I do not own 'Naruto'
Kin, but less than kind
Naruto had entered the small curry shop. It was a small place high in the mountains away from most civilizations. It was a miracle these people owned the shop at all instead of just being hermits.
He looked at the scroll in hand. This mission has been in the pool for months, and would have been longer if not for Naruto.
Mission.
Kill band of murders called Kurosuki family.
Rank: A
He would complete the mission, but that wasn't the reason he came. He had a more personal, but still beneficial reason for coming.
-Flashback
"Well Naruto, I trained you as best as I could in three weeks." Jiraiya spoke. "I must say, I did a good job of it too."
"You did." Naruto admitted.
Though he wasn't impressed with Jiraiya as a man, he was astounded by him as a Shinobi. The Sannin had really pushed Naruto hard for his training. Though the blond had to give him a little incentive in not just fooling around and having the blond work things out.
"Now for my end of the deal." Jiraiya spoke.
He tossed the blond a scroll. The blond gave it a firm once over with his eyes as he took in all the information. It was a map of where he needed to go and who he was searching for.
"Are you sure he's here?" Naruto asked.
"Do you doubt me!?" The Sannin asked offended. "I am Jiraiya, head of the largest spy network in the world! Nothing can stay hidden from me long!" The man then put on a more serious face. "The details promise that it'll be a dangerous mission, are you sure you want to do this alone.'
"I'm sure." Naruto answered.
"Well this will get you there with no problem." Jiraiya spoke as he handed Naruto another scroll.
"A mission?"
"Yes, but Naruto." He spoke seriously. "If you fail to make it back in time, you will be disqualified and the Council will tear into you."
"They'll try."
-Flashback end
"Anything I could get you young man?"
Naruto was brought from his thoughts by a small elderly woman.
"Yes, may I have the Curry of Life?" Naruto asked. "A comrade of mine recommended it."
"Ah, you must be Lee-Kun's friend." She stated after glancing at his headband.
Somehow Lee found out he was coming in this directions and practically demanded that the blond try the curry. He had thought Lee only got that excited when training or fighting was involved.
Naruto watched as the woman shuffled to prepare his food. He felt confused as to why an old lady would be out here on her own, but decided not to question it.
"Here you go." She spoke as she gave him the food.
Before he could begin eating, the door was knocked in. In walked in a guy around his mid-teens and a few others behind, six in total.
"Hey grandma, I'm hungry!"
"I don't feed hoodlums." She answered without looking at him.
"Hoodlums?" One asked with false offense. "Is that how you treat the people who saved the village from all those evil people!?"
"Only to force the men to work in a goldmine!" She retorted.
"Hey, someone's got to pay for the Kurosuki family's services and further protection." He continued.
Naruto just sat there, eating the curry. He was trying not to draw any attention to himself until he had further assessed the situation.
Huh, this curry isn't bad, but not great. Naruto thought. Don't know why Lee was making such a...is it getting hot in here?
It was too much for the blond to take. He leaned back and downed the water in one gulp, but it wasn't enough! If anything, it only fueled the furnace in his mouth.
Why Lee, why!? He gagged. Why would you have me eat this!?
"Looks like someone couldn't handle the curry of life." The youngest of the group taunted.
Naruto didn't respond, he was busy trying to calm the fire in his body.
"Hey, this kid's grandmother worked hard to make that!" The man shouted as if he cared. "Hey, you hear me!"
He made to grab the blond.
Naruto quickly grabbed the WCB in one hand and pinned the guy to the table with the other. Using a bit of chakra, he severed the entire limb. The man fell to the ground screaming before he fell silent as shock set in. He'd bleed to death in seconds.
Two members charged him with retractable Tekko Kagi blades extended. He grabbed them both by their inner arm and pulled them close together, running under their elevated bodies, he flipped them into a tangled pile.
Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu
He hit them directly before they even had a chance to stand.
Three down, three to go. Naruto thought as he eyes the remaining members. Two of them look angry at the fact that he killed their members while one was fearful.
Raising his fingers, he shot the two in the head.
That just left the one, the supposed grandson of the shop's owner. Naruto raised a hand and aimed a finger at him. The shop owner practically tackled Naruto's arm. The guy panicked as he scrambled to stand, only to trip over the blood, as he ran from the shop.
