Chapter 18:
A/N: I would like to thank everyone who reviewed the last chapter, as well as everyone who has followed and favorited this story.
"Old man, what the fuck do you mean he's innocent?" Naruto asked the Third Hokage sitting at his desk, his voice already beginning to rise with anger.
Sighing, the Hokage leaned back in his chair and brought his hand to the bridge of his nose, leaving it there for a minute before moving his hands to rest folded together on his desk. "Naruto, please do not make me explain it again. You may be angry with the situation, but you know why Itachi had to do what he did and the consequences of what would have happened if that didn't happen. Now, I need you to not tell anyone else about this. The only reason I am telling you is because the organization he is infiltration has a…fascination with people like you and according to him they are beginning to make some preparations before going after their first victim. Hopefully, we can stop them before they decide to go after you but it is better to be cautious." He explained to his grandson-like figure, trying his hardest to keep his voice calm and steady.
Naruto, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to rip his head off. He wanted to scream until his voice was raw. Why did it have to end up like that. He wanted to yell at the man in front of him and ask why someone else couldn't do it, but Naruto already knew the answer to that question. If someone else did it, it would have been questioned why such a powerful clan was murdered, not to mention it would have been extremely hard for someone who didn't have close ties like Itachi and the experience that Itachi had to pull something like that off. And of course when the public eventually found out why it happened, it would have been questioned why the two brothers were spared.
Still, Naruto was thinking more on emotions than logic at the moment and couldn't figure out if Sasuke being spared was a blessing or a curse. Yes, he was alive, but at what cost. He lost everything he knew and his entire world was taken by the one who claimed to be his older brother. On top of that, Sasuke was kept in the dark about everything, so that didn't help his mental state in the slightest.
For a brief moment, Naruto thought about what it would be like when Sasuke eventually found out the truth about what happened to his family. Ever since that day he had his sights set on killing his brother. So when he found out the truth, would that make him not want to kill his brother anymore? What if he found out after he killed his brother? Would be regret what he did then? Either way, it would fuck up the kids mental state even more once he found out about it. His entire reality would be proven wrong once again and it would reshape the way he sees the world, most likely for the worst.
"So is there anything more you wanted to ask? Those were the words that currently ran through the youngest Todoroki's head as he sat on his classmates bed. Yes. That was the immediate answer that came to his mind. Are you like me? Are you okay? You have offered to help me, if you are in the same situation, I should offer my help as well. All of these things ran through Todoroki's mind but none came out of his mouth as he bit his lip and played with his fingers.
He was trying to word his question so it wouldn't offended or upset his classmate, but he couldn't think of a way to say it without sounding rude.
Feeling the bed dip down, Todoroki saw that Naruto had sat beside him, sitting against the wall. "I promise I won't get angry with you. Just tell me what's been on your mind." Those words sounded genuine, but Todoroki was not that close with his classmate. They had barely spoken before and after the sports festival, something that made him sad for a reason that he could not understand.
Finally being able to form words after a small pause, Todoroki mustered up some courage and said, "Scares…" Never before had he wanted the earth to just come and swallow him up. Scares? Was that really the best he could come up with after he carefully formulated his response in his head?
His classmate, however, didn't seem bothered by what he asked and just asked, "What about them?"
Now knowing that Naruto would not shut him out about the subject, he asked, "How did you get them?"
"Well now isn't that a loaded question?" Naruto asked as he chuckled darkly to himself and heaved a sigh. "Do you remember when you first met Shikamaru and how we explained a little bit about our village?"
Nodding, Todoroki let his classmate know that yes, he did remember. He had spent hours searching for the place that they came from but found nothing. Shoto did not find this unusual because they did say they were very rural and barley had internet, but he still wanted to talk to his father about sending some of his sidekicks there. He wanted to help Naruto's country, and his father was always looking for somewhere to send his many sidekicks.
"Well, after graduating from the academy there I did find work right away, but this work was in the military. Partly because I wanted to help my village but also because no full-time job in the village would give me satisfaction while also paying my bills. I worked alongside Shikamaru, who was recruited to work for the military after our village found out that he had a natural knack for strategy. It's another reason why were still so close. The only reason I left was because Jiraiya-my godfather-offered to pay for my schooling out here so I could become a hero, which was a dream I had when I was a little kid. Shikamaru and I were always close and he wanted to support me, so he moved out here with me to become a hero tactic and once I graduated and got my own agency, he agreed to come work for me." Naruto explained.
Sitting in shock for what felt like an. Eternity, Todoroki tried to process what his classmate had just told him. Military…at just twelve? For two years at that and he was still alive? While most people didn't like the military now, they still dealed with international affairs that heroes didn't and were needed. From what Todoroki gathered it was very bloody and the people who did make it out alive were never the same.
