Chapter 6: Bloodlust
Inoichi was at the bar, thinking about Kakuzu. It is clear the man is waiting the first chance to take Naruto and leave. Naruto... for all his quirks, he is too trusting.
He saw how Shikaku and Choza sat next to him flanking him and ordered "So... about the scene you made at the gate." Choza started and Inoichi sighed.
"That man is bad news."
Shikaku nodded "It seems like it. This will get troublesome sooner than later."
Inoichi drank his sake "I... don't know what to do... Naruto... had suffered so much. He had passed so much pain. His mind is in shambles, every day, it breaks a little bit more. To not feel pain, he mixes it with pleasure... I... am lost."
Choza frowned "Say; why are you so fond of him?"
Inoichi smiled fondly "When I started his treatment, I did it for free. In a way; one last favor for Minato. He used to be a clone of him, you know? And that broke my heart. He was so broken. It was clear he stopped sleeping and eating. And then... and then."
Shikaku frowned "Then what?"
"He attempted to kill his life. And for 7 minutes, he was legally dead."
Shikaku and Choza didn't say anything. Choza had a saddened look, while Shikaku cursed under his breath. "There is more, isn't it?" The Nara asked and Inoichi nodded.
"That was the point of no return in some sort of way. After that, he was bored or annoyed at our sessions. It changed when I invited him to eat. That one gesture of kindness... showed me the real Naruto. A bright kid, trying to make everyone happy, protect those that he cares about... but... He holds so much rage, hatred inside of him..."
"You haven't answered the question." Shikaku said and Inoichi snorted.
"I guess I haven't... do you remember how Ino was going to have a twin brother?" They nodded "Well, he died at birth as you know. But Naruto, became her brother. And by extension... I became his father." He smiled and held his head. "And then Kakuzu arrived..."
Choza patted his friend in the back and Shikaku closed his eyes "It seems a mission only for the Ino-Shika-Cho team." Shikaku said and Inoichi looked perplexed.
"You... will help me?"
Choza laughed "Of course! We can't allow the son you never had become a nuke-nin, right?"
Shikaku smirked "Now... let's start planning."
*Forest of Death's Tower*
As the genins listened to the announcement of a preliminary match, Naruto tought back to his talk with Kabuto.
"Orochimaru? The snake guy?" Kabuto nodded "Ya, what of him?"
Kabuto pushed his glasses back "You see Naruto-kun; he needs your help in something."
Naruto raised a brow "You talk about a nuke-nin like if you just saw him yesterday."
"Oh, that's because I did." Kabuto explained and Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"That's why you didn't care about your team..."
"Perspective. I am spy of Orochimaru-Sama, and he wants to recruit you." Kabuto said "He will give you all you ever wanted. It is a good deal in my opinion."
Seeing Naruto's thinking face he chuckled "You don't have to answer me now. But... let's keep this talk between us."
Naruto is no rat. So, he didn't rat Kabuto out. But the bad feeling in his stomach is still there.
Dammit! Why this happened to him!? Oh Lord Jashin... what to do?
As they walked to the balcony to watch the matches Kabuto was next to him "So, who do you want to fight with?"
Naruto looked to think "It must be someone strong. But someone I don't like." Kabuto smirked, getting the hidden message. He will kill his opponent, only if it is worth it.
"In that case, let's hope you are against Temari of the Sand." Kabuto said and Naruto looked at the sand blonde kunoichi.
"Gaara's and Makeup teammate..." He muttered as he grinned.
Kabuto nodded "That's right. They both want to fight you. So... imagine how their fight with you will go, after you kill their dear sister." He whispered as Naruto's grin expanded and eyes widen in sick joy "Vengeance, is the best motivator."
Naruto giggled and Temari looked at him and raised a brow. Naruto made a gesture of neck cutting and she glared at him.
"What's his problem?" Temari asked and Kankuro groaned.
"We met him when we arrived. He is just some punk."
"Be careful." Baki warned "He arrived first to the tower, covered in blood and one scratch on his body."
That caught even Gaara's attention. "Okay, but what does it have to do with me?" Temari asked and Baki closed his eyes.
"Kankuro, Gaara; he wanted to fight both of you, right?" He asked and they nodded. "Mind games. Temari; if you face him now, forfeit. He will use you to rile Kankuro and Gaara."
Temari glared at her sensei "I am not weak."
Baki nodded "I am aware. But had you seen the necklace he wears?" She nodded "It only means trouble. So please, if you appreciate your life, forfeit the match. One loss battle, is better than death."
Temari snapped her tongue but nodded. She might not like it, but if her sensei is so adamant, she might as well do it.
She looked at the silver haired kid that was reading a card from the other silver haired teen.
