Chapter 6: The truth (part 1)
Tenten looked at vague outlines of the four strangers. "Can you guys start with showing me your faces?" Tenten inquired skeptically but politely.
The stranger with the sword raised his right hand and opened it, palm up. In the blink of an eye, a blazing ball of fire floated a few inches away from his hand. Simultaneously, all four strangers were surrounded by similar balls of fire. It seemed as if there were shrouded by invisible torches floating in midair.
Tenten swallowed the lump building in her throat. "How the hell are you doing that?"
"It is my blood limit. Just as we have explained the other night, our clan has the ability to control elements without using hand seals and chakra." The man with the sword replied.
"Our clan?" Tenten asked still incredulous. "So you're telling me I can do something like that?"
"Only time will tell if you will."
"Uh-huh…" Tenten paused as she glanced at each of them with a guarded look. "You guys know who I am. But I know nothing about who you are."
"Oh! That's right! Where are our manners?" The woman with the kind voice replied as she held her right cheek with her right hand.
Tenten looked at the woman who replied. To say that she was beautiful would be an understatement. She could imagine Ino blushing in jealousy before this woman. She was wearing what appeared like a silk midnight blue robe that reached her ankles. Tenten couldn't understand what the fabric was made of because each angle seemed to emit a different shade of blue. Patterns of what looked like dragons erupted randomly on her robe. A long slit traveled up to reveal her creamy white legs and ended just a little above mid-thigh. A strange whip was strapped on her exposed leg. Tenten found herself staring. She's never seen anything like it. Her hair seemed long but was tied neatly in a bun, with loose strands framing her smiling face. The strands emitted a strange blue-black hue.
"My name is Mifuyu." The captivating woman spoke, her cerulean eyes very well aware of the admiring gaze the bun-haired girl was sending her way.
Tenten could only nod.
"I'm Griselda." She bowed on one knee, emerald eyes never leaving hers. "It's an honor to meet you."
Tenten could only look in surprise at the gesture from the female with the strong but hoarse voice.
Judging from the way she looked and dressed, she was one tough chick. Tenten couldn't help but think of two words as she glanced at her – exotic and dangerous.
She was wearing an outfit that made her look like a huntress. She was dressed in all green with an occasional brown, and gold in some areas like her boots and her arm bands. Her hair was in one thick braid that ran through her back, down to her waist. She had a bow and arrow slung over her shoulders, together with twin daggers that looked like oversized forks strapped to her thighs. Tenten clenched her jaw. Just where the hell did all those bizarre weapons come from?
"As for myself, my name is Yue."
Tenten looked at him in surprise. He wasn't quite what she was expecting. The murderous smiling boy was replaced by an impressive looking guy in clothes that would be similar to her style. White pants with small yellow dragons rolling down one leg, and a yellow shirt with sleeves that ran pass both his hands. His shirt was split into two at the side of his hips, but the hems continued to run up to his ankles. His hair was long reaching mid-back and was completely white, secured at the bottom by a string. Tenten almost narrowed her eyes at his resemblance to a certain moon-eyed prodigy. Yue was twisting a strange looking irregularly-shaped wooden staff, which Tenten was again unfamiliar with once again.
"I am Lucas."
Tenten almost flinched at the sight of red eyes, but calmed down upon the realization that those were not Sharingan. His clothes were seemingly made of matte leather. He wore a sleeveless shirt, pants, and boots purely in black. The only thing that challenged the monochrome was the occasional hint of red dragons that seemed to cut through his chest, back and leg. His red hair in short spikes did nothing to soften his look. The gigantic sword behind his back further amplified his intimidating demeanor. Tenten decided she liked it better when he was hidden in the shadows.
"Now that introductions are made, I believe you have more than a few questions to ask." Lucas spoke as he folded his arms on his chest.
"What powers do you possess?" Tenten asked without hesitation.
"Care to guess?" Came Yue's teasing tone.
Tenten sighed. She hated it whenever her question was answered with another question but she decided to play along. "Lucas can obviously manipulate fire or something like that." She paused in deep thought. "Mifuyu probably has something to do with… ice?"
Mifuyu smiled. "Close. More like water and well, anything liquid."
Tenten nodded. "Griselda, I'm guessing would be earth?"
Griselda nodded. "Earth. Sand. Rocks. Coal. Metal. Anything that has been taken from the Earth."
Tenten nodded in awe. Metal? Now that she definitely wanted to see.
"And me?" Asked Yue in a cheerful tone.
"Judging by your clothes and attitude, I would have to say you're Air."
Yue allowed himself to grin in amusement. "I will simply take that as a compliment."
"Our powers are actually more complicated than the labels. You will get to know more about them in detail once your training begins." Mifuyu added.
Tenten blinked at the mention of training. Would she really be able to do any of those?
"As for our clan, for centuries we have been known as Avatars. Forces of nature that maintain equilibrium. We believe and rely in the power that Mother Nature provides us. In return, it is our duty to preserve her."
