Sacred Flame Ch. 4: Sacred Wind
Naruto stepped back, feeling his strength slowly dissipating almost like he was suffocating as a layer of intense indigo chakra surrounded him like a cloak Naruto stumbled backwards and smacked into an enormous statue behind him, the impact causing what appeared to be a sword falling out of the statue's hand. Without hesitation he picked it up and got back on his feet.
"You simply do not understand, do you boy? Allow me to show you the difference in our ability."
A cloaked man said in a cold, calculating tone.
Earlier That Day…
Naruto, Neji, Rock Lee as well as Kakashi stood outside the gates of Konoha, nodding to one another before vanishing in simultaneous bursts of speed. The destination of this squad of Ninja was at the very least two days of traveling, maybe one and a half days if they rushed. After about twelve hours of travel the squad of Ninja set up shelter, Kakashi volunteering for the first guard shift. As Naruto lied awake he gazed up at the stars, his arms casually tucked beneath his head as the night seemed to drag on forever.
"Can't sleep?"
Kakashi's voice asked, sitting atop a tree trunk as he gazed upward at the moon, his vision shifting toward Naruto.
"The moon sure is beautiful tonight."
Naruto commented, smiling at his sensei as he rose from his sleeping bag and picked up his sword.
"Naruto I don't know if I ever confessed this to you but your father was my sensei, and although I don't know everything I can tell you what I know."
Kakashi said, gazing down at his reflection in a small pool of water.
"What was my father like?"
Naruto asked simply, his gaze never leaving the moon and stars.
"Your father was very powerful and tactful; even though he was young your father knew what true wisdom was, as well as true courage."
Kakashi began to answer, trying to find the correct words to describe his sensei.
"How did my father die?"
Naruto asked, his facial expression becoming a bit saddened at the subject of topic.
"Your father died like a true Hero, he protected the entire village from an evil that threatened the lives of everyone, including yours and my own."
Kakashi said, smiling at Naruto from behind his mask.
"Kakashi, can you tell me who my father is?"
Naruto asked, his tone reflecting more seriousness and curiosity than before.
"I made a promise to your father that I wouldn't tell you unless certain conditions are met, you'll have to get even stronger if you truly want to know."
Kakashi replied, putting his arms behind his back as he leaned against the trunk of a tree.
Seven hours had passed and everyone was awake and ready to go, everybody hurried to make up for lost time as the sea of trees came to an end and the endless ocean of sand came into view, the sun just barely beginning to rise. Just as requested upon their arrival at the rendezvous point three Chunin-level sand shinobi were awaiting them as escorts to ensure their allies made it through the desert safely.
"Shall we?"
One of the sand shinobi said, an older looking Kunoichi with dirty blonde hair and red eyes. Kakashi nodded his head in acknowledgment and his squad followed them through the depths of desert.
About six hours later everybody arrived at the sand village, the desert was ruthless and none of the ninja could move quickly as it was the quickest route to death and the natives were well aware. You need to move quickly but not too quickly, you had to cover your body from the sun and always carry plenty of water.
In a desert a shinobi's worst enemies were dehydration, fatigue, and starvation from getting lost, enemy Ninja would be the least of these poor souls' worries. Neji and Rock Lee were allowed to rest in the guard's quarters while Kakashi and Naruto were granted an audience with the Kazekage in regards to Naruto's true mission.
Within ten to fifteen minutes Naruto and Kakashi entered the Kazekage's chamber, the door being shut behind them by the guards standing outside his door. The room was rectangular with a desk and window behind it on the far end, behind the desk was a black chair with its back turned to both Kakashi and Naruto.
"Welcome Shinobi of the Leaf, as your allies allow me to answer any questions."
A familiar voice said, the chair turning around to reveal none other than Garra of the Sand as the newest Kazekage.
"Garra? You're Kazekage already? Well I'll be damned."
Naruto said, grinning as all tensions of meeting another country's Kage seemed to dissolve, making this situation a lot easier to work with in Naruto's opinion.
"Naruto, it's been at least Five years since we last met. Welcome. Now what is it I can do for you old friend?"
Garra asked with a warm smile.
"I need you to give me the location of the Wind Temple."
Naruto asked, hoping his good relations with Garra could make this go very smoothly. Garra however appeared to be taken aback by Naruto's question.
"Naruto, only a few individuals are aware of the existence of the elemental temples. It's extremely classified information so I must know, where did you learn of them?"
Garra asked, his tone becoming much more serious. Naruto then told Garra about his dream and what he was told to do.
"I see, so somebody's trying to awaken the seal…"
Garra said, his tone becoming more ominous as he closed the curtains to his office, lighting two lanterns for lighting.
"What seal? We don't know what you mean Lord Kazekage."
Kakashi asked, joining the conversation and addressing Garra with the formality of a professional ninja with respect for status that Naruto didn't necessarily lack he just addressed the Kazekage more casually because they were close friends.
