Hey guys, I am soooo sorry I've been gone so long! Stuff came up, I passed my driving theory so now I can learn to drive, yay. Note lack of enthusiasm.

Thanks for everyone that reviewed! Thanks for everyone that waits to read what I write!

Enjoy!

Chapter 10

Naruto winced as he felt his horns and the tender flesh that surrounded them. He couldn't understand why they wouldn't retract. At the moment they were mostly hidden by a mass of pale spikes matted with his dark blood. He could feel the thick darkening fluid running down his neck.

There was the click-clack of talons as Simon hopped along the railing in a very crow-like manner toward the boy slumped against them. He settled next to the tan forearms, one with rivets of blood, and turned beady eyes to the blonde boy. Simon took stock of the blood going a rusty colour as it dried. "You seem to be…ah…bleedin' there, governor," he commented.

"That's right" the son of Sparda replied shortly.

The crow sighed, as well as a crow could sigh, he hated it when the boy got like this. "Yous should be cleanin' it up 'fore we attract unwanted attention, yeah?"

"Not right this second, Simon. It's serving as camouflage," Naruto finally glanced at his brother's servant, but only sparingly.

Simon cocked his head curiously and hopped onto a gracefully slopping shoulder to get a closer look. He saw the rigged bone-growths, even pecked one to see its toughness. They were tapering nicely, the points would be deadly sharp when fully developed, Simon noted. They were still soft though, more very tough cartilage than bone at the moment. He could also see another set developing as lumps just above his hairline, positioned directly above the eyes. "Quite a mess here, young master. They ain't jus' gonna go away, if yous catch me meanin'."

"Tell me about it," the boy growled angrily. He cautiously felt them, fingers running tenderly over the tips. "Did…my brothers have this problem?"

"Well Virgil didn't manifest while in 'uman form at all, but Dante bloomed all a' once, with some 'elp from Virgil o' course."

"Help?"

"They say they was 'avin' an argumen', I say they was fightin'," Simon elaborated matter-of-factly.

Naruto was quite for a moment, he rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I lost my eye patch," he commented, pointing to where it lay in the arena dust.

"We'll get yous another."

"Maybe I won't wear one anymore, maybe its time to stop hiding what happened to me all those years ago." Simon looked at Naruto sharply, no emotion played over the tan features.

Simon cocked his head once more and, if it was possible, a grin spread over his beak. "But, if I may be so bold, young master? You wouldn' be you withou' tha' to spit in the face o' the world."

An equally amused grin finally tugged at Naruto's lips, "is that so?" he asked lowly. "Well we'll have to stop off at home for another, I imagine. We can't have me no being me. Why, the very world should fall apart at the seams if it is so!" Simon was glad his companion was back to his old humorous self at last.

Naruto looked out over the arena and watched Shikamaru retreat. The guy was a calculator, a leader but never a fighter. That annoyed Naruto slightly, he knew who he'd trust to back him up one the field when all else failed. He tilted his head slightly as he heard soft footsteps approach from behind him. "She wants you blood," a cold voice murmured.

"Well, ain't that swell?" Naruto replied dryly, turning to face Gaara with a wry expression.

"She says it is richer than any we've had before, she says you are strong," the boy was almost in a trance and there was a gleam in his eye that Naruto wasn't all that fond of.

"That's a matter of opinion, I'm sure." By now their conversation had drawn many onlookers and eavesdroppers. "I'm not in the mood for your shit, Red," Naruto told him in exasperation.

Gaara just stared at the boy before him, a boy covered in blood and for all the world looking deadly. Both turned to Gaara's older brother as the boy asked; "What happened to you during the match?"

Naruto smiled, now how do I explain that? "My family has a bloodline limit and well, it causes blinding, almost animalistic rage. White-eyes was lucky I didn't take him to pieces right then and there."

"Why are you bleeding?" Red asked quietly in that dead voice of his.

Naruto's eyes became grim but the smile didn't fade, "I clawed out lumps of my skin I imagine, the rage is always preceded by a terrible headache. Sometimes clawing at my head actually feels better," he told them matter-of-factly. Suddenly Naruto's eyes flicked to the arena, now vacant since the girl from sand won. "I think your opponent is here, Red. I do so hate people that are late; I hate arrogant people even more, apart form myself of course. Why don't you go get ready for battle, hmm?" A flurry of leaves exploded in the centre of the arena, clearing to reveal Sasuke and Kakashi. Naruto smiled as Gaara left, showing a set of slightly pointed teeth.

He also left, his boots clicked as he strolled down the grey hallway. He thought he'd join Kakashi and Sakura in the stands, talk to them for a bit. All the other contestants were loners and dead boring. What he really needed was a good hard fight, something to take his mind off the throbbing pain in his head. He yawned, dislodging Simon slightly. The crow squawked indignantly and ruffled his feathers.

