The sunlight was slowly fading as it sunk below the mountain, slowly darkening the storehouse. The amount of dust that raised from Naruto and Uchiha's rummaging made Naruto sneeze excessively, never letting the dust settle back down with their constant snooping.

The storehouse was large and in relatively good condition compared to the rest of the compound. There were obvious signs of repair, but the structure was well taken care of. Naruto was a bit surprised the inside didn't receive as much care. The amount of dust that layered the storehouse's contents was thick enough to leave a small trench if a finger ran over it.

Upon seeing it, Naruto had the urge to clean it. Naruto had done his best to keep his home clean. If he didn't, Jiraiya would leave his manuscripts in every nook and cranny of their home. Jiraiya claimed he had a system and would often complain whenever Naruto gathered them and put them in order, but anytime Naruto told him to prove it, Jiraiya could rarely back it up. Cleaning kind of became a hobby as a result. Cleanliness was the reflection of the soul after all. So as he searched the storehouse for anything interesting, he was also subconsciously organizing the items and restacking them as well.

Naruto was amazed by what he found. Sealed boxes and jars with sutras on them, portable shrines, what looked to be valuable treasures. He couldn't help but wonder if there were demons or ghosts in anything sealed or if a god really resided in the shrine. He had been an atheist, but now he was reconsidering. If vampires and ghouls were real, what else?

His energy wasn't contagious. Uchiha didn't show much interest, watching more than actually searching for anything interesting. He watched with what Naruto would call mild amusement at his excitement and complete disinterest in anything shown to him. Naruto only rolled his eyes, calling him a typical young master in his head. It was easy to picture Uchiha dressed in an insanely expensive designer suit, looking disgusted at the dust-covered Naruto bringing in something old and dirty. While he knew Uchiha wasn't actually that snooty, it brought a smile to Naruto's face thinking about it.

Putting aside another box, Naruto stumbled across old papers, crumpled from water damage and age. With care, he removed the papers bringing them to the window to better see what was written. It looked like a family registry.

"You should put that away, Uzumaki. That registry contains the entire history of the Uzumaki clan."

"I know, it's just…" Naruto squinted, trying to make out the name towards the bottom. "This name is familiar. 'Uzumaki Kushina'…"

"Maybe a celebrity shares the name?" Uchiha suggested to which Naruto shook his head in the negative.

"No. I think Jii-chan mentioned a Kushina once. I can't remember where though."

"What are you two doing!" The sudden and loud interruption failed to startle either man as they both had heard Karin coming. They just didn't care about being caught.

Karin was absolutely fuming, red in the face from her anger. "This isn't a playground. These objects are older than the Uzumaki clan and some of them are cursed."

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto offhandedly dismissed her, still trying to remember where he heard that name. Maybe if he could find a picture, he'd remember. Staring at it wasn't going to jog his memory, so he placed the papers back into their crate.

Karin was somehow scolding Uchiha in the meantime about how he had degraded to Naruto's level and was old enough to know better. She was obviously no longer enamored with him after that stunt, at least not in that moment. It was reassuring that she was serious about her role. Having calmed down, Naruto was no longer angry at her. It must have been lonely being on the mountain by herself. From what it seemed, Uchiha was the only person to visit, and even then, it was because he wanted something. Naruto could relate to that.

Karin took a giant breath, releasing her anger to the best of her abilities. "I came to tell you I found some information. Something that might help you figure out why you were attacked."

"We'll talk over dinner," Uchiha responded, already walking out of the shed.

"You can't decide that on your own, asshole. It's her house." Naruto jogged to catch up with him. "You're such an entitled bastard."

Uchiha didn't answer, but it was more like he didn't have to. Naruto matched his steps, following beside him for a couple seconds before pulling ahead. Uchiha walked faster, passing him just slightly. They proceeded walking faster and faster until they were running, missing the stunned expression on Karin's face at their childish behavior.