Naruto turned his attention to the elderly woman who's desperate eyes looked into his empty ones. He broke contact and watched the retreating form of one of his targets.
"Don't worry, I won't kill him." Naruto stated. "I need him to deliver a message anyway."
He watched as the coward ran towards what he believed was safety.
Gravity Falls story 'Nowhere' and 'The Author's Apprentice' is out. Please give them a look and a review please.
"No no!" The man begged. "Please, don't do this!"
His please fell on deaf ears as Raiga, a former member of the Seven Swordsmen, began speaking a eulogy. As he spoke, his comrades began filling the pit with dirt. The man could only beg helplessly as he was buried alive.
"Boss!" A voice shouted in the distance. "Boss!"
"Karashi, why are you interrupting my funeral?" He asked with growing anger.
"There's this guy!" Karashi answered. "He took out a group of the family by himself!"
"One guy beat a group of us, who was he?" Another member asked.
"Don't know, but he had a Leaf Headband on."
"Konoha." Raiga growled. "They must have sent a powerful Shinobi to take on five of them." He turned to his comrades. "Finish burying him." Raiga ordered. "Then prepare another hole, we'll be having another funeral shortly."
Naruto knew that the arrival of the one he was really after would only take a few minutes at most. That was all the time he needed.
When Raiga entered the shop with his
"Is that him Karashi?" Raiga asked.
"That's him boss!"
The former member of the Seven felt great anger and annoyance that a single guy who looked to be a Genin could beat his underlings alone. That was until he looked closely. Whiskers...blond hair...empty eyes.
"...I've heard of you." Raiga spoke. "You're the one that helped kill Zabuza. I should thank you, I hated that guy, and the rest of the Seven." A look of peace came over him. "I know, I'll give you a proper funeral instead of tossing you into a hole as planned, what do you think?"
Naruto stared at the man, not giving anything away.
"Raiga." A voice whispered. "Something's wrong! I don't see him!"
Hm, what does that mean? Raiga thought as he looked towards his back. "Ranmaru?"
Now! Naruto thought. His enemy has taken his eyes off of him.
The attack didn't come from Naruto.
"Grandma!" Karashi shouted.
It came from the shop owner. She lunged at Raiga with her fist pulled back, ready to punch the man in the face. Raiga simply leaned back, unimpressed with the sudden attack.
That was until he fell to his knees in pain. There was an unbearable ringing sensation in his ear.
He looked towards the old lady, his visions blurry and he saw double, but he was certain he was seeing two blonds! One of them had a strange gauntlet on their arm. The old lady had been the blond under a Henge waiting to strike.
The closest blond charged with a kunai, he through it at the swordsman. Raiga quickly cut through the metal with a swipe of his sword, the second blade impaling the blond in the heart.
The only warning he got was the other Naruto stepping back. The Naruto he had impaled grabbed Raiga's hand before he went up in a small explosion. The shock of it all along with the pain force the man to release the blade in an attempt to avoid most of the damage.
"Ranmaru!" Raiga shouted in worry. "Are you okay!?
"Raiga, I can't see him!" The child stated frantically. "I don't know what's going on!"
What is this!? Raiga thought critically.
Hidden Mist Ju-
He attempted to form a mist to perform the silent killing technique. Unfortunately, Naruto was prepared as a powerful gust of air blew the mist away before it was fully formed.
Naruto calmly stepped out of the shop, allowing Raiga to glimpse his glowing eyes.
"How long has it been Raiga?" Naruto spoke coldly. "How long has it been since you had to fight without someone being your eyes and ears? Since you had to rely on your own skills?" He raised the Kiba blade lightly. "Then again, it was never your own skill, it was always the swords. One of which is no longer in your possession."
The plan's working. Naruto thought as he tried not to get excited. He managed to strike with the Melody Arm, throwing off the man's perception. The exploding clone was able to do a little damage, small though it was, and disarm him of one of the blades. Now let's see if the self-doubt is beginning to set in.
He raised the Kiba blade and sent a small amount of chakra into it, letting spark with power. He saw the flinch, it was working.
"You think I'm that easy!?" Raiga asked angrily.
He should be rusty from relying on Ramnaru. Naruto thought. Add to the affect of the Melody Arm and my bloodline, I might have a chance.
He wasn't stupid enough to think that he could match one of the Seven on his own. Zabuza alone had been a testimony to that. But if everything went according to plan...he had a chance.
Wind Style: Vacuum blade.
Naruto breathed a blade of wind onto the WCB. The added air created a scimitar type sword or wind and chakra.
With lightening and wind on his side, he had an even greater advantage.
Naruto ran towards the man with both swords swing inwards from both sides in a wide arc, he couldn't block both of them. Unfortunately Raiga was stepped forward into closer range with his sword, attempting to impale Naruto before he could reach. Naruto ducked and back-stepped, raiding his foot he kicked Raiga in the chin.
He's better than expected with only one sword. Naruto thought. He had hoped the man would feel inadequate with only one sword.
Raiga pointed his sword at Naruto and an arc of lighting blasted towards him. The blond ran to the side to avoid it, but the swordsman kept the stream going as it trailed behind the blond. It was gaining to fast for Naruto to keep trying to outrun.
Naruto looked at the blade in his hand. I wonder?
Naruto stopped and held the blade out defensively. He felt the blast his the blade, but that was it. It seems that the blade was not only good for conducting, but also filtering. That was good to know, but he couldn't rely on that. If an attack was large enough to consume him then he'd be in trouble.
He needed to get close so that the ranged attacks would be useless. Never lowering his sword, Naruto charged and blocked most of the smaller attacks.
Once in range he took a swipe at the Jounin's head only for him to duck. Raiga swung for Naruto's legs in an attempt to cripple him but the blond jumped, though not to high. Mid-descent Raiga punched the blond in the stomach causing him to stumble. Naruto swung wildly, to put some distance between them. Raiga didn't back step as planned, he just raised his sword to defend.
Now! Naruto thought as he kicked Raiga's vulnerable stomach.
The swordsman didn't move back much, but Naruto was able to use him as leverage to push himself away.
Naruto placed both blades under his arm, he needed his hands free for a second.
Shadow Clone Jutsu
Six clones appeared.
They began a frontal charge with their blades.
Lightening Dragon Tornado
Without so much as a hand sign Raiga pointed the sword towards Naruto. Out came a giant mass of lightening, it's name was apt.
The lightening dragon rushed towards the mass of blonds, consuming and destroying them all. As he did so, he created a large smoke screen from the dirt and rubble. When it cleared there was nothing, not even a body.
"Where are you!?" Raiga shouted.
A pair of hands shot from the ground and clamped around his feet.
Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu
The Swordsman was pulled up to his neck in dirt as Naruto exited the ground.
"Ranmaru!" He shouted.
"I'm okay Raiga." Ranmaru assured. "What's happening?"
"I'm ending this." Raiga snarled.
The Jounin thrashed around as his sword arm tore itself from the ground. He raised the weapon high into the air.
Lightening Strike Armor
A bolt of lightening hit the blade and traveled through his body. It encased him in a protective armor of pure lightening.
This is what Naruto had been waiting for, Raiga's strongest attack. He only had one shot at this.
Raiga swung his sword towards Naruto and sent a powerful wave of destruction at the blond.
Now! Naruto thought.
Raiga didn't know what happened. One minute the blond's death was in range, the next he was inches from his face.
Wind Style: Vacuum bomb
As a greater version of Vacuum sphere, it's name was apt. A large sphere of compressed wind was built up to the size of a person.
He hit Raiga point blank.
He watched as the swordsman gave a defiant scream as the wind blew him away. The man landed teen feet away and was still.
Let's see if my plan worked. Naruto thought.
The plan was to force Raiga to use his strongest attack that also protected him best. He would then hit him with his strongest wind Jutsu, hoping to kill the man but protect the target.
He walked forward at a quick pace so as not to get taken by surprise, but also give Raiga as little time as possible to recover.
He looked down at the man, he was dead. Naruto fired a bullet into his body and the swordsman didn't flinch, Raiga of the Seven Swordsmen was dead.
Now for the real reason. Naruto thought.
Naruto lifted the corpse over and examined the body under it. A small and frail looking boy with blue hair.
"Hello cousin." Naruto greeted.
Naruto had taken the boy towards the Curry shop, they hadn't said a thing to each other. He placed the boy in a seat and looked around.
"You can come out now." Naruto ordered.
Out came Karashi who had been cowering behind the counter.
"W-What're-"
"Not you." Naruto spoke.
