Author's Notes: Here comes the main battles of the evening, folks!! In the blue corner are Sarutobi and Hidama vs. the Hokage brothers!! And in the red corner it's everyone's favorite Naruto vs. Shukaku!! Let's get ready to rummmmbbblllllllllllleee!! Sorry folks just always wanted to try that once . But here in the next chapter and yes, there will be fighting and yes, I can't describe battles that well but I will try. I'll try to make this chapter the fighting so here's hoping we can push it past my usual ten pages or so.
DarkRavie, my favorite reviewer!! Hee glad you're enjoying it and so glad you're still with me!! :-)
Zane Makura, nice to meetcha and yep! Things are really getting interesting and will continue to do so in the chapters later on. I do hope you'll stay for the show. Yes I was harsh on Sakura but in the beginning she is such a damn wuss, and seriously, Ino would have been better and that's only due to her bloodline. She has a bit more harshness coming to her but she will grow up. She just needs a really big slap in the face from reality. And I totally agree about the jutsu Orochimaru used. But you would think he would use it more than once but after this we pretty much never see it again. Oh well, he'll get what's coming to him soon enough.
Before we begin I just want to clarify who the hokages, from the first to the fourth, are so I don't have people asking "who's this?" and what not. Mind you some of the names have been made up so unless you've been reading the manga faithfully you'll know which names are real and which are made up. And please remember, in Japan the names are said with the last/clan name before the first name.
+ Shodaime Hokage, Senju Toshiro
+ Nidaime Hokage, Senju Yasuo
+ Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Goku
+ Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato
Disclaimer/Warnings: From now on I will only post these on the first chapter. I don't want to fill up the chapters with these things and annoy you, the readers. Sound fair?
"Family Ties"
By: Beloved Shadow of Light
+ Of Hokages and Demons +
Amidst the chaos spreading through the village Iruka and the other chunin instructors made sure all the students in the academy were keeping a neat and orderly line. More than once they kept reminding them that is was merely an evacuation drill but to keep moving. The kids spoke quietly to each other, some saying it was great to get out of class while others were complaining about doing a drill. But for Konohamaru he was getting worried. Ever since Moegi's new color pencil broke clean in half he felt a bad omen. His thoughts went immediately to his oji-san and he didn't like it.
"I don't get it, first we have a really long study period and now a drill?" the young kuniochi-in-training said to Udon who was walking behind her.
"Hai. I would have liked more study time though," he sniffed. "But Konohamaru-kun has been really quiet." The girl 'hmm'ed and looked at their leader.
"Keep moving, don't dally!" Iruka pointed out, making sure to stay calm and collected even as he carefully looked around the area. No kind of disturbance but as long as they kids didn't know something was wrong they should be fine. 'I just hope everyone is alright,' he added, trying to quell the worry that was rising in his stomach. But for all his collectiveness he didn't notice how the No. 1 fan of Uzumaki Naruto was studying the darting of his eyes and the tense look of his shoulders. He turned his head and peered at the rainbow that was surrounding the sun.
He remembered seeing a similar rainbow a while back, before he met Naruto and before he began to challenge his grandfather to see who was to be the rightful hokage. Apparently way back before he was born, rainbows were said to represent snakes, and that they were omens of bad luck. Even now people refused to have anything to deal with snakes but to see something as beautiful as a rainbow as a bad omen?
'A symbol of snakes... what's going on?' he asked himself.
--
Orochimaru had never seen the look of sad longing that emanated from Hidama's eyes but apparently, she knew the hokages more than she let on. In fact, she seemed to have developed a relationship with the Nidaime so how was it that she still managed to remain as youthful as ever? He smirked and allowed a chuckle to escape.
"If seems one of your secrets has come to light, Hidama." Her body grew tense and she slowly, hesitantly, backed away but picked up her sword once more. Her eyes never left that of the one called Yasuo but she could not stop shaking. Even as the other known as Toshiro stepped forward until they were nearly standing shoulder to shoulder.
The second leader looked behind him as Orochimaru pushed the coffins out of his way, ignoring the sound of them crashing to the tiles. "Edo Tensei, ne? So he was the one to summon us with the forbidden jutsu?" He sounded surprised and would have sounded proud, if their opponents didn't know him as well as they did. "What a guy."
"If that's so, then, Sarutobi and Hidama!" Both went tense as the first spoke their names. "We must have to fight against the two of you. Gomen..."
"How about we stop the old folks chatter and get this started?" Still smirking the traitor made his way towards them, holding two kunais with blood red tags hanging from the hilts in his hands, stepping up behind them.
"No matter what era we are in... there is always a war going on..." he said softly but with a voice laden with sadness. Hidama knew what he was talking about and once more her grip on her sword faltered.
"But you like the idea of a war, don't you?" No one chose to answer that.
The hokage frowned, not liking the look his former student held in his eyes. "Using the dead as your own tools... nothing good will ever come from this..."
"I agree," the pale woman said in a tight voice. "There are forces out there one shouldn't mess with... are you prepared for the consequences?" The serpentine man just smirked and held both knifes up until they were at levels with the back of the former kage's heads.
--
Naruto and Shiruba both pushed themselves to go faster, barely able to see Gaara but the chakra that was leaking was enough to affect all the living creatures in the forest. Down below and even in the sky animals and insects of every different shape and size were running past them in the opposite direction they were going in, whimpering in fear as they tried to escape the aura of rage. The blonde bit his lip as he stopped on a branch, catching his breath. His sister landed next to him not even a second later.
"Damnit, at this rate we'll never reach him!" he said in frustration.
"We can't give up; he hasn't completely transformed so we still have time," she tried reasoning but she was getting very worried. They paused when they heard the rustling of leaves behind him and quickly, reaching into their weapons' pouch and let several shurikens fly. A startled yelp and the sound of insects buzzing made him relax even if a tiny bit. Soon Shino and Shikamaru came into view.
"What's the hell is your problem?!" the Nara boy yelled at him. "You almost made me lose an eye!"
"What do you two want?" he asked, not in the mood for any shit right now.
"I asked them," the silver-haired girl quickly explained to which Shino nodded.
"There are also several Oto nins following us."
"How far behind are they?"
"Several meters but they're gaining fast," Shikamaru replied as he rubbed the back of his head. "We need to come up with a plan."
"Let's just turn around and ambush them," the blonde growled.
