Quintessence

A Chouji X Hinata Fanfiction

Hey all! Tankou001 here with an all new chapter of Quintessence! This will be the final chapter of this fic and therefor the final piece of the second installment of The Transcendance Series! Thank you all so much for your wonderful support, everyone! (Wipes eyes with Polar Bear themed hankerchief) I can't believe I have made it twenty-four chapters into the series with this chapter! Don't worry, though! It's not over yet! This is a fic trilogy, not a fic duo! The next installment will be Zenith! Now, let me get you all caught up on the subtle pick-ups of the first two fics!

Hinata, at the start of the trilogy, got the hard turn down by Naruto and went crazy just as Chouji returned to Konoha after nine, count it, Nine years of absence on a training mission. Suck it Narutard! You left for two years with Jiraiya. Chouji went the extra five HUNDRED miles and went on nine years BY HIMSELF! SUCK IT!!!!! (clears throat) Dearly sorry about that outburst. Where was I? Ah, yes. Anyway! The two quickly fell in love with each other after some initial damage problems with their teams and Chouji realized just how special Hinata was to him while Hinata got over her stuttering problem and fell madly in love with Chouji as well! Hiashi, none too pleased with his now disowned daughter, incited a coup de ta, using the seals on all of the branch members of Hyuuga to attack the village and try to take control! At the very end Chouji returned from a mission with bears in tow, doing away with the evil that was Hiashi and proposing, albeit in a rather unusual fashion, to his raven haired goddess.

In Quintessence the chuunin exams passed and the lovely couple were married! Hinata conceived their child after a long and wonderful night of rolling in wedding furs and snuggling close together for more than just warmth! XP After returning Sai fell in love! After returning to Konoha proper Hinata had a horrible run-in with the now well recovered Uzumaki Naruto and discovered that his vengeance, though only brief, was very scarring. After a painful and completely unshown session of rape, Chouji brought a fight to Naruto that shook the very foundations of Konoha and discovered the Visage of The Beast Man, a power he used to great effect in defeating Naruto with one great punch.

After recovery Chouji received a message that Konoha would be attacked and, following the orders from his vision, Chouji took the three rookie teams to Hyōga Sanmyaku for the remainder of Hinata's pregnancy. Hizano proved himself against Kyogi in a grand battle and Hinata proved even more love to Chouji through unlocking the power of the Yuki-Onna from a wedding pendant given to her. She had Akimichi Fubuki Takara last chapter, a healthy redhead with lavender eyes and a fondness for cold milk.

Now, onto the chapter! It may be a bit shorter than the rest, as an ending chapter.

Enjoy!

{HR}

Chapter Fifteen: The Return, A Shocking Homecoming

A cry sounded in the ears of Akimichi Chouji His eyes snapped open from his rest as Akimichi Fubuki Takara woke from her slumber yet again. It had been two months since the little child was born, two months since the little bundle of divinity had blessed the world with her appearance. Two months after the crying had started and only half an hour since it had stopped. Now it was beginning again. Chouji groaned slightly and roused Hinata. He knew very well that he was largely useless in the care of a newborn child, especially at such times as this, where all Takara wanted was milk. He simply found it best to be there and awake for Hinata, letting her know that she wasn't the only one that had to be up at all hours to cater to an angry baby who had been woken by hunger and a dirty diaper. In the past two months, however, Chouji had grown just as used to it as Hinata had seemed to grow in the first couple days. It had almost come down to a sort of schedule. The baby cried, Chouji woke and roused Hinata. Hinata got up and changed the baby, Chouji dispensing of the dirty diaper (these ones were made of hide since the bears didn't have standard cloth diapers). Hinata fed the child and Chouji put her back to bed when Hinata was done. Chouji was even getting used to getting only a few minutes of restful sleep a night, though many of the collective in the male hunters were getting a bit concerned about Chouji's lack of sleep. Now, whenever he did go out for a hunt, he always got wounded. To the polar clan, however, the concept of a constantly crying child was quite foreign. Newborn bear cubs were able enough to crawl to a nipple and suckle by themselves, allowing the mother very little bother while she slumbered in the middle of the night. Human babies, however, were far less mobile. The concept of diapers also confounded the bears, though they understood that it had to be done. Even if they were polar clan members, the trio of humans was just that, humans.

