Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Reflection of Oneself ❯ Reunion ( Chapter 18 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Reflection of Oneself

Chapter 18: Reunion

Maturity.

At one point or another, every child makes the crossing between childhood and adulthood. You can't be taught how to grow up, like you can be taught to fight or about the wonders of the world. Becoming an adult is a uniquely different journey for everyone. It is the greatest trail we ever have to face - fraught with the remembrance of all our greatest victories and failures… and how we deal them.

Achieving maturity is an experience like no other. It is how we learn to overcome the childish cruelties of our youths and where we find a reason worth living. Some fight for acknowledgement, some fight for wealth, some fight to protect the ones they love and other simply fight to survive. It is up to the individual to make that choice and whether they are happy with the outcome in the end.

Unfortunately, there are those of us who are unable to make that journey. For whatever their reason may be, they remained trapped within the unhealed horrors of the past, stunted and incapable of becoming the person they were destined to be.

So if you are young and confused with life, do not worry. One day you will understand why things are the way they are. You may not like it, but remember, it's all a part of growing up.

“Naruto? N-no… that can't be you.”

Nanikato felt a shiver of fear, Sasuke's warning tickling at the back of his mind. Right now he was really wishing he hadn't stopped. The emotions coming from the remaining Kage Bunshin were a mixture of fear, longing, hope and fury. He now knew exactly why his sensei had told him not to stop.

Tiger-masked bunshin was shaking. “What kind of sick joke is this?” he demanded angrily, taking an angry step forward.

Nanikato said nothing, but held his ground and gritting his teeth, his katana at the ready. The man had obviously taken his appearance badly, just as Sasuke-sensei expected he would.

“There is no joke here ANBU-san.”

The bunshin brought its hands up for the release seal, hoping to dispel what he thought to be an illusion. But even once it was done, he remained intact because his appearance was henge. When he found he couldn't change anything, the older man had stumbled backward, clearly in shock.

“N-no… it can't be.”

Nanikato frowned. “You're right. It can't be.”

“Oh Naruto. I-I can't believe it… that bastard actually cloned you…”

From angry to confused to hopeful, the ANBU took a step towards him and caused the blonde took a wary step back.

`How did he know I'm a clone?' Nanikato thought, paling.

From what Sasuke had said, the information regarding his origins was top secret. There were only a few people who knew the truth - Kabuto san, Orochimaru, Sasuke sensei, Tayuya oneesama and now Inari san and his family. The fact that an ANBU of Konoha and his team knew the exact details of his bizarre existence frightened him.

Nanikato continued to retreat slowly, making no sharp movements as his enemy too continued to approach. The last thing he need was for the man to have a mental breakdown, which would inadvertently lead to his own death while he was at it. With his instincts were screaming for him to run, Nanikato swallowed. He could envision a painful death already - a death by bone-crushing hug. Such was an undignified death for a ninja…

Well, it was that or he end up being pummeled to death if the man decided that he really was cheep rip-off of the real thing and deserved to die for having made a mockery of Naruto-niisan's death.

“Stay away from me.” he hissed warningly.

The bunshin froze. “What's wrong Naruto? Don't you remember me?”

He proceeded to remove the mask that obscured his face in hopes that he might recognize what lie beyond.

Shivering, Nanikato felt his nerves growing even tenser as he continued to walk backwards slowly, praying the man wouldn't pounce.

Once the mask had been removed, the face of the man on the other side held no meaning to him. He was still young, perhaps several or so years older then Kabuto san. Brown hair the color of dark chocolate was pulled back in a ponytail reminiscent to the leaves on a pineapple and his eyes were a slightly lighter shade of the same color. There were also faded shadows under his eyes, a sign that he suffered from mild insomnia. His most defining feature though, was a scar that bisected his face across the bridge of his nose. Looking at it made his stomach twist - as if he had had something to do with it. But that was crazy. The scar itself looked oddly faded too, like the shadows under his eyes, and bore the tingle of a medical genjutsu. Although the man wasn't anything special to look at, there was something about him that people could trust… or at least they had been able to once.

And there was a detached gloominess hung over him, masking what had once been a kind and gentle man. Looking at him, Nanikato knew that Naruto's death had been the cause this man's transformation. He shuddered inwardly, wishing to flee and seek refuge from the look in those brown eyes that was so beseeching - yearning for him to be someone that he could never be.

`He thinks I'm Naruto-niisan.' he thought bitterly. `Even though he knows I'm a clone, he still ignorantly assumes that I'm nii-san!'

He bristled. Although he was proud of being more or less his brother's legacy, he suddenly found himself hating it. This man - this bunshin - thought he was Naruto. Sure, he might look almost exactly like him, but he was his own person - mind, body and soul.

He wouldn't condone any delusions.

He wouldn't be Naruto.

“Why would I remember you?” he finally said. “That question has a simple answer. Now why don't I remember you? That's because I'm not Naruto.”

“Nonsense.”

Nanikato frowned, noticeably taken aback. “It is not nonsense.” he bit off. “I am not Naruto.”

He didn't like it all. For some reason, it grated terribly on his nerves. He was an individual of own - something that he only just come to accept. It was what set him apart from being just a clone. If really had been Naruto-niisan, then he would have had his brother's memories, which he did not. Their souls were unique and thus he was someone complete different inside a body that simply looked the same.

But there was no telling this man that.

“They erased your memories didn't they? They've been brainwashing you ever since they brought you back…” he was rambling now, completely and utterly devoted to believing what wanted even though it wasn't true. Dear sweet Kami-sama! He had he had a fanatic after him! “But I can help you. We have specialists trained for that sort of thing - ”

Evidently the bunshin didn't believe one word he said. The man simply shook his head and continued to come towards him, but by then, Nanikato had finally snapped and began slashing his katana warningly at the shadow clone.

“Weren't you listening to a word I said, you loon!?” he yelled in frustration. “I told you - I'm not Naruto! I have never been Naruto! So don't you even continue thinking that I've been brainwashed!” when the man really started to come towards him sporting a look of tragic sympathy, Nanikato freaked. “And don't you dare think of hugging me, dammit!”

“But Naruto - ”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP, AHOU!!”

The man staggered backwards in shock as Nanikato screamed, flinging himself at the bunshin with an intense intent to kill, deciding it was the perfect time to take a leaf from Tayuya-oneesama's book.Caught off guard, the shadow clone was unable to fight back in time as the blonde body slammed him, causing them both to tumble to the ground in a cloud of dust.

With his katana to the bunshin's throat, Nanikato hissed venomously. “I am not Naruto! And when your memories return the original, be sure to tell him that.”

And as he drew the blade across the man's throat, the bunshin burst into a cloud of smoke, his memories returning to the one that had created him…

-.ooOoo.-

Lee vs. Haku:

They clashed.

