Bringing in 2015 right! Chapter Ten! Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Funny story, I typed this entire chapter while I was drunk last night from bringing in the New Year. I took a cab home and rather than sleeping like I wanted to, my body opened my laptop and I typed this chapter. It was 1:27 am when I got home and I fell asleep at 4:13 am because that was the last text I read and I passed out before finishing my response.

6,000+ words in 3 hours?! Damn. Hennessy has become my favorite drink. It was the drink of choice last night, my first time trying it, and it made me extremely efficient and productive (And it goes down perfectly). I may have a drinking problem now that I think about it, attributing alcohol to functioning at a higher level. Aw well, Who Cares?! It's 2015! Happy New Year Peeps.

Chapter 10: Renegade

An auburn haired woman sat in the middle of a lake, atop the water, that was fed by an adjacent waterfall. She was but only 14 years old but was already considered by many as one of the strongest in Kirigakure, despite being a rebel and bloodline ninja. She was Mei Terumi, a captain in Kirigakure's Rebel Forces and probably the strongest in its entire force.

In many respects, Mei was said to have only one equal in Kirigakure. Obviously not Yagura, whose power was unmatched being not only the Mizukage but Jinchuriki of the Sanbi with complete control of his Bijuu. No, Mei's equal was Yagura's right-hand man, Naruto Hozuki. Naruto's name grew more famous after his showing at the Chunin Exams back in Iwa and continued to grow with every accomplishment that happened afterward with his being a hunter-nin.

Mei hadn't seen Naruto in those two years since the Chunin Exams but word of mouth moved fast, especially considering the fact that he'd killed dozens of missing-nin and captured powerful Rebel Force members. The Rebel Forces were growing with each passing day but if Naruto continued taking out the top brass, their Rebellion would fall short of attaining their goal of uniting Kirigakure.

"Naruto-kun. What have you become..." thought Mei with her eyes closed thinking about all the things she heard. "I haven't seen you in two years and nearly every other week I hear a story about how you've captured another Rebel member. The right hand of Yagura and Red-masked Hunter-nin. Was everything a lie?"

And in those thoughts, Mei grew conflicted. Mei still thought Naruto was the same person she first met 5 years ago, who saved her from Yagura. The same person who'd made her a promise to bring peace to Kirigakure with Yagura's end. But he was also the one picking the Rebellion apart one ninja at a time, in Yagura's favor. And the one who hadn't even contacted her in a little over two years.

"Naruto-kun...what happened?" thought Mei with her eyes closed trying to rationalize in her head why. "He hasn't even come back to the Waterfall Lake either. Where are you? I need answers."

Mei's head picked up and her eyes opened when she felt an eerie mist entering the lake.

"There's never been mist here before." thought Mei who looked out to see a Hunter-nin in front of her. Though Mei grew surprised when she saw the red mask adorning the face of the Hunter-nin. "Naruto-kun.."

"Mei Terumi." came a voice Mei recognized as Naruto's, albeit deeper due to age. Mei stood up on the lake as she recognized more of Naruto. His spiky white hair still styled the same, the confident aura, and the fact that Naruto was the only one who wore an Uzumaki insignia on his clothing in Kirigakure.

"Naruto-kun..." said Mei slightly shocked that he'd come after her. Mei then showed a look of determination, this was the chance she'd just been thinking about. A way to get answers from him and she could accomplish that by kicking his ass and making him talk to her.

Mei whipped out a kunai before turning and blocking the sword strike aimed at her head. Naruto backed up as Mei was on him fast and clashed her kunai against his sword again. The Naruto behind her vanished into thin air along with the mist as Mei smiled at the Naruto in front of her.

"That Mirage Genjutsu only works so long. You won't beat me like that." said Mei still pressing against Naruto's sword with her kunai. Mei's eyes widened when Naruto disappeared again and her kunai was actually in one of the trees surrounding the waterfall lake.

"I'm not trying to beat you..Mei-chan." said Naruto right behind the auburn haired kunoichi. Mei felt a chill run through her body at the voice in her ear before turning around to see a mask less Naruto smiling at her. "When did you get so pretty?"

