Title: A Demon's Tale
Author: swiftstar85
Genre: Drama/Friendship/Romance
Rating: T for some strong language, violence, suggestive material, and crude humor.
~Chapter Thirty One~
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, though I wouldn't mind if I did. I only own the characters you have never heard of before.
Konohagakure's Hokage, Lady Tsunade
For your falsified letter written by our very own, Yugito Nii, you have insulted my intelligence and my honor to making me believe that she is truly alive when I know she is dead. I know for a fact that she is dead because we have searched the entire coast for her body. How you even know about her is beyond my knowledge but I do not care! What blew your lies out of the water was the request of the return of that murdering son of a bitch, Hyuuga's remains! That Leaf tyrant killed our best Shinobi and was given to us to keep peace between our villages!
You, Leaf insects, believe yourself better than all! It is high time that your fires of honor is put out! Expect war at your gates, Lady Hokage, for your insulting words of lies!
I will be sending my most powerful Shinobi to eliminate you and your diseased leaves!
The Sixth Raikage of the HONORABLE Village in the Clouds
Everyone could only gape at the message sent by the Cloud Village. This was not good, and everyone realized that. They knew that this wasn't good. Yugito Nii knew the most. She knew exactly who her adopted father would be sending to see the Leaf's end. It could only be the most powerful Cloud Shinobi that would be sent to destroy the 'offending' Village.
"He will be sending Killer Bee, more than likely." Yugito stated to Tsunade in a grim tone.
After receiving the letter, everyone immediately went to the Hokage to warn her about the threat that was given. It wasn't going to be taken lightly whatsoever. Everyone knew that if war came between Cloud and Leaf, a lot of un-necessary deaths were going to happen.
Tsunade frowned deeply as she tried to think hard about what to do. She could not allow this to happen. She couldn't allow a war to come between them when it could be solved right away.
"Lady Tsunade, what shall we do?" It was Ibiki to ask, in a dead serious tone. "The past occurrences would have us exterminate the object of the threat, which would be Yugito Nii herself." He held up his hand when several protests rose up rather loudly. "Or to hide her away from view, stating that it was just a test to see their reactions."
Yugito Nii immediately shook her head, frowning. "Bee won't see it that way. He will be very mad if you make it sound like a joke. He will probably be angry enough to release Hachibi and trust me. You don't want that! Hachibi is the Eight Tails, after all. Bee was never allowed to release him for a very good reason. He is very powerful and an easily angered spirit. Especially when it comes to me and Nekomata being threatened. He is as protective over us as Killer Bee is. We've been together for so long that we consider each other family." She explained.
Tsunade slowly nodded, understanding what the Two Jinchuriki was saying. She knew it was best to let her take the reins from there, since it was people she knew. "What do you recommend we do with this situation then, Yugito Nii?" She asked Yugito.
The young Cloud Ninja shrugged. "Invite Killer Bee to come with guards to check things out in the village. They won't resist an open invitation to gather Intel. The Cloud Village has been wanting to do that for a while now. When they get here, I can greet them and then they won't want war. I can explain everything to Killer Bee and he will understand what is going on." She told her.
Slowly, everyone nodded. It did make sense and it wasn't a bad idea. Doing it that way would show this Killer Bee that they weren't hiding anything. He would be free to look around and spot Yugito for himself.
So Tsunade nodded and looked at Shizune. "Shizune, have a message sent to Kumo, inviting the Raikage to send Killer Bee here to see for himself that we have Yugito Nii and that she is here willingly. He may send a few ninja with him for his own safety, if it makes them feel better." She told her assistant.
Shizune nodded and bowed before her mentor. "Right away then, my Lady." She told her before leaving.
Once Shizune was gone, the Lady Hokage looked at the four Jinchuriki, smiling rather slyly. "Until Killer Bee's arrival or the return reply from the Raikage, I would like to request an example of what kind of power you four hold. That way, we know what to expect in the fight against the Akatsuki." She said, looking directly at Gaara.
