Saizou howled as he felt the just healed ribs snap and break. "Mercy!" He cried out. His answer was to have his ribs stomped on again.

"Mercy?" Midou mocked, He brought his over sized fist down cracking open Saizou's skull and sending blood spraying up into his face. "There's no place for mercy here. I warned you what would happen if you lost didn't I?"

Though in agony he looked around at the other members of the crew. They were just sitting there watching. He saw his friend Mohoha and reached a hand out to him. "Please, help me…"

"What? You want me to be killed too?" Mohoha said coldly.

"Can you at least try and die with a little self respect?" Midou sounded disappointed. "You never showed anyone any mercy when you were on top, you can't really expect any now." He brought his fists down on Saizou's face again and again, flattening it and sending his brains and blood all over the floor. When he'd finally had enough Midou stopped and looked up at the other members. He was pretty much covered in blood. He looked at their eyes and nodded to himself. There was no need to say anything, the lesson had obviously been taken to heart. "Take this garbage and bury it somewhere."

XXXXXXXXXX

It had been a couple weeks since Saizou's attack. Naruto and Moka were both glad that he seemed to have left school. Naruto was still amazed at how easily violence and even death was accepted here. Every week it seemed at least one or two students went missing or were found dead. At a normal high school there would have been mass panic and demands for better security or even demands that the school be closed. Yet here the violence was simply accepted. It was almost seen as a part of common life and hardly worth noticing. Naruto thought back to his time in Konoha. He fully understood that humans could be just as brutal, even the ordinary humans who were not ninja. But in human society violence that occurred within the village was seen as an aberration, as a crime. (War and ninja missions were in a different category.) At least when the victim of said violence was not universally hated.

When he thought about it Naruto suspected there was probably as much violence in human society as there was in monster society. The difference seemed to be that humans tended to see violent behavior as the exception, whereas monsters viewed it more as the norm. He wondered if that meant monsters were more barbaric, or just more honest.

Even though he was surrounded by violence and potential enemies Naruto was happier than he'd ever been. He was finally making headway in the ninja arts and becoming stronger. He'd made two really good friends who he'd grown close to and become fond of. And most importantly of all he had an amazing girlfriend. Of course there were a few issues. One of his friends was constantly threatening to smother him every time he greeted her. She was also trying her best to come between him and his girlfriend. As for said girlfriend there was the slight issue that she liked to drink his blood on a daily basis. There was also the fact that she had a second personality that was kind of scary (though also very hot.) Not to mention that if he ever wanted to have sex with his girlfriend he would have to somehow convince that second personality.

Well, no one ever said life was simple.

"What are you thinking?"

Naruto came out of his own thoughts and looked over at the girl he was walking arm in arm with. Moka was everything he could have ever wished for in a girlfriend. She was absolutely beautiful, sweet, kind, smart, and even powerful. Every single time they walked together he drew jealous looks from the other boys. Despite the problems that came with her being a suppressed vampire he still couldn't help but wonder how such an amazing girl had wound up with an idiot like him.

"I was wondering why you chose me." He said.

She looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"You're such an incredible girl Moka-chan," he said seriously. "And you can have your pick of any guy here. I'm just wondering why you picked me. I mean there are better looking guys, stronger guys, smarter guys; so why are you with someone like me?"

She looked at him for a moment as they continued to walk together. She let out a deep sigh. "Naruto-kun, please don't be such an idiot."

"Huh?"

"All these boys," she glanced over at them. "They stare at me and tell me how much they like me. They all like me in this form, if they saw me in my true form they wouldn't come near me. I've seen it my entire life, vampires are not liked by other monsters. We are too powerful and too scary, they fear and avoid us." She put her head down on his shoulder. "But you've seen the real me and you're not afraid. That is what makes you so special to me Naruto-kun. That is why you never need to worry about any other boy taking your place."

He smiled at her. "Thanks Moka-chan, I'm sorry if I'm a little paranoid. It's just that I've never had a girlfriend before. Thank you for setting my mind at ease."

"I am happy to."

They walked on for a little bit.

