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Dragonheart	By : UmbreonMessiah Category: Naruto > General Views: 1644 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 22
- 23
- 24
Dragonheart

Chapter
22

The wind howled painfully as it
flew across the barren landscape, searing the already scorched earth with its
lifeless touch. Dust and shattered wood danced in a mockery of life to the
whimsical tune of the sky, pushing back the ever approaching sunset with eerie
determination, as if the coming darkness would consume the world. A louder,
more piercing cry sounded as the wind picked up speed, sending torrents of
charred soil into the air, creating clouds of ruined homes and broken dreams.
�Welcome to Ryuugakure.�
The words hung stagnantly,
gripping at thick sheets of tension and horror in a last ditch effort to be
noticed before the mire consumed them. No one else could manage a reply, as
even the most hardy of the Konoha shinobi was shocked speechless. Unease moved
between the group of five, spending most of its time over the head of the
Hyuuga clan�s ex-heiress, stabbing her frail heart with pangs of guilt and
remorse. Her hands never left her mouth, covering it to prevent any noise and
perhaps the last remnants of her faith in the world from slipping out.
�We�ve only got an hour or so
before sunset,� Yakusho continued, the sight of his broken home doing nothing
to him. �If you want to get set up or eat, you�d best do it now. This cave will
provide cover for the meantime�I�ll stand watch on this end.�
The other four nodded dumbly,
filing back into the dark corridor one at a time. Yakusho almost crooked a
smile as he turned back to face the desolate ruins of his home. The sight of
Ryuugakure was a potent motivational tool, just as he had thought it would be.
Its reminder of the damage caused by one powerful entity would serve as the
base for another�s proposed destructive power. It was truly a jarring
inspiration.
Much like it had been for him all
those years ago.

Lights bombarded the earth in an
array of colors, scattering purples and oranges across the skyline as the sun
slowly drifted to sleep, much like the eye of a great dreamer. Yakusho watched
the glorious sunset over the bleak terrain and found the combined image to be a
piece of horrifying art. Hope and despair separated by nothing more than an
imaginary line, soon to be totally eclipsed by darkness. His hand shot up and
batted at the sun, as if to try and push it down under the horizon and silence
its false promises. This village was long gone, etched into the fabric of
history by charcoal. It could never be rebuilt or saved, but it could be
replaced with a far better picture.
�You keep that up and the others
will think you�re crazy.�
Yakusho whipped his head to the
left to see Sakura standing at the edge of the cave entrance, two cups of hot
tea in her hands. She offered one to him, which he carefully took and sipped.
His face scrunched slightly at the taste, but he thought better of declaring
his contempt for the beverage and continued to drink it.
�How�d you make this stuff without
a fire?� he asked.
�We had to improvise,� Sakura
giggled. �Naruto�s still getting the hang of fire jutsu�but he at least managed
to boil us some water.�
�Inventive.� Yakusho looked down
at his cup, staring into the murky depths the liquid with a creased brow. �You
could have just asked me, you know?�
�We could have, yes,� she stated.
�But Naruto�s chakra supplies are far better than yours, and we need your
strength at its maximum.�
Sakura�s motherly words were not
all that surprising to the red-dressed teen. What did strike him as unusual was
the slightly impish grin that followed, heralding the arrival of the next
sentence.
�Of course, it was also fun to
watch Naruto nearly set his hair on fire, too.�
Yakusho shook his head with a
content laugh, sipping more of his tea. �You�re quite the evil mastermind
there, Sakura.�
The pinkette�s head shot up in
surprise, her eyes blinking in disbelief. �Wh-what did you�that�s the first
time I can ever remember you using my name.�
�Is it?� Yakusho smirked. �I could
have sworn there was another time�must have slipped my mind.�
Sakura glared at Yakusho and
smacked his shoulder roughly. �You�re such a jerk.�
�I guess so. Don�t hold it against
me, eh?�
�Why are you going through with
this?�
Yakusho raised his head from his
cup, looking at Sakura with a perplexed stare. �Where in the world did that
come from?�
�Answer the question,� Sakura
pushed. Her eyes were creased in worry, an expression that made Yakusho squirm
where he stood.
�I don�t exactly know what you�re
looking for here,� he said, rubbing the back of his head. �We have to do this,
don�t we?�
�No,� Sakura corrected, �the rest
of us do�you weren�t in any way obligated to bring us here. So why are you
doing this�when it could very well end your clan�s history forever?�
Yakusho bit his lip, preventing
the sound that had tried to escape from leaving. He stared back at his tea,
wiggling his cup back and forth as if stirring the mixture would produce some
sort of imaginary reply. When the drink failed him, simply bouncing off the
walls of its domain, he sighed deeply and rested his head against the
mountainside.
�You sure ask a lot of questions,
don�t you?� he said.
�I suppose I do,� she replied.
�But that wasn�t an answer, Yakusho.�
Yakusho grunted, shifting away
from Sakura slightly. It was clear the topic disturbed him and getting any
information out of him would be tricky. The young medic was patient however,
using the awkward silence as a weapon against the defensive shinobi. She could
stand there all day if she so desired. She had the patience for it.
�I feel like I have to.�
Sakura nearly dropped her tea,
stumbling a bit as the answer was delivered to her much sooner than she
expected. Yakusho�s face was curved in a half-smile, eyes peering over towards
the nearly set sun.
�I feel like I have to, is all,�
he repeated. �It�s my responsibility, isn�t it? Besides, why are you asking me?
