Ch.37 Enjoy the Little Things

Meanwhile, Midori was definitely not doing fine on his own. The man he faced was strong, stronger than possibly any ninja he had fought, even Pain. The reasoning for this, he was going easy on Midori. The man held back…on him! Not even trying but still holding his own in multiple ways. The way he used the summoned swords, it was much more skillful than the way Midori used them, it came from a lifetime of experience. But in how the masked ninja could not understand, how could this man hold the same jutsu that was supposedly only used by Midori's clan. Was he, was he a survivor? Another one of his own, alive and well. But apparently the only way to get these answers, was the beat them out of the man. And so far, it didn't seem like it was going to happen.

Midori launched another two swords, and charged with them, a look of rage in the eyes. The man only stood, the swords twisting around him before turning into a fan-like formation, blocking the swords sent towards his head before, with a wave of his hand, sent the others towards Midori's charging form. The masked nin quickly grabbed two blades that were next to his body, the other blades following behind the man closely. Green chakra met blue, striking in a furious motion, Midori moving quickly and fluidly around the blades. Bouncing them back with the duo in his hands, before launching a sword at the group of green blades charging at him, then with exploding the blade, it took the opposing chakra swords with it. Approaching closer and closer towards the man, Midori hoped to get the upper hand and launched his swords first. The hooded man only stood calmly, and only with a wave of the hand, sent the blades redirecting, falling into the ground beside him. Green eyes widened slightly at this, did he just control pure chakra? One not even of his clan? What was this guy? It didn't matter, once he got close enough, the gloves would do the work needed to take this guy out.

By the time the thought finished, Midori was already upon the man, stepping into his Taijutsu stance and unleashing blow after blow on the man. Furious jabs and hammer blows, the opposing ninja only weaving between each, agility beyond what a normal ninja should have. Like he predicted, the man was still going easy, but why? Was he testing him? Thinking away from the battle, the man took advantage and grabbed an advancing hand, pulling him forward and slamming a palm into Midori's ribcage, a shock being sent through the masked ninja's body. Being then let go and flying across the area, regaining his balance and stopping momentum by sliding backwards, kicking up dirt and debris before stopping completely.

The man was strong, well versed in Taijutsu, and used the same techniques that he used. This was getting worse by the moment. But in any case this wasn't right. He was in the vicinity of the attack, why wasn't the man going down? Maybe a direct hit would work, that was the best shot anyway.

Midori charged again, giving a frustrated and angry battle-cry as he went. Before the masked ninja could get to close he quickly made a handsign, smirking as he did so. The ground underneath the unknown opponent began to shake violently, the man stopping only a moment before launching himself back to avoid the blue fist coming from the ground. The hand missed and a growl of frustration came from the earth, the ground erupting, and which came from a goliath of a being. Recovering within the instant and charging after the hooded man, Midori following close behind, throwing a few summoned swords for measure, in which the man deftly deflected again by a swift wave of his hand.

His hands, Midori realized he had to get rid of those in order for his summoned swords to hit. Otherwise they would just be deflected again and again.

Saving this note, Midori watched as the man stopped and threw a handsign of his own. But with no jutsu seemingly coming from the man, he urged the golem to continue, the beast grunting at the master's word and charging with an obvious intent. What Midori didn't notice, what the beast never noticed until it got to close to retreat, was a green spike coming from the earth. Which erupted at the golem getting within arm's reach of the man. The spike impaled the beast, the golem crying in pain and grasping at the spike, but with it going completely going through its chest, there was no way to remove it. Only ignorantly and in vain trying to save itself. Midori only watched in slightly horror and amazement at which arose. A being of pure chakra came from the earth, not erupting like the golem, but slipping through the ground softly, not trying to cause damage around it. The creature was seemingly made of only pure bone, entirely green in color, and made of jagged spikes that surrounded its bony form. The creature almost resembled a skeleton entirely, but at least twice the size of the golem in height, and instead of powerful eyes like the golem, the skeleton only had dark pits that emanated despair and hopelessness. Causing the golem to stop resisting. The golem was impaled upon one of the skeleton's hands, both of which were missing fingers and palms, only spikes stood in their place.

The creature that held Midori's golem, now stared into Midori's eyes. The endless abyss of pain growing ever deeper. Why was this creature different? Sure this man held the same jutsu, but this…this was pain in true form. So much unlike the golem. What had happened to this creature to make it like that?