Naruto was somewhat disappointed with the food spread out on the table. Admittedly, Itachi was an excellent cook, and he had grown used to the gourmet level of food. Gaara's place had professional cooks. So Karin's food, prepared by shikigami who did not have human tastebuds, was okay. Not great but not bad either. He hated admitting he had been spoiled when it came to food.

"So what was it you wanted to tell us?" Naruto asked, picking up a bowl of miso soup to drink from.

Karin seemed subdued since coming to retrieve them from the storehouse. She kept staring at Uchiha with a look that made Naruto uncomfortable and a bit guilty. She looked like a child who was being neglected or ignored by a parent. Naruto was familiar with that feeling all too well.

"The food's not bad. It's pretty good," Naruto added, when she hadn't spoken. "Not as good as the old man in Konoha though. He makes the best sukiyaki you've ever tasted. If your nice, he'll even slip in some extra beef."

Karin waited for her shikigami to pour her tea. "I see," was all she said, regarding Naruto's attempt at extending an olive branch.

Closing her eyes, she exhaled sharply, showing her impatience. "I received word, Sasuke, that one of the elders was responsible for the incident in Aomori."

"I was already aware," Uchiha sat at the table with the rest of them with a newspaper in his hands. It was difficult to even tell if he was paying attention to them until he answered. "That's why we are heading back to Konoha, to find out more."

His interruption wasn't appreciated as a stormy expression crossed her face. "Sasuke, if you value my abilities, then do not brush off what I have to say. There is something going on that even I can't explain. That elder isn't alone. I don't know who it is."

"I have a decent idea," Uchiha's voice turned darker. There was a pregnant pause, leaving everyone uncomfortable until he folded his newspaper and gingerly placed it onto the table. "Is there anything substantial you can give us? The rest of it is old news."

"Hey, you could give her a break. She's trying to help out." Karin looked at Naruto with surprise that he would come to her defense. So did Uchiha. Even Naruto himself was a bit surprised with himself. Too late to back down, he continued. "You could be less of a dick is all I'm saying."

Uchiha glared at him and Karin looked at Uchiha expecting something. The only thing he did was give an annoyed huff.

"I'm not sure what's going on, as usual, but what exactly should we be looking out for?"

"Well," she said unsure. "I couldn't quite see it, but it is directing whoever is involved like a game." She folded her hands. "Always one step ahead. I could sense it was enjoying the game, but frustrated at the new variable."

"New variable?"

Karin looked at him long and hard as if he was some sort of puzzle. "It's been years since the sakura tree bloomed," she said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto was defensive even though there was no reason to be. What the hell would he know about the tree in the courtyard? Thinking it to be code for something else, he couldn't help but immediately assume it was something bad.

"Nothing." She stood. "I will be performing a dance for the gods tonight. Will you be staying?"

"No. We should head back as soon as possible."

Hearing that another car ride was only minutes away, Naruto was less than eager to finish his food, but going back also meant he would be able to check up on Jiraiya and Tsunade. Using that as motivation, he finished just as Uchiha finished his paper.

"Please be careful, Sasuke-san. I sense you may find yourself in deeper trouble than you would have imagined. Be careful."

Uchiha looked as if he wasn't going to say anything and ignore her warning, but at the last minute, as he was about to pass her, he placed a hand on her head, patting her like a father would a daughter. "I'll be careful."

Naruto watched them with a mixture of feelings, swallowing the last of his food. There was a part of him hesitant to leave. He didn't know why, but he felt at home here- when a certain woman was not around anyway- but he really couldn't take Karin hanging all over Uchiha. "Let's get this car ride over with," he sighed.

What has this world become?

When he was a child, hunters were much more active. They did what their name entailed. They hunted. There was no truce. There were no known bloodsuckers, flesh-eaters, or lost souls allowed to wander free. While the latter had dwindled over the decades, the bloodsuckers had not. Now, one lived on their island, posing a threat to their society, their children, all because of their weak leader.

Danzo stared out of his window from his office. Though he could not see his island, he knew where it was, focusing his gaze into the distance of where his island would be.

