Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Tails of a Fox, Claws of a Tiger ❯ The Rising Storm ( Chapter 4 )

 

 

Ch. 4: The Rising Storm

 

Neji groaned and sat up slowly, his whole body felt like he had gone through heavy training with his father for about week without sleep. He squinted his eyes shut, bared his teeth, and visibly cringed as he sat up but he would not cry out. Hyuga's did not cry nor show pain, they persevered and fought through it in order to become stronger. “You're going to crack a tooth if you keep that up kid.” said a deep resonating voice.

 

Neji's eyes snapped open in shock, there before him was the form of a large black panther. For the first time in his short life, Neji was scared. He had heard stories about panther attacks, grown men, even fully trained shinobi were said to be torn limb from limb by the beasts. Now here he was, face to face with one and he was frozen with fear. “Calm yourself whelp, if I was here to kill you,” said the panther as it began to lie down as if to take a nap. “You would already be dead.”

 

Neji gulped when he felt something brush past him. He turned his head and there behind him was another panther. But unlike his companion, this one had a long red scar that ran from under his eye, curved at his cheek, and crossed his neck as well as a blood red pendent that hung around it. The creature looked at Neji with his head cocked, its eyes filled with concern. He then snapped his head around to gazing at the first. The first panther opened his one eye and gazed at his partner. “Don't give me that look Scarr, the whelp is fine and unharmed just like furface wanted.” he said uncaringly. The second panther, Scarr, growled softly before curling down next to Neji.

 

Neji looked from Scarr to the first panther nervously. “Don't go wetting yourself whelp, Scarr there was raised by those softies in the tiger clan before he rejoined his real family. He can no more hurt a child then he can talk, which is to say he can't.” said the unknown panther coldly.

 

“Now Kurga, you should know better then to terrorize the young of a shinobi, especially a Hyuga child.” said a female voice.

 

“Unlike you Tiger clan softies Tela, we panthers don't worry about the retaliation of the flesh bags.” said Kurga scathingly.

 

“Try it furball, and you'll be my new throw rug before you can even pounce.” said Kakashi as he entered the clearing. Zenith draped over his shoulders and Naruto and Hinata behind him riding Shar'rei.

 

Kurga's head perked up, “Sharingan Kakashi, the type of company you and furface are keeping certainly has improved since he last summoned me. Least he's not hanging out with that psycho Cainus bitch and that creepy Vampris freak” the panther said coldly. “At least this guy is completely human but then again,” he looked at Naruto and Hinata coldly. “That boy is as far from human as you can get and Hyuga's in general can't really…” Kurga never got a chance to finish as he found a kunai knife aimed at his neck on one side and an angry growl on the other.

 

“Careful how you finish that sentence or, panther or not, I will kill you!” said Neji coldly while Scarr's growl conveyed that he would let the boy do it too.

 

“Kurga, can't you, for once in your life, not piss off everyone you meet?” said Zenith groggily as he returned to consciousness. “Kakashi, you can set me down now.” he said with a chuckle.

 

Naruto and Hinata quickly cleared an area for Zenith. Zenith gave them a smile of thanks before looking over at the still standing Neji, “I'd sit down if I were you cub before your adrenalin wears off and you collapse from the pain.”

 

Neji looked at the Watch-Were like he was crazy when a fresh wave of pain washed over him that forced him to a knee. Scarr rushed over and slipped under his arm acting as a living crutch. Neji looked at the panther curiously, the look in its, no his, eyes were a mix of worry and what looked like concern. The two stared at each other for a moment then nodded to each other before Scarr helped the Hyuga male to a spot next to Zenith.

 

“Nii-san, a-a-are you all right?” asked Hinata as she helped Neji sit. Neji just nodded.

 

“I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did, the shock of having something like the Caged Bird removed would have had most people down after more then a minute.” remarked Zenith with a smirk.

 

“He's a Hyuga, anything less then exceptional is considered a failure by them.” remarked Kurga coolly.

 

“Don't you have a patrol to perform Kurga-teme?” said Zenith loudly.

 

“If you wanted me gone furface, you only had to ask.” said Kurga before leaping into the trees and vanishing.

 

The group watched as the panther vanished before Naruto voiced the question the humans of the group were wondering. “How the hell do you know that creep Zen?”

 

Zenith chuckled before he winced slightly. “Amazing the loyalty a being shows when they owe you their lives.” he remarked with a smirk.

 

“Why the hell did you save that waste of fur's life?” asked Naruto bluntly.

 

“To be honest, I'm rather curious myself Zenith.” remarked Kakashi concurring with Naruto.

