"Rabona the Holy City"
The birds flew and sang along into the trees as it was another day in the forest, with the sun shining high in the sky. Numerous species similar to the robin and blue-jays both alike flew around one another, chirping merrily as a gentle breeze uplifted them around the area. The sun high in the sky provided a comfortable warmth on the forest floor, where life flourished and all the while a shinobi made his camp there.
"Everything is so peaceful. I haven't felt like this once I left Konoha with Jirayia, to leave and be at ease with the world. Still its hard to find this 'Holy City', pain in the ass is more like it."
Naruto sat around a fire cooking a rabbit he snared with ninja wire while gathering firewood and his clone gathered water for the canteen at a nearby brook.
Also with the water which was just as refreshing as the smell of cooked meat penetrated his sense of smell, "Damn I haven't eaten in a bit, swear when sensei was training me he knew I wouldn't be able to cook unless forced too. Even in death you seem to watch over me..."
The Namikaze calmed himself down as he slowly turned the rabbit over the fire as the golden skin just made his stomach growl and to his annoyance it sounded similar to a starving wolves belly. All in all he couldn't place the blame solely on himself due to the fact he'd been through mountain forests bare of any game to eat. Common misconception was that a forest had animals, it didn't mean there were lots of them.
Plus he was fairly certain, he'd been lost for almost two days searching the grandest city in this land's province.
Now almost bored, he looked up to see the shining sun as he had been traveling under its seemingly harmless intent.
In two days mind him he had yet to see a mark or road leading to the city of the holy, this Rabona.
"They call it the Holy City, for what?"
He could some up with several different analogies to compare it too.
Desperation and Devotion, two words with powerful meanings behind them in order to find it.
Both options sounded pathetic or grand in its namesake.
Which brought up an interesting memory, his Mission to Yuki no Kuni, probably the most tense mission he'd ever taken because the fact his old village was vigilantly hunting for any sign of him. Inhaling to calm himself, Naruto remember the battles that nearly turned into a complete utter war-zone so that the rightful Damiyo could retake her throne. Her name Koyuki Kazahana, actor to her own movie franchise 'Princess Fuuin', he heard it came out with another sequel once he was all finished there.
Funny thing about that Princess; she actually developed feelings for him because, he hated people at the time. Perhaps a sense of irony here was that she wanted to stay cold towards people to hide her own fear, whilst he was cold towards everyone to make them fear him. Opposites in a way, that somehow attracted each other but the point was Naruto knew why he hated people. The young actor didn't, she was hurting because of her past and often pushed everyone away in order to perverse her justification.
Not that it effected the mission in any way.
And he wasn't afraid to deal with her physically, if Koyuki ran or threatened to leave the set.
At first she gained a small crush on him once he found her in a bar, a contact had met him: an elder samurai commander who fought on the rightful family's side which inevitably were killed off to hire him. The only reason why a mercenary group got hired was that, Akatsuki was notoriously cheap when it camp to high stakes missions and always completed the missions. Naruto himself got chosen because he was the newest member, he had to 'earn' the right to hold a ring within the Red Dawn.
But the employer also forgot to mention the fact he hired a team of Konohagakure shinobi because as the strongest village in the Elemental nations, it received the prestige of: "First Come, First Served."
Well at that time, he was apart of the Akatsuki group so it didn't take a genius to know that working Konoha would be dangerous. So by staying by the Princess at all times, the team rarely noticed or didn't comment about him being there, after all a mission was a mission. Well so he thought, tension wasn't the word to describe the feelings with the Konoha team, Akatsuki did 'capture' him during his travels with the Toad Sage, so in essence it played into a near struggle in them capturing him near the end of their time in that nation.
Long story short, he killed the dictator of Yuki no Kuni easily enough, effectively turning the frozen landscape into the true Haru no Kuni.
Koyuki personally thanked him mainly in rescuing her and saving her home. He didn't do it alone aside from the Konoha team that did their part, keeping the main enemy forces at bay. But the matter at hand was that the woman wished for him to stay as a permanent body guard for the new village Yukigakure no Sato. Which at the time while it'd be tempting to run his own village, he was on an enraged crusade against his own home village. Staying in one place and settling down was nowhere near the idea he had at the time.
To take down the most powerful village on the continent, to get his own sense of justice back.
A village that robbed him of a free life, his will, his family and most of all his ability to be human. They turned him into the very thing some had hoped to avoid, a monster whose disregard of their lives would haunt them for all time. For once casting aside the role of a 'loyal hero' to his home in becoming the very thing opposite: a vile missing-nin who hunted down Konoha shinobi field teams at every turn. Even then, he didn't actively hunt any Konoha shinobi who were mainly teams of trackers that would find him or familiar faces to convince him to return.
Straying from his original thoughts, Naruto remember a small conversation in rejecting the offer Koyuki gave to him, while being very polite and sincere to him.
Still it didn't amaze him to see that a royal blooded damiyo wanted to be with him, an outsider who knew about his past then the supposed shinobi inside the village he fled from. He just wished if it were another time, another life without the burden he had on him to seek justice on the ones who destroyed him as a human. Chances and fate sometimes liked to blur the lines, making any man regret an action that could've been something in another life. At least to those who had that strength to press through their troubles. Slowly feelings long suppressed surged over making the Namikaze smile sadly while tears formed in his eyes from that mission.
His eyes were memorized by the crackling of red, yellow and orange, to see a small part of his past came to life.
(Flashback)
"Are you sure you won't reconsider? I can protect you diplomatically, if you are in charge of my shinobi forces Naruto." Koyuki said smiling sadly, she stood proud with the robes as a Damiyo should. It suited her despite the fact he held no remorse or any happiness directed to her rule, he hated people who had the power to be scared of it. Nearly cracking his neck in annoyance, he kept his anger in check while leaning on the balcony overlooking the castle that been taken over.
Doto's previous forces had swore oaths of fealty to the new ruler, to spare their lives and dedicate themselves to their country. He scoffed mentally of allowing traitors and scum like that into a military service, no guarantee that's cut ties to find themselves in a better position. As much as this country deserved happiness, it could freeze over into hell itself since he had no love. Almost bored he glanced over to the side, trying to escape those thoughts for the moment.
However the girl, no...
This woman in front of him didn't warrant such rage aimed at her.
So he quelled it again to speak in a flat tone that didn't think the offer was sincere or lied upon, "No, I don't want it. Find someone among them to do it and then prepare yourself as this new country for it to take shape. If you want my recommendation: get yourselves ready." Perhaps give this country a head start in the soon to be coming war, Madara-sensei would allow it some leniency if they played their cards right. It could only be the right thing for this place to stand on its feet before defending itself from a war beyond reckoning.
He hoped Koyuki would understand, he felt nothing for her nor could he after what happened to him, a year ago.
Shockingly instead of speaking the ruler of the nation did something he didn't intend to happen. Slowly moving towards him, the woman hesitantly reached out to take his hand, Naruto allowed it under such fierce scrutiny she nearly stopped the action all together. The young missing-min didn't know what the female Damiyo was planning in all honesty. He had little relationships in his former village, outside the causal arena as to a romantic one: he never understood a girl's emotions well.
Well expect for his daughters but again, she was a child.
"Your hand feels so cold."
"I know. It's the feeling of the living when they're dead. Seems like living for nothing, hasn't have anything in itself."
Visibly he glanced downward, in shame because of what he had 'sworn' to do. Naruto wanted the pain to go away, the mere idea of living in a world full of everyone around him hating him for the most blatant reason conceived since the Sage of Six Paths, finally broke him. Every breathe meant that he walked the very grounds with the ones who hated him, cursed him and killed his adopted progeny to ensure his hated fulfilled. A burning inferno engulfed him, that cold piercing look of a man who'd kill thousands to find justice took hold!
Why did everything just hurt, nothing could fill the hole he felt to deliver retribution to the murderers that killed her, Emiko, his adopted flesh and blood. Gnashing his teeth the blond shinobi stared upwards towards the skies seeing the twinkling stars beyond...
"I promised."
Koyuki looked at him in surprise, seeing the rapture and heart of an agonizing look from a man held from when he lost so much...
And she wished for this man, to stop looking like that.
Selfishly she wanted him to stare at her, while she'd acknowledge him as a person: a person with a future!
The woman took his hand, her touch warming the numbed limb slowly. Willingly he allowed his hand to be placed to her face, despite the anger he felt. Almost magically Naruto could feel warmth from her touch, not even close to another greeting him or even something of that extent. He truly 'felt' all his rage subdue into the back of his mind, it wasn't peace.
But it was close enough.
"Can you stay the night we me at least? You've done so much for me and my home. It's because of this, you're own coldness lit my fire to do something right for my father, please can you stay one night?" She gripped his hand, making him glance downward for a moment. Slowly he stared at her face, as her eyes pleaded to him on a level that no man could say wasn't genuine affection. The innocence and that loving stare made Naruto feel as though he had a chance, just this one chance that he could've been something more with her.
In the end two red eyes merely faded away towards a green-jade coloration, as the woman closed her lips around his own.
(End Flashback)
Both eyes remained closed as the fire crackled.
One smile could not hold back the endless damned seeking his soul in hell and heaven alike!
Mentally getting jarred from the few pleasant memories, voices crept into the back of his skull screeching like banshee's. All the wailing merely gave him migraines, disillusioned stabs of pain racked his body and the worst yet: the actual sentences as his eyes recorded them all. Every time he struck down a former ally, a former friend in a world where death courted them and for the sake of it all: it haunted him till the end of time itself.
"You good for nothing, traitor!"
"Burn in hell! I hope you end up there!"
"Die! Just die, you monster!"
The screams and shouts of pain echoed into inside of his mind, crushing him slowly but surely they would get their vengeance. The ones who were killed by his hands, all of them wanted his blood to boil in the deepest parts of hell and only if the gods above were so kind to let him asunder inside his sins. Snorting practically to hear something else, he gnashed his teeth to ignore the damned for another day.
"My blood is on your hands, my friend."
Blinking slowly, he felt his hands moist and warm.
Naruto glanced downward at his own palms, to see them stained in blood!
"You monster! You damned monster! Die, die, die!"
"Betrayerbetrayerbetrayerbetrayer..."
"ENOUGH!"
Yelling out, he inhaled and exhaled trying to stop insanity from consuming him whole, gasping after a moment to force his body into a state of content. Sweat went down his face, as his hands covered his eyes as he felt his heart race. Those who went against fate, where to suffer for their transgressions to the ones who overlooked their existence. Naruto shook as he inhaled and gasped with his stomach twisting into sickened knots.
If there were some sort of realization, that living with your sins is horrid: finding the key to the door made it worse. Well that almost metaphorical door opened inside his own head, getting the 'key' for it after willingly locking it for a decade. Doors in general made him relieve that day when Emiko had been murdered because a single door caused his rage to erupt after years of quelling it down.
