Return of the Ninja

A couple days later, Sasuke, Shikamaru and Neji were standing in front of the Hokage, explaining what had happened on their mission.

"And then there was the body in the middle of the bloodbath." Shikamaru ended his explanation.

"… She is dead?" The Hokage asked.

The three ninja averted their eyes. "Yes." Sasuke said.

The Hokage sighed. "So, you couldn't bring Chiyoko back…"

The three ninja nodded their heads sadly.

[Continuing from the cutoff point of Chiyoko and Sachi's meeting]

She eyed Chiyoko evilly. "Do you know what my name is?"

"… Sachi?"

"No. My real name. My demon name."

"Demon name?" Chiyoko said confused.

The demon giggled. "You, the child of one thousand generations. Chiyoko. Me, the demon who has lived through one thousand generations worth of people. Me, the demon who can live forever without aging or growing weak. Eternity. Chiyo."

Chiyoko's memory stirred. She had read that name somewhere. "I am the Demon of Eternity. I have cheated Death hundreds of times."

Chiyoko thought harder. She knows this. She knows this demon. The words should be jumping off of the page for her. The page.

"Chiyo…? The demon who lives through its hosts?... Your Chiyo? The legendary succubus?" Chiyoko's mind was reeling. She had inherited the powers of the most powerful and oldest demon succubus. She was standing in front of her, vulnerable as a mouse stuck in a corner with a cat prowling before it. The stupid demon was right, Chiyoko should have waited. This was too much.

"Hm." Chiyo's smile widened as her eyes narrowed. "Surprise, surprise. Your life is just full of them, hm?"

Chiyoko's legs failed her. She wobbled, then dropped to her knees and finally sat down.

"This isn't exactly the moment for a breakdown. You're in front of an enemy, you know."

"I… I can't…"

"Hm? What was that?"

"I…" Chiyoko took a deep breath. "I won't be weak."

"That's my girl!"

Chiyoko scowled, fiery anger engulfing her once more. "I. Am. Not. Yours."

"Oh, yes you are. And you can't deny it." The demon sang.

Chiyoko growled. The demon turned around and began walking away. Her pets followed.

"I suggest you sleep on it. Such things can be overwhelming. I'll come back later!" She waved behind her to Chiyoko.

Staring at her back, Chiyoko gripped her kunai, the last one that she had hidden. Starting with lightening speed, she ran towards Chiyo.

The demon paused for the fraction of a second it took for Chiyoko to close the distance between them, and smiled ever so slightly. Then the kunai stabbed through her clothing, through her skin and into her heart, making blood flow out into her lungs. She jerked in surprise and fell to the ground. All around Chiyoko, there was a disturbance in the air. Chakra was coalescing around the body in front of her. She looked around frantically, confused. The pressure became too much and she had to step away from the body. She could still sense the demon's presence, but as the pressure started to fade, so did her presence.

She's trying to get away. She's going to find another host! Chiyoko thought. Before she could take a step to follow the presence, the bodies around her suddenly exploded. Some fell apart randomly and some had blood bleed from their eyes, through the pores of their skin. By the time everything was still and quiet, she had lost her connection to the presence.

Damn it. She's still alive. I know it. Chiyoko thought, grinding her teeth in fury. She quickly made off from the bloody scene, not knowing where to go but knowing anywhere would be better off than here. With the dead bodies of her mother's pets.

Back in Konoha, Naruto was trying to find Sasuke. He had found Chiyoko's apartment unlocked and empty. Her house had also been burned down. There was confusion in the street her house was on. That was where he found Sasuke.

"Hey! Sasuke. Have you seen Chiyoko?"

"Kuro left the other night. She's not coming back."

"What?! She left? Why? When? Who burnt her house down?"

"She did. She left because of her demon mother. The news is everywhere now. Nearly everyone knows about Kuro being a demon."

"Really? How come I haven't heard of this? Stupid Chiyoko. She just broke up the team!"

"We're not much of a team."

"Hmph. She still just left us… And she's not coming back?"

Sasuke shook his head. "Unless someone finds her. She's officially a missing-nin."

"A missing-nin? No way."

"She's dangerous. And she's a demon. Of course she's on the missing-nin list."

