A/N hey there all hope you enjoy the latest installment of Will of Fire. i slaved over it for weeks, re wrote it more times than i could count. tell me what you think!
It was going to be a bright day for Otogakure. Orochimaru's own secret village, situated strategically between fire lightning and earth with a few smaller neighbors, was going to be gaining taking a few advantages moves on the grand chess board that encompassed the elemental nations. If one controlled the center of the board they had a sizable advantage, but only if one had the power to hold such a location. He had placed himself neatly in the center of his personal chess board. Complete with access to the sea. The master of said village had secured that power on his last outing though he had lost one of his highest ranking operatives. Something that the snake that every sane person rightly feared was going to rectify. A smile encroached upon the sadistic mans lips as his keen ears picked up on his approaching subordinates. Kabuto entered the scene, wearing his usual attire consisting of dark purple shirt with a high collar, a white under-shirt, and dark purple fingerless gloves with armored plates on the back of the hand, a white cloth waistband worn at an angle, dark purple pants, blue sandals, and a shuriken holster on his right leg. In tow he brought the person Orochimaru had asked him to summon, this person was deemed tactically worthless they had acquired him on his men's last raid and once put through the paces, had come to realize he was useless except as fodder. This is exactly what Orochimaru's latest scheme called for.
The room they stood in was coated with thick black ink that trademarked the use of Fuuin jutsu. The art of sealing, which held untold potential, but many frowned upon the fortitude it took to advance in the knowledge and the science behind it. To stay ignorant of its capabilities was like not using a limb or a vital organ. Orochimaru had a scientists mind first and foremost, he understood knowledge held true power and he intended to extend his will on some rather powerful knowledge he had acquired days long past.
"Come sit, Hisho was it? Forgive me for it's been a long few nights. I have a very important mission for you my son." The man's silver tongue oozed the words out like gilded gold, Hisho did as instructed and sat in the only part of the room that wasn't covered in ink. Hisho was no fool he knew he was weak; he had tried to fight the men when they had raided his village but was subdued with a single punch. That was six months ago and they had tried to train him with little result. So to be told he had an important mission was a little bit disconcerting and confusing. "You look worried Hisho; I assure you that it is entirely within your capabilities to complete this mission." At this point he placed his hands on the man's shoulders, Kabuto slipping out seeing that his part was done. He knew what was going down and he knew his master was expecting him prepare for their next step. "You my son have been tasked with saving Guren from the evil clutches of the wolves that call themselves Konoha. You are going to be their destruction, their executioner, and their pure unadulterated terror for generations to come." His smile was nothing less than evil and predatory.
"How? I'm utterly useless no matter how hard I try." Hiso's brown hair shadowed his coal black eyes as he looked down unable to believe that he could do such a thing. "There is no way I could fight against even a low level ninja much less a Kage." He was a realist and he was not a fighter that much had been made abundantly clear in his twenty years of life.
"I will give you the strength my son. That's why I have specially prepared this room just for you. You will be born anew just as I was, and you will be as strong as the most famous and strongest of ninja's to ever walk the earth." To Hisho's ears it sounded like a dream come true. Finally a chance to mean something, to be remembered in history, his eyes shone with belief in his Kage, who had only treated him with kindness since coming here.
"What must I do master?" He was ready for whatever it took to become strong. The weak did not survive this world.
"Just stand there my son and I will do the rest. It will burn and you will feel like your entire body is on fire but do not resist! It is just you ascending to your full potential." Orochimaru started a string of hand seals as the ink started to glow and energy buzzed in the room Hisho started screaming as the jutsu hit him. "Kuchiyose no jutsu: EDO TENSEI!" Orochimaru's voice echoed with conviction and chakra as a coffin appeared from the shadows to engulf Hisho completely. With a deafening boom the energy faded, leaving only smoke and the coffin. "Ah welcome back to the world. My once most hated of enemies." Orochimaru whispered as the door creaked open.
A black boot emerged followed by a white robe with flames licking at the bottom and the kanji for four written on the back. The man's shaggy blonde hair extended to shadow his blue eyes naturally. His trade mark Konoha bandana and jounin gear, looking as sharp and as fierce as he ever did in life. Orochimaru's grin couldn't possibly get any wider even if someone were to try and pull at his cheeks. "Wipe that smirk off your face Orochimaru, because I'm about to kill you for bringing me back." The Yondaime stepped forward and whipped out one of his trade mark tri pronged shuriken only to come up short an inch from his throat. No matter how hard he struggled to his body simply wouldn't let him follow through with his course of action.
"Put your weapon away. Now Minato. Be a good little pawn and maybe I'll let you see your son who may just want to punch you in the gut for leaving him in a village with no friends save for a decrepit old man." With a look of fury in the blonde's eyes his body did as instructed. "You must be wondering how come you can't break free of my will despite knowing the secrets of this jutsu. Ah what a glorious day this is, to see you here now with utter control over you brings me no small amount of satisfaction." Minato's only response was to growl coinciding with his very strong desire to tear the man in front him in to pieces. "You see, I have grown in power and wisdom since you were last alive." As a display of power Orochimaru flared his biju's chakra. The extraordinary power boost that was a Biju adding to Orochimaru's already expansive reserves flooded the room with its oppressive force. "I, like you, also tasted the knowledge of death but unlike you had a contingency plan." His smirk made its way onto his face. "Now I control not one but two biju. Mine and your portion of the Kyuubi's power, the most powerful biju in existence and you are helpless against my will." He strolled right up to Minato Namikaze, whom he had summoned into a live, willing host. Meaning he had his full strength and more so in death; with the majority of the fox's power inside of him. Now he had his queen on the chess board. "The best part, Konoha's golden savoir will now be their destroyer! Aren't I nice? First things first though. I have a message for an old friend of yours that I'd like you to pass on for me." Orochimaru's cackling could almost be heard echoing throughout the entirety of Kusagakure, which had hidden passages to every city within its vast tunnels.
