Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 3: Porcelain Mask

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Three Years Ago: Uchiha Council Room – 1:38 AM

Everything he had done was for naught. His recovery from a year long coma, his exhaustive training to make up for the time he had lost, the relationships he tried to keep despite feeling paranoid and guilty...It didn't matter because his fate was assured.

"How does it feel, Naruto-san? Having all your illusions turned against you with a mere wink of an eye. Such is the power of my Sharingan. It was foolish to think that you could oppose me." The man's red eyes fixated on the blond boy in front of him.

"I...won't let you...touch Ayane-chan!" Naruto could barely breathe due to the restrictions of his own genjutsu attacks that were reflected onto himself by Itachi's eyes. The same eyes of the girl who was crying behind him had.

"Please, Itachi-kun, don't hurt him! You can have my eyes! I don't need them!" the violet-haired girl pleaded from a kneeling position. Her clothes were tattered from her previous attempts at attacking him.

Itachi barely glanced at the girl before giving a rather snobbish snort. "I don't need the eyes of a fake Uchiha. You are a mutt, a blemish on the pride of the Uchiha clan. After I'm done toying with this boy of yours, I'll rid you of your pitiful existence." The raven-haired man walked slowly to his prey in the corner while stepping over the dead bodies of the Uchiha he considered weak.

Naruto didn't know what to do. He used everything in his arsenal. Ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu, and even some kenjutsu using a sword he found in one of the slain Uchiha's hands. Every one of his tactics were pushed aside as if they were mere child games. It didn't help that he felt like fainting from the various blows he had taken from Itachi's efficient taijutsu style.

He couldn't see clearly as well. This was an accurate effect from the skill he had tried to use on Itachi in the beginning of their fight, The Journey into Black Darkness technique. The young Chuunin didn't expect his opponent to be able to counter such a high level genjutsu, a forbidden one at that. What could he do now? His senses were obviously in disarray from all the back fired genjutsu he had taken head on. Dispelling them wasn't working at all for some unknown reason...

"I see that you are at a loss for strategy, little Naruto." Naruto growled at Itachi's use of words to remind him of his past. "Yes, I did look through your personal files. How could I not be interested in someone who was growing more powerful in a shorter period of time than me?"

Ayane was still watching with tear filled eyes as the murderer talked to her best friend who was paralyzed in his fighting stance. Most likely giving Naruto his last words of advice before sending him to the afterlife, she thought depressingly.

Itachi's face came within breathing distance of Naruto's. "But I know everything now. I can't believe it, that someone as weak as you was able to grow so fast...It makes sense though, because when one lives in their own illusion in a dream like fashion they are able to make it reality with false ideals." He brought his hand out and grasped the young boy's Chuunin vest and lifted him above the ground.

"Do you remember that woman you so fondly called 'Lucia-chan'?"

Naruto stared into Itachi's blood red eyes that somehow struck him as beautiful at the moment. "...Yes."

"Before I kill you, I'll tell you this. She blamed you for everything because of her sister's death, which was justly given by your mother." He gave an amused smirk from seeing the number of emotions dancing on his victim's face. "Interestingly, her plan was to commit suicide in front of you the whole time. She has placed you under an eternal phantasm, little Naruto. One that you cannot escape no matter what you do."

Naruto's vision became clear again, hopefully a sign that all of the genjutsu effects were wearing off. "I'm faster than light. If I can't release myself from whatever illusion you are talking about, then I'll just have to outrun it."

"Unreachable goals are the best kinds to have, Naruto-san. It seems that those methods of ideology have brought you this far, but I don't think you will be able to complete such things in the mists of the dead." Itachi aimed his hand at Naruto's heart and reared it back for a straight spike.

"I have some more words of wisdom for you, concerning that light of yours. As a reward for your unexpected strength gained over the years." He tightened his grip on the vest. "Light thinks it travels faster than anything, but it is wrong. No matter how fast light moves it finds that darkness has always got there first...and is waiting for it."

"Don't kill him! Please, Itachi-kun! He's all I have left! Please leave us alone, we didn't do anything to deserve this!" Ayane started yelling hysterically.

