Many years ago, Konoha...

Tsuji stumbled down the dark streets, the still young Naruto doing his best to support him. He was just a child, so it wasn't long before Tsuji fell painfully to the ground. Despite the danger, he found himself smiling. "I really... made a mess... out of this... didn't I?"

"Don't talk, Captain!" said his apprentice frantically. "You'll aggravate your injuries!"

"You should run," coughed Tsuji. "Before they-" It was too late. They had caught up.

"What a surprise, Captain Tsuji." Wugui looked much the same as he would years laterwhen ordered by Danzo to hunt the Saint of Killers. With him were two thugs in black suits. They appeared to be human. "A warrior of your caliber... fallen."

"Ya didn't think we'd letcha get away now did ya?" laughed one of the underlings. "A little fly like you, always buzzing around and causing trouble for Master Danzo? No sir!"

"Ya know what happens to flies, old man?" grinned the second thug. "They get SQUASHED!"

Suddenly, Tsuji lurched to his feet. The three men started, then adopted practiced fighting stances. For a moment Tsuji stood there, dignified and commanding... before collapsing again, his injuries obviously too much for him. The criminals sighed in relief.

"Captain?" inquired Naruto curiously. "Are they scared of you?"

"Of course!" Tsuji smirked, and the antagonists bristled with humiliation. "What a fine bunch you are, attaching yourselves to the likes of Danzo and calling him 'Master'. Honestly, you'd have been better off declaring your loyalty to those dogs in the streets."

"Scum!" snarled Wugui. "After that torture session you endured, I'm astonished that you still have the will to rebel against the Master's teachings." Naruto's youthful eyes widened. He had run across his mentor purely by chance, and his father figure had already been wounded when they met. "Then again, a maggot like you can't be expected to comprehend the true greatness of Master Danzo!"

"Greatness!" coughed Tsuji, choking on his laughter. "Greatness you say? Now that's a good one, saying a crippled, delusional midget like him is-"

"He's not a midget! He hunches!"

"God Almighty!" Tsuji was hunched over double on the ground, genuinely finding the remark hilarious. "I think I may actually die laughing!"

"Enough!" snarled Minion Two. "Be quiet, you worm! Lord Wugui, let's just kill him and be done with it!"

"Perhaps we should," nodded Wugui thoughtfully, and Naruto bristled protectively. "But there is one thing I do not understand, Captain Tsuji. Why do you continue to oppose the advent of the second Demon's Gate Invocation? Admittedly, the first attempt had its share of casualties, but we have learned and grown from our mistakes. The continent is fractured by civil war, whilst our own military wither in complacency. Only with Danzo's leadership and the might of the Valorization can our country return to its former glory. This time we are even enacting the Invocation in the very bowels of enemy territory, so it will be they alone who suffer as the Valorization's battery is summoned. Even before the final ritual is enacted, destruction wrought by the Demon's Gate Invocation will send a clear message to our enemies;that the Will of Fire burns as brightly as ever within the Leaf. You were born in Fire, were you not? Do you not wish prosperity for your homeland?"

"No." said Tsuji honestly. "I've no use for such drivel. Destroying a country? Ruling the world? You're a fool! That's not what a Demon's Gate Invocation is about. Sure, blowing a nation or two out of the water would be achieved easily, but just one misstep and the world itself collapses into oblivion."

"Shaddap!" barked Minion One. "What do you know?"

"I could spend all day explaining this to you," said Wugui coldly. "But you'll never understand. Alas, it seems our discussion has reached its end. Allow us to aid you on your trip to hell."

"Hold it right there." The intruder's voice was strong and female. Years later, when the Saint of Killers encountered Hinata upon the crypt in Rain, he would mistake her for this woman. With her was a middle aged man wearing a dark green jacket, stepping back slightly to allow room for possible violence.

"W-who're you?" stammered Minion Two. "This ain't no show, woman! Get outta here before you get hurt!"

"The streets of the Hidden Leaf are considerably more dangerous than I remember them." Yuri Hyuuga continued, not at all threatened.

"Y-you're with the Hyuuga clan, right?" blustered Minion One. "Butt out, or I can't guarantee you'll get outta this alive!"

"W-wait!" stammered Tsuji. "These people have nothing to do with this. Ma'am, please be on your way. There's no sense in you getting hurt too."

"He's right," nodded Wugui. "You would be wise not to meddle in things that don't concern you. No good will come out of opposing us."

"Sorry," said Yuri unapologetically. "But I heard you were in league with Danzo. I simply can not ignore you."

"Who are you?" scowled Wugui.

"That is of little importance... to those who are about to die."

