V 10 Ch 7
Dishonor and Sacrifice
General Senko of the lightening country erupted in one hell of a lightening storm, his arms moving from his side in a sweeping motion. The lightening crackled striking anyone who dared to confront him face to face. Lowering its head, the Baku Demon snarled, its jaws snapping as it galloped forward. It wished to taste the Konoha ninja in its powerful jaws.
"Take none alive," General Senko of the Lightening-nin ordered his demon. He was up against several ninja all at once, but it didn't bother him at all. Battles that were fought hard had more rewarding prizes. And in this case, it was a girl with the contract to the very heavens.
The Baku Demon stomped its feet lightening echoing around it as it went head on for the Hokage of the village. Just as it neared, the Hokage began to create hand seals to defend himself. The Baku Demon shifted its form turning into vapor, the wind carrying it away from the man's attack.
Naruto Uzumaki summoned two thousand copies of himself surrounding General Senko. His eyes looked around trying to figure out where the Baku Demon had gone. His clones stood narrowing their eyes at the man from the Lightening country. "We're going to give you a beating you will never forget," the clones said in unison.
Neji crossed his arms. "He's going a bit overboard," he said his eyes focused on the areas around them. He was sure the Baku Demon was going to reappear where they least expected it.
Shikamaru Nara crouched low, his eyes looking at the ground. He saw it. As the vapor traveled away from Naruto, its faint shadow moved upon the ground. Shikamaru knew his shadow possession jutsu could only be used on a living creature. He had never tried to stop an element.
Sasuke put his hand up to his side, palm open to stop the presence he sensed from moving. "Neither of you have business here," he said in his low voice. The anger residing in his son was causing him to electrify the ground around him. "If you lose control this easily, you're only going to wear yourself down like they want you to do."
Daiya's fists shook with rage. "That's the bastard who's causing all of this! Let me fight him! I refuse to hand over-" A hand was quickly placed over his mouth to stop him from uttering the words General Senko did not need to hear. They were trying to play out the battle, not give the man more reason to subdue them any further.
"Shh," Saori Nara warned. "This isn't our fight. Not right now. We must help secure the village."
Gin Akimichi nodded her head. "There are a lot of injured people. We have to assist them."
"If you won't comply with that request," Saori started as she turned to face him, "I'll have no choice but to go against your terms." She could sense Daiya's anger boiling over. Working with him on Team 2, guaranteed her ability to sense how pig headed he was at the wrong times. "Very well," Saori said softly. She clenched her fist, moved her hand back and hit him with all of her might square in the space above the metal plating on his abdomen.
Gin stiffened. Daiya made a pissed off face at Saori before the wind was knocked out of him. She watched his form topple over with a heavy slump to the ground. "Saori," she said practically speechless.
Saori bent down lifting Daiya off the ground. He was pretty heavy for being shorter than Ryu. Saori's legs almost went out from under her as she tried to straighten to stand. "Dammit, training has changed his form," she said grunting.
"My apologies," Sasuke said as he turned back around, his eyes remaining focused on Naruto's clones who had gone after General Senko. They were in the process of getting a few punches in as Senko used his sword and fire techniques to eliminate them one by one.
The Baku Demon reappeared straight at Saori, Gin, and Daiya. It growled opening its mouth to let out the poisonous knock out gas it contained. As the gas leaked out in a cloud of intense smoke, Shikamaru was on it. A fast shadow approached the demon, trapping its legs where it stood.
Gin quickly formed hand seals as the gas came closer to the three. A plant with large leaves shot up out of the ground swallowing them whole. The gas moved around the plant, but left them trapped for the time being. "Sorry, Saori," she said apologetically.
Saori felt like a trapped bird in a cage. "If that idiot Senko gets too close to us we could be in huge trouble. That fire jutsu of his will burn us to cinders."
Gin opened her eyes having been communicating with the plant surrounding them. "It seems the gas the Baku Demon spewed forth is deadly if inhaled. And the plant is wilting," she said as the flooring shifted to one side. Saori fell on top of her. "We have to cover our mouths quickly!"
Gin Akimichi took out her kunai shredding the sleeves of her outfit. She tied the cloth masks around Saori and Daiya's face making sure they could not breathe in the gas fumes. Before she could make one for herself, the plant's petal walls came down, curling. The toxic gas had already killed the poor thing. Gin held her breath.
Saori snatched the kunai lose from the frightened girl's hand. She cut through the plant making a makeshift mask out of the petals. This will have to work for the time being. Hastily, she tied it around Gin's face.
Gin nodded that she was alright. All of the Jounin, except Shikamaru sensei, had managed to cover their mouths. There was no way to see the clear vapor circulating through the air. Shikamaru was holding his breath, his hands still formed in the jutsu of Shadow possession. If he broke concentration, the Baku Demon was going to be free.
"What are you going to do now, Hokage," General Senko demanded as each of the clones were starting to choke on the toxic fumes from the Baku Demon. "You've only stopped it for a short time! And by the looks of it, your precious Jounin won't be able to hold out much longer!"
