Chapter 27

Blanket disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Ninja Gaiden or DOA

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thanks for everyone's continued support. Here's chapter 27:

Last time:

Ayane sighed. "So you want us to run the Karasu Clan out of Tokyo under the threat of us destroying them? That's not how ninjas work. They'll simply go underground for a few years and rebuild their forces so they can come back in a decade or so with a vengeance. Your Commissioner is simply trying to keep his job Detective and I'm pretty sure you know this."

Any of Maya's well prepared arguments were pretty much shot down by that statement. The Detective was stopped cold before she even started. The fact was she knew this was all to protect the Commissioner's political career and the city of Tokyo could be damned for all he cared….Maya was at a loss….

Hinata then held up her index finger and said, "Perhaps there is an alternative since we have suspicions about the Karasu Clan's alliance with the fiends."

Feeling hope surge back into her veins, Maya grasped onto it. "I'm more than open to suggestions."

Hinata locked eyes with Naruto a moment before she continued. "We need to know every bit of data the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has on a Yakuza group known as The Stripes."

Detective Arii made the most intelligent answer she could come up with at the time. "….Huh?"

Asuka's Penthouse, Tokyo

Asuka was meditating on the bell she held close to her heart and many images flashed before her eyes. She saw a beautiful young priestess with pale blonde hair and the same light purple eyes Asuka had when she was still a human….The priestess was named Shion from what she gathered and Asuka had witnessed a terrifying battle between Naruto and Shion against a demon named Mōryō which they triumphed against….

Shion was looking out at the horizon with Naruto standing beside her. "….Then of course, there's my power. It has to be passed on to the next priestess, too. How 'bout it Naruto? You want to help me with that?"

"You bet! You know me. I'm always up for anything!" said Naruto giving Shion a thumbs up with a smile.

The next scene was and adult Shion talking to her young daughter. "….And that's why I had this new bell created which I now entrust to you. It has both the memories and the power of our lineage if future priestesses ever need to call upon it….

….A very old Shion was talking to her now adult daughter. "Your Father was a good person but he wasn't my first choice. The one I wanted to have a child with….the one I loved was a man named Uzumaki Naruto. He was a brave and powerful ninja from Konoha. He'd promised to give me a child but he vanished mysteriously on a mission before the disaster that destroyed the Elemental Nations so he was never able to fulfill his promise. Everyone said he died but my visions have told me he will help one of our descendants a long time from now. I wish I knew more….I still miss him…."

Asuka opened her eyes in shock. Uzumaki Naruto somehow was involved with the priestess Shion who originally owned this bell? Now he is here. When Asuka died at the hands of those rival priests she was the end on Shion's line five hundred years ago. 'How can this be? Everything tells me this Uzumaki Naruto is the same person that helped my ancestor in ancient times. The videos Eclissia had even showed him using that same technique called the rasengan from the past. What should I do? Could he actually be an ally to me somehow? I saw the destruction his clan wrought last night against the Karasu Clan and Akiyama's fiends. He and his clan tore through them like tissue paper and Lady Ishtaros actually fears him. Just what are you Uzumaki Naruto?'

Sadly Asuka's questions remained unanswered for now….

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters

Detective Arii was clicking away on her computer in her office. Hinata and Naruto were there under henge as she read what she had to them. "The Stripes are a Yakuza group that has been around since the 1960's. They primarily make their money from brothels and casinos. They are known for keeping a low profile. Other than turf wars with other Yakuza groups they really don't have a record of much violence though. The general policy has long been to leave them well enough alone as they don't clash with the law that much and other more dangerous groups take precedence. I suppose they would have the money to hire ninjas to attempt to kill the Uzumaki Clan but the question would be why they are doing it to begin with?

"Who is their leader?" asked Naruto.

Maya clicked through a few screens with her mouse and said. "They have a corporate leader name Tsuki Hiro but the one actually pulling all the strings is a man named Fujimoto Noburu from what I have here. I've got a full record on Tsuki Hiro but it seems that this Noburu person is a blank slate. I have nothing on him; not even a birth date."

"Do you have a place of residence?" asked Hinata.

The detective shook her head. "All I have is the corporate office he supposedly works out of. It's the Sugita Company Corporate Headquarters. They manufacture computer parts here in Tokyo."

Naruto nodded as he looked at the address. "That's the first place we'll be checking out then."

