Chapter 6
Disclaimer : Own Naruto I not, and for Chapter 5, I also do not own Final Fantasy V. I admit that it was a terrible game (In my opinion), but at one point, the main characters are knocked unconcious by a vision of an apparent loved one except for an old man who has amenisa. He just kind looks at his daughter like 'Eh? Who are you?'
I wanted to incorperate that somehow, and I did, via Naruto's vision.
Guakamori : Hm. I don't like Suigetsu as a fanfiction character that much yet. xD; : Eh, that might be because I'm not sure of his personality. I just combined Sai's social skillz, Kakashis attitude pre-gaiden and Sasuke's arrogance (slash mark) blindness together.
Scienceboy : More info on your rp character would be nice. I just remember that he sprouts blades from his body like Kimmaro does bones... Which really isn't enough... Thanks!
Masterkeyes2 : I'm honored :), but really, he won't be THAT powerful...I think...
Haku woke up with a mass of darkness hovering over her. Blinking a few times, she managed to make out three floating balls. How peculiar.
She blinked again.
The balls morphed into some shadowy form of a head. Or it was a ball with hair.
Further inspection revealed them to be not just any heads, but the anxious faces of Raiga, Kisame, and Zabuza looking down at her.
Zabuza flashed a grin before asking her eagerly, "So how'd it go?!"
Sitting up, Haku returned his enthusiastic smile before faltering. "It went…well."
As if to further prove her success, the three swordsmen noticed the rapier hanging by Haku's waist. The first thing they noticed was that it had a strange color scheme. The hilt was a dull green with a purple vine encircling it. Attached to it was a slim blade that was colored a rustic brown before ending at a sharp, pointed tip.
Smiling proudly at Haku's achievement, Zabuza congratulated, "Excellent work Haku!"H
Haku beamed shyly as Raiga asked, "What exactly was your challenge, Haku?"
The three listened with rapt attention as Haku described her ordeal, "…and then my father took the sword and…and…"
A tear slid down Haku's face as she choked out the words, "He…he…stabbed me through the back -"
At this point, Zabuza and Kisame both grimaced darkly while Raiga snarled softly to himself.
"-before he impaled himself. Just before he died he asked me to…to…forgive what he had done to me…"
Haku gave a small cry as she thought of her father's voice, so kind, so gentle…so…loving…
"Th-then both he and mom appeared in this flash of light…mom…I didn't ever think I'd see her again… She told me how unbelievably proud she was…and then she gave me…she gave me…this."
Pointing to her new sword, Haku fell down onto her knees sobbing. Kneeling down, Zabuza wrapped an arm around her, trying to comfort the girl. Meanwhile Kisame and Raiga stood in solemn silence, watching her grieve.
A few minutes later, Kisame felt his lip unexpectedly curve upwards in a weak smile. It had started when a small burst of white light caught his eye, but as it faded away, it became obvious that it was Naruto that was next to return from his challenge.
In the unconscious boy's hand was a strange pulsing sword, shooting out a few errant streams of light into the room. This attracted the attention of Raiga and Zabuza, as well as Haku, who each gave paused to examine the new weapon.
Its appearance was extraordinary compared to Haku's plain rapier. The sword bore a straight blade with a white luster and a long grove extending down the sword for balance. Below it was a cross guard that had been adorned with complex metal embroidery and was ensconced in silver. The hilt of the sword was comprised of light-weight steel with a diamond pommel attached at the end.
As Kisame stared, mesmerized, at the regal appearance of his student's new weapon, Naruto stirred.
Yawning blearily, his first words to Kisame were, "Sonovabitch, what happened to me?"
Kisame grinned sharkishly at him. "Well Naruto, I believe you have been successful in your little task."
Naruto looked at his sensei questioningly, "How do you know?"
Kisame laughed quietly, "Idiot, you're holding your new sword in your hand."
Naruto's head whipped around so quickly that his neck gave a resounding crack. Bringing his eyes to his new sword, Naruto exclaimed, "Niice!"
