I do not own Naruto or Venom/Carnage
You asked for it. Here it is. VENOM! To all my readers thank you for your patience and understanding.
To Anon and the other anonymous reviewers. Thanks for your kind reviews. Sorry but this is the only way to contact you it seems. To all you guys please fix it so I can give you a proper reply. But most of all just this.
Thank you for taking the time to review.
As always thanks to my Beta's. Whitedragon17 and Psudocode Samurai. So without further ado. Here is chapter 12.
oOo
warmth it was warmer now
drowsing it stirred slightly
an ebony satellite
in the shadow of a dying sun
Chapter 12. Awakening
"Do it again! Do it again!" a childish squeal called momentarily breaking Shino's concentration as he stood watch.
Tilting his head slightly Shino turned his attention back to the campfire where Maya and the two children were being entertained by his father. Maya's arm was in a sling and each of the children sported fresh bandages. As his father made his Kikaichu perform tricks for the kids his cousin a medic nin discreetly bandaged their wounds while they were distracted.
A soft breathy sigh was the only indication that the wind had shifted again. For an instant he though he could smell burnt cloth and flesh and the stink of burning hair. Despite his upbringing he couldn't suppress the shiver that ran through his body. The last 48 hours seemed surreal in hindsight. But the bone deep ache in his body couldn't be dismissed so easily.
Once again the slightest jolt brought the memories crashing back into the forefront of his mind.
It had started out fairly well. Shino and Maya had shooed the kids down the path to Konoha without too much trouble. But just as the sun began to set it all went wrong.
It had begun as a hail of kunai that came raining down as just as they had began to settle down for the night. He could still hear it. The whining keen as a rain of razor edged steel came hammering down all around. Maya's anguished scream as one of the Kunai tore open her arm from elbow to wrist. The only reason the children hadn't been hurt worse was because he had thrown himself on top of them. His thick coat had blunted the hammer blows of the falling weapons.
The memory was a jagged shard in his heart. He could remember clearly how... how he had hesitated before moving to protect them.
And then. That nightmare cross country run. They had been hounded every step of the way. He had spent the lives of his Kikaichu like water to stem the tide of ninja following them. But it had been like pouring it onto sand. If they hadn't been so focused on taking them alive they would have been lost within hours. He had used every trick he knew and several he made up as he went along to keep them off their backs. Swarms of Kikaichu flew explosive tags into the heart of their pursuers. They felled trees and dug pits. Cast false trails and made themselves into decoys. Even as they were born they died minutes later, flying out his body.
To fight.
And die.
And still they had come. The entire time he had carried both children in his arms. Until his arms burned and he had to resort to tying them to his sides. His muscles screaming in agony, his entire world had been reduced to the gray edged tunnel of his vision and his resolve to keep moving.
But he had kept them safe.
Until they had herded the four of them into a thick stand of trees. In his exhausted state he hadn't been able to force a path through.
Stripped of his Kikaichu he had drawn a kunai and prepared to sell his life as dearly as he could, and took a defensive stance in front of Maya and her kids.
Laughing cruelly they stepped out into the wan morning light nearly a day and a half after the chase had begun. Now there were only 4 left. Every one was injured in some way but none was crippled in any appreciable fashion. Their eyes burned with hate. And around their foreheads of each was a hiate, the symbol of Amegakure etched into the metal. The same as that ninja that had attacked them at the base of the falls. They must have spotted him as he was leaving.
He was so tired he could hear his ears buzzing.
But it wasn't his ears.
Like a tidal wave of hate a black mass of Kikaichu fell on the four ninja the buzzing of their wings vibrating the air itself.
At long last he could relax.
At long last he had let himself fall.
When he had woken it was to his father's face. That had been a few minutes ago.
After checking to make sure his wounds were bandaged and taken care off he had excused himself and made his way to the edge of the firelight to stand watch. At least that's what he had told his father. In truth he found hard to be around even the members of his own clan.
The soft rustle of cloth and the crunch of breaking twigs announced the arrival of his father.
Shibi Aburame gazed down at his son from the corner of his eye. They hadn't spoken much yet but... He could no longer feel the presence of any Kikaichu from his son's body. From what the woman Maya had been able to tell him about their flight, his son had pushed himself to beyond the limits of his strength, and then pushed even farther. Only twice had he ever encountered an Aburame pushed so far and in each case their hive queens had survived.
But Shino was depleted, bereft of even that comfort.
Shino's last queen had died burrowing into the throat of one of the missing nin even as he tried kill Shino in a rare moment when he tried to sleep. The few eggs that had survived her passing had not hatched.
Placing one hand on his son's shoulder he gave it a firm squeeze. "You did well Shino."
"Did I?" Shino's voice was quiet, and lacking in that indescribable rhythm that so defined his usual tone.
