The two Jinchuuriki dug their feet into the next tree branch, pushing off with massive force, and soaring high above the tree tops, and Naruto then saw the clearing ahead, which the red flare seemed to be hovering over. Beneath it, lit in its red glare, was a man, and behind him, was a small group of people, hidden in a tent, so as to shelter the, from the rain. But from this height, he could not see who they were. 'No matter. It looks like my message was delivered after all.'
Even though he did not see Yugito, he could easily tell that she was focused on the clearing as well, and had he saw her face, he would have seen the intense curiosity alight in her doe brown eyes. 'Are these friends of his?' Casting a quick look to him, on her left, and slightly ahead of her, she saw the fierce grin on his face, and the sight of it, AND those very sharp teeth, sent a shiver running down her spine, then throughout her entire body.
And what confused her was...
It wasn't neccesarily a bad shiver. She actually liked that fierce and savage look on his face. It meant he had a firm grip on himself, and that he would do whatever the hell he wanted. She desired that in a man. Someone who was fierce, passionate, and wasn't afraid to get their hand dirty...
Nibi noticed this as well, her tone laced with amusment as she noticed the light blush on the face of her vessel."Oh, are you getting the hots for him kitten?" Her blush deepened for a moment, before she hissed back at her demon.
"Shut up you stupid cat."
"Don't blame me, I just calls em as I sees em."
Casting another quick glance at him, she looked away before he could feel the sensation of her penetrating eyes upon him. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
And that, the moment when they were high in the air, far above the trees, was when it happened. Yachiru, being only a child, and whatnot, said the first thing that came to her innocent little mind. "YAY! Now I have a mommy-chan too!"
For a second, nothing happened, then Naruto's eyes, as well as Yugito's got as wide as saucer plates, and the same startled exclamation was heard from the two of them, so great was their shock, that it was heard for miles around.
"NANI?!"
--
Below, in the clearing, Bruno, the man who Naruto had threatened with death, looked up as he thought he heard a startled shout. "Hmm? What was that?"
From behind him, hidden in an awning, safe from the downpour, a voice, distinctly male called out to him. He did not sound to happy with being out here, in the middle of a hurricane.
"Is he here yet Bruno? This 'demon' of yours?"
Several snickers were heard from the small tent, and Bruno forecefully stamped his foot into the ground, exasperation clouding his features, as the chuckles stopped. "He'll be here! So shut your yap!"
Again that sneering voice. "Oh he will, will he? That flare of yours has been in the air for five minutes now, and I see nothing. I can't believe Leader-Sama believed you. But then again-
Despite the tick marks, on his head, and the snickering he was hearing from within the tent, he ignored the rest of what was said to him, and once again pressed the binoculars to his eyes, as he looked all about him for the rogue. 'Just ignore them Bruno. He'll show. He said he'd show.'
He now wore a dark muscle shirt, that fit well against his muscular frame, along with long baggy sweatpants, that were already soaked through with rain. Strapped to his back, was an enormous shuriken, easily twice the size of the one Mizuki had worn, and it was apparent that only one such as he, with his titanic strength, could wield such a weapon.
But strength or no, he was still very nervous as he peeled back a strand of brown hair, long and unruly, much like Kiba's hairtsyle, whcih was now wett and soggy, as he pulled the hair away from his black eyes, as he peered about into the rain, looking for any sign of the missing nin. What if he did NOT show? Leader-sama would think he had failed, and he had no desire to fail.
He HAD to show up. His very life depended on the presence of this, 'unimaginably' powerful nin he had described to his boss, who had given him the benefit of the doubt, and allowed him to come out here with a team, to extend to him an invitation to meet 'him'.
Or was it a he? No one had ever seen the face of the Leader, nor did they knwo if a woamn or a man led them. He/she, was always wrapped in a dark robe, and wore a mask over the facem distorting his/her voice, thus further obscurring the identity of the powerful leader, of the mighty gang, known only as the: "Crimson Blades."
But when he had mentioned the name of Naruto Uzumaki, he had visibly seen a difference in the way Leader held himself. "I wantyou to bring him to me. I wish to meet him."
Thos had been the specific words of the leader, and everyone in the Crimson Blades knew that he/she did not tolerate failure. So, for some reason, he decided to lok up into the sky, and just as he did, he saw two black shapes in the air, one of which had a very familiar sword strapped to his back. 'Is that him?'
Something in his gut told him yes. There was no way you could mistake the dark energy that even from this distance, was emanating from him, making his blood run cold, and his tan skin go pale. 'It is!'
Calling to his comrades in the tent, he bellowed for them to leave the safety of their shelter. "Get out here! He's here!"
He heard a few grumbles, then looking back to his binoculars, he saw that the two speck had gotten much closer-
And were heading right for him!