Patting him on the back, Kisame asked him in an impatient whisper, "So whatja have to do to get it?"
Naruto shrugged casually before whispering back, "It was easy! I fought an evil giant fox with nine tails. Later, this guy came to help and he had this swirlly attack called the rasin-gen or something. And yeah, we kicked the fox's ass!"
Kisame looked at Naruto oddly, with a mixture of confusion and thoughtfulness, "That's strange. I don't believe I've ever exposed you to strange men with 'Rasin-gens' or nine-tailed foxes before…Anyway, Excellent job Naruto."
Turning away from his apprentice, Kisame pursed his lips, his brain racing at a million miles a minute. 'A nine-tailed fox. The Kyuubi. And the rasin-gen. That'd probably be the Rasengan. But where would he have seen the Kyuubi or the Yondaime Hokage before? Those challenges rely on your memories…and to have seen both the Kyuubi and the Yondaime Hokage… That means…'
His train of thought was interrupted when hoarse coughing suddenly echoed through the small enclosure.
With one last soft sniffle, Haku stood up abruptly, wiping her eyes on the sleeves of her kimono. In a shaky voice, she asked timidly, "W-what was that?"
Raiga's expression darkened, while Zabuza once again grimaced, but it was Kisame who answered. Guardedly, Kisame muttered, "It seems that our dear Suigetsu has failed."
Naruto's eyebrows rose skyward, even as moans started to fill the chamber. Flippantly he laughed, "Suigetsu - fail? That'd be the d-"
Zabuza broke in seriously, "He's not joking Naruto. Now keep quiet."
In front of the five shinobi, a portal oozing darkness appeared. It swirled as darkness lanced outwards, sucking the light from the room.
Seconds passed.
Suddenly a black claw shot forward, out of the portal. From it, a dark blur was thrown outwards before impacting against the temple wall. Pieces of wood fell onto the floor as the thing groaned.
The three swordsmen stood with their hands hovering mere inches away from their weapons while Naruto regarded the intruder aloofly. However, when Haku laid eyes on the man, she gasped.
It was Suigetsu.
The boy got up, oblivous to the fact he had just been slammed into a wall. With murder in his eyes, he limping over to Zabuza before he hoisting the Mist-nin into the air In a low guttural tone, Suigetsu rasped, "You sent me in there…you tried to kill me. I bet you knew that this would happen. That's just like you isn't it? Was I too gifted for you?"A maniacal grin crossed his face, "Afraid I'd outstrip you in power? Afraid I'd surpass you?"
Throwing Zabuza carelessly behind him, Suigetsu turned to leave. With a sneer, he shouted back, "You lot are a bunch of weak little piles of crap. This is not where real power lies. I'll obtain my power - and then I'll show you what it really means to be powerful…"
As the door slammed shut behind him, even Naruto's mouth fell open in shock. Trying to string together his thoughts, Naruto stuttered, "K-Kisame, what happened to him in there?"
Kisame grimaced heavily before responding, "He failed his task. It cost him something."
Naruto paled at Kisame's hate filled words. With hesitation, he asked, "What did he lose?"
Kisame eyed his apprentice for a moment before deadpanning, "His soul."
Suigetsu had stormed from the temple, his latent anger still brewing in his twisted heart. Rage leaked from his body, scaring away small animals. Without warning, Suigetsu broke into a heated sprint.
Yes, he'd find his power. And then he'd show the Seven Fools of the Mist. How stupid he had been to think that his genius and power would be appreciated there. No. He'd find a new master, and surpass everyone of those buffoons.
Just as he had finished forming those satisfying thoughts, he suddenly tripped on a stray tree root, falling onto the ground.
Little more than a foot away, a man smirked at the fallen form in front of him, feeling tendrils Suigetsu's hate and rage lapping at his toes. However, he could feel another faint aura mixed in. It was a feeling of great power - power that lay locked inside this curious child.
The resentment he was harboring. Though the man did not know where it came from, the simple amount of hate he carried would make it easy to persuade the boy to join him. A promise of power, of revenge, and the boy would be his along with all his potential.
