Disclaimer: I don't own, have any contractual or property rights in the Naruto franchise; those belong to Mashashi Kishimoto, Shounen Jump, VIZ media, Bandai games and other affiliate companies.
A/N:
1) Hello everybody, I'm sorry for the delay, but my life is pretty hectic nowadays. I have weekly assignments and test season in half a month, so updates will be slow and I have no true ETA. Again I'm sorry – but that's life…
2) I hope everyone enjoys the chapter's various sub-plotting, soon the finals will begin and hopefully my version will be original enough to garner interest and not disappointment; wish me luck.
3) I want to thank everyone who reviewed, even those whom criticized the story and have yet to reply to my own PMs, you've given me food for thought and I take your comments seriously – rest assured.
4) As everyone has recently seen Danzou's arm…is not quite what we expected and Madara has revealed his powers are diminished due to the wounds wrought upon him by Hashirama – I will go back and streamline some scenes to fit these canon facts at my nearest leisure.
5) Big Special thanks to LD1449 and Rasengan86 for helping me smooth out the last scene with the Hyuuga clan
Anyhow, everyone read, enjoy and review if possible, thank you!
Japanese word glossary:
Raikou – Lightning
Kumogakure – Hidden Cloud
Konohagakure – Hidden Leaf
Jinchuuriki - Power of Human Sacrifice – The name given to the containers of the Bijuu
Tsuchi – Rock
Konoha - Leaf
Kiri – Mist
Shodaime – The First
Godaime – The Fifth
Kyofou – Godfather
(At the same time the chuunin expectants dispersed, Raikage's Office, Center of the Storm Pylon, Kumogakure no Sato, Raikou no Kuni)
The Raikage sighed softly, cradling his face in his left hand as he continued waiting for his brother, as he had for the last thirty minutes. His dark eyes browsed over the other occupants in his office who looked equally bored with the delay.
In front of him sat his ANBU commander, the head of the council of clans and a representative of the Daimyo. His most trustworthy subordinate was a man named Tanaka Yasunari, a veteran of two ninja wars and his childhood friend. The man was deceptively strong despite his lanky frame; his slightly hawkish features clean shaven and pale. His violet eyes were quite eerie all things considered as he rolled them in exasperation. "It astounds me how your brother refuses to change his antics even after all this time, Raikage-sama,"
The leader of Kumo snorted and rolled his eyes at that, "Kirabi may be eccentric but it can't be helped and he comes through when the need arises, you know that. Besides, it's impossible to educate or change him; he's too headstrong for his own good!"
His teeth grit when he heard a soft chuckle from the elderly woman beside Yasunari. Her name was Momoji Takara and she was the shrewdest, meanest and cold-hearted bitch Raikage had ever had the displeasure of meeting. Her voice was gravely and hoarse as she sniped at him, "I always find it ironic that the stubborn boy whom drove his sensei, father and all of Kumo up the walls in his youth would suffer a similar fate when he assumed the mantle."
The Raikage frowned at the jibe and covered his scowl by supposedly rubbing his beard. How he hated these annoying pleasantries and political jousts, they disgusted him. But it couldn't be helped, even he, the strongest man in Kumo, had to 'butter' up the nobles from time to time. Mostly in order to make sure their financial and military support remained optimal without the fuss of cracking down on insurgencies and killing valuable ninja if they ever started acting out against him.
The viper-tongued, oily looking noble representing the Daimyo finally, a young man named Matanabe Sato spoke up. "Raikage-dono, excuse my audacity but I must say that this entire situation is highly unprofessional. My time is valuable and would better serve Daimyo-sama's interests if I actually did something instead of waiting for your delinquent brother to grace us with his presence."
"You don't sound or look too torn up about, you god damned oily tongued bastard," The lightning master thought bitterly as he peered into Sato's bright blue eyes that flickered with barely restrained impatience. While he might have spoke apologetically, the tone ringing behind his words belied he wasn't sorry at all.
The Raikage sighed heavily, lamenting his own complacency with dealing with Kirabi. Any other Kage would've been sterner with the loose cannon of a ninja, but he was his baby brother and even after all these years he had a certain soft spot towards him. But even he was beginning to consider disciplinary actions as the meeting had been delayed so many times it wasn't even funny; a curse upon the country's unrelenting lightning storms – they were cutting it close as it is!
Before he could reply the door snapped open violently, revealing a rather miffed looking Kirabi. The Jinchuuriki was followed by Yugito, the younger woman bowing humbly while her senior container stepped into the room and took a place beside the door. "Yo bro, what's your deal? You know how these fancy talks make me feel."
The Raikage spoke sternly and pointed towards and empty seat. "Brother, for once in your life stop playing games. I didn't call you here for the kicks. This is a serious situation so sit down."
He then turned to the young Jinchuuriki and after a moment of deliberation made a decision. "You may stay as well, Yugito, this meeting concerns you too."
Yugito bowed humbly and took a seat whereas Kirabi defiantly snorted and kicked the door, closing it with his heel. He remained where he was, leaning on the wall beside the door as he yawned. "Have it your way, I guess that's fair; but jus' don't think I actually care."
"I guess that's better than having him storm off…" the elder brother thought wearily before he sat up."As you are all aware, in a month's time our redemption begins. It's time we reclaimed our honor and proved to the whole ninja world we're the ones on the top of the food chain."
Takara's wrinkled face twisted into a scowl. "This…plan of yours is full of holes, Raikage-dono. You would have us abandon the capital and march across the continent in order to attack a full fledged hidden village at its very gates all for the sake of some ego trip! That hasn't been done in decades and the last attempt ended miserably!"
Kirabi's chakra flashed as he glared at the elder woman. "Hey, I'm the only one who gets to diss my bro, shut you' trap you wrinkly ol' ho!"
The Raikage smirked faintly and covered his face to conceal his amusement as Takara leveled a withering glare at his brother whom was as unimpressed and amused as the Raikage was. "Settle down, Kirabi, it seems our illustrious guest woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. I hear that happens often when one reaches a certain age, so I'll let it slide this time."
The elder didn't bat an eyelash at the jibe at her age, she only quirked a gray eyebrow; demanding an answer to her inquiry. "Damn that old bat, I never could get under her skin."
He coughed into his hand, "Ego has nothing to do with this situation. In case you've all been sleeping through the last couple of months, a worldwide war is coming! We have no ally in Ishimaru of Tsuchi or in Shizuka of Kiri or whoever is in charge of Kiri nowadays. Worst, intelligence reports have revealed the supposed strongest of the five, Konohagakure, commands the deadliest of the nine at its disposal. This development leaves me with no choice. We have to make a stand and launch a preemptive attack now and assert our strength before its too late and it is our gates that are left under siege!"
The emissary of the Daimyo seemed thunderstruck by the revelation; his eyes wide and his gasp a giveaway. Takara seemed to understand at long last why the Raikage was so eager and insistent about the attack by the way her body sagged and relaxed; whereas Yasunari, whom was obviously aware of the situation, seemed resigned as he sighed heavily.
"They wield the power of the fox…are you sure? But still…to attack one of the five at its very capital; seems so…" Takara questioned and hesitated. Her face no longer frowning or disapproving, her eyes narrowed and tone trembling faintly. He nodded and watched her bite her lower lip before she nodded slowly, painfully; "The clans will lend you their full support in your…crusade, Raikage-dono."
Yasunari nodded as well and reported, "I've already informed the strategic council they've begun analyzing our intelligence reports, the layout of the terrain and on formulating attack plans accordingly. Also, the fuuinjutsu experts and blacksmith guild have begun assembling our new, hi-tech siege equipment, Raikage-dono."
