The Fox's Hollow Mask.
(CH.2-Re-written)
The storm continued to sweep across the island relentlessly as the company continued their trek into the village of wave. The community from what they tell was destitute and in shames. Several people and even dead bodies littered the streets, many desperately trying to find shelter from the weather while others prayed on their fellow man for their own survival', a pitiful sight.
Naruto walked a few yards ahead of the rest his team, his shredded clothing flapping in the wind showing his massive wounds have already healed and scared with remarkable speed. The team came to the other side of the harbor where the bridge builders house was located and on the front porch stood a lovely young woman and next to here a boy who must have been her son. The woman smiled and waved to her father then noticed the blond leading the group and a foreboding feeling set in upon her.
"Tsunami! Inari! I almost thought Id never see you again!" the old man exclaimed and embraced his family once more. The boy who's face remained shrouded behind his hate, he glared at the Ninja with low regard and returned into his home. The mother sighed slightly then turned and addressed the shinobi.
"You all have my deepest thanks for protecting my father and are more than welcome in our home, please." she invited and followed suit her son followed by Tuzana, Sakura and Sasuke who caste Naruto a weary glance before entering. Kakashi stood betwixt his student an the porch his lone eye not leaving Naruto's.
"I don't know if your the real Naruto or a Kyuubi impersonator or whatever else you clam but I need to know that your on our side." Kakashi said sternly not knowing to treat him as a threat or ally.
The boy stood in the roaring wind allowing his hair and clothes to flutter shamelessly before he turned and began to walk away without a word.
"Where are you going? Naruto come back NARUO!" but he already disappeared into the treeline. The scarecrow stood in his place then ran through various hand-sighs "SHADOW CLONE NO JUTSU!" he yelled creating a perfect copy of himself who nodded already knowing what was wanted out of him and followed his estranged student into the forest. Leaving the real Kakashi to ponder the recent events with much uncertainty.
In the forest Naruto continued to walk aimlessly looking down at his next to none existent jacket and undershirt that continued to shred from the gust of wind.
"Hmmm no this wont do at all..." Naruto mused to himself and felt a voice stir from his inner mind.
'Indeed...find some quality metals and well see if I can't fashion something more appropriate.' Jack instructed also not liking the lack of protection his messy cloth provided.
"An armorer are you?" the blond asked slightly curious of his new partners ability's.
'And much more I assure you, with a little patients and skill there is no stopping your potential but only if you commit your self to forever becoming stronger than the second you were before; Never forget, never forgive and never give in.' Naruto listed to his new mentor and found vigor in the motto...yes that would be his new Ninja way. He smiled to himself and began to search the forest for granite in order to fashion the Armor he would no doubt need in the future. He continued to walk through the misty forest just as the storm began to lighten into a sprinkle and soon darkness began to set over the island. He stopped suddenly and took cover against a tree that was a hundred yards from a clearing. In a circular meadow was a small caravan of 12 people from what he could tell with wagons flanking their sides however at least two were held captive one male in a cage, dead, and a female currently being ganged raped in one of the wagons, her screams and moans echoed in the forest.
Bandits he concluded and then noticed the mark of a smith on the side of one of the wagons, no doubt the materials he sought would be in there. Impeccable timing, just as he was working up another apatite. He stalked from tree to tree till he was in striking distance of the first brute who had passed out drunk under the shade of an oak. Naruto eased his hand around the thugs neck and covered his mouth then snapped it in a fluent motion then dragged the body where it could not be spied.
The shinobi continued to stalk across the clearing and took cover behind the wagon where the woman was being violated, he peered into the window and saw three man raping her at the same time. The woman eyes meet his which pleaded for help as she continued to take all the men in each entrance of her body. The blond gave her no pity or regard but would do her a small kindness; he formed a cross with his hands and produced two shadow clones who took flanking positions around the fire.
" I tell ya Kuzuno this is the life, if Gato keeps paying us like this I'll never leave this spit of land again." One of the bandits slurred to his comrade who was obviously the leader, the man was not drunk nor seemed to condone his units actions. He wore a samurai chest plate with simple clothes and bandages adorned on his arm and legs; a brilliant blue katana at his side. He had black hair tied into a traditional style befitting a Samuri. Kuzuno regarded the drunk with disgust rising from his seat he began to walk away only to stop and turn on his heel suddenly.
