55 The Tiger Tree Village
Blanket disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Tenjho Tenge
AUTHORS NOTE:
Here is chapter 55. Enjoy!
[ ] signifies hand signs
{ } signifies a foreign language
Last time:
Konoha, Hokage Tower
Tsunade was waiting for reports on Team Aka's progress when Anko's summons for assistance came in. The busty Hokage immediately called her husband Jiraiya and Uzumaki Karin to send them to Uzu instead of Summoning Island. Several hours later Jiraiya and Karin left for Port City to hire a ship to Uzu Island. Now all Tsunade could do was wait…
…
ANBU Headquarters
Shortly after Jiraiya left ANBU Team Aka and Tayuya returned and reported into ANBU Dragon. Dragon said, "Report Team Aka."
ANBU Dove saluted. "The mission was a complete success with Uzumaki Tayuya's help. The fuinjitsu section was kept separate as ordered."
"Were there any problems with Oto ninja?" asked the ANBU Commander.
The group shook their heads. "It would appear that the Oto ninja forces have largely disbanded." replied Dove. "We met no resistance though we did se a few here and there. Chunin Tayuya theorized that their ninja forces power structure collapsed without Orochimaru there to run things."
ANBU Commander Dragon nodded. "That is good news. I'll send a preliminary report to the Hokage while you all complete your full written reports. Chunin Tayuya; stick with ANBU Gazeru. When the Sealing Team starts unpacking the Uzumaki fuinjutsu scrolls I want you on hand."
Tayuya grinned. "It will be my pleasure to get my Jiji's books and scrolls back in the right hands Commander Dragon…"
…
Chapter 55
Lightning Country, Valley of Clouds and Lightning
After thanking Kirabi and Aiko one last time; Team Kuro shot straight up the sheer cliffs of the northern mountain range. They were looking for a large cave with a waterfall coming out of it. The four travelled along the wet, vertical trail until they reached the mouth of an enormous waterfall cascading directly out of the mountains.
There were several waterfalls that fit the general description but this one was different. It was paved with granite stones and moved at a much more rapid pace than the other waterfalls due to it slanting down at a 30-degree angle. Hinata stared up into the cave and saw it was laced with chakra.
"This must be the place sensei." said the byakugan princess. "It was obviously built even though it's centuries old."
Yūgao reached out with her sensory ninjutsu and replied, "I sense the same. I have to wonder when it was built and why. From what I can see of the stone it's been polished smooth as glass by the flowing water."
The group shined their flashlights up into the cave and saw the walls were carved with runes and mosaics of what appeared to be the construction of the cave itself. "It looks like this is the overflow for some sort of vast aqueduct system from these huge pictures." said Maya.
"It also looks like it was built by slave labor." said Naruto as he pointed to an image of humans prostrated before some massive being that resembled a gigantic bird of prey. Other, larger humans were standing over the kneeling people with whips and clubs in hand.
The carvings were hard to make out on the charcoal-colored stones given it was dark except for the reflection off of the water shimmering up to the curved ceiling thirty meters above them. As the group moved along the mosaics carved into the walls and ceiling grew more and more macabre and anthropomorphic devil and demon like creatures appeared more and more frequently and humans less and less…
That's when they saw something written in the stone in very old but legible kanji:
Waiting for the end to arrive
Immortals fight to stay alive
With talons, razors, tooth and claw
We're dragged into the gaping maw…
"Well, that doesn't sound too promising." concluded Maya after reading the verse carved into the stone.
At the end of the short verse was something Naruto was pleased to see though. "An Uzumaki swirl!" he said excitedly. Going over to the symbol he sliced his palm and pressed it against the blood seal carved into the wall. When he channeled chakra into it a curious drawing emerged that had directions written on it as to what path to take through the dangerous labyrinth they were headed into.
Getting out a piece of parchment they quickly copied down the map and Hinata said, "Your ancestors my well have saved us from an awful fate with this map Naruto-kun."
"You Uzumaki never do things by halves do you?" asked Yūgao humorously. "According to this map there is a place we can rest about ten kilometers further in. Let's do our best to stay safe and dry until then."
The trip to the place simply labelled 'campsite' on the map was arduous to say the least. The river flowing through the cave was virtually impossible to water walk on due to its speed and rapid current changes in that area. Team Kuro was forces to walk upside down on the roof of the cave to avoid being pulled under by the current.
After several kilometers of travelling by walking on the walls and ceiling they came to a huge domed room with several smaller rivers feeding into the larger one. The room was about five hundred meters high and a kilometer across. The room was completely circular with a raised platform in the center that was completely flat like some kind of altar. There was a tiny hole in the roof made of quartz crystals that let light in like a natural window.