The Raikage shut his eyes and nodded contently, all was in order, soon his plans would come into fruition and the ninja world would never be the same. "Excellent, they won't know what hit them. Most importantly, the reason I've called you here, brother. I need to know if I can count on you to defend Kumo, just in case."
Kirabi remained immobile for a while; he might as well have been sleeping on his feet. The others seemed tense but the Raikage knew what the detached state was; he was conversing with the Hachibi.
The one known in Kumo as the 'Ultimate Jinchuuriki' grinned and laughed boisterously, "Me and Eight-O concur when we say, we'll watch this place while you head out and play!"
(Several Hours later, Underground chamber of the 'Council of Flame', Konohagakure no Sato)
"Meh, this place is as dark and dreary as I remember," Tsunade, the last scion of the Senju thought; a sardonic smirk adorning her thin lips as she drew her finger against the mahogany table. Her brown eyes narrowed in the dim torchlight, a heavy sigh escaping her lips, "Damn it, I need a drink…"
Walking through those gates familiar wooden gates was a bittersweet moment of nostalgia seasoned with regret. Nobody but Jiraiya knew she was in Konona as he had escorted her personally under the false pretences of being an 'informant'; which also deflected any unwanted questions about why she wore long gray robes and a hood.
Currently she sat alone at the head of the table, the traveling cloak discarded and revealing her trademark attire with only one significant difference, the Senju symbol replaced the gamble symbol on her back. Her lips twitched faintly as she shook her head, an errant thought dancing through her skull, "Damn pervert, knowing all my measurements like that…I should smack him…"
Her eyes snapped to her right as she felt the air shift, "What is it? I thought those geezers were the ones in a hurry to meet me, Jiraiya. If I didn't know better I'd say they weren't all that happy I'm back…"
"Well, it isn't like you've been the epitome of roses and sunshine. Besides, the only thing they know about your life in the last decade and a half is that you've become a legendarily promiscuous lush with a gambling problem."
"Feh, I bet they're just scared I might beat their asses down for the piss poor job they've done keeping Konoha ready for war. I hate to say it, but that one-eyed bastard does raise some interesting points from time to time…"
A familiar, hoarse tone piped with a snarky edge. "Or perhaps these 'geezers' are simply unimpressed by the circumstances surrounding your return, considering Jiraiya-kun had to swindle you into coming back on the threat of death no doubt."
A smirk rose to Tsunade's lips as she turned to her left and laid eyes on the wrinkled, frail looking form, "Koharu, you're still the sharp tongued old shrew I had hoped to forget." The sannin waved her hand dismissively at the jibe, "Ah, don't be so bitter, Koharu, my reasons for returning have nothing to do with my credentials or capabilities. After all, you're the ones that recalled me here so that means you need me, no?"
Tsunade sighed and rolled her eyes as the other old fogy she didn't want to meet again spoke. "Ladies, please, this is a time of crisis and unity. Let us keep our demons resting for the time being. We can bicker as we will once the threat of annihilation has been removed."
She shot Jiraiya a withering look that spoke her mind 'why the hell did you bring me back here again?' Tsunade watched as the two elders took a seat at the head of the table across her before the sound of a tapping cane filtered through her ears, "Danzou…"
She grit her teeth faintly as the bandaged old man took a place beside her sensei's old teammates. "So the prodigal child returns to our fold. I am truly humbled to know someone so 'dependable' has rose to power and is responsible for our safety."
The sannin's eyebrow ticked but a slightly vicious grin spread over her lips. Years of banter with Jiraiya and Orochimaru had made her nearly impervious to ridicule and insult; well at least when she was sober and in control. "I'll take that bitter edge lacing your words as a compliment, Danzou."
He shot her a dark glare that she brushed off nonchalantly. She then bit her lower lip and pushed out a heavy sigh. "Where are the rest of them, I don't have all day! I'd rather finish my unofficial 'inauguration' in one, brief occasion."
She folded her hands together and the room fell into a tense silence as they waited for the various clan heads to converge. "The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can get myself a saucer of sake, that damned pervert drank my entire stash two days ago…"
In a manner of minutes Tsunade watched as the higher echelon of Konoha slipped into the room and assumed their places at the table. She shared a brief look with her teammate and was able to guess his identical thought, 'Sensei should've been here'.
Before someone could break the ice Tsunade felt Jiraiya nudge her lightly so coughed into her hand. "You all know me; I'm not one for formalities and 'flowery' speeches like sensei was. His loss weighs upon me, upon us all. But from what Jiraiya told me, we have nobody to blame but ourselves for our lapse in internal security."
"I've returned upon your request to take the mantle and I will, but let us make one thing clear right off the bat. I'm not Sarutobi-sensei, I'm not as lenient, nor am I as patient. We've been humiliated in our own home, our kage killed under our noses. Whether we choose to believe Orochimaru killed Sarutobi-sensei or someone else did is irrelevant, the end result is the same – we need to change or we will all die."
Tsunade observed the faces of her various younger subordinates (ignoring the elders she had no love lost towards), each of them taking the words in varying degrees of seriousness, guilt and resign. She could still remember how they all looked when they were just teenagers struggling to find their place in life.
A wave of nostalgia hit her with crippling force and her eyes glazed for a moment, the hard lines and coldness surrounding their faces shocking her into attention, "Life has been hard for them all…and all I've done is run away and let them deal with it themselves. Grandfather, you must be so ashamed of me…"
Danzou spoke calmly, his single visible eye narrowing "Bold words, Tsunade, but how can we trust you to lead us when…" His hand blurred as he suddenly tossed several projectiles in blurry speed. The ninja around the table all burst into action, the ones closest to Tsunade shielding her with their body and those closest to the elder putting kunai to his throat.
The sound of splattering liquid was swallowed by the sound outraged whispers and harsh glares. Jiraiya however didn't move and neither did Tsunade as they knew Danzou wasn't stupid and wouldn't truly make such a sloppy attempt at her life. Instead, Tsunade, Tsume and Choumaru were now all covered in blood; human blood to be exact by the coppery taste and scent.
"Our leader can't stand the sight, touch or scent of blood…" he finished his exclaim neutrally, diverting all attention to Tsunade.
She looked down at herself, the sickening scent, the sticky, hot sensation were not welcoming. She started trembling, her head bowed and she could feel everyone's eyes on her; each expecting her to crack and panic.
Instead she grit her teeth hard, her hemophobia wasn't completely cured; she wasn't as oblivious to the crimson liquid as she was in her youth but it sure as hell wasn't paralyzing as it was several days ago. She laughed long and hard in a bitter, cold manner before her hand smashed through the table with incredible force; shattering it easily.
"I should kill you for that, old man. But you had legitimate reasons to question me considering my reputation as of late so I'll spare you just this once; considering you may still be useful to Konohagakure in your own way," she spoke and motioned Hiashi and Shibi to let Danzou go with a nod.
She stood up, her killer intent spiking and choking the room. She straightened her stance; back straight and arms crossed beneath her breasts; looking impressive despite being blood stained with her hair sticking to her face.
Everyone seemed surprised she spared him considering her legendary temper and the murderous reprisals of her youth. They all seemed to forget due to her visage that she wasn't twenty anymore – she was old enough to show some restraint if just a bit of it. "Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer never described my situation better than it did now. Danzou, you may think sensei's death plays in your favor, but Jiraiya and I have plans for you…be thankful you have your uses yet…you decrepit old fossil!"
"I am Senju Tsunade, I am the heir of Hashirama and Tobirama and your Godaime Hokage! You'd all best get adjusted to that in your free time. I will not be questioned a second time; the next time that table will be the face of whoever's stupid enough to test my patience." She seemed to have successfully asserted her position and conveyed her point so he lips twitched into a small smile.
