KONOHA'S BLOODY PRINCE

BY MSTRDANTE

A shorter transitional chapter.

Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto Or Reborn! Only any characters or plotlines I create

"Characters talking to each other"

'Characters thinking to themselves'

"/'Character's exclaiming/thinking technique names"/'

CHAPTER FIVE

Meeting Ino!/Xanxus rages!

"Oh and what do we have here, on a date with your new boyfriend Sa-ku-ra?"

Sakura immediately recognizes the voice that interrupts her lunch with Belphegor.

'Oh no! Why me?'

Sakura rolls her eyes in exasperation. Turning her head to the right Sakura takes in the familiar sight of her best friend/rival. Yamanaka Ino is a beautiful girl, one of her most notable features are her striking blue eyes.

Her platinum blonde hair is pulled back into a pony tail that flows down her back. While the left side of her bangs where pulled back with a red clip, the right was left to hang over the right side of her face.

She wears a sleeveless purple crop top while on her lower body she wears a purple apron skirt over black shorts. On both her elbows and knees she wore fishnet coverings and her outfit was completed by her black shinobi sandels.

She wore an amused expression on her face. "Ohayo Ino-Pig and no Belphegor isn't my boyfriend. But of course you already knew that." Sakura greets Ino while simultaneously shutting down her friend's attempt to tease her.

Ino hums in exaggerated wondering. "Do I know that?... What exactly is a girl supposed to think when she sees her best friend having lunch with a strange boy she's never seen before except, Boyfriend!?"

Unperturbed it seems by Sakura's attempt to shut down her teasing, Ino doubles down on her boyfriend 'theory'. Sakura rolls her eyes once again at Ino's continued attempt to fluster her.

Moving on from the topic Sakura sighs motioning to Belphegor. "Ino this is Belphegor he's new to Konoha so I'm showing him somewhere he can get some food." Pouting at her failure to get Sakura flustered Ino recovers quickly, offering her hand to Belphegor in greeting.

"Ohayo! Belphegor-Kun was it? I'm Ino it's a pleasure to meet you." Belphegor accepts the handshake only for Ino to hold on a bit longer than neccessary a pretty smile on her face. Unable to stop herself Sakura rolls her eyes for a third time since Ino showed up.

'Leave it to Ino to take me telling her I'm not dating Belphegor as an invitation to flirt with him.' Belphegor tilts his head at her seemingly unaffected by her flirting. "Pleased to meet you Ino-San. I take it you're one of Sakura's friends."

"That's right I've known her since we were five. I hope you two don't mind if I join you guys for lunch." Ino phrases it as a question but instead of waiting for an answer she immediately sits herself next to Belphegor.

Raising her right eyebrow in amused confusion, Sakura looks at Belphegor's empty plate then her borderline empty one. "Join us, seriously? Ino look at our plates our lunch is over." Ino blissfully ignores Sakura focusing on interrogating Belphegor. "Sooo... Belphegor-"

Sakura clenches her fists, accidentally snapping her chopsticks in the process. 'Why you little!' Ino quickly gives Sakura a wink before resuming her question. "-How exactly did you meet our little pink flower?" Belphegor grins widely comically pointing his right thumb at Sakura questionably.

Ino smirks and nods her head at the rhetorical question. "Oh you know... I was just walking along, minding my business when I come across this defenseless little girl surrounded by a group of scary men-"

Sakura grits her teeth in silent rage at Belphegor's defenseless comment. "-So like any self-respecting gentleman I stepped in and saved her butt!" Ino giggles at Belphegor's clearly embellished tale. "You hear that Sakura? He's thinking about your butt he's definitely sounding like boyfriend material to me now."

Ino remarks returning to her earlier attempts at flustering Sakura. Willfully ignoring Ino's needling Sakura focuses her attention on Belphegor. "Okay, one! We both know I didn't need saving. Two, we met when I stepped in and saved you from a hail of shuriken!"

Belphegor turns his attention towards Sakura putting his hand over his heart, his expression one of mock horror. "Oh, Sakura-Chan I'm so sorry I forgot you were here. But you know... there's no shame in admitting to needing saving."

Sakura raises her eyebrow in challenge. "Oh really then, maybe we should admit that I'm gonna be saving you from this bill!?" Ino gasps in dramatic horror. "Belphegor-Kun! You're seriously making your date pay the lunch bill! I thought you were a gentleman... oh the Horror!"

Exclaims Ino taking full advantage of the opportunity to tease Belphegor, as he scoffs dismissively. "Puh-lease! I'll have you know that I am a Prince which means I'm exempt from any and all bills!"

"Oh, my a Prince! Then of course I'm so sorry I doubted your gentleness Sir Prince." Sakura rolls her eyes at both Belphegor and Ino's comments. "You know Belphegor... you being a Prince isn't some kind of magic card that you can just pull out at any time."

Belphegor's jaw drops open wide his expression this time is comprised of genuine horror. "Sakura! Are you trying to hurt me? Of course it is!" Belphegor loudly exclaims his voice genuinely confused and offended. At Belphegor's genuine rebuttal Sakura and Ino burst into a fit of laughter at his expense.

