Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Spectral Ninja	By : Nescafevh Category: Naruto Crossovers > General Views: 15262 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Legacy Of Kain or any of the associated characters or make money from them, credit goes where credit is due!!!

Chapter List
- 23
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- 25
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Naruto was not at all surprised the next morning when he spied the blonde from yesterday standing outside the café where he sat with his team and Skulk brothers and sister, her mouth in an firm line and eyes hard as she looked at him.
He looked her in the eyes and nodded, showing her he knew she was there and was agreeing to meet with her and explain.
She was gone with the next passing civilian but he knew she wouldn't go far.
When he looked back Sasuke frowned at him "is that about last night?"
Naruto nodded.
"What does she want?" he asked him.
"To find out what I did to help her brother."
"But wouldn't he have told her that himself?"
"Not necessarily" he answered "Gaara rarely slept because of Shukaku. After I cleansed him he probably went back to his room and caught up on some much needed sleep. They probably found him, freaked out and she came looking for me."
The others nodded.
They ate their breakfast like normal then began to leave for training. Sasuke paused with Sakura and frowned at him "do you want any company?" Knowing he meant 'any protection and help should she attack' Naruto smiled at his brother and shook his head "I think we can handle her. If anything happens I'll call you" he tapped his temple.
Sasuke nodded and they separated.
On the roof of the café he met the blonde. "Come" he motioned her to follow him to one of the unused training grounds where he activated an stealth barrier, ensuring no one else could see in or overhear their conversation. He then lent casually against a tree and crossed his arms over his chest "I assume this is about Gaara."
Taking the opening she turned to him from inspecting the grounds "what did you do to him?!"
"I helped him."
"You helped him" she parroted blinking at him before she surged forward, pressing against his front with an kunai to his throat, face furious as she spat "what did you do to him, Kohona freak!? What did you do to Shukaku!"
Before the other could speak Temari was thrown back and away from him by an incredible force-and force that resembled an rope of sand.
Someone behind her caught her, feet skidding across the ground as he tried to slow her flight towards an sturdy looking oak. She heard him grunt in pain as his feet hit rock and stone but something impacted them, causing their flight to come to a sudden painful end.
Laying stunned for a second she twisted slightly in the arms to find...."Kankuro?"
With a huff of breathe and a wince he let her go, instantly unconscious. Concerned since he was hurt catching her she climbed off him and knelt beside him, speaking his name again softly, trying to examine him. She briefly heard murmurs behind them but her concern for her little brother and teammate was more important than the knowledge Gaara had tried to hurt her and Kankuro had saved her.
The murmurs came again and a shadow fell across them as the winged and tailed boy knelt beside them, the opposite side to her.
When he reached out to touch the other boy Temari snapped "don't touch him!"
"I'm an healer" he said softly "I'm only examining him."
Reluctantly she let him run gentle green glowing hands over his body and watched as his face frowned "he has a slight concussion and a sprained wrist. I can heal both if you allow me."
She nodded hesitantly.
One hand pressed to a spot on the back of the other boy's head and the other wrapped loosely around the wrist he hesitated for at least ten seconds in which the glow strengthened then suddenly died down.
Removing his hand from the back of his head he gently placed the hand he held onto his chest, the green glow fading as he rose and stepped back and bit, back to the red heads side, to watch.
Slowly the black clad ninja stirred, the blonde woman moving closer "Kankuro?"
After moaning briefly the eyes slowly opened to her face. He frowned "Temari?" he tried to sit up, the blonde helping him while one of his hands went to the fading lump behind him "what happened?"
Temari looked halfway between tears of concern and exasperation "you decided to catch me, you idiot! If Gaara hadn't produced that wall of sand...."
"I did not" the red head said "it was earth, not my sand." She looked up at him and frowned "'then who was..."
"That was me" Naruto looked embarrassed.
"Why?" she asked him "why would you catch us? I threatened you, called you a freak." The tailed and winged boy smiled at her "because you are both my family, my brother and sister."
They stared at him stunned "what do you mean?"
"Will you listen to what we have to say?"
The two exchanged looks "will this explain why we found Gaara sleeping and none of us are dead?"
Naruto nodded and so the two agreed, sitting down next to each other while the two demon vessels stood side by side.
With a deep breath they started to explain, the two only interrupting whenever something confused them. When Naruto explained about their uncle and his ability to see ghosts-or souls-the blonde looked at Gaara with a frown of suspicion "how do you know he was real, not some sort of jutsu or illusion?"
"He knew things no one else could know about us, things only the two of us knew."
"Like what?"
"Uncle's nickname for me. He only called me it when we were alone."
"It could have been some sort of mind control....."
Gaara shook his head "Shukaku protects me from such. Even if there was a chance, I buried those memories deep, so deep I did not remember it until he spoke it."
Kankuro was willing to believe, even if his big sister didn't. If Gaara said it was real, he would know.
When they got to the part about the tailed beasts being contaminated by something in the past-way before the Sage-and that was why they were as they were, both frowned in concern "do you have any idea what it was?"
Both shook their heads in an negative "both can't remember. They remember not always being this way but don't know how-or when-it happened."
This concerned the two older siblings "is there the possibility it could happen again?"
"With the tailed beasts separate now I think we'd know if it happened again. Besides, I think I would have no trouble purifying them again."
"What if YOU were contaminated?"
Naruto shook his head, "it would be almost impossible. First they would have to do it to me, neesan AND niisan, all at the same time. If I was contaminated, neesan would either protect me or use the energy to cleanse me. Second if they did it to HER, niisan would cleanse her immediately. There would be no way, with niisan inside me, to actually succeed."
"What about your brother? What about if HE was to be exposed?"
"Impossible. With the Soul Reaver he is protected."
"Soul Reaver?" they questioned him.
Naruto summoned the sword again, the two gasping as it snaked down his arm and moving away as the spirit blade reached its fullest form.
