Funeral of a Friend...
Ren had successfully escaped Konoha virtually undetected except for the fact that someone was following him and catching up fast.
'Seems Natsuki is slowing me down more than I intended... or whoever is coming is extremely fast, either way I have to finish my plan or be forced to wait another three years.' Ren thought to himself. He stopped at the Final Valley and dropped Natsuki on Hashirama's head, created a chakra blade and was about to slit Natsuki's throat when a punch came out of nowhere and found it's mark on Ren's cheek.
Itachi looked at the man with white hair. "What took you so long, sensei? The battle is almost over."
"You know I like to make an entrance." Jiraiya said before leaping into the air and summoning a toad which landed on a snake. Itachi just chuckled under his breath at how flamboyant his sensei is.
Ren was knocked from Hashirama to Madara's head.
"Stay away from my sister!" Dairuko screamed at Ren as he got back on his feet. Dairuko did some hand-signs and summoned an eight foot tall wooden humanoid creature. "Genki, get Natsuki out of here and back to the village." Genki nodded and left with Natsuki.
"That was a good punch. Shame it wasn't good enough." Ren said cracking his neck.
"Oh I'm going to enjoy beating you down." Dairuko said while cracking his knuckles.
Ren took off his right glove revealing his Curse Mark that spread the length of his arm in a wave like pattern that ended by his chin. "Unfortunately I'll have to kill you quickly."
"I'd like to see you try." Dairuko said in a challenging tone.
The two men leaped across the gap and both landed a punch on the other, still holding onto each other as they fell straight down; trading punches, neither one giving an inch even as they sank underwater. Ren broke free and jumped out the water where he waited for Dairuko to surface but he never did.
'He isn't dead... I doubt a brute as reckless and as ruled by his emotions as he is would die so easily.' Ren thought. Suddenly the water became violent and a Wood Dragon emerged from beneath Ren who barely dodged it by jumping onto a small land mass, soon after the water became even more violent. Ren awaited another attack but instead of another attack, two more heads emerged. Ren realized he couldn't mess around anymore and activated his Curse Mark transformation which turned his skin darker and his hair became flame-like, then Dairuko emerged from behind one of the dragon heads.
"This is my Wood Hydra!" Dairuko exclaimed "My Wood Style may not rival the First's but I prefer to compensate for that with customization."
"I'm done playing with you!" Ren called out.
"So am I!" and the Hydra lunged forward but with Ren's enhanced speed he was able to dodge them relatively easy 'My Wood Hydra wasn't actually created for straight up combat. It was meant to act as a cooperative jutsu with my team.' Dairuko thought.
Ren continued dodging the attacks mostly being on the defensive until the right opportunity arose to attack. That chance came when all three heads attacked and left an opening; Ren lunged forward to Dairuko as an attempt to get in close and finish him with a lethal medical ninjutsu technique however, Dairuko intended to leave himself open so that he could charge at Ren but unlike Ren, Dairuko never left the ground so he was able to manoeuvre and tackle Ren into the statue of Madara's shin where Dairuko repeatedly punched Ren in the face.
Ren was able to kick Dairuko into Hashirama's chest and then he rained down punch after punch on Dairuko who eventually threw Ren across back into Madara. The two then jumped up to the fingers of their statues and locked eyes, both out of breath.
"You're quite strong." Ren said.
"Hate to admit that I agree with you." Dairuko replied.
"I believe I should at least know the name of the man I'm going to kill now."
"I was just about to say the same thing."
"Since this will be the last name you hear it... my name is Ren."
"Danaerys Dairuko."
Then they both lunged toward each other and each landed a powerful blow on the other knocking both back into the statues. Due to the damage both statues took from Dairuko and Ren's fight and the missed attacks of Dairuko's Wood Hydra caused Madara's head to smash into Hashirama which started a chain reaction that ended with both of the top halves of the statues crumbling one over the other with Dairuko and Ren still inside. Dairuko muscled his way out his stone tomb just in time to see Ren do the same.
"This isn't over Danaerys." Ren said clutching his ribs before disappearing.
