"Talking"
Thoughts, sometimes emphasis on words
-Flashback-
---------- Change of Scene
AN: The flashback that is coming up is very long, and it is has to do with Itachi's flashback back on chapter 16 and used to tie into last chapter. It also contains everyone's perspectives. The parts are more like chapters on their own but I didn't want to continue the flashback into the next chapters and I hate to put parts into different chapters and still call them the same thing (among other reasons).
Demons DawnChapter Eighteen: Of Blood and Steel
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Naruto's eyes narrowed at Itachi's comment but then he smiled wryly.
"And have the Uchiha bastard see you?" he said slyly, knowing full well that his sensei would not allow himself to be seen, not yet anyways. Naruto turned his head to the door once more and did not see the change in posture of his sensei.
"Little brother," he whispered to himself, and gave a slow and scornful smile. Another knock.
"What do you want!?" Naruto shouted. No answer.
"Go on Naruto open it," Itachi said softly, "I wish to see the so called prodigy of Konoha more closely."
Naruto gave an unseemly snort and shrugged his shoulders. Itachi blended himself into the wall, using a practical shinobi technique. The door flew open and Itachi was impressed slightly by the effect. There stood Naruto hands clenched angrily at his side, he was full of fight. But there also stood his brother. He had the relaxed pose, hands lightly by his side, a hardly noticeable wary look on his face. Truly a shinobi in the making. Sasuke was the one that drew all eyes to him. He was the one full of a brooding darkness. So this is what I have made you into little brother. But I suspect that Naruto has more potential then you from what I have seen. Even now you are in his shadow, in more ways then one.
Indeed Naruto's own dim shadow obscured part of Sasuke's face.
-Flashback- Of Blood and Steel Part I
The sky was laced with wisps of clouds and the sky itself was painted a deep red, almost like blood. A sort of ominous feeling settled over him, the blood red sky told of a sinister future, but he shook the feeling off, red skies were common in this area. He swept his hair away from his face and readied himself.
"Concentrate on the other chakra, utilize it to your advantage," Itachi said, soft-spoken as ever. This was getting interesting. The boy could only tap into a small amount of the other chakra when he wasn't exhausted, but it was still useful when he could get it.
Naruto formed his clones, often the best way for him to burn up his chakra. Where he had gotten that habit, Itachi could not say for sure. But they had become more numerous and stronger over time.
"How much?" Itachi asked. Naruto eliminated his clones and was momentarily swallowed in the smoke.
"Not very," Naruto said and sat besides his sensei. Itachi offered him a cool drink and he took it gratefully. "But I had to fight even for that little bit of chakra from it." He took a drink and looked up, to the one whom he knew only as Tenshi-san, waiting for the observations that always came.
Itachi took a sip from his own drink and studied the exhausted boy besides him. Naruto was well fed, but the harsh training kept him scrawny and on the very edge of looking like a skeleton child. Dust stuck to his face because of the sweat, and the clothes getting too torn for practical wear, much less to use for training.
"Fight?" came the question.
"Well um yea," Naruto said defensively, then retorted angrily," it's not like I was going to ask for it with a please and a thank-yo—," Naruto's expression came under a strange transformation, of annoyance and then understanding.
"Exactly," Itachi said, letting the pleasure at Naruto's discovery show slightly.
"Exactly," Naruto imitated him perfectly and grinned, then a thoughtful frown came over him, "but that doesn't guarantee that it will give me anything. I mean it doesn't have to."
"You have said that it doesn't want you to die. And?"
"And…" He was trying to grasp what Itachi was trying to say to him.
"Yes, and?" Itachi said briskly getting very irritated. Naruto flinched at the tone but dismissed it. He cleared his mind and concentrated on what his sensei had said.
"It doesn't want me to die, since we are connected it might mean that that includes our souls. So if I die, it dies…" Naruto mulled this over carefully before he continued, "so I could make a bargain of sorts with it I suppose. But it must know that I don't want die either. And it won't have to give me anything."
"True. But you are a Shinobi in training. And Shinobi faces many dangers. The more chakra…"
"The more powerful the attacks! The less chance I have of dying!" Naruto said triumphantly as he jumped up., he almost knocked down the drink before Itachi deftly caught it. Silly boy, almost dropping a perfectly good drink were it could not be retrieved. But he smiled ever so slightly, he had finely figured it out. Thought it he had had to give some prodding. Itachi however did not admit to himself the false note in Naruto's speech as far, the strained way he had spoke, it resembled the way he sometimes spoke when he lied, or tried to. Naruto apparently still had secrets to guard even from him. With this one I am never sure. Itachi thought distractedly as he watch Naruto playfully twirl a kunai in between two fingers and toss it up in the air then catch it again and continue the cycle.
"So what do we do now?" Naruto said looking around as he tossed the kunai up too high, it never came down. Itachi made another mental note on what to improve. They didn't have any more money for rooms, which had run out yesterday. "I mean its not like we have any more money."
"We?" Itachi said, "I seem to recall that I was the one with the money."
"Was. You are becoming such a bad provider. How shameful Tenshi-san," Naruto said mournfully with a disappointed look on his face and seconds later had the bottle of soda in his hands gulping at it with such speed that Itachi wondered how long it would take him to choke on it. Itachi gave him an irritated look but was pleased nonetheless.
That little trick clinched it for Itachi.
"Naruto it's time for a mission."
Naruto's eyes shone in a way that made Itachi slightly uncomfortable, he stepped sideways before Naruto was able to jump him, Naruto grinned at that for few knew how to dodge that one.
"We need money, and you are coming with me."
----------
They had been traveling long and hard that day and Naruto's energy seemed inexhaustible, despite the meager amount of food they had foraged for. Itachi stopped abruptly on top of the tree, the leaves were thick were he landed and allowed for nothing to be seen. Naruto landed softly besides him, he had always been better in the air and among the trees, another odd habit of his, for it was animal like the influence of the Kyuubi no doubt.
