Yugito sat across from the large group of Konoha shinobi in a chair leaned back against one of Tazuna's wall. Her catlike eyes passed over them all distatefully as she crossed her arms across her chest. 'Cheeky bastards...' The blonde haired woman thought angrily to herself. 'Looks like Naruto was right. Konoha isn't anything but a village full of dirty stray mutts!' The dog that had been brought along with the Inuzuaki grolwed menacingly with her. But, considering it was nothing but a puppy, 'I'm going to kick that mutt across this room like a ball...'
The screen door of Tazuna's house swung open as Naruto and Kakashi entered. Naruto chuckled in apparent good spirits as Kakashi's eye took on that all too familiar u shape. "... So Gai's running around with his jumpsuit on fire screaming how he's achieved the ultimate flames of youth and-" The two shinobi halted in their tracks as they felt every watching their sudden presence. Naruto's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Is there something you find interesting, Konoha Dogs?" He snarled angrily as he took an intimidating step forwards. The newest Hyuga arrival shrieked in fear before she fell to the ground, unconscious. Naruto's blue eyes glared at her downed form for a moment before he turned his eyes to her sensei. "Well? One of your pups just got sick. Shouldn't you be nursing it back to health?" Kurenai glared angrily as she stomped forwards to the Kumo shinobi.
The red eyed kunoichi was intercepted by his blonde haired partner before she could come within a few feet of him. "I'd think twice before you came within spitting distance of Naruto. He want have to waste his time killing you, because I'll do it for him!" Kurenai's red eyes glared heatedly into Yugito's cat like ones before she slowly backed away. Kurenai was a Genjutsu type, and the girl before her obviously wasn't. So if she could escape any genjutsu cast by Kurenai, the black haired woman would be severely outclassed.
"Naruto, couldn't you try to be a little more tolerable to my comrades?" Kakashi questioned as he came to stand next to the blonde haired girl, followed closely by Naruto. Kurenai's eyes narrowed dangerously. It was rather strange that Kakashi chose to stand beside Kumo shinobi in a situation where battle was threatening to break out amongst them. Naruto glared at the tensed Konoha ninja with a dark smirk on his face.
"You're in my favor Kakashi. Your comrades are not. They're dogs. You grew up with them and can't see it, but they all are. Mutts that really need to be put down. You don't understand how much I hate Konoha and all those who reside inside of it." Kakashi glanced at him from the side. That wasn't a surprise. He and Naruto had spent the majority of the day talking with each other, learning more about the other. Naruto had a very legitimate reason for hating Konoha shinobi. And Kakashi could not, and would not, fault him for that.
"Kakashi, you seem awfuly chummy with a shinobi who may as well be our enemy." Kurenai spoke as the surrounding genin glanced between the two Jonin, frightened. There was descent happening right in front of them, and they had no true idea how to cope with it. They hadn't been trained to handle those specific types of situations. Kakashi smiled towards Kurenai underneath his mask, but it never reached his visible eye.
"Maybe so. But right now, with how your all acting, I think I'd much rather be associated with him than any of you. Sakura, Sai, Sasuke, stand down, right now. If you continue to harass these two Kumogakure shinobi, I will write you up for insubordination and have you stripped of your shinobi license. Now." The three genin looked at each other as their peers watched them intently. Then they dropped their stances and backed away from the scenario, exiting the room into the upstair rooms.
Kakashi's intent gaze remained on his comrades as Naruto crossed his arms across his chest. "I would suggest that you all take Kakashi's example and have your genin squadrons back down. I'd absolutely hate to start a war with Konoha over a few genin bodies." Gai's brow furrowed angrily. The teen before him had fought toe to toe with Zabuza's clone when it had bested him. There was no doubt about his power. He could slaughter Knoha's genin graduates without a second thought.
There was the off chance that they could defeat him and his partner. But if they continued to pursue a confrontation with the platinum/blond in front of him they also ran the risk of causing an international crisis with Kumogakure. That was something that the Sandaime Hokage would simply not tolerate. On top of that, Kakashi was apparently taking Kumo's side in the whole situation. Kakashi was every bit Gai's equal and could definately best the Green Beast of Konoha alone. The odds were definately not in their favor.
"Neji, Tenten, Lee... Stand down." The three genin looked at their sensei in shock as he dropped his stance, head hung low. "This isn't a scenario we can win. Kakashi's obviously on their side in this, and there's no doubt of his power. The boy fought one on one with two of Zabuza's clones. The girl is definately his partner for a reason. We're outclassed here. I'm not going to have one of my students killed because I was stupid enough to follow through with something like this. Stand down."
The three shinobi nodded their heads as they fell in place behind their sensei. Kurenai's eyes narrowed dangerously as Tsunami finally descended the stairs at the commotion. Her eyes watered heavily as she fought the urge to hyperventilate. The scenario that had unfolded was far out of her control. There was no way she could stop any brawl that was to break out now. "So what do you plan to do now, Konoha dog?" Naruto questioned the woman as she grit her teeth in fury.
"Look at the scenario you've placed yourself in. You are standing there with only two of your genin active. The other two squadrons that are here have stood down. And you're facing off against two shinobi who you know nothing about, and The Copy Ninja of Konoha Kakashi Hatake. Are you positive that you really want to follow through with this?" Kurenai released a growling noise as she dropped her stance.
"Stand down." The command was almost unvoiced, barely heard by either genin that stood next to her. Naruto's eyes fell away from the red eyed woman and finally took in Tsunami's form. A grimace set in tightly on his features as he uncrossed his arms.
"I believe that I've out stayed my welcome." Naruto spoke as he brushed past the dark haired woman, heading towards the storage closet. "I'll retrieve my things and be gone." Kakashi sighed angrily as he massaged the bridge of his nose. Of course, as soon as he got Naruto to acknowledge him as something much more than a dog, Konoha would come along and try to interfere with his life once again.
Naruto reappeared down the stairs, a black duffel bag no strung around his body. A senbon needle was being chewed gently between his lips as he came to stand beside Kakashi and Yugito once again. "Kakashi, look after Yugito for me. I'm not going to force her to sleep out in the cold with me just because I have a hot head. Make sure she stays too." Yugito opened her mouth to protest, though Naruto shook his head.
