Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Storm Scion: Crimson Wind ❯ The Red Glow ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Ino was having a terrible day. First Sasuke was starring at that carrot headed bimbo, forehead joined Sasuke’s team while she ended up with Mr. Lazyass and the Bottomless Pit, and then when she was about to give that carrot headed bimbo a piece of her mind that guy from Kiri interrupted her and started to talk smack about her “True Love.” Who the hell does that guy think he is anyway? Talking about Sasuke like that. When I get my hands on him...


“Are you okay, Ino?”


“Huh?” The platinum blonde was thrown out of her reverie by the voice of Chouji “The Bottomless Pit” Akimichi. “I was just asking you whether you were okay or not. You haven’t eaten yet and that blood vessel in your forehead looks like it’s about to explode.”


“I’m fine.” She said quickly, gazing at the food. It actually did look quite appetizing. Chouji had the makings of a master chef in him. Most of his family was actually, they owned a number of gourmet establishments around Hi no Kuni (The Land of Fire). She took a bite of her salad. “This is great, Chouji.”


Chouji smiled. “I aim to please, Ino.”


Great, Shikamaru a.k.a. “Mr. Lazyass” grumbled mentally. She’s probably thinking about what happened in the hall earlier. She’s quiet now, but when something happens that triggers those thoughts again we won’t hear the end of it.


Damn it, Daisuke cursed. “Where in the blue hell are they?” He mumbled. Daisuke had been looking for his team about forty-five minutes straight and he was starting to get hungry. Had been looking high and low for them, he even interrupted a class and accidentally scared some of the kids in there with his teeth. People in Kiri, at least treated people with these teeth with the proper respect. Only the elites get these. He clinked his shark like teeth together.


He estimated that if he could find them anywhere it would be here on the roof. Highest vantage point on the campus. He would be sure to find the rest wherever they were.


He smiled when he saw a familiar face. “Hey Shikamaru!” He waved.


“Yo,” Shikamaru greeted flatly, turning his head to Daisuke. “What’s up?”


“Still looking for my team.” His stomach rumbled audibly. Daisuke laughed sheepishly.


“Sounds troublesome,” Shikamaru commented.


Chouji smiled at the chance to make someone a believer. “Would you like to partake in my gourmet creations?” He waved a hand over the smorgasbord. It was an assortment of cakes, pies, and meats.


Wow, he thought in awe of the meal before him. He restrained himself from liking his lips. The young Ikari stopped doing that after when he met that creepy yet wise sage in Rice Country. “Don’t mind if do!” He smiled as he took a seat.


Ino glared at Dai. He glanced at her taking note. I guess I must have hit a nerve earlier. A familiar, strange chakra signature crossed his sixth sense. He smirked. Found one of you at least.


He stood up. “I’m sorry, I have to go gather a few lost sheep.”


“Hey!” Ino shouted. “I have a bone to pick with you!” Daisuke frowned. I should get out of here quick. He made a quick rat seal before disappearing in a swirl of mist.


“Don’t you run away from me!”


Mr. Lazyass and The Bottomless Pit sweat dropped. Troublesome woman...


Vengeance is a dish best served cold with a warm side of ramen, Naruto thought as he edged along third storey ledge of the academy building. He wanted make Sasuke pay for all those years of taunts. His plan was fool proof, he’d sneak up on Sasuke when he was eating in his usual spot, knock him out and tie him down. Then use a henge no jutsu (Transformation Technique) to disguise himself as Sasuke and go around town doing things that would ruin Sasuke’s reputation. I’m such a genius! He smiled evilly, carefully sliding to the window where the Uchiha Heir was.


“Yo!” He heard a voice call out cheerfully to his side. He glanced to the left to find his teammate, Daisuke Ikari, standing horizontally on the wall! “Waah!” Naruto yelled in surprise as he lost his footing. Naruto fell dive bombing to the ground.


He closed his eyes expecting to meet the pavement. They wouldn’t get the chance to get acquainted.


He heard an audible grumble. I just ate!


Naruto opened his eyes, he couldn’t help but blink. The blonde was only a foot off the ground.


The same noise as before came. He looked up to see Daisuke holding up him by the ankle. “What’s the big idea?!” Naruto bellowed.


“Sorry” Daisuke intoned, sheepishly smiling. His stomach grumbled again. “Do you happen to know anywhere with decent food?”


Naruto grinned foxily.