"You damn fools, form up now!" he shouted to his men having sensed the other presence inside the encampment but it was too late. The two clones sprung from the darkness and heaved the butchers blades down onto the thugs. They howled with excitement of the slaughter and the continued to cut them down while the katana welding leader attempted to slice one of them from behind only to have the sword parried by the real Naruto who followed up with a kick to the chest that sent the man onto his back.
Two bandits flanked Naruto who spun on his heel and arced the blade at an angle and sent them into the sky in pieces. Kuzuno rose again and held his sword preparing to join his men but found the blond haired attacker in his way, giving him no time to prepare he leaped forward, the two blades clashing against one another, steel singing out into the night. The three rapist stumbled out of the caravan only to see the glint of the massive sword cleave through them like hot butter from one of the clones.
"Your men are dead...Kuzuno was it?" Naruto mocked pushing his blade against the smaller one, the man falling on his knee. The man grunted in panic at the twelve year old, how could a brat like this be so strong?
" I'm impressed but not enough to yield." he sneered, rolling out of the way and regained his footing and used his momentum and slashed Naruto across the back. The blond grunted in pain but rotated to blade around and deliverer a counter attack that sever the arm of the ronin warrior. Kuzuno faulted back a few steps, pain searing across his body however the two clones pounced on him from behind and impaled their own blades through his side, keeping him in a deadlock stance of pain.
"Now that I have your attention perhaps you could inform me of this Gato character, in return I'll ease your passing." The clone remarking in his ear twisting the sword. It took all the will power he had not to scream out, blood came dripping from his mouth and noise.
"He...ahgh...controls the island via...export and import...nothing comes in or...ughhh...out with out his say...that's how he stays in power..." Kuzuno grunted the pain blacking his vision and Yami awaiting at the gates of Hell. The clones instantly dispersed caused the man to fall onto his knees; blood pouring out of his abdomen. Naruto paced around him like a wolf to a sheep and spied his sword, picking it up he decided to give the man a small honor and placed it on the ground in front of him.
"Meet your fate on your own terms Samurai.." Naruto remarked looking down at the ronin who smiled and took hold of the grip with his left hand and placed the tip under his chin, sliding it through his head and falling to the side with a thud, blood soaking the entirety of the clearing.
A whimper drew Naruto's attention the woman who was covered in the stains of her rapist. She had shoulder length black hair with a round face and blue eyes, she looked around the encamped and spied the man inside the cage who had been decapitated and his head adorned on a pike outside of it. The woman fell to her knees and screamed as loud as he lungs would allow, picking up a stray knife and repeatedly stabbing the nearest corpus. Naruto ignored her while opening up the wagon he had sought, seeing an assortment of weapons and granite inside. He spied through various types then placed sharpening oils, a mixture of Volcanic glass and diamond granite inside a sack he found inside the wagon.
Exiting he spied the woman weakly stabbing the same body tears running down her face still. She spied Naruto who simple glared at her as one would a stray dog. He approached her and dropped a blade in front of her. A slit of flesh followed by a sicking gurgle was all the Ninja heard as he back tracked though the woods, eager to form his battle armor.
A few minutes later the clone of Kakashi walked from his hiding place in disbelieve at what he just witnessed, never had a mere genin been capable of this much carnage and enjoy it. With urgency he dispersed himself and sent the information to the real Kakashi.
Tuzana's House- Hours later.
The family and shinobi all were gathered around the dinning table with the exception of Naruto who had not returned yet. Kakashi contemplated at the end not rely keeping up with the conversation as he stared blankly into his favorite book the pages however not intriguing him today.
"Sensei when do you think Naruto will return?" Sakura asked, both her and the Uchiha taking notice of his absence. Kakashi shifted uncomfortably.
" I think what is important now is to discuss the remainder of the mission-" he stooped as the front door creaked opened a clawed gauntlet griping the outer frame followed by a hooded individual. Intently all the Shinobi were on there feet ready to battle the stranger but when he came into full view there was no mistaking who those Azul eyes belonged to. Naruto had spent the last hours with Jacks assistance crafting a brilliant set of armor that encumbered his chest meshed layers of smooth engraved plate armor with a red clock clasped on underneath, his right shoulder guard had spikes protruding from it while the left was smooth and both sleeved into a mesh of armor that ended with clawed gauntlets, his trousers were meshed with plate armor that tucked into a metallic set of jester boots. (Image still on my profile.)
