222. Interlude: Yugure
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Before the beginning, after the end, no path to take, no light to shine the way. A cycle that changes yet stays the same. Can’t be broken, there is nothing to break. Only </i><b><i>She </i></b><i><span style="font-weight:400">remains. - </i><b><i>█R█KE█ █NE █KT█OM-A█R██O</i></b>
<span style="font-weight:400">In the mountains of thend of lightning two strangers walked leisurely in a direction unknown. The tinkling of bells following them with each step. The sun shining unimpeded by the usual clouds that hung throughout the country illuminated their path. The pristine white cloaks with blue clouds hid their bodies from the re of the sun as did the straw hats for their heads.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Do you think she will fight?” A feminine voice flowed out from one of the strangers trying to establish a conversation with her partner.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Probably.” And so, with a simr feminine cadence to the response, the attempt died in the cradle. It had been like this for a while now, silence. Not awkward silence but notfortable either, just silence.
<span style="font-weight:400">Each step they took brought them closer to their target. A woman from Kumogakure, a ninja. One with power to make her name known throughout thend. Dirty blond hair and dark eyes with a rather pale tone of skinpared to what ismon in thend of lightning. Yugito Nii, the jinchuriki of the two tails.
<span style="font-weight:400">A few stepster and the duo stopped. They were ready and in position, soon enough their target would pass through the area and so their mission wouldmence. In truth, their objective had been long set by someone else. Not only that but the initiation of the ns would havee to pass in the future. They didn’t care, they needed this.
<span style="font-weight:400">“She is here.” The first one said, tuning slightly towards her left.
<span style="font-weight:400">“She is” The other one instead turned upwards letting the sun’s shine fall on her face. Delicate features with long straight dark blue, almost ck, hair. Her eyes, a deep purple with a strange yellow pattern on them.
<span style="font-weight:400">Momentster out of the thin forest to their left came a squad of three ninjas, one of them being their target. As expected the ninja stopped in their tracks, guard high and suspicion clear in their eyes. After all, the duo in front of them exude an aura of danger. To make matters worse they didn’t hide their chakra either, firmly cing the duo as elite jounin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Who are you?” Yugito spoke while watching the duo. Her instincts were screaming danger. As funny as it might sound, she doubted the duo being spies. No spie would act so overtly unless their mission required it. No, something told her they were here for them.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yugito Nii, jinchuriki of the Nibi” The more the stranger spoke the more Yugito felt something was wrong, really, really wrong. The feeling only intensified once she caught a nce of blood red eyes, with a strange ck pattern.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wee with an offer you WILL ept.” Not waiting any longer Yugito sent a fireball in the direction of the duo. Yet, it never got to them as the house sized fireball began shrinking until it puffed out of existence.
<span style="font-weight:400">Now not only her but her team as well felt cold sweat flowing down their backs. The strangers hadn’t even moved and yet, Yugito’s attack resulted in nothing. They got no new useful information. Things looked grim for her and her team. Thankfully, the strangers didn’t seem to be kin on attack, for now.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Your life will be in danger in the near future. A group, our counterpart, will hunt you down and those like you.” Silence, it was an ufortable silence that set every kumo-nin on edge.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And who are you?” As soon as her question was given the second stranger moved. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them once again. Her gaze squarely on Yugito added to the pressure she already felt.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We are Yugure, the dusk to akatsuki’s dawn. Not like this would mean much to you… yet.” While speaking, the woman’s gaze never left Yugito. Yugito for her part could put some of the pieces together. The first woman had said those like her. There was nothing truly special about her except for one thing. She is a jinchuriki.
<span style="font-weight:400">Now, thanks to her status it looks like two different groups were after her and the other jinchuriki’s. The question is however, what do these groups want? And so, the best thing to do now was ask. Yugito ignored the growing sense of dread she felt, the helplessness fueled by her instincts. As a kunoichi she needed to keep herself under control, she needed as much information as possible.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m sorry, but we can’t reveal our goals. Not unless you fullymit to joining us.” Once again, the red eyed woman spoke. Her words seemed careless like the tension in the air was nothing but a lie.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I will NOT be joining you.” For a moment the idea of agreeing to infiltrate the group passed through Yugito’s mind, an idea she discarded instantly. The very thought of it had sent all sorts of rms ring in her head.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A pity, looks like it will be the hard way then.” The woman with purple eyesmented almost with disinterest. Yet the instant sense of danger Yugito felt sent her into motion.