This time, Naruto slowly inhaled on a count of 'three' and resorted deep exhales to calm himself down.
Surely his heart raced towards a more stable beat.
Amazingly the smell of food pleadingly snatched his attention from his damned past, so that his stomach could be content for the rest of the day. And to start this off he blew lightly on the cooked rabbit before munching carefully. Any disappointment wouldn't have been considered if he didn't cook the meal, it certainly had it's appeal for a man to enjoy the day.
"I need spices next time but for now, it's worth it."
The cooked herbivore certainly reflected his time spent on the road, always moving from one place to another quickly. Never once stopping at a nearby town in order to get a warm meal inside his stomach, so he had to resort to make his own food. Catching game from deer towards rabbits nearly every occasion he had time for.
One could say: learning to feed yourself often made you aware of those who wished to steal it.
In this truth, Naruto found an elevated position on a hill, that could see well over a mile around, especially seeing the canopy of the forests come alive. Also to see if danger would spring, if birds or the local wildlife would screech in panic when something came prowling around. Did the animals sense Yoma, fairly possible but he had no idea if they reacted like when humans hunted them.
Calmly he eyed the forest around him once more.
However a quick, 'caw' call got his attention, making the shinobi to glance upward to see a silhouette dropping down.
After over an hour he finished with his meal before made a decision to discard the still edible flesh as a single raven flapped from the sky, to which it was the one that answered his call when he arrived in the lands.
He gave the animal credit as it naturally was a blend of a scavenger and a hunter.
The bird nearly nipped his fingers tips if he delayed any food to the hungry bird. "This is extraordinary, I've never seen a bird this tame in the wild. Was he raised in captivity and then released, or just knows I'm something 'different?" Naruto mused silently as he stroked the neck feathers of the bird, noting the animal didn't cringe from the contact.
So before he released it, he spoke, "You're gonna need a name if you wish to stay with me."
One fleeting moment and the bird flew into the skies above, cawing.
Taking a breathe, the shinobi figured to move onwards finally.
Getting to his feet he moved onto the dirt road leading to the edge of the forest as the sun shined through the thick undergrowth as his veil kept the stinging for the most part out of his eyes.
He moved out from the forest to see the paths, leading into a triangle bend of roads. They all blended into a main road so when he saw merchants in carts, along with several people on horseback riding parallel, he felt confident. "About time I actually catch a break, small mercies go a long way indeed." Laughing to himself, the young blond moved with a slight quickened pace.
Due to the fact he was going downhill to witness the sight of Rabona, this 'Holy City' to be precise.
And when he got the first sight of it, the name almost fit.
A truly magnificent sight naturally getting it compared to the glaciers within Yuki no Kuni , as well to the mountains of Kaminari no Kuni. Man could building great things, cities were just a natural landmark added to humankind's ingenuity. However Naruto could see that despite the 'Bright' outlook a Holy City offered, Pein of the Akatsuki has his 'Holy' city in the dark wet metropolis of the Amegakure no Sato.
"That wasn't the greatest city to live in but it spoke the truth to see other suffer under its old rule. At least things got better on the inside with the people loyally swore to Pein as a god, he didn't mistreat a soul inside that place."
The towering wall encircled the city from his position as he could see the gate bustling with others to enter its gates, and if one looked a little closely to see towering structures within its walls. Buildings overshadowing the walls, now that was a harrowing thought to describe an Architect's vanity to be famous.
Viewing that huge cathedral of a church, which stood out over the roofs. Now he could see they were so close together," Those building are so tightly compacted together, running by roof-top would be quicker if I had to get away. Also I think they're for regular guards to use against an enemy invading, or its just fancy build planning."
Naruto viewed the guards as they watched the walls and moved in pairs or patrols as he became closer to the main gates.
Almost systematically each patrol moved along its length in intervals to come to each others aid, if an enemy made an appearance.
He walked lightly to the gate with a group of merchants along side of him to use maybe for a brief yet critical piece of information. All of these guards were pulling some people aside, searching them if they were deemed 'suspicious. Frowning intently, the shinobi formulated whether to be honest of his purposes to just visit the city, or use eye induced genjutsu to get in clean.
Two guards moved in his direction, after they passed merchant who thanked them for their services.
Naruto just smiled, when the two armored men approached him.
"Genjustu Art: Magen Nijū Kokoni Arazu no Jutsu."
Normally using a single layered illusion could work on making him walk into the city but in order to cleanly make sure nothing that the guards report is off, he could walk in easily. However he noticed beforehand with the merchant, groups of the peddlers could ease their way by as he had guessed Robana had some sort of 'open-door' policy for wares to be sold. Naruto just winged it as economic growth, so that was it.
Well unluckily, that was it for the guards as they 'saw two carts with four people who they were speaking with'.
All the while in reality, these two just stood in front of him silently.
"Alright your documentation is approved. Please enjoy your time here in the Holy City and do care to remember that walking after sun set is considered a crime for the present. We can charge you with suspicious activities if are found, understood?" The guard spoke to his group, Naruto made a show of nodding his head while in the illusion all the 'four' people nodded politely thanking the men for their time. So just like that, one shinobi entered the most secure city within the province of the lands with a simple glance. Some could say only monsters had that ability to bewitch a man but for a person with chakra, it was just another day...
Naruto watched carefully as he moved along in the streets, as he noticed a few things.
The Holy City must've been the center of literally: commerce, trade, and knowledge.
Store vendors, the smaller but prominent churches, occasional libraries and mainly more vendors just lined the streets. And behind any one of the street vendors were housing buildings in concrete, gray polished stone at the least. In all honesty he felt overwhelmed, where to start in this place? One obvious clue panned out to him once he realized it...
Naruto walked by a beautiful structure, with the words 'Inn' across the archway.
Yeah, he would have to find an Inn to rest.
A warm bed, decent cooked food and have a few days to enjoy the sights?
"Well check that off, next thing is find a map so I can 'plan' where to go after this. I don't plan on going around blind again, being lost to find my way here wasn't easy at all, so find some maps Naruto. You can do it..."
Finding any detailed parchments of the surrounding areas would be very prosperous, for his sense of direction and the promising adventures for distant lands always compelled him at times. All this would take is time, time he could happily afford while walking around enjoying the sights. But there was something off, he needed something to drink to relax the stress he had.
Naruto stopped, eying an outdoor Tea-parlor, "That will do."
He slowly walked to see a herbal tea stand of some sorts where a few customers sat on the outside deciding this was unforeseen due in part to the smell of said tea's, eerily similar to the one's his sensei made him during training sessions. Sighing pleasantly he still kept his vigilance up, no need to slack off enjoying tea as sensei would say, "Any place could become an ambush, an enemy has just but to wait for you." So eying the patrons around him, Naruto moved to a vacant table under the sun, he needed the warmth and it was a quick jump towards the rooftops.
But various others chatted lowly around his table, channeling small amounts chakra to boost his hearing immensely. Not a soul knew who he was and it wouldn't hurt to listen to the gossip to get information anything. Sitting he folded one leg over another idly enjoying the peaceful commotions around him, as a child this reminded him of a busy district to blend in with crowds to explore anything.
Once he sat for a little, at long last he saw a young waitress; a woman with her red air wrapped in a bundle.
"Good after noon, sir, may I take your order?" Naruto, smiled underneath his hat before speaking, "What's your best tea?"
The waitress replied professional and clear, she knew her menu down to the heart it seemed. Almost completely amusing but commendable, for a customer to see fine service in this day and age. " Our best tea is the freshest green southern herbal, a tea that makes people tear up because of its taste." Almost immediately did he nod to the girl before she excused herself to make a fresh batch of the liquid. Naruto now took the time to observe his surroundings more thoroughly than ever, seeing things no normal person expected to fine.
The shinobi witnessed the more 'darker' side of a wealthy city come into play, pickpocket racket rings, small children bumping into various people in the street to take their money. An example, when he noticed a small dirtied child skip side to side before robbing three villages of their coin in a matter of three minutes, an interesting movement that made anyone seem he was playful.
A work ethic that could've been playful but, productive?
"That kid's got a sharp eye, reminds me of my days to steal from people. Well before Sensei started training me, then I stole things even faster."
He sat quietly under the warm sun as he saw that the other table held some couples chatting about varying subjects and daily bouts of life. Concentrating to hear more specific words, Naruto struck gold when a group on the either side of the tea-parlor spoke about the rumblings of something eating 'Priests' and 'Guards' alike.
"Three deaths, newest was a father I once confessed with. There's a...demon in our city."
Whispers were low and out of ear shot in the busy street but that group definitely got the attention of his curiosity. How did this Yoma consume so many people by itself? He heard three but for all knew, it could've been a hundred from the population size alone! Frowning he continued to listen in on the rambling citizens to gather more information.
It didn't take long, after five minutes he pieced together some facts.
"Let's see, there were murders involving a guard, with a couple of priests, and monks. All of this was in the cathedral of course, so that means it's hunting or chowing down on dimwits who can't find it." Another obvious note was that the bodies were all found with their innards were eaten, usually splattered onto walls to mock the church itself. Which apparently fueled the rage for the human guardsmen to slay the beast, unless he'd mistaken fear for zealous bravery in the name of god himself.
Naruto mused thoughtfully since when did Yoma hold hatred of a holy city and wanted to mock god?
If accurate, then the demons had more in common with humanity then they cared to admit.
Just then, a little interesting surprise happened to walk by and it made the shinobi wonder about the odds here.
Raki walked by holding a statue, straining but managed to stand straight. The boy was being lead by a taller woman, with blond hair and had the same face as the Claymore Clare. Narrowing his gaze towards the two, he honestly felt shocked to see that Clare who was a Claymore, had managed to confuse the guards to let them in since she now had brown eyes of regular human.
"How is that possible?"
The shinobi slightly sent out a chakra pulse, something low enough to hopefully not draw attention in his direction before he felt Clare's Yoki energy. Naruto speculated on whether, he should track the warrior more often or just downright find a damned Handler for information. Since her energy felt suppressed mainly or subdued for a few hours and steadily it came back. At least from what he gathered she had some sort of regression object, maybe a pill, to make her 'appear' human for infiltration purposes.
Again he could speculate on demonic energies completely different from chakra, so he settled at his table.
"Makes sense now, the Yoma is hunting people here and the city, or someone whose rich enough to hire the Organization's Claymore out to slay the demon itself. I better send some bunshin to watch Clare, Raki and whoever orchestrated the hiring. It'd be nice to start somewhere, I honestly don't know anything about this land."
As the two companions walked by, hardly glancing over in his general direction much to the smile. Naruto relaxed while his herbal tea with one hand and holding the bottom with his other palm. Basically becoming another bystander in the city, he could conceal himself well if the occasion called for it. The Claymore and teen went towards more down the street before going towards an Inn of some kind. So Naruto quietly started to sip his drink, relishing in the relaxed state that he was in.