"Can't you think for once, Naruto? Listen, an ambush is a good idea but there are two conditions we need to have it turn to our favor and not theirs. First, since we're the ones fleeing we must move without making noise and discover the enemy first. Second, we need to locate and quickly conceal ourselves in a place and position where we can catch our enemies off-guard and make sure we strike the first blow. Only if we meet both conditions can this ambush be successful." Shikamaru paused as he took a moment to catch his breath.
"The first doesn't seem to be a problem as you two know where that red-head is going so we can just follow you. But meeting the second condition isn't gonna be that easy. This is our home and we're familiar with the geography of the surrounding area but that won't work against enemies who were originally from Konoha!"
"That's right! They knew where to attack and they were also hiding in the audience at the stadium. They know the area as well as we do!" Shiruba cursed, a frown marring her pretty features. "And I bet you anything they're hunters to boot!"
"Even with that, the ambush will still be an advantage but there're too many undecided factors involved. Everyone has been well organized from the start and look at us."
"We're merely genins and two of us recently fought so we're not at the top of our health," Shino summed up.
"Then what the hell do you suggest we do?" Naruto growled. "We need to get to Gaara first or else no one will be alive, period."
"... There's only one thing we can do. Create a diversion that looks like we're going to ambush them. One of us will stay behind and fake them out long enough for the others to go."
"I like the idea but right now Naruto and myself are the best choice to go after Gaara. Anyone else and he will not hesitate to kill him or her on the spot," Shiruba brought up. "You don't know what lives inside him but we do. Besides, Shino has his bugs."
The shades-wearing boy briefly nodded. "My Kikaichu have the ability to eat chakra so that will help in weakening them even from a distance," he explained. "But even if we lead them off I can use them to find you two."
"Don't. Its like ane-chan said, Gaara won't hesitate to kill you two." Summoning chakra the siblings made one clone of themselves and nodded to them as they tossed them their jackets. "Good luck everyone, try not to get killed." With that the two moved faster than before, becoming a blur as they rushed through the branches.
"H-Hey wait!" But they were gone. The Nara boy sighed and muttered "mendokusē" under his breathe before turning to the Aburame boy. "Ready?"
"Hai." The group paused long enough to be spotted by their enemies before taking off in another direction. The ninjas smirked, thinking they were getting sloppy and landed in a clearing where the four of them were panting, looking tired and running on the last of their energy.
"Heheh... we got you now," one of them smirked. No one said anything, just panted heavily as their gasped for air, sweat coating their brows. But in the back of his mind Shikamaru was thinking more than a mile a minute, coming up with tactics, pros, cons, strengths, weaknesses, and so much more. There was an 87 chance of this plan succeeding but that still left 13 chance of it failing. He didn't even want to compute the chances of how two genins and two clones were going to defeat twice as many jounins, if not full-fledge hunters.
'Here goes nothing,' he thought to himself.
--
"Well then, shall we begin?" Without any sort of warning, Orochimaru drove the kunais into the back of the two men he summoned from the dead and pushed them in until they were completely embedded into their skulls. They didn't so much as flinch but their eyes lost that familiar light of theirs. Stepping back his hands flashed through the sings to fully complete the forbidden technique.
What looked like mist rose from their body, seeming as though they were gaining back their vitality until they were as though they had never aged or died for that matter. Sarutobi frowned and took the few steps before reaching out and laid a steadying hand on the woman's shoulder. She tensed but she seemed to focus in on his touch.
"That is not them, Hidama. You know that as well as anyone," he told her in low tones. "With those fudas they don't remember anything about their lives before this."
"My mind and even my heart know it, but my eyes refuse to lie," she replied in a tight voice. "One of them died protecting me, the other I was forced to watch his life end... and I couldn't be there in Takehiko's final moments..." Her arms shook as bitter tears once more fell, painful memories pushing against the walls she had erected so long ago.
He knew who she was talking about and fought back the guilt that threatened to engulf his own mind. The young man that sacrificed his life to save so many innocent families despite having suffered critical wounds that resulted in him bleeding to death. He had fought continuously until he had won, despite impossible odds but by the time Sarutobi had arrived with reinforcements, it was too late. He still remembered Takehiko's lasts words, asking of the families' welfare before his own. Hearing that they were all safe he just smiled and closed his eyes. Medics said it had been a miracle he had fought the way he did with all his injuries but he had given it his all. He had been known as one of the greatest heroes Konoha had ever known.
"Of all those, you summons these two... for what reason?" he demanded, trying to speak around the lump that had formed in his throat.
"Do you know the sense of satisfaction and happiness gained by hurting the one I used to call teacher? I prepared this scenario to let you suffer this sort of happiness..." Still keeping that smirk on his pale features he brought his hands together before him. "Onegai, enjoy yourselves."
With a gentle shove the two hokage brothers stumbled a few steps before running fall out at them. Sarutobi readied himself but Hidama took off to the middle of the roof and began running towards the Nidaime who was doing the same. He didn't have a chance to wonder what she was planning as the Shodaime threw kunais at him, getting his attention before retaliating with powerful kicks. He dodged and blocked, retaliating with moves of his own.
Just several feet away Hidama turned sharply, hoping to attack with her sword but it was knocked from her grip. Both pale adults attacked with kicks and punches, dodging strikes while trying inflict damage on the other. It hurt to realize who she was fighting but when he kicked her leg, causing her to drop to her knee she struck him in the stomach and sent him flying. At the same time Sarutobi threw the first away but they landed with a dancer's grace.
"Forgive me." His hands flashed through the sings as he gathered the chakra he needed. "Katon, Karyū Endan!" Taking a deep breathe his chest seemed to expand before he let out a stream of fire from his lips. For a moment, he looked a lot like a fire breathing dragon instead of an old man. It struck the brothers head on; he blew harder and the flames grew hotter, turning almost white from the intense heat.
Showing no signs of being in pain the former Nidaime, Yasuo, moved his hands through several hand signs himself. "Suiton, Suijinheki!" Opening his mouth he released a massive amount of water that struck the fires, creating a massive amount of steam. What was surprising was the fact that he performed a high level jutsu in a place where they were no ready body of water anywhere. Once the steam lifted Yasuo didn't waste anytime in performing another technique. "Suiton, Suishouha!" Focusing his chakra the steam once more turned into water and he gathered it together, enforcing it with his chakra so it created a torrent around the two of them.