I’m going to be late, Daisuke thought as he hurriedly leapt from rooftop to rooftop. He smiled to himself. It was worth it. Naruto had taken him to a ramen restaurant called Ichiraku’s. Best ramen ever! The only other ramen he had ever had was the microwave able kind but that was besides the point. Good food, great prices, and even better service. The waitress was cute too.


Unfortunately he had to leave the blonde behind. Quarter of the way there, Naruto ran away screaming something about bad milk and seeing him back at school. He amounted hyperactive blonde to be a pretty good guy. He was funny also, he hadn’t laughed that hard in a long time.


The ruby eyed boy smiled sadly. He reminds me a lot of you, brother.


He landed on a branch of an oak tree in a thicket of them. This was a sign that he was close. He focused chakra into his legs, he leaped forward passing several trees. The academy building came into view. He let himself fall forward off a branch, he fell a few feet. Daisuke grabbed a lower branch with a surge of momentum he spun on the branch like a trapeze artist before letting go and flip himself onto the branch. He jumped forward landing on the second storey ledge in front of his assigned classroom.


Knock-knock


Sasuke Uchiha turned his head to see the squatted form of Daisuke knocking on the window adjacent to his seat. “Would you mind letting me in or is that a bit much to ask?” Dai inquired humorously. The Uchiha didn’t find it funny. “Sure” he grunted unlocking and sliding open the window. “Thanks,” He smiled stepping in.


“You’re late!” Sakura hollered.


“That always seems to be happening to me,” Daisuke tried an anecdote. “There was this band of marauding band of emos and I tried avoiding them so...” Sakura glared at him while Sasuke just looked at him cooly. “Fine” Daisuke sighed taking a seat next to Team Eight. He knew that one of them at least could appreciate his humor.


He seemed to hit it off pretty well with Team Eight. Especially since one of them was a good friend of his. Opposed to Daisuke’s first impression Kiba was an okay guy when he wasn’t jouncing for a fight. Shino was just as much of an enigma as ever, but he seemed to instantly become talkative when they brought up eye wear. Daisuke even got Hinata and Kiba to laugh at some of his jokes, he could have sworn that he heard a snigger out of Shino. Akamaru was just as friendly.


Unfortunately enough, good things have to come to an end. The door slid open revealing a scruffy bearded man with a bent unlit cigarette in his mouth and an attractive black haired woman with red eyes who Sora thought could easily pass as Daisuke’s older sister.


“Teams Eight and Ten please come with us,” The black-haired woman ordered impassively.


Sora frowned. “See you later, Dai.” She started to take off his jacket.


“You can keep the jacket, Sora.” Dai smiled. Sora blinked. “But-“


“Don’t worry about it,” He waved a dismissive hand. “I have another back in my apartment. I’ll take the contents though.” Sora cleaned out the pockets handing over several items, including Daisuke’s beloved SDAT music player.


With a glare from Ino and a good bye from those Daisuke was square with they were gone. Gone to whatever fate had in store for them.


The fates must be men, Daisuke grimaced. Women wouldn’t be this cruel. He turned his head to his teammates, Don’t Touch Me Emo and his loyal groupie Sakura. They were the only ones left.
Sakura from Daisuke’s assessment seemed like a smart girl but a bit over obsessive over her crush. Sasuke was the typical incarnation of an emo that wasn’t happy because he “Wasn’t hugged enough by Mommy and Daddy.” Girls found him hot because of his cool and calm demeanor not to mention his super bad ass abilities. Daisuke shrugged. That’s my assessment at least.


Sakura might be an interesting person to talk to. Scratch Sasuke, he’s not very personable. He sighed inwardly, slumping his shoulders on the outside. If all else fails, at least I have you SDAT.


For the next hour he was bored beyond recognition. Daisuke tried to spark up a conversation with Sakura, but to no avail. Sakura was too concerned with Sasuke. When he tried to listen to his music player it conked out him. He tried to read one of the textbooks that were strewed around the room. That only caused him to fall asleep.


He awoke to some shuffling noises and Sakura scolding Naruto. Daisuke’s eye’s fluttered open. He lifted his head up, questioning his teammates groggily. “What’s up?”


“I’ll tell you what’s up!” Sakura said flustered. “Naruto’s being an idiot and...


