Chapter 31
"What're you doing still awake this late?" Karin mumbled as she brushes my back. "Is this what I think it is?"
"Just in case but, if anything happens to me, this house is yours. Please stay here, live and have children here in Konoha," I said as she hugged me from behind. "Come, let's sleep."
Surprisingly, she didn't push the subject. I closed my eyes hoping that sleep can drag me out of reality. That night, I dreamt of Karin and I had started a family together, having cute little kids and grew old to watch our kids having their kids of their own.
The next morning, I was in the bathroom when Karin answered the doors. From the chakra signature, it was Kakas.h.i.+-sensei and he was snickering when Karin invited him inside. I wrapped my body with a towel and walked towards the living room and saw Karin that was wearing my s.h.i.+rt from yesterday, serving my sensei a cup of tea. I slammed my face with my hand; he will not shut up about this. I could see that sensei was smiling at me.
"What do you want this early, sensei?" I asked when I sat down on the wooden seat.
"First off, it's afternoon and Tsunade-Sama had just woken up," Sensei said as he read that obnoxious book of his. "Secondly, how many rounds did you had that caused you to be this late? You never late."
I just groaned at him as I walked back to my bedroom to change my clothes. We shuns.h.i.+n towards Senpai's temporary house when I was done and Anbu was hidden all over the place. There were two Anbu stood guard at the entrance and that alone was enough to say that the G.o.daime was in there. Honestly, it was overkill. We walked inside after greeting the two Anbu.
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"No!" s.h.i.+zune screamed, "get a hold of yourself! You can't eat Ton Ton!"
"What the h.e.l.l are you on about?!" Senpai grumbled with her mouth full of food.
"Good afternoon, senpai! Glad to see you alive and well," I said as we walked into her room.
"Ah, my junior! And Kakas.h.i.+ too? Come in! Let's eat! s.h.i.+zune, more food!" Senpai yelled as she continued to eat. s.h.i.+zune walked out in despair to get even more food I guess. Well, better for it to be food than sake.
"Sasuke had woken up if you are interested in it. He is completely changed and his loyalty lies with the village as what Itachi had promised in his will. He is undergoing ROOT training as we speak and I will initiate him later today," I said after I sat in front of the dining table opposing my senpai.
"What will the villagers say?" Senpai wondered idly.
"They had worst, they will surely bear with it. Besides, they had their Uchiha heir back now," I said as I took a bit of dango that was on the table.
"Fine! Well, I'm surprised to hear about the Joint Forces. Can't believe that Raikage and Tsuchikage agreed to cooperate," Senpai said.
"Desperate time calls for desperate measure. I hope that the alliance will last even after the war," I immediately commented.
"I'll say," Kakas.h.i.+-sensei finally said, "things will get messier this time around, a war of this scale."
"You know, sensei? What would you say if Obito were to come back to the village?" I asked, curious for his response.
"If he ain't that demented, I bet that he'd be proud of you guys right now," Sensei said as he gave me his closed eye smile. The air, however, was full of depression. He was blaming himself for what had happened to his former teammate. I drone out thinking a few steps ahead.
"Another war," Senpai interrupted, "the Uchiha fate now torments us all. Call a planning session as soon as I'm finished."
We both nodded before we got out and gather the s.h.i.+n.o.bi council. It's a state of emergency and martial law had been imposed. The Hokage now has the total absolute power. A few hours later, the s.h.i.+n.o.bi council consists of the top bra.s.s of Konoha s.h.i.+n.o.bi was gathered.
At the front, Senpai sat along with the village elders. All of the clan heads were present and interestingly enough, only s.h.i.+kamaru, Sasuke and I were the youngest in the meeting.
"I called this war planning session to order," Senpai said with an authoritative voice.
"Troublesome," My good friend s.h.i.+kamaru whined next to me and I could hear Sasuke grunted from my other side.
