Disclaimer (For all my Stories): I don't own Naruto or any other known sources used within this piece of fiction. Any infringement from other sources is credit to the owner of the source. If any infringement is spotted feel free to claim your due credit.
This story is rated of Rated M for Mature content such as scenes of sexual nature, explicit language and violence.
Chapter 10
Overhead the sun shone with an intensity that spoke volumes of the weather in Fire Country.
Naruto, now in the guise of Jin, left the town of Tanzaku Gai without looking back. His impersonation of Jin had been passable enough that both his clients had not caught on that the man they were travelling with was no longer the same person they had started with. A simply reference to the Inuzuka clan had explained the presence of his vixens and thanks to the old lady's knowledge on shinobi life his explanation had been taken to heart with no real scrutiny.
As soon as they had arrived at the small town the day after taking Jin's body, Naruto had quickly gathered the remaining 70 % payment which was his, declined any offer of food and lodging before making himself scarce with another plan in his twisted mind.
Okay where to next? I know I have a day or two at most before Jin's disappearance was noticed and reported, Naruto brow farrowed down in thought.
Which means I need to disappear before that can happen; he nodded to himself before looking around him.
At this time of the day the path back to Konoha was full of people and a few wagons as people travelled back and forth, and possible beyond. In a few occasions, he spotted one or two wearing the leaf headband.
I need to get rid of this piece of metal as soon as possible; Naruto absentmindedly fingered his own head band his eyes still scanning each traveller he passed.
"….. Wave country?"
"The situation with that scam has worsened… Hell, I heard the fat bastard has started hiring shinobi on top of the thugs he already has."
Naruto's attention zoomed at the conversation. The voices were coming from a single wagon in front of him which was making a beeline for Konoha. Naruto could see the speaker but from their voices he could tell both were male probably in their middle years.
"I heard the entire country is now in ruins. Is that true?" one of the man inquired. Interested, Naruto maintained his pace behind the wagon.
"Yeah…from what I have heard from a few merchants who escaped into Fire the man has practically taken over the place and has it by the throat. Apparently the weasel took over every single business inside the small country. Not only that, but the price of everything sold there went up to the point that your everyday bread is now food for those with money to spare." There was a torn of bitterness and anger within this voice that Naruto almost felt pity for the people of Wave Country, almost.
"Sure if everyone in the city just banded together they could…."
Naruto tuned the voices out as a plan began forming in his mind. Instincts told him right now Wave was a place of opportunity. From what he was piecing together it was obvious whoever this weasel was had managed to bring a whole country to its knees to the point that life had degenerated to the survival of the strongest or smartest.
Naruto ran a finger along his chin before nodding to himself.
….
"Cheer up, Naruto-kun." Anko consoled him.
They were in Kurenai's apartment and Naruto had just finished undertaking Kurenai's test which he had failed spectacularly. He still was having a hard time believing that he had lost because of a single jutsu.
"She cheated." Naruto grumbled casting a glare at the purple haired kunoichi. "No one said anything about genjutsu."
Anko popped another dango into her mouth, licked her lips sensually before chewing in a way that was improper.
"Well you did ask her to go all out, did you not?" Anko finally said after swallowing down her treat before licking her lips with a dainty wet tongue. Naruto's eyes stayed glued to her lips even after her pink tongue had long since vanished before her words pulled him out of the stupor.
Naruto cursed under his breath. Sure while he had indeed asked Kurenai to go all out in their test, Naruto hadn't expected her to use high ranked ninjutsu once she got the chance. The overall test had been simple. Naruto had been expected to employ all three known e-rank techniques along with being able to dispel genjutsu.
During the first few minutes of the test, Naruto had executed all three academy level jutsu and actually managed to catch Kurenai by surprise with a well timed Kawarimi that had allowed him to escape one of her surprise attacks. 15 minutes into the fight, just when Naruto was getting into the flow, Naruto had found all his dreams fulfil as numerous women of various beauty and age knelt at his fee necked while his enemies coward like pitiful rodents under his might.
