Hello. Welcome to another chapter of The Ones Who Suffer. Today we have our first memorable deaths of the series so viewer discretion is advised. The kill count will only rack up from here though so just in case I'll try and put the viewer's discretion on most of them.
Still don't own Naruto. Now unto the chapter.
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Deep into the recesses of his mind, Naruto stared into the cage that held his tenant. Red slitted eyes stared back as a smirk formed unto the face of the Kyuubi no Kitsune, a smirk that no longer brought a reaction from the raven haired boy. Deciding to start the conversation, the nine tails spoke.
"We meet again jailer." Its deep voice rumbled throughout the sewer, making the pipes shake as the smile grew ever wider. "It seems you've changed brat, and not for the better. You finally understand that your dream was nothing but a naive child trying to find good in the world. How did that turn out?" A chuckle escaped his lips as Naruto remained unfazed. "Do you finally get it? There is no good in this cursed world that you live in. All that exists is pain, war and death. As long as you humans walk this planet there will be no such thing as peace."
"..." Naruto continued to listen to the bijuu. No shift in emotion evident, which made the Kyuubi start to lose its smirk. Awaiting the boy's response it folded its forepaws under its chin, looking almost a bit too eager to hear what Naruto had to say.
"So?" The word escaped the boy's lips with clarity. Confusion was evident on the fox's face as this was not the answer it was looking to hear. It expected the child to wager a deal with him, try and come up with some ridiculous way to make them join sides. He would then give the brat his chakra until the time was right, but this..
"So?" The beast asked, wanting to find out just exactly what the brat was thinking. No answer showed itself from the boy's posture, or the look on his face, for the first time the Nine Tails had no read on his container.
"Don't you get it fox?" Naruto asked as he sat in the water, his face ever so close to bars. "I don't care what happens to this world anymore."
Claws burst through the gap in the cell only to be blocked by a visage of Kubikiribocho, The boy was still pushed back however as Naruto scowled.
"Couldn't you have let me finish first?" Kyuubi chuckled as the boy spoke.
"Just keeping you on your toes is all." A grin formed on its face as a 'tch' escaped Naruto's lips. Without another word, he was gone from his mindscape leaving the fox to chuckle, that chuckle became a laugh that shook the sewer even more.
"It seems you're finally becoming an interesting brat, but I'll have you on the end of these claws soon enough."
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E.N. Everything beyond this point is two months prior to what was said above. Just keep this a mental note or something.
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Yagura stood in front of his people. His chakra spread through the village as everything became visible to him. He inhaled, taking a lungful of air that calmed him, as he snapped the neck of the rebel that stood before him. The man jerked forward, his face smashing into the concrete floor. The Mizukage staring on without empathy.
How dare she. How dare that harlot continue this foolishness. Can't she see that this was getting out of hand? The longer they spend fighting the more strength Kiri loses. He shouldn't have to be wasting his time sullying himself with their bloodline filth! Why can't they understand? Just roll over and die already!
The anger started to appear in his face as he looked towards the crowd. Desensitised as they were to the killing, the look on their leader's face started to change their mood. Fear ran through the group of onlookers as they waited for his next action. You could no longer judge the man off an initial gesture, you merely had to wait and react. Some silently prayed while others were ready to run at a moment's notice. Seeing this, the Mizukage took another deep breath. Letting out a sigh, he announced that the public execution was adjourned.
As he turned, a rock made its way to the back of his skull. He stumbled forward a bit, shock etched onto his face as he slowly turned around to see a boy no older than seven years old. He held a stone in his left hand, his right extended like he just threw the best pitch of his life. His teeth were grit as his dark brown hair shadowed his eyes.
"That was my father, you monster!" Tears ran down his face as he looked up at his Kage. Blood started to leak from where the rock had struck. Freezing the Anbu that saw it in their place as they looked between Yagura and the boy.
"I'm going to make you pay!" The boy stated as he started to sprint towards Yagura. A woman rushed through the gathering crowd, her cries of 'Ichiya No!' filled the street but still went unanswered by the young boy. The cane from Yagura's back was removed, stopping the boy in his tracks as he walked past him and looked to his mother.
"It's a lovely day for rainfall, isn't it?"