"Shut it, Sloth-s.h.i.+kamaru! I'm trying to listen here," I whisper-yelled. All of a sudden we felt a killer intent behind us and then, boom! TKO! Senpai knocked both of us on the head. We were left sitting with a towering bruise on our head that was still hissing silently.
"Start gathering weapons and rations immediately," Koharu-Sama started, "20% each to battle squads and support squads. We must decide on the platoons breakdowns as soon as possible."
"Half of my men or maybe more depending on their demand wanted to be at the front lines under Sasuke or my commands," I announced. "The rest wanted to be in the alliances' Intel corps. Also, this is the war to protect Naruto and my best friend was adamant about going. What say you, senpai?"
"Naruto and the Kyuubi are a.s.sets that can win us the war," Senpai state, hinting that she would send him to the frontlines.
"If I may, G.o.daime-sama," Shukaku-sama interrupted, "even with his Sage Jutsu, Naruto is pretty much useless without controlling the Kyuubi's power. This is Akatsuki we're taking on here and they already had seven bijuu in their hands. Plus, Naruto is too unpredictable and acts too rashly for his self-interest."
"In actuality, he is a lot mature than that and I'm sure Sasuke would agree with me if the knucklehead were to fight at the front with us. That being said, we couldn't afford to act without thinking right now, him being out there is a double edge sword for us. We need a distraction for Naruto, that's all. He won't forgive me for suggesting it but it's a good plan in my book," I commented and the Uchiha grunted after me.
"I must confer the alliance about this. What else?" Senpai questioned.
"What of Kabuto? I understand that he was sighted near Fire and Lighting border. That man is too dangerous to be left alone. He might take advantage of things and attacks Konoha or worse, ally himself with the Akatsuki," I demanded.
"About that, Sasuke-kun, I want to ask you, are you certain that you had killed Orochimaru or did he took over Kabuto's body? Kabuto looks like the Snake Sannin nowadays," Tenzou suddenly asked.
"Orochimaru's body had been taken over by me actually, that Kabuto must have been experimenting on himself. Orochimaru wasn't stingy with Kabuto when it comes to research data," Sasuke said and everybody gasped. "Don't worry, Itachi had sealed him of when we fought at Uchiha Shrine."
I had to chuckle at his words. People were gasping not because they feared the Snake came back and ran rampant over Konoha, they were surprised on how did he defeat the Snake Sannin.
"In any case, I request a mission to track Kabuto down. I can do a better job at it anyways but I do need a team of TNI with me if Morino-san allows it that is. They will work with me alone if you aren't comfortable with my other colleagues," I said.
"Hikari-kun, we are long over that fear of the ROOT, your boys had helped us when Pein attacked our village. This mission of yours is minuscule in importance, your ROOT a.s.set is a lot more beneficial at the war as did you. So, why the interest in Kabuto?" Ibiki-san asked.
"We cannot expect to overlook tiny details, Ibiki-san. This is Orochimaru's right-hand man we're talking about. Remember how they overran our security and killed my Sensei? As s.h.i.+n.o.bi, we could not afford to leave loose ends," I answered.
"Point taken Hikari-kun but what Ibiki had said is entirely true. Your strength is needed at the front. I am most definitely had wanted my Junior to be my right-hand man in this war. I will call Anko's team back for you and you can coordinate with them but you must get to the front when the war began," Senpai countered. I was about to retort but an Intel Corps ninja suddenly barged in the meeting room.
"Hokage-Sama, the Raikage is calling all Kage for the Joint Forces meeting very soon!" She said bowing at us. She must be feeling guilty of interrupting the meeting but who could blame her, the message was important.
"Right, Hikari-kun. You coming?" Senpai asked.
"Maybe later, Sasuke and I will be sorting out ROOT first before going. You need to leave immediately. Take Torune and Fu as your additional escorts," I answered before we both shuns.h.i.+nned to our HQ.
