Chapter 6

They were walking calamities - disasters unable to be contained by mere men. When they walked, the men cowered. When they fought, the earth shook.

Darui shook his head. Of course, the pair were radically different in the ways they fought. Naruto - that name… - ruthlessly hunted the tracking squad down, easily deflecting the countless kunai thrown in his way. Effortlessly wielding mountain loads of chakra, he countered the opposing jutsus with perfect timing. On the other hand, the woman, this so-called "Gilgamesh," stood back lazily. She commanded strange portals made of shimmering gold, of which weapons of all sorts came out flying.

Compared to Naruto, Gilgamesh was much more laidback. The sight of spilled blood didn't so much scare her as it did disgust her. Yet it didn't change the fact that they made it look so easy. Of course, the pursuing force wasn't specially made for combat, but it was impressive nonetheless.

He scowled. Darui didn't like the situation one bit. It wasn't just their strength that far eclipsed his own. It was the names. If Gilgamesh was so powerful, why hadn't he heard of her before? Such a strong individual would be pursued by both sides alike.

And Naruto… That name and face were unforgettable. How could it not be, when that monster massacred half his forces that day! His fingers tightened, gripping onto the ground tightly. He was the sole reason countless shinobi refused to set foot in the battlefield, surrendering to the Kingdom instead.

But now, here was that same bastard, slaughtering his own men with little remorse. What was he playing at?

He had to find out.

~o~

"Well?" The weapons littering the ground slowly disintegrated into flecks of burning yellow, signifying the return of the King's treasures back into the vault. "Answer me, dog. Why is it that you attack and kill your own men?"

Naruto sighed, running his fingers through his unruly hair. "It's complicated. They're part of my village, but they're more like a hidden sector. The boogeymen of Konoha, if you will. I've seen some of the stuff they've done." His expression darkened. "It's not pretty."

"Interesting…" She mused. "Tell me more."

"Nothing much to say. They're the true essence of what a shinobi should be. They'll kill children, rape women, leave entire families broken if it's necessary. They prioritize the mission over everything." Naruto kicked over a body, revealing a set, monotonous face rather than a pain-crazed one. "They're lower than scum."

Gilgamesh snorted. "Lower than scum? Is it not befitting of a soldier to do so? It seems the only mistaken one here is-"

"Listen well, Gilgamesh." Naruto interrupted. "The shinobi world is trash. I accepted that a long time ago. Endless violence is inevitable in a world full of greedy yet powerful men. It's hard to believe that anyone can live in this cutthroat - this dog-eat-dog world. But we forge through this hell with our comrades. That's why friendship is the most precious gift of all." He clenched his fist, unable to stomach the sight of Danzo's men any further. Their emotionless faces in their last moments of death were unsettling. "These robots would betray their comrades in a heartbeat. They're lower than the trash I walk past everyday."

Finished with his speech, Naruto braced for the arrogant laughter from the King. But curiously enough, it never came. Instead, she scoffed, a pensive expression threatening to take over her face.

"Nice talk." The sound of footsteps had Naruto's head whip to the side, searching and finding a familiar face in his line of sight. Just as those words ended, Naruto had a kunai pressed to Darui's neck just tight enough to touch his skin, but light enough to not leave a mark. But clearly, the situation was different from the one earlier. Darui's hands were raised, palms faced forward. His normally aggressive face was much calmer, even bored. "If you couldn't tell already, I come in peace." He drawled.

"So the mongrel approaches." Gilgamesh said haughtily. "What business do you have with me? Speak."

"To ask you for your help." Darui's hand gently clasped Naruto's kunai, slowly pulling it away from his neck. "I have a feeling both of you are wrapped up in a misunderstanding. But I'm desperate either way."

"Is that so?" Naruto reluctantly withdrew the kunai. "I'll admit, something's wrong, and I need your help finding out what. But we should move to a safer spot. This place isn't secure. And if you're lying to me," Naruto's eyes glowed with an ethereal blue. "I'll kill you."

Unfazed, Darui nodded. "That we can agree-"

A shining broadsword slammed into the ground between their turning backs. "Do you dare?" Gilgamesh growled. "Ignoring your King is a grave mistake, one that you should rectify immediately!"

The pair glanced at each other, Darui nudging his head at the King while staring right at Naruto. "Alright, alright." Naruto sighed, turning around and waving his hands. "Look, I'll make it up to you once we're in a safe place, your majesty. But we really need to get going. And yes - 'we' includes you. We need your strength to get out of this mess."