It was a private office with decent space. Accolades were hung up on one wall, perfectly level. A bookcase of regulations, handbooks, and files on the other. His desk was clear of clutter, not a single paper out of place.

The world should be like his desk. Free of clutter with everything that didn't belong put in its place. Yet, there had been a shift in the hunters, all thanks to Namikaze, Minato and his troublesome son. Jiraiya had been one of the most feared hunters of all time. Ruthless, powerful, merciless towards vampires, and Danzo's younger partner. Danzo had taken him in and watched over him. There was never a falter in Jiraiya's steps.

Then Namikaze, Minato came. He was promising. The most gifted hunter in Danzo's memory. A master by the age of 20. Jiraiya took him in, and just like Danzo had been to him, watched over Namikaze. The problem was how idealistic he was, always hesitating with the final kill if there was no proof of absolute guilt. The notion that they were all innocent until proven guilty, a notion that should not apply to damned souls.

His charismatic personality was contagious, made worse by his decision to marry that cursed woman, and then conceive that demon child of theirs. A child to inherit such power would of course draw a strong being to it, and still the child was allowed to live.

Hunters were drawn to Namikaze, like moths to a flame, only losing a little momentum after his wife's passing. His death couldn't have been timed better, leading the others back on the right path, but Namikaze was like a lingering ghost, his words in the back of their minds, making them think twice before acting hostilely towards those who would mean to kill them. On creatures that survived on death.

But still, the child was allowed to live even after the incident, placing it in the care of Jiraiya to watch and kill if necessary. Having known Jiraiya, Danzo would have never guessed he would form an emotional attachment to it. Though he did not speak up when it came to deciding that thing's fate months ago, it was not speaking at all that gave away his attachment. The old Jiraiya would have killed the child without hesitation should he had even suspected he was becoming one of those things.

He had taken matters into his own hands, unable to watch this pathetic display any longer. No longer would he sit and wait to react as that foreigner, Tsunade, had done.

Each elder held a hand in some part of the human world as well as the hunter world. For him, it was force. He held sway over the police and SDF during the day while he orchestrated the hunter assassinations by night. To the human public, he was a beloved figure, known for his heroic deeds and service. He was proud of every accomplishment made in his life, and the only elder whose face was shown often on TV though the public knew little of how much control he truly had over Japan's enforcement. He was the only person standing between the safety of humans from both crime and the monsters that went bump in the night, and he planned to keep that peace by any means necessary.

With Jiraiya and Iruka missing and Tsunade unable to actively back the boy due to her position, Danzo had the perfect opportunity to correct the wrong that had been left unchecked and rid himself of an irritation in the process. While he couldn't move the hunters under his command without either Tsunade's or two elders' approval, he could move the humans.

He hadn't expected it to be so difficult to capture or even corner them. With a few hunters scattered in with the SDF, they should have been able to track and, at the minimum, corner one of them. They had enough firepower. Instead, they both disappeared. Combing the city, they hadn't found a trace.

"You really messed up, didn't you, Danzo-kun?"

The tone was mocking. Danzo was annoyed to have been startled at the sudden presence behind him, but he should have known he would be coming. He turned partially, eying the man in a suit, hair neatly combed back. He was sitting on his desk, taking a bite out of an apple, chewing absentmindedly until he spit it out onto the floor.

"Not only did you let them escape, but you'll also have to explain why you caused so much damage without any rewards."

"Uchiha, you should not be here so carelessly."

Black eyes met his, and his eyebrow tilted up at him mockingly. "Why not? It's not like you can kill me. You've tried."

"What do you want?"

"Despite the training I have provided him with, it should not have been enough to evade your people for long, even if they were normal humans."

"Based on the files you gave me, I had not expected your kinsman to get in the way."

The man chuckled, getting off the desk, and turning his dark eyes onto Danzo. "Don't try to pin the blame on me, Danzo-kun." Uchiha walked around the desk, slowly. "I provided you with the files and connections. How much more do you want me to do for you?" Uchiha stopped in front of him. Though slightly shorter, his presence made it feel as if he was standing over Danzo. "But your efforts weren't completely in vain, I did confirm something I had been suspecting for some time now."