The happenings of now would answer the questions past. The door slid open springing the trap, the chalkboard eraser that was planted by Naruto fell onto an already white mane. The owner of the white hair was roughly 5'9", he wore the standard uniform of a Konoha jounin black long sleeve shirt and pants with a forest green flak jacket. A black cloth mask adorned the lower half of his face. Two scars were emblazoned on the upper half of the man’s face. The first traveled down the forehead passing through his left eye ending at the bridge of his nose. The second was a perfect straight horizontal line that wended both of his eyes, obviously the work of a professional. The more notable thing about him was his eyes, they were ruby orbs with an almost luminous sheen to them. Just like Daisuke’s coincidentally enough.


“Hah! I can’t believe you fell for it!” Naruto shouted in between giggles. “He fell for it! Hah!”


Sakura tried to cover her butt. “I’m sorry, Sensei! This was all Naruto’s doing!” Shannaro! Inner Sakura said in between her fits of laughter. That was so classic!


Sasuke kept his piece. His respect for this man had already dropped considerably.


Daisuke was still groggy and slightly confused, low blood pressure was from his father’s side of the family. “What’s going on?”


Putting away his orange book, the man spoke in a flat disinterested voice. “In the ninja world, you must make use of your surroundings.” The white-haired man picked up the eraser. “I’ll give you guys points for that much.”


“But from my first impression,” the man continued dispassionately, looking down on them. “I can’t say I like you all very much.”


Naruto crossed his arms. Same to you too!


Sakura looked crestfallen. What did I do?


Sasuke snorted. Hn... Like I care.


Daisuke was still confused. What happened?


“Then again,” the man shrugged. “Opinions do change.” He pointed up. “Now if you would, join me on the roof.” He clapped the eraser disappearing in the dust.


“Now then,” The sensei began, after they assembled on the rooftop. He leaned on the metal railing while his students sat in front of him Indian style. “Why don’t we introduce our selves?”


“Introductions?” Sakura inquired. “What should we say?”


“What you like, hate, your hobbies, and dreams.” The white-haired sensei shrugged. “That kind of thing...”


“Hey, hey.” Naruto spoke up, he was a bit wet. Daisuke taught Naruto a Suiton (Water) Ninjustsu in order to reclaim himself from the sandman. It backfired on them, but at least Daisuke was among the living again. “Why don’t you start it up? We don’t even know your name.”


The white-haired sensei raised a visible brow. “Why are you and shades all wet?”


Daisuke made his voice known as well. “He asked you a question first, sensei.” Just who is this guy any way? He has the same eyes as me.


“Fine.” The man rolled his ruby eyes. “My name is Kakashi Hatake. I don’t intend to tell you my likes or dislikes. As the Nara say, ‘it would be too troublesome’.”


Four pairs of ruby, jade, onyx, and cerulean eyes blinked collectively.


Kakashi Hatake, Daisuke questioned himself. Just where have I heard that name before?


“As for my dreams...” He didn’t want to say. Going on a ‘research session’ with the author of Make Out Paradise is on a Need To Know Basis. “I have a few hobbies.” He left it at that.


“So all we know is his name,” Sakura grumbled.


“Now it’s your turn,” Kakashi told them. He focused on Naruto. “You first, blondie.”


“The name is Naruto Uzumaki.” He was happy to be talking about himself. “I like cup ramen. But I like the ramen that they serve at Ichiraku’s even more. My hobby is tasting and comparing different types of ramen and taking care of my house plant Ukki-kun.” Nobody in the village really gave him the time of day or really talked to him, save for Ayame-neechan and Old Man Ichiraku. So when he did get the chance, he grabbed the bull by the horns. “I hate the three minutes it takes to warm the ramen by the way. And my dream is to become the greatest Hokage! Surpassing all of them will make the villagers recognize my existence.”


I see. Kakashi noted mentally. He grew up to be an interesting guy. “All right.” He focused his ruby optics on Daisuke. “You’re next, shades.”


