Disclaimer: I have no legal rights or privileges over Naruto, or any character or information regarding the Franchise, those belongs to Mashashi Kishimoto.
Glossary:
Jinchuuriki - Power of Human Sacrifice - A general term used for the containers of the mythical tailed beasts
Nuke-Nin - Missing ninja (A ninja that has betrayed his village and has a bounty on his head).
Bijuu - Tailed beasts
Hi no Kuni – Fire Country
Jutsu - Technique
Hakumei no Kuni – Twilight country
Kumogakure - Hidden Cloud
Konohagakure - Hidden Leaf
Yuki - Snow
Beta approved by: Shelvesinthecloset
Posted on: 12/12/08
(The Following Day, Southwestern Sea, route to the Yuki no Kuni)
Only one thought echoed through the mind of Kazehana Koyuki as she sat on the deck of the ship: life sucked. The exiled princess of the snow country, now an actress, gazed upon the empty sea with melancholic eyes as she lamented her fate.
One moment she was fleeing her director Sandayuu's men and the next she was ensnared by a massive, black snake. The shock, terror and despair had caused the young woman to faint. When she woke up she was lying in the cabin of a massive boat, sailing towards her thrice accursed home.
She had only seen one of the Konoha Jounin her producer had hired and when she did her blood ran cold. She still had nightmares from that fateful night, when Hatake Kakashi had spirited her away from the burning husk of her father's palace. The man was good natured, aloof and quiet but she had seen his skill in the past and he had without a doubt grown stronger over the years.
The brunette had only heard whispers and rumors of the other Konoha Jounin on board but she had yet to lay eyes upon the mysterious woman. Kakashi had said that he was the frontal, public bodyguard detail while his companion was more accustomed to clinging to the background.
A voice startled the actress out of her thoughts, the low and soft feminine whisper coming from her side. "I've been keeping my eye on you, Yukie-san. I must say while you're a kick ass actress you're also one ice cold bitch."
The voice belonged to a most unnatural looking woman. Her electrifying, lively, violet and golden eyes sent chills up the actress' spine due to their unnatural quality. The spiky haired woman was clad in a white camouflage variant of the Konoha standard uniform that clashed angrily with her pigmentation.
The woman grinned, flashing sharpened incisors and licked her teeth in a sultry manner. She chuckled softly in a low, breathy manner, "Hehehe, Don't be so shy, girl. I don't bite…too hard."
"Is there a particular reason you're bothering me, Ninja-san?" Koyuki cut off Anko's taunting with a hiss after a blush. The actress' voice was bland and somewhat biting as she eyed the other woman dismissively. However, for all her bravado and unyielding disposition Anko's forward mannerism and bizarre colored eyes forced the princess to look away.
"I was bored and you seem to have a serious chip on your shoulder. Is there any particular reason you're such a drama queen, Yukie-san?" The snake Jounin inquired curiously in a light tone. Kakashi had asked Anko to introduce herself to the client and so she had finally approached the brunette in her usual, somewhat loud and forward manner, though she remained alert as she heard the crew shift and stir and rush to the other side of the ship to gaze at something.
"I have no 'chip on my shoulder', Ninja-san. I simply recognize the truth that as an actress I am the ultimate liar and pretender. My life is an immortalization of myself as something I am not. I'm wasting away my meaningless life because it's what I do best, selling illusion and false hopes and slogans to the masses."
"If I didn't know better I'd say you were an Uchiha with that kind of fatalistic nonsense, Yukie," Anko thought wryly and blew a loose strand of her hair from her face. "Excuse me for askin', Yukie-san. But if you're so miserable why do you bother?"
"It's a living, we all do what we must to live our lives in this miserable existence full of lies, deceit and despair," the actress replied in a lifeless, dismissive tone and her eyes shifted to the figure walking towards them.
"Why aren't you a patch of sunshine…" Anko commented wryly, holding back some choice words in the name of maintaining a minimal level of professionalism and not chewing out or cursing the client.
Luckily for Anko Kakashi assisted her mental struggle when he interrupted them by coughing politely. "Yukie-san, the director's decided to roll some scenes on an iceberg we've encountered, so you best gather yourself and meet up with the cast," The genius Jounin informed her actress nodded and got up. She smoothed her attire idly before departing, making her way towards the other side of the ship.
"What the fuck? Where'd an iceberg pop up from?" Anko inquired curiously. "I thought we were still a couple of days of sailing away from the snow country and I know it wasn't there when I 'borrowed' their telescope to look around."
"I'm not sure but something tells me you'll have your chance to shake off your restlessness soon enough," the copy ninja replied and motioned to the snake Jounin to follow him. The snake summoner pulled a hood over her head, concealing her dark violet hair and bronze colored skin before abiding his request.
The two Jounin escorted the filming crew and actors as they anchored by the icy beach. It took half an hour to prepare the set for shooting and an additional half hour to prepare the costumes and makeup. The Konoha Jounin both screened out the filming process and kept their senses alert as the terrain left them in a tactical disadvantage if they were ambushed by enemies using water or wind jutsu.
The former apprentice of the snake sannin watched the surrounding area carefully when a she suddenly heard a very faint whooshing sound. Her slit pupils expanded as she turned towards it source and she caught sight of a blur of motion from the top of the mountain.
Three shapes came raining down towards the snow encrusted earth. The first of the three shapes rose from the snow, revealing a tall and lithe man clad in odd, white, chrome and aqua armor with a white cloak. "Welcome home, Koyuki-hime. I must thank you for returning her and the hexagonal crystal to us, Hatake Kakashi."
"Koyuki-hime? So that's why she seemed so familiar, and why her necklace kept on bothering me…" Kakashi realized, glancing at the actress behind him and frowning under his mask. "This is bad…I can't afford to hold back," he determined grimly as he reached for his headband. He now realized that the woman's true identity and their heading back to Yuki no Kuni was a deadly combination that was going to make things much more difficult.
"Everyone, return to the ship! I'll deal with this. Anko you cover their retreat." The Copy Ninja shouted. The crew was startled by the command, people panicking and grabbing their gear and belongings and spilling chaotically towards the ship while Kakashi gathered his life force through his limbs, preparing to attack.
The snake Jounin obeyed her superior's command by standing her ground in front of the panicked mass spilling towards the ship. Her visage shifted to a violent, dangerous once as she replied in a dark, bloodthirsty tone. "No problem, Kakashi. It'll be my pleasure!"
"Mizore, Fubuki. Deal with the woman and get Koyuki, I'll deal with Hatake," Nadara instructed and beside him his companions burst into action after affirming they understood his command. The two snow ninja spread out and charged forth, Mizore's hulking form from rushing from the ground while Fubuki's slender form soared forth from the air in a steep dive.
He pulled back his headband to reveal Obito's sharingan eye and charged towards the yuki-nin while making hand seals. He finished the sequence, cupped his hands together and molded the air trapped between his palms. He manipulated it into a condensed sphere before thrusting both hands forward and launching a projectile at Nadara. "Fuuton: Gekiretsu Kazetama"
The blue haired ninja smirked and lifted his arm across his face, charging right through the air projectile, his body surrounded by a barrier of indigo chakra. The distraction was all Kakashi required as he slipped through Nadara's guard and smashed his fist into his face, knocking him backwards.
Meanwhile the snake Jounin shifted her gaze between the airborne form of the now diving Fubuki and the hulking form of Mizore as he climbed onto his mechanized snowboard. She could still hear the people scramble to safety behind her and knew she needed to cover them so she gathered the chakra in her lungs and inhaled deeply. Her hands ran through rapid hand seals "This should deal with at least one of them, Katon: Karyuu Endan!" she thought and expelled a massive stream of searing scarlet at Mizore.