Mei would have blushed at the question but was still too shocked to speak. On one hand, this was the man solely responsible for weakening the Rebel Forces over the past two years. And on the other hand, he still looked and spoke to her like the old Naruto would have. But Mei still realized that both of those men were the same person and still would answer her questions regardless.

"Where the hell have you been?!" shouted Mei at Naruto whom only continued to smile at her. Mei grew slightly angered at that as her face moved closer to Naruto's with each sentence she spoke or question she asked. "You were gone! For Two years! And in that time, you kill Rebel Leaders? I thought you wanted to help us? Help Kirigakure? Help me?!"

Mei was now face to face with Naruto, nearly touching noses. The two sat like that for several seconds and the silence lingered on with it. Naruto's smile did leave but his nonchalance never left. Mei noticed that and the fact that they were this close but she wasn't going to budge until Naruto answered her questions.

"I've been busy. I was gone because I was busy. Yes, a whole two years being busy." started Naruto answering Mei while never moving his face from right in front of hers. "I never killed a Rebel Leader, only captured. And even then, they're still being held captive as prisoners of war. And I am helping you guys, helping Kirigakure, and you. I just needed time to get stronger. And why I haven't seen you, I'd have been forced to capture you just like them. And I couldn't have that, I needed you to stay with the Rebellion, to keep giving them hope."

Mei's anger began to die down with each passing answer from Naruto before she looked directly at his violet eyes with her green ones.

"You could have sent a letter." said Mei with a slight frown/pout.

"I don't remember you ever sending me a letter." rebuked Naruto as Mei just huffed and blew out air. "I am sorry though."

"You're right, I'm sorry too. And I've always been this pretty." said Mei as Naruto's smile returned from her answering his first question. Mei smiled as well before Naruto backed up slightly and held a hand out for Mei to grab. Realizing Naruto wanted her to go with him, Mei posed a question. "Where are you taking me?"

"To show you the answers to questions you haven't asked yet." said Naruto as Mei placed her hand in his. "Like is everything I said true? Are the captured Rebel members still alive? And why after being gone for two years, 3 months, and 27 days, I finally come see you again."

Mei raised an eyebrow at that. "You kept count of the days since?" questioned Mei as Naruto nodded. "I'm that special to you huh?"

"You're my favorite chakra signature." thought Naruto feeling the warmth of Mei's chakra. "It's so addictive. Still the warmest, even more so than before."

"Of course you are Mei-chan, my favorite Rebel ninja. And I have kept count of the days. I've also had three birthdays in that time so...you've got some making up to do." said Naruto turning to Mei with a smirk.

"Well you do too." said Mei as Naruto continued leading her through the woods. "I had birthdays as well that you didn't get me a gift for."

"Oh I will make that up here soon. But that'll still leave you without giving me a gift in return." said Naruto.

"I'm sure I can find something you like." said Mei slyly. Naruto picked up on the real intent behind that having felt Mei squeeze his hand slightly every time she caught him eyeing her, like just now. "Oh and Naruto-kun, if this is a trick, I can and will kick your ass if necessary."

Naruto just smiled at that. "Well, I wouldn't want that. Come Come." said Naruto as he continued to lead Mei. Mei just continued to stare at the back of Naruto's head as she didn't believe none of this was true.

"Naruto Hozuki...you've grown up." thought Mei looking at the shinobi in front of her. Naruto now stood at a height of 5'6" tall and from the way he carried himself, Mei could tell the stories about his prowess as a ninja were true.

Mei noticed his frame was muscular for a ninja, lean muscle though as he wasn't bulky so he could retain flexibility most likely. Mei could see Naruto's muscles due to the fact that he wore only a sleeveless, white vest with black pants and black sandals. On the back of Naruto's vest was the Uzumaki clan symbol in red and attached to the white belt on his waist were his red mask and white water bottles.

"Naruto-kun got even hotter." thought Mei with a mild blush as she continued to peep at all that was Naruto. Mei then felt Naruto squeeze her hand letting her know he knew she was checking him out. Mei didn't care though and continued shamelessly checking Naruto out.

