Hello everyone I'm back with a new chapter. But first if you're wondering why didn't mention Ichigo in the last chapter well read this and now you will know why. As to why I didn't add Ino and Tenten to the harem well… I got my reasons and I ain't telling you yet. So without a further ado lets begin.
Set in Stone: Chapter 4
Konoha Forest
Ichigo was marking down the location of another Root base hidden in or around Konoha; over the past month he has been doing non-stop surveillance and tracking movements of the various targets. So far, he has spied on the Hyuga's who are trying to find a was to assassinate Hinata and Hanabi while they were under the watch of Tsunade. Tsume Inuzuka and Hana Inuzuka have been growing increasingly wary of Kiba's mental instability; looks like they might be of some assistance as Kiba assassinated both of them in order to carry favor with Sasuke and because the clan thought Tsume was too soft as a leader. Kakashi Hatake was training his team comprising of Sasuke, Kiba and Sakura; he was however pissed that he wasn't able to get Naruto to further sabotage his training and hopefully get him killed in order to avenge his late sensei. And now Danzo and his Root organization.
"You got the info Ichigo" Hayate said as Ichigo nodded; due to Tsunade being back Hayate was able to cure his lung cancer. With Yugao being the sensei of Naruto's group and for not having any hard feelings for the boy he was told about the mission to change the future; now being endebted to Tsunade and a expert in stealth he was assigned to be the partner to Ichigo.
"Yeah I got it; apparently we got 2 bases inside Konoha and 4 outside each housing 20 root members each" Ichigo said as he closed his eyes and focused his mind "so that means we got 120 root members along with Danzo himself" he said to which Hayate frowned.
"You got any ideas to even the odds" Hayate asked as Ichigo nodded his head.
"Yes; from what I know in my timeline Danzo purposely stand down root during the invasion so he can take control but failed as all the clan heads and so few ninja died" Ichigo said as Hayate was wondering where he was getting at. "So, during the invasion we are going to kill 4 clan heads Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi and Hiashi Hyuga as well as kill about 10 clan members each of their respected clans" he said as Hayate's eyes widened.
"So you're going to lure Danzo into a trap by making him think that Konoha is right for the taking; only to cut him down when he shows his head" Hayate said as Ichigo nodded and put up the information.
"Yes so let's-" Ichigo tried to say before he heard a sound behind him and drew his sword. Hayate seeing Ichigo pull out his sword proceeded to do the same as they got ready for a fight. Just then 3 figures landed in front of them and Ichigo's eyes went wide as he recognized the 3.
Sai, his commander in root he was the one who trained him to be the best of the best; he was also the one to send him on extermination and assassination missions for Sasuke after he reestablished root after seizing power. Torune Aburame a member of the Aburame clan with a special ability to poison someone just by touching them. And Fu Yamanaka a Yamanaka with a good sensor and skilled in taijutsu.
"Hello there" Sai said with the same fake smile he has plastered on his face "mind if I ask you fellow shinobi what you are doing out here" he said before Ichigo spoke up.
"Shut up Sai I got nothing to say to you" Ichigo said as all 3-root ninja froze in fear as Sai's face now lost it's smile now replaced with concern.
"How'd you know my- "Sai began before Ichigo decapitated Torune faster than either Sai or Fu could see.
"You see Sai, Fu" Ichigo said as he flicked the blood off his blade "I was planning on killing you 2 later on; but seeing you out here all alone well" he said with a murderous look in his eye "I guess I can move up the date". Ichigo then charged Sai as the boy drew his Tanto blocking a strike that would've surely killed him "Hayate! Kill Fu, he's a sensor and has no real combat specialty jutsu" he yelled as Hayate started to attack Fu and the 2 men began a kenjutsu battle.
With Ichigo and Sai
Sai was on the back foot as Ichigo countered all his moves and counterattacked with each blow chipping away at him. As he grabbed his brush and paper, he was going to create a ink beast; before he could Ichigo slashed open his ink container and spilled the special ink on the ground.
"Your little doodles won't help you against me" Ichigo said as he slashed at Sai nicking him on his cheek as he jumped away. "You can't win against me Sai" Ichigo said no tone of arrogance in his voice as Sai looked at him.
