The Path of Destruction
Chapter 3
By: Aireonna
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Naruto characters. I do own this plot.
A/N: Sorry, I wanted to update a lil sooner but school and work are kicking my a**. I don't have much time for anything with 16-hour days. So I will try and update as fast as I can, I apologize before hand to everyone who is reading this. Next chapter!
Why would the night be something to be cautious of?
I used to ask myself that same question. How could something so beautiful be so deadly?
In Konoha you learn the answer to that question rather quickly. The Hyuuga's make sure of that.
When your five years old, the things your parents, or guardians in my case, tell you don't really mean that much. Sure, a warning here and there, a story that you will never remember, but this is something you could never forget.
This is something that gives you nightmares growing up.
The Boogieman isn't a scary story to us. In our world, the Boogieman is lucky he doesn't exist. We have plenty of our own things that go bump in the night.
Konoha is peaceful, neutral in the ongoing wars. Our people, frightened and scared, wanting to live normal lives. As normal as you can that is.
You see humans aren't the only civilizations among this planet. We have inhabitants that are to be feared, inhabitants that are by far more dangerous than us humans. The Oni.
The Oni consists of five different categories.
You have your Demons, which alone have many of their own kinds. Your Moon Children, which are known more as Werewolves. The Dark Priestesses, not as kind and caring as our Temple Priestesses. Shape shifter's, who have different clans that prefer certain shapes over others and are known for these. Sorcerers, who master specific elements and can summon the powers of such elements. And last but not least, the Night Children, otherwise known as Vampires.
I don't remember much about the story of our village. But what I do know is, the Hyuuga's founded Konoha.
Our world is in the midst of many wars amongst its inhabitants. The humans feel threatened by the Oni, not being able to accept even the kindest soul, and therefore seek to destroy that in which they cannot understand. Not all of the Oni are pure at heart either. Some despise humans; their normality's haunting. Like oil and water, the two don't mix very well.
The Hyuuga's, they are a curious clan. They are the rightful guardians and protectors of our village.
It is said that Hyuuga's are direct decedents of the moon god Tsukuyomi himself. To prove such an accusation is their eyes the color of the moon. It is also said that being god decedents, the Hyuuga's are a godlike clan. They are blessed amongst a world of tainted and blackened people.
Their eyes can see things that normal human eyesight cannot. They can sense Oni, being able to see through their facades. Speed, faster than the detection of my senses, or so I hear. Power to maintain a barrier for our portion of the world. Power to keep such evils at bay.
A dome of sorts surrounds Konoha. It acts as a shield, protecting its contents from those impure of heart. The Hyuuga's control gates, these are located periodically on the boarders of our own little world, deep within forests and unlived territory. Nothing enters, or exists without the Hyuuga's consent.
Sometimes, the gates aren't able to stop a rogue Oni or two. That is why the Hyuuga make sure a guardian is on watch at all times, waiting for a chance of an intrusion.
The biggest reason behind such wars is the demon that took it upon himself to act out against normality, to make the world see that Oni were above humans. He brought forth hate crimes, and death. An evil that we all fear, that is behind the Blood Wars.
Orochimaru.
Even thinking his name sends chills down my spine.
And that is about as much as I know, or remember. Before Konoha, my mind is a blank sheet. My first memories start five years old. The day that Shizune and Gai brought me to this peaceful place, a place we could be free.
I don't remember my parents, or if I even had any. I don't remember anything about who I am. All I know is Konoha.
I guess you don't really miss much before five years old. I have plenty of fond memories after, all involving my Oji-san and Oba-san. They took me in, treating me as their own child, but never lying to me and saying that I was.
For this I will forever love them and be in debt.
But this doesn't and will never change the fact that I am not a morning person.
"Tenten-chan!"
Ah, right on time.
I kept my eyes glued shut, groaning and turning away from the demonic sunlight that began creeping upon my sleeping form.
I knew if I were to open at this moment, I would be blinded for the remainder of my pitiful life. The heat of the day was already glistening my skin with moisture. I began dreading morning more and more each day.
The coolness of the night no longer brushing across my arms, I missed it already. Who needs daylight?
Well other than everything that sustains human life that is.