As the water was level and easier to travel upon, Team Kuro simply water walked out to the island and set up camp. The island itself was made out of granite and about ten meters across with zodiac points carved to match the constellations carved into the ceiling. It was a magnificent piece of architecture though its whole purpose was a mystery to them.
Naruto set up one of his 'campfire' scrolls and for the first time in days the group had a hot meal instead of rations. The reflection of the flames across the water refracted and reflected across the water and seemed to bathe the entire dome in crimson fire. Though it was cold the group felt good knowing they'd made it this far. They all fell into an exhausted slumber after that…
Naruto awoke with a start and found himself alone with his fiancés or Yūgao or…someone making love to him in the darkness, she whispered, "Don't worry Naruto-kun, I'll take care of you. I love you."
The woman seemed to phase in form from his sensei to Hinata to Maya and then finally into Hikari when the blonde ninja realized something was terribly wrong and that he was pinned to the ground by the woman(?) and couldn't move. She said, "I've been waiting for you Naruto-kun. I've been so, so lonely for you…"
Naruto's body suddenly burst into orange fire and grabbed the phantasm woman by the throat. His eyes were red and slitted. He said, "Dream feeder*①, burn! You won't have this one or his companions!"
The phantasm shrieked in terror and said, "N-no! You're the one called Kurama! You can't possibly be here! I have to warn the others before it's too late!"
"It's already too late for you and your minions*②!" cackled the fiery blonde. He channeled corrosive chakra through the dream feeder and vaporized her. Then he looked around at the edges of the island. Naruto had put a barrier seal up and tendrils had emerged from the water that were trying to suck the energy out of the barrier to no avail.
The blonde let out a massive pulse of Kurama's energy that burned the massive conglomeration of tendrils out of existence. The fuinjutsu barrier was still intact and he said, "Damned Uzumaki's and their infernal seals. Anyone else would have had the life sucked out of them by those minions by now. Ah well, the boy is waking up. I suppose it's past time he and I had a talk."
…
Naruto's Mindscape…
The blonde was sitting inside his mind meditating in an area that appeared to be a massive, gated prison that was absolutely colossal. He'd seen the sealing ofuda on the cage door and studied it. Naruto knew that it was a manifestation of the seal on his stomach that had been placed there on the day of his birth. Now all he had to do was wait for the Kyubi no Kitsune to make his presence known.
After what seemed like hours of meditation, Naruto felt a hot breeze and the sound of something gigantic breathing from within the cage. Naruto opened his blue eyes and saw the red eyes of the Kyubi staring back at him.
The ninja simply said, "I was wondering when you'd show up. What awoke you from your slumber?"
Kyubi sweat dropped. "The least you could do is act intimidated human."
Naruto stared unblinkingly at the ancient fox and said, "I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I'm sure you have a name other than Kyubi, will you tell me what it is?"
"I'll tell you my name if I deem you worthy of knowing it." said the fox. "Until then you will address me as Kyubi."
The blonde sighed. "Then perhaps you'll tell me what that dream feeder was and why she addressed you as Kurama?"
The nine-tails face faulted and said, "So you were conscious when she tried to molest you eh? Bah! Alright, my name is Kurama and I'll explain about the dream feeder and her minions for future reference…"
Kurama explained the nature of the dream feeder and how it seduced humans so it could feed on their life force. Naruto was less than thrilled he'd nearly been violated by an evil phantasm.
"You seem very wise Kurama." said Naruto. "I've read up on you and I don't strike me as the sort to attack others without a reason. Why would you have battled the First Hokage to begin with? I know his wife Uzumaki Mito sealed you within herself as a result."
"That's none of your concern." said Kuruma closing the subject. "This place is called the Cave of Dreams for obvious reasons given there were many dream feeders here once."
"What happened to them?" asked Naruto.
"The old man -The Sage of Six Paths- did." explained Kurama. "Ordinarily I wouldn't tell you all this but since you are following in the old man's footsteps (and my existence is on the line) I'm willing to cooperate with you."
Naruto nodded. "I guess for the sake of our mutual preservation we should become allies then Kurama. Are you willing to help me from time to time?"
Kurama sat in thought for a moment and said, "You're a strange one Uzumaki Naruto. Most humans hate and fear tailed beasts. You remind me of someone I knew long ago. Fine. For the sake of us both staying alive we shall be allies."
The ninja stood up, bowed and said, "We will talk more later then. I have to wake up."