Naruto entered the threshold of the house and removed his hood to reveal his face to the family, a bit of dried blood still adorning his cheek. Kakashi and the others lowed their weapons and studied him intently then motioned for them to return to the table. Naruto without a word took Kakashi's place and began to eat a piece of bread.
"Naruto, mind informing us where you've been?" Kakashi asked knowing full well of his evening hunt. The genin gulped down a pice and glanced his way briefly.
"You should know seeing how you had a look alike tail me." he replied.
"You gave me little choice but right now we need to establish weather we can trust you or not."
"Well considering I killed Zabuza and not you that should answer your question. But if you still have doubts I know who our true target is a shipping tycoon by the name of Gato. If we dispatch him our mission will be complete." Naruto continued allowing the last piece of bred to slide down his throat. Across the table Inari glared at him with hatred then unprecedentedly slammed his hands on the table.
"You all think your so tough but none of you know anything about suffering! Gato is invincible, you just gonna die like the rest! Its impossible!" the boy cried showing an unexpected outburst of emotion. His mother and Grandfather let the eyes rest on the table however they drew their attention to Naruto who's stare was now arctic.
"That's funny coming from a little shit like you whose never been on the brink of starving or freezing in winter when a bitch of a landlord evicts you on your 9th birthday...ohh I am very instructed in the ways of pain perhaps you would like a lesson." Naruto's voice shifted into a disemboweled mimic of Jack as his very shadow seemed to darken the room. The boy cowered behind the table frightened as the teenager rose from his seat and loomed over them, he had gotten exceptionally taller since the battle with the Demon of the Mist.
"That's enough Naruto, the kid's not the enemy and nether are we I don't know what kind of chip is on your shoulder but right now we need to focus on the mission." Sasuke also rose and stood between his teammate and the boy who stared the Uchiha down with those icy orbs.
"Tsch...dont think me like everyone else in the village Sasuke, I'll not back down to a dead name. I'll take care of Gato tonight and bring his head to you before dawn." The Uzumaki declared before turning and exiting the house. Shock faded from the group and Sakura was the first to rise and run after him catching up just as he entered the tree line.
"Naruto wait pleas! come back we can talk about this pleas Sasuke-kun didn't mean anything." she pleaded to her teammate who stopped momentary and turning only his head to meet her gaze.
"I've often wondered if you would ever call me that Sakura. You know I always thought you were the most beautiful of girls in our class, did you ever know about my affection? or did you simple not care?" Naruto asked with amusement and for her part was speechless, not with shock but guilt.
"I...I'm sorry Naruto...I.."
"You know what save your breath, I'm done trying to kissing up to you, and a thank you for saving your life would be appreciated but if I were a weaker person you might take it as an insult and strike me. Those days are done and the old Naruto is dead and whats left is everything he wanted to be." he cut her off and disappeared into the darkness.
Tears began to fall from the girl she heard footsteps and turned to see Kakashi and Sasuke who both wore an equal amount of worry. What had happened to their team mate?
Gato of the wave sat upon his small thrown at the main hall of his mansion, around him his army of thugs drank and raped to their hearts content.
"Hows the next shipment of goods looking?" he asked the samurai to his right, a fairly tall and tattooed man with tan skin.
"Should be arriving in two days."
"And the taxes?"
"98% on each good."
The small man smiled greedily and sipped from his sake saucer. Life had been good these past years. The only immediate problem was his hired assassins had been found mutilated not long ago, which did not set his mind at ease considering the man he hired was a swordsman of the mist. That bridge builder was becoming increasingly annoying and if the fool manged to succeed, his whole industry would come crashing down around him.
Unknown to the tycoon a dark figure scaled the outer wall of his mansion, using his chakra to blend in with the night. Hand over hand the ninja clawed his way up the bandit fortress, his clawed fingers easily digging into the concrete wall. The thugs were in the middle of a reveal with spirits and women, that should make the task that much more easier. A sight caught his attention, directly above was a balcony railing with a bandit in a jacket and beanie leaning over it and gazing into the night, the rain all but gone leaving a dense humidity in the air.
Using his chakra, the hooded shinobi leaped upward, digging his gauntlet into the man's neck while landing perfectly on the railing, the bandits feet dangled aloft. The man kicked and grunted but was silenced as a few pound of pressure clasped his throat.
"Where is Gato and how many are inside. You have 10 seconds to comply with a answer." Naruto instructed relaxing his grip.
