Crimson Bond

by BlitzJV

The last of Uzushio, kept alive through a space time seal, he now finds himself alone, his family broken, his clan gone, his hidden village ravaged, but he still wishes to live, he still wants to make sure his family is alive in his heart. A boy that shouldn't have survived the massacre, will turn into a man that will scour the world to, as he put it, "Bring back the Uzumaki Clan."

4. Arc 1 (Recon): Shironari

3 YEARS LATER

Two figures in a dark forest crouched behind a tree as one grasped a kunai while the other held senbon in each of their fingers. Around them, 5 bodies were on the floor, dead with charred faces and puncture wounds on their face, neck, abdominal area, upper chest, and back, respectively. The two figures stood almost still as one whispered with complete terror in their eyes, "How do we escape this Jentatsu?" The other figure stood in fear as they took a massive gulp before removing their headband, the symbol of Kirigakure making itself known as he prepared some hand seals. "Suiton: Kirigakure no Jutsu." The mist slowly covered the area as the two figures started slowly backing away before performing sign language to not let their oppressor know where they were, with the other figure looking at the message. "It's likely one of the filthy Terumi clan Mulimei, they were known to perform fire jutsu. I don't know how they managed to escape into the Land of Hot Water, but we must flee and report to the Mizukage. Yagura-sama must know of one of the Bloodlines escaping." The second figure winced as she hated the fact she had to witness all the monstrosities that would happen to people that had a bloodline ability and the slaughtering her comrades did. Just then, the mist had gotten thicker as a voice projected across the mist. "Killing people with kekkai genkai, you must be mad."

"We must escape, I have to create a distraction. I am a Chunin of Kirigakure, and I will die if I must for this mission for Mulimei to get out and tell our savior Yagura-Sama! Suiton: Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu!*" Two water clones came out from under him as he performed a Shunshin and had his clones spread out to make sure he could attempt to escape before a scream was heard and he stopped. "MULIMEI, NO!" He stopped and tightened his fists before continuing on. "I MUST WARN YAGURA-SAMA, I MUST! I HA-" He was stopped as he was hit with something heavy, falling out of the tree line with a pained gasp, and whatever he was hit with was still on him. He opened his pained eyes and nearly screamed as the body of Mulimei found itself on top of him, her eyes closed as she was seemingly no longer breathing. "MULIMEI'S BODY? SHIT!" A cloaked figure then appeared in front of him and kneeled, the figure's red eyes scaring Jentatsu to his core. "Following a man like that and copying his ideals, going to the lengths of doing operations such as going into de-militarized countries to kill people no longer in the Land Of Water, despicable."

The cloaked figure then performed some seals as Jentatsu saw his water clones behind the figure ready to strike with kunai as he smiled. "YES, KILL HIM!" However, the two clones were punctured by small crimson chains made of pure chakra emanating from the cloaked figure as the person in the cloak finished their hand signs. "Kongo Fusa." Jentatsu's eyes went wide with immense fear as the chains wrapped around him and drained him of his chakra, sucking it away as the cloaked figure put paper tags around his body, his chakra being absorbed into the paper before he was completely devoid of chakra as the person placed his hand on his face, his eyes full of fear. "I would apologize for this, but you and your crew deserve everything that's happening to you. However, your female comrade will live this. I saw the way she reacted when you called the Terumi clan filthy. She doesn't agree with your cause, so I simply knocked her out. You however won't get the same luxury." The cloaked figure performed hand seals before the fire erupted from his hand.

"Katon: Hi Shinten no Jutsu." Jentatsu screamed as his mouth was sealed by the fire, his pain being drowned out by the flames as his head was burnt to a crisp, his screaming and attempting to move away ceasing as his body was sealed away before the cloaked figure sealed the other 5 bodies away and stood above Mulimei before removing a sealing tag on her body and standing on the tree above her. She woke up to see the cloaked figure standing above her as she couldn't move due to her fear. "W-where's Je-" "Jentatsu Mirasichi is dead, along with all of your other comrades. I left you alive because when I trailed you and your team, I saw the regret in your eyes and the hesitance to follow the command of your superior chunin." She couldn't speak as the cloaked figures looked at her before drawing a black sword with red edges and pointing it at her. "The Land of Hot Water is a de-militarized state where you can live peacefully, as it is under the watchful eyes of the Land of Fire and Land of Lightning as they compete for trade in the area. If you wish, you can take up a life here and spend the rest of your days not having to worry about fighting and instead keeping yourself safe and working for yourself. However, if you choose to be a shinobi, you can go to Yugakure and see if you can be a bodyguard of the village leader there. If I even see a shred of Bloodline hatred, I will cut you down where you stand." She gulped as the cloaked figure kneeled next to her.

