Flashback:
Rain poured on the two men standing in the middle of the street. The town all around them was burning in a sea of flames leaving the once promising town of Amegakure a waste land of ash. The two men stood staring down the other before another ran out into the middle of the street. The man was younger than the two and was about to help his father when a shot rang out from across the street. The young man ducked behind a water barrel and pulled out his two pistols. He noticed another attacker walk out from a burning building holding his pistol at his side. He was the same age as him but had dark black hair that was tied back with a blue headband.
"Son," The man in the street screamed looking over at his kid. "Save as many as you can I will end this here and now."
"Dad you can't take on the two of them," The boy protested but was fired upon again by the kid across the street. "You piece of shit! Couldn't hit the side of a barn with a shot like that!"
"What did you say?" The kid yelled across the street. The blonde smirked to himself. "I am one of the leaders of the Red Eye Gang. IF you value your life you would take this time to run!"
"I've heard of your kind," The blond pestered on. "Nothing but yellow bellied scum."
"Why you..."The kid yelled as he was about to run across the street and attack.
"SSSSASUKE!" Said the man standing across from the father. "He's just trying to get under your skin. Why don't you go and visit the church where we have the women waiting for us?"
"Hmmm," Said Sasuke with a viscous smile. "A fire would be quite fun. Have fun with your old friend Orc, but make it quick we have to get back to Suna before the new election."
"Right as alwaysss," Said the man as he watched Sasuke run towards the one building that wasn't burning.
"Son you must stop him," His father said. The blond tried to get up and run but was forced back to his spot by shot fired by the man across from his father.
"Oh Jiraiya," Said the man across from him. "This will not be stopped, nor will our duel. Your time is now over. Any last words from the great Jiraiya?"
"Oh you haven't changed a bit you sick bastard," Jiraiya said as he pulled his duster back over his pistol. The other man did the same and in a flash it was over. Jiraiya fell forward with a gurgle and fell face first into a puddle. The young blonde ran to the side of his mentor, his father, his friend. He looked down at the man who taught him everything only to be intrupeted by a high pitched scream. He looked up to see the church completely engulfed in flames as the people inside tried to escape through the chained door and boarded windows...
End of Flashback:
The high noon sun roasted the desert floor making it feel like hell on earth. Hint the name of the very desert, known as Hell's Asshole by the first settlers to try and tame this land. Then came the steam engine and then the once uninhabitable land know as Hell's Asshole became the now promising city of Suna. The journey to the great city was days by train, weeks by horseback, but the payout in the end would be worth it. At least that's what they young man riding a steady pace kept in the back of his mind. For there was no price that he could put on revenge. The memories of that night will haunt him for the rest of his life. He shuddered and continued his pace towards Suna.
The young man pulled his black cowboy hat lower over his blond hair to keep out as much sun as possible but to little avail. He was sporting a white long sleeve dress shirt and a black leather vest over his chest. He normally would wear his dark black duster with an orange fire hem on the bottom but truth be told it was too damn hot. Around waist was two Colt Peacemakers. On the side of his brown saddle was a Winchester Model 1874. The horse snorted loudly as he slowed to a stop and kicked up his right front hoof.
"What ya see Kyubi," The man said in a gruff voice as he scanned the area grabbing his rifle. The horse looked back at the man and gave an exasperated neigh.
"Don't give me that attitude you dumb horse!" The man yelled. Kyubi's response was to turn his head and snort through his nose. The young man jumped down from the giant of a horse know as Kyubi. The horse was a true beauty standing at twenty one hands and was creamy brown in color with a dark red mane. The man smiled as the horse bit his hat and picked it up out of his reach.
"Now if you don't give me my damn hat," The man said jumping up trying to snatch it back. "I'm going to shoot you in the knee you blasted horse!"
The horse started off towards the top of the hill with the man giving chase. Upon reaching the top the horse stopped and placed his hat back down before walking back towards him. The man was fuming but decided it would be better to just let it go. He walked the rest of the way up the rocky hill that was covered by small desert plants and cacti towards his hat when he heard voices. He ducked low and crept up the hill till he was at the top next to his hat. He grabbed his hat and placed it on his head and looked down at the other side of the hill where a group of people where pointing their guns at man in the middle who was digging a hole.
"You cheated your last hand Nara," Said a gruff voice as he crouched next to the hole. "Now we shall bury you and let the buzzards feast on your head."
"That's just too...," The man started as he looked up from his digging. He never finished his sentence as he was knocked unconscious by the but of a rifle.
The blond on the hill watched as the men stripped the other of his clothes and buried him up to his neck in the earth. They placed his clothes and hat just in front of him as if a last minute joke of what he was then left him for the birds. The man on the hill felt a sharp prick on his back and turned drawing his gun at the same time to see his horse looking at him puzzled.
