I guess I had been trying to fill one alarmingly large hole in this story for a while, and I've finally figured out what will work. Here's a short chapter, but content nonetheless. More will come.

A Delicacy

Pangs of hunger suddenly racked Naruto's body. Sensations of fury, of detestation had coursed through him; he felt himself brimming with hellish strength. Until a moment ago, he had been prepared to mete out an undefined degree of punishment to his masked foe. Now, he felt as if he was wasting away, due to die any second - unless he ate.

Haku's eyes retained their urgency even as the blonde child before him became slack above his presumably deceased teammate. The whirling mass of sanguine chakra which had illuminated the area in an oppressive and horrific aura died down to a simmer, not yet fading from the small child who had generated it. Haku clutched his senbon even more tightly as Naruto lifted his head. Depraved red eyes bore into him with a look he was not yet familiar with. His anxiety worsened as a predatory grin broke out across the boy's face.

Naruto's demonic eyes afforded him new sights. He could now see a mass of icy blue energy surrounding his opponent, brighter flickering lights in his peripheral, and a wavering plume of blue in his incapacitated teammate.

He's alive, Naruto managed through his straining consciousness. The pain within his belly caused him to wince and transfer focus from Sasuke to the boy in the mirror. The energy about the boy expanded, and upon doing so, so did Naruto's wanting. A guttural growl slipped from his maw as his muscles tensed, preparing to pounce.

Haku sought the initiative. The situation in which he knew his coming faith had been preferable to the current one. A change had occurred, and Haku couldn't even wonder what events would now transpire; a sense of dread was all he knew now. This bewilderment is what led him to renew his assault.

Haku leaped from his mirror, senbon cutting through the air. He targeted Sasuke, expecting Naruto to instead take the hit for his friend. He hadn't been expecting to see the boy swat the projectiles out of the air - nor his rapid progression to his airborne position. Haku was tackled to the ground, his back skidded along the bridge. His struggles were immensely ineffective against Naruto, and they were altogether brought to a halt as several fists cracked against his masked face, knocking away the bottom half of it. His sullen eyes caught Naruto's own through the eye-holes of his mask.

Naruto's hunger peaked at this point. All conscious thought fell into oblivion as he inhaled the richness of Haku's being. His mouth watered, his eyes lost all depth despite retaining their viciousness. His clawed hand brushed aside the fabric hiding Haku's shoulder, and in an instant, he declined, tasted the boy's flesh, and sunk his teeth into him.

An awful, shrill scream filled the area, causing another combatant to hesitate and allow a fatal strike to land. This along with the rapid thrust of a senbon to his side was ignored by Naruto. The wounds healed too quickly for him to care, and the delectable blood of the ice ninja which spilled into his mouth was far too intoxicating. It deadened him to happenings around him.

So rich, Naruto thought. He tore away from his victim, head sweeping back in euphoria as he chewed and swallowed bits of Haku. Blood streamed down his chin. Tears budded from his eyes. He allowed the taste to linger on his tongue as Haku gasped and fought back his own tears below him. Naruto decided he needed more. The figure below him was prone and would definitely not provide any opposition to his task. He eyed the pulsing neck of the boy and the delicate hand which resided on it. He knocked it away and, in doing so, knocked away the intact portion of the mask. His eyes widened.

Solemn brown eyes against distressed red orbs slowly receding to blue.

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