Birds of a Feather
Disclaimer: I still do not own Naruto, just like I didn't for the last few chapters!
On a side note, the poll for the pairings is up on my profile now! Remember; four girls!
On another note, this chapter may be deleted, and replaced, depending on the reaction; if the reaction sucks, I'll assume I've screwed up, and try again. I am indifferent towards this chapter, so I don't really care.
"Ahh… Ramen… Food of the gods…" muttered the blond as he finished draining his fourth bowl. "I'll have another one, Ossan!"
"I ain't old kid!" called the shop's owner, but a grin was on his face. He'd never seen a kid demolish his food so quickly with so much relish.
The boy had appeared at his shop, literally starved, but as soon as the sweet broth and noodles touched his lips, he appeared to course with energy. That and the kid was practically fork-loading his money to the man. He had a new favourite customer!
The village Naruto had arrived at was Yamagakaru no Sato (Village hidden in the Mountains.)
Due to the ever-growing popularity of Konoha, the village's ninja population had suffered a great blow, practically shutting down all ninja business. Currently, the main source of income came from freelance guilds surrounding the town, where either ninja or samurai went to accept posts which some may find rather distressing.
But as a result, most businesses of Yama suffered terribly. So seeing four customers in at once, one being a ramen-fanatic, seemed like a blessing to the ramen-salesman.
Two twins, each with ebony hair, were sitting to the far right of the stall. One seemed to be talking fanatically, while the other simply leant back on his seat his large leather cap pulled over his eyes, a trace of bangs visible under the brim.
The other member of the stall had a similar hairstyle to that of the two twins, but donned an attitude similar to the cap wearing twin. He had simply ordered a glass of water, and had sat their peacefully.
He wore a pale blue kimono, and had dark chocolate brown eyes, one hidden by his long bangs.
Naruto meanwhile had annihilated his fifth bowl, and then began to pat his belly with satisfaction. "Like I said, ramen; food of the gods."
"Would you like a desert? Perhaps some ice cream? We do have a fine selection." The owner of the shop seemed eager to keep hold of his fine new customer.
Naruto shrugged. "Um… Can I have the vanilla? Two scoops please!"
The man nodded, a Cheshire-cat grin spreading wide on his face. As the man began to prepare the creamy treat, he asked casually what the kid was doing out in this desolate part of the Fire country.
The blond shrugged, and then stared up at the sky. "I'm training. I want to become stronger. I made a promise that I'd be the best ninja in fire country. I don't care how. I'm gonna do it!"
At this, the kimono wearing man cast a single chocolate eye in the boy's direction. "You say you wish to become strong?" he spoke in a tone which implied heavy boredom, but which contained an air of sorrow.
Naruto looked at the man, perplexed. "Eh? Yeah, I wanna be strong!"
A small smile crept onto the man's face. "I see. You remind me of someone I once knew. He was carefree, careless, and a dreamer. Just like you." He placed his glass of water down on the counter. "He died a long time ago."
The jinchuriki flinched at the man's emotionless tone. "My teacher risked his life to train me." Whispered Naruto. "And he lost it doing so. I'm not going to let something like happen to someone close to me ever again. That's why I've gotta be strong."
The man sighed. "Idle thinking boy. You obviously do not understand my meaning. Just saying you wish to become strong proves nothing. Some say they wish to be god, but only amount to worm-food. Some say they wish to die and live long and full lives." He removed a small pipe-like object from his belt, along with a carton of some fluid. He then proceeded to pour an amount of fluid into the pipe, and brought the item to his lips. "My point is simple. Saying something means nothing in the world of shinobi. One must prove their actions."
A bowl of ice cream was placed in front of Naruto, in a quick attempt to block a fight issuing between the mysterious man and the hyperactive six-year old.
"What would you know about it then?" growled Naruto, as he shoved a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. "You're quick to shun me, but aren't you just saying that? For all you know, I'm stronger than everyone in this village!"
The man blew lightly into the pipe, causing a few bubbles to flow out of its edge, before floating up into the slowly darkening sky. "My name is Utakata. I have lived twenty seven years and killed many people. Some call me a monster, some think of me as a saint." He began to blow some more bubbles. "I am content with my level of strength. If someone challenges me, I will fight, not caring of the outcome. To me, actions do not matter anymore." He stood up. "Take my advice; do not lead your life on promises. Friendship can only get you so far, and it usually leaves you dead in a gutter. Goodbye, boy."
As he walked forward, he slipped the pipe behind his back, just in time to block Naruto's charged-fist from slamming into his back. The boy was glaring at the man. "I don't care who you are, teme…" muttered Naruto. "But if you insult my promise." For the briefest of moments, his eyes flashed a pale lilac. "I'll kill you."
The bar had gone quiet now. The cap-less twin who'd been talking was looking at the two, with a mixture of worry and admiration. The twin with a leather cap was staring intently at Naruto with his one crimson eye, no emotion visible in his dark pupils.
The barman simply looked worried.
"Tell me, boy. Have you killed before?"
Naruto didn't answer, but for a moment, his stance faltered as the image of Gin whimpering appeared in his head. He remembered being angry beyond thought, without even feeling anything when he'd decapitated the man.
"I was a ninja of Kiri once. For a while I remembered names, faces, ages, everything. But after awhile, everything faded into a blur. It became routine." He took advantage of Naruto's falter, to push the boy back, then face him directly, still holding the pipe at an angle so the liquid inside did not fall out. "Killing me wouldn't help you in any way. For a moment, you'd feel satisfaction. Then perhaps regret. But eventually, you'd forget."
Naruto's eyes soften for a second, and he lowered his arms, and stopped channelling chakra into his hands. "I… Wouldn't forget."
Utakata raised a soft eyebrow. "It must be nice to hold such an innocent concept." The man whispered. Another light smile appeared on his face. "Tell me, boy… What is your name?"
The blond suddenly grinned, his sorrow again forgotten. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki!"
At this, the cap wearing teen at the bar seemed to tense ever-so-slightly, so only his twin noticed. The gentler twin grabbed his brother's shoulder.
"Settle down, Ranpu." He whispered, in a soothing tone.
The silent teen glared, but began to relax.
Utakata closed his eye, and allowed himself a deep sigh. "Naruto Uzumaki, huh?" he turned on his heels and began to walk away. "It was nice meeting you, Uzumaki-san. We should talk again."
XXX
"Man… Everything here… IS TOO EXPENSIVE!" roared our favourite blond, as he stared at the large roster, with various scraps of papers pinned roughly to it.
The young jinchuriki, in all his wisdom, had heard snippets of info on Yama's local guild, 'The Black Nail'.
Guilds, like ninja villages, accepted requests often featuring certain requirements and boundaries. Completing the request meant money. Larger guilds sat on borders of the elemental villages, often publishing Bingo books on the local Kage's order. The bounties were then posted on the guild's roster.
Of course, to take a request, you needed to pay the guild, that way they were able to keep within budget. Smaller guilds often existed in common places, such as pubs or restaurants.
This guild was a whole building which contained a pub. But, as you can guess, a highly respectable guild would lose a fair lot of credit if all its mission requests were cheap. So Naruto had begun his rant.
"Come on! Give me a discount!"
"What are you, five? Piss off kid." Snapped the bald attendant who sat beside the roster. Under his arms was a large studded club.
"I'm going no where, baldy!" yelled Naruto.
A tick appeared on the man's head. "You've really started to piss me off brat."
He slowly got to his feet, and hefted the large club over his shoulders. "I don't like getting violent with children, but if ya keep annoying me, I'll flatten you."
"Like you'd be able to catch me, fatty!" roared the now furious blond. His previous interaction with Utakata had not only annoyed him, it had made him far easier to aggravate.