After a brief nursing session Chouji set a sleeping Takara back down and stumbled back to bed where Hinata already was settling in. "I am starting to wonder," Hinata said sleepily, "If it's even worth it to try anymore..."

Chouji smiled and kissed Hinata on the forehead. "You need your sleep, Hinata. Get some rest." Hinata smiled and nodded, drifting most quickly back to sleep. It was actually slightly funny how it all worked out. Normally, from what Chouji had heard, it was the woman that would rouse the man when a baby cried for nursing time. Hinata, however, slept like the dead most recently while Chouji's senses were permanently on high alert, no matter how relaxed he tried to get. He slept light always and he always heard the baby before Hinata did, always's having to wake her up to get her to the baby.

The next morning came after four more feedings. Chouji yawned wide in the morning feast hall, chugging down a tankard of hot alcohol. The stinging fluid burned as it flowed down his throat and it made him feel more awake. Ty Dao skipped merrily into the hall, a plate in hand. "Well Met, everyone!" she called out into the relatively small feast hall, warranting the lifting of mugs and similar greetings from everyone inside. Maya followed shortly after her, spear in hand as always, a mug leaving her hip for a hot drink as soon as she reached a nearby barrel. Ty Dao grabbed a piece of meat from a serving platter and sat herself down next to Chouji. "Big day today!" She said happily, making Chouji raise an eyebrow. "Today's the day Hinata-sensei agreed to let me carry out the second tradition of the Hazumi!"

Chouji heaved a short sigh. Ty Dao and Maya had taken Takara's "traditional events" of infancy into their own hands. It wasn't at all that Chouji minded, of course. The bears were to include Takara on all of their major holidays and rites as well so it was only right that Hinata allow a party to do the same. Ty Dao had assisted birthing Takara, after all and she was Hinata's student. Takara followed no traditional rites to the Hyuuga, since Hinata wasn't a part of Hyuuga anymore as it was. It wasn't half bad that Chouji actually enjoyed the prospect of most of the Hazumi traditions as it was. The finger prick, the tumbling traditions and so on all were very alluring to Chouji. He wanted his only child (Hinata and he had decided that no more children would be for the best) to be a powerful ninja just like her parents and Ty Dao's clan traditions would prep Takara for such a life even before she could fathom it. It was all so efficient. By the time she could understand what she was doing she would be using polar katas like a master. Though that would come in due time because of the delicate nature of training in polar katas. For starters Chouji would be just fine with Takara learning simple tumbling and fighting. "What's the second tradition, Ty Dao-chan?" Chouji asked with a slight smile.

"Blood Bath!" Maya called out with glee, drawing some eyes in the room.. Chouji was a bit confused as well.

"The Hazumi put a child who is starting to follow things with her eyes under an animal, normally a goat or sheep, while their parents kill it. The blood rains down on the child to usher them into a world where they instinctively know death and battle. Then you eat it for dinner that night!" Chouji had to say, while it didn't sound too alluring it was inovative. No squeamish child would be born from such rituals. "The best thing is that the others in the polar clan love the idea!" Ty Dao said happily.

