This in not my book BUT I have asked for permission from the author but he still hasn't replied if anyone can get in touch with him let him know if he wants me to I can remove it from here
go check out the book at https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13522981/1/Reincarnation-Ok-Pal-The-Story-of-Kenta-Yamanaka-Book-2
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We're back! I wanted to get this story out yesterday, but I had SO much to write. 20k words for this chappy chap. I love writing long chapters as much as I enjoy reading them!
ISO – A BETA! These chaps are too long and I'm so emotionally invested, I think it's time I get a second look through before I post. I don't need anyone making huge suggestions or critically analyzing the story. Grammar mistakes, flow of story, does it make sense? I like to post my chapters near immediately once I finish them. Too. Damn. Excited. To get these out to you guys ASAP
WARNING! This Chapter is VERY hyper emotional/character building/Drama… Or as the cool kids say these days… ANGSTY! LOTS OF ANGST! ALL THE ANGST! If you're one of my readers who despises angst, you're probably not going to enjoy this chapter. It's needed though to push our cast of characters into growing as HOOMAN. The action/humor/love/fluff will be returning soon… But for now, we're writing a story here! Not an action comic :D
SECOND WARNING! There will be a scene(s) (you will know them when you read them) that will potentially trigger/upset/piss off a few of you. Read the A/N at the end! It will explain things! If I get angry reviews about something I explained, I will send you to time out!
FINAL WARNING! Just kidding, VOTE FOR KENTAS MANCRUSH LIST! POLL CLOSES IT TWO WEEKS! WE NEED A TOP FIVE! Kakashi, Kisame and Nagato lead the pack as the current top 3! Will we have some upsets as we come into the home stretch? Will a FAN SUBMITTED suggestion (haven't gotten any, gimme one if you got it) squeak their way into the top? YOU decide!
Ok that is all. Kiki :D I have a reply to your comment at the ending A/Ns, don't miss it!
Let's GO KENTA FANS!
"The substitute Jonin Commander for Team 10, is Inoko Yamanaka."
A dull roar sounded in my ear. The roar became deafening. My breath was coming in short, quick pants. I was getting light headed. Black spots danced in my vision. Was I having a panic attack?
The stray thought was cut off by a hand on my shoulder. A warm, familiar presence was in my personal space now. A presence I had forgotten was even in the same room as me until now.
"Kenta. Kenta! Hey, snap out of it. We got this. We're sending back word to hold off on engagement until reinforcements arrive. We're the reinforcements, remember? Team 11, until the end." Ami's soft voice was gently talking into my ear. I realized at some point I had fallen to my knees and my arms were wrapped tight around my torso. I looked like a damn fool.
My mind cleared. The haze of panic banished to the deepest recesses of my mind. Ami was right. Dad and Ino were counting on me. I had trained for years for this. I couldn't lose my cool just because my father was potentially in danger. Dad was a Jonin! His whole life has been danger.
The cigarette fell from the lips of Asuma as his last breath left him in a slow exhale.
I shook myself, I wouldn't let that happen!
I jumped to my feet, turned on my heel and pinned Ami in a bone crushing hug.
"Thank you. You're right. Let's mobilize and show these two assholes why messing with Konoha was the wrong move. Dad is too smart, he won't put his team in unnecessary danger." I whispered in her ear. I let go, took a step back, and gave her a reassuring smile. More for myself than for her.
She nodded and gave me a salute. "I'm with you, captain!"
I turned back to Lord Fifth. "Permission to gather team 11 and provide backup to Team 10?"
"Granted. I want you gone 5 minutes ago!" Lord Fifth barked out.
I nodded. "BULL!" I shouted, knowing the father to be had requested to join Team Gamma, the Hokage's protection detail, after Team Zetta disbanded. His wife was due in three months, no way was he going to be away from her.
The goliath of a man appeared, kneeling before me. "Captain." His deep bass rumbled in respect.
"You heard Lord Fifth. My team needed to be gone five minutes ago. Go inform Naruto Uzumaki and Genma Shiranui. If they aren't at the gate in three minutes, I will have you running suicides, in nothing but your mask in the market distract until I get tired. Understand?!"
He nodded and was gone within a heartbeat. I turned to Ami.
"Do you have your mission gear?" I asked, Jaguar's persona sliding into place. She better freaking have her mission gear. If not, I'll have her running suicides alongside Bull!
She nodded, lucky her. "After you gave me the Tora mission for six months straight for forgetting that ONE time, I never leave home without it." She smiled. The smile never reached her eyes. Shit. She still remembered that. I was going to pay now that I wasn't "Captain Jaguar" anymore. Two could hold grudges though. Ami better not try anything.
"Let us come with you, Kenta." Sasuke's voice spoke up suddenly. "We can help."
I turned to Sasuke and Her and shook my head. "Negative. I have no idea what you two are capable of. You're wildcards. I don't know how to incorporate your skillset into our team. You could be a liability as much as a boon. Maybe next time, after I've seen what you two can do. Well, you, Sasuke. I wouldn't trust Her if the fate of the world was at stake."
Sasuke bristled. "Look, Kenta. Don't you think you're being unfair?"
"No," I replied back instantly. "She hasn't given me a single reason I should ever trust her again. She's going to have to work ten times harder to earn back the trust she lost. I won't make you choose Sakura or us, but until I have Sakura's trust back, you are being held at arm's length as well."
Sasuke's frown disappeared and he nodded. "A reasonable deduction. I hope that the two of us can prove our loyalty to the village sooner than later."
I nodded. "Perhaps, but we can discuss this when I get back, with my father, cousin, and her teammates."
And with that, I bowed low to Lord Fifth and exited the room quickly. Ami right on my heels, the waves of anger rolling off her not lost to me or anyone else in the room.
****************************GO TEAM 11! SAVE INOKO AND INO!***********************
"That's our mission. Any questions?" I asked Team 11.
