughts and ideas. "Whatcha wan' ?", was the answer on the wordless request. He seemed to recognize these familiar clothings, having seen them before, however he quickly forgot what he thought to focus on his customer.
"A Beer for me and a single Royal Flush consisting of red diamonds for the Toranpukyou .", came the response. The sound of crashing erupted through the place as the barkeeper starred shocked at the Jinchurikki.
The evidence of the shock was visible to the core, unable to immediately answer as the blonde dismissed him for a moment to look at a nearby Poker Game at a desk. Standing up to move over, he gave the Keeper a glance to collect himself before sitting down on a empty chair at the desk. "What's the deal ?"
-+[Seal of Change: Situation & Time]+-
It was only some days later that Naruto stood before Konoha again, looking from the head of the Yondaime down onto the despicable village. He didn't really care much for it, however he knew that he just couldn't leave. He had people to protect, which were not worth the wager that leaving would require to him.
He remained unsighted as he walked through the gate. No one looked into his face but noticed the clothings he wore. Looks of prising, but also of jealousy were exchanged as the pompous teenager walked along the path of Konoha's Main-street. Kids were playing, not giving the teen a look as he however looked at them, trying to remember how it felt to play like this.
Dismissing his own attitude of past haunting again, he decided that he waited enough. A hidden card in the pocket of the Sandaime whispered the position of the Jinchuuriki's Grandfather, guiding him into a side-path before concentrating away from the view of others.
He closed his eyes as he channelled Chakra into his feets. Trying his newest achievement for the practical use out again, Naruto seemed to slowly vanish out of sight as Cards arose from the ground. The red and orange cards fanned out to create a perfect circle in a flower head-like pattern, before Naruto vanished into nothingness, making the cards fade as well. The spike of Chakra was left unbeknownst, which would soon result in a huge mistake.
-+[Seal of Change: Situation & Time]+-
"In the Name of the Raikage, I am hereby to announce our following procedure and actions concerning the incident relating to your late Yondaime's legacy.", was the rough voice of the battle-hardened as Ambassador replacing Ninja. Having sent a Jounin of his Experience could mean a lot to Sarutobi, who looked a little better from resting more then ever within a brief period of time. His age still laid heavy on him.
"We, Kumo, one of the five great Ninja villages, hereby declare a nullifying of peace treaties created from ancestors between Konohagakure and Kumogakure. We do no longer accept your friendship as our own and see ourself as neutral in coming wars.
We can not support a village which treated their own youth like pests.", was the tense message everyone waited for. The whole Council was shocked by this, having hoped for a positive answer of the village due the excellent past relationships.
Especially the Civilian Side looked shocked and heaven-ditched from this. One of them stood up, quickly raising to his height before shouting at the Ambassador. "This can not be accepted!
We did not treat our youth like pests, but we freed us and our coming generations from the treat of this demon!", was the courageous exclaiming of the fool, which however was quickly enstrengthened and repeated by the whole civilian council.
The Ninjas however remained silent. One could see how one Inoichi was thinking, the years-old carved gears were running on overdrive to work every fact and possibility through. "Is this final ?", came the hopeful question of another Ninja of a minor Non-Bloodline Clan.
"Yes, it is.", was the prompt answer of the Ambassador before the Civilians started to get loud again. Sarutobi seemed to get smaller in his seat, feeling as if every ounce of strength was leaving him. /Naruto.../
As if Heaven and Hell themselves were to answer his silent plead, spreadt and arose unfamiliar cards from the ground. Everyone were frozen in their tracks as red cards with a very familiar, animalic pattern seemed to grow flat out of the ground. The flower head-like circle fanned in the middle of the Council room out.
A hat was slowly emerging out of them, raising skywards in which the rest quickly followed. The familiar face with the blond hair as immediate treat became clear, before the golden and black cloth manifested. He seemed young, barely over 13 years, but radiated immediate business. The stern look in the straight face was a heavy give-away.
Sarutobi was looking on in shock, unable to form letters properly as every word right now ceased to silence. The Civilians looked ready to shout out, while the Ninjas looked surprised and expecting at the youngster. The Ambassador however showed the most surprise out of them, as he was near to faint.
"Is this a trick ?", came the barking of said Kumo Ninja before he looked enraged at the Sandaime, trying to see if this was a ambush. The God of Shinobi however couldn't answer, being unable to say anything.
Silence filled the whole room, as no one was able to say anything. A smirk formed on Naruto's face, making him look smoothly at the present personalities. One visible eye focused on the Hokage, the grin never escaping him.
"Good Day, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am glad to declare that Lady Luck indeed is smiling upon you today."
Author Endnote: I am not doing regular updates, but it is possible that holidays might result in a chapter or two! Reworked the first Chapter a little as well. You can check it, if you feel like it that is ;)