Dawn of a New Era

Chapter 7

Generation Ying

Naruto scaled down the side of the Fourth’s stone face, feeling around every part, trying to find an opening, crevice, or sliding part of some sort. Sai aided in this search. After an hour of fruitless search, teh two of them stood atop the Fourth’s head.

“We aren’t finding anything…Give me that scroll, Sai.” Sai handed him the scroll from before.

“Hidden inside the face…Maybe…” He flipped it and found a riddle inscribed into the back. “Hey, Sai, look at this. I think this is different hand-writing than the old man’s.”

Sai and Naruto peered at the writing. “What you seek hides in the face…Find the one place, you use all the time that you take for granted.”

The duo mulled over the riddle, both of them stymied. “You have any idea of what it could mean, Sai?”

Sai shook his head, but soon hopped backwards. “Hm? Do you know?”

Sai nodded his head beckoned Naruto to draw closer. Sai pointed to an area where the head connected with the cliffside. Naruto thought for a moment and soon realized what he was talking about. “Something you use that you take for granted! The opening is in the hair-shaped-stone!” Sai smiled and nodded.

“It’s sort of smart…Now we must find the opening…” Sai and Naruto searched around the stone.

Suddenly, Sai shouted, I found something!” Naruto dashed over to him.

“What is it?”

Sai took out a kunai and held the knife end. He slammed the handle into the cliff and soon, the piece broke and a large opening was revealed!

Naruto beamed. “Great work, Sai! Now, all we have to do is get inside and break the seal!”

Tanzaku Town market…

Sasuke purchases a Flak Jacket from a market, also buying a pair of black sandals. “Thanks.”

He discarded his old white shirt, his ANBU chest guard and arm and shin guards, slipped on the Flak Jacket, new arm guards and the new Ninja Sandals.

“Karin, buy some new clothes. You too Suigetsu.”

Suigetsu scoffed and closed his eyes. “Why the sudden change in attire?” Sasuke turned his attention away, but talk breathlessly.

“We just need new apparel. Why argue? Just get some new clothes.” Suiegtsu shook his head.

“Whatever.”

Sasuke put his Chokuto’s sheath on his left hip and the Kusanagi on his right. He took his headband from his bag and tied it around his head, securing it tight. Placing his hand in his bag once more, he revealed an ANBU mask. He stared at it for a few moments, but soon crushed it in his hand and disposed of the pieces of fiberglass.

After Suigetsu and Karin had put on their new clothes, Sasuke spoke. “Our team’s name from now is…Team Taiyo. Let’s go. We’re almost back to the Leaf Village.”

Team Taiyo took off towards the Hidden Leaf.

Inside the Fourth’s Stone Head…

Naruto gazed around the hollow stone room. “It really has been hollowed out! Go figure!”

Sai scanned the walls for anything like a seal. “I don’t think the seal is a paper seal…I think it’s chakra. Be looking for a pure chakra source.”

Naruto scanned the walls as well. Soon, he felt a hollow space behind the wall. “Sai, is this an inner wall? Or an outside wall?”

Sai looked for a moment. “Your touching an inner wall…” Before Sai had his last words out, Naruto had a Rasengan ready and slammed into the wall. Dust and smoked filled the room. Naruto blew it away witha Wind Release. A tunnel was revealed that led inside the cliffside.

Naruto sighed.

“I guess there’s more history to this cliff than anyone thought! Come on!”

Naruto and Sai dashed inside the dark tunnel.

The dust scattered as they trampeled around inside the large, dark, arid tunnel. Soon, torches on the wall lit and the tunnel was illuminated.

They found a stone door and tried to open it, to no avail however. Naruto tried a Rasengan, but the door didn’t scratch.

“Don’t tell me we came in vain…!” Naruto moaned.

Sai smiled and revealed his drawing scroll. He scribbled a lion on it and summoned it. The lion exploded on contact to the door, leaving the stone soaked with ink. Sai winked at naruto. Naruto grinned.

“Rasengan!” The Rasengan, now, blew the door apart, revealing another room. This one was illuminated by two green-fire torches. Sai walked down a set of two stairs and scanned the ground.

He felt a huge chakra source right in front of him and looked up to see a statue in the shape of Minato. “I believe this is it.” He placed his hand on Minato’s head, where a marking read, “Kitsune Ying.”

Sai was ecstatic. “Naruto-sama, this is what we are looking for!”

Naruto rushed to Sai’s side. “Well? Does it require the Momentum Seal Release?”

Sai was quiet for a moment as he scanned the seal. “I think so…Back up and we’ll just see!” Naruto stepped back and Sai closed his eyes, two fingers still on the seal.

“…Momentum Seal: Release!” A flash of yellow light enveloped the whole room. The light died down and the statue was visible. The seal had dissipated.

Sai and Naruto waited for something to happen. Suddenly, a red energy flowed from the statue and floated above their heads.

“Naruto, try speaking to it!”

Naruto looked up at the sizzling energy floating above.

“Are you the Ying Kyuubi?”

Silence.

“Are you the Ying Power of the Kyuubi Bijuu?!”

A voice emitted from the energy. “Yes, and I believe you are Naruto Uzumaki, son of Minato Namikaze…the Yang was sealed inside of you…and you must have come after me because the Yang was sealed away from you, am I correct?”

Naruto reacted to the lighter voice, much different than the Yang. “Yes, how did you know this?”

“Haaa, I know everything that happens to the Yang chakra, and vice-versa…So, I suppose you want me sealed inside of you, haa?” Naruto nodded. “Yes.”

“Then you need, haa, the Five-Pronged-Seal…haaa.”

Naruto turned to Sai. “Can you do that?”

Sai nodded. “I believe so.”

Naruto turned up to the chakra. “I want you sealed inside of me!”

“Okay, haa, then you need the seal done upon you twice…haa…”

Sai activated the FPS and touched Naruto’s stomach with it, creating the seal.

The chakra gently flowed inside of Naruto. Once inside, Sai did it once more, sealing the chakra inside of Naruto.

Naruto went into his mind speak mode. Inside his mind with the Ying version of Kyuubi…

A gate similar that held the Yang Kyuubi held the Ying Kyuubi.

“Hello, Naruto…”

Naruto stared at the Kyuubi through the bars. “So, since you’re the Ying, I suppose you aren’t as bloodthirsty and cunning as the Yang?”

Silence…But soon…

“You could say that…”

“And be correct?”

Silence once more…

“Yes.”

Real world…

“Naruto-sama? Are you all right?” Sai placed his hand on Naruto’s shoulder.

He snapped from his transe. “Yes…Thanks for helping me out here…But I guess we should get out soon…come on!”

Hidden Leaf Gate…

Team Taiyo stood at the gate, peering into the village. Karin had not been to this village in at least two years.

“I remember when we left the village…”

The team headed inside.

Sasuke passed by the Ichiraku Ramen as Teichu gave him a look of surprise, and Ayame the same.

Karin took in the sights she had not seen in awhile, some refreshing, some just nice to notice.

Anko Mitirashi happened to be walking towards Sasuke, so she stopped and spoke to him. “Sasuke! Hey, where’ve you been?”

“Hello Anko. Do you know where Shikamaru is?”

Anko thought for a moment. “Yeah, I think he’s with Naruto and Sai on top of the Hokage’s Mansion.”

Sasuke thanked her and the trio headed up deeper in the village; towards the Hokage Mansion.

On top of Hokage Mansion…

“So you two found out a secret about the Fourth’s Stone Face?”

Naruto nodded. “Yeah, it concealed the seal that hid the Ying Chakra of the Kyuubi.”

Shikamaru staggered backwards. “Seriously? That’s pretty epic. So did you guys find it?”

Sai held a thumbs up. “Yes, and we sealed it inside Naruto.”

Shikamaru nodded reassuringly. “I guess that’s great then. Oh, and, another scroll was stolen, if you haven’t already found out.”

“Wow, already…That’s two scrolls. What do they do when they have all five?”

Shikamaru sighed warily. “Well, nothing by themselves. They need a special kind of chakra called, ‘The Key of Calamity.’ What it does is summon the power of the scrolls and the power is granted to who or whatever uses the ‘key’.”

“In other words,” Sai added, “if you have the scrolls, and get the key, you control the fate of the world.”

Naruto gulped. “That seems awful…If taken into the wrong hands. So that’s why we have to stop them.”

“Yeah, because we’ll never know if they have the key. But, the good thing, is that the key is hidden somewhere where only a special scroll can reveal its whereabouts.”

“Then where’s the key?” Sai inquired.

“Some say it’s in a tomb deep under the Hidden Sand Village, but they’re just lost rumors.”

Everyone stood in silence a moment. The silence was shattered by Sasuke arriving with Team Taiyo.

“Shikamaru, Naruto, Sai…”

The threesome turned to see the team.

“What is it Sasuke?”

Sasuke stepped forward. “I thought that I may need to come and tell you about the scroll theft in Iwagakure.”

Shikamaru’s eyes grew big, shocked. “W-Were you a witness?”

Sasuke scoffed in a sarcastic manner and looked straight at SHikamaru. “You could say that, if it also includes being the ones trying to stop the thieves.”

Naruto stomped a foot. “So you three tried to stop the one’s who took the scroll? Why weren’t you able?”

Suigetsu scoffed. “We just weren’t able to prevent it, that good enough for ya?!”

Sasuke sighed gently. “…Anyway, we didn’t stop them. They were like eels; slippery and devious. We needn’t underestimate this organization. They’re not any old child’s play. They’re just as if not more dangerous then the original Akatsuki.”

Shikamaru uncrossed his arms. “If this threat is rising, we’ll need to dispatch teams to locate their hideout before any more happenings occur. We need to get in touch with the two other countries to help us out in doing this. It won’t be an easy task to accomplish.”

“Yes, but we can’t hit it head on.” Sai added quickly.

Shikamaru nodded. “Yeah. All right, I’ll get in touch with the other Kages, study around some more and start trying to assemble teams to dispatch. I’m going to have ot be away from the village for awhile, which I’ll have to also spek to the Eldest Counselours about. And, wait, did you say ‘thieves’?”

Sasuke’s crisp, male voice rang across the evening air. “Yeah, why?”

“How many were there?”

Sasuke said five and Shikamaru disappeared quickly. “What’s his deal?”

“They assumed the Akatsuki traveled in duos…”

Two days later, Shikamaru holds a meeting with the two eldest counsil…

“We understand what you’re doing, 8th Hokage, but who do you have in mind to take your place in your absence?” Hiruna, one of the new members of counsil, asked.

“The only person I actually reccommend is Sai. But I’ll only be gone for a day or two, so it’s not long.”

“I see…What do you think Yudo?” The other member of counsil mulled over the idea for a moment.

“Shikamaru, I think the idea of enstating Sai is an idea worth fulfilling. Pass it through, Hiruna.” Yudo agreed.

Shikamaru smiled and Hiruna called the meeting ajurned.

The Next Day…

Shikamaru stands in his office, getting together the documents and scrolls he needs for his leave-away. A knock at the door greeted him and Yamato walked in with Sai.

“Shikamaru, I heard that I’m going to be the temporary Hokage? Did I hear that right?”

Shikamaru nodded. “Do you have a problem with it?”

Sai shifted uneasily to his left foot. “Not exactly, but do you believe I have neccessary requirements to be posses a job as serious as this one?”

Shikamaru needed no time to think. “Yes, I do, you posses the qualities of a true leader.”

Yamato beamed. “I agree with him, Sai. You really are a true leader.”

Sai shrugged and gave in. “All right. So, when do you leave?”

“Right about now…”

Leaf Gate 10 minutes later…

Shikamaru gave a mental goodbye to the Leaf Village temporarily and set off. “Hmm, I should head to Sunagakure first, since they are the closest to the Leaf Village in fellowship.”

Shikamaru waited a moment. “Where is Azuma?”

Suddenly, Azuma appeared next to him. “Sorry I’m late Shikamaru-sama. I got caught up in something. So, are we off?”

Shikamaru nodded and they took off towards Hidden Leaf Forest.

Cave…

“Kuchia, I understand that your Sharingan is fully developed, correct?”

“Yes, sir. Why do you ask?”

“I just needed to know. Your first task will be to aid in our next raid. We will attack Kirigakure next. If you aren’t ready, the mission will fail, and if the mission fails, the other members and you will pay a deep price.”

Kuchia bowed and disappeared. The hologram phased, but Kakaze caught it right before it faded.

“Leader, Jinrai has been killed.”

The hologram seemed to gasp at the sudden news, but Kakaze was sure it didn’t.

“Hmm, I never would have guessed Jinrai would be killed. And so quick, too. What a pity. Well, Kakaze, you’d better not do as poorly as he did, because your next mission is to Kirigakure. Soon.”

Kakaze bowed and also left. The hologram stood silently.

Outside Cave…

“Aww, Jinrai was killed. That’s too bad, now I don’t have a partner, hohoho…” Koukishi sighed.

“Yes, Koukishi, you sound absolutely, DEVASTATED.” Kibu grunted.

“Who asked you?” Koukishi turned his head.

“Also, Koukishi understands that with Jinrai’s death, he’s ranked as ‘One’ on the board.” Kisame spoke with cracked sarcasm.

“Oh, tsk, tsk, tsk…Always one to jump the gun Kisame…”

Kuchia strode passed the three of them, making his way to the other side of the valley wall.

As he approached it, he activated his Sharingan and dashed forward. “Fire Style: Giant Fireball Jutsu!” The giant ball of fire sprang through the air and collided with the cliff, crumbling it into a rockslide. Kuchia hopped from stone-to-stone, finally reaching the top.

“I’d hate to admit it otherwise, but that boy is skilled.” Koukishi said smoothly in one breath.

“I think he’s just lucky to be able to do what he does. He’ll die in no time.” Kisame objected.

Koukishi frowned and shut his eyes. “Don’t doubt him Kisame. He’s an Uchiha, born directly from Sasuke Uchiha. He’s nothing to laugh at. His talent won’t die.”

Kibu stayed quiet and listened to the two squabble.

“I’m telling’ ya, when Madara was around, he constantly raved about the other Uchiha. But when I saw his real power, it was pathetic. So that boy, being born from Sasuke, is a jo-.”

Koukishi cut into Kisame’s words. “Kakaze told me that…Sasuke Uchiha’s daughter killed Jinrai.”

Silence…

Kisame quit talking about Kuchia and watched him slide down the Cliffside.

“So his son has to be worth much more…hohoho.” Those were Koukishi’s final words on the subject as he walked inside the cave, trailing behind Kuchia.

Kibu stood up and followed. Kisame stayed outside and thought to himself in silence.

Sunagakure…

Azuma and Shikamaru walked inside the Kazekage’s Office.

“Shikamaru, finally here. All right, you told me most of what you plan to do in the message. So, how shall we put this together?”

Shikamaru had been re-thinking off how they should organize the plan on their way there.

“We need to have the Mizukage here first.”

Temari sighed and starting scribbling something down on a piece of parchment. She handed it to one of her ANBU and sent him to Kirigakure. “Try to return within a few hours. Shikamaru, if you want her to be here too, we’re going to have to wait awhile for her to arrive.”

Shikamaru grinned. “We have the time.”

Temari sighed and slammed her head onto the desk.

Three hours later…

The Mizukage stepped into the room, Chojuro on her heels.

The Mizukage sat down in a chair. Shikamaru turned to the two Kages.

“Okay, what we need to do first is assemble a team from each village, three Chuunin, one Jonin or ANBU. Once the teams are assembled, we all unite and pin-point the location of the Akatsuki Hideout, figure the plan of action, and strike.”

The Mizukage and Kazekage listened intently. Temari added, “Okay, so one team from each village…”

“But make sure the four people you choose won’t down the defense on your own village…I guess we’re done here…”

Silence…

The Mizukage stood up to leave, walked out the door and Chojuro gently shut it.

Shikamaru stood up as well and headed out with Azuma.

Temari was left alone with a document she had to approve.

Konohagakure…

Shikamaru walked into the Hokage Office quickly, scattered some scrolls around and found four documents.

“Um, are you back to stay?”

Shikamaru slurred his words. “Sort of…”

He layed down the scrolls and wrote down one name on each, finishing with his signature.

He handed them to an ANBU member to take to the four people.

Leaf Hospital…

Uzuna starts to gather his stuff to leave when the ANBU member appears at the door as he opens it.

“Uzuna Uzumaki, this is from the Hokage.”

Uzuna was handed the scroll and the ANBU departed.

He unraveled it. “Uzuna Uzumaki, I have recruited you onto the Leaf Squad to track down Akatsuki. Once you receive the scroll, go to the Hokage Office.”

Uzuna put the scroll in his bag and shut the door gently.

Dumpling Shop…

Neten Hyuuga sat inside, finishing his last stick. The ANBU member appeared inside and he was handed a scroll. “So, I’ve been added to a squad…to take down the Akatsuki. This should be interesting…hmph…”

Weapon Repair Shop…

Azuma stood repairing his knives. Metal had chipped off the ridges when he dropped them on cement.

The ANBU member left him a scroll. “So I’m one of the Chuunin on the squad?! Awesome!”

Training Field…

Konohamaru stood training with the Adamantine Nyoi pole, when the ANBU member hands him a scroll. “Cool, I’m the Jonin on the Leaf Squad! This’ll be worth while.”

Hokage Office…

“Now that the four of you are here, the reason is that we are uniting with the two countries who’s scrolls have not been stolen to take down the Akatsuki. From the inside. You depart for Sunagakure in two days. This will be no easy task. The Akatsuki are dangerous and evil people. Powerful ninja are what they are and best efforts have to be put forth if we have any chance at beating them.”

The four agreed to meet at the gate tomorrow and disperssed.

Shikamaru stood alone in his office…

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now it’s building up to be somethin’ fierce!!!
Stay tuned for Chapter 8, next time!

See ya!

Special Thanks to:

Author: Me of course ;P

Till You Die

9 – Bloodrose Secunda

…

For a long time Loreli sat at the edge of the bed, her mind drawing a white blank.

It seemed a long time since she had been taken away from her beloved home. Loreli counted and recounted inside her head. One week…was it?

Only one week…?

Yuzuzu-hime…Loreli wondered if her mistress had stopped crying yet.

…A warm, bittersweet, nostalgic feeling.

No…those were dangerous thoughts.

Drawing the blanket around her body, Loreli calmly went to the door. Was he planning to keep her in here?

Two guards.

“…I need clothes.”

No speaking glances exchanged. No hesitation. One of them left.

…

“…Where is your leader?” Loreli asked the remaining guard.

“A missive arrived via falcon earlier,” he replied nonchalantly. “He is with the councilors.”

She looked at the Uchiha guard curiously. He didn’t bother to return her gaze.