Kurama nodded and thought, 'Ashura*③.'
…
Naruto awoke to the sight of Maya's blue eyes full of concern as she shook him awake. She smiled as her lover awoke and he kissed her hand. "Good morning Maya-hime." he said warmly.
"And good morning to you Naruto-kun." Maya replied with a smile. "Did you sleep well? I was beginning to worry you wouldn't wake up."
"I have a lot to tell you girls…" said the blonde.
…
The spent most of the morning discussing Kyubi and searching over the map of the Cave of Dreams. "So we want to quickly water walk over to the waterfall under the sign of the Tiger*④ for about twenty kilometers until we reach an actual aqueduct." said Yūgao as she looked over the map. "Then we reach a volcanic area where I presume we'll find the Winds of Fire mentioned in the poem. We've already seen the Cave of Dreams from it."
The Tiger River was a lot easier to travel than the one they'd previously been on. It was also paved but the water was slower moving and calm. Just as importantly it had stone paths along both sides of the river that made travel at high speeds much easier.
After about twenty kilometers there was a kanji for 'tree' before they reached the aqueduct proper. Maya looked up from the map and said, "Keep an eye out for a tree. It must be some kind of landmark."
Hinata stared ahead of them with wide byakugan eyes. "I've found our tree. I can see it from here."
"Really?" asked Yūgao. "That's fantastic Hinata-chan. How far ahead is it?"
"About a kilometer." answered the byakugan princess. It's just beyond that waterfall just ahead of us. The tree is so huge that the base of the trunk spans the entire river. It must be over a kilometer tall."
Team Kuro arrived at the small waterfall that marked the edge of the tree and passed through it. Then they found a huge waterfall beyond it that actually passed through the trunk of the massive tree. The small group traveled around the central tree waterfall and out into the daylight for the first time in days.
The area was verdant and filled with plants and wild animals everywhere. It was very bright but low cloud cover kept them from seeing the actual sun. Solar rays peeked in here and there though. "It's breathtaking." said Maya. "It looks like an immense tropical forest as far as the eye can see into the mists."
They all were taking in the scenery when Naruto turned around and looked behind them at the massive tree. He saw stairsteps of wood carved into the side of the tree several stories up from the ground and multiple paths and wooden suspension bridges easily big enough for a person to walk and travel upon. "Someone lives here…" said Naruto. "I wonder if they are friendly."
Hinata looked up with her byakugan and said, "I see people all right. There are also huge birds with wings like leather*⑤. I've never seen anything like them before. Some people are actually riding on them!"
That's when a geyser shot out of the ground nearby causing them all to look back down. Yūgao said, "Geysers mean volcanic activity. I wonder if the rich landscape is due to that."
Then Maya said calculatedly, "More importantly, do they have natural onsens? I could use a nice hot soak right now."
Hinata smiled. "If our mission wasn't so urgent then the idea of a vacation here would be wonderful. That is assuming the natives are friendly of course."
That's when they heard a thunderous roar in the distance and the sound of multi ton footsteps coming towards them. "Let's start up that tree Team Kuro." commanded ANBU Cat. I don't know what's coming but it's big."
ANBU Fox, Raptor and Raven all said "Hai!" and Team Kuro dashed vertically up the side of the tree to the lowest platform which was about thirty meters up. Looking back down they saw a massive lizard with rows of saber like teeth. It roared at them before turning away disappointed that an apparently easy meal had escaped.
"Well, that could have been painful." quipped Naruto. "I guess we were on the menu but escaped."
"Maybe we should think of this place more like a giant Forest of Death than a vacation spot." said Maya with a shiver. "That thing reminded me of the giant snake summons Orochimaru used."
That's when they saw several angry looking humans wielding various sharp, pointy objects and dressed in green fabric. The leader of them was a tall male that said, {"Who goes there? Who are you people?"}
Naruto face palmed and Yūgao said, "We are Konoha ninjas and we come in peace. We didn't mean to intrude but we had to escape that beast. Do you understand our language?"
{They are speaking the language of the nobles.} said a woman in the group of natives. {"I speak a little of it. Let me try."}
The apparent leader sighed. {"Go ahead Trava. I don't understand a word of it."}
The young woman said in a heavily accented version of their native tongue, "I…am Trava. You…friends…or…foes?"
We are friends." ANBU Cat replied. "We are lost."
Trava said, "Show…faces if friends."
Cat turned to the others and said, "Remove your masks team."
After Team Kuro removed their masks, Yūgao smiled softly. "See? We are friends."
