Naruto: Plaguelord of The Leaf
Disclaimer: This will be a Naruto fanfiction with a bit of a twist involving "Technically Living Zombie" trope and may get AU. With that said, I hope you enjoy this story.
Chapter 0: Naruto and Experiment 619
Uzumaki Naruto, a boy with spiky sun-blond hair, cerulean-blue eyes and three pairs of whisker-marks on his cheeks, was eagerly walking ahead of his team and their client as it was his first C-ranked mission. A genin, which is basically a rookie ninja, Naruto was teamed with Uchiha Sasuke, a fellow genin with dark eyes and hair, and Haruno Sakura, a girl with pink hair and green eyes who is also a genin. Leading the team was Hatake Kakashi, a man with grey hair and one visible eye as his left eye was hidden beneath his forehead protector, who is a jounin, also known as high-ranking ninja. Together, the four-man team made up Team Seven. Their client, an elderly bespectacled bridge builder with a grey beard named Tazuna, was walking in between Sasuke and Sakura while Kakashi walked behind the man.
Formerly the dead last of his graduating class, Naruto had already failed twice and had actually failed a third time but was nevertheless able to graduate due to "unique" circumstances involving a traitor of his home village, Konohagakure, a stolen scroll containing powerful ninjutsu, and the revelation of a terrible truth. Hated and ignored by almost everyone in his own home village for as long as he could remember, the boy only recently realized the reason behind their hatred after his third failure to graduate from the ninja academy as he is the container of a terrible demon fox which attacked Konohagakure on the same day he was born, the Kyuubi no Youko. Due to the hatred and lack of acknowledgement, the boy became a loud-mouthed prankster with a love for bright-orange clothes and would often boast that he would one day become the village's leader, a Hokage, in order to hide his pain and loneliness and to gain the attention he needs to prove his own existence from others. It is also from that very same suffering, which he hides behind a mask of a care-free troublemaker, that the boy has a deep sense of empathy and sympathy for the suffering of others, at least once he realizes it anyway. Therefore, is it really any surprise that Uzumaki Naruto's first reaction upon seeing a person lying on the road, a person who is dressed in filthy rags and bandages, shivering as though caught in a blizzard despite the fact that the day is warm and sunny, and is moaning miserably in pain, is concern for the said individual?
Before Kakashi could stop the boy, Naruto rushed to the prone figure and loudly asked, "Hey, are you alright?" Reaching out, Naruto almost leapt back when he saw the swollen tumorous growths pulsating beneath the bandages and rags and the sickly-green skin. Looking closer, the boy noted that the individual had long shoulder-length black hair which is matted with dirt and filth, black veins beneath the skin as well as blackened nails. While not very smart, partly due to his lack of attention during school lessons and partly due to sabotage by the teachers that hated him, Naruto knew that the person is horribly sick. Having made his decision, Naruto turned his attention to his teammates, teacher and client to say, "Hey, this person is really sick. We need to get him to a hospital ASAP!"
Looking at the sickly individual, Kakashi warily mused, "I haven't seen anyone this sickly ever since the Third Ninja World War. As much as I hate to say this, I don't think there is anything we can do so save him." As a jounin, Kakashi is well-aware that the person is not a ninja in disguise to catch the team off-guard. Even so, if never hurts to be cautious in their line of work.
Sasuke on the other hand was far less sympathetic as he spoke, "Stop wasting our time dobe. We're here to escort the client home, not pick up the homeless and sick."
Infuriated, Naruto was about to shout angrily at Sasuke when a pained voice barely whispered, "Run…"
Turning around, Naruto saw the person's face. Covered in the same pulsating tumorous growths and black veins, with pus-coloured tears and saliva, the person's face looked outright hideous. However, what really caught the blond boy's attention was the visible eye with yellowed sclera and emerald-green iris as it was a look of pain, misery, loneliness, and, at the moment, a desperate desire not to harm anyone. "Run… away… please…!"
Determined to help the person or be damned trying, Naruto stubbornly seized him by the hand and said, "Like hell I'm leaving you behind like this! My dream is to be a Hokage on day and there's no way I'm letting you suffer alone like this!"
Looking at Naruto's bright blue eyes, the sickly person realized that the boy was honest and determined to save him. Blushing, not that Naruto could tell due to the deformities, the person hesitated for a moment before his body suddenly convulsed violently and cried out in pain as he vomited a black tar-like substance which gave off a purple miasma. Shocked by the sight, Kakashi realized, "Don't tell me…" Kakashi then desperately shouted, "Naruto, get away from him!"