This time the little shop owner stepped out. She looked at Naruto worriedly but expectantly.
"I'm going to leave him here for a few hours." Naruto stated. "He is not to leave your sight, if he does I kill Karashi."
"What!?"
Naruto turned his attention towards the coward with a blank look.
"My mission is to end the Kurosuki family, which you are a part of." Naruto stated. "You are a fool and a coward, you have a chance at survival. Quit the family and do as I say, then I leave and hopefully you'll never see me again."
The boy slowly nodded his head.
They all watched as the blond left the room.
"I'm going to make you something to eat." The elderly lady stated to Ranmaru before turning to her grandson. "Watch. Him."
Once they heard her begin her work in the back, Ranmaru turned to Karashi.
"Karashi, I need you to take me to Raiga." He spoke in a whisper.
"What!?" Karashi asked in a louder whisper. "Are you insane, Raiga's dead and that blond will probably kill me if I do something like that!"
"Raiga isn't dead!" Ranmaru stated harshly. That guy used a lot of tricks to beat Raiga, but he didn't finish the job. "I understand now, his eyes are like mine!" Ranmaru stated. "But mine are stronger from using it since I was a small kid and near constantly since I met Raiga. I saw his life force, it was weak but there. He will die if we don't hurry to him."
"I uh, I-"
"Raiga will probably reward you for this, especially if I tell him how you helped us." Ranmaru tempted. "Maybe even make you his second in command."
Karashi was torn between the promise of power and his own self-preservation.
"What makes you think Raiga will be able to beat the blond this time?" He asked.
"Raiga was caught by surprise before." Ranmaru answered confidently. "This time he'll be ready."
Karashi made his choice.
Naruto took a long, but steady breath.
He had just finished killing the last of the Kurosuki family. Though they weren't really ninja, they had skill and numbers. Fighting Raiga had taken a lot out of him, they didn't help/
Don't think I've ever felt chakra exhaustion before. He thought.
He stood up and prepared to leave when he felt something off. He looked into the distance to see a cloud of mist heading towards him, it was full of chakra.
This is...the Hidden Mist Jutsu! He thought as he took a defensive stance.
The Jutsu was already in affect, that meant he couldn't just blow it away like before. The chakra would just re-accumulate.
Naruto drew both of the Kiba blades.
Where are you? Naruto thought.
He scanned the mist and saw several dozen chakra constructs that he used when hiding. It seemed that Ranmaru was catching on to their bloodline's connection and weakness.
No choice. He thought.
He channeled his chakra through the blades and fired at the constructs. Each shot a simple but powerful bolt of lightening. Each target simply faded away on contact.
He felt pain in his left hand, it hit a nerve that forced him to release the blade. He took a swipe in the direction of the figure that moved in the mist but felt the blade connect with nothing.
He jumped several feet away, it would be foolish to stay in the same spot. Especially if the enemy already got a blow in.
He looked down at his arm, there was a kunai in his wrist. He took it out and through it at one of the figures, just another construct.
It seems that Ranmaru figured out that our bloodline doesn't allow us to see each other. Naruto thought. There goes that advantage.
He needed to get away from the mist, collect himself. Find a safe place where he could make a new plan of attack.
One of the figures in the mist struck at him, he raised the other Kiba blade in defense. It was Raiga striking with his newly returned sword. The blow was heavier than Naruto expected, but not as bad as with Zabuza. The rogue Shinobi didn't break contact with Naruto, he only pressed more weight into his sword.
"Now!" Raiga shouted.
From behind the rogue Ranmaru jumped out, making a leap for Naruto. He had a kunai poised at the blonds heart.
With no choice, Naruto released his grip on the Kiba blade to swap Ranmaru away. Striking Raiga's hand, he freed himself from the grip and jumped away into the mist.
Any chance of hiding or escaping through the mist were crushed when Raiga dispersed it. They were all completely exposed.
"Now you will face the Thunder of the Mist!" Raiga shouted.
Naruto fired a water bullet at the man, to his disappointment Raiga simply deflected it with his sword.
"Nothing you do will stop me!" Raiga shouted. "I am invincible when I have my blades!"
Naruto smiled, it was as empty and creepy as he needed.
"You may be invincible." Naruto stated as he aimed a finger. "But what about him?"
