Naruto: Stray

By ghettomusick23

Summary: AU – Naruto and Orochimaru are in a fight to the death. Haku receiving word hurries in order to help his friend. Temari, not having her boyfriend run off to be a hero follows with her brother, Gaara

Chapter 04 – Blood Brothers

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

" " – Speech

Italics – Thoughts

Jiraiya considered himself a gifted man of many talents. His abilities in his own eyes knew no bounds. He was a Sannin, one of the three most powerful ninjas in Konohas history, only surpassed by the Hokages themselves. That by itself was cause for a certain degree of celebrity and he relished it but his rise to super stardom came through literature.

As author of the worlds' greatest piece of artistic expression Jiraiya was considered a deity in some parts of the world. His introspective looks into the private relationships between healthy young women and men helped men everywhere strive through adverse conditions and come out stronger where initially they would sometimes be lost.

There was not a man alive that didn't know and look up to him.

He remembered times when he'd been asked by star struck youths to autograph his latest novel and happily did so. They were making him a very wealthy man but he had no need for monetary compensation, his goal was to spread knowledge about the wonderful creature known as woman.

Of course the females he encountered felt totally different than their other halfs. He knew plenty of wives and girlfriends that actually detested him on a certain level. The rants were too many to remember but the most prevalent ones were, 'You're turning my husband into a pervert,' or 'No self respecting woman would do those sort of things.'

The first question he always answered with, 'What's a little more loving gonna cost,' which always got an angry, unconditioned outburst to follow. The second question he could vouch for personally. A little imagination could take you places you wouldn't imagine and as the flagbearer for unfulfilled men everywhere he pointed that out to their often times deranged other halves.

Needless to say, it never worked out as he planned. He'd been run out of so many towns that he was quickly running out of grade A research spots.

That was why he was currently in the Wind Country. For his one hundredth volume he planned on releasing a super-duper-mega collectible edition. Five volumes, released in one set, and each one was going to feature a different country. Wave, Lightning, Fire, Wind, and Earth would each have there own original stories and he planned on having an artist help him visualize his writings. Oh yes, for the first time, the volumes would have pictures.

He could picture the outcry of joy from the male population.

Taking a small sip of sake, Jiraiya focused his attention on the woman to his left. She wasn't drop dead gorgeous but really nobody he ever met from here really was. The Wind Country was home to women who were tough, unable to back down from anything resembling a fight. This was the only country he knew where there were more female bandits and rogue ninjas than men.

"Excuse me miss, but how are you this fine afternoon."

She turned around, startled at the sudden intrusion of his voice. He agreed all too happily that he'd made the right choice. No she wasn't beautiful but she was very pretty. With her smoke gray eyes and shoulder length black hair Jiraiya was all too happy to commence the start of his research.

"Are you talking to me?"

"Yes. I saw you reading and wondered what it is that has your attention."

A slow smile spread across her face, a perfect indication that he hit one of her interests' right on the head.

'One foot in the door.'

"The author is Eto Benkai and he writes about how the world is round and so many other interesting things. Did you know how dangerous the lands to the east of here were?"

Sure he did. He moved around a lot, he saw things people would only gape in awe at and that's why the thought of other lands never really amazed him- he'd seen a lot of it. With their undecipherable languages, weird clothing, and even stranger fighting styles he was somewhat wary of ever stepping on foreign soil again. On their lands there was a lot of unrest and maniacs like Orochimaru were plentiful but he tossed the thought to the back of his mind and effortlessly plopped a stunned expression on his face, feigning total ignorance on the subject.

Shaking her head, eager to elaborate she launched into a lengthy monologue about everything from foreign eating habits to her personals opinions on things like the absence of ninja in the eastern lands. Jiraiya nodded when he was supposed to, smiled when she thought he wasn't listening and encouraged her for more information when she began to trail off. It was tiring but he would do anything for his fellow readers, his ardent followers.

"It's fascinating isn't it?"

"I had no idea the eastern lands were so strange."

She smiled, accepting his answer as truth.

"What's your name?"

He didn't pull out the fireworks or any of his over the top intro pyrotechnics, instead he just answered in monotone, "Jiraiya."

Her eyes narrowed and he could see her forehead wrinkled in thought. The signs were all there so he mentally began preparing an escape plan in case she began calling for backup.

"Thhheee Jiraiya."

He nodded his head once, accepting his fate. Someone would wonder why he didn't lie knowing his reputation with the opposite sex. Simple, he worked too damn hard to earn his rock star status and he would not let a few irate, uptight women would make him give it up.

"This is unexpected."

He cocked an eyebrow in question. This wasn't going where he thought it would, which was a good thing.