You seem to understand me so well�you should already know why I�m doing this.�
At that point the young woman
blushed, hiding her face from Yakusho. She was confused as to why her face was
heating up, as neither she nor Yakusho had said or done anything that would
have provoked it. Was she embarrassed because he had such faith in her? Or was
she embarrassed because of what she might have thought?
�It doesn�t really matter why I�m
doing it anyway,� he continued. �All that really matters is we get it done. We
can�t allow Kakeru to continue his schemes any longer.�
Sakura muttered something in
reply, but she purposely kept it too quiet for Yakusho to hear. Her face was
surprisingly still tinted rose, something she desired to hide from her
companion as long as possible. She didn�t want to appear weak to him.
Most of all she didn�t want him to
pick on her for it. She was already struggling enough with her feelings as it
was.

The steep decline into the valley
that housed the remnants of Ryuugakure was difficult for the Konoha shinobi.
Though they were all well trained and experienced, the sheer terrain
surrounding the destroyed village proved to be too much for the majority of
them to handle. The sudden inclines and drops, combined with loose rocks and
precarious footing made the secretive descent a mission in and of itself. There
were many paths that led into the village, but Yakusho had made it more than
clear that those paths would be the most likely place for an ambush to be set
up. Because Yakusho was the only member of the group familiar with the terrain,
he was the one calling the shots.
It became apparent just how
treacherous the rock face was when Jiyumaru of all people was the first to
slip. The ANBU member yelped as his foot lost its place, sending a shower of
earth down on the rest of the group. He quickly regained his balance,
continuing his gradual slide down the bowl of the valley. Unfortunately those
who had been in the path of his miniature rockslide were not so lucky. Naruto�s
controlled decline came to an abrupt end as he was struck on the back of the
head by falling stone, pitching him forward and completely destroying his
equilibrium. The Jinchuuriki was sent hurtling face first, catching the basin�s
precipitous wall with a sickening smack. His body continued to tumble, slamming
against rocks and misplaced boulders before finally coming to a stop on the
side of a decrepit building with another, more frightening sound. Sakura almost
shouted out when Yakusho�s hand silenced her, his face curved in an impressed
smirk. When the pinkette�s gaze returned to Naruto�s possibly fatal crash, she
saw nothing but a broken boulder in his place. Naruto himself emerged from
around the corner of the same building, his body bruised and beaten, but not
broken.
�Are you okay?� Hinata gulped as
the group reached the bottom.
�I�m�well I couldn�t say okay, but
definitely alive,� the blond griped. He rubbed his left shoulder stiffly,
letting out a small gasp of pain.
�It could be broken,� Sakura said
grimly. �And if it is you�ll be in no condition to fight.�
�You�re going to have a hard time
convincing me that something as simple as that fall would put Naruto out of
commission,� Yakusho said.
Sakura ignored the retort and went
about checking Naruto�s injuries. None too surprisingly, Yakusho had been correct.
Though Naruto�s body was damaged, he was in no way close to being crippled. The
parts of him that were bruised were quickly clearing up even as she inspected
them, making her jump slightly. She looked up at her teammate, who only
returned her gaze with a grave nod.
�Seems he wants me in top
condition, too,� the whiskered Genin said darkly. �Who am I to argue?�
�How long till we can move again?�
Jiyumaru questioned. �It�s generally not a good idea to sit still in enemy
territory.�
�I�d say right now is good.�
Sakura stared at Naruto�s clearing contusions with worry, but decided to keep
her words to herself.
�Then let�s get going,� Yakusho
growled. �It�s too quiet here.�
The group continued cautiously,
eyes twitching back and forth across the dust-covered roads, sieving through
wrecked alleys and twisting curves for any sign of danger. Each member of the
team was on edge as the eerie silence prevailed. Ghost town seemed to be
lacking a descriptive property, as even insects refused to drone amidst the shell
of a village. Sakura shifted the most, her hand rubbing her tool pouch as she
absently felt for the bottle of painkillers held within.
A loud crunch earned the nearest
house a kunai to its structure as Hinata struck quickly. The knife shook a bit
as it was lodged into the wooden structure, sending two chips of rotted wood
into the air. The group snapped to attention, drawing weapons and squaring off
against an unseen foe. A chilling giggle echoed through the streets,
camouflaging its origin and spreading a mist of fear.
�Left, behind that old store!�
Hinata called out, her eyes veined in the telltale sign of an active Byakugan.
Jiyumaru responded to her command, leaping on top of the charred roof of the
building and bounding off it in an elegant flip, ready to strike at the figures
in hiding.
Instead of people, Jiyumaru found
an explosive note waiting for him. Lightning fast reflexes and built up
momentum allowed him to leap away one more time, escaping the deadly radius of
the blast that followed. With a single flip backwards the ANBU member landed on
his feet and came to a skidding halt away from the collapsing building, kicking
up large clouds of dirt all around him. His katana was already drawn, shining
in the dying light as he scanned the ruins for his hidden enemies.
�So you�re finally here.�
Yakusho�s teeth gritted as the
mocking baritone assaulted his senses. He was the first to turn towards the
giant structure in the distance, seeing the three figures standing on a pile of
shattered stone and wood. The others found them shortly after he did, drawing
closer to the three shinobi with their weapons drawn.
�I see Kakeru has laid out the red
carpet for us,� Yakusho chuckled.
�Keep quiet, traitor!� the redhead
spat. �Don�t waste your words on us.�
�Easy there, Yoshi,� Kosu smirked,
running his hand through his mop of silver. �We don�t want you to scare him off
with that voice of yours.�
�Shut up, both of you,� Haruko
hissed, her voice seeping out like a poisonous vapor.
�Who are these guys?� Naruto asked
aloud.