"Are you sure you want to do this? What the client wants is what we do, no matter what," Itachi said grimly his eyes scanning ahead as if he could see what lay beyond them, "even if it means assassination."
"I know what you mean Tenshi-san," Naruto said quietly, his voice hardly above a whisper, "but I will do anything I must to become a shinobi, I will do anything to achieve that dream. That desire you imparted to me, to become as great as you or better. A shinobi is a tool, one to be used, but we are still people, and I still have my dreams. I don't know if I'm ready to take a life, but I am not ready to give up on mine. I lack the steel in my soul, but it can always be attained by whatever means possible. And if I have to take a life to make my own, then so be it."
A bit wordy but accurate, a simple yes would have sufficed for Itachi. Itachi nodded and jumped cleanly through the leaves, Naruto followed just as well. They landed on hard packed earth and in front of them was a good stretch of it, and abruptly a stonewall rose from the ground unnaturally and from behind it rose a mansion meant to dwarf any who looked on upon it.
"This is the place," Itachi said. "You go first."
And for the first time since Itachi had known Naruto, the boy was at a loss for words.
----------
Naruto had wanted to pummel Itachi after what he had made him do. The place had been covered in traps, exploding and those that would have impaled anyone, all cleverly hidden. Some of them had caught at him and torn at his clothes, but in the end he had gotten thru without so much as a scratch.
"Tenshi-san!" Naruto said accusingly as he took of his coat, it wasn't good for anything anymore, he tossed it off as they were flying through the house grounds, Itachi leading the way. "You should have warned me were they were."
Itachi did not fail to notice how Naruto had said that, giving only a hint that he had know that the traps were even there. But now without the shredded coat he looked more presentable, he tossed him some glasses to him, it would hide his eyes those eyes that tended to give away Naruto's true nature. Naruto grinned as he put them on.
"Remember what we discussed," Itachi said.
"Don't say anything unless it serves our purpose, play it like nothing in the universe bothers me," Naruto said so seriously that it could even have fooled Itachi, "kind of like you." Itachi had no time to react to that as they landed in somebody's study, an old man was there over some papers.
"So you decided to come It—," the man was cut off as Itachi gave him a murderous gaze, "here." He said as he handed him a thick scroll.
Itachi looked it over as Naruto's gazed about the room without having to move his head too much, he caught every detail of the room, just like Tenshi-san had taught him to do it. It was one of the finest rooms that Naruto had ever seen. His eyes lingered over a certain spot before his eyes moved on.
"Whose the wet nosed brat?" the man said mockingly.
"Someone you don't want to cross, old man," Naruto said softly and coldly as he held a kunai to the mans throat, a fraction of his speed and stealth showing in that move. Itachi could not help but smile inside. Yes, play it like nothing bothers you. Kind of like me. Itachi thought, his amusement growing at Naruto's actions. Naruto tossed the kunai that he held in Itachi's direction. Itachi didn't even flinch or move.
A shinobi fell at Itachi's feet. He didn't kill him, only hit a nerve to knock him out, oh well. The kill would have counted better with this man. But a fool like this might still be deceived.
"Calm down Naruto," Itachi said as if he was the only one that could have stopped the boy from going on a murderous rampage. Naruto growled softly under his breath and walked over to Itachi. He looked up to him in such a way that Itachi could see his eyes. Well… At least he's having fun, Itachi thought dubiously. But the little display was enough to fool the man and get him to stop asking questions about Naruto. And the way Naruto took out the kunai from the mans neck with a sickly flourish was nothing but a sweet bonus.
"Keep that little monster away from me!" the man said as he clutched his throat.
"Gladly. By when do you want the mission completed?"
"Just do it! You will be paid well enough. Now leave!"
----------
Naruto gnawed on peace of meat with much distaste, the source of the meat was questionable even thought Itachi had assured him it was edible enough. He took a big bite and practically swallowed it whole, the faster he ate it the faster he didn't have to worry about what it was. Itachi watched him with some amusement over the fire, even as he swallowed his own peace of meat.
"It's not poisoned you know," Itachi said slowly.
"No," Naruto said giving him an evil glare, "but it's probably rat meat or something!" Naruto made a gagging sound and a clear facial expression mirroring his distaste. Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"Perhaps."
"Gross! Even I didn't eat that when I was starving!" Naruto went quiet at what he had said and Itachi had listened with more attention then usual. But Naruto had already shut his mouth about that subject. And Itachi knew that when Naruto had said that he did not mean it in the way that most people did, it was quite literal. But Itachi did not push the subject, he knew better by now. "Can you tell me about Konoha?" Naruto said stifling a yawn.
Itachi lifted his head and looked up, the stars were clearer in this area then he had seen in a long time, the constellations seemed to want to show off just for him and the boy besides him. They had stopped to camp here before they continued on to the Land of Tree and Leaf, or at least the edge of it. Itachi looked over at Naruto, the boy had a very sleepy expression on his face but Itachi knew he was as alert as if he was awake. He was reluctant to talk.
"Do I have to?" he said as he lowered his head and looked sideways at Naruto.
"If you don't want me to keep on criticizing this excellent meal that you have ever so dutifully prepared for us," Naruto said as he tossed the remainder of his meal behind him.
"All right," Itachi said slowly as his eyes drifted a little, just a little, "it's the most powerful shinobi countries out there. It use to be my home, but a rather… unfortunate event transpired. It's a place of cool shadows and fire. I have a brother there, about your age…" He trailed off as he saw Naruto fall asleep sitting up, but perk up slightly at the last sentence.
He went over to Naruto and gave him a blanket. Naruto took it and simply fell on the ground.
"It's not rat you know."
"Yea I know and thanks Tenshi-san," Naruto said and was in true sleep, not the half sleep of most shinobi.
This child trusts me too much. Or perhaps none at all, for all that he will tell my about his past. What am I doing with this infant? Have I gone mad? I couldn't stand my own brother, how can I hope cope with this one? Itachi questioned his sanity for a fraction of a second. But he had learned long ago that you couldn't question everything in life. You might just find more answers then you wanted or none at all for that matter. He went into his half sleep, unmindful of the future.
