>:D Get 'em Cef!
It's not very long, I'm actually shocked I made it on time, but, meep, meepity meep meep....Meow.
I blame going through about four complete chapter re-writes XD
Okay ‘nough with the mushy stuff, moving onto what really matters, ninjas! 8D…….For some of the part….
Also, do forgive me for messing with the Naruto storyline, meow~ Major events are still in place, but a lot of Naruto characters get left in the dust as the main havoc is already split between three of them, and that’s not including Roachimaru, ahem -> N.G.S. which translates into: Neon Genesis Sasuke.
Click on the underlined to see who we've haven't see before, google if ya forgot what they looked like ^_^ .....Thank you so much Naruto pedia.....Thank you soooo much.....
And Cef >X3
Disclaimer: PG-13. Noodles.
EDIT: Bits and parts from the Naruto manga are also in here, sorry I forgot to mention that! DX
Ch 38
Kodomo’s Provoke: Part 2 Car-runitwau Star: Konohagakure Village With my lighnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin' to be
when the reaper he reaches and touches my hand.
With my lighnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin'
With my lighnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am go-goin' You better look out below! – Wake Up, Arcade Fire
The Hokage smoked his pipe by moonlight pondering what the next morning would bring. Tomorrow would begin the genin’s training for the final round of the exams, all left to their own devices to strengthen themselves. Some would have teachers, others would be on their own. Now, if only he could secure their peace to train from these Outside threats, would some tension be lifted off his shoulders, but that was out of his power and himself.
The ceiling of the night sky seemed so close to the ground, and perhaps just for a moment, the Hokage felt a deathly stare from some dark creature slithering around in the darkness above….
The way of life for Shinobi in this world is a struggle from start to finish for the right to exist among the other nations and themselves, this encounter is no different.
Anyone can only do so much.
*This is just pathetic,* thought Shonen Bat, keeping to himself watching Ed’s pretend, or at least he hoped she was pretending, baby drama-trauma, and once Yugi switched with Pharaoh, then and only then did Ed’s baby drama-trauma instantly became appeased, satisfied that she was now leaning against
Yugi……Pfft. *I stand corrected.* Shonen Bat closed himself up and tuned his Memory Link* and sense* into other frequencies that might be more entertaining while Sora stayed up with his other friends…..
“You know what’s next now?” said Ed sitting up, “Now we have to introduce Big Yugi
and Yugi together!”
“One step at a time Ed,” said Yugi.
*They’ll accept it, trust me,* said Pharaoh, *I told them that
both of us were visited by Lorenia’s Ghost.*
“Yeah, but you also informed us of how the Anime Masters died, that kinda turned attention elsewhere,” said Sora.
Nope, nuthin’, everyone else was either in tune with their guard duty or asleep, save for the quiet night activity of the village and an excited child or two….Ugth, just hinting into the frequency from that orange ninja he ran into during the Death General fight was enough to catapult his senses back within the room. Shonen Bat felt tingly, as if he was sensing* double. Neah, it wasn’t a subject he’d bring up, but truth be told, ever since the Death General fight, he had been feeling a little “off”….There wasn’t much to show for it, really…..The worst being, if he recalled right, he complained about the world leaders actions twice, and got hit for it once, heh, a little hiccup in memory – Sora was there both times and he wasn’t worried about it, or he wasn’t really paying attention, or, didn’t care, *I’m fine, just a bit of a haze, nothing to get bent up over. Only humans get Alzheimer’s disease.* Says he who has splotches of memories….
Sleeeeeeeeew, sleeeeeeeeeew,
slip~
Hold up…….He felt a presence sulking around on their floor, coming right towards their room – a threat? No, but it was one for a second glance – he couldn’t put into words what was wrong with it – it felt like a normal presence, yet, it was as if it was wrapped in, glass? Before the presence reached their door Shonen Bat materialized making Ash jump and Pikachu bristle –
Sora blinked, “Little Slugger?”
The light in their room dimed as the doorway became blocked by a Leaf Shinobi, the female test proctor, “What’s this? Children over looking their bedtimes?”
