Chained Beast 2.0 (Naruto Quest)

"We shall go to the Land of Sound," you decided. It was rather close and if there was truly a new village, they couldn't say no to someone of your caliber!

"Okay. So, there is a problem though-"

"What is it?" you barked, cutting off Akio.

"Well. Um. I dunno where the Otogakure actually is. So...." Akio trailed off, looking rather scared of your reaction.

"It is of no issue, I'm sure I can find them easily enough," you confidently stated. With your Byakugan, not much could hide from your sight after all! You and Akio quickly raided the town for supplies before heading off northward. There was a feeling of excitement burning in your chest, you finally were making some progress and you shed some blood. It was like an annoying itch that was finally scratched, but you knew it would come back soon. For now however, you were content...

---

It had been several days since you and Akio had left the town and according to the map, you had entered the Land of Sound. Now came the issue of actually finding the damn village. You and Akio were walking through a large plain, you were holding the dagger firmly by the handle. You didn't know if anyone would attack or not, but you'd be damned if they caught you unaware. In fact, you had been practicing using your improved sight. Simple exercises like trying to see as far as you could and getting used to immense scope of your vision.

Also during this trip, you asked Akio if he had any meaningful ideas on how to train, but he was worthless in that regard. You were already tiring of him rather quickly. After a few more miles of walking, you stopped and growled at Akio, "This is a waste of my time! Where is the Otogakure?!"

"I don't know! I just know they have ties to the underworld! Please don't kill me!" Akio begged.

"Worthless..." you snarled, but you didn't torment him farther. It wouldn't do anything anyway. You closed your eyes (still being aware of your surroundings due to the Byakugan) and began to think.

How will you find the Otogakure?

[] Continue searching the Land of Sound. You can't afford more people to know about you, and your Byakugan will help find any hidden village.

[] Find the closest town and search for information. Wandering around the countryside will only let the Leaf have more time to find you.

[] Send Akio out to scout for information. You have a minion, why risk yourself?

[] Cause some mayhem! Kill people and set fires until the Otogakure hears of you!

[] Something else? (Write In)

This is a Public Service Announcement.

We here at Pyroverse Enterprises are all about tearing down the sacred cows Kishimoto has set up if they do not benefit the greater narrative (or if I did it first and the official explanation revealed later is way lamer, but I digress). The only problem is that some times these sacred cows are so ingrained in our minds that it becomes difficult to see them for the problems they are. So a random work thought has made this change, which is effective immediately for all Pyroverse Enterprises quests and significant enough of a change to tell everyone about:

The canon elemental wheel sucks.

Mainly, the huge issue is lightning beating earth for some reason. Earth grounds lightning. Sure, some lightning jutsu can pierce things real good, but all of them? No way. Wouldn't it make more sense for Kakashi to develop Chidori to counter earth users? As far as I can tell, lightning beating earth was done solely so Sasuke could defeat Deidara. This is bad writing, and it really doesn't show up that often afterward.

So our new wheel looks like this. Only this is a line:

Fire > Wind > Earth > Lightning > Water > Fire

Fire is still fed by wind and water still extinguishes fire. Wind now has that powerful cutting combined with its natural eroding properties to hack away at earth, as shown when Asuma threw some wind-infused knives through a tree and into stone. Earth beats lightning by grounding it, though a select few techniques have piercing properties. And then lightning beats water in a similar way that fire "beats" wind in that water conducts electricity. Yes, pure water doesn't, but I don't see water chakra being crystal clear. Of course, every element still has a way of countering or working around their natural weakness.

So do keep this in mind for any future element situations.

"I can't let more people know about me," you muttered.

"To be fair...I don't even know your name..." Akio whispered to himself, but you managed to hear him. You shot a furious glare at him (through the blindfold) and unleashed your killing intent, leaving him cowering on the ground. You didn't follow up as he was still...sorta useful, but he was on very thin ice.

"We will continue to search the land, I have no doubt I will find what I'm looking for," you said, walking away from Akio. It took him several minutes to recover and follow you, but you didn't care. You just wanted to find the Otogakure...

---

You were nearly at a breaking point. It had been three days since you started your search for the Otogakure and all you had to show for it was nothing but exhaustion! You couldn't find a single hint of a village, not even with the Byakugan at your disposal and it frustrated you that your tiny host body couldn't cover the land in record time like your old body! You would surely get revenge on that damned Leaf for doing this to you...!

You felt a headache form which only increased your irritation. Right now, you and Akio were in a small wooded area, presumably on the outskirts of the Land of Sound. Akio had made a campfire and was cooking a rabbit you had hunted earlier. You paced around the area, trying to think of what to do next. Perhaps you should have tried to get information? But your thoughts were cut short when in the distant edges of your Byakugan, you saw someone calmly walking to where you were!

"There's someone coming!" you barked at Akio. He nodded and you told him to hide behind a tree the person would no doubt pass by. When the person got close enough, you made a signal and Akio came rushing out, attempting to strike the person over the head with his club! With inhuman smoothness and speed, the person merely flicked his wrist. A moment later, Akio fell to the ground, a kunai buried deep into his throat.

"You bastard...!" you growled, now getting a good look at the man. He had long black hair and chalk white skin, his snake-like eyes were a piercing yellow and had purple markings around them.

"Now, now. I didn't come here to be violent," the man spoke. "I am merely curious as to why a Hyuga has been seen wandering the Land of Sound. Aren't you a bit far away from home?"

"Have you been spying on me?" you wearily asked, gripping your dagger. Although in the back of your mind, you knew whoever this was, he was highly superior to any human you have seen since being freed.

"Something like that," the man replied, a touch of amusement in his voice. "You're no mere runaway, I can tell."

"Get to the point!" you snarled. "How do you know this bod- I mean how I'm a Hyuga?!"

"I was only guessing until you told me." the man chuckled ominously. You bared your teeth at him but your threats weren't working in the slightest. He took a step forward but you stood your ground and brought up the dagger.

"Take another step and I'll kill you!" you viciously said, pointing the dagger at him. You unleashed a burst of killing intent at the man, but he merely chuckled and shook his head.

"Bold words from someone who isn't even trained. I can see you have potential though. Though tell me, why are you here? I'm sure if you were running away from the Land of Fire you wouldn't stay around one of its neighbors..." the man trailed off. "Were you looking for something?"

You grit your teeth. He didn't seem too bad so far, he hasn't made a direct move on you at least. You didn't take your eyes off him as you said, "I am looking for the Otogakure. Are you a shinobi there?"

"Oh...how interesting. I am more than a mere shinobi of the Sound, I am it's leader, Orochimaru." the man said.

"You lead the Sound? How can you prove this?" you asked cautiously.

"Heh...how about I lead you to the Otogakure itself? That should be proof enough," Orochimaru said. He took another step forward and extended his hand.

"Fine. But if you are tricking me, then I will kill you," you said.

"Have no fear, I have no intention of misleading you...ah. I do not have your name yet. Would you mind sharing it...?" Orochimaru asked.

"..."

You honestly didn't trust Orochimaru, but he was your only lead to the Otogakure. You'd merely play along to see if he is being honest. But for your name...you could use your real name of course, but would that be smart? Your host's name...what was it again? Hinata? That could work, and still technically be the truth...if anyone cared.

What will your answer be?

[] You see no harm in calling yourself Kurama. No human alive should know your real name anyway.

[] Call yourself Hinata. Revealing your true name might cause issues.

[] How about...Kurata? A mix of both names...

[] Make up a new name. He doesn't deserve to know anything about you. (Write In, keep the names Japanese. Obviously a female name would work better but Kurama don't give a shit.)