~North gates of Konoha just before dawn~
Naruto took a deep breath to steady himself. He was turned towards the Hokage mountain and due to his positioning might clue a casual observer to the fact that he was about to go full on sprint mode. This was due to the fact that he was bent on all fours with his lead leg positioned slightly in front of his other. His crystalline blue eyes snapped open and he shot forward like a coiled spring.
"Damn that kids freaky fast." Izumo said offhandedly to his ever present best friend and partner Kotetsu. The two of them were always guarding the north gates when they wanted a day to relax when not on heavy duty missions or heavy duty training.
"Tch who cares how fast he is. Why do we have to be stuck here basically being the thirds wiper?" Kotetsu groaned, of the two he was always the more lackadaisical one to Izumo's responsible and overly sensible attitude.
"Yeah well if you're laziness requires that we do nothing all day we should at least get paid for it. DESPITE this being the best bloody job as a shinobi. We are tasked with guarding the youth and the weak from those with ill intent and we get the joys of meeting those- and you're not even bloody listening to me Kotetsu! KOTETU!" Halfway through his grand explanation he had looked over to find his friend with his head face down on the table.
The only response Kotetsu gave was to snore loudly. Causing Izumo to start ranting at his already asleep partner, which is why they both missed the blue blur that shot passed them with enough speed to cause a dust devil in its wake.
Naruto shot across the dirt weaving in out up, under, over and around the buildings in his way, the only thing he saw was the track laid before him. The music in his ears was the sound of his blood pumping through his veins as oxygen was delivered from his deep breaths On the ground for the moment Naruto was speeding forward on a direct path to a three story home and beyond that the river. It was at least a twenty foot jump not including the height of house. Naruto bee lined it, putting on an extra boost of speed. Right before the house as his next foot impacted the ground Naruto coiled low shunting chakra to his system before leaping with all of his might and expelling all the chakra out of his lead foot like a shotgun blast. With a sonic boom Naruto flipped acrobatically over the house shouting with exuberance as he landed safely on the grass of the park that sat on the other side of bridge. One that he used to play in at night when he was lonely and he pretended he had imaginary friends. Without breaking stride he shook off those memories speeding on his way towards the ever looming mountain holding the four faces that always cast a shadow over him.
Soon he was paces away from the mountain. Then he was and he shot up that too using chakra to stick to the surface and leap upwards with almost unnatural agility and acrobatics. Halfway up the mountain the golden line that marked the rise of the sun appeared a few paces below him and started rapidly trying to outpace him. Or was it he who was trying to outpace the sun? "Fine it's game time!" Naruto called challengingly to the sun as he pushed himself even harder blood and adrenaline pumping in his. The golden line not to be outdone was creepingly gaining on him. Three quarters up he felt the heat of the sun on his head being perpendicular to the mountain and all. With a growl Naruto shunted a little extra chakra to his muscles and left a dust ball. He broke the top just in time leaping over the edge and flipping towards the horizon just in time to see the sun gloriously break the surface. "Took you long enough dobe." Sasuke's jibing tone called from behind him. Having beaten Naruto by a minute, though the way he worded it making Naruto believe it to be far longer. This was all part of the plan.
"Humph didn't even realize you were following me, or believe me it wouldn't have." Naruto challenged back, far to prideful to admit or show that he was actually a little bit rattled. He hadn't been using the echo location jutsu like he normally did and was completely ignorant of Sasuke's presence until he had spoken up. If it had been an enemy they could have potentially killed him right then and there. He would never EVER admit to the person in front of him however.
"Ha! Good one dobe, you were following me the whole time you just couldn't see me because I don't wear kill me Orange." Sasuke smoothly fired back. "You owe me a jutsu and you've been back for a day. I've come to collect." The Uchiha waited expectantly.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Just because I got back didn't mean you were, though I did see your new bridge. Very cute, your fandom grows and knows no limits I see. Don't ever expect me to be one of them, you'll have to chill those too small of shorts and be patient. It'll take time to set up for what I'm going to show you. It's not a normal jutsu, it's part Fuuin jutsu part Nature manipulation and part blood. Beyond that learning it the way I intend to will either kill you or pull you to the next plateau." The blonde explained with exasperation as if he were reproaching a child. "Oh you'll also need quite a bit of time off too. Because you'll be gone for at least a month, though if you're not back by then you'll probably be dead."
Sasuke smirked; he liked the sound of this jutsu more and more. The two of them had known each other since they were children if Naruto said he had a jutsu to show him he did. So wait he would it was no matter if he had to wait. "Well lucky for you I was just approved for a month of vacation after my last c ranked mission turned into an s rank." He boasted clearly trying to achieve the shock and awe factor.
"Oh really? Great I just got a month off as well after my scheduled S ranked mission. I also got a nice bonus too for being instrumental in the capture of a high ranking operative" Naruto said nonchalantly as if were an everyday thing.
"Care to back that up behind a spar?" Sasuke challenged. He was certain that in a straight up fight he would emerge the victor between the two of them. Classic Uchiha mindset. Though his ego was boosted now with a fully matured sharingan and the ability to unlock the third gate. Neither of the achievements were something to sneeze at.
"Much as I'd love to tear you asunder and drag that over inflated ego of yours all the way from here to Kumogakure, you're going to need to be at full strength tomorrow morning. I'll have everything set up by then. Besides fighting you would be a bore." Naruto jibed, though it wasn't hard to tell he was chomping at the bit to show Sasuke that not even the might of the Uchiha clan could stand against him.
"When I get done learning this jutsu, if learning it hasn't killed you, I'm going to make you eat those words; and then kill you myself in the finals of the Chunin exams." Sasuke stated to his not-friend and rival, hopping off the mountain top and disappearing from Naruto's view.
Naruto smiled, Sasuke may not have realized it but he just stated in that sentence that he believed Naruto could make it to the finals. Going even deeper to what would always be left unsaid was the one simple truth which was the true reason Naruto was smiling to himself. Sasuke believed in him, which was one more person than he had before. The number was small, almost frighteningly slow but it was also slowly growing and that made him happy.
"See Sakura I told you I heard his voice up here. Hey Naruto!" A familiar voice called to the blonde, it seemed he was popular today. Ino and Sakura approached with waves and smiles.