"You're expecting me to blow a load and attack you without mercy right." At his nod she shrugged her shoulders. "Everyone needs a hobby."

He was on his knees, hands wrapped around her, tears running down his face and showering kisses to her hands. He knew there were new age women out there and after continually searching he found one. Some one who wouldn't throw a fit when the opportunity to further his knowledge presented itself, someone who would help him dive into the female psyche, someone who wouldn't object to his travels when the wind called his name. When he opened his mouth to declare his declaration of love…

"Son of a bitch. When I get my hands on him he's gonna have to piss out his ass."

Such vulgar language and coming from a female, who was this? Turning around he spotted the dirty blonde haired girl cursing up a storm. Her fury was so palpable he could see the angry red aura surrounding her and from the people scurrying out of her path it was obvious he wasn't the only one.

Mind forgetting about his recent revelation Jiraiya followed her hostile march through the small village, idly noting the Chunnin vest and Hidden Sand forehead protector. In a village as remote as this that would have tipped him off to something going on by itself but her companion was the one that raised the red flag.

Gaara of the Sand, Sunagakure's perfect weapon. The very sight of him even sent a shiver down the Sannin's back.

'What are they doing here?'

"I can't believe he pulled a stunt like that. Ooooh, when I see him again he is going to get it good." She punctuated the statement by jamming her fan into the ground, creating a small crater.

Gaara didn't try to stop his sister's childish antics because he was just as mad. If he didn't keep a lid on his anger… he didn't want to think of the death he could easily rain down on these people. So he focused on his breathing, silently analyzing where Haku managed to give them the slip.

"When he saw my approach."

Temari stopped ranting and turned to her brother. He was hiding it but she knew he was angry and it took the edge off her own, but only barely. Gaara was different than other males in some aspects but his pride was like anybody else's. To be fooled so easily surely didn't go over to well on her little brother.

"What are you talking about?"

He scowled, his anger making him agitated.

"When I turned my back for you to dress he used a bushin to take his place. That is the only time he could have done it."

His answer didn't stun her. Haku was, if anything; incredibly gifted. An advanced bloodline, a born genius, trained by some of the most powerful shinobi from the Wave Country, he was a powerful ally and her most feared enemy if it ever came to it. But that wouldn't matter from now.

"It doesn't matter. He won't make it to see another day anyway."

Jiraiya didn't know who she was talking about but the young man responsible for her current black temperament, he hoped the young man was experiencing something heavenly because when the girl got her hands on him, the facial expression on the girls face told the whole story.

He was more than curious now. Just the two of them, this far out chasing a young man was tingling his detective talents but he was a man on a mission and giving his attention back on the young lady. He wanted to continue their conversation and opened his mouth to speak when an explosion stopped him short.

Several miles west of his direction he could see plume of smoke rising into the air. Any other time he would have paid it no mind but the swift departure of the Sand-nins drew his attention.

"Jiraiya-sama, what's going on?"

He took a look at the frightened young lady and shook his head.

'Today had been going so well.'

Winking his eye, he puffed out his chest, exuding a confidence that he wasn't really feeling at the moment.

"Don't worry; I'll go check it out. You just keep my seat warm."

She nodded her head, blush on her cheeks. It was enough to almost make him change his mind but he remembered Tsunade and her all too real threat of physical pain if he didn't report something back in a month's time. Turning toward the smoke he set out, a whole lot grumpier than he'd been in weeks.

'Damn that old woman. Always spoiling my fun.'

Naruto could see things were quickly getting out of hand. Where before they were standing on somewhat equal ground, now he was just trying his best to survive. He didn't know how long Orochimaru had been in possession of the Sharigan but he fought like he'd been born with it.

His clothes were tattered and his hitai-ate was dented from when he refelxively used it to counter one of the bastard's punches. I didn't sound smart but right now he was using everything he could and that included his head on occasion.

It was amazing in a strange way. Itachi was the only Sharigan user he knew, which made sense when he killed his whole clan or supposedly did. But even with the same eyes they were using them in two totally different ways. Itachi always went with the one hitter quitter, never giving his opponent time enough to even react to his presence. He could care less about cataloging jutsus, he had enough as it is.

Orochimaru; was all reactions. The man yearned for unknown justsus and the applications of them. Naruto recalled several times where he'd been purposely set up to use one but he was no fool. He'd made a promise to Itachi and purposely saved them for that very reason. He never went back on his word and even a Sharigan wielding maniac wouldn't make him change it.

Right now his priority was to stall and come up with something to help stave off the Sannin. If he pumped anymore of the Kyuubi's chakra into his system there would be trouble and he needed Haku around to help bring him back from the edge.