The boy exploded into a shower of blood as it rained down on the masses. Not one speck touching the Kage as his control over the water element prevented them from doing so. The woman could only watch as her son became nothing but blood. The tears once cried over her husband renewed as her son followed suit, not even a body to commemorate him as all that was left now became the very liquid that fell onto her clothes, skin and hair. She watched Yagura walk forward, his hook lifting her chin as he spoke.
"Tell the next child you have to know his place." Without another word, he turned around and left, leaving the woman to fall on the ground in a heap. White hot tears streamed down her face as her anger grew. She would have her revenge for what he caused today, she swore it on the blood that covered her. Mark her words, Yagura would suffer.
Because hell hath no fury than a woman scorned.
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The news Mei received was terrific and saddening. How could Yagura do something like that? To a child no less! But out of the bad good would also arrive.
They planned to hold a giant funeral for the boy in two months. One that Yagura had no need to secure. It was the perfect time for them to slip in and raid the village, ending this madness once and for all.
The bloodshed would finally come to a stop. Yagura would be defeated, all that was needed would be the will to desecrate the funeral of a young boy.
She sighed. She was going to hell, of that she was sure, but if this meant the death of that bastard then this was another horrible deed that needed to be added to her tally of sins, consequences be damned. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself as she prepared her mind. They had a month of preparation time, and she was going to use that to the fullest. Yagura would not know what hit him.
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"Toaru." Chojuro called out as he awoke his friend. They had been on different missions for two months. This one had them scanning the all seeing forest finding a safe path to the Village of the Mist. The population of the rebel army was growing, but that meant not all ninja participating knew their way around this forest, Toaru being one of them.
The place was similar to the forest of death combined with The First Hokage's Nativity of a World of trees that hid the village of Konoha. The only difference was the blanket of mist along with the different fauna that appeared with it.
Bugs of giant proportions flew and crawled through the forest. The ever present mist being an oxygen boost to their kind and letting them thrive. Unfortunately this also meant that Kiri had a whole new world of predators to deal with, things that would rip them apart without a second of hesitation.
"It's time we leave Toaru, the only information we managed to get were the pheromones slightly working. The insects got used to it too fast for us to have it as an advantage."
"Really? I was starting to get used to this place." Toaru said as he got to his feet, slapping his cheeks to shake the cobwebs out, a yawn escaped him involuntarily as he looked over his shoulder, only to jump away as a kunai struck the area he once stood.
"Finally found you two." A voice stated as a figure jumped out of the tree line, standing in front of the two boys who took battle stances.
"Who the hell are you?" Toaru asked, Kubikiribocho already in front of him. This man had appeared out of the blue with no warning at all. Not only did he get past their defences, but he came through the forest. That and the Kiri headband proved that his man was a loyalist under Yagura.
"Ever heard of the Yonnin? I'm sure you have since we're the strongest in all of Kiri underneath Yagura-sama." Shock entered Chojuro's face as the man's grin turned vicious, leaving Toaru the odd one out.
"We need to leave, now." Chojuro stated as he took out a sensory bomb. Tossing it right into the man's face, the item exploded into a mass of firecrackers, smoke and flashing lights. He then turned on a dime and ran to the other direction, Toaru right after him.
"Hey!" he yelled to the blue haired boy. "What the hell is going on? Who's a 'Yonnin'? And why are we running away? We've taken on Jonin before so what's the big deal?"
"That's no ordinary Jonin. The Yonnin are the four strongest ninjas under Yagura. Even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen couldn't take them in a one on one battle, except for the only person that was both a Yonnin and a Swordsmen, Kisame Hoshigaki."
"If they are that great, how the hell has no one heard about them? They never taught th- I mean I've never seen them in a bingo book before." Toaru stated as Chojuro continued.
"The Yonnin are supposed to be kept secret, and are Yagura's main bodyguards. They should be by his side at all times, to see one out here… At least it's not the Ichiban or the Niban, because we'd already be dead." Toaru's face turned to that of confusion once Chojuro ended, If these people were so secretive, how did the blue haired boy know that they weren't facing the first or second strongest of the group?