Naruto had a hard look in his eyes. "No. Let's go, Kenta. We're saving Uncle, no matter what!" Naruto declared boldly.
I gave the boy a small smile. "You're right, Naruto. Let's go."
We shot off into the woods, taking to the canopy. I set a hard pace, we couldn't waste a single second. Dad might have orders not to engage, but that doesn't mean that Akatsuki wouldn't notice them or let them go.
We were traveling at high Jonin speeds, uncaring of Chakra usage. The incident happened at the fire temple, which is only hours away at normal Chunin speeds. I had given every member a Yamanaka chakra boosting pill. We were in a race against time once again. This time, though. We didn't have days, we had hours.
On and on we traveled. My panic slowly creeping back up the closer we got. What would we arrive to? Another wave mission? Or would we make it in time to reinforce and drive off, or hopefully kill these two assholes?
My heartbeat quickened, and sweat slicked my palms. I tried to take a few calming breaths, but they only served to enhance the growing sense of panic.
"Kenta. Calm down. Your father has taken down S-Rank threats before. Or did you forget that? Inoko is strong. Believe in him like he's believed in you your entire career. He was made a Jonin at 13 for a reason." Genma's reassuring voice suddenly spoke up. He had been quiet this entire time.
I glanced at Captain, his words helping to banish the panic once again. I sent him a grateful smile, but didn't respond. He was right, of course. Father was one of the strongest in the village. And of course I knew he has taken down S-Rank opponents before, but it was never two at a time. Genma was right though, I had to believe in my father, as well as Team 10. They weren't a combat oriented team like ours was, but they weren't pushovers either. Choji was personally trained by Lord Third. Shikamaru was one of Tsunade's apprentices. Ino had been trained by two deadly Kunoichi; One a Jonin, the other ANBU.
I narrowed by eyes against the blinding wind, pushing even more chakra to my legs to increase my speed. Despite everything I mentally listed, this pit in my stomach wasn't going away. Something was going to happen if I didn't arrive in time. I would NOT let that happen. I am Kenta Yamanaka. Jonin, Ex ANBU Captain. I WOULD save my father!
******************************Prepare yourselves for Chaos*******************************
The panic was back, but for good reason this time. Team 10, led by my father, was currently engaging with Akatsuki. We were still traveling, but I could tell. I could feel it.
Minutes ago a chakra signature I'm nearly as familiar with as my own entered the fringe of my range. Seconds later, the familiar signatures of team 10 were distinguishable. All of them felt uneasy and nervous. Not terrified or distraught, that was the only saving grace.
Two smaller signatures that were familiar in passing were quick to join the others. I had no idea who they belonged to, I just knew that they were people I saw on a somewhat regular basis.
Finally, I zeroed in on the two signatures I didn't want to feel until I was standing side by side with my father.
The first wasn't anything to write home about. An average Jonin if I was to guess on first meeting. However, the vileness I felt coming from that signature had my stomach in knots. The pure ecstasy and elation I felt wasn't helping either.
Finally, the last signature. The person that simply dwarfed all the others. Someone who was on par with Naruto when he wasn't accessing The Kyubi. Though it felt, somehow, off? I didn't know how to explain it. I would need to be face to face with the man or woman and delve deep to figure out what made their chakra so distinguishable. The only thing I knew was this person had Kage level reserves. A true, S-Rank opponent. My first real taste of the cast of monsters we would be facing to keep my fiancé and best friend alive.
"They're in my range. Team 10 is still alive, though their chakra signatures are under duress. They are engaging Akatsuki. Two smaller signatures, most likely Chunin have joined their team. Akatsuki is there. One member has average Jonin level reserves, but his chakra is absolutely vile. It feels sickly and tainted. The other…" I rattled off the information I processed to my team.
"The other what, Kenta?" Ami asked softly. Eyes focused ahead, filled with absolute determination. Not an ounce of fear.
"He or she is an absolute monster. Their chakra rivals Naruto's without using Kyubi's Chakra." I admitted apprehensively.
My teammates nodded, but none wavered in their conviction to see Team 10 home safe and sound. I took heart in their courage, using their emotions to regain control of my own. My father, Ino and everyone there needed me on my A-Game. I couldn't let them down. We were seconds out, we burst from the canopy of trees, taking stock of the entire situation in a single glance.
My heart sank, and my soul cried out. My world quickly evolved into a nightmare.
********************************Dun Dun Dunnnnnnn************************************
Izumo and Kotetsu. Two skilled Chunin that were normally manning the gate. People made fun of them as "The Eternal Chunin Gate Guards." Those people were idiots. They were our first line of defense if someone broke through. You had to be skilled enough to hold your own long enough for ANBU to arrive to be stationed at the gate. It was not a glamourous job, but it was one of the most important in the village.
It didn't matter here though, in the real world. The Chakra beast, who I quickly realized as being Kazuku, the man Cpt. Genma warned us of, had the two by their necks. His grip slowly constricting, forcing their airways to become tighter and tighter by the second. A strange, hulking, black creature was keeping Choji at bay who was trying to free the two.
Ino was on the ground, panting heavily. She didn't appear to be injured, but I quickly realized her chakra levels were dangerously low. Shikamaru was dripping sweat in buckets, his 'Shadow Possession Technique' attached to the other member of Akatsuki. The man who was grinning maniacally as Shika was slowly attempting to move him from the strange symbol he was standing in the middle of. His skin was pitch black, with white markings resembling bones marring his skin.
Father. Father wasn't looking to good. He had electrical burns across his exposed skin. His chakra levels were bottomed out. He was panting and had a large gash across his shoulder. There was a hole in his thigh that was bleeding profusely; another on the opposite shoulder. He was in rough shape, but he was alive. I felt the pit in my stomach loosen slightly, before it quickly became an absolute crushing feeling of helplessness.
