Journey of the Three Failures Chapter 23: Encroaching, a naruto fanfic

J3F\\\ Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter Twenty-Three

Yo!

I know, it's been waaay too long. T_T Since last time, I've become a senior! :D …And I'm taking five AP classes this year D:

At 7 AM, AP Physics B! (this one isn't so bad, actually)

Second period, AP Literature and Composition! (with every timed writing, I think I die a little bit inside)

Third period, AP Psychology! (The teacher. Is senile. And a simpleton. And doesn't realize it)

Fourth, AP Calculus BC! (Gotta love the daily brain explosion)

Fifth, Painting. (My mind still hurts from calculus…)

Next up, AP Statistics! (Math class number two. Three, if you count physics)

And finally, government/economics. (regular and fabulous, albeit occasionally disturbing)

So balancing the homework tsunami with volunteer work, college apps, scholarship apps, interviews, etc. makes for a pretty exhausted fanfictioneer. But, I'm back! Sorry if I made any worry, but again, I will finish this story. So don't fret. Or… threaten me with anime characters, either. That's kind of weird o,_,O'

Thanks for reviewing, Omega the darkness, TwiliFay, KoreanGal5, DialACow, Shizuka Taiyou, BronzeButterfly18 (songs mentioned were awesome and hilarious, respectively XD), digitalflame192, PokemonKnight, lg1514, kurokazeryuu, Echo Uchiha, Malix2, Pagen Goddess, Soraya the All Speaker, Sir Nyan of Spamalot, kitsunetenshi, Hipster Otaku (Zack-kun! ^^), alethiophile, crusader 5643, UnlimitedFreeIceCream, Draco Oblivion, freewolf17, The Night's Rain Ablaze, NAIgurl4everz, Ascaisil, and anons signing narutos vixen, Danielle, Xion, Dan, hinalover, and M! Love you guys! :D

Now presenting chapter 23! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Owneth NARUTO I do not.

Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter Twenty-Three: Encroaching

Part One: Course of Action

Neji ネジ

"Orochimaru!"

My lord frowned thinly behind his desk at the grizzled voice that came booming up the hallway outside. Kabuto merely sighed with a low mutter. "I'd actually forgotten about that one since my death. It was nice…"

I turned with the sharpest scowl I dared to face the one who barged through the double doors uninvited – an old man sporting dulling brown hair atop the mess of bandaging that masked half his face, an old scar on the hard chin below it. I bristled as he lifted his nose at my lord; still, it was a trial not to smirk at the yowling, heavily bandaged Koneko, flailing in disagreement as he towed her by ear into the office. He flung her to the ground before us. The ANBU was dressed casually on her day off, clearly not having anticipated this sudden audience with the Hokage.

"Danzo." Unimpressed with the spectacle, said Hokage drew the name out in an oily drizzle of something hinging on contempt. "What brings you here in so sour a mood, good friend? I don't recall myself ever manhandling your darling ANBU."

"Is what your Cat says true, Orochimaru?" Danzo demanded gruffly. "Never mind that you concealed your trip to the prison from me – such an opportune situation unfolded around you, and you chose to pass it by? Perhaps you are not so powerful as you claim…"

"Neji-kun," my Lord said calmly, catching me as my mouth opened. I bit back the venom on my tongue. My lord knew best; he understood things that we could not. I relaxed and contented myself in regarding the old geezer with a cool eye, confident he would be subdued swiftly enough by whatever intricacy may lie at the heart of Orochimaru's brilliance.

"For one thing, I did not have my visit concealed from you – you simply needn't have known. And for another… why would you suppose I am Hokage, and you reside yet in command of the underground, dealing only in shadows?"

Danzo's lip began to curl. Cold and efficient in a manner very unlike m'lord, he was a man of limited patience for the adornments of rhetoric. He desired his facts – his answers – straight information and nothing more.

Orochimaru paused to let the words sink in. Only when Danzo began to scowl pointedly did he continue.

"There are times, you will find, when crushing mere men is not enough. Crushing a life is simple; crushing a heart, a mind, a generation – an entire culture – is a matter of the utmost delicacy. It requires time and thoroughness…"

"I've had enough of your games, Orochimaru. Get to the point."

"Kukuku… Is your ancient mind so rigid in its wisdom that you still do not see it? You're right – I could have killed quite the number of them, but I did not. My power arises in that they know I could have. To be drawn taut and yet spared at the very foot of destruction – do you know of such unimaginable torment? Every waking moment, every beat of their hearts left to echo hollowly upon a dread and hopelessness of my creation…!"

"You merely toy around for your own satisfaction," Danzo growled. "We suffered casualties at that prison, and you neglected to recompense for this? Instead you used the lives of our own shinobi to demonstrate to them your cruelty, but to what gain? This blethering of hearts and illusion…"

My lord only shook his head. "We may have lost lives, but we have gained something of far greater worth. You sorely underestimate how very real these things can become, if devised properly; you'll simply have to believe me for now, good friend. When you hold a shinobi's heart in your hands, and leave it beating at your mercy… Knowing this powerlessness, and continuing to live it, that shinobi will imprison and drown himself in the very futility of his existence…" The weight of the calmly chilled words on the air seemed only to affirm the assertion. The Hokage's tongue slid across his lips. "We will not lose this war, Danzo."

The older man suppressed a groan of annoyance. "You have such an inclination for the dramatic." It was not intended as a compliment, but by my lord's smirk he had chosen to receive it as one. "What do you lot think of this?" he asked scornfully, turning to me.

I met his eyes simply. "Orochimaru-sama is the only man alive capable of doing this. He will unite the lands in the only manner possible, doing what must be done to achieve this end. Due sacrifices will be made when they must."

"My people are my children," Orochimaru added sincerely, nodding; "they must know love and admiration, and they must also learn fear for a father's wrath. Our people need a firm and charismatic leader… and their people…" A grin slit his face as he chuckled darkly. "They need the incursion of such a beautiful anguish as only an artist of my caliber could devise. Let them walk in their condemned shoes until they bleed with excess of terror… Let their every minute of struggle be shadowed by doubt and apprehension. Then, and only then, will consummate victory be ours. Humans… are such simple and amusing creatures, are they not…?"

Danzo simply shook his head, turning away. "You are a twisted man, Orochimaru… Do as you will."

He strode from the room; double doors swung shut behind him.

"Swell guy," Neko grumbled from the chair she had taken; Kabuto gave an equally sarcastic agreement.

"I rather like him; he has his uses…" My lord leaned back in his chair before he addressed me. "What are your thoughts on that man, Neji-kun?"

"I think … he intends to kill you someday," I realized flatly.

"Clever boy," he remarked with a grimly fond smile, "but what else should I have expected from my dearest vessel, my protégée?"

I bowed my head, and met his grim smile with my own.

"Of course, Lord Orochimaru."

Lee リー

What an enemy it was we faced.

His words of terror had reached us loudly and clearly when he proclaimed us free to strike when we would, but it seemed so outlandish a suggestion that few if any had initially considered the implication if Orochimaru meant so truthfully. The blatant, foremost and frontal value of the snake's words had not at the time occurred to us.

Once it had, however, it became quite evident that we had, implicitly, been granted the first strike – invited, even welcomed to approach the enemy's doorstep at the time of our choosing. It appeared we could attack at our own convenience. The backwardness to it held a stealthily adverse effect. To be so cordially beckoned forth, one cannot help the pervading sense that on the other side of the unlocked door he opens a loaded cannon quietly awaits, ever-prepared and patient to blast.

"Sounds like Orochimaru, all right," Kidoumaru-san said, yawning. "If he said all that, he probably means it. Just the sort of game he'd cook up, to set the field for his opponents to charge of their own volition to their deaths…"

"So…" I began, grappling to get a handle on the situation. "He really meant it?"

"Makes it even more disturbing, right?" the six-armed man pointed out.

"Then what about you?" It was a hoarse utterance; Hinata paused, taking up a cautious breath and trying not to cough. "You four don't seem at all troubled by this…"

"Whatcha' trying to say?" Tayuya shot back, eyes narrowing as she scowled.

"I meant no disrespect; if it came off with the sound of suspicion, I apologize…"

Sakon just shook his head, waving. "We're more accustomed to the snake's twisted ways than's probably altogether healthy. You could say our heads are more insulated to this sort of duplicity." He stood and stretched. "So, if you're at a loss for what the heck to do now, here's the way I see it – instead of wallowing around twisting your nerves in a knot, focus on the things that need doing around here. Needless to say, keep him waiting long enough and he won't hold up his party for you; in which case that New Konoha he's been trading jabs with will be the first to go. For the time being, however, you can slow it down and work in relative peace. Use it."

With that the supposed Leaf Ninja Four skulked off a ways; not few a jounin's wary eye followed them away, watching until they settled down again.

Naruto's sigh broke a minute of stillness. "He's right, in any case," the blond said, "Fretting is a luxury we don't have the energy to indulge. So – shoes," he said, nodding toward a bespectacled jounin seated nearby.

Blinking at the abrupt subject change, the man flipped through a notepad and cleared his throat. "Hai… Only about a twentieth of our force is adequately shod at present. Among civilian refugees, we have three capable shoemakers and plenty of willing hands who know how to work leather, but materials are scarce. A day's run west-southwest, however, near the border, we have confirmed a town sympathetic to our cause and, possibly… in intermittent correspondence with New Konoha."

"Right…" Eyes sharp with color, Naruto rolled a senbon absently across his fingers as he thought. "The last thing we want is to draw attention to them. We'll have the shoemakers write up an order of the materials they need, get a small squad to deliver it, and have another squad pick it up after we've kept moving a bit – keep the enemy guessing as to our intentions. Kakashi-sensei?" he said, the needle balanced upright at a fingertip as he looked to the Hatake to check him.

"Sounds good," the man approved. "Now, on the matter of the adjustment in the week's hunting groups…"

Hanabi ハナビ

My heartbeat thrummed over the dull roar in my ears, panging unpleasantly against the tightness in my throat and chest. Still I sat and stared determinedly forward, back straight, hands folded in my lap. It took a conscious effort to control my breathing as he reached closer; my lip squirmed as the roaring clouds in my ears took form.

–"Imouto-chan…"–

–"It… hurts…"–

No – no, this had nothing to do with – That happened a long time ago. It's just… Still…

"Can you still hear me, Lady Hanabi?"

"H-hai."