"When will you move in?" asked Maya.

"Once we have our negotiations with the Karusu Clan done we can move in at will." said Hinata. "It will probably be tomorrow night."

With Karasu Hiraku….

Ayane stepped into Hiraku's line of vision in her full combat gear with her red eyes burning in the dim light. With her facemask on and nothing but her blazing eyes showing she looked quite fearsome. "You look uncomfortable up there Hiraku-san. I have a few questions for you and I hope you'll cooperate."

"I'll die before I reveal anything about my clan!" spat Hiraku.

Ayane's eyes crinkled in humor. "Actually, you'll beg to die while revealing all the information about your clan if I decide that it's necessary. To tell you the truth we already dragged all the information we needed out of Karasu Kato. He was a middle ninja in your intelligence division I believe? We know where every one of your bases are and about your headquarters in under the railway station in the Sumida Ward. Anyway; after we chatted for a while we had no more use for him and he kind of….lost his head.

"If you have all the information you want then why are you questioning me?" asked Hiraku as he cringed at the thought of being decapitated.

"Your clan is trying to kill us and we want to know why." said Ayane. "We have no quarrel with you and we know The Stripes hired you to wipe us out. We also know you are working with fiends which your people don't seem comfortable with. Since we are fiend hunters we figure The Stripes have an alliance with the fiends and they're using your clan as fodder against us."

The gears in Hiraku's head were turning. What the Uzumaki kunoichi said made sense but the question on his mind was what The Stripes were doing being involved with the fiends to begin with.

Seeing her information was sinking in and making Hiraku think; Ayane said, "We killed twenty one fiends last night and only one of them was a high enough level to be a real threat. Seventy-two of your clansmen died needlessly because of your alliance with the fiends that your Master Karasu Ichiro doesn't even seem to want according to Kato. We want to know if you believe that Master Ichiro would be reasonable enough to negotiate with us so your clan won't be wiped out. That is the information I came for. If Ichiro is dead set of following this contract through to the end then we won't hold it against him but we will wipe the Karasu clan out to the last infant if he won't work with us."

Hiraku swallowed hard. He always viewed Master Ichiro as a good leader who was very flexible but Hiraku feared for his wife Sachiko and two daughters more than his own life. After thinking for a few minutes Hiraku said, "I believe if you explain the situation to Master Ichiro as you have to me he would be willing to negotiate. We don't like the fiends and don't want to be involved with them. It's not my place to say but I do not believe that the Karasu Clan wants the Uzumaki Clan as their enemies."

"Good." said Ayane. "I need Master Ichirou's contact number so we can call him and set up a meeting in Sumida."

After stewing a minute Hiraku gave Ayane the phone number to the Karasu Headquarters and asked, "Can I get down now? This is really uncomfortable up here."

"What the hell did you expect; a luxury suite?" asked Ayane harshly. "You're a prisoner. If I were you I'd be praying your Master Ichiro is willing to negotiate. If he is you'll be returned to your clan. Otherwise you'll die slowly."

"I really have to relieve myself! I'm dying here!" pleaded Hiraku.

Ayane fumed for a moment and said, "Boys, take him down to do what he needs to do. If he does so much as look at you funny then slit his throat." Then she walked away silently into the dark and eight shadow clones came into the light and silently escorted him over to take care of his business.

Corporate Headquarters of the Sugita Company, Tokyo

The pudgy fiend Fujimoto Noburu was having a private meeting with his fellow fiend Akiyama. Noburu's office was decorated lavishly and showed off his wealth and prestige. Akiyama, although he had an appreciation for the décor, didn't agree with Noburu on much else. The tall fiend in his pinstriped suit was having an argument with Noburu about the use of his forces. "You must understand Noburu that my forces simply can't be squandered. When Great Lord Vazdah returns, Tokyo will be a fiend's paradise and pandemonium will reign."

Noburu was losing his patience. "Akiyama, did it ever occur to you we may not live to see Vazdah's return if we don't wipe out these accursed Uzumakis? They are a threat on par with the Dragon Lineage. Need I remind you that Alexei violently died in New York and Volf just perished along with his lycanthropic followers in Europe? The Aqua Capital fell just yesterday! Lady Ishtaros drew the Uzumakis here so we could crush them in a combined effort to help revive Vazdah but your reluctance to commit anything but your lowest level fiends have resulted in massive losses for the Karasu Clan I sent against them. Am I getting through to you at all Akiyama?!"