Seemingly reading his thoughts, Chojuro continued. "I only know that because the Ichiban, Kisame, is no longer in Kiri. He hasn't been for years. The Niban is on our side. It's actually Mei. Now let's hurry, we have to leave before he finds us-"
"TOO LATE!" A kick planted itself into Chojuro's chest, bile and saliva escaped his mouth as he tried to keep his lunch in. The boy rocketed off into the ground below as he left a crater upon impact.
"Chojuro!" Toaru shouted as he saw what happened to the boy. Barely remembering the man beside him he managed to block just in time as another kick sent him in the direction of his friend.
The man landed gracefully as he started to speak. "Boy if the old gen could see what the Swordmen look like now. Weak, running like cowards, you two don't deserve the swords you carry with you. I thought you two would be fun to play with, but I guess I was wrong. I'll just take those swords and be on my way. After I kill you two of course."
"Who cough are…You?" Chojuro said between coughs and wheezes, trying to get his breathing under control. The man's face turned thoughtful.
"Hm? I didn't tell you? Damn. I alway forget that. Well here's the name of your killer. I'm Hizana Kuroi, Yonban of the Mist, it's my pleasure to kill you."
The rebels got into a stance, blades out and at the ready. Retreat was now out of the question and all three males knew it. The air grew thick as both groups waited for the other to make a move, not moving an inch as the smile reappeared on Hizana's face.
"Pincer Formation!" Toaru shouted as both boys ran in a wide arc trying to catch the man at his sides. What the man didn't expect however was the two to substitute with one another, a spinning ball of chakra in their palm as they thrust it forward. With a quick jump in the air however, the man was out of harm's way as he watched the two orbs collide.
Pulling out a Ninjato, The man tried to slice the kids in half only to watch Chojuro go up in smoke, the real one rising out of a puddle to slash at the man. His attack only got so far as the man parried, though his face did show surprise at being pushed back.
"Hn, guess you two aren't as bad as I thought, better than Genin at least. Still no match for me! Suiton: Teppoudama (Water Style: Water Bullet)!" A large sphere of water shot from the Yonnin's mouth as it sped towards the two boys. While Chojuro jumped away forming hand seals, Toaru challenged the man by bringing forth his own bullet of water. The two jutsus clashed as water went everywhere, a good portion of it rising and becoming mist.
"Ohoho? Playing hide and seek are we? Well I'm not playing your games! Fuuton: Daitoppa (Wind Style: Great Breakthrough)!" A gust of wind appeared, blowing the mist away to reveal nothing as the two were out of sight.
Hizana looked on, trying to get a feel for where the boys went. Did they try to run off again? Surely by now they knew that was impossible by now right?
A glint caught his eye as he jumped out of the way. A kunai with ninja wire going in a certain direction was what tried to hit him. Several more kunais appeared as they tried to strike the man. Hizana, now having a location,rushed in, dodging kunai after kunai as the grin intensified on his face. Breaking the cover off the tree line, his body met with a net of wire that he immediately got out of, only to hear sizzling as the trees were covered in paper bombs that were already going off.
The following explosion rocked the area. Hizana however escaped looking no worse for wear. The only thing missing was the Jonin jacket that was now ashes due to what just happened.
"Hahaha! I'll admit, you almost caught me with that one. Any Chunin and even some Jonin would have died from that. But like the blue brat said before; I'm no normal Jonin." In the blink of an eye, the man flashed through a set of hand seals and the entire area erupted into mist.
"You know, before I joined the Yonnin, there was another name people used to call me. I was the Kiri no Gensō (Illusion of the Mist). I'm going to show you just how I earned that moniker. Suiton: Aimaina Kumo (Water Style: Obscuring Clouds)!" Without another word, the area went into dead silence.
Toaru and Naruto jumped away from their hiding spot as it was cut to shreds. They stood back to back as they tried to find out just where the hell the opponent had gone.
"Looking for me won't make any sense. Even if you do, you can never touch me." A ninjato headed straight for Chojuro's face. Dodging to the right, the boy attempted to cut the man, only to feel the length of a blade slide along his back causing the boy to grit his teeth in pain.
"Didn't I tell you that it was pointless?" The man stood right before them. Soon, more of the same individual followed, until they were surrounded. For some reason, images of Haku and his technique flashed through Toaru's mind.