�Kakeru�s Honor Guard,� Yakusho
explained. �Yoshi, Kosu and Haruko�the best of the best, according to them at
least.�
�We are the best of Kakeru�s soldiers,� Yoshi proclaimed. �How dare you
speak of us as if we were mere Genin? Especially you who have squandered the
freedoms and gifts Kakeru-sama gave to you!�
�You really know how to pour it on
thick, don�t you Yoshi?� Kosu grumbled.
�You three can talk as much as you
want, I don�t mind,� Yakusho laughed, readying the Dragon Fang. �In case you
hadn�t noticed, we outnumber you�and I didn�t bring along small fry�can you say the same?�
Kosu laughed out loud as Haruko
had to restrain Yoshi, who was currently trying his hardest to lash out at
Yakusho for reminding him of the humiliating nickname he�d been given. Unable
to escape Haruko�s firm grip, the young shinobi finally regained his calm and
cleared his throat.
�You will die before you can set
your eyes upon Kakeru-sama�s face once again,� Yoshi said sternly.
�We�ll see about that.� Yakusho
snorted, stretching his neck and twirling the Dragon Fang into a ready
position. �We�re all ready when you are.�
�Can you just give us a moment?�
Kosu asked. �We just have one last thing to do.�
The Honor Guard stood tall on
their small mound, reaching into their pockets. Each one withdrew a long red
fabric, which they began to tie to their heads. Only after they were done did
anyone see the glinting metal on the front. The team instantly recognized the
cloth circlets as hitai-ate, but were at a loss as to what village they
belonged to.
�What kind of hitai-ate are
those?� Naruto mused.
�I�ve never seen that emblem
before,� Hinata said. �Yakusho, do you-�
Yakusho was not listening,
however. His focus remained solely on the three members of Kakeru�s Honor Guard
as rage began to flood his veins. The air around him began to shimmer as he
took in every dent and crease in the metallic protectors, his mind dropping
back into the past. There, his memories played before him as if they were on an
old projector, colorless and silent, but no less horrific. As tints and hues
returned to his flashback he could hear the screams and feel the fires, all
mixed together in a crimson backdrop. Amidst it all the devil�s laughter choked
out everything else, and blood dotted his vision, the sight of three corpses
fallen about him in a heap.
�Where the hell did you get
those?� The Ryuugakure native snarled, flames bursting from the soles of his
feet, scattering unto the winds. Hinata jumped in fright, back away from
Yakusho as the others turned their heads in his direction.
�Oh come on, you should know the
answer to that,� Kosu chuckled, adjusting his stolen hitai-ate.
�After all, they belonged to your
parents and sister,� Haruko chimed in, her voice terrifyingly cheerful. �We had
to dig them out of course, considering you and your aunt were so kind as to
bury them with your family.�
Kosu pulled his sword out barely
in time to block the Dragon Fang as it soared through the air, exploding in
flames as it made contact with the other piece of steel. The silver-haired
shinobi cried out as the force sent him flying backward, skidding across dirt
and rubble before coming to a stop on the side of a dilapidated house. Yoshi
and Haruko regrouped after being separated by the blast, only to have a fist
buried in each of their stomachs. Yakusho stood between them, a trail of flames
and the shocked look of his compatriots left in his wake as he slowly turned
his vengeful gaze upon the two ninja.
�I�ll kill you all!�
Yakusho withdrew his fist from
Haruko�s gut and delivered a fearsome backhanded strike to her face, sending
the doll-like girl flying through a nearby window. Before the glass could even
break, the enraged dragon ninja hoisted Yoshi into the air with his left arm,
letting go and leaving the boy�s body suspended in the air before a vicious
right hook plowed into the elite shinobi�s young stomach. Using his momentum
Yakusho spun around once and threw Yoshi in the same direction he had sent
Kosu, pausing only to note the location of his sword and to activate the
Ryuuken before he charged after his still airborne target.
Yoshi crashed through a burnt door
just as Kosu managed to right himself. Without words the impertinent ninja drew
his dai-katana, swinging the blade preemptively as Yakusho charged towards him.
The great sword and the Ryuuken collided with a bang, the metal weapon grinding
against the brunet�s draconic energies. Kosu pushed with all his might, forcing
Yakusho to stumble backwards. With his opponent open, Kosu thrust his great
sword forward, attempting to skewer the enraged male. Yakusho simply batted the
gleaming blade aside and rolled along its length, swinging his claws in an
overhead slash that threatened to rend Kosu�s face from his bones. Quite
astonishingly Kosu thrust his left hand upward, striking Yakusho in the wrist
and halting his attack. Using the same motion Kosu spun his body around,
swinging his katana at Yakusho�s waist. With no other options for escape,
Yakusho grabbed Kosu�s shoulders and vaulted over the silver-haired teen.
Yoshi materialized above Yakusho,
sneering at the dragon ninja as he brought one of his katars to bear. Even in
midair the boorish defector managed a snide grin as flames ignited by the soles
of his feet, bathing the young redhead in fire as Yakusho continued his spin.
The youngest member of the Honor Guard tumbled across the dirt, the small blaze
that had consumed him going out almost as soon as he hit the ground. Yakusho
was not finished however, swerving to avoid another of Kosu�s deadly slashes,
finally finding a true opening in the swordsman�s defenses. With a great shout
Yakusho drove his palm into Kosu�s gut, knocking the wind from the tallish
fighter and causing him to drop his sword. Red and black weaved in flawless
synchronization as Yakusho followed up his first strike, bringing his left claw
across Kosu�s face. Chakra dug into the male�s flesh, marring his complexion as
Yakusho continued, firing off a devastating uppercut that knocked Kosu into the
air. The final blow drove the Ryuuken through Kosu�s stomach, tearing flesh and
bone in one furious attack.