<span style="font-weight:400">An instantter Yugito got to witness how her two teammates were squashed against the ground by forces unseen. Thankfully, they looked alive if barely. However, things were not over. A re of herbat instincts honed through years of conflict sent her sideways to avoid another unseen attack.
<span style="font-weight:400">“She’s fast.” Dodging again Yugito’s gazended on the red eyed woman. Yet out of instinct once more, she avoided those eyes with a fervor ninjas only gave to the Uchiha. It was then when it clicked. Uchiha, the woman was a Uchiha. Not only that but currently there were only three Uchiha known alive. Two of them were nukenin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shit.” Yugito cursed under her breath as she continued to dodge the random unseen attacks. However, as troubling as this knowledge was, it also provided her with opportunity. Not wasting any more time Yugito mmed a smoke bomb on the ground, finally breaking the woman’s line of sight.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Smart too.” The second onemented and that was when Yugito felt her entire world turn upside down. Before she couldprehend what was happening she found herself falling towards the sky. Looking around her eyesnded on the second woman. The yellow imprint on her eyes had turned golden sometime and her gaze was firmly ced on Yugito like her partners had been.
<span style="font-weight:400">Seeing no other way out, Yugito made a decision. The next instant blue mes bursted out of her body as they coalesced in the form of a gigantic twin tailed cat. Unlike Bee, her rtionship with the Nibi wasn’t as great. Every time she transformed it would be a battle of wills. She needed to end this quickly otherwise she might lose control.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The Nibi, or should I say, Matatabi?” The Uchiha womanmented with a small smile on her face. This wasn’t important however, not in the least. What was important was the impact of her words. The Nibi’s efforts to take control redoubled, freezing both of them in ce as they fought for control.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What I said is the truth Matatabi. Akatsuki will hunt you and your siblings down. I can’t say much more than that right now. However, I can guarantee we are on your side. Afterall, Kurama is already with us.” Yugito lost control. Never in her life had Nibi fought this hard for control. It felt feral and… desperate.
<span style="font-weight:400">“HOW DO YOU KNOW THOSE NAMES!?” Nibi’s roar was apanied by a wide area attack of blue mes. mes that banished into thin air when the woman’s gazended on them.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Your sibling told them to us we-” Before the woman could continue the Nibi interrupted her with another shout and mes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Bullshit! Kurama hate’s you humans. He would never ally himself with any of you.” At that the woman with purple eyes giggled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah well, people change. He was separated into two parts. Yin Kurama’s hate for humans is pretty much gone by now. Though I could see where you areing from after meeting yang Kurama.” Now Yugito, who was acting more like a spectator at this point, felt confused. What the hell was going on?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah! Where are our manners? Let us introduce ourselves. My name is Hinata Hyuga, former Konoha ninja.” Saying that Hinata gave the Hitai-ate hung around her neck a small tug. The Konoha symbol could be clearly seen with a line crossing it out.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Right, Mine is Nozomi Uchiha, also former Konoha ninja.” Unlike Hinata, Nozomi decided to wear hers properly on her forehead.
<span style="font-weight:400">Matatabi didn’t know how to react. The two girls were too nonchnt, that coupled with the fact they knew Kurama’s name gave some credence to their words. Even so, she was having a hard time believing them.
<span style="font-weight:400">“If that is the case, why isn’t Kurama here?” All Bijus could feel when another one of them was nearby. The fact she couldn’t feel Kurama anywhere near made her wary of the girls.
<span style="font-weight:400">However, the answer the two gave her solidified her opinion. The duo were telling the truth… mostly at least.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, that. Well… let me quote “No thank you, I much rather stay here and nap than bother with that” end quote. So yeah, thezy fox couldn’t be bothered withing along.” Of course they could also have asked Shukaku and Gaara but to tell the truth, they wanted to know how they would do by themselves.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see, in that case I agree.” That was the moment when Yugito finally broke from her confusion and began wrestling back for control. Like she would let whoever these two are take her away.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Looks like Yugito disagrees, let me help.” Before Yugito could do anything her sight was taken by a pair of bright crimson eyes. Out of instinct she began to re her chakra trying to break away from whatever genjutsu had been cast on her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What did you do?” Matatabi asked with curiosity, clear in her tone. A moment ago she had been struggling with Yugito for control and the next Yugito fell silent as soon as their eyes met the Uchiha’s eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Genjutsu, a rather powerful one. She won’t be able to break it by herself.” Funnily enough, Nozomi isn’t all that much of a fan of genjutsu. Her eyes however, make using it a rather simple matter. Of course she wouldn’t be able topete with Itachi in this regard. However,pared to others she could still be considered a genjutsu master.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shall we go?” With a nod Matatabi’s form changed back to that of Yugito. However, it could clearly be seen that she is still in control of the body as Yugito’s eyes weren’t their usual dark color but instead one green and the other yellow.
