Daze
Chapter one: Beginning of the end
A/N: Ice here, I hope you all enjoy this story I cooked up with a former beta. It's been a long journey but I'm happy with the way the story has progressed; I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it for you.
X X
"Naruto... Uzumaki?"
He felt a roll of nausea take him, his skin looked a sickly yellow in the harsh torch lighting.
"Yes, come on dickless, don't tell me you can't recall your own name?"
He looked at the red-haired girl, her soft lips and crimson locks pulled familiarity from deep within his mind.
"T-Tayuya?"
His throat croaked with a cracked numbness.
"So you do remember me?"
He grabbed his head in pain, his eyes flickered up with confusion.
Tayuya's expression shifted wordlessly as she stepped back away.
"I-I think I do… where's Itachi?"
A man stepped out from the darkened corner, his long black hair and pale skin gave him a stark appearance.
"Kukuku Naruto-kun, where did all your earlier fire go, to see you reduced to a state such as this, brings a tear to my eye."
Orochimaru smirked confidently, his serpent's grin stretched unnaturally across his face.
"O-Orochimaru?"
The man nodded satisfied, his yellow eyes gleamed like a serpent's gazing upon a freshly captured bird.
"You do remember, good Naruto-kun, it'd be a shame if you'd forgotten that much, after all our time together."
"No- Sasori told me about you."
Orochimaru gazed upon him, his interest peaked, his eyes glanced greedily at the blonde boy's crimson iris'.
"And what did he say about me, pray tell?"
In an eye-blink's movement Naruto vanished and Orochimaru was pinned against the hideout wall, shocked by his speed.
'S-so fast, but that can't be… the yondaime's?!'
Naruto smirked, dropping his act and brandishing a kunai.
"He told me,"
The blonde placed the kunai to Orochimaru's throat and slashed across, blood flying in the faintly-lit room.
"-to kill you on sight!"
Three years earlier…
Naruto scratched his blonde mop of hair yawning as the sun shone down on him warmly.
"Can't wait to start the day off right with some Ichiraku!"
He jumped in excitement earning ired looks from some of the nearby villagers.
Shrinking down embarrassed he continued walking towards the shop.
He ruffled through his precious Gama-Chan and pulled out a set of bills.
"300, 500, 700 Ryo!"
He raised his fist excitedly.
"I can order the deluxe pork cutlet bowl today!"
He took off running narrowly avoiding crashing into passing pedestrians.
As he arrived at the ramen shop he saw a familiar face entering the store.
"Shikamaru, what are you doing here?"
The boy shrugged lazily.
"I eat too, Naruto."
Naruto chuckled at the deadpan answer.
"R-right of course, you want to eat together?"
Shikamaru nodded sleepily.
Naruto opened the paper doors and the smell of fresh cooked ramen wafted out.
He began to drool slightly.
"Teuchi-ojisan I'm here!"
The old man turned smiling.
"Ah Naruto you're here early."
Naruto smiled excitedly.
"I've got a big mission today so I need a good breakfast."
Shikamaru waved.
"I'm here too."
Ayame ran out and wrapped Naruto in a half hug earning a blush.
"Good morning Naruto-kun, I've missed you, you should drop in more often!"
Naruto smiled.
"Morning Ayame-nee, I try to but I've been busy with missions!"
He sat on a stool and pulled up a menu.
"What'll it be today?"
Naruto began going over the menu thinking of all the delicious food he was gonna get. "I'll have three orders of Miso and one Pork cutlet deluxe!"
Shikamaru yawned.
"And I'll have a shrimp."
Ayame nodded and wrote down their orders heading back to the kitchen to relay them.
A few minutes later she came out with three piping hot bowls of ramen.
Naruto's eyes sparkled with joy.
'Thank you Kami!'
He pulled chopsticks from the paper container and broke them.
"Itadakimasu!"
He began digging into the golden noodles with ravenous fervor.
Shikamaru looked at him amused while munching leisurely on his noodles.
When he was done Ayame brought out two more bowls which he proceeded to devour.
She turned to Shikamaru.
"Would you like another bowl?"
He shook his head.
"No, thank you, I have to go prep for a mission."
He waved to Naruto before turning and slinking away.
Naruto said a hast goodbye with ramen still in his mouth before returning his attention to it.
When he was done eating he set his bills on the counter thanking them for the meal and excused himself.