"Now what will you choose, Mulimei Tohara?" She closed her eyes and gulped, her sweat and fear prominent as she said. "I-I didn't want to be a shinobi. The Bloody Mist forces people to become shinobi. I was one of the ones forced by my family due to my abundance of chakra compared to them. I don't want to fight anymore, I never wanted to. Please lead me to Yugakure, I wish to be there, and I never want to see my family again." The cloaked figure stood there silently before putting the sword back in the sheath and lifting the cloak slightly to see the smile of a young boy.

"Good Choice. Follow me, we're a couple of kilometers out and if you wish, you can go kill some wildlife to skin them and sell the fur to earn profit. The wildlife in the Land of Hot Water has much better quality fur due to the quality of the springs helping clear their deficiencies. Make sure you also gather some potatoes, they are another hot commodity for merchants at Yugakure." Mulimei looked at the boy who helped her up and was ready to move before she asked, "You're just a kid?" The cloaked figure turned to her and she couldn't help but feel afraid at the blank stare she received. "Children all over the nations are forced into fighting and dying for their villages, is it so hard to believe that there are children out there wandering the land to keep themselves afloat? Now drop your headband and leave it behind, as of this day you are no longer a shinobi of Kirigakure. You will leave your family and friends behind for a new life, but hopefully, in your next journey you will find a new place to call home with people you will actually consider friends and family." She nodded, taking off her headband of Kiri and leaving it on the ground before both sped off into the night.

xXx

The Village Hidden In Hot Water, to the people outside of the Land of Water, is known as "The Village That Has Forgotten Wars." Steam surrounded the village's skies and air, the many hot springs being a hot tourist attraction to people visiting, as well as the many resorts, casinos, and merchant shops with many supplies to be found. Some within the Elemental Nations consider the village to be years ahead of its time in regards to its philosophy while others condemn the pacifism ideals that surround the village, saying that in a world such as theirs, there was no room for pacifism.

"This is Yugakure…" Mulimei said with an intake of air, feeling rich and pure the air felt around her. "Yes, your new home. Yugakure has trade deals with Konoha, Kumo, as well as many minor villages like Shimo, Taki, and Kusa. Here." The cloaked figure handed her a scroll, her eyes recognizing it to be a sealing scroll. "He was using sealing earlier when he killed my team, a boy this young being a fuinjutsu specialist…"

"In this scroll, I'll give you a base start-off point so you won't be left with nothing. There are many furs of animals that are highly sought out from the Land of Hot Water, it won't leave you rich but you'll be better off for it. And I ask when they interrogate you, you refer to me as a wandering ronin. If we ever do meet again, hopefully, it'll be on friendlier terms." Water swirled around the cloaked figure as he disappeared into the night with a water shunshin, Mulimei looked at the gate entering Yugakure with the guards watching as she walked towards it, making her final choice for good. "Thank you, stranger, you've freed me from the Bloody Mist."

xXx

The cloaked figure traversed the darkness of the night, the full moon shining through the tree line as he crouched down and looked at the map of the Land of Hot Water that seemed to be ripped up, but had clear locations set on the worn down paper.

"The Jigokudani, the Valley of Hell in a remote part of the Land of Hot Water where the Chinoike clan used to reside. The vault had said that our former clanmates had sent the Chinoike clan supplies to survive in their hellish environment where the air is weak during the Warring States period. Every person I had asked had vehemently denied this place's existence, but to get things done, it's better to do it yourself." He jumped through the trees, making sure to mask his chakra to avoid any border ninjas trying to keep this place hidden if they were in the area before he arrived on a plain of grass with no trees in the middle of the forest.

"A genjutsu almost unseen to the blind eye that anyone would pass up. Unfortunately, I have to find this place." He did a few hand seals before pulsing his chakra, building it up, and releasing the genjutsu before a hole formed and the air became a lot tougher to get through. "The air is harder to breathe in here, it's likely plants and wildlife could barely survive here without special properties." He jumped into the hole before standing on the wall, seeing the red liquid build up in the valley. "A very similar shade to blood, it's likely Yugakure thought the Chinoike clan had fought to the death and left the blood as a result of their battle. But this isn't blood."

He looked around with his eyes before seeing two chakra sources, one fading and the other seemingly growing with rage, almost matching his own chakra levels as they focused the chakra to their eyes preparing a jutsu. He took a knee and put his hands up in surrender, the rising chakra source falling before tending to the fading chakra source. "I know you can sense me, seeing as I broke the genjutsu that you likely put up to hide this place from the outside world and how you were preparing to kill me. I'll let you know right now with complete honesty that I only wished to study the area for the Chinoike clan and see if there were any things I could find here to see what happened to them, nothing more."

The red liquid started rising to him and pointed directly at him ready to strike before a person stepped out of the shadow, a seemingly little girl that looked at him with bloodshot eyes and massive killing intent that made his heartbeat start to rise before he calmed it back down. "What village are you from, and why should I trust you?"

