Noctis Eternum

Chapter Twelve: A White Rose Named Death

Author Notes: Here's the next chapter of Noctis Eternum. I hope everyone missed me because I'm back once again.

III = Interlude/ character perspective switch.

Bold text = Inner voice/ something important speaking.

There will be no crossovers, or characters from other shows.


Bottles clacked "Drink up boys!" A roguish man yelled.

A chorus of "Aye eye cap!" sent the nights festivities off. The leader of the bandits grabbed a mug of Sake and kicked the night off with a large swig.

He looked around the large hollowed out cavern with amusement. His crew went about their business with an extra swig to their step. He glanced at the Poseidon's Wrath. A tall imposing warship that was moored to the cove. Standing at 15-feet tall and 55 feet wide the Poseidon's Wrath was a Ship made for war. His crew spent years raiding those slimy Suna scum and pilfering their coastal towns to get this beauty.

The cavern itself was the size of a small village with a large cove that went straight to the nearby Sakine River. From there you could sail all the way down to Hanguri gulf or sail north and from there head east to fire country or Waterfall Country.

When his brigand had come across this little town out in the boonies he had been quick to lead in men in a raid. The men had been slaughtered, the women and children taken, and all the booze he could drink was his.

He watched his men loading up the slaves into the ship. Women held their crying children as the burly men pushed them up the Wooden ramp onto the ship, where they would be stored in cages below deck.

"Sir"

The bandit leader looked at one of his men. 'Aye it's that scrawny lad we picked up in Suna.' He thought.

"Aye what is it lad? Don't you know this be time for celebration." He took another swig feeling his checks burn.

The young teenager shook slightly hearing a hint of irritation enter the old man's voice, "Sir my name is Ganju, and the slaves have been loaded on board and we are set to sail for the Ivory docks."

"The elderly bandit smiled. If all went well he would have all the booze and women he wanted once he sold these scurvy dogs.

"Arghhh!" Someone cried out.

The bandits turned to a lithe teenage girl with vibrant flowing silver hair laying on the ground. The girl was wearing a white tube top with fingerless black gloves, a long black skirt that ended near her feet, whites pants and steel toed black boots.

The captain of the bandits sneered seeing the girl quivering as a harsh taskmaster whipped her back.

"Mercy" The girl cried.

"No mercy for you freak!" The taskmaster yelled.

"Please stop!" The girl lifted her head revealing the most odd eyes the bandit commander had seen to date. Dark crimson iris's with a soft inner reddish white framed a red pupil.

The taskmaster reared back for another lash. 'Mama, I'm sorry.' The girl closed his eyes.

Warm liquid sprayed across the girl making her shriek. The bandits eyes opened in alarm as the task master screamed in pain. His right arm laying severed on the ground.

The Silver haired teenager looked up with hope.

III

Naruto ducked under a sword before he lunged forward with twin Rasengan's. The bandit screamed as the rotating orbs grinded his face into fine mist. Hundreds of clones dashed around slaughtering bandits in the hundreds.

Soon enough it was over.

Naruto surveyed the carnage with shaking hands. His clones began helping unload the slaves. Soon Konan and Fu arrived.

"My God..." Fu looked around at the bloody scene taking in the dead bandits and weary villagers.

A clone approached him. "Boss you might want to look at this."

The clone lead them to a group of villagers huddled together around a small silver haired teenager only one year younger than Naruto. The silver haired teen had a heart shaped face framed by long freely flowing hair that ended at her waist. Feeling someone watching her the girl faced him with a smile and the strangest pair of crimson eyes since Kurenai Sensei. Perhaps they were related?

The group turned to face them. An elderly man with a goatee and a cane stepped forward. "My name is Morei. I am the village elder, to whom may I thank for saving?" The man spoke in a slow heavyset tone.

Stepping forward Naruto offered the man a handshake which the village elder accepted. "It was nothing really."

"So humble", The man commented as he twisted his goatee, eyes never leaving Naruto.

"And who is this?" he asked to the white haired girl who seemed awe stricken at being acknowledged by someone so powerful.

The village elder hesitated, "She...is the daughter of a wandering Ronin. Her mother died some years ago leaving her an Orphan."

He could see barely hidden anger and resentment cloud the girls eyes. He knew that look because he saw it in himself every day.

"What is your name?"

The girl looked between the elder and him before swallowing, "My name is..."


As far as Shuujin could remember just like her namesake she had been a prisoner of Kusagakure's Hozuki Castle."

Her Mama was pale and had silver hair just like her. When she was young her Mama had cut her hair short and had her lower face tapered. When she asked her Mama why she had been told little girls like her were not safe here.