"I assure you that Lord Zedonius and Lady Elizebet will awaken the Great Lord Vazdah and both the Dragon Lineage and these Uzumaki's you are so concerned about will be crushed like insects." said Akiyama dismissively. "Besides, these Karasu Ninjas are just humans. So what if we lose a few hundred? As long as they hold back the Uzumakis until Lord Vazdah is revived, who really cares? It's not like you or I are in danger. Calm down my friend."

"That's the point I'm driving at Akiyama." said Noburu impatiently. "The Karasu Clan can't hold the line. Even if they fought to the last man they will be wiped out within mere days and that's with both of us committing all our low level fiends to the cause. I also worry about how long it will take to revive Vazdah; even your best estimates will still have us overrun and possibly killed by the Uzumaki Clan of Ninjas by then. Lady Ishtaros will not be pleased."

Akiyama sighed. This pompous windbag was useless in his opinion. He far would have preferred to deal with lovely Lady Asuka (after all, she was very pleasing to the eye unlike this disgusting eyesore Noburu) but she had commitments other than just Tokyo to manage so Akiyama supposed that he understood. Once Lord Vazdah returned he could court Lady Asuka at his leisure. "Alright; alright my friend. Let's suppose these Uzumakis that I've never even heard of are as big a threat as you say. I have twenty middle level fiends in reserve all over Tokyo. Surely they could crush these Uzumakis in addition to your own fiends and the Karasu Ninjas. If I have them assist your forces do you think that would take care of this little problem?"

'Finally!' thought Noburu. "I'm sure that would bolster my own forces and without a doubt would lead to victory. I thank you Akiyama. This will well be worth your time I assure you."

Akiyama gave a false smile and shook hands with Noburu. "Good, I'll have them informed and under your command by morning."

"Excellent!" laughed Noburu as he pulled out a bottle of the good stuff. "Let us toast the fiend's paradise that Tokyo will soon become!"

As both fiends laughed and drank together they were both thinking "Soon you'll be dead at my hands you fool." Neither had any idea that Asuka had them both set up as sacrificial lambs….

Uzumaki Safe House, Tokyo

The members of the Uzumaki clan were gathered around the table looking at data on The Stripes and what little they had on Fujimoto Noburu. They were discussing how to approach the Karasu Clan about some sort of treaty. "Well, it would certainly be a nice bonus getting double pay and we won't have to kill a lot of fellow human beings." said Ayane.

Kasumi nodded. "I totally agree. We should spring this on them right away since they are probably still reeling from their losses last night. We can force the issue or act like we mean to commit genocide against them."

"It sounds like a plan." said Naruto. "If we hit them with our demands up front and then call them back in a couple of hours for an answer then they won't have time to devise a counteraction of any sort. We just have to figure out how to word it."

Hinata grinned. "Leave that to me Naruto-kun. I know the perfect person qualified for the job."

"Who?" asked Naruto puzzled.

"Kurenai sensei." answered Hinated with a dark smile.

Karasu Clan Main Base, Sumida Ward, Tokyo

Ichiro received a video call on his private line at six o'clock that only his high ninjas and up knew about and quickly picked it up.

Yuuhi Kurenai's lovely face appeared on the screen. "Good evening; you must be Master Karasu Ichiro correct?" she asked in a pleasant tone. Ichiro went to cut the connection but 'Kurenai' said, "I represent the Uzumaki Clan. Unless you want the Karasu Clan to go the way of the Yoru Clan I'd listen if I were you." Ichiro gulped. This beautiful woman's crimson eyes positively glittered with malice. She flipped her curly hair back. "I take it I have your attention now Master Ichiro?"

Ichiro put on a stoic face and said, "Say you do have my attention woman. What is it you want with me and how did you contact me at this number to begin with?"

"I am Uzumaki Kurenai; as for how I contacted you….that's private information." said 'Kurenai.' "I have a message for you directly from Uzumaki Naruto-sama. Since we seem to be at an impasse and you aren't our current target he would like to offer you a way out aside of extinction."

Ichiro raised his eyebrows. "A way out….But why?"