The illusion had felt so real that it had stroked his ego pulling a maniacal laughter from his lips. And of cause like most such sweet dreams when the illusion had dropped the cold chill from a kunai barely toughing the base of his neck had been a dose of reality that almost eroded all the arrogance in his heart.
It was a good thing only himself, a few academy instructors, three or four ANBU and the old man himself had been present to witness the humiliating encounter.
Hmm what I am thinking? In a real fight I could have had her bent over my knees within the first few second of the encounter. Naruto inwardly smirked, besides if it came to it I could use that despite the hatred still resonating within my being.
"Where is Kurenai-sensei anyway and why are you here?" Naruto decided it was time to veer off the topic of his fight, not that he wasn't interested in knowing.
"Hmm did you say something?"Anko asked swallowing another dango, a purple colour one this time.
Naruto palmed his face before deciding maybe it was time to fill his belly, hopefully with something other than dango. After a quick look around the kitchen Naruto found what he had been hoping for, leftover meat from yesterday which he ate heartily after a minute of reheating.
After filling his stomach, Naruto decided it was time to visit his first disciple. Since the academy students had finished with their test he was hoping to find her in her home.
….
Kurenai was satisfied with the team she been appoint to instruct. Still she would have liked to have snatched either Hanabi or Sasuki into her team instead of Kiba. It was a pity that the rules required at least one student at the low end of the curriculum to balance it out.
As soon as she departed the Hokage's office, Kurenai went straight to the Inuzuka compound hoping that her friend Hana was still in the village. When she got there she was relieved to find Hana busy at the dog canals. By the looks of it Kurenai saw that Hana was in the process of grooming one of the three Haimaru Brothers.
"Hey, Kurenai how did it go?" Hana asked without turning. There was no doubt Hana had picked up her scent before she had even made it to the compound.
"Better than I had hoped for..." Kurenai said as she crossed the remaining distance between them.
Even out of duty Hana was wearing her shinobi gear but without her chunin vest.
"So… aside for Hinata and Naruto who else did you get in your team?" Hana asked this time turning to her best friend without stopping her hand movements.
"Your young brother…Apparently I am to put together a tracker team."Kurenai replied smiling as one of the triplets rubbed against her hand.
Hana visibly winced, almost feeling sorry for her friend. "Having Kiba and Naruto in the same team…that's not going to end well."
"Tell me about it. From what I know off their childhood, it seems I am going to spend a lot of time looking out that those two don't attempt to kill each other."Kurenai said sombrely.
"Don't forget Kiba's crush on Hinata."Hana added. "Kiba is going to feel threatened by Naruto."
"So…where is your charge?" Hana wondered smirking.
Kurenai rolled her eyes before answering her question. "Naruto-kun is a grown up. He doesnt need me holding his hand every second of the day."
Hana laughed, "True if you did that the kid would probably think he has a chance."
"Oh…come on it's just a crush."Kurenai said sounding exasperated.
Hana raised her hands in mock surrender before turning serious, "It might be a crush but remember how intense first time love is. People dismiss crushes as but what they don't realise is that a crush is what love is supposed to be, Unconditional and unbiased love born from nothing and not tainted by mistakes. Just remember not to get yourself hurt in his presence. The kid would probably destroy an entire village in retaliation from something as a single scratch from a stray kunai."
The words struck a chord within Kurenai's heart that she was practically speechless for a full 2 minutes.
"I didn't ask for this you…" Kurenai finally said breaking the silence.
"Kushina-sama must have had her own reasons." Hana said with heartfelt sympathy in her voice.
…..
Having spent the whole of yesterday training vigorously now that her sharingan had came alive thanks to Naruto, Sasuke wasn't surprised when she woke up to discover she had almost sleep the entire first half of the day. She was only grateful that until the day of their team allocation arrived, the Academy was still voluntary.
Stretching her arching limps she wriggled out of her bed then headed straight for the bathroom. She made sure the shower was warm enough before moving under the water. The water droplets hit her skin, loosening her cramped muscles and as the water ran down her toned body she also let her hands run down her body massaging muscles that refused to loosen up on their own.
A sigh of content escaped her lips.