Thrown backwards by the force, Rock Lee's round eyes widened considerably. The young brunette he was facing was fast - faster then he was while he was wearing the weights. It was shocking, considering that there were few people that could match his speed with or with weights.

And the boy was good too.

For about five minutes, the battle was kept strictly to taijutsu. Unable to use the other, the black haired man was forced to hold back most of his attacks and wait for the boy to reveal his. It was an off kilter strategy, yes, but it was the best one he had. His opponent was an unpredictable one, one that he couldn't go wasting all his stamina on.

He thought of his inability to use chakra and it made him think of his daughter. Ever since Sakura had discovered that their baby had inherited his case of underdeveloped chakra coils, she had been doing everything she could in order to cure the genetic trait. The defect, they discovered through researching his lineage, was passed from mother to son, from father to daughter every generation. It was one of the many reasons as to why so few people in his family had ever been ninja.

But perhaps his Lien, his little flower, wouldn't have to go through the same thing that he did when she was older. He had faith that his lovely wife would find the way to correct his family's curse while their daughter's chakra coils were resilient and had the ability to grow. And then perhaps, she might be able to help him too.

Launching into the air, he drove the teenager back with a spinning kick to the chest. The boy's eyes glittered as he tumbled gracefully backward and Lee knew that he had finally managed to draw something out. With a smirk that wasn't cruel, his opponent raised one hand and began to perform one-handed seals!

“Sensatsu SuishÅ!”

If Lee hadn't been the kind of man he was, he would cursed. But since he was a good guy with the Springtime of Youth still followed through his veins, not to mention that he was the father of two, there was no way he would speak such blasphemies.

Instead, he dropped a few sets of his weights so that he would be able to move faster.

`Ice!' he thought as the thousands of icy senbon descended upon him. `This kid is a Hyouton user! If I'm not careful, his rare and chilly talents might freeze my Flames of Youth!'

A moment later, he copped one of the frozen needles in the rump.

“ITAI!” he hollered, soaring into the air with hands clapped over his posterior.

As soon as he landed, he ripped the icicle free and tossed it aside. But just as he was preparing to attack the teen using his Omote Renge, the air suddenly began to grow cold around him. He gasped, his breath frosting and his eyes widening, as glistening sheets of ice quickly began to form in the air around him.

“MakyÅ HyÅ ShÅ!”

The boy had intoned the name of his attack before Lee had the chance to react and he found himself surrounded by an almost prison-like dome of mirrors, closing him off. After a brief count, he noted that there were twenty-one mirrors of ice; twelve at ground level, eight at an angle and one covering the topmost point.

Then each mirror rippled and the image of the feminine teen appearing in each one.

“This is where our fight ends.” the boy said, his voice echoing throughout the dome, his position never betrayed. “Few have lived to tell the tale of surviving the Demonic Ice Mirrors. This is the ultimate attack of my accursed bloodline.”

Without warning, another volley of ice needles rained down upon him from all directions. Lee managed to dodge nearly all of them thanks to his superior speed, but took a couple to the lower torso and left forearm. Plucking the needs while dodging his opponents fast paced changing between mirrors and more needles, the black haired man threw himself into one of his favorite attacks.

“Konoha Daisenpuu!”

Momentum caused him to rise into the air, his feet lashing out at the mirrors as the great whirlwind allowed him to spin like a top. A singular senbon managed to slip past his defenses, sinking deeply into pressure point controlling the movement of his right thigh. As his spin was thrown off, Lee staggered and collapsed, but at the sound of cracking ice, he allowed himself a smile.

Extracting the icy senbon from his leg and testing it, he knew he wouldn't be able to use his right leg for at least an hour or two.

“Do not assume that you have won.”

He stiffened, his eyes going wide once more as he noticed that the cracks his attack had created in the mirrors were already being to seal up and disappear. The reflections of the boy smiled back at him humorlessly.

“Your attacks are useless Ryuu-san. You will wear yourself out long before mirrors will be destroyed.”

“Why?!” Lee snapped, struggling to stand despite his temporarily dead leg. “Why do you protect them? You do know that they're murderers don't you?”

The images of his opponent shrugged, the teen's dark chocolate eyes unaffected. “So? All shinobi are weapons of their villages or of their chosen masters. We kill who we are ordered to kill, whether we want to or not. We all fight to survive in this world, some of more then others. Why do I protect them? Because they have the right to live. Perhaps they did terrible things in the past, but who hasn't? Doesn't everyone have the right to atone for their sins?”

“But Naruto-kun - ”

“Was a wonderful person. Had I lived longer, I would have been honored to be his friend.”

Evading more of those ice needles, Lee's mind raced.

`How does he know Naruto-kun? He died almost thirteen years ago and he doesn't look any older then fifteen! He'd have been too young to have known him…'

Then everything seemed to slowly click into place. He could remember his Sakura-chan telling him about her first real mission. It had been here in Wave Country, not long after she had graduated from the academy and had been placed on her doomed genin team. It had been a tough mission too - a terrified bridge builder who was trying to end his country's depression had hired Team Seven.

During their mission, she had told them that they had fought an A-rank missing-nin known as Momochi Zabuza and his apprentice, Haku. The man that had engaged Tenten in battle too, matched Sakura-chan's description of Zabuza. Aside from his obvious ability to use the rare ice element, the appearance of the boy he fought matched that of Haku as well.

But they were dead…

Had I livedlonger, I would have been honored to be his friend.

“Matte!”

The taijutsu master winced as a half a dozen more senbon imbedded themselves into various parts of his body, thankfully none of them sensitive. He wobbled, managing to hold his ground as the teen stopped. His gaze hard and dubious. “Why should I?”

“You… are you Haku?”

The teen's eyes widened, and then narrowed.

“How do you know my name?”

“Sakura-chan told me about you.”

“And who is she suppose to be? I know no Sakura.”

“She was the girl on Naruto-kun's team - the one with the pink hair. She's my wife.”

“Oh…” he answered dryly. “Her.”

“What do mean by that!?”

Haku tossed a lock of brown hair out of his pale, attractive face.

“I don't know whether to pity, or to congratulate you. I do not remember much about the girl, but from what I do remember, she was a miserable person. For Zabuza-san, I spied on our enemies and she had to be by far one of the cruelest females I have seen. Now tell me, had Naruto-kun not died, would she have married you? No, rather she would still be simpering over the Uchiha. Sure, Naruto-kun's death must have been traumatic for many people and perhaps in the end she may have changed her for the better, but isn't that always how it goes? You're always too late to say sorry?”

Lee found that all he could do was gapped at the boy in shock. He felt pain in his chest - the `what ifs' warring with his emotions once more. There was no denying that most of what Haku said was true, at least at certain points. It had taken his four years to convince Sakura-chan to go out on a date with him and then another two and half to convince her to marry him. She was happy now, that he knew, as she had finally allowed herself to truly move on.

