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It had been two weeks since the meeting with the Hokage, and Kuro...
There was nothing wrong with him, they'd been told. Just a few irregularities, but nothing that was in any way dangerous. Still, Anko was hesitant to say that everything was back to normal.
Kuro had been a boy with a energy that drew you in when he was excited about something, and made you wonder when he was quiet. He was almost impossible to ignore, and he'd had such a feeling of life to him.
This Kuro that she knew now, however, was almost a different person. Where before he'd done his best to train, he'd disappear for days at a time. Sarutobi would tell her not to worry, that Kuro was fine, but she could see he regretted something. She just hoped it wasn't something those stupid advisers would've thought up....
a week and a half eariler...
Sarutobi had to make a hard decision. One that would be one of the toughest he'd had to make in a while.
"It must be done." his advisers had told him, as if he couldnt figure it out on his own. Orochimaru was more of a threat to the village than any ninja war would be.
But Kuro was still a child, and a broken one at that now. He'd done better than countless others that were older and more experienced, but he still was suffering terribly.
The results he'd received from the medical ninjas are what started it. All the deadly wounds that Kuro had suffered, even the damage to the bone, had been replaced with the cells of three different donors, of differing blood types and Chakra affinities. This was unheard of, as the body immediately rejected such tissues, but somehow Kuro's body could incorperate anything organic to use as flesh replacement. Without his body though, the cells died off as an amazing rate- almost as if his entire body was a parasite to his core.
Knowing that Orochimaru wanted to possess all jutsu, this information had to be kept from him at all costs- bloodline traits were passed by blood, and it seemed as if Kuro could supersede that law of ninjutsu with ease. Meaning that Kuro had to be able to defend himself, and be watched like a hawk.
Which is where this problem he was faced with came from. ANBU training was deadly, many that took the regimen came back critically injured, or didnt come back at all. If Kuro suffered a critical wound, he'd release his beast to save his life- not out of choice but because his demon would force him to kill to survive.
All that gave any mention to the fact that the Hokage was no longer alone was the chill that creeped down his neck. A wind blew through the room and the lights went out.
Sarutobi turned slowly, feeling as if he was being watched as if he was a curiosity.
A mouse when faced with a Lion. From the darkness that hid his guest's face, two glowing red eyes pierced him with a bored look.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, age sixty nine. Third Hokage of Konoha, mentor of the Sannin. At one time was known as 'The Professor'." the figure continued to look at him, measuring him up. Sarutobi didnt even think about attacking this intruder. He instinctively knew that he attacked, and by some miracle the attack hit, it would do little more than annoy the person in front of him.
"That is I." Sarutobi replied. "Who-"
"You'll know who I am soon enough." the man cut him off with a dark chuckle. "Everyone does eventually. Im here to offer you a deal however, one that you would be wise to take."
"... a deal?"
"I will answer any question you have, grant you any information you desire, if you follow my instructions one time." The man's eyes turned thoughtful for a second. "Hell, I'll grant you immunity from any of my subjects as well."
"I am not one to promise anything without knowing the details." Sarutobi replied cautiously.
"Then let us speak of those."
Sarutobi took a seat across from the man.
"I want you to put Kuro through the training. I want you also to send for a fuuinjutsu master, who I will name later, who will know what to do when he arrives."
Sarutobi felt a chill with every word. "Will this... is this safe for us? All of us?"
A small laugh, like that of a parent dissuading the fears of a child. "I swear to you this, through no act of mine will this village fall if you do this, and for four years, my gift shall be given to none before their time."
"Your... gift?"
"I will answer nothing else unless you agree."
It felt like he was making a deal with a devil... "I agree to your terms. Who are you?"
"I am he who resides behind all. I am the one who stands at the end. I am the angel with no heart, and the demon who is merciful. I take from all, and when all is dust I will remain. I am the Equalizer, I am the Black Shadow. I am Death." The man's teeth gleamed in the darkness.
"I... see." It was impossible not to believe it. "Why are you so interested in Kuro?"
"He is one of Mine, higher even than those that take your souls to judgment.... and I do not want the rest of my so called 'family' to ruin him for their mistakes."
Sarutobi couldnt handle this... the more answers he received, the more questions he had. "What is the afterlife like?"
The eyes clouded, with rage or pain Sarutobi couldnt decide. "A place I am not allowed to enter. Do you not have more relevant questions? I am a busy individual, and despite my promise for answers, even I have rules." Short and hard, best not continue with that train of thought.
"What is inside Kuro?"
"The being known as ENMA." Capital letters could be felt when it was spoken. "In your terms.... a Maou? A Kishin? There are so many ways to put it. To say it is thus, if I were a king, it would be General over all my armies. None save mine are higher in.... rank." the words were obviously strange to the man, Death, and seemed to not fit the movements of the jaw....
"Your time is up Sarutobi, you will not see me again until your sand has run out..." he chuckled again, as if he'd made a joke of some kind. "The man you seek, his name is-"
At the name, Sarutobi's eyes widened. The power this being commanded was as great as his name claimed. The man got up and turned to go, and then stopped, just before his feet entered the room's shadow. "Snakes tend to focus on their prey, envenoming it before their meal. Isnt that interesting?"
As soon as the foot entered shadow, the man was gone. The lights sputtered back to life as the Hokage sat to write a letter.
And thus destiny changed ever so slightly...
 Azzy Rael · Fri Oct 08, 2010 @ 05:41am · 0 Comments |
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