AN* And I am back. Good god this one took a long time, mainly because I had to make sure a lot of the dialogue was correct to which I owe my thanks to those that did the translation work on Mangadoom dot com. And for the record I cut this chapter in half, the other half is almost done so it shouldn't be nearly as long of a gap. Anyways on to the reviews.
Duesal10: Glad you think so.
LordXeenTheGreat: I'm just going to do all of your reviews at once. I will consider doing the oneshot since it does have hilarity promise, I thought Kenshin would be a good teacher for Naruto as well, the idea is from a challenge that I accepted if you want to look into that for other good stories based on the same challenge, and I am glad you like the changes I made, they were really needed. Thanks for the reviews.
missourijack: I will say this, you have the right idea with the next few chapters. This next arc that is starting now is the return journeys to show what he needs to finish up, and to also show more of what had happened while he was in each world. And I don't mind the ramblings, they make for excellent reviews.
Anon2: I'm sorry, but I actually haven't read that one yet. I have heard good things about it and it is on my to read list, but at this time I just haven't been able to yet. And when I started this fic I went with other manga that I knew and enjoyed and thought that Naruto could get something useful out of each one. So my apologies about not adding those in but feel free to take the challenge yourself and do something like that, I'd read it.
Dracoessa: Ok, to start the family moment had more than just the happy feels to it, there was some foreshadowing there if you can catch it. Also I have plenty planned for Sasuke and Sakura, just be patient. And as for Danzo, in this one I decided to take a different take on him. In the canon he is not really that evil, more of a man who has seen too much darkness and is doing whatever it takes to bring about peace. So in this I decided to make him more of a good guy that will still deal in the shadows at times. Sorry if this upsets you but I already have something horrible planned for him in a different story.
Chewie Cookies: Thank you good sir. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
SPark681: Good to know you approve. The relationship does have some important parts that will come into play later on.
Senjuto: I know already. Geez, when I wrote this I was getting bitched at about it being the way i am currently spelling it. I am leaving it the way it is because I don't have the patience to go back and make sure that it is all spelled correctly. Live with it.
BruddaJocka: Ok, at the time I first wrote that chapter I was stuck on a cliche kick. Sorry if that upsets you but I felt that it was necessary. And I am currently making ways of using that to make Naruto stronger so please be patient.
Ok, now that that is finished let's get on to the real reason you are all here.
A New Revolution
Naruto stood dressed in black with every other shinobi in the village. It had been a week since he had brought back Tsunade and he stood there with the others, attending the funeral for the Sandaime Hokage, Hizuren Sarutobi. The old shinobi had performed the jutsu to summon Shinigami and had given his soul to trap the two souls of the previous Hokages. Once this was completed Tsunade had been named Hokage and then the funeral. Now Naruto stood there, laying his flower down on the grave as he said his final goodbye to the old shinobi that had helped take care of him as much as he had been able to during his youth. As he walked away Naruto realized that there was going to be no way that he could avoid what he had to do next. If he wanted to survive he was going to have to do this. Sighing he walked into Tsunade's office and looked at the older woman.
"Tsunade, I need some time off." he stated.
Tsunade blinked at this before speaking "For?"
"A training trip. I don't know for how long I'll be gone but I need to find my former masters and finish what I started." Naruto explained.
"You're going to use that jutsu again." Tsunade nodded "I can't tell you no in this matter, for two reasons. One is that you are within your right to leave for a training journey and with the Akatsuki hunting you the extra training will be beneficial."
"And the other?" Naruto asked.
"Sarutobi-sensei did some research into this technique and found out something interesting. It can only be used three times by one person. The first time is an accident, the second is for need, and the third is to repay."
"Ok... The first time was an accident." Naruto nodded "And this is for need to get stronger. But repayment?"
"It turns out that this technique was only used by one other person, my grandfather. According to his journal it says that the third trip is to aid those that have helped you. You will feel the call to go when it is time to repay them. It could take weeks, months or even years before it comes." Tsuande explained.
"Alright. So I have your permission to leave?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, but take someone with you. I am sure that these places can be dangerous and I would like you to come back alive." Tsunade stated.
"Ok. I'll take Hinata-chan with me. Besides some of my friends in the other worlds will want to meet her." Naruto smiled as he turned to leave.
"If you aren't back before nightfall I will have you marked down for a training journey." Tsunade sighed as the blonde left and she resumed the paperwork. Naruto was soon in the backyard of his home with Hinata as he started flashing through the handsigns.
