Chapter 4: Assassin
The four arrive at Naruto's house, as they breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness we came to your place, this could serve as a hideout," Harry stated, as Naruto nodded. "So this is your place, blimey this is bigger than the Burrow," Ron stated in awe. "As much as I would like to give you a tour, I believe we have more important things on hand," Naruto said. "Right, I believe we better get changed first," Hermione stated. Soon the four went to separate rooms to change into more casual clothes, as they met up at the intel room. "Alright Itachi, what have you got for us?" Naruto asked, as the others looked at Itachi. "Ok so far the Ministry had been taken over from the get go. It seems that Scrimgeour had put up a good fight and hasn't disclosed your location, but somehow they found out about you guys. What's even worse is that you four are all wanted as of now," Itachi explained.
"Well shit, it looks like we're going to have to lay low for a while, before we do anything risky," Harry stated. "Agreed, so for the meantime, before we begin the journey to find the Horcruxes, we're going to need a plan. Harry, you and Hermione are to get any necessary supplies which are food, clothes, medicine, anything that is of use. Ron, you will be keeping an eye out if you see anyone suspicious lurking around," Naruto stated. "What about you?" Ron asked. "I'm going to be doing a little recon in the dark wizard underworld known as Knockturn Alley, trying to get any latest information," the blond explained. "Alright then, it's best you four get some rest, because tomorrow you have a busy day ahead of you, Itachi stated. Soon the four went to bed, while Itachi did more recon outside.
The Next Day
Naruto woke up pretty early, as he decided to do a little "light" training before going out to do some recon. He dresses like a drifter, as he wears a black bomber jacket, a dark orange hoodie, rough blue jeans, a pair of brown steeltoe boots, and a baseball cap. He finishes the outfit by wrapping his hands in bandages, putting black makeup around his eyes, and to hide his face, he wears a gaiter face mask. Before he leaves, Naruto places a note stating that he is going out and he soon goes to his motorcycle. Now it was a good thing Naruto placed a seal on the motorcycle so that it could appear to him when it's needed because otherwise it would have sucked having to go all the way back to get it when there are literally Death Eaters roaming around. It was still early in the morning, so the sun wasn't as present given how the skies were pretty gray and cloudy. Naruto rides his motorcycle around the city, as he observes how there were only a few people outside who were just getting ready for work or are just walking around enjoying the early morning.
The blond soon arrives at the Leaky Cauldron, as he parks his motorcycle. He enters the pub to see that it was opening up for the day, despite there being rarely any customers due to the situation at hand. Naruto goes to the room where the wall for Diagon Alley lies and using the combination, he enters Diagon Alley. The place felt empty given how the Death Eaters are spreading fear within the place, but Naruto had far more important business instead of window shopping. He walks to Knockturn Alley without any problem other than some random beggar asking for some change, a skeevy dealer pressuring him to buy his or her latest product or even some random mugger threatening him for some coins.
Naruto strolls around Knockturn Alley for one purpose and that is to catch glimpses or pieces of news regarding what Voldemort or even Kurasame are planning. He enters the White Wyvern pub, as the blond figures that the best piece of information comes from a bar and its bartender. The pub was filled with some of the most seediest if not suspicious wizards and witches out there. Sure some people noticed Naruto, but given that he was dressed as a drifter, they thought he was just a customer so they didn't bother and went on with their business. "Oi barman, give me your finest butterbeer," Naruto ordered, as he took a seat. The bartender raised an eyebrow, before filling the blond a pint of the drink. Naruto took a sip of his drink, before tossing the bartender some coins and motioning him to answer a question. "What's the latest on the Ministry?" Naruto asked. "I hear that they're replacing Scrimgeour for someone new, heh good riddance, Scrimgeour was a hypocrite anyway," the bartender stated.
Naruto didn't say anything, as he already knew about this information. So he tossed some more coins as he wanted more information, while the bartender filled up Naruto's drink. "So far, the Ministry is replacing Scrimgeour for Pius Thicknesse, but rumors say that You-Know-Who placed Thicknesse under the Imperius Curse, so that's why he is already the new Minister, when in actuality You-Know-Who is the true Minister," the bartender whispered. Naruto raised an eyebrow, as he is starting to put two and two together about how the plan was compromised. He gave even more coins to the bartender, as the bartender was looking rather greedy from counting the coins. "Why are the Ministry after Harry Potter and his allies?" Naruto asked. "I hear the Ministry is after Harry Potter due to his involvement in the murder of Albus Dumbledore. They are going after his allies as they are wanted for questioning. But they aren't just after Harry Potter, no they're after Naruto Uzumaki, as he is wanted for aiding and abetting the Potter boy. From what was posted, it seemed that those two have the highest bounty on their head," the bartender whispered.
Having heard enough, Naruto paid the bartender and left the pub. But as he was walking, Naruto noticed that he was being followed by someone. So he decided to go a different path, hoping to corner his stalker. The hooded stalker kept tailing Naruto as the blond went through a series of alleyways. The hooded stalker soon came across an alleyway, hoping to corner Naruto when nobody was there. "Did you really think you could tail me that easily?" Naruto asked, as the hooded stalker looked at him, before making an escape. Naruto chases down the stalker on the rooftops, as a game of cat and mouse takes place. But alas the stalker stopped, as he turned around to face Naruto. "Looks like my target is here. Heh looks like my luck just keeps on giving," the hooded stalker stated, as he took off his hood, revealing who he is. Naruto wasn't phased by the stalker, as he had seen him before on the Daily Prophet. "Well if it isn't you, Kazuhiro Shiratori," Naruto stated.
