Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

The Mist Wolf Chronicles: Director's Cut

By Storm Wolf77415 and Centurious the Azure

(Hokage Tower)

The veil of a dark and cloudy day currently hung over the village. Minato sat alone in the darkened confines of his office, Mina's words still playing over and over again in his mind. He recalled when the young woman had come into his office, her Byakugan blazing as she recounted her story.

"This may be hard for you to believe, Lord Minato. But rest assured when I say all I am about to tell you is the absolute truth." She took a seat in one of the chairs. "I'm a time traveler from the future. How long doesn't really matter…after a while time stopped having any real meaning to me anyway. I'll cut to the chase, in four years' time, the world will undergo a massive upheaval."

Mina bowed her head slightly, forcing herself to relive the memories that she had locked away in the deepest reaches of her mind. "It started out slow enough. People started becoming more and more violent by the day, it was like a disease. Eventually they just…stopped being human, began mutating into these horrible monsters that clawed their way out of your worst nightmares. Civilization began degrading, and then before you knew it, there was nothing left…just ash and a dead sky."

"There were no survivors at all?" Minato asked.

Mina shrugged. "A few of us managed to survive that hellish place, but it was just a matter of attrition. Time went by and we were picked off one by one. I was one of the last survivors. I had about given into despair, but then I remembered the two men I loved more than anything else. I knew that's not what they would have done. They would have found a way to change our fate, to save everyone. I managed to find a way back through time, and ended up here. It was my intention to warn you of what's to come."

Her Byakugan told the entire story, everything Minato needed to know about the upcoming disaster was written in those eyes that resembled a pair of shining full moons. The pain and misery was there, and it had been burned forever into her soul. The Yellow Flash prided himself on being a good judge of character; any good ninja learned how to read people, and he sensed there was no deceit in her words. He sat back in his chair. "You don't need to say anything more. I believe you."

Mina was quite relieved to hear those words. She wasn't sure if anyone would buy it, but Minato had been known to be a tolerant and understanding man, so her faith had been rewarded. "Be that it may, I think we can both agree that's probably a good idea not to make this general knowledge yet. Just my being here means history will begin to change. To the rest of the village, I'm a Hyuuga who's been on a long-term mission with ANBU and just recently returned home. That should satisfy most of the village, although I'll have to do some extra work when it comes to my clansmen."

Minato would have wanted to learn more, but he reasoned that Mina had traveled a long way in more than one meaning of the word, so he had dismissed her saying they would talk later. He was currently weighing his options about this apparent threat. His right hand curled into a fist as he continued looking out the window at the falling rain. "I better contact sensei. He may know more about this." Minato set about writing a dispatch to Jiraiya, summoning him back immediately.

(Hyuuga Compound)

Mina was currently lying on the bed in the room she had been given. As she expected, most of the clan had bought her story of having been on a long-term mission, although she had been given a suspicious glare from Hiashi himself. A part of her feared they would think she was some kind of spy, but thankfully it hadn't come to that, but she knew she was under surveillance, if the three Branch House members strategically located around her room was any indication.

"At least they didn't gouge my eyes out straight away." Mina muttered to herself. She knew her current situation was shaky at best. Deciding to get some fresh air, Mina went out into the courtyard. It was there she saw Yukira training with Hinata. There was another person who seemed to regard Mina with suspicion. She watched as Hinata continued going through the same drills over and over again.

The white-haired swordswoman had made Hinata her personal project, and was going to see to it that she would become a capable fighter. However, it was far from easy. Hinata just hadn't found her killer instinct yet, and her hits were still on the light side. But Yukira was anything if persistent. She would get Hinata to be a warrior one way or another. "Do it again…and with feeling this time!" She barked. "Do it like your crush is a man about town who can't take a hint! The man is so dense he wouldn't even get it if you got him to swear an oath!"

Mina did her best to stifle the snicker rising in her throat, but it was clearly enough to get Yukira's attention. The two women stared each other down. "Something I can help you with or are you just going to stand there and act snarky?" Yukira glared.

"Oh, don't mind me at all. I think it's great you're trying to help her become stronger." Mina took a seat on the bench. Yukira decided to ignore her for the moment and get back to training, going over to a training dummy she had set up for the occasion.

"Watch closely, Hinata. I'm going to show you something very special." Yukira assumed the normal Juuken opening stance. Hinata and Mina both watched as her arms were soon alight with a brilliant yellow glow. The two could feel the energy; it was surprisingly warm, like the sun on a warm day. Mina sat up a little straighter; this was something she had never seen before.

Yukira's hands whipped out, pummeling the dummy multiple times, the yellowish aura flaring with each blow, sending out concentric waves of energy, reminding Mina of ripples on the water. She spun around into a graceful looking spinning roundhouse kick, the energy around her arms coalesced into a pair of lion shaped constructs, who roared as Yukira delivered the final blow. "Twin Starlight Lion Fist Overdrive!"

Hinata and Mina looked on in awe as the dummy shattered into nothing but splinters. Yukira smirked, a hand going to her hip. "Like what you saw? That was the power of Hamon. It's an energy that manifests through the body and takes the form of ripples. Some say it's even like the energy of the Sun itself. Needless to say it can give a considerable power boost when properly mastered."

"That's amazing! It can really make me that much stronger?" Hinata hoped it would be true, that way she could fight alongside Naruto. That was always her greatest dream. While her relationship with the blonde had grown by leaps and bounds, she still hadn't found the courage to flat out tell Naruto she loved him. But if she could show him that she was capable of holding her own in a fight, it would be a good start for her, not to mention get her father off her back.

Yukira's lips twitched upwards into a smirk. "Excellent, glad to see I've captured your interest. Let's begin. The first order of business when it comes to training in Hamon is proper breathing." She held up a single hand, holding her pinky out. "Don't blink." Her fist rammed into Hinata's midsection, forcing the air out of her diaphragm.