"I'm not from any of the 5 great nations nor from any of the minor villages from the mainland of the Elemental Nations, I have no headband with me as proof. I simply work for myself and the furthering of my home for the future. I can see there is another person there, and I know you can check to see if I am lying or not by checking if my chakra is fluctuating."

"Shinobi are taught to lie under every circumstance, you won't prove yourself to be trustworthy with that. Tell me why you are searching for the Chinoike Clan and why I shouldn't kill you where you stand."

"I'm searching for the remembrance of the Chinoike clan to see if anyone was left behind, a clan can't be wiped out by each other without one side surviving. As for why you shouldn't kill me, the chakra source that is with you is fading." The rising liquid fell to the floor as the girl disappeared behind the rock, with the fading chakra source gaining more stability.

"If you are simply here for that, leave now." The cloaked figure stood up and unsealed a container before collecting some of the red liquid that was contained in the valley. "I can help that fading chakra source if you give me the chance, I have no reason to attempt a hit on your life, and a battle between us will prove futile in the long term if you exhaust your chakra for a fight instead of helping the other source. Let me help you." The red liquid rose again as the girl spoke, "If you promise to help and not speak a word of us to the outside world, I will let you live." The cloaked figure pulled out a seal and held it out, "This is a binding seal that I will put on myself. If I were to cause damage to befall you or the other source, it will siphon my chakra at the slightest sign of ill intent and then you will kill me without a fight, I promise that I am here only to research and help." The liquid fell again before the little girl jumped out, her eyes returning to normal before she gestured him over as he put the binding seal on herself, her eyes nodding as the seal lit up before he walked over, getting a better grasp of the girl.

"A small girl that looks as young as me, but I can tell she has a lot more experience. She wasn't wrong, she would've killed me if I didn't properly explain myself. Blond with violet eyes that turn bloody red with a simple blink, likely some sort of dojutsu. Could she be a surviving member of the Chinoike?" He walked over to the opening in the valley and saw a teen boy there with massive wounds all over his body. "I see, no wonder you were prioritizing him instead of fighting me, these wounds are near lethal." He turned to the girl with a request on his mind. "If it's alright, I'd like to transport you two to a different area so I can get someone that can heal him." Her eyes began channeling chakra at the request before he put his hands up, with her remembering the seal he put on himself. "Don't worry, this someone isn't human. I know you just met me, but please trust me." The girl closed her eyes and chose to put her trust in him, before she grabbed the male and channeled chakra into his body, his hurt breathing soothing slightly. "I will follow you, but you know what happens if you betray us."

"I am well aware." The cloaked figure jumped out of the valley, as did the girl before she performed the same genjutsu with her bloodshot eyes, and the valley transformed into the same plain of grass before the cloaked figure performed some seals and placed his hand on the ground.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu." A cloud of smoke appeared as two animals appeared next to him. "Hello, Rizuma-kun." "Rizuma! It's nice to see you!" The girl saw the two animals and looked extremely confused as she had never seen these creatures before. "Kashipta-san, Kyinare-san, it's great to see you but I need your help. The male has taken a lot of damage and needs healing, and I wish to give these two transportation back to the village." The cloaked figure then looked at the girl and said, "These are Rays, creatures of the sea that will transport us back to my home. Kashipta-san is a healer, give the male to her, and she will take care of him." The girl shook her head and said, "I have to ride on her then, I won't leave him." The cloaked figure nodded before they got on the two rays. "I must say Rizuma, thank you for letting us take some of the fish you collect from around your village, they are rich in nutrients," Kashipta said as she began emitting healing chakra onto the male, his breathing calming as the girl looked relieved. "This is the first time he's breathing softly since before the attack."

"I'm glad I could help Kashipta, after I set up that system with the seals left by Azino-sama with your help, the fish that have been coming in have been plentiful." He then looked back as Kashipta and Kyinare took off.

"You know, since I'm helping you, you deserve to know why I was truly searching for the Chinoike clan." The girl looked at him as he removed the cloak from his head, showing the face of a young boy with crimson hair that reached his neck, with circular glasses over his eyes. "He looks as young as I do, is he older than he looks or is he just a child doing this?"

"The Chinoike clan received help and supplies from mine back in the Warring States period after your clan was moved from the Land of Lightning into the Land of Hot Water. I was searching for a surviving member to see if the clan was gone or not as well as gather some of the red water that was in the fabled Valley of Hell so I could have a system of high-iron water to use for the future in my village." The girl looked at him with wide eyes at the new information she had received about her clan, how this boy's clan had helped hers in the back.

"What… What clan are you from?" She wanted to know more, as her former master had simply informed her that she was the last of her clan and that she was to be something of value to him and him alone before she escaped,

"You've already heard my name from Kashipta and Kyinare, so let me formally introduce myself. My name is Rizuma Uzumaki, and I'm taking you to a place where no one would dare go these days. I'm taking you to my home." The Rays flew over the Land of Hot Water at high speeds, with Rizuma looking back toward the girl. "I would ask your name, but you probably still don't trust me, so it doesn't feel right asking. If you ever wish to let me know your name, I'll be open to it." The girl looked ahead as the Rays flew low over the sea to soak up the water. Much time passed as the girl watched over the boy while Rizuma and the Rays held a civil conversation and exchanged information while she listened in from time to time, taking an interest in the boy that had searched for her clan.

