People have hope, because they cannot see death standing behind them.- Bleach
Chapter Three
"It seems that we have been given new orders."
"Is that so," stated a lone figure that was perched precariously on top of a rotting corpse.
His companion glanced at the makeshift seat with obvious disgust before returning his attention back towards the figure. "Yes, and this time we get to play with Konoha ninjas."
A row of white teeth lit up the otherwise dark room as the figure shifted into a more comfortable posistion. "Konoha ninja you say."
"Yes, and it would seem that the princess has hired some fun ones for us to play with too. My reports say that one Naruto Uzumaki is going to be in this group."
"Naruto," Fumio repeated slowly before his eyebrows arched in surprise. "The Naruto?"
His companion nodded his head once as a sinister smile formed on his lips. "It would appear so."
"I see," Fumio stated as he unconsciously fingered a large scar that was on the right side of his face. "Isao, go tell our brothers to clean up. We wouldn't want our guests to feel unwelcomed in our home, after all."
Isao smirked as he left the room.
Fumio watched his brother leave before he stood up and walked over to a small cracked mirror that was hanging on a wall. He glanced at his distorted reflection with obvious horror in his pale green eyes. A guttural growl that sounded almost like a broken sob rang low in his throat as he stared at his reflected image for a moment, before he snarled and slammed his fist into the broken glass.
Fumio watched the broken pieces fall as he let his now bloodied hand drop back towards his side. He looked at the broken pieces with a bitter sense of irony noting the similarities between it and his soul, both broken and both unworthy to look at. 'And it is all your fault, Naruto Uzumaki.'
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"And you are sure that these ninjas you hired will be able to safely transport you to the Land of Birds," inquired a stout man with an aged face that seemed to be lost in his white beard.
Koyuki sighed dramatically. "I told you already, Daichi, that I trust Naruto with my life. He will be able to escort me there safely."
Daichi frowned as he glanced at his red haired colleague. "Your faith in this child is admirable, but we hope this it isn't misguided."
The red haired man nodded his head in agreement. "Daichi is right, my Lady. We need this meeting with the Land of Birds to take place soon. If this agreement does not happen then the people will become restless."
"And I told you before, if this meeting does not take place as planned we have another option in mind," Koyuki said firmly as she placed her elbow on the table and rested her chin in the palm of her hand.
Daichi and Kaede glanced at each other as an unspoken message passed between them.
"I am sure that we won't have to resort to that," Taisho said with a chuckle as he entered the room.
"Taisho," Koyuki exclaimed in surprise.
Taisho smiled at her fondly as he picked up her hand and kissed it causing a faint blush to tint her cheeks.
Kaede cleared his throat loudly gaining the attention of the room's inhabitants. "Taisho, you have met these ninjas, correct?"
Taisho's face turned impassive as he pulled out a chair from the table and sat down in it. "I have."
"Do you think they can handle this mission?"
Taisho allowed his eyes to wander from Daichi to Kaede and then back again to Daichi before replying. "If the princess believes in their abilities, then I guess we will just have to trust her judgment."
"I see," came Daichi's curt response. "Well, then I guess this meeting is over. Koyuki, remember to behave yourself in front of the Land of Bird's daimyo."
Koyuki groaned as she crossed her arms on top of the table and buried her face in them.
Taisho watched Daichi and Kaede leave the room before turning his attention back towards the princess. The stone cold features that his faced had formed melted into one of a more gentle nature as he gently rubbed her back, silently comforting her.
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"Lady Koyuki, aren't you nervous," Haruko asked as she brushed out her mistresses' long hair.
Koyuki smiled sadly as she glanced out of her window and stared at the moon. "I am."
"Do you think that the Daimyo's son will be a man that you could fall in love with?"
Koyuki laughed humorously as she continued to stare at the moon. "I am not sure, but my country needs this alliance more than I need love."
Haruko frowned as she placed the silver toned brush down on the vanity. "Everyone needs love, Lady Koyuki, even you."
Koyuki smiled as she ran her hand absently through her long locks.
"You seem pretty fond of that blond ninja that you hired."
Koyuki blinked in surprise "N-Naruto?"
Haruko smiled as she walked over towards the bed to prepare it. "Yes, Naruto. Excuse me for being so forward and speaking my mind but it would seem that you like him just by the way you look at him. He is also the Yondaime's son correct. Isn't that what you were talking about excitedly a few weeks ago?"
Koyuki laughed in embarrassment. "He is the son of the Yondaime Hokage."
Haruko glanced up at Koyuki with a prodding expression. "And…."
Koyuki chuckled as she changed into her night clothes. "He is kinda cute, and he would make an acceptable political partner, but…"
"But?"
Koyuki sighed as she got into her bed and snuggled up under the sheets. "I am not sure if the council would ever go for it, and there is the fact that I would want him to love me as well."
