Bloodlust
by: bubblytokki
Rating: R
Notes: To clarify, this story takes place approximately three years after Naruto kills Orochimaru. Tsunade is the fourth Hokage and Naruto has completed his training under Jiraiya's tutelage with startling prowess. Team seven never really reformed after the first chunnin examination and Kakashi is somewhat riddled with guilt concerning Naruto (although he won't appear until the next chapter). This story is in Shikamaru's point of view for now because it seems that even in his laziness, he is more aware of the events than most Konoha shinobis.
Previously:
"Ne... remember Uchiha Itachi?" Naruto suddenly inquired solemnly, realizing what the disturbance had been, which startled Shikamaru out of his reverie.
"Not really. Didn't that oh so wonderful lady killer Sasuke manage to kill that missing nin?" Shikamaru answered sarcastically. Even through the years, some things never changed. Such as Ino's obsession with the vengeful freak and his own bothersome crush on her.
Naruto shook his head as he turned to look at Shikamaru gravely, "He's alive."
~~
Chapter Two: Reminiscence
"You've got to be kidding me," Shikamaru muttered angrily. He still remembered the day Sasuke returned from his year and a half journey to exact his vengeance. The bitter tang of rejection still burned through Shikamaru's heart, recalling when he had finally gotten the nerve to ask Ino out, only to be rejected in light of Sasuke's wondrous victory. He glared at Naruto whose comment had revived the disappointing memories.
"Seriously..." Naruto began hesitantly. "There's no one else with the capacity to use the Sharingan to that extent!"
"Sasuke is capable... everyone in Konoha proclaims that he is the strongest shinobi! Naruto, why do you have to say stupid things like that?!" He bit out angrily as he stood up abruptly. "I don't want to talk about this. It's a waste of time." He started to walk away, frustrated with today's meeting. Nothing was going his way. It never really did to begin with.
"Shika, shut up!" Naruto raged as he jumped to his feet.
He stopped to glance at Naruto with cold eyes. "What do you want Naruto?"
"I fought with Sasuke. I know exactly how strong his Sharingan is and you know how familiar I am with his chakra. It wasn't him! It was way stronger than him! There are no other Sharingan users Shika... who else could it be?!" Naruto yelled out.
"How do you know it was the Sharingan anyway? It could've been Gaara for all I care. He has red eyes too!" He replied hotly. Chakra coiled around his body as violent rage begged to be released against Naruto, the cause of his current irritation.
"There were freakin' pinwheels in his eyes! Gaara doesn't have pinwheels!" Naruto clarified bluntly. "Besides," he continued hesitantly, "it felt like back then...when he..."
Shikamaru paused as he desperately searched in his memory of Sasuke's return half a year ago. He was human too and didn't pay attention to details as he was wont to regardless of his genius, due to the excruciating pain of Ino's rejection. *Had there been a body? * His thoughts swirled in a frenzied manner as he attempted to recall the proof of Sasuke's oh-so- wonderful accomplishment. He stilled as he realized, *shit, there was no proof, only the bastard's word. * He shook his head furiously.
"Shika..." Naruto whispered, almost fearfully. "He's coming for me again."
Shikamaru stared at Naruto in shock. Sometimes, in the dark moments of his life, which were frequent, he still recalled the mission to retrieve Naruto from Itachi's clutches. No one had expected Itachi to come for Naruto those years ago, right after Naruto had killed and ensured that Orochimaru was dead. In the midst of the celebration, everyone seemed to ignore Naruto regardless of his unbelievable triumph and Shikamaru could still see the tears of anguish spilling unheeded down Naruto's face at the outskirts of the village. Sasuke had stolen the limelight once again and Shikamaru had been the one to comfort Naruto, the shinobi who had put everything on the line to save a village that ignored him, perhaps, even his humanity. It seemed that regardless of Naruto's many sacrifices for the village, no one would acknowledge him except the surviving sennins. And then... he had come, Uchiha Itachi.