Disregarding this, the masked ninja returned to the battle as the skeleton pitilessly threw the golem aside like it was nothing. Heading now directly for Midori at a slow pace, picking up speed as it went along, going from a slow crawl, to a blinding dash. The man behind him only watching Midori intently, as if wondering what he was going to do. Midori replied in turn, throwing another pouch of shurikens and kunai before a handsign was given. "Pin him!"

The tools quickly became the blue summoned swords that he was so accustomed to. Quickly they quickly surrounded the creature that was now in a full-on sprint. At the command, they impaled the creature, but not even slowing the creature down an inch. But not one to give up, the masked ninja gave another handsign, at that moment the swords transformed. Growing longer and digging straight into the earth, not going to give an inch. The creature's eyes never left Midori's, giving him the sense that this creature was sad, maybe wanted to tell him something? But this thought was quickly abolished by the creature turning one of its spikes into a fully functioning hand, grasping one of the swords and trying to pull it out of its form. Not even budging an inch as the longer blade was pulled completely from the earth and then through the creature's form. The blade at least twice the creature's height, but its arm grew in contrast to it. Then in a rush of power, threw the large blade at the ninja. Midori sighed for a moment before stopping the blade only inches from his face, then with a push, threw the blade back at the skeleton, driving it deep within his skull. Throwing his arm in a wide arc, curved the blade and cut the creature's head clean in half. Making the creature fell under its own weight, but being held up by the blades. The creature began to dissipate into chakra, much like how his golems would do.

Removing himself from the spectacle, Midori noticed that the man was gone, completely disappeared from view. Turning wildly, he tried in vain to find the man, readying himself for anything. But stopping abruptly, he found the hooded man standing right next to him, gasping and slight surprise and falling back slightly, he recovered and stepped into a Taijutsu stance and struck. The man never moved, never even changed his breathing pattern, the attack connected, but only managed to ruffle his cloak, maybe break a bone. But the man wasn't fazed, Midori however was. There was no way, the attack hit, why wasn't his chest a complete mess of blood and gore? That was when the man spoke, it wasn't deep, it wasn't terrifying, it was soft, full of pain. But in its own way, it was fully intimidating, as if this man had seen the full force of war, and lived to tell what form death took. "My creature, I am surprised you were actually ready to take it out."

Midori back away slightly, a look of confusion on his eyes. Why wasn't this man attacking him? Why wasn't he trying to kill him, why wasn't Midori attacking? The man spoke again, seeing the puzzlement in Midori's eyes. "You are confused, don't worry. I would be as well. You are powerful, but you yet realize your full potential, even if you already have it inside of you."

"Are you, are you the one we are searching for?"

"No. Like Han had said, I am your worst fear."

"But…who are you? I don't know anyone who has the same abilities as me. Do I know you?"

"…In a way. But in another no, we are much too different."

"How did you survive?"

"The same way you did. I was saved."

"Do I have to fight you?"

"You have to kill me."

Midori's eyes slightly before stepping back, shaking his head. "Why?"

"It is the rules, I don't right them. But either I kill you, or you kill me. I pray that you take victory. But know, I will not go easy. I have been waiting for a time when you could face me, prove me right. Defeat me in battle, and you shall pass."

"I don't want to."

"A ninja's destiny doesn't care if it wants to or not. It just does. Forget the facts, face me as an enemy, or you shall never defeat me. Stand, and face my wrath."

Midori only stood, shell shocked and motionless. This…all of this, how could this have happened? Why was he so intent on one of them dying? Why did any of them have to die? Shaking his head, Midori refused, he wouldn't raise a hand against his own. Staring back at the man, the hooded figure only shook his head and lifted a hand, a green blade forming within. "I am disappointed, I had hoped that you would be the one. On to the next then."

Before the palm even moved, before they could even breathe. A blast of air hit the man head on, driving him backwards in place, the green blade dissipating at once. With the wind came something else, a voice calling from the far side to drop, a paper slip, multiple of them and they were flashing, paper bombs! Dropping instantly and throwing a few shuriken, they became a small shield just in time made to block the bombs. However the man was not so lucky, the paper bombs hitting the man full on and driving him back across the arena. Flying into the ground and rolling a few feet before stopping abruptly and standing quickly, a look of anger upon the lower half of his face, but also something else, surprise, hope? Turning back, Midori watched as both TenTen and Neji came running through where Midori had entered. TenTen wielding a giant scroll and stopping to a halt next to Midori while Neji stood on the other side of him, offering a hand to rise from the ground. "You look like hell."