"And can you tell me what this is…?"

I wrestled back a grimace as I stared at his outstretched hand, inches away, and the bright splotch of life that leaked from his thumb. My stomach was in knots; my skin, prickling with sweat. My throat became tense and uncooperative, unwilling to admit and thus affirm the identity of the substance I feared so completely.

"Take your time…"

My breath was getting fast, almost painful. I opened my mouth and shut it. Come on… I already knew what it was. I could say it…

"I–i-it's… bl… b-blu-uh… No, stop, stop!"

It was reaching that point again, when the mounting tension was finally too great to withstand and the fear wouldn't be faced off any longer; something shattered. And I flung myself aside, an arm across my middle as I heaved with sickness. It was dry; this phobia work had with good reason become a before-breakfast routine.

Hiryuu tried to hide the disappointment on his face as he sighed. "I… think you lasted a bit longer than yesterday."

"D-don't patronize me," I snapped, but my teeth shut as if trying belatedly to catch the frustrated words. I looked down. "Sorry."

"Hm…"

Thankfully done with this for the day, I followed him to the door.

As I stepped out into the sun I blinked – sensed something coming from the side – and was doused in an explosion of crimson.

I recoiled instantly, my knees weakening, my form shrinking in horror. My eyes were wide, and my mouth, open in shock, was assailed by a familiar taste…

Then I caught myself, my strength and balance recovered as if it had not for just a moment abandoned me. Bewildered, I sniffed.

"…Tomato sauce?"

"Yup!" Hikujaku chirped, tucking a dripping bucket under his arm. He looked so pleased with himself I wanted to scream.

"I'm glad to see you so entertained at my expense!" I spat, flustered, and rounded on Hiryuu with a pretty good feeling as to whose idea this had been. "And you! That scared me half to death!"

"Well, fortunately it was no more than half." He held up a hand in defense as I fumed, embarrassed and smelly and dripping with watery tomato sauce. "Calm, my lady. We meant neither harm nor disrespect. Look," he said, "look how frightened you were over nothing at all."

"W-well… I mean, I thought it was blood…"

Uncle nodded, crouching to my level. "So you did. But I want you to think – what can blood do to you that this tomato sauce can't? Will contact physically harm you in any way?"

"Well… no," I admitted at a mutter, blinking. "I guess it won't…"

"You see? What else can it do? On your hands, it can make your fingers wrinkle temporarily…"

"It's kind of uncomfortable, but it's not like it's unbearable or anything. It can make my clothes dirty…"

"But can it hurt you?"

"No, sir."

Hiryuu patted my shoulder with a big hand, a rare, good-humored smile on his face. "So, if you look at it this way – is blood all that different from tomato sauce?"

His humor was catching; I had to smile as I chuckled, "No, sir, I guess not."

"Atta girl!" he laughed heartily. "Nothing worth being afraid of, for certain! Now go and wash up. Harumi is waiting for you in the baths."

"Hai, Oji-san!" I said, still grinning as I started off. It really was kind of funny – to think how scared I had been, even for a moment, by tomato sauce of all things!

"Oh – and, Lady Hanabi?" Uncle called.

"Hm?"

"What if I revealed that that liquid is more than half pig's blood, with tomato sauce merely masking the scent?"

I probably then came far closer to a heart attack than an eight-year-old reasonably should – and collapsed.

"M– my lady? Milady!"

"Shoot! I told you, old man! What if we've just taught her to fear tomato sauce – or even pigs, or doorways, or–!"

"G-g-get– It– Off. Get it off, get it off, getitoff…!"

"It's not even human blood – just a pig's! You might even eat some of the same one for breakfast today–!"

"Blazes, Uncle! Are you trying to make a vegetarian of her? !"

Hinata ヒナタ

I worked slowly, easing my body through forms that had grown as natural to me as my breath. Rather, they were not forms of one martial art, but a charmingly strange blend of many. Even calling the exercises forms or kata would be misleading, for such would suggest a certain pattern of steps and moves entailing the principles of a style and laid out by its founder. My light path followed nothing but the whim of my heart, rolling on steadily with the unfailing guidance of instinct; if it could be called a style, its principle was freedom – and survival. I strung the moves as they felt right, noted combinations that had served me well in battles past… Here a short hop, jab, blocking an imaginary foe as the Crouching Wolf – seamlessly, a leg sweep, and now rising, tearing into a wild burst of the concentrated ferocity so characteristic of Ookami Style – and here flowing into a palm strike, spinning into a deceptively gentle kick with the cool discipline of the Juuken that was too my right and the Hyuuga blood that flowed forever in my veins – and now a parried blow, a solid fist that stirred the air with force, a strong leap to quickly kick forward, another leap, fiery with vigor, spin, kick–

A short tearing, sliding feeling in my gut sent a spurt of blood slipping up my throat, spraying from my lips on an exhalation and surprised grunt. A knee smacked to the earth.

C-curse you… Orochimaru… I coughed a few times, eyes shut. Exceptional recovery capabilities or not, my body had been torn up pretty badly. It would be a few days still before I could hope to go a hundred percent.

I ducked my head. An odd projectile whizzed over it and thunked solidly into the ground a meter from where I sat.

"Good morning, Kidoumaru-san."

"Yo." The spidery ninja dropped from a tree, landing lightly on his feet with a smirk, and I noted the clean slash through the mark of the Sound that rested on his brow. "Impressive reaction speed, there."

I shrugged nondescriptly. "How did you know I'd dodge it?"

"I didn't. Just figured you wouldn't be snuffed out so easily."

"You don't say…" I smiled. "While I am flattered by your faith in my abilities, if you want to sneak up on me you would do better to at least approach from downwind."

"Oh?"

CRASH!

A monstrous fist was shattering the earth where I'd been as I rolled forward and to my feet; Jiroubo lunged powerfully, and I hopped back to dampen the impact as my forearm took a blow. The moment my back foot touched down I was twisting his arm, my other leg thrown in a sweep that took his feet from under him; he yelled as his back met the earth with a sharp thud.

Huh…

Thread caught against my shoulders, forearms, and waist, and I was yanked backwards until my back hit a tree. Controlled spikes of chakra snapped the webbing that bound me – a moment before Kidoumaru shoved in, gripping my wrists and upper arms in four hands to pin me to the tree.

"Got you!" he laughed, drawing back a tight right fist of his third pair of arms.

"Nope!" I grunted, my foot jumping to catch his fist easily as might a hand. My other foot snapped to capture his free hand's surprised jab, and I pumped strong legs out hard to shove him away.

I was about to rush to engage him while he was off-balance when another came racing from the side. His blows were blocked and parried, but as a fist was shunted aside another hand sprouted from Sakon's forearm, locking onto my wrist. He twisted and ducked swiftly behind me, in a moment capturing my arms in a secure hold and holding me, immobile, against himself.

Tayuya was smiling as she walked toward us, popping the knuckles of a raised fist with relish. She drew far back, ready to deck me full in the stomach. "I owe you a little something–!"

"I insist, it's my treat!" One foot quickly steadied itself against Sakon's thigh behind me as my leg struck out: the kick having greater reach than her punch, she collided with the heel that sent a tiny knife of chakra screeching into a tenketsu on her abdomen. She yowled, and with a half-Tora of my hand and some mental chakra working I spat a burst of flame to dust at her feet, setting her staggering as she stumbled in hasty retreat.

A second manipulation of chakra within me, and with a shout I expelled a flare of fiery energy from chakra points all across my back. No sooner had Sakon released me with a surprised grunt than I turned with a hop, lifted right hand high, and slammed it down across his face. My left hand rose, explosive, and with a crack of force caught and knocked him upward again. I flung my shoulder into him, pushed forward, and brought a fierce palm squarely into his stomach – then a sharp leap and snapping forward kick, clipping his jaw – then rushing forward low, hands at the earth, a burst of chakra pushing from my tenketsu to front him evenly, keep him on his feet.

And then, finally, I rose – feet darting nimbly along until I pushed upward, off his shoulder. As I fell my open hand, having risen high, struck with monstrous force across his skull.

I landed crouched, an outstretched hand low from the follow-through of the strike, and Sakon struck down and bounced, rolling backwards several times before flopping to a halt. He groaned, turning onto his side.

I rose to full height, turning cold Byakugan on the other three; they might have continued, but thankfully chose not to. "If this is your manner of greeting, soldiers, I shall quickly tire of it."

They held firm under the authoritative edge of my voice. Kidoumaru raised his hands – all six of them, in fact. "Don't worry; we got it. Won't be happening again."

I looked at a rough cough behind me; Sakon was struggling to sit up. "Wh-what he said," he wheezed. "We wanted to check, and now we know. You've gotten strong, kid…" He pulled himself to his knees, only to drop his head in submission. "There's no point in continuing. Half-dead a day ago, and you barely needed to get worked up to handle us. You're fearsome as they say, Kurouga," he said mockingly.

I frowned with hesitance. "You say you wanted to 'check'…?"

The others, with some reluctance, had followed suit. Kidoumaru rose from his bow to nod. "We don't hang with losers. What exactly did we just swear loyalty to? We wanted to find out for ourselves. And those friends of yours, every bit as powerful as you are…?" He nodded again, as if completing a mental evaluation. "That about settles it. We'll fight along with you."

Able to relax a little, I dropped onto my rear with a sigh, rubbing my shoulder. "I see… I guess you can't be blamed for that; you four do walk a dangerous path…"

The three in front of me relaxed as well, sitting as the tension died off. Sakon, behind me, I heard stand up. He walked to my side, and when he spoke did not turn his eyes in my direction.

"Just like that, you're cool with us?"

I smiled amiably. "You said yourself that there's no point in continuing to fight me. If you try, I'll probably have to kill you."

He smirked, casting me a glance from the corner of his eye. "Well put, Hyuuga. I think I'm starting to like you already." The young man shuffled on past to join the others. "See, there's something about you and your buddies that struck us odd the first time we fought. We're not sure exactly what it is, but how much you've changed in a relatively short time – the forces you've accumulated, the names you've earned – only goes to reaffirm it. It's like I can sense something in you Leaf folks, but most of all in you three misfits, and you know what it's telling me?"

I waited, a brow quirked the slightest degree.

"You've got the potential to bring Orochimaru's regime to its knees."

Slowly, I nodded. "That's the plan."

Sakon only grinned viciously. "Then we're in the right place.