'They're here for Sasuke I'll bet.' Naruto thought to himself. Much as he adored the pink haired Sakura he knew that when those two were involved it was never about him. They always needed something from him sure but in the end it always led back to them trying to garner Sasuke's attention. "Hey Ino-Chan, Sakura-Chan! How are you guys doing?" He asked beaming them a smile like he always did for them.
Ino ever the bossy one spoke before Sakura could even form a thought to be spoken. "We're good! The reason we're here is because Sakura and I and all the girls of the rookie twelve are throwing a reunion today and we wanted to make sure all the boys showed up. We've already decided the venue will be Choji's family restaurant. The food there is best in the city and you can't ask for anything more homey feeling. It starts at seven so don't you dare be late or kami herself won't be able to save you from my wrath. Also have you seen Sasuke around I could have sworn I saw him racing this way."
'Ha knew it! And by girls of the rookie nine and Sakura you mean that you brow beat them all till they said yes meekly." Naruto laughed inwardly to himself. Outwardly his smile widened. "Thank you guys for inviting me! I'll definitely be there. As for Sasuke you just missed him." Cure dual groans from both females. He could almost hear them complaining about an entirely wasted trip up the mountain. "See ya on the flip side ladies." Naruto flashed them one final smile before taking a page out of Sasuke's book, and walked to the edge of the cliff face. Curling to his toes on the edge he crouched slight before pushing off ward and downward and expelling as much chakra as he possibly could at the moment his moment of launching. The effect? Another supersonic jump, the wind left in his wake blowing the girls hair out of it's too perfectstate leaving a much funnier and more naturally looking wild tangled mess of hair closer resembling a mane.
~Wilderness surrounding Konohagakure. ~
"You sure this the right place Kai-sama?" Yugao queried, uncertainty coloring her words. She was currently dressed for all things that dealt in war. Outwardly all one could see was a plain long sleeved, gloved, completely non-descript Anbu attire. Her Konoha headband resting comfortably on her forehead. Beneath that hid mesh the likes of which could save her from even a senbon trying to pierce its way into her stomach. Plating underneath her bracers allowing it defenses enough to withstand even wind chakra empowered swords. Over that but underneath the loose shinobi's top she wore a plated vest that protected her with even better material than on her bracers. Kai-sama had demanded she prepare as thus, so naturally she was confused when he had brought her what appeared to be nothing more than a normal cave.
The trip itself had taken them two weeks to traverse the jungles and forests of Konoha. They had cut a pretty rapid pace as well. Their long trek hadn't been on some kindly road either. Oh no they had had to hack their way through some rather thick vegetation at certain points. They had put it some last minute training during the nights when they had camped just to ensure their skills stayed as sharp as a blade and that they were ready to leap into action at a moments' notice. The spars never lasted for more than fifteen minutes but by the end of it both parties were rather exhausted for various reasons. So to have gone all this way prepared so much in advance, to be led here felt kind of melodramatic in her opinion.
Kai, Yugao's patron and the one that held her true and ultimate loyalties, nodded. "Yes I am sure, have I ever been wrong before?" He chided her with exasperation clearly evident in his reproach. A conversation that he seemed to feel he'd had with her on more than just a couple occasions. His still very vibrant red hair, even in his advanced age, was tied into a traditional samurai's knot, with long bangs framing his face and making his golden yellow eyes even more striking. The man was dressed in layered plate armor of the samurai and ninja's of days long past. Like those of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju. The white coloring making it look like marble with golden trim lining. A swirl pattern of gold prominently displaying on the back of the armor. At his hip res t the sword that had carved more than a fair share of hearts out and today it would taste blood again. Much blood.
With steely determination flickering in his eyes Kai strode forward, flicking his straight double edged, hand and a half sword slightly out of the hilt. His armored hand gripping the Y shaped pommel consisting of cherry wood with steel accenting lattice work with an iron grip. "Be on your guard Yugao. We're about to wade into war." His tone was deadly serious has his form was engulfed by the inky blackness of the cave.
Yugao scoffed as she too was enshrouded, keeping stride with him. "As if the dark could scare me. I've seen devils in the light of day and in the dark of night. They all end up the same. Dead" she declared haughtily.
Kai smirked at her bravado. "Keep that courage about you then, because company has arrived. Just remember I want one alive. As for the rest well… good luck." He said as much to his companion as he did to those that had now surrounded them.
A growling Hiss issued forth around them from more mouths than one count as pairs upon pairs of glowing yellow, red, green, white, blue, eyes opened and honed in on the pairs. One was even bold enough to speak. The sound of its voice like rocks in a blender. "You sayyyy you have seen demonsss…. Childddd… but Iii think that you neeeeed a lesssoonnnn." The demon started laughing sickly. The other demons starting to howl unnaturally their screeching at such a high pitch that it was starting to seriously hurt the pair of human ears in the room. "The red dawn has begun once more. Soon this entire world will be engulfed by chaos." His statement was emphasized by the demons collectively stomping on the ground, the amount of feet pounding with unnatural might causing the entire cave to start shuddering. The stalactites above started shaking. "ATTACK MY BROTHERS!" the voice howled. The demons needed no further encouraging as the glowing eyes disappeared becoming blurs of shadow.
"MOVE!" Kai commanded as he leapt into action.
Yugao smiled, her brown eyes gaining the bluish glow that indicated chakra. "I'm going to kill more than you Kai-sama." She declared before she became a flash of steel and a blur of cloth.
~At the Hyuuga compound. ~
Hinata Hyuuga, many things could be said about the young heiress to the prestigious clan. She was kind, humble, smart, and was one of the few in the world that was truly genuinely good hearted. She wanted to be strong yes, so she could defend her friends. She wanted to be wise yes, so she was not only able but also knew how to help. She was a determined one and saw things through. As accounted for on the numerous occasions her teammates had dropped her off at home because she had trained so hard she fainted. She always trying to please her father, to no end sadly. Many of her friends told her to stop trying to impress her father whom only seemed to care about family image and was constantly berating and undercutting her abilities.