Tilting to the right, so the veil parted to let the edge of the cup reach his lips.
It was warm...
Perfect temperature and the taste: beautiful, as he sighed out loud.
Bird's flapped overheard as he looked across the street, as the flood of people moved about doing their daily businesses.
Maybe ten or fifteen minutes later, Naruto finally had that urge to go find an Inn to rest for a few days at. Sighing regretfully as he finished one of the many cups of tea that he ordered or that were brewed, the shinobi knew time was up. So for the last time enjoying the sun's warmth, he decided on where to go first. Fin an Inn or just walk around some more?
However before leaving he left a few small coins of sliver, along with a bronze rectangular bar for a nice tip for the waitress, she was mildly pleasant in making small talk during his time there "Now that I noticed, that Claymore was here with Raki, so why not follow those two in order to find the Yoma? It saves me time, plus if anything were to go wrong I'd just move along without a hassle from the city itself. Perfect, using someone to your advantage and reap the rewards with no danger added at all..."
With that he moved on to where he last caught sight of his quarry.
The crowds of people conducted business, laughing, socializing, which were their lives. Distantly childhood memories of him hiding in crowds, abidingly brought that familiar chill on his spine of being trailed. Idly taking in the sounds, he felt eyes watching him and it wasn't settling with him to feel it again. The last time a pair of eyes watched him were behind masks loyally to the former leader of his village. From the corner of his vision, he couldn't pinpoint where this feeling came from but he moved onward, what did they want with him?
And this came all so to familiar to him, since it was quite annoying to ignore it for long.
The man slowly continued his steady walk through the masses of bodies as he came to see that massive cathedral towering over the other buildings. Studying the outlook of it all, since it held three towers, each more massive then the next with a circle glass sculpture: coloration's of red, green, and blue. Emeralds, rubies and sapphires were all what they represented in a natural harmony.
All in all in what appeared to be an icon of faith.
"I wonder how much money that cost to build, better yet how many lives did it ruin altogether?"
It was very zealous to express, anything to religion involving riches of the masses. Honesty to him, it was just something nagging him negatively since he worked with a man, Hidan, if he recalled right to be an insane fanatic towards his own faith. A faith that wanted sacrifices who were to be killed in the most agonizing and barbaric ways possible. So yes, he despised very fanatical people but not the faith behind it unless they both warranted his anger at it.
Shaking his head, Naruto just tuned out those thoughts since it didn't mean anything to him anymore.
There were many guards around the cathedral itself, which meant that the murders were more than likely contained to that area. He doubted the Yoma wished to spoil its hunting grounds with a Claymore in its mist, normally at the first sign of a predator the killer would've taken off but the lack of obscurity meant it wasn't afraid to fight Clare. Was it wary or perhaps confident that it could take down a Claymore at its own time? So many questions could be said, but the first off he had to see if he could actually 'detect' it.
Now that he realized it, channeling chakra into his own nose he faintly smelled the undead flesh. Cringing mentally from the putrid stench, this were just on the outskirts of the cathedral itself, he dared to imagine the inside. Amazingly human's senses of smell weren't naturally developed to pick up the scents, yet he also doubted Claymore would pick it scents by smelling it. Chakra had its advantages in this place, alas the smelling alone made it rather mind cringing to find demonic entities disguised as humans.
Unless he felt he could be proven wrong, Naruto felt that this Yoma could stand out in a crowd.
But all of this now made sense in a way: the killings which were frequent.
And seeing Raki again and now Clare herself just got an assumption to spring up.
They were on a covert mission to slay this Yoma. Since this already had gotten intriguing, this meant that the holy city didn't allow half breeds into their walls because more than likely, the denial of entering the walls was based on the stigmatized hatred and general mistrust. In other words these people inside Rabona were a bunch of faithful fools who pleaded to their incompetent god, for aid. God, what a foreign concept he despised and envied at the same time.
Again religion and the shinobi didn't mix well, mentally scoffing at the cathedral openly.
Moving away from the object of his growing sickness, Naruto went in search of rest as he gotten the attention of a pair of guards who watched him with wary expressions. Apparently his choice of clothing was very suspicious, at least to them, to get some unwanted attention. Sighing annoyed to hasten his walk, so that the guards didn't get any bright ideas.
They were looking at the wrong killer...
"Dogs, just a couple of fucking watch dogs not knowing that the true wolf, is probably inside that place."
While not impatient to move away from their eyes, Naruto just needed to find a suitable place. Something no overly taxing on his money purse but not so desperate for a cheap room.
So with that in mind he walked down a street to search for an Inn. He had asked some market stalls, vendor on whether such a place to rest and eat, existed inside this urban jungle. Thankfully nearly all of them always recommended an Inn with a sign that could be easily recognized as a bathtub with bubbles. If this land didn't give out questionable marks, then an Inn with a bathtub and bubbles as the prime example of a good business?
"And they called me insane..."
Naruto could in hind sight , say such a place would be prominent and very spirited to have such an entrance.
Oh what in the hell did he know of a good business? Probably close to a hot spring, if that were the case.
Continuing his scenic route through the streets of Rabona, the shinobi witnessed many guards around once again as it was inclined to believe this was routine of them to do patrols. Such displays confirmed his suspicions of the Yoma definitely not evidently to fear the Claymore around this prosperous center. Further proving that the beasts of this land were arrogant enough to warrant no discretion, so if they were picked off, he'd wish it in the most painful manner.
He glanced to see the low slanted roof tops as he more sentries from the patrols of guards in steel armoring watched from above.
Their armor distinctly reminded him of the armor of the samurai that were stationed in the Land of Iron in the Kage Summit and now that was a galvanizing moment to be near when that time came. He'd been stationed as 'backup' for his sensei, which in all seriousness was a joke itself to played on Konoha specifically as the rouge 'Prince' of the Leaf came to haunt them. That title, or what not became a real pain to deal with since it attracted too much attention inside the Bingo Books.
Naruto scowled at the past cheek, he'd been called the 'Rouge Prince' due to the fact his father was the Yondamie and wanted him back in the village to garner the prestige they'd lost. What they lost out of sheer ignorance and poor political planning. Perhaps his actions as a genin, helping many despite his own nightmares brought about changes in people. It was his 'gift' that the elders screwed themselves over on. Sighing loudly, those were the days alright to see past friends stare in horror at him, as he cut them down one by one if they ever got in his way.
Indeed they did, they did so out of duty or for the sake of their families...
And it haunted him, every day.
"Betrayer..."
Shaking his head to ignore those damning whispers, Naruto quickly followed to find a place to rest.
The sun was lowering as it became later afternoon after walking around the populated major trading post of all arts as he had wondered to where the Inn was currently located. Well certainly that interesting mark. every vendor gave of establishment caught his attention instantly. Smiling lightly as the sign of the bathtub and bubbles almost made him tilt his head, in disbelief.
Almost...
He opened the wooden thick door to see a rather impressive size of the lobby that outclassed his previous stay in Raki's own home village. There was a partial middle aged man, short as everyone in lands. Figuring this out to be the owner of the business since he had a mustache that covered his top lip and went to the sides of his cheeks. Apart from that, the man didn't have anything worth noting.
He was preparing some food on a tray from the kitchens as he looked to see a silent waiting man in black that scared the living heavens from him.
Quietly enough Naruto walked up, only to have the owner looked at him scared of out mind.
Maybe the owner of the Inn saw the paper veil that didn't reveal his face, or anything for the matter. The shinobi placed both hands covered by his fingerless gloves, dark gray in color, which got the owner nervous. He hadn't seen anyone remotely close to what the strange had on, it felt very creepy. Slowly the owner relaxed, as he have to run a business.
He'd met the those two siblings, so more lodgings meant more money.
That alone made him speak hesitantly yet with a small smile, "Good afternoon sir, are you looking for a room to spend for the night?" the man's voice quivered completely once he heard flat voice that could make a Claymore shiver at its coldness, yet alone the lack of emotion. Naruto reached down from one of his pockets on the robe on him, quickly flushing out currency.
He just wanted to rest and relax for a day or so.
"Indeed I am. May I inquire how much my stay will be?" his hand revealed ten sliver pieces that made the owner look amazed as he retrieved the amount, "My goodness are you staying for a while sir? This shall give you three days, and I do have a vacancy on for such a price…" he drawled on only to turn around to the wall behind him to see most of the rooms occupied.
Determined to see if not all the rooms were occupied especially the siblings, who were from this afternoon that wandered to be selling their fathers antique sculpture. Which was quite the piece of art work, but he had no expertise in that field so the owner hummed lightly. Maybe there was something he could do for that price, ten silver beras meant this robed man could spend money.
A deal had to be in order!
"Ah ha, you're in luck! There is a room here on the main floor since its well sometimes too much of pocket drier, for people's money, so I can offer you put up five more silvers to pay for the room at the expense of free meals for three days. And I believe it will satisfy your own needs, whatever they are for some days to come." The pitch was quite honest and humble as Naruto tiredly smiled at the owner of the Inn to make a profit. He could relate to an ex-shinobi called Kazuku who always in some way in hell, make a profit from any job or bounty in the entire world.
Snorting mentally, Naruto made haste to speak, "I'll be happy to see a few extra pieces of silver for a lovely room and free meals. Agreed."
Flicking over three extra coins, made the owner only beam happily as he picked up the key in order to allow this man to rest.
He followed directly ten feet behind him, as the two led themselves down a hall under the staircase. Still for one reason or another, Naruto just questioned what the room would be like? He naturally got curious as many would in his shoes at the scope of what, eighteen silver beras could pay for in this place. He was wary of being conned out of money for things that weren't worth a lot. A side effect of living in a place that wanted you to suffer. All in all it seemed nice from the outside.
But so did Konoha to a stranger...
"What do the commendations present?" he inquired which again made the owner shiver again. Trying miserably to hide the fear so he spoke in a jolly forced voice, "It holds one massive bedroom, a view of the street, along with other simple necessities. A closest to hang any purchased wares from the street, I recommend 'Hue's Seasonal Dress' since you can get a discount by staying here. It's located across the street, most of the beds are from his store."
Naruto felt like stabbing his eardrums, did he really need to listen to pitch for profits? Maybe the time in this land would only remind him of former associates and partners from his tenure in the Akatsuki, technically he was still a member. From the ring on his finer, to the robe of the red clouds themselves. Sighing lightly he tuned in the rambling Inn Owner.
"Ah I may recommend, that make your way to a special room that makes my business so splendid compared to the other Inns in Rabona."
Naruto glanced over to the man, as he pointed to a set of dual oak doors that held two yellow handles. "Just leave your clothes in the compartment and enjoy the soak. Since you have the room that comes with it, hence the reason for the extra coin, you have that private bath."