Of course they would like the idea of bathing a newborn in blood to welcome the coming life of hostility. Chouji guessed Kuma-Oumono practically danced with glee at the thought of it all. It was enough to make Chouji give a chuckle before he drew long from his tankard. However, something else loomed on Chouji's mind right now. His mind was on a date a week from that very day, the day everyone returned to Konoha. He couldn't wait to show his father and mother Takara. He wanted to show his daughter the human side of the family. He wanted to show the rest of the family the new addition. While Takara had a grandfather in Hyōga Sanmyaku Chouji still wanted her to know the other bear of a grandfather in Konoha. He wanted all sides of the family to be known, including the godparents, which had already been decided. Hinata had chosen Tsunade as the godmother of Takara, the closest thing to an actual mother she had now and someone who had been more than happy to take on a motherly spirit when Chouji and Hinata were still just getting together. Chouji had chosen the godfather. Everyone trusted he would choose Shikamaru and Chouji would have been lying if he had said it hadn't crossed his mind. However, Shikamaru was already a godfather of two, Asame and Anka. Chouji didn't want to "trouble" him with yet another child to spoil in being a godfather. Chouji had asked Shino if he would fill the position but Shino politely, though somewhat urgently, declined the offer. Instead Chouji asked the single least likely person to be the godfather. It had taken him a few days to muster up the courage at first to ask, but Chouji finally had gotten the mind to ask before everyone had left. He asked Uchiha Itachi to take the position of godfather to his and Hinata's child. Itachi was slightly taken aback at first, not quite sure what to say. However, he accepted the title with definite happiness involved. In truth Chouji had gone through everyone he knew in his mind before coming to Itachi as the final choice. Chouji hadn't ever been sure what godparents did, though Shikamaru informed him that they basically spoiled a child rotten and watched over them. Chouji thought of everyone and decided that Itachi wouldn't spoil Takara overly and would also be very able to protect her if it happened that she ever got into trouble while Chouji and Hinata weren't around. The fact that Sakura and Itachi's child would be right in the same year as Takara was a definite plus. Maya, though she hadn't forced any foreseeable traditions on Chouji and Hinata yet, seemed all too happy to assist Ty Dao in her traditional events. Chouji had no doubt that Maya had something of her own that would, however, be shown in the future, whether near or distant Chouji mildly dreaded.

Asame stepped into the hall for a bit, a greeting from all echoing out to her. Since this was a rather small feast hall it was common to greet anyone who entered, not just the major joining parties. In the larger halls only a key member or someone especially large who entered was given a greeting but in small halls there were few enough people entering at a time that it didn't get annoying. Asame grabbed a tankard of broth and sat down with Ty Dao, Maya and Chouji. "W-Well m-met..." Asame spoke up, her teeth chattering as she shivered. Poor Asame had no ability to withstand the cold at all. She was "Of Delicate Blood," as the polar clan called it. To them people of delicate blood were like invalids. Though only select, special bears were ever allowed to live with delicate blood humans of delicate blood were handled like porcelain dolls by the polar clan. From what Chouji saw, the polar clan took the very best care of Asame when they could. They treated her like a priceless glass figurine, like she would break at any moment. They were all very nice, understanding that it wasn't Asame's fault that she was of delicate blood and treated her nicely. However, they would never be able to take her seriously unless she adapted to the cold. She wasn't worth listening to. At least not in the way of authority.

Chouji smiled and spoke up. "Well Met, Asame-chan. Sleep well?"

Asame sniffed hard, seeming to have a bit of a cold. "Y-Ya... I w-was r-really cold th-though."

Ty Dao giggled at this. "Maybe you should have stayed in Konoha."

"N-Not like a had a ch-choice." Asame mourned. "I hope m-mom's okay."

"She fine, Maya think." Maya said happily, drinking long from her tankard before rising up to refill it.

"We'll be going back in a week, though. You never need to come back here, Asame-chan" Chouji said with a slight grin, chewing on a piece of seal blubber.

"G-Good. It's t-too c-cold here." Asame muttered as she downed her broth. Chouji chuckled at this.

Meanwhile Hinata walked through the halls of the capital, Takara in her arms. Despite the lack of sleep, though Hinata was fairing much better than Chouji, Hinata was the happiest woman alive. Was this normal? Did a woman feel like this with every one of their children? Hinata had a feeling that was exactly the case. Temano approached her as she stepped through the halls and gave a short bow. "Good morning, Hinata-sensei. How is Takara-chan?"

Hinata gave a smile and spoke up. "She's still as healthy as two months ago." Hinata said happily. It had concerned her that the baby would be spending so much time with her while in Yuki-Onna form. Another problem was presented at the fact that Hinata's breast milk came out at near freezing temperatures. Naturally this had concerned both Hinata and Chouji alike, though Takara appeared to be quite alright with it all. In fact, Takara was very much at home in the cold of Hyōga Sanmyaku. She seemed almost more at home as Hinata and Chouji were, something that amazed Hinata, as even Chouji was only comfortable because of previous years of weathering while Hinata herself was only truly comfortable now because of her new form. Hinata often idly wondered how the transition from the capital to Konoha would go for little Takara.

"It's good to know that she is fairing well." Temano said with a small smile. "How have things been going around the capital for you?" The capital was a vast place. One could walk from one end to another for days if they liked. Temano, always spending time making plant life in the arctic, spent very little time with the rest of his team.

"Always well. I have been very well appreciated here, actually" Hinata admitted, "Everywhere I go someone wants to hold Takara or look at her and everyone has been fawning on me. I don't know what I'm going to do with all of the treasures that you got for me and Takara. Can we really bring it all back to Konoha?"

"I doubt it," Temano admitted quietly, "But I am sure that we can bring the most important stuff. I'll be bringing back the Imperial Tiger Son's tooth and Kyogi-kun the Empress' ear. Hizano-kun says that he'll be bringing back the Emperor's skull, now that it's been emptied properly. I'm sure Chouji-sensei will ant to bring back a lot of stuff from here."

Hinata cringed at the thought of carting along a gigantic tiger skull. Sure a big tooth was cool and even the ear of a gigantic tiger was nice, since it could be made into a cloak, like Kyogi wanted, though a whole giant tiger skull was a little much. "I'm sure we'll deal with it, I suppose..." Hinata bid Temano fairwell soon enough and walked on through the capital. She looked dowjn at Takara as she slept, swaddled in the eternally heated fur blanket that Chouji had retrieved as a birth gift. That little treasure was something that Hinata doubted she would ever dispense of. It would be better to carry it down the line. It was a chakra laced sheet of fur and those were ridiculously expensive as well as the fact that the power within them never died and they never degraded. This one piece of fur was doubtless a few hundred years in age and looked as though it had been stripped and tanned just a few days ago. Looking at Takara brought Hinata's eyes to her new pendant. When she had become the Yuki-Onna she had stowed away her pendant, no longer needing the power now that it had imparted the knowledge upon her. Now the pendant she wore was the cracked heart shaped bauble, cradled by a polar bear and holding within a young, beautiful woman who leaned longingly against the bear on the other side. It was made to look cracked, clearly. This was a birthing gift from Chouji. Nobody knew what effects the item had, though it was clear that it had some special powers imparted upon it, as most of the treasure pillaged did.

Hinata, however, had started feeling somewhat edgy. She knew that, after two months, she was ready to be a ninja again. Her eyes sought to be used and her body ached for combat again. Now that the weakness of pregnancy had left her Hinata wanted to explore. Ty Dao, just the person Hinata was looking for, popped out of an intersection ahead. "Hihi, Hinata-sensei!" Ty Dao said with glee. Hinata knew just why she was so happy, though she didn't really care at the moment.

Hinata stepped up and thrust Takara into Ty Dao's hands. "Could I ask you to care for Takara for a few hours?" Hinata asked with a nervous smile.

Ty Dao seemed very confused. "Umm... Hinata-sensei? What's come over you?"

"I just want to go for a hike." Hinata said, still a nervous tgrin upon her face. "It's been so long since I could do anything by myself."

"I suppose I could look after her but you better be back for the rite tonight."

Thank you so very much, Ty Dao-chan!" Hinata almost yelled out, booking from Ty Dao down the halls and straight from the capital. The chill air whipped against Hinata's cheeks. The snow flakes lashed against her flesh as she ran through it. This was what she had wanted. The cool air and fresh outside! Hinata leapeed into the air and was gone, a bolt of lightning toward her next destination. She felt powerful and energetic. Hinata had possessed her Yuki-Onna form for months and she hadn't a single chance to use it. She was going to somewhere that would push her to the limit.

A mere instant later Hinata appeared in the middle of what looked like a hurricane of cold air. In the center of the eye was a massive black ice mountain. The air that left Hinata's mouth, even though her own breath was below frezing temperature, turned to fog and drifted to the ground. This was The Frozen Eye. Chouji and his group had gone two months past to this location and had come back to tell of it. They hadn't taken on the Archaic Bear that certainly lived within but Hinata felt like she could, after erleven months of doing nothing at all. She had long stopped being helpless. Now her muscles ached to strike flesh! She zipped to the foot of the mountain and looked into the dark tunnel. She could hear it. She could hear the labored breath of a creature who's size dominated her own. She thirsted to take it on. If she couldn't do it, after all, she would simply go lightning and flee the site. It would be easy with those thoughts in mind.

Into the chasm she walked, slowly at first but gradually speeding up to a full run. She could smell it in the chill air, hear it through the caverns; The Archaic Bear's presence. She wanted to fight again. Still, when she thought it would all be easy she found herself charging right into the cavern where her target lay asleep. Saying this creature was big wouldn't have covered the scale quite right. Hinata had seen mountains smaller than this beast. Most amazing of all, it was covered in treasure, and by covered Hinata meant just that. Rubies and silver had seemingly melted right into its hide, giving it a mottled appearance, though still clearly a polar bear. Diamonds and amethysts surrounded the beast, sticking into its paws and nose as it slept. It was like a good deal of the treasure that this creature "owned" had long ago become part of it. Hinata found the prospect alluring. She stepped forward a bit more and the beast roused. The Archaic Bear had felt her pressence and, as it rose to full height Hinata found out just how terrifying an Archaic Bear could be. This bear had long grown too large for the cavern it liked to sleep in. The tunnels Hinata had come through weren't even half the size neede for travel by this bear. It was old and weathered, Hinata could tell. There was something wise about this old creature. It stared at Hinata with sad, old eyes that pierced through her, as though appraising this new opponent.

As Hinara drew her first breath in minutes the bear swung down, cleaving part of the black ice mountain right from its place The chill air from outside filled the area, bringing light into the cavern. The bear swung again but Hinata was gone, on the peak of the ice mountain as the bear cleared out the rest of the top. Hinata had definitely bit off more than she could chew. This creature, which Hinata had thought to be big in the first place, was simply too large. It turned to her and all she could do was flee from it. A few times she tried to attack it but even throwing lighting into its eyes from point blank only proved to annoy the beast. Hinata blew frosty gales from her black lips and lightning from her fingertips. She filled the cavern with water and boiled it as well as sliced the mountain apart with other jutsu. Still to no avail, however. This creature was one to be feared, truly. Hinata, after three hours of constant battle, felt herself tiring as she landed on the top of the bear's head. She couldn't keep up this game of tag. This bear was what it was and Hinata, to it, must have been a simple knat, something to swat at and play around with but clearly not a threat. Hinata leaped down to the ground but, as she looked up at the beast she saw the most monumental paw swing down over her. What would she do? There was no way, even now, that she could escape. The answer came quickly just what would happen. The paw stopped just feet over her head. Hinata opened her eyes and looked forward to se Chouji in front of her, holding the paw up with his own two hands.

"Ch-Chouji?" Hinata asked, awestruck. When had Chouji become so strong. "Are you okay?"

Chouji didn't answer. Instead he grunted and pushed away, tossing the beast back into the mountain wall. He turned and looked at Hinata. This wasn't Chouji, though. Granted, Chouji looked the exact same in Beast Man form but this wasn't him. There was a caring in his frosted eyes, but not like Chouji's. This man must have been the real Beast Man. "I am not your lover, Akimichi Hinata..." He said with a deep, gruff voice. "But he is waiting back home for you, I am sure. Get you gone, now." The Beast Man said as he turned back to the archaic bear.

"But how?" Hinata muttered slowly, backing off from the Beast Man. The true Beast Man was supposedly long dead. Mighty he may have been but he was still mortal, just as was the Sage Of The Six Paths.

"Never you mind that. Go tend to your daughter an mate..." The Beast Man said as he charged toward the Archaic Bear. Hinata was amazed. The Beast Man and bear made contact and that alone pushed the former Hyuuga from the cave. She was flung backward by the shockwave and, before she hit anything sharp, she flashed into lightning, back to he capital. She straightened her furs up and strode right back into the capital. Maybe it would be best if she never menbtioned her little adventure to anyone.

The night went very smoothly. The blood bath was invoked and little Takara didn't mind it at all. So there was warm elk blood pouring on her, she didn't mind. She was better than that. After she was cleaned off Hinata fed her and put her down for a nap. It wouldn't be long until the little one was awake again but surely enough time to leave for a nice meal. Hinata was very hungry and that elk wouldn't eat itself. As she walked into the kitchens, the elk being prepared, Hinata spotted her lover, in normal Chouji form, not in his Beast Man form. Hinata gave a smile as he bit into the Elk's heart. Hinata hadn't ever the taste for animal hearts. They were too muscly and tough but Chouji loved Elk hearts and such. He enjoyed the toughness that allowed him to chew for a while without forcing massive doses of food down his throat. It was like jerky to him. Hinata stepped up to Chouji, her skin losing its blue though her fingertips, eye shadowing and lips remained black. She embraced her husband and spoke up. "Good evening, Darling."

Chouji was a bit surprised that Hinata was so suddenly throwing herself upon him. They had, after all, seen each other just an hour before when Takara was being bathed in elk blood. Maybe Hinata was just happy to see Chouji, as usual. "Hi Honey." Chouji said with a smile, hugging Hinata with his clean hand as he held the elk heart in the other. "You're being awfully friendly tonight. What happened while you were out, anyway?"

"Just ran around Hyōga Sanmyaku, nothing serious." Hinata said with a smile. She didn't want Chouji to figure out that she had tried to take on an Archaic Bear, after all. "I am just hjappy tonight that I got the chance to run for a bit, you know?"

"I guess so." Chouji said with a grin, pulling Hinata upward to sit her on his forearm, Hinata giving a squeak of surprise. "I see you're getting back into your own flesh again, Honey." Chouji said with a smile.

"I see you're the same way." Hinata countered. "I think I liked this version of you better." She admitted, almost guiltily. "At least now you're not six feet tall. It was so hard to kiss you when you were so huge." Chouji gave a laugh. It would be a week until everyone returned home. They had to get ready for it. Everyone had to aclimate back to Konoha style living.

The next few days went by and Chouji sought down one of his students. Anka had been strangely hermit-like the whole time. She was learning the ways of Star Cast forging. Chpouji's sword had been a fluke back when she made it. The plans and star cast alike had been chanced upon by Kyogi and Anka had somehow weaseled them away from him. Now she was working with only the purest of star cast metal. She was making works of art just like the sword she had made for Chouji but Chouji wondered what she was up to so often. He wandered through the smithing halls and smiled as he smelled the hot forges being bellowed. He spotted Anka as she worked on something and he stepped up. However, as soon as he neared her he heard her voice. "Hello, Chouji-sensei. Please stand still."

Chouji hesitated as Maya turned, a suit of star cast armor in a pair of tongs that she held. She pressed the hot suit against Chouji's bare chest and the pain was horrible. Chouji cried out and stepped back, patting his chest to cool it. "What was that for?!?" Chouji cried out as Anka turned back around, as though nothing happened.

"Just imprinting it to you is all. Hand me a handful of snow, would you?" Chouji grunted and looked around. Snow in the smithy was kept in barrels that insulated cold. He found one and carried it to Anka, who took it and threw it on the still hot metal. "All done." Anka muttered as she dipped the metal into hot water and drew it out. The half plate was just like Chouji's old suit but it didn't hold the Akimichi symbol on the front. It was the Polar Clan's banner that was the armor. The black armor had a crimson bear paw printed on the front with snow flakes dotting the armor here and there. Anka led Chouji to the rest of the suit of half plate, which was hanging. Star Cast chain shirt, star cast bracers and star cast everything else. The whole suit of half plate was star cast and designed exactly like Chouji's old suit but Polar Clan related He had to admit it, Anka had done him a service that he hadn't asked for, but was certainly not going to complain. "That;s your new suit. I understand it isn't an Akimichi suit but, in case you want variety, this will be a fitting suit for your sword to match."

Chouji ran a hand along it. He was, after all, an adult of the Polar Clan. He needed a suit of Star Cast armor. "That's beautiful. I'll assume you're done with your apprenticeship." Anka nodded with a smile. Her skin was speckled with ember burns and ashes but she looked quite respectable. "Well, you need to prepare for homecoming. What will you father think if he sees you wearing this?" Chouji said, turning away.

Days more went by and, finally, the day of leaving came. Chouji donned his half plate and prepared everything to be taken home in massive sleds. So he couldn't take home all five treasure sleds that belonged to him but the bears were well willing to send it all to him bits at a time. The two sleds they were taking had everythjing everyone else had spent major claim on. Kyogi was wearing his chief souvenir, a cloak made from the Tiger Empress' ear. Temano slung a gigantic sabre tooth, covered in runes, along his back. It was now a spear for him, magically inscribed to never break in battle. However, Chouji had been given reason to believe that this spear was not meant specifically for Temano himself. The wood user had very little need for a spear when he could make one out of his own body. Chouji suspected he wanted to give it to Maya. Oh, how the little students were growing up.