"How did you come up with that assumption" Sai asked to which Ichigo smiled.
"I killed you when you were at the top of your game" he said as Sai looked both confused and scared at the statement "so I can definitely kill you now" he said as he charged once again. As Sai blocked his strike, he then felt a electric shock go through his body as his muscles tensed; Ichigo taking advantage of the opportunity cut off Sai's hand holding his tanto while kicking the boy into a tree.
Sai now free from the lightning attack looked up only to see a short sword 2 inches away from his forehead. "Who are you" Sai asked as he looked up at Ichigo.
"What does that matter to a dead man" Ichigo said as he stuck Sai through the forehead piercing through his skull and hitting the tree behind him. As Ichigo looked into the scared eyes of his future root commander, he started to have flashbacks.
A burning village here, a massacre there; him killing a family for his initiation ceremony, him capturing a runaway sex slave from a council members dungeon and him killing his 49 other 'brothers' as Sasuke only wanted the strongest of the batch of 50 Kakashi clones to serve his empire.
As Ichigo opened his eyes and the visions faded away, he removed his sword from Sai's skull and let out a sigh of relief as he took a final look at Sai 'rest in piss' he thought as he left the area to see in Hayate finished his fight.
With Hayate
Fu was in a sense getting his ass kicked; he had studied every jounin in Konoha to assess their personalities in order to best dispose of them incase they decide to go rogue. He was now wondering how a jounin who only a month before was having severe lung issues and being examined to be medically retired was now fighting like a man who got a second chance at life.
Hayate was surprised at how he felt; whenever he sparred with Yugao he was hacking and coughing in a couple minutes. But now he has been fighting for 5 minutes and he didn't feel out of breath. As he dodged another slash from Fu, he jumped back made 2 shadow clones and got into a stance.
'Secret art: Dance of the crescent Moon' as all 3 Hayate's charged at Fu who tried to block the attacks only to fail as all 3 hit a fatal spot. Fu dropped to the ground dead as Hayate's clones dispursed and he looked at the dead root ninja. "Good riddance" he said as he heard a rustle and turned around only to see Ichigo standing there with a blank stare.
"Is it done" Ichigo said as Hayate nodded "good let's go before the fires start" he said to which Hayate looked at him curious until both Torune and Fu's corpses burst into flames as he then turned to Ichigo. "Root squads have a responsibility to bring back the dead" he said as Hayate nodded "if the whole squad is killed all 3 corpses will burst into flames to hide any secrets" Ichigo finished as he and Hayate ran off into the woods back to Konoha.
Later on, that day
Ichigo after reporting his findings to Jiraya, Tsunade and Hiruzen walked through the streets of Konoha aimlessly; after killing Sai and preventing him from ever reviving Root in the future he once again felt lost. He once again killed the man responsible for turning him into a monster but her still felt like all he did was prove both Sasuke and Sai right; he was a killing machine no more no less. As he looked up temporarily, he saw something that made him freeze, as sign; Yamanaka flower shop.
As he looked through the window, he saw her; Ino Yamanaka, the future wife of Sai. She married him due to her love for Sasuke being destroyed after he abandoned the village; she later married Sai and regretted it because she realized she left one monster for another.
While Sai never abused her, he never truly loved her and she felt like he was a stranger to her; she also hated the way he trained his root soldiers and how cold he was. Ichigo looked at her and then pulled up his sleeve and revealed a bush clover tattoo.
*Flashback to the future
Cliff on the edge of Konoha
XS-42 was standing on the edge of a cliff looking down as he didn't see the bottom; it was perfect. One step forward and it'll be over; the nightmares, the cold sweats, the killing, it could all be gone. As he moved his foot forward, he closed his eyes getting ready to end his sorrowful life. He then felt something grab the back of his armor and he was pulled backwards; as he fell to the ground, he opened his eyes only to see a blonde woman with a bang covering her right eye looking at him in a expression both angry and terrified. It was Ino Yamanaka the wife of his commander Sai.
"What the hell are you doing" she asked as she looked at XS-42 who glared back.
"What does it look like; I'm trying to kill myself. So, I can escape this shit life and your husband" he said as she froze at the mention of Sai. "I'm going to try to jump again don't try- "he began until Ino slapped him and brought him into a hug.