Skikamaru's chakra levels plummeted. His shadow receded. Skeleton guy laughed in euphoric pleasure, raising a wickedly sharp spike high above his head. I stared on in confusion, the events playing in slow motion to my panic-stricken brain. I barely registered Cpt Genma breaking off from the group to rescue the two Chunin. I had eyes only for my father.
He brought the spike crashing down, driving it straight into his own chest at a slightly downward angle. I laughed. He was killing himself? Why?
My laugh turned to a cry of pure anguish.
Blood erupted from my father's mouth. He collapsed to the ground, clutching his own chest. I flickered and caught him before he hit the ground.
"Dad? What's wrong? What did he do to you? Skikamaru! Hurry! Dad is injured. Heal him!" My mouth was moving faster than my brain. The words coming out automatically. This was standard procedure, why was no one moving?!
"Shikamaru! HELP HIM!" I screamed. Shikamaru mumbled something. "What did you say?!" My voice was hysterical, but I didn't care at this point.
"I'm out of Chakra. I can't even do a diagnostics technique right now." He said in a sad voice.
I threw him one of our clan pills. "Eat it. Then help him!"
He popped the pill into his mouth, his deathly pallor instantly improving as his chakra levels began to rapidly rise. His hands lit up in a soft green glow and placed them on my father's chest.
"I'm sorry, Kenta. There's nothing I can do. I don't think Lady Tsunade herself could heal this." He told me, voice laced with emotions.
I growled ferally at him. "What. The. Hell. Do. You. MEAN?!" Each word was clipped and filled with annoyance. "My father is dying! Your shitty lazy attitude doesn't give you the right to just GIVE UP before you even start!" I yelled at the boy.
He shook his head slowly. "Kenta. That attack. It destroyed three of the four chambers of his heart. Even with surgery and a skin graft, the damage is too intense."
"I DON'T CARE! JUS-" I cut off as dad squeezed my hand weakly.
"It's ok, son. It's ok. Do not yell at your friend. He is right. I can tell." Dad's weak voice interrupted me, a smile on his face.
"Dad. Don't you dare give up." I ordered.
He shook his head slightly. "Kenta. My son. My beautiful son. I am so proud of you. Since the day you were born, I've always been proud. When I'm gone, it's your duty to take care of your mother and your siblings. They will need you."
My eyes burned, but I held back the tears. "What are you talking about? Mom needs you. Kono and Iroko need you. I NEED YOU! They don't need me! They need you!"
"Promise me, son. Promise you will take care of them." He pleaded. I could only nod, the lump in my throat had grown too large to form anymore words.
"Thank you, son." He said, smile back in place. "My time… Is growing short. Remember what I… Told you all those years ago. Do not," He coughed violently, blood pouring from his mouth. "Do not… Give into the… darkness."
I nodded vigorously. "I won't, dad. I swear. Please. Don't go."
"Fulfill… Your dreams… My son. Take… Our clan… to new heights."
"I will, dad. I swear on everything I hold dear. Our clan will be feared across the elemental nations one day. But you have to be there to see it. It won't mean anything if you aren't there!" I was losing the battle, a few tears escaping.
"Son… I love… you. Before I go. I must… tell you… something." His voice was becoming weaker and weaker. His chakra was fluttering dangerously. His breathing becoming shallower by the minute.
"Anything, dad!" I yelled, the tears falling faster.
"Ask… Your mother… about… your brother." He whispered so low I had to bend down to hear him.
"Iroko? Why?" I asked in confusion.
Dad weakly shook his head. "Older. Brother. Protected. You. Save. Him." Dad wheezed out.
I nodded, the news not registering, the only thing my mind could focus on was my dad's erratic heartbeat and shallow breaths.
"I. Love. You. Tell… Tori… I'm… Sorry…" Dad finished, his last words coming out in a slow exhale. I opened the eyes I had pried shut to hold back my tears. Glassy eyes stared back at me. Dad's chest wasn't moving. His chakra was still.
"Dad. Dad, wake up. Please." I whispered, giving up the fight, my tears fell fast and hot. "Dad. DAD! Please! Don't leave me! I have so much to learn! I need you! We need you! Dad! DADDY! WAKE! UP!" I screamed, my soul itself weeping. The sheer agony I felt was unlike any physical pain I had ever felt before in my life.
"Kenta. He's gone." Ami's emotional whisper came as she rested a hand on my shoulder. I shook it off and wrapped my arms around my father, sobbing for all I was worth.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! YES! Despair! Lord Jashin will reward me greatly for such a satisfying sacrifice! He will praise me above all others! I am his number one Priest! Your sorrow and tears give him strength!" The other Akatsuki member screamed loudly. His face was pure, unrestricted ecstasy. His chakra was pure joy and elation.
I stared at the man, mind completely shut down. I wept, and he laughed.
And it all made sense.
This. This was who my father warned me about. The man I would become if I let my darkness consume me. This vile chakra. This unhinged madness. This zealous fervor to cause endless suffering.
This is what awaited me.
I promised my father that I wouldn't let this happen. It was the only thing he made me promise before he passed away. I would honor that promise or die.
Tomorrow.
I stood up. Pure hatred and malice pouring off my very essence. This thing. This abomination. It would DIE today.
"Kenta, be careful. He's immortal." Ino's scared voice called off to the side.
"What do you mean?" I growled out. Eyes burning with hatred never leaving the creature.
"I took his head off. Shika stabbed him in ten vital areas with his 'Shadow Sewing.' Choji broke every bone in his body. Your dad electrocuted him with one million volts of electricity. Nothing keeps him down." Her fearful reply came.
I growled even more savagely. I would do the impossible. My father deserved it.
"That look! Yes! Your hatred! YOU SINNER! I will sacrifice you the same way I sacrificed that sinning FATHER of yours! Lord Jashin will be ELATED!" The abomination screamed out in delight.
