Chapter One (Beta'd by KarasuG)
[AU] Who was Naruto Uzumaki? A beloved shinobi of the Leaf? A Martyred Jinchuriki? The Child of Prophecy? The Son of the 4th Hokage? It mattered little to him now, the only memories he had were of his time in the Akatsuki and of 'her' beautiful face... Rated M for violence/ lemons. NaruXTayu. Akatsuki Naruto. Sharingan Naruto. Beta'd by KarasuG.
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DAZE C1
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"Naruto... Uzu-... maki?" The boy looked at his hand. Confused. The harsh toxins in the air and the interior lighting turning his normally sun-kissed skin a sickly yellow.
"Yes that's you stupid, don't tell me you forgot your own name?" Naruto turned to face the red-haired girl. A Sense of familiarity overcoming his mind.
"T-Tayuya right?" he croaked out, needing some water. He's been out for too long and he couldn't properly speak.
"So you do remember me?" He grabbed his head, pain overcoming his senses. Tayuya could see his azure eyes take a pained expression.
"Yes I do I- I mean I think I do." As he was struggling with the pain a man hiding in the shadows decided to finally make himself known. He had very pale skin and green, snake-like eyes.
"It's so nice of you to return to me Naruto-kun…" the man said with a wide grin, "Now I won't have to hunt you down anymore," he said, licking his lips like a snake in front of it's prey.
"You- You're Orochimaru right?" gasped Naruto. Orochimaru smirked. He's always been too over-confident, thought Naruto.
"So you do remember me, Naruto-kun?" asked Orochimaru as Naruto shook his head.
"No- but Sasori told me about you." Orochimaru looked at him with squinted eyes. His interest peaked. Akasuna no Sasori was his former partner in the Akatsuki. Before he betrayed them.
"Sasori huh, and what did he say about me, pray tell?" said Orochimaru as in a blink of an eye Naruto vanished and Orochimaru was pinned against the hideouts wall. Surprised by Naruto's speed.
Naruto smirked, dropping his act and brandishing a kunai. "He told me…" said Naruto, as he put the kunai to Orochimaru's throat and slashed it across, blood flying in the dark room...
"To kill you on sight!"
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Three Years Earlier
Naruto scratched his blonde mop of hair yawning as the sun shone down on him warmly. "Can't wait to start the day off right with Ichiraku Ramen!" He jumped in excitement earning ired looks from some nearby villagers.
Shrinking down he continued walking towards the shop. He ruffled through his precious Gama-Chan and pulled out a set of bills, "300, 500, 700 Ryo!"
He raised his fist excitedly.
"I can order the deluxe today!"
He took off running narrowly avoiding crashing into passing pedestrians.
As he arrived at the ramen shop he saw a familiar face entering the store. "Shikamaru?" The boy shrugged lazily. "I eat too."
Naruto chuckled. "You want to eat together?" Shikamaru nodded sleepily. Naruto opened the papier doors the smell of fresh cooked ramen wafting out. He began to drool slightly. "Teuchi-ojisan I'm here!"
The old man turned smiling. "Ah Naruto you're here early." He said as Naruto smiled excitedly. "I've got a big mission today so I need a good breakfast."
Shikamaru waved. "I'm here too."
Ayame ran out an wrapped Naruto in a half hug earning a blush. "Good Morning Naruto-kun! I've missed you, you should drop in more often!"
Naruto smiled. "Morning Ayame! I try to but I've been busy with missions!" He sat on a stool and pulled up a menu. "What'll it be today?"
Naruto began going over the menu thinking of all the delicious food he was gonna get. "I'll have three orders of Miso and one Miso Deluxe!"
Shikamaru yawned. "And I'll have a shrimp." Ayame nodded and wrote down their orders heading back to the kitchen to relay them. A few minutes later she came out with three piping hot bowls of ramen.
Naruto's eyes sparkled with joy. 'Thank you Kami!' He pulled chopsticks from the paper container and broke them. "Itadakimasu!"