Hidama's eyes widen, recognizing this jutsu. It was similar to the one she had used on that ero sennin about a month ago. 'That amount of water will crush him!' "Sarutobi!!" she yelled sliding down the tiles to reach him.
The water swelled and charged at him, sounding like a massive herd of wild horses storming right at him. He didn't answer but held his hands into position and gathered the chakra. "Doton, Doryū Heki!" He coughed up a line of mud before him and just as the water was about to hit him the mud turned into a wall a foot thick and what looked to be easily four-stories tall. The water struck just as Hidama managed to seek its safety. But the water curled around the wall and reared up to crush them on the other side.
"Katon, Ryūka no Jutsu!!" Bracing her feet and body Hidama took a deep breath and released it, looking at though she was breathing fire. The flames were so intense, turning the water into steam once but she didn't notice a figure rising from the water around their feet until arms wrapped around her, causing her to halt the jutsu and dragged her into the water.
Sarutobi managed to jump atop the still standing mud wall but managed to catch Toshiro charging towards him. The two traded blow for blow; when the Shodaime kicked some water into his face, temporarily blinding him, he was kicked then punched so hard the old man was surprised his jaw hadn't shattered from the force. He was sent flying back and landed hard in the shallow water, paralyzed by pain.
Thanks to the chakra infused water it felt like the two pale adults were drifting in an endless river but the woman couldn't breathe and didn't know any jutsus that would let her. Even if she did the Nidaime was holding her tightly with one arm wrapped around her neck and the other holding her left arm behind her back. She struggled against his grip, trying her best to keep from inhaling.
'I never thought I'd drown to death by the man I love,' she thought to herself, bubbles flowing from her lips when the arms tightened. 'But... I can't die. Not here, not now.' Grinding her teeth together she grunted, pulling at the arms holding her captive. Yasuo tried to keep her down but she pulled until she slipped free and jumped out of the water just in time to catch Sarutobi's hand where he had managed to gain focus and now stood on the wall by the chakra infused through his feet. Sadly the wall began to shake and break into pieces as piercing missiles of water broke through. With no choice they landed and watched as the water sank into the tiles. The mercenary was finally able to cough up what water she had inhaled, gasping as the Sandaime stood next to her, panting for breath. Through it all Orochimaru just stood there, smirking as though he knew the outcome of this battle would end in his favor.
"Hidama... are you alright?" he asked once the coughing subsided.
She dragged the back of her hand over her mouth, sitting back on her knees. "I'll be fine."
For a while nothing happened but slowly, a tiny sapling began breaking through the tiles. More and more saplings were coming out but they began to grow rapidly into tree branches. Both their eyes widen as they recognized this technique.
"This is what made the Senju clan famous... a jutsu only the Shodaime was capable of using." The old man didn't waste anytime as he bit his thumb hard enough for it to start bleeding as Hidama pushed herself to her feet.
"Mokuton Hijutsu..." The trees began moving as they grew, breaking through the tiles. It was like watching a forest grow in a matter of seconds all around them, emerging from the tiles atop the look-out tower instead of fertile soil. The chakra flared as Toshiro's hands formed into the snake hand sign. "... Jukai Koutan!" Then the forest expanded dangerously.
The two shinobi forced their tired and sore bodies into action, jumping from one branch to another as they swelled and grew upward, breaking through the mud wall. Hidama cursed and risked a look at the famed first hokage but it was a bad mistake to make. A branch jutted out and tried wrapping around her arm but when she pulled it away it literally tore the wrist guard off. The unexpected yet oh-so-familiar pain raced up her arm and into her brain, making her lose total focus as she screamed bloody murder. Powerful branches wrapped around her form, tightening and keeping her immobile but she was still cradling her wrist to her chest, trying to get past the pain.
Sarutobi could only watch as he struggled to keep moving, jumping and dodging from branch to branch. He knew he couldn't free her but just when he thought he had seen a possible opening, similar branches curled around him and tightened to the point of snapping his bones. They were both trapped, unable to free themselves or each other. To the ANBU black-opt it looked like a forest had literally grown right before their eyes.
"The chakra, was converted into a source of life?" one of them asked in awe. "Truly amazing..."
The captain barely nodded as he swallowed the lump in his throat. "This must be one of the Mokuton jutsus of the Shodaime... the very man that put an end to the era of wars and created Konoha."
The two hokage brothers looked up at their captives, faces still as emotionless as before. The jounin-turned-traitor smirked as he slowly made his way and stared up at his captives. "It seems you two have finally been caught," he gloated, looking up at them. The old man just struggled to breathe as the woman's face pinched in pain, teeth grinding as the blood pounded in her ears like a heavy drum.
In the forest Shiruba cried out softly and nearly fell from the branch she had landed on. Naruto caught her and landed on the ground, looking at her worried as she held her arm to her chest. "What's wrong? Did you get hurt?"
"I-I don't know... suddenly I felt this sharp pain in my wrist," she explained but her arm was perfectly fine. She carefully flexed her fingers yet the pain was gone.
"... You gonna be alright?"
"... hai... c'mon, panda needs us." With that they were off again but had she taken the time to study the phantom pains she would have realized that the three strange dots on the small of her back were glowing darkly before fading out.
Hidden within the village Konohamaru felt that something was not right. It was an unsettling feeling deep in the pit of his stomach as well as his heart. He couldn't begin to describe it but he knew it was not normal, and that it spoke of an ill wind coming.
--
They were in trouble and he knew that he had no choice. He struggled to reach out and grasp a strong branch in front of him, focusing his chakra where he had willing spilt his blood.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu! Come forth, Monkey King Enma!!" From the blood contract a poof of smoke appeared before him followed by a being that was forced to answer the summons. When the smoke faded a large animal wearing the garb of a shinobi had appeared, also bearing a Konoha hitachi around his head. Opening dark gold-colored eyes he jumped down a few of the branches and walked to the end, looking down at a man he had never expected to see again.
"Orochimaru..." he growled out.
He frowned as he recognized the creature standing up there. "Monkey King Enma."
Enma snorted and glanced back at the old man. "You're really pathetic, Sarutobi. You should have killed him when you had the chance."
"This is not the time for a guilt trip!" Hidama yelled out, wincing as the branch that encircled her chest squeezed tighter, putting more pressure on her scarred wrist.