"Most of the upper floors are deserted, the men are gathered for festivities in Gato's thrown room..." he replied without hesitation going limp in Naruto's iron grip. The Genin nodded, satisfied that the man was telling the truth. With a flick of a thumb the bandits neck was snapped and his corpse flung in the empty space of the night.
He stood on the railing with his arms crossed contemplating his next course of action to take. If the rest of the stronghold was unoccupied then Gato's valuables would be left unguarded and given the nature of the thugs they would be partying all night however this building was massive he wouldn't even begin to know where to look...However there was someone who did. The master of the house himself would no doubt know or better yet he could just take the very knowledge from him if necessary. Oh well no need to beat round the bush. With a nod he began to walk down the long wooden corridors, following the sounds of drunken laughter.
" OK team, Paku says Naruto's trail ends here." Kakashi addressed his genein as they landed next to the outer wall of the bandit stronghold. Sasuke scanned the area with no small amount of caution.
"This isn't right." He said not noticing any guards patrolling the grounds. Kakashi shared his students sentiment.
"For a bandit stronghold you would think they would take a bit more care in the guarding of it." Sakura commented.
"That makes are job all the more-" he began but stopped as a body crashed into the tree line a few yard away. Team 7 drew their eyes upward to where it came from and came to the same conclusion.
"Seems Naruto has a head start on us. Right here's the mission we find him and get him out before he alerts Garto to our presence."
"Sensei why not just follow through and back up Naruto?" Sasuke asked.
"What are you thinking Sasuke?"
"Well If Gato really is here and we take him out tonight, then the island might know peace don't you think? Kill two birds with one stone."
Kakashi thought on this for a moment and let out a sigh. "This is an unexpected turn of events but I see your point. Very well Team we meet up with Naruto and assassinate the tycoon."
The girl cringed at the word 'Assassinate' but it was to be expected they had only just graduated form the academy. The uchiha however looked a bit more at ease with the idea of killing and considering what happened to him it was not so surprising. With a plan formulated the team ventured into the fort.
For the hundredth time that evening Gato felt smug with himself for having all the wealth on the island. A fortress to live in, an army to obey him and all the women he could ever want. Yes life was good for the crook businessman. As a serving bitch brought forth another bottle of rice wine a deep chill filtered through the air.
The cold seeped through each person there as a invisible wind howled through the room snuffing out all the lights. All at once the thugs stopped what they were doing and stood perplexed at the chill.
"The hell's going on?!" he demanded rising from his seat. Suddenly the doors at the end of the Hall swung off their hinges and walking out of the shadows was the Demon of the Hidden mist himself- Zabuza momomichi. Instantly all the men screamed and backed away in terror as the dead man walked through the room very much alive, all the bandits had herd of how the man was mutilated and yet here he was in the flesh. No sound was heard except for the footsteps of the swordsman who stared a hole right through Gato. The small man trembled and fell back into his seat.
"Z—z-zabuza...We...I..thought you were dead." he stammered.
"Dead?...No not dead... one hell of a fight through." he replied standing in front of him.
"Well...then why the hell are you here and not hunting down those ninja? Isn't that what I paid you for." Gato retorted finding something of a spine within in himself. By now his men shook off their confusion and began to encircle the swordsman.
"Yes about that...You didn't pay me and besides they have Kakashi the copy care ninja with them and so I'm here to raise my price."
"Raise your price? Who the hell do you think you are!?"
"Hell..." Before Gato could resound Zabuza had his sword through the man, nailing him in his seat. Blood squirted from the mans stomach and lips as he desperately tried to pry the weapon loos.
The bandits pounced on all side and Nauruto, still griping the hilt, swung the blade about in a wide arc with the small man still attacked to it, knocking all the attackers to the side only for another ten to take their place and sending the tycoon flying across the room. He twirled the blade about left,right,left, right, slash, hack, thrust, slash, maim, hurt, destroy, kill...killl...KIIIILLLLLLL. He became blood drunk. His shade of Zabuza dropped and reviled him for who he really was. He didn't know how he shifted form himself to Zabuza without casting that low level jutsu, but what had happened was not a jutsu, there were no hand sings or even and incantation, it just happened. There were many new powers that came with his new container it would seem.
As he mused, his body worked on its own flaying any who dared come near him, blood was everywhere, the scent of iron was strong in the air which made him want to breath its scent all the more. The bodies were piling atop one another in a perfect circle around where Naruto stood, so much so that it became a wall for the enemy's who had to climb over the carcasses of their comrades which made them all the more easier to dispatch.
'How could this have happened...to ME!' Gato thought as he crawled desperately under the bodies of his underlings, smearing his own blood trail of gore on the fine wooden floor. Arm over arm he crawled wiggling and worming his was away from the demon that was still slaughtering his men. A head bounded off right next to him and rolled away, he wanted to puke but was afraid that he would be found. He looked back at the monster and saw him cut down a whole line of men with one swipe, their body being sent into the air from the sheer force of the strike and their blood raining in droplets. He looked behind his thrown and into a glass case where two great swords rested. They were nearly six feet long with an aura of green around them and a skull in runes adorning the base of the blade. This was his ancestor's weapon or so his father and his father before him had said. 'We are the descendants of bandit king and so long as his weapon is with us we shall never be dethroned' his father once told him in his youth. Gato never trusted them though if you talk hold of them his granddad use to say the old bandit king would be reincarnated into you. That though use to scare him as a child but he was no child and neither would he be dethroned whilst he could help it.
"To think he could be capable of this at this age..." Kakashi mutters sprinting past the corpses of bandits that were sprawled out in the hallway. Team 7 raced toward the sounds of fighting and the screams of the dying. They had encountered no resistance what so ever, Naruto had done a sweep of the area it seemed.
They rounded a corner just in time to see Naruto impale a bandit through the stomach as he held him by the neck. He slid the blade out slowly which rang with a hellish chime and the body crumbled to the floor. He turned toward them expressionless.
"So you followed me huh?" He said flicking the blood off of the sword and resting it on his shoulder.
"Seeing as we could not stop you, we decided to help in finding Gato, as a team." Kakashi replied.
"Mmmm well sorry to disappoint you but I'm just one clone, Boss is in the main room dealing with the bandits, you might want to hurry and get there, its one hell of a fight." The clone said before turning down the hallway and disappearing in the dark.
"The mission brief said that Gato's has over two-hundred bandits at his disposal. There's no way he could take them all on alone." Sasuke said with Sakura nodding.
"We must hurry..." He said before they continued to sprint down the huge hallways.
Naruto stepped back with a heavy breath, the bodies of the slain all around him but even after the sheer detestation he wrought upon them there was still at least one hundred enemy's left who formed a circle around him. He was breathing heavily, his arms and legs burned with a fire he had never felt before. He had reached his limits...
"Fool...You know what you must do..." A voice whispered into his ear.
"Wear me...and the gods will envy our power..."
With a smirk Naruto spaced his standing slightly, bent his knees and rested his blade across his shoulder with his left arm hanging to the side.
"No choice..." he muttered and raised his left hand to his face and curled his fingers. Closing his eyes he focused his energy, and that of the ones he'd killed, their souls would power him to victory.
The air grew hot and the pressure increased all around him. The bodies and weapons on the ground shaking from the intensity of it. He began to growl as he felt the power building inside, a black and red aura oozed from his finger tips. The room shook as his growl turned into a yell, his muscles tightened, causing a small crater to form around his feet and in one instant all hell broke loose. He roared with a monstrous voice, a shock-wave sent all the bandits flying across the room, around him the blood and bodies rose off the ground and levitated in the air as his power unleashed in full. Raking his hand across his face the mask of Jack of Blades appeared on his face. A new fire blazed within his being, the primordial spirit of his host burned withing him. Leaving an after image, Naruto danced across the room, cutting down ten men where they were and before their comrades could hear their cry's they too fell to the ground in pieces.
He was blood drunk, never in all of his life had he felt more alive than he did now, killing these men gave him new purpose. Fueling his being with a passion he never even knew existed, every kill made him stronger.
"More...more...GIVE ME MORE!" He cried as he shoved the sword through the back of the last bandit before him. He raised the man off the ground and let him slide onto the hilt a stream of hot blood leaking from him.
"DO YOU SEE SISTER! DO YOU SEE BROTHER! DO YOU STILL DOUBT ME!? I WILL BE AVENGED!" Naruto yelled but not in his voice. He had no idea what he was talking about or if he even had any siblings. All he knew now was the pure joy of battle.
"Jack of blades, never thought I'd seen your hide again..." a gruff voice sneered. Looking over the pile of bodies a figure rose a tall and extremely muscular figure in assorted mail that was decorated with skulls. The man was balding slightly but had a black beard and side burns. Naruto didn't know him but he couldn't even control his own voice as he found it answering.