A wall of water lifted itself from over the surrounding buildings. Senko quickly grabbed onto a metal pole sticking out of the ground to brace himself. A tsunami in the surrounding forest? What is this?!
Water lifted itself to surround the Hokage, the Genin, and all of the Jounin down below. As soon as the water bubble was around him, Sasuke took his hand away from his mouth. Izumi. He saw a large black form move swiftly pass him.
"What kind of jutsu is this," Saori said behind the bubble. The water moved around them. She and Gin turned their heads to see the Baku Demon struggling to get to the surface as it roared in anger, air bubbles escaping its mouth. "Where is everyone," she said in alarm.
Izumi Uchiha had had quite enough of this General Senko. All of her concentration and chakra went into creating the Tsunami jutsu she was known for. If this doesn't wash him away, then I'm out of practice. Izumi's head started to hurt from holding onto the jutsu. She was determined to get Senko to bail from the village.
Her knees went out from underneath her. Izumi fell to her side, the chakra she had used was running out. She breathed hard, struggling to grasp a hold of the Tsunami, but she was too late. She heard Sasuke yell her name before the control she had over the water, evaporated.
The water bubbles came tumbling down sweeping not only General Senko away, but all of the Jounin and the Genin. Naruto was one step ahead of the other ninja around him. Gambuta lifted his mighty head above the water lifting the Hokage high into the air. "She lost control of it," he said as an after thought.
"Mm," Gambuta replied moving his large amphibian arms down to block the Jounin and Genin from being swept away. The water slammed them into his skin, water soon leaking over and around his body.
Saori coughed several times lifting her wet form off of the ground. She had forgotten about Daiya. He had become detached from her when the water had hit her. "What the hell was that?"
Sasuke Uchiha stood helping Shikamaru stand. "Izumi's Tsunami jutsu," he said as Shikamaru shook his hair free of water. "She hasn't used it in a long time."
"That is an understatement," Neji said getting to his feet as Rock Lee slid on his ninja shoes. "Where is that brazen idiot," he asked searching around them. He half expected Senko to come charging at them again, or being laid out stunned by the water jutsu.
"Still moving," Daiya said wondering why he was wet from head to toe. He knew from the lightening chakra he used that Senko's heart beat was not far away. "Who decided we all needed a bath?"
"Your mother," Saori said standing up. "That only distracted him." She was mad as all hell now. "What about those minions of his that are still lurking around the village? We have to get all of them to leave!"
"Not a problem," Rock Lee said. "If we can defeat General Senko then the ANBU can handle things on their end." He was fired up.
"I will handle him," Naruto said as his sage mode eyes befell upon the quick lightening charge that went off down the way. "I want all of you to get the injured away from here. That's an order, Sasuke."
Sasuke didn't like leaving everything to Naruto. He never did. "I'm capable of fighting," he said in defiance.
"That's an order," Naruto said once more. He gave Sasuke the type of look that would make any man freeze in his tracks. Not regarding his best friend further, Naruto started to use hand seals. "Gambuta, I will need your chakra."
"Mm," Gambuta said as he and Naruto started to blend together in a high level transformation technique. The two of them transformed into a giant red fox.
"Oh, this is going to get nasty," Shikamaru said. "Don't make too much of a mess, we've already lost most of the village!"
The large fox's head turned, white eyes bearing down on Shikamaru. Its teeth snarled. "You be quiet," it snapped. The fox pounced forth over the rubble, its head searching for Senko's whereabouts. "Where are you? Hiding won't do you any good at this point!"
Senko pushed aside the debris that had fallen over him. He was dripping wet from head to toe. Whoever had performed the water jutsu was a force to be reckoned with. "I have no reason to hide from the likes of you! Hand over the girl!"
"I don't take orders from a low life," the fox spat back. The fox had a greater amount of chakra flowing throughout its body. More than one could imagine. And in saying so, it was able to use that chakra to its advantage. Its head shifted to peer right at the place where General Senko was standing. "You're going to regret coming here!"
General Senko held up his arms as the large fox paw came down pushing him. He dug his heels into the ground to prevent himself from being moved so easily. Yet, the fox was powerful. The gauntlet on his arm rotated clicking into place. Senko fired several poisonous arrows at the fox, in order, to stun it, if not back down.
The fox lifted one of its tails blocking the arrows from making contact. "Weak, pathetic excuse of a being. You are only continuing to anger me. Not very wise," he said using one of his other tails to crack in the air overhead. Wind pushed down through the air slamming Senko against rubble.
Senko was hit so hard his body felt the vibration from head to toe. He was unable to stand. His head lifted. What exactly was this creature in front of him? Senko's mouth opened to call out to his men for aid, but only blood spurted out, his eyes widened. Such a small twitch of its tail and I'm unable to move!
The fox opened its mouth, a blast of energy starting to spark around its teeth. This is going to be over quickly! I cannot afford to lose anymore people. He fired at Senko, the blast illuminating the man's face before it struck. The village was engulfed in a ball of powerful light, shinobi sheilding their eyes from the destruction power of the nine tailed fox.