Shikamaru shuddered as he remembered the Sharingan rendering him immobile, as he helplessly watched Itachi leisurely walk toward him. Itachi's face was stoic and cold, as if killing him was bothersome. Naruto had disappeared the moment Itachi arrived, and he had been angry at the desertion of someone he considered a friend, someone he had bothered to comfort. Itachi casually launched two kunai at Shikamaru's critical points and he had closed his eyes, waiting for death. But it never came. Shikamaru mentally flinched from the recollection of seeing Naruto's blood splatter on his face as Naruto blocked the kunais with his hands. Neither of them had thought to bring defensive weapons, slipping from their shinobi training the moment it mattered the most. Shikamaru recalled seeing Naruto's smile even as he bargained for Shikamaru's life. Naruto had agreed to accompany Itachi with his free will as long as Shikamaru would be left alive. Six long months had passed before Naruto was able to be retrieved. That in itself was a feat that had taken all of his brainpower, Jiraiya-sama's power, and Kakashi sensei's negotiation skills to save Naruto from Itachi. If Itachi was alive...then...Shikamaru cursed his lack of strength.
"Shika...?" Naruto queried and Shikamaru shook his head clear of his memories.
"Naruto... are you sure it was him?" He questioned seriously. * The Hokage would have to be told, and Kakashi sensei... * Shikamaru thought. He would do everything in his power to protect his one and only worthy friend.
"Shika... don't bother them. Sasuke is keeping their hands full. They don't need to know," Naruto gently said, interrupting his thoughts.
"What the hell do you know?! If he comes for you again...," Shikamaru trailed off as he noticed Naruto's determined eyes.
"I will kill him."
Startled, Shikamaru scrutinized Naruto's bloodthirsty statement.
"Naruto..."
"Never mind... I'll see ya tomorrow all right?" Naruto said as he promptly disappeared. Shikamaru sighed as he blankly stared at where Naruto had been a moment before.
"Tomorrow huh..."
***
"Naruto, you go in and retrieve Sasuke. Meet at point A. We will head off the Sound nins," Shikamaru ordered. It was so bothersome to lead his peers to save the snobby Sasuke, but it had been an order and orders could not be ignored.
Naruto nodded in response and disappeared into the foliage. Shikamaru then planned on how to destroy the Sound nins without overexerting his team. Chouji had already eaten three soldier pills, and Shino looked exhausted, his bugs looked a bit smaller than they used to be. * This is so troublesome,* he thought as he sensed the approaching Sound nins. Quickly he analyzed the situation and selected a strategy in his brain.
"Shino, create three clones with your bugs. Hide those spaced apart ten meters in three directions. Chouji, be ready to cluster the Sound nins to the center of that clearing," Shikamaru stated as he pointed to a clearing fifty meters ahead. "I'll set up a shadow trap and the split second they are caught..." he trailed off. He felt uneasy killing.
"My bugs will then kill them immediately," Shino interjected emotionless.
Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah...let's get this over with."
Amazingly, his plan worked beyond his expectations. The Sound nins were terminated easily and the group swished through the trees to the rendezvous point. Even Shino was shocked to see the scene that greeted them.
Blood was everywhere. No one had expected to see a bloodbath. It looked as if a bloody rain fell upon the section of the forest. Naruto stood in the midst of it, breathing heavily, but smothered in blood, his once blond hair, colored over with the brilliant red of fresh blood. Orochimaru was no where to be seen. Arms and legs hung from nearby branches, and small piles of human organs still emanated heat. Talking seemed out of the question and Shikamaru was at a loss, even with his brilliance, at what to do.
Crimson eyes swiveled to gaze straight into Shikamaru's eyes and he stilled with bated breath, uncertain of whether he should attack or defend.
"Shika....ma..." Naruto managed, before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed.
"Naruto!" Shikamaru shouted as he rushed to catch the falling teammate.