"Rizuma I have to ask, did you find any earth jutsu scrolls while searching for jutsu?" Kyinare asked as he sighed and shook his head in annoyance. "Unfortunately I couldn't, I searched most of the Land of Hot Water and while I did manage to stock up on potatoes and create a system for the spring water, there's only so much a de-militarized land can give me in terms of jutsu scrolls. I managed to get some water and fire scrolls, even some wind scrolls from bandits, but no earth. The Land of Sound might have what I'm looking for though, so hopefully I can get through there without much trouble."

"He's looking for more jutsu? Just what is this boy doing on his own?" She felt the air shift and become more erratic as Rizuma looked back. "We're approaching the Sage's Gates, make sure you and the other male are secured on Kashipta, it is high tide and the whirlpools are extra fierce." Her eyes went wide as she heard what he said. "Whirlpools? Just what are we about to experience?" Kyinare and Kashipta flew higher into the air as she heard it, the rushing water banging on her ears as she looked down to see the enormous whirlpools beneath, their size being comparable to some of the biggest villages she had ever seen. "What did he call these? The Sage's Gates?! He has to get past these to get to his home?!"

The two rays flew over the whirlpools and through the high winds, the girl holding on tight to Kashipta and the male while Rizuma kneeled and grabbed the hilt of his sword, slightly pulling it out of the sheath, with the girl seeing the blood-red edge of the sword and growing even more interested as the winds grew stronger and more erratic, the rays managing to get through the whirlpools safely, Rizuma sighing in relief before they looked behind them to see massive tornadoes forming in the middle of the whirlpools, the girl's eyes widening even further as the sight of them. "Those look like some of the typhoons he can create only much stronger, nature is truly monstrous." She looked down at the male and saw he was resting peacefully, the injuries had healed much more than ever before when she was with her.

"Don't worry, he is much better. He will still need physical therapy to recover from the damage done to his body, but he is stabilized and will be able to make a full recovery." Kashipta said to the girl who could only look at the boy and shed a single tear. "Thank you." The three heard this but decided not to speak about it as Rizuma stood up. "Hey, look up. The view you get from this position is one of the greatest you'll see of my village." The girl looked up and saw the crack of dawn hit, the sun rising seemingly from the ocean over a multitude of islands in the distance, an almost golden aura over the islands. "Welcome to the ruins of Uzushiogakure, the home of my former clan." The rays went low to the water before lying on top of the water's surface, floating over to the shoreline where the girl looked at the many broken down buildings, but also the many stone pathways over her head, the pounding of rushing water hitting her eyes as the stone paths seemed to be providing water across the islands.

"What happened to your clan?" She asked as he looked at her with a sad smile. "They were all killed by an invading force consisting of 3 of the Five Great Nations and a coalition of smaller villages and missing-nin. Every man, woman, and child were killed, and only I seemingly lived through the massacre." The girl looked disgusted and even angered, Rizuma's curiosity peaking as her anger continued to rise. "Come on before you blow a fuse, I have to show you around." He turned and smiled at the two rays. "I'll summon some of the clan back so you can collect some more food from the filter. Kashipta-san I do need you to stay for the male, just to look after him and make sure he's okay. Kyinare if you want you can stay too and help me give a tour to the girl."

"Nah it's okay, I'm going to go practice some coral jutsu! Later Rizuma, let me know when it's time to drop you off again!" Kyinare poofed away while Kashipta floated in the water with her stinger attached to the male emitting green chakra and a white liquid. "I must say, his wounds were terrible before you found them Rizuma-kun, what on earth happened to this boy?" Rizuma turned and looked at the girl who stared back at him with a blank stare. "I don't know, I just knew he needed professional help or it was going to take a while for him to heal, or maybe he would've died. This girl was keeping his chakra flowing so it would flow to his wounds and she managed to close the major wounds somehow, but she doesn't have medical ninjutsu knowledge to your levels, or else her friend would be healed by now. I can only say from what I've seen, but you have a kekkai genkai, likely a dojutsu. I saw those bloodshot eyes that you had, and how you controlled that water without the use of a single hand seal." The girl continued with a blank stare before she finally spoke. "You've proven yourself trustworthy for now, but I will only tell you my name and my abilities when he wakes up and you get into his good graces and if you keep that siphon seal or whatever you call it on, do we have a deal?"