“You will really accept an outsider as the mistress of your clan?” Loreli asked tonelessly.

Same indifference, he wasted no time in answering to the space before him. “Betray the clan, and you’re as good as dead. Your authority will only last so long as you still have Madara-sama’s favor.”

“…I see.”

In other words…

…She wasn’t going to get out of this alive.

…

Loreli rubbed her temples wearily with one hand.

The guard who had left earlier returned with an older woman by his side.

“There, there.” Loreli felt herself being patted on the side of her shoulder. “Go back inside before you catch a chill like this.”

She allowed herself to be propelled through the door.

“This should be your size, I would think.” A bundle was pressed into her arms. “Go on, go wash up and change.”

Loreli hesitated, watching as the older woman picked up the remnants of the ripped garments from the floor with a cluck of her tongue. Then the Uchiha woman approached the bed.

“…I will take care of that myself,” said Loreli as the woman started bunching up the sheets. She had bled last night. The thought of having anyone else seeing it… It mortified her.

The older woman paused, looking over at her skeptically. Then she shook her head, but to Loreli’s relief, she let go of the sheets.

A deliberate sigh. “When will that boy learn that relying on force won’t win him everything?”

Loreli blinked.

“Look at this, look at this, all this dust!” the older woman exclaimed disapprovingly, having rubbed two fingers together after running them along the top of a nearby shelf. “What a horrid room to live in! If it weren’t for his younger brother, I wouldn’t be surprised if he died from a lung infection or something.”

“…Izuna-sama indeed seems like a mother figure to him,” Loreli remarked dryly.

The Uchiha woman chuckled. “You would think, right? In fact, it used to be reversed with those two. As a young boy, Izuna detested learning the art of war, so much that the trainers thought something was wrong. Madara repeatedly confronted their instructors for giving his younger brother a hard time. I remember there was not one day he didn’t return from training all roughed up. In the end, they left regular training. The only person Izuna would fight is his older brother. And now, years later…” She shook her head. “Hard to imagine they’re the same boys from before.”

“…What happened to those trainers?” Loreli asked wryly.

Quizzical look.

“…Madara-sama didn’t hold a grudge against them for beating him up in the early days?” Loreli asked half-heartedly.

“What are you saying?” Knowing smirk. “He’s the one who defeated each of the instructors.”

“…Oh.”

…How long ago was this? No-…it wasn’t like she was actually interested.

“Your husband” making Loreli flinch momentarily “had learned early on that it’s not a matter of who’s wrong or who’s right in a warrior clan like the Uchiha. It’s only a matter of who’s strongest. Whoever commands the most power commands obedience. But, you seem like a brave girl. Perhaps he has met his match.”

Ah… Loreli had a vague suspicious this was where it was all leading. It was like the women of the clan thought her to be some kind of heroine for daring to pour a bowl of hot soup over Uchiha Madara.

“…You are mistaken,” said Loreli blandly. She wasn’t brave… “I was…not in my right mind yesterday.” She had been too distressed for her own good yesterday. “He would have killed me if it weren’t for keeping up appearances.”

The older woman clucked her tongue, propelling her towards the bathroom door. “I’m not going to try figuring out what’s going on with you two. But let me tell you this; he could have avoided it if he wanted to. He didn’t. To have done so would have immediately alienated you from the rest of his men. To us, it only seemed like he was issuing a warning to everyone of just how far your influence goes.”

The door shut gently behind her. Loreli stood facing the unlit bathroom, motionless.

The bundle of cloth slipped from her hands, unnoticed, dropping to the cold tiled floor.

They could force her if they had to, but to cooperate would mean that she’d accepted her new role.

On second thought…

“Give me that,” said Loreli. She was going to spike Izuna’s tea with chili.

That’s right. She knew if she remained stubborn long enough, he would come find her.

None of the clansmen had gone against her thus far. She was amazed, appalled. Did they truly think she was going to lie low and calmly accept all this?

And what was with this- this robe? Despite what that Uchiha woman had excused about the size not fitting, Loreli couldn’t help but suspect that it wasn’t the size that was the problem. It was not modest. Not modest.

There was not one person who was on her side.

“Awfully spirited today, aren’t we?”

Loreli spun around.

“Up here.”

Izuna, above her, standing perpendicular to the pillar which was beside her, his long thin ponytail hanging down.

“…Why are you…?”

“You’re not planning to spill anything on me, are you?” replied Izuna, good-naturedly.

She considered this. “…No…come down.”

He did. A small, agile flip which landed him next to her.

Like his brother, Uchiha Izuna was one head taller than her. The same stature, the same build; a lithe but impressively toned frame. Yet there was an overall difference. Izuna was pleasant to look at, despite knowing how deceptive appearances could be. Unlike his brother, meeting eyes with Izuna would not evoke an urge to stare and to look away at the same time.

“A token of my appreciation,” said Loreli, holding out the glass of warm beverage to him.

He winced. “Making gifts to me? Well, this is rare.” Swirling the liquid in the glass, but knowing better than to drink it. Amused tone. “Is this a bribe?”

She responded with a small dry smile.

“…Actually…there’s something I want to ask,” Loreli told him. “Your brother, Madara” she watched his expression carefully “towards this marriage, was he willing or unwilling?”

…

Izuna hiked a thin eyebrow. “I’m guessing nothing happened last night?”

She didn’t reply. He had a way of skirting around questions.

“Hn.” Loreli did not avoid his arm, wrapping around her shoulders. “Don’t be surprised,” Izuna told her, “Madara…doesn’t want any children.”

“Doesn’t want-” she started, and then cut herself off. Izuna was messing with her again, wasn’t he? “Then why did he-…” she paused at the sight of his innocent smile. “You.”

“Madara,” Izuna explained to her unhurriedly, “thinks that having children would mean taking time away from his duty on the battlefield.” Wry smile. “But…I know my brother’s ambition. He can’t seem to accept that it’s not something anyone can accomplish within the course of a lifetime.”

She understood. He wanted someone to give Madara heirs who would inherit his ambition. Loreli felt sick. “What kind of twisted ambition…?”

“Hn?” Izuna suggested, “That, why don’t you ask him that for yourself?”

She slipped out from under his arm. She wasn’t interested in getting pushed into his brother’s arms again. “You…picked the wrong person,” Loreli informed him calmly. “I may be trapped, but you are mistaken if you believe I will eventually give in to persuasions or intimidations.”

She closed her eyes briefly before continuing. “I will never accept that role. Wife to a heartless, manipulative, arrogant,” she went on.

Izuna listened with a pleasant smile. “Behind you.”

Loreli frowned slightly. Did he expect her to fall for that a second time?

Nonetheless, she glanced back. “-vengeful, and-…”

Madara.

…

She watched, frozen, as the tall, dark-haired shinobi slowly bent forward to her eye level. One long eyebrow rose slightly as his impassive obsidian black eyes pierced her. A soft, foreboding voice, prodding, “…And…?”

Lips numb, Loreli murmured monotonously, “…And an insensitive jerk who expects me to say good things behind his back after almost having me killed four times…”

Izuna, laughing. She wasn’t aware. All that was occupying her attention was how close and how sinister Uchiha Madara looked at that moment.

Those dark eyes, cold and hard like black diamonds. Dark lips set in a thin, harsh line. He-…could it be that he had heard everything?

A dragged out pause. Suspense.

“Mistress of the most powerful clan in the land of fire,” Madara mused smoothly, arrogant brow rising in askance. “…Not good enough?”

In truth, she didn’t want to say any more, she only wanted to get away. But nodding her head would mean that she conceded.

“…I…didn’t ask for it…Madara-sama.”

“What she means is she doesn’t appreciate the trivial duties imposed on her,” Izuna interrupted. “Here, I believe this was for you,” he added, handing the glass of tea she gave him to Madara.

Her heart did a plunge.

“Wait…” Both hands on his strong black-clad arm. Madara’s arm. It didn’t matter that she was contradicting everything she’d just said about not giving in to intimidation.

…Uchiha Madara’s mood at the present…

…was dangerous.

“…I’ll get you another one…”

His eyes on her back. Intense. Loreli felt a cold sweat swept over her as she retreated.

Murderous aura.

Izuna watched as Madara shattered the glass of liquid against the pillar. He spoke.

“You need to win her over before we leave,” commented Izuna. “She is confused, trying to be brave, innocent but not naïve enough to believe that she’d find an ally in this place. I have fallen out of her favor. If anyone chooses to show her kindness at this stage…” Izuna paused in thought “…she may become easily susceptible to their influence.”

Irritably. “Then have it known that no one is to show her any kindness!” snapped Madara, loud voice echoing off the walls as he turned away in dismissal.

Izuna kneaded his forehead in exasperation.

Loreli was amazed at her own lack of willpower.

No…he had caught her off-guard …that was all. Having to confront without any warning the man who-…last night- She-…She would be prepared this time.

“…This…is it alright if I leave it here?”

She had set the tray on the table. She didn’t look up or even bother waiting for a reply.

Faster than she could blink, Izuna was next to her, one arm lashing out to shut the double doors close before she could escape. The clang actually resounded inside the meeting room.

…

…Immediately she knew nothing good was going to come out of this.

“You don’t need to run off, this concerns you as well.”

Slowly, Loreli turned around. It wasn’t a pleasant sensation, being the center of attention of a group of men who could have her dead without rising from their seats.

“…What is it?” she asked blankly.

With an arm around her shoulders, Izuna drew her away from the exit. “This is abrupt, but…we, the men, are setting out tomorrow.”

She was silent as he moved away.

“You must be mad, right? Your husband’s going away to war immediately after your wedding. Hn…” deceptively innocent smile “I have an idea.”

Loreli watched warily as Izuna approached a seated Madara at the end of the long oval table. What was he playing at?

“Why don’t you ask him for something in compensation?” suggested Izuna.

Silence.

Standing next to the clan leader in question, Uchiha Izuna encouraged her in amusement, “Go ahead. Ask him anything.”

Her mouth dry, Loreli couldn’t shake off the feeling of being cornered.

Uchiha Madara, facing her at the opposite end of the room, his councilors on either side of the long oval table, watching her. Just watching her. Was he not going to comment on this?

“…Anything?”

Slowly, she met Madara’s dark, veiled gaze. He had propped his head up against the back of one hand, tips of his long, ebony spiked hair brushing the surface of the table. A look of boredom, if nothing else. Yet it was suffocating.

…

Izuna was mistaken if he thought that she would give in to the pressure. Loreli leaned forward in a bow.

“…I ask that Madara-sama relinquish his claims on my person and to send me home.”

…Izuna let out a small laugh. “Told you she’d be mad.”

A sharp and scathing command.

“Leave us.”

…

It was not an order spoken in a tone anyone wanted to argue with. Izuna was massaging his temples while he cleared the room with the others.

The door shut behind them, leaving them in silence.

Loreli straightened from her bow when she heard his chair scrape back.

“You’ve gotten quite bold.”

The observant voice came from behind her.

She felt herself stiffen, listening to his slow footsteps as he paced around to face her.

He leaned in. She held her breath, eyes fixated on a spot ahead of her.

“Look at me,” Madara told her softly, tilting up her chin. His dark eyes mocking, long thin eyebrow arched in pretense, he told her, “I don’t mind.”

Coldness crept up the back of her arms, to her shoulders, settling high up into the back of her neck.

His low, smooth question to her, so close to her that Loreli was afraid to blink, “But are you prepared to pay the price?”

Inhaling sharply, she found herself pressed against the edge of the oval table, her wrists pinned down to either side.

Slowly, Madara lowered himself to her eye level. Feeling him pressing even closer, it took Loreli all her willpower not to arch back, away from the proximity of his dark parted lips.

…He wouldn’t… In here…?

But the long-haired shinobi paused in whatever he had planned. For a long moment, his half-lidded eyes bore into hers.

Silence. Remaining in that position.

Lightly, Madara remarked, “I don’t like those eyes.”

He watched as she blinked once, a hint of a question forming in her deep brown depths.

Women who wanted him for his power, women who cowered before his power, he had seen many in his life. It disgusted him. Yet…

Again, he reached two fingers beneath her chin, even though she wasn’t looking away. Pondering darkly.

Her eyes. She neither desired him nor cowered before him, and all the power he could offer did not persuade her into obedience.

Yet this was what infuriated him more than all the others. Ah, this woman, he thought, dark eyes slimming ominously…only this woman, he would not tolerate such indifference from her.

…

“…Madara-sama…I was born like this,” she said.

“Heh.”

Hands on her waist, he abruptly lifted her into his arms.

Panic was written over her delicate features as she looked up.

“Even if only on the surface,” Madara said silkily down at her. “I am going to tame you.”

It was the second time he had carried her. This time she didn’t bother with struggling, although, like the other time, she looked like she was withholding a scream.

Heh. It didn’t matter if she screamed. His men could pause to stare all they wanted. She was his wife.

He released her once they were inside his room. She stumbled backwards a few steps.

“Your resolve,” Madara commented, pouring himself a glass of wine. He sank back into the chair next to the bed, long legs crossed, before completing his mocking statement, “It’s impressive.”

She was nervous; a fine, nearly unperceivable trembling along her arms. Madara drank from the glass, lazy half-lidded eyes watching her over the rim.

She was but a simple girl, not a single ninja skill to speak of, and she refused to give in to him – Uchiha Madara.

“I’ll give you a chance to make things easier on yourself,” Madara told her in dark amusement. Leaning back into his seat, he returned the guarded look she gave him with a cruel smirk. “Touch me, of your own accord.”

She flinched visibly at his taunting suggestion.

Leisurely, he rested the side of his head into his hand, elbow propped up on the back of his chair.

“Your answer?” asked Madara, knowingly.

She hesitated in giving a response.

Predictable, her reaction was.

“…Madara-sama,” her characteristically light and patient voice, “you ask too much of me.”

He set his glass down on the table next to him. Without getting up, Madara reached over to the side. A sharp, ripping sound as he tore a long narrow strip away from the bed-sheets, barehanded.

Looking back up to see her stunned expression, Madara leaned back again into his seat, holding out one hand to her.

She was not a clueless girl. He could see that she was able to figure out what he meant.

Madara quirked an eyebrow, still waiting.

Long black lashes flickering in fear, she stepped back from him.

He got up.

Faster than she could retreat another step, he was before her. She made sweet, gasping sounds as he lashed her wrists together.

She resisted, but he easily flung her onto the bed, securing the other end of the binding to a bedpost.

Calmly, Madara went back to the table and finished the remainder of the wine in his glass, deliberately dragging it out for her.

She was looking up at the binds which tied her hands. She knew she couldn’t free herself of them without help, biting her lip at the knowledge.

He circled the bed before coming around to her side, slow gaze trailing over her.

“Spread your legs,” Madara ordered.

She stared up at him, motionless, aghast.

“Or we can do this the hard way,” Madara told her, bending over to speak closer, “I can tie down your legs.”

Her face rigid in an effort to keep her emotionless mask in place, she seemed to agonize over this.

Finally, her eyes shut and she parted her legs.

“Wider.”

He saw her jaw clench, but she obeyed.

“If you’re just going to close your eyes,” Madara suggested smoothly, “why don’t I just blindfold you?”

She stiffened visibly. A short moment’s pause. Then she reopened her eyes.

“I warned you, didn’t I?” Madara remarked wryly. “I don’t want to see that look.”

…

Before a snide retort fell from her parted lips, he was above her, a fisted arm against the headboard above her head supporting his weight.

“Ah.” Arrogant face hovering inches above hers, Madara’s dark lips smirked down at her. “That mood,” he warned her, long taunting eyebrows twitching up, “It’s dangerous.”

Whatever remained of her protest silenced when she felt his other hand loosen her robe. Her breathing came quickly.

It didn’t take much to get it out of the way; she was dressed lightly; though he made it torturously slow. Her legs squeezing against his, an instinctive action to protect herself. She didn’t know how erotic that was.

Exposed to his silent scrutiny.

It wasn’t only her face; her entire body was soft and supple, radiant. Her neck was slender, skin pure, her shoulders refined, with perfectly shaped breasts, a small waist and long shapely legs. The sheer amount of feminine allure she exuded was enough to shake the resolve of any man.

Madara felt his own breath starting to lengthen despite himself.

It didn’t matter how many men had been tempted by her in the past. She was his. And he would keep her.

He shifted position. She resisted when he slid her panties away from her legs, but he allowed that to pass. Prying her legs apart, Madara traced lazy circles on her inner thigh with his thumb, eyes on her face.

She tried to slide up, away from him. He yanked her back.

Her eyelids fluttered rapidly a few times, as if blinking back tears.

Madara straightened. He pulled off his black, high-necked shirt over his head, long hair tumbling back down into place. Then the remainder of his clothing, and she looked away.

He turned her head back, long strong fingers grasping her jaw line. “Shhh…” Madara leaned in, an elbow next to her head bracing himself above her. “Behave yourself,” Madara told her smoothly, wryly, “and you’ll see that I am capable of being a gentle lover.”

Dark smirk forming on his lips at the sight of her unappreciative eyes, Madara brushed strands of her hair away from her throat, asking her tauntingly, “Would you like that?”

“No.”

“Heh.” He lowered himself, drawing his hand down her smooth throat, across her rapidly rising chest, over the supple mound of her breast. “You don’t know what you’re saying,” Madara commented silkily, tweaking the peak none too gently. Dark promise. “I’ll forgive you this once.”

Before she could reply, he had reached down and had found the nub between her spread legs. She jerked back. Immediately his arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her in place.

Slowly, Madara teased her sweet flesh with skilled fingers until the most sensitive spot on her body grew hard, her entire body taut, straining against her bonds.

She was determined not to make a sound, he observed. It was unlikely she knew that her squirming underneath him and her shuddering breath had the same effect. He arched her up, lowering his lips to one breast, teasing her with his warm breath rushing over her sensitive skin.

It was good enough. Her peaks were hard and risen, matching the height of his own arousal. He lowered her gently back into the sheets.

“You’ll be watching me,” Madara commanded, gripping her chin lightly, making her face him again.

He spread her legs further, without waiting for a reply. If it weren’t for his own unsatiated need, he thought darkly, he would have dragged this part out for her.

She squeezed against him as he entered her, as if trying to reject him. She was tight, tense, though not as unyielding as she had been last night. He pulled back, only to thrust in a little deeper each time just as her walls had started to accommodate to him.

She wanted to edge away. Madara placed both hands on her hips, keeping her still. He started a slow pace, savoring the feel of her underneath him, the feel of ownership.

…Oh, traitorous. Her body was traitorous.

The pain had faded, that was true, but it still shouldn’t have felt remotely pleasurable. If he had allowed her to close her eyes. If he hadn’t been an undeniably and fatally attractive male.

Loreli had averted her gaze many times, but each time he would pinch the tip of one breast sharply in reminder.