"Why you-" the man was about to swing his club, and Naruto about to charge at him with his fists charged, when a man walked in between them.
"I'm sorry, sir. I promised to get the boy a request; he must have let the excitement get to his head." Said the newcomer. "I sincerely apologise." He bopped Naruto on the head, causing the boy to fall over with surprise. "See what you did, Nii-chan? Apologise to the nice man!"
"Nii-san?" when Naruto recovered his balance, he realised the newcomer was one of the twin's from the bar earlier, namely the cap-less one. He was grinning ever so slightly.
When Naruto met his gaze, he winked, conveying the silent message of "Just play along!"
"Jeez, Onii-san, why'd you spoil my fun?" groaned Naruto, in the most painstaking voice he could muster.
The twin proceeded to ruffle Naruto's hair, then smile at the large attendant. "Sorry if he annoyed you sir. Come along, Nii-chan." He then grabbed Naruto by the arm, and yanked him over to a table. "You really know how to get yourself into trouble, don't ya?" he said, with a grin. "The name's Yami, but you can call me Onii-san." He chuckled at Naruto's glare.
"Why'd you help me?" muttered the jinchuriki.
Yami shrugged, and slumped onto a chair. "I dunno. Seemed like the smart thing to do I guess. But there is something I should say." He cast his one visible eye onto Naruto. "Don't mess with people here. They'd as soon as rip your head off for a Ryo note let alone an insult." Then grin returned to his face. "I was impressed with what you said to that kimono guy earlier. You're a real tough kid. You said you wanted to be strong, didn't ya?" he pulled a crumpled piece of paper out his pocket. "It's not so hard, but it's pay out will be enough for two night's lodging in an Inn."
Naruto snatched the paper, and scanned it eagerly. It was a simple delivery mission, not much to it.
"I know it may look small, but if you were serious about becoming a strong ninja, you should probably try to survive first. What did that philosopher say again? 'The Journey of a Thousand Miles starts with the first step'." He grinned. "See ya round, 'Nii-chan'." Yami then began to cackle at Naruto's rage-filled glare, before disappearing in the midst of the crowd.
The young blond watched him leave, then glanced back down at the mission. He was required to make a basic trip from one side of the town to another in about an hour. The mission, in all aspects, was a D-class.
XXX
"Why do you keep meddling?" came a calm voice.
Yami stopped, and turned round, seeing his cap-wearing twin leaning against the wall of the guild, his one eye transfixed on his brother.
"Ranpu! You scared the hell out of me!" cried Yami, happily.
"Do not change the subject, Nii-san." Said Ranpu, in a deadly tone. "Why have you helped the Uzumaki?"
Yami frowned slightly. "Because it's my duty."
The next thing he knew, Ranpu's hand was clenched around his throat. In the swift movements, the bangs in front of his right eye shifted slightly, revealing a violet eye, with a spiral tattoo encircling the socket. In the iris, instead of a pupil, was the kanji for 'Duty'.
Yami began to gag slightly, as his brother lifted him into the air, glaring daggers at him. "N-Nii-san…" he groaned. "L-Let go…"
The dark haired teen grunted, then removed his grip, and stepped back, giving his twin breathing room. "Do not talk to that boy again, or I will kill you myself." With that, he turned around, adjusting the leather hat so its shadow darkened his face.
Yami stared after his brother, rubbing his neck which was now slightly bruised. "Nii-san…"
XXX
I look upon this as a bridge chapter, basically here to move the plot a teensy bit, then have no more uses whatsoever. It was also the debut of Naruto's new sensei, by popular demand: Utakata, the Six-Tailed Jinchuriki.
Again, the poll for the pairing is up on my profile, and again, I implore you to not vote for Hinata (Or Sakura/Ino for that matter. Naruto with them is the most spammed pairings in the history of Naruto fanfic's!!)
Right now in the lead are Mei and Fuu. Remember to review!