As much as she wanted to stand under the shower forever, however a part of her knew she simply couldn't do that.
15 minutes later, Sasuki finished drying her body before, naked as the day she was born, exited the bathroom.
"Wow I didn't know you were…." A familiar voice trailed off seemingly at a loose for words. A quick glance at her bed told her who the invader was. Naruto was sitting on her bed as if he owned every bit of the house, eyeing her from head to toes his eyes momentary lingering on her unshaven womanhood and her budding breasts. Anger and embarrassment coloured her naked body before her sharingan flashed to life.
If Naruto wasn't mesmerized by the sight of a naked he would have been amused by the fact that instead of attempting to cover herself Sasuki's instinct was to cause him harm.
In her anger, Sasuki did the first thing that popped in her mind, and driven by her and embarrassment she changed at Naruto heedless of the state of clothing. In her bout of anger and need to inflict the most maximum damage she could, Sasuki came at Naruto with a high kick that, if had connected with his skull, would have probably knocked him out and probably doing some damage to his short term memory. However as it were, the widening of Naruto's eyes as he was presented with a perfect direct sight of a female's anatomy for the first time saved him from possible pain.
Realising that she had just given Naruto an unobscured view of her womanhood, Sasuki felt another wave of embarrassment hit her hard, enough that she faltered in her attack and losing momentum causing her hip softly hit Naruto's head before the rest of her body followed.
When the confusing attack ended, Sasuki found herself straddling Naruto's chest while Naruto was once again presented with a glories sight, a sight which he took time to examine and imprint into his malevolent mind.
Because of the way she was sitting on his chest the slit was slightly parted in two revealing very pink flesh within. On either side of the slit, Naruto noticed that were two small mounds of flesh which were tightly folded inwards. Realising what he was looking at, Naruto felt a sudden primitive need to mate descend upon him sharpening his senses and causing his manhood to responding in a similar manner, rising in eagerness.
However before he could act upon his rising desires, he felt a sharp sting on his cheek made more stinging by the misfortune that even his sense of taught had been sharper than normal.
"What the fuck…that was actually painful" Naruto said blinking the pain away. Looking up, he found Sasuki glaring balefully her hand rising up for another slap.
"That's enough…" he growled contorting his body in a way that allowed his legs to come up and pin Sasuki by the neck before pull her down so that he was now the one on top of her.
"Do you know what you have done?" Sasuki's baleful glare didn't relent.
"What are you talking about? I am not the one lying helpless and naked."Naruto rolled his eyes. Thanks to his physical make up the sting on his cheek was already disappearing.
"Curse you." Sasuki tried to slap him again but Naruto managed to grab hold of her hand before doing the same when she attempted to him with the other.
"You defiled me…yo…you pervert." The anger in those words was evident in her eyes with send a concentrated burst of killing intent at Naruto when he stared into them.
"Hey wait a minute," Naruto started, letting her killing intent roll over him without effect, "you are call me a pervert? Wasn't it you that was wondering the house naked as the moment you came out of your mothers womb." Naruto grinned, "If am a pervert then doesn't that make you not only a pervert but a …hmm what didn't my godfather call them?...hmm…yes…a voyeur, as well."
Silence fell between them.
"Wh…what…you…never mind just get off me. I need to put on some clothes. " Sasuki finally spoke, relenting. As much she hated to admit it, it was partly her fault that they were in this situation at all.
Smirking Naruto untangled himself away from the girl but not before letting his eyes linger a bit on her blossoming breasts. While not as big as either Kurenai or Anko, he had to admit they were quite noticeable.
"Now that we have reached an understanding, can I touch them?"Naruto asked his body still warm from the warm of her naked body against his.
That earning him a hateful glare from Sasuki who had just finished putting on a simple white underwear beneath a pair of black shorts and was now in the process of wrapping a cotton white sarashi around her breast.
"No,"Sasuki snapped, "you should be satisfied that I let you watched me dress."
"Hey don't get all snappish," Naruto raised his hands in surrender, "it's just that your body looks so appealing than watching is not enough."
Despite her anger and embarrassment, Sasuki felt herself blush once again, but this time in excitement. She was glad that Naruto couldn't see the flush on her face.