Gilgamesh's stony face remained unchanged, even as she too sensed the shinobi in the far distance making their way to their location. "Hmph. Is this what you 'shinobi' consider an apology?"

Naruto's eyes twitched. "I'm afraid we're running out of time, so I'll make sure to offer you a proper one once we're safe."

"Very well, dog." Gilgamesh snapped her fingers, recalling her Vimana from the Gate of Babylon. The high-tech flying vessel formed from golden particles, softly purring with unbidden energy. "Once, just once, shall I let mere peasants set foot on my possession."

They stepped on the ship, applying chakra to their feet in order to prevent being blown off. In a matter of seconds, the trio blasted off into the distance.

~o~

"Naruto?" The shinobi mused out loud. "Perhaps a code name? No matter." He gazed down at the kneeling pair. "Track them down and kill them. Such untimely interruptions are of no use to anyone. If they are as strong as Sai reports, now would be the time to kill them."

"Yes, my lord." They both intoned emotionlessly, heads still facing downwards.

"Kinoe." The mentioned shinobi looked up. "Take San and maintain control of Buki." A shadowy figure swirled into existence behind them, head already bowing. "An accident like last time will only isolate the villagers from our shinobi force."

"Yes, my lord." He nodded, and the three darted into the shadows, ready to complete their given task.

He remained sitting on his throne, clad in shadows swirling all over his body. Sai was a trusted confidant, and if he believed these intruders to be a true threat, he would have to proceed accordingly. Responding to his emotions, dark wisps curled above his shoulders.

"But whatever challenge it may be," His lone, uncovered eye pierced through the darkness with its dark purple shine. "Konoha will prevail."

~o~

"Kirigakure? The Blood Mist Village? Then we should head east. The ocean will be the sign that we're getting close." "Don't order me" was quickly uttered back, but Gilgamesh manipulated the Vimana accordingly. Naruto then turned to Darui, somehow left even more confused than before. "But aren't you from Kumogakure? What are you doing there?"

Darui nodded grudgingly. "Ever since Konoha turned its war policy around, the other villages were forced to band together. But even then, we were unable to fight back. Pretty much every village surrounding Konoha has fallen. Kirigakure is our last surviving base."

"War policy?" Naruto's gaze made his wanting for answers clear.

"You really don't know anything, do you?" Darui sighed, flushing the last bits of hatred out his body. Either he was really good at playing dumb, or "Naruto" somehow got wrapped up in this conflict. Still, it was that name that bothered him. "Danzo, the current leader, got hold of some power and used it to his advantage. We never figured out what it was, but the Hidden Leaf's military power shot up. Their numbers, individual strength… Everything. We didn't stand a chance."

Naruto's heart dropped. Danzo? The so-called shadow of the Third? The one that schemed with Orochimaru and strong-armed Itachi into massacring his clan? That Danzo? Somehow, he weaseled his way into a source of power, seizing the opportunity to cement Konoha's superiority. "But what about the Third?"

"Third?" Darui raised an eyebrow. "You mean Hokage?" A nod. "As far as we know, dead. It's safe to assume Danzo killed him for his throne."

"What about Tsunade?"

"The Slug Princess? Haven't seen or heard her in the past years."

"Kakashi Hatake?"

"Dead. One of the first to die during the Konoha uprising, I heard. Shame too. We could've used him." Darui stretched out his bulging muscles, somewhat eager for action. His injuries were of concern, but like every ninja, a shard of his soul ached for conflict. "Now if you don't mind, I have some questions of my own."

Naruto waved his hand distractedly, more concerned about the information he had just received. His mentor was dead? And old man too! What was even the point of being here? All that excitement for nothing…

"Yo!" Darui snapped directly in front of Naruto's eyes. "Are you with me?"

Naruto nodded, mentally slapping himself awake. There was no time for such feelings! If he remained muddled in the past, he would be slain in battle, most likely returning to the Throne of Heroes.

But wouldn't that be for the better?

He nearly grunted out loud upon thinking such a thought. He had a job to do, and if this "Throne of Heroes" deemed him worthy, he would have to act as such. Still, he longed for that opportunity of change. What would life be like if Kakashi never died? If Sasuke never left the village?

"Pull yourself together, Naruto!" Gilgamesh barked from her throne. For all her arrogance, she was perceptive enough to note Naruto's mental struggle. "Watching you flounder as such hurts my eyes. If your will is found lacking again, I shall personally escort you back."