The outwardly cold man never offered a kind word to his daughter, only words on how she needed to improve and be better than she was. That a clan head could not be weak in mind or in body. They had to be strong and stern. Like him, like she wasn't. She didn't honestly desire to be clan head but her life would never be her own because she was born into the noble house of the Hyuuga. While many thought it a privilege, for he it was a prison. She could not be whom she truly was and she could never express her true self, or be who she truly wished to be for the heads of the family would always be guiding A.K.A controlling her actions. That was the opinion of many outsiders that looked upon the Hyuuga clan.
They were not the Hyuuga though and they could never fully understand their culture without complete immersion. Hinata had that boon; she was not a drone to the elders. She DID have some power over her own fate but she could not radically change the fundamental belief system and daily operations systems of the whole clan without the support of the elders and the majority as a whole. They were Democratic like that. While yes it was a caste system the voices of each caste was heard by their representatives and their situations regarded and decided over by the council of elders who then brought it to the attention of the head to be approved or disapproved. While her father never said a word of encouragement to her she didn't need him to.
She understood fully that he cared about her. It's why he pushed her so hard, why he constantly critiqued her abilities and told her to be better. She was not only a clan heiress but also a female future head. While she was young one attempt had already been made to kidnap her for breeding purposes. She shuddered at the thought. No she understood fully why he drove at her day and night. Especially after the death of mother. Which many believed was no accident. Her among them which only drove her to train herself even harder. Today was happy though, after all those of them that had passed their Gennin exams were going to be having a celebration for making it six months in. Naruto was going to be there.
Ah her heart's desire. She had loved Naruto more than the entirety of the world and yet he would never know it because she was far too shy. She couldn't even say a word to him without fainting. Stupid, silly, imbecilic, and most definitely embarrassing. Yet he had that affect on her and she simply could not help it. She followed him many a days just to absorb his form. She was compelled beyond reason to. She couldn't possibly go say hi, oh no that would require actual interaction and he would find her far too weird.
Then there was the fact that, when she was still in the process of learning to control her Byakugan, she had seen his member and sparked an already over active and impressionable young mind into hyper drive. She could never un-see that nor did she want too. It was her secret that she would take to the grave, and he would always be her obsession that she simply could not and would not part with. She even had a homemade doll that she modeled after him. A Chibi-Naruto giving a peace sign and beaming the way he always did to melt her heart to a puddle.
She shook her head as her feet peddled her along the Hyuuga compound; she was currently passing the gardens. Her favorite place in the entire compound. Flowers, sculpted trees and all sorts of other rare plants and trees abounded displaying the beauty of Nature in its highest and purest art form. Beyond lay the Hyuuga house; a two tiered house-compound. The main house was at the center, and it was a two story ornate almost castle like structure. The base made of perfectly shaped stones so they fit together without needing any kind of mortar. Something their architects specialized in. Above lay the wooden beams with lattice like shutters on the windows leading up to the pyramid shingled roofs. No nails were needed as all the wood was cut and shaped and put together in such a manner that the need for nails and glue and other such construction were rendered meaningless. Truly it was a work of art, a project that had taken an entire generation of Hyuuga clan members. The house itself was surrounded by an octagonal garden and wall. This ornate house was the home of the entire main house and council chamber. The mansions was huge consisting of at least fifty bedrooms and ten bathrooms. Nobles and their penchant for luxury was seemingly a never ending cliché. Outside the inner wall lay the branch houses compound. It was a single story octagonal shaped building, surrounding that was a floating garden on top a moat. Beyond that another wall that led into Konoha.
She personally hated the inner wall. There was no need for the main house to close themselves off from the branch house. It was simply a cruel reminder daily to those of the branch family that they were supposedly lesser than their noble brethren. An idea that honestly sickened the heiress. Something she was going to rectify as head, elders be damned. Those that wouldn't bow would break. She didn't care, she'd had just about enough of the cruelty she knew to be true in the past and even today though it happened out of her sight. She knew it existed. She was going to ensure that it didn't stay that way. She was thinking again too much, but that was what she did since she didn't really have anyone to talk to.
Which brought her thoughts again to her father, only this time to why he had sent a summons to her, it seemed odd to her. There was no pressing issues that she could think of coming up that her father would require her to be at his side. There were no ceremonies that she could remember taking place that needed her to prepare for. So she had to admit she was a bit curios as to what her old man wanted. She smiled and waved to the branch guard stationed just outside the entrance to the main house. He smiled back and opened the door for with a sincere thank you.
The sad truth was most Noble house members simply ignored the existence of their branch brethren. She sighed as she ascended the lavish spiral stairs that led up to the second story of the main house, where her Fathers office was which was where he had requested her. That meant whatever it was pertained to business or the welfare of the clan. Which meant her father was not going to be in a pleasant mood. No matter, nothing her father could burden her with today was going to bring her down. Today was going to be the day she finally broke her shy streak and finally talked to Naruto.
She took a steadying breath just before her fathers' study. She always had to steel her nerves around him now. For he was all business these days and that meant when in his presence she had to act like her station demanded. Straightening her posture she opened the door and strode in. Hiashi Hyuuga's study was not very decorated with personal items. More like an cell in a building of cubicles. In one corner was a shelf containing various documents a work desk in the center and in the north portion of the room. Where the man himself sat behind said desk in his high back bamboo chair with ornate carvings on it. The left corner held a fern and the only window to the outside world in the office.
Hiashi was dressed as he always was in his light blue outfit with white accenting. His face might has well have been carved marble for the amount of movement it did throughout the year these days. His ever present almost scowl tattooed onto his face. His uncaring pale eyes turning to her in admission of her presence. To her surprise none other Than Sasuke Uchiha was sitting on one of the two cushions currently placed for the company of this meeting. Hinata glided into her cushion adjacent to the Uchiha. She suddenly had a very, very bad feeling in her gut.
"Okay what's the deal Hiashi, I came like you asked, now stop stalling. What did you call me here for?" Sasuke barked impatiently. He had better things to do than pander to the needs of a clan he deemed lesser than his.