"What?" He asked the horse who looked at the men riding away. "I'm not going to get killed over some cheat."
The horse snorted.
"Oh calling me a chicken then huh?" The blond said his temper rising slightly before he let out a hearty laugh. "People are going to think I'm crazy having conversations with a horse."
The horse scuffed a bit.
"Yeah I know you ain't just a horse," The blond said as he climbed back into the saddle and walked his horse down the hill. "Lets see just who this guy is?"
Upon reaching the man, who was groaning loudly, the blond got his first look at him, well at least his head. The man had black hair that was pulled into a once neat pony tail and brown eyes that looked up at him as if annoyed. A bruise was starting to form around his left eye and he also sported a new cut across his forehead. The man looked up and smirked at the new man in front of him.
"Well," The man said moving his head the best he can look up at the new man. "I guess you might be wondering why I'm in this peculiar predicament, but explaining something like this might just be too troublesome."
"Hmm," The blond said as Kyubi licked the pony tailed man's hair to much distress of the man.
"What the HELL?" The Man said as a heavy drenching of slobber came down his forehead and towards his mouth. The man spat at the ground and groaned. He stared daggers into the horses eyes that neighed pleasantly.
"Well it seems Kyubi likes ya," The blond said as he jumped down from the horse and accidentally kicked up dirt into the man's eyes. "Sorry about that."
"Is it custom where you come from to kick people while their down?" The man replied with sarcasm.
"I'm Naruto," The blond said. "You got a name bub?"
"Shikamaru," He said as the horse came down to try and eat the pony tail again. "DAMN HORSE STOP!"
"Easy Kyubi," Naruto said as he patted the horse and reached into his saddle and pulled out a small shovel. "Now before I dig you out why you here in the first place?"
"People take losing a game of poker a bit too personally," Shikamaru said. "I'm not a cheat I just know how to read people better than most. Like you for example. You're a nice guy, too nice for the people around here. But the look you have says your out to get someone. Someone close like family, must have been effected by the outcome that caused you to start this crusade. Because you seemed too armed to be heading into town for a friendly visit."
"Pretty good," Naruto said with a smile. "I'm after the Red Eye gang."
"Anyone in particular?" Shikamaru asked. After no answer came he looked up shocked. "The entire gang?"
"Every last one of them," Naruto said grimly.
"I take back the crusade comment," Shikamaru said looking up. "That sounds like 'Extermination'. They must have done something serious to you."
"Not just to me," Naruto said as he started to dig out the man. "They attacked a town, it wasn't just a raid by a gang, it was an all out total attack. They killed someone that was like a father to me...but I will have my revenge."
"You're pretty trusting to just come out and tell people this," Shikamaru said as he struggled to remove an arm. "Especially a complete stranger."
"The way I see it you owe me one now," Naruto said as he help pull Shikamaru out of the ground. Shikamaru brushed himself off as best he could before putting on the clothes that was left to torment him. Shikamaru dressed in what could be called a suit of the west. He sported a tie and blue dress shirt with a black and grey stripped vest over it. He put on his dark suite and picked up his smaller telescoped crown black hat. He placed it on his head and smirked at Naruto who was waiting for him on the horse.
"Well," Shikamaru said as he walked over to Naruto. "I have one more favor to ask you."
"What's that?" Naruto asked as he looked down at the puzzling man. "I'm on a mission."
"Well," Shikamaru said as he scratched the back of his head. "It's a bit out of the way but if you do this for me...ugh this is going to be troublesome, but I will help you on this mission of yours. I owe the Red Eye Gang a shot or two for my own reasons, but right now we need to get back to Kohona."
"That's east from where I'm heading," Naruto said looking west as if longing. "What good would that do?"
"Well for one," Shikamaru said as he put his hands in his pockets. "A nice shower and warm bed sounds good for a night...not to mention the heavy amounts of Red Eye's that clam the land there."
"Hmm." Naruto said as he pondered the detour. He's never been to the city of Kohona but has heard of it as being a great town with a notorious history of amazing gun fighters. IT was said that one of the leaders of the Red Eye Gang once called Kohona his home, but that didn't matter. What did matter was that there was a heavy gang population there and he need some more information on the leaders.
"I guess it would help if I could get some information on them. Alright," Naruto said as he extended his hand towards Shikamaru.
"Alright it should be about a day's ride to reach the city," Shikamaru said as he climbed onto the horse. "God damnit, I'm gonna kill those pieces of shit!"
"I wouldn't blame you," Naruto said looking at the hole in the ground. "That's a sick way to die."
"That's not the reason," Shikamaru said as they started to head east. Naruto looked back at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Then what is it?" Naruto asked.
"Those assholes stole my gun!" Shikamaru said with a sigh. "This should be Troublesome."