This Chapter took so long for me to find out how to start…despite the juicy finish of the Fifth Chapter. :D oh -~(*)~ means a flashback
Chapter Six Returned From Nothing
~(*)~
Minato Namikaze slipped the final piece to his Kimono on, slowly wrapping the cloth about his waist with care and then sighed, looking at himself in the mirror as he put a hand to his head.
The only reason I'd ever wear something like this is for my Son. Even if he is only three years old. His kimono was a dark blue at his top, fading to white near his waist and knees, ending at his ankles with his trademark red flames, the image also decorating his sleeves that fell down to half his arm, just past his elbows. Adorning his forehead was a silver circlet; dangling from the metal was two lines of gold beads, falling on his ears.
The Headdress of the Namikaze Clan was always to be worn on the day of the Heir's awakening.
It was a law of his Clan that all children born with their eyes open and quiet, despite what the doctor does to change that fact, are to be secluded from the outside world until they understand the powers given to them and their place in the Clan. As the last two Namikaze alive with the name to carry on, his child, his son, was the Heir to the Namikaze name and powers. In addition, a degree of the Clan was that the child not be named until his Awakening Ceremony.
But this wasn't the problem.
At the age of two, the child understood everything. His place among the villagers of Konoha, the Clan's past, his status as Heir, and an S ranked Shinobi even at his age, his intelligence sometimes scared his father.
The only other child with such understanding shining in his eyes was the other young Heir to the Ancient Konoha bloodlines, the Uchiha heir.
A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts as the door opened, and his son entered.
"Father." The soft voice started quietly, wide innocent eyes locked on him. "People have begun to arrive." His voice shook at the end. Minato sighed, cursing the laws of his bloodline. Since his third month, the only person he knew was his father.
"We talked about this, remember?" The small boy nodded, the hood upon his head moving as he did, shadowing his forehead while he held his kimono sleeves against his mouth and under his chin, a nervous reaction in the small child. His kimono was self made, and he had painstakingly made sure that the clothing covered every inch of skin he had.
His Son hated his skin.
The Kimono when held open was an intricately designed of rolling waves and blowing wind, with a silver fox dancing upon them, its multiple tails curled around its body. Above the fox was the Namikaze Clan seal, intermixed with the Konoha Heir seal and another rune that the child refused to tell him. That made the design curl around his waist, chest, legs, and arms, with the Kitsune at his back, the Symbol at his neck.
"Then you understand that this is essential. Next year is the UnSealing, right?" He nodded again, calming as the familiar rituals came to mind. "Now then, go mingle." Minato ordered. "I will call you when the ceremony is about to begin."
Uchiha Itachi wondered though the crowd of adults, their stature so much more than his that he could only see their knees. That fact always annoyed him, and he secretly wished to be tall when he grew up, to rise above them all. But right now his small stature helped immensely, helping him escape his father's tight grip and letting him get away.
If Father finds out what weapons I have on me…He shuddered, knowing the punishment he would receive, yet unable to leave his protection.
War was all around them, and he refused to be helpless like on that night again.
Finally, he made it an empty clearing and slowed, eyes darting all around him.
"You…you're like me." He spun about, unconsciously pulling a Kunai free. The hooded child before him didn't stir, motionless as they tilted their head, a lock of golden hair falling free from the cloth. "You are an Heir." The other continued softly with a sigh.
"What do you mean?" Itachi ordered. He hated not knowing things, people included, and he'd never heard this person's voice before.
"You are an Heir of Konoha." The other elaborated softly, letting out a wane smile that lit up their face. Itachi froze. How…how does he know? Without a thought, Itachi threw.
No one outside the Ancient Families could know of the Blood Tie that the Uchiha Clan had to the land of Konoha. The Uchiha blood spilt onto this land for generations gave them a tie to the Land…they where the Land's Heirs, the only ones who could truly claim Konoha as their own. Who was this person that knew??
With grace uncommon for a toddler the other boy- in a kimono- dodged out the way, and then vanished, reappearing before Itachi with a hand on his own, then the other rose, pressing a senbon to Itachi's throat. But it was luminescent blue eyes that froze him in place. The hood had fallen, revealing a small blond boy greatly resembling Namikaze Minato, like a small copy pasted onto a smaller body.
"Stop." He ordered softly, eyes glowing. "Violence is forbidden during the Awakening Ceremony." Itachi froze, eyes going wide as the boy replaced the hood upon his head.
"You mean, you…?" Blue eyes from behind the hood locked on him, and the other let out a wane smile.
"Yes." Itachi pulled free, blinking.
"Father told me that we were the only Bloodtied Clan still alive!" The other shook their head
"Then he lies. We… are not the last, the others have just…Forgotten." Itachi flinched at that. To have Forgotten the Heritage, means they betrayed Konoha at one point in history.
"There you are." A voice interrupted them. Namikaze Minato appeared and Itachi turned to him wearily, but the Anbu only smiled softly. "Of course you end up finding the only other one here near your age." With ease, the blonde man picked the toddler up, and started away.
"Oh, and Itachi?" The brunette looked up "Your father is looking for you." The boy froze, eyes widening in horror.
~END FLASHBACK~
Hikaru sighed as the memories of Naruto's Academy life flashed past, then the trial that Kakashi had put Team 7 though.
Near boring, that fight was. He mused to himself. Walking on a path his feet took him, he reached down, pressing another memory-
(One Year ago)
Naruto gazed at the Memorial Tablet where the names of those fallen in battle for Konoha where honored. After the mock fight with Kakashi, he had returned here, thinking on what Kakashi had told them, the heroes forever remembered here…where the name Hiruzen Sarutobinow rested. Hikaru recoiled in horror.
Hiruzen-jiji is dead??The thought didn't compute, he would not understand it, he can't!
I'll forever miss you, old man. The words whispered though his mind, then as his eyes roamed the stone, other names popped out, names he shouldn't know but somehow did.
Uchiha Obito Rest…cousin.
Rassabo Nabimaze …Weasel's gone?
Inukaze Reavar…Reavar?Everything stopped.
(end memory)
Hikaru collapsed as the walls of Naruto's landscape washed around him, eyes wide with shock.
No one is left…
Naruto watched Kakashi rest against a wall across from him, irritably spinning a miniature Tessen on his finger. The small weapon, more like a child's toy, was nearly three inches in height with three sections at half an inch each. At it's base was a ring large enough to fit a finger though, to help a child with learning technique. Naruto had found it as he mindlessly wandered Iwagure after Hikaru's confession the day before.
Oh, calm down! Hikaru implored. You act as if it's the end of the world. Naruto hissed and he got the impression back that Hikaru throwing his hands into the air in exasperation, Naruto rolled his eyes in return.
How would you act if you found out a living person was trapped in your mind? He snapped back. Naruto made an irritated huff and Kakashi shot him a look, raising an eyebrow. Naruto barred his teeth, making the eyebrow raise higher. Hikaru sniggered
One, oh Host of mine, I am not alive. Naruto rolled his eyes And Two, I am not trapped in your mind. I am with the Kyuubi most of the time. Three, I was not forced here. If I where, I'd not be able to talk with you as I do now, for I would be in the Cage, behind the Seal. Naruto felt his eyes widen, shivering. Therefore, there is no "living person" trapped within you. Just a…helpful spirit.
You truly believe you are dead, don't you? Because to me you sound like you are trying to make yourself believe that. The door opening stopped Hikaru from responding as Sasuke and Sakura came into the room, severely disheveled.
"What happened to you two?" Kakashi drawled, amusement showing. Sasuke looked away as Sakura fixed her hair.
Her lips are swollen. Hikaru stated suddenly. Naruto blinked.
And…? Hikaru chuckled
You are so naive. They were lip-locked instead of doing their mission. Naruto's mouth dropped open, and then he gave them a closer look. Sakura's hair was in a mess, her lips swollen and pouty. Sasuke was cold as usual, hair out of his duck ass form. It looked as if someone had grabbed him by the hair…Kakashi sniggered. Nasty old pervert. Hikaru commented with a snort. Watch, they have no information worth the half an hour you were stuck with the Iwa leaders.
Finally Kakashi stopped giggling, and turned to the other members of Team 7.
"Did you find any leads?" Sakura finally left her hair alone, and nodded
"There is an area southeast of here that no one in the village dares go near. It is the site of an old battle, though they can not remember the combatants. An old man claims that if you go there near midnight you can hear spirits still fighting." At that Naruto raised an eyebrow. Hikaru made a strange noise like a strangled cat.
Um…you're after the Abalask Orb, right?
Yep, the thing you supposedly destroyed. Soo, if that was a fight with you in it, why the rumor?
To…eh…um…maybe hide the fact that the group is still there? Naruto blinked, feeling Hikaru raised his hands before him sheepishly.
WHAT??
~(*)~
Uchiha Itachi turned as the doors to his bedroom burst open, admitting a furious, slightly red Namikaze Hikaru.
"You utter bastard, what the hell did you do? Where is it??" It?
What was it? Itachi did only Uchiha thing he could think of.
He raised a single eyebrow, the silent, 'What?' universal to all Uchiha Men. The slight red on Hikaru's cheeks grew until his nose was covered. His neck had also grown pink as well.
"My newest Tessen is missing and I can't sense it!" He growled out "So are all the tools I need to finish it." Hikaru was visibly seething, eyes starting to flash. Itachi blinked once, and then found a glowing fist aiming for his face. With another blink, he kicked at his desk, making his wheeled chair fly back, the punch connecting and completely obliterating his desk.
"Shit." He breathed, eyebrows raised. Blue-green eyes narrowed as Itachi stood, scratching the back of his head.