"First Match! Naruto Namikaze vs Temari of the Sand!" Hayate exclaimed and Temari groaned. Just her luck. She will quit in the first match, in the most humiliating manner.
Naruto jumped to the arena and unsealed his weapons. Temari did to and just as they started, she raised her hand "I forfeit."
Hayate blinked and was going to confirm when Naruto spoke "Welp, that's expected."
Temari raised a brow "What is it?"
Naruto grinned "That a kunoichi so cowardly like you, wouldn't have the guts to fight anyone."
Temari lowered her hand and glared "What did you say?"
"I mean, you are scared of Tanuki boy," He pointed at Gaara "Afraid of Daddy. Afraid that you will end like Mommy."
Temari started to breathe harshly "H-How you know that..." She hissed and Naruto chuckled.
"Does it really matter what I know or I don't know? I know that your brother is a jinchuriki," Baki and Kankuro's eyes widen "Also, that your mother died giving birth to him." Temari balled her hand into a fist "Say... are you afraid that he will kill you too?"
She didn't answer. She shook in rage... how... how dare this fucker make fun of her!? Of her past!? Of her mother!?
"Temari! Keep it together!" Baki screamed.
Kakashi eyed Ibiki who was smirking "He sure learned how to play with someone's mind."
"He should be careful." Kurenai warned "He is angering the girl and keeping his guard low."
Ibiki chuckled "Believe me, the brat is really hard to kill."
"But; I understand. You want to keep living and playing ninja. Here's my advice. Stay gennin, take D-Ranks, and stay in your village. That way, you will live, until Tanuki gets bored of course." Naruto mocked and Temari had enough. She threw a kunai and it stabbed Naruto on his neck.
No one of the Konoha's gennin moved, thinking he died, Temari was about to finish him off, jumping and cut him with her fan, but Naruto grinned, took out the kunai and blocked the attack as he pushed Temari back.
"W-What?" Kankuro asked and Baki cursed.
"I knew it... he is a Jashin follower."
"A what?"
Baki ignored Kankuro "Temari! Give up now! It is an order!"
Temari didn't listen as she threw wind slashes and Naruto just took it. His grin never leaving. He started to walk to her as more wind slashes were sent his way.
Baki started to get desperate "Teamri! Stop right now!"
The cuts healed after each barrage. Taunting her even more. So, she kept attacking.
Kankuro grew scared "He... he wouldn't... right?"
They were some feet away and the cuts started to heal at a slower pace. Temari smirked. Good... he is about to fall!
Gaara narrowed his eyes "Namikaze..."
Naruto was face to face with her. His clothes broken and blood all over him. Temari was breathing hard and Naruto grinned. He took a kunai and hand it to her. "Do it."
Temari snatched the kunai and stabbed him in the right eye. "What are you?"
Naruto laughed as he gripped his scythe, he made a small cut on her cheek with it. He walked away as he yanked the kunai out of his eye. With his digits, he touched the blood pouring out and drew the jashin symbol on the ground. "I am death."
He licked her blood as his body started to turn "Jashin's Curse..." in one instant, Temari body was full of cuts, and her right eye exploded. She screamed of pain and fell to the ground shaking.
Naruto chuckled "The condition has been met. Say... don't you think life... is something so beautiful... that when you take it away... it makes it even more special?" He raised his pike on the air and Ibiki's eyes widened.
"Call the match now!" He ordered and Hayate nodded.
"The winner is Naruto Nami-"
Nobody moved or talked. Someone forgot how to breathe as they saw Naruto stab his own heart. Temari stopped shaking. Her eyes widened as she spit out blood. Then... she just stopped moving at all.
Baki and Kankuro jumped the rail as they started to shake Temari. Medic-nins rushed and tried to revive her.
"Temari! Wake up!" Kankuro pleaded as he heard a chuckle behind him.
"Be happy... she was part of a very important ceremony." Kankuro glared at the fucker... at the killer of his sister. All his wounds were gone. But the sick grin remained.
"I'll kill you..." Kankuro growled.
Naruto chuckled "I'll be waiting then. I'll pray for us to clash at the finals."
As he walked to the railing, the genins avoided him. A look of fear, and two of worry directed at him. He had his eyes glazed and Kabuto smiled at him. "You did great, Naruto-kun."
Naruto nodded "I know." Ibiki grabbed his shoulder and squeezed it.
"We need to talk. Now."
Naruto shrugged "Fine."
Kakuzu, who was watching from the shadows, smirked. This brat... he has the ability to help him. He doesn't care how he gets the result, as long as he gets it.
During the invasion... he will make his move.
Next Chapter: Shadow of War