Taking a couple more minutes to formulate a response, he asked, "So the scares are from battles?"
"Yeah, battle and torture from when I would get captured from the enemy." Naruto responded, shrugging his shoulders as if this was the most normal thing in the world. But all his words did was shock his classmate even more. Scares littered his entire body and he had gotten all of them in only two years? He always thought people were exaggerating when it came to the military but now, he was beginning to think that they weren't telling the public enough if every solider had the same amount of scares as Naruto.
"Why would you stay?" He asked his classmate. He didn't mean for those words to come out of his mouth, but he had already said them before he was even able to process what he was saying. And seeing the confused look from his classmate, Todoroki figured he should just expand on what he was trying to say rather than bury the question down and have it constantly eat at him.
"Why would you stay in the military if it hurt you that much? What was the point?"
"I did tell you that my dream was always to be a hero. Since we didn't really have heroes where I came from, everyone saw the military as the heroes and it actually wasn't such an uncommon thing to join like it is here. It was the next best thing I could get to my dream. Besides, heroes get scares in fights too, right? That doesn't stop them from quitting their job though as soon as they get hurt, they just get stronger. Each one of these scares has helped me get stronger. I don't think I'll ever regret my decision or change it for the world. I loved what I did when I was in the military and I could really make a change where it counted for me."
Nodding along at what his classmate said, Todoroki stood and uttered a quiet but sincere "Thank you for your honesty." Before leaving the room. He had a lot to think about.
Naruto thought that the past two days hadn't been the most interesting, but they weren't boring per say. Today however, was possibly the most uninteresting day Naruto ever had to experience. The entire day had been spent in Endeavor's office as he had Naruto and Todoroki run around like errand boys dropping off paperwork, collecting paperwork, sending faxes, and much more that made Naruto want to rip his eyes from his sockets. Watching paint dry would be more interesting than what he was doing.
If the hokage had as much paperwork as this hero, Naruto was seriously starting to rethink his decision of becoming the next one. He would just become the next best thing, which was ANBU commander.
So at the end of the day, Naruto could barely focus on what Endeavor was saying as he tried to not bounce off the walls. This is why he wasn't suited for undercover missions. Naruto usually got all of his energy out on missions, or enough to where he could sit and do paperwork and other things without wanting to do everything but be still. It was also because of this that Naruto missed Shikamaru whispering something to Endeavor and then what the man said to them. He only came back to reality when Shikamaru lead him to his room and told him to change into his hero costume.
It didn't take long after everyone arrived in Hosu for it to go to shit. They had only been walking around on patrol for about two hours when Nomu's rained down out of nowhere. Almost immediately once they saw a building, they would start destroying it, causing buildings to collapse and set on fire. Throughout the chaos, Shikamaru and Naruto had been separated from the Todoroki's. Not that the boys minded, they just hoped that Endeavor wouldn't focus on showing off to his youngest throughout the entire ordeal.
Naruto also supposed that they should met up with them before any of them interacted with the Hero Killer. Todoroki wouldn't be able to take him on and Endeavor would need help fighting him as he had a very unique fighting style.
Granted, no one had ever caught him on camera. But, from the marks on his victims and the claims made from the pro-hero ingenium, police were able to roughly sketch out what his fighting style would look like. Naruto and Shikamaru also had their theories and they were both hoping to see if they were true or not.
The two shinobi, wanting to help but not wanting to bring to much attention to themselves, set themselves to evacuating citizens. They made sure to follow where they thought the bigger fights would be taking place as that's where they thought Endeavor would show up at some point.
To the shinobi's credit, they were not wrong. 15 minutes later they were met with the sight of Endeavor and a couple of other heroes battling a Nomu. Running over, Naruto and Shikamaru thought they could make themselves known to their boss and also ask where the younger Todoroki was, as they had yet to see him.
It turns out that they didn't even have to ask before the hero was already telling them where his son ran off to. "Naruto, I must request that you find my son and provide him backup. I don't know where he went and I must say I am worried about him and what villains he might encounter. He said something about a fellow classmate of his named…" Endeavor trailed off, grunting as he let more flames come out from his body and onto the Nomu that he was currently battling. "Some kid named Midoriya sending out his location and that's where he would be."
Whipping out his phone, Naruto saw that Izuku did indeed send out his location. Sharing a look with Shikamaru, the came to a mutual agreement and Naruto ran off in search of his two classmates. He had a very strong feeling that they were indeed fighting the Hero Killer.
"He's probably knocked out after all of that…right?" This is what Naruto heard as he hopped from various rooftops, following the directions on his phone to get to Izuku and Todoroki's location.
Once he hopped over his last rooftop, he saw from his spot on the roof that not only were Izuku and Todoroki there, but also Iida what appeared to be a pro hero but Naruto could not be sure of this.
Upon closer inspection of the scene, Naruto saw the Hero Killer Stain laying on a piece of ice in the air and appeared to be unconscious. He also noticed that no one had taken notice of his presence yet.
"Then, let's restrain him and get out to the street." This time, it was Todoroki who spoke up. It seemed that his classmates plus the one maybe pro hero all thought that Stain was unconscious. But Naruto move better as he saw the man ever so slightly reaching back for one of his blades, and he also felt the man's chakra presence indicating that he was injured, but indeed awake.
Seeing as no one else was picking up on this, Naruto quickly reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a scroll. Biting his thumb to get some blood, he unraveled the scroll and swiped his blood across it to reveal his own sword that was being kept inside the storage seal. Still trying to conceal his presence as much as possible, Naruto leaped off of the roof and onto where the Hero Killer was, weapon raised with the intent to stab the man.
But mid-air attacks were never Naruto's strong suit, and the Hero Killer was able to make a run for it and Naruto landed where he previously was, a chunk of ice falling down due to his sword going through it. Looking to his left, Naruto saw Stain now standing a couple feet away with another sword raised, his eyes focused completely on Naruto.
"Naruto?! What are you doing here?!" His confused cry came from Izuku, who was looking at Naruto like he was insane.
"Izuku, when you send out your location you need to expect people showing up to it, especially when it comes with no context. I couldn't help but assume the worst. Besides, Endeavor sent me as back up until some pro's can get here after dealing with the Nomu's." Naruto explained to his classmates as he kept his eyes locked on Stain, a silent battle going on between the two.
Taking up a battle stance, Iida was the next to speak. "Please, Naruto, Izuku and Todoroki are here because of mistakes that I have made and I must take care of them myself. I cannot allow you to bleed for me as these two have. Please, let me take on the Hero Killer and become a true hero!"
Snorting, Naruto didn't even try to hide his amusement with that statement. Normally, he would be more careful about how he approached these situations, but he was in ANBU mode right now and didn't have time to deal with it at the moment. "Honestly Iida, the fact that you think you can take him on alone, even with your injuries, is just so amusing to me. Izuku and Todoroki might have knocked your head out of the place you were before and ended your whole I-will-kill-the-hero-killer thing you had going on, but the three of you could barely handle him and he's still standing. So no, I will not move aside."
"Naruto please! This is something I must do! I cannot allow my friends to bleed on behalf of mistakes that I have made!" Iida cried out in what was becoming borderline desperation.
"Oh no, please do not tell me you little fakes in training are friends with the little blonde up there." Stain said, speaking for the first time since Naruto arrived. As he said these words, his eyes moved from Naruto's to study his three classmates, effectively ending their silent battle.
"Of course we're friends with him. He is our classmate and has helped us all out in one way or another." This statement came from Todoroki, who was glaring at the man standing across from him.
Snorting, Stain said, "Do you know what he has done? Because I do, and I can promise none of you will like it." His eyes than moved ever so slowly to Naruto's, almost in a teasing matter. "I can recognize the look of a killer when I see one."
This statement seemed to shock his classmates, as well as the pro hero as they all stared at him with wide eyes, waiting for him to deny the claim.
But, instead of denying the claim, Naruto hopped down from the piece of ice he was crouching on and stood on the ground. He then threw his blade over his shoulder and calmly walked over to the Hero Killer, stopping a few feet in front of the man.
"You know, that's a very interesting technique you have there, Stain. I haven't seen anything like that used really anywhere else here. I can't help but wonder where you learned that fighting style." Naruto said, mocking the man.
The Hero Killer in question seemed shaken up by this comment, but quickly regained his air of confidence back. But, before he could say anything to counter Naruto's statement, he began speaking again.
"You know, where I come from, we had a place called Kirigakure. Now, this place wasn't anything too special, but it was known for producing the seven best swordsmen from where I come from. But there were always rumors floating around that there were originally eight members, but one left the group. The others refused to say anything on the matter, but it was often said that he left a Stain in that little group." Taking a moment to pause for emphasis, Naruto enjoyed the look of petrification that was making its way onto the other man's face before continuing once again.
"You know, Akaguro Chizome, you have gotten too comfortable here. You aren't half as good at concealing your presence as everyone claimed you were." And with that said, Naruto raised his blade and swung at the other man before he had the chance to get over his shock.
A/N: And that's another chapter done! I know this one is really short compared to the others; I promise the next one will be longer. I just wanted to give you guys another chapter this week to make up for the delay of chapter 17. But what do y'all think of this chapter? I know I left you on a cliffhanger, but I have been told to make the story more suspenseful lol. What do you think will happen with Naruto and the others now that it has been hinted to them that Naruto may have killed people in the past? And how do you think the fight between Stain and Naruto will turn out?