"Oi dobe, pass the sake."

"You're such an alcoholic."

But the 'dobe' threw the bottle across the room and saw him catch it smoothly with his envious reflexes. The cork of the bottle shot upon and flew across god knows where, then the recipient downed the contents of the bottle.

"Calm down with the drinking Sasuke, you can't be having liver cancer already."

The tip of the bottle left his lips with a satisfied smirk.

"That makes two of us Kiba."

The male with red stroke marks on his cheek crossed his arms and sank into the sofa.

"Touché Uchiha, touché."

The raven haired boy's smirk grew bigger as he walked towards the glass windows with the bottle in hand. The scene overlooked the city of Konoha from the highest of buildings and the city lights surrounded their luxurious apartment. He wouldn't get bored of the view, ever. This was the life he chose. He may have endured many losses such as the loss of his older brother and the rest of his family, but rest assured, he avenged his family and continued down the seemingly narrow pathway. No one told him that the end of the pathway was full of riches and promising worlds. So everyday, regardless of where he was and what he was doing - illegal or not - he was thankful for his family who raised him, fed him and taught him the secrets to life. Though they sadly weren't with him today, he now had a new family: his closest friends who he ran Konoha with. All they needed was each other.

"You both love alcohol so much yet it's going to kill you one day, how crap is that?"

Sigh. Trust the blond haired dobe to ruin the moment. Ironically, the blonde was his closest friend (him and alcohol of course). He brought him out of the darkness after the death of his family and supported his actions no matter how bloody or dirty they were. Whilst many shunned him and eyed him with disgust, him and his friends stood by him through thick and thin. It was a shame knowing his brother would've stood by him as well, if only he had lived.

"The very thing you love most kills you in the end Naruto."

Sasuke heard the blonde let out a 'hmph' before he jumped onto the sofa and switched on the television.

"That's because we're gangsters."

"'The thing you love most kills you in the end'. Sounds like a drag."

A black haired male entered the room with hands in his pockets and a cigarette. His dark eyes hovered over to the television screen to watch a bunch of males attempting to kick a ball into the goal. Man these guys were shit. How could they have not seen the open space to their right? What could have been a chance to score a goal disappeared.

"What the fuck are you doing, GO ROUND, GO ROUND." Naruto began to scream at the television, now standing and waving his hands around.

"GO BACK GO BACK fucking hell they're so shit." Kiba joined in with Naruto.

A chuckle left the smoker's lip as he approached the kitchen counter to pour himself a shot of an unopened bottle of sake. The fact that people like Sasuke and Naruto formed one of the most infamous group of gangsters in Konoha was beyond him. Although it was nice to have a relaxed, nice guys for a change. Plus it was more than just a privilege when the two had asked him and Kiba to work alongside them. There used to be 5 of them though, the absence of the cunning fifth member's judgement towards his friends felt weird. He was such an amazing guy. Shikamaru remembered when Naruto's drug habits almost cost him his own life after the passing of their dearest friend and the gang almost gave up on him. But in the end they realised that they would go to the very depths of hell to bring Naruto back to his normal self.

Sure, the group weren't exactly doing legal things and work was dark and demeaning every now and then. But a lot of gangsters nowadays are so serious and up their arse, why can't they just have someone relaxed and only properly serious when needs to be? Life was too short to be too mature and uptight. Drink, smoke, have sex, take drugs, do what makes you happy. Gangsters can easily give off an amazing reputation whilst doing secret, dirty work behind their image. They could do anything and get away with it. So might as well live a little right?

This was the main idea of the Konoha Four: live the fuck out of life, it'll kill you in the end anyway.

Along with several other minor businesses, their main ones were the big 4: alcohol, drugs, tobacco and weaponry. Of course, this way of life was optional and they would never force people to go into it. But the rewards in each of the four industries were enormous. When the four walked into any night club, any bar, any underground drug shops, everything was on the house for them. They made the businesses bigger than ever and provided thousands to millions of jobs. Illegal? Yeah, it was. They weren't going to beat around the bush. But where was the harm? They weren't forceful men, everything had to be fair in their eyes. The Konoha gangsters were ruthless and occasionally savage, yet (ironically) one of the most fairest and calmest groups of males.

However it is worth noting that getting on their bad side was just as bad as upsetting the Sand Siblings. Both groups were easily capable of causing death in the click of a finger or a blink of an eye. If the two groups joined forces and combined their businesses, hell would no longer be cute but rather a paradise.
Out of the two, you'd rather piss off Sasuke because Naruto was significantly worse. They say that Naruto had the power of a legendary beast called the nine-tailed fox, the strongest of the wild beasts. When his temper unleashed, the results were messy, traumatising and sinful.

