After several Follows and Favorites, I have decided to continue this story… I just hope you are all sufficiently entertained and if you have any questions or comments, I'll greatly appreciate and answer them.
In this chapter, we get to see our "time-heroes" witness more of the future, however it will be awhile before this story truly parallels to the anime… and some things will be very different.
( Words = Emphasize the word)
(WORDS= Future emphasis)
("Words" = Future speech/events)
( "Words" = Present thought)
("Words" = Future thought)
( Words: = Place and time)
( Words = New names/Titles,)
("Words" = Written words/Jutsu names)
( *Words* = Sounds)
( - = Line break)
Code-names will be posted at the Bottom of each chapter.
Horrors Witnessed
Timeless:
Day After Arrival:
The events of the previous day had drained everyone present, but the most intensely effected were Minato and Kushina.
They barely got any sleep at first, and quite frankly no one could blame them… but they were also the first to wake.
They sat across from each other at the marble-top counter in the kitchen, both tried and failed to enjoy the large amount of breakfast foods and fresh ingredients.
Finally, Kushina couldn't take the silence a moment longer.
"Minato… I know-… I know that you don't like what your future-self did, but I doubt even Orochimaru would have been able to predict that masked lunatic attacking… I doubt it was just because he's a jinchuuriki."
"I-… I get that Kushina, but I can't just go and forgive myself for what I did. I'm terrified thinking about the future, and how I could screw-up just as badly future-me did… what if I'm a bad father?" His eyes remained on the countertop, until Kushina's hands grabbed his own in a gently reassuring grip.
"I'll make sure you don't screw-up as a dad, so long as you make sure I don't screw-up as a mom."
"Sounds like a plan." They both smile.
"Yea, you both better not screw-up, because I want a pupil to teach the "Way Of The Perv" to after all." Jiraiya declared with his usual giant grin, having walked into the kitchen while they were conversing.
While the two usually disapproved of the sage's perverted ways, they simply smiled and laughed at the man who was like a father to both of them.
After the heartfelt discussion, and a hearty breakfast that soon had everyone around the table, they all moved to the "future room" and took up their seats.
"So… do we have to read?" Kakashi asked questioningly, gesturing to the television due to his laziness.
"I don't think the television even works without also reading the book… just a hunch." Obito stated while looking at the large book with curiosity.
"Well then, I volunteer to go after Obito and we can make an order out of it." Tsunade suggested.
Everyone agreed, and the book was passed over to the busty blond woman.
Village Hidden in the Leaves:
Three Months After Kyuubi Attack:
In the past three months, the entire village had been on high alert, and any ninja that was able searched for the newborn Naruto… but they found nothing.
The news traveled fast, but the most surprising thing was that many villages were declaring that after October 10th large numbers of people reported kidnappings of newborns… even in other ninja and samurai villages.
"There's no way Orochimaru could do all that alone. He more than likely has a small group of very powerful individuals under his employ." Mikoto stated.
"Or he has many low-level individuals working for him." Hitomi rebuked.
"Why can't he have both?" Rin questioned, genuinely confused.
"Well, most bad guys choose between one-or-the-other. as buying them out is easier than finding loyal zealots, and it's not cost-effective to pay for both." Jiraiya informed.
"Maybe for some old-timey bad guys, but someone who wants to succeed would have both." Obito declared, the adults looking at him curiously.
"And how would you know that Obito?" Kushina asked.
"Well I read a lot of books and comics, and the villains who come closest to winning always have a "team-card" filled with names, and most of them are not people to sneeze at. I bet if someone like Orochimaru wanted to not get beaten, he would do everything he can to ensure that."
"… Well, that's very impressive deductive skills Obito." Minato stated, surprised and proud of his favorite student.
"If you would all kindly shut the hell up and let me continue?!" Tsunade growled.
Everyone quieted immediately.
Currently, the office of the Hokage was filled with many individuals, some of the civilian council, some of the higher ranking members of ANBU, and even the third Hokage and his wife.
"I find particular concern over these recent border disputes between us and Cloud… it really isn't the best time right now." A retired Jonin who was renowned for his warfare tactics remarked.
"I agree, it's not like we have the manpower or infrastructure to handle another shinobi war with the added "benefit" of having to deal with Orochimaru kidnapping almost 600 children in only three months." Alexander stated, while leaning against the window.
"Most recent estimates put that number at 900 now." ANBU commander Dragon stated quietly.
"My god, this is getting even worse. Are they likely to come back here?" A respected ninja-blacksmith questioned with great worry, and no one could blame him, he just had twins a month ago.
"Probably not, the pattern is quickly moving away from our territory. Though calling it a "pattern" is a bit much, it's just… random… completely random." Alexander stated.
"I've done some digging, and as far as security goes in the last three months, we're at the top of the totem-pole. The only village coming close to us is Cloud… Whirlpool doesn't count by the way." Jackson informed the assembled people.
All is silent for several moments as they look to their leader.
In three months, he had managed to get the village back onto it's feet and had been decidedly aggressive in finding Orochimaru… he wasn't the only person in the village… he wasn't even the only person in the country who desired finding this man… but he wanted him caught the most.
"Just because our security is high compared to the standards of other villages, dose not mean we will become lazy. I want double the patrols, double the production of ninja-tools, double the shifts on rebuilding, and I want every single CRACK and CREVICE inside the border being watched like a hawk… Understood!?" His speech started almost too quietly, but by the end he was bellowing his orders.