Naruto slowly moved it around as he spoke "this is the Soul Reaver. This is the purified version I used to help your brother. While we contain this version, we are protected from any contamination or outside source. It is the result of the ancient magic of chichi's race combined with my brother's ancient soul. His existence is an very paradox, two versions of the one being, one the blade, one the wielder."
"So while you have that, no one can touch or tamper with you?"
He nodded.
"What if you loose the blade?"
"It won't happen. While I can loose the shell, the spirit form is bonded to me. The three of us are slowly becoming one. That means no chance."
They frowned "what do you mean by 'slowly becoming one'?"
Naruto closed his eyes and visibly sighed "my tenants are merging with me. By the time I've finished puberty they will cease to exist as separate entities and I will become the perfect combination of all three of us. It has already started but so far is only a slow merging of abilities and chakra. I currently have access to all my niisan's powers and abilities, most of neesan, plus my own inherited ones."
Gaara suddenly looked at him "that explains it."
"What?" they asked.
"Your ability to see what you call ghosts. If your niisan can see the souls of those dead in both the realm of the dead and the living, you also see them through him. It must be because of you merging that allows you to also hear them. Not some sort of bloodline ability."
Naruto looked thoughtful and slowly nodded "you may be right there."
Temari leaned forward, moving to touch the blade, but Naruto quickly moved it away "don't! It's dangerous ! If you touch it without my control it can absorb part of your soul!"
She frowned "but what about when you purified brother? You didn't take his soul then."
"That involved concentration, control and the ability to hold it back. You were about to touch it when I had none of the three."
Temari took the warning for what it was, the weapon was by far dangerous than the mere shell that contained it.
A sword that, while it didn't injure physically, sucked the souls of the enemy with each strike of contact....
What would happen if someone like Gaara was to fight him? Temari shuddered at the thought of Gaara's soul being sucked out only for the demon-contaminated or not-to have claim to his body, free to do as he pleased.
She was suddenly glad the other vessel decided on the peaceful angle. With the tainted demon free to claim his hosts body they wouldn't have stood a chance, either side, he would have just killed indiscriminately, each death and blood just making him stronger.
The two went on.
When Gaara mentioned their mother's love and desire to protect him now embodied into his sand, Temari was surprised by the sight of slight tears in those depths. As he spoke she saw his sand reacting as if trying to comfort him, flowing from the gourd to surround him almost lovingly, brushing his cheek as if to comfort him.
Temari sat quietly and watched, tears off sympathy in her own. She had got to know their mother, being the eldest, but Gaara had never had that. He had been treated like a weapon or freak or even monster all his life, the only person to ever love him unconditionally soon broke his heart and very nearly broke his mind.
For the first time Temari looked at her little brother, really LOOKED at him. She saw an tensely stiff body, not stiff from anger or disgust, but from pain and the need to hide his vulnerable soul. The face was blank except for the tears in the eyes unshead.
Temari realized fully just what this other vessel had given them, given HER. She had her youngest brother back, the one she had always imagined since being told of his birth, the person who would love her, trust her, admire her and would allow her to love him back, no matter who knew. The one who needed her, an miniature reminder of their mother.
She could help shape him now from the cold blooded emotionless killer who cared for no one but himself to the brother he was supposed to be, the person he was inside and had guarded so fiercely since that night.
She smiled, their uncle had healed what he had ruined. Her frown wavered, what would their father do to this new vulnerable Gaara? Would he destroy what was healed, all in the vain desire for a weapon, or would he reject him and try to kill him as useless item now? What had happened to their father lately? He was never this ruthless, this uncaring. Sure his actions were sometimes seen as cruel for the good of the village, but Temari could see the reason or purpose for them, even if she didn't like it.
But now it was different, like he didn't care for anyone else and only wanted power, he seemed to no longer care for his village, let alone his own family.
Her answer came when both demon vessels exchanged looks. "What?" she said when she saw it.
"There's.....something you should know" the tailed and winged teen said.
"What?" she frowned at them in concerned and terse.
"Your father is dead."
"WHAT?!" both stood, horrified and pissed off. "WHEN? HOW?" Kankuro yelled while Temari's eyes narrowed on the other vessel "you....."
"Naruto didn't do it" Gaara said softly to them, a hint of steel in his voice "neither did any in Hidden Leaf. They are NOT our enemy."
"Who did then?" Kankuro looked crushed and Temari asked him tersely "what makes you so sure?"
"Because we know who did and why" Naruto said, followed by Gaara's "it was long before our arrival here or even our plans for this place."
"What do you mean?"
"It was Sound" Gaara said softly.
"What do you mean?" Temari repeated.
"Remember in the start when the Otokage came to first see father about the invasion, what was his reaction to it?"
Kankuro spoke himself "he was vehemently against it. He said he wasn't going to risk HIS ninja on the whims of an idiot who saw his own people as nothing but experiments. He also said even if they succeed the backlash from Fire Country and Hidden Leaf as well as the Wind Lord himself would utterly wipe out Suna."
Temari's head snapped to him "you never told me this." Kankuro shrugged "you never asked." He looked at Gaara "so? What's your point?"
"What happened three days later when he called the council together?"
The older boy's eyes widened "he said he'd had a chance to think about it and decided we'd go ahead. He ordered us to give the Otokage our full assistance and cooperation."
Naruto spoke "have you ever seen the Kazekage and Otokage in the same room together since that day?"
Both looked thoughtful "no, either him and the Otokage's representative or just him."
"Now here's the big question, has anything drastic changed in him? Atitude? Personality?"
"Yes" Kankuro nodded, "it's not as noticeable when you deal with him once or twice, but when you really KNOW him, were practically raised by him....."
"He's a fake, isn't he" Temari interrupted her brother "that's what you're saying, that this entire invasion and farce is the result of someone using us to get revenge on your village for something."
"But his chakra....!" Kankuro protested.
"Can be faked" Temari said "after all, ninja do it all the time." She looked at him "that's what you're saying, isn't it."