Only Wugui was sharp enough to catch what happened next. Digging her toes into the concrete as easily as if it were wet mud, a flick of Yuri's ankle hurled a jagged lump of masonry into his chest and launched him backwards down the alley. His underlings immediately threwthemselves forward, shedding their human skins. Beneath they were both ugly aquatic demons, oily blue skin pulled tight over their bulky frames and their hands huge, clawed and webbed. Both were blown backwards by the light that exploded from Yuri's body.

Yuri's new form strongly resembled the darkness demon used initially by her daughter. Thick grey hide covered its body, extending even over its wings to the point it seemed impossible it could fly. Its claws, its arms, everything about it was bigger and stronger than the version used by Hinata. The head lacked any kind of facial features except for the mouth, which though invisible when shut was the stuff of nightmares when open.

The kappa-like creatures hovered uncertainly, obviously put off by the unexpected development. Naruto and Tsuji could only gawk at the terrifying figure, while the man who had accompanied Yuri to the scene didn't seem surprised in the slightest. Taking advantage of the lull, Yuri spread her arms and opened her claws. Within her palms appeared two orbs of incredible black light, burning with ever brightening intensity. Behind her appeared a colossal, ephemeral white symbol composed of eleven circles connected by an intricate network of lines, which Tsuji recognized as a chart of the sephirot. From each of the circles a blast of darkness came screaming forth, roaring down in a great waterfall of evil and utterly devouring the hapless demons. After several seconds the onslaught finished, and Yuri's arms fell as the symbol behind her disappeared.

"Pathetic fool," snorted Wugui. Hestrolled casually through the lingering dark energies, his red suit immaculate. "The darkness only makes me stronger." Faster than he could react Yuri lunged forward, grabbed his head in one massive hand and slammed him into the ground hard enough to shatter it. She immediately swung him over her head to smash him a second time into the tarmac before throwing him directly upwards. With a flap of her wings she followed him, somersaulting in mid-air to deliver a devastating ax-kick and sending him plummeting back to earth. She landed beside her companion, her body glowing as she allowed it to regain its natural form.

"You people," sighed Yuri. "You give yourselves immunity to darkness or light or fire or earth or wind or water, but don't bother defending against old fashioned physical violence. Morons, all of you."

"What are you?" coughed Wugui. He had managed to force himself to his hands and knees, and was vomiting blood across the ground between words. "A demon?"

Yuri scowled at his hypocrisy, but did not attack. "I've changed my mind." she declared. "I will not kill you. Run back to your master, and tell him this; a woman has appeared, and she is coming for you. Until she arrives, live out your remaining days in fear."

"You!" snarled Wugui, seeming a lot less scary with his organs squished. "You'll regret those words!" A flutter of blue lightning spread over his body, and he was gone. A prototype of the teleportation jutsu Danzo himself would later use.

Unruffled by the drama, Yuri's companion stepped up to the still-bleeding Tsuji. "Are you alright, old sir?"

"Ugh..." groaned the captain, shifting himself into a more comfortable position. "I'll live. Not to sound ungrateful or anything, but I don't consider myself old just yet."

"My name is Yuri Hyuuga," said Yuri. "And this is Mr Zhen."

"Thank you for coming to my rescue. I am Captain Tsuji of the Tsuji Artillery Company, and this is my apprentice, Naruto."

Yuri turned to the small blonde child with an expression of utmost respect. She bowed deeply. "It is an honor."

Master and apprentice both seemed confused by the gesture. "E-exactly what sort of..." Tsuji stammered. "Sort of person are you? The fusion technique, I heard of it a while back, but I never expected to see it for myself. How amusing to hear that fellow call YOU a demon. Talk about the pot and the kettle."

"Please, Captain," said Mr Zhen worriedly. "Don't aggravate your injuries. They may be much worse than they appear."

"Damn," growled Tsuji, more out of annoyance than pain. "If I weren't in such a state I'd have made short work of those bastards." He winced slightly. "Urgh... Ow..."

Yuri gave a slight smile. "Well at least your injuries haven't affected that mouth of yours."

"I own a shop just down the road," said Mr Zhen. "Come with us and I'll treat your wounds."

"There's no need for that," said Tsuji weakly. "I'm feeling much better already. Much bet-"

"Thank you," said Naruto quickly. "We really appreciate it."

"Naruto!"

"Hah!" laughed Yuri. "Come, Captain. I'll carry you there."

"And that was how I met your mother," said the Saint, concluding his flashback. "Next thing I knew she was carrying Tsuji piggy-back, and his face was burning bright red. She was an incredible woman, and gorgeous to boot. She even had me swooning, and I hadn't even gone through puberty yet. When I met you I realized pretty quickly that she was your mother. Even if you didn't look so alike, there aren't many Harmonixers still running around." He paused briefly. "I didn't mean to hide it, and it's not like anything special happened between us, but for some reason I just can't bring myself to tell you. Guess I'm just as much of a coward as when I slaughtered those people in Grass."