He closed his eyes, nodding in gratitude. He was Naruto-fucking-Uzumkai! He wasn't one to give up so easily. So what if Kakashi was dead? There was still a chance Jiraiya and Tsunade were still alive. And even if they were dead, he would have to move on. After all, a shinobi walked the path of loss and death.

Naruto smirked. Who would've thought he'd be grateful for Gilgamesh for a change? "Tch. As if you could."

Gilgamesh harrumphed but made no further comment. Her job was done. Truly, the mongrel should be praising her willingness to assist him. But he was an exception - a being that shone just as brightly as Saber; a being with an inextinguishable will. Thus, she would take steps to make sure such brightness would be preserved.

At least until she conquered him.

Having returned to his normal state, he turned back to Darui. "Sorry for that. Ask away."

"Are you truly Naruto Uzumaki? The host to the 9-tailed fox?" Darui looked at him skeptically.

Naruto scowled, having to dive back into his past. "Yeah, you could say that. I don't feel his power anymore, but I had the pleasure of being a jinchuriki once upon a time." He didn't think too kindly of the fox, it being the reason for his suffering during his younger years. The villagers were certainly to be blamed, but could he really forgive his parents' killer?

"Are you sure?"

"You can't really forget having a big demon sealed up in-" Naruto shot up to his feet, quickly burning through hand signs. Taking in a deep breath, his chest ballooned, holding back a river of chakra. As the unexpected wave of fire sped towards them, Naruto released the dam, converting the chakra into water and spewing it from his mouth.

"Enemies?" Darui stared menacingly down at the shinobi racing through the trees. "Just fly higher. They won't be able to reach us."

"You dare talk to your King with such arrogance? Hold your tongue, lest I cut it down from where I stand." Gilgamesh said irritably, tilting the Vimana upwards. The shinobi shrunk to dots littering the ground. "Control your soldier, Naruto."

"What'd you-" Naruto held out his arm, holding back Darui. "Something's wrong." Naruto said, his brow furrowed. Their surroundings were fluctuating with chakra levels and if he focused closely, he could make out a steady flapping.

"Above!" They were too late. Even as spears and swords sliced through the air, the monochrome dragon soundlessly bursted into splotches of ink, raining down on the gleaming splendor of the Vimana. Three figures - two masked - weaved through the weapons, slamming down on the Vimana's ground.

Darui growled, recognizing the one on the left. "Kinoe." He sneered. "Watch out. He somehow inherited the Wood Release. I don't think I need to tell you how dangerous that is."

But he was ignored, for Naruto could not tear his eyes away from the figure in the middle. The figure that sunk arrows of fear deep into Naruto's heart.

"Sandaime?"

It was him, but it wasn't. His Hokage attire was exactly the same - the cloak and battle armor underneath. His face was still marred with scars and liver spots. Yet his cloak was a strange purple and the armor was lined with black, shadowy scales. And that jovial expression welcoming Naruto into his office was gone.

What remained was a shell - no, a shadow of the Third.

"You'll have to take the other one too. I didn't want to do this, but I figured you'd be most familiar with his style of fighting, assuming you were telling me the truth."

Naruto winced, hoping Darui was talking to Gilgamesh. But a quick glance killed his hopes. Her smug expression made it clear that she would leave the fighting to them. "This is your expense for treading on my property. Pay me to the fullest," is what her smile told him.

He knew. Even before making their entrance, Naruto knew.

But he needed confirmation. So he looked to the right.

And his own face stared back.

A/N: I'm almost done with the HxH chapter, so I'll release that tomorrow. I didn't want to make you guys wait any longer, so I decided to just release this chapter right away. I get that some of you might be frustrated with this chapter's length, but I really wanted to end it here.

I've dropped like three clues as to what power this "mysterious shinobi with one uncovered eye" has. That being said, I'm not sure if anyone knows where I got that idea from. It's obviously not something I came up with myself, so have fun figuring out what it might be.

Is everyone fine with a Fem!GilgameshxNaruto pairing? It might not be the easiest thing to do, but the more I write, the more I feel like this is where the fic is headed.

Please don't give up on me yet. I keep getting more and more ideas every time I start typing it up. So if it's boring right now, just stay with me for a couple more chapters.

Next Update: Magi and Assassins (Please check out that fic! It might not be your cup of tea, but I'd appreciate a review.)