"Who the fuck do you think you are?"
Naruto Uzumaki raised an uninterested eyebrow, his gaze questing as he stared at Anko Mitarashi. The Espada didn't answer the sweet-smelling kunoichi, nor did he plan to. Was it rude? Absolutely. Then again, she was cutting into the precious training time he scheduled with his fellow Arrancar. While his girls were plenty powerful, they could get stronger and as their 'master', it was his duty to help them ascend into greatness. He was still uncomfortable being called their master, but they were going to continue doing it, so he just decided to go with it.
"You should watch who you're talking to with that tone, Anko-san." Cirucci warned.
Anko ignored her fellow purple haired kunoichi, opting instead to glared evilly at the boy. It was clear that Naruto was unfazed by the woman's look. It was clear to him that she hadn't taken too kindly to being so easily subdued the day before, but he was in the middle of something and his overabundance of trust was what led him to Hueco Mundo in the first place. Cirucci started forward. Moving to either flank, Menoly and Loly reached for their Zanpakutō. There was a single pulse of Spiritual Pressure that made all four kunoichi freeze.
"That's enough." said Naruto coolly as he turned his back on the Tokubetsu Jōnin; enough time had already gotten away from them. "Loly, Menoly, Cirucci. Come."
Anko began seething at the arrogant smirk that lifted the corners of Cirucci's mouth as she turned to follow the jinchuriki. She was already pissed at the fact that the red haired genin dispatched her so easily, now he was brushing her off? That was more than enough to send her over the edge. Blitzing past the other kunoichi in a little less than a blur of motion, she swung a poison laced kunai at the cocky brat's face.
Orochimaru's former student witnessed her blade make contact. His face had no cut, there wasn't even a scratch. In fact, the only thing that made it obvious that her attack landed, aside from the recoil she felt, were the literal sparks that flew from the point of contact, paired with the sound of metal scrapping metal. Her eyes widened as the redhead turned his cold gaze to her, showing that he was highly unamused. His hand was like lightning as he reached out to grab her throat and she couldn't react fast enough as he slammed her into the ground. Oxygen left her lungs in a hurry, leaving her gasping for air that refused to come due to the tight grip the redhead had on her throat. His face gave no cues of physical exertion, as if cutting off her oxygen was nothing but a breeze to him.
"Next time," Naruto's slitted eyes began glowing with barely concealed rage despite how even and controlled his voice was. "I will tear your head from your neck with my bare hands. Regardless of who you are. Do you understand?"
Her lungs screaming, the woman fought to nod as darkness began caressing the edges of her vision. Naruto released his grip as the downed woman started greedily gulping down lungfuls of oxygen. He, Loly, and Menoly walked deeper into the Forest of Death to catch up on the time that was so rudely interrupted. Cirucci stayed back and knelt beside her 'friend'.
"You're lucky you have more in common with him than you think."the Numeros said, her voice gentle. "If you weren't hated like he was, he would have most likely seriously hurt you. Precious person or not."
Her Naruto-sama was a kind and highly intelligent man, despite being a thirteen year old boy, but he was ruthless when he or the three of them were attacked. It reminded her of her last day in Hueco Mundo. Unaware of the Arrancar that was following her, she became aware of him just in time to catch the severed head of the blonde Numeros that was going to strike her down for her betrayal. He was highly protective of Loly, Menoly, and herself.
"To answer your question," continued the woman, her eyes filled to the brim with love and total admiration. "I call him 'Naruto-sama' because he is my master; he gave me a new life, a home, and is helping me grow stronger. Perhaps if you apologize, you can receive the same."
With her piece said, Cirucci left Anko with her thoughts.
One month passed since that altercation and Anko Mitarashi was still haunted by how easy it was for that damn brat to take her down. All it took was one quick flick of his wrist, and the Ice Queens of Konoha would have been down a member. That single fact didn't sit well with her. She was a tokubetsu jōnin, an elite and highly skilled kunoichi and the former student of Orochimaru of the Sannin. As such, the dango-loving woman was by no means easy to take down. Then there was the fact that her kunai created sparks when it collided with his face. The screech of metal on metal was enough to give her pause. It didn't matter that he was rendered comatose; what mattered was the simple fact that this brat was capable of not only beating her, but apparently Kakashi as well.