While horrified and frightened by the obviously poisonous substance, Naruto's face grew firm in determination as he held onto the retching person and slapped his onto back in an attempt to help him to cough out the foul substance. Shocked, Kakashi cried out, "Naruto, you can't help him, get away from him before it is too late!"
"Like hell I'm going to just leave him to suffer! I will save him or die trying, for that is my way of the ninja!"
Before Kakashi or anyone in the group could argue with Naruto bloody bony spikes suddenly protruded from the sickly person's tumorous growths, effectively impaling Naruto by accident. Swearing under his breath, Kakashi was forced to realize that they cannot help Naruto under the current circumstances and were forced to retreat as the hollow bony spikes started to produce noxious purple miasma. Retreating back to where they came from, Kakashi gazed sorrowfully at where Naruto and the sickly person was and prayed, "Please, be alright…"
Scene Change
"Ok, one moment I was helping that sick person, who was vomiting some really bad stuff and suddenly grew bones and impaled me in a few places, including what must be my spleen, whatever that is, and now I'm here in a sewer with a huge gate in front of me." Looking around at the gloomy sewer, Naruto was understandably confused when he a pair of blood-red eyes with slits for irises and a row of very sharp teeth. Gazing at the face of what has to be a gigantic malevolent creature behind the bars of the gate, Naruto gaped in shock and fear as the creature spoke, "So, we finally meet, Uzumaki Naruto."
Looking at the giant creature, Naruto could only guess one name, "You're… the Kyuubi no Youko, aren't you?"
Looking at the orange-clad boy as though he is a mere insect, the creature confirmed, "Indeed, I am the Kyuubi no Youko and you are damned idiot of a jailer that has doomed us both!"
Angry, Naruto shouted, "And what right do YOU have to be pissed at me? Had you not attacked our village years ago, you wouldn't be sealed into my gut and I wouldn't have to put up with all the pain and loneliness I had suffered for years because of you!"
"And what makes you think that I was even attacking your village on purpose? Besides, it's those damned villagers that chose to make you miserable despite the wishes of the Fourth Hokage and you know it!" shouted the Kyuubi. Stunned, Naruto was silent as the demon fox continued to rant, "Regardless of our mutual "dislike" for one another that issue is as of now the least of our concerns! Thanks to your stupidity, we are both now dying!"
"Wait a minute, we're dying because of that nasty stuff that sick person was vomiting?"
"No, we're dying because we're drowning in ramen. Of course we're dying because of that you complete retard!" shouted the Kyuubi.
Normally, Naruto would get angry and shout at the demon fox but could not help but notice that his tone of voice actually sounded desperate as he asked, "But can't you do anything about it? I mean, you're a powerful demon and all."
"Normally, that would be the case. However, thanks to that accursed Fourth Hokage, at least half of my power had been sealed away into the belly of that damned Shinigami thereby making me less powerful than that day when I attacked your village. Moreover, that stuff is not only poisonous to you, it's poisonous even to me which means that even if my power is not sealed at the moment I can still fall sick from exposure to it. Of course, you will die from it first but that does not mean that I won't suffer from it as your death will kill me as well even if only temporarily under normal circumstances."
"Temporarily?" asked Naruto.
"Unlike you mere mortals, I'm an immortal being of malevolent chakra and would usually be reborn after a few years but with at least half of my power gone, combined with your death and that accursed poison, my death might just be permanent and that is something which I would not allow!"
Now understanding the situation, Naruto asked, "So, what do you have in mind to get us out of this particular problem? You obviously can't survive my death or else you wouldn't have even bothered to talk to me and you must have at least one idea how to save our asses."
Almost pleased that Naruto had caught on, the Kyuubi said, "As a matter of fact, I do. However, you will need my help, including letting me gain control for a moment, to save us both."
Immediately suspicious, Naruto asked, "And why should I let you? For all I know you'll just save yourself and let me die."
Snorting, the Kyuubi replied, "While I'll admit that would be the best-case-scenario for me, the simple fact is that I cannot survive without you unless you allow me to possess you fully which I'm sure even a human of your inferior intellect will not allow under normal circumstances. Besides, it's not like I'm asking you to break the seal and the process will be taxing even for me due to the poison that's killing us both."
Seeing no other choice, not that the Kyuubi no Youko seem to have any either, Naruto took a deep breath before he said, "Alright, but first you'll tell me exactly how you're going to save us both."