"Yes."
"Father..."
"I know son."
"I failed them."
"No you didn't son. The Kikaichu are many things to our clan. Friends guardians, weapons... Tools. "
"They're more than that Father" Shino answered hotly in a rare display of emotion.
"Yes. But did you ever wonder why we face our enemies face to face when it would be much safer to hide and direct our battles from there?"
"I had considered it. There is no reason for us to show our faces to our enemies, we can fight as easily from the shadows as we can anywhere else. I simply assumed it was our way to not hide behind our Kikaichu."
"That is true. It is not our way to hide, but there is more to it than that."
"What?" Shino turned hopeful eyes towards his father. His glasses long since lost.
"There is the contract between us and the Kikaichu. We give them a home and food. They protect us. And we fight to protect them."
"I know that, but is that all?" Shino asked his expression bleak. "Did I fail them?"
"No you didn't, you did everything you could. Logically you have nothing to feel guilty about. But you do." It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
"Normally you would be older before we had this conversation. All members of our clan have this crucible. At one point or another we ask ourselves if its worth our Kikaichu dying by the thousands for us to fight."
"What is the answer Father?"
"Our contract with the Kikaichu though never stated compels us to fight alongside our partners. To fight with, and if need be die with them. It is this unspoken contract that binds together every part of our clan. To come back with them or... die beside them."
"Beside them." Shino whispered.
"After we get a night's rest you and two others will be heading back to the village with Maya and the.. what were the kids names again?" Shibi asked steering the conversation somewhere safer. In time Shino would come to his own answer, now that he had the missing pieces to his puzzle. But for now there was duty.
Shino opened his mouth before closing it again. Finally he shrugged in confusion.
"Never mind then. When I return I will speak to the elders." Shibi continued.
"Father?"
"You are going to need a new hive. I am going to recommend that your new hive be... the Destroyer Hive."
"What?" For once Shino's expressionless mask was shattered. Naked shock was visible on his face.
"We will speak again later. Get some rest Shino." Shibi kept his silence as he watched his son limp back to the campfire. It warmed his heart to see how the children and the woman's face lit up as he arrived. Turning away from the fire he began his own watch.
Duty.
There was always duty.
oOo
"Naruto you idiot! Be careful." Sakura's enraged scream cut across the forest clearing where the trio were training. They were practicing tree walking but with a twist. Now as each genin walked up and down the tree they dropped or threw a kunai up to their partner who was alternatively above or below them on the tree trunk. All three genin had a leaf held in place on their forehead. This was the third and final stage of the tree walking exercise. There were more complicated exercise's that could be done but this was generally considered the 'last' of the training exercises. Naruto had created 2 clones and Sasuke had created one. Sasuke was partnered with his own clone, while Sakura and Naruto each practiced with a Naruto clone.
Sighing once Kakashi held out his cup for Inari to fill, the medicine Naruto had bought helping recover his strength faster. Even as Inari refilled it from the thermos Tsunami had packed him he watched as Sakura threw a hail of kunai at the clone banishing it into a cloud of smoke. It was something like the 4th clone this morning. Sakura and oddly Inari seemed to get a great deal of enjoyment out of watching the kunai crash into the clone Naruto. With a weary sigh Naruto created another shadow clone who trudged over to the tree and began the exercise again with Sakura. Inari threw a thumbs up to Sakura who responded in kind.
Surprisingly or maybe unsurprisingly the trio had taken the news that Zabuza might be alive rather well. Well Naruto and Sasuke took it well and Sakura followed Sasuke's stoic example. It was one of the few times Kakashi had been glad of Sakura's fan girl tendencies.
Immediately after wards Sasuke and Naruto had demanded additional training with Sakura close behind. Something which had startled him, but it showed a positive trend in the girl.
oOo
"Shibuki. I'm sorry but could you repeat that?" Kurenai's soft voice was laced with confusion and wonder. Early that morning she had been summoned to Shibuki's home. When she entered his home she found him sitting upright a stern expression on his face. He was flanked by the elders of the village.
"As the leader of Takigakure I speak for my people. From this day forth Takigakure surrenders its Isolation from the Land of Fire, and its people. It is our wish to become an allied state with the land of fire. Kurenai of the leaf will you carry this scroll to the Sandaime Hokage that he may bear the wishes of our people to the Daimyo of your land." Shibuki held out a sealed scroll. "And this as proof of our word." In his other hand he held out the Hero Water.
"Shibuki are you aware of what you're saying?" Kurenai asked again.
"Yes I am."
Behind him one of the elders finally spoke his wizened face creasing along wrinkles and old scars. "We have discussed this in depth since last night my Lady. We have lived in isolation for far too long. To our contentment and to our sorrow. Our children grow trapped within the walls of these forests. And our enemies ever desire the power of the water our village protects. I have lived a long time young one, and I sense a storm coming. Change is in the wind. It is these times where friends and allies are the most precious of commodities."
