Greetings, my fellow authors and readers...
As promised, here is my newest story: Naruto, Za Hiruhoko Sha.
Due to my lack of formal English to Japanese training, I believe the literal translation means Naruto, the Daywalker.
On a side note: Blade will have the automatic pistols he is seen with in the movies, but with a twist. Ninja-style.
Please note that in this story, (and all my stories) Ninja become ninja at fifteen rather than twelve.
Enjoy the Fic.
A hungry and thirsty Naruto wandered through the dimly lit streets, heading for his favorite restaurant: the Ichiraku Ramen Bar. It was the best place for him to quench his thirst and hunger at the same time, since the Ichiraku's accepted him for who he was, rather than what he carried.
He had learned of the Kyūbi a long time ago, back in his first year of the academy. He'd been shocked as hell, though he got over it. Kyūbi and Naruto had an understanding of sorts, since when Naruto dies, Kyūbi dies as well. They had become business partners, then later friends.
Naruto smirked as he recalled how he would refer to him as his other voice in his head. Kyūbi would growl whenever that phrase was used, but Naruto never meant it in a bad way.
~Laugh it up, blondie.~
Oh, so you're awake now, hm? thought Naruto as he walked down an alley shortcut. I thought you were only awake during the night.
Listening to you woke me up.
What's new? asked Naruto as he approached the ramen stand, his thirst making his throat feel as if he had taken a sander to it. Why is that, I wonder?
For some reason, he was becoming thirsty very regularly. Also, he had to drink three times the amount of water or other such liquids to alleviate the pain. It had started five days ago, just as he began his third and final year at the academy.
It always came back, stronger and harder than ever to dissipate.
~Well… there's nothing new. Only that thirst. You find anything out about that?~ asked Kyūbi as he stretched within his cage, laughing as he felt the glare Naruto directed inwards.
Of course I didn't, you fluffy tailed moron!
~Hey… I am not a moron.~
Sure you're not… but you are fluffy, thought Naruto, chuckling as Kyūbi raged. He rubbed his throat absentmindedly. It was getting worse, changing from the ragged feeling to a burning pain.
~Get to the ramen bar and down some ramen.~ said Kyūbi. His tone was worried, since he knew all that happened in Naruto. The thirst problem was worrying him.
Naruto walked into the ramen stand, brushing aside the cloth that covered the door from the top of the stand to about his waist level. The smells of ramen intensified, filling his head with the prospect of his favorite meal.
"Konnichiwa, Ayane, how is Teuchi doing?" asked Naruto as he took a seat by the wall. Ayane looked up from the pot of noodles to focus on her favorite customer.
"Konnichiwa, Naruto. Tōsan is doing fine," said Ayane, smiling at her friend.
"Three miso ramen, please."
"Coming up," said Ayane as she turned back to the pot to check on the noodles.
"Arigatō," said Naruto, once again rubbing his throat. Why does this keep coming back?
Naruto continued to try and soothe his throat till his ramen was served, rubbing his throat to try and alleviate some pain.
"Three miso ramen," said Ayane, handing Naruto his food.
Naruto heard a strange thumping sound, oddly musical to his ears. He looked around for the sound before looking at Ayane's arm.
Every time he heard his mysterious sound, Ayane's veins bulged slightly. I'm hearing her pulse?
Naruto felt himself leaning forward, getting closer to the exhilarating sound of Ayane's heartbeat. What am I doing? Why am I drawn to her pulse? he thought as he forced himself back into his sitting position and began to eat.
The ramen worked wonders for his hunger but his thirst wasn't even touched. It's as if the ramen's broth bypassed his throat on the way to his stomach.
Why am I still thirsty? thought Naruto as he laid down some bills for his food. I just had three bowls of ramen! I shouldn't be thirsty.
Naruto walked away, heading for his apartment. It was run down and crummy but it was good enough for him. The only problem: it was a long way to either the academy or Ichiraku.
For some odd reason, during the night hours, he wasn't tired. He didn't sleep much so far, averaging around ten hours a week. His time was used practicing the ninjutsu, taijutsu, and throwing techniques he had learned at the academy. He had gotten pretty good, though he found his jutsu arsenal pitifully small.
He staggered down an alley, his thirst getting worse for every step he took. His path was a shortcut that skimmed twelve minutes of his travel time that he had found three weeks ago. The best part of this path was that few knew about it, so it was usually empty.