The shinobi merely stared once the owner, actually opened the door to the room. And quite amazing his room wasn't at all cheap, nor was it overly grand. This was somewhere between in him whistling a tune at how much he spent in his purse to get a well-rounded room or slap himself. He settled with the former, taking in the sight of his new 'room' for the moment.
The owner left after he went inside.
"This is quite nice."
Naruto remained where he was before watching the dim lit room, but as he stepped in to slowly shut the door with a soft 'click'.
He saw the bed near the windows view of the street as he walked to the hexagon like patterns that held the glass in place the man witnesses the setting sun in the red and orange sky which he felt rather bored before heeding the owner of the Inn's advice to see this so called splendid attraction of the establishment.
Again he was in no hurry to track or to send his own doppelgangers to keep an eye on Raki and Clare, so hopefully they'd stay inside the city at least for one night. He had nothing but time to reflect and garner whether what action would lead him next, either travel or gather information about Claymore in general. Well that brought up an amusing prospect, Tina, Claymore number forty six, the only Claymore not the weakest out of her ranking system. He smiled, perhaps sending a letter to the woman would be productive.
After all, when he picked that blade of hers off the ground: he slipped a tracking seal on its side, easily amendable against a user's will to slice a target with. In other words, a very durable seal that last quite a while, having blood or anything of the sort slipped over it. Naruto patted himself on the back, it was a good stroke of luck indeed.
Usually his proficient skills with seals were based on him applying the art onto his body, not actively creating them so simply.
Creating seals and applying them were really two different subjects, a master at one spectrum didn't mean you were a master for all of it.
Perhaps he'd travel with Tina, it'd be a nice change of pace to see this new world for all its wonders, or horrors...
"First's things first, check what you got Naruto. How much weaponry, supplies and to take stock in what you can do with whatever you have. Always mediate or reflect whenever you have a difficult situation ahead of you, as sensei always said."
"Kage Bunshin no justu."
The whispered jutsu did what it intended from the user, make another copy.
When the bunshin appeared from behind he gave it the kunai hostlers, his shuriken and his two specialized kunai holders on his forearms as the straps slid off. He'd count them once he rested, he needed a bath in order to soothe his aching muscles ranging from his back up into his shoulders. It'd been weeks since his last relaxation, constantly fighting and ending the war in the Elemental Nations took its toll on any person. Cracking his neck to the right, the blond moved towards the door.
The shadow clone merely stood guard over the equipment its creator moved on, but he stopped suddenly.
The shinobi left a sheath of a small knife that was attached to his ribs as he left with a single weapon as he strolled easily to the doors of where the Inn owner insisted.
Calmly he pulsed his chakra to make sure no one had any hostile intent, which wouldn't be directed upon him. Parnoia crept back into his mind, usually that never meant well for someone who wanted to combat him. Growling low his hand twitched to the left before opening the dual doors to a rather similar aspect of his homeland, one that involved hot springs mainly.
The empty compartments to store clothes for the local Spas for men and woman was what greeted him courteously.
Silently he stripped bare of his essentials, leaving them folded in the corner of the compartmental room.
There were some silk blue towels folded, most likely paid in a large sum from a tailor that did knitting or arts similar to such of the clothe. So as he wrapped it around his torso, with his sheathed knife in hand before he opened the next set of twin doors to reveal a rather peculiar room. "How many rooms am I going through, a maze's worth?" Sarcastically thinking that the 'special' room was merely a ploy to piss him off, the blond noticed some things about this room. At least in a physical sense, mind him.
Before this last pair of doors he assumed as on either side were small slit vents to the outside air as it cooler his core temperature as it was too let his body cool after the hot water bathe. Interestingly enough, these facts didn't annoy but make him impressed because this owner was truly a man who knew who to make a profit with the pricing, able enough to get any person in here and no less to lose a gain in money.
Fortunately for him, both money and the hot temperatures rarely affected him. And at that so tremendously for something more than simple heat could or had, at some point affected him in the past. But to sum it all, up well an interesting thing about it all that made him feel remotely like a person. To have flaws meant your were not perfect, as a person, he had his own ways to deal with it.
It was an irksome event, which he was saying that politely.
Sighing lightly he opened the doors with much deliberate wariness as it revealed a massive artificial body of heated water. Though this was created due to the bubbles forming on the surface as he assumed there was a low fire covering the entire surface of the cushioned floor to allow the heat. As steam made visibility to most hazy but to him clear as day as straight ahead was the spa as it could fit twenty people sitting and have an arm's length away from any of them.
There was a fireplace, completely painted in brick red with golden symbols of modern art and languages unknown to him. Along with that damned polished gold, with his own reflection staring at him.
But the fire was barely visible itself since it was under the flooring as well.
On opposite sides, were two windows shutters whose glazed glass was of an angel of some sorts pointing a golden staff into another description, the opposite shutter which had a picture of a water body as the sun rose behind the angel. Naruto had to wonder how much did this man spend in order to get this type of 'art' in this Inn.
"Again I don't want to find out, it's just..."
This was all rather artistic, in a good way but on the downside here: it was a tad too devoted towards whatever god this represented. With all this wealth, polished gold and open space it looked similar to a peaceful temple. Shaking his head maybe he was thinking too much of this since he despised religion as a whole because of what happened to him.
What god allows the murder of a child, or yet children for a monster who tried to become human?
Trying to find something to get his attention span, back the shinobi went to the windows.
Idly he went to the opened window to view the roofs and unexpectedly the sky itself in so perfect detail.
"Whoa, that's a nice view of the sky right there. Seems behind this Inn is a garden of sorts, so that people inside the Spa can view the night in either a romantic or calming venture. Heh, this guy really knows how to run a decent business that doesn't involve any illegal means. Although I could be wrong..."
As he moved there was a lowing lying bench submerged roughly a foot or more as it covered his torso and up to his stomach. Naruto just sighed in pure delight as he watched the outside, almost in seemingly thought. One could say this water had sedative quality of a Spa, the heart just perfect at times in correlation with the outside environment.
All in all, this was indeed worth the money he paid upfront for.
He relaxed his readied muscles, flexing his own hands out of sheer anxiety.
With the knife was on the side of his leg underneath the foggy water, as he found that his feet reached the bottom to the ever heating floor.
The sensation was very tranquil and pleasant he admitted smirking.
He found a small cup on the window sill before filling it and poured it over his blond hair...
"This brings back memories."
Naruto's hair style was a low pony tail that he had worked years to smooth his unseeingly rebellious tangles of curly spiked hair, it took years to get it to flatten out after countless hours of dedicating before bed. He also recalled Emiko like to see his hair grown out, making him look 'cool' and 'awesome' as a dad. Sighing pleasantly from the water, he remembered some good times when he were younger back in that village. Amazingly the voices of the dead allowed him a moment much to his aching body, he felt cold still...
It was she who pleaded, with the puppy-dog eyes to let her straighten his hair.
Smiling painfully, the young Namikaze tried to settle in once more.
He let the steaming water run down his back, which held scars that marred his body forever reminding him of the times that trust was earned through bloodshed, pain and everlasting hatred of that place.
More of the water was drenching his hair as the droplets of liquid dropped in clear analysis as it went into a slower motion then gravity allowed.
It dropped as he looked to his hand to see it once again stained in blood, his features steeled as he clenched the same hand swiftly, cracking his knuckles in the process as it went away. Constantly flexing and relaxing his muscles meant that his fingers would be limber enough to form hand-seals quicker. Which translated to faster jutsu usage or seals to out perform your opponent.
Anything had a reason, but you needed will in order to move forward. Naruto sighed as he leaned back against the bench, soaking to his leisure while keeping aware that someone was out for a night tracking operation. He sensed some sort of demonic energy at work, or perhaps more accurately it being released after being suppressed for so long.
"Odd, looks like Clare is probably going to hunt the Yoma. Might as well send a bunshin to find out, I don't feel like getting out of the water yet."
A single copy of himself, fully clothed appeared in the window itself awaiting orders.
For hours till night had descended he sat idly washing limbs are precautions as his clone finally dispersed to reveal that the Claymore woman with Raki was preparing to cloak herself to begin her covert operation of slaying the usual Yoma, though she was in for an irksome fierce Voracious Eater was seemingly subtle in its hiding methods.
A devious adversary to confront as it well indeed harm the young Raki, as his interests were necessary for him to live as he was slightly inquired about why the boy wanted to stay with the woman, he himself was gathering information about the land beginning with its populaces martyrdom species of females. Though this Organization that Tina had of spoke one reminded him of a Root's cantankerous plan of similarly qualities, which unfavorable agenda was curious.
His clone reappeared at the window as it had casted an illusion of privacy for his creator to change into his normal outfit and clothing as he restocked his weapons into place as he donned his veiled straw hat that he tipped forward before he looked for a moment to the clone as it dispersed with a cloud of smoke. There would be a time to secure anything of interest. Well, in his interest at the least.
But in tactical terms this began with espionage and covert operations shinobi villages did in order to gain an edge.
Naruto swore to himself, in light of his arrival here he'd wouldn't interfere with Clare's mission. If there was one, it'd be in his own safety and potential that he let the woman go on her accord. Trying to study Claymore from a distance could prove worthwhile but only to an extent, it'd be creating more questions in order to figure the warriors out. So to face facts, he had two sources: Clare and Tina.
Not to say Tina was a welcomed start, it was more a surprised opportunity that he got, and had acted upon immediately.
"I wonder, can they sense chakra or even use it?"
He was still intrigued at how far those women could detect him from the basic five senses, if they could at all.
However he had a more interesting factor, their energy.
Youki, what in the living hell was it?
Based on what he knew, Naruto hypothesized that they sensed "Demonic" energy, in Yoma and their own kind no doubt. But from what he also gathered, was that they could not sense humans, without chakra. Already this seemed like the greatest advantage a shinobi could exploit, yet why did he feel so 'uneasy' about this? Basic knowledge in the Elemental Nations, every living being had Chakra and nothing could survive without it.
Chakra by definition was: 'spiritual and physical' energy proprieties properly balanced so that it could be produced to channel the five elements.
In other words, he had that edge over any opponent that would assume him to be a regular human!
"The possibilities, I could have."
Potentially lead him to stealthy infiltrate a fortress of Yoma without being detected. Fairly possible as well, were they able to underestimate him to be a human and just a human. He knew from experience Yoma were sloppy predators, at least the ones he witnessed, which didn't remark much intelligence in them. Naruto doubted Yoma in general could think to conceal their presences from their own hunters.
At least till now extraordinarily, these Yoma were predictable.
Gauging his own level of power which was a kage level, at the least against these things?
They were nothing to fear but unkindly words crept into his mind.
"Fools are the ones who fear nothing, always be on your guard."