At this time Naruto was having trouble discerning what the lines that were appearing all over Itachi's body meant. They were perfect lines that made his attacker look almost like a wire frame that had intricate detail. Right on the murderous Uchiha's forehead was a rather suspicious dot he had not seen there previously. He instinctively wanted to stab it.

"Quiet. The simple fact that the both of you exist in this world gives me enough reason to justify my actions. You can wait your turn while you watch your boyfriend die." Itachi brought his gaze back to Naruto's clear blue eyes.

"Do you have any last requests, little Naruto?" asked the assailant as he brought his striking arm further back.

"Can I touch your forehead?" Naruto said with pain still evident in his voice.

"What?" replied a surprised Itachi.

Ayane looked at Naruto's back with a confused expression. She thought he would ask Itachi to let her free, or something of that sort.

"May I poke your forehead, Itachi-san?"

Itachi had no idea what brought up the queer request but thought nothing of it. "If doing so will allow you to rest in peace, go right ahead." The boy was in no condition to do more than a simple slap anyway.

Naruto brought one of his working arms into motion and positioned his index finger into a pointing form. Itachi noticed that Naruto's fingernails seemed slightly feral for someone his age. He concluded that it must have been a vulpine characteristic passed on from the demon imprisoned in the young boy's stomach.

"Go on, make it quick." Itachi demanded in an impatient matter. He wanted to find his father, for that man owned the eyes he needed to become stronger.

The demon container brought his straight finger next to the annoyingly present dot on the forehead and jabbed his elongated fingernail into it.

Itachi didn't flinch. In fact, he didn't feel anything. He thought there would at least be a small tingling sensation followed by some blood from the boy's sharpened nail.

"Are we done the-" Itachi's voice cut off as he dropped the young Uzumaki onto the ground.

"Naruto!" Ayane shouted as she crawled a short distance to hug him to her.

"...What did I do, Aya-chan? Is he getting ready to attack us?" Naruto implored while the violet haired girl hugged him desperately. She didn't answer, so he turned his head to see for himself. He regretted that move.

Itachi was stone still with his red eyes staring at nothing in particular in a horrid expression. The lines all over his body that Naruto saw before were now seeping thin trails of blood. The Uchiha clan robes he wore under the ANBU armor started turning a deeper shade of red signifying that he had been hurt underneath his wear as well.

The door of the Uchiha Council room plummeted to the ground with audible force.

"Don't you dare touch a hair on them, Uchiha Itachi! You'll have to get through my kick ass forearm blade and Spike's overly compensative buster sword before you even try!" yelled an enraged silver haired man who was only wearing boxers that had the words "Banzai-Hentai" printed all over them.

"I'm sure thats very convincing coming from someone who forgot their 'kick ass' forearm blade and clothes." remarked a man with spiky blond hair and aqua blue eyes as he accidentally stepped on a dead Council member's head. "Dammit, my boot..."

"Shut the fuck up you emotional dam. Look at the guy, he's not even staring at us. He's obviously scared shitless from our grand entrance...or maybe he has self conscious issues." He pointed out before looking over to Naruto and Ayane.

"You two alright? Oh hey, hey. Getting comfortable with the young lady, aren't you Naruto-kun?" Humor had always been his self defense mechanism when it came to serious situations like this.

"Stop. Don't move, Chipp."

"Why? It's two experienced shinobi against one psycho. We've got this bagged, Cloud." He replied but did as his ally had commanded.

"He's moving." Cloud said. He was right in one way. Itachi was moving, but not as a whole.

The small group watched with shocking fascination as Itachi's body fell apart in clean slices, bone and all. His head was the first thing to fall apart, then his arms, legs, and once it hit the ground, the rest of his body. The heart was still intact with the aorta making a disgusting slushing noise with a pumping movement.

"What did I do...? Lucia-sensei was right! I-I'm a monster. I'm a demon!" Naruto exclaimed right before crying out in pain.

Ayane felt like vomiting but immediately became worried when she heard the boy in her arms scream out. Naruto's eyes became a dull shade of blue. Huge veins became visible around his temple regions. She freaked out instantly thinking that Itachi had somehow cursed him in death. "No! Don't die Naruto, hang in there! I need you!"