"No, Yugito, you stay tonight. I'm fully capable of taking care of myself as you well know. I know you are as well, but at least one of us should remain here with the person who we're to protect. Considering that you've been the one most comfortable here until right now, that should be you." The blonde haired kunoichi nodded dutifully. Naruto would keep a close eye on the house and those in it. But she understood that he couldn't bear the thought of living with them under the same roof anymore.
She walked forwards and hugged him tightly, a gesture which he returned. "If a tiny piece of her hair is out of place, I'll come back and slaughter all of you dogs like the mutts that you are! Do you understand me!?" The genin that remained in the room backed away from the scene, frightened, as Kakashi clasped a hand on the platinum/blond's shoulder.
"She's safe with me, Naruto." The whisker marked Kumo genin nodded in assurance before Kakashi removed his hand.
"I know."
"Ano, Kumo-san? You don't have to leave. Just... refrain from harming the other residents." Naruto's eyes met Tsunami's. Tears still threatened to spill over like water with a broken dam. Naruto shook his head grimly.
"No, it's better if I leave now. I'm only causing trouble for you and your home life at this point. Thank you for the sentiment though, Tsunami-San. Keep a watchful eye on Yugito for me." With that, the screen door slammed behind Naruto harshly as he walked away from Tazuna's house.
Zabuza's apprentice, Haku, picked herbs delicately as he thought of his master. The man had been rather injured from that mysterious boy's lightning jutsu. To the point that he had been incapacitated for a week. That week was fast approaching an end, but it didn't change the fact itself. It had infuriated him that the platinum/blond haired boy had arrived and cost him his battle. He had awoken, enraged. It had been evident in his eyes. He had immediately tried to fight to his feet to claim his sword.
He had been intent on hunting down the boy. But he had been too injured, and had simply exhausted himself farther. And then Gato had arrived, threatening both of their lives as well as informing that he had hired yet another mercenary. A rather dangerous one at that. It had been the reason that the second Ice User had appeared in time to save Haku from having to engage battle with the boy.
The ice user had shocked Haku. After all, he had been certain that he was the only one with the Kekkei Genkai of ice left. But he guessed that he wasn't. He hadn't exactly had the chance to talk to the second user as they had disappeared off of the radar. That wasn't to say that he hadn't tried to find them, but still. Haku's brown eyes widened as a platinum/blond haired teen walked past him.
His heart rate quickened quickly to exponential levels as the boy halted in his tracks, his back to Haku. It was the same boy that had attacked Zabuza. The same boy that had bested his clones. The same who had said that he- "Hello again. How is Zabuza doing?" -was a sensor. Which meant that no matter how great your disguise was, if he had met you once before he would know your chakra signature anywhere.
"He's fine." Haku returned as he continued to as he picked herbs. There was no point in trying to ignore him. It wouldn't do good if the ice user angered him. If he had beaten Zabuza's clones he was on a whole different level than Haku. That much was for certain to the Kekkei Genkai wielder. The whisker marked boy glanced over his shoulder and glared menacingly at Haku.
"That's great. Make no mistake about this, there's only one reason that you get to live today. You're going to send a message to Zabuza for me. And that message is simply this: I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill you, Gato and him. There's no way to escape. I will hunt you down to the end of time and I will kill you both." Haku said nothing as Naruto's eyes narrowed. Then the brown eyed boy found both of Naruto's Dao swords at his throat, formed together as one sword. Haku's eyes widened in fear as the whisker marked boy grinned ferally.
"Watch your neck out there, scum." Naruto's Dao found home in its sheath as he marched away from the Kekkei Genkai user whom rubbed his throat tenderly, his heart beating wildly.
'He could've killed me... And I couldn't do anything about it.' Haku gasped harshly as another sword made itself known. Strands of long light grey hair fell into his eyes as a woman's voice penetrated his ears.
"That person you were speaking with just now... Who is he?" Haku shivered violently at the tone that suggested pure torturous pain if he didn't comply to answer.
Naruto strolled aimlessly through the Land of Waves. Pathetic, desperate eyes pleaded with him every corner he turned. His heart went out to the small village. Children fought each other for scraps out of a dumpster. Women mourned at their husband's early graves. Husband's grieved their wife and children's recent disappearances. And everywhere he went, the pleaded with him. To save them or kill them. They didn't truly care. He of course wouldn't simply kill them. No matter how bad their poverty was, it didn't warrant death.
So he had been gathering intel on Gato. Secret whispers between he and merchants who were preparing to close the doors to their shops forever. Children telling of the Bogeyman that threatened their very livelihoods. And it was all consistent. That was the greatest part. All of it matched what the previous had already stated. It was rather satisfying to the Kumogakure shinobi. He knew that the more intel he held, the quicker he was completing his mission. If he knew where Gato kept himself holed up, he knew where to strike the monster at its heart.
The problem was, he hadn't quite learned Gato's whereabouts. That was the one thing that the businees tyrant had been able to keep secret from all of the peoples of wave. Of course, that was no problem. Naruto had been trailing members of Gato's mercenary squad, picking up information from them as well. As much intel as he had gathered, he would be able to piece together Gato's location. And then it would only be the task of assassinated the little tyrant that stood in the way of his mission's completion.
A sigh escaped his lips as his blue eyes rose to stare at the sky overhead. A gentle smile overtook his features as he gazed at the clouds. They reminded him of home, and at the moment, that was one of the best things that he truly had going. "I need to figure out where I'm staying tonight..." His voice was barely audible as he breathed this sentence out with a small burst of oxygen.
"Do you need a place to stay?" The voice caught Naruto completely by surprise. He hadn't been checking for chakra signatures, and hadn't been expecting anyone to truly be listening to his plight. The Kumogakure shinobi swirled on his heels, his hand descending to his right hook sword as he glared at the person standing behind him. The glare immediately dropped. Standing behind him was a slender yet shapely woman whom wielded fair skin and brown eyes. Her purple hair reached down to her waist with her bangs in a Hime-style. She wore a purple hakama, a white haori with a sash like belt, wooden sandals and a white ribbon to partially hold her hair in place.