" A bandit king come back from the void, I trust that imp of a mortal had something to do with this." Jack said flicking the body at the giants feet. The man raised two massive blades that had runes etched into them and glowed a faint green.
"He offered me his body when he griped these hilts. I could feel the weakness in him, it was pitiful but it matters not. Twin-Blades has returned and you Jack of blades will not see the end of this day!" He charged, jumping into the air in order to bring his swords down upon him. Jack flipped backwards and followed up with a slash that didn't even faze him. The giant struck out with fluent combination, the blades leaving a glowing trail in their wake as Twin-Blades whirled toward the possessed teenager. Naruto hated not being in control of his own body and resisted which caused Jack's actions to slow.
'What the hell I cant control myself!'
"We are one now Naruto, stop resisting and fight with me!" Jack said aloud as he parried a sideways strike and reposed with one of his own, stumbling the bandit king slightly. He did not like it but he stopped and focused on the bandit with the mind set of destroying him utterly and completely. Slowly he noticed he could move on his own but with the guidance of Jack like a bug in an exoskeleton.
He weaved a left slash then a right and back-stepped from a leg sweep then retaliated with a two handed vertical strike that caught the bandit on his metal shoulder guard. He shot up, knocking the executioner sword back then delivered a rib cracking kick into Naruto's side. Spiting up blood, he used his free hand and momentum to spin around and toss the giant across the room and through a wall, leaving a silhouette of where he went through.
"Tough bastard..." he muttered. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a wave of bandits crashing through the entrance, each one beaten to a pulp. Then emerged team 7 who looked a bit bruised and bloodied. They shouted something at him but he did not hear, he couldn't worry about them right now. His prey was before him and by from the sounds of unsheathing blades, team 7 would soon have their hands full.
The old bandit king charged out of the wall, glowing with a green hue of energy, and bleeped from existence leaving only an after image. He brought his blade up just in time to parry a strike from the possessed gato but underestimated his speed. Twin blades unleashed a fury of strikes, beating down Naruto's guard till it broke completely, leaving him wide open.
Blood rained on the ground as the bandit continued his assault, slicing Narutos from everywhere at one, tearing off pieces of armor and flesh. He keep moving back but found his enemy's blades inside of him where ever he moved. Finally Twin-blades smashed his armored boot into Naruto's chest, sending him across the room. Before he made impact with the other wall Gato-possesed was there and raised his knee at the right moment, breaking his back across his leg and sending him through the ceiling.
Floor through floor he went through till he found himself gazing at the night stars.
'Damn it...I...WE... WILL NOT LOSE!' He rebounded in mid-air, every bone in his body cracking as he did so. He used the souls he consumed to heal himself to an extent but even so he was badly hurt, he closed his eyes and focused his energy and let it build up inside of him. All his anger, all his sorrow he had known, and all the sustenance he had received from the souls he had acquired. He felt it all and forced their power with will alone into his core.
Time slowed around him, he felt perfect contentment. He saw the building shake down to its foundations as Gato soared up to meet him. He could taste and smell the blood that had been spilled this night. He felt one with everything and everything was one with him.
He was going to kill this man and show his team his worth.
He sheathed his sword across his back and held his arms out and waited for his enemy. Gato-possessed breached from the top of the mansion, his power pulsing and breaking the very air around them. A grin was plastered on his face, he saw him rear his swords to the side and arc his body. He saw the move before he even made it.
Time resumed as normal and in a split second Twin-blades/Gato came hurling at him, blades coming down from his left side. Naruto blocked the first strike with his wrist and caught the other hand before it connected. He twisted his grip so that he held both his wrist then all at one released all his stored energy in a single movement. He reared his arms outward, tearing his right arm off at the joint and severely dislocating the other. He causally dropped the arm, ex held a deep breath and opened his eyes.
"My turn..." Time once again slowed as he punched Gato with a right hook to the face then a left to the other side, then a body shot, then another, and another and another. The reborn bandit king's body rippled from the strike, the air behind him breaking from the force of the blows. Higher and higher he went into the air as Naruto's fist dug deeper and deeper into his body.
" DONT!" he shouted driving his fist into his jaw.
"EVER!" he sprawled further into the atmosphere, soaring hundreds of feet above the ground.
"UNDERESTIMATE MEEE!" He appeared before Twin-blades rearing his right arm back and curling his fingers then thrusting them into his chest, griping his thumping heart. He grasped his right wrist with his left hand and channeled not his chakra but will into the palm of his hand. Around them the air crackled with electricity as Naruto gathered all the left over energy from the storms that had raked the island. He raised Gato above his body and channeled the power inside of him and conducted it into his right hand.