Sasuke's eyes watched as the remaining buildings around the blast crumbled with a defeaning crash. What now? That had to have elimanted him. He kept his eyes focused, his ears listening for any sound of Senko's men. The nine tailed fox had its head lowered, snarling a warning for anyone to mess with it again. There was no movement from anyone. Everyone was on guard, bodies tense. They wanted this battle to be over, but was it completely finished?
Izumi waited from her perch, her eyes also scanning the area. She sensed no energy coming from the surrounding area. "They're fleeing," she said to the open air. "Sasuke, they're fleeing," she yelled to her husband as he stood amongst the debris. She saw him relax his shoulders.
Shikamaru flicked his cigarette away, the tabacco infused habit of his down to the very filter. He pinched the space between his eyes, closing his eyes. "Did we finally win?"
Rock Lee hastined to say the obvious. "He is not here. He has run away before the blast struck him."
Neji used his Bakugan to confirm Lee's suspicions about their enemy. He walked closer, the dust settling in heaps away from the blast. "Unfortunatly, Lee is correct. I sense no chakra coming from the targeted surrounding area."
Naruto separated his chakra from that of Gambunta. He doubled over slightly, an ANBU grabbed his arm to steady him. "I'm alright," he said standing up once again. If it was one thing he learned about being Hokage, you never let anyone see you fall. He was not about to show any sign of weakness in front of his men, nor his old friends. "What about the others that were aiding him to destroy the village?"
The ANBU bowed low to report. "They have succeded in aiding the General, Lord Hokage. The ones who have attacked the village are being sought out by my men."
Naruto narrowed his eyes looking in the directions of the destruction of the village. His village. "They weren't really here to claim the phoenix," he said. There was another underlying reason. "They were here to test us, to find out if we are hiding something else that could be valuable to them. No one would leave this soon if it was worth losing their lives over."
"What do you interject they are searching for," Rock Lee announced amongst the others as they stood behind Naruto, watching.
"An equal power, or a greater one," Naruto said, his robe flowing with the small breeze.
"Such as the nine-tailed-fox," Shikamaru said throwing his pack of cigarettes aside disgusted with their wet package.
"Or another celestial," Izumi said confirming her and Sasuke's worst fears as parents. She held up her hands to the others indicating three fingers. Onari had bestowed two celestials to Takeru and Ryu, but Saori's had been given to her by the free will of the Tiger. "Plans, gentlemen."
"We protect the three that are in our care. For now, we are to treat the injured. The village can be rebuilt. However, Onari is on her own, wherever she is," Naruto addressed. The smoke filled the sky darkening it as an omnious cloud of doom and death. Rubble of homes and buildings lay on the ground encased in forgotten memories. Naruto stood the victor, his Hokage coat shifting softly with a faint breeze. Teams of ninja - of shinobi- were scattered all over the area. His hardened eyes failed to determine where the lightening-nin and their leader had listened, his ears on standby until he heard and felt the very ground shaking under his feet.
A white beast popped up all around, its body taking down the rest of the leftover buildings, debris flying up and out. The head of a reptilic animal lifted, her eyes showing no mercy, or thought, as she stood guard over the village and its remaining inhabitants. Naruto fell to one knee. He was exhausted. Fighting General Senko and his men had proven to be a worthy battle. An ANBU helped him to stand. "Damn that boy," he said under his breath.
"Sir?" The ANBU looked confused behind his mask. "Orders?" The dragon was unyeilding as it stood in defense mode. Its eyes were focused on one direction.
Takeru Uchiha stood on top of Uso's head, sharingan activated. His body was tense. The man who had appeared out of the shadows had long black hair, arms folded. His face was so calm, it unnerved him. Gekido.
"You're the brat with the dragon." Gekido only lifted his eyes to meet the boy's gaze. "Your village seems to be in complete turmoil for such a thing." He opened his hand to let the dust fall. "Still think this cause is noble? Or that abomination you know of, is worth it," he snarled lifting his lip in disgust.
Takeru had gone against the Hokage's direct order not to summon the dragon. "What something is worth in my eyes is not the same as yours." All thoughts of his friends and family were gone. All he saw was red.
"I'd get a hold of that anger, child. It is a bit immature," Gekido said rushing at the boy. His body blurred as his movements increased.
Takeru saw him aiming for his left. How was he going to be quick enough to avoid the death blow? If this man was anything like Onari, he had her true kekkigenkai unlike she. Takeru felt his body lifting upwards off of the ground. He was being tossed aside by Uso.
Takeru went flying through the air, his mind not on where he would land, but on the enemy before him. Uso's head was sent to the ground with her direct one handed punch from Gekido. Her entire body vibrated, feeling the shockwave. Gekido kept poudning into her with his open palm. "Uso!"
Naruto shot off with his men behind him. The dragon lifted her tail swinging it at the man beating her. Naruto watched as the man held his arms up to block the swift flick of the dragon's tail. He couldn't have held her off!
Takeru hit the ground tumbling over himself backwards. He slowly got up, head spinning, blood hanging off his lip. He started to run clumsily after the dragon who was fighting for him.