The snow-nin frowned as he watched the flames melt the ice and snow, carving a path towards him at a frightening speed before the jutsu engulfed him. He covered his eyes with his forearm and coughed. Feeling his chakra armor flash warningly he cursed and leaped off his snow board, clumsily rolling against the snow to cool off and escape the deadly jutsu.
The Yuki-nin inhaled deeply, much needed oxygen filling his lungs as he lifted his hand. He felt his teammate Fubuki grasp it and pull him off the ground, the woman's chakra armor's violet wings spread widely and flashed in the sunlight before she moved to launch him upwards.
Anko had already unleashed a hail of shuriken at both armored ninja's airborne position when they converged, trapping them perfectly in storm of lethal steel. "That should end this," she thought before her lips twisted into a grim line as she watched a pair of visible barricades of chakra repel her attack.
"What the fuck was that?" Anko cursed under her breath as her ninjutsu and weapons seemed to have no effect. The serpentine woman's eyes widened briefly as she heard the hyperventilation and screams of Yukie, or rather Koyuki. "I thought he told them to run!"
Anko backed away slowly towards the woman and director, catching a glimpse of a pair of blue eyes gazing at the flames as if they were the personification of evil. The heir to the throne was murmuring incoherently about never returning to the snow country and clutching her head desperately.
"What the fuck are you two waiting for, an invitation? Get out of here! I can't keep you safe if you're in the way!" the snake Jounin hissed at the older man that was helplessly trying to convince the fallen princess to follow him.
She was interrupted by a flash of chakra above and before her. She watched Fubuki flash through some hand seals while Mizore aimed a mechanical arm at her. Anko stood her ground as a swarm of bird shaped ice projectiles narrowed down at her and the outstretched arm closed in.
The violet-eyed uttered didn't utter a sound as her body was ripped apart by the ice projectiles slicing grotesquely through her limbs and torso. Nor did she twitch when the mechanical arm smashed her face in.
The two snow nins watched with slight fascination as the woman's body exploded into a white, paper like substance as accordance to one of her new abilities post transformation, the 'Hebikawa Kawarimi', right before a blurry white shape burst up from the snow and pointed one hand at each of them.
Fubuki gasped slightly as three violet snakes shot out of the woman's sleeve, hissing towards her dangerously; missing her just barely. The pink haired kunoichi panted slightly as she flew away and watched Mizore fearfully try to pull back his mechanical arm away as similar snakes slithered against it; heading towards him rapidly.
Anko grinned evilly and gathered her chakra into her glands before spewing a sickly indigo liquid from her lips, bathing the wires of the mechanical arm with an acidic substance that ate it away, severing his mechanical hand from his arm. The snake Jounin frowned in disappointment as her prey smashed his fist against a yin/yang symbol against his chest and invoked a shock wave of raw chakra that dispelled her snake summons.
Fubuki ran through a hand seal sequence before she landed beside Mizore, pressing her hands against the ice gently. She stood up and uttered something inaudible into his ear. The now amputated yuki-nin nodded and cursed before reaching backwards for his mechanical snow board. He leapt onto it and shot towards Sandayuu, who was still struggling to draw Koyuki to safety.
The cloaked kunoichi was about to engage him when she felt the ice around her feet shift and crack, obviously aiming to encase her. "So that's how you want to play? It's obvious that your armor protects you from chakra based attacks, so I guess I'll just have to get bring out the heavy artillery," she thought and bit down on her thumb.
Meanwhile Kakashi had pushed Nadare into the defensive, the armored ninja desperately trying to keep his distance from Kakashi and his spinning sharingan eye. The snow-nin had no option except to dodge the intricate sets of kicks, punches and chops.
"It seems you remember, Kakashi. But I am stronger than I was back then!" Nadara exclaimed - commenting on the fact the copy ninja was concentrating on taijutsu alone before the man leapt off of the side of the cliff while making hand seals. "Hyouton: Haryou Mouko!"
The silver haired Jounin cursed under his breath and wildly leapt to his side, narrowly preventing a lightning fast, tiger shaped, ice construct from tearing him apart. The Jounin ignored the slightly tremor that assaulted the iceberg and the explosion behind him, unwilling to break his concentration as he summoned a single shadow clone.
Both original and replication jumped in opposite directions, each running through a separate set of hand seals. Nadara was not so disciplined and his eyes widened briefly as he looked behind them, leaving himself open for the sharingan user's plan.
The silver haired clone summoned a water dragon from the surrounding ocean while the original ended his seal sequence with the element Kakashi was a bit more comfortable with, lightning. "Raiton: Ikadzuchi no Yari," the copy ninja invoked and thrust his palms forwards, unleashing a thin, concentrated blast of electricity.
The energy slammed into the water dragon, charging it with lethal currents that made the water glow ominously. The combination jutsu would have connected if it weren't for the fact Nadara had erected a barrier of ice that halved the brunt of the jutsu and his armor deflecting the rest of electrical energy.
The copy ninja allowed himself a moment to survey what had startled his opponent and his lips twitched behind his mask. There, on the other side of the iceberg, was a twenty foot long snake summon. Anko was standing on its head as her hands ran through seals.
"Fubuki, Mizore! Retreat!" the captain of the yuki-nin shouted as he shot Kakashi a dark glare. Fighting the Jounin was one thing, but it was apparent his companions weren't strong enough to deal with the other Jounin and he definitely couldn't tackle both. They would have to devise a better plan of attack with Dotou-sama, he would know what to do.
The three armored shinobi scrambled away. Fubuki grasping Mizore's human hand and then Nadara's hand as they took off. The Konoha Jounin allowed them to escape, sticking to the mission parameters and heading towards the ship. Both Jounin knew this was just the tip of the iceberg, no pun intended.
(Meanwhile, Wilderness near Hakumei no Kuni)
Thankfully the last few days of traveling passed without incident, though the atmosphere was increasingly tense between teams Gai and eight.
Kurenai had managed to forcefully prevent Kiba from attacking Neji whenever said Hyuuga's barbed tongue lashed out with politely veiled insults against either the Inuzuka or Hinata. That wasn't to say that the Jounin didn't notice the manner in which the icy natured genin verbally dismantled or rejected his own teammate Lee.
The green clad boy, for some obsessive reason, constantly tried to compete with, and otherwise prove himself superior to, the Hyuuga in both morality and ability. If Lee was lucky Neji ignored him or humored him with restraint. If he wasn't fortunate Neji trounced his efforts and verbally castrated his pride and mettle as a ninja in a way that was almost painful to watch.
Meanwhile, Naruto had mixed feelings regarding Neji. On one hand he was furious with the Hyuuga's irrational anger and hatred towards Hinata. So deep was his confusion, frustration and anger that at times he could swear he felt the whispered beckoning of his demonic tenant in his mind as he slept; though thankfully he was strong enough to stop the Bijuu's murderous intent from flooding his mind.
On the other hand, he felt for the older boy after seeing his interactions with Lee and experiencing it first hand in the last couple of days. The blonde could see the reflection of his own antics in Lee's behavior and it chilled him on some level to see how insistent, irrational and downright obsessive Lee was with Neji.
However, Neji was far more abusive than Sasuke when it came to his rebuttal of Lee. His behavior was beyond excusable even considering Lee's actions. In other words, Neji was an uptight, arrogant asshole that needed some sense knocked into him verbally or physically before he fell too much into the darkness of his own superiority complex.