'Scared are we boy. You stand no chance. He will crush you.'

'Shut up.'

The furball was getting irritating to the point he was developing a headache. Added with the strain his eyes were putting on him and things weren't looking good.

'He's toying with you.'

'Didn't I say shut up!'

'I WILL NOT DIE.'

The sudden surge of demonic chakra took him completely by surprise. He'd been fighting with the bare minimum of the demon's help but he could feel the change coming over him. He could fell his hands were changing. Fingers and nails stretching and sharpening to claws, his birthmarks were now almost black in color, his eyes were changing again to see not the world as it was but in a multitude of colors he could only hope to decipher. So many changes occurring at once, the pain couldn't be ignored and he was numb to the world around him as he roared his anguish.

Orochimaru watched in muted fascination. The Sharigan, even in all its glory, didn't let him see inside. But the boys' chakra channels were interesting. He couldn't find out what was actually happening and that angered him. The jutsu that sealed the demon in the boy was not known but if he could see how he channeled the power, how he was able to call upon that power, then maybe he could figure a way around the finality of it. His body would not last forever and when he learned all there is to know he would need another body to possess.

Sword of Kusanagi clutched in his hand, Orochimaru slowly made his way toward the semiconscious Naruto. Whatever was happening to him was painful and Orochimaru had not a shred of sympathy. The boy had to die. He would grow to be an even bigger thorn in his side and Orocimaru couldn't have that. He would slake his thirst for blood and sooth his ego all in one blow. The insults against him would cease on this day.

His very life was an insult because they thought so little of him; especially the Uchiha but retribution was already taking place. He'd taken Itachi's the last blood kin, no matter if he acted like he cared or not, he left the boy alive and Orochimaru was the one that ended his life. He was now using the same blood that ran through both their veins to bring about the greatest civil was in history. And now, he would erase his unofficial student, unlock the next level of the Sharigan and destroy the Uchiha himself. The irony was sweet enough to taste.

Itachi would know humiliation and disgrace like he couldn't imagine and he was prepared to destroy everything he touched to bring it about.

Stopping at the kneeling form of Naruto, Orochimaru rested his sword barely an inch from the blondes' neck. "I will destroy everything and make it as I see fit. You have been nothing but a test. Die knowing you are still a loser."

Raising his sword and bringing it down in an arc, there was a pop and he barely dodged the blade of ice that shot up from Narutos' back. Jumping backwards he snarled his displeasure before the ice pike suddenly exploded, shards homing in and racing toward him.

"Katon: Goukakyuuno Jutsu." (Flame Element: Poweful Fireball Technique"

Haku somersaulted over the wall of flames, landing directly behind Orochimaru, senbon in hand.

"Orochimaru."

Orochimaru looked over his new opponent. He didn't remember him but he knew who he was. The boy from the Mist, his replacement.

"You must be Haku."

Frowning at the familiarity he was speaking, Haku glanced in Naruto's direction and didn't like what he saw. His friend was hunched over clawing at the bare ground and Haku could see the chakra leaking off him and staining the ground black. If he didn't do something neither he nor Orochimaru would survive the day.

However that was easier said than done. He could clearly see Orochimaru and a full mastered Sharigan, which didn't make any sense. Itachi destroyed his whole clan and Orochimaru wasn't an Uchiha. Too many questions and not enough time.

"Leave or I will have to take your life.

"That was ingenious. Using Naruto's water pouch as a water source for your jutsu."

Haku managed to keep his irritation in check. He was being played for a fool and unlike his friend he wouldn't lash out.

"I won't say it again. Leave or else."

Orochimaru laughed. The boy was too much. Threatening him, the great Orochimaru. How low they thought of him. Again, today would only be the beginning.

"Haku, die."

Orcohimaru vanished but Haku was prepared. As powerful as the Sharigan was he'd adopted his own strategies to fight against. After watching a countless number of Itachi and Nrautos sapping sessions he knew only one way he could counteract the Sharingans precognitive abilities.

He heard the slight movement of gravel and took off; appearing right in front of Orochimaru's stunned face. His fist shot forward but as expected Orochmaru easily dodged but he followed with a flurry of attacks, alternating between slashes, punches, and kicks. The speed behind them was enough to throw the Sannin off and Haku capitalized on that, constantly putting him on the defensive.

Orochimaru was stunned at Haku's speed, growling in frustration he swung his sword down in a decapitation move but met air. The Sharingan located him again and he swung his sword, intent to impale- nothing. An attack came from his blindside and a sharp pain flared up his back, to late to use Kawarimi, he merely absorbed the impact of the senbon.