When the tailed and winged boy nodded Gaara went on as Kankuro opened his mouth to speak "Hari Shiro." Kankuro's mouth snapped shut, he looked thoughtful for a second before his eyes suddenly widened and he exclaimed "SON OF A BITCH!"
Temari KNEW what he was talking about. Their father's assistant had disappeared days before the snake man had arrived. Either he had been a spy planted by this guy and was no longer needed, or he was killed earlier to allow a spy access to their father.
"So this is real" she said, looking at them "father really has been long dead. A fake wants us to invade your village for some unknown reason and he's willing to sacrifice us and his own to get it."
Naruto nodded "your father, mother and uncle are on the other side, the Spectral Realm. They will be there when you all pass, waiting for you."
Kankuro's face twisted in grief, he had always idolized their father, and Temari felt the same "you father really is the Blood Shadow? Is he real?"
Naruto nodded again.
"How is he so powerful?"
"Eons ago father's original race was cursed, cursed with the inability to age or die-except by suspific means-and an infertility. They were unable to eat like you or I due to it and instead need to feed off human blood. Their original race were more advanced than even us and so have developed their own spells instead of jutsus and various things to use, so have become more powerful. Because they and their brother race were so advanced it is theorized all we know came from them."
"What do you mean?" Kankuro asked with a frown.
"Originally humans were basic, living in caves and wearing skins and such. The original race and their brothers brought humans out, taught them to build, make roads, build ships and tame horses and dogs and so on. Everything we know now and pride as ours and our invention was thanks to those two races."
"Where are they now?"
"A war broke out in which the brother race were cast out of this world and father's race were cursed. The original race soon died or were killed out, father is the last of his kind, the last of the old ones, but not the originals."
"What about the brother race?"
"They found their way back here, but were no longer the peaceful race they once were. They were twisted, full of hate and fury and jealousy." He looked at Gaara "a hundred times worse than you used to be."
"What do you mean?" Temari frowned.
"They corrupted humans, enslaved them under the guise of 'protecting you from the threat of the vampire'. They wanted to control the entire world, make it theirs and the only humans who would survive would either be slaves or experiments. They almost succeeded if it wasn't for father. For years he hunted down their race and killed them, not for his race, but to protect and save humans. Eventually there were those humans who began to revere father, but he never knew or asked. Some of them still exist today."
Temari looked at him funny "what did you say they were called, your father's race?"
"Vampire. The original race had another name before that, but that was lost in time." His eyes narrowed on her "you know something, don't you. Father's race are known to you."
She nodded "we are descendants of Sarafan." When Naruto tensed and his hand went to grasp the weapon on his back, she motioned it away. "We no longer hunt your father's race, even if they no longer exist. After all, if what you say is true, they no longer were our enemies. Earlier when I asked you to clarify your brother's name, it was for a reason. Razeil, he used to be the leader of the Sarafan Elite, right?"
Naruto nodded guardingly. "He doesn't like being reminded of how he used to be. He sees his Sarafan years, the fanatical and viciousness of it, as something to be ashamed of. I think his words were he had seen the face of the monsters in the men and the men in the monsters, especially after getting to know Janos."
"Janos?" Kankuro asked.
"Janos Audron, the last of the ancient vampires, killed by his Sarafan self."
Kankuro and Gaara looked at Temari "you never told us about this."
"It was a family secret passed down between our line from father to first born only. We were trained in secret to hunt the vampires should they ever pop up and endanger humanity again. But father also told me all about the last of their kind and deeds and told me to make my own decision." She looked at Naruto "Kain, last of the vampires, guardian of the pillar of balance. He's the Blood Shadow, isn't he."
Naruto nodded "You know about the pillars? I thought the Sarafan were never told or else they wouldn't be hunting the very ones protecting them-and themselves."
"Pillars? Guardians?" Kankuro looked confused, so Naruto explained. "So these pillars were keeping the other race away and when the Sarafan hunted down the vampires they were weakening the gate, therefore letting them in" Gaara confirmed.
Naruto nodded and Temari added "the original Sarafan had no idea, like Naruto-san said they were fanatics. I don't think they would have stopped even if they had. However another group was started around Kain-sama's time as Vampire Lord calling themselves The Elite. They were early ninja trained by a good vampire who was eventually murdered by humans, and essentially protected humans from anything that attacked them, werewolves, monsters, even evil vampires. A few encountered Kain-san, but they knew not to risk facing him and how important he was to our world and history. Looks like they were right to."
The others agreed and a slow grin suddenly built on Naruto's face. "What?" they asked.
"You say only your father and yourself knew about this history before now?" When she nodded he clarified "nothing is written or recorded and either of you haven't told a soul before now?"
When she nodded again, the grin grew "you can take advantage of that, here and now, test your father."
Temari cocked her head and a slow smile grew on her face "you're right."
"The exams start in two days, Gaara, niisan, neesan and Shukaku have worked out a plan. Once you have tested your father and made your decision, see Gaara. If you decide to join us, Shukaku will contact Kyuubi wiith the news so outside of this situation we will now be seen together and suspected. It is up to you to talk to your own people. But here's something else for you to know about the snake sannin.
This guy has a thing for children, he takes war-torn orphans, children and teens, convinces them they'll have a purpose-a better life with him and then brain-washes them into becoming totally dependent and dedicated to him before doing some horrendous things to them. He tried to get my Skulk Brother Sasuke when he was a child because of his bloodline, when that didn't work he went for his brother. Itachi beat his ass for it. We think during this invasion he's gonna have another go at him. But we have our own measures to protect him."
The winged and tailed boy looked pissed off for a second "he is MINE, NO ONE is taking him from me." The three tensed at the KI coming from the other, but relaxed when the other regained control and went on looking at them "you three are also my family, but be warned, if it comes to it and you decide to side with the sannin instead of us, I'll not hesitate to kill you and reap your souls."
Temari shivered at the words and absolutely cold voice, so like Gaara's.