Nodding, the Kyuubi explained, "There are two options to pick from. The first will save you with no side effects but will kill that sickly human. The second will save all three of us but there will be the side effects and the both of you. Regardless, there is still a significant chance for failure which will kill us all, not that doing nothing will improve the situation."
Normally, a person would ask what the side effects are but Naruto, in his admittedly foolish naïve optimism, replied, "Then I'm taking the second one. I made a promise to save him and I won't go back on my word!"
Frowning, the Kyuubi asked, "You're not even going to bother asking about the side effects?"
Confused, Naruto asked, "No, why?"
Sighing, the Kyuubi swore, "Why am I stuck inside a completely knuckleheaded buffoon?" Before Naruto could protest, the demon fox explained, "Long explanation short, saving the three of us will result in you becoming a physical monster similar to that sickly human, albeit healthier and more in control of your abilities for the both of you." Narrowing his eyes, he added, "And I'm sure even you can comprehend the results of becoming physically monstrous."
For a moment, Naruto faltered and knew exactly what will happen to him if he becomes physically monstrous. The last thing he would ever want is to be rejected even by the few people that care for him due to the physical changes. After a moment of silence, the Kyuubi was almost certain that the boy would choose to save only himself when he said, "Maybe, but if I have to kill that person I swore to help in order to avoid that fate, then I'm no better than the villagers that hate me for having you sealed inside of me." Glaring at the Kyuubi in the eyes, Naruto said, "I'm taking the second option and I won't back down from my promise, believe it!"
Almost impressed, the Kyuubi said, "Brat, if we both die from this, do remind me to kill you in the afterlife."
Grinning confidently, Naruto said, "I'm making no promises, not when we're going to survive this one way or another!"
Scene Change
Having gotten away from the purple miasma, Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke and Tazuna stared at the rising cloud of miasma. Glaring at the miasma, Sasuke growled, "That damned dobe, all he ever does is getting in my way!"
Infuriated by Sasuke's callous dismissal, Kakashi was about to threaten the boy when they suddenly felt a powerful burst of energy known as chakra. However, unlike normal chakra, the fusion of spiritual and physical energies essential for executing ninjutsu, this particular type of chakra is demonic to say the least. Turning their attention towards the source of the terrible demonic chakra, everyone realized to their terror and horror that the crimson-red energy originated from within the centre of the miasma. Kakashi, who is among the many adults in Konoha who knew about Naruto's burden as the Kyuubi's jailer, feared for the worst as he thought, "Is the Kyuubi free?"
What happened next was beyond anyone's expectations as the red chakra interacted with the purple miasma, forming a crimson sphere to contain it. As the red ball of demonic energy started to shrink, almost everyone felt a little relieved while Kakashi worriedly thought, "What's going on? It looks almost like the Kyuubi is actually containing, or maybe absorbing, the miasma into itself." However, the jounin could only wait patiently as the sphered shrank further…
Scene Change
While Kakashi worried about the red sphere of demonic energy, Naruto was in a world of physical agony. To summarize his pain, it felt like his entire body is ripping itself apart from the inside out, with a generous dose of burning and rotting for good measure, and healing at the same rate. Gritting his teeth, Naruto was certain he was going to die at this rate when he suddenly found himself inside a graveyard.
Looking around in confusion, Naruto wondered, "Okay, I'm not with the Kyuubi-teme or in a sewer, so does that mean I'm dead?"
Before the boy could think it over, or panic, he suddenly heard a pained whisper, "Why?"
Turning around, Naruto saw a small scrawny girl who looked to be around his age or younger than him with sickly pale skin, black hair and dark rings under her emerald-green eyes. He also noted that the thin girl was dressed in rags and bandages as she asked again, "Why are you helping me?"
Realizing that the sickly person he was helping is actually a girl and that he is right now inside her mind somehow, Naruto replied, "I don't know, I never really bothered to think it through. Besides, there's no way I would ignore someone who needs my help."
The girl's expression was remorseful as she spoke, "But you're now suffering and dying because of me."
"Yeah, but it's not like I haven't suffered before."
Shocked, the girl asked, "What? Why?"
Frowning at the mere memory of their hateful glares, insults and even physical attempts to hurt him by the people of his own home village, Naruto said, "I'd… rather not talk about it." Looking at the girl, he then asked, "What about you, how did you end up being so sick?"