Chipp jumped over the remains of Itachi and separated the frantic girl from the distressed form of his student. Cloud followed suit and took Naruto in his arms.

"I'll stay here and investigate the rest of the Uchiha compound. Call back up just in case!" Chipp shouted over to Cloud as he held down the crazed girl.

"Alright, be careful." The spiky blond replied loudly over Naruto's constant outbursts of agony. A green orb attached to a large sword on his back glowed before dissolving both of the blonds in a green mist.

"Bring him back to me! He needs me right now!" Ayane tried to get out of Chipp's strong restraining grip.

"Why don't women come with a mute device or something?" The silver haired man asked himself with a sigh.

-

Current Time: Kousai Residence – 5:38 AM

Ayame hugged Naruto's sleeping form more tightly with his head on her stomach. He was everything she had expected and more. Experienced and gentle with a bold nature. The things he had done last night made her want to wake him up and make him repeat the whole event. Not to say that she wasn't tired...Her first orgasm had been so intense that it caused her to black out for a minute or two. When she came to, Naruto was sitting up with her head on his lap. He asked her if she was alright, her reply, which arguably sounded like a demand now that she thought about it, led to several more of her own orgasms.

"Please, one more time..." groaned Naruto in his sleep. Ayame didn't know what he was talking about, but hoped that he was on the same track as her. "...I didn't get to see the hand seals." She giggled at his naivety and her own perverted thoughts.

She didn't know how long she had dreamed of her hero doing such intimate things to her. The only differences between her dream and the reality consisted of him being older and going further than they had gone last night. Ayame knew she would never forget his pleasurable exploits, or those dreams. However, she did find it odd that he never allowed her to repay the favor, nor asked for it.

"Nyah! Nyah! Nyah! Time to get up! It's...5:45 in the morning! Nyah!" Her automated lucky cat clock rang out with a piercing voice.

"No!" Ayame stretched her leg over Naruto to slam the clock with her foot. She then felt her cheeks warm up from the newly found position she had gotten herself into.

Naruto tried to open his eyes but found that the environment around him was still dark. If that clock was correct, then the sun should be rising soon. His lips felt numb so he tried to stimulate some life into them by speaking, or at least yawning.

"Nar-ah!" Ayame exclaimed with an attractive whimper.

"I-oruh" Naruto tried to speak but found that his lips were attached to soft, moist flesh. He poked out his tongue to find an erect nipple belonging to Ayame. He heard her gasp and felt the nipple harden with arousal after he did a couple of licking motions to make sure he was right.

Naruto quickly removed himself from the auburn-haired girl and fell out of the bed.

"I'm sorry, Aya-hime!" He apologized hastily while trying to stand up.

"It's okay." Ayame replied with a bright red face from the early morning wake up given to her left breast.

Naruto looked around the room to see that all his gear still lay atop the table with the two cups of tea. The bed he and Ayame shared last night was quite messy. Twisted bed sheets, some parts had off colored spots on them. The pillows and stuffed animals were scattered around the vicinity of the bed.

"I made quite a mess, didn't I?" Naruto asked as he rubbed the back of his head for emphasis on his embarrassment.

"Yes, we did... I really enjoyed last night, Naru-kun." she said without bothering to cover up in front of the young male who tried to look anywhere but in her general direction.

"I'm sorry, Aya-hime..." He whispered out.

She looked up from the bed to Naruto, who she noted still had his generic outfit on. "What for? Everything was..." Ayame had no idea how to describe the amount of stimulation she received last night without sounding vulgar, "...wonderful." She brought her gaze from his crotch back to his standing posture.

"Heh, heh. I thought you'd be mad at me. You know, for not even asking to do all those 'things' to you. I thought that maybe you would get the impression that I...defiled you." he finished off the sentence as if he had a similar experience before.

Ayame giggled which caused Naruto to look at the beautiful ramen waitress with stunned eyes.

"Remember what I said last night, Naru-kun? How I know everything about you? I'm not afraid to admit that I love you because of that fact. You haven't shown anyone, besides me, a common girl with no spectacular characteristics, the side of you that is undeniably desirable. Nothing you do will disappoint me, make me mad, or think otherwise."