The seals were lowered and the four broke up, the Sabaku going back to their hotel rooms to talk and the winged and tailed boy to his next training session.
Later on that night, around dinner time, while seated to a meal with Hinata, Kyuubi spoke to him, causing him to come to attention in his seat and look blank for a few seconds.
When he finally blinked and came back, Kain queried what she had said. "Shukaku says they reached an decision" he reported "they're gonna help us. They're currently getting together their most trusted among their forces to turn to our cause."
"Good" Kain nodded.
"They said they want to talk to the Third, but are afraid of being found out by the fake and or any spies among their forces."
Hinata spoke "why don't you use the incident two days ago? They can say they were forced to face him and be threatened with being expelled from the exams due to their actions against Kohonamaru. They had to face him and plead their case."
Naruto's face lit up and he nodded "good idea Hina! I'll tell jijisan to send an official ANBU to make it look more real!"
She smiled at him, glad to help. Naruto told Kyuubi who agreed and communicated it to her brother.
The next day bright and early Naruto and his other two teammates and the three siblings were all standing in the Thirds office, locked and soundproofed, as they explained everything and what they had decided to do.
The siblings started by explaining their parts in the invasion and what was SUPPOSED to happen and what they had planned out to do.
Then the three Sand and one Leaf ninja went on to explain THEIR plan, what involved and what they would actually do.
"Hmm" the Third hummed as he fiddled with his pipe "a good and solid plan. We could not only take my ex-student by surprise but weed out any possible spies. With that element we can find out why he is attacking and what he's really after. If he was just after Sasuke he would have made an attempt by now. He's after something else and is so desperate for it he's willing to sacrifice an entire village for it, not to mention risk becoming more than an s-class nin."
"What do you mean?" they asked.
"Suna is under the Wind Lords jurisdiction. Hidden Leaf is under the Fire Lords. The Wind and Fire lords have an alliance, an understanding. If Sand was slaughtered by Leaf during an attempted invasion lead supposedly by the Kazekage himself, it would mean the Wind Lord violated the alliance. If Sand slaughtered Leaf, it would be the same only reverse the roles. However if either Sound or Orochimaru himself was revealed as the one who lead the invasion-or tricked you into it, then both the Fire Lord and Wind would seek to annihilate the cause. BOTH Lords would put a price on his, and any of his men's heads. Not only would ANBU, Hunter nin, and common ninja be hunting his head for the price on it, any of his own people who aren't complete fanatics would also."
The Third looked at the Sabaku siblings "that would be why he took your father's form. Not only would it allow him complete control over the situation, when the invasion is over-whether it is successful or not-he just has to abandon it, leaving you leaderless and to take the fall."
The two older siblings looked furious while Gaara's face twisted once then reset to calm and blank.
The Third looked at Temari "you will have to find an new leader-at least temporarily until you all return to Suna."
"Gaara" Kankuro said without hesitation, followed by her echo. Gaara himself looked stunned, turning to his sister "but you are the eldest...."
"But I am female. You know the others believe that females shouldn't lead. Besides, I'm used to working from the shadows."
"I don't WANT to lead" Kankuro said "it would interfere in my puppet making. Besides, I wouldn't have the patience or control for it" he looked at his little brother "YOU do."
"You can use this, Gaara" Temari said "use this situation to not only show our people you're not a monster, but that you're human and care for others. By saving lives here, not just Leaf ninja, our ninja will begin to trust you. When they do, others will as well."
Sasuke spoke "you are Kyuubi-neesan's younger brother through Shukaku and Naruto's through her, that makes you OUR brother as well. Should you ever need any of the Skulk, we'll be there."
"Yeah" Sakura agreed, not wanting to be left out.
Gaara wanted at first to deny he needed ANY humans help, but in his head Shukaku stopped him and told him what to say. Instead he bowed slightly and thanked him, wondering just how much more things he'd need to learn to become more sociable and accepted by humans, especially his own village.
The Third looked back at Temari "you mentioned the shadows. Naruto told us about this.... inheritance between the father and first born of your line. Can you tell us more? He said you claimed they were once Sarafan."
At the name Sasuke tensed and moved protectively in front of Naruto, aware of the group and their history in the time of Kain and Razeil.
Naruto just motioned him aside "they said WERE Sarafan." Reluctantly the Uchiha youngest moved back to his side, but made sure he kept a close eye on the girl.
Temari spoke "father and I were the last of the line. There may be other families out there descendant from one, but we haven't seen or heard from any others in centuries. I asked father why he never told Gaara or Kankuro about it or trained them as well so we could increase the numbers again but he told me it was ONLY father to first born and they were 'safer' not knowing. He made me vow-on his death-to never tell another soul. Well since he's dead now...." she turned to look at her younger brothers "I'm going to begin your training once this is over with."
Kankuro looked alarmed and scared by the prospect while Gaara's growing smile looked decidedly evil.
"Tell us about these....Elite, if you don't mind" The Third said "if you are able."
Temari shrugged "now father is gone I'm not forced to silence. If you all swear to keep this secret as well, I don't see a reason not to."
The Third and three team seven members all did so. The Third then motioned the group to sit.
Taking a deep breath the blonde started "at first we were minor Sarafan. But after Kain-san conquered Nosgoth and destroyed the Sarafan the descendants of the few who survived found purpose as Vampire Hunters patrolling the land, trying to help the few humans left and hunt the ever growing brood of the Lord's sons."
"My Vampire Brothers" said a voice and all eyes turned to Naruto to find his eyes fully white.
"Razeil niisan" Sasuke looked startled, "you're going to join in the conversation?"
The boy nodded "since this was during my time I thought it best, so there were no.... misunderstandings."
Temari frowned at him "who....?"
"Razeil, vampire wraith, Kain-sama's first born son, the spirit of the Soul Reaver and the reason your brother and his...tenant were purified."
Temari frowned "the only Razeil father ever mentioned that was Kain's son was once an Sarafan Elite and was later killed by Kain as an vampire."