It wasn’t the pain she was trying to avoid by keeping her eyes on him. It was the knowledge that her body was responding to him every time he did that. It was already hard enough attempting to stop her body from arching into him.

The sound of him sliding inside her, slow and deliberate, making sure he filled every space within her each time. The sound of his soft grunts as she fixated on the sinews inside his neck, with strands of his long ebony-black hair plastering against his skin from the sweat.

Even so, this man…doing such things – things no man had ever done to her…no…how could her body react this way?

He saw her troubled expression.

“Give in to me,” Madara breathed, low and seductive.

Loreli gritted her teeth.

Uchiha Madara grasped her hair, dark eyes possessive as he leaned in and told her firmly, eyebrows rising in challenge, “You are mine.”

She shook her head lightly.

“Ah-!”

He had given her a hard thrust, taking her by surprise.

Mockingly. “You like that?” Madara asked with a knowing smirk.

Hands on her waist, he quickened his pace, his rhythm deep and insistent.

Her breathing became ragged. She didn’t want to give him a reaction he wanted to see.

Pain, intermingling with the pleasure which had been building up. It was neither pain nor pleasure. It was both. An intense, an unbearably intense sensation winding itself at her core where his heat reached her repeatedly.

A quiet whimper. Hers.

When- when will he stop?

She felt his arm snake behind her waist, using it to hold her against him as he buried himself deeper inside her. His other hand reached down to flick her nub. His long hair slid back and forth along her skin. And the feeling. The inexplicable feeling building up inside her.

It was too much. She couldn’t endure it. She wanted him to stop. She needed him to stop before bitter tears at her helplessness leaked out.

“I- I am yours,” Loreli choked out brokenly, voice rising to match his force, “I am yours! My god, I am yours!” Stop. Her voice caught.

The spasm gripped her without warning, violent and mercilessly. Loreli gasped sharply, feeling her folds convulse tightly around him as he gave in to his own pleasure, panting above her.

She was still catching her breath, stunned at her own body’s response, when Madara pulled away. He laid facing her on the bed, next to her. A masterpiece, a sculpture of flesh and blood, thin trickles of sweat glistening on his skin.

Loreli stared, speechless, at his smug expression, his head propped up on one hand. What was there left for her to say? Why the expectant look?

Finally regaining her voice, she asked him as steadily as she could make it “…Madara-sama…may I be untied?”

The corner of his dark flushed lips quirked up further. Madara lifted himself slightly and brought himself closer. Speaking low and smooth directly next to her ear, he promised her, “It’s not over yet.”

This will actually be a shorter chapter since the battle is ALL I want to insert, so if it is a short read, I’m very sorry. I hope I don’t disappoint!

Dawn of a New Era

Chapter 6

Eye-to-Eye

“Going to try and fight back even after my Rinnegan is in play, eh? I’ll put you in your place.” Jinrai flipped from the branch and shot down, straight with one leg aimed at Sauno.

He hit the ground, causing the ground to implode and uprise uneasily, throwing Sauno backwards. Her hand grasped the side of a tree trunk, allowing her to find a foot hold for the gale wind the pressure had caused. Jinrai stood up.

“You’re seriously annoying me.” Tiny needles of energy poked out of Jinrai’s fingers, similar to the “scalpel” he had used some time before. “Touch one of these, and you die.” Sauno couldn’t track his movements as he rushed towards her with high speed.

He kicked the tree, sending her back onto her feet and then aimed straight at her with the knives. Her Sharingan finally tracked his movements and she ducked, giving her an open spot. She punched upwards, then gave a single-knee blow, sending Jinrai high into the air, flipping backwards. Sauno dashed up the side of the tree, with now surprisingly dazzling speed, and meet Jinrai at the top. “Ninja Arts: One-Drop, Explosive Hit!” Sauno turned her body in a 90 degree angle and kicked Jinrai in the back, in the exact same area the shuriken had impaled him minutes before.

Jinrai found himself falling after the kick, but was able to land on a limb. Sauno landed exactly parallel to him. “I won’t lose, like I said, to some Akatsuki jerk! Fire Style Dragon Flame Jutsu!” She formed her hand signs and breathed the Dragon fire. Jinrai formed 32 hand signs and placed his hand on the branch.

“Triple Wolf Turbine!” Three spinning wolves of lightning twisted up from the ground. Sauno fell backward off the brach intentionally. The turbines span in perfect unison. Sauno avoided them by merely twisting her body slightly. “Hmph, now he has to wait a while before he can use anotehr jutsu…I suppose!”

Sauno touched the ground and then jumped back up into the tree. Jinrai grunted. “From here on out, it’s Sharingan v. Rinnegan!” He charged a Chidori and hopped away from his limb and to hers.

Sauno slid to the side, the lightning singing some of her hair, and span, throwing another kick into his back. She disappeared and reappeared above his head, throwing a kick down. Jinrai’s head slung and he fell into the branch with a hollow thud.

“I-If you h-had any idea how much y-your angering m-me…You would die this instant! I’ll kill you!” Jinrai suddenly flashed before her eyes and threw his knived hand out at her. Sauno had enough time to open her eyes…

Unexpectedly, a water jet shot down and crashed into Jinrai, causing him to fly into another treem only to be pinned by shuriken.

Uzuna landed on the branch and held a thumbs up. “You’ve done good Sauno…Uh…?” Sauno shook her head.

“I can do this myself. I have an ace in the hole. My second true ability; My Other Kekkei Genkai.”

Sauno started focusing her mind in a clear environment. Her chakra flowed evenly into all of her body. She heated the chakra until it became fire. “Kekkei Genkai Release: Ultimate Flame Armor!”

Her body suddenly coated with fire, just like a suit of armor. “This is my last resort technique! Let’s go!”

Jinrai shook himself free of the shuriken and torpedoed himself at Sauno. Uzuna jumped backwards as Sauno’s extended “flaming hand” sweeped across the branch and out at Jinrai. Jinrai noticed this sudden change and varied his direction. He then proceeded to land on a limb. “W-What have you done!?”

Sauno smirked and rushed at him, arms ready to strike. She jumped up and threw her hands out at him. The flaming arms destroyed the limb, shattering and sending splinters every which way.

Jinrai landed on the ground and formed hand signs, finally slamming his hand to the ground. “Eat this! Lightning Style: Quadruple Lightning Wolf Turbine!!!”

Four lightning turbines erupted from the ground and twisted towards Sauno. She knew there was no way to avoid it, so she dove straight into it. Clashing with them, it soon caused an explosion. Sauno was ejected into the air, the armor now dissipated. She landed on a limb, barely able to stand. She was on one tree that was directly standing point to another, which had a limb almost connecting to another on that tree.

Jinrai appeared on the headlong branch. “This is the climax of our battle!” He started charging a Chidori. He stood the same distance from teh trunk if his tree as she did on hers. “DIE!”

Sauno started to charge a Chidori. “Come on…I can do it…COME ON!” The Chidori sparked a bit, finally putting off a bit of power. She closed her eyes at the second where a spark of red swirled into the lightning. Jinrai bolted from his stance towards Sauno. She opened her eyes and he was right in front of her, throwing his Chidori at her. Snapping erh eyes shut, she flung her hand at his, clashing there Chidoris and causing a massive explosion, also causing a smokescreen. Sauno was sent straight back and slammed into the trunk on her back. She slid down and fell on her knees.

Jinrai, however, flipped and turned in the air and finally slammed back-first into his tree trunk, his lifeless form staring at Sauno. He un-stuck to the trunk and fell onto the trunk, his arms and legs dangling over the sides. Sauno huffed and puffed.

“Hehe…I guess, I win…hehehe…” Her headband came untied and fell upon the limb as she leaned forward and soon passed out. The last things she heard were, “Sauno!? Are you allright? Hizuka, let’s get her to the hospital! Help me out!”

Three Days Later…

The open curtains allowed a ray of sunshine in the window to shone on Sauno’s face, which was now full of color. Her eyes fluttered as she gained consciousness. Her eyes blinked as she looked around her new environment. Uzuna and Hizuka sat beside her.

“Hey, you’fe finally awake!” Hizuka beamed as Uzuna spoke.

“You were out for three days…”

Sauno sprang up in bed. “Where’s Iruka-sensei!?”

“It’s okay, he was fine and he came back here as well.” Uzuna reassured her.

Sauno sighed. “So, the battle’s over…”

“And it was one heck of a battle, too!” Hizuka laughed.

On top of the Hokage Stone Faces, Naruto stood with Sai…

“Let’s get to work!”

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Well, I know it was a short chapter…But it was one I had been waiting for, combined with the previous, so I hoped they were exciting.

The very end there seems intriguing…_

See you guys next time for Chapter 7: Generation Ying!

Special Thanks To:

Author: Why, me of course ;p

This chapter and the next 3-4 were actually suppose to be like Chapter 10 and on, but they came early because the build-up was…Bah, nevermind, just enjoy!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dawn of a New Era

Chapter 5

Forest of O

Status of Scroll Theft: Blue

Cave…

“Two scrolls now in our possession. I see no reason we should not be able to perform our task at this point.” Kisame scoffed at Jinrai’s remark.

“Idiot, we need all 5 to successfully complete our grand design. And we won’t be able to accomplish that goal if the leader kills us for making snide comments like that.”

Jinrai rolled his eyes sharply. “And you’re telling me that you would let him kill YOU of all people?” Kisame frowned and looked on.

“Shouldn’t you already be aware that he holds my life line in his own hands. During the Fifth Great War, I almost died. He ‘rescued’ me by healing me, but it also put a tremendous strain on my current life, so he holds my lifeline in place…But he can also sever it, thus killing me instantly where I stand…” Jinrai snapped his eyes shut and looked away.

“Hmph, I didn’t know that. Better not get as cocky as me then, I suppose.” Kisame grunted.

“You’re right…” One of Jinrai’s eyes popped open, but soon settled closed again.

Suzuki Place Diner…

“Naruto, what exactly are you getting at?” Sai inquired.

“Sai, I know you know the Momentum Seal Release Jutsu and I need your help with it!” Sai nodded.

“Sure, but what for exactly?”

Naruto closed his eyes. “I want to try to unseal the Ying Kyuubi from the place it was sealed inside of!”

Sai spoke breathlessly. “But you don’t even know where it was sealed!”

“Yes I do. It is sealed within the Fourth’s Stone Head on the Cliffside.” He said all at once.

Sai choked on a sip of his drink. “H-How did you know that!?”

Naruto reached inside his bag and revealed a tightly wound scroll, handing it to Sai. Sai read it, still awestruck.

“Hmm…It’s a scroll written by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Naruto, I wrote this scroll and concealed it so that one day, if you may find it, you will know where Minato Namikaze, your father, sealed the Ying Kyuubi’s Chakra away, and why he gave you the Yang. The location the Ying version is hidden inside the Fourth’s Face on the Stone Cliffiside. It was hollowed out and a seal was placed inside for an emergency reason such as sealing away a massive chakra source or something similar. You must use the Momentum Seal Release to do this. The truth is, only Minato knew why he sealed the Yang inside of you, Naruto. Please find the Ying Chakra and stay strong! Hiruzen Sarutobi…”

“Naruto…This is-is incredible! Where did you find it?”

“It was hidden beneath the Memorial Stone. It seems as if he wrote it just before he died. But that,” he pointed to the spot where it indicated the hidden location, “is where the Ying Kyuubi is concealed! So, will you help me out, Sai?”

Sai mulled over the thought for a moment, finally speaking, much to Naruto’s pleasing. “Yes, I will aid you Naruto. So, inside the Fourth’s Stone Face? When do you want to do this, and how?”

Naruto shifted in his seat. “Soon, not today, but soon. I also need your help figuring a plan of action.”

Sai nodded and continued in deep thought. “Hmm…”

Hokage Mansion…

Shikamaru sits at his desk, writing inside a scroll. Suddenly, a scroll rolls onto his desk. he unravels and reads the contents. “Witnesses have spotted some shady figures by the Forest of O, and they would like some investigation done.”

In a few minutes, Team Iruka stands inside. Hizuka has his new puppy, which he names Ryouken, sitting atop his head. “Okay, the Akatsuki may have a hideout in the Forest of O,” Shikamaru spoke as he handed the scroll to Iruka.

“Iruka raveled the scroll. “But I thought the Forest of O had a seal protecting it!”

“Yes, but the seal was broken because of someone using the Spiritual Seal Release Jutsu. These people are skilled, so we believe it is possibly the Akatsuki. I want your team to scope it out!”

“Aye aye!” Team Iruka disappeared from the room.

Hidden Leaf Gate…

“Wow, we’re really going out into something that could lead us to AKATSUKI!” Sauno was hyper.

Uzuna shook his head. “You get to riled up at things like this. This wasn’t you just two years ago!”

Sauno shook her head negatively. “I know, but ever since Kuchia started being the show off guy, I’ve pumped up!”

Hizuka sighed. Iruka appeared atop the gate and dropped down. “Okay, team, to the Forest of O!”

Heading into the hidden Leaf Forest, their mission began. Halway through the Forest, Sauno closed her eyes and thought silently to herself.

“This is awesome. An S-rank mission! At last, we can show our true potential and teamwork as we can work altogether! This is perfect!”

Soon, they came upon a large landscape. Iruka held up a hand sign. “Release!” The landscape disappeared, revealing a forest with trees swelled as large as the Forest of Death.

“So, it’s hidden inside Genjutsu! This forest’s pretty well protected!”

“Yes it is. Now, let’s head insi-” Iruka was cut-off as a blade of grass shot through the air at him. He quickly deflected it with a kunai. “Quick! Head into the forest!”

The team immediately dove into the forest. More blades of grass rained upon them, barely dodging them by shielding them selves with trees and limbs.

“Where are they coming from!?” Hizuka screeched as he dove behind a tree-trunk. A grass needle ripped a hole through the tree. Hizuka jumped out from behind the tree and threw a few ball bombs into the air. The bombs exploded when needles punctured them, blowing dozens of trees to bits.

Two ninja appeared on a tree limb, staring down at Team Iruka. “Hmph, and what do you think you guys are doing here?” One of the ninja persisted.

Iruka growled. “We’re here on a mission. We were told of witnesses who noticed shady ninja inside the forest; where they shouldn’t be!” Iruka reached onto his back and pulled off a large shuriken. He jumped up and lobbed it at the duo.

One ninja pushed the other out of the way and grasped the shuriken as it flew towards him. Uzuna’s eyes grew big. “How’d he do that?!”

“You foolish group of shinobi. You underestimate Grass Ninja!” The ninja shrouded his hand and arm in leaves and hopped down towards Iruka, shuriken still in hand. In a calm voice, he whispered, “You must now die…”

Iruka pulled a smoke bomb from his pouch and jumped into the air, ready to collide with the man. Iruka lobbed the smoke bomb just a meter away from him. The man was shrouded inside. Iruka pulled another shuriken and chucked it into the smoke. Suddenly, the man fell from the smoke, the shuriken having made contact. Iruka fell in front his team. Sauno inquired about the other man that he had pushed away.

Iruka scanned the area meticulously. “Hmmm, where is that guy?”

Iruka gave a signal to his team. “I want you three to head further on. If you encounter any other dangerous enemies, don’t give up and give ‘em your all!”

Sauno, Uzuna and Hizuka nodded and headed off ahead.

Jinrai and another man stand on a large lumb in the Forest…

“Kakaze, did you find the Key?”

The man shook his head. “No, Jinrai, it’s not in this forest. Do you see any other reason to stay here? Because I don’t and would sooner leave than stay here when we don’t need to.”

Jinrai nodded. “I agree, let’s just blow this place.” Jinrai and Kakaze dashing in the direction Team Iruka was coming into.

“Hizuka, look out! Shadow Clone Jutsu!” Uzuna’s Shadow Clones bashed a ninja across a limb and slammed into a tree. The other clones darted into him, blowing the ninja through the tree. Uzuna huffed.

“Why are all these ninja here, anyway!?” Hizuka stood up and thanked Uzuna.

“I’m not sure, but for whatever reason they are, I bet it has something to do with the Akatsuki…huff…”

“I agree…” Uzuna sighed and beckoned the team to keep going.

15 minutes later…

Sauno slid on a limb and halted the team. “Wait, guys, do you hear that? I think there are more enemies coming up! Be on guard.”

Hizuka’s puppy jumped back onto his head. Suddenly, a limb across from theirs, Jinrai and Kakaze landed upon. Sauno drew a kunai knife.

Jinrai scoffed. “So, there are some intruders.”

“Who’re you calling the intruders?! You’re the ones who trespassed into this forest, so get out!”

Kakaze shofted uneasily. “I think we should crush these punks!” Jinrai threw an arm in front of him.

“Kakaze, leave these children to me. You go on back to HQ.”

Kakaze shoved his arm out of the way. “And why should I listen to you?”

Jinrai glared at him. “Because I control life and…Just leave…”

Kakaze finally lost and jumped over the team. Hizuka decided he didn’t want him to leave and jumped upwards. Jinrai, who revealed to be very swift, appeared above his head and threw a kick to him. “Don’t interfere until it’s your turn!”

Jinrai, dropped to their limb. Sauno closed her eyes and opened them back up, to reveal her “One-tomoe Sharingan”.

Jinrai foresaw a serious fight and took his cloak off. “It depends on how much you want to die if this is a long battle or not, so you decide.”

Uzuna stepped beside Sauno. “That’s interesting. I was thinking of giving you that same choice.”

Jinrai gave a low growl. “You say so, huh? Well, how about we get things started!?” He started at a swift dash. Sauno told Uzuna a plan of action and he jumped back, using his Shadow Clone Jutsu and made two more of himself.

Sauno hekd two kunai up to herself, crossing them in an X. Jinrai jumped a few feet from her and delivered a kick, which she blocked with the kunai. She slid back an inch. The shadow clones hopped over her and appeared behind Jinrai. They rushed forward, fists clenched. Jinrai turned around quickly and greeted them with a powerful Chidori.

Sauno took this opporotunity to form numerous hand signs and use the Dragon Flame Jutsu. Jinrai noticed this and back-flip-jumped into the air. “You can’t fake me out!”

He landed and slid one leg in a circle, similar to the Leaf Whirlwind, and released a ring of electricity at Sauno. “Lightning Style: Lightning Bind!”

The ring surrounded Sauno and closed sightly to secure her in place, ceasing movement. Uzuna formed a clone and tried to charge the Rasengan with it.

“Come on, come on!” Finally achieveing his goal, he bolted forward with the sphere of energy in hand. Jinrai formed a hand sign. “Single Lightning Wolf Turbine!” A singular version of the jutsu he used (during the Iwagakure raid) shot towards Uzuna. Uzuna jumped over the attack, which slammed into the limb, causing Sauno to fall to another, successfully landing on her feet, however. Uzuna came down with the Rasengan. Jinrai back flipped, nearly avoiding the attack, causing Uzuna to collide with the tree.