He headed out to the training ground where his team was supposed to meet.
When he arrived he saw the familiar faces of his teammates beaming back at him.
"Sasuke, Sakura-chan!"
He ran up to them earning an annoyed look from Sasuke and a sigh from Sakura.
"Naruto-baka you're late again!"
Sakura chastised him, her neon pink hair flowed in the passing wind.
Naruto grinned toothily.
"Well I figured Kakashi-sensei always is so why rush."
She sighed mentally agreeing.
'Well... I can't fault his logic.'
Sasuke turned to her inquisitively.
"So what was this mission we're on anyway?"
Sakura looked at him surprised that he would ask her.
"What, a mission?"
She looked up confused.
He looked at her with mild irritation.
"Kakashi-sensei briefed you didn't he?"
She remembered the previous day he had bumped into her and handed her a mission scroll before running off in a hurry.
"Oh that, it was something about a caravan being raided by bandits."
Naruto looked on curiously.
"Why would that be important enough for us to rush here last minute?"
The blonde asked furrowing his eyebrows, seeming to be in deep thought.
Sakura shrugged.
"I guess we'll find out when sensei gets here."
As if summoned by name Kakashi poofed in behind them and began with his daily excuse about why he was late.
"Sorry I'm late I-"
He was quickly cut off by the shouts of his angry little genin.
"You're late!"
Kakashi sweatdropped before regaining his composure.
Everyday it was the same thing, he enjoyed it though;
It reminded him of a Team 7 before this one, one that consisted of Minato-sensei, Obito, Rin, and himself.
This wasn't the time to be reminiscing on good times though.
"Anywho about the mission..."
Nonchalantly he pulled out a mission scroll from his pocket.
Sakura's eyes widened slightly.
"That's an A rank scroll, but, the one you gave me was a B rank right?"
He nodded, adjusting his pouch so it wouldn't get in the way.
"The details were received last minute. It turns out that the bandits we're after are being led by an associate of Orochimaru."
Their eyes widened at the name.
Sasuke and Naruto growled clenching their fists.
Sakura shifted her small feet, nudging her shirt nervously.
"But sensei is it really a good idea for us to go on this mission... you know considering..."
She left it hanging at that but it was obvious what she was trying to implore.
Sasuke turned and glared at her.
"Sakura, if you're trying to get us to back out. Forget it!"
He spat angrily at her, his grip tightened on his armband in frustration, his knuckles pale with a hint of red.
Kakashi eye-smiled trying to alleviate the situation.
"Now now , kids, no need to worry,"
Kakashi brushed his gloved palms off one another, bits of dust flying loose to the grass.
"-the man we're after is just a small fry. We're not expecting anything more than a quick fight, If you could even consider it one… just in case though, we've got backup."
As he said that Asuma and his team rounded the corner to the training field.
"Ah Asuma here already?"
The man smirked, taking a puff from his cigarette.
"Not everybody is chronically late, Kakashi."
Naruto saw Shikamaru and smiled.
"So that's the mission you were talking about, who knew?"
Shikamaru grumbled, trying his best to sound sarcastic.
"In truth I was sent to make sure you arrived on time you always were…troublesome."
Shikamaru sighed, earning a small round of laughter from the other Genin
Naruto was hurt that they wouldn't trust him to get here on time, he let it go though, always quick to forgive.
"I'll show you I'll kick ass on this mission and you'll all be begging me to be Hokage!"
Naruto smirked, raising his fist to the sky.
"After all I am Naruto Uzumaki, the one who's going to become the greatest Hokage ever!"
Sakura facepalmed.
'Classic Naruto.'
Kakashi cleared his throat, grabbing the attention of everyone.
"Not to ruin the moment but this is a matter of urgency, pack up your belongings or anything else you might need on the mission; We'll meet at the village gates in 15 minutes."
They all nodded and vanished to grab their stuff.
Meanwhile, Somewhere in Kusagakure...
"The trap is set Orochimaru-sama, we've captured one of the Fire Daimyo's personal caravan's, We also let one escape to send news to the leaf as you commanded."
Orochimaru nodded, grinning gleefully, his plans would come to fruition soon.
"Well done Shugori you have served me well."
The snake man flickered his tongue much like a serpent.
He snapped his fingers and four figures hopped from the ceiling.