A greedy smile grazed the man's lips, flickering away as he stepped out from the shadows.
Noticing his prescence, the boy instantly looked up at him, eyes gleaming with hate.
Glaring at the stranger, Suigetsu shouted, "Hey blindfuck, get the fuck outta my way you lousy mother-"
An iron hand clamped over his mouth, stifling any other comments he may have wanted to express. Kneeling so he was at face level with the boy, the man purred, "My, my, what a dirty little mouth you have."
With a sudden kick, Suigetsu was launched into a tree, creating a small mark where he had impacted. The man strode up to him, tilting Suigetu's chin upwards. Meeting the boy's eyes, Orochimaru whispered "I can feel it. Power is what you desire…and what I can provide. That is what you want…isn't it?"
Dazedly, Suigetsu forced himself to nod, not entirely sure of what he was getting himself into. Clearing his head, he asked, "What makes you think you can give me power?"
Gripping the boy's neck, the man shoved him against. Examining his finger nails, he ticked off, "Hmm, strong enough to completely destroy half of the Seven Swordsmen, strong enough to kill your pathetic Mizukage, strong enough to crush your little neck..."
Looking up with a feral smile, the man growled, "Thats good enough isn't it?"
There was no response. Suigetsu was on the verge of falling unconcious from the knock against the tree trunk he had given him. The man's eyes narrowed as he delivered a sharp slap to Suigetsu.
Slowly coming to, Suigetsu's eyelids fluttered to see that the man was still there, kneeling in front of him. Licking his lips, the man asked silkily, "Mmm, can't have you leave just yet. Introductions come first of course. Now what's your name?"
Groaning, Suigetsu rasped out, "S-Suigetsu sir."
The man smirked. "Sir. I like the sound of that. Well then Suigetsu, I'm Orochimaru, your new master."
With a single deft stroke, Orochimaru gave Suigetsu a chop to the base of the skull. Picking up the now unconscious boy, Orochimaru turned backwards into a dark and foreboding forest with an evil leer spreading across his face
This new acquisition had the potential and the power to eventually best all of his newly created Sound Four squad. Perhaps even as strong as any Kage in the land - except him of course…
And then…and then…what a weapon he'd make…
Night had fallen as the five shinobi made their way back to head quarters.
Through the trees, Naruto's voice rang out, "Whats that got to do with it? I still think you should have gone after Suigetsu!"
Another voice bellowed back, "Thats got everything to do with it!"
Naruto shook his head as he kept walking. "So what if Suigetsu 'Lost his Soul'?! He's a good person! I know he is!"
Zabuza growled, "Well you just found your own answer. He lost-his-effing-soul!"
Naruto punched a nearby tree trunk in frustration.
Glaring at Zabuza, he muttered, "So what?! I bet I could beat his soul back into him! Thats not an excuse to let a fellow ninja leave us like that!"
Raiga snorted at Naruto's reasoning. Scathingly, he muttered, "How can you be so thick-headed? Its amazing!"
Louder Raiga said, "Naruto, there are three components to a human spirit - Mind, Body and Soul."
"Mind is the ability to make a decision based on experiences in the past, the present and the hypothetical. Body is the ability to act on decision made by the mind. Soul however, places restrictions on the Mind and Body-"
Confused, Naruto scratched his head. Slowly, Naruto asked, "So isn't it good to destroy your soul? That way, you'd get rid of your limits, right?"
Kisame seemed almost ill at Naruto's logic. "Yes, when put that way... However, there is a price to losing any part of a spirit. If you lose your Mind or your Body, the consequences are obvious. When you lose your soul, you lose something else entirely. Your soul keeps tabs on your mind using something called morals. This lets you make ethical decision like...refraining from killing women and children. The Soul also keeps limitations on your body. While you don't get instantly stronger after losing your Soul, you only awaken the potential to."
As Kisame finished, Raiga tacked on, "This is also how when people are defending their loved ones from death or harm, they have the ability to perform super-human acts. Their good intentions not only remove the barrier on their Body for a few minutes, but also allow them to tap into the potential as well. This ends up giving them an immense temporary power."