Midori laughed slightly, rising on his own "you smell like it."

Neji scoffed and removed his hand back to the side as Midori rose to his feet, staring after the man at the far end of the room. The man was wiping something from his mouth. Blood was possibly the most liable option, but if he could bleed, he could be killed, but if he could be killed, was he real? Wasn't he supposed to be a figment of his imagination? This was weird, and strange, but it had to be dealt with. TenTen turned to Midori, looking back at the man infront of him. "This guy seems different from what we faced."

"What did you face?"

Neji interrupted before TenTen could elaborate. "Not to be discussed now. How is he different?"

"He bleeds."

TenTen shrugged, "then he can be killed. That simple, let's get to work."

"Hold on, there is something you need to know. He is like me."

"What do you mean?"

"…He has my jutsu for some reason or another. He has almost all of my abilities…only."

TenTen sighed, looking at Midori with slightly agitated eyes. "Only what!"

"Only his is about four times stronger than mine."

Neji's eyes widened slightly before speaking. "That might be a problem, easily fixed by the removal of his head. Let's get to work, you know his tactics, what can we do?"

"He is strong in Taijutsu, and mine won't work against him, so it might be difficult going full-frontal."

"Yours won't work? Why did it tear Kiba the last time I saw it?"

"It is an optical illusion; the Taijutsu stance is original but is almost ineffective without me. The gloves, they have microscopic blades on them that rip through the enemy when they even get in range of my fists, they can't be seen. But he is someone deflecting them like my blades. He can move my chakra somehow, so I might need to go full frontal and attack with Neji with Taijutsu, even without the blades I have to try. TenTen, stay behind and help us when you can. Load up your high tool scrolls; we can combine while Neji keeps him occupied. And if you see something green on the ground, don't go around it and call it out immediately. He might have more up his sleeve and watch out TenTen, he can probably control tools as well as I. Use paper bombs; they seemed to be the most effective. Let's go!"

Neji and Midori charged forward, dashing forward in a blur while TenTen leapt high into the air. And as Midori called, fired one of her scrolls attached to her side. Unleashing a wave of paper bombs towards the unknown man. The man watched the paper bombs fly towards him for a moment before striking a handsign, a green chakra shield appearing before him. Blocking the onslaught of explosions from destroying him. Then in another move, the shield transformed into a wave of spikes, pushing them forward and towards the two already upon him.

Midori moved forward infront of the duo, rising his arms and along with them came a blue shield. Wide and tall, it blocked and absorbed each spike into its form. Then pushing forward, the shield moved with the palms, launching itself forward and into the man. Seeing this, the man moved forward and leapt into the air, well over the wall. But instead flying straight into a furious Hyuga and his fist, the air bending around the man's fist before launching, sending the unknown man flying back from the force of the blow. But stopping himself from traveling to far, he looked forward to see the two already upon him.

The three clashed, Neji charging first and crouching low, sending a palm towards the man's stomach. But dodging it and backing away, he barely had time to twist out of the way of Midori's foot. Leaping over Neji and using him as a prop. The man used this, flicking his wrist and sending a blade through the earth and towards Midori's back. Neji however saw this and grabbed the blade mid-flight, and threw it back at its sender. Grabbing the blade thrown at him, the man stopped and charged Midori again, the masked ninja already summoned a blade of his own and met the man, chakra clashing heavily with each furious sword blow. Somehow, Midori gained the upper hand in the clash and slashed in a wide arc, causing the man to bend out of the way of the slash. However regretting it as Neji came from behind, hitting square-on and catching the man's chest. The palm hit breaking more than one rib and sending the man flying.

The man stopped himself from rolling once again and gave a cry of frustration before giving a handsign. And out of the ground came three of the skeletons, furious in their intent and charging both men at full speed. But at hearing a battle-cry from above all looked above to see TenTen hovering in mid-air, a giant scroll in her hands. Launching it downward, the scroll spawned two giant iron globes, heading at a high speed towards the skeletons. The creatures lifting their spikes into the air, they transformed into shields, trying to catch the globes before they hit the ground. However the creatures only tried in vain, the globes seemingly broke their arms and destroyed what forms they had once the tool hit the ground. Sending a slight shockwave through the area and dust with it.

