Author Notes:

Dark and Alive Minato, Minato fans beware.

Alive Kushina.

Darker Naruto.

Original Characters x Established Characters

Not sure what everyone's big beef is with a background coupling but it's not going to change, might as well stop reading now.

Chapter 9: Taunting from a Snake

After a few days had passed both groups of shinobi came to find Tsunade, both sides that had offered her a deal showed up at the same time naturally. Orochimaru had not come alone this time though, bringing Kabuto and some pawns too, just in case she refused had the gall to refuse him. If she dared to do so, he would just take her by force and make her help him. How he would force her he wasn't sure yet, but he would be able to figure out the details for that later, first would be the issue to taking and subduing her.

The other side was thinking that she was going to refuse them, knowing that she really had no interest in returning to Konohagakure. If that was the case then they would contact Jiraiya and let her be his problem, something Kiro had been saying from the jump. Darious seemed a bit irritated with Tsunade after their discussion, only confiding in Kiro what had been said.

Of course Kiro had felt bad for his senpai, both were orphaned and Darious had found someone to treasure in Shizune when they were younger. Unfortunately, shortly after the Second Shinobi War they were separated when Tsunade left the village with her in tow. That had of course formed some feelings of resentment between Darious and Tsunade, something that he thought he had a better grip on.

Darious had been orphaned in a spat between Sunagakure and Konohagakure, living in a small village by the border. A lot of the citizens of that village lost their lives in it and left scars on the survivors. Darious was not immune, though his scars were psychological and not physical. When Jiraiya arrived after the fight had long since ended, he was attacked by the dark brown haired boy with a kunai he had found. Jiraiya, seeing all the pain and hatred in his eyes from what he had seen and endured, took the boy under his tutelage.

From the time Jiraiya had taken the boy as his only pupil, though Darious often felt as more of a babysitter for Jiraiya. That was until they found Kiro a couple years after the Third Ninja War. The brown haired boy was in a destroyed village, similar to how Darious had been, and had been living off of thievery. He had somehow stolen Jiraiya's coin purse making them look for him, all the while Darious suspecting he spent his money at a brothel. That was until they ended up finding the young Ookami boy.

It had become abundantly clear that the Great Toad Sage had a weak spot for orphans and ended up taking Kiro as a student as well. Darious, who had never fully recovered from his separation from Shizune, being a bit distant about it at first slowly opened up to Kiro. Though Kiro had always assumed that Darious blamed Tsunade for it but he kept it bottled up and contained, oddly enough something that Darious always told him not to do.

When they arrived at the spot that Tsunade had told them all to meet at the Konohagakure group who knew who he was, were more then a little surprised to see Orochimaru and his team. Kiro started to growl while Darious put his hand up to signal him to stay there, though to stay alert. Orochimaru was just smiling at him, his usual arrogance coming through, "Look what we have here, a tadpole and a pup."

Glaring at the man Darious shot back with his own comment, "Says the traitorous belly slider."

Laughing as he looked at the Konohagakure team he playfully looked back to Tsunade, "So Konohagakure was the other place that offered you a deal? I am surprised that you would even consider a deal from them Princess."

The blond Sannin looked at both groups, "I am here to deny both of your offers. I will not help you with your abominations and I will not return to that kami forsakeen village either. That is my final decision for both of you, now I need you both to leave me in peace."

Nodding his head at her Darious turned, accepting her decision for what it was. He would just relay it to Jiraiya and let him deal with it. Orochimaru on the other hand seemed to have taken a serious issue with said decision. His once playful look on his face now become one of outrage and anger while staring at her, "You refuse me? ME!? I give you an exceptionally kind offer and you refuse? That is unacceptable Tsunade!"

The snake Sannin looked at his pawns then back at Tusnade, "Take her by force! NOW!"