"Now hold on tight, I don't want to get seperated." Naruto warned as he finished and the doorway opened again.
"Ok Naruto-kun." Hinata nodded as they entered. Soon Naruto and Hianta were floating through the expanse and Naruto was picking out images of places that he recognized from Japan. After a few moments they landed in an alleyway and Naruto's eyes started wandering to see if there was any danger. Once he was certain that they hadn't landed in the middle of a battle he nodded to Hinata and they started walking. As they left the alley Naruto realized that they weren't in Kyoto and he had no idea where they were.
"Lost?" Hinata asked when she saw Naruto's face.
"A little. I never really went too far from Kyoto so I have no clue where we are." Naruto admitted as he stopped and looked at a newspaper "Tokyo..." Naruto muttered as he shrugged and and started walking again.
"So what's the plan Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked.
"I need to find Kenshin-sensei. Odds are that if the war is over he will be well known and someone that practices kenjutsu might have an idea where I can find him." Naruto replied as he walked. For close to an hour he walked until he finally found a dojo.
"Kamiya Kasshin-ryu." Naruto read as he opened the door and found a boy, around Konahamaru's age walking towards them with a shinai on his back.
"Can I help you?" he asked with a frown.
"Perhaps. I'm looking for someone and I was hoping you might be able to point me in the right direction." Naruto stated.
"Shouldn't you go to the police." he snorted.
"I'd rather not." Naruto sighed "Look could you help me or not kid."
"KID?!" he shouted "My name is Myōjin Yahiko, Tokyo Samurai!"
"I'm sorry Than Yahiko-san." Hinata interrrupted "But my boyfriend is just trying to find someone, would you please help us."
Yahiko looked at Hianta and blushed a bit before grunting and saying "Fine, who're you looking for?"
"His name is Himura Kenshin." Naruto stated "I was wondering if you could tell me where he is?"
Yahiko jumped at this and was soon a step back with his shinai drawn.
"What do you want with Kenshin?! Are you with Shishio?!" he shouted.
"Shishio?" Naruto asked looking at Hinata confused "Look, it's clear you know him, will you just tell me where I can find him?"
"No way!" Yahiko shouted "You've got to be with Shishio, why else would you be wearing a katana in public?!"
"Ugh, this is getting nowhere fast." Naruto sighed as he slipped into a fighting stance "I'll just beat it out of him."
"Naruto-kun, he's only a child." Hinata argued.
"No, he's samurai." Naruto replied as he faced Yahiko "A samurai always has his pride, and even if he is young, I won't spit on his."
"Yahiko, what's going on?!" a woman shouted as she walked out of the dojo and saw the scene. Before she could protest anymore Naruto moved forward so fast that no one saw him move and Yahiko was on the ground as Naruto stood over him with the sheath against his throat.
"Word of advice Yahiko-san, never underestimate a practioner of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu." Naruto stated "So where is Kenshin-sensei?"
"Sensei..." the woman gasped "You know Kenshin?"
"He trained me. Taught me all I knew during the Bakumatsu." Naruto replied "I came to find him."
"He trained you?!" Yahiko shouted "He refused to teach me but taught you?!"
"It was a long time ago." Naruto replied calmly as he looked at the woman "Where is he?"
"He left. He is heading for Kyoto. Come inside and I will explain everything to you." she said.
"Thank you." Naruto nodded as he helped Yahiko up and they all went inside. There was a silence for several minutes before the woman spoke.
"My name is Kamiya Kaoru, and Himura Kenshin has been staying here for several months now." she began. She then went on to explain all that occured while he was there, from his vow to never kill again and the taking of a sakabato, to all of the fights he had, and finally to the issue with Shishio Makoto and his plan to overthrow the government.
"Geez. Leave for a few years and things go to shit." Naruto sighed as he stood up "Now that I know where he's going I'll track him down. Thank you Karou-dono."
"You never gave us your names." Kaoru stated.
"Oh right." Naruto chuckled "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, I was known as Hitokiri Kitsune during the Bakumatsu, and this is my girlfriend, Hianta Hyuga."
"Why is she with you?" Yahiko asked.
"My superiours didn't want me on my own." Naruto replied as he and Hinata left, moving as quickly as they could, taking to the rooftops and moving at a pace that only an experienced shinobi would have been able to keep up.
"So are we going directly to Kyoto?" Hinata asked.