Her Mama was a cold woman she could recall. Her pale skin, silver hair that glowed softly under the moon , and twin red dots above her eyes only added to her exotic look. Men with mean looks would often approach her Mama with a funny face and then she would go away for short periods of time. Hours later she would return crying and haggard.

The warden Mui was the most cruel of them all. Sometimes he could take prisoners away and they would return days later with empty stares, some never returned at all.

Shuujin could dimly remember one time when she was seven her Mama had made her hide as the warden came by for one of his visits. She heard begging and pleading, before strange funny noises, then silence.

Her mother peeked inside the shoddy cabinet. "Shuujin honey."

"Yes Mama"

Her Mama hugged her, "Listen honey I need you to be very quiet and follow mommy. Don't make any noise ok."

"Ok"

"Good now be a good girl and follow mommy ok." Her Mama took out a large golden key that she dimly remembered hanging from the wardens waist. Why would Mama have the wardens key?

Shuujin's mom slowly unlocked their manacles and then the door. Slowly they crawled through dark corridors. The natural darkness of the prison and the night sky protected them as they escaped.

Years later Shuujin stood by her mother's deathbed.

"Shuujin dear come close." Her ailing mother rasped.

"Yes Mama."

The woman warmly gazed at her with her springtime green eyes. "Dear you are very, very special. Some will hate you for what you are. Some will fear you."

"Mama I don't understand." Shuujin Said.

"Someday you will. You have been blessed with great strength. There will come a time when you must use that power for good."

"I-I'll try." Shuujin cried out. Holding her mother's hand she trembled like a leaf.

"Good...then remember the lessons I have taught you...I love you my dear Shuujin." The woman whispered as her eyes slowly shut.

'MAMA, MAMA!"

Many more years past as Shuujin trained until her bones ached and her muscles screamed in pain. The scrolls her mother left her and the old books the village elder gave her served as her guide.

She had realized her mother was a high ranking Ninja from Kiri. For some reason instead of being executed after the Kaguya's attempted coup her pregnant mother had been sent to the blood prison. That only left more questions then answers because her signature red eyes and lack of red forehead dots left her many questions about who her father was. Research in the Village elders library had yielded nothing. Worse her skills were stagnating as she had nothing to challenge her in this remote village. By the time of her thirteenth birthday she felt without purpose.

That was when they came.

III

Shuujin moaned as something stirred her from her slumber. Awareness slapped her into gear as the heavy scent of smoke and distant heat sent her body into flight or fight.

"What's happening?!" She nearly tumbled off her hammock in the trees as the horrifying reality set in. Flames and distant screams were coming from her village.

Running as fast as her legs would carry her she entered the village and froze. Strangely dress men laughed as they ran down women and children, chaining them into manacles and hauling them into carts like cattle. Men laid in frozen positions of pain as the bandits ruthlessly cut them down. Only the village elder and the most fit of them were spared."

Shuujin backed away, "This can't be real. Monsters!" She screamed.

The bandits stopped their pillaging upon hearing the high shriek. Suddenly Shuujin realized the bandits attention was solely on her.

The bandit leader sneered, "And what's this? Some little girl?" The bandit took a moment to appreciate his find, "Mmm not too bad, not too bad. Men take that girl!"

"Yes Sir!"

Five men approached her with leers. "Comon little girl. If you come with us willingly the commander won't hurt you, much."

Taking a step back her Mama's words echoed in her head. 'Shuujin one day you may need to use your power, if such a day comes use it wisely.'

"Yes Mama."

"SNIKT."

The five men fell over with holes in their body. Shuujin groaned as the holes in her fingertips healed.

"gasp"

"It's a ninja!"

"Run for it boys!"

The bandit leader growled , "Enough! She's just one girl!"

"Right boss!"

Shuujin found herself in her clans taijutsu stance as hundreds of foes encircled her. Her heart bounced in her chest as her Mama's words echoed in her head, Larynx, Spine, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidneys, and heart.

Bony spines grew from her ribs, arms, and shoulders. The men englobed her seeking to prevent any means of escape. That was fine. They were the ones trapped in here with her.

The first ran at her with a dagger, not taking her serious. She ran forward and ducked under his slash. "PINKT!" She rammed her forearm spike in-between his fourth and fifth rib, puncturing his heart and sending him to the afterlife.

"Grrrr, WHO WANTS SOME!" She screamed.

Men backed away as the blood splattered girl glared at them with her eerie crimson eyes. The bandit leader furrowed his brows, "Tsk."

Just when it looked like the bandits might cut it and run the leader stepped forward, "You impressed me girl, but are you willing to risk the lives of these villagers?" The man stepped aside revealing the Village elders held at knifepoint.

Shuujin shook in anger, "How dare yo-" The knife drew blood causing her to bite her lip.

The bandit leader smiled now that everything was back in control, "A wise choice girl."