Naruto became slightly paler as he asked, "Would Suigetsu really killed children when he grows up? And how strong are you talking about?"
Zabuza cut in, "He just might. His soul was destroyed through the task. The task itself doesn't destroy ones soul. Its the choices made that does."
Zabuza's eyes hardened. "Even in real life, you can damage your soul with murder and wanton killing. Suigetsu must've killed numerous amounts of people for his soul to be destroyed."
Kisame answered Naruto's second question, "About his strength...Suigetsu's strength can become immense - that is stronger then me and Zabuza put together. But the loss of his soul would mean that it could very possibly be used in a bid for power, domination, or perhaps vengence."
Finishing, Zabuza concluded, "This is why the Seven Swordsmen can not risk to train somebody who has failed the task. Even with their soul intact...a person with such a mentality judged unworthy would become a menace if equipt with so much power."
As the group walked on, the air chilled as the wind howled like a wounded beast.
Just a few minutes after the five shinobi reached their headquarters, Orochimaru finally delivered his apprentice to his Eastern base of operations.
Laying Suigetsu on top of a cot in his office, Orochimaru settled down into his desk when his door slammed open. The base commander, Kidomaru of the 'East Gate' walked in, flanked by two subordinates. One of his six hands clutched a scroll.
Kneeling, Kidomaru presented to parchment to his master. "Orochimaru-sama, a messenger snake from Anko had delivered this to me with instructions to give this directly to you."
Orochimaru nodded, taking the scroll. A satisfied smirked broke out as he read the message. 'Excellent. So Mizuki finally has his assets in place...'
Glancing over to the sleeping Suigetsu, Orochimaru cackled silently. 'To train my protegee in Konoha's forbidden arts. My old enemy giving my new ally power. How ironic...'
He turned back to Kidomaru who was now standing at attention. Looking at the spider-like man appraisngly, Orochimaru hissed, "Well done."
"Now your orders Kidomaru. You will contact the other Gates and rendevouz in Cardinal Sound. Prepare soldiers to meet Mizuki on Gyakuto Island in a week. He'll be escorted by Anko. Watch out for any interceptions... you can not afford to blotch this up."
Paling slightly, Kidomaru nodded before saluting his master. Eyes dipped toward the ground, Kidomaru whispered reverently, "Of course Orochimaru-sama. Your word is law."
Two days later the Seven Swordsmen received summons by the Mizukage himself. An aide led them to the Mizukage Tower. The tower itself was a literal maze with all sorts of traps, twists and turns. It was said that nobody who has ever tried to attack the Mizukage had come back out of the tower alive.
Blindfolds had been placed on all nine of them as they were brought up to the top by a guard.
Steel doors slammed shut behind them as the Mizukage silently creeped out of the shadows. "Gentlemen. Good to see you. Might I ask, Zabuza, where is Suigetsu?"
Zabuza cleared his throat, "Unfortunetly, Suigetsu has failed the task set before him by the fuudera and as tradition dictates, I have made the descsion to halt his training."
The air around them seem to suddenly freeze as the Mizukage said chillingly, "And who gave you such permission?"
There was no response from the group.
His voice dripped down like an icicle as the Mizukage continued, "He was recommended by me into your little group. Now I recommend that you find Suigetsu and continue to further his academics...if you so value your life..."
Zabuza spoke up again, "Excuse me sir, but Suigetsu has run off."
The Mizukage's eyes narrowed, "Run off you say? And whose fault is that Zabuza?"
Licking his dry lips, Zabuza said, "Mine sir."
The Mizukage smiled grostequely, "Good Zabuza."
Slamming his hand on the walls, the Mizukage leaned forward, spraying his ghastly breath at Zabuza, "Indeed, you have failed Zabuza. And I will see to it that you are punished appropreately. Now I've assigned you lot a mission. IF you and your stupid group fail again...Zabuza..."
Settling back, the Mizukage gave another smile. "Its sufficent to say that Madame Gullotine needs a bit of sharpening...yes?"
