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by hea25

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1. 1

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Rating:

Mature

Archive Warning:

Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Category:

F/M

Fandom:

Naruto

Relationships:

Hyuuga Hinata/Uchiha Sasuke

Haruno Sakura/Uzumaki Naruto

Hyuuga Neji/Tenten

Nara Shikamaru/Temari

Characters:

Uzumaki Naruto

Tsunade (Naruto)

Jiraiya (Naruto)

Hatake Kakashi

Sarutobi Asuma

Yuuhi Kurenai

Mitarashi Anko

Hyuuga Hinata

Haruno Sakura

Yamanaka Ino

Temari (Naruto)

Uchiha Sasuke

Uchiha Itachi

Sai (Naruto)

Inuzuka Kiba

Karin (Naruto)

Matsuri (Naruto)

Kazamatsuri Moegi

Aburame Shino

Additional Tags:

Violence

Betrayal

Drama Romance

Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence

Soulmates

Character Death

Paranoia

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD

Sex

Adult Content

Slow Burn

Slow Romance

Language:EnglishStats:Published:2021-09-15Updated:2022-12-28Words:46,391Chapters:14/?Comments:29Kudos:87Bookmarks:9Hits:2,668

The Will of the Gods

Ayoken

Summary:

A storm cloud appeared in the distance. The Pillars have been selected, yet the empire was on the brink of destruction. War crept closer in the wake of a great betrayal. " If it is meant to fall, it will fall. she murmured". He turned his gaze to the twinkling lights of his city and answered, "Yet my will is the will of the Gods; your presence is my proof. We will not Fail."

Notes:

Hello, posting for the first time here, and I hope you like it. I'll be doing my best to post regularly, but I am both editing this text and writing the future chapters simultaneously. that being said, I would love to hear some feedback. Typically I think the text should enlighten you of everything going on. Still, as the story starts in a pre-established world, I'd like to preface the story with the definition of the Selection as being a ceremony that was originally meant to showcase the skill of the pillars (priestess that marries a King)for the gods.

anyhow, leave a review.

Chapter 1: Red dawn

Chapter Text

The Land of Fire's Palace was quiet. News of the last battle in sound had Just reached the ears of the crown prince. Danzo had betrayed them, resulting in the death of his Father, Brother, and two great Kings. After the centry delivered the news, he sent word to the remaining Kings and their pillars. They traveled through the night. Arriving just before the light of the sun kissed the tops of the rolling hills.

Usually, Dawn brought sounds of blades clashing; Imperial steel screeched as the two sons of the Emporer trained in earnest. Yet this sunrise was tinged with silence. The bright red of the morning sun spilled through the palace windows, and the Crown Prince merely chuckled at the irony of a red dawn.

He paced within the private war chamber. Each step was punctuated with a soft click as the wooden heel of his black leather shoes snapped against the marble. His dark hair was usually tied with a leather strap at the nape of his neck, though this morning, it was disheveled. Inky black locks were tousled around his head, leaving a few strands to hang down in his face. Evidence that his otherwise calm demeanor was a facade. He halted his movement, his chair- no, The Emperor's chair. He frowned. It wasn't his chair yet. He turned, taking in the scattered vacant chairs for men and women that should have been seated around the war table. The Seats were empty because he and several others had not yet gone through the selection. The doors opened as the last of the previous generation of kings and pillars arrived.

He let out an inaudible puff of air before he sat down. Assuming the image of calm, he leaned forward and hummed.

"There have been whispers," he began.

His low voice carried, commanding the attention of all in the room.

"Danzo has gone missing and appears to have joined Orochimaru in an attempt to overthrow our rule. Without our pillars, we are weakened. Too many of our predecessors have perished before the selection, and precautions must be made."

He leaned back into the crushed velvet of the chair, weaving his fingers together and bracing his elbows on the golden armrest.

"It is my belief that the chamber which holds the imperial tools of war should be sealed. "

Silence overtook the room for a moment before a soft sigh sounded to the left of the Crown Prince.

"Troublesome"

The oldest in the room King Jirayah of the Marsh leaned forward; His pillar, Tsunade, reached out to grab his arm.

"Only one who is in line for the throne with a pillar can make a call as grave as that' he hummed, and as you stand Crown prince, you do not have a pillar."

The Crown Prince nodded his head belatedly,

" yes, well, you do Jirayah, as do you Kakashi, Asuma."

Their wives leaned forward,

"a decision of this magnitude can only be made with the existing pillars in times of emergency."

Tsunade's gruff voice rolled over the table,

Kurenai placed her hands on the table and huffed out

"High priestess, surely you understand that emergency is putting it lightly, we aren't to make choices like this without a full imperial war cabinet, and quite frankly, it is lacking."

Anko's voice swept in deceptively sweet.

"I do believe this is definitely an extreme case; as a pillar that survived Orochimaru let me say that man will twist every word of god to his benefit and will not hesitate to use it to subjugate anyone he can. This is literally the fate of the empire."

The crown prince gazed at the three women. Queens, priestesses, Pillars. The voice of reason.

" I will only move forward if we are all in agreement." He murmured.

Kurenai locked eyes with Anko and then Tsunade holding a silent battle of wills.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Sarutobi Asuma, King of the land of wind, spoke.

"The wind has always stoked the flame."

Looking up, Kurenai relented, "seal them then," she said dismissively.

Kakashi, King of the Land of Lightning, clapped his hands,

"It is decided then. Ordinarily, I would offer my own sealing techniques, but I believe this requires more,... Blessed hands," he murmured.

Nodding sharply, High priestess Tsunade rose from her place at the war table. I will send word for my two most gifted in the art of seals.

Crown prince Sasuke gave a decisive nod. I will be ready to receive them within the hour this meeting has concluded.

As the room emptied, a small figurine on the ornately carved war table toppled over.

Sasuke reached out to rebalance the figurine, only to watch it topple again. The sudden imbalance of the figure disturbed him.

Laying it flat on the table, he turned to catch Lord Jiraiya's questioning look.

Shaking his head as the doors closed behind him, he stared ahead.

"A storm is coming, Jiraiya. It will be long and vicious."

The King of The Marsh clicked his tongue before speaking.

"We will meet this storm head-on like we have many others."

Sasuke hummed his agreement, though a great sense of foreboding hung over him Like branches of a willow. Slowly beginning to obscure his view.

Hinata had been with the children when the call came.

She sat demurely on a tree stump, midnight hair blowing softly on the breeze. She was surrounded by a mass of splendid trees, with blades of emerald grass rolling out as far as the eye could see. Her white shirt was wrinkled, and her cream-colored pants had grass stains at the knees. She was held hostage by a group of small girls Gathered around her in a semi-circle, bright-eyed with barely contained excitement. The sun beamed down on them, and Hinata tossed her dark hair back to take in the sun.

"you have all been chosen by your families to represent the next generation of shrine priestesses'. Soon you will begin to learn the ancient art of healing to match your slow and steady study of the art of war. do any of you know why we must understand both the art of war and the act of healing?"

Several hands shot into the air. Hinata smiled, taking them in with her moonstone eyes. "Ami?"

The petite blonde girl beamed, showing her missing teeth,

"yes, we must learn the art of war and the art of healing to remain the world's balance. we are supposed to hold the clarity of mind to make sure the decisions of death and violence are just and that should we sanction death, we should be able to give back life!"

Hinata clapped her hands in agreement, "that is correct, Ami. Our jobs are to keep the balance.

She shared brief eye contact with each girl as she spoke.

" Each of you has been chosen to represent your families at the shrines. Together, you represent the future of the shrine priestess. when you receive your rites of passage, you will become the strength of a nation."

"as the strength of a nation is the strength of its women!" yelled Hikari.

Hinata giggled, taking in Hikari's posed form. Her dark hair strewn about her shoulders and cheeks reddened.

Yes, Hikari, a nation is as strong as the strength of its women, and as such, we must be the bearers of justice.

Hikari frowned, her tongue sticking out between her lips," but we don't have the authority to stop a war."

Hinata nodded

"ah, yes, well, that's why we train to hurt and heal. It may be simpler to state that our jobs are more precisely to provide a voice of reason. To provide clarity when their other emotions have clouded the minds of men.'

She paused, listening to the chirp of a bird.

Before we represent the power of a nation, we represent the power of our families and the people they protect. First, you must learn to heal, as you will provide relief from illness and pain. Then you must understand the art of war, that you might protect the lives of those in your domain."

"But why would the gods want us to go to war with each other,' Ami asked. My province is at war with Matsuri's province. She frowned. My sister has been on the battlefield fighting and healing like a true priestess, and yet, she has been unable to keep the peace."

Hinata hummed, reaching out to ruffle Ami's blonde hair.

"Your sister fights because land, resources, and wealth are necessary for a nation to grow, and while she may have protested, it was still ultimately your father's decision to make.

Hinatas looked to the sky before continuing.

The sky gods battle each other. As far as we know, there is no leader of our revered sky gods. They wage war in the sky, and we wage war on earth. We interpret signs from the great Sky Gods and provide the answers we feel are correct, and that is perhaps the only flaw when becoming a shrine priestess. We do not cease to be human and are prone to mistakes."

Hikari clapped her hands, quickly gathering Hinata's attention

"You don't make mistakes, though, she hummed. You've graduated from being a regular shrine priestess; you've made it to the selection."

Hinata paused, taking in the shining adoration evident in the young girl's eyes. Sighing -softly, she shook out her tresses.

"I have made plenty of mistakes she murmured before rolling her shoulders back and fixing her posture. Regardless, you will all go through your own selection one day."

"Nuh-uh, Matsuri called out, her cheeks just as red as her hair.

Hinata smiled as she watched her flail her hands around.

"an imperial selection is super rare she exclaimed, and besides, you have to be both of age and extraordinarily gifted to be considered a suitable match for the Emperor.

Hinata let out a soft giggle as Matsuri nodded sagely.

"Why do only a few of us get to marry? Ami asked

Hinata lifted her eyes

" all of the priestesses will marry eventually. The official priestess for each family changes as the years go by; each marriage fosters new relations.

Noticing the skepticism in the young girl's eyes, she smiled

"Ami, your sister is a priestess. Do you know why you are training to be one now?"

Ami frowned, bawling her small hands into a fist,

" because it is expected of me," she said quietly.

Hinata frowned

no, Ami, you are training because the full selection of the Southern province will happen in four years. At which point you will have mostly completed your training, and your sister Akane will marry a noble lord where her knowledge will serve her well to help guide peace with her own hand. We are both tools of war and peace. You will learn that the world is divided into factions, and each section favors a specific sky god. It is in this separation of cultures that our messages begin to differ from priestess to priestess.

The selection fosters marriage, yes, but you must understand that any selection is simply the act of the gods choosing a pair of warriors to carry their will.

Before Hinata could go on, the ink master Sai dropped into the clearing, landing just behind the tree stump she was perched on. "Urgent message from the high priestess, your presence has been requested by the emperor."

Hinata's sharp eyes landed on Sai, nodded.

" Okay, girls, that is enough for today; you can go play now, but do not miss supper." she rose from the tree stump, moving swiftly and elegantly towards Sai. "and Ami, stay away from the roses, dear you'll only succeed in pricking your fingers."

Ami blushed heavily, "okay!" she called.

With a broad sweep of ink, Hinata and Sai disappeared from view.

The girls squealed as soon as she left, "she's so cool! one screamed.

"ah," Hikari agreed, flopping down on the grass again, "and pretty and strong."

Ami' smiled. I want to be just like her when I get older.

With a small splash of ink, Hinata and Sai materialized near the compound entrance. "What has happened, Sai?

"The instructions were vague, he answered '. The Emperor requested our finest seal masters but did not specify what kind of seals. So you and Tenten will be meeting at the shrine portal in a half hour. You are to collect anything you may need and meet there".

She hummed softly, "very well; I'll meet you at the portal in a half hour. will you be joining us?"

"yes, I will see you there."

Hinata nodded and veered off towards the private rooms. Once she entered her room, she walked directly to her closet and pulled out her scrolls and a few small knives. She turned again and reached for several candles on the top shelf to the right of the door. Gathering these things, she walked back into her room and grabbed a small satchel, filling it with all her necessities.

Hinata glanced down at herself and grimaced. This was probably the reason for giving them a half hour. She returned to her closet, pulled off her day clothes, and slid into her training attire. Black capris pants, black long-sleeved mesh, and silver breastplate. She nodded, pulling her hair into a high ponytail. She looked herself over in the mirror. This would do.

She turned then, grabbing her pack, she rushed out of the door.

Hinata found herself alone by the portal; checking the time on the temple tower, she knew she had a Ten-minute wait. sighing softly, she sat on the steps running her hand through her hair to detangle it after being whipped in the wind. It wasn't long before Tenten and Sai crested the hill, equally flustered with packs slightly bigger than her own.

They nodded to her, and she stood; turning together, they entered the temple.

"Ready?" Tenten asked.

"Always," Hinata answered.

The portal opened, and together, they stepped into the Emperor's shrine.

Chapter 2: A dark horse

Chapter Text

Sasuke was standing tall, at the full height of six feet and holding the reigns of two Imperial horses. He was the spitting image of a man in control. So it was rather odd that his stable hands had held the reigns of not one but two horses. He asked no questions but pondered calmly to himself on the fourth horse. The gentle whoosh of the shrine portal opening and closing brought Sasuke's attention to the temple entrance. The firsts to exit was Sai, whom Sasuke recognized immediately as one of Danzo's operatives. He made a mental note to give Sai a secondary task of sealing a false records room.

The next to exit was Tenten. He took in her soft features, chocolate hair tied up in two buns, and chocolate eyes landing on every living thing as if taking in targets. Without a doubt, she would be one of the top contenders in two days' time, he was sure of it.

Hinata walked out behind her, and he paused, taking in her china-like presence. She was small and pale, which was only made more evident by her extremely dark hair, which, while tied in a ponytail high, on the top of her head, still reached about an inch above her lower back. Her eyes were that of any other Hyuuga, yet there was a noticeable difference in color, more lilac or violet than the typical gray. He almost chuckled. Was she a shrine priestess? Standing at an even 5'5, she didn't look imposing at all. Both girls were wearing their standard-issue training attire and seemed mildly apprehensive. He stepped forward, knowing they couldn't discern who he was at their distance.

"Welcome," he said softly. His lips twitched a smile as the small Hyuuga girl blushed heavily and hastily dropped into a deep bow. Tenten and Sai quickly followed suit.

"My lord," Sai murmured.

"come quickly, Sasuke said; there is much to do."

the trio rose out of their bows and stepped across the courtyard.

"pick a horse" we will ride to the holding chambers.

Tenten nodded, picking a chestnut charger.

Sasuke watched as Sai picked the more docile white destrier and raised an eyebrow as Hinata approach a massive black shire.

He turned to his shire and had just decided to ask Sai to switch with her when he glanced back to find her calmly seated atop the massive beast as if she did that every day.

Sasuke chuckled then, "you make a rather impressive image being so small and controlling such a beast. no one besides myself and my brother is usually able to control him."

Hinata blushed heavily. "I'm sorry, is this your horse?"

Sasuke shook his head no as a frown dawned on his face; the beast belonged to my brother, though I don't believe he'll be needing it in the afterlife.

Hinata's rosy cheeks drained of color as she stammered out an apology.

Sasuke dismissed her stuttering with a wave; the beast is named midnight,

Hinata nodded and turned her blushing head to look at Tenten's horse. Sunshine, he said softly, her name is sunshine.

Tenten looked up and smiled, a fitting name for such a bright horse. He nodded. Though a little soft. She can get a steadfast attitude if you aren't careful.

I'm sure that we'll get along just fine.

Well, then he huffed, swinging himself onto the back of his shire let us be off.

The ride was hard; the horses' hooves pounded as they charged full tilt towards the palace grounds. The wind whipped wildly at their clothes. They slowed their thunderous approach; the wind that pulled on their hair lessen to a gentle caress. The sun Lazily crawled across the sky, hidden by the clouds that followed them.

The palace walls loomed over the four that approached them. The Crown Prince slowed to a stop. He swung off his horse as the stable hands appeared to relieve the Quartet of their horses and lead them into the stables.

"this way"

Sasuke walked them towards the first tower. Gray brick stacked high until it nestled itself against the sky. Standing before the heavy oak doors were two guards. Their spears crossed to form an X across the entrance.

As the crown prince approached, the guards crossed a fist over their chests in a firm salute, the loud clang of their metal-covered fingers landing firmly on their breastplates before removing their spears from the entryway.

Sasuke pulled a key from his side, unlocking the door and ushering his three guests inside.

Rather than climb up the tower stairs, he placed a palm against the cold gray brick and pushed open a hidden door that led them down a spiral staircase further down into the earth.

The further they walked, the steeper the stairs became. Eventually, the sounds of their footsteps began to echo as the space began to expand and opened into the view of the intricate underground system that thrived beneath the palace.

"Oh my"

A soft voice rang out in the silence. A labyrinth of bridges and columns filled the large expanse as far as the eye could see, and yet they could climb lower still.

Sasuke stopped a few feet from the bottom of the staircase and placed his hands on the wall. Behind him, the trio watched closely.

Sasuke pushed his Chakra into the wall and the stone melted into an opening. And a small staircase rose to level off the room. Stepping forward, he led them through the passage, lighting a torch to illuminate their path. Pausing at a solid metal door, he turned and addressed Sai.

"you are the resident ink master."

Yes, I am. Sai confirmed though Sasuke's words were not a question.

"This will be where you work. The seals here need to be restored. They will help guard tools of the Uchiha."

He stepped aside, allowing Sai to walk further into the room. With a fake smile plastered along his face, Sai turned to The Crown Prince.

"It would be my pleasure."

Sasuke nodded curtly, directing his attention to the two Priestesses' in his care.

If you would follow me, he began, sweeping out of the room and ushering them ahead of him. Sasuke looked back just in time to watch the scowl slide off of Sai's face.

Closing the door behind him. Hinata looked up at the emperor in time to watch his eyes flash red. And then he was leading them back the way they had come.

Back up the spiral staircase, they climbed. Stopping several feet from the exit.

"I would appreciate it if you kept the whereabouts of this particular chamber to yourself." He said.

Calmly, he walked through the wall calling for them to enter from the other side.

The girls shared a look before walking through the wall to discover more stairs.

TenTen groaned in mild protest

Stopping only from a stern look from Hinata.

She smiled sheepishly

"We could be lost in this single tower for years and never take the same path twice."

Hinata hummed in agreement as she followed swiftly behind Sasuke to descend yet another staircase.

Coming to a stop on the bottom floor, he stooped down to grasp the handles of a hidden door. Pulling them up, he stepped down and reached out to grab Hinata's hand.

"Hold on; it is extremely steep here."

Hinata's breath hitched, but she nodded, reaching out quickly to grab Tenten's hand; they descended into the depths below.

The door closed behind them, and they were plunged into darkness. Sasuke brought up his left hand and breathed into it. Flame burst forward from his fingertips and illuminated their path. Coming to a chamber door, he released Hinata's hand and pushed the door open. Once inside, he began to light the torches.

Walking down a small hallway, he ushered them into the chamber, allowing them to see the two doors that sat in an otherwise empty room.

" you will begin by sealing this room," he ordered.

Hinata nodded and stepped towards one of the two doors. I can create a seal for you now that will react to your life force alone.

He nodded, watching her as she walked closer to the door on the right.

He felt rather than saw Tenten move towards the left. " I can place a duplicate seal on this door and align it to your life force as well."

She bent in front of the door, noting that the lock on the door required two keys.

"Hinata, she began, perhaps we should use that seal."

Tenten turned her head to take in Hinata's crouched form. She, too, was staring at the lock.

" If it's carved in each wall and the ceiling. We shouldn't have a problem. she paused, though I'll have to create a failsafe."

Tenten nodded; bending down to her pack, she pulled a blade and a bottle of ink from her bag. Turning his attention to Tenten's willowy form, Sasuke hummed his agreement to their quiet conversation." I will not be far; I will hear you when you say my name."

"Yes, Crown prince," the two girls spoke in unison.

Turning his back to them, Sasuke slipped away from the room.

The chamber was quiet enough that the sound of fire crackling from the torches seemed to echo. Underneath the sound, the scratching of a blade against stone and brush against parchment was the only indication that work was underway.

A weary sigh left Tenten's lips as she moved away from the wall, having finished carving the last sigil into the wall. She looked, checking her work, to see the symbols gleaming in the dim room as the firelight bounces off the shimmering layer of fresh ink on stone.

She nodded to herself once before turning to Hinata and humming.

"I've finished."

Hinata nodded, rising swiftly from the floor.

"As have I, let us be done; she breathed out slowly before turning her head and calling softly.

"Crown Prince"

Sasuke paused in his work, turning his head towards the soft sound. He estimated an approximate hour to have gone by. He rose from his crouched position and walked towards the two women. He had finished with his work anyway.

He rounded the corner filled with old armor to find Hinata crouched down her back to him, adding three intricately carved sigils to the walls. She worked quickly and efficiently. Stilling her hand as he walked into the room.

He took another step forward, and she raised her head.

"My lord, Tenten has finished her preliminary work. If you would just place your hand on the far wall, we can properly begin".

Sasuke hummed out an affirmative and walked over.

Tenten was crouched in a low corner.

She was deepening a single symbol on the wall. When his shadow blocked her light, Tenten put down her blade and turned.

"This is fairly simple; fill the sigil, you can use your Chakra in its raw, or you can direct it with your chosen element. Do not pull your hand away until the lines of your essence connect along each wall. You will know what I mean when you see it."

Tenten stepped back from the wall.

"You may begin."

.He lifted his right hand to the seal of heaven and placed it on the wall.

He watched as his Flames filled the symbols and poured into barely-there lines between each of the seals.

He shifted his eyes and watched the flickering red of his Flames move steadily along the room until he turned his gaze to meet Tentens and waiting for her affirmative nod to remove his hand.

The red of his flame became a single line of red that connected along each wall to meet neatly on the left end of the seal. His hand was covered in sigils that rolled across his skin. Slowly, he removed his hand.

He turned then, Waiting for further instruction.

Hinata was standing by the opening to the chamber, nodding to herself once she turned and called out.

" the last of the sealing process will occur from outside of the room."

As Sasuke and Tenten stepped past the opening, a door made of flames erupted to separate the chamber from the hallway.

Hinata stepped close, reaching for the crown prince, but halting. Clearing her throat, she voiced her question.

"May I?" she whispered, staring down at his arm.

Sasuke merely raised his arm, allowing her to unbutton the cuffs at his wrist.

She was gentle, almost too delicate, as her fingers grazed his skin like a feather.

She rolled the length of his shirt up until it revealed his forearm.

Pulling out the scroll she had been writing on, she wordlessly passed it to Tenten.

Raising her head to look into his eyes, she faltered for just a moment at the guarded look he gave her.

"F-Forgive me, your grace; she began I-it will be over soon."

She bowed her head, taking a small brush from her waist, missing the way his eyes followed her curiously.

Her brush, already wet with ink, moved across his forearm quickly, leaving four small symbols on his flesh. She released him quickly. Stepping away from him and drawing in a quick breath. "Please place your hand on the parchment," she whispered,

He walked towards Tenten, who nodded as he placed his hand on the parchment she held.

"Pour your flames in, and do not be alarmed when they crawl up your forearm."

Sasuke nodded, doing as he was told.

He was startled only when the parchment went blank, and a hand that did not belong toTenten gripped his arm firmly and whispered the word ." Set"

Her glowing hand was cool against his heated flesh; he watched as the many lines and swirls of sigils he could not comprehend poured into the four small Kanji that sat on the inside of his arm.

"This will burn," she whispered a moment before a searing pain shot up his arm. Though just as quickly, the pain vanished soothed by her glowing hands,

The door of flames became one of solid oak, an illusion he was sure of.

Tenten and Hinata gathered their equipment into their packs.

Tenten began her explanation at his questioning glance. "to be clear, when you want to open this door, you can open it by coming here manually and placing your flame on the seal. She nodded to the barely visible sigil on what he thought was an illusionary door.

He walked closer, using his opposite hand on the wood, surprised that it was firm.

" or by a combination of blood and Chakra on your arm. When you use the second method, you can open the door from any distance."

Sasuke nodded,

"in case I have to send anyone to the room that isn't me.

Very good, thank you."

" stage three."

Hinata stepped forward, handing a paper seal to Tenten and Sasuke.

Tenten will place her seal on the wall to the left; I to the right, and your seal to the door crown prince.

She moved gracefully to her designated wall.

" This seal will alert you to intruders, should the seal be broken. It requires all three seals to be removed simultaneously, though it will duplicate them, A mind game of sorts. It will only give you a half-hour to stop them before they breach the second seal, though that should be more than enough time considering the length of time it will take to unravel our previous seal." together trio stepped to the wall and pressed their paper seals in place. With a burst of Chakra, the seals were fixed to the wall.

Tenten stepped back from her wall, intrigued.

She could not manipulate her life force into an element and used her Chakra to fix it in place, knowing that Hinata would compensate. She was, however, unprepared for the complimenting power that Hinata and Sasuke created.

Her eyes widened As Sasuke's fire met Hinata's wind spiraling upwards in a vortex to reach the Kanji he had missed on the roof.

Idly he noted the way her Chakra felt against his. Soothing and calming. It was almost encouraging him along, all the while bolstering his strength. Absently, he found himself pouring more power into his seal.

He watched as the flames turned to the black of Amaterasu and frowned, realizing that it wasn't entirely under his control.

He turned his attention back to the rising flames, expecting the Chakra of her wind to be consumed by the burning black flames of Amaterasu. He watched instead as the fire seemed to sit on top of each blade of wind, feeding on it, growing wilder with each rotation.

When the vortex reached the ceiling, three black lines sprouted attaching to the three paper seals before the eerie glow settled and the only light in the room came from the torches.

Letting out a shaky breath Hinata stepped back from the wall, fidgeting slightly and refusing to meet his gaze.

'It is done she whispered."

"So it is," he answered without ever lifting his gaze from her petit form.

Quietly, he mused to himself. The selection would be an interesting one for sure.

Tenten cleared her throat, punctuating the silence that was quickly turning awkward.

"Should we return to Sai?"

Sasuke nodded. He is likely done.

Walking past the girls, he led the way back to the chamber they had left him in.

Once they collected Sai, they began the long trek back to the surface, noting on the way out that it was not the same path as the way in.

Upon exiting the Underground maze, the Quartet found themselves in the middle of the Palace grounds. King Kakashi of lighting was standing with armed troops for their arrival. Sai tensed, unable to move. He realized too late that his shadow had been caught. Looking around wildly, he saw the shape of one Nara Shikamaru. King of the Shadowlands.

We merely want to talk, he said in hushed tones. Resistance will be an admission of guilt, and you will be slain where you stand.

Sai breathed out, slowly relaxing his stance and nodding his head. He paused, hesitating before murmuring. You will need the help of these priestess' he opened his mouth, revealing a seal against his tongue. It will be sometime before that conversation can happen without interruption.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru sighed.

Kakashi's soldiers moved forward, binding Sai and carrying him off to a holding cell.

The girls were silent. They had been stirred from their sleep the night before with the news of Danzo's betrayal and the consequences of it, and it was no secret that Sai had come as a recommendation from Danzo.

Hinata bit her lip before sputtering out

"U-um, your G-Grace?"

She flinched as he turned abruptly, the little charm and kindness gone from his face.

"You both have seen the seal on his mouth, yes?"

The two young women nodded.

"Return to the Grand temple find out all that you can about the seal. Return by first light and remove it."

Hinata bit her lip and nodded.

Yes, your grace.

Someone will be here shortly to escort you back to the temple.

Distractedly he walked off.