The sole snake summoner of Konoha did her research during her month of self-exile. She was more than aware of his jinchuriki status, but she needed to know everything about him. If not to take him down, then perhaps so that she didn't fall into the same trap she did with Orochimaru. Her friend's words of a new life had given the woman pause, and for good reason. He was thirteen and the single most hated person in the village, even more so than her. Anko trusted Cirucci, albeit to a lesser degree than she did Kurenai. So if that woman said the brat gave her a new life, coupled with the ease he took her down, then he did. Somehow. The logic was a non-factor, but when a single person can take out an army of one thousand in a literal tenth of a second, logic ceased being able to claim its hold on the foundations of reality.
Regardless, the notes that were hidden throughout the Hokage's office regarding the target of this slight obsession were vast, more often than not ruminations on the efficacy of raising a boy in such a way. Some were reflections, observations and insights into the boy's quirky behaviors prior to his coma, and a few observations with a doctor's signature for while he was under. There were several documents, acting more as a means of reflection, that consisted of the lines 'Kushina would kill me,' or 'Minato would be highly disappointed.' These sentences made Anko dig deeper still, until she found the record of Naruto's birth, on which two names stood out with crystal clarity.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.
Anko Mitarashi was beyond incredulous. The boy the civilians beat comatose, the boy that was outcast for something beyond his control, the boy who could supposedly give her this new life was the son of the man that beat the Kyuubi and sealed it into him. The son of the Yondaime Hokage. If that was some kind of irony, Anko didn't know what was. And it was for this reason that she was headed toward the chakra signatures of Loly, Menoly, and Cirucci. Wherever those three were, Naruto would surely be there.
"Again." there was a finality in their master's single command, such power in that single word that it made their pulse quicken and their panties just a bit moist.
Shameless though it was, it was the way of the Arrancar to be drawn to power. It was why the entirety of Los Noches, Hueco Mundo followed Aizen. It was why the three Numeros changed alliances towards the inevitable climax of their Hueco Mundo's invasion and decided to follow this young man into the grave. They craved power for power's sake; nothing more, nothing less. Of course, in the cases of Menoly Mallia, Loly Aivirrne, and Cirucci Sanderwicci, there was also the intense attraction to their master that made it even easier to follow him.
Loly was the first to jump back into the action, slashing at Naruto in a series of strikes that were as deliberate as they were wild. Naruto dodged each strike, and jumped over her when she tried to perform a leg sweep. Menoly was instantly beside him, he fist cocked back and taut with power. She loosed a vicious left straight, but Naruto leaned back just enough that her fist missed his nose by mere centimeters. Loly was behind him at once, grabbing him in a headlock. Before she could transition into another hold, Naruto slipped out of it, grabbed her around the waist and planted her on her face. Another straight, this time from the right, tried to connect with his face. He grabbed Menoly's arm and quickly swept the blonde in a fireman's carry, before slamming her on her back.
There was no actual power in his slams, but it was enough to knock the oxygen from their lungs. Instinct whispered into his ear and he held out his right hand behind him. Within seconds, a flying disk of death collided with his hand. There was a slight spike of some kind of a feeling that had become foreign to him in the palm of his hand. An uppercut made his teeth click and lifted him from the ground. He couldn't get any farther than a couple of feet before Menoly grabbed him by the ankle and threw him roughly to the ground. Loly was instantly driving her knee into his chest, and if she did this to any shinobi, they would most certainly die. To Naruto, it was uncomfortable and there was the fact that there was that same pang of feeling that he felt from Menoly's attack and Cirucci's Zanpakuto. Pride tightened his chest, or perhaps it was the small fact that Loly still had her knee buried in him.
Easily, he lifted her off and stood. Dusting off the white jacket that all Arrancar wore, he looked at his right hand and noticed the slightest impression of a red mark. Pain. Had he become so accustomed to the sensation of pain that it barely registered as little more than a pang of something so fathomless? Had his denser-than-average Hierro made it so that he couldn't feel pain anymore? No, that wasn't the case. He hadn't felt anything when he went toe-to-toe with Tosen, nor did he feel anything when Gin cut him down. He was desensitized to the sensation. Did the fact that he now felt the dying vestiges of pain mean that he was getting weaker or that his friends were getting stronger? It wasn't mutually exclusive, so he chose to believe that they were growing stronger.
"Excellent work today," Naruto gave them the closest thing to a smile he could manage. "I'm very proud of your progress. Now if I'm not mistaken, we all have busy schedules today."