"Naruto," she lifted her head from his shoulder. She had a worried look on her face. "There is something I've been wondering about too."

"Yes?"

"What happens when you graduate?"

He looked at her in total surprise. "Graduate? Why are you worried about that? That's a long ways off."

"So you haven't given it even a little bit of thought?"

"Well I don't really need to give it any thought. I am bound to follow the orders of my Hokage. He has already informed me that when I graduate from this place I will return to my village. I'll be given the academy graduation test and then be allowed to become a ninja and finally begin my career."

"Become a ninja? Aren't you a ninja already?"

Looking a bit embarrassed he reached up and touched the hitai-ite that was always around his forehead. "Well technically I'm only a citizen of my village. I won't become a ninja officially until I pass the test and am awarded the rank of Genin. My old sensei gave me this and told me I was a ninja in his eyes, so I consider myself to be one even if it is unofficial."

"So you'll go back to your village?"

He nodded. "That's right."

"But I thought you hated it there," she said. "You haven't told me much about your past but I know they made you leave when you were eight. From things you've said I know they haven't helped you much and you never mention the village in a positive way. I definitely got the feeling you didn't like it. Was I wrong?"

He let out a long depressed sigh. "No, I can't say I have any good memories of that place. And to be honest the idea of going back there makes me very, very nervous."

"Then why go back?" She asked.

"It's complicated," he admitted. "There are things you don't know about, things I can't tell you. But if I were to not go back my village would come after me. The Hokage would send hunter nins to find and execute me. I would have to spend the rest of my life as a rogue ninja, what they call a missing nin. Besides that, even though I don't give a damn about the people there I do want to see Iruka-sensei again. I want to have a great career and be a great ninja so that he can be proud of me."

She smiled. "You really care about your old teacher don't you?"

"Except for you Moka-chan he is the only other person that truly matters to me."

"And what about me?" she asked in a small voice.

"What?"

"What about me?" She repeated. "What place do I have in your future? Or do I only get to be with you for as long as we are both here?"

He brought them to a halt and turned to face her directly. "Moka-chan, what are you talking about? I am crazy about you and want you to always be with me. You're the girl who has my heart and I can't imagine ever giving it to anyone else."

"Naruto-kun, I feel the same way. Since I've been with you it's like I've felt really alive for the first time. I don't feel lonely anymore; just getting to be with you makes me happy. And when you kiss me…" she suddenly turned a dark shade of red. "Well, you make me happier then I ever thought I could be. I don't ever want to be without you."

"Then you won't be," he said firmly. "We'll always be together."

"How?" she asked. "I know how hard it was to hide my identity among regular humans. How long could I keep what I am a secret surrounded by ninja? If they found out what I really was what would happen to me? Would they be willing to accept a vampire living among them?"

"I… I don't know." She was asking some very hard questions. She was definitely right that it would be hard for her to keep her secret for any amount of time. The village would be suspicious of any outsider who was attached to one of their ninja, especially him. And given the abilities of the Inuzuka or the Hyuuga or the Yamanaka her secret was likely to be exposed before long. Then what? Would they allow a vampire to be a resident of the village? Naruto had no illusions about how tolerant the people of Konoha were.

Seeing him struggling to try and answer she gently reached out to take his arm and got them walking again. "It's all right. Like you said graduation is a long way off. You don't have to decide anything right this minute. For now I am very happy with the way things are." She looked at him carefully. "But eventually you will have to make a decision about us."

He slowly nodded and did not say anything more. She had brought up some very difficult questions. He would need to give them some serious thought.

When they got to the girls' dorm they shared a quick kiss. "Do you want to come over for some dinner and some studying? I'll make some of that ramen you like!"

He gave her a weak smile. "Sure," he said. Moka was an amazing girl with a lot of wonderful qualities. Alas cooking was not one of them. I hope she manages not to burn the ramen this time.

XXXXXXXXXX

When the time came there was a swirl of wind and leaves in Moka's living room. Having learned the shun shin he preferred to use it as a discrete way to go to and from Moka's without anyone noticing. As soon as he materialized he knew something was seriously wrong. Moka was nowhere to be seen and there was no smell of burnt ramen in the air.