"You really believe that don't you Belphegor-Kun? I don't know what kind of friends you had before coming to Konoha who would let you believe that. But I assure you in Konoha we'll dissuade you of that notion."

Belphegor narrows his eyes behind his bangs at Ino's statement, it was meant in jest sure; but unbeknownst to Ino she just crossed a grave line. 'Don't kill her, don't kill her Bel! You know Tsunade wouldn't let you get away with killing one of her citizens.'

Before he does something that would end up with him in prison or worse dead, Belphegor slams his fist down and storms out of the restaurant. As he exits he hears Sakura and Ino protest but he ignores them.

Xanxus narrows his eyes at the sight before them. It's not often his subordinates interrupt his dinner time. They of course know the punishment for such an offense is steep. "Forgive us Boss! I assure you we wouldn't show up unannounced if it was not important."

Raising his left eyebrow at Lussuria's assurance Xanxus motions with the gun in his right hand for Lussuria to continue. Lussuria takes a gulp clearly affected by Xanxus's terrifying appearance.

Xanxus's black eyebrows hanging over his red eyes combined, with the deep scar across his tan right cheek and his hair that spiked out in every direction imitating the flames of Xanxus's wrath; surely made for one of the most intimidating sights anyone's ever seen.

"Well you see... as I'm sure you failed to notice we're missing a member of the Varia. Now I know you've forgotten him but his name's Belphegor and he's a most valuable member of our team-" Lussuria's explanation is interrupted by Xanxus's Flames Of Rage flying past the left side of his face.

Eyes widening behind his glasses, Lussuria stares uncomfortably at the source of the flames; being of course the gun in Xanxus's right hand. "I thought all of you knew that I'm not fond of games! Why in the hell wouldn't I remember the Idiot Prince?"

Lussuria's eyes widen once again in surprise as he turns to his right looking at the equally shocked faces of Mammon and Levi. Realizing his mistake Lussuria is quick to backtrack his statement. "I am so sorry, please forgive me Boss! It's just that the rest of us minus Mammon forgot about him so I just assumed you did. I realize now how wrong that was of me."

'They forgot him... how does that make any sense?' Xanxus is quick to respond with. "Explain!" Lussuria looks to Mammon nervously silently asking for help. In response to Lussuria's plea Mammon takes over the explanation.

"Okay so I noticed Bel's disappearance a few days ago. At first I just assumed he was given a mission that I was not made aware of. But today my curiosity got the best of me so I asked my teammates where he was." Mammon pauses briefly to give Xanxus some time to digest the information.

"And to my surprise they denied any knowledge of Belphegor. Just like you did Boss I assumed they were playing around however, I was quick to realize their seriousness." Taking a break from speaking Mammon motions with their head for Levi to speak.

It takes a second for Levi to catch onto Mammon's meaning. "Oh yes, it's true Boss! The past few days I didn't have the slightest clue who Belphegor was." Lussuria is quick to nod his agreement. With that out of the way Mammon continues the explanation.

"Upon this realization I was quick to make them remember, which took a lot of effort. I won't bore you with the details. I haven't the slightest clue how everyone forgot about him. But since he's missing I have to assume he's been kidnapped. Which can only be called an attack on the Varia so of course I decided it was important to inform you."

It doesn't take a lot to make Xanxus angry, so the thought of Belphegor getting kidnapped makes him furious. 'Did that idiot really get himself kidnapped?' Xanxus pinches his nose with his free hand out of frustration.

"Any leads?" Mammon, Levi and Lussuria look to each other nervously at the question. "None Boss." To say Mammon's answer angered Xanxus even more would be an understatement. As Xanxus contemplates the situation he notices something.

"Speaking of my missing subordinates where the fuck is Sqaulo?" Demands Xanxus realizing he only sees three of his four remaining subordinates. Lussuria answers this question. "Ah unlike me and Levi when Mammon made Sqaulo remember who Belphegor is, he... well Sqaulo fainted."

Xanxus snorts at that information. 'That damn loser! Of course he fainted.' Xanxus mulls over the information he's been given briefly before snapping at his subordinates. "Alright you idiots! Time to get the hell out of here so I can think!"

The three are quick to exit the room following their boss's command. Levi is the last one to leave but just before he does so, Xanxus thinks of something. "Hey Levi, when that Damn Loser Sqaulo wakes up send him the hell in here!"

Levi stops turns around and bows deeply to Xanxus. "Yes sir Boss! Yes sir!" Xanxus snorts derisively following Levi's exit. 'Kiss Ass.' While he told the rest of them that he needs to think, in reality Xanxus knows exactly what his next move is.

'I really don't want to resort to this but, I guess I fucking got to go see HIM!!!!'

Ino and Sakura are quick to follow Belphegor after he left the restaurant. Sakura quickly throws some money down to pay for the lunch. "Hey Bel! Come back, slow down." Sakura calls after the retreating back of Belphegor.

