Chapter 11
Hattori was furious and excited at the same time. His plans had been thwarted, but at the same time, no ninja from Konoha had defeated him yet. This was his finest hour, but he was worried at how this boy smirked. He pointed the energy blade at Basho and stabbed forward, finishing this conflict once and for all. Stabbing through Basho, he chuckled and again began cackling maniacally. He turned and walked away, knowing now, his work was finished. He stopped suddenly at the sound of countless voices.
What? That's it? You're finished?
There's no way!
What about those two kids? They can't be gone already!
Hattori clenched his head, thinking this was all just another hallucination. But the voices ceased immediately. He turned, seeing nothing but the forest. He sighed in relief and walked towards Konoha. He heard a rustling and turned around again. Nothing… Turning around, shaking his head, he saw another grinning face. He flew back, struck by a force of incredible power. But…there were no more ninjas. Rubbing his eyes and wounded jaw, he saw one of the boys he had just incinerated. He blinked and there was another one. Looking around, the other three he had defeated were back as well. He began panicking and clutched his head, screaming uncontrollably.
Stop crying, you baby! The voice in his head stopped him. Looking up, he saw Basho, his grinning face bringing back memories. Doing yet another handstand on his opponent's shoulders, Basho smiled and flipped forwards. Facing Hattori, he motioned to the other five ninjas in the team.
"Well, then, it seems that the table have turned. Phase 4 of my master plan has begun. Let's get him, guys!"
Hattori grinned and stood up, brandishing the glowing blade, but it slowly faded away in his hands. The remaining seven chakra lines struck all seven of the individuals before Hattori individually. Basho grinned, pointing his finger at Kenta and Akimaru. The two blended together, creating the illusion of a body splice. But the illusion disappeared as Kenta became Akimaru and Akimaru Kenta. The two blended into the background, disappearing from Hattori's sight. Hitomi focused her chakra, rushing forward, pummeling Hattori as Kyoji and Jotaro followed suit, Jotaro from behind and Kyoji from above. Hattori suddenly released his pent up power, sending the three warriors sailing back. He saw Risa performing the sign of the tiger. He growled and rushed forward, his arms outstretched. Risa grinned and disappeared as Hattori struck. Hattori then faced the four remaining genin. Basho simply placed both arms behind his head, relaxed as ever. The devil Hanzo screamed again, now performing a completely different set of hand seals. He drew in breath and released his own technique
"Dragon Breath, Unleash!"
The dragon-shaped flame rushed at Hitomi, Jotaro and Kyoji. Kyoji stepped forward, taking the full force of the blow. Basho gasped, his jaw hanging open.
"That wasn't supposed to happen."
"Neither was this," Hitomi replied, performing the sign of the monkey. She thrust out her palms, creating a pseudo shield around Kyoji.
"Or this," Jotaro added, his right eye flashing gold. Kyoji disappeared, reappearing behind Basho.
"Maybe this is a little better than my plan." Basho said.
"And it's nearly finished." Jotaro said, motioning to the trees. Hattori gasped as two kunai lodged themselves in his throat. Unable to speak, Hattori simply grasped out at the air, clutching Akimaru and Kenta by the necks.
Basho cried out, speaking to the others, "Don't move, guys! He'll kill them if we try anything!"
Hattori grinned, now devoid of humanity as his insanity purged any semblance of sentiment from his soul. His eyes rolled back into his head as fell forward. Kenta and Akimaru jumped back, still afraid of the Dragon Master's corpse. They poked it a few times and were fairly certain it was dead.
"But…why?" Basho inquired, observing the fallen ninja.
Because…I'm not dead yet. A new voice appeared, coming from Risa's body. Everyone was in shock as they saw Risa's eyes, now clouded a shade of orange. The tiny ninja performed the sign of the tiger and disappeared. All five ninjas followed the new enemy.
Elsewhere, Risa's body rushed through the forest, still under the influence of the Dragon Flame's power. Even Hattori couldn't fully understand this turn of events, but he liked how things had turned out. Now, even if they killed him, he would eliminate every one of them. And that was even if they could force themselves to kill their friends.
Turning around, Risa unleashed a storm of shuriken towards her friends, turning away to venture deeper into the forest. Basho and Hitomi dodged the entire cloud and continued to follow their ally. Hitomi couldn't believe what had happened. Unless…this was…
Basho contemplated all the possibilities. He then realized what was happening, but it was too late as a kunai pierced through his chest. Basho collapsed as Hitomi's eyes flashed gold again and she rushed Risa, who effortlessly blocked every punch.
"Wait a minute…Risa can't beat me…even if she was possessed…she would never fight me…I know what's wrong…" Hitomi pulled out a fan, unfolding it at Risa's arm. The dead, lifeless limb hung uselessly from the stump of Risa's body. Risa turned, her teeth clenched so hard, you would think they would break. She then fell to the ground dead.
Hattori's vision cleared again. He awoke to the sight of all six genin and the cat looking at him. His eyes teared as he saw the truth and the beauty of what was before him.
"So…this is…what a ninja's purpose is…"
The other ninjas were confused and listened to the missing nin's monologue.
"I thought…if I went against what the ninja code was…I could become a legend and my clan would outlive me and all my descendants…But…I was wrong…and yet…I was…right…"
"Yeah…" Hitomi replied, "A ninja isn't a tool to be used by every person that has the power to do so… A ninja is someone who uses their talents to fight against injustice from the shadows…using their gifts and powers to protect the weak and to prove the honor of their individual clans. All that…"
"And so much more…" Hattori replied, still crying under his hitai-ate facemask, "But, I'm afraid…that you may have lost a friend, even if you lose an enemy… Look…" Everybody followed Hattori's finger as he pointed to Risa's prostrate body, strewn on the ground.
"No…kid…You…you can't die…not like this…" Jotaro spoke as he picked her up. Kyoji followed Jotaro as he and Basho returned to the village. Hitomi, Kenta, and Akimaru crouched over Hattori's still breathing body. He spoke, now struggling to breath.
"I've lost my arm…I've lost my life…I've lost everything that's important to me…But you shouldn't…Take this…" He said, performing the sign of the dragon across his chest with his remaining hand. A single container of a strange blue liquid appeared, "That's…that's the azure water of the Dragon Clan…the only worthwhile thing we ever created…It should help your friend. But…that's…the last… of my chakra…so…good…good…bye…" Hattori's eyes slowly closed as Hitomi and Kenta left, Hitomi clasping the blue liquid to her chest.
Thank you, Hattori. You had nothing left to give but yourself and you gave it without a second thought. That makes you redeemed for any sins…I hope you meet your family…in heaven…