Interrogations aside, he had a double funeral to plan and a coronation to prepare.

Chapter 3: Reunion

Notes:

broke chapter three into two chapters. let me know what you think!

Chapter Text

Hinata and Tenten sat on the nearby benches in silence to wait for their escorts.

Tenten snorted, "He's a real interesting fellow. I'll give him that."

Hinata reached over, smacking her hand lightly.

"He just lost his father and brother in one go, have some compassion."

Tenten barked out a laugh.

"No one has compassion like you Hinata, I think he could have at least thanked us for the wonderful job we did sealing the bloody place.' she huffed. You know,...

I'm convinced the rumors are true. You will be named the new high priestess."

Hinata lifted a brow, "I'm hardly the best healer or warrior."

Tenten shook her head,

I've only heard rumors of the Crown Princes' black flame. It's destruction in raw form. Today, you helped him create a seal using those flames. You turned something better suited for destruction into something used to protect. That is precisely what the high mother wants from us.

She paused, giving Hinata a sly grin, and from the way the Crown Prince looks at you, I'd say you have a good chance at becoming his intended."

Hinata blushed and shrugged, a movement that seemed misplaced upon her shoulders.

"Whatever the outcome, I will do my duty."

"As you should," a familiar voice called out.

Hinata rose from the bench and whirled around to see King Neji of the heavenly hills. Releasing a great breath of air, she bowed to him deeply.

Tenten hastened to follow her, their voices coming together to address him,

"My King"

And he was. The lands the two women presided over were the heavenly hills of the Hyuuga, and for the next forty-eight hours, they would continue to serve him.

Neji stepped forward, close enough that the young women stepped away.

"My Lord," Hinata began.

Neji waved her off, stepping forward again to pull her into a hug.

You may have given up your name for the sake of the

Clan, but you will always be my sister.

She blushed and quickly returned the hug. Stepping back, Neji reached for Tenten, who slipped in and out of his grasp in a blink.

Neji's smile was soft,

"One of the regular guards would have escorted you back, but I could not pass up the opportunity to see you before the selection."

Hinata noted the way his eyes darted around, searching for hidden eyes.

"Then let us be off," Hinata said softly '. We have been ordered to return tomorrow at first light; we have much to prepare".

Neji nodded and turned, long brown hair swinging lightly behind him.

"Come then," he called, 'we have much to discuss. Before you return."

Quickly they fell in line, standing two steps behind the king, after all. Only their wives, a Pillar was permitted to stand next to a King.

Neji cleared his throat as they entered the palace, walking briskly towards the outer gate. They were closer to the Exit than they realized. The castle had been built up instead of out.

Tapestries of deep navy and red depicted the glorious victories of the famed Uchiha clan, dwindling in size but not in power. The floors were pristine white marble, and the sharp crack of Neji's wooden heel created a syncopated rhythmic tapping the closer they got to the Exit. It echoed as the sound traveled across high ceilings and darkly stained glass windows. Tap tap, tap-tap, the sound was sharp and metered. One two, one-two, one-two. This was the gait of a warrior, trained and disciplined.

Belatedly Hinata noted the silence of her own feet. She was a warrior, yes, but a silent one. As she gazed along the Palace wall, taking in the grandeur of it all, she thought back on Tenten's prophecy of their impending selection. How could she become the grand Pillar if her very essence was at complete odds with the residence of the Emperor? No, she thought Tenten was wrong. she would be lost here.

The trio traveled in silence until they made it to the stables.

Talking quietly amongst themselves as the servants suited the horses for travel.

"You should pack everything tonight. With the funeral tomorrow, all of the priestesses' of the high court will need to be in attendance."

Tenten snorted, we have to make a miracle for his Eminence,

Neji chuckled. You make the word Eminence sound like an insult.

She gasped softly.

"Me? Why I could never!"

Neji chuckled, "is his demand that complicated?"

Hinata hummed,

"at least hours of research, and then there is always the possibility that it cant be removed."

The conversation halted as one of the horses rammed against the gate that kept him locked away. Hinata stepped forward, leaving the two to watch.

"What's wrong," she asked softly as she approached the shuddering wooden gate.

The terrified stable hand shook his head.

"a beast of a horse, I'm afraid; no one has been able to control it,"

Hinata frowned. Walking forward, she placed a palm on the door

"what is the horse's name?

"Midnight, my lady."

The stable hands' face twisted in confusion at the delight that crossed her face.

"Please open the gate."

You can't possibly,-

Neji stepped forward, cutting him off repeated,

"open the gate."

Blanching, the stable hand rushed forward, undoing the locks with shaky hands.

As the last lock was released, Midnight's assault against the door stopped. Pulling open the door, Midnight walked forward, puffing air heavily from his nostrils and stamping a hoof down in dominance, stopping directly in front of Hinata. Midnight bowed.

She reached up and patted his head, running her fingers lovingly along his sides.

"Please place a saddle on Midnight."

Scrambling, they complied, hesitating once before approaching the massive beast and heaving the saddle into place.

Once Midnight was ready, she swung herself into place.

Lifting her head, she nodded at Neji and Tenten, both already seated and ready to depart.

With a soft press of her knees, she guided Midnight through the open doors, and the trio walked off into the night.

Easing the speed of the horses into a trot, Tenten began to speak.

"To be clear what we know of the seal is very little, and while we can technically deconstruct any seal between the two of us; there are seals that tether to the soul; and if that's the case,...' it doesn't matter how we remove it on the surface because there would be an imprint on the soul."

Neji frowned, narrowing his eyes in thought; he questioned, couldn't you use the same routine on the soul?

Hinata giggled then,

" Neji, we can't touch a soul, and the only way to know if a seal is tethered to a soul is to use spiritual pressure. Harmless when the soul is just a soul- But a soul with a seal attached…."

Hinata shivered.

"it's terrible," she whispered.

Neji flashed his eyes between the two women, "what's so terrible about them?"

"Phantoms." Tenten almost snarled

"The soul mutates. It rots, it becomes raw vengeance; basically, the seal attempts to live on far after the soul even separates from the body."

Neji paused

"Is this what eventually becomes a nightcrawler?"

Tenten nodded.

"They start as phantoms, leech emotion from any living thing that can exhibit emotion; humans and animals then once they have their wild understanding of emotion, they go after the physical form—often returning to the same creatures to devour them. Once they have regained a physical form, they are what we know as nightcrawlers. Litteral monsters that move under cover of night. These are the creatures the higher echelons of the priestess hunt".

Neji paused,

" the upper echelons of the priestess being you lot for the selections and the Pillars."

"Just the Pillars' Tenten commented.

There are particular skill sets and ranks that have to be acquired. The only reason those of us up for a selection have battled them is because of the last war.

Amegakure used seals on their soldiers against their pillars' wishes. four Pillars and three Kings wiped out in an instant."

Neji frowned. How is it that you know more about this than we do?

Tenten chuckled. "I suppose you'll find out after the selection."

The conversation slipped into quiet, punctuated by the clop of their horse's hooves and the occasional hoot of an owl.

Hinata eased into a cantor, pulling their minds from the worlds they secreted themselves away in. "we best be off, much to do and so little time."...

Neji nodded once, pressing his knees into the side of his shire to take the lead in a gallop.

Preparations had to be made.

Chapter 4: Root

Chapter Text

Somewhere in the world, deep in the underground cities of Jashin's palace. Shimura Danzo sat erect in a stone chair. His face scarred and half-hidden by a porcelain mask was cold and hard to read. The room was dark, though not an issue for everyone in the room. They had trained for low light.

He stared down at his subordinates. Hundreds of men and women crouched before him. The room was cold as the collective fog of warm breath in cold air rose from their bodies. Most of these men were warriors, a few servants, inconspicuous observers with plenty of intel, and yet none of them with the intel he desperately needed.

Where was Uchiha Itachi? That oily weasel of a man had somehow escaped his clutches even though he had cut him down.

Allegedly he was dead, and yet a fist full of dread held on to his stomach with a vice-like grip. Itachi's body was missing.

He was missing something, and no one could tell him what it was.

Struggling to remain calm, he bit back the urge to snarl before picking up his staff and banging it three times.

The crack of metal against marble was startling, and yet not a single soul moved, save for the servant who stepped forward, bowing deeply as she did.

My lord? She questioned.

Where is Sai? His voice was deep and rough.

She shivered lightly before speaking.

"Sai has been apprehended. It appears the Crown Prince has arrested anyone given a position of importance within the Empire that has been a known suggestion of your own. They currently have several guards, two dukes, and both priestesses from your lands. They've all been imprisoned."

Danzo sneered then, his twisted face contorting almost painfully as the skin pulled back from his mouth.

"So he is a cautious child after all. He mused,

" No matter;... Sai will not speak, and the others are disposable. The mission lives on.

Send a message to Orochimaru, tell him very simply, 'I need a snake in the garden."

The girl bowed again deeply before disappearing through a hidden door.

As the sound of the rolling stone door closing echoed around the room, Danzo rose from his chair.

They were underground. The roof was knarled roots of several trees with the only source of light the glowing green of chakra infused moss. They had built their base in the earth so that they could be everywhere and nowhere. Itachi's body would be found, and they would win the coming war. His thrown would be in the palace, and all the people of this world would come to bow before him. With a grim smile, he stepped forward and addressed his subordinates.

"The mission continues; Danzo punctuated each phrase with a limp and the echoing sound of his staff against the floor. Each of you has a role to play; I advise you to play it well. The world as we know it is chaos. The earth we are sworn to protect starved for nourishment. We will be the driving force, the power necessary for change. As the leaves of our great tree crumble, we will provide her sustenance; Blood will run-heavy in the streets from the battle to come. Let her drink it in from the Root."

The speech was not wholly new, and the rumble of voices came together in the large chamber as Danzo's subordinates began to chant Root, Root, Root, Root.

Danzo's smile was slow and grim. Yes, she will drink it from the Root.

Chapter 5: Have mercy

Notes:

This is the end of the treat. I'll try and post in another two weeks or so. Please enjoy and Comment!

Chapter Text

Tenten and Hinata packed their bags quickly, thankful that their clothing for the selection had been chosen weeks ago. They added funeral garb to their bags, and Together, they slipped into the temple library, burying themselves deep in the restricted section, researching tongue binding and silencing seals. Half-past the witching hour, it appeared the two had gone over every article they could find. Glancing at her notes, Hinata sighed,

" hope you found something helpful."

Tenten shook her head.

" not even remotely. All of these books tell us how to place a seal, but not to remove one."

Hinata hummed, blinking her tired eyes in the dim light,

Tenten looked around, running through the titles of each section

Death seals, reaper seals, silencer seals, stealth seals. She paused.

"You know,' Hinata began, 'that cross in the midsection of his seal looked a bit like a-"

"Stealth seal," Tenten finished.

They shared a look,

"It-it couldn't be that easy, could it?" Hinata questioned.

Tenten shrugged. She was looking over the titles yet again.

"It's possible that if each part of the seal were a minor one from each section, it would be just difficult enough to keep people from deconstructing it; but easy enough to apply."

Hinata hummed,

" well, then it's a good thing you specialize in stealth seals, Tenten."

"She chuckled and was very fortunate for us that you are a reaper seal specialist. Death seals, though ..."

"Nasty stuff, 'Hinata murmured, 'I have some experience just enough so that I can understand the reaper seals, but death seals specifically and usually deal with necromancy.

The only way I could see it used would be if ...-" She cut herself off, watching the smoke curl away from a candle that had just gone out. Her eyes widened in horror.

Tenten leaned forward, eyes wide.

"H-he wouldn't."

"He k-killed the emperor and the first Crown Prince, wouldn't he?"

Hinata bit her lip standing up and grabbing the only book in the section.

Puffing air into her cheeks, she smacked her palms against them with a loud pop as she let the air deflates from her lips.

"Take a nap, Tenten. I can finish this one in an hour or two. I'll take notes, and then we can switch, and you can read my notes."

Tenten nodded okay. Wake me if you're having any trouble.

Hinata waved her off, sleep Tenten.

The girl nodded before settling herself in one of the window nooks with her bag under her head for support. She was asleep before Hinata opened the book.

Stealing herself, she glanced down. Reading chapter one: living sacrifice.

Sai's breathing was labored.

The Kings of the Empire were no joke. Having to fight your way to the top meant that you were hardened. Stronger than steel and tenaciously vicious when the need arose. It was why the Pillars were necessary. They were mercy in physical form, and these men had none.

His flesh felt as if it had been melted from his skin, his bones broken, his mind ravaged, and his spirit was shaking. They did not seem to understand that they could not break him.

Not that he hadn't wanted to cave and give them the information they were seeking, no, he had tried several times to scream out the answers, but the burning of his tongue and the acid that burned in his veins as he tried was another form of terror altogether. He shivered. Whimpering, he begged them to stop,

"Please!" he gasped out,

"If I could tell you I would, the seal, the seal prevents me from telling you."

Sasuke stepped forward into the dim lighting. You'll give me the information I need in due time, Sai. Did you think you could work for Danzo without repercussions? I just want to hear you scream.

Sai's eyes widened in fear. His silence was broken by something new, something foreign. A scream unlike any other as he looked into wide red eyes.

Sasuke breathed slowly. In through the nose and out through his mouth. His hand still trembled as he swiped a hand down the length of his face. The Kings of his court, his friends, and closest confidants were quiet. The confessions they had managed to get from the other prisoners had been deeply worrying; The depths of Danzo's betrayal had only been scratched. It seemed he had been deceiving them for years. Only now, after years of careful planning, had things changed, and not for the better. Sasuke looked up. Taking in their grave faces.

Friends, brothers, hell, two of them felt more like uncles.

He frowned. Straightening his shoulders, he began,

" Shimura Danzo has made his move. His betrayal was a calculated move. He has been operating in the shadows for too long, and it all must come to light. While I wish that this could be the first and only thing we had to pursue, we must take on the selection that is to come.

The future is dark, and it has become clear tonight of all the nights that I may need a touch of mercy. The Pillars are required in this aspect at the least. The balance has tipped dangerously and while all of the factions may represent a different deity, let it be known, the Empire was united under the defiance of just one. Jashin's darkness will not touch the Empire without feeling our Wrath."

Naruto, a friend, a brother, a King, stepped forward and placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "We'll burn down all who stand in our way."

He thumped his chest with his right hand twice before dropping to his knee in a pledge. One clear and loud.

"For the empire!"

The room was loud with the sound of hands thumping on chests twice as the Kings of the court dropped to bended knees and echoed, "For the empire."

Tenten woke suddenly, sitting upright and staring out of the window in confusion. The sky was getting light. Which it wasn't supposed to be doing; because she was only supposed to be asleep for an hour, maybe two. She turned then, prepared to give Hinata a tongue lashing for letting her sleep so long. Only to find the girl sitting at the table with the book closed with a neat stack of papers to her left. Frowning, she sat up, mouth opening to ask Hinata what was wrong but stopped. She took in her pale face, ghostly almost as it was missing her usual warmth. Her cheeks were tear-stained, and her eyes a bit red.

"Hinata," Tenten began.

Pearl eyes locked on chestnut before widening.

"I-" she stopped short, turning her eyes to her research

"Oh Tenten, it's terrible' she whispered. 'The things you have to do".

She shivered. Standing slowly, she placed the book back on the shelf.

"I- I couldn't bring myself to wake you. Not for this. I-its too much Tenten and if I had to explain…."

Hinata shook her head. Indigo tresses fanning around her.

" Forgive me, Tenten, but if you do not need the information, I would almost prefer you never have to know it."

Tenten took in her shaking form and nodded.

"I understand, Hinata but, I need to know."

She sat down with the notes in her hand and began to read. Blanching at the simplified rituals in Hinata's handwriting. Small, neat, and unassuming. Her cursive was elegant and precise.

It was, in a word, disturbing.

She frowned; after reading the third page, she placed the papers down on the table with a deep breath. Hinata was brilliant. The notes were so concise that three pages very clearly described the content of about five chapters. She glanced back at the book on the shelf.

"Hinata," she whispered, "How many chapters are there?"

Hinata closed her eyes for a moment before answering.

"Twenty-five, There- there were pictures Tenten. Diagrams and- and."

Hinata gave out a strangled scream. Every word was burned into the back of her eyelids. She could see them every time she closed her eyes. a breakdown of minerals that would technically create a human body.

The instructions on creating a seal with blood. How to dismember a body to make a doll.

She slumped against the shelf and gasped for air. The words "boiling the head works best" stretched across her irises.

"What kind of sick monster would-,"

She gasped again and stopped herself from continuing.

"You only need to read the last page, Tenten, and then we can go."

Tenten nodded, picking up the stack of papers she slipped to the very end titled: Removing a death seal.

Her eyes moved swiftly along the page, her eyes widening as the ink stopped and the page became blank.

Tenten blinked. "So we kill him."

Hinata nodded. "Yes"

Tenten frowned, "but then we revive him?"

Hinata nodded again.

Tenten shook her head,

"I do not understand this, Hina."

Hinata walked over, gathering her findings and pulling out her sealing scroll to put all of her notes away.

"To put it simply, we have to stop his heart to remove the seal. We'll have exactly six minutes to remove the seal and restart his heart. Then we'll have to test his spirit. We don't have many options for releasing spiritual seals. No one can grasp a soul without a Rinnegan, and it's been centuries since we've seen one of those".

Tenten walked over to her bag, slinging it onto her shoulders.

"The portal will open in a few minutes, Hinata."

She nodded, closing her pack and pulling it on; she followed Tenten out of the library, outing the candles and torches as she walked past.

When Tenten and Hinata stepped through the portal, there were two things evident. The first was that the welcoming committee was severely lacking. In that, Nara Shikamaru, King of the Shadowlands, was standing there with two horses. The second was that there were only two horses and there were three bodies. Two of which happened to be bodies that were not permitted to touch the body of a King unless he was mortally wounded and therefore in need of medical attention or their husband, and seeing as the answer to both scenarios was a very simple No; Hinata cocked her head to the side in confusion.

Tenten simply raised a slender eyebrow in question.

"My king?"

"Troublesome," he mumbled.

"Your horse," he stared pointedly at Hinata, "is there." He jutted his chin out towards Hinata's left.

Turning until the wild dark horse Midnight came into view, she smiled. Scurrying to his side and patting gently before reaching into her pack and bringing out a slice of apple.

Midnight greedily ate out of her hand. She turned when he finished bowing deeply towards Shikamaru before swinging herself into his saddle.

Hinata waited patiently for the two to settle in. Shikamaru slumped forward and looked back once before nodding.

" full speed."

The two women complied. Pressing their knees until they were moving at full gallop.

A prisoner awaited their arrival.

Shikamaru leaped from his horse. Handing her off to the stable master. He paused, waiting for the two young women to do the same. He raised an eyebrow as he watched Hinata pull another apple slice from her bag, whispering gently to the massive beast. She stepped back, and the stable master moved forward hesitantly.

Midnight stomped a hoof, almost seeming to taunt the poor man. Hinata berated the horse once; he neighed, seemingly annoyed that she didn't find it as funny as he did.

Hinata walked away, offering a smile to the stable master as she went.

"He shouldn't be much trouble now. Just, be gentle okay?"

The man nodded, moving forward with purpose.

Hinata finally turned to Shikamaru, bowing quickly before uttering, "lead the way, my lord."

He turned then, discreetly rolling his eyes. Walking briskly, they crossed the palace grounds. Stopping at one of the many towers that lined the cliff, Shikamaru nodded to two guards before opening the door and ushering the two women inside.

They paused as he swept ahead to lead them further down into the dungeon.

The lower they went, the louder the wails seemed to be until they met a silence so thick it swallowed the sound of their footsteps.

Hinata shivered. The silence was unnatural, as if someone was trapped, mouth open with nothing but a plea for death on the tip of their tongue. When Sai came into view, she would find that she was half correct. He looked awful.

Had it honestly been ten hours since she had last seen him?

His eyes were glazed over, and although she could not see a single wound, she knew he was in excruciating pain.

Hinata had zeroed in on her target, barely registering the relatively large number of men in the room. She walked forward, stumbling before collapsing at his feet. She drew heavy breaths before rising again and staggering to a corner to retch. Tenten cast a glance at the men in the room. Uncaring that she would seem rude as she walked over to Hinata and patted her back.

Hinata was a true empath. To say that she felt his agony was an understatement.

"What- she choked, 'what have you done?"

It was supposed to be a statement, but the pain laced in her words made it an accusation.

Visions flashed across her sight; she reared back. Gasping, Tenten grabbed her hand and hauled her from the room, unaware the Crown Prince followed directly behind her.

Hinata stood just outside of the chamber, gasping.

"What the hell was that?" Sasuke all but snarled.

Tenten turned to defend her friend, stopping as she felt her small hand grip her arm.

Tenten made eye contact with her before nodding and quietly stepping back into the room.

"I apologize, Crown Prince," she said thickly. 'Sai has always struggled with emotion a-and what you've done to him," she shivered; "all that is pushing at me is grief, fear, and pain." She looked up, voice strained. "Usually, I can block out other people's emotions, but I-I've never quite experienced something of that caliber. I just need a moment more,' she whispered, a-and I will be prepared to begin".

Sasuke watched her for a moment. He was no fool; he understood that there had been rumors about her. He had heard from Neji himself that while Hinata was a capable warrior, she had never made a killing blow. He could see why now. To finish that blow would be akin to killing herself. He turned on his heel and returned to the chamber. Kneeling, he pulled open Sai's eyes. Inky irises turned red as he released him from agony.

Sai shuddered as he came too; lifting his head, he asked, "what -what made you end it"?

Sasuke looked away for a moment before answering through clenched teeth.

"It appears your mercy has arrived."

Hinata walked back into the room, hair tied on the top of her head, gloves on her hands, expression unreadable.

Tenten stepped forward and hooked a wire to either side of his mouth.

" stick out your tongue."

It was a command and not a request

Sai complied,

The seal was dark against the pink of his tongue.

The two women got to work pulling out small scrolls and began writing furiously.

An hour passed and then two. Sais's mouth had run dry, a single line of drool ran down the length of his body.

Hinata stopped writing, swapping scrolls with Tenten.

They poured over each other's work. Analyzing the suspected order the increments were placed in.

Sasuke was growing impatient. It had been too long without any results. He opened his mouth to say something when Neji's hand came down on his shoulder. He glanced at the hand and turned his eyes back to Hinata to find that she had activated the famous Byakugan. Staring intently at the seal, she began to speak.

Stealth cross

circle of silence,

x, the stealth of the mind.

Three lines reaper seal of omission.

Four dashes death seal of the fates.

Tenten wrote it down in order. Frowning.

"This is more volatile than I had anticipated."

Hinata nodded, removing the wires from the side of his face.

She turned to bow deeply.

" we'll need some restraints. This will be painful".

Shikamaru stepped forward, wrapping the man in shadow bindings from head to toe.

Hinata bit her lip and nodded, crouched down, and she pulled out a needle; pulling his tongue back out of his mouth, she passed the tool to Tenten, who leaned close.

Her voice was loud in the room as she murmured.

"Second art of Stealth sealing, removal of the cross."

she pushed chakra into the needle-like thread and sewed until the entire cross was covered. It pulsed once, twice before she turned it upside down, and it disappeared from its place in the seal.

Hinata opened Sai's mouth wide, pushing her small hand to the back of his throat.

"Second art of Silence, the opening of the throat."

Sai attempted to thrash as the smell of burning flesh filled the air. Hinata pulled her hand out quickly, watching as the circle surrounding the rest of the sigils disappeared.

Tenten pulled a wicked-looking blade out, holding it over the fire of a torch. She kneeled, burning a new x into his tongue.

"Third art, Stealth release of the mind," pulling the blade back, she took a deep breath before sinking the knife into the center of his forehead.

Hinata's hand pulsed over his chest, lightning dancing along her palms; pushing the charge into his chest, she forced the lightning to arch across the body nestling deep,

"First art of the Reaper deceit by omission."

Sai's heart stopped. Tenten drew a new seal across his tongue as Hinata removed her hands from his chest and nestled them above his center; byakugan activated, she pressed down and pulled the remainder of chakra from his body.

Activating the new seal Tenten and Hinata chanted together

"Fifth art of Death, traveling beyond the gate."

The reaction was instant. The force of removing the seal from the body ripped apart the shadow restraints. His mouth opened in a silent scream,

Hinata quickly drew a circle around the body, adding sigils as she went.

Tenten removed the blade from his forehead, stepping just outside of the circle.

Clapping their palms together and then dropping to the floor, Hinata shouted.

"First art of the heavenly palm, revival."

Tenten poured as much as she could into the seal, letting Hinata's swell of chakra overwhelm hers and take charge. When the light died down, the girls leaped forward, pushing on his chest and blowing air into his lungs until he took a shuddering breath.

Sai was awake, confused, and in pain.

"Stick out your tongue," Tenten commanded.

His movements were slow and uncertain, opening his sore jaw and poking out a blank pink tongue.

The two girls slumped; Sasuke stepped forward

Taking in the exhausted girls.

"He'll n-need time, Your lordship."

He turned, taking in Hinata's quaking form.

"The unsealing required us to move through his entire life force; twenty-four hours." She breathed, 'twenty-four hours and we can do the spirit test, and then all you must know will come to light".

Sasuke nodded his head slowly.

"Very well." He turned his eyes to Tenten, who was breathing heavy, smoke rising from the palms of her hands.

"To speed things, you may want to have lady Tsunade heal him. His mind will be fragmented for a few hours.

Sasuke tapped his foot once impatiently.

Jiraya stepped forward,

"I will summon her at once."

Sasuke hummed his approval.

"You both must be exhausted. We have plenty of rooms. Once you return to the palace grounds, you will be escorted to the healing baths and then to your rooms. He bowed, 'your efforts are greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten". The two girls shared a look, rising slowly and gathering their things from around the room. They waited as the men fled from the room walking behind them. Hinata paused at the croak coming from Sai. She turned, taking in his smiling form. "Th-ank Y-you he choked out." Hinata sighed, pushing her hair back from her face. "Find the light, Sai, and stay with it." She walked from the room. Closing her eyes as if the loss of sight would save her from the echoing boom of the chamber being closed off. The girls leaned on each other, stumbling after the Kings and borderline collapsing as they made it to the palace grounds. Medics rushed forward, laying the two women on a cot each, carting them away to the healing baths. Sasuke Led the men to his private war room. Sitting, he looked to Shikamaru. "the time?" "Half-past nine." "They were faster than I expected." "And yet you were impatient," Neji answered. Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "I am sure you would be impatient should the same had happened to your father." "There are a great many things you know' Neji answered, 'the circumstances of my father's death is not one of them." Closing his eyes, Neji bowed his head. " Forgive me,' he bit out." Hinata and Tenten are both from my domain; I have grown, protective". Sasuke nodded. " Forgive me perhaps instead. He sighed. I have been demanding of late". The priestess' will arrive at three. The service will begin promptly. Keep your eyes sharp. While I find it hard to believe Danzo had been capable of infiltrating the order of the Priestess at such a high level, we cannot take any chances.

Chapter 6: Let it burn

Notes:

review please I need feedback! sorry for the wait I work like a mule. hopefully, the next chapter can be out in a week. that is my hope, not a promise. anyhow I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Text

Tenten was calm when she woke. The warmth of the healing baths had lured her into a death-like sleep. Her hands no longer burned. She pulled them from the glowing blue waters and noted no leftover scars. She reached her hands high above her head in a long and languid stretch. Someone had pulled her hair out of her buns, allowing it to soak in the water. Turning her head, she noticed Hinata a few feet away asleep. Her hair had been let down from her high ponytail and looked washed. Reaching up, Tenten grasped the damp strands of hair on her head. They must have cleaned them up before depositing them in here. She sighed.