Uzuna was thrown back due to the force of impact. Jinrai used chakra to hang from a limb above.

Hizuka finally regained consciousness and realized what was happening, his puppy had climbed back onto his head.

Sauno struggled to get free from the ring binding her. Uzuna stood up and looked up at the hanging foe. He drew his sword and jumped upwards. Jinrai saw the next movement and dropped from the limb as Uzuna slashed it into two.

Sauno finally found a weak link and snapped it, causing the chakra flow to break, releasing her. She began to spin as she jumped, also releasing Phoenix Flower Jutsu.

Jinrai noticed the fireballs streaming up at him and majestically made his way around them. When Sauno finally approached a limb, she stopped and landed.

“This guy’s too tough!”

“Twin Lightning Wolf Turbine!” Two turbines shot from his hand and down at Hizuka, Uzuna and Sauno.

Sauno hopped upward at the turbines. She flew through the middle of them and threw a punch towards Jinrai. The ounch connected and sended Jinrai to the ground. The turbines colidded with the tree Jinrai and Hizuka stood upon, sending them to the ground as well.

Jinrai gathered his barrings and dashed up the tree. “You…”

Sauno dashed down the same tree. “Hmm…Take this!” Sauno let go of the chakra and dropped down. He foot came into contact with his head and he tripped. She grasped him into the Peregrine Falcon Drop and slammed him into the ground.

Sauno flipped back and slid to a stop. She huffed and puffed, hoping this battle was done.

“Heh, heh, heh…Is it…Over?”

Jinrai disappeared in a surge of electricity. “You wish!”

He dropped down behind her with a Chidori. His distance was far enough to give her time to dash away and climb a tree to a large limb.

Jinrai stopped his Chidori and followed her up into the tree. Sauno reached into her back pack and pulled out two, folded demon wind shuriken, discarding her bag.

She unfolded them and jumped into the air. “Demon Wind Shurikens: Windmills of Shadows!” She threw both of them. Jinrai noticed the chakra wire connected to them and narrowly avoided them. The shuriken split into four and Sauno now had control of four of them. Jinrai avoided one that almost came into contact with his head. Sauno let go of the string and the shuriken hit a tree.

Another one came up on his back, but he flipped upside-down and threw an explosive-tagged kunai into it, throwing it of course and out of Sauno’s grasp.

Finally, he landed on a limb and one came at his front. He avoided it by simply jumping backwards. “Hmph, this is too easy!” But suddenly, he realized there was another. Before he had the chance to check its area, it sliced him in the back, right beside a vertabrae.

He fell to a limb on one knee, blood dripping from his mouth and the stab wound where the shuriken now stand. “Ack…Dammit, how could I let that happen…?”

Sauno smirked and formed hand signs. “You’re out! Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bombs!”

The jutsu shot from her mouth and eliminated dozens of trees, including the one he stood on, causing a fire that burned down many more. The fire quickly burned out as she released the technique.

Scanning the area, she saw no sign of him. “Yes…Eh?” Suddenly, a screeching noise was heard from behind and she turned to see a Chidori.

It colidded, but a Substitution Jutsu took its place. Jinrai stood, the shuriken now gone from his back, his mouth still bleeding. Sauno slid onto one of the only limbs for yards. She looked into his eyes. She gasped. “That’s the…Rinnegan!”

Jinrai stared at her with his ringed eyes. “I suppose you’ve wondered why I’m not dead yet. You now know why! I won’t let myself die!”

Sauno huffed. “Well, that’s nice to hear. But I don’t care what you’ll let and won’t let yourself do. I’ll defy that.”

Jinrai laughed disbelieveingly. “You brat! You will die by my hands here! Triple Lightning Wolf Turbine!”

Three turbines swirled towards Sauno. “Gah, I can’t dodge them all…” But suddenly, Uzuna appeared with a Rasengan in hand and exploded into one of them. Sauno smiled and jumped into the center, where a blind spot had Jinrai cornered.

“Eat this!” She held her wrist, trying to charge a Chidori, finding it impossible, she stopped in front of Jinrai with nothing. Jinrai smirked and kneed her in the stomach, sending her up by an inch. He kicked her in the chest, down into the ground. “I find it to be the end! Lightning Style: Quadruple Lightning Wolf Turbine! You die here!”

Four turbines shot towards Sauno, who was implanted into the ground. He tomoe began to spin, separating into two. She freed herself and glared into her fate in front of her. The four turbines contacted the ground and erupted through the forest. Jinrai exploded in a minacal laugh.

After it was done, a huge crater was left in place. “Shouldn’t have messed with me…” Suddenly, he felt a fist in the side of the face and was sent flying into the crater.

“This…battle…isn’t…OVER!” Sauno glared down with her two-tomoe Sharingan. “And I have much more to offer!”

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

W00T!

Sauno is a powerful girl, ain’t she? ;P

Well, you’re probably wondering “Where the he** did Uzuna go after the Rasengan and where is Hizuka!?” To tell you the truth, they don’t show up again until close to the end of NEXT chapter so _

Okay, hoped you guys liked this exclusively pushed up chapter, lol!

So, join me next time for chapter 6!! (and it holds a fight as well! But, alas, it is VERY short…)

Special Thanks to:

Author: Me of course ;P

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Madara Uchiha

10-Traitors

(Konoha destroyed(present))

 

 

 

(Konoha if free from madara uchiha)

 

But

 

….

 

Madara stepped in front of the blade for her. She was the reason he was dying. She couldn’t be reason. She couldn’t let her carelessness cause a person to die. Her eyes darted around the street. The dead bodies of children soldiers laid around her. The humidity gave an awful stench of death that seemed to be pressed against her skin. Why did she choose to live the ninja life again? There was only mistakes and death. She noticed the mist ninja guards they had seen. They seemed to have pressed themselves as close to the shadows as they could waiting to see the outcome. She stared at their hopeful expressions. Everyone was waiting for the immortal to die. Her head fell back down to the man slowly reaching the end. His soft brown hair was stuck to his face. She pushed it off his forehead. He looked ill yet his features were still strong and firm. If only he would have taken off the seal! That stupid man! Wait.

 

She flung her head back to the ninjas causing her pink hair to get in her face. She quickly shot up and ran over to the ninjas. “HEY!” she shouted at them as she ran over.

 

She heard Kisame’s whistling stop from the bench he was sitting on.

 

“Hey you! I need you to take off my seal!” she said rushing over to the two ninjas hiding in the shadow.

 

The one female who Madara attacked only glared at her. The other one just stared at her if she was crazy. “I need you to take off my seal so I can at least defend myself once I leave this village! If he dies I finally have my freedom, but I can’t have it if I still have the seal,” she pleaded. It was partly true….

 

“Pinky, what are you doing?” Kisame said from behind her. She felt his large hand on her shoulder.

 

“I just want to be able to defend myself! I’ll never make it to the Sand,” she argued.

 

“Mmmhmm. I’ll take off your seal once his heart stops beating. Problem solved,” he said with a smirk and turned around. He began whistling again as he walked back over to the bench. Ugh. Her hand turned into a fist at her side. She felt so powerless. She searched for her chakra again and couldn’t find it. She stormed over to Madara’s fainted body. This ridiculous man. This completely unbearable man making her care. She felt the tears in her eyes. What was wrong with her? Why was she so weak? She fell onto her knees next to his body. She ripped opened his cloak and saw the blood spreading through his white undershirt. She ripped that open as well and pressed her hand onto the puddle of blood along his chest. His body was getting colder, but she still felt his heart. With all her might she searched for her chakra. She searched in the emptiness of her body. Chakra seals weren’t unbreakable. All seals had a weakness. She just had to find it. She felt his heart slowing as her own heart began to panic. She was not weak. She could do this. She took deep breaths and thought of Naruto. His determination. He would never let a seal get in the way of what he wanted. She felt a tinge inside of her. She recognized it. It was her chakra. She grabbed hold of it and brought it to her fingertips and into Madara’s body. It wasn’t enough to heal him, but it was enough to search his body for flaws. His lung had been pierced and was filling up with blood. A rib was broken as well and was jutting into his muscles. Shit he was in bad shape. She needed more chakra, but the seal was preventing her from getting to all of it. She focused inwardly and tried to gather more chakra. It felt like pulling taffy through a keyhole. She pulled it back into Madara’s body again and felt something colder. It was his chakra. Strangely it wasn’t faint at all. It was powerful and strong in his body coursing through his veins. No wonder he called himself an immortal with chakra so strong even at his dying state. It clicked then. She had never actually done it, but she had learned studies of manipulating another’s chakra. It was all theories, but it could work.

 

She linked her small amount of chakra with his. It felt like her body was being ripped away from her for a moment because of the power of his own chakra. It took intense focus to still sense her own chakra within his. She felt it spread through quickly through his body. Her energy was depleting her, and she was sure to faint after this, but she would not let him die. She pulled her chakra back to her center bringing his with it. His chakra forced away from her, but since his body was dying it was eventually complied. She didn’t move his chakra completely into her own body, but instead centered it to her hands. Once she had a good handle on it she pushed it to the pierced lung and became healing him with his own chakra.

 

Once the healing started his chakra began to follow without her command. She moved to the rib, and began healing that. Again his chakra took over. It was working. She couldn’t believe it. Chakra manipulation actually worked it was just getting the other person’s chakra to begin it that was difficult. Her head felt faint. She had basically no chakra since it was still sealed within her. Her muscles ached from the fight, and she felt dead. She lifted her hands away from his skin and looked down at his chest. It was glowing red with his chakra even with her hands away. She smirked. She noticed Kisame give her a weird look before saying, “Pinky?”

 

He was beginning to spin into a blue blur. She really needed to lay down and maybe rest. Yes. Rest would be nice. She fell back onto to the slick pavement and stared up into the foggy sky.

 

“Pinky, what in the world did you do?!” she heard Kisame growl in an oddly angry voice. She didn’t usually make Kisame mad. Well she didn’t care. She was just tired now. She closed her heavy eyelids and let sleep take her.

 

---

“Sasuke,” Jugo whispered softly behind him.

 

“I know,” Sasuke stated. His dark eyes looked around the empty streets of Suna. Nighttime had approached quickly and he only managed to get through part of his plans for Garaa. He knew Garaa would accept his help and input. He might not have trusted him, but he recognized the importance of his intel. He had been working with Madara for a year now and knew how he operated. So after Garaa’s two…subordinates or friends….calmed down he was able to explain his plan. Only the parts Garaa needed to know about. The key to them winning was separation. Sasuke closed his eyes and listened to the wind. He would destroy Madara. His plan would work. He wasn’t able to finish describing his plan because of the new presence. It now lingered a few feet behind him. Jugo was an excellent follower for noticing most would have overlooked it, like the pathetic Suna ninjas.

 

Sasuke sighed and pulled out his sword. “Zetsu,” he said to the air.

 

He heard a gurgling noise behind him erupt from the ground. Sasuke heard Jugo turn to it ready to attack. Sasuke, however, stared at the sand like houses in front of him. “Sasuke, you are quite a traitor. A bastard,” the plant spoke behind him.

 

It was hard to fear the plant with this unbearable heat around him. The night had made it cooler, but Sasuke never liked the heat. He also didn’t like the idea of working a sweat in a fight just now. He did need to get rid of Zetsu eventually. He couldn’t have a spy around him or his conversations would be constantly cut short. He would have to dispose of him. After a few minutes, Sasuke spoke, “I am not traitor. I am only gathering information for Madara.”

 

The plant laughed from behind him. It echoed through the empty streets. A light turned on in one of the windows. An audience wasn’t the best idea. “We’re not idiots Sasuke! If Madara wanted information he would have sent us,” the plant shifted.

 

Sasuke glanced up at the lit window and noticed a mother with her son looking down on them. As soon as their eyes met she shut the curtain. “Hn,” he smirked to himself. He turned to face Zetsu. Jugo was protectively in front of him. He had no need to worry. “You can’t make an alliance with the Kage and convince them to attack a certain way.”

 

Zetsu yellow eyes studied him closely. “And you have?”

 

“Hm,” Sasuke closed his eyes with a smirk, “Pathetic….Of course I have.”

 

“You have done so without Madara’s approval. He will be mad,” the plant stated.

 

“Tell him then, but please Zetsu don’t spy on me. It’s degrading for you and myself. I’ll give you more information once the Kage has decided a date to attack. If Madara has a particular date and place I’ll persuade Garaa towards them,” Sasuke stated putting his sword back into its case. He turned back around and began walking to a hotel at the edge of town. “Jugo, come along.”

 

“You can’t boss us around, you little twit!” the plant growled from the road.

 

“If you don’t think Madara wants to know about it then you can deal with the consequences,” Sasuke shrugged.

 

He heard some mumbling of cursing before he heard the ground swallow Zetsu up once again. He felt his chakra retreat. Sasuke smirked. Good. He could persuade both sides to do what he wanted. Madara would die and the Konoha would be free.

 

 

---

“Hey Sakura-chan!” the blonde’s blue eyes looked at her with hope, “It’s been a long time.”

 

 

“Naruto! Oh Naruto,” she cried as tears of joy slid down her face. She ran over to him and his dorky orange jumpsuit. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him into a deadly hug.

 

“Sa-kur-a, Can’t br-eath,” he gasped out.

 

“Oh, sorry,” she said with a smile as she let go. Her cheeks were still stained with tears as she continued, “I just missed you.”

 

“I missed you too, Sakura-chan,” Naruto said with a blush as he closed his eyes and rubbed the back of his head.

 

“You’re really here,” she said in disbelief.

 

“Yep, you killed him so I was able to return,” he said with a goofy smile.

 

Sakura raised a pink eyebrow in confusion, “Killed who?”

 

“Uchiha Madara, you killed him didn’t you?” Naruto asked.

 

Sakura felt a pang in her chest. Her eyes shot down to her shoes, “No…I”

 

“You what? You didn’t kill him!” Naruto shouted in surprise.

 

“I…” she couldn’t say the words. Not to her friend she missed dearly. She couldn’t tell him.

 

“Sakura, what did you do?” Naruto asked grabbing her shoulders and shaking her slightly.

 

“She healed me,” a dark voice said from behind her. Her head shot up as she turned to see a man in a orange mask.

 

“You healed him!!!!” Naruto shouted, “You healed the monster who killed me!”

 

 

“Naruto…I” she cried looking into his now tearful eyes.

 

“She doesn’t care about you anymore, boy,” his voice said from behind her.

 

“No! That’s not it, Naruto!” she cried.

 

His eyes were wet, but they turned into an angry glare that he usually only gave his enemies. “Sakura, I always loved you, but I can see you don’t give a shit about me,” he said to her and turned away.

 

“NARUTO, NO I CARE!” she shouted at the back of his blonde hair. Her hand reached out to him.

 

“Bye, Sakura,” he whispered and his body began to disapeer.

 

“NO! Naruto! NO! Please! Come back! Please!” she screamed as tears fell down her face. She collapsed on the ground and continued to cry. What did she do?

 

“You didn’t take off her seal!” a dark deadly voice growled.

 

“I didn’t want to go against your orders, Boss,” a light amused voice responded.

 

She recognized the voices and they seemed to be pulling her away from this pain. But she didn’t want to leave. She deserved to feel like this.

 

“Kisame,” the voice growled.

 

“She’s awake, Boss.”

 

“Sakura?” the voice was softer then the one in the dream. It sounded caring, but the tinge of pain still lingered. She slowly opened her eyes to be looking up at a dark blue ceiling. A small light was emitting from the corner of the room. She felt her weight pressed deeply into the soft mattress. She couldn’t bring herself to move. She chewed on her lip. He was alive. He was alive because of her.

 

“Kisame, leave,” Madara stated.

 

She heard the shark’s snickering, “Get well, Pinky. Then maybe you can take over my desk work I now have cause of you.” The door then shut.

 

Great. She was alone with the man who killed her best friend. And she had healed him. He walked over to her side slowly. She didn’t look at him. She looked up at the ceiling. She couldn’t bring herself to realize what she did.

 

“Thank you, Sakura,” he said to her.

 

Thank you? That was all she got was thank you? “I owed you for saving me,” she shrugged still looking away from him.

 

She felt his eyes digging into her, but she refused to acknowledge them. “Sakura, you almost died by how you stretched the seal,” he stated trying to get her to realize the importance.

 

“It’s my job as a medical ninja to heal,” she responded back.

 

“Sakura, look at me,” he ordered.

 

She didn’t move. Her eyes still staring at the blue in the wall and the way the paint swirled. “Sakura,” he ordered again.

 

She bit down on her lip before turning to face him. Her heart stopped a bit by his utter attractiveness. He seemed to be fully healed as seen by the glow on his skin. His brown eye studied hers as his brown hair was just pushed a bit out of his face. His strong jawline and thin lips made his look fierce, but the way he looked at her made him seem open and caring.

 

He looked at her for a few more moments before sitting down on her bed with a sigh. He didn’t look at her now. Instead he stared at his hands. “Why?” he asked.

 

“Why what?” she responded trying to avoid the question that she couldn’t answer right now herself.

 

“Why did you risk your life to heal me?” he asked taking a glance at her.

 

“I don’t know. I felt if I didn’t it would only prove that I am weak,” she said with a shrug as she crossed her arms.

 

“Weak?” a small boyish smile crossed his face. He shook his head, “You ridiculous girl.”

 

“Ridiculous! I just saved your life why not compliment or something,” she shouted throwing her arms into the air.

 

“Hmph,” he smirked and stood up again, “Go to Suna.”

 

“What?” she looked at him confused.

 

“I’ve offered you everything, Sakura. Most would be thrilled with the power I’ve given only to you, but you spit on it. You also constantly disrespect me even though I am only trying to create a stronger shinobi world. You don’t want this. Normally, I would just kill such intolerance, but you have saved my life. You may go. Do whatever you like,” he waved his hand not caring.

 

“Y-you’re letting me leave?” she asked stunned.

 

He gave her a huge grin that strangely reminded her of Naruto. “Maybe, I’ll see you around, Sakura-chan.” He walked out the door.

 

Sakura just stared at the wooden door. What?

 

Previous chapters:

1-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

21-25

26-30

Shito tells the ninja to get out of his way but the ninja laugh at him and say he will pay for his big mouth and they all attack him but all their attacks seem to go trough Shito and all of them suddenly get bind down so they can’t move and Sephiroth appears and tells them shut up or he’ll kill them in and outside the genjutsu.

Sephiroth: Damn weaklings they send even weaker men than the guards i took out easily.

 Shito: Brother where are we going?

Sephiroth: To the shadow country.