Gaara shared a glance with the other Jinchuriki, meeting Naruto's big grin, as well as Yugito Nii's and then to Yagura's impassive look. He saw that they had no problem with it. Then he looked back at Tsunade. "Agreed, Lady Tsunade. I think its best we did get started on the training." He said in his dull way.
"Good." Tsunade stated. "I think it best if all of you get some rest for tonight and then we will begin tomorrow. We have a lot to do right now to prepare for. Arrange your training to start first thing in the morning. But until then, get some rest." She ordered all of them.
The next morning...
The entire battle field rumbled before the ground exploded with sand, fire and water, causing a quake as the elements clashed together. A battle cry exploded through the air as the blonde leapt into the air, throwing his sample of his Rasengan at the Third Tail Jinchuriki, who easily dodged it, making Naruto curse loudly as he sailed past one of his opponents.
"Hiya!" Came Yugito Nii's own battle cry as she flung herself forward, throwing fire in Gaara's direction, whose sand shield snapped up to block the attack from coming. Fire met sand and the small grains were melted together, creating burning hot glass in its wake.
Gaara had to hand it to Yugito and Yagura. They were pretty good. He had never faced a pair of opponents such as them. The toughest opponent he ever faced had been Deidara, so far, anyway. It was probably going to get tougher with the upcoming opponents.
There was a loud splash of water, making Gaara turn his head to see Yagura was attacking Naruto, sending his blonde friend crashing and rolling across the ground with water trapping him.
'Hm. Better give him a hand then.' The young Kazekage thought before sending sand flying towards his new found friend.
Yagura sensed it coming and turned sharply sending water flying back at him, hitting the sand and rendering it useless. "Is that all you are aiming for?" He asked monotonously.
"No." Gaara answered with a dry smirk.
Yagura's eyes lit up before he turned with a jerk ad saw Naruto coming at him with another Rasangan. He barely had time to jump back as the swirling mass of air hit the ground near him. "I see. Distraction. That is a good team technique." The third tail Jinchuriki said with an amused smirk.
Gaara smirked back before leaping into the air as fire came flying at him. He turned to face Yugito again, blocking some of her taijutsu with a coy smile, which she returned.
"Wow." Was all Sakura could say as she watched with everyone else.
Kakashi had to nod in agreement, looking on with amusement. "My thoughts exactly. Such power these four have together. Naruto, Gaara, the young Cloud ninja and the former Mizukage. If they starting putting their power together, they could very well be unstoppable." He stated.
"The Akatsuki would never know what hit them if we sent these guys into battle against them." Ibiki said in awe as he watched the sparring matches.
Everyone frowned as they looked over at him, knowing what exactly what he was meaning. They knew he was seeing weapons of mass destruction before them.
"They're not our weapons, Ibiki. You're starting to sound like Danzo." Kakashi stated dryly.
Ibiki scowled back at him, shaking his head. "I know they're not, Kakashi. That isn't exactly what I meant. I would never see Gaara or Naruto as weapons. Nor the other two. What I mean is if the Akatsuki attacks, they will have one helluva fight against the Jinchuriki. And if we can convince this Killer Bee, the Eight Tail that Yugito Nii is now our ally and get him to help us, we can end them for good." He said firmly.
Everyone had to admit it but Ibiki was right. If they could have five of the most powerful demons ever to exist to face a terrible threat like the Akatsuki, they could end them.
Still, that was up to the five remaining Jinchuriki. They all knew that Naruto and Gaara wouldn't have a problem with it. And because Gaara, they were sure Yagura wouldn't either. And neither would Yugito Nii. It was just the Eight Tail they had to worry about. They didn't know anything about him other than what Yugito Nii told them. She was so sure that he wouldn't mind joining them to taking down the Akatsuki.
Still it was very un-reassuring to know that he could very well be on his way to Konoha with the intent of destroying the Leaf Village because of the belief of Tsunade lying to them.
They knew it wouldn't be too long before...