"On another note, there is a reason we've come singling out you, particularly…"

"And that would be…?"

He pointed a finger at me. "You wield Orochimaru's mark without being bound to Orochimaru. We want to know how you do it."

Neji ネジ

I observed coolly, with bated breath, as I watched the graceful figures engaged as they were in their dangerous dance. From the start, perhaps from the very first step, one stood out well above the rest. What the others instinctively curbed, she as naturally seemed to set free; with a perfect wildness, pure and instinctual, she darted and struck, palms whispering on the air, crackling with life as she sent yet another groaning to the dirt. Admittedly with the Change she had first been awkward, powerful, perceptive, but clumsy and wild as a newborn monster – a young monster, but a monster none the less – but now she had flourished – how she had flourished! – and done so under my guiding hand…

This is the power you've given us… My neck throbbed; I was nearly smiling openly with the exhilaration that teemed beneath my skin. The power to fix this clan…

Blows rained upon her current foe as her form sprang forward, cascading, silken violence. Clear intensity glittered in black-and-white eyes as darting, supple limbs arced, flashed, swept…

"Gahk–!"

…And with a sure crack of startling force, the girl's deceptively elegant strike connected with cool mercilessness, palm meeting jaw, sprawling Harumaru's towering form flat on his back. The dance subsided.

"Magnificent," I breathed.

The curse faded from her body and, panting lightly, Hiyuki perked up to smile in my direction, beaming shyly despite any weariness the moment she found my eyes and the rapt satisfaction within them. Facing me, she smoothly sank to kneel, one knee and one fist meeting the floor. "M'lord…" The chaste murmur was a whisper of reverence, relished as it passed between her lips.

"Well done," I said with a gentle nod as I approached. I reached out, and she flushed happily as I ruffled her hair, fingers rubbing the crown of her head in a firm caress. "You continue to impress me, Hiyuki," I said, and bade her to raise her head. Any moment they were allowed to meet my eyes directly was cherished dearly by the Chosen, I had found; and knelt here before her lord's eyes, bowed in the loyal humility of servitude, her eyes took me in and budded with the beginnings of tears of mirth.

She was truly happy…

Again I patted her head. Then, as I extended my free hand to her, the others who had watched our exchange with yearning eyes, with stifled murmurs of envy, now cringed or groaned dolefully, tormented, as I ran a clawed thumb across the palm of my hand. The effect to Hiyuki was immediate; she began to salivate, chest heaving once in a shudder of anticipation, as she stared, transfixed, at the blossoming ribbon of scarlet that was offered as her rare and most coveted prize.

Here emotion overtook her face, as it always did. Large white eyes welled with familiar gratitude as she looked to me for approval, panting softly before the scent. I nodded softly, my voice fond.

"Go on."

And with a gasp of bliss she melted, grasping my hand and setting longingly upon the wound. My breath caught a moment, and I sighed delicately as her passion bled into me, permeating, warm, a wave of wellbeing that lapped at my heart in tune with her tongue. My gaze tilted skyward.

"Yes…"

This was my coven – its reality, its world, its web of cursed lives so sinfully, beautifully intertwined. I gasped lightly again, shutting my eyes.

"Good girl… good girl…"

Hinata ヒナタ

The four were seated in a ring about me; I faced the east and Kidoumaru, my eyes closed meditatively, my forehead against his, my hand flat above his heart. Jiroubo's thick fingers rested at my right shoulder, while Tayua's slender ones hovered at my left. Behind me sat Sakon, his hand draped at the small of my back. Connecting all five of us was a web of markings and symbols scrawled in fresh ink, an intricate circular diagram upon the earth and our bodies, that would hopefully enable me to peer into their hearts.

"Okay," I said quietly – a whisper, but no less doubtless heard by the four in the silence of tranquil unity. Our breaths had synchronized. "If you're ready, it's time we activate our marks…"

My seal's power came to me easily, a familiar burning rumbling briefly about my wrists, ankles, and neck. From practice, they entered the first state with equivalent ease, but for one notable peculiarity – in all four I sensed a darkening of thoughts and soul, an ominous flaring of blackness from their hearts, before their marks would awaken.

I watched with the Byakugan as energy seeped from the marks in perfect concert with the darkening I'd detected. That's how they activate theirs, I realized. It runs on Darkness…

"Brat…?" Kidoumaru inquired.

"You're all doing fine. I'm going to look into something. Try not to be alarmed…"

The aura of my consciousness was projected. Kidoumaru gasped as I connected to him, and in turn with the other three, but something held the confusion at bay: trust. With a silent fluctuation of thanks I concentrated on my task, peering as gently as possible into his essence – his soul.

Something foreign flickered on the edge of my perception; I cast about until my mind settled on a level at which I could see the blossoming of charred flickers, wilted black. It was not chakra; it was sinister. Deathly. Where the substance left itself, identity withered as if with disease; light faded, consumed or corrupted. Left unchecked long enough, I knew, the parasite would ultimately weather away everything that composed the host around it. Inwardly, I swore. What could I do to stop this?

I had to look closer…

There! I thought, seizing purely upon a darting, corrosive flash of dark–

It twisted violently from my grasp, reared back and lashed against me in retaliation, biting pain. With it two monstrous golden eyes impressed upon my psyche, an image of nightmare, and my stomach tossed as a razor-like hiss seared against my skull in a voice I detested:

'FOOL!'

"Eek!" I yelped, opening my eyes and jerking automatically away – but before the connection could break Kidoumaru's hand flashed out, locking in a steely grip about my neck. I blinked in bewilderment, teeth clenched. "Wh–what are you– doing? !"

"I – can't control my body!" he ground out, his voice strained, foggy eyes not his own. He began to lift another hand. "K-kusooo…!"

The second my hand moved, the massive strength of Jiroubo's arms caught and restrained it; Tayuya, cursing, threw herself on my other arm, holding it down. They were fighting, but to no avail. Hatred forcibly overtook their eyes. Kidoumaru's other hand smashed onto my throat, redoubling the pressure, and Sakon, forcing out an apology, threw an arm around my waist and buried his other hand in my hair, pulling back until my neck throbbed in protest.

Then, worst of all, his presence enveloped my awareness, serpentine and vile, more suffocating than the hands around my neck. 'Y-you…!'

'Naïve wolf-child, oh how you amuse me!' he cackled madly. His aura was pervasive; an invisible hand groped icily at the deepest, most personal recesses of my mind, tearing maliciously into places no one should know, prying and wrenching without remorse, a horrific claw stripping and laying bare in a disgustingly forced intimacy. My eyes watered at the violation. I clenched my teeth, growling as he picked me apart.

'Orochimaru!' my mind snarled angrily. I fought for air. 'Y-you– you're using them to kill me…? !'

'Kukuku… not quite, my dear. I'm using you to kill them!'

I yelled out with what breath I had as the filthy, grasping fingers prodded and dug, cruel and sickening. 'I w-won't do that!'

'Hm? Come now, foolish girl, just think how easily you could destroy them! You said that should they continue to fight you, you would strike them down. Was that a lie…?' Venom raked a cherished memory with his laugh, opening it to his eyes' fancy.

'N-no!' I thought firmly. My vision was swimming – I was losing the strength to breathe past Kidoumaru's trembling grip. My fangs were lengthening, claws thickening, driven on by the mounting urge to survive. I wasn't giving in. 'I stand by what I say, but it's not me they're fighting; they struggle with me, against you! I won't do what you want me to, bastard, so get OUT of my HEAD!'

With the howling flare of will the darkness that served him a medium was banished again from my being. Glowering intently, I pulled forward against Sakon's restraint until I could meet Kidoumaru's blackened eyes. 'Come on,' I growled to all of them, 'You're not that weak, are you? Come on! It's five against one! He can't control us!'

A glimmer of something certain sparked back to life in Kidoumaru's eye. I delved into his soul, an arrow of light firing true, and secured the spark of will, his own, free will; all I'd needed was to find it.

'Gotcha…'

'Th-thanks!'

Together we pushed back hard, and as the Dark was staggered I sought the fighting sparks of Tayuya, Jiroubo, and Sakon, and reconnected with them.

'What do you think you're doing? !' the snake demanded, furious, fighting to reclaim what was escaping him. 'Inconceivable… My mark…!'

'NOW!' I barked, and together with me the four broke free.

At once Darkness burst from them, and dissipated; in my eyes their chakra, for an instant, shone brilliant white. The sealing circle, gleaming brightly, loosed a shockwave outward and left a ring of scorched ground around us where symbols had been. For a moment the air was frozen, suspended. Then their roaring, triumphant energy settled, from blinding white to regular blue, and I collapsed, curse fading, as Kidoumaru's hands at last jolted away from my neck.

"Kid? Sh#t! Hey, kid, are you okay? !" My vision straightened up some; I gradually recognized the four faces peering over me, markings just receding from them. I twisted feebly in Sakon's arms, coughing and hacking before managing a deep swallow of air.

I cracked a grin, fatigued. "Hey…! We beat 'im, huh?" I remarked dully.

Kidoumaru scratched his head, and Jiroubo sighed. Tayuya touched my forehead, and Sakon just rolled his eyes.

"Looks like she's fine."

Trying to move just yet was evidently a lost cause, so I gave up and sank into Sakon's arms. "Glad we've affirmed we're on the same side," I said lightly. "If you felt like killing me just now, I probably couldn't stop you."

Sakon snorted. "You don't have to worry about that. You're… you're not bad, kid."

I chuckled weakly. Then, as a particularly rocky wave of nausea hit me, I blanched and vomited full into Sakon's lap.

"Ugh! Okay, I take it back!" he snapped as Kidoumaru roared with laughter. "You're not cool at all–!"

"What's going on here? !"

I sat up as a sharp blond, leading a group of jounin, burst onto the scene, concern in his eyes. "Naruto-k…" I choked.

I shouldn't have sat up so fast.

Without thinking, I turned – and puked full against Sakon's chest.

"Aaaugh! Seriously? !"

"G-gomen…!"

"Just get away from me!"

Naruto ナルト

Her fit of nausea passed, and Hinata was left citing little more trouble than a lingering headache. I wanted to know what the heck had happened – wanted to know the cause of the foul energy we'd felt – but Hinata, though apologetic, wearily deferred; when I turned to the four supposedly former Oto-nin for answers, the girl urged me from my angry interrogation before it could begin, assuring me everything was fine now. Why she was standing up for them, when hours prior she had been indifferent if not equally cautious about the Sound deserters, was lost on me. So grudgingly, without knowing how she'd come to be in the state, I supported her on her left as we headed back to camp. The young woman – Tayuya – had voluntarily provided support on the right, the others falling loosely into step close by.

