ch. 35

Naruto and Mr. Takamaru exited the hotel, their bags packed and ready for the journey home. They began the trek to the village in silence. Naruto was on edge the whole time. He knew he was going to have to deal with Tadakatsu today. As they travelled he could sense Tadakatsu lagging behind. Naruto could tell he was alone but about halfway back to the village he sensed someone else appear near Tadakatsu.

"Of all the people to show up, why did it have to be that loony potty mouth?"

"What are you doing here Tayuya?" Tadakatsu asked his fellow Uzumaki when she jumped down from a tree and began walking next to him.

"Back up. Just in case the kid wants to fight."

"I told you to stay at the hideout with Karin while she's working. I can handle this by myself."

"I'm sure you can handle the kid just fine, but I'm worried about the fox. My curse mark should be able to counter him."

"Do whatever you want. I'm in no mood to argue."

Naruto and Takamaru kept on their journey with Tadakatsu and Tayuya following slightly behind. Eventually they reached the gates of the village and Naruto stopped.

"You'll be safe now. Head to the raikage's tower."

"You aren't coming?"

"I've got something to take care of. Tell the raikage I'll be right there."

Naruto turned around and began walking back the way he came. Takamaru didn't know what to make of this but did as instructed and made his way toward the raikage's office.

About half a mile back he ran into Tadakatsu and Tayuya.

"What's your answer Naruto?" Tadakatsu asked.

"Why is she here?"

"Just ignore Tayuya. Are you joining us or not?"

"... Fuck you, and fuck her too. I'm gonna find Karin and save her from you." Naruto turned around and began walking away.

"Save her? You act like I'm holding her hostage or something. She's with me because she wants to be. We're going to rebuild our clan with or without you. You might as well be with us."

Naruto turned back around.

"You're insane Tadakatsu. You and your psycho tramp girlfriend there."

Tayuya took out a kunai and pointed it toward Naruto.

"May I kill him now?" She asked Tadakatsu. The tone of her voice making it obvious she was serious. Tadakatsu put his finger on the kunai and lowered it.

"You never liked us Naruto. I've always wondered why."

"Your chakra is disgusting and your heart's are black. You can try and hide it from Karin but eventually she'll realize. You two are evil."

"Evil? What the hell do you know about evil, little boy!? Tadakatsu yelled at Naruto.

"Everything I do is for the future of our clan. You can preach all you want about how morally superior you are but in the end it's all just a bunch of hot air from a childish buffoon. All morals do is get in the way and I won't let anything stop me from rebuilding our clan. Not even you."

Naruto and Tadakatsu eyed each other wearily. It was clear that the two were about to fight.

"Don't interfere." Were Tadakatsu's only words to Tayuya. She nodded, understanding that this was personal.

The two young warriors rushed at each other. They each threw a bone shattering punch and their fists clashed. Naruto jumped away and held his aching fist. He was shocked at how much their clash had just hurt.

"Idiot. My body is just as strong as yours. Probably stronger since I'm older. You can't just muscle through me like you can with everyone else." Tadakatsu was talking tough on the outside but on the inside was a different story.

"This can't be right. The difference in our power should be much greater than this. I wasn't that strong at his age." He thought as he fought the urge to hold his aching fist as well.

Naruto shook off the pain quick and went back on the offensive.

"SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!" He yelled as ten more naruto's appeared.

Tadakatsu wasn't intimidated by the clones and prepared his own counter jutsu.

"Earth style: earthen spikes." He slammed his hands into the ground and rows of thin spikes shot up and began impaling the clones. The real Naruto avoided the spikes by jumping into the air.

Tadakatsu smiled, Naruto reacted just as he predicted. He broke off one of the earthen spikes and tossed it at Naruto like a javelin.

Naruto was unable to move out of the way in time but luckily he was fast enough to pull out a kunai and deflect the spike. It grazed his left side but thankfully the injury wasn't too severe. Naruto landed on his feet clutching his side. There was a little bit of blood but his advanced healing would have that stopped in a few seconds.

"How do you think Karin will act when I tell her you just tried to kill me?" Naruto spat at Tadakatsu.

"I won't let you get close enough to her to tell. I'll never let anyone take a woman I love away from me again."

"What?"

"earth style: Earth lance jutsu." Tadakatsu took his newly formed weapon and charged at Naruto.

Naruto was forced to to go on the defensive as he began dodging Tadakatsu's attacks.

"I'm sick of this bastard. Kurama, let's finish this guy."

"I thought you'd never ask."

Naruto's body was covered in a golden cloak and he was filled with the near limitless chakra of Kurama and instantly the tide of the battle turned in Naruto's favor. With the enhanced speed and strength the chakra gave him he was able to grab Tadakatsu's lance mid stab and break it in two. Tadakatsu jumped away to regroup.

"So this is the power of the nine tails?"

"Tadakatsu?"

"Don't interfere Tayuya. Even with all that power he's still a punk kid." Tadakatsu stabbed his lance back into the ground while making a seal with his free hand. When he pulled it back out the lance was fixed and he charged back at Naruto.