Pikachu wrinkled its nose and scratched it – its sense of smell was bothered –
“Who are you?” said Shonen Bat immediately. She gave a tough looking smile,
“I’m a Leaf Shinobi obviously,” she said pointing at her forehead protector, “My name is
Anko Mitarashi .”
“You’re one of the testing proctors right?” said Sora, “I remember seeing you with the genins.”
“Yeah, I’m assuming you Star Shinobi are around the same rank right? And yet you’re said to have such amazing power, more than the strength of our Jounins.” (Sora blushed) “It’s a shame you’re only here to observe instead of compete, I bet you all would have left a far more distinguished impression aside from the one you have now.”
“Oh well, it’s not like first impressions can be helped,” said Sora rubbing the back of his head.
“Nope, but they can be dangerous, even deadly.”
Shonen Bat glared at her, and a red flag went up in Sora.
“Seriously, to spoil the value of a Shinobi clan that no nation has any record of is a huge price to pay to be in league with ours, and I must say, I’m impressed with you all so willingly putting yourselves in such danger; it’s as if you have no need or sense of self preservation but the protection of others, just like your tiny group that appeared a few years back. Are you just plain idiots or trying to make yourselves targets to protect Konoha? Why is our village so important to you?”
“From one Shinobi clan to another,” said Sora, “I’m sure you know the value of secrets.”
Shonen Bat did a double take at Sora, *Th-that was sharp!* –
Anko deeply smiled, her eyes grasping them all hungrily, “All too well. You children have a good rest. You’ll need every advantage your mystery grants you,” she turned to leave, “From one Shinobi clan to another, your tools are only as good as you use them,” and she left.
Shonen Bat swallowed, her aura with just that faded tint of glass….
“Phew, good going Sora,” said Ash, “Man I almost forgot what we have to do to bend to their Order and stuff.”
Ed looked up at Yugi and wrinkled her nose, “She smelled funny.”
“Pika, pika.”
“Smelled funny?”
Ed nodded. “By the way, have any of you seen where Ein went? I thought he’d be with y’all.”
*He went with the Sailor Scouts,* said Pharaoh.
Shonen Bat slipped out the room, “I’m gonna go walk the halls a bit. It’s stuffy in here.”
“Remember we meet in front of the Hokage’s quarters at 8 a.m.,” chirped Sora.
Shonen Bat snorted, “Keep that Light Cloak close to you,
where is it?”
“Right here, don’t worry.”
Shonen Bat glanced at him, and skated off shifting into his shadow form.
Ash blinked, “What’s his problem?”
“He’s going to go spy on her,” said Sora, “He thinks she’s a bit suspicious.” Sora rubbed the light glistening cloth;
your tools are only as good as you use them. “It’s probably nothing, but it doesn’t hurt to be safe; at least she’s not an Outsider, right?”
“Pika pika.”
Anko rounded the corner of the hallway and proceeded to walk with no intent of arriving anywhere quickly.
*The Outsider that can change its shape……only its physical shape? That snake guy could mess with his aura but not Astral –* she rounded another corner – her eyes turning to Shonen Bat’s
exact location with a sharp smile before disappearing behind the bend –
* **** me!!* - He dashed through the walls to cut her off – manifested before her, (she not even batting an eye) – and swung his bat at her head – she dodged easily letting her body bend back catching herself on her hands and kicking up in a back flip, raking Shonen Bat’s face with skates landing away – fully transformed into him from a creeping light, rolling back, fading into shadow – into nothing – with his own laugh greased from its own nature tossing Shonen Bat a rude gesture to his futile swipe; it was gone, vanishing completely before hitting the approaching wall,
BOMPH, unlike Shonen Bat……
Ow.…So that’s what running into a wall feels like.
…..
In a lowly cave lighted by moonlight, sat Bakura rubbing sand nonchalantly between his fingers, a quick spark of fierce fire from his hand turning it into rough glass, his sense* picked up the presence before it materialized.
“Envy,” said Bakura, his eyes dark, “You gave up your position as Anko?”
Envy!Shonen Bat playfully huffed. “The snake wanted a meeting, believe me it was a small price to pay,” he said greasily, “And anyways, I have a present for you,” Envy changed into Yugi, “Guess who survived?” Bakura’s eyes went wide, “Are you still going to hand me over? Although now I understand why you are shipped more with Mr. Tongue [and] Face than me.”
[I would like to thank my dear friend the internet for scarring me for life with that. Oh what were the shipping titles again? Puzzle, Pride, Thief…..and five-hundred-and-fifty-five, several, others…..I swear I’m not making this up]
“For all that is your safety,
enough of that ****,” Bakura hissed.
Envy!Yugi grasped his face cutely, “You are gonna give me up then!” he rocked naively on his heels, while Bakura tuned him out going into a malicious relief.
“With events as they are, all I need is his puzzle and the Pharaoh’s Ghost, the Lady can have his host’s heart. I suppose the one you’re looking for wasn’t here?”
Envy!Yugi changed into Edward Elric, “Nope, it was a slim chance at best considering where my last location was.”
Both were tapped with Memory Link*; the cave entrance darkened with Orochimaru’s arrival acknowledging his peers with a courteous nod. Following him was a young man with round glasses and white hair tied back leaving a parting of thick bangs to portrait his face, the Cursed Vulpix trotting behind him loyally.
“Alright then, Envy,” said Orochimaru, “Let’s see the rest of them.”
Envy began to change in a steady rhythm of Sora’s company within Konoha – speaking through their voices – “They’re defiantly of the group Nefero talked about that hung around the old Masters – lacking in competent brains as always; the best part being the Master not understanding they’re but tools for his survival, he is all that matters, and they, are replaceable appendages of a toy,” Envy changed again, “Which is why, tearing him apart is going to be
so~ easy,” his reflection on the young man’s glasses showing bright blue eyes and spiky brown hair…..
“That’s the Keyblade Master then?” said the young man.
Envy!Sora crossed his legs, “Despite the lack in brain power, Sora’s little group might be a grab bag of Astral power, your pet snake was taken down by one of his summoners, there’s still a lot we don’t know about them, but with the training sessions they’re going to be doing tomorrow it’ll give me a good chance to study their abilities, and I need to perfect my transformations anyway.”
“Since they’ll be training they’ll most likely end up separated into little groups,” said the young man, “Easier to pick off the defenseless and lambs that stray too far.”
“How many Soul Puppets are you planning on making anyway?
Kabuto is going to infiltrate the village again right?”
“I am.”
“As many as possible,” said Orochimaru, “We’ll chip away their layers of defense, then cut them off completely. Bakura, deliver this to the sand Shinobi, a gift for Gaara, tell him it’s supposed to help his other form.”
As Orochimaru dropped the stone into Bakura’s hand, the Cursed Vulpix perked up; outside held foreign presences.
“Also, tell them I will have their new instructions ready in about a week’s time; Kabuto will be delivering them.”
Kabuto tilted his head, the gleam of his glasses hiding his eyes; the Cursed Vulpix not taking its eyes off of the outside.
“Anything else?”
“We’re done here, anything else will be relayed through Memory Link*.”
“Who wants to go halvesies?”
The Cursed Vulpix started drooling grey thick liquid.
“Eh, better yet, it’s time to feed the newest pet.”
“Where did that other pet get off to?”
The presences disappeared.
“Keh, nevermind.”
Everyone moved to leave, Kabuto taking his time to scratch the little fox behind its ears, *Don’t worry, you’ll get fed my little friend.* The little Vulpix looking back with eyes so misty they were on the point of being white.
……..
Morning brightly lit the tops of Konohagakure Village. Ed was sprawled out on her bed, Ash sleeping on his stomach (Pikachu snuggled on his back), Yugi was curled up, his puzzle by his head, and Sora slept on the floor on a mattress he dragged over from the room across from them – the door to their room swung –
bomp – almost wide –
BOMP – open –
“Good morning everyone!” Mrs. Chi Chi piped bright as the morning that filled the room.