Rizuma smiled as he put his hand out, the girl looking down at the gesture before grasping his hand in a firm handshake. "We have a deal, your friend will be healed soon, now follow me, I'd like to show you to a place where you can rest for a little." The girl followed Rizuma to a building that looked very worn down and stepped inside, her eyes widening when she saw how clean the inside as compared to the outside, with multiple modern beds and blankets as well as a working furnace and kitchen.

"The wonders of seals, sealing away items into a single scroll that are so much bigger than you and getting stuff to work that you have no idea how they normally work. I had taken these supplies from bandits in the Land of Hot Water and Land of Frost and brought them back to Uzushio, using seals to create this living space for such a day. The water that is used for the shower, sink and toilet is powered by multiple seals that flow through the Uzushio Aqueducts to remove the salt from the ocean water around us as well as some heat seals created to make the shower water warmer if you so choose. However, if you don't wish to clean up here, I've been taking some of the Land of Hot Water's hot spring water in droves over the last 3 years and made a massive Hot Spring on Warsho Island to our northeast that sustains itself with charged and mixes with a container of Land of Water spring water every month using the Uzushio Aqueducts and a mixture of seals remove the dirt from the water and make it fresh water instead of salt water." The girl looked at the boy rambling about seals and looked extra surprised. "Someone so young rambling about fuinjutsu, something even adults have a hard time learning and understanding. And here he is using seals to remove salt from ocean water and also create his own Hot Springs and bring supplies back to his home, it's almost as if he wishes to bring people back here to live."

"I'd like to rest here for now." The girl said as Rizuma nodded before leaving, the girl moved to a bed in the house and lay on top, almost sinking into it. "This is the first time in so long I've had a bed to sleep on, a place to rest. It's almost too soft, what is this boy's play? Is he simply being nice to us out of the good of his heart, and or does he have an ulterior motive? He was looking for my clan though, and he didn't seem to want to kill me or Nowaki." The girl slept in the middle of her thought process, her brain allowing her to rest and have a dreamless sleep.

xXx

The girl opened her eyes, her senses coming back to her senses and staring at the ceiling, her ears picking up the sound of soft breathing in the room that wasn't hers. She looked over to her side, seeing her friend there sleeping softly with no sign of pain and bandages around his body. "Nowaki, you're okay." The girl sighed with relief before getting up to check on him, seeing a bowl of what looked like fruits by the side of their beds and a note next to the bowl.

"I managed to get some fruits for you two, courtesy of the fruit trees I had taken from the land of Hot Water along with months of providing fresh water and sunlight. Freshly picked and ripe for your tastes." She looked at the fruit bowl and saw some fruit she could only dream of having when on the run. "Grapefruits, kiwis, even guavas. He really did this for us." She went to grab a grapefruit and bit into it, relishing in the sour taste and how fresh it felt.

"Your friend will be fine, Kashipta healed the damage to his chakra coils and it should allow him to regain complete control of his motor functions with some time to rest." She turned around startled and saw Rizuma laying a wet towel on the forehead of her friend. "I learned these medical practices while spying on villages within the land of Frost. The wet towel stops fevers from forming and lets the person sleep easier, allowing the chakra to pass through the gates and flow more freely." Rizuma looked at the girl who still looked a bit on edge near him, but not immediately hostile. "His chakra seems like he also has a kekkai genkai. The winds that his chakra could produce are much more than the average person, it's more like a typhoon." The girl frowned heavily before Rizuma put his hands up.

"I'm a sensor type, remember. I can see a person's chakra nature from them exuding their chakras." Rizuma looked at him softly breathing and said out loud, "It seems like he is going to wake up soon, looks like your efforts to heal him weren't in vain after all. I doubt Kashipta's healing would've made him wake up in a day. I think it's best if I leave for now. I would rather him wake up with someone familiar and not destroy this place when he sees me." He sheepishly looked at the girl and nodded before walking out, the girl witnessed him walk to a different part of the island, specifically the main tower that looked on the edge of collapsing. Deciding not to dwell on it, she looked back to her friend and sat, just staring at the person she kept alive for so long about to return from near death. She waited for nearly a year for him to fully awaken, she could wait a little more.

"Come on Fushin, just a little bit longer, and we can get our revenge on the nations for what they have done to us." She didn't seem to notice that on the roof, Rizuma sat there listening to her while he deactivated the water clone that walked away from the scenery after he performed the kawarimi jutsu. "Fushin huh, time to investigate that name. Let's see if I can get some information that has to do with them. I'll go to that Bamboo Village that is close to the Jigokudani, I have a feeling they know some information." Rizuma performed a silent shunshin and whisked away, putting on the mask that covered him through the Elemental Nations, the mask of the ronin Shinku.