Which finally lead to her current circumstances.

She watched in awe as the blonde boy blew apart that bastards face with a sphere of pure energy. Systematically the bandits were wiped out within minutes.

After they had been freed she asked the village elder who they were.

"Ninjas girl. Just like your mother."

Her eyes widened. Ninja? She had never met one besides her mother. She had only heard stories. Fantastical stories of Ninja rescuing princess's and helping downtrodden peasants like her village. There were scary stories sure, but she had to believe that ninja's were cool hero's like her Mama."

She spied her savior sneak a glance at her making her blush.

The blonde teen conversed with the village elders until finally he approached her.

What should she say? 'Just take it easy girl.' She told herself.

The smiling blonde stopped just a few feet from her, "What is your name?"

She swallowed thickly feeling suddenly nervous, looking between herself and the elder who nodded she suppressed the warm tingly feeling in her stomach.

"My Name is..."

III

"Shuujin"

He smiled, "That is a pretty name Shuujin"

"Thank you" The red eyed girl said smiling.

Konan and Fu slowly appeared at his side. Fu held out a hand to Shuujin, "Name's Fu. Nice to meet you."

Shuujin grasped Fu's hand and shook it. "My name is Shuujin it is nice to meet you too."

Everyone turned to their bluenette, "My name is Konan. " The woman stated with a blank tone.

Frowning Naruto hoped their more jaded member wouldn't leave a bad impression.

Shuujin simply rubbed the back of her head, "So anyway thanks for saving me and all."

Naruto chuckled, "It's nothing. I hate slavers and bandits."

"Personal experience?"

"Something like that" He replied stiffly.

Sensing this subject was touchy she wisely changed subject, "Are you guys ninja's?"

Moving to reply Konan decided to cut in, "We are the Akatsuki. We bring Kami's justice to the world. Those that oppose Kami's justice shall be cut down."

Naruto cringed. Konan was laying it a bit thick there.

"That's...so cool!"

Naruto's brain stopped, "huh?"

The girl giggled with stars in her eyes, "You guys are like knights for justice. You go wherever evil is and vanquish it!"

"What no that's not-" Konan bonked Naruto on the head and kept talking like nothing happened, "Of course child. I can sense you have some form of training in the ninja arts. Perhaps you wish to join?"

"Yes sign me up." The girl jumped getting a few sweat drops.

"What about us?" Asked a new voice.

Konan turned towards the villagers who were laying around in depression, "What do you mean?"

The village elder stepped up, "Our homes were destroyed and our men are too few to rebuild. We will starve if something is not done."

The townspeople seemed ready to give up all hope.

Fu simply looked at the giant boat that was anchored in the cove, "I think I might have an idea."


Sasuke found it increasingly hard to maintain his stoic facade around his new 'Sensei'.

It started innocently enough. Minato would suggest Sasuke go on a bandit extermination mission to get some real experience in the field. He had come back with the sealed hands of over five hundred bandits. He had been rewarded well enough. New jutsu, more power, a step closer to his goal.

It was the next mission that should have sent warning bells off in Sasuke's head. He had been called down to T&I for a lesson in resisting interrogation. He had screamed like a baby as Ibiki howled in laughter. Embarrassingly he had spilled all the 'mock intel' in their little exercise after Ibiki had ripped the second nail off.

That's when It Happened.

Sasuke walked into the Hokage office with a bandage around his hand. Minato stood at his window facing away from him, content to simply stare at the horizon.

"Sasuke."

The Uchiha stumbled hearing the venomous hiss. The Yondaime turned around with eyes as cold as glaciers.

He dearly hoped he hadn't somehow pissed off his Sensei. The Yondaime had made clear examples of what happened to those that disappointed him.

A shiver ran down the Uchiha's spine, "Hokage-Sama?"

"Do you know why I like you Sasuke?" Minato asked, expression blank.

"Um...No"

His flippant quip drew a small curl from Minato's lips, but then it was gone as fast as it appeared. "Hm." The man motioned him to take a seat while he found himself comfortable in the Hokage seat.

Sasuke resisted the urge to squirm as those infamous blue glaciers pinned him in place. A frown began to form on the villagers savior, "You remind me of myself you know."

Sasuke couldn't stop the surprise from showing, "Really?"

"Why of course." Eyes darkening Minato smiled, "At your age I was still finding myself. believing in the will of fire and those foolhardy lessons the Sandaime always preached, at least until...well it doesn't matter now. "

Sasuke could feel his hackles rise as the blank face of the Yondaime hid something beneath, something he did not want to discover. The man pinned Sasuke with his gaze.

Choking he held his breathe until the invisible pressure let up. Feeling cold he kept his eyes at Minato's feet hoping he had passed whatever test he was being subjected too.