"No. Knowing Kenshin-sensei he will likely be taking an older road, so we take the Meiji Toukai way. We keep to the forests and we might stand a chance of catching him." Naruto replied as they took off. For the rest of that day they moved, managing to slowly catch up to the now rurouni that his master had become. That night they camped in the woods and the next day they were on their way again. By noon Naruto stopped when he spotted footprints and went down to the ground where he examined them.
"A man and a young girl..." he mused "I doubt it's Kenshin, he would have stuck to the road, and he was alone from what we were told."
"True, but whoever it is, they did come from the direction of the road, so perhaps they may have seen him." Hinata offered.
"Worth checking." Naruto nodded as they started to follow the trail. A few hours later he stopped when he saw the grave of a person and his gaze hardened. Moving over to it he noted that there were tracks coming from a small village, a single man heavily wounded, likely carrying a heavy burden.
"He collapsed here..." Naruto muttered "And that was when those two came across him, and it looks like a child he was carrying. They buried him and are heading back to the village."
"Was the child captured?" Hinata asked.
"No... An enemy wouldn't have buried the body. There must be something in that village that they want to get or save. Let's go and help." Naruto nodded as they took off at a run. They soon arrived at the village and Naruto's face split in a grin as he saw the man fighting off dozens of men.
"Kenshin." Naruto grinned as he spotted two men heading for his back. Leaping into the air Naruto struck, his blade drawn in the blink of an eye as he landed behind Kenshin and let the two heads fall to the ground.
"You're getting sloppy Kenshin-sensei." Naruto chuckled as he faced the man that had taught him so much "It's good to see you again."
"Naruto-kun!" Kenshin exclaimed as he saw him.
"Hey! What are you wasting time here for?" another man said as he walked towards them with another girl and a young boy as Hinata came from the other side.
"Saito..." Naruto chuckled as he gripped his katana and faced the Wolf of Mibu "How long has it been now?"
"Hitokiri Kitsune." Saito nodded "It has been about fifteen years since I last saw you, and unlike your sensei you seem to still kill."
"What are you doing here?" Kenshin asked.
"My job." Saito replied "One of my men informed me that Shisiho was here. Since I still had some time before the subjugation forces reached Kyoto, I decided to come on foot. However I didn't know the man's present whereabouts."
"You mean the boy's brother was a police spy?" Kenshin asked.
"Boy?" Saito asked as he looked over at the boy with the unnamed young woman "I see. Mishima Eiichirou was originally from Shingetsu. That's why I sent him, so he could infiltrate the village without raising suspicion. Probably he was discovered and tried to protect his family... Idiot. He should have waited for my arrival"
"How can you talk like that about one of your own dead men?!" the girl shouted.
"Hey, who is this... Weasel Girl?" Saito asked. This earned a chuckle from Naruto as he looked at her as well and could see why Saito would say that.
"I"LL KILL YOU! KILL YOU!" She shouted as she took out several kunai while Kenshin restrained her.
"Don't let him get to you." Naruto chuckled "The Wolf has a thing for messing with people's minds."
"More importantly. We should take them down, and mourn for them." Kenshin added as he nodded towards the two dead parents that were hanging from a wooden structure. Naruto nodded and moved towards the structure when he was interrupted.
"WAIT!" someone shouted. Naruto paused and looked over his sholder at the now assembling villagers.
"You can't cut them down." the village elder stated "If you do Senkaku will be angry, and we are helpless before him. Until Senkaku gives permission, we will leave them as they are.
"What are you saying?!" the girl shouted "They were from your village! And you're still going to obey Senkaku after this?!"
"If we defy Senkaku it means death. If we obey we live. In order to not make things worse for the village, you outsiders and the Mishima boy must leave. Eiji, you understand?" the elder explained.
"You..." the girl growled, just as Saito placed a hand on her head.
"Don't be angry. There aren't many people brave enough to place their life on the line to protect their honor and dignity as human beings." Saito paused to look at the villagers as he finished "Just surviving as an animal, you don't need honor and dignity."
This earned various mutters from the people, and in the end the elder said that they bodies would remain. Now Naruto turned and drew his guns, shooting the ropes that held their bodies and letting them drop to the ground.
"You people sicken me." Naruto spat as he looked at them "A bunch of sheep need not worry what we humans do."
"The fate of this village, is the fate of all of Japan in Shishio's new era." Kenshin remarked to Saito "They will seek only to survive, losing all honor and dignity."
Naruto frowned at this as he ran an eye over the village again, taking it all in so he would understand what was at stake if Kenshin failed.
