--
Authors Note: Well, I was PMed by someone who wanted me to add more suspense to the story. - Kinda wierded me out. But yeah, I came up with a suspense in the story. I've added a few OC characters. Except, one of them isn't an OC character. You'll notice Naruto suspects someone from the start, though he never goes into detail. And soon, eventually soon, that someone ends up proving his suspicion right. It's actually a Canon Character who died long before the Time Skip. I won't give away who, but you'll figure out once you read it. I made it pretty obvious. Concerning Sasuke, I got suggestions from Depressionist, co-owner of this account, that he sounds too OOC. - I dunno if he sounds IC enough, but he probably isn't. I'd be disappointed if someone broke my promise and went off with a criminal organization.
Yeah. Ja!
--
;;' C.h.a.p.t.e.r.0.2';;
Naruto brought the raw meat to his lips, taking in the smell. He quickly wolfed it down, letting the demon savor the taste of fresh meat; human meat. He didn't know why he was forcing himself to swallow the stuff, especially when, once upon a time, it was a person, like him. But he unconsciously let it happen. He had little choice but to do what the demon would do. And Kyuubi ate humans. It was cannibalism, but for the time being, he wasn't a human. I'm too tainted to be considered human.
He heard a soft squeak from Tobi, who quickly hid himself under the table again. Naruto snarled at the orange masked man, before looking back at the rest of the human body he had captured. He had taken a limb and two arms from the villager that he had caught. Without even adding seasoning, or even cooking it, he ate it. Like he always did. The remaining Akatsuki members, Kakuzu, Tobi, and Pain, were afraid of is reckless behavior. After so many had died, he remained the same. Never caring, never even showing any remorse.
He was truly a monster.
Naruto could only go on because of his promise to Sasuke. The thought that he would come and rescue him. But that was soon buried behind his head. I'm not sure if he's coming. I just have to focus on being… a monster. With a short sigh, he brought more of the chunky arm to his lips and began biting it off. Sometimes, when it became too unbearable, he let Kyuubi take over and eat all of it. The demon had a much bigger appetite, resulting in it going to hunt for more meat. Naruto would always remain unconscious, till it decided to back down and let him go back, or its time ran out.
That was what those pills were for. Limiting Kyuubi's chances of taking over Naruto's body, and making Naruto retain the Kyuubi's chakra by locking away his own. Tsunade was a smart woman. But he knew the next mission Pain gave them would involve killing her, because their numbers were slowly receding, and they suspected Tsunade was at fault for this.
He was going to be assigned to killing her, he knew that too.
--
"This is our… newest members. Azubaz Ukah, Soukka Izuro, Kanako Itsuke, and Kanako Hokuto."
The four before him were simple looking. Azubaz Ukah held very similar appearances to Haku; with the same soft skin, brown eyes, dark brown hair, and mist forehead protector. Naruto guessed they were related, somehow. Soukka Izuro reminded him, undoubtedly, of TenTen. His Chinese style robe and his light brown eyes gave off the TenTen-like appeal. Itsuke and Hokuto Kanako made him feel uneasy. Though both were clearly from Otogakure, they held similarities to the once him, and Sasuke. Hokuto would, every now and them, glare fiercely at Itsuke, who smirked back haughtily. It made Naruto feel like another person.
"Wait for me…"
Those words were banished from his mind. He didn't believe in that promise anymore.
"It is an honor to meet you, Kyuubi. You may call me Izuro," Izuro spoke. Naruto let a smirk haunt his face, a cold, asshole like smirk. As he did, he felt Ukah's gaze on him. "In an instance, one may change so much. Have you forgotten your precious people?" she spoke. The words made him tense up, but he remained cool on the outside. Hokuto came fumbling up first, grinning like a fool. I used to do that too. You're me now. "Ohayo, Kyuubi! My name's Kanako Hokuto, but you can call me Hokuto. That over there is Itsuke-bastard, he's an asshole!" Hokuto exclaimed. His words earned him a smack on the back of the head, from Itsuke.