Kosu�s body vanished in a puff of
smoke, replaced by a chunk of loose stone. Two chakram flew out of nowhere,
missing Yakusho�s head as they whizzed by. Despite the distance between them
and his body, the dragon warrior�s cheek still split open, blood pouring from
the cuts in his skin. The two toroidal projectiles returned to their owner,
slapping roughly into Haruko�s palms as she surveyed the battle from atop one
of the close by rooftops. With renewed ferocity Yakusho closed the distance
between him and the ranged battler, scaling the building she had perched
herself on in a single jump. Yoshi came to her defense, blocking his former
compatriot�s blow with the steel of his katars, giving Haruko time to create a
gap between her and the furious ninja. With a howl Yoshi�s weapons exploded in
fire, a searing blast of conflagrated air throwing Yakusho off the roof with a
loud thud. There wasn�t even time for the triumphant look on Yoshi�s face to dissipate
before Yakusho was upon him again, breaking his guard with a single powerful
punch and sending the young lad flying off the building with a shatteringly
powerful roundhouse kick. Once again Haruko�s chakram flew at Yakusho, but this
time they were deflected by the Ryuuken, leaving the porcelain female
completely defenseless as Yakusho knocked her off the building as well.

�Kami-sama,� Hinata barely
breathed from the sidelines of the epic battle.
�When did Yakusho get this
strong?� Naruto�s brow furrowed, examining Yakusho�s fight with
uncharacteristic scrutiny.
�This is what you didn�t get to
see,� Jiyumaru explained, his hand idly fondling the hilt of his sword.
�Yakusho�s true strength at work. When he fought with us, he was definitely
strong�but the truth is that he is extraordinary. Frighteningly so.�
�Shouldn�t we go help him?� Naruto
asked.
�I don�t think that would be
prudent,� Jiyumaru replied sagely. �This fight is personal. We shouldn�t
interfere unless we absolutely have to.�
�What the hell are you talking
about?� Naruto frowned. �That�s the stupidest thing I�ve ever heard.�
�Some people need their pride and
honor,� Hinata observed. �I think Jiyumaru is right. We need to let him fight
them alone�for now.�
�Do you think he can win?�
The group�s eyes turned on Sakura,
who was watching the fight with her hands clasped together to keep her from
shaking. Jiyumaru turned back to the battle with a sigh, clenching his fists
tightly.
�If anyone can do it, it�s
Yakusho.�

�Damn him!� Yoshi spat, keeping
his katars at the ready. �I don�t remember him being this strong!�
�I think it is safe to assume we
never understood the true extent of Yakusho�s power.� Haruko drew her hair
back, resting her free palm on one of her chakram. �Common sense would indicate
we can�t take him one at a time anymore. He�s more than a match for us. We need
to attack him all at once.�
�Speaking of which,� Yoshi
snarled, �where the hell is Kosu?�
�Stop talking to yourselves!�
Yakusho hissed, brandishing the Ryuuken. �Come a little closer so I can rip out
your hearts!�
�Afraid we�ll need to take a rain
check.�
In but a single moment, the tide
of Yakusho�s battle took a drastic turn. Kosu appeared behind Yakusho, bringing
his giant sword about in a wide arc. The large weapon crackled to life and sent
a bolt of lightning through the air at the Honor Guard�s crazed adversary. With
a loud crash and scattering of electricity it connected with the brunet,
forcing a strangled howl of pain from his throat as he was sent flying through
the side of another building. Naruto and the others called out in shock from
the sidelines, already on the move.
�Seems we just called in his
cavalry,� Kosu snorted. �What should we do about them?�
�Prevent them from interfering, of
course,� Haruko muttered.
�Katon! Boukaheki!�

�Naruto and the others could do nothing but watch as Yoshi vaulted
into the air, spinning tightly and dispersing a thin line of flames into the
ground, forming a perimeter around where the Honor Guard was doing battle. As
soon as the young boy landed, the circle erupted in a tall wall of flames. The
rest of the team from Konoha stopped abruptly at the fence, keeping their
distance from the gushing fire. Jiyumaru tested the barrier by throwing an
errant rock at it, watching the small stone turn to ash almost as soon as it
came into contact with the blazing wall.
�Damn it!� the Jounin cursed.
�They�ve locked us out!�
�Will Yakusho be okay?� Hinata
worried.
�He was doing fine before�� Naruto
mumbled. �I�m sure he can take them�right Jiyumaru?�
�I�m pretty sure Yakusho�s element
of surprise is used up,� Jiyumaru said darkly. �Now its their turn.�

Yakusho slowly crawled out of a
pile of broken glass and shattered masonry. His body ached, still tingling and
sparking with leftover bits of electricity as he tried to right himself. A
bitter taste in his mouth caused Yakusho to spit, splattering blood across the
ground. For a moment he stood still, trying to realize what he�d gotten himself
into before his anger could take a hold of him again.
That moment lasted all of about
three seconds.
The rest of the building simply
collapsed as Yakusho erupted from inside it, consuming his launch point in a
malefic blaze. His draconic energies fluctuated without restraint as he soared
through the air, intent on punishing Kosu for the sneak attack. What greeted
the uncontrolled shinobi was another of Haruko�s chakram, catching him across
the back. The spray of blood didn�t even have a chance to finish before Yoshi
was on top of the fiery ninja, delivering a fearsome kick to the red-vested
warrior�s back. To finish it off, Yakusho met Kosu�s fist a mere four feet from
the ground he had been sent hurtling towards. With the wind knocked out of him,
Yakusho simply collapsed over Kosu�s arm, unable to move of breathe. The
tallest member of the Honor Guard just chuckled as he tossed Yakusho onto the
street, smirking at the rest of the traitor�s team.
