Naruto: Stray

By ghettomusick23

Summary: AU – Naruto and Haku journey to the Hidden Sand to visit some friends and enjoy a little R&R. Their rest and relaxation is cut short when an old friend decides to pay a little visit to his former associates.

Chapter 03 – Bad News

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its many money making properties.

" " – Speech

Italics – Thoughts

Naruto sped toward his destination; occasionally blurring from sight, maintaining a speed any respectable Jounin would envy but the thought didn't bring his ease. There was an odd sense of calm that surrounded him and he couldn't place why. He figured it was because he'd been in to many life or death situations already and one more couldn't hurt. Or maybe it was the fact that even if he died here there wouldn't be too many people to care. No siree there would be no tears cried for the lose of the Demon from Konoha.

The only remote sense of trepidation was from the void, the silence that echoed from where the Kyuubi was currently sealed. Over the years he'd absorbed so much of the thing that they were so intricately intertwined it was sometimes hard to separate himself from the fox and when he could no longer tell what the demon was thinking that could only mean trouble in the long run. For a lot of people.

The closer he was coming to Orochimaru the more he was getting peeved off. The bastard was freely casting his signal across the landscape. Even several meters away the force of Orochimarus killing intent was so strong Naruto could feel in down to his bones.

'So much for the trap theory. The bastards not even trying to hide himself.'

They were on foreign soil. In a country where hostilities were always running higher than the hundred degree weather and the bastard was broadcasting for everyone to know who he was. It was clear cut intimidation and had Naruto been some passing shinobi it just might have worked.

'To bad you picked the wrong day to test me buddy.'

Still running at a breakneck pace Naruto looked around noting the terrain quickly change from low cut vegetation to a harsher, more rocky view. A few minutes later and he was currently traveling through a wide canyon, bordered by high rising cliffs; a perfect spot for launching an ambush if one wanted to. The dried up riverbed offered no change of scenery. It was as dreary looking as the rest of the place. Everywhere he looked there were rocks and sand. He was practically in the middle of nowhere. Which was perfect for his type of fighting- no holds barred.

Catching sight of Orochimaru and never one to miss the spotlight, Naruto pushed off an outlying rock jut and somersaulted in mid-air, performing an eye popping array of nips and tucks before landing on top a rock pillar smiling.

Immediately wiping the smile off his face and catching his attention was the Sannins height. He was shorter than he remembered. He was no longer towering above him, now he stood only a few inches taller. From that alone it was easy to tell that he'd gotten himself a new body. Who and where were the details he didn't care for but he hated the man no less.

Orchimaru stood atop a small rock structure, arms folded, that smug look of superiority that never failed to piss him off. That was nothing new though; it was the aura of absolute certainty leaking from him that made Naruto scrutinize the situation from a different angle.

Orochimaru haughtily glared at Naruto, a sickly, sweet smile spread across his face.

"I see you found me Naruto-kun. I doubted you would even have any brain matter left to function."

Naruto narrowed his eyes in anger. Orochimaru was trying to bait him but if he thought Naruto was the same wide eyed, slightly startled eight year old he had another thing coming. Grin slipping into place Naruto pointed to the Sannin with his middle finger raised then with a flick of his wrist gave him the thumbs down.

"Only one of your flunkies could lose to someone old enough to fart dirt. I wouldn't be surprised if your old enough to know how all the countries got started in the first place."

The elder shinobi visibly stiffened before he thought better and relaxed his posture. Nose raised, cockiness easily reasserting itself as if it never left.

"That tongue of yours has gotten a lot sharper, but I seriously doubt a no talent mound of waste like you could stand to me."

Hair swaying with the slight brush of wind Orchimaru spread his arms out, tilting his head back toward the sun.

"You have no chance. Why that Uchiha thought someone like you would turn out worth anything is foolish. You are merely the first animal being led to slaughter."

A sigh of pity escaped Naruto. Orochimaru had to make everything, even his speeches, so grandiose.

"You sure are a long winded bastard."

When Orochimaru snapped his attention back to him Naruto looked him straight in the eye, smirk on his face.

"It's been years and you're still bent out of shape about running from Itachi-san."

Before Orochimaru could react Naruto unbuttoned the top most buttons of his cloak. The thing was cool looking and kept you warm but it was irritating as hell when the collar always managed to get caught in his mouth during a fight.

"I know you didn't come here to chit-chat, so why don't we get started. The Ms's wants me home before dinners served.

Eyes narrowed to vicious slits and smile more malicious than Naruto had ever seen, Orochimaru released his full swell of chakra, the force behind it resembling a small cyclone. Closing his eyes against debris Naruto frowned when a single stray thought shot through his head.

'Aren't old people supposed to be weak and feeble?! Where is the crutch?'

When the aftershocks of the wave ended Naruto opened his eyes, taking a hard look at the Sannin. He was a strong as he remembered and all jokes aside the odds were stacked so far in the bastards favor it was like comparing a mole hill to a mountain.

