Chapter 85 - ArcXIIii:What If?- Chapter 2
Submitted January 28, 2010 Updated August 25, 2012 Status Complete | My OC is forced to play servant to Naruto and Sakura. He must ignore his own dreams to see that Sakura and Naruto live happily ever after- either as a couple, or as the two strongest shinobi ever.
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Anime/Manga » Naruto series |
Chapter 85 - ArcXIIii:What If?- Chapter 2
Chapter 85 - ArcXIIii:What If?- Chapter 2
It would take a week before Shoki would even speak to Yuji again. He was closer to Miko now, who had apparently, by not speaking, shown sufficient reluctance to the idea of Shoki living in the Leaf that she was given more trust.
This hurt Yuji, though he wouldn’t admit as much. He understood Shoki’s feelings, and had their positions been reversed, his reaction would likely have been the same. But one way or another, he needed Shoki to get out of here. It was too dangerous for him. He had such ability, but it was still undisciplined. He would be a hazard rather than a help in battle, if it came to that.
So Yuji prepared himself to appeal to Shoki. This time, he hadn’t told Miko of the plan. And he had a good reason for that; she probably wouldn’t speak to him ever again after hearing it.
Clearing his throat, Yuji tried to speak to them. But he couldn’t. His voice caught in his throat. He tried again, but nothing came out. Instead, he turned abruptly and left, walking straight out the door and into the woods.
He thought he had controlled this. He knew this was best. But all the same, one glaring truth stopped Yuji from saying what he knew needed to be said.
He’d been lonely for so long before Miko. The thought of alienating her and Shoki sickened him. He didn’t want to be alone anymore. Not again. He’d had a taste of a blissful life. A loving bride-to-be, and a combination little brother/student/son that grew to despise him.
That brought a smile to Yuji’s lips, if only for a moment.
A parent? I had no idea I was so looked forward to the contempt that came with parenthood.
Yuji’s wandering brought him to the edge of the forest, where he finally stopped and let his head rest against a tree. How on earth could he do this? He had planned to have Miko go with Shoki. He planned to set a trap for Pain, should he come. No; when. WHEN he came, Yuji would have been ready. He would have been alone, with no one and nothing to worry about protecting. He could have unleashed his full power, absolutely unbridled, without looking over his shoulder.
His fingers dug into the bark, ripping off little chunks unconsciously as he grappled with himself. Which was worse, he wondered. Being alone by driving everyone else away, or being alone because you let those you love die?
The answer came to him, but did not surprise him. This was always the answer he came to. More strength. More power. Enough to protect everyone. But this time, that ‘everyone’ included himself. For once, he was going to have his cake and eat it, too.
A renewed sense of purpose energized Yuji. He ran back to the cabin at full speed, stopping just shy of the door to compose himself. After a few breaths, he walked in.
Miko and Shoki were still sitting quietly where he had left them. Of course, it had only been a few minutes. It had seemed longer to Yuji, but apparently his big revelation only took five minutes to come to.
“In my old dojo, there was a saying,” said Yuji, closing the door behind him as he stepped in. “It was ‘The family that fights together, stays together’. And that’s what we are now. Maybe not a conventional family, but a family nonetheless. And I was wrong to even consider breaking it up.
“Shoki, I don’t expect you to forgive me. The only thing I will expect of you is to continue training with me, because it is you, not I, who is in danger. And Miko, I want you to come, too. You’ve got so much strength. Holding it in is a crime now. There are people to be saved, and you have the power to do it. Religious salvation is only part of the equation. Physical, earth-bound salvation is important, or why were we born with bodies that could move? That could run, jump, love?”
Yuji was on a roll now, and Miko and Shoki seemed to be getting caught up in his fervor, despite his corny rambling. They stood up, clearly unsure of how to react, but wanting to react all the same.
“We need to train. We have two months. After that, the Leaf will provide an even better training ground. But for now, we need to become as strong as possible. That’s the only way for us to stay together and be happy. And that’s what I want.”
-
Two months passed quickly. But in that time, the three of them formed an abnormally strong defense against almost anything.
Yuji used both his usual fire style and his new ‘void’ chakra. As it turned out, Miko’s ‘light’ chakra was the only thing that could both pierce and enhance ‘void’ chakra. If Yuji cast a net of darkness, Miko could fortify it with a barrier of light. It looked like someone brought down the night sky, laced it with threads of trailing gold fireworks, and used it as a shield.
Shoki’s jutsus were fast improving. His specialty seemed to be trap jutsus, in which the user was halted in all movement. That, coupled with Miko’s pinpoint accuracy, was a deadly combination. Yuji’s job, then, would be to see that they only had one enemy to concentrate on at a time. That was just as well. His accuracy was fine, but given that the sheer power of his jutsus sometimes threw his aim off, it was just as well that he could focus on quantity over quality.
Finally the day came to leave. Their exile was ended, and it was time to make a new home in the Leaf. That was Yuji’s change to his original plan of owning the house they were in. He loved it, and he would retain ownership, but the would live in the Leaf. It was healthier for everyone to have some human contact. Shoki was at the age where girls would soon be a priority, not to mention friends and hopefully schoolwork.
Miko was going to work at the local temple part-time. As it turned out, she had quite a few talents outside of that, though, and had decided on being a seamstress. Yuji had been proudly wearing her creations for months, and swore up and down that they were the most comfortable and useful clothes he owned. And he was not exaggerating.
For their trip back, all of them were clothed in their normal ‘uniforms’. Shoki was sporting an overly large white top, plain but very comfortable, with similar pants at the bottom, plus a new pair of straw sandals, also made by Miko.
Miko had decided to wear a black skirt that fell to her knees, and a white blouse. Her hair, done up in a ponytail, was held in place by a red ribbon. Yuji recognized the look, and he and Miko shared a smile. The first time they had been intimate, this was what she had worn when telling him she was ready for them to be closer.
Yuji had outgrown most of his clothes, having become more muscular and even a little taller. Adorned in black pants, a black shirt with a silver collar, and a new long, black coat that Miko had made from his old one plus some new material, Yuji looked, well, powerful. Their whole group did, really. Shoki had learned to radiate confidence when he wanted to, or ferocity, or anger. Plus his overlong hair and one blind eye automatically made him stand out. Miko had a quite strength about her that somehow complimented her beauty and purity. Yuji couldn’t quite contain his power yet, so it was pretty obvious that he had some degree of strength.
“Everyone ready?” Yuji asked, glancing around. It was hard for him to contain his happiness and pride, so he stopped trying. “Like we practiced; here we go!”
--
Naruto and Sakura were waiting, rather impatiently. Yuji had become such a big part of their lives in the short time he’d bee with them. Being without him felt lonely and even just plain wrong. Their lives dictated his, after all. They felt they should be there to observe the results.
After what seemed like forever, they felt a distinct ripple in the energy around them. They bunched together, unsure of what it was. The feeling was familiar, but very powerful. Friend or foe could not be determined from just that. They tensed for attack.
Each one appeared in a unique way.
Shoki appeared in mid-art, taking the place of a leaf that had been falling from a nearby tree. He landed upright, orienting himself immediately. He grinned to Naruto and Sakura and gave a friendly wave.
Miko just appeared in a radiant glow of white light. The light framed her regally, and for a moment she was a beauty beyond that which could be comprehended with only sight. She smiled kindly, bowing in greeting to Naruto and Sakura.
Yuji was last, and his appearance was- there was no other word- cool. What looked like a floating shadow seemed to expand at about head height of Naruto. The shadow tilted until it was only a line that you had to squint to see. In a crackle of black lightning, Yuji appeared, already kneeling in deference to his masters.
“THAT is how you make an entrance. Learn anything?”
That was Yuji’s first comment. Then came the grins, tears, and hugs that go with welcoming a friend back into your life. It was nothing like before Yuji had left. This time, he came back confident, and really glowing. He seemed mature as he introduced Miko as his bride-to-be. Miko, for her part, seemed like the perfect girlfriend. Sweet, beautiful, and so obviously in love with Yuji. Shoki seemed a bit reserved, but that was normal so it wasn’t questioned.
They all went out to celebrate, although Yuji and Miko abstained from alcohol. Everyone else was technically a minor, but such things were lax at that time. You used to come of age at fifteen, so what was so bad about drinking at that age? If you could fight and get married, you could drink.
It was quite a party, and for once, there was no misery to dampen the evening.
-
Yuji never thought he’d be here. With Shoki at his side, and Asuna at Miko’s, they were standing at the front of a temple. The priest gave his solemn blessing, and then said, in English (per Yuji’s request): “You may kiss the bride!”
Miko had been dressed traditionally and formally at first, though as tradition dictated both she and Yuji changed into western clothing partway through the ceremony. Miko was so gorgeous in her western wedding gown that Yuji, handsome as he was in his tuxedo, briefly showed his old self off to the small congregation when he turned red at the very sight of her.
Miko smiled indulgingly and spoke with a voice that said ‘I’m everyone’s big sister. You can trust me!’. That was one of the things Yuji loved most about her.
Her hands, covered with white gloves that reached almost to her shoulder, patted Yuji’s head reassuringly as he stumbled his way through words of thanks to the group for being here today.
It was a scene that was captured perfectly by a photographer, and later a painter. The small group circled around the happy bride and groom. It was a happy memory that could have warmed even the coldest heart. A happy, young couple was rare enough in this war-torn world; to find two people with such power joining together…
At the back of the ceremony, Tsunade privately wondered about the children these two would have. Were they to inherit the power of their parents while avoiding the rather dark fates the two seemed to have…
Formidable indeed. Strong and pure…! This feels…different. This isn’t just a thought! This is…a prophecy! It’s like Sarutobi-sensei said! The feeling…
“Shizune!” Tsunade whispered urgently. Her assistant perked up immediately, answering with a quick ‘My Lady?’. Tsunade beckoned for Shizune to follow her.
--
Tsunade dicated it all to Shizune, who took detailed notes. Tsunade would need to rewrite the whole thing herself, but she didn’t want to disrupt the vision. The feeling…a prophecy that might very well have no dark side.
Who knew? A prophecy, at least spoken by mortals, is nothing divine. It’s a feeling with a high likelihood of being a truism. I feel like I‘m right on this one, though. Yuji and Miko…there‘s not an ounce of evil between them.
Shizune stopped writing; Lady Tsunade had stopped speaking. The new prophecy had been finished. In silence, the two women sealed it into a scroll and stored it with the original Ten no Kishootsu prophecy. It’s time would come.
This hurt Yuji, though he wouldn’t admit as much. He understood Shoki’s feelings, and had their positions been reversed, his reaction would likely have been the same. But one way or another, he needed Shoki to get out of here. It was too dangerous for him. He had such ability, but it was still undisciplined. He would be a hazard rather than a help in battle, if it came to that.
So Yuji prepared himself to appeal to Shoki. This time, he hadn’t told Miko of the plan. And he had a good reason for that; she probably wouldn’t speak to him ever again after hearing it.
Clearing his throat, Yuji tried to speak to them. But he couldn’t. His voice caught in his throat. He tried again, but nothing came out. Instead, he turned abruptly and left, walking straight out the door and into the woods.
He thought he had controlled this. He knew this was best. But all the same, one glaring truth stopped Yuji from saying what he knew needed to be said.
He’d been lonely for so long before Miko. The thought of alienating her and Shoki sickened him. He didn’t want to be alone anymore. Not again. He’d had a taste of a blissful life. A loving bride-to-be, and a combination little brother/student/son that grew to despise him.
That brought a smile to Yuji’s lips, if only for a moment.
A parent? I had no idea I was so looked forward to the contempt that came with parenthood.
Yuji’s wandering brought him to the edge of the forest, where he finally stopped and let his head rest against a tree. How on earth could he do this? He had planned to have Miko go with Shoki. He planned to set a trap for Pain, should he come. No; when. WHEN he came, Yuji would have been ready. He would have been alone, with no one and nothing to worry about protecting. He could have unleashed his full power, absolutely unbridled, without looking over his shoulder.
His fingers dug into the bark, ripping off little chunks unconsciously as he grappled with himself. Which was worse, he wondered. Being alone by driving everyone else away, or being alone because you let those you love die?
The answer came to him, but did not surprise him. This was always the answer he came to. More strength. More power. Enough to protect everyone. But this time, that ‘everyone’ included himself. For once, he was going to have his cake and eat it, too.
A renewed sense of purpose energized Yuji. He ran back to the cabin at full speed, stopping just shy of the door to compose himself. After a few breaths, he walked in.
Miko and Shoki were still sitting quietly where he had left them. Of course, it had only been a few minutes. It had seemed longer to Yuji, but apparently his big revelation only took five minutes to come to.
“In my old dojo, there was a saying,” said Yuji, closing the door behind him as he stepped in. “It was ‘The family that fights together, stays together’. And that’s what we are now. Maybe not a conventional family, but a family nonetheless. And I was wrong to even consider breaking it up.
“Shoki, I don’t expect you to forgive me. The only thing I will expect of you is to continue training with me, because it is you, not I, who is in danger. And Miko, I want you to come, too. You’ve got so much strength. Holding it in is a crime now. There are people to be saved, and you have the power to do it. Religious salvation is only part of the equation. Physical, earth-bound salvation is important, or why were we born with bodies that could move? That could run, jump, love?”
Yuji was on a roll now, and Miko and Shoki seemed to be getting caught up in his fervor, despite his corny rambling. They stood up, clearly unsure of how to react, but wanting to react all the same.
“We need to train. We have two months. After that, the Leaf will provide an even better training ground. But for now, we need to become as strong as possible. That’s the only way for us to stay together and be happy. And that’s what I want.”
-
Two months passed quickly. But in that time, the three of them formed an abnormally strong defense against almost anything.
Yuji used both his usual fire style and his new ‘void’ chakra. As it turned out, Miko’s ‘light’ chakra was the only thing that could both pierce and enhance ‘void’ chakra. If Yuji cast a net of darkness, Miko could fortify it with a barrier of light. It looked like someone brought down the night sky, laced it with threads of trailing gold fireworks, and used it as a shield.
Shoki’s jutsus were fast improving. His specialty seemed to be trap jutsus, in which the user was halted in all movement. That, coupled with Miko’s pinpoint accuracy, was a deadly combination. Yuji’s job, then, would be to see that they only had one enemy to concentrate on at a time. That was just as well. His accuracy was fine, but given that the sheer power of his jutsus sometimes threw his aim off, it was just as well that he could focus on quantity over quality.
Finally the day came to leave. Their exile was ended, and it was time to make a new home in the Leaf. That was Yuji’s change to his original plan of owning the house they were in. He loved it, and he would retain ownership, but the would live in the Leaf. It was healthier for everyone to have some human contact. Shoki was at the age where girls would soon be a priority, not to mention friends and hopefully schoolwork.
Miko was going to work at the local temple part-time. As it turned out, she had quite a few talents outside of that, though, and had decided on being a seamstress. Yuji had been proudly wearing her creations for months, and swore up and down that they were the most comfortable and useful clothes he owned. And he was not exaggerating.
For their trip back, all of them were clothed in their normal ‘uniforms’. Shoki was sporting an overly large white top, plain but very comfortable, with similar pants at the bottom, plus a new pair of straw sandals, also made by Miko.
Miko had decided to wear a black skirt that fell to her knees, and a white blouse. Her hair, done up in a ponytail, was held in place by a red ribbon. Yuji recognized the look, and he and Miko shared a smile. The first time they had been intimate, this was what she had worn when telling him she was ready for them to be closer.
Yuji had outgrown most of his clothes, having become more muscular and even a little taller. Adorned in black pants, a black shirt with a silver collar, and a new long, black coat that Miko had made from his old one plus some new material, Yuji looked, well, powerful. Their whole group did, really. Shoki had learned to radiate confidence when he wanted to, or ferocity, or anger. Plus his overlong hair and one blind eye automatically made him stand out. Miko had a quite strength about her that somehow complimented her beauty and purity. Yuji couldn’t quite contain his power yet, so it was pretty obvious that he had some degree of strength.
“Everyone ready?” Yuji asked, glancing around. It was hard for him to contain his happiness and pride, so he stopped trying. “Like we practiced; here we go!”
--
Naruto and Sakura were waiting, rather impatiently. Yuji had become such a big part of their lives in the short time he’d bee with them. Being without him felt lonely and even just plain wrong. Their lives dictated his, after all. They felt they should be there to observe the results.
