A/N: Hello readers! Thank you for reading the previous chapters. Here's chapter three!
I'd like to take a small amount of space to thank the follower reviewers and alerters: Lost In Dreams 19, MonkHerrick, Cream-Bunny, oceanmoon. Thanks so much!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. It belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Naruto let out a satisfied, relieved sigh, licking his lips of any blood that might still be on them.
"This meal wasn't too bad. Why don't we come to this town more often? The peasants here actually taste good." As he stood, a shudder ran through his body as he remembered the way their soul had slipped into his, melding with his own. It felt good, but after all these years, he still wasn't used to it. The chase always got his blood pumping, but the catch and feeding had always disturbed him. The way his victims fought and writhed beneath him, begging for him to stop, to let them live—it always made him pause while he fed, even if he was on his tenth soul of the night. But to feel something so…human…the thought disgusted him and made him cringe.
"Have you finished?" Gaara asked monotonously from outside, turquoise eyes glinting in the light.
"Yeah, just did," Naruto answered, dusting himself off. "Where's Neji?" He asked as he walked out of the hut. A couple of the lower ranked Demons rushed into the hut and collected the bodies to be burned.
"You know him," Gaara shrugged nonchalantly, descending from the tree he had previously occupied.
"Ah, that's right. He's never satisfied with mere peasants. He likes the 'pure ones'. Probably because he thinks it will keep his already tainted heart from becoming worse," Naruto muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair.
"More likely it's a subconscious form of revenge," Gaara responded quietly. "But last I saw, he was tracking down a rich girl from that mansion," his eyes flicked toward a house less than two miles outside the village, "who decided to go pick some flowers in the woods."
"Poor, stupid kid," Naruto sighed. "Oh well. I hope she wasn't the only one he was tracking down. He always eats so much; hopefully he comes back soon. I want some rest. I stayed up all night reading." Naruto yawned to emphasize how tired he was.
"When? You were in the library being a lazy ass most of the night. If that counts as reading, what was I doing? Magic tricks? God summoning?" Neji snorted as he dropped down next to Gaara and dusted himself off. "Besides, you reading? Don't make me laugh. I've never in my life seen you even lift a book. Are you sure you can read?" Neji asked, arching a brow.
Naruto scowled. "Of course I can. I wouldn't pretend I could if I really couldn't. Unlike some, I actually acknowledge and embrace my faults."
"What are you suggesting?" Neji responded frostily.
"Nothing, nothing," Naruto replied with a smirk on his face.
Gaara's head turned slightly when he sensed a nearing presence. Neji and Naruto remained unaware of the presence as they continued bickering. Neji features remained neutral while only his voice indicated his condescending attitude. Naruto, on the other hand, was losing his cool as portrayed by his clenched fists and gritted teeth.
A Demon silently dropped down before them and fell to one knee in a deep bow. Neji looked away and Naruto's glare disappeared momentarily.
"Gaara-sama, Naruto-sama, Neji-sama," the Demon greeted, his head lowered.
"What's up?" Naruto asked curiously, answering for them.
"Shikamaru-sama has asked me to report that he broke through the latest of Haru Satoshi's protective shields. We have also gleaned information that a party is being held at this moment in the neighborhood near the mansion. Shikamaru-sama has already given his permission, but we also require yours to infiltrate and gather more souls."
"Even if he has made a breakthrough, we have already fed. There is no need to make unnecessary risks to get humans," Gaara responded, arms crossed loosely.
The Demon hesitated in his reply.
"Speak," Neji commanded, eyes narrowing.
"Shikamaru-sama and Ela-san have been working on something else besides getting through the shields. They have found her, my lords, attending that party. That is the main reason for the infiltration."
Gaara and Neji pondered while Naruto asked, "Found…her? Who? We doing some sort of recon mission or something?" He raised an eyebrow curiously, turning to Neji and Gaara.
"I give you my permission," said Neji as Gaara answered Naruto.
"Gaia's human form." Gaara's light colored eyes turned to the messenger Demon. "I also give my permission."
"Gaia…" said Naruto slowly, stumbling over the foreign name. He scratched his head and gave a hesitant chuckle. "I don't really remember who she's supposed to be, but sure, why not? I give my permission."
"I shall relay this to Shikamaru-sama and the infiltration will be underway immediately. I shall take my leave of you now, my lords." He stood, bowed, and disappeared.
"Things are becoming quite interesting," Gaara murmured, beginning to walk away.
"Hey, Gaara, can you explain to me who…Gaia…is?" Naruto asked, following after him.
"Naruto," Neji called, making the blond stop.
"Nani?" Naruto replied, his eyebrows narrowed in irritation.
Neji threw a handkerchief at Naruto who caught it in surprise without a second thought. Neji said nothing, but simply pointed at a spot on his left cheek.
Naruto muttered murderously with dark eyes, but wiped away the blood and threw the handkerchief back at Neji.
"I don't want it," said Neji uninterestingly, moving slightly to the side to dodge it. "Take it home and burn it in the fire. After all, we know how much you enjoy seeing things burn, Naruto." Naruto's jaw clenched and his eyes turned cold. The pearl-eyed Demon gazed at him levelly, a small, flickering smirk playing on his features. "Something I said make you feel uncomfortable?" Instead of replying with a snappy comeback, Naruto simply swerved around and began running off, making his way for home. Neji scoffed lightly. "Disappointing. I thought for sure that would get him going."
"Childish," Gaara murmured, eyes flashing red before he turned and followed Naruto.
Neji stared after the two, a deep, fiery anger burning deep inside his chest. He hated them both, hated what they had turned him into, hated the life he had been cursed with. But compared to the life he would have had as a human, was this any different? His fists clenched and unclenched, his nails digging into his skin hard enough to draw blood. But he ignored it; that pain was insignificant compared to what was always gnawing at the back of his mind. It would be so easy, so easy to let his Demon self take full control, to ravage and pillage villages, feeding on humans, killing anyone, human and Demon alike, that stood in his way. He would be powerful; he wouldn't care. And if he went rogue, he would be killed. That was what he wanted, wasn't it? Why, then, did he not? Truthfully, his pride would not allow him. If he was going to die, it would be due to a stronger opponent defeating him, not because he had lost to himself. Even if everything else was taken from him, he would not allow this one thing to be part of that.
He gave a small, animalistic growl, releasing his clenched fists and following after the two Demon Masters.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please take the time to review. Thanks!