Shito: Why would we go to the county you left? won’t they try to kill us?

Sephiroth: Don’t worry we have formed an alliance with them because i was the one who started the war the least thing we could do is help them.

*Scene changes to kurogyouten hideout*

Guruku: *rolls out a map* Ok i’m gonna tell you guys the plan: the enemy has 3 ways to get to the shadow country the crimson valley here, then the forest of the forgotten but i doubt they would make their way trough that since it’s hard to find your way back with the illusion trees there and lastly the “red” lake

Hawk: Crimson valley and red lake? why get those names?

L: There was a man who was nicknamed the crimson ninja since he would color everything red with the blood of his enemy’s the story goes that his home was in the valley and he fought his most battles there so everything in the valley was colored crimson by blood and about the lake i don’t really know.

Shadow Ninja: I heard some rumors on that lake i heard that there was a great clash of ninja during a great war and the blood made the water color red and since it didn’t flow to the sea or somewhere else the color stayed in the water so it’s called the red lake.

Sharingan Leader: The names don’t matter much, leader what is the plan you were thinking about?

Guruku: I have discussed this with J and he said that they would take care of the lake because that’s a famous terrain for their jounins since they hold the jounin exams there and the forest of the forgotten will trap who uses chakra in a genjutsu only if you’re used to it like the shadow ninja’s you can fight in there so we need to defeat the enemies that come from the valley it won’t be that hard since we will put up some traps in it.

Shika: But can’t they just come over the mountains next to the valley?

Guruku: Have you ever walked on those mountains?

Shika; No why?

Guruku: those mountains are made of a special mineral that feeds on chakra if you come close to it it drains your chakra and with chakra it grows you know those mountains started as 2 small minerals.

Sokka: So we will kill everything that comes trough the valley everything that tries to evade us via the mountains would get its chakra drained and eventually die.

*Scene Changes to a rainy forest*

A bounty hunter with a cap that hides his face is looking at a wanted poster as another bounty hunter comes.

BH1: Look at this *shows the bounty posters* ”Firelord” Sokka reward: 50 million yen, “The Shadow” Shika reward: 40 million yen, and “Cursed” L reward 45 million yen. we can make some easy money with these guys they don’t seem that strong

BH2: Look at this they are in the same organization with these 3: “Master of the Sharingan” Sharingan Leader reward: 103 million yen, “Superhuman” SSJ Sasuke reward: 106 million yen, and last but not least “Deathgod” Guruku reward 220 million yen!

BH1: Those look like troublesome guys

BH2: Not if we take advantage of the situation they’re in

BH1: What do you mean?

BH2: The kurogyouten have sided with the shadow country to fight the moon country if we just wait for both teams to tire each other we can just take the corpses and sell them.

BH1: yea let’s do that.

???: You guys are cowards

BH1: Who’s there?

*Sephiroth and Shito appear They have heard the whole story*

BH1: Who are you guys?

Sephiroth: This is all you need to know *rolls up his sleeve and shows the kurogyouten sign on his arm*

BH2: That’s the kurogyouten sign!

BH1: Calm down he hasn’t been in a bounty poster so he isn’t a strong one.

 Sephiroth: It’s true i ain’t in the regular bounty posters but take a look at this one *holds up a black wanted poster*

BH1: Sephiroth a 60 million shadow ninja.

BH2: 60 mil is not that high

Sephiroth; You know we like to have a place to relax from time to time so we never use our full power i bet this guy here with me is strong enough to kill both of you.

???: Wait!

*a moon kunoichi appears*

Shito: Shizuka-chan?

Sephiroth: you’re that girl who escorted me to tsukikage are you here on his orders?

Shizuka: No i’m here to ask Shito if he really wants to leave.

Shito: I’m sorry Shizuka but i have to do this.

BH1&2: Don’t forget about us!

Sephiroth: Shut up!

The bounty hunters try to cut  Shito and Shizuka with their sword but sephiroth takes them out easily.

Shizuka: Then if you really want to leave i want to come with you.

Shito: Are you shure? you know the anbu will be after us right?

Shizuka: I don’t care. *turns to sephiroth* can i come?

Sephiroth: Fine, what kind of weapon do you use?

Shizuka: I use a moon chain but i can also use some long-range fire and water jutsu’s and i use kunai to finish the enemy since it’s hard to kill with a chain.

Sephiroth: It’s been a while since i saw a chain user, also i’m gonna teach Shito a secret technique the dojutsu from the shadow country do you want to learn it too?

Shizuka: Yes

Sephiroth: Ok but there’s 1 thing since you aren’t from the shadow country it might take longer to master the forms i heard you were on a higher level then Shito but he has mastered the first form now i wonder if you’re still better.

Shizuka: I heard the Shadow country got a dojutsu but i heard it’s only usefull when you get the gofuuungan.

Sephiroth: Well Shito has mastered the ichifuungan already but it’s not hard to master that one the nifuuungan is the hardest to get.

Shizuka: Well i don’t believe you Shito let’s spar.

Sephiroth: Shito don’t try to use the nifuuungan, the same as yesterday might happen.

Shizuka: What happened?

Shito: I can’t control it yet and i started to attack randomly, so he had to faint me to stop me.

Sephiroth marks an area with his sword and says who gets out this area will lose Shito starts with a sword slash and Shizuka blocks it with the chain and quickly wraps the sword in but shito activates the ichifuungan and channels the power of the ichifuungan into the sword that gets freed easily, he now tries a stab but Shizuka dodges by jumping back and throws the chain at Shito like a spear but since it has no sharp point it knocks him only back, then she grabs the other end of the chain and pulls it back and turns 360 degrees to smash the chain at Shito like a whip but Shito jumps and as he lands he launches a small shockwave at Shizuka who blocks it by pulling back her chain.

Sephiroth: (thinking) that girl’s not bad.

Shito: Dammit i will have to use ‘that’

Shito get’s into a stance for a special move but Sephiroth appears before him and prevents him from using the attack.

Sephiroth: That’s not a technique to use on your friends if you can’t control it.

Shito: Why?

Sephiroth: You’ll understand when you can control it but let’s finish this battle i’ve seen enough you’re really skilled.

Shizuka: Thanks but what happened to that bounty hunters?

Sephiroth: They ran away.

Shito: Brother i found a cave where we can spend the night

Sephiroth: Good job it’s getting dark

*some hours later they are still awake and it’s dark outside *

Shizuka: It’s good that we made a fire in here since it’s really dark outside.

Shito: Yea it’s really nice and we can also cook some things.

Sephiroth: Stay still for a while i think i heard something.

As soon as sephiroth said that the 2 bounty hunters from earlier come but now they brough some friends.

BH: You can’t get out this is the only exit

Sephiroth: Shito, Shizuka.

Shizuka & Shito: Yes?

Sephiroth: move aside a bit and if i say run, run as fast as you can to the wall.

Shizuka: What?

Sephiroth: Just do it! 

Sephiroth get’s into the same stance as Shito did before and points his sword at the wall then he points his sword at the bounty hunters.

Sephiroth: Dimension wave! Sephiroth now slashes his blade at the wall and a shockwave destroys it together with some trees that stood next to the cave.

Sephiroth: Now run!

Shito and Shizuka run out the cave the bounty hunters try to follow but they’re already caught in the cave since sephiroth has used a doton to block the way they came in but 1 of them has escaped.

BH: You’re unlucky one of our strongest partners has escaped.

Sephiroth: I will kill you guys and go after that one next

Sephiroth get’s in Ouda no jutsu stance but suddenly a big explosion opens the original entrance of the cave and L is standing there.

L: Yo

BH: You’re the cursed ninja L

L: That’s right, Sephy who are these guys?

Sephiroth: Oh just some bounty hunters i was about to kill.

L: Oh i’ll give you a hand.

Sephiroth uses his ouda no jutsu to take out half the bounty hunters and L takes out the other half with a raiton.

when Sephiroth and L get out the cave they see Sokka coming with Shito and Shizuka.

Sokka: I found these brats getting attacked by a bounty hunter what shall i do with them?

L: Beats me.

Sephiroth: Let’s let them live i’ll take them as my students.

Shito: You know these guys brother?

Sephiroth: Yes these are my friends, the emo kid here is L and the one that helped you is called Sokka.

Sephiroth: And this is my little brother Shito and his girlfriend Shizuka

Shizuka: I’m not his girlfriend!

L: And i’m not emo!

Sephiroth: Well whatever why did you guys come here?

Sokka; Leader told us to get you.

Sephiroth: Let’s go then.

*a couple of hours later at the shadow country*

J-sama is speaking to all the ninja’s in the village

 J-sama: This time of the year is the time of the chuunin exam but since we are in a war we will skip this one, and half a year from now we will have the next exam now we will have 3 places where the enemy can invade us, the allied kurogyouten will defend the crimson valley and we will defend the forest of the forgotten and the red lake any questions or objections?

Random jounin1: Yes! i got one, can we really trust the kurogyouten i mean they destroyed half the village?

Laydee kay: We trust guruku he’s not the person to go back on his word.

Random jounin2: Then who is this guruku person? we have never seen him tel us!

Guruku: Oh you guys really are irritating it seems J wasn’t lying

Random Jounin2: And who are you!?

Guruku: Now that’s rude you call me out and then you shout at me, i am Guruku and if you don’t trust me why won’t you come with us to the crimson valley.

Random jounin2: I will you guys wouldn’t be able to fend of all the enemy’s anyway with only 10 people.

Guruku: Well actually we got 12 people now but i kinda like you, tell me your name.

Makai: Makai no ken!

Guruku: Oh a ken clan member? well then, Makai no Ken will you join us to stop the moon county at the crimson valley?

Makai: So you’re not that confident after all? fine i’ll help out.

Guruku: Meet us at the training zone in 1 hour there we will look at your skills.

Makai: Ok!

*1 hour later at the training zone*

Guruku: Ok you are a sword user right?

Makai: Yes.

Guruku: Ok Shito this will be your entrance exam to fight this guy, you don’t have to win to get accepted but make shure you show us all you got.

Makai: What you expect me to fight this kid?

Sephiroth: If you underestimate him you die.

Shito: Then let’s get started, Makai-san.

Makai: Y-Yeah

Makai Jumps and comes crashing down with his sword. Shito blocks it but Makai uses a shadowstep to appear behind  class=”hiddenSpellError” pre=”behind “>shito and cuts him but shito makes a replication and tries to cut Makai who blocks it and tries to use another shadowstep but shito turns and cuts behind him Makai barely dodges it and jumps back. Shito wastes no time and get’s into Ouda stance and uses number 3 on Makai who has to use a stronger version of the shadowstep (called shadowrush) to dodge (shadowstep allows you to disappear in a black haze and set 2 steps but shadowrush allows you to travel 20 steps) Shito just calmly turns around and holds his Makai’s “>sword in front of him while concentrating on the sword as his eyes begin to form into the ichifuungan the sword slowly changes color from silver to blue. Makai uses a shadowrush and appears in front of shito in an instant but Shito jumps over him, turns in the air and makes a downward slash that cuts Makai’s back open. Then Makai disappears and the genjutsu is gone and Shito get caught in surprise but when Makai’s sword almost reaches his head it stops when Shito looks why he sees Makai has a sword put on his throat too.

Sephiroth: A wise choice you would’ve lost your head if you killed him

Shito: This means i have lost.

Guruku: What shall we do?

SSJ-Sasuke: He isn’t experienced enough in genjutsu but i think if Sephiroth teaches him more about it he’s good enough to join us.

Sharingan Leader: I agree, now what kind of exam do we have for this girl?

Zabuzathegreat: Let her cut herself?

Guruku: No.

Zabuzathegreat: Let someone rape her? 

Guruku: No.

Zabuzathegreat: Then how about we just kill her.

Zabuzathegreat get’s his face smashed into a boulder by Sokka.

Zabuzathegreat: What was that for!?

Sokka: Stop it with your wierd ideas dammit!

Zabuzathegreat: Try to hit me 1 more time and i kill you.

Sokka: You really think you can beat me huh?

Sokka jumps when Zabuza charges at him and he transforms his arm as Zabuza starts to use his newly gained power up and they both punch each other as the impact knocks both of them back they try another attack but SSJ Sasuke grabs their arms.

SSj Sasuke: Calm down the two of you.

Zabuzathegreat: SSj keep out of this!

SSj Sasuke: *Glares* shut up.

The glare was enough for Zabuza to tremble in fear for a second but he quickly regains himself and pulls his arm free.

Makai: *Thinking* Are these guys monsters or something? That punch was strong enough to kill the average ninja and yet that guy stops it with ease i’m glad i didn’t have to fight one of them it seems i was the one underestimating them. 

Guruku: Ok i have come up with a plan, we all make a clone and if she kills them all she get’s to join.

All: Ok

Everyone makes a clone and Shizuka takes out her chain but this time she says she will not hold back and puts some kunai into the chain making it twice as deadly.

*moon country kage building*

Tsukikage: So has out spy been planted?

Ninja: Yes Shizuka-chan has gotten in contact with Sephiroth and Shito.

Tsukikage: Ok now then let’s prepare for battle *stands up* The ninja looks at the arm of the Tsukikage and suddenly places a kunai on his throat.

Ninja: Who are you really?

Tsukikage: As expected from one of the top 10 members i can’t fool you.

Ninja: Not just the top 10 i’m even in the top 5 *takes of his glove and shows a number 4 on his wrist* now tell me what have you done to tsukikage-sama.

Tsukikage: Nothing i just took his place while he is absent.

*The real Tsukikage comes in and kicks the fake one against the wall*

Tsukikage: Is it really that much fun crossdressing like that? Yumi-chan.

ninja: Ah i see you didn’t manage to become on of the top 10 so you just transformed yourself to get in this room right? number 11.

Yumi: Shut up!

Tsukikage: Both stop it! we have to prepare for war.

The tsukikage walks away but as he is by the door he turns around.

Tsukikage: Oh and Yumi-chan next time if you transform into me, try to transform your own mark too then.

Yumi: *looks at the 11 on her arm* Oh so that’s how you knew!

*Shadow country training zone*

 Sothe Chaos Wfk and WS are just sitting in the grass chilling, drinking beer, eating muffins, etc. while their students are training.

Grand Hokage: Hey you old geezers come here and help us train!

Chaos: *throws a beer bottle at Grand Hokage’s head* Shut up!

White Shinobi: This is too troublesome Chaos stop it.

Chaos: Meh since when do i listen to you?

White Shinobi: Since now!

Chaos: *stands up* Let’s find out if you are worthy of commanding me

Sothe: guys clear the field i can feel these guys are gonna fight!

Chaos & White Shinobi: Damn right we are!

They both try to kick at each others head but the legs block each other then chaos jumps back and send some fireballs who are easily dodged by jumping in the air.

Chaos: You can’t dodge in the air! Katon: Karyuudan!

White Shinobi: I wouldn’t bet your life on it!

A fire dragon races at White Shinobi but he uses a wind jutsu to push him around in the air dodging the dragon, then he builds up some huge chakra and launches himself high in the air.

White Shinobi: Swallow Dive!

White Shinobi comes crashing down at Chaos with amazing speed resulting a huge dust cloud. When it clears both are still standing without too much visible wounds. now they both rush at each other but they suddenly stop.

Chaos: That was close.

White Shinobi: Yea *punches the invisible wall before him and get’s burn on his hand*

Sothe: It seems i made it in time.

Mart: Why did you do that it was just getting interesting.

Sothe: They would’ve destroyed the whole freaking village if we let them continue.

Whitefanogkonaha: Well it’s getting kinda late let’s let those 2 just cool down in their barriers and then we go home

*some time later*

White Shinobi: Yo Chaos.

Chaos: What?

White Shinobi: Let’s get out this thing.

Chaos: You got a plan then?

White Shinobi: Yes i have been trying to neutralize this barrier for a while now and the key to get out is to freeze it.

Chaos: Then how do you plan on freezing this thing? it’s not like we know ice jutsu’s.

White Shinobi: *opens a scroll* I have some secrets, defrost me when i’m done. 

Chaos: Fine.

White Shinobi: Koori Nendai (Ice Age)

Ice spreads form the scroll and covers the barrier that get cracks Chaos then breaks it and defrosts White Shinobi with a fire jutsu.

Chaos: Finally we got some room to spread our legs.

White Shinobi: Yeah

Chaos: But what kind of technique was that?

White Shinobi: Ah this scroll is something from some village that has ice based jutsu and i just stole it for a mission and after i gave the scroll to the client he tried to kill me with it so i killed him instead and took the scroll with me, i have studied it but i still need its power to freeze big things like a barrier.

Chaos: Then you can freeze small things?

White Shinobi: Yes but it costs a lot of chakra

Chaos: Oh now i know why you never go on missions without your scrolls.

White Shinobi: That’s right i need them to use my full power, here you can have this one.

Chaos: *Takes the scroll* What power has this one?

White Shinobi: It is a weapon summoning that can store and summon 100 weapons each minute.

Chaos: That might come in handy.

White Shinobi: What’s going over there?

Some villagers are tied up with some ninja’s kicking them.

Chaos: Yo! why don’t you pick on someone your own size.

The ninja’s turn around and they’re moon ninja’s.

Ninja: You think you can beat us we have 10 men here and you are only with 2.

A window opens from a house.

Sothe: Can you guys shut up someone is trying to sleep here!

Ninja: Shut up! *throws a kunai*

Sothe jumps and lands next to Chaos

Sothe: How did you guys got out?

White Shinobi: Let’s lake care of these guys here first.

Chaos: Ws Sothe stay back i’m gonna try out that new power.

Chaos opens the scroll and summons a sword, one of the moon ninja attacks him but he blocks him then another moon ninja comes and chaos puts away his first sword and changes it to 2 axes and cuts both guys down.

Chaos: This scroll is pretty good.

White Shinobi: Chaos if you wrap the scroll around your arm you can move and summon the weapon s at the same time!

Chaos: Ok thanks!

Chaos grabs he scroll and wraps it around his arm then he jumps at the moon ninja’s and takes 2 of them down with 2 spears then 3 other ninja attack him but he summons 2 swords and takes them out with a technique he calls twister (he spins around with his swords and cuts the enemy) then 2 other ninja come at him but he plants a spear in the ground and kicks them away with a spinning kick.

Chaos: You’re the only one left.

Ninja: Don’t underestimate me.

The ninja grabs his sword and attacks Chaos who tries out something: he summons 5 spears and plants them in the ground in a pentagon shaped figure then he summons another spear and plants it in the middle and as soon as the ninja is in the pentagon he jumps and uses a lightning jutsu that hits the marked area.

White Shinobi: Nice fight i suggest you read this scroll here it tells you how to use it better.

Sothe: Why does he get a cool scroll and i don’t?