Wearing a despairing expression, the girl spoke, "I'm… have this terrible sickness which gives me these painful abilities and can make other people sick but in a bad way. I don't really remember how I got sick like that, or how my life used to be before I got sick, but the adults I can remember must have made me sick because they don't care that I'm hurting because of it. They… made me hurt people to see how my sickness works and would sometimes cut me open to "study" me. When I got really, really sick, they suddenly wanted to cure me but I didn't believe them and decided to run away as soon as they got careless. My sickness had been getting worse since then." Tears welled in her eyes as the girl added, "You're… the first person I know to actually care about me."
Horrified, Naruto thought, "I always knew that others have it rough but to live like that, to be considered as nothing more than an unloved tool by EVERYONE around her, is horrible." Suddenly hugging the girl, Naruto told her, "Don't worry, live or die, I won't leave your side."
Confused by his actions and statement, the girl asked, "Why?"
"Well, to put a long story short, I have a demon sealed inside of me on the day I was born. Because of that, almost all of the adults hated me and would do anything they could get away with to make my life miserable including kicking me out into the streets, giving me outrageous prices even for rotten food, assuming that they don't drive me away first, vandalizing my home, kicking me out of class for no reason, glaring at me or insulting me like I'm worse than thrash, ignoring me as though I don't exist, and getting their kids to hate me too. Hell, they even formed mobs to attack me a few times, usually during my birthdays, and they almost got me a few times."
Horrified, the girl asked, "How… how did you survive living like that?"
Wearing a sad smile, Narutop admitted, "To be honest, I couldn't. If it wasn't for the few people that care for me, like Teuchi-jisan and Ayame-neechan from Ichiraku Ramen, Hokage-jiji, and Iruka-sensei, I would be dead or worse by now."
Suddenly, the girl hugged him tightly as she cried and apologized, "I'm so sorry…"
Not sure if the girl was apologizing for making him tell her a summarized version of his painful early life or for being another person out of many to cause him hurt, Naruto could only hold her as he reassured her, "Don't worry, I won't let myself or you die without fighting back with everything I've got." The boy then had a sudden thought as he asked, "Say, what's your name by the way?"
Looking up at the boy's face, the girl then looked away as she sadly spoke, "I… don't have a name. People usually just call me Experiment 619, Zombie or Diseased Freak."
Frowning, Naruto looked into her green eyes and then had an idea, "Hey, why don't I call you Midori?"
Blinking, the girl gazed at Nartuto in confusion she asked, "Midori?"
"Well… you do have really pretty green eyes," was Naruto's sheepish reply. As far as Naruto knew, her eyes are somehow more beautiful than even Sakura's own green eyes.
Blushing at the compliment, the girl looked down to avoid his honest eyes and shyly thanked him, "T-thank you…" She then glanced up to ask, "What's your name?"
Grinning, Naruto proudly introduced himself, "The name's Uzumaki Naruto, the village outcast that will become its Hokage, believe it!" As Naruto introduced himself to Midori, the young pair never realized that they were being watched by three pairs of eyes…
Scene Change
After the red sphere finally dissipated with no visible sign of the purple miasma, Kakashi cautiously approached the site while Sasuke and Sakura followed behind with Tazuna. As they approached, Kakashi saw that Naruto was lying deathly-still on the ground with the sickly person held in his arms. Fearing for the worst, Kakashi approached the pair and realized to his relief and shock that both are somehow alive. However, Kakashi could not help but notice the changes on both children.
The sickly person Naruto was holding turned out to be a scrawny girl with untidy shoulder-length black hair and dark rings under her closed eyes. Naruto's change, while not as dramatic, was equally shocking as his sun-blond hair became pale-blond and his skin became deathly-grey in colour. What both children have in common are their bony hands and claws in place of nails. Wishing that he had a medic-ninja in the team, which he obviously does not have, Kakashi was considering an immediate retreat back to the village when the pair moaned. Concerned, the silver-haired man asked, "Are the two of you alright?"
Opening one cerulean-blue eye, Naruto squinted against the light as he asked, "Is… Midori-chan alright?"
Initially confused, Kakashi quickly realized who Naruto was referring to as he replied, "If you're talking the girl in your arms, then yes, she appears to be fine at the moment."
Smiling, Naruto thought, "Got to remember to thank Kyuubi-teme the next time I see him." Slowly getting up, Naruto could not help but realize that his body feels horribly stiff and sore. Groaning, the boy groused, "Now I know what it feels like to wake up from the grave…"
As the boy rose, the girl in his arms stirred awake as she opened her emerald-green eyes and asked, "Naruto-kun…?"