The love of his life was more stubborn as an ox.

“But why do you fight me?” he finally asked. “You're dead! Shouldn't you be moving on rather then aiding murderers?”

“I fight you, because Nanikato-kun asked me too.” Haku replied icily. “I have only known him for a short while, but he has become precious to me - a friend was never able to have. In life, I devoted myself to protecting the one I cared about most and I continue to do so after death. As for helping murderers, as shinobi, we are all murderers. It is doubtless that Sasuke-san and Tayuya-san have caused much chaos, but believe it or not, they are atoning for their sins.”

“But he - ”

“Killed Naruto-kun. I know because I felt the change that followed his death. When you die, you tend to listen to what's happening in the world around you - especially to what's happing to the people you knew that are still living… and dying. Sasuke did a terrible thing yes, but he is making up for it by protecting Nanikato-kun. The boy is innocent of everything your and your comrades would like to blame him for. Even though he was created and trained to be a weapon, doesn't mean that he is an abomination - far from it, in fact. But what would you understand? Because your enemy created him, he is labeled as freak of nature - I know what was like, because having a kekkei genkai made it so. And being trained by the Uchiha makes him a dangerous. He would be persecuted like I was. Only good once dead, right?”

Lee sputtered.

“N-no!”

Haku of course, didn't believe him.

“You may believe that, but it is otherwise different. As a ninja loyal of your village, you are to either kill or capture your pray. I cannot let you to leave here because I know that once you have what your after, Sasuke-san and Tayuya-san will eventually be executed. For that reason, I cannot let you harm them for they are Nanikato-kun's precious people and they are all he has.”

Having finished all that he was going to say, the young brunette moving in to finish him off. Due to the limited amount of room with the prison of mirrors, Lee found it very hard to dodge all the senbon being thrown at him from every side as his opponent hid in the very mirrors themselves.

“Ore no kachi da!” Lee shouted, knowing exactly what he had to do.

Keeping the images of Sakura and the twins in his mind, the older man began pouring all his strength into forcing his numb leg to move, running circles around the prison of ice. A wind had begun to whip up around him, causing a suction of pressure moving inwards. And as he anticipated, Haku took that moment to step forth from his mirrors to attack. Caught by the sucking force, the taijutsu master snagged the teen by the arm and launched them both into air.

“Kyuukyoku Otoshiana!”

In the end, neither of them would really win anyway.

-.ooOoo.-

Tenten vs. Zabuza

She really liked that sword.

It had power and class - a brutal weapon that was used for cleaving the enemy nin in half and hacking them to unrecognizable bits. If it weren't for the teeny tiny fact that it was being wielded by the very person that was currently trying to kill her, its magnificence would have sent her into some kind of euphoric coma.

The man, like his sword, was also impressive. He was taller then any other man met, even a bit taller then Hatake Kakashi, who always seemed to be a head above everyone else. His drab garb of blues, whites and grays, as well as the bandaged facemask, spoke business. Unlike most ninja out there, he wasn't some flashy prima donna that tended to get people killed because of their need for the spotlight. This man was a professional killer.

He was also a master of his chosen art.

Every strike, ever parry she made, he met her step for step, driving her back and forcing her to work harder then she had ever worked before. He was, by far, her toughest and most worthy opponent yet. And although Tenten herself was a swordswoman, among all her other weaponry talents, she knew it she wouldn't last long against a zanpato with only a ninjato and kunai.

With the constant clash of swordplay, she was unable to get the space she needed in order to summon more weapons - and it was rapidly beginning to piss her off.

Although she normally didn't use ninjutsu unless the situation absolutely called for it, Tenten decided this very moment was a necessary one. Performing a few fast paced seals, she threw her single remaining kunai at the taller man. “Kage Kunai no Jutsu!”

The Kiri-nin leapt back, giving her the distance she wanted and need.

“Suiton: Suijinheki!”

The two attacks clashed, some of the shadow kunai exploded into small wisps of smoke while the others were simply slowed down by the water long enough for their target to escape.

“Not good enough little girl!”

A strong blast of water was thrown at her, soaking her to the bone and causing her to stumble. Summoning all the weapons she could, Tenten launched her volley at the man, only to have deflected. He was seriously being to remind her of her battle with Sabaku no Temari during her first Chuunin Exams thirteen years ago.

“Who the hell are you, you bastard!?” she snapped.

“Do you know,” he chuckled, parrying her next attack. “That it isn't polite to ask someone their name without giving your own first?”

Tenten sneered. “Very well. I am Atsuigane Tenten, also known as the Living Weapon; trained in all forms of armed combat and the prime weapons master of Konohagakure. And who is that I have had the pleasure to fight?”

She added the last part sarcastically.

The blue-garbed man only smirked back. “Momochi Zabuza, Demon of the Mist and former member of the Kiri no Shinobigatana Nananin Shu.”

The blood drained from her face. When she had been a small child, her father had told her tales of the triumphs and horrors of the Kiri no Shinobigatana Nananin Shu. They were a brutal, bloody bunch of ninja, but they were the foremost masters of the most devastating kenjutsu styles. She had been envious, wishing that she could be as powerful as them - idolizing them almost as much as she had idolized Tsunade-sama.

And here she was facing a legend… one that had been dead for thirteen years.

“Impossible! He's dead!”

Zabuza laughed.

“So? When has that ever stopped anyone? I have returned to help my summoner in a battle that he himself is unable to fight.”

Tenten's brown eyes widened as she, or at least what she thought she was, put two and two together.

“Necromancy!” she gasped, feeling sick to her stomach. “Trust Orochimaru and his trusted lapdog to create something as twisted and vile as that! An abomination like that should be - ”

The sound of metal whistling against the wind caused the bun-haired weapon's mistress to be interrupted, forcing the brunette to duck. Had she of waited three more seconds before dropping to the ground, her head would have been irrevocably severed from her body. As proof of her close call, the hair on the right side of her face hung in short serrated bangs, the bun having been mercilessly lopped off.

Grasping at the drifting wisps of hair, she looked up at the imposing figure before her.

“I wouldn't have said that if I were you little girl.” Zabuza hissed, taking a step forward. The atmosphere around the dead man had changed dramatically, becoming chilled and eerie like death. “That boy is anything but an abomination. In all my years of bloodshed and death, I have never seen a soul as bright and pure as his. He may have had the misfortune of being brought into the world by a monster, but that doesn't mean is a monster himself. The jutsu he used to summon my subornation and myself is anything but necromancy. He asked us for our aid in battle and we consented. When the battle is over, we go back to our unlife as aimless spirits. I'll have you know that when you are unable leave this purgatory, you'll do almost anything to feel useful. And I may not have done many good things in life, but I will have my chance to do them in death. If protecting that boy from the likes of you means getting sent to hell, then I would gladly go to hell.”