White Shinobi: I was planning on giving you this one you can wrap it around you arm too to use it better.

Sothe: Ok *wraps it around his arm*

The ninja is still alive and tries to attack Chaos but Sothe punches him and knocks him back, then he attack the ninja with some more taijutsu attacks and each time he uses one he sees something 10 feet away from him and he jumps back and tries to kick the ninja who is 10 feet away from him and an illusion of sothe appears in front of the ninja and kicks him away.

Sothe: So that’s the scrolls power? it creates an illusion of myself a bit away from me and attacks the enemy at my will.

*Sokka appears at the scene*

Sokka: Ah so it were you guys who are causing trouble again.

White Shinobi: It was their fault *points at the ninja*

Sokka: *looks at the ninja* Oh so he was still alive after my attack on him *all ninjas disappear in a puff of smoke*

Sothe: They disappeared!

Sokka: It were clones and a powerful ones too, the real one must be close be on your guard

5 ninja attack them but get pierced by a shadow.

Sokka: Ah so you came too?

Shika: I was curious too, what’s going on?

Chaos: We’re under attack.

*At the moon country there is a meeting with the kage and the top 10 ninja’s*

Tsukikage: *walks at number 8* Yumi havent i told you that this meeting isn’t for you?

Yumi: *transforms back* But i thought since 8 was away i could take his place.

Ninja(6): Yumi-chan you should know it doesn’t work like that.

Ninja(4): Yumi you will need to die.

The number 4 ninja jumps at Yumi and tries to hit her but a kunoichi with number 2 on her cheek catches his arm and throws him at the wall.

Ninja(1): Yumi is wrong but if you kill her we will lose a strong ninja and we can’t afford to lose ninja in these times.

Ninja(4): Like i care, don’t act all high and mighty just because of that 1 you got on your back brat.

Tsukikage: Stop it all of you or you might die next time.

Ninja(9): More importantly where is number 8 now?

Tsukikage: Since he’s a specialist in clone jutsu’s i thought he might be the best person to gather information on the enemy and try to recruit some new members now let’s put the plan in motion.

*back to Shannaro*

Chaos: Look up there.

Sokka: Is it the enemy?

Chaos: No they are 3 gennins from here.

The ninja appears behind the gennins and tells them to say goodbye.

Mart: I got nothing to say

Iruka: Same here.

Ikamuzu Oturan: Sephiroth senpai i know you’re here somewhere i just want to say thanks that you taught me some good jutsu’s!

ninja: Let’s go then

Chaos: Stop!

The ninja makes 200 clones to keep everyone busy so they can escape but they get stopped by

J-sama and 3 KAEB (Shadow assassination squad(in other words the anbu from Shannaro)) ninja’s.

J: Not so fast

 To be Continued

The gennins have made up their minds and have joined the moon country but J-sama is here to save the day if it’s good or bad news it’s up to you to decide. next time: J-sama’s decision.

sorry for the long wait guys i had a little fight with WordPress and my internet connection when i wanted to submit the post, but it’s all fixed now i hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Sakura remembered the last time she took the exam.
It was with Naruto and Sasuke…
To be honest Sakura didn’t really care what happened to Sasuke.
She just hoped she wouldn’t fail the exam,
The Hokage had made sure Ibiki Morino decided how the exam
takers pass or fail, an the second exam stayed the same…
Just don’t die.
Well Sakura had done well since she’d come this far
without Naruto or Sasuke, they had left her off
since Naruto was with Jiraiya and Sasuke…gone.
No preliminaries this time though.

Sakura looked up, above her was Gaara as the Kazekage
and the teacher Tsunade as Hokage.
“Let The Chunin Exams Commence!”

Shikamaru against Kiba  Win:Shikamaru
Hinata against Ino             Win: Hinata
Temari against Hidden Rain Guy      Win:Temari
Kankuro against Hidden Grass Guy  Win:Kankuro

“And the last match the examiner called out
Haruno Sakura against Omoi!”

“Start”

Omoi made the first attack he starts of with Raiton Kangekiha
“Full blast lighting attack” she thought she dodged it
“Humph missed by a million” Sakura smirked.
This was getting fun.
First Sakura focused all of her chakra to her feet and appeared before her opponent
if you thought this was fast then she took part of Tsnade’s training an focused chakra
to her hand and punched her opponent in the nose… hard. Well that had done it…
Omoi’s nose was as good as broken.
Sakura grinned “You want to play  some more?”
Tsunade watched and smiled she had not only trained Sakura but she had helped
her build up her confidence.
Well Gaara… he was like just… wow with Sakura’s improvement.

Okay now… Back to the fight Omoi who was obviously as lazy as Shikamaru
was as good as ready to forfeit well he was going to then…
BAM! Sakura had got hold of his arms and she swung him around with all
her might and his face in the wall and you remember about his nose “OWWW OWW!!!”
he had his nose under his hands.
Man this was way funny for Sakura he was screaming like a girl.
So (after a long time) he regained calmness he finally used another jitsu.
“Raigen Racochu.” he thought anyway that was all he could do with a broken nose.
“Gen Jitsu”Sakura thought even before he had finished his ninja technique,
Sakura was twice as brainy as before.She hopped to one side and…
“RELEASE”she shouted it was her first time she had dealt with nature Gen Jitsu
she hoped it would work…
Not only did it work the Gen Jitsu was reflected back to Omoi!
“I do  not want to be you there as Sakura shook her head. You are one pathetic cloud
ninja!”

“Winner” the Examiner called out “Haruno Sakura!”
Cheers, Boos Loads and Loads of Ranting.
The Hokage and Kazekage were clapping and especially Tsunade who was doing it like mad.
And Omoi he was being taken to the konoha hospital by the medical ninjas .

“We will now begin the ceremony for the new Chunins it will begin immediately.”
said the examiner. There were loads of groans from the passing exam takers including Hinata.

Village…
“Hey Hinata do you want to go see lady Tsunade?”

Till You Die

8 – Bloodred Primrose

It was a lie.

Not real.

She would say that confidently, except…

The pain shooting up her calf was a little too real for her tastes.

…

No. Unbelievable.

And he was seriously expecting her to take a seat, kneeling, at the head table next to him with a sprained ankle?

Aha…

But it was either that, or to remain standing with a sprained ankle. Loreli wasn’t sure if there was a difference.

This man really was merciless.

…

…What is with the people in here? The festive mood did not seem forced. Did no one truly notice the strain over at the head table in the main hall?

Loreli was. angry.

A quiet, burning rage deep inside her chest.

Why wouldn’t she be angry?

This man had brought her hell since day one, and now through a twist of fate, she was married to him. Against her will.

It must be divine punishment for not having the courage to go against Yuzuzu-hime’s orders.

Loreli missed her life.

“Eat.”

She clenched her jaw at his command, immobile.

“Or I’ll take it as a sign that you’re impatient.”

He hadn’t even glanced to the side at her as he said that, his tone mocking.

Loreli knew he didn’t give a damn whether or not she ate well. He only wanted her to behave in front of his men.

…

Not in front of his men.

Not in front of his men, huh?

Reaching down for her soup bowl, Loreli acted on a sudden, violent impulse, dumping the contents over his shoulder, the hot liquid pouring down his hair and arm.

…

“…My hand slipped. I seem to have a habit.”

And all at once, it had gone silent throughout the hall. So, despite appearances, it looked like they were all paying attention to here after all.

How was that? Going to strike back at his ‘honored wife’ in front of his men?

…

Slowly, agonizingly slow, Uchiha Madara set his chopsticks down.

A suspenseful hush. No one moved. With the exception of Uchiha Izuna, who was attempting to cough up something that had gone down the wrong tract.

…Same slow pace, Madara turned to face her.

Lightly, with one long eyebrow raised slightly in askance, “I see. Do you require me to feed you?”

…

“…No.”

With a small jerk of his head, Madara signaled to one woman attending to their tables.

“My wife is distressed by her ankle sprain.” That was all he needed to say.

Oh, so now he cared her ankle sprain, Loreli thought wryly as the Uchiha woman helped her to her feet.

Malevolent vibe from the leader of the Uchiha clan, as she was brought away. She almost regretted her action. Almost, just not quite.

If she were fortunate enough, perhaps he would take it out on Izuna.

Lots of ice.

Too bad the pain was too hard to handle having anything placed on it.

Loreli couldn’t believe the swelling had gotten this bad. The kneeling must have done the trick.

“My goodness,” an elder woman chided her, “how careless of you, and on your wedding day no less.”

Loreli didn’t bother with explanations.

She didn’t know exactly what kind of impression the women have of their clan leader, but she could guess that to them, he would be some type of hero. To her, it was the complete opposite.

“Well, what is there to be done?” they conversed aloud, openly “She can’t go through her wedding night like this, can she?”

Loreli winced at the reminder.

Oh Kami-sama. Kami-sama- she had-…he had-…they had kissed!

No. Calm down.

There is no way.

There is no way.

He had not appeared any different from before when they were together in the main hall. And that should be the least of her worries at this point.

Unfortunately the women mistook her reaction for something else.

“Let’s fetch a medic. No, fetch the head medic.”

Loreli grimaced. “…The head medic, for this?” She remembered that cold, regal man. She could imagine his reaction. “No…that isn’t necessary…”

Nevertheless they insisted. “He’s the only one out of them who can probably have you healed straight away.”

It didn’t look like they were going to back down. Plus, Loreli hurt too much to want to be thinking up a suitable excuse at the moment.

“…Alright, if you please.”

Two of them went. The rest remained with her instead of returning to the festivities.

They really didn’t have to be here. But it seemed like these women were very, very curious.

“We can’t believe it. Uchiha Madara, you dumped that thing on Uchiha Madara.”

…

Now that they were mentioning it like that…she was getting a little nervous. Understatement.

Loreli went pale.

“…He had me kneel with a bad ankle” monotone, the life gone out of her “why would I suffer alone…”

Snicker. “I told you they’re in love.”

…

Loreli suspected she would die a young, misunderstood woman.

Then the Uchiha women all got up at the same time, startling her out of her reverie.

“My presence was requested.”

They had great respect for this man, Loreli realized, judging by their humbled postures.

Uchiha Ingra, their mix-blood head medic. They cleared the space in the hall as to not cause him any distractions, leaving them alone. He must have quite the reputation.

“…I apologize for this,” Loreli spoke, feeling a bit awkward.

He was dressed up, dark blue kimono which lit his light blue eyes, long smooth hair pulled back. It really did look like the entire clan was here.

The head medic came over to her chair. He knelt before her, his red eye activated into view as he examined her injury.

“This wasn’t an accident,” Loreli heard him note calmly.

Taken aback. Surprise.

…

“…You can tell?”

He did not reply. Reaching inside his sleeve, the medic drew out a scented handkerchief. Briskly, he folded it up a few more times before holding it up to her.

“Bite onto this,” Ingra told her, soothing cool voice.

Pause, taking in the meaning of his words. Loreli accepted it.

“Since you do not wish to wait for it to heal naturally, try not to resist the pain.”

That was what he said, but…

Oh, god, the pain-!

She could feel every muscle underneath his hand stretch and relax, twisting and burning, righting into normal state. Her entire leg was on fire. He had to grip one leg of her chair with his free hand to prevent her from toppling it over.

It didn’t last very long, but it seemed otherwise. Then the burning morphed into a chilling. Ingra was pouring a cooling sensation from his hand.

“Don’t strain this foot for a while.”

Out of breath, Loreli managed a shaky ghost of a ‘thank you’.

He got up, a rustling of blue fabric.

“My congratulations to your brother.”

“He will be pleased.”

Every hair on the back of her neck rose at the sound of that voice.

Loreli turned in her seat. There he was. The devil in disguise.

She was aware that the medic, Ingra, left her to be alone with this man.

“…Izuna-sama.” Hiss. Small, forced smile. She would not be taken into his game again.

…

Loreli was losing the battle of smiles. His was genuinely amused when he crouched down next to her chair.

“You don’t think our new familiarity warrants for a change in address?”

Sweet smile, trying to mirror his as a mocking gesture.

“…Bastard.”

Izuna’s smile did not waver. “But, I was thinking; brother-in-law.”

Slap. Half-hearted slap. But the message got across.

He frowned.

…

“…There was a mosquito.”

Unhurriedly, Izuna reached a hand up to grasp her wrist, pulling it away from his cheek. Slowly, he straightened out her fingers. Both eyebrows went up. “You missed.”

Blandly. “…Because I’m not a lying, cheating ninja who plays around with a simple girl’s life just because he knows he can get away with it.”

Grimace.

Izuna reached for her, and, seeing that she plastered back against the chair, decided to take the whole chair altogether.

“…I hate you,” Loreli confessed.

“Hey.” Pleasantly ignoring the stares they were endowed with as they passed by the clansmen. “Hate is a loaded word.”

Loreli pursed her lips. Evidently nothing ever fazed this man.

“Don’t be silly. You should have known from the moment you stepped inside this clan that you wouldn’t be able to go back to a normal life.”

Loreli glanced down at Izuna.

“You think that after becoming the mistress of the leader of the Uchiha clan, you can simply return to living peacefully in the outside?”

Izuna was speaking seriously. Uchiha Izuna never spoke seriously like that. Not to her, at least.

But what he was saying was true. She should have known this. Why hadn’t she thought of it before she agreed to everything? The shinobi world was different from the outside world.

“So you had me wed to the one who had nearly killed the man I adore?” Loreli asked tonelessly.

“Madara has made you the mistress of the clan,” Izuna observed. “He cannot raise a hand against you in public.”

In public.

“And now that your name is intricately tied to his…” Izuna set her down, rather abruptly, causing her a jolt of surprise. Eye level. “…You will not betray him.”

…

“I-…what-?”

Did he just…not answer her question in a roundabout way?

He took advantage of her momentary off-guardedness, prying her off her chair.

“Look, behind you.”

Small frown, still disoriented, Loreli turned towards the direction he was pointing in.

Izuna took the opportunity to give a small push to her back, shutting the door firmly behind her.

Loreli didn’t know which was more preposterous. The fact that he thought it would work, or the fact that it actually did.

For a long moment her hands lingered on the door, her mind struggling to accept this.

…She had no doubt about whose private quarters Izuna had taken her to.

…

Dark, spacious, cold. Very dark. Someone hadn’t bothered with the lights.

Her eyes took time to adjust.

Though the large room seemed to be connected to other chambers, this one appeared to be the main, the ceilings high, and a symbol of the Uchiha fan adorning one wall.

Slow quiet footsteps. Her heart palpitated.

Madara discarded the towel onto the surface of the table. He sank down, smooth motion, into the couch next to it.

Long leg propped up on the couch, arm draped across risen knee, and wearing nothing except a long bathrobe of the darkest red, made black by the dimness in the room. It looked like he had washed off what she had foolishly dumped on him earlier.

Loreli felt her insides quivering under his stare.

“Come here.”

Like a blow, his words knocked the wind out of her lungs.

A long eyebrow went up. Dark lush voice, slowly, coolly. “You are my wife. I expect absolute obedience.” Madara repeated sharply, “Come here!”

Rigidly at first, Loreli reluctantly approached where he sat, waiting.

Madara’s arrogant eyes assessed her coolly, as she stood bravely before him.

It was quiet.

“Are you a virgin?”

Loreli almost faltered, glancing down at his impassive face, with the exception of a quirked brow.

Aha…

Now…? He was asking her that, now? After everything. After he even gave her away to some of his men. What kind of answer is he expecting?

“No,” she lied, steadily locking eyes down at him. So what would he do if she wasn’t untouched? If they took marriage as lightly as this, she wouldn’t be surprised if an annulment was just as easy.

Madara’s dark eyes slimmed ominously.

Loreli stifled a gasp as, with one fast fluid motion, he yanked the sash off her waist.

The long spike-haired shinobi leaned back casually, resting his head on the back of his propped-up hand.

“Undress,” Madara ordered her smoothly.

…

He had seen her naked before. She had seen him naked before. Why were her fingers trembling so hard?

First her outer robe. Loreli let it drop. The inner kimono was harder. Her fingers went stiff.

No matter how she thought about it, she simply wasn’t ready to accept this. Never would be.

“Remove your hands,” Madara’s cool command.

She blinked, registering his words. Hesitantly, Loreli allowed her hands to fall to her sides.

All she heard was the sharp rip of fabric. Cold air against her skin.

Uchiha Madara twirled the kunai in his hand once, before reaching to the side and used a light stab to embed the tip into the surface of the table.

He looked up, long eyebrows arched and dark lips slightly parted, daring her to protest.

…

She was stunned. With that one inhumanly fast swipe he had split the front of her kimono perfectly down the center, without scratching her skin. With skill like that, he could take her life in a mere instant and she would’ve never seen it coming.

Aha…

The light-headedness was back.

…

In the dark, Loreli couldn’t read the veiled expression in his eyes. For the longest time Madara simply observed her, silently, her self-awareness increasing by the second.

She stepped back, involuntarily, as she felt the shinobi reach out and touched her side.

Needless to say, he was not pleased by her reaction. Madara’s dark, sinister eyes bore into her coldly as he rose up from the couch. She faltered.

Suddenly, without warning, Loreli found herself flushed against him, her entire body. She resisted, but a hand was placed on the center of her back, entrapping her against his tall, powerful frame as his free hand tore the fabric from her shoulders, exposing her entirely.

Panic. She struggled unthinkingly, her breathing harsh and shallow against the hollow of his throat, inhaling more of his scent, feeling his long ebony locks brush her face. He was a man. She became increasingly aware of this. At this proximity he was not great shinobi or clan leader; only a painfully attractive man who was reacting to her vulnerability, her own body was instinctively responding to his heat.

One hand reached up, grabbing a fistful of her hair, holding her in place as he reached down and forcefully snapped her panties away.

He was strong. Oh, too strong. It was a struggle she had no chance of winning. His muscled arms, shoulders, chest were hard and unyielding beneath her fingers, his chest rising and falling against hers as his soft speeded breathing, underlined with need, fanned into her hair.

“No-”

Loreli swallowed thickly, throat gone dry.

This wasn’t the same authoritarian Madara who would lash out or mock her for defying him.

He was serious. Uchiha Madara was serious this time. He would force her regardless of her resistance. She could feel it from the way his slow hands roamed over her curves, controlled, unrushed and deliberate.

He wanted her.

That was what frightened her the most.

“Stop-”

With one last, harsh jerk, Loreli tried pulling away from him. To her surprise, he let her fall.

His bed. She hadn’t realized.

Heart beating out of control, Loreli glanced up in fear.

…

One dark eye obscured by the long bangs on one side of his face, Madara’s gaze roved over her helpless figure, until she became unbearably self-conscious of her unclothed state.

