The Akatsuki.
An organization that to this day, in an era of peace, can be talked so casually among commoners. The very name used in hushed whispers and nervously exchanged even among the Kage of the Five Great Nations' Hidden Villages. They were brought up from nothing and used the world's chaos, turmoil and warfare to profit for the sake of a greater ideal.
Whether the world admitted it or not, the Ninja of today have finally surpassed their ancestors thanks to their existence.
But their destruction has led to a period of stagnation. From the place he heralded from he saw firsthand one of the strongest current Shinobi, had turn his back on those ideals. Itachi, his brother, was slaughtered in a duel but had promoted the goals of the Akatsuki for a time. After the Mugen Tsukuyomi was cast and the world was spared, he found out something strange. Sasuke was nowhere to be found and often did little to impact the world.
To spit on the graves of those who bled, fought and died for the sake of evolving the current human race was blasphemy to him. This man who no one knew existed save for one. He was eternal in the most biological sense. He knew he'd live on forever, no matter how many times he'd meet his end; passing on his war upon the stasis that the current leaders have put upon the populace.
His musings were brought to an end when one of his 'sons' returned to him in a shimmering motion of Shunshin. With white hair slicked back smooth against his scalp to form a slight rising crescent near the back of his head, the pale skinned duplicate's Sharingan looked low and respectful to his original. Wearing an angular collared light colored kosode with a black obi and a pair of black slacks leading to a pair of sandals.
"Father...I've come to bring you news...from one of our comrades," He spoke in a low whisper with gradual pauses between each set of words, not daring to raise his voice to his master.
"Speak," The Akatsuki radical - Shin Uchiha - granted the Clone free rein to deliver his message in full.
"They've made contact...with Sasuke Uchiha. As predicted...by our benefactor...he has emerged from a rift of space/time he had created. He made his move...but failed to take his life...or his powers," The Shinling explained in a slow, purposeful manner.
"As expected," Shin spoke lowly, more to himself than to his biological progeny. "He may have expended an enormous amount of Chakra during his journey and the return home to our world. But in the end, he is still Indra's reincarnation," Grasping his chin with his right arm, he mused to himself quietly so that only his genetic offspring could hear. "This needs a much more delicate approach."
"One of my...brothers...made a discovery," The Shinling spoke up, earning a nod of acknowledgement from his original. Thus, he continued to speak freely. "The Hokage of the Leaf has...left the Village. It is believed...that he'll make contact...with Sasuke. Three others of...interest...are in pursuit as well."
"Oh, and who are they?" He turned to look over his shoulder, casting an intimidating stare from a permanently opened right eye. This feature was responsible by a right temple to the bridge of the nose long scar. Its bloodshot sclera made his own Sharingan look all the more imposing with the eight stitches that held it in place.
Shivering slightly, the Clone addressed him with greater reverence than before, "It was...the son of the Hokage...the daughter of Sasuke...and the child of their mentor's, Kakashi Hatake."
"I see," He said with a pleased tone, turning to look at his faux child before him. He revealed a host of Sharingan staring at odd directions and only his right to left one looking forward, his own cloak was enamored with the red clouds on a black linen surface. The 'father' showed his joy in what his flesh and blood brought him by speaking in a louder voice. "The time to show the world that peace is a lie and that progress can be achieved only through continuous conflict is now. You shall bring me the daughter of Sasuke and either of the children you see fit."
"Which one...should I...choose?" The Shinling asked carefully.
A crooked grin on full display, Shin Uchiha gave his offspring a chuckle, "It does not matter. Dispose of the one you wish. We need only two of them intact, after all."
Chapter 4 - The Dawn's Rebirth
"Man...we've been running for hours," Boruto griped, taking a breather by a tree he leaned against. His lungs feel like they were on fire. They had set out to track him after they watched pay pleasantries to his adviser before he set off.
What he hadn't expected was his kid sister running out in adorable fashion to give him a bento box. Watching him ruffle his sibling's head and leave not long after, they followed under the pretense of meeting up with their sensei for a round of teaching. He felt a small amount of regret leaving their Jōnin behind without a word, but this was for a teammate and a friend.
Even if he didn't like the distant nature of his father, he had far more respect for his team given the time and effort he spent with them. With a part of him excited to meet Sarada's father, it encouraged him that Sakuya had agreed wholeheartedly to aid the young Uchiha in her goal of locating her estranged parent. It obviously meant a lot to her, even if he couldn't comprehend it.
"Boruto, your dad is the Hokage," Sakuya corrected her pineapple headed friend after a swish of her water canteen was taken. Screwing the cap shut, she peered at the faint tracks left every so often by the leader of the Hidden Leaf. Squatting down she pressed her fingers down on it and barely felt the imprint, realizing it was a track only she could see which Boruto couldn't. "If he was going to work himself to the brink of collapse, I doubt he's out of shape."
"Tch, he spends his time running errands, doing interviews and sitting behind a desk," He grouched out, twisting his body around while maintaining a stern eye contact with the silver haired Kunoichi. "Those kinds of things don't exactly seem like intense training. I'm not saying he isn't tough, but an old fart like him couldn't have this kind of stamina."
Clapping was heard as Sarada had finished her own break. The two friends looked to see the spectacled girl look annoyed at Boruto but seem to drag it over to Sakuya as well. Sighing she adjusted her glasses while cutting in, "Guys, as much as I'd love to add my two cents to this, we need to get moving. Lord Nanadaime is on the move."
"Yeah, you're right," Sakuya realized, her own Sensory ability kicking on when she placed focus into it.
Returning to their run, it wasn't until they made it a few meters did a new signature appear to appear before their eyes. A shimmer of speed akin to how they've seen their Jōnin move kicked up a spiral of leaves, circling around a white and black clothed individual. From a crouch he slowly rose up in a slouching stand, his haunting pale skin, white hair and blazing red irises made them hesitate.
But what's more, he possessed the iconic mirror wheel eye of the Uchiha Clan, the Sharingan!
"Who are you?!" Sarada asked ahead of all three at seeing this. A sense of dread at knowing she may be related to this thing unnerved her. But the way he looked straight at her made her all the more fearful. "Why do you have the Sharingan?!"
"My name is...Shin...Uchiha," He slowly breathed out, his eyes observed the other two warily as the drops of leaves scattered around him. "Father said to...take you...with me."
"And if we don't wanna?!" Sakuya impulsively snarled out, taking a step forward with a raised fist clenched.
Pulling out a scroll from his sleeve, eerie designs of bronze color with red paper in appearance. With insistence in his voice, he raised the volume passionately, "Come!"
"Boy, you don't take rejection well, do ya?" Boruto growled out himself, stepping forward to be with Sakuya to defend their teammate. Sarada felt reassurance that her friends stood before her, but the sight of this Shin made her tremble. What connection did he have to her father?
Who is he?
"Father insisted I bring you...so...I must..."
Kuchiyose no Jutsu!
"...even if by force!"
In a swift summon, a Fūma Shuriken is withdrawn by a chain attached by a slim bar within its inner ring. Based on the range, the three Genin could assume that he could reach about three times the distance that separated them now. With a glowing glare, he hefted the giant projectile with ease and thrust it towards the three with Sarada at its focal point.
The trio dodged, Sarada reacting instinctively by tossing three Kunai at her enemy's face. Using the links to deflect the weapons sent his way he'd find his weapon pinned when Sarada stomped on it in the middle of her jump. Turning to see three Boruto Clones surround him on all sides. Swinging their fists towards him, he'd evaporate before their eyes, leaping up and yanking the chain to entangle the Clones together. Landing upon them with the other end of his weapon piercing them with a knife's edge, they'd explode in a puff of smoke.
Leaping with impressive speed forward, Sakuya unsheathed her tantou and in a white spraying arc of light cut towards the Shinling. Dodging it with apparent ease through a bodily shift to the side, the antagonist stabbed towards the white haired girl's left eye. When the Hatake Kunoichi rolled with the edge that cut her cheek, she managed to twist around to perform a counter stroke with her chakra sabre towards his neck.
He stopped it with his free hand, catching the edge in the palm and receiving only a soft squelching gash from superior reaction timing.
"Fūton," Boruto intoned, appearing beneath Shin's left unprotected guard, slamming both palms into the hip. Lurching to the side with a look of surprise mingled with pain the bowed enemy was sent throttling back, crashing bodily into a tree with a loud crack. "Reppūshō!"
Staggering back to his feet, Shin brushed aside the dirt and debris on his coat while casually spitting out blood. Walking back slowly, his glare became more imposing as his brow creased forth and his irises shifted along with his pupils. They'd form a solid black sphere with three edges, a pulsing red dot forming where the center of his eyes once were once active.
"This Chakra-!" Sakuya gasped, feeling exactly what Sarada felt at that moment.
The jingling sound of the dropped weapons was heard a moment too late as a coil of chains wrapped around Sarada. Yelping out at the invisible force that constricted her the two other Genin watched as the chain detached from the Fūma Shuriken and the individual parts of the weapon formed four enormous arrow of steel. Launched like bullets, they moved with intense speed, soaring over Sarada as they moved directly towards her two friends.
"LOOK OUT!" She screamed as an explosive blast followed the impacts of the blades where her friends stood. Her breath hitched as the smoke cloud rose and the air grew quiet. The sudden pitting in her gut made her wonder if her friends escape the attack.
Then, a series of 'tsks' were heard on a nearby a shaded tree. Both Boruto and Sakuya looked bewildered till they saw their scarf toting Jōnin standing upright, a look of resigned disbelief on his face. Looking at them, he scratched his head when he caught sight of Shin Uchiha.
"Seriously you guys, this is the thanks I get? I was going to start teaching you some real cool stuff today and you ditch me for a hike out of Konoha? What would the other Jōnin say if I got left behind by my own team?" Konohamaru chided them, his grin becoming cheeky as renewed hope filled the entangled Sarada and the rescued two. "That'd never fly, I'd tell you that."
"Sensei Konohamaru!" Sakuya acknowledged with a shout of delight, never so happy to get someone's help till now.
"...w-we had it under control," Boruto lamely commented, looking away with shame.
"Sure ya did, hero," Konohamaru teased, crouching down as he looked towards Shin's livid visage. "Mangekyō Sharingan against kids? Don't you think it's a bit fair? I mean, come on, you're just about their age-"
Silently, Shin made Sakuya's tantou fly out of her grip again through a telekinetic field. The girl couldn't warn her Sensei as it thrust into his back and out his chest. A look of shock as blood sprayed from his torso as the edge of the weapon tore through him.
Simultaneously, the body puffed out in a cloud of smoke while a scarf lassoed out from above and ensnared the young Shinling down to the wrists. He budged and squirmed but he was completely at the mercy of a tree limb standing Konohamaru. The weapons that he had been manipulating spun towards his bindings all at once, moving at impressive velocity.
Undoing the snare with a twist of his hand, he jumped off his platform as the whole tree was severed in half from the force of the Mangekyō launched weapons.
"Gauged by his means, it looks like he can move objects he touches with his hands using his Sharingan," Konohamaru analyzed with a furrowed brow as Shin landed on the ground with a crouch. With a twisting snap, he broke Sarada free of her bindings, watching them carefully to see if they'd move once more. Seeing it wasn't the case, he wrapped his scarf around his right arm and charged it with Chakra till it glowed blue. "Gotta make sure he doesn't touch my scarf in that case. Or my body, in case that goes doubly for people as well."
Without any verbal flare, Shin attacked with his mind manipulated blades, sending them hurtling towards the Jōnin.
"Katon, Obeki!" The Sarutobi intoned, blasted off from Fire Nature Chakra beneath his sandal covered feet; a feat that his Clone had shown when rescuing the two Genin. Through this momentum he evaded the Sharingan shot attacks through a corkscrewing leap, grasping the thrown sword with his spare hand. With a throw under hand he watched Shin stop it by merely staring at it.
Grinning, he'd throw his arm forward and unravel the scarf in a dizzying spin towards the stationary Uchiha. When it stopped just short, blocked by Sarada's heirloom, an earsplitting shockwave detonated point blank in front of Shin. The fierceness of the blast tore apart his top and the frag kicked up by the blast lacerated his skin. Shin hurled blood and saliva, flung back like a rag doll through a distance of treeline that ended with him crashing through a trunk that left the last tree crashing to the side.
"Fūton, Taifū Hebi!" He yelled out with a victorious guffaw that left his team breathless.
"That was...amazing," Sakuya gaped out, having never seen someone move so fast and perform such a sly Jutsu with such precision or power. Inside she felt a sense of powerlessness as she couldn't handle the enemy, even with support. The gap between her and a fully fledged Ninja felt ever-so wide before her eyes.
"Wow! Good going, Sensei!" Boruto yipped with a fist pumping holler of delight.
"It isn't over..."
Sarada's words came out as a shiver just as their Jōnin's stance turned defensive. What came in return was a series of trees roaring forth like missiles. They blasted through anything in their path, a hail of monolithic projectiles moving far too fast for the instructor to both deflect and protect his team. Moving his hands to perform a Jutsu, he'd attempt to handle before it converged upon them.
Until, a spectacular flash of golden, fiery Chakra appeared in the form of a long shrouded arm. It smashed through all of the incoming trees, smashing them into splinters in vibrant blasts that turned them into crumbling embers. The spectacled girl, pineapple boy and silver-haired Kunoichi all turned with Konohamaru to see the golden caped, black undercloth with spiked burning Chakra coming up from his normally short blonde hair. Black spheres hovered behind his back in an arching formation, a cross-shaped pupil presiding within his golden irises, complemented by a number of tomoe circling a glowing spiral on the black surface of the normally orange long-shirt front beneath his Hokage cloak.
"D-Dad!" Boruto exclaimed with surprise, shared by the silent Sarada and Sakuya. Where did this Chakra come from, he wondered? He had no idea his dad was THIS strong!
"Sorry I didn't intervene till now," He apologized, a wry grin spread across his face as he locked eyes with the sheepish Konohamaru. "But I wanted to see how well you handled yourself."
"Haha! Thanks but-" The Sarutobi began to say, realizing the enemy was still in play. Turning to look where the boy once was, he saw the ragged child looked far more fierce than before. Not even deterred by his injuries, the blood smeared expression was enhanced by the red tears falling down his eyes as Chakra brimmed wildly around him. "Yeah...probably should finish him off."
"Sharingan, eh? I got a few questions for you," Naruto spoke calmly, maintaining a negotiable visage even as his Rikudou raiment maintained a luminous glow. "Do you happen to know the name Sasuke Uchiha? If so, what connection do you have to him?"
The Shinling just glared back, his teeth bared and a semblance of rage was triggered at the words the Nanadaime chose. Just as he flinched to make a move, a strange creature plopped next to his feet. The one thing that made it distinguishable from the Clone's distance from the others was the bright shine of a Sharingan in its lone bulbous face.
"It's time for you to withdraw," A low, authoritative voice came through the entity that didn't belong to the grub, that much was clear. The two-legged, gimp armed monster possessed a small mouth of its own, using it to communicate on behalf of someone else more likely. "He's the last opponent you should face alone."
"Yes, father," He murmured with a bow. A maelstrom of twisting transparent Chakra malformed space and sucked it into the center of the small creature's eye. Disappearing in a blur they ceased to be sensed or saw from the group of Ninja present.
When nothing transpired for the next few seconds, the Hokage sighed with relief. His mantle of Tailed Beast Chakra dissipated till his normal apparel returned to full visibility. He did a once over more with normal Sage Mode, his ring-bordered eyes looking around their given area.
"His presence disappeared," Naruto confirmed out loud, his senses unable to determine where the entity and the boy went. Disengaging his connection with Nature Chakra, he looked down and spoke lowly to himself. "It seems they have Space/Time Ninjutsu as well. No wonder Sasuke wanted to meet with me personally..."
"U-Um," Sakuya spoke up hesitantly, earning both the Jōnin and the Nanadaime's attention. Bowing her head apologetically, she yanked Boruto by the collar to join her while Sarada joined due to her example. "I-I'm sorry for causing you both trouble. We were only trying to help Sarada find out more about her father. This was the only opportunity she was going to have and I didn't want to turn my back on her."
"W-What she said," Boruto spoke lamely, realizing that he may actually get a scolding for the first time in a long while.
But instead, they both heard the older Ninja just laugh. Looking up to see if they were mistaken, they saw a tired smile that revealed a lingering sadness in his eyes. Brightly, however, he grinned at them regardless of his thoughts.
"You guys remind me so much of my old Team 7 that I guess you tailing me is to be expected. I'm proud of you both," He turned, his eyes switching from Sakuya to Boruto, whom he remained staring while the boy looked up with a wide-eyed stare of awe in return. "Thanks for sticking up for your friend, even if what she did was dangerous or improper. Breaking the rules may sometimes may make you look like scum to most, but abandoning your friends makes you worse than scum."
His words hung in the air, affecting each individual that heard them. They were words that solidified his own Nindo and forged him into the man he is today. The foundation of his peaceful world relied upon them and were fundamental for how he treats every person under his care; either Genin or neighbour of the Land of Fire.
Trodding towards Sarada, he looked down at her, blinking curiously while maintaining a smile.
"Sarada, do you know why that boy targeted you?" He inquired.
"He called himself Shin...Uchiha," She replied, biting her lower lip as she averted his gaze. "I have no idea why but somehow I feel like he's connected to my father somehow. But he seems to be the son of another Uchiha, given he kept saying that he's following 'father's' orders."
"I see," Naruto's eyes hardened with his visage. Turning to look at Konohamaru, he stared at him seriously. "Konohamaru, I don't think at this point in time it's safe for you to return your team back. You should stay next to me, if they're after Sasuke's family, let alone my own."
"You're right," The Sarutobi Jōnin responded with a professional nod. "If they can appear and disappear at will, there's no telling when the next attack could happen. More than likely they'll reappear in greater numbers and better equipped. Three Genin or a Chūnin is what that guy could've easily handled. Between us two his leader may have deemed us too large of a threat to handle on his own, Mangekyō Sharingan or not."
"Agreed," The Hokage acknowledged, returning his attention to Sarada. Placing a hand upon her head she looked up almost star-gazed at the movement of affection given to her. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you! Count on it!"
Unable to conceal a bashful smile, she blushed and teared up at the fatherly statement she received. She felt confident that this man would keep his word and follow through with what he said. This is the kind of man she could truly look up to, no matter what.
"Alright kids, stay close," Naruto commanded, his body already rearing back into a full-on sprint. Despite the commotion it was enough to allow them a moment's respite. Sprinting off into the horizon they'd pass by a number of trees, rolling meadows and vistas of evergreen as far as the eye could see. They were journeying deep into the Land of Fire, they just had no idea just how far their country truly extended; especially the uninhabited geenery.
Along the way, Sarada couldn't help break the silence of the long run by asking questions about her absent parent.
From the way the Hokage explained it there were striking traits that made him almost seem the opposite to him. Apart from a few exaggerations that she saw in him complimenting himself when it was unlikely the man whom she called father was stubborn, willful but incredibly determined. The fact this person who spoke of his awry guardian with such high respect gave her a glimmer of hope.
The deep longing within her was now empowered by these stories by the Hokage. She wanted to reach him, now more than ever. It became painful with every step closer they drew to their destination. The burning in her lungs and sweat running down her brow along with her aching muscles couldn't deter her from her objective.
Stopping for a break, she couldn't help but look over this rocky slope. There in the distance was a field of dead trees. She wondered how anyone could stand to be anywhere near such a creepy place. Yet, there it was, a lone castle of white brick and red tiles stood up erect to the point of being four stories; taller than the land of dead wood.
"Alright, let's take a small break," Naruto sat down with sigh, letting his legs hang off the cliff of towering sediment they stood upon. "Everyone, take a load off. We'll just catch our breath before meeting up with Sasuke."
"But...we're almost there! Just a little longer," Sarada insisted, much to Sakuya's dismay.
"It's alright, Sasuke can wait a little longer," The Nanadaime shook his head.
"Ah...ummm," She squirmed in place, trying to look embarassed. "I...gotta go..."
"Uh, okay," The blonde Shinobi acquiesced with a sheepish chuckle. "Just don't wander too far."
In a hop, she let herself fall before kicking off the rock face. Propelling farther and farther away she was unaware that her team, sensei and the Hokage were very aware of her movements. But it didn't matter.
Nothing else mattered but seeing the one she desperately wanted to lay eyes upon.
That pain made her heart throb and her aches in her body became a solid numbness. Unaware of the transformation taking place, her Chakra used this emotional catalyst to form a pair of crimson eyes behind her glasses. Each one contained a tomoe, staring ahead while her own mind's eye saw a shrouded figure she wanted to embrace.
Moving past the withered trees, she dropped before the old fortress doorway. The sign of "Mountain Pass Tower" presided above a tomoe emblazoned door with a series of red stripes and a burgundy diamond at its center. Pushing them aside, she stumbled inside and gasped for breath, unable to put aside such a basic need any longer. Before her was a large pillar with a black painted surface surrounding it with two stripes covering its base and the top while mostly being white in color.
"Where is he-?"
"You've done well to find this place," A voice sounded from nearby, interrupting her own. Looking over to her left she was taken aback to see him. Apart from a partly scuffed cloak and dirtied pair of black to grey traveler's clothes, the man holding a drawn katana was her father. The onyx hair with spiked ends had its bangs rest purposefully over his left eye, obscuring it, while his right Sharingan lit eye stared ahead.
"Dad..." She hiccupped out, tears flowing freely from her own crimson glowing eyes.
When their eyes met, his sword lowered and his breath hitched. He almost thought someone was playing tricks, but the enemy wasn't responsible for this. He'd know for a fact. So, he couldn't help but choke out with stark surprise, "Sarada...is that...you?"
A/N: And that's a wrap! Daughter and father are reunited at long last! But, what of the enemy that seeks both of them? Are they safe or is this just the beginning of their worries? Their enemy, Shin Uchiha and his clones hot on their trail, find out what becomes of them in the next exciting chapter of Naruto: The Evening Saga!