"Beheading. Vitals ruptured. Electrocution. Skeletal frame crushed. Nothing worked, eh? Let's try…" My own madness was taking over. My hands were flying through a long and complex chain of hand seals. The technique I was performing was my grandmother's strongest technique. My strongest technique. A technique I had never successfully done before. My hands ended on the Dragon Seal. "Complete vaporization." I growled hatefully.
"Storm Release: Fury of the Storm!" I called out. I raised my hands directly above my head. A completely enormous sphere of energy appeared. It was the size of a small house. I grinned in triumph at my prey. "Say hello to Lord Jashin in the afterlife."
The ball of energy began to compress rapidly. Smaller and smaller it shrunk. It was now the size of a cart, now a horse. Smaller and smaller it rapidly shrunk. A dog, a cat, a watermelon. I brought my hands down, and began to forcefully compact the ball of volatile energy. Smaller and smaller. The size of a melon, an orange, a walnut, an ant.
"Bring it on! Lord Jashin's protection will save me from any attack cast upon me by a sinner of His Worship!" It called out it zealous fervor and rushed me quickly. His triple-bladed scythe gleamed dangerously in the afternoon sun.
"Don't let him draw blood! If he does and ingests it, he can use that strange technique to link your bodies together!" Shikamaru called out, but I brushed it off. My technique was ready.
Fifty feet away, forty, thirty, twenty, ten. I flicked the ant sized ball of energy at my target. It flew through the air faster than light. Before my finger had completely extended, the tiny pin-prick of light made contact with the abominations chest, and the world exploded in light.
Upon contact, the ball of light erupted into a column of pure energy. Everything within a three foot radius of the victim was instantly incinerated. The column of energy shot off into the sky, the top breaching the clouds.
The things screams of sheer agony were snuffed out within the first second. I had instinctually closed my eyes at the bright light, but I knew what was happening. I had never performed the technique successfully, the last stages of compression always too much for me to handle. Today wasn't the case. My righteous fury brought a certain level of clarity and concentration I didn't have training alone. For five seconds straight, the technique lit up the sky. Evaporating everything it touched, down to the cellular level.
I opened my eyes as the light began to fade and smiled in vindictive pleasure. Gone. Not even a scrap of the hideous clothes he wore were left behind. I had done it. I had avenged my father. I sank to one knee, my chakra levels were dangerously low. I knew we had another opponent, but I trusted Naruto and Genma to take him on. Maybe seeing his "immortal" partner die for good would scare him off. Just in case, I popped a pill into my mouth. My chakra began to recharge rapidly.
"So, it seems that Hidan could be killed. A dangerous technique in one so young. Its sheer destructive power rivals that of Onoki's Particle Release. I should retreat for now, I do not think even I would survive a… Well. This is a surprise. His immortality is the real deal." Kakuzu's surprised voice called across the field.
That statement, and the spark of chakra I was now feeling sent a chill down to my very bones.
"Impossible." I whispered out. "There's no way! I vaporized his very existence!" I shouted to know one in particular. I rushed to the edge of the twenty foot deep crater and peered inside. Nothing. That was when I noticed the ritual circle he had originally been standing in.
The rusty-brown liquid that made the symbol I now realized was dried blood. It was bubbling ominously. It began to meld together, becoming a mass of dark, reddish-brown.
I fell to my knees, disbelief the strongest emotion I was feeling. Helplessness and distress were not far behind. I literally erased him from existence with an S-Rank technique, and somehow, someway, he is still alive.
Hope, vanished from my essence. Despair was all that remained. My father's killer couldn't be killed. I would never get justice for him. He was dead, and his killer wouldn't even join him in the afterlife. The injustice, it wasn't fair. But, that's life.
I let out a humorless snort at the irony of the entire situation. For years, I broke people's will to live. I basked in their despair. I always wanted more. I always needed more. Karma was truly a bitch. All those lives I ruined. All the pain and sorrow I caused. It was all coming back to bite me in the ass.
So, with no hope, and no plan, I did the one thing I've never done in my life.
I prayed.
Not to The Sage of Six Paths. He wasn't a god. God's don't die. He was an incredibly powerful man with god-like abilities, but god he was not.
I didn't pray to any of the many God's our culture worships. None of them had ever spoken to who I was as a person. I had my own morals and values, instilled into me at a young age by my parents.
I didn't even pray to The Creators that Lady Korinna mentioned so many times. They were the last ones to care about the going on of mere mortals unless they opened a direct link with them. I would 100% use the technique she used that day. If it meant my life to get justice for my father? Well, that isn't even a question. But it was not within my knowledge, nor power, and as far as we knew, Lady Korinna had the technique destroyed when she left the world of the living.
No, that day I prayed to the ones I knew would at least hear my prayers and share in my sorrow. I prayed to my ancestors. The only ones who would even listen to the desperate prayers of a 17 year old kid.
I prayed for forgiveness to my father and ancestors for the shame of not being able to bring his killer to justice. I prayed for the strength I would need to take down an actual immortal. I prayed for the skill to pull off such a feat, for I realized now he wouldn't be beaten down with brute force. Above all else, I prayed for knowledge. None of my techniques could defeat this man. The 'Despairing Mind Trap' wouldn't work against a religious fanatic. His zealous devotion would let him shrug off that technique quicker than Shika's shadow possession. No, I needed the knowledge and wisdom to defy what seemingly was a blessing from some type of deity. As Lady Korinna once said, if enough believe in a higher power, The Creators reward their unwavering devotion. She never said it couldn't be a deity that promotes sacrifice, pain and suffering.
I prayed, and I prayed. I do not know how long I sat there, but it couldn't have been too long.
Forgiveness, Strength, Skill, Knowledge. Forgiveness, Strength, Skill, Knowledge. Forgiveness, Strength, Skill, Knowledge.
I prayed, and I prayed, until finally, finally my prayers were answered. An audible 'click' resonated inside my mind, and I knew.