"I agree." Shibuki agreed with his council, such as it was. "Without your strength our village would have been lost." As Kurenai began to protest he held up a hand to forestall her. "Yes we would have. But don't think we are doing this out of fear." For once Shibuki looked every inch the village leader he was. "Look around you Kurenai. At best our people simply survive alone in this village. I want them to prosper. It was fear of change that led us to isolate ourselves, as well as fear of losing our source of power. The Hero water, and the Hero Water has killed too many of my people. Perhaps in the hands of your people it can finally do more good than harm. So will you carry our pledge?"
" I would be honored." Reaching out she took both scroll and water from Shibuki.
Motioning with one hand he dismissed his council. Once they were gone he let out a relieved sigh and slumped to one side happily, a sheepish grin on his face. "Thank god. I'm glad that's over."
Smiling a bit Kurenai began "I liked your speech." her words drawing a startled gasp from the village leader. "You must have practiced a good bit."
"You could tell?" He spluttered out, surprise still written across his features.
Kurenai gave him a casual shrug. She gestured to the bottle and scroll "As a friend Shibuki. Are you sure about this. You will be changing a lot about your village."
"Yes I am."
"As you wish."
"Kurenai-San..." He began nervously.
"Yes?"
"Thank you. From me personally. Anything in my power to give is yours to ask." He finished nervously with a slight blush on his face.
Nodding graciously Kurenai stood. "Until we meet again, I'll hold your offer in trust. Farewell Shibuki of the Falls."
"Farewell Kurenai of the leaf." As he watched her go he couldn't help but feel a peculiar twinge. He couldn't help but admit the effect she had on him. And his people.
oOo
Hinata and Kiba were waiting for her outside semi-anxious expressions on their face. Standing behind the two was Shibi Shino's father. He was chatting easily with Hinata and Kiba. This small fact eased her worry immensely. Off to the side she saw three more members of the Aburame clan surrounded by a small crowd of villagers. For once the Aburame seemed perfectly at ease. Though I suppose they would feel at ease here of all places. They got word from Shino even faster than I'd hoped.
"Sensei! Shino's dad came to see if we were all right." Hinata called as Kurenai approached. "He says Shino got Maya and the kids to Konoha."
"Shibi" Kurenai called out a warm smile spreading across her face. As she got closer she held out her hands to Shibi who gave them a friendly squeeze. "How are you? Is Shino safe." She asked quickly. Over the years Naruto's and Shino's friendship had by necessity forged a close relationship between the two, considering the rather rambunctious nature of her son and his penchant for pranks. A relationship which had eventually blossomed into a real friendship between her and many members of the Aburame clan particularly Shino's parents.
"I'm fine. Shino is safe. He did run into some missing nin on his way back though."
"Is he OK" Kiba cut in his voice tense with worry.
"Kiba let him finish!" Kurenai admonished the dark haired boy.
"Sorry"
Nodding once in acknowledgment Shibi continued. "They wore hiate from Amegakure, from what Shino told me the missing nin you fought outside the village was from Amegakure as well. Shino held them off until we were able to relieve him. He and the civilians did receive some minor wounds but our medic nin patched them up. I split my team up and had Shino finish the mission you gave him. I hope you don't mind but I told him to wait in Konoha for you."
"That's fine thank you Shibi. But... you know the treaty. Why are you in the village?"
"Actually we approached as close as we dared and sent our Kikaichu in to scout. But Hinata here spotted them. She told the villagers and they invited us in. Your girls got a sharp eye Kurenai."
"That she does. We're very proud of her." Kurenai stated proudly.
Next to them Hinata blushed and clasped her hands together shyly. Kiba gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder. Akamaru barked an assent as well.
"Kiba Hinata we need to get going why don't you two go get our things." Kurenai shooed her two genin away.
"Shibi what aren't you telling me." She asked quietly. Her tone more worried than accusatory.
Motioning with his hand Shibi led Kurenai to the lake's edge. "It was bad Kurenai. Those missing nin hounded Shino almost from the moment he left with those kids. I honestly don't know how he did it but somehow Shino kept them safe and moving. In the process he depleted his Kikaichu to a level I never even imagined. Even his queens flew out to fight. When we caught up to him he had... he didn't even have a single Kikaichu left, he could barely stand. No explosive tags, shuriken. Nothing but a single Kunai and a few odds and ends. And still he stood ready to face 4 ninja."
Kurenai let out a long angry hiss.
"Indeed. We wiped their stain from existence. After that we patched up Shino and the others. The rest you know."
"What will happen with his hives. You said he depleted his entirely."
"I I'm sorry but it is a clan matter." He turned an apologetic look towards Kurenai who nodded in understanding. "But I will tell you what I can. We are going to replace his hives but he will be getting a new strain of Kikaichu. I can't tell you more than that. At least not right now."
"Thank you for giving me this much, Will he be Ok?"
"I believe so. Your support will be appreciated." Shibi continued his voice calmer now.
"You have it. But lets move on. By now my report should have reached the Hokage so he will be at least able to let Shino know of our status. As soon as Kiba and Hinata get back we can get going."
"I'll gather my team then. If you don't mind I will send them out to canvas our route home. I don't want any more surprises."
"Thank you Shibi. I doubt that there are any more but. Better safe than sorry."
The sound of footsteps announced the arrival of the two genin.
Kurenai turned to her two students. "Let's go home."
oOo
"Again!" Kakashi's harsh bark rang across the clearing. "Or you know take a break if your tired." he continued in his usual lazy drawl.
Groaning in pain Sasuke picked himself up. For the second day in a row they were continuing the tree walking exercise, Only now they were adding weights to the program except for Naruto who had apparently been wearing weights all along. But Naruto wore a different style of weight's than the lead filled sacks he and Sakura was wearing. With a muffled 'Oof' Sakura landed on the ground a few yards away, a few seconds later Naruto's shadow clone landed next to her and helped her sit up.
Flipping himself up back onto his feet he looked over to where Naruto was practicing. Two day's and he hasn't fallen once. How much chakra does he have?
"Sakura come here for a sec." Kakashi called.
Ignoring Sakura for the moment he looked up to the tree he was practicing on. Unsurprisingly his clone had dispelled the second he had hit the ground. Putting his hands together he tried to make another clone but instead dropped to his knees as a wave of exhaustion hit him.
He gave himself a shake and stood up again.
"Aaaaahhh! Oww! Why would anyone put a rock there?" Naruto's pained groans came as a pleasant surprise to Sasuke. Guess his chakra isn't bottomless after all. Turning he spotted Naruto groaning on the ground rubbing his back.
"Geez I must have fallen like 10 times already and I didn't whine like that." Sakura noted. She was sitting next to Kakashi drinking the same herbal tea he was drinking. "Eeww. Do I really have to drink this Kakashi-Sensei?"
"Yes It will help you get your chakra back faster. You don't have as much stamina as those two and I don't want you working yourself to exhaustion. Besides who's going to fight while Naruto's whining?"
"Well I suppose your right." She noted smugly. "How much of this stuff did Naruto buy?" She wrinkled her nose as she looked down at her cup. "He keeps going back to town for more."
"Actually I heard he met some girl in town." Kakashi commented gleefully.
"REALLY?" Sakura's eye's sparkled with mischief. She loved gossip and this was interesting. With any luck she'd be able to to hang this over Naruto's head. And maybe Ino's as well. Ino loved gossip as much as she did if not more.
The two put their heads together conversing happily.
"Oww." Naruto groaned, he had landed spine first onto a fist sized rock. He probably should have checked the ground for rocks and stuff like Sakura and Sasuke had.
"Here." A hand reached down and helped him up.
"Oh hey Sasuke."
"Naruto. Those weights tell me about them." Sasuke pointed with one finger towards the cloth weights Naruto wore around his legs.
"What about my weights?"
"You're a lot stronger than you look. I knocked over your pack in our room, it weighs a ton. Yet you carry it around easily. Is that because you've been training with weights?"
"I guess so. I've been wearing these for years. So I really don't notice them anymore."
"Can I try them?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Kakashi-Sensei made these just for me. I think he said that each set reacts to? To?" Naruto's face scrunched up as he tried to remember.
"To each person's chakra?" Sasuke hazarded a guess.
"Yeah that's it." Naruto smiled as Sasuke got it in one. "Kakashi said that if someone else wears them they could get hurt."
"That's correct Naruto." Kakashi's lazy drawl came from just behind them. Turning around the two spotted Kakashi and Sakura walking up behind them. "Sit down you three. I'll give you a quick class." Although he was limping slightly he was well on his way to recovery His Chakra was mostly recovered and his wounds were healing quickly.
"Training weights or weight seals that are used for training actually consist of 3 separate seals. The first is a simple seal that uses chakra to increase the weight and density of the object on which its drawn. The second is rather more complex. It is activated by the chakra signature of whomever uses it. Once active it distributes that weight evenly over the users body. The third is the most complex of all and requires the first 2 to be active. This is the one that is individually coded to a specific person, and must be activated by the person who is going to use the weight seals. It keeps the weight from affecting that person's organs. So it doesn't crush your organs to paste." He finished evilly drawing a shiver from Sakura and Naruto.
"Sensei do you use them?" Sakura asked. The trio were seated in their usual formation. Sakura in the middle with Naruto and Sasuke flanking her on each side.
"Yes. But I use light ones. They're more to keep my stamina from dropping than anything else. They cut back on the amount of training I have to do to maintain my physique. Naruto uses Heavy Seals meant for strength and speed training."
"Sensei what kind of drawbacks do these things have?" Sasuke asked casually.
Reaching up with one hand Kakashi scratched his cheek. "Well you have to start light. And the effects take years to truly manifest. There are several short term benefits, but for the maximum effect they need to be worn over a period of several years. As your bodies grow they'll adapt to the increased weight making you stronger and faster, your reflexes will also improve accordingly. But there are some side effects. Your overall chakra levels will also drop by a noticeable amount."
"Why" Sasuke's voice was a bit more serious now.
"Your body must devote a larger amount of chakra than normal to maintain the skeletal and muscular strength necessary to even move."
"So if you take them off does that mean your chakra will go up again?" Sakura asked curiously even as she took the opportunity to scooch a little closer to Sasuke.
"Yes but not to the levels you would have had normally. Generally training like this is only used by Ninja with very high levels of chakra. Or very low levels of chakra."
"Oh." Sakura moaned in disappointment
"Don't worry about it too much Sakura. Ninja place too much emphasis on chakra levels. The best Ninja know to use their jutsu's effectively. Remember Kids one well place jutsu is infinitely more effective than a hundred thrown around randomly."
Sasuke sat quietly mulling over what Kakashi-Sensei had just told them. I won't be fighting Itachi for years to come. Is it worth lowering my chakra levels in order to have an advantage in speed and strength.
"You know most battles between Doujutsu users favor the one who is faster in his execution of jutsu and can dodge the best." Kakashi commented blandly as he pulled out his book and began to read.
"huh?" "What?" Naruto and Sakura commented intelligibly.
"Grab some food and get some rest. We'll get started again in an hour or two." Kakashi called walking off with his book.
Sakura and Naruto headed off to the lunch basket that Tsunami had provided for them. Sasuke stayed behind a moment to think over Kakashi's words before moving on to join his team.
oOo
"Mom I'm going now." Ino called as she stepped out of the store.
"Say hi to Asuma and the boys." Her mother called back cheerfully as she went back to tending the flowers in the shop.
Giving herself a quick once over to make sure she had all her things Ino then checked her hair in the window. "Looking good." She fluffed her hair once before turning around. She and her team were picking up a few C Rank missions before training. "Oh crap! I forgot to feed my Kikaichu!" Skipping around the corner of the store she hurried towards the back of the store where her hive was. She usually fed them right after she gathered them up in the morning, but she was thinking about that new dress she wanted and...
Coming around the corner she spotted someone in a long gray coat crouched by the hive. An Aburame? "Can I help you." She called out in a ringing voice one hand on her hip. Aburame or no these were her bugs. Err Kikaichu. Shino had occasionally dropped hints that some members of his clan had not been happy about him giving her these Kikaichu as a present. So she was geared up for a confrontation.
"Ino." Shino's voice was soft as he stood up and faced his friend.
"SHINO! Oh my god. When did you get back?" Ino cried out happily as she dashed forward and threw her arms around her friend, pulling him into a close hug. For a moment she let herself enjoy the sensation of holding him close. Shino disliked physical contact. Shino pulled away first. Pushing her to arms length he took a step back.
"So tell me how did your mission go? Did anything cool happen?" She rattled off a few question but Shino stayed silent.
"Shino what's wrong?" Ino was used to his stoicism but this was odd even for him. She looked up into his face searching for clues.
"I. Nothing." Turning he tried to go around Ino but she put her hand on his arm stopping him.
"Shino what's going on. Talk to me."
"I'm sorry Ino. But I don't feel like talking."
"Oh. Do you mind If I keep you company?"
"No."
Together the two leaned against the wall of the Yamanaka Flower shop. A comfortable silence between them. For the moment Ino forgot about her team and training, this is where she needed to be.
"Ino. Is intending to do something as bad as actually doing it?" He asked quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind."
Despite her bubble headed personality there was a very bright and engaged mind behind Ino's bright blue eyes. Something happened on his mission. He did something he's ashamed of or at least he thinks he did. Or he let something happen.
"Shino do you remember the talk we had with Naruto a few years ago? The day he was so sad my dad went over to talk to him. Do you remember we went over to try and cheer him up."
"Yes. He asked us if we would still be his friends even if he did something horrible, was something monstrous."
"Do you remember what we told him."
"Forever and ever my friend." Shino recited dredging up the words from memory.
Ino reached down and intertwined her fingers together with his, pulling herself closer to him. She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I don't know what happened Shino, and I won't ask. But Shino?"
"Hmm?"
"Forever and ever my friend."
oOo
"Well were going." Tazuna hugged Tsunami and ruffled Inari's hair.
"Good luck you four." Tsunami handed Naruto 4 bento's as he walked past her.
Sakura waved from the kitchen table where she was eating breakfast. She had recently had a stern talking to about her diet from Kakashi and Tsunami. Tsunami had noticed she had been eating less than usual. But it was mostly because she had been taking supplements to restore her chakra after training. Still it had been cause for concern and Kakashi had cut back on her training a bit... After Tsunami gave HIM a stern talking to.
But today was the second day that Tazuna had been working on the bridge. Today Sakura had been elected to stay behind and protect Tsunami and Inari. It was a calculated risk leaving one genin behind to protect them because while Sakura could handle run of the mill thugs and bandits that Gato might send, if Zabuza came personally she would be horrifically outclassed. Then again all three genin together couldn't have stopped Zabuza.
But one thing both Kakashi and Tazuna agreed on was that Gato wouldn't give up even if Zabuza was dead. This more than anything was the reason one of the genin would stay behind to guard Tsunami and her son.
Yesterday it had been Naruto's turn to guard Tsunami and Inari. For now all 4 men/boys were off to work, presumably whistling a happy tune as they walked off with pickaxes slung over their shoulders.
oOo
As they walked the mile or two to the bridge the early morning fog grew thicker and thicker until they walked in a gray tinged landscape that only grew dimmer and dimmer as they got closer to the bridge.
Raising one hand to stop the group Kakashi stretched out his senses and briefly uncovered his Sharingan eye. Both his senses and his eye cut through the fog easily. This is a natural fog. Good. Still these are ideal conditions for Zabuza to attack. If there's going to be an attack it will be today.
"Naruto Sasuke be on alert." He instructed them before continuing forward his sandal-ed feet crunching on the damp gravel.
Finally after a few more minutes of walking they arrived on the vast length of the unfinished stone bridge. Naruto looked around. Whole sections were nothing but damp wood planks laid over stone pylons. From what Sasuke had told him yesterday Tazuna had spent the entire day surveying the bridge, and taking measurements. Today promised more of the same. Only after Tazuna had all the information he needed would the bridge building begin in earnest.
Pulling out some instruments Tazuna began his measurements and surveying.
Taking up guard positions around him the three ninja's settled in for that most ancient of military endeavors.
Waiting.
oOo
"Sakura Inari. Lets go we need to get some more groceries." Tsunami called out as she gathered up her shopping bags. A thunderous shaking from the stairs heralded the arrival of her son. Sakura on the other hand moved quietly enough as to be unnoticed popping up at her elbow, startling her.
"Sorry Tsunami." Sakura squeaked out. "And sorry about the groceries I know we've been eating a lot."
"It's fine Sakura. You're sensei's been giving me money for food. And truth be told it's been nice having so much company. Now come on lets get going. If we don't get to the market early all the good things will be gone."
"Let's go. Come on Sakura!" Inari shouted happily as he dragged a smiling Sakura out of the house.
oOo
"He's here." Kakashi's head jerked up as he felt the sudden icy chill of Zabuza's chakra flowing from the far end of the bridge. "Naruto Sasuke! Protect Tazuna He's here!" He shouted and jumped forward towards the direction of Zabuza's chakra, drawing kunai's and uncovering his Sharingan in the same movement.
At his shout Naruto grabbed Tazuna threw him on the ground between him and Sasuke.
Landing on the slick stone of the bridge Kakashi's Sharingan cut straight through the fog and highlighted a figure approaching at high speed. It was Zabuza.
As he began to move his hands into a jutsu the water between him and his team exploded up into the air. A sheet of water sprayed up into the air before freezing in place to form a huge wall of ice cutting him off from Naruto and the others.
"Two steps ahead Kakashi!" Zabuza shouted as he brought his sword down crashing onto where an instant before Kakashi had been standing.
On the other side of the Ice wall a masked figure slid out from within the ice wall. In each hand long spikes of ice glittered in the morning light.
oOo
"Sakura, Sakura lets go get some fish!" Inari tugged on Sakura's hand while the two waited for Tsunami to finish haggling with a stall keeper over some vegetables.
"Tsunami. Me and Inari are going to get some fish. We'll be right back OK." Sakura called over her shoulder as she followed Inari.
"Got it." Tsunami waved a hand absentmindedly as the two walked away. Behind them dark shapes moved through the crowd light glinting off sharpened blades.
oOo
Dodging another spray of ice crystals Sasuke grabbed Tazuna and hoisted the old man over a shoulder. Just seconds ago a shard of ice had buried itself in Tazuna's leg knocking the old man to his knees.
"I'm fine! I'm fine! It just surprised me let's Go!" Tazuna shouted as he jumped off Sasuke's back and lurched off with Sasuke right behind him.
"Naruto! Keep him off our back." Sasuke shouted back to the blonde haired teen who was currently doing his best to distract the masked ninja.
"Got it!" Naruto shouted. Jumping onto the sides of the bridge he dug into his pouch for some explosive tags. On the other side of the thick ice flashes of light and thunderous impacts could be seen and felt. Wrapping three tags around three kunai he sent them flashing towards the wall of ice. Three senbon flew out of the ice wall and intercepted them in mid air knocking them out and away to detonate harmlessly over the river.
Ears ringing from the blast Naruto tried to focus on the ninja in the ice wall. Since the fight had started his figure had been flickering from one spot to another within the wall. A sudden splash of blood on the other side of the wall painted the ice red in a long narrow streak. But he couldn't spot the ninja.
"Crap!" Sasuke shouted as a series of rectangular sheets of ice appeared in front of him and Tazuna. In each one the ninja they had been fighting appeared. In each hand was the steely glint of senbon needless. "Oh no!" Pushing himself to move as fast as he could he pushed Tazuna out of the way just as the senbon's flashed into the air.
A flash of brilliant pain was all he felt.
oOo
A scream split the morning air as Sakura and Inari packed up the fish they had just bought. "Let me go!" it was a woman's scream, distorted by fear and pain.
"MOM!" Inari shouted as he dropped the food and tore off into the crowd. Pushing past everyone he burst into a small circle of open space. "MOM!"
4 men stood in a rough circle around Tsunami. All were big muscled men with scarred hands and surly demeanor's. They were some of Gato's enforcers and all four were armed with blades of some kind.
"Your coming with us." The biggest ground out. "Gato want's to talk to you."
"Let me go!" Tsunami shouted as she tried to push her way past them but two of them held her fast. "Somebody help me!" She shouted desperately. But everyone around them looked away or walked away.
"Mom!" Inari shouted and tried to push his way towards his mother but was knocked away.
"Take the brat too." The leader snarled as he yanked Tsunami away.
"THAT IS IT!" a piercing banshee scream whipped across market. Two of Gato's thug's fell to the ground kunai and shuriken embedded in their arms.
"Where did that come from!" the leader grunted out as two of his men fell to the ground, his grip tightening on Tsunami arm causing her to shriek in pain.
"UP HERE!" He looked up just in time for Sakura's heel to crash into the bridge of his nose shattering it in a spray of blood. Sakura drove him to the ground with the full weight of her body where his skull smashed into the stone of the street like a dropped melon.
The last man standing took in the pink haired girl and made a decision. He ran. "I'll be back" He shouted over as his shoulder. Plowing through the crowd he was soon gone. The two whom Sakura had wounded quickly followed suit. Their leader looked up into the sky his eyes blank and unfocused, a pool of blood spreading out from his body.
"Mom! Inari jumped into his mother's arms where she held him tightly. "It's all right sweety. It's all right." She murmured into his hair.
"Tsunami we need to get back to the house." Sakura said gently but as firmly as possible.
When Inari turned to look at her his eyes were still wide with fright. "NO! We need to run. We can't fight Gato. That's how Papa!" With a heartbroken wail he buried his face in his mother's chest and began to cry in earnest. Around them the villagers turned away seeking to distance themselves from the trio.
oOo
Gasping for breath Kakashi dodged another blow from Zabuza's huge sword. He was bleeding from several wounds notably a long tear in his left arm. Zabuza was only marginally better off but he was still relatively fresh. Since the fight Zabuza had concentrated all his effort on preventing Kakashi from using Jutsu's this also prevented him from using jutsu's as well but in close range combat his long blade was giving him a steady advantage. Zabuza was stronger but Kakashi was faster. Then again Zabuza's blade went a long way towards negating that advantage.
Damn at this rate I'm going to lose. Ducking another swing he slammed back first into the ice wall. Pulling out yet another kunai he hoped to add it to the collection Zabuza already had embedded in his skin. The sound of footsteps stopped both of them in their tracks.
Behind them on the far edge of the unfinished bridge a large group of armed men were climbing out of a barge. At their head was a short pudgy man in an expensive looking black suit. In one hand he held an equally expensive looking cane.
"DAMN IT!" Zabuza snarled as he saw his employer step on the bridge.
"Well now this changes everything doesn't it." Smirking under his mask Kakashi jumped straight up and sent a kunai flashing towards the man who was most certainly Gato. If he could kill him Zabuza would leave.
Only the exceptional length of his sword allowed Zabuza to knock the Kunai out of the air. Damn that arrogant bastard! If he gets himself killed... Only one thing left to do then. Putting his fingers to his lips and jumping back he whistled a long loud note. Almost immediately the wall of ice came splashing down as it melted flooding the bridge in ice cold ankle deep water.