"Hidama?!" It had been so long since he last saw her! "How'd you get mixed up in this?"
"I'll explain later just get Goku free!"
"Onegai Enma... Turn into Kongo Nyoi-Bo!"
Slitted eyes widen as the hebi sennin turned to his enslaved puppets. "Kill them! Don't let him transform!" Without question him the brothers took off for the branches.
"Enma, watch out!!" He growled and jumped up to a branch but when the second made it up he delivered a powerful punch to the back of his skull and drove him down where his body broke through a thick branch before falling still. He turned in time to watch the first charge, trying to attack him. He blocked the kick with his arm and punched him so hard he went flying. Smirking he jumped back onto a stump and focused his chakra around his body.
"Henge!!" Another poof of smoke and the monkey transformed into a thick black bo staff that easily broke through the branches, thus freeing the hokage. Extending to impossible lengths he broke through the branches that held Hidama free and went flying before being caught by his summoner. The pale woman jumped through the branches and landed next to them but she was still in pain.
"Damare, I need my wrist guard back!" she hissed through clenched teeth. All the sensitive nerves were shrieking madly, her blood pounding, the entire forearm may as well be useless. Knowing it was fruitless she removed a wrapping and proceeded to tighten it as much as she could around the heavily scarred limb, glaring with such hatred at the traitor.
"Will you be able to fight?" Goku, the sandaime hokage, asked.
"We don't have a choice." Unfortunately, her sword was lying on the roof tiles behind the snake so she was weaponless as well.
A cruel smirk passed over his lips as he gazed up at his now free opponents. "I'll just have to let that slide. But now things will be getting far more interesting." He then placed his stomach and pressed down, opening his mouth and allowed a snake to emerge which opened its mouth to reveal a sword emerging from its mouth.
Goku frowned as he gazed at the weapon being revealed. "Kusanagi no Tsurugi..."
"Ugh, disgusting," Hidama growled out which Enma agreed full-heartedly. Once the blade was fully revealed Orochimaru caught it and swallowed the snake, looking smug. His eyes challenged them to come and try to attack him.
"Hmm let's go, Enma!" Sarutobi Goku shouted as he charged forward.
"Even if I'm in Kongo form, Kusunagi can still hurt me," the monkey king reminded.
"Have some faith," was all Hidama said as she charged for the undead brothers, eyes focused. They each had their own battles to face and they would not lose to any of them. Narrowing her eyes she ducked a punch and blocked a kick but with only one arm usable this was making things difficult. She retaliated with flying fists, knocking Yasuo back but a strike to her back made her stumble. She returned the attack with a kick to Toshiro's knee, making him stumble before kicking him in the chest with her knee. As he staggered back she raced for her sword, fingers within reaching the blade but a jet of water washed it further from her grasp. Cursing she jumped back, avoiding water but created two clones and sent them to attack the brothers as she ran for the man-made forest. Hopefully her clones would stall them long enough until she could find her wrist guard and put it back on.
Between the former teacher and student weapons clashed, attacks being delivered with speed and power behind them. The nyoi-bo was an advantage as it changed its girth and length, enabling the old shinobi to attack from a distance but even so he was not as young as he used to be and the snake was rubbing it in. He jumped all over the place, avoiding the strikes and using his sword to block attack but just when he thought he would lose he smirked and managed to push Goku back, making him lower the bo before running at him and physically attacked him with a fist to the face. That caused him to fly back, making him hit the ground but this time didn't jump right back up.
"How foolish of you, Sarutobi-sensei... you charged at me without using any Kage Bushins," he taunted.
The ANBU captain frowned behind his mask. 'Iie... it's not that he didn't use it as he can't use it... the Sandaime's chakra levels are different from before. The Kage Bushin no Jutsu equally divides the remaining chakra among them, and to use it incorrectly would be a waste, resulting in a mistake... He's too old!'
Unhurried footsteps seemed to echo loudly along the roof, stopping before ashen hands reached down and grabbed the front of his black uniform, hauling the tired old man up. "You were called "the Professor" for knowing and using all jutsus that exist in Konoha, right?" An insane look came to his eyes, fists tightening over the black material. "Don't disappoint me."
"Hokage-sama! Onegai, get up and save Konoha!" one of the black-opt shouted from behind the barrier.
Stuck in the roots of the dense woodlands Enma opened his eye and looked where his summoner had fallen. "This isn't like you, Goku... what's wrong with you?" He was startled when he felt someone lift him up. "Nan-"
"Damare and grow," the woman hissed. He chuckled but did so, extending so fast that Orochimaru barely looked up in time to, literally, be thrown back it struck. The force was so strong it sent the man to go flying and stumbling back before stopping shortly where the barrier stood. Kusanagi lay off to the side when it had flown out of his grip.
"Orochimaru-sama!!" the nins holding the barrier cried out but didn't dare move.
Hidama panted as she moved and knelt down at the old man's side, still holding Enma in her other hand. Standing over him she looked up as the brothers jumped down at her but closed her eyes and moved her armored hand into a half Kai sign. With a shout the tags she had placed on them exploded and they crashed to the ground, limbs and other parts of their bodies missing.
"What did you do?" the transformed monkey asked in slight confusion.
"I placed exploding pouches on them when they tried to keep me from getting my wrist guard," she said emotionlessly but it still hurt. Dropping to the old man's side she gently slid her hand under his head to lift it up as the other checked his pulse on his wrist. "Still alive... Goku onegai, you have to wake up. This battle isn't over by a long-shot." Tears escaped his eyes and she bit her bleeding lip, knowing that forcing him to fight against someone he once considered a student was hurting a lot more than he had been letting on.
"Kuso, Hidama look!" Lifting her head she watched as the parts that had been blown off the brothers slowly came back together. Once they were back in one piece they slowly get to their feet and waited. "What the hell happened? How did they survive that?"
"Edo Tensei."
"That's forbidden! Kch, no wonder you can't seem to hurt them."
"I know. Unless we can release their souls, even I'll burn out before too long."
"... T-There... is a way... to defeat them..." Goku opened his eyes as he gasped heavily for breath, muscles trembling as he tried to sit up. He accepted the woman's help as he managed to get to his feet, staring intently at the hokages. "The same technique... that defeated the Kyūbi..."
"Are you insane!?" she hissed angrily. "Do you know what awaits them if it works!?"