"Our target is the fiends Master Ichiro, not you." said 'Kurenai.' "You are in our way and your target is us. We can exterminate you like the seventy two last night but it would be….inconvenient. Since you are cooperating with the fiends we have reason to suspect you are employed by them through the criminal chain of command as well. It is our intention to crush them just like the ones we destroyed last night. We let those three teams of yours get away intentionally after we killed the fiends with them because we knew they'd seen the results of our handiwork and felt you needed to have an impression made upon you." 'Kurenai' paused to let him think. "It's entirely up to you of course; but know we are in a position to destroy your training grounds in the Ota Ward and all the children in it. Losing an entire generation of ninjas would be a rather bad thing for your clan, yes?"

Master Ichiro's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "You-you wouldn't!"

"Why not?" answered 'Kurenai' rhetorically. "If we're going to drive you out of existence then starting with the untrained ones is as good a place as any. Frankly, it would be child's play to wipe them out since they can't even defend themselves. Besides; it's simply not logical for us to let them live and come back wanting revenge in a decade or two. It's much easier to choke the lives out of the little ones now."

'Good god she's serious! I have to stop this or all the children -my own grandchildren could die!' Ichiro swallowed hard. "What is it you want in return for staying your hand Uzumaki-san?"

"It's quite simple Master Ichiro." said 'Kurenai.' "We want all the information on the Yakuza group The Stripes and everything you have on the two men Fujimoto Noburu and Akiyama. We have reason to suspect they are in fact fiends in human form. After that, the Karasu Clan will be given a week to pack their bags and leave Tokyo in its entirety; never to return."

"All of our business is in Tokyo!" said Ichiro. "We can't just-"

"It's that or genocide Master Ichiro." said 'Kurenai;' cutting him off. "If The Stripes are dead you won't be paid and the contract you have with them will be null and void. Moving to a new location won't stain your reputations at all if that's the case. Your intelligence man Kato was quite informative before he died. He said that you really didn't want the job of attacking the Uzumaki Clan and that you didn't seem to fond of the fiends you're working with either. If you don't mind my saying so; it seems to me that your employers have set you up as a bunch of sacrificial lambs to be slaughtered. We are willing to negotiate with you in person there in Sumida if you want a way out. The only conditions we have are you must leave Tokyo and should probably avoid Osaka as well since that area is also heavily under fiend influence. I'll call you back at eight o'clock for your decision. If you don't have an answer by then the deal is off and the Karasu Clan will be erased from the history books. Good day Master Ichiro." 'Kurenai' ended the transmission at that point.

Ichiro sank back in his chair. They were fighting fiend hunters! Fucking fiend hunters! He knew of the Hayabusa Clan and knew they were legendary. It was said that one Dragon Ninja could take out an army of ninjas. If the Uzumakis were half as good as the Hayabusas the Karasu Clan didn't stand a chance in hell. He said quietly, "Sachiko, summon my four advisors to meet me as soon as possible. Tell them the fate of our clan depends on it."

….

Within thirty minutes Master Karasu Ichiro was sitting at a round table with his four advisors. Sachiko was also there in a secretarial capacity. She was terrified for her daughters' safety having been there when the Uzumaki woman laid down their demands. Deep in her heart she felt her husband Hiraku was dead but she had a tiny sliver of hope he'd somehow survived last night's carnage. She didn't have the heart to tell her daughters yet. Sachiko had helped with the debriefing of the twelve survivors from the massacre in Shinjuku the night before. Each one of them was utterly terrified and could only refer to the Uzumaki Clan as 'monsters.' They had described fantastical abilities and glowing eyes among other things….There was no doubt in Sachiko's mind that leaving Tokyo might be the only way the Karasu Clan would survive….

After an hour's discussion three of the advisors were on the same page as Sachiko and Master Ichiro. The Karasu Clan was going to agree to the Uzumaki Clan's terms and leave Tokyo. The only one opposed was Advisor Rokuro that felt it was cowardly of the Karasu Clan to run away and it was an insult to the Clan's honor to even consider giving in to the demands of these Uzumaki upstarts. While he conceded that if they were on par with the Hayabusa Clan then the Uzamakis should be avoided at all costs; but no one had even heard of an Uzumaki Clan until about a year ago when they appeared out of nowhere.

In the end Rokuro was voted down much to his consternation but the final decision was Master Ichiro's regardless….now all they had to do was wait….

8:00 PM….

