Chapter 23: Searing Migraine

"KATON: ZUKOKKU!"- Sasuke watched, terrified, as Hono spat a gigantic wave of black and red fire directed at him. It was too late to dodge, so he decided to put all of his strength in that one blow. At the last second, he realized that he wouldn't be able to do a thing. The fire was too powerful, his Sharingan could see it. How? Just, how? They were right. HE'S A FUCKING DEMON! Sasuke thought to himself as the wave carried him back, his Chidori becoming worthless.

The fire carried him back for at least a kilometer, burning everything and anything in its way. A whole part of the forest was turned to ashes as the fire decimated it and stopped inches away from Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, Shikamaru, Shino, Kiba and Choji. Sasuke, now back to his normal form, fell to the ground, unconscious. Seconds later, Hono appeared in the distance, slowly walking towards them. He was also back to his normal form, but seemed perfectly healthy. Not even a scratch could be spotted on him. The only proof of the battle was Sasuke and Hono's torn clothes.

Hono approached Sasuke, took a hold of his right foot and simply dragged him back to the village. None of his partners or friends said a thing, astonished with his power, and simply followed him. They went through a section of the forest that was made of bones and sand, a section that was cut to mere pieces and a section that had suffered a massive explosion. On each of those sections, they found the bodies of Kimimaro, Tayuya and Kidomaro. The other two couldn't be found.

As they approached the Leaf Village, they could see the gates were closed. Shikamaru was about to ask for entry but Hono raised his hand to stop him. He approached the gate and forcefully pulled Sasuke's leg, slamming his face against the metal door. Behind that door was Sakura who was shocked to see her love's emo face imprinted on the metal. The doors opened to show a crying Sakura and Hono simply threw Sasuke on the ground before walking over to Ichiraku's.

They were all eating some ramen until Kiba, impatient as ever, just decided to ask the question. He gained up a bit of courage and simply let it out.

"Ok, I give up, how did the Sunagakure siblings magically appear?"- he asked, holding Akamaru with his left hand. Gaara rose his head.

"I gave Hono a scroll before I left Konoha after the Shiken. I said it contained my sand, but it was simply a jutsu that would summon me and my brother and sister. Looks like we got here right on time. You were about to die, Shikamaru was as well and the taijutsu guy was not having an easy time."- he explained before turning back to the ramen. Temari couldn't take her eyes off Hono and Kankuro kept laughing and making jokes. Gaara then turned his head to Hono.- "What were those flames, brother?"

"Searing Migraine, or Zukokku. It's a very particular Katon jutsu. You need to think of all the pain you've been inflicted ever since you were born. If someone like me or you uses it, it's bound to be amazingly powerful. It can only be used if you are an adept at Katon and if you have any knowledge of Blood element. In the Chuunin Exam, Orochimaru planted a Cursed Seal on me. That worked against him though, as I used all of the suffering that was stored in that Seal on this jutsu. Sasuke was no match for that."- he replied before turning to Shino.- "How did you make it?"

"It wasn't so hard actually. He was too intelligent for his own good. He used a giant spider to drop millions of other spiders on me. I just needed to make my bugs plant explosive tags on some of them before using the power of the Bless Seal you gave me to blast them back to their owner. He was no match for all that explosive power."- Kankuro's eyes were aimed at Shino. Intelligent and deadly. He could make an amazing puppeteer.

"Though I could ask Kiba, Choji and Shikamaru how they made it out alive, I really don't give a shit. I know that Temari saved Shika's ass, Kankuro saved Kiba's and Choji ate his clan's pill. See you all."- Hono quickly walked away. Temari, Kankuro and Gaara jumped out of the bench to follow him. Kiba, Choji and Shikamaru were speechless and Shino dissolved into bugs before appearing by Hono.- "Interesting, people used to run away from me. You four really are unusual."

"What's this Bless Seal?"- Kankuro asked. Shino opened his jacket to show the white lion head seal on his shoulder.

"It's a seal that Hono created. It's like Orochimaru's seal, but this one isn't evil and it evolves in power as the user grows in power as well. It can be used for plenty of things, but mostly for a boost of white chakra. I have the seal of the lion, which gives me it's natural killing intent and it's power."- Shino zipped his jacket up to see Kankuro and Temari with an envious look on their faces.

"Can you give me one?"- she asked. Kankuro nodded, as if asking the same thing. Hono looked at them.

"I don't think you people understand what this Mark means. It means that you are part of my pack. It means that you think of me as the Alpha Male and will respond to my every call."- Hono pointed at Shino who turned around to show the white sun dripping blood on the back of his jacket.- "These seals provide different abilities, and are not simple tools that you can use at your will."

"Doesn't matter. I want one."- Temari seemed desperate for one, as if she was trying to prove her loyalty to Hono. Gaara simply looked at the Kyuubi boy and Kankuro seemed hesitant. He never was one to accept someone as his leader just like that.

"Gaara doesn't need one, he's got the Shukaku. But we have nothing if we need to get out of a messy situation!"- the Sunagakure puppeteer argued. There was really nothing Hono could say against this.

"Fine, just meet me in front of the Hokage's heads tonight."