They nodded and went to move as Darious looked at Kiro, the elder man nodding at the other. Both of them flashed and stood between both of the groups. They removed their bags and tossed them to the side as Orochimaru started to laugh, "The pupils are going to fight us? You two may be able to get through them, but Kabuto and I will be more than a match for the both of you."

Darious smirked, "We shall see... Naruto, you and your team are responsible for the two pawns. Deal with them quickly and safely, your mother would murder me if something happened to you."

Said blond boy smiled then took off his bag. Naruko wore a matching smile while removing her bag as well. The only one of the three that didn't smile was of course Shikamaru, who took off his bag with an annoyed look, "Troublesome... we can never have a mission without a fight."

The younger brown haired man looked at his senior pupil, "Who do I get senpai?"

Darious looked at the two and smirked, "I get the snake."

Kiro smiled as he cracked his neck, "That means I get the little rat."

Team 13 vs Orochimaru's Henchmen...

Naruto and his teammates stood there looking at the two henchmen that they were suppose to fight. The blond jinchuriki sighed then issued the orders for his teammates, "I will take the one on the right, he has more chakra, you two can deal with the other one."

Both Shikamaru and Naruko nodded before Naruto flashed at his target, delivering a hard kick into his side, forcing him away from his teammate. As soon as his foot touched down Naruto flashed at his opponent again, making the man quickly go into a defensive stance. He put his hands up to block the punch coming from Naruto. As Naruto's fist was coming in the henchman countered him, grabbing his forearm and throwing him at a wall. Turning his body, Naruto stuck to the wall with chakra before looking up and flashing at the man again.

Shikamaru went through his hand signs quickly then sent his shadow after the henchman while Naruko ran at him with a kunai drawn. The henchman smiled as Naruko got close then flashed through his own signs and smirked, "I will deal with the shadow user first."

The man was gone in a flash then appeared next to Shikamaru, punching him hard in the cheek making the Nara heir go skidding towards Tsunade and Shizune. Naruko looked behind her to see Shikamaru on the ground then threw a kunai at the man. Easily evading the throw the man just looked back at her, "To think they would have mere genin fight me. I was a bit worried about fighting those two but this is just insulting, at least send me a challege!"

Narrowing her eyes at the blatant insult Naruko started weaving through hand signs, "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

The blond girl blew out a fireball directed at the man then flashed behind it. As the Henchman dodged the fireball but as he moved out of the way was greeted by her kneecap making her smile. As she stood there confidently, she looked at him and proudly exclaimed, "Do not underestimate us! We are the top genin team in Konohagakure! I am the daughter of the Yondaime Hokage and pupil of Kushina Uzumaki!"

The man stood up and laughed, spitting out a small bit of blood, "'The Princess of Konohagakure' huh? I will have fun holding you for ransom."

The teen just glared at the man then looked over at Shikamaru as he pushed himself off the ground shaking off the blow to his cheek. She then looked back at Naruto who was in a fierce taijutsu match with his opponent, she was on her own for the moment.

Naruto broke from his lock with the man then glared at him. Continuing to glare at him he jumped backwards, going through hand signs in air, "Wind Style: Gale Palm."

As he landed on solid ground his jutsu initiated and the wind came, pushing the man back. Naruto followed behind his jutsu closely, then connecting with a hard shot to the mans chin. His attack wasn't done though as he went into the air again weaving through more hand signs, "Lightning Style: Nervous System Shock."

As he came down he put his hands on the man and the jutsu passed through his body. He visibly locked up making Naruto smile. The boy stood, a confident smirk on his face as he looked down at the paralyzed man, then pulled out a kunai. Tsunade had been watching the boy with interest, her eyes widening as he pulled out a kunai, "What are you doing Naruto!? You already bested him!"

The boy didn't listen then slashed through the mans throat and followed through by throwing the kunai into the mans skull, just for good measure. He stared down at the body for a moment then looked over at her with an irritated but pained look on his face, "Shut up old woman. What I do is of no concern to you."

Tsunade just looked at him in shock, that was until her anger kicked in, "YOU LITTLE BRAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME OLD!?"

