Alright! 11th Chapter!
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I'm back from California! This means...NEW CHAPTER! I had water damage at my house, so it smells like mildew...yeah...
Disclaimer! I don't own Naruto, Elric, nor anything else I use...I do own the story though, so no funny ideas!...ON WITH THE SHOW!
"Blah"-person speaking...'Blah'-person thinking..."Blah"-Demon speaking...'Blah'-Demon thinking..."Blah"-Memory speaking(they don't think)
Leaves of Steel, Chapter 11
Hokage's Office- Konoha: 7:00PM
Elric was sitting patiently in midair, levitating whilst meditating. The Albino had been waiting for all of 3 minutes before the Hokage walked slowly in.
"Been waiting long, Elric-sama? I hope my age isn't troubling you." the old man slowly spoke.
Elric straightened his legs and descended softly to the ground, "Not really Sarutobi, just noticing something terribly wrong."
The sandaime lifted his eyebrow, and lowered his hat, "The sword?"
Elric nodded, "It would appear that Stormbringer is testing his bounds. It will not matter, as I assisted Arashi in the sealing. Even Arioch couldn't beak those bonds."
"Good." the Hokage said, "We don't want those EITHER of the swords appearing ever again. Stormbringer could level all of Fire country, so what would happen if the other arrived?"
"That, Sarutobi, would result in the destruction this entire planet." the albino said in a dark tone.
The Hokage took his seat, and brought out mission papers. He also brought out an Ink set, for thumb-printing. He thumbed through his selection, and pulled out a golden colored sheet.
"Elric, as you currently reside in this Village, and your charge isn't here, We expect a few missions. As for which ones you will be assigned, I have chosen some of the most difficult, as to not bore you." said Sarutobi.
"It's not like I've traveled through time and space, driven a ship over land, and slain an entire dimension or anything. What do you have?" Elric said sarcastically.
The Hokage displayed the three selections, "Rescue Kurenai Yuhi and her Genin team from some bandits, Assassination of a rival bandit leader that will lead in the return of the team, or...kill or capture ALL the bandits and take the team back by force. In other words, two A's and an S. Your choice."
Elric thought this over while examining the pictures of the captive team, "I'll take the S-rank, AND the Assassination A-rank. Map, please."
The hokage handed the map to Elric, who vanished in a ball of fire, leaving behind his thumbprint adorning the mission card.
Far outskirts of the Fire Country: 9:07PM
Galloping at full pace, Kawska and his rider charged towards the light of a large Bandit camp. Coming to a halt 50 meters away, Elric dismounted quietly, and tapped some silencing runes on his boots. Approaching the camp, Elric made out the figures of Kurenai and her team, bound completely, with a cloth covering for Kurenai's eyes, nose-plugs for Kiba, a lead-infused ribbon around Hinata's head, and cans of Raid, attached to chakra controlled strings, surrounding Shino.
Elric pulled out a small clay hive, and painted runes on it with the pollen of nearby flowers. He then place the hive on the ground, and rolled it into the bandit camp. A faint buzzing could be heard, and a swarm of bees stormed out. After each bandit in the area was silently stung with a knock-out agent, Elric bound each with a sealing rune.
Walking up to the captured team, Elric lifted the traps and bindings on them, "Are you alright everyone? Medical needs, etc?"
All four members answered at the same time, well, Hinata didn't SAY anything.
Kurenai-"Basic wrappings for Kunai damage."
Kiba-"My nose-plugs back, this place stinks!"
Shino-"A couple soldier pills would be good."
Hinata-'Naruto needs...MAJOR Naruto needs...' she shook her head no.
Elric cast a quick healing spell on Kurenai, for minor damage, gave Kiba his plugs back, and hooked Shino up with some pills to pop. He could sadly not give Hinata what she wanted, nor did he know what it was.
Kurenai gazed at the albino, 'His eyes are red like mine. There is also something about the way he carries himself...that is just so...appealing...' she thought, casting a minor genjutsu to mask her blush.
Elric began to write on a scroll, using oddly colored inks, to make a design that was utterly confusing, and placed it on the ground.
"There is nothing quite like teleportation over incredible distances. good thing I placed the other scroll in Konoha before I left, no trip that way. Step on, one at a time, when all of you are there, destroy the scroll on that end." Elric said proudly, "Kurenai, would you be so good to place this scroll, completely open, on the floor of the Konoha prison, the bandits will be along shortly." he added, handing Kurenai an overly large scroll.
Kurenai nodded, and stepped onto the set scroll, disappearing along with her team after her. After the scroll stopped glowing, it tore itself into pieces.
Naruto's roof, Konoha: 9:13
'I'm on Naruto's house!' squealed the Lavender-eyed stalker, running off to hide the spy gear she had placed on Naruto's roof previously.
"Hinata..." interrupted Kurenai, "We NOTICED the large satellite dish and observation station. It was quite obvious..."
Hinata blushed furiously, and ran with her group to set up the scroll.
Fire Country Outskirts: 9:17PM
Elric shoved the last of the bandits, including those from the rival camp, leaving the leader of the rival gang in his custody. As the last bandit vanished, a large wasp appeared in front of the original summoner.
"Elric, is this the sacrifice for my clan's services?" inquired the giant insect.
"As long as I get the head for kill confirmation, the body is yours." bowed Elric.
"Shuper Shweet!" said the demon wasp rather loudly, severing the head off the bandit and vanishing with the body.
Elric calmly mounted Kawska and took off, leaving a trail of bandit blood from the severed head behind him.
Hokage's Office, Konoha 11:12PM
The sandaime handed a large envelope of money to Elric, who accepted it with glee. Kurenai and her team just got back from the their full physical to make sure that they were fine. No pay for mission completion, but instead, pay for forced leave.
Elric pulled out a moderately large amount of money, and passed it to each member, "Here." as he got raised eyebrows in response, "I have no real need for this money, I already have what I need."
Kurenai let slip, "How about what you want?" and then covered her mouth.
Elric looked at the floor, and spoke in shadowed words, "I cannot have that which I most desire. What I most desire does not exist. What I most desire...is DEAD." and walked out, leaving a stunned team behind him.
Kurenai dismissed her team, and ran to follow him.
She walked up to him, sitting along with the Albino, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Elric opened a large tome. He flipped to a the front, revealing a coiled dragon seal.
"This is my Ruler's Tome, the last memory of my since-defeated kingdom. I used to rule all of Melnibonē, until the dragons woke for the last time." Elric sadly said, forcing a smile.
"Dragons? You had dragons!?" Kurenai asked incredulously.
"Yes, we used to have hundreds, they were our might, and it is them we have to thank for keeping our war-hungry society alive. When the final dragon fell to the sands of time, the empire destroyed itself. I was the 428th direct descendant of the original Sorcerer-kings of Melnibonē. I am the most powerful one they have seen for generations. But my cousin, Prince Yyrkoon, made many stupid decisions involving war. Because of his greed, he opened the shadow gate, and went in a quest for the mightiest weapons in existence, so he could overthrow me." Elric reminisced.
"Your own cousin? What were the weapons he sought?" Asked Kurenai, to keep Elric talking.
"He sought the two rune-blades, Stormbringer-the god of the void, imprisoned in the gate by my own people, and Mournblade, the sister-sword, and balancer of Stormbringer, but another god of the void none the less. I followed him by means of converting to the lead of Arioch, a god of chaos. He had been a protector of my kingdom, and was ready to accept me. I took up his coat-tails, in a manner of speaking, and he granted me the access to the shadow gate."
"Is Arioch powerful?" Kurenai asked to better understand the one with the skin the color of a bleached skull.
"Very much so, but he is only a minor god." Elric responded, and then continued, "Going into the gate was mostly a blur, but I met a kind archer, imprisoned there, who I chose to aid me in exchange for his freedom. We made our way to the caves of writhing flesh, and in it, found Yyrkoon, trying to take both of them. I challenged him, and Stormbringer flew to my hand, Mournblade to Yyrkoon's. We engaged in combat, but it seemed as though the blades were just using us to act out their own struggle. I bested the will of both blades, and law my cousin to the floor. I didn't kill him, as I did not like to kill. As mournblade lay vanquished, it glowed, and turned into a sheath for Stormbringer."
"But where did you put the sheath? If Naruto has the power that Yyrkoon was trying to obtain..." Kurenai thought darkly.
"Trust me, my dear. I hid the sheath elsewhere, so as not to kill us all." Elric said confidently.
"But what will happen without the sheath?" Kurenai asked innocently.
"Oh...merde..." cursed Elric, "I suppose it will eventually consume him, or become free and unadulterated. Hopefully, with this thing you Ninja call 'Chakra' he might be able to subdue it..."
"That is a dark prospect Elric..." her blood ruby-colored eyes met Elric's eyes of an equal red.
Elric stared at her, 'What a resemblance this woman bears to Cymoril...' and asked, "Miss Yuhi, would you like to join me for a late dinner?"
'OH YEAH!' she thought, while saying, "I'd love to!" very politely, and walked off under the stars to a fancy restaurant with the albino.
Land of Waves, Tazuna's pad: 6:37 AM
Naruto woke, but was wondering why he had no dream. Every night he had those dreams, and last night he had none.
"Phase." he called, and slipped into the Ethereal realm.
"Ah, Naruto...what do you want?" the representation of Stormbringer asked.
"Why didn't I have a dream? Is something wrong?" the boy asked worriedly.
"I have been suspending the dream to both ready my form, and allow you mind to recover. We wouldn't want any unnecessary mental stress now, would we?" the un-sealed sword spoke.
"Oh, I see the logic behind that, I'm going to go now. Bye!" said the Blue-eyed Genin.
"Remember to get Momochi Zabuza's sword, will you?" the god of the void reminded Naruto as the boy phased back into existence.
Naruto came back to the standard realm to the knocking on his door.
"Naruto! Prepare for the bridge!" shouted Kakashi.
"Sure thing Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted back, while thinking, 'Even though I could take zabuza on my own...' and checked his equipment.
'Cloak...check. Boots...check. Gauntlets...check. Not being as useless as Sakura is at this time...priceless!' he thought to himself before leaving for the bridge.
As the group left the house, Naruto split off a metal clone to protect Tsunami an d her son. As he could control it like a second body, it would be quite easy.
Land of Waves, Tazuna's Bridge: 8:00AM
Naruto placed standard shadow clones henge'd to look like Team 7 and the bridge-builder, around the bridge, so as to get surprise. When Zabuza created mist, Naruto was ready.
"Kakashi! come out to play!" shouted Zabuza.
Naruto stood right in front of Zabuza, "Hey, Momochi!" shouted Naruto.
"You want to die first, kid?" asked Zabuza in an evil tone.
"No." responded Naruto, "I want to propose a wager."
Zabuza thought it over, and then answered, "What will it be kid?"
"If I kill you, I get your sword." Naruto said, pointing at Zabuza's blade, "If you kill ME, then you can count on your imminent demise at the hands of my village. Does this sound fair?"
Zabuza laughed, "Sure kid, come at me!" and held his arms out.
Naruto 'pulled' a katana from his back, and performed a mid-air spiraling slash at Zabuza. Just as he was about to connect, he sensed senbon flying at him, so he was forced to block instead of attack. # of the 18 connected, and instead of sinking in, Naruto kept them at their locations and pretended to hit the ground injured.
"Naruto-kunn..." cooed Haku, "I'm sorry for marring your beautiful skin, will you ever forgive me?"
Naruto got up, and answered, "You...are MESSED UP, Haku!" and charged at Zabuza again.
Zabuza chuckled, and swung his zanbato at Naruto, barely missing his torso. Naruto decided to actually attack, and let loose a Burning Winds attack with his katana. The residue was deflected by Haku's needles, but brought back on course by Naruto's chakra. Zabuza barely had time to perform a switch with a water clone before it was decimated by the shrapnel.
Zabuza swung at Naruto and connected with the spinal column, sending Naruto to sprawl on the ground, seemingly unconscious.
"Zabuza-sama! What Did you do to Naruto-kunnnn!!" shouted the fake hunter-nin, as he rushed to Naruto's side.
Sasuke was first over the side of the bridge, and as such, punched the unwary Haku in the solar plexus. Sai followed with painted rhinos directed at the demon of the mist. Sakura stood there, being useless, while Kakashi charged along with the Ink rhinos.
Zabuza easily dispatched the rhinos, and hid from the sharingan in the mist. Sai performed a roundhouse kick to Haku's torso, and Sasuke launched a stream of fire at the falling boy. Naruto quickly rolled over to Zabuza's location and sprung up.
"Phase." said the boy, vanishing from Zabuza's awareness.
'Where is that brat?' wondered Momochi before feeling the sting of palm in the middle of his lower back.
Naruto touched Zabuza, and as such, returned to the physical realm, followed up by the utterance of, "Rend!" shattering Zabuza's spine into tiny shards, which, in turn, shot through his body at many locations.
Kakashi's jaw hit the floor, as he witnessed Naruto kill one of the seven swordsmen of the mist. The boy had done it without remorse, and taken Zabuza's sword during the man's decent.
"Oi! Haku!" shouted Naruto, "I've killed Zabuza!"
Haku couldn't believe his ears, Naruto, the boy he had a crush on, killed his savior and life-time friend. Haku pulled out icy senbon, and quickly swiveled around. Only Sasuke was able to dodge. Sai took three Senbon to the heart, and fell to the ground. That is, BEFORE the needles exploded.
Naruto was scarcely able to dodge the volley of needles thrown at him, with assorted ice and metal senbon hitting him at the same time. Haku charged Naruto, and struck him with a large spike made completely of ice. The shimmering ice pierced Naruto's stomach, and Haku expected blood, for the spike was 8 inches in diameter.
Haku was sorely mistaken, Naruto pulled himself off of the spike in the mist, where nobody could see them.
"I'm done holding back Haku!" shouted the vessel of the god of the void.
Naruto swung Zabuza's sword, and time seemed to slow. Haku was defenseless, and quite injured. The metal needles he had thrown were sinking into Naruto's skin. The ice ones were being melted, and the wounds were sealing up. Not a single drop of the boys blood had fallen.