Haruko smiled as she picked up around the room. "You could make anyone fall in love with you, Lady Koyuki, even Naruto."
Koyuki smiled as she closed her eyes. 'Naruto.'
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"Where is he," Isao asked crossly as he leaned up against a tree.
"You never know with him," Etsuya stated with a loud yawn.
"Maybe he got lost," Jirou suggested as he absently sharpened his kunai.
"Now now it isn't polite to talk about the one that pays you," Taisho said as he stepped out from underneath the shadows and into the moonlight.
Isao snorted as he straightened his body and walked over towards the cloaked man. "Speaking of being paid, this job is going to cost you a small fortune."
Etsuya and Jirou smiled greedily at each other as they watched the exchange between their benefactor and their second in command.
Taisho inclined his head towards his left side slightly as his countenance darkened and his voice took on a chilling tone. "Keep talking to me in such a disrespectful manner and I will personally cease your existence."
Isao shivered slightly before replying. "My apologies then, Lord Taisho, it wasn't my intention to offend you."
Taisho's eyes narrowed dangerously before he fished out a large amount of money. "Here, this should cover any expenses you may need to deal with the target, and I will pay you for the job after it meets my satisfaction. You know what to do with the Princess."
Isao smiled as he took the money out of Taisho's hand and thumbed through it. "The Princess, of course, we know exactly what to do with her."
"You better," Taisho stated darkly before vanishing.
Isao stared at the spot where Taisho once stood. "Oh yes, we know what to do with her all right," he sais softly.
Etsuya walked up behind his brother and placed a hand on his shoulder causing Isao to come out of his reverie. "Do you think we can really kill Naruto? He isn't exactly a force to be easily reckoned with.
Isao snorted. "He is strong, but he is not invincible, and you know they say that the bigger they are the harder they fall," he said with a sharp laugh. "And he will fall; he will fall by our hands."
Etsuya chuckled as he walked back over towards Jirou. "You speak quite confidently. Does that mean that you already know his weak point?"
Isao turned around to look at his brothers as a malicious smile formed on his face. "Of course."
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"Achoo."
Shikamaru glanced up from his bed to look at his blond roommate. "Naruto, you're not getting sick are you?"
Naruto frowned as he rubbed his nose with his index finger. "Shikamaru, you know I don't get sick."
"I know that," Shikamaru stated dryly.
Naruto chuckled as he leaned back against his pillow. "Perhaps someone is talking about me."
Shikamaru frowned as he considered that. "Don't smile too much, Naruto. They may be plotting your demise more than they might be praising you."
Naruto laughed lightly. "I doubt it's anything bad."
Shikamaru shrugged before yawning loudly. "Well, we are on a mission, and you are quite famous now after that last war, so don't take those things to lightly."
Naruto rolled his eyes as he picked up a small ceramic mug that was by his bedside. "Your just being paranoid, Shikamaru," he stated as he took a sip of his drink.
Shikamaru snorted.
Naruto chuckled again as he placed the mug back on his bedside. What happened next surprised both ninjas.
"I-it shattered," Naruto stated with confusion.
Shikamaru looked at the broken remains of the mug before regarding Naruto with a worried expression. "I hope that doesn't mean anything."
Naruto met Shikamaru's worried eyes before shakily laughing. "Like I said earlier, Shikamaru, you're just being paranoid."
=END=
Reviews are awesome and keep me motivated :D
A/N:
What's up what's up! Ok, so I know this is like a really short chapter and I apologize for that, but it was needed. I just had to set the tone for my story and I felt like this is the best way to do it and leave a little room for the imagination for future chapters. I hope ya'll still enjoy this chapter despite its shortness :)
Also regarding some of my reviews: Ok it was mentioned by Okazaki323 that there is very little romantic development so far, and your right there is not. I have my reasons behind this, but trust me the romance will start picking up soon. So I hope you will bear with me until that point : ) I also hopefully spelled Konoha right in this chapter, thanks for the correction Rose Tiger. Let me know if I make any other boo boos. Also to Dark Devil2K7, no worries I will definitely make sure that Naruto is just as strong as the manga depicts him to be, and as far as updates go I will try my hardest not to disappoint with how long they are.
I would also like to thank all of my reviewers for their sweet support of my story so far. It really makes writing for ya'll a huge joy.
Posted: 1-15-11
Side Note: Chewie Cookies has pointed out to me that the Daimyo for the Land of Birds is a woman named Toki. To avoid in confusion that may occur here I will just simply poin something out. In the first chapter I said countries meaning that there was more than one country involved in this alliance. Two in the dialougue between Koyuki and her servant she never said that it was Toki's son she was meeting just that is was a Daimyo's, so I could be referring to another country :P So just sit back and relax I have this thought out now that the confusion has been straightened out a little.