They were in a room on the second floor of a hotel in the Hidden Mist. Despite being up to the armpits in enemy territory Hinata was sprawled on her bed, sleeping off the effects of her seasickness. Mei and Chojuro had rented the room next door, while the remaining immigrants from Wave had dispersed on arrival. The Saint of Killers propped his chin on his hand, gazing contemplatively out the window.

"Did you know that if she hadn't confronted Danzo during the Nine Tails attack, its link to the netherworld would have remained and the Fourth would have failed to seal it?" A ghost of a smile drifted across his face. "My father and your mother, battling far apart but against the same enemy. Destiny, perhaps?"

Still, Hinata did not stir.

He smiled humorlessly. "Well then, I guess I'll be going out for a while. After all these years I feel like wandering around a bit. Maybe stopping by an old friend's place."

A few blocks away...

Mei and Chojuro, both of them now wearing their respective ninja gear, stepped inside Mei's office - a weirdly (in Chojuro's opinion) militaristic affair - to greet three men. Two of them were just faceless Chuunin, but the third was a middle aged man with an eye patch over his right eye, a blue robe and moussed up blue hair. The Jounin, Ao.

"We've been waiting for you, Lady Terumi." he said respectfully.

"It's been a while," nodded Mei. "At ease, please."

Ao relaxed, but remained professional. "Ma'am, how are we doing on the 'package' for the mainland. We have a special charter ready to set sail at any time."

"Yes... about that." said Mei slowly. "I was thinking we might postpone it for a bit."

Ao opened his mouth to order a raid on the hotel, then froze as the words hit him. Mei was utterly impassive, but the corner of Chojuro's mouth was quirked in the tiniest of smiles. It looked almost like... pride? In Mei? "Understood. Then I'll relay a message to the mainland. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes, please do." Mei nodded gracefully. "How is the investigation coming along, Ao?"

"Yes, ma'am, we've managed to get our probes rather deep inside..." He paused and shot a look at the Chuunin at his shoulders, and they left the room without a word. Ao waited a moment longer, as though expecting something, then got up into Chojuro's face. The two men began to stare one another down intensely. Chojuro blinked first.

"Ah, right," said Mei, forcing down a giggle. "I forgot to introduce you. Ao, this is Chojuro of the Seven Swordsmen. You may speak in front of him."

"Is that right," Ao frowned reluctantly. "You must excuse me, Swordsman. My apologies." He returned to his earlier position. "A member of ANBU recently arrived from headquarters. Even I was cross-examined. It seems it is you who are under investigation, ma'am. You're safe with me, but please stay alert."

"I'm being investigated?" snarled Mei, as Chojuro looked on in shock. "It must be a spy sent by one of my father's political enemies! The capital is a pit of schemes..." With a colossal effort of will, she regained control of her emotions. "I'll be careful. Please continue with what you were saying before."

"Of course," nodded Ao. "Danzo, who is acting against the Mist, is planning a Demon's Gate Invocation. However, he still requires a few more things for the Taoist magic to work."

"A few more things?" murmured Mei, raising an eyebrow.

"A catalyst is need for the main part of the ceremony. The blonde man. Danzo must also banish the four gods that guard the earth veins beneath the ground. It appears that all of these factors must be in place to make the ceremony possible. In the past six months, Danzo has successfully removed the Black Tortoise, the Blue Dragon and the Red Phoenix."

"Genbu, Seiryu and Suzaku," Mei realized. "Which means Byakko the White Tiger is next. Do we know Byakko's location?"

"It's in Snow." said Ao. "To be precise it's sealed inside a ruined temple on the very edge. On our own border."

"Danzo knows this, yes?" frowned Mei. "Then before it falls into his hands, we must send our own troops to seize it."

"We have sent our troops to retrieve it." sighed Ao. "Twice. But..."

"But?" prompted Mei.

"Every man and woman we sent in was lost. Not a single survivor. Some terribly powerful monsters have made their nest in those ruins."

"Are they protecting the White Tiger?"

"I don't know, but apparently Danzo isn't able to handle them either." There was a long pause. Mei was staring into space, considering the problem. Ao was actually a little worried by how not put off she was. "L-lady Terumi? Is everything alright?"

"I have an idea!" grinned Mei, and Chojuro immediately guessed what it was.

"A... an idea?" said Ao uncertainly.

"We fight fire with fire. We fight monsters with monsters."

Elsewhere, Hinata sneezed in her sleep.

Meanwhile...