An exhausted wry smile, a pale comparison to Naruto's usual exuberant cockiness emerged from the nearly unconscious teammate.
"I killed them all..." Naruto croaked out, pain lacing his voice as he continued. "Even... Orochimaru..." he managed before passing out.
Shikamaru held in his gasp of surprise. Even he did not expect Naruto to be that strong. Sympathy graced his features as he gently stood up with Naruto in his arms.
* You did well Naruto...*
"Shikamaru," Shino interrupted, pointing at Sasuke's unconscious body hidden in the underbrush. "Sasuke has been retrieved. Let's return."
Shikamaru nodded in response. Carefully hefting Naruto's body on his shoulder, he made his way back to Konoha village with his first mission as a chuunin completed successfully.
"Shikamaru!!"
"Shikamaru~~!"
"SHIKAMARU!"
Shikamaru bolted upright on his bed. "All right! I'm awake! Sheesh~" he muttered, disturbed by his recent dream/nightmare of the past.
Carelessly, he wiped away subtle tears. Perhaps, it was during the battle against Orochimaru that Naruto first experienced his uncontrollable bloodlust, he mused as the clear details of the mission from years ago flooded his mind. Shrugging the troublesome thoughts from his head, he prepared for another day of patrolling the outskirts of Konoha village. * But first...* thought Shikamaru lazily, *it's cloud-gazing time. *
~~~~~
Response to reviews:
Ookima: Thank you sooo much for reviewing...I love your stories... :) Anyways, I hope this chapter clarified the situation about Sasuke a little bit. This story is actually more about Shikamaru and Naruto's friendship and something more to come, rather than the rivalry portrayed in the anime/manga. Naruto is more accepting of being in Sasuke's shadow although, he is still resentful for it in this story.
Kayoko: Thank you~! I like the fifth hokage and seeing her relationship in the manga with Naruto made me think that she would make a good mother- ish figure for Naruto. Especially since she believes he will be hokage one day.
by: bubblytokki
Rating: R
Notes: To clarify, this story takes place approximately three years after Naruto kills Orochimaru. Tsunade is the fourth Hokage and Naruto has completed his training under Jiraiya's tutelage with startling prowess. Team seven never really reformed after the first chunnin examination and Kakashi is somewhat riddled with guilt concerning Naruto (although he won't appear until the next chapter). This story is in Shikamaru's point of view for now because it seems that even in his laziness, he is more aware of the events than most Konoha shinobis.
Previously:
"Ne... remember Uchiha Itachi?" Naruto suddenly inquired solemnly, realizing what the disturbance had been, which startled Shikamaru out of his reverie.
"Not really. Didn't that oh so wonderful lady killer Sasuke manage to kill that missing nin?" Shikamaru answered sarcastically. Even through the years, some things never changed. Such as Ino's obsession with the vengeful freak and his own bothersome crush on her.
Naruto shook his head as he turned to look at Shikamaru gravely, "He's alive."
~~
Chapter Two: Reminiscence
"You've got to be kidding me," Shikamaru muttered angrily. He still remembered the day Sasuke returned from his year and a half journey to exact his vengeance. The bitter tang of rejection still burned through Shikamaru's heart, recalling when he had finally gotten the nerve to ask Ino out, only to be rejected in light of Sasuke's wondrous victory. He glared at Naruto whose comment had revived the disappointing memories.
"Seriously..." Naruto began hesitantly. "There's no one else with the capacity to use the Sharingan to that extent!"
"Sasuke is capable... everyone in Konoha proclaims that he is the strongest shinobi! Naruto, why do you have to say stupid things like that?!" He bit out angrily as he stood up abruptly. "I don't want to talk about this. It's a waste of time." He started to walk away, frustrated with today's meeting. Nothing was going his way. It never really did to begin with.
"Shika, shut up!" Naruto raged as he jumped to his feet.
He stopped to glance at Naruto with cold eyes. "What do you want Naruto?"
"I fought with Sasuke. I know exactly how strong his Sharingan is and you know how familiar I am with his chakra. It wasn't him! It was way stronger than him! There are no other Sharingan users Shika... who else could it be?!" Naruto yelled out.
"How do you know it was the Sharingan anyway? It could've been Gaara for all I care. He has red eyes too!" He replied hotly. Chakra coiled around his body as violent rage begged to be released against Naruto, the cause of his current irritation.
"There were freakin' pinwheels in his eyes! Gaara doesn't have pinwheels!" Naruto clarified bluntly. "Besides," he continued hesitantly, "it felt like back then...when he..."
Shikamaru paused as he desperately searched in his memory of Sasuke's return half a year ago. He was human too and didn't pay attention to details as he was wont to regardless of his genius, due to the excruciating pain of Ino's rejection. *Had there been a body? * His thoughts swirled in a frenzied manner as he attempted to recall the proof of Sasuke's oh-so- wonderful accomplishment. He stilled as he realized, *shit, there was no proof, only the bastard's word. * He shook his head furiously.
"Shika..." Naruto whispered, almost fearfully. "He's coming for me again."
Shikamaru stared at Naruto in shock. Sometimes, in the dark moments of his life, which were frequent, he still recalled the mission to retrieve Naruto from Itachi's clutches. No one had expected Itachi to come for Naruto those years ago, right after Naruto had killed and ensured that Orochimaru was dead. In the midst of the celebration, everyone seemed to ignore Naruto regardless of his unbelievable triumph and Shikamaru could still see the tears of anguish spilling unheeded down Naruto's face at the outskirts of the village. Sasuke had stolen the limelight once again and Shikamaru had been the one to comfort Naruto, the shinobi who had put everything on the line to save a village that ignored him, perhaps, even his humanity. It seemed that regardless of Naruto's many sacrifices for the village, no one would acknowledge him except the surviving sennins. And then... he had come, Uchiha Itachi.
Shikamaru shuddered as he remembered the Sharingan rendering him immobile, as he helplessly watched Itachi leisurely walk toward him. Itachi's face was stoic and cold, as if killing him was bothersome. Naruto had disappeared the moment Itachi arrived, and he had been angry at the desertion of someone he considered a friend, someone he had bothered to comfort. Itachi casually launched two kunai at Shikamaru's critical points and he had closed his eyes, waiting for death. But it never came. Shikamaru mentally flinched from the recollection of seeing Naruto's blood splatter on his face as Naruto blocked the kunais with his hands. Neither of them had thought to bring defensive weapons, slipping from their shinobi training the moment it mattered the most. Shikamaru recalled seeing Naruto's smile even as he bargained for Shikamaru's life. Naruto had agreed to accompany Itachi with his free will as long as Shikamaru would be left alive. Six long months had passed before Naruto was able to be retrieved. That in itself was a feat that had taken all of his brainpower, Jiraiya-sama's power, and Kakashi sensei's negotiation skills to save Naruto from Itachi. If Itachi was alive...then...Shikamaru cursed his lack of strength.
"Shika...?" Naruto queried and Shikamaru shook his head clear of his memories.
"Naruto... are you sure it was him?" He questioned seriously. * The Hokage would have to be told, and Kakashi sensei... * Shikamaru thought. He would do everything in his power to protect his one and only worthy friend.
"Shika... don't bother them. Sasuke is keeping their hands full. They don't need to know," Naruto gently said, interrupting his thoughts.
"What the hell do you know?! If he comes for you again...," Shikamaru trailed off as he noticed Naruto's determined eyes.
"I will kill him."
Startled, Shikamaru scrutinized Naruto's bloodthirsty statement.
"Naruto..."
"Never mind... I'll see ya tomorrow all right?" Naruto said as he promptly disappeared. Shikamaru sighed as he blankly stared at where Naruto had been a moment before.