Ayame got off the bed and casually walked over to Naruto before wrapping her arms around him into a hug against her bare body. She then brought her lips close to his right ear to make sure he could hear her next statement. "Because I exist only for you now."

Surprisingly, she felt the substance of hot water hit her left shoulder in multiple drops. They were Naruto's tears. "Is it alright for me to be your girlfriend?" she asked hoping that he wasn't becoming dejected or repulsed by her actions.

Naruto brought his head up so that he could show her the results of her kindness and pity for his rotten soul. A smile, a true one that he had not shown in years.

"Of course it is! I don't think I deserve your love, but I'm willing to do my best to make it so I am." He paused to sniff and wipe some of the tears out of his eyes. "It's just...I think you broke my mask." The blond lightly laughed before embracing his newfound reason for existing.

Ayame sighed in relief as her feelings of possible rejection left. Only one thing mattered now. She finally attained the attention she wanted from her childhood friend, now boyfriend. It was supposed to be a cold morning but the heat she was being given remedied that. She buried her head more into the side of Naruto's neck as they stood there in the same position.

Naruto's hands settled on her hips. He was enjoying the scent of jasmine originating from Ayame's long brown hair that stopped near the middle of her back. The sun rose during their exchange it seemed. He was about to let go when he heard her whisper with an exhaled breath.

"You're finally mine."

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Uchiha Compound: Council Quarters – 7:31 AM

The light from outside wasn't able to penetrate the walls of the room. The interior was dark with no sign of it. Inside sat four of the main Council members, at the head of their table was their newly appointed leader, Uchiha Fugaku.

Fugaku decided to start the conversation. "It seems the Hokage caught wind of our messengers. They were dispatched by his specialized ANBU team. He also has one of them captive."

"Does that mean he knows? About the demon's eyes?" Koharu fearfully asked.

"No, Inoichi Yamanaka, being part of the interrogation division, was able to go through the captured man's mind and erased any information concerning the matter."

"What did your friend see? Was he able to view the meeting between our agents and the doujutsu specialist?" Homura spoke up.

"Yes, and the answer they received was very grim indeed. The specialist, Morino Idate, said that tearing out the boy's eyes would simply not work. If such an attempt were made to snatch this particular doujutsu its special abilities would expire, as would our chances of replicating them for my clan." Fugaku stated with noticeable dismay.

"Then what options are we left with Fugaku-san? We can't let these eyes slip out of our hands, they're too valuable to our clan and village!" an elder Uchiha named Yashiro implored his superior for answers.

"Calm down Yashiro-san, our leader obviously looks like he has a plan." Homura calmly said with his hand on Yashiro's shoulder.

"I'm sorry...But all of you remember what those eyes can do, don't you? That demon is able to destroy all his enemies with them. He even managed to lay waste to Itachi using their unfathomable power..." The elder Uchiha muttered the last part.

"That doesn't mean they are perfect. However, we will correct them over time, just as we did with the Sharingan. The Uchiha will prevail as the strongest with both bloodlines at its disposal." Fugaku pierced the short silence with his low voice.

"I'm still without knowledge of how these eyes work, Fugaku-san. Care to explain how they aren't perfect?" Koharu asked since she was new to this private Council. Homura gave her the honor of joining.

Fugaku smiled at the elderly woman sitting near him. "Of course, Koharu. First, I'll explain to you what exactly these eyes do." He was taking pride in being reminded how his clan would be the only one with such a treasure. "This doujutsu that the Uzumaki boy accommodates is called the 'Chokushi no Magan'. In other words, the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception or Demon Eyes of Instant Death. I hate going into specifics, go ahead and read them Ayane's research, Yashiro."

The elder Uchiha sat up and shuffled some papers that lay in front of him. "Ah, here it is." He took a one paged article and sat it on the top of the others before reading aloud. "With these Mystic Eyes, Naruto is able to see the eventual fated destruction of an object or entity expressed as small points on the object or entity's body and as thin black lines that extend from those points that crawl over the body."

Yashiro took a deep breath to continue.

