((This story is pure fan-fiction. The characters and locations are the sole property of Shonen Jump and the series's creator, Masashi Kishimoto. At no time is this fiction an intent to infringe upon their rights nor properties. Neither do I own any of the Predator series, characters, nor concepts as created by Jim and John Thomas nor written/drawn by the many literary artists in the comic book, video game, and book genres.))

Naruto arrived at the Hokage Tower and paused just before entering as he had before: via window or roof top. Deciding with a silent chuckle, he deactivated his Cloak and simply strolled into the entryway on the ground floor. Timing it just so...and the reactions to the lobby area made it worthwhile as the cloak faded and all conversation stopped, as if a set of speakers had blown. Then the younger people, most likely Chuunin or lower, back stepped to make ample room for the imposing figure that entered the building, or they were nudged aside, thusly making room for the more experienced Jouunin to step forward and keep an eye on this potential threat that had suddenly come into their midst. The only sound was of his sandal styled boots connecting with the floor on every step and the strange clicking sound coming from his mask. Matched up with the occasional turn of the shoulder rig as his eyes, hidden by the mask, flickered over specific individuals he recognized from his personal Bingo Book. Yet as he continued to stride forward with a confident and predatory grace, he ignored the way whispers erupted after he passed by one group or another. What Naruto couldn't and didn't ignore was the slowly rising tension in the large chamber.

He reached the lower level counter and stared at the receptionist who was almost visibly trembling at his presence. His head tilted ever so slightly as the woman didn't speak a word; she simply stared. So he spoke instead, knowing full well the distorted voice would further unsettle the various Shinobi that were watching from what they considered a safe distance. "I am here to speak with the Hokage. She will be expecting me. If she is present, the ANBU wearing the Neko mask should be the one to escort me upstairs." he said and could almost feel the cold shivers running along the spines. He smiled broadly behind his mask as he watched her send a runner upstairs. Turning to regard the room in silence, he saw how the stronger ones, or the ones more prepared had basically encircled his position from about fifteen feet out before a particular person made his way to the forefront and began a leisurely walk towards him. Naruto tensed as his body began producing adrenaline in recognition of the perceived threat and the shoulder weapon locked on target immediately. He saw how everyone had shifted to accomodate the newcomer then froze as the low hum echoed and three dots appeared on the man's chest. Naruto's eyebrow rose as the man glanced down at his chest and put out his cigarette in an ashtray before resuming his stride towards him. "Saroutobi Asuma. Jouunin. Former member of the Twelve Guardians. Son of the late Saroutobi Hiruzen, the Sandaime. Currently Jouunin instructor of Konoha." he then paused as the man's lip twitched at being recognized in such an open manner yet he narrowed his gaze as the bearded Jouunin's hands drifted towards his back. "Is there a problem?" Naruto asked as his right hand slowly slid to the seal etched into his belt right around his right hip. The one containing his charged combat staff.

Asuma felt more than a chill as the man simply acknowledged him in such a cold factual manner and his hands had moved instinctively towards his trench knives but he found himself freezing up as his eyes dropped to where the masked fellow's clawed glove was drifting. Not that the dots on his chest weren't making him nervous, but he had to be sure so he replied cautiously, "That depends...Who are you and why are you here?" he found a bit of pride as other Shinobi moved to back him up.

Whatever was about to happen simply stopped when a masked Yuugao arrived in a leaf shunshin. With three other ANBU arriving a moment later. She looked back and forth between the two men having the staring match before she stepped forward and spoke calmly. "Stand down Asuma-san. He has been expected and the Hokage wants to see him right away." Reading the room, and the way everyone was focused on the two currently staring each other down, she sighed. Men and their egos... she thought as she stepped in between the to and spoke in a harsher tone. "I said, Stand Down!" Once the two finally quit with the machismo moment, she gave another shake of her head. "This way, Predator-san." She said, emphasizing the name just to get the point across of just who they were trying to intimidate by numbers. Even she felt the tension ease when the humming stopped and the three dots on Asuma's heart disappeared.

