"Masaru!" Kenji whispered loudly as he threw a twig at his sleeping older brother. The fire was starting to die down slowly, and the woods slowly became darker and darker with each passing minute.

Masaru sat straight up with a kunai tightly in his grasp. When he realized there were no enemies, he lowered his hand and looked at Kenji. "D-Don't scare me like that…" he hissed before laying back down, running a hand through his odd coloured hair. "What do you want?"

"Scared?" Kenji shook his head. "The fire is dying, I'm going to head out for more branches; didn't want you to worry if you woke up and I wasn't around." He winked and stood up, stretching and heading into the woods.

Masaru rolled his eyes as he looked up at the stars, listening as he heard Kenji walk off, singing to himself.

"Furimuita sono ushiro no; shoumen daare? Kurayami ni tsume o tatete - yoru o hikisaita. Amadare wa chi no shizuku to natte hoho o tsutai ochiru. Mou doko ni mo kaeru basho ga nai nara." Kenji sang into the darkness as he walked along, leaning down to pick up branches.

Masaru smirked and laughed before echoing the lyrics back. "Behind where I looked back; Who's in the front? In the dark, I sank in my nails - and tore apart the night. The raindrops turn into droplets of blood and travel down my cheeks. If there's no place for me to return to anywhere anymore."

Kenji closed his eyes partly and chuckled. "I thought you didn't like to sing, brother." His voice echoed through the tree's, retreating to Masaru's ears clearly.

Masaru shrugged and laughed. "I don't mind it once in a while."

Kenji shrugged and continued on. "Kono yubi tomare watashi no yubi ni. Sono yubi goto tsurete tte ageru. Higurashi ga naku akazu no mori e. Atomodori wa mou dekinai."

Masaru smiled and he moved his arms behind his head and closed his eyes, echoing back again. "Take these fingers, my fingers. I'll take you away with all of your fingers. To the unopened forest where cicadas cry. I can't turn back anymore."

Kenji returned to where Masaru still laid on the ground beside the fire. He carefully placed the branches into the fire; it didn't take long for the fire to burn brighter again.

"Being extinguished one by one; the blue flames." Kenji murmured.

"Beyond the darkness, the morning won't come anymore." Masaru sang back.

"Inside the mirror, with countless wriggling hands reaching out." Kenji sang a bit louder.

"Come on, lure someone here." Masaru smirked, catching Kenji's gaze.

Kenji smirked back and leaned back. "How long has it been, brother?"

Masaru closed his eyes. "Hm… a few days I believe… not too many people travel these paths."

Kenji sighed. "Why don't we travel to one of the major lands?"

Masaru laughed. "Like what, The Land of Fire? I suppose we could, I mean… I'm up for a challenge… and I'm always hearing that there are good shinobi there."

Kenji smiled and closed his eyes. "Perfect."

Silence settled between the two and not too long after, Masaru fell back asleep. Two hours after midnight, Kenji allowed the fire to die, and he went to sleep himself. As soon as the sun had risen past the horizon, Kenji's eyes opened and he sat up. Masaru still slept to his right and Kenji sighed. He hardly ever got a decent night of sleep, and he envied Masaru for that reason.

Masaru stirred in his sleep, rolling over onto his stomach with a grunt. He yawned as he opened one eye to glance at his younger brother who was already sitting up. "Can't sleep again?" Masaru asked with another yawn.

Kenji sighed and shook his head. "Never can." He slowly got to is feet and squinted in the sun's direction. "To the Land of Fire?"

Masaru sighed and nodded as he moved to a sitting position, running his hand through his shaggy hair. His other hand rested on his chest to feel one of the many scars covering his body. "It's a long walk. We may need to stop a few times…"

Kenji nodded and smirked at his brothers double meaning. "Of course, we can't just let people pass us with showing them who we are."

Masaru smiled and looked up to his brother. "I think we've done well since everything occurred ten years ago…"

Kenji nodded as he reached for his cloak and pulled it on. He pulled up the mask hanging around his neck just above his nose and turned to look at Masaru. "How can they forget about the red-cloaked - scarred dual pair?" Kenji smirked.

Masaru laughed slightly as he moved to his feet. "I don't think it's possible. I'm sure we're almost as feared as the Akatsuki… if not more." He smirked as he picked up his backpack.

Kenji let out a laugh and pulled up his hood, thinking back to the first pair of pathetic Akatsuki members their leader had sent to force them to join that pitiful group. They posed no threat to the brothers, but they allowed one to escape to report to their leader the fear of what possessed the Shi brothers.

"You think they'll send more?" Kenji laughed.

"If that pathetic leader of theirs is smart, they won't, but we both know they're not smart." He laughed and moved to his brothers side. "I'm sure he'll try again soon. Maybe this time it'll be a challenge…" He smirked.