Hiashi returned him a dithering glare. He didn't speak, didn't move, he merely sat there staring unnervingly at the Uchiha. Hiashi was no babe when it came to addressing royalty and those with self inflated egos. Hiashi was and always would be a pragmatist. "You would do well to hold your tongue and open your mind to the lessons your betters and elders have to teach you young clan heir. I brought you here not because I desired to deal with the likes of a spoiled Uchiha whelp to green to know the pointy end of a kunai with an imbecilic need for revenge against a far superior opponent." His jab at the Uchiha worked marvelously. Hiashi couldn't help himself, he didn't have the patience he once did in dealing with insufferable people, Sasuke Uchiha being chief among them at the moment.
Before more jabs could be traded and have the meeting degenerate into a pissing contest that her father would surely win Hinata smoothly and calmly interjected, distracting and refocusing the both of them with masterful tact. "Pleas father, enlighten me as to why I was needed at this meeting as well. Especially one with another clan head, surely this meeting should be conducted in private." Did she seem anxious to leave? That's because she was, her eyes had flicked to the clock and she was losing precious time to prepare herself. One beast at a time, however, her father demanded utmost focus from her and should she wane from it she would be brutally rebuked for it.
Hiashi cleared his throat. "Yes as I was saying, this has everything to do with the both of you actually. I did not call you here on my behalf but on behalf of both of your late mothers." His tone was completely void of all emotion when he said this. Like he had taken whatever emotion was supposed to be there about whatever he was talking and thrown it so far into the recesses of his subconscious not even a Yamanaka could find it. Wordlessly he hand them both a copy of an official looking document complete with signed signatures of both of their mothers written clearly at the bottom. Hiashi's mastery of his emotions was all that kept him in check as he told these two very young children something neither of them wished to hear.
He saw their eyes scanning through the leaf of paper that was going to forever change their destiny from this day forth. Despite what all, even his daughter, believed the father of the beautiful young Heiress was very sensitive to his daughter's emotional states and needs. He was also aware of far more than she gave him credit for. He knew about her crush on the Uzumaki boy. He also knew what kind of trouble that could cause their family if chose to actually act on those feelings. This wasn't to say he didn't feel for her. He wanted nothing more than to tell her to go to him and be who she desired to be. He loved her all the same and wanted her to blossom into the flower she desired to be. Not one she was forced to bloom into, with her colors and shape predetermined and forcibly grown. Nature wasn't designed for control and mass replication. Neither was human growth. He knew each person was unique and had seen firsthand the strengths diversity could bring. It's why he stopped personally training her and allowed her to study through the ninja program despite the elders cries of disagreement. Fuck them she was his daughter and he would do certain things for her. Unfortunately this was something that his late wife had promised he would see through on her death bed. She said that it would heal clans, as well as his daughter and the Uchiha. He would never admit that such a thing could ever heal him even if she did claim such a thing.
Seeing Sasuke's eyes go wide before Hinata's he chose that moment to give his very unsavory news. The words sticking in his throat like paste and sand paper. "From this day forth the two of you are betrothed. You have come of age and the time has come for the two of you to honor your duties as members of your respective clans." His words came out colder sounding then he had meant but he couldn't help it. If he let out his true emotions he would rip his daughter's latest source of misery to shreds. He could see it on her very well schooled features. Alas you couldn't hide Hyuuga emotion from the head Hyuuga. He'd seen it too much on his daughters face lately.
Sasuke was in shock, but soon that shock faded into something else, unbridled fury at the man before him for trying to control his fate with what could very well be a forgery in his mind. "You dare joke with this old man. I should kill you where you stand! How dare you try and bribe my loyalties through my dead mother!" He never realized in his hot headedness that he had risen to his feet and was now standing in front of the desk snarling at the advisory before him.
Hinata's world had now officially crashed down around her. The one thing she had, her father had found a way to strip away from her. It wasn't fair, it wasn't right and damn it all she couldn't believe that such a thing could have ever possibly occurred. 'Let's go on a rampage!' a dark whisper in her head cooed seductively. 'How dare they try and take our right to love and marry whom we choose. That is our kami given right!' the whispers of more dark things arose in her mind and she was dangerously close to listening to them, completely unaware of the world around her, so absorbed in her broken thoughts was she.
Hiashi slammed his hands down on the table in retaliation of Sasuke's outburst and he stood looming over the teen with a snarl of his own. "Boy how dare you question my integrity! You're not the only one who lost family to tragedy! The ONLY reason I am putting up with your filth marrying my daughter is because it was my wife's dying wish, and this document was signed when you were both babes in the womb to attempt to strengthen our families. If I had my way you would never have even touched foot in this compound much less around my daughter without my fists buried in your chest." Hiashi took a steadying breath. The Uchiha had always had a way of getting under his skin. "You are a clan head now! Start acting like one. You have responsibilities that are now falling upon your shoulders so start acting like the man you pretend to be and accept your station in all its entirety. You say you want to revive your clan one day but I have yet to see you pursue that goal instead you grab at power like a babe grasping around in the dark for something to stick in its mouth and suck on. I'm offering you an entire clans worth of support and you dare mock me as such!?" Hiashi's arguments left no room for reproach. Something in the way he spoke registered with the raven haired teen.
Sasuke sat back down as things started to really sink in for him. Hiashi, despite being a bigot, had been right. For all Sasuke's posturing about reviving his clan and taking revenge. He hadn't been making alliances or strengthen ties to his family to secure their support and loyalty. In short he hadn't been thinking like a clan head and instead had been thinking like every other person in Konoha. He needed to remember he was not them, his status burdened him with far more responsibilities than he could have ever foreseen. It was truly up to him to carry on the Uchiha legacy. If he died, that would be the end of the line for his clan. He had truly never put much thought about that until just this very moment and the revelation was hitting him hard.
"I hate you. How dare you call me your daughter when you treat me like property. This deal is a farce! I will neve-" Hinata started to rage but then Hiashi's dithering stare turned on her and all of her built up rage vanished replaced by the stronger beast inside of her that was fear.