Naruto used the half of Tadakatu's lance he broke off before to block Tadakatsu's initial attack, an overhead strike. Suddenly a tail made of chakra formed out of Naruto's cloak and grabbed Tadakatsu around the waist and flung him into the air.

"The hell?"

"That was me. When you're in this form I can assist you by forming chakra tails independent of you."

"Could I make chakra tails as well?"

"Yes. I don't know why you would need to though since you can already make your mothers chakra chains."

"Good point. Speaking of chakra chains."

Naruto shot a chakra chain up toward Tadakatsu and grabbed him around the waist. He pulled him down and slammed him into the ground hard.

"TADAKATSU!" Tayuya screamed as her body became covered in black marks. She ran over and got in between Naruto and her love.

"I-I told you not to interfere." Tadakatsu said as he forced himself to stand back up. His legs gave out and he fell face first into the dirt.

"I'm not going to let you die fighting this lame ass!"

Tayuya pulled out her flute and put it up to her mouth.

"You're genjutsu won't work on me Tayuya. Don't waste your time."

"Naruto!" A voice was heard from the direction of the village. Suddenly Omoi and Karui appeared.

"Naruto, what's happening?" Karui asked as she and Omoi readied their swords.

Tayuya took this opportunity to assure her and Tadakatsu's escape. She began playing her flute and suddenly Omoi and Karui positioned their swords to stab right through their hearts.

"Guys!? What did you do to them!?"

"You may be immune to my genjutsu but they aren't. Let me take Tadakatsu out of here and I'll let them live. Take one step toward me and I'll have them kill themselves."

Naruto had no choice. He nodded and Tayuya picked up Tadakatsu and slung him over her shoulder.

"Don't try and follow us. If you move before the genjutsu is dispelled your friends are dead."

Naruto simply nodded once more. Tayuya took off with Tadakatsu and left Naruto and his brainwashed team.

Naruto stood there motionless for at least ten minutes before Karui and Omoi snapped out of the genjutsu.

"Naruto? What the hell just happened?" Karui asked as she held her aching head.

"Come with me to the raikage's tower. I want to tell everyone at the same time."

Elsewhere

A man stood staring at the double door of his bosses office scared out of his mind.

"Why do I have to be the one to break the news to him..." The man whispered. He gathered his courage and lightly knocked on the door.

"Enter." A muffled voice could be heard saying from the other side.

The man did as instructed and walked over to the desk of the man. He was lucky. His boss preferred the dark so he was unable to see the man's body behind the shadows. He walked over to the man's desk and bowed slightly.

"I assume you bring me news of mr. Takamaru's fate." The man said calmly.

"Y-Yes sir... The demon brothers failed."

The man took a few steps back expecting to incur the wrath of the man behind the desk. His father was known for his temper after all. Why wouldn't his son have a temper as well? Surprisingly the expected outburst never came.

"Elaborate." The man ordered as calm as can be.

"Well... It appears that a bounty hunter killed them and incapacitated the others. We confirmed that their bounties were recently delivered but it's impossible to know who did it. The bounty organization keeps the identity of their hunters secret."

"You have my thanks for bringing this news to my attention. Make contact with the sound village and arrange another meeting with their leader. I have another job for him."

"Y-Yes sir." The underling quickly left the room and closed the door behind him. He wiped some sweat from his brow and let out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding.

"Gato's son is a hundred times more intimidating then Gato ever was."

With Tayuya and Tadakatsu

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Tadakatsu screamed as his earth lance tore through a tree. His torso bandaged up after the fight with Naruto.

"You're over reacting." Tayuya said as she watched her lovers tantrum.

"THAT PUNK IS NOT BETTER THAN ME! HE ONLY WON BECAUSE OF THAT STUPID FOX!"

"I warned you against fighting him in the first place. You don't have a curse mark."

"So what! Because I don't have a curse mark that makes me weaker than him? Weaker than you?"

"I didn't say that..."

"I'm not weaker than him! I'll fight him again, and next time I'll bring an equalizer for that stupid fox."

"Listen to yourself! You sound like a little bitch. Quit throwing your little hissy fit and get over it." Tayuya punctuated her sentence by slapping Tadakatsu across the face.

"YOU LITTLE!" He screamed as he brought his hand up to strike her. His hand stopped right next to her face but Tayuya didn't even flinch.

"We both know you'd never hit me so don't waste my time acting like you would."

Tadakatsu ran his hand through his hair and composed himself.

"You're right. I would never hit you. I love you way too much for that. There is another way I can take out my aggression on you though." Tadakatsu grabbed Tayuya by the shoulders and pinned her up against a tree before smashing his lips against hers. When they broke for air Tayuya smiled.

"It's been awhile since we did this without Karin. Make it rough."

"I intend to."

Author's notes: Real talk for a minute. There's a reason I haven't updated in awhile besides the holidays. Recently the dog that my family has loved and babied for over ten years died. To put that in perspective I'm twenty years old. I had that dog for over half of my life. I've been depressed for awhile and had no energy whatsoever for writing. I understand that you guys have been waiting for awhile for this chapter so instead of waiting for my usual update day of friday I decided to put this one up thursday. Hopefully I can get back on track with the one update a week promise I made. I hope you guys like this chapter and the fight scene in it. As always review and flame and all that good stuff.