"Saito, did the government really abandon this village?" Kenshin asked.
"Not just this one, more than ten have been abandoned to Shishio. The police recovering them are already in retreat." Saito explained.
"I don't really know what's going on, but if the police can't do it why don't you use the army?" the girl asked.
"Idiot. It's only been half a year since the southwest war. If the army is mobilized again it will show our unrest to foreign powers." Saito retorted.
"How can you think of that at a time like this?!" she shouted at him.
"Even so, we would not get permission to use the army in the first place." Saito stated.
"Why not?" Naruto asked with a frown "It seems like that may be the only solution."
"Because no one wants to share Governor Okubo's fate." Saito replied.
"What now?!" Naruto exclaimed "They killed him?!"
"Yes, on May fourteenth." Kenshin nodded.
"Damn. No wonder the government isn't using the army. It's difficult to stop an assassin unless you are employing those that think like one. Meaning that they will more than likely sit back and wait for someone else to fix this mess." Naruto mused "That sound about right Hinata-chan?"
"I would say so." Hinata nodded.
"That is my reasoning as well." Saito nodded.
"Who's somebody?!" the girl shouted afte gritting her teeth "Who's going to save this village?! And who's going to avenge this boy's parents?"
"The village, the police, the army, the government. They are all helpless before Shishio Makoto. That's why people like us are necessary." Saito stated as he looked at Kenshin and Naruto "We've identified the location of Shishio's inn. Will you go there before Kyoto?"
"Yes." Kenshin stated as he turned.
"Yeah." Naruto nodded as well.
"I'm going too!" the girl shouted.
"No, you stay here." Saito replied.
"No way! I'm not letting him get away with this!" she shouted.
"Misao-dono." Kenshin began.
"What?! No one's telling me what I can..."
"Stay here. Stay with Eiji." Kenshin stated.
"Hinata-chan, please stay as well." Naruto asked.
"Of course Naruto-kun." Hinata nodded as she kissed him "Be safe."
"I'll be fine." Naruto nodded as he turned and walked with the two men towards the inn.
"So Naruto-kun, what're you doing here?" Kenshin asked.
"I came to finish what I left incomplete." Naruto replied "The final secret of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu."
"You know that this one does not know it." Kenshin reminded him.
"I do. But you know where I can find the man that does." Naruto replied.
"It has been some time since this one last saw him. He will likely have moved. But this one also needs to learn the final secret." Kenshin nodded.
"What's with the this one stuff?" Naruto asked "You never talked like that before."
"This one has changed much since we parted ways." Kenshin replied.
"And he's gotten weaker from it." Saito remarked.
"Where as my blade has stayed sharp on the flesh of strong opponents." Naruto mused "I can be of assistance then."
"I wouldn't doubt it." Saito remarked.
"So how's that scar I left you Wolf?" Naruto asked as he looked at the taller man "When I got you with that kunai when we met in Kyoto?"
"It started itching a few hours ago. I should have taken that as a warning that you were nearby." Saito smirked as his hand traced a small spot on the left side of his stomach. Naruto only smirked as they walked until they reached the inn and there was a young man standing there, a smile on his face. Naruto immeidatly tensed and every warning bell was going off in his head.
"This guy is dangerous." Naruto hissed.
"Himura Battosai-san and Saito Hajime-san?" he asked "I don't know you however."
"Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto replied "Hitokiri Kitsune."
"AH! Kitsune-san." the young man nodded.
"Be careful, this is the man that killed Okubo." Kenshin warned.
"Knew I was getting nervous for a reason." Naruto muttered.
"Oh no no no, I'm just your guide today. See, I'm not even armed." he said as he waved his arms around to show that there was nothing up his sleeves "Shishio-san is waiting for you inside. Please come in."
There was a moment of tension before Saito spoke.
"We can't start out being this cautious. Let's go."
The three were soon led by the young man through the inn until they stood before Shishio. He was a heavily bandaged man who stared at them with such a predatory gaze that Naruto wanted to strike now and end the threat.
"You're Shishio Makoto?" Kenshin asked.
"Call me Shishio, my rude predecessor." Shishio grinned as he smoked his pipe.
"Don't let it bother you. The rudeness is on both sides." Kenshin replied.
"Hey, are you sure you just want him to stand there? Battosai could kill Shishio in a single leap." Saito remarked.