Kenji rolled his eyes. "That'd be a surprise. Ready?"

Masaru nodded. "Always."

The two of them left for the Land of Fire with high expectations of their Shinobi. It took a few hours for the brothers to reach the land, and as they walked around, Kenji began to smile.

"I don't think we've ever been to this land, Masaru." Kenji laughed. "Completely different from the Land of Demons."

Masaru laughed and nodded. "It has a… happy feeling… I dislike it highly…"

Kenji rolled his eyes and looked at his brother. "Of course. Learn to enjoy it, Masaru… seeing as we will destroy it."

Masaru shrugged. "I'm not after the village, just its Shinobi…"

Kenji shrugged. "If I didn't like the travelling so much, I'd say let's destroy the entire villages people and take it for our own dwellings."

Masaru laughed. "In good time, little brother. I want to get a good fill of travelling before we claim a village as our own."

Kenji smiled and lifted his eyes up to the sun. "I don't like this land, though." He turned his head down to look ahead and spotted two figures in the distance, walking away from them.

"Masaru…it's our first kill in the Land of Fire."

Masaru nodded. "How you want to go about this one, bro? Quick and easy? Or slow and difficult?"

Kenji shrugged. "How about we enjoy ourselves? We'll go with slow and difficult; I like a challenge - if they'll pose one."

Masaru shrugged and nodded. "Which one you want? The blonde or raven?"

Kenji looked between the two shinobi. "The…" He narrowed his eyes. "I'll go with the raven."

Masaru shrugged and nodded. "Alright, I'll take the blonde… he looks easy anyway."

Kenji laughed. "Alright."

"Well, seeing as we haven't had Ramen in a while, I guess I'll accompany you." Shikamaru shrugged, reaching his hands behind his head.

Naruto grinned. "Really Shikamaru? That'd be awesome!"

Shikamaru nodded and looked up to the sky. He squinted as the sun came out from behind a cloud and blind him. He shielded his eyes and turned them back down to the ground. "Troublesome." He sighed and slowed down to a stop. "Naruto…do you feel something?"

Naruto blinked in surprise as he came to a stop beside Shikamaru. "N-No… why?"

Shikamaru looked around the area carefully and widened his eyes. Quickly, he pushed Naruto back as a spike past between them where Naruto once stood. A chuckle came from their right and the two Shinobi turned to see two males; one in a red-cloak with a black mask, and another with bandages covering parts of his face with scars littering his body. Shikamaru narrowed his eyes at he two.

"Naruto…" He murmured under his breath and glanced at the male. "It's the Shi brothers."

Naruto kept his eyes narrowed on the red-cloaked male. "Wh-Who are they?" He asked quietly.

Shikamaru paused for a moment as he stared blankly at Naruto. "…The Shi brothers."

Naruto shrugged. "Never heard of them before…"

"Never heard of us? Lame." The scarred male chuckled.

Kenji sighed. "I guess it's time to leave our mark on this dumb blonde."

Masaru nodded. "I actually feel offended." He smirked.

Shikamaru's lips parted and he shook his head. "Naruto," Shikamaru motioned towards the hooded male. "That's Kenji Shi," He motioned to the other beside Kenji. "And that's Masaru Shi." He murmured.

"I still don't get the big deal. They look bozo's to me…" Naruto stated.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes and sighed. He hadn't expected Naruto to understand Shikamaru's reasoning, but the blonde was going to get them killed. "Naruto, they're two of the strongest Shinobi in our world. You're going to get us killed if you continue to talk."

Naruto glanced over at Shikamaru and smirked. "Strongest Shinobi? They clearly have never heard of me!"

Masaru raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "What an idiot… how dumb is he?" He murmured to Kenji.

"It's such a shame that the world knows about Naruto Uzumaki without him having to make his mark, but we've been doing it for ten years now, and our name isn't as known." Kenji sighed.

"Y-You know my name?" Naruto asked, shocked.

Masaru laughed. "Of course. You're the nine-tails Jinchuriki. You're the person the Akatsuki is after…" Masaru's eyes widened as he looked to Kenji. "I have an idea… what if we take him before Pain? He'd sure be mad…" He smirked.

Kenji's lips slowly turned into a smirk as he eyed Naruto. "I think it's brilliant. We'll show that pathetic loser whose stronger."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. "Naruto, we have to get back to the village. We are in no position to fight back, especially since it's only the two of us."

Naruto looked from Shikamaru then back to the brothers. "B-But they don't look like they're gonna let us go…"

Masaru laughed. "Good boy… you're starting to catch on."

Shikamaru shook his head. "How troublesome." He murmured as he watched the two enemies carefully. "We'll have to fight for a way of escape." He whispered.

