When Forces Collide

Prologue

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or Naruto

“Can’t you do anything right?” A harsh female voice said, criticising another. “You had two chances, why should I trust you further?”

“Shitabininaru, I never imagined that Seiryoku and Mamushi would even recognise each other in their current forms.” The other female said. “I never imagined that…”

“Enough of your excuses!” Shitabininaru thundered. “Both Akatsuki and Chimamirehisakata were your ideas, and both failed miserably. Your theory was sound, but in practice it fell around your ears. You even had to kill your own people to cover your mistakes with the nine-tailed fox’s pup!” There was a sound of movement. “Maybe that is why Seiryoku is so successful. He has a partner with intelligence, where as I have a fool.”

“I think that was a little harsh.” Another voice said. “By rights you’re supposed to be the most intelligent of us all. “

“Shut up, Sakana.” A moment later and a fire flickered to life. The woman with the harsh voice moved closer to the flames, showing off her golden eyes. “She can’t even out-smart Mamushi, and he only has one head, two if you include his host, which is also his only descendant.” She pushed the hood of her cloak off her head, showing off her blonde hair. “Let’s see if my plan works any better. Her eyes moved to the captives who lay bound on the floor. “Poor children,” She said. “Placing all your trust in that group was only going to cause you problems in the end.”

Shitabininaru’s laughter reverberated off of the walls of the cavern.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The group returned back to Konoha, and the moment that they entered the gates, Kurama grabbed Orochimaru’s arm, and the Sannin knew exactly what was coming. “Tell me what you meant when you mentioned this Uwabame and Shitabininaru.” Kurama said as the rest of the group went their separate ways. “You said that you’d tell me.” Orochimaru dragged Kurama back to their home. “Orochimaru, this is scaring me.”

“It should.” The hissing voice of Mamushi said. “Fear is a good approach to take with Tsundora, Tsume, Sakana, Hinote, Denkou, Naosu, Maboroshi, Uwabame and Shitabininaru. Take care around them all, but especially Uwabame and Maboroshi. I know that if I were them, I’d aim directly for you and Sasuke because you belong to me and Seiryoku respectively.” The green eyes widened. “They probably already know that we’re… romantically involved, or rather you are with my descendant-host. This means that you’re a prime target for them.”

“I can understand about Uwabame, but this Maboroshi…” Kurama started before he was pushed into a wall. “Mamushi!”

“I mean it!” Mamushi said. “From now, don’t trust anyone unless you have determined just who they are. Maboroshi is named that for a reason.” A hand caressed Kurama’s face. “Both Orochimaru and myself are very protective over you.” The voice went back to being gentle. “I’m telling you this because I’m honestly worried about you. “I know that you can handle yourself, however you’re mine.” Mamushi moved closer to the kitsune. “I need you to be fine and to stay that way. That means no falling for any tricks, understand?” By then Mamushi was pressed against Kurama, and Kurama could feel the fox inside him stirring.

‘Let me out.’ Youko said. ‘Shuichi, let me out, let me speak with him.’ Then came something that Kurama had never thought to hear from his other half. ‘Please.’ The more human side allowed the kitsune out.

Mamushi quickly matched the other’s height. “So you’ve finally decided to come out.” The snake said. “I’m glad, Youko Kurama.” The name was purred as Mamushi took a couple of steps back to admire the kitsune. “It’s much nicer seeing you in the flesh, kitsune. Orochimaru’s view didn’t do you enough justice. He said that you were handsome, what he didn’t say was that you were hot enough to melt butter.” The moment that it was said, the Orochi knew that it was the wrong thing, however it made the kitsune smile.

“Trust a snake to come up with a poor chat-up line.” Youko said, as he also looked the snake over. “Such a pity that you don’t seem to be able to choose your own form.”

“As if I’d choose to be uncomfortable.” Mamushi said. “Anyway I thought that you would rather a hand tough you than a coil of a snake wrapped around you.” A hand stroked Youko’s cheek before moving into the kitsune’s hair. “I can’t help but wonder, is your fur as sleek and soft as your hair?” Youko gave a small smile before pressing against the snake. A hand pushed a lock of hair away from a pierced ear and he laid his head next to that ear.