They didn't disappoint.
"Death to the snake!" The yell was accompanied by even the most pacifistic of civilians.
"Dismissed!" He bellowed.
They were off to work in record time.
Only a few had remained.
"Minato… you okay?" Caesar queried, noticing the bags under his friend's eyes.
"Am I okay with the fact that only MY son was taken from my village? No… but it's not about me… not anymore."
Silence follows.
After some time, the silence is too heavy.
"Well, let's get you ho-"
*Whoosh!*
*Slam!*
Alexander is interrupted by the office door being opened… hard.
In the doorway stood Tsume Inuzuka. Considered one of the toughest women of their generation, master tracker, master combatant, and clan head, all while being a single-mother. Only two months ago, she gave birth to her second child.
Normally considered pretty cool headed, she now shook with barely restrained rage.
She had tears in her eyes.
Kushina, Mikoto, and Hitomi all found themselves feeling an icy chill go down their spines more so than everyone else.
"He's gone… someone took him. Someone stole my baby… someone stole my Kiba!" The woman practically screamed.
No one says a word for a long while… too shocked to say anything.
"Oh aunt Tsume…" Rin couldn't even finish her sentence, feeling the pain of her aunt… and only imagining how her cousin Hana would react, most likely devastated over losing her little brother.
"Oh no… it makes sense why the pattern was moving away now… they were going to hit us again." Alexander bemoaned his own shortsightedness.
Minato stood from his desk, looking more weary than before, and grabbed the woman by her shoulders… forcing eye contact with what were usually two blue pools of compassion and understanding, now the iciest eyes to ever be seen… eyes that had ended conflicts before they even started.
"Tsume, I swear to every god that exists… We. Will. Get. Them. Back."
Normally, simple words would not sway any parent in such a horrible situation, especially not Tsume… but she trusted this man with her life many times over… trusted him to care for Rin… trusted him to care for Hana and Kiba should anything happen to her.
"I trust you."
*Tap!*
An ANBU was tapping on the window, but it wasn't just any ANBU.
The black hair, the tall figure, Raven mask, and Sharingan eyes peering through the mask were a dead giveaway.
Everyone expected Mikoto by the description, but the television showed an obviously male figure… they had no idea who it could be.
A single hand gesture, and the ANBU was kneeling at Minato's side.
"Report." Minato ordered.
"The second child of Mikoto and Fugaku Uchiha, Sasuke, has been kidnapped. I attempted to stop them, but was nearly killed by an exploding Earth-Clone." The voice was strained, not from the many cuts across his arms and legs… but from something else.
For Mikoto and Fugaku, being told you would have two children in the future would be a gift… but now it was a heart wrenching pain.
"You may express yourself… Itachi." Minato said quietly.
"Um… who?" Obito questioned his aunt and uncle.
"I… have no clue." Fugaku said without shame.
The ANBU stood and removed his mask.
Everyone was interested in who this future Uchiha could be… Obito, Mikoto, and Fugaku most of all.
The trademark porcelain skin, sharp features, and black hair were obvious markers of the Uchiha blood.
Everyone agreed with the book… but that isn't what tipped them off to his parentage. It was the tear-troughs under his eyes.
Mikoto and Fugaku were beside themselves… seeing someone who was most obviously their not-even-conceived-child, but being almost a teenager… a strange but captivating sight indeed.
"I want to destroy the snake Sannin, and my parents are emotionally devastated… I wish to be the first to go on any retrieval missions that are assigned."
Before Minato could respond, a Jonin rushed into the room.
"Lord Hokage! The Hyuga clan heir has been kidnapped!"
Another ANBU landed on the windowsill.
"Lord Hokage! The Ducard clan heir has been kidnapped!"
Another Jonin in the doorway.
"Lord Hokage! The Nelligan clan heir has been kidnapped!"
"The Shihoin clan heir has been kidnapped!"
"Several ninja-orphans have been kidnapped!"
"Uncle Caesar, your twins are gone!"
It would be some time before the reports finally ended.
The Leaf had over 90 children stolen that day… the most stolen from a single village.
This was the moment.
The moment when a path was chosen.
The moment when the future became almost preordained.
Seven Years Later:
"My god… seven years stuck with Orochimaru… Fugaku… our second child was stolen from us." Mikoto sobbed into her lovers chest, distraught in a way the ninja missions simply didn't prepare you for.
Tsunade couldn't really relate to Mikoto, but she still felt great sadness for one of her best students. Eventually the young woman calmed herself, and Tsunade took that as her queue to read again.
Somewhere in The Land of Fire:
In the past seven years, life had been tense for everyone in the elemental nations. No surprise really, considering that suspicion was at an all time high for anyone who's children weren't kidnapped.
Through it all however, The Leaf stood stronger than even the samurai villages in The Land of Iron due to a heavy security system, and many people joining either the local police force, or coming out of retirement in a return to shinobi duties… no one enlisted their children into the academy… fear of kidnappings always at the front of every parent's mind.
For the first time however, peace was at its strongest. There was still a high possibility of war, but everyone was simply too busy looking after their own, or hunting down a certain snake.