"And what's that?"

"That Sasuke probably intends to take Uzumaki-kun as his mate. Something I can't allow."

There was a hint of a smirk in his words, and it distracted Danzo enough to realize what he said. Disgust was his first reaction. Something as unnatural as two men together should be stopped. If the incentive to stop them had only increased at this news. "If you want him killed, why train him?"

Uchiha tilted his head in thought, taking a step back, letting Danzo breath. "A request from my master can't be ignored, plus I needed to make sure he survived for a while longer." At Danzo's questioning gaze he continued, picking up Danzo's nameplate from his desk. He was always touching things whenever he appeared just to annoy him. "My enemy is interested in him. If he's interested, then he must be important. You never know if he could be of use."

Danzo walked around the desk as well. "And is he?"

"Yes, but I don't need all of him. The brink of death will work just as well. What I want more, is to separate them. Orochimaru will work nicely. Sasuke will be returning to Konoha. His guard will be down when he goes to talk to your people. While he's doing that, Orochimaru can step in and capture the boy." Uchiha nearly scoffed as he dropped the nameplate. "Sasuke will fall the moment you have the boy. If he cannot let go, then he is of no use to me."

Danzo wasn't a fool. He knew he was being used by this creature, but as it had said, he couldn't kill it, and he shared his dream. It too wanted to go back to the way things were. Danzo was just waiting. Waiting for a chance to kill it too. "I'll contact Orochimaru."

"Good. Now, if you excuse me, I have dinner to prepare tonight."

The computer on his desk dinged, alerting him to a new message. He had only looked away for a brief second, knowing Uchiha wouldn't move to kill him while he was needed. Within that second, Uchiha had vanished from the room.

He wasn't blind to the irony of this, working with a vampire to show the world how dangerous they were, but using Orochimaru was a good idea. He was a known rogue hunter. Any blame would be fostered off to him.

Danzo picked up the nameplate from the ground, putting it back in its proper place.

He should head back to the island. After all, he had a meeting to attend tomorrow.

The trip back to the mansion was surprisingly simple. He had thought they would have been caught in Beppu, wandering around the docks, but there was a boat there waiting for them, provided by Tobi. Naruto did bring up whether it was a good idea to stay in the mansion again, but Uchiha only replied that the island itself should be safe as there were quite a few hunters around and there was currently a truce between them. Despite saying that, he proceeded to tell Naruto the emergency escape routes just in case.

Naruto jumped onto the bed in his room. He wanted to call Kiba to make sure he was alright then turned down the idea almost immediately. He didn't want to drag him further into this mess. He did call Gaara though. He discovered that Gaara's place had been broken into, so he had moved to an undisclosed location. Apparently, Gaara had given him his secured phoneline all this time making him available no matter what the situation. They talked some about Naruto's memories, and Gaara confirmed that some of his old friends were shinobi.

It was one of the few things Gaara did weigh in on. He wouldn't go in depth of the memories, about the beings inside them, about the hunters, but he did acknowledge there were more hunters around him. When Naruto asked who the current leader of the hunters was, Gaara didn't answer, and Naruto was forced to stop asking. From his silence, it was someone he knew. The frustration and hurt that came along with knowing Gaara was still keeping things from him even after everything Naruto knew was hard to swallow. He held them back long enough to finish his call, Gaara hanging up saying he was needed. He swore he heard Hyuuga in the background.

Now that he knew Kurama wasn't a figment of his imagination, he wanted to talk to him. How awful would it be to be inside someone else, having to watch them live their life? Who wouldn't be angry and grumpy being cooped up for so long? The least he could have done was talk to it. Would Kurama even answer him if he could hear him? He did say some cruel things to him over the years.

Kurama? You there? There was a warmth inside him, but no reply. Feeling him did bring comfort. He wasn't gone for good.

There was a knock on the door. Uzumaki rolled over and sat up shouting, "Come in."

