Naruto Shippuden -H-: Chapter 036: The Windmill of Change
Andarius had started to run towards the area where Shikamaru, Sakura, Sai, and the young woman in the swamp were located, following Dreatoen's appearance towards Naruto.
"Before you head out there to try and intimidate them, you better watch out, they are skilled." said Naruto to Andarius speaking of his comrades of the leaf.
"I know, but chill, I am not going to engage in combat with them, you can even come with me, hell I want to show you that we Knights of Dawn will keep our word now that you are here, even if you personally don't approve of us." said Andarius to Naruto.
"No, go ahead, I believe you, after all, to you guys I am like some kind of messiah, although that belief is misguided." said Naruto with confusion towards the eight men in front of him.
"No we believe that Hirudeguarn is the messiah, you are the one he was taken interest in as of late, we are just following his orders, that is all." said Lehourihm to Naruto with a blank expression.
"Then that gives me room to trash this place if any of you act up." said Naruto as he walked towards Dreatoen and looked him eye to eye.
"Would you put all of these innocent bystanders at risk just because of what Zaire did back in Ishigakure?" asked Dreatoen to Naruto with a mocking tone.
"No, I would merely drag each of you one by one and throw you into oblivion." said Naruto as he entered his Tailed Beast Chakra Mode, the level beyond Nine Tails Chakra Mode.
"Heh, that is a step above what I have seen before." said Antoine with a surprised look on his face.
"Well, you are definatley a master of intimidation, at least towards ninety-nine percent of the earth, we are not saying that you lack bite with your bark, we just know that you will comply with Hirudeguarn's gesture towards you, after all, a chance to fight him is like fighting all eight of us at once." said Jesei with an ecstatic tone towards Naruto.
"Once again, you manage to keep the scales tipped in your favor, just remember that I do not have to abide to your boss' wish to wait two weeks if I do not want to." said Naruto as a fiery glow could be seen in his eyes.
"I know, but don't worry, you can release all of your anger towards the loss of Ishigakure's citizens, as well as the ones that I killed in Amazeo, and the ones that Zaire killed in his torture chamber, all towards are boss when you fight him." said Tetsuga with a smile on his war-craving eyes.
"Just for that, you will be the first one I come after when my battle with this boss of yours is over." said Naruto to Tetsuga as he approached Dreatoen again.
"Look, I will bring my friends here, we will stay in this city for two weeks, and then I will face your boss in combat, but in exchange, once that battle is finished, you eight will all be at my mercy." said Naruto as Kurama's eyes looked over the eight men with a menacing glare.
"That Nine-Tails and Naruto being perfectly synched makes for something just as scary as our boss when he is mad." said Lunesto as sweat was pouring down from his forehead.
"Andarius, let Naruto go alone to escort his friends to this very spot, once you and the others arrive, I will show you to a living quarters where you can remain undisturbed by us for two weeks, we will be sure to give you some space, I am just thankful that you have agreed to our wishes, and I fully understand your desire to avenge those who we have killed, hell, I don't really want to live anymore anyway." said Dreatoen as he retained a saddened look on his face, which then turned into one of insane glee.
"I shall return soon, you, the guy with the pink horns on his head, you tell those others to leave the area now so that way I can trust your word and yours alone." said Naruto as he started to walk towards the directions of where his friends were located.
"Fair enough, the rest of you report back to the Castle of Leviticus, I will see to this alone." said Dreatoen who managed to conceal his emotions again.
"Hehehe, I was tempted to say something during this entire exchange, but Naruto himself took the words right out of my mouth." said Zaire with a satisfied tone as he and the other six Knights started to run back towards the direction of the castle.
"It was nice meeting you Naruto, although I believe that next time, things will be a little more... depressing." said Lehourihm with a saddened tone as he and the others disappeared into the mass of buildings below the staircase leading to Leviticus.
"Well, go ahead and get your friends, I will wait here, agreed?" asked Dreatoen towards Naruto.
"Fine, I will back shortly, just wait here." said Naruto with a calm, but irritated tone as he did not want to be away from Hinata for an extended period of time.