One night in a shoot out, Naruto had failed to see his own mistake which led to his friend's death. He could still remember letting down his guard as he flipped the table over and thought the coast was clear. It only took one second for him to realise that there was still one man left standing as the enemy rose up to aim and fire a bullet towards Naruto's neck. It all happened so suddenly: a man with long brown hair kicking Naruto out of the way to take the shot. When Naruto's body fell towards the ground and his face scratched against the shattered glass on the floor, he could taste the blood in his face and the sensation of a liquid drenching his shoes and trousers. When he realised he hadn't died, he darted to look behind him to see his comrade on the floor with a smile on his face, his breaths becoming shorter and shorter.

"Neji!"

The enemy aimed to fire again but had no bullets remaining. Cursing, he looked around him to find any gun under the trail of bodies. Naruto crawled towards him and placed his hand on his friend's cheek. He sat next to top of his head and fought back the tears that streamed down his dirty, bloody face.

"Stay with me Neji! Don't die on me it's okay it's ok-"

"Naruto," his coughs were gurgling and blood flooded his mouth, "it was an honour and...privilege to," another cough "call you my friend and w-" more coughs "work with you."

The blonde's hands wiped the blood off his mouth as he frantically shook his head in denial.

"Neji stop speaking like you're going to die! You're going to live an-"

"Take care-" his final cough "of my family. Please take...care of Hin...ata," his words trailed off into a whisper. Neji's skin felt colder and his pulse weakened and weakened until it stopped. Everything stopped.

Hyūga Neji had died because of Naruto's mistake. (1)

The raven haired boy stormed in from the entrance with the smoker on his side and stared at the body beneath Naruto.

"Fuck."

Silence engulfed the blood bath of bodies, glass and bullets. Naruto hadn't felt this empty since he found out his parents had died for him, the same people that killed his parents now killed Neji too. His dead smile stared at Naruto's lost blue eyes, and the vision of everything became watery and blinding. Neji's blood continued to drench Naruto's trousers and the animal inside him began to thirst for the enemy's death. A low, hungry growl tickled his throat as his eyes darted to the right from the sound of a gun being loaded.

"Shit! Naruto get down!"

He did the opposite. Lifting himself up, he threw himself towards the source of the voice behind the bar counter. The enemy dropped his gun from Naruto's tackle and was left hopeless by his punches. Every punch became stronger and faster, dislocating the jaw, breaking his teeth, breaking his bones, denting the eyes. Every contact with his face was met with Naruto's screams and cries.

"You" a strong punch "killed" a stronger punch "HIM."

"Naruto stop." Sasuke calmly spoke through his dry throat, but a pair of empty ears hadn't listened to him. He thought Naruto noticed Sasuke when he stood up and turned his body towards the counter. But when Naruto dragged the enemy's head to slam against the counter repeatedly, Sasuke hadn't expected it at all, nor had Shikamaru. The head hit the sharp edge of the counter, slicing a deeper and deeper dent into the male's forehead until the top of his brain was exposed, blood all over the enemy's face and Naruto's hands. The fox inside him was even thirstier and wasn't satisfied enough with the enemy's slow, gruesome death.

"Naruto that's enough," Shikamaru spoke to get some sense into Naruto. Surely with an IQ over 200, Shikamaru must have known that animals were popular for their ruthless nature? They wouldn't stop at any point doing what they wanted to do until it was achieved and in that moment, Naruto wanted revenge. He would be sure to achieve it after he killed the same group of men who killed his parents and after Sasuke had killed all of those associated with his family's massacre. The fight was only beginning and this man's death was just a microscopic part of his goal.

"NARUTO STOP."
Sasuke's roar led to a final blow of the enemy's head at the edge of the counter, with the top of his head fully detached from the rest. The pair of sea blue eyes stared back at a navy pair, his white pupils trembling and slowly coming to a halt. The animalistic urge to kill disappeared. Then came the unstoppable tears whilst he stumbled backwards until his back hit the wall. Head down, rains of tears dripped onto the floor along with his cries. He left a bloody hand print on the wall as his cries intensified and he collapsed onto the floor of bodies. The fist in his hand tightened and the overpowering smell of death struck his nose.

"It's all my fault. Fuck...Neji...I'm so fucking sorry."

These were not rumours. Naruto had severed the top part of a man's head with his bare hands. No guns. No knives. Just the muscles in his arms and the tailed beast inside him.

Neji's last request carved itself in Naruto's mind. If Naruto failed to protect the Hyūga clan, he promised to leave his gangster paradise and give himself into the police. If he failed to protect the soft spoken, elegant, blue haired wonder, he promised to end his life in prison. Nothing else could stop Naruto from doing such things and so, he'd always visit the Hyūga compound everyday and pray at Neji's tombstone. He'd greet Hiashi and his two children, ensuring that they were safe from harm. Regardless, if Neji took a bullet for a foolish blond, Naruto would endure a thousand bullets for each Hyūga member that still existed. It was the least he could do for his late friend.

