So yeah i know you guys have been waiting..for a while now (don't hit me!) but i finally got this chapter finished up
Well I'm hoping it'll be enough to satisfy readers (especially you guys that have been waiting a long as time.)
I'd like to say you can expect another chapter soon but i don't want to lie to you guys so all I'm gonna say is don't give up on me just yet.
Ch.4 And thus the true face is revealed under the mask
"Naruto could you please calm down." Sarutobi was willing to give Naruto a little slack though he wasn't exactly sure what he was well aware that something had happened to Naruto after his contact with the strange reptile. But the blond's constant yelling, and demanding for higher ranked mission was starting to get on his old nerves. " Ok then if you think your ready how about you, and your team take of this C-rank mission that has recently come up."
Kakashi was once again surprised he had started getting used to Naruto's loud outburst when he wasn't happy with something, but the fact that it had actually landed them a C-rank mission this early was a bit unexpected. " Well before we get ahead of ourselves sir I'd like to know what this C-rank mission is about." Kakashi figured it was about time he spoke up before Naruto got the rest of them into something irksome.
" Well its a little escort mission from the land of waves they're a small trading island that needs to have their client protected on his journey back." At this all members of team 7 snapped to attention finally a mission worth their effort had presented itself to them. " Well then where is our kind client then lets get things under way shall we?" With a gesture that clearly meant *ok let him in already* the third hokage took another drag off his pipe. "I'm sure they'll be thrilled to meet this guy."
That was a very big understatement within 3 minutes of showing up the "client" had effectively pissed off just about all the members of team 7 except Kakashi. " What is this I'm supposed to trust my life to a bunch of snot nosed brats. I mean look at the blond one first of all that's one of the weirdest fashion trends I've seen, and whats with the walking snakes all over the place?"
True enough Naruto had recently changed his wardrobe a bit choosing to go with a large trench coat with a hood ( to better situate the family members that would occasionally pop up when called upon, and to better hide himself if he was to dispose of the human outer skin ). Though it was obvious the old bridge builder was intoxicated it didn't make his words any less insulting, and that was something Naruto decided to remedy at the moment.
In an instant Naruto was in front of the bridge builder eyes shifting in anger, and a large smile showing Naruto's many sharp teeth. " Don't worry about getting their safely sir just be sure to stay out of my way if anything happens i tend to not really mind the difference between allies, and enemies your all worthless mammals to me." Naruto felt two things at the moment, first of all was Kakashi who had stepped behind him a look on his face that said " Don't push it kid.", the second being the third hokage's gaze that centered on him with a look of curiosity.
After that interesting introduction everyone headed to the gate to get started on the mission Kakashi in front with the now slightly nervous bridge builder who had identified himself as a Tazuna who's job was to finish the building of a bridge that would connect the land of waves to the rest of the land. During the journey Sakura had decided to try to get the rest of the group talking.
" So Naruto whats with the change of cloths anyway don't you usually like wearing that annoying orange jumpsuit?" Naruto merely replied with a " I just felt it was time for a newer look i think it makes me look more professional." Sasuke though barely listening decided to comment on that. " Well it makes you look more like a dobe than usual, and with those ugly pets of your I'm sure you'll catch an enemy off guard with that bizarre look." Naruto laughed a bit at that, not surprised that Sasuke would try a cheap shot at his traveling companions. " Your one to talk Uchiha that fan on your back makes you look like a big target from the back, i guess stupidity must be a family trait right?"
Sasuke quickly turned to Naruto, his last insult apparently hitting a sore spot. " What was that loser!" Naruto completely ignorant of the seething Uchiha only continued forward as far as he was concerned the little argument was over. " You heard me." Sasuke was seething with anger, and made a mental note to show the dead-last exactly where his place was. " Underneath my feet."
Sakura was already wishing she hadn't started the conversation, though she loved Sasuke, and found Naruto weird, and annoying she didn't like to see her teammates fighting. " Don't worry Sakura boys like them usually never get along until they save one another. Just give it some time." Sakura was slightly startled that Kakashi had managed to fall in step right next to her, and accurately figure out what was bothering her.