Naruto had made it to the halfway point when he met a young woman. It was very unusual for the villagers to show him any compassion, so Naruto staggered closer to the wall, hoping to escape with nothing more than an insult or glare.
The young woman walked closer, watching Naruto as he stumbled through the alley. He tripped over a piece of twisted metal and hit the ground hard, a thud resounding off the walls of the narrow alley.
She rushed over and pulled him onto his back. "Are you all right?" she asked as she pulled his upper body into her lap, bringing her head close as if to listen for sign of breath.
Naruto heard the girl come over to where he was, listening as her heart sped up when she pulled him onto his back. The steady thump of her heartbeat grew louder and louder as she leaned over him, trying to ascertain that he was alive.
His body reacted. His arms whipped around the girl, pinning her arms as he felt his canine teeth grow even longer. Without thought, he buried his new fangs into her throat.
She convulsed once as his fangs pierced her throat. She tried to struggle against his iron grip but felt her strength leave, sucked from her body as Naruto drank.
In about a minute, Naruto had swallowed every drop of blood the woman had possessed. He leaned against the wall, loosening his grip on the girl. Her body slid down his arms, leaving a trail of blood stained on his orange sleeve. He smiled as he felt the thirst that had pained him for so long recede into the back of his mind.
Finally, it's gone.
~Uh… kit? Look down.~ said Kyūbi, his voice almost trembling.
Naruto was puzzled for a moment. His thirst -which had tormented him for a number of days- was gone and all Kyūbi had to say was 'look down'?
Naruto suddenly realized that he felt weight on his arms. He also smelt a strange scent on the air, metallic almost, something that shouldn't belong. He looked down and nearly leapt to his feet in terror. In his arms was a young woman, two puncture marks surrounded by blood on her neck. Naruto reached up to his mouth with shaking hands. He rubbed his mouth, feeling a strange liquid smear across his lips. He brought away his hand, scared of what he might see.
His fingers gleamed in the moonlight, blood-smeared and sticky. He stared at his fingers before setting the girl's body on the ground.
He walked over to a puddle that had resulted from a rainfall from the night before. His reflection winked back at him, the water disturbed by his breath as he knelt by it.
His face was the same, albeit the blood smeared around his mouth. He hesitated and then opened his mouth.
Within his mouth, two fangs protruded further than his had ever been. He looked from his new fangs to the punctures on the woman's neck. They looked like they were the same.
Maybe… maybe I am a monster, thought Naruto.
He tore a strip from his jacket -surprising himself as he did it with little difficulty- and dipped into the water then walked back and proceeded to wash the blood from the woman's neck. It took him a few minutes as the blood had begun to dry.
He straightened her arms and legs, making her look like she was ready for her funeral. Saying a quick prayer for forgiveness, Naruto ran to the end of the alley.
I really am a monster, aren't I? Naruto asked himself as he ran for his apartment. He had to get the few things out of his house before the villagers find the woman and set out to hunt him.
Fear adding wings to his feet, Naruto reached the rundown apartment in minutes. He quickly grabbed the scrolls the Sandaime had given him, the kunai set he had gotten from the Inu masked ANBU, and the senbon that he had gotten from the Hebi masked ANBU.
Nothing else was really important. With a final look around, Naruto turned away and ran.
The next day…
A man in black walked through the forest. His jacket hung down to just above his ankles, flashes of the red underlay were seen as he walked. Armor was seen between the lapels of the jacket and metallic stakes were strapped to his left leg. A black handle was behind his head, the rest of the sword hidden by the jacket.
His eyes were hidden by a pair of black sunglasses, giving him an intimidating face. His hair was cut short, adding to the effect.
His head jerked as smelled something metallic. Old blood, he thought to himself. He smiled. His chase was coming to a close.
He had been chasing a vampire for about a day, so far. Personally, he longed for the fight that was going to come. It was always fun to see them struggle against the inevitable.
The vamp must have brushed up against a tree or something… no… this is stronger. He must be in a cave or something close by.
He walked around a tree and saw a boy, dressed in orange, leaning against a tree. Blood smeared across his lips, forming a gruesome mask. When the boy yawned and stretched, he could see the fangs in his mouth.
A young vampire… no, he couldn't be a vampire. It's broad daylight! He thought as he strode forward.
Naruto reacted as he sensed the approach of the man. He drew a pair of kunai and prepared to fight, dropping into an academy fighting stance.