She was easily one of the most beautiful people that Naruto had laid eyes on. That didn't warrant him to drop his hand from his sword, but it was something that he noted on instinct. "What business is that of yours?" Naruto questioned. He normally didn't have this bad an attitude towards so many people, but he didn't like the idea that he had slipped enough to have allowed someone to get so close to him so quickly. The woman simply smiled at him.
"I heard you say you needed a place to stay. I, or rather my clan, own an Inn just a few blocks over. The Izumo Inn. You're more than welcome to stay there." Naruto's eyes narrowed suspiciously, though he did drop his hand away from his sword. Her chakra signature didn't fluctuate, so she wasn't lying to him. And she didn't give off any malcontent. Oxygen escaped through his nostrils as he released a long breath.
"The man that I'm in this village to protect, Tazuna, said that there were no Inns left available due to Gato's tyrany." The woman's smile dropped instantly as her eyes gained a steely look. Though she tried to cover up the sudden change in demeanor, Naruto caught it.
"Yes, I'm aquainted with Tazuna. He's a drunken man with rather perverted tendencies. He doesn't acknowledge our inn as an inn, but it's there. And you're welcome to stay there, if you please." Naruto sighed wearily as he ran a hand through his platinum/blond hair.
"May I ask the name of the woman that is being so gracious to allow this?" The purple haired woman smiled bright as she grabbed Naruto's wrist, pulling him in the direction of the inn as he gave an indignant shout.
"My name is Miya Asama, Mr..." Naruto grinned heartily as she dropped his wrist and allowed him to trail alongside her.
"Hatake... Naruto Hatake."
Kakashi grimaced beneath his mask. Ever since the incident where Kurenai had decided she was going to 'teach the Kumo shinobi a lesson', his comrades had been giving him a rather cold shoulder. Even his own squadron of genin. The silver haired Jonin wouldn't be surprised if Gai and Kurenai reported him to the Hokage for consorting with the enemy. But that was just fine with Kakashi. He had come up with a game plan, so to speak, with how the next couple of days were going to play out.
That wasn't to say that Kakashi believed that his plans would go off without a hitch. Far from it actually. He expected there to be a backlash and consequences for what he had planned out. It was better for shinobi to always be prepared for the worst case scenario. Kakashi had learned that first hand many times. His eye crinckled into a u shape as Yugito plopped down onto the ground next to him. "You've been off in thought a lot lately. Are you okay, Kakashi-San?"
"You seem a lot more tolerant of me than you do my comrades." Kakashi replied simply as Yugito smiled, crossing her legs.
"Naruto likes you now apparently. I don't know what you said or did for him, but that's an amazing feat in of itself. He despises Konoha with his very being. He's threatened to completely obliterate it on multiple occasions. I don't blame him. I was there after all, when the accident happened."
Kakashi nodded solemnly. Naruto had told him all about the accident. It had been what lead Kakashi to the decision to put his plans into actions. "I do have a lot on my mind." Kakashi finally answered earnestly. "Nothing that I'm going to say outloud, in the open like we are. But my mind's working at a very quick pace right now. I'm playing out a thousand different scenarios in my mind as we speak. Most of them aren't great results. It's-"
"-Better to be prepared for the worst case scenario than not at all." Kakashi nodded as his eye smile returned. It was true. Kumogakure shinobi were so much more well equiped than Konoha shinobi. He had been shocked to stillness upon learning Naruto and Yugito's ranks. He never would have guessed that they were still of Genin rank. He would definately need to step up and rid himselves of his mutual habits to become better.
"I'm glad at least one Kunoichi understands that concept. My student, Sakura, she doesn't truly understand what it means to be a shinobi yet. Honestly, I think she joined Konoha's shinobi program just to impress Sasuke. That's my Uchiha student." Yugito nodded her head solemnly. It wasn't a rare feat in the world of kunoichi for a woman to do that. And more often than not, it got them nowhere but an early grave six feet under the Earth. It was one of the reasons that Yugito was so proud and confident in herself.
Kakashi's smile dropped as he stood to his feet. "Something big will happen soon. I can feel it. We're three days away from it being a week from our battle with Zabuza. It won't be too much longer for someone of his caliber to be healed. He'll be prepped to fight soon. He'll be coming to get revenge. And I have a feeling that he's not going to be alone this time."
Hiruzen paced back and forth in his office. He had recieved no word whatsoever about the C turned possible S-Rank mission from any of his Jonin. He was becoming increasingly worried. He was in such a harsh position. Send more reinforcements and appear weak. He couldn't do that. He simply couldn't Konoha would be viewed as weak and would lose clientel. Send word and have them retreat? He ran into the exact same problem as if it were the first problem.
And so he was forcing himself to go along with the third option. Leave them to their devices and hope that they were strong willed enough to battle it out over in the Land of Waves. But it had become increasingly nerve racking. He could fell it, deep in his old bones. Something was going to happen on this mission that would not benefit Konoha. In fact, it would cripple it to some degree.
Hiruzen didn't know exactly what it was. There was no way that he could. But he knew that no matter what he did, that same event would occur. It was causing him to have an anxiety attack. He was lucky that he had yet to worry himself into a heart attack. His tabacco pipe was lifted to his lips as he took in a deep puff. He needed something to calm his nerves and quickly. If this dragged on any longer, he was sure to worry himself to death.
"Having a little anxiety attack there, Sensei?" An all too familiar voice spoke as Jiraiya jumped into the man's office through his window. Hiruzen released a sigh of relief as he placed his pipe down for the moment being.
"Jiraiya! Thank Kami that you're here. I've been having a rather tiresome past few weeks. Tell me, what news has your spy network brought to you lately." The news Jiraiya brought always seemed to be good news. Information on an enemy village, the location of a high bounty, things to that effect. And that was exactly what the Sandaime Hokage felt he needed at the current moment. Good news. The white haired man stood with his back to Sarutobi, not allowing the grimace that had set in on his features to be seen.