Belphegor ignores her continuing his silent trek away from Ino and Sakura. "Hey Belphegor-Kun look, I can see that I clearly crossed a line with my joke. I was just trying to have some fun. I'm sorry please come back."

Following Ino's apology and plea Belphegor stops in place to allow them to catch up. Catching up to him Ino attempts to lightly touch his shoulder. Just as Ino's hand makes contact with his shoulder Belphegor violently shrugs it off.

Belphegor turns sharply and stares at Ino who even with Belphegor's eyes hidden could feel the strength of his glare. "Don't mention my friends ever again!" With that warning delivered Belphegor disappears from Ino and Sakura's sight in a burst of speed.

Left alone with Sakura Ino feels like shit. 'Damn! If I had known his friends were a sore subject I never would of went there.' Feeling down about herself Ino's brought out of her thoughts by the warmth of Sakura's hand on her shoulder.

Turning to look at her friend Ino is relieved by the understanding look on her face. "Hey you didn't know. Just give him a chance to cool off, and while he does allow me to explain some of his situation so you can better understand." Ino nods appreciatively at her best friend.

To say Kou is terrified would be an understatement. Today started off just like any other day for Kou as he got ready for work and saying goodbye to his daughter. But all that changed when the man currently dragging him by his arm showed up at Kou's house.

*Flashback*

Giving his daughter a hug Kou is interrupted by the sound of knocking at his door. Opening the door Kou is greeted by the sight of a stange man he's never seen before standing there with a cocky grin on his face.

The man has long straight black hair falling to just below his shoulders. He wears a blood red headband not of the shinobi kind. His eyes are silver and full of mirth. His face is that of a young man around twenty or so years of age. In his left ear is a black and red hanafuda earing. Rolling his eyes downwards Kou takes in the sight of the young man's clothes.

His outfit is relatively simple with a collarless red vest zipped up over a black tshirt, black pants and black shinobi sandals. Finally a red wristband on his left wrist.

"Hello there I'm afraid I'm gonna need you to come with me." The young man 'informs' Kou. Raising his left eyebrow questionably Kou asks. "Who are you, and why should I go with you?"

The man's smirk turns noticeably crueler. "Come now sir do you really need me to answer that?" The man challenges Kou's question with a question, bouncing a Kunai in his left hand glancing not so subtly at Kou's daughter.

Kou's demeanor turns from confused to terror in an instant. "Okay I'll come with you just let me say goodbye first." The man shrugs motioning for Kou to go ahead. Leaning down to look his daughter in her coal black eyes that mirror his own Kou speaks his last words to his twelver year old daughter.

"Kana-Chan Papa's gonna go with his new friend, your Mama should be back in a lottle while okay?" Understanding that something was wrong here Kana shakes her head no her brown hair waving from side to side.

"No Papa don't go please, don't go!" His strength leaving him tears stream down Kou's face as he gives his daughter's forehead a kiss. "I have to go sweetie I lov-" Trying to say tell his daughter he loves her Kou is interrupted by his hair being pulled back viciously.

"Okay Papa time for us to go!" Pulling Kou by his hair the man drags him out the house. "PAPA!!!!!" Kana screams after them to no avail.

*Flashback*

After being dragged out of his home the young man 'graciously' allowed Kou to stand up and be pulled by the arm. "We've been walking for a while where are you taking me?" Kou demands for answers from his captor.

"You'll find out." His captor oh so helpfully responds. Walking in despair Kou laments the fact that he'll surely never see his wife or daughter again. After about ten more minutes of walking they come to a stop with Kou being thrown to the ground.

Looking from his spot prone on the ground Kou comes face to face with a pitch black cave. Turning to look at his captor Kou once again sees him bouncing a kunai in his hand. "In to the cave you go!"

Before Kou can respond the man throws the kunai at his face it whizzes by his face cutting his cheek. Protest dying in his mouth Kou runs into the cave. After running for number of seconds Kou falls back onto his but at a terrifying roar coming from deeper in the cave.

Shaken to his core Kou is unable to move as he sees deep red eyes staring at him from the darkness. The roar has lessened to a growl as thundering footsteps grow closer to him. Just barely through the darkness Kou can see a muzzle before all Kou can do is scream

End.

Thanks to the following for the review:

Asl Lover

If you're still reading though you might want to leave my guy.

Thanks to everyone whose favorited and followed since the last chapter. I got a quick announcement for any reader who cares.

The next update will be the end of the first story arc: The Welcome To Konoha Arc! I wanted let you know I'll be taking a short break following the first arc to write another fanfic.

However we are currently sitting at five reviews and so what I'm gonna say is if we pass ten reviews from now until my break ends I'll take that as high demand and return to this fic early.

So if don't want a break then review but if you don't care then don't. I just want to make sure you know I'm not trying to beg for reviews. It's just while I want to take a break and write another fanfic but I want you to know that I won't ignore a surge of reviews for this one.

With that out of the way thanks for reading have a good day and stay safe during this pandemic.