"Tomorrow huh..."
***
"Naruto, you go in and retrieve Sasuke. Meet at point A. We will head off the Sound nins," Shikamaru ordered. It was so bothersome to lead his peers to save the snobby Sasuke, but it had been an order and orders could not be ignored.
Naruto nodded in response and disappeared into the foliage. Shikamaru then planned on how to destroy the Sound nins without overexerting his team. Chouji had already eaten three soldier pills, and Shino looked exhausted, his bugs looked a bit smaller than they used to be. * This is so troublesome,* he thought as he sensed the approaching Sound nins. Quickly he analyzed the situation and selected a strategy in his brain.
"Shino, create three clones with your bugs. Hide those spaced apart ten meters in three directions. Chouji, be ready to cluster the Sound nins to the center of that clearing," Shikamaru stated as he pointed to a clearing fifty meters ahead. "I'll set up a shadow trap and the split second they are caught..." he trailed off. He felt uneasy killing.
"My bugs will then kill them immediately," Shino interjected emotionless.
Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah...let's get this over with."
Amazingly, his plan worked beyond his expectations. The Sound nins were terminated easily and the group swished through the trees to the rendezvous point. Even Shino was shocked to see the scene that greeted them.
Blood was everywhere. No one had expected to see a bloodbath. It looked as if a bloody rain fell upon the section of the forest. Naruto stood in the midst of it, breathing heavily, but smothered in blood, his once blond hair, colored over with the brilliant red of fresh blood. Orochimaru was no where to be seen. Arms and legs hung from nearby branches, and small piles of human organs still emanated heat. Talking seemed out of the question and Shikamaru was at a loss, even with his brilliance, at what to do.
Crimson eyes swiveled to gaze straight into Shikamaru's eyes and he stilled with bated breath, uncertain of whether he should attack or defend.
"Shika....ma..." Naruto managed, before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed.
"Naruto!" Shikamaru shouted as he rushed to catch the falling teammate.
An exhausted wry smile, a pale comparison to Naruto's usual exuberant cockiness emerged from the nearly unconscious teammate.
"I killed them all..." Naruto croaked out, pain lacing his voice as he continued. "Even... Orochimaru..." he managed before passing out.
Shikamaru held in his gasp of surprise. Even he did not expect Naruto to be that strong. Sympathy graced his features as he gently stood up with Naruto in his arms.
* You did well Naruto...*
"Shikamaru," Shino interrupted, pointing at Sasuke's unconscious body hidden in the underbrush. "Sasuke has been retrieved. Let's return."
Shikamaru nodded in response. Carefully hefting Naruto's body on his shoulder, he made his way back to Konoha village with his first mission as a chuunin completed successfully.
"Shikamaru!!"
"Shikamaru~~!"
"SHIKAMARU!"
Shikamaru bolted upright on his bed. "All right! I'm awake! Sheesh~" he muttered, disturbed by his recent dream/nightmare of the past.
Carelessly, he wiped away subtle tears. Perhaps, it was during the battle against Orochimaru that Naruto first experienced his uncontrollable bloodlust, he mused as the clear details of the mission from years ago flooded his mind. Shrugging the troublesome thoughts from his head, he prepared for another day of patrolling the outskirts of Konoha village. * But first...* thought Shikamaru lazily, *it's cloud-gazing time. *
~~~~~
Response to reviews:
Ookima: Thank you sooo much for reviewing...I love your stories... :) Anyways, I hope this chapter clarified the situation about Sasuke a little bit. This story is actually more about Shikamaru and Naruto's friendship and something more to come, rather than the rivalry portrayed in the anime/manga. Naruto is more accepting of being in Sasuke's shadow although, he is still resentful for it in this story.
Kayoko: Thank you~! I like the fifth hokage and seeing her relationship in the manga with Naruto made me think that she would make a good mother- ish figure for Naruto. Especially since she believes he will be hokage one day.