As Mei began to explain her plan, the Saint of Killers was walking into a bar on the edge of the Hidden Mist. It was a dark, smokey affair in the basement of a multistory shopping center. It was still mid-afternoon so they had not yet started serving alcohol, and besides the Saint only a few hoodlums hunkered around a table in the back of the room. The room was centered around a small stage; possibly big enough for five people to stand on, which meant it was for one. The Saint walked straight up to the bar.

"Excuse me, but I'd like to speak to the proprietor." he said to the bartender. "Just tell him Tsuji's apprentice is here."

"Sorry, sir, but the boss isn't in," said the other man apologetically.

The Saint gave a slow frown, as to his knowledge it was a live-in establishment. "Doesn't this place belong to Mr Zhen?"

"Zhen? Can't say I recall the name."

"Please stop kidding around. I'm talking about the father of the young girl who performs here."

"Oh, him." said the barkeep, his eyes lighting up in recognition. "Just take a seat. He should be along any minute now."

"He... he's not the owner?" After Yuri had disappeared, Mr Zhen and his daughter had taken off for the Mist, their homeland. The Saint had been certain the girl would have continued to work with her father.

"Give me a break, this place changed hands years ago." the man snorted. Unable to see how he could get any more information, the Saint of Killers ordered a drink and seated himself close to the stage. After a few minutes, a very pale girl in a pink shirt stepped through a set of red curtains in one wall. In her hand was an erhu - a Chinese fiddle, for those of you who don't know. She popped it under her arm and began to play.

Indeed, she had grown into a beautiful young woman, one whom any princess could be jealous of. The sounds she made on that fiddle, however, were so rich and heart wrenching that she herself would seem ugly by comparison. Not that she'd appreciate it if the Saint actually told her that, however. For a moment he tilted his head back, allowing the glorious noise to wash over him. He forgot about how he and his father figure were murdered, he forgot about the genocidal madman he was there to kill, and he even forgot about Hinata. There was just him, and the slow flow of music.

He didn't notice, at first, when it stopped. But when he did he jerked his head up quickly, then wiped away the tears before anyone saw.

"Uncle?" The Saint blinked in momentary confusion. The erhu player had put her instrument away and was now standing in front of him. She looked like she'd seen a ghost. To be fair, she kinda had. "Uncle!"

"Don't call me that," he said automatically, then chuckled as he remembered actually giving her permission. He was older than her by four years, but she seemed to think it was enough. "It's good to see you, Qiuhua. Turned into a real knockout, haven't you?"

"It's good to see you." she blushed. "What have you done to your hair?"

"What's wrong with it?"

"The spikes have gone. It actually obeys gravity now."

"It's the hat." said the Saint, patting the article in question. "It flattens me." Qiuhua giggled, which made him smile as well. "So, how's your old man? How's Zhen?" Qiuhua's face fell. The Saint of Killers fingered the hilts of his guns restlessly, plagued by the same worry he had felt at the bar. "What's wrong?"

There was squeak as the front door opened. An old man - stooped with age and dressed in clothes so filthy it was like he'd worn them all his life - stepped into the room.

Blue eyes widened incredulously. "Mr Zhen?"

"This again?" said one of the hoodlums. The old man was going between them, speaking to each in turn. This was one of the nicer ones, who didn't turn him away or outright beat him off. "Begging for coins again? Fine, I've got some change to lose, but stay outside from now on. I'm sick of the sight of you."

"Living off your daughter's scraps?" said a second one. "Hahaha, what a pathetic sob story that is! Here, get yourself something nice!"

The man slowly made his circuit of the room until he reached the Saint's table. At first his eyes were blank, until a flash of recognition was rapidly chased away by a look of bleak horror. "You? You're-"

"That's right, father," said Qiuhua, somehow managing to smile. "Uncle is here to visit."

"I go by the Saint of Killers now." said the Saint softly. "How've you been, Mr Zhen?"

"Y-you're alive?" stammered Zhen. "But... how?"

"What kind of greeting is that for an old friend? Fifteen long years, and you look like you've seen a ghost!" His smile faded, and they knew what was coming next. "They tell me this place has changed hands. Is it true?"

Zhen looked at the floor, seeming desperately ashamed. "...Yes. Yes, it's true."

The Saint of Killers rose from his chair, and father and daughter realized how frighteningly tall he really was. "So who owns it now?"

"I do." The red curtains leading to the rear of the establishment parted, and the owner of the familiar voice stepped out.

"Wugui." said the Saint coldly. "So you're still alive. Pity." Qiuhua and Zhen backed away hurriedly, but he understood. 'Where humans fear to tread' n'all.

"I believe that's my line, Lord Saint." laughed Wugui. "I'm finally back in town to see how my little establishment is doing, and find myself meeting old faces. Let me greet you properly."

"Master Wugui!" said Qiuhua quickly. "Please leave Uncle alone. He just came to see my father, that's all. So please... Please!"