Mei wasn't the only one checking the other out, Naruto had sized her up when he first saw her sitting at the waterfall lake and subsequently walking with her getting caught those few times. Naruto noticed that Mei had grown right along side him, now standing at 5'4" tall and just as powerful from her chakra signature while maintaining that gentle appearance.

Mei's hair was longer and fell further down her back, she even had a bang covering her right eye now. She wore a white crop top that ended above her belly button, a fishnet shirt on underneath that covered the rest of her stomach with blue pants and light grey sandals. A ninja pouch sat on the back of her waist and blue polish still laid on her fingernails and toenails.

Mei's frame was still slender but adolescence was doing her a ton of favors body wise from Naruto's viewpoint. "Mei-chan...Oh Kami." thought Naruto trying to focus on the task at hand and not his teenage male thoughts. "Shouldn't have stared so hard. Gonna need a cold shower later."

Minutes turned into half an hour before Naruto stopped walking realizing they had arrived. Mei walked up beside Naruto to see where they were.

"The Heart of Kirigakure." said Mei with a slight gasp looking at the village. Mei had never been to the central part of Kirigakure thanks to her blood and that this is Yagura's territory. "Why are we here?"

"You're going to kick my ass and free the Rebel leaders. Happy Birthday." said Naruto grinning at Mei. Mei looked at Naruto with a question that Naruto just nodded to. "Yes, it's time to light the powdered keg so to speak."

Mei just stayed silent as Naruto lead her through Kirigakure away from other ninjas with his sensory ability. It took no time at all before Naruto had Mei in a dungeon like area filled with dozens of prison cells. A man inside one of the cages looked up at the sound of two people walking in and his eyes shined with hope at seeing Mei.

"Mei-sama...she's here. Everyone look!" shouted the man, waking up the dozens of other rebels at his exclamation. "That Naruto boy was telling the truth."

Mei looked out at the people as she began seeing everyone of the people Naruto had captured in the past two years from the Rebel Forces. They were indeed all still alive like Naruto said.

"Everyone. We all thought you were dead." said Mei feeling happy as the man who spoke earlier shook his head.

"No. No. Naruto-san here actually treated us well, as best he could. It was all apart of his plan." said the man causing Mei to look at Naruto.

"I captured so many of them because if it wasn't me doing it, they'd have been killed." said Naruto. "Since I was the one to capture them, I got to determine their fate and told Yagura that I'd kill them at the end, in front of the rest of the Rebels for some kind of shock factor when we attacked all of you. Obviously I wasn't going to do it but it kept them alive longer for this very moment. The real rebellion will begin."

"Naruto's right Mei-sama. We know all about the Rebel Forces growing stronger and now with him on our side, we may have a chance at taking down Yagura." said the man as Mei continued to stare at Naruto.

"You thought up all of this? This was your plan?" questioned Mei as Naruto just nodded his head.

"I've grown strong Mei-chan. And if I'm correct, so have you. I can feel it." said Naruto having already gauged Mei's strength with his sensory ability. Not to mention the rumors that she was as strong as him. "We can actually take down Yagura if we join together. And with your Rebel Forces growing and the people that'll join me once I leave Yagura...we can end this War within a year probably. What do you say?"

"It's really attainable now..Peace in Kirigakure." thought Mei looking at Naruto with her green eyes. Naruto's violet eyes stared back at Mei trying to ascertain how she was feeling at the moment. "I'd kiss you now if I didn't think it'd be weird."

Mei took that thought out of her head before she just smiled at Naruto. "Let's do this then." said Mei. Naruto just smiled back at Mei just glad that his plan was going so perfect. Naruto continued smiling before a cough was heard. Naruto looked over at the trapped Rebels before nodding his head with a sheepish look on his face.

"Right. Sorry about that." said Naruto putting on his Hunter-nin mask. "Make it look good Mei-chan. And of course, no touching of the hair or face."

Mei just rolled her eyes. "What do you take me for? An amateur." said Mei before she proceeded to lay the smack down on Naruto and free the Rebels.

(Mizukage's Office - 1 hour later)

"It's time." said the Masked Man standing next to Zetsu in Yagura's office. Yagura sat at his desk with glowing red eyes while the two others talked to one another. "Naruto began his plan to free Kiri of Yagura's rule."