"Hinata"

the girl blinked her weary eyes before sitting upright and yawning. Covering her mouth with a dripping hand.

"Hmm"

Tenten smiled.

"I'm not sure how long we've been out." she looked up at the stone ceiling. "I'm not even sure what time it is."

Hinata rolled her shoulders before standing up. The slosh of water rolled off her skin, wetting the area around her. She climbed out quickly enough, spotting a towel and robe not too far away.

Tenten followed suit, amazed at how much energy had been restored.

The two girls dressed in silken black robes walked towards the only visible door and pushed.

There they found two servants kneeling.

"Good morning, young priestess. My name is Hana-

"And my name is Hima, and we will be your personal aides for the duration of your stay here."

The girls were twins, with dark hair, brown eyes, and heavy brows.

Hinata smiled, stepping forward before murmuring

"Please take care of us."

The twins shared bright smiles before rising.

" Let us escort you to your rooms," they said in unison.

The girls padded over barefoot until two pairs of slippers were handed.

Quickly the duo slid them on their feet. The second set opened, leading them into a naturally lit corridor.

What time is it?" Tenten asked.

High noon my lady.

The girls stopped short in front of two rooms.

"Your bags will be found inside. Your clothes have been taken out and ironed. Do you require help with your hair"?

Tenten and Hinata shared a look and nodded.

"Very well," Hima answered. "I will assist you, my lady." She bowed deeply to Tenten before opening the door to the left and shutting it softly behind them.

Hana opened the door for Hinata, ushering her in.

The room was large with lavender and gold decal along the walls with floor-to-ceiling windows that opened to a balcony.

Hinata smiled at the view of the hills; it reminded her so completely of home that she felt sick for a moment.

Turning her eyes to the young girl pulling her garments from the closet, she began to talk.

"I have a sister about your age; her name is Hanabi."

Hana paused, looking up from the dress she had pulled out of the closet.

Hana blinked in confusion and cocked her head to the side, "I'm sorry?"

Hinata sighed

"I'm sure you aren't used to talking to the women you wait on, but I would appreciate it if you could be my friend as well."

Hana's cheeks darkened "friends?"

"Yes, you tell me things, and I'll tell you things."

Hana smiled softly. "I- I would like that."

"Good,"

Hinata walked over, pulling her undergarments on herself. Before sliding the robe back onto her shoulders and sitting at the vanity.

She watched as Hana laid the dress out on the bed and came closer, reaching for a brush and pulling it through Hinata's long hair.

"Your sister, she started off tentatively, "what was she like?"

Hinata smiled

"Oh, she's as brilliant as her namesake. Hanabi, her personality is like fire. She's quick-witted with quite a temper and a refusal to back down. Fierce and protective and by default unbelievably warm and loving to those she deems worthy of her care".

Is she a priestess like you?

"No, she isn't much of a healer. Instead, she is the lord commander of King Neji's troops.

Oh, I hope to see her one day. It's been so long…."

Hana smiled; you sound very much like a loving mother. You seem so proud.

"I am; our mother passed while we were young. So I did raise her as long as I could while I began my training as a Shrine Priestess. Eventually, I had to leave for the High Shrine; it's been about four years since I've seen her, and I'm sure she's grown so strong".

Hinata lifted her eyes to meet Hana in the mirror.

"What about you, aside from Hima? Do you have any other siblings"?

Yes, a brother, though it has been years since I have seen him like you.

The conversation flowed, and as time passed, Hinata stared at her hair in the mirror.

"How are you doing that?"

Hana paused, doing what?

"I've- never seen my hair gleam like that."

Oh, Hana giggled. The brushes are coated in a light bit of oils. When I brush it while damp, it helps the hair absorb it. Picking up a comb, she parted the hair down the middle, sectioning off hair and making quick braids that she wove together with practiced hands. Picking up a white and red ribbon, she twisted it through the braids, creating a sort of crown on her head. Nodding, Hana reached for the makeup, adding mascara to the lashes and red to the lip.

"Now, we best get you in your dress and shoes quickly if you are to arrive on time."

Hinata stepped up, pulling on the undershirt, a high collar with a pattern that looked like curls of white smoke crawling upwards against the material's black. Hana buttoned the back-patting Hinata's shoulder when she was done.

She then raised her arms as the black kimono was wrapped around her person and the obi, lined with a subtle navy blue, wrapped tightly around her waist.

Hana Bent down, helping Hinata slip her feet into her socks before sliding her feet into the sandals. Nodding once, Hana pulled the door open, and Hinata stepped into the hallway as Tenten did.

The two girls shared a look and laughed softly. You look beautiful, Tenten.

Her chocolate locks were gleaming, half up with two buns her usual, and yet the rest of her hair cascaded down her back in light waves.\

rather than a traditional kimono, she wore a Back long-sleeved qipao dress.

"These girls have skills that might even surpass Ino, don't you think?"

Hinata laughed,

" don't let her hear, or she'll give you nightmares."

Tenten scoffed. She can try.

The rest of the walk fell into silence. The clack of their sandals against the marble floor was the only sound for a few minutes.

Hana and Hima led the two down to the throne room. All of the Kings and High priestesses' would gather to say farewell.

Gathered in the hall were Ino, Temari, and several others they hadn't gotten close to.

They shared a quick glance, flashing smiles around before turning to the doors and waiting for them to open.

The Kings gathered in the throne room.

Watching as Sasuke walked in from the east entrance stepping down to the last step in the center of the room, he nodded his head.

The guards pulled the doors open, allowing the Priestess' entrance. They walked in carrying calm on their shoulders, coming to a stop and bowing deeply before the Crown Prince. Tsunade walked in from the western door. Clapping her hands together once for their attention

The service had begun.

The procession of the fallen was a solemn thing.

The Kings carried the casket of the fallen Crown Prince Itachi, and the Sasuke carried his father's coffin with the help of King Kakashi. They walked through the streets, presenting proof of the emperor's death to the public.

The city was silent in mourning. Fugaku ruled with an iron fist, but his heart was of gold.

The people bowed as they passed.

Watching as the Crown prince carried his brother and father to the water. Laying their caskets on the floating funeral Pires, they were set adrift.

Sasuke was quiet for a moment before he spoke loud enough for all to hear. The Uchiha was born in fire, and We return to earth as ashes.

Raising his hand and breathing deeply, he set the two caskets aflame.

Slowly the crowd dissipated. First the commoners, then a few of the kings and priestesses'. One by one, they left the shore until Sasuke stood alone, staring as the flame quieted and a breeze blew the ashes across the water.

He stood, rooted to the spot long after the evidence of their passing had gone.

The sun was beginning to set, and still, he did not move.

Hinata, unable to let him be alone, walked forward and stood next to him.

"We do not simply cease to exist, my lord." She began.

Sasuke scoffed, "and yet that appears to be the case."

Hinata hummed,

"yes, well, the body is like a candle and a physical object that gives a flame a place to burn.

Yet if the flame begins with the candle, when does it end?"

It ends when the candle burns out.

"No," Hinata shook her head softly.

"The candle may light another candle. It might set off a spark; light a torch, the torch might light a fireplace, the flame will live on. Often in more places than one.

She turned, giving her back to the water.

"This Empire is a flame, My lord. You may feed it your love, your rage, and everything in between. But do not forget where this flame comes from; less the light finally goes out".

She walked away.

Leaving Sasuke standing on the shore with new resolve.

Feed the flame; protect those deserving and burn down all who oppose.

Chapter 7: Genjutsu for breakfast

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter fornotes.)

Chapter Text

The sun set the sky aflame come the following day. Brilliant bursts of gold, red, and orange kissed the earth with the promise of lazy summer days and damp skin. The light the sun secreted crept along with glass windows and glided across closed curtains as if searching for a secret entrance to the bodies hidden inside. The sun shined with purpose, as if aware that it was an important day that had no place for shadows. It was the morning of the selection. The day the Empire would be made whole again.

Inside, the servants scurried around, having been awake long before the sun rose. The cooks had been hard at work preparing breakfast; and were earnestly beginning preparations for lunch.

The groundskeeper and his team were hard at work clearing the arena. They swept and shoveled, redrawing lines with red Sand across the stone floors.

The strength of the protective barrier was tested and fixed near weak points. The cooks cleared the spectator boxes and filled them with snacks and drinks, and finally, an assortment of weapons was put into their place against the walls.

Back in the palace, the quiet clamoring of the servants had transformed into a noisy bustle of movement, as the Crown Prince and Kings of the Empire sat at the banquet table, placed high at the front of the room observing the young woman that sat crowding the lower tables.

King Naruto of the whirlpool leaned over to Sasuke and whispered

"So, can you explain this whole selection thing? I'm afraid I stopped listening somewhere after they told us the gods ordained it."

Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"You cannot be serious."

Naruto shrugged, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

"You know as well as I do that I just did not have the patience for that kind of thing back then."

Sasuke scoffed,

"even Kiba managed to make sure he understood the selection."

King Kiba of the Fang smiled wolfishly at Naruto.

"I felt it was important to know how a King received his wife after all."

Naruto paused before narrowing his eyes.

"I know we marry them; I just do not get why."

Shikamaru sighed. He leaned back and took a long drink from the goblet placed before him. Naruto looked at him expectantly, waiting for a response.

"The selection is more than just a lottery for our wives', Shikamaru began.

It goes as far back as the beginning of our Empire.

Each King had a single god he worshiped; however, all of our lands are close, and we began to war specifically because each King swore their God was superior to another. This era was called the endless war.

We had known of a mother Goddess, but she had never claimed any specific kingdom. However, quietly, the shrines began to spring up. Women left the kingdoms in droves. Some say to escape the violence; others suspect the mother Goddess called them.

Then one day, there was a lethal attack. Hidan of Akatsuki arrived. One man with a sickle and a servant of Jashin slaughtered a country to sacrifice for his lord.

Once the realization set in that the Akatsuki had many members and very specifically worshipped Jashin, the kings came together and formed an alliance. They voted the Uchiha into a place of power, and they were the new imperial Family, and Madara became Emperor. The newly formed Empire was prepared to attack.

Madara had a wife that the shrine priestess had highly respected' and told him they could not go to war without the sanction of the mother goddess. She gathered the women she knew to be capable, the best healers and warriors the women had. Allegedly, a crest appeared above several women specific to the God they were pledged to. They paired off and protected the newly established Empire. They were waging war against the lands of Akatsuki and fighting off Jashin's might. Eventually, it became common knowledge that the women of the Shrine carried wisdom for the kings. They worked together to create tools that allowed them to wield power within those crests… And the rest is history."

Naruto snorted as he reached for his goblet.

"And yet we have never seen those crests again, have we? … Why are we so sure that we fight for the gods. All the suffering and blood, and do they even care anymore?"

Neji leaned forward, giving Naruto a look.

"It is not the place of a man to determine the whims of the gods."

Naruto frowned.

Then what is the place of a man?

King Jiraiya leaned forward and uttered.

"We are their vassals."

The eyes of the young Kings followed his gaze across the banquet hall taking in the light chatter that rang amongst the women.

"We represent their physical form here on earth. According to some, we are their strength, a weapon, literally made in their likeness. While we may not have seen the crests in millennia, the High Priestess will select the most fearsome women to take over the leadership of the Shrine. The skills needed to do so place their abilities on par with ours. That logic alone makes them the only women worthy of being by our sides. The life of a King is a hard one; we make choices that spill blood. Having a priestess beside you helps you carry the burden. She will heal where we can only maim. She will calm while we rage. Perhaps, most importantly, she will see when we cannot".

Jiraiya turned his head, looking over the young Kings.

"Traditionally, the Priestess learn a great deal and eventually choose a study that brings them closer to any of our specific Gods. The selection will let them showcase these skills. Though it is not just for us to view, it is also for the gods".

Asuma hummed, leaning forward,

" This year's selection will be a bit different."

The eyes of the Kings turned towards him.

"My child, Mirai, is far too young to be given the choice of joining the priestess' or taking over my reign. The Sarutobi's last heir, Konohamaru, is too young to be named my crown prince. I will stay in power until the time has come for us to change. Meaning Kurenai will remain a Pillar."

Asuma looked to Kakashi of Lightning and Jiraiya of the Marsh and nodded.

Jiraiya cleared his throat before speaking again.

"Kakashi and I have been unable to produce heirs. We have discussed the realities of this issue and have decided that to keep from bloodshed, we will be relinquishing our territories. I to King Naruto of the whirlpool."

Furthermore, I, Kakashi, began to our very own Crown Prince.

Looking closely at Sasuke and Naruto, the two asked, "do you accept?"

Naruto and Sasuke shared a look before bowing their heads briefly before swearing together.

"On my honor, your people will be loved as my own"

The two men nodded. Turning their heads back towards the women.

Asuma cleared his throat again before speaking,

"There will be two fewer women to evaluate, and the preliminaries will begin just now."

The young men leaned forward. Watching as a haze seemed to descend from the roof slowly. Settling lightly onto the women.

One by one, their speech stopped. Some were looking around wildly, and others were sitting completely still.

Sasuke held his breath as one girl with long dark hair with two swords on her back rose from the table, pulling the two blades from her back and charged towards another girl.

The ensuing battle was chaos that somehow stayed neatly away from the King's table.

Naruto paused eating as he noticed something.

"They aren't all fighting."

Indeed they were not. Ten or so young women sat drinking tea calmly amongst the chaos.

Neji chuckled.

"Well, it seems illusions do not easily manipulate them."

The fighting lasted ten minutes before the illusion was lifted from the room.

The result was instantaneous. All movement ceased before a collective sigh seemed to rush through the girls that had been fighting.

Tsunade, Anko, and Kurenai walked forward, shaking their heads disapprovingly at the girls, waving them to one side of the room. Stopping in the center, Tsunade's voice carried.

" those of you that are sitting, you have successfully disabled a genjutsu from Kurenai and have passed the preliminary. Congratulations."

Silence answered her declaration.

"For your second test, you will heal all of those injured in this hall and then report to the infirmary where you will heal five soldiers each."

Tsunade watched as the girls rose from their place and bowed deeply before approaching their sisters. This year's selection was fascinating.

Hinata had almost laughed when the genjutsu had fallen into place. It fed on paranoia and fear. Two emotions should not exist within a shrine priestess. The only fear she held was of failure. Failure to succeed, failure to heal, failure to protect. Perhaps, fear of the God Jashin. Nevertheless, she did not fear her sisters, and this particular illusion fed on the fear, paranoia, and perhaps jealousy that the girls harbored.

Rotating the chakra in her body backwards, she watched as the girls continued fighting. Wincing lightly when Mizu began to walk in her direction, only to be lifted and thrown by the immense physical strength Tayuna possessed. The fighting was brutal, and the occasional snap of bone or shriek of pain pierced the air. She turned her head, catching Tenten's face, a full sneer evident on her lips as she watched Tayuna's arms pulled behind her back and broken after her brutal assault of Mizu.

Hinata raised an eyebrow when they made eye contact.

Tenten shrugged, picking up her tea and walking over to take a seat next to Hinata.

"She broke both of my arms in that exact way during training once. She was punished, but it was almost twice as painful to heal then it was to break them".

Hinata twitched a smile.

The gods have moved in your favor.

Tenten rolled her eyes,

" yes, well, I could complain about the wait though I suppose I should not."

The two looked around, noting that, of course, Sakura and Ino were sitting and barely containing their glee as they watched four girls specifically take blow after blow.

Recognize anyone else that made it?

Hinata hummed, looking around

"Karin and Tamaki …'

swiveling her head around to take in the very few girls sitting and finishing their breakfast.

"Temari, Hanare and Kin".

"That is, what nine of us?" Tenten asked

Hinata nodded,

"I thought more of us would make it."

Tenten snorted

"You would think Tayuna would have made it past the genjutsu phase, at least I mean, she is a sound genjutsu specialist."

Hinata finished her fruit calmly, ducking her head as a kunai flew by.

"Finish eating Tenten; I suspect we will have to heal them."

Tenten sighed

"I cannot eat anymore. This genjutsu may have been simple, but it was powerful".

She frowned, making eye contact with Hinata.

"I almost did not make it through."

Hinata shook her head."

the point is that you made it through, and the others did not. Don't fret".

Tenten shrugged, reaching out and refilling her teacup in silence. Steady hands made a steady medic, and nerves would do her no good.

When the illusion had been lifted away, the girls retreated to one side of the room at Tsunade's command. The room was silent as she entered and silent as she exited.

The nine seated girls rose slowly, sharing a brief look among them. Sakura stepped forward, first pulling her long pink hair into a bun on the top of her head.

"There were sixty of us, so we each have to heal five, right?

She clicked her tongue in thought as she stepped forward.

"though I suspect one or two of us will heal more than that. She paused, looking to the other girls with sparkling jade eyes.

"I bet you I will heal the most."

Karin pushed past her, rolling her eyes "right, let us get this over with."

The girls crossed the room, selecting five women each, and moving to clear a medical space.

The young women worked quickly, clearing areas from the breakfast table and cutting away strips of cloth to better see the wounds.

Sakura looked up gratefully as basins of water and other tools were placed along the length of the tables. She rolled her shoulders. The girl took a deep breath and turned to her first patient, quietly mumbling under her breath as she began assessing the wounds.

Hairline fracture, possible concussion. They had their work cut out for them.

After an hour, Hinata looked up, noting that Karin, Ino, and Sakura had already started on their sixth patient. She hurried forward, selecting another girl at random.

"Fuck, that hurts, you bitch!"

As she turned her head sharply to Tenten, who seemed unfazed by Tayuna's outburst, Hinata's eyes widened.

"I know she answered, as I recall you were the one to give me this exact injury."

Tayuna stiffened; turning her eyes away, she mumbled

"You shouldn't have been a weak bitch."

Tenten chuckled, wiping her arms down delicately with a damp cloth

"and yet here we sit, you a failure of the first task and I, a participant of the second."

Tayuna glared.

Undeterred, Tenten began to apply healing chakra to her arm. Tayuna gasped, pale face bleeding stark color white as her bone rotated and snapped back in place.

"I- I alone am exalted."

Tenten lifted an eyebrow before moving on to the next arm.

"Arrogance," she murmured, "will be your downfall, Tayuna; you have always been strong. You could have escaped the genjutsu you believed that you could never befall an illusion that stopped you".

Tayuna huffed,

"I did not want to have to marry one of those shitheads anyway."

Tenten shook her head.

"Whatever you say, Tayuna."

The rest of the healing process was done in silence.

Hinata sat down with the young girl who constantly fidgeted despite the Kunai that sat plunged deeply into her shoulder and even deeper into her thigh.

"What is your name."

The girl looked up, blushing heavily.

"Moegi."

Ah, you are a bit young fifteen, perhaps?

The girl nodded yes,

" You must be an amazing medic,"

Hinata paused, staring at the Kunai in her shoulder.

"I am going to have to take this out, and I would rather do it quickly. She reached out, grabbing a towel.

"bite down"

The girl did as she was told, holding her breath as Hinata's hand wrapped around the hilt and the other braced against her arm. She nodded once to the girl who shut her eyes tightly. Hinata began to count,

"one, two"-

she pulled, surprising the girl so that she gasped, dropping the damp towel out of her mouth before swaying gently. Hinata had her lay back. She placed a hand on the bleeding wound and poured healing chakra into it. She began to speak, working on keeping her conscious.

"Moegi, tell me how you made it to the selection."

The girl sucked in a breath and swallowed

"I-I come from the land of Whirlpool."

Like Sakura.

"Yes!" Moegi gasped out

"when she returns to the lands every weak, she will train me; eventually, she took me to the high Shrine to train for more extended periods. There has been a shortage of female births; women are opting for the path of motherhood in hopes that more women will be born, so the temple requires more Shrine Priestess.

Hinata frowned; blood flow had stopped, and the flesh was beginning to heal.

How many are there?

"Four, two of which have only just begun their training."

And how long have you been training?

"My wh-whole life. My parents died in the war. She closed her eyes, I did not have any other family, so I turned to the temple".

With her shoulder healed, Hinata helped Moegi move into a sitting position. Reaching up, she gave her a glass of water and a piece of dried fruit.

Quickly now. You will likely pass out if I do not get your blood sugar high enough before removing the second Kunai.

Moegi nodded her thanks. Chewing softly.

Hinata cut away her pants at the hip; grabbing a fresh basin of water, she began to wash the area around the wound. Moegi watched her work.

"Once Sakura deemed me proficient, I returned home to heal the wounded and sick. A month ago, Lady Tsunade asked me to join the selection; she said my healing abilities were too necessary to go unnoticed.

Her eyes flickered to the King's table, taking in the cleared the table and their relaxed figures as they watched.

"But I guess I failed."

Hinata shook her head, her tresses falling forward as she pushed down on the skin, delighted at finding that the girl's skin had swelled and the Kunai was not as deep as he thought. Grasping it lightly, she locked eyes with Moegi, who steeled herself before nodding once. Hinata pulled, and the girl grunted.

Hinata gave her a brief smile; pressing down, she reduced the swelling with her glowing hands and further assessed the damage.

You did not fail.

Hinata clicked her tongue softly.

I am sure Lady Tsunade just wanted to test you. From what you have told me, Sakura has only trained you in the art of healing, likely due to the shortage whirlpool is experiencing. I think she just wanted you to get a taste of battle. Something that would be easily controlled and ensure that she could get an accurate analysis of your potential. You are skilled, fast, and relatively strong. I would not be surprised if you were asked to lead the whirlpool temple very soon.

Hinata wrapped a bandage around her leg, opting to let the flesh wound heal independently. Handing the girl a cup of fresh fruit, she stood,

"Besides, the selection lasts all day. I'm sure you'll be healing one of us next," she said with a wink.

Looking around, she noted that Sakura healed eight young women, Karin healed seven, and she had healed six. She turned, surprised that they all succeeded in recovering the preliminary five. As the doors to the banquet hall opened, Tsunade stepped forward, assessing their work nodding as she checked over the work that was done.

"Well done she began, but this is only the beginning. You may follow Shizune to the infirmary. You'll have one hour to heal those wounds. Good luck, you'll need it".

The girls filed out of the hall following the dark-haired, dark-eyed woman that happened to be carrying a miniature pig.

"Come along, quickly we haven't much time."

Izanagi and Izanami were not known to be gracious. They had warred directly before. Having lost control of their strengths, they had almost casually ended the era of immortality for the humans of earth. The two sat looking at their children.

They fought each other for years, centuries. But today, nestled in the stars surrounded by the very souls that called on their names for strength, a decision was made. Jashin must be vanquished, and to do so, they would claim their Heirs. Izanami touched her face, wondering lightly how she would be perceived. She looked to her children, supernova eyes, brilliant in the darkness of the infinite sky. Her mouth curved around each sound that passed her lips. In the distance, new stars sprang to life, and the brightness of others went out.

" For the sake of all that we've created and all we have destroyed, Izanagi and I have reunited."

The energy was palpable; Izanagi shifted, blinking his bright eyes as he murmured,

"Jashin was born of all our ill will."

The stars shined brighter as he spoke. A new planet sprung forth as the syllables left his tongue. Absentmindedly he brushed it aside.

"Together we will tear him down, we will fight, on earth with our vessels."

The longer he spoke, the more life seemed to breathe into his surroundings. Izanami sighed, stilling the growth.

"The strongest candidates in centuries have been born," waving her hand, the images of the Uchiha Palace sprang to life.

"The selection has begun. Watch closely."

The complete focus of several Gods strained heavily on the image.

Below, walking passed tapestries, talking Sasuke's Sharingan Flashed calmly. He paused, running his eyes wildly around his surroundings. Slowly he raised his eyes, unknowingly staring right into Izanagi's eyes. Odd though it was, Izanagi smiled. It appears his son had noticed his attention.

The infirmary had been chaos, and it seemed the injured men of the fire country had been brought all the way inland suffering their wounds. Shizune walked briskly, speaking in loud clipped tones that left no room for questions.

"Should you be selected today, you will become Queens, Pillars of society that must rest on your strength. These men have risked their lives defending the borders from attack. The Land of sound is relentless, and as such, all hands are required to keep the number of casualties down".

Brushing past the nurses running by with gauze, Shizune yanked the door open.

"Frequently, the wounds leave the men in critical condition. As it is, you will be in a position where you are the only ones capable of healing them. Be it on the battlefield or at home, you must try your hardest to preserve their lives.

Each of you has been given patients in critical condition. You must do your best to save their lives. You will receive no assistance, and your timers will begin as soon as you touch your first patient".

Stepping into the last room, there was a collective gasp.

"They have been placed in stasis. Each of you has one patient that is quite literally on death's door. This will not be easy, and we do not expect you all to succeed. All of these men understood that they may not survive and had already pledged their lives to the selection. I will not delude you. There are many wounds here; not even I could hope to heal independently.

Best of luck".

Shizune turned, pulling the door open, briefly letting in the wails of pain before it closed, sealing the silence in the room.

Sakura was again the first to move. Pausing before the area with her name written in beautiful calligraphy above the beds of five men.

Slowly the girls moved into place. Hair was pulled back, faucets were turned on, and hands scrubbed as they prepared to defend the lives before them.

Unbeknownst to them, the Kings and the remaining pillars stood in an observatory watching. Tsunade and Kurenai doing their best to explain the actions of each candidate.

The hour went by quickly. Sakura found herself sending a prayer to God's thanks to that she had learned to summon Suyu. She used her summon to diagnose each of her patients and order them from most lethal.

Tenten bit her lip, brushing past; she focused on stopping the bleeding of her most delicate patient. She understood she did not have the most excellent control to heal them like the others, but she would do her best. Pressing her lips into a grim line, she placed a small blade along with the burner. Focusing her chakra on healing the deeper parts of the wound.

Karin had been confident until her last patient. Using her peculiar gift of transferring healing energy through her marrow. Idly she remembers Tsunade telling her that she needed to learn other forms of healing. And she had. She just wasn't very good at it, and now most of her energy was spent. Setting her shoulders, she moved forward, assessing the damage. Gritting her teeth, she lifted his head and forced him to bite down on her arm. She would minimize the damage first.

Hanare dropped her head in shame. She had tried going as far as to climb onto his body and attempt to restart his heart, but she had missed another wound, and the internal bleeding had been too much. She gasped, painfully slamming her fists down on his chest in an attempt to revive him, and succeeded only in spraying his blood along her face.

Dazed, she slipped down and backed away. The metallic scent of blood converged on her senses. She turned to the faucet, taking her time washing her face. She would not heal her last patient, and she refused to make another mistake.

Tamaki was patient knowledgeable in the practice of old surgeries. She began by cleaning and sealing minor wounds with stitches and using the time to recover some of the energy she had lost.

Moving then to the profound healing techniques. She summoned her cat Hira who shared chakra with her to bolster her work.

Ino took a different approach. Placing her hands on their temples, she searched their minds and souls for their healing capability and roused them. Pushing their minds and spirits to pursue healing. Calmly and as gently as she could, she nudged their gate of healing open. Forcing a flux of chakra to shoot forth from their bodies and begin to heal their wounds.

Kin had given up on her third patient, and he had shrapnel in his chest, and her attempts at dislodging the fine strips of metal had resulted in his death. Discouraged, she returned to the two that had stabilized and focused on simply healing all of their wounds.

What Temari was doing was anyone's guess. As a Shrine Priestess from the Sand, little was known of their practices in healing. However confusing her actions were, with a small fan constantly blowing wind over their bodies, it was clear that it was working with the closing of their wounds.

Hinata had done something entirely different. Pouring chakra into her eyes and assessing the damage, she pulled a brush from her bag and began drawing sigils along the skin of each of her patients in their blood. One by one, she clasped her hands against their heads, and the sigils burned a brilliant red. Dropping to her knees before them, she pushed all of her chakras out of her body and directed it in a controlled flow over each massive wound.

