Phoenix.
Chapter 12.
Aftermath.
Three Years Later.
A lone, cloaked figure walked silently through the forests of Kusa. He was just avoiding the authorities, constantly moving around so that Konoha did not find him. Well, so that any country that wasn't Mist found him. This is Naruto, the white brilliance. He is further along his merging with Kodachi, now having to cover up to avoid being caught instantly. The reason for this is because one half of his face has pulsating white lines going up it, his entire left eye being a glowing white as well now. The lines were actually his veins, pulsating with the white flames that he controlled. If one looked closely into his left eye, they could see sporadic flames that were in his eye, forming what needed to be formed.
His wardrobe had changed. He now sported a long, black cloak to hide his face, as well as his left hand.(Will be explained in a little.) He wore armor plated shoulder pads, making him look like he had huge, broad shoulders. The 17 year old was large, but not huge like the pads made him look. His legs were tight, all black like his chest, except they had white flame marks running up like. His boots were white, with black flames running through them. On the back of his cloak, was a white symbol of a burning Phoenix, drawn on by Naruto himself.
He brought his left hand up to look at. What he saw was a flaming skeletal hand. Dim yellow flames forming the tendons and muscles of his hand, while burning white flames surrounded the combination. This provided the best protection, as well as if he ever lost concentration in a fight, yellow flames were on an instinctual level when it came to forming muscles. Phoenixes that are injured in a fight conjure up replacements before they can properly be healed. Some have to permanently use flames.
Naruto put his arm back down, lowering the white flames down to yellow so he could put it in his pocket. He had gotten used to his left hand, a sign of his further merging with Kodachi. When you looked at his forearm, you could see as the muscle tissue and skin thinned out and slowly became flames. And Naruto was right handed, meaning originally his right hand was his power-fist. But with the flames, and the added strength they give, his left fist was not the Power-fist.
Anyway, Naruto was on his way to investigate one of Orochimaru's labs, hoping to find someone leading to the Snake's whereabouts. He hadn't been sighted for 3 years, ever since Naruto was in the Mist. Naruto stared down at a tiny snake statue, the only thing Orochimaru needed to tell where his bases were. Naruto bent downwards, extended his flames into the soil to search for where the actual base was. He found it about 3 yards to the right of where the statue was. He walked over to the spot, and grinned before smashing the ground with his left fist.
He fell through the ground, before landing on his legs in the base. Intricate lines and details lined the walls and the floor, as well as the ceiling. Honestly, Naruto was disappointed that guards or even experiments didn't rush over to kill him. Hell, Naruto wanted a crack at Orochimaru, the sick Bastard he was.
"Hello?" Came Naruto's disappointed moan. "Guess he ain't here Ruto'." Came Kodachi's two-sense. "Oh shut it. He's either dead, or his experiment fucked up and he is like a chair or some shit like that." Was Naruto's intelligent reply, before he further extended his flames to search for any evidence. He closed his eyes, the white side of his face pulsating more as the flames extended. Nothing, nothing, nothing… Wait a minute… One tendril on Naruto's flames had managed to find something. The Mutilated eye of Manda, the snake summon boss. Orochimaru wasn't stupid enough to challenge Manda, so that means that something else challenged Manda, and won. He could see where claws, burning hot ones, scorched through the eye and completely demolished it.
"What the…" Naruto began to read through the letters with the flames. The notes, Orochimaru's journals, anything.
Log Day 27.
The strange Member of the group I used to be in, The Akatsuki, has still not stopped his pursuit. He hasn't even stopped to eat. He has been chasing me since I started this log. I do this purely to record my last thoughts, as I know that even chakra cannot sustain me for much longer, and even now the member's chakra supply is twice mine. Whatever defenses I throw at him, whatever traps I plant, anything is useless against him. He just yells about his 'prey' fighting back. That I should stop running and accept death. Pfft, fool. I have food here somewhere…
Experiment notes
Project Akatsuki.
I have acquired all of the necessary DNA samples, now I just need a good host to make the perfect body for me. But the only host worthy is a Jinchuriki. Perhaps Konoha's twins? Or maybe the sand boy from Suna? Either way, I need a host.
Thoughts of a snake.
Kabuto, my assistant. I oddly believe he is out to kill me. Or perhaps replace me as the snake summoner. Either way, I do not care. He is here to serve, and act as a back-up host. Though he does not know it, I implanted a remote detonation explosive note that reacts to my chakra. If I throw even one jutsu at him, even if I miss, any rebellions he might plan will be ended…
As Naruto read through Orochimaru's notes, he couldn't help but be sickened, and intrigued. Sickened at what he had done and thought, but intrigued on the Akatsuki. According to Orochimaru's notes, the snake was, at some point, a member of the mysterious group. It seems that the only thing Orochimaru knew was that the strongest missing-nin were being assembled to collect the Bijuu for some odd reason. Naruto almost wondered why they didn't contact him… Maybe they were already filled? Either way, Naruto neede to know as they people could threaten his sisters. He may not like them, but family is family… If he couldn't continue the line, someone else needed to…
As Naruto crawled out of the base, he found another note.
Thoughts of a snake.
I can't help but think that something bigger is happening in the Akatsuki. Meh, as long as it does not interfere with me and my plans. They have good resources too, and their skills and blood-lines…Perhaps I should take them and make a host… The sharingan, immortality, the rinnegan, those paper abilities, everything could be mine… Including my vengeance.
Naruto couldn't help but wonder exactly how good the Akatsuki were, considering that the more and more Naruto read, the more and more obsessed with them Orochimaru became. It was like Orochimaru felt an obligation to take their powers, as if they were children with candy the snake wanted. And it seemed, during the year before the, wolf as Orochimaru began calling it, started chasing him, Orochimaru became paranoid that the Akatsuki would find out about him stealing their DNA and planning to kill them with their abilities.
Well, he was right anyway. Not that Naruto cared, he just needed to find them. And stop them before their bigger goal became a problem. Naruto knew that something bigger than anyone was prepared for was going to happen. You don't assemble the strongest people, and gather the strongest demons for nothing…
2 weeks later.
Naruto was delving deep into the Akatsuki, following them when they were spotted. It seems they travel in pairs, using their abilities to match each other. Only one worked alone, and it must be the wolf that Orochimaru talked about, as he hunted, ate, and killed like a lone wolf. Using claws, and an odd set of chains to snare and kill anything with brutal efficiency. It intrigued him, until one day he felt a presence behind him.
"You should really stop digging into things that could get you killed." Said a pair of voices behind him, causing Naruto to calmly turn and see a strange plant-like thing wearing the robes of the Akatsuki. "Oh, I see. I wondered when you guys would learn of my digging. Hmm, though, I can't recall ever caring about whether you found out or not." Naruto taunted, more so thinking to himself out-loud. The guy in front of him was a fucking plant, he could easily just use flames and melt the poor bastard.
"It's just a fair warning to Watch out." The thing finished, sinking into the ground with its venus-fly trap like head disappearing slowly.
Good? Sorry I took so long, and whoever keeps constantly posting to add his sisters into the harem, I said it's not happening. God.