He began digging into the golden noodles with ravenous fervor. Shikamaru looked at him amused while munching leisurely on his noodles. When he was done Ayame brought out two more bowls which he proceeded to devour.
She turned to Shikamaru. "Would you like another bowl?" He shook his head. "No, Thank you I have to go prep for a mission." He waved before turning and slinking away.
Naruto said a hast goodbye with ramen still in his mouth before returning his attention to it. When he was done eating he set his bills on the counter thanking them for the meal and excusing himself.
He headed out to the training ground where his team was supposed to meet. When he arrived he saw the familiar faces of his teammates beaming back at him. "Sasuke, Sakura!" He ran up to them earning an annoyed look from Sasuke and a sigh from Sakura.
"Naruto-baka you're late again!" Sakura chastized him her bubblegum hair flowing in the wind. "Well I figured Kakashi sensei always is so why rush."
She sighed. 'Can't fault his logic.'
Sasuke turned to her. "So what was this mission we're on anyway?" Sakura looked at him surprised that he would ask her. "What?" He looked irritated.
"Kakashi sensei briefed you didn't he?" She remembered the previous day he had bumped into her and handed her a mission scroll before running off in a hurry.
"Oh yeah, something about a caravan being raided by bandits." Naruto looked on curiously.
"Why would that be important enough for us to rush here last minute?" He asked furrowing his eyebrows, seeming to be in deep thought.
She shrugged. "I guess we'll find out when sensei gets here."
As if summoned by name Kakashi poofed in behind them and began with his daily excuse about why he was late, "Sorry I'm late I-" He was quickly cut off by the shouts of his angry little genin.
"You're late!" Kakashi sweatdropped before regaining his composure. Everyday it was the same thing, he enjoyed it though. It reminded him of the Team 7 before this one. The one that consisted of Minato sensei, Obito, Rin, and himself. This wasn't the time to be reminiscing on good times though.
"Anywho about the mission..." He said as he pulled out a mission scroll from his pocket. Sakura's eyes widened slightly.
"That's an A rank scroll, the one you gave me was a B rank right?" He nodded, adjusting his pouch so it wouldn't get in the way.
"The details were received last minute. It turns out that the bandits we're after are being led by an associate of Orochimaru." Their eyes widened at the name. Sasuke and Naruto growled clenching their fists.
Sakura shifted her small feet, nudging her shirt nervously. "But sensei is it really a good idea for us to go on this mission... you know considering..." She left it hanging at that but it was obvious what she was trying to implore.
Sasuke turned and glared at her. "Sakura, if you're trying to get us to back out. Forget it!" he spat, he tightened his grip on his armband in frustration his knuckles pale with a hint of red.
Kakashi eye smiled trying to alleviate the situation. "Now now kids no need to worry. The man we're after is just a small fry. We're not expecting anything more than a quick fight. If you could even consider it one… just in case though, we've got backup."
As he said that Asuma and his team rounded the corner to the training field.
"Ah Asuma here already?" The man smirked taking a puff from his cigarette. "Not everybody is chronically late Kakashi." Naruto saw Shikamaru and smiled.
"So that's the mission you were talking about, who knew?" Shikamaru grumbled, trying his best to sound sarcastic. "In truth I was sent to make sure you arrived on time you always were…troublesome." he said as everyone laughed.
Naruto was hurt that they wouldn't trust him to get here on time. He let it go though, always quick to forgive. "I'll show you I'll kick ass on this mission and you'll all be begging me to be Hokage!" He smirked raising his fist to the sky. "After all I am Naruto Uzumaki, the one who's going to become the greatest Hokage ever!"
Sakura facepalmed. 'Classic Naruto.'
Kakashi cleared his throat, grabbing the attention of everyone. "Not to ruin the moment but this is a matter of urgency. Pack up your belongings or anything else you might need on the mission. We'll meet at the village gates in 15 minutes."
They all nodded and vanished to grab their stuff.
