Well apparently the general consensus is that you were all surprised at my little 'shocker'. If that's true, then I'm doing a great job!!
Also, an anonymous reviewer claimed this story is the best thing since sliced bread. Considering how many sandwiches I eat, that's a serious compliment. I mean it; that's high praise in my book. So thank you, sir, for comparing my story to the awesomeness of my daily lunches!
As for news: the school year has started up again, so another flux of chapter updating is in store. I haven't even determined all my classes yet, so... yeah... anyways, that won't stop me from finishing this story! I might even add that 'Lost' is almost complete! Don't worry though, there's still plenty of meat left, even a sequel in the works...
usual disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me. I would be filthy rich if it did.
LANGUAGE WARNING: RATHER HEAVY THIS TIME AROUND!!!
Lorsvall stumbled through the hallway leading to the throne room as soon as the doors to the lift opened again. He knew for a fact that the king's chamber was… special. "It's impenetrable to anyone who uses energy," he mused inwardly with a grin. "And that's all they've got left…"
He pushed open one of the massive doors with his left side, eased himself in, and then shut it with his unwounded arm. He turned to find his ruler sitting on the throne in the shadows amidst an unending sea of pillars. "Sir," he reported, suppressing the instinct to cough due to his deep injury. "Uzi and the White Eyes of Death are on their way here. I can take them out as soon as they enter…"
"There will be no need for that, Lorsvall," replied the near yet distant voice of the tyrant. "My personal… assistants here are more than capable of doing your job." With that, two figures emerged from either side of the throne and glared at their weakened General with haughtiness in their eyes.
He stared back at the duo with concern forming in his silver orbs as he connected the dots. "Then… what is my next task, my lord?"
The king's face cracked a smile that was visible through the darkness of his elevated throne. "Your worth has been extinguished, General. There is no more need for you." He flicked his hand upwards as if shooing away a fly.
Lorsvall immediately understood the meaning of the simple hand gesture. "You fucker!!" he screamed as he bypassed the pain of his wounds and raised his strange rifles against the treacherous ruler. "Die!!"
No sooner had he threatened the leader when long, spine like appendages burst from behind the many columns and impaled him against the door, dull blades stabbing him through every vital point. The spines retracted when the silver-orbed General ceased breathing.
"Now, my faithful servants," the tyrant addressed his assistants, "You may want to… make yourselves hidden again. Uzi and the White Eyes of Death are on their way, and I'm sure you'll… surprise them."
"Sir!" the duo simultaneously replied before taking their positions behind the pillars directly to the sides of the throne.
------------------------
Naruto and Hinata were riding the lift to the highest floor of the monumental tower. They found it odd that the only access to the throne room was by elevator, but surely there was a reason.
The Hyuuga checked her massive handgun. She only had a few more clips left for the thing, and the tyrannical king surely had another trick up his sleeve, especially if the only route towards his dwelling was a narrow passage. "I've gotta make these count."
On the other hand, Uzi was concerned about something else altogether. Ever since the battle for the capital had begun, he had felt something was off. Now that he had time to think, he could put his finger on it. The further he and his blue-haired companion pushed into the city, the more… distant his comrades felt.
Being a red-eye meant that one could sense when fellow crimson-eyed specialists were around, no matter the distance. But this time was different. The closer they came to the center of the city, the more isolated the blonde felt in his head. Now that he was actually in the tower, his mind experienced something he had not felt in years: solitude. He couldn't sense his comrades at all, and this disturbed him to no end. "Whatever's doing this has to be incredibly strong…" he thought, fear beginning to cloud his lonely mind.
"You alright?" Hinata asked in a calm and caring voice.
"Yeah," he nodded, thankful that he wasn't really alone. "I'm fine; just anxious."
The eastern duo snapped to attention when they felt the lift come to a stop. The large doors slid open to reveal a pair of combat ready specialists facing forward.
They were surprised to find that there were no defenses in the elegant hallway going towards another set of large embroidered doors. They moved swiftly through the lavishly decorated corridor and paused at either side of the towering entrance, surveying the doors for signs of any traps.
"See anything?" Naruto whispered.
The white-eyed woman observed everything in the immediate area with bloodline eyes. "No," she responded, "All I see is more of that chakra ink. It blocks my view of anything. It's everywhere too," she spat in mild frustration. Her Byakugan had never encountered anything it could not defeat in terms of penetrating sight.
