Mask, Blast & Blood



Seen from a bird's eye, the village of Konoha looks impossibly peaceful, at first glance. However, as the moon's only eye looks down upon the empty streets, its silvery glow casts elongated shadows. To those with senses sharper than most, they seem disturbed, darker silhouettes creeping in their midst, menacing...

And yet... I'm a shadow myself, my Sharingan, the fire that'll purify the sins of the world. It has to begin here, in the very village I was born...

I vault off the cliff, free-falling past the newly carved face of the fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, my sensei... I've waited months for this moment. It's the confession of that scum, Kakashi, at Rin's grave that taught me this: our sensei's wife, Kushina, was pregnant and he'd personally guard her meanwhile. Of course, I wondered: since when a mother-to-be needs such attention!

I pieced together the rest: She was apparently brought to the village, as a child, solely to contain the nine-tailed beast within her body. In other words, she is a jinchuriki. Another interesting fact I learned is that the seal would weaken during labor. The elders, terrified-- and rightfully so-- that the Kyūbi might break free, insisted she'd deliver in a remote cave, sparing the village from potential destruction.

According to Zetsu's report, she left today with her husband and her mid-wife, Biwako, wife of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. As expected, they were also escorted by an ANBU squad —Konoha's Black-Ops elite, all outstanding Jonin— all is left for me to do is to extract the Kyūbi, then warp it in the village. He'll finish the job for me. Easy...

Of course, taming such a formidable beast with a single glance won't be a piece of cake... Nothing I can't handle, though, my Sharingan, the kekkei genkai of our clan, is now sharper than most Uchiha's. My one sharingan, that is, since my stupid younger self thought it was such a good idea to give my right eye to that arrogant white-haired prick. Like he'd ever protect Rin over a mission —Protect her like I would have, given the chance... But it doesn't matter anymore... Rin's dead...

I land on some rooftop and, adjusting my mask, I acknowledge my surrounding. Let's focus on the task ahead, shall we? First, discretely take out the squad of ANBU. Then, get to Kushina... She won't survive long without her Bijû. She'll die, and the civilians too, of course, when the Demon-Fox starts the rampage... Damn it, why would I feel guilty, all of a sudden? I'm in hell, THIS is hell. Nothing I do in this life makes a difference in the end... I must destroy Konoha here and now. There can't be any doubts of what I'm capable of —all means necessary.

I'm about to make my way out of the village when a flicker of movement below catches my eye, a silhouette, long hair flowing behind her in the rush of speed as she darts through an empty street. I press myself flat against the tiles of the roof just in time for a three-man team of ANBU to round the corner in relentless pursuit. The girl throws a quick glance over her shoulder and her face catches a sliver of moonlight. I frown in half recognition. Who is she and why are those ANBU after her? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Those ninjas —Surely, Root's ANBU, I have no doubt Danzo sent them— are gaining on me fast, I can hear their hurried footsteps— if I ignore the sound of kunai whistling inches from my ears, that is! I risk a glance over my shoulder, their pale masks glinting tauntingly into view, but a projectile streaks past, its edge scraping across my hitai-ate headband. Faint sparks dance before my eyes, the broken sound of steel against steel sharp in my ears. I wince, scanning my surrounding for anything helpful. Maybe I can use a genjutsu, make them believe one of their kunai struck true?

I mechanically perform an intricate series of hand signs, the familiar sensation of stamina mixing with spiritual energy pooling in my stomach. With the final 'Hare' sign, I weave my chakra into a vivid illusion, a phantom image of me collapsing before their eyes, blood pooling on bone-dry cobblestones.

In a heartbeat, the three shinobi falter, I can hear their zori scuffing the ground as their coordinated advance grinds to a halt mid-stride. I don't look back, though, aware they'll probably realize their mistake rapidly, and I sneak in some dark back street. As I expected, however, I hear a faint 'release!' in unison, which I can safely assume disrupted their chakra flows and dispelled my genjutsu already.

I'm about to jump to the roof top when they round the corner. I leap, desperate, but digits clasp my ankle last second, yanking me downward. I try to hang on only to scratch my palms and knee on the rough plaster of the wall as I plummet to the dirt, face down. A kick in the ribs and I roll over, a metallic taste on my tongue, my breath evading me.

My lungs are still burning when a cold blade presses across my throat, a pale mask hovering closer. "You calm down now, little trash!" the man hisses, his two accomplices leaving the shadows to flank him. "Our orders were very clear: You comply or we bring your lifeless body to Danzo! What will it be?"

My limbs go numb. Are those really my only options? "Why does Danzo wants me so badly... My grades are average at best, I'm not special..." I whimper, "Please, just let me go, I'll disappear!"

The ANBU, if unmoved by my words, seems, on the other hand, satisfied by the effect of his own. I must look utterly helpless... He tilts his mask slightly upward, revealing dark sinister eyes as a sliver of moonlight slip through. He leans in close, his mask nearly brushing my scratched cheek. I can almost feel the cruel grin forming underneath as he says, almost whispering, "You think Danzo tolerates failure? And let's be honest, I don't care if you live or die. As long as Danzo gets those pretty eyes of yours, I'll get paid."

Chills run down my spine. I knew he wanted to use them, but he's willing to take them from my dead body, I refuse to let him! But if I attempt anything now, they'll definitely answer with lethal force. I have no choice for now. "It's not a real choice, but... Take me to him" I say, the words come out bitter.

