Disclaimer - I do not own Naruto or Fairy Tail

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By Any Means: Heart of Shadows

Prologue

Opening: Heart of Sword by T.M. Revolution

0o0o0 Hidden Cave 0o0o0

"That bastard has set us back for the last time! It's time that the Hitokiri be taken care of!" Kiba Inuzuka raged from where he was seated.

For the first time, in quite some time, a meeting was being held by Kyosho no Issan with every member in attendance. Members from across the continent were gathered to determine what to do about the group of shinobi that were disturbing their plans in the country of Fiore.

"And what would you have us do? Scour the whole of Fiore to flush them out and expose ourselves? This is why we shouldn't let fleabags speak their tiny minds," Ino Yamanaka scoffed.

"Oh shut up, you fucking whore! How many of us has that damn idiot managed to kill over the years? And not just useless mooks, but seasoned shinobi! Deidara, Sasori, Kakuzu and not to mention that traitor Zabuza! I-"

"Calm yourself, young Inuzuka. There is no need to fret over the Uzumaki boy. While he is a thorn in our sides, he has proven to be quite… interesting. None the less, he will be dealt with." Shimura Danzo stepped forward, causing all the shinobi gathered to rise and bow.

"Danzo-sama, we were beginning to think something had happened," Org, of the Magic Council, was the first to rise and speak to the aging leader.

"What should we do about that group Uzumaki has gathered in Fiore Danzo-sama? We can't simply let them be. Zabuza knows too many of us. Perhaps not our plans, but he can direct them to where several of us are currently," Hyuga Neji chimed in, his younger cousin next to him shifting uncomfortably as the various members turned their gaze on them.

"You will continue to operate as if nothing has happened, nor are any of you to engage with Uzumaki and his group. Those are Danzo-sama's orders." Walking in from behind Danzo was a shinobi with a lion's mask and standard issue ANBU gear. "We have already dispatched Tsume Inuzuka to deal with the matter as per Danzo-sama's orders. No one else is to engage them."

"Grrr, what's the idea of sending my mother and not me!? What happens if that bastard kills her too? I should be out there with-" Kiba stopped mid sentence as glowing red eyes focused on him and an intense killing intent forced him down to his knees.

"Are you questioning Danzo-sama's orders? Your mother has been given specific instructions on how she is to deal with the matter. Soon enough, the Hitokiri will no longer be a problem for any of you to worry about. Now, there are other issues that must be discussed, Danzo-sama." The shinobi released his killing intent and stepped to the side to give the floor to Danzo.

"Thank you Shishi. My brothers and sisters, it is time that we make use of the Balam Alliance and retrieve a lost brother that the fools of Shadow Heart condemned. I think it time that the faith of Jashin returned to the land of Fiore…"

0o0o0 Midnight - Naruto's Camp 0o0o0

"Kuro… Kuro was the only person that talked to me after that. Everyone… they were all afraid of me. But I didn't care... at the time Kuro was all I needed," Naruto sighed out as his repressed memories of the first woman he loved were forced to surface. He had been talking for hours, nearly two decades of suppressed emotion being let out. Not once had Erza interrupted him. She simply listened. He had told her a tale of how a happy go lucky kid had become a jaded soldier, leaving out the more...extreme bits. He wasn't ready to tell her, or anyone really, about the time spent as the Hitokiri.

"What happened to her?" Erza, couldn't help her curiosity. Kurotsuchi had been the focus of topic for about an hour. Naruto had been upfront about his relationship with the woman, and she couldn't help but feel threatened. It was clear that he still held some kind of feelings for her, the depth of which Erza couldn't tell. If this Kurotsuchi were to pop up one day, she needed to know the lengths she would have to go to make sure Naruto didn't turn back to his old flame.

"She was killed." Erza's eyes widened at the croak of Naruto's voice.

"Oh. I'm sorry I-"

"It's fine. It was a long time ago." The flatness of his eyes contradicted his words.

"Naruto-"

The blond sighed. "It's late Erza. We should get some sleep. There's… just so much that happened. This is the most I've ever… I never…" he trailed off as Kurotsuchi's last moments replayed within his mind.