I could faintly hear the start of birds chirping, welcoming the morning. Maybe where we live is hell and outside of our world is not. Or maybe it's currently being over thrown without our knowledge.
Who would welcome such annoying creatures to make sounds that cause one to want to gouge their eyes out with an unsharpened kunai?
"Dear, you cannot sleep the whole morning away."
I groaned at her words as she peered into my room.
"Oji-san does." I whined my case, even though I knew I would be overruled immediately.
She never entered my room, always remaining within the doorway in the shadows of the morning light.
I still kept my eyes closed, not wanting to accept being awake yet.
I could sense her smile.
"That's a case I will never win." Her voice was soft.
"Do you ever sleep Oba-san?" I snickered softly, it sure seemed not.
How could she when she was always waking me? One did not wake before the crack of dawn; it was unnatural, or just plane insane.
She giggled in response.
"I could see why you would ask such a question but I do not require nearly as much sleep as you do Tenten-chan."
Sighing in defeat, I threw myself upwards from my comfort zone, my eyes resisting my command to open.
She was gone already, I knew that much.
Rubbing my sore sockets, I stretched in a cat like motion, my back arching and arms reaching upwards. Morning stretches were always the best.
My soft yellow sleeping yukata was ruffled and wrinkly from my tossing and turning. I haven't been sleeping well lately, if at all. My mind doesn't rest, teasing and torturing me while I lay.
The color of moonlight remained burned into my mind. Eyes that seeped through my very soul, a sort of violation that one does not get over.
Finally, my sight returning to normal, I began my morning routine.
I dressed in a longer purple yukata, with emerald splashes of colors on the ends, for the day. Today was Sunday, the day that outside chores were not needed.
I glanced at myself through my mirror, and couldn't help but cringe.
Pulling my hair back up into my custom buns, I tied white ribbons to help keep them in place. Throwing water onto my face, I felt a little more refreshed.
Four days had passed since my run in with Neji Hyuuga. He didn't return the next day as he had said. Why did he need to?
He knew perfectly well that I was alive. He seen so that night he intruded upon my bath.
My birthday was creeping up faster and faster. And yet it was as if time was not moving. I slept less and less each night the day came closer. My nightmares becoming more intense, waking to the smell and taste of blood.
I began biting my lip so hard in my sleep that I drew blood. The iron and salt rousing me from my uneasy slumber, forcing me to run for a glass of water to ease my parchment and making even harder to sleep once more.
"…Is she awake?"
I dimly picked up a newcomers voice from the front.
It was soft, and female.
"Oh yes, she is just getting dressed."
I walked out into the open area and found a head full of hair the color of sakura blossoms in my line of view.
"Sakura?"
I hadn't known Sakura for very long. She had only arrived in Konoha four years ago, but since her arrival she had the tendency to make my life a little more interesting. She was different from the average Konoha woman. Her curves something one yearned for, and her beauty hard to match. She was a rare gem to find in a sea of normal.
Her emerald eyes turned to meet my cinnamon brown.
"Tenten!" A smile lightened her features, and she stepped forward to meet me.
"What are you doing here? And so early?"
Sakura and I did things on occasions. She enjoyed training and exercising her right to be able to protect herself. And I was good at doing both. It seemed to come naturally for me.
Sakura had her strengths. Key word, strength. She was abnormally strong and sometimes I began to think she could control men in a way I have never seen before. Her beauty was eye catching yes, but the things that she could make someone do was unheard of.
Smiling, she winked at me and linked her arm in mine.
"I was bored. Plus, I heard of your disappearance earlier this week and just hadn't gotten around to checking in on you." I could hear the tone of her voice. She was up to something.
"Uh-huh. Gomen, Oba-san, but is it alright if I leave with Sakura? I promise to be home at a decent hour."
"At least we hope." Sakura added.
Hours of training could be exhilarating. Hours alone with Sakura could be dangerous.
Before I knew it, we had wandered out into the day. As the morning light welcomed me, I almost wanted to hiss at its brightness. Sometimes, when you first wake, your eyesight doesn't seem to quit adjust to the iridescent whiteness as quickly as you would like it to. It's very painful.
Covering my eyes with my right hand, I allowed Sakura to lead me to wherever we were headed with my left arm linked in hers.