"You could have done that from the beginning" He snarls. The blade lingers on my neck, then he grabs my chin, snickering under his white mask, "It's a shame, really," he mocks me, "you gave us a good hunt only to deny us the kill." He grabs the front of my shirt and heaves me onto the wall. My hands instinctively rush to grab his wrist.

The contact is all I need. He tries to get free but I dig my nails in his flesh. My chakra pools behind my eyes, flows in his veins and the blood weeps dark under my fingers, bubbling, flesh swelling unnaturally. I shove him towards his two teammates as his whole body inflates grotesquely, swallowed by a bulging morass of pitch-black, viscous ichor. A strange, familiar orange glimmer pulses from within, brighter by every heartbeat. It's not good, way bigger than I expected... It's going to take off the whole street at least... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

She jumps toward the wall and disappears from my line of sight. I lean over the edge just in time to see her hanging from a narrow ledge a couple of yards below the roof, arms straining, one foot scrabbling for purchase against the plaster. I can also see the man's distorted shape bubbles into a dark translucent sphere, a bright flaming core pulsing within. I'm not sure what the girl did to him, but she won't make it...

Without a thought I extend my arm, "Grab my hand!" Her eyes go wide when she sees me but she grabs my wrist and I hoist her toward me, my Mangekyō flaring as I activate the Kamui. Space and time distort and swirl around us as the void engulfs us into a dimensional rift.

We swirl back into existence on top of a large tree, the vortex's wind whistling eerily through the leaves. She stares at me for a second. I've never seen eyes like that, bloodshot, pitch-black irises, a faint purple glow in the pupils. I'm pretty sure this is some sort of Dōjutsu —A visual kekkei genkai, like the Sharingan—, how interesting. As I put her down, her eyes resume their normal aspect, her irises fading into the most lovely shade of lavender. I've seen those eyes before, once... I know her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When it stops turning, I'm on top of a tree. Who is that guy? How did he get us here so quickly? A detonation shakes the forest, and I hug the trunk not to slip off. I follow the stranger's gaze and I see the village, sitting against his cliff and surrounded by trees. Some buildings collapse, sending debris scattering into the air.

I stare in awe at a destruction I didn't know I could unleash until now... As quiet returns, only flames and smoke rise into the night sky. I realize I haven't said a word to my savior, not so much as a 'Thank you', How rude! I glance at him, light-headed, and mutter, "You.. You really saved my skin out there!"

The mask shifts my way, revealing his soft dark eye. It holds a hazy, almost stupid wonder—like a child seeing fireworks for the first time, wide and spellbound. He can't be much older than me... His eye sharpens, the haze lifting as if waking from a dream. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hear a voice, far away, like an echo. I realize that she's talking to me. She continues, her voice clearer, "I really thought it was the end! I'm Inori, by the way. But how did you get us out of there? Who are you?" I open my mouth only to close it again. I can't risk her to recognize me. I could change my voice, my demeanor? Yes, that could work, I think, memories of Guru-Guru —that eccentric swirly White Zetsu I've spent the past year with— flashing through my mind.

I pitch my voice high and bright, "Tobi just happened to be at the right place at the right time. He saw a damsel in distress and he couldn't just go his merry way. That's how he is! Tobi's a good boy, a hero some would say!" I square my shoulders, chin high.

"You just happened to be there, huh?" She studies him, unconvinced. "A good boy, just taking a midnight walk with a mask?" "Oh, you mean that old thing?" I tap the yellow surface with a knuckle, cheerful, unbothered. "Tobi'd rather go out naked as the day he was born than without it! It's my lucky charm." And a shield from the past, I add to myself... I feign to look at the sky, pointing the moon with urgency, "Oof, crazy how time fly by, Tobi must go now..." "Wait!" She says, grabbing the ample fabric of my cloak. "Can I come with you?" She asks. Yes! No! My mind's racing and I shrug. "You... You sure can!" I respond finally, "If you can keep up with Tobi!" I activate the Mangekyō Sharingan and her fingers suddenly clasp together, the fabric they were holding intangible. My sleeve free, I jump off the tree. "See you later!" I guffaw with pure, childish glee as I disappear midway to the ground.

***

I draw closer to the secluded area where Kushina should have been taken tonight, blending into the shadows to prevent detection. That's when I hear the cries. An infant... No, no, no! I can't be that late...

I take a couple deep breaths to calm down, I don't know that yet... But I need to make sure... I teleport nearer to the periphery of the grotto, phasing through the wall, just enough to take a look.

Biwako is sitting near Kushina, her work done, watching over her patient as the child rests on his mother's breasts. Minato is standing close, his smile matching those of the two women. Suddenly, he looks sharply in my direction and I push back, warping back to my previous cover.

I swear under my mask, fists clenching with rage. Why did you have to play the hero, you imbecile? I rest my back on a tree, sighing deeply.

But that technique she used... That unknown Dōjutsu, it was really something. Hell, Danzo wants them for himself. My jaw clenches resentfully, I definitely lost this unique occasion to weaken Konoha... But I can still deprive it from a powerful asset. Who knows what she'd be capable of if Danzo trains her. Or if I do!

That's it! This is the logical course of action now. Konoha can meet its doom another night! I feel invigorated by the new perspective, a determined smile tugging at both corners of my lips, when a sharp pain flares in my ribcage.

I stagger, it feels like a spectral hand crushing my heart. Breathing hard, I fall to my knees. The pain subsides after a moment. The hell was that? I exhale sharply. I just hope she decided to wait for me...