---------- Of Blood and Steel Part II
When are you going to tell him?
I don't want to, I'm afraid.
I see.
This always happens, when I tell them… Well you know…I don't want that from him.
This person of yours seems to care about you a great deal.
But… I mustn't, not yet.
He has quick eyes, demon eyes. He might know already.
I know. It's even possible…
I see, I understand.
Thank-you…
I must come out soon, my time is coming. Forget not your promise.
I know, I know. I won't forget.
Of course you won't, I won't let you.
----------
The dawn came too slow for him, but it would do. The way it stripped everything of color was always interesting, the world was black and white and gray. But the dawn was quickly dispelled by the glory of the sun, and the world that pleased the soul of humans best was seen. There were too few people that understood the darkness and loved it, too few that it pleased.
"Why so quiet?" Itachi asked.
"I read the mission," Naruto said looking resolutely ahead.
"Oh? When was that?" Itachi said allowing a bit of surprise to show thru.
"You don't really expect me to tell you do you?" Naruto said and smiled. Itachi frowned, what a waste of breath and speech that had been. He knew that he would have not told, a habit that he had instilled in Naruto himself. Real shinobi did not tell their secrets so easily. But then again he could simply be playing one of his pranks.
"Are you really that powerful?" Naruto asked suddenly.
"Yes," Itachi said between his clenched teeth. He wasn't one to brag. Naruto had a thoughtful look on his face. He looked ready to speak but didn't quite manage it every time he opened his mouth. "What is it?" Itachi finally asked out of pure irritation.
"Nothing, its just that…" he began, "I don't know. Do we really need that much money?"
Itachi stopped and looked down at Naruto and regarded him with a calculating look. So the boy had read the mission. To take out a rival of the old mans, one that did many chartable things for the public but only to keep a good public front, and to do that they would have to get past hired help. More then likely shinobi from Konoha, a risky venture considering that if they were he would have to eliminate them all and Naruto would be an easy target for them.
"Forget not your words," Itachi said and kept on walking. He stopped again as he saw that Naruto had not followed him, he seemed to have a faraway look on his face. But he could tell that it was not from what he had said, a shudder shook the boys small frame before he went up to Itachi.
"Wow, that sounded familiar," Naruto murmured to himself, "well I guess we do need the money then." He said decisively, and it was Itachi's turn to stop where he was. He had glimpsed a tiny flicker of what Naruto called steel. A very accurate term, but it was gone in an instant, but it had most unquestionably been there. There was hope for this boy yet.
They slipped into an odd and rare moment of silence as they traveled on. And right on cue Naruto broke it.
"You never told me you had a brother," he said.
"It doesn't matter now, he's weak, a coward," Itachi said and the tone of his voice warned Naruto from prying farther into that. Itachi mind was filled with memories, but as he looked ahead in front of him into clear skies and lush trees and plants the memories were short-lived, living in the past would make him weak. Much better to think to the future and the mission ahead.
"Um. Tenshi-san?" Naruto said tentatively and in a low tone.
"Yes."
"We're about half and hour away from our target. Their trailing us already, seems we haven't gone undetected," Naruto said his voice had a certain edge to it, one that Itachi could appreciate. He's impatient for this, not battle lust. But close enough, Itachi thought.
"I know. They're not sure we are here however, so not truly trailing us. But by know they will be ready to protect our target, so be ready for anything. We will have a fight on our hands, no matter how stealthy we are. This man is wealthy enough to hire a full team of Jôunin, and maybe more, and with the threats the old man has been giving our target he will be ready, the old fool," Itachi said never stopping for breath. Naruto lapsed into an odd silence. "Having seconds thoughts?"
"No way! Just feeling sorry for the trashing we're going to give them!" Naruto said and increased his speed. Itachi matched him. Naruto, you have put up too clumsy a mask, full of cracks.
----------
He place had been cleared, there were no trees surrounding the house for over a hundred yards. No bushes or even weeds were allowed to grow. This place was built so that no one could come undetected without someone glimpsing him or her. No one seemed to guard the place, but as he looked he could practically see them. But it took a lot of effort on his part.
"How many do you see?" Itachi whispered softly.
"Four, hidden about the ground, but I can only count about one or two nearer to the house without a doubt," Naruto said his eyes flickering over the figures. Itachi nodded.
"There are three more on the ground, and there are about four more near the house, about five more then likely there are more around the house itself, all in all there are about eleven of them, a mix of Chûnin and Jôunin I suspect," Itachi said letting his eyes rest on the figures so that Naruto could see were they were. Naruto gave his own nod and smiled.
"So what do we do?" Naruto asked doubt lacing his voice slightly.
"Do you even have to ask?" Itachi asked, then sighed as Naruto gave him a blank and innocent look, "all right very well. You make a distraction and I will attack, do something big that explodes and attracts attention to you and diverts attention from me. Simple as one, two, three. Wait, do you even know how to count that high?"
"Yes," Naruto hissed as he smiled and half closed his eyes, his gaze lingered momentary over Itachi's shoulder but so briefly that Itachi almost didn't catch it. Itachi disappeared without warning living only a trail of smoke. Naruto grinned at where Itachi had been.
"Fool," Itachi said as he whispered into the ear of a shinobi, before he cleanly slit his throat. He caught the body before it hit on anything and made a noise. That body, its now an it, where it use to be a he… Naruto thought, oddly detached. Itachi leaned the body on the branch in such a way that it couldn't fall or make a noise and took a look at Naruto. Like frozen fire, those eyes.
I don't quite believe that the reality has hit him yet. Perhaps he has spent too much time with me, but for now it is better that he is this way. Too many Chûnin and Jôunin for my liking, and I can't be two places at once in case he gets in trouble. Itachi thought.
"There isn't anymore of them," Naruto said as he narrowed his eyes and continued to scan in front of him.