"Moka-chan? Moka are you here?" There was no answer to his call. Looking around he spotted her leather briefcase sitting on the kitchen counter. There was a note taped to it.

XXXXXXXXXX

They were in an old abandoned warehouse a few miles from that academy. Inside Midou waited patiently as one of his men hurried up to him.

"He's coming, just like you said he would."

Midou nodded, not surprised. He looked over to where Moka was bound up in chains. "He must really love you; I mean to just walk right into what is an obvious trap. I'd certainly never do anything so stupid for anyone."

"Why are you doing this?" She asked. "We've never done anything to you."

"You exist vampire, and that's reason enough." Midou said coldly. "You elitist bastards who insist on thinking you're so superior to the rest of us. We outcast ayashi despise all you pure breeds and eventually we'll kill every last one of you. We'll create a world where our kind alone rule."

Moka stared at him. She could not understand such unreasoning hatred. "Then leave Naruto out of this, he is human, so you have no reason to hate him."

"Sorry, but that's not going to be possible. He helped to defeat three of my people. I can't let a half breed get away with that." Midou turned away from her and toward the gaping entrance to the warehouse. Naruto was calmly walking inside. "Welcome, I thank you for coming."

"Naruto please run!" Moka shouted to him. "Get out of here!"

"It's all right Moka-chan," he called out to her calmly. He continued to walk towards her as his eyes darted about. He could count ten people, all of them between him and a chained up Moka.

"I trust you didn't tell anyone about this before coming here?" Midou asked politely.

"No, I did as your note asked. Now let Moka go." He casually took out a kunai.

Smiling Midou began to walk towards him. His people began to move to slowly surround Naruto. "Your girlfriend was very hard to capture, I don't think I can just simply let her go." His body began changing and his right arm expanded into a mass of muscles. "You know you're very brave to come here all alone."

"I would go anywhere or do anything for Moka-chan. Now let her go or I'll make you pay for what you've done."

Midou laughed and kept walking towards him flexing his massive arm. "And what can one little human do?"

Naruto smiled. "I'm not just a human, I'm a ninja." With ease he threw the kunai at his opponent. Midou did not even bother to dodge as it sailed more than a foot from his head, actually landing near Moka's feet.

"Is that it?" Midou sounded disappointed. "I saw you fight against Saizou, is this really all you're going to do to try and save your precious girlfriend?" Midou was standing right in front of him raising his arm.

Naruto stood where he was calm and unmoving. "There's something you should know about ninja…"

"What's that?" Midou brought his arm down viciously striking the top of his opponent's head.

The instant he hit him Naruto disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Well behind Midou and the others the kunai's henge was dropped and Naruto stood right in front of Moka. "Ninja know how to be sneaky when necessary." He reached out and pulled off Moka's rosary.

Immediately she was surrounded by a powerful demonic aura. Her hair became silver, here eyes red, and her body became a mature woman's. With ease she snapped the chains that had held her. She spared Naruto a quick nod before moving with her amazing speed straight at Midou. "To be laying your hands on me you trash!" Before he could even move she sent her fist into his face and Midou flying into and through a brick wall. "Know your place!"

The other outcast ayashi stood there in stunned horror and began to babble in panic.

"No way!"

"She took him in one blow?!"

"We are so dead."

Moka looked at them contemptuously then glanced over to Naruto. "Uzumaki Naruto, I thank you for your assistance."

He smiled at her, relieved everything was now o.k. "No problem Moka-san."

She looked back at the others. "Leave now and never trouble either of us again, or else attack me and take your chances."

They all looked at each other nervously. None of them eager to fight someone powerful enough to defeat Midou-san with just one blow. As Moka was eying them the pile of fallen bricks was tossed aside and Midou rushed toward her back. "Don't underestimate me!" He was fast and caught her with a powerful punch to her back that sent her down onto the concrete floor.

"Moka!" Naruto pulled out a pair of kunai and rushed over to her side. "Are you all right?"

