Chapter One: The Orphans of Konohagakure

Two orphans of Konohagakure, Tenshi and Megumi, want to become full-fledge shinobi like their father, Kabuto. However, all they know is medical jutsu. Meanwhile, Naruto calls for a Kage council.

            In the dense forest surrounding the Leaf Village, two cloaked shinobi are being pursued. Jumping from tree limb to tree limb, hiding in bushes, and setting exploding traps; they continue their getaway until the forest becomes silent. The stars line the path they choose to follow. The man holds the woman in his arm tightly, but loosely enough to keep pressure off her stomach. She grips his leaf shinobi uniform tightly; as sweat pours downs her face, she bites his shirt to prevent screams of pain from escaping her mouth. In a shrouded area, he gently lays her on the ground in a bed of fallen leaves. She holds her stomach and lets out an agonizing cry.

“I think… it is time. The contractions are getting worse!” She grips her stomach and tries to take deep-steady breaths.

“Wait just a little longer, we are almost there.” He looks off into the distance to see smoke coming from a chimney, not too far from their location.

“I need to push, now!” she yells at him while pulling his face closer to hers by the chin. The veins from her eyes that travel down her face pop out more distinctly than ever before; her white eyes have faint black rings that would outline her pupil and iris if she had them.  

“In this weakened state, I don’t know how long the jutsu will hold.” He says as she holds her head.

“I won’t die…before having this baby. Promise me, whatever happens you will care for the baby and protect it from…”

                Her heart beats loudly once then stops. The moonlight shines on her widen eyes that fail to blink again. The man puts his ear to her chest- no pulse. He rips off her leaf shinobi headband to see the seal on her forehead that glows a fluorescent seafoam color. He puts his hand on her stomach to feel the baby kicking with all its might as if it’s telling him to let it out. He grabs the kunai out of one of his pouches and proceeds to perform a C-section on the lifeless woman. He is able to remove the baby from the womb and cut the umbilical cord. However, the baby failed to cry when he tapped it on the bottom. An explosion goes off in the distance that is closer than further away. Finally, the baby cries at the disturbing sound. He holds the child to his chest with one hand and the other reaches for the mother’s eyes- the hand with the kunai. The veins slowly recede as he touches the tip of the kunai to her left eye and uses it to close it and then her right eye. He holds the child away from his chest and lets the moonlight shine on its eyes. Another explosion is heard louder than before and the baby continues to cry. He removes some material from the woman’s pants and wraps the baby before hurrying to his original destination.

                Making it to a large house where the smoke was coming from, the man makes his way to the back door; he rocks the child as it begins to fall asleep. He taps on the window to the left of the door once and then knocks on the door twice. On the other side, he can hear footsteps quietly approaching and then two knocks on the door. The man grips the doorknob and turns it twice to the left knowing that it is still locked.

“You said you would keep the child safe; I trust you.” He hears the person move and sees the curtains in the window move slightly as the window opens.

“You have my word. I’ll protect the child for you. I own you my life, Great One.”

                He kisses the child on the forehead and sets the child on the step at the back door. He reaches into his shirt pocket and places an envelope between the baby and its mother’s torn piece of clothing.

“Should she ever wonder where she comes from, give the child this letter. Until then, keep it in a safe place.” The man hurries off and disappears into the night leaving the baby with one of the woman who works at the Konohagakure orphanage. He returns to the forest to retrieve the woman, but when he reaches her-her body is nowhere to be found.

 

               

                “Hey, Megumi, do you know where Tenshi ran off to? Mother and Father are looking for him.”

“Why should I know? I’m not my brother’s keeper. He does what he wants.”

“Will you help look for him with me?”

“To be honest, I don’t even know which one you are- what name they gave you. There are plenty of you; I’m sure one of you can find him without my help.”

                The other child storms off with three other children that look just like him; all have light blue hair and red eyes with distinct black markings around their pupils. They approach Father before leaving the orphanage to search for Tenshi. Megumi sees the other orphans playing games, cleaning, or studying for school. Some are in the kitchen preparing lunch with Mother. Megumi decides to take a walk around the village knowing he will be there somewhere. She leaves without informing anyone of where she was going like usual.