Naruto nodded as he looked back to the brothers. Masaru smirked as he pulled out a kunai. "I'm ready, are you, Kenji?"

Kenji stepped away from his brother a few steps and nodded. "Raven, you're mine."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes on Kenji. "Naruto, we have to keep these two together. If we separate from each other, we will be vulnerable. Remember, team work."

Naruto nodded slowly. "Have any plans?"

Shikamaru nodded. "I'm thinking through a few plans. I may have one that will work. When I give the signal, retreat towards the village."

Naruto nodded as he pulled his hands together. "Shadow clone jutsu!"

About five more Naruto's appeared and surrounded the area. Masaru laughed. "This is pathetic!"

Kenji shrugged. "At least it's one to five. I only have one - what a shame." He turned to Shikamaru and waved. "Oh well, we'll have fun, won't we?"

Shikamaru remained silent as he searched through his mind about everything he had learned of the Shi brother's. Not much was known since no one had really escaped to report, but Shikamaru knew enough.

Kenji shrugged and placed his hands together in a seal. "Forbidden Summoning Technique: Fire Rats." A bunch of rats engulfed in fire came running out of the nearby bush and charged at Shikamaru. Shikamaru's eyes widened as he jumped up into the tree nearby. It didn't really do anything, because when the rats came after him t the tree, the tree began to light on fire quickly. He quickly jumped from the tree to the ground and jumped away from the chasing rats. He ran to some nearby water and jumped into the river, the rats chasing quickly. They jumped towards Shikamaru and landed on his clothing. He quickly swatted them into the water and dunked under to stop the fire.

Kenji was laughing as Shikamaru came from the river soaking wet. "Pathetic."

Shikamaru sighed and scratched the back of his neck. "You're bothersome."

Masaru smirked at Shikamaru before facing one of Naruto's clones. "So, guess I better start this…" He murmured as he lifted his hands.

Naruto's eyes narrowed when suddenly darkness formed around Masaru's feet and spikes lurched out at every clones Masaru could see. Naruto gasped as a spike went through his shoulder, all his clones disappearing. Masaru chuckled and turned to face Naruto.

"See? Pathetic." Masaru stated, steeping closer.

Naruto grunted and tried to move out of the spike, however the spike formed itself on the exit wound so Naruto couldn't slip out of it.

"Naruto!" Shikamaru shouted and formed a seal. "

Kagemane no Jutsu."

The shadow around him outstretched towards the two males and caught both of their shadows; neither of the two bothering to move away. He stepped backwards, and the two stepped backwards as well. The black spike disappeared from Naruto, freeing him.

"Hey, brother, this is quite interesting." Kenji smiled over at his brother.

Masaru smirked. "Indeed. Don't think I've witnessed this before… shame though. I was so close to finishing the blonde."

Naruto grunted again as he held his shoulder and moved to Shikamaru. "Wh-What was that thing?" He growled.

Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders, making the other two shrug as well. "I have no idea, but I don't like it."

Masaru laughed. "It's part of our kekkei genkai you idiots."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes, taking a quick mental note.

"Haraguroi Himitsu." Kenji smirked. "And it wants you."

Shikamaru shook his head and turned to Naruto. "I don't like these two at all."

Naruto nodded as he winced. "M-Me neither. W-We need to report to Grandma Tsunade…"

Shikamaru nodded in agreement.

Kenji shook his head. "You're not going anywhere." Kenji smirked and forced his head to look at his brother. "Seeing as we're a little caught, shall we retrieve a few people to help?"

Masaru smirked. "I think so."

"Wh-What? You can't get anyone like that!" Naruto hissed.

In unison the two brothers closed their eyes and lowered their heads, murmuring together, "

Doton Soseijutsu: Shishi Dojō - Earth Release Resurrection Technique: Corpse Soil."

Slowly, from all around, corpses emerged from the soil and turned towards Shikamaru and Naruto. Shikamaru widened his eyes as he looked around at the corpses of dead shinobi who have long ago died. "N-Naruto…" Shikamaru whispered, stepping back towards the blonde.

Naruto nodded slowly. "Th-This is freaky…"

Shikamaru nodded. One of the zombies nearby lurched at Shikamaru, causing him to break the Jutsu in order to protect himself. He quickly pulled a kunai from his pocket and drove it into the corpses neck. The corpses grunted and fell away to dust.

"They're easy to kill, Naruto." Shikamaru sighed with relief.

"B-But if we have to watch for these things, how do we get to those guys?" Naruto gasped as he looked to the smirking brothers who were now free.

Shikamaru nodded, watching the zombies advancing around them as well as the two brothers. "They're clearly kinjutsu users, -"

"Y-You mean those forbidden techniques no one is supposed to use?" Naruto gasped as he slashed at a zombie with a kunai.