Erza turned in his lap and saw he'd closed his eyes. She could tell he was struggling, unwanted tears forming along the edges of his eyes. Slowly she she slid off his lap, slipping her hand into his and stood next to him waiting for him to open his eyes. When he finally did and his eyes met hers, she spoke. "It's enough Naruto. Let's go to bed." She gave his hand a tug to emphasize that she wanted him to stand and go into the tent with her.

"Hai, let's go to bed." He stood and let her lead him into his tent. Once inside Erza directed them to his cot where she climbed onto it first, Naruto following suit. Neither spoke a word as sleep claimed the exhausted shinobi.

Erza watched him for a moment, taking in his facial features. She skimmed a few fingers along the whisker-like scars, causing him to unconsciously twitch to her touch. He had revealed so much to her. She knew there was still something he was hiding, a darkness that was weighing him down. Whatever that darkness was, she'd be there when he confronted it. "You're not alone anymore Naruto. I promise I won't let you be alone ever again." Before sleep finally claimed her for the night she pulled Naruto against her, seeking his warmth. Becoming comfortable, the mage fell asleep next to the shinobi.

0o0o0 Deserts of Bosco 0o0o0

Tsume Inuzuka pulled her coat closer, as the desert sands blistered past her face. Her faithful ninken, Kuromaru, close to her side as she entrusted his tracking abilities to lead her to her targets.

She still wasn't sure about the mission she had been given by the elusive leader of Kyosho no Issan. But she had made her bed long ago, and she would do as Danzo had ordered. After all, he had yet to lead any of them astray thus far.

The sun was only beginning to rise and already the heat and wind were getting to her. Luckily for her, she noticed Kuromaru tense, signaling they were close. The sooner she made her offer, the sooner she could get out of this god forsaken desert.

"Halt!"

The yell didn't even phase Tsume as she came to a stop. Coming up from over the dunes were multiple armed soldiers and mages, each pointing a weapon or prepping a spell to fire.

"In the name of the Aristocracy, the true rulers of Bosco, we order you to remove you cloak and identify yourself!" An officer, given his more elaborate uniform, ordered, having stepped forward to show his command over the numerous soldiers.

"Heh, the true rulers of Bosco? I do believe that would be the Hagoromo by this point the way the war is going," Tsume mocked, clearly unafraid of the now annoyed soldiers, "Do you even have an army left anymore?"

The man snarled as he glared down at the insolent woman, "How dare you! Men-" before he could even order his men to detain the trespasser, the dog that was beside the woman was suddenly bearing down on him, bowling him over. He barely registered his men crying out as each and every one of them were taken down.

As he regained his bearings a shadow loomed over him. "You know, all I wanted was to ask a simple question."

"I'll tell you nothing ninja bitch! The Hagoromo will-" he paused as he felt a heavy weight step on him and the intense growling of the dog drowning out any other noise, drool and blood dripping down on his face.

Kuromaru quieted down, sensing Tsume intending to speak to his future chew toy, "I'd be careful how you address me, Kuromaru doesn't take kindly to insults thrown at me. Now as you were agreeing to answer my question, I'll ask: are you Colonel Fitzgerald of the 5th regiment, the one who swore to kill the Hitokiri?"

"Kill the… you stupid sow-" Kuromaru barked viciously and growled loudly once again, causing the man to rephrase himself, "Yes, I'm Fitzgerald; however the Hitokiri is dead. Has been for over a year, killed by-"

"A traitor that never killed him." Fitzgerald's eyes widened.

"And why should I believe you-" he was cut off by Tsume as she made her offer.

"And if you want to fulfill your vow, find me in the border town of Glover. Believe me or not, this your only chance of avenging everyone he killed, including your family. Oh, and make sure to bring any man that wants to kill your country's greatest mass murderer. Not these men of course, their dead." Before Fitzgerald could even blink, the massive weight of the dog and the shadow of the woman disappeared into a gust of wind.

Rising for the first time since he'd been knocked down, he stared in abject horror at the scene of carnage that had once been his men.

As he stood in the blood soaked sand, he couldn't help but laugh maniacally as a single thought traversed his mind, "I'm going to kill you Hitokiri!"

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Ending: A 70CM Square Window - MasakoX cover

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