Naruto then heard a muffled step, he ordered his clone to follow the Claymore and avoid all detection. He needed time in order to figure out where to go next, but right now he needed to rest. Sliding back against the wall while pouring water down his head, the shinobi wouldn't have the memories of his clone until the later hours of the night. So until then, the original allowed his doppelganger have the task of following the hybrid warrior herself.
(Naruto's Clone)
The Claymore leaped and soared over the rooftops as he jumped to the section well far enough for him to observe. The clone wished to find another angle in order to see any potential targets move in on its own objective. So the clone another clone that transformed into a raven, henging into animals tended to make aerial views worthwhile. It made it strange to use an animal's body parts, but a shinobi of any caliber took the technique to be simple. Details were what made or broke an illusion, so it took time to get a sense of 'perfection'.
And with that he had continued observing the Claymore.
The henged clone as the raven flew off silently blending into the night, with the other clone who jumped to a roof once his tasks were made clear. But he'd narrow his eyes soon enough to witness the cautious night patrols that the cities militia of guardsmen had implemented. Their eyes were trained with forced vigilance, which was futile in the clone's dull opinion.
Clones never questioned orders, they did what they were tasked to do.
He ran lightly as his sandals kept his muffed taps short and quieter than most footwear expected.
"Two below, need to jump."
Channeling a slight bit of chakra, he then leaped across the street, mind him, over the heads of two guards that looked up to hear only wind as they moved not spotting him.
"Where is the target?"
He ran till he was above on a pedestal upon one of the larger richer homes in the Rabona. Quietly gazing out into the square, the clone made a mental marker of where he was. Standing on a sphere-like end sticking up from the roof, which oversaw the area.
And he waited from roughly eight hundred, or perhaps nine hundred meters perpendicular to the Cathedral in the holy city. His eyes narrowed once he saw the distinct cloaked woman enter the highest tower, he mentally ordered his cloned raven to perch itself over them.
Soon enough it was perched above them on the tower's peak.
Obviously from this spot, he couldn't make out Clare talking with whoever asked for help.
With a full moon shining brightly, idly the clone tilted his hat to allow the veil to flap in the light breeze.
The cloaked woman faded away from the tower as the bell rung once as she dispersed into the lower buildings below as his clone dispelled itself as he inhaled as the wind blew his veil attached to the straw head wear as he had learned some rather critical information on Rabona's Yoma infestation. It seemed that someone had hired the Claymore to exterminate the demonic beings inside the city.
The father of the cathedral Farther Vincet had asked for aid from the organization, and the money was to be delivered in a man who wears black clothing to retrieve the reward, and cost of killing the beast. It was insightful of the Claymore's Organization to monopolize the trade of slaying Yoma. To get anyone who dared to risk their life to just hire one of them? When one business had complete control, anything was fair game for them to issue on the common man to get services. The clone didn't wish to think of someone actually 'angering' those who created Claymore, the potential was, disturbing.
An astonishing large amount wealth must've been offered for such an occasion. Konoha had a similar system, well all of the Great Nations held this to any clients throat. They could hire standard Genin to the Black-Ops who performed operations during missions. Also apparently as well this mere hunt was costly for any normal town, after all a wealthy city had more money to be earned in the long run. It all came down to politics and money, to make the world spin as it always had.
Made him wonder if boss was going to try to earn a small cut of the pie, as it were.
The clone had to wonder if one could simply gain some sort of power and skills as a human, to slay these monsters. Again plausible for him to consider, but for a regular human to this for a simple price? He doubted that housing, food and any smaller rewards would get any hunter annoyed. The clone also wondered if the boss could indirectly destroy this organizations reputation, to do the killing for less money instead the normal expensive assistance.
Tempting for a provoked attack, at least on them commercially.
While it would be a pain to be searching for Yoma, he assumed it would be simply due to the fact it that Yoma weren't subtle.
He was observing them, not voluntarily provoking these Claymore who no more than exterminators.
That would've been unwise and possibly fatal in the long run to do such acts.
The Clone waited patiently as he tracked the woman moving gracefully that any skilled black ops unit would be pressed to match. He gave her a simple comparison as she then caught sight as of the low lying connected roofs, then leaping into the moonlight. The clone merely scoffed at the sight, it was a tad bit too presumptuous.
The boss personally moved without the need to expose your entire body in a leap, but he watched her jump onto the next part of the lying structures.
It would've been another run towards the Inn but she was ungraciously struck with a trio of knives...
"That requires some skill to hit a Claymore, despite the fact she wasn't out hunting yet."
Again not too skilled, the woman easily got up holding the trio knives under her cloak. So in essence it wasn't not too much of a threat to her, even with the ambush. Narrowing his gaze, the clone made out two distinct Male guards of the City who were not pleased to see her. In fact if he recalled from the boss's memories he knew that a law was in place to be out after dark.
More than likely they stood arrogant, well one of them was, at the sight of a cloaked figure running over their buildings.
Clare slid as the knives did logically some damage though his logic focused intently as he watched from away as she was engaged by the two male guards. One clad iron in armor with a large broad sword, and the other was some skilled ranged thrower.
He watched calmly and was not worried to be spot as he remained on his sphere like step as the guard in the full iron armor swiped rather sluggishly, not to say though he had an impressive speed but against a Claymore, not so god. Clare could maneuver around his attacks with clear practicised ease, he felt somewhat apprehensive about the woman in not just ending the fight straight out.
Ah, he forgot they didn't harm humans at least to a fatal extent.
An odd rule, humans were monsters in their own right.
She leaped again over his head before the one with knives threw more projectiles at him before again she deflected them easily. A sense of irony was that she used one of the knives that was thrown, to block their original owner's. And she threw the remaining three at the man in the armor who let them impact his neck region of plated iron. Risky that if she channeled any of her demonic energy then that man would've died. The clone took a moment to stead himself as he thought about the battle, or rather the lack of one.
It was rather daring to go all out, both of the humans and Claymore in retrospect.
The clone wondered for a moment, if Claymore held any resentment towards humans when and if they fought against each other.
Now that was a intriguing prospect of the Claymores enduring hatred and scorn but were they unable to show any retaliation to their work? It was very likely that he was in there position in the boss had certain restrictions enforced and personally held onto, when out in the village during his early childhood. It was only till later once he got stronger that killing became an enticing option to stop the hatred at him.
Being a Jinchuuriki who could not be able to kill any civilians, would likely get him being confined or locked away to rot.
All in all it was an inquiry he could gain on another lesser time to observe.
The Claymore finally was able to flee from the one sided battle as she could have easily decimated those two guards as her appearance was compromised due to the fact she threw her cloak to avoid any sort of maneuvering lacked. Boss would have to go through some scenarios, since Clare was exposed. He wondered how'd she react in the long run and now how he'd witness this play out.
Again as his interests, were now in jeopardy.
So if things took a turn for worst.
Well, a few placed genjutsu to make the guards stay away from both Clare and Raki would be a nice gesture. While tempting to do so immediately, the clone could not enforce such orders unless the boss himself issued them. Calmly watching the Claymore take off towards her hideaway, the two guards watched her before moving towards the streets below to organize a search. What a pointless scouting mission, but the boss was curious so he smirked at the thought of a potential objective to be made.
The clone just stood on the building, while overlooking his creator's commendations.
Ironically the boss's room was also in the same Inn as his two quarry's were located in.
Just then a raven flapped seemingly out of now where once again as he glanced onto his right shoulder as it seemed this was the same bird for the past several times. It had a distinct personality, the animal always 'cawed' when it landed. Or maybe was it natural for birds to do this? The clone perished the thought for another time to bring up. The boss could deal with it, his own orders didn't need to go in those types of situations, not it's problem.
"Well now, it seems animals can sense chakra constructs. I think the boss will appreciate you being so curious."
He whispered smiling, he stroked the birds neck once again before releasing it into the sky.
It was cawing loudly as if disturbed.
And all the while, the wind slightly picked up.
"I've been spotted?"
Slowly but surely the clone looked down on the street to see that the larger guard covered in armor was staring right up at him. He smiled again, perhaps these humans weren't so dumb. Fortunately for them, he'd be around for another night and the boss himself would more than likely try to make a better effort to conceal himself in a battle. What an interesting place he was in thought the clone as decided to end its existence.
The moon got covered by a few wisps of cloud and darkness concealed him.
He dispelled as the wind took the small clouds of smoke away over the city, as the next day would bring interesting events.
- Next Morning -
Naruto nearly wiped his eyes to rub the dreariness away, he had a decent night of sleep. That was if one could account the memories of the shadow clones invading his mind, all the while noticing certain details his clone had punctuated during its tenure among the living. So despite the rude interruptions overall his night was quite pleasant and now last nights event's were all coming full circle.
He'd gotten word that the guards were conducting raids to find an intruder from last night, matching a description that only hinted the person was female. Among other things, Naruto smiled since he was due for a show this morning. And what better way to enjoy a show for yourself then to drink a nice tea at your leisure. So in short: he was quite happy this morning.
A rarity lately...
"And let the fun begin."
The Inn's door opened as a fair amount of armored guards made their rounds, this Inn was the latest in the sting of raids. He wasn't disappointed as one of the guard captains from last night, from his clone's memories, told the owner of the city's council's orders to conduct the searches. The owner tried to reassure the men that his Inn was perfectly fine and full to capacity. His story appeared true as various people sat around awaiting their breakfast from the kitchens in the back. Even the disguised shinobi wasn't immune to the free food and drink that the Inn itself provided.
So he'd been asked on what to order, Naruto wanted Tea.
And the best kind of tea was something called, Southern Everglade or whatever it was. Rumor has it that the tea was so nutritious that it could use any local herbs to heal a man's wounds from an animal mauling. City folk also mentioned to him, that the tea was expensive and it was always worth the extra beras or so to spend on it. Naruto didn't see anything up with it, so he decided to order it to try it out for himself. No harm no foul in satisfying the rumors, at least these ones.
And so he sat there, waiting for his food and tea.
But alas, the 'show' had already begun as the guards made their way upstairs with a few standing guards over the main hall.
Raki's voice drifted over towards him, of all things the kid could voice his complaints pretty loud.
Naruto could pick out that he was angered and maybe it was due to the fact Clare had been the one implemented?
Something along the lines, the accusations of Clare being his 'sister' and being the suspect from last night. Raki had made a show of her being loving and kind person than rather being the cloaked combatant last night. Smiling at the boy's conviction, Naruto gave Raki a few respectful points in making a defense for a Claymore. Having genuine feelings or affection could certainly convince hardened interrogators if this were in the elemental nations. Although if the interrogator were competent enough they'd focus more on facts.
Perhaps she'd could learn a thing or two from him, he certainly found it: endearing.