"My network recently gave me news of this shinobi in Kumogakure." Hiruzen nodded in anticipation. A shinobi in Kumogakure could mean anything. A bouty to someone willing to leave Kumo and joing Konoha. "So I decided to go and have an audience with the Raikage over it. A long story short, I've found Minato's son." Hiruzen's eyes widened considerably as a smile claimed his features. That had been greater news than he had been expecting. As a matter of fact, it had never crossed his mind as to it being the information Jiraiya had learned.
"Oh, great! Is he in the village now? Or did he stay to collect his things and then come?"
"He's not coming." Hiruzen's smile instantly fell and he narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean that he's not coming?"
"I searched for him. And when I found him, he was all grown up. Only fourteen, sure, but he may as well have been a man. He belongs there, Sarutobi-Sensei. I saw it in his eyes. A told me that he has an extreme dislike for Konoha. I don't know why, he wouldn't specify. I couldn't even bring myself to confront him."
"So what now Jiraiya? What is the course of action to bring him to Konoha? What's your plan?"
"There is no plan, Sensei." The Hokage's eyes widened in disbelief as he sat, slack jawed, in his chair. "I wanted my godson back in Konoha more than anything. But when he was a child. I can't do anything with him now. He won't have anything to do with me. It's sad and unfortunate, but it's true. I talked with Tsunade about it, told her everything. She didn't really care per se. Life's changed her after all. But she said to leave him alone. Of course, she'd save anyone the displeasure of entering Konoha.
"And I agree. He should stay in Kumo. There's no reason for him to return now. His friends and family are there now. There is no one here for him." Hiruzen frowned deeply as an angry exhale of oxygen exited his nostrils.
"So you're telling me to leave Minato's legacy, his heir, in Kumogakure? Is that what you're suggesting!?"
"No. I'm suggesting that we leave Naruto in Kumogakure. You're only seeing Minato in this picture. He'd want what was best for his son. And what's best for his son, Sarutobi-Sensei? Well? Fine, if you don't want to say it, then I will. Kumogakure No Sato is what's best for that boy. We should leave him as he is."
Naruto stepped out of Izuna's bath chambers, drying his head with a white towel. Upon his arrival, Miya had forced him to discard his shinobi attire so that it could be cleaned. She had stated that it had a stench worse than most of the stray dogs running aorund the village. That wasn't surprising. Naruto never had the time to wash certain pieces of his uniform that weren't replaceable, such as his flack jacket and shin guards. So now he wore only a pair of baggy black pants. "Hi!"
Naruto quit drying his hair as the towel hung over his eyes. His chest boiled with rage at his own personal stupidity. That was the second time in one single day that he had dropped his guard low enough for someone to get very close to him in a very short amount of time. Maybe he was beginning to lose the abilities that he had been so proud of for so long. The platinum/blond haired shinobi turned and opened his mouth to reply to the feminine voice. His words died in his throat.
The person before him looked exactly like Naruto's former teammate. Exactly like... "Kagari?" The figure, the female, before him gave him a strange look as Naruto gave her another once over. Indeed, she did look exactly like Kagari. Except that Kagari had been quite so feminine, and had never blushed upon talking to him when he wore nothing but his pants. She seemed to recognize Kagari's name, but didn't respond to it as one would if it were there own.
"I'm afraid you have me confused with someone else. My name is Homura." There was no fluctuation of chakra. She was telling the truth then. Naruto sighed drearily as he closed his eyes, his hands gripping around the ends of the towel before he rolled his head around his shoulders. The girl's gaze remained upon his face, and her blush on her cheeks.
"I'm terribly sorry then. You just bear a strong resemblance to someone that I knew. I shouldn't have mistaken you for them anyways." The girl smiled heartily, allowing it to reach her eyes as another girl came to stand next to her.
"Hey Homura. Who's your friend?" Homura narrowed her eyes at the girl next to her. Unbeknownst to Naruto, the red headed girl standing next to her was very tech savy. She had created many things that Hidden Villages would salivate at if they knew it existed. And she used them to spy on everyone at and around Izumo Inn. She knew well who the teen in front of them was. She just had to keep an innocent facade it seemed.
"This is... You never did quite give me your name." Homura knew how to play the innocent act to. She had had plenty of practice at it after all.
"Naruto Hatake." The platinum/blond haired shinobi responded immediately as he bowed slightly.
"Naruto. Naruto, this is Matsu." Naruto allowed a small smile to grace his lips, the red headed girl seeming to gain the exact same blush that had spread across Homura's cheeks.
'That's rather odd...' Again he rolled his neck before releasing a deep breath from his lungs. "A pleasure to meet you, Matsu. You as well, Homura. Now, if you'll both excuse me, I have quite a few things that I need to get done." The whisker marked shinobi stalked past them, heading to the room that Miya had designated for him. Matsu allowed a rather large, perverted grin to spread out over her features.
"You too, Homura?"
"He knew my brother's name..."
Kagari's body slammed against the ground viciously as he stared into Naruto's eyes with his own. "Y-You... You idiot!" Naruto cried out as he jumped towards his comrade. A boot slammed harshly into his gut, sending him skidding along the ground. Yugito cried out as a fist slammed into her own abdomen. Pain rushed through Naruto's body like fire as he crawled towards his comrade, removing his black half face mask, blood dribbling from his lips. The towering shinobi with the sword laughed menacingly at them. "Why... Why'd you do it, Kagari!?" The silver haired boy smiled faintly.
"You're my Ashikabi."
"Your what?" Kagari released a pained groan of pain as he grasped at his wound.
"I'm afraid that I don't have time to explain it to you now... Wipe that look off of your face. It's unbecoming. Don't worry, I don't have any romantic feelings for you or any bullshit like that. More brotherly. But the bond between each Ashikabi and-" Kagari coughed blood up violently, consuming the next word that he spoke. "-are different from person to person. I couldn't sit idle and let you die, you see." Naruto grabbed onto the boy's long coat, his tears staining the ground as Kagari smiled.
"Don't cry, Naruto. You're my brother, and I'm proud to have died for you. See? I'm smiling, aren't I? Do me a favor? Take care of my katana blade for me. She's... she's gonna need someone to take care of her... after I'm gone." The sheathed weapon found itself in Naruto's grasp as Kagari held his digits around the sheath tightly. The light from the light headed boy's eyes began to fade as Naruto grit his teeth. "This isn't goodbye, Naruto... This is just see you later..."