" Say Good Night Gato of the Wave and Twin-Blades of Albion!" He and jack whispered as a torrents of pure blue lighting exploded from Naruto hand, ripping out of the possessed businessman's back. They thrashed and yelled as the energy tore them apart, their body becoming a vessel for the electrons in the air.
"DAAAMNNN YOUUUU JACCCCKKKKKK!" he roared before his entire body was overtaken and exploded in a flash bang of lighting, leaving only a red mist in the air to give testament of his remains. He lowered his arms and slowly drifted back down to the roof where his team was, each bloodied from head to heel, looking like they had a right and proper scrap. He glanced their way.
The mask vanished off his face and all at once the toll of the battle came upon him. But despite all the pain and exhaustion he felt, he smirked.
"I did it..." and he collapsed onto the ground.
Several days passed since the demise of the corrupted businessman and in that short time the Island had gone through a dramatic change. What was left of Gato's bandit force retreated from the island as soon as their boss had been dethroned and now with no one prying on the locals they could focus on rebuilding their lives and they started with the completion of the brige that would finally give them hope for a future not so bleak.
The Ninja team who went against protocol to help the drunkard bridge builder was praised by the locals but insisted they were only doing their job. However the fourth member of the team was current resting upstairs, since their return he had been unconscious. Currently his team all gathered in the kitchen below to celebrate with their host.
"We will never be able to express our gratitude enough for what you have done for us Leaf Ninja. But as a start, tell your Hokage that Wave will exclusively conduct trade with the land of Fire as a sign of friendship between our people." Tuzana said in gratitude.
"That's very generous of you Tuzana-san, thank you." Kakashi replied.
"So what are your plans now Kakashi-san? I'm sure your Hokage is awaiting your report." Tsunami asked taking a sip of tea.
"Yes we are a bit pressed for time, however I do not wish to move out till Naruto is fully recovered but he looks as if he will be bed ridden for a week at least." he contemplated.
"Oh well if you have pressing matters to attend to we can watch over him until he is ready to make the journey." The old man offered. His daughter seemed to grimace at the idea.
"Father, surly they would not want to leave a comrade behind." she added rather hastily.
"Your daughter is correct Tuzana, we cannot leave him behind."
Upstairs Naruto lay awake staring at the ceiling above with a fixed gaze. The battle with Gato had left him drained, like all the blood in his body had been leeched from him. He couldn't even lift his finger.
'Every thing comes with a price, Naruto'
" Yeah...nothings ever free...whats it going to cost me in the end.."
'End? My boy we have just only begun. However, each time you call upon me the price becomes steeper and steeper. My power lies within my mask, it is how I have survived through the ages and to keep me sustained I feed off the souls of the strongest warriors. You must keep a collection of souls withing our vessel to channel my power. Twin-Blades essence shall ebb away over a long while and should keep us going till you are strong enough to hunt again.' Jack whispered from deep in his subconscious.
Naruto was silent for a moment, weighing in the facts he had just heard. Killing he could do, he would even go as far to say a part of him enjoyed it, but ever since he put on that mask when he fought Gato a question had been eating at him.
"You speak a great deal of souls and keeping 'us' sustained. But how do I know my soul is not on your menu?" he revived a dark almost chilling chuckle.
'Why my boy when you put on that mask, you entered into a pact with me. Me and you are linked now, a chain has formed between our souls and we will survive so long as the other does. In a since we are one now, separated only by our identity's." his dark possessor incited.
'Survive'. Naruto let the world roll off of his tonge. It was a strange feeling when he saided it. He spent most of his life wishing to end it.
" To what end Jack of Blades? Why are we surviving?"
" Why my dear boy is the answer so oblivious to you? Tis revenge we hunger for. To see those who have wronged us brought down beneath our blade, to feel the warm liqueur of their life essence upon us. You wish vengeance against a village that disowned you and to seek the mystery of your existence."
"And what of you? What type of vengeance to you seek?" Naruto asked feeling his new partner stir in the debts of his soul.
"The kind only family can provide..."
My god, how long has it been? Good to write again. There are no excuses for my long absents and for that I am sincerely sorry. I can promise you a chapter every week but I will try to deliver when I am able. My thanks to you my readers.
- GrimReaper99X