Using his innocence and honest emotions was clever, but in practice it tended to backfire sometimes. Plus it was unique for the boy to come such with such passionate words, since the captain of the guard let up from the questions. Frowning the shinobi tried to come up with a reason for the lack of motive and it came in the form of a simple detail. And the answer came pretty quickly, shockingly.
Clare's eyes were not of a Claymore.
The only reason why and that brought up a question as well.
Why were Clare's eyes brown instead of being sliver? Weren't they supposed to be?
That got the shinobi's attention immediately, concealing her eyes coloration? How was such a method possible since she didn't have chakra to change her eyes appearance, his Sharingan could be active with enough chakra coursing through his network. Chakra could be used to henge in a jutsu but physically changing eye coloration was pretty damned hard to do. Specifics were always a mute point, the question still nagged him though.
Did Claymore have such a network of energy?
His thoughts got put on hold...
"Why is that idiot looking at me?"
One of the younger captains, Naruto identified him as the dual knife thrower from last night looked directly over to him.
Oh fucking fantastic.
The two captains were brothers, apparently.
And they were the ones who fought the supposed 'suspect' last night.
They instantly noticed a foreigner as they walked down to the lobby of the Inn, it wasn't that seeing him was easy but the way he dressed.
It was just odd to see a strange foreigner in clothes that were too ominous for their tastes. It certainly screamed 'obvious' in a sense as the man in question shifted as he apparently noticed their gazes. Clearly a sign that a man was clearly uncomfortable, an indicator of a man who wanted to hide himself away from prying eyes. Both guardsmen interest were peaked but in different ways. So they decided to forgo their standards for a moment to go on a hunch to find the Yoma within the walls.
Or so they thought.
They just got the wrong killer, sadly.
The one with the scar across his left eye watched Naruto who had a veil of things around his head.
It was underneath the straw-hat, which was rare if not nonexistent in their city alone.
"Well doesn't he look like something is perfectly innocent. What do you think Gaulk? Doesn't he seem to be a Yoma in disguise?" He spoke somewhat sarcastically as the remaining group of eight guardsmen instantly closed the gaps. All for the man in question, so could not leave or put up a fight in the worst case scenario. If a man was questioned he had no choice but to answer the charges, if he could survive the exposure of such an armed force.
Naruto mentally scoffed, these people really thought they could intimidate him?
Hell would probably freeze over before that happened.
And the Inn owner, brought the tea out for the blond who merely nodded thankful to the owner who hastily backed off.
The small tea bundle was placed in front of him, it was next to a eating utensil: a spoon.
Which was just there next to the cup to mix the liquid.
Also there were some herbs next to it, Naruto calmly put the herbs into the tea causally ignoring the looks the younger guard captain threw at him. He did not once stop his movements, ideally using the spoon to mix the tea with the herbs at his leisure. Naruto was not concerned nor particularly serious at the moment, he liked a good show after all. The shinobi smiled in response to his own mental musings, perhaps this was what he felt once he noticed Koyuki in her movie once the mission to her homeland was let up.
Enjoy a good show, at your own pace.
Naruto got interrupted from his thoughts, again...
"What's wrong can't answer a claim that you're human? C'mon level with me on being a Yoma, else we might need to get personal now." The younger captain of this guard was twirling his knives mindlessly as the elder of the two was carefully evaluating the blond. Naruto who seemingly was not intimidated by them at all, which was damned true at its core.
Both veterans noticed in fact all the veiled man just did was just sit there contently with his tea.
Naruto mindlessly listed off some decent insults as he finished stirring his drink. The funny thing here was that a Yoma wouldn't be able to drink this, yet alone be able to stand these two idiots 'interrogation' or at least he figured. All in all these guards were pretty incompetent and even downright stupid to believe he was a demon in the flesh. At least physically but the point here was that he was getting annoyed at trying to have a good morning for once. Small things tended to grow into larger things, regardless of intentions.
So the blond shinobi placed the spoon down before speaking in a monotone that made the younger captain scowl viciously.
He was speaking to a child, in a way.
"Can you shut up and please stop being an idiot?"
The request, or insults just added to the losing patience of the younger captain who moved forward.
The knife thrower drew his weapon as he came within feet of the ever unmoving 'human' in front of him as he slammed his knife into the wood of the table, "You have some nerve to piss me off. But since I'm in a good 'old mood chap. How about we make sure you bleed red?" he grinned viciously as the elder brother looked about to stop his younger officer. The last thing they needed was an incident, the city was already stressed as it were.
Naruto dully replied to the 'threat' that the young captain issued.
"You try to make me bleed, I'll just put you on the ground. And by the way, your a tad bit too short to be threatening, idiot." He intoned as he lifted his tea to sip it. Inwardly he smiled, all in all he practically told the guard he wasn't worth the effort. He'd seen much worse people, this guard was just flat out stupid and trying to blow off steam at his failure of a job. Not his problem, but it didn't mean he'd retaliate if need be.
The said 'idiot' seethed as got his fist raised to strike him.
"If he try's it, I will put him not just on the ground but six feet under it."
Thankfully, the elder man had enough of the antics: they were wasting time and bringing a negative light on the guards as a whole. He moved over to grab the wrist of the knife thrower, frowning intently as he put a stop to this. People were starting to stare at them across the room, with a few more than curious looks. "Enough, we're leaving. Be mindful that we won't come around to see if you stay in your room at night foreigner."
He spoke to Naruto, who sat again sipping his tea calmly.
In response, he nodded lightly to the eldest captain, the man had his awareness at the people around them.
"I shall be mindful. Although please restrain that idiot, since I can't control unnecessary consequences."
The elder captain merely gave a hard glance to the sitting male, whether it was from the blatant threat or concern, Naruto didn't care. If that man wished to fight him, then they'd need a box to put him in. Idiots had no place on a battlefield, city or not. With that, the guardsmen all walked out making the blond shinobi sigh in relief. What a really dumb morning, to be annoyed before breakfast just seemed to ruin the effect of a pleasant moment. Although it did bring the attention of his two 'targets' as the boy and Claymore came over towards his table.
Raki spoke huffing, very annoyed. "Those guys just don't quit do they Clare?" he asked the woman who merely gazed at the man sipping tea. Memories came back into her mind, as flashbacks of Handlers went through her. The way the Organization had classified this as a covert-operation, felt strained and she had to wonder if this person was an agent of them? The thought was troubling to say the least, it made her wary with her 'companion' especially more so.
Clare noticed this man dressed similar to someone from the organization, it was far too much of a coincidence to believe it as luck. So for someone to wear all black, the Claymore was on guard immediately while trying to complete her mission. It wasn't the first time a Handler or by extension, any Agent of the Council that ran their ranks sent observers on missions. Her mood dropped considerably, but for appearances sake she looked to her young friend nodding in agreement.
She went to the main hall, as Raki went to sit at the table where Naruto was at. He felt he owed the blond an apology, so he grinned rather sheepishly trying to come up with a reason for them bothering people.
"Sorry those jerks bothered you sir. They just dealt with us, so forgive me for that as I defended my sister from their accusations." He said guiltily as the man across from him merely spoke softly, "No harm was intended young man. They were too...imbecilic." He spoke flatly as his tone made a shiver crawl up Raki's spine. This man sounded really unfriendly all of a sudden as Clare walked up from behind him looking apologetic as her mood changes from the organizations training. Already this screamed 'set-up' from her superiors, and needed to get back doing her assignment.
If only she knew her paranoia, wasn't needed in this city.
"Forgive my brother he is upset about them harassing us, so we need not to intrude on your time. We don't wish to ruin your stay here."Clare spoke up standing beside her 'brother' who smiled sheepishly making Naruto raise an eyebrow in amusement. He had a sense of deja vu when seeing the boy try to take responsibility for his actions, similar to him a long time ago when finding a certain sensei of his. Absently he wanted to travel around with them, he was curious and had nothing really to do at the moment.
"It's alright, Clare was it? I recently journeyed to Rabona just today myself, its no problem for a boy to ask a question. " Naruto half lied casually dismissing her apology, while looking at them. To the Claymore in front of him narrowed her eyes slightly at his rather pleasant yet cold tone that didn't hint any negative emotion what so usually had some sort of clinical pleasure to make people, or Claymore alike to feel uneasy.
Which was something that really agitated the Claymore as her own kind acted upon such impulses, making everyone wary to make themselves feel better.
Raki being the ever kind individual, much to Naruto's own assumptions, seemed shocked, "Why don't you come with us to the Great Cathedral, it's a great building to see Mister. Oh wait..." His time in his home finally caught up, as Raki realized something about this man. He saw him, granted a little bit but he knew where he had seen this guy before.
"Hang on didn't I see you in my village?" The man who was called 'mister' from the little children he knew. The way he acted and black clothed figure brought back a memory before he was cast out. Naruto just smirked, at least the boy had a very good memory despite all that happened to him. While pleasantly reminding he answered quite smoothly merely downplaying his time there.
"Indeed I was there, Raki. I was in the accompany of little Lily on her chore errand from her mother from what I recall. To be honest I'm a wanderer, so I ended up in your home for a brief time before moving on, it was a nice stay." He half lied again, as he sat his tea down before Clare looked at her brother sternly, "We must go brother, come along. There are some things we must do now."
Clare was impatient it seemed to find this Voracious Eater in the Cathedral as this was interesting. Interesting of course to gather some information, the shinobi wished to find out more about these creatures in some specific detail. He had one source in Tina, so why not expand to see other Claymore who figuratively were different in other fashions. Half human they may be, but they as a people were all different on a fundamental level. It made things more fun, to witness when they were placed in dangerous situations.
Case in point, the mission that was covert inside a Holy city.
At that he stood up slowly, "May I proceed to travel along with you around the city. I'm afraid I do not know the area well." He inquired more so to the boy who nodded much to Clare's disparagement. Naruto could guess it seemed she was wary of him, which was very heart warming to think about. It brought back memories when he was in Konoha, that immediate distrust and confusion about him. Oh those were some days he had to pull through without smiling, respect and fear didn't matter to one who had power to kill.
All in all he wasn't too surprised at her reaction.
"C'mon sis, can he? I mean we did get those guys to trouble this man. He doesn't seem so bad." Raki looked pleadingly to Clare who sighed before relenting much to keep her disguise of role playing as the sister, and when this was over she was going to have a few words to Raki about letting others tag along. It was rather rash of her to do so to look after anymore lives then his or hers.
"Fine. But please behave brother. "
Before he laughed sheepish again as the man in black followed both siblings out the of the Inn, and to the street where he would follow them silently for the whole day as he spent in the main hall of the Cathedral as Clare was being baptized into this places religion, and Raki was accompanying her as well, and he agreed to stay in the hall as he well respected, or at least did not want to raise suspicion of himself to see the half of baptisms as he watched the church. Neither of the two had problems to the man who went to see the sights of the church.