Naruto waited almost a full minute before his body turned then his head towards his escort and gave the purple-haired ANBU a curt nod. Following her, subsequently surrounded by the ANBU, and going up the indicated stairs.

Watching the quintet leave, Asuma sighed and relaxed, taking out and lighting a new cigarette. After a slow exhale, he quirked his lip saying softly, "So...that is him? He seemed younger somehow." he gave a shrug and went over to where two his students: Nara Shikamaru and Yamanaka Ino stood. He saw how they relaxed at his return and he frowned slightly before saying, "Yes...that's the one who helped Choji as well as Neji. Though it's strange...I expected something... I dunno... more."

Ino snorted,"He didn't look like much. Bet we could take him." she ignored the mutters of her teammate and looked up at her mentor, "Right, Asuma-sensei?"

Asuma's eyes hardened, "You will NOT approach him. Under any circumstances. Am I clear?" at their surprised nods, his gaze returned to the stairway as he added, "That man has taken out highly ranked Shinobi. He could wipe us off the map without even trying if the rumors of his abilities are even remotely true."

Shikamaru spoke up, "Not to mention, though its troublesome to say it, he already had sensei dead to rights." at Ino's confused look and Asuma's lifted eyebrow, he sighed lazily, "Those red dots on your chest earlier? They didn't appear until you stepped towards him directly. That means they are used like a targeter. Not sure what you were targeted with, but I bet it would have killed you before you drew your knives fully. The hand motion was a distraction." Shikamaru said with another sigh, seeing how Ino had gone pale and Asuma frowned. "I can see why he has had such success. His every move is planned out in advance. He just set his dominance in every mind here."

Asuma listened carefully and took another drag of his cigarette and saw his fingers were minutely trembling. Not the first time I've been that close to dying but to have it done so openly and without realizing it is more than a little humbling. I've gotten careless...Asuma thought as he blew out more smoke. "In any case, time to get over to the hospital and check on Choji. Let's go you two."


((Upstairs))

Taking the circular corridor, Yuugao glanced at her charge. "Wanna tell me what that was all about?" she asked in genuine concern. Not for him, however. More like for those that just barely escaped winding up as trophies.

Naruto continued walking and replied coldly, his distorted voice not hiding the tone, "Just letting them know there is a new top badass in town. Can't be seen backing down from anyone. Especially not today."Not really caring as one of the ANBU hesitated in their step before he asked, "Worried about me Neko-chan? Awww, I'm touched."

Yuugao blushed behind her mask at the teasing tone, made worse by the following snickers from her teammates. "Worried for you? not in the slightest. More concerned over the fact we wouldn't have enough body bags in storage if things got out of hand." Which shut the others up, though she matched the responding chuckle at her backwards compliment.

"Nice to have one's skills acknowledged."his tone was still barely audible over the distortion as he paused at Shizune's desk and he turned to regard the black haired Medic who had risen at their approach and quickly knocked on the Office door. When the command to enter was given, Naruto stepped through the opened door and heard it shut behind him. His eyes flickered over the room and he saw five figures watching him just as intently.

Moving more into the room with an even stride, he gave a bow saying lowly, "Good day to you Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-san. And to you as well: Gaara no Sabaku, Temari no Sabaku, and Kankuro no Sabaku." When only silence greeted him, he straightened and his head tilted to the side, "What?"

It was Jiraiya that answered, "Good to see you again Predator-san. I hope all is well with you." his eyes moving over the surprised faces of two of the siblings. Though the third was maintaining a somber expression that revealed little of his own surprise beyond a minute widening of his eyes. "We were just thanking our Suna allies for their assistance in the retrieval mission a couple of days ago."

"Ah. Perhaps I should come back at a later time?" he inquired politely before moving as if to head back out the door.