Unfortunately for her what she didn't know was that Naruto had the ability to read any emotion around him. A grin stretched unseen on his face.
"Anyway why did you come here?" Sasuki jumped in, a high pitch in her tone she tried to hide by tightening the cloth she was wrapping around her chest.
"Hmm now why did I?" Naruto fanned puzzlement by scratching his head. "You know what? I think seeing your naked body caused all the blood to leave my brain."
As soon as those words left his mouth, a pillow landed flat on his face.
….
"Hey old man how much to get me across the river." Naruto asked. He had been staring at the distance between two landmasses in though and had finally concluded that swimming was the distance was definitely out of the question.
The old man in question was a man in the later stages of life and appeared to be the proud owner of a small speedboat.
The man looked up from his work, adjusting his ragged hat to see and when he spotted both of Naruto's companions he asked "How much are you willing to pay?"
After paying for his passage on the small boat, the old man ferried Naruto across to the island without any question and it was only when they had arrived that Naruto spoke.
"So how do I get to the city?" Naruto asked before the man could turn his boat back whence they had departed.
"Just follow the road." The old man said pointing at a muddy road that vanished deep into the forest of Wave.
Naruto thanked the old man and turned to leave as well.
"Kid! Wait…"the old man called out before Naruto could take a few steps.
He turned and found a troubled look on the old man.
"I am not going to asked you why you decided on come to the island but as a piece of advice from an old man Wave is no longer a place it used to be." With those finally words the turn started his engine had was gone.
Naruto stared until the old man had vanished before turning to his two vixens.
"What do you two think?" Naruto looked down at his companions. A few yelps from the Patches were his only answer. Scars just looked around the old man's word having no effect on her whatsoever.
Shrugging his shoulders once Naruto turned and vanished into the forest.
Nothing human or otherwise crossed their path as they made their way towards the city. In fact it got so boring that Naruto was tempted to simply shape into his beast form for the fun of it. Only the thought that he would be leaving his clothes behind stopped him from doing so, since he didn't want to waste his time looking for new ones.
It was then that as they came closer to a river along their path that Naruto sensed not so quite friendly emotions directed his way. At first he thought nothing of it but when whoever was watching them kept at it, he knew something was up.
Deciding to act like nothing had picked his attention Naruto kept walking until he was right on top to the river itself. Even then Naruto kept walking take note that each step he took got him closer to his watcher or…
Watchers, he amended as he picked up two almost identical but distinct chakra signatures.
Sensing that something was amiss both vixens suddenly went quiet and alert their eyes fixed at a spot to the right of the path they were using. And as if that had been a signal they had been waiting for two figures appeared right on that spot.
Naruto blinked a few time as two figures in black with their backs against each other rose from a puddle on the ground.
Hmm that's an interesting jutsu, Naruto thought to himself shifting his mind for the coming battle.
"How can I help you?" Naruto ventured to ask, taking a deep breath through his nostrils. The question was a delaying tactic designed to give him time to measure his opponents and if time allowed, scan his surroundings in case they had another partner in hiding.
Both shinobi were identical from the same black shinobi gear, strange breathing apparatuses covering most of their face but the eyes to their metallic clawed gauntlets. They were even of the same height as far as Naruto could judge.
"That's what we would like to know?" the one on the right spoke through his breathing mask his voice coming out deep.
"I am a traveller," Naruto said, which was half true.
"No I don't think so. Even without you headband we can clearly tell you are a shinobi." The second one spoke sounding the same as his companion.
After scanning the surrounding area and concluding there was no one else lurking in the forest, Naruto turned his entire attention fully to the two shinobi before him.
"True I am a shinobi but…." Naruto trailed of reaching into his pocket and pulling out his own leaf headband, "I just defected."
Both shinobi looked shocked for a moment, undoubtedly because it was rare to find a missing-nin from the village hidden in the leaf. Naruto understood their reaction all too well. As far as he knew his father had once told him that Konoha never had problems with defectors therefore Orochimaru's defection had been a shock to most.