Ichiro and his advisors saw the incoming call. Rokuro had been told to be silent during the exchange or else. He was forced to be present but was raging. The decision was made whether he agreed with it or not and they had to present a unified front. Seconds later, the phone lit up and Ichiro was once again graced with the beauty of Kurenai's visage. She looked pleasant enough but the hardness in her eyes showed she was all business. "Good evening again Master Ichiro, I trust the Karasu Clan has come to a decision on the proposal the Uzumaki Clan has presented?"

Ichiro nodded. "Though we didn't have much time, I consulted with my advisors and we have decided to accept the terms of the Uzumaki Clan. We would like to sign a treaty so our clans will not clash in the future as well. Would Naruto-sama object to such as provision in our contract?"

'Kurenai' looked off screen before turning her eyes back to lock with Ichiro's. "Naruto-sama approves. If an alliance is what you want between the Karasu and the Uzumakis then I believe something can be worked out. We will discuss it in person Master Ichiro. I can be there in Sumida within the hour. I will meet you at your base there. Once we have ironed out all the details and finalized the contract, Naruto-sama will arrive and both you and he can affix your signatures and your seals to the contract. Is this agreeable?"

The head of the Karasu Clan was a bit stunned at how rapidly things were moving. "Y-yes, it is fine. Do you want me to send a messenger out to meet you at a designated location to escort you here?"

'Kurenai' shook her head. "It is not necessary; we know your headquarters is hidden below the Tōbu Railway station. Just have someone waiting at the door of the station entrance. I will have on a gray business skirt/suit combo with a red scarf so I'm sure you'll be able to pick me out when I arrive. Until then, Master Ichiro." With that she ended the call.

Uzumaki Safe House, Tokyo

'Kurenai' ended the call and dropped her henge revealing Hinata. "Well, that went well. It will probably take a few hours to hammer out all the details with Master Ichiro but I believe it will be workable. By the end of the night the Karasu Clan will be removed from the equation and we'll have double the pay." she said with a smile.

"Are you sure you don't want me at your side Hinata-chan?" asked Naruto. "I want you to be safe."

"Trust me Naruto-kun, I know how to remain stoic and negotiate for hours. You just don't have the patience for it yet." said Hinata. "Please entrust me with this task. Besides, you'll already be hidden in the room ready to destroy them all if they try anything stupid. Please?" she said using the puppy eyes no jutsu.

Poor Naruto never could say 'no' to that look from any of his wives; especially his Hinata-chan. He knew he was beat. Sighing, Naruto said, "Alright but if they try to hurt you I'll crush them all."

Hinata giggled and kissed him. "You are so sweet Naruto-kun."

Naruto pouted. 'No wonder they think I'm a total pushover. I melt into goo in their hands. Kunoichis just don't play fair.' he lamented to himself.

Tōbu Railway Station, Sumida Ward, Tokyo

An hour later 'Kurenai' appeared in a body flicker and noted Naruto was also there cloaked in the shadows. Wiping some imaginary lint off her coat, she went forward with her laptop in hand and searched around with her byakugan. She saw three hidden ninjas and then saw a tall man in a hoodie that had the energy signature of a middle ninja she walked over to him casually and said pleasantly, "Good evening Karasu-san, I trust you and the three others are my escorts? We should get going don't you think?"

Karasu Saito was known for his careful observation skills and ability to read people. He never saw 'Kurenai' get off the train or even walk into the station. She appeared out of nowhere and the teleportation technique couldn't explain it. It simply didn't have that kind of range. Just as bad she immediately singled him out as if he was wearing a neon sign that he was a ninja and she knew about his three carefully hidden comrades as well. That and she was beautiful which made him nervous to be that close to her. Saito was completely off balance and he found this woman impossible to read. He was a bit frightened truthfully.

She smiled again and said, "Are you feeling well Karasu-san?"

Saito re-gathered his wits and said, "Sorry, please follow me Uzumaki-san."

They quickly went through a hidden entrance and the other three and Naruto followed out of sight. Saito's gut reaction was to say, 'She already knows about you guys' but he decided to keep his mouth shut. He felt foolish enough as it was. A master level kunoichi should be all the things this woman was; alluring and seemingly harmless yet totally aware of her surroundings and no doubt, deadly. Saito felt it would be suicide to underestimate this kunoichi so he respectfully led her down to the guarded main entrance at the end of the hidden passage.

When Saito showed 'Kurenai' in he was told to stand guard at the exit into the large room and 'Kurenai' said, "Thank you very much for the escort Karasu-san." to him making him blush at her smile.