Tobi opened the door, bowing. "Uzumaki-sama, Uchiha-sama is about to leave for his meeting. He wishes to meet with you before he goes."

Naruto thanked him, getting off the bed. Whether Uchiha would admit it or not, he was a worrywart.

Uchiha was waiting in the foyer, dressed in a formal business suit, custom made of course. With his appearance, he could easily be mistaken for an actor in a drama. The rich CEO, cold and callous, who would eventually fall in love with the female lead. The Cartier watch he was putting on his wrist just made Naruto roll his eyes. Why did rich people have the need to show off their wealth? And why even bother with a watch when cellphones were available?

"Careful ouji-sama, your privilege is showing."

Uchiha paused in fiddling with his cuff links, turning his gaze towards Naruto. A smile cracked on his face, making Naruto's face flush. "This ouji-sama has an image to keep."

"Yeah, yeah." Naruto sat on the last step, watching him finish dressing. "Still a rich bastard though."

"Money doesn't guarantee happiness." He fastened his last cufflink which looked suspiciously like diamonds. Should someone that rich be lecturing Naruto? "As for the rules while I'm gone. Don't leave the house. Tobi will protect you in my absence, but if something happens, call me immediately. Don't think you can handle it on your own."

Naruto leaned back, resting his elbows on the stairs, trying not to roll his eyes. "I'm not a little brat needing to be watched. I'll be fine, so stop worrying. In fact, I should be going with you."

"You're safer here," Uchiha replied predictably which did gain an eyeroll.

"So are you," Naruto countered.

"I'll be safer if you are here. Believe me."

Naruto clicked his tongue in annoyance, glaring at him. "Why's that?"

Uchiha walked over to him, his footsteps silent even as wooden heals walked on marble flooring. Naruto swallowed a lump in his throat, temporarily forgetting to breath as Uchiha kneeled and placed a hand on either side of him, trapping him on the stairs. "Because I won't have to worry about a particular idiot being in harm's way."

Naruto's face was heated at how close Uchiha's face was to his. He meant to say something, like if he had any shame or something like that, but it wasn't like it was in public and no one was there but them. Plus, his mind just went blank whenever Uchiha was that close. His eyes darted down to Uchiha's lips then back up. Should they do it again? Just to confirm?

Uchiha backed away before anything could happen. He seemed completely unphased, and Naruto thought it was a bit unfair he was never affected by any of this.

Naruto was wrong in that he wasn't affected. Uchiha was carefully keeping his eyes averted in a natural way as to no longer look directly at him. "If you have the energy, I suggest going to the garden and focus on channeling your own chakra. The more familiar you are with it, the better control you will have."

"Great, I'm not even in school, and I still have to study."

Uchiha smiled. "I'll see you when I return."

Uchiha left, and Naruto sighed, tilting his head back. He really needed to figure out his feelings toward Uchiha. They were too distracting with what was going on.

Naruto banged the back of his head lightly on the stairs before finally getting up. Meditation should help some. It was the basic way to learn how to control and familiarize himself with his chakra. The problem was he hated mediating. Sitting still was the worst.

Not excited by the prospect of meditating, he did everything he could think of to delay it: walking slowly, grabbing a snack, catching the last bit of the evening news, emailing his guardian to ensure he was alright. An hour later and still dragging his feet, he walked to the backyard, looking for a spot to sit. The basement was too stuffy for his liking.

Tobi hovered nearby the entire time even if not always in his line of sight. It made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. It was a bit unnerving.

The air was cold. He could see his breath and the sun had set hours ago. The grass was dusted with frost, crunching under his feet as he walked. In the distance was nothing but the darkness of the mountains. Winter was already here.

Naruto sat, the cold seeping into his jeans instantly. While the cold bothered him, he was just slightly chilled than earnestly wanting a jacket. He evened out his breathing into slow, steady breaths to match the slow beating of his heart. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.

Working his way down he assessed each part of his body and its state. His head was heavy with thoughts. His torso was sore from his wound. His left arm was stiff from breaking his fall. His right arm was well-rested. It continued as such.

Naruto shifted.

After cataloging each limb, he turned to his emotional state. Emotionally he was stressed, angry, frustrated, flustered, sad, guilty, and every other emotion he could think of. Given the past two months, that was no surprise.

This was where he began to struggle. Discovering the causes of each emotion and reconciling with them. He didn't want to reconcile. It was his emotions. He didn't want to control them. He wanted to feel them even if he couldn't always control them. He didn't want to get rid of them, but allow them to run their course.

Anger was the predominant emotion within. Anger at the lies told to him. Anger at Orochimaru for torturing him. Anger at himself for taking another life. He had a lot to be angry about. Naruto didn't even know if he could name all the sources of his anger, but he tried to reconcile with it.

A minute passed. Then two. Then thirty. As time progressed his fidgeting gradually increased. He grew restless and agitated with each passing minute. He wanted to move around, stretch, change positions, anything. Instinctively, he knew he couldn't, and he tried to ignore the impulse.

The more he tried to ignore it, the more it became present in his mind. The urge became a growing entity, and it was all he could think about it. It made his body tense and shake with effort.

Giving in, he opened his eyes and stretched, lying on the grass. Meditating really wasn't for him. All it seemed to do was heighten every discomfort. He preferred action. That's why school never interested him.

While he should try again, his motivation to do so was low. He was certain that he would repeat his failure. There had to be a trick to it he just hadn't found yet.

"Uzumaki-sama, I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Not at all Tobi-san." Naruto sat up, noticing the damp spots on the back of his shirt. "What's up?"

"I was called by the Konoha shinobi, saying that the young master is in need of my help immediately. Will you be okay for an hour on your own?" The man looked anxious, not that Naruto could fault him. If Uchiha was calling, it must have been important. Even he was wondering if Uchiha was okay but as Tobi was asking for permission it must not have been life-threatening.

"No problem. I promise I won't go looking for homicidal vampires…this time."

A nervous smile crossed Tobi's lips before he bowed and excused himself in a hurry. He was out of sight the next moment. Naruto's eyes couldn't follow his speed, but he was able to hear the man leave the house. He had gotten better at tracking people's movements even if he couldn't see them.

Standing, Naruto waited for the blood in his legs to circulate properly, shaking them. He couldn't meditate right away immediately, but he could go for a walk. He took a couple of steps, paused, then did an about face, sprinting back to the house to grab one of the short swords Tobi gave him to use. At the very least, he should stay armed even if he wasn't leaving the property.

Strapping it to his back, he started his walk.

The property had a kilometer radius around it. If he waked from one end of the property to the other, it would be a decent walk. He'd still be on the property while keeping his promise to Uchiha. Granted, he knew Uchiha had meant not to leave the mansion, but the loophole was too good to miss out on. He had been cooped up enough as it was.

He started down the road at a casual pace, letting his mind wander. Uchiha was quickly becoming a good friend. Naruto could rely on him and trust that he would always be upfront with him. His reaction towards Uchiha however...

Should he ask about it? It would clear things up if he knew how Uchiha felt. It was the sensible thing, but just the thought of asking made him feel stupid and embarrassed. How was it that when he asked out Sakura the first time, he was just a little flustered? And if he was considering asking, what did that mean about him? Was he accepting the fact he might be gay?

Was he always a hypocrite? He claimed to be okay with people being gay, but the thought he might be was making him confused? What did it matter? Boys, girls, what was the difference really? When Uchiha got home, he was just going to march up there and ask. Assuming, he didn't lose his nerve by the time Uchiha got home.

By the time he reached the gate, he was already wavering in his decision. Turning, Naruto's mind was preoccupied in keeping up his courage. The sooner he sorted this out, the sooner he'd have one less thing to worry about. He needed his sanity back.

"Long time no see, Subject 193."

The clinical voice behind him made Naruto freeze. Goosebumps covered his body even though he couldn't place where the fear stemmed from.