Both Midori and Neji watched in slight awe of this action. But as their attention was distracted, Midori never noticed the green blur flying right next to him, he did notice however the foot connecting with his face. A crack resounding through the area, and with it a masked ninja was sent flying past Neji screaming slightly as he flew past. The Hyuga then turned, looking just in time to meet the man head on. The two clashed in Taijutsu, the man was agile, sending light jabs and hammer blows towards Neji with shear veracity that was outmatched by no one the Hyuga had faced before. But Neji was keeping up, dodging under his heavy hits and sending his own, trying to block out his chakra system. With each point hit however, none of his chakra ceased to flow, like it broke through the barrier the Gentle Fist put upon it. Was his chakra so refined that it could restore its own network?

As the clash continued, Neji finally gained the upper hand. Dodging under a straight jab and sending one of his own towards the man's stomach. Sliding back slightly but stopping in his tracks. The Hyuga could feel the glare under the man's hood. But suddenly feeling his glare off him, Neji smirked slightly and leapt high into the air, using his air palm for an added effect. From behind him came a hail of summoned swords, infinite in number. TenTen holding another large scroll, kunai, shurikens, and every tool under the known sun being spit from the scroll while Midori stood behind the woman, holding a handsign with a look of slight pain on his face, transforming each tool into a blue blade traveling in a high velocity. The man cried out a small 'fuck' before rising his arms, a green shield protruding from the earth, stopping each of the blades. The shield however started wearing down under the onslaught, the tips of the blades starting to protrude on the other end of the shield. As fast as the onslaught started, it suddenly stopped.

Feeling a slight sense of uneasiness, the man looked slightly above the shield only to meet the green eyes of his enemy. The shield exploded then forward and towards Midori. The man had enough of this game. Sending Midori flying backwards, Neji quickly took his place. However with a simple flick of his wrist, a long blade came protruding from the earth, burying itself within Neji's shoulder and driving him into the far wall, pinning him to it. A loud cry of the man's name came from high above the room. The man turned upward to see TenTen flying high above, a look of anger upon her face, throwing another scroll, a wave of paper bombs flew towards the man at a high speed. The man however only gave a few handsigns before putting a hand forward, seemingly punching the air, but instead of chakra, flame came from the fist. Exploding each paper bomb mid-flight, causing a chain reaction that lead back to TenTen, the woman's eyes widening slightly before the bombs met her, exploding in full force and sending a slightly burnt form towards the ground. However before it could hit, a blue blur caught the form and lead her to the ground softly, turning then to the man with cold eyes.

The man sighed, stroking his goatee slightly before speaking. "I had hoped that you would be the one. But it seems I was always doomed to fail."

"What in the hells are you talking about?"

"It is none of your business, not anymore. Tell me, if you can't save yourself, what makes you think you can save her?"

Midori's eyes widened slightly before facing back at the man with a hardened gaze. "How the hell do you know Kasai?"

"I never said Kasai."

The man waved a hand and infront of him stood a complete showing of Kasai. Perfect in every detail, as if she was really here. The woman only stood, facing Midori with a smile on her face. The man moved around Kasai, a slight echo with each footstep, his voice penetrating the very depths of Midori's mind. "How far would you go to save her? How many men would you kill? How many lives? Ten? A hundred? A thousand! How much blood would be on your hands to save her? You will destroy me, or I will find her as well, and I will kill her."

"Why bring her into this! This is between us!"

"I'm just in your head right? I'm just a figment of your imagination. But then, why are you so fearful. It is because you know. I am real. And I have power, I can destroy you so many times over. But this time, I think I will try something else. A new tactic. If you don't kill me, I will find her and I will kill her."

Midori felt something brew inside of him, something dark. It was powerful, like all of his chakra concentrating on one point. It built up more and more with each word the man spoke, it was horrifying but he wanted more. Gripping his stomach with one hand, his other hung limply at his side. A pain coursed through his system, a burning that flowed through his entire chakra system. Darkness unlike anything he felt before, and it was wonderful as it was horrible. "You will never get to her."

"Why not, you cannot stop me. Neither can your friends by the look of it. It would be as simple as one-."