"You would dare disrespect the wishes of your mom?" His words were spoken ever so softly, yet they carried the weight of world upon them. Ice settled in the room after his statement.
A single tear ran down the heiress's cheek, she sniffle once, before she stood and straightened herself looking more regal and noble than either man had seen her before. "I stand behind my statement. I hate you. That is as decided as my fate." With her piece said she swept out of the room.
Sasuke watched in her leave in awe. It took balls to talk to your parent like that, and this was a side of Hinata he had never before seen. Maybe she wasn't as demure as she seemed in public. "Can't say I blame her." Sasuke muttered her feelings mirroring his own at the moment.
"That makes two of us young Uchiha. You need training in what it means to be a clan head and it falls to me to teach you. Once a month you will meet me here for instruction, unless you are otherwise preoccupied. Blow me off and it will be a BIG mistake for your clan's future, now leave me. I am weary of this meeting." Hiashi dismissed the raven haired boy with a wave. Turning his attention to a photo on his desk, a picture of Him, Hinata, and his late pregnant wife with their second child Hanabi, it was one of the happiest days of his life. What he would give to be back in the time with the woman who made him whole.
As Sasuke left the room he looked back for one last glace at the Hyuuga leader. His sharp eyes caught sight of the photo, and the moisture build up in the corner of the man's eyes. His keen ears heard the man's whispered admission meant only for the ears of the dead and the man himself. "My dearest love, what have I done to our baby girl?" The words a man broken beyond repair desperately trying to struggle on to some semblance of what his life once was.
It appeared to Sasuke the elder had a heart after all. Maybe he should go try and work things out with Hinata. He stopped in his tracks when his brain processed that thought. "God damn it Naruto. I'm going to kill you for infecting me with this disease." He cursed his budding conscious as he headed off to where he could sense his now fiancé. Man that concept felt so entirely alien to him. "I don't think I'll ever get used to this." He grumbled as he trudged his way to go defend a man who had just engaged him to a woman who loathed his entire being and favored none other than his dobe of a best friend. Not that he would ever admit that to anyone, ever.
~back in the main base of Otogakure. In another laboratory room~
Kimimaro stood looking at his palm with seeming awe written on his features. His master who had taken him in and sheltered him, taught him to be strong and to control his incredible power, had now done the impossible. He had cured the boy of his terminal disease, more accurately speaking, with Kabuto's mad doctor skills and vast medical knowledge and with the incredible power of a biju as a chakra battery Kabuto's limits to what he could do medically became vastly expanded. This was a trivial matter when one had possession of such incredible power.
Kimimaro's finger bones extended and retracted over and over again. He was still in wonder at how good he felt at this moment. He looked up at his master and commander who had a smile mile wide at the moment. "Master I will not fail you again. You have given me a rebirth and as always I am ready and eager to serve." He was almost moved to tears by how grateful he was but he knew his master hated such signs of weakness and would not tarnish the man in any way.
Orochimaru gleamed at his newly rejuvenated asset. The only reason he had lost to the Uzumaki was because of his failing conditions, now however he would be more than a match for the blonde boy. "Do not worry my champion. You have always been one of my generals and one of the greatest among them. I need you at you're full strength for the events I am shaping in the future. For now I want you to meet a friend of mine. He just so happens to your blonde rivals' father. You will be accompanying him as he completes the tasks I set for him to make sure he stays in line. Minato say hello and meet your new play mate!" he called jovially. From the shadows of the room Minato appeared looking totally grim. "Aww Minato where is that renowned wit you were so well known for in life?" His response was to flip the Sannin off. "Remind me when you two get back to regale you with the real reason why he was nick named the yellow flash Kimimaro. It is a rather fascinating story." His smile didn't waver despite the struggle he felt from Minato's will who desperately wanted to tear the man in front of him to shreds.
Kimimaro had heard stories of the man in front of him. Even his clan had been scared of the man. "I thought you'd be bigger. Let's get going, our master's time is precious, and I don't know where were going but I am eager to be of use once more." He was also eager to test just how far he could push his newly rejuvenated body. "The next time I face your son he is going to die." Kimimaro declared to the blonde as his body forced him to lead the silver haired teen out of the complex.
Minato laughed whole heartedly at that concept. "Tell me when you fought my son last, how did he fight?" He was honestly curious about his son's development and the last one to be in a true pitched battle to the death was the man beside him. Thus his he would take the source provided to him.
Kimimaro glared at Minato's casual dismissal of his abilities. "He fought like every other weak shinobi out there. In the end the only reason he won was because he rooted me to the spot. He could not end me he could only hold me in place with Fuuin jutsu." He still remembered that defeat sourly and he was bloodthirsty for a chance to rectify himself in his own eyes in front of his master. If that meant escorting Minato across the country side to ensure that he didn't stray from his projected path then that was what he was going do and he was going to do it with utmost excellence.
Minato grinned. "Then you obviously weren't an opponent he felt he needed to go all out on because you would not be calling him weak if he did." The creature he had put into his sons gut was the king of king's when it came to pure unbridled power. He would know he had the other half of it in his own dead but alive body.
The pair were already outside the boundaries as they talked back and forth. "Humph believe me I didn't go all out on him either. He was nothing special. I've defeated far tougher opponents in number at the same time than that little whelp." Was there bitterness to his tone? Maybe because he felt that it was a coward's win Naruto had achieved against him on their last bout. "I gravely wounded him the last time we fought, and I was gravely ill than. Like I told you the next time we fight. He will die. I will not allow his existence to mar this planet."
Minato simply shook his head. "You are a fool to underestimate my son, and to mock at Fuuin jutsu, which is the most ancient and most powerful, as well as the most diverse art of the ninja. Your boss constantly travels the globe looking for even the slightest sniffle of the stuff. You even are enhanced by Fuuin jutsu and it just saved your life and yet you still look down on it." There was simply no teaching some people.