"Brother this is bad….who knows how many Konoha shinobi are…" the first shinobi started casting a glance over Naruto's shoulder.
The other nodded before saying, "You're right…we must report to this to Zabuza-sama as soon as possible."
Seeing one of the shinobi a hand to form a hand seal and a whirlpool of water started to rise beneath the two, Naruto shouted, "Wait!"
…..
"Zabuza-sama… we found this Konoha shinobi in the woods" Naruto's escorts said, roughly pushing him forward by the elbow.
"Hmm…Konoha you say?"An amused voice said from somewhere in front of him. There was a quality to it that suggested that whoever had just spoken had his mouth covered by something, possibly a piece of cloth.
"Zabuza-sama…. If he realy is from that village, I suggest we kill him right away." This time the voice was different and had a high pitch to it.
Since he was currently blind folded, Naruto nose told him that other than himself and the two who had brought him here, wherever he was, there only those two who had just spoken.
"Don't be hasty Haku," the muffled voice chided, "Killing is what shinobi are raised to do but sometimes it's better to wait until the right time."
"But Zabuza-sama, this person could be dangerous to your health. I am doing what a tool does best, looking after my master" The person he now knew was called Haku said.
Well this is interesting…, Naruto thought. If he was to guesses, Naruto was sure this Haku person was some kind of fanatic when it came to her role in life.
"Are you sure he is from Konoha? Where is his head band?" with his slightly enhanced haring, Naruto easily picked up the wariness in their leader.
"Here it is…" one of the two holding him moved forward, most likely with Naruto's head band in his hand.
"It's the leaf head band alright."
"Well he said he is a defector of the villager."
"Zabuza-sama this could be a trap of some kind."
"Enough Haku… let's hear what the kid has to say for himself. Gozu take of his blind fold." Zabuza ordered.
Naruto had to blink a few times when the black strip of leather was removed from his eyes. When his vision cleared he found himself in a strange circular room made from what looked like grass.
Sitting in from of him was a man that quickly put him on guard. Every bit of the man's face was covered in a white bandage leaving only his eyes and the skin around them to be seen. The man's eyes couple with his massive muscled body and the giant sized clever resting on his lap caused every cell in Naruto's body took tense up.
Puzzled by his reaction, Naruto analysed his bodies. It took him a moment to realise what his body was feeling and when he had to stop himself from laughing.
It seems this body had the capability of reacting independently to my own reactions. The aura of power and violence around this guy must be something. To be able cause this body to shack in fear is nothing short of a feat worth of praise.
Once Naruto had gotten his body to relax, he turn to the man's other companion.
At first glance there was nothing special about this person. From the person's appearance, Naruto saw that this person was a girl and a very beautiful one at that. Unlike every one present she was the only one no wearing any standard shinobi gear. Instead she was wearing a blue short kimono with white edges on top of a moss green striped turtle-neck sweater and a split skirt in matching colour that reached down to her knees.
What fascinated him the most however was her lovely face which was slightly covered by two locks of her hair. When he came to her chocolate brown eyes, Naruto wasn't surprise to see that she had been studying him just as much as he had been if not more so. What finally gave her away was the fact that unlike everyone within the room, her presences hadn't caused any of his shinobi senses to come alive.
Strange it's as if she is nothing but a normal girl. Clearly there is more to her than meets the eye. This last thought made Naruto make a note to watch her closely.
"I am not impressed." Zabuza said in a muffled voice.
Naruto smirked turning to him, "well…me for one I am thoroughly impressed…."he paused casting the identical two for a moment, "as long as I take those two out of the picture that is."
There was silence for an interminable moment before a dry humourless laugher echoed throughout the surrounding forest.
"Hahaha...I like you, Kid. Hell, on any day I might have been inclined to ask you to join my little group here….but…"Zabuza stopped laughing suddenly before a miasma of death fell on Naruto, "if you think you are going to act like a grown up among your betters think again."
"what is a Konoha shinobi doing around here?"
Naruto suddenly found himself fighting to breath.
Is this guy trying to kill me with his death glare alone?, Naruto had to admit this guy was something, but if this is the best you can do then think again.