*******************Yamanka Clan History Lesson! Brought to you by Aello!*********************
The Yamanaka Clan dates back to well before the time when the world had chakra. We were a small clan, living in the capital city of what is today known as "The Land of Dragons."
For years we were a clan of highly skilled doctors. Our clan was well versed in the human physiology. We were paid by the royal family to assist in healing the troops after the war. We were a clan that always wanted peace above all else, but we knew the world didn't share our viewpoints.
For years our kingdom went from battle to battle, war to war. Our King was a conqueror, and wanted the entire world under his rule. Our duty to the royal line was to make sure that their troops were always in the best shape to get sent out to another battle.
This was our way of life for over a decade, until one day the Clan Head's eldest son was conscripted into the King's Army. He left with the other able-bodied young men, and we didn't see him for over a year. When he finally came home to us, he was a changed man.
No longer was he the happy-go-lucky boy we all remembered. A boy who wanted to be just like his father and heal the sick and wounded. The man who returned to us was cold, angry and paranoid. Loud noises would set him off. Surprising physical contact would cause him to lash out violently. We realized quickly that our beloved heir had returned home to us, alive and whole. But he was not well. He was wounded, just as gravely, if not worse than many of his comrades. For his injury wasn't one we could cure with tinctures, potions or stitches. His ailment was an injury to his very soul.
It was after this day that the Yamanaka Clan changed its path from caring for the sick and wounded, to caring for those who brought home those grievous yet invisible wounds of the psyche.
For years we studied human behavior. We dug deeper than anyone had before us. We were the ones to notice that nearly every man returning from war suffered similar injuries. It was our duty to get these brave men back to their normal selves. So we studied, and we studied. We began to take in patients. Offering sessions for them to talk about their experiences; what changed them. We began to find remedies to heal these invisible wounds, but not a cure. Never a cure. A cure would come much later.
Decades of service healing the minds of men gained us great honor among the royal family and their armies. Mental Health was quickly becoming just as important as physical health. The King himself granted our small clan the title of nobility, which allowed our research to soar to new heights with access to the royal libraries.
Many years later, she came. The Rabbit Goddess; Lady Kaguya. She ate the fruit of the world tree and gained powers that rivaled the God's themselves. She ended the never ending wars, bringing the first real peace our world had ever seen.
We were happy. Our clinic simply boomed with business. With no wars to fight, men came to us for help getting used to being every day citizens. We helped hundreds of ex-soldiers readjust to daily life.
The Goddess herself recognized the saintly work we were doing. She applauded us and lavished us with gifts to help even more men recover and get back to the men they were before the war.
As they say, nothing good can last.
Lady Kaguya turned on humanity.
She lashed out, destroying countries, killing thousands. We fled the capital and travelled east. Away from the fighting. Away from the killing. Years later, we heard the rumors. Lady Kaguya's sons defeated and sealed her away. Our world was saved!
We continued our research and helping more and more people. We branched out to all trauma's people had suffered. Their hardships, the trials, we took them all in and helped them work through the mental strain. We were heralded as saints, and apparently the gods took notice on us.
The Sage of Six Paths one day visited our clan. He praised our work, similarly to what his mother had done many years ago. However, his gift was much more useful. He granted us the ability to use Chakra, and with it, taught us the way of Ninshu. Our family was mesmerized! With Chakra, our research soared to impossibly new heights! We could scan a brain now, and see how certain events triggered specific emotions in certain regions of the brain. We could dive into our patient's minds, seeing first hand their experience, making our empathy much more in tune to the specific patient and giving them the best treatment.
For years we experimented with our new gift, until one day, a bright young researcher of the clan invented what would become our strongest technique. Both to help heal the mentally scared, as well as to crush our enemies.
Decades of using this technique allowed us to dive straight into the very core of a person and pull their very soul from the depths of despair. Men and women whose next action would be to take their own lives to end their pain were leaving our compound happier than they had been in years. Our work was called the work of the divine. We were heralded as miracle workers across the world!
Alas, with techniques that people don't understand comes fear. With fear, comes war. We were attacked by a powerful clan that would later become what is known as the Uchiha. They claimed their eyes would protect them from our illusions and mind tricks. They attacked, sending in 100 of their strongest warriors.
We have and will always be a clan that prefers peace above all else. However, as our notoriety grew, we feared a day like today would come. So we trained our warriors just in case. They came through. That day 100 men and women attacked our clan. That day, 100 men and women didn't return home to their families. We didn't kill a single man or woman. However, their drooling husks were enough to turn the public's view against us. In a single day we went from being heralded as angels, to demons. We were driven out of our home once more, and we migrated further east.
We found lands in rolling hills of endless grass and plains. We settled there, isolating ourselves from the world. People still journeyed to us to ease their suffering, but eventually people forgot what our techniques were originally invented for. Years and years of fending off attacks had turned our peace loving clan into a clan prepared for war at a moment's notice. Our enemies respected our strength, and for over a decade we had real peace. All until the night that would break our clan and scattered them to lands unknown.
That fateful night, our strongest warriors stayed behind to cover the retreating forms of our families. Before he died, our clan leader performed a final technique. He sealed the knowledge of our ancestors away where no one could find it. Only someone with the bloodline of our people could ever access. Our knowledge was never lost as we believed for 1000 years. It was simply unable to be accessed, for the clan leader never told anyone the way to unlock the memories sealed away and passed down.
Need. Pure, desperate need in a time of emotional turmoil and crisis. It seems so simple, but none to this day has ever desired our lost arts so badly that the soul seal would unlock and grant them the knowledge.
For our clan was never feared for our ability to gain access to an opponent's mind. No, it was fear that we could gain access to their very souls.
For our clan's greatest treasure to humanity soon became its greatest nightmare.