Not long into their journey Naruto's senses picked up a new presence in fact two though as he scanned over the path before them he noticed these two unknown creatures seemed to be hiding their appearance with an illusion of a puddle. As the group passed the puddle Naruto decided to state what to him was incredibly obvious. " It would seem we have some company."
After what seemed like an instant later two ninja sprang from the puddle, and rushed the team leader Kakashi who only managed to get out a " What the Heeeaauughh!" The two shinobi worked flawlessly as a team to bind the silver haired ninja in their shuriken chain, and slice him to bits. Instantly Sakura was in front of the now scared bridge builder, and Sasuke still stunned by the ambush could only stand there. Naruto noticing Sasuke's flinch made his was toward the twin ninja's, the lizard on his shoulder climbing into his coat to avoid getting in the way. "That's right little guy let the big boys handle this." Naruto cracked his knuckles feeling the human skin ready to tear at a moments notice. " Hey! You feel like trying that on me."
The Demon brothers hearing the blond's challenge happily obliged charging at Naruto full speed intent on rending him with their iron claws. *Clang* The faster brother had gotten to Naruto first, and expected an easy kill instead he felt his iron gauntlet stopped, and gripped by Naruto's bare hand. " Oh you poor idiot don't you know that these imitations are nothing compared to the real claws of a predator?" With a malicious glint in his eyes Naruto started gripping harder seeing the surprise, and horror in the assassins eyes as he felt the iron claw bend, and give under the pressure. Noticing the second ninja closing in quickly to bind him with the chain Naruto with little effort at all flung the ninja now grunting in pain to the side into the forest the chain that binded the two ninja together dragging the other along as well. Naruto with a interested smile on his face walked in the direction he had thrown them.
"I'll be right back guys, oh and Sasuke nice flinch." Naruto laughed a bit before he walked into the forest where he couldn't be seen by the rest of the team. " Finally a little excitement i hope these two are good i need a good exercise." When Naruto reached the point where the two ninja should have landed he found only the chain that bound them together. " Interesting." Naruto then jumped back as one of the brothers dropped down hoping to crush him, though he missed he quickly adjusted himself, and lunged forward his iron claw close to Naruto's throat. A sudden force gripped his leg, and slammed him against a nearby tree Naruto apparently bringing his tail in play. What Naruto didn't expect was the second brother that rammed him from the side his iron claw making contact, and piercing Naruto's abdomen.
The ninja felt the claws pierce the blond kid, and looked up tp glimpse the pain he loved to see on an enemies face when he struck them. Naruto's expression was a complete blank, it wasn't the claw that planted itself in his stomach that bothered him no it was the thing he felt clawing its way out of his chest that bothered him. What ever it was it was big, and the claws hurt like hell.
Instead of seeing a scared kid in pain that realized he was in over his head, the cloaked assassin noticed something bulging out of the blond's trench coat. A large hiss then emitted from within the boy's coat, and the ninja suddenly felt like running far from this strange blond kid, but his claws weren't budging as he tried to pull back only then did he notice that the blond kid had him firmly grasped by the wrist. "Your not going anywhere mammal." Naruto used his free hand to undo the button that kept his coat closed, and a large reptilian head emerged, and like a flash had bitten through the ninja's arm severing it from the claw that wounded Naruto. " Brother!!!" The ninja tried desperately to crawl backwards, and away from this nightmarish boy the pain from losing his arm more unbarable than anything he had ever felt before. " Can..I..have..thisss..one..dear...brother?" Naruto merely nodded as he wrenched the iron claw from his stomach.
The reptilian monster now had a limb through the hole as it squeezed its way out of the portal in Naruto's chest, and was free after a few seconds standing on two powerful hind legs each equiped with a switch blade toe. With another inhuman hiss the reptile sprang toward the wounded ninja its teeth cutting through him like he was made of tissue. Naruto only watched as blood splattered everywhere, then a single drop of the ninja's blood flew in his direction him completely unaware of it his mouth slightly open due to his fascination in the new creature that had emerged from within him.