And then he was gone.
Naruto bolted upright as he panted and heaved. Vomit threatened to spill from his mouth as he held his hand over his lips. He had been successful in keeping those dreams at bay for the longest time. And now everything was just threatening to break through the surface. It didn't help that the light haired shinobi had ran into Kagari's female clone. The door to his room opened silently and Miya poked her head in, eyes concerned. "Are you okay, Naruto?" The platinum/blond haired boy nodded silently.
"I'm fine. Just a bad case of the night terrors I guess. It happens to everyone, even the greatest of shinobi." The woman nodded in agreement as she entered the room, closing the door behind her. Naruto glanced at her quizically. "How exactly did you know that something was wrong with me?" The purple haired woman smile at him, her eyes closing briefly as she gave her own distinctive laugh.
"I know everything that occurs in Izumo Inn."
Zabuza glared menacingly at the man that stood before him. "You don't scare me." The rogue Kirigakure shinobi stated in a mtter of fact tone. The arrogant mercenary before him returned the gesture as his nose crinckled at the shinobi.
"I know I don't, Zabuza. But I should. And you'll come to both learn and respect that fact. Now, let's make something clear right here and now. You will come to fear me. And when we go into battle soon, very soon, you will refrain from staying in my way. Make no mistake about it, just as easily as your apprentice was dispatched so I could speak to you, I will dispatch you just as easily." Zabuza scoffed in response as he waved the man before him away.
"I'm not afraid of anybody, and I'm not afraid of death. You can try all you want to to frighten me, but you wont' Gato hired you because I got caught of guard, once. It's not going to happen again. I'm prepared for what I wasn't last time. As for Haku, he can easily defend himself. I'm sure that if your two little dogs had caught him by surprise that he would have faired just fine." The man before him grinned in response as he rolled his neck.
"Perhaps. Or perhaps you can't quite escape the idea that you and your apprentice are worthless compared next to me. There is a reason why Gato hired me to do this. I am the greatest mercenary right now because I get all of my contracts completed. Now, listen to me Zabuza. And listen very carefully. I don't like you. In fact, if Gato didn't insist on me allowing you to live, then I would simply kill you right here and now.
"But I'm not allowed to. You're a strong willed man, Zabuza. But make no mistake about it. I will break you. I will take everything that has made you the Demon of the Bloody Mist and will turn you into nothing but an infant crying out for his mother to recue him from the big bad Bogeyman. Take heed, Zabuza. Once we have completed what we have been hired to do, I will kill you. Just as I will kill everyone that's standing in my way on that bridge in just a few days." A sadistic smile spread over the man's features as Zabuza stood to his full height despite his pain.
"You can try, and I'll knock you straight back to the ground." The man before Zabuza allowed his grin to stretch wider and reach his eyes. Then he struck out with a vicious kick that sent the Kirigakure shinobi down to his knees. He refused to cry out in pain, however, as the man's foot then slammed into his throat, pinning him to the floor.
"If a child steps up to a true warrior then that child will die. You are nothing but a child to me Zabuza. And trust me, I have ascended past the point of a mere warrior. Even if you could fight at the level of a warrior, I am a god." Zabuza snarled up at his apparent 'comrade' as he smiled insanely down upon the rogue ninja. "Now, I'm going to release you and leave. And I'll see you only on the bridge in two days time. If you get in my way? I will cut you down. Goodbye, Zabuza."
A stared directly across his office, almost as if he were a statue. All traffic to and fro from his office had been subdued. No one was allowed to enter the Raikage's office as he was facing a crisis. Said office lied in shambles, holes decorating the walls, the floors having caved in, people watching the muscular man from the floor underneath. His desk was splintered into thousands of tiny pieces, and there were no windows left in his office. His chair had also been decimated. A sat in the seat, only the seat, of the chair on the floor.
Directly across from the Yondaime Raikage, at his current eye level, a nail had been hammered into his wooden doors. And hung on that door was the exact same mask that he had retrieved from his library office at home. He had never wanted to see that mask again. It taunted him. Always cold, always emotionless. Just like the person underneath the mask. It was well known that the Hei clan, whithin a span of fourty eight hours at the least, of having used their powers felt no emotions.
The only reaction you could get out of them was a grunt of pain, for the most part. Some's power had driven them mad and instead they felt nothing but insanity claiming their minds time and time again until there was no rationality left. It was why the Hei clan had become so feared so quickly. And also why they normally refrained from using their powers. Even those on normal mission used regular jutsu or other special abilities. They refused to use their 'Contractor' abilities as much as possible.
The only ninja that the Raikage knew that had used their powers excessively had been his Contractor Anbu. It had unnerved him at times. Even when their masks had come off, it had been as if they still bore them across their skulls. They showed no emotion. For they had none because of those powers. It was why A felt that the masks mocked him so. When his Contractor Anbu placed those masks on their skulls they became completely different people.
Every single mask had been different and unique to each member of the Contractor Anbu division. But they had all had one thing in common. They stole his shinobi's emotions. They turned them into a hull of a human who felt nothing but pain. Admittedly, it wasn't the mask, but the powers. But the mask was just as guilty. There was no obligation to use the powers of the Hei clan unless that mask was donned upon someone's head.
It was why the mask before him was mocking him. Almost as if it were speaking to him. "You should have listened to me." The mask seemed to say. "I told you not to retire me. Not to retire the Contractor Division. But you did, and now look what's happened. Are you happy now, A? Are these the results that you wanted when you disbanded your own personal division of the Anbu?
"Face the facts, A. This village has needed the Contract powers of the Hei clan since they stepped foot in this village. And you've been denying everyone of that protection for how long now? Tell me. How long has it been since you locked me away in that drawer, A? How long until you told me that you would never take me back out of that drawer? How long!?" A remained silent. The mask wasn't talking to him. It was his own psyche.
He was stressed, and had come to the decision to bring one of the many things he had said he never would back to fruition. And so he came to cope with the aspect of the mask talking to him. Taunting him as it laughed. Pointing out the many flaws that he had preformed. And it all drifted back to the disbanding of the Contractor Anbu. "Don't get comfortable." A snarled under his breath. No one on the floor below him heard, which was a rather good thing at the current moment.