Tsunade spoke up, "Not at all, Predator-san. In fact I wanted to thank you again. According to the medics that got to them, whatever it was you had done saved their lives. As it is, Akimichi Choji and Hyuuga Neji both will recover soon and be back on active duty." she said smiling as she shuffled through some papers, "Oh...and our R&D Department, they want to keep that chamber you used on Neji." she said as she re-read the document, "According to them, it has an incredible..." she frowned when Naruto spoke, cutting her off.

"No. I only have the one and I know exactly what that chamber is capable of. Medically and otherwise. I will go and claim my property after we are done. And I do hope they haven't been idiotic enough to input their Chakra in an attempt to analyze it."he said as he turned to look out the nearest window. "You will want to prevent that at all costs, Hokage-sama. Their is a Chakra Recognition seal hidden on the chamber. It will explode with devastating results if anyone but myself attempts to utilize it. Or any of my gear for that matter." Turning back to the room, he ignored the shocked expressions on the two Sannin and the contemplative one sent his way by Temari.

Tsunade frowned once she got over the implications and quickly sent an ANBU to give the Research department the double warnings. She had to hope they were smart enough not to poke too hard. The masked Hunter's tone had been matter of fact and she knew how she'd feel if someone tried to steal something she had designed and built on her own. Once that was done, she turned to regard the three Suna nins, "Knowing that you are heading back, please take this, " she handed over a scroll to Kankuro, "to your Council. A letter of our official thanks for your assistance and a token of gratitude."

Kankuro secured the scroll and led the way to the door. "Of course, Hokage-sama." He left though Temari paused and gave the masked man another searching look before she departed as well. Gaara stopped and spoke softly in an uncaring fashion, "Predator...you should come to Suna sometime soon. I would like to speak with you privately." Then he too left and closed the door behind him.

Nodding, Naruto turned his gaze back to the Hokage and her Chief Advisor, "What? I assisted them on a personal matter. I do do that sort of thing every now and then. Assist others, that is. " he said with a shrug as he simply stood there seemingly willing to remain there until business was concluded. "You have the agreement?"

Tsunade blinked and sifted through the pile until she came to a scroll and gave it to Jiraiya, who was still studying the strange youth in front of him. She watched as he gave it over and stood silent with an intent expression. "Just as we discussed. You will have full Clan rights and privileges though a Council seat is not approved until you reach the appropriate population. As well as the deeds to both Training Grounds you requested and the aforementioned building supplies, etc."

Naruto nodded as he opened the scroll and moved to a chair and began reading it closely. It took him a good twenty minutes to read through it, ignoring how the duo across from him had begun to grow irritated and pensive at the delay. He finished and gave a slow nod, "Everything seems to be in order. No hidden additions or ambiguities to hide behind. Very well." he stood and walked to the desk, placing a signature in the appropriate spot before turning the scroll to face her and sliding it forward.

Tsunade glanced at Jiraiya briefly before she looked at his signature. "Hoshoku-sha? You're really going to use your moniker instead of your full name? I would have thought you'd..." her hand moved and she not only signed the document but added the Hokage seal, making it final as she sprinkled some sand over the ink to absorb the excess and dumped it off before blowing to dry both signatures..

"Use the name I was given? I was tempted but since I want a measure of anonymity, I felt it best. Especially since I can presume the other Clans will want to take a good look at this agreement as well so they may plan accordingly in political terms, at least." he gave his head a slow negative shake. "No. It's better to keep them guessing even if just for a short amount of time."

Jiraiya was impressed by the logic and replied, "Makes sense, though having known Uzumaki Kushina, she would have been proud if you had. Like you, she was a master of the Sealing Arts as were most of her Clan and she was also an extremely powerful kunoichi. However, I see your point.." he finished and looked out the window hiding the almost eager expression as he knew it was only a matter of time now. Not long now...soon I'll be able to pass on their legacy. Clearing his face, he added his own signature as a witness before rolling it up, once all the ink was dry, and using a ribbon to tie it and dropping a thick blob of wax on the scroll before applying a Preservation seal that would only allow him or Tsunade to open it. He pulled out three duplicates and showed them to both parties, including where their signatures and seals had appeared. "One for the Hokage Vault, one for you and one for Public Records."