                In Konohagakure or better known as the Hidden Leaf Village times are changing. Society is progressing rapidly not only with the development of new technologies, but with international relations with the other 4 nations: Cloud, Rock, Water and Wind. People are moving more freely from place to place without the threat of conflicts waiting for them along the road. Shinobi play the role of peace-keepers by dissipating conflicts rather than prolonging conflicts as in the past. After centuries of conflict, the shinobi world remains at peace with no “Great Shinobi War” since the fourth one that ended 14 years ago. Their leaders are still the great five kage: the Hokage, the Raikage, the Tsuchikage, the Mizukage and the Kazekage. Many shinobi in training aspire to be Kage one day or a legendary ninja- in other words the strongest shinobi of their time. Many children of the leaf village gaze upon the cliff-side monument of past Hokages-admiring their leadership and strength.

“You know, Sarada; I hope to see an Uchiha’s or a Hyuga’s face carved into that mountain. Every Hokage has been a Senju or Uzamaki and yet the Uchiha and Hyuga have been here just as long.”

“Well you’re looking at the next Hokage, Tenshi! I may only be half-Uchiha, but it’s as close as we can get.” She puts her hands on her hip and smiles proudly.

“Too bad Lady Tsunade took the ‘first female Hokage’ title from you. ‘The first female half-Uchiha, Half-Senju Hokage’ isn’t bad though…or are you ‘Half-Uzamaki’?”

“Haha, very funny. What about you, Tenshi? What would your title be?” She asks after punching him on the arm as she sits back down next to him.

“…hmm, I would say orphan but Naruto has that covered…‘The first Hokage of unknown origin’ I guess. But who are we kidding; I won’t become Hokage only knowing medical jutsu- no offense- your mother and Lady Tsunade are terrifyingly strong.”

“I’m surprised he hasn’t taught you more jutsu than that by now. He learned everything he knows from a Legendary Sanin and taught himself more over time…at least that is what I heard my father say once.”

“Well, it’s hard to know what special jutsu lies within you if you don’t know where you come from. There are so many clans out there; I wouldn’t know where to begin. Mother and Father were both orphans too, so they wouldn’t know either.”

“I say you should get him to train you or join the academy- it’s never too late. You’re only two years older than I.” She pats him on the back with encouragement. He smiles as he looks down on the village.

“There you are.” A boy and Megumi say simultaneously as they land on either side of them.

“Sarada, Konohamaru sensei is looking for you. We have a mission to attend to. Mitsuki and sensei are ready to go!”

“Why are you always so rude Boruto. Can’t you see we were having conversation?”

“Why do I even bother? If you miss the mission it is on you.”

“Wait- did you say, Mitsuki?” Megumi asks Boruto.

“Yes, why?

“He’s new to the village.” Sarada adds. Megumi looks at Tenshi and they smile.

“Mitsuki used to be at the orphanage too. It’s been eight years since his parents picked him up. We were only 6 and he 4, but we remember him.” Tenshi explains.

“Parents? As far as Boruto and I know he only has one parent- the legendary sanin, Orochimaru.”

“I still don’t know who this Orochimaru guy is?” Boruto reminds Sarada.

“Orochimaru- Father Kabuto’s sensei?” Megumi asks.

“Yes, he was a sensei to my father too for some time, made him really strong too- too bad he is a psychopath.”

 “Well that’s concerning. I hope Mitsuki is okay.” Megumi worries.

“I want to meet this ‘legendary sanin’. Do you know where he lives?” Tenshi wonders.

“After the mission, I can show you two to his home. I have business there anyways, so you can tag along if you want to see him.” Sarada gathers her things- her backpack.

“About your mother?”

“Yeah, Karin wanted to tell me something.” She puts on her leaf shinobi headband.

“Thank you, we will meet you here when you return.” Tenshi informs her. She nods and head off with Boruto.

