guardian of the storm | ✓

Chapter Thirty Five - Feral

~Chapter Thirty-Five~

Winter had never felt more alive.

The red lightning that had struck her and Jafar head on rejuvenated her. Her heartbeat was stronger then ever, her chakra reserves had never been so vast, and all in all she'd never felt more powerful. It was as if that small, aching, hollow part of her that was always missing had finally been found. She was only worried about one thing, well to be more accurate, one person. Eien. She couldn't sense his chakra at all, and that worried her to no end. He wasn't dead, she knew that much, and she suspected she'd be the first one to know if he had died. So where on Earth was he?

Jafar stood off to the side was Winter stood up, his clothes singed but other then that he was alright. He watched her twist her hands in fascination, a mixture of red and white lightning racing along her lower arms. He was quite certain that she would've continued to play with her newfound lighting if the barrier had been set off.

Within seconds the clouds overhead turned pitch black, lightning racing everywhere to form an always shifting net, hissing with hostile energy. Winter froze before her face hardened, her hands dropping to her sides. Her lightning disappeared and she looked over at Jafar. Exchanging nods the white haired male quickly understood what she wanted him to do. Rounding up the Storm Shinobi, they began to make their way to the housing centre. For someone was trying to get through the storm barrier, and Winter didn't want anyone finding out she was training an army.

Dashing through the town she heads to the area of disruption, her hands weaving signs as she summons a cloak, putting it on and fastening it. Pulling the hood up she skids to a stop in front of the rippling storm barrier. Quietly exiting the barrier she appears on the outside, blending into the shadows in the woods. Climbing the tree she set out on her way, determined to get rid of the nuisances that tried to get into her village.

***

Sakura winced as the barrier turned even darker. She hadn't meant to trigger any alarm, but she couldn't think of anywhere else Winter would be. The air chilled and Sakura felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand at attention. A harsh wind blew a black cloak out to the side, the hood hiding the upper half of a face she'd long since memorized. A face that she'd been searching for, standing directly behind her.

"Winter."

She breathed out the ex-Konoha ninja's name, turning to look at her. She'd changed, Sakura could sense it, she'd become even colder and... she suppressed a shiver, so much more powerful. Winter's very presence demanded respect, and intimidation had apparently become her second nature. Sakura felt as if she was staring at a complete stranger.

Yamato was instantly on alert for he didn't know how to feel about a former Konoha ninja who hadn't been labeled as a rogue, even though she'd defected from the village.

Karui, if she was being honest, was in a state of uncertainty and awe. For one, this was the girl that Tsunade had chose to take on the first joint mission in ages? Secondly, she looked younger than Karui herself. Finally, Karui could sense the restless chakra within the girl's body. An ever shifting mass of electricity begging to be released.

Even Temari, who'd been present when Winter had crashed the Kage Summit, could sense the sudden shift in the teenager.

"Sakura." Winter greeted the pink haired kunoichi coldly, her gaze flickering over the other shinobi present. A light frown graces her lips. "You brought ninja's from other villages here." Her eye narrowed in on Temari before flashing with recognition. She then looked at the other stranger— a dark skinned young woman with long, spiky red hair, and amber colored eyes. Winter subtly sniffed the air and could feel her own lightning react in response to the woman. That meant she must be a Lightning shinobi.

Sakura shifted nervously. "Well you see, the Five Kage sent us here. Would you mind listening to the message I have for you?" Something about this new Winter set her on edge. There was something there that wasn't there before. Winter had always had a more rural feel to her, but now she just came off as wild; the untamed, chaotic, sort of wild.

"Very well. What do you have to say to me?"

The pink haired teenager took a deep breath before launching into the message. "We need your help. The Fourth Great Ninja War has been set into motion. All the nations are under a threat from a masked man who claims to be Madara Uchiha. He has an army of nearly 100,000 and Kabuto helping him. Kabuto has perfected a jutsu that reanimates the dead. Plus Tsunade has reason to believe that a third party may enter on the side of the Akatsuki, a mysterious organization named Scepter Eight." Sakura looks at her as she says her next words slowly. "And Tsunade has reason to believe that Inazuma Kuro, your old sensei, faked her death and is now working for Septor Eight."

An uncontrolled fury rushed through Winter's veins and she straightened up all the way. She stalked towards Sakura. "You dare make the accusation that Ina-sensei faked her death and is now working for a criminal organization?" Acid laced each word, Winter's overwhelming presence growing. "First you bring complete strangers to the entrance of the Storm Village, then you ask for my help even though I've made it very clear that I am done with the Leaf Village, and now you're saying my sensei, who was murdered by Sasuke Uchiha, is alive?" Her voice is deadly calm, barely containing the storm she wished to release. Her body hummed with energy, too much energy, and she felt agitated beyond belief for no specific reason.

She need to release this energy, before she hurt someone.

Red lightning flashes in the sky and strikes a nearby tree, making it burst into flames. Rain pours from a section of the sky, putting the fire out as soon as it started. Winter's jaw is clenched as she struggles to reign in the lighting, sweat beading on her forehead.

"Winter please, that is just information. We really need you. Look this war is to protect Naruto, Madara's after him and won't stop unless we make him stop. Join us."

She pressed her eye close and took a deep breath. "The last time I was asked to do something by the Kage, I was placed on a suicide mission. I have done my part in this world. I am done with you Great Nations and large villages. Tell Tsunade and the other Kage, my answer is no." Her body felt like it was on fire and she could feel the lightning pushing against her, wanting to strike the people around her.

Sakura frowned, "But-"

"I said no!" Without warning lighting struck the ground next to Sakura, the ground smoldering. Sakura felt the color drain from her face, her jade eyes widening in shock. The collar of her Jonin jacket was smoking just barely and she could taste electricity in her mouth. She stared at Winter, a mixture of horror and betrayal on her face. If that lightning had hit her, she would've died.

"Leave." Winter's jaw is clenched, her hands curling into fists, sweat sliding down her face. Her voice is so hollow that the others take a step back. "Now, before I make you leave." She stares at nothing in particular, a storm flickering in her eyes.

Perhaps it was the storm brewing overhead, or the fact that her lighting was alternating between red or white, or the battle going on within herself, or just that Winter seemed so... feral, that made the four shinobi hurry away. They followed Sakura as she ran down the mountain, and once they reached the base they felt the ground tremble beneath their feet. Still they didn't look back, even as the mountain become shrouded in black clouds as lightning relentlessly struck the ground again and again. 

There was only one thought circulating in Sakura's head as she hurried away from the stranger. 

Winter finally lost control. 

sorry for the late update, but I only have two days of school left so expect more regular updates :) I hope you guys liked this chapter!

NOTICE: I have started to rewrite my Akatsuki fanfic and it is called "Of Criminals and Shinigami". I'm really excited about it because I have some epic plans for that fanfic. It could technically be considered a spinoff of this book since Sia is the main character :)

QotC - Why do you think Winter is losing control over her Kekkai Genkai? There's a reason for it that was hinted at a few chapters earlier.