Ignoring his outstretched hand she quickly got back to her feet. "Do not be so concerned Uzumaki Naruto, he caught me by surprise." She turned back towards Midou. "But such a weak monster could never defeat me." Again she moved straight at Midou with her full speed. Even though he was ready for her he was too slow to block her attacks. She struck him a quick series of punches and kicks that sent him reeling back. He tried to hit her but his punches with his huge arm seemed slow and clumsy and she had no trouble evading them.

As they fought Naruto kept an eye on the rest of them. Since she seemed to be having no trouble with her fight he decided to be her back up and keep an eye out for any sort of nasty surprise.

One of the outcast ayashi looked at another and nodded. Understanding the second ran over to a lever at the far wall.

Moka looked down at her bloodied and beaten opponent. "Have you had enough?" She asked with a snarl. "Or do you require more of a beating to know your place?"

Midou looked up at her and struggled back to his feet. "So this is the strength of a vampire. I finally understand, you take the energy of you demonic aura and convert it into physical power don't you? Simple, yet dreadfully effective. But…" he smiled at her with a bloodied mouth. "With only this you cannot win against me."

"What did you say?" Moka prepared to continue his beating.

"Vampires may hold the greatest power, but in exchange they are famous for their many weaknesses." Above them there was a creaking sound, followed by the gentle fall of water from the sprinkler system. "Among them being water I believe."

"Ahhh!" Moka howled in agony and collapsed, her power painfully drained from her.

"Moka–san!" Seeing her in sudden trouble Naruto ran towards her regardless of the danger. But with the vampire now incapacitated and helpless the others were able to grab a hold of him.

"Get his arms and don't let him bring his hands together!" Midou ordered. "If he can't use his hands he can't work any of his magic."

Two got a hold of each arm and forced Naruto down to the ground. They were much too strong for him to shake loose and while they held his arms he could not work a jutsu. "Get away from Moka!" He screamed at them.

Midou wiped the blood from his mouth and smiled up towards the sprinklers. "To think, all it took to defeat a mighty vampire was a little water." He looked down at her; she was awake and conscious but barely able to move. "Would you like to make some more threats or tell me again about putting me in my place?"

She looked up at him. Despite the pain she was still able to speak. "Please, please let Naruto go. Do… do what you want with me, but let him go."

He shook his head. "Well how noble, how tragic, someone should write a book. Neither of you are going to survive this. The only question is who do I beat to death first?" He looked from Moka over to Naruto and then back again. "Lets do this the old fashioned way; lady's first." He lifted up his arm.

"Stop!!" Naruto howled. "Don't touch her!" He struggled like an animal but remained pinned to the ground.

"Does it hurt half breed?" Midou asked in a polite voice. "Knowing the girl you love is about to die and there's not a damn thing you can do but watch. Like I said before, what can one little human do?" He turned back to Moka and got ready to end her life.

Moka looked up, unafraid. Please escape Naruto, I want you to live.

Seeing what was about to happen Naruto felt a terrible rage fill him. He shut his eyes and looked inside to a dark place that had always been there. Give me power!! He cried out.

And there was an answer, something frightening stirred and came awake. He felt its power flow through him like fire. Done! A voice boomed and began to laugh.

XXXXXXXXXX

Midou suddenly froze as he felt a new demonic aura fill the air. There were screams of terror as his people were suddenly tossed aside as though made of straw. Naruto was standing on his feet, a demonic aura blazing all around him. The aura was so powerful it actually took on a physical form, wrapping around Naruto like some sort of second skin. It took on the shape of animal, even creating ears and a single tail. Midou could see that Naruto's body had transformed as well. His hands had become claws, the scars on his cheeks had thickened, and he now had fangs. But most frightening of all, his eyes were red and slitted, just like the vampires.

Moka was also watching and was just as amazed. Naruto, how?

Feeling not only his power but a ferocious killer intent Midou began backing away, Moka forgotten, his eyes locked on this new demonic figure. "Ho… How? You're human! You can't have a demonic aura! What the hell are you?!"

Naruto smiled. "I'm a monster, and I'm gonna kill you!"