Naruto sighed as he sat up. Wearily, he looked around. He sighed with half relief and half disgust as he smelled the surrounding stench of the garbage around him.
"I would fall and land in the trash. Damn Death God. Calls me like I have to answer to him." Naruto slipped off the bag he was on and winced when his arm was cut by glass. "Oh, gross. Now I'm going to need shots." Stumbling slightly, he caught himself on the wall and forced his feet into motion. He made his way to the end of the alley, his feet steadily gaining strength. A wicked smile curved his mouth suddenly. The look on the Death God's face after he had said he dared, it was too precious to ever forget. The smile soon vanished as he recalled the cruel look that appeared on the God's face seconds after he had been brave. He also recalled the pain he had felt when the man had dragged him to the burning fire and threw him into it. He winced when he remembered how the Kyuubi had stared at him, had turned away from him, had let him burn in the inferno that it had created.
"Naruto?" Naruto blinked and looked up; frowning when he realized his vision was fuzzy around the edges.
"Sensei?"
"What are you doing down there?" Naruto grinned.
"What are you doing down here? Don't you have a class to teach?" Iruka grinned, scratching his neck nervously.
"Well, I needed to see if you were alright. And I know you were going to the Hokage, weren't you?" Iruka cast another bemused glance at the alley that Naruto had emerged from.
"I was." Naruto sighed and let go of the wall, smiling when he felt that he had regained all his strength. "Someone needed to talk to me."
"Such as?" Iruka's bemused expression flitted away to something serious. "And you're bleeding. Who did this?" Naruto shook his head.
"Go back to your class Iruka-sensei. I can tell you later." He raised a hand, combing back his pale blond hair. "Besides, you know Sasuke will want to know all about me. You need to be there to smack him over the head so that he learns to respect others." Iruka chuckled.
"As you wish Naruto." Iruka winked. "I'll make sure to use the erasers on him. Go on to the Hokage's office then." Iruka turned and began walking away. Naruto stared at his back in curiosity. He smirked when Iruka stopped.
"What?"
"Will you leave my class?" Naruto frowned.
"I…I don't know. I don't want to risk the lives of my classmates." He reached up, fingering the now familiar straps of his backpack. Iruka's shoulders dropped.
"Oh."
"If I can find another way to keep my book safe, I might give it another chance. If Sasuke will leave me alone, most likely."
"I can never promise you that." Naruto snickered.
"I know." Naruto looked away from his teacher, feigning disinterest. "I'll see you later?"
"I'll be busy later." Naruto nodded.
"I see."
"I can take some time off and meet you at the ramen stand."
"Really!? I mean, that will be fine." Iruka snorted, suppressing his laughter.
"I'll see you then." Iruka vanished off, returning to his class. Naruto smiled softly as he teacher fled. Sometimes, it still amused him over how awkward their relationship was. As teacher and student, they had no odd silences or awkward beats of time. As friends, awkward silences seemed to fill most of their time. However, the silence was never real because he would chatter on about nothing. Naruto jumped up, bouncing between the two buildings to return to the top. Then, the ten year old boy continued on his original path to the Hokage's office.
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"Is there any reason you are here, again, Naruto?" Naruto quirked an eyebrow and sat in the chair he always used.
"Can I not visit a friend Old Man?"
"Not when the visit falls during Academy hours. What is it?" Naruto tossed his bag across the room, letting it slide under the Hokage's desk.
"The bag is useless if someone is nosy enough to dig into it. I refuse to be the one to blame for the death of Sasuke Uchiha." The Sandaime leaned forward.
"Please, tell me more." Naruto leaned back in his chair as a wicked smile appeared.
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"No. What do I get for telling you?" The Sandaime frowned.
"You don't get anything Naruto."
"And that's it, that's the problem. I get nothing. I get nothing for what I can tell you. What is the point then?"
"You are walking a thin line there Naruto. Black mailing me is not something you wish to do." Naruto looked down to hide his smile.