Our ROOT HQ was now above ground since the Pein attack. The previous base was somewhat intact but I took the chance to relocate as it helps to bring us closer to the other s.h.i.+n.o.bis. That day, I had something in mind for Sasuke and Karin had already been waiting for us.
"Sasuke, your Mangekyou, is it already taking away your sights? Sorry, I took the chance of reading your clan's scroll about Sharingan. I know a little about your Mangekyou now," I said as we walked towards the sickbay.
"Yes my sights
"Be that as it may, brother, we're at war now. Konoha needs you to be at your very best," I reasoned as I opened the doors to the sickbay. It was now rigged to be an operation theatre. The faint smell of disinfectant could be detected to even the novice of a ninja. Karin was scribbling notes on a set of eyeb.a.l.l.s that were floating in a specimen jar.
"Impossible," Sasuke said noting the pattern on said eyeb.a.l.l.s.
"Not if you have my genes and resources to do so. Along with Itachi's eyes, you will receive several seals. Most of it is sensitive doc.u.ments and numerous keys to open said seals and the vault. When I first died, the ROOT had no way of electing a new leader so now that I got a second chance at life, I must choose a successor immediately. I need to do so just in case something unprecedented happens to me. Do not refuse, this is your responsibility to Konoha right now. Karin will start the procedures for your eyes and I will start on the seals," I explained as I gestured at the operating table. Surprisingly, he complied without much force. Well, except for his grunts, of course.
"Well, that was easy. I remembered that you were super rebellious with Orochimaru-sama," Karin whined.
"Just start the procedure, Hime. Sasuke and I got a meeting at k.u.mogakure after this," I chided and she pouted at me before she flew at me and hugged my body tightly.
"I wanna come with, I haven't got enough of you," she whined again and I brushed her red hair.
"It's work-related, Hime. Tell you what, we'll go out on a date after we get back?" I said and then rolled my eyes when she looked at me with starry eyes.
"Huh," Sasuke said as he stared at us, confirming his suspicion before he grunted and closed his eyes. We started our operation immediately afterwards.
The whole procedure was long and dragging, hence, Sasuke would be out cold for a while. Thus, I had to go ahead before him. I didn't even reach k.u.mo, though, Anko's team had caught up with me or is it me that had caught up with them? Anyway, we resumed our journey by executing our original mission--track Kabuto down.
We were infiltrating an abandoned facility rumoured to be one of Orochimaru's bases in search for a sliver of clues. As it turns out, k.u.mo was thinking the same thing with me regarding Kabuto. Such was evident with the remains of k.u.mo s.h.i.+n.o.bi in this facility. It was recent since the body wasn't decaying too much. They had signs of snake ninjutsu injuries which Anko knew well.
"Kabuto's becoming more and more like Orochimaru," Anko said after she finished examined the dead bodies, "But why is he leaving bodies like this. It's not like him at all."
"A bait, possibly? I'll seal their bodies. I am sure k.u.mo will appreciate this," I said as I opened up a scroll and began the sealing process.
"Hmm, he's taken up Orochimaru's mantle alright. Question is, will he go after the Akatsuki or Konoha itself?" she pondered. We continued our search outside and I was shocked to find some more trails of dead bodies that led us to the deeper part of the forest.
"Hikari-kun, would you please?" Anko asked. I nodded before I sat down and entered my Sage-Mode. Afterwards, with my Byakugan enhanced, I could quadruple my normal Byakugan range and I was in an utter shock. Thousands of bodies stood below us unmoving like a statue but ready nonetheless. From the chakra signature, I knew that it was s.h.i.+rozetsu and then, I saw them--Obito but with a Rinnegan on his left eye and Kabuto with Orochimaru's hand implanted on his. It would seem that Orochimaru's chakra was like a virus, trying to take over Kabuto's body. What's more, I could see that they had resurrected the previous Akatsuki member, thus, I have to act now before Kabuto could summon more troublesome enemy.