The timers went off quietly, the soft blue glow of stasis disappeared from the bodies, and Hanare and Kin watched in horror as the ones they could not heal succumbed loudly and brutally to death. Backing away from their patients, the young women stood in the center of the room, hands to their sides. Two with heads bowed in shame.

When the doors opened, it was mercifully quiet. Tsunade, Kurenai, Anko stepped in.

Tsunade hummed. Hanare, Kin. the two young women looked up.

" you only needed courage."

"Honestly"

Kurenai glanced around the room

"We are surprised. You were only expected to heal four of them".

Hanare looked hopefully in her direction, and Kurenai shook her head without making eye contact. "Unfortunately, Hanare, you didn't try to heal your fifth patient. It is the attempt that is the most important".

Hanare's shoulders slumped as she nodded her head.

Tsunade rested her eyes on Temari.

"Your healing method is peculiar, yet fairly successful what is it called."

Temari flexed the fan in her hand,

"The breath of Izanagi."

Three small circles could be seen. Moving her hand down, she showed an X hidden by her thumb.

"I use my fans to keep the air of life flowing. The stronger the winds, the harder it is for death to grasp the body. I fill the lungs of my patient with the healing air, and the body does the rest".

Tsunade smiled at Sakura and Ino; The two had learned techniques from her over the years, and Ino she began.

That was a new technique, was it not?

The blonde girl nodded her head.

"I stimulate the healing capabilities within the mind and spirit while nudging open the gate of healing. She shrugged. I figured my stamina isn't great enough to deal with these kinds of wounds, so I needed to find another way."

Tsunade nodded. We will discuss this in-depth later.

Anko stepped forward and outright laughed at Tenten's work.

"Crude, almost medieval, but it works. She looked at her, with a wicked smile. I like it".

Tenten lifted a brow with a smirk and shook her head.

Anko stepped in front of Hinata. Staring down at the petit girl.

"You, on the other hand. Used dark arts to save lives".

Hinata tensed as all eyes turned to her.

"You used death seals."

It was a statement, yet feeling attacked, Hinata scrambled to defend herself.

"I-it was a modified death seal."

she paused, forcing herself to make eye contact with Anko.

"r- rather than calling death to them, I hid them from death. Like pulling the veil over his eyes and working to heal them while he searched".

Anko lifted a brow, "and what kind of Mystical palm did you use to heal them.''

Hinata flinched.

"It wasn't," she whispered.

Tsunade stepped forward.

"Speak up, Hinata."

The girl looked up, making eye contact with Tsunade as she said louder,

"It wasn't the Mystical palm."

She looked away

"I call it the Heavenly palm. It's my chakra, but it's all of my chakras. In waves, it stimulates healing and focuses all of the body's energy on the larger wound. It pulls the chakra from my patient's bodies and merges with my own to heal them. Returning only after the significant injuries are healed.

She clenched her fists, looking down again. The seal undoes itself once the patient is out of critical, and they are no longer on death's radar".

Tsunade hummed. Looking the girls over,

"Interesting."

Stepping away from the girls, she turned. Karin, Hanare, Kin, you will remain in the infirmary.

Karin gasped loudly.

"No! I healed all five of my patients!"

"Did you?"

Karin whirled around, looking at her patients to find two of them with blood dripping from their mouths. She paled

"B- but I-I"

"You failed to properly diagnose the problem. Worse than lacking courage, you lack the skill needed to save them. You have failed the third test and will find courage and wisdom by tending to the wounded for the rest of the week.

The rest of you will return to your rooms and prepare for the events of the afternoon. Your battles will be held in the arena, and your handmaids will lead you there".

The girls filed out of the room, leaving Hanare, Kin, and Karin without a backward glance to prepare for the rest of their day.

The handmaids stood in the main hall, bowing deeply until the Priestesses stood before them. What time is it? Temari questioned.

Just minutes past ten, my queen.

As the maids turned to escort the women to their rooms, an awkward silence blanketed the large group as realization set in. even without the official decree, they were Queens. Every Priestess there would be marrying a King, in one case the Emperor. They had beaten the odds. Ino began to laugh,

"oh my, well, Hinata, you're just that much closer to being the women of prophecy, huh?"

Hinata shook her head, "I doubt it. I don't think I'd be a good fit for the Crown Prince".

Sakura smiled, well if you don't want him...

"Oh please, forehead if it's not Hinata, it's gonna be me!"

"Oh no, you pig! no, you won't!"

The pair's bickering did quite a bit to relieve the girls' tension. They would first battle each other, and then they would wait for the gods to claim them.

The Kings made their way to the arena.

The conversation was quiet, occasionally interrupted by the sound of a gulp or the smack of lips on fruit. Sasuke's Sharingan remained activated. Every so often, glimpsing upwards, narrowing his eyes as he tried in vain to see far past the brilliance of the sun, Naruto patted him on the back, abruptly bringing his attention down to their resting place. The remaining Pillars walked in. He looked away, making eye contact with Neji, whose very own eyes were activated as well.

Together they slowly relaxed their eyes, releasing the pent-up energy before stepping casually towards each other.

"You feel it too," Neji stated.

Sasuke scowled, "feel what exactly."

Neji smirked, leaning forward to pull a grape from the vine nestled conveniently in the center of the table.

"The feeling of being watched, and from above no less."

Sasuke frowned, refusing to say a word.

"Perhaps," Neji drawled slowly.

"Perhaps the Gods look down on us today. I imagine the weight of their gaze would be easily felt from our place".

Sasuke, deciding to brush the feeling off, shrugged his shoulders.

"Perhaps it is only their will."

Neji bit into his grape, nodding, … "Perhaps."

Sasuke fought the urge to roll his eyes, turning to look at Naruto. His eyes widened in surprise; he had entered sage mode, channeling the power of nature through him. Abruptly, he looked up. Locking eyes with Sasuke before confirming almost casually,

"It seems the gods have decided us worthy of their attention."

He lifted his eyes to Tsunade, who held an expression of almost imperceptible shock before grinning deviously.

Then I hope my darlings put on quite the show. Our Lady Izanami should be greatly disappointed if we have not produced an heir.

Hinata stared at herself in the mirror. She had insisted that they all rest in the healing baths, and it had been quiet, and She had done some chakra meditating. Relishing lightly when she returned to her room and felt almost as if her chakra had become more potent. Hana brushed her hair until it was gleaming. Then turned to the closet.

"What will you wear?"

Hinata looked up through the mirror before almost chuckling at the girl's bewildered look. Standing up, she approached the closet herself. Pulling out the black steal bra with a high collar that blocked her throat and a light leather corset for her stomach. Hinata reached first for the black capri pants; standard issue. Pulling them securely over her hips. Hana then helped her pull on the Black steal bra, pulling the strings at her back until her shoulders were back and her head held high. Hana reached for the black leather, stopping when Hinata turned to the closet and pulled out a short kimono top. Black in color saves for the red and white Camilla that climbed up the arms of the sleeves. Hana helped her into it, pulling the small strings around and behind her in a loose knot. The black leather corset wrapped around her middle like an obi. Hana pulled it tight until it was nearly flush against her skin. Hinata grunted but nodded her head in thanks as Hana set about tying an intricate knot

" for good luck."

Hana said when she noticed Hinata observing its flower-like shape.

She nodded. Sitting back down at the vanity, knowing Hana refused to let her leave without kohl-lined eyes and more extended, darker lashes. Hana lifted her dark tresses to the very top of her head. She wrapped a red ribbon around tightly until the bright color nestled starkly against her hair., finishing with the same flower-shaped knot at the top of her head.

Hinata stared at herself in the mirror

Hana, I don't know how you do it, but you always manage to make me look magical.

The girl laughed then,

"No, my lady, that is simply my way of refusing to allow you to hide."

The two exited the room quietly

Meeting Temari in the hallway, her blonde hair remained in its signature four pigtails, though it gleamed more than usual. She donned a short-sleeved kimono with high slits on either side and a red leather corset for an obi. She nodded to Hinata, pulling on a pair of fingerless gloves. When she moved, hints of her fishnet shorts and black steel shin guards could be seen.

Temari chose to sit in the sun of the window. Sitting on the ledge, legs crossed.

Hinata leaned against the wall, deciding to strike up a conversation.

"Temari, right?"

The girl in question nodded her head.

Hinata right?

She smiled, nodding once before cocking her head to the side.

You're from Sand, correct?

"And you're from the Heavenly Hills."

Temari raised an eyebrow, and Hinata blushed

It seems I keep stating facts,

Temari chuckled then

"It seems you do."

Hinata smiled. Well, what's it like in the Sand?

Temari cocked her head to the side, scrunching her nose in thought for a second before answering.

"Sandy?"

The two girls stared at each other in disbelief before bursting into a fit of giggles.

"My goodness, I must be more nervous than I realized."

Temari said as she shook her head.

"What's so funny?" Tenten asked as she approached.

Her chocolate hair was up in two braided buns with the ends hanging down towards her shoulders. Black qipao top and black Capri pants, both lined in red. She had two large bracelets on, mostly hidden by the long sleeves of her top.

Oh, nothing, Hinata hummed, just that the Sand is well, sandy.

Tenten lifted a brow but shook her head instead.

Well, since we'll be working together for the foreseeable future, I am Tenten, bowing quickly to Temari, who chuckled as she bowed in return. And I am Temari.

She shared a quick look with Hinata that resulted in heavy giggles.

Tenten quirked an eyebrow and asked. "again, what's so funny?"

"Probably the way you're dressed."

Ino called, flipping her blonde hair onto her shoulder. She wore a black leather halter, trimmed in a deep purple. Arms and exposed midriff covered in black mesh. A long skirt with high slits donned her hips each step she took, exposing her fishnet shorts.

Tenten rolled her eyes.

"Ino, I don't particularly care about looks the way you do."

Ino huffed. Well, you should.

Tamaki stepped into the hallway, a tiny kitten trailed behind her. Long black hair flowing down behind her; she wore a simple Qipao dress black in color with red trim and a long slit up either side. She wore solid red shorts underneath. A small pouch could just barely be seen with her steps.

"Oh, I don't know, Ino. It seems to me our looks are the last thing we'll be judged on."

Ino rolled her eyes. They are still men.

Hinata sighed, rolling her shoulders.

You say that as if the men are choosing their wives.

Of course not Hinata Tsunade is choosing, and she'll pick whomever we look best with.

Hinata frowned,

"No, the gods choose Ino," looking up with a surprisingly more severe face than anticipated.

"I suspect that they are watching more closely today than any other."

A collective silence was broken moments later by Sakura, who walked in wearing black capris, standard-issue under a long red qipao top trimmed in black. Her long pink hair in a messy bun on top of her head. And black gloves pulled firmly into place.

Alright, Ino pig, I'm ready to kick your ass.

Ino rolled her eyes, turning to follow the retreating handmaids before answering, "as if Forehead."

Izanami stared intently at the dark-haired girl. She glanced around and noted that they all seemed to have their eye on a different heir. She smiled, and the darkness of her mouth pulled in the light from around her. Little Hinata. She leaned back. The black of her hair moved like ink in water, somewhere between rising and falling around her darker than the deep navy of the sky.

Her namesake was far from what she was. Hinata, of the sun. And yet, she felt the darkness nestled deep within her. How do you control your rage, little one? She lifted a finger trailing it along the length of her shadow.

Hinata shivered as she entered the arena. Glancing upwards briefly, she clicked her tongue. As a sudden rush of emotions came over her. Excitement, fear, and something foreign, something vicious. She clamped down on it before she could give it a name.

Standing with her arms clasped behind her back, she waited in silence with the others. Tsunade stepped forward. Placing her hands on the banister before her, she projected her voice loud and clear.

" Hinata, Sakura, and Tamaki, please step forward."

The trio took a single step forward. Stopping just before three large slabs of stone.

Hold out a hand.

Simultaneously they raised their right arm.

Shizune rushed forward, pricking a finger for each girl with a needle quickly.

She was gone before the drop of blood swelled and dripped from their fingers. Leaving angry red marks against the white stone.

"Tenten, Ino, Temari"

The trio looked up, stepping over to three more stones.

"Arms," Tsunade called.

Shizune rushed forward again. Disappearing before the blood made itself known.

When the final splash of blood hit the white stone, all six slabs glowed a deep blue before moving around to slam together.

"The matches have been decided."

Tamaki versus Ino

Tenten versus Sakura

Hinata versus Temari

Tamaki and Ino are. First, the rest of you may be seated.

The two girls walked to the center of the arena in silence. Ino took her stance, and Tamaki stood almost casually with her hands to her sides.

Above them, Matatabi leaned forward. Her large grin is feral in nature.

"I have long known this to be my child. She reached forward, a sharp talon caressing her image lightly. Be wild, my child".

Tamaki shivered, the hair on the back of her neck rising. Her eyes narrowed on Ino, waiting for a sign that she would move, a twitch of a finger, a shift of her hair. And then, it was there, the raising of her eyebrows. And then Tamaki was above her, Hand-stretched out as her chakra took the shape of claws around her hand clashing loudly against Ino's Kunai. Pushing back, Tamaki put some distance between them before rushing forward again.

The selection had begun.

Notes:

Hi ya, getting into the way this world operates is a little tricky considering I'm still trying to keep true to a few dynamics in the series. Let me know if anything is confusing so I can clarify either in the comments or in the next chapter based on what you all say. anyway, I hope you enjoyed it!

Chapter 8: dark kisses part one

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter fornotes.)

Chapter Text

The two came together in a clash of shrieking metal. Ino's Kunai struggling to keep its form under Tamaki's chakra claws.

Moving to put some distance between the two.

Stepped back slowly, "you've always been so quiet, Tamaki. Is this how you make up for years of total silence."

Tamaki grinned ferally, baring the beginning of small fangs at the edge of her lips.

"I was never silent, Ino. I just hadn't found anything worth speaking about, at least not with you."

Ino narrowed her eyes again, stepping back once again.

I am excellent at conversation.

Tamaki stalked forward slowly.

"That's just it, Ino, do you ever sit in silence; do you ever think?

What makes you think I don't?

Everything you say is superficial, looks, men, clothes. The same three things every day. The only thing more surprising than the fact that you made it this far will be if you manage to beat me.

Ino gave a humorless chuckle, "You don't know me at all, Tamaki. I am full of surprises".

Ino turned then, sprinting along the length of the arena

Tamaki followed swiftly, pivoting in surprise when ino leaped forward, grasping a long staff from the wall. Tamaki snorted; you have never used a weapon before.

Ino swung the staff around with precision. Moving it swiftly enough to slam home in the center of Tamaki's chest.

Tamaki flew back. Taking control of her momentum, she flipped, landing on her feet. Snarling, she bit her thumb to produce a trickle of blood.

Drawing a sigil on her forearm, she clapped her hands together and hissed out, First art of the beast. Mimicry.

Above Matatabi smiled.

Ino stiffened. Lifting the staff above her head, she began to swing it around. She started her advance, eyes locked on Tamaki's lithe form.

She moved just out of reach, dipping and dodging Ino's practiced swipes.

Huffing, she pushed forward; Tamaki smiled, raising a hand to block Ino's forward thrust. The wood was shaved down by her chakra claws. Smirking lightly, Ino turned into her thrust, gripping the staff with one hand and lashing out at her with a concealed blade.

Tamaki leaned back, surprised by the girl's use of another weapon.

The two paused eyes narrowed before Ino used a burst of chakra; slamming the staff into the ground, she quickly drew a sigil in the dirt.

"The husk of the great boar"

Tamaki sprang back, surprise evident in her movement as two large horns rose out of the ground forming two curved pillars.

Ino stood balancing precariously on the staff that now lay suspended between the wicked tips of the horns.

Tamaki charged without thought. Chakra claws at their sharpest, she leaped forward, digging her nails into the bone-like pillar. Gasping as a portion shot out a spike that impaled her shoulder.

Ino clasped her hands together in prayer, eyes closed she spoke loudly and clearly

"Blessing of dawn, the grip of Ame-No- Uzume."

Tamaki's eyes widened, pushing away from the pillar she hissed, grabbing onto her bloody shoulder before stiffening. Air still in her lungs.

Ino slowly closed her eyes before dropping down to stand calmly in front of Tamaki. She placed her hand on her head and used another intense burst of chakra.

Second art of Ying, Revival.

Tamaki shook violently before letting out an ear-splitting scream.

Ino stepped back, blue eyes icy as she took in her opponent's gasping form.

She smiled to herself briefly before leaning forward and whispering in her ear.

Matatabi snarled whirling on Uzume. What has your child done?

Uzume waved her hand, shifting the position of the stars with her unnatural breeze

I do not know.

Matatabi bared her fangs; liars will not be tolerated.

Uzume tossed her sunshine hair over her shoulders, cast an ocean blue gaze to Matatabi's form, now more woman than a beast, and smiled.

"I do not know, and I did not impart any of my wills on the child.

Though you did, I wanted to see her full potential without my interference."

Matatabi glanced back at their still forms. Freezing when she heard a whisper. Narrowing her eyes to slits, she focused on Tamaki. As she slowly pulled her wildness back from her, she listened to what Uzume's child whispered.

"You will shake with fear when next you look upon my form."

Ino's head lifted towards the sky. Closing her own eyes, she played with a name on her tongue. " "Mat-a-ta-bi."

Angrily Matatabi moved, more beast now she turned looking at Uzume.

You have already claimed the child.

Uzume smiled. Slowly before nodding, her family has gone through great pains to produce my heir. She writhes with the power of my tongue in her sleep and holds an awareness unique to her alone. Relax, Matatabi, she has not harmed your child, and you gave her a bit too much wildness. My child asks only for respect, which you have now stolen from her.

Matatabi hissed, so she would replace respect with fear?

Don't you?

The weight of Uzume's judgment weighed heavily in the air before Matatabi calmed. Nestling herself in the darkness of the sky.

" Fear has more than one outcome."

Yes, it does.

Tamaki Jerked back, gasping as she stared Ino down. The girl in question smiled as she stepped back between the pillars and slid into a fighting position.

Tamaki rolled her neck. Swiping the blood on her left hand across her forearm

Snarling as she hissed out, "Third art of the beast,'' Summoning Nekomata.

Ino smiled softly as the smoke cleared.

"Come"

Nekomata gave Tamaki a single glance before the two rushed forward. Nekomata's tails smashing the bone blades that jut out from Ino's bore pillars with each step Tamaki took.

The two girls clashed in a flurry of metal and fists. Turning sharply, Ino ducked, gasping at Tamaki's increased speed. Furrowing her brows, she continued to defend. Annoyance flashed briefly across her face. She flicked her eyes to the side before chuckling to herself and flipping backward before slamming her hands to the earth chanted Blessings of dawn Revelry of the Flowers.

The arena burst open with flowers. A brilliant display of vibrant red violets and sun-gazing yellows.

Tamaki began to laugh. Flowers? You summoned flowers.?

Ino simply smiled, watching as the girls' eyes widened in horror and her laugh caught in her throat.

Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Azaleas, and more, the field of flowers was a death patch for felines.

Tamaki whirled, watching in increasing fright as the pillars grew flowers along their length before blooming quickly. The spores were already in the air.

Sucking in a huge breath Tamaki immediately released Nekomata, turning in time to come face to face with ino's chakra-covered fist.

Tamaki drowned in the endless blue of ino's eyes as her surroundings faded to black. Echoing at the back of her mind, Ino's first words rang true. I am full of surprises.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes on Ino. He remembered her vaguely, Firstborn Yamanaka, a family known for their parties and respect for nature. Many feared a family as the mind games they played could be vicious. He glanced around, noting that Shino King of the land of birth had leaned forward. His naturally quiet disposition usually left him on the outskirts of conversation and quickly forgotten. Yet, his presence was louder than it had ever been before. His head was tilted, and while his eyes were covered by dark shades, the rest of his expression was usually blank. For once, his face was twisted in a mild form of what appeared to be amusement.

Slowly Shino turned his head, making eye contact with Sasuke before smoothing his expression into one of indifference. Sasuke lifted a brow.

Shino simply quirked the corner of his mouth with the ghost of a smile.

Below, Shizune and a small team were clearing the arena in silence. Ino stayed in the same place swaying lightly with the breeze. Tsunade's declaration of her victory had been quiet. She sank to the ground, sunk her chakra into the ground, retracted her pillars first, and then the flowers.

Shikamaru sighed, leaning back. "Troublesome, vicious woman"

Naruto looked around them. Is anyone going to explain?

Kiba grunted.

" Beasts have occasional weaknesses. In the cat's case, certain flowers are poisonous to breathe in. the sheer amount of them she summoned was a warning. Typically, it's rare for many of those kinds to show, and they all need varying climates to grow. Ino summoned every kind of poisonous flower known to cats and let them bloom. That girl, Tamaki, her summons is probably violently ill".

"She is forgiving," Shino murmured.

"she could have summoned those flowers within the summons."

Naruto hummed nicely; she's pretty, at least.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. Staring down at the arena floor. He watched their retreating forms.

"The next match is beginning."

The idle chatter that had surged halted as the Tenten and Sakura made their way to the empty arena floor

The girls stood in silence.

Sizing each other up in the stillness of the moment.

Tsunade's loud voice cut through the growing tension with ease.

"Begin!"

Sakura was across the floor in a second. Left-arm pulled back, rushing forward to zero in on Tenten's face. The resounding boom shook the seats of the stadium. As Tenten redirected the blow into the ground. Narrowing her eyes, Sakura pushed back. Pushing forward again only to be pushed back when a flurry of Kunai rushed her way. She ducked, rolled, and jumped out of the way. Eventually, catching one out of the air and used it to defend herself.

The onslaught was ferocious. As Tenten pushed her back, a bloodied finger swept across scroll after scroll that appeared from her bracelets.

A new set of Kunai zipped towards their target, white paper floating in the air. Sakura's eyes widened before she pulled her fist back, Slamming it down in front of her, lifting the earth. The Kunai struck deep.

The explosion was deafening, Dust clouded the air, blocking her view. Tenten narrowed her eyes, waiting for the Dust to settle. She jumped back in surprise when a boulder came flying out of the Dust, rushing directly for her. Eyes wide, Tenten swiped her finger along the length of the bracelet on her left hand and disappeared.

The stadium was silent. Sakura looked around, on full alert, searching for Tenten, noting a whistling from above Sakura dove to the left, Narrowly missing Tenten's double blades as she launched into a furious sequence of strikes, each closer to Sakura's flesh than the last. Finally, Tenten made a swipe for her head, Sakura ducked, and the blade cleared right through her hair.

Cherry blossoms carried on the breeze; green eyes widened as her lithe body flipped and turned. Pink hair fell to her chin. She turned, Staring at Tenten.

"I hope you at least cut it even."

Tenten chuckled; it's perfect though you have a strand or two out of place.

Sakura narrowed her eyes; sliding a finger over a shallow cut, she slammed her hands on the ground. First art of the Beast, Summoning!

Tenten pushed forward, attempting to throw her off before completing her summons. Stopping short and flipping backward to escape the massive smoke that erupted from the ground before her.

Katsuyu!

Tenten ran her finger across her blade, dripping blood around her, forming a simple sigil.

The ancient art of sealing. Release of the twin dragons.

Two white dragons burst forth from the smoke. Serpentine wrapped around her, and the other slid forward to rise against Katsuyu.

Sakura scowled; I didn't know you had a summons.

Tenten laughed. Rolling her shoulders, she cocked her head to the side. Strictly speaking, I don't. I traveled to find these Great beasts as they were going extinct here; I offered them sanctuary in return for their fighting spirit. Toyotama and Ryujin, The Last of the Great white dragons.

You have always been a faithful priestess of the Heavenly Hills.

Tenten smiled. "A true compliment, of course."

Then come.

Takemikazuchi turned his head, smiling grimly. My daughter will lose. Though she is undoubtedly a great warrior, That beast's child Has an unknown amount of stamina.

My name is Saiken.

Takemikazuchi cut his eyes to the vague shape of the giant slug, suspended within a bubble.

You have taken the form of a beast and remained in said form. Your name has been forfeited.

My name remains Takemikazuchi. Disrespect will not be tolerated, or I will melt those blades you hold so dear to you.

Izanami Sighed. Bursting Saiken's bubble and leaving an angry red mark against Takemikazuchi's pale cheek. Changing the subject, she Narrowed her brilliant eyes at him.

Is your child aware that she has complete command of two Gods?

"No, nor does she know that my domain claims her."

The black hole of Izanami's black hair swallowed a small galaxy, temporarily dimming the lighting until Izanagi's breath birthed a new system.

Your domain?

Shifting his gaze, Takemikazuchi nodded. His brown hair pulled high on the top of his head, turning the smell of earth wafted forward idly.

While her Lineage remains unknown to the humans of earth, the others have seen fit to alert me that she is descended from Past families with centuries of history tied to my smiths.

We alone carry the burden of war, and she alone will carry our weapons. It has been decided.

Izanagi smiled; light burst in the sky, turning its Obsidian depths a brief Sapphire before settling back into its darkness.

Very well, Take care of her. The children are so fragile; it would be a shame to see such a valiant warrior ripped apart.

Turning their eyes to the Mirr, the battle raged on, long and dragged out. A conflict of skill turned into a war of attrition. The intensity of Tenten's strikes slowed until it was all she could do to evade Sakura's attacks. Though strength was seemingly equal, stamina was not, and she stumbled, dropping to her knee. She bowed her head before quietly admitting defeat.

Shikamaru let out a whistle, shifting lightly as the snacks of fruit and pastries were taken away in preparation for dinner. "Sakura is a beast."

Relentless stamina, Jiraya nodded

Reminds me of Tsunade. Though, with the new haircut, the similarities are lost.

Naruto snorted, "yeah, the haircut is what changed it, old man."

Jiraya grinned, lifting his hands in a cupping motion, "among other things."

You lot are disgusting, Kiba laughed out.

Next match!

They turned to survey the arena floor. Sasuke stood up, stepping forward to lean on the banister.

"Interested?" Shikamaru questioned.

"Hn, she has .. intrigued me."

The tension was palpable. The Two women stood still in the center of the arena. Calmly, Hinata laid a scroll before her and pressed into its surface, summoning a spear; Temari stepped back, whipping her giant fan in front of her.

Hinata Twirled her spear expertly and began to move forward. Temari narrowed her eyes, flinging her fan open exposing three sigils. The girls were still for a breath and then leaped into action. The flurry of movement was swift. The girls swung, parried, and stabbed in a beautiful dance of two warring styles. The speed picked up until hands, feet, and weapons were blurred. Above, Sasuke had activated his Sharingan to keep up.

As the intensity of the blows increased, Temari revealed another sigil. Striking down ferociously as she shouted Fujin art, the winds at sea.

Hinata was tossed like a rag doll through the air. Landing shakily on her feet, she narrowed her eyes as they began to circle each other.

You're holding back.

It wasn't a question. Hinata breathed out slowly.

"Restraint is a necessary skill."

Restraint is disrespectful to those that would claim us.

Hinata stilled, and the inkling of something vicious began to crawl up her spine.

"I am a being of restraint."

Temari sneered, "no, you are a bound being. I can see it on you. My people call your type Chaos locks in the sand. You have to release it, train it, or it will consume you, or you won't be much different from the nightwalkers.

"You don't know me".

Pulling her staff apart, Hinata revealed a dual-ended glaive, connecting the two ends of the sheath to create another weapon. Swinging one over her head and kicking the other in the air. She pushed forward.

Each blow was more ferocious than the last, pushing Temari back with the strength of each swipe.

The blonde girl flipped, revealing the second sigil on her fan.

"Blessings of Fujin, the breath of the monsoon."