�You�re all more than welcome to
join us in the temple,� Kosu announced. �Kakeru has put out invitations for all
of you�he�s even arranged some very special treatment for the young
demon-girl.�
Just as the wall of flames
receded, Haruko and Yoshi appeared behind the four Konoha shinobi, throwing a
smoke bomb into their midst. Blinded by the thick gas, the group was forced to launch
themselves from the billowing cloud in order to fight back. While the others
evacuated safely, Hinata was not so lucky. The very second she exited the veil
of smoke Haruko delivered a chop to her shoulder that robbed her of her
consciousness. With a thump the kunoichi toppled over into Haruko�s waiting
arms, left to the mercy of the Honor Guard. With a sadistic grin the phantom
ninja clutched the ex-heiress tightly, motioning to her compatriots as they
made their way towards the head of the village.
�You�re not getting away!�
Naruto slammed into the ground
ahead of the Honor Guard, pointing his kunai squarely at them. His face was
contorted in anger, starting to show signs of the Kyuubi�s influence as his
eyes became the color of blood. The blond rushed forward with a strangled
battle cry, his skin starting to bristle with crimson energy.
�I�m not letting you bastards take
her away!�
Naruto�s ill-fated charge was met
by Kosu�s katana, the blade crackling with lightning as its flat end was
delivered into the Jinchuuriki�s stomach. A thunderous boom echoed across the
ruined village as a blast of pure electrical energy sent Naruto careening
through an old tool shed, leaving him covered in splintered wood and charred
garden implements.
�Didn�t I say you were all invited?� Kosu rolled his eyes with
a great sigh. �Have some patience. You�ll see her soon enough.�
A slight disturbance in the air
was the only thing that heralded Jiyumaru�s arrival. Wordlessly he brought his
own sword to bear, hoping to strike down all three members of the Honor Guard
at once. A burst of air stopped his attempt in its tracks as it sliced through
his katana and sundered it in half. A moment later Yoshi�s foot found itself
firmly planted in the Jounin�s gut, knocking the elite ninja several feet back
into the dirt.
�It seems Konoha shinobi lack
manners,� Haruko observed. �Come. We must deliver the package to Kakeru-sama
before any more diversions seek to stop us.�
Almost as soon as she had said
that, Haruko flung one of her chakram into the air. A moment later it returned
to her, a loud slam and the dispersion of dust marking Sakura�s crash site. Not
another word was spoken after that. The Honor Guard vanished as they made their
way towards the great building at the heart of Ryuugakure.
In their wake could be heard the
defeated, heartbroken cry of a hyperactive Genin.

A few minutes later, Naruto was on
his feet again, cursing as loudly as he could. Parts of his body were still
numb from the electric shock he had taken, but overall the feeling in his limbs
was starting to return. None of that stopped the rage and resent that was
growing within him as he made his way to the others. All he could think about
was how he had failed to stop those three ninja from taking Hinata away.
�Naruto, are you okay?�
Naruto looked up to see Sakura
holding him by the shoulders, inspecting him thoroughly. The whiskered shinobi
could see the part of her clothing that had been torn by Haruko�s chakram, but
didn�t see the cut or any of the blood he had been expecting. All that remained
was a reminder of the injury, the laceration sealed by one of Sakura�s many
medical ninjutsu.
�I�m fine,� Naruto growled,
batting Sakura away. �Stop worrying about me.�
�Don�t be so hard on yourself,�
the pinkette replied. �We�ll get her back. Promise.�
�Bastards did a number on my
sword,� Jiyumaru announced as he approached. �Cut the blade off in the middle.�
�Don�t you have a replacement?�
Sakura asked. �Or, can�t you summon one or something?�
�Members of the Kenshin clan are only
given one set of weapons,� Jiyumaru stated. �And we have to earn the right to
use most of them�this is the only katana I have ever and will ever receive from
my family, and there won�t be another quite like it in the world.�
�Then you�re useless?� the blond
snapped.
�Hardly.� Jiyumaru scowled at
Naruto for his behavior, then smirked. �You don�t honestly think this is the
first time something like this has happened, do you?�
Sakura and Naruto were left
wondering as Jiyumaru set the two separate halves of his katana on the ground,
lining them up at the point where they had been dissected. Taking just a few
moments to arrange the two separate pieces properly, Jiyumaru stood up and put
together the hand seals of the boar, ox, horse and the ram.
�Ninpou! Hoshuu!�
The ANBU Jounin thrust his palm at
his broken sword, stopping just a few inches above it. Chakra extended from his
open hand in a small dome, encapsulating both damaged ends of the weapon.
Slowly the chakra seemed to reknit the detached metal, bringing it back
together.
�Since when can you do that?�
Naruto and Sakura asked.
�You don�t remember me using it
when we were chasing after Sakai?� Jiyumaru looked hurt as he spoke, tilting
his head quizzically at Naruto.
�To be honest I don�t remember
much about that other than running,� the blond mumbled.
�Either way, maybe you should
check up on Yakusho.� Jiyumaru grunted a bit, focusing more of his chakra into
the repair jutsu. �This will take me a bit. You�re better off using our time
productively.�
�Yakusho!�
Sakura quickly broke into a run,
remembering that Yakusho had been badly wounded in his battle with the Honor
Guard only moments earlier. It did not take long for her and Naruto to reach
Yakusho�s location. The dragon ninja lay motionless in a small puddle of blood
between two rotted buildings He was staring at the sky and its flittering
colors, watching the sun dip underneath the skyline as it ended its journey for
the day, leaving only a few streams of light in its wake to fight back the
coming of night.