"Alright, looks like we've gotta wing it. On three."
She nodded in acknowledgment as the blonde red-eye began counting.
"One… two… three!" he shouted as he kicked in one of the doors and rushed in, energy tails balling up in front of him for protection. He was closely followed by the Hyuuga wielding her arm length pistol.
Needless to say, he was put off by the fact that they were not immediately fired upon. Hinata stuck close to his back, firearm at the ready, but there were no immediate threats to be seen. As he gazed around the unexpectedly large room, he noticed a bloody heap leaning against the other engraved door behind them.
"Is that…?" he began, recognizing the body-length chords of reddish hair and odd rifles at the corpse's sides.
"Yeah. It's Lorsvall," the white-eyed woman confirmed.
"And so Uzi and the White Eyes of Death finally arrive," a voice calmly spoke from atop a heightened chair in the shadows at the other end of the extensive chamber. "So glad you could make it."
The eastern duo's eyes shot towards the figure upon realization that it was their target. The darkened phantom stood and casually descended his throne to greet them.
"You've been the most troublesome thorn in my side for quite some time, Uzi," the tyrant's voice echoed down the elongated room. "And you as well as of late, miss 'Hyuuga'."
"Are you the king's brother?" Uzi asked calmly.
"Surely you jest, young red-eye. I am the king!"
Naruto continued with an apathetic tone in his voice. "You are responsible for the murder of the king of this country as well as the endangerment of the lives of every citizen in this nation."
"Such an accusation…" He sounded bored.
"Your actions constitute capital punishment; the death penalty."
"Yes, yes, I'm aware of my country's laws. You forget that I created them as well as enforced…"
"Don't fuck with me!!" the blonde lost his calm demeanor in favor of a furious outburst. "You've killed so many people and expect me to believe it was just?! You will die!!"
"Not quite so," he replied matter-of-factly as he emerged from his seat's deep shadow. He appeared to be in his mid-fifties and in good health, as he possessed a well-built frame adorned by flowing robes that resembled Sheila's stylish clothing. His graying hair carried stark specks of brown and his pupils glowed an unusual dark violet. "I want you to meet some friends of mine first. I'm sure you'll get along with them very well." He snapped his fingers and two figures stepped out from behind the pillars at his sides.
"This is the top spy from my intelligence department," he gestured to the female at his right. The woman was donned in a simple dark grey standard officer uniform with an unusual weapon strapped to her back.
"And this," he turned his outstretched hand towards the man on his left, "Is my personal assassin. He… assisted me in the… disposal of the last king." The tyrant's killer stood resolutely in his crumpled brown uniform, bloodied weapon in hand.
Naruto and Hinata's eyes went wide when they gazed upon the newcomer enemies. The Hyuuga was the first to voice her shock. "It… it's you…"
"Hey, Hinata!" Shades yelled, goggles reflecting the light from the distant ceiling. "Glad you could make it!"
"I'm so thrilled you two made it all this way," Trench continued with a murderous smile, "Just so we could take a stab at you ourselves."
The blonde red-eye stared them down with unmatched hatred burning in his eyes. "Traitors... they're traitors…"
"But… but why?!" The blue-haired easterner was horribly confused.
"Simple, sweetheart," Shades answered. "We're spies. Always have been."
"It was our job to find Uzi," the shovel-wielding backstabber carried on the explanation. "But we never could. We infiltrated the red-eyes years ago but could never accurately determine his location."
"Why would you do this?!" Hinata's eyes were beginning to tear up. Grief overcame her shock now that she knew her red-eyed friends had betrayed them from the start. "Why did you help me find him, then?!"
"You had an emotional attachment to Uzi," the goggled woman justified her actions. "So we figured you had a better chance of finding him than we did."
"Looks like we were right on the money, too!" Trench began to mock them. "You even brought him here! How nice of…"
"Shut up!!" Naruto was beyond furious. He had never felt anger like this before, not even when he was exiled from Konoha all those years ago. "You betrayed us!! You will all die!!" With that, he spiraled his tails into the ground, propelling himself against the traitors.
O. M. G...
This is the twist I claimed made me tear up when I thought of it. You guys like? Even better, did anyone see this coming (barring their disappearance in the last chapter)?
Dunno when the next chapter's coming. Possibly tomorrow. My schedule's messed up right now. Catch ya'll later!!