"He's either creating clones or moving too fast for us to track." Toaru said as he blocked a strike aimed at his heart, only for a cut to appear on his arm and cheek.
"Think again. Since you're both going to die, I might as well just tell you. I'm just dramatically changing my speed while I attack, so while you think you're blocking, I have more than enough time to strike another position. I'm basically taking advantage of your haste to move, and since I can sense you in the mist, you can't hide from me." With that, all of the afterimages rushed forward, the boys using their blades to block the attacks to the best of their abilities.
"Damn, and to think I was going to watch you become Mizukage after that bitch." Toaru said as he chuckled to his one and only friend.
"Don't call Mei-sensei a bitch, that's insulting." Chojuro grunted as he held his ground, not giving the bastard an opening.
"She'd melt us if she saw the situation we're in right now."
"She'll probably drag us from hell just to do that."
More cuts appeared on their bodies as they drowned out the man's laughter. If it wasn't for the blood around them and the cuts on their flesh, this was just two boys reminiscing about better days.
"I'm sorry that I won't see your dream Chojuro, you actually gave me hope again. That something in this world was worth fighting for. My real name is Naruto Uzumaki, and thank you for being my friend."
Kubikirbocho fell from his hands as he prepared to catch the ninjato, with his body if necessary. Chojuro would not die here. He'd give his friend the time to escape even if he had to sacrifice himself.
Blood was the only thing he saw next as Chojuro's frame fell into his arms. The ninjato meant for him planted straight into his chest as the boy coughed out blood. Naruto's eyes widened as he watched the boy fall, a blood curdling scream escaping from his lungs.
"CHOJURO!"
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A sinking feeling entered the rebel leader's heart as she looked up to the clouds. She hoped her brothers were ok. They should be back within the week and she'd hate to melt them because they decided to slack off.
A smile came to her lips as she thought of the two troublemakers. Toaru was brash and loud but also kept to himself, almost as if not wanting to be around people as much. Chojuro was becoming more outspoken and confident with himself, wearing a smile most of the times and boosting the camp's morale. The two together were a tornado of joy that slowly crept it's way into her life.
Maybe after all of this, she would take the two and go somewhere for a vacation. Hell, maybe she'd just adopt the two outright. She didn't have anyone else as family and those two were the closest she'd ever have. She could handle being called a mother if it meant those two would be her sons.
"Come home safe, the both of you." Her smile widened as she went back inside her tent. A longing look on her face. She chuckled.
"Momma needs to see her sons after all."
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"CHOJURO!" The dark-blonde boy spoke as he looked at his fallen friend. Blood ran from the wound like a river as Naruto felt his grip getting weaker.
"Why would you do that? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!? Tears ran from Naruto's eyes as he looked towards the boy, tears streaming from both their eyes.
"I was going to save you. I am going to save you, just hold on!" Naruto tried his best to stop the bleeding, but all three knew the outcome of what would happen. It was a clean hit, and Chojuro would die faster if the blade was pulled out.
"Your real name…sounds like a ramen topping haha cough ." His breathing grew more shallow by the minute. Causing Naruto's tears to stream faster.
"WHAT ARE YOU EVEN SAYING YOU IDIOT! I DON'T WANT YOU TO DIE, PLEASE DON'T DIE!" Naruto desperately called out to his friend.
"Naruto cough I-I want you to live, for th-the both of us." Chojuro said as his hand fell to the ground, too weak to support itself anymore.
"This was fun. Don't worry brat you'll join him soon." The real form of Hizana appeared as he felt that there was no need to hide himself, the boy lost the will to fight immediately after his friend was struck down.
"I'm glad I had you as a friend, and a brother, nii-chan." The words were a whisper as Chojuro finally passed away. The world took a dull tone through Naruto's eyes as the color drained from every fibre in his being. The once dark blonde hair turned completely black as his cerulean orbs turned to a dark purple, then to a gleaming red.
"I'm in hell. This. Is. Hell."
Hizana uncaringly plunged a kunai into his chest. But instead of blood, steam poured off the boy in waves, followed by a red bubbly chakra that encased his entire frame, burning the man on contact.
"What the?" Hizana said as drew his hand back. The kunai he held onto dropped from the boy's chest as the wound disappeared, followed by the chakra thickening as it climbed from his legs to his head, four tails emerging from his tail bone. Right before it reached his eyes, the boy let out one final sentence as he looked towards the man.