"Wait for me…"
He turned around, walking away instantly. He hated them all, these new recruits. They were too similar to the other him… the one that he had lost.
--
He stood before Tsunade, holding the rasengan in his free hand, the other remaining clutching her by the shirt. She stared up at him with fear, complete shock. She expected him not to follow through. But he had long since agreed that he had nothing to hold him back. Nothing to keep him as the innocent boy he once was. Her amber eyes remained on his, tears trailing down her face from the wounds he had inflicted.
It had begun as a mission, now it was him.
"N-Naruto, s-stop… y-you've d-done enough!"
He quickly let the rasengan hit her stomach, tearing it open with the power it held. She let out a scream, her blood gushing out of the deep wound. She was dead…
He let the remaining part of her fall, as his red eyes remained locked on her. Nothing was left of the Godaime Hokage. He didn't care; the emotions he felt had been sucked out. He had taken it so far, now he had lost all that was important to him. A sad smile filled his face, as he bent down and placed a hand on her right cheek. He looked down, for a moment, trying to summon the love he felt for her before. But it never came, it remained an empty hatred. I can't feel love anymore. You're me now, of course you can't. He wanted to cry, cry for all that this simple mission had made him lose.
But the tears were gone too.
He turned around, walking out of the room with no regret. He had enjoyed what he had done. He had enjoyed killing the woman he once considered his grandmother figure…
--
He still sat on his bed, staring out the window at the falling sun.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune should be up there, along with the rest of them. All of those good souls he had heartlessly murdered. He continued staring, with half lidded red eyes. After a few moments, he closed his eyes and let his body fall back on the bed. He had a stressful day. Some rest should do him good. He let sleep overcome him, willingly letting it consume his exhausted will.
In no time, he was asleep. The nightmares he had committed replaying, over and over. And yet he never felt anything.
--
"So, how did it go? Is the Akatsuki any stronger now that he's with them?"
Hokuto looked up at the man and gave a short nod. Itsuke, who was behind him, wrapped an arm around his brother's waist. What they had seen during their short time in Akatsuki had made Hokuto too afraid to step back. Both had been paid to do what they had; they were young prodigies with a special Kekkei Genkai, and the stranger had offered a lot of ryo.
"How is he..?"
"He eats human corpses, he kills people without caring, he killed one of his teammates, and he killed his own hokage."
The dark haired man showed surprise at Itsuke's words. Dirty business, as it was, Hokuto was certain this was the most disgusting thing he had ever seen. Why would a demon do that using an innocent boy's once body? He hated seeing that boy… eating, killing.
"Are you sure… it's the blond haired… moronic… boy?"
"He isn't the slightest bit moronic, Uchiha-san. He's a monster… heartless, cold, unforgiving," Itsuke replied. The man, known as Uchiha Sasuke, showed a bit more uneasiness at the words. "Naruto… you forgot my promise," he mumbled. Hokuto raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Is Naruto the name of the jinchuuriki? He was a lucky fella, to have such a nice village, and everything," he said. "If you require further assistance, we will be in Otogakure, at our residence. It was a pleasure doing business, Uchiha-san," Itsuke interrupted.
With that, both boys turned to leave.
--
Sasuke began racing down a narrow path, his black eyes narrowed in thought. Naruto was in Akatsuki. He had specifically told the boy to wait for him.
"Wait for me…"
Where had he gone wrong? Naruto had somehow… gone to join Akatsuki. Naruto had forgotten their coveted promise. This has to be wrong… it can't be him. He would never hurt Tsunade, or even Jiraiya. I know him… But he knew those two boys were right. They had seen this; Sasuke had even heard rumors from villagers. That a blond was going around eating humans, killing people. Doing Akatsuki's dirty work. If it is him… I'll knock some sense into him. If it really is the demon… That thought alone made his stomach stricken.
He made a promise… he can't break it.
Sasuke's speed quickened, as things around him began to become a blur. Though he was a lot quicker, the Akatsuki hideout could be anywhere. He had forgotten to ask the two boys where it was located. More importantly, he couldn't tell what Naruto's chakra was like. I can only remember Naruto's chakra… not the Kyuubi's.
