Chapter 42 Reunion
The group of Leaf ninja refugees moved into the center of Nysa, the new arrivals looked at Naruto and Sakura with surprise eyes. Naruto and Sakura where too clean they weren't covered in dirt or had bags under their eyes. They were clean, their cloths looked as if they were either brand new and freshly washed. They also seamed well feed and it didn't seem that worried about a demon coming out to get them. Hana Inuzuka hand moved toward her ninja tools as they headed down the cobblestone road toward the T juncture in the road where the main street meet the road that ran around the lake.
"You must be tired." inquired Sakura
"We are good." said Anko who was also concerned but for her own reason, she finally decided to give voice to her concerns. "How come you didn't ask any of us to touch the bronze blade, we could be demons?"
"You're not." answered Naruto "I can see through their illusive Justus and so."
"Kakashi did say something about that." answered Guy as Naruto and Sakura both stopped in their tracks and looked at him.
"You have seen Kakashi-sensie?" inquired Naruto as Guy nodded his head.
"He is the only reason I got out of the Leaf, he made a deal with me to surrender my location in the basement of the hospital and in return I got to leave the village." explained Guy, suddenly Guy slammed his fist into his palm in anger. "I had to leave so much behind, including Lee."
"With his medical condition, he would be died in a few days in the field." stated Sakura as she tried to reassure Guy. "If dirt or something else got into the IV tubes that was used to feed him he would have come down with an infection and died. I hate to say it but it may have been for the best."
"The best?" inquired Anko as she studied Sakura with accusing eyes.
"He would have died, so your choices where to either kill him yourself or leave him to be turned." Stated Naruto as he came to Sakura's defense before looking at Guy. "He was basically a son to you, would you have been able to do it?"
"No…I don't think I could put out his flame, not without him telling me to do so." admitted Guy "I know others have done that, but I don't think I would be able too, even so I fear what I doomed him to become."
"We can't worry about that right now, we are going to go to our hide out soon and we have no idea when we will be able to get supplies so if you need or see anything you want tell us and we can grab it before we leave." explained Sakura
"We need food, water, medicine and anything else we need to live in the woods." stated Yoshino
"We will not be living in the woods, there is a nearby abounded Sound base we are using totally underground." explained Naruto "We have power, fresh water and we found warehouses full of food that will last us a couple of months with ease."
"It must have a broadcast system, since that is how you contacted us." stated Yoshino "How secure is it?"
"It is secure." said a new voice as Yoshino and Shikaku Nara turned to their right to see their son coming out of one of the doors to a shop. Both parents who were top of their field of military planning forgot all their training to worry that it could be a trap and instead rushed forward and embraced their lost son. Yoshino a normally overbearing woman was in tears as she wrapped her hands around her son holding him tight as tears ran down her dirty face leaving clear marks of the path they took. His father also embraced and for a moment everyone was smiling, then Hana's head snapped away as she saw her brother walking toward her.
"Hana, so you are still human good." said Kiba with a smile as he pulled out a bronze kunai, one that Tenten had made to show that he was still human. With that the two siblings embraced, by now others were coming out of multiple stores in pairs or just themselves. Tenten and Ino came out of a bridal shop causing Ino's father eyes to widen before he rushed over and embraced his daughter.
"Why are you in a bridal shop?" inquired Inoichi as Ino smiled before shaking her head.
"No need to worry Dad, it's Tenten not me." said Ino as the two of them embraced each other again, Ino crying for joy as she had her one living parent back.
"Where is Hinata?" inquired Hanabi as she turned on Naruto and Sakura. "All you said is that it is complex."
Every one of those who have been at the location looked at each other as if deciding what to say.
"Well, after we talked Hinata came out that she loved me and she asked me out." explained Naruto as he lowered his head. "I turned her down, explaining that I am dating Sakura-chan and she didn't take it well. She tried to kill herself."
"I see." said Hanabi "Suicide is something I understand, we have all seen that before what makes it so complicated?"
"She did it in a way that would have killed her and there was no human way we could save her." explained Sakura as everyone looked at her, as she said human. "However the demons left a plant here that turns people into demons, we use it to heal her."
Hanabi and the other new comers looked at Sakura with eyes that said one of two things, either they couldn't believe she and the others had done it or they hated them for doing it.
"So, you turned my sister into a demon?" inquired Hanabi
"Yes." confirmed Naruto "It was either that or let her die."
"Then you should have let her die." stated Hanabi "Dyeing as a human is better than living as a demon."
"Maybe." admitted Naruto "However since you were not here to make the call, we left it in Neji's hand since he is your cousin and this is the course he picked."
"It did give us a lot of information and may be helpful in finding both a cure to the flu and maybe a way to turn back people into humans." explained Sakura with a straight face. In truth it did help a little with allowing her to see someone turn and get samples of the liquid. Maybe if Hinata hadn't turned into a kitsune and she had gotten samples from more different types of demons which would have given her more sample points to see how demons lived through the flu.
"Do you have her under guard in your base?" inquired Hanabi
"In a way, she is trapped it takes 3 access codes to do anything and she and Samui don't have any." explained Shikamaru "Why don't you get supplies and we will head there."
Down in the base, Hinata stood before Samui both where in their new demon forms. Hinata had quickly threw on a white shirt and black pants. The pants where a small issue considering they were now slightly too short for her and they lacked a hole for her tail, the shirt was also tighter than normal to the point it was skin tight and stopped a good inch from where her pants started.
"I wouldn't have been allowed to go out in public with cloths this risky." Stated Hinata as Samui raised an eyebrow as best she could considering she had almost no hair and her eyebrows where actually multiple short colored spikes.
"You have lived a very isolated life haven't you?" inquired Samui "That really isn't that risky but never mind we have so much to talk about."
"What?" inquired Hinata
"You want your Naruto to be with you and I want out of here, we can work together to make that happen." Said Samui as she studied the younger demon. "We both want to get to the people we love, to make them like us so that they can be with us. The only way that will happen is if we work together."
"What do you recommend?" inquired Hinata
"Our first goal is to get out of here, if we can knock everyone out while doing so all well and good we can turn them all…"
"No." snapped Hinata with force as she showed her teeth. "Not Sakura, we will not turn the pink hair bitch, let her die either by our hands or by the flu. Either way, I don't care."
"As you wish." answered Samui as she went on from where she had planned. "I would try to cut through the rock and swim out but I don't know deep we are under ground and it would flood the base and kill everyone."
"We are not doing that." snapped Hinata
"No, Karui is the only teammate I have left so I want her alive." said Samui "So we need to go out the way we came in, we need to open those doors."
"Simple we use some powerful Justus and bust them open." stated Hinata as Samui shook her head.
"No, maybe you didn't notice but I did those doors are designed to stop all but the most powerful of Justus and if we use them then all the humans will know what we are up to and stop us." stated Samui "So we need to do one of two things, either we need to get access codes to open the doors or we need to find a way to knock all the humans out at once so we can open the door without them getting in the way."
"I don't really know how we can do that?" inquired Hinata as she tried to think of a way to knock out all her friends at once. "A gas?"
"Would take us out as well, and they that and the water systems guarded we can't get to them." stated Samui "Food is also out unless they all eat the same thing at the same time. So we need to find out everyone access code, you know them everyone has a certain set of numbers that they like to use for codes and the like. Things like Birthdays, lucky numbers and others you must know these things."
"Well I know Naruto-kun has used simple codes like 1,2,3,4,5 in the past but as for the others I can't really say." explained Hinata as Samui glared at the new kitsune.
"You must know things about your two teammates the dog boy and the bug man." Stated Samui "I know the numbers Karui uses and if you know Naruto's number and one other we can get out."
"Sorry, I don't." answered Hinata "I know their birthdays but we were trained not to use our birthdays for codes."
"She was too focused on her man to take note of anything else." thought Samui as she put on a smile.
"Well then we need to find out a way to open those doors, we have two likely codes and we need another one." Stated Samui "So keep your eyes and your ears open and see if we can find another access code."
"What about ours?" inquired Hinata
"Well they have already removed mine and yours is likely gone as well." explained Samui "We need to gather intelligence, so do you want to work with me to get what we both want?"
"Alright, let's do this." confirmed Hinata
On the surface, they were busy gathering up supplies before heading to the base, while everyone was keeping a watch for any sign of demons their first alert would come from the chakra sensing Karin. She was currently sitting by the window of the restaurant/bar she had worked at as part of her cover. Outside she watched the ninjas from the Leaf reunite with their loved ones who had made it out.
"Anyone of them useful?" inquired Karin as she looked at Sasuke.
"Actually, yes." admitted Sasuke, as Karin looked at him surpised. "The two Naras are top of the line miltary planners and could be very useful, Anko and Guy are both skilled fighters and Inoichi Yamamaka was second in command of Leaf Intelligence behind only Ibiki Morino."
"Anyone with medical skills?" inquired Karin "We need that more than military planners."
"Hana Inuzuka is a veterinarian ninja." added Sasuke
"So she should know the basics of running lab work." complained Kirin "Any other of then remotely useful?"
"Hanabi Hyugu and Kurenai are both skilled ninjas but I wouldn't put them among the best but Iruka is all but useless." stated Sasuke as he eyed Karin. "How are you going to use him?"
"My research into finding a cure is moving too slowly my healing ability is not working as well as once did on you." Said Karin as she explained something both already knew, while each treatment had healing effect it was always less than the last time. In time the healing ability wouldn't be enough to save him from the red flu which was killing him. "We need to push it forward."
"That doesn't answer my question." stated Sasuke
"Unless Sakura's research finds something useful in those pills then we may have to move to forward to some more radical possible solutions." stated Karin "Sakura's finding should be available by morning, then we will know if we have to go down the radical path."
"What will I have to do to keep the others from getting in the way." inquired Sasuke
"We will see, what happens." Stated Karin.
A few buildings away Sakura walked into the shop to find Meiko looking through multiple different items, she had a stack of cloths and other items ranging from statues to fine watches. She was looking at each of them with a careful eye however something jumped out to the medical ninja.
"Why are you looking at stuff for a man?" inquired Sakura as she looked at the cloths, the cut was for a man not a woman yet alone a kitsune. Meiko looked at her as if she was trying to decide if Sakura was joking with her or was she serious.
"Ah…for my brother." answered Meiko as picked up a golden watch worth more than anything Sakura had ever seen her own father have. "Do you think he will like this?"
"Not really, Naruto-kun doesn't really like over the top items and that thing has got to cost more than even my parent's house." Stated Sakura as she took the watch and looked at it, it was really over the top with what looked to be diamonds on the numbers. "And Naruto doesn't really like Gold."
"How about silver?" inquired Meiko as she held up a similar watch, only it was a silver in color.
"First this is platinum." Said Sakura as she spun the tag to show the price and a brief discretion. It was once again cost more than anything she owned and anything Naruto owned but it was a ninja watch with a campus and other tools that could be used in the field. It wasn't supposed to go into the field but it was something a Haishi Hyuga or another clan leader would have as a show piece. "At least it is a ninja tool but why are you looking at this?"
This time Meiko did look at her like she was stupid.
"Ah you do know what the date is right?" inquired Meiko, Sakura blinked as she tried to think.
"September…29th." answered Sakura as she mentally tried to think what the date was. She had been working so much trying to find a cure and then being on the run she had lost track of the days. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Ah…Sakura today is October 9th." corrected Meiko as Sakura blinked for a moment before the realization hit her.
"Tomorrow is the 10th, Naruto-kuns birthday." Answered Sakura "His 18th Birthday, you're looking for a present."
"Yes, this year I can finally give him something." answered Meiko as she went back to debating what she should do, all the while Sakura's mind was in overdrive thinking what she would do.
Less than half a day away from the city of Nysa, Kushina Namikaze stood over a small field stove heating up a quick lunch for their group. She was cutting up some carrots for the soup all the while thinking about the grand meal she had planned for her son's first birthday at home, a meal that would have be delayed.
"Another birthday away from my son." said Kushina as she tossed the carrots into the soup. Her ears turned toward the sound of a snapping branch, it was something that no human could do but most demons could. She focused on the source of the sound without even moving her head, when she turned she saw Mebuki Haruno moving toward her. The stripped pattern of her Bakeneko fur made her slightly harder to see but not much, it was dark blonde in color with orange strips.
"So, it's your son's birthday?" inquired Mebuki to Kushina as she moved toward the temporary camp.
"Tomorrow." answered Kushina "18 years away from my son."
"I can't imagine." said Mebuki with real symphony in her voice "I am going crazy being away from my little girl."
Kushina nodded her head, hoping that maybe her husband or the others in their group would find her boy.
"Can I ask you something?" inquired Mebuki as Kushina looked up from the soup. "My husband and I are different demons, I know we can change to another kind but what if Sakura is a third kind?"
"Then you can change to her kind or you and your husband can agree to a demon type you like and turn into that." explained Kushina "Our you can stay as you are now."
"But doesn't a family have to be all the same demon?" inquired Mebuki
"No, you wouldn't be able to have children if you aren't the same demon but other than that everything goes together." explained Kushina before shrugging. "There are even stories about humans having kids with demons in the ancient past, that is how some clans gained abilities. Besides it is common for families to be made up of multiple demon types, one of our neighbors the Fukui's have 4 demon types in their family. Their three girls married different demon types."
"So the woman is the one that changes?" inquired Mebuki
"Traditionally yes, but sometimes the man does." confirmed Kushina as she wondered what her son would do if he did end up with this woman's daughter. Would he become whatever she was or would she become what he was.
"Either way, I just want him back." Whispered Kushina as Mebuki tilled her head a bit and looked at her. "Thinking about my boy, he is basically a man now…hell it was Minato-kun's 18th birthday when we first slept together."
"Since the two of us are adults here and my daughter isn't here, I will admit that I slept with my first boyfriend on my 17th birthday." said Mebuki "And I know my husband did something similar with his girlfriend at the time. Not that I would admit that to my daughter."
"And I would never tell that to either one of my children." added Kushina with a sad smile. "The only benefit I find is that at least Naruto will have family around him for the first time for his birthday and once we are reunited I will make sure we are never separated again."
The sound of movement caused Kushina's ears to turn once again, she turned toward the source before Mebuki had even heard the movement in the brush.
"I can smell that food from almost half a mile away." Said a large dark brown Imugami with patches of black in her fur. She wore a green Leaf Jonnin vest and standard leaf ninja outfit with the only difference being that she wasn't messing with leaving the headband on anymore. Two large patches of blood red fur in the shapes of tringles ran from under her eyes to almost her jaw line, two smaller patches of red framed the top of her eyes.
"You must be Tsume Inuzuka." said Kushina as the newcomer smiled before turning toward Mebuki.
"Mebuki, I didn't know you were part of this search." said Tsume
"My husband and I want to find our daughter as much as you want your son and daughter back." Stated Mebuki before smiling slightly. "Well I guess since I am a cat demon and you are a dog demon it makes a lot more sense why we never seemed to get along in school."
"True." answered Tsume with a chuckle. "However, I am a wolf not a dog, I got the jump on you. If it wasn't for…sorry what is your name?"
"Kushina Namikaze, you know my son Naruto." answered Kushina as Tsume blinked.
"Naruto is a Namikaze?" inquired Tsume "Well that is something I didn't see coming and I knew this was coming. Back to what we were talking about as a Inugami I have better scent tracking ability then you do."
"And she as a Bakeneko has much faster sprinter then you or me." Said Kushina "I as a Kitsune can hear better then both of you, others demons can fly and others can breathe underwater, none of that matters. What matters is that we use our skills to find our lost children and bring them home."
"Agreed." said Mebuki as Tsume confirmed with a nod of her own head.
Across the ocean in the still smoldering demon village, the former Leaf ninja and formally human Moegi stood on shaking legs before a mirror. The priestess who had dropped her in the recovery room had wrapped her up in a cotton robe that looks like it belonged in some hotel bathroom. The only real difference was that two large cuts where in the back with buttons holding them together. The large cuts were for her wings to go through. Slowly she reached out toward one of the wings and touched it, it felt strange like it was made of some fine silk but even as she felt it between her now thinner fingers she could feel it on her wings.
The wings where semi see through with patches of bright colors, bright orange with some bright hot pinks mixed in.
"I always loved pink." Said Meogi as she looked at the wings, then her attention turned to the mirror. Her face was thinner, her entire body seemed to have elongated and her fingers where unnaturally long and thin but not enough to be considered creepy by human standards, it was just odd. Her hair had become a bright neon color and over one of her eyes, which was now a bright orange in color like her hair was a large bandage. She closed her one eye and tried to see out of the other one, even if it was just a darkness from the inside of the wrapping but she saw nothing. When she opened her eye again she did notice that the room behind her was somewhat blurred.
"What the?" inquired Meogi until she noticed that she couldn't see her wings, then she looked down. Unknowingly to her, her insect like wings had started flapping and she was currently hovering a good three inches off the hardwood floor.
"Ah you are awake." came a voice as Meogi turned to see a Priestess in deep red robes standing in her doorway. Like her she was a fairy, only much older with lines and wrinkles on her face and her wings where a more solid color, even the bright spots which where a lovely purple where darker. "I am sister Yue."
"Hello, I am Meogi." greeted Meogi as the woman smiled.
"Good, we were worried that your memory may have left you that can sometimes happen when a person is changed so close to death like you were." said Sister Yue "Now child you must have many questions, I know I did when I became a Yosei."
"A Yosei?" inquired Meogi as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had expected to hate what she saw, she had hatted it when she saw what had become of her teammate Udon, but she didn't now. "Is that what I am?"
"Yes, I am sure you have a lot of questions but first you need to eat." Said Sister Yue as she brought forth a hot bowel of tomato soup. "Soup is always the best after a turning, it takes a while for the stomach to settle down."
"Thank you." said Meogi as she tried to take the soup only to stumble a bit.
"Sit, you are still weak." ordered Sister Yue in a grandmother like tone as she helped Meogi toward a small table. "Now after you eat, I'll come back and answer any questions you have. I know some of the leaders here have questions for you but you need to rest."
"Wait." Ordered Meogi "Am…am I safe?"
"Yes, of course child." answered Sister Yue "Word on how you saved those people is getting around, you are a hero for doing that."
"I wish I hadn't." said Meogi as Sister Yue looked at her, slowly Meogi reached up and touched her wrapped eye. "I wish I hadn't gotten caught doing it."
"I understand child, this change can be hard I have done it." Said Sister Yue as Meogi looked at the older woman. "I was once human too, I didn't become like I am now until I was in my mid twenties and that was over fifty years ago and two husbands ago."
"Ah...one last question, my eye?" inquired Meogi as Sister Yue lowered her head. Seeing this seventy plus year old demon do that caused a pain to run down her body as she remembered how Konohamaru looked as he threw the weapon that was to kill her at her.
"I am so sorry." Said Sister Yue as she placed her hand on Meogi's shoulder. "The process didn't heal the eye, you are blind in that eye. I am sorry."
"So am I." answered Meogi, even as a little voice in her head said it was better to be blind then dead. "Can I send a message to the Leaf, I don't know if my mom and dad are still alive."
"Our communications are still down but I will come and get you when they are up." Said Priestess Yue "Now eat, child and rest."
Shikamaru, Naruto and Kiba lead the newcomers to the city of Nysa down into the heart of the bar, the others where still gathering supplies in the city. It was clear that the newcomers where not pleased with where they were going.
"There is nothing here." said Hanabi Hyuga as she scanned the area with her byakugan eyes.
"Just wait." said Shikamaru as they reached the hidden door, when the door opened even Hanabi was speechless as they headed into the base. "Welcome to humanities last best chance."
First Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, I hope you liked this chapter, this will be my last chapter of the year. I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and I would ask that you keep reading. Thanks and see you in 2017, Wilkins75.