…She could hardly believe it. Leader of a ninja clan or not, Uchiha Madara was still a man, who gave into base instincts. Yes that…that must be the reason for the dark, seductive smirk which appeared on his lips. No other reason.

“You’ve never been with a man.”

Loreli pursed her lips at the confident tone.

Seconds ticked past.

A small surge of defiance allowed her to regain her voice.

“…Madara-sama, you think?”

“Heh.” In response, the tall long-haired shinobi tugged off and discarded his long bathrobe to one side. His expression remained vaguely amused, perhaps waiting for a reaction.

…Did he truly not realize that he was not just any other man?

He was sharp, alluring, dark and statuesque, radiating raw charisma. Even his appearance was meant to be king.

This was the man who had threatened the lives of her most precious people.

This was the man who had taken her life from her.

Uchiha Madara wasn’t just any other man.

Instinctively, she drew back.

Then she found him suddenly above her, lightly fisting her hair in his hand.

“Doesn’t matter,” Madara told her, dark velvet voice close to her ear. “I will be your last.”

Loreli wasn’t given time to agonize over his meaning. His knees were nudging hers apart.

Screaming internally, she tried to edge back. He pinned her arms down to her side, immobilizing her.

Shuddering breath. Loreli shut her eyes as the man leaned towards her, his warmth hovering above her, strands of his long hair tickling her throat.

This was it. He had her under his power. Her life was his to control. She had no means of escape.

Overwhelming dread.

…No. Not true. Not real-

A nudge, a prod, and then a probe. Madara slid himself halfway into her tight heat. It ached badly. Her walls were stretching rapidly in an effort to accommodate his wide girth.

Oh god. Loreli tried to relax. She couldn’t. Her fists clenched at the sheets beneath her entrapped arms. But, if she had no choice, then she would not- she would not cower underneath him.

Madara found her barrier, she realized. That was why he had paused, breathing softly. Then with one hard thrust, the hands tightening around her arms, he sheathed himself fully within her.

Really bad. Loreli struggled against her restraints despite herself. A burning, tearing sensation. The pain itself as bad as it was hurting her psychologically. The scream, she could control. The tears, tears of distress and of humiliation, she couldn’t.

At the quickened sound of her soft ragged breathing, Madara stared down at her for a silent moment, his sharp, handsome face unreadable.

He pulled out of her.

“Shhh…” Uchiha Madara hushed her, drawing her into his firm chest with an arm encircling her waist, her back nestled fully into his warmth.

If anything, she only got more discomforted by this. His hand absently stroking through her hair. She was speechless, bewildered, terrified by his abrupt change in behavior, half expecting it to be his twisted way of giving her a false sense of security.

But Madara didn’t do anything else. He drew the blanket over them, hushing her occasional sounds of protest, and held her against him until she at last fell asleep.

…Or perhaps it had been a faint.

A/N: Um… I should warn you guys right now that it will get both darker and lighter than this. If the fic so far has been already too dark or confusing for you…heh heh heh…you haven’t seen a plotline angst fic in action yet.

Also an important heads up; I’m a writer who likes dropping vague hints all over the place, and there are certain things that I can’t spell out for you even if you ask. Should that ever be the case, I’m afraid you might need to reread or simply follow the flow until it gets clarified by later chapters. Chances are, if you are confused, the main character is confused as well. There’s really no need to stay ahead of what the characters know, is there? It’s simply a bonus if you can ^^

Dawn of a New Era

Chapter 4
Bold Barrier

“So they’re pretty similar in most ways to the former Akatsuki. They are very powerful missing-nin from the different countries. For now, we’ll assume they travel in two-man cells until we see fit.” The Hokage, Kazekage and Mizukage have a small meeting in Konoha.
Temari stands up and sighs. “Well, Shikamaru, is this meeting…?”
“Meeting adjurned.” Temari stood frozen but suddenly gathered her barrings and headed off with Matsuri. The Mizukage stood up and began to leave. Shikamaru suddenly halted her.
“One of the Akatsuki is from your village, correct?”
The Mizukage turned around, her red hair whipping across her face. “Um, yes, and actually…He is the person who stole the Hidden Lightning’s scroll…”
Shikamaru’s mind was now twisted. “What?! Then, what’s his name?”
The Mizukage stood for a moment, taking but a second to think of the name. “Koukishi is his name. He went missing from the village two years ago…Urk…” The Mizukage and Chojiro finally left the room and Shikamaru sat in transfixed thought.
“So…Now…We have a name of one member…And supposedly one of the strongest if he was able to get by Omoi…”
A bowl-like valley…
An explosion erupted from one of the walls of the valley as Sasuke appeared from the smoke, skidding upon the ground. His shirt had fallen a bit, revealing Anbu-like gear underneath. “It’s still rusty…” Sasuke tried once more with his technique.
Suigetsu sat in the center of the large, closed valley. “It must be hard to get the Chidori Drill right if it’s taking Sasuke so long…”
Suigetsu shot up with his sword in hand when he heard footsteps behind him. A woman tripped and fell at the sight of the large blade.
Suigetsu recognized the figure, hair, appearance…All about the figure. “K-Karin?”
“Ugh…” Karin lurched forward as she stood up, in a daze now that she had hit her temple on rock.
“What the…How did you find us?! Why are you here and…Gah…!”
Karin stepped forward and took her hand off her temple. “I traced yours and Sasuke’s chakra here. I’ve been on your trail for about two days. Finally…Where is Sasuke?”
Suigetsu pointed to figure constantly performing, and failing, a technique on the wall. Karin, stepping forward slowly, saw Sasuke’s face when he slid back on the ground. In her eyes…His beautiful face, the expression of pure determination…She hadn’t seen it in so long.
She was happy she was finally able to see his face once more…Now…
Sasuke huffed once more and pulled up his shirt around the Anbu gear and armor. “This jutsu is difficult…To get the spin, the power…I may not be able to perfect it…Eh?”
Karin had appeared behind him and stared pratically through him. Sasuke turned around and greeted her gaze. “Karin!?”
“Yup, same reation I had, Sasuke. “Suigetsu sauntered up to them. He noticed the gaze Karin was giving Sasuke. One that showed marvel. One that said you had not seen the person in a loong period of time. And it had been a long time. Five to seven years is how long Karin had to wait to see the face she always dreamt about.
Karin finally broke the gaze. “Since you two are traveling together, how about I join you again and form the old team…” She threw a hand over her mouth the instant the words, “old team” were uttered.
Sasuke looked down with a grave, dead expression. Suigetsu looked away solemnly. “Um…I’m…Sorry…Um…Travel as a team together…”
Sasuke looked into the sky. Clouds started forming, ominous, gray, dim clouds. Lightning sparked and crackled through it. “Fine.”
Karin beamed and clapped her hands once, creating a loud, hollow echo. “Great!”
Sasuke looked at her with a deadly glare. Then shifted to Suigetsu. “It’s going to rain. Let’s at least get a small distance from here.” Sasuke started walking away, the direction out of the valley. He knew Suigetsu would follow, and he half-expected Karin to stand there until they were gone.
But he was wrong. Suigetsu immediately followed him and Karin trailed behind Suigetsu by a couple feet. Sasuke was wrong by a long shot…
Cave…
Koukishi, his apparent partner, a hologram, and Kisame stand in the center. The hologram briefs the trio on a mission.
“You three are to penetrate the defenses of Iwagakure and the Hidden Stone Village and retrieve the Scroll of Hope. There’s no room for failure you three. Get moving.” Koukishi tapped a foot, but shrugged off a dispute.

Jinrai was less soft and stepped forward. “Wouldn’t it be better if we stay in our two-man cells?”
“No,” the hologram stated sternly. “This mission will be incredibly difficult as Iwagakure’s strength is the second highest of the five countries.”
Kisame recited the order of strengths subconsciously in his mind from weakest to strongest. “Kirigakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Konohagakure…hmm…”
“Go.”
The trio felt the strict vibe in the voice of the hologram and immediately headed off.
“Iwagakure…The Hard Country…Hmph…” Jinrai kept his eyes closed the entire way.
Outside the Hidden Stone Village wall…
The trio stood, reciting the plan of action. Koukishi came up with the main operation. “Jinrai, you penetrate high in the wall structure, make sure it’s a large hole. Kisame, you infiltrate the village and use your Water Shockwave along with me. Use your sword and hack your way through the defenses and into the shrine. I’ll get the scroll and then we make a hasty retreat. Understood?”
Kisame grimaced the whole time Koukishi spoke. “Hmph…Fine…”
Jinrai jumped into the air and formed a hand sign. “Lightning Style: Twin Wolf Turbine!” Two wolves formed from lightning span quickly, as if turbines, towards the wall. Finally reaching the wall, the penetrated and caused an explosion, the smoke being their cover to quickly get inside without being noticed.
Inside, Kisame and Koukishi dashed into the air, both forming hand signs at the same time. In unison, they shouted, “Water Shockwave Jutsu!” Water rushed in through the hole and over the peak of the wall, drownning houses and people under. Kisame surfed down the water and released his Man Eating Sharks to clear a path towards the shrine. “Koukishi!”
Koukishi’s Sphere of Stone erupted from the water and floated above the new ocean-like landscape towards a medium-sized tower. Koukishi released the ball of stone into shooting pieces of rock at the Shinobi coming after him. “No interferance!”
Koukishi landed on top of the shrine. Breaking inside, he fell to the wooden floor boards. “Ah! And there it is, the scroll!” As he reached for it, the shrine around him felt apart and he was surrounded in total darkness. He realized his legs were stuck inside a bayou of muck. “What- What is this!?”
“Black Phoenix!” Koukishi suddenly was inside the shrine, but noticed the scroll was gone. He heard and tried to analyze where those words came from. Suddenly, the entire shrine was enveleoped in the shadow of a large, black phoenix, still unbeknownst to Koukishi. The phoenix slammed down on the shrine, obliterating it in seconds. Kisame hopped off the water and witnessed this sight. Jinrai leaned up against one side of the hole in the wall and sighed. “I thought his self-sonfidence would be the death of him…”
In front of Kisame, Sasuke Uchiha appeared. “Hmm, Sasuke Uchiha. Long time no see.”
“Cut the small talk.” Sasuke hid the scroll in on of his pouches. Suigetsu and Karin appeared alongside him. Suigetsu drew his sword and smiled mischieveously.
Jinrai sighed once more form the hole. “I guess I have to go help him now.” Jinrai shot off the wall and appeared in seconds behind Kisame. Kisame was unaware of Jinrai’s appearance.
Sasuke held his hand on the handle of the Chokuto. “So you wanted the scroll…For what reason?” Jinrai scoffed from behind Kisame, making himself known that he was in fact present.
“We shouldn’t have to explain ourselves. If you want to know that badly, hand over the scroll and you’ll find out soon. Or we could take it by force. I’m giving you an option. Make a choice.” Jinrai opened his eyes, revealing a shimmering blue scheme.
Kisame smiled and latched his sword onto his back, knowing he will not require it. Suigetsu loosened the grip on his sword frequently. Karin stood, eyeing both Kisame and Jinrai, also throwing her gaze at the destroyed shrine.
Akatsuchi and the Tsuchikage stood in front of the shrine, obviously aware of the standoff up ahead, they were confident that the aid would be able to handle it. Akatsuchi analyzed the wreckage. “Hmm…The life form that was inside…Isn’t here anymore. But it wasn’t killed.” The Tsuchikage whirred around to see three people now standing off with their apparent aid.
Kisame threw his gaze at Koukishi, who was now standing on his left. “So, you survied I see.”
“I almost didn’t…That damn attack was almost inescapable. But I managed. Let’s hurry this up, shall we? I’m tired of Jinrai always stealing my thunder of the polite act…”
Jinrai scoffed at the comment. “You idiot…” Sasuke listened to their banter with a dead expression, as if he didn’t care how long they standed there as long as the enemy left without the scroll.
Karin sighed once. Kisame kept his attention locked to Suigetsu, and vice-versa.
“What’s your answer?” Sasuke smirked.
“We’re obviously not going to give you the scroll. I’m waiting for you three goons to decide when you want to leave and how. In full…Or in pieces.” Sasuke’s Sharingan tomoes started to spin slowly.
Koukishi beamed. “You haven’t realized it yet have you?” Sasuke’s eyes were filled with bewilderment. His hand scurrid to the pouch where he found that the scroll was gone. Koukishi threw it into the air and Kisame grabbed it and put it inside his cloak.
“We were waiting for you to notice. Koukishi lifted it when he came over here, idiot.”
Just two minutes before…
Akatsuchi analyzed the wreckage.
A figure darted from the falled shrine. The figure lurked by Karin, avoiding her notice, sweeping across the side of Sasuke, snatching something from a pouch.
Present…
Sasuke’s face twisted into a sour grimace. “How’d you do that!? You scum…” Sasuke, instead of drawing the Chokuto or Kusanagi, used a Chidori to start the Chidori Blade and target the enemy. Kisame slipped under the blade and scurried away from the scene. Jinrai held a hand out and, shockingly to everyone, grasped the blade, with no effect to him. He snapped it and the energy stopped flowing. “How’d you…?”

Koukishi and Jinrai fled the scene and joined Kisame, leaping from the wall and outside the village. Akatsuchi and the Tsuchikage greeted the trio, but finding the scroll had been stolen.
Status of Scroll Theft: Code Yellow
Hidden Leaf Village…
Uzuna and Hizuka sit in front of the Hokage Mansion. Hizuka rubs his face, as he was not fully awake. He wished his father would help him with his Taijutsu and mediacl-nin. Suddenly, the both of them heard a small yip and Hizuka’s face brightened as his gaze was thrown to his left. He saw a (4 month old) puppy scampering his way. he flew up and picked him up. Kiba appeared with him, smiling. Hizuka knew why this puppy was here. “This is your birthday present, Hizuka. And we’ll train you to work together with him and make him like Akamaru: A partner ninja hound.”
“Thanks dad.” The puppy was black, with white paws, white-tipped ears and tail and a white streak down his back.
Uzuna smiled at Hizuka and left him with his puppy. He had decided to take a stroll, to think about his life at the moment, and what he was going to be doing for awhile. “Ugh. I wish Iruka would call for a training session. Or some sort of dangerous mission. Or even some around-the-village duty! Anything!” Realizing he was talking to himself in midday, he shut his mouth and continued his walk in silence.
Anbu Training center…
“Sai? Hello?” Naruto noticed a few Anbu members sprring and training inside, but did not see Sai. “Maybe he’s left.”
From the shadows of a corner, Sai emerged, looking at Naruto with a joyous expression. “Hello Naruto, haven’t spoken to you in 4 years. How are you?”
Naruto nodded and smiled. “I’ve been well, I suppose. But I needed to speak with you about urgent business. Are you busy?” Sai shook his head.
“No, not at all. Shino and Neji are still on guard duty and there are no missions. I have time to speak with you, if you with, Naruto-sama.”
Leaf Hospital…
Kakashi walks outside, stretching his arms and feeling refreshed. “A couple days of rest after using my Sharingan is what I need, ahhh…” He looked around, noticing he was alone and started walking towards the Village center.
Soon, he spotted TenTen and Lee scanning merchandise inside a market. TenTen’s eyes darted around numerous kinds of kunai, explosive tags, shuriken, smokebombs, trap kits, and various other ninja tools. Kakashi knew she probably didn’t need them, but she loved looking at them anyway.
Lee was searching through the different weights and sizes of leg weights and arm weights. Kakashi’s eyes shot down to his legs and he noticed the weights he were wearing were tagged, “900 lbs” and he sighed.
“He puts himself through a lot…”
Kakashi greeted them, TenTen and Lee saying hello back. “How’re you Kakashi? Feeling any better?” TenTen inquired, obviously worried about his well-being.
Kakashi gave her a reassuring expression. “I’m well TenTen, no need to worry like that.” Kakashi said goodbye and was on his own way. He finally stopped after a while inside the dumpling shop so he could think better.
“What was Kisame out there for…? Is he apart of that new organization? I doubt it…but it’s very possible…but it doesn’t explain what he was doing out in the middle of the ocean.”
Cave…
Jinrai, Kisame and Koukishi revealed themselves in front of a hologram. Jinrai presented the scroll. “Easy takings, however we had some issues with Sasuke Uchiha and his team. Not much more of a hassle, anyway.”
The scroll levitated and disappeared as the one before it had before. “Kisame, you were the other ’semi-close’ person to Kakuzu and Hidan. Do you think Hidan could still be alive?”
Kisame closed his eyes and thought, finally speaking afterwards. “Well…He has immortality, but it doesn’t last forever unless he constantly fulfills Jashin’s needs. And he was buried alive…And if the immortality ran out, the decapitation would have reached him before the suffocation effect did. I would say the likeliness of him being alive is one in a million.”

The hologram sighed, disappointed. “Hmm, he would have made a nice addition…But I hate statistics to I want you to use the KeiraKurei to find out for sure.”
Kisame’s eyes blew open, flabbergasted to a full extent. “WHAT!? The KeiraKurei?! I’ve never even used the damned thing!”
The hologram sciffed, disapprovingly. “I don’t care, use the sword and find Hidan!” Jinrai and Koukishi threw each other glances and suddenly disappeared. Kisame growled deeply and placed his hand on a second handle of a sword on his back.
“The Samehada drains chakra as it shreds the skin…But as I’ve heard, the KeiraKurei eternally damages chakra points…Hmph…”
The next day, in the Nara Forest…
Kisame dashes stealthily through the trees, on his way to Area 1 Ruins, towards his objective.
As he passes a tall, bulky tree, a figure notices him and starts to follow him in the shadows. “Whoever that is, shouldn’t be in the Nara forest without clearance…Better trace him.”
Kisame finally approached his destination and searched around the tablets and broken pieces of pillars. After searching for a few minutes altogether, he noticed a spot in the stone floor where it was filled in some time in the last 15-20 years. “I guess this is the spot.”
He unsheathed the KeiraKurei and gazed it it’s sleek blade. “Hmm, damages chakra points…But how will it help get this dug up? I guess I just swing and find out!” He threw his weight through the handle backwards, and then slung down quickly at the spot. Suddenly, when the blade came into contact, the ground exploded upwards and sent Kisame baclwards a few steps, the sword singing slightly. The stones and dirt flew around the “hole” and revealed a large crater, where the dismembered pieces of Hidan lay.
Scanning and analyzing the crater, he soon found his head laying alone. taking a chance, he picked it up by the hair and revealed its face. After a minute of staring, the head uttered words. “What the hell are you just staring at me fore Kisame?! Get me the hell out of this hole!” In Kisame’s mind, he was hoping that Hidan was actually dead, his heart sinking when he heard Hidan’s cracked, loud voice.

