Blue

Chapter VIII

Note: see, working fast ^^ Disclaimers apply, I don't own Naruto. Title: Blue Part: Chapter 8 Sixteen people left the briefing room and took separate corridors to leave the anbu wing of the academy. The large group divided into four teams, each planning the best and quickest way to navigate the island they were supposed to go to. Four anbu teams were chosen for this SS class mission but all their plans would have to be separated from the rest. Each served as a back up plan to the other. An island was too big for a four man team to infiltrate and needle out just one hiding lord. The assassins would be a challenge in itself but that could be arranged with no more than two teams. Four teams were just for safety's sake and speed. Ever since the Godaime had taken the reigns in governing Konoha, safety had always been top priority. Speed could be sacrificed but a good nin would not sacrifice either.

As captain, Sasuke would have to arrange with the three other captains on a retreat ground, just in case and a short account on the angle of their search and direction so that they would be able to cover the whole ground. Wasting time could mean an unguarded lot and it could cost them a life. With the records from Naruto's team in just five months, Sasuke assumed that Naruto was already captain. To his surprise, none of the three masked captains he had met were blonds. It was decided that they would just meet at the core of the island. Reach the middle by any means and spare as many lives as possible. It was an old and private code of conduct amongst Konoha's shinobi but the scrolls taught something else.

Sasuke watched as the other teams left in their boats, worried. It was not his position to worry because he knew they'd finish this one way or another. His usual pessimism just told him that there might be unnecessary casualties. It had been months since he and Naruto had that foul encounter at the ramen shop. After that night, there was just nothing to talk about; old competition, maybe.

It pissed him off. That's for sure.

Naruto and his team arrived to a clearing where all twelve Leaf anbu were busy and fighting. Often, he wondered why assassinations always turned into a small war. Stealth killing just wasn't as it used to be. It looked like the rich lords already learned that four bodyguards just wouldn't suffice if they were in the hit list of anybody. Not that he was complaining; the more, the merrier and the harder to kill, the better. Now, to find where an elite yakuza would be hiding… He looked to his side where his three partners still perched above the present battle. With a nod, the team took their own path and entered the manor in search of their target.

As was expected, a yakuza of elite status wouldn't be easy to find. And when found, every entrance and every exit were surrounded with a number of anbu money could afford. Not that it made a difference to Naruto.

"Kage bunshin no jutsu." The smirk on Naruto's face widened as he controlled the number of his clones to equal the amount of anbu inside the room. This was too easy.

The yakuza had long died in the hands of another Leaf anbu but Naruto's clones were still fighting off every single anbu inside the room. The captain of Naruto's team knew better than to attempt stopping Naruto. Sometimes he wondered if Naruto fought with eyes closed because the blade of Naruto's wakazashi would touch even a teammate.

Meanwhile, a Leaf anbu signaled the rest of the teams outside that their target was already found and dead. They could all go home as soon as they cleared up all the dead bodies.

Sasuke stopped and knocked his enemy out. The rest of their enemies stopped fighting also. Mercenaries. Now that their master was dead, there was no point in prolonging this battle. In the end, they were all just the same. It always felt like this to Sasuke and perhaps, Konoha's exception was that their shinobi would fight to the end and not for the money alone. Looking around, he realized that he couldn't spot a certain blond among those clearing the field. He'd ask but he didn't know who would answer so he just walked inside the manor to search.

Sounds of clashing metal and skin reached Sasuke's ears and he made a sprint to the direction of the battle. To say that he was shocked would be an understatement. The carcass that lay about the room were unrecognizable and from the looks of things, Naruto wouldn't stop until there was no one else breathing other than him. Six shuriken flew aiming straight at the throats of the retreating anbu when Sasuke stopped the attack with his own set of stars. In one swift action, Sasuke unsheathed his wakazashi and attacked who he knew was Naruto.

The clones disappeared when Naruto noticed that someone else was intruding in his fun. He turned to face the blade that was aimed at him and did not flinch as the metal went through the mask that stopped mere centimeters from his skin.

Sasuke stepped back, surprised as Naruto's narrowed red eyes stared at him coldly.

Naruto bent over and picked up the sliced pieces without leaving his eyes from the other mask. "You shouldn't be careless, Sasuke. I could've killed you."

The silence suddenly struck Sasuke as deafening. Naruto had left quite awhile ago but he couldn't find the effort to move his body from the shock.


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