"Yes. He led that girl to the Rebels he captured and will likely join up with them after a month or so of sabotage." said the white half of Zetsu. "It's pretty ingenious when you think about it. And Yagura would have been none the wiser."

"But Yagura isn't in control unfortunately for Naruto's plan. So we'll have to find a way to get Kiri to turn on him." said the Black half of Zetsu before peering his eye out at the Masked Man. "Did you already set it up?"

"Of course I have." said the Masked Man as he grinned beneath his mask. "Naruto Hozuki, I wonder how you do with this wrench thrown in your plans."

The Masked Man continued to stare out the Mizukage's window waiting for his own plan to take action. Seeing a red-head with dual swords strapped to her back, he just smiled some more.

"This will be good." thought the Masked Man.

(With Ameyuri)

Two years had passed since the end of the Chunin Exams and along with it, two years of not being actively with Naruto every day. Ameyuri felt bored ever since, even though she saw him at least once a week, twice if she was lucky. It just wasn't enough for the Kunoichi, especially considering her crush had only blossomed more in the time away.

Ameyuri's hair was still styled the same with that piece of cloth holding up two pieces while the rest flowed to her mid back. She wore a loose, pin-striped long-sleeve shirt with a dark obi around her waist, black pants that got looser around the ends, and striped leg-warmers that ended as sandals. Ameyuri was now 15 and she'd never felt happier in her life.

"Pretty Boy said he has a surprise for me." thought Ameyuri giddy internally from the note Naruto left her that morning. Ameyuri arrived at the circular building she and many others, including Naruto and Chojuro, once called home. "Where we first met."

Ameyuri walked into the building and made an immediate right turn. Ameyuri walked for a while until she came upon a door. Recognizing this as the door that led to where Fuguki usually trained Naruto, Ameyuri nodded her head.

"Here we go." thought Ameyuri walking into the room and gasping at what she saw. Ameyuri's eyes widened seeing Naruto standing over a bloody and motionless Fuguki. "Pretty Boy..."

Naruto's head picked up at that having not paid attention to his sensory ability. Naruto turned around to see Ameyuri staring at him with wide eyes. Naruto looked at Fuguki and back to Ameyuri before putting up two hands in a placating manner.

"Ame-chan. It's not what you think." said Naruto as he began to slowly walk over to the red-head standing at the doorway. Ameyuri saw Naruto coming toward her and couldn't believe her eyes.

"You killed Fuguki-senpai..." said Ameyuri in a low tone. Naruto heard her though and just shook his head.

"No. When I came here, it was already like this. You believe me don't you?" questioned Naruto, stopping his advance to stand about 15 feet from Ameyuri. Ameyuri's mind fluttered with questions as she looked at the scene before her.

"Pretty Boy would never do something like this...he's right." thought Ameyuri in her head looking at Naruto. "But it does look like he's been in a fight. No, Pretty Boy would never do something like this."

Ameyuri continued to go back and forth in her mind as she processed the things in front of her. Naruto looked like he'd been beaten down recently and Fuguki seemed like his death just happened. But for Naruto to actually kill him, Ameyuri couldn't fathom it. That all changed with the appearance of Yagura.

"Ameyuri. Have you seen Naruto-kun? I heard rumors he killed Raiga and took the Kibas..." said Yagura walking over to the frozen kunoichi. Yagura noticed Ameyuri standing at the doorway before looking in to see Naruto standing there with his hands up. "Oh no...it is true."

"Pretty Boy..." said Ameyuri again in a low tone seeing Naruto continue to stand still. Ameyuri looked closer to indeed see the Kibas settled in the room next to Fuguki's body, and they looked used from the blood on them.

"Raiga's body was mangled up and he had lightning wounds reminiscent of Naruto's Hunter-nin victims.. I didn't want to believe it but it's true." said Yagura stepping into the room with Naruto, whom backed up at him walking in with him. "Naruto...you know the consequences of killing two high-ranking shinobi of this village."

"I didn't do it. I didn't do any of this." said Naruto before seeing another ninja appear next to Ameyuri in the doorway. Naruto grimaced seeing that it was one of the Seven Swordsmen, Jinin Akebino.