Uso opened her mouth gushing a shot of hot water at Gekido. Her slit eyes widened. No mortal is immune to heat or air. Her head darted left and right, blody slinking to keep Gekido back. She napped, her sharp teeth clamping the air as he avoided her.
Naruto formed hand seals in the air, copies of himself to a thousand were unleashed. They bore down on the man fighting the beast. 'Let me through!"
As Gekido's tail finally made contact with Gekido's body, she bit the air her teeth clamping shut. She sent the man crashing all over the rubble with a mightly pop of her tail. Her head remained still, body lifting to block the Hokage of the hidden leaf village from advancing further with his men. "I only take orders from the Uchiha!" Uso moved her claws scratching the areas around her. Where had he gone? "Stupid, arrogant humans," her voice harmonized through the air.
Takeru waved his hands in the air trying to get her attention. "Uso! Stop! You have to li-" He was hit from behind. Takeru's body went numb. His eyes saw darkness envlope him.
Gekido stood motionless, his palm open. His face was placid as Takeru's body slid forward in a streak of blood. "Still alive." he knew they were there before he lifted his eyes. "Weak."
Naruto's copies started to form Rasengan. Sasuke was already hot on his feet, the anger of a father swiftling navigating towards the area. "I'll show you weak," he said in defiance. Naruto and his clones ran at Gekido with Rasengan swarming him from all directions. Each split second, they came closer to making their target.
Uso dove head first into the ground, her body going under ground as far as she could, the earth spliting around her as she commanded it. The snout of the dragon started to come up from the earth, mouth open to shield Takeru from the impending blast. Just as her head cleared the dirt, jaws clamping shut, the Rasengan made its mark. Uso's body lit up with the power of the jutsu from the Hokage. Her physical form started to desinagrate.
Sasuke slid on his heels, his grass cutter held out. "TAKERU!" He was knocked onto his back by the sheer force.
Saori Nara stood away fromt he battle scene with Josei beside her. The entire area became blinded in dust and light. "What's happening," she shouted covering her ears.
Josei growled. "Uso has been obliterated." He sniffed the air gathering scents wafting in the air.
"What?!" Saori turned her head to decipher what Josei meant. The light was travelingup to the sky. "Where is Takeru?"
Josei moved forward. "Her form has been destroyed on this plane. It cannot be revived without the aid of the phoenix. The boy? I cannot sense him from this distance. There is too much energy in the air and ground." Saori hopped onto his back. "Right." He ran towards the explosion.
Naruto's clones evaporated as soon as the Rasengan was sent off. His chakra was running low. He breathed hard the fatigue overcoming him. The ANBU shielded him from the blast moving quicly to get him to safety.
Gekido was quicker than they would have imagined. He poofed seconds before the Rasengan made contact. His eyes watched the blast from a safe distance. "That went better than I could have imagined." For now, he would let the Hokage of the Leaf village assume he had won. Gekido dropped over the wall, or what was left of it. He walked away taking his time to get back to his men.
Naruto sent the ANBU after Gekido once it was realized the man had eluded capture. His eyes narrowed. Down below in the wake of the blast lay Takeru Uchicha. Sasuke was just getting to his son. Naruto took one last look at the destroyed village. They were highly vulnerable to other attacks. He had to secure the area, as well as, those wounded.
Boton poofed near him, her head lowered, hand on her chest. "Lord Hokage, the lightening -nin have fled the village. There is no sign of the one who initiated the attack. What are your orders?"
"What do you mean there is no sign," Naruto said not liking the words thought out by Boton. He knew her well. She generally held herself back when directing authority.
"Excuse my lack of better understanding, Sir. We know he is gone. The only great amount of chakra in the area, is yours," Boton confirmed. "Two ANBU have been dispatched to go outside the village to scout as far as they can for any sign of our attackers. The others have remained behind for your aid."
"Have two men guard the hospital at all costs. I want the rest of you to scout for those who may be trapped under the debris." Naruto felt disgusted. This wasn't just about Onari. He knew all to well what had occurred. "Follow Sasuke Uchiha to the hosptial with his son. We will have to set up temporary headquarters there. Go."
Boton poofed.
(Scene Change)
Sasuke laid Takeru down with ease onto the stretcher. His eyes burned with anger. Wanting to abandon the village for the sake of his family had crossed his mind the entire way here. Yet, the ANBU with the sheep mask had informed him Naruto had to speak with him. Sasuke closed his eyes gathering his thoughts for a brief moment. He felt Takeru flinch, a sharp gasp escaping his son's lips. Sasuke bent down, his hand on the other side of Takeru's face, calming him. "Shh," he said softly. Soon, he saw Saori coming down the hall in a rush.
"Sensei, do you need me?"
"Help the staff with what they need. Many are injured. Where is Josei?"
"I sent him back to his realm."
"Do not summon him further unless I address you," Sasuke said blandly. He moved aside for a medic-nin to take Takeru. "Those lightening-nin weren't just after Onari." He grabbed her arm pulling her out of public view. Sasuke leaned over, his hand upon the wall. "All of you are in danger."