“Fine then.” she leered darkly. “Show me the best you've got. A member of the Kiri no Shinobigatana Nananin Shu you might have been, but you've been dead for thirteen years. A blade gets dull and rusty if left that long unpolished.”

Zabuza laughed again. “I may have been dead for thirteen years, but that doesn't mean I haven't spent all those days perfecting my talents. With Haku to fight with, there was limitless time to train the hours away. Oh, I'll show you the best I can do alright and of all the kenjutsu styles that I learned in life, only one of them is appropriate for this moment.”

Tenten swallowed the lump in her throat, her bravado just beginning to waver. “And what would that be?”

“Have you ever heard of the Yaiba no Kanshiki?”

She actually stumbled, staggering backward. “You know those? No, impossible! They were said to have been lost during the First Great Shinobi War!”

“Well apparently they weren't because I happen to know two them.”

“W-which ones?”

“I'm sure you'll find out soon enough.”

“Yaiba no Kanshiki: Nana Zaiaku no Mai!”

Tenten winced, preparing to fight even though she knew that she had dug herself a very deep hole - one that she might possibly not climb out off. In the overall arsenal of attacks this style possessed, the one she was witnessing now had the harshest penalties. This particular breed of kenjutsu/genjutsu hybrid affected the mind of its victim by making them relive each of the seven deadly sins that they had ever committed. She was frightened of course, because as a human being, she had partaken in more then a few. A fierce shudder racked her body, but she did her best to protect herself from the images and the feeling that assaulted her, showing her everything she had ever done out of the name of sin.

“Fundo no Mai!”

Anger.

“Kenshiki no Mai!”

Pride.

“Okayaki no Mai!”

Envy.

“Yokushin no Mai!”

Greed.

“Aiyoku no Mai!”

Lust.

“Bushou no Mai!”

Sloth.

“Houshoku no Mai!”

Gluttony.

Tenten spun, growing sick and dizzy from what she was feeling. All though it was an illusion, all the feelings were real. They were her own, dredged up from the back of her mind and the bottom of her heart. Finally she collapsed to her knees, heaving up this morning's breakfast. While empting her stomach, she waited for the killing blow…

But none came.

“You have proven yourself innocent of judgment.” Zabuza said from above her, reaching down and hauling her to her feet. “It is not my place to kill you,” Kami, was she ever thankful for that… “But I cannot let you continue this fight today. I have won.”

And for once the Demon of the Mist granted his enemy an act of mercy. Swinging his sword back, he struck the young woman upside the head with the flat of Kubikiri Houchos blade. Her brown eyes widened in shock, her mouth opening a closing a few times before he eyelids fluttered and she collapsed into an unconscious heap upon the ground.

Staggering backward, Zabuza took a deep breath, relishing the last few moments he had as living being before the last of his chakra expended itself and he vanished in a small puff of smoke.

-.ooOoo.-

Neji vs. Tayuya

If someone had told you that a Hyuuga and a Genjutsu Master were about to fight, you probably would have laughed. Naturally, genjutsu doesn't get far when goes up against the Byakugan, the Hyuuga clan's glorified kekkei genkai, but this particularly genjutsu user had taken into account her weakness against such opponents. Even though the man before he was wearing a masking, Tayuya knew who it was she was going to be fighting. If it wasn't the eerie white glow coming from the eyeholes of his mask, it was the fruity girly-boy hair.

The redhead smirked as she and the Hyuuga circled each other slowly, getting a scope of the competition and weighing the threats. She knew right away that the white-eyed bastard didn't take her seriously, not with the kind of clothes she was wearing right now.

But deception was a shinobi's, and more so a kunoichi's, greatest weapon.

“It's a shame that Shikamaru-sama didn't manage to kill you. I was told you died and was thoroughly disappointed to find that you had survived years later,” the Hyuuga finally said.

“Well, your precious Hokage is a fucktard and the only reason he survived his fight with me was because of that skank from Suna. If it wasn't for her, that lazy little fucker would'a been six feet under the maggots right now.” she sneered. “But what I would like to know is how that idiotic genius become a Kage in the first place. I mean any proper ninja with half a brain would have known I lived through that - I was only partially crushed by the log for fuck's sake. And it's a shame too that Kidoumaru-yaro hadn't killed you either, bastard. From what I heard, if it hadn't been for those medic-nin, it would been bye-bye Mr. Fucking-Superiority-Complex.”

She noticed with satisfaction that she had made him angry due to the furious hue of red that traveled down his neck.

“What? Can't take a few words?”

Her taunt only served to deepen the red.

“Such a shame. Poor, poor inbred little bastard.”

“I am not inbred, wench!”

“Oh come on!” she scoffed. “You know as well as I do Hyuuga, that your clan is just a bunch of incestuous inbred bastards. Ninety-nine percent of you faggots are marrying either your first or second cousins because you believe it `refines the bloodline'. Instead, all you get is offspring with mental instability because they are suffering from genetic failure. Why do think power corrupts you're fool minds easier then others? No wonder the Uchiha were so fucked up - the first, after all, was Hyuuga that made a deal with the devil so he could escape the clan. But he didn't escape far, now did he? Instead he created a new clan that was ten times worse then the original, seeing as the demonic blood flowing through their veins caused them to become barmy and bloodthirsty. If I didn't hate Sasuke so much, I'd pity the fucker.”

He closed the distant between them in seconds, which was enough time for Tayuya to twirl her flute once, tucked it under her chin for a moment and preformed a few precise head seals. Once the seals were complete, she brought end of the metal rod to her lips with one had, racked the other hand through the air and blew a few high-pitched notes into the flute.

“Tsume sano Kokuban!”

The sound that came out of it was enough to cause the Hyuuga to stop dead in mid-dash, his eyes widening as his ears actually began to bleed. Excited that she had drawn first blood without even having the touch the prick, she blew a few more notes into the flute. The wretched sound based ninjutsu was enough to drive any sane person mad with its screeching wail. It was one of her favorites, after all.

While he was momentarily incapacitated, the red haired woman took a shot at him, performing a roundhouse kick whilst she played that caught him between the shoulder blades. But that was where her free shots had come to an end. Plugging his ears, her opponent attacked again, this time using an impromptu kickboxing. Unable to keep playing, Tayuya was forced to put her flute aside in order to deflect the indigo haired man's attacks.

One strike caught her in the abdomen, right above her left kidney. She grunted, moving with the flow and the pattern of his kicks until the bleeding his ears stopped. Once the bleeding had stopped, he was able to fight with his fists again.

“You're in my field of hakke,” he declared, coming at her. “Fell the power of the Hyuuga's Hakke Rokujuuyon Sho!”