"Attendant with the perception is the ability to trace the lines without much exertion; doing so effectively realizes the fated destruction, and the victim is cut, cracked, or broken along those lines. Because this destruction is destined, this method of injury ignores any of the victim's defenses; armor, magical protection, and so forth. While a line symbolizes 'damage' along that part of the body, a dot symbolizes the totality of that body's damage, and by extension, 'existence'. When a dot is pierced, the victim's concept is destroyed. This method of killing is apparently absolute; it bypasses even reincarnation, and can even be used against a collective entity." He finished and took a drink of water from the glass in front of him.

"How about the negative part then?" Homura asked.

Fugaku stood up and started pacing back and forth near the entrance door for the council room. "The human mind is not meant to perceive death in such a way, and using it is highly taxing on the human brain, causing headaches and even the bursting of the brain's blood vessels. Over time that will most likely lead to early death."

"It's amazing that we have such power within our reach. Even more so that you were able to receive such a detailed description of the Chokushi no Magan. How did you come by such valuable information?" Koharu was quite impressed with the two Uchiha men.

Fugaku stopped his pacing. "I have someone that works with the demon, my own adopted daughter, Ayane. She's very close with the boy, and if my suspicions are correct, intimate with him as well. She has been feeding me this information at my request. That brings me to my plan, Koharu-san. You do know that reproduction of bloodlines breeds children with characteristics similar to the dominant blood holder, correct?"

"Well yes, that's common knowledge, Fugaku-san." Koharu replied.

"Using the research left behind by a now missing snake summoner and the specialist our agents met up with, our scientists within the Uchiha clan were able to manipulate the genes of two bloodlines to coexist in a newborns body." Fugaku smiled wildly.

"That's impossible!" shouted Homura.

"I beg to differ, Homura-san. However, that infant did die within two months of birth. The bloodlines we used were that of the Uchiha and Hyuuga. All we needed were the semen samples and appropriate women. If we are able to further experiment with this, just think of how strong our village can become with an army of shinobi that contain two of the most powerful bloodlines this world has seen!" His eyes did not betray the joy that was displayed in his voice.

"You are truly brilliant, Fugaku-san." Koharu followed that with three loud congratulatory claps.

"Ayane will act as my pawn. I will encourage her to court the demon into marriage. It may take time, four years at most I believe, but it will be well worth it. I will give her the title of heiress of the Uchiha clan in exchange for various deeds involving the demon brat." Fugaku could feel the heat of the sun on the back of his neck, making itself known through the rice paper door.

"I guess it would be too easy to just make the boy give us what we needed. Of course the Hokage would notice with how much he watches the boy with his ANBU squads." Yashiro complained.

"That is true." Homura looked at his wrist watch to see that it was almost eight. "Excuse us gentleman, Koharu and I must leave for a public meeting down in the market district."

"No problem, we have our own things to take care of as well. Thank you for your time and attention. Till next time." Fugaku bowed and left the room with Yashiro shortly after the two other council members.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ayane running around the kitchen area with two open boxed lunches.

"Ayane! I need to have a word with you!" Yashiro walked away as to let his master commence the plan that would secure the Uchiha's foothold of being the strongest clan.

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Hokage Tower: Guest Room 07 – 8:17

"Dammit! I'm going to be late again!" Naruto exclaimed as he put on the clothes his 'character' wore to school. The whole attire was basically a replica of Chipp's, his teacher. He thought it was only appropriate since he had adopted Cloud's old look for his usual ninja uniform.

"I spent too much time over at Ayame's, I should have asked her for breakfast!" He berated himself as he put one of his hands into the seal for dragon to cast his modified version of the henge jutsu. His hair turned a dark shade of blue and all but two of his "whiskers" disappeared from his face.

"Stupid low level jutsu..." The blue-haired boy grumbled shoving his foot into one of his boots. No matter how much he practiced his chakra control he was never able to completely rid himself of his vulpine features using the henge technique.

The clothed copy of Chipp growled in frustration as he pointed his index and middle finger to his eyes. "Kabuto said it's supposed to last for a week. It keeps wearing off after five or so days." Naruto's fingers excreted visible purple chakra over his eyes that formed an invisible shield over them. He had learned this technique from his perverted friend and fellow Med-Nin, Kabuto Yakushi. It allowed him to see the world naturally, but with some defects such as the occasional blur spot or foggy screen. Without it he would see those lines and dots that only reminded him of how fragile life was, hence his use of the personalized jutsu.