"I need you guys to leave and tell the s.h.i.+n.o.bi Joint Forces that we have found the Akatsuki's base. Kabuto is already on-site aiding Obito with Edo Tensei. I will engage the enemy to give you a chance to get away undetected. This intel is vital to us," I said as I hastily stood up ready to go before a hand stopped me.
"No, it's too risky, Hikari-kun. We must go back together," Anko said.
"You aren't listening. I, Hyuuga Hikari, the ROOT Director hereby order you to report our findings to the s.h.i.+n.o.bi Joint Force while I distract them," I sharply said.
"I am not f.u.c.king leaving a kid here to endanger himself for the sake of others while I ran with my tail between my legs," she yelled. I knew it, she won't budge no matter what, so, I hit her tenketsu and she fell limply into my arms. I made a seal and a Mokubuns.h.i.+n of mine appeared next to me.
"Now, this guy will protect you all the way. Make sure the Hokage know this. Tell my Senpai, I promise that I will be back," I said to the rest of the team that bowed at me with a p.r.i.c.kle of a tear in their eyes. I shuns.h.i.+nned to the hideout as soon as they moved from there with Anko in their arms.
"Knock-knock, people!" I exclaimed when I popped up in front of Kabuto and Obito. Both of them recoiled defensively. Obito must have remembered my Sage-Mode strength, we were both nearly died battling each other. Well, I died due to the blood loss but I knew he survived using the same way he was saved by the real Madara as he told me before. Obito's Mangekyou immediately flared at me along with the Rinnegan, my Rinne-Sharingan flared open just in case.
"If it isn't the ROOT Director himself," Kabuto said, "I thought Anko-san was the one tailing me."
"How did you find this place? It's your third eye, isn't it? Must be some freaky experiments Danzo left in ROOT HQ," Obito inquired, nervous about my third eye. Understandably, I had only let it close when I fought him before. I couldn't risk being taken over by my other personality if I enter Divine-Mode but that concern is behind me now. Then I notice that Kabuto was drawing in natural energy and his lower body was now even more like a snake which let me believe that he is using Snake Sage Jutsus.
"Sage Jutsu enhances every aspect of us. Isn't that right, Kabuto?" I said as the two corrected their stance. "No matter, you two are disrupting this world's peace and I am here to return it by defeating you two."
Almost immediately, my clan's chakra robe appeared on me along with the Gudoudama hovering on my back.
"Do you have a death wish or something? I've killed you once. Do you think this tiny imitation of Rikudou powers would scare me off? I have the Rinnegan, brat! Your ugly second rate copy is nothing to me. Also, you're outnumbered," Obito loudly bragged as one by one the former Akatsuki members appeared in front of me.
"Hikari-kun..." Itachi greeted.
"Heh, the brat who bested the Uchiha Itachi? What an immense presence!!" Kakuzu said.
"Numbers meant nothing to me, Obito-chan," I said as I whipped a flurry of the seal with inhuman speed. "s.h.i.+n; Mokusatsu s.h.i.+bari!"
Blackwoods emerged from the ground and wrapped the Edo Tensei tightly and effectively binding their movements. My hands made another set of seals and black wood sprouted out of my body.
"s.h.i.+n; Mokubuns.h.i.+n!" I said and my clones burst towards all of the Edo Tensei.
"Black Mokuton? What is this?!" Kabuto exclaimed with his eyes narrowed.
"You're using Rikudou Yin and Yang styles. How?" Obito roared. My clones took the chance to whipped up another set of seals and the s.h.i.+nigami could be seen behind each of them.
"How indeed? I guess, Kurozetsu never told you anything huh?" I chuckled and I stretched out my arms wide and black flames appeared on my hands. "s.h.i.+n; Musekiyojin."
Black hue barrier appeared between the Edo Tensei and the two.
"s.h.i.+n Fuinjutsu; s.h.i.+ki Fujin!" My clones collectively said and then Itachi appeared next to me.
"This is the power the Konoha Red Oni, Hikari-kun?" he asked, amazed at the other Edo Tensei crumbled to the ground after being sealed along with my clone.