Kimimaro nodded. "That's because it allows the unnatural to happen. It causes things that have no right to exist. It caused you, a dead man, to be revived. It healed me, a dying man. It gave birth to the human monsters that are the Jinchuriki. This world would be a lot better off and the balance of Nature much more fair if that damnable art was eradicated completely. Yet it is not for me to decide. I simply aid my master in furthering his goals and that is my purpose. As it is now yours. So shut up and keep walking. I tire of talking." Like father like son, Kimimaro decided he hated them both equally. They were both snobbish know it all's that defied that laws of the strong vs. the weak.
~Konoha, the Akimichi house hold. ~
No one could put on a dinner quite like the Akimichi family. They were master chefs for a reason, their culinary knowledge flat out trumped anyone else in the entirety of the elemental nations. They had contacts all over the known world and through trade and generations upon generations of cooking they had earned the rank and the title as the best. Period.
The meal itself that the rookie twelve were privileged to was nothing short of a feast. The main course was an entire roasted ham complete with the apple in the mouth. It was glazed with an absolutely delectable pineapple based sauce. It was not only cooked and browned to perfection but the ham was so juicy it literally needed nothing to wash it down. The side dishes too were nothing to be sneezed at. Potatoes au gratin that were like heaven and like nothing the group had tasted before. There was more than one loaf of bread present at the table and more than one variety as well.
The vegetables they serves were damnably fresh and outstandingly appetizing. As far as veggies were concerned these were the kinds Naruto could stomach and were decidedly delicious. If he could learn to cook like this he might even think of slowing down his ramen intake. Slightly. Nothing compared to that heaven.
Speaking of ramen, knowing Naruto's appetite for the simple dish the Akimichi had outdone themselves with what they called the Uzumaki special and Naruto had already devoured more bowls of that than anyone thought godly possible. Watching him eat was like a horror film when he was engulfing the stuff. Yet it was so disgustingly fascinating that they couldn't tear their eyes away.
For dessert there was cake, pies of every kind, blue berry, lemon Morang, apple, pumpkin, and a host of others that they had eagerly dug into with abandon. The coolest part of the meal, however, had been the company of the entirety of the Akimichi clan members dining and celebrating with them. Making all of them feel welcome and at home.
After the meal the group had broken into separate groups of chatter and everyone was honestly getting along, even the usually sour faced Uchiha. Though there was something going on between him and Hinata that had them both on edge for some reason, the group had come notice. Not only did they arrive together but Hinata's state of dress had shocked damn near everyone to the core.
Gone was her purple, fur lined jacket and matching pants. It seems she had had a teenage life crisis and decided to radically change her appearance. The only thing she didn't change was her hair. There was a brand new shiny stud on her right nostril, having obviously gotten pierced earlier. She was now wearing leather pant and a black vest with a black mesh long sleeve that had sewn in fingerless rings. She wore a single ring on her left middle finger that had a sculpted skull on it with black opal eye sockets, the only purple on left on her was on her fingers and toes, which was the color of the polish she had chosen.
Something had happened but she had acted like nothing was out of sorts so they hadn't approached the subject. Hinata had always been an odd one and maybe she was making a statement to her uptight family. They didn't know but they were there for her should she have need of them and she had seen that tonight with the simple acceptance of her radically changed appearance. She was grateful for them not pushing the question she knew they wanted to ask but she just needed a change in her life and this was one thing her father couldn't reproach her about and if he tried she wouldn't hear or heed him.
Sasuke kind of understood and simply let her alone after their talk following the meeting with her father. He still couldn't believe he had defended the man, but he had come to something of a mutual understanding with him. Either way his already occupied mind had even more to think about now, and things to plan for.
"So tomorrow be at the top of the Kage Mountain at dawn." Naruto's voice invaded his thoughts and annoyingly demanded his attention. Sasuke gave him a grunt of acknowledgement. Maybe that would get the dobe to go away? He had a lot of things on his plate and the last thing he needed was an intrusive blonde thrown into the mix. "So what's got your panties in a bunch and why have you and Hinata been on edge this entire evening?"
Sasuke involuntarily growled. "Back off Naruto, not tonight." The Uchiha never called him by his name. Thus, caught off guard by the change in there dynamic, he did back off. Whatever was irking Sasuke was obviously something big that he did not wish to share with others right now because he himself was still trying to figure out how to absorb and proceed through it all. "Ill be there. You have my word." He admonished gruffly. So maybe it was just a bad day for the guy after all.
Naruto nodded in acknowledgement. When music started to play and the Akimichi clan members began to laugh and cry with glee and anticipation as they rapidly cleared away the dirty plates and moved aside the tables and within minutes had a crowded dance floor. The songs were not complicated, simple hymns and harmonies that all could enjoy and dance to.
Dance they did, Chouji was dragged off by one of his younger cousins begging her cooler older cousin for a dance. The young lad could hardly resist. Of course Ino and Sakura both attempted in vain to try and dance with Sasuke who ignored their attempts completely. Instead he stood up and walked almost awkwardly over to the Hyuuga heiress who uncertainly took his hand. "Well, shall we do this?" He grit through clenched teeth.
She nodded, equally unsure about their future. For better or worse though she had to at least try and get to know her fiancé. What better opportunity than the dance floor. Close quarters, in an environment she was both comfortable and strong in. Dancing lessons having been forced on the young girl since a very young age.
The two of them walked on the dance floor with all eyes on them and several jaws on the floor as well. Being from clans that both had extremely powerful doujutsu they both picked up on the subtle satisfaction of the shock and awe they were receiving. Neither of them let it show outwardly unless you knew what visual tells to look for. They both did. "Well since their watching shall we give them a show?" Hinata asked in a hush a whisper. The ghost of a smirk playing upon her lips. Who knew the girl could be so sly. Regardless he was game if she was.
The music shifted to a more traditional waltz type rhythm as the two moved like a pair of matched blades. They glided across the floor with the grace of eagles soaring on the wind. Sasuke twirled her expertly and she smoothly moved from one step to another.
The freedom of dance and the heat of the beat entranced them, forgotten was the crowd that was watching utterly dumbstruck at what seemed to be a pair of professional dancers outclassing everyone in the room by leaps and bounds. No one else could claim to be able to move like they were moving on the dance for nor were they going to even try. They could simply stand there and absorb the sight with their ocular cameras.
