Disclaimer: don't own Naruto or anything to do with.
Chapter 3
A Broken Soul
(Earlier On)
"Very nice of you two to drop in like that, but please, next time, knock first," said the man as he turned his face towards the girls, the elevator coming to a stop as he stepped off it.
The girls finally got a good look at the leader of the group and now had their full-undivided attention. His eyes surveyed them cooly as they held a daunting look to them with dark circles underneath, probably due to lack of sleep and a scar could be seen along the right side of his head. He wore a simple shinobi garb with a small scythe strapped to his back, his midnight black hair splayed around his head, as his gloved hands raised into the air as in greeting giving him a casual but deadly appearance at first glance.
"Drop the henge's by the way, you're not fooling anyone here," said the man.
"And here we were thinking it was working too," said the blonde her voice deepening as two pops announced the henge's gone, "Right Konohamaru?"
"You're…" a shocked expression becoming visible on the missing nin's face, "Well whaddya know, it's the bounty hunter everyone's bin talking about," a smirk replacing the expression of a fish in a nano second , as he turned and walked over to the table, rolling up one particularly long scroll.
"I don't think turning your back on an opponent is a wise thing to do," stated Konohamaru, "Isn't that right Ni-Chan."
Konohamaru had grown much taller now and towered at nearly six feet tall, with his trademark scarf hanging around his neck. His attire consisting of a black top, a long brown jacket that went lower than his knees with dark knee length red shorts and simple shinobi footwear. His face unmarred and flawless, held no emotion as he reached for the sword handle on his back.
"That's right," called out Naruto stepping forward and flicking his left thumb up on the sword guard.
Naruto stood two inches higher than Konohamaru with his new appearance being far different to what the boisterous blonde was normally renowned for. Leaving the village changed the entire thought patterns of the young bijuu container, as he knew that survival outside of Konoha meant one thing, and that was to blend in with your surroundings, and with bright orange clothes as your daily ninja wear, one would not have to look far to find the run away Jinchuuriki. Naruto understood what it meant to be a missing nin far quicker than most would gave him credit for as he now stood wearing a beige t-shirt, black combats and black boots. His light brown cape was held loosely around his neck and a simple straw-hat sat situated on his head to block out most of the noticeable bright blonde hair.
The sword slid out slightly as Naruto pushed his thumb higher and began walking forward,
"So, you came for my head did you, well I have to give credit to you kids, you've definitely got guts," the man nodded as he finished rolling the scroll and shoved it inside his jacket turning around once more to come face to face with Naruto.
"We didn't know exactly who you were before, but I'd recognise your face anywhere, we just came to check on this place and see if there was anyone worthy enough to come see… and it looks like we hit the jackpot with you, isn't that right Watanabe-san,"drawled out Naruto.
"So you do know me after all," said the Nin as he smiled looking directly into Naruto's cold blue slits, "I am honoured. My name is Watanabe Shinkai, also known as Death Reaper, formerly listed in the Bingo Book as an S-rank missing nin from the hidden village of Stone, at your service," bowing his head slightly, almost mockingly. The Death Reaper was rumoured to take no prisoners, and showed no mercy slaughtering anyone or anything in his way, whether it be man, woman or child. He was placed as a highly dangerous threat in the bingo book and his 52 million-ryo bounty was nothing to sneeze at. But up until a few years ago he seemingly disappeared without a trace and therefore was taken out of Bingo Book due to him being reported as dead.
Both Naruto and Konohamaru nodded, "My name is Strider," said Naruto, "and this," pointing to Konohamaru, "Is Konohamaru."
"Good, well what can I do for you gentlemen," said the Nin as he motioned with his hand towards the table and some chairs nearby. A click sounded as Naruto sheathed his sword fully and walked along with the others to sit down at the table. The design layouts on the table showed various complexes that looked to have tight security. On closer inspection weak points could be seen including best escape routes and areas where guards could be found. They buildings in which the designs were mostly associated with looked to be large houses, probably that of some important people such as a feudal lord or even a Kage, not that anyone would be daft enough to go up against a Kage. A cough brought the two's attention back to the matter at hand.