Pikachu perked up, but everyone else replied by either grumbling in their sleep (or in Sora’s case) a moan of pain; he managed to right himself from getting squished up like a ‘U’. “Mrs. Chi Chi?” came his breathless sleepy voice.
“Good morning sweetie,” she chimed, “Come on now everyone, you all have to be at the Hokage’s headquarters soon, it’s 7:00 a.m. I made everyone a healthy nutritious breakfast waiting for you downstairs.”
Ein walked in the room and barked as Chi Chi stepped carefully up to the window and pulled the first set of blinds away – Ed hissed and curled up under the blankets, Ash stirred a little bit, and Yugi lightly pushed himself up with Pharaoh sliding out next to him.
Sora still half asleep bluntly asked, “What are you doing down here?”
“Well everyone is just working so hard I figured there must be something I can do, come on now, just haul yourselves up.”
Sora took account of everyone in the room with a warm fuzzy feeling that soon broke in a sharp spark from the lingering absence of one, “Little Slugger was gone all night.”
“Huh?” Ed gave a bear yawn.
“He’s with Genkai and Vincent,” said Chi Chi pulling away the last set of blinds, her voice in a lowered tone, “He’s okay. He’ll be alright, but” –
“CAW! CAW!” a big crow landed on the window ledge rubbing lightly against the glass leaving faint smudges of red –
“Aw, that little guy is hurt,” said Ed.
“CAW!” The crow flew away to a gathering of them on a rooftop a little ways away, Chi Chi gasped in horror catching sight of its interest – everyone crowded the window but Chi Chi managed to stop Ed –
“I wanna see!” –
“No” –
Leaving the boys to absorb the sight of a decapitated body twisted into grotesque angles completely torn open (surprisingly with little red), the crows finding what meal they could from it.
And so, a meeting was called that morning within the chambers of the leaders of Konoha: the village elders, the Hokage, the Jounins all present. The news of the shape shifting Outsider infiltrating so close to hope of the future was a bad blow, but like any challenge that was thrown at them thus far, a resource to counter it, appeared.
Thankfully, a
Swinub was able to pick up the smell of the shape-shifting Outsider on Shonen Bat and the scent was relayed by Memory Link* to the pokemon and everyone else on guard; for the humans, only the sensitive would be able to pick it up, at least it was an odd smell, something perhaps what the inside of a clean coffin would smell like….The pokemon did not like it.
“We did an examination of the body with the Star Shinobi, all wounds seemed to have been made by the flesh ripping itself, there is no evidence of any object sharp or blunt causing injury including the decapitation. The lack of blood surrounding the body leads us to believe he was murdered elsewhere and then placed on the rooftop.”
“They’re messing with us” –
“For them to have gotten passed those creatures, (*cough*) it was probably the Outsider that can disguise its aura, the one that can change its shape (*cough*).”
“That seems to be the logical option
Hayate ,” said the Third Hokage, “But we must leave all possibilities open; those creatures were looking for Astral Traces and that Outsider could disguise itself well, (-luckily save its scent-), it also could very well have been someone else, especially since where the body was placed – a blind spot the monsters have in accordance to their new positions around the borders, including the legends.”
“So what then? This guy teleported in and out leaving the body? Isn’t that still the power of an Outsider?”
“Or what they want us to believe it is,” said Genkai, “Orochimaru is an Outsider” –
“If that’s the case then for a ‘normal’ person to have that kind of knowledge” –
“The Outsiders may be teaming up with a village” –
“Or siding with Orochimaru?!” –
“Or damnit to hell all of the above.”
“Well,” said Kakashi, “The alliance agreements are only held together by a verbal promise. It hasn’t prevented great wars in the past, and I seriously doubt an interstellar war isn’t even mentioned.”
A chill of uncertainty circled the room.