"That is I, but that is not exactly true" Razeil said "I was a Sarafan..." his face twisted briefly in anger before he regained control "I was then his son, but he didn't kill me, I was....exiled, but returned hundreds of years later as an vampire wraith, a shadow of my former self."
Temari eyed him like she didn't believe him. Razeil explained "vampires do not just die and their souls pass on. In the Spectral Realm, the place were ALL souls go when they die, they are trapped, their thirst for blood mutated into an thirst for souls. While other souls are free to reincarnate and be reborn they are forever trapped, becoming nothing more than the ravenous monsters they were accused of being in unlife."
He summoned an shadow clone and when the smoke cleared Naruto was back to normal and the clone was different. It spread it's hands and said "THIS is what you become."
Gaara, the Third, and Sasuke didn't react, but the two oldest Sabaku moved away and gasped in horror and shock. However after a couple of seconds Temari paused and cocked her head.
Bravely she walked forward, circling the figure, looking him up and down.
Finally she spoke "it was you, wasn't it. You started it, it was because of you our line started."
"What?" all eyes turned to her "what do you mean?"
"Father told me all about it, how we started in the Elite-or rather, we started it. Do you remember a single Vampire Hunter patrolling just outside the territory of Malchiah? Do you remember killing two Malchem and instead of killing the hunter as well you let him live?"
Razeil looked thoughtful for a while, then spoke "barely, but I DO seem to remember some of it. Are you saying that one hunter was responsible for the Elite? That because of my decision to leave, because I was more obsessed with finding Malchiah than fighting one human, your entire line was born and this group conceived?"
Temari nodded "father got together with other hunters and told them about you. When you spared more they began to join him. When you single-handedly destroyed ALL the clan heads and most of their most powerful offspring, so making their job easier, some began to see you as Nosgoth's savior. That group got together and decided that if you could do so to help save humans and the innocents-even vampires-then they would also do so.
They spread out over Nosgoth and even over oceans and far away lands, learning the fighting methods of other places then returning home to teach each other and the next generation. The fighting methods of many many lands combined into one and enhanced by magic and even what we now call chakra and jutsu's."
The group looked at her, wide eyed "you mean THAT is the origin of ninja and Shinobi kind?! YOUR ancestors?!"
Temari nodded "it is suspected, yes. And it all hadn't happened if Razeil-san didn't spare my families ancestor."
Everyone was amazed but Naruto grinned at his ancient brother "I told you there was a reason for everything. The saying 'every action has an opposite or equal reaction' applies here you know."
Razeil just looked at him funny.
The Third cleared his throat and attention turned back to the female Sabaku. "The Elite lasted many hundreds of years, passing down their training and knowledge through generations from father to children until just before the purge of vampire kind." She looked to Naruto and Razeil "what Kain-sama doesn't know is just before he began hunting his own kind down was the reason the vampires were killing humans again. That was us. The vampires were sick of us protecting humans from them and decided that if we were going to interfere, they would just kill us off first. By the time he interfered, The Elite were almost wiped out. Only a few families were left."
"You're own included" the Third said, the blonde Sabaku nodding "it's why I couldn't understand why father didn't train Gaara and Kankuro as well. I mean they're part of the line, surely he'd teach them as well so that we had more members?"
Kankuro shrugged "whatever the reason, it's done, you can train us now."
Temari frowned at her younger brother "YOU want to work, to train?"
"Well yeah" he answered with a shrug "it's our heritage isn't it?" his tone of voice said he didn't understand why she was asking, it was obvious, wasn't it?
After looking at him for long seconds and not finding what she was looking for she turned back to them. "Can I see Kain-sama? There are things I wish to discuss with him and I want to get to know him."
The Third turned to Naruto and raised an eyebrow at him. Before he could speak Razeil held up one cloven hand an spoke "a moment" he didn't move, then lowered his arm again "I told him to use his mist form so no one sees him coming and going."
The Third nodded.
A few minutes later an thick red mist began to gather in the corner of the room opposite Naruto and Razeil, condensing into a thick form the size of an tall muscular man. Features started to form, hands, legs, a torso and head. Next yellow glowing eyes were visible, cloven hands and feet, long white hair and clothes, red clothes swabbing the figure.
The entire process appeared slow and gradual to the ninja's, but in fact took only seconds.
Soon a figure in red and black armor stood there, an deep red cloak over it and covering most the body with an pulled up hood over the head, hiding the face, except the burning yellow eyes.
As he appeared he flung back the hood and cloak over his shoulders, letting the three siblings see the vampire fully for the first time. Ignoring their looks he turned to The Third, greeting the man with respect who returned it and then looked to his adopted son, looking shocked "Razeil?!"
"Shadow Clone, chichi" Naruto answered his reaction "he wanted a say in the meeting."
"Of course" the vampire recovered.
So the Third made introductions "Kain sama may I introduce the children of Suna's Kazekage, eldest daughter Temari No Sabaku, middle son Kankuro and the youngest Gaara. Temari, Kankuro and Gaara san may I introduce Kain sama, last of the vampire race, once Kage of Nosgoth, Sion of Balance and now Adviser to The Lord of Fire."
"You are Gaara, vessel of the one tailed?" Kain asked the red head, more interested in him than his siblings. When Gaara tensed and nodded stiffly, ready for the hate and fearful reaction he was shocked when the vampire smiled at him, his expression showing he knew he would have that reaction and said only "welcome to the family young one."
Gaara sagged, shocked by his lack of anger or fear. Kain gave him an sardonic grin "we all are different to each other in our own way, aren't we. That doesn't make us monsters, it just makes us normal."
Gaara understood and nodded. This man was even more ancient than the wraith, if he said it, it was the voice of experience speaking, he KNEW what he was talking about.
Gaara would take everything the man said to heart, he was ancient, born eons ago, he knew things, had seen things other people could only imagine. Gaara couldn't even conceive the things he had learn, the things he had done, he had so much he could teach him, including how to be human.