***************************Kenta Better Be Praying Erry Sunday Now!***********************
I blinked away the ache in my eyes. The knowledge of our history completely assimilating with my current memories. I wanted to laugh. My ancestor was a genius! Hiding knowledge inside the minds of a clan that specializes in mind techniques? The irony and genius was something to celebrate. However, I could celebrate later. For now, I had an immortal to destroy.
Hidan's eyes snapped open, bloodshot and furious orbs glared absolute loathing hatred towards me.
"OI! YOU GOD DAMN SINNING ASSHOLE! DO YOU KNOW HOW BAD THAT SHIT HURT?!" He screamed in rage. "I TOLD YOU! LORD JASHIN REWARDS THE FAITHFUL! AS LONG AS I HAVE HIS FAVOR, I WILL NEVER DIE! MY SOUL IS TETHERED TO THIS EARTH! ALL I NEED IS A SINGLE CELL TO SURVIVE AND I WILL BE REBORN AGAIN AND AGAIN! YOU FAILED! DADDY IS STILL DEAD, AND I'M ALIVE!"
A deadly calm had settled over me. I would mourn my father soon. I would take comfort in my family as we mourn together. For now though? I was fulfilling the second promise to my father. The promise to regain the glory our clan once held and make the world tremble at hearing our name. I began to speed through ancient handseals. The handseals of today are the basics of Ninjutsu. The signs I was using, the signs the knowledge granted me, were from the ancient philosophy of Ninshu. This technique was originally designed to heal the souls of the suffering. Today, I would use this technique to destroy a soul. He said his soul was tethered to this plane of existence? Let's remove it. I landed on the final seal, taking aim at my opponent. The irony that our staple technique of today used the ancient hand seals of Ninshu wasn't lost on me. 'Mind-Body Transfer.'
"NO! Kenta, you can't! If that misses, he will kill you!" Ino screamed out.
"Yamanaka Lost Art: Soul Transference," I said in my eerily calm voice.
No splitting of chakra, no chakra even required for this technique. My pure, untainted soul launched forward. It hit my opponent once more dead in the chest. My world went white.
***************************** Too OP? Meh. Gotta Kill An Immortal!*************************
I opened my eyes to a dreadful sight. The sky was the color of fresh blood. Dark storm clouds loomed ominously. A towering black cathedral ascended towards the heavens directly in front of me. The tall spires piercing the clouds at their highest peak. Grotesque statues loomed along the façade. I turned my attention to the heavy stone doors before me.
I walked forward, and pushed on one of the doors. It effortlessly and silently swung forward. I peered inside. Pews lined either side of the nave. Each was hand carved in intricate detail. The images they depicted were those of people in pain and suffering. Kneeling in prayer at the bema was my target. My prey.
"Nice place you got here. Could really use a woman's touch though, dontcha think" I called out mockingly.
Hidan's head whipped around, pure hatred etched his face. "What are you doing here? How did you get in here?" He hissed.
I shrugged. "That's for me to know, and you to never wrap that teeny tiny brain around."
He jumped to his feet. His look of hatred morphing quickly to a visage of pure elation. "Well. I've never sacrificed someone in the sacred halls of Lord Jashin. Thank you for offering to be my first. I promise, I won't go easy on you."
I began to walk forward, uncaring of where I was. This may be Hidan's mindscape, but what he didn't know is that I was master here. He was simply my plaything.
He let out a cackle of insane glee and charged forward, scythe appearing in his hand. He was on me quicker than what should have been possible, red blades glinting off the dull candlelight.
It passed right through me.
I sneered, feeling a sick pleasure at his look of absolute shock.
"I think you were trying to do this." I said, as I launched my arm forward. My fingers extended in a 'knife' hand piercing easily through his weak shell of protection. It seems that his only defense to mental attacks was his pure belief in his deity. In here, that didn't mean anything. My hand gripped his heart, and I applied pressure ever so slightly. He let out a moan of pain, sweat creating a thin coat across his forehead.
"What… Are you doing to me?" He growled through clenched teeth.
"If I can't destroy your body, I'll simply destroy your soul. Your body may be immortal, but even you admitted to it. Your soul is anchored to our world by whatever demon you worship. If I take that out of the equation, you're as good as dead." I said with no small amount of vindictive pleasure.
His eyes widened, true fear marred his face. "No! Not that! Anything but that! Don't! I can- ACK!"
"Disappear." My emotionless voice interrupted. My hand crushing the sphere of spiritual energy as easily as snapping a bone-dry twig . Hidan's eyes went dead, the light of the living vanishing forever.
I closed my eyes, and within a single second I was back into my body.
******************************No toying this time around!********************************
I opened my eyes and found my prey. I smiled in grim satisfaction. Hidan had fallen to the ground. His eyes were open and staring blankly into space. His chest rose and fell with regularity. A trail of drool escaped his lips and puddled on the ground beneath him. I turned to Kakuzu.
"Immortal doesn't mean unbeatable. Take your partner with you if you want. He's nothing but a vegetable now." I said haughtily.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Watch your tone, brat. I could erase you from existence. I went toe-to-toe with Hashirama Senju and survived. Don't think some wet behind the ears child scares me."
I snorted derisively. "That's not something I would brag about. If you lived after you fought Lord First, it's because he let you. It was said he was just as naïve and forgiving as he was strong. If you had said you survived against Lord Tobirama or Madara Uchiha, then I would be worried."
Kakuzu moved, his speed wasn't a joke. Too bad I was faster. I flickered right into his blind spot, lightning coated kunai aiming directly for a vital. It sunk hilt deep into his right kidney. He grunted in pain and disengaged. He yanked the foreign object out of his sit and tossed it away. I frowned at the complete absence of blood.
"You have passed my test. You intrigue me. One day I will return and claim that quickly growing bounty on your head, little boy." His gravelly bass bluffed. His chakra screamed extreme unease. I narrowed in on Kakuzu, determined to get a good read on him before he fled.