Amusement gone, there was no smile, only a self assured smirk in place. In order to have any chance of completely destroying the man in front of him he would have to use the Kyuubi and siphon more power than he was comfortable with.

"I don't know what made you come all the way out here yourself but that is one mistake that you aren't going to live to regret."

Hands clapped together, index and middle finger touching, Naruto released the power he'd trained so hard in containing, molding and like every other time before, the rush was euphoric.

The red orange glow of chakra swirled around him, whipping his clothing around his frame. He could feel the power race through his system, changing him. His senses were more developed than any human beings, his body changed to allow greater muscle and tissue density increase. It was overwhelming sometimes, but he didn't want it all.

Only the eyes. All he need were the eyes.

Bushins were almost out of the question so instead of going with old reliable Naruto decided to go about it the old fashioned way. Cracking his knuckles, grin in place and blood red eyes narrowed, Naruto started everything an avalanche of situations in one simple sentence.

"Let's do this."

After Naruto's all too abrupt exit Gaara wasted no time in relaying the message. Quickly making way he'd totally forgotten the reason he left in the first place but when he reached his destination he remembered, oh yeah he remembered. Laying under a tree were his sister and Haku, nothing but the fugitives' cloak offering any kind of visual blockade to their nudity.

For several seconds he stood there, rooted to the spot in shocked silence. There was never any change is his facial expression but the discomfort was so overwhelming he wished for the numbness he used to feel. Along with that was the small, very familiar feeling of rage. Why the emotion chose now of all times to rear its head, the answer eluded him but the sight of his sister, older or not, unclothed with any male raised his hackles.

Temari on the other hand was mortified. Her brother appearing out of nowhere and catching them naked as the day they were born was bad, no worse than bad. Hakus' nonchalant attitude was far worse. His total lack of anything resembling embarrassment or shame was irritating and quickly erasing her guilt and replacing it with anger. He just didn't understand that her little brother caught her naked- NAKED.

"I swear on everything I love, Haku if you don't wipe that smile off your face…"

He was trying but the look on her face would be one for the ages. Strong willed, proud, arrogant Temari was transformed into a different woman who was trying her best to crawl inside her own skin- and Gaara. Haku could read the cover-up of emotions in the Jounins eyes so well that he was halfway to full blown laughter when a kunai pressing against his ribcage and one angry female shut him up.

'I guess she didn't change too much.'

"Temari, it's not that bad. We weren't doing anything and at least it wasn't some random stranger or Naruto."

Her left eyebrow was twitching involuntarily, a sure sign someone, namely Haku, was in danger of being assaulted. If she didn't do something she was going to uppercut him to the moon. Slowly counting to ten, then backwards to one she mentally pictured herself relaxing at a hot spring. It was midnight and a cool breeze was blowing through the area but nobody but herself was in attendance.

Haku could see she was in her own little world. The obvious effort she was taking in calming down and decided to keep quiet. Temari was scarier than anyone he'd ever met, including Noriko. His cellmate was legendary for her angry outbursts when dealing with Naruto. Buttoning the collar of his cloak he turned to the reason for their current predicament.

Naruto was in trouble. That was the first thing that came to mind. One obvious point was that Gaara had been running, no not just running but practically flying to get to them. Two- he came alone. Naruto was nowhere to be seen and Haku couldn't feel his chakra signature anywhere near their vicinity. He hadn't trusted the sand-nin at first but over time he'd come to regard Gaara as an ally. However his friend was probably in danger so when he spoke his voice held none of the softly encouraging cheer he was known for.

"Where is he?"

Temari tightened the forehead protector around her neck and turned around startled at the hard edge in Hakus voice. Never once in the four years she'd known him had he ever sounded so cold, so unemotional and looking into his raven black eyes he seemed scarier than her youngest brother.

"He said that there is a reptile problem that needed taking care of."

He never gave any outward signs of motion but before he could even move a hand on his wrist prevented him from leaving. Haku didn't get angry at her but his infinite patience suddenly didn't seem so long.

"What the hell is going on?"

"It is none of your concern."

This wasn't the first time he'd ever said it but it didn't hurt any less. He always pushing her to the side when things happened, she never knew what he was getting into and she was growing sick of it. She knew she sounded like some over protective, love sick damsel but she was a realist. She had no illusions about their relationship. It was tough and hard, being with him with their visits so spread out but it was worth it in the long run and it was about time she made him understand forcefully.

Clamping down on her wounded feelings, she brought the kunoichi to the surface. If he wanted to switch gears at the drop of a hat, then she would show him she could do it just as well.

"I think you're over stepping your boundaries. You are a fugitive, illegally maintaining a presence in our country. I doubt you have any say-so on what's our concern."

Had she been anyone else he would have killed her on the spot for the thinly veiled threat, instead he nodded his he head in acceptance and started toward Gaara.

"I'll explain on the way."