"Master Wugui?" said the Saint. "This thing?"

"Why so surprised?" snorted Wugui. "I am the proprietor, after all. Didn't I just tell you? Once, Zhongyun Zhen opposed Master Danzo. Now, he and his daughter are among my employees."

"Is this true, Zhen?"

There was a long pause. Mr Zhen was again staring at the floor, almost crying with shame. "...Yes."

The Saint of Killers tilted his head forward, so that his hat hid his eyes. His clenched fists shook with suppressed rage. "Now then!" continued Wugui, now sounding distinctly chipper. "Time for your welcome banquet!" The sound of chairs scraping across the floor filled the room. The bar's patrons - who had been watching with shadowed eyes the entire time - rose as one to their feet. The way their skin and clothes sloughed away to reveal mottled amphibious skin was eerily familiar, bringing the blonde back to his first meeting with the oily bastard in front of him.

"All of you?" he whispered coldly. "You're all Danzo's minions?" Qiuhua took her father by the elbow and guided him into the back of the bar, which meant they would follow whoever won.

Fair enough.

"The Master has enlightened many, and these are but a few of those willing to carry his flag into the new world." gloated Wugui. "As will you. By sunset, the Key will be in Master Danzo's hands."

"You're going to try and take me alive, then?" The Saint turned his back to Wugui and faced the horde of creatures. "Say, Wugui, do you know what a gun is?"

"Of course," the other man frowned, having not expected the question. "It was the weapon Tsuji created, yes?"

"That's right," murmured the Saint absently. He pushed both sides of his coat back, so they were resting behind his colts. "Can tell me the most dangerous part?"

Wugui had taken a shocked step back at the sight of the weapons. "Uh... it's... uh-"

"The bullets." said the Saint flatly. "Tiny pieces of metal that come at you faster than the eye can see, then keep on going after they hit you. They are also any firearm's greatest weakness, as each one can only handle a few bullets at a time. Colts like the ones at my hips, for instance, can hold between six and ten bullets each, depending on the make."

"I see," nodded Wugui, regaining his confidence. "So you can only kill between twelve and twenty before-"

"Can I ask you, Wugui," the Saint interrupted. "What would happen if my guns never ran out of bullets?" The bar went silent. "If these weapons of mine never ran out of bullets and never jammed, if they never missed and never failed to kill, then what? Would you say I'm... invincible?"

Wugui swallowed heavily. "Well... I..."

"Well it's a shame, because guns like that just don't exist." Wugui slumped with relief. "That is to say, there is one quality I just mentioned that my guns don't possess. Can you guess which?"

The demons seemed too afraid to try. Wugui couldn't see the grim smile on the Saint of Killers' face. "These weapons are fully capable of missing their target. If I were to try and hit you by shooting in the opposite direction, you'd have to be freakishly unlucky to be hit. Which brings us to my next question." The Saint cocked his head, and everyone flinched. "Why?"

"I... I don't understand."

"Why would someone neglect such an obviously useful ability when they can give it all those other powers? They clearly have the means, when you consider what these puppies can do already. So why? You want to know?" The Saint stopped smiling. "Because I don't need it. Because I can pin a fly to a tree without killing it at three hundred meters. Because I haven't missed since the first week of marksman training. Because I can make the bullets bend through the air with my wrists. Because all my ricochets are on purpose. Because I know the structure of internal organs for every creature in Hell, Heaven and Earth. Because, Wugui, I am that. Fucking. Good." His fingers curled around the hilts of what became the deadliest weapons on earth in his hands. "So who's first?"

No one made the first move. So he did.

The draw was faster than the eye could see, and several were killed by the first shot alone. A bloody swath was cut through the monster as the bullets tore into them, each shot killing five before bouncing off the walls and killing five more.

But the creatures were adaptable, and soon made to surround him. They crawled on the floor, walls and ceiling indiscriminately, dozens of reinforcements pouring in. Twenty for every ten dead. The Saint of Killers laughed, reveling in the slaughter.

"Get in there! Bring him down!" Wugui screamed. "Bring him down or the new world order will curse your names for all eternity! GIVE! HIM! HELL!"

"Yeah!" laughed the Saint, pivoting on his heel to unleash a circular rate of fire on the kappa-beasts. "Give me hell! Give me all the hell you've got to spare!"

The wall behind the stage was knocked down. A huge fat demon stepped through, its arms and legs stubby accessories to the wrinkled torso. Its head had no features other than the mouth; a grotesque, gaping thing lined with jagged yellow teeth. With surprising speed it began to waddle towards him, then popped like a balloon when he shot it. Viscous yellow sludge spattered the combatants. The amphibious demons melted, the rate of corrosion so quick it was like the grey creature's fluid had eaten them rather than dissolved them. The Saint of Killers received the lion's share of acid head on, but not even his clothes were damaged. He turned his invincibility into a weapon, swinging his trench coat in a circle and sending the slime flying. The vile substance cut through the ranks of monsters like a blade, body parts the gunk had missed dropping uselessly to the floor. Clean once more, the Saint again returned fire.