She then turned her back on everyone and headed towards the exit. "I will retire for now to change and get acquainted with the nuances of my new job. Rest assured I will have MANY questions for ALL of you soon enough. You wanted me as Kage, well now that you've got me you got to deal with me too!"
(The following day, Konoha Cemetery, secluded woodlands, outside Konoha's civilian district)
The harsh wind blew against his body, toying with his blonde hair. The silence was suffocating, the world seeming much smaller and darker at that very moment. "Old man…" Naruto whispered in a soft, disjointed manner.
His blue eyes stared at the flame shaped tombstone and he felt his fists tighten in accordance to the tension constricting his chest. "I…I never got to…I never got to…" he stammered. His eyes stung, burning liquid searing down his cheeks as his shoulders shuddered.
When he was a kid, he promised himself he'd stop crying; it was a sign of weakness and in the end it accomplished nothing. But now, he could not fulfill his vow; the longing, guilt and memories were just too much. Besides, he was alone; nobody would ever know he was weak – even if just for the moment.
The last time he spoke to the old man, one on one, he had told him he was still angry with him even though he forgave him for keeping all those secrets; that was weeks ago. But Naruto had been complacent, he had been too absorbed in his own life, his own troubles to spare Hiruzen a couple of minutes to tell him the truth: that he understood why the old man had done what he did and the true burden of the Hokage now.
It wasn't fair! He would never get to tell him that! Hell, he didn't even get the chance to say goodbye, to give him final respect to the man whom always cared for him, provided for him and watched his back; despite appearances throughout his life.
"Oi, Naruto. I thought I'd find you here," a gruff and slightly hoarse tone called behind him. Naruto didn't move, his head bowed and eyes closed tightly as he inhaled deeply. He mentally berated himself for letting his guard down and tried to calm himself down; his shuddering breaths belying his earlier tears.
"A-Asuma-sensei…" he murmured as he felt the heir of Sarutobi walk up to him. The bitter scent of tobacco and nicotine filled his nostrils as he lifted his gaze, locking his eyes on the headstone. He swallowed and dared glance at the bearded jounin, noticing his face was uncommonly somber.
Asuma sighed softly, "Hard to believe he's really gone, eh?"
Naruto nodded stiffly as he spoke, his voice slightly hoarse, "I had so many things I wanted to tell him and I-I didn't even get to s-say goodbye..."
His off-and-on sensei grunted in approval, "Unfortunately for us, the timing of the deaths of our loved ones is seldom comfortable or acceptable. Hell, my old man and I were on the road to reconciliation and then…this…"
"Yeah…" Naruto trailed off and his eyes hardened slightly, his slightly blurry vision coming into focus. He remembered the look of anguish and weariness Sarutobi shot him when they last spoke. "This guilt and loss…is it always like this? Do we always have to watch everyone around us die…?"
"I won't sugarcoat things, Naruto. There is only one certainty in the ninja world and life in general: Death. It's likely you will attend the funerals of your friends and loved ones in the future and some of them attend yours; that's just the way things are…"
Naruto's eyes shut slowly and his voice was small and resigned; weary beyond his years. "When Sasuke died I was shocked, it was the first time I lost someone. But even then…me and Sasuke we barely friends; we were…I dunno…comrades? The old man…he was…I should feel more than this! B-but all I feel is…emptiness…what the hell's wrong with me?"
Asuma's hand startled him as it squeezed his shoulder, "I'm not a wordy and poetic man, Naruto, but I can tell you that nothing's wrong with you. People deal with grief and guilt in different ways."
Naruto pondered over Asuma's words and decided he should ask his godfather or Kakashi how the next time he saw them. He was closer with Asuma, but didn't quite think he could really talk to him on such personal things – not yet. "But how…I-how do I make this feeling go away…"
He could hear the fox chuckling in his mind; his mental barriers at their weakest when he was this upset. He shook his head several times, "Definitely not like that!"
Naruto looked up; the sun was in the middle of the sky. Kakashi had told him to meet him for training still didn't understand; still didn't know how to feel or cope with it all and then he remembered what Jiraiya had told him when they were training several weeks ago. "Hey there, slow down! Don't get down cause you don't get it right away, kid. Some things take time to digest and understand fully. Trust me on this one Naruto, some things in life you learn as you go, slowly and over time; ok?"
The Jinchuuriki frowned as he recalled those words and nodded to himself. He was still confused; still at loss but he couldn't let it keep him down. While his life was changing so rapidly that sometimes it left him overwhelmed that just half of the challenge of it all. It took time to learn things and many emotions; truths were still lost to him due to age and social awkwardness but so what? What it came down to was one inexorable truth: he was Uzumaki Naruto and no matter how things got; he didn't surrender and bitch about it!"
"I'm sorry for your loss, Asuma-sensei…" Naruto murmured and turned to leave.
Asuma suddenly blocked his path with his arm. "Hold on, Naruto. I've got something for you; that's actually why I was looking for you out in the first place."
Naruto was speechless as the wind manipulator removed a scroll from his flak jacket and handed it to him. "He cared for you a great deal, Naruto. He mentioned you in his will…he wanted you to carry on the will of fire and protect Konoha and so he left you his legendary arm guards. Those were a gift he received when he turned chuunin from the Shodaime himself, Senju Hashirama, nearly sixty years ago…"
His eyes widened and he felt his throat constrict, his lips suddenly dry. He was a bit dazed, a sense of numbness filling him as he wasn't quite sure how to digest that bit of news. "Wh-what? He…why did he…?"
He felt Asuma shake him by the shoulders and started slightly, having gotten loss in thought and overwhelming emotion. "Hey, I thought you'd have grown sharper from your academy days, Naruto. Didn't I just tell you he cared for ya' a great deal?. That's all there is to it. So…stop gawking at it, keep your chin up and don't kick the gift horse in the mouth."
Naruto looked up at Asuma and stammered "B-but." When he saw Asuma frown her bit his lips and nodded; he still didn't understand the subtleties of human interaction; of love, loyalty and care like normal people did due to his isolated childhood but he caught the general gist of it and it felt superb.
He nodded and shook his head and then smiled softly, his voice subdued though the smile reached his eyes this time. "I-I Gotcha', sensei…I-I'm off to catch some lunch and track down Kakashi-sensei, ok? Uhh…Oh! You're helping Shikamaru and Ino this month, right?"
Asuma nodded and blew a ring of smoke, "Yeah, I'll be helping Inoichi and Shikaku train their kids. I was going to offer you the same but Kakashi said he's got plans to keep you mighty busy and that isn't even counting what'll happen when Jiraiya-sama comes back, so I think you're covered."
Naruto nodded and saluted at him casually with a flick of his hand, "Awesome! Then I know they'll be working at least half as hard as I am," he mused with a faint grin. He then bid Asuma farewell and took off into the woods; cutting towards the city of Konoha.
Once he broke out of the woods, he looked up at Hiruzen's portrait in the mountain; lifting his fist as he ran. "You just wait, old man. I'll wear these armguards with pride but…it isn't enough. You never let me wear your hat when you were alive so I guess that means I'll just have to keep on getting stronger and stronger until I can make you truly proud. When I get to that point, I'm sure it won't be too far behind the day you'll see me wearing that hat…wherever you are!"
(Two days later, ANBU Underground prison facility, undisclosed location under Konoha)
Kabuto spat some blood, licking the inner side of his cheeks and teeth. The bitter, iron taste still lingered in his mouth from this morning's 'interview' with Ibiki. The silver haired 'genin' was quite versed in resisting torture as Orochimaru had broken him physically and mentally quite thoroughly when he initially discovered he was one of Sasori's puppets.