Unbeknown to Naruto, the blue haired beauty had feelings for him. To judge by a book by a cover was a lesson she was never taught and Hyūga Hinata knew better than most people that Naruto had such dedication towards his friends, not even words couldn't even describe it. She never blamed him for her cousin's death and knew it wasn't his fault. Though she lacked the knowledge of the gangster lifestyle, she was smart enough to know that the enemy slyly concealed himself from Naruto and Neji's surroundings by hiding underneath the pile of bodies. Yet Naruto blamed himself. His overprotecting nature of visiting the compound and seeing Hinata would make him smile somehow, knowing he was making Neji happy up there in heaven. Seeing Naruto made Hinata's heart flutter and cheeks fluster. She knew that if she told him how she felt, he'd respectfully deny her heart's thoughts. She knew that he would never deem himself to be worthy of being with, let alone marry Hinata and enter the Hyūga clan. He didn't want to make things worse if his enemies targeted Hyūga clan.
But that wasn't the case at all. The Hyūga clan were stronger than most people knew, and Hinata was more than capable of defending herself, her younger sister and her father with just her palms. Hinata had undergone strict training such that she could paralyse her enemies with smooth, elegant strikes towards the various pressure points of the body; she brought the beauty in the pain. But she accepted that a relationship with Naruto would never occur.

Although, she'd be lying if she said that she didn't hope for it to happen.

"WHY AREN'T YOU GOING AROUND, GO TO THE RIGHT! No left left left LEFT."
The blond goof changed the direction of his swaying arms every time he noticed an open space.

The smoker behind him held his cigarette as he downed a shot, poured another, took a smoke and downed another. He felt the warm body of an animal poking him by the knees.

"Oh Akamaru. Hey boy, I doubt you can drink this." Shikamaru joked as he ran his hand through the dog's head. Akamaru's tongue dangled in response, with a smile stretching his lips.

"Akamaru! Don't go someone who smells like fags, here boy!" Akamaru had left to approach his owner, sitting in front of him as he ate the food from Kiba's hand. This formed a smile on the owner's lips.

"I don't smell like cigarettes at all. It's merely you and your troublesome senses," Shikamaru defended himself.

"Hey my senses reveal more than what people say. You'd be surprised how I can smell a person from miles away and who someone slept with."

"That's disgusting dude."

"Hey I never said I voluntarily smell that! It just comes naturally. Believe me I wouldn't exactly want to know either."

"Of course not, pervert."

Naruto and Shikamaru laughed at Sasuke's comment.

"Who you calling pervert? I've been smelling the same person from you for the past two weeks now and you say it's just a fling?"

Sasuke felt all three curious and suspicious pairs of eyes on him.

"Tch. Your senses are delusional from the alcohol."

"You had half that bottle."

"You had the other bottle, I'm holding the third one this evening."

A phone call put a stop to their little argument. Sasuke answered with a calm voice and turned away to look at the view.

"Wait so you can actually smell another person on someone?" Naruto turned towards him, not believing in Kiba's words.

"You may be a fucking crazy animal Naruto but your senses will never be as good as mine."

'My friends are so strange' Shikamaru thought before finishing his cigarette. Reaching into his pocket, he frowned upon the empty pack staring back at him.

"Hey remind me to go get more cigarettes."

"You're the only one into that stuff and it's mank."

"And alcohol and cocaine isn't? You're insulting a quarter of your profits Naruto."

"I'm not the one with black lungs!"

"I don't have a damaged liver."

"That's such a lie we all do."

That was annoyingly true.

"Yours is a lot worse than mine though."

The phone call ended and Sasuke had turned to look at his partners in crime.

"Naruto you're the driver. We need to go."

"What's up?"

"Drug business deal opened up."

"Yatta! (2) Let's go!" Naruto's smile enlarged as he switched off the disappointing football game and the four left the apartment.

Game time.

They walked towards their local casino, located in the heart of Konoha. Secluded and vibrant, the four nodded at the two bodyguards by the door. Naruto would always want a high five from the both of them just for respect and friendship whereas Shikamaru would offer a cigarette or two. How could one say the Konoha Four were rude when they would share their resources with anyone that allowed them too?

Down the stairs was a red door, hiding what every man in Konoha's dreamt of. Pushing the door open, the same scenery would never bore the four. The red carpet covered the floor with brick walls surrounding the underground casino. Dots of light scattered across the ceiling to provide a relaxing yet lively ambience. Brown leather seats and TV screens on the walls had welcomed customers. The disappointing football game was still on and no one had scored yet, much to Naruto's chagrin.

"It's still 0 all. How shit are they?"

"Could use some investment in the football industry don't ya think?" Kiba suggested but Naruto shook it off.

"Nah, they have more than enough apparently. Much good they're doing right?" The pair laughed before Naruto gave a good pat on Kiba's back.

"They're beyond bad. Hey, if they score in the next 30 minutes, 5 shots are on me."

"You do realise they know us and would give us the drinks for free right?"

"Shikamaru don't take the fun out of it! You're on!" The pair shook hands before planting their eyes onto the TV screen.

"Enough you two. We have business over there." Sasuke rolled his eyes before walking towards the edge of the casino. A transparent, black curtain separated the ordinary customers from the very prestigious members. He'd plant his eyes onto it and ignