AN: Whoohoo! New story... With Chapters!
Well, this is going to be a rather twisted version of Romeo and Juliet involving Ino and Sasuke, where Sound is at war with Leaf and the Uchiha bros are working to try and stop the fued. I plan on writing a chapter per scene. The cast list will be posted at the end of the chapter in case you are confused.
Warning: This is not going to be a run of the mill R+J story, so there will be things that don't make much sense according to the plot of the original play.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Romeo and Juliet or any of these characters. If I did, I wouldn't be living off ten dollars a month of allowance.
It was dark in Konoha. Most of the city was quiet, as the citizens had been in their beds for several hours. Even the Hokage herself had gone to sleep not so long ago, her thoughts focusing on the threat of the Sound Village and Orochimaru, who had seemed even more determined to take over her city. Most of the younger ninjas were eagerly awaiting the chuunin exams, which where coming up in the next few weeks. The older ninja thought about their squads or upcoming missions, wondering how they should prepare for the future.
So as Konoha slept, no one noticed the two ninja who scaled the walls to the city and began to roam the city streets, the night cloaking their movements.
"I can't wait to see the look on the Konoha brat's faces when we go to wash their streets with their own blood!" said one of the dark figures to his companion.
"I know! Then what will their Hokage do about us!" The other giggled. "When we get them all…!"
They chuckled darkly until suddenly they collided with another shadowy figure. The newcomer held up a lantern to reveal himself as Inuzuka Kiba. He looked down at the other two, looking puzzled and very angry. The two sound ninja shared a worried glance. They hadn't expected to see anyone out this late.
"What the hell are you two Sound ninja doing in Konoha at this time of night?" the dog-like teen asked, baring pointed fangs in an half-smile. "Bit late for a lovely afternoon stroll, eh?"
"We, uh, we weren't doing anything!" The first ninja said to his partner.
"Yeah, uh, we weren't!" He agreed, nodding fervently and smiling cautiously at the fierce chuunin. "We promise! We're just lost… and uh-"
Kiba grinned wider, now looking slightly manic in the flickering lantern light. "Lost eh? You do realize this is an act of war as decreed by both of our two leaders, right?" They nodded, bottom lips trembling as the teen advanced on them. "And I have the right to kick your butts back to Otogakure, right?"
The two ninja whimpered as Kiba walked forward, still grinning. Suddenly, another dark figure leapt between Kiba and the two Sound Ninja, a long cloak swirling around his slim figure. Kiba's eyes widened as he saw the frightening red eyes of the newcomer.
"Uchiha Itachi? What the hell are you-"
"I'm taking these two back to Otogakure," he said. "We don't need to fight right now. This was a simple mistake made by these two fools."
"What's going on?" A voice demanded and Neji suddenly joined the group, followed by a younger genin. His white eyes widened and then narrowed into a glare at the sight of Itachi and the two other ninja. "What are you doing in Konoha, traitor?"
"I came to stop this fight and get these two back to Otogakure before either of us does anything we'll regret later. I speak for the benefit of Konoha and Otogakure, as there is enough tension between us without us fighting in the streets at this time of night. So please, let us go in peace, Neji." He said this in his usual stoic voice, but he was trying to sound at least a little sincere. Orochimaru had been rather adamant about these two returning to Otogakure.
"I don't think so," Neji sneered. He turned to the frightened looking genin. "Go. Tell Lord Hokage what's happened. There are intruders with hostile intentions." The boy ran quickly away, still looking terrified of the red-eyed Uchiha. Neji turned back to Itachi, turning on his Byakugan with another sneer as Kiba took a fighting stance. "So, now we fight."
Itachi, unwilling, quickly dodged Neji's attack while Kiba went for the other two ninja. Itachi blocked and parried Neji's Gentle Fist, but his Sharingan was having trouble keeping up with the Hyuuga's fast movements and his all-seeing eye. Kiba was making easy work of the two younger ninja, and Itachi knew he had to get this fight to end quickly, on his terms. He sighed internally. What had they been thinking…?
"That is enough!"
They turned around to see a rather peeved Tsunade standing on the top of the roof above them. Shizune and Jiraiya stood at her side, while the genin clung to Shizune's robes, looking like he was going to begin crying soon. He had heard bedtime stories about the traitorous Uchiha Itachi, and it was like he had found the bogeyman was real. Jiraiya and Shizune looked just as annoyed as Tsunade, who looked like she was about to declare war on Sound right then and there.
"I've had to stop you from brawling with each other three times now!" She said, sounding very, very angry. "This is ridiculous! Until we have an official declaration of war between Sound and Leaf, you Sound Nin are not allowed within Konoha walls. And you, Neji, are supposed to come directly to me, not fight with intruders unless they begin the fight." She turned on Itachi. "And you-"
"With all due respect," The Uchiha said, bowing low. "My Lord Orochimaru sent me to bring these two home in one piece. So, if you'll excuse us, we'll take our leave and not bother you again."
She frowned, but nodded. "Fine. But take this message to your Lord." She threw a scroll down, which Itachi caught and stored in his cloak without a word. He bowed again and slowly began to take to the shadows, the two younger ninja following meekly behind him. "Itachi." He turned. "If this happens again, we will kill you." Itachi nodded and left. Tsunade turned on Jiraiya and Shizune. "I need to speak with you two in my office. Neji, Kiba, you may go."
Neji nodded and left, not speaking to the other boy but thinking about how he wished he could have finished his fight with Itachi right here and now. Then they would not have to be concerned about that threat, at least.
Back in the Sound Village, Orochimaru sat on a chair in the middle of a room. Kabuto stood at his side. The room looked like a large meeting room, and indeed, it was where Orochimaru came up with some of his more important ideas involving hostile takeovers of neighboring small villages. It was late, and usually no one would be in this room. But he was waiting for Itachi to come back with his full report. Dawn had broken and light was beginning to flood into the room. If he was planning on getting anything done today, they had better hurry.
The door swung open and Itachi walked in, followed by the two other ninja. Orochimaru treated them to one of his widest, creepiest smiles.
"Hello Zed, Zaku. I'm glad to see you got back safely." His sarcasm made the two ninja wince and look away, not daring to meet the eyes of their frighteningly snake-like master. He smiled again, licking his lips. "Away with you," he said lazily. They hurried quickly away, not speaking or daring to look up. Orochimaru laughed quietly and turned to Kabuto. "Good help is so hard to find these days, eh Kabuto?"
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru," he said with a smile.
Orochimaru laughed. "Itachi," he said, turning to the red-eyed young man. "Did the Hokage send me a message?" Itachi reached in his cloak and threw him the scroll without speaking. Orochimaru caught it without blinking and slowly opened it, his slitted eyes roving over its contents as he licked his lips hungrily. Itachi and Kabuto stood silently, watching the man read the scroll in silence. With a short laugh, he rolled up the scroll and tucked it in his cloak.
"Where is Sasuke?" he asked Itachi. "Was he not with you?"
"I haven't seen him since last night," he said shortly.
"He's been acting oddly lately," Kabuto added, clearly trying to be helpful. "Very dark and depressed. Not himself, you know?"
Orochimaru made a neutral noise and turned back to Itachi. "Itachi, go and find him. Tell him that Konoha is throwing a costume party next week and he is given my permission to go. Perhaps the thought of a war beginning will reawaken his fighting spirit and make him a bit… Cheerier." He licked his lips again, smiling frighteningly again. "Konoha will fall to me, and I need the two last Uchihas to aide me in my plans."
Itachi nodded, face void of emotion. "Yes, Lord Orochimaru."
Sasuke sat alone in a tree near the outskirts of town, staring moodily out into space. His black eyes were slightly sunken and dark circles lay under them, making him look like he hadn't slept in weeks. The forest was quiet around him, except for the eerie whistling of the wind in the trees. The warmth of the dawn light hadn't quite reached him yet, and he was grateful for that. He wanted to stay in the darkness as long as he could. His face was unusually pale, even for the Uchiha and he idly spun a Kunai knife in his hand. He seemed like he was in a completely other world, lost in thought as his brother approached behind him.
"Hello little brother."
Sasuke spun around quickly, eyes flashing, Kunai in his fist and tried to put his knife to his brother's throat, almost as if he expected him to be standing behind him. Itachi grabbed his wrist, holding him back with no apparent struggle. Sasuke pushed against his brother's grip and Itachi knew he wanted to kill him. That familiar look was back in his sunken eyes as his knife hand shook hard as he pushed against his brother's grasp on his wrists.
"You'll have to get stronger, little brother," he said quietly, almost gently. "Before you can kill me." He slowly released him and Sasuke reluctantly lowered his hands, still glaring at him with his haunted coal black eyes.
"Damn you," he hissed, putting his Kunai back in his holster and glaring at his brother with complete, bitter hatred. "Why are you here? Go away and leave me in peace."
"I'm bringing a message from Orochimaru," Itachi said sharply, once again back to his usual stoic self. "It's nothing personal against you, foolish little brother."
"Give me the message and get out of here."
"Why, having too much fun brooding, foolish little brother?" Itachi asked with a small, mocking grin. Sasuke glared at him, his hand going for his holster again. Itachi laughed. "Fine. I'll tell you before I'm forced to hurt you. Konoha is having a large party next week for their youth. Orochimaru wants us to come with a few other ninja to try and instigate a war between our two cities. So… Wear your costume."
He grinned slightly at his brother and leapt away. Sasuke stared behind him a few moments longer, thinking over what Itachi had said, then looked ahead again. The dawn light was coming up to try and touch his feet, but he quickly moved away, slinking back into the dark.
A costume party? He thought, once again spinning his Kunai knife around his finger again. A snake wound up the trunk of the tree in front of him, seeking out the warmth of the sun. Sasuke watched as it wound around and around, climbing higher and higher until it was above the dark haired boy's head. It looked down at him and hissed, its tongue lashing out in a threatening manner. Sasuke's face suddenly contorted into a twisted grin, a horrible light flashing in his eyes.
The Kunai ripping through the air and embedded itself in the snake's skull. Blood spattered down the trunk of the tree and the body fell limp, hanging like a morbid banner from the tree. Sasuke leapt down from the tree to the ground and put his hands in his pockets. He still hade that frightening grin on his face.
A Costume Party… Why not?
AN: So what did you think? Leave any questions, comments or concerns in a review and I'll try to answer them as best I can! Thanks in advance for reviewing!
Cast List:
Romeo- Sasuke
Juliet- Ino
Benvolio- Itachi
Mercutio- Naruto (Don't ask, it will work itself out! XD)
Tybalt- Neji
Paris- Shikamaru
Nurse- Sakura
Lord Capulet- Jiraiya
Lady Capulet- Shizune
Prince- Tsunade
Lord Montague- Orochimaru
Friar Lawrence-Kakashi (?) (Subject to change)