"Oh?" Itachi said questioningly, but Naruto only smiled, "I do believe it is time then." Naruto nodded, he was ready. Man! This is weird, my first mission and all I can think about is about that stupid place, Konoha! Tenshi-san has made it into a dream, the kind of place I wish was home. This sucks. Naruto thought angrily. He prepared a jutsu and looked to were Itachi was.
Thought of course he was gone.
"Never did wait for anybody did you?" Naruto muttered angrily even thought he was smiling.
Only silence greeted his question.
"Alright whatever," Naruto said getting serious now, "Exploding Technique!"
----------
The distraction came a second too early for Itachi's taste. He was only able to take out one with the explosion masking the warnings for the others. Easily redeemed however as he quickly took out another. About nine more to go. But the shinobi were already aware as to where the explosion had come from, however only some the Chûnin were heading out in that direction, judging from their vests.
Well at least they are smart enough to know were their priorities lay. To protect the old man, not kill the intruder that they are not yet sure off, but it seems these are not Konoha shinobi. Itachi thought distractedly as he took out another. Naruto was moving around avoiding them, and two Chûnin were on his tail. He hardly managed to spot three Jôunin placed around the house, they watched closely for a couple of seconds before they disappeared again, either confident that the Chûnin would take care of them or that they were in trouble and needed to protect the old man.
"Damn!" he said as he saw that Naruto was forced out from the cover of the trees and into the open field. The remaining shinobi were now as aware of him as they were of Naruto. Naruto face was flushed, more from excitement then fatigue, he had kunai in his hand poised in a way that would allow him to attack to his best advantage.
Perhaps he didn't have to worry about him as much. Perhaps.
He struck out from behind, and felt his kunai go into soft flesh and he disappeared behind the attacker. A Jônin, he sliced at his head but met only with a Kawarimi, no matter. He disappeared once more into the center of the fray. The place was alive with noise.
"Naruto! To me," he screamed. Naruto turned his head to him and barely avoided a barrage of shuriken and a couple of needles. But Naruto shook his head, and Itachi understood why. The two Chûnin were surrounding him to the point were he couldn't escape if he didn't act soon. But he saw the anger starting to settle on Naruto's brow and with it the increase of speed and skill.
"Damn!" Naruto cursed under his breath, he lunged at where he judged were one of the Chûnin would be without exposing himself to attack. But his kunai met only with a Bunshin, a shadow clone. In a fit of anger he struck out at all of them but met only with more Bunshin. He grinned, now he had a much better chance at the real ones. "Come on you lame ass Chûnin! You can't catch me." He grinned, a kunai rushed at him and hit him straight in the eye, and he fell like a broken doll.
"You little idiot!" Itachi screamed as he dogged a jutsu, but then simply stopped and started at a particular spot avoiding a shuriken as he did so. His lips twitched in an attempted smiled as he went back to fighting. Might as well give them a show.
"Man you are lame," Naruto said as he struck out at the Chûnin with his foot tossing him like rag doll several feet away, unconscious but not dead. He disappeared before the other Chûnin attempted to decapitate him with shuriken. That little stunt had given away his position. Oh well, easy to redeem that.
From what he could see, there were several bodies around his Tenshi-san and the Chûnin he had managed to knock out. That left about three more, counting the Chûnin that had concentrated on him. Oh well, he would have to think of another distraction, and he would have to end this soon. He didn't have the advantage of skill and wasn't sure if he could match the Chûnin on that level.
"Kage Bunshin!"
At that moment an amazing barrage of Justus hit his clones.
"Man that was close," Naruto muttered as he watched, safe again in the trees. Tenshi-san sure is taking his time about finishing off those shinobi, Naruto thought idly with that same detached feeling as before. But the Chûnin had spotted him. He disappeared from their sight with a show of speed. This wouldn't do, not at all. Time to use some of what Kagami taught me! And a bit of what Tenshi-san did too! He popped out of nowhere in front of the Chûnin and smiled, the Chûnin was clearly startled. He hadn't expected him to actually expose his physical self in front of him. The genjutsu was formed impeccably. Naruto took that guy out before he was able to snap out of the illusion, but he had made it a very happy illusion.
There was a deafening silence and Naruto knew that it was over, for now.
"Come on Naruto, only the Jôunin remain inside," Itachi said behind Naruto.
"Alright," Naruto said softly as he turned around to look at Itachi.
"Don't worry since they are not from Konoha, I didn't have to kill all of them. Most of them are unconscious, and will be for many hours yet," Itachi said clearly irritated at the look Naruto gave him, "but the Jônin will be a different matter. Don't expect anything from me, and don't hesitate to strike back at them."
"I understand," Naruto said, as he looked toward the house. It was a silent scene now, blood decorated some of the ground red. His other self recognized this kind of scene. Please not now! Naruto thought as he let his hand wonder to his head. Itachi gazed at him silently but said nothing. "There are three of then left, and the old man is still inside." Naruto said hesitantly but with a touch of wonder in his voice, he could actually smell them.
"I would have thought that they would have moved the old man," Itachi said, hoping that Naruto would latch on to that. He was not disappointed.
"No, they wouldn't have. People like him think that boxing yourself in like that with a bunch of shinobi is the best idea they will ever have. But three possible Jônin are your sure Tenshi-san?" Naruto asked, truly wanting to know, doubt not present in his tone.
"I should be asking you the same thing," Itachi said quietly.
"Asking what?" Naruto said and grinned. Apparently he also a short memory span, Itachi thought.
"Then lets go."
----------Of Blood and Steel Part III
He has blocked me out. The little brat. You always do forget don't you? No matter, I did say that I would remind you. And my time is fast approaching…
----------
Silence reigned for a fraction of a second, in that silence the world stopped for a period of time. The soft low rustle of the trees being tossed by the wind was the only real sound, a beautiful sound. The animals and birds being long ago scared away.
"I've never heard it so quite," Naruto said, his own voice mirroring the silence about him.
"It is often so," Itachi said.