 

“Kurga pissed off the wrong people, I saved his sorry ass. Enough said.” said Zenith coolly as he looked over at Neji who was tentively touching his forehead. “You're not dreaming, it's gone and you can thank your cousin for that.”

 

Neji looked from Zenith to Hinata. He had heard the remarks made by the elders about her, at how disappointing she was and how they should shift the inheritance of Clan Leadership to her soon to be born sibling, or how better things would be if Hizashi had been born first and he was made heir. For Neji, such things couldn't be stopped, fate meant for him to serve as a branch family member and Hinata to lead the clan. Nothing can change fate but then why did fate allow this man to release him from the Caged Bird? “Thank you Hinata-sama.” said Neji with a slightly bow to her.

 

“P-p-p-please Neji Nii-san, Zenith did all the work.” said Hinata shyly.

 

“I only gave you the tools cub, you were the one who used them.” said Zenith sagely with a kind smile.

 

“Never the less, thank you for saving me.” said Neji seriously.

 

“Well if you want to repay us; you can tell us who else the Kumo team has hostage besides your father and uncle.” said Zenith getting back to the problem at hand.

 

Neji's brow furrowed for a moment as he thought his mind still hazy from being under the Genjutsu. “I never saw the ANBU's face, he never took off his weasel mask even to eat, there was the Chuunin Genjutsu specialist Yuuhi Kurenai, and…” paused as he thought carefully then his eyes widened as he realized who else was with them “Uchiha Shisui.” he said sadly.

 

“Oh you have GOT to be kidding me!” yelled Zenith as he collapsed on to his back. “Fate hates me, that would be the only reason something like this would happen” he muttered to himself. Kakashi let out a groan before falling to the ground.

 

Naruto looked at the adults curiously, “I don't get it, what difference it makes that they have one more shinobi captured?” he asked.

 

“Cub, Uchiha Shisui aka Shisui of the Body Flicker, second fastest shinobi in Konoha after the Yellow Flash and the strongest Sharingan user after the Uchiha prodigy Uchiha Itachi was taken down by them! This isn't any ordinary Kumo squad. Taking out a Hyuga or an Uchiha alone is one thing, taking out both at the same time is far too difficult, even a Kage would have difficulty with that task!” Zenith said, now thoroughly disturbed before looking at Neji again, “Tell me, do you remember ANYTHING about this squad that was unusual?”

 

Neji furrowed his brow in thought again, the memories were incredibly hazy. “Their leader was a large man not tall but muscular, like he was carved from stone. He had a pair of twin axes on his back that looked like a full grown man would have trouble lifting just one of them. And a ruby pendent around his neck shaped that seemed to glow…” then his eyes went wide as he recalled the moments just before he was put under.

 

Flashback

 

His father had bought him time, he ran for his life, he had fought against his father in many matches but never once had he shown uncertainty until now. This enemy was unknown to them and very powerful. He had taken out the ANBU and the Uchiha Jonin with one shot before either could react and his father and uncle were barely holding them off.

 

He had just come to a clearing where he thought he was safe and thought to rest for a moment when he heard the snarling sound behind him. He barely had enough time to activate his Byakugan before he fell into dark unconsciousness, the sight of black fur and soulless yellow eyes being the last thing he would ever see.

 

End Flashback

 

“The leader was able to summon leopards…” was all Neji could get out before all hell broke loose.

 

0o0o0o0o0o

 

At the sound of the word leopards the three felines of the group immediately went stone still and looked at Zenith. The look on his face was not one of tiredness but of resolve and fear. The Watch-Were quickly stood and yelled “KURGA!” calling back his other panther summons.

 

“You know furface, you really need to make up your mind, first you want me here then you want me gone, now…” started the surly panther before Zenith cut him off with one word.

 

“Leopards”

 

“What?” asked the normally surly Kurga his eyes narrowing as if wanting for a punch line to a joke that would never come.

 

“Apparently those Kumo bastards are led by one of those psycho followers of Magnus, that was how the SAR team got captured.” Zenith said in a tone of cold seriousness.

 

The panther looked at the Watch-Were in the eye for a moment as if having an unspoken conversation. They both nodded before Kurga looked at the three still stunned Felines incredulously. “What the hell are you three waiting for? An invitation? We have patrols to run! GET YOUR SORRY ASSES UP AND LET'S GO!” yelled Kurga ferociously before leaping into the treetops followed closely by Scarr.

 

Shar'rei and Tela both looked at Zenith for confirmation. The Watch-Were gave them both a serious look. “You heard him, GO!” he yelled.