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Meanwhile Somewhere in Kusagakure (Grass Country)
"The trap is set Orochimaru sama. We've captured one of the Fire Daimyo's personal caravan's. We also let one escape to send news to the leaf."
Orochimaru nodded, grinning evilly. His plans would come to fruition soon.
"Well done Tamashi you have served me well." he said.
He snapped his fingers and four figures hopped from the ceiling.
"Sakon, Kidomaru, Jirobo, Tayuya. You know what to do and I expect you guys to succeed!" he said as he disappeared into the ground.
"Hai Orochimaru sama!" They all said in unison as they moved out to complete their mission.
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Back In Konohagakure no Sato
Naruto grabbed his travel bag tossing extra clothes and some of his 3-minute cup ramen inside. He made sure to include a few essentials such as water and flints.
"I can't believe I get to go on an A rank, and so soon after the last one!" said our favorite blonde hero, Naruto Uzumaki. He tossed his pack over his shoulder. Locking his door he hopped out the window and began hopping from roof to roof heading towards the gates.
He arrived at the gates shortly before the rest of them and waited, bored.
A few minutes later Kakashi arrived with the rest of them and he turned to the two groups and spoke, "Okay the mission is to head to Kusa. Free the trapped caravan and capture the subject alive."
Shikamaru raised his hand. "What about the bandits."
Kakashi's lone eye shone darkly. "Kill them."
The students nodded. "Let's go."
Naruto followed his teammates, rushing out of the gate as he saw the daybreak burning red in the sky. Normally that was a bad omen…
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They arrived at the border of the land of grass as the sun set in the sky above them.
Kakashi turned to address his team, "Okay, this area is under hostile control. Assume that anyone who comes at you is an enemy. Hesitation could lead to death and we don't want that, do we?."
They shook their heads. "Let's go."
They silently crept through the long grass and saw a strew of rickety shacks dotted the area. Naruto heard the grass behind him rustle and instinctively threw a kunai. He heard an agonized hiss and turned to see a white snake had been impaled by his kunai.
He shrugged it off and turned back to face his team when he heard a loud poof behind him. He turned just in time to catch a kunai swipe aimed for his head. Naruto froze in place unable to react and the man smirked. Pulling a second kunai from his leg, the enemy nin spun. Rearing back with his arm and preparing to impale Naruto.
"Naruto duck!" Naruto barely reacted in time as a kunai implanted itself in the enemy nin's brain and he fell limp and dead. He turned to Kakashi who had just thrown the knife. "What did I tell you Naruto… Don't hesitate!"
Naruto nodded swallowing his throat. "G-Gomen sensei..."
Asuma grabbed the man's body and silently dragged him through the grass, hiding him behind a large rock, "Let's keep moving!" he shouted to both teams.
They crept through the grass. Asuma and Kakashi picked off bandits left and right. Stashing them in the tall grass, behind buildings, in trash cans, anywhere to be honest.
Finally, they arrived at a clearing where there was a bonfire. Several men were sitting around it, drinking and sharpening axes, knives, and whatever else bandits try to use as weapons.
One man was dressed differently from the rest though. He was wearing bright white, silk robes and fine jewelry.
He was sitting with a frightened looking woman on his lap, "Don't worry fair maiden unlike these foul brutes I am a gentleman. I will not deflour you if you do not wish it." He drank a glass of fancy wine and looked around locking eyes with Kakashi.
Kakashi shouted, "Now!"
The shinobi dove out of the grass. Sakura and Sasuke each stabbing a bandit in the chest, piercing their hearts. Sasuke took it in stride, moving on to the next one. Slitting throat after through, but for some reason Sakura froze in place.
Naruto paled and tackled her out of the way as a bandit brought down his axe. Naruto spun around stabbing the man through the side of the head. Piercing his temporal lube.
Finally, all that was left was the man who was dressed up different from the rest. He jumped up and put a knife to the woman's throat. Thinking that would phase ninja for some reason.
"Stay back, stay back I say… you hear me, you come near me she dies!"