In the seven years that had passed, no one found either hide-nor-hair of the S-Class ninja, but search parties from every village looked. Officially, shinobi of other villages were not aloud to speak with one-another… but unofficially, many small groups patrolling the borders would share any useful information they had.
The Kages knew of course, but they simply didn't care where the help came from… they just couldn't admit they cared, or even needed the help due to pride.
The (very few) times that a follower of Orochimaru was captured, they were tortured for all they were worth… but no major knowledge could be found due to the agents not being allowed to have important info such as names, force strength, or base locations.
Today was different.
For the first time, a location had been dug-up thanks to several days worth of drugs and mind-walking jutsu.
One Place.
With many names.
"The Barracks"
"The Dungeon."
"Monster Mountain."
"The Freak Fortress."
"Those last three don't inspire a lot of confidence." Obito bemoaned, hoping against the (very high) likelihood of his future-self getting trounced by Orochimaru, fully knowing how bad his luck was.
"Pretty sure that's the whole purpose dude." Kakashi's reply was as deadpan as ever.
"…"
"…"
"Shut up." A defeated response by Obito.
So now, a single ANBU waited in the trees of a mountain valley, watching the side of said mountain intently.
Masked eyes narrowed in sucspicion, watching as a small metal object rolled out of a bush and right up to the stone wall.
It was made out of a solid metal, with four little tires, a small grabber attached to the top, some numbers scrawled across the top plate, and quite honestly looked like a remote controlled toy of some kind.
*Chu-chump!*
What the ANBU had originally thought was a solid stone wall, was actually a metal panel that allowed for some sort of camera to poke out, and look downwards at the only area near the mountain with no grass, to look directly at the machine.
"Drone designation: Retriever 6-8-2. Recognized, access granted." An automated voice droned.
The panel slid back down, and directly next to it, the entire wall lifted upwards leaving a six-by-twelve foot doorway open for the little machine.
The machine rolled into the dark tunnel, and was promptly lost to the shadows. It took several seconds for the door to close, which dictated some sort of pressure-pad.
*Zzzt!*
"Report." A voice ordered from the radio attached to the ANBU's vest.
"I have located a security entrance. It appears to be completely automated. Find one of the little robots and bring it here." The ANBU knows that he is being heard by the entire division of shinobi, formally retired or otherwise. They also had an important ninja amongst them today… should a snake lie in wait… a toad would devour.
*Zzzt!*
"Very well. Maintain current position."
In but a few moments, everyone had gathered. 200 ninja strong, most worth nearly two Jonin… one man among them was worth 60... on his bad day.
"So this is where he's been hiding. I REALLY hope he's in there." The voice of their "supervisor" was deep and comanding.
The man was at least six feet and four inches tall, with white hair that touched the back of his knees, an incredibly muscled frame, red markings stemming from his tear-ducts down to his jaw-line, and an almost kabuki-like attire and attitude.
This was Jiraiya, one of the most skilled shinobi of his generation… period.
Whooping and hollering echoed, many didn't expect the pervert to look more refined with age, but apparently he aged well… and gained several pounds worth of muscle.
"Jeez Jiraiya, did you suddenly invest stock in protien shakes?" Tsunade mocked.
"I don't know Tsunade, I prefer men with a little "meat" on their bones." Mikoto stated while thumbing over to Fugaku.
"Yea, even Minato grew out of his flaky androgynous faze… now I guess I like medium builds more. Not that you don't look good too Jiraiya!" Kushina analyzed, then quickly corrected in order to not insult her second father-figure.
"Great, now I've got to work out more!" Obito angrily mumbled to himself.
"Do you even lift bro?" Kakashi asked, grin hidden behind a mask.
"Says the walking fish-bone. You really should eat more Kakashi, or you'll grow up to look like a lightweight." Rin admonished.
"…"
"…"
"Kakashi."
"Yes Obito?"
"I think you just got shut-down."
"Yea… seems I did."
The ANBU had removed the tires and placed the small machine onto the hidden pressure pad. After the machine was recognized, 100 ANBU (including Jiraiya) entered.
The tunnel was cold. At least twenty degrees colder than outside… but Orochimaru's bases were known to be vast… what could power an AC-Unit large enough to control the temperature of the entire facility?
They all quietly walked in the shadow of the tunnel before coming upon what appeared to be a nexus of some kind.
There were possibly hundreds of staircases, ladders, and walkways that crisscrossed others many times over… this place was without a doubt the largest facility of Orichimaru's that had ever been found… and the previous ones were nothing to scoff at either.
Most prominent in view had to be the hundreds of scientist walking around, many looking quite ragged… many more looking somewhat frighted.
"Prisoners then?" Jiraiya wondered. Perplexed at why there was absolutely no one capable of combat against his group down in the nexus.
After some careful deliberations, a plan was hatched.
Jiraiya jumped, and fell into a perfect "superhero landing" after falling almost 40 feet.
Many of the nearby scientists fell down in shock, some seemed confused, and the rest were tense with fear.
"Who's in charge!?" Jiraiya bellowed.
A woman and a man stepped forward.
The woman was somewhere near her 40's but didn't look a day over 29... A scientist with her level of beauty, that isn't usually seen on civilians. Petite, brownish-blond hair cut into a bob, and eyes that had seen too much.