Hinata was swallowed by a massive force of the wind.

Within the great tunnel of wind, Hinata shook violently. As something foreign and familiar crawled through her veins, a whisper of something deadly.

Faintly she heard a voice around her. Enough, feel our rage; it's okay, this power is ours. She tried writhing in the heaviness of the wind. She tried to gasp for breath, but there was no place to ground herself, and with a strangling sob, she closed her eyes and sank into darkness.

Temari dropped to a knee, breathing hard. Hinatas body had gone still within the cyclone, and, worried she had caused her unnecessary harm, began to release the technique when Hinata pushed out against Temari's winds, casually batting them away before stepping forward. Her head was bowed, shielding her face from view. She breathed slowly, spinning her glaive as she took another step.

Lifting her eyes slowly, Hinata breathed out softly, "the kiss of Izanami, carrier of Tsukuyomi."

Temari's breath stilled as Hinata began to advance. The intensity of her killing intent flooded the arena. Temari snarled, slamming her fan down to reveal the third sigil. Sacred Fujin art, the last sigh.

The winds before the fan picked up, whipping Hinata's hair out of the high ponytail and splitting the exposed skin.

Hinata shielded her eyes before spinning her glave, filling it with her chakra, and slicing down with massive force, cutting a path through the winds and slicing Temari's fan down the middle. Hinata continued to walk forward. Silence enveloped the arena save for the faint panting of Temari's terrified form. Hinata's hand rose, and a sigil appeared on Temari's forehead. She stepped closer as Temari began to whimper. She bent and kissed her forehead. Turning her back just in time to escape the look of complete and total fear before Temari let out a scream and collapsed.

Hinata was still a moment more before tossing her head back to stare up into the darkening sky. Tears streamed down her face as she croaked,

"no more, I have done what you asked." With a great heaving sob, she collapsed to her knees, "but at what cost"?

Above Sasuke snapped his Sharingan off, leaping from the balcony of the viewing station to land on the arena grounds.

With his movement, everyone burst into action.

Tsunade Sakura and Ino running to check on Temari's still form, and Sasuke Neji and Tenten running to Hinata's aid.

Sasuke lifted her by her robes and shook until she looked at him. Breathe; you must calm yourself. You are the only person capable of reviving her.

Hinata gasped as she was ripped out of his hands and pushed behind Tenten and Neji.

"Enough," Neji shouted

Sasuke snarled, "move, or I will move you."

Neji braced himself for impact before Hinata's small hand gripped his shoulder. Calming down immensely, he turned to look at her small shaking form.

"I am fine, Neji; he's right; I know what to do.

She turned then and ran to Temari to help stabilize her.

Sasuke and Neji stood in tense silence for a moment before shifting their gaze to her form.

Sasuke glowered and activated his Sharingan to watch her again. Nothing in her body language belied deceit. He breathed out, slowly deactivating his Sharingan before turning to Neji and saying,

"Her existence is an anomaly on a grandiose scale; only those blessed by Tsukuyomi can wield the power of the moon."

Neji chuckled, and yet here you are, blessed by both Susanoo and Amaterasu. Our cabinet has always been filled with anomalies. What are a few more?

Tenten sighed, stepping away from the men before turning her attention to Hinata and the others. Ino and Hinata held hands over Temari's head. Hinata glowed a faint white. Tenten blinked, was it her imagination ? or had a shadow slithered into her glow?

Shaking her head, she passed it off as a trick of the light.

Temari took one shuddering breath and then another before sitting upright and glaring at Hinata. For a tense moment, it seemed as if she would strike. They all tensed, prepared to hold her back, and yet when she reached for Hinata, it was to pull her into a bone-crushing hug.

Slowly they all relaxed in the arena. The girls clung to each other in tense silence before Hinata broke, dissolved into tears, and begged for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry ." her mantra continued on for several seconds before Tsunade's booming voice addressed them.

"It seems for the first time in millennia, the gods have spoken."

Following her gaze, the entire lot stared as crests appeared one by one above them.

Each crest wavered before meeting another in the center. Declaring the Pillars of each kingdom.

Hinata and Sasuke stared each other down for a moment before relenting. As the seal of Izanami and Izanagi moved to combine one. The Symbol of the empire.

The selection Had been completed; the empire would soon be whole again.

Notes:

posting a bit early with the hopes that the second half of this chapter is up by Sunday. I'll do my best! hope you enjoyed let me know if anything is unclear so I can remedy that.

Chapter 9: Hands of the Shadow

Notes:

this may become a series as I do not want to neglect any of my characters. I'll be trying out some things soon provided the time. I hope you enjoy it and leave a comment!

Chapter Text

Shikaku had always known he was going to die. It was the fate of a king's aid, especially being an aid to the king of the shadowlands. Shishui had been a fantastic leader. The shadowlands needed a strong leader because the end of its borders touched lands overrun by the cold ones. He sighed. Looking down, he wished very terribly for a drink. He had been out on assignment, direct orders from the king to investigate Shimura Danzo. When the depths of his betrayal had been revealed, he was too late. Their bodies had already lay still on the battlefield.

In desperation, he had grabbed his lord's body and merged deep into the shadows. It had taken days to get out of the enemy territory and longer still to check on the condition of his lord's body. Exhausted, he emerged from the shadows with the burden of a king upon his shoulders. And laid the body down on the grass. He stared for a moment before kneeling down and opening the sagging eyelid. Empty, he frowned. They had managed to get one of two eyes. He sighed again. He was bound to die; he took a deep breath before opening Shishui's remaining eye and receiving all the information left. Shikaku sighed when it was done. The body burst into flame, and when the ashes were lifted away by the wind, he slipped back into the shadows, understanding that to do so meant death. But he was the king's aid, and with the death of Shishui and his personal disappearance, the king was now his son, and if there was anyone he refused to fail, it was Nara Shikamaru.

Shikamaru's sudden and immediate rise to power had been ignored, considering the significant loss of the empire. His father's disappearance had hit him hard, and he had closed himself off from the world. He had become angry, and anger wasn't good for a man that wielded the shadows. They had a mind of their own. It had been challenging to bind Sai during the interrogations and harder to sleep. His shadow would slip into the night in search of his father of any information he could find, and every night his shadow grew more volatile. How long before the shadow's anger slipped into his being? How long before he was a man consumed by rage? He raked his dark gaze across the palace gardens. At this night, the torches had been dimmed, casting shadows along the walking paths. They appeared to be reaching for him, beckoning him into their chilly depths, asking him to become one with his anger. He chuckled if only his people knew he could hear the shadows, how terrified of him would they be?

They didn't sound quite like a whisper, more like a feeling of a feather on the skin, a hum in the ears, and a shiver on the spine. This time, it was more substantial than anything he had ever felt. Shifting, he turned to see his shadow holding up what should have been his father. His throat closed at the sight. He could see through him. "Hello, son, he whispered out. You look like you've seen a ghost."

Shikamaru swallowed around the ball in his throat before nodding slowly.

"yes, that's what you do when a dead man comes walking."

Shikaku laughed, "I'm not dead yet, my boy." He sighed, sitting down and leaning against the tree. "We don't have much time, and I have a lot to tell you. I suppose ill have to start with the Chaos locks."

Shadow deaths were painful. Or at least that was the conclusion Shikamaru came to when he listened to his father's voice turn into a rattle and then a whisper of a whisper. He listened until his father's words were the touch of a feather, a hum in his ear, and a shiver on his spine. He listened as the sun began to rise, and he sobbed when the hands of shadows lost reached out to grasp along the sides of his body tendrils of blackened smoke curled off his body as the last of his humanity melted into the darkness. Shikakus's last words were a feather on the skin and a knife to the heart as he was dragged down to the final resting place. Shikamaru's throat closed, and his sight went dark as dawn kissed the garden vanquishing the shadows that stretched to grasp his hands.

Sasuke was not a patient man. Even less so considering the events at hand. Breakfast in the palace was tense. The seating had been rearranged; those he would trust with his life were separated by a woman and a promise he didn't expect anyone to keep. The silence continued for just a few moments before Sasuke's patience ran out.

"Neji" he snarled, "find Shikamaru".

Neji nodded, activating his byakugan. He sat still, eyes moving about before he frowned.

"leaving the infirmary, he appears to be making his way here."

Sasuke nodded, letting silence fall across the hall. When the south door opened, Shikamaru walked in and took in the faces of the royal court. He paused, staring at the face of his fiancé before turning and bowing to Sasuke.

"I apologize for my absence; I needed time to recover; the information I need to share must be done in a room of .. discretion."

Sasuke placed his hand on the table to stand and stopped abruptly as Temari rose from the table and bowed in his direction. While I do believe what must be said is of great importance, might I suggest a five-minute delay that Shikamaru might eat.

Shikamaru stopped her. "I'm not hungry."

She turned to argue, but the look on his face left no room for arguing. Snapping her mouth shut,

she nodded "very well, Her tone was short and clipped. I will not interrupt again."

Sasuke nodded and rose from his chair

naruto Collect Sai. Naruto rose from the table and vanished in a flash of light.

"Lead the way, Shikamaru."

Turning on his heels, Shikamaru leads the royals into the war room. Tsunade ushered everyone into the room, allowing the kings to take their seats and the pillars to fill their rightful place. There was a bright flash of light, and naruto appeared, holding Sai by the shoulder. Sasuke nodded to the aid, who shut the door. Naruto tapped the wall three times, pouring his vibrant blue chakra across the cold stone.

"Before you begin, Sasuke started. Sai must be dealt with. "

Sai tensed and glanced around the room. "I've told you everything I know."

Hinata answered, "you mean you told them everything you could. The seal is gone, I'm sure of it. Go on."

Sai stared at her for a moment before nodding. Danzo is corrupted by Jashin" he tested the words out slowly as if they might choke him. When everything seemed fine, he nodded.

"It wasn't that way at first. He believed your brother lord Itachi would begin a campaign to end all the war we experienced. The war was profitable to Danzo. He built his army with selected orphans of the war. Raised us up and then made us battle to the death. Only those that survived were allowed to become agents of Danzo. We have no emotion and, therefore, no sense of morality. His original goal was to simply keep the wars going. Agents were sent out to instigate already tense situations between neighboring domains. Then Orochimaru came into the equation. He and a man named Hidan swept in, and suddenly we were prepping for Danzo's attempt at the thrown. He was told he needed to collect chaos locks and present them to Jashin; the kingdom would be his. That's all I know."

Tsunade cleared her throat. Ino

She looked to Tsunade before nodding, rising from her place, and bowing to Sasuke.

"I am capable of a mind walk, and I can confirm the truth of his statement if you'd like." Sasuke nodded. And Ino approached Sai. Hold still, she murmured as she reached for his head.

Shikamaru sighed. "It's fine, Ino, no need to. It matches what my father told me this morning."

Ino froze, turning abruptly. Your father has been missing since the beginning of the mission. Shikamaru nodded. "He's dead." He- Pausing, Shikamaru looked at Temari and reached for her. Startled but receptive, she grasped his hand as he continued.

"As many of you know," Shikamaru started, my people are capable of turning into shadows. There is a time limit though it varies according to the power of the individual. My father could last a few days, maybe a week. Shikamaru bowed his head. It took two weeks to travel here. Lord Shishui had believed Danzo was committing foul play before they set off for the battle. He sent my father to look for information and report to him on the battlefield if he had to. My father said once he understood what Danzo was trying to do, he tried to get back to warn them, but he made it just in time to grab Shishui's body.

Sasuke nodded. "That's why his body was missing."

Shikamaru looked back At Sasuke. He apologized for being too late.

Sasuke shook his head. "Go on." Squaring his shoulders. Shikamaru started. The chaos locks are people. Apparently, entities are sealed into human beings, and they can be gods and beasts of godlike power. But they're sealed into these people in an attempt to keep the balance.

Naruto nodded. "I am my people's last chaos lock."

Temari cleared her throat and waited as all eyes shifted to her. "The Sand is. New to this world and the way it is structured. I am the only high priestess the Sand has ever seen at home. My brother is the only chaos lock I've ever known".

And what god is sealed in him?

"No god, just a beast. The sand beast Shukaku". And how is it he has come to be a chaos lock?

Naruto sighed. "The cult was disbanded years ago, and I never imagined it had survived."

Shikamaru nodded. The lands of Uzushio believed that gods and beasts walked the earth by creating chaos. Uzushio wanted peace and began to seal these entities into a person to be tamed or slain. Usually, only the sealer and the parent of the sealed child would know. Naruto nodded. I may have never really known if it wasn't for lord Jiraiya.

What is the importance of these chaos locks? Sasuke asked.

Hidan. Shikamaru answered. The practice of sealing stopped when the entirety of society shifted towards the empire, but a few left had formed a secret society and kept sealing.

Naruto nodded. "My father wiped them out after they transferred the beast from my mother to me. They had attempted to use the beast as a weapon and failed, and my father died wiping them out. Shikamaru breathed out slowly. I'm sorry to say there were more that survived. They migrated to villages and places we have yet to go and began recruiting. They sealed the beast in Gaara he turned to Temari. It was the first sealing after their leading sealers were killed.

Temari nodded. "The seal that Gaara has is incomplete. I became a priestess because I wanted to learn seals. But Suna seals are different from what I've learned with you, and I don't have the aptitude. She looked to Hinata and then to Tenten. I was going to ask you to help him."

Hinata frowned. I've never seen these seals.

Temari frowned, but surely you're another chaos lock?

Hinata narrowed her eyes on her. "I think I might know if I was sealed."

Temari frowned. When you- gave me a mock death. I saw her.

Hinata straightened her shoulders "saw who?"

The one who compelled you to do it.

Hinata fell quiet." My lady bid me do her wrath."

No- Temari shook her head. It wasn't her.

Shikamaru sighed. We can't confirm it now, but, there is a woman, unidentified as a chaos lock, and Danzo is currently searching for her. Apparently, whatever is sealed in her will aid in the revival of Jashin and the end to all things.

"So Danzo wishes to hand over this woman to allow his revival? He must be aware that the entirety of the empire will not comply."

No Shikamaru nearly snarled. He wishes to be the hero.

Temari sighed. We have to find a way to recognize chaos locks. Gaara is obvious, he's volatile, Dangerous, and can't sleep lest the beast escapes. But for Naruto, there's no obvious indication.

"I can use the beast's energy as a cloak that's pretty obvious"

Then Hinata, could you try?

Hinata furrowed her brows as she thought. "I don't think I could do that. She sighed; I don't believe I'm a chaos lock, and I did not see what you did but in any case. When naruto runs out of his own chakra, the beast's own chakra leaks in. I've trained to extreme exhaustion and have never had any chakra leak in." Temari frowned. Then we have no other way? We-

"Enough" Sasuke had leaned his head back to stare at the roof. Flitting his eyes to meet Kakashi's, he nodded.

"The empire isn't truly complete until the wedding and coronation. No plans for war nor any missions can be sanctioned". He sat correctly in his chair before clasping his hands in front of his mouth and saying. Sai will be executed tomorrow.

Sai bowed his head

"Wait! Hinata cried out. He told you everything he knows!"

He's a traitor.

"He was abducted! Shikamaru just confirmed that Danzo kidnapped orphans. Isn't it the failure of our state that it happens? These seals are attached to the soul while they are young, and he didn't have an option."

He had an option.

"What option, death?"

If the Shinigami determined it was his time.

Hinata gave him a pained look. "Sasuke, please."

What does he mean to you? Hinata's mouth twisted in confusion w-what?

I will not repeat myself. I, I- H-He Sasuke's lip twitched towards a sneer. Hinata's cheeks turned red, and she bowed her head. "He's Sai she whispered. He is a man, and like any man, he deserves a chance at redemption."

Danzo was given a chance at redemption

"Sai is not Danzo." Hinata lifted her head, eyes bright with tears. And he did not murder your father or brother.

The room, once full of murmurs of agreement, fell silent. He narrowed his eyes on her and watched her tremble beneath his gaze as the tension in the room became thick with anger.

He dies. Sasuke hissed out before turning and throwing the war room doors open, leaving the scent of acrid smoke in the air.

Sai's smile was soft and perhaps the most genuine he had ever given off. "It's okay, Hinata, you tried."

Hinata raised gazed at him and took in his form before anger coursed through her veins, and she turned on her heel and whispered out on an icy breath this isn't over.

Sasuke paced the training room back and forth. His fists were clenched, and the heat was rolling off of him in waves. Hinata's voice echoed in his head.

"He didn't murder your father or your brother."

He snarled, turning swiftly and hurling supercharged lightning at a training post. He might as well have he hissed. The air shifted, and Sasuke turned, coming face to face with Hinata.

"Leave."

No.

Sasuke sneered. "Mighty is the queen, powerful now that she can talk back."

The blood drained from Hinata's face as she stared at him. Is that what you think of me?

"I think you don't know how to shut your mouth."

Hinata pursed her lips. This is not who you are.

"You don't know me." No, but the empire does. Naruto does, Shikamaru and Neji do, and they wouldn't follow you if you were cruel. Sometimes the cruelty of life is unavoidable, and we will often be the ones destined to deal out punishment. But when we can, we should show mercy.

"Mercy murdered my family."

No, no, that was Danzo.

Hinata turned.

I cannot stop you, Sasuke, and I can only ask you to do the right thing. Remember, you hold the power of the flame in your hands, and you determine if it shines or burns.

Later that evening, Sasuke found himself standing on the edge of the north wing. He could not go further down the corridor that would lead him to his brother's room. The sound of familiar footsteps echoed down the empty hallway and stopped just behind him. He turned, looking first at Naruto and then at Shikamaru. Their faces were grim.

"If," he began, "she can give me an option to ensure he could not betray us without consequence, Sai can live, but it is on that condition alone."

Naruto smiled and clapped him on his shoulder. I knew you'd come around.

Sasuke shrugged off his arm; "Where is she?"

In the priestess quarters. Shikamaru and Sasuke held eye contact before he rolled his eyes.

Go see her Uchiha, and apologize. Sasuke clicked his teeth

"for what."

For whatever asshole thing you said, Naruto laughed out loud. His laughter echoed in the hall and stopped abruptly.

It's not easy, Sasuke, but she'll be your greatest ally. Just- talk to her.

"What would talking do?" For one, Shikamaru murmured, you might just get to know her. Might even like her.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "That's rich coming from you."

Shikamaru paused. And turned to look Sasuke in the eye. You didn't watch your father and brother die at the hands of the very things they wield, Sasuke. he turned then and walked away from the duo.

"Either way. Maybe you could use some comfort; it's dangerous when powerful men are consumed by their shadows."

Sasuke found himself standing in the east wing in front of his fiance's room. He was tempted to turn away, but he was aware that his own anger had been hard to manage, and she did not deserve to be the one who received his rage. He sighed and raised his hand to knock when the door opened.

"Your presence is literally like fire." Hinata turned to leave the door open and sat at the desk by the window with her scrolls rolled out.

You can sense me? Sasuke asked

"Yes, though it isn't hard. Especially since the claiming at the selection, she shrugged; I can sort of feel you. I- it's less a stimulation of my senses and more of a feeling in my blood."

Sasuke stared at her for a moment before shrugging. I don't feel anything. Hinata looked up from her scroll and cocked her head to the side.

"You aren't trying to feel anything right now."

He frowned. Maybe don't analyze me. Hinata released a faint smile.

"You came to me."

I did; I- wanted to apologize for my outburst earlier Hinata stared at him before frowning.

"Lying doesn't suit you."

He raised a brow.

"You aren't sorry, perhaps annoyed, but I don't get the sense that you're remorseful, and I didn't expect you to."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. I am trying to make peace.

"There is peace. We are going to be in a lot of situations where we disagree. I have to believe that you don't mean any harm or I couldn't do this. The empire wouldn't still be standing after all this tragedy if you didn't have great light."

The only other person to believe in me so firmly was my brother.

"Being an older sibling, she smiled a bit ruefully. We know our babies unlike any other."

Sasuke shrugged awkwardly before clearing his throat.

I came to tell you that I would spare Sai's life if you could devise a fail-proof way to ensure his loyalty.

Hinata beamed. "I can do that. Can we do it now?"

Are you serious?

"Yes! We'll need witnesses as per my ladies' demands."

Sasuke sighed. Let's go; Naruto and Shino should be guarding Sai. Is that enough of an audience?

Hinata smiled "absolutely."

The second time down in the dungeons was less oppressive than the first time. The air was tinged with sorrow, but it was far less oppressive than the weight of agony on the stale breeze. When Hinata and Sasuke appeared at the top of the stairs, naruto nodded and turned to open the gates of the cell door. Inside, Shino sat in a corner while his Kikai crawled along the cell. He calmly called them back to his body when the doors opened and stepped aside.

Hi Shino, He nodded his head, "Hinata."

She let out a pleasant hum and stepped into the room.

"Sai," she said gently. He lifted the corner of his lips in an attempt at a smile.

Come to make my trip to the nether realm peaceful? Hinata shook her head;

"no, I came to help you live."

Sai looked to Sasuke, who nodded. There are conditions

"Swear your loyalty Sai."

To Sasuke? He asked.

"Yes."

No.

Hinata's smile dropped, and she faltered. "I- I am only trying to do my duty."

I'll pledge my loyalty to you, Hinata.

Sasuke visibly bristled.

I do not mean to offend you, Lord Sasuke, but you would have me dead, and This would be twice now that you've saved my life Lady Hinata. I can feel something other than apathy. With the removal of the seal, you have given me a chance at leading an everyday life. Hinata stared Sai down before turning to Sasuke and asking,

"Is this acceptable?"

You would jeopardize yourself?

"the empire goes on without its mistress; you were fine before me."

Sasuke looked vaguely sick for a moment. Before saying aloud,

if my empire is to be whole again, I expect it to remain so for many years to come. He narrowed his eyes at her. What are you going to do?

"I will bind him to me. Where he will retain his freedom, but betrayal will end then in death."

Producing a dagger from her belt. She cut her finger open, lifted her hand palm down, pulling a thread of her hair. She wrapped it around her bleeding finger. And filled it with her chakra. In the end, the chakra and blood-soaked hair hardened into a needlepoint edge. "If you swear loyalty to me, you are doing so with the Knowledge that you carry my will. She paused. Should you betray me, this will kill you. Do you understand?"

Sai nodded. I will remain a vessel of yours to eternity.

Hinata stared at him a moment longer before shifting her gaze to Sasuke. "Is this acceptable?"

He nodded, waving her on. Stepping forward, she placed the open palm against Sai's chest.

"This chakra thread will wrap around your heart, she said as the chakra moved. If you move intending to harm me, Sasuke, or this kingdom, it will constrict, and your heart will be forced to stop. Sai looked down at his chest and swallowed, nodding again you have my word.

Chapter 10: Genisis

Chapter Text

Being the first to swear allegiance to Hinata, Sai was unofficially her guard. The group made their way from the dungeon out into the crisp night air. Sasuke looked at Sai and frowned.

"Unofficially, you are her guard until I appoint someone."

"There will be no need," Sai answered. "I will guard her with my life."

Sasuke's frown deepened.

Noticing his displeasure, Hinata slipped in front of him and cocked her head to the side. I can handle myself; I'll be fine.

"I still do not understand how you expect me to trust him."

I don't; I'm asking you to trust me.

Sasuke merely raised an eyebrow and hummed.

She frowned. "Sasuke, we are getting married in two days."

He rolled his eyes. I did not plan for marriage to come so early.

"What do I have to do to get you to trust me? What will it take for us to move as a unit?"

Sasuke shrugged. And looked to Sai, who was watching intently.

Stifling the urge to roll his eyes

Sasuke cleared his throat.

There is a small room attached to her bed-chamber; that is where you will stay while she rests.

"Lead the way," Sai answered.

Hinata sighed and turned, falling into step with Shino; "well, how have you been?"

He paused and nodded his head.

"You always were a man of few words, Hinata said while giggling. Ino will hate that, okay? Talk to her, Shino. She's capable of being quiet, but she needs to hear you speak".

Shino nodded. "I will try; she is an intriguing creature."

Hinata glanced at him and smiled.

"Oy! Hey, what about Sakura?" Naruto shouted out.

"I've tried talking to her, but she just keeps hitting me! I thought you priestesses were supposed to be gentle!"

Hinata giggled. She's plenty gentle; I suppose she believes you can handle what she dishes out.

Naruto groaned, "so violence is the rest of my life."

Naruto, you should know, it isn't an easy transition for us; most people think it is. Easy I mean. But it is hard. We have the same issues you guys do; trusting someone, we have hardly interacted with. But we are taught from young that to be selected Is to acquire a bond unlike any other. That we must find it in ourselves to surrender to the magnetic pull that makes us vassals of the gods.

Tsunade once said it was the most exhilarating terrifying, and downright angering process. I could only imagine that when we get over ourselves and really surrender to the strength of the bond, we'll discover something incredible.

Sasuke spared Hinata a glance before coming to a stop and placing a palm on the edge of the railing. The trimming was minutely raised, and he pushed down, revealing a door. "This is where you will sleep. As there is a wedding in two days, your first task is to make sure she shows up at the wedding."

Sai nodded. No harm will come to her.

Naruto nodded at him and passed over Sai's sword.

"Well, goodnight," Hinata said before opening her door and walking into her room. She bowed before shutting the door.

Naruto, Shino, and Sasuke made their way back to the king's quarters. "Will you be moving into this wing?" Naruto asked before settling on the couch of the receiving room.

Eventually, we'll have to. Sasuke answered though I would hope she changes things. I can't stand to look at the actual bedroom anymore.

"You should get to know Hinata, Shino interrupted. She's the most genuine woman I have ever met".

That's the thing, Shino, how do you know Her?

The only indication of Shino's confusion was a slight head tilt. "She was the firstborn daughter of the Heavenly Hills, and I was the firstborn of the Misted Forests and Kiba the firstborn of the Valley Hounds. Our lands are united, and being of the same age, we had classes and played together as children".

Silence fell in the room before Shino cleared his throat again.

"Hinata hasn't changed much since we were children, though she had an incredible stutter and an immense shyness. Everything else is there".

Naruto chuckled. "Sasuke doesn't get to know people with words, and it's like he doesn't compute them. He learns everything with his fists".

Shino shrugged, "then fight her."

The trio sat in silence for a long time before Sasuke rose quietly and walked towards the door. I might take your advice Shino.

It was the early hours of the morning. When Hinata was woken by three rough taps on her door. Glancing at the window and noting it was before dawn, she frowned; grabbing her robe and pulling it tightly against her, she padded barefoot to the door and pulled it open.

What-

Hinata's voice cut off; Sasuke was in armor.

She tried again. "W-whats happened"? Surprise and worry tinged her voice.

Sasuke took in her softly disheveled state and paused – "I – for some reason, I thought you'd be awake."

Hinatas face twisted in confusion before settling on softly annoyed.

Sasuke. It is nearly dawn. What do you want?

Sasuke blinked before a faint smile graced his face. "Well, since you're up now, get dressed in your armor and come with me."

Hinata spun quickly, turned towards her armor, and began getting dressed behind her partition.

What are we doing? A patrol?

"No," Sasuke answered, "we're going to fight."

Fight whom?

"Not a who Hinata you're going to fight me."

Hinata stopped moving. She had been in the middle of tying her hair up.

Y-your kidding, right?

Sasuke walked into the room and picked up her staff, testing the weight in his hands before turning and tossing it to her.

Have I given you the impression that I make jokes?

Hinata stifled the urge to roll her eyes and stepped forward, "fine, then lead the way."

Sai's door opened as the couple walked down the hallway.

"Do you have-"

No one needs you to sleep.

Sasuke a voice was sharp and direct.

The only indication Sai heard what he said was the soft clicking of the door returning to its place.

Hinata pouted. You don't have to be so mean.