"But I am doing it, aren't I?" Blue eyes lost their focus as the chased invisible lines across the wooden floor. "I want things in return for my help."
"Get out." Blue eyes looked up, clashing with brown.
"I could tell you anything with the help of my Book. Who else can tell you anything you desire?" The third Hokage frowned.
"Get out." Naruto stood up.
"It's a simple request. In return for information, I ask for trivial things. Another way to carry my Book, a private teacher so that I won't have to go to the Academy. Maybe a small stipend. All of these things you can grant easily."
"Get out!" Naruto stood and strode to the desk.
"I could tell them you know. Tell your village how you send a woman on a suicide mission when you found out that she was growing too close to the demon brat."
"Why would they care? You are nothing to them." Naruto smiled. This was a side of the man he never saw but knew existed. "They hate you, despise you and that stigma carried over onto a woman who could dare to love you."
"Yes, but she was beautiful and loyal. It is not the civilians that I would tell. It's your shinobi." The Sandaime stood, slamming his palms on the desk angrily.
"How dare you!? How dare you threaten me with the woman I would save if I could!?"
"But you can't! You can't save her." Naruto's voice fell to a whisper. "She returned with no mind, a victim to a selfish leader. She's forced to be isolated, her mind gone, memories of her family destroyed. Does her brother know she survived? Did you tell anyone that you hid her away when you found that even though she lost her mind she could still function enough to return to the village where her loved one lives?" The man paled. Naruto turned his back to the Hokage and walked back to his chair. He sat in it, blue eyes staring at the ground once more. "Do you still want me to leave?" Naruto listened to the wood that creaked under the assault of the old man's strength.
"What do you want Naruto?"
"I've told you already."
"I can't give you that."
"Then I shall tell you nothing. I am tired of this. Tired of being used." Naruto stood once more. "I'll see you later then." Naruto moved to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob.
"Naruto."
"Yes?" There was a thump as the bag was tossed at the boy. "If I didn't know better, I would believe that was assassination attempt. But you aren't that stupid are you?"
"No, but you are." The door slammed shut behind the blond haired boy.
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It had been two years, two years after he had been granted a book that killed, two years after he had won a small war, two years when he had been given what he wanted in exchange for tidbits of information. It had also raised his status among the class. No longer was he the idiot who knew nothing, now he was the smart boy who simply could care less.
"Naruto!!!"
"Shino?" There was a thump as the two boys were sent flying.
"Idiot! I told you not to goad Iruka-sensei into lacing the field with mines! But noooo, you wanted to prove your worth!!" Naruto smiled brightly, brushing pale bangs out of his face.
"Awww Shino, I never knew you cared."
"If our team gets caught, I'll kill you!!" Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Where's Shikamaru?"
"Setting up camp."
"Type?"
"Ninja wire. Trees. Same old." Naruto nodded.
"Let's go." Shino rolled his eyes as he stood. Then he frowned when he realized his sunglasses had been broken.
"That was my last pair Naruto!" Naruto blinked, hand freezing at where it had been busily feeling for his scrolls.
"And? Scared of some fan girls? Just because you have pretty eyes doesn't mean they'll fall all over you. I mean, look at me! They still hate me." Shino snorted.
"The disgusting attitude of yours chases them away."
"Gee Shino, I thought we had a great relationship going."
"I like females Naruto. But if you're so bent on having a male partner, I'm sure Kiba would love you." Naruto shook his head.
"You're twisted you know that?" Naruto stood. Together, they fled the field, leaving no sign that they once stood there except for the giant crater that waited. "Which way?"
"South." Shino leapt deftly over a tree branch, catching the next and tossing his body under it, curling into a roll. Naruto followed him. Minutes later, they stood in the center of a clearing.
"Did he put the opening on the edge like usual?"