Zabuza nodded stiffly. Pushing his finger tips together, the Mizukage nodded back. "I'm glad you agree."
Rummaging around in his robes, the Mizukage withdrew a scroll before setting it out on his desk. Looking up at the Seven Swordsmen and the two trainees, the Mizukage rasped, "This is all top secret. If anything leaves this room, rest assured, you WILL pay for it...with your lives."
Ignoring the shudders that Naruto gave, he pressed on. Pointing at the map, the Mizukage said, "One of my spies has told me that Orochimaru has stolen the Leaf's Scroll of Sealing. It is filled with vast amounts of forbidden techniques that might launch us to the forefront of the balance of world power if we manage to aquire it."
Looking pointedly at the assembled swordsmen, the Mizukage said, "This is obviously where you gits come in. You're to take a squad of ninjas with you onto this island-"
The Mizukage stuck a tack in a triangular shaped island near Kirigakure. "-And intercept the scroll. There are supposed to be four teams of three ninja squads each fortifying the island in preperation of a rendevouz with the delivery team, consisting of two Konoha levels of unknown strength. Each of the ninja squads are led by a Jounin with the remaining members consisting of Chunnin. You have five days to prepare and will be supported with a regiment of ANBU ninja. Your reward for a mission complete is One-million ryou."
Taking out a sack of money from the desk, the Mizukage placed it on top of the map. "Here is 500,000 now. You will get the rest after the mission."
Grabbing the sack, Zabuza looked at the Mizukage expectantly for additional orders.
The Mizukage stared back before shrieking, "So? What are you lot waiting for?! Get OUT!"
The steel doors opened again as the guard led the team out of the tower.
After being dismissed by the Mizukage, the Seven immediately held a meeting of their own, huddling over a map of Gyakuto.
Kisame tapped it with his finger, "So we're going to want to have a landing party on each of the sides of the triangle and work inwards. This would enable us to crush our opponents in between us."
Zabuza nodded, prodding one tip of the triangle. "Right, our teams will need a bit of adjustment with the addition of Naruto and Haku. Kisame, Haku, Naruto and I will be Squad one, landing on this tip."
"We'll have another group of four as Squad two, along with one to supervise the ANBU squads"
The other six nodded. Raising his hand, one of the other members volunteered, "I'll go. I'll hire the Demon Brothers to go along with us. We can't risk failing this."
Zabuza nodded in agreement. "So we're set then?"
At the chorus of "Ayes", Kisame rolled up the map. "Excellent, meeting adjourned."
It had been a grueling four days for both Naruto and Haku. Their normal endurance, projectile, ninpo and kenjutsu training had been suspended. Instead they did teamwork excercises, with the two children pairing up.
Naruto and Haku would rehearse flanking attacks on Mizu-bunshin as well as practicing not getting in each other's way in combat. Even with the limited amount of content that was practiced in those four days, the end result wasn't spectacular, which was to be expected. Practicers of extreme teamwork were often best friends, life-long team mates or perhaps even married. Throwing two children together in a training area was hardly going to do anything - but anything in this case, was better then nothing.
On the fourth day Naruto and Haku took to the field once again against their teachers, fully expecting to lose badly.
Zabuza and Kisame glanced at the two with practiced easy. A quick hand signal to each other conveyed their target as Kisame and Zabuza charged.
Kisame appeared behind Naruto while Zabuza appeared in front of him. Naruto dropped to the ground and rolled to the side as Haku fired off a string of senbon at the two. Taking out a kunai, Zabuza blocked each shot while shielding Kisame with his body. Meanwhile, Kisame was trying to pin down Naruto, who was forced to dodge over and over again from Kisame's grasping hands.
Naruto managed to pull out one of his own kunais and braced himself, hoping Kisame would impale himself.
No such luck.
He felt the knife being wrenched out of his hands as Kisame's onslaught resumed. Hearing the whistle of a knife behind him, Zabuza launched his own kunai before whirling around momentarily. When he turned back, he held Naruto's kunai, having been thrown at him by Kisame.