While Ibiki was damn good at his job, he wasn't up to Orochimaru's level of expertise just quite yet. His vision was blurred with his spectacles gone, but he could see well enough to guess what the general outlay his surroundings were.
His wrists were shackled with cuffs to the wall, his body dangling just high enough so his feet didn't touch the ground; tantalizing and minimizing his ability to escape. There was a circle of glowing seals drawn around him which both suppressed his ability to draw chakra and prevented any chakra techniques from influencing him. His head had been shaved to make electrical shock torture easier, the blood and grime sticking to it.
Kabuto's hearing was sharper than the average ninja's; months upon months of navigating through dank underground labyrinths and tunnels alongside Orochimaru had taught him to rely on more than just his eyes. These sharpened senses told him in the last couple of days just how many guards kept watch on him at every given time: there was always one at the door and another two in the hallway.
The medic nin had tried to use his medical abilities to feign death, but that was a useless endeavor if there ever was one. The ANBU would enter the room shock him with cattle prods until he could no longer resist the pain and woke up. "No matter, I have other means of escaping this place. All I need is…an opportunity…"
His eyes snapped to the door of the room as his ears picked up hushed murmuring. He strained to discern the words but failed ultimately in his weary state; he hadn't slept in days. However, it didn't matter much as the sound of the steel door grinding open brought a grin to his lips, "Perfect…"
The figure that slipped soundlessly into the room intrigued him. He didn't recognize this ANBU's scent or aura – the individual obviously not one of his regular guards. Its build and frame implied it was a man. The man's piercing blue eyes that barely visible behind his cat shaped porcelain mask were hollow and lifeless. The fact his hair was blonde; a trait that was quite rare in Konohagakure was also noteworthy.
However, the most 'suspicious' thing about the 'visitor' was the way he peeked outside the door and made some quick hand signals before slipping it shut behind him. "Since I don't know you, you aren't one of his agents. That means you're one of Danzou's Roots, aren't you?"
The ANBU didn't reply, he moved quickly and removed a slip of paper from his pouch and slapped it on one of the seals in the sealed circle, deactivating it temporarily. He then walked back towards the door and sat down, his back pressed against the steel door. The ANBU then assumed a lotus position before he brought his hands together. He ran through some odd hand seals before he ended them with a most unusual hand sign. His two thumbs touched as did his index and middle fingers.
Kabuto's eyes widened faintly when he acutely felt the charka rush out of the ANBU before it invaded him. He head exploded with pain as his body went limp. For several moments his skin crawled as he sensed foreign chakra in his body. "Wh-what is…this?! I-impossible?!"
The medic-nin overcame his initial shock before he chuckled faintly in his own mind, looking around him as he found himself in a dark corner of his mind. He felt the invader fiddling through his memories and consequently concentrated. "I would advise against whatever it is you're planning, Yamanaka. It won't end well for you."
Then he heard the ANBU speak to him, the voice echoing all around him. "Yakushi Kabuto, this process will be faster and less painful for both of us if you decide cooperate with me. It is inevitable that you will be killed for your acts of espionage and treason. So you can either help me while earning yourself a painless death or resist me and I will leave you to the machinations of Ibiki-san."
Kabuto laughed in his mind, mocking his assassin as he spread his awareness while bracing himself for the violent attempts to seize his memories. "Let's see...you're asking me to trust someone who admits he was sent to kill me with critical information about my benefactor. What guarantee do I have that this isn't a ruse by Ibiki-san to get me to crack or alternatively what assurance do I have that you aren't lying? No, I think I'll decline your kind offer considering option number three is best"
The pain intensified as he felt the mind walker try to force his way through his mental barriers. Kabuto was not shackled from wandering within his own mind; only from influencing his bodily functions. Therefore, he decided to track down the insolent intruder himself.
He caught sight of the blonde man's spirit image pressing both palms against a smoky door; attempting to enter the memory. He suddenly dropped to his knees as immense pain shot through him. A massive, elaborate seal burned to life over the entrance, startling the mind walker and making him pull back; the fail-safe contingency the snake sannin had consensually implanted within Kabuto stirring to life. "He's found something…already…? I…damn this…hurts more than I imagined!"
The invader was touching the surface images of a meeting Kabuto had witnessed between a Root agent of Danzou's and Orochimaru some eight years earlier, closely after the Uchiha massacre when Orochimaru had traded intimate medical information in exchange for assistance in avoiding ANBU and Jiraiya's spy network. The invader seemed to perceive Kabuto's silence as a no, so he spoke in a chilling monotone before pressing his hands against the door again. "I see…then we have nothing more to discuss."
Kabuto's mouth opened widely and he vomited something, the sensation horrible as it not only made him feel nauseous, it acutely pained him as it ejected itself out of his throat in a cacophony of gagging, squelching and wet noises.
He panted weakly as he looked forward, a mirror image of himself standing in front of him, except for one significant difference; it had bone-chilling yellow eyes. "My my, little mind walker…didn't your master ever teach you that should mind your own businessssss?"
Kabuto watched as his doppelganger grinned in a malicious manner before it vanished. The ANBU rushed to make hand seals to break the illusion or defend himself in Kabuto's mindscape but failed to do so as white snake heads burst from the ground and wrapped around his limbs, their origin coming from various places on his clone's body.
The mirror image was now standing beside the ANBU, its hand grasping the man's face, "I believe the saying is…curiosity…killed the cat, issssn't it?" With that said the snakes constricted and an eerie laughter echoed in Kabuto's mind before he was jolted awake with a start.
The Black Ops agent seemed to wake up as well. His eyes were slightly wide but otherwise didn't show an external signs of distress; a clear sign of his intense indoctrination and self-discipline. Kabuto however wasted no more as he saw the man groggily cover his head with his hand and struggle to get to his feet.
Kabuto bit on his lower lip and bent his thumbs as close as he could to his palms before he tugged both hands violently. The agonized scream caught in his throat as the skin was violently shred off his palms and hands. He hissed out a pained breathe before he thrust his chakra through his limbs; the tissue healing rapidly now that the sealing circle had been disrupted.
Discipline and survival instincts pushed the silver haired ninja to act next; Kabuto charging forward and aiming his chakra coated palm towards the Roots agent. He created a chakra scalpel, blue energy coalescing around his hand before he shoved it into the man's neck, severing his windpipe and the muscles around it.
"No hard feelings, but you're just the unlucky sap that walked into my cell." He apologized and in a manner of minutes he stripped out of his clothes and exchanged ensembles with the dead man. Once he assumed the dead man's appearance accordingly he ripped a thread from 'his' blanket and shoved into his mouth before gathering chakra to his fingertips. "This…is going to hurt…"
He bit hard against the sweaty fabric in his mouth as he removed the skin of his own face. The horrifying pain was partially numbed with medical jutsu and the sensation of his flesh, sinew and skin regenerating nearly drove him to vomit once more; but he managed to suppress the urge somehow.
He sustained his 'old face' with chakra, retaining its flexibility and substance before he placed his other hand on his 'assassin's' face. He removed the cadaver's face, utilizing his master's patented 'Shoshagan no jutsu'; wearing it over his own for camouflage. Then the second stage of the 'switcheroo' was initiated by exchanging their faces when he glued his own face onto the man's body with medical ninjutsu and he shaved his head clean to fit his current appearance; luckily their complexions were fair and similar in tone.
Kabuto then placed the man's corpse in his place, dangling it from the chains and removed the deactivating seal once he stood outside of the circle. There were hints to his deception, but it would take ANBU time to discern them in the poor lighting and he would be long gone by then.