"Not by a long shot." Dairuko said as he clutched his arm 'Kuso, why is it always my arm.' he thought. Dairuko took five more steps before he passed out.
Dairuko woke up in a hospital groggy and disorientated. He was never one to just lay there and as a result began to sit up when a nurse rushed over and layed him down again. His senses came flooding back along with his memory of what had transpired at the Final Valley and he shot back up.
"Where's my sister?" Dairuko asked causing the nurse to rush to his side again, in any other scenario he would've asked her name.
"Please sir, you must rest." the nurse said.
"I will rest once I know where my sister is." Dairuko stood up when Itachi and Jiraiya appeared at his door "Itachi... Jiraiya w-what are you doing here?"
"We are here to see you, Dairuko." Itachi said with a colder expression than usual.
"Sit down, Dairuko." Jiraiya also had a more serious tone to him.
With a sick, panicked feeling in his chest Dairuko yelled, "NO! Not until I know where Natsuki is!" he then began to walk toward the door when in the blink of an eye Itachi was in front of him forcing Dairuko to sit down by placing his hand on Dairuko's shoulder.
"Dairuko, there's no easy way to put this but... the Third is dead." Jiraiya said.
"What?" Dairuko looked at Itachi, expecting him to not get a joke that Dairuko hoped Jiraiya was playing on him.
"He died during the invasion." Itachi added but Dairuko was shocked beyond words.
"Natsuki is down the hall, Dairuko." Jiraiya said as he moved away from the door so Dairuko could leave.
"But-" the nurse objected but Dairuko was already out the door.
"Let him go. Trust me, you wouldn't have been able to keep him here until he saw his sister." Jiraiya said.
"They must be really close."
"They are family." Itachi said.
Dairuko walked down the hall when one of the village elders cut him off. They looked pissed- not that Dairuko cared because all he wanted to do was check up on his sister.
"YOU!" the elder exclaimed in such a way that pissed would be an understatement "You destroyed the statue of Senju Hashirama at the Final Valley."
"And just who the hell are you... you know what don't even answer that I could care less just get out of my way."
"Listen here BOY the Third may have tolerated your actions but I will not and you will answer to all your transgressions." the elder said but Dairuko just pushed him aside and kept walking. Dairuko had his hand on the doorknob when the elder spoke again "Maybe if you and your pathetic sister weren't so weak you would've captured the man responsible for this." That was it. Dairuko released the crushed doorknob and walked toward the elder who grew silent as Dairuko drew closer.
"Now it's one thing to call me out on my actions;" Dairuko poked the elder with enough force to make him stumble "it's another thing to call me weak;" Dairuko grabbed the elder by his shirt and lifted him off the ground "but don't you EVER insult my sister. I'm giving you one warning which is one more than most. Talk about Natsuki like that again and I promise you that you will beg for death by the time I'm done." Dairuko dropped him and began to walk but stopped and went back for him "or maybe I just snap your freakin' spine right here." Dairuko grabbed the elder when Itachi showed up.
"Enough! Dairuko, you will give him a heart attack before you can snap his spine." Dairuko let the elder go and went to see Natsuki.
"He was going to kill me!"
"He wanted to scare you so you would shut up and leave him alone. He actually showed a lot of restraint." Itachi pointed out.
"You call that restraint!"
"For Dairuko, yes."
Dairuko finally got inside Natsuki's room and saw her laying there unconscious. The sight instantly caused Dairuko to feel a surge of pain in his chest because it was very rare to see his sister like this and when she was, it was due to her over exerting herself in her training but never because of a fight. Dairuko sat next to Natsuki and placed his hand over hers.
"Hey, Nee-san. I don't know whether you can hear me or not but I just thought I'd tell you that you call me reckless. Well... you're right I kinda destroyed the statues at the Final Valley while trying to rescue you. Now I know what you're probably thinking 'You're are such baka, Dairuko haven't I always told you plan ahead every now and again?' and then you'd hit me for making fun of your voice..." Dairuko sighed "but this isn't the end of it, Natsuki, as long you are here I'm going out into the world causing utter freakin' chaos. Just watch me so you better wake up soon you damn prude. You wake up because... I can't lose you too, not you. Take that flirty bartender you were talking to instead."