"Where. Is. My. Tessen?" Hikaru hissed out, standing straight again, fists clenched. Itachi raised an eyebrow again.
"Not in here." Hikaru closed his eyes with a deep breath. "You must be feeling very sex deprived to attack me like this." Itachi commented idly. Blue eyes snapped open, flashing yellow and then Hikaru darted forward, slamming his fist into the ground where Itachi once stood. Without a word Hikaru lashed a foot out, connecting with Itachi's thigh and bring him down to the ground with a solid thud, a knee above his crotch, one hand at his throat, and the other poised over an eye. Itachi's eye twitched, and then Hikaru found himself on his back, breathless from an uppercut to his abdomen, hands pinned to his sides.
"Get off me." The yellow eyed teen snarled, bucking. Itachi shifted as he moved, causing the teen under him to hiss out a breath in surprise. "Not until you tell me what has you so pissed off. I did nothing to your stuff, and even if I did, you would never act like this normally." Yellow eyes locked on him, and then Hikaru vanished, reappearing out of the room, as he landed. Itachi was on his feet and after him as the blond vanished again. With a quick hand seal Itachi knew instantly where Hikaru reappeared and Shuishin there, barely managing to duck a fist to his chest.
Don't parry, that will break your hand, don't block, that will shatter bones…Itachi darted out of the way, watching as the punch obliterated the ground where he once stood. Shit…he is pissed.
"It's your mother, isn't it." Hikaru's head darted up to glare at him, and then he vanished.
~(*)~
He did it.
Here he stood the final battle in front of him. Kushi was opened fully at his side, only needed at the last two fights, he had shallow cuts here and there, nothing too serious, and he felt great!
The Chûnin Examiner looked them over, the small visibly grinning eight year old Namikaze Hikaru, then the large grown man Norbunhiro Hijuka and raised his hand
"Begin!" Hikaru smirked as the man raised his hands fingers flying threw seals, then leapt back while raising his winds around his body and blasted back the water attack the other opened the fight with. Quickly landing, he raised the Tessen, his other hand forming 'ox' as he called out "Kamaitachi no Jutsu!" The gale slicing winds easily rose at his call, and the other quickly dodged them, as Hikaru called on his next attack, blue eyes glowing
"Fuuton: Kaze Yaiba no Jutsu!" The scythe like blades shot through the air and Hikaru flickered behind the man, clicking open the kunai holder on his side, to hold it to the Norbunhiro's neck.
"Check." The man smirked and Hikaru flinched back, shudders going down his spine.
"Not so, kiddo!" Instinctively Hikaru flickered away, right as the man was enveloped in thick gray smog, then landed on a large rock, biting his bottom lip. The man was invisible to his eyes; the smog covered his smell…now that was easy to discover…
He let his chakra rise about him, holding Kushi horizontally the other hand going through half seals.
The crowd went wild, seeing the eight year old doing the seemingly impossible, then Hikaru bend his elbow holding Kushi opened fully beside his face.
Ôgi Fuuton: Kaze no Mai, Yaiba no Arashi!
Hidden Technique, Wind Release: Dance of the Wind, Storm of Scythes!
The seal he'd created on his ankle glowed and he leapt off the rock, closing Kushi with a snap of his wrist. He only had one shot…
The man appeared next him with a smirk, and Hikaru started, instinctively flickering to the man's other side as the jackass stood there…
It's not him!
Snorting Hikaru appeared in the mass of fog, and then spun on his heel, opening his Tessen as he did to blow all the smog away, stopping his spin on one knee, a hand to the ground.
The man was nowhere to be found.
"Shit!" A distraction!
The Chûnin Examiner laughed and Hikaru glared at him as he let his senses stretch out.
Below! He leapt straight into the air, right as a hand erupted from the ground, fingers like claws where his foot was. Hikaru changed his fall with a wave of his Tessen, a glower on his face.
"This is starting to piss me off." The Chûnin laughed again as Norbunhiro pulled himself out of the ground. Hikaru glanced at him, then sighed
"Why hold back?" He mused as the two men shot him astonished looks.
He was holding back??
Hikaru closed Kushi then put his hands together, the Tessen in between them.
"Dai Kamaitachi no Jutsu!" This time the winds enveloped his own body forcing Norbunhiro away as Hikaru took the time to unlock his second barrier. On his stomach the first of four seals flashed, and then faded away.
Blue eyes flashed green, then settled for a sea blue as he let the wind die away, and appeared behind the other Genin.
"Surprise!" Norbunhiro spun, then leapt back narrowly avoiding the child as he landed on the ground at a crouch, the earth buckling under his attack. Norbunhiro gaped, as Hikaru stood from the crater, grinning, his wrist glowing slightly to those who could see it.
"40 percent." He raised his Tessen, letting wind laced chakra collect on the paper "Let's have some fun!"
Thought I'd just give you something. Even if it is mostly memories…Haven't felt all that good recently …gah.
Ja.