"You have exceeded my expectations Sasuke." Minato suddenly praised.

What? He was proud of him? He had practically broken down like Sakura during the wave mission after only five minutes with Ibiki.

"I never expected a thirteen year old of being capable to resist Ibiki." Minato scoffed with a lackadaisical eye roll.

"Then wh-"

"Because I wanted to see how far your drive went. In the time since I began teaching you have already reached the strength of low S - Class. I have taught you fuinutsu up to Jounin level and your Genjutsu, Taijutsu, and ninjutsu are all Jounin level as well. Now only the next step to your training may begin"

He was almost afraid to find out. "What is this next step?"

Something foreign glinted in the man's eye. "Evolving your Sharingan of course. "

"Let me go you bastard!"

Sasuke turned as the door was kicked in and a screaming girl was thrown inside. In only seconds she was pinned to the floor by the fast and powerful Yondaime. Sasuke realized the girl was Hana.

Unlike the last time he had seen her before the civil war began Hana was covered in rags instead of the custom designed clothes she had been able to afford as one of Konoha's clan heiress's.

"Let me go you monste-" A hand slapped the feral girl harshly. The Yondaime sneered at the sniveling mess. He gestured for Sasuke, "To unlock the next stage of your power you must give up something precious in return."

The man handed Sasuke a kunai. Understanding bloomed inside him as he began to realize what was expected of him.

Images of a time when he was innocent of the cruel dangers of the world flickered across his mind. A younger Sasuke played with a toddler Kiba under the watchful eyes of his older teenage sister.

A cooing Sasuke waddled to the older girl with a big grin, "Are you an angel?"

"What?" The girl had asked shocked.

Baby Sasuke clapped his hands and grinned big, "You're so beautiful. Just like mommy. One day would you marry me?"

Hana laughed at the toddler and rubbed his head, "Maybe someday kid."

Sasuke hesitated as more memories floated in his head. Memories of a feral woman comforting him as he lost his clan. A time when he slashed his wrists wanting to end it all, only for Hana to show up and save him. A time when...

Minato frowned seeing his apprentice shaking, "Sasuke my boy are you ok?"

Sasuke fell down to his knees when he felt arms encircle him in a hug. He couldn't move. Why couldn't he move?!

Minato gave the boy a warm hug, "It's ok Sasuke. If you don't want to do it you don't have to."

Sasuke's trembling stopped, "Really?"

Minato's warm face and bright smile was like the sun shining. It brought some sort of twisted comfort to his heart, "Of course, but remember if you don't have the Mangekyo Sharingan you won't be able to avenge your clan." The man's face drooped in sadness.

"And then Itachi will never be stopped."

That...he was right. His older brother had murdered over five hundred of his clan. His mother and father had been killed in cold blood, and his mother..."

Coming to a decision he took the offered kunai and strode toward the wide eyed girl. "I'm sorry", and like that he slit the girls throat. The Sharingan memorized the entire event as Hana's lifeblood flowed out of her and her warm sweet chocolate brown eyes dimmed.

Tears of blood tricked down Sasuke's face and the Sharingan transformed into a red six pointed star with a black windmill blade design inside.

Minato stepped up to his grieving apprentice, "You have done well Sasuke. The screams of the dead cry for vengeance. Do not disappoint them."

Wiping away his tears Sasuke kneeled, "I will do whatever you wish, my master"

"I have a mission for you my apprentice, one which must be handled with great care. My spy in Amegakure tells me your former teammate and two Akatsuki members have been spotted leaving the city. Your mission is to track them down and capture them."

"Understood Master"

"Your team will waiting for you at 06:00 do not fail me apprentice!"

Sasuke nodded.

"Good now leave."

The door clambered shut leaving the Yondaime alone with the corpse, and something else. A shadowed figure walked from the shadows with a menacing air. Minato gave the hidden man a nod of approval, "You performed splendidly Danzo. Now the Uchiha boy is unquestionably loyal to me."

"It is always a pleasure to serve the best interests of Konoha Yondaime-Sama." The bandaged man said whilst covering the bleeding eye of Shisui Uchiha.

Something frightening flashed in the yellowed hair leaders face, "A pleasure indeed."


I actually got a lot of inspiration from this chapter from different fanfics. The concept of a slaveholding empire was something I thought about after reading "Warlord" by MiNdZeRo. In his fic the actual name of the Suna slave holding city is name "Ivory Docks" So I decided to keep the name as a homage to his fic.

Shuujin's appearance and name actually originates from another fanfic named "Fox's Illusion" by Yojimbra. Once again I decided to keep Shuujin's name since it served as inspiration for the character to a certain degree.

If you want an idea of how Shuujin actually looks imagine Shiro from deadman wonderland.