As much as he would have liked to intervene sometimes he had enough on his plate without getting Gai even more on his case. Besides, there was enough tension between the teams without Naruto interfering with inner-team dynamics. Perhaps if and when he managed to get along with the Hyuuga he could curb his deadly tongue; but now was not the time.
Currently Naruto was focused on trying to deal with the issues he felt could not be ignored, mainly repairing the relationship between Neji and Hinata. He hadn't the slightest idea how to achieve this objective; the best plan he could come up with was talking to, or beating sense into, the older Hyuuga in a more private setting at some point in the near future.
It was obvious by the way the long haired genius ignored and otherwise deflected any criticism regarding inner Hyuuga politics that he would not yield to public threats against his person and point of view. Naruto was certain of this due to one crucial fact, he could relate to how Neji felt in that regard.
Nobody liked to be publicly attacked and criticized, and while Naruto didn't agree with Neji on many levels he knew what it was like to hold a conviction and constantly be criticized over it – so he held his tongue for now and instead of antagonizing Neji he made an effort to cheer up his friend, Hinata.
If Neji was the only cause of discord amongst them it would've been somewhat bearable but Lee and Tenten weren't making things any easier. The green clad taijutsu user had made it his business to try and outdo and prove himself superior to the Uzumaki as well and it was getting tiresome.
If Naruto went to collect wood or water, Lee asked to tag along and compete with him. However, despite Lee's better efforts – Naruto's use of kage bunshin gave him an advantage that the older genin could not meet or breach; yet another point the Jinchuuriki used to try and prove the disadvantages of lacking ninjutsu.
Naruto had toned down his arguments with the taijutsu wielder and made sure that when he did say something, it was always in private. This gradual change of tactics stemmed from the fact that he found it hard to treat someone that reminded him so much of his younger self coldly.
His earlier burning anger and bitterness had simmered down to embers of guilt mingled with discomfort. He tried to get along with Lee but the older boy had taken Naruto's words to heart and could not forgive Naruto's criticism against Gai's methods and allowances in Lee's case and so the tension remained between the two boys.
It was a price Naruto was willing to pay as long as he fulfilled his objective in the end and got through to Lee. Saving the boy's life was more important than gaining his friendship.
Tenten held no personal grudge against her junior genin, but she was a loyal teammate and refused to stand by and let an outsider crush Lee's confidence. Therefore she made it her business to back him up whenever he and Naruto butted heads and interjected whenever Lee's patience seemed dangerously close to expiring.
For some reason Shino mostly kept to himself as they traveled. Naruto didn't understand why Kiba had been avoiding the Aburame for the last couple of days, but any attempt at approaching the enigmatic genin failed royally and Kiba wouldn't elaborate on the subject. If Naruto didn't know better he would've sworn Shino was keeping his eyes on him - and not in the friendly manner the blonde was accustomed to.
"Alright teams, let's stop for the day." The bushy browed Jounin declared as he looked at the position of the setting sun. They had been traveling for the last ten hours. Traveling any further would be reckless, considering the disadvantages of traveling through such dense vegetation, the darkness, and the limits of the genins' stamina; barring the anomaly of Naruto.
Kurenai walked over to Gai and the two discussed the delegation of three guard shifts between the two teams and Naruto for the next six hours. Lee, Kiba and Gai would take first watch, followed by Hinata, Tenten and Shino. The final watch would be Naruto, Neji and Kurenai.
This way one Jounin and at least one ninja with a tracking ability would stand watch in every shift. Gai volunteered to take the first shift while the teams were still tired as he had the most stamina. Kurenai would rest and coordinate the graveyard shift while remaining fresh enough to react if something happened during the middle shift if required.
Four hours later when Neji, Naruto and Kurenai relieved the middle watch Naruto knew he had his chance to finally talk to Neji one on one - without any interference or chance of the Hyuuga escaping or attacking him. It was a rare, golden opportunity to finally make his move.
"Naruto, summon some kage bushin and split them around the perimeter," the genjutsu specialist instructed. In a manner of moments the Jinchuuriki summoned half a dozen clones that then disappeared into the surrounding foliage.
The red eyed Jounin then turned to Neji and Naruto. "Neji, take Naruto with you and go protect the southern side. Exercise judgment in using your Byakugan and if you see something, or if Naruto informs you one of his clones was dispelled, have Naruto send one of his clones to get me."
The senior genin nodded his acquiescence and watched silently as the genjutsu mistress melted into the shadows, leaving him and Naruto alone in the silent woods. "Follow me," Neji instructed and walked off in the opposite direction.
Naruto nodded and followed wordlessly. The two walked silently for a few minutes before Neji came to a stop and gathered chakra to the soles of his feet. The Hyuuga swiftly made his way up the trunk of a tall tree, Naruto close behind. The two situated themselves one of the branches, concealing themselves as best as humanly possible.
Neji activated his Byakugan and they sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments before Naruto inhaled deeply. "Here goes nothing…" "Neji, can I ask you something?" Naruto murmured quietly.
"You're welcome to talk, but don't expect me to answer you if it's a waste of my time," he replied bluntly.
"What the fuck's your problem? Why do you have to look down and insult everyone?" Naruto inwardly grumbled but outwardly tried to keep his cool, his teeth gnawing on his inner cheek briefly. "Why do you give Hinata such a hard time, Neji? Aren't you two family?"
"That's none of your concern. It's Hyuuga to Hyuuga, nothing else." The Hyuuga retorted icily.
"We're all shinobi of Konohagakure, Neji. I try not to judge people and I don't know what happened between you two because neither of you will talk about it. But it's hurting her, and hurting the mission and if I'm not mistaken, it's hurting you too." The Jinchuuriki chose his words carefully, though his tone belied his inner turmoil to Neji's keen perception.
Neji remained silent for several moments, weighing the pros and cons and judging Naruto's sincerity and honesty by his body language and his previous knowledge of the blonde. "So we're comrades, are we, Naruto? Interesting, let's see how far your supposed camaraderie runs...."
"It's simple, really: I'm far more skilled than Hinata. By all rights, I should have higher honors than she. But I never will," he elaborated and his lips twisted into a slight scowl. "She is Main Family, and I am the subordinate Branch Family and that will never change."
Naruto's brows furrowed and his reply came out in a flat tone. "But sensei says you're already heralded as the greatest Hyuuga in years, even within your own family, so what difference does it make?"
His cerulean eyes flickered with emotion and confusion and frustration echoed behind his words. The blonde was unable to understand how family could turn on family. "Hinata obviously cares for you like a brother, so why do you reject her and keep on being cruel to her all the time?"
Neji's lips twitched into a smirk at the emotion behind the Jinchuuriki's words; how ignorant his fellow genin was. "She hasn't told you, has she? She hasn't told you that she, Hyuuga Hinata, will always hold power over me, did she?" he hissed out, his words laced with scorn.
Neji tapped his index finger against his forehead. "There is a seal carved into the flesh on my brow. With one hand seal, any of the Main Family can kill one of the Branch Family! So don't talk to me about cruelty, there is no comparison!"
Naruto's eyes widened slightly and the air jammed in his throat. "I've read about the main family subjugating the Branch family but I never imagined something like this. But Hinata would never do that! She's too kind hearted to ever abuse her power like that! I ought to…no! I can't blow this, this is too important to ruin by losing my temper…I gotta stay calm," he realized and his lips twisted into a thin line, visibly restraining his instinctive reaction.
"But Neji, Hinata's going to be the clan head in a couple of years, isn't she? Wouldn't it benefit you more to get on her good side? Maybe she can change the clan with you and end the cycle! Besides, Hinata would never abuse her power like that, we both know that. She would never sacrifice anyone for her own sake."