He adjusted the mask around his face and pulled the ANBU hood over his head; concealing his baldness before he concealed his own scent, like every good ANBU would with a bubble of chakra before he slipped out of the room, nodding to the ANBU beside the door and noticing the other two were unconscious on the floor. Kabuto then slipped into the shaded halls, making his way outside.
"It seems Konoha is no longer safe for me, but it doesn't matter, my job here is done for now. Orochimaru-sama will understand and I'll finally be able to get back into his good graces...all I have to do is make a brief pit stop before I go…to prepare my contingency for later…"
(At the same time, training field twenty three, Konohagakure)
Sakura shivered slightly as she trudged through the moist and muddy riverbank. Her emerald eyes flicked from side to side as she scanned the ground at her feet. Her alternate personality sniped impatiently; the last hour or two of 'sight-seeing' having become a hassle. "Shouldn't we be concentrating on seeking a proper tutor to help us prepare, Sakura-chan?"
The dominant persona snapped right back as their joint body knelt in the mud. "Stop badgering me, we need these ingredients…there's only one path of survival; we've researched and discussed it before. You know what's at stake!" She then carefully picked a very small, black mushroom with red spots, a small smirk playing on her lips.
She heard the violent persona snort and her face twisted into a frown."Wouldn't it be better to seek out the snake-whore, she is our 'sensei' after all. As insane and dangerous as she is, we both know she's an assassination expert; I'm pretty sure she knows a jutsu or two to help us."
"I've asked around, nobody's seen her in..." she murmured bitterly. Then her survival instincts screamed at her. She tried to move but her body just wasn't fast enough. She choked as something cold wrapped around her neck, wrists and ankles; pulling her back and binding her to a tree.
The familiar voice, so sugary with a hint of violence chilled her to the core. The blurry shape of her violet haired tormentor came into view; violet and gold orbs almost glowing with compacted murder. "Greetings, Sakura. It's been a while, hasn't it? You look surprised. Now why is that? Haven't you missed me?"
Sakura couldn't breathe properly, her lungs burning. Her eyes widened faintly when she noticed the constraints holding her weren't wire or rope, they were huge serpent familiars. "An-Anko-sensei…? I was j-just looking for you"
Anko's grin widened, her sharp incisors giving her already predator visage and even more sinister edge. "Is that right? That's great, it's always fortunate when the prey enters the trap on its own volition. Unluckily for you, I'm not the one you have to worry about…"
"What are you…?" Sakura murmured before everything went black as she finally gave into oxygen deprivation.
---
"Wake up…wake up, Sakura-chan!"her alter ego urged her when she began regaining awareness. She was confused, unsure where she was or how much time had passed as she moaned groggily. She tried to open her eyes gradually but someone else in the room did not give her that luxury as someone grabbed some strands of her hair and tugged on them hard.
She gasped in pain her eyes snapping open. She looked around wildly and noticed she was in the Hokage office. Confusion filled her for a moment; it was quickly replaced by dread as she saw Anko sitting beside her, on her left, and a very impatient looking blonde woman glaring at her icily from behind the Hokage's desk.
The woman whom she recognized as Tsunade of the Sannin, was obviously the new Godaime. Tsunade sighed in exasperation as she rubbed her left temple. "You're as crude, yet effective, as ever, Anko. But don't damage the girl, at least, not yet."
"H-Hokage-sama?" Sakura questioned a bit fearfully, cautious as she noted an undertone of violence to the deceptively young looking woman that by record she should be in her fifties.
Tsunade smirked before she drawled out a sarcastic snipe, "My, why aren't deductive skills astounding?"
As the woman leaned closer, the gleam in her brown eyes sent a chill down Sakura's spine. It was worse than Danzou's one-eyed glare, it was the gleam of complete superiority and confidence in those twin orbs. Sakura felt so small she might as well be an insect to that woman; and not an interesting one at that. "She's dangerous…even more than Danzou…don't piss her off!"
The woman's lips parted and the voice that came out was sweet, but the undertone was one of homicidal playfulness. "Do you know why you're here, Sakura?"
She shook her head, a feeling of dread settling in her stomach. Her usually encourages alter-ego was equally nervous and silent when Tsunade's lips parted into a grin, revealing her pearly white teeth. "I'm actually glad you're both here, it'll spare me some time…"
Sakura felt Anko stiffen on the chair beside her and a twisted flicker of satisfaction filled her when she caught glimpse of her tormentor's eerie eyes narrow suspiciously.
Tsunade folded her hands together and spoke calmly. "I'll be frank with you both, cause' I don't indulge in fucking around and prettying things up like sensei did. I don't trust both of you; I don't know what sensei was thinking in his last days and I don't really care right about now."
Sakura found the speech pattern depressingly familiar, it was the dismissive insult that came before the sucker punch of a demand that fucked up her life even more. It wasn't long before her realization was proved correct when Tsunade continued: "You two have by some freakish bout of luck been spared, so it's time you two started making yourselves useful to me and Konoha at large."
Sakura hazarded a guess that Anko was about to say something stupid, her posture in her seat stiffening when Tsunade's fist smashed into the table, cutting her off. "Sit down and shut up. I'm not done yet. Haruno Sakura, I've been told you're Danzou's little pet pawn at the moment, which is most fortunate for you."
Her darker half panicked just as much as Sakura did, screaming mentally: "Oh shit, oh shit! She's going to try and make us…she's going to get us killed!" Sakura couldn't quite contain her distress; her eyes wide and fearful and breathing pattern becoming somewhat rapid.
"Since Anko failed so miserably in bonding with you to the point we couldn't activate the 'Silverline' protocol of flipping you through the normal means of bribery, flattery or manipulation it seems I have little choice but to take the 'direct' approach."
Tsunade suddenly pointed at Sakura and barked a command "Restrain her!"
Sakura was surprised Anko obeyed Tsunade blindly, she expect the volatile woman to flip the Hokage the finger and argue about being mistrusted. Apparently, her snake-whore sensei was more duty-bound than she let on.
Tsunade rummaged through her desk and took out two syringes. One had a bizarre looking, glowing liquid in it and the other a colorless liquid. The Hokage then walked over to her and shoved one of the needles into her shoulder, injecting her with the glowing liquid. "I've just injected you with a radioactive isotope; you are going to smear small bits of your blood in Danzou's compounds, the few you are familiar with."
Sakura's eyes widened and before she could comment Tsunade shoved the other needle and pumped the murky violet liquid into her blood stream as well. "Now I've injected you with a toxin of my own making. As I stated earlier I don't trust you, just consider this as insurance on my part, this will make make sure you don't go crawling to your master and ask for asylum as I am the only one who knows the cure to this."
Sakura cursed audibly, panic paralyzing her before the iron strong clutch of Tsunade's fingers around her neck brought her back to reality. "Now this is important, so you better listen carefully. You have exactly 48 hours to live before it dissolves completely in your blood stream and makes your heart explode. Don't think getting sick will help you because there are no symptoms or adverse effects; so don't bother trying to hint something is wrong with you to Danzou."
"It goes without saying that this little 'deal' remains between us, Sakura. I am the only one who has the antidote; your life is in my hands now. Come see me 0800 hours in two days for the administration of the cure; pending upon my satisfaction with your performance."
Sakura couldn't quite speak, too shocked, outraged and downright terrified. She panted heavily and shivered as she sat back down; feeling the little bits of control Kabuto's promise ensured her slip between her fingers once more as this new, far less favorable player entered the game of controlling her life.
"As for you Anko, you will keep an eye on Sakura and report any strange occurrences to me. In the meantime, continue training her with earnest so there are no suspicions of foul play on Danzou's part. You will also be assisting in the reconnaissance efforts into said facilities with your 'unique' set of abilities."