"Yagura-sama. There you are. It was reported that Naruto Hozuki released the Rebel prisoners from their cage." said Jinin before finally noticing the room before him. Jinin pulled out his 'sword', Kabutowari, which was actually a hammer connected by a chain to an ax. "You killed Fuguki! I always knew you were a traitor."

Jinin then rushed Naruto, whom only backed up at the swordsman's advance. Naruto dodged an overhead slam of Jinin's hammer before backing up at a slice aimed to cleave him in half. Naruto stood up straight though when he felt a sword appear at his neck.

"Ame-chan..." said Naruto. Ameyuri had grown faster, extremely fast, over the two years and moved swiftly enough to stand behind Naruto with one of her swords bathed in lightning chakra at his throat. Naruto heard a tear drop to the ground from behind him and realized Ameyuri was crying.

"Please tell me this is a Genjutsu.. I can't think that you killed two comrades." said Ameyuri before whispering. "They were even going to join our cause. So how could you?"

"Join our cause..." thought Naruto. "Fuguki-senpai and Raiga-senpai both were avid Yagura followers. Ame-chan knows that...what the hell is going on?"

Unknown to Naruto, Ameyuri's eyes glowed red for a second before returning to normal. Naruto could feel Ameyuri's chakra fluctuate before returning to its normal steadiness.

"Genjutsu?" thought Naruto before seeing Yagura just smile at him.

"What will you do now Naruto-kun?" thought Yagura. Naruto stood with Ameyuri's sword at his neck as Jinin walked up to the dangerous Hozuki clan member. Jinin moved his ax backwards ready to slice right into Naruto with one strike.

"I'm sorry Ame-chan." said Naruto before his sword appeared in his hand from the seal on his wrist. Naruto's sword had white lightning surging through it as it kept Ameyuri's sword from closing in on his neck. Jinin noticed the quick movement but was already ready to cut Naruto in half.

That plan didn't work though as Naruto spit out a powerful stream of water that sent him and Ameyuri out of Jinin's reach. The water stream flew at Yagura whom merely moved his flower staff off his back to block. Moving his flower staff down once the water was gone, Yagura noticed Naruto defending against the two sword assault from Ameyuri and the Kabutowari wielding Jinin with amazing skill in his mother's Kenjutsu.

"Naruto's fighting has gotten much better. I haven't seen him actually fight in a while." thought Yagura seeing him defend easily against the two swordsmen. Yagura then watched Naruto hold a half ram seal at Jinin before he turned and swung his sword down at Ameyuri, who put up a dual-bladed block. "He's gotten better than expected. But then again, Jinin is the worst Swordsmen and Ameyuri is but a trainee. Neither of them are in the same class as Naruto."

Naruto felt a build up of chakra come from Yagura before looking over at the Kage. At that moment, Naruto seemed to stalemate with Jinin and Ameyuri with his sword struggling against both of Ameyuri's and Jinin being stuck, paralyzed in a Genjutsu. Yagura had his Jinchuriki cloak on as he rushed out at Naruto.

Time seemed to slow down for Naruto as he watched the powerful Kage come flying at him. Naruto knew he wouldn't be able to use a jutsu in time with his other hand holding Ameyuri down. And even if he did, Ameyuri would strike him down when he tried to get Yagura with a jutsu.

"Not enough time." thought Naruto seeing Yagura come at him poised to strike with a coral palm. Naruto then felt something land in his free hand that he recognized and positioned right in between him and Yagura. Naruto felt Yagura come to a halt at hitting the sword in his hand as Yagura's chakra was drained by it in the same span of time.

"Run Naruto-kun. You can't win this fight." came a voice in Naruto's head. Naruto thought he was going crazy for a second before realizing what he was holding.

"You can talk Samehada?!" thought Naruto back in his head before realizing that the sword was right. He couldn't beat Yagura yet, even with Samehada. Especially considering Jinin would eventually break that Genjutsu and reinforcements would likely come to Yagura's aid.

Naruto knew he'd have his own assistance from Chojuro, Mangetsu, and others that believed the war was wrong. But Naruto didn't want to lose the advantage of having people in Yagura's camp that could help the Rebels, plus he might even lose some of them in the process.