Clare searched all day within the Hall as the scent of Yoma was everywhere yet it did so well to hide, that it was unnerving her that her senses were dulled due to the drug and that there was little places to hid from the obvious human form or walls to house such a large sized Yoma. She sighed before leaving to go from the cathedral back to the Inn where their newest companion stayed.
He seemed polite most of the time, of sorts. She just didn't feel right with him traveling, as Raki had asked questions about the area and the man never once had any sort of negative attitude about it. He did it graciously yet once they had returned to the Inn, he went to his room to sleep. Overall so she was not too overly worried about the wanderer.
He was harmless now that she some time to observe him, a tad bit quiet but not a concern for her mission as she waited till the night to set.
For she had to inspect the Yoma feeding for it to be drawn out.
And she was unaware that the second Clone from the shinobi had been created, it would follow her again tonight at the orders of its creator.
- The Next Night -
Naruto awoke seemingly unfazed again as the clone that had followed Clare from last night had been in a fortunate position to have seen the 'Voracious Eater' in action against the Claymore Clare. The fight was one sided, in some way as the memories came back to him in a hazy fashion, nothing too impressive to get worked up for. It wasn't the best news, but it certainly made up for it in the morning.
But alas, her mission was compromised now.
It had been identified by the two guards, one of the two was an imbecile. The information he had gained was that she was in the care of Father Vincent seemed kind of odd to get aid from the one who hired her, it was risky in the sense that if those two guard Captains weren't so 'friendly' she'd have been killed or thrown out of the city. And that wasn't even the worst of it, the Holy Priest who had hired her could've been put to death for consorting with demonic beings such as the Claymore.
But what choice did they have?
The Church and the City had to flush out the Yoma somehow, it just screamed: madness in their eyes.
All in all this would be a task he would have to mindful of how to observe while not to interfere when they would kill the Yoma. He wanted to watch the fight, to study the fighting habits of these demons. But how would he be able to notice this without getting caught. This took several minutes of brain storming, as he formulated a plan to compensate the area that the battle would happen.
Slowly he theorized that he could sit in the main hall of the cathedral when Clare, if she had a plan to strike, it would be by tonight.
As he discovered that supernatural beings, Claymore, Yoma and now heretics much to his smirk, which got him thinking about Hidan as that zealous immortal man who he once faced would've been unwelcome here with a lot of hostility. Then again that guy would certainly make it a dream paradise to kill hundreds for his religions faith, which would make the one here pale in comparison.
What also he had gained from his clones espionage was that the two guards especially the big one had enough logic, and self pride to aid the wounded woman as the form of the Yoma, the Voracious Eater was similar to his encounter in the town with Tina. Clare had defended the two humans as she took a massive hit from three tentacles into her chest as he mused, trying to save those two managed if not made them see her intent was pure focus on the Yoma, though not in humans, indeed very bold.
He had slept for most of the afternoon as it was so he would have to reach the church by sundown as today's events matched his curiosity no matter how subtle it was, he would witness this hunt before moving on, or if he could possibly travel with the two, as the information potentially held by Miss Clare could prove to be worth his time if not briefly to travel among the boy, and her. Also much to his silent vocal cords he was intrigued by young Raki's decision to stay with her as it was, either the boy was again bold or truly held an interesting opinion of the Claymores.
He walked out of the lobby tuning out the Inn owner as he made his way into the street making his way towards the cathedral without too much wary. He had time to wait in the lobby before the plan of Clare's he logically assumed would be implemented to find the Yoma as he walked through crowds of people once again socializing as if not a care mattered to them.
So ignorant of the dangers he concluded in boredom as he passed easily through the masses as it took roughly an hour or two before he stood at the entrance of the cathedral. This was where he could potentially create an extra set of himself to over look the area but it would wiser to keep any chakra usage to a minimal as he did not want to draw any more unnecessary attention upon himself, he had an image of a pacifist quiet wanderer to upkeep and he would keep that illusion up for now.
After all a Shinobi's greatest strength was deception to deceive an enemy.
He noticed two guards in his way, no matter: he knew what to do.
"Genjustu Art: Magen Nijū Kokoni Arazu no Jutsu."
His chakra took hold of the two humans, they were aware that in reality Naruto just moved past them.
"This is off grounds to common people. State your business here or move away." One spoke in a stern voice as the man in blacked adjusted his hat very subtly as his finger twitched before the guards had seen a priest walk up from behind them as he lowered his head. Naruto stood there as the guards talked to the 'priest' that had his head lowered in a placating manner.
All too easy.
"Ah forgive my old friend is a mute when he answers. Please I sent for him a week ago." The priest spoke apologetically as the guards relented much to their understanding, "You may pass." They moved aside much to the shinobi's amusement, this was way too easy. Without chakra, most people would be blind to the world and what it could said. He believed that the human mind was easily shallow to believe in what it perceived to see.
And what the human mind refused to do on most occasions, was to be blind to the truth in front of them.
With that he and the 'father' walked into the hall where the smell of Yoma hit his senses immediately.
"Where?"
Speaking that one word, he could smell blood and the scent of a rotting corpse.
Glancing at an open coffin or burial pit, which revealed a rather interesting custom he had see before. Most tended to bury their dead, but to see an open view of the dead meant an importance. A blind spot, why would the humans check their famous or religious dead to be a hiding place. Why would they check and to be hiding in plain sight was the best course of action to do, in this place. He just smirked to himself, were the Claymores stupid or were Yoma that oblvious to a person who could think?
It was such an overlooked hiding spot for this Yoma.
Naruto moved to the open coffin and stared down into the dead 'mans' eyes.
"I could easily kill this thing, one jutsu or even decapitate the beast with my weapon. But where would the fun in that be since this is Clare's target, not mine. So time to find a good place to watch and observe."
He just stared before he left to hide his presence from the side behind a pillar while sticking to the ceiling upside down to wait night fall and hopefully to understand more of the Claymores battle superiority.
Walking up the pillar he waited as his body used his chakra to sit with his back towards the pillars surface to sit in a meditative state to let the flow of time pass seemingly like water through a river. The man sat contently five or eight meters above the ground as one would relax on the ground as he looked through his experiences to see if he had made any miscalculation so far. Well in other words, just biding his time and going over what he had learned so far. It wasn't much, but it was a start in the right direction.
"Hopefully."
He made contact with the ranked forty six, or Tina. And he knew now that there were forty seven claymores assigned to these lands regions, not to mention his summons, Ravens were at his beck and call. Despite this lands lack of chakra, the animals were partially sentient to come to his call. Which was a pleasing outcome, then moving onward to overlook the room, if he had to witness anyone coming down here.
He was within distance to witness the young teen doing whatever he wanted too.
Distantly a door opened from the entrance to the room, his questions continued as he ignored it momentarily.
And now this claymore he could learn more of this shadowy illusive organization that created them apparently.
The sun dropped as someone walked down the staircase entering the hall as the sound something dropping heavily on the floor as the man stayed perfectly still as he heard Raki mumble something incoherent as based on his voice it was near the open coffin. He listened as he used his chakra to enhance his ears if ever so slightly as he heard the young teen mumble something again.
The kid really did complain. a little too much.
"Drat! How did I get so lucky to wait here myself in a place like this huh?" he spoke to one in particular as the one listening gave a small shake of his head as he was indeed unlucky. Unlucky to be within a few feet of a monster that killed humans for food, but in a way Naruto could say this wasn't so.
Raki was lucky in specifically being at the right place, for Clare to to rescue him.
Hopefully.
Though his intelligence was flawed. The smell of the undead flesh grew strongly as the teens words were waking the hungry Yoma up from its slumber from the day as it hid from prying eyes. His arm was careful to not extend his dual kunai that were just above his palms. He wouldn't make a move unless no one would assist the teen if he had to fight the beast.
So as he awaited the event to unfold for the teen.
If it proved to be potential or immediately fatal he would interfere if necessary.
"This baptismal room is giving me the creeps." He shivered as he looked down at the mummified saint of past, "Maybe that is why." He spoke annoyed as he suddenly slipped with a yelp much to the silent Shinobi's amusement, Naruto had to stop his chuckle in his throat.
Raki screamed in fright as he climbed away from the fowl smelling mummified man as he ran to use the pillar for support. And this was ironically the one the blond was using to hide behind. And through it all as Raki sighed tiredly.
The boy was too loud.
"Why is that thing even in here, I mean c'mon a mummy in a cathedral that's just freaking wrong." He mused shivering again as his face had a concerned and thoughtful look as he his worries came to fold into his vocal cords. "I just hope Clare is alright." He prayed silently as the man behind the pillar looked on apathetically as the Voracious Eater undid its disguise as he heard the corpse stand and cracking slightly, the sound was illustrated as veins appeared on the skin, as an eye formed, organs pumped the rotting blood throughout its body as it gasped inhaling air.
The Yoma looked to see a lone human mere feet away from it as the boy was unaware of its presence, it licked its lips hungrily as it stepped from the coffin causing the boy to turn around.
"Wh…What in the hell!" Raki spoke fearfully as the Yoma snarled at him as he was punched back into the pillar directly behind him, as he coughed as the impact took a toll on his back.
Behind the pillar the man lowered his head as he would've wisely created a clone to see what this situation became as his kunai's slid down his hand before the sound of a fast approaching Claymore to simply tilt his head. "It took you that long to realize. Any longer and the boy would have been dead, Clare."
He mused to himself thoughtfully bored as he heard the clash of steel and claw.
Clare threw one her knives into the forearm making the beast retract his reach from her downed charge, as she flipped slashing at the neck of the demon who parried the blow away. It hissed as the hand twitched as she jumped back as five lances speared the previous spot she held.
Her eyes never left the Yoma as she addressed to the boy behind her, "Raki are you hurt?"
The boy smiled grimly as he shook his head, "Nah a little banged up nothing too bad." The Claymore watched as the Yoma gurgled as if laughing or chuckling.
"When I tell you to run do so, I'll fight him. You can't be here…" her eyes widened as the tentacles rushed them as both of them dived to opposites sides as the five tendrils tore apart the bottom half of the pillar much to two persons shock, and ones brief annoyance.
Raki landed with a thump as he groaned as rocks, and shrapnel of granite cut him if lightly that stung. The Yoma rushed at the downed human intent on getting a meal as Clare shouted in panic as her wounds had slowed her down, "Raki!"
The boy looked up to see the demon bearing down on him till a long ting sword of the elder Guard Captain moved in front of him parrying the blow as three knives from the hot blooded younger captain shouted off to the young lad, "Run…boy! Now!" as the Demon screeched in frustration as the elder captain sliced the tendrils off two fingers from the hand reached.
"This is our city, we solider took an oath to protect our homes from monsters as such. So if you value your life to save this boy." He spoke sternly to Clare who grit her teeth before standing as the younger man gave his part as well, "Don't even think about dying as we won't protect the kid from this. Our duty is the city's safety so prepare yourself."