"No. This time he put it dead center. You taught him well enough Naruto." Shino leapt up, disappearing in a glimmer of chakra. Naruto followed. North of their location and inn the watch tower, Iruka stood, monitoring his students as they worked. At the moment, all of his teams had been spotted and he had written down the general location of their campsite. As always, Naruto and his team had vanished. He really needed to learn how they managed to do that. Sasuke was moving east, aiming for the giant explosion that was sure to signify Naruto's handiwork; at least in his mind. He was using his team to his advantage. With Hinata's eyes and Kiba's nose, he was trying to hunt the elusive blond. Turning his binoculars, he spotted Sakura and Ino dragging the unwilling Chouji behind them as they stalked Sasuke. Iruka sighed. The point of the game was to find whose team was best suited for each other as well as seeing who could follow mission rules. At the moment, only Shino's team had passed. Sakura's team had failed the moment that they pursued Sasuke. Iruka turned to his assistant.
"Mizuki."
"Yes Iruka?"
"Deliver the flags to the teams."
"All of them?"
"No, to the ones I like." Mizuki flinched. "Are you stupid?" It was one of the things Konoha had to prove that the demon brat corrupted. Iruka had gone from sweet to tart in a matter of months, right after his student's sudden blondness. Mizuki nodded and picked up the bag holding the scrolls.
"As you wish Iruka." He jumped off the edge of the tower, vanishing into the forest.
Down below, Naruto stood balanced on one of the many thins strings that made up their camp. Instead of the usual tightly woven mat in the center, it was off to the side.
"Am I good or what?"
"I taught you the concept you lazy bum. But this is…satisfactory. I like the genjutsu you weaved through it." Shikamaru snorted.
"As you've said, your concept." Shikamaru walked towards him, balancing on the string of wire.
"Alarms?"
"Perimeter trips like usual. A couple exploding trips where Sasuke will be heading from."
"Nothing else?"
"Nope." Naruto smacked Shikamaru's head.
"You didn't do the trees?"
"I did the damn trees!"
"You didn't say so!"
"Yes I…nevermind."
"Thought so." Shikamaru pouted.
"You are mean." Naruto grinned.
"I make it a habit." Shikamaru sighed as he looked at his friend. Somewhere over the two years since his friend had made a deal with a demon and a god, the two marks had changed. One was jagged and red, resembling the fire it was born from. The other was cool and gray. His eyes were still the warm blue they had always been, but Shikamaru had seen them become so empty that it chilled him. "What is it?"
"Nothing. Just thinking." Naruto nodded and looked away.
"Mizuki is coming."
"For?"
"Most likely the flags." Shikamaru sighed.
"Can I get a more than a one word answer?"
"I gave you that."
"You know what I mean!"
"Who holds the flag?"
"Who cares Naruto?" Naruto smiled brightly.
"I love you too Shikamaru, but Shino's professed his undying love for me already."
"What!?" Naruto smiled wanly when Shikamaru stared at him in open mouthed surprised. Until he realized that Naruto was joking. "You're a bastard."
"Wouldn't know if I was. I never knew my father." Naruto smirked in response when Shikamaru flipped him off. The duo made their way back to the woven mat, sitting on the mesh as the wind blew the trees around them. "Who do we go after?"
"Hiroroshi Katsugaya."
"Oooh, that will be fun!!!" Shino snorted at Naruto's response.
"Which part will be fun? That team is well formed."
"So you're saying we aren't Shino? Gee, here I was thinking I had it all worked out."
"Shut up Naruto." Naruto pouted. "And don't even bother doing that." Naruto sighed.
"That hurts Shino, right here." He placed his hand over his heart.
"I thought you no longer had one." Naruto winced as he straightened.
"That was cruel and unnecessary. You know what happened. You know what he thought."
"You let him crush you."
"What would you have me do!? Resist? Do you know who was to die that night? Do you!?" Shino's hazel eyes flashed.
"No one asked you to save my father. No one asked you for anything Naruto. It was your choice."