A senbon intercepted Naruto's kunai as Haku shouted, "Hyoton : Hyoushou no Jutsu!"
Sheets of sharpened ice crystals appeared out of nowhere hurtling at Zabuza.
Zabuza cursed as he shouted, "Kisame!"
A moment later Kisame had relented his attack on Naruto and had allowed himself to be thrown at the wall of pointed ice. Unsheathing Samehade, Kisame twirled it in front of him. As the chakra infusing the ice was eaten away, the crystals quickly lost momentenm before either bouncing harmlessly off Kisame or simply falling onto the ground.
Meanwhile, Zabuza had turned to Naruto, swinging his giant zanbato at the boy. Naruto rose to the challenge of the sword fight, bring out his own blade.
Kisame had maintained the distance between him and the panting Haku, preferring to blast away with long distance jutsus.
Making handseals, Kisame shouted, "Suiton : Suiryudann no Jutsu!"
As the dragon materialized, Haku jumped backwards as she too shouted, "Suiton : Suiryudann no Jutsu!"
The two dragons clashed head on, both disappearing in a crackle of chakra infused water.
Not even bothering to look at the results of the jutsus, Kisame quickly followed up.
"Suiton : Teppodama no Jutsu!"
A stream of seven water bullets fanned out in an arc, causing Haku to jump onto a high tree branch.
Noting Haku's location, Kisame proceeded on to his next jutsu. "Suiton : Mizubashira!"
Four fountains of water shot out from the ground as Haku dodged and weaved through the branches of the tree, going deeper into the forest. Though three ended up missing her and hitting tree trunks, the last geyser caught Haku in the back, throwing her onto the ground.
As Haku tried to stand up, Kisame appeared out of the under brush. The shark-man took out a tube before kneeling and smearing something onto Haku's neck.
Holding the lipstick up, Kisame said solemnly, "It seems I've killed you."
Meanwhile Zabuza and Naruto were dueling with their swords flashing in the sunlight. Zabuza brought his zanbatou in a sweeping arc, clearing the air in front of him. Naruto ducked under and tried to stab Zabuza in the legs. Jumping up, Zabuza landed on Naruto's head before flipping back onto the ground.
Clutching his head in pain, Naruto's sword was batted away, being held with only one hand now.
He blurrily saw the incoming swing and rolled away in a ball. As he was curling, a kunai landed in front of him with a burning tag. Naruto closed his eyes as he waited for the incoming explosion but as the seconds counted down nothing happened.
Relaxing, Naruto opened his eyes to be greeted with a blast of red paint.
Zabuza raised an eyebrow before muttering, "...Completely blown apart...idiot..."
Helping Naruto stand up, he led the boy over to Kisame and Haku. "Well thats it. The mission is tomorrow. No more preperations."
Giving Haku a hard pat on the back Zabuza stretched, "So its the real deal from here on out kiddies. No more training and crap. Now here's the REAL fun."
Cricking his neck, Zabuza continued, "No sense on stressing before a mission, might as well relax a bit."
Agreeing with the break from training whole heartly, the kids joined Zabuza in the activity of louging around, watching other people work their asses off for the rest of the day.
On the fifth day, the whole crew awoke at the crack of dawn to meet the six squads of ninja the Mizukage had sent. Following their arrival in mere minutes were the Demon brothers.
With nary a word, each squad got into a wooden barge, destined to take them to Gyakuto.
As the four entered the ship, Zabuza and Kisame immediately headed below decks for the beds, muttering about, 'Despicable sleep interrupting tyrants', while Haku joined Naruto above decks to watch the sun rise.
It was a bright sun that shone upon the pristine waters that day - soon to be clouded over by a haze of blood, sweat and tears...
I'm having a horrendous case of writers block. Chapters are rolling out at a snails pace. I do my own editing now too. (As in, I didn't edit before). Also I have these extremely good ideas for the future... Unfortunetly, I'm tired of slogging through the present. On a happier note, the 'prolouge' as I characterize this is almost done.
Okay then, thanks for reading!