Naruto noticed Yagura seemed to become wary of Samehada and stopped advancing to just stand in front of him, probably hatching a plan to get around the powerful sword. Naruto then looked over at Ameyuri to see her still holding her swords against his chokuto, though her face was downtrodden as she looked at Naruto. Naruto realized Ameyuri wasn't fighting him anymore as she should have easily overpowered his sword when he went to block Yagura.

"I'm sorry Ame-chan." said Naruto before mist entered the room. Yagura recognized the Mirage Mist immediately, breaking it, but in that second it took for him to do so, Naruto had already disappeared from the room.

"So it has begun Naruto-kun." thought Yagura standing in the room. "I'll be seeing you I'm sure."

(Rebel Forces Island)

Kirigakure was a collection of islands in the Land of Water. The main island housed Yagura and his army while the adjacent islands housed the Rebel Forces. The reason a rebellion could exist in Kirigakure and why so many missing-nin came out of the village was because the village wasn't one piece of land. Had it of been, the oppression of Yagura would have reigned supreme and any chance at rebellion would have been squashed immediately.

Luckily it wasn't and that made bloodline users like Mei happy. Mei was happier though, having brought all of the captured Rebel leaders back from the main land left the Rebel Army in high spirits.

"Step one complete Naruto-kun. Hopefully all is well on your end." thought Mei situated in her small home. Mei's home was nothing special because of the war, but it was still home. A one bedroom apartment that had a living room, a bathroom, and a bedroom.

Looking around her bedroom, Mei saw it had its one bed and a bookshelf full of scrolls and books that Mei had read over and over trying to gain as much knowledge as possible. Naruto stood in front of her bookshelf reading one of her scrolls before Mei looked over at her dresser from her seat on her bed. Located on the dresser next to her bed was a picture of Mei's Mother and Father. "We're getting closer Tou-chan and Ka-chan."

Mei's head then picked up when she realized Naruto was in her room. Mei turned her head back around to see Naruto standing there, reading one of her scrolls with one of the most feared swords on his back.

"I can explain." said Naruto as he rolled the scroll back up before turning toward the confused girl. "I'm a criminal now...and a rebel."

(1 week later)

"Naruto! Naruto! Naruto!" came the shouts of a man outside of Mei's home. Naruto awoke at his name being called having crashed on Mei's uncomfortable couch for the week. "Come out quick!"

Naruto moved slowly, yawning and stretching first before walking to the door. Naruto could feel there was no imminent danger near so he didn't feel the need to move quickly. He was tired and being woken up for nothing did not make him exactly compliant to orders.

"Wonder what this is all about." thought Naruto as he opened the door. Naruto saw a man holding up a wanted poster and a bingo book. Naruto's eyebrows raised seeing his face on the poster. "Seems Yagura really didn't waste any time in making sure everyone knew I was a criminal. This doesn't make sense, I couldn't have killed Fuguki or Raiga...I was with Mei at the time."

Naruto's brain had been trying to figure out who would want him to become a criminal in his home land like this but couldn't come up with the truth, especially considering he didn't have all the facts. Yagura did smile at him but if Yagura knew what he was doing, then why not just kill him. Naruto couldn't rationalize it in his head but forgot about it now as he read his wanted poster.

"Wanted for the murder of two high-ranking Jonin and thief of one of Kirigakure's Seven Swords, Samehada. 5,000,000 ryo if dead and 50,000,000 if alive." said Naruto with a raised eyebrow at that number. Naruto then grabbed the bingo book in the man's hand.

"Page 16." said the man as Naruto flipped to that page to see his Bingo book entry. Naruto had this bingo book entry since the Iwa Chunin Exams but it'd only been about what he showed at Iwa, never updating because no one in Kirigakure deemed it necessary to let the world know. That changed due to last week evidently.

Name: Naruto Hozuki

Age: 13

Gender: Male

Origin: Uzushiogakure

Clan: Uzumaki Clan and Hozuki Clan

Affiliated with Kirigakure

Ninja Rank: Jonin, Hunter-nin

Physical Description: 5'6" tall, 135 pounds. Violet eyes and white spiky hair with two bangs framing either side of his face.