Chouji and the group nerared the great circle that would take them back to Konohagakure No Sato. Kuma-Oumono bid all of them farewell and wished them safe return. At a last glance, as the circle around Chouji was glowing, ready to bring everyone back, Chouji heard Kuma-Oumono's voice. "Watch yourself, my son..." He said. "You're going to ave a lot of trouble soon enough... Somebody is---" Kuma-Oumono's voice was cut off as Chouji disappeared, back where his house had once stood.

It was clear that the poor house had not made it. Chouji sighed a bit as he looked at the rubble. Everyone seemed a bit sad at the sight of this but it could all be rebuilt. They started the short trek back to Konoha proper. The walls were, mostly, still standing. The gate was firm as always though, as the party walked through them there was a sense of unease. Nobody was guarding the gate. Nobody wandered around in Konoha, which looked as though it had been being successfully rebuilt. "Well, I guess everyone's doing something important. I bet Ichiraku is still around! How about it everyone?" Chouji asked the group, "My treat."

Nobody raised denial at this suggestion, not even Hinata, who Chouji suspected would want to bring Takara right to shelter immediately. Still, the former Hyuuga seemed to be feeling unease as well as some of the others. The grpoup made their way through the village, everything still completely empty. Chouji was getting more and more nervous as minutes ticked by. They reached Ichiraku's and headed in to see Ayame and Teuchi working nervously at the counter, a single customer covered in a cloak at the counter. Ayame was the first to see Chouji walk in and her eyes lit up. Chouji saw her lips move silently and he read them well "Get out!" they spelled for him. He held a hand backward and took a step back, forcing everyone out of the shop. They all sensed his tension and had their own.

However, as he backed out of the shop and turned he heard a voice. "Akimichi Chouji," The voice sounded from behind him. "Hazumi Ty Dao, Sai, Utagau Temano, Nagamori Kyogi, Hyuuga Hizano." Chouji reached down to his hip for his sword and started to turn, "Ibana Maya, Hatake Anka, Nara Shikana, Nara Shikani, Yuuhi Asame." Chouji turned about dfully to see the one face he never expected to see again in his life. It was not a face so much as a mask, an orange one that swirled around and stopped at the right eye. Spiky hair protruded from behind the mask. "By the power vested in me as Rokudaime Hokage of Konohagkure No Sato, I am putting you all under arrest for blatant disregard for the safety of your fellow villagers,"

"You're supposed to be dead..." Chouji muttered slowly

"Treason to Konohagakure No Sato," Uchiha Tobi continued

"I saw you die," Chouji countered

"Disorderly conduct in the line of duty," Tobi kept going, unable to hear Chouji's words.

"I held you down when Naruto-kun killed you!" Chouji yelled out, stepping closer and pulling his knife, the star cast weapon growing to full size and Chouji increasing in size as well, changing to his Beast Man form.

Tobi didn't budge when Chouji advanced. He reached up and struck Chouji on the left shoulder, slamming the Akimichi into the ground and continuing his speech. "Apparently high treason via attacking the current Hokage..." Tobi placed a heavy hand on Chouji's shoulder, holding him down as he growled from deep inside his throat. "And lastly, abandonment of your village in a time of complete war and attack. What do you have to say for yourselves?" Tobi finished

{HR}

The End! I know, quite the shocker isn't it? How did Tobi become Rokudaime Hokage, anyway?!? Where is Tsunade? What happened to everyone else in the village? Well these are all answers for Zenith! Yep, this is the end of Quintessence! Finally it's over and I can count another finished work to my collection! I am so happy! I owe it all to you guys out there who read and reviewed my stuff as well as a few friends around town here in Oregon. Thanks Megan and Leah, you know who you are! Without you guys I wouldn't have had the muse to get this done for prolly a LOT longer, delayed as this chapter may be .

It may be a while before I post up Zenith but, please remember that I WILL do it nevertheless!

Anyway, please review, send me ideas, I love ideas! Send me stuff in general! Please don't flame!

Yours,

Tankou001