'Kurenai' bowed to Ichiro and his advisors across the room and announced, "I am Uzumaki Kurenai. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance in person Master Karasu. I hope that this meeting will prove fruitful."

"I welcome you Uzumaki Kurenai." said Ichiro as he bowed slightly. "Please join my advisors and I at the table and we can begin." He said motioning to an empty chair at the table they were gathered around.

'Kurenai' said, "Thank you." and strode forward towards Ichiro. At a hidden signal twenty Karasu ninjas revealed themselves surrounding her and launched a veritable wall of kunai and shuriken at her from every angle. Ichiro was shocked and Saito tried to yell but his voice was caught in his throat.

"Kaiten!" 'Kurenai' shouted as she spun rapidly and a dome of chakra formed around her and deflected all of the thrown weapons. The shuriken and kunai bounced off the shield harmlessly and one young Karasu kunoichi was hit by it which sent her flying back beside the shocked Saito. When the dome fell 'Kurenai' was gone and Hinata stood in her place in her modified juken stance. Chakra glowed around her feet and hands and her byakugan was blazing. Hinata silently waved them forward and the nineteen remaining Karasu ninja fearlessly charged in armed to the teeth from all sides. They soon found they were being brutally cut down by lethal hits to their vital organs which ruptured on impact causing fatal internal damage. Hinata gave absolutely no quarter as she sliced through them left and right only using her taijutsu….

Saito saw the carnage and in the blink of an eye; nineteen of his clansmen were dead before they hit the ground as Hinata wove through and amongst them as if dancing. She was only using her bare hands! No one ever touched her. It was breathtaking! The Uzumaki kunoichi turned into an even more radiant kunoichi with an amazing body and….white eyes? He saw those eyes freeze him into place with sheer killing intent as she marched over to the Karasu kunoichi that landed beside him after the Uzumaki kunoichi initially counterattacked with the dome. Hinata ruthlessly gripped the Karasu kunoichi by the hair and said, "I let you live for one reason." in a deadly hiss. The Karasu girl was badly hurting and terrified. Hinata was holding her up by her ponytail glaring into the young woman's face when she said. "Tell me or die. Who told you to attack me?"

The trembling kunoichi was shedding tears and said "Advisor R-Rokuro ordered us to k-kill you. Please d-don't kill me…." Hinata dropped the trembling woman to the floor and said, "Which one of you is Rokuro?" in a commanding tone. Ichiro and his advisors were petrified from her rage.

Advisor Rokuro suddenly let out a feral growl and transformed into a long limbed, grey skinned demon like fiend shocking Ichiro and all those around him. He extended his foot long claws at the now revealed Hinata and sprinted towards her at fantastic speed. Hinata drew her kodachi smoothly and channeled chakra through it forming a six foot serrated blade of ice which she brought down effortlessly in an overhead slash. It hit the fiend before he could even reach her. Rokuro was split in half from skull to groin spraying blood everywhere. Eerily; Hinata didn't get a drop of blood on her. Figuring her appearance was revealed anyway, Hinata didn't bother to reapply her henge. "Is this the way you always greet visitors to your home Master Ichiro?" she asked in her real voice after she hefted her ice blade back on her shoulder. Rokuro dissolved into mystic ash.

Ichiro and all the other Karasu ninjas felt a horrific amount of killing intent pressing down upon them. Hinata didn't need to look up into the rafters to see her husband glaring down upon Ichiro and his group. She said, "It seems that you've irritated Naruto-sama with your actions. If this pathetic ambush was all I came here for then I will take my leave."

Ichiro was sweating heavily and said, "No! We had no idea Rokuro was a fiend and those who attacked you were acting at his behest! I assure you that it is not the will of the Karasu Clan to be your enemies. Is Naruto-sama here?! I wish to apologize to him personally for the assault on your person!"

"He is always observing for my safety as he does all of our clan….it seems you are genuine." The killing intent dropped to bearable levels and the Karusu Clan members found the air returning to their lungs. They all looked at Hinata's form appreciatively in her black, form fitting combat suit. They also noticed she was totally armed for war. Hinata motioned back to Saito as she sheathed her kodachi. "The kunoichi beside you has three of her left ribs broken and bruising on her right ribs. She also has a hairline fracture in her left radius. You might want to call a medic for her." Saito nodded at the beautiful indigo haired kunoichi and signaled for some help. Hinata went over to what was left of her laptop and found it was totally demolished in the kaiten. Sighing disgustedly, she reduced the remains to tiny pieces with a juken strike from her fist. "It's a good thing I bought a backup on a thumb drive…." she grumbled to no one in particular as she pull the drive out of her hip pouch.

