Disclaimer: I've totally not been doing absolutely nothing. I've totally been working on chapters since last update...
I'm totally a good liar.
I also don't own Naruto...
"I'm glad you decided to help me with this..." She started.
Naruto had found Aria waiting outside of...
"Ah hell." Naruto smacked himself in the face.
He'd completely forgot to ask the woman's name.
"..." Aria was completely silent.
"Sorry. What were you saying?" Naruto rubbed the back of his head and laughed.
Aria began rubbing her shoulder. She didn't seem to want to make eye contact with Naruto.
"You're doing me a massive favor by helping me. But I don't want you to feel like I'm just using you. I want us to be... Partners." Aria had completely turned away from Naruto.
"This won't take too long. Once we're done...
"I'll be out of your life..." Aria had disappeared with that statement.
Naruto stood silent for a moment.
Didn't matter to him.
He was used to working mostly solo however...
Whatever.
Naruto found himself taking the long way home. The long way being walking of course.
In fact he'd been walking everywhere for a while, though with Aria he had an excuse. She probably couldn't travel across rooftops or trees. He always did enjoy walking through forests however.
Especially now that he was alone. He could finally...
Naruto wasn't able to finish that thought. A kunai had landed in front of him.
"Who would...?" Naruto gazed in the direction the knife had been thrown from.
Mask. And nonspecific black shinobi clothing.
"Yo." He heard them speak. Obviously using a voice changer.
This again. Naruto crossed his arms in a block against the shinobi's attack.
"Look... Now's not a good time!" Naruto jumped away. Hopefully, maybe they would listen to him?
His opponent released a volley of shuriken.
Apparently not.
Naruto, though annoyed, formed a seal and blocked the projectiles with shadow clones.
Through the smoke of his dispelled clones Naruto threw a stray shuriken in the location of his adversary. At least where he last remembered them.
The blade whizzed through the air... It wasn't deflected...
Naruto's cover of smoke was close to expiring. He formed another seal...
The shinobi suddenly appeared behind Naruto, connecting with a high kick to the boy's head, only for his target to disappear into smoke.
The shinobi felt a pair of hands grab his leg from beneath, and was quickly pulled under the dirt.
The shinobi briefly struggled.
"You know I've had fun fighting you before... But right now I've got things to deal with so I'd appreciate it if you just got lost." Naruto's arms were on his hips as he approached the shinobi.
He truly wasn't sure who this shinobi was. But they'd become somewhat rivals over the... Years? No he hadn't known him for that long. Right?
Naruto shook his head. He didn't bother trying to remove his "rival's" mask. They were already gone. The hole was now filled with straw.
He looked around, seemed like they were gone. Naruto scratched the back of his head.
That technique had still worked? Well he supposed it technically hadn't but still...
Naruto dusted off his green shirt. He may not have been an active shinobi. But he was still pretty damn good.
Maybe... Maybe he could convince the Hokage he was ready again.
If only he'd convinced himself first.
Naruto decided to continue with his walk. Hopefully not getting attacked. Again. For the second time actually.
"Just what..." The masked shinobi began.
They'd retreated to watching Naruto from a tree,
"Just what are you up to?" They couldn't ask the boy directly. They had been slightly worried when Naruto had suddenly checked into the hospital. But...
He seemed perfectly alright now.
Naruto yawned as he entered his apartment. He felt as if this night had dragged on for several chap... Hours.
Like this night had dragged on for several hours yes. Though technically it was now morning he guessed. Naruto never really had much of a previous reason for staying up like some people. So he was usually in bed early. Now however...
Naruto shook his head. Maybe eighteen? Nineteen hundred? Six o'clock was usually when the sun went down. Sometime around then he'd see the Hokage, the woman said she'd find him once she was ready. How long would that be? Hopefully not long. If Naruto could officially... Un-retire? If Naruto could reinstate himself as a genin again, he wondered how the woman planned to take care of getting him out of the village.
Naruto soon found a scroll on his kitchen table.
Someone had been in his apartment? Great.
Naruto picked up the scroll...
It was from the Hokage.
Author's Note: I probably started writing this fic at the worst time, seriously, and I regret that somewhat. Oh well, I'm still enjoying writing it and do plan on finishing it. Hopefully it just doesn't turn out longer than I originally planned, which I doubt.
Also have you ever played Okami? Great game. Seriously. So is Yakuza 5. There's also a new vampire game coming out called Vampyr. Kinda cool huh? I'm no real vampire fanatic but I still think it's a nice flexible trope. Which is why I'm using it for my first fic.
One thing about the Naruto canon I've come to notice is the constant theme of rivals. That's where this new OC comes in. I've really come to appreciate that aspect of Naruto. In terms of overall effect on the plot. They might not have much impact on this fic's overall plot, but I still believe it will be a great inclusion. I also got to write my first fight scene, short as it is, I hope it was enjoyable and easy to follow.
Also yeah I've started school. How much will it affect my ability to update? I never really had much of a schedule anyway. These things are just sorta hot of the press as you'd say. Haha I can still spare time easily however.
Also the whole name change is because I'm indecisive. Though this one's gonna stick for a while. Trust me.
Update 5-22-2017: To any of the no one who decides to read this chapter to the end, I suppose it's best to state it here that as of right now this story is probably dead. Honestly looking back I feel as though I've over complicated some aspects of the story. Also, I just have a hard time reading some of the early chapters, so many things I wanna change but just can't find a way to make it work without rewriting the whole thing.
My original intention was to make something simple & easy to write but also be enjoyable.
I also really did pick the worst time to begin writing this.
As for the concept of this story, I do hope to continue it again someday, hopefully. I doubt that I'd do it, but maybe I'll revive this one day. But there's a real small chance of that happening.
As for anything else, if there's truly someone who not only sees this update, but is further interested in this story, feel free to use what ideas & concepts you can salvage from this story. Continue it if you so desire. I dunno.
If you do decide to make something of your own based off this concept in some way, message me! I may check it out (If I can make time, well more like if I actually get myself to do it, reading fanfics is hard nowadays)
Basically, any of the original ideas in this story (if there are any) are yours to use.
-with regards, CoalCD