<span style="font-weight:400">Before the trio left, Hinata took a few moments to heal the poor kumo-nin that had been injured by Nozomi’s attack. Most of the damage was internal from having the force of gravity suddenly increased on them. After that the trio set off.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Say Matatabi, would you like a humanoid body of your own?” Hinata, a bit bored, decided to initiate a conversation. She wanted to know what would be Matatabi’s reaction. Not only that but she wanted to see her reacting to her brother now sister.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Why do you ask? It isn’t possible anyway.” As she said that Matatabi looked towards the duo. Their smug expressions made her doubt what she had thought would be obvious.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Is it?” As she questioned her own affirmation the duo’s smile grew into smug grins instead.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, your brother already has one.” Nozomi, understanding Hinata’s intentions, decided to y along. She too would enjoy seeing Matatabi’s expression once she met Kurama.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Huh, well, I have never given it much thought. I guess I wouldn’t mind.” Like that the trio continued making small talk as they walked. Soon enough they were met with the sight of a quinjet waiting to pick them up.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What is this contraption? It looks… weird.” Shrugging, the duo came aboard alongside Matatabi as they left for Yggdrasil.
<span style="font-weight:400">A few hourster Matatabi found herself unable to think. Her jaw wide open as her mind worked extra hard to make sense of the scene in front of her. Surprise after surprise followed as soon as she saw the frankly ridiculously sized tree. However, this took the cake.
<span style="font-weight:400">“K-Kurama?” Matatabi wanted to believe it a lie. She wanted to believe that the woman currently drinking merily was nothing more than Kurama’s jinchuriki. Her senses were telling her otherwise.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm? Who?... M-Matatabi?” After turning around Kurama felt dread. Sure, Shukaku was already aware of her new… tendencies and her other sibling would know in due time. She however, didn’t expect for Matatabi to find out like this.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Is that really you?” Matatabi was still having a hard time believing her own eyes. For starters, why was Kurama a woman? Why was she drinking merily with a bunch of humans and above all else…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Kurama? Is she another one of your girlfriends?” Mina who was currently rather drunk said with a sultry tone as she began licking Kurama’s neck seductively. It didn’t help that the only thing currently hiding her breasts was her ck bra nor the fact Kurama’s left hand was under said bra.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I… uh… can exin?” Hearing that Matatabi’s brain finished rebooting enough to give her a disbelieving look. In her centuries of life she had never, ever, thought she would see Kurama of all bijus interloping with a human.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah? How so?” Matatabi expected many things. She expected Kurama to act defensive. Maybe try and act like nothing ever happened. Hell, she was ready for -him?- to try and act like he still hated humans, instead she heard somethingpletely different.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Okay so… I me Tomoka, and those two as well.” Kurama said while pointing towards Hinata and Nozomi who couldn’t contain theirughter anymore.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What?” Yeah, Matatabi’s brain entered into another session of rebooting as she tried and failed toprehend what was going on.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Have a flesh and bone body, they said, it will be fine, they said. Well, guess what? This body came with its own set of needs and instincts!” Kurama began ranting, she had a love-hate rtionship with her new body. She loved the pleasures of the flesh, good food, sleep, sex, oh she definitely loved sex.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Trust me, you won’t understand no matter how hard I try to exin unless you get your own.” Kurama’s grumbling came to an end as Mina moved from kissing and licking her neck to doing the same to her lips.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I uh…” Before Matatabi could get her thoughts into words she was interrupted by Nozomi.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So? Are you interested in a body of your own?” Hearing the question Matatabi began thinking. She was having a hard time deciding until she gave Kurama a nce. The fox was currently smiling as she kept exchanging kisses with Mina. She definitely looked happy, content even.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes.” With her mind made, Matatabi condemned herself to a life of leisure and happiness. Not like she knew that.