“Me?” Kakashi broke Daisuke’s reverie. He was still thinking of why Kakashi’s name was so familiar. Daisuke pointed to himself. Kakashi nodded. “Oh? Well, my name is Daisuke Ikari. My friends call me Dai. My likes? I just happened to like the ramen at that restaurant Naruto took me to.” Naruto grinned. “I like music, rock and some of the harder stuff mostly, training and learning new jutsu, my blade also.” He caressed the slightly curved crimson stick sitting in his lap. “My hates?” He shrugged. “They are a bit long to list, but I can say that I hate it when my blade gets dirty.” He stroked it again. “My hobbies?” He snorted. “Not so much hobbies as they are interests. Hobbies cost money. I’m a bit of a history buff, for interesting ninja...” Daisuke pulled out a small black leather bound book. “I happen to have my own personal bingo book. So if you happen to interest me, watch out! I may want to fight you one day.” Daisuke slid the book back in his pocket as Sasuke smirked. “Blades also.” He caressed it again. “My dreams?” He smirked. “I’d call it an objective, more or less. I would tell you,” his smirk morphed into a predatory grin. Daisuke tapped the hilt of his wakizashi menacingly. “But then I’d have to kill you.” He revealed a bit of the shinny killer edge of his blade. Kakashi looked cautiously while Sakura and Naruto watched a bit worriedly. Sasuke glanced but didn’t pay any heed.


“Don’t worry,” Daisuke let out a good-natured laugh. “I wouldn’t do any thing like that. It was just a bit of Bloody Mist humor.”


Both Naruto and Sakura relaxed. Naruto sighed in relief. Not my kind of humor.


Sakura snorted. Some humor that was, he nearly scared the crap out of me.


Sasuke nodded to himself. I knew he was joking. They didn’t even recognize it, idiots.


“I see.” Kakashi said dryly. Looks like we have got ourselves a comedian.


Kakashi’s gaze fell on Sakura. “Your turn, pink.”


Sakura’s brow twitched. She didn’t like being called “pink” she got enough of that when she was a kid. “I’m Sakura Haruno.” The pink haired girl said cutely. “I like... I mean the person I like is...” She fixed her gaze on Sasuke. “My hobby is...well, my dream for the future is...” She blushed the same color that matched her hair. Sakura squealed like a proper fangirl.


Kakashi rolled his eyes, it was all overwhelmingly obvious. “What do you hate?”


The pink-haired girl grimaced, she wasn’t afraid to answer this one. “Naruto!”


“What?! You can’t mean that Sakura!” Kakashi narrowed his eyes at Naruto silently telling him to shut his trap. Kakashi sighed mentally. Boys on the brain, how typical...


His gaze landed on the raven haired boy sitting at the end of the row. “Last but not least is you Sasuke-kun. Tell us what lies beneath the brooding surface.”


Sasuke ‘s changed eyes with Kakashi’s equally red ones. Around both of their pupils in circular formation was comma like dots, Sasuke had one in each ruby eye while Kakashi had three. This was the Sharingan. The comma like dots spun in each of their eyes for less than a second. Sasuke chuckled a bit. “I see you haven’t changed a bit, Uncle.”


Kakashi smiled behind his mask. “People don’t change easily, Sasuke.”


Uncle? They’re related. They don’t like a like. You can’t tell with sensei wearing the mask. The eyes are a dead give away. Wait a sec, Sakura thought rewinding things. Sasuke’s eyes don’t normally like that they’re usually black.


Naruto had different ideas. Damn it! The sensei is his uncle?! I know that Sasuke is going to be the favorite. Grr... I’m going to make this guy recognize me!


Daisuke blinked, taking a double take. They have eyes just like me? No they are different. He shook his head. Those comma like dots. What’s with that? There’s something familiar about them.


He shifted his vision to the other three and read their thoughts with the Sharingan. “You three shouldn’t worry. I maybe his uncle, not by blood at least. I’m just a friend of the family and these eyes...” He pointed to his ruby optics, the Sharingan faded from his eyes. “Are on loan from an old friend of mine. I won’t be showing any favoritism, I can guarantee that. I don’t see any Uchiha’s, Haruno’s, Uzumaki’s, or Ikari’s. I only see Konoha shinobi. Right, Naruto?”


The blonde boy nodded, cheering mentally.


“But,” the ruby eyed sensei continued. “Before you can work under such as me, Kakashi Hatake. There is a stipulation that must be met.”


“What kind of stipulations?” Sakura questioned.


“A mission.” Kakashi answered.


“What kind of mission?” Naruto’s interest was perked. “What!? Tell me!”


“It is a very simple task that we will all be completing together.” Kakashi’s voice grew grim serious and his eyes became devoid of emotion. “A survival exercise.”


The team eyed Kakashi suspiciously. He was up to something.


“Why is our mission training, sensei?” Sakura asked. “We finished off all those lessons during the academy.”


“This isn’t your every day training.” Kakashi said, closing his eyes.