"What can someone like you understand? You don't know anything…" Neji dismissed Naruto's words, shaking his head. Nobody could understand his woe and sorrow.
"Do I really know that? Why should I put any stock in blood relations when I know that Hiashi-sama, Hinata's own father, willingly allowed my father - his own twin brother - to die in order to survive!" The silver-eyed teen contested, starting to get genuinely irritated as old wounds were opened anew.
"Besides, the main crux of your argument is null, I for one don't consider people who use seals like that family. I may be the Main Family's slave, but don't expect me to be friendly with them! They lost that right years ago." Neji brushed off Naruto's argument with the ease born of years of practice.
Naruto's eyes widened at the information and for a long time he was at a loss. He wanted so desperately to reach Neji, wanted to make him stop being so self destructive and bitter, but how could he do that?
He now saw that Neji wasn't the way he was because he was selfish, he was like that because he was hurting. That meant Naruto needed to suppress his instinctive urge to scream, curse and shake Neji and try to remain civil, otherwise Neji would brush him off.
"But Neji, how can you blame her? She was five years old for Kami's sake! She had nothing to do with what Hiashi did, it doesn't make sense to carry a grudge against her for it," Naruto argued.
"She's Main Family. That's more than enough for me. I don't expect you to understand. You have to be a Hyuuga to understand. Any Branch Family member would agree," he explained with finality, conviction and a touch of dangerous impatience.
When Neji remained silent Naruto understood that Neji had said his two cents and would most likely clam up unless Naruto convinced him that he wasn't wasting his time. So the Uzumaki decided to try and convey why he wasn't like the others and could understand Neji's plight.
"I know I'm a deadlast orphan that can't possible understand what goes on in a noble clan. But that doesn't mean I don't know what it feels like to know the world's against you," he explained.
"I've been alone, scraping for food and trying to raise myself ever since I was kicked out of the orphanage when I was three. So I'm sorry if I'm annoying you, but it's just, someone like me that's never had anything can't help but feel you should feel lucky you have a semblance of family..."
"Your personal woes or beliefs are regrettable, but they don't change the fact that I don't want, or need, anyone's pity, especially a Main Family member's like Hinata-sama. I will show my worth by myself, with my own power, and my own effort," Neji sighed wearily. But some of the icy scorn and dismissal had left his tone in the wake of Naruto's admission.
"I feel the same way about pity, Neji. I don't usually waste my time, or anyone else's by bringing up the past. I told you so you know that I see things like you do. I'm not against you or trying to judge you," Naruto said defensively.
"What I'm trying to say is that going against everyone isn't going to help. I would know, I've tried it before. You're only hurting yourself because if you keep on acting like this the main family won't just mistrust you, they'll fear you and kill you. Then what?"
"The invocation of the curse seal is not an instantaneous death. If my skills are high enough, I can strike back before they kill me," he revealed in a sharp, biting tone. "It is the inescapable cage I live in. I live at their whim, I die at their whim. But if and when I die I will do so with my head held high."
"That's bullshit!" the Uzumaki barely kept his voice down, much to Neji's disdain, and the white-eyed genin shot him a warning look. Naruto bit his lower lip and, despite his heightened emotions, swallowed and continued. "Why do you keep on thinking like that! A man makes his own fate! I would know, because if fate had its way I'd have died a long time ago."
"You are blind to the truth because you lack perspective, Uzumaki. There is no other truth but destiny and there is no rebellion against it. I am a caged bird, you are a pariah – I have as much chance of being free as you have of becoming Hokage – zero. Accept it now and it will make your life easier."
"No Neji, I refuse to give up on myself and so should you! You're not the only one that's cursed and trapped by an inescapable burden. I carry a burden too Neji, one perhaps equal or worse than your own. There's always a way if you try hard enough. We have to believe that or else there's no point in living…"
Neji had reached the end of his patience and he waved his arm across his body to signal he had had enough. "A burden, is it? Whatever, then carry it the way you wish, and I will carry mine the way I wish."
Naruto sighed and gripped his hair, "Fine, be that way...if you refuse to fight fate," he paused and licked his lower lip before giving Neji a meaningful look, "Then I'll fight fate for you! I promise you when I become Hokage I'll change the Hyuuga for you..."
Neji rolled his eyes and couldn't help it any longer, asking the question that had been on the tip of his tongue since the beginning. "Oh, for the love of... why are you fighting her battles, Uzumaki? You keep on lecturing me about hiding behind fate? Isn't Hinata-sama hiding behind you?" he accused with a hint of exasperation and impatience.
"Hell no! She didn't ask me to do this! She even asked me not to interfere because you have enough on your plate without me getting on your case. But I didn't listen to her because I'm not fighting her battle, I'm fighting my battle and YOUR battle," he stressed fiercely.
"If I don't even try to help you, her and anyone who I care about or needs me I'm not worthy of being a ninja or Hokage! Like you I had lost hope, I believed I could never change my fate and that I'd live and die a loser. But then someone believed in me, someone acknowledged my existence and helped pull me out of the darkness. So yes! I understand your pain more than you can ever know and even if you don't want it, I'll do all I can to help you because I'd have wanted someone to do it for me back then."
Neji's face remained neutral but after a moment he nodded. "Do what you feel you must," he concluded. This time Naruto obliged knowing he had said everything humanly possible; now it was up to Neji.
The rest of their guard shift passed in contemplative silence. Both of the young ninja had much to consider in the aftermath of their debate. Time flew by and before they knew it the first crimson rays pierced through the canopy of branches they sat under.
Several minutes later Kurenai called them back and the three went to their respective teams. They all ate a quick breakfast of dried fruit, salted meat and a protein bar before they resumed their trek towards the mines.
"How was your guard duty with Naruto, Neji?" Tenten questioned idly as they leaped from branch to branch. The pair taking the rear point. The Hyuuga prodigy snorted softly and his lips twitched faintly as an idle murmur escaped his lips. "Unlike Lee, perhaps Naruto isn't a total loss."
(Two days later, Fifty Miles from Fukuoka, Hi no Kuni)
The night breeze caressed the five ninja soothingly, banishing the moist, heavy heat that usually clung to them parasitically. Team ten had been traveling to their destination at a mediocre pace for the past two and a half days.
Asuma would have preferred to race to Fukuoka and get the investigation underway. However, his team's stamina wasn't up to the task and they would be useless if they were exhausted. Besides, he didn't trust Danzou's puppet enough to leave his team with her when they were vulnerable.
He took advantage of the time they spent traversing through the thick woodlands to observe and analyze Haruno Sakura as much as he could. The bearded Jounin did not like what he saw. The girl was like a tainted prism, breaking the light in which people saw her in hauntingly different ways and all of them were negative.
He couldn't decide if girl was truly schizophrenic as he had heard from Ibiki, a bad liar, or perhaps a bit of both. None the less, Shikamaru seemed to share his caution and distrust towards the red haired genin. Asuma could tell by the way Shikamaru's kept his hands in his pockets and furrowed his brows just slightly whenever he spoke with Sakura. The Nara was pretty good at controlling his body language, but the Sarutobi heir knew him well enough to see through his deceptively aloof and calm mannerism.
Chouji and Ino were chatting amicably behind Asuma. They were debating quietly over some trifling subject and Asuma had long since screened out. His eyes flicked backwards as Shikamaru slowed down to a walk with Sakura in tow. "So you're finally going to stop beating around the bush, Shikamaru?"