The man was in his late 50's, and if it wasn't for the graying hair, Jiraiya would be fooled by the man's age as well. Only slightly taller than the woman, but carried an air that matched Hiruzen when in "professor mode"… NOT a man to be fucked with. Broad shouldered, sharp features, sharply trimmed facial hair, and eyes that could cut through an iceberg.
"Who are you?" Jiraiya demanded.
"My name is Dr. Elizabeth Halsey… head of Research and Development." The woman spoke with very little emotion audible, obviously analytical and to-the-point, but seeming to dislike her title on a personal level.
"Franklin Mendez… I was in charge of field-tests for equipment, creation of tactics… and the training." The voice was like a hammer on gravel, Jiraiya liked this guy already.
Jiraiya immediately recognized the man. He hailed from the Eastern Continent, more specifically the jungle-covered coastlines. Known for being one of the main leaders to the "neutral" forces during the third war. A man who took on shinobi, despite having almost no chakra compared to ninja and samurai, and would still win every conflict.
It took a few moments to recall the woman. Now he remembered! Tsunade had mentioned the name several times seven years ago… something about altering someones body? Or was it specialized equipment? It didn't really matter.
"Tell me about this place… NOW." The order was only at normal volume, but echoed in the silent nexus.
"Very well, follow me… visual aids will help you in understanding." Halsey stated matter-of-factually.
"I don't like the sound of that." Hitomi mumbled, fear for Jiraiya and the ANBU's safety coursing through her.
With a single hand signal, an ANBU dropped to Jiraiya's side with nary a sound. The ANBU wore a Dolphin mask to cover his face, along with brown spiky hair in a ponytail.
As the four walked, Jiraiya noticed the signs marking their direction.
"L-Division: Observation Deck #090-002."
"Where is the security force for this place?" Jiraiya asked.
"They left 36 hours ago." Halsey responded automatically.
"Why?"
"They were ordered to by Orochimaru."
"Then why are so many people still here?"
"Because we were deemed expendable. Orochimaru might have given up a valuable trump-card in leaving this place, but thanks to what we've learned here… he has a whole deck of cards ready to be played." The woman sounded like she regretted letting Orochimaru leave.
"And what pray-tell, did this facility focus on?" Jiraiya noted that they are walking past windows now. Though the rooms are far below the window, and said windows are slanted upwards away from the floor… like in mental-hospitals. Every room passed has a number above the window along with some kind of designation, written in large blocky-white letters on the stone… they were at number 46 now.
"We were told to create an army." A flat response from the woman… filled with restrained emotions.
"What kind of army?"
"An army of super soldiers." Jiraiya was greatly surprised.
"So he found a way to improve on ninjas huh?" Halsey shook her head.
"They are not ninjas."
"Samurai then?"
"No."
"Okay, I'm confused… like… more than normal for me." Obito admits.
"It's alright Obito, I'm confused too." Minato placates, trying to wrap his head around the cryptic answers of the scientist.
"I'm not sure I completely understand Doc." Jiraiya gives her a sidelong stare that tells her to start talking.
"Orochimaru covets ninjitsu, as well as ninja styles… but found many areas of combat where they are lacking. Mendez, if you would?" Halsey asks the man.
"Shinobi are much stronger than normal people, but samurai undergo intense physical training to dominate people like the average ninja. While shinobi have many tools, most of them are used for the exact same task and thus weigh you down with extra equipment you might not need." His words are short and to the point, a perfect instructor-voice in Jiraiya's eyes… or ears.
"Samurai on the other hand have versatile equipment, but very little of it can be carried due to them weighing more. Orochimaru realized that while his sensei, his team, and himself were powerful… others could defeat him with relative ease, as demonstrated with Hanzo The Salamander, a man who is still a ninja, but uses many different tactics."
"He originally thought the answer to his question ("Which fighting-force is better than the aforementioned two groups?") was within me… more specifically my people and those from the Western Frontier. Though they have very little chakra, they are capable, and can sometimes defeat much more powerful samurai and shinobi. But the lack of in-depth-training, lacking physical ability, and almost no quality equipment made them the weakest of the groups." Jiraiya and Dolphin absorbed this information, able to understand Orochimaru's curiosity for an answer to such a difficult question.
"He finally realized that none of the three were a superior fighting-force on their own… but the correct amalgamation of tactics, training, equipment, and physical abilities could be theoretically unstoppable." Halsey supplied, trying to be as clear with her words as possible.
"Samurai are masters of direct combat, and even the ones with very little chakra are able to match Jonin in a frontal assault but can do ONLY that and are capable of nothing else. Ninja are masters of stealth, but most simply lack the equipment, or physicality to defeat several samurai directly. The militia, and other nonprofessional groups use tactics that promote their own advantages and take away the enemy's but simply lack the power, training, or equipment to be effective against the previous two… or even just a professional non-chakra using military force." Jiraiya nods, understanding Mendez's explanation.
"So you had to make something that could decimate all three groups… either by using their own tactics against them… or fighting like a group that they would be at a disadvantage against." Jiraiya surmised.
"Originally yes, but we found that simply mimicking styles of other fighting forces wouldn't be enough." Mendez denied.
"What did you do then?" Dolphin questioned, curious and unsettled at the same time.