Sasuke tensed and remained quiet until they reached the training room. He turned to look at her at the door and nearly swore aloud.

Displeasure looked foreign on her face, and there was an itch to rid her of it.

Stifling the urge to throw fire, he walked to a screen door and opened it, stepping out into a hidden courtyard.

Realizing he wasn't going to answer, Hinata took a deep breath and followed him into the yard.

She looked around at all of the leftover weapons and settled debris on them, and realized it had been some time before someone had been in the yard.

Sasuke turned to look at her and watched as an array of emotions crossed her face.

He cleared his throat. Usually, my brother and I would clean the fields after training. This time he was called away, and I had to step up to monitor the kingdom.

Hinata nodded.

And they stood in silence for a moment before she said

"If o-or when you are ready. We can clean it together."

Sasuke hummed out an answer before sliding into his battle stance.

Hinata stared at him for a moment and slid into position.

The air was cold on the flesh raising goosebumps across the exposed length of her arm. The breeze wove through their hair, whipping the strands in a strange dance in the stillness of the dark morning, and then Sasuke was above her, bearing down with a blade she had not seen him draw directed towards her throat.

The sound of steel on steel sang in the air as Hinata repelled his strike. They circled each other, and Sasuke leaped forward again, this time sheathing his sword and trading blows. His foot caught her firmly in the stomach, throwing her back and knocking the wind out of her. She narrowed her eyes at him. He seemed bored. "This isn't the skill set I saw at the selection." Hinata planted her glaive into the earth and rose from the ground slowly

You are not a god I need to impress.

"No," Sasuke agreed. "Just your emperor."

Hinata stared at him for a moment before she pressed the side of her staff, unsheathing her dual-ended glaive, and slid one foot forward.

Sasuke nodded as he took in her form and unsheathed his sword.

Hinata breathed slowly out of her mouth and lifted her foot from the ground. She stepped forward and disappeared in a flash of light.

Sasuke's smile was feral as he turned to meet her blade aimed for his neck. He deflected, dipping his blade at an angle to stop both ends of her weapon from cutting him. His parry was strong and should have tossed her off her feet, but instead, she dropped into a sweeping kick. He jumped, and she turned again, swinging the glaive aimed at his torso. Grunting, Sasuke slammed his hand down on the flat of her blade and flipped, swinging his sword in a high arc, aiming to cut off her head.

She ducked, throwing herself forward and abandoning her glaive for a sword stuck into the earth. Rolling to a stop, she threw kunai over her shoulder and ran to grab a second sword. Sasuke flashed in front of her and began to overpower her with vicious attacks of his blade. As he continued to cut down, Hinata's face screwed up. Anger as she struggled to keep up. His blade nicked her in places she couldn't quite reach fast enough. Each nick was just deep enough to remind her that she'd be seriously wounded in battle. In her anger, her byakugan snapped on, and she saw an opening and brushed her fingers across his arm. Sasuke leaped back as pain coursed along his arm, watching her intently before activating his own doujutsu.

The air stilled. Sasuke stared down at his arm and forced chakra through it. Grunting as he felt the pain ripple through his body. Sweat trickled along his face as he breathed and slowly flexed his arm.

Hinata had retrieved her glaive and spun it around, this time tinged purple along the blade. Sasuke's hands flashed, and then his sword was alight with lightning, and the two met in the center of the field with a deafening crack.

Shikamaru sighed as the shogi table shook ever so slightly.

"That's Hinata"

And sasuke"shikamaru confirmed.

Should we be concerned, Temari asked.

Shikamaru snorted, "this is just a conversation."

A conversation that shakes the ground?

Shikamaru shrugged." It's how Sasuke speaks."

Temari rolled her eyes . "is this how you speak?" she asked, moving her piece on the shogi board.

Not really, Shikamaru answered. This is, so I don't have to speak.

The silence in the room was comfortable. Interrupted by the distant explosions of power in the distance and a shaking shogi board.

The board rattled one more time before Shikamaru let out an annoyed sigh.

We'll stop them when a piece is knocked out of position.

Temari snorted. "I'm glad you have some measurement of danger."

There's no danger to the people here, only property damage.

" You believe that?"

I believe that they can show restraint.

Temari barked out a laugh punctuated by the loud booms in the distance.

"This is restraint?" She snickered. What's all out then?

Shikamaru looked up at her.

"They are similar, you know. All out for them is quiet and painful. He cocked his head to the side. But you know that, don't you."

Temari stopped smiling and looked out of the window.

"If that's the case. Our rulers are terrifying."

Shikamaru watched Temari as she stared out of the window and frowned.

I recall you telling Hinata there is darkness where there is light.

" Yeah, but "-

Shikamaru shrugged and moved a piece on the shogi board.

The same can be said for darkness. Considering what's coming, we may need a lot of both.

A deafening boom shook the room, and Shikamaru narrowed his eyes on the shogi board.

Sasuke was breathing hard, and Hinata was bent at the knees panting. Both bloodied. The battle had gone farther than he had planned. He had never intended to draw blood, but she had gone from defending herself to violence, and it was exhilarating.

He was aware that testing the limits of both of their power could be a wrong decision, but nothing felt terrible about this. Grinning wildly, Sasuke began to summon his black flames with the intention to release them in a single breath. Hinata's eyes snapped to his form and widened before she spun her glaive at an incredible pace and poured her chakra into it, igniting her own flames as Sasuke spewed black fire at her.

Just beneath the roar of the flames, Hinata heard Sasuke yell out. Gift of Amaterasu black phoenix.

When the lightning sky turned pitch black and heat rolled in through the open window like a slap, Shikamaru and Temari shared a look before leaping to their feet and booting towards the training grounds. An explosion shook the castle as the door shut, and a shogi piece fell to the ground.

Sasuke was in awe.

He had thought she would have dodged the attack, and she was just fast enough. But she had taken control of the fire and stood still in the center of the vortex she was creating. Sasuke narrowed his eyes on her, even taking control of the flames. The heat should have been unbearable. He stepped closer and realized she was lifting the heat above her head. The clouds gathering above clued Sasuke into what was happening, and he rushed forward in an attempt to utilize it.

As the superheated flames rose above her form, the chakra enhanced glaive propelled the heat up and away, but as Sasuke approached at top speed. The clouds opened up and, like a waterfall and put out the remaining flames.

Sasuke unsheathed his blade and stepped into a rapid strike and parry dance. Hinata fought back with every fiber of her being and leaped back when she realized their comrades were fast approaching. She tried to breathe out his name in warning, but the hair stood up on the back of her neck, and the acrid smell of lightning permeated the air, and the duo lept toward each other, allowing their blades to meet as thunder shook the castle and lightning struck their crossed weapons as Sasuke shouted.

Naruto was experienced with kirin, and he had nearly died helping Sasuke develop it. The power was a manipulation of nature, and there were few skills like it and even fewer who could survive it. So when Sasuke hoisted his blade above his head as he towered over Hinata, he tossed his father's kunai and attempted to intercept the blow, but the residual heat from the black phoenix threw the kunai away and kept him back. Distraught, he turned to look at the others that showed up and nearly shouted in disbelief as Shikamaru hurled his shadow towards the duo in hope.

They watched in mild terror as the ground shook and an earth-shattering boom sounded before a flash of blue light disintegrated Shikamaru's shadow and temporarily blinded them.

Beneath the light, the two grasped hands locked their blades together, and brought them down on the ground.

Smoke rose in the air, and desperate to see what happened, Temari opened her fan to the highest setting and sent a gust of wind towards the hidden couple. Standing in the center of the crater, Sasuke and Hinata remained standing, a battle-ax locked in position to the large scythe Hinata was carrying.

In the silence of the moment, Sasuke breathed through his nose and muttered out Kaminokari-

Hinata lifted her lips for a brief smile when she answered him Nensho before she closed her eyes and collapsed into his arms.

Neji was the first to move, rushing towards Hinata and Sasuke with rage in his eyes. Naruto leaped in front of him, "Neji."

Look at her, he hissed.

I have looked at her.

Then you see she's bloodied!

So is Sasuke.

He's meant to protect her.

Neji naruto said again, more stern.

She doesn't need to be protected.

They did this damage together. Do not start something you cannot finish.

Tenten placed an arm on his shoulder as she stared at Hinata, "She's fine, Neji. Sasuke has her."

He-!

"Sasuke has her," she said a bit more sternly "look."

Shifting his gaze, Neji watched as Sasuke cradled her in his arms and stood tall. He looked at his friends and nodded before turning and walking back toward the castle.

Sai walked forward and picked up their discarded weapons, and turned to run after them.

As the wind picked up and the silence became more tense, Naruto started to laugh. "We. Have a jackass for an emperor."

Chapter 11: Solara

Chapter Text

The palace was in a frenzy. An amalgamation of sound echoed along the empty corridors, breathing life into every corner. To Sasuke, it seemed unnatural; he had, after all, just lost the majority of his family. The palace should have been quiet in mourning, yet it was filled with startlingly new sounds. The maids chattered tirelessly, unaware that their voices carried.

"Lord Sasuke has had a bride picked for him by the heavens."

"She's beautiful."

I heard they were already fighting, and that's all that commotion was this morning.

"No, that was a storm, didn't you see the rain?

Do you mean the rain that only fell over the palace this morning?

I think it's a bad omen.

"It can't be a bad omen, showers bring flowers dove and what better for rain before shine on a wedding day! She'll be stunning."

Well, of course, she's beautiful; she was also a princess.

"I heard she didn't have a last name."

Then she can't have been a princess.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, walking away from their senseless chatter,

He returned to the king's chamber, the sitting room before his private quarters.

The others were gathered around a single table Listening intently to Jiraiya and Kakashi.

Sasuke rolled his eyes as he stepped forward.

"Whatever you are listening to so intently is probably not worth your time, and you know it."

"Now, Sasuke, don't be like that, Kakashi answered. I have plenty of material I have saved just for you."

I don't want it or need it; he said unceremoniously, dropping into a chair.

Temari and Tamaki are the two faces we don't know he began.

Slowly his eyes trailed along with the red trim of the walls.

Kiba, Shikamaru, you must be careful; I am aware that for the others, everyone here has had contact with one of the priestesses and is capable of vouching for them.

The other two are—an anomaly.

Shikamaru shrugged. "I trust her. She's here for help."

So you talked to her?

"Well, I didn't initiate combat as you did, so I talked to her."

Ignoring the jab, Sasuke turned to Kiba. Have you talked to Tamaki?

"Yes, I don't trust her. She has a cat."

The room fell into dumbfounded silence. Naruto chuckled. Kiba, that's, that's a stupid reason even for me.

Kiba scowled. "I love animals, okay. But cats are - mischievous and cunning, and she isn't much different. Her answer to every question I asked was,' I could be, or possibly, or dog boy in your dreams.'

Kiba rolled his eyes. I hate her."

Ignoring Kiba's tirade, Kakashi cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Tonight is the debut. You all return home with a bride and are convening here to acknowledge your marriage formally."

Shikamaru sighed

In front of everyone.

Naruto whined

"That means we have to wear the imperial arms suits! Those aren't comfortable at all."

It is tradition.

"Yeah, an old stupid tradition that we should change."

The tradition is not for us, Naruto. Your complaining will change nothing.

And if you were smart, Sasuke said with a smirk; you'd have had your handmaids line the insides in silk. It makes a difference.

There was a brief silence before the young men erupted into yelling

"Oy teme! How long have you had yours lined? I thought it was against protocol to have it altered!

Neji chuckled. I thought I was the only one to do it.

Kiba snarled, "those suits are itchy. You could have said something!"

Kakashi shrugged. I never found the suits to be that bad.

Jiraiya laughed. "I told you, boy, you never listen."

The girls were quiet, standing at the shrine in elaborate colored gowns.

The atmosphere was ripe with anxiety. Most return home to announce their status. Brides, warrior brides preparing to rule with iron fists in debutante gloves.

Shoulders were tossed back, heads high, eyes sharp like the glint of a sword.

One by one, a priestess would be collected by her fiancé and vanish behind a bright flash of light.

When Tsunade and Hinata were the last two to remain, she cleared her throat.

Hinata, she called softly.

The girl in question tilted her head in a swift motion that indicated she was listening.

Tsunade raised a hand and turned the girl's head until they made eye contact.

"I had hoped it would be you that the gods picked. In all the years as a high priestess, I had begun to lose hope that the gods would one day intervene. But it was you and The young women you and your comrades have become that made them answer. You are my most gentle daughters, yet I have found myself baffled; there is a darkness in you that I must admit escaped my attention."

Hinata broke eye contact briefly before answering quietly, where there is great light; There will be great darkness. She paused, turning to take in the form of her fiancé on a dark steed followed by a familiar form. She smiled, then trim and hesitant.

Turning back to Tsunade, she squared her shoulders before answering.

"I believe I must be flexible. There is no person on this earth solely born of darkness, and the same must be true for beings of light. When I think of him, I think of a candle in a dark room, and if left alone, he'll burn out. I do not delude myself into believing he will ever step into the sun, but I find that it can be comfortable in the shadows. I have to believe this to be true; the implications otherwise could be catastrophic."

Tsunade nodded once, ending the conversation quietly before turning to Sasuke and bowing low at his approach. At his dismissing nodd, she turned, stepped into the portal, and disappeared with a flash of light.

Sasuke stayed seated, forcing her to look up at him before he slid gracefully to his feet.

My lady, he began,

My lord,

Their interactions flowed seamlessly, a bit of idle chatter they entertained with the present half mind of born and bred dignitaries.

"Typically, we would sit in a carriage through the town while you wave and pretend everything is okay."

He had her full attention now.

Unfortunately, today you do not have that Luxury. Hinata nodded; "naturally,"

she stepped forward, patting the currently docile beast on his side before looking back at Sasuke

"We are to address the people."

He nodded yes, though you will address our military as well.

Hinata nodded again, glancing briefly at the slowly fading sun. "Let us be off, then she said."

Planting her foot firmly in the stirrups, she swung herself into place, shifting her gown to her liking before glancing over to Sasuke, who gave her a peculiar look.

Blushing lightly under his attention, she asked, "did I do something wrong?"

No Sasuke answered; Before climbing onto his horse.

"Just the opposite, actually."

He nodded at her again, and together they set off towards the city.

The rounds of the pillars Were a peculiar affair.

It was a show of beauty as it was a show of power. They were warriors dressed as noblewomen. Demure only in looks, an illusion of one who had never taken a life, and for brief moments, one could believe that lie. But danger rippled along the length of an arm and the swift turn ahead. The high born were, of course, intrigued, having only seen one or two of the priestess for ailments. However, there was a clear warning, approach at your own risk.

The duo charged forward, pushing towards the city in the heart of flame, slowing as they passed the first round of guards. Sasuke turned his attention to Hinata. She had shifted, lifting her shoulders back and head high. He found himself admiring her dress, both the lady and the warrior. The black of a shiny breastplate glinted against the sun. He chuckled aloud at the odd placement, seeing how her neck was open and vulnerable. He flicked his eyes upward, catching the blush that was beginning to travel down her throat. He smirked and caught her eye.

She did not turn away. He nodded; the Uchiha colors suit you.

She smiled then, ah, a compliment?

An observation, he answered.

The trumpets sounded as they passed the gates into the city. Their horses drew closer. The streets were lined with the people, cheering and waving.

Sasuke grit his teeth

These people were so quick to forget that he was grieving.

A hand gently pressed down on his arm.

Startled, he looked up. She smiled softly

"Your pain is not forgotten. Bare with it for a while. We need only greet them, give a short speech and return".

He nodded, momentarily stunned that she had noticed his change in mood. He turned his head and nodded toward the people, and pushed forward.

It was at the city's center where the raised stage had been erected. Guards held the horses while they climbed down and made their way to the stage.

The crowd was quiet as he stepped forward.

Today I come before you to announce my betrothal to the one Hinata of the Heavenly hills.

Tomorrow she becomes your queen, Blessed by the mother herself. Let it be known that this country knows unity once more.

The crowd cheered

He spread his arm out, flipping his palm.

Hinata slipped her hand into his and stepped forward. Waiting for the cheers to die down.

As you know, she began our marriage will only solidify our strength. With the recent passing of our lord, we will strike out the shadow of darkness that attempts to break us apart. Your strength, and conviction, are a significant part of the might that we wield. Believe in the strength of our flame, and no one will ever snuff us out.

The flame will prevail.

The soldiers in front of the stage pounded their chests before dropping low.

"The flame will prevail"!

The sheets of the people erupted.

As the celebration in the city began, the two slipped away, climbing onto their horses and racing back to the palace grounds.

As they passed off their horses to the stablehand, Sasuke cleared his throat and asked awkwardly, how are you feeling. Hinata looked at him and smiled, just a little sore; the battle was fierce. She frowned. I'm not entirely up to your level, though. I suppose I'll just have to train more. Sasuke nodded. We'll train together from now on. Hinata was quiet for a moment and did- did you feel what I did during the fight?

Sasuke turned to look at her. That depends on what you felt last night.

Hinata blushed and turned away. Mumbling quietly.

Sasuke slowly breathed out through his nose before saying Hinata; I can't hear you.

Hinata took a deep breath and said clearly. You, I felt you. It was like - feeling your pulse in the palm of my hand.

Sasuke frowned. No, I didn't feel much beyond my excitement.

Hinata paused; so- you're blocking me.

Sasuke shrugged,

Hinata frowned and then spun around. We still have hours before the banquet. Meet me in the healing baths in thirty minutes; wear a swimsuit.

Sasuke stared at her in question, but she had already run ahead and disappeared around a corner.

When Sasuke entered the healing baths, it had been transformed. Candles of various sizes had been lit surrounding the primary pool. The overhead light had been blacked out with navy blue silk draped across the walls and covered all the spaces to sit in. Hinata was clad in a form-fitting lilac maillot in the pool's center that clung to her curves. She was lighting the last candle with the tip of her finger.

Sasuke stepped in quietly, walking to the pool's edge, and she turned to smile at him.

"What are we doing."

Meditation.

He looked around the room, "and all of this?"

defense against distraction.

Sitting in the water will dampen your natural senses for fire. You will focus on the flames, and they will flicker to match your breathing.

Sasuke nodded, slowly understanding how this could be meditation practice. As the next question began to touch his lips, Hinata nodded and continued.

Once you can feel the energy of the flames on your side of the room, you will expand your senses to the candles on my end. The candle on my side will be attuned to my breathing, and when I feel your energy touch my flames, I will expand my energy and respond.

Sasuke hummed in confirmation and stepped down into the shallow ends of the water.

Hinata backed away, sat on the opposite end, and began a guided meditation.

Close your eyes and breathe. Release the tension you feel in your body. Start at the toes and unclench. Flex at the ankle and let your feet relax. Release the pressure in your calves. Up to your thighs and exhale. Feel the remaining tension at the base of your tailbone. Imagine it climbing up your back, pulling from your center, and climbing upwards. Pull the pressure from your lungs; this weight will feel lodged in your throat. Split it and let it travel down your arms; open your palms and let it out.

Candles on his side of the room flickered, and a few winked out. Sasuke breathed harshly out of his nose. The water sloshed, and Sasuke snapped his eyes open.

You trusted me this morning; trust what you know. I'm not here to harm you. Sasuke stared at her for a moment longer before closing his eyes and attempting to relax as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

Activating her byakugan, she continued to talk him through, releasing tension from his body; all the while, she watched how his energy flowed.

She suspected a blockage, and it was there to the left of his third rib. She slowly ran her hand up and down his back. Goosebumps raised across his skin, and he suppressed a shiver biting down on his lip until it bled. Hinata. Pressed down on his shoulders and whispered.

"Breath, Sasuke; breathe and relax."

She waited for him to relax into her touch, and when he did, she pressed her finger into the blockage and slowly poured her chakra into the knot, loosening it from the inside until it released, and Sasuke let out a deep groan.

Sasuke opened his eyes and turned to look at Hinata. Her head was bowed, and he couldn't see past her hair.

His voice was deep and rough when he said her name.

"Hinata."

Her head shot up as she looked him in the eyes.

A heavy blush coated her face, which he ignored as he asked.

"What did you do?"

She shrugged and moved carefully around him; "you had a blockage. I just released it."

Sasuke continued to stare.

Hinata blushed again.

I-It looked painful, and it was hindering our work anyhow. She cleared her throat. You should be able to match the flames now.

He nodded and settled back in place.

The two fell silent, and the room took on a golden glow as the two synchronized with their flames. Hinata's flames were steady while Sasuke's flames erupted, burning the candles down at an incredible rate.

Hinata's lip twitched in amusement as she urged him to spread out his awareness.

Complying, Sasuke opened his senses to the rest of the room and became acutely aware of everything in the space. The steadiness of Hinata's flame, the booming tempo of her heart. The rise and fall of her shoulders as she breathed and the way the warm water lapped at his skin. Goosebumps rose along the length of his arms as he felt her energy seep into his. He felt his heartbeat slow to match hers, and his blood simmered as he became acutely aware of the distance between them.

She sighed as their very essence seemed to intertwine. And he marveled at the feeling of tranquility that washed over him. Intrigued by the nature of this bond, he visualized it as chakra and attempted to move it. Shifting it around the room. Hinata let out a tiny grunt, a sound of displeasure before chasing his aura down. Sasuke smiled at the light feeling and continued the game of chase, pausing only when he felt heat glide past his cheek.

Hinata's aura slammed into his, and he let out another groan as pleasure shot up his spine. She gasped, and together their eyes ripped open to see a glowing ball of fire that was the only source of light as all the candles had gone out.

Sasuke stared at it for a moment before directing it between them.

"Has this ever happened before?"

Hinata rose from her seated position and walked up to the glowing orb. "Never," she said breathlessly. Sasuke approached her, leaving the sphere as the only thing separating the two.

Slowly she reached up and rested her palm against the blue flame shivering as it wrapped around her hand and began to travel along the length of her body.

Sasuke watched for little more than a second before following her lead.

The purple flame danced along the length of his body and slid along his arms. Sasuke looked up, taking in the delight that shined across Hinata's face.

She looked up, and they locked eyes, and Sasuke was star struck. He had admitted to himself on one occasion that she was attractive. But standing there with water dripping off her skin and excitement in her eyes, he felt the need to hold her close and kiss her senseless, and so he stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her close.

Hinata sighed and laid her head against his chest. Sasuke inhaled. She smelt like some kind of flower, something familiar he could not name, and he breathed in again before burying his face in her hair.

"Do you feel this all the time?"

Hinata shook her head.

"It's never this intense.- I can feel your heartbeat, and sometimes I can feel your emotions."

Sasuke hummed and pulled her closer. Stretching to hold him in kind Hinata raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck, playing with the hairs at his nape. Looking down, Sasuke took in her face. Full, lush lashes, moonstone eyes, and cherry kissed lips. With her breasts pressed against his chest and his hand on her waist, Sasuke swallowed a groan as he dipped his head to capture her lips and whispered, "beautiful." Hinata tilted her head to meet his lips in a barely-there kiss that made his hands tighten against her waist. A bolt of desire pooled in his stomach, and he pulled her closer still. Pressed tightly against him, Hinata gasped as she felt the length of his erection hardened against her stomach. She gasped as he dipped his head to steal another kiss, planted a hand firmly on his chest, and pushed, putting the slightest bit of space between them. Sasuke clasped one hand on the one splayed out on his chest and breathed through his nose slowly. Her touch on his bare skin was like a nearly unbearable heat he did not want to escape.

"Hinata." His voice was deep and gravely

She was panting. "I- We" Sasuke stared at her again and nodded. Reluctantly pulling away and allowing some space between them. Slowly the two began to pull back their aura though both were now acutely aware of each other's presence. Sasuke backed away, stepping out of the shallow pool, and turned his back to her. Reaching out, he grasped a robe and reached for the door. He grunted out and slipped out of the room.

Hinata let out a shaky breath and sank back down into the water.

The bustle of the palace had become even more pronounced that evening. The banquet was a private affair, and nobility from far and wide came to the capital to meet the newly assembled grand court. Hinata was currently standing by the entrance to the banquet room, pouting heavily as she had been unceremoniously swept away to be stuffed into yet another dress and pruned to perfection. She was admittedly sore.

At the approach of footsteps to her left, she shifted her silver gaze to Sasuke's approaching form. They would be the last to enter. His hair had been combed back, much like his late brothers, and it was gathered at the nape of his neck with a leather strap. She frowned as she took in his form.

What is it? She reached up a hand, hesitating.

I may not know you well enough to comment, but... She paused, taking in his complete form before nodding resolutely to herself before continuing.

This is not who you are, and perhaps; it would do you some good to meet your subjects as you are and not as you believe they would have you.

She pulled the leather strap from his hair and ruffled it until the bangs fell into his face again.

Sasuke remained silent before snorting; you may want to take your own advice; you don't look the least bit comfortable in that dress.

She paused, blushing deeply before looking down. I have grown more accustomed to my training and combat gear. Which is admittedly not appropriate for an occasion such as this.

She turned to face the door, tensing as a hand fell on her waist. She looked up to meet Sasuke's eyes. You are seemingly full of surprises, and you look stunning tonight.

Hinata blushed deeply.

The doors opened before she could respond, and together they walked into the room.

The room, though large, seemed small as they descended the staircase. The nobles crowded as close as possible while the rest of the grand court stood firmly in a line before them. As the duo graced the last step, they parted, allowing them to pass through as they fell in line quietly, following them to their table overlooking the crowd.

The nobles shifted, returning to their designated tables, waiting quietly and patiently for the festivities to truly begin.

Sasuke surveyed the crowd, narrowing his eyes as he scoured their faces looking for a guilty face.

During his perusal, Hinata took in the change in atmosphere, recognizing the blatant hostility rolling off of Sasuke's shoulders, and she breathed slowly. Before clearing her throat softly. Shocking him from his moment of brooding before she began,

"Thank you all for coming; it is with great honor that I stand before you tonight, on the eve of what will be perhaps the most shared wedding day in history. She smiled. But most importantly, the eve of our nation's great healing. The grand court will stand at its full might, peace will be restored to our lands, and the shadows, those that are not our own, will be cast out.

Sasuke shifted casually, directing the attention to himself. War is on the horizon, and we ask that this night be filled with joy and merriment with that knowledge. A single flame is easy to put out, but a raging fire cannot be easily stopped.

Let us kindle the flames of great friendship; let us strengthen these bonds. So that our flame will burn as brightly and as eternally as the sun.

Let the festivities begin.

The musicians began to play with a curt nod, and the grand court took their places at the table.

As the servants swept forward, setting down dishes on each table, Sasuke sat still, breathing slowly, as a slow bout of rage swelled. Sensing the danger, Hinata pushed her own aura to the top, invading his space with the abundance of self. He stiffened, cracking the glass that made its way into his hand before relenting and placing it on the table.

With the crisis momentarily averted, they turned their attention to the food. As dining came to a close, the Nobel men began to make their way to the high table. It would be a very long night.

Sasuke stifled the urge to sigh.

What had begun as a celebration was beginning to drag on as the Nobel men droned in about what their districts needed and whom they needed it from. For the most part, it was senseless wine-filled prattling that flowed through one ear and out the other until the last elder of the rain approached the table.

Hinata tensed. Immediately gripping Sasuke's hand under the table.

Stifling the urge to flinch, he turned to look at her. She was breathing heavily with tears in her eyes as she watched the approaching man. Sasuke grit his teeth as her panic blossomed in his veins like ice. He tried pouring his aura over her, but there was no visible change. To his left, Sakura stood up and stepped just behind him and whispered she is having a panic attack. Get her out of this situation fast.

As the elder made his way down the table, Sasuke turned to her. He began tugging on her fingers beneath the table to grab her attention.