The rest of Team Kuro waved politely and one of the men said with hearts in his eyes, {"They are goddesses!"}
Trava face faulted and said, {"Moron! They are probably pureblood nobles! Watch your tongue!"} "Where…you…from?" she asked in her broken Japanese.
"We are from Konoha." answered Yūgao. Pointing at herself she said, "I'm Uzuki Yūgao."
"Others…?" asked Trava.
The purple haired swordswoman replied, "This is Hyūga Hinata, Natsume Maya and Uzumaki Naruto."
Trava looked surprised. "Uzumaki…Uzu…Uzushiogakure?"
Now it was Naruto's turn to be surprised. "Uzushiogakure is my Mother's homeland."
Trava gasped and turned to the others. {"The blonde one is from the Island surrounded by Whirlpools! We must take them to the Uzu Quarter nobility at once!"}
{"You are sure Trava?"} asked the leader.
Trava nodded. {"Yes Flor. I am positive. They are nobility."}
{"Very well."} said Flor. {Tell them to follow us and no funny business."}
Nodding, Trava said, "You…follow us. No um…fighting."
Team Kuro bowed and Yūgao said, "Thank you very much Trava. We are in your care."
The native girl was shocked. {'Nobles never bow to commoners! I don't know what to say.'} "Um… You welcome."
The small group of natives took up guard positions around Team Kuro and led them up several stories to the area the Uzu nobility lived in. There stood two red haired guards that bore red Uzumaki swirls on the shoulders of their jade-colored uniforms. {"Who are these strangers Flor? More importantly; why have you brought them to the Uzu Quarter?"}
{"They are nobility."} answered Flor. {"Trava spoke to them and claims that the blonde is of Uzu descent."}
The guard turned to Naruto and said in an old-fashioned dialect, "You claim to be an Uzumaki. Prove it."
Naruto took of Shippuuhime in silence and showed the pommel of the sword to the guard. It bore the white crest of the Uzushiogakure Royal Family. The guard's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "The Royal Crest! Forgive me for doubting you Uzumaki-sama! You and your guests may pass! I beg your forgiveness for my insolence!" He prostrated himself before Naruto fully expecting the be beheaded for his trespass.
Naruto put Shippuuhime back in his shoulder strap crossed with the Kurimuzo-kougou and said, "What insolence? You were just doing your job." Seeing the man was still prostrated, the blonde added. "You are forgiven. Please stand up."
The guard slowly rose and said, "Your generosity and kindness know no bounds Uzumaki-sama! Please allow me to show you into the Uzu Quarter. I am Kenta."
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto, Kenta." said the blonde. "These are my friends Natsume Maya, Hyūga Hinata and Uzuki Yūgao. Please treat us kindly."
They were soon brought before the Uzumaki Clan head, an 16 year old black-haired, red-eyed young man named Uzumaki Menma. He was close to the Naruto's age and said haughtily. "I am Uzumaki Menma, head of the Uzumaki clan." He poured on a massive amount of killing intent that made all present save Team Kuro gasp from its intensity.
Naruto blasted Menma with so much killing intent in return that it brought the arrogant young man to his knees. Almost everyone in the room was gasping for breath and the blonde said, "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, carrier of Shippuuhime and Kurimuzo-kougou."
"The-the royal swords of Ashina-sama?" choked out one of the advisors.
Hinata said gently, "They can't handle your killing intent Naruto-kun."
Naruto ceased his killing intent and said, "I am the direct descendant of Ashina-sama and the last Prince of Uzushiogakure. I've come a long way to find the Dragon Flower to cure the Withering. I hope that you all are willing to help me."
Menma looked over at his advisor and wheezed out, "Are you telling me that he outranks me?!"
The three advisors nodded as one. "You are of the direct decent of Ashina-sama's cousin who could not complete the quest for the Dragon Flower." said the eldest advisor to Menma. "Ashina-sama and his companions completed the search for the Dragon Flower so long ago and our ancestors stayed behind because they could not make the journey back..."
The lone female advisor Michiko said, "Uzumaki Naruto-sama, has the Withering disease been raging in Uzushiogakure all this time?"
"It isn't a disease but rather a poison." said Hinata. It was thought to be wiped out but a few cases were discovered. As the Dragon Flower has gone extinct in the Elemental Nations; we came to the Land of Ōrora to find more Dragon Flowers to cultivate."
"I'm surprised to find Uzumaki Clan members out here regardless." said Naruto. "It was the last thing I expected to be honest."
"So, the people of our homeland were saved from the Withering?" asked the younger male advisor.