"I'm sorry lady, I know at the end of the day you will not give me the answers I need to know, so I must do this." With that, Rizuma summoned Kyinare who saw him with the mask on. "So where are we going this time Rizuma?!" Kyinare asked excitedly, with Rizuma keeping a calm tone. "Bring me to the edge of the Land of Hot Water, and be ready to get summoned back at the same point within the first 7 hours, this is an information mission."

xXx

"Bamboo Village, a simple name but a very forward one," Shinku stated as he stood on the tallest bamboo tree looking over the very small village and its community. "It seems there's very little, if not no shinobi presence here at all, and yet there isn't any tension showing within the people below." Shinku jumped onto one of the roofs below him, hiding from the villagers before going down into an alleyway and looking through to find anyone of importance, listening in on the conversations the people were having and hearing daily tales of what happened in the village before his eyes laid upon someone that seemed important, an old man that was balding and had a missing tooth but was greeted by everyone as he passed by. "Seems as if he's the chief, they all seem to highly respect the man." He took back to the rooftops, following the man very closely as he brought himself back to the biggest house in the small village. "So he lives in that house…" Shinku then looked back and created a water clone that snuck into one of the merchant shops and sealed bamboo seeds and some bamboo wads into a storage seal before it returned to him with the scroll and disengaged. "Better to get some more things from Uzushio, it could help with the land."

He landed on the house the man was in and heard the door shut and two women leave, one much younger than the other. "Probably the daughter of the former with the man being the father, it leaves him alone for some time." Shinku walked down the back wall of the house seeing nobody behind there and ducked into an open window, the old man not hearing him before he found a kunai knife applied to his neck. "Don't make a sound or I'll cut." The old man, full of fear for his life, meekly raised his hands and didn't move. "Please, please don't kill me, I have a family-" "I've seen your family, and all you have to do is cooperate with me and my demands and you will be okay. After all, I just want information on somebody named Fushin." The old man's eyes widened at that name, remembering the teen that helped their little village grow with that group of theirs. "Fushin was part of a group of kekkai genkai users known as the Lightning Group. They helped our village and many others in the Land of Hot Water gain stability before Kiri strong-armed us into not helping them in their time of need. He was someone strong, him and that little girl that accompanied him, Chino I think her name was."

"Kiri strong-armed you? You realize Kirigakure is currently going through a civil war and Kirigakure shinobi are currently forbidden from entering any lands that accompany the border of Fire Country by decree of the Fire, Lightning, and Water Daimyos. If Kiri strong-armed you, you likely fell for a ploy by them to make sure this 'Lightning Group' had as few allies as possible."

"But that's impossible! Shinobi claiming to be from Kiri come here often to look for the remains of this lightning group. They're led by this chunin from Kiri who claimed to have more backup from one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Jentatsu Mirasichi."

"That man, Jentatsu Mirasichi, is dead. He and his group had been coming into the Land of Hot Water in secret to find any bloodlines from Kiri and kill them, and if what you said was correct the Lightning Group was full of users of kekkai genkai."

The old man's eyes were now full of tears as he realized he had been played. "I thought-" "You thought wrong. I killed Jentatsu Mirasichi myself, and I plan to drag his body and the rest of their group for as much Ryo as I can at the bounty outposts for what they have done to your village and this Lightning Group. Remember the name, Shinku, and remember your actions and ignorance of the people strong-arming you cost you relations with the group that gave you good business and likely gave you some enemies if some of the Lightning Group had survived." The pressure on the old man's neck was relieved as the person who held the kunai was now gone the two women returned and saw the man freaking out while Rizuma sat on the roof of the house before performing the shunshin and leaving.

xXx

The moon was high as the girl sat on the beach of Uzushio, looking out at the ocean with a sense of serenity before seeing a ray in the sky with Rizuma on top, floating down before Rizuma landed on the beach alongside her. "See you tomorrow Kyinare, rest up okay."

"Good Night Rizuma! See you!" The ray poofed away, Rizuma looking at the girl with a sigh and a wave. "So, is he awake yet?" She shook her head and went back to looking at the ocean before Rizuma sighed and just sat beside her.

"Do you want to know where I went today?" She didn't answer as he just unsealed the scroll, showing bamboo and some bamboo seeds. As her eyes narrowed a very small amount, Rizuma noticed the very slight change. "I got the bamboo from a village in the Land of Hot Water, correctly called 'Bamboo Village." The girl sat on her hands to not make a fist. "Yeah, and while I was there undercover, a balding old man with a tooth missing…" The girl's eyes were now dead and emotionless as she knew what he was doing now. "He knows something."

"Talked to me about a certain group named Lightning Group. Said they were full of kekkai genkai users and how the leader was named Fushin and that there was someone that seemed like a little girl there, and that her name was Chino." Her eyes blazed, and she started raising her chakra levels, ready to kill Rizuma, before she realized his siphon seal hadn't activated. "Then he told me about how "Kirigakure'' strong-armed them into not helping said group when they faced tough times from Kiri, only to find out from me that I had killed the group of people strong-arming him when they were trying to kill bloodline users in the Land of Hot Water who were out there looking for refuge." Rizuma didn't need to look to feel the anger she was exuding as he sat there. "Now I understand why you hate the nations and why you were confused when I didn't. You want vengeance, not just against Kiri but against all of them for the way they treat kekkai genkai users and the people you considered family." The girl also sat there and just nodded as the boy still didn't seem to pose a threat to her.