The room he was currently occupying had been given to him by the Hokage for various reasons, one being that he was still the village pariah. Naruto didn't mind, he actually enjoyed being close to the Hokage since he didn't have to endure the malicious attitude most of the villagers pushed on him. They didn't assault him anymore, his rank in the ANBU was public knowledge. It was a gift and a curse in a way. He still used the henge technique whenever he worked at the hospital or wanted to go out to buy things because it made everything much easier for him. As many wise men have said, ignorance is bliss.

"Are you ready to wake up, hooooo! Okay! It's...8:30 AM, fuoooo!" rang the annoying clock that sat on his kitchen counter. It was almost as bad as Ayame's. He had received it as a present from Ayane who said it was stylish and got to the point. Naruto had no idea what she meant, the thing was a chibi version of a man wearing bondage, something he hoped Sai would never see in his lifetime. Regardless, he kept the trinket as a reminder of his relationship, or lack thereof, with the beautiful violet-haired kunoichi.

The time finally registered in his head. "Ara, ara. I'm fifteen minutes late." He visualized a street leading to the Academy before vanishing in a swirl of cherry blossoms.

-

Western Konoha: Higurashi Dango Shop – 8:34 AM

Yuugao listened with feigned interest as her female companions chattered on about their day to day matters. She and her two friends were waiting for their order of dango to come up. Today was their scheduled sparring session. After each one they would lay under one of the trees on the training ground and eat the delectable snack while chatting or casually observing the nature around them.

"I dreamt of it again." Susuki, the Med-Nin of Yuugao's ANBU team, said.

"That can be a number of things. Let's see, it usually involves either Kakashi, Gai, Sarutobi, Shinji, or someone from one of those dramas you watch all day." Kurenai deadpanned.

Susuki looked away from Kurenai's direction. "Actually, you and Yakumo Kurama were in it." She placed both of her hands on her now red cheeks. "I can't believe genjutsu can do such erotic things!"

Kurenai's eyebrows twitched furiously. "I hope you know how to heal yourself, because I'm going to beat the hell out of you when we get to sparring."

"What? Why?! I can't help it that you and her were doing such lewd acts in my dream! You should have contained yourself, Yuuhi!" pointed Susuki with an astonished expression.

"How could I if that wasn't me in your dream?!" shouted an enraged genjutsu mistress.

"It looked like you." the Med-Nin tilted her head in confusion.

"Your dreams aren't real Susuki..."

"That's not true. My dreams predict the future." Susuki grinned and gave the sign for victory with her right hand. The same hand that the red-eyed woman promptly took and bit.

Yuugao laughed at the sight of seeing the normally calm and composed woman biting the hand of her deluded teammate.

"What the hell did you do that for?!" the crimson-haired Med-Nin exclaimed while nursing her injured hand.

"Sorry, I thought you had some kind of dream that predicted such an occurrence." Kurenai said before turning her stool to face the counter again.

"Since you just acted like a dog, and you're female, it seems proper to call you a bitch."

"Excuse me, Higurashi-san! Can I have two orders of dango to go please?" The partially deep voice of a young male made itself present as it's owner ran through the entrance flap that had the symbol for "number one" on it.

"Of course, it'll be done in five or so minutes!" replied the cook from the back of the stand in the kitchen.

The indigo-haired woman looked behind her two bickering friends to see a young boy who looked no older than fourteen come in. The way his blue hair moved seemed familiar, what really caught her attention were his bright blue eyes and two odd scars on his cheeks. "Another disguise, ne Naruto-chan?" Yuugao greeted him with a warm smile.

"You and Ayane are the only ones who can see through my henge." Naruto laughed as he rubbed the back of his head in an embarrassed fashion. "So what gave it away this time, Uzuki-chan?"

"The same thing every time, your eyes." She responded with a light giggle and an amorous glance. Naruto turned his head away quickly, he hated it when she looked at him like that. It made him feel guilty. Dirty.

He took his seat next to Susuki who was openly observing his appearance.

"I dreamt you'd come here, Naruto-kun." The crimson haired woman said with an affirmative nod. Kurenai slammed a fist on her head for trying to sound wise.