Naruto gathered himself and easily discarded Zabuza's killing intent before replying, "I suspect my reasons are similar to your own. I am merely seeking to make a name for myself and of cause personal amusement."
A frown appeared on Naruto's face before he added, "And money."
"Zabuza-sama, this man is clearly insane and dangerous." This was from Haku who had one of her hands under the sleeve of the other.
Hmm I wonder what she has hidden underneath those sleeves, Naruto idly wondered silently to himself, amused.
Meizu nodded, "I say we kill him and be done with him."
"No let him finish, I want to hear why he thought leaving Konoha was the option since he could have stayed in his village and still achieved his goals."Zabuza didn't let his eyes stray from Naruto as he said this. What the kid had just said to him was nothing really surprising. The kid's words reminded him of himself.
"Of cause I could have but…" Naruto said before clearing his throat, "come on everyone knows Konoha's morals…those words that they use to brain wash their next generation…are stupid. Seriously who thought that sacrificing yourself for your teammates was a good idea? It's no wonder a lot of their brats die before they can mount up to something."
The last part was a lie but thinking on it, Naruto realised his words could also be true depending on how one interpreted those words.
…..
Back in Konoha within the Hokage tower, Hiruzen was surrounded by a sizable pile of documents each waiting to be finalized. Hizuren pulled a deep breath from his pipe before flipping onto the document on the pile.
It was a simple document detailing statistical information about the village's food import. As far as Hiruzen could ascertain the document was a request for increasing the total goods coming into the village.
Hiruzen shook his head once before declining the request. It seemed odd that someone would make such a request when Konoha had enough food as it was. Just as Hiruzen was about to reach for another document a faint chakra signature alerted him of an incoming body flicker.
"Report…" Hiruzen said as soon the ANBU with a distinctive rat mask materialised into his office.
The ANBU bowed his head before speaking, "Hokage-sama… the statues for the chunin by the name Jin has not yet changed…Waiting to further instructions."
Hiruzen let his hand fall onto his desk before turning his gaze at the faces if his late predecessors, thinking.
Since no remains of his body have been found, putting him as deceased is out of the question.
Coming to a decision, Hiruzen turned his gaze back to the ANBU. "Until furthered notice change his status to AWOL and register his profile and rank in the bingo book…Understood?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama." The ANBU confirmed.
"Good…then...Dismissed."
Hiruzen waited until the ANBU left before letting a weary sigh.
"Why does it feel like I am losing hold of everything?" he asked no one in particular therefore he wasn't surprised when no answer came.
….
"Jin-san, this is to be your room for now." The girl, Haku said pleasantly as soon as they entered a room suitable for at least two people. Naruto followed behind her rubbing his wrists as he tried to bring some blood circulation to then.
"Hmm not bad..." Naruto commented, taking the in place with a smirk on his face. ", could have been better but this will do."
"Zabuza-sama can be a kind man…" Haku started as Naruto peered through the only window present facing the forest outside.
"But…" Haku continued closing the door behind her.
"What are you talking..." Naruto words trailed off to nothing when he felt a something pointed press painfully against his neck.
"As his tool it's my duty to make sure his plans reach their completion." Haku whispered without any trace of anger or humour in her voice.
"I don't like you." Haku went on her tone still flat. "I don't care who you are and what you are but if you bring any harm to my master or his plans I will kill you. Are we clear?"
"You sure are a stran…"Naruto was about to say when he felt the weapon the girl was holding dig deeper into his flesh.
"Are we clear?" Haku asked once again.
Naruto bit down a sarcastic reply and nodded slowly all the while inwardly rolling his eyes.
"Good…If you need anything don't hesitate to ask." The girl said pleasantly, retracting the object that had been poking at his neck into her sleeve.
"Okay…." Naruto said to her back as she left his room.
Not only is she able to hide her present but she is stealthy and fast enough to move in a flash without a sound, Naruto frowned as he watched Haku closed his door with a pleasant smile on her face as if nothing had just happened between them.
Good thing I was able to mark her scent just in case. This time Naruto smirked as his mind turned to the future.