“Why don’t you stick around for a while, maybe you’ll find out, Mamushi.” Youko whispered before he caught the ear between his teeth. A moment later and the redhead was back in charge.

“Youko wanted me to tell you that he didn’t intend to fall into any traps, nor was he planning on letting me do so either.” Kurama said, his face pressed against Mamushi’s body. “Youko means it, and I think that he… that he likes you.”


“Uchiha Sasuke stop.” Seiryoku commanded, the unusual tone bringing Sasuke to a halt. “I thought that Mamushi would have explained the situation to everyone, but he didn’t. I need to tell you what he didn’t, now let us go back to your place where we can have some privacy.” Sasuke just nodded as he followed the kitsune back to his own home.

“Now what do you need to tell me?” Sasuke asked. “Why couldn’t this be said earlier?”

“Patience, my Uchiha.” Seiryoku said. “This isn’t something that can be cleared up at a second’s notice.” He gripped the Uchiha’s wrist. “Sasuke, you could be in danger. With the arrival of that Snake in the village it meant that Uwabame was back. Uwabame is more terrifying than Mamushi could ever be. Last time, before peace settled down, there was a fight between my tailed kin and Shitabininaru’s headed kin. When Mamushi fought Uwabame that time, he defeated her and removed the Kusanagi from her body to permanently weaken her, taking it inside himself to augment his own powers.” The Kyuubi sighed. “Unfortunately this gives Mamushi, and thereby Orochimaru, a slightly unpredictable nature because the sword was Uwabame’s originally.”

“Orochimaru’s defection.” Sasuke said. “The fact that he turned against Konoha?”

“Precisely. However since his return, it’s as though something has changed within the snake. I have never sensed the same unpredictability that he had before. Somehow, after all these centuries, I believe that Mamushi has control over the Kusanagi, and has it bending to his will.” Seiryoku said. “It is as though he has returned to his old self, as if nothing has happened. However that isn’t all. There is something that I need to show you. Something that will explain all this better than anything else, follow me.”

Seiryoku led the Uchiha into the forest, the pair moving silently until Seiryoku stopped Sasuke. A wave of demonic energy was exuded from the beast and a shrine seemed to materialise before them. “Please, enter.” Seiryoku said to Sasuke. “You’ll find some more answers in there.”

With trepidation, the Uchiha entered the shrine. It looked small on the outside, however on the inside it was massive. Sasuke walked down the steps and the cavern below was even larger. At the far end Sasuke could see an altar standing, and he walked over to it. While he did so, he was sure that he could feel many pairs of eyes follow him, but when he looked, there was nothing there. He ascended the steps to the altar and there, before him, laid an open scroll. Slowly Sasuke’s eyes moved over the contents:

‘The great gods looked upon the world of chaos caused by the God of the Gates to two other worlds. To them, the chaos was not right and with much pain unto them, they divided the God of the Gates into eighteen pieces. Unto nine of them, they provided the spirit of order, and unto the other nine, they provided the spirit of chaos.

The eighteen spirits took unto them different forms, the forms of animals, with different numbers of tails or heads to explain how close they are to true divinity, with the power lying in the strength of the kitsunes and the cunning of the orochis.

It is said that to bind the nine chaos or nine order shall open the gates to a world once sealed.’

“You’ve seen the reason why we fight.” Seiryoku said as he followed Sasuke up the steps. “However we are all evenly matched, that was why we all created Kekkai Genkais, then we sowed them into selected families, as I did the Sharingan into the Uchiha Clan.” A clawed hand grabbed one of Sasuke’s hips. “However I am curious as to how well my gift is working. I think that I need to test it out sometime, Uchiha Sasuke.”

The youngest Uchiha faced the fox. “What?” He squeaked. He just got a grin from the Kyuubi.

“You heard me, my mate-to-be.” Seiryoku said, pulling the Uchiha against him. “You’re mine, and you better perform when I want you to do so. Now, let’s leave, I want to seal this back up.”