'Five separate chakra sources? What is he?' I pondered to myself. Before I could delve any further, Kakuzu had flickered to Hidan's position. He grabbed him effortless and tucked him under one arm before disappearing in a burst of speed. Within seconds he was out of my range.
I let out a sigh of relief, too drained to get into a death match at this point. I trudged over to my father's body and collapsed next to it. I don't know how long I sat there, staring off into nothingness. Eventually Ino and Ami coaxed me to my feet. Ino did the honors of sealing father's body into the appropriate scroll for a shinobi killed in action. She handed it to me. I took the scroll with shaking hands and held it close to my chest. The sorrow, loss, and heartache overwhelmed me once more. The tears fell just as hot and furious as they did earlier.
********************************Big Feels For Kenta ***********************************
One Week Later
Lord Fifth had begun the ceremony. He launched into a speech about dad. Listing his achievements, his accolades, and his prestige. His entire life story. On and on the speech went, until it finally ended. I sat there, numb and unblinking, holding Kono's hand the entire time as she silently cried next to me. A new speaker took the stage and began to rattle of old stories. Person after person, story after story, each passing second, the slowly simmering rage in my belly got hotter.
How dare they talk about my dad like this?! Like he was already some distant memory. That his entire life could be summarized by these fake words and pathetic faux sympathy! I grit my teeth, doing my best to control the raging storm deep within me. Finally, my name was called.
I gave Kono's had a reassuring squeeze and a quick kiss to the top of her head. I made my way to the podium.
I looked out across the see of black, hundreds of faces stared back at me. Some tear-filled, others blank masks of apathy. They all disgusted me. I found a familiar mop of blonde hair. Naruto was staring back at me. Sorrow, grief, and pain rolled off the boy in waves. I sent him a small smile, but he simply nodded back in return.
I made eye contact with Lord Third. Pity.
Ami. Pity.
Genma. Pity.
Ino. Pity.
Uncle. Pity.
Pity. Pity. Pity. Pity. Pity! PITY! Pity PITYPITYPITYPITYPITYPITYPITYPITY!
Shocked gasps and whimpers escaped the audience. All eyes immediately zeroed in on Naruto. Not noticing anything strange, their eyes slowly made their way towards me. Those either brave or foolish enough made eye contact with me. That was a mistake, they flinched, one and all, and quickly averted their gaze.
Waves of pure malice, hatred, and bloodlust crashed down on every single person in attendance. The last time the general public had felt such malice was 16 years ago when the Kyubi escaped. That furball was absolutely nothing compared to the hatred I felt at this moment.
"You're all pathetic! How dare you look on me with your PITY filled gazes? My father was a HERO! He died protecting his comrades! I don't want your filthy, fake pity! I don't want your sympathy. I don't want any of your shitty, fake emotions! I had a speech prepared, celebrating who Inoko Yamanka was as a father. Not a shinobi, or a comrade, or an old friend. How Kono and I saw him every day. Now? I want to rip all those pathetic looks off your faces. None of you deserve to know who my father truly was. None of you deserve to even be here! Half of you never said more than a few sentences to him in his entire life! You're all posers. You're here to make yourselves look good, because deep down you know my father was the epitome of the perfect Konoha Shinobi."
"He was loyal, brave, and hardworking. He cared for his troops, in both their professional career and personal lives. He was honorable. He was kind. He was perfect. For you all to sit here and feel anything other than overwhelming PRIDE for even knowing who he was is an absolute disgrace! I won't stand for it! I will personally gut the next person that so much even LOOKS at me with any emotion even CLOSE to pity!" I roared the last three sentences. My chest was heaving, my ears felt hot. The simmering rage was an absolute inferno now. My eyes swept the crowd. Fear. That was the new emotion. The inferno became absolute hellfire. The hatred and malice were overwhelming the crowd now. I was prepared to leap over the podium and kill every last pathetic piece of-. I cut off my internal raging.
Kono was in tears. But not in sorrow anymore. She was terrified, petrified of me. Of ME. Her brother. The person she loved more than anyone in the world. The person who was supposed to protect her above all else. The one person she could go to for comfort her during this loss.
And she was sobbing, attempting to flee. To get away from the absolute demon that had replaced her brother. The hellfire died, ice-cold guilt replacing it instantly.
I did the only thing I could think of. I fled.
**********************************Kenta beebee *************************************
I landed as far away from that farce of a ceremony as I could. I screamed at the top of my lungs, releasing all these pent up negative emotions. The guilt, anger, hatred, fear. All of it. I bellowed as loud as I could, the tears were rolling fat and heavy down my face. It wasn't enough. I needed something else. I needed to destroy.
Lightning lashed out from me in uncontrolled arcs, striking indiscriminately at everything that surrounded me. Water was forcibly yanked from the atmosphere in my rage. It crashed against stone and wood alike, the force cracking both without remorse. My chakra surged, arcs of light erupted from my fingertips, sweeping over the landscape felling trees like a hot knife through butter.
It wasn't enough. This RAGE was still burning. I pumped more chakra out, every ounce I could muster. The elements responded to my fury, for that is what a storm is. Nature's fury lashing out and washing away the impurities of the world.
Why my dad, why?!
It should have been ASUMA! WHY WAS MY VISION WRONG?! WHAT DID I DO TO DO DESERVE THIS?!
Why me…? Why Kono…? Why Mom…? Why… My dad?
The fire reignited, the demons inside me feeding into the darkness.
It was Kurenai. Her and her unborn bastard spawn! SHE is the one who set off this chain of events! SHE is the one who's so weak she can't even carry a BABY properly! The one thing she was intended to do by nature, and she FAILED. Because of her failure, my dad was DEAD!
I screamed once more. Lightning and Water lashing out around me.
I was going to kill her. I was going to make her suffer. I was going to take EVERYTHING from her, and watch her die slowly from the inside.
I smiled in insane glee. Now that I had my plan in place, I just needed to work out the details.
First things first though. I needed to see exactly how my father died.