"You're saying if those guys get the phoenix, they'll use it against us?"
"There's more to it than that. Why do you think that guy targeted Takeru?" He looked at her with acid in his eyes.
"He's the one bonded with Uso," Saori said. "If the dragon and phoenix are at disagreement, they are at war. So Takeru can't summon Uso again without Onari." Sasuke gave her a look. Saori waved her hands apologetically. "Josei told me that. He said since Uso's physical body had been shattered on this plane, it could only be revived with the phoenix." Saori watched him furn around slamming his palm onto the wall.
Sasuke didn't like what he was hearing. Now it was personal. For them to attack the only heir to the Uchiha since his family had been wiped out, he was hell bent on slaughtering each and every one of the lightening-nin. His mind flashed to the man he had burnt along with Captain Senko. "They were testing us- trying to find out our abilities and sheer numbers of force."
"In order to prepare for another strike," Saori said. "A bigger one?" She feared they could be annihilated.
"Or to find out if they could counter the attacks of a guardian," Naruto said from behind them. "I need to talk to you." Sasuke stood. "Not here. The village is already on high alert. We need to focus on the people. In private."
They walked down several halls until they were in front of two ANBU guarding the door. Walking in, Sasuke could tell it was going to be a temporary office for Naruto. The Hokage Tower was half gone from the attacks like much of the village. He stood while Naruto sat on a box of medical supplies.
"These men - those bastards lightening-nin tracked the phoenix to this village. Onari's rash action at the Chuunin exams has backfired upon her and her loyalty to Konoha has been threatened." He leaned forward stretching his side with a hand placed on his knee for support. "You've no idea where she has gone?"
"None," Sasuke said.
"Are you suspecting that she is going to try to get stronger to fight the ones who attacked us?"
Sasuke turned around leaning his back against the wall. His head hung, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "She's too reckless to attack anyone. It won't do any good for her to rely on Akaihi. The phoenix is her protector, yes, but she's been unsure of herself since she arrived here."
"Explain."
"In all of the training she learned from Neji, Izumi, and Rock Lee, she couldn't hone in on her true abilities. There's..," he trailed off remembering how she acted around the Uchiha house, "a wall of innocence overshadowing everything she does. I think she's running scared."
"From you?"
"I suppose," he said trying to figured out her motives.
Naruto knew she was there before her form manifested out of the fluid from the bags on the shelf. "Training is going to increase for the ANBU," he said angrily with his eyes closed, brows furrowed. He leaned back his hands slapping his knees in disbelief. "Izumi. Really?"
Izumi held her hands out, palms up and open. "There's no better time for an eavesdrop." She heared her husband grunt. "Stop thinking I'm as bad as Onari. She does it out of curosity. I do so for information."
Sasuke crossed his arms. "Just say what's on your mind." He knew his wife was going to correct the both of them. She was a fact junkie.
"The entire time Onari has been in this village, she has been learning to fit in - be a ninja like the students. It wasn't too long ago she had to catch up to the other students so she could be put on a team. What you failed to tell him, Sasuke, was how she acted when she thought we didn't want her."
Naruto's expression softened a bit. Onari was still a child. "No, he didn't tell me anything about that."
"She tried to fight us, in order, to get away to protect herself," Sasuke admitted. He stared out at nothing. "She thought we had brought her with us to abandon her like the snow village."
"I'm afraid we did, Sasuke," Izumi said sadly. "We sent her to stay with Kiba when Takeru was injured. We blamed her for everything. All he did was protect her from getting taken then."
"We almost lost him," Sasuke said, his voice bitter.
"It's no different than now," Izumi said back. "He's just unconscious, by the way. Uso took most of the impact." She saw him raise his head. "They were fated to meet. He's meant to-"
"No." Sasuke's expression became placid, his voice serious and low. "I will not give up my son to die for her." He couldn't take much more of the conversation. He left the room slamming the door.
"I'm sorry," Izumi told Naruto. "He still bears pain from the past. Takeru is all we have."
"That's where the Uchiha fail," Naruto said as Izumi stopped with her back towards him. "He has all of you- and this village. Furthermore, Takeru will not always remain a boy. He's going to push his boundaries with both of you."
Izumi left the Hokage. She had no clue where Sasuke had gone in this time of turmoil. She wondered if it was to check on Takeru. I know, but we're not prepared for that.
(Scene Change)
Takeru awoke to find himself dazed and slightly confused as to what had happened. His head turned to see the Hokage sipping hot coffee while he sat behind a thin table. The room they were in was small and contained medical supplies. Where was Uso? Had she succeeded in killing Gekido? He stared back up at the ceiling. Could Onari come home now?
Naruto knew Takeru was awake. He was letting the boy get settled. After a while, he leaned back studying Takeru's sad face. He has to be thinking of her. "Takeru." Slowly, the boy turned to acknowledge him. "You went against my orders. I told you not to give the dragon away."