"One of them is hiding around, the other two are with the old man."
"I see," Itachi said, he felt them now too, these were not so much fools as the Chûnin had been.
"Direct attack?"
"Do what you have to. I will have to handle the old man. You take care of the other one, I wounded one of them, but I am not sure how badly and he is more likely among the one that is getting ready to ambush us. And Naruto?" Itachi said hesitantly.
"I know," Naruto said quietly, and in an almost similar fashion both he and Itachi disappeared.
----------
The house was silent but they might have as well have been shouting and screaming for all the difference it made to him. His hands graced the wall as he moved like a shadow along it, avoiding all the traps while he did so. He allowed his steps to echo in the long elegant hall. He knew that they would be waiting for him in the next room, but as it is often with shinobi more than likely something else would be waiting for him.
He made his steps quite and listened.
Not a sound was heard.
He was tempted to blast the room with the fire techniques of Konoha, but decided that a quieter this whole affair was the better. He had not had a decent fight in a long time, might as well get started.
So to the ones waiting for him he had just stepped foolishly into a very well placed trap.
Their blades sunk into a Kawarimi.
Itachi noted with some irritation however that they had not left the old man totally unprotected. There had been and extra Jôunin however. Now how did Naruto and I both miss this one? Itachi thought to himself. This one was dressed drastically different from the rest, he or she wore a mask decorated lightly in black dye, for decoration not as a mark of a hunter-nin, a heavy looking red and white outfit, elegant rings of precious stones adorned the long thin fingers, and a simple wide straw hat. Long black hair fell onto small shoulders. He judged the one before him to be no more than a child, perhaps a fourteen of fifteen years of age. The clothes hid the gender very well. The person was sitting down in a very relaxed pose, but in such a way that would allow for a quick defense, and gave little room for Itachi to attack. The old man cowered behind the child, a look of pure hatred and fear in his eyes.
He heard a loud explosion coming from the outside, he would have to end this quickly.
He sensed rather than knew that this child would do nothing to stop him if he decided to attack the other Jôunin. So this one is of the breed of shinobi who fight for the missions and do not care for the comrades. I suspect that I could eliminate the others and the child would not move a finger to stop me. That is unless I took out the old man, no more mission, no more obligation. The adolescent sensed his gaze and looked pointedly at Itachi, the other Jôunin got the hint as to exactly were Itachi was even thought it was rather unintentional. A turn of the head and the masked face was in deeper shadow.
Before the Jôunin were able to attack he had already sunk his kunai into the exposed necks, they dropped lifeless before him, a cloud of smoke surrounding them. Itachi turned to the child and frowned, the shinobi and the old man were both gone. Naruto would have to wait.
----------
She let the calm wash over her, let the coldness take its course. She set the body of the old man on a tree, he was barely breathing now but still alive. A mild heart attack had overtaken the old man, but of course the paralyzing poison had not hurt to meet her needs. The man with the red eyes had unsettled her slightly, he could be trouble for her. She took off her mask briefly and breathed in the air and put the mask back on quickly, she felt naked without it.
Taking care of the old man had become more of a chore then a mission, she briefly contemplated killing him herself but decided that it would be too troublesome to explain that to the Kage. She knew that at least two of the Jôunin were dead, idiots! She checked her anger before she sat down again to guard the man, it was her main duty above all.
I didn't disturb her that the crimson-eyed man had taken out the others so easily.
For lack of anything better to do she took off her straw hat and placed it on the ground, ran her hand through her hair, gave an exasperated sight, and got up.
"Your stealth is excellent, better then I've seen in years," she said her husky voice was devoid of emotion, devoid of even personality. Itachi presented himself before her showing his own stoic face. "But I will not let you take the old man." Itachi narrowed his eyes.
"I never expected it to be easy," he said.
"You didn't? I doubt it," she said. And it was the truth.
Itachi watched her as she reached into the many folds of her robe and took out two white fans, each with sharpened metal edges. She snapped then open with an elegant snap of her wrist. Itachi looked on wondering who this confident shinobi was, and one that used fans at that.
"Do not think that I as a fan wielding Kunoichi will be so easy to defeat," she said. Itachi was mildly surprised. A female, well that will be something new.
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Naruto slammed his hand into the ground in anger, the damn Jôunin was toying with him. He stared at his hand as a mass of shuriken nestled comfortably in between his fingers. He took in between his fingers and stood up. He was angry, he could feel the anger pulsating in his veins.
Calm down. Think about this, Naruto thought and breathed deeply. His thoughts became more stable if not completely calm. Somehow he had been driven into the edge of the forest and the wide clearing, and the Jôunin had placed many tags and traps around the place. He barely avoided them, and the Jôunin was not helping.
"Come on little boy give up," a voice said, "I do not wish to slay a child." Naruto tried to detect the direction of the voice, but it was no use it had been too fast.
"You wish," Naruto snarled then gave a smile, "you hide from our fight so effectively."
"If this is a fight then the sky just fell," a voice said. Naruto's head snapped toward the noise. Naruto took the shuriken and threw them, he cursed as he heard that they had hit nothing. He was however pleasantly surprised when he saw the Jôunin come out, holding the shuriken delicately in his hands. He knew this one was not a clone, or any other sort of deception, he smelled it.
"I won't let you kill me," Naruto said as he put his hands together to form the seals, "now lets get serious." The shinobi gave a good-humored smile, this child was more amusing then he could have ever thought a child could be. Specially one that was well on his way to becoming a true shinobi. Too bad he wouldn't live long enough for that.
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Itachi studied the Kunoichi, they were few, and rare when it came to being good. There was still a chance that this would be an easy fight, and taking out the old man while he was unconscious would be simpler still. He threw a kunai at the old man and was surprised as the kunoichi deflected it from the old man with a grace all her own using only the fans, it dug itself into a tree. He threw more and she deflected every single one of them. Her accuracy was impressive.
"I advice that you do not waste your kunai," she said helpfully.