For a time a contemplative silence hung collectively over the bunch of them, Hinata's weary form included. Finally the han'you sighed.

"I can't really explain it…" she began carefully. "I was looking into their curse marks, trying to see if there wasn't a way to control them, and something… happened. Together we were able to pull through in one piece. What I did discover, though, is what I'd more or less suspected from the start; there really isn't much of a way for you to separate yourselves from the evil in your seals."

"Whoa," Jiroubo butted in, frowning, "you mean you already knew that? From the start?"

Hinata nodded. "Sort of… but I didn't want to tell you until I was sure. I had to check… I wanted there to be hope, for you…"

Hinata…

The rotund young man hung his head. "Guess that makes sense…"

Looking up, Hinata went on. "My mark is different because, unbeknownst to Orochimaru when he devised it, he left a loophole… That's why I can choose to align myself to Gobi no Houkou-sama, the Mother of Ookami from whose blood the curse's power is derived, in order to remain free of Orochimaru's sway. Just a chance, really…

"But…"

"But?" Sakon echoed impatiently, interest piqued anew.

Lavender eyes opened after resting for a few moments. "I said there's no way for you four to resist the darkness of your seals, but it might've been more accurate to say there wasn't one."

"What…?"

"It's weird; I'm not entirely sure what happened to us, either, but we may as well make use of it. You all can feel it, too, right? It's faint… but there's a connection."

Now she was losing me; I gave a questioning look, but didn't interrupt. The other four seemed to know what she meant, and a strange, silent sense of acknowledgment passed invisibly through them.

"Somehow, we've opened up a new path – an alternative, like I have. If you must access the curse, choose to align yourselves to me, and if you hold firm Orochimaru won't be able to touch you."

"Hold on," I said, brow furrowing. "You mean some kind of mental link's actually going between you? You don't think that's–," I'd been ready to say the word 'dangerous,' but faltered as I caught more than one pissed-off glare. "This is serious stuff, guys!" I defended. "Even if you four aren't the threat – Orochimaru's already shown that under the right conditions, even Hinata's curse is still susceptible to his sway. She doesn't need any more bonds to that creep than she already has! So how do we know you're all strong enough? How do we know this hasn't opened up a way for him to get at her through you?" My arm around her tightened briefly; my voice hardened with concern. "I won't be at ease until someone gives me an answer."

With this I dared them into a standoff, mutually wary stares clashing silently as all our steps creaked to a halt. Though my voice was held low and calm, my frown and unyielding gaze were undeniably intimidating. They needed to know I was dead serious.

Hinata gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze; then, carefully, she pulled away from the two arms supporting her. "Stop this – all of you," she said, facing us. "Naruto-kun… Are you saying you don't trust my judgment?"

"I'm saying you have a bad habit of sticking your foot into graves," I said flatly. For a moment I feared I'd hurt her; her cringe was brief, however, and she just nodded.

"Fair enough; I can see what you're saying. But there really is nothing to worry about, and that's the truth. I can tell."

"How?"

She turned to Tayuya. After stepping forward and reaching out with a hand, she paused. "Tayuya-san, may I?"

Promptly the Sound girl nodded. Hinata placed a hand on her chest. "It's weird," she began, "but I can feel your heart – the will of your soul. The same for Jiroubo-san, Sakon-san, and Kidoumaru-san. And you can sense me, too, can't you?"

Blushing slightly, Tayuya gave a small nod. Hinata closed her eyes.

"There's purpose here, and determination. They don't mean to betray us, Naruto-kun, and that won't easily change. And as long as the five of us are all on the same side, there's no way Orochimaru can get at us – not all of us, together, and not any one of us, for the other four will rise in defense…" Opening her eyes, she withdrew her hand. "Thank you, Tayuya-san."

The older girl looked away. "Yeah, yeah. You can cut the formal crap already, dweeb."

Hinata nodded, and looked up to address all four of them. "More than anything, you lot are proud – proud of your strength, and proud of your freedom. The only advice I can give you now is to use that pride; remember it always, and let it be your weapon against him. If you can do that, we'll all be fine. That's what I believe…" She smiled. "Will that suffice for you, Naruto-kun?"

I eyed the Four one more time. Finally I met her eyes, and with a sigh I had to nod. "Okay. I'll trust you on this one, Hinata-chan."

Neji ネジ

Some time had gone by since the incident at the prison; old Danzo had cooled down reluctantly enough, and my Lord's business was running smoothly again. Cheek propped on the back of my hand, I rolled a pen lightly between my fingers as I listened to the midday bell's toll bellow across the village.

"Lord Neji, what say you on this matter?"

I looked up with a subtle start, blinking at the old faces of twelve clansmen that lined the meeting chamber. "Pardon?"

"The proposal…? The establishment of another training ground in the estate's west wood?"

"Ah – yes, I remember." The topic had come up at the previous meeting. I massaged my temple, sighing drowsily. "Yes – I see no problem with it. It is worth the effort to create it."

The man nodded. "Hamuso will tend to it. Please try to focus, Lord Neji," he said, gruff with his distaste but taking care to fall just short of what could be called 'scolding.'

"Yes. Excuse me if I have been remiss."

The meeting dredged on. Eventually, one elder inquired as to the progress of my Chosen.

"Outstanding," I said honestly. "With my guidance, they master the gift at astonishing rates, and their combined power is impressive – certainly nothing for anyone to sneer at. Even our Lord Orochimaru was quite taken with a demonstration of their ability; the Chosen are a small, elite force, raging power compacted, honed, and made that much more deadly. We look forward to putting this power to use for the village."

"Just a moment… I believe that your Chosen should be made, first and foremost, an asset to the clan. Just think – to have a bastion against Orochimaru's strength…. I know that many of my fellows are of a like mind…? Reserving them as an expression of the Hyuuga's might may serve us well."

I lifted an eyebrow as a few nodded in agreement. "Ultimately, it is I who shall determine how the Chosen are wielded. Either way, Lord Orochimaru's interests and this clan's interest are well aligned, practically one and the same." I lifted a hand as the previous speaker scowled, opening his mouth in protest. "Enough. At the end of the day, they report to me; they will follow my orders alone. They serve me; I serve Lord Orochimaru as well as this clan. Be at ease, and consider this; with their power offered to Hokage-sama's disposal, he will hold our clan in even higher regard. Have our close ties to the Lord Hokage not served us well in all this time? It's why we consistently contribute more volunteers for the biweekly Orochimaru Rallies than any of our comrade clans. Do you forget – do you dare to overlook the fruits of the work I do? Our clan's rations are plentiful, our privacy on our grounds unabridged by Old Sound supervision. I wouldn't think you can have too much favor with the man destined to reign supreme over the new world – would you?"

The fool's lips pressed into a thin line, and he nodded in acquiescence.

I smirked. "Very good. If we have nothing more on the agenda to discuss, I declare this session adjourned."

My brisk step down the walkway set a steady pattern in the soft tap of bare soles on fine wood. On the subject of the biweekly Orochimaru Rallies, one was fast approaching. Before I reported for training today I was to meet with volunteers and assign responsibilities for the various tasks and preparations…

"Hm?"

I was not sure what exactly inspired me to halt, with seeming spontaneity, on the walkway. In a moment my eyes cast to my left, downward – and fell upon a full but modest garden, well-kempt, gentle tumbles of flowery growth that brought the space to life.

How many times could I have overlooked it, on this very walk…?

Stepping from the way after a moment's hesitation, I knelt before a frail lily and brushed a hand against the cool, velvety underside of a petal. My eyes remained stern as my brow furrowed with thought, with calculation; my jaw set.

Impossible… This garden…

To have endured so long…

A girl like a doll, crouched with her mother amid neat little rows of miniature hills of soil. The tiny girl, so clumsy at play, yet tending her task with loving care.

A small boy and his father, small bare soles and large ones passing along a walkway. The boy tugging the man's sleeve eagerly, speaking a question, receiving a nod of approval. Scampering to join the happy girl and the kind Lady.

The smile on the girl's brightening face, fizzling up something nice, warm inside him. The exchange of greetings. The boy's excited words of question.

The girl's tiny hand on his own. Guiding it carefully, to a fleck of color, overlooked before, in the soil-mound between them. Her nod, encouraging. His thumb, lightly brushing aside a few tender grains of dirt – and some miniscule, delicate green life emerging, unfurling, poking free into the air and sunlight. The boy, laughing in surprise and some other feeling he cannot name. The girl beaming at her cousin. The woman, smiling, silent, crying a little.

He wonders why…

The first…

My gaze was bleak. I stood, shortly dusted off my knees, and turned to step back up to the walk. The head gardener's son was coming this way, a few tools and a sloshing watering pail in hand.

"Lord Neji," he said cheerfully, bowing his head in greeting. He looked past me, at the flowers. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Are you the one who has been tending this garden?"

"Well, yes, I am."

"Who assigned it to your care?"

He shrugged. "No one was assigned to it. I figured it was a mistake, and couldn't just let the beauty go to waste. Some months back I noticed it wilting and made a personal project of restoring it, nursing it back to health if you would–,"

"Cease tending to this garden."

"Sir?"

I looked up, meeting his eyes. The watering pail shuddered from his hand, spilling on the walk, wetting our feet. He took a step back and ducked his head, for a long moment silent. When he spoke again, it was not in question but in curt affirmation.

"Sir."

Twenty Three, Part Two: Rally

Hanabi ハナビ

"What, the Rallies?" Kiba said, lightly tossing his dog up and catching Akamaru under the forelegs again. "That's right… Course we've all heard of 'em, but you've never seen one of the shows up close and personal, have ya?"

I eyed the Inuzuka. Akamaru was really getting too big for that tossing business, but it wasn't like he'd be caught complaining. "And you have?" I asked.