"I couldn't let them hurt anyone else," Takeru said, his voice soft. "They think of us as being inferior to them. I hate them! I want them dead."
Naruto stood. "So letting them destroy Uso was the best way to prove it to them?" Takeru hadn't known. The boy grabbed the rails on the stretcher. "You've put yourself and the others with you in more danger. Now the lightening-nin know Onari was definantly here."
"They knew the moment they started attacking us!"
"It was rumors they were following to locate her. They didn't know your father was the exact one who had taken her from that village. Also, they still do not knwo the name your father chose for her. Without a name, it is impossible to stick a face with are coming in that those rogue lightening-nin have been searching every country to get a sign of her. It was only a matter of time before someone was going to confirm what they suspected."
"Who could have told on her? She's hasn't summoned Akaihi out of the village except-," Takeru felt dumb. She had revealed the phoenix at the biggest event in a ninja student's life. At the exam.
"We've been watched by the other countries for a while concerning the creature of creation and destruction. They assume I am using this fowl to be the front line for a great army to over rule their nations." Naruto smirked.
"No one's invincible like that," Takeru said passing it off.
"No, no one is. But others like to assume they are - especially in proving it." Naruto looked down at the boy a hand on his hip, a sternness in his eyes. "Why did you defy my authority?"
"They hurt my friends. They've torn my family apart by chasing Onari off. I can't forgive them for that," Takeru said his voice becoming cold and distant.
"Onari left of her own accord. No one is to blame for that. As for the damage they've done to the village, and to others in it, it is war. War is not meant to be without casualties." Naruto knew Takeru had meant well, but letting the enemy know where the dragon resided, was not good for any of them. "We are at the most vulenrable when we cannot protect ourselves." Naruto touched Takeru's chest. "This needs to be under control. Do you understand?"
Takeru tried his best to nod, the ache in his chest getting greater and greater. He grit his teeth, not wanting to look at the Hokage. What had he done?
"Until you manage to guard your heart with the same determination that you give the others around you, I am putting you on lock down," Naruto said, his decision final. "I cannot protect those outside of this village who have left, but I can make sure those in it, obey the orders they are given."
Takeru turned away from the Hokage. He had jepordized every man, woman, and child in Konoha. It was outright treason.
(Scene Change)
Eiyu looked around the room sweat pouring out of his skin. He felt terrible. The poison from the metal scorpion's tail was slowly spreading. He knew the moment he had fought Buitai it was going to be a tough fight. The man from the lightening country was not an easy foe. The more he had fought, the more he learned how well made the sorprion was for an AI machine. It calculated his moves and learned how he fought in order to initiate its counterattacks.
When Eiyu was wearing down, the scorpion had managed to strike its target. Buitai had won. He frowned his head falling back onto the pillow. The room around him seemed foreign. He wasn't supposed to be here. Eiyu was the strongest and most cunning compared to his brother. The IV hooked into his arm contained an antidote that was trying to deflect the unknown poison. Eiyu didn't feel he had long. He knew it. Nurses came in every so often to check on him. They were sure they could stop it. Eiyu had his doubts.
When he was struck, the poison had already shut down one of his kidneys. His breathing had become rasp in a matter of seconds. Buitai had left him at the scene to die on the roof of the building. Eiyu had passed out. He had awoke to people calling his name and bright lights overhead. Eiyu laughed sourly. I had promised to watch over you. I couldn't even take the precaution for myself. Anger and determination don't go hand in hand, Onari.
Eiyu touched the call button on his bed. A nurse immediatly entered the room. He pointed with his arm shaking. "I need you to write this down," Eiyu said gasping a bit for air. The nurse tilted her head but took out a small pad and pencil. "Give this message to Takeru Uchiha." The nurse nodded. "Anger and determination do not make a man," Eiyu said his heart racing. "If you need to find solice, do so in a memory- the one that began the journey."
The nurse finished writing everything down. She re-read the message to make sure it was correct. "Are you feeling better?"
Eiyu's eyes were half lidded, his hair capped with sweat. His abdomen was bandaged where the tip of the scorpion's tail had pierced him. As soon as his heart started to race, it began to slow down rapidly. "I'll be fine," he told the woman. "Just make sure Takeru Uchiha gets that. It's important." His eyes closed.
The nurse stood not knowing what to say. She moved forward, her fingers going to his wrist. Eiyu's pulse had dropped rapidly. She panickeda little bailing out of the room to find a doctor for assistance.
Neji Hyuuga sat on the hospital bed holding his son, Eiyu. TenTen was in another room with Kandai crying. Neji stroked his son's long hair. Eiyu's body was limp, the IV in his arm ripped out from Neji's anger. He felt a hand lightly touch his back. Hinata stood with sadness in her eyes. Neji held her hand tightly, his grief tensed inside his heart. Eiyu was gone.
"The Hyuugas will always press on," he managed to say softly. "I want Eiyu to be remembered as doing his duty. That's all I asked of him."
Naruto stood in the frame of the door his eyes softened. A ninja will always be surrounded by death. It's how he chooses to overcome it that matters.