Hinata stumbled back, unable to catch her breath, eyes wrenched shut as stabbing pain running through her entire body, her nervous system on fire. And then just as quick, all the pain vanished. She sank to her knees, opening her tear-filled eyes to see Yukira standing over her, and she looked very pleased. "W-what that for?"

"I told you that proper breathing is vital to make Hamon work. A single sharp blow to the diaphragm will force the wind out of you, and in doing so will produce your first ripple. It's a great way of determining how much Hamon a new practitioner can produce in a single breath. And from what I saw, you have plenty to spare."

Hinata was overjoyed. It was then a clapping echoed through the courtyard. Yukimasa was leaning against the wall. "Not bad at all. I was just stopping by when I saw you practicing." He caught sight of Mina sitting on the porch. "Hey there. I was hoping we could chat a little bit more, if that's okay with you."

"Sure." Mina said, walking off with Yukimasa, before tentatively reaching out to take hold of his hand. This did not go unnoticed by Yukira, Hamon dancing around her hands as she whipped out at the wall, leaving a star shaped series of cracks, before heading back inside. Hinata shivered a little, getting the impression training was over for the day.

(Sarutobi Compound)

When Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha first created the Village Hidden in the Leaves, the first two clans who joined them were the Shimuras and Sarutobis. The latter clan quickly asserted itself in village politics, gaining a prominence matched only by the two main founding clans themselves. Even with the death of the former Third Hokage. The clan was still a foundation of the village, and thus had a compound fitting a family of their station.

Unlike the Hyuuga Compound, constructed from firm, unyielding stone that leant a cold, sterile air to it, the Sarutobi clan's dwelling was a warm, inviting place, resembling a series of log cabins. A young man was currently training in the courtyard, moving through an elaborate series of Taijutsu katas. His black hair was cut short, framing a pale skinned face with equally black eyes.

Kuro Sarutobi was one of the clan's rising stars, having just recently promoted to Jounin. Many were already comparing him to his grandfather, the legendary Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had led the village through some of its roughest times. He was best known for his taijutsu skill, shown with the rapid flurry of punches, followed by a pair of spinning crescent kicks.

He tucked low, rolling to his knees, going for a sweeping kick designed to knock an opponent off their feet, kicking upwards with a spinning backfist into a spinning hook kick, finishing it off with a downwards punch, hitting the ground with enough force to cause a very light tremor. Kuro got to his feet, exhaling sharply. He ran his hand along his face, wiping off the sweat before flicking it off his fingers.

Kuro's gaze looked upwards to the Hokage Monument, right at the Sandaime. "Hope I'm making you proud, old man." He whispered. He heard a light clapping, turning to see a young woman standing with a towel. "Thanks Shang." He said, taking the white fabric, using it to further clean his face. "So, tell me…how did I look? Was it awesome?" He smirked.

Sun Shangxiang just smiled. An elegant looking woman with short cut brown hair, wearing a red and white qipao that showed off a pair of long, well-toned legs. Shang had been one of Kuro's oldest friends, and thus a regular sight at the Sarutobi compound. "Of course, it looked awesome, Kuro, when does it ever not look awesome?" She drawled. "Don't forget people are calling you the second coming of the Professor for a reason."

Kuro just snorted, eyes flickering back to the mountain again. "I'm still a long way off from being anywhere near the level of the old man. Hell, I only made Jounin a few months ago, and they're already talking like I'm the next in line to become Hokage. I don't want the job, One of Gramps' biggest complaints were how long it took to get through all the paperwork." He sighed, taking a drink of water. "It can really be the pits when the bar is set so high for you. Also, doesn't help some people are just too easily impressed."

Shang let out a delicate laugh. "Yeah, those people are generally known as sycophants and brown-nosers. They're all too eager to jump on the bandwagon." She gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. "I know you just want to stand on your own merits, Kuro. That being said, you shouldn't forget your heritage. Your Grandpa was a brave man who gave his life to protect the village. That same courage is in you as well."

"She's right about that." The two saw a pair of young woman standing there. The older of the two, wore a dress colored mostly red, the upper part was white, and the wide sleeves were decorated with a white ruffle material. Her dark hair kept up in twin tails with red hair ribbons. She was the picture of what it meant to be a true noblewoman. "You definitely have inherited Lord Hiruzen's courage and spirit. I know that regardless of how you feel you're always in his shadow. He'll be proud of you for becoming so strong, not just a shinobi, but as a man as well."

"I couldn't agree with my big sister more!" The younger girl chirped. Her light brown hair held up in a side ponytail. She wore a pair of white puffy shorts trimmed in green, with peach colored jacket over it, a mischievous, playful gleam in her green eyes. "You're a hero to the two of us regardless of what you do."

Kuro put on a debonair grin, kissing both girls on the hand. "Ah the sisters Qiao. Always a pleasure to see you two." The faint but inviting aroma of freshly cooked food wafted in from the kitchen. "Do my senses deceive me or do I smell breakfast?" The girls just gave knowing grins to him. They were reputed as being superb cooks. Kuro smirked. "Then, let's not waste time. I wouldn't want your hard work to go to waste."

The two sisters each took one of his arms, going into the dining room where the rest of the Clan was taking their seats. Sitting at the head of the table was the current head of the clan, the eldest son of the late Third Hokage, and Kuro's own father, Hanzo Sarutobi. He was the spitting image of the man who held the title of Fire Shadow, his hair was only just beginning to streak with gray, but it didn't detract from his commanding aura.

"Good morning to you, Son." Hanzo rumbled in a deep baritone. "As well as you, girls. You did a superb job cooking as always."

"We aim to please, Lord Hanzo." Xiaoqiao, the older of the two spoke. Her long dark hair, tied up in twin tails caught the sunlight filtering through the windows.

"How's Yukimasa doing?" Shang asked.

