Author's Note

This would have been a flashback chapter, but dammit, I've gotten to like Ryuzetsu a lot more after watching Blood Prison for the umpteenth time. Plus, I've still got parts already planned out here, and no planning down for the rest of Kumo. I mean, sure, there's events hinted at, but it would be like 5 small events and one medium event. Going to need a bit more time on that. Plus, got some a nice little twist at the end of this chapter that might surprise people.

Kurogano Yokaze: Well, I wasn't planning on it at first, but then I decided to go ahead because I got a nice idea for something at the end that I am pretty sure people will not expect. As for Ryuzetsu, well… You'll just have to see!

Warning! This story will contain language, sexual situations, and possibly fetishes that some people may feel uncomfortable with. If you are easily offended or disturbed, don't complain, you've been warned.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 47: Father And Son

"Why are we in a cave if you could go to practically anywhere?" Ryuzetsu asked Yoichi when he returned from a small trip to grab food, covered in dirt. Unsealing a few scrolls he had on him, he put them aside before jumping into the nearby water, shooting out completely soaked a few moments later, mainly to get rid of the dirt. He could use a jutsu, but the amount of chakra needed to make sure the fine particles were removed would definitely draw attention from any sensors in the castle not too far above them.

"I travel fast, but it's not instant. If they grab me in the middle of the night, I'll need to take you back to your cell and then take the place of my clone as fast as I could." He said as her stripped down to his boxers to leave his clothes out to dry, unsealing one scroll to let out a large towel to sit on near a campfire Ryuzetsu had started. He unsealed another to let out the food he had gotten from a town a good bit away.

They sat down and ate in silence, listening to the roaring of the waters from the whirlpools mixed with the sound of the crackling fire. For the moment, everything seemed so… peaceful. But they knew there was something important at stake. When they finished, Yoichi sealed their trash up into the empty scroll, tossing it into the fire to dispose of things. After a few more moments of silence, Yoichi finally spoke up.

"I'm sorry about your friend." They sat silently for a moment longer, staring into the fire from where they sat.

"Please, be honest. Is Muku… really gone?" She asked, Yoichi sighing and closing his eyes, figuring that was the name of her friend.

"Entirely? I don't believe so. I told you everything I knew, but at the same time, it's been a long time since the box was last opened. His body may be there, but the person you knew is not going to be whatever is inside the box now. How long has it been?" He noticed her personality had changed, Ryuzetsu bringing her knees closer to her, wrapping her arms around them.

"Ten years. This is all that I have left of him." She said, slowly taking her green headband off, letting her hair down as she looked at it. "I just don't understand. What kind of father would sacrifice their own son for their own selfish desires? I swear, Mui will die, and that box WILL be destroyed." She said, gritting her teeth as she choked back her tears, not noticing Yoichi moving beside her until she felt one arm wrap around her lightly.

"Did you love him?" Yoichi asked, just trying to encourage her to let out her feelings.

"He… he was my closest friend. He was practically family. We were young, so I didn't know how I really felt, and still don't, but if… if he were still here, I might have wanted to be closer to him. But I'll never know." That was what made it so she could no longer hold her tears back, feeling them roll down her face as she stared at the remnants of Muku, Yoichi gently rubbing her back to help comfort her.

"After we deal with the box, what are you going to do?" He asked after a short while, Ryuzetsu shaking her head.

"I don't know. For the past ten years, this was what I was working towards. Part of me feels a bit scared that after this, there won't be anything left for me. That same part seems to want my mission to end." She admitted to him, Yoichi nodding.

"I kind of know how you feel. I've got some… 'family issues' going on. Hell, it's been a week since I was told I'm a year older than I was told and my mother I thought was dead might still be alive, but she's a demon sealed up somewhere. Plus I've got to host the five Kage Summit at the beginning of next month for a peace treaty and that's all getting prepared without me being there, and it's really easy for me to fall in love with someone. But I guess I'm lucky since a lot of them feel the same way towards me, and I wouldn't know what I'd do without them in my life." He said before noticing Ryuzetsu staring at him in disbelief.