Kisame gathered his pieces and layed them down in body form, apart, on the ground. “Kisame, where is Kakuzu!? I need him to sew my head back on! Get him here immediately!”
“Shut up, will ya! Kakuzu’s been dead for a long time. You’re going to have to wait!” Suddenly, Kisame noticed movement from a tree and then an explosive tag kunai land behind him. Before it set off, he spat some water on it and put out the fuse. “You’re not supposed to be here so get away!”
Azuma Sarutobi Jr., now 16 year old Chuunin, appeared on a fallen pillar, glaring at Kisame. “Hmph, you sound pushy. I’ll be away from here soon…”
“You’ll be away from here now!” Azuma uttered calmly as he snapped a twig in his fist. Kisame scoffed brightly.
“Really? I see…Then if you think that, why not come over here and deal with me?” Azuma beamed.
“Glad to!” From his pouch, he pulled out one of the same knives Azuma Sr. held. He dashed forward, the wind chakra surrounding the blade. Kisame drew the KeiraKurei and swung it at Azuma. Azuma clashed with the blade, only to find himself being pushed back by a huge gravitational force.
Kisame noticed Jinrai’s appearance. “Kisame! What are you doing? You’re mission was to find Hidan and get out of here! Not pick a fight wherever you can find one, you idiot!” Kisame frowned and threw a deadly gaze at Jinrai.
“Just sew him up while I deal with this little bastard! And do it quick!” Azuma dashed back forward, now a blade on each hand.
Jinrai took two fingers and a smal lightning “scalpel” appeared from the tips. he went to his job at sewing Hidan’s pieces back together. Soon, he was finished and he helped Hidan up to his feet. Kisame drew back and slid, sheathing his Samehada and KeiraKurei all at the same time. Jinrai scoffed. “You used both? Heh…”
Kisame snarled. They fled and Azuma was left alone, huffing, now out of breath and energy. “At least they left…But they took that guy…Wasn’t he the one who…?” Dammit…”
In a while…
Inside the cave, Jinrai and Kisame appeared, Hidan on Jinrai’s shoulder. The hologram clapped and gave what somewhat looked like a smile.
“We’re now complete…Kisame, did you happen to find his scythe?” Kisame reached inside his cloak and pulled out a small, metal shaft.
He pulled it apart and it slid into a “pole” and then the three scythe blades flung out, reveaing the shadowing three blades. Kisame handed it to Hidan, chain and all, and Hidan smiled. “How long was I in that pit anyway?”

Kisame crossed his arms. This was the moment he waited for. “You’ve been in there almost 20 years.” Hidan chuckled disbelieveingly.
“Right…” but then looked at Kisame’s face, deadly serious. “WHAT!?!?”
Hokage Room…
Azuma appeared before Shikamaru, still huffing. “Um…Shikamaru-sama, you remember that guy that you buried some 17 years ago right?” Shikamaru’s expression became grave.
“Yes, what about Hidan?!”
Azuma sighed. “He…Was…Unearthed and taken away.” Shikamaru almost fell out of his chair but immediately gained his bearings, standing up and heading out of the room with Azuma.
Shikamaru’s thoughts battled around in his head. “This is bad…Hidan was unearthed…Gah…All these things…”
As he opened the Mansion main door, Kurotsuchi slammed into him. Shikamaru stood straight and helped her up. “You’re the Hokage, correct? Shikamaru-sama, the Tsuchikage sent me here to inform you that the Iwagakure Scroll of Hope has been stolen!”

Shikamaru’s face turned as bright red as a tomato and he became flustered.
Azuma sighed heavily.
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Yup, Shikamaru sure is angry! And overworked!
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I tried to make up for the last two chapters by spicing this one up with some interesting stuff! So, how was it guys? Like it? AND! I’m adding this chapter to my record book as…MY LONGEST CHAPTER EVER!!! Hope you guys liked it and I’ll see ya next time for Chapter 5! SEE YA!

Special Thanks to:
Author: me of course ;P
Friend: For alllowing me to use their computer while mine is having techincal deifficulties!p>

Madara Uchiha

9- Children Of The Mist

He frowned at the thought trying to push it away. He turned away from her and stated, “Come.”

He heard a small growl of irritation come from her throat but she kept her mouth shut as she followed him off the boat. Kisame saw them moving and followed as well.

As they walked onto the dock he noticed the two Mist ninjas looking at the passengers. When they saw him then Kisame both gasped in surprised. The spoke quickly to themselves in obvious fear. Madara walked over to them and said with a huge grin, “Hello.”

Both ninjas looked at each other awkwardly. Madara continued, “I find it rude that Mist Ninjas no longer welcomes their past Mizkage and present Mizkage with honor. Do you remember what used to be the punishment of such disrespect under my rule?”

Both men began to shake with some fear before standing straight and saluting, “Mizkage.”

Madara nodded as he heard Kisame snickering behind him. He turned and glared at the shark who immediately stopped, but kept his teethy grin. He looked back at the ninjas, “Take us to the Mist.”

“Yes, sir,” they nodded then disappeared in a sprint. It wasn’t difficult at all to keep up, but he noticed Sakura’s shallow breathing behind him. He really was being cruel to her, but he couldn’t be seen as weak. And it was weak of him to let the girl get away with so much. This just equaled everything out. His ear, though, couldn’t ignore the sharp painful gasp she breathed in. His jaw tightened in annoyance. This shouldn’t bother him. She deserved it.

He focused on her footsteps instead. They were landing heavily on the branches unlike her usually graceful pace. He then heard her shoes make a scratching noise as it slide down on the bark followed by a soft squeak. Madara was on the ground a moment later catching the falling pink hair girl. The girls face was scrunched tight ready for the rough landing then loosen as she realized the landing wasn’t coming. Her eyes widen in shook then a light red crossed her cheeks. It caused Madara to smile before he said teasingly, “I thought you were a jounin.”

The blush stayed on her face but her features changed to anger. Her green eyes glared up at him causing him to feel that warmth again. He did love to make her angry and she seemed to be debating about smacking him or being pleasant. “Not all of us can be like you,” she said with obvious disgust.

His eye glared at her as he squeezed her tighter against him, which probably wasn’t the best idea because her smell was beginning to distract him. Only she could turn a compliment into an insult. He debated whether to punish her for the comment, but eventually came up with a better plan. “Well since you obviously can’t take care of yourself it looks like I will have to carry you,” he stated smiling.

He noticed her face turned to shock as she began to fidget. The other ninjas had stopped waiting for them as Kisame leaned against the tree smirking. Madara glanced at him and could have sworn the shark was winking. That caused Madara to frown. He would deal with the shark later…right now this wonderful smelling girl was his primary focus. Her face was red as she kicked and yelled, “No, I can run just fine. I am not weak! Nor do I need to be carried!”

Madara ignored her pleas. Unfortunately for her, she was weak without her chakra. The girl was doing well with how much she had been limited…but now she was completely useless…and he liked it. He began running with her in his arms as she continued to struggle. The others caught onto the hint and went back into place. “It would be easier if you would stop fidgeting,” he said to her.

“It would be easier if you took off the chakra seal, you bastard!” she shouted at him.

He tightened his hand around her arm he was holding. He heard her hiss in pain knowing that he made a bruise. “Sakura, that wasn’t nice,” he said in his more tobish voice.

He watched her chew on her bottom lip before saying, “Sorry. Thank you for carrying me.”

She was furious and that just made him smile more. “You’re welcome, Sakura-chan,” he said in a kind voice. He didn’t fully mean to say the chan, but for some reason she was able to make him act like Tobi without even trying. It wasn’t that Tobi was a completely different personality. He created Tobi after his brother as an alias. He had just been acting under the alias for so long that sometimes….it just came out. Luckily, Sakura thought he was acting and took it as an insult. She usually would be right…whatever. He was bond to have a few issues after being alive this long. His alias coming out was not the worst.

He looked away from the girl he was holding and tried to ignore the temptation to feel how soft her skin was. He sighed inwardly. What was he doing with her? Izuna was right. One day a girl was going to make him weak…why did it have to be a girl who completely despised him.

No. He would not let this girl affect him. Her smell. Her soft pink hair. Her delicate features and intense eyes. Her feisty spirit and intelligence. They would not affect him. He could beat this girls desire….and if he couldn’t he could always kill her.

The way Madara held her in his arms made it look like he was offering her as a sacrifice. Sakura gulped as she saw the foxes lips curl back to show his teeth. “You’ve kept me waiting!” the fox growled as its salvia dropped on the ground.

Sakura felt Madara’s weight shift in a more relax position. “I don’t remember giving you a particular day I would be here,” Madara said causally.

Sakura was amazed by Madara’s calm and collectiveness. She herself was panicking with the beast teeth so close to her. The fox’s claws dug into the dirt before taking a step closer, “Uchiha rat! I am the nine tailed fox! You do not talk to me that way!”

Again Madara spoke as if talking to a child, “I am immortal as you. And I do believe I freed you from your container. Which means,” his voice got deeper with venom, “you do not talk to me this way.”

Sakura assumed his sharingan was activated. The fox seemed to frown before bringing its nose closer to her and Madara. She felt him sniff the air around them before speaking, “So the container’s girl is now the Uchiha rat’s hmph. Pathetic girl, you must be attracted to power.”

Sakura’s anger was rising she kicked her legs out of Madara’s arms taking him by surprise causing him to drop her. She landed on the ground and turned her glare to the nine tails. She knew she didn’t have her full strength but still swatted the nine tails on the nose like a dog who had disobeyed. “I AM NOT WITH HIM!”

The fox sneezed at the irritation of her hand before turning to her with somewhat of a grin, “The Uchiha Rat is rejected.”

“Sakura,” she heard his voice stern and deadly.

Her angry nerves calmed, but she still hissed back, “Yes?”

“Can you please move out of the way,” he said back.

She a bit taken a back. She was expecting an insult or a punishment, but she moved to the side where she saw Kisame who was giggling softly. She glared at the shark who continued to laugh. She nudged him in the stomach, “Shut up.”

He ignored her still laughing as she turned to face Madara who now had his hands behind his back. Madara took a step closer and asked in an authoritative voice, “Have you done as I asked?”

The fox frowned again at being bossed around before saying, “I only destroyed part of the wall protecting their village because I was attacked. I killed them all.”

“Good. Stay outside the gate. Sakura. Kisame. You both are coming with me,” he said as he walked passed the fox without a second glance. The fox growled and seemed ready to bite off Madara’s orange mask but stood put. Sakura followed after Kisame nudged her forward. She followed the dark hair man into the gates, as the guards in front seemed to be cowering. It was so strange especially after hearing the Mist usual reputation. The Mist it self gave off an eerie presence with the low fog and empty streets, but so far the ninjas had only coward. “Where is this imposter Kage?” Madara asked the ninjas.

It caused Sakura to smirk. If anyone were the imposter here it would be the man in front of her. “I’m sorry Mizkage, but we do not know,” the female guard said softly. Sakura heard a soft scream as the girl collapsed to the ground holding her body in pain. Sakura flinched, but stay in her place.

“I feel the Mist has gone soft since I’ve left,” Madara said ignoring the squirming girl on the ground.

“Not yet.” Sakura gasped as a man appeared from thin air behind Madara holding a large long sword at his neck. He wore baggy white shorts with a tight blue shirt. His hair was as blue as the shirt he was wearing.

Sakura heard Kisame snickered, “Ebisu still trying to play hero. I thought he might have taken my place.”

“Ebisu?” Sakura asked confused.

“Ebisu, you should have known that you could never taken the place of Mizkage,” Madara said calmly and unaffected by the large sword that Sakura now noticed had two blades.

“Nope because I don’t get a kick out of torture,” the man Ebisu said cheerful.

Madara turned around to face the blue hair man ignoring the sword pressing against his skin. His sharingan eye was frightening what was worst was his smile. It looked ready for blood. “You just get a kick playing with little boys,” Madara said as if discussing the weather.

“That was never proven,” Ebisu frowned.

“Then why do you still not have a wife?” Madara asked beginning to play with his fingers.

“I just train them! Y-you stood up for me yourself,” Ebisu seemed to be nervous.

“That was when you were one of my seven swordsmen. Now you are attempting to overthrow my power,” Madara let out a bored yawn.

Ebisu looked around nervously and Sakura whispered to Kisame, “What the hell is going on?”

Kisame just smirked, “Ebisu used to touch little boys when I first became one of the swordsmen. The Mizkage…or Madara had kept it a secret from the rest of the village.”

Ebisu seemed to smile a grin that resembled Kisame’s as he shook his blue locks out of his face, “I have the power now, and I’m sorry friend but I’m going to kill you.” Ebisu pulled up his large weapons and as he swung it down while ninjas jumped from the rooftops onto the street surrounding all of them.

“Good I thought Ebisu would be rude enough to leave me out of the fun,” Kisame snickered pulling off his sword. Sakura was focused on Ebisu’s sword the seemed to slide right through Madara. Before she could inquire into their fight someone threw a kunai at her head. She easily dodged then avoided another punch. They were coming from everywhere and they were greatly outnumbered….not to mention the asshole still had the chakra seal on her. Shit. Her jaw tightened in frustration as she continued to dodge. She noticed Kisame slicing people to pieces as she just dodged. She really did want to punch these guys into the next atmosphere, it would help her with her anger, but instead she tried to use the little strength she had to block the attacks.

She took a risk and glanced back at Madara who was easily killing the other ninjas by grabbing katana and shoving it into their teamate’s chest. Sometimes the swords would go right through his body and into the person behind’s heart. It was so graceful and quick. Sakura would even call it beautiful. But where was Ebisu? His body appeared from nowhere with his large sword trying to slash Madara down. Madara seemed to have expected it and dodge it easily throwing a shuriken he found on a dead body at the space Ebisu was in. Ebisu vanished as fast as he appeared. She was so engrossed that she didn’t notice the katana coming at her shoulder until Kisame dropped his big sword on the man’s arm. The man screamed as his arm and hand holding the katana fell on the ground. “Pinky, focus,” Kisame growled at he swatted another person down like a bug.

Kisame was right. She needed to focus. A person tried to slice her stomach open with a katana and she dropped to the ground with a side kick causing the person to fall. As she stood back up she grabbed the katana in her hand and swung it in front of her face to block the shuriken. She swung it to the side cutting a person’s throat. She was a bit surprised how easy it was to kill these ninjas.

It wasn’t until the man with blood falling down his neck collapsed that she realized it wasn’t a man but a boy. A young boy. All of these ninjas were young boys and girls who must have been at the academy.

 This Ebisu person must have been closer to the children then she had thought…..gross. And no one in the Mist who knew Madara would have faced him because it meant certain death. It made since. All the real ninjas had cowered so Ebisu must had gone to the academy and convinced them to fight. It was sick. How could a man brainwash these children to their death. Sakura wanted to throw up as she saw the boy reach out to her as if searching for his mother. It was so sick. She saw a flash of blue appear in the corner of her eye. She turned to see his long two bladed sharp sword heading straight to her heart. Her mind race. She couldn’t block it. It was going to tear apart her organs that were already weak from the lack of chakra. Shit. She was going to die helping the man that destroyed her village regain control of another village…how pathetic. Then again death was starting to look nice with all the shit she was being put through. She closed her eyes waiting for the pain. Waiting for the darkness. But it didn’t come.

She opened her eyes to see an orange mask staring at her. She gasped as she noticed the double blade sword was piercing through his back. “Madara?” she said surprised.

She heard Ebisu begin laughing then stop. It got frightening silent before the swordsmen began screaming and begging for mercy or death. The blade slide out of Madara slowly and Sakura heard him grunt in pain. She stood there speechless as she watched Madara grab the sword from the screaming man obviously trapped in a genjutsu. He picked it up then swiped it through Ebisu’s neck. His blue hair head went flying to the ground next to his body that seemed to stand there motionlessly before collapsing to the ground. Madara awkwardly cradled the area he was stabbed before turning to the group of kids, “Go home to your parents.”

Some of the kids had begun crying, but all ran off into the mist. Madara then turned his death gaze to Sakura. Sakura only stared at the blood that was beginning to seep through the cloak. “Sakura, what type of ninja leaves their guard down like that,” he hissed.

“A ninja with not many options. It might have been easier to sense him if I could have used my chakra,” she said back irritated.

Kisame snickered, “You still wouldn’t be able to sense him. He is able to dissipate his body into mist then reform it. Reason it is almost impossible to attack him or get him caught in a genjutsu. Lucky, Ebisu thought Madara was basically dead or he never would have looked into his eye.”

Madara grunted, “Let’s go.”

Sakura watched as he turned around and began walking down the street. How could he move? She would have been dead with any attack like that, but he stepped in the way. Why? “Why did you save me?” she whispered to him and herself.

“Let’s go,” he stated ignoring the question. He seemed to be limping.

She watched as he almost tripped and she said in her medic tone, “You shouldn’t be moving. Let me heal you.”

“I don’t want to be healed by a ninja who can’t even watch her surroundings,” he hissed out as he took a step forward.

GAH! How could he be so frustrating even in this state?!? “Uchiha Madara. I am medical ninja. I might not be the best in other ninja skills, but I am the best medic. And you will only make those wounds worst if you continue to push yourself. Now let me do my job,” she said with dead intensity. No one questioned her medical skills no one.

He turned his sharingan eye on her. “Let’s go,” he ordered.

“No,” she stated back.

“I said, Let’s go,” his eye narrowed.

“I am not moving until you let me heal you,” she said just as viciously.

He glared at her then turned back around. He began walking forward and Sakura watched Kisame shrug and follow. She stood her ground as she noticed Madara’s stepping sway until his entire form collapsed on the brick ground.

“Idiot,” she mumbled as she walked over to his unconscious from. She heard loud laughter and barking from behind her and glanced back at the nine tailed fox who had just watched the whole event from outside the gate.

“To think the Uchiha rat is so easy to kill. I will keep this in mind,” the fox laughed out to himself. Sakura didn’t fully understand so hurried to Madara’s side.

She got on her knees and rolled the unconscious man over. She then looked at Kisame who was just staring awkwardly as his dying boss. “Kisame, take off my seal,” she ordered.

Kisame looked at her questionably then shook his head, “Why would I do that pinky?” The shark smirked and folded his arms over his chest, “If he dies I don’t have to go back to the desk job.”

“Kisame,” Sakura spoke softly.

“Don’t think so, pinky,” Kisame smiled.

Sakura heart began to race. This man was going to die. She shouldn’t care. He was a monster. He had tortured her. But what if he said was true. The tailed beast had to complete their orders…no that wasn’t why she was worried he would die. She was worried because this man saved her life. This man was going to die because of her stupidity. He shouldn’t be dying. She should be dead because she was weak. She would always be weak…and he would die. Why wasn’t she happy?

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A/N: i wont be able to write as fast as i did in summer so it will take me a little longer then before to write a chapter, just a heads up.