"Uzu survived the Withering but was destroyed many generations later when several nations gathered together to destroy Uzushiogakure out of fear of our fuinjutsu prowess." explained the blonde. "The members of the Uzumaki Clan were forced to scatter across the Elemental Nations to survive. My Mother was born in Uzu but I was born in Konoha in Fire Country."
'He is a much kinder leader than Menma could ever be.' thought the eldest advisor. "Perhaps you should stay here and reign over us Naruto-sama. There are many hundreds of us here and you are our rightful ruler."
"W-what?!" screeched Menma.
"I'm afraid that finding the Dragon Flower is far more important than ruling over others." said Naruto. "There are lives depending upon us."
"Spoken much as Ashina-sama once did." said the female advisor. "You are a credit to your forebears Naruto-sama. I believe we all could learn much from your example. Still, you all look tired from your journey. Stay a few days here in the Uzu Quarter of the Tiger Tree and we can teach you what we know of the land, yes? That way you will be at full strength when you set out again."
Team Kuro looked at each other briefly before they all nodded. Yūgao said, "Perhaps resting a few days would be for the best. Thank you for your hospitality."
…
Hours later a young woman named Uzumaki Kanna returned to the Uzu Quarter with her latest kill. She was the greatest hunter in the Uzumaki Clan and was absolutely fearless. Her outgoing, friendly personality was a shocking contrast to her miserly, arrogant twin brother Menma.
Kanna was a red-orange haired, green-eyed girl of 16 years. She mainly wore green and teal clothing with a red Uzumaki swirl on her chest*⑥. Her specialty was kunai and a Tsurugi named Kaze no Hashi (Wind Edge) that had been passed down from she and Menma's direct ancestor who served under Ashina-sama on his quest but had stayed behind due to injuries.
Theoretically the Kaze no Hashi should have gone to Menma but it refused to accept the black haired boy as his Master so it was (very controversially) passed down to Kanna who mastered it beautifully. When the redhead returned from her hunting trip, she was shocked to learn from her friends that a group of four nobles including an Uzumaki clansman had travelled up the Tiger River from the outside on some sort of mission.
That was when Kanna ran into Menma's elderly female advisor Michiko. "Ah, Kanna-sama. Have you heard the news?"
"If you mean our guests from outside the Tiger River then yes." said Kanna. "I heard one of them is an Uzumaki like us."
Michiko grinned through her squinted eyes. "Naruto-sama isn't just an Uzumaki. He's the Prince of our line and carries Ashina-sama's legendary blades."
Kanna's green eyes grew huge as she was a sword nut. "He carries the Shippuuhime and Kurimuzo-kougou?!"
Michiko sighed. "Kanna-sama; Naruto-sama is close to your age and is handsome. You should meet him. I think he would make a fine suitor for you."
The redhead cringed. "He couldn't be any worse than the weaklings that I've been with on the last few dates with…" She looked at Michiko. "Can he fight?"
The older woman shrugged and smiled. "He brought Menma-sama to his knees through pure killing intent. I nearly passed out."
Kanna brightened up. "In that case I might be interested in this Naruto-sama. Is he friendly?"
"He seems very kind and humble actually." said Michiko. "From what I've seen he is much like the legends say Ashina-sama was." She winked. "Make sure to meet him. Good ones often escape quickly you know."
The redhead nodded. "I'll give him a tour of the Tiger Tree Village…"
…
POSTSCRIPT:
*①: Dream feeder- Basically a western succubus. It is a supernatural entity in folklore, in female form, that appears in dreams to seduce men, usually through sexual activity. According to religious traditions, repeated sexual activity with a succubus can cause poor physical or mental health, even death.
*②: Minions- These are more or less mindless, instinctive creatures that live at the command of dream feeders. They absorb the chakra of living things through physical contact.
*③: Ashura- The Sage of the Six Paths son Ashura. His name has been Romanized as both Ashura and Asura depending on the source. I'm going with Ashura.
*④: Tiger- The Tiger is the third of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Tiger is associated with the Earthly Branch symbol 寅.
*⑤: Birds with wings of leather- What Hinata is seeing are giant pterodactyls.
*⑥: Kanna- Kanna's appearance and general personality are based on the character Karna from the video game Y's VIII. See the Y's Wiki.
This chapter was fun to write because I enjoy world building. I hope everyone enjoyed Kurama finally making an appearance and the inclusion of Menma. Next Chapter will probably touch on Teams 7 and 10 before we head back to Team Kuro's adventures in Ōrora. See you next time. Blue out. 5/29/23