Risa had been unconscious for nearly a week now. Shino, Kiba and Choji had survived, but not without a few serious injuries. Namely, broken bones and damaged organs. They were told they would have to be in bedrest for at least a month. Choji shrugged his shoulders, but freaked out when he was told what kind of food they served.
Risa had taken the Azure Water and had recovered, but the coma was still apparent. Some said she would never wake up. The sheer amount of chakra she exhausted trying to complete her ultimate reverse illusion nearly killed her. Even the Azure Water couldn't cure the damage she had incurred to her chakra lines. There was a good possibility that she would never be a ninja again. But none of her friends believed her, still clinging on to hope.
Risa's eyelids suddenly snapped open, as Jotaro and Kenta watched. Minoru stood in a corner and reacted strangely, immediately at her side.
"Sis…you okay?"
"Yeah…I'm fine… But…your left eye…it's…"
Minoru covered the now revealed eye, but then dropped his hand, sighing. He spoke, more serious than ever.
"Risa…this eye…it's not something to hide…you're right…every ninja has something to offer, be it bad or good… You said that to me when we were younger…remember?"
Risa smiled and closed her eyes, remembering that day. It was summer and she and Minoru had just finished dinner. Minoru still covered his eye with the mask and he was even more withdrawn then than ever. Risa smiled; completely unaware her brother was even hiding anything. Minoru asked her, "Why do you think…dad has the Sharingan? Don't you think he feels ugly with it?"
Risa simply replied by laughing and saying, "What do you think of this butterfly?"
Minoru glanced at the black and grey thing and replied, "That's a moth, Risa…"
"I know," she replied, "But it's also alive. People may hate it, but it has a purpose. Just like dad's Sharingan…Everything has something to offer in this world, be it bad or good… Right?"
Minoru smiled, remembering that day as clear as if it had happened just yesterday.
"We've still gotta wait for Master Choji, Kiba and Shino, but we'll be back home in about a week. Isn't that good?"
Risa smiled and lay back in bed, still crying from those memories of the past. But these were tears of joy.

Chapter 12
Basho was getting angry. Even after returning home, all nine of the genins still had yet to begin the chunin exams. Apparently, after the special mission was completed, all three teams had officially completed their eight required missions. Now, it was simply a matter of time until the other genin from the outlying countries came to Konoha. It was rumored that this was the first time the Earth and Lightning Countries had participated in nearly 30 years. But it mattered little to him. All he wanted to do was think.
His eyes angled over to Jotaro and Kyoji, training together again. He looked over to the gates from his tree perch and sighted a group of females. They were all clad in a skin-tight gold and silver outfit, which revealed their slender legs and supple bodies. Even the normally imperturbable Basho's jaw dropped at the newcomers.
"Hmmm… Must be from the Lightning Country…"
The trio of harpies turned and giggled at Basho as he shook his head and returned to his nap, telling himself
I'm not interested…Boring…bland…plain…still attractive…

Elsewhere, Minoru's team was nearly to the peak of the tree climbing exercises Kiba had assigned them. Natsumi was the first to succeed, followed next by Minoru. But Shige was having difficulties. Her naturally temperamental nature was distrupting her control. This was the umpteenth time she had fallen. But Minoru sensed she was getting the picture. Slowly…but getting it nonetheless. Shige slammed her kunai into the tree, just barely catching up to Minoru and Natsumi's marks at the top. Huffing and puffing, she stretched out a hand that was quickly snatched up by Minoru.
The day's training was complete and now they were ready for the trials. But what awaited them? Who would they see from the outside? The questions passed as the sun reached its peak in the midday sky