                Recently, a man named Shin Uchiha and his clones attacked Sasuke Uchiha, Sarada’s father. An obsession with Itachi Uchiha is what led to them to attack Sasuke; he is believed to have killed his older brother, Itachi. Knowing that the clones are not natural, Sasuke sought out the one man who’s infamous for his human experimentation and obsession with the sharingan dojutsu- Orochimaru. Not surprisingly, Orochimaru had conducted research on Shin Uchiha with the hopes of obtaining the sharingan, but he lost control and Shin escaped. After Sakura was captured by Shin; Sasuke, Hokage Naruto Uzamaki, Sarada, and Chocho Akimichi confronted Orochimaru who urged them to kill his failed experiment-Shin. Here, Sarada found out that her mother is not Sakura, but Karin- one of Orochimaru’s subordinates.

                Sarada and Boruto go off to their mission as Megumi and Tenshi head back to the orphanage for lunch. Tenshi knows that Kabuto was Orochimaru’s right-hand man for a long time and has seen him visit the orphanage countless times. He hopes Orochimaru has answers to the things he seeks; Tenshi questions if Mother and Father Kabuto are his and Megumi’s parents- and if he is truly Megumi’s twin. Megumi resembles a Hyuga having pupil-less white eyes despite not having the Byakugan dojutsu. Tenshi doesn’t know what he is- with a blind-eye and one eye that’s dark brown-but he can see that neither Mother nor Kabuto are Hyuga; Mother has bright blue eyes while Kabuto has yellow snake eyes like Orochimaru and neither possess the Byakugan. Tenshi makes the resolve to learn the shinobi way from Orochimaru since he taught Kabuto everything he knows; Kabuto has failed to thus far to share the knowledge. Megumi is curious about his experiments on genetics; she hopes he can unlock her Byakugan if she truly is a Hyuga. They wait for Boruto and Sarada’s return anxiously.

 

 

                The Hyuga Clan is one of the native clans of the Land of Fire the other three being the Uchiha, Senju and Uzamaki. Within their clan there are two distinct divisions: the Main House and the Branch Family. The Main House consist of the clans leaders by birthright and other important officials whose main concerns are protecting the secrets of the Byakugan and their clan from outsiders. The Branch family is everyone else whose sole mission in life is to protect the Main House members. To keep control over the Branch Family, the Hyuga curse mark is branded on their foreheads at a young age. Should any defy the Main House or die in battle, activation of the curse mark can cause great pain or kill and seal the Byakugan away so none can uncover its secrets. Currently, the wife of the Hokage, Hinata Uzamaki (Hyuga) is heir to the Hyuga Clan’s Main Family. Naturally, not all the Hyuga are accepting of this system.

                In the Hyuga Clan territory of the Leaf Village, some of the Branch Family citizens gather underground; ages range from the very old to the young. A majority are shinobi while some are significant others and their children. Also among them are Uchiha clan members. One man stands in the middle of the room on top a flatten boulder. He raises his right hand to quiet down the room.

“Brothers and sisters, soon we will be free from the Main House’s suppression. Soon, we will know what real freedom feels like. There are leaf shinobi who have discovered a way to deactivate the curse mark we all bear. No more will we fear them, no longer will we submit to them, and no longer will we die for them. From this day forth, we break free from the Hyuga clan and begin anew. Together, we can create our own nation and live peaceful lives with those who reject the ‘shinobi code.’ No longer will jutsu rule over man. I thank you, Uchiha brethren for joining us in our struggle. I know your struggle is the same as our’s; those who can activate the sharingan hold power over those who can’t. When the sun rises, we will desert this prison to find our promise land. Great Leaf shinobi, please step forward and relieve us of this curse and to a brighter future.” When the sun rises the next day, the deserters are on the move. First they head west to the Land of Wind.

 

                The 7^th Hokage, Naruto calls for a Kage council, however it is held in the Land of Wind’s capital- Sunagakure. Here the current kage meet to address any concerns they may have.