"We designed a totally new type of warrior, with new equipment, new tactics, and new training. They don't follow Bushido, Nindo, or any other honor-code, they follow orders without hesitation or question, but aren't small-minded machines that fail to adapt… simply put, they are the deadliest creatures I've ever trained." Mendez stopped to look at a darkened window.
"You might recognize this one." He merely pointed into the shadows with a finger, the other hand touching a pad on the wall.
"Lights." He commanded, hand on the metal pad.
*Ch-choom!*
The lights were powerful, and almost blinding at first. When the eyes of the ninja adjusted they saw a child sitting in the Meditative-Lotus, eyes half closed in deep meditation... bright white eyes. The two very clearly recognized who it was.
A young boy of seven, dark skin, strong build, short-buzzed hair, and aristocratic features… a mini-Caesar.
No shirt, and hospital pants with words and numbers sewn into them. The lack of shirt allowed a unrestricted view of his body… and the surgical scars covering him.
"Oh my god." Kushina is breathless, recognizing one of her old friends but not. It was his son… one of them at least. The scars made her inner-parent want to break something.
No one else was doing any better. Tsunade barely able to keep reading, shaking with rage.
Jiraiya looked up at the numbers and words above the window.
"Subject-014. Electro-kinetic."
"Subject Fourteen is capable of powering half of this facility by himself, and his control as well as maximum output of electricity increases daily." Halsey informed.
"What happens if someone uses a lightning-jutsu on him?" Jiraiya questioned, trying to restrain himself from striking the doctor or the trainer by using his own curiosity.
"It doesn't do anything… that's incorrect, I should say that no negative effects are applied to him. Otherwise, he simply absorbed the energy."
"How much chakra would he need for a lightning jutsu?"
"None… but if it's S-rank… very little."
"Why?"
"His body produces the electricity just like chakra, it's an extension of himself, rather than turning his chakra-energy into lightning specifically, which requires physical training and mental focus."
"Where's his twin brother?" Dolphin asked.
"Right next door." And his twin sat similarly, with the only notable difference between them being eye color, a bluish-grey.
"Subject-013. Hydro-kinetic."
"Thirteen can do almost anything with water, and can even make things explode by simply having water inside them… he can even control it's temperature… boiling off skin… or turning someone into an ice sculpture." Mendez seems both proud and saddend by the boy's ability's.
"Are all 900 like this? Do they all have special powers?" Jiraiya's eyes bore into the back of Halsey's head.
"2,000... and yes." A quite reply.
Everyone is shocked silent… horrified expressions on each of their faces.
"Wh-what did you say?" Dolphin's voice shakes with horror.
"The number of living subjects is 2,000."
"Oh no… please don't say-…" Rin is pale, and her eyes begin to water.
"What… was the number… originally?" Jiraiya is (just) barely restraining his anger.
"8,000... The original 900 were all shinobi targets… the rest were taken in "bandit" attacks over the past seven years from small villages and towns, mostly from the Western Frontier and the Eastern Continent."
For almost half an hour, no one says a word.
Rin is silently scrubbing at her eyes with her palms, occasional sniffles escaping her.
Fugaku's Sharingan has activated, all three tomoe spinning wildly with his rage. Mikoto is trying not to cry, and her own Sharingan spins quickly despite a steady stream of tears
Kakashi's hands are squeezed so tightly that he begins to draw blood.
Obito quivers, like he's trying to not jump up and punch the television or the book.
Both Sannin are completely still, shell shocked by so many innocent lives having been ended, by their closest friend.
Both Hyuga are holding each other closely, trying to find stability in each other.
Minato and Kushina are thinking of all the ways to prevent this-… this utter travesty.
Jiraiya is seething, but reigns himself in with his sage training.
Dolphin, is having more trouble controlling himself… and Jiraiya is tempted to let the ANBU kill one of their "guides"… but ultimately decides that neither he, nor any hand under his command should kill these two… they would suffer, and publicly, if he had anything to say about it.
A large hand came to rest on Dolphin's shoulder, and the younger man calmed himself along the same line of thinking as the Toad Sage.
"If you'll follow me please." Halsey says, not looking either of them in the eye.
They walked, and noticed that some cells seemed to skip numbers. Jiraiya asked about this discrepancy.
"Those subjects are being contained in an individual cell-block due to their… uniqueness, the cell-block we are currently heading to. But first…" She stops at the last two cells and turns right to look into the windows, to their left is a huge metal door with many tumblers and bars keeping it locked very securely.
*Ch-choom!*
*Ch-choom!*
Two cells, identical as always… but the lights seemed dimmer.
Probably because the overhead light in the right cell was covered in a half-foot-thick layer of ice, and the left cell's light seemed to be melted somewhat.
"Subject-003: Byakugan/Hydrokinetic"
"Subject-002: Sharingan/Mystic/Pyrokinetic"
"Dear god." Jiraiya whispers, instantly recognizing both boy's parentage by their facial features.
The first had short-black hair with a borderline windswept appearance. No shirt, despite the icicles hanging from the ceiling, and skin maintaining a healthy porcelain tone even in what must have been dangerously-cold air around him.
Patches of ice clung to his small but highly developed form, and his Byakugan's color was not the usual white, tan, or even grey… it was lavender.
Hitomi and Hiashi looked at the boy, and while the short and messy hair was a bit strange to members of the Hyuga clan, they couldn't deny finding him to be a good combination of each other.