"I'm here, Midori-chan." Turning towards the boy who spoke to her, tears welled up in her eyes as she leapt into his arms and hugged him tightly as she sobbed into his chest. Smiling sincerely, Naruto held her close and allowed her to cry in relief that they are both alive and well and in apology for making him suffer for her sake. Stroking her hair, he said, "I won't leave you side, that's a promise of a lifetime."
Seeing the pair, Kakashi wore a rare smile underneath his mask and thought, "You really are the Number One Most Unpredictable Knuckle-Headed Ninja…"
Scene Change
"So, let me get this straight. You just survived being exposed to something which would have killed just about anyone, including people like the Third and Fourth Hokages, but instead of dying you instead survive by, as you put it, "pure ninja awesomeness" and insist that you are fine despite the fact that you are obviously looking different from before. Moreover, you wish to continue with the mission despite your near-death experience, the changes in your body because of it, and the fact that we now have a young girl who's clinging onto you like a tick to journey with us."
Pondering over Kakashi's words for a moment, Naruto then nodded and cheerfully replied, "Yup, that's about it."
Looking at the grinning boy, the girl named Midori who is timidly holding onto him as though for dear life, and then at the three behind him including a troubled Tazuna, a scowling Sasuke and a dumbstruck Sakura, Kakashi sighed and said, "Well, if you're fighting-fit and are prepared to be responsible for her life, I suppose I can overlook this matter. However, I WILL be reporting this matter to the Third Hokage when we return from the mission, understand?"
"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei!"
Seeing that it is already evening and night-time is fast approaching, Kakashi decided to have everyone prepare for camp. Sakura, who happens to be a hopeless fangirl for Uchiha Sasuke as he is good looking, the ninja rookie of the year and comes from a prestigious clan before the Uchiha Massacre, immediately tried to "help" Sasuke who completely ignored her. Being their teacher, Kakashi had already expected it. What he did not expect is Naruto choosing to ignore Sakura, who was his crush for years, and instead allowed Midori to help him to prepare for camp. Even more surprising however is the expression on Naruto's face as he wore a smile Kakashi had never seen before. Gone was the mask of a happy-go-lucky smile which seemed incapable of feeling down, replaced by a truly happy smile which had subtle hints of a deep sadness no child his age should suffer and yet could still survive with his innocence intact. Noticing that Midori was wearing the same smile, Kakashi realized that they must have similar life experiences, not surprising considering how the found the pale-green girl, and made a mental note to ask Naruto about her past as soon as he could. There is also the matter about the Kyuubi and Kakashi is quite certain that it has to do with Naruto's miraculous survival as well as the changes in his body. He then noticed Tazuna's growing unease and cannot help but suspect that the bridge builder is hiding something and that the event involving Naruto and Midori had unnerved him.
Sakura meanwhile was feeling a little disappointed when Sasuke had paid no attention to her, again, when she noticed that something was lacking for some reason. Hearing a soft giggle, Sakura turned around to see the sickly girl named Midori giggling at something Naruto had said. Quirking an eyebrow, Sakura had to wonder, "What does she see in him? I mean, sure he helped her and all but it's not like Sasuke-kun couldn't do better." Being a fangirl who went so far as to break her friendship with her childhood friend for the sake of being Sasuke's "true love", Sakura never really bothered to remember that Sasuke did not care for Midori at all much less risk his own life to help her. However, even she started to notice that Naruto's usual annoying grin had been replaced by a different kind of smile as she quietly noted, "Was his smile always this… sincere?"
Unaware of Sakura's gaze upon them, Midori giggled as Naruto told her about one of his many creatively insane pranks including one incident when he doodled on all of the ANBU masks thus embarrassing the entire ANBU division in Konohagakure. Happy to be able to make her smile, Naruto was about to tell her more about his pranking misadventures when Kakashi appeared behind them and asked, "Just curious, why are you not surprised about the change in your skin colour, Naruto?"
Looking at Kakashi, Naruto then quietly replied, "Let's just say my "fuzzy problem" told me about it before he saved all three of us and leave it at that."
Realizing who Naruto was talking about, Kakashi hid his shock behind a calm façade as he asked, "I see, any reason why?"
"Oh, you know, "fuzzy problem" not wanting to die with me and stuff like that. Just to let you know, Midori-chan knows about it too."
Glancing at the girl who nodded in confirmation, Kakashi sighed and asked, "You did inform her that it is an S-ranked secret, right?"