"And yet I gave away something important to me for you. Did you ever understand that I cared for my friends? Did you ever understand how I care for them?"
"No, and I never wish to." Naruto smiled.
"And that's the point." Naruto's eyes went deadly blank. "You don't understand. Even lacking the things that I once had, I still would sacrifice it all over again." Naruto walked to the edge of the mat. Around him, cool gray fog rolled in. Knowing what it was, Shino and Shikamaru stumbled back. "I'm going to take a walk, kill some forest animals, enjoy your night." Naruto leapt off the edge of the mat at the exact moment the fog increased. It hugged the ground, rolling out into the forest. Shikamaru glared at Shino.
"What the hell Shino? You know how that bothers him! He gave up mortality for you!"
"That isn't such a great sacrifice Shikamaru. Many people would love to be immortal." Shikamaru snorted.
"Yes, but they don't think of the consequences do they? And in this case, Naruto paid more than you'll ever realize. Don't you get it? The moment he gave up mortality is around the time that gray fog would appear. The same fog that kills! Can't you see what he's becoming!?"
"No. He's Naruto. He always will be Naruto."
"And you're a fool." Shikamaru stared down into the dense fog below him. Something flew out of the fog and he caught it reflexively. He sighed in relief when he realized his gloves had saved his life. "Damn you Naruto! You know you aren't supposed to do that!"
"You're wearing the damn gloves so shut up. We have red flag this game. We can't attack first."
"I hate when that happens." Down below, Naruto chuckled as the fog around him dissolved.
"Once attacked we continue the original plan. Hopefully, Sasuke also has a red flag."
"Mizuki probably gave him green."
"Great." Shikamaru snickered at Naruto's disgruntled voice.
"Go on Naruto. You know if you hold back to long it explodes." Naruto chuckled sheepishly.
"I'll be able to control it soon." With that, Naruto ran off, retracing the steps that he and Shino had run earlier. He ran until he hit an area that no one would ever willingly camp. It was a large empty field. Once there, Naruto sank to his knees. He sunk into his mind, aware of the menacing red fog that had surrounded him. Unlike the gray one, this one didn't kill it merely maimed and burned.
Using powers that don't belong to you once more?
"Yes. Not my fault though. I was annoyed."
Ahhh…most people kill their so called 'friends' when their annoyed. I understand how you humans work now.
"I did not come for you Kyuubi."
You came for the God? He will not help either.
"I know that. You both are useless to me unless it is to hurt me in the way of your choosing. I understand that."
It is good that you do. Why are you here?
"I wished for peace."
The why the hell would you come to this place? Naruto chuckled.
"I am going further down." Naruto closed his eyes, ignoring the scarlet eyes of the demon. He felt it when he fell through, falling even deeper into his mind, to a place where no one was able to disturb him. It was also a place where dormant powers lay. When Naruto opened his eyes, he sighed into the gray fog that surrounded him. He hated it; he hated what he was becoming. Slowly, he pushed through the fog, searching for the box that would hold the fog in. He found it easily. He closed it with a snap, smiling as the fog vanished. Naruto wandered around the empty space aimlessly. He didn't want to leave yet. It would mean facing Shino again, seeing a friend that didn't appreciate the sacrifice he made. The boy brushed his blonde hair back, annoyed. Sighing, he went back up to the near surface, answering the constant call of a man he had sworn to not bow to.
You came.
"Would you rather I ignore you again?" Naruto opened his eyes to stare up at a god he once was scared of. The death god sighed.
Ever since you stole some of my strength with the help of that mongrel, you ignore me at will. How can you treat a master so?
"You are not my master, I no longer need to answer to you."
Disgusting brat.
"I know. Is there anything else you wish to tell me? Or can I leave now?"
Go away.
"As you wish, sir." Naruto bowed, a mocking smile playing about his lips. "But first, I wish to speak to the Kyuubi." Naruto straightened and walked by the god in the dirty white.