“We’ll have to cancel the Chuunin Exams” –
“We mustn’t be hasty,” said a female elder, “The only rock solid information are the presences of the Outsiders, one of which that can change its shape, and whose interests are in the Star Shinobi; appearances and threats by Orochimaru who can also disguise his aura, but not his Astral Traces. The rest is speculation hyped by the visiting nations and villages. As much as our combined resources are being tested for the position we are in, much is still left up in the air; we must focus ourselves on what we know and thus what we can deal with.”
“The enemy may be using our caution to their advantage, certainly that body was an attempt to provoke us,” said the Third Hokage. “We have our defenses against Orochimaru’s Soul Skins* abilities and now the Outsider that can change its shape, and with their movements shying in the shadows they’re probably a bit skittish to push us considering our mysterious friends from the Stars.” The Third Hokage rested his hands on the table. “It won’t do us any good to needless worry. Our ANBU are working hard gathering information as best they can. Plus…” he gave a smile, “I trust you guys. We will carry on with the Chuunin Exams as planned……If the time should arrive, we will assemble all our strength,
and fight!” Let it be known, all who get tangled with the Astral Order risk having their worldly destinies changed forever, along with possibly the destiny of their world itself.
Gaara looked at the shiny red stone sitting in his hand; he clasped it like an egg, “What does it do?”
“I’m not sure,” said Bakura innocently, “The only thing I was to tell you was that it’s supposed to help your other ‘form’.”
“And what of the Sound Village?” asked the lead Sand Jounin.
“We’ll receive an updated word from them in about a week, until then we’re to remain in the background as Kazekaga has willed,” said Bakura.
Gaara dropped the red stone onto the ground. “I don’t need it.” He left the housing quarters in a twirl of sand leaving the Sand Jounin and Bakura alone.
The lead Sand Jounin picked it up, “I’ll make sure he keeps it.”
“It’s alright for any of you to be suspicious,” said Bakura with soft eyes, “I’m sort of an intruder after all.” He laughed gently, but the lead Jounin didn’t so much as crack a smirk. “I must say, I certainly wouldn’t want to be around Gaara when he’s in that state; I don’t think I’d be able to keep myself together.”
“Unless the Stars bring out a monster of their own,” said the lead Jounin. “It’s only rumors, but we know next to nothing about them, I heard of another powerful creature they can summon, not that large silver bird that was spotted, but a large, long, red dragon.”
Bakura’s eyes instantly darkened, and his stance turned still.
The Sand Jounin continued, “A red dragon that whose enormous form weaves all throughout the sky and can shoot from any of its two mouths intense blasts of electricity wrapped in a beam of fire.”
“Where did you hear this?”
“From a child who overheard some of the pretty Star Shinobi talking; knowing the child, this is probably blown out of proportion, but the notion the Star Shinobi have more powerful summons lying in wait makes me wonder of the chances of success for this war.”
*That child isn’t blowing anything out of proportion,* thought Bakura,
*Slypher, the Sky Dragon, so that god chose to remain with him, of course it would.*
“The Sound Village is collecting data on the Star Shinobi right?”
“Yes, hence why we’ll have to wait a week before the update.”
“What of those creatures?”
“The forces of the Sound are strong,” said Bakura, “You needn’t worry about those pesky things, they will be met with swiftly, I have witnessed it, I give you my word. No doubt the Sound will also deal with the Star Shinobi, they plan on cutting their numbers down before the Finals, but we Sand will still have our part to play, albeit we’ll have to wait till we’re called, we are but tools after all.”
Gaara stood within the forest a ways away from the housing quarters. Around him, a gang of Emotionless emerged from their portals, a mix of Heartless and Nobodies encircled him quickly; Gaara showed little reaction, save for an inner smile that just couldn’t quite manifest onto his face. Sand wisped like a snaked wind out of the calabash-shaped gourd on his back, the Emotionless showing signs of a timid break in their instinct to attack – a fierce aura radiated out from him like the pulse of heart fueled from the stab of a knife –
“…..You creatures…….only exist to be killed.”
A crushing sound broke the silence of the forest, and sand dribbled down all around Gaara; the smile distinctly on his face.