Sakura vaguely heard Tsunade speak to Anko. "Now get her out of my sights before she wets herself in my office. I've got lots of work to do!" She was then yanked harshly to her feet and ushered towards the door.
Sakura yelped, distracted by the colorful and vocal profanities of her alterative persona before Anko's fingers dug into her flesh near the point of breaking it; the snake jounin obviously just as afraid and angry as she, and that was the only silver lining in the whole situation if Sakura could even call it that.
Anko nearly threw her out of the room after opening the door. Sakura stumbled hard into the adjacent wall face and wrists first, vaguely hearing Tsunade speak to Anko through the ringing in her ears and pain in her head. "Oh? And Anko, I wasn't kidding when I said I wasn't sensei, this is your only chance to prove your loyalty and competence to me."
Sakura cried inwardly, outwardly trying to steel herself as the impending doom drew nearer as she heard the door slam shut. Anko's venom coated words promised the next couple of days would be painful. "C'mon you little bitch, I'll 'help' you train for the exams. This time I'll show you what 'real' training is – no more kiddie gloves…"
Sakura gulped and looked up, preparing to obey before she caught a glimpse at her nemesis, 'crimson eyes'; accompanied by no less than Densetsu no Jiraiya. The pair passed by them; Jiraiya and Anko exchanging a stiff nod whereas her former teammate offered her but a brief, icy glance, "Sakura."
A bitter blade of regret, jealousy and hatred burned through her and she leaned close enough to Naruto when he approached her so only he would hear her next words. "Do not act familiar with me. I won't be fooled like the others. I don't care how you good an actor you are, a monster is still a monster in my book and one day…everyone will know that."
Naruto's lips twitched faintly and his voice bled with a low timbre. It could've exasperation or perhaps amusement, she couldn't tell and when it came to him she always believed the worst. "I am not a monster, Sakura, but apparently I can't get that through your thick skull. So you can keep on shouting your bullshit accusations till you're out of breath. Nobody's gonna listen to a crazy-ass bitch who talks to herself, so why don't you fuck off and leave me alone, k?"
With that said he turned to leave, "You don't get to dismiss us like that! You're not the boss of us, you fucking bastard!" She grabbed his wrist, "You better watch your back, you cocky son of a bitch."
Naruto shrugged his arm and released his wrist, "I don't have time for your shit right now, Sakura. So if you still want to 'kill the monster' put your fists where your mouth is and fight me in the finals!"
Sakura glared at him as he walked away, sharing some soft words with his sensei that she noticed eyed her with disdain. The white haired man snorted to himself and then led her enemy into the Hokage's office.
"If you're done humiliating yourself, let's go," Anko hissed at her impatiently and grabbed a tuft of her hair. Sakura yelped, by the pain within was hollow in comparison to the impotent rage and helplessness she felt; the gap between her and 'crimson eyes' was only growing further and further and there seemed to be nothing she could do about it.
The door slipped open, Jiraiya stepping in first and throwing her a lazy salute. She rolled her eyes before she caught sight of the teenager that followed close behind him. Her eyes narrowed as she shifted in her seat. "He's got Kushina's nose and eye shape, but his face and coloration is Minato's…It's surprising the older ninja are so…'oblivious' to his pedigree. I wonder…"
"Oh? You must be Naruto…" Tsunade greeted the Jinchuuriki neutrally. She quirked her brow at his poorly hidden scowl and glaring eyes. "I'm Senju Tsunade, Godaime Hokage. I'm..." She felt her fists tighten and her left eyebrow ticked.
She uttered her next words in a deceptively calm down, though the gleam in her eyes pulsed with barely constrained impatience. "Is there something you want to say, kid? Cause' if you don't cut the crap…"
Her teammate gulped and quickly stood in front of Naruto. He waved his hands in a placating. "N-now wait a moment, T-Tsunade, c-calm down…Naruto's just…"
She shot Jiraiya a glare that shut him up, though by the look in his eyes and the way his eyes kept on travelling back and forth between her and Naruto she knew he was still nervous. "I don't mean to be rude, Tsunade…sama, but aren't you Ero-Kyoufu's teammate?"
She retorted sharply, cracking her knuckles lightly; the urge to bash something beginning to stir within her. She hadn't drunk sake in three days, she hadn't slept properly in five and his impertinence was annoying her. "I'd have thought when I introduced myself that was obvious, what are you getting at? We have things to discuss so get on with it – spit it out!"
He spoke in a flat tone, his eyes narrowed and voice low; almost conspiring and suspicious in its tone. "Well, to be honest, even though you look like you do in your pictures, you're way too young and good looking to be as old as godfather…are you sure you're Tsunade?"
The room fell silent, her brown eyes boring into his blue. Slowly her lips twitched when he didn't turn away. It was refreshing as it was upsetting, to have someone challenge her like that; unflinching and without hesitation. Even though he should know she could shatter him with a flick of her finger he stood steadfast; even daring to quick a brow questioningly at her.
Such impertinence, insolence and lack of tact and fear of death…he was definitely Kushina's son! Her shoulders shook as she sat up in her chair, "You betcha' I'm Tsunade, you little punk! I'm your Hokage so you better get your act together or you'll be still be a genin by the time your grandchildren graduate!"
The kid seemed conflicted at first but then his eyes gleamed with a vigor, "Like hell I will you da…ugh!" he started shouting before Jiraiya's fist smashed into his stomach, effectively silencing him.
Jiraiya kept the boy from falling to his knees by holding him by his overcoat. "Show some respect, Naruto! Tsunade is not only as strong as I am; she's also your Hokage, like it not! Stop embarrassing me, damn it! You can't go running your mouth like some snotty kid anymore!"
Tsunade quirked her brow at the debacle, her fury abated by the spectacle. She snorted; catching the gleam in the young teen's eyes and feeling for him. It wasn't long ago she was getting lectured; if less boisterously, by her sensei when she addressed her grand uncle.
"Tch, give it a rest, Jiraiya, I can take care of this punk myself if I feel the need to. Besides, he's just like we were back then, remember? Besides, he's got Kushina's infamous temper and big mouth; I learned to deal with her, I'll learn to deal with him."
She saw the kid freeze as if he had been punched again; gaping at her like she had grown a second head. She smirked wryly before a scowl replaced her expression as Jiraiya reminded her, "Actually, the way I remember it, you and Kushina used to shout, curse and call each other names like a pair of children all the time…"
Tsunade growled faintly, "Oi! Shut up! Why do you always have to spoil the moment! You stupid pervert!"
She smiled faintly as Jiraiya scowled and crossed his arms under his chest, before Naruto spoke up, a bit urgently, "Y-you knew my mom?!"
Tsunade grinned a bit, chuckling fondly as she remembered some good times from the past. "Of course I did, you're just as rude, loud and obnoxious as she was at your age!"
Naruto scowled at her, about to retort when she lifted her hand and waved it dismissingly; effectively shutting him up. "Now now, don't get me wrong, she was a friend and a wonderful woman. But she just had a gutsy, die hard attitude just like me. So don't get your panties in a twist kid – I meant that as a compliment."
The boy seemed placated but had more things he wanted to say, wanted to ask; but unlike his mother he seemed to have inherited at the very least learned a bit of restraint – good. "Now, as much as I love to reminisce, now isn't the time."
The serious tone she assumed seemed to make him more alert and attentive. She watched Jiraiya carefully; he seemed pleased; maybe even proud with the boy. "The reason I summoned you, to be frank is that I wanted to see how you were like, Naruto. Jiraiya's account of your childhood paints a picture that is disturbingly familiar with another person I once knew and not in a good way."
Naruto's eyebrows furrowed and his lips pursed, both confused and upset by her vague insinuation. The gleam in his eyes, that thirst for recognition and acknowledgment made her uneasy. But it was tempered by a gentleness and livelihood Orochimaru's eyes never did seem to contain – so for now, she too was placated.