Suddenly the Jinchuriki halted all at once as everyone felt a chakra signature approaching. They all turned to watch as an ANBU landed heavily on the ground next to Ibiki. This ANBU, however, was a woman, obviously. She had long violent purple hair spilling all the way down her back side in waves while her mask was of a wolf's face. She had twin katana strapped on her back while she did wear the uniform of an ANBU.
"Ibiki-Taichou," she spoke, her voice serenade and moon like but with an urgency. "ANBU scouts have reported sightings of a large group of Shinobi entering the Fire Country, all armed and prepped for war. They are Cloud ninja."
Everyone stiffened in alarm and Yugito sucked in a deep, uneasy breath. She knew that it must have been Killer Bee. It had to be. "He's come too soon. My Raikage must have sent Killer Bee and an army as soon as they got the letter from Lady Tsunade. He must be really angry to have done that." She murmured worriedly.
Ibiki frowned deeply, his entire large frame tense but he immediately looked to Yugito, who met his scornful gaze. He knew what she wanted to be there to stop a terrible battle from breaking out. He knew if the Eight Tail was amongst this group of Cloud Shinobi, she was the only one to be able to calm him.
"Scouts are currently awaiting orders to attack the invading army, Taichou. What are your orders?" The ANBU asked after a moment of uneasy silence.
Ibiki ignored the sharp gasp from the Two Tail Jinchuriki as he turned to face the ANBU. "Order the retreat, Wolf. Tell them to back off and do not allow them to fight." His order surprised everyone but they saw his reason. "We will approach the army, our selves, along with our Jinchuriki allies." He said firmly.
The ANBU, Wolf hesitated for a second before she sharply bowed to him. "Very well, Taichou. I will give the order immediately." She said before she was gone in a flash.
Ibiki then turned to look back at the four Jinchuriki, who were moving closer. "Well, let's go greet the Eight Tail." He told them and everyone, who all nodded with seriousness.
Immediately, the group of shinobi took to the trees, running and jumping as fast as they could. The sooner they could get to the Cloud Ninja, the better. They wanted to avoid as much fighting as they could. Especially when the Eight Tails were involved. Along the way, it did not go un-noticed that Yugito was in a fit of nerves. Everyone could see it and everyone could feel it.
It was Rock Lee who found himself running beside her, smiling at her in comfort. "It will be okay, Yugito Nii! Killer Bee will be happy to see you and he will understand." He told her.
Smiling at him faintly, Yugito Nii nodded. "I know, Lee. I just...I guess I am just nervous. It has been so long now since I last saw him. He won't believe it's me at first. Ad I really hope he doesn't try and start a fight. Because he is the strongest ninja I know. All because of the Eight Tails." She told him.
Suddenly, a wave of Chakra washed over everyone, making all of them tense up. There was a powerful signature just up ahead and it didn't take much to realize that there was fighting going on.
Yugito Nii felt her heart clench as she recognized that Chakra. "Bee...He's fighting! He must be in trouble! Otherwise he wouldn't be using Hachibi's chakra!" She gasped before pushing herself forward and hard, nearly breaking a branch in two from her heels.
"Yugito Nii! No! Don't go ahead! It could be the Akatsuki!" Ibiki yelled up to her.
Yugito shook her head, her eyes narrowing. She hoped it was the Akatsuki. She wanted a reason to join the fight to defend her oldest friend. "If it is, I will burn them to a crisp! No one messes with Killer Bee without me burning them! They will regret the day they tried to harm him!" She snarled, kicking harder until she was nearly yards ahead of everyone.
Frowning, Gaara shared a glance with Naruto and Yagura. All three nodded, understanding what he didn't have to say. And they soon kicked off their branches hard until they were racing right beside Yugito.
"Tch! Damn all of them! They're not using their heads!" Ibiki growled in irritation.
Kakashi shook his head as he began moving faster to catch up with the Jinchuriki. "It isn't that, Ibiki! They are serving as each other's back up! They're doing exactly what we wanted them to do! Back each other up!" He called over.