Kandai stared out into the open, his face wrapped in bandages. His mother sobbed in his lap. The mere thought of not seeing his twin's serious expression anymore, didn't register. He found his voice some time after. "Mother, what will they do with Eiyu? Where will he go?"
TenTen raised her head. "Oh, Kandai," she said. "We'll honor your brother at a service. His memory won't be forgotten."
Kandai wasn't sure if that satisfied him. "I don't know waht he promised Father about Onari, but I'll withhold that promise." His mother saw the anger starting to rise in him. "I'll complete your oath, Eiyu!" His hands clenched. Kandai felt a tear escape his eye. "I won't let your death have been in vain," he yelled. TenTen held him firmly to quiet him. "I won't let Buitai go on living with what he took from me," he brought his hand up to cover his face.
(Scene Change)
Takeru sat on the bed next to Ryu, his back hunched over. "I'm sorry about your shoulder," he said softly. Ryu's arm was in a sling, his bicep taped to his side to prevent his shoulder from moving. "All of this is because of me."
Ryu let the air escape his nostrils. He sighed. "Takeru, stop," he ordered. "I know you summoned Uso against the Hokage's orders. Which didn't help matters," he said turning his head annoyed. "My position was to get you out of harm's way, despite you clearly diving head first with a flip into the middle of it."
The door opened to the room with a knock. Saori walked in carrying a bundle of flowers she had managed to pick. She saw the expression on Takeru's gloomy face. "Are you still sulking because Ryu got hurt or worrying about the aftermath of your actions?" His eyes flashed a warning. "I thought we were pass this."
"Saori, it's not a good time to bring up anything until we have an outcome of this situation," Ryu said. "Leave it alone." His eyes watched her plunk the flowers into a vase without the smallest hint of grace.
"I'm sitting right here," Takeru said seriously. He threw his legs forward jumping off the bed. "I don't need either of you discussing my affairs." He left the room.
Saori crossed her arms. "What are the chances of her coming back?" She was aggravated at Takeru's attitude. "All we've ever done is help him!"
Ryu grimaced as he lifted himself up to a sitting position. "Look at it from his angle, Saori. How would you feel if I suddenly disappeared for no reason? He probably feels deserted."
"Or betrayed," Saori said turning around to plop in the chair by the window. She crossed her legs, her foot swinging fast. "It still makes me angry."
Ryu turned slowly, his legs feeling cramped on the bed. "I don't understand what games the both of them are playing. We can't do what we should be doing because of the lack of focus going on amongst us."
Saori's leg stopped moving. "Perhaps that's why she left." Ryu drank the glass of water next to the bed. He set it back down. "If Onari had been here, with the way her understanding of things is, she would have been killed." Saori shook her head. "He training is not as defined as ours. There would have been no way for her to protect anyone with that bird of hers."
"I don't think we should summon our celestials. We'd be seen as rouge ninja trying to overthrow all of the countries," Ryu said flicking her hard on the head. "If you think the lightening-nin were bad, wait until you try to take on everyone else. Konoha would be in constant war."
"Exactly," Sasuke said with the door open. His students looked in his direction. "I was expecting to find Takeru here."
"That would be my fault," Saori said with her hand raised. "Any mention of what he did and he gets defensive." She felt Sasuke scowling at her. Saori turned her head lower her hand. "Eh..."
Sasuke gave the Nara girl a stern gaze. "Don't start overthinking things," he said. Sasuke expected them to focus on more important things such as the reconstruction of the village. "Saori, you need to be of use. Either go help the staff, or guard the village."
Saori stood up. "Yes, sensei," she answered her head downcast. She hated to be in trouble with Sasuke.
Once Saori was gone, Sasuke kept his eyes on the door until he knew it was clear. "I assume you know Takeru brought out Uso against the orders of the Hokage." Ryu nodded. "Without Onari, it seems he won't be able to reawaken his bond with the dragon. The Hokage has ordered that all celestials and their handlers to be disbanded."
"What?" Ryu's brows furrowed. "What if those bastards come back?"
Sasuke raised a hand. "Any attempt to use a celestial against the orders of the Hokage will be seen as treason against the Hidden Leaf Village. He is taking precautions to secure the area. We cannot let it get out what you and Saori have a link to, or risk losing the both of you to General Senko and his men."
Ryu looked down, his mind racing for ideas to overcome this.
"I know you won't go against direct orders."
"Takeru's not going to leave this sitting well," Ryu finally said his mind more concerned with the Uchiha boy. "He's totally worried about where she might be., or what she is capable of in her unstable training."
Sasuke leaned against the door, his hands in his pockets. "There's a new member to Lee's team. A girl named Azayaka. She's replacing Onari officially. It has to be a three man cell, you know that."
"And how is our little fire dragon taking that bit of news," Ryu asked.
"Not well," Sasuke answered. "He's wary of the new student. As I can recall, he's speculating this girl was placed on the team to watch him - but that's just speculation."
"You honestly assume the Hokage wouldn't keep anything from you. Don't you two go way back," Ryu said trying to reach for his shirt, he grunted. Sasuke grabbed it helping him put it on. "Those damn nurses keep telling me how handsome I am. It's disgusting." He lifted the face mask.