Raiga didn't need to turn his head to see who Naruto was talking about. Ranmaru, the only thing the man cared about.
"You won't hurt him, I won't let you!" Raiga shouted as he raised his swords high into the air.
Fangs of lightening
At his command, a large bolt of lightening struck the ground where Naruto had been standing. He had jumped away in time to avoid death.
He never took his eyes or fingers off of Ranmaru.
This is my last shot. Naruto thought. I need to psyc him out! Make him think my attention is on the kid.
He fired several shots at Ranmaru, which Raiga intercepted and blocked.
"Stop that!" Raiga demanded. "Fight me and die!"
"Exactly, I'll die." Naruto stated as he took aim. "But so will he!"
Shadow Clone Jutsu
Several dozen clones appeared and jumped away in groups. Each of them had their eyes and fingers trained on Ranmaru.
"Stop that!"
Fangs of lightening
Raiga summoned several bolts of lightening down to strike the groups of Narutos. They hadn't attempted to dodge, they acted as if they didn't notice anything but Ranmaru.
When the original was left alone, he sights were still on the child. Much to the anger of Raiga.
"Enough!"
He pointed both blades directly at Naruto.
Finally the blond dropped his hands and pulled them together to form hand signs.
Earth Style: Earth Dome
As the name stated, a dome of pure Earth formed around Naruto. This gave him the advantage in nature defense, but it wasn't impenetrable, even from lightening. If Raiga placed enough chakra in a focused attack, then the shield would crumple away.
Just as the rogue planned on doing.
Fangs of lightening
Several bolts of lightening struck the dome. There was no sign of it giving, though that didn't deter Raiga. He summoned bolt after bolt to strike the dome shield.
A crack appeared.
I need to act now. Naruto thought as he began weaving hand signs.
Fangs of lightening
This time the dome not only gave, it shattered under the power. The Rogue heard a satisfying cry of pain from the blond, before it was cut short.
"R-Raiga." Ranmaru whimpered from behind him.
Raiga turned and paled.
Naruto was there with a kunai to Ranmaru's throat.
"One chance, drop the swords now or I'll kill him."
"Y-You're bluffing."
"Is that your final answer?" Naruto asked.
"Yes."
Naruto raised his kunai before driving it deep into Ranmaru's throat. There was a small twitch before the body went still. He let the corpse fall to the ground in a heap.
"Ranmaru!" The rogue shouted in despair. "Y-You bastard!"
He raised his swords high intending to end the fight only to freeze up before falling over.
Once his corpse fell, the once thought dead Naruto was revealed to be standing with a finger trained on Raiga. He fired two more shots into the Swordsman's head.
With a nod to the original, he dissolved into a pile of mud.
The real Naruto turned his attention towards the corpse of Ranmaru. He raised his hands into a single sign.
Release
He dispelled the Genjutsu to reveal a gagged and crying Ranmaru.
Ranmaru stared at the campfire he and Naruto were using.
They were on opposite sides of the flame. The blond slept while the kid sat there with an empty look in his eyes, one that masked his despair.
Naruto had told him that he was taking them back to Konoha.
I could do it now. He thought. He can't see me with his bloodline. I could finish him off before...before I join Raiga.
He stood as silently as possible. He looked around and saw a relatively heavy looking rock. He grabbed it and crept over to the blond with the stone held high.
"You have one chance." Naruto stated without looking up, or moving period. "Then I'll break your hands and legs and drag you back to my village."
Ranmaru looked down at the blond in fear, his whole body was shaking. Eventually he dropped the rock and fell to his knees and cried.
"Why?" Ranmaru asked through tears. "Why go through all this trouble just to kidnap me?"
Naruto didn't answer immediately. He sat up and looked at the child as he cried.
He unsealed one of the Kiba blades. He tossed one towards the child.
"Use that." Naruto advised. "Train as hard as you can and try to kill me so that you can reclaim the other."
"Wha-?"
"Who knows?" Naruto spoke. "You might succeed."
You might also come to enjoy Konoha. Naruto though to himself. Make a few friends and learn to call the place home, helping ensure the Namikaze clan is linked. The council won't deny you since you aren't tainted with a demon.
Naruto hoped that the boy, like Haku, would use their hatred against Naruto to better the village. If not, if either became a threat to the village, then he'd have to kill them.
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