And then he attacked. Coming in close, his hands flew as speed barely noticeable to the human eye. He was fast, striking out to take her down

“Nishou!”

“Yonshou!”

“Hashou!”

“Juurokushou!”

“Sanjuunishou!”

“Rokujuuyonshou!”

The last hit caused Tayuya to be sent sprawling. She hurt all over from his hit, but nonetheless ignored the pain and struggled to stand. The pretty-boy was smirking down at her, obviously confidant with his victory.

“You can't beat me now,” he laughed humorlessly. “I've sealed off your tenketsu points and that means you can't use your chakra anymore. Face the facts - your inferior.”

Tayuya only laughed in his face.

“That's what you think asshole.” the she sneered. “Iroai Yoroi no Jutsu - Kai!”

His eyes widened as his Byakugan took in something hadn't been paying attention to before. Her entire body was shimmering, covered in a glow the reminiscent to that of a rainbow. It rippled for a few moments longer, before finally splintering and crumbling off her to reveal that, while her tenketsu were bruised, they were still very much open.

He must have been in shock, because his face was schooled into an expressionless mask.

“Where did you learn that?” he hissed, more demanding then asking.

Of course the Hyuuga would want to know how someone had come up with a jutsu that could flawlessly combat they're own.

“Nanikato and I created. He thought up the concepts, I did the rest. Pretty ingenious right? It was initially Sasuke-teme who thought we should invent jutsus like this, just incase we came across fuckers like you. Now if I was Nanikato, I could have allowed that jutsu to remain on for much longer. So why don't you go outside and play `hide and go fuck yourself'?”

Silence prevailed.

“Do you believe yourself without any weakness?” he finally asked, crossing his arms. “From what I see, you seem to care about that blasphemous creature Kabuto created.” if he was trying to goad her into a trap, it was working. “I'll tell you what - after I've defeated you, I'll let you stay alive long for you to watch as I kill it right before your eyes!”

Hook, line and sinker.

For a split second, there was silence. During that infinity, Tayuya could suddenly hear the sound of her own blood thundering in her ears. She shock, her anger building to the point that the curse seal on her left shoulder started to burn. The damn broke then, unleashing the fury that presented itself in the form of red-hot chainlike patterns. Taking it, the redhead tempered her fury and held back from going strait to level two. She knew she would have to pace herself because even with the godlike power of the second level, she wasn't infallible. That had been proven the last time she fought one of those Konoha bastards.

A split second later, she was moving. Empowered. Call it whatever you want - maternal instinct overloud or sheer insanity - but when it really came down to it, Tayuya was seeing red. With her nostrils flaring like a bull, the redheaded woman charged. Whatever the `almighty' Hyuuga had been expecting, it wasn't for her to charge at him head-on.

She caught him too. With her head bent low, Tayuya plowed into him using her head as a battering ram. Together, they went sprawling head over heals and the collision was enough to the caused the wind to be knocked out of the younger man. His masked cracked on impact, shattering to tiny shards - he face revealed.

She would have liked to punch the pretty face, but like all hardened warriors, he was back on his feet moments later, preparing himself for her next attack.

Using the adrenaline that pumping through her veins like a drug, Tayuya attacked again. She was going to make the Hyuuga wish that he had never been born because no one - absolutely no one - threatened her little brother like that and got away it. She was going to make that him pay. Possibly even turn him into a eunuch if need be.

The Hyuuga began to retaliate using his clan taijutsu style. Having had the heads up years ago, the genjutsu mistress knew well enough to stay out of close range of his attacks, lest she have her tenketsu points closed. Keeping that in mind, she knew she would have to make a few sacrifices. So running in close, Tayuya threw a deceive punch at him, preparing for him to take the bait. As soon as his right hand close around her left fist and closed of the tenketsu for her left arm, she twisted sharply and took the opening she needed…

…to drive her knee up sharply into his groin.

If she hadn't have been so pissed off that the moment, she would have relished the sound of the younger man's high pitched soprano of pain that was like music to her ears.

“Y-you bitch!” his voice sounded so raw she couldn't help but smirk.

“No one,” Tayuya snarled. “Threatens my otouto and gets away with it!”

The Hyuuga's pearly eyes widened a fraction.

“He's your brother?”

“Not by blood, but by every other way that counts and you'd do well to remember that!” and then she attacked with a whistle. “Suzu: Kokuten!”

He screamed again, covering his eyes as whole ten meters around them was suddenly awash with intense light. When the light vanished and he removed his hands, she watched in mystified fascination as the blood vessels in his eyes began to burst. Within the space of as minute, his once pearly white eyes were stained red.

It almost looked like a demon's stare.

He growled, and see could feel his tenable lust for vengeance. “Kimi wa sono mama shine!”

Even though he was practically blind, the Hyuuga was able to body check her, sending her spinning. While she spun, he grabbed her left arm and he pulled her close.

“Hakke Mahi!”

She gazed in unadulterated horror as his now red eyes blazing angrily. Seconds later she let out a cry of pain as the tips of his bony fingers began to viscously stab at the pressure points dotting her spine. The blinding agony lasted only the briefest of moments before vanishing, but leaving her body complete numb.

He let her drop and there was nothing she could do to stop the decent. Toppling into a heap on the ground, her cheekbone cracking as it struck the pavement, all she could do was watch as Sasuke fought his own losing battle, unable to move.

-.ooOoo.-

Sasuke vs. Iruka

“Hisashiburi dana, Iruka-sensei.”

For Sasuke, he really didn't want to be facing the situation at hand. He wondered briefly if he had grown up as much as he thought he had. Maturity was, in itself a double-edged blade. Since the deaths of his family, he had grown in was that the other children his age had not. Yet at the same time, he never grew at all. Till Nanikato had become apart of his life, he had remained that jaded eight-year-old who had lost everything he had ever held dear. It had been Naruto who had instigated his journey toward true maturity and Nanikato was the one who had completed it. He thought of others before himself now, desiring their safety over his own selfish soul.

He had, perhaps, truly grownup to be the man he was destined to be.

Gazing at his former academy sensei, he couldn't help but feel the weight and the regret of his actions. He could see that Iruka was fighting the urge to rant and rave - to scream and cry. Sasuke knew that if there was anything that Umino Iruka really wanted, it was him limb from limb. Yet the older man refused to move, as if frozen by the actuality that he was indeed facing the person that had taken Naruto's life thirteen years ago.

“You've grown.”

Sasuke actually found himself surprised by the man's calm remark when Iruka spoke. He had expected so much more.

“And so have you, I see.” the young Uchiha replied. “Has it finally come down to this? You are not the first to want my head for the death of a beloved brother. Even in death, Naruto still has a profound effect over all of us, ne?”

“Yes.”

Onyx eyes clouded briefly, contemplating. “You want to know why I did it, don't you? Why I killed Naruto? It may not be what you have imagined.”