 

“Hai Zenith-sama.” said the pair before heading off into the trees themselves.

 

“I take it things just got a lot worse didn't it?” asked Kakashi carefully as he noted the pure fury that was being broadcast by the Watch-Were.

 

“Worse, no dear captain; things just went straight to hell that is what happened.” said Zenith coldly before he stood up and began pacing.

 

“I don't understand Zenith-aniki, what is the problem with that man being able to summon leopards?” asked Naruto.

 

Zenith was so out of it he didn't even bother to note that the cub had called him big brother. “Because Leopards are the servants of Magnus the Dark One.” said Zenith quietly.

 

Hinata's eyes when wide and her skin went even paler then its current color. She quickly grasped Naruto's hand and attempted to hide behind him while the blond gulped nervously the boy having learned to read by reading comic books knew that all the worst villains had names like that and if it could get the normally cool and collected Zenith this out of whack, then this guy had to be ten times worse then those guys. The scene itself would have been very cute if the situation had not been so serious.

 

“And just who is Magnus the Dark One?” asked Kakashi while the little voice in his head that sounded like his sensei was yelling, “You don't want to know!”

 

Zenith looked at the group and sighed. “For everything in the universe, there is an equal opposite. Fire and water, earth and air, land and sea, life and death, light and darkness; just as there is the three moon gods that help protect us, there is one who does not. He is known as Magnus the Dark One. Back before the Moon Gods came to power, Magnus ruled with an iron fist until his brother Cainus, his wife Lunanara, and his comrade Vampris rose up and challenged him. The war lasted for millennia until the three overpowered Magnus and cast him into the abyss and the three took their place as the Moon Gods. But Magnus endured so long as his followers believed in him, with their faith he will live on. He can no longer stand against the Moon Gods themselves, his followers are too few for that. But he can bestow great power on those who serve him faithfully. On Earth his leopards are his eyes and ears, the entire clan having sold themselves into his service for power. Only his human followers can sign the contract to summon them and it is only to his will that they are truly subservient to.”

 

“So why did you send those four out to patrol, I thought that anyone who wish to harm a Watch-Were were incapacitated on the night you had to recharge your pendent?” said Kakashi.

 

“Normally true but Magnus' followers are not rendered unconscious on these nights, only paralyzed but his leopards are immune to the force the gods send out on these nights. I sent Kurga and the others out to patrol for any spies that might be watching us. But that will be difficult since those bastards are practically invisible in the shadows and right now we need a plan to get the others back.” said Zenith.

 

“How do we intend to rescue our rescuers when we have not only a Magnus follower but a full squad of shinobi to back him up?” remarked Kakashi.

 

Zenith sighed, “We give the Kumo shinobi the opportunity they want.”

 

Kakashi and the two kids stared at Zenith incredulously, Neji's eyes bulged as he instinctively activated his Byakugan. “I will not let you endanger Hinata-sama's life like this, no matter what you did for me!” yelled the young Hyuga branch family member.

 

“I don't see any other choice, if the kids lure the Chuunin away into an ambush then once that's done the three of us plus Kurga and Scarr take our Jonin and finish off their leader on our terms.” said Zenith sadly.

 

“It's too risky, if this fails you know we won't get another shot at saving them.” said Kakashi.

 

“That is why we WON'T fail!” said Zenith. Reluctantly both males nodded, Zenith looked to the children, about to say that if they didn't want to do this they could back out but remarkably the cubs never moved. Zen smiled ruefully as he began to lay out his plan.

 

0o0o0o0o0o

 

“Are you sure about this?” asked the lead Kumo Nin when his leopard summons returned from his recon patrol.

 

“Without a doubt, I can smell the followers of the traitors a mile away. Kai and his partner failed and the packages fell into the hands of a Watch-Were; one of Lunanara's followers from the look of his familiars.” said the leopard coldly.

 

The man flexed his fingers gingerly. The effect of the wave that knocked out his camp and paralyzed him was sudden but not unexpected. Very slowly he was regaining movement but he wouldn't be able to move fully nor would his men wake until dawn. “This doesn't change much, but it makes things a lot more interesting. Set a watch on the enemy camp and stay out of sight. If you see an opportunity to take back our parcels do so, otherwise I will join you tomorrow.” said the Kumo Nin coolly.

 

“As you wish.” said the leopard before it vanished.

 

A/n2: Next Time the conflict between Kumo and Kohona comes to a head as Zen clashes with the follower of Magnus. Stay tuned if you want to find out what happens next.