In a flash of movement, a green blade was produced in his hand. With that move, the darkness within Midori stirred. It pulsed and moved like a caged beast. It hurt more and more within him. It wanted out, it wanted to consume. But Midori held it back, both in slight fear for what it was, and for it possibly being more than what he could handle.

"Two-."

The blade was now pointed towards the visions throat, blade pointed and ready to cut Kasai's throat. The beast within stirred violently, It flowed through his chakra now easily, his vision was slightly blurry. The power Midori held within, was it finally reaching its breaking point? Was it finally going to consume him? Kasai…he had to save her. He couldn't, he wouldn't.

"Three."

The blade sliced easily, blood flowed from the wound like a river. Coughing slightly, the woman tried to hold the wound closed, but only in vain as she dropped to the ground. Lifeless before the vision reached the earth. Something within Midori snapped, something within him changed, he felt it, and the man felt it. The man smiled under his hood, spreading his arms wide as if accepting this change, laughing loudly through the cave. "Finally! Your true power awakens. Face me and-."

He stopped as the masked ninja raised his head. Gone were the cold eyes, anger, pain, everything was gone. Nothing remained from the pits of despair within the green orbs, something had changed. Darkness now filled the man, it coursed through his chakra, filling him with power unlike any other. Midori felt strong, stronger than anyone or anything. Like his own will could shatter mountains. But with this, something had changed, he couldn't feel angry. He wanted to, this man just threatened to kill the woman who meant the world to him. But nothing came, absolutely nothing. And that felt…great. No remorse for what he was about to do.

The man suddenly felt weary, this was, unexpected. The boy was to gain power but this…this was a lot. Midori raised his hand slowly, a green aura surrounding the hand and gaining power with each moment. Forming into a small orb within his palm, turning his head slightly, the orb fell from his palm, landing on the ground and burrowing deep within. Out from the depths came a beast unlike anything Midori had created before. The creature wasn't like the golems of before, but yet the same. It rose from the ground slowly, a creature of pure muscle, taller and from even looking at it, stronger than its predecessor. It raised taller and taller, standing at the same height as the skeletons, it was human in appearance. But only for one difference, besides it being bigger in muscle than what any human could achieve, it opened one, large, cold eye. Striking deep within the man's soul, a feeling of fear filled him, not despair, not the kind where he truly feared the beast, but where he knew now, he knew this was one battle he would not win. One thing about this creature that was also different, from every possible detail arose one specific thing that caught Midori's attention the most, it was no longer blue, but a bright green. "Chakra Release: Cyclops. Go."

The beast nodded, and eagerly accepted the master's request, and charged the man, furious and obvious in intent. The man reacted quickly, giving a handsign and sending multiple skeletons from the earth, charging to meet the cyclops. They never stood a chance. The first was crushed instantly beneath the giant's fist. The second got a stab in its side, but grabbing the spike the beast quickly grabbed the other and proceeded to rip the skeleton in half. The third stopped for a moment at the scene of gore of his own kind. But before he could retreat, or react, the beast met him. Grabbing the skeleton by the neck and lifting it high into the air before closing his fist. Releasing the pain of the skeleton's neck from his head, dropping the thing with no thought. The cyclops then turned to the man, snarling slightly before charging, a dust storm being kicked up in its wake. The man moved in turn, throwing his hands forward and sending multiple swords from the ground, impaling the beast and stopping it in its tracks. The beast however struggled in vain against the swords, never going to be free.

The man nodded, turning around to only find Midori, eyes downcast and with two blades in both hands, the blades instead of blue, bright green. The man summoned one of his own and slashed at Midori, only to be repelled and have the second blade aimed at his throat. But never striking, the man stepped back before launching himself at the masked ninja again. The blades clashing, but for some reason, Midori's being stronger, slicing clean through the man's own blade and aiming his own at the man's neck once again. The man stepped back slightly, the lower half of his face showing an expression of worry. Which was completely changed by an expression of pain when Midori suddenly stepped forward, his eyes never leaving the man's when the blade entered the man's chest. Stabbing deep within his breast, the green blade being shown protruding from the other end.