As he launched more knives at the Claymore as the other two fights rushed in to fight the Voracious Eater.
The elder captain roared as his sword was stopped by the demon, and the other soldier threw his knives into the back as the demon growled angrily. Clare leaped from behind as she drove her knife into the parrying palm of the Yoma, as it hissed as the blade was stopped short from even reaching its skull. He pushed Clare off with a swing of his arm, as the guards again tried to keep the Yoma distracted as he did an uppercut.
The eldest while he caught the knives of the younger effortlessly. As he had flicked them to walls.
Clare ran seemingly out of nowhere slicing into the back of the demon only for it to stop an inch into its flesh before it chuckled amused at the situation for the sliver eyed witch. "This is truly pathetically weak. Is that all you can do limping half breed?" he had acquired the eldest human's sword before slamming into the blade of the long knives that the half breed was using.
Clare was gritting her teeth as her wounds caused her chest to burn, as she struggled to meet the strength of this demon.
The Yoma pushed the Claymore to the limits as it ranted how these priests were so 'holy' but merely human in blood. It laughed as blood sprouted from the bandages before Raki snarled in fury before he ran to the clay statue that the eldest man gripped his shoulder, "Boy what in the hell are you doing!" as the teen put the statue into his arms, "Please Galk we have to get this to Clare, it's the only way for her to win!" as the woman was beaten back forcefully as she gasped as the Yoma slashed with Galk's own sword into the floor cracking it explosively.
Clare slid as Galk launched the statue of a praying woman into her position, "Girl…catch!" he roared as the Claymore leaped to grab the statue before the Yoma appeared slashing down onto her shoulders as the men all held their breathes gasping in shock as the Yoma laughed as Clare's head was facing to the ground. The Voracious eater eye widened as Clare tipped the head from the statue to reveal the giant broadsword that stopped the blade of the Yoma, she twisted the blade before launching an offensive assault on to the shocked demon as she leaped over it slicing an arm off as it roared in pain.
Blood pulsed onto the floor as the purple rotten liquid dripped from the stump of once a limb.
"A…Claymore."
He hissed angrily as he lunged making Clare leaped over him as her eyes turned into a slit yellow, as his second arm went flying as he roared in pain, before he leaned back as the stomach embedded itself into his torso.
He chuckled, "There is no risk if there are no vitals half breed." He hissed as Clare stared him down as her voice took a darker tone, and became much more sinister. "You don't include your head as a vital spot?" the demon stopped its amusement as he felt the blade face upward as he felt turn within him.
He gagged as he pleaded briefly, "Please..have mercy."
Those words made the Yoki spike within Clare as she pulled the sword up slicing the chest, torso, and head into halves as blood sprayed against her as she panted. She chocked as the Yoki was spiraling out of control as she dropped to her eyes, as trying to retain her control. It was useless as she thought her body shifting instantly as Raki came over smiling, and glad as he sat by her.
"Get away from me Raki." She groaned as veins bulged around her temples, and arms. The teen looked shocked, "Clare what's wrong! You killed that Yoma, please tell me."
The woman gasped pained as the beast within her stirred trying to break free as her demon's instincts were crushing her will to control the damage as she hissed as she stood up.
"I'm losing control of the Yoki. Please Raki don't interfere…as I have to end my life else the Yoma within me with change me. "She brought her giant broadsword up to slit her neck, as the elder captain Galk took position behind her with his sword, as she looked to him, "Please hurry I don't how much longer I can hold it." She fell to her knees gasping as tremors racked her body, as her figure bulged as Raki cried wrapping his arms around her as the Claymore watched with widened eyes as he cried into her shoulder.
"I'm happy that I've be able to travel with you Clare. My family was killed, the town shunned me, exiled me. Everything loved was taken from me all at once. "He sobbed into her shoulder, he hugged her, as he was smiling while tears poured from his eyes. The woman's eyes widened as she gasped painfully as she tried to push him away as she didn't want him killed because of her as she strained for breath. "That's why I'm happy you said that you were not kind or caring to anyone, but you where kinder to me then anymore. I just want to be with you. That's why I don't want to be with anyone else!" he said to her as he held her tight as Clare felt the tears drip onto her shoulder as it created a moist feeling as her eyes widened at this young man's plea.
"That's why if you die I'm going with you." He faced her as this was the mirror image of someone so long ago, it was herself as she saw images of her, the Faint smile. She gripped her sword as hard as she could snarling in rage as a pulse of energy created a massive shock wave that blew the floor apart as it was sent into the walls, and pillars as a cloud of dust settled around it. Galk and his younger captain were knocked off their feet.
The dust settled as a surprised Raki witnessed Clare who was stunned to see herself in control once more as they were speechless for a moment. "The power stopped?" Clare whispered totally amazed as Raki cried happily into her as he sobbed into her shoulder as the Claymore looked on confused on what to do, as she rubbed his back to reassure him as the sight was simply astounding for the two humans at least witnessing.
"Alright let's get back to where we belong. My bodies got aches and pains I can never want to feel ever again." The young guard spoke exhausted as the elder agreed as well without speaking as both watched the boy embracing the still awkward yet they both saw the small smile she had as the boy calmed down. The four slowly removed themselves from the hall as the body of the dead demon lay.
Only for a shadow to appear in the light, barely concealed from the pillar's angle.
Naruto just stood there, contemplating.
After a while the Shinobi in hiding, spoke smirking.
"Now that is what a man is supposed to do, Raki. Such an entertaining battle, but I must wonder. What will you do young Raki? Will you gain strength to protect those close to you, or journey down the path of darkness to guide the monster that is within all people?" the blond mused silently to himself, this reminded him of his own dealings in the past. He had to continue understanding what the boy would do and not to mention his other questions lingered.
Perhaps he could travel with them for a short time, this was an ideal situation to identify how Clare Operated. Which by extension could reveal what sort of Organization does this while creating Claymores. Did they do it for power, besides sacrifice? As Tina's confession of her past reverberated within his mind as he sighed watching the night as tomorrow he would proceed to inquiry to journey with the duo before organizing his own plans as more information, specifics, and his curiosity had to be filled out.
He disappeared in a whirl of leaves as he would wait till the next morning after the two rested as he leaped over the roofs in the moonlit starry sky.
- Morning at the Gates -
Naruto walked easily to the front of the gates as he went to confirm with the gate keeper that his leave was documented as he could not pull another illusion with Clare and Raki nearby. He didn't wish to have anything sense his ability to manipulate chakra, if Claymore could sense it then he'd be under secrunity. So it was better to play by the rules of the city.
Idly he watched a rather childish yet playful scene of the younger guard Captain kiss Clare on the lips causing Raki to scream at him. Both were in shouting duel for a moment before the man gave his condolences to the boy about becoming stronger for Clare herself, after all the boy had potential to grow. "He has the potential to grow, but will that be an ambition to become strong or a promise to protect the one he cares about? I wonder, if this was what my choices were back then. " Naruto mused as his face was under the veil.
Feeling the past wishing to damn his soul, he sighed before fortifying his resolve to continue with his plan.
And he began to walk ahead of them, yet Raki spotted him immediately which got annoying.
A little.
"Ah its you again uh who the heck are you seriously. You never gave your name to us." The teenager spoke annoyed as Clare walked beside him ever so stoic yet curious as well though she did well to hide it much to the quiet man in question. Naruto spoke kindly though a bit quiet, "My apologies young one. However before I proceed to state my name I have a request for you and your sister."
The shinobi wasn't much of a cold person by chance, he just didn't know how to interact with common people. And adding the twos stares, one curious and the other wary he gave it as a sign he was improving. Not to mention this was becoming fun to watch Clare determine him as a threat or not, the confusion was obvious when she spoke making him grin slightly.
In fact Clare answered in a voice that would've made any other man flinch at its coldness.
"State your request now, or else stand away from us."
The veiled man shifted his head a little to see the face of a Claymore that knew he could be threatening her charge in front of her much to her noblest intentions he was not a threat, at least not presently to either of them.
"May I have permission to travel with two of you. To be fair I get lost a bit, and to be honest I'm a pacifist. Although I do have skills to assist you, I can help you get into towns and even put in good words about your kind. I try to help those who allow me to travel, if that is alright with you?"
At the rather peculiar question Clare looked to Raki as he smiled warmly as he thought it was a good idea to keep them company as she signed at the face of his. Much too trusting she summarized much to the silent man who she didn't know his name, nor seen his swore this was a handler of the Organization, no way in hell did such an attire go unnoticed and not be shady. However, she had her suspicions to keep quiet and allowed this to occur.
If he proved worth in what he told her, then getting into towns or cities for a bed would be worth the effort. And she had to admit to herself, that this was a rather strange man to be around.
"Whatever gains you have to accompany us do so at your own risk. I will not protect you, since I have to deal with Raki. It's at your risk as you are aware of. And it will be irrelevant if Raki attempts to persuade me otherwise. "All in all, a wise and unfortunate declaration as Naruto agreed nodding.
He felt an urge to be truthful, so he went with his instincts to speak in a calm yet understanding voice, "My gains are of self interest and nothing less either. My presence will not interfere with your work, or delude your skills Clare. I'm well aware of these risks." He insured firmly as the woman walked away seemingly decided it was no longer to waste time as Raki spoke up to cause her to stop and listen to the question.
"Umm, not to be rude but you still have not given us your name sir." He spoke agitated as the man in the veiled hat looked to him before saying three words. A smile underneath that only grew to see his two new companions get annoyed. Naruto still enjoyed messing with people, he just did it rarely and to those who weren't apart of his past.
"Saito. Kenji Saito."
He used the alias as his real true name would be as causally as the young teen smiled, "Please to meet you Mister Saito." As Naruto nodded lightly to the teen as he looked to Clare, "May I ask where we will be heading?"
Clare remained silent much not too warmed to the idea of traveling with another person, Naruto just took it all with a silent amusement. Raki apologized from the lack of an answer as the blond shinobi could only accept them with a quiet grace. After all the beginning of a journey was always the most interesting part, to realize that the road was only beginning.
"End Rabona the Holy City"
Author's Note: Edited/Reposted: 6/15/14
I hope this cleared up some old mistakes that were made, believe me this is a work in progress for me to go through and edit every sentence. I do work for a living and do other things, but I will clean this fic up for some time. It's a pain in the ass but hey, if it makes everyone understand the story then my goal is within sight after all.
I've added in some backstory involving Naruto with Koyuki, it's a character at least in this story and alignment with Naruto's 'darker' past with Konoha that he could have been with. If I ever get around to the Prequel to this story, the connection will be there and I for one, can't help but put that in. It's more of a drama/suspenseful theme to have a person that is twisted as Naruto in this story.
So I hope you like this revised chapter, because I know I'm going to miss something. Have a good summer, to those enjoying it.