Naruto saluted the masked man. “Whatever it is I’m sure we can do it.” The white-haired sensei chuckled evilly.


“What’s so funny, Uncle?” Sasuke didn’t like this one bit.


“I’m afraid you aren’t going to like this shocking revelation I have in store for you.” He opened his eyes slowly, narrowing his gaze on them. “Out of the twenty-nine graduates in your class, only eleven will be chosen as genin. The rest will be sent back to the academy and forced to take another year of schooling. This mission you will be undertaking has an overall failure rate of sixty-six percent.”


“WHAT THE HELL?!” Naruto hollered, clearly irate. “We worked so hard!!! What was that graduations test for anyway?!”


“Graduation test?” Kakashi sniggered. “That was only to select candidates who only had the possibility of becoming genin.”


“WHAT?!”


Kakashi ignored Naruto. “Come to training area forty-four at six A.M. tomorrow. Bring your ninja gear!” Kakashi paused. “And skip breakfast. The stuff we will be doing will most likely make you puke.” He let his words sink in, especially with Sasuke. An ungodly hilarious idea hit him.


“Oh, and by the way.” He gained their attention. “Since Sasuke is my nephew, I will make this mission all the more difficult for you, my students.” With that, Kakashi faded from their sight.


Sasuke shook with anger. Damn you, Kakashi. He felt the eyes of Sakura and Naruto on him. I will pass your stupid test, surpass you, and kill that bastard!


Sakura was worried but determined. I have to pass this test! This is a trial of love.


I won’t let the chance that Iruka-sensei gave me go to waste! Naruto clenched his fists.


Daisuke stood up and assessed the team. He snorted. “Pull yourselves together. Getting all bent out shape about it won’t help the situation. The only thing we can do is...” Sasuke stood up and started his own way. “Where do you think you’re going?” Daisuke asked.


Sasuke didn’t even so much as turn his head. “I’m going home getting something to eat, train a little, watch some T.V. and go to bed at a decent hour.” The Uchiha just kept on walking.

“Can I walk with you, Sasuke?” Sakura asked as per usual. “Do as you wish.” Sasuke replied flatly. “See you later, Daisuke!” Sakura said giddy as a school girl.


“Bye,” Daisuke sighed. “Looks like it’s just me and you, Naru...” He turned to find Naruto not there any more. “Damn...” He sighed dejectedly. “It looks like I have to do this all by my lonesome.” I had an inspirational speech for situations like this too...


What Daisuke didn’t know was that Naruto had certain problems of his own. Resulting from spoiled milk.


“This appears to be the place,” the cloaked figure said to no one in particular. Black cloaks with red clouds, that was the calling card of his Organization. It had taken him many years to gain the proper tools to reclaim that which once belonged to him. In another life this all was his, he was a God to them all. They worshiped the very ground he walked on. The cloaked man smirked. They were only human after all. Those pitiful beings needed something to call their God. Why not something that was more powerful than any thing they could fathom?


He had been that long ago. Now he wanted that power back. The power to bend everything to his will. The power to... He shook himself. This wasn’t the time or place to be reminiscing there was work to be done.


He stood in front of the cave that the Shodai himself sealed. The man frowned. He always found human ingenuity very fascinating. It was a pity that he had to destroy such a work of art. The cloaked man slid his right arm through the cloak sleeve producing a paper talisman. This talisman would eat through the seal until there was nothing left. It would take months but he was a patient being.


After the seal was done, all of those demons would come out and lay ruin to this place. The hellfire and deaths would be a beautiful thing to witness. He cast the charm at the barrier. A fantastic light show commenced when the talisman collided with the barrier, normally any thing that even touched it burned to cinders. Blue and yellow lights battled against each other creating sparks and embers. Flying off they began to light the near by flora aflame. With a flash of yellow light the talisman won the conflict, it embedded itself onto the rock. It would take a S-Class seal master to remove it. There weren’t that many anyway. ‘He’ was one of the few.


The barrier was down. It would take a few minutes before it reset, that’s all it took to rewrite the barrier’s seal. He stepped forward into the Abyssal Caverns, now that work was finished it was time to have his fun.


It had been awhile since Daisuke Ikari had done this. Scouting was one of his favorite activities. “Exploring and learning new things about your environment is one of the most important things to a shinobi.” That was what his Aniki-sensei had taught him among other things.


He had been here in this training area for about two hours now. He knew almost every nook and cranny of this area. He had the advantage of knowing his terrain now. He also knew that the sensei would also that was why he set up traps all over the place. High time tomorrow the sensei would have a hell of time.