Iruka said nothing, but raised a single brow as he continued to watch Sasuke with that hawk-like intensity that he had always been infamous for.

“Truth be told, I never wanted to kill him. Even while we fought, I did not want to. In the end, I was more on adrenaline then sanity. It had been like that for years. Had I not succumbed to chakra exhaustion; I mostly likely would have gone back to Konoha, for his sake. But I did, and Kabuto had taken me to Oto with him. Once I was there, I was unable to return to place that was once my home.”

“You know I'm going to kill you, right?”

The older man's words were more a statement then a question.

Sasuke nodded. “You can try.”

“I will die trying if it means killing you.”

“Do you think that's would Naruto would have wanted? For you, his most precious person, to become like me?”

“I am not like you.”

“Unfortunately Iruka-sensei, you are. Inari-san said the same thing, yet like myself, he desired my death as absolution for another's. We all walk the same fine line. Some slip and fall, others just keep on walking. Regrettably so, it is what makes us human. It was something that Naruto knew so much better then any of us.”

A twitch had begun to form on Iruka's left eyebrow, signifying that he was rapidly approaching the end of his tolerance.

“Naruto was a friend. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't wish I could go back and change my mistake. But what's done is done. Right now, I have someone else that needs protecting.

“The clone right?” the former teacher sneered, their previous one-sided conversation forgotten. “How does it feel to have your own pet monster? No doubt you've been teaching him how to be a killer. Have you told him all the horrible things you've done?”

Sasuke didn't even bother to question how the older brunette knew of Nanikato's origins. The thing was he didn't seem to know that Nanikato happened to be the clone of Naruto. Thank Kami for the few small miracles he was blessed with.

“Of course I've told him, and he isn't a monster. Nanikato may not have liked the things I have done in the past, but he has forgiven me. That is what a family does, right? As much as I hate to admit it, that boy and Tayuya-san are the closest thing I have had to family since Naruto.”

Iruka scowled. “Are you going to kill them too?”

The raven-haired man frowned. “You have changed, more then I gave you credit for.”

“It happens that way. You took my little brother away from me.”

“And so I continue to swim in the pool of my own regret.”

“Too bad you haven't drowned.”

“TouchÃ©. Then you'd be pleased to know I almost have on more then one occasion.”

Sasuke sighed, feeling so very old. He paused, briefly watching as the other fights that were currently taking place transpired. He couldn't help but feel a nagging sensation tugging at his stomach as he did so. They were going to loose, that he knew. He only prayed that Nanikato got to Inari in time…

Then suddenly, without warning, Umino Iruka bent double and started to gasp loudly as he held his neck tightly in his hands. Then Sasuke knew that Nanikato hadn't made it to Inari. Kage Bunshin, he realized fleetingly, must have caught up with his young charge only moment ago. The fact that Iruka was acting like this made certain that he knew `who' Nanikato was and that the boy had dispatched his bunshin.

And when Iruka finally let go of his neck and looked up, there was madness in his eyes.

“You bastard! You goddamn dirty bastard!”

Unsheathing his ninjato, the ANBU flung himself at the younger man, overcome by the rage of having seen what he obviously believed was Naruto come back from the dead. Sasuke had only moments to unsheathe his own weapon to block to furious blow sought to smite him where he stood. Drastic situations called for drastic measures.

“Chidori Nagashi!”

The lightning coursed out of him like wildfire, surrounding his body in their protective web of electricity. As soon as it connected with Iruka, the brunette let out of cry of rage and pain as he was electrified. He leapt away, allowing the older man to nurse his wounds and twitch from the shock that had caused his hair to stand on end.

“What have you done to him!?”

Sasuke glared.

“What do you mean `what have I done with him'?”

“You know what I mean Uchiha! What have you done to Naruto!?”

“I haven't done anything.”

Iruka, of course, didn't believe him.

“Yes you have! He doesn't remember me at all and seems to think that he's someone else entirely! I know you did something, and if not you, it was Kabuto or Orochimaru! You've brainwashed him - I know it!”

“He hasn't been brainwashed!” the Uchiha snapped, parrying another attempt to slash him to pieces. “Don't be a fool Iruka-sensei - Nanikato is not Naruto. Just because he's his clone doesn't mean he is the same person. Naruto is dead and nothing is going to change that!”

“You lie! He will remember! I'll make him remember!”

“You've gone mad!”

“Go to hell!” Iruka yelled. “Suiton: Yakedo!”

Sasuke cursed, feeling his temperature rise. Steam began to rise from his already reddening skin; giving him the impression that the crazed former academy teacher was trying to cook him like an egg - which he undoubtedly was.

“Suiton: Gyouko Himatsu!”

The raven-haired man was suddenly doused by a gallon of icy water. Thoroughly drenched, Sasuke was thankful for its immediate soothing effect, which had served to keep Iruka's attack from boiling his blood. It also had the effect of making Iruka's cheek to twitch irritably.

Then they charged each other.

“Die Uchiha!”

Sasuke inhaled sharply, stumbling backward as Neji suddenly appeared between him and Iruka, the former teacher doing the same out of shock. Caught by surprise, the younger man was unable to defend himself against the Hyuuga, who engaged him in a brief taijutsu duel that lead to the older man getting behind him and striking more then a dozen pressure points up his spine in quick secession.

He coughed, going numb soon after. Unable to control the movement of his body, the horror nearly overwhelmed him as his enemy let go and allow him fall. As he hit the pavement, a small cloud of dust rose up around him. Neji smirked down at him, and then viciously kicked him in the ribs. Spots danced before his eyes for moment, then everything when black.

Iruka panted. “Arigatou Neji-kun.”

The older man whipped his brow but never taking his eyes of the traitor who lay unconscious on the ground.

“Anytime, Iruka-sensei.” the indigo haired man nodded. “I couldn't very well let the bastard kill you.”

“Of course.”

Iruka gritted his teeth and turned, glancing around their impromptu battlefield. Amid pools of water, blood and stray weapons, the unconscious forms of Lee and Tenten lay. He looked questioningly at Neji, and then winced when he saw the damage done to the Hyuuga eyes.

“What happened to you?”

“The woman became a hundred fold strongest since that day. What Shikamaru recounted of his battle with her was useless - she has obviously gotten better since then, which is understandable. She possessed a jutsu capable of blocking the effects of my Hakke Rokujuuyon Sho and a very effective illusion of the Sun.” he gestured bitter to his eyes, which were throbbing angrily. “In the end, of course, I won.”

Iruka smiled wearily. “Same old Neji.”

The Hyuuga smirked.