"Oh it's alright. Himura-san isn't like you Saito-san. He'd never try anything as dishonorable as a surprise attack." he smiled. Saito only smirked in turn as he realized that his ploy had failed.
"Now I know both my predecessor and Saito Hajime-san. But you young man are a mystery to me." Shishio remarked as he stared at Naruto.
"You probably heard about me. I disappeared one day after saying my farewells, never to be seen or heard from again. Hitokiri Kitsune, Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto smirked.
"Ah. The legendary student of Himura Battosai has returned at last. We all assumed that you were dead, or given up the sword." Shishio nodded.
"No, just abroad. Widening my horizons and training to become more than what I already was." Naruto stated.
"Why'd you target this place?" Kenshin asked "You're after the whole of Japan, not one or two small villages."
"Onsen." Shishio replied "They're good for my burnt skin, but I was afraid that the other bathers would see me. So I made them mine."
"You... For this alone you would terroize an entire village?!" Kenshin asked in pure rage.
Shishio only started to laugh as the woman next to him did the same.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. You need to learn how to take a joke. You are as serious as the rumors say." Shishio remarked.
"Temper, temper." Saito chided "You take a joke about as well as that Weasel Girl does."
"This village will make a strong military base for dominating the Toukai Region. And I do like the onsen here." Shishio explained.
"Shishio..." Kenshin began before Saito placed a hand on him.
"Take it easy Kenshin-sensei." Naruto replied "Let's hear what he has to say."
"So with this base you intend to exact revenge from the Meiji government for those bandages?" Saito asked.
"Saito Hajime, captain of the third Shinsengumi Unit. You are more like me than Battosai so I thought you might understand me better, but it appears I was wrong." Shishio began "I have no intention of seeking revenge on those who gave me these bandages." he paused here and all three of the swordsman traded looks "Rather I should thank them. They burned many lessons into my flesh that day. Trust and be betrayed. If you are careless you will die. Kill or be killed. And a woman will come to a real man, no matter what he looks like."
"Ok... He may be about to trigger one of the worst things possible for Japan, but some of those ideals are very true." Naruto noted.
"Will you keep it down then?" Saito remarked "It's getting tiring chasing you all over the country."
"All of us survived the Bakumatsu. Why can't you understand?" Shisho sighed "Revere the Emperor, destroy the Bakufu, expel the Barbarians, open the country. These ideas brought about the Bakumatsu, but in the end it was nothing more than a time of chaos that finally came three hundred years after the Sengoku. A time when supporters of the Emperor or the Shogun; Satsuma, Choushuu or Tosa; all raised their flags and fought and killed in the name of justice. Born in these times was a man who would try to rule all under heaven." he paused here and the young man clapped while the woman looked at him with adoration "I was almost assassinated. When my wounds had finally healed and I tried coming out, the Meiji goverment had succeeded in ending the violence. Now they who tried to eleminate me won't send a single troop against me, for fear of looking weak to the western powers. This weak government." In anger Shishio snapped his pipe and continued "I can't leave this country to such a weak government! If the violence has ended I will awaken it! I'll seize control! I'll make this country strong. Justice will be served when this country is mine."
"Again, he is making a valid arguement." Naruto noted "The government is too concerned with appearances and because of that we have the current problem."
Saito only shot him a glare as Kenshin started to speak.
"But for this justice, blood will flow. Blood of those that now live in peace."
"Well, after all in this world the flesh of the weak is food for the strong. But I never could persuade you of that." Shishio replied.
"Shishio Makoto, you cannot shed the blood of others for you own personal justice." Kenshin replied as he started to draw his blade.
"And you Saito-san?" the young man asked.
"I don't like pretty words like he does, but it seems to be my fate to be on the side that brings Shishio down." Saito replied.
"And you?" he asked Naruto.
"My first loyalty has always been to my village and my allies. Kenshin has taught me everything I know about kenjutsu, and through his example I aspired to be the best man that I could be. My blade shall be turned against you, and it will run red upon the flesh of those that would try to destroy the peace." Naruto replied coldly "I will have your head before a month has passed."
"Heh." Shishio chuckled "It doesn't matter if we fight or not. I had hoped to do it poetically in Kyoto, the city of flowers. But if you really want to fight." Shishio paused as he placed his hand on the ground, and hand holding a crescent blade shot up "Then Sengetsu, ruler of Shinkaku will be your opponent!"
Naruto blinked at the giant of a man that stood in front of him and then let his smirk reappear.