Naruto quickly dashed towards his team's location as Dreatoen looked on towards the setting sun as the seventh and final day of the one week journey to Lazarus was nearing an end.
Meanwhile in Konohagakure, Kakashi was looking out through his window into the sunset, thinking of the well-beings of Naruto and the others.
"It has been about a week now, I would have came along too, but as Hokage that would not be practical now would it, hehe, in any case, it is not like I am needed anyway, but still, deep down I feel that Naruto will return an even bigger hero that he was before." said Kakashi as Hinata had walked into the Hokage's room.
"Sorry to keep bothering you, Lord Hokage, but I was just wanting to know if any word on Naruto's status had came back yet?" asked Hinata with a worried tone.
"Not yet I am afraid, but that is most likely because Naruto had forgot and is a lousy writer, though I believe that Sasuke and Bee will update us on the overall situation once the time is right, in other words, Naruto and his company will be fine, now you and Naruto's future should just relax for a while, sit next to the window if ya want." said Kakashi to Hinata with a friendly gesture.
"Okay, I will wait here for a bit, perhaps a messenger Hawk will fly in anytime to update us." said Hinata as she sat beside the window that looked out into the direction of her and Naruto's house.
"Oh Naruto, I know it has only been a week, but to me it feels like an eternity, I just hope that you are not letting any worries bring you down, I only want you to feel joy for eternity." thought Hinata to herself as she tried to hold back the tears in her eyes due to her mind wondering about Naruto.
"It will be fine, trust me, I have seen the grimmest of all situations, but when Naruto is present, it gets brighter." said Kakashi to Hinata with a tone of joy.
"Thank you Lord Hokage." said Hinata as she continued to stare into the sky as it transitions into night.
Naruto had arrived at his friend's location, with his Tailed Beast Mode, minus the Kurama avatar, activated.
"I have met with the Knights of Dawn, looks like we will be staying here for two weeks." said Naruto with an angered tone on his face.
"What, two weeks, why is that?" asked Sakura with a curious tone.
"Because the whole reason for us coming out here, according to the Knights of Dawn, is to have a personal fight with Hirudeguarn, their boss and the man that they have been referring to as the Apathetic Judge." said Naruto with a stern tone.
"Hirudeguarn eh, huh, so this is the whole reason behind all of this bullshit, someone else wants to try and start another conflict." said Shikamaru with a bothered look in his eyes.
"Well, we are here as well, plus if my eyes and memory serve me correct, it looks like we are not alone anymore." said Sai as he could see two figures in the distance of the swamp walking towards them.
"...But that man is evil, he is the one who did this to me...and my family." said the young lady that Naruto had saved earlier.
"I know, that is why I am going to avenge your family when I fight him, and then I will make sure that something like this never happens again." said Naruto to the young woman with a smile on his face.
"Still the same happy gestures as always, though in this case, I guess it is well deserved." said Sasuke as he and Bee approached Naruto and the others as night had arrived.
"Yo Naruto, it has been a while, though from what me and Sasuke had seen back in the woods, I am just glad to not be dead... damn that did not rhyme." said Bee with a confused tone about him.
"So you two have been traveling together all of this time, I guess you must have seen the other Kages about this whole thing then, am I right?" asked Naruto to Sasuke.
"Yes, I have told them about the whole incident here, including a man named Andarius attacking Kirigakure and almost killing the Mizukage and Inari among others." said Sasuke to Naruto.
"That bastard." thought Naruto thinking of Andarius and what he had said earlier.
"Yo check it, the five kage are going to meet in the Land of Iron to host another Kage Summit, this time concerning the things my man Sasuke here had just finished telling you." said Bee as he gave a fist bump to Naruto.
"Heh, is Sasuke as boring as ever to travel around with or what?" asked Naruto to Bee with a laugh.
"I know man it is frisky, he would not even try some of my own special whisky." said Bee as Sasuke walked towards Sakura.
"I will be staying by your side the whole time we are here, perhaps it can make up for the week that you were alone." said Sasuke as he gave Sakura a hug and then proceeded to stare off towards the many lights of the buildings and power poles in Lazarus.