Naruto cut into her thoughts, his eyes burning with a passionate flame. "I understand…Tsunad-Hokage-sama. I'm a container so I'm already potentially unstable with the bastard-fox in my head and with how my childhood was shit I know it looks bad. But that doesn't matter to me, I swear! Konoha is my home and I'd do anything for it and everyone in it! I'll do whatever it takes to prove it, I'll work harder, I'll get stronger and I won't be a burden!"
Tsunade sighed softly, the naïve and idealistic view of youth. She wondered if his zeal would hold once he saw the true darkness and ugliness of the ninja world. It was refreshing, maybe even touching to find ninja like Naruto, like she and Jiraiya once were in the cynic and disillusioned world she inhabited.
"Save me the speeches, kid. You ain't running for Hokage just quite yet. Tch, I'll take your word on it cause' Jiraiya vouches for you and you look and sound like you're a good kid. But, a word of advice from my vast experience…don't go running your mouth and making big promises you may not be able to fulfill – you'll only disappoint yourself and others in the long run."
Naruto beat Jiraiya to the punch and spoke up, "I'm not just full of it! I'll do whatever it takes! I'll even give my life for Konoha to protect everyone in Konoha – because becoming Hokage is my dream!"
Tsunade's breathing hitched faintly and her eyes widened. The thrice damned exclaim haunted her and she was silent for a long time as the specter images of Nawaki and Dan framed Naruto's face. She turned around in her seat to conceal her moist eyes. She faced the window and spoke in a semi-subdued manner as she waved her hand dismissively.
"I told you not to make stupid promises! Tch, get him out of here, Jiraiya! I'm busy and I've got paperwork to fill. Oh, and make sure you and Kakashi teach him well, we're going to need him next month…"
She heard muffled screams and shook her head. She peeked over her shoulder and glanced at Jiraiya, which had his hand firmly held over his student's mouth. She was surprised how passive her old teammate was; but she realized quickly just what he was up to: he wanted them to 'click' on their own.
She heard Jiraiya drag Naruto out of her new office. Her lips twisted into a forlorn, morose line, "We really are getting old, aren't we Sensei? Jiraiya's become as meddlesome as you were. I…even I- I'm beginning to understand what you and grandpa always said about how the young generation always surprised you and made things interesting…"
She then turned around and gazed at the shut door, "Minato, Kushina, your kid sure has grown into an interesting young man; just like Jiraiya said. Heh, something tells me he's about to drive me to an early grave, but at least this job'll never get boring! Now, all I need to do is figure out how to deal with Orochimaru…and how to get my hands on some fucking sake before I go crazy!"
(Later that day, Private and secluded Hospital room, Konohagakure)
He opened his eyes slowly, the first thing that filtered through his mind was: everything hurt. He pushed out a pained exhale and tried to sit up. He shut his eyes tightly, his body protesting at first before he willed it to obey and despite the vertigo he opened his eyes. "How long…have I been out?"
"Neji-kun, you're up! H-how do you feel?" he heard a worried, timid female voice speak beside him. He grit his teeth and opened his silver eyes slowly; peering towards its origin. "Tenten, you're ok. That's good; hmm…how long have I been out?"
His teammate bit her lips and his eyes narrowed as he pursed his lips. He coughed politely as his eyes narrowed a fraction, demanding an answer. "They've kept you heavily sedated, Neji. You've been out for several days since they had to remove bone fragments from your lungs and arm…it was pretty bad."
He said nothing but he felt his teeth grit, an angry tremor passing through his spine. He tightened his grip around the sheets covering him. But, despite his displeasure he asked the question that immediately rose in his mind. "So…how is…Lee?"
A second voice spoke up in the room, quiet and unsure; "I am…fine, thank you, Neji. How are you…?"
Neji's eyes flicked towards his right, catching sight of Lee sitting in a chair. His former teammate's whole upper body was bandaged but he was otherwise fine; a testament to Neji's restraint and control – otherwise he wouldn't be lying in a hospital – he would've been lying in the morgue. "What are you doing here, Lee?"
He frowned as Lee couldn't even look at him, his eyes narrowed and full of shame but he spoke firmly and loudly as he looked straight into Neji's eerie blank eyes. "N-Neji, I wanted to apolo…!"
Neji snorted and his lips twisted into a scowl. "Tell me you're joking when you actually think I care about your meaningless apology, Lee." His silver eyes speared the taller body, making him flinch and look even more uncomfortable. "I spared you from a painful loss and gave you a chance to back down, you chose to use a deadly kinjutsu on me, I think that clarifies what you think of me, Lee."
Lee's eyes widened and he spoke quickly, in a somewhat choked manner as he waved his hands in front of him. "W-wait! It wasn't like that! I only wanted…"
Neji's tone remained painfully calm and abusive as he continued. "Spare me your excuses, you crossed the line and there's no going back. Before my only concern was that you were so pathetic I couldn't rely on you in the field, now I can't trust you at home either. I will work with you if commanded to do so, but otherwise I want no more contact with you ever again. Now leave me."
Lee shook his head and took a step forwards. "N-no! I can't! We're friends! I-I made a mistake but I'll make it up to you! I'll fix it!"
"No Lee, this isn't something you can't just fix like some broken toy. Despite my reservations with your skills, I trusted you, cared for you as comrade. But you chose to disregard my advice, disrespect me personally due to jealousy and ultimately shut me up to fix your inferiority complex – no more."
Neji watched Lee take a step forward before Tenten rose and blocked his path. She opened her mouth, ready to intervene and try to mediate when the door opened and an old, cold-looking Hyuuga stepped into the room. The Hyuuga prodigy tensed as he saw it was his grandfather, Hyuuga Hisano, the former clan head. "Both of you children need to leave now, I have clan matters to discuss with Neji."
Neji nodded when he saw his fellow genin hesitate, signaling them to go. They still lingered before the elder's voice cracked like a whip and they scrambled out of the room, "That was not a request, now leave."
Neji kept his head bowed when his grandfather took the seat Tenten occupied just a moment earlier. Instead of a soothing and calming presence all he felt was oppression and anxiety. He spoke smoothly, though even an amateur Hyuuga could tell by his posture he was nervous. "Hisano-dono, to what do I owe the honor of your presence?"
Hisano spoke coolly but Neji dared not lift his gaze; his grandfather was a harsh and old fashioned noble; he didn't tolerate insolence or in this case an inferior looking into his eyes. "Grandson, despite Hiashi's impressive ability to conceal the knowledge of your budding skills it has come to my knowledge that you have self-taught yourself techniques no branch member should know; is that correct?"
"That is true, Hisano-dono, I have mastered the Hakkeshou Kaiten and Hakke Ryoukoushou Yonshou. I exercised caution and only used them to save my life when faced with a life and death situation."
Hisano's voice rose only slightly; its icy quality filling the Hyuuga with dread. "That is quite an interesting development, care to enlighten me on how, grandson?"
Neji shut his eyes grit his teeth preparing for the pain before the door opened. He held his breath, bracing himself when he heard a timid, feminine voice he did not expect, "G-grandfather, what are you doing here?"
He popped one eye open and glanced at the door way, watching his cousin, eyeing Hisano with honest surprise. He followed her gaze and didn't quite blame her considering Hisano and Neji were never close. "I have come to satisfy my curiosity over an enigma. Mainly, how Neji has managed to decipher the secrets behind two of main family secret techniques."