"Well now, how can the Death Reaper be of any service to the famed bounty hunter?"
"I was hoping you could help us with something…" started Naruto.
(Back to present time)
"Well if it isn't the dobe."
"Sasuke? What are you doing here?" said Naruto as he and his clone ducked under a lame shuriken barrage and spun around on the spot, throwing one shuriken back that had been caught,
"What do you think one shuriken can do you fool," mouthed off the Nin, as he raised his right arm to catch the oncoming projectile just as one shuriken turned into fifty, impaling the nin everywhere on his body, and causing instant fatality as one struck into his neck, making him drop to the floor like a log.
"Hmm… it looks like he improved a bit," thought Sasuke as he watched Naruto's clone disappear in a poof as two more poofs sounded behind him, leaving just the original behind.
"Not bad dobe, I was afraid you had rusted over the years, but I must say you're not half bad," said Sasuke as a minor smirk now adorned his fully matured features. The room suddenly quietened down after a scream was heard and then silence followed as a girl appeared next to Sasuke.
"So, you going to introduce me or not Sasuke?" said the girl as she ran a hand through her black hair. Sighing to himself Sasuke shook his head in annoyance before answering,
"Naruto, meet Karin, Karin, meet Naruto, my old team mate," pointing to each one in turn.
"It's nice to meet you Karin-san, but I'm not Naruto, Sasuke Ni-Chan," as Naruto popped out of existence the smoke cleared leaving a very stoic looking Konohamaru in his place.
"Konohamaru? So, the rumours were true after all, you did leave with Naruto four years ago."
"Correct."
"So where's your team mate gone to, where's this Naruto person at?" asked Karin, but seemingly was ignored causing her to get a glint in her left eye.
"I need your help Sasuke Ni-Chan," said Konohamaru as he stared at the ground, which was covered in blood from the battle earlier.
"Hey, I asked where this Naruto person is?"
"Help with what kid?" asked Sasuke looking directly at him.
"Is anyone even listening to me," said Karin in frustration as her left eyebrow began twitching dangerously.
"I need you to…"
"I SAID," WHAM! As two fists ploughed into both males' head's, "WHERE IS NARUTO!" screamed the girl making both males hold their ears from fear of having them burst. A big bruise formed on each male's head as they massaged their noggins to ease the pain. Once again, the male species learned the hard way that no matter how powerful they might be, an enraged female is one creature on this Earth that you don't want to mess with.
"He… he's outside, with the leader of this place, they left through there," said Konohamaru as he pointed to a hole in the ceiling while continuing to rub furiously at his head with the other.
"Well let's go greet him then," said Karin with a sweet smile as she leaped upwards and straight through the exit hole in the roof.
"Well kid, I know I don't have to tell you this but like Nara Shikamaru likes to say, 'troublesome', all women are just plain troublesome."
"Come on what's the hold up!" shouted down Karin as she poked her head over the edge to look at the two below. Shaking his head Konohamaru together with Sasuke both leapt from the room and out into the open air. The wind hit them hard on the rooftop as they landed with the waves crashing against the coastline even more ferociously than before.
"Karin, which way?" asked Sasuke as he handed her a leaf hiteate with a large scratch across it, which she instantly concentrated on.
"He's over there," said Konohamaru and Karin simultaneously as they both lowered their fingers and turned to stare at each other, "Let's go," said both of them again, "Stop copying me," yelled both of them.
"Enough you two. How far away is he?" asked Sasuke.
"Approximately 2km, in that direction," said Karin pointing along the coastline towards, a huge cliff, "I think they're on that cliff over there Sasuke." Sasuke activated his sharingan just as a huge amount of chakra was released, which was coming from the cliff, as a dreaded killing intent made filled the air. Sasuke, knowing what was about to happen next turned to the other two to find Karin frozen to the spot as she visibly began trembling, fear etched deep within her eyes. Sasuke, knowing he hadn't much time turned to Konohamaru to find him wide eyed, but other than that okay.