"Ne, Sakura, do you mind if I ask you a question…" The pineapple haired genin mused casually as he sauntered beside the tense kunoichi. Her green eyes flashed briefly with emotion before melting back into glacier calm, and she gave a brief nod followed by a small sound of acquiescence.
"How troublesome…I know it may be somewhat nosy and uncomfortable, but I've only ever heard Naruto's version of what happened back in the Wave Country…" he trailed off and watched the dark clad girl lick her teeth behind her lips as her fingers twitched. "Hesitation…"
"With all due respect, Shikamaru-san I am still trying to get over that incident… I'd rather not…" she murmured hesitantly, her eyes pupils dilating and eyes flicking upwards briefly "Fear…"
"Look, Sakura, You said you want me to trust you, right?" he leveled with her bluntly and pinched the bridge of his nose, watching her nod in agreement. "Then you've got to tell me your side of the story…"
Sakura's emerald eyes widened briefly. She could tell that the dark-eyed boy beside her was holding back a few choice words. He was very good at controlling himself, but he kept his hands concealed at all times and kept on trying to steal looks at her body language instead of looking at her eyes – all signs that she was being scrutinized.
"Just remember, Sakura-chan…if his questions begin confusing you, I'm here for you…" her alter-ego stressed softly. "I can take care of myself! I have nothing to hide!" the main persona argued and she inwardly snorted at her 'helpful' partner.
The shadow user's eyes narrowed as Sakura's eyes seemed to alternate between slightly narrowed and a normal width and pupil size. Once again the kunoichi seemed to momentarily sink into her own world before her face shifted into calm. It was happening less and less from what he could see. It only seemed to manifest when she was under pressure or feeling uncomfortable. "Interesting…"
"Our team got split up. I was told to stand back and guard the client," Sakura narrated softly, her eyes shutting as the images flashed before her eyes. "Kakashi was fighting Zabuza while Sasuke-kun and Uzumaki were fighting his masked partner. I couldn't see what was going on; Zabuza had used a Jutsu to cover the entire bridge with mist when all of a sudden this horrible pressure hit us…" the young girl mused, her tone trembling as phantom shivers engulfed her at the mere memory of that evil presence.
"I could see an eerie looking red light that seemed like a piece of hell on earth and then the sound of exploding glass or ice…it was terrifying." Sakura admitted and watched the shadow user's brow furrow thoughtfully.
"Red light…? What sort of jutsu…? It can't be a fire jutsu, that'd be orange or scarlet. And Naruto said that Haku or whatever his name used Ice, not fire. Besides, I know for certain that Naruto doesn't know any fire jutsu yet…he's always complaining about it…" he weighed over the subject suspiciously.
"Then the mist cleared and Uzumaki got knocked into the bridge by some dragon- like ice jutsu and got buried under the debris. I thought he had died but then…he shrugged off the chunks of concrete and literally tore into the masked ninja," she whispered.
Shikamaru was about to comment when Sakura continued sharply. "He was like a monster, Shikamaru! I'm not exaggerating, his body was covered in burning red chakra and his bloodlust was horrible…it wasn't human!" she insisted in a hard tone that made Shikamaru frown.
"Sakura, even if I were to somehow believe what you're saying…" the Nara spoke in a thoughtful tone, his mind compiling all the data. "I find nothing wrong with Naruto tearing into an enemy ninja like that, especially considering he had just killed your teammate."
"You didn't see his eyes, Shikamaru," Sakura hissed and bit her lower lip, "They were red with slit pupils, like a monster's eyes!" The red haired kunoichi panted slightly for a moment, a lost look on her face, before her eyes shifted once more into a dangerous calm.
"Besides, Uzumaki openly admitted that Sasuke-kun was protecting him – but how could Sasuke-kun have died protecting him if Naruto was capable of using so much power in first place? I'll tell you how, he manipulated the situation…" Sakura reasoned darkly, her emerald eyes pulsing with a zealous conviction that sent a small chill down Shikamaru's spine.
"Red eyes, slit pupils, fiery chakra and paralyzing bloodlust. Those are the mythical characteristics of the Kyuubi…" He thought, before immediately dismissing the idea. "No, he can't be the demon-fox, otherwise Hokage-sama would've had him put to death. Wait a minute…his birthday's the 10th of October…the day of the Kyuubi's defeat…"
The Shadow user put the thought aside so he could bash Sakura's warped logic. "Did you consider the possibility that he had just unleashed the power for the first time? Or maybe it was the grief of losing Sasuke that drove him to that state? And if he was a monster wouldn't he have killed you all?" he accused, every question slicing sharply into Sakura's conviction.
"Kakashi was there and Naruto was injured so that's why he suppressed his evil powers. Besides, the worst monsters are those that lull you into a sense of security and then strike when you're least prepared. That's why I've been trying to warn you all, he's manipulating you! He's trying to act like he's a harmless, loud-mouthed idiot so…" Sakura had resumed her blatant accusation, so Shikamaru decided to cut her off.
"You're making a lot of assumptions, Sakura. It sounds to me like you're looking for someone to blame and Naruto's the easiest scapegoat," Shikamaru snorted.
"He isn't a demon, but somehow retains some of the characteristics of the demon-fox and perhaps its powers. He was born on the same day it was vanquished. I'm going to have to research the lore around man and Bijuu when we get back, there has to be an answer to this…" the shadow wielder determined resolutely.
"Maybe he's right, a lot of people have…" Sakura hesitated mentally. Many internal questions she had pushed aside and blatantly ignored were gnawing at her. Emerald eyes flickered with sadness and confusion for an inconsequential moment before they hardened once more into icy flame.
"No! Remember our promise to ourselves, to Sasuke-kun! We knew it would be difficult and that the monster is conniving, trying to drive us away from our conviction. Sakura-chan! You must stay strong, I won't let us falter!" her alter-ego interjected in an authoritative manner, the commanding tone squelching all resistance.
The images of Sasuke's dead and pale face and Naruto's burning red eyes reminded her of her purpose – her mission that would not be denied. "If you ever feel his horrible power you'll know what I mean. You're ignorant to his true evil, so don't judge me until those burning, hateful eyes narrow on you…" Sakura stubbornly concluded and broke eye contact.
Shikamaru finally realized that there was no getting through to her and nodded slightly, shrugging his shoulders as he quickened his pace to walk with Asuma.
Sakura snorted faintly "That one's dangerous, Sakura-chan. You should watch yourself around him, he's too smart for his own good…" Inner-Sakura cautioned, mirroring her main persona's own thoughts on the subject.
The rest of their was uneventful. Sakura and Ino stuck together in the middle, chatting softly in low tones over idle subjects. Meanwhile Shikamaru and Chouji took the rear position with Asuma leading at point. It would be another six hours before they reached the outskirts of the city.
After they went through the gates Asuma led his platoon to an out of the way alley and lifted his hand, bringing them to a stop. "I'm going to hit the local exchange point in the sewers and try to barter for information. I see you four have already split up into pairs, so try to discretely gather some surface information. You four rendezvous here in three hours and I'll join you as soon as I can."
He took a whiff of smoke from his cigarette and rubbed his beard. "Now, I don't want you to take any unnecessary risks. I'm not sure if the kidnappers are ninja or civilians so keep your eyes peeled," the jounin commanded. He reached into his back pocket and procured two black pellets; tossing one to Shikamaru and the other to Ino.
"These are flash bombs, if you're attacked channel your chakra through them and throw them into the air. I'll be there in a matter of minutes. Oh, I almost forgot," he exclaimed with a grunt as he fiddled through his supply pack before pulling out a pair of small, black purses while his genin pocketed the flash bombs.