Gaara had been born human and raised a weapon, this man had been born something more and raised human. The man had been appointed on his very birth as an guardian to something powerful-he was so alike Gaara yet more. He could be his guide in this life.
The figure turned towards the Third as he spoke "I have called you here, Kain sama, for a reason. Temari chan here has given us some information you should be made aware of. How much of the last couple of days has Naruto told you about?"
"The incident with your grandson, invasion and the red head being a vessel, that is all."
Eyes turned to the winged and tailed boy who shrugged "I told my Hokage, just like I was supposed to. I didn't know if I was allowed to tell anyone else."
The rest understood and the siblings appreciated his discretion.
So together the group told the vampire what was going on and all they had learned.
Kain frowned at Temari when he learned of the vampires hunting the Elite in the past "if your father's ancestors had of came and informed me of what was happening, I would have let it be known they were under my protection and any vampire actively hunting them were to be hunted itself. If it was kown they were protected and there was a reward for those hunting them, other vampires would have willingly given them up for it."
Temari shrugged "but we were used to hiding in the shadows, it would never occurred to them. They would have wanted to deal with it themselves."
"Ah but they didn't, did they" The Third pointed out "they just continued their mission and were nearly wiped out. At least if Kain sama interfered you would have had a chance to either increase your numbers again before they defied him or fight back yourself enough to....discourage any attacks."
Temari shrugged "I'm only telling you now because Kain sama should know the truth and Razeil sama deserves to know what his action that day resulted in" her eyes turned to Naruto "and I want to train Naruto as an Elite as well as the boys."
They looked stunned, none more than Naruto himself "me? Why?"
"If the Elite are to be revived there needs to be more than three isolated in Suna. We need trusted agents and members around the world" she smiled at him "besides, you ARE our brother now, right?"
Naruto nodded but looked at Kain. With the Whisper he spoke secretly to him "she wants to use me to keep an eye on you. Should you be struck by the need to suddenly make hundreds of other vampires."
Kain frowned but Naruto anticipated his thought "she doesn't know about THE OTHER, we never told or even implied. First it isn't our secret to tell, second THAT information is only known by a few in Kohona in an need-to-know basis, and she definitely doesn't need to know."
Kain understood and didn't speak as Naruto voiced a worry "if you want to train me, how will that possibly happen? I mean the exams start tomorrow and after that-even if we win-then you three will have to return home and handle the mess your father's 'death' will cause, there is no time."
The Third cleared his throat "will one month be enough to at least get a good portion started?"
"Well it really depends on how fast he learns and just how willing."
Kain, Razeil, Sasuke and The Third all gave off slightly sarcastic chuckles to the Siblings surprise and Naruto's embarrassment. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that" The Third said through his laughter. Sasuke spoke next "he's always driving us mad with whining he's bored and wanting to train or spar."
Razeil followed on "his sensei and various others have all learned to hide when he gets that way, least he drive them to exhaustion and beyond."
Kain finished for them "he is constantly training, his mind and body craving stimulus, so much so we are unable to keep up."
"Come on guys! I'm not that bad!" he protested, looking from one face to the other, eyes wide. When they didn't answer he frowned "guys?" nothing for a second before Naruto squeaked "guys?"
When no one denied it or defended him, just chuckled, he crossed his arms over his chest and pouted.
After that bit of tension relief, Razeil looked to the Third "you implied they would have a month of training, what does that mean?"
The Third leaned forward at the desk, stepelled his fingers in front of his face and spoke "The Chunnin Exams."
"Huh?" they asked.
"There is three separate parts to the Chunnin Exams. The first is the written part. It tests your stealth skills. The second is the survival part. This will test you against each other and other teams. It will also weed down the amount of entrants for the last and final part. However between the second and final part entrants have a month in which to train or push themselves before the final section to hopefully improve their skills" he looked at Temari "will it suffice for you to start his training?"
She nodded "plenty. But there is the problem of how to actually do so without being seen. The invasion isn't planned until the final part."
"Humm" the Third hummed thoughtfully then dug into a draw in his desk, pulling out four pieces of paper, which he started to pen an strange seal on. Once done and the ink was dry he handed them out to the three siblings and the winged and tailed boy "these seals allow you entrance into the most secure training grounds we have. Only ones with this seal can enter or leave. You can claim you are training there at my consent. Since Naruto has a way to travel there and enter or leave without being seen or even sensed, if you go there the four of you can train and never be seen together."
Temari frowned "how do you know it's secure enough?"
"It should be, since it's the Hokage's own personal training grounds. It has to be extremely secure so that the leaders of this village are protected during training, even ANBU and Hunter Nin can't enter. Just whatever you do, DO NOT allow another to see those seals, let alone take them. If it comes to it, destroy them immediately then return to me."
The four nodded, placing them securely away, Naruto in a coat pocket, Temari into her ninja pack and Kankuro inside one of his puppets.
They continued to talk for another hour or so, refining plans and mashing out details and kinks until it was time to go their separate ways.
The next day, bright and early in the morning, the three met at the bridge they favored and after making sure everyone was ready and had been given a pep-talk, they headed for the academy for the first part of the test, discussing the way the others had 'failed' the pretest on them. "I mean, come ON!" Sasuke said "not only are you telepathic but I have the sharingan-even if it's not fully unlocked. What, did they really think I wouldn't check with you to see if it was you being attacked?! Even if you weren't, I have more faith in your skills to believe some idiots gonna overpower you."
Naruto sighed at his ranting and shook his head "but you have to remember, Sasuke, the only ones who know of our connection outside the Skulk is Sakura, chichi, Itachi and Kakashi. Not even Anko or jijisan know. As far as they know, my Whisper ability works only on chichi or even close up, not distances and certainly not as tight as we are."
"I suppose your right" the youngest Uchiha sighed.