�This is my fault,� he muttered,
wincing as pain arced though his body.
�Don�t talk damn it!� Sakura
hushed, rolling Yakusho onto his front slowly. Surprisingly the gash on his
back wasn�t as bad as she had expected. Much like the injuries he had sustained
a month ago, they were already healing at a rate that normal people would
consider remarkable. Sakura quickly went to work closing the wound, her hand
glowing as she pressed it to the cut.
�Don�t worry yourself over it,�
Yakusho growled. �Just close it up and it�ll heal itself.�
�I said stop talking damn it!�
Sakura huffed and focused her chakra as she tried her best to close the cut
that Haruko had given him. The process was surprisingly quick, hastened thanks
to all her training. �Seriously�why would you go and fight all three of them
alone, you dumb bastard?�
�Why the hell do you think!?�
Yakusho�s voice actually cracked, his face shooting back at her in rage. Sakura
jumped slightly but kept to her work, looking back at Yakusho awkwardly as she
finished addressing his wound.
�G-Gomen nasai, Yakusho,� she
apologized quietly.
�You can apologize all you want,�
he hissed. �It�s not going to change anything.�
�Stop feeling sorry for yourself,�
Naruto said darkly. �We�re here because of you�and that really does make this your fault. Keep your
emotions in check, lest you want to get someone killed.�
�What the hell makes you think you
have the right to talk to me like that!?� Yakusho looked truly furious, trying
to stand so he could take a swipe at Naruto. Sakura quickly pressed down on
Yakusho�s shoulders, keeping him still.
�That�s enough out of both of
you,� she commanded. �This is no one�s fault. Just let it rest. We�ll get her
back, so stop worrying!�
�H-hai,� Naruto stuttered, looking
ashamed. �Gomen Sakura�Yakusho, heal quick. We need to move.�
Naruto left Sakura and Yakusho
alone, walking back towards Jiyumaru�s position. Yakusho slipped his fingers
between his russet locks, steadying himself as he slowly made it to his feet.
�You didn�t need to do that,� he
said flatly.
�You may think I didn�t,� Sakura
replied, �but I did. Try to remember we�re on your side, okay?�
�Yeah, got it.� Yakusho stumbled a
bit before finally regaining his balance. Without another hitch he walked
towards an old lamppost and bent over, picking up the Dragon Fang from where it
had landed.
�Yakusho?�
�Yeah?� he grunted, placing the
sword back in its holster.
�Is what they said true?� she
asked. �About those hitai-ate?�
Yakusho barely looked at her as he
answered. �Yeah, it is.�
�I�m sorry,� Sakura whimpered.
�You be sorry then.� Yakusho
walked past her, his eyes focused on the great temple in the distance. �Right
now there are more important things we should be doing.�
Sakura didn�t waste any more
words. She brought herself up and followed Yakusho silently, her gaze drifting
towards the great stone statues that supported the great shrine in the
distance.

Hinata awoke to blurred vision,
her eyelids slowly drifting open to take in the dark scenery. When the picture
finally came into focus she yelled, attempting to bolt upward. Quickly she
discovered such a thing was impossible, as she had been bound to some sort of
table. A quick look at her surroundings revealed intricate patterns on the
walls, carved elegantly long before she had been born. The actions depicted in
the carvings spoke of some ancient ritual, but she wasn�t able to make out
exactly what was going on.
�Finally awake, huh? Jeez, you�re
not as pretty as I thought you�d be.�
Hinata shrieked as the terrifying
visage of Ryumoto Kakeru suddenly appeared directly in front of her. In her
fright she tried to strike him, but found once more that she was unable to move
the remainder of her body. The shadows played off Kakeru�s simple appearance,
obscuring him in darkness and painting the image of death over his otherwise
plain face.
�You scare easily, don�t you?� he
asked Hinata in an oddly matter-of-fact way. �Most people wait �til I actually
do something to them to scream, you know?�
�Wh-who are you!?� she gulped,
trying desperately to free her hands. She did not know why, but fear seemed to
have drowned all her other emotions since laying eyes upon the man�s fa�ade.
�Isn�t that obvious?� Kakeru
waited several moments, as though he were expecting an answer. When Hinata did
not reply, he put on a scowl and continued. �I am Ryumoto Kakeru, the man who
tried to kidnap you? You remember that little fiasco, don�t you? During your
wedding? I�m sure you felt absolutely overjoyed when you were rescued�not that
the people I sent to get you could be considered so lucky. Not that they care now, I�m sure.�
�You�re sick!� Hinata pushed her
neck up and spat at Kakeru, who simply tilted his head to side and let the
saliva fly past him. Hinata cringed as he returned her less-than-violent attack
with a grin so sinister her insides quivered.
�I get that a lot,� he laughed,
running his hand through his hair. �But I really don�t give a damn what you�ve
got to say. You�re just fuel. And since I rarely make a habit of talking to people, I�m curious as to what makes you
think I should waste my time with you.�
Hinata realized she should have
felt incredibly insulted, but she was too busy drowning in a building sense of
terror. Desperately she tried to squirm away, but whatever was holding her down
kept its grip. Kakeru simply cackled at her cowardly display whilst rubbing the
side of his head.
�Don�t even try to go anywhere,�
he said. �I didn�t just bind you with steel, you know? I suggest you try and
get comfortable, because you�re not getting out of here on your own.�
�Kakeru-sama.�
�What is it, Yoshi?� The words
were spoken in irritation, as though the young redhead interrupting Kakeru
annoyed him in some fashion. Hinata quickly decided she did not want to know
why.