Naruto was currently leaned against a pillar watching the two of them move across the floor like angels, when a massive head ache started pounding at his head. He shook his head to try and clear it. Than another wave of pain racked his brain, this time stronger than the first. "Argh!" Naruto growled as he doubled over in excruciating pain, his hands gripping at his temples. What no could see due to the fact that Naruto's eyes were clenched and he himself could not see due to the fact that they were his eyes was that a green rim of glowing energy appeared around his pupils. Naruto toppled over unconscious as he was spirited away.
"Hurry you must see!" the voices of thousands pounded in his ears as he visions of the forest around Konoha sped by. It felt like the voices were guiding him to somewhere, he gave up fighting and simply let the current take his conscious where it wanted.
Within seconds he arrived in a dark cave. He had a bird's eye view of the entire cave and despite the fact that it was pitch black in the cave he could make everything out perfectly.
Blood, organs, limbs, body parts were scattered all over the place. Yet they weren't human parts that was for sure, there were only two humans there and they were the only ones left standing at the moment. The only other living creature that had survived didn't seem long for this world. That being because its arms and legs had been cut off.
By none other than Yugao, but what was she doing here? What did this have to do with anything. Who was the guy in white armor? Where were they and what did this have to do with anything?
"shhhh watch and see!" The voices echoed in his head. Great he was definitely going crazy again. Yet he did wait because it was already hard enough to hear what they were talking about.
"Who is leading you?!" Kai growled, his broadsword pointed at the last living demons throat. All day he and Yugao had battled against the demons that had breached their way into the mortal realm. Something that was their clan's sworn duty since ancient times to take care of. Normally on the extremely rare occasions there had been a breach before, the amount of demons that came out was drastically smaller. Usually limited to one or two. Yet this, this was something else entirely. The demon spit it's blood at him. The bluish substance staining his pristine white answer. "Wrong answer. Who is leading you and what did you mean by a red dawn is on the horizon?" He queried for unteenth time that night. When they had started questioning him, the demon had had all of his limbs. They only took an inch of him away at any given time.
"Do.. whhaattt you want with.. mee Uzumakiiiii filth. The sacrifice of blood has already been paid and it'sss too late. For youuuu." The demon chuckled through strained gasps, before falling limp as the life left his body.
Just as this occurred a red ware light came from the rock bed they stood on. Looking down Kai's eyes widened in horror. How could he not have noticed such a thing before. All long the floor was freshly carved Fuuin jutsu, the likes Naruto couldn't even comprehend. It was either really, really old or really, really advanced. Probably both considering the demon had mentioned something about a sacrifice being paid. Electricity started sparking off the carved lines in fantastical displays.
Immense power suddenly flooded the room, all the blood in the cave started to pool together at the center. Slowly it started working itself into the shape of something. No not something, someone. With a final deafening and echoing 'BOOM' the power of the jutsu died leaving smoke and soot floating about the room, distorting even Naruto's spirit's view. A dark, menacing chuckle issued forth from the cloud of debris. "It has been too many centuries since I tasted the air of the mortal realm. It feels sooo good." It was mans voice that spoke carrying with it a strange accent Naruto had never heard before. Smooth like gilded silver and entirely too groomed in Naruto's personal opinion. In other words he thought the guy sounded too girly.
Kai and Yugao stood at the ready. Both of them could feel the unbridled power radiating off of their new found enemy. Kai took a step forward. "Yugao stay back and if things start to go south, get out of here as fast and as far as possible. Someone has to stay alive to train Naruto." His words were steady as his heartbeat at that moment. He wasn't entirely certain he could defeat this new advisory whoever he was.
Yugao shook her head. "Don't insult me like that and don't tike like this is going to be the end. Victory is never assured for either side. There is always a weakness." The woman had nerves of steel and as she had already said, she had seen the worst this world had to offer. Any demon that had stood before her ended up the same way.
"Dead right?" The man's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Sorry, your minds an open book to me youngling. Allow me to educate you." His tone couldn't have been more friendly, yet the amount of blood lust in the room had tripled as the sound of his footsteps approaching them echoed through the cavern. Finally coming in sight of the dismally blind humans, in his humble opinion. His sleek black hair hung to his shoulders, draping to the black leather trench coat that hung off of him like a second skin. Underneath that he wore black denim clothing with a plethora of pockets with which to hide trinkets of war. At his belt hung a falchion with a blood red crystal adorning the base of the hilt and a skeletal hand holding it leading into the bone white hand and a half sized pommel. A smile slowly preyed its way across his shadowed face. "I have gone by many names over the centuries. Yet the best one is and always has been. Count Dracula one of the four generals of the lord of Chaos and herald of the apocalypse." He bowed formally, always the most civil of the four generals. It was why he was herald. He could stave off his blood lust long enough to awaken the others. He smiled seeing the fear of death in Yugao's eyes. "Do not fret younglings it is not your time to die. Yet. There are other matters that require my attention first. You have done your part for the night in providing the sacrifice of blood required to summon me to this realm. I sincerely thank you for that by the way." He declared nonchalantly. With a laugh like no other the man known as Dracula grabbed the edge of his cloak and with a swish turned himself into a bat that flew around screeching a few times before darting out into the night.
Kai let his sword drop from his hands. "I..can't. i.. don't." he was at a loss. He knew who that man was, the Uzumaki had carefully detailed the few occasions that demons had broken through, and he. He was perhaps the single most dangerous and deadly one that had ever walked across the elemental nations and Kai's blunder had just allowed him access into this realm. "It seems that Naruto, now more than ever, we need you, I need you. Desperately." Kai spoke to himself. Yugao's hand found itself on her leaders shoulder. It went unnoticed however as he was too absorbed in the horror that he had just unleashed. It had been a trap all along set by the demons and he had walked right into it. Something was going on in the realm of the nether and whatever it was promised nothing good for the mortal realm and its safety. "Come on Yugao, let's go home." His words solemn after the sting of the defeat after generations of peace among the world. Kai Uzumaki would see to it that Naruto reunited their clan and prevent the tragedy that was looming over the horizon or die trying.