Naruto (Earlier this Year)
A Weapon's Duty
-One-shot-
The Day of the Sandaime Hokage's Funeral
Konohagakure no Sato stood silent, every men woman and child bowing their heads in remembrance for the Sandaime Hokage. Even Danzo Shimura the sometimes rival of the Sandaime was bowing his head in remembrance, for the man who'd he fought beside and bled beside.
But at the front of all of Konoha's children stood one who was different, covered in bandages, many of which were stained with blood, stands Aki Uzumaki. The Kyūbi Jinchūriki, the 'Weapon' of Konoha and the Sandaime. Slowly without sound she falls to her knees, tears streaming down her face, for the first time the citizens of Konoha were ashamed. They had insulted, beaten and almost raped this young girl. Yet during the invasion she'd taken dozens if not hundreds of Kunai, Shuriken and Jutsus for Konohian Shinobi and civilians alike. She had fulfilled the Sandaime's last order, Protect Konoha, Protect the Will of Fire.
Konoha stood silent in shame as well as grief. For the girl who'd they'd abused, shamed and tortured had remained more loyal to the ideals that had birthed Konoha then they had. Not only had she fulfilled the Sandaime's last order, but she was also fulfilling the wishes of the Yondaime, she was protecting Konoha, no matter the cost to herself.
Aki slowly rises to her feet and throws back her head and howls, in response to that howl the Shinobi of Konoha and the Nin hounds of the Inuzuka join in. It is a clarion call, a resounding cry of grief that reaches all corners of the Elemental Nations. A sign of loss and despair.
Then it changes, from despair grows conviction, from grief comes resolve, from loss purpose is born. The cry of grief, becomes the call to war. For the first time ever, Konoha would march to a war, instead of being the target of one. At the forefront of Konoha's army, Aki will stand. The living avatar of the Will of Fire, wreathed in the resolve and conviction of Konohagakure no Sato.
Aki only has one thought through all of this
Orochimaru will die, that is what Konoha demands and that is what it will get. For that is a Weapon's Duty
-AWD-
Otogakure no Sato – Three months later
Ashes and fire.
That is all that is left.
Orochimaru coughed softly, next to him the headless body of Kabuto lies on the floor in a pool of its own blood. Orochimaru looked up at the one who had done this, the one who had charge Otogakure all on her own, who had fought the strongest fighters and most unstable experiments he had… the girl who had utterly overwhelmed him and Kabuto.
Aki Uzumaki.
Evil spirit of the Whirlpool.
He laughed to himself, he'd always wondered why she was called that now he knew. He looked once more at the girl who'd defeated him, but not quite he still had one card left to play "Well girl, what are you waiting for? Finish it" he rasped.
Aki didn't hesitate, she stepped forward and with a single slash of her katana, severed Orochimaru's head from his body.
However from the corpse a giant snake bearing Orochimaru's face emerged "Foolish girl, I am going to take you now as my host. I hope your mind survives so I can show you the destruction of your home"
Aki didn't even blink, she calmed stepped forward. Orochimaru immediately pounces on her.
That was his final, fatal mistake.
Right outside the bars of the Kyūbi's Seal, both Aki and Orochimaru appeared. Whoever Orochimaru was at the base of the seal while Aki is right at the seal itself.
The Kyūbi stirred and opened one large eye at its jailor "Are you sure of this girl?" it rumbled.
Aki nodded "Yes, it is my duty" Aki answered.
Orochimaru glared at Aki "What is going on Girl? What have you done?"
Aki doesn't reply, she simply placed her right hand on her stomach and twists it counter-clockwise.
Kyūbi immediately charged forward and grabbed Orochimaru in its massive maw.
As Orochimaru was devoured, Aki simply stated "I did my duty, a Weapon's Duty"
She smiled then for the first time since the Sandaime's death and she turns to the Shinigami who had appeared behind her "Is this payment enough?"
The Shinigami nodded slowly
Aki bowed "Then, it is time for me to leave the mortal world"
The Shinigami once gain nodded and then it reached out a hand and grasped Aki's right shoulder.
The Kyūbi watching the exchange grinned, it's current jailor was braver then any of the ones before her. Kyūbi then closed its eyes for the last time and smiled.
After all, it wasn't going to leave its favorite jailor without her sword.
She still had another duty.
No longer a weapon.
Aki had a duty she was happy to embrace.
A Protector's Duty.