There was movement and he flashed a set of seals. Slapping his wrist into the ground he watched Haku flash into sight, leaping out of the way when the ground gave way from up under him. Not hesitating, Orochimaru used another set of seals and brought his hands to his lips.

"Katon: Karyuu Endan." (Fire Element: Fire Dragon Blast)

Haku squashed the panic. Twisting himself left and into a tight spiral, he narrowly missed the super heated blast of flame, his clothing however did not. Landing in a crouch he muttered a curse and took off again but Orochimaru was ready appearing behind the dashing Haku. Orochimaru with his blade poised and ready, stabbed forward catching the unaware Haku in the shoulder.

Rolling away from the Sannin, Haku ducked a sword slash and flipped onto his back, using his hands to propel his leg into the Sannins arm, he knocked the blade away. Orochimaru spun away from the kick and dropped a devastating axe kick into Haku's unprotected chest.

The blow had so much power behind it Haku impacted the ground hard enough to bounce. Not thinking, he quickly reacted, rolling away from the downward stab of the sword, using his hand to flip himself into a standing position.

With no water source nearby he was seriously limited in the amount of ninjutsus' he could use. Added the Sharingan innate ability to see through genjutsus' and he was functioning from an even bigger hole. The wound in his shoulder was bleeding badly and to make things worse he could feel the poisons the sword were laced with starting to slowly take effect.

He could see Naruto move to stand and smiled. If he could lend a hand then Orochimaru's defeat would not be impossible.

"Kirikagure no Jutsu." (Hidden Mist Technique)

Several miles of dry desert almost instantly became covered in a thick fog. So thick was the fog that the once oppressive heat of the sun failed to reach through, quickly dropping the temperature several degrees. Orochimaru found the tactic amusing. He could see the standing figure of Haku clear as day. Maybe he had given him too much credit, which wasn't much to begin with.

Using his tongue to yank the senbon from his back, he barely flinched from the pain. A set of seals and he could feel the stab wound in his back healing itself at an accelerated rate. Just another reason to leave Kabuto alive and breathing he decided.

Stretching his muscles in a show of arrogance, Orochimaru watched Haku create several bushins, each one surrounding him and taking a different battle stance but his eyes stayed centered on the real Haku. Without any provocation Orochimaru took off running full tilt and all at once the bushins attacked him full force.

He made short work of the clones, destroying them without a single glance, so intent was he on his target. Bracing himself Haku held a pair of senbon and the clash resulting from the weapons raced up Hakus' arm. Orochimaru didn't relent and Haku found himself parrying the relentless attacks. His entire focus narrowed to just trying to dodge the sword. His movements were slowing considerably and he knew he didn't have long before Orochimaru capitalized.

Orochimaru pressed the attack, and Haku reached for his reserves of strength and using skills he'd honed for years, tried to keep the grinning Sannin at bay. His mind was constantly trying to anticipate the next attack, which way to dodge, when to block or lunge, twist or counter. His sight encompassed nothing but Orochimaru and his movements.

But, when Orochimaru lunged forward, Haku parried the blade to his left. He expected the older shinobi to pull back or follow with another attack. What he didn't expect was for the Sannin use one hand to form a set of seals. His body failed to follow through with his mental demands and his eyes met Orochimarus in surprise. He looked down at the hand, formed in a blade, glowing with chakra and watched it plunge into his chest. Too stunned to move, the hand was removed and followed by a kick to the side of his head that sent him flying several meters. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.

He couldn't see. Not in the literal sense.

The fog was heavy but his blurred vision had nothing to do with the genjutsu. There were colors coalescing and warping around each other like a childish painting. He stilled for a moment to try and come to grips with the visions, if he couldn't decipher them then he might as well be walking blind. The desert itself was nothing to gawk at but he could see the wildlife so clearly, serpents hiding underground, lizards scurrying across the land, there was nothing he couldn't see. Everything living had its own individual brilliance, a multitude of colors blending together to create something slightly breathtaking.

When he'd first learned of what he could see when tapped into the Kyuubi's chakra he'd been afraid somewhat. Surrounded by members of the Akatsuki, he'd seen the true meaning of darkness. Various degrees of black, muted grays and hues of red swirled around him suffocated him with the power and magnitude of their brilliance. They didn't know what was going on and words still failed him to give a description but right then the power. It was disorienting and unwelcome. A reminder of the power each one of them single handedly wielded. It was also a reminder that the Kyuubi had found a way to exert some sort of control over him. For years he'd been trapped inside, the demon was no fool and with nothing else to do he'd used it well enough it seemed. Teeth grinding together in anger he tried to stand and found his equilibrium off as well.