"Let's go kid," said Sasuke shaking the teen from his daze as he nodded a yes and both took off towards the cliff.
"You're a fool, you should have taken my offer when you had the chance, now that you know about it, the only thing left for you to do for me is…DIE!"
An explosion signalled the awakening of the Kyuubi and its blood red chakra as a one tailed Naruto raced forward, claws at the ready, aiming to rip the puny mortal before him into tiny little pieces. His sword long forgotten Naruto tore the Nin's left arm as he barely dodged the first strike. As another one was about to follow however, two beings materialized in front of him to grab his arms while throwing him to the dirt, holding their swords to his throat to halt the enraged Jinchuuriki in his tracks. Snarling, Naruto attempted to get up and instantly ceased all movement upon seeing whom it was holding him. His eyes returned to their normal cool blue as the red chakra encircling his body fluttered away with the wind. He visibly relaxed as both Konohamaru and Sasuke let go of his arms,
"What in the world are you? You can't be human! You're, you're a demon!" screamed Shinkai as he stepped back in fear, holding his left arm. Sasuke, enraged at the comment body flickered in front of the Nin and grabbed him by the throat with one hand as he started to squeeze, hard.
"Ungh! Le…let… me… go," coughed out the Nin as Sasuke's grip became tighter still,
"I need you to tell me something," said Sasuke quietly as he walked away from Konohamaru and Naruto.
"Ni-chan…"
"Don't ask," interrupted Naruto quickly as Konohamaru did not know the topic on the Kyuubi and its relation to his Ni-Chan at all. Naruto had vowed not to use that chakra again and yet he let his emotions get the better of him allowing Konohamaru to see him in his kyuubi enhanced state. Getting up Naruto looked to Konohamaru to see him with his head down as silent tears dribbled down his cheeks. Sighing mentally Naruto walked up and gave the young teen a hug, as Konohamaru leaned in slightly before wiping away his tears.
"I thought I told you…"
"…That emotions only get in the way of a Shinobi's life," interrupted Konohamaru this time with a sad smile on his face as he pulled back.
"That's right, so remember, always keep them in check." Naruto failed to mention that he himself had just let his emotions get the better of him which had led to the Kyuubi being able to gain control over his body somewhat after all that time Naruto spent trying to supress its chakra. As Naruto contiued to wallow is his own self defeat, Sasuke came walking back over to them with the head of the now dead missing Nin swaying by the hair in his hand.
"We're leaving Konohamaru," said Naruto as soon as he realised that Sasuke was there. He swiftly turned around to pick up his sword, sheathed it and begun a steady walk in the general direction of the town just as Sasuke reached Konohamaru. As Naruto walked off, Konohamaru bowed his head again as Sasuke suddenly realised what the young teen had been trying to ask him earlier,
"Hey kid, it's okay," said Sasuke placing his free hand on the young boy's shoulder, "I understand what you wanted me to do for you earlier now, and let me tell ya… just give him some space for now, he needs it." At Konohamaru's pleading look, he added quickly, "But not to worry, when I see you guys next time, I'll be sure to beat some sense into him for you okay?" At this Konohamaru raised his head and looked shocked for a second until it was replaced with a grateful smile and a nod of the head.
"Thank you Sasuke Ni-Chan," shouted Konohamaru as he ran towards the back of Naruto's head who was now nearing the outer buildings of the town.
Sasuke watched them go as many thoughts flashed through his mind, such as what had made Naruto so angry, how strong had he become without the Kyuubi's strength, why had he left the village he had sworn to protect and many more, until, finally only one stood out more than the others,
"Naruto… what have they done to you?"
The next chapter will have some flashbacks perhaps so give me some reviews; I need people to tell me what they think. Although the hits have been a whopping 6000 for just 2 chapters, I need reviews for ideas, things for improvement and that sort of stuff so please share your thoughts.