Chapter 3: Dirt Road Blues
Sasori backed away as Aros strolled closer. The man stood at least a foot taller than Sasori, and his hair was light blue with a streak of white through the center. Aros wore a tight, tan jacket with a blue cloud emblazoned upon the back. Around his waist was a belt laden with knives, kunai, and blood red scrolls. He wore extremely baggy, black pants that were string-tied around the ankle. Adorning Aros' feet, were two dust colored sandals.
"Puppet-master, I want you to seriously fight me," murmured Aros as he brought his hands together, "If you don't intend to kill, then you will never touch me."
"I always kill," retorted Sasori a blank look in his eyes as he began to pull off his vest, "I don't want to damage you too much. I think I might add you to my collection of puppets. How does that sound Aros?"
"You talk too much, Puppet-master."
As Sasori dropped his vest to the ground, his eyes widened because Aros disappeared. A moment later Sasori heard a slight noise behind him before jumping to dodge the attack. Aros stood in a cloud of dust where Sasori had just been. The man with blue hair clenched his fist tight. Before Sasori even landed he was dealt a blow to the stomach by Aros. He moves fast and his fist feels like it is made of steel, thought Sasori as he lunged forward at Aros. Just as Sasori was about to land a hit to the other man's head, Aros disappeared. Sasori glanced around him looking in every direction for the attacker until he realized that Aros was below him. Sasori was tired of Aros dodging every attack. This only irritated Sasori further as the red-haired ninja opened his palms and produced two barrels. Sasori twisted his wrists and a rush of superheated flames shot from his hands devouring the building and Aros. As Sasori jumped back from the torched building, Aros walked out his flesh glowing a bright white like metal in a forge. The glow soon faded while Aros released a loud laugh that enveloped the entire town. The man standing before Sasori was completely encased in steel.
"Surprised by my appearance?" joked Aros making the steel recede into his skin, "Most are. They think of me as a demon. That is how I have been called for the longest time. I am Aros the Steel Demon. You said you would turn me into a puppet right? That would be quite impossible all your puppets are formed into wood after you drain the fluids."
"Who talks too much now?" nagged Sasori as he brought his hands up aiming at Aros, "I'm growing impatient. Start fighting me or I'll make you suffer."
Before Aros could make a move, Sasori unleashed a torrent of flames that totally engulfed the steel man in front of him. Just like before the only effect it had was to make him glow white as the steel was heated. Sasori noticed the steel reshape itself into an odd shape and disappear. Within an instant Aros was behind Sasori reshaping himself in order to kick Sasori in the back of the head. Sasori narrowly dodged as a steel blade protruded from the man's leg and cut through the puppet-master's cheek. This man is annoying I should melt him do- that's it! This fool is made of steel. All I need to do is heat him up then cool him down. His body will crack. Aros punched Sasori in the stomach causing the red-haired nin to fly back several feet before landing on the ground.
Naruto's eyes were wide open. He had never seen a fight as amazing as this one. Sasori was fighting effortlessly all of his moves cool and calculated, while his opponent moved with frightening speed and possessed abnormal strength. The boy, hiding behind a pile of wood, had been watching from the very beginning and had been entranced from the first blow. Naruto wanted the power to do these things. Above all, Naruto wanted to become a strong ninja and right in front of his eyes was Sasori. When the fight was over Naruto would be sure to ask Sasori for one thing.
Sasori calmed himself down while he hid inside of a small flower shop. He looked out into the street where Aros stood looking around for Sasori's location. Sasori reached behind him and grabbed a dark black scroll. As he opened it, the writing was done in white ink. In a cloud of smoke Sasori summoned ten puppets, each one looking exactly like Sasori. Glancing back into the street he noticed Aros was no longer standing, but was instead destroying each building one by one. Sasori closed his eyes. Out in the street the ten Sasori's ambushed Aros catching the man off-guard. At first he thought they were simple clones, but then realized they were puppets when each one opened the palm of their hands and produced two barrels.
Each puppet shot two jets of flames at Aros who only stood there laughing as the flames did nothing except superheat the man's body. Then each puppet stopped and lowered their jaw. Aros stopped laughing and noticed another barrel protruded from each of the mouths.
Instead of a flame, a jet of cool water shot out of the mouths of the puppets. Each of the streams of water struck into Aros body and the man howled in pain.
Sasori strutted out of the shade of a building and slowly walked up to Aros who stood frozen, with the exception of his eyes which followed Sasori's movements. Sasori returned the puppets to their scroll, and as each one puffed out of existence, Sasori threw a Kunai into Aros with an explosive note attached.
"I guess I have to destroy you completely," mocked Sasori as he snapped his fingers.