He ignored her then looked over at his teammates in time to see Shikamaru take a kick to the face. The genin tried to push himself off of the ground but fell back in pain. Naruko went to flash at the man but he caught her by the throat and slammed her down into the ground, a gasp escaping her as the air left her lungs. The henchman just smiled, "You know, I expected more from the Princess of Konohagakure. Maybe I should just kill you no-."

Suddenly, there was a blond blur before a grunt as Naruto sent the sole of his foot into the mans nose. Naruto stood over Naruko as he looked at the henchman with an angry look. The man got up from the ground, while fixing his clearly broken nose, to see Naruto standing there. His eyes scanned over to where he had last seen the blond boy to see his partner dead. A scoffing sound escaped him then his eyes came back to Naruto, "Interesting, a genin with skill."

Naruto just stared at him, "Only I get to mock the Princess."

The blond teen boy went through hand signs then let out a breath as clouds suddenly formed over them. He opened his eyes and glared at his new opponent then charged, tackling him to the ground before a lightning bolt came crashing down on them. The conscious ones in the area looked on in shock, what were the odds that a lightning bolt would randomly came down right on top of them. None of them realizing that he had brought it down on top of them deliberately. After a minute or so Naruto stood up from the crater and looked at them, his shirt torn to shreds from the impact of the lightning bolt. Shizune and Naruko looked at him in shock as Tsunade pieced it together and muttered, "The Storm bloodline..."

Kiro vs Kabuto...

The two stood there staring at one another before Kiro hit summoning markers on his belt and grabbed two hand blades. The design made it so that metal went half way up his forearm with articulated wrists. At the hand was a blade that encased the hand but pointed at the tip. Each blade having a straight and serrated side for different types of cutting. The Ookami looked at Kabuto, who was pulling out some kunai, "You're going to get your ass kicked punk."

Kabuto smirked as he looked at Kiro, "I think that it is the other way around puppy."

The brown haired man smirked and flashed at Kabuto. The medic put up his kunai to block the hand blades in just the nick of time. As the sparks flew Kabuto transitioned to try and kick Kiro in the stomach but he sidestepped then countered with his own kick into Kabutos side.

As the white haired man went flying Kiro stood up straight, smirking as he taunted the white haired medic, "You're nothing, not even a warm up."

Kabuto got up and threw the kunai at Kiro who easily deflected it. As he did so Kabuto shot through his hand signs. Kiro looked up just in time to see the man finish his hand signs, "Chakra Scalpel."

The white haired medic charged then brought his hands down. As Kiro went to block the attack, the chakra cut through the cold steel of his hand blades. Kiro jumping back as the tips of his blades pierced the dirt. As he landed Kiro looked at the blade tips that were sticking up from the ground and sighed, "Well that sucks... those cost a lot to make."

Looking up he saw Kabuto standing there with a smile, "I am so sorry pup."

Kiro growled as he tossed the now useless hand pieces to the sides of him, "I do not like being called pup or puppy."

Shrugging at him Kabuto got into his stance again as Kiro glared at him even more fiercely. The white haired medic held his smirk then moved his hands, "Bring it on PUP."

Darious vs. Orochimaru...

The snake Sannin smiled at Darious, "So confident aren't we Darious? You really think you have the ability to go toe to toe with me? Even your idiot sensei has never succeeded in that!"

The brown haired man just stared at him then replied with a shrug, "Honestly, I doubt that I can, but we'll never know till I try. Besides, even if I die, it's worth a shot just to keep you from having your way."

The snake Sannin laughed then went through his hand signs, "Summoning Jutsu!"

Suddenly there was a large snake under Orochimaru's feet as he looked down at Darious. Darious looked at him then went through his own hand signs, "Summoning Jutsu."

Now Darious was eye level with Orochimaru again as he stood on top of Gamabunta's head. The chief toad looked up at Darious, "DARIOUS! Why am I here!?"