Tenten narrowed her eyes. "Avatars, huh."
"We are also called Avatars because of the unexplainable fact that our leader is reincarnated into a new form every generation. In a specific era, one such leader will arise to save our people."
"The manner in which you refer to…" Tenten paused, feeling hesitant to refer to it as her own. "Well, my clan, is riveting. You make it sound like we were the most powerful beings in all of humanity. But if that were the case, why are we reduced to such a number? And if I am the next clan head, how did I end up in Konoha? Who are my parents and how are you people related to them?" Tenten asked all at once.
"Whoa! Whoa! One at a time." Griselda raised both hands up in mock defeat.
"Let's begin with the history of our clan." Lucas began, unfazed by the bombardment of questions. "Have you ever heard of the Ren'nigan?"
Tenten narrowed her eyes. "No. What is it?"
"You mean Konoha doesn't mention it to its own shinobis, ey?" Yue chuckled.
"Of the three great eye techniques, it is the most powerful." Griselda replied.
Tenten failed to conceal her surprise. "Eye techniques? You mean Byakugan and Sharingan? There's still another one?" She narrowed her eyes. How come she never heard of it?
"Yes. It has a ripple-like pattern. Like that of a spiral but… Different at the same time." Mifuyu was deep in thought.
"And what does it do?" Tenten asked with one raised eye brow.
"They were said to be possessed by the "sage of the six paths"." Lucas stated.
"The sage of the six paths?"
"He is the known founder of the whole ninja world. Our clan, together with the 'sage of the six paths', joined their knowledge and skills and gave birth to ninjutsu itself." Lucas concluded with a tone of finality.
Tenten scrunched her eyebrows, trying her best to digest the information. "Okay." She paused once again, glancing at each of the four strangers warily. "Why call him the 'sage of the six paths'?"
"It's simply because he could do any type of ninjutsu. He possessed all six chakra affinities." Yue answered nonchalantly.
Tenten looked at four in disbelief. "But having affinity to all six chakra types breaks all the rules!"
"The Ren'nigan was called a tool of heaven itself. It was believed to be a tool of God that would bring salvation when the world was in chaos… Or a weapon that would destroy all creation and return everything to dust." Lucas added.
"This… Can't be true, is it?" Tenten paused as she looked for the right words. "Why would such an important part of history be kept from the shinobi of the village?"
"Whether you believe us or not, it is up to you. We will only tell you the truth." Lucas paused as he gazed at Tenten straight in the eyes. "It is your right and it is our obligation to pass the legacy of our ancestors to all those who are worthy."
"Ok. Ok. Say I do believe you." Tenten paused to close her eyes momentarily. She took a moment to calm herself. "Where does our clan enter? It seems to me like this Ren'nigan clan is powerful enough by itself." Tenten shoot Lucas a challenging gaze.
"First of all, the Ren'nigan is not possessed by a clan. Only one person obtained that kind of power, 'the sage of the six paths'. Second of all, our clan ran alongside the sage. To put it in simpler terms, the sage trained to learn our art of combat. In exchange, the sage pledged secrecy and loyalty to our clan. So in no formal recorded history will you see an account of our clan and its real abilities."
"Our clan remained anonymous simply because they didn't wish to be revealed. They didn't want other people to know of their existence." Mifuyu added.
"Why?" Tenten asked in confusion.
"Fame can give you almost everything in this world except peace and privacy." Yue replied. "Great power equates to formidable enemies. It's a cycle that will never end with humans."
Tenten blinked in silent contemplation. "You say we're a clan, and that our abilities are based on our blood limits." She paused to glance at all four of them. "If that's true, then how did the sage steal our techniques?"
"The 'sage of the six paths' lack our inherent blood limits so he relied on hand seals and chakra manipulation to imitate our techniques, giving birth to what is now known as ninjutsu." Lucas answered.
"Why would a clan give up the secret of their power to an outsider?" Tenten asked in disbelief and confusion.
"The sage of the six paths was a good friend of our first clan head since childhood. Both were practically inseparable." Griselda answered.
"Our clan trusted the sage so much that they never anticipated what happened next." Mifuyu whispered, an air of melancholic tension enveloped all four.
Tenten glanced at each of them in silence, unsure of what to say.
"The sage of the six paths was feared by many people. And most of those who feared him vowed to kill him. To save himself, he exposed our clan and all its secrets." Lucas stated monotonously, but the anger in his eyes were clear. "The sage used our clan to become stronger. And when he realized he had gotten all that was necessary, he led a raid that killed every last member of our clan."
Tenten flinched as the fire balls that once emitted a warm glow turned punishing.
"Relax Lucas." Yue stated in a calm tone. For once his cheery demeanor was nowhere to be seen.
The fire died down to a tolerable heat once again.
Tenten bit her lip hesitantly. "But if our entire clan was wiped out, how can we all be standing here?"