"Thank you, Sasuke, I have been wondering how you were doing lately, but now that you are here again, at least I can be a little optimistic now." said Sakura.
"I will tend to this woman, let's go on ahead to the city while we are at it." said Sai with a serious tone.
"I agree with that, this Dreatoen guy told me that he would be waiting back in the city to escort us to a house where we will have to stay for two weeks if I am to fight this Apathetic Judge, Hirudeguarn in battle." said Naruto as Sasuke seemed surprised.
"So my suspicion was right, Orochimaru's brother is the Apathetic Judge." said Sasuke with a worried tone in his voice.
"Huh, Orochimaru's brother?" asked Naruto with confusion.
"You mean someone as bad or worse that that freak, oh great." said Shikamaru with a tone of fear.
"Huh, I don't like this at all, and after everything that has happened so far, the more allies we have on our side the better." said Sakura as she was nervous about the upcoming two weeks.
"Don't worry fool, ya fool, whether he is the brotha of a freak or not, this devil's terrible acts will be put to an end when Naruto gets a hold of him, and we will help too." said Bee with a joyful expression.
"Okay, with the six of us now here, let's go to where I spoke with that Dreatoen guy, he will be the one to let us know what to do next, or at least where to stay for the night." said Naruto as he, Sasuke, Bee, Sakura, Sai, Shikamaru, and the young lady all walked towards the entrance of the city of Lazarus.
Elsewhere, standing atop the Castle of Leviticus, Hirudeguarn was staring over the horizon as the night sky had came in, with his large mortician's hat shadowing his demonic eyes as he could sense Naruto and his team's arrival the moment they stepped foot into the city.
"Alright, it looks like things are a go then, I am so happy for this, if only I could meet him face to face directly, but oh well, two weeks are nothing but a second to my mind which has seen all." thought Hirudeguarn to himself as the seven Knights of Dawn that left towards the castle earlier all arrived on top of it, and bowed to Hirudeguarn.
"You know I usually like to be alone during these times, but I will make a special occasion this time, for with your help, Naruto is in a position in which he cannot turn my request, no my demand down, and as for the Shinobi Alliance, we will let them have their Summit in peace, the time for their own personal hell will come soon, for so is the will of Rah'Zuh." said Hirudeguarn with his bloodshot eyes looking directly towards the many stars that covered the night sky.
"Yes, this is the most glorious moment for our city ever since it's founding, to be able to know that you are ready to get personally involved is all the more reason for us to be motivated, retribution will be the first priority for us, or at least for me." said Jesei as he stood up and walked towards Hirudeguarn.
"My dear friend, it has been a long time coming, but peace will finally be with you again, for I will not rest until your troubles are taken care of." said Hirudeguarn as the giant serpentine demon looked down towards Jesei with a sincere tone to his deep, booming voice.
"Yes, and the end of the worthless system of Alliances as well, for hypocrisy is one thing that us Knights of Dawn will not tolerate." said Jesei with a glow in his grey eyes as he stared down at Naruto, as he and the others approached Dreatoen.
Naruto and his team had arrived at the location in which Dreatoen had waited like he had agreed to.
"I see you have everyone with you, the time for questions though is not nye, for tomorrow will be the time, for now just think of old thoughts and dwell on the things which soothe you, do not concern us at all, for we and you are one in the same." said Dreatoen to his company with an enigmatic tone.
"Huh, this guy sure has a way with words, but I will not let it fool me." said Sakura as she was standing beside Sasuke.
"Yo, that was not even a rap, but I can dig it, wait... could this be the guy with that torture chamber?" asked Bee with a confused tone yet again.
"No, that would be Zaire, I am not him, as I said, questions will be saved for tomorrow." said Dreatoen.
"Oh really, and what if I were to change that myself?" asked Sasuke as he noticed the young woman standing beside of Shikamaru.
"So, that lady over there was a survivor of you sick fucks eh, well get ready then, for I can at least put her mind to rest." said Sasuke as he walked beside Naruto with his eyes filled with rage.
-To be continued next time with Chapter 037...-