He was indestructible, absolutely lethal and utterly unstoppable.

"This'll get him!" At the edge the room a thug who was either human or too lazy to remove his disguise was kneeling on the ground, a long metal cylinder propped on his shoulder. It was one of the more recent inventions of the Tsuji Artillery Company - which they called a 'bazooka' - and the Saint had been rather looking forward to seeing one in action. When the warhead erupted from the barrel and came screaming through the air towards him the Saint actually stopped shooting and moved a few paces to the left, as it would have missed him otherwise. Most of the monsters left alive were blown away when it detonated against his chest.

By this point the bar was ruined. Craters, scorched streaks of carbonized paint, bullet holes, acid burns, claw marks and smashed furniture littered the room. Amidst the wreckage, the Saint of Killers waved one gun in front of his face to clear the smoke. He was, of course, unhurt. "It doesn't matter whether it's ten foes or ten thousand," he muttered. He flipped open both cylinders, revealing two full sets of ammunition. "I'll take you all on." From the smoke and shadows behind him every surviving demon leapt at his back simultaneously, fangs bared and claws extended. With a flick of his wrists the Saint tossed the bullets straight out of his colts and over his shoulder, right into the faces of his enemies.

The bullets exploded like flash grenades, the sudden burst of heat and light so intense it would have cooked the creatures through UV alone were it not for the infused holy magic that disintegrated them first. The Saint of Killers had yet to blink as the flare subsided; he flipped the (once more) fully loaded cylinders shut, spun the firearms expertly on the tips of his fingers and holstered them stylishly.

All in all, he felt rather pleased with himself.

The attack didn't come from any particular direction, rather it was simply there. A flush of pure darkness was suddenly inside the Saint's aura. He fell to one knee, grasping at his chest frantically. He choked for air, but all he got was the sound of slow, sardonic applause.

"Amazing. Truly amazing, Lord Saint. The rumors of your prowess were certainly not exaggerated."

"Wugui!" the Saint managed to spit out. "You magic-sucking half-pint slicked-back bastard!"

"And I was going to let you off there," drawled Wugui. "Still letting that mouth get the better of you, I see. I'll cut off your limbs and use them as decoration when I serve Master Danzo your tongue on a platter."

"Hellooooo!" called a sudden, out of place voice. "You in here, blondie?" The burning debris blocking the exit was casually kicked aside. With zero regard for tension or timing, Hinata skipped into the room. "What're you doing in here, dude? Would've thought you'd be eating ramen somewhere."

"Believe me," the Saint croaked. "It's on my to-do-list."

"Saint?" said Hinata, leaning over in mild concern. "You okay?"

Without warning, the Saint of Killers spat into his palm as if hocking a loogie; as Hinata recoiled with a shout of disgust, the writhing blob of darkness he had just regurgitated coiled malignantly in his hand. Mercilessly, he crushed it in his fist. "I am now."

"What the hell was that?"

"A friend of yours?" asked Wugui dryly, shoving down his shock when the Saint rose without difficulty to his feet. "Poke around in other people's business and you're bound to get hurt."

"Case in point," said Hinata flippantly, gesturing to the corpses that hadn't been outright disintegrated. "All your henchmen are dead."

Wugui bristled, but retained his veneer of civility. "I'll forgive you this intrusion. Get lost."

Hinata strode forward and got up in Wugui's face, making him stagger backwards a few steps in surprise. "So you're Danzo's lackey, huh? I don't care if you get down on your knees and beg, no one gets away with bullying my sidekick!"

"Sidekick?" scowled the Saint. The pair began to bicker childishly, while Wugui blinked in confusion. Behind him, Qiuhua and Mr Zhen poked their heads around the red curtain, wondering if the violence was over with.

It was not.

"Wh... Who are you?"

Hinata stopped arguing with the Saint long enough to raise an eyebrow at him. "Why should I tell you? It doesn't matter anyway, since you're going to die right here."

The terrifying sense of deja vu Wugui had been getting since she first walked in rose to unimaginable new levels. "Wh-wh-wh... What an amusing joke!" he stammered. "A-alright then, fool! We'll see who's... who's about to die!"

Forming his fingers in an arcane symbol, Wugui thrust his left hand towards the Harmonixer. A huge, black magic circle inscribed with the symbol for 'Death' appeared in front of him. Hinata tensed and entered a fighting stance, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. There was a tense pause.