Foot steps echoed through the Abyssal Caverns as the cloaked apparition slunk down the halls of the cave. This was the very underbelly of Konoha a place where nightmares existed. The Seal Master did not have any fear for such trivial beings. What he truly sought was deep within these hallowed halls. This place wasn’t a work of nature or man. Something much older and revered. Carvings adorned the darkened halls, telling stories of the gods and their deeds. No man or demon could understand it though they were too ignorant and impure to be worthy of such a privilege.


When the Seal Master reached the inner chamber, he smirked. A small purple crystal orb was sitting at the end of the chamber on a pedestal. His summations were correct, this was the source of the evil energy the very reason why the demons survived this long inside the cave without sustenance and why the area was in such disarray before the Shodai and Nidaime came. It seemed that these abominations were lured here millennia ago by the power. He had uses for this power and it would be better for his ambitions if he deprived those Jashin fools of their god.


He picked up the orb and pocketed it. He felt the power coursing through him trying to overtake him. He resisted easily, a lesser power like that didn’t have any hope in out doing such as him. A loud ear piercing scream echoed down the corridor. He frowned. More interruptions.


Two of the many resident demons stormed down the hall at speeds only well trained ninjas could match. With a simple flick of the wrist talismans were bound to the twin the monster’s heads. They double over in pain writhing and screaming. He was about to erase their meaningless existence when a thought crossed his aged psyche. Maybe he could give them that much needed meaning temporarily.


He made a long string hand seals. “Ne, Tora, Ushi, Saru, Hitsuji, Inu, I, Ne, Saru, Mi.”


“Form Alteration Jutsu!”


He began to shape them to his liking, making them stronger, faster, and much larger. In the end, they were about six feet tall and a hundred pounds heavier. “Are you ready to serve me?” Their new master asked. They both stood up roaring in confirmation. “Good.” The Seal Master was amused by his new pets. “Go and seek out the blood of the Sharingan.”


Both of the beasts slipped into the abyss. The blonde Seal Master smirked, it was a waste of new playthings but Itachi had requested him to test his younger brother while he was there. He was going to use another method but this was much more entertaining. He laughed. “You must throw your dogs a bone in order to keep them sated and happy.”


He continued on embracing the darkness.


It was almost dark now, Amaterasu was slipping behind the horizon to give her brother Tsukiyomi dominion over the night. As per their pact long ago. Daisuke was about ready to turn in himself. Today had been a busy, strange day. It wasn’t every day he met such a interesting bunch. He stretched his body letting out a yawn.


It was so much more peaceful here than it was in Kiri. Kiri was like a beef stew made with the vile broth of animosities and the spoiled meaty chunks of quiet desperation . The only real reason he stayed was because he felt he owed his niisan his life and fealty. After Sui-niisan didn’t come back from his mission Daisuke did his own vanishing act.


Freedom was a good thing even though he lived in constant fear of hunter nin. He always was running not staying one place for more than two days at best. It was better than being someone’s dog. But after a while he grew tired of all the running he just wanted to rest for once in his life.


That was why to came here to the land of his forefathers. To rest and to fulfil a promise he made when he still had a small measure of innocence left. He propped his back against the obsidian cenotaph curling himself up in his covers, he held his blade close to him. Daisuke let his eyes fall under the weight of the sand. Tomorrow going to be... After a moment he knew not.


How cute. Kakashi Hatake smiled behind his mask. He had originally come here to have a chat with his pal Obito only to find his one of his newest students scouting the area setting up traps for him he assumed. The white haired sensei was surprised by the kid’s ingenuity although he felt that Daisuke went a little overboard though. Traps were littered all around the area, he almost was caught in an explosive tag trap once. Obito had a habit of doing that. Kakashi shrugged, he’d have to apologize to them tomorrow. He was sure that sensei, Obito, and Hitomi-neechan would understand.


He turned to leave but stopped when he felt something strange in the air. What is that? His eyes widened when he recognized the energy. It can’t be coming from him.


It was raining that night, the night when that cloaked man came. A black cloak, emblazoned with red clouds, that was one of the things I would remember about him. He came asking for lodging and food for the night. We were more than willing to let the stranger stay, we never really got guests that often unless it was the feudal lord and his entourage paying us their monthly visits. My clan was a generous bunch maybe also a bit naive. That was our downfall.