"Uzumaki Kushina? The Red Death herself? Quite a set of shoes to fill."Naruto commented though now he wondered exactly why he had been given that particular Family name. More questions formed in his mind and he heard Kyuubi speaking softly to him, telling him to ask about it. Instead he gave a mental shake and stuck with the business at hand. "With this done, I will begin to order what is needed to start the construction once the property is surveyed and marked." He accepted the duplicate scroll and set it to a storage seal on his belt. "Very good then. How may I serve?"he asked and wasn't surprised when Tsunade wordlessly handed over a green flak vest and a hitai-ite marked with the Konoha sigil. Naruto tied it around his bicep for now until he could properly incorporate it into his sleeveless trench coat. The vest he simply let it hang over his arm for now.

Nodding at last, Tsunade smiled broadly, "Oh I have a few ideas, but first...I welcome you to the ranks of Konoha, Hoshoku-sha, also known as Uzumaki Naruto. I give you the rank of Tokubetsu Jouunin until you take and pass an upcoming exam. There's no rush, really. Not until after you get your Clan compound completed. If I need your services, I will send Neko-chan to get you. So until then, you are free to move about as you wish and do your work without interference." Behind her smile however, there was a calculating gleam in those hazel eyes. Now that's he's officially one of ours, I can slowly nudge him to take up his rightful place. Just have to be slow and careful.

Naruto noticed how they watched him and could easily guess what they were contemplating. It has taken a long time, too long, but finally I have a place to call my home that no one can take away from me... Instead, he simply bowed and made to leave the office by the door, ignoring how the two shared a look. Closing the door behind him, he nodded to Shizune who seemed to relax slightly upon seeing the Konoha symbol on his arm, she even offered a very slight smile as he passed.


((Short While Later...))

Naruto entered the wing of the building reserved for Research and Development, ignoring how his presence garnered stares and whispers. He walked in through the door and shook his masked head slowly from side to side at the sight in front of him. People moving back and forth as Yuugao watched impassively before looking to him and shrugging. The reason for their haste was the fact that medics were treating burns on three of their personnel, presumably because they got too close to his stasis chamber and were using Chakra indirectly. The fail-safes he had in place would have blown up the device if they had tried anything more direct or intrusive. He spoke aloud and his voice made every tech freeze in place, "I see you were foolish enough to ignore the warnings. Now get out of my way so I can reclaim my property." his tone wasn't amused and he quickly walked forward, forcing them to move aside or be trampled upon his approach. He ran a clawed glove over the device and grunted as the recognition seal flared green.

"Now hold on a moment! How dare you just push your way in here! Who do..." the lead technician said in outrage before he was stopped by a clawed hand at his throat. One that lifted him cleanly off the floor.

"Be silent. Or be silenced."Naruto warned ominously as his mask lenses flashed red before he turned his attention to the ANBU present in the room. "I take it this is the idiot that refused to acknowledge the Hokage's warning?" At the answering nod, he returned his attention to the man slowly turning blue and gripping his wrist as he said nonchalantly, "You, and the Village, were lucky I arrived when I did. If you had been any more stupid, this entire village would become a lifeless crater. I wasn't joking when I said it would explode with tremendous force. Be grateful." whether he meant it as further warning, or that they should be glad he showed up was unclear as he dropped the man on his ass and he opened his med kit and unfurled a scroll from its contents. Draping it over the chamber, he placed a hand over the empty sigil and whispered, "Fuin!" A puff of smoke and a popping sound later and he was re-rolling the scroll up. Setting it away and closing the med kit without once looking at the startled expressions on the tech's faces. He had been getting a lot of practice at that lately…

Yuugao watched in silence as he dealt with the Researchers and shifted slightly in unease. He treated others like they were in one of three categories: Prey, Ally, or Peer. And Kami keep you if you fall into the first category… she thought as she moved to follow him out of the department without so much as a glance over his shoulder. Keeping pace she spoke softly once they were outside, "Is there anything I can do to assist you , Predator-san?" her tone sincere and open.