"Congrats you two, he's quite the handsome one!" Kushina gives them a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes… no one could blame her, they still hadn't seen Naruto yet, and a dark possibility lingered in everyone's minds... they just didn't want to acknowledge it.
"I'll say!" Rin agreed, trying to help pass off Kushina's compliment as genuine.
"Cradle-robber." Kakashi mumbles… the look Rin gives him, could castrate a bull-elephant.
Just when Jiraiya was about to look over to the next cell, he noticed something with the Hyuga's eyes.
The veins protruded and bulged with blood, and the calm, (somewhat vacant) lavender eyes were now blue… a glowing icy-blue.
"Okay, that's just fucking terrifying… sorry, but it had to be said." Obito claims, while avoiding looking at the television.
Obito was ignored, their curiosity to see what (they could only assume) Sasuke looked like.
The next boy had black hair just as messy, slightly longer while still not requiring any form of clip or rubber-band to control the hair.
Sharp, aristocratic features with skin that bordered somewhere between porcelain and tan, along with an equally impressive frame. No shirt, the remnants of it having turned into an ashy circle around him, the room was so hot that the air inside seemed to be distorting.
The boy seemed to be meditating as all the others had, but when Jiraiya approached closer, the drooping head slowly craned upwards. The tear troughs were only just starting to form, but he was unmistakably Mikoto and Fugaku's second child… Sasuke.
Jiraiya noticed something strange with his eyes, not only was the Sharingan active on a nine year old, but he was somehow missing his tomoe, leaving him with entirely red orbs in his skull. The eyes looked more like they belonged in Kurenai's family than in the Uchiha.
Just as Jiraiya was about to comment on the strangeness, the tomoe expanded and dilated like a pupil and began a lazy spin in both eyes… all twelve of them.
Everyone pondered at the sight of a Sharingan with six tomoe each, and found the it just as strange as a blue-glowing Byakugan.
The spinning seemed to maintain a constant speed, but some tomoe would dilate to random sizes at random intervals, making the boy's eyes give off the impression of a kaleidoscope, and if Jiraiya didn't know any better he would say that the boy was unintentionally casting out a Genjutsu… but it felt different.
"As you know, Orochimaru is obsessed with bloodline abilities. More specifically, he was obsessed with the Sharingan and Byakugan." Halsey explained, the two ninja nodded in understanding.
"However, he noticed that ninja were at a disadvantage, even with bloodlines, in direct combat… and he ordered us to create better versions of both bloodline abilities."
"Subject Three's enhancement was purely scientific in nature, using hundreds of different therapies, surgeries, and genetic modifications to improve both the range, and peripheral distance of his Byakugan. He could see you from twice the distance of most binoculars, using it costing no chakra to use, and his 360-degree viewing circle isn't even truly a circle… it's a sphere."
"Most Hyuga can only manage either the distance or 360-degree sight one at a time, the mind's way of handling the stresses it can cause, but he can manage both. His hydrokinetic ability was an unexpected side effect, and his is only slightly more powerful than Thirteen's when the water is already frozen."
"Subject Two's Sharingan is easily the superior to a fully matured one, in a few years even Itachi Uchiha would have trouble trying to match him in ocular combat. His eyes are faster, more resilient to smoke or bright lights, can catch greater detail, and cost no chakra to use." Jiraiya and Dolphin were greatly impressed.
"How did he get the fire ability?" Dolphin asked.
"The same way he received his new breed of Sharingan, one half was through scientific operations, the other half was… mystical… in nature." Halsey answered, expecting their incredulous looks.
"Um, I'm sorry… but is this bitch talking about magic now?" Rin seemed almost vengeful, as she gave the woman frozen on the screen the stink-eye for having such a stupid excuse come out of her mouth.
"Hmm… it would seem so Rin." Minato looked at the book with questions floating through his mind, barely even registering that this was probably the first time she swore… ever.
"What kind of magic?" Jiraiya asked, non-pulsed about the statement… Dolphin looked like he was just zapped by a cattle prod.
"The kind, that apparently not even Orochimaru would use personally… we have a team of mystics twenty floors down, they could explain it better than myself."
"Second-to-last stop." Mendez stated flatly, while pointing at the large metal door which was now opening.
They walked for almost twenty minutes, noticing several camera and door checkpoints… lots of security for just one hallway.
"Subject-012, Subject-011, Subject-010, Subject-009, Subject-008, Subject-006, Subject-005, Subject-004: Physical Mutation."
A large metal door, with an electric current running through it stood before them. After several codes and a retinal-scan, the door finally opened.
"Please stay within the yellow lines, please try not to make any sudden moves... and please keep your voices down." Halsey more or less ordered, all that could be seen was two yellow-painted lines stretching into the darkness.
They noticed imminently after entering, four rumbling noises at a constant pitch and tone. The two ninjas pondered what they were hearing.
Generators perhaps? But they would have to be awfully close to the cells to be heard so clearly.
Just when Dolphin was about to ask for the origins of the noise, he noticed… something.
The barest hint of movement in the dark, a quick but large figure.
He was mindful of the yellow lines, and slowly leaned forward-
*Swoosh!*
A hand easily the size of Jiraiya's swiped at Dolphin's mask, and the claws scraped four long lines from the bottom left to the top right… wait… claws? Indeed, the large hand had black claws protruding from each of the five digits, attached to a long and muscular arm covered in black fur.