Placing a hand on the handle of his sword, Naruto jumped away from the sound of the voice, landing several meters away instantly locating the speaker who was perched on top of the gate like a bird. His eyes, glowed in the dark even though they were traditional black, reflecting as a cat's would.

He clapped slowly as he stood, balancing on the gate with no effort. "You've improved. I can tell you've been training."

He looked different. His hair was styled differently and so was the way he spoke. At first glance, it was enough to appear as a stranger. His face was so generic, there were quite a few people Naruto could have mistaken him for, but only a few people could have known his subject number, and the way he said it was reminiscent of one particular man. The one who insisted on calling Naruto by that number than his name. Orochimaru's assistant.

"What do you want?" Naruto demanded, tightening his grip on his sword.

"My employer wishes to see you again. You see, he's heard so many good things about you recently. He wants to see how you've grown.

"Sorry," Naruto took a step back. "I think I'll pass. I don't make it a habit to meet with psychopaths." This was bad. Really bad. He was alone and judging by how that man was balancing on the gate, he probably wasn't normal. A hunter perhaps. He had to call Uchiha or Tobi. He needed to leave.

Naruto attempted to take another step back but felt something wrap around his ankle too late. A thin wire had wrapped around his ankle, and it was pulled sharply, causing Naruto to fall as the metal bit into his ankle tearing into his flesh.

"You are mistaken, Subject 193." The man jumped down from the gate. "It wasn't a request."

Gritting his teeth, Naruto drew his sword. With a flick of his wrist, he freed himself. He jumped back onto his feet, ignoring his throbbing ankle as he had been taught. It only grazed his tendon. It would be healed in a few minutes if given the chance.

The man smiled at him, though calling him a man would have been a stretch. He didn't appear much older than Naruto, though logically, he should have at least been in his early 30's. His smile revealed a fang peeking out from under his lip. "Aren't you going to cry?"

Naruto inhaled sharply. He couldn't focus on his taunts. "Are you a vampire now?"

"Not quite. I'm like you, part vampire, part human, except I have none of the human weaknesses." He smiled creepily. "Will you continue putting up a fight knowing that?"

"Sorry, but if I leave, Uchiha will be pissed." Naruto held his sword in front of him, ready to receive any attack. "And I kind of want to stay on his good side."

"If you insist." The man held up his hand. Energy gathered in his hand, taking solid form of a scalpel.

The man-made the first move. He was light on his feet. One powerful burst from where he stood, and he was mere inches away from Naruto, right hand pulled back, ready to make a strike. Naruto moved his short sword, ready to deflect the blow from his vitals. He managed to change the trajectory, but not completely. The scalpel went into his shoulder, burying into his flesh.

Naruto was braced for pain, but none came.

There was no break in the skin or blood. Instead, his arm went completely limp and numb, falling to his side refusing to move. Naruto jumped back, putting more distance between them, trying to recover from the shock. The scientist wouldn't let him.

He followed Naruto's movements, refusing to let Naruto regain his sense of balance.

Naruto kept a false opening in his front, holding his kodaichi just a bit too high. A normal person would panic at the constant onslaught. Kisame had stomped that instinct out of him with his steel-tipped boots quite literally. If you can't find a chance to counter or steady yourself, get ready for the fall, but take the bastard down with you while minimizing damage to yourself.

Instead of focusing on trying not to fall, he allowed the man to come close. As Naruto hoped, he fell for the opening. He pivoted on his right foot last minute, aiming a kick at him. The man blocked, leaving an opening for his blade. It was an awkward angle, but he swung his sword across, cutting into the man's shoulder and down his chest diagonally.

The man didn't even flinch. He smiled broader. From the ground below, wires sprouted from the ground wrapping around Naruto, pinning his arms and legs together, squeezing him tightly. Naruto struggled to breathe as the wires continued to constrict. Slowly digging into his skin and putting strain on his bones, threatening to crack them.

