Naruto: Tenth Dragons Poison

Chapter 6

Assembled

The room was quiet, only a few beams of light finding its way into the room from the almost completely shut blinds. It made for the perfect scenario, finding himself slowly fading to the other side. There was much on his mind as he lye there, particularly what had been brought to his attention earlier in the day. He was not only interested, but anxious to learn more on the matter. His eyes closed soon after, finding himself now completely drowned within his thoughts.

This was almost immediately interrupted, hearing the sound of a light knock from the door across the room. His head shifted in that direction as he sat up in place.

"I wonder who that could be."

Not wanting to cause any further delay he dropped down from the bed, taking little time in making his way toward the door. He reached it in no time, pulling it aside to see him standing on the other side.

"Kakashi-Sensei," Naruto said a little surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come with news," Kakashi said quick to respond. "Mind going on a walk?"

"Not at all," Naruto replied. "Anywhere specific?"

"No," Kakashi replied. "Just a little stroll if you will."

He immediately turned for his shoes which had been stationed aside the door, taking only seconds for him to slide them on.

"I'm ready when you are." Naruto said stepping out.

He closed the door in the process, following closely behind Kakashi who had already began walking. They reached the streets soon after, making it halfway down the block before he spoke once again.

"So tell me," Naruto said finally catching up to his side. "What is it you wanted to speak with me about?"

"It concerns our traveling arrangements."

"Our traveling arrangements?"

"Yes," Kakashi confirmed. "It would appear Sakura nor Sai will be joining us."

"What," Naruto exclaimed upon hearing this news. "What do you mean they won't be joining us?"

"It's as I said."

"Why won't they be coming along?"

"It would appear Sai sustained some injuries with today's practices," Kakashi informed. "In response Sakura will be looking over him for the next few days."

"Can't they get someone else to do that?"

"Perhaps, but it was Sakura herself who volunteered to take up the task."

"So what now, is it going to be just the two of us?"

"I already talked with Lady Tsunade on the matter," Kakashi informed. "She'd like for there to be three of us at minimum."

"Great," Naruto said with a smile falling into place. "In the case of that I know just the person to recruit."

There was no warning to be given, taking off with a full force of steam straight.

"Naruto, wait!"

It was already too late, already enough lengths away which would have made hearing him more on the difficult side.

"Sometimes I wish he'd wait for me to finish," Kakashi said following in the direction he had run. "I guess it can't always be helped."

He ran in long strides, turning past the first block in no time. He knew exactly where he was going, only hoping the person of interest would be there upon his arrival. He picked up in speed as a large fence came into view, lunging over it with one quick move.

"It gets easier every time." Naruto thought to himself after sticking the landing.

A few minutes had now past since beginning his trip, slowing up in speed as he neared his destination. The house in question finally came into view soon after, but it was also at that time that something grabbed his attention from the side of his eye.

He immediately stopped, looking across the way to the left to see them heading down the street in the opposite direction. The roads were clear, giving him the go to cross. He did just that, waving them down as he called their name after reaching the other side.

"Shikamaru!"

He stopped at the sound of his name being called, turning just in time to see him come to a stop before him.

"Naruto-kun," Shikamaru said a bit surprised to see him. "To what do I owe the honor?"

"I was hoping I would find you," Naruto said. "I was on my way to your house, and luckily was able to catch you heading down this way."

"Was actually just on my way to the store," Shikamaru said. "I'm certain you didn't come all this way just to say hello, so what brings you here?"

"Do you have anything planned for tomorrow, or for these next few days for that matter?"

"Nothing in particular, no," Shikamaru replied. "Why do you ask?"

"Good," Naruto said ready to get to the point. "I was wondering if you'd like to help with something, a mission."

"A mission huh," Shikamaru said showing a spark of interest. "What kind of mission?"

"One which would require our services at the trading point between here and the Iwagakure village."

"Why," Shikamaru asked. "What happened at the location of trade?"

"I haven't been given the full details," Naruto admitted. "But I do know there's been a chain of events that has now just come into the light."

"What's the severity of the situation?"

"Thirty two dead, twelve of them being shinobi of our own."

He instantly turned at the sound of his voice from behind; looking to see him standing there with his back leaned to the building they stood aside.

"Kakashi-sensei," Shikamaru said pleased to see him. "Had no idea you'd be coming as well."

"The intent was never to come to you on the matter," Kakashi said pushing away from the wall. "I know how wrapped up in your work you've been as of late and didn't want to add anything further to the agenda of yours."

"With all due respect if there's something going on that is life threatening to myself or any of my allies there's nothing else I'd rather be focusing on."

"See," Naruto said with a step forward. "I knew he'd agree to come along."

"That would be much too little for him to go off of to make a decision." Kakashi said.

"What else do you know?" Shikamaru asked.

"For starters this whole thing has spanned for three weeks now," Kakashi informed. "What was being traded at these meets weren't what we'd normally be trading."

"What do you mean?"

"Weapons," Naruto replied. "All attacks happened during when weapons were being traded."

"Is that true?" Shikamaru asked.

Kakashi nodded his head in confirmation.

"I was under the impression weapons weren't on the trading block."

"They aren't supposed to be," Kakashi said. "One of the points which will be investigated along with who killed all those people."

"I'm in."

"What's that?"

"Count me in," Shikamaru said once again. "I want to come along on this… mission."

"Very well," Kakashi said. "I'll go ahead and let the Hokage know, I'm sure she'll have no problem in this."

With that he turned for the other side of the road.

"Wait." Shikamaru said before he could cross over.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked looking back at him.

"When would we begin travel?"

"Tomorrow," Kakashi replied. "Tomorrow morning, would that pose as a problem?"

"No," Shikamaru replied. "Not at all."

"Then it shall be," Kakashi said turning back for the other side. "Until tomorrow."

He took his time across, clearly thinking about the matter at hand.

"What about you," Shikamaru asked looking his way. "Don't you think you should head home and get some rest, after all we do have a long journey ahead of us."

"I will soon," Naruto said in response. "There's just somewhere I need to visit first."

"Then I'll leave you to it." Shikamaru said turning back for where he originally had been going.

This left him alone. He turned for the sky in this instant, feeling as if something was to come… something the world had never seen before. The sun fell to the other side soon after, revealing less than a half moon. It was dark, one of the darker nights in a while.

It was the same elsewhere, the moon covered by the many clouds that could be seen soaring throughout the skies. With them brought a light shower of rain, tapping on the side of the window he sat aside. His eyes were closed, much circulating on his mind from the day's events through what had brought him to this point now.

It was a never ending struggle within his own conscious. Finding himself lost in it all was hard to avoid, a trial faced every day. It was at that given moment that something shined, bright enough for him to see even with his eyes closed.

He looked out the window to see the bright symbol in the clear, wings completely spanned in the form of a bat gliding throughout the night sky. He stood up from where he sat, only two words escaping his lips.

"It's time."

To Be Continued