"Whoa, I'm not going to hurt you," said the man, raising his hands. He doesn't smell like a normal vampire… he smells… like me? "My name is Blade. What's yours?"
"Uzumaki Naruto."
Uzumaki? That name sounds familiar… maybe… no, it couldn't be…Kushina?
"Why are you out here, all alone?"
Naruto lowered the kunai, still watching the stranger warily. "I'm out here because I'm a monster."
"Really? How so?" asked Blade, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed and one ankle crossed against the other. He seemed perfectly at ease, which made Naruto all the more wary.
"I killed a woman last night. I drank her blood to slake my thirst. I didn't even realize till after that I had done it. It was all instinct."
"How long have you experienced this thirst?" asked Blade, his face showing no emotion.
"About five days. Last night was the worst, though it's gone… for now."
Blade left his leaning position and came closer. He crouched in front of Naruto, looking at his mouth. "Show me your fangs," he commanded.
"How do you know I have fangs?" asked Naruto, leaning back.
"When you yawned, your fangs were visible," said Blade, moving closer. "Now open up."
Naruto did as he said, opening his mouth to display the fangs he had.
Hmm… This boy has fangs and is immune to sunlight. Maybe he is like me, thought Blade as he examined Naruto's new teeth.
"Naruto, I have a few questions I need answers to. Will you answer truthfully?"
"Sure, why not?"
Blade sat at the base of the tree, Naruto about a foot away from him. "Okay, to start: Have you eaten or touched garlic at any point and had a reaction to it?"
"I think I could taste some in the ramen I had last night. It didn't affect me."
Okay, one more down. "Hold still a moment," said Blade as he pulled a can of his anti-vampire pepper spray. Before Naruto could react, he sprayed a burst into Naruto's face.
"Yo, not cool! What is this? Garlic?"
"And silver nitrate. You are like me," said Blade, replacing the spray can back into his pocket.
"What do you mean, 'like you'?"
Blade sighed. He hated long explanations. "I am a 'daywalker'. A half-vampire who has all the strengths and none of the weaknesses of a normal vamp, other than the thirst for blood. Daywalkers are immune to sunlight, garlic, and silver. Also, us daywalkers have the ability to turn humans only if we want to."
A few moments passed in silence as Naruto digested the information.
"So… I am a daywalker, the same as you."
"Well, technically no. I experienced my thirst as soon as I was three. You seemed to have repressed it till now," said Blade. I wonder how…
"I see. Any other questions?" asked Naruto, sensing a headache coming on.
"Only one more: does the name Uzumaki Kushina mean anything to you?"
"No, why?"
"About fourteen years ago, I was hunting a vampire named Deacon Frost. He traveled through a village called Konohagakure. Right before the 'Kyūbi' attack. He attacked a woman named Uzumaki Kushina to feed. She was pregnant when the attack occurred. She died in childbirth; the blood loss was too much for her to survive."
Blade paused for a moment before punching the tree. "If I'd been faster, she wouldn't have died," he said as he ground his fist into the splintered tree trunk.
Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right, Blade. You can't change the past. The only thing you can do is be prepared for the future."
Blade sighed, gaining control over his emotions once again. "You're right. Thank you."
"Don't mention it. You were saying?" said Naruto, making a 'carry-on' motion with his hand.
"Right… Uzumaki Kushina died, and her son was used by his father to seal the Kyūbi, preventing any further bloodshed."
Naruto held up a hand. "You mean to tell me that I, the village disgrace, am the son of the Yondaime Hokage?"
"If the shoe fits…" replied Blade. Naruto had a blank look on his face for a while.
"So… how did you know my parents?" asked Naruto, over his moment of silence.
"I knew your mother by reputation only for a while. She was a very cunning warrior. Gave me a run for my money around sixteen years ago," said Blade, reminiscing about old times.
"Your father, however, I knew personally. He made me these," he said as he pulled his automatic pistol from its holster under his jacket.
"What is it?" asked Naruto, looking at the strange black device with apparent wariness.
"This is an automatic senbon pistol. Using a combination of seals, special senbons, and my wind affinity chakra, I can shoot the senbons into a vamp from long range."
"Really?"
"Watch closely."
Blade turned to a tree and pulled the trigger mechanism. A flurry of senbons lodged themselves into the bark with a multitude of cracking sounds.
"What do you think?" asked Blade, turning back to Naruto. The only problem was: he wasn't there.