"Oh so you do know me?" Kazuhiro stated. "Yeah, I know you. Former student of Mahoutokoro turned cold-blooded assassin. Also an escapee from Azkaban and just another dark wizard," Naruto mentioned. "Heh, I'll give you props for knowing all about me. But I'm afraid we must cut the chatter, as that wasn't why I'm after you," Kazuhiro stated, before the two dueled each other. They fired their most offensive and defensive spells at each other, as the duel was getting intense. "Why are you after me?!" Naruto asked, as he casted Protego. "I was hired by an organization to capture you and your friend," he stated, as he fired a flame spell. Naruto dodges the spell, as he fires a water spell at the assassin. "By organization, you mean You-Know-Who and his allies?" Naruto asked, as he used Expelliarmus. "That's the gist of it," Kazuhiro said, as he blocked the spell. "However, I wasn't merely interested in their cause, rather I was only there for the bounty on your head, along with Potter's. Naturally I wasn't interested in catching you two, as I'm an assassin, not a bounty hunter. But the price on both you and Potter was too good to pass on, so I accepted," he explained, as he used Stupefy.
Naruto dodges the spell, as the assassin keeps firing at him. The blond created some shadow clones, which surprised the assassin. Before the assassin could react, the clones kept firing spell after spell in the hopes of distracting him. The real Naruto uses this advantage and fires the Incarcerous spell, binding Kazuhiro before knocking him out. Naruto checks the downed assassin's left forearm to see if he had the Dark Mark and sure enough the assassin had the mark on his arm, even though Kazuhiro stated he had no interest in Voldemort's cause. But before Naruto could investigate anymore, it seemed that he made too much commotion, so Naruto escaped quickly. But as he escaped, Kurasame was watching the whole fight as he was studying Naruto. Having seen enough, he vanishes away, not before grabbing the incapacitated Kazuhiro Shiratori.
The Uzumaki Residence
Naruto arrives quickly at the house, not before checking if he was being tailed or not. Luckily no one followed him, so he was in the clear as he entered inside. The others were there, waiting for him as they saw Naruto looking rather worse for wear. "Naruto! Are you ok?! What happened to you?!" Hermione asked, as she went up to him and checked to see if he had any injuries. Naruto waves it off, "I'm fine, just got into a little altercation with someone as I was doing a little investigation," he said, as he took a seat. He takes off his mask, as he sips a glass of water. He notices the look everybody was giving at him, stating that they knew something was up. "Ok fine, I was ambushed by an assassin who was hired by Voldemort and Kurasame," he stated, as everybody looked shocked. Naruto explained about what happened in the beginning from how he was doing a little investigating at Knockturn Alley to his confrontation with Kazuhiro Shiratori. Needless to say, they were all shocked by what they just heard.
"You're saying that the Ministry has put a bounty on our heads and the new Minister is under the Imperius Curse by none other than Voldemort, is that it?" Harry asked, as Naruto nodded. "And this Kazuhiro guy was tasked to capture both you and Harry, correct?" Ron asked. "That's the gist of it," Naruto chuckled without any humor. "This is bad, really bad you two. Not only are we hunted down by You-Know-Who and his allies, but the Ministry is after all of us, let alone by bounty hunters," Hermione stated. "We need to act fast and we need to find the real locket, before we commence on our Horcrux journey," Naruto stated. "Sirius…we need to get to Sirius, he could help us out," Harry stated. "Alright then, we'll go to your place later today," Naruto stated, as Harry nodded. While Harry and Ron went to the kitchen with Itachi, both Naruto and Hermione were in the living room, as they talked.
"Naruto, I think your injuries need to be treated, you're bleeding badly," Hermione stated. "I'm fine, I can sleep this off. After all Kurama can heal me," Naruto said, waving it off. Hermione gave him the look, as Naruto sighed, figuring that she was only just trying to look out for him. "Ok, we can go to my room to check for any injuries," he said, as Hermione nodded. The two went to Naruto's room, as the two sat on his bed. "Take off your hoodie and shirt please," she requested, taking out the first aid kit. Naruto nodded and proceeded to do as asked, while he stood up. As he takes off his hoodie and shirt, Hermione looks at Naruto's body and blushes. 'Goddamn he has the body of an Adonis!' she thought, trying not to get a nose bleed. Naruto just stared at her cluelessly, as he scratched his head. "Is something wrong?" he asked, as Hermione shook her head. "No, everything is fine, come sit down over here," she requested, as Naruto took a seat. While she was treating his wounds, she notices the scars on his body from all the things he faced. "Are those stab wounds?" she asked quietly. "Yeah…they were, I have had them for a while ever since I fought Menma and other people during my night escapades. But I've…had scars far worse when I was just a little boy…even though they fade away…they are never truly gone," he said quietly, as he closed his eyes, with only a lone teardrop coming from his eyes. Hermione was saddened as even though she knew about this from what Naruto told her, it was still too much to hear. She softly touched the scars, as Naruto didn't mind given that Hermione was just curious. Soon she was treating his injuries and it was a quiet affair for the two, but it was alright as they both wanted this sense of calmness.
Note: Hey guys, so I decided to add a character from the Harry Potter phone game, Hogwarts Mystery, into the story as the character will serve as one of the people who are tasked by Voldemort and his allies to hunt down both Naruto and Harry. Also to answer the question about what happened to Naruto's motorcycle, it will be answered specifically in this chapter. Hope you guys like this chapter and feel free to review.