"Imagine my surprise when I find out sometime back that there's a civil war going on in the Land of Water where people from the bloodline clans and kekkai genkai users are fighting back against the Fourth Mizukage's rule, banding together and taking over multiple strategic points in the Land of Water and gathering forces to go after the capital, Kirigakure." The girl looked at him with surprise and shock. "Kekkai Genkai users fighting back, you're surely joking." Rizuma shook his head and released the storage seal on his arm, showing off a bingo book. "This bingo book is from Kirigakure. I managed to take it off the chunin from Kirigakure I killed, the one who was strong-arming those small villages in the Land of Hot Water. It has missing-nin from different parts of the Elemental Nations, but in the S rank threats to Kirigakure, just see for yourself." The girl took the bingo book and read the names there, seeing all the different rebels that Kirigakure considered S-Rank threats.

Mei Terumi

Age: 25

Shinobi Rank: Rebel / Missing-Nin

Caliber Rank: S

Wanted: Dead or Tortured

Leader of the Bloodline Rebels

Clan Affiliation: Terumi Clan

Known Elements: Katon, Suiton, Doton, Yoton, Futton

Skill List:

Taijutsu: 4.5

Ninjutsu: 5

Genjutsu: 3.5

Fuinjutsu: 1

Intelligence: 4.5

Strength: 4.5

Speed: 4.5

Stamina: 5

Stealth: 4.5

Hand Seals: 5

Weapons: None

Skill Level: Mid Kage

Physical Description: Stands at 5 Feet 8 Inches, Ankle Length Auburn Hair, Green Eyes. Hair is normally tied into a herringbone with a blue band at the top.

Additional Information: Captured the Water Daimyo and began the Bloodline Wars with Aoi of the Byakugan. Killed Jinpachi Munashi of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist and attempted to take the life of the Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.

ADVISE: Genin and Chunin must flee on sight. Jonin Level Shinobi approach in groups, otherwise flee on sight.

Bounty:

200,000,000 Ryo: Kirigakure

"You see, the leader of the rebels has two elemental kekkai genkai, and that doesn't include the many others that follow her into war that also have many other types of kekkai genkai. The way you've been sheltered due to helping your friend Fushin, you missed out on the fact that the world is accepting of kekkai genkai users and is changing. Look at Konoha for instance, the place is thriving with kekkai genkai like the Sharingan of the Uchiha and the Byakugan of the Hyuga, so much so that Kumo has tried on multiple instances to take the kekkai genkai from Konoha in secret which cost both nations good shinobi and nearly started a war. I'm not saying this to change your mind because, at the end of the day, you decide what you want to do. I'm just saying that people out there actually want bloodlines to live and move forward, and some are even fighting for that chance and to take the rug from people against them."

The girl heard him, but couldn't take her eyes off the bingo book, looking at every bloodline user that was considered to be a rebel and how they were planning on taking Kirigakure back.

"You were looking for members of the Chinoike Clan to give them a place to stay right?" Rizuma nodded as she looked back at him. "According to my former caretaker, I am a member. My name is Chino Chinoike, and I do possess the kekkai genkai of our clan, the Ketsuryūgan. And you're right, I do want revenge and still do, but I'll focus my revenge on one place." She smiled evilly and looked at the bingo book. "I'll make Yagura Karatachi suffer for what he did to us." She then smiled an innocent smile towards Rizuma who looked straight at her, "Thank you for helping us and helping Fushin recover. I'll allow you to take off that seal for now and allow you to meet him. But once I explain what we are going to do, you will drop us off at the Land of Water." Rizuma nodded and smirked, "I was already planning on going to the Land of Water anyway in a year or two if the bloodline wars are still ongoing.

"Aren't you going to ask for something in exchange?" The girl looked at Rizuma who shrugged, "I already have everything I need from you. I have information, a group to go to the Land of Water with, and a remembrance of the Chinoike clan with you. Besides, I'm still going to perform my own missions within the Elemental Nations gathering intel and entering villages in secret to get jutsu, cuisines, and supplies before bringing it all back here. I have been all over the Land of Water for reconnaissance and gaining information on the current status of the war, now I wish to gain experience in fighting and train for future fights and any conflicts that I wish to enter. I wish to first go to the Land of Water, as it is a haven for shinobi where I can hone my skills before entering the Land of Snow for the technological advancements; the Land of Iron for their ironworkers and blacksmiths; or the Land of Valleys for the stoneworkers so I can finally rebuild my home. And there's one more thing."