" I need you to feign a headache. Just shut your eyes and only look at him at the end. Can you do that? "

She nodded.

Good. Take a small breath. This will be over soon.

Seeing that she was still visibly shaking, Sasuke tried again, " Hinata."

She stuttered on his name and fell silent, shutting her eyes and rubbing her temples.

The man in question sauntered, his cane making a soft pat that the girl focused on in totality.

Sasuke pushed down his urge to lash out and gripped her hand beneath the table before covering her entirely in his aura for a second time.

She shifted towards him but continued to rub her temple.

His wrinkled face was stern but not without the slopes that indicated smiles occasionally rested along his lips.

He smiled, bowing deeply before he began, "my king, My lady. It is with great honor that I find myself to be of sound enough mind to witness such an anointed union. The people of heavenly hills are proud to have produced such a remarkable candidate as a powerful ally. Our people believe that the eyes are a shortcut to the soul. Might I see the eyes of our queen tonight? "

The night's festivities have exhausted her; she battles a headache, perhaps another time.

Hinata squeezed his hand beneath the table and forced herself to relax, and opened her eyes.

"Ahh, and yet she opens her eyes for me!"

well, she said softly, with eyes as pale as your own; one might think you were from the Heavenly Hills.

He laughed well; the eyes are from the heavenly hills at the very least. Hinata flinched,

Is that so?

"Ahh, but of course, high priestess, you would know this. Surely the lost heir to the heavenly hills has not forgotten her people".

Sasuke rose from his seat as he answered, "we remember Ototsuki, and we are not a people who forget. Lifting his hand to Hinata, he asked.

Dance before the evening is done?"

Slipping her hand into his as she rose, "of course, my king."

Ototsuki understood that he had been dismissed and bowed his head to disguise his anger.

Hinata followed closely behind Sasuke, who gracefully swung her onto the floor for a final dance.

Their movements were precise, albeit lacking the enthusiasm of someone who enjoyed the action of dancing. The two were deep in thought, unaware at first of the circle of intrigue that had begun to build around them.

Hinata was, of course, the first to notice the eyes on her. Flushing red deeply, she turned her head as if to hide it in his chest. Sasuke looked down, seeing her discomfort. He glanced about before bowing his head to whisper, it's too late to hide now. Let's give them a show.

Hinata looked up, lifting an eyebrow as she recognized a bit of mirth in his charcoal eyes and grinned before giving a short nod.

He twirled her then, changing the tempo of the dance, forcing the musicians to keep up.

It was intense; quick dips and sporadic lifts all landed gracefully as the feet picked up the pace. The tenor of the music picked up, building to a magnificent end. Sasuke flashed her a smile before spinning her around and dipping her low,

They stay like that for a minute. They were breathing heavily with smiles on their face before he lifted her slowly and bowed to her.

The nobles cheered before surging onto the dance floor. The two quietly slipped away to the balcony, momentarily leaving the party behind them.

They were quiet for a moment before Hinata started.

"Do you like to dance?"

Sasuke nodded, a pastime I once enjoyed with my mother.

Hinata nodded, "a pastime I once enjoyed with my father." They were quiet for a moment longer. As the high from the dance died down, he frowned and turned to Hinata and asked, "so what was that with Ototsuki Toneri?"

Hinata froze. I- she frowned;

" I don't know."

Hinata, I lied for you.

"I know I just, I can't remember. There's a lot about my childhood I can't recall. I know he scares me. I know those are not his eyes, But I don't know why I'm afraid of him or who's eyes they belong to."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. Do you mean he's stolen the eyes of someone from your clan?

"I believe so."

With what proof

"I don't have any; the eyes are just familiar.'

Hinata bowed her head. I'm sorry ."

don't apologize. Be clear.

He glanced at her in the low light. she was practically radiating discomfort, and he frowned.

How much of your childhood is missing from your memories?

She paused before answering,

"I remember bits and pieces of my life from maybe four or five to about eight. I was isolated when I was selected to be the priestess for my people. High borns are supposed to carry our names but

to be a priestess, you give up your clan. It isn't like that for most, but to pledge to the high mother is to claim her as your family. I could not be Hyuuga and her child."

Sasuke nodded. Why can't you remember anything?

She turned away from him then, staring out into the darkened woods to the south of the property.

"The Heavenly Hills are known for their strength. To get there, we train our children young. I was born a girl, and while we have had many women as warriors, we have not had them as leaders. My father wanted to contest it and suggested I could be strong enough to hold place. My training started younger than most."

Sasuke lifted a brow. How young?

Hinata lifted her shoulders in a ripple of movement that resembled a shrug. Neji' said I started learning Katas as soon as I could walk.

Sasuke looked up at the moon. He was no father, but even he was aware that that was far too soon. Hinata turned to look at him and smiled softly. "I couldn't keep up, and sometimes training was just a beating. She shifted. I'm better now, though."

Sasuke stared at the way her lips parted on each breath, the rise and fall of her chest, and the slight trembling in her hands. She was tough as delicate as she appeared. Sasuke nodded, aware that he had come to admire her.

"I will add it to the list for investigation, but I need you to pull it together." He turned towards the door. Fixing his Blazer before muttering something about appeasing the questions of decrepit old nobles.

Hinata smiled.

" I'm fine now. Just keep Toneri away from me." He nodded before offering her his arm and returning to the party together.

Hours later, with bellies full and the Nobel men's questions answered, the grand court prepared for a night's rest.

The sunrise ushered in a new era.

Chapter 12: Crepusculum

Chapter Text

The pillars were up early. Another morning of primping, they climbed into their traditional gowns, adding on the pieces of fabric gifted to them by their prospective homes. Hinata found herself standing in the middle of a platform with her handmaid wrapping layer after layer of white, gray, and lilac before donning a black breastplate with a navy undercoat. With a red and white fan on the back. She smiled softly at the white dragon stitched up the side, symbolizing the heavenly hills.

Her hair, brushed until it shined and woven into an intricate braided updo, was decorated with diamond and ruby combs.

When the maids were satisfied with her makeup, she stepped down from the dais and followed her squealing handmaids into the waiting chamber.

She blushed deeply at the squealing the other women did as she entered. Tears glossed her eyes as she took in their jeweled forms.

"You all look so beautiful."

Ino stepped forward, pulling her into a soft hug.

No tears. That mascara will ruin everything if it runs.

Hinata laughed.

"It's funny. I always knew that if my goal was to be a pillar, it came with marriage; I guess I just hoped I'd be in love with him first."

Temari snorted.

Ino laughed well; "At least two of us are in love."

Who, Temari asked.

"Oh, that's obvious.' Ino smiled. TenTen and Lord Neji have been in love their whole lives, and we all knew that they would end up together whether the gods got involved."

Tenten blushed, rolling her eyes to cover her embarrassment.,

"Well, Sakura has been secretly in love with Naruto. I'm not sure how long, but when we were kids and had our sparring lessons together, she knocked him on his ass, and he said he would marry her while his eye swelled up."

The girls erupted into laughter as Sakura yelled out, "hey And sputtered out incoherently.

As their laughter died down, Anko swung into the room, shouting out, "time to go!" disappearing as fast as she arrived.

Outside, the young women climbed into large carrier boxes, whispering silent thank you's for the flexible roof that closed after they were seated. The transport was quick, a direct line from the castle to the front gates.

One by one, they were delivered, rising from the carrier box to bow to her audience before standing next to her betrothed and awaiting the arrival of the next pillar.

Hinata was the last to arrive. Her ornate box of solid silver and gold opened wide, and the roof was removed as she rose from her seat. The sunlight glinted along with her hair, and it was clear she was a creature born of her namesake. Sasuke blinked hard, startled by the thought; he bowed his head when she did, and together they stepped forward—led by Tsunade and Kurenai as the others fell in line.

Ever since the ceremonial procession, Sasuke had been tense.

The reality of the situation had woken him in the early hours of the day, and his mind remained occupied with future events. Marriage then the ascension of the High priestess. Ascension and then coronation, then the declaration of war. Investigations must be held, missions assigned, and training for the battalion overhauled somewhere during the process. Unconsciously, Sasuke's arms tensed beneath Hinata's hand. Immediately she began to rub circles on his covered arm. She was applying just enough pressure to catch his attention. Hetup, he froze before slowly relaxing under her hand and walking without delay. Glancing at her briefly, Sasuke's thoughts turned toward His Fiance. He was expected to share his thoughts, power, and weakness with this woman. He frowned, glancing at her again. At first glance, she was weak, nothing extraordinary aside from her looks which were admittedly above average. His frown deepened. There was nothing average about her. Considering who claimed her during the selection, she was positively abnormal. He pressed his lips into a thin line. How could he trust her? He glanced again and caught her eyes. She seemed nervous. He frowned once more. She should have been prepared for this. Sasuke shifted. Reminding himself that there is no definite future for a priestess.

Stifling a sigh idly, his thoughts drifted to Itachi. Had he survived, would he have found a way to trust Hinata? This time Sasuke clicked his tongue. No, Itachi would have found a way to love her and make it look easy.

He turned his head to look at her again. Hinata was a beautiful woman. He had recognized it as a fact the moment he had laid eyes on her. Fortunately, he had been far too preoccupied with other matters. He was now forced to deal with that on his walk to the cathedral, and he was grateful that the collar of his Kimono was high as he felt the heat rush up his neck towards his cheeks.

But how did he feel about her?

He knew she was driven, strong, and intelligent. He scowled as the word beautiful ran through his mind. Yes, she was beautiful, but that had nothing to do with it. He frowned, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, forcing himself to keep breathing. He was not delusional, Nor was he an idiot, he reasoned. Begrudgingly, he allowed himself the last vestiges of his boyhood and admitted how beautiful he thought she was. He ran through the moments in his head. The ease she found sliding into her place on his brother's horse. The look of delight crossed her face briefly as she pushed off into a heavy gallop. The flash of purple light when they were in the tunnels, the intensity of her gaze focused solely on him. The guilt rushed through him as he stared at her tear-stained face and splotchy red cheeks. The excitement ran through him as he watched the hidden warrior she kept locked away during the selection burst out and fight with such ferocity in the training field. The moments through the betrothal announcements the coil of heat in his stomach when he pulled her close and brushed his lips across hers; He managed a smirk then, relaxing completely. There could be worse things than realizing that you had a crush on a woman you respected and were quite literally on your way to marry.

The rest would come at its own pace. And, as always, he was ready for anything.

Once they arrived at the doors of the cathedral. A bell began to ring, a sound that would be heard throughout the Kingdom. The Cathedral was Large with expansive windows and natural lighting. The high ceiling had a mural depicting the first grand wedding, similar to the way of lush golden carpet that led the way to a raised platform. Gold and white lilies climbed around the columns. Red silk had been draped along the walls, closing the space for a more intimate air. The candles were placed strategically. Sitting behind large magnifying glasses waiting for a flame and the first moment of darkness. There were three low tables on the dais, each adorned with small saucers and a golden decanter.

Near the palace gates, the nobles stood behind the king's Court.

All dressed in black Kimono with obi, the color of their clan flags. On the back shoulder and ends of each sleeve was a royal crest.

There, they waited in silence. The guests filled in around them. Settling into their seats, Anko slipped in from a side door; the ringing of the bells had begun to fade, settling down into a hushed silence as she and Kurenai bowed deep on the altar and kneeled on either side of her.

There was a breath, and Tsunade lifted a smaller bell. The sound of which commenced the ceremony.

They kneeled on red and gold pillows with their backs to the audience. Together Kurenai, Tsunade, and Anko reached for a golden decanter. They poured the clear liquid into each saucer with practiced hands. Together the kings drank three sips before returning the cups to the plates. The pillars followed. A history of each king's Clan was introduced. With each pillar swearing to honor and uphold the values of each Clan. A ceremonial blade was produced. Each pillar sliced open a finger to let her blood pool onto the flat saucer before them. She was then given a brush, which she dipped in the blood to sign her name on the scroll next to her husband's name. The materials were removed from the table, and a single saucer was set down with sake poured into it. The couple shared the drink and rose from their seats. Another small bell rang as the sun began to set, and the betrothed joined hands. Before sharing their chakra and directing it toward each perspective candle. Each glowing with a differently colored flame. As the light shone from behind the magnifying glass, the light bounced around until hitting the Jeweled crown on the carved map. As the darkness of the night rolled across the Kingdom, the symbol of the empire glowed brightly. First, within the chapel and reflected through a crystal to hover in the air above the cathedral bell tower. The Kingdom was complete again. The group turned, Bowing deeply before the last of the chakra slipped away, leaving glowing marks along their fingers.

Tsunade bowed her head, and simultaneously they shared a brief kiss. To which the nobles cheered. And the procession to the banquet hall began.

The walk back to the banquet hall was lit by glowing rose-shaped lanterns. Hinata smiled as she gazed at them. Forcing her arms to remain relaxed to keep them from touching her lips. There had been something in the kiss that she had not been expecting though the kiss itself had been brief. She glanced at him for a moment before shrugging it off. It didn't feel like a bad thing, and she resolved to let it be for the time being.

"Ah," she said aloud, breaking their silence. You proved you were a splendid dancer at the last Banquet. Sasuke looked down into her blushing face before smirking.

"Is this your way of asking me to dance tonight?"

Hinata Laughed "is this your way of telling me yes?"

He answered with a smirk.

"I could be persuaded with a bribe."

A bribe?

"Yes."

And what could I possibly bribe the most powerful man in this country with?

His smirk was mischievous then. "I'm sure you could think of something."

Hinata frowned. You own everything.

Sasuke lifted a brow, "I don't own you."

Well, no, but we are married now.

Sasuke paused, "do you think me a man that thinks of you as my property?"

No! Hinata rushed out, shaking her head quickly "no, it's just what could I have that I wouldn't freely give you?"

Suddenly, he thought of flushed cheeks, tousled hair, and an open mouth in a silent gasp.

As soon as the thought was there, it was gone, and, without thinking asked. "You would give yourself to me, here in the gardens?"

Hinata blushed a deep red.

Sasuke watched in mild fascination at the color. Noting it was one he had not seen before.

I-i ah,

He chuckled

"relax, Hinata. I will never ask..unless, of course, you wanted to.

She colored again, though it was not as deep as the previous one.

Sasuke mentally filed it.

Hinata was quiet for a moment longer before whispering.

"A kiss?"

"Perhaps," Sasuke answered with a smirk.

She smiled brightly. Turning away from him as she answered firmly.

Perhaps.

The Banquet went smoothly; it was a night full of merriment and cheer. Many a noble came together into a drunken choir to sing the serenade of the flame.

"Oh, how the cold winds have stolen my warmth,

Alone on the battlefields.

My blades are all nicked, and my suit is red with blood.

But for you, the journey has only begun,

Away from my love.

Away, away I've gone to defend.

For our fires burn bright with all of our might. Away away, my love."

The song was bellowed out by Jiraiya and Kakashi, two kings too drunk to realize they had changed the words... Not that anyone noticed or cared.

Hinata was delighted to find that she and Sasuke danced several times through the night.

Sharing rich smiles and glimpses of who he might be without the load of grief he carried.

When the night came to an end. The others disappeared using a portal created specifically for this night to return them all to their new homes.

Hinata was whisked away by her handmaids while Sasuke said goodnight to Kakashi and the last of the nobles. The makeup was wiped away quickly and reapplied, though lightly, in the form of mascara and reddened lips. She was stripped of her Kimono and very quickly scrubbed. Hinata drew the line at the fragrant oils they insisted she use, opting for her usual oils that smelt of honey and amber. Before they stuffed her into a sheer white gown and disappeared from the room. It was the Emperor's room, one that had not been used since the death of the first emperor and the split of the land of fire. She glanced about, noting that the room lacked any personality while extravagantly built. She frowned, hoping Sasuke wouldn't mind if she simplified the room later.

She turned, stepping onto the balcony, letting the ocean air cool her heated skin.

She heard the room door open and close, but she did not move. Sighing in relief that he had gone immediately into the shower.

She would not deny him should he come looking for her, but she was not going to offer herself to him. She felt that action had to be earned.

She was still standing on the balcony when Sasuke approached in silken pajama bottoms.

She heard his breath hitch as he moved closer. And for a long time, they stayed like that.

Sasuke attempted to say something several times before turning, leaving her on the balcony.

Hinata frowned, turning quickly and walking into their room. "Did I do something wrong- oof."

Hinata paused, pulling the silk button-up top off of her head.

"Put it on, please. That dress hides nothing."

She blushed heavily before pulling it on quickly.

She hissed as a sharp pain slid across her head.

Sasuke merely raised an eyebrow.

To which Hinata smiled sheepishly. The combs have become a bit painful.

She rose slowly to sit in front of the small vanity in the room.

Carefully she pulled the combs out. She glanced up to meet Sasuke's eyes in the mirror as he approached. He rested his hands on her shoulder for a second before he began removing the combs from the back of her hair.

"When I was young, my mother would complain about the combs they used to keep her hair up. My father made it his duty to remove them himself after every event. I used to sit on the bed there and watch as what looked like a hundred combs were pulled out. she always looked very relaxed afterward."

Hinata looked up at him through the mirror and smiled as she watched how carefully he maneuvered them from her scalp. That's very sweet, Hinata answered. "Hn," he hummed out, opting to step back when the braids tumbled down, and Hinata began to unravel them.

"I told her I liked her hair better down. His eyes watched her intently as she tilted her head to the side and unraveled her braids. The cream of her skin peaked out of his button-up top, and he swallowed.

I'll sleep in the drawing room tonight.

Hinata paused, glancing at him through the mirror. That doesn't sound comfortable.

He shrugged, "better than the floor."

Hinata shook out her hair, satisfied that there was nothing in it, and turned to smile at him.

"We can share the bed, Sasuke; It's big enough."

He paused, searching her eyes for something.

"I have realized that I am attracted to you, Hinata. Of the few things I can be certain about, this is the most obvious one. Should I reach for you in the night, would you give yourself to me?"

Hinata tensed slightly before nodding. I will not deny you.

Sasuke lifted an eyebrow before answering her, "if I reach for you, the need should be mutual anything less is a rejection."

Hinata paused; I am attracted to you, but I'm not ready. She hung her head. I know I am supposed to be-

Sasuke interrupted her.

"There is only so much we can prepare for Hinata."

He turned his head to stare at the bed.

We can share, and I will not touch you.

Sasuke turned to make eye contact with her again before smirking. When I take you, Hinata, it will be because you sought me out.

A shiver ran down her spine. And she nodded.

She lifted her hair into a loose braid at the nape of her neck before disappearing into the bathroom. When Hinata returned, Sasuke was already sitting in the bed with a scroll in hand. He appeared to be reading. She walked to the other side of the bed, missing that Sasuke's eyes were no longer on the paper he was reading but on her. Clad only in his pajama shirt that came just past her thighs. Was she teasing him?

He quickly put the thought out of his head. Nothing about her personality said that she was that type.

She climbed under the lush covers turning her head to make eye contact with Sasuke.

She blushed before whispering goodnight.

She hesitated and then smiled. "Ah, wait, I do owe you something promised."

Sasuke merely lifted a brow.

She smiled softly and said, "close your eyes."

He stared at her for a moment before he complied. Only shifting a bit in shock when her lips pressed into his. It was soft and hesitant at first, but Sasuke wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her closer. She gasped in surprise. Sasuke slid his tongue into her open mouth. Probing for a second until she responded, following his lead until she got the hang of it. She pulled away to catch her breath, only to be pulled back in for yet another kiss. Deeper and longer this time. His hand came up and tugged on her hair; a mixture of a gasp and moan passed her lips. He bit down on her bottom lip before trailing the burning kisses down her neck, where he bit down hard just above her jugular.

An intense moan erupted from her throat. To which Sasuke smirked. Pulling away, leaving her breathless and mildly confused about what just happened.

Sasuke placed the scroll on the nightstand before blowing out the candle and whispering a very husky goodnight Hinata.

When she returned to the side of her bed, she could not stop herself from caressing her lips. Absentmindedly she answered him goodnight. Before she drifted off into sleep.

Sasuke laid awake for some time after. Falling asleep with the single thought that there would be many cold showers in the foreseeable future.

Sasuke woke slowly, which was odd. He usually woke abruptly with sweat on his brow and a scream lodged in his throat. He was either watching his mother die or, more recently, imagining the terrible way his father and brother fell in battle, powerless to help them. So why was he lethargic? He lay puzzled, waiting for his senses to awaken.

He didn't have to wait long as he felt a weight he had not been aware of shift on his chest.

He looked down. Blinking back the shock as he remembered the events of the previous night.

Hinata was wrapped around him; her head was burrowed into his neck, and her arms loosely wrapped around his shoulders. She was half straddling him; a bare leg was thrown over his waist. He paused, taking in their position. He flexed his right arm, realizing it was wrapped around her waist. Idly he wondered how they got to this position.

Interrupting his thoughts, a knock came at the door.

Sasuke glared at the door, hoping if he did not answer, they would go away,

And for a moment, he thought he was right, and then another knock. Forgive me, my lord, a small voice called out.

We have breakfast prepared for you this morning.

Sasuke took in their state of undress and inwardly flinched. He just knew she would die of embarrassment if she had been awake.

That is until Hinata shifted. Sasuke looked down, taking in her blushing form.

I'm sorry, she whispered.

Sasuke lifted a brow flexing his arm and pulling her tighter to his side.

I don't mind.

A-AH c-Come in! Hinata called out.

Sasuke pulled the comforter over their legs.

The maids entered. Heads bowed, they quickly set up the breakfast nook before making their departure.

Hinata shifted as the door closed with a solid click.

Sasuke tightened his hold on her waist. Calmly filing the shade of red that crawled up her face before slowly letting her go.

She sat up slowly, staring at the Banquet before her. This is excessive.

You are a queen now, Hinata. We deal in a tremendous amount of excess.

It will be quite the change. We operate as minimalists.

Weren't you a precious princess of the Heavenly Hills? The color drained from Hinata's face. "I-I was at one point, and it wasn't very long, and I didn't live up to the expectations of our elders. I was replaced."

Sasuke watched her. Noted the tightening of her fists and how her shoulders tensed and her eyes grew stiff and cold. Breaking her trip down memory lane, she shook out her now tangled hair and clapped her hands to her cheeks.

Cheeks reddened and eyes clear, she rose from the bed.

Let us not waste this food. Perhaps I'll find something new to enjoy.

Sasuke smirked, "perhaps."

Chapter 13: Ephialtes

Notes:

There was a review that mentioned my formatting. if you're still reading let me know if this is any better. It's a lot longer and a bit harder to do but if it's easier to read ill stick with it. Again thank you for letting me know! I hope you all enjoy it! this chapter was a bit difficult to write so let me know how you really feel.

Chapter Text

Sasuke watched Hinata settle into place at the breakfast nook and realized it was the first meal where he was looking at her. He paused before reaching out and lifting the lid off the marinated tomatoes. Hinata was staring down at the table with wide eyes.Sasuke merely raised a brow as he organized plates for easy access and stopped when he realized he was about to eat, but she had not moved.Hinata"Her head snapped up, and he realized the color had drained from her face.What's wrong?"She shook her head. " something about the table."

- her frown deepened. " it reminds me of something, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

He nodded. " we can explore that later, but you need to eat. You have ascension today."

Sasuke watched as her eyes widened further, nearly engulfing her face. She nodded and ducked her head, lifting a rice bowl and silently picking at it.

"Hinata"

"I can't,"

He raised a brow.

She shrugged softly. " it's a blessing, but you have to get through the curse first."

Sasuke placed his chopsticks down and regarded her calmly before saying, "Eating should steady your nerves. "She spared him a smile. " yes, well, it might well come back up later."

"Can I ask you what happens during this ritual?"

"You can ask, but I don't have an answer. It's different for everyone."

Sasuke looked perturbed, and she put her bowl of rice down and reached for a cup of tea.

"What do you know of the priesthood?"

Sasuke glanced at her, picked up his chopsticks, and began eating. He chewed slowly and swallowed before answering.

"You go to the temple, pray for hours, and receive a blessing and blood signing. That's the short version."

Hinata smiled and turned her head to look at the mural on the wall above the bed.

"Do you know why the Uchiha became the rulers instead of the Senju?"

Sasuke paused.

"We were stronger."

At Hinata's skeptical glance, he sat back in his chair and stared her down.

"We were stronger. I came down to the Senju, with all their chakra, who did not have the mental fortitude to leave the tunnel."

Hinata shook her head.

"When the priesthood was formed, it was with zero regard for an empire. A group of women with power relative to her clan wanted to end the bloodshed. After much urging, the appeal for a cease-fire and peace talks had grown. The majority of the clans agreed. However, the vote was split on who was to lead the empire. A new war began between those that supported the Senju and those that supported the Uchiha. In a desperate attempt to quell the violence, the order decided to pray for 14 days. They were locked in a halo chamber with no water and no food. By day seven, our numbers were cut in half."

"Yes," Sasuke nodded, "and on the tenth day, a Senju said she received a vision of a tunnel and that those who had fallen dead were to be buried in a deep tomb with a tunnel to the surface and one from each clan would go down to seal the tomb. Only the Uchiha made it out. "

Hinata looked at him and said,"that's where the story is skewed. Everything we do is documented. However, it was up to the personal interpretation of how things were recorded in those days. According to the caliginous scrolls, we were to bury our dead in a tomb, seal it and set it ablaze.It was a test or sabotage; either way, the tomb was sealed incorrectly. When the fires were set, air escaped what we thought was an air-tight tomb. There was an explosion of compressed fire that ate at the ground. The Senju's vision was incomplete, and we recreated the descent to Yomi. The girls that died were undead vassals of Izanami. The Uchiha put out the fires, and when the girls made it out of the tomb, we warred with the undead. The Uchiha clan head loved his wife, and she loved him. she sacrificed herself to hold the girls back. When he wept, he was blessed by Izanami and given the gift of Susanoo and Amaterasu, using his gifts. He quelled the growing horde of undead priestess,' and the victory forced Senju to concede securing the empire for the Uchiha."

"What does this have to do with the ascension?"

Hinata looked at him and smiled as she rested her teacup on the table. " the next turn of power was nearly 20 years later and was the last time the Gods were involved in an ascension process. The documents on it were redacted—pages of black lines that make no sense. When the gods stopped intervening, the usual task was 14-day fasting, during which the pillars would journey to the borders and take out nightcrawlers."

"We don't have 14 days, Hinata."

"I know, but we also have had the gods present. They are active and watching, and ultimately it's what they decide."

The duo sat in silence for a moment before Sasuke gestured to the food on the table.

"Eat then; no wife of mine enters a battle malnourished."

Hinata blushed. " Sasuke-"

"eat and prepare." It was an order. They locked eyes, and in a seemingly pointless battle of wills, Hinata lowered her eyes, reached for her rice, and lifted a piece of steaming fish to her mouth.

Izanami watched Hinata take a bite of fish and moan softly in delight.Izanagi stepped closer, Glancing over the basin before looking at her in silence. Hers was an aura unlike that of any other. She was present when she was absent and loud without saying a word. she was a being of great power and emotion. Emotion so powerful that entire universes lived and died by her breath.Her finger created ripples in the water as she caressed the image of Hinata. Izanagi crept closer still, andWhen he locked eyes with her, a breath stilled in his chest. Her eyes, which shined like a million stars, were filled with tears, and he knew there would be a flood, and it would rain torrents, and it would not be stopped.

"I wanted desperately to leave Yomi with you, and I wanted you so entirely that I would have you in death. You betrayed me when you looked upon my corpse and abandoned me when you refused to die." She stepped forward and reached for his face, flitting her eyes away from Izanagi. Stopping just as her fingertips began to smoke."We are never to be again, but they have a chance, Izanagi. Bless your son with all the wisdom he can hold; she is every bit my wrath and every bit my love."