After an incident getting in the hall and to the class room, who should meet them at the door but their sensei who eye-smiled to them and told them how they would have been taken from the running if one of them chose not to enter. Naruto grinned widely when he then told them he was proud of them and moved aside to let them in.
Once inside Sakura paled at the sight of all those people. Sasuke looked at her and spoke softly "don't worry, we can easily beat them all. You are so much better than you were at the academy."
"Right!" Sakura brightened as the male she had and still admired-only in a different way now-gave her a confidence boost.
"The only ones we need to worry about are Suna and the guys" Naruto murmured, but when Sakura deflated slightly he looked at her "don't worry, we don't plan on fighting each other. In fact we're gonna help each other."
Sakura frowned "what do you mean?"
Before he could answer, another did "I knew this was going to be a drag, but I didn't know it was going to be THIS lame."
Naruto grinned "hi guys."
"Well, well, what do you know, looks like the gangs all back together again" another said and Shino, Hinata and Kiba approached (with Akamaru of course). Kiba grinned wildly while Hinata squealed and threw herself onto her mates back, arms wrapped around his neck, speaking as she did "Naruto, where've you been?!"
Naruto chuckled "hey Nata."
"Boy you have NO IDEA how glad I am you showed up here, I've missed those good looks of yours!" she gushed as she squeezed him, riding his back.
When eyes turned to watch she childishly poked her tongue at them "he's mine!"
Disgusted, bored or disinterested eyes turned away again.
"You guys too huh?" Shikamaru asked in a bored voice "man everyone's at this STUPID THING."
"Yeap, here we are, the nine rookies" Kiba laughed "this is gonna be fun!" Naruto's grin echoed his.
"Hey you guys, you may want to try keeping it down a little" a new voice came from behind them "I mean no offense but you ARE the nine rookies, right? Fresh out of the academy." His voice became more stern "I wouldn't go making a spectacle of yourself. Just cool it. This isn't a class field trip."
"SNAKE!!!!!" a voice echoed through the minds of all nine, a mix of Naruto, Razeil and Kyuubi. The other eight all blinked in shock of the simultaneous cry and Ino was the first to speak with open hostility "well who asked you?! Who are you?!"
"Calm down, Ino. We can't let him think we suspect. That goes for all of you. As far as he's concerned, we're clueless rookies a little too overconfident in our abilities."
"And your point is..?" Sasuke thought dryly leading to multiple mental laughs.
The figure, a little older than them with thick round glasses and silver hair, was speaking "I'm Kabuto Yakushi. But really, look around you, you've made quite the impression."
All the others were looking at them, again.
When the silver haired male started to go on about 'touchy' and 'tense' ninja, Sasuke crossed his arms over his chest and said in a bored voice "big deal."
When Sakura asked him about his being tested before and he mentioned it was his seventh, Naruto spoke in their heads "obviously a spy, put here to find information on not just us. For now, hold back, look like true rookies."
So they played along, even gaining some information out of him, although they wouldn't completely believe it all unless they saw proof.
Sasuke even provided to charade of asking for info about Gaara and Rock Lee. They were glad to find that the information contained none of their skills from Kain or Itachi or even each other, just the academy, training with their families and anything public. But then of course they wouldn't put it past him to hold back-just to test him.
When the sound ninja attacked the silver haired boy as a seeming retaliation for his words, Naruto snorted in their heads in disgust, not at the other boys seeming injury, but his acting.
Before anything else could happen, there was a cloud of smoke and an rough familiar voice spoke "all-right you baby face degenerates, pipe down and listen up!" When the smoke cleared Ibiki stood there, flanked by a group of other ninja.
With a smirk echoed by Naruto he went on "I'm Ibiki Marino, your proctor, and from this moment, your worse enemy." Naruto just rolled his eyes. To him Ibiki was about as intimidating as an chipmunk. In fact Naruto had grown up calling him 'uncle Bi'.
"First, you candidates from the village Hidden In The Sound, knock it off! Who told you you could fight!? Do you want to be failed before we've even begun!?"
"Sorry, It's our first time" the attacker said in an totally unrepentant voice. "Guess we're a little jumpy, sir."
It went on until they learned the rules. Naruto snorted in their heads "yeah right."
"What?" Sakura thought back.
"Think about it, what he said. This isn't about the written test, but a test, a test of our ability to cheat without being caught, to 'gather information' without being caught."
"Are you sure about that?" they asked together "you have to be absolutely positive."
"I am, ask Shikamaru and Sasuke."
"Makes sense" both boys answered together. "You all use your separate abilities to cheat, just BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL. Help each other. Sakura, can you manage on your own?"
"I think so. What are YOU going to do?"
"Gaara and the others have it figured out, I'll have my telepathy to pull it from one of the sentinels minds. Go ahead. I'll stay linked-just in case one of you have trouble."
They all lowered their heads and began.
At the end not only was the class cut down by 23rds but Naruto was proven right.
Just after Ibiki's little speech something flew through the window, unraveilling to reveal another familiar figure, causing nine rookies to sweat-drop and Naruto to bang his head on the desk before grinding it there with a moan of "why does she keep doing this to me."
They were dismissed for the day and early next morning met at training grounds 44. Anko told them that it was called The Forest Of Death, but he just rolled his eyes at her dramas.
After all, he and Kain had been training here for years. The giant scorpions here had learned to avoid him, seeing him as an predator above them.
The good thing about that was any wildlife in there would know not to mess with him and the others, either sensing their connection or smelling Naruto on them.
Also Naruto knew good places to hide or relax, safe places-or as safe as you could there.
Jijisan had called this part of the test the 'survival' part, meaning, he looked around at the other teams, other villages, frowning at Kabuto, then another, an woman from Grass, covered from sight. But NOTHING could hide that smell, that overwhelming sent. He frowned, would the snake himself really come out this time, would he think disguising himself as an candidate would give him the opportunity to grab Sasuke? Was that what he was planning? He would warn the others once inside, get them to keep an eagle eye on Sasuke.