"Can't really say, I know he's been busy body guarding Naruto. I really haven't had much chance to speak to him after I got promoted to Jounin. Although, Kakashi mentioned the mission they just got back from took a rather interesting turn. It seems they brought the daughter of Hamura Otsutsuki himself back." This elicited gasps of surprise from Xiao, her younger sister, Daqiao, and Shang. "Don't ask me how, having one of the daughters of the fathers of Ninjutsu is mindboggling to anyone."

"Yeah, having someone like there here it is kind of a game changer." Xiao remarked.

"I have seen her about the village with Yukimasa and Hinata Hyuga. I haven't had any time to speak to them since I just back from a mission around the same time." Kuro's eyes narrowed slightly. "I was up in Rice Country, undercover as a merchant. there's been a lot of unrest in the region in the last couple of months and they wanted me to investigate. The local ninja clans up there have been in a state of heavy unrest because some new ninja village was started there."

"A new ninja village?" Shang said, worry coloring her tone a little bit.

"It's supposedly called the Village Hidden in the Sound, only established in the last few months. The locals have been reorganizing under its banner." Kuro leaned forward a little, suddenly finding his meal to be a little less inviting. "It doesn't bode well. Rice Country's ninja clans were only loosely affiliated before this Sound group showed up on the scene. And since the Chuunin Exams are coming up soon, that means we'll get to see the results of this massive restructuring. They're an unknown quantity and it's making a lot of people nervous."

"I'm assuming you mean those old fossils on the council?" Daqiao asked.

"None other." Kuro said. "You'd think they all have retired and let some new blood in, but they just refuse to give up."

"All things aside, the elders do have reason to be concerned." Hanzo remarked. "The structure of the villages has been unchanged for almost a hundred years. Even smaller ones like Grass, Waterfall, and Rain have been around as long as the Big Five. There have been plenty of attempts in other smaller countries to create a ninja village, but they didn't always work out. The Chuunin Exams will either make or break this Hidden Sound. I personally think the latter is more likely."

"Right on the mark as always, brother dearest." Hanzo's younger brother, Asuma, and commander of Team 10 drawled as he walked in, an unlit cigarette held in his lips. Kurenai Yuuhi, his girlfriend and commander of Team 8 at his side.

"There's been a lot of rumors circulating the Daimyo of Rice Country made a secret deal with a certain shinobi we all should be very familiar with." The Genjutsu mistress remarked. "He has kind of a slithery reputation after all." The atmosphere around the table became decidedly colder with that. Everyone in the Sarutobi clan knew immediate whom Kurenai spoke of.

"One of the Legendary Sannin. The White Snake himself…Orochiamru." Kuro muttered. He had only known of the man by reputation, but he had heard the stories of his grandfather's fallen apprentice. "Hard to believe someone like him would outlive his master. Even harder to believe he would go renegade."

"This just occurred to me now. Do you think he'd try something against the village itself?" Xiao asked worriedly. A shiver ran down her spine as a chilling thought ran through her mind. "I mean, you did mention the Chuunin Exams are coming up. It would be a perfect target for him."

Hanzo and Kuro exchanged worried looks. Orochimaru was known for raiding villages, looking for 'talent', as he put it. The Exams, with all the promising young Shinobi present, it was Orochimaru's equivalent of an open-air swap meet! "It might be worth speaking to the Hokage about this one, Dad." The younger Sarutobi said. "I don't think we can just ignore this."

"I agree with you completely son. We'll talk to him after breakfast." Hanzo said.

(Hokage Tower)

The office of the Hokage is a room that many people both in the village and out are familiar with. The seat of power for the village since its inception, many critical decisions were made within the confines of those four walls. But what is not as well-known is the conference room that sits just across the hall from the office, where delegates both foreign and domestic meet when discussing matters of national relevance.

As such, Shangxiang sat across from Minato in the conference room, the walls decorated with portraits of the Village's former leaders. "The Daimyo is most pleased with the recent mission to Wave Country, trade between them and us has jumped by almost fifty percent now that Gato has been disposed of and the bridge has been completed, and it only seems to get better. You should be very proud of your men for this accomplishment."

Minato just shrugged. "You should really give the credit to Captain Himura and Jounin Hatake. They were the ones in charge of the operation and did the grunt work. I just sent them there." He did crack a small smile. "But of course, I am very proud of all of my ninja for every mission they complete successfully. I'm even more proud of them being able to come home alive. I know that any one of my people would lay their lives down for the village in an instant, but it's even better when I see a team return home from a mission and reunite with their families. That's when I have the most pride of all."

Shang smiled, resting her chin on her hands. "You're quite humble, Lord Namikaze, I think that's one of the reasons I like you so much. The Daimyo and the Prime Minister feel the same way; of course, I might be a little bit biased, considering the Prime Minister is my brother and the Daimyo is my Grandpa." She giggled before resuming her professional stance. "That being said, both Lord Shijimi and Quan are grateful to your agreement to hold these joint exercises between Konoha and the Flame Legions."

"Just because Konoha is independent of the Daimyo's regime doesn't mean we won't give our support to the nation's defense when it's called for." Minato said. He was always silently grateful that while the Fire Country government did give the village a decent budget to work with, Konoha earned enough that it could support itself unlike some of the other villages who leaned heavily on government support, like Hidden Sand and Wind Country.

Of course, this did have its downsides as well. Lord Shijimi had cut the budget of the Flame Legions since the end of the Third Great Shinobi War, won in no small part thanks to Minato's efforts. But the regular soldiers who served their lord were not fazed in the slightest. Thanks in large part to his brother Gonzo's leadership and a new generation of talented, hungry fighters looking to make a mark in a time of peace, The Flame Legion was proof positive the Will of Fire burned brightly in many, all who were all willing to answer the call of duty.

"Well, I think this settles everything for right now, Lord Namikaze. I will take my leave of you and let you get back to running your village, and by that, I mean go through all the paperwork I'm sure is sitting on your desk." Shang giggled, having heard the joke that a Kage or Daimyo's greatest enemy was paperwork more times than she could recount, both from Kuro and her grandfather.

Minato kissed Shang's hand. "But of course. I hope you have a safe journey back to Kyoto."

She exited the conference hall, where Yukimasa was standing out in the hall. "Hey there, Shang." He gave his trademark two finger wave, a habit he picked up from Nobushige. He quickly bit back the thought of the man who was only nominally his uncle, as he didn't want to ruin his day this early. "I'm guessing you're done with my boss for the moment? We do have reservations after all."

"I would think you know me far better than that, Yukimasa Sanada. A proper lady is never late." Shangxiang took Yukimasa's arm, and the two of them left the tower together, heading down the street to one of the village's more establishments. The hostess sat them down at a table in the courtyard.

"What's the word from Kyoto? I imagine Quan must be pretty busy if he sent you to hold talks with the Hokage. Not that I mind since it means I get to spend time with you." Yukimasa smirked, holding Shang's hand. He noted that she must have switched moisturizers recently, since her skin was softer than he recalled.

"You would be correct. The Diet and House of Lords are arguing like a bunch of spoiled children as usual. He and the Cabinet of Ministers have been trying to deal with them, by playing peacemaker. He's spread himself thin, and thus I've been taking up a lot of his other duties in the meantime." Shang said. "Quan was supposed to meet with the Hokage to discuss some joint training exercises between Konoha and the Flame Legion in the next few months."

"That should be fun. I imagine Kouichirou and Shinkiro are both eager to test their mettle against us." Kouichirou Yuuki was one of the rising stars in the Flame Legion, his father, Shouzou Yuuki was Minister of Housing under Quan. At the age of 19 Kouichirou was already a captain, serving directly under Gonzo. Kouichirou was known for his incredible mastery of the Yari spear, earning him the nickname "Whirlwind" for how fast he could spin his weapon.

"Shinkiro is particularly excited for the exercises. He told me that racking up a win against a ninja would be quite the notch on his belt." She rolled her eyes. "I guess he missed the point these are just wargames, but he's always been a driven one, looking for his next challenge to conquer."

Yukimasa let out an irritated groan. "What else is new, huh? There's nothing wrong with being ambitious in my eyes, but he just tries way too hard." The young man known as Shinkiro was a mysterious person. An orphan who had never known his parents, Shinkiro had been forced to eke out a living for himself in Fire Country's capital of Kyoto. He had joined the Flame Legion in hope of finding glory for himself. His relationship with Yukimasa was a complicated one, more than once Shinkiro had implored the last of the Sanadas to leave Konoha and join the Flame Legions, saying they could change the world together, become kings in their own right. Yukimasa didn't believe in such grandiose dreams, and it always seemed to him that Shinkiro wanted him as a subordinate, rather than an equal.

Shang cleared her throat, not wanting to dwell on the subject for too long. He knew it was a quick way of making Yukimasa irritated. "Speaking of Shinkiro, Guess who just joined his brigade?"

"Who exactly?" Yukimasa wondered who could have been willing to join the Mirage Brigade, as Shinkiro called it.

"Kouichirou's little sister!" Shang smirked, as Yukimasa face went blank. "Oh yes, Asuna graduated from the academy a few months ago. I was the main speaker at the ceremony. She's a lieutenant and serves as Shinkiro's executive officer. She's worked hard to whip the brigade into shape, last I heard."

"No shit, Asuna joined the military?" Yukimasa sighed as he thought of the younger Yuuuki sibling. They had known each other for a long time, and their relationship was anything but normal. If asked, he'd say they could get along, but it was much more common for them to be arguing about something, it didn't take much for Asuna to get on Yukimasa's case about some niggling little detail that annoyed her.

Yukimasa just wanted to smack his face on the table, although he would have done a face plant straight into his lunch. "Oh, that's just terrific! It's not enough I have to deal with Shinkiro's constant prattling about wanting his damned kingdom; I have to deal with Asuna as well? I can already hear her bitching at me…"

Shang giggled. "Shinkiro and Asuna are just like so many others in the Legion. They want a chance to prove themselves in combat. We're just lucky my brother agrees with them, otherwise he would haven't given them that large boost to their budget once he was elected after Prime Minister Kong's unfortunate death."

Yukimasa paled once again. "Uh…yeah, that's great." He said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible as his right hand curled up into a fist, thankfully out of view of Shang's sight. Deciding not to say anything more, he resumed eating, but Shang was clearly intent on continuing.

"I've even heard reports there's going to be a big expansion soon. Quan mentioned R&D has made some big steps forward, we're going to be adding more artillery, and even heavily armored vehicles!" Shang said. "On top of that I heard someone's even trying to develop a powered flying machine. It will change everything."

Yukimasa frowned a little. "I admire your enthusiasm, Shang. Although personally, I don't if such an expansion is a good thing. I'm all for keeping our borders safe, but how song until you're not satisfied with just defending what you've got…and start looking outwards?"

"Oh, you worry too much, Masa! My brother would never let such a thing happen." Shang said. He just sighed, going back to his meal.

With lunch at an end, Yukimasa escorted Shang to the gates of the village, where the stagecoach to Kyoto was waiting for her. "It was good seeing you again, Shang." He gave her a gentle kiss. "Don't be a stranger, okay?" Shang just waved, boarding the carriage as it slowly clattered out the gates down the road to the capital.

Yukimasa let out a weary sigh as he watched the carriage vanish over the farthest hill. "If you only knew half of what was going on, Shang. I doubt you'd be so excited for these expansions. Not to mention you'd ever want to see my face again." He did his best to adopt his usual mask of apathy before leaping to the rooftop and head for home.

(Hyuuga Compound)

It had been a few days since Mina had started living at the estate. The other Hyuugas had stopped regarding her with hostile suspicion, and had moved to general indifference, which for the Hyuugas was as close to inviting as they got at the best of times. Still Mina made it a point to keep her guard up. There was movement out of the corner of her eye and she smiled a little. "How long are you going to skulk about, little sis?" She asked.

A light giggle and the rippling distortion of a genjutsu being dispelled heralded the arrival of a young woman a few years younger than Mina, bearing the trademark brown hair of the Hyuuga and those telltale white eyes. "Just keeping vigilant is all." Mina's younger sister, Nabiki chimed. Her playful demeanor shifted to a wistful air, looking out onto the courtyard. "Hard to believe we're actually back here, huh? I have mixed feelings about this to be honest. On the one hand, it was always so cold and unforgiving, but on the other hand…it's still home."

"I know, there was a part of me that felt the same way too." Mina remarked, putting an arm around her little sister. Nabiki rested her head on Mina's shoulder. The two of them had been through thick and thin. It was their bond as sisters that allowed them to survive the hell the future had become.

"So you haven't told anyone the full truth yet?" Nabiki asked, taking a seat in the desk chair, sitting across from her sister.

Mina shook her head. "No. I didn't want to make things any more complicated than they already are. We can save it for later, once we've gained some more trust. For right now, we're just a couple of Hyuugas who have been away for a long time on extended assignment."

Nabiki arched an eyebrow, a slight smirk on her face. "I saw you made contact with him the day we came back, how did it feel after all this time?"

Mina blushed, beginning to play with her fingers, a habit she had since her youth. "It was nice. He was just the way I remember him, Nabiki. Before the cataclysm and the plague took so much out of him. Every death weighed so heavily on his soul. Another life he failed to save." She shook her head, trying to stop the tears from flowing. "I just wish I could have done more."

Nabiki just hugged Mina tighter. "I've told you this a million times before. It's not your fault, Sis. Yukimasa took it upon himself to lead us when everyone else fell. He knew the burden he was taking on, and he did it anyway, because he was determined to save what remained of humanity." She began rubbing her big sister's back. "You just stay close to him. I'll continue to watch you from the shadows, until the time is right."

"Thanks, Baby Sister, we may have always been at odds with each other when we were younger, but I know you would always have my back." A knocking came at the door, causing Nabiki to quickly flash away in Shunshin. Mina quickly wiped away her tears, putting on the trademark blank mask that all Hyuuga knew well. "Come in." She said in as even a tone as possible. Yukira stuck her head in. "Hello Lady Yukira, how are you?"

"You will have to pardon me for intruding, Mina. But I think you and I need to have a little chat." Yukira let herself in as Mina stood up from her bed. The two women squared off for a few seconds. Yukira folded her arms, shifting about uncomfortably while staring at the wall for a few seconds.

"But of course." Mina said. "What do you need to discuss?"

"It has to do with the other day, you and Yukimasa went off somewhere together. Where exactly did you go and why?" Delicate eyebrows knit together as Yukira's eyes narrowed. Mina didn't budge at all, ignoring the moderate killing intent getting thrown her way.

"We just went for some tea, that's all. He and I ran into each other when I first arrived back in the village. The two of talked for a bit. He said we needed to catch up again, so that's what we did. That's all." Mina's lips twitched up a little. "I don't think it would be a problem…unless you're jealous."

Mina found it comical at the momentarily look of shock on the Ninja Princess's face. It quickly vanished, replaced by her usual look of disinterest. "I'm not jealous. He can hold the hand of any stranger or almost fuck any pupil that he's training as he wants. I just happen to see him with another girl and it makes me…angry. You know don't what I'm like when I'm angry. Bad things happen to people when I get that way."

Mina looked at Yukira with skeptical eyes. She put a hand on her hip, not letting herself be intimidated. Years of dodging all kinds of monsters had given her a will of iron. "Forgive me for going there, Lady Yukira. But I think you are jealous, you just don't want to admit it."

Yukira just glared at her. "I knew something about you would annoy the shit out of me."

"I'm not the one making threats, Milady." Mina kept her voice even, but her gaze was hard, not to the point of activating her Byakugan, but still enough to show she meant business. "You wouldn't have come here unless you felt threatened by my relationship with Yukimasa. You don't strike me as being a Yandere, but still, let me ask you this question, and being truthful. Is he really worth the trouble, and why?"

Yukira ground her teeth, a small growl escaping her lips. "I have no fucking clue what you mean by yandere. I don't know why I made him swear that oath. This all started when he bonded with Hinotama. I know it connects him to me both in body and soul. I feel what he feels and when he's not around it makes me feel uncomfortable and…incomplete."

Mina said nothing, just letting the other woman rant. "I want to be around him all the time, and yet I barely know him! This longing I feel…it makes me yearn for him in ways I don't understand. and whenever I see him with another woman fills me with this burning rage. Like he's mine and no one else." She blinked for a second. "Why in the hell I am telling you this?"

Mina's expression softened a little, and she dared to rest a hand on Yukira's pale shoulder. "Maybe because I'm listening." She smiled a bit. "We all need someone to confide in. I think that's one of our clan's biggest flaws. We keep everything locked up inside and it makes us all kind of jerks. I think it's something we need to change and quick."

Yukira returned Mina's smile, a new understanding growing between them. "Maybe you're not so bad after all. I'll admit you have more backbone than a lot of people in this clan right now. Although I still get the impression you're hiding something. You don't have to tell me right now, but I hope you come clean eventually."

She sighed. "I've made some friends here already, but I don't trust them yet. I'm not the type to share my feelings with just anybody. How the hell am I supposed to tell these things to people I barely know? Everyone I would have trusted is dead. My sisters and I annoyed the shit out of each other, but we still confided in each other about our most intimate secrets. Only person I was closer to was Asura. Although…dead is a pretty strong word. Indra killed my sisters, but the Cryptum is known for reviving those not dead for long."

"How do you know that for sure?" Mina asked.

"If their chakra was still strong when they were put inside, it should have been enough to help them." Yukira folded her arms across her chest. "The sooner we get to them the better. Even Iriseis would be an asset here, we were on bad terms when we all parted ways, but she was the smartest and most competent of my sisters, the rest all had their own unique…issues."

"I can't wait to meet them." Mina said, also silently hoping not to be present for that particular family reunion. "But, getting back to the matter at hand. If you want some time with Yukimasa, then by all means, go for it. I'm not going to stop you. In fact, that yearning you feel…just might finally subside some. But don't take my word for it." Mina grinned.

Yukira snorted, she knew exactly what Mina was implying, and she was liking the image, wondering how Yukimasa would react to how flexible she was. "Now I know for sure you're just annoying me. But…thanks for listening to me rant. You've given me some new insight about this whole situation I'm in. Perhaps we can talk some more next time?"

"I'll be more than willing to listen." Mina said, holding her hand out. Yukira left the room, her soul a little lighter, and now she had to find Yukimasa. "I wonder if there's any good lingerie stores in this town?" She smirked as she left the compound. For their night was about to get wild and she wanted to look her absolute best!

(Later that night)

Yukimasa grunted as he slowly ambled along the road. Mikoto had sent him out on an errand, and finally returned home. He was just exhausted, and eager to crash on his bed and sleep. "I'm home, Aunt Mikoto, I got you the nutmeg and paprika you needed!" Much to his surprise, there was no one present. Letting out a low groan of frustration, he took the spices in the cabinet.

Reasoning his aunt was off on a mission, Yukimasa simply decided to throw in the towel for the night and go to bed. As such, he wasn't prepared for when Yukira came in from the hall. He stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of her posing in a way to reveal a lean, toned leg. A leg that was just as white as the silk bathrobe she was currently wearing.

His jaw was on the floor. Yukira was a beautiful woman, he had seen that from the first day they met, but this was a side of her he never thought he would get to see. Yukimasa struggled to find words, but before he could say anything, she put a delicate finger to his lips. "Don't talk…I don't want this to be any more awkward than it already is. If you're wondering where your aunt is, I sent her to Tanzaku Town. She won't be back until Monday."

She put a hand on his shoulder. "The bottom line is, we have the place to ourselves for the entire weekend." Yukira smirked, relishing the effect she had on her vassal, imagining just what his hormones were doing at the moment. "And that means you are going to be a very busy boy, Yukimasa Ikari Sanada." She put her arms around his neck, their foreheads resting against each other.

"B-busy how?" Yukimasa finally managed. "I mean, I have a pretty good idea of what you want to do, but I just want to be clear about it." Yukira gave him a surprisingly gentle smile, flicking him on the forehead. "What brought this on? I mean you never showed any interest before."

Yukira looked away, her cheeks starting to flare up. "I…wasn't sure about it myself. But since you woke me up, I noticed this strange feeling when we were together. It made feel complete in a way I had never known before. When you weren't around, I felt this giant void inside, and it wouldn't abate until you returned. Whenever you were with another woman, I became jealous. It took talking with someone to make realize how I feel."

The playful smirk returned as Yukira pulled herself closer to Yukimasa, her breasts digging into his stomach. "And to be honest…I haven't done it with anybody in almost a millennium. So…would you be willing to be my first time in a thousand years?"

The color went out of Yukimasa's face, his mouth twisted upwards into a silly looking grin. "I would be a complete idiot to say no." He said. Yukira leaned in, giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"Good answer." She whispered, taking him by the arm. "Come on…show me that fire that would put Hinotama's strongest best to shame." The couple went to Yukimasa's bedroom. He plopped down on the bed, eves riveted to Yukira.

Yukira stood with her back to him, slowly undoing the belt holding her robe together. It came loose, and with a single elegant shrug of her shoulders, the robe fell to the ground, exposing her naked backside to him. Her long white hair melded with her flawless skin. She looked over her shoulder. "Don't lose control yet…you haven't seen the best part."

"I think I know exactly what that is!" Yukimasa leered, as Yukira turned to face him in one elegant motion, revealing a pair of flawless, perfectly proportioned C-cup sized breasts, a pair of pink nipples topping them. He let out a triumphant cackle. "Oh hell fucking yes! 10 out of 10!" Yukira put a hand on her hip, causing her breasts to jiggle slightly. "Ah…forget 10…it just went up to 11!"

"So why are your pants still on? We doing this or not?" Yukira remarked. Yukimasa was frozen to his spot. She rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll do it myself!" With speed even the Hokage himself would have trouble following, Yukira grabbed her vassal's drawers, tearing them off in a single motion.

Yukimasa grinned ferally. "Oh, I love a woman who isn't afraid to take charge!" He held his arms out. "Come here, baby. Let's get wild!" Yukira let out a mad scream, leaping onto Yukimasa, wrapping her legs around his waist as they crashed onto the bed together. He reached up, squeezing Yukira's breasts, hard. Unlike with Chisame, or even Keiko, he got the feeling that Yukira was the type to go all in when it came to sex, and he didn't have to hold back with her.

Yukira bounced on Yukimasa's member a few minutes, 'Oh you are rock hard!" She gasped. "Do not stop at all!"

Yukimasa stood up, Yukira still wrapped around him. He threw himself at the wall, causing the shelves mounted to violently throw off their brackets, causing all the books and various knick-knacks he had accumulated over the years to fly all over the room, breaking and shattering as he rammed Yukira's back against the wall a couple of times.

"Oh that is great! I haven't felt like this in forever! What else do you have?" Yukira's eyes gleamed for a minute, her Byakugan almost pulsing to life. Yukimasa roughly pushed her against the desk, pushing her face down onto it, as he inserted his cock straight up her ass. "Gah! Right up main street!" Yukira cried, her eyes tearing up, but her eyes intensified. "Give me more!" She yelled, feeling the bliss of each thrust, the pressure built up more and more inside her.

Yukira growled, biting into Yukimasa's shoulder, he paid no mind to the pain, letting it fuel his lust for the Shinobi Princess. He was a steaming cauldron of sexual needs and desires and would not be denied! So in turn he bent her over on her stomach, leaving her in a very uncomfortable position. Her breasts smashing into the desktop, she flailed about, causing the lamp to fly off, the light bulb shattering as it hit the ground.