The lights in the room began to slowly gain in brightness, rather than the sudden and painful glare of the previous cells. What the two ninja saw, they were completely unprepared for.
Before them stood a creature that was assumed to be only a fantasied horror-monster, a six foot tall, roughly 400 pound, Werewolf!
Silence reigned.
"Holy-fucking-ass-crackers!" Obito declared, the only one in the room able to fully articulate the shock they were feeling.
"I-… I-… I don't-… whuh?" Kushina's confusion was palpable… everyone else's confusion, equally so.
The most distinct feature about it, despite being a supposed mythical creature, was two marks from it's eyes to the bottom of it's jaws… two red fangs.
Silence reigned for a different reason now… pure horror.
"Oh-… oh dear god… little Kiba." Rin was beside herself, and her tears that were just barely being held back were shared by all… even Tsunade and Jiraiya.
Beside the werewolf, stood an impressive, if not terrifying, dog… some kind of mutt… and no normal mutt. A ninja dog, noted by sheer chakra, the animal would live roughly the same lifespan as it's partner, but this thing was large, white, fluffy, growling, and bearing teeth like knives… obviously this was Akamaru, the partner to Kiba Inuzuka. Easily the size of most fully grown Huskies, skin stretched tautly over muscles that could kill a man with no issue.
Just when Jiraiya was about to declare the woman next to him the spawn of evil itself… something sniffed his hair… something his height.
Trying to move as little as possible, he turned his head just enough to look behind himself… and came nose-to-snout with a Were-cat. The same dimensions as Kiba, black fur with the slightest hint of spots… but no way for Jiraiya to ascertain his identity.
While the werewolf and beast-dog felt content with continuous growls, as well as rabid-drooling like they hadn't been fed… the Were-cat was completely still, and had ceased growling when Jiraiya had stepped over the yellow line.
"Change back please." Jiraiya thought Halsey was talking to him, but he turned and noticed that Kiba was now hunched over on his digitigrade legs, and that the growling had ceased in compliance with her order.
*CRACK!*
The left shoulder popped downward, and slid into the joint like a human arm would. In a matter of minutes, several cracks, scrapes, and groans from his skeleton left behind a naked and sweating seven year old Kiba Inuzuka. Akamaru had transformed as well, leaving a small and adorable puppy the size of a football behind.
The same transformation that Kiba underwent, had occurred to Were-cat… leaving behind a slightly darker skinned Ben, with his wife's eyes. This was Texas then… the cat-motif was probably the reason for this travesty.
To the right of Ben's child, was a cell with a boy of eight, hair in moderately-long black dreadlocks, broad and incredibly muscular form, some sort of human-styled-muzzle to prevent biting… and being a little on the short side.
Just when Jiraiya was about to give an internal snort, and mock the "So, what are you in for?" routine of having someone so small be in a cell next to a creature of the basest human nightmares, when-
*Cha-shring!*
Two blades shot out from the boys left forearm, glinting black metal in the light and forming a wicked looking duel-claw… coming from inside his body. The boy then used them to scratch at some kind of metal post. Easily two feet in diameter, and made out of a dark grey metal, chunks the size of Akamaru had been taken out.
"That post is made out Carbon-layered Tungsten-rod. It's easily one of the toughest metals in the world, coming very close to chakra metal… a special kind of chakra metal also covers his entire skeleton." Halsey informs.
"This place is a genuine house-of-fucking-horrors." Kakashi was admittedly put off by the idea of having weapons inside your body… cringing at the possible pain that would be felt every time they're unsheathed.
They began walking again.
Passing a boy wrapped in so many bloody bandages that he gave off the appearance of a mummy.
Some kind of kind of living flame creature, with obsidian skin, digitigrade legs and a bear-trap maw bouncing around the room at incredible speeds.
What looked like a large suit of plate-armor, if it weren't for the glowing green eyes that occasionally blinked, or deep breaths that filled a chest almost as big as Jiraiya's.
And finally, a boy with what appeared to be short grey hair, dark-grey skin, lacking any kind of nose, and some form of gill-like marks across the neck from which he drew in breath. Dolphin noticed the boy's strangeness, tried to wave at him to catch his attention.
The boy stood and began waving exactly like the ANBU, and his body began to shift and contort… until an exact duplicate of Dolphin stood before them... not a single use of chakra or hand-signs
"As you can see, while all of the subjects in this facility are physically superior to humans, this division is… beyond that." Halsey's pride was just barely covering something else.
"Why… why do all of this? As a doctor, you should know that treating CHILDREN like this is wrong… no… it's worse than wrong… it's EVIL." Dolphin's outburst would've normally been reprehensible, but Jiraiya wanted to know as well.
"There's no excuse that can be given to justify this horror, and I'd sooner snap her neck then listen to them." Hitomi's statement was somewhat out of her character, but by this point everyone was on the same emotional page, so they could only nod.
Dr. Halsey looked at the ANBU with some kind of negativity not meant for him… she seemed to be remembering something unpleasant.
"Many of us were told that we would be working on scientific projects that in actuality didn't exist, some were hired by companies that had only been around for a year or so. Most had come due to the challenges they presented to us, and the possibility that we could work with other brilliant minds like ourselves."
"Then why keep doing this to these children, surely you couldn't agree to this!?"