"Sakon, Kidomaru, Jirobo, Tayuya, you know what to do and I expect you to succeed."
The snake Sanin looked at them expectantly as he disappeared into the ground.
"Hai Orochimaru-sama!" They shouted in unison as they moved out to complete their mission.
Back In Konoha...
Naruto grabbed his travel bag tossing extra clothes and some of his 3-minute cup ramen inside. He made sure to include a few essentials such as water and flints.
"I can't believe I get to go on an A rank, and so soon after the last one!"
The blonde boy smirked happily, he tossed his travel pack over his shoulder.
Locking his door he hopped out the window and began hopping from roof to roof heading towards the gates.
He arrived at the gates shortly before the rest of them and waited, bored.
A few minutes later Kakashi arrived with the rest of them and he turned to the two groups and spoke.
"Okay the mission is to head to Kusa, free the trapped caravan, and capture the target alive."
Shikamaru raised his hand.
"What about the bandits."
Kakashi's lone eye shone coldly.
He spoke matter-of-factly in his normal tone.
"Kill them."
The students paled, Sakura and Choji gulping, but nodded dutifully.
"Let's go."
Naruto followed his teammates, rushing out of the gate as he saw the daybreak burning red in the sky.
The blonde boy felt a shiver run down his spine as he stepped out of the gates.
'That has to be a bad omen.'
They arrived at the border of the land of grass as the sun set in the sky above them.
Kakashi turned to address his team.
"Okay, this area is under hostile control, assume that anyone who comes at you is an enemy, hesitation could lead to death and we don't want that, do we?."
The genin shook their heads, clutching their kunai shakily.
"Let's go."
They silently crept through the long grass and saw a strew of rickety shacks dotted the area.
Naruto heard the grass behind him rustle and instinctively threw a kunai.
He heard an agonized hiss and turned to see a white snake had been impaled by his kunai.
He shrugged it off and turned back to face his team when he heard a loud poof behind him.
He turned just in time to catch a kunai swipe aimed for his head.
Naruto froze in place unable to react and the man smirked.
Pulling a second kunai from his leg, the enemy nin spun.
Rearing back with his arm and preparing to impale Naruto.
"Naruto duck!"
Naruto barely reacted in time as a kunai implanted itself in the enemy nin's brain and he fell limp and dead.
He turned to Kakashi who had just thrown the knife.
"What did I tell you Naruto… don't hesitate."
Naruto nodded, swallowing his throat.
"G-Gomen sensei..."
Asuma grabbed the man's body and silently dragged him through the grass, hiding him behind a large rock.
"Let's keep moving."
He barked silently to both teams.
They crept through the grass, Asuma and Kakashi picked off bandits left and right; Stashing them in the tall grass, behind buildings, in trash cans, anywhere to be honest.
Finally, they arrived at a clearing where there was a bonfire.
Several men were sitting around it, drinking and sharpening axes, knives, and whatever else bandits try to use as weapons.
One man was dressed differently from the rest though. He was wearing bright white, silk robes and fine jewelry.
He was sitting with a frightened looking woman on his lap,
"Don't worry fair maiden unlike these foul brutes I am a gentleman. I will not deflower you if you do not wish it."
He drank a glass of fancy wine and looked around locking eyes with Kakashi.
Kakashi shouted.
"Now!"
The shinobi dove out of the grass; Sakura and Sasuke each stabbed a bandit in the chest, piercing their hearts.
Sasuke took it in stride, moving on to the next one, slitting throat after throat, but for some reason be it shock, or remorse, Sakura froze in place.
Naruto paled and tackled her out of the way as a bandit brought down his axe.
Naruto spun around stabbing the man through the side of the head, piercing his temporal lobe.
Finally, all that was left was the man who was dressed up differently from the rest.
He jumped up and put a knife to the woman's throat, thinking that would be enough to stop the ninja.
"Stay back, stay back I say… you hear me, you come near me she dies!"
Kakashi pulled up his headband, revealing his blood red sharingan and the man's eyes rolled back, falling into an unconscious state.
"Asuma, tie him up for me, Sakura check on the girl, the rest of you secure the area!"
They all nodded and left to complete their tasks.
Naruto ran off to secure the East Sector of the camp when out of nowhere he was grabbed from behind by a pair of thick, muscular arms.
He tried to shout.
"Kakashi sensei there's-"
The man covered his mouth.