"Don't throw away your life" she cried as she broke the hug and looked at him with sad eyes "there is so much to live for; you just have to find what it is that makes you want to live" she said as XS-42 looked back at her with stone cold eyes.
"And how can I do that when I have this" he said as he rolled up his sleeve showing a servant seal that Sai borrowed from the Hyuga clan to control his agents more effectively.
Ino looked puzzled for a moment until she snapped her fingers "come her tomorrow at the same time with your backpack" she said as XS-42 was about to protest "just trust me" she said as she began to walk off "and please don't jump when I leave" she said as she vanished into the woods.
XS-42 looked at the cliff and then looked back at the woods 'I guess I can put it off until tomorrow' he thought as he went back to his barracks.
The next day
XS-42 was waiting just like Ino said at the exact same spot; as he was about to give up on her returning, she came running through the woods and stopped in front of him. "Give me your arm" she commanded to which XS-42 complied; Ino then placed a note on the paper with a seal on his arm and went through hand signs. Before XS-42 could ask what was going on Ino finished the jutsu and the paper began to burn his arm; when it stopped, he looked and saw that the servant seal was gone.
"There you go" Ino said as she looked at XS-42 "your're free run away and don't look back" she said as XS-42 got up and looked at her.
"Thank you" he said as he picked up his backpack and started walking away "by the way" he said stopping to look at Ino "when you found me; what were you doing in this area" he asked to which Ino walked to a patch of flowers and picked one.
"These here are buch clovers" she said as she moved toward XS-42 "these are my favorite flowers and they grow wild here; I guess it was fate because it saved your life" she said as she tucked the flower into XS-42's armor pocket.
"A flower" he said as Ino nodded and smiled "huh… a flower saved my life" he said as he left the area as fast as he could as Ino walked away back to the village.
The day after
XS-42 was now disguised as a regular civilian as he passed through another nameless town on his way to find the resistance to join up and use his skills for good. As he was walking, he saw a tattoo shop and heard a man speak "yeah I got my daughter's name and birthday on my chest so she will always be with me" said a man to his friend as they exited the parlor.
XS-42 decided to walk in and the tattoo artist looked at him "can I help you son" he asked to which XS-42 nodded.
"I have an idea for a tattoo" XS-42 said as he held up the small flower given to him by his savior.
*Flashback over
Ichigo rolled up his sleeve and walked into the shop and heard the bell ring above his head.
"Welcome to Yamanaka flowers how may I help you" Ino said looking at Ichigo with a smile on the outside. On the inside however 'holy shit a hot guy just came in' Ino thought as she was now excited.
"Umm yes I was wondering if you had any bush clovers for sale" Ichigo asked as Ino looked at him wide eyed.
"Why that particular flower" Ino asked surprised that he was looking for her favorite flower.
Ichigo then showed Ino his tattoo and she gasped "this flower is the favorite flower of the woman who saved my life" Ichigo said as he looked Ino in the eyes with a smile "and now it's my favorite flower; plus, I like purple" he said with his double eye smile.
Ino was damn near about to start screaming about fate and soul mates but controlled herself and said "my favorite flower is also the bush clover" she said as Ichigo looked at her with fake surprise.
"Wow we must be soul mates" Ichigo said as he grabbed Ino's hand gently "how about I take you out on a date and see if we're destined to be together."
Ino was doing mental back flips as she nodded her head "Yes I would like that!"
"Great pick you up at 6pm" he said as he looked at the clock seeing that it was 3:30.
"Yes, I'll be off at that time" Ino said as she blushed while giggling.
"Great see you then" Ichigo said as he walked out. He then turned back and saw Ino jumping and squealing with a face splitting smile. Ichigo then smiled and walked to his and Naruto's apartment to get into some nicer cloths; as he walked, he traced his fingers over his tattoo 'I finally found it Ino' he thought as he smiled and walked home.
Ok another chapter done. I wanted to do a Ichigo focused chapter in order to expand his character and I plan to do this to Sarada, Moro and Tsubaki as well. Hopefully it clears up some stuff and also I plan on doing a mini time skip as I hate how over done the land of wave arc is but I have to so I can do some stuff with Haku and Zabuza. Ok well I hope you like this chapter so until next time bye.