"Oh, yeah." He touched his nose to Akamaru's and set the dog down, ruffling his mane of fur. "I mean, not like our kind–," He glanced away from the big baby of a mutt long enough to nod at the proud green kerchief at my sleeve, "–is all too welcome, of course; you either watch from the shadows or slip into the crowd. It's a real sight to see, alright – so ugly you just can't look away. New Oto's citizenry assembles, they recite a pledge to their glorious leader, the snakeman delivers his address – 'New Konoha will fall, the world will be mine, yada, yada' – and the drooling idiots cheer him on madly at every pause." He shook his head with a shiver, looking at me. He twirled a finger by his ear. "It's a freaky atmosphere, for sure. Like the congregation of fanatics of some loony religious cult."

Akamaru tackled him for the lapse in attention, and they launched into a bout of play-wrestling. I shook my head. "But tell me again – about the part where they raise their flag. That's where we come in?"

He sat up, placed a big palm on the crown of my head, and leaned in to gently butt heads with me. His eyes were dancing. "Yes, small one. When Shika-kage-sama and the council okay the plan – and I do think they will – that is where we'll come in."

Naruto ナルト

The clash of steel rang amid the ambient rustle of the forest treetops. From well above I observed as a dashing purple-clad youth, fleeing, turned and faced his adversary, narrowly deflecting a lunging knife strike with a shove of his bound staff. At a solid branch the chase paused, and two pairs of light feet danced savagely, soundless beneath the clash of weapons as they fought to gain ground. At once knife and staff locked, and with the moment's stalemate a third figure slipped from the shadows to drive a knife into the blonde's back. His original adversary crumbled into dirt – a ruse.

How about that, I thought, preparing to move. Chakra poured smoothly into my right palm.

"Heh! You let your guard down, Murasaki Kitsune…" The outlaw withdrew his knife with a squick, and the blonde hobbled forward.

"Ita…! Ch… Kazuya-san, right? Funny you should say that," my clone said, pointing a finger in my direction. "Good luck dodging."

Very funny! I scoffed, leaping as it vanished. My left hand swung down past my right as the latter emitted a surge of chakra – a ring of clones were here and gone in half a heartbeat – and at once a spiraling sphere was ignited in my hand. The nukenin saw me, all right. He didn't move nearly fast enough to escape a Shadow Swap of advance and the accompanying Rasengan that slammed between his shoulder blades.

Dust was settling as I reached the ground. The man lay groaning a short way off; I clicked my tongue and knelt at his side, setting my hands now softly aglow with healing light. "This won't do…"

His eyes cracked open. "Y-you… Darn it. How much stronger have you gotten in such a short time, kid…?"

I shrugged my shoulder a little, keeping focused on my task. "I've been spending a lot of time with a lot of good teachers, lately. What are you doing here? We came out expecting Sound spies, not you guys again. Well – I saw you avoid the vital hit with your knife, even though you thought you had the real me. That's why I held back a good bit on my jutsu…" I explained, watching scorch marks fade from the circular print of damage left on his back.

"You call that holding back?"

"I can show you the all-out version, if you want!"

"I'll use my imagination…"

I chuckled. The Rasengan was impressive – dangerous – and I knew it. Didn't mean it would hurt to joke aloud, though. "But why did you come here? Not still trying to enforce the way of the missing-nin on me, I hope."

"That's not it," he muttered.

"Then what…?"

His gaze shifted. "Ketsuki… Itsuke. Why'm I not surprised?"

Lee and Gaara came into view, guiding two more shame-faced missing-nin. Sand bound their wrists behind their backs. The one called Itsuke chuckled. "I guess you lost, too, huh?" he said as Lee gave a cheery wave.

Hinata ヒナタ

A smooth stroke of the brush laid down a straight line from the heart of the small talisman inked into the dirt. After a few more marks were etched in I studied the work momentarily, double-checking for fluidity in the main body of the spell; then I pressed two fingers of my left hand to the end of the lead line. Absorbent seals readily welcomed the burst of chakra, drawing and funneling it down into the system of ink where it infused the formula with a pale glow. At the heart of the design five fingertip-sized shards of obsidian, calm and noiseless, brightened until blue-white to the eye. Then the light faded, leaving the stones lifeless as before.

"…That should do it," I said, plucking a shard from the pile. "Take your pick, and keep it with you."

"Just like that?" Kidoumaru mused, swiping up one of the stones and testing its meager weight in his hand. "Your trinket-spelling isn't too flashy, huh?" He flicked it up from a thumb and caught it again. Jiroubo eyed his own as Tayuya shoved her charm into a pocket and Sakon, startlingly, shrugged and swallowed his up into his hand.

"Remind me again…" Jiroubo muttered, "How exactly are these supposed to help?"

"To augment our connection, if need be…" I began. "Though of course, you can probably feel the truth that some of our higher-up shinobi wanted me to put a leash on you four." Any surprise was mild; the uncanny bond was such that sitting this close, speaking face to face, our eyes became windows to each other's hearts and thoughts. It was a strange intimacy we shared, but not uncomfortable – and it assured the usually wary ninja of my sincerity as I continued. "But they will cause you no harm," I promised, speaking of the charms, "and I will never infringe upon your own free will, no matter the circumstance. Simply put, if you call out to me, I'll hear you. Mind, not in the way I hear Naruto-kun trying to sneak up on me."

A figure materialized at my side with an exaggerated expression of disappointment, falling smoothly to wind up seated beside me with an arm around my shoulders. "I'll get you one of these days," he said playfully, ruffling my hair. Blushing bright in front of the Four, I just shook my head, failing to withhold a grin. So much for professionalism.

"So, I'm guessing you guys took care of them?" I asked, bumping my forehead fondly against his in a lighthearted headbutt. He grinned.

"Even better – the ranks just increased by three."

"Again?" I said in surprise, but upon detecting a certain three scents turned to see a team of missing-nin we'd tangled with a while back. The apparent leader was looking levelly around camp, hands stuffed in his pockets. At his shoulder one comrade chuckled sheepishly; the other's gaze was moodily averted toward nothing in particular, a blush rising through his otherwise indifferent gaze. I shook my head. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"That is us for you!" Lee noted as he approached. He dragged the blond into a headlock. "Always able to win people over!"

"Hey, it doesn't hurt that Orochimaru has a lot of enemies…"

"Ever the modest one, Naruto-kun!"

Naruto chuckled. "Oi, you three," he called back to the newcomers. He waved his arm, taking in the expanse of the camp. "Whaddya' think of the establishment? Home sweet nomadic home, y'know?"

Kazyua, as I remembered him, was disgruntled. "Not sure what to think. I can't figure out how this… establishment even measures up on the nukenindo – don't know how to fit it."

"It's a pretty weird situation, all right," Naruto admitted, shrugging, "but it works. To the Sound's regime, we're outlaws – fugitives, down to the very last. To the revolutionaries holding out back home, we're the allies on the outside. To everyone else, I guess we're just an anomaly – something curious worth keeping an eye on, perhaps. Whatever we're considered, we keep moving, we stay sharp, and we look after our own. We do what we need to survive. Strange as it may sound, in a sense we are a village – a Village of Missing-nin."

The man seemed to consider the phrase a moment before nodding. "Guess that'd about sum it up… The Village of Missing-nin, huh?" He snorted sharply in a laugh. "Either way, looks like you've got the best chance anyone has of taking Orochimaru's head. We want in."

"Common enemies make common friends," Naruto said cheerily to the renegade, and I blinked as a wad of green fabric materialized in his left hand; he must have sent a clone to fetch them. Grinning sharply, he held out three fresh cotton bandanas, colored by green dye made from scratch and each stitched in black with a mark of the Leaf. "For as long as you're committed to this band's cause, we'll need you to wear these. Whatever manner you'd like is fine, as long as it's visible. Gotta have some way of picking out fellow brothers-in-arms, y'know?"

"Got it," Kazuya said, and he and the two others accepted the kerchiefs.

The blond nodded. "Well, unlikely comrades – welcome to the impromptu family."

Neji ネジ

I stood exemplary at my lord's shoulder, chin up, arms folded behind a straight back, and my presiding gaze settled over the crowd below. Neat rows of citizens filled the plaza and stretched into the distance, down the alleys and streets, a sea of dingy white ration-issued uniforms. Looking out upon the endless bowed heads and dull garb, I may have experienced a groggy stir of unease – nostalgia for the liveliness of an earlier time – but the sentiment was brief. All before me was in one way or another a manifestation of my lord's brilliance, I knew; without question, a certain cold beauty resided in the scene. The resigned and obedient faces, the eyes quietly attentive and rapt with shared enlightenment – not the sharp enlightenment that strikes as an individual's epiphany, but rather the subtle, mysterious enlightenment that pervades and inevitably prevails upon the group, the mass, once united in words, in thought, in purpose – the uniform cross of arms over hearts as the words of the Pledge were recited by a voice multifaceted yet singular to the flawless notes of the band, clear tones emanating into the sunset of a fading day – a fading era – all of this impressed upon my heart a chilling yet indescribable beauty. Pure. This was order. Efficiency. Progress.

Lord Orochimaru was smiling a dark and grand smile as the last testifying lines of the Pledge drew to a close. As one, the liquid mass of bodies descended to one knee and bent its many backs. They were left poised this way for a good while before, lifting his hand, my lord bade them to rise.

"Look upon me, my people!" the man shouted, suddenly, a lone, strong voice projected imperiously into the evening air. "Look now at the humble soul that wishes nothing more intensely than to bestow upon you, my beloved village, the glory of a New World!"

The mass erupted in an uproarious surge of enthusiasm, of rising fists borne upon a frenzied roar – fury, desperation, euphoria, and fervor that would never so much as have surfaced in a solitary individual's heart boomed loud and stark in the baying voice of the whole. Thrills of exhilaration reverberated down my spine. Still I held firm, removed to the observer, a pillar of menace and strength and ideal loyalty overseeing in the shadow of the Godaime's splendor. Scanning engaged faces, I caught an odd flicker of movement in the crowd; when it was locked in such a state, the most insignificant, thoughtless stray motion was oft enough to pinpoint a person out of place – a doubter, or even a rebel. But when my eyes singled out nothing more in the following moments I dismissed it and tuned back into the rolling words of my lord's speech.

"…I, who will protect you from the craven parasites who wallow in the shadows, thinking – daring! – to terrorize our streets!"

"Aah!"

"Make no mistake – our righteous road is a long one, and the tunnel-dwelling vermin think to lie in wait and hinder us at our every step. But we will not be dragged into ruin by the selfish acts of the few! We will not be denied our destined supremacy – not tonight, not tomorrow, and certainly never by the fumbling hands of these vilest dogs!"