“As for Lee and Tenten-saiai's battles, I think they dealt with more strenuous action then the both of us. Lee tied with his opponent - the boy was a Hyouton user and fast enough to give him an even fight. As for Tenten, her opponent unfortunately had the upper hand since the start. Although she fought to the best of her abilities, the man was simply more skilled then she was. Thankfully though, the man was dismissed himself before he could kill her…”

“That's good.” the brunette nodded. “Seems like everything turned out okay.”

“And what about the clone? He - ”

“Is Naruto…”

Neji gapped in disbelief. “Nani?! Please repeat what just said.”

The older man growled, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white.

“I said the clone was Naruto. The assholes cloned Naruto! I found out via the Kage Bunshin I sent after him. It was Naruto - right down to the whisker marks! I - I didn't know what to do. He didn't even remember me either.”

“Perhaps he never re-inherited his memories. Yakushi Kabuto is the only person to have successfully cloned a human being. There's no telling what he left out of his notes. And if he did at one point possess the memories of his past life, it also possible that they were wiped out. It wouldn't do to have a weapon with a mind of his own - ”

“Don't start that again…”

The two men tensed, Iruka wincing as he and Neji turned around. Sure enough, the blonde doppelganger that he found to be a replica of his little brother was the looking at them was a gaze filled with undiluted anger burning in his sharp blue eyes. Instinctively, the older of the two men reached up and rubbed his neck in remembrance of the phantom pain he had received when bunshin had returned to him.

The boy smiled humorlessly at them. “There is a perfectly logical reason to why I don't have Naruto-niisan's memories. It is because have my own soul. Did it ever occur to you that that would technically make me something like an identical twin? I was cloned from him - no more, no less - and I am the only outcome to have survived.”

“Naruto - ”

Blue eyes flashed dangerously.

“Don't - don't you dare start that again. I will not stand for such irrationality.”

Neji's mouth was hanging slightly ajar behind his mask, his pale gaze locked on the boy. Activating his Byakugan, the indigo haired Hyuuga scanned the blonde youth before him. He remembered that Naruto's blue chakra coils were larger then the normal shinobi and a second red set, the ones that belonged to the Kyuubi, were centered around his stomach. Looking at this boy, he noticed that there was definitely something different.

This boy's chakra was… white. It was pure and unobstructed, a colorless color like none he had ever seen before. Like Naruto, blonde's coils were larger then normal, signifying that he possessed an abnormally large quantity of chakra. Where as there was no condensing of foreign chakra around his stomach, there was a pulse coming from his upper back, his eyes (a doujutsu?) and the point on of his forehead were the third eye was said to be.

The Hyuuga was confused. Was this really Naruto or someone else? Since the boy was the only example of successful cloning, Neji couldn't be sure. This could simply be the result of cloning and boy was Naruto without his memories, or he was telling the truth. Perhaps Iruka, had taken Naruto's death so hard, wanted to believe this was the reincarnation of the little brother he had lost. Either way, there was going to be no convincing him if it was proven otherwise.

He would fight it till his death.

Then the boy turned, taking a few steps and kneeling next the downed Uchiha. Iruka protested, held back only by Neji's hand and the young clone's piercing stare.

“Sasuke-sensei has done nothing but protect me,” the blonde said softly, his voice strained with trying to quell his anger. “He has been more then just a teacher to me - he's been a brother and father also. I honestly don't care what you people think, but Sasuke-sensei and Tayuya-oneesama are the only family I have.”

Neji couldn't help but cringe as Iruka pulled free of his restraint, protesting freely that the Uchiha and the genjutsu mistress were vile, decrepit murderers and he was being foolish enough to let them hoodwink him into doing their dirty work. Naruto's young clone may have said nothing the entire time, but the Hyuuga could feel the boy's anger rising steadily with every word, Iruka ever oblivious as he continued on about how his home was in Konoha because he was Naruto and Naruto loved Konoha.

The white-eyed man wasn't exactly sure what caused the boy to rupture, but when he did Iruka was forcibly thrown backwards by the force of the killing intent directed at him. All the while, the boy's eyes were erratically flickering an electric violet.

“KONOHA IS NOT MY HOME!! KONOHA HAS NEVER BEEN MY HOME!! WHY WOULD I EVER WANT TO LIVE IN SUCH A PLACE WHEN I WOULD EITHER BE PUT TO DEATH OR USED AS TOOL!! TELL ME!! WHY ARE YOU PURPOSELY WALLOWING IN YOUR DENIAL WHEN IT ONLY CAUSES MORE PAIN!? I WILL NEVER BE THE PERSON YOU WANT ME TO BE, SO GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON!!”

The blonde screamed, his chest heaving rapidly and finally the electric violet consumed the blue of his eyes and suddenly the pupil split. Whisker marks deepened, fangs lengthen, claws grew and a rope like pattern began to spread across his body like burning coals.

A curse seal!

Bloodshot eyes fogged as they remembered his fight with Tayuya, then his fight Kidoumaru and Sasuke's awakening in the Forest of Death during his first Chuunin Exams thirteen years ago. Three seals, three powers - three monsters. He really wasn't looking forward to seeing what the boy had in store.

“Do you like playing with the minds of children? Poor, poor Nani-chan.”

Somehow, the boy had become someone completely different.

“Who are you?” Neji said as he found the voice to speak.

The creature chuckled a raspy, sinister giggle.

“What do you think?”

Iruka stared the transformed boy, terrified. “Kyuubi!”

The creature tut-tutted at him then waved a single clawed finger warningly. “I'd be careful what you say around the boy when he's awake, little mortal.” he hissed. “He can only take so much before what fragile sanity he has left crumbles under all the weight. To answer you question, no - I'm not the Kyuubi… or at least not all of it.”

“What do you mean by that!?”

“I am what remains.”

Iruka bristled.

“Stop being cryptic!”

“But aren't kitsune cryptic creatures, little mortal? I am bit of a demon whose soul has died. I am bits of madman whose soul is in pieces. I am bits of a child - his every fear given life. What am I? I am the darkness, and you have set me free!”

The two men froze.

“What do what?” Neji asked, trying to keep calm.

“I want to bath in your blood. I want to feast on your brains and dance in your guts.” he twitched, grimacing.“But that will have to wait for another day. I seem to be running out of chakra and I'd rather not be the one that gets to experience the repercussions. Just remember to heed my words little mortal - be careful what you say around him or you may just awaken a beast far more terrible than myself…”

Seconds later, the killing intent diminished and the markings of the curse seal began to recede back to their point of origin, as did the other added accessories that made Naruto's ninth clone such a fearsome beast.

And then he sagged to his knees, spent.

“Please…” he begged, reaching out to clasp Sasuke limp hand in his own. “Just let us go.”

Silence prevailed between them for moment, before Iruka bowed his head sadly.

“I'm sorry Naruto… but I can't do that.”