Hinata seemed to share his apprehension as she spoke up, in a slightly trembling tone, but behind it was a resolve as she took a step forward. "H-he isn't to blame! I-I am the one who taught him the basic moves when we trained together. If anyone is to blame, it is I…"
"You are lying, Hinata-hime, while it is commendable that you show loyalty towards your kin. As heiress you should learn that if you choose the path of deception you must learn how to do it properly; mainly the art of governing your emotions and tone."
Neji's eyes widened and snapped open when he saw Hinata straighten her shoulders and despite the fear in her posture and eyes she didn't back down. There was a fire in her eyes; one he had always belittled; now he couldn't help but be in awe – what he Hiashi and Naruto's influence done to her in only several short months. "No!" she nearly shouted, probably nervous as hell. "I-I'm not lying…I made sure to train in the open while Neji was around…so he could benefit from me and otou-san's training sessions."
That surprised Neji, had she really; he didn't detect deception in her words. It annoyed him to a degree, to know he was manipulated to a degree but his younger cousin; though it was more likely Hiashi, whom had vested interest in his growth was the true mastermind behind the ploy.
Hisano stood up swiftly and turned towards her, ignoring Neji much to the prodigy's relief. But he couldn't help but feel something bad was about to happen. "You what? You deliberately exposed our most intimate of secrets to one of the branch and you admit it with such candor? I had not come here initially to punish anyone, but now I believe that I may have a change of heart."
"H-Hinata? Are you mad? What are you doing?" Neji reeled, wondering where his timid and worthless young cousin had gone and when she was replaced by a bolder, slightly more assured version of herself. Hinata nodded her head and for a moment Neji thought Hisano might strike her but then a third figure stepped into the room and the tension grew exponentially.
It was Hiashi, and his glare matched his father's in intensity as he shut the door behind him and stepped in front of his daughter protectively. "Hinata, stand down, I will handle this."
Hinata nodded and moved to Neji's side, clutching his hand tightly and he couldn't help but smile – she was trembling just as much as he was. "Tch, now that's something you don't see every day. I can't believe little Hinata stood up to grandfather do me…maybe I'll blink and wake up from this surreal situation…"
"Hiashi, did you condone this 'exposure' of main family secrets? You have shamed me and pushed things enough with your leniency and refusal to brand one of your daughters; then you began an open policy – sending the branch into all branches of ANBU and more. What are you thinking?"
Hiashi snorted and crossed his arms, "Father, you forget your place. Do not talk down to me like I am a child. You are my advisor at most, and my subordinate at worst. I condoned Hinata training with Neji in the more intimate arts because he is her personal protector so he must be her equal if not superior. Also, I am considering sharing our knowledge with all the Hyuuga to strengthen our clan as a whole"
"You are making a mistake, Hiashi. Do not forget what history has taught us; the tragedy which brought about the first and last rebellion and the consequential birth of our 'cousin' clan, Uchiha when our blood mingled with the descendents of the sage 300 years ago. The seal and separation serve a purpose and you know it."
"The past is just that, the past, father. I once believed in the ways of our ancestors, but now I know they are obsolete and are degenerating with every passing generation. Hizashi was my equal and yet he never reached his full potential. Neji is the most naturally talented Hyuuga in a generation and you would have me block his path out of tradition?"
Neji noticed Hisano looked thoughtful, glimpsing at him and Hinata with narrowed eyes. The elder said nothing but he rubbed his chin and exhaled heavily before his uncle continued. "I have consulted with Godaime-sama when she summoned me to her office yesterday and she shares my suspicions that more and more stillborn children are being born due to our inner-breeding and marrying and our bloodline limit will dry out if we don't change."
Neji noticed Hisano's face hardened, the gleam in his eyes turning to a dangerous one. The atmosphere in the room shifted; turning very tense as Hiashi continued. "Furthermore, ever since I've started employing the branch members in the main Konoha forces, the relationships between us and the other clans and our standing in the village as a whole have risen. This new policy has filled up our coffers with more money…it is a good thing."
Hisano sighed heavily and folded his hands together. "No…it isn't. I know you, Hiashi. This is just how it starts Hiashi, leniency towards Neji today, tomorrow; the entire Branch house will wish the same. No. What you are doing now is a disservice to our ancestors. You may believe that some of this foolishness holds merit, and perhaps some few do. But you risk opening a pandora's box that can never again be closed by venturing into them..."
He turned his silver eyes towards his grandchildren. "I myself have allowed you to have this farce of two possible heiresses due to the grief of your late wife. But I see now that such leniency has clouded your judgment. No more. I am going to have you impeached and you know the others will back me up and restore the order of things in Hyuuga until Hanabi is ready to assume the leadership of the clan."
Hiashi blocked his father's path from leaving. "I'm sorry, father, I can't let you do that." Hiashi whispered inaudibly and struck his grandfather once with impeccable precision, right over the heart. Hisano's eyes widened as he convulsed and fell into Hiashi's arms as he gasped for air; the life bleeding out of his silver eyes.
Neji stood at awe and slight shame at the sudden look of grief and remorse on his uncle's faces. It dawned upon Neji that Hiashi must have expected something like this and had set the trap for Hisano all along; a scary thought if there ever was one.
Neji realized the monumental power play Hiashi had just exacted and it left him shocked as Hiashi slowly laid the old Hyuuga; his head bowed. There was a horrible silence; the sin of necessity no less a murder as Hiashi remained immobile.
Neji peered at his cousin who seemed just as thunderstruck. Hiashi spoke up, in a tone that was tense, yet commanding. "Your grandfather came here to restore the natural order, Neji. He used the seal on you and I intervened to stop him from killing you, it came down to blows - he struck me and I defended myself. Hinata you witnessed this turn of events and were shocked and appalled. Are we clear?"
Neji genin realized what Hiashi asked him and nodded solemnly; feeling his cousin mimic the gesture. Hisano was their blood, he was the patriarch but he refused to allow the clan to evolve and survive the changes required for its survival and the village at whole. He would've eventually sent the clan twenty years backwards and doom Hinata to the branch clan heartlessly in the name of tradition.
Besides, there was no lamenting the irreversible turn of events as now was the time for Hyuuga to close ranks and mitigate the potential damage to their unity and their reputation. Hiashi moved with expert knowledge; tailoring the room to seem as if a struggle occurred, tussling his hair; dishelving his robes.
Hiashi spoke firmly; his humanity melting back into his stony mask as he whispered a command to Hinata "Daughter, I need you to strike me, with Jyuuken, I want you to damage my left lung." His voice was urgent as he heard the voices outside.
Obviously the altercation had been heard and the authorities had been alerted. Neji blinked, watching his cousin's scared and trapped expression. He was sure she would fail but she shocked him by gulping and obeying after Hiashi called her name harshly and reminded her of her duty towards Neji, towards the clan as future heiress and him as her father. "Kami…now I know I've seen everything…H-hinata…"
Hiashi grimaced and stumbled back, kneeling beside his father's body and coughing blood. Neji watched the ANBU rush into the room, observing the scene. He felt mixed emotions as his uncle and cousin stood beside him; silent and wordless as ANBU analyzed the scene before they questioned them over the events.
The cover up of the heart attack due to the situation when he tried to stop Neji's murder was shaky but it would stick now that Hiashi's quick thinking added the assault charges. There was renowned bad blood between him and his father and the elders would have no choice but to accept Hisano's death with no proof to discredit the allegations that he struck and injured Hiashi.
But this was perhaps the prelude to a potentially dangerous situation within Hyuuga. The clash between revolution and tradition had begun and whether it would be blessed or would be damned – only time would tell.
Jutsu list:
Shoushagan no jutsu – Vanishing Facial copy technique – a ninjutsu based kinjutsu that allows the jutsu allows the user to assume his targets identity by removing said person's face and wearing it for his/her own