"Aah!" –The bellow issued thunderously again, as if at once thrown upon some indeterminate but universally recognized cue.

"We must not waver in our purpose! Did our own brave Koiji-san hesitate, when a mere three days past, in the market precincts, he slit the throat of a thieving terrorist, one who thought to make off with the hard-earned rations that we provide to feed the mouths of your small daughter, your brother, your wife? NO!"

"AAH!" –And the beast voiced its outrage at this heartless intent, accordingly yowling and stamping and frothing at the mouth. The whirlwind raged on as the man listed and ladled the thick syrup of glory upon the deeds of more who'd done aught worth praising in the last two weeks. I was listening, and quite contentedly, when a comrade came to my shoulder, hand shielding his mouth from view as he bent to whisper in my ear. His concern was of rebel activity in the area, but I brushed him off; curious rats may creep close in wonder from the shadows, but even such fools as they were would not dare to attack us amid a crowd where the assembled civilians and shinobi outnumbered their population to the point of being laughable, for they knew their inferiority no matter how desperately they strove to deny it. They never had, and simply never would.

The instillation of vigor and pride fulfilled, my lord's address blazed and charged and lambasted and struck on toward its conclusion. The expansive creature splayed before us was thrashing and convulsing, cheering madly. Not a few tears of passion were rolling to the dirt as our Hokage at last spread his arms as if to embrace them and was met with screams of reverence, admiration, and faith. His serpent's smile was serene, confident and inviting. The drums and horns launched into an all-out tirade of triumph – explosive sounds of conquering and liberation thundered and swirled together, crackling in the roil of a divine atmosphere. The back of my neck was cool with a slick of sweat. My breath quivered with the pressure of standing still. My heart raced, ready to burst with pride. It was true, all of it true – the lord I served was the greatest to walk the earth.

Calmly I lifted my hand, and at the signal the flag coordinators stood ready. Orochimaru-sama's voice reigned incredibly above all as he commanded the beast.

"NOW, my village! ! Salute your flag!"

Tethers were cut, and a vast screen of hanging cloth unfurled behind us.

The beast sputtered, choked as if shot – and with no further warning, dissipated. Eyes blinked, staggered minds reeling and racing behind them. Shock, confusion, fear, disgust, horror, bemusement, excitement, and joy – a thousand reactions on as many alarmingly distinct faces – blossomed in absolute disarray.

A full smile locked on my face, arm still bent at the elbow and raised in signal, I turned my head and saw behind me an expansive stretch of green.

Plastered at its heart, a story tall, was the mark of the Leaf.

My lip twitched in the pounding silence; gradually my smile crumbled away. Whispers darted in the crowd below.

Then my face twisted into a snarl – I screamed orders, gesticulating wildly – an Oto-nin spewed fire upon the repulsive emblem. A number of comrades joined in, but the flames only rolled upon the surface, illuminating the thing and refusing to eat through. Fireproofed. Laughter, low but distinct, bubbled up in the crowd as realization seeped into the cracking façade.

The despicable, belittled cowards of New Konoha had incorporated sabotage into our rally, and pulled it off right under our noses.

Orochimaru was speaking out again with a surprised scowl, twisting words, trying to salvage the situation to no avail.

"Enough!" I yelled, Byakugan bursting to life, "Who is responsible for this–? !"

At that moment a flare of light burst with a throb in the distant sky, erupting in a glimmering shower of green sparks in the air above New Konoha. More firecrackers rained up in succession, and their light set out the silhouettes of two dozen figures, standing tall, lining a rooftop in clear view of the square. Near the center of the dark, proud shapes, one strong form hefted and waved a massive black flag of rebellion.

Set off by the light at their backs, they spoke not a word. Rather, one steady-eyed youth raised a fist, mouths opened in inspiration, and a solidified roar of heart and purpose assailed our ears, shattering. The singular shout was laden with truth, made alarmingly substantial by so many things the endless rally cries, no matter how numerous, were suddenly found devoid of. The sheer earnestness, pure and simple honesty, seemed before my eyes to pierce and strike a chord in every rediscovered heart of the dissolved beast, for at once, unrehearsed, a startling portion of New Oto's people broke into a fearless cry of acclamation.

"Kuso!" I screeched, flickering into the crowd's midst and wrenching strong claws across the shoulders of a man – a civilian. His deceived voice was cut short, and he flopped to the ground in pain, crimson spurting from the wound. "Who else is cheering? !" I demanded at a roar, fangs bared, claws spread. My eyes were wide in rage; I smelled a splatter of human blood hot on my face. Screams peppered the confused cacophony of music that sailed obnoxiously into the air. People were running, scattering. "Treasonous worms!" I grabbed another beguiled man by the arm, and flung him to the earth. A woman, screeching as I approached, was lifted and hurled into a shop window. I appeared before another, boot sailing into his chest. People ran in all directions. Hands were waving in surrender, cheap apology, fear. Voices were shouting in protest. But from some, though backing away, a low but certain chant was warily, steadily taking form.

"New-Ko! New-Ko! New-Ko…!"

I yelled, grabbing, pulling and shoving person after person to the dirt. Those who resisted received slashes or Juuken palms for their trouble.

I detected him just in time to shift outside the swing of his knife. He had come, lancing at an angle from the sky; gathering himself nimbly upon landing, he flung to ram the knob of the kunai into my back. I hacked and bent, staggering a short way forward, and then whirled to strike. He rolled outside the hit and lashed a foot for my ankle, and I hopped in evasion. For a second he dodged my blows with quick shifts and steps of retreat, before suddenly he leaped into a two-foot jump kick. As I blocked and was pushed back, his fingers formed a seal; a clone surged on the attack, lunging with a dropping knife strike, and I leaned aside, kicked the wrist, and spun out to deliver a solid palm to the chest. The duplicate was launched backward, off its feet, and melted into smoke.

Claws deflected a spray of metal stars, and I blurred with speed before his shadow could capture mine.

Nara Shikamaru's eyes widened as I snapped into being at his side and smashed a sound uppercut into his gut.

As he started to fold over I roughly grasped his hair to help guide his jaw to a rising knee. He staggered back, trying to keep his feet, and I closed in, feinted, struck – plowed a solid fist into his cheek. Blood streaked in his wake as the force kicked him off his feet, sending him corkscrewing through the air before crashing, tumbling, and skipping along the earth. I flickered into his path to catch him: a hand clamped securely over his mouth, obstructing his nose, and what focus his gaze had recovered rattled as I lifted an inch and shoved down again with a snarl, striking the back of his skull sharply against the earth. Only then did I rise, my suffocating grip not relinquished, and lift him easily from the earth. The Hakage grunted, glaring acidly down at me – determined as always to deny his powerlessness…

From the sky a flicker of pink, an axe kick – Haruno, teeth gritted and eyes shut, connected a heel drop to my elbow. My grip faltered in reflex, and Mitarashi Anko's curt shoulder charge pushed me back; she swept to catch Shikamaru's battered form in her arms as he collapsed, and flickered away with a hiss of "Retreat!" Sakura scrambled to her feet and vanished.

They were gone.

My pulse was rapid, my breaths harsh with the fury boiling inside me; my body was shaking with rage. As the singularity of my focus dispersed, however, and began to enfold the scene around me, my eyes grew. My clenched fists fell slack.

Civilians were on the ground, screaming, crying, as Oto- and New Oto-nin fell upon them with batons, cursing, kicking, apparently intent to beat the lurking wickedness out of their hearts. Youths were not spared; naturally, thoughts of treachery could be considered more dangerous in the young. Some bloodied forms were being detained in rope or chains, no doubt soon to be marched off to the unyielding hand of law, of trial by interrogation chamber; whatever the result, a black mark would stain their village residence files to set apart a possible conspirator or signs of enemy sympathizing. The streets leading from the square were in a state of wreckage, market stalls crushed; pro-Orochimaru banners and rally slogans lay in tatters, and broken New Oto flags peppered the number of motionless bodies trampled in the panic.

Shaking lips parted, I looked dumbly again to the crack of bludgeons over deemed traitors' defenseless backs. Some of the yelling, spitting enforcers were young – teens. Fellows I knew. Some were even Hyuuga. I lowered my head with a shake, but could no more shut my eyes against the night than I could my ears. Somewhere an infant was crying. What had we been playing with here? Madness? A wad of sickness weighed heavily on the pit of my stomach. This was too much. Too much.

A slender hand settled on the shoulder of my flak jacket. My lord shook his head, somber. "All of this, for the Leaf vermin to make a statement. It's sad… pitiful, the depths to which they'll sink…"

Was that sorrow I detected in his voice? Somehow I was not certain. Orochimaru folded me in his arm, shushing. "Peace, my child. It may be unfortunate, but for the cause of greater good, sacrifices must be made… Let us head back. Those responsible for this shall get their taste of justice soon enough…"

My eyes were hot. I shut them and nodded. "Yes, milord. I will ensure it."

"Did you have a hand in this?"

Obsidian eyes blinked simply. "No."

"I'm serious, Uchiha!" I snarled, slamming my fists onto the desk between us as I glared into his expressionless eyes. "Don't you lie to me!"

His eyes narrowed. "Look, I know you're desperate for someone to take the blame, but it wasn't me. They're getting cleverer about keeping secrets while I'm around."

Cursing in frustration, I turned from him and paced the room. The flag committee had been interrogated, as had the volunteers assigned to the flag's setup and coordination for the rally, to no avail. They swore up and down, terrified but honestly, that they had arranged the New Oto flag as always; someone on the inside had coordinated the covert effort to have it switched out. It could only be the boy before me, and he had a knack for lying to my face.

"Why not take the optimistic side, like our Lord Orochimaru?" he cut into my thoughts. "'Fewer the half-hearts to undermine our cause'…?"

I cast him a sidelong look. "Agreeing with our lord? How uncharacteristic of you, chuunin."

"Oh, give it a rest–,"

"I wouldn't be so snappy if I were you," I said, a hand at my brow. "If none come forward in connection to this incident, you will take the fall. I'll see to it personally…"

That got through his impassive mask. "With no proof? You can't do that!"

"Actually, I can. Consider it a favor for the trouble you've caused me. Yes…" I mused, a smile taking form as the idea blossomed. "One of our agents, naively tricked and tempted by their foul deceit, grew to commiserate with the enemy…"

"You're going to make me your scapegoat," he said, eyes dark.