*******************************Kenta Is NOT OK Y'all!************************************
The next day…
I knocked on the door in rapid succession until it opened.
"Kenta? What are you doing here?" Shikamaru asked tiredly.
"I need to see your memories of what happened before we showed up." I said, the perpetual rage I had been feeling since that day lurking just beneath the surface.
"Kenta, I don't think that's such a good idea…" Shikamaru said slowly. Too bad.
"I'm not asking." I growled, moving like a viper, hands latching onto his head in a vice grip. I activated my technique, uncaring of the consequences. I didn't care if I was technically assaulting a clan heir and fellow shinobi. I didn't care if a forced mind walk was painful and could lead to serious issues. I didn't CARE if Shikamaru hated me forever, or if he pressed charges. Consequences be damned. I would HAVE my answers, I would HAVE my vengeance, and then I would become a god damn missing nin if I had to! I had the knowledge, no one was at my level anymore, not even Lord Fifth!
I watched the scene unfold from Shikamaru's point of view.
Akatsuki knew they were being followed. They laid an ambush. Team 11 engaged.
I watched as Shika's 'Shadow Sewing' technique pierced Hidan in multiple vitals, including the heart.
I watched as Shika trapped Hidan in his shadow and Ino lopped his head off.
I watch as Dad effortlessly dodged the berserker, using his 'Body Disturbance' technique with masterful precision to save Shika and Ino time and again.
I watched as Choji and the two Chunin kept Kakuzu busy. I watched as Choji and Deku pounded Hidan into a bloody paste.
It was all as I was told. Maybe it WAS just bad luck. Maybe Hidan was more skilled than the berserker I have been watching this entire fight. MAYBE it was a clever ruse to get Team 11 to drop their guard.
The logical and rational part of my mind were forcing their way to the surface. The demons inside were being beaten back.
And then, I saw it.
Ino has been working her ass off over the last four years. Her sword training with Yugao was no joke. Yugao pushed her to breaking, every single session. Then she pushed even harder. Ino was well trained, Yugao did an excellent job. She trained Ino so well, TOO well, it was YUGAO who got my dad killed.
Ino has been trained to fight technical and tactical opponents. A fight between Shinobi, even two that wield swords is a game of Shoji. You attempted to outsmart your opponent, create an opening, and then strike. Yugao had been pounding these lessons into Ino, and she had taken to them like the prodigy she was.
So when faced off against a berserker like Hidan, she overthought everything. She was looking for openings, she was attempting to lead her opponent into her trap. Her lack of experience was the reason my dad died. When fighting a berserker, there are no tactics, there are no traps. An opening is an opening. You strike. Hidan's swing went wide, he was wide open. Ino didn't take it, she thought it was a feint. Berserkers don't feint. Ino waited, and she struck when she THOUGHT there was an opening. Hidan's eyes went wide, his mouth stretching into a smile of triumph. The 'opening' Ino thought she had was nothing more than Hidan bringing his scythe back to him. He reacted, using the chain attached to the weapon, he changed its trajectory. What was simply a mistake on Hidan's part, quickly became the death blow.
Then my Dad flickered in, knocking Ino away, the scythe digging deep into his shoulder, then Hidan yanked it back to him. He created his ritual circle and ingested dad's blood.
I pulled back from Shikamaru, gasping. The furnace was roaring deep inside my chest.
Ino.
It's always, Ino. ALWAYS!
But this was perfect! Ino was the student of BOTH Kurenai AND Yugao! Hurting her is the first step to crushing the both of them!
I grinned in triumph.
"Thanks, Shika." I tossed a few pills at his feet. "Should help with the headache."
With that I stretched my senses, honing in on the ONE chakra signature I was looking for. I locked in on my target. She was off training with another signature I recognized. Ami. Perfect. Ami would have my back through and through after she finds out who was actually responsible for Dad's death. I disappeared in a gust of wind.
************************************Psychotic Rampage!*********************************
The two women were locked in a furious battle of hand to hand combat. Ami had the upper hand. Despite her small and lithe stature, Ami was absolutely terrifying in hand to hand combat. The personalized style taught to her by Anko was deadly. It used lightning quick strikes to vital and vulnerable areas. Joint locks and grapples also played a key role. If Ami got you in an arm bar, she wouldn't wait until you tapped out. She would yank as hard as she could, either breaking the arm, or dislocating the elbow or shoulder.
Normally, I would be in awe watching the two high level kunoichi attempt to maim the other.
Today though? I was out for blood.
Without thought my most potent paralytic senbon was in my hand. I tossed it seemingly at random, but Ino appeared right in the direction I threw the weapon. It pierced deep into her flesh, the effects near instant. She turned around, eyes wide.
"Kenta? What the hell?!" She yelled. She took a threatening step forward, and promptly fell to one knee. "What… What did you do to me?"
"Paralytic poison." I growled out. Ami was by Ino's side.
"What the FUCK, Kenta! Are you insane? What has gotten into you?!" Ami yelled, face reddening with anger.
"What's gotten into me?!" I shouted right back. "I'll tell you! I just watched the memory of how my dad died. Let me tell you. That!" I pointed at Ino who was now laying on the ground. Only her eyes were moving. The rest of her was completely paralyzed. "Pathetic piece of shit is the reason my dad is dead! She made a mistake! She left herself wide open! It should have been HER funeral we were at, yesterday! Not my dad's!"
"Kenta! You're upset! You need to calm down! It wasn't Ino's fault." Ami pleaded. Her plea fell on deaf ears though. Utter terror was assaulting my senses. I gave my full attention to Ino, a feral grin in place. Her terror spiked.
"Oh yes, Ino. You should be afraid. I'm going to break you. I'm going to make you beg for the sweet release of death. You're going to feel everything my father felt, I can promise you that. And then, when your spirit is crushed, I'm going to take everything you hold dear in your life." I was crouched down now, whispering my threats with a lustful tone.