A rectangular ice mirror appeared just behind him, and out of it stepped the masked ninja.
"Yes master." He called his voice soft.
"Get that fool out of here!" Zabuza gestured behind him towards Gato.
"At once." Stepping back into the mirror the ninja disappeared.
"Kakashi!" Naruto shouted as he ran to take a place beside his uncle. Far behind him a wounded Sasuke leaned against Tazuna. The two made their way towards Naruto as best they could.
"Naruto stay behind me!" Kakashi shouted back.
Just in front of Gato another ice mirror appeared. Stepping out of the mirror the ninja kept his gaze towards Zabuza. "Gato-san you must leave this area we can't guarantee your safety." He called over his shoulder before turning forward again to make sure nothing or nobody sneaked up on them.
"That won't be necessary." Gato drawled out. In the same instant he pulled out a knife from his coat and drove it into the back of the masked ninja.
Gasping in pain the masked ninja dropped to his knees where he stood his arms falling limply to his side.
"Arrogant Whelp!" Gato shouted as he viciously lashed out with his foot catching the ninja in the side knocking him to the ground. The strings that held his mask to his face broke with an audible snap and the mask fell from his face. Spinning it landed on the ground several feet away where it spun for a few agonizing seconds before finally coming to rest.
But for Naruto his eyes could only see one thing.
"Haku" He whispered his voice shaking with pain and confusion. Staggering forward he held out one hand to his friend, as if by calling her he could magically fix her. "Haku."
On the ground in front of Gato Haku also stretched her hand out. Vision fading she held out her arm as far as she could. In her mind Zabuza's face and Naruto's floated side by side, ringed in a halo of rose colored memories.
Zabuza stood rooted to the ground shaking with emotion. Rage or sadness it was impossible to tell. The red pearl on his sword shaking as if from the wind.
Roaring with laughter Gato pointed towards Haku's body. "Demon of the Mist. HA! Give him back his trash boys." Chuckling darkly one of the men next to Gato a big hulking brute with arms like tree trunks stepped forward and picked up Haku. Hefting her body in one huge hand he stepped forward and threw her towards Zabuza.
Landing on the ground tore an anguished scream from her as she landed just to the left of Zabuza who stood motionless beside her body.
"Haku?" Naruto croaked out as he stepped closer, but she lay still on the wet stone of the bridge.
"HAKU!" he called out even more desperately. "HAKU! HAKU!"
"Leave her boy." Zabuza voice cut across his cries like a whip crack. "Now isn't the time for tears."
"What?" Naruto's voice nearly cracked in despair. "Don't you care about her AT ALL!" He screamed at the motionless Zabuza.
"Yes. But now. Now is a killing time." Zabuza whispered his voice the harsh cough of a wounded lion. Holding his blade out he pointed it at Gato.
"OI! DEMON I'm afraid Your services are no longer required." Gato cackled in self satisfying mirth. Beside him his thugs added their own braying laughter to his. "I've decided ill take those ninja's heads myself. And the bounty on yours as well."
Naruto's scarlet eyed gaze focused on Gato. Through a red tunnel of hate he thought he heard the laughter of something vast and powerful. A presence he was only barely aware of.
Opening his mouth Naruto screamed. It was the scream of a waking god. The heartbroken wail of childless mother. The roar of a titan's fury. The keening birth cry of something not meant for this mortal plane.
Blood red chakra exploded from his pores. His clothes whipped wildly around his body. The very air seethed with a raw red fury. And on his chest the black pearl began to wildly shake and vibrate. Slowly at first then faster and faster cracks appeared on its slick surface. At the heart of a maelstrom of rage and chakra stood Naruto. With a final explosive crack the pearl on his chest exploded. A deep blue liquid so dark it was almost black sprayed out onto his chest. Seemingly gaining mass from the raging inferno around it, it spread over Naruto like a nightmare torn from an insane sleeper's mind. It wrapped itself around his left arm and chest and covered half his face.
Red chakra continued to boil around Naruto forming a red cloak around his body. Choking his scream off Naruto turned his gaze towards Gato. One eye scarlet and vertically slitted the other a blank half moon in a sea of black. Half his jaw human with only sharpened canines to mark its difference from the human norm, its other half filled with row upon row of needle pointed teeth. His right hand clawed but human, his left a writhing mass of black tentacles. Half demon and half something else, all covered in a red cloak of pulsing energy.
And now old strength and new rage walked the land once more. Purpose given form. Poison to its enemies.
Venom.
oOo
AN: Thanks to my Beta's Whitedragon17 and Psudocode Samurai, without whose help and inspiration this story would never have gotten off the ground. Both are amazing authors and I highly recommend all of their fics. And thanks to all my reviewers.
AAN: If you think I made a mistake or have a suggestion or an idea, Please PM me or leave it in a review.