Naruto chuckled lightly and tried to think of something to say to not make the situation awkward. "So, how is Hayate-san?" He failed.

Yuugao sighed and drummed the wooden tabletop with two of her fingers as she stole another look at Naruto's eyes. "I don't know. We broke up. He told me that commitment wasn't on his mind and lectured me about his way of the sword." She tried to remember one of the more crucial comments he had made during their meeting. "Abandoning all, risking all, sacrificing all, such is the way to walk the path of the Crescent Moon Style." she repeated his statement with a deeper voice and sway of the hand.

"I wonder...could he still do that if he already abandoned his humanity? Isn't that basically what he did when he threw away all those years he spent with you and the emotions he gathered from them?" Naruto asked her with a saddened expression. Receiving no answer he continued, "I know for sure that the creator of the Crescent Moon Style poured his emotions into it. He intended for it's user to imbue their feelings into the sword. Each graceful movement it requires act as a reminder of that..."

The three girls stared at him before the cook came to the front and dropped the orders of dango in front of them on the table. "There you go lads, six orders of dango. Four for the ladies and two for the shrimp!"

Naruto was the first to speak, "Thanks old man! I might come back when you're done being jealous of how tall I am!" He grabbed the two boxes and ran off with a farewell wave to the staring females.

"I think he looks better as a blond." Susuki stated before standing up and stretching her back.

Yuugao watched his retreating form with a distinct smile on her face even though they had just discussed an uncomfortable subject. "Me too..."

-

Author's Note: Well, it has been awhile hasn't it? I got real distracted with a couple of games that came out. Combine that with my normal activities and you've got an overly exhausting schedule. But I make it like that because of how much I slack off. If I remember correctly, I think I said I'd introduce Ino in this chapter. I ended up losing track of the story and felt like introducing a new character, Yuugao Uzuki. Maybe it's because I have a thing for characters with unusual hair colors.

That aside, I also made some various references to other anime series. Most notably Tsukihime, a series done by Type-Moon. The main character in it has those demonic eyes due to some kind of car accident I believe. So all the credit for that and it's description go to the creators of it and the writer from wikipedia who did a great job at outlining it's powers. I always thought it was a cool one that had many drawbacks because of how close ranged and dangerous it is. Self sacrificial for the well being of others, Naruto's kind of power in my opinion. Oh, and for those that noticed who Naruto's clock was representing, good job! It's Hard Gay. Funny guy, you tube him if you have the chance. I recommend the ramen episode and the ones where he randomly helps the citizens.

Is Yuugao a possible romantic interest? I'm still not sure. She could play a number of parts on impacting his character. Of course, I still have to get Ino in the picture. And no, the Hayate in this chapter isn't the same as the one mentioned in the first chapter. Hope you guys don't mind my limited vocabulary or lack of talent in writing. Still trying to improve. Also, thanks for the reviews/input/etc. (I can't believe I received a review from one of my favorite writers, I need to contain my fanboyness. HINT: Author of "Betrayed") It's a real motivative factor I noticed. I'm well aware that I am using the English names for the techniques, if it bothers you guys that much I'll go through the story and translate them into the original Japanese versions. Short description of Yuugao, that's it for now.

-

Yuugao Uzuki- An ANBU member with considerable skill in assassination techniques and swordsmanship. Her five year relationship with Hayate comes to a halt when he tells her that he cannot commit himself to her anymore. His sword demands more than his time spent training, it requires the devotion he was giving her, or so he says. She seeks comfort for being dropped so easily for inanimate objects, sword and style included. Naruto offers some solace, but in what form is yet to be known.

Age: 18

Specialty: Taijutsu and Kenjutsu

Level: Jounin

Current Status: ANBU Member

UPDATE (7/8/09)

Story Status: On "Hiatus" due to series plot turns Manga. I want to get more of a feel for the current and new characters before I go on. I'm also suffering a little depression because the story was a product of my inspiration from an ex-girlfriend who had to move far away. I tried convincing her to move in with me, rent free, but even that couldn't stop her. Whatever. Going back to this story just doesn't help provoke a writing/positive mood. However, I'm not going to abandon it.