Kakashi pulled up his headband, revealing his blood red sharingan and the man's eyes rolled back, falling into an unconscious state.
"Asuma tie him up for me. Sakura check on the girl, the rest of you secure the area!" They all nodded and left to complete their tasks.
Naruto ran off to secure the East Sector of the camp when out of nowhere he was grabbed from behind by a pair of thick, muscular arms.
He tried to shout, "Kakashi sensei there's-"
The man covered his mouth. "Shut up you leaf scum!"
Sasuke headed East from the North Perimeter and saw the big man grab Naruto.
He quickly shouted, "Enemy Ninja!"
Kakashi quickly dashed over to where Naruto was, only to be intercepted by a barrage of arrows and strange black, ghost like creatures, 'Shinobi!?'
Sasuke was then blindsided by a punch. He turned to see a man with powder blue hair, standing there with a cocky grin, "Hello Uchiha, it's an honor to meet you."
Sakura, Ino, and Choji formed a manji formation around the girl, while Asuma ran over to help Kakashi.
Kakashi turned to him, sharingan blazing, "I'll handle the one in the tree at 3'o clock you get the one in the tree at my six." Asuma nodded and they both rushed the trees.
Kakashi charged a Raikiri slashing through the tree like paper the ninja grunted falling on her butt.
Asuma ran over and made a handsign. "Fire Style: Burning Ash Jutsu!"
He shot a cloud of ash from his mouth surrounding the tree before igniting it in a burst of flames, causing the ninja inside of it to flee.
Sasuke dodged a series of punches and kicks. Trying his best to counter but it felt like the person had four arms and four legs, which he didn't realize the enemy shinobi actually did.
Sasuke activated his sharingan, ignoring the searing pain in his shoulder as his curse mark flared up. He growled, kicking the man in his chest and sending him flying back. "Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!"
Sakon paled and narrowly rolled away from the flames only to hear a sound like birds chirping.
Sasuke smirked darkly. "Dodge this you bastard!" He ran forward and Sakon tried to jump away only to see his legs were tied in steel wire. "Chidori!" Sasuke yanked the wire and pulled him forward shoving his lightning-clad fist through the man's chest.
Kakashi ran forward, preparing to impale the girl with a Raikiri when he heard Naruto scream out in pain.
He turned to see a man with large man with orange, rust hair break his student's arm. When he looked back the girl was gone.
He turned back to the man and the girl was standing behind him along with another guy with six arms.
Asuma jumped behind Kakashi and got back to back with him, "Are they all here?"
Kakashi shook his head, "One is unaccounted for."
Sasuke was shocked when he was suddenly blindsided by a strike and sent tumbling. He saw the man he was just fighting stand up, the hole in his chest growing.
He split apart into two men each with a partial curse mark activated, "Sorry Uchiha san but we'll resume this another time. As you can clearly see, we have what we came for." Both men, creatures, whatever they were ran off and joined their allies.
"Do you have him?" Jirobo nodded, "Good Orochimaru doesn't want the Akatsuki to get their hands on the Kyuubi, kill him!"
The man nodded and smirked snapping Naruto's neck. "Naruto, No!"
Kakashi's eyes widened. "No!"
Sasuke's couldn't believe it, his friend, his rival…. had just died before his eyes.
His eyes felt as if they were on fire, burning deep with hatred. Crimson tears began to run down his eyes.
For a moment he felt unbelievable power in his eyes, then it receded as soon as it came. He wondered if that was the power Itachi talked about, the Mangekyo… he didn't get to put deep thought into it as he passed out in Kakashi's arms from mental and physical exhaustion.
"Take him, we can't let them recapture the Kyuubi." They nodded and the blue-haired man waved before they all teleported away with Naruto in hand.
Sakura couldn't believe what she had just seen…
"He's gone..."
X CHAPTER END X
A/N: Ice here! I hope you enjoy this story my beta and I cooked up. It was a lot of work but I'm proud of the final product. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did writing it.