Midori stepped back, a wave of relief going over him. In that instant multiple things happened. The cyclops, once trapped within the blades, dissipated along with the blades holding it. The blade that once held Neji also vanished, leaving the Hyuga to fall several feet in a heap, landing on the ground with a thud. Midori never turned through, never leaving the sight of the man struggle slightly to stand, even breath. What had he done? Had he killed the last of his clan? What the hell happened to his chakra? The man laughed, it sounded painful, but yet happy. Why was he so happy to die? "Oh, finally, I am rid of this curse. Thank you, I didn't actually think…that would work."

The man backed away slightly, and with a loud cry of pain, removed the green blade from his body. It feel to the ground, bloody, but which quickly vanished with it dropping to the ground. He continued to back away, into the other hallway, back into darkness from whence he came. Midori knew the man would die, the blood following his body showed that much. But where was he going? "I am proud of you. Whatever you do, don't let her die. By any means, don't let her die, no matter the cost."

With his one hand holding the wound, the other hand moved towards his hood. Removing it with a flourish. The man's hair was not of existence, shaved but still not much was left. He held scars on the left side of his face, seemingly made by knife marks. But what caught Midori's sight, what truly captured him was the man's eyes, they were bright green.

As Midori watched in slight shock, the man moved back into the darkness. Folding deep within the abyss, quickly vanishing from view. Midori stopped slightly, shaking his head and wondering at what had just transpired before hearing a groan coming from behind. The masked ninja turned and headed for the source of the noise. Quickly finding Neji sitting next to an slightly staggered TenTen. They were shell-shocked, Neji's wound was slight but not fatal, but the bleeding would only get worse. As he got closer, dodging the tools that had littered the area near the duo, TenTen had begun to apply a bandage to the man's wound, Neji turning to Midori with a questioning look. "Where did he go?"

"He won't be around anymore. Should I go ahead?"

The Hyuga shook his head as TenTen finished the bandage, holding his shoulder slightly while rising. "No, we go together. Let's get out of this place. But Midori…are you ok?"

"Yes, why?"

"Nothing…you just seem different. Let's take that hallway, it should lead us out."

The trip didn't take long, the group silent as they went. Midori holding his side slightly, his chakra evening out, but yet something was different. Something had changed within him. Maybe it was bad, maybe it was good. The answers wouldn't come now, it would take a while to explore this newfound power. Turning slightly towards the others, he found Neji leaning closely against TenTen, his weight dependent on the woman. They had to get out pretty fast, else Neji go under. Looking forward, Midori gasped slightly at a light shining bright at the end of the hallway. Neji smiled slightly at the beacon of hope. "Finally, let's go."

At this however Midori stopped, something, something he couldn't hear, that none of them could, was calling him back. Something was grabbing onto his chakra and forcing him back, he couldn't leave, not yet. Something was down there, and it wanted him down there. Turning back to Neji and TenTen, the woman turned back at the man who was falling behind. "Come on Midori, let's go!"

"You…you go on ahead. I need to check something out."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes…go get Neji some medical attention. I'll follow you in a moment, maybe Han can help."

The duo nodded before ascending towards the light, quickly vanishing from view. Midori's eyes turned towards the ground for a moment before turning back, heading deep within the dark. Something had called him back, and he was determined to see what. Maybe it was the answers that Han had said. If it didn't come in the form of that man, then what would it come in? Continuing anyway, he entered what he thought was the arena he once fought the man in. But instead came inside a small room. Littered with burnt out candles and scrolls, the entire place was a silent library. But what Midori had seen first, was a man, old a frail, much like Eiyu in his older years. Dressed in an old brown robe, hair long, gray and unkempt. His most special accessory, was a gas mask covering his face. Turning around, Midori quickly caught the gaze of the man, his eyes, they were the color of pure darkness. Endo Tensei. Who had resurrected this man, or more importantly, who was he? Before he could speak however, the man interrupted him, breath ragged and voice metallic through the mask. "You can ask…one question."

Midori stopped for a moment, thoughts processing before arriving on one question that had plagued him from birth. "What is my origin?"

The voice that came seemingly was in pain, trying to speak out each syllable with effort, but eventually getting out each word. Slowly explaining and describing the story. "You come from an old and ancient clan. Leading well back into the days of the Sage of Six Paths. Your clan was the twin of another. You both held something special within-."

"What was the special power? What is this within me? Why can I do the things I can?"