"Here's some money just in case you need to buy information or bribe your way out of a sticky situation." After handing the two purses to his genin he bowed his head and walked off, leaving them to themselves.
They eyed one another silently for a few tense moments before the schizophrenic femme spoke up. "Me and Ino will hit the red light district," Sakura declared before Shikamaru could even open his mouth to offer his own plan. Ino's eyes widened and she sputtered through a blush while the two male genin eyed Sakura incredulously.
Sakura lifted her hand, cutting into team ten's outrage, her emerald eyes flickering with icy intensity. "In my training sessions I have been taught a passive genjutsu, called 'Fukyuukagami no Jutsu.' It is more advanced version of henge no jutsu that will help us blend in more easily and I know more genjutsu to help us escape if required…."
The Nara heir tried to refute her logic but could find little fault in her plan. Still, he didn't trust the red haired kunoichi, there was something about her tone and the abruptness of her suggestion that just didn't sit well with the shadow user.
Shikamaru weighed her suggestion briefly before finding an alternate solution that would soothe his worries better and shifted his eyes to Chouji and motioned for him to come closer. The two best friends conversed softly and the portly genin sighed and bit his lower lip before nodding wearily as Shikamaru handed him his flash bomb.
"Take Chouji with you and I'll take Ino. It's troublesome for both of us, I know. But if you run into trouble and can't escape you'll need his taijutsu and physical power to hold off the enemy in time for us to come and help. Besides, Ino's mind jutsu will be better used in gleaning additional information from the officials we interview while you can easily bribe your way around in those districts," Shikamaru stated logically.
Sakura's eyes flickered with an indiscernible emotion and she nodded briskly, "I understand, Shikamaru. As always, your logic is impeccable, if that's all then let's go Chouji."
The black clad femme and Akimichi heir walked off towards an alleyway once they bid the other pair farewell, heading east to the red light district as Ino and Shikamaru headed west towards the legislative district.
"Hold onto my shoulder, Chouji," Sakura instructed while making hand seals. When she finished and placed her hand against his shoulder Chouji felt his skin tingle briefly as foreign chakra washed over him.
For a moment his eyes were blinded by a veil of bright blue chakra, the irritation forcing him to squint through it. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand before turning to look at Sakura, his eyes widening as she made a small twirl in front of him. "What do you think?"
The Akimichi blinked and blushed a bit despite himself. Sakura now looked like an adult version of herself clad in a casual, comfortable summer Kimono of deep blue. Voluptuous curves and longer red hair accompanied her more mature visage and despite himself Chouji averted his eyes from the other genin's slightly coy smirk.
The red haired kunoichi chuckled faintly and slipped her hands through her attire, adjusting it slightly and checking her purse."I suppose that means I managed to pull off the look I was aiming for. Good." She walked over to him and linked her arm with his own as her eyes over him "You don't look too bad yourself," she complimented, emerald eyes drawing over his older looking features now clad in casual clothing of brown and red.
The 'couple' stealthily slipped back into the dimly illuminated streets, walking about in a seemingly pleasant silence. They made a quick survey of the area and concluded that there were two main points of potential interest. One was a shady looking tavern and the other was a complex that, judging by the amount of scantily clad women leaning invitingly around its walls, was a brothel.
"Chouji, I can't follow you into the brothels, you know…" Sakura murmured under her breath, bringing the Akimichi beside her to a stop. "I'll go 'rent us a room' while you question the whores," the Haruno offered.
"Asuma-sensei said we shouldn't split up…" Chouji hesitated, his dark eyes darting around cautiously. Chouji always obeyed his sensei to the letter and he wasn't keen on disobeying his commands now of all times, and for Haruno Sakura no less. However, like it or not, she made sense.
"Be that as it may, if I go in with you or wait out here we'll only attract unwanted attention that will jeopardize the entire mission," Sakura argued and licked her lower lip, her eyes flickering warningly at Chouji.
The Akimichi seemed conflicted but could not find fault with what she was saying, especially since so much weighed on the outcome of this mission. Then he remembered Shikamaru's warning to look carefully at everything the kunoichi told him. "Wait a minute? Did she plan this all along so she could split up with us? How was she going to check out the brothels if she planned on taking Ino along?"
Chouji's eyes narrowed suspiciously at her, deciding he wasn't going to be fooled so easily and calling her on her supposed deception. Danzou's tool quirked a slender brow at him, "If I can shape shift to look older don't you think I could use the jutsu to look like a guy?"
"So why don't we go back to the alley and you can do just that?" Chouji reasoned challengingly.
"It's a waste of chakra, Chouji. Also, the more jutsu we use the more likely we are to attract attention if the abductors are ninja. Besides, men are more likely to lower their guard and loosen their tongue to a lonely, lost foreign girl than to someone accompanied…" Sakura contested him coldly.
"Our orders are clear. We should do what we can with what we have. And then, later, you can propose this to Asuma-sensei." His lips twisted into a thoughtful frown. "Which is what you should've done to begin with, come to think of it."
Sakura's eyes narrowed a fraction and her grip around his arm tightened slightly. "Fine, let's hit the tavern and then we'll head back," the kunoichi replied tersely, obviously displeased by his determined refusal.
"Insufferable fat-ass…that bastard Danzou's intelligence was accurate as hell. It's a good thing you managed to play your part, Sakura-chan…If it had been the lazy-ass or Ino things might've become complicated…" Her inner persona commented gleefully, a duet of mental chuckling reverberating through her mind.
Chouji inwardly cheered at his victory as he nodded neutrally towards the kunoichi. He allowed Sakura to lead him towards the tavern, although he couldn't help but feel uneasy at the ease with which the girl had given in.
They walked tensely towards their destination when Sakura suddenly caught a flicker of motion in her peripheral vision. She paused as she caught a glimpse of someone walking rapidly towards them and her lips twitched slightly.
The man seemed normal except for a strange red tattoo of a dragon that wound from his left temple down to his chin. He picked up his pace to a near sprint as he closed in on them, colliding with Sakura and nearly knocking her off her feet.
Sakura clung to the man's clothes, preventing her fall as he apologized. She felt his hand slide against her side before latching around her satchel, ripping it off while using his other hand to push her away violently.
Sakura stumbled back, her face twisted in an outraged, murderous expression as the man slipped away into the busy street, melting into the crowd before she or Chouji could react. "Hey, he took my purse!" she hissed out to her companion and took a step forward, intent on pursuit. It was obvious to the Akimichi that the kunoichi was holding back from blowing their cover as she could've easily stopped him with even the slightest amount of her strength or speed. Thank Kami for small graces.
The Akimichi shook his head. "I'm sorry, Sakura-san. But we can't blow our cover. The mission comes first. Asuma-sensei said we need to avoid drawing attention and you might get compensated if you explain it to him later…"
Sakura grunted in response, smoothing her Kimono and linking her hand with Chouji's once more, albeit more stiffly, as they resumed their path towards the inn. They were determined to investigate and link up with Shikamaru and Ino as quickly as possible. "As expected, Chouji was the prime choice. Part one of the mission accomplished. But can I really fulfill part two?"
Both genin failed to notice the whore working the corners that followed them throughout their stay. The scantily clad brunette woman was petite, with ivory white skin and piercing blue eyes that clashed with her dark red robe.
She reached behind her hair, pressing her fingers against a miniature button on a hidden radio transmitter behind her left ear before whispering "Captain, we have a problem. Two leaves are investigating around my perimeter..."
"I concur, Captain…" A baritone voice called out in a soft whisper, its words transmitted to the woman's ears from their owner's location on the other side of the town. The speaker was a dark skinned, bald headed man clad in dark leather clothes.