"The Fire Country's Artifact has already been liberated has it not? Naruto's dreams are no coincidence it just means he's been chosen as the next Champion."
Garra said, sighing as he brought down a bottle of liquor from his hidden stash and poured three drinks. The drink tasted a bit sweet and fruity for Naruto's taste but he graciously accepted the drink, Kakashi nodding his head as he pulled a straw out of nowhere, punched a quick hole in his mask and drank the drink via this fashion. Garra merely gazed at Kakashi curiously before Naruto made an explanation.
"Kakashi takes his masked Ninja title very seriously."
Naruto said jokingly, receiving a sharp blow to his side from Kakashi as Naruto rolled to the floor laughing and holding his side.
"Well at least you guys are fun drinkers, anyway back to business. Each artifact is required to break the seal of Eternium. A powerful being that once was in a position to destroy entire country's on a whim. The Ancient Ninja Clans, who at the time were nothing more than mercenaries spilling blood for the sake of their own people, forged an alliance among the strongest of the Ninja Clans.
This Alliance was originally created to destroy Eternium but through much trial and error at the cost of many lives it became clear the demon could not be killed so with the power of the Five Kages and the Five Sacred Treasures the demon was sealed into another realm and erased from history itself. But if somebody is tracking down the artifacts they must have the intention of awakening the Apocalyptic Beast from its slumber. We must do everything in our power to prevent this from happening, Naruto listen closely because I'm going to explain the method and location of the Wind Temple… "
After Naruto and Kakashi gathered the necessary supplies they and a guide appointed by the Kazekage set off in the direction of the Wind Temple as soon as the sun began to set. Neji and Rock Lee were left behind to perform the basic mission of training exercises with the Sand in order to improve tactics and village relations. Just before sunrise Naruto, Kakashi and their appointed guide arrived at the Wind Temple, an enormous stone pyramid that appeared to be thousands of years old. The guide waited in a shady spot near the entrance to the temple as Naruto and Kakashi went inside to investigate.
The temple was worn but for the most part everything appeared to be intact. There were multiple statues lining up down a long corridor as they descended into darkness, after a light began to appear in the distance both Kakashi and Naruto ran toward it. The lit room split up into two halls, one on the left and the other on the right. Both Naruto and his sensei think it's best to split up so Naruto takes the path to the left while Kakashi took the path to the right.
As Naruto wandered down the hallway his thoughts drifted to his dream and his desire to obtain this artifact. Before Naruto knew it he found himself in a room that appeared less worn than the others, a giant golden Buddha statue holding a sword with dual open palms. Naruto began to walk toward it and was suddenly hit in the back with the force of a gunshot, the impact sending him forward to the ground hard.
"I see two rats have made it to the temple before me, no matter. When I obliterate this temple to dust nobody will even find your remains."
A dark voice said, Naruto turning to face his attacker. The man was surprisingly large and muscular but wore a mask over his face, yet unlike Kakashi's mask it covered his entire face.
"So you must be the one eh, the coward who killed innocent priestesses and monks to get to the Fire's Treasure."
Naruto said, getting to his feet and unsheathing his sword. Naruto then proceeded to charge his opponent dead on with a powerful stabbing attack. Naruto stared forward in disbelief as the blade of his prized sword snapped from the blade on impact. Naruto was in such a daze from his weapon breaking that he couldn't even react to the sharp kick to Naruto's torso. The impact of the enemy's blow sent Naruto skittering across the ground toward the statue, stopping before the Buddha. As Naruto stood up his body felt weak and had a hard time responding.
The Cloaked Figure made a few hand signs and muttered an incantation under his breath, before Naruto knew it he was enveloped in a thick layer of Indigo Chakra. Naruto stepped back, feeling his strength slowly dissipating almost like he was suffocating as the layer of intense indigo chakra surrounded him with the tightness of someone's hands around his throat and choking the life out of him slowly. Naruto stumbled backwards and smacked into an enormous statue behind him, the impact causing what appeared to be a sword falling out of the statue's hand. Without hesitation he picked it up and got back on his feet.
"You simply do not understand, do you boy? Allow me to show you the difference in our ability."
A cloaked man said in a cold, calculating tone. Naruto couldn't explain why but he had an overwhelming emotion running through his body, he couldn't describe it any other way than he would win this battle. This time it was the cloaked man who attacked, fiercely charging at Naruto with an aura of absolute blood lust. Naruto felt as if he were in a trance as he concentrated all of his chakra into his sword and slashed diagonally toward his enemy as he let out a loud battle cry.
There was an explosion of chakra as Naruto's sword attack sliced open the entire temple, the different levels of the Pyramid collapsing and crumbling under increasing pressure. Kakashi appeared as a silver flash, carrying Naruto's unconscious body. However even without consciousness animating his body Naruto gripped the sheath of the Wind Country's Sacred Treasure.