"I had been warned you were trained, but it seems with mostly human weaponry." Using the flat of the scalpel in his hand he pressed it again his wound. In front of Naruto's eyes, the skin sealed closed wherever the blade touched, healing himself before his eyes.

"Fuck-ker." Narutos' vision swam from lack of oxygen. There was no way in hell he was going to lose here. He hadn't managed to use chakra as of yet, but now was the perfect time to get it right. The wire was cutting into his wrist bone. He would be unable to hold onto his sword for long.

Naruto closed his eyes, focusing on the wires holding him. It was faint, but Naruto could feel the chakra flowing through the wires. Unlike the tree, there were no emotions or feelings attached to it. The chakra ran through the wires like a current. What if he could change the current? What if….

The chakra's current dwindled, loosening the wire's hold, giving Naruto enough leverage to cut through them. "Oh?" the man said surprised. "It seems you learned something interesting."

The mocking praise and amusement in the man's voice were pissing Naruto off. He wouldn't be caught off guard again. This man wasn't taking Naruto seriously. His guard was down. It gave him a chance. It was his chance to turn the fight in his favor. Kisame had taught him only one human technique. It wasn't strong and against a skilled opponent it was useless, but this one was underestimating him. Naruto would make him regret it.

His adrenaline pumping throughout his body, Naruto felt strength rise and fall in his body in waves. There was a flow. Was this his chakra's wavelength? It's rhythm?

The man was readying to attack again, but it was slower. Slow motion even. His mind was thinking faster, the pain a distant memory. He wanted to copy this moment. He burned the image of what he looked like, the position he was currently in, and the expression he likely had on his face. Naruto moved to the side, leaving the image he imagined in his wake. A clone. It was translucent, but under the darkness of night, it was near impossible to tell. His chakra had manifested and left an imprint of what he imagined.

His body felt lighter, and he felt faster. Masking his presence, he hid behind the illusion, just half a meter.

Reality resumed, and the man attacked, his scalpel digging into Naruto's clone. As his illusion was nothing but air, the scalpel kept going, swiping through the air. Naruto moved then, the man wide open after wasting his attack. Naruto threw his sword, and the man deflected it. "A genjutsu. Basic one but not bad." The man charged through the illusion to the other side, brandishing his scalpel. The man's eyes widened slightly when Naruto wasn't there. His presence lingered, but he was nowhere in sight.

The man hadn't even noticed the sword he deflected didn't even have weight and that it too was an illusion. Because the moment the man went through the illusion, his vision was temporarily obscured by the fading image. During that moment, Naruto moved behind him, brandishing his blade and stabbing the man through the chest. The man turned, and Naruto lost his sword, being stuck in the man's back.

The man's face no longer mocking, but serious, blood running down the corners of his mouth. It was Naruto's turn to lead the assault. his knee connecting to the man's gut. The man bent forward enough to allow Naruto to follow up with an elbow drop to the top of his head. There was a faint crack where his elbow connected.

The man wasn't finished with him. Reaching out, only brushing his scalpel against Naruto's chest, still fighting back in his weakened state. Naruto seized breathing, his lungs paralyzed, but he didn't let it stop him. He landed a roundhouse kick to the side of the man's head, snapping it to one side as he went flying into the stone wall surrounding the Uchiha manor, laying unmoving.

Naruto fell to his knees, arm still paralyzed and his breathing too shallow to even call it that. He had won, but if he couldn't find a way to breathe, it wouldn't matter.

Uchiha was going to kill him. Once he found out Naruto left the house, Uchiha would probably strangle him himself. Would Uchiha be proud that he managed to fend off an attacker though? It wasn't perfect, but he managed to use his chakra. Luck was on his side that it worked, and his opponent was arrogant, but he did defeat him without anyone else's help. Would Uchiha be impressed with his skill?

He was so focused on breathing, he hadn't noticed the presence behind him until he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. His vision spun and the ground came rushing toward him. His vision blacked out almost immediately; however not fast enough. The last image was of sinister black eyes boring into him, sending Naruto mind-numbing fear before gratefully losing consciousness.