The man smiled, "Hey Chief, I got something I need your help with."

The Chief toad looked at the snake and Orochimaru. The Chief narrowed his eyes and pulled out his blade with a smile as he recognized Orochimaru, "With pleasure."

Darious smiled then the chief flew at the snake, thrusting his blade into the snake, through its neck. Darious jumped off of the toad's head and onto the snake, rushing at Orochimaru. The man drew back then opened his hand, forming a rasengan effortlessly. He thrust his hand forward trying to push the rasengan into the man's stomach but the snake jumped back off of the summon.

The brown haired man quickly jumped off after him, the summon disappearing in a puff of white from the injury caused to him by Gamabunta. When they both touched down Orochimaru smirked at him, "I guess it's not a surprise that Jiraiya would teach you that jutsu."

Smirking Darious weaved through some different hand signs, "Water Style: Severing Wave."

The man converted the chakra in his stomach then blew out a high pressure stream. Orochimaru felt confident that he would be able to brush it off like nothing, not believing the man to be his equal. As the jutsu connected Orochimaru went flying backwards though. The Sannin looked down to see blood starting to come down his arm from where he blocked. Darious stood there looking at the snake Sannin as the man looked at his arm, "I will admit, you're stronger then I gave you credit for."

Continuing to stare at the man Darious responded, "You shouldn't underestimate someone Orochimaru, it could lead to your demise."

The Snake Sannin smiled then let out a dark laugh, "You think you will be the one to bring my demise?"

Darious shook his head no, "I think I may be able to prevent your plans today though." Orochimaru smirked as he got ready to attack Darious once again.

Kiro vs Kabuto...

Both men stood there panting as they stared at one another. The two had both clearly underestimated the other one. Kiro took a calming breath then flashed again, connecting with a hard punch to Kabuto's cheek. The white haired medic went rolling on the ground, not getting up right away. Kiro straightened himself out while taking another breath, "I said not to call me pup... jackass."

The brown haired man watched as Kabuto tried to push himself off of the ground but fell back down. Kiro then looked over at Darious who was engaged with Orochimaru before he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. He looked to see a senbon now lodged in it, he pulled it out then saw some liquid on the tip and curled his lip at the smell of it. He looked at Kabuto then felt his vision blurring, "Shit..."

Kiro collapsed to one knee as he tried to look up at Kabuto, though his world was spinning he knew the man was smiling, "Poison works well on pups like you."

The man growled then pushed his body up, "Takes more... then that... asshole."

He was about to charge at Kabuto when he saw Darious go flying. He looked to see Orochimaru rushing at him with a kunai drawn back. Kiro pushed all his remaining chakra into his feet and flashed in front of Orochimaru, getting stabbed in the stomach as a result. The mans eyes widened as he grabbed Orochimaru's forearm tightly, coughing up blood as he did. Darious opened his eyes just in time to see the incident then something inside of him snapped. The older man flashed and opened his hand forming a large rasengan and slammed it into Orochimaru making him go flying.

As Orochimaru flew away Kiro fell to his knees and coughed up some more blood as his face started to pale. Darious pulled out the kunai, having Kiro lie down he started to put pressure on the wound, "SHIZUNE-CHAN! HELP!"

The black haired medic ran over to him then quickly went to work on trying to heal the younger man. That was when Kabuto tried to make his move and ran at Shizune's back. As he drew back his chakra scalpel Darious flashed and caught his arm just taking a small hit to his shoulder. Though due to the chakra that was flowing through Kabuto's hand it did dislocated his shoulder. Darious grunted then the man disappeared and reappeared by Orochimaru who was bleeding and panting, clearly injured. The white haired medic looked at everyone then Tsunade, "We will be back for you Tsunade."

With that they disappeared and Darious clutched his shoulder in pain. He looked back at Shizune as she healed Kiro's stomach. The brown haired man was looking at his senpai, "Heh... we won."