"What if it really is Akatsuki, Kakashi-Sensei?! Shouldn't they be careful?!" Sakura called over with worry as she ran beside Temari and Sen.
Kakashi snorted, his one revealed eye narrowing in mirth. "If it is an Akatsuki, Kami have mercy on them." He merely stated.
The fighting was not much farther along. It was obvious with the shouting and cheering, as well as ripped up trees and nature fleeing from a large clearing.
The group soon realized very quickly that it wasn't Akatsuki that the Clouds were fighting. They realized that by seeing a few Leaf ANBU just lying there in branches, heavily injured. They looked like they had received the beatings of their lives.
"Uh oh." Yugito Nii said before she slid to a quick stop on a branch, having to catch herself from falling out when she got a good look at what was before all of them.
Before the many different shinobi was a large clearing where ANBU were lying all around the ground. Some were seriously hurt but none of the injuries were life threatening. It just looked like they were beaten badly.
In the middle of it all, everyone saw the ANBU from before, Wolf, on the ground, shuddering heavily from pain of the beating she had just gotten. Her katana were flung across the clearing away from her reach, so she was unarmed. She was trying to crawl away from her obvious beater while so many Cloud ninja were yelling and cheering from the opposite trees. They were cheering on their leader. Wolf's mask was no longer on its owner's face, revealing such a pretty face, though it now had a large bruise forming on her left cheek. The mask, itself, was near her, which she was quickly reaching for.
But a dark skinned sandal covered foot stomped down hard on it, shattering the ceramic piece.
"You, Leaf Ninja, don't need that no more. Still, I don't feel bad that's for sure! You think you, Leaves, are the best! But I think you just failed the test! You sure thought you were good enough! Well, you ain't so tough! You thought you could take on me!" Came that ever so familiar voice that had Yugito Nii's eyes widen, even as the ninja raised a fist to swing fast hard probably to knock out Wolf. "Well, guess what, Bitch, you just got stung by the Killer...!"
"Killer Bee! NO! STOP!" Yugito Nii yelled at the top of her lungs.
But it was almost too late. Her large friend swung his fist, not hearing her over all of the yelling.
Suddenly, there was a black gloved hand snapping out of nowhere, catching the fist from slamming into Wolf's face.
The cheers and yells immediately died as surprised Cloud Ninja looked down at the black garbed Ibiki Morino standing over the Leaf ANBU, his face now in a grimace of pain. He had felt something crack in his own hand from catching this giant of a Shinobi's fist.
Nonetheless, Ibiki got a good look at the one called Killer Bee.
Killer Bee was exactly how Yugito Nii remembered him. He was a mountain of a man with dark skin, bleached yellow hair and was wearing exactly what he did when she last saw him. His eyes were hidden by round black sunglasses, keeping any from seeing them. He even had all of his blades and swords strapped to his back. Though, he did look surprised to see that someone had caught his fist.
"I think that is enough, Killer Bee, I presume that is you?" Ibiki said, his deep voice dark but had a hint of pain in it.
Killer Bee tilted his head curiously before he gave Ibiki a smirk. "Yeah, I am Killer Bee. Who're you, Leaf? Why you butting up in my business? Back way or I will mess up your schizzness."
Ibiki shook his head as he narrowed his eyes. "I don't know why you attacked my ANBU but I won't allow you to hurt any of them anymore. Please back off." He said firmly now releasing Killer Bee's fist and stepping back.
"I don't think so, Mofo." Killer Bee said firmly before he snapped out his foot and kicked a startled Ibiki hard in the chest, sending him flying back in a blur. He even charged to attack again only to suddenly find a wall of sand blocking his path. "What the...?!"
Suddenly Gaara was there, standing between him and Ibiki, who growled in pain and anger as he climbed back to his feet, holding his now painfully aching chest. "He asked you to stand down, Killer Bee. I suggest you do that." The Kazekage said with a rasp.