Rank: A-rank*, approach with extreme caution

Special Talents: Sensory ability is unmatched, range unknown. Sealing and Genjutsu expert. User of Kushina Uzumaki's Kenjutsu style. Hozuki clan member, can turn body into water at will. Powerful lightning affinity, color is white and has shown the ability to drop lightning from the sky.

Bounty: 5 million Ryo dead/50 million ryo alive stationed by Kirigakure. 15 million ryo alive or dead stationed by Iwagakure. 25 million ryo alive stationed by Otogakure.

*Stole the legendary sword, Samehada, in retreat from Kirigakure, possible S-rank now.

"That's never good." said Naruto after reading through his bingo book entry. After the Chunin exams, only Iwagakure stationed 15 million ryo for his head which wasn't enough to warrant anyone to come get him. But with Kirigakure stationing a 50 million Ryo bounty, Naruto became a much more wanted target. Not only that, Kirigakure put all of his skills up to date for the world to know.

The man in front of Naruto only nodded his head. "That it isn't Naruto-san. What happens now? Your plan of turning on Yagura and catching him when he's vulnerable can't happen if everyone in the mainland wants your head for what you did." said the man.

"Thank you. I will think of something." said Naruto as the man left Naruto alone to ponder on his new circumstances. Naruto stood staring at the rising sun for a while before hearing a voice behind him.

"What was it Naruto-kun?" came the voice of Mei at her doorway. Naruto turned toward the dual kekkai genkai Kunoichi. Mei stood at her doorway in only a shirt as Naruto could feel his blood pumping. Having been branded a criminal, Naruto decided to hide out with the rebels for now and Mei offered him the option to stay on her couch. Naruto was but a teenage boy and living in an apartment with Mei was torture on his growing desires, especially considering that she pulled off sexy effortlessly.

Naruto steeled himself though and just walked back toward Mei's home as the kunoichi just sidestepped to allow Naruto entrance.

"Just a wanted poster. I have something I need to do in Kirigakure. I'll be back tonight." said Naruto as he walked back in Mei's house. Mei noticed the look on Naruto's face and apparently he was determined to do whatever he needed to do. Naruto placed his vest on before brushing his teeth and stepping back into Mei's living room to see the kunoichi leaning on the wall next to the door.

"Just don't get caught..make sure you come back." said Mei slightly authoritative seeing Naruto put on his white belt that carried his water bottles. "We need you."

Naruto smiled hearing that as his face lightened up to look back at Mei. "That almost sounded like you need me Mei-chan." said Naruto smiling at Mei. Mei just rolled her eyes at that, smiling at the end. "I'll be back before you fall asleep. I promise."

Mei's heart started to pound seeing Naruto walk up and stand directly in front of her. Naruto wasn't the only one with desires, Mei had felt the same way since a week ago at the Waterfall lake. Not to mention all the tension that built up from the two sharing her apartment in the past week, it was bound to break at sometime.

But this, this was something out of a movie, out of a romance novel even. The guy having to do something and go away, the girl telling him to come back, and him making a promise to return eventually. And those moments always ended with a kiss. Mei was that kind of romantic so when she saw Naruto reach a hand out toward her face, Mei licked her lips unconsciously, ready to lip lock with Naruto.

Though Naruto's hand actually went past her and grabbed Samehada that sat behind her. Mei watched Naruto place the sword to his back as it latched to him with chakra, bringing Mei back to reality. Mei realized that this wasn't like one of the romance novels she read, this was real life.

"But still...you couldn't dream up a better scenario than that." thought Mei. Mei was then taken completely by surprise at Naruto's next sentence.

"I was going to kiss you, I even heard your heart pounding." said Naruto staring at Mei before just laughing sheepishly. "But I wasn't sure if that'd be weird or not. And if I was wrong, I apologize and I'd chalk it up to my lack of experience with something like this. So..I'll see you later."

Mei just stood frozen as Naruto patted her shoulder and vanished in a mist shunshin. Several seconds passed by before Mei shook her head at that.