"It must, be done." Any other argument was cut up when they were interrupted by a cruel and amusing laughter. They watched as Orochimaru slowly got to his feet and went to retrieve Kusanagi, turning to face them. "What's so funny?"
"You've grown so old, sensei. I've never seen you strain so much before..." he chuckled as though it was the funniest thing he had seen. Its so pitiful to think that once, you were considered a god among the shinobi but even so you cannot defeat old age... but Hidama, imagine my surprise when I heard you had come back and yet despite the years you still have retained that youth and beauty that made you seem more than human." Still chuckling he reached up to his face and in an act that could only be described as a nightmare seeing the light of reality, pulled the skin from his face like a snake shedding its own skin.
The youthful face of a lovely young man looked back at them with the same cold, golden serpentine eyes gazing back at them with such a lust for power and vengeance. Even the black-opts were wondering just who the young woman was. When asked she laughed and claimed to be Orochimaru himself.
"It can't be... he's actually done it...!" Enma said with eye wide in disbelief.
"One of the most taboo jutsus the world has known..." Hidama breathed.
"Iie... you actually completed the kinjutsu...?!" Goku demanded angrily. Painted lips were pulled into an evil grin before he/she began to laugh, laughing as hard as he/she could as though the golden eyes had just witnessed something so hilarious one had no choice but to laugh; for the others, they could only shudder in revulsion. This time, the Hebi Sennin crossed that which must never be crossed.
--
The red-head knelt in the middle of a clearing, hands clutching at his head as the sand swirled around his kneeling form angrily. Nothing dare venture near him and it seemed as though even the wind feared him as not a breeze drifted in. But Gaara didn't care or notice, all he wanted was for the demon inside to leave him alone.
"Leave me alone!!" he shouted angrily.
'I can never leave you, gaki. You and I can never be separated.'
"Yamero yo!!"
'This is the thanks I get for protecting you since the day you were born? Without me you would have died by that man's hands!'
"Y-Yamero..."
'I protected you and made sure no one ever touched you. And you gave me the blood of those who feared and hated you. Tell me, is there anyone who loves a worthless little thing like you?'
"..." Shukaku smirked, thinking he had won. "Hidama-kasssan... Shiruba-ane... Naruto-kun... even Zabuza-san and Haku-kun... they care about me."
The tanuki growled angrily at this but continued to smirk. 'Is that so? Then where are they now? Why aren't they here now?'
"But... the village..."
'HA!! Baka hebi, he's just using everyone around him. But, fighting him is more important than helping you,' he purred.
Tears stung at his eyes and slowly, he could feel his resolve being chipped away bit by bit. "They do care...!"
'No one loves you, Gaara. The only one to ever love such a monster--is you.' Pale fingers drifted up and touched the thick scar on his forehead, tracing the kanji. The demon laughed as the sand slowly began to envelop him, physically changing his body bit by bit. 'Now. Let's kill those that lied and drink their blood-'
"Gaara!!" Shiruba and Naruto darted from the leaves in a rush and landed before him, panting and tired but there. Their eyes widen as the two noticed how half of their brother's body had already been transformed by the sand, twisting his features into something they had never witnessed before.
The young girl slowly began to walk forward, reaching out to him as tears threaten to fall. "Panda... don't let him win..." she whispered, moving closer until she was within touching distance.
'Iie! You will take him away when I'm so close!' Shukaku growled angrily, bidding the sand to obey him he reached out with the transformed arm and dug the sharp talons into her already bleeding hand, drawing fresh blood. He smirked as the girl's eyes widen and she struggled to be released.
"Gaara, fight him!" she yelled at him but the sand just dug deeper, forcing her to her knees. She cried out in pain, finding herself unable to attack her baby panda.
"Shiruba!!" The shurikens left his hand before he knew it. Depending on how one saw it the weapons were caught by the rapidly forming tail and absorbed but he didn't look the least bit harmed.
In the boy's mind he was wondering why his brother was trying to hurt him and his sister was crying in pain. Why were they afraid of him? The sand demon laughed and took further control into his hands. 'They fear you, just like everyone else. Join with me and I'll make them pay for hurting you,' he promised.
"..." What he was saying, was it true? If so then why were they concerned about him? The fears he could see weren't directed at him but for him. Why was his beloved sister telling him to take control back? Why were they begging him to not give in?
Hidden in the branches Sasuke watched in disbelief. Was that--monster actually the same Gaara that apparently went berserk earlier in the exams? He had heard the whispers about how the boy would have killed the one called Sasori given the chance. Without realizing it though, his sharingan activated and began to spin.
'He wants a fight? I'll give him one.' His hands flashed through the signs, building up chakra. He had to become stronger, he had to avenge his clan, he had to kill that man. Flashes of his face flittered through his mind, those piercing and cruel crimson eyes gazing at him. 'He kept me alive. Why?' Memories of being all alone as those of his kin and clan lay slaughtered on the streets of the Uchiha compound. 'Iie, I know the answers...' Hands flashed through the sighs as he focused his chakra. 'he kept me alive...' Chakra built in his still bleeding hand, becoming visible to the untrained eye. 'Because he wanted to be tormented... by a living embodiment of the guilt he felt from killing the entire clan.' The chakra continued to build, resembling resemble a ball of lightning being grasp in his injured hand, the pale blue sparks dancing along his broken skin. 'Itachi wanted an avenger to kill him... and he chose me for that job!'
Gaara looked up when he saw the light show, noticing how it was the one known as the last of the Uchihas glared at him as he charged forward. He knew he should move but watching in horror as the arm Shukaku had taken control of lifted his sister up by her still bleeding arm and used her as a human shield. The Chidori rammed into the sand arm, tearing through it so easily but the aftershock also affected the young girl who screamed in pain.
"Shiruba!! Gaara!!" the blonde yelled, watching helplessly as his brother and sister went skidding off. He growled with anger, eyes threatening to bleed into red as he glared at his teammate. "Kisama!! How could you do that?!" he yelled angrily, wanting nothing more than to go and peel the skin from his skull.
Sasuke ignored his rants the last of the jutsu faded from his fingers. He panted lightly as he glanced over at the red-head, just laying there with the sand scattered around him. "That should've hurt him," he said off-handedly. His answer was a powerful and vicious punch to the jaw, nearly ripping it completely free. He looked up at the enraged blonde, not even realizing that his sharingan had faded back to black.
