Hi. This is chapter 2 of Beast. I thought that I should explain a little background, because it wasn't even really clear that it was a fan fic in the previous chapter.
The Akatsuki have broken up, and Madara and Sasuke's team have vanished for the time being. Madara needs to regroup, because the containment he was using for the tailed beasts has been destroyed. Tsunade's Hokage again, and the village has been rebuilt as much as possible. Life has pretty much gone back to the way it was before Peins attack, while everybody's waiting for Sasuke or Madara's next move.
Yeah…
So, enjoy!
The beast crept through the abandoned midnight streets. No one walked the streets at this hour, so it was alone, though if any stragglers appeared, it would be more than willing to show them why they should know better than to walk around their little village at this, the witching hour.
Only one building still had lights on. The beast crept closer. Contrary to the image of a human hater, it was fascinated with these humans, who built such wonders like tall-mud-and-stone buildings and controlled glowing-pain-causing fire, even though they lived such short lives and had so little in the way of defenses, especially against one such as it.
It crept up into a tree that had woven it's leafy branches into the building side, and came to rest by a hole in the walls side. The hole fascinated the beast. It was clear, yes, but the hole was covered with an ice-water-but-not-ice-cold plate, which seemed ridiculously flimsy and useless to one such as it. It peered inside to view a light gold haired human female slam a pile of white-leaf-black-marked squares called paper onto a rectangle of wood.
The woman gave a rather impressive snarl and growled in the rough language of humans, saying, "Goddammit! This is the fifth murder this week, and it's only Tuesday! It was only a kid this time, and what worse, these attacks seem to be getting closer and closer to Konoha each time."
Another human female with black short hair, holding a tasty looking pig wearing pearls came forward hesitantly. "Tsunade, maybe it's just a wild animal or something. We could be getting all worked up about nothing."
"Are you trying to say that one civilian, one gennin and one chunnin have all been killed by a simple wild animal?" the woman growled. "It's simply not possible. Something's out there, something not good."
"Do you think..." the pig holder, Shizune, quailed under the glare of the older woman, but continued on bravely, "Do you think it could be one of the tailed beasts? No ones quite sure what happened to their spirits after the place Akatsuki was holding them was destroyed."
"No," came the reply, "A tailed beast would have done much more damage, Konoha would have known before this if one of the beasts was back."
"Then what...?"
"I don't know, Shizune, I don't know."
The beast snorted softly. Foolish humans. They were spending too much time obsessing over what it was. Not that it was complaining, that simply mentthat it would continue to be able to feed without being hunted for that much longer.
It climbed down from the branch and wandered off into the night, lokking for its next dinner.
Later that night.
The beast curled up in the cave that made up it's home. It was nearing dawn, and it's belly was plenty full from the meal it had enjoyed. Some human had gotten up early for a morning run, but unfortunately for him, he had become a wonderful hunt for the beast.
Rumbling contentedly, the beast closed its eyes for a rest, waiting for the next night, and the next hunt.
Suddenly, crackling energy filled the gray stone cave. The beast eyes flicked open with irritation, which became devotion as it recognized the one that had freed him from his thousand-year prison and set him loose on the world once more. He raised his head and bowed it towards the man. Though no human was his master, the beast owed a debt to him, and so served his wishes, at least for the next year or so.
"I have a target for you."
The beast blinked in understanding. His master had many enemies. Some were more satisfying to hunt than others, and some were just plain boring and tasted bitter with corruption and age.
"His name is Naruto Uzumaki."
How do you like it? I am rather proud of myself, but I wish it were a bit longer. Oh well, maybe next chapter. I would like at least two reviews for next chapter. Please? Please please please please please? I will give you a cyber cookie.