The Otsutsuki Princess decided it was time for her to go on the offensive. She twisted her body around, kicking Yukimasa into his bookcase, the shelves breaking and causing everything to crash on the ground. Yukimasa sneered. "Oh, you're going to be in trouble now!" He said, grabbing her by the arm, spinning her around and flat out smacking her across the ass.

"Oh Yes! That feels so good!" Yukira was in pure ecstasy, as Yukimasa kept alternating between hitting her backside and thrusting in and out rapidly. "Oh, you are definitely going to be one of the finest vassals I've ever had in my life! No one has ever pleasured me this well in almost a thousand years!"

"Nothing like a good fuck session after a millennia long nap!" Yukimasa grimaced a little, as he felt a rising sensation in his entire body, slowly rushing towards his lower regions. "I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm about to blow! This might be the end of the line!" His pumping intensified even more, waiting for that inevitable climax. He reached around, grasping those perfectly shaped breasts that started the whole thing and squeezed hard as he could, eliciting a mad scream from her.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I am so…CLOOOSSSSEEEEEE!" Yukira threw back her head, screaming loudly as she finally orgasmed, sticky white fluid bursting from between her legs. She went limp, nearly passing out. He carried her over to the bed, where they both sprawled out, totally exhausted from their wild session of happy lovemaking.

He found himself gazing into those brilliant eyes, fixated on the ethereal glow that came from them. Yukira was holding onto his hand, and she looked completely at peace with herself. He took note of the shattered condition of his room. "Fuck…I'm going to have to clean all this up…My aunt would throw a fit if she this." He remarked.

"Meh, you can do it later. I'll even help you." Yukira rasped, cuddling up against him. "Wow…I can see why so many girls like to bed you." Yukimasa's face went pale again as she smirked. "Oh yes, I know all about your dalliances with Chisame and Keiko. Personally, I don't care if you have your time with them, but remember that you are my vassal, and if I want my private time…I get it."

"I read you loud and clear, milady. I will be at your beck and call if so needed." Yukimasa's shoulders sagged in relief; glad Yukira was so open minded about his numerous liaisons. "Knowing you, I'm sure you'd want to bed the girls yourself."

"Oh you would love that, wouldn't you?" Yukira drawled. But that playful little smirk never completely faded "Of course…you just might get your wish as well, so stay tuned." They would remain that way for the rest of the day.

(Training Area 27)

It was early morning in Konoha. The Mist Wolf was training in his usual spot by the lake, a light fog hung above the water. His chest was bare, leaving just his uniform pants, his undershirt, jacket, and vest was currently resting on the ground. Seiryu moved through the many forms of Hiten Mitsurugi with a smooth gait and practiced hand, his feet seamlessly gliding from one stance into another.

He gracefully moved through a Ryukansen, chaining it into a Ryushosen, capping it off with a graceful landing on his knees, moving his sword in such a way that it caught the light of the sun. Seiryu stood up, sheathing his blade in a single, deliberate motion. He sighed, looking out over the lake. It had been quiet since their return home, and it was driving him up the wall.

"What is it that's bothering me so much about this? I can't shake this sense of impending doom." Seiryu said to no one in particular, as he washed his face off with some water from the lake before taking a towel he had brought with him. "Maybe I've been in this game for too long…it's left me paranoid." The rustling of the bushes suddenly made the Mist Wolf glad he was paranoid. Arashi No Ookami was out in a fraction of a second. "Whoever is there better come out right now or you'll get shredded!" He snarled.

A man emerged from the brushes, lightly clapping. His dark hair was tied up in a ponytail, a prominent scar above his left eye. He wore a metallic armored body suit, going from his neck to his feet, colored white, although the armor covering his right arm seemed much bulkier than the rest of his suit, and it was colored black and trimmed a deep red. Hanging at his side was a sword with a sheath unlike anything Seiryu ever had seen before, noting what appeared to a trigger mechanism of some kind.

The two men sized each other up for a few seconds, before the stranger spoke with an accent Seiryu didn't recognize. "So this is the great Mist Wolf?" He sounded disappointed, folding his arms across his chest. "I have to say this is rather a letdown. I was expecting more from the likes of you."

"Who are you and how in the hell did you get back here?" Seiryu asked, throwing out as much killing intent as he could manage. It didn't seem to phase the new arrival in the slightest, and he just gave a smug grin. "You better start talking pal, otherwise I'll just kill you and let the medic ninja get the answers for me." The grin didn't fade, which just made Seiryu's anger run hotter.

"I'm no one important, just a simple traveler." The man drawled, hand coming down to the sword at his side, drawing it in a slow, deliberate motion, revealing a blade colored an angry flame red color, giving off an ominous glow. "One who heard the stories of a swordsman who wielded a style without peer. A wolf that prowled amongst the mist, hunting his prey without mercy or hesitation." He pointed the sword at Seiryu in a manner that could only be seen as a challenge. "I trust your fangs haven't gotten too weak."

With those words, the mysterious swordsman went on the attack. He moved at a speed only a ninja could match, there was a flash of red, and the forest was silent. The stranger looked to see two halves of a log hit the ground with a dull, wooden thunk. Seiryu erupted from the water. "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, Ryutsuisen!" He intoned, slashing downwards at this interloper who would dare intrude on his sacred place. The two blades met with a sharp metallic clatter.

The forest resounded as the two swordsmen exchanged a flurry of mad blows. The Mist Wolf let out a decidedly canine growl, hitting his attacker with a back kick, followed by a barrage of kunai. The man with the red blade easily swatted them out of the sky, before sheathing his sword. He then took off running, starting to leap from one rock to another, and then up to tree branches an impressive parkour display. He then spring boarded off a branch, lunging right at Seiryu.