"Who are you really?" She asked when she noticed that he was completely serious. He just smiled at her and shrugged.

"I'm just Yoichi Sakata. I know that all sounds weird, but I've had to live it and not believe a lot of things. In the end, though, I don't really care what ends up happening. All I care I that when all is said and done, everyone else is happy." He replies, Ryuzetsu catching the 'else'.

"What about your own happiness?" She asks, Yoichi pausing before sighing and looking down a moment. After a bit of hesitation, he looked back at her, a sad smile now on his lips.

"With as little as I do, it's a bit hard for me to believe I deserve to be happy. I can hardly do anything on my own. Hell, I can hardly sleep by myself. My girls back in Konoha, some of them say they owe their lives to me, but it's really the opposite. Before I was put on a team and met the first girl I fell in love with, as well as another, my dad had been killed a year prior. Between his death and me being put on a team, I was a mess. I was all alone, lost as I tried to find some direction.

"One friend of mine had never met his parents, but he set out to make his own path and earn the respect of others. Another friend watched his clan murdered, and he set out for revenge. While it's not the best path, it's still a direction. I had nothing. I didn't want revenge, I could never take the life of someone unless I absolutely had to. I could have gone the route of looking to earn the respect of others, but I didn't know how. I was scared it wouldn't work. Since I've met all these wonderful girls who I can't help but love everything about them, I've currently made my path to make sure that they're happy.

"I don't know what makes me actually happy anymore. I thought if they were happy, I would be too, but that's not how things have worked out. They know there's something wrong, and I hate keeping it from them, but I'm scared if I find a different path, then I won't love them anymore, and I feel like it would break their hearts. But if I keep going the way I am now, It's almost like I'm living my life for them, and they're doing the same for me. At that point, is that really living?" He finished, Ryuzetsu following along but not really understanding certain parts.

"What does your heart tell you?" She asks, remembering something Muku had told her on the same day he promised he would come back.

"My heart? I've never really thought about that." He said, placing a hand on his chest.

"That's because you're not supposed to think. You just… listen." She said, closing her eyes, beginning to feel tired.

"I don't really get it… but I suppose it doesn't hurt to try. What does yours say?" He asked her before feeling her head hit his shoulder. Looking to her, he noticed that she had quickly fallen asleep, making him laugh quietly to himself before putting out the fire with a small jutsu, closing his eyes as well.

"Everyone, back in your cells!" A guard yelled out to the large crowd of prisoners who were too busy in the middle of an all-out brawl to listen. It was only the middle of the day, and the entire castle was in chaos as prisoners fought each other and guards trying to detain them, the guards wondering why the warden wouldn't activate his seal.

Off to the side away from prying eyes, Ryuzetsu watched over things alone, before Yoichi emerged from the ground beside her, brushing himself off.

"The guards are distracted with the brawl our shadow clones started. I take it there wasn't any luck getting to the chamber?" She asked, Yoichi shaking his head.

"I went the direction you told me, but they must have some kind of wards to prevent any outsiders from stumbling across it. You know the way there on foot, right?" She nodded, pushing herself off the wall.

"I'll take you, but first I need to handle Mui." She said, beginning to move, feeling that she had waited long enough for him to end up alone. She didn't get far before Yoichi grabbed her shoulder.

"Ryuzetsu, I understand how important it is to kill him, but the box is the most dangerous thing here. As long as it still exists, there will always be another to take his place." He said, Ryuzetsu glaring at him but knowing he was right.

"Fine… But if we come across him, I won't allow you to keep me from my revenge." Yoichi frowned but nodded, the two of them quickly and quietly making their way to the secret entrance while avoiding any guards and prisoners. Reaching some office, Ryuzetsu went to one of the shelves and pulled a blue book, making the bookcase open up to reveal a secret passage leading down.

"I have to admit, that's a lot bigger than I expected." Yoichi said when they entered some kind of ritual chamber, a stone slab that looked big enough for a person to lay on in the center, one of the shorter ends pointing directly to a giant face carved out of some dark-colored material.