He had only trusted a few people after his parents' death. He didn't trust anyone, except Naruto. He had even told the boy that he had to stay. Wait in Konohagakure till he came back. But somewhere, it had gone wrong. Naruto had gone to Akatsuki, for reasons Sasuke couldn't interpret. It hurt him to think that the one promise he looked forward to having fulfilled had been broken. And he still saw no reason for it. You're so… unpredictable. Naruto…
… I won't let you break your promise. I'm taking you away from there…
--
"Your next mission, Kyuubi, is to go after Yakushi Kabuto. Though he is no longer a threat, he may have Orochimaru's other half on him and that is a bad omen to anyone."
Naruto nodded, calmly. Pain was their leader, and he had been insecure ever since Itsuke and Hokuto had betrayed Akatsuki. The two boys seemed to be strange in the first place. Naruto was glad they were gone. He had enough reminders as it was. From the corner, Ukah always kept her still, unmoving face on. Somewhere to the left, Kakuzu and Izuro were playing shogun. And in one last corner, Tobi was waving at Kakuzu. He had no idea how Akatsuki was alive, but it was.
With a short smirk, he nodded. As always, Pain requested he pick a partner. With the added choice of; "if it suits you, of course." He never wanted a partner. If he had to perform dirty deeds, it was always alone. Killing Kabuto might just be considered a personal deed, though. I've always loathed him, somewhat. "Kyuubi-san, I would like to ask you. Have you seen the Great Naruto Bridge in Kirigakure?" Ukah suddenly interrupted. Naruto was a bit weary of her. Her resemblance to Haku, and her Kekkei Genkai, all made her formidable. She was exactly like Haku, personality and fighting wise. The personality part made Naruto feel uncomfortable. She would mention something or another at given moment, all of it somehow pertaining to Kirigakure.
"No… I haven't," he answered. She seemed to almost smile at the answer. "I would like to train with you for a while, Kyuubi-kun. Let us go outback… the open air makes me feel… freshened," she spoke. And Naruto noticed it, her voice sounded deeper. Something isn't right…
He followed Ukah outside, only to find Ukah hadn't even drawn her kunai. There isn't something right. I don't want to be here. "I've been meaning to tell you the truth, Naruto-kun, but I've been afraid you might not react properly," Ukah began. At the mention of his real name, Naruto's eyes widened. He hadn't even mentioned his name when he arrived here. How did Ukah know? Unless…
"You're right… I am Haku."
It all made sense. Knowing about his name, that similar personality, the face. It all made so much sense now. H-how did he come to Akatsuki? Already, he felt his resolve crumbling. He had to regain his composure again. There had to be a way. I'm not Naruto… I'm Kyuubi. And… He smirked, momentarily. Of course, he could pretend he knew Haku, from when he had taken over Naruto's body. It was so simple, so easy.
"You, I remember you… when I took over the kid's body back in Kirigakure. It's a shame you're still alive," he spoke, smirking heartlessly. But it didn't phase Haku. The boy remained untouched, still. This isn't right… "I told you before, who are your precious people? You've hurt so many of them… yet there are some willing to pursue you to such great lengths," Haku spoke, calmly. "I am one of those people who believe in you. Zabuza-kun also believed in you… he wanted me to protect you." "I'm not Naruto. So don't get yourself into trouble you don't belong in," Naruto snarled. He didn't like this, at all. Why was he still alive?
Haku gave a smile. One of those: "I know something you think I don't know" smiles. "I will be heading back in. For your own knowledge, Kyuubi-san, there is a strong chance that the one who killed Itachi-san and Kisame-san is headed here," Haku replied. With that, the boy had walked back into the compound.
Naruto stood there, his eyes widened and shock dripping down his throat. He refused to believe that he was coming. He was gone; that promise meant nothing to either of them. He wouldn't even know if it's me. I'm Kyuubi… that promise doesn't exist. He can't be coming to save me…
--