"Did you hear me, kisama? You tried to kill my siblings!!" he didn't care who heard him right now. "Is that why Hatake taught you that jutsu!? To kill innocent people?!"
"Feh. You're just jealous, dobe." He spat out a mouthful of blood as well as two molars that had knocked free. "That thing is a monster or are you too blind to see that?"
"The only monster is you, baka yaro!!"
A deep and dark chuckle broke through their argument and they both turned to watch as the boy slowly pushed himself to his feet. Instead of Gaara's pale jade eye looking out it was replaced by a black eye with a four pointed-star pupil starring at them, mirroring the one that the demon had taken out. His lips were twisted into a cruel and insane laughter, nothing but insanity in the strange depths. The laughter was so crazed it filled the skies with its sound, causing chills to race down their spines.
"Domo arigato for freeing me at last, Uchiha Sasuke!" The voice did not belong to the quiet red-head but to that of something more crazed and willing to shed innocent blood. "I'm so close but closer than I have ever been before." Still laughing he slowly pulled himself to his feet, allowing the sand to slowly engulf more and more of his body. He larger until soon the only thing that remained human was Gaara's feet.
Naruto turned to face him and his stomach turned into knots. His brother could still be in there but their mother had warned them what would happen if the demon ever got control. 'Iie... I am not gonna kill him! He's still in there somewhere!' "Gaara! You have to take control back; fight him!!" he yelled.
"Don't waste your breath, gaki. He's mine and I won't let him go." He was taken back when he felt a kunai pierce his back and looked over his shoulder at a panting Shiruba. "What do you think you're doing, little girl?"
She glared at him with such hatred, pushing the kunai deeper despite how sore she felt. She was amazed she could still move as she kept feeling the sparks from that damn Raiton attack."I want my otouto back, Shukaku."
He grinned at her, revealing a mouth full of sharp fangs at him. "Or what?" Her eyes narrowed and she jumped back but there was a sizzling sound before he felt a massive explosion burn at the sand. He cursed but now she was throwing kunais and shurikens at him, never pausing for a single moment.
"Give him back!!" she screamed, ignoring the tears and blood falling, mixing together. When she ran out of weapons she forced her chakra through her tired body, hands forming into signs as created four clones, surrounding him. Each clone began to focus their chakra, their hands flashing through the signs for different jutsus.
"Katon, Endan!!"
"Fūton, Daitoppa!!"
"Doton, Doryūdan!!"
"Suiton, Mizurappa!!
Fire, wind, earth, and water shot at him from four directions, elements striking with such force most of it managed to chip away at the sand, even drawing blood from the pale skin beneath. Naruto didn't waste anytime as he summoned multiple clones, letting them lose to attack the demon in the center but every time they were destroyed he would send more, making sure he was there to take the slack when one of his sister's clone faltered. Both siblings were going all out to get their brother back and Sasuke... he just stood there, wondering where on earth they got this power from. Those jutsus were considered high-rank and that girl mastered them?! Even the Katon and Suiton were said to be difficult but she was casting them with ease.
'Why does she have the power I want? Even the dobe is stronger than me!' Rage and jealousy began to eat at his heart, the curse mark breaking through the elephant seal as it slowly replenished his almost non-existent chakra. Already he could feel himself fall victim--and he welcomed it. He didn't care what he had to do but he would get stronger, stranger than all of them put together! He didn't bother to wait and his hands flashed through the sings, summoning the chakra to build inside. "Katon, Gōkakyū no Jutsu!!" He took a deep breathe and released a jet-stream of fire at them.
Everyone was taken back at the flames tore through the clones, destroying them and tried to burn the transformed boy. Naruto used his speed to dart forward and tackle his sister out of the way at the last second, using his body to protect her; the flames singed the back of his jacket but he bared it. Shukaku grinned and the sand immediately formed around him in a cocoon of sand, protecting him. The fire didn't last long but once it died out he lunged forward, the sick gleeful looking or bloodshed dancing in his pupil-starred eyes.
"Die!!" he shrieked happily. Sasuke crossed his arms in front of him to block but it was no use as he was sent flying, his back breaking through branches before striking a thick trunk with enough form to leave an indention in the bark/wood. He just sat there, gasping in pain. He was too weak even with the curse mark activating. Soon, they would all die here and all he could think of was that he wanted more power to kill the one known as Uchiha Itachi. His older brother.
--
A wind blew in, spreading the message of destruction and chaos far outside the walls of the village. Hidama grew tense and looked out past the barrier, knowing deep down that her children were in danger and yet she was powerless to go and help them. She couldn't even reach Zabuza. Kami she hated feeling so helpless! Goku noticed how she had grown tense but didn't dare tear his gaze away from the woman who called herself Orochimaru.
"Fushi Tensei allows me to keep my mind and soul in this world forever," she began to explain. "In other words, it's a reincarnation jutsu where after I find a new body I transfer my original self into it and take over." Her smirk only grew at their reactions. "The only reason I came as my true self was that you could be delighted at seeing me, sensei." This time her eyes narrowed, the slitted pupil becoming narrow. "Aging is pointless."
"Only someone who has never experience life would say that." The wind continued to blow, playing with the snow-white strands that had been pulled from the long braid. "No one was ever meant to be immortal yet people continue to throw countless lives away all for that impossible dream. Even I won't live forever but..." she trailed off for a moment before sighing softly. Eyes slid close as she slowly stood and looked over at the body-stealer, letting her eyes open. Her gaze alone spoke of countless years of the good and bad experiences she had witness during her own life. "Those who seek immortality are those that are afraid of one thing and one thing only."
"And what would that be?" came the cold question.
"Death."
Golden eyes widen and flashed with anger. "You're wrong; I don't fear death! I want to live forever so I can learn all the jutsus out there! You two will die here and I... I will gain a younger, stronger, more beautiful body. And its all thanks to the Hidden Leaf village for such entertainment."
"I could care less what happens to that loveless gaki but I would sooner rip his eyes from his skull than allow you to take them," she growled, fingers curling.
Sarutobi's eyes widen as the realization set in. "That's why you placed the Juin no Ten Jutsu on Uchiha Sasuke," he forced himself to say.
She nodded in agreement, licking her lips in the process. "Hai. It's Sasuke-kun I'm after. But I seem to have found another talent that I didn't realize until after I had marked her."