"Eyes on the fight, former captain," I said when Kabuto burst towards us in his snake form. Itachi, as predicted, had stopped him effortlessly with his Susanoo.
"You will not touch my boss, Kabuto," Itachi said hitting the snake off with his Susanoo.
"Traitor!" Obito roared as he charged towards Itachi and I instantly appeared in front of him punching him off as his mask destroyed under my fist.
"Your fight is with me, Obito-chan," I said.
"How can you touch me?" he demanded and his face was full of hatred.
"This third eye of mine, it has a funny ability to negate any s.p.a.ce-time ninjutsu. In this mode, I can easily stop that Kekkei Genkai of yours, Obito-chan. Funny how my mother, Otsutsuki Kaguya have power over s.p.a.ce and time and his eldest son had the power to negates that," I said and confusion was evident in his eyes.
"I've managed to do what Orochimaru-sama couldn't. I've mastered the Sage Jutsu from the Ryuuchi Cave! An Uchiha like you is nothing compared to me!" Kabuto yelled after he burst out of the rubble directly at Itachi. Sage Jutsu was one tough b.i.t.c.h to tame but my former ROOT Captain wasn't too shabby either. His Susanoo continued to negates every attack that Kabuto sent. That is if it were true. Kabuto was already trapped in Izanami when he came out of the rubbles and with it, Itachi lost his eyesight yet again.
"Lies! You're nothing but a lucky Hyuuga brat! You will not be the one to end my plans!" Obito said as he made a set of the seal. "Katon; Goukamekyaku no Jutsu!"
A giant wall of flame raced towards me and I made my counter jutsu it just in time.
"s.h.i.+n; Suiton Suijinheki!" I yelled and a tsunami of water appeared to negates the fire. Water immediately flooded the hideout and forced us to continue the fight at the surface.
"You've become a lot stronger. How can this be?! That eye must be. It's Rinnegan isn't it? How do you get it?!" Obito demanded.
"This is the Kekkei Mora than can only be awakened by an Otsutsuki through immense psychological trauma and without the help of Divine Tree's Chakra. This is the ultimate form of Rinnegan, the Rinne-Sharingan. But, you must think that I am lying so forget about it because you will be dead in no time, Obito-Chan," I teased yet again. Teasing aside, I must do everything that I could to force him to show all of his hands so that my plans could be successful. He made another set of seals before slamming his hand on the ground. All seven bijuu appeared in a puff of smoke and charged towards me. Obito seems to forget about my speed as I easily evade the bijuu's physical attacks and I stole the chance to punch them as a payback for being a nuisance to the humans. Since my brother created them, that makes me their uncle and I need to teach them some manners. The bijuus now gathered their yin and yang chakra to form a large ball akin to Naruto's ultimate jutsu.
"Sloopy Obito," I said as I held out both of my hands as it glowed black. I produced a wall of my Musekiyojin as the giant chakra ball shot forwards with immense speed. When it touched my wall, the ball deflected back to its caster. My Gudoudama was quick to engulf me to protect me from the blast. The explosion, shook the very earth herself, I waited patiently until it ran its course. When the dust settles and the Gudoudama reverted to its original form, Obito was hidden somewhere. I focused my chakra to my Byakugan and then I saw him, he was sending a Kamui attack at me. Having learned my lesson, I shuns.h.i.+n right in front of him. My Byakugan was directly facing his Sharingan and Rinnegan.
"Here goes nothing, Obito. Izanami!" I yelled and my vision instantly went dark. "Huh, it works."
"You're such a reckless ninja, Hikari-kun," Itachi said after he appeared next to me. Because of the Rinne-Sharingan, I can still saw his energy within him.
"I know that I am but we aren't finished yet," I said as I felt his presence.
"Ku, Ku, Ku, Ku congratulation on defeating my precious puppet--the Akatsuki!" Kuro said. "Only thing left to do is to eliminate you both and then find another p.a.w.n to manipulate. Mother will come back no matter what, brother!"