When he entered that was when the slaughter began, the clan’s strongest was no match for him. The cloaked man just cut through each and every one of them like they were weeds. Samurai were no match for shinobi after all.


He killed men, women, and the children. They were all my aunts, uncles, cousins, my brothers and my sisters. Their blood was on the sword that blade. An elegant jian, a straight bladed double edge sword.


My father the head of the clan even fell prey to that cloaked blade wielding man, as the first shinobi in my clan’s history my father was also the strongest. He served along the side of the likes of the Yondaime Hokage and Legendary Sannin during the last Great Shinobi War. He was known as the Crimson Demon because they said he fought like a man possessed during battle and the red samurai armor he wore. Father retired after my mother died defending the village from the Nine Tails.


The man eventually found me, despite the fact I used the henge no jutsu father taught me. Before everything descended into darkness, I caught a glimpse of the man’s eyes. They blazed red just like mine. Just like the way they said my mother’s did...


There was no mistaking it, the prey was near just as its master had said it was. There were two different scents in two different sections of the village. It took the forest scent while its brother demon was left with the one that led deeper into the village.



Like the fierce predator it was the monstrosity stalked its prey until it let its guard down. The prey was sleeping now, it was the perfect chance to strike. It came up to the prey as stealthily as it could trying not wake it. It raised its talon, one swipe is all that it would take.


“Arrroooooo!” The beast cried out in pain, its hand was missing.


A familiar bloodied blade shimmered in the light produced by the lantern posted above the cenotaph. Daisuke Ikari was on his feet, smirking at the beast’s plight. Something was off about him though. This wasn’t the same person, the aura he let off was just wrong.


He tapped his sword against the dark stone, knocking some of the blood off. He did hate it when it got dirty. He grinned maniacally, this would be fun. Daisuke disappeared.


The beast fell on its back screaming in agony. Its legs and remaining arm were gone now. “...Kukukukukuku.” Daisuke laughed evilly, he raised his blade to finish the job. Black jagged lines began to spread around his body. First the arms, the legs, then the head. Daisuke remembered that from Niisan’s lessons. He felt nostalgic, this brought back good memories.


“That’s enough, Daisuke.” Kakashi admonished, stepping out from the bush behind Daisuke. “Regain control, trust me you don’t want this power.”


Dai frowned, who dared to cease his entertainment? He turned his head to Kakashi killing intent radiating from his eyes. The equally red eyed man was surprised. Can’t be, those eyes and that face he looks just like...


“Die” Daisuke whispered harshly. Appearing behind Kakashi he impaled him on the crimson-spattered blade. Piercing the white haired sensei’s stomach. Daisuke twisted the blade in his sensei’s abdomen. ‘Kakashi’ grinned, vanishing from existence with a poof.


“You know, you shouldn’t let your opponent get behind you.” The real Kakashi said pressing the cold steel of his kunai against Dai’s neck. Daisuke licked his chops. This would be even more fun.


‘Daisuke’ collapsed into a puddle of mud. Kakashi’s eyes narrowed. Iwa Bushin (Earth Clone). Kakashi lazily tilted his head to the side avoiding a kunai. The kunai embedded itself in the ground. A familiar sizzle sounded. “Explosive tag.” Kakashi observed dryly, jumping away with a back flip he landed on a branch of a nearby tree. The tag exploded heartily. Shuriken whizzed past his head.


“You’re going to have to do better than that,” Kakashi taunted. A large log tied to a rope came his way. He avoided it with ease. “I’ll give you points for creativity.” Kakashi allowed, dropping back to earth. The terra wasn’t firm as it gave way, revealing a ten-foot deep bamboo-spiked pit. Kakashi applied chakra to his hands and feet. He grabbed onto the wall sticking to it like Spider Man, Kakashi mused as he climbed. This kid knows his traps. Anko and Daisuke probably would get along.


When the white-haired sensei came up from the hole, he nearly met face to blade with a windmill shuriken. Thanks to his jounin reflexes Kakashi avoided a bloody fate. The large shuriken impacted a nearby tree. The sizzling sound was back. Kakashi glanced to see an explosive tag sticking to a crimson scroll that was tied to the over grown shuriken. “Not again.” Kakashi grumbled, making a ram seal. He disappeared. A large detonation erupted regurgitating weapons as shrapnel. Various kinds of shuriken, kunai, and other bladed weapons flew out into the forest at speeds of one hundred miles per hour looking for an impact point.