Blinking, Naruto then sheepishly replied, "That… kind of slipped off my mind."
Sighing, Kakashi turned his attention to Midori and said, "While I'm glad that you have accepted being Naruto's friend despite his "fuzzy problem", I must insist that you keep it a secret from other people. Not many people his own age know about it and many of the adults who do know hate him for it."
Nodding, Midori said, "I understand."
"That aside, is there any notable features about you two that we should know about?"
Shrugging, Naruto admitted, "I don't, but Midori-chan should know a thing or two unless helping her changed her more than I thought."
"I see. Would you mind showing us what you can do after we make camp, Midori-san?"
Shaking her head, Midori replied, "No, I don't mind."
Scene Change
Later that night, after everyone had eaten and Tazuna slept for the night, Team Seven stood before Midori as Kakashi spoke, "Alright, show us what you can do."
Nodding, Midori took a deep breath before her body started to change, painfully too if her discomfort is of any indication. Both Sakura and Sasuke watched in horror and shock as bulging black veins formed beneath her skin and bony spikes protruded from beneath her skin while red-black muscle became visible as random portions of her skin stretched and tore open. One of her arms changed into a thick meaty fist covered in hardened bone-like skin while her other arm possessed elongated claws which was dripping with a liquid substance which had to be poison. The overall image was, to put it simply, unnervingly monstrous even to Kakashi who had seen his share of horrors during the Third Ninja World War.
Looking at her altered form with a critical eye, Kakashi asked, "Can you use other forms?"
Midori nodded again and changed her form yet again thus resulting in her having digitigrade feet, an elongated lower jaw with tusk-like teeth and having both of her arms changing into paw-like claws. The bony vent-like spikes on her back were exhausting purple miasma and acid drooled freely from her maw.
"Okay, I think I speak for all of us that it enough." Indeed, while Kakashi still does not know her full capabilities, the things he had seen so far made him realize that the girl is far from harmless due to her ability to change her entire body into a weapon, a weapon which is quite frankly a living biohazard. Hearing the man's statement, Midori changed back into her normal human form although her clothes are now even more ragged than before. Turning his attention to Naruto, Kakashi asked, "Can you use the same abilities as her?"
Shrugging, Naruto said, "I guess so, but I'll need to learn from her how to do it."
Accepting the boy's answer, Kakashi said, "Alright, the rest of you go and get some rest." Pointing at Naruto and Midori, he added, "Especially you two. We'll set off for Wave first thing in the morning."
As the genin and the girl went to sleep, with Midori choosing to sleep with Naruto, Kakashi mused, "Those techniques, it seems to be a fusion of several bloodlines." The man frowned deeply as he considered the possible combinations, "The Kaguya clan with their Dead Bone Pulse techniques, the Dokusoeki clan with their Plague Bearer techniques, maybe even the Kyuuketsuki clan with their Blood Bending techniques, and assuming that she had inherited any of the Uzumaki clan's traits from Naruto, a possibility of having their famous stamina and longevity. She may even be pseudo-jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Youko judging from its involvement in saving the two of them." Shaking his head, Kakashi thought, "If what Naruto said about becoming liker her is true then, in addition to being an Uzumaki and a jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Youko, he's a fellow inheritor of some of the most infamous bloodlines ever known in all of the Elemental Nations…"
Scene Change
On the following day, Naruto woke up feeling pleasantly warm. Opening one eye, he blushed as he saw Midori snuggling onto him like a kitten or a puppy. While he was fine with it, he knew that getting caught in such a position with Midori by his teammates will cause a whole lot of trouble. Desperate to get out of the awkward situation before getting caught, Naruto shook her gently thus causing her to frown as she hugged him more tightly. Blushing even more furiously, Naruto was at a loss when he heard Kakashi's voice, "Am I interrupting anything?"
Turning his gaze at the man who must be grinning cheekily beneath his mask, Naruto swore to get even with him as he spoke, "No, of course not!" Due to his outburst, Midori woke up with an unhappy groan as her eyes opened.
Still wearing his amused expression, Kakashi drawled, "If you say so."
Before long, both children appeared out of their tent to wash up and eat their breakfast before breaking camp and continuing their way to Wave. However, as they ate and then broke camp, Naruto could not help but notice Sakura looking at him and Midori with fear and disgust in her eyes while Sasuke simply glared at them with an unreadable expression on his face. Although unhappy with the recent development, Naruto could understand their reactions somewhat as even he found Midori's ability, and which he himself also possess, to be rather gross and even a little scary. Normally, the boy would seek out for Sakura's attention and ask her out for a date but, considering the current situation and his new friendship with Midori, the boy felt disinclined to do so at least for now. If he was being honest to himself, he would value his new friendship with Midori over his long-time crush with Sakura as Sakura had never accepted him unlike Midori who also knows about his terrible burden and understands his loneliness.