What a thrill it might be to face one of the mysterious Stars, any one of them. If only the reason to exist would cross one of them; that would be an experience of life not soon forgotten.
The feeling was mutual to many, the Stars this, the Stars that, rumors, a chance to meet and question them, corner them, confront them – although they were told to leave them be, curiosity among some of the young genin was too much – perhaps one would be willing to teach the mythical light jutsu? The Finals were approaching! Any and all techniques of they could learn would be needed, especially for those competing! If any of the Stars didn’t have a lick of stealth before arriving to Konohagakure Village they most certainly are going to be well schooled afterwards.
Their lives depend on it.
POUF. “I’ll be damned if this isn’t part of our training!” yelled Ash collapsing onto the grass surrounded by bushes.
“Did we lose them?” huffed Yugi slinking down as well, “Who do they think they are? We can’t do any light jutsu or whatever the heck that is!” Ed plopped down next to him – Ein moving out from under her before he got smushed.
“They were referring to Sora!” she piped swinging her hand around making sounds as if she had a sword to slash, “The Keyblade of light! Light jutsu! Jutsu! Jutsu! I want to see some Jutsu!”
“Yeah, I’d like to show’em the bird jutsu,” said Ash.
“You mean hand sign,” piped Ed.
Sora (with the Light Cloak wrapped around his neck like a scarf) overlooked their position from behind a big thick bush utilizing sense*, “……..We lost them.”
“Finally,” breathed Yugi.
“Genkai’s gonna get mad at us,” said Ash, “We’re late meeting her at our training grounds.”
“We’ll just explain what happened,” said Sora.
“And to Vincent?”
And the Cloud of Doom appears once again.
“Where’s Little Slugger? He could’ve probably scared them all off.”
*I could have scared them all off,* voiced Rayquaza to Ash.
*Like I said before, no! We’re going to need every bit of spring we’ve got for this.*
“He’s still with Genkai and Vincent,” said Sora, “I can feel Spike making his way over there now.”
“Fashionably late, at least we’ll get there before he does, right?”
“Actually, he’s already there.”
“Ah, oh well, he’ll have to endure them alone.”
Poor Spike!
“How far can you sense* when using the Light Cloak?”
“If I really concentrate, about half of the village, but everyone’s blurry unless I read their aura,” said Sora, “But I have to be actively using sense*, mine doesn’t pop up yet or anything to alert me, I kinda just, feel it working its magic all around me, and then sometimes I don’t. I think I need to stop using the Light Cloak and work up my foundation first.”
“Are you using sense* now?” asked Yugi, Pharaoh slid out to his side.
“No.”
“Well you should,” he squeaked……Ein perked his ears up, and everyone suddenly became aware that their position in the bush, was completely surrounded…..Everyone looked up with a face of most inherited regret and annoyance, and were greeted with a circle of smiles, a circle of whisker cheek marks, the same blue eyes, the same wild yellow hair held back by his leaf village forehead protector –
dressed in orange –
“Naruto,” voiced Sora reading his aura.
“Finally!” the shadow clones all voice in stereo, “I’ve got you” –
“OH THAT IS IT!” BOOF! Rayquaza exploded out of the pokeball knocking about fifty shadow clones at least sixty into their air – and some beyond to the heavens – carrying Sora and his friends up and away to safety in the sky.
What was left of the shadow clones dispersed leaving a single solitary Naruto, “HEY! GET BACK HERE! I SAW YOU FIGHT HAKU! YOU FIGHT LIKE LORENIA! COME BACK HERE! I WANT SOME ANSWERS TO WHAT’S GOING ON WITH OUR HOME! WHAT'S THIS I HEAR ABOUT THE SKY FALLING DOWN?!”
END PART
*Is in a happy place* :D
I think I might be able to finish it next week, heavy emphasis on “might” XD
Also....behold......I believe this is the only fandom that actually has names for shipping......all 558 of them.......
Ultimate Yugioh Shipping List 
Re: K.h.a 
Linear Mode