Naruto considered her question before responding, "Right now I am good as I have to get a surveyor out to the property, as you know. They will mark my property with flags and it will be up to me to put up something more visible and immobile until such time as Walls can be erected." He then tilted his head slightly as a thought came to him. "Actually there is something I could use your help with. I need to get some research material. Could you show me to the Village Library?"

Yuugao blinked behind her mask in surprise at the request but nodded nonetheless. She took the lead and took him to where he wanted to go. She walked in with him and watched as he entered the Shinobi Section, cowing the guard in the process with nothing more than a masked glance. The purple haired ANBU could only wonder what he was up to. She had her answer a few minutes later as he emerged with several scrolls which he quickly signed out. Any question she had stuck in her mind as his mask turned to her. "Yes?"

"This was all I needed at the moment. Thank you for your guidance." he said before using an abrupt Shunshin that took him back to his Den. Looking at his workstation, he nodded to his Clone as he set aside the scrolls and removed his mask, deactivated his gear and hung them all on the mannequin. "Good work." he said quietly as the Clone snapped a salute and dispelled.

Sorting the memories for later, he immediately began setting things up. Starting with making a long worktable for this bit of work. Once it was done, thanks to some basic carpentry and the use of some clones to set a stone slab on top, he began assembling the tubing and everything he had had the Clone purchase. Once it was done, he began the testing.


((Several Hours later….))

He relaxed in his chair and sipped a saucer of sake with more than a hint of accomplishment. "It's finished. At last the ratios are correct. Now to test the final results." He smiled as the disembodied voice answered him from within.

"Indeed. I shouldn't be...but I still find myself surprised as how quickly you were able to get this to work. In theory at least."

"Agreed. I honestly didn't expect it to go this quickly. But again, this is just an initial test phase. Using the lowest amount of your Chakra needed to make the desired reactions. It should work but the real question is the level of effectiveness at these settings. The fact the mixture isn't reacting to the tubes is promising. But now we have to see how much time is required for the new acid to complete its work." Naruto said as he stood up and set aside the saucer before going to a box where he had his "test subjects" as he thought of them. He pulled one of the large dead rats he had gathered from his refuse pit and wrinkled his nose at the slight smell it gave off. Laying it out into a deep 13X9 glass tray and took the first tube from the rack of ten and said, "Here we go. Test one: half and half mixture." He removed the cap and poured it onto the rat,ticking a stopwatch as he did so with his other hand. He watched in morbid fascination as the solution began bubbling and eating away at the corpse. He clicked the stopwatch the moment it finished. "Three minutes, forty five seconds before partial dissolution of subject." his tone was clinical and detatched as he disposed of the half sludged corpse. "Given the volume of the tube, 25mL, it would take twice as much to dispose of a simple rat."

"It has to be much more potent than that. I suggest skipping the next four mixtures. To be an effective means of body disposal, I am estimating it should not take more than two or three drops to turn a rat into a pool of sludge."

Naruto didn't hesitate as he nodded in agreement. "Yeah. We may have to go with a near 90% Conversion Solution to 10% Distilled to get the results we want or go with a larger container. Which I would prefer not to have to do. These test tubes are perfect for what I need and I can easily encase the glass within a metal sleeve to protect them better from damage." He reached for the vial sitting in the sixth place and he laid out a new rat. "And here we go." he whispered as he opened the vial and repeated the process. And he blinked at the results.

Two drops barely touched the corpse before it went to work like a ravenous animal. Naruto reflexively clicked the stopwatch and stared at it before whistling lowly. "Damn. Ten seconds to complete liquification. Taking into account mass, composition, and size of the subject…" he paused to do the calculations, "It would take approximately one vial less than three minutes to render the average human body to sludge. I wonder what the 95 to 5 or even the 98 to 2 ratio would do…"

"I don't recommend it, Naruto-san. The last thing you want is any evidence of the solution to remain after the fact. Based on what we've seen and the math, this is what you need. A quick acting liquid state acid compound that will not leave enough of itself behind after the fact to be discovered and tested." Kyuubi cautioned from her throne as she watched the hanging monitor before she reached up and tapped the screen to make it swivel away and rejoin the wall of monitors.