"Advice taken," he said coldly and rushed at her. He disappeared in front of her, she ducked as he kicked at her from behind. Her hair swept about wildly, she too disappeared along with the old man. He scanned around him and was met only with the silent forest, he heard the snap of a twig but didn't move.
"Now we can continue this," a voice said somewhere from behind him, he struck out with a kunai in hand. She bent over and avoided the slash of the sharp steel, she righted herself immediately and looked at him. She was smiling behind her mask. This was the kind of fight she wanted, this was the kind of fight that she had been waiting for a long time. The mission to protect the old man was no longer relevant to her, she had to defeat this man.
Her speed was incredible and she had avoided his attacks, but barely most of the time.
"It's my turn now," she said, she crossed her arms and let the glare of the steel edges from the fans shine on Itachi's eyes. He squinted and he saw her disappear before his eyes, his Sharingan was momentarily useless to him at the moment. "Gale Wind!" He felt the blades cut into his clothes, but it did not touch the flesh. He had not moved, but the wind whipped around him. As it settled he saw her again in front of him. He would kill her yet.
"Give me the old man," he said.
"No. Because if I do, then whom will I fight?" she said as she pulled up her mask so that some of her face was uncovered, but he could not see her eyes now. The skin underneath was pale from the lack of sun, but the lips were colored red, a rather dramatic effect. Her lips were curled into a demonic smile. "I am Yuuki, the remnant of the Kunoichi I use to be. Mind you I am the best part of the imbecile I once was."
Itachi tossed off his coat.
"Nothing will remain of you when I am thru."
"Oh?" she said and smiled as she too threw off the heavy robes. She wore no vest or anything to protect her flesh, other then the thin layer of clothes. Bandages wound down her arms, leading to the rings she wore, her forehead protector lay around about her neck and it was without the insignia of any village, more then likely hidden for a purpose, her midriff was exposed to show a tattoo of a phoenix leading to her navel, she wore all black. Her hair now fell neatly across her shoulders and to the middle of her back. This was not a child but a woman, and a kunoichi in her physical prime.
Itachi didn't care. He couldn't use the Mangekyou Sharingan on her since he couldn't see her eyes, not that he would need to anyways. She placed her fans strategically in front of her and pointed then at Itachi. She charged with such speed that he was barely able to mount a defense, without the robe she was much faster.
"Surprised I see," she whispered in his ear moments before he struck out with a kunai. It only grazed her shoulder, no wound was inflicted. At that moment Itachi realized that he might just have an actual fight in his hands, one not easily avoided and one that might cause trouble for him.
He gave her no time to recover as she dodged a particularly well-placed kick that he knew would put her in an awkward position. He struck her down with his elbow. Her eyes had flown open as she felt the crushing pain on her abdomen, her hands shot up as she grabbed his shirt.
He was pulled down with her despite his efforts to tear himself away.
"Uchiha Itachi, possessor of the highest level of the Sharingan, former Konoha shinobi, mass murderer of his family," she continued tonelessly, "except of his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke, now considered a prodigy of Konoha." Itachi was more amused then angered by her words. One word passed thru his mind. Sasuke…
He had listened to her words, before he tore himself from her. He placed his hands together ready to perform a seal, as she got up he saw that she was getting ready to do the same. He had dealt some damage, he could tell by the bent way she held herself. Her mouth was set in a grim line of concentration. He broke off his seal and charged at her and hit her right in the stomach but her seal was not interrupted, and she was muttering the spell under her breath. He took out a kunai and attempted to plunge it into her hands. It seemed that she did not want to loose those for she broke it off. Or so it had appeared to Itachi.
Luminescent strings hung from her hands. Itachi had already learned the seal but did not quite understand it.
"Wondering what this is right? Well let me show you," Yuuki said as she lifted up her hands. Next thing Itachi knew, he was covered in spider like strings. Yuuki stared in amazement as the Itachi she had a hold off burst in a puff of smoke, and a fine stream of fire from above set the strings of fire and her along with it. He was anxious to get back to Naruto and did not wait for her death.
"Well that takes care of that," Itachi said. Moments later he had inserted a fast acting poison into the old man. Carrying the head would be too inconvenient. And besides his employer knew he didn't lie. He stood a second or two contemplating the body, he had been merciful.
His eyes widened as he felt the warmth of a body on his own, bandaged arms were around him hugging him close. He heard Yuuki's soft voice in his ear.
"Now, now, you didn't expect to get rid of me so easily did you?" she said softly. A simple trick. And a rather useless jutsu. But I fell for it. Itachi thought calmly, after all it wasn't over yet.
Itachi stuck a kunai into her leg but her grasp did not lessen on him. She turned him around with much more force then he would have thought possible coming from a woman. Her mask was still partly on, still only showing half of her face. She held his face tenderly, he found he was unable to move. He looked on at her coldly, daring her to kill him.
"Uchiha Itachi, possessor of the Sharingan," she whispered to him, she pressed her body to him while she took small shuriken and playfully poked his neck but never piercing his skin, "an impressive title." She tore off the kunai from her thigh and held it for Itachi to see.
"That wasn't very nice Itachi," she said. She ran her hands over his eyes, he closed them hating the touch of her soft hands on his face, on his eyes. "Your little shinobi should be dead by now." I won't die, not yet. Itachi thought with a flash of anger. He felt a tingle in his limbs, feeling was returning to him. Before he was able to react his eyes flew open as he felt the soft crush of lips on his own.
Her mask had come off in the act and he saw her, she was one of those ethereal beauties, the ones that could never be approached by mortal men. She had dark blue eyes, the color of the sea. She kissed him softly, and then she bit his lower lip furiously drawing blood. He sunk his kunai into her stomach, she disengaged herself, smiling to him as she did so. Her bloodstained lips were twisted in a maniacal smile, she took the blood from her lips to the tips of her fingers and placed it on her hands. Her tongue was stained red.
"Lets play with your little shinobi. Ne?" she said as she smiled and disappeared.
Itachi was quick to react.
