Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
XxX Chapter 4 XxX
Naruto was now face to face with a boy no older than 10. "Yes, it truly is, what's your name?" naruto politely asked
The little boy smiled a mechanical smile "My name's Sai"
Naruto sized the boy, looking at him up and down. Yes just a mere child he mused.
"I painted it, it took a long time to get it just right but it was worth it"
Naruto looked straight into Sai's eyes. His heartbeat is still in rhythm, his eyes stayed sharp and he isn't perspiring naruto noted looking for any signs that the child was lying.
He found none.
Naruto gave him a disarming smile "My, my you must be quite the artist, a prodigy even, considering your age and your work"
Sai stayed quiet but nodded nonetheless.
Naruto ruffled his black locks almost affectionately and turned to leave.
"W-wait, what's your name?" Sai called out.
Naruto tilted his head and turned to Sai smile still present "Naruto" it was like a faint whisper but Sai caught what he said as Naruto dissipated into the crowds.
And Sai smiled a true smile.
The rest of the night had gone without a hitch. Naruto merely wandered here and there. Just drifting but not really looking. Kyuubi, Madara and Arashi were rather pleased with their findings.
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Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months. Everything was well. He had a short meeting with Hizashi. They discussed the possibility of creating an alliance.
Shape shifters in general were strong and quite clever. But what set them apart was the ability to transform into the animal of their birth.
If a child would be born with a feather design imprinted on their forehead, then they could transform into a bird, that is after they mastered the ability of change.
The mark they carry is invisible to the naked eye, only others of the family bloodline can see it. Naruto being no exception. He at least knew what some were, like Hizashi. He was a bird.
Hizashi was to present to the heads of the family naruto's proposition of having an alliance with them, and he had no doubt in his mind that they would refuse. After all he had helped them countless times in the past.
Though he still felt unsatisfied.
His purpose for coming here had been unfruitful. His companions didn't say anything but he could feel their expectant gazes, silently asking him 'Why are we still here'
Yes, even he questioned himself but he couldn't give up, not yet. He had to keep searching, just a little bit longer.
"Naruto, hello are you listening" came Kyuubi's voice
Naruto jerked out of his musings and looked at Kyuubi keenly.
Madara cleared his throat and spoke "It has come to our attention that Arashi has been visiting a woman, a human. For several months now, I presume he met her at the gallery"
Naruto shrugged off the news. It was bound to happen, Arashi was infatuated with humans. Arashi was after all the most human of them all.
"Let him be, you know how he is. We wouldn't be able to stop him anyways" naruto's voice was resolute, leaving no room for protest.
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Arashi was flitting swiftly. He was running late for his important meeting.
'Almost there' he thought and quickened his pace.
Skidding to a halt he composed himself as best he could and walked up to the waiting woman.
She was wearing a long skirt with a black overcoat that reached mid thigh. Her black hair pulled up in a high pony tail.
"Arashi, you made it and here I thought you weren't going to show" she said with a smile
Arashi just laughed sheepishly "E hehe… sorry I was running as fast as I could"
"Fine, whatever. Now are we going to eat because I'm starving"
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As stealthily as he could Arashi unlocked the door of their hotel room to make sure the coast was clear. Taking a look around the room he saw no sign of danger and sighed in relief.
This was short lived as a light went on and there seated on the arm chair was Naruto, smirking.
"So, was your night pleasant, hmm"
Arashi gulped. "It was good, I took a stroll around the city"
"Arashi you should know better than to lie to me" Naruto said as he placed his hands on his lap.
"Sorry"
"Doesn't matter, take a seat" Naruto said motioning for him to sit opposite of him on the couch.
"So, are you mad, about the girl" Arashi finally said
"And- if you don't approve I don't ca-" his speech was cut short as Naruto cut him off.
"It doesn't matter what I think, I don't care who your with as long as your safe. And right now it's not, those hunters have been silent and unaware of our presence until recently. They've started getting closer to the city, have you let your guard down" naruto harshly said as he locked onto Arashi's similar azure sapphires.
Arashi was speechless for a while. He hadn't noticed this until now. How could he have slipped up like this.
"I'm apologize for my failure" Arashi said with a bowed head. 'I feel so incompetent' Arashi berated himself silently.
"You shouldn't belittle yourself Arashi, remember I can still hear your thoughts if I choose, but I want to know how you feel towards this human" Naruto lethargically said.
Arashi looked around the room suspiciously seeing if Kyuubi or Madara were around the vicinity.
"Well you see, I found her on the streets a while after we left the art gallery a couple of months ago. I helped her out, though it took a while before she trusted me. It feels more like family or something like that. I don't really know but, she makes me happy" Arashi ended with a smile.
Naruto just shook his head. "I'll never understand you, no matter how many times I look inside your mind"
Arashi exasperatedly questioned "What's so difficult to get??"
Naruto propped his chin on his knuckles "Well for starters you have this strong sense of justice to thwart the people who torment others that and your infatuation with them. I don't understand how you become so attached after one single meeting"
Arashi thought long and hard on what Naruto said "Well I guess I've always felt a great sense of justice since I was human and as a child. Humans seem so precious to me, like valuable jewels so fragile I could crush them with my bare hands and so strong willed"
Naruto stayed silent he couldn't contradict what Arashi said, some of the things he said were true.
"Naruto surely you've felt like that, otherwise you would never have turned any of us. Didn't you?"
Naruto's face was expressionless…just void. Arashi didn't know if that was good or bad. But, he continued talking.
"You were human once"
If anything Naruto became incredibly stiff and rigid.
Arashi bit his tongue. That's right…Naruto was never human to begin with.
Regardless of his unwilling voice he tried again.
"You should have some of these feelings, if I were to die would you even cry"
That was what made Naruto come back . "Yes, I would"
"Why, though naruto" Arashi coaxed
Naruto stubbornly turned away but answered nonetheless.
"Because I care"
Arashi patted naruto on the back and gave him a triumphant smile
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Madara and Kyuubi came later that night. Naruto had sent them away so he could talk to Arashi.
"So how'd it go" Kyuubi asked.
"Good" Naruto stiffly answered as he walked to his bed.
Though he'd never admit it Naruto couldn't feel more relieved to go to sleep, what Arashi had said was true he just hoped that he'd never get close to anyone else.
He couldn't afford to have someone creep closer to his dead heart. It would be painful and a hindrance in the long run.
Yes just a….hindrance.
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The morning came, as the annoying sun choose to be blindingly bright today. A fact that irritated Naruto to no end.
He had to scout today as well as Madara and Kyuubi. You could never be too cautious when there were vampire hunters lurking around the corner.
Hours tickled by and the sun was starting to lower, the clouds a pinkish orange tint. The sun was leaving the skies, for now.
No signs of any life around, naruto dully noted as he searched the forest. Sniffing the air he caught a strong scent of something. Not just anything though, it was….blood.
He knew who's blood that was it was Arashi's. His speed was now frantic. He could feel that something was off, gut instinct.
He got closer and the scent grew stronger and stronger. Reaching a valley he could see Arashi wounded. But, he wasn't alone. There were others all clad in black surrounding him
One thought lingered in his mind. 'We were wrong, so very wrong'
Tbc…