"So you're Senkaku, the man who killed Eiji's brother and parents." Kenshin remarked. Senkaku then let out a battle cry as he struck, charging towards them at high speeds. Naruto however had faced faster enemies and leapt over him, taking his back and preparing to strike, just as Senkaku targetted Kenshin, striking with one of his crescent blades.
"Oh, that was much easier than I thought." the young man chuckled.
"Himura Battosai is no one to fear!" Senkaku roared.
"I made a promise to Eiji." Kenshin stated, causing Senkaku to look and see that Kenshin had flipped his sakabato and had used the bladed part to cut into the crescent blade and stop it from making contact with his flesh "I will destroy you, before I destroy Shishio."
"Kenshin-sensei, allow me." Naruto said as cracked his neck "Let me show Shishio the true terror of my blade on this weakling."
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Senkaku roared as he turned and tried to smash Naruto who backflipped from the strike "You dare mock Senkaku, he who has killed ninety-nine people, and you shall be the hundredth!"
"Only ninety-nine. That's not much to be proud of." Saito remarked, further enraging the giant man.
"If that is all you've killed than I know that this was a waste of Kenshin-sensei's time." Naruto chuckled as he saw Senkaku charge him and Naruto simply sidestepped him as his blade flashed and blood splattered the ground as he cut the man's side "You are too slow."
"SLOW?!" Senkaku roared as he started moving faster and Naruto deemed him at about the speed Lee was at with his weights on.
"Slow." Naruto chuckled as he flowed with the strikes to avoid getting hit. This went on for a few seconds before Naruto grew bored and flickered from sight, moving at a speed that surpassed anything that any of the men had seen before and when he reappeared he was behind Senkaku, flicking blood off his blade. Senkaku let out a strangled cry as he fell to the ground, with several wounds on his body but clearly still alive.
"That is what you are up against." Naruto replied as he made eye contact with Shishio.
"You can come in." Saito said as he slid open the door and Misao and Eiji fell to the floor while Hinata just stepped over them "Just stay close."
"You did well Naruto-kun." Hinata nodded to the blonde who nodded back while keeping his eyes on Shishio.
"Hm... I never expected him to win, but the fact that you bested him so easily should be a testament to your skills. You are faster than Battosai, and Saito as well from the looks of it, and from that speed comes the real threat of your sword." Shishio noted.
"Partially true." Naruto nodded "Considering I only showed you a part of what I am capable of, while keeping you from seeing Kenshin-sensei's sword I would say that I have won this round."
"Yes, but revealed more than you intended." Shishio replied "I have heard that Battosai has sworn not kill, and you taking the fight from him has proved that to me. Disappointing. As you are you could not possibly defeat me. Boring. I don't want to fight." Shishio then snapped his fingers and the woman with him grabbed the edge of the folding screen and pulled it away, revealing a staircase "I'll be waiting in Kyoto. Become hitokiri and we'll try this again!"
"You'll turn tail and run?" Kenshin asked as he moved by Naruto. Shishio only smirked as he grabbed the katana that had been by him and threw it, just barely missing Kenshin as it went straight to the young man standing by the door.
"Soujirou, play with him for me." Shishio commanded.
"Are you sure?" he asked with a smile.
"Yes. In exchange for the Kitsune's display I'll show them my Tenken." Shishio replied as he walked down the stairs.
"Shit." Naruto cursed as he was about to move when he glanced at Kenshin.
"Can you handle this?"
"I'll manage." Kenshin replied as he poured out his KI towards Soujirou while startling Misao who collasped to the floor, but the young man was unfazed.
"Fine." Naruto nodded as he turned and ran towards the stairs where he quickly was accompanied by Hinata. As the pair ran they were met with some resistance from Shishio's men who were in the secret passage.
"Shit." Naruto cursed as he finished dealing with the minions.
"He is getting away." Hinata reported "He's on horseback right now."
"Double shit." Naruto cursed again as he picked up the speed. As they ran they were soon out of the inn and in the open country where Naruto was able to spot Shishio some distance away. Frowning he slowed then stopped as he muttered a curse.
"We can't catch him." Naruto sighed "He took this way intentionally should Saito or I come after him. The terrain is neutral, so the horse is naturally faster than a human, especially with how Shishio is likely driving it."
"Should we go back?" Hinata asked.
"No. Right now we are pretty close to the road. Let's head for Kyoto and we will find Kenshin-sensei there." Naruto sighed as he turned and headed for the road, and by the next morning they arrived in Kyoto.