Izanagi stepped close, ignoring the pain of their proximity; he lifted a hand and wiped her tears. "They will do well; he will succeed where I have failed." Izanami watched him as his hand healed and nodded. Turning to the basin and humming, she said, "the ascension begins with fire."

As the sun rose high in the sky, the royal cabinet had gathered at the palace shrine. Tsunade was standing in front of the portal, Shizune holding a stack of white cloth to her left. The silence was deafening. The wind did not shift the trees nor rustle the grass, and the birds did not sing. Despite the golden sun's gleam, a coldness seeped into their bones and filled their bodies with apprehension. The sensation of being watched stuttered the heartbeat, and a single collective thought spread through the group.

"Is this what it meant to have the gods' attention?"

When the bell of the palace shrine rung out, breaking the silence, Tsunade clapped her hands, and the door to the shrine opened. The darkness beyond the doors was startling as the sunlight seemed to be absorbed. Tsunade squared her shoulders and stepped towards the door. She paused just before entering and said,

"We enter and begin purification. As the circumstances of this year are unusual, I have no control over the purification ritual. We enter, kneel, pray, and our Lady Izanami shall bless us with complete purification."

The single palpable emotion was terror. Sasuke placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder and squeezed. She dragged her gaze from the maw of the palace shrine and locked eyes. He searched for something as the others made their way, one by one, into the shrine. When she realized Tsunade was merely waiting for her, she steeled herself and gave him a decisive nodd before he released her, and she made her way into the temple, swallowed by the darkness.

Inside the temple, the usual candles and offerings had been cleared away, leaving the marble floors and a raised pool connected to the river's running waters behind the temple. The only light source was the circular sunroof with the candles gone, letting in an intense light beam. When the girls had gathered side by side in front of the pool, Tsunade broke the silence. "Hinata, as a vassal of our lady Izanami and the ascending high priestess, you will lead the prayer to establish a connection."The girl nodded. Stepping forward and kneeling before the pool of water.She bowed and waited for the others to follow before she began.

"We kneel before your waters with hands poised to strike and hearts poised to heal. Minds sharp, as the blades forged by your iron and flesh softened by your grace, pledged to you under the guidance of your children," the water in the high pool stilled as she continued. "You lifted your hand, and your will has given us our tittles. We need only your substantiation of our roles to move forward as wards of your volition. From the waters to the fires, the skies to the sea, from the living to the dead."

"From the waters to the fires indeed."

Startled, the girls lifted their heads to see the water in the pool rise into the form of a woman. Bubbles began to shift at her feet, and the room started to fill with steam. "My children are not infallible, and neither am I." her head swiveled to look at each of the girls with the audible whooshing of water. "You know your place, but do you understand ours? You are our love, pain, fear, and wrath." Her eyes settled on Hinata, and the twinge of a smile could be discerned among her features. "Come child." she said, "and prove to me the faith you have in my protection as I have faith in your strength." as she talked, the water evaporated faster, and only the head remained; "strip and cleanse if you dare." With the last of the water dispersed into the air, a stillness fell over the room. Hinata rose first, lifting her yukata's light material away from her body and letting the material fall to the ground. A chill seeped into her bones, and she waited as the pool of water had not refilled. Staring into the room's darkness, smoke-filled her nostrils before a fire erupted on the once heavily saturated earth glowing an eerie purple. Ino and Tamaki shrunk back, startled, following the others and stripping. Hinata took a deep, shuddering breath and stepped into the fire.

First, she was cold, and then a warmth unlike anything she had ever felt enveloped her, and she felt a peace she had not known nestle deep within her. "You have always been brave," a voice slipped through her mind. "so very loving," the voice hummed, "but you avoid my wrath as something to abhor. The heat of the flames grew uncomfortable, and Hinata fidgeted. Know my anger, Hinata, for it fuels the fire I have gifted you." she lurched forward as if pushed and found herself falling right into the arms of Tsunade. Calmly, she wrapped her in the white gown and closed it with a golden broach, the symbol of the empire. one by one, the girls emerged, some shaken and others seemingly unbothered, but it was evident by the apprehension in the air that the ascension had begun. Once they had all been clothed, Tsunade nodded and led them outside to the portal, unaware of a faint purple glow that clung to their skin.

The portal did not have the glow of one that had been activated. Tsunade did not say a word as she backed away from the lifeless doorway where the young women stood staring questioningly at the dull beams. Hinata took a steadying breath, stepped in front of the lifeless portal, and closed her eyes. The answer had already been given. Izanami did not live in a world of linear events. She ran through what she had seen in the cleansing fire through her mind's eye, and it was there a flash and a drop of white. When she opened her eyes, the others joined her and raised their right hands; together, they opened their palms towards the sky. The purple glow scaled the length of their bodies and collected in their hands before shooting off into a cloudless sky. Suddenly, storm clouds appeared churning violently in the sky, the trees swayed, and birds flew away in droves as thunder shook the earth and a near blinding flash of light forced them to shut their eyes as lightning struck the portal, and a shimmer signified an open door. Squaring her shoulders, Hinata led the way and crossed the threshold.

There was rolling grass as far as the eyes could see and a single tree.Hinata pushed chakra to her eyes and searched as far as she could see in every direction to no avail. Just grass for miles. Calmly, she turned to the tree and made her way to it. She and Ino rested a palm against the bark and circled it. "It's pomegranate," Ino whispered, "but there's no fruit."

'A barren pomegranate tree?" Temari questioned

Hinata stared at the tree before stepping back. "We do precisely what we did at the portal." With no other options at hand, the group gathered together and opened their hands towards the sky, though this time nothing happened. shoulders sagged as confusion set in.

Hinata stepped back and looked at the group of women she was supposed to lead. Not an hour into it, she felt inadequate. But the role was hers now, and she could not forfeit it. Ino looked pensive, and sakura looked like she was giving the tree a medical exam. Looking up, she spotted a peculiar branch reminiscent of a blade. She stared at it a moment longer before she reached up and tugged lightly, and the wicked edge of the branch fell and landed sharp end down in the earth.The sound caught the girls' attention, who turned and watched Hinata pull the earthly blade from the ground. She stared at it before saying, "the first event, a life was given to hold back the dead. We may not have to sacrifice life, but a sacrifice must be made."

Temari walked over and opened her hand. "In Suna, blood is the most important thing you have to sacrifice.' Hinata dropped the blade into her hand and watched as she cut her hand open and let it drip onto the tree's exposed roots.

At first, nothing happened, and then the tree shuddered. It was shaking as if waking from a deep sleep. Quickly the others gathered, taking the earthly blade and slicing their palms open and letting their life's blood water the roots. The tree shook violently, and then suddenly, a single pomegranate fell from to the ground with a loud thud. Sakura took the time to heal everyone's hands as they stalled, picking up the discarded fruit. When it was done, Tenten was the one to step forward and pick it up. "Open it," Hinata said aloud. Tenten nodded and pried the fruit open, where six large glistening seeds were exposed. Hinata reached out and grabbed a seed. Locking eyes with each pillar before nodding once, swallowing the seed, and nestling herself at the tree's base to wait for whatever was to come.

One by one, they followed, nestling themselves around the tree to wait. One by one, they closed their eyes, and one by one, they fell asleep.

Hinata got up when enough time had passed, and nothing happened. it was a lovely nap though she felt oddly winded as she walked forward. She paused, remembering she wasn't alone, but when she turned around, the tree was gone. She spun around and stared at where there was endless grass there was infinite water, and she was standing on the only real patch of land. Her fingers began to tap, bringing her hands together, an old gesture she often used as a child when anxious. Linking her fingers together, she brought her hands down and froze when they rested against her belly. Ordinarily, it would be flat, but it was bulbous. As the realization set in, something within her stomach shifted, and she gasped. Staggering towards the water, she stared with wide eyes at hair longer than her own and darker than ink, skin as pale as ivory stone, and eyes that shifted through colors she had never seen.

"Izanami!"

A man's voice called her name, and she turned, startled by a man that looked suspiciously like Sasuke and yet nothing like him. "Izanagi?" she questioned. He slowed, taking in her body language. "You look unwell."

The answers came as if willed, "Kagutsuchi is just a demanding babe; he will be strong."

"As you grow weak."

"Never weak, fatigued, but never weak."

"Never weak," Izanagi agreed as he intertwined his fingers with hers. Come, I have prepared a feast that satisfies your insatiable hunger this night. She smiled, her mouth stretching wider than usual when she said, "I shall devour it."

And devour it she did. A bystander in her own body Hinata watched as Izanami gorged herself on the roasted meats and rice, the food was endless, and she kept waiting for the feeling of fullness to invade her senses. Yet, it never came, and the sun rose and set, and still, she continued to eat until her belly shifted and heat coursed through her center. Calmly she placed the bone in her hand and reached for a cup to quench her thirst.But when the water touched her tongue, the heat in her stomach erupted and a sharp pain lanced through her lower abdomen. She dropped the cup and rose from her seated position. The movement was abrupt and clumsy. Izanagi followed her as she stumbled towards the water.Another sharp pain brought her to her knees, and the fire in her belly climbed higher still. Izanagi helped her up, lifting her into his arms, and turned towards a structure that resembled the shrine. Hinata groaned as she felt the fire lance through her middle and protested, "no, I need to be by the water."

Izanagi watched her before turning and resting her on flat grass near the water. He helped her pull her clothes off and used it as a pillow under her head. She breathed slowly to settle herself, but her belly rocked as her babe thrashed about. Izanagi was visibly concerned. He placed his hands on her stomach and pleaded with the child, "know peace. be still." As the fire climbed higher still, Izanami began to paint. "Water, I am too hot. I need water." Izanagi reached to lift her and bring her to the water's edge, but it was too late. Flames erupted and spread across her skin. She opened her mouth wide in a silent scream as she labored to give birth to her child. "Please, she begged, hold your flames,"The heat of the flames on her flesh grew hotter, and as the baby was released from her womb, an inferno erupted. The force tossed Izanagi away from her as fire engulfed her body. Izanami screamed, and the world was lost in a sea of red.

When she opened her eyes next, pain lanced across her body and settled in her center. "Izanagi," she whispered. And he was there, filling her hazy vision with a bitter smile. "rest,"

"my child."

Anger thundered across his face before he turned and presented her with three children; she smiled and attempted to raise her hand. "Izanagi pushed her hand down; rest and heal, that you may hold them later." The pained smile slipped from her face as she waited for him to return. She whispered, "They are lovely, but they are not Kagutsuchi; they are what is left of him, he snarled."

Izanami tensed and wept bitterly; "what have you done?"

Izanami knew she was no longer among those with life upon waking the second time. Movement, though easy, came like a memory in the joints. Slow to match with the thoughts and commands, but present nonetheless. She walked through the darkened tunnels until she came upon a table full of food. The imagery reminded her of her gorge before birth, and she shook violently before turning away from the table. Hunger ate at her for the next few days, and whispers invaded her senses until she forced herself to sit and eat. She felt nourished, but the more she ate, the more the flesh peeled from her bones, and blood dried in her veins. Disgusted, she rose from the table and walked the dark tunnels until she heard a familiar voice call her name. "Izanagi," his name was whispered on a sigh as she identified his voice and followed his echoing sound to see him.

He was making his way down an opposite tunnel when she said his name.He began to turn when she shouted, "stop." He froze and remained silent before saying, "I have come to bring you home."

"I have already eaten the food of this place; I am not myself," she answered.

"Follow me," he answered, "back to the surface where you can feel as you once did." She watched him quietly before nodding to herself, "if you agree to remain facing forward until we return to the light."

Izanagi immediately agreed. He had begun to traverse away from the narrow tunnel and headed towards the surface. The journey was long, for Izanami had burrowed deep under the earth. While they traveled, the tunnels grew wider and opened into a gaping cavern. But Izanagi could not wait any longer and turned to find a walking corpse.He shuddered in fright, and Izanami's face contorted in rage. She rocked violently, sinking her nails deep into her arms, dripping the rotted blood.

"One rule," she hissed. "I asked you to do one thing. Are you satisfied?" She screamed. Her anger shook the earth, and the whispers that plagued her in the tunnels grew loud as the stone came together and forged the bones of young women. Their hollowed eyes and clay skin were sallow in the low light, and their sharp teeth were wicked when they shrieked. Filled with horror, Izanagi turned and sprinted for the exit, rolling a boulder against the opening and sealing the tunnels.

Hinata returned to the surface and clawed at her eyes as the darkness sunk in.Izanami watched Hinata as she sobbed. "What did you learn?"Hinata looked at her with swollen eyes and said, "the pain you carry-."

"no," Izanami leaned forward and asked again, "what did you learn about me? not beauty, pain, or childbirth." when Hinata could not answer, she clapped her hands.Hinata was sitting again slowly, she got up from the ground, and the tree that supported her back was gone. She pressed her hands against her swollen stomach and blanched, "not again," she nearly whispered to herself before her body moved forward to make its way to the river's edge.

Chapter 14: Iteration of death

Chapter Text

Good afternoon, I never abandon my fics but I do occasionally get stuck. I hope this was worth the wait. I've been working on more chapters and hoping to release plenty more in the next few days schedule permitting. thank you all for reading.

Sakura woke up from her nap with a sharp inhale. The breeze ruffled her bangs, and the sun's warmth seeped into stiff bones. She got up and stretched. Not much time seemed to pass as the sun wasn't too far from where she'd last seen it, though the others were nowhere to be found. Frowning, she turned and saw a small building not far away. With nothing else in sight, she made her way there. As she approached, she could see the building was larger than she thought. It was reminiscent of the shrine, though the outside was a pristine white. The door was enormous and made of silver. Carved onto the surface, there was a serpentine design. A sweet scent seemed to seep from beneath the soil, tainted by something acrid. The realization sent a chill down sakura's spine.

Shaking it off, she knocked on the door and stepped back when the door swung open.

She walked in slowly, tense, and waiting for an ambush. The only thing she could hear was the sound of her footsteps and the beating of her heart. Further in, she noticed two tables: one a makeshift apothecary and the other a tea table. Not very safe, she mused to herself.

"Ah, you've arrived," a soft voice called out.

Sakura turned and found Saiken sliding out from behind a hidden door. The giant slug gestured toward the table and slinked closer to her makeshift apothecary.

"We will begin your tasks at once."

Sakura nodded, awaiting further instruction.

"To begin, you will create medicine for me."

Sakura looked at her in question. "My lady, you are immortal."

Saiken lowered her eyes and looked at Sakura from several angles. Before asking,

"Do you know how I came to be?"

Sakura nodded yes. "our lady Izanami's firstborn". Saiken bobbed her head in a clumsy nod.

"We will speak more about it later. For now, let us begin."

Sakura snapped to attention, stepping up to the table as her master listed off the ingredients

'Opium, lophophora, salvia, betel nut, datura stramonium powdered epibatidine and water from a running spring. Sakura frowned as she gathered the ingredients. She recognized most of these as violent hallucinogenics, but perhaps the gods used them differently? And she paused at the running stream as she had seen no water around, but Saiken used one of her tails and placed what appeared to be a beaker. Filled with the sparkling liquid. She was careful as she followed the instructions. Tsunade had been a tyrant during this portion of her studies, so making medicine wasn't too hard. Flowers were to be ground into paste and steamed to force the secretion of oils. Mushrooms, dried and ground into powder with a stone. First, pastes were mixed and then powders combined to create two small bowls. Saiken instructed her to carefully whisk the powder while slowly adding the water to the bowl. As she did so, the powder dissolved and the bowl appeared to be filled with only water.

"That's dangerous," she said out loud.

Saiken merely bobbed her head affirmatively.

"All medicine is dangerous."

At her master's behest, Sakura lifted the bowl of water above the steaming paste and slowly added it in. She blanched as the violet-colored mixture turned pink and faded until the solution was homogenous and settled clear.

"I may have made a mistake", she said as she stared at the colorless mixture. Saiken left one eye on her as she passed the other over the mixture.

"No, she gurgled, it is precise". Curling her tail around the bowl, she lifted it to her mouth and swallowed. Sakura stared slack-jawed in outrage.

"You- you didn't test it before you took it!" She shouted.

Saiken turned to her and appeared to shiver.

"If it was incorrect, I'd have already died, and you'd be living with the guilt of having killed your patron."

Sakura's protests died on her lips. Saiken turned,

"come we shall have a drink. Though I cannot do such a thing in this form". The slug God slowly shrunk, and its gray skin changed to a rose-skinned blonde-haired woman clad in a pink kimono. She was beautiful and normal and not quite right. Sakura could not put her finger on what made the image wrong, only that it was. Perhaps the eyes were too far apart or the smile too wide. But whatever the reason, she remained silent while a siren of warning seemed to go off in her head.

Saiken, perhaps noticing her discomfort, smiled her too-wide smile.

"Her name is Hotaru. I do not take my humanoid form often as it disturbs many, but I have grown a fondness for this child and have assumed her likeness when given a choice."

Sakura nodded mutely and then asked,

"Who is she to you?"

Saiken paused as she looked at sakura and an eerie stillness came across her face.

"I suppose she would have been the child in your place had she survived."

Sakura visibly blanched and sputtered, "I- was a replacement?". Saiken- Hotaru shrugged.

"She's dead, so I don't believe it matters much."

Saiken shifted and sat at the table, gesturing to Sakura once again.

"Sit and drink, she said, passing her hand over the cup. You'll need it to get through what we must discuss."

Sakura sat down and looked suspiciously at the cup. It was steaming, though she had seen no fire.

"Drink," Saiken urged, taking a sip of her steaming drink.

"Why is it steaming"? sakura questioned

Saiken-Hotaru glanced at her. Her dark eyes sparkled with mirth. "Might you be afraid of me"? Her laugh was airy and tinged with two notes as if Saiken could not decide on the precise key of the girl's voice.

Sakura swallowed. "I am more worried rather than afraid," she started. But Saiken stared her down.

Well, she said coldly; it steams because the leaves added were hot and the water was cold.

Sakura nodded yes. Basic transpiration.

Hotaru's eyes bulged as Sakura lifted the teacup.

She frowned. "You have little faith. "

Sakura sipped from the cup. "I have plenty of faith".

Hotaru leaned back, and suddenly she seemed normal. The eyes were not too large and the mouth not too wide and sakura blamed her apprehension on nerves.

"I have a lot of faith, just nervous. I have heard that while the gods have not actively claimed anyone in years; they have rejected plenty.I don't want to be rejected."

Hotaru's image seemed to shiver, and for a second Saiken's face was very clear.

"Drink up dear, you are not being rejected today."

Relief surged through her body, and she took a hardy gulp. Blushing at the less-than-graceful movement. Hotaru's hand waved through the air.

"There is no elegance here. Just a beast and her ward preparing for a journey."

Sakura paused and asked,

"A journey?"

Hotaru hummed. "Drink your tea and we will begin as soon as you finish."

Sakura nodded and tipped the teacup back and swallowed.

Hotaru's grin stretched wide.

"Now, let's begin."

Sakura stood up and swayed as a wave of dizziness nearly brought her to the ground.

"Not so fast." Hotaru hummed out in a singsong voice.

"I"- sakura paused as the room spun around her.

"What was in the tea"? She asked. As a wave of nausea forced her to gag.

"Ah", Hotaru lifted her teacup to her lips.

"Tea? I never said we were drinking tea."

The warning bells went off in her head.

"Lady Saiken-," sakura paused as she fought the urge to vomit.

Hotaru stared at her. Sweat had broken out along the poor girl's forehead, forcing her pink hair to stick to her face. Her lips, usually a pale pink, had grown dark red and were nearing a rather bruised-looking purple.

"Look at me," Hotaru ordered. Sakura attempted to comply, but emerald eyes struggled to focus.

What -

Sakura struggled to breathe, and the siren in her head sounded more like screaming. She jerked back from the table and stumbled towards the door she had come through, but it wasn't there. She turned, staggering towards the hidden door she had seen Saiken exit from earlier. But it was hard. The vision was going out in her left eye, and the screaming was unbearably loud. When her hand grasped what felt like a door knob she pulled. To find a room with a window and a futon. She lurched forward and attempted to make it to the window when a hand grabbed her shoulder and dragged her down to the ground. She tried to fight the hands off, but whatever poison flowed through her system wouldn't let her summon the strength or chakra needed to fight.

Hotaru leaned over her body and waved a hand.

"Stop panicking. And listen. I am going to tell you a story, and you must be able to answer a question at the end, or we will do this again. Do you understand?"

"No!"

A voice sounded off in her head, but it was loud and she was confused, so she merely nodded.

Hotaru smiled, with her too-wide smile and rested a cool hand against sakura's head, and began

Izanami is the mother of all, and while many hail her as a being without flaws, I know how she truly is. My father was her firstborn, but because she could not remain silent, because she could not wait for Izanagi, he was born with no limbs. A leech.

Sakura plunged into an image so strong she nearly gasped.

As gods Saiken continued, we exist as pieces of the originator, sometimes keeping copies of their memories. So I remember my father being named an abomination and sent adrift at sea. They sent him to die, but creatures walked the earth divinely favored and they, unaware of our mother's disgust, took him in, nursed him, and loved him. He grew strong and eventually fathered a child with a divine beast, and then I was born. Something wholly other. And he, expecting a fully beast child, recoiled in disgust. He placed me on a reed boat and sent me adrift. Izanagi found me and knew my birth was the fault of him and his wife, perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps because I looked more like them than my father they raised me. But I could not keep my form. I was born from beasts, and my beast form is where my strengths lay. I was smarter and faster and could communicate with any creature. But my form as a human was harder to hold the older I got, and I often had to sneak away to move in my beast form. And then, one day, I grew sick in my human form and could not shift back. I was stuck, and so Uzume and I worked together tirelessly to formulate a medicine that could help me. We used Opium, Lophophora, salvia, betel nut, datura stramonium powdered epibatidine, and water from a running spring. She lifted it to my mouth, and I drank deeply. It was our last resort, and I disintegrated.

Sakura screamed as fire erupted in her veins.

"I tried to warn you!" a voice said in her head. "I tried to warn you!"

Sakura thrashed as the pain swelled to unimaginable heights and brought her hand up to her head

"shut up shut up shut!"

No!I am you!Sakura stilled as she attempted to concentrate on the voice before finding herself kneeling in front of a mirror. The edgeless room glowed red, and she swung her head to look at her reflection. Except it was moving. She scrambled back as the woman stepped forward.

"I am you she said sharply. I am every emotion you refuse to show. The frown you tuck away when sad. The outrage you feel when you remain quiet. And the warning you feel when you are unsure. The siren in your head, you idiot, that's me."

Sakura relaxed slowly.

What would it have mattered here? Saiken poisoned me. I can hardly control my body.

"But I can. Whenever you cannot, I can."

Why is it glowing read in here?

The doppelgänger looked around before shrugging.

"You're in pain. You aren't dying. Just shifting,"

Shifting!

"Not into a beast, but you are receiving a gift. You look a mess, though."

Sakura remained silent as she took in the red glow and faintly quaking room. This simulates death though, doesn't it?

The doppelgänger shrugged.

"What difference does it make? All your life you've said you would die for the chance. You have the chance and it filled you with fear. What is the pledge we take as medics?"

Under the guidance of Saiken, Uzume and Sukunahikona, we pledge the iron in blood, the earth of our flesh, and the spirit of the soul to remedy that which we can and to try that which we fear.

"Do you see yourself succeeding there?"

The duo locked eyes and sakura saw the tears she refused to cry.

I'm scared.

"I know, but we keep going."

Suddenly, the red room turned blue, and the duo floated.

"Your temperature must be too high", the doppelgänger said. Sakura looked on in alarm as she found she couldn't breathe.

Sakura gasped for breath as Saiken pulled her head out from a basin of water she had not seen earlier.She relaxed,

Somehow, being waterboarded helped. soothing her fever, she mused.

Hotaru stood above her, mouth stretched into an enormous smile that trembled at the corners and flickered upward, spreading the face too wide.

"your temperature is dropping."

Hotaru dropped into a low squat and brushed the soaked bangs out of her face.

"Now, are you ready to hear the end of my story?"

That depends, does your story come with more pain?

"oh my child, all things come with pain. To live is to die. The medicine allows me to keep a human form, but at a cost. Can you tell me what that cost is, Sakura?"

the girl watched her for a moment before it clicked.

The persona of your beast and humanoid form split.

Saiken smiled her too-big smile.

"yes, the issue for me is that I don't quite remember everything the way I should. And so after the initial consumption of the medicine, Sukunahikona made the mistake of cornering me while in beast form and I ate her."

Sakura's eyes narrowed on the sharpening rows of teeth within Hotaru's mouth before glancing at her.

is this why you heal humans, though you seem like you would prefer animals?

Hotaru barked out a laugh.

"perceptive my child. Yes, to keep my place in our pantheon, I had to fill in where she left off."

Sakura sat up slowly, green eyes brightening as she felt a tingle begin in her fingers and slowly make its way across her body. Looking down, she laughed as the patterns of her fingertips swirled.

Saiken smiled widely again.

"you are a healer, my dear. You know deeply what it is to live."

Sakura nodded her head as she giggled in delight. Looking up, she flashed her a brilliant smile.

Is this what you feel every day? This euphoria?

"oh, my child. Hotaru cooed. Didn't you hear me? To live is to die, and you will know that a million times over."

The smile slid from sakura's face as fire erupted in her veins again. She screamed as the burning sensation ripped through her, making her head spin and stomach clench painfully. She gagged and looked up in a mild panic jus as her heart stopped.

Saiken hummed as she pulled the girl from her slumped position and sat her against the wall.

"you'll get a crook in your neck."

Sakura gasped as her heart pounded in her chest again and she stared wildly around the room before her eyes settled on Saiken. she shivered as frost collected across her skin.

This- she paused, she was in control and yet not, and the realization set in that it was the other her, face-to-face with Saiken. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the sensation of her mind's view. opening jade orbs to lock with another identical pair.

Rest now. I can handle the next wave. Sakura nodded, reaching out and fixing her disheveled appearance. Thank you, she whispered as she sat and listened from her mind's room to what Saiken was saying as she split herself once again to cope with the pain.

Saiken put up a hand and Sakura's teeth chattered as her temperature continued to drop.

"I found pleasure in healing humans. Mother was trying to take them, father created them and I was holding their lives in my hands. But mother was unhappy that I consumed my sister and before long handed me my punishment. Ripped from my body, Sukunahikona pulled the last of my natural humanoid body with her but left a mind that needed a body. It restored her place in our pantheon, but my body, my true and beastly body, would secrete an acid that would eat away at my flesh any time I spent longer than a few hours in my form. For months I suffered in the darkness of a cave. Dying. Living. Suffering.

Sakura. shuddered once as the pain gave way to numbness, and the pounding of her heart slowed.

acceptance crossed her features briefly as she forced herself to speak.

To know is to understand. How many deaths did you experience?

Saiken-Hotaru- the form was flickering now, bobbed her head in a foreign dance of affirmation.

"I need not go on, it seems."

Hotaru's image shuddered again and that too-wide smile grew wicked.

"I die every day Sakura. It is the act of dying that allowed me to be the healer I am. While you are certainly one of the best, well, I suppose we could start with one thousand deaths."

Sakuras breaths stopped and the room was still for another moment until her chest heaved, her body warmed and the frost melted off her skin.

jade eyes flickered open clashing with Hotaru's dark eyes.

nine hundred ninety eight more to go. your journey will be long. search for the answer.

I don't even know the question sakura whispered softly

"yes, you do"

Authors note

I hope this chapter wasn't too confusing! There was a lot going on and it was difficult to write considering the amount of time I had to work on it. Please let me know what you thought. Happy holidays!

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