"Stay away from my daughter!!" came the vicious snarl. A sudden spike in chakra caused it to flare around the enraged Hidama, the killing aura she was barely containing would cause him the strongest of men to beg for mercy.
"... How many bodies, faces, have you stolen?"
"This is my second. I plan on taking over Sasuke-kun once he has grown to my liking. Or perhaps I should take over the young girl... she is proving to have much potential. Perhaps I'll even be able to unlock the secret behind her mother's eternal youth and beauty for my own." No words but a wordless snarl broke free just as Hidama lunged forward, murder evident in her eyes. She moved so fast Orochimaru didn't have time to react as her hands wrapped around her throat, slowly crushing the muscle and tendons hidden beneath the skin.
"You die here, snake!!" she growled, relishing in the ways the eyes widen and hands clutched at her arms but as the head looked ready to pop like a balloon the figure tuned into mud. That tiny moment of escape allowed the dead brought to life to grab an arm each and hold on with all their strength. Needless to say she was trapped but she struggled vainly, spatting curses and trying to break away. The mud slid between their legs and reformed into the young woman. "Fight me, coward!!" she demanded, forcing the last dregs of her strength to come through.
"I think not, Hidama, but I applaud you. You could have actually killed me and this mess would have been dealt with. But as I said before, you two will die here so perhaps..." She passed her hand over her face only to have it return back to the face they all knew by heart; "this face would be best to use."
The ANBU still couldn't believe what they were hearing, rage fueling them. "You monster!" No one liked the smirk they saw as the trees began to grow once more, filling up the entire barrier until it was impossible to see what was going on. "Hokage-sama!!"
"Goku!!" Hidama cried out, still struggling against the two men she once considered family. She stumbled and was now forced down onto her knees but she didn't care. She could only look in the forest and pray with all her might that the old man was alive in there somewhere.
"Hahahaha... you mustn't let your guard down, sensei! Then again you were always too compassionate," Orochimaru taunted.
Deep within the trees several drops of blood hit a branch. Sarutobi Goku was indeed alive and it had been thanks to Enma who had used Kongo Rōheki to protect them. But it didn't mean he didn't go unscathed.
"What's going on? This isn't like you?" came the gruff concern. Sandaime panted for breath, holding his hand over his wound to slow the bleeding.
"... gomen..." Even deep in the trees he knew he was watching. Watching with those same eyes he always saw when he closed his own eyes. 'Eyes... Malice and ambition have always been hidden within his eyes. I knew he had them, and yet I pretended not to notice.' Memories of him in his youth, teaching his own team of genin that would one day group up to bear the title of sennin.
'It was still an era of war and chaos, and he was strong. A genius filled with potential yet with a talent one would be lucky to find only every few decades. And I wanted to believe that he would be the one to inherit my power and will. But perhaps, that was my biggest mistake that lead him to experiment and drove him to betray Konoha.' Unwanted memories and finding out he was the one that had been behind a number of disappearances among the shinobi ranks, of finally locating his hide-out and charging in with several ANBUs. Bodies hanging from the walls, the room reeking of blood and death, machines and equipment that made it looked like a madman's laboratory with him standing before a table where a barely alive ninja lay naked, his back to the door. Even as he turned to face them, admitting that he was the one behind it Sarutobi could not bring himself to hurt him. With a single move he killed everyone, save only himself, Enma, and a female ANBU were still alive yet he managed to escape. The Monkey King asked why he had let him get away so easily but all he could do was forbid Kitsune to go after him. In her rage she removed her porcelain mask and turned on him, demanding to know why he was letting such an insane criminal escape. He didn't say anything but Hidama could see the hurt written over his face and let the matter drop.
"... You won't answer? Very well." He turned and walked to a still dazed mercenary woman, Kusanagi held tightly in his hand. Silently he knelt before her, breaking her view of the knarled trees. "Any last regrets before I take your life, Hidama-san?"
"... Just one." Icy cold eyes glared up at him with murderous rage. "I should have killed you when I had the chance and dealt with the consequences later." And she had meant every word.
Silently he rose to his feet and pulled the long sword back. "... Sayonara, Hidama-san." And swung forward though her gaze never wavered.
"Now!!" From beneath the tiles two foxes broke through and with jaws snapping dug their ivory fangs into his knees. Blood spurted out as the pressure as their jaws slowly began to crush the bones. The powerful grips on her arms loosened a bit but it was enough as she slid her arms free and delivered powerful punches that broke through their chest armor. She back flipped high into the air, landing atop a strong branch just in time to watch as the snake beheaded the animals. They vanished into smoke but the wounds were still evident.
"Orochimaru!" Sarutobi Goku stood out for him to see, holding the bo in his hand and looking more determined than before. "I will kill you and correct my past mistake!!" Despite the pain he just smirked up at him.
"It's too late, old man!!"
Sarutobi frowned and quickly formed the signs. "Kage Bushin no jutsu!!" Immediately two clones appeared, waiting and watching.
"Nani?! Why is he using Kage Bushin?!" but none of the other ANBU could answer their captain.
"Ha... you've grown senile as well as old. You've shortened what remains of your life out of in patience." But only two beings knew what he was planning. It was a kamikaze attack that would result in more than one life being taken. Immediately his hands began to flash through the signs needed even as he summoned what was left of his chakra. "Mi, i, hitsuji, u, inu, ne, tora, ume, mi." Putting his hands together as though he was praying he released the focused chakra.
"Goku, don't!! You'll end up like Minato!!" she yelled but for some reason, she found herself unable to move.
An astral being slowly began to form, dressed in a white yukata with land-nailed fingers clutching the ends of the long sleeves, one of them holding a string of prayer beads between the fingers. The face looked as that of an oni from old with unruly white hair hanging down its back and in front of its face, though barely covering the two small red horns sprouting from his skull. Skin a light purple hue, beady yellowish eyes and ebony fangs holding a dagger in his mouth. Strapped to his chest in the form of a cross was the spiritual form of Goku himself.
Sarutobi looked over at the being over his shoulder. 'This must be what the Yondaime spoke of... only those who've made a contact with the Fūinjutsu can see this.' But as he looked forward he was shocked to see the look in Hidama's eyes. Apparently, she could see the shinigami behind him as though she had summoned it herself. 'How can she see this!?'