Naruto was currently halfway up the tree, watching the pistol with wide eyes. "Where can I get one?" he called from above.
Oh, great. Now he wants a gun. Blade experienced a moment of foreboding. I sense a disturbance in the Force…
"We'll talk later about that. Come back down."
Naruto resumed his position at the base of the tree and the pair continued to talk. Blade explained most of his weapons. Silver stakes, silver plated titanium sword.
Naruto told him of Konoha, about his friends and about his school. He also touched upon the topic of the villagers' animosity.
Blade paused in mid sentence and sniffed as the wind changed. His eyes widened at the familiar too-sweet scent.
"Vampire."
"Where?" asked Naruto, unsheathing his kunai for a second time. Blade shook his head at the kunai and tossed him a pair of the silver stakes he carried.
"Vampires are weak against silver. Try and keep up, would you?"
"Right…" said Naruto as he readied himself for battle.
Blade heard the whisper of clothing to his left. Shifting his head slightly, he saw a blur hurtle form one tree to another. "On your left, Naruto."
Naruto reacted instantly, hurtling one of his stakes. To Blade's amazement, it tagged the vampire in the ankle. The vamp crashed into the tree with enough force to knock loose a few leaves.
Blade turned to Naruto. "Nice," he said before turning back to the newly-crippled vamp. "So… what's a vamp like you doing in a forest like this?" asked Blade, drawing out his automatic pistol. As the vamp tried to make a run for it, Blade pulled the trigger and a trio of senbon embedded themselves into the tree by the vamp's head.
"Don't even think about it," Blade growled.
"Nice shot, Blade," said Naruto, coming to stand beside Blade, flipping his remaining stake between his fingers.
"What do you mean?" asked Blade, looking at Naruto out of the corner of his eye. "I missed."
The vamp was now cowering against the tree. "What do you want? I'll tell you anything!"
Blade smiled. "Of course you will," he said, crouching down to the vamps eye level, pistol still in hand.
"Where's Frost?" he asked, fingering the trigger.
"I don't know!"
With a grim smile, Blade aimed at the vamp's shoulder and pulled the trigger, sending another trio of modified senbons at the vamp.
The vamp screamed as the senbon pierced his shoulder, the metal burning his flesh. He tried to pull them out before remembering silver burned vamps, making his fingers blister. "God damn you, motherfucker!"
Blade reached out and backhanded the vamp, eliciting another curse. "There is a fourteen year old boy here. Keep the profanity down."
"Fuck you!"
"Not likely. Where's Frost?"
"I don't kno-erk." Blade had caught the vampire's throat, slowly beginning to crush it.
"I know when you're lying, suck-head. Now, since we're trying to be civil, let's try it again," he said, throwing the vampire back against the tree. "Where's Frost?"
"I last heard he was in Suna, but that's all I know!" he said, waving his only good hand. "I swear!" he added as Blade fingered his pistol again.
"Well, now we have a location," said Blade, turning back to Naruto. "Shall we hunt?"
"Huh? You're taking me with you?" asked Naruto, confused at the turn of events.
"One, I owe it to your parents memory. Two, you're like me, so you will be hunted by other vamps. And three, you've got the skill that will help me kill the vamps," said Blade counting off the reasons on his hand. "Besides, Frost killed your mom. I'm gonna kill him for that. So… do you want to come?"
"Sure. On one condition though."
"Oh? Conditions?" asked Blade, a brief smile crossing his face.
"Yep," said Naruto, pointing at Blade's pistol. "I want one of those."
"Certainly. We'll build one in Suna before we hunt Frost."
"Great," said Naruto. Blade looked at his watch and turned west. Blade and Naruto began walking towards Suna.
"Hey, Blade?"
"Hm?"
"What do we do with him?"
Blade passed him the gun he carried. "Your first kill as a vampire hunter."
"Wait! Wait! Don't!" shouted the vamp as Naruto lined up the sights on the gun. Naruto smiled before pulling the trigger.
"Bye-bye."
The vampire disintegrated into ash, the senbon falling to the ground along with the cinders.
Blade strode over and picked up his senbon and the stake Naruto had thrown. "Let's go."
Both of them resumed their trip to Suna, walking side by side.
So? Tell me what you think, in the form of a review.
Please note: Naruto and Blade will go through the events of the Blade movies (Reapers, Bloodpack, Night Stalkers, etc…).
Until next time…