                At the table, Naruto sits between the 5^th Kazekage and the 4^th Tsuchikage- Gaara to his right and Kurotsuchi to his left. To the right of Gaara is the 6^th Mizukage, Choujuurou and to the left of Kurotsuchi is the 5^th Raikage, Darui. Kakashi Hatake, Naruto’s sensei and previous Hokage, stands behind him with another previous Hokage, Tsunade. Behind Darui are Killer B and ‘A’ and behind Choujuurou is former the Mizukage, Mei Terumi. The kage’s hats lie on the table with the hats forming a star.

“Thank you all for coming today. I’ve called for a council to address a growing concern with the safety of not only our nation’s citizens, but the shinobi and jinchuriki who protect them. Recently Sasuke and I defeated two members of the Otsutsuki clan who wanted to obtain the tailed-beast like Madara Uchiha before them. It seems that the Otsutsuki clan is thriving in another dimension and wants to carry out Kayuga’s will. Since this encounter, shinobi and citizens of the Leaf Village are disappearing in massive numbers- like an exodus.” Naruto starts with.

“And not only that, most of the persons disappearing possess special jutsu signature to their clans; specifically, members of the Yuki and Houzuki clans of the Mist.” Mei elaborates.

“In the fire country: Hyuga, Aburame, Akimichi, Inuzuka, Yamanaka, Nara, and Uzamaki clan members have gone missing.” Kakashi adds.

“There have been reports of Fuuma, Kamizuru, Shirogane, and many other clans with special jutsu whose shinobi have gone missing.” Darui comments.

“Do you believe a new Akatsuki has formed? Or is Orochimaru taking people for his experiments again? Or are there more Otsutsuki still alive somewhere else and has changed their target?” Gaara asks.

“Not entirely sure. Reported sightings of swordsmen made us believe a new 7 swordsmen of the Mist have arisen.” Choujuurou speaks for him and Mei. “Since the examination to choose successors was ruled out- Mist shinobi have been fighting over the swords for many years now. This is something Mei and I have to address.”

“Citizens who don’t know jutsu are disappearing too. Everyone here has also reported a substantial amount of their populations are moving out, but influxes of citizens into any of our nations have barely changed.” ‘A’ states.

“Whoever these people are, they don’t seem to be targeting the Jinchuriki like Gaara and I, so for now my guess would be that the persons involved are targeting shinobi to either recruit them or destroy them- again the motives are still unclear to me. It is possible that a new nation is trying to form though.” Naruto concludes.

“I still wouldn’t rule out Orochimaru; even though shinobi have been keeping an eye on him he still has loyal followers who could carry out his dirty work in the shadows.” Tsunade reminds them.

“It seems someone is slowly trying to weaken each country’s defenses; someone or ones are planning something big and want as many shinobi out of the way as possible- if the shinobi turn up dead.” Kurotsuchi believes.

“Between all of us, I’m sure we can take them down!” Killer B slams his fists on the table.

“We will be on the look-out for deserters and rebels alike. In the meantime, we should have our shinobi be on high alert, follow the movements of the suspicious, and escort people out of the villages to new ones if they choose to move. Should conflict arise- we will be ready.” Gaara suggests.

“If anyone gains any Intel please report it to Naruto or Sasuke a.s.a.p. Sasuke will be moving between lands and dimensions to find leads. Take special precautions when sending shinobi out on missions and have them protect the jinchuriki just in case.” Kakashi urges.

“Understood!” They all reply.

“Meeting adjourned.”

                Gaara places his hat back on his head while the other kage do the same. Kakashi, Kiler B and Tsunade talk, while Gaara leaves the room with his brother, Kankuro who was guarding the room. The other kage and guest continue to talk about other things in the hallway. Mei approaches Naruto.

“Naruto, Choujuurou’s mention of the seven swordsmen of the mist reminded me of something I needed to ask you.”

“And what is that, Mei?”

“Zabuza… and his companion Haku; can you tell me about your fight with them? I know it’s been a long time since then, but I wanna know who-what he was when he died.”

“Oh yeah, Zabuza was a mist shinobi. What was he to you, if I may ask?”

“He was family for a while.”