After packing up their belongings, the six individuals set off for Wave. As before, Naruto eagerly took the forward position while Sasuke and Sakura walked beside Tazuna and Kakashi strolled behind the elderly man. However, as everyone else noticed, Midori decided to walk alongside with Naruto and both children held each other's hands as they travelled towards their destination.
Seeing the friendly interaction between the two, Sasuke was completely indifferent while Kakashi smiled at the two and hoped that they would be friends if not more. Tazuna however became even more uneasy, something which Kakashi noticed as well thus dampening his good mood somewhat. Sakura on the other hand cannot help but feel an unpleasant emotion in her chest at seeing them holding hands and smiling at each other. If she could name the emotion, it would be something similar to disgust but mixed with disappointment and, for some reason she just cannot comprehend, something suspiciously similar to jealousy and even a hint of heartache. "What's so great about her anyway? He hardly knows her, he almost died from saving her from her own techniques, which are bloody disgusting by the way, and yet they're both acting like they're meant to be together!" Suddenly, realization hit her like a landslide as she continued to think it over, "Wait a minute, "meant to be together"? Does that mean that I am actually getting jealous of them, a pathetic loser and a disgusting freak, being together in love?" It did not require ninja training to see the increasingly strained expression on her face as she continued to think, "No, that's insane! There's no way I'd ever get jealous of them being together! It'll be like me being jealous of Ino-pig choosing one of those two losers in her team as he boyfriend instead of Sasuke-kun!"
Blissfully unaware of Sakura's admittedly comical internal turmoil, Naruto and Midori strolled forward towards their destination without a care in the world…
Scene Change
Meanwhile, in the Land of Waves, a tall muscular man with pale skin, short spiky black hair, brown eyes and hardly any eyebrows stood before two other ninjas. Dressed in baggy pants, wrist and leg warmers, a belt in place of a shirt to hold a large cleaver-like sword on his back as well as bandages to cover his nose and mouth and a Kirigakure headband tied sideways on his head, the man was known as Momochi Zabuza, the Demon of the Mist and former ninja of Kirigakure until his treachery against the current Mizukage. Kneeling before him were two brothers, Meizu and Gouzu, the Demon Brothers and fellow former ninjas of Kirigakure. Gouzu, who wears a Kirigakure forehead protector with a single horn attached to it, a rebreather which covers his lower face and a clawed gauntlet on his right arm with shoulder-length dark-brown hair and dark eyes, reported, "We apologize for failing to kill the target, Zabuza-sama. However, there were some… unexpected events which we could not afford to leave you ignorant off." Kneeling at Gouzu's right side was Meizu who resembles his brother except that his forehead protector has two horns, wears his clawed gauntlet on the left arm and has wild hair of the same length and colour.
Gazing upon his two subordinates, Zabuza said, "Then speak."
"We were waiting in hiding to kill the target and whoever would stand in our way. However, before the target could arrive, a sickly girl appeared and fell in between us and the target," reported Gouzu.
Unimpressed, Zabuza asked, "And how does that justify your failure?"
"The target arrived with some Konoha ninjas, including Hatake Kakashi as a jounin sensei of his own genin team."
Raising an eyebrow at the mention of the famous Konokagakure jounin, Zabuza thought, "I suppose that could justify their hesitation but there must be more to it than that." Turning his attention to Meizu, Zabuza asked, "And so you two, the infamous Demon Brothers, fled at the mere sight of the Copycat Ninja and his brats?"
Infuriated, Meizu, who is the more violent of the two brothers, shouted, "Of course we're not scared of his brats, Zabuza-sama! What scared us off was that sickly freak that got in their way!"
Now feeling very curious, Zabuza asked, "And why is that?"
Gouzu, the calmer of the two brothers, spoke on Meizu's behalf, "The sickly girl for some reason has abilities similar to that of the Kaguya and Dokusoeki clans."