"Dairuko, we haven't seen that bartender in years." Itachi said.
"True... take Itachi instead, he's always eavesdropping on people." Itachi sighed and left Dairuko with Natsuki.
"I knew he was standing by the door, damn spies. So it seems I've said all the important things that I have shame in saying then. Now for the last thing." Dairuko looked around the room and made sure it was empty. When he was sure it was he gave Natsuki a kiss on her forehead (which was a big thing because the two of them aren't the public displays of affection types, when they're alone they have heart to heart talks and even hug it out on occasion). "See ya later, Jellybean."
When Dairuko had left his room Jiraiya and Itachi stayed behind and were discussing some issues when a young girl with white eyes appeared by the door holding flowers. Itachi looked at Jiraiya and took his leave. The girl was looked nervous upon seeing that Dairuko wasn't present she just looked at Jiraiya and asked,
"I-i-is this the room of Danaerys Dairuko-san?" she asked.
"Yeah but he just left to go see his sister." Jiraiya replied.
"Oh." she fiddled with her fingers then carried on talking "I-I-I just wanted to leave these."
"You also part of the 'thank you' the patients put together?" Jiraiya looked over to the bunch of flowers each with a 'thank you' or a 'get well soon' card attached.
"N-n-no." seeing all the flowers made her hang her head from the insignificance of her three flowers.
"Hey kid, what's your name?"
"H-Hyuuga Hinata."
"Well now, it's very rare to meet the heir to the Hyuuga clan, more so to see one show such kindness to a nobody from a clan no one even heard of." Jiraiya's words set off something in Hinata as if someone had spoken ill about Naruto.
"D-D-Dairuko-senpai is not nobody! He is strong; caring and one of the most brave shinobi I've ever met and I want to be just like him!" Hinata's sudden outburst shocked even herself while Jiraiya gave an all knowing nod.
"Let me tell you about Dairuko..." Jiraiya then shared some stories about Dairuko that any member of a noble clan will dismiss as insolence. "Now do you still want to be like Dairuko?"
"Hai." she said without hesitation "He stood up for what he believed in."
Jiraiya gave a smirk and said "Good to know... my name is Jiraiya. I am Dairuko's sensei so, tell me how you two met." Upon hearing who Jiraiya was, Hinata bowed her head began her story.
"I-I snuck out of the hospital to watch the Chuunin exams but by the time I arrived the fight I wanted to see was already over so I returned to the hospital but then I was followed by Sand ninjas who began to chase me and..." Hinata continued her story Jiraiya's smirk grew into a smile.
"That sounds like Dairuko, calling people by their surnames or just having a long pause after saying hello... he's bad at names so if he don't remember your name don't be disheartened." Then -as if on cue- Dairuko showed up "Oh hello, Dairuko. I was just keeping your friend here occupied while you were gone."
"Hey, Hinata. What brings you here?" Dairuko asked.
"Really you're just going to ignore me? Well fine I can tell when I'm not wanted." Jiraiya was out the door when he called back to Dairuko "The Third's funeral is tomorrow."
"Thanks. So what's up Hinata those flowers for me?"
"H-hai sorry if they're not as big as the others." Hinata said looking down at her three flowers.
"Oh thanks, Hinata they're nice." Dairuko said putting the flowers in the vase next to his bed.
"I should be going. Goodbye, senpai."
"Sayonara, Hinata."
The next morning had a heavy atmosphere. To add to it the weather was awful and the fact that Natsuki was in hospital put Dairuko was in bad mood from the moment he woke up. Dairuko shocked most of the hospital staff by being medically clear to not just attend the funeral but to leave the hospital and be 100% mission ready.
"Dairuko, it is time." Itachi said. He wore a black kimono with sash around his waist and the Uchiha symbol on the left pocket area.