I nodded. "To pull off such a ruse on their own… It would seem the rebels are getting bold, aren't they? They need to be put in their place … and who better to strike back at them – to carry out our retribution – than a treasonous young agent who, only now realizing the tragic error of his ways, yearns to make amends for the honor and glory of New Otogakure no Sato?"

His eyes were unreadable, his face pale. "You… really are the serpent's protégée, aren't you…?"

I threw back my head and laughed aloud.

Twenty-Three, Part Three: Call of War

Naruto ナルト

A double handful of stream water was flung from my hands into my face. A civilian worker, out gathering berries, had wandered too far alone and stumbled upon a wild dog – probably abandoned. It had proven none too happy to be disturbed, but luckily Hinata, overseeing the group, had been close enough to get to the commotion quickly. A stern talking-to had sent the shame-faced pooch off. Presently I had just gotten through assisting Granny Tsunade with the surgery and suturing of the poor oaf's nastily bitten arm – Shizune was available, but Tsunade had me be the right-hand this time around for the experience.

I sighed, running fingers through my dampened hair. The days were passing like dreams; I welcomed compatriots to the cause; I advanced in medical ninjutsu; I guarded scouting or gathering parties; I saw that the civilians' needs were not overlooked. In down time I had picked up sewing, as more than a few shinobi who'd never before threaded a needle had. It was a necessity-oriented existence, but it was somehow unsettlingly peaceful. Time rolled on in an indistinct but pleasant shimmer of mundane occurrences; these were days where the most pressing matter of any immediacy was the still unresolved shortage of passable shoes – but even so, intermediate solutions ranging from woven straw and reeds to cloth soles secured with wrapping tape got us by. That was the kind of peace we had. I wondered if, a hundred-odd years ago, the fledgling beginnings of villages had carried on in such a way, sprouting from the same manner of existence…

I smiled at a presence nearing me, and Hinata's fingers ran through my wet hair. "He's alright?" she asked, kneeling by the stream at my side.

"He'll pull through. A scar, maybe, but nothing a man can't recover from."

She nodded in relief, and bent to lap delicately at the stream water, drinking her fill. A certain natural elegance in the way this was done made it neither awkward nor lowly; it was an odd way to drink, sure, but she carried it out in a way that made her no less human in even the most ignorant eyes. She sat back. "I'm glad… The brother said game has been scarce in his pack's territory lately; he was hungry, and startled, but abashed enough to learn he was infringing upon the mission of an emissary of Okaa-sama." She blushed, scratching her head. "Anyways, the wolves in the area are no danger to us now. We can gather all the fruit we want without worrying; in return, we're not to take any of the area's live game. I've already gotten word around camp."

"They didn't give the wolf-speaker any weird looks, did they?"

"Not too many," she chuckled.

"Oh, dear," I said, a glint in my eye, "Pardon me, Miss; it seems I've made you blush again."

Hiding a grin, she leaned into me and nudged her head against my shoulder, eyes shut. My arm encircled her warmth; I smiled fondly as my hand melded to her side.

As our force climbed in number, of course, the speed at which the nomadic band covered ground steadily declined. Some few weeks ago, when we'd been near Gunromachi – the no-name, innocent little town with clandestine connections to New Konoha – a small squad had made the order and placed a down payment for the supplies, chiefly leather, for our crafters to work with and make shoes of. Naturally, preparing such a large order of material – and keeping its amassment unnoticed by the outside world – took time and no small amount of caution. Since then we'd made a route that swept slowly through a good deal of Hi no Kuni, and doubled back a ways again. Soon enough, we'd be back within a day or so's run of the place – not close enough for anyone unawares to suspect our business with the rebels-in-arms (indeed, only a select few in our force knew there was any transaction with Gunro at hand), but not so far that a small unit, or even an individual ninja, should have much difficulty getting there and safely back to base.

"Be careful, Hinata-chan," I murmured, pecking the forehead beneath a short curtain of bangs.

It served two birds with one stone, for a full moon was on the way and Hinata knew of a lush, spacious wood not far from the town. The girl needed to get some distance from us anyway; she would satiate her needs, and the next morning make way to Gunromachi, seal up the goods, and head back.

"Of course…" She breathed me in lightly, her nose by my chest. "I know how to fend for myself now, just like you and Lee-kun do. It's not like anyone else knows about the mission, either, and if someone did – well, even you have trouble taking me on when I'm all charged up from a good hunt."

"I guess you're right there," I laughed.

"But still…"

"What is it?"

She looked up at me, affectionate. "It's only two days, but I'll miss you every second."

I smiled. "I'll be right here waiting. Just come back to me, Hinata-chan."

She giggled. "Hai!"

Hanabi ハナビ

Sasuke had swung by earlier in the day to inform us that, though injuries from the rally riot had numbered in the hundreds, civilian deaths had been mercifully scarce. The exploits of New Konoha didn't quite end at the rally, however; we learned of a follow-up operation that had been carried out in the summer fog of the night, with New Oto's guard stretched thin enforcing a village-wide lockdown and conducting interrogations amongst their own, and the village had thusly woken to find 'THEY'RE AFRAID OF YOU' plastered in bold letters in the wreckage of the square, on a few battered streets, and on the front door of their Hokage's mansion, a missing New Oto flag heaped and tattered before it. The tunnels were lively with children, convulsing with laughter as they gesticulated and screeched their renditions of the flying rumor of Orochimaru's reaction.

To say the least, the operation was deemed a success. An idea got around, and Izumo, Kotetsu, Anko, and Genma, among others, had wasted no time in talking Shikamaru into calling for a minor celebratory feast. After all, as Anko-sensei put it, it wasn't every day that you struck your enemy's mettle true to the core.

Night was settling aboveground, I knew, and the mess hall was packed, tables laden with salted pork, soup, fresh meat, bread, rice, and vegetables – the kind of luxury NewKo could afford itself only once in a good while. In my finest outfit, which in truth wasn't much, I was currently walking through a maze of tunnels away from the hot food – walking, because even with none around it would feel undignified to run – and away, because I had managed to forget my chuunin armband in Sakura's room. I needed to present myself as head of New Konoha's Hyuuga, and the proud shinobi of the resistance that I felt pretty damned sure everyone already knew I was. Hiryuu had wanted me accompanied, but I insisted even I wasn't inept enough to trip and die the moment I lacked a bodyguard. Better they didn't have to miss the start of the celebration for my mistake.

My stomach grumbled; I grimaced. Just get the kerchief and head back…

At least I would get to enjoy the gathering, I thought. At the last minute, Sakura had come down with something and been confined to bed rest; it was in fact when I had visited her, not fifteen minutes ago, that I'd set down my leaf-green kerchief and forgotten it. Sakura's condition was odd, and the medics were baffled by a lack of any clear symptom. It was weird, but she simply… felt sick.

I snapped from my thoughts – I was being watched. My hand went for a kunai pouch I wasn't carrying in my formal attire, and I swore softly, stirring sparking energy across my fingertips.

"Easy there," a familiar voice said, and I blinked as a shadowed figure stepped nonchalantly around a corner, a hand waving for peace. I calmed considerably – but for whatever reason found myself unwilling to fully abandon my stance. There was something off, the way he stood… his positioning in the sparsely lit hall left burning eyes just too shadowed to fully discern. A dim heat radiated from that darkness – his eyes – was that black or dark red? I don't know why I didn't activate my Byakugan then and there. Perhaps I sensed, in that moment, that even my eyes would never have been able to pick him apart.

"S… Sasuke-sensei?"

Neji ネジ

–"Tell me, Hiyuki… Are you happy?"–

Sprawled flat on my futon, arms spread, I thumbed the round, white tablet in my hand. I held it up slowly between a thumb and forefinger, arm reaching up as I gazed on in thought.

–"Hm? What do you mean, Neji-sama?"–

They were away – all of them. Lord Orochimaru had asked to put them up to some manner of test run. I could only guess at the type of task for which he should have use for them on the night of a full moon.

–"Just that. Are you happy with your life here? With me? With the Hyuuga?"

"Of course I am. I get to help Neji-sama, and be close to him…"–

It seemed odd, somehow; it felt this power was not born to be bent to another's will, concerted for controlled destruction.

–"…Have I done something wrong?"–

Though the Hokage's request had been at most a formality – we both knew what answer was expected – I probably could've argued it, and he would yield if I felt strongly enough. It was strange, after all, to be apart…

–"No, not at all! I've just… been thinking… Are you alright with doing as I say?"

"I love being a part of your heart. I am your hand, milord. My strength is yours, always…"

"Our bond is a pleasure beyond expression… but I want you to be honest, Hiyuki. Does anything – anything at all… hurt you inside?"

"…Heehee! You ask such strange things today, Neji-sama!"

"I suppose so. Gomen."–

My hand snapped shut. People could be happy if they didn't realize they had reason to be sad. That was the world we lived in; that was the best we had. Strong over weak. Better that than suffering. Better a thousand blasted times than the scornful injustice of the past. That was our brand of mercy.

A spike of vigor shot through me, prompting a sudden growl. I took the pill, and I faded away.

Hanabi ハナビ

He didn't answer. My throat was a knot and I didn't know why.

"Aren't – I thought you left for New Oto earlier…?"

"Did I?"

Two words, and I found I couldn't recall where he was supposed to be right now. Something was very wrong. "I…" I shook my head, as if to clear it of the murk.

"Are you feeling ill, Hanabi?"

"What–?" But now that he mentioned it, though, I was starting to feel a little queasy. "No– how…?"

"Easy, Hanabi. I think you should lie down…"

Lie down… I should–

I slapped myself sharply across the face; my head cleared. "No – what's going on? Something's wrong with you!"

"Nothing is going on–,"

"You called me by name," I broke through his smooth voice. "What happened to 'Little Hyuuga'?"

"Does that really matter?" The strength of his eyes intensified. "You're ill. You should forget about the celebration and rest."

I broke from the steel of his gaze, shutting my eyes hard and activating the Byakugan. My teeth clenched. It was true, then – without direct eye contact, I was me.

"It was you," I whispered in realization. "Sakura's not really sick, is she?"

He shrugged nondescriptly. "She believes she is; that's all it takes for the body to react. She'll be fine, and so will you. Just get some rest." His eyes pressed again, but I resisted.

"Stop that already!" I cried. Suddenly it clicked into place. "The celebration. What've you done – what's going to happen to them? !"