In the Spirit realm Ryuuza noticed the drop of blood heading toward Naruto, and an immediate fear took hold of him as he tried to warn Naruto. "Naruto close your mouth hurry!" To late the drop of blood had made contact with Naruto's tongue as if its projection there was meant to be. For one second Naruto heard Ryuuza's warning, then he felt something warm touch his tongue at first it tasted odd, and metallic. The next second that same odd, metallic taste was replaced by something that made him forget Ramen completely. "W-wow!" Naruto then noticed the second ninja picking himself up completely unaware of the danger that he was now in.
Every muscle in Naruto's body tensed the human skin that covered his true form tearing off in places, Naruto's eyes turned green and reptilian again as he analyzed the unaware ninja as something else besides a opponent. Within an instant Naruto was speeding toward the ninja who now took notice of him the fear in his eyes only making Naruto speed up.
There was only the sounds of blood splattering as Naruto thrusted his left hand now completely void of the human covering into the ninja's shoulder, and his body slamming into the ninja's with so much force the two went hurdling into the bushes. The single demon brother now pinned to the ground, and a clawed hand in his shoulder looked up at Naruto as the boy used his other hand to tear off the human mask that covered his real face the green eyes now tinted red seeing right into his soul, and the mouth opening to reveal sharp teeth. A single terrified tear ran down the ninja's face as the monster under the guise of a blond boy brought its teeth upon him.
2 minutes later:
Naruto finally came down from the almighty high that seemed to come from no where he couldn't really remember what had happened exactly, but blurred images flew around in his head. Then he noticed the blood on his scale covered hands, and the corpse of the ninja he had thrown against a tree to keep him busy, the ninja's body was covered in blood, and he seemed to have been eaten by something, and that's when the pieces all began to fit. ".....I did this." The bipedal reptile that had escaped from his chest during the fight made its way through the bushes toward him its maw also covered in blood. " You..also..have..feasted..well...brother...it...isss..time...i..returned...home" Naruto felt the portal widen and instead of clawing its way back in the creatures shape seemed to warp, and enter back into his chest, leaving the confused boy all alone.
Deep within Naruto's mind:
"Oh now that was just poetry in action pure and simple." The sadistic voice that belonged to the 9-tailed scourge echoed throughout the room he was held in, the reptiles that now populated the room on the other side of the gate paying little to no attention to him. " Seriously did any of you guys see the way he bit through that chumps throat? I swear he takes after me in some weird way." The foxes evil laughter seemed to unsettle a few of the other residents as they went back into the hole from whence they came. "Aww you guys are no fun, geez I've had more interesting conversations with the skeletons on my side of the cage."
" Naruto I'm sorry that had happened the way it did i was hoping it wouldn't be a problem but it would seem your tenant's maliciousness has no bounds even while sealed." Naruto recognizing Ryuuza's voice felt a little relieved at least now he could get a few answers hopefully. " What happened to me?" "When you first tasted blood the reptilian urges that now coexist with your once human ones became harder to control add that with your "affliction" and it became to much for even me to control." Naruto's blank face showed how little that really explained to him. " In short form you gave in to blood lust, and directed all that primal fury on that miserable mammal hope he tasted good."
Standing up, pulling up his hood to hide, his face, and cleaning the blood off him Naruto merely walked back to where he left the group. " Well uncontrollable blood lust aside..it tasted better than 8 bowls of pork ramen combined." The maniacal smile glowed pearly white in the darkness that his hood provided for face.
Back at the group:
Sakura couldn't even think straight she was so scared not only did she watch her supposed unstoppable sensei torn to bits by two ninja, but had to witness Sasuke flinch in fear when he should have showed just how great she knew he was. And to make all matters worse Naruto had tackled both ninja alone, and she had no idea what may have happened to him, or even worse still what may happen to them.