"Did I mention that I love vibrant colors on you?"
Sakura was always one for prettiness. Her pale pink hair currently pulled back with chopsticks revealing her flawless features and long neck, and her emerald yukata covered in sakura blossoms hugging her small petite form. She was the epitome of beauty. Someone simple like me standing beside her only brought it out more.
Rolling my eyes, I scoffed. "Yes, many times Sakura. Did I ever tell you that no matter what I do I will never be as perfect as you?"
My curvy figure was something unnatural in our world. Men enjoyed small, but perky figures, something soft against their hard.
From years of chores and hard work, my body was contoured with its own lines and muscles. My hips a little wider than normal, I was also cursed with a more fuller front. With my cinnamon brown eyes and my long chestnut hair, I was considered more exotic than the average woman.
Her mouth formed a small oh with a gasp.
"My dear, not with an attitude like that. But, that is not why I came to you today."
"Then why exactly, dear Sakura, did you come to me?"
My tone was slightly harsher than I wanted, but this morning I hadn't woke in the greatest of moods. I feel as if I hadn't slept in weeks, and if I had, it was like being tossed around by an angry boar all night long.
Sakura only smiled her sweet smile and shrugged her shoulders.
"I figured it'd be nice to get you out considering the guardians have you probably under constant watch since your disappearing act." She flashed her teeth mockingly and giggled.
Once again, being with Sakura was nothing but trouble. But it was a trouble that I often found myself enjoying.
"Breaking me out as usual… only to shove me right back in." I muttered under my breath.
"Oh come now, its not like we go destroying others land." Her voice, full of sarcasm, tickled my ears slightly. She enjoyed causing trouble all right, but mostly with boys, not material objects.
Before I knew it, we had made our way into the center of our village once more. Striding up to a Ramen stand, she turned towards me.
"You're looking rather slim dear, time to feed you."
I smiled sarcastically and growled under my breath. I was hungry, but the usual Ramen didn't sound to pleasing to my rumbling stomach.
"Sakura-san, so nice to see beauty on this gorgeous day."
Casting my attention to the newcomer, my eyes widened.
"Oh Kakashi-sensai, your words come right from your naughty little insightful readings as always." Sakura winked at the man and blew a kiss.
He stood a good foot taller than her, and a black material, covering all but his eyes, covered his face. I couldn't see his eyes from where I stood but his white-gray hair hung over them hiding them from the sunlight. He held a book in his hand, and chopsticks full of Ramen in the other. Sitting at the stand, eating his morning serving, he chuckled softly, his back shaking.
It was odd hearing such a normal sound from this man. Odder that you could not tell that he was laughing other than the movement and sounds. Normally, you could see it in a persons face, but his mask hid such sights.
"Kakashi-sensai…"
A very deep voice came from behind me, causing me to jump slightly.
It was rather loud in the village, but the Ramen stand was pretty empty this early. Only visitors being Sakura and myself, along with Kakashi as she called him.
And now, this voice that echoed in my mind.
Sakura smiled sweetly, her sight focusing not on me, but the person behind me. I don't know why I was scared to turn and welcome him, it could be because his voice left me uneasy.
Gulping, I smiled at Sakura.
"Sasuke-kun. How nice to see you today." Her voice was traced with slightly more pleasure than normal. Her eyes batting in the sunlight, the emerald color almost glowing.
Flirtation was something Sakura had mastered long before I knew her. It came naturally, and for most men, they never know what hit them.
I finally decided to welcome our new guest. Stepping sideways to say something. My breath caught in my throat.
Black orbs filled my vision.
Flashes of white sharp teeth, claws like razors swiping angrily, and red clouding my senses.
My mind went blank after that, allowing the darkness to take over once more.
"Tenten-chan!"
The voice barely audible, echoed in my ears as a small smile danced across my features. Oh sweet blackness where have you been.
And that was all, my body tumbling towards the ground.
A/n: I am sooo sorry it took me so long to update. It's so hard with school and working full-time, gone 17 hrs a day. So don't have much time for even sleep. It also was very hard to write this chapter, having to explain some things, but not all. I like to leave people guessing and not giving away everything all at once. I hope you liked it!! Please review!