In his current crisis, he didn't need his shinobi and civilians thinking that he had become insane. "Contractor Anbu aren't going to be the same. They'll do regular mission too this time. They're not going to be condemned to you. You're not going to claim their humanity such as you did the last go around. At most, you're an on hand type of thing. For dangerous missions that I need completed immediately. That's it. Don't think I'm turning my shinobi into lifeless shells again. Never again."
Naruto sighed as he stared out of his room's only window. He had relayed his dream, his constant living nightmare, to Miya. He didn't quite know why he did, but he felt a connection of sorts with her. A connection that he hadn't felt since his time with Kagari. He feared to look back at Miya. Because he feared that she would see his emotions. At the present, he was wearing them on his sleeve. It was something he didn't do often on missions. A loud thump brought him to reality as he swirled on his heels.
Miya had fallen to the ground on all fours, panting heavily. Her cheeks were flushed in a similar manor to what had been on Homura and Matsu's faces. The light haired shinobi rushed forwards, sliding across the wooden floor as he grabbed ahold of the purple haired woman's shoulders. "Miya? Miya re you okay!? Can you talk to me?" His medical training was kicking in. Every shinobi in Kumo were taught at least the basics of Medical Ninjutsu. And they were trained to find causes and symptoms of someone whom needed medical attention. Miya's head raised and her brown eyes met Naruto's electric blue.
"I'm sorry. It's just that... You're my Ashikabi." Naruto's eyes widened as they gained a farawar glaze, his mouth opening ever so slightly.
"Why... Why'd you do it, Kagari!?" The silver haired boy smiled faintly.
"You're my Ashikabi."
Miya smiled faintly as she leaned towards Naruto. The boy's eyes lost their glaze, just in time as Miya's lips connect with his own. Immediately, purple wings shot from her back, illuminating the entire room in its darkened state. They grew and expanded as Miya gave a small noise of pleasure, Naruto's eyes widening in complete shock as he observed the wings. As Miya broke the intimate act, Naruto observed her critically. "What exactly was that...?" Miya smiled in an apologetic way.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. You deserve a few answers now that I've allowed myself to be winged by you."
"Winged?" Miya nodded.
"My clan, the one that I said owns this Inn, is a special clan. We're rather secretive for a very specific reason. Our Kekkei Genkai. We call it the Sekirei Kekkei Genkai. Anyone born into our clan is a 'Sekirei'. When we're born, we all have our very own crest somewhere on our backs. And we all have the ability to be winged. To be winged, as you asked, it when a Sekirei find their Ashikabi. Their Ashikabi is the person that a Sekirei reacts to.
"Our crests are what causes us to react to people. They recognize them as the person that we're meant to bond with. That's part of the bloodline. When a Sekirei and their Ashikabi kiss, it is called winging, because of the wings that you witnessed. It bonds a Sekirei to an Ashikabi, for the most part, forever. At that point, our bloodline unleashes the full potential of our powers. Powers are different from every member of our clan, the Minaka Clan. An Ashikabi has the ability to 'wing' more than one Sekirei.
"That's why Kagari, your teammate, said that you were his Ashikabi. He reacted to you. Bear in mind that not all Sekirei and Ashikabi relationships are the same. Where my feelings towrds you as my Ashikabi are romantic, his were more brotherly. There are also very specific rules inside of the Minaka clan. Since we're not actually a close knit clan but descendants of our bloodlines originator spread out through the world, Sekirei normally hold each other in disdain.
"It's almost in our genetic genes to wish to fight each other and prove dominance. Which is why the rules exist. We can't attack each other's Ashikabis, that is strictly forbidden. Some Sekirei have the right to if other Sekirei have spiraled out of control. They are the ones that enforce our clans rules. Sekirei are also not allowed to 'double team' each other. Battles must be one on one, two on two, etc etera."
"So you're a clan, whose bloodline tells them who they're destined to be with, in whatever type of relationship, and then a kiss unleashes your full powers?" Naruto deadpanned as he backpedaled away from his, apparent, Sekirei. "And it can't be broken? You could've warned me about all of this before you invited me to your Inn! I have plenty of things I have to worry about, and now I have to add 'eternal bonds that may or may not grow to be a harem' to my list!" Miya recoiled as tears immediately welled in her eyes.
Naruto's own widened as he bit his tongue. His biggest fault was that he couldn't bear to see women cry. Women not from Konoha anyways. Ever since he was small, he had never been eligible to let the opposite sex sit and cry in front of him. The light haired teen moved fowards with a heavy sigh as he fell back to his knee, wrapping the woman in a hug. "No... calm down... No don't sob! Miya, as your Ashikabi I demand that you not cry!"
The Kumogakure shinobi listened as the woman who threatened to let her tears spill from her eyes mumbled into his bare chest. "No... No I'm not mad Miya, just... Just surprised. Yeah that's the word, surprised. Now quite crying. I don't watch woman cry." The two sat in silence as Miya fought to keep her tears from spilling. A few hiccups escaped her as her body shook in her Ashikabi's grip.
"Well, well, Miya, that's a little cheap, isn't it?" Naruto tensed as he lurched to his feet, Miya still firmly held against his chest as he glared at the figure who had intruded through the window he had been staring out of moments prior. It was a woman,with long light grey hair tied in a pony tail and grey narrow eyes. She was dressed in a tight black leather top, a miniskirt and stockings, and wore a grey haori over her shoulders. She sat on Naruto's temporary window seal, a sword resting in her lap. "You didn't even give the rest of us a chance to get to him first, hm?"
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Naruto questioned with a snarl as he accessed the situation, locating his four swords that he had scattered around the room for just such occasions. Miya smiled gently and patted his arm as she shook her head.
"Naruto, this is Karasuba. She's another of the Sekirei that's reacting to you. You're a rather strong Ashikabi, you know?"
Jiraiya raised his head to the sky and stared at the clouds heatedly for a long moment. THen his facial features broke into a bright grin. He hadn't raised Naruto as he had wanted to, but the boy was his godson, and he had a connection of sorts to the boy... Even if the boy didn't know Jiraiya from Hanzo the Salamander. And he had just walked into a situation that Jiraiya would have been proud of his for. He didn't quite know what that situation was, but he knew. Oh yes, Jiraiya knew very well.
