IY: I know, I know. I should be updating my other fics, I'm a bad author, yadda, yadda... :) I'm sorry, but I just couldn't get this idea out of my head.
Kit: We had to write it out. It's a miracle when she gets inspired.
IY: Oh, shut up you mangy fox! Anyway, this is set after the sixth book (with a little tweaking here and there) and manga chapter 318. Regretfully, I have only seen up to episode 173 in the anime. But in case you haven't reached that point yet and don't want spoilers, kindly hit the back button instead of leaving a flame.
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Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership to anything having to do with the Harry Potter series or the Naruto manga and anime. They are licensed to other people and I am not making any money off of this fic. I only own the plot, kindly ask for permission before taking stuff out of it.
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Warning: Shonen-ai (BoyxBoy), Language, and possible Lime later on, in which case I will up the rating.
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Shinobi Horcrux Hunt: Chapter One
Written By: IYfanatic and her crazy muse, Kitzuko
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Harry sighed, looking glumly out his foggy window at the hulking forms of the neighboring houses situated on Privet Drive. The street lamps along the street cast feeble patches of yellow light downwards, hoping to light up the road, but only made the surrounding shadows that much deeper.
After one last forlorn glance down the empty street, Harry moved his eyes towards the heavens, inspecting the pre-dawn bleakness for any sign of Hedwig. His snowy owl, pet, and faithful companion had disappeared a few nights ago and had yet to return.
Harry had assumed that she was simply going hunting for a snack, but now he was beginning to become slightly worried. She had never been gone for so long before, at least not when she didn't have explicit orders to stay away.
A quick glance towards his alarm clock caused another heavy sigh to escape his thin, lanky form; it was three a.m. already and he had yet to even touch his bed sheets. Vivid green eyes swept the skies again, but seeing nothing worthy of their interest, they rested on his forgotten bed.
Settling under the covers with a tired groan, Harry tried to keep his heavy-lidded eyes open. He had been getting little sleep since his return from school, and Harry liked it that way. Sleeping meant nightmares, and he wasn't ready to deal with some of those images yet.
Bored with his inspection of the ceiling, Harry turned his eyes to the wall beside his bed. The small calendar hanging there brought back memories of a time when he happily counted down the days until his return to school.
With a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Harry thought, "Too bad that I don't have anything to look forward to anymore." With the closing of Hogwarts, he had nowhere to go when summer break ended.
In fact, the only reason he was even here was in respect of Dumbledore's wishes. Harry was not of legal age in the wizarding world yet, and the Headmaster had wanted him to stay in the Dursley's home until that time arrived.
He had been here for two days already, and later today he would be heading to the Burrow. There had been enough time for Dumbledore's blood protection to activate, and that was enough for him.
The thought of Dumbledore's death brought forth a harsh pang of guilt; similar to the one he felt when thinking of Sirius' fall through the veil, only not quite as strong. Dumbledore's passing was not directly his fault, but he still felt responsible.
"That brings the count up to three." Harry's morbid thoughts brought another mocking smile to his lips; a smile eerily similar to the one that constantly adorned the face of the person he most despised.
Voldemort was a constant in his dreams now, no matter how hard Harry tried blocking his mind with his partial knowledge of Occlumency. It was only natural that some things would rub off on him.
"If I'd tried harder, I could have at least stopped Snape from getting away! But I never learned how to properly block my mind, and he took advantage of that! I should've been better, I should've stopped him, I should've done something…." The rest of his mental rant faded as he drifted slowly into the Sandman's clutches.
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-----Line Break Doesn't Work-----Too Bad-----Deal With It-----
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"Oi, gaki! Pay attention, would you!" Naruto jumped, startled. He looked sheepishly at Tsunade, blushing slightly at being caught unaware. "Heh, gomen Baa-chan!"
Tsunade shot him a withering glare that he simply shrugged off, and then turned back to the mission briefing. "As I was saying, you three will be going to England to protect this 'Harry Potter' kid. You're to help his sensei, Dumbledore, destroy some 'Horcrux' things, but do NOT be showing off your skills! Try to blend in. This goes for you too, Naruto. No Oiroke no Jutsu crap!"
She glared at him until the short blond shifted uncomfortably where he stood. Taking that as a sign that he got the message, she said, "Hyuuga, Nara, you're dismissed. Come back tomorrow at 6 a.m. sharp, with all your stuff ready to go. Naruto, stay for a bit. I need to talk to you."
Neji sent him a sympathetic look as he walked out, but Shikamaru simply gave him his usual bored gaze and said, "Hurry up, we're going to meet the others at Ichiraku later." Naruto grinned, "Hai, hai! I won't be late!" The lazy Chuunin rolled his eyes at the blonde's exuberance, but nodded farewell.
After the others left, Naruto turned back to Tsunade, who had been quietly observing their interactions. "So, who are these 'others'?" she asked, raising a blonde eyebrow at him.
Naruto laughed, flopping down in a chair. "Oh, you know, the others! Hinata, Sakura-chan, Kiba, Lee, Ino, TenTen, Shino, Chouji, Neji, Shikamaru- the whole gang! We've been meeting at least once a month to catch up and tell each other what's going on and stuff."
Tsunade grinned, "Still calling her Sakura-chan, ne? Even though she's already going out with Lee?" Naruto pouted, "You don't have to keep reminding me, ya know!" With a light scowl, he changed the subject. "Anyway, why did you want me to stay, Baa-chan?"
Tsunade's happy mood vanished quickly. "Well, Jiraiya discovered some things that might interest you…" she trailed off, not sure how to continue. "Is it about Sasuke!" Naruto asked, excited.
"Don't get your hopes up, gaki; but yes, it has to do with Sasuke and Orochimaru."
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"Sasuke-kun." The dark-haired young man in question looked up from his kneeling position, cold and carefully blank eyes staring at the snake Sannin, awaiting instruction.
"Did you do what I asked of you?"
A sharp nod was his response, face remaining impassive. Orochimaru chuckled, "Your improvement is showing, Sasuke-kun."
A faint glimmer of surprise flickered through dark eyes, before being quickly hidden. "Now, now. I am allowed to praise your achievements once in a while, aren't I?"
Not bothering to answer the clearly rhetorical question, Sasuke asked, "When will we be leaving, Orochimaru-sama?"
"Patience. We will go when the time is right. Tell the shinobi to prepare; we don't want them to be left behind if we have to leave suddenly, now do we, Sasuke-kun?"
"No, Orochimaru-sama," with a curt bow, Sasuke left the dungeon-like room that Orochimaru resided in.
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He he, that's it. :) Please review, ne? Tell me what you did and didn't like. I might consider changing the story line a bit based off your suggestions.