�I do not wish to intrude, but
Yakusho and the others will be here before long.�
�Ah yes, of course.� Kakeru waved
the boy off, and in a flash Yoshi was gone. With a gleeful smirk the evil
shinobi returned to Hinata�s side, pressing his face so close to her she could
feel his hot breath on her neck.
�Don�t go anywhere. I�ll be
riiiiight back for you.�
As soon as Kakeru left, Hinata
felt something running down her cheeks. She realized they were tears.

The great temple at the head of
Ryuugakure stood as a monument both to the strength of its people and the
destruction that had wiped them from the earth. Carved stone statues towered
over the group from Konoha as they made their way up the large stone steps,
dust and chips of rock crumbling from their divine faces. It was clear the
sanctuary had seen better days, but was now simply a relic of an age gone by.
The inside was much better than
the outside. Even Naruto was quick to pick up on how well the interior had been
kept, even though there was a fine layer of dust on everything. Fresh torches
lined the walls, only recently lit to keep the darkness at bay. The great
corridors held within them a sense of foreboding and mystery, leading those who
traveled them to the eventual answer.
That answer sat upon an old throne
carved from stone at the top of the temple�s grand atrium. Even from the other
end of the massive entrance hall the man�s form could be clearly distinguished,
set upon a backdrop of glowing torchlight and eerily aligned shadow. The
strange figure sat with his face resting on the knuckles of his right hand,
letting out a sigh that caused his raven colored bangs to jump.
�Sometime today please,� he called
out. �I�m not getting up and walking all the way over to you. This is my home remember? Kami, guests can�t
even be polite anymore.�
�Aren�t hosts supposed to
accommodate guests?� Naruto retorted. �Seems to me you�re the one being
impolite here.�
�Haha! What priceless wit that
thing has!� Slowly the dark-haired man stood up, taking a single step towards
the group. �I suppose that�s why you keep it around, eh Yakusho?�
�Your sense of humor has always
been shit, Kakeru.� Yakusho stared down his mentor with empty eyes, letting the
words and atmosphere simply dissipate around him.
�You wound me, Yakusho!� Kakeru mockingly clasped his heart, running fingers
through his messy hair. �How can you say such things to me, after I went to
such lengths to raise you and make you strong? Do you have no sense of
respect?�
�Enough with the games Kakeru,�
Yakusho snapped. �I�m not falling for it.�
�Oh I know you aren�t,� Kakeru
replied, crossing his arms. �I just wanted to see how long I could milk it
before you flipped out on me like you did on Yoshi, Kosu and Haruko.�
�Was he watching that?� Sakura
whimpered.
�An excellent question, oh
quivering one!� Kakeru smirked and leaned forward a bit, eyeing Sakura
smarmily. �But the answer is no, I wasn�t watching�such a shame too, it was
probably a beautiful sight.�
�Then how�?�
�Simply put, I am a master of the
mind.� Kakeru turned around, walking back to his throne to take a seat in the
laziest fashion he possibly could. �I pride myself in understanding people,
especially those who work under me. Figuring out what would drive Yakusho to
his limits wasn�t very difficult�he�s very bad at keeping secrets.�
�Go fuck yourself,� Yakusho
snarled, his Dragon Fang catching fire as his anger began to boil.
�Now, now,� Kakeru chided,
motioning to the Dragon Fang at his own hip. �Let�s not be hasty here.�
�He�s got one too?� Naruto
whispered.
�Of course he does,� Jiyumaru
murmured in return. �He�s a member of the Ryumoto clan, remember? One of its
highest ranking members.�
�Excuse me?� Kakeru cleared his
throat, tapping his foot. �Grown ups are talking. You�re interrupting.�
Kakeru�s expression suddenly
shifted, changing the entire feeling of the room. Naruto and Jiyumaru choked on
their next breaths, suddenly finding their lungs suppressed by an incredible
amount of killer intent. Sakura fell to one knee, staring at the floor as she
struggled to stay conscious. Only Yakusho seemed unaffected, his eyes staring
coldly into his relative�s. Then without warning everything returned to normal
as Kakeru let out a hysteric laugh.
�That never gets old,� he
chortled, wiping at his eyes as though he had been crying.
�I said enough games,� Yakusho
snapped, his sword flaring again. �Where is she?�
�She?� Kakeru stopped his
ridicule, blinking several times. �The hell are you talking about?�
�Hinata!� Jiyumaru spat. �Where is
she? Your thugs took her�where is she?!�
�Oh now don�t tell me you came all
this way just for that lump of chakra.� Kakeru actually looked dumbfounded, as
if the mere thought itself confused him. �No wait, that can�t be it, because I
only just captured her�aren�t you getting your priorities mixed up?�
�STOP FUCKING AROUND!� Naruto
seethed. His rage could be felt in the air, bubbling up from his skin in tiny
flickers of red. Sakura placed her hand on his shoulder to calm him, bringing
him back down to earth.
�I honestly can�t see why you�re
going through all the trouble to rescue that thing,� Kakeru yawned. �I
mean...you�re an even better source of energy than she is. You should just go
back home and light a fireplace or something.�
�All right, I�ve had enough of
this.�
All eyes seemed to focus on
Yakusho as he turned away from Kakeru, looking over at his friends. �If she�s
here, then I know where he�s keeping her. Jiyumaru, Sakura, follow me.
Naruto�he�s all yours.�
�You�re sure?� Naruto seemed
apprehensive as well as eager, his fingers twitching ever so slightly.