The sword underwent a transformation as it was swung, "Now, let my power be felt through the world! Let my chaos engulf this sword, and tear through the fabric of sanity! Blood! Souls! Aid me now!" and with that, a dark vortex emanated from the sword, as it cut through Haku's neck.
Naruto felt the sword pulse, and his seals switch. He then felt Haku's neck give way, and the head part from its body. Haku was smiling. Naruto stared at the sword that did it.
The handle was forged of the dark metal Naruto had grown to know. The blade was black as well, but still retained the size of Zabuza's sword. Runes could be seen upon the sword, calling out to the void's power, in a language understood by none. Not only was the gigantic, it had changed its shape. Now, the sword was 8 inches across, perfectly straight until the end, where it terminated in an inverted crescent, with the sides overhanging.
An unearthly mist was flowing off of the blade, and Stormbringer's voice rang clearly in Naruto's mind, "Free at last! Good job Naruto! Now I can share with you what you have earned!" rang the voice.
Naruto felt power flow into him, power the likes of which he had never felt before. Naruto swung the sword above his head, and raised it to the heavens. He then brought it down upon Haku's lifeless body, splitting it in twain.
"Naruto, I am going to sleep until I feel like helping you. If you require my power, like this I give you, just hold the sword. If you require greater power, call 'blood and souls! Aid me now!'. I expect lives in return, but no need to pay me immediatly." and with that, the sword fell silent. Naruto place the sword on his back, where he made a sheath with his metal. The sheath had a top, which closed to hide the mighty blade.
Kakashi ran up to Naruto as the mist cleared, and lay sight to the mutilated bodies of Haku and Zabuza. Kakashi saw the case on Naruto's back, and Zabuza's missing blade. Before he had a chance to ask Naruto about the sword, a voice rang from the end of the bridge.
"Thank you, Konoha Ninja, for slaying those guys before I had to pay them." said Gato, the shipping magnate, before addressing Naruto directly, "By the way, boy...You keep that sword, don't let anybody try to take it away. You keep what you kill."
Gato was surrounded by thugs, and many were they. Kakashi motioned Naruto back, but he refused to stand down.
"Naruto! I will take it from here! Rest!" ordered Kakashi, who was pushed back by Naruto suddenly.
"Kakashi-sensei, pay attention to your two remaining team-members, not me. I must do this alone. If I need help, step in. But until then, I will do this." claimed Naruto.
Kakashi nodded, and saw Naruto pop the top of the case, and pull out his shadowed blade, 'Holy shit! I have to tell Elric-sama!' Kakashi thought.
Naruto made the Searing Hands seal, and his sword let loose a firestorm worthy of a dragon whelp. Naruto charged with the energy given to him by simply touching the mighty rune-blade.
As Naruto approached, he focused chakra to his hands, and, in a spark of innovation, shouted, "Flaming Blade: 100 strikes!" as his blade flew about the minions who had moved in front of their paycheck.
With each hit, the blade struck cleanly, severing parts and heads. With each kill, Naruto felt renewed power, growing with each hit.
'Ah...even though I am resting, the souls and blood feel good. This should pay for any uses. If only Elric had wielded me in this manner, slaying hundreds.' Stormbringer thought to itself, passing along permanent strength to the boy.
Naruto felled the final bandit, and, without a break, severed the head off of the crime boss. He then kicked the head off of the bridge in mid-air. Naruto stared as his sword absorbed the blood it was covered in. The boy ran it through each body, draining them as dry as roasted cardboard. after he was done, he returned it to its sheath.
Naruto stepped into the horde of concerned people that had gathered around Sai's body, "Sai...are you...holy shit!" said Naruto as he saw the body in pieces.
The boy fell to his knees, and began to stare, "I...I was weak...Sai...Sai died because of me!" he cried.
"Naruto," began Kakashi, "It was not your fault. Ninja die in battle. There is nothing to change that. You need to accept his death." he said, consoling the boy.
Naruto nodded, and rose to his feet, "Tazuna-san..." he said officiously, "I think our mission is over, Gato, his thugs, and all 4 enemy ninja are dead. I would like to leave now."
Tazuna gave Naruto a nod,"You have my permission to go home, and take this statement that you have completed your mission." he said as he gave Kakashi a scroll.
Konoha, 9:27AM, the next day.
Naruto came back to the village, to be greeted by Elric.
Elric's first question was, "Let me see it."
Naruto complied, and took out the sword, "Here."
Elric ran his hands over the flat of the cold blade, "It has been a while, Stormbringer."
A shadowed Kunochi was watching from the shadows, as she pulled out the selfsame kunai she had placed there previously, "Amazing blade, Naruto-kun. I can't wait to see what it can do. Be strong!" as she vanished again.
End of Chapter 11
Yay! Actual plot!
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