Shikamaru nodded. "I've heard of this technique, and the only way to intercept it is to kill the two brothers, or else hey have to stop it themselves."

"Which we won't be." The two brothers spoke in unison, smirked and then laughed.

"Alright, Naruto." Shikamaru stepped closer to Naruto as he slashed at the onslaught of zombies. More and more were beginning to surround them, and Shikamaru knew they could only fight these for so long.

"This will be our escape plan for now. Use your shadow clones to push back the group, especially towards the two brothers. I will use my shadow imitation jutsu to hold the two brothers, and I want you to use shadow clones to tackle them until we can leave." Shikamaru whispered to Naruto.

Naruto nodded and winced as he pulled his hands together. "Sh-Shadow clone jutsu!" A large group of Naruto clones appeared around Shikamaru and Naruto and started to fight against the zombies, pushing them back towards the brothers. "N-Now, Shikamaru!" Naruto stated.

Shikamaru knelt down quickly, facing the two brothers and made his hand seal. Kenji watched as the shadow advance and stepped back behind one of the zombies with curiosity. Masaru quickly jumped up to grab onto a branch as he kept his eyes locked on the shadow with curiosity. Shikamaru smirked and let out a laugh as his shadow connected to Masaru's shadow. The other stem of shadow connected with the zombies shadow, causing it to stop, but continued from that zombies shadow to Kenji's. "Check mate." He smirked.

"Huh." Kenji grunted. "This is quite interestingly fun."

Masaru laughed and nodded. "And I thought it only worked if the person was on the ground… guess I was wrong."

Kenji nodded. "It runs by shadows, so it's only our shadow he needs."

Masaru smirked. "Hey, Kenji, what if there was no shadow for him to get? Guess that'd make the raven kinda useless…"

Kenji nodded and smirked as his eyes slowly turned to black, darkness spreading itself around his body and floating outwards. Masaru smiled as he closed his own eyes. He reopened them and they had also faded to black, darkness now spilling from his body as well.

Shikamaru's eyes widened as the shadow retreat, save from the one attached to the zombie, but he broke it off. He shook his head and started o attack the nearby zombies. "They're a lot stronger than I thought, Naruto." Shikamaru murmured.

Naruto nodded. "Shikamaru, head back to the village. I can cover for you…"

Shikamaru shook his head. "No, I was put in charge, Naruto. I'm to protect you." Shikamaru stated.

Naruto growled. "Shut up, Shikamaru! Just go! Someone needs to go back and report - I have more chakra than you, I can hold out longer!"

Kenji smirked. "Neither of you are getting away!" He laughed as the darkness began to retreat back into his body. Shikamaru quickly took opportunity to capture him with his shadow again. The shadow began to sneak up his leg and wrap itself around the males body.

Kenji's eye twitched as he watched the shadow advance up his body. "Masaru, this is quite different."

Masaru's eyes were still black as he smirked. "Wonder if it's a clan thing…"

Kenji nodded. "It would be very useful - and it fits with Haraguroi Himitsu." Kenji chuckled. The shadow was now at Kenji's chest, reaching for his neck. Kenji narrowed his eyes and fought back, forcing the shadow to slowly retreat down his body. "How dare you touch me." He hissed.

Shikamaru's eyes widened as the strength of the male fought against his shadow jutsu. "Now!" He shouted to Naruto.

Naruto nodded and quickly ran towards the village, slicing zombies as they tried to stop him. Shikamaru broke the jutsu and ran after Naruto quickly, pushing past the zombies until they were both clear.

Kenji gritted his teeth and stepped forward, moving his hands in a swiping fashion when Masaru quickly put his arm out across his chest to hold his arms down. "Let them go." He stated with a smirk. "I wouldn't have been satisfied with them anyway. I'd rather them strike fear into their village." He smirked.

Kenji growled but let the matter go. He was impatient, but he knew what Masaru said was best. The corpses surrounding them, and those running after Naruto and Shikamaru faded to dust blowing in the Land of Fire light breezes.

"Our next encounter." Kenji murmured.

Masaru let his arm fall back to his side as he sighed. "So, maybe we should research that guys name and learn his jutsu?"

Kenji nodded and after a moment sighed. "He's still mine next time we meet."

Masaru shrugged. "If you want to. I'm more interested in seeing that Jinchuriki…"

AN: Alright, so this is a new story obviously.

DISCLAIMER! I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE REAL NARUTO CHARACTERS, AND THE SONG THAT MASARU AND KENJI SING, IS THE MAIN THEME SONG TO THE ANIME HIGURASHI. I DO NOT OWN ITT!

XxSoulNoteWritterxX