Sasuke's eyes drifted to the bandaged shoulder. "You're going to be out of comission for a while. That's a serious injury. And I'll go ahead and inform you, Kurenai has been alerted." Ryu's eyes widened. Sasuke turned around waving 'bye-bye'. "Enjoy her hospitality." Last thing he heard was Ryu muttering 'ass' at him.
(Scene Change)
Kiba Inuzuka looked out over the devestation of the village. It was dark, the stars overhead as he heard ofthers trying to pick up the debris. The village was vulenrable at the worst possible moment. A lot of his clan was stationed outside the village, their anger apparent as they stood guard. He sighed at the destruction. "Those guys are nothing to play with."
"I quite agree," Rock Lee said. "They will not get away with this." He was glad Yanagi was away on a mission. "Neji's son, Eiyu, is dead."
"Damn," Kiba said with a low growl. He was uner so much pressure to keep the village secure that he felt anxious. "I need a cigarette."
"You do not smoke," Lee said with a matter-of-fact tone.
"I'm fixing to start." He caught sight of Shikamaru walking slowly towards them, his cigarette dangling on his bottom lip. "Hey, pass me one of those."
Shikamaru rised a brow. He handed one over knewing very well how it was going to end. This won't last long. After he lit it, he watched Kiba take a long puff from it. "I wouldn't do that." Kiba started caoughing uncontrollably. Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "You know those will effect your sense of taste and smell."
Kiba threw the cigarette onto the ground, grinding it into the dirt with his foot. "Yeah, I don't smoke," he finally said. He crosses his arms now clearly angry. "We should be going after them!"
"I am fine with that, but if we leave now, they could send others back to finish off everyone here," Shikamaru stated. "We need every able bodied person at this point. There are a lot injured or dead."
"This sucks." Kiba didn't like being at a stand still. "Wait until I get my hands on Sprout. She's turning out to be a mountain of trouble."
"We were the ones who brought her back," Lee said. "She is not to blame for the attack. We are. We knew what burdon she carried with her."
"Lee is right," Shikamaru said flicking his cigarette before he placed it back in his mouth. "She needed us. I don't regret bringing her here. Do you?"
"No, I do not," Lee said.
Kiba grunted. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I don't either. I miss that kid. Every day."
"How is the Hokage," Lee asked.
"He's trying to figure out what to do. Do we send for help, or tackle this problem on our own? Clean up will start first light for everyone," Shikamaru said. "I can't find my team anywhere."
"Areku is out there," Kiba nodded towards the outer parts of the village. "He's on guard duty. As for Kandai, I thought he'd be with his family since Eiyu- you know," Kiba broke off not wanting to say it.
"He's taking it hard. It's only fair to give him some time on his own. It was his twin," Shikamaru said. "We all have different ways of dealing with grief and sorrow."
(Scene Change)
Takeru stood near the river, his eyes staring straight ahead. He hand managed to sneak away from the turmoil. The lightening-nin who had infiltrated the village had been forced out by the Hokage, ANBU, and other ninja. He was angry with himself. Takeru threw a rock at the water. It plunked towards the bottom. "What do you want...?"
"Dad won't like you being out here." Daiya saw Takeru throw another rock. It, too, sank to the bottom of the bank. "Takeru, I know what Saori said-"
"I don't care what she said," Takeru snapped. "It's not her business to tell me what I think or feel! Everybody needs to get off my back about all of it!" Takeru turned around to look at his brother with a mean glare.
Daiya only looked back with pity and disapproval. "I've not said anything disrespectful to you about her." He waited for Takeru's anger to exstinguish. "If you have problems with others around you, tell them."
"And what good will it bring me," Takeru asked with a blunt reaction. "Ryu's injured. Eiyu is dead. And none of this is going to bring Onari back. It's useless! She's not coming back as things are, Daiya!"
Daiya calmly punched Takeru square in the jaw. It was enough force to knock the boy onto his rear. He waited until the daze wore off. "You're lucky this is the first time I hit you." Normally, Takeru knew better than to show his anger in front of Daiya. They weren't blood brothers, but Daiya had already earned his older brother reputation. "Done?"
Takeru averted his eyes. He didn't want Daiya seeing the tears that arose. It hurt like hell to be punched by a calm version of Daiya. "Yeah.."
Daiya crouched. "Our job is to protect one another from an enemy. It has nothing to do with the fact it was you. You've become resentful, Takeru. And until you learn to control yourself, Uso is not a good fit for you. You're not worthy of her. If you want to fix things to where Onari might give you a glimpse of who she really is, be the man she wants to come back to."
The words pained Takeru.
"The lightening-nin attacking us, was going to happen sooner or later. It's how you handle it that matters." Daiya stood. He looked at the boy out of the corner of his eye. "Get up."
Takeru stood clumsily.
Daiya started walking back with his brother beside him. He didn't have to utter another word. Things were going to have to change for all of them, or they were going to repeat their failures.