His eyes flashed curiously as he leaned forward from the corner of the alley he was hidden in. Dark green reflected the moonlight as it locked on the forms of Shikamaru and Ino walking out of the local police station. The two genin were conversing silently, their leaf headbands visible.
"Constable Kenji informed me two tree-huggers are snooping around asking questions about the disappearances…" He elaborated. "Should I engage, Captain?"
"Negative, give me your coordinates and I'll deal with them myself. You two rendezvous at the exchange point. Kaito just sent me a message that Sarutobi Asuma is spearheading this investigation, it will take all three of your combined talents to deal with him..." their captain replied through his own radio headset.
Three murmured consents concluded the first part of the conversation and the captain removed a small pocket book and pen from his flak jacket. "Asuma-san, it's been a while has it not? I'm sorry I can't play with you this time but my identity and this mission's integrity come first…" he thought and grinned as he jotted down their coordinates.
He was tall and slender with short green hair and eerie violet eyes. His left hand reached for his hip, caressing the contours of the metallic cylinder strapped securely against it. Eagerness filled him at the thought of taking his time in dealing with those leaf genin, for personal reasons more than professional ones – he was going to enjoy himself thoroughly.
(At the same time in Hakumei no Kuni)
Teams Eight and Gai approached the border at a quickened pace and two days later they left the protective embrace of the woodlands and started climbing gradually upwards through an arid mountain range. The ground was barren and gray and brown stone formed a monotonous sea of silence around them. They slowed down their pace as the air became polluted by chalk that was kicked up by the wind.
The closer they got to the border the darker the atmosphere became amongst the Konoha shinobi. On a personal level, every axis of conflict was quenched violently by the two Jounin. But there was an underlying tension that refused to expel itself.
In what appeared to be a miracle, Neji seemed to lay off of Hinata. His eyes remained as sharp and scornful as ever, stripping her soul bare and shaking her to the core whenever she stumbled or showed a sign of weakness. However, his sharp tongue remained sheathed for the time being.
Lee was another story entirely; it took Gai verbally rebuking him to stop the bushy browed genin's frantic competing and verbal jousting with Neji and Naruto. The other two genin silently relented on each of their individual qualms against Lee: Naruto's attempts to try to get him to exercise caution and stop following Gai blindly, and Neji's attempts to try and make Lee see the truth of his fate of mediocrity.
As for team eight, there was relative peace amongst its members as Shino hid in the background, observing and analyzing from the shadows. He was the silent sentinel of his team - but he still cared for his teammates and friends and didn't want to alienate them so he kept his suspicions and findings to himself until he reached a decisive conclusion.
Kurenai and Gai were concerned with the rifts forming within the ranks of their teams and the various reasons behind them, but could not afford to deal with them now, not in hostile territory. They would iron out the discord one way or another once the teams had returned home.
Gai lead the teams onward until they reached a camouflaged fortress of granite on the side of the mountain. There the ANBU patrols questioned both him and Kurenai briefly before accepting a scroll with Hiruzen's written orders from Kurenai. The joint task force was then allowed to pass through the checkpoint and into Hakumei no Kuni.
Neji and Hinata were filled with varying degrees of relief as their Byakugan revealed the concealed ANBU operatives scaling the terrain around them. It would seem that the Hokage had fulfilled his word and activated his Shadow Ops teams, though both Hyuuga would've preferred it if the ANBU joined their mission in person as opposed to their current reconnaissance position.
"Kurenai-sensei, are we supposed to meet the client on site? Because I can't detect any humans around us, besides our own ANBU," Hinata inquired in her usual soft and hesitant manner.
Naruto's eyes flickered towards Neji, Shino and then Kiba in turn when he caught wind of his friend's observation. It was impossible to read Neji's mask of stone and Shino's own emotionless disposition was no better. Kiba nodded, agreeing with Hinata.
"Hakumei no Kuni has developed a deep aversion towards Ninja, seeing as how both Konohagakure and Kumogarkure have staged many skirmishes and battles on its grounds at the cost of their own people. Their territory is in all but name annexed and split between our respective Daimyo, so they usually send one of their dignitaries to pay up front."
"But if they don't meet up with us, how will we know how the hostage situation is developing?" Naruto quickly inquired.
"Just because the client is not there in person, doesn't mean we won't meet up with the local garrison or samurai, Naruto," Kurenai explained as they advanced.
"The reason you can't see anyone or anything Neji-kun, Hinata-san is because the entrance to the mines runs underground and most of these mountains are abundant with lead as well as silver. It's not surprising that the Byakugan is unable to pierce through it," Gai elaborated.
"If we can't see through the mountain walls, than we won't be able to see within the mountain either. It's an effective death trap for Hyuuga…the perfect site for an ambush…" Neji concluded before his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Gai-sensei, if the Byakugan can't pierce through the stone from outside, what difference will it make from the inside? Why did you assign us to this mission if we cannot even use our doujutsu?" Neji's voice accused coldly.
"Enough, Neji! I know you have issues with this mission but show some respect towards Hokage-sama," Gai replied to his question in a light tone. "He would not have sent you along for nothing."
Neji's eyes narrowed faintly, obviously still doubtful, but he held his tongue. He noticed, to his surprise, that his cousin was also uncertain and displeased by the new piece of information.
"We discovered that problem when we first encountered the mines and our most skillful ninjutsu users used Doton jutsu on the silver to dilute the lead. Your Byakugan won't work to its full capacity, but it will be far from useless, I promise"
Neji nodded reluctantly, sighing softly to himself as Tenten briefly squeezed his shoulder reassuringly before she passed by him, eliciting a twitch from the Hyuuga's lips before he followed her lead.
The shinobi carefully followed Gai, the green clad Jounin eventually taking them downwards on a very narrow path carved through the natural stone. Two hours later, as the sun reached its apex, the ninja reached a small camp at the foot of one of the mountains.
"Oi, so you've finally arrived, have you? You tree-huggers sure took your time," a nasally voice complained from ahead of them. It belonged to an unshaven, blonde haired man clad in dark green Samurai armor.
"The Daimyo said he'll be contacting your Hokage and taking the cost of sending clothes and food in there for the kidnappers and hostages out of your pay," the man said with a slightly victorious scowl.
Some of the genin seemed like they were going to protest but Kurenai lifted her hand warningly, signaling them to remain silent. She did not want the genin to cause any trouble.
"Do what you feel you must but everything will be reported to the Hokage. More importantly, brief us on the situation," Gai said in a business-like tone and crossed arms. The actions seemed foreign on Gai, due to his usual 'youthful' ways.
"Che, we aren't sure how many kidnappers there are, but there should be around half a dozen of them. From what one of the surviving guards told us, they didn't seem like ninja or perhaps they just weren't skilled ninja. They weren't too fast and they didn't use any techniques or anything, just standard military swords and crossbows."
"He's hiding something, we should be careful. It wouldn't surprise me if he was lying to try and get some of us killed," Kurenai observed as the samurai took off, his job now completed.
Gai nodded grimly and turned to the genin. "Kurenai and I will take the front position along with Team Eight so they can guide us as we go deeper into the caverns. Team Gai, you and Naruto will be our rear support as you're all more battle oriented. Neji you have the heaviest burden: keeping watch for ambushes, understood?"
The collected assortment of ninja nodded in turn and they silently entered the poorly illuminated crevice. They traversed the long, spiraling tunnels, heading deeper and deeper into the bowels of the earth.