Just then, there were several thuds all around them and Killer Bee turned to see a sunny haired Naruto, a blank faced Yagura, a weirdly grinning Gai prepped for a fight, and several others standing around him. He, however, didn't see the one directly behind him. He was paying more attention to how many Leaf ninja headbands that were being worn by the Shinobi standing around him.
"Hmm. A bunch of cowardly Leaves think can take on the Killer Bee?" Killer Bee snorted before he shifted into a stance. "Don't really know how you know me. But I am going to show you what..."
"Bee, stop already. It's okay. They're friends."
Killer Bee went completely rigid and it was obvious he had been taken by surprise. His head came up sharply before he slowly turned it to look behind him. And his covered eyes laid directly on Yugito Nii standing beside Rock Lee, with Tenten and Neji behind them. Sakura and Rin were quickly moving through the injured now, checking them for wounds and now healing them. The others stood in a crow around them.
But nonetheless, Killer Bee stared at Yugito Nii, his mouth hanging open. He even heard surprised murmurs from his Cloud Ninja as they too looked on her with shock and alarm.
"Yugito Nii?" Killer Bee muttered, completely stunned. He slowly stood up fully and turned to face her. "I cannot be. I thought you were dead. I thought you fell from the cliff's stead." Then his face darkened and he growled, taking nearly everyone by surprise. "This is a Leaf's lie, isn't it?! You are not my little kit!"
Yugito, however, smirked while everyone was tensed up. "Oh, yeah, Bee? Why don't you just prove it isn't me? And quit your damn rapping and yapping. You know how much it annoys me, Bee." She said smartly, her hands now on her waist and she shifted her weight.
There was a dead pause of surprise before a slow grin made its way onto Killer Bee's face. He was suddenly gone in a blur.
"Whoa! Where'd he go!" Naruto exclaimed, no one having seen him move at all. He, like everyone, was looking around with shock, looking for him.
Yugito Nii, however, smirked as her head dipped down low. "Lee, Tenten, Neji, you might want to step back." She glanced at them, seeing how surprised they looked. "Trust me. If you're in his way, he is going to run you over. It's a game we used to play. Just watch and wait. Don't anyone try to stop him from attacking. He will run you over if you get in his way." She warned.
Her three team mates looked at each other than her with concern but they slowly moved to get away from her. Though, Lee had hesitated. He didn't like the sound of this at all.
But just as he had moved, they felt a sudden burst of chakra. It had appeared so suddenly that everyone had tensed up. Lee had spun around just in time see a meaty fist swipe right under his nose and slam right against a burning fiery fist belonging to Yugito Nii. Fire laced up and down her arm, slowly forming all around her until she was nearly engulfed in it. And the smirk on her face was full of wicked delight. She was enjoying herself.
"Fire heats up rock and makes it crack, burns paper to ash, and when heated up to intensive temperatures, melts scissors. I win, Bee."
A wide grin spread out on Killer Bee's face before he swung his other arm until it was around Yugito Nii's waist, where he pulled her into a bone cracking hug. "My little cat! Where you been at?! I thought you dead! But here ya are instead!" He cheered happily.
It couldn't be helped but everyone, Leaf, Sand, Shadow, Mist and Cloud smiled.
"It's a really long story, Bee." Yugito said laughing as she extinguished her flames and hugged him back.
After a moment of tension between ninja, Yugito gave Killer Bee a quick summary of what had happened when the two Akatsuki attacked the Cloud Village. She explained to him where she went, where she was and why she was now friends with Leaf Shinobi. She even told him her moment of revenge against the two who threatened them and their Raikage.
Killer Bee, however, frowned the entire time. He looked quite serious when she told him everything and even more to learn that she was now allies with the Leaf Ninja.
"Yu, you know don't we don't get along with the Leaf. With them, we got beef." Killer Bee told her as soon as she finished.
Yugito Nii shook her head as she folded her arms and stepped back to stand next to Team Gai. "Not any more we don't, Bee. They're my friends. And we have a common enemy. The Akatsuki are trying to hurt their Jinchuriki too. And I am going to help them take those bastards down, Bee? You with me?" She asked, now giving him a pleading look.
Killer Bee groaned, rubbing the back of his neck and looking away. He stared off for a moment before looking back at her. "Big Bro ain't gonna like this, lil' cat. He's gonna be pissed, you know that?" He said gravely.
Yugito scowled for a second before her eyes lit up with a strange glint. She fought back a smirk as she down turned her lips, pouting and then finally sniffling. She saw everyone stiffen in surprise but her eyes were only on Killer Bee as he suddenly winced. "Yu, don't start. I mean it." He finally spoke out of his rhymes.
But the little firecat kept it up as her eyes watered until tears were now trailing down her cheeks and she sniffled harder.
"Is she...really crying?" Yagura asked a bewildered Gaara.
Team Gai all smirked, remembering something that Yugito Nii told them back in the Water Country. They all knew exactly what she was doing.
"Yep! She's gonna cry." Tenten said cheerfully.
Yugito suddenly burst into tears, her hands balling up and she began rubbing at her eyes. "Wahhhhh! Bee! You're so mean! I just want to help the Leaf Ninja get rid of those meanies, the Akatsuki! And...and...sniff...I wa-want to help Ga-Gaara, and Naruto, and Yag-Yagura to protect us! We...w-we're the last rem-remaining Jin-Jinchuriki! We have to stand together!" She cried, her shoulders shaking violently as she cried harder.
All around the entire group every one of the Cloud Ninja were either looking flabbergasted or grimacing with sweat drops trailing down the sides of their faces.
"Ah, man. She just had to pull the crying card, didn't she? Bee never could resist that." One muttered pathetically.
Killer Bee sighed heavily, his large shoulders slumping as he shed his own sweat drop before he step over to Yugito and wrapped her up into his brawny arms. "All right, all right, Yugito Nii. I give, I give. Stop crying. I will talk to Big Bro and convince him to form an alliance with the Leaf, the Sand, the Mist and the Shadows. Just stop that, my lil' cat." He said miserably.
Yugito immediately dried her crocodile tears as she hugged her big friend back and gave the others a peace sign with her fingers. It couldn't be helped that everyone smiled or chuckled, shaking their heads. They knew her tactics were only to convince Killer Bee to join them in facing the Akatsuki. They were all just happy that it had worked. They wouldn't have really wanted to face the Eight Tails. It would have only caused some serious problems.
"So, why did you attack the Leaf ANBU?" It was Kakashi who asked as the entire group lead the Cloud Ninja back towards Konoha.
Killer Bee, with his large arm hanging over Yugito Nii's shoulder, looked over at the Copy Nin before shaking his head. "Caught them slinking in the bushes, Bro. I thought it was rude not to say Hello. Sides, one of 'em attacked first. So I decided to show them how to really curse." He said with a shrug.
Everyone frowned, though Ibiki looked to the ANBU, Wolf, who nodded towards another ANBU. So he looked to that one instead. "Ox," he said darkly, getting that ANBU's attention. "When we get back to the village, report to my office. "
The ANBU obviously winced but nodded his affirmation. He knew he was in trouble. Even after Ibiki had ordered the retreat of the ANBU, he still went ahead and attacked.
"So, five Jinchuriki now allied together. This should be interesting for the Akatsuki. Ibiki's right. They won't know what hit them." Kakashi said to Rin and Chiro with amusement.
And the two smiled, nodding in agreement.
Author's Note:
I KNOW! I KNOW! I know it's been a really long time since I last updated this story but I've had a serious killer writer's block that has been in my way. I finally managed to chip some of it away to get a new chapter up. I'm going to try and get the next chapter up sooner than I had with this one. I apologize for the lack of posting updates but it should get better. The next chapter will probably be the start of the next Retrieve Sasuke Mission, as well as finally getting a good look at who the Shadow Ninja are after; Caligo Zangetsu. I think it's time to get going with that bit of side story to give you an idea of how dangerous that guy can be.
Anyway, I hope I still have readers, even after a long time. Let me know what you think of the chapter and that you're still reading.