With a startled yelp, he leapt back, his snadals slidding in the mud, and bringing him to his knees. the binoculars sliding out of his hands, and towards the tent. No sooner had he moved, than,the two specks of black rocketted down to earth, one of them landing right where he had been mere seconds before, shaking the ground with the impact, as Naruto rose to his feet, his mask now donned and making him a truly fearsome sight to behold . Despite the rain that was clouding his vision, he could tell by that mask.
It was him.
His yellow black eyes bored deep into the startled black of Bruno, as he rose to his feet, just as several thug like men emerged from the ten, followed by a tall man with long red hair, dressed in a formal red kimono, a look of disdain marring his handsome features, as he beheld the threesome, his arms hidden in the folds of his robe, and crossed over his chest. "So this is your demon? He looks like any other man."
Bruno shot him a glare, annoyed at the perpetual arrogance of this man. "You would be wise not to make him angry, Sakaki. He took out my squad in less than a minute flat. I'm sure he would do the same to you, in half the time."
Behind his mask, Naruto arched a blond eyebrow. 'There seems to be some bad blood between these two.'
Once again, the robed man known only as Sakaki, looked upon the ragtag group, and now his red eyes focused on Yachiru, who stuck out her tongue at him. "Who are these two. Bruno did not mention them."
Naruto finally spoke now, his voice dark and ominous, sending a nervous shudder through Bruno, who had witnessed the fearsome power of this rogue nin first hand. "They are my accomplices. I met them only recently, after I...dealt with your little group of bandits."
His tone left no trace of guilt whatsoever, but still Sakaki was unfazed. "And what make you think you are worthy of joining the Crimson Blades? Surely you don't think senseless slaughter will get you everywhere."
Yugito rolled her eyes as Naruto reached for the hilt of his blade, his right hand clenching and unclenching as he did so. "Great, now he's gonna start a fight."
But as he gripped the handle, he paused, and his gaze met that of Bruno's once more, ignoring the rant of Sakaki. "What did your boss say?"
Bruno, now recovering himself, reached into the waterproof pouch he kept at his side, his hand trembling slightly from both fear and worry, as he opened the pouch, and groped around for something within it. "Leader-sama has expressed interest in you, and would like to meet you, preferably in person."
"Does that include my two comrades? I won't leave them behind."
Bruno paused at that, and then, with a sneering glance at Sakaki, shrugged his shoulders. "Meh. I don't see any reason to make them stay here."
Sakaki frowned at this. "Wait a moment, I never gave you permission to-
He found himself stifled, as Naruto drew his sword, and held the large blade, point out, right to the throat of the pale man, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent. "Silence fool, unless you wish to be deprived of your head."
Sakaki paled even more, looking white as a ghost now. "You would not dare."
"Try me." Hissed Naruto venemously. "I've DARED to do a lot of things lately. One more wouldn't hurt."
A murmur passed through the gathered thugs, as they looked from Naruto to Sakaki. "No one's ever done that to him before."
He now turned to Bruno, and gave a small nod, as the muscular bandit found what he sought, a brown piece of parchment. "Give it to me." Bruno did so, tossing the wrapped box unto Naruto, only for Yachiru to snatch it out of midair, and hand it to her father instead, who still held the blade to the throat of Sakaki, with murderous intent in the eyes of the robed man.
"If you kill me, Leader-sama will not allow you-
With a snarl, Naruto moved the blade to the left, and with a hard tug in that directiong, whipped it around, giving the man a nasty gash that traveled from his chin to his shoulder blade. Immediately, it began to leak blood, and with a horrified scream, the man placed both hands over it, in a vain attempt to stifle the blood loss. "Worm,"Hissed Naruto, as he sheathed his weapon, and looked over the contents of the package he had been given.
Several of the men rushed forward to tend to the wounds of the pompous fool, who was now writhing in agony, hos body convulsing on the ground wildly, as he twisted every which way. "Your arrogance will now serve as a constant reminder. If you live through this, that scar will haunt you for the rest of your days."
Turning to Bruno, he saw the smirk he was being given, and mentally made a note to consider recruiting this one. "Let's go. I do not have all day. I have an errand to run first. You may accompany me if you so choose, Bruno-san."
But before they could make any move to set out...
It was there.
All of a sudden, right out of the blue, he felt a VERY familiar chakra pressure, and he hissed in surprise, just as he heard her footsteps. "Hinata? What the hell is she-
Then, bursting out of the trees, the Hyuuga made her grand entrance, sword drawn and held at the ready. But as soon as she saw him, mask and all, it dropped from her fingers, to clatter onto the muddy terrain. Her pale eyes went wide with recognition, and with a sharp tug, she pulled down the mask that she wore, exposing her lovely face, as the rain poured down about them.
"Naruto-kun? I-Is that y-you?"