"...It didn't work?" whispered Wugui. "But how? You shouldn't... I see. You too are protected by the darkness."

"Tell me about it." muttered Hinata, then lunged forward with a right straight. With impossible flexibility Wugui bent his head to the right to dodge the attack before hitting her square in the solar plexus with a brutal palm thrust. As Hinata went flying backwards Wugui's hand followed, his arm stretching ridiculously as if it were made of elastic. As he continued to push her backwards Hinata wrapped her hands around his wrist and dug her feet into the floor, carving two long rents into the ground. Reaching out with one hand, she grabbed him further up his arm and pulled with all her might.

Wugui was yanked off his feet and sent hurtling through the air. Both feet kicked in front of him, legs stretching and twisting into spinning disk of elasticated flesh. Hinata had no choice but to let go of him and duck, or risk being brained by his heel. Wugui flipped over her gracefully, landing on his feet and immediately assaulting her with a barrage palm strikes and punches, his limbs stretching to strike her from a safe distance. With immaculate martial arts befitting her clan, Hinata blocked every blow.

Deliberately, she started to give ground. Acting as if Wugui was pushing her a lot harder than he actually was, she lured him closer and closer. Seizing her chance, she lunged forward and grabbed him around the waist before bending backwards in a perfect suplex. Allowing his rubbery body to soften the impact, Wugui took the initiative and wrapped his legs around her in turn. After flipping her over his head and smashing her into the ground Wugui sent her back the way she came and back once more, slamming over and over again into the ground. With one last colossal crash Wugui heaved himself up so he was sitting on her chest. He had a monologue waiting on his lips when light flared from the body beneath him.

The last thing he saw before a corrosive gob of darkness was spat in his face was an eerily familiar black demon. Out of pure surprise he fell backwards, the attack blinding but not hurting him. He heard the Saint of Killers start to speak. "He's immune to all magic. Hit him." Long hooked claws slashed into his chest and used his ribs as handles; with a roar, the demon lifted him over her head and reintroduced him to the floor in a spine crumbling body slam. Releasing his chest, Hinata grabbed one of his legs and swung him hard into the ceiling. He stayed embedded for a few seconds before gravity dragged him back down, only to be met with a spinning kick that sent him flying into the opposite wall. For a moment, everything went black.

He came to moments later, a small flush of light indicating that Hinata had released her transformation. "Fusion!" he hissed, and spat blood. "Y-you... You're... A demon!"

The Saint of Killers allowed himself a small smile as history repeated itself. "I've changed my mind," Hinata declared. "I'm not gonna kill you anymore. So you run along to Danzo, and you tell him the only reason he's still breathing is because I don't feel like killing him yet. Tell him I'm coming soon."

"Nngh," groaned Wugui. "Things'll go differently next time, kid." With flicker of electricity, he disappeared.

"Deja vu..."

"Huh?"

"Oh, nothing."

There was a dull crash as Mr Zhen scrambled out from his hiding place and hurried over to the victorious Harmonixer. "This can't be... I don't believe it..."

"Er," said Hinata uncertainly. "Wassup, gramps? Something on my face?"

"There's mistaking it!" Zhen whispered. "This nose, this mouth; it's an absolute likeness! It's as if she's alive... and... and..."

"Shit! He's crying!" panicked Hinata. "What do I do!"

"Uncle?" said Qiuhua hesitantly, having come out to join everyone else. "Is she..."

"Correct." smiled the Saint. "Qiuhua, Zhen, let me introduce you. This is Hinata. A memento from Yuri Hyuuga."

"Hungh?" blurted Hinata eloquently.

Later...

"Yes, when I was in River Country your mother saved my life." Zhen was saying. "Afterwards we began to work together, and we set up a shop in the Leaf as our base of operations. When we went our separate ways I came here. I had a intended to return to doing odd jobs, but ended up starting another business for Qiuhua's sake."

They were in Hinata and the Saint's hotel room. Qiuhua and the Saint were sitting around a small table. Hinata was standing and staring out the window with Mr Zhen a few paces behind her. "Every summer, Mom left the village for work," said Hinata nostalgically. "Then she'd return just before winter began. But there was that one year: a cold winter arrived, the snow was falling, but no sign of her. Instead, what came to our village was... hmph, forget it."

"I heard she had a husband, and more than one daughter." said Zhen. "But... I had no idea... For you to be alive..."

"I haven't seen my family in years," whispered Hinata. "I've no idea whether they're dead or alive." She whirled on the Saint. "You. You knew from square one, didn't you? But you kept quiet the whole time!" He stayed silent. "Why is everyone so damn secretive! Answer me, you bastard!"

"Captain Tsuji..." whispered the Saint. "...Killed your mother."

The air went cold. "What?"