Naruto felt a small tremor and quickly leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the explosion and following rock crag blasting from the Earth. Orochimaru wasn't pulling any punches and Naruto had to smile at that. The old man had no choice after he'd gotten in one good punch that sent the bastard crashing into a rock wall. Landing in a crouch Naruto a quick set of hand seals before and quickly located his target.

"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu." (Fire Element: Mythical Fire Phoenix)

Several fire balls blanketed the canyon, destroying several rock formations but Naruto could care less, his intention had been to smoke out the target. Orochimaru knew that and still came barreling out the huge plume of smoke, delivering a punch that even blocked, had Naruto hard pressed to keep his footing.

Ignoring the pain flaring up his arm Naruto made a move to grab at Orochimarus outstretched arm but came up empty- the Sannin was already gone. Instincts made him duck the incoming slash at his neck, retaliating with a low sweep Orchimaru easily leaped over. Still spinning Naruto rose up, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick that met air.

Orochimaru was smiling, reappearing directly in front of Naruto, fist cocked backward and a free path to his face. The blow was strong enough to make him see stars. Reeling backward, he immediately began running backwards to create some space.

'Shit, I gotta do something,'

Aiming, he landed and took off in a sharp ninety degree angle and when he felt Orochimaru turn at a similar spot Naruto released a hail of explosive shuriken. The explosion was almost deafening and Naruto watched what passed as Orochimaru disintegrate into nothing but he was already tracking him. Blasting off with enough chakra to create a small crater, Naruto found the Sannin prepping a set of hand seals.

Never giving him time to finish, he moved fast enough to create a series of blurs. Orochimaru attacked the incoming Naruto and contacted nothing. Turning to bring up his arms in defense, he was too late to block the lethal kick that connected to his head and sent him flying away.

Naruto made ready to attack while he was disoriented but a slow pain in his chest made him pause and look down. The sight of the legendary Kusanagi sword protruding from his chest seemed wrong. His blood was slowly leaking from the wound, trailing down the length of the sword and creating a small puddle on the barren Earth. He could feel something give out inside of him, 'Maybe a lung,' he thought.

"You have served your purpose. After I have my way with Konoha I will hunt down the rest of your foolish comrades and wipe them from this planet."

'No that just won't do.'

Demonic blood red eyes turned to Orochimaru, giving the Sannin a look of extreme boredom.

"Gotcha."

The following explosion rocked the canyon, swelling and spreading out in a red hot blast of power. Tons of debris was haphazardly thrown about from the resulting shockwave. The canyon, which had somehow held up till now, resembled almost nothing of its former regal glory.

Several hundred meters away Naruto stood back and passively watched the destruction. He practically had to beg Itachi to teach him that particular jutsu and when he did it had taken him months to learn how to control. It was either he was packing to much power or too little, but today he had no reservations about blast strength. Orochimaru needed to die today and unfortunately even that attack hadn't done the job.

His face was blank but Naruto could see that his clothes weren't as put together as his emotions. Tattered and torn, his shirt was littered with holes and even his hair seemed a bit tinged.

"I'm glad you've improved," his voice was so low, almost a whisper on the wind, "I thought this would be over a lot sooner."

Hand still clutching the sword Orochimaru began walking toward him, steps slow and measured.

"I underestimated you and your ability to manipulate the demons chakra." He shook his head in astonishment. "Had that last attack hit I would not be standing her now."

Naruto shrugged his shoulders, the very picture of nonchalance.

"Well next time I have to make sure it hits."

Orochimaru shook his head. "No, this ends here."

Naruto tensed, he felt the change in the atmosphere and that didn't bode well. He vainly tried to pinpoint what was going on in the Sannins head but he had no need, Orochimaru gladly showed what he meant by his last statement.

The snake like pupils of Orochimaru slowly changed, warped and twisted. Naruto could the single slit disappear and the yellow slowly bled out leaving his eyes eerily blank. Then color began to surface. Red, a deep dark crimson seemingly burst into his eyes and when the red stabilized he could see the slow appearance of several small black flecks. He knew before they even aligned themselves around the pupil what they were.

'You son of a bitch.'

Orchimaru's new body was from an Uchiha. Which made him a proud new owner of the Sharingan.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Next chapter, unless my muse changes course, Haku jumps into the fray and then the story's going to really take off from there with the appearance of Jiraiya.

I know somebody wrote me and basically asked me what the hell is going on. Well, the story will mainly go through three people; Itachi, Haku, and Naruto. Naruto and Haku are in the spot light right now but when it's time to bring everyone up to speed Itachi will mainly take over and through HD TV quality recollections tell how they got to where they are.

Another thing is this yaoi explosion. Personally it doesn't bother me but in almost every major anime section you got them all over the place. I scrolled on over to the FullMetal Alchemist section and found almost nothing but Roy x Edward. Come on I know fanfiction is about creating your take on a series but some of the stuff I just don't see. I'm not getting started on Naruto x Sasuke- but in some weird way I can see that better than Sasuke x Sakura.

Weird