"Again, you're correct." he admitted, "Got caught up in the moment of success." he said ruefully before moving to dispose of the rest by using a nullifying seal to remove and eradicate the Chakra mixture as well as remove the seals he painted on them. Leaving normal vials of distilled water behind. He poured the sludge onto the other rats and quickly tossed the entire thing into the refuse pit. He grinned as he saw that even though it had been introduced to new matter, the solvent had run its course and didn't reactivate. Making it safe for disposal. Returning to the main chamber, he began working up a diagram for a storage container.

Watching curiously as the monitor left the wall and returned to her side, she spoke up, "And what is this? Mass storage? Why when you can make enough for yourself to carry and replace as needed?" then her eyes widened behind her mask, "I see….already planning for the future. Apropos under the circumstances. And very prudent since it wouldn't go stale so to speak."

Naruto nodded mentally as he continued working. "Exactly. I may not need to supply others for a while yet, but it won't hurt to have the necessary containment prepared." he said as he sat back and sighed. "This is a future project that I can outsource easily enough. Simple enough that it can have any number of uses." so saying, he bent back over the table and resumed working….


(( A Week later….))

Naruto felt seriously exhausted. It had taken this long to get his throwing disc upgraded to what he considered to be called a 'smart disc'. Thanks to Anko's suggestions before, he was able to work it all out. He had nearly gotten himself decapitated on the first successful field testing. Not watching the disc's flight path as he let his exuberance once again get the better of him. If it hadn't been for the mental warning form Kyuubi, it would have taken his head clean off as it ricocheted about, slicing into trees and boulders and using the momentums of gliding impact to alter its continually shifting trajectories. He had felt the chill of death more than once, but this time he had to quickly grab the disc as it came at him again and deactivate its systems. Only then did he relax and let a broad smile grow on his face. He couldn't wait to see how his new toy would work under battle conditions. Somehow he doubted the Hokage would take it kindly if he paid a team to be his test subjects just so he could observe it in action. Relaxing by a stream, he thought aloud after removing his mask to take a drink from a bottle. "Now this is going to make things fun. Throwing range of 10M and the guidance range equal to that. Like to see someone able to continually dodge this baby. Sooner or later they'll goof. Only has one weakness that I can tell. It can get lodged in an object if it makes a direct impact. But I can't account for everything. Though I think I will definitely need to add in a way of tracking the disc. I can't just rely on you warning me in time."

Flush from watching the success of the latest project, Kyuubi laughed with a proud and sultry undertone. "No one can, but you have come very close to it. Your level of ingenuity and determination to get it right once again has resulted in an excellent tool for the Hunt. Now I recommend you get some rest. The surveyors are finished and the Clones you left behind are setting up the markers you wanted just inside the survey lines." she sat back and felt a little heat in her cheeks at her statement. Over the course of the week, she had been subjected to witnessing his dreams and it was having a greater effect on her emotions. She didn't know what it was but her perceptions of him was changing.

"I think I will. I've earned it." he said in agreement before he packed up and headed towards his Den. He had barely left the Training Ground when he felt the rapid approach of someone. Immediately on guard, he turned with staff in hand and his claws extended.

Yuugao skidded to a halt and raised her hands quickly as she spoke, "Easy, Predator-san. It's me." she said in between heavy breaths. "We have a big problem and the Hokage wants to see you."

His head tilted to the side in inquiry as he put away his staff and sheathed the claws. "And what might that be, Neko-san?" he asked, acutely aware that his face was still exposed. His clawed hand reaching for the mask that hung on his side.

She took a couple of slow breaths, revealing her own agitation as she answered. She knew this was going to be bad. "The Uchiha has escaped."