Hearing Gouzu's explanation, Zabuza froze as he felt an emotion he had not felt in a long time, fear. Although the Kaguya clan is indeed an infamous clan of battle-loving berserkers which the ability to manipulate their bones at will to form weapons, shields and armour harder than even steel, the Dokusoeki clan is even more insidious in their cruelty as they are master manipulators of poison and, more importantly, pestilence. Capable of creating highly virulent diseases, even one of them is enough to cripple an entire army once the infection takes hold. Fortunately for their enemies, their highly poisonous and disease-ridden bodies make it extremely difficult for them to form a large clan as any coupling with outsiders will kill the said individuals. For a child to possess both bloodlines, the implications are terrifying to say the least.
Calming himself, not that the brothers noticed his fear, Zabuza asked, "And what happened to the girl?"
"One of the genin, a blond boy in a ridiculous orange outfit, wanted to help her when her Plague Bearer and Dead Bone Pulse abilities suddenly overloaded, which was probably what was making her so sick, and released a huge cloud of miasma after accidentally impaling the boy with her bones. Meizu and I barely avoided inhaling the miasma and ran for it."
Hearing Gouzu's explanation, Zabuza had to admit that even he would flee from the miasma. However, he needed to be sure as he asked, "So, did they all die from the miasma?"
Shaking his head, Gouzu explained, "No, when we finally dared to return, all of them, including the girl and that boy who held her when she released her miasma, were alive. As soon as we confirmed their survival, we decided to report immediately to you."
Disappointed, Zabuza asked, "And it never crossed your minds to assassinate them while they were all distracted?"
"Admittedly, no, but we do have more to tell you to justify it." Seeing Zabuza nod in beckoning, Gouzu explained further, "While we were fleeing, we saw some sort of demonic red chakra unlike any we've ever seen before being released to contain the miasma. Unless I'm mistaken, that red chakra was what saved that boy and the girl while the others fled like us."
Frowning, Zabuza mused, "Demonic red chakra. As far as I know, only a jinchuuriki like that bastard of a Mizukage has that kind of chakra… wait a minute, a Konohagakure genin and demonic chakra. Could it be…?" Looking intently at the Demon Brothers, Zabuza asked, "Was it the boy in orange who released that red chakra?"
"We could not tell from the miasma blocking our view."
Not surprised by Gouzu's reply, Zabuza was nevertheless displeased by the lack of concrete information as he asked, "Are they still proceeding with their mission in escorting our target towards Wave?"
Nodding, Meizu said, "Yes, along with that sickly freak tagging along."
Not liking the unexpected turn of events, Zabuza knew he would need to rethink his strategy as he asked, "Are there anything else you know of that you have not told me?"
"Yes, in fact. While we do not know exactly how it happened, the sickly girl was able to get her bloodline abilities back under control and may now be able to control it at will unlike before judging by how they are continuing with their mission with her following them. Also, the boy may have inherited her bloodline abilities as his skin and hair colour changed after being exposed to the miasma."
Hearing Gouzu's last explanation, Zabuza just knew that he was going to have a headache as he told the two brothers that they could leave. As the Demon Brothers left, a masked figure appeared behind Zabuza and asked, "What do you plan to do, Zabuza-sama?"
Not turning around to gaze at his third subordinate, Zabuza said, "As much as I hate to say it, I'm seriously considering quitting this job and making a run for it. If those two brats really have the Dead Bone Pulse and Plague Bearer abilities, facing them would be suicide."
Tilting his head, the masked person asked, "Why? Surely their lack of experience and control will put them at a disadvantage?"
"Normally, that is true. However, in the case of the Dokusoeki clan, inexperience and lack of control actually makes them even more dangerous to both their allies and their enemies as their ability can go out of control with unpredictable results. The last thing we need is a repeat of the Black Plague."
Now understanding Zabuza's reasoning, the masked figure asked, "So shall we retreat then, Zabuza-sama?"
"No, as much as I'm tempted to just abandon the mission we need the money to fund our rebellion." Considering the possible actions he can take and the resulting outcomes, Zabuza the decided, "Haku, spy on our employer and see if he would keep his end of the bargain. If he would not, not that I'll be surprised by it, then we might be able to work a few things out with the Konohagakure ninjas."
Well aware of Zabuza's way of thinking, Haku bowed and said, "As you wish, Zabuza-sama."
-Chapter Fin-
Note: This will be a Naruto X OC story although Naruto MAY get a small harem if it fits with the flow of the story. Also, there is a chance of Naruto getting overpowered although I will try to keep it as believable as possible. As for anyone hoping for zombies, let's just say Naruto and Midori alone already count although more MIGHT just be coming in later chapters. As an extra note, this chapter has undergone a minor rewrite.