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Naruto looked the Jôunin, he was nothing like the Chûnin had been.
This one however was not going all out on him.
"Kage Bunshin!" he hid behind his clones as he saw a winged jutsu come at him, his clones barely managed to dodge the attack, him included. Four of his five clones were immediately destroyed.
"Are you done yet?" the Jôunin asked evidently bored. Then it hit Naruto, this shinobi didn't seem to quite realize that his clones were solid. He would use that to his advantage. He produced three more. The shinobi looked at him, probably wondering what other lame move he would come up with next. The Jônin reproduced the same winged jutsu and sent it at him. To his surprise all five shapes disappeared. He felt two sharp pains in his hands at the exact same moment he looked down, stunned. There were two of the scrawny boys with kunai inserted in his hands. He struck out at him, but before he did so they disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Clones, how could they be? A Kage level technique! But he had been lucky that his hands had not been irreparably disabled, but Jutsus were out of the questions now.
"You concentrated on the jutsu too long," Naruto said before him, sufficiently back so that a sudden attack would not be possible, but his arrogant smile could have been seen for miles around. The Jôunin frowned, the jutsu had taken no more then three seconds to perform, "I knew that I wouldn't be able to match you on those so my only choice was to disable you."
"Boastful little thing aren't you?" he said dangerously, "I'm not Jôunin for nothing."
"But wounded twice, I can't quite see how you made it, your probably one of those that barely did so," Naruto said with distaste in his voice. Then Naruto smiled, "not that that's a bad thing. For me of course." I can't believe they actually made this guy a Jôunin! He is an extremely low level one, Naruto thought going through what his Tenshi-sanhad taught him on how to recognize a Jôunin. And this was clearly no more then a middle class Chûnin at worst.
The Jôunin readied himself to attack, Jutsus was never his best area anyways. Taijutsu, now that was another matter entirely. Naruto saw the change in stance and attitude.
He prepared himself for the attack that would never come.
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Itachi took out the Jôunin without hesitation, he had lost Yuuki a long ways ago. Naruto stared at the body of man, then at Itachi. He noticed that he was no longer wearing his coat, and that his lip was bleeding. Naruto ran over to him, Itachi met him halfway leaving the body behind.
"What happened Tenshi-san?" he asked in awe.
"We are in danger," he said then seeing Naruto's amazed face continued, all the while looking around him, scanning for the slightest movement, "the mission is completed. But there was an extra shinobi, a kunoichi that neither of us sensed or saw. She's after you and me. Don't let your guard down. She is very powerful."
Naruto watched in horror as he saw his Tenshi-san fall on his knees.
"What's wrong Tenshi-san!?" Naruto said desperately, feeling completely useless. Itachi was only able to clutch at the ground and grass as waves of pain shot thru him.
"He's poisoned silly little boy," a voice said behind him. Yuuki then stood behind Itachi her mask once more halfway on, she touched Itachi's cheek with the back of her hand. The touch was so personal, as if that of a lover and Itachi was unable to move himself from it. "That little kiss was deadly Itachi. My lips were poisoned and an opened wound was a surefire way to get it into your system. I on the other hand are immune to it." She whispered softly in his ear.
"Get away from him!" Naruto screamed at her lunging at her with a kunai. She dodged the attack without trouble.
"You wouldn't want the cure to die with me now would you?" Yuuki said coldly, "not that you could kill me of course. You're too soft, a want to be shinobi without a drop of killing intent. He will die."
She caressed one of her rings, and looked pointedly at Naruto as she smiled.
He felt the pounding anger, and it threatened to shatter his mind, and for once he didn't care when he felt that thing inside him become excited, didn't care when he felt the difference between them become nonexistent, didn't care when he lost himself in the anger and the hate.
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A sort of dread came over her as she saw the seal of the Kyuubi slip.
His chakra had taken on a physical manifestation, that of a fox, and the boy himself was transformed. Sharp teeth nearly resembling that of an animal, the whisker marks were more pronounced, sharp nails, and his eyes were slits full of hatred and anger. All directed at her. But to her he was still nothing more then a boy.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" and he lunged at her.
She tried to dodge, she uttered a small sound of surprise before she was caught under the sharp claws. The claws dug deep into the already existent wound, she gasped behind her mask. She tried to insert a kunai into the side of his skull but her hand was pushed away by him, she felt the bone shatter. He slashed at her, making the wounds deeper every time. She felt the surge of fear rush trough her. I refuse to die!
"Give Tenshi-san the cure!" Naruto screamed, froth flying from his mouth.
Itachi couldn't help but grin. It seams like I have chosen well… He felt his vision waver, but he resisted the poison thru shear stubbornness.
"Finish her off Naruto," he said. The Kyuubi vessel was momentarily distracted.
Yuuki took the opportunity to escape, even wounded her speed was incredible.
Her speed was not enough however as she found her face grounded into the ground. The mask protecting her thinly, she tasted copper as the blood trickled into her mouth and was mildly surprised. Naruto pulled on her hair harshly holding the position. Her head had curved up and her neck lay exposed. Naruto took out a kunai. Yuuki attempted to loosen his grasp on her hair, trashing about in a very unshinobi like manner.
"Give me the damn cure!" Naruto screamed. The kunai touched her neck and pierced her skin, drawing blood. Naruto's breathing was hard and labored now, his rage consumed him so. He pulled on her hair harder and she let out a cry, like that of bird of a wounded bird. A shudder shook him, and he let go off Yuuki. She took the opportunity without hesitation.
Her white bandages, now splattered in blood, were no longer decoration.
"It ends here Kyuubi Vessel!" she said, forming lightning fast seals. Her sea blue eyes were rimmed red, and she wore a maniacal smile on her face. She was not going to die at the hands of a mere child! Itachi's eyes widened in horror as he saw the beginnings of a forbidden a technique! "Body Destroyer Technique!" It would kill her and the demon boy.
But would it work on Naruto?