The words suddenly stopped flowing from Midori's mouth, as if he couldn't produce them even if he wanted to. The man spoke again, but this time his voice sounded with anger, on the point of becoming furious. "Only one question. Your power was envied by so many others. So your clans went into hiding. Trying to drive out the outside world, but in the end, it found you anyway. And lead to your destruction…or so I thought. You may leave."

"One last thing. Why was my clan destroyed, what made us so feared? Why Madara?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?"

The reply was slightly sarcastic, he wanted Midori to leave. And it was obvious that Midori was going to get nothing from this man. Hell, he barely learned anything from this encounter. This…this wasn't the answers he wanted. Why couldn't he just get some simple questions answered! Glaring at the man, Midori practically yelled through his mask. "Give me some answers god dammit! I have come all this way to get something from you but nothing! This cannot be all you can give me. Tell me something!"

The man turned, his eyes downcast. "You do not have the will to know."

"Don't have the will!"

In a flash Midori threw off his mask, it landing softly and precariously upon the earth. What it showed however was not of it. Midori's lower half was a mess of skin and old wounds. Muscle and tendons showed from burns that scorched through the man's skull, revealing teeth and some of the inside of his mouth. Some of the burns went down towards his neck, dark brown and scaling. These scars have been with him for years, only two others knowing of their existence, Kasai and Kenshi. Midori groaned slightly at the motion, but continuously glared at the man, tears almost forming in his eyes. A green aura surrounding the man in his anger. "I have kept these scars as a reminder that a friend almost died because of something I didn't know. Because of something I would never know. This pain is only a reminder of the life I used to live, and the life I want to live. I promised myself if I could find any answers on why my best friend, the one I hold closest to me was taken and almost killed, for something we didn't know. If I could find any answers as to why I even got these scars, I would never stop to find them. Tell me something, anything!"

The man only watched as Midori spilled his grief, tears running down his face and hitting the tender flesh. Pain radiating off the man and his aura wild and uncontrollable. The man sighed, and only whispered. "You will know. For the man who plagues you will return. I suggest you let go of your scars, let go of your hate. It will never do you good. Reminders are ok, memories are special, but burdens, those will never do a man good. If this friend you talk about, if you truly care for him or her, then you would let go. Find the truth within time, don't hold onto the past. Otherwise you will be doomed to repeat it. And where would that leave you?"

"How would you know?"

"I died, so long ago, killed in innocence. Although I wasn't a prime individual, I was innocent for the crime the one charged me with. I had that hate, for so long I had that hate within me. But I learned to let go, I learned that if I kept that hate it would slowly eat me alive, and for a while it did. What you see now is only a husk of what I used to be. Nothing but a memory in flesh. Do well by my words child. Let go of your anger, for if you hold onto it, you shall lose what truly matters to you."

"Why should I believe your words?"

"Do what you will. It is of no consequence to me. I am only trying to help a child, lost within a world he has yet to truly understand. But if he heeds my words, maybe then he will find peace."

The, now, unmasked ninja stopped for a moment. His expression downcast and tired, eyes projected sadness that had been buried deep within. Maybe, maybe this man was right. But why was his words different than those of his team, of his surrogate father? Was it because this man may have also known the same hate? Lived through it with the same scars. Someone who has lived through the darkest depths, but came out brighter than before. How would Midori even come to this conclusion, he doesn't know this man. Scoffing slightly and picking up his mask, Midori turned once again to the man. "Then what do you suggest I do first?"

"Get rid of those scars, they hold you to far back into the past."

Running a hand over the burnt marks, he shook his head slightly. "And why should I?"

"It is your choice, if you wish to continue down your road. But know if you do, you will end up alone, unloved. Not Naruto, not Kenshi, not even Kasai by your side. You will be alone on your deathbed and no one will grieve your loss. Only if you choose to let go, will they ever accept you. Only if you choose to let go…will she ever love you."

"…I only held on for her. I held on to find answers for the both of us."

"She has long since forgave and forgotten. You are the only one holding on. Go, now. I have answered a lot more than one question. Leave me, and don't return."