Both Neji and Nanikato's widened, but before the boy had the chance to protest the use of the wrong name or anything else for that matter, the Tiger-masked ANBU had vanished and then reappeared behind him. The blonde stiffened, turning in time only to be met by the hilt of a kunai as it struck deftly against his left temple and brought the darkness upon him…

-.ooOoo.-

When he came to, everything was shrouded in torchlight. Groaning, Nanikato used a bare stonewall to pull himself up into a sitting position while rubbing his throbbing head gingerly at the same time. He blinked, his blue eyes gazing hazily at his surroundings. It took him only a few moments to realize he wasn't really awake, but once again in the labyrinth of his mind.

“Oh Kami…” he groaned.

He wondered why he was here, since he never came often. The last time had had officially taken a stroll in his mind was the day that he had received Orochimaru's curse seal and he had been feeling the terror that was his own darkness.

Taking a deep breath, Nanikato got to his feet and began to move. He traveled the almost familiar corridors, allowing instinct to draw him towards the `heart' of his inner psyche. As he walked, he checked for things that might be out of place. But there seemed to be nothing wrong. The moss covered stonewalls hadn't changed, nor had the damp ambiance. However, he could feel that something hadindeed changed.

“Why I am here?” he asked to himself, he voice echoing softly off the walls.

Unfortunately since he was asking only himself, he obtained no answer in return.

Shrugging off the chill, he turned the corner, only to stop. At the end of corridor was a tall pair of doors, splintered and cracked as though something powerful had tried to break them down. Something powerful hadbroken them down. It was will alone that forced him to continue towards his feared destination.

As he pushed open the fractured doors to the great chamber, Nanikato slipped into the darkened room wishing that the torches were lit. Slowly walking towards the middle of the chamber, he glanced nervously at the massive gate at the opposite end. The barred doors that had once stood open were now closed, glowing and simmering faintly with the power that kept a horror at bay. It was, since his awaken after receiving Orochimaru's curse seal, the prison for his darkness.

He shuddered, wondering how far beyond the gates the evil lurked…

“Hisashiburi dana…”

Nanikato let out a scream, one that was almost girly and whirled around in fright, tumbling hard on his butt as found himself suddenly surrounded by shadowy figures. Then the torches that usually illuminated the chamber burst into fiery life, lighting the previously darkened room. As the light swept through the room, the blonde stifled another scream and nearly swallowed his tongue he noticed that figures that surround him was group of boys that were almost like reflections of himself, each one dressed in differently colored yukata.

Clamping a hand over his mouth so that he wouldn't hurl, Nanikato scrunched up into a protective all. He felt sick - like someone had trapped in a hall of funhouse mirrors.

There were eight of them.

Eight…

“W-who are y-you?”

The blonde the green yukata, who was obviously their leader, laughed heartily. “You don't know who we are? Otouto - we're your brothers.”

His eyes widened, he sputtered a moment and then, without any further ado, Kyuuzano Nanikato fainted.

-.ooOoo.-

Translations/Original Jutsus:

Ore no kachi da! - “This is my victory!”

Kimi wa sono mama shine! - “You should just die as it is!”

Hisashiburi dana - “It's been awhile…”

Kyuukyoku Otoshiana/Ultimate Pitfall - upper B-rank taijutsu. This is as a semi-self-sacrificial technique that, if preformed properly, incapacitates both parties through a double knockout. Using speed to take off, both fighters are launched into the air until which gravity takes over and they descend back to earth. Since the user will be immediately rendered unconscious, this particular technique is only to be used in situations were the target is too powerful to take down otherwise. As a precautionary measure, one my also only it when they have a trusted comrade watching their back to make sure no one tries to kill them while they're out.

Yaiba no Kanshiki/Blade of Judgment - lower B-rank to upper A-rank kenjutsu/genjutsu style. This style of sword wielding combat covers several different forms that focus on the judgment of one's opponent, infusing genjutsu into each attack so that the person being judged feels everything before they die.

Yaiba no Kanshiki: Nana Zaiaku no Mai/Blade of Judgment: Dance of the Seven Sins - upper B-rank kenjutsu/genjutsu. This technique is one of the many forms of the Blade of Judgment Style. This one in particularallows the user to judge their opponent through a series of sever dance attacks based on the Seven Sins. Working with illusions, the victim, if proven guilty by each sin, is shown all of they're past misdeeds until they are so overwhelmed by the feelings that they can't fight back. The seven steps of this attack are:

1. Fundo no Mai /Dance of Anger

2. Kenshiki no Mai /Dance of Pride

3. Okayaki no Mai /Dance of Envy

4. Yokushin no Mai /Dance of Greed

5. Aiyoku no Mai /Dance of Lust

6. Bushou no Mai /Dance of Sloth

7. Houshoku no Mai /Dance of Gluttony

Tsume no Kokuban/Nails on the Blackboard - upper C-rank to lower B-rank ninjutsu. This technique allows the user to manipulate supersonic sound waves to mimic the particular screech of fingernails being dragged across a smooth, hard surface. Powerful enough to stop an enemy in their tracks and cause their ears to bleed from the damage being caused to their eardrums.

Iroai Yori/Aura Armor - upper B-rank to lower A-rank ninjutsu. This technique allows the user to solidify their aura into a skintight armor that protects their body from 90 of chakra-based attacks like the Hyuuga's famed Hakke Rokujuuyon Sho. Unfortunately, it also uses 30 of the user's own chakra. Used only if necessary or in none life threatening battles.

Suzu: Kokuten/Illusion: Sunspot - upper C-rank genjutsu. This technique mimics the intensity of the sun, causing the victim to become temporarily blinded. Even after the initial attack, the victim's will continue to see spots before their eyes, as well as feel intense pain. This jutsu works especially well on the Hyuuga clan, more so when their Byakugan is activated, because it goes strait to work in effecting the nerve endings that control their enhanced sight. The most notable feature is that the victim's eyes left red from burst blood vessels and if they don't receive the necessary treatment within five days, the effects will be irreversible.

Hakke Mahi/8 Trigram Paralysis - mid A-rank taijutsu. This technique is a jutsu of the Jyukken style, created and practiced by Hyuuga Neji alone. Following the basic idea of the Hakke Rokujuuyon Sho, this jutsu allows its user to lock not only the key tenketsu points, but also the pressure points that control mobility, which are located up the spine and at the base of the neck. Used mainly for capture situations, this technique must be repeated in order to restore mobility.

Suiton: Yakedo/Water Release: Scald - upper C-rank ninjutsu. This technique allows the user to manipulate the water inside their opponent's body; heating it up and causing painful steam burns. If held long enough, the user can literately boil their opponent's blood and liquidate their organs.

Suiton: Gyouko Himatsu/Water Release: Freezing Splash - lower C-rank ninjutsu. This technique allows the user to douse their body in icy water, effectively putting out fires on the body or rising off acids. It also is great for elevating the pain from burns and other fire related damage.