�I�m sure,� Yakusho replied.
�Don�t worry�we�ll save her.�
�Then go,� Naruto smirked. �I�ve
got things handled here.�
With a single motion of his hand
Yakusho moved off into the temple, Jiyumaru and Sakura following him closely.
When they were out of sight and sound of Kakeru and Naruto, Sakura pulled up
beside him with a worried look.
�Yakusho, did you just�?�
�Shouldn�t you be a bit more
focused?� he said plainly.
No more words were spoken between
them.

Kosu yawned, holding his hand over
his mouth in an instinctive gesture that reeked of manners he supposedly didn�t
have. He had been waiting for well over ten minutes, and waiting was something
he hated to do. Yoshi and Haruko weren�t the best of company either. He
honestly missed Naoko, but the memories that followed her name were never good
anymore. They had become twisted into nightmares for him, plaguing his sleep
with terrifying images and visions. He thought perhaps that was why he could
never say no to Kakeru, no matter how much he wanted to.
�Are they here yet?� he yawned
again. �I�m getting bored.�
�Try to have some form of
patience,� Haruko rebuked, stroking her stolen hitai-ate in an unsettling
fashion. �They�ll be here. Kakeru-sama is never wrong.�
�I wish just for once he would
be,� Kosu shivered. �The way he does things just creeps me out.�
�We�ll be sure to tell him that
for you,� Yoshi laughed, checking the edges of his katar to make sure they were
sharp.
�Don�t,� was all Kosu said in
response.
�So who do you want to kill
first?� Haruko hummed, tapping his weapon against the wall. �I desire to slit
the throat of that pink-haired monstrosity. She looks like she�d scream really
loud if you killed her any other way.�
�Personally, I want a piece of
that guy with the sword,� Kosu said. �He looks like he�d be a nice challenge,
if nothing else. What about you Yoshi?�
�Do you even have to ask?� Yoshi
said, licking the edge of his katar. �Yakusho must die.�
�Shut up!�
The Honor Guard turned their heads
nonchalantly to the middle of the room, staring at the struggling form of
Hyuuga Hinata, still tied to the makeshift altar in its center. Her eyes darted
back and forth as she looked for a way to escape, still trying to find a way to
loosen her bonds.
�If you think for even a second
that you can kill my friends, you�re wrong!� she said.
�Well if that isn�t misplaced
faith, I don�t know what is,� Kosu mumbled. �Exactly how do you figure that to
be the truth?�
�Because I do,� she returned. �I
know they�ll save me.�
�She really is delusional, isn�t
she?� Yoshi sighed.
�Perhaps you simply don�t
understand what faith is, being ruled by fear!�
Those words did something to Yoshi
that none of Kosu�s insults ever could. For but a moment, they caused him to
doubt his loyalty to Kakeru. His blood boiled as he prepared to strike the girl,
but the loud tapping of footsteps from the stairs stopped him.
�They�re here,� Haruko smiled.

Naruto watched his friends leave
the room out of the corner of his eye. It took a great deal of self-control to
not give in to the Kyuubi�s influence and go after Hinata himself, but he had a
very good reason to. Standing before him was the cause of all of this. All the
atrocities could be traced back to the man who stood in front of him. He had
been given the chance to end it all, and he would not pass it up.
Kiba�s death would not be for nothing.
�Now why did they go and do that?�
Kakeru asked suddenly. �I mean, at least when you were all together you stood a
chance of beating me. Now they�ve
just made this too easy.�
Naruto didn�t respond. He kept his
stance solid, not faltering for anything as he stared down the twisted man
before him. Kakeru, for his part, simply quirked his head to side like a
confused puppy, scratching behind his right ear.
�Didn�t you hear me there?� he
asked. �It doesn�t really matter anyway. Like I said to the last one, since I
hardly talk to people, why should I bother with you? Let�s just make this
quick, shall we?�
�She has a name.�
Kakeru blinked in surprise. �I�m
sorry?�
�I said she has a name!� Naruto
snarled. �It is Hyuuga Hinata! And my
name is Uzumaki Naruto�and I�m going to kick your sorry ass!�
The antechamber remained silent
for several moments as the two warriors faced one another, simply absorbing the
ambiance and sizing each other up. Then out of nowhere Kakeru burst into hysterical
laugh much like that of a small child, his body shaking as he tried to keep
control of his twitching limbs. Naruto�s eyebrows rose as the commotion
continued, wondering just what the hell was wrong with his opponent.
Then without warning, the childish
giggling stopped, replaced with the deep hideous cackling of a madman. Kakeru�s
sides shook as his new, sinister laugh echoed throughout the once-hallowed
halls, causing the torches to flicker as if they too were afraid of him.
Mysteriously the shadows played over his form, pronouncing his deep facial
features as he slowly drew a hand to his face, covering his eyes. When he
removed his hand, his eyes stared blazing death at Naruto as his lips curved
into demonic sneer.
�Oh, this is going to be fun.�

And there you go,
chapter 22! This one certainly didn�t take as long as 21, did it? That�s
because I worked really hard on it, so appreciate it, darn it!
In other news, I�ve
been getting complaints from my �staff� that I don�t appreciate them enough�and
I have to agree. So I have to give a big shout out to my editor,
AquariusGaluxy, and Jiyumaru�s creator, SilverWarrior, for their help in making
Dragonheart what it is. You can find them and links to their profiles at the
Dragonheart website, which you can find at �http://dragonheartonline.
freeforums. org/portal. php�. Just remove the spaces and copy and paste.
See you next chapter!
- 22
- 23
- 24
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