The following morning, Miya watched Naruto's shinobi attire dressed form with concern. After Karasuba's arrival, the grey haired Sekirei had winged herself to Naruto much the same as Miya had. The three had then proceeded in remaining in Naruto's room, the two Sekirei going a little more in depth in explanation of what Naruto's role as an Ashikabi actually meant. Karasuba had proceeded to reveal to Naruto the location of Gato's location to the light haired teen. He had immediately begun dressing himself for battle.
"Are you sure you want to brave this alone?" Miya questioned as Karasuba came to stand beside her. The grey haired woman would never show it, but she was just as concerned for her new Ashikabi. "We are your Sekirei after all. The purpose of our life now is to fight for and with you." Naruto halted in his steps as he glanced over to the purple haired woman.
"I appreciate the sentiments, Miya, Karasuba, but I am a Kumogakure shinobi and am fully capable of handling this situation myself. If you want to make me happy as your 'Ashikabi', keep yourself as far away from Gato's location as you possibly can. And make sure you're both safe. I want to know more about this whole Sekirei/Ashikabi business. I want to know more about where Kagari came from."
"I've seen your Kumo partner." Karasuba spoke up as he began to leave the Inn once again. "Are you sure you shouldn't alert her to what you're doing? This is her mission as well." Naruto shook his head in response as he opened the door. The sun had yet to break up over the horizon.
"Yugito and I made a plan coming into this mission. The mission is in two parts, protect Tazuna and assassinate Gato. There are two of us. One of us was to stay within Tazuna's vicinity at all times. The other was to assassinate Gato. I'm the one that's to assassinate Gato. That's more of my specialty than it is hers. If you're wanting to be 'bonded' to me for the rest of your lives, you'll learn that quickly. My past is stained in blood." The door gently closed behind Naruto as he set off for his destination.
Naruto stood to his feet as he brandished Kagari's katana. "You're dead. You're all dead now. You've killed my brother, and now I'll kill you. An eye for an eye. A heart for a heart. A soul for a soul." The large man whom held the sword that had pierced through Kagari laughed harshly.
"I'm Abirama Redder of Konohagakure No Sato you little fucker! You're not going to do anything to me! You know what? If you guys kill this runt, I might just let you rape his blonde friend over there!"
Yugito awoke with a start, panting heavily. It was that dream again. She didn't have it often, but when she did, Naruto was always about to do something dangerous. Which meant that he was more than likely setting out to assassinate Gato. She hoped he succeeded. She lay back down in her futon as she ignored the light sounds of the sleeping Konoha Kunoichi. She remembered that day all to well. After that, Naruto had rushed them all, and slaughtered them. Lightning rang down from the heavens with no use of jutsu or techniques whatsoever. As if Raiden himself was assisting Naruto in battle.
That had been the moment Naruto had begun to hate Konoha. Perhaps the seeds had been planted when his had met his mentor, C. But it had truly began when that man had identified himself as a Konohagakure shinobi. Naruto had condemned the entire shinobi village because of the men claiming his best friend/brother figure's life. Had raged for days, training nonstop with the vow that he would eradicate the entire village. It had taken many people and many attempts to calm the Jinchuriki. A sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes in an attempt to get more sleep.
The mercenary known as Alpacacino sighed angrily as he stood in front of Gato's headquarters door. He was the only guard that had gotten stuck with guard dut that night. It infuriated him to no end. Everyone else was geeting prepared for the planned raid of Tazuna's bridge. But not Alpacacino. No, he was stuck guarding a door. Another sigh escaped him as he began to scratch his arms. The itch wouldn't subsides so he scratched harsher.
Blood escaped his arms as his nails peeled away at his skin. He couldn't stop his arms! They were working one theri own accord! They pierced down into the inside of his arms, touching pain as pain flared throughout him like a wild fire. He fell to his knees screaming in pain. As he did so, Naruto dropped down next to him, landing a vicious blow to the back of his neck with a sickening crack. There was no blood covering the man. A simple genjutsu, easily breakable by even the most ignorant of genin. Naruto snorted in disdain.
As Naruto entered the headquarters and marched to the top room, he found a man sitting in the brain of the operation's chair. But he was definately not Gato. He was tall, muscular man with a medium-dark tan. He has short black hair in spikes to the back. He had the letters DSMK tattooed above his right eye, which was covered by an eyepatch. His outfit consisted of dark blue pants with a black belt and a black, long coat. He grinned sadistically at Naruto's appearance. "Well hey there kid. You know I've been awaiting your arrival for some time now?"
"Are you the second mercenary that Gato's been rumored to hire?"
"I could be... But I'm not. I'm the third that know one knows about. The one that's going to kill you." Naruto tensed as the man stood to his feet. "Get ready punk... I'm gonna hit you dead center in your heart." A knife protruded from the man's sleeve. Naruto prepared himself for it to come at him. He was shocked however when the man slit his own wrists. And even more so as the blood didn't fall or pour, but floated around him in the air. It almost seemed like the powers of Kumo's almost deceased Hei clan. But it wasn't. Naruto had known all of those members personally.
"Some power you got there." Naruto commented as he removed his Dao swords expertly. "Mind telling me who I'm facing before I decpitate you?" The man's sadistic grin widened farther.
"You're facing Senji Kiyomasa, Crow of the Ganta Clan!" Naruto nodded slowly. He didn't know a Ganta clan off the top of his head, but that could wait until later. Now, he had to beat this self proclaimed Crow into the graveyard. No more words were spoken as Naruto rushed forwards. The man slung his arm wildly, the blood shooting out to whipe Naruto across the face. It burned like a raging fire as he was forced to stumble backwards, the man laughing at his pain. Naruto twirled his right sword into a reverse grip as he cracked his neck explosively.
He hadn't believed that the blood would take a solidified form. He wouldn't make that same mistake twice. He rushed forwards again, the whips of blood once again shooting at him. Naruto ducked underneath the whips, his foot lashing out at the man's abdomen. He jumped away just in time, his whips of blood cracking off of Naruto's back violently. The light haired shinobi arched his back and grit his teeth. That was twice.