Rizuma brought out a paper that Chino recognized from her past, one of those chakra papers that can tell a person's chakra nature. "These chakra papers are from Yugakure, high quality, and well-designed. Now my chakra natures are Katon, Doton, and Suiton, with my Katon and Suiton natures being much more intertwined with one another, so much so that…" Rizuma channeled his chakra into the paper, with a third of the paper burning up, turning to dirt and dampening, but the sides that burnt up and dampened suddenly boiled away, turning into mist.

"You… you also have a kekkai genkai." Rizuma nodded and smiled. "My parents' natures mixed so much that I was blessed by their genes and given Futton (Boil Release). However, I have no knowledge of any techniques, so I'm going to sneak into Kirigakure and steal from the library of Kiri, as well as sneak into the Daimyo's palace and take any notes on anything that can help me before I learn jutsu for the nature, as well as creating my own jutsu. I just need a base that will allow me to go as far as I can with this gift. I know it may seem like a suicide mission, especially with this Bloodline War going on and how well-guarded Kirigakure as well as the Water Daimyo's palace is going to be, but I'm entirely confident in the skills I've honed from here and the seals that I created. So Chino, what do you say?"

Chino didn't speak, however, as someone else spoke before her. "If you're asking for backup to go into Kirigakure, I'll go with you." The two turned around shocked as Chino looked relieved and almost teared up, "FUSHIN, YOU'RE AWAKE!" Chino ran and hugged him around the face as he took the hug with a short smile before looking at Rizuma with a strong gaze.

"I heard your plan, and I want to get back at Kirigakure for what they did to my Lightning Group. Your plan has holes that can be ironed out, but while I'm rehabbing my body, we can focus on the plan. While I was out, I was coming in and out of consciousness and I've heard what you've done to help us out, even heal us when you didn't have to. In return, you have my trust, not just for now, but for life. Chino here may be a little untrustworthy, but from what I've heard, you're just someone looking to restore his home, however long that may take. My alias is Fushin, but my real name is Nowaki. This is your home, but while we plan this, I'll take on the role as leader of this operation. Is that alright?" Rizuma nodded and walked up to Nowaki with a handshake, "Rizuma Uzumaki, you have my complete faith, taichou." The two shook hands while Chino looked on as Rizuma smiled.

"So, in exchange for my trust and the operation in Kirigakure, I'll help you guys with what you desire most, the death of the Mizukage Yagara Karatachi and getting you to the Bloodline rebels. Do we have a deal?" Nowaki and Chino both nodded back with desire in their eyes.

"Deal. Rizuma, I welcome you to the Neo Lightning Group, Shironari."

xXx

Jutsu List:

Suiton: Kirigakure no Jutsu - Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu

Suiton: Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu - Water Release: Water Clone Jutsu

Kongo Fusa - Adamantine Chains

Katon: Hi Shinten no Jutsu - Fire Release: Flame Spread Jutsu

Kuchiyose no Jutsu - Summoning Jutsu

Kawarimi - Substitution

xXx

Here's the next chapter of Crimson Bond and a direct look into what happens next. If you all don't know, Fushin and Chino are from the Sasuke light novels as well as episode 484 of Shipudden when Adult Sasuke busts a colosseum operation for kekkai genkai users. Fushin/Nowaki has the kekkai genkai Typhoon Release, and Chino has the dojustu known as the Ketsuryūgan. Rizuma now has people to train with as well as a group to sneak into Kirigakure with, which will be the next arc. Also, here is Rizuma's, Chino's and Fushin's skill list.

Rizuma Uzumaki (current)

Taijutsu: 3

Genjutsu: 2

Ninjutsu: 3.5

Fuinjutsu: 4

Intelligence: 3

Strength: 2.5

Speed: 3.5

Stamina: 4

Stealth: 3.5

Hand Seals: 3.5

Total: 32.5

Skill Level: Tokubetsu Jonin - Low Anbu

Chino Chinoike

Taijutsu: 2.5

Genjutsu: 4

Ninjutsu: 4

Fuinjutsu: 1

Intelligence: 4

Strength: 2.5

Speed: 4

Stamina: 4

Stealth: 4.5

Hand Seals: 4

Total: 34.5

Skill Level: Mid Anbu - Mid Jonin

Fushin/Nowaki

Taijutsu: 4

Genjutsu: 2.5

Ninjutsu: 4

Fuinjutsu: 1

Intelligence: 4

Strength: 3.5

Speed: 4

Stamina: 4.5

Stealth: 4.5

Hand Seals: 4.5

Total: 36.5

Skill Level: High Anbu - High Jonin

The Skill Levels will be:

Low Genin - Mid Genin - High Genin - Low Chunin - Mid Chunin - High Chunin- Tokubetsu Jonin - Low Anbu - Low Jonin - Mid Anbu - Mid Jonin - High Anbu- High Jonin - Low Kage - Mid Kage - High Kage

I have Anbu on the level of Jonin but the highest Anbu aren't going to be higher than the highest class of Jonin, such as Gai, Kakashi, Darui, etc.