Uzumaki Safe House, Tokyo

Maya arrived at the Uzumaki Safe House and had Yamada and Kimura with her which she was less than thrilled about. To make matters worse, she knew Naruto wasn't going to be there so the best part of the trip was ruined as far as Detective Arii was concerned. Ayane answered the door in her purple shorts and a matching tank top (as well as her favorite purple bandana she always wore) only expecting Detective Arii. Her red eyes widened a bit seeing the blushing Yamada and Kimura who looked somewhere between going into cardiac arrest and having an orgasm. Ayane decided to block Kimura out mentally and said darkly, "Welcome back detective. We didn't realize your guards would be with you." as she let the three in and closed the door behind them.

For her part, Maya was embarrassed but said sweating, "It wasn't planned this way. I truly apologize for not warning you so you could wear your face masks."

Ayane said flatly. "It's alright. If they misbehave we'll just kill them. No one will ever find the bodies."

….Maya wondered if Ayane was serious. 'She sounds serious….'

….Yamada went pale wondering if his life was in danger. 'I'm too young to die! Gorgeous or not, after that massacre I saw last night I'm sure she'd kill me in a heartbeat!'

….Kimura thought joyfully, 'She's a tsundere goddess! Oh god I hope I can see the other two!' with a full body blush and a giggle.

"We have company Kasumi." called out Ayane. "Detective Arii and her two guards are here."

They came into the central room and found Kasumi in her traditional blue Uzumaki Clan kimono with small flower motifs and the Uzumaki swirl on the back. She was sitting in the seiza position and smiled gently in welcome though she wasn't too thrilled to see the two guards with Maya. "Welcome back Detective Arii and company. Please be seated with us."

….Maya thought, 'How can Kasumi carry off a traditional kimono and look so elegant? I wish I could….of course the last time I wore a kimono was for a summer festival when I was twelve. Maybe I should ask her for advice.'

….'She looks so gentle and kind.' thought Yamada. 'Is this the same woman that took our weapons the other night?' He noticed Kasumi's hair was down instead of in a ponytail like before.

….Kimura was over the moon. 'Oh my god; a traditional Yamato nadeshiko!' He had to stifle squealing like a schoolgirl in excitement. Seeing Ayane sit down by Kasumi Kimura thought he was in harem heaven. "Is Miss Hinata here as well?" he asked hoping she was there for him to admire as well.

"No, she is out working." said Kasumi. "Ayane and I remained here to meet with Detective Arii about the blueprints she promised."

Maya smiled. "And I have them with me." she said as she held out a large roll of plans with a rubber band around it. "Here are the plans to Sugita Company Headquarters building. I also have them on a thumb drive for your computer."

Receiving the plans, Ayane unrolled them and said. "Excellent. This should help us tremendously in our next move." Maya noticed the two kunoichi's eyes were already scanning over the blueprints rapidly and how they were pointing out various features of the building to each other.

Kimura asked, "So what are the plans for?" hoping to hear what cool ninja action would be seen next.

The two Uzumaki kunoichis looked up and were giving him a flat look as if to say 'are you kidding me?'

Maya said, "That information is need to know only Kimura and you don't need to know." Kimura just pouted.

Hoping to get more time with the kunoichis, Kimura said, "How would you two lovely ladies like to join us for some dinner tonight? I'm in the mood for lobster myself." Ayane just coughed and looked green.

….Man, that lost Kimura some points….

POSTSCRIPT:

So I got a lot of PM's asking about why the Uzumakis would negotiate when they could just wipe the Karasu out. The truth is I was fiddling with Ninja Gaiden II and saw the massive trail of hacked up, blood soaked bodies Ryu was leaving behind and I thought to myself, "Who the hell would clean all that up and how would the public react? It isn't like you just call for a custodian." After that I concluded the Karasu Clan might be useful in later plot lines and slaughtering them all would be a bit monotonous both for the readers and myself so here we are. There will still be plenty of combat and action but wholesale extermination of low level enemies will be toned done a bit. Boss type battles are far more interesting to write out anyway. See you next chapter. Blue out. 4/22/15