Two minutes or so after they left the entrance a liquid-like stone formation rose up from the confines of the ground. The figure was that of a tall, dark skinned, russet haired woman. She was clad in dark black and blue body armor with a mechanical contraption strapped to her right forearm.
"Arrogant Hyuuga scum, you think you're better than everyone else with your 'all-seeing' eyes, but you never do check the ground for your enemies, only your surroundings…" The woman pressed her left hand to an earpiece against her ear and whispered in the softest of tones.
"When they reach the target area, commence operation redemption," the woman said, every word laced with icy determination and resolve. Her mouth twisted into a wide grin as she made some hand seals and melted back into the earth.
The two teams navigated through a series of narrow, dark tunnels, guided by the Neji and Hinata's Byakugan until they reached a massive cavern which contained a cluster of chakra signatures. "Kurenai and I will initiate first contact with the enemy," Gai declared in a hushed tone before turning towards the genin.
"Wait one minute before following us and pulling the hostages into safety under the cover of our attack, understood?" The genin all nodded wordlessly and watched as Kurenai made some hand seals before melting into nothingness and Gai blurred out of focus as he burst into the large area.
"Everyone move into the cavern, now!" Neji suddenly commanded firmly as his Byakugan caught sight of a massive chakra construct gathering behind them and approaching at alarming speed. He leapt backwards and the rest of the genin obeyed his command instinctively.
The moment they stepped foot through the cavern they scattered instinctively for strategic advantage only to be appalled at their surroundings. They were assaulted with the scent of decaying flesh and blood. Worse, a pile of bodies was neatly gathered on the other side of the cavern. The bodies were mostly miners, but there were some women and even children scattered among them.
The genin realized that they were in danger, but they didn't quite grasp the gravity of the situation until the earth shifted and shattered around them. They caught a glimpse of Gai and Kurenai trying to reach them before thick walls and pillars of stone rose and severed the cavern in two, splitting the sensei from their genin.
"I knew this would be a trap," Neji cursed mentally as he and the other genin all gasped for air, coughing out the dust and grime stirred up by the earth jutsu employed to trap them.
As the dust cleared, the genin all laid eyes on a female silhouette standing at the doorway. The woman's face was twisted into a condescending sneer as she made a single hand seal. They all covered their eyes briefly and a set of seven seals carved above and around the doorway erupted into bright blue light, effectively sealing the way off in a barricade of electricity.
"Lee, wait!" Tenten called out when she felt the wind whoosh beside her as the green clad genin exploded forth in the wake of a shockwave of chakra. The taijutsu master hoped to capitalize on the flash's cover and slip through the woman's defenses, opening the first of the celestial gates.
Tenten reached for her weapons pouch, her eyes widening and hand stopping as the woman blurred forwards, spinning around Lee's upward kick with infuriating ease. The weapons mistress could not risk Lee to getting caught in the crossfire and so she waited for an opening.
Naruto summoned three shadow clones and sent them after Lee and Neji, who had rush after Lee. "Damnit it, Lee! What the hell are you thinking?" the Hyuuga wondered inwardly as he shifted his position, maximizing his and Naruto's attacks.
The woman's lips parted in a cruel grin as she retaliated to the clumsily coordinated attack. Her body turned and her chakra-covered fist whipped forwards, ramming into Lee's body and knocking him into one of Naruto's clones. The clone exploded into white smoke as the spandex wearing genin plowed through it face first before slamming backwards into a stone wall with bone rattling force.
Neji somersaulted over an airborne clone the woman had kicked away, rolling his body into a small ball. He surprised both the woman and the final Naruto clone as he abruptly snapped his legs backwards and catapulted off the kage bunshin.
His hands glowing with the tell-tale signs of the Jyuuken he spun his body around like a corkscrew. He expelled as much chakra as he could and a cocoon of chakra coated him until he became a bullet-like human projectile.
Kiba was about to charge in and assist them but stopped in surprise when he saw Hinata rush in behind Naruto's clones and Neji. The Inuzuka turned his gaze to Shino who whipped his hands from his sides, unleashing his kikaichuu in a buzzing swarm and sending them into the fray.
The woman flipped backwards, dodging the older Hyuuga's dangerous attack and used her free hand to balance herself. She then swerved away from Neji's spin kick as he bounced off the wall. The woman stepped back and avoided Neji, that meanwhile landed on the balls of his feet before thrusting his palm forward. She snorted as she forced him back by tossing a hail of shuriken at him.
"Neji-nii!" Hinata called out at the woman's hands blurred through a seal sequence while Neji was still airborne, before she thrust her open palm forward. Crackling tendrils of lightning exploded into the air and weaved through the metallic projectiles she had thrown earlier, creating a fatal hail of glowing steel. "Raiton: Raikou no amimono."
The Hyuuga's face twisted into a remorseful expression. He tried to dodge but knew his chances of survival were slim. To his surprise, he saw his cousin rush towards him . "I guess I'll see you soon, father. My final 'duty' will be fulfilled, I'll be a sacrifice to make an opening for the ma…"
Neji's thoughts were cut as the girl tackled him roughly, knocking him off his feet and shielding him with her body. His ears caught the sound of a feminine scream as two of the lightning infused projectiles sliced through her left forearm and side and one stabbed into her shoulder.
Naruto's eyes widened as he watched both Hyuuga land in a heap, both knocked apart and rolling against the harsh earth several times due to their momentum. Neji somehow managed to recover his momentum, whereas Hinata stopped in the fetal position.
Both cousins were obviously shocked by the lightning jutsu, but it seemed that Hinata took the major brunt of the damage. The violet-haired girl clutched her side with her good arm, her body still twitching lightly from the electricity.
"Pathetic," was the single word that escaped the oddly clad woman in a baleful snort. As his mind registered those words time seemed to slow down. He only vaguely noticed Neji check on his cousin, or saw the woman toast a swarm of Shino's companions with a shockwave of raw lightning manipulation. He screened out Kiba's curses and Tenten checking on Lee; the only thing that registered was a sudden rush of heat that suffocated his senses. Everything was happening so fast he couldn't keep up, he felt his control over the situation slip as his body was bolted in place.
He tried to think, to formulate a battle plan and react but for a scant few moments that seemed like eternity everything was foggy and chaotic around him. His body was bolted in place and a crimson haze crept into his vision. Deep within the confines of his mind, a pair of burning red eyes snapped open and narrowed with ravenous anticipation as crimson life-force exploded through the bars, flooding through its host chakra system - it was time to have fun.
Jutsu glossary:
"Hebikawa Kawarimi" - Snake Skin Replication - A snake art used by advanced summoners that leaves a solid clone made of skinskin replication of the summoner while he/she burrows underground at the same time.
"Fuuton: Gekiretsu Kazetama" - Wind Release: Furious Wind Bullet - Mid-level Wind jutsu, unleashes a compacted sphere of wind chakra in form of high velocity projectile.
"Katon: Karyuu Endan" - Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Projectile - High Level Fire Jutsu, unleashes an intense jet of flame from the users mouth.
"Hyouton: Haryou Mouko!" - Destruction Dragon Fierce Tiger - High Level Ice element Jutsu, creates a tiger shaper high velocity shape that bounds down on the target.
"Kage Bushin no Jutsu" - Shadow Clone Technique - Enough said.
"Raiton: Ikadzuchi no Yari" - Lightning Release: Lightning Bolt Spear - Mid Level Lightning Jutsu, unleashes a powerful, concentrated current of electricity in a straight line
"Raiton: Raikou no amimono." - Lightning Release: Lightning Web" - Low Level lightning jutsu that creates a deadly web of lightning that crackles through a series of metallic projectiles.