Naruto regarded her coldly, and with a shock Itachi realized that it wasn't quite Naruto. It was Kyuubi itself, given away only by the red fox eyes now. The demon features were gone except for the slightly protruding teeth and the eyes. This is not my Naruto, not the one I know. Itachi thought trying to get up, but found he was unable to.
Her eyes widened as she felt the pain spreading around her, and a warm liquid spreading trough her abdomen, the jutsu broken seconds before completion. The red disappeared from her eyes and she fell down, but not on the hard ground as she found the demon child holding her close to him, in a warm embrace. She couldn't move. His hand had penetrated the flesh.
"Kill me now, if you don't I will live and return to kill you," she whispered, "and your sensei as well." She couldn't see his face, but she could still see Itachi, his face was ashen white. He would die soon. Kyuubi clumsily pushed off her mask and set her down on the ground.
"My vessel could have loved you," it stated softly in her ear, its voice was a shade or two deeper and had an unearthly quality to it, "you look like the mother he desires, except for the eyes, you have the eyes of the father. He does not wish for me to kill you. Unfortunately. He wants to have the honor himself one day. Just give me the cure he so desires and let us be done with this." And it sounded every bit regretful that it hadn't killed her.
What a beautiful demon child. She thought her mind already slipping. She took of one of the rings and tossed it at Kyuubi's feet. Then she was gone in a burst of wind and fire, only ashes left behind. Kyuubi looked at the ring then, it was blue glass and incased in it was a powdery blue substance, he broke it and put its hand forth to give it to Itachi. Itachi didn't make a move to get it.
"Who are you?" Itachi asked thought he knew, in a fashion.
"It's me Naruto, of course," the voice was too soft, the kind of voice one used on stray animal that was scared and one was trying to calm down. This was not Naruto. "Who else would I be?" It was a weak smile that was offered to Itachi. Itachi frowned, he saw the lie. It was not his Naruto that stood before him and spoke.
"You forgot the eyes," he said coolly. Kyuubi give me control! Now! Naruto thought fiercely. Kyuubi flinched but did not rendered control back to Naruto. You owe me more time, brat! He was not deceived! You idiot! Kyuubi roared mentally at Naruto. Oh shut up! Naruto thought back just as loud.
"Before you go," Itachi said sensing the Kyuubi withdrawing as the evil feeling chakra faded. Naruto's possessed body looked at him, red eyes gazing with hatred at him. Apparently Kyuubi doesn't like me much. Itachi thought distractedly.
"Yes?"
"Was Naruto or you the one that said they would kill Yuuki?" Itachi hid the curiosity from his eyes and voice effectively.
The red demon eyes narrowed then it growled, "you would love it if it was him wouldn't you? He has grown to—" Kyuubi continued in an extremely disgusted tone as he spit out the first word,—"love you. I have not. I would much rather taste of your blood and to tear that soft young throat of yours, as I did to many in the past in the village long ago."
"You haven't answered my question," Itachi said coolly.
"Naruto has become the warrior you want him to be, or is now well on his way to becoming one. Because of today he will do anything for you, even give up his life and mine as well along with it, most regrettably. But that all depends on what you say next, " Kyuubi said slyly, Itachi frowned and Kyuubi grinned Naruto's foxy grin, and for a fraction of a second Itachi truly understood. Where one ends the other begins. Blending together, the difference slipping… Itachi thought as he remembered Naruto's words. Naruto's eyes closed and as they opened they were once again that bright sapphire, not brilliant and light but charged with fear and rejection.
This time Itachi took the powder from Naruto's hand. Naruto's shoulders sagged. He knew what was coming next.
"Explain."
-End Flashback-
"What do you want?" Naruto said suspiciously but it was Itachi whom was impatient for the answer.
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The Hokage scanned the scrolls pilled around him. He quietly lay the one in his hand down, lit his pipe and let the smoke waft around him.
"Yes?" he said gruffly. A masked figure stepped forward from the shadows, still obscured somewhat however. Such was the skill of a competent shinobi.
"Yuuki. She has returned Hokage-sama."
"I see," the Hokage said and with a sweep of his robes was gone.
End Chapter EighteenNext Chapter: Still in progress…
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So chapter eighteen is done. Hmm. So this is what a guilt chapter looks like. Reposting chap. 17 was an amateur's mistake, I'm so sorry! I mislabeled it and didn't preview since I was in a hurry. I'm surprised only three people mentioned it. But this one was extra, extra long because of that and because I didn't update for so long because of finals week and then I left for winter break, and it takes me about a week to write one chapter, everything was just so hectic!
I have taken all pairing suggestions and it will become apparent which one I have chosen as time goes on, and I really am sorry if it wasn't the one you wanted.
Thanks a lot for reviewing to:
animelvr4evr: sorry I confused you, but I could see were I would, sometimes I forget that the readers don't know everything I do, specially when I rewrite some of the chapters.
Anonymous: Suggestion taken! :)
Zero the Death Shadow: I won' forget. :)
blaboy: not much to worry about there. I mean does she even exist in this fic? Who knows –shrugs-? But I can tell you now it most definitely is not her.
Liliath: you're right it is stupid and too easy, I sort of knew that when I wrote it so no offence taken and it was helpful criticism. Besides things can happen to 'fix' a situation. (You gave me so many ideas! Many thanks!!!) And I really appreciated that you reviewed since most people don't read so long after I update.
black: You will be happy to know that it's not going to be Hinata. Never really thought about it. And thanks for telling me about the chapter!
:Yea your probably right! As to Naruto's past… well your right about that too! But he has his moments, I just so happen to only be showing you those. If that makes any sense. A master? Never really intended to make it that way (never intended it to be Itachi either…) but there is a reason behind that.
plur: thanks for telling me! I'm dumb that way sometimes.
Inuyasha-gal-97: Thanks! Really glad you think so!
Little Fox Kit: my mistake, thanks for telling me!
Ebil-Baka: I think I corrected the name by this time, somebody else also caught my mistake… Thanks for telling me!
Please review and tell me what you think. :)