"Hey, Naruto. Sasuke." Neji and Shikamaru joined them in front of the house of ashes.

"She burnt her own house down?" Neji asked.

"Yeah. I don't see any reason to, but it was her doing." Shikamaru answered.

"But it's her house. She's not going to have anywhere to stay now." Naruto said.

"She's not coming back, Naruto." Neji said. "She made that clear."

"Not unless we force her to come back." Shikamaru sighed, scratching the back of his head. "The Hokage has assigned a mission for me to find her. It'll be nearly impossible though. We already gathered that no one has seen her."

"Hmmm." Naruto grumbled.

"What's the point? She's only out there for her mother. She'll come back when she's finished her business." Sasuke said.

"But she'll go about it the wrong way." Shikamaru said. "She's a succubus and she'll most likely be using her powers. She'll need sustenance."

"Half succubus." Naruto emphasized.

"A demon's a demon no matter how you look at it. She has the mindset of a demon anyways." Neji said.

"Hm." Sasuke said in agreement. The four ninja looked at the remains of the house.

[Approximately three years later…]

In Konoha, a few ninja were expecting a fellow ninja to return. Any day now, he could arrive. Today just happened to be the day he would be stepping back into Konoha from two and a half years of training. He leapt up onto a pole, observing his surroundings.

"Ah! They carved Granny's head into the cliff!" Naruto exclaimed, shading his eyes from the sun.

"Naruto!" Naruto looked down to see Sakura waving up at him.

"Sakura-chan!" He jumped down. He smiled at Sakura.

"Woah, you've grown tall Naruto." Sakura said, raising her hand to compare their heights.

"Eh? Really?"

"Yeah. I used to be taller than you." They smiled widely.

Throughout the day, Naruto meandered around, meeting all of his other friends.

Elsewhere, Sasuke was sitting in a booth in a bar, hands interlaced in front of his face. He waited patiently as the waitresses whispered about him behind their hands. One had the courage to ask him a question.

"Um. Are you ready to order?" She hid a little behind her tray.

"No. I'm not having anything." He said smoothly. The girl blushed and bustled away, going to the bar to squeal with her friends about the attractive boy to whom she had just spoken to. Despite the years that had gone by, he was still the famous pretty boy.

Not a minute later, a lady walked in, casually taking a seat at the bar. She ordered a drink and waited patiently for it. When she got it, she took a sip and turned an eye towards the boy in the booth. Taking another sip of her drink, she stood up and joined him in the booth. He looked at her with his coal black eyes. She looked at him with her dark chocolate ones.

"Sasuke. Long time no see." She relaxed into her seat, spinning her drink on the table.

"It has been a while."

"How long exactly?"

"About six months."

"How's the revenge going for you?"

"That's not appropriate."

"Sorry. Just trying for some small talk." She took another swig.

"That's not small talk."

"Okay, so I was curious. Whatever."

"Chiyoko." Sasuke said guardedly.

"Hm? What? Oh, right. Down to business." She finished her drink then turned towards him. "What is it? What has Orochimaru got you doing now?"

"Orochimaru doesn't have anything to do with this."

"Hm? I'm not helping you with anything this time?"

"No. This has to do with your mother."

"… Her, huh? What, you got a lead?"

"Yes. I've heard that she is associating with a criminal."

"Really? Sounds kind of fishy. I always thought that she worked alone. By the way, why are telling me this? Does this benefit you at all?"

"Yes. Because now we have the same goal. Itachi is collaborating with your mother."

"What? Why the hell would my mother be with your brother? What does he need with her?"

"I don't know. But, if you're looking for your mother, than you will be looking for Itachi. I want you to help me find him."

"… Help you find him… I've got nothing better to do except try and find my mother. But that's what I'll be doing, right? I'm in. Another drink please!" Chiyoko ordered. "Do you want anything? It's on me."

"No."

"All right. Still grumpy Sasuke as always."

"Still annoying Chiyoko as always."

They looked at each other, Chiyoko's second drink at her lips.

"Hn" Chiyoko said mockingly. She downed her drink in one go. "I guess we should get going." She said, throwing some money on the table.

"Yes."

They walked out of the bar.

Thanks for reading! :D