"Shut up you leaf scum!"
Sasuke headed East from the North Perimeter and saw the big man grab Naruto.
He shouted urgently.
"Enemies in our AO!"
Kakashi quickly dashed over to where Naruto was, only to be intercepted by a barrage of arrows and strange, ghost-like creatures.
'Shinobi!?'
Sasuke was blindsided by a punch. He turned to see a man with powder blue hair, standing there with a cocky grin.
"Hello Uchiha, it's an honor to meet you."
Sakura, Ino, and Choji formed a manji formation around the girl, while Asuma ran over to help Kakashi.
Kakashi turned to him, sharingan blazing.
"I'll handle the one in the tree at 3'o o'clock you get the one in the tree at my six."
Asuma nodded and they both rushed the trees.
Kakashi charged a Raikiri slashing through the tree like paper the sound kunoichi grunted falling on her butt.
Asuma ran over and made a hand sign.
"Fire Style: Burning Ash Jutsu!"
He shot a cloud of ash from his mouth surrounding the tree before igniting it in a burst of flames, causing the ninja inside of it to flee.
Sasuke dodged a series of punches and kicks, trying his best to counter but it felt like the person had four arms and four legs, which he didn't realize the enemy shinobi actually did.
Sasuke activated his sharingan, ignoring the searing pain in his shoulder as his curse mark flared up.
He growled, kicking the man in his chest and sending him flying back.
"Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!"
Sakon paled and narrowly rolled away from the flames only to hear a sound like birds chirping.
Sasuke smirked darkly.
"Dodge this you bastard!"
He ran forward and Sakon tried to jump away only to see his legs were tied in steel wire.
"Chidori!"
Sasuke yanked the wire and pulled him forward, shoving his lightning-clad fist through the man's chest.
Kakashi ran forward, preparing to impale the girl with a Raikiri when he heard Naruto scream out in pain.
He turned to see a large man with orange, rust hair break his student's arm.
When he looked back the girl was gone.
He turned back to the man and the girl was standing behind him along with another guy with six arms.
Asuma jumped behind Kakashi and got back to back with him.
"Are they all here?"
Kakashi shook his head.
"One is unaccounted for."
Sasuke was shocked when he was suddenly blindsided by a strike and sent tumbling. He saw the man he was just fighting stand up, the hole in his chest growing.
He split apart into two men each with a partial curse mark activated.
"Sorry Uchiha-san but we'll resume this another time, as you can clearly see, we have what we came for."
Both men, creatures, whatever they were ran off and joined their allies.
"Do you have him?"
Jirobo nodded.
"Good Orochimaru doesn't want the Akatsuki to get their hands on the Kyuubi, kill him!"
The man nodded and smirked, snapping Naruto's neck in his meaty fists.
Sasuke reached out in vain.
"Naruto, No!"
Kakashi's eyes widened.
"No..."
Sasuke couldn't believe it, his friend, his rival…. had just died before his eyes.
His eyes felt as if they were on fire, burning deep with hatred. Crimson tears began to run down his eyes.
For a moment he felt unbelievable power in his eyes, then it receded as soon as it came.
He wondered if that was the power Itachi talked about, the Mangekyo… he didn't get to put deep thought into it as he passed out in Kakashi's arms from mental and physical exhaustion.
"Take him, we can't let them recapture the Kyuubi."
They nodded and the blue-haired man threw a volley of poisonous smoke bombs from four of his hands.
They exploded with a light explosion which sent out highly poisonous purple gas, which obscured the area.
Kakashi still in shock, was unable to quickly think of a counter to the expanding wall of smoke;
Before they all teleported away with Naruto in tow.
Sakura couldn't believe what she had just seen.
"He's gone..."
X END X
1/21/21: Welcome new readers, and to my loyal readers who are revisiting the story, this is an important message to get out;
My writing style has improved and changed a lot since I started writing back in 2018;
I have designs to rewrite these older chapters to improve any grammatical mistakes, or word choice that I would have done differently writing today.
Please be patient with the early parts of the story, I promise it gets better with each and every chapter and by chapter six or so it's barely noticeable that I was ever this shaky with my writing.
It could be some time before I get around to revising the older chapters due to a number of projects I'm currently working on, but it will happen.
If you read to the end thank you, enjoy the story.
2/2/21: Chapter 1 is revised.