Midori stepped back slightly from the new tone of the man's voice. It was harsh, it was definitely time to leave. This man knew a lot, and even now he wasn't keen on knowing what power this man had. Even with this newfound power that had been discovered, Midori knew that this battle wasn't one to be fought. Plus, he got more answers than what he could hope for, in a way. No, not about his past, but maybe about his present. If Kasai had truly let go, maybe it was time for him to do the same. Why did this man, who he had just met, hold such sway over him? But his words did hold truth, it would be something to think on. Turning from the room, Midori moved to attach the mask back to his face. Redoing the knot and tightening it against the cool skin, behind him, the sounds of pen hitting paper and the mumbling of a story being told came from behind him. Midori's chapter no doubt being added to the story, endlessly being collected.

The ending to the pathway was easily found, traveling back the same way he came. The light was near blinding, possibly from being in the dark too long. It hurt just to try and look out of the cave. Holding one had near his eyes, Midori found the light to be slightly bearable. Making his way towards the light, voices began to pour out of it, those familiar to him. As the light encompassed him, the voices grew louder and the light dimmed. Removing the hand, Midori quickly found Han, TenTen, and Neji over by the side of one of the cliffs. But one person he didn't know, was the ninja that was healing Neji. She seemed to be working some form of medical jutsu, healing the wound in Neji's shoulder.

Midori, feeling a sense of urgency, drew a kunai slowly from one of the pouches lining the back of his pants. But with a quick glance from Han, the kunai remained still, the host shaking his head slightly. But the voice he heard came from behind, one slightly amused. "Took you a while to get out of there."

Quickly drawing the kunai in a blur, he summoned along with it a few summoned blades, still green in color. Each blade was now pointed at the woman behind him, one he had slightly hoped to have left behind. "Kurotsuchi, why am I surprised? What do you want?"

"Aw, you almost sound like you don't want me here. We are here to help."

"Wait, how did you even find us?"

Her brown eyes cast a gaze over at the host, with Midori following, his gaze however slightly angrier. The armored man only shrugged, "she said she wanted to help. So I gave her directions."

"What if she was planning a trap?"

"I have known that girl a lot longer than you. She is one of the ones who still treats me like a human being, I trust her a hell of a lot more than I do you. If she said she could help, then I accepted."

The woman then nodded, giving a slight signal and yelling out for 'them to come down'. What followed was a rather large group, not an army, but a sizeable number of Stone ninja. Each staring after Kurotsuchi, hands behind their backs, standing at attention. The woman then smirked at Midori's slight reaction, even with only a few, it would be enough. "There are thirty-four. I told grandfather that I would take this group on a deep scouting mission, to see on what the Leaf was doing. He couldn't have agreed with me faster. So he won't be wondering if some of them don't come back. They are ready to help, and to assist in whatever your Kage orders them to. But know that they answer to me first, in this case I am their Kage. They will not hesitate to follow my orders before yours."

Midori's glare loosened slightly, a now soft expression now his face. One of slight puzzlement and confusion, this was certainly not what Midori had expected. It wasn't that he didn't want the woman's help, far from it, any ninja was help enough. It was just that, so far this woman's personality was completely opposite of what she was offering. But then again, others can change, he might…maybe. With that Midori sighed slightly. "Why are you doing this?"

"I want to help. I don't want to sit on the sidelines while others, innocents, die infront of me. I don't want that blood on my hands while knowing I could have done something."

"…I would like to see the day when you become Kage. Right now you sounded like one better than your grandfather."

The woman smiled broadly, most of the ninja with her smiled slightly, apparently they thought the same way. It was the truth, from what she had been saying, she would have been a better leader than her elder grandfather. Maybe there would be the day where a changing of the guard would place, but I doubt the old man would go willingly. Maybe she would call upon that favor one day, right now, Midori wouldn't have a problem siding by her. Kurotsuchi's smile wavered slightly into something along the lines of a smirk. "Good to know you think so well about me. Whenever you think we should go, we will follow you."

Midori nodded, turning towards the rest of the group, a smile under the mask, hidden from view. There weren't many, they possibly were not the most powerful, but they were enough. Enough to keep his head held high when they returned. Han of the Steam Armor, a rebellious group of Stone ninja, and a newfound power…something that still scares him. It was enough. Turning to the rest of his group, Neji winced slightly as the medical ninja continued to apply pressure, TenTen standing with a slightly worried look on her face. Midori approached Han, the armored man turning to face the boy before him. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

"No, not quite. There were answers, just not to the questions I was looking for. But in a way, they were answered for me. It's…its confusing. Let's head out as soon as Neji is healed, I'll expect we get a warm welcome back home."