A shadow dropped from the canopy of trees above and landed in front of the redhead. He had sensed her enter the Forest of Death, but dismissed it. She wasn't important at the moment. She rose slowly and stared into his eyes, chocolate brown to radiant scarlet. No one moved, save Loly who reached for her Zanpakuto. The attractive young woman moved closer to the Espada. Loly and Menoly blocked her approach, their eyes cold. Anko was hesitant, though only for a brief moment.
"Cirucci-chan said you gave her a new life." Anko said.
Naruto merely gazed at her, waiting for her to get to the point. Besides, he wouldn't say he gave her new life, per se, just a second chance. Everyone deserves a second chance in his humble opinion. Except Nnoitra; he was a prick. And Szayelaporro, arrogant douche that he was. And Gin because 'fuck that guy', in Loly's own words. And...okay, he believed almost everyone deserves a second chance. Still, the fact remains that without his interference and despite the Quincy only sealing her spiritual powers, Cirucci was going to die.
"Would you be able to get this fucking mark off of me?" Anko pulled back her overcoat and shirt a bit to show the telltale tomoe tattooed on her shoulder. Even from here, Naruto could feel the sinister power it held, though whoever sealed it last did a decent job.
Loly hissed in anger. "First you attack him, now you expect a favor?"
Anko ignored her, and that was the quickest way to piss Loly off. Naruto held a hand up, stopping the girl before she could attack the other purple haired female. Reluctantly, the ravenette stayed her hand, though she grumbled in clear agitation.
"Perhaps I can." Naruto said, his eyes blazing with curiosity. "But why should I, Tokujō?"
Anko considered it for a moment. Why should he? Without a doubt, the removal of the Cursed Seal of Heaven would count as her second life; freedom from the one who's betrayal hurt the most, freedom from the pain, freedom from the hatred. Nevermind the dispassionate redhead, but would Anko herself be willing to be freed from one cage just to crawl into another? The simple answer? Yes. Anko would be willing to do anything, kill anyone just to get this fucking mark off of her.
"Because I can be useful." she said with a straight face. "In some ways, as well as others."
The double meaning wasn't lost on the Arrancar. The trio of females actually drew their weapons, ready to cut the woman down for daring to try to offer herself to their master as though he only cared about one thing. If that were the case, there would be very little respect for him as a person; powerful or not. Naruto didn't stop them this time. Instead, he merely spoke.
"Attractive, though you are, you don't appeal to me in that way."
Well that was a shot to the ego, nevermind the mild relief that flooded her system. "Then what would you want?"
"What makes you think I want anything?" he countered. "I only asked why I should relieve you of your burden."
"If you have to ask, Naruto-sama, then perhaps you shouldn't." Menoly offered, her gaze never leaving the snake summoner. "Precious person or not."
Naruto seemed to ponder this for a moment before drawing his daito. Anko didn't move, but she was ready to make a run for it. If steel didn't work, then she had very little hope for jutsu or anything else.
Instead, Naruto sliced his palm and allowed a single drop of blood to fall into the grass. Nothing happened. After a moment, the female Numeros vanished, hiding amongst the trees in an effort to avoid whatever Naruto had just done. A single vermillion fox with nine tails rose from the drop of blood, looking as though it were bathed in the essence of life. Fear choked Anko. Was he really about to kill her because she couldn't answer a question? Was this retribution for her unnecessary attack, one month previous? Was releasing the Kyuubi really that easy?
"Zorro Carmesí: Caza de Sangre." the fox yipped cutely, before howling like a demonic wolf. "Go."
The sanguine fox rushed her. Anko managed to get off a single attack in the form of her Hidden Snake Hands technique, but it was pointless. The fox, easily as tall as her, had pounced on her and sank its teeth into the curse mark. She screamed as liquid agony pounded through her veins and held her spinal in a death grip. She fell when the fox released her and pounced back into Naruto's freshly cut palm, a droplet of blood once more. Anko Mitarashi glared murderously at the young Espada. When she got up she was going to kill him, favorite of the Sandaime or not.
He glowed red for the briefest of seconds before the cursed seal of heaven appeared on the back of the stark white gloves he wore on his hands. There was the sound of locks clicking before there was a final snap. An audible crack rang out through the Forest of Death. Naruto lay the blade of his Zanpakuto against the inside of his wrist and cut. Bleeding profusely, he walked easily to stand in front of Anko with his arm outstretched.
"Drink," he commanded, his tone leaving little room for discussion.