"I am going to kill you." The chakra rushed out like a pillar in the sky as there was no longer a boy in its epicentre. Instead, a monster in the shape of the boy remained, turning his heart to stone and shattering it to a million pieces. Naruto was dead.
And Menma was born.
"GRAAAAGH." It roared at the Yonnin who took a step back as he finally realised what this was. This was impossible! How the hell was there another bijuu in Kiri and no-one knew? Moreover, if there was one on the rebel's side, why didn't they attack the village already? With this type of power they could have won already. What the hell was going on here?
It took less than a second for the thing to appear next to him. Claws extended, it lashed out and struck the man, raking his nails along Hizana's abdomen. Hizana yelled in surprise and anger at the boy's sudden speed. Leaping back, He flashed through a set of 44 hand seals and yelled out his jutsu.
"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu (Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu)!" A full powered dragon made of water formed from the water around them and roared at the now five tailed jinchuriki. It rushed towards the beast and crashed into its skull, pushing it backwards. Unfortunately that was all it did as the beast flashed towards him again.
This time however, it didn't only scratch the man as it took its time to tear his arms off his body. The man screamed in pain, his ability to perform jutsus and to try and escape from this beast gone in an instant. He watched as it ate them, his face turning to one of fear as he turned and tried to run. Instead a claw tore through its abdomen as it turned him around to face the Jinchuriki once again.
Blue and red orbs converged in front of its maw, coalescing into a black sphere as it floated to its mouth. With a chomp, the thing swallowed the sphere whole. Immediately its entire body expanded into a bloated shape. Hizana's final sight was pure white as the technique went off with a bang.
"Bijuudama (Tailed beast ball)." The man said before he faded away, not even ashes remained as pure destruction cleared everything in its wake.
Now alone, the beast roared to the skies, the final remnants of its heart crying in pain as the chakra receded to reveal a now broken boy. His skin red and aching, the only saving grace being the rain that started to fall and sooth his regenerating flesh. None of that mattered to him as he picked up the body of his only friend.
His mind was blank as he walked towards the hideout. The blades on his back didn't matter, nor did the rain or the fact that he just caused a crater right outside the village. He trudged on, just wanting to get to the place his friend had called home.
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Mei stood in the rain. The news came from those on lookout that two figures were arriving towards the gate at a very slow pace. She held a facade of anger on her face, wanting to psyche the boys out before she hugged them and gave them the good news. The war would end soon, and if Toaru no longer wanted to leave, they could be a family together.
The anger slowly faded into fear as the two grew closer. She saw the burnt and battered form of Toaru carrying a pale and bloodied Chojuro.
"No." She said as she ran towards them.
A Chojuro that was unmoving, not even his chest moved to indicate breathing.
"Nononononono." Her movements quickened, bursting into a full sprint as she finally reached the two. Her hands caressed their faces. He was cold, too cold. She looked down at him and gasped. Dried blood surrounded the hole in his chest that went right through his body.
Looking towards Toaru, she found his eyes dull and now a dark shade of purple. If he wasn't breathing she would've thought that he was dead.
Dead.
The world stopped as she finally realised that she was holding the dead body of someone she considered a son. Tears ran from her eyes as she hugged the corpse, bringing the other boy close as she wept for the one she lost. Both of them broke down as the rain fell along with their spirits. Yet steeling their resolve to end this war once and for all.
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Words: 4397
Pages: 9
Chojuro is dead. Nothing more, nothing less. This needed to happen in order for Naruto to continue down the path of hatred. It is a fanfic where the entire premise surrounds his suffering after all.
Nothing on Gaara just yet, I haven't forgotten about him. Just wanted to push the story along a bit. Let's just say he is suffering a bit as well.
I don't think I have anything else to say. Please leave a review down below
Chao~
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Editor's Note: I changed it to Menma to show the darker personality that most people are already aware of. I could have used any other name but it's just to signify his change in behaviour going forward. If you want, read the first section of the chapter again but now replace 'Naruto' with 'Menma and it should clear things up a bit (I hope).
If you have no idea who Menma is, go watch Road to Ninja. It's a good Naruto movie.