The blood came sailing at him, though he rushed forwards and slid underneath them. His foot lashed out, slamming into the man's shin. He screamed as Naruto lurched upwards, driving his fist into the man's chest. He stumbled back, out of breath, as Naruto came at his again. He blocked Naruto's neck strike with his bleeding left arm before delivering his own to the platinum/blond's solar plexus. Naruto choked before spinning, his foot driving into the man's gut. Senji bent over in pain as Naruto's foot slammed into the side of his skull.
The older man's vision became blurry as he fell to one knee. Naruto's arm swung in an arch to behead the man. He was stopped by the whips of blood as they wrapped around his body before dragging him up into a crucifix formation. Senji chuckled violently as he wipe a stream of blood away from his mouth. "Wow, I thought that'd last longer. I've heard so much about you. All of the rumors of how strong you were. I guess they were just that though, weren't they? Rumors and myths and lies!"
Naruto said nothing as the blood whips threatened to crush his very being. His Dual Dao swords clanged to the ground loudly. "What's the matter? Crow got your tongue? You thought it'd just be that easy didn't you? Kill one guard outside and then kill Gato? No, you see, he's a smart man. That's why he hired me to kill you. I did it for free. Why? Because I've wanted to fight you for the longest time. I know all about who you are and who you've worked for. The prospect of fighting you got me so excited.
"And then it turns out to be a blunder. The Hakkinkaku of the Kaku clan? The supposed Jinchuriki of the Kyubi No Kitsune? Naruto of Kumo? Are you truly him, or an imposter? Or was it all lies to boast your and Kumo's reputations. Come on. you can tell me. Don't take these secrets to the grave with you! Let someone in on them! And who better than the guy taking you out of this world!?" Again, Naruto said nothing causing the man to snarl in frustration. The whips grew tighter around the whisker marked Ashikabi as Senji bent down to retrieve one of Naruto's Dao swords.
"Not gonna talk, huh? Keeping a tight lid on all of Kumo's secrets? You should've spilled your guts to me kid. I might've let you live. Who the fuck am I kidding, I kill little liars like you before breakfast! So you know what I'm gonna do to you? Hm? Well, first I'm gonna cut you up, real bad. Real real bad. Then I'm gonna smash the majority of your bones down into dust! Then I'm gonna slice you open. And just before you completely bleed out, I know how long it takes, I've timed it, I'm gonna crush your throat with my whips.
"That way, not only are you going to die feeling your inside spill from within you, but your going to suffocate. And I'm going to enjoy it the entire time. Hell, who knows, I might just get off on this one! Well, it's been real, and it's been fun... But it ain't been real fun brat. So here you go. Just like I promised! It's time I hit you dead center!"
"Before you do." Naruto choked out, the whips lessening as Kenji smirked.
"I knew you'd see it my way. Go ahead, I like my victims spilling their guts out to me. It's like foreplay."
"I was testing you." Senji frowned deeply. "Testing the powers of the so called 'Ganta Clan'. They surpassed what I expected them to be upon first glance. I'm sorry I didn't truly take our battle seriously. I would have liked to drag your death out more. But I'm afraid I don't have time to squabble with you any longer. Chidori Nagashi!" Black Lightning shot from Naruto's body, illuminating the immediate area, as it entered Shinji's own body. The man screamed in pain as he fell to both knees, dropping Naruto's Dao.
The whips of blood splashed to the ground as Naruto dropped to his feet, retrieving his swords. They were immediately at Shinji's throat, inan 'X' fashion. "So you got me, huh...? I should've known better. You're every bit as manipulative as the rumors say you are. You pulled the strings the entire fight. And I didn't even realize. Well kid, any words before you send me off to hell?"
"... When you get there, and they ask you how you died, tell them you got hit dead center." The man chuckled sadistically at the words. Then the swords jerked from their positions in a sissor like fashion. Senji's head rolled off of his body and onto the floor. "Another clan like the Hei Clan? Who would've guessed? How has the Minaka and Ganta clans gone under the radars for so long...?"
Chapter four done. Important Plot wise: So at first this was a strictly Naruto fanfiction. But then I got to typing and I started thinking about my other favorite anime's. And I didn't really want to stick strictly to Naruto's plot cause I've done that a lot. And in a story where Naruto isn't in Konoha, I get stuck around or after the Chunin exams. I needed some plots to fall back on. So here are the Animes that I've crossed over with so far. The 'Minaka Clan' is my crossover with Sekirei. Totally recommend to watch it, but it's kinda perverted. Like Rosario Vampire. The 'Ganta Clan' is a corssover from Deadman Wonderland.
The 'Contractor Anbu' are a crossover with Darker Than Black as I've already explained. And the Alpacacino guy? I found the name by typing in 'List of anime filler characters' and it was on a One Piece sight... I don't know if it's a guy or a girl or whatever. And Abirama Redder is from Bleach. Basically, I was looking for a guy who looked like a dick and that I knew for certain I wasn't going to use later in the story... He fit the bill. Up until this chapter, I hadn't even decided to add Sekirei into the plot.
But when I'm typing these, it doesn't tell me how many words so I go by KB's. For this story I've been aiming for 57 KB's per chapter. At least. SO I got like to 20 KB and was like 'shit I ain't got nothing to put down! I've already worn the mask out, it ain't saying shit to A now! What do I do!?' And so I was like 'fuck it, time to go Sekirei'. Which isn't bad. I've been wanting to write a Naruto/Sekirei fanfiction for a while, I just feel too lazy to start another story after writing so many chapters for this one. Plus I don't want to have to write that damn disclaimer again!
As for chapters, I'm so close to finishing the Land of Waves Arch it isn't even funny. Matter of fact, you can look forward to the battle starting next chapter. I wanted to start it on chapter five and so I will. So I'll probably have the entire Wave arch complete before I post this story. Which is great for anyone who actually likes the crap I've been writing nonstop for three days straight. It's frickin' 12:14 right now... AM... But anyways, bad for me cause Everytime I post a story I refuse to use my Email account.
Because I'm afraid of flaming... You can laugh at me now...