Despite the pain and how much it hurt to stand much less walk Orochimaru smirked. Whatever he had planned didn't work and all he had were two measly clones? "It's already too late and no matter what you do, I've won. Konoha will be crushed."
"Konohagakure is my home! The hokage acts as a main pillar of that home, protecting it!! He also inherits the village's will, and then entrusted it to one that will succeed him... you will not be able to defeat me so easily!!" he shouted in a voice strong and clear for all in the area to hear.
"Genjutsu, Kokuangyō no Jutsu!!" As though Amaterasu hid herself away the entire area within the barrier soon began nothing but pure darkness where one could not see their own nose no matter how hard they looked. Sarutobi frowned and knew that he would be attacked yet he nor his clones moved form their spots. Hidama also knew this and immediately ran off, keeping her eyes close. It was difficult and even she got struck by unknown fists. Through it all Orochimaru spoke but it was difficult to tell where he was exactly.
"What nonsense. You're nothing but a temporary head in the history of an organization called Konoha. Even the strongest of stone, that of which the fabled hokages before you have been carved onto, will eventually fade away and crumble to dust. They will experience their own slow death."
"Only a traitor would think that!" Hidama shouted, lifting her arm in time to block a kick.
"She's right. Konoha is not just an organization to me!" Memories of himself being a young genin with his teammates, learning under the tutelage of the two hokage brothers. Then followed by himself teaching his own team of genin.
"Every year many shinobis are born into this world and they grow..." Himself accepting the hokage title. Remembering how his former student, Jiraiya, took on his first team of genin to teach. Of hoe Orochimaru took on his own apprentice in the form of Mitarashi Anko.
"They live... fight... to protect the village... and to protect what's precious to them, they will gladly give themselves up to death..." The various faces of the villagers from elite shinobi to simple citizens, all living and working together. Namikaze Minato taking on his own team of young genin with a smile. The sacrifice he made for the village and of Sarutobi once more taking the mantle of hokage back onto his shoulders.
"Even if we're not related by blood, those of the village..." Watching as Hidama held the infant form of Naruto as he slept, wrapped in a soft blanket. Talking with a young Iruka and giving him hope for the future.
"To me, they are... my most precious... most important..." The genin teams and their jounin instructors, their smiles forever held in his mind as well as that of his young grandson and his two best friends. A warm and caring smile on his weathered face as he looked down at his beloved village.
"Family... They are my family!!"
For a moment the attacks stopped, the brave old man taking the precious moments to breathe. And once more the snake's voice cut through the darkness. "Is that so... then I will break you--the support--and destroy the house you call Konoha."
"Even if you kill me, the support will never break!! I am the one who inherited the Will of the Leaf, the Will of the Shodaime and Nidaime. I am the Sandaime Hokage!! And there will always be another who will inherit my will, thus becoming the pillar that protects Konoha!!" he said proudly.
In the darkness Hidama couldn't help but smile and raised her hand to wipe away the tear that rolled down her pale cheek. She had forgotten the strong will the village held and only now it felt like he was standing right before her, telling her why he wanted to take the title of hokage. 'Just like to say something like that, eh Yondaime?' she thought softly.
"Orochimaru. I'll show you a special jutsu, one even you don't know about! Behold! Fūinjutsu, Shiki Fūjin!!"
Author's Notes: Wow! Take away the notes and the list of terms I used and this is possibly my longest chapter here! I amaze even myself at times :p Now to clear up any questions, and please read this, I did not write out the battle of Shikamaru and Shino because in the series its relatively short. Very similar format except while Shikamaru binds the Oto nins in place Shino uses his bugs to eat at their chakra, making them weak. Asuma arrives just to see the situation has been dealt with and congratulates them. Of course buggy is silent and lazy-bones just plops down and says "how troublesome". I do like how things are going so next chapter we'll have the state of the village, one full revealed Shukaku, the Shiki Fūjin in action, and some more stuff that I can't remember right now. I do like how this is going and well, I hope you enjoy it as well. And once more Hidama's past will be revealed after the whole invasion is over. Promise. Bye all, I am due for some sleep!
Kikaichus: Destruction Bugs
henge: transform
fudas: spiritual charms/tags
Takehiko: Japanese name meaning "solider prince" (will be important later on)
Katon, Karyū Endan: Fire Style, Fire Dragon Flame Projectile
Suiton, Suijinheki: Water Style, Water Encampment Wall
Suiton, Suishouha: Water Style, Water Collision Destruction
Doton, Doryū Heki: Earth Style, Earth Wall
Katon, Ryūka no Jutsu: Fire Style, Dragon Fire Technique
Senju: clan name meaning "Thousand Arms"
Mokuton Hijutsu, Jukai Koutan: Secret Wood Style Technique, Birth of Dense Woodland (this technique is also know as "Forest Genesis" and "Birth of the Trees" that only the first hokage is capable of performing)
Kongo Nyoi-Bo: Diamond Pole
Kusanagi no Tsurugi: Sword of Kusunagi (Grasscutter)
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu: Shadow Clones Technique
kinjutsu: forbidden techniques
hebi sennin: Snake Sage
kisama: bastard, vulgar way of saying "you"
baka yaro: calling the person a bigger idiot
Raiton: Lightning
otouto: younger brother
Katon, Endan: Fire Style, Fireball
Fūton, Daitoppa: Wind Style, Great Breakthrough
Doton, Doryūdan: Earth Style, Earth Dragon Projectile
Suiton, Mizurappa: Water Style, Violent Water Wave
Fushi Tensei: Living Corpse Reincarnation
Juin no Ten Jutsu: Cursed Seal of Heaven Technique
Kongo Rōheki: Indestructible Prison Wall
Mi, i, hitsuji, u, inu, ne, tora, ume, mi.: Snake, boar, ram, rabbit, dog, rat, bird, horse, snake (These are the nine hand signs needed to use a certain forbidden jutsu).
oni: ogre
Fūinjutsu: Sealing Technique
shinigami: death god
Genjutsu, Kokuangyō no Jutsu: Illusion Technique, Journey into Black Darkness Technique (also known as "Bringer of Darkness" in the manga and "Absolute Darkness" in the anime)
Fūinjutsu, Shiki Fūjin: Sealing Technique, Corpse Spirit Sealing Method (also known as "Demonic Soul Seal" in the anime and "Dead Demon Imprisonment" in the manga)