After what seemed like forever, they felt a distinct ripple in the energy around them. They bunched together, unsure of what it was. The feeling was familiar, but very powerful. Friend or foe could not be determined from just that. They tensed for attack.
Each one appeared in a unique way.
Shoki appeared in mid-art, taking the place of a leaf that had been falling from a nearby tree. He landed upright, orienting himself immediately. He grinned to Naruto and Sakura and gave a friendly wave.
Miko just appeared in a radiant glow of white light. The light framed her regally, and for a moment she was a beauty beyond that which could be comprehended with only sight. She smiled kindly, bowing in greeting to Naruto and Sakura.
Yuji was last, and his appearance was- there was no other word- cool. What looked like a floating shadow seemed to expand at about head height of Naruto. The shadow tilted until it was only a line that you had to squint to see. In a crackle of black lightning, Yuji appeared, already kneeling in deference to his masters.
“THAT is how you make an entrance. Learn anything?”
That was Yuji’s first comment. Then came the grins, tears, and hugs that go with welcoming a friend back into your life. It was nothing like before Yuji had left. This time, he came back confident, and really glowing. He seemed mature as he introduced Miko as his bride-to-be. Miko, for her part, seemed like the perfect girlfriend. Sweet, beautiful, and so obviously in love with Yuji. Shoki seemed a bit reserved, but that was normal so it wasn’t questioned.
They all went out to celebrate, although Yuji and Miko abstained from alcohol. Everyone else was technically a minor, but such things were lax at that time. You used to come of age at fifteen, so what was so bad about drinking at that age? If you could fight and get married, you could drink.
It was quite a party, and for once, there was no misery to dampen the evening.
-
Yuji never thought he’d be here. With Shoki at his side, and Asuna at Miko’s, they were standing at the front of a temple. The priest gave his solemn blessing, and then said, in English (per Yuji’s request): “You may kiss the bride!”
Miko had been dressed traditionally and formally at first, though as tradition dictated both she and Yuji changed into western clothing partway through the ceremony. Miko was so gorgeous in her western wedding gown that Yuji, handsome as he was in his tuxedo, briefly showed his old self off to the small congregation when he turned red at the very sight of her.
Miko smiled indulgingly and spoke with a voice that said ‘I’m everyone’s big sister. You can trust me!’. That was one of the things Yuji loved most about her.
Her hands, covered with white gloves that reached almost to her shoulder, patted Yuji’s head reassuringly as he stumbled his way through words of thanks to the group for being here today.
It was a scene that was captured perfectly by a photographer, and later a painter. The small group circled around the happy bride and groom. It was a happy memory that could have warmed even the coldest heart. A happy, young couple was rare enough in this war-torn world; to find two people with such power joining together…
At the back of the ceremony, Tsunade privately wondered about the children these two would have. Were they to inherit the power of their parents while avoiding the rather dark fates the two seemed to have…
Formidable indeed. Strong and pure…! This feels…different. This isn’t just a thought! This is…a prophecy! It’s like Sarutobi-sensei said! The feeling…
“Shizune!” Tsunade whispered urgently. Her assistant perked up immediately, answering with a quick ‘My Lady?’. Tsunade beckoned for Shizune to follow her.
--
Tsunade dicated it all to Shizune, who took detailed notes. Tsunade would need to rewrite the whole thing herself, but she didn’t want to disrupt the vision. The feeling…a prophecy that might very well have no dark side.
Who knew? A prophecy, at least spoken by mortals, is nothing divine. It’s a feeling with a high likelihood of being a truism. I feel like I‘m right on this one, though. Yuji and Miko…there‘s not an ounce of evil between them.
Shizune stopped writing; Lady Tsunade had stopped speaking. The new prophecy had been finished. In silence, the two women sealed it into a scroll and stored it with the original Ten no Kishootsu prophecy. It’s time would come.
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YunieXTidus on January 18, 2012, 2:02:17 PM
YunieXTidus on
Love it.andr28a on December 31, 2011, 9:24:54 PM
andr28a on
Again very cool. I think it should be what if ch4 thoughnextguardian on January 1, 2012, 8:45:19 AM
nextguardian on
Oops. I screwed up the order, but in a different way. The previous chapter should have been '1', not '3'. My mistake.