"Obviously not. I was the first scientist here… it was just Subject One at the time… and I spoke out against the treatment and the actions taken towards him after the third day here. Then… they killed my daughter and her father." Her voice shook just enough to be noticed by the two trained ninja.
"It stopped being about myself after that… more scientists arrived, and I had to take charge of them, to ensure that they didn't need "incentive" like I did."
Hitomi didn't say anything, but the look on her face said that she had retracted her previous statement about the doctor.
"But, the first time that I actually sat down and met Subject One… he had just come out of his fourteenth surgery that day at only two months old. He looked at me with this face… like he understood-… I know it sounds childish and asinine, but it seems like he knew that I couldn't leave, just like he couldn't. He sat there with tubes and wires sticking out of him at two months old… and didn't make a sound. That's why I'm still here… for him and the other children… I owe him that, and so much more."
The door had opened, with many security features and special ninja-seals sliding away.
Everyone waited, barely breathing due to the knowledge that the last person would be Naruto… it just had to be.
"Originally, this whole facility was designed JUST to house Subject One. And originally, his seal was meant for someone much older and with greater control, so the Kyuubi's chakra lashed out at random intervals that nearly cost lives… finally Orochimaru got tired of dropping to the ground every time the infant so much as sneezed… so he changed the seal."
Everyone tensed, but the three sealing masters most of all, fully knowing the pure destructive force a single seal the size of a note could produce… a Jinchuriki's seal was far more complex, and vastly more dangerous.
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, noticing several tubes in the small hallway leading to yet another door… some kind of gas nozzles?
He knew his former teammate was brilliant, but "quality-sealing" seemed to always escape the Snake Sannin… who in the world could have successfully changed an Uzumaki-styled Jinchuriki seal?
As they continued walking, through several doors of glass and rooms with nozzles, they finally came across a final glass door and beside it a window to view into the room.
Inside, the lights were dim and shadows lingered, but the room not entirely dark. The final door opened and they slowly walked forward towards a metal table that was half held in the shadow.
Just as Halsey took a seat, the sound of another chair in the shadows being moved was heard.
*Pop!*
The sound of a pen-cap coming off.
*Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!*
Several seconds of pen-on-board before it slid across the table.
"Hello Doctor. How are you this morning?" Was written in very simple but… elegant writing.
"I'm doing quite well Subject One. Do you know who the large man behind me is?" Her voice is so much… softer… than before, it's almost motherly but… not quite there.
She slides the board back into the shadows.
*Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!*
The board slides back.
"Yes I do, that is Jiraiya of The Sannin. Student of the Third Hokage, and Toad Sage… marked as a Elimination-Priority-2 target." Halsey nods, like she expected that answer.
"Well, from now on Subject One, yourself and your brothers and sisters in-arms will follow his orders. Do you understand this assignment?" Her question and order is surprising.
"Yes Doctor."
"We will be leaving this facility, are you alright with this?"
For several moments, there is no squeaking of pen-on-board. After awhile the board finally slides over.
"Would I be permitted to bring my books Doctor?" The question is very formal, but it reminds Jiraiya of a child asking to take their teddy bear on a trip.
"Of course Subject One, I know that you have yet to finish your calligraphy books, and your large dichotomy of ninja-seals is only halfway completed."
"Okay, the board thing was kind of cool and mysterious at first, but now it's just annoying… also, I want to see my baby!" Kushina's rant resulted in everyone agreeing… from a minimum safe distance of course.
"If you would Subject One, I need to check your bandage." Halsey requested to the shadows.
The chair moved, and steps were heard, before the original soldier of Orochimaru revealed himself.
He was of moderate height for a seven year old, with an even more physically-fit form than the previous children, spiked sunny-blond hair and eyes so blue that you could be hypnotized by them. He he only had a few still healing surgical scars, but a noticeably large bandage covered his throat.
Halsey noticed Jiraiya's questioning look.
"All of the subjects who posses any advanced state of healing and stamina are based off of Subject One. Over the past seven years, the Nine Tails' chakra has been "funneled" through a more constrictive seal… so far, all of the Kyuubi's healing capability has been very passive. Orochimaru wanted to see if the severity of the injury would change the amount of chakra being funneled… so he decimated his vocal cords four years ago."
There wasn't a single dry eye in the room, too much pain had been felt for their to not be.
Jiraiya stood still for several moments, before slamming his hand through the metal table like it was tinfoil.
"First, we find Tsunade... Second, we get these kids to the Leaf... Third, I rip Orochimaru's guts out with my bare hands and use them to strangle him."
"Well then, something we can agree on." Halsey allowed satisfied grin to creep onto her face… she couldn't wait.
Two hours later:
Outside the hidden base:
A man wearing a heavy traveling-cloak sat in a tree, observing almost 5,000 people getting ready to leave.
"Yes, they appear to be heading to the Slug Princess Tsunade." The man said, calm and almost blasé.
*Psshk!*
"Good, you will be faster. Find her first and then wait for them all to arrive in one place… then… ELIMINATE them." A voice over the handheld radio hissed.
"Understood master." The man replied.
*Psshk!*
"Do not fail me… Doctor Mind-bender."
Chapter end: …
Well, that was a long chapter, I might also be debuting another story if the muse refuses to leave me, so keep an eye out for that!