"You know Sakura if you hold your breath to long you may end up passing out on us." "Eeeeeeek!!" Sakura jumped an impressive 12 feet into the air from voice that appeared from no where. " Oh sorry about that didn't mean to scare you there." Sakura turned to see team 7's one and only silver haired jonin with a cheerful expression on his barely visible face. " What did you really think i was dead cmon you don't get where I'm at with just luck."
" Well if your all done kidding around here I'd like to know wither I'm safe or not." chipped in the very man they were sworn to protect Sakura, and Kakashi noticed the old man hiding behind a nearby tree his eyes looking in every direction to detect some unknown assailant. "You can rest assured Tazuna your in no danger now I'm sure Naruto won't go dieing on us anytime soon, and though he may have frozen up on us I'm just as sure that Sasuke would have been of great help if the need had been so." Sasuke at the moment merely stood there trying to look uninterested though on the inside he was furious at himself for freezing up, and Naruto for stealing the show the way he did. " How the hell did he do that while all i was able to do was stand there in fear."
" Now then i think we'll get some answers once I've had a word or two with these ninja, now where did Naruto go off to?" "Somebody looking for me?" Naruto walked out of the bushes nonchalantly though his entire body was hidden under the large trench coat he wore, something that did not go unnoticed by a certain one-eyed ninja. " Naruto there you are good to see your alive, now where are those two ninja I'll need to question them to figure out why they were attacking us."
Naruto pulled back his hood revealing his human face, and a sinister smile. " I'm afraid they won't be answering questions anymore, i guess i over did it a bit." Kakashi couldn't help but notice the pure malice that laced the boy's words. "Hmmm well I'll be the judge of that plus we'll need to know exactly what we're dealing with, also Tazuna you'll have some explaining to do when i get back." Kakashi made his way off the path to where Naruto had came from, leaving the others to mull over what Naruto meant by his choice of words.
A few minutes later Kakashi returned his appearance the same except his pale face, and his refusal to look anyone in the eye. " Well from what i could figure out those two 'used' to be the famous Demon Brothers two missing Mist ninja, and from what I've seen they were here to kill our dear bridge builder, the question now is why?" All eyes were then fixed on the fidgeting old man who after taking another swig of alcohol before braking down in front of them.
" Words cannot express how sorry i am, but i did what i had to for my people. You see ever since the vicious gangster Gato took over our island our economy has deteriorated into almost nothing. We could not afford to pay you the amount needed for a true escort mission due to our low funds, and since it is my duty to oversee the construction of the great bridge that will free my people it is my life that is most at stake."
The pleading look in Tazuna's eyes were enough to have Sakura sold, and Sasuke still needed a chance to redeem his past freeze up, which left it down to Kakashi, and Naruto. Kakashi would have gladly accepted off the bat, but then he still had to mull over what he had just seen and how Naruto of all people could be capable of such a thing. " Well then how about we let Naruto decide for us team." All eyes were on a certain blond who had been quiet the entire time.
After a long pause Naruto finally spoke. "Will there be others like....them?" Kakashi made a mental note to find an appropriate time to talk to Naruto about what had happened. " Yes there will be, interested?"
A smile began growing on Naruto's face as he imagined all of the potential enemies he may face, and if they all tasted better than pork ramen. " Oh yes, shall we continue then?"
Meanwhile In the land of Waves:
A lone figure stood on the shore of the island, a gigantic sword strapped to his back, and an unblinking gaze set upon the horizon. All was quiet except the soothing sound of the tide, that is until the figure spoke. "It would seem our comrades have failed their mission." Another figure appeared next to the first a tracker ninja's mask covering her face. " Good i was beginning to grow bored just sitting around anyway." A cold wave of killer intent swept over the two figures. " You know Haku this may be a spot of good luck for us." The positive tone in the first figures voice unsettled the second figure slightly. "Why is that?" The first figure laughed a little before answering. " I smell blood."
End of Chapter 4:
So what ya think guys not bad can't believe it took me so long to think of a good way to wrap up the chapter.
Well if ya have any questions be sure to ask, I'm gonna try my darn hardest to update more often now.
Be sure to review if your interested.
Kapow!