Aros body shattered into clumps of steel when the note detonated. Sasori tilted his head to the side allowing one of Aros' arms to fly by harmlessly. Sasori gently let out a sigh as a cool breeze rushed past him ruffling his red hair. A small crater lay only meters away and Aros was now dead and in pieces. The fight had left Sasori tired and worn out. That man had more surprises than Sasori had suspected.
"Naruto?" shouted Sasori as he looked around for the boy, "You can come out it's safe."
Slowly and carefully Naruto emerged from his hiding place battered and shocked. Sasori hurried over to the boy and checked him for injury. Satisfied that no harm had come to Naruto, Sasori stood up and glanced back down the road.
"Well, this isn't good," muttered Sasori as he looked back in the direction they had come, "The others are probably hurt. I really needed that money too."
"Sasori-sensei," said Naruto pulling tightly on Sasori's pants, "Would you train me? Would you teach me how to be a ninja?!"
Sasori smiled and brushed his hand through Naruto's hair. This kid is definitely more trouble than I could have imagined.
[---
Night had fallen quickly and silently. A tiny fire flickered spreading awkward shadows across the trees. Surrounding the flame was a group of men. Several were tied up and thrown down next to a man who was sitting on a chair. This man reached out and grabbed a tiny cup and began drinking.
"Where is it?" questioned the man as he sipped from the cup, "The item where did you place it."
"I don't know what you're talking about you jackass!"
"Kill him, now," stated the man without showing any emotion, "You, where is the scroll I want."
Sasori sat back and glanced at Naruto. The boy was staring intensely at the scene in front of them. All the men who had been repairing the wagon were now captured or dead, and Sasori's subordinate was tied up on a tree his body littered with kunai, knives, and shuriken. Naruto seemed to be gritting his teeth and his features resembled an angry beast as his fingers tightened on the log he was hiding behind. Sasori looked into the forest that encompassed the road and noticed several good spots to ambush the men below.
"Naruto, I want you to stay here and keep quiet," Sasori whispered as he put a finger on Naruto's lips, "Don't talk, don't move, and don't try and get closer."
Sasori quietly moved away making no noise as he passed through trees and bushes. He carefully drew closer to the group and hid behind an old, twisted oak. Without making a sound, Sasori pulled out several scrolls and summoned an army of puppets. The red-haired ninja slipped off his vest and shirt revealing an open abdomen. From the abdomen shot out hundreds of strings that attached themselves to the puppets. Sasori looked back down at the group and began to listen to their conversation.
"None of these men are going to talk," spat the man who had been sipping tea, "Kill all of them and search their belongings! If we cannot find what we came for, destroy everything!"
Every single one of the men screamed in horror as their throats were slit. Carefully several ninja began searching pockets, old backpacks, and tangled clothing. Most of the men had doubtful looks on their faces. When nothing was found, the leader slammed his cup into the ground and dug his foot into one of the bloody corpses lying on the dirt road. The leader's face was twisted in a snarl as he looked at his comrades and then jumped off into the distance. Moments later the others followed. Sasori let the breath he had been holding on to slowly slip between his teeth as he slumped down. He dismissed all of the puppets and grabbed his shirt and vest replacing the clothes to where the belonged.
Returning to where he left Naruto, Sasori gritted his teeth as he noticed the boy was gone. He looked down at the wagon and saw Naruto cradling one of the men's heads in his arms. With haste, Sasori jumped down to Naruto and grabbed the boy, whose face was covered in tears. Only seconds after Sasori disappeared into the forest, hundreds of explosive notes detonated instantly turning the wagon and bodies to ash. He held the small boy in his arms and comforted him as Naruto sobbed on Sasori's shoulder.
"Sasori-sensei, P-please," cried Naruto tightening his grip on Sasori's shirt, "P-please train me. Make me into a ninja! I beg you!"
Sasori wrapped his arms around the child's back and quietly whispered comforts to the boy. Naruto jumped out of Sasori's arms and wiped the tears away.
Naruto shook violently before he shouted, "Sasori-sensei, train me so I can become strong and protect people!"
"Alright Naruto," Sasori smiled, "I'll train you. It won't be easy, but you will be strong one day. I'll make sure you learn how to fight."
Naruto's face brightened as the boy began to grin. He ran over to Sasori and grasped the man in a tight hug. Naruto was smiling and crying letting Sasori hold him tightly until the red-haired ninja pushed him back.
"Naruto, there are going to be some rules. First, I want you to call me the great Lord Sasori. Second-"
Author Note: Thank you for reading up till now. I should have the 4th chapter, Wallflower, edited and posted by Friday, February 8th. If I experience any setbacks I will update this page or my bio-page for further information.