Bastard child!!!!
"As you well know, I don't know who my parents are, therefore, you could tell me and we could settle this senseless dispute." Naruto continued walking, ignoring the cold chill of the angered death god. "You taught me too much too quickly. I don't fear you."
I see that now. Naruto chuckled at the exasperated voice of the god of death.
"Too bad you didn't see that then." He left the god to sulk in silence. Naruto walked the rest of the way to the Kyuubi's cage.
What is it now?
"I merely wished for a companion. One that would not sulk over their stolen powers or malign me for giving away my mortality for naught."
So you would come to me? The Kyuubi snorted. He pulled a strand of red hair around his finger as his eyes narrowed on the sight of the serene blond. What is it that you want?
"Counsel?"
"As you wish.
"Was I a fool for giving away my mortality?"
You are asking me that? I would kill my mother to become a god. Why would I not give up my mortality, if I was mortal?
"You suck as counsel, do you know that?" The Kyuubi smiled.
I hate you. I hate everything about you. You come to me, complaining that you've lost your mortality, that you're on your way to be a god and you believe that I will care?
"That's what makes it fun to parade beneath your nose." Naruto grinned. "Besides, ever since I became less than mortal, you began to at least stand my presence. At least, until you found out why I gave up that particular battle."
You were a fool. It disgusts me to no end that you sacrificed yourself for another person.
"I know." Naruto smiled when the Kyuubi snarled. "I'm going now. Farewell." Naruto closed his eyes as the familiar heat of the demon's chakra rolled over him in an angry wave. "You don't scare me much anymore. I've already realized that without mortality, my soul isn't yours to toy with." With that, he left his mind, the place which was not even his own. He opened his eyes to see the last vestiges of red fog fading away. Naruto pushed himself to his feet and turned around.
"You know, isn't this cheating?"
"I came to see if you were okay. You know what that fog does."
"As does everyone in the class sensei. They know that I supposedly from some lost bloodline that deals in poison. I doubt they'd risk touching the fog again any time soon. Not after the first time it blew up in class." Iruka winced. He did not like remembering the day that Naruto had choked them with the fog. The boy had been asleep when it had surrounded him before rolling down into the class and all but killing them.
"Where is your team?"
"Somewhere out there." Naruto smiled brightly and stood, his fingers automatically seeking a dirty scroll.
"Do you bring that thing everywhere? No one can get in except you. I mean, what's the point?" Naruto leaned forward.
"I make sure that I don't cause unnecessary deaths. It is the way I work now. You know that." Naruto grinned. "Besides, ever since I found a way to carry it without having to lug that stupid bag around and without it magically unsealing itself from normal sealing scrolls, well, I'd hate to lose such a precious object of power."
"The one you stole?"
"Eh, no one misses it. No one knew how to use it really or even understand its full potential."
"Like you do?"
"As I do." Naruto shrugged. "The Book is useful to me. You can't expect me to tell everything that it teaches me. That would be stupid."
"And you are anything but, huh?"
"Yep." Naruto grinned. "Besides, if I had not the Book, I would have never had found a way to help you spy on the woman of your dreams." Iruka blushed.
"Naruto!! Shut up!!!"
"What? It's not my fault that you love the ramen chef's daughter. But it is obvious, I mean ramen everyday sensei? Suspicious much?" Iruka grabbed at the twelve year old, pulling him closer.
"Don't you dare tell."
"I won't." Naruto smirked and pulled away from his teacher. "It'll take away any leverage I have on you." Wit that, Naruto ran away, expecting retaliation from his sensei. He was followed by the sounds of his teacher's laughter.