Kakashi whistled from his treetop perch. “That’s a lot of potential death down there.” An assortment weapons littered the forest, sticking into trees and impaling them. Kakashi could have sworn that he saw a zanbato down there.


The ruby eyed jounin felt a large amount of bloodlust behind him. Kakashi turned to his predator. “Yo,” he hailed nonchalantly. Daisuke and Kakashi’s ruby optics met for a moment, they sized each other up. Daisuke took up a basic Kenjutsu stance, his stance faltered. “I remember” Daisuke said simply.


Kakashi arched a brow. “What do you mean?”


“That night I couldn’t do anything,” Daisuke’s eyes gleamed with moonlight and rueful sadness. “I watched them all die while I hid like a coward. They all died because of me...” The marks began to recede.


Good, Kakashi thought in relief. He’s regaining his sense of self. Kakashi put a hand on the teen’s shoulder. “Whatever went on I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.” Soothed Kakashi.



“Yes it was!” The ruby eyed teen protested. “That man wanted me,” Tears welled up in his eyes. “The man with the same eyes as you and I told me to become stronger and to hate him with all my heart.” Salty droplets rolled down his visage. “I don’t just hate him, I despise him.” Daisuke said angrily between sobs. “I want him to suffer and die.” The marks started to spread again. His voice became darker. “That’s why I accepted the power Hebi-sama gave me.”


Kakashi jumped back putting some distance between them. Was that a trick or was it genuine? The mark receded for only a minute, it must be controlled by his emotions. Kakashi’s bloodline blazed. I should end this now. Daisuke vanished from his end of the spectrum. The fast movement of the Shunshin couldn’t be seen by the normal eye. But with the enhanced vision of the Sharingan the user could see and counter any attack that came his or her way assuming that the user had the skill. Kakashi saw Daisuke’s movements as clear as day. He was hoping to overwhelm him with the sheer speed of this technique which was very fast. The power of the curse mark must have been giving him that extra kick. Kakashi used his own Shunshin moving him to another tree top fifthteen feet away.


Daisuke started to make hand seals. Serpent, tiger. Suiton: Teppoudama (Water Element: Bullet) The ruby eyed youth fired a dozen baseball sized water balls from his mouth. Kakashi easily danced around the projectiles. From the final one he picked out a kunai. The white-haired sensei lazily fell backwards to the ground below. Mid fall he flipped meeting eight swirling shuriken, a log connected in his stead.


Kakashi landed a small distance away. Much to his relief the scattered weapons disabled the majority of the traps. Kakashi glanced over his shoulder to find Daisuke trying to lob off his white maned head with a diagonal cut. Kakashi caught Daisuke’s arm and sent him sailing over his shoulder. Daisuke hit the ground skidding. The ruby eyed youth struggle to the ground using his sword for leverage.


“What’s the matter?” Kakashi sneered. “Tired already?”


‘Daisuke’ smirked collapsing into a puddle of water. Kakashi felt the earth rumble beneath him he jumped back as Daisuke burst from the ground trying eviscerate him. Daisuke managed to land a shallow wound on the sensei’s right calf.


“What do you know?” Kakashi said with a hit of surprise. “You actually managed to wound me.” He smiled behind his mask. “You definently are your father’s son. You fight more like your mother though, sneaky.”


Daisuke started to make hand seals only to stop when he heard foot steps coming from behind. A He didn’t have a chance to react as wires lashed out and entangled him, electrocuting with nearly eight thousand volts of electricity. The ruby eyed youth fell limp to the ground for a most needed sleep. Kakashi rolled his eyes. “That wasn’t necessary, Tenzou.”


Several masked men stepped out of the bush and various other hiding spots. “I’m sorry to ruin your fun, Sempai.” The cat masked ANBU said pleasantly. “But we got a report of several explosions coming from this area and were ordered to come here and check out the situation. We assessed the situation and found this method best.”


Kakashi laughed. “You always did have a habit of over doing it.”


“What do you mean, Sempai?” Tenzou inquired obviously confused.


“ You fricasseed a genin, my genin.” Kakashi drawled in a joking manner.


The cat masked ANBU sweat dropped. “Oh... Sorry...”


The ANBU proceeded to laugh their asses off.


The ‘ANBU’ named Kabuto Yakushi turned his thoughts to his true master. Our experiment seems to be going quite well, Orochimaru-sama.