Hitomi and the others were exhausted. Choji had been running them ragged since Risa's screwup. Now, they were doing endurance training. Running through the forest and with weights to boot. Kenta was slipping, while Risa struggled to keep up. Hitomi looked back and stopped suddenly, picking Kenta and Risa up by the scruffs of their necks. She grinned and took them with her, clinging them to her sides, Kenta blushing and Risa frowning, her arms crossed.
Choji was getting tired of this. The last race of the day before the exams and his kids were late. Kiba and Shino's teams already stood waiting. Another team, apparently from Rai Country, also waited. A few other teams were late as well and the limit was one hour until the first exam started. Choji couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. The prodigy called Ryota stood a few feet away. Glancing at the fat sensei, Ryota simply closed his eyes of ebony and ivory and meditated, practicing his hand seals.
Almost at the moment Choji turned to finish his candy bar, his students arrived, Hitomi leading the way with Risa and Kenta collapsing beside her. Kenta looked up to see a sneering face. He jumped up, pulling out a shuriken, but saw it was missing. The rat faced man held it in front of Kenta's face mockingly. He saw two other ninja, one more serious and dignified than Minoru and the other smiling as brightly as Hitomi, her eyes frozen closed, it seemed.
Who are these guys? The new ninjas? Hmmm….

Nezumi was unimpressed at the ninjas of Konoha, tired and weak, lying at his feet. But he was used to this. His clan was the highest rank in Tsuchigakure and no clan could defeat them, not even the Hanzo Dragons. He sneered at the thought of those worms and their defeat at the hands of these kids. How strong could they be?
Grabbing Kenta by the neck, Nezumi pointed the stolen shuriken at the cat ninja's eye. He chuckled to himself, but stopped as the noble ninja held Nezumi's wrist, making the much quicker, but weaker ninja afraid. He lip twitched and he released his grip on Kenta, facing the one he called Ryuu.
"What do you think you're doing? I was just having a little fun!"
"Enjoy the battles when we get to them. Wait and watch. That's what master Enishi told us… Follow his orders or perish…"
Nezumi suddenly seemed very frightened and patted his friend on the back.
"It's okay. The first exam's about to start. Let's have a bite to eat. Might steady our nerves…"
Hitomi glared at Ryuu, who returned the stare with his own icy eyes.
Ryota followed, his eyes still closed. As Kenta stood up, Hitomi spoke.
"Next time that happens, call me. I want you to be strong, but if you think you're in trouble, I'm here to help."
Kenta nodded and rushed after the mysterious figures from before.
Stepping inside, at least 60 ninjas stood waiting for the exam to start. Almost as if someone knew they were here, three figures stepped out from the shadows. The one called Nezumi, the one called Ryuu and the last one without name, smiling as blissful as ever. The young girl approached Hitomi, simply stating with a smile, "My name is Usagi. A battle…if you please."
Elsewhere, Minoru stood meditating, when Ryuu stomped in front of him.
"Fight me now! Or be destroyed!"
Minoru sighed and nodded, removing the mask.
Basho was still napping as Nezumi snapped him out of his slumber with a swift kick to the chair he sat back in. Basho rubbed his throbbing head and glared at the infamous ninja.
Pulling out two shuriken, Nezumi spoke, "It's time for us to test your skills. Before the match starts, let me warn you. If you go insane, it's your fault."
Basho smirked, stood up, and flung out his hand, striking the vermin away with Mental Chakra.
"We'll see who's insane after I'm done with you." Basho replied, removing his newly acquired trenchcoat, who he wore since he started his advanced training under Shino. Lowering into his fighting stance, he grinned and burst forward, striking air. Nezumi appeared behind Basho, slamming him into the floor. He then leaped back, flinging caltrops ahead of his path. Basho lunged forward, catching one foot on a spike. Screaming, he fell back, clutching the injured toe.
Ryuu and Minoru clashed fists and feet as Ryuu grinned and grasped Minoru's hands, holding him above his towering 6'3" frame.
"Well, ready to give up?"
Minoru grinned and kicked Ryuu straight in the face, catching himself as his opponent collapsed in a heap.
Hitomi swung at Usagi many times, every one a failure as the spunky rabbit dodged and dodged. As Usagi caught Hitomi's kick, a voice echoed across the room.
"Stop that right this minute! All of you!"
A middle aged woman with long pink hair stood, her hands on her hips, a large forehead drawing attention from her squawking voice.
Hitomi gasped and realized who that was, as did Basho and Minoru, Minoru sighing to himself.
Sakura Haruno…Mistress of Illusions…
She's the special jonin for the first trial? Not bad looking…
Not mom… Why'd it have to be mom?