A flicker of color from behind him and turned, realization dawning on him when he could see the recognizable aura of Haku slowly growing dimmer.

"Haku."

Orochimaru turned eyebrow raised in silent question. So he was still alive. He'd forgotten all about the boy.

"Naruto-kun, I seem to have broken your friend."

Naruto stood, whether in shock or horror he didn't know. Orochimaru was standing right next to his unconscious friend and his aura was dominating his vision. There was nothing but a sick, malignant veil of darkness, it felt like a sickness, a tumor that infested the very area he stood. The power radiating from him was enough to stain his vision in sickly shades. The overwhelming urge to throw up hit him and he dropped to his knees. Not even Kurai or Michio gave him this horrible a vision.

Orochimaru continued walking toward the downed figure, his sword idly tapping against the side of his hip. He had no idea to what was happening but refused to further waste time with the riffraff. He could have simply sent Kabuto or even Kimimaro to handle this but it would not have felt the same. Some things you just had to do yourself and he wasn't above spilling someone else's blood.

Naruto could fell his slow approach, the sound of his measured footsteps. He could only wonder how eight years of training could wash away in an instant, the bastard hadn't even thrown a single blow and here he was, kneeling, rocks angrily digging into his palms but the heavy feeling would not leave him. No matter what he told himself, his eyes swam in a sea of black.

The footsteps stopped and he could here the slow exhale of the breath. It was the sound of disappointment. He must have looked pitiful.

"I don't know how you survived up till know."

Using his tongue to wrap around Naruto's neck, Orochimaru lifted him into the air, strangling him the appendage. Using his sword he made a quick slash down the front, clothing, already tattered, fell away and Orochimaru got a good look at the seal. He knew intimately what occurred and how but it still amazed him at the fool Yondaime's gall to use his own kin. Returning the sword to his body he knew a jutsu that was ideal for this purpose alone.

Fingers glowing in an odd purple light, he reared back and slammed his fingers into five corners of Naruto's seal. For the second time that day Naruto felt a horrible pain fill wash through him. There was a searing hiss of burning flesh that Naruto immediately knew was his own. Holding his stomach in pain he could vaguely feel the power, the demons chakra wash out of his system. It was the last thing he needed to happen.

'No, no, no. I can't let this happen.'

He felt Orochimaru raise his sword for the final strike, chakra curling along the weapon like a serpent, so like its wielder. He frantically tried to think of a plan, some course of action to stop what seemed like the inevitable. Clenching his teeth in frustration, he summoned up every last bit of strength, hatred, fury, any empowering emotion he could grab.

"Die."

The sword came down but Naruto moved at the last second. Instead of his neck, the blade cut into his shoulder but he paid it no mind. Using the strength nobody knew he'd been blessed with along with his last bit of stored chakra; he released a chakra powered punch into Orochimaru's gut. He could almost hear something snap, he felt several somethings gave way under his fist but he didn't relent. There was a spray of blood on his face and then he watched as Orocimaru shot several hundred yards away from him, rolling several more before coming to a complete stop.

Standing on wobbly legs he paid no mind to Orochimaru, if the bastard survived then they all would die anyway, instead slowly tryed to make his way toward his dying friend. His shoulder hurt badly and he couldn't feel the familiar swell of chakra emanating from the fox. Whatever Orochimaru did to his seal was not good but he would check on it later after he saved Haku.

'Guess I'm on my own then.'

Caught up in his jumble of thoughts he didn't realize there was a hand on his shoulder until it gave a slight squeeze. Slowly turning his head, his eyes fell on a shocking white mane of hair before settling on the face itself. He didn't recognize him but the man's eyes were so serious Naruto wondered if he'd accidentally pissed the man of somehow or if he was another of the Hidden Cloud's shinobi out to kidnap him. The possibilities were endless when it came to his life but he needed the man's help so he wouldn't jump to conclusions.

"Hey you, make sure my friend gets help. He needs it a whole lot more than I do."

The white haired man nodded in answer and that was the last scene he witnessed before darkness took him.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Finally the fight scene is over. It's going to be a while before I try something like that again.

I never knew my stories were so horribly formatted. The swaps between scenes weren't even showing up. The story looked so horribly edited I felt kinda embarrassed, so I went back and fixed it so hopefully it shows up.

Oh, a shout out to the developers of Naruto: Narutimett Hero 2 and Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen 3. There is no way possible my imagination would have come up with anything even remotely believable for a fight scene and thanks to these two wonderful products, writing fight scenes don't seem so bad. Well, except for the part about trying to make up correctly spelled jutsus, that'll still suck.