"Bring it on, you f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.d," I growled and the halfling let out a laugh.
"Maybe you should think before wasting your sights on Izanami. Curse the Uchiha for finding a way to fight my creation, the Izanagi. Funny how you can instil someone an idea and watch it from afar as it slowly became reality," he said as wood spikes appeared from the ground and launches towards me.
"You seemed to forget who I am in Konoha," I roared as Itachi jumped away. "s.h.i.+n; Hakkesho Kaiten!"
My body spun at high speed as it expelled chakra all over. All of the spikes were sent flying along with the heavily injured Bijuu. Kuro immediately latches himself to Obito and bound himself to the Uchiha. I could see that fire chakra was gathering in his belly as he weaved a set of hand sign.
"Katon; Goukakyu no Jutsu!" A fireball was sent to me. I was saved yet again by Itachi with his Susanoo that was quite imperfect from before. Must be because of the Izanami. Even without his eyesight, he could still fight like normal and I am officially in awe of him.
"Owe you one, Itachi-san," I said, smiling and he replied with the Uchiha signature grunt.
"Kuchiyose; Gedo Mazo!" A large body of chakra immediately appeared out of nowhere and chakra chain emerges from its mouth before it consumed the Bijuus one by one with said chains. The statue then punched Itachi's Susanoo and we were sent flying.
"My Susanoo can't handle something this strong," Itachi gritted.
"It's okay, it will end soon," I said before I made another seal. "s.h.i.+n; Mokuton Mokujin!"
A giant wooden golem grew from the ground and caught us that was still flying. After we had a stronger footing, my wood golem ran forward towards the Gedo Mazo. To bind the giant statue's movement, my wood golem hugged it hard but I had to follow up with another jutsu considering its strength from the seven Bijuu.
"s.h.i.+n; Mokuton Mokuryuu," A giant wood dragon grew from the golem and wrapped around the Gedo Mazo, effectively binding its movements. Kuro was about to run but my Gudoudama that was formed into stakes had pinned it down. I realized what I was going to do right then. For the sake of future generations, I must do this. I fetched a scroll that I wrote at my house a few nights ago and tossed it to Itachi before I weaved my final set of seals.
"This is your final mission as a ROOT. You will burn my body after I am done sealing this f.u.c.ker and then deliver my will to the G.o.daime-Hokage that is in k.u.mogakure right now. Do you acknowledge?" I said as the s.h.i.+nigami appeared behind me. Funny how I could see him clearly and not my surroundings.
"Understood, Hikari-Sama," Itachi said, kneeling before me.
"Curse you, brother!" Kuro roared.
"Our times had long since gone, little brother," I said, smiling. "s.h.i.+n Fuinjutsu; s.h.i.+ki Fujin."
The s.h.i.+nigami's hand burst from me and grabbed hold of Kuro before he pulled the thing off Obito and into my body. A searing hiss could be heard on my stomach but I fell on all fours, panting heavily from the strain of using that level of jutsu. This type of s.h.i.+ki Fujin was impossible to crack if you didn't have my powers. I guess the world is now saved from Kuro's manipulating hands. My Divine-Mode and Rinne-Sharingan closed for the last time.
"I hoped the world deserves your sacrifice," Itachi muttered sadly.
"My only wish is for the alliance to lasts forever, Itachi-san. The scroll should do the trick, just make sure that the G.o.daime has it." I said between pants and then it happens.
"Think you can get rid of me that easily?!" Kuro laughed as his black matter tried to ooze out of my body and I had to tear my s.h.i.+rt.
"Get back!" I yelled. "Make sure you burn my body with Amaterasu! Ura s.h.i.+sho Fuin!!"
That last seal was necessary. It was to seal the Divine Reaper Seal itself as a failsafe if he could still seep through the cracks. After my trap seal was completed, I immediately lose consciousness.