Darious shook his head then knelt down by his kohai, watching as the black haired medic healed him. That was when he heard Tsunade coming over to them, "Why did you two interfere?"

He looked at the Sannin then back at Kiro, "Because you matter to our sensei. It was our mission to get you to Konohagakure, you refused so you can be his problem now. Still, he wouldn't have forgiven us if we let that slimy bastard spirit you and Shizune-chan away like he had planned to do."

Tsunade stared at him then looked over at Naruto as the boy and his team came over to them, "Naruto is an interesting boy, quite angry though."

The man nodded his head but never looked away from the medical procedure happening in front of him, "He has had a lot on his plate, recently he suffered an emotional tear in his relationship with his mother as well. That is making him more brutal it seems."

The blond Sannin nodded then looked as the genin again as they were getting closer to them, "I will go back, I need to monitor him and Kushina."

Darious nodded his head but still didn't look at her. When Shizune's hands stopped glowing she pulled out a needle and thread and stitched together the wound and wrapped him. Kiro smirked at Darious, "Your girlfriend is getting all handsy with me senpai."

He glared at him, though a bit relieved internally that he was still his smart ass self. That was all before Kiro's eyes rolled back and his head fell back though. Everyone panicked then Tsunade moved his shirt some more and saw the tiny puncture wound from the senbon. She could tell by the darkening veins that the senbon had been laced with poison. That was when the Sannin stepped in and proceeded to counter the poison that was in Kiro's body. Darious looked on with concern then spoke to Kiro, "You can't die yet Kiro, you have to pester that Hana woman some more you know..."

As the genin stood there Naruko looked at the other blond on the team. She was looking at him with a blush since he had defended her. He had even spoken to that man in a possessive tone and said only he could mock her. Naruko inched closer to Naruto as the male teen watched the medical ninja try to save the man in front of them. He did eventually notice Naruko was extremely close to him though and looked at her, "What do you want Naruko?"

Smiling at him she proceeded to wrap her arms around his arm and laid her head on his shoulder. The boy looked at her in confusion as he went to pull away but she wouldn't let him. He glared at her, "Let go Princess."

She looked at him and smiled, "Why? Scared you might like it?"

Naruto just stared at her then looked back at Kiro, "Why would I ever be scared of you?"

The girl smirked then leaned in, whispering huskily into his ear, "Because I am a girl, you're uncomfortable around girls."

He shivered a bit before he looked at her, "That is not true."

Naruko smiled some more, "Then how come you always point out when I am 'heated' to get me away from you?"

Naruto pulled his head back from her, "You're way off there, I just point out that you are."

Smirking she released him, "You'll figure it out eventually."

With that she walked over closer to the others to see if she could help. As she walked away he noticed that the way she was walking away she was putting extra sway in her hips. For a moment he was staring at her ass but then snapped out of it, 'She is your half sister dammit, stop doing that.'

Soon after Tsunade stood and looked at Darious, "He is fine, he just needs about a week to completely heal. We can stay in this town for the time being."

Darious nodded his head, "Okay, we told Asuma and Kushina that we would be back in about two weeks then stay there a week as well. That being said, staying here for another week actually works into our time frame very well."

Nodding her head at the agreement Tsunade then turned to leave as Darious made some clones to carry Kiro carefully. The real Darious looked at Shizune, giving her a small smile, "Thank you Shizune-chan."

Said woman smiled before she noticed how he was favoring his one shoulder. She walked over and started to heal him, since it was a simple dislocation it took nothing at all for someone of her caliber. Darious was just staring at her as she healed him with a smile still, "All these years and you still have to heal up my wounds."

Shizune smiled as she briefly made eye contact with him, "I don't mind, I never did."

Darious just continued to smile at her then felt his shoulder basically healed. Shizune smiled at him then kissed his shoulder making him look at her, "It's a medical secret but if you kiss it then it will feel better."

She gave him a wink then walked off as well making him stand there with a small blush and smile, "Thank you, Shizune-chan."