And if he was here using another body, what had he done with the Kazekage's? How did he expect to lead Suna's forces in another body? Did he KNOW about the rebellion?
Alarmed Naruto reached out and scanned the minds of all there, Kyuubi's powerful boost letting him "sneak under" any barriers, shuddering in disgust at the hate in some and evil taint to others-especially the Sound nin team.
Curiously Kabuto's mind was almost completely pure. Yes, he was damaged slightly by the trauma of his life-just like any other shinobi-and his mind was made up of curious layers, but somehow he had maintained his pure heart.
"Perhaps that is because he does not know himself." Razeil spoke up.
"What do you mean?" Naruto thought back.
"I sense a spirit to him akin to my own" the spirit wraith said "his true self is long buried. Those layers are the different identities he has had throughout his life. Like him my true self was long buried to my until my purification at the Reaver Forge. My true human self was hidden under the layers of Razeil The Elite Sarafan, Razeil Kains son and Lieutenant, Razeil The Wraith and Razeil The Avenger. When I was purified I became all those things together, as I was meant to be."
"Can we help him? Somehow merge the layers together? Maybe by purifying him?"
"Only he can do that. He must find himself BY himself and then choose which layers are part of him and which is fake."
Naruto was sadened by this, but understood. Sensing nothing to imply the planned rebellion was exposed-or even suspected, Naruto sent a warning to Gaara and his siblings and drew back again, turning his attention back to the rest of rookie nine.
He suddenly became aware of something creeping up behind him and with an evil smile he decked the boy playfully into his teammates arms with an wicked laugh of "not good enough, shrimp!"
"Ow, boss, what'd you do that for?" none other than Kohonamaru whinned.
"Good try, but you may want to remember next time there is no square rocks in nature-only man processed ones. Better try next time."
"What are YOU shrimps doing here?" Sakura snorted at them.
"We're on a mission. We have to interveiw ninja's for the academy's newspaper. It's a big-time article about the Chunnin Exams."
"That's why we wanted to interveiw you" Undon added. "So will you do it, please?!" Moegi begged.
Before Naruto could answer, a voice called out "hey you, your holding up the next part of the exams" and Anko came walking towards them, smirking at Naruto.
"Sorry but Kohonamaru wanted to ask me something, about an interveiw?"
Anko grinned and informed them that other people were to be interveiwed as well so called an ten minute break.
When Anko went back to trying to scare them, Naruto did something childish, he imitated Anko in a high mocking voice and rolled his eyes.
The female ninja immediately followed up by using inhuman speed to fling an kunai at her lovers adopted son, cutting his cheek, yet, the rookie nine knew if he wanted to, Naruto could have easily avoided it. Sometimes they swore those two liked hurting each other and seeing if they could draw each others blood.
However they knew Naruto wanted the others to underestimate him, it was an strategic decision, just as pretending they didn't know each other-least other villages cry favoritism.
However Naruto suddenly caught something at his shoulder before Anko could move.
A tongue, a long tongue from the mouth of an female Grass Ninja that had come up behind Naruto to try and lick at the blood there. He held the apendage with enough strength to assure she couldn't pull away, but not enough to damage and pulled slightly so the ear was near his. He then turned his head and hissed in the ear "keep your tongue and any other part of your body to yourself, snake."
"My apologies" the woman seemed to have no problem talking clearly without her tongue "just your blood and the fact she parted my hair like that....excited me. I thought you might wish this." The end of her tongue was wrapped around the handle of Anko's kunai.
"Why thank you, Grass Ninja" Anko was suddenly there, voice sickly sweet as she took the weapon, however they noticed that not only had Naruto released the apendage and stepped back and to the side slightly, but Anko had inserted herself between the two.
No matter their teasing and the sometimes sadistic way they treated each other, the two WERE as close as brother and sister.
The 'woman' smiled around the tongue, retracted the apendage, turned and went back to 'her' team.
Naruto looked at Anko "that's HIM, isn't it."
"Yeah" her hand wondered to her neck partly before she clenched it and forced it back to her side.
Naruto wanted to reach out and touch her, to comfort her, but knew he couldn't without exposing their connection. Instead he had to settle for sending waves of love and support in their minds as he spoke to her mind "don't worry, you're safe from him now. Chichi will never let him touch you again and neither will we." He sent her the impression of comforting fingers on her arm "you are more than you used to be, way more. If he tries to control you, you'll send it back on him, if he tries to physically hurt you, I have NO DOUBT you'll set him back on his ass like the fool he is."
Anko's smile was small "thanks Naruto."
"Your welcome. Your my sister, but don't forget you're strong, way stronger than him, enough to beat his ass easily. But if you need me...."
"I know, thanks again. Now go back to your team."
Naruto smiled slightly and headed back to the group.
Anko approached the fence, speaking out loud as she did "now before we begin this test I have something to hand out to you all" pulling something from her coat she continued "just a standid consent form. Before the test all of you will have to read over this form and then sign it. Some of you might not come back from this test, and I have to get your consent for that risk, otherwise it would be my responsibility" she laughed almost evily, Naruto rolling his eyes again.
Whispers started among the teams of shinobi around them.
Anko calmed and went on "Now, I'll explain what you'll be doing on this test." she handed Naruto the forms and asked him to pass them out. While he did so, she continued "the first thing you need to know is this will tax every one of your survival skills.
She went on to discribe the terrain while Naruto looked bored. When she told them it would be 'anything goes' he perked up a little. When she told them about each of them having to collect the scrolls-one of them heaven and the other earth-he looked more interested.
As it went on Naruto looked more interested, especially about the time limit. Soon they were exchanging their forms for a scroll.
When each went to a different gate, after saying their goodbyes and vowing to meet up inside, they waited to enter.
As the gate was unlocked, they stepped forward.
The gate swung open and they entered.
SNSSNSSNSSNSSNSSNSSNSSNSSNSSNSSNSSNSSNSSNSSNSSNS
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Spectral Ninja