"Just take care of this as quick as you can. No telling how much longer the distraction will keep up." She said, Yoichi nodding and moving over to the face. Ryuzetsu watched him briefly before turning her attention to the stone slab, the place Muku had been sacrificed at for the box.

Making his way to what was either the box or the gate to the box, not knowing the real difference, he stood before it, looking up at it in the dimly-lit room. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and placed one hand on it, putting out as little chakra as he could to try and search out the contents of the box while not wanting to open it.

"Impressive. So, you are the one from the Sakata clan, are you not?" A voice from behind him said, making him quickly turn around, just in time to see four people wearing different animal masks appear around Ryuzetsu, using some sort of technique to keep her from moving. "No one would dare lay a hand on it and risk being pulled in like that boy once was." That made him narrow his eyes. He couldn't tell which of them was speaking, but he could tell all three of them were no good.

"Let him go!" He exclaimed out of the few things that ran through his head. He immediately regretted them, as it told the four figures that they could use her as a hostage, but was glad that he kept her identity a secret.

"Seems you figured things out quickly. Did you come here to open the box of your own will, then?" A voice to the side said, Yoichi turning to see the warden himself. Hearing his voice, Ryuzetsu widened her eyes and began to struggle against what was keeping her in place but to no avail, frustrating her that he was so close yet she could do nothing.

"Mui! I don't know how you learned out about its secrets, but you don't know what you're dealing with! The box does not give out wishes, only power. A terrible, evil power that must never be unleashed!" Yoichi yelled, none of the others seeming fazed.

"We only wish to bring our country back to its former glory. If this box can give us the power to achieve that, then we will pay any cost." One of the masked members said.

"This isn't the way to do it! There is almost peace among the land. In less than a month, the five kages will meet to discuss a treaty among their lands. From there, that treaty could extend to everywhere else! Most of the lands are willing to offer materials and resources as well!" That got a reaction from them, but Mui was the one to speak up.

"Enough of your foolish talk. As the guardian of the box, I will use its power to restore my homeland." He said, Yoichi narrowing his eyes at him.

"The guardian? You're the guardian? Your job is to protect others from using the box, not open it! And certainly not sacrifice your own son to do so!" Yoichi swore he saw Mui's expression change at that, turning from its normally stoic face to one that oozed regret and sorrow, before quickly going back to normal, Mui stepping closer to him.

"You will open the box. Should you continue to refuse, she will die." He said lowly. Hearing that, Yoichi froze before sighing and nodding, relaxing his posture.

"Very well. I'll open it for you." He said, his tone full of defeat.

"No! You can't! You know what will happen!" Ryuzetsu managed to yell, but they seemed to fall on deaf ears, Yoichi turning around and placing his hand on the gate. A few moments passed before the ground began to rumble, slowly intensifying beneath them, Yoichi removing his hand, the gate and box slowly rising. When the Mui and the masked members saw it begin to move, the immediately ran off outside. As the technique on Ryuzetsu was cancelled, her body fell, Yoichi catching her before she hit the ground.

"Are you alright?" He asked her, Ryuzetsu only staring at him.

"Why… why would you open it?" she asked, Yoichi closing his eyes and sighing before helping her to her feet.

"Come on, let's go." He said beginning to walk off, only for her to block his path and slap him.

"No! Tell me why you did it!" She yelled, Yoichi cupping his cheek where she hit him. "I would have rather died than have it opened!"

"Because Mui… he knew you were a girl. Something tells me that Muku must have described you to him at some point, and he always knew since you came here. Whatever he wants the box opened for, I don't think it's the same as the other four." He told her, making her eyes widen. They stood there for a moment before a sound like an explosion went off, the two of them snapping to attention and rushing out.

Heading to the courtyard, they saw the box standing in the center with Mui before it. Guards and prisoners alike were along the outskirts of the courtyard, the box giving off a terrifying aura that even prevented the four masked council members from getting too close. Even as Yoichi ran towards Mui, Ryuzetsu had to stop, unable to make her body follow after him.

"This isn't about Kusa for you anymore, is it?" Yoichi asked Mui as he stopped beside him, the warden not even glancing at him.

"Ten years ago, I would have done anything for my village, even open the box I was sworn to protect. But, I was a fool. As soon as he was gone, I realized my mistake. Now, I will do whatever it take to bring him back." He said. The council heard him, immediately rushing to stop Mui, but was stopped by someone wielding a dual-bladed chain sickle. Yoichi shook his head, placing one hand on the older man's shoulder, making a hand seal with other.

"I'm warning you now, things are not going to go the way you want. No matter how much you regret it, the box has taken your son. If he does emerge, his purpose will only be to carry out the will of the box itself. I'll have to kill him. What you're essentially wishing for is his corpse. I'm giving you the choice now, you can make your 'wish', or you can make the box return to its place and give me time to figure out a way to destroy it." Mui was silent for a moment before finally turning to Yoichi.

"Why are you helping me?" He would ask, Yoichi shrugging.

"We all make mistakes. No matter how much we regret them, our mistakes don't tell how we are. How we regret those mistakes do. I may have despised you hearing what you've done, but seeing you now, I realize you're not as bad of a person as I thought. In fact, we're both similar. From my time here and what I've heard, you've never used your seal unless you've absolutely had to. The guards only step in when prisoners get physically confrontational as well. It might not be much, but it leads me to believe that the both of us want others to find a way to get along without resorting to violence." Mui seemed to be look impressed at him.

"You seem to be much wiser than your age would let on. But, despite that, I can never forgive myself for what I've done."

"I kind of understand this situation as well. My father was killed a few years ago, and I was told that he had used me out of his own cowardice. I resented him for the next two years until recently I was told that he had done so much to protect me than I knew. I feel like if my own father were in your place now, he would feel the same way as you do." Mui nodded in understanding before turning back to the box.

"Your father sounds like a better man than I could be. However, I must atone for my sins. I understand the risks, and I know I may not survive, but I feel that you will be able to handle whatever happen if you're willing to let me go through with this. I only ask that should I perish, that my body is buried beside my son." Yoichi closed his eyes and nodded.

"Whenever you're ready." He told him, knowing full well what Mui's decision was.

"Box of Eternal Bliss! Please, answer my wish and return my son, Muku, to me!" Mui exclaimed, Ryuzetsu covering her mouth as her eyes went wide, not expecting Mui to wish that. The box seemed to light up in response to the wish, the face in front of them slowly opening. At the same time, Yoichi's backup arrived on the rooftops of the castle, watching as the saw they were too late.

"Son of a bitch!" Tayuya cursed before noticing movement along the ground. There was someone rushing out towards Yoichi and Mui, and they were already too close for any of them to help.

"Yoichi, look out!" She yelled, feeling helpless as she could only stare, the figure poised to strike one of the two. When Yoichi heard Tayuya yell out, he turned around to her with a smile to let her know things would be fine.

Just in time to find a blade running through his heart.

The opening of the box was quickly forgotten as everyone stared in horror, Yoichi's eyes going wide as he saw the girl who had run him through. A girl with the same eyes as him.

"Thanks for the help, cousin." She spat before unceremoniously pulling the blade from him, causing him to fall to the ground. He clutched his chest as he stared at the sneering face of his oldest cousin, the same one who had told him she should have been the next clan head.

"Kami… ko…" Her name was all Yoichi would be able to get out before everything went black.

Author's Note

You thought this was going to go down the same way as the movie, didn't you? Nope! That's why I threw in that totally non-canon backstory. Anyone remember when I briefly mentioned her ages ago? I didn't. Her name is indeed Kamiko, but what is she doing there? Well, time to wait and see~

Anyways, hope you all enjoyed! Please make sure to follow this story to keep up to date on when I post as I do not have a regular schedule. Also leave a review/comment telling me what you did or didn't like and what you'd like to see more or less of. Any bit helps!

Until next time!

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