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Sasuke cursed as yet another trail proved false. He was searching for the elusive blond who willingly wore white when all others chose darker colors. Of course, he didn't know that Naruto had been forced to wear white, to signify to those who would never know that he was the apprentice of a god. Sasuke closed his eyes and thought of the places where Naruto would be. In two years, he and Naruto had become bitter rivals. Most people in the class could see that the rivalry was one sided, but Sasuke didn't care to acknowledge that one little fact. In his eyes, Naruto was a coward too weak to prove that he could and would be crushed by someone better than him. Behind him, Hinata frowned. She already hated her team. On one hand, she had Kiba, who wasn't as bestial as his looks would lead you to believe. He and Akamaru had been quietly conversing ever since the mission had begun. She still laughed when she remembered what lengths Naruto had gone to to make it seem as if Kiba was gay. Of course, the Inuzuka boy had done everything in his power to make Naruto look like he was into his sensei. It had worked for a time, until they caught Naruto teasing Iruka over a mysterious woman he had gone out with. Hinata sighed and cast a glance at Sasuke. She didn't hate him, but she couldn't understand his obsession with Naruto. It was a running gag that Sasuke really was gay, but seeing as Sasuke much rather crush Naruto beneath his feet, he was actually free of that joke.
But then…people always said that the thinnest line was between love and hate. Maybe Sasuke did like Naruto, but that would never ever be proven. Besides, Sasuke had actually gone out with a girl…which was a big surprise. Even bigger was the girl he had chosen to go out with. Or at least, that's what most people believed. The truth in what Hinata could see was because the girl was of common descent and wouldn't have a bloodline to damage the precious Sharingan.
Hinata snorted. Precious Sharingan her ass, Sasuke would eventually marry someone influential as befitting his ever so lordly stature.
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There was a boy who made a deal with two devils. Most people would shun him for the power he would gain; others would fear him because of what he would become.
The boy had set a path in motion but never seemed to follow it. He seemed to lean towards either devil at a given moment. At one time, he would be seen serving the God of Death, pleasing the long jaded soul. At other times he would be serving the trickster of legend, wreaking havoc on the village he lived in.
But there was an unseen consequence to his actions. Far above, in worlds and places unseen, unexplored, the gods looked down and feared.
This boy could be their destruction. Within him, he held all the malevolence of the Kyuubi and all the power of a god that gave death. They could not let him live freely in the world. Whispers abounded as the highest gods sat in council. Whispers of a nameless horror that would be unleashed upon a single human boy. A beast that had not seen the light of day every since it destroyed worlds. This was a beast that was created simply for bloodshed and hatred. This beast was the god of war. But unlike his counterparts, he wasn't humanoid, nor was he beastly. He was and he wasn't.
But there were other whispers flowing through the world as well. Whispers of a rising rebellion. Rumors of gods that were not pleased with the council's choice.
But down on his world, oblivious to the far off whispers of others who planned his fate, the boy lived and thrived. He survived in a world he would never truly love. He continued bargaining and winning the fight against the beings he stole from. He fought to gain power so that he could save Mei, the first woman who ever showed him love. He learned to not fear a god of death. He learned how to disrespect the Kyuubi. He began to show signs of powers that were never meant to lie in mortal hands.
He proved that even he would be a formidable foe to beings of power. Gods who brought winter and summer, storms and draughts, they feared this little boy who had not even seen the things they had.
And so the god of war was released. The boy would remain oblivious. A war had begun, with him in the center of it. But one could only wonder if the boy was truly oblivious to the world around him.
His knowledge would soon be tested.
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Okay you people with the reviews….well a coupla people with the reviews. It is not a flaw if Naruto doesn't get into a relationship. I have no idea if I want to put him in a relationship. Right now, it doesn't fit in. He's ten-twelve and he's learning to handle powers that no one is even supposed to control, with a plotting death god in his head and a demon who isn't exactly friendly in there as well.
Soooooo….no Naruto isn't gay. No offense. He isn't asexual...no offense… As of now, he's just disinterested with girls and the whole love thing in favor of supposedly higher goals.
Peace love and happiness…..
-Dream Hime