"This Demon's Gate Invocation will be Danzo's third attempt," the Saint continued. "The first time he summoned the Nine Tails, and Yuri stopped him after destroying half his body. The second time he was trying to summon something different, something much stronger. I don't know what, since I wasn't there, but he didn't know he needed the Gods of Directions out of the way for the ceremony to be successful. All he summoned was the thing's spirit, and since there was no vessel prepared it went for the next best thing. A human born for the sole purpose of hosting demonic souls. A Harmonixer." Once more, his hat hid his eyes. "To stop Yuri from destroying everything she ever loved, Tsuji put a bullet through her head."

"Wait," blinked Hinata, drunk from shock. "So the person you told me about in Wave was..."

"That's right," he nodded. "Your mother. Yuri put her life on the line for what she believed in."

Hinata put her back against the wall and covered her face with her hands. "So mom... mom is actually... actually dead..."

"Master Saint," said Mr Zhen hesitantly. "If Danzo is attempting the same mistake as fifteen years ago, his next target must be Master Xifa!"

"Ah, yes." nodded the Saint. "The White Tiger. Even if it's the holiest place in Nine Heavens Taoism, that miserable fool will probably try to mess with it anyway."

"Master Xifa?" asked Qiuhua hesitantly.

"He is the greatest practitioner of Taoist magic alive, and the protector of the underground temple bordering Snow. Here's the rub; the White Tiger is ensconced there, one of the Four Gods of Directions."

Hinata lifted her head. "Byakko?"

"The correct term is Baihu." said Qiuhua, a little confrontationally. The girls began to scowl at each other, and Mr Zhen quickly changed the subject.

"At first the White Tiger was kept elsewhere, but to keep it from falling into Danzo's hands it was given to Master Xifa."

"Which means," frowned the Saint. "Danzo's plotted this scheme a lot more carefully than before. If that's what he called in Wugui for it's all beginning to make sense." There was a thoughtful pause, before the Saint rose abruptly to his feet. "Then that's where I'm going." he decided. He looked down at Hinata, who was still crouched on the floor. "Well? Do you have the courage to walk your mother's path?"

Hinata blinked in confusion. "My mother's-"

"It will be a difficult and painful road, and when you arrive you may find nothing but despair and ruin. Are you up to the challenge, huh?"

"Uncle!" gasped Qiuhua. "How could you ask something like that!"

"Butt out kid." he retorted flatly. "We've got absolutely no time to waste. This' been a race against time ever since these bastards set their sights on us."

"I..." Hinata rose slowly to her feet. "No matter the cost, if I get to see what my mother saw, I won't have a single regret. If that trumped up cocker spaniel really is trying to pull the same shit as with my mother..." She raised her head, the steel back in her eyes. "Then I'll do everything within my power to stop him."

The Saint of Killers nodded proudly. "And you can count on me to guide you through hell if you need it." They smiled at one another, and everything was alright again.

Suddenly, the door swung inwards and Mei stumbled into the room, once more in her smuggler disguise. "Errr... Hi?"

"You?" said Hinata in disbelief. "You were listening in again?"

"No!" said Mei frantically, surprise destroying her composure. "I just... just happened to overhear!"

"You weaselly little-"

"Now now, don't get angry. I've got some news that I just couldn't wait to tell you!"

'Here we go.' thought the Saint.

"I hear that Danzo has been sending his men to Snow. And that's not all, the Mist have been sending their troops in the same direction."

"What?" gasped Zhen.

"And how exactly do you know about Danzo's movements?" asked the Saint skeptically. "Let alone the Mist."

"We in the smuggling business can get our hands on all sorts of information." smirked Mei.

"Something smells here," frowned Hinata. "But if you're trying to help us, I suppose we ought to thank you."

"Well, and here I went to all the trouble of gathering information I thought you could use!" huffed Mei. "Hinata? Saint? What'll it be? You don't have much time."

"Master Saint!" blurted Zhen. "Take us with you!"

"Sorry, but I'll need you and Qiuhua to stay here." said the Saint apologetically. "We'll need you to gather as much information as you can. Also, we'll need a new base of activities."

"Wait here, and rest assured," grinned Hinata. "We'll keep Byakko safe and sound!"

"Baihu." corrected Qiuhua. Cue the glare.

"Very well," sighed Zhen. "We'll wait in the shop for your return." He grabbed his daughter by the arm and began to haul her towards the exit, unintentionally forcing Mei in the same direction. Just before they made it through the door, the Saint said something that almost made Hinata implode with horror.

"Your contacts have fallen out."

Many miles away...

The dark shape galloped across the waves. The ocean churned beneath it, as if trying to escape. The air was lit by its flaming mane. Flaming hoof prints lingered in the water as it passed.

Soon.

Very soon.