"Oh, you're going to regret that Naruto-kun." thought Mei having seen the evil grin appear on Naruto's face right before he left. Naruto knew he could have kissed her, Naruto even knew that Mei wanted the kiss in return, and yet he just left her like this. Unsatisfied. "Oh I have something for you later on Naruto-kun..."

An evil grin appeared on Mei's face as she walked back into her room to get her day started and go over her plan to get back at Naruto.

(Kirigakure)

"Bye Ameyuri. I'll catch you tomorrow." came the voice of Chojuro, Ameyuri's teammate. Chojuro was waving to the red-head whom had been somber for the past week since Naruto's killing of two of the best swordsmen in Kirigakure's history.

Ameyuri just waved back at Chojuro before turning toward her own home. The red-head just had a training session with the blue-haired swordsmen as to get acclimated more to the swords now in her possession.

"The Kibas." thought Ameyuri seeing the swords strapped to her back in an X fashion. Yagura had gifted the swords to Ameyuri after Naruto's escape and she'd been using them since. And because she was given them off the premise of Naruto, every time she used them she thought of the Hozuki clan member.

Eventually Ameyuri arrived at her apartment, the apartment she was given after being released from the training facility two weeks after the Iwa Chunin Exam. She was given this apartment by Yagura due to her skill and most likely from her connection with Naruto. Ameyuri pulled out the keys to her apartment before opening the door. Ameyuri walked into darkness before flipping the light switch directly to her right.

A dim light shined through the apartment as Ameyuri closed the door. Upon closing it, Ameyuri's eyes widened when she turned to see Naruto standing behind her doorway.

"We need to talk." said Naruto holding the ram seal. Ameyuri's vision blurred for a second as Naruto trapped her in a Genjutsu. Five minutes passed by before Ameyuri awoke from the Genjutsu to see Naruto still standing there.

"Pretty Boy. You didn't do it." said Ameyuri with hope returning in her eyes as she stared at him. "It was just in the moment, I couldn't get it out of my mind and it felt like I wasn't even really in control of my thoughts. I mean at the end I sort of realized but still.."

"You were under a Genjutsu. Your chakra was unstable for a second and it was a powerful Genjutsu. I couldn't break it without time and even then, if I didn't feel your chakra fluctuate like that, I wouldn't have known." said Naruto before hearing a siren go off. Naruto recognized the siren as the village going on alert. "They know I'm here...Ao."

Naruto figured Ao must have scanned the village being an adequate sensor as well and noticed him standing in Ameyuri's room. Naruto put up a mist to hide himself and Ameyuri just in case Ao was still watching before looking at the red-head before him.

"I have to go." said Naruto as Ameyuri just nodded her head. Before Naruto could make a move to leave, Ameyuri wrapped him up in a hug. Naruto grew surprised at the hug but nevertheless hugged Ameyuri right back.

"Be safe Naruto-kun. Whenever you're ready to take down Yagura, I'll be ready. And I'll make sure everybody else is ready as well." said Ameyuri. Ameyuri could feel her grip on the hug loosening due to her chakra being absorbed. Ameyuri figured Naruto needed to give the girl an alibi and leaving her unconscious would give her just enough plausible deniability to seem innocent.

"Stay safe, Ame-chan." said Naruto just as Ameyuri went limp in his hands. Naruto placed the girl on her couch before going off to get what he really needed.

(Later that night)

"Yagura-sama. Naruto Hozuki entered the village earlier today before taking out Ameyuri Ringo, stealing some of her possessions before heading to his apartment. Upon inspection, nothing was taken from his room but the Uzumaki seal on the floor vanished." came the voice of Ao as he spoke to his leader. "Even with the village on high alert, the boy still managed to disable several chunin guards and leave a path of bodies on his way out of the village."

Yagura just nodded his head. "No causalities if I'm correct?" questioned Yagura as Ao just nodded. "Seems the boy really did come back for it. I should have known he would."

"What did he come back for? What was in that seal?" questioned Ao as Yagura just looked out of his window.

"His inheritance. The things his mother left him." said Yagura as Ao grew shocked at that. "And it's certain to not bode well for us in the future since he finally opened the rest of it."

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-Hamp Out