The mysterious warrior's finger curled around the strange trigger mechanism on the sheath, pulling it. A loud bang echoed throughout the entire forest, as the red sword erupted from its resting place. Had it been an ordinary person, the end result would be the sickening squelch of blood, and a dead body on the forest floor, but it was thanks to training, experience, and just a slight hint of luck that kept Seiryu Himura from dying.

Knowing he only had seconds to act, Seiryu back flipped out of the way, "Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu Doryusen!" He yelled, slashing the tip of Arashi No Ookami through the dirt, kicking up a cloud of dust and large chunks of earth, the dust was not a problem for the stranger, but those large dirt pieces and rocks would be enough to knock out even him, so he used his sword to cut through the dust, splitting the cloud in half, cleaving the rock and dirt chunks into little pieces.

He quickly scanned the trees, looking for any sign of his opponent. Seiryu leapt from the bushes he had taken refuge in, managing to get his opponent on his right arm, but much to the Mist Wolf's shock, instead of taking it clean off, the tip of Arashi No Ookami had become lodged, and a thin, viscous fluid began leaking out. It took Seiryu a few minutes to realize that it was oil used for lubrication. "What in the hell?" Seiryu finally asked.

The man's smug grin returned and he laughed, checking the damage to his arm. "Well…I'm actually kind of impressed. I had thought that you would have been like so many others…denying your blade of its true purpose when it yearns to bathe in the blood of your enemies, but it seems you some fight in you after all." He returned the blood red sword to its resting place. He took off at a lazy gait, walking down the trail.

"Wait, that's it?" Seiryu yelled at his mystery opponent's back. "You show up out of nowhere, attack me for reasons I don't even understand, and then just suddenly walk off like nothing ever happened?" The man turned to look at him.

"Don't be so uptight. This was just a dry run. I just wanted to get an idea of how skilled you really are, and my first impression is that you're a lot fiercer than you let on. The next time we fight…will be much different." The man said. "I'll catch you around, Mist Wolf." Seiryu could only look on, trying to ponder what just happened. Deciding it could wait, Seiryu grabbed his gear and made for the village.

(Hokage Office)

Minato was sitting at his desk, once again engaging the barbarous threat of the paperwork hordes when Seiryu entered, a fowl expression on his face. "Pardon me for the intrusion, boss, but this couldn't wait. We have a potential security breach on your hands."

The Yellow Flash immediate became all business. "It's not a problem at all, Seiryu. Anything to take my attention away from the paperwork." Minato spoke, motioning for Seiryu to have a seat. "Tell me everything that happened, and leave nothing out."

"I was practicing at Training Ground 27 earlier this morning and I got attacked by some stranger." Seiryu let out a feral growl. "I don't know how he got in through the protective barrier, given your knowledge of fuin jutsu, it's been reinforced to alarm of any breaches. We had a short fight, and then as quickly as it ended, he just walks off." He slumped a little in the chair. "I'm just glad Akira and Lily weren't there…"

"Can you describe him? I'll put the word out to ANBU to look for him." Minato said.

"Oh easily. Maybe about my age if not a little younger. He had dark skin, dark hair tied up in a ponytail a rather prominent scar over his left eye, speaks with an accent, and he wears this weird battle armor. He carried a katana with a…"

"Glowing red blade?" Minato finished. He sighed, putting his head down on the desk in frustration, muttering something under his breath before sitting back up. "I'm sorry about this, Seiryu. There's no security breach." He hesitated for a minute, clearly uncomfortable at what he was about to say. "The man who attacked you was one of our own."

"Say what?" Seiryu stood up, causing the chair to wobble. "Begging the Hokage's pardon, Are you sure about that, sir? Because he didn't look like any Leaf ninja I know. He wasn't searing a headband and I didn't see the leaf symbol on him anywhere. Not to mention there's the whole trying to kill me part!"

"That's because he's not an official part of our corps." Minato said, trying to keep the Mist Wolf calm. He steepled his fingers in front of his face. "Sometimes we'll make use of independent agents, people we hire out certain chores to, usually they act at scouts and gather intelligence for us. Jiraiya-sensei's spy network would fall into that category, they don't officially belong to Konoha, but they provide in the operation of the village."

"So…who the hell is this guy and why is he here?" Seiryu asked.

Minato sighed, wondering if it had been smart to not take the job at all. "His name is Samuel Rodrigues. He was a wandering swordsman. He showed up just a couple days after you, Zabuza, and Haku headed out to Wave Country to back up Kakashi and his team. He said he wanted to take on the one who wielded Hiten Mitsurugi. I told him you were on a mission and wouldn't be back for a while. I figured he'd just up and leave, but imagine my surprise when he volunteered his services to Konoha."

"You actually accepted his aid?" Seiryu asked, wondering if his commander-in-chief hadn't snapped in his head. "Forgive me for saying this, sir. But is that really the best course of action?"

"He was well traveled, and he knew how to defend himself. I sent him to patrol the border between Fire and Grass Countries. He must have just returned." Minato shook his head. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way, Seiryu. It honestly slipped my mind. I've been so busy with the Chuunin Exams, not to mention all the other requests we get."

"I don't blame you, Minato. But rest assured…if he decides to drop on me like this again, and my family's around. I don't care who he works for…he's gonna die." Sam's words ate away at Sebastian, reminding him of another man with long dark blue hair while wearing a cheap suit saying the same things. The Mist Wolf wouldn't deny that he had done horrific things in his ninja career, but he didn't revel in it every hour of every day! He hated people like that.

Minato nodded. "Do what you must, but I don't think it will come to that. Sam does seem to carry himself with some code of honor. He just seems to enjoy picking fights." Minato stood up. "I'll have some words with him, but I'm not sure how effective it will be. Just, if you do come to blows, don't do it in the middle of the village."

"I will make my best effort, thank you boss." Seiryu said, leaving the Hokage's office, vowing to stop at the bar and get hammered. He would crash at Yuuki and Chiharu's place and explain it to Akira in the morning!