He could hear the battle commencing as he made his slow way up the steps in the stands to where he could sense the Konoha Nin. He could feel Gaara's malicious intent and his desire to draw blood; it was like hot air pressing against his face. He came to a stop next to Kakashi and Sakura, who were watching as Sasuke dodged yet another attack by Gaara. Sasuke looked to have copied Lee's speed and was using it to his advantage. Naruto smile, "Sasuke will lose, you know."

Kakashi and Sakura turned to him, having not realised he was there. "Sasuke-kun will not lose! He is much better than that freak from Sand!" Sakura cried angrily, her face turning red.

"I don't doubt his abilities, far from it. He is adequately strong," Naruto told her, eyes still on the match.

Simon leaned forward from his position on Naruto's shoulder to caw: "what 'e means is that the nipper lacks the resolve ta kill in battle, like."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "death isn't always the answer." His voice was cold, his tone warning.

"Do you honestly think Red is gonna back off? Do you think he's gonna let rich boy win? Hell no! He'd die first! Sasuke is going to lose because he thinks he's got it so damn hard when he hasn't. His emo ass is about to learn that there are people that have had it far harder and have come through it in different ways. In short, Sasuke will lose." The last words were definitive, firm and low. Naruto was not playing games anymore.

"How would you know that! You don't know what he's been through!" Sakura shouted, drawing a little attention to them. The other losers of the Konoha genin were now listening.

"His family was murdered right? By his own brother? Something like that?"

Everyone stared, how did the stranger know this? Naruto sighed and rolled his eyes, "what kind a of person goes into a rival village without researching the up and coming genin they're gonna fight? Jeez." He scratched the back of his head and yawned, "I know what it feels like to wonder why you exist, why you suffer such pain for something you didn't do. Gaara lives alone, he cannot feel because he doesn't let himself feel. He was never loved. When you get to that point there's only one thing that makes you feel alive."

"What's that?" asked Sakura, now quiet at the threatening boy before her.

"Knowin' you can en' the life of another," cackled Simon, all eyes focusing on him. "Like the young master 'ere enjoys the pain and thrill of battle, that boy enjoys the death 'e will cause. S'like sayin' 'this is me, acknowledge my existence'."

There was a silent moment that was broken by Gaara's cry of pain as Sasuke broke his ultimate defence. Naruto watched as it collapsed and the boy lay bleeding. He'd been waiting for this, Gaara was going to go mad. He sighed, well done, Sasuke. "See I told you he would win!" Sakura gloated.

Kakashi suddenly started as dreadful chakra spewed out into the arena. It was deadly and angry and hating all at once. He had no time to dwell on it as a huge explosion rocked the stadium. In the stands before people were dropping asleep like flies and nin were whirling about in confusion. When he went to look at the Sand nin he was being taken by his siblings under the cover of invading Sound ninja. "Sasuke, go after them!" he called to his young student. He looked to the genin, most had dispelled the justu.

Kakashi only noticed Naruto as he walked past him, making no attempt to get rid of the illusion. One eye was blind and the other eye currently had an elliptical pupil, it was very heard to fool a devil's eye. He looked up sharply as a nin lunged for Sakura, the others were entangled in battle and could not help her. To his surprise he found himself defending her, Cerberus flashing out in a blur. He needed to pursue Gaara, he couldn't wait here! "Simon! Help me you arrogant ball of feathers!" he barked.

"I was jus' waitin' for yous ta ask!" called the crow and suddenly he was a crow no more. Before them stood a French aristocrat, his long black hair tied back with an even darker ribbon. His clothing was black and he wore shin-length boots. He pulled at his white, lace cuffs slightly before drawing a perfectly polished rapier. "You go, young master," he told Naruto in a flawless voice, "I shall hold the fort here." The sword whipped up into an opening position, his pale features becoming calculating.

"Thank you, Simon." Naruto placed his hand on the ground and called out to Mercury. The horse burst through the shadows and snorted blue flame at a passing enemy. He trotted to Naruto's side, tossing his head irritably. Just as Naruto was about to mount him he heard: "can you take me with you?" It was Sakura and he was in no mood to argue. He dragged her onto Mercury behind him and set his heels into the stallion's sides.

Mercury reared, screaming his fury as he mane and tail burst into blue flames. His pawing hooves were similarly engulfed. The horse galloped away, easily vaulting the wall into the Konoha forest, not needing to be told that speed was of the essence. As Sakura screamed Naruto asked, "I take it you've never ridden before then?" while laughing at her terrified reply. He turned his attention back to more important things like finding Gaara. How was he to know that one of the most hated enemies of his family was just waiting for him to leave?

How was it? I know its short but it's the same as before, I didn't want to group this with the fight Naru will have with Gaara. Read and review! Please?

- D. over and out!