She looked at the boy as though he were mad. Part of her wanted to curse him for attacking her. Another part, the most dominant part of her, was curious enough to see how this played out. Hesitantly and full of revulsion, she put her lips to the warm liquid and drank. At least until there was a feeling that transcended pain pulsing throughout her body. He stepped back, as she cried out. Anko curled into the fetal position, retching as though her body was trying to purge itself of something. Finally, something found purchase as hundreds of thousands of white snakes were expelled from her throat. Stark clarity was written on her face alongside the clear look that said 'what the actual fuck?' The collection of serpents hissed irritably at the red haired Espada, who raised an unamused brow. The snakes coalesced into a single great serpent with a man's face messy hair. The creature, repulsive though it was, slithered quickly at Naruto with the intent of lashing out. The Espada merely pointed at it with his forefinger, allowing the energy to gather into a crimson orb at his finger tip.
"Cero," the orb was fired as a blast of spiritual energy, vaporizing the repugnant creature as well as some of the trees behind it. Naught was left but ashes.
Anko lay there, twitching spasmodically, equally amazed and repulsed by what she saw. And at that moment, she wanted to learn what she could from the boy. A ridiculous notion, when one truly thought about it, but it had some merit. The dango-loving Tokujō had never seen a jutsu like that.
"Cirucci-chan," Naruto looked to the other purple haired woman. "Take Anko home. Loly, Menoly, and I have team meetings to attend."
"Team Seven reporting another successful mission." drawled Kakashi as Naruto handed over the so-called 'demon cat'.
His Hierro made her scratched ineffective, making her attacks little more than caresses. As Hiruzen started listing off more D-Ranked missions, Naruto zoned out and allowed his mind to wander. Anko regurgitated a snake whose face was more human than serpent. If that was actually a portion of Orochimaru, as the basis of the Cursed Seal of Heaven suggested, then he was a foe worthy to witness his Resurrección. Not that he was arrogant, far from it. But like Ulquiorra, the redhead had a Segunda Etapa and like Yammy, his number changed. No one he has faced ever survived the full ressurection of the Crimson Fox of Konoha. On the other hand, why exactly had he decided to help Anko? Was it because she was a kindred spirit, or perhaps because she knew the cost of loneliness? When it came to the two village pariah, the answers were one in the same; he helped her because she was a kindred spirit who was intimate with the cost of loneliness.
"Do you think they're ready for a C-Ranked mission, Kakashi?" asked the Sandaime.
Kakashi nodded rather lazily before he drawled, "Yes, Sandaime-sama. Besides, I believe it will be a good experience for them."
Naruto's brow furrowed; what the hell did he miss? Hiruzen seemed to ponder this for a moment before nodding towards Iruka, who walked to the door and brought in a man that smelled like sake. Naruto supposed it was because of the bottle in his hands, but hey, what did he know? The man took a deep swig of his sake before sneering at Team Seven.
"I asked for shinobi and you give me brats?" asked the drunkard. "What are they gonna do; cry at the first sign of danger?"
Naruto was unamused. "You were saying?"
Tazuna sobered instantly at the feeling of bone cold steel caressing his throat. No one saw the redhead move. He began to tremble in fear. Before any of the higher ranking adults could come to the poor man's rescue, Naruto was already standing in his original place, looking as though he hadn't moved in the first place. Hiruzen looked rather amused. Kakashi sighed inwardly at the now undetermined fate of the poor man.
Over the past month, the team got to know each other better. Not really; the flawless teamwork that was utilized to come out victorious during the bell test was gone. Sakura paid endless attention to Sasuke, who in turn ignored her in favor of trying to gain a more intensive training regimen from Kakashi, while Naruto ignored them both. There was one incident last week where the sole female of Team Seven made the mistake of calling Naruto a 'baka tomato'. The poor girl was ill prepared to deal with the rain of black spikes that outlined her body with surgical precision. It was on that day the team learned a valuable lesson regarding their dispassionate redhead: never call Naruto a 'tomato'.
While the Hiruzen explained the parameters of the mission, Naruto wondered what his girls were up to. Cirucci was a jonin, and a damn good one. To his knowledge, she was patrolling with two other jonin. Loly and Menoly were genin like him, each more than likely training with their teams… or in Loly's case, trying not to suffocate her fellow kunoichi.
Anko, though he wasn't entirely sure if she would ever count as 'one of his girls', should be resting. After all, emptying her body of the rather impressive number of snakes would have taken a monumental amount of energy. They were dismissed and instructed to meet at the village gates within the hour. Naruto left to prepare for his trip to the Land of Wave, and briefly wondered if he would even have to draw his sword for this mission.