I saw him move; maybe I could have reacted, but I was far too shocked. His fist popped me in the gut, hard enough that I wheezed, and in an instant his hands had my shoulders pinned to a wall.

"You're making this difficult," he growled. "Look at me!"

I shook my head, eyes shut, seeing him without seeing him. A bead of spittle was trailing from my mouth. "Who are you?" I said, trying not to whimper. I knew it was Sasuke-san, but I didn't want to believe it. This hurt. My voice hardened with anger as I demanded, "Was everything a lie, then? Who are you loyal to? !"

"Enough of this!" He hung his head, eyes squeezed shut. Something new was in his voice now; I shuddered, realizing with a start that it was fear – not even for himself, perhaps, but dread for something awful to come. "I can't… answer that, dammit!" he cried. "I'm not safe anymore – not here, not anywhere!"

"You can trust me!"

He groaned in frustration, voice strained with effort. "We're running out of time…"

"For what? Tell me!"

He was hunched, as if in agony; I could feel the heat radiating from his brow. I tried to jerk free of his hold, and his strong hands tightened automatically. "I can't – I want to, but I've already made it so I can't!" he blurted, mournful and hopeless. "I could, with more time – it wears off – but there isn't enough…!" He shuddered.

"Stay with me, sensei! There's time – there is. Just tell me – tell me what's happening, if you won't feel safe telling them yourself. I'll think of something – I won't say I heard it from you!" My eyes were watering; I was confused and afraid. Strong people weren't supposed to fall apart like this, weren't supposed to fail you and turn into someone else. "So just… just…!"

"It's not that simple!" he barked. "I can't… guh… It's not my choice…!"

"Then if nothing else, tell me who you are! Tell me – where does your loyalty really lie?"

He started with a gasp; his shuddering ceased. Finally, raising clear eyes to a level with mine, he said, simply…

"I am loyal to New Leaf."

And then he kissed me.

My sound of surprise was smothered in his lips as a gale of shock and emotion crashed over me; sensation swirled in my head and my chest. But most significantly of all, my eyes snapped open – and my heart was locked to the will of two coldly crimson Sharingan eyes, open and waiting not one inch away.

He pulled away, straightened. My lips were tingling faintly. A whisper tried to form in my throat.

"Not… fair…"

He opened his mouth, paused. "…Sorry."

His gaze didn't release me as he pulled my green kerchief from his pocket, tying it neatly in place at my shoulder. An icy hand lightly wiped away the thin trails of tears running down my cheeks.

"Go on to the celebration," he said, light, conversational. "You've been talking to Sakura too long; those guys might get worried."

I nodded dumbly in agreement. "Yeah."

He continued, the words spinning like he could see into my heart, speaking my thoughts before I could think them. "You don't like pork, do you? Stew, either. In fact, I don't think you've got much of an appetite at all."

"You're right," I realized, amazed. Of course he was right. This was Sasuke-sensei, after all.

His hand ruffled my hair. Then he took me by the shoulder, gently turning me in the direction of the mess hall. "Go on, then."

A light push on the back.

I walked down the hall. I wasn't really all that hungry, but I did need to make an appearance at the celebration, after all.

Hinata ヒナタ

The kill was stripped clean in moments; I licked some spilled life's-syrup and chomped a bone to pieces in one satisfyingly sharp snap, my ears already shifting, searching as I spat.

Here…

I launched myself through the woods, feet blurring as I lit off after a small hog, Ani-ue at my heels. In moments I was practically upon it – leapt to a tree trunk– legs tensed, claws spread–

A wind blew, up from the valley. Catching myself, I paused inches from springing to the ground, snapping the creature's neck. I held the tree in one clawed hand's grip, feet braced lightly at its bark. My nostrils flared as the air rolled across my fur.

'Ani.'

'So you sense it, too?'

I grunted gruffly. 'Trouble.' My body slipped to the earth, landing sleekly on all fours. 'I'll go. Run back to camp, Ani… get help. Only the strongest.'

There was blood in the air. Many, many humans' blood. My heart pounded. And over there, I sensed…

'You shouldn't, Koinu,' Brother disapproved. 'Especially not alone.'

I shook my head. No time. 'I must, Brother. Go!' And I flung off into the night, striding, rising, swinging, sailing, hopping light and swift in the flying branches, a wraith flowing fleet through the wind and trees.

Emerging, I launched alone into the open night, landed on a slope, bounded down with no break in stride. This feeling…

I leapt powerfully again. Normally I would avoid human-places, but these streets, these dwellings, didn't seem populated – not anymore.

Lee リー

"Oi – wake up!"

I stirred groggily; I was facing to the side. I blinked, registering the sight of Sakon shaking Naruto-kun's shoulder a few feet away. Tayuya and Jiroubo stood close by.

"Focus, Lee!" Kidoumaru said above me, and I started. His eyes were wide with fear – panicked.

"What is wrong?"

"Hinata," he said, rising and staring off into the luminous night. "The kid's in deep."

Hanabi ハナビ

"You're sure you wouldn't like to eat, m'lady?" Hiryuu whispered, concerned. I shook my head; I'd taken a bite of bread only to find myself lacking much of an appetite. I regretted that the etiquette of my protectors demanded that they did not indulge themselves in my presence if I chose not to (Hiryuu would not have the point argued), but not as strongly as I felt I should. I was feeling unwell, to the point that the thought of another bite of much of anything sickened me. No matter how disappointed, the four wouldn't hold it against me, I knew. For them, I at least managed to sit straight and proper in my formal robe, smiling in the festivity and hoping the strength of the Hyuuga would keep the sickness in my gut from showing on my face.

A little way down our table, someone began to cough; I glanced over as the hacking continued. Hands thumped him on the back, and his eyes grew wide as he covered his mouth. I blinked dully, brow furrowing.

…Choking–?

A tearing noise sent flecks of crimson spattering through his fingers.

My jaw dropped.

What…?

"AAAAGH!"

A yowl tore through the room above the crash of breaking glass. The easygoing words of a folk song froze, withered and died on the air. Someone was convulsing, thrashing rigidly in his chair, foam and an indistinguishable thick liquid pouring from his mouth; I saw a woman clutching her head, screaming of burning. A kunoichi stood, heading toward an ailing teammate before abruptly losing her footing with a shudder. Her head cracked into the floor.

Cries were everywhere, filling the hall with a blare of terror and agony. Shikamaru stood, eyes wide – but before a command, a call for order could issue his voice caught – blood spilled from a corner of his mouth. The Hakage coughed and collapsed into his chair in a slouch, like a ragdoll thrown there, eyes spasming, chest shuddering frantically for breath.

Some haze evaporated, and I started to my feet in horror. "Poison – the food's been poisoned!" I yelled stupidly, tears flowing freely from my eyes. Harumi vaulted the table and rushed to Shikamaru's side; Hiryuu's towering form stood guard over me, eyes sweeping the chaos incredulously, as Hitaka and Hikujaku joined the scattering of others unaffected to help, or try to. It didn't matter how much I yelled now – I was too late. People were falling.

I wasn't really ill, and I hadn't been poisoned, but my chest hurt so intensely I wanted to scream. I looked down, hands clenching and unclenching on the table as a murmur passed through my lips. I could still taste him there. The tears wouldn't stop. You knew…

"Traitor… Y-you traitor…!"

Hinata ヒナタ

Growls cracked like whips, dueling in the air between us. Aggression barked and snapped and rumbled with ferocity from their throats. Only my wary posture, the menace in my threatening tone, held them at bay. It would not for long.

This town – this was the place called Gunromachi, and it was in ruins. Structures had been toppled at destructive whim. The mauled bodies of humans, half-devoured and bloody, lay still warm in the streets. Flames roared voraciously in some places, accentuated by the strewn wreckage; their hot tongues triumphantly danced upon the fields and the motionless bodies of the humans' herd-creatures. The smell of blood, the aura of death, was prodding me rapidly into a frenzy.

"HINATA-SSSAMA…!" a harsh voice cackled in mockery.

"KKILLL HERRR…! !" another called, voice a low, throaty, jeering hiss.

My darting eyes swept the six faces ringed about me, their feral owners hunched or crouched intently, drunk with bloodlust and foul intent. I fired off growls, claws flexing and gnashing as they tested their distance, their black fangs snapping the air in excitement. My fur stood wildly erect.

The earth was shivering – nearly wailing. Raw and primitive strength crackled in the air, stirring up a tumultuous and stinging wind. I exhaled through bared fangs, breath steaming, glowering darkly, and lowered my head as I spoke through a snarl.

"We are of the greatest Clan of the greatest Village that exists in this Land. How could you let yourselves fall to this state? ! !"

A savage roar split the blood-soaked night, and, as one, they sprang.

ナルト / リー / ヒナタ \ ハナビ \ ネジ

End Chapter Twenty-Three

Neji: Rotation!

Hinata: Translation!

Hanabi: Reflection!

Neji: What?

(–static–)

Hinata: How can this be? How? ! Chikusho! There are too many… I can't…!

But you don't know what you're doing – I won't fight you– Augh!

Not… n-not when you haven't done anything wrong…!

Naruto: A battle of beasts – a blood-soaked night. Voices cry out with none to listen. Without warning, love, hate, and desperation must clash by fang and claw. As a new dawn sheds its light on the horror, we realize what we must do…

Gaara: All of us, together…

Lee: We will end this.

Kurogiba: Next is Chapter Twenty-Four: Toward the New Age

Hinata: Kuso… kuso… I'm NOT about to lose you – HIYUUUKIIIIIII! ! !

Chapter, complete! Gosh dang, I actually finished writing this two weeks ago. Just didn't have time to type 'nonstop' like I usually do T.T Still, typed in bits n' pieces, I did it! Hope you enjoyed it. Next chapter's gonna be intense ;)

How was the chapter? I've officially incorporated all the characters I've previously said I would overlook – I incorporated Itachi's true story, brought Tsunade into the mix, and, finally, have fit in Danzo. Was he in character/ reasonable? How about Neji's interactions with/ relationship with the Chosen (mainly Hiyuki)? Any thoughts on the Sound/Leaf Four? The rally scene? Kind of a slow period with our three failures in this one. Sasuke? Hanabi? Favorite part, least favorite part, confusing parts? Et cetera?

Please review! I'll try to write soon!

Laters,

:o)Hinata0321:o)