"Yeah yeah I'm comin'." Dairuko said wearing normal civilian clothes just in full black. "What about Jiraiya?"
"He's staying with Natsuki." normally Dairuko would blow off funerals if Natsuki doesn't talk him into going however he owes the Third his life and so much more, the least he could do was be at the Third's funeral.
"What of you 'Tachi? Will I see you there?"
"Don't call me 'Tachi again and no."
"Why the hell not? Hokage-sama brought us together as a team, remember?"
"My reasons are my own, Dairuko." Itachi said and walked away.
"Teme." Dairuko muttered before grabbing his umbrella and leaving.
As Dairuko predicted it started to rain. Not that the prediction was all that hard to guess with the dark clouds and all that but nonetheless his umbrella was being put to good use. Dairuko watched as everyone left flowers each bearing a sad look on their face which is expected considering how loved the Third was as Hokage and as a person. It was Dairuko's turn to leave a flower and when he did the only memory of the Hokage that came to mind was when he remembered Dairuko's birthday and Dairuko almost broke his back by hugging him too hard. As they lowered the coffin down Dairuko hung his umbrella over Hinata who gave him a confused look then bowed her head in appreciation; he looked around and spotted Itachi's figure standing on a far-off building overlooking the funeral.
'More than thirteen years I've known you and called you my friend and I still have no idea what goes through your head sometimes Itachi. Whether you're just being a bastard or if you're fighting some inner turmoil.' Dairuko thought as he watched Itachi.
Itachi had watched the funeral from a distance because he had felt like he didn't belong there with all those people due to the fact that he couldn't save the Hokage. He also saw Dairuko staring at him and knew that Dairuko was trying guess what he was thinking or why he was here instead of there. Itachi sighed at the thought of Dairuko using his brain on something other than women, fighting or gambling.
Once the funeral was over, Itachi had disappeared to where ever it is he goes and Dairuko headed for the hospital to check up on Natsuki.
Jiraiya had stayed by Natsuki's side during the funeral and waited for her test results to come back with a full analysis of her injuries. Though he doesn't show it Jiraiya is worried about Natsuki. Besides the standard sensei care Natsuki, Dairuko and Itachi each showed him what it's like to have children of his own and treats them as such.
"Jiraiya-sama, we have the results." the doctor said.
"And?"
"I'm afraid we underestimated the extent of her injuries... her broken bones will heal in time but her punctured lungs will never heal due to one of her ribs splintering into smaller pieces and we cannot remove them nor can we remove her from the machine."
"Why not?"
"She'll drown in her own blood inside an hour."
"Are you sure doctor?"
"I'm positive. The shrapnel is too small for us to remove and the body won't be able to heal until it's gone."
"Thank you doctor."
"I wish I had better news for you."
"I'm sure you did all you could." and with that the doctor left. Jiraiya turned around to see Dairuko walk through the door.
"What's the plan?" Dairuko asked him.
"What are you talking about?"
"What's the plan to save my sister?"
"I don't have one."
"You what?"
"I do not have a plan." there was a long silence between student and teacher as each thought of what they should say next but no words were coming to mind.
"When I find that sick Sound ninja bastard who did this to Natsuki I'll...I'll-"
"Dairuko enough! Whoever did this to Natsuki is just a servant to the real threat, my former friend Orochimaru..." Jiraiya smacked his forehead "of course why didn't I think of that first."
"Think of what?"
"I'm part of the Legendary Sannin."
"Now's really not the time to throw around credentials Jiraiya."
"No, Dairuko. There were three Sannin."
"And how does thaaaa-oh I see where you getting at sensei."
"Yes and it just so happens that the last Sannin is the greatest medical ninja in history."
"And if anyone can save Natsuki she can."
"Exactly."
"I doubt we could just leave the village in search of Tsunade while the village needs to be repaired."
"Lucky for us the village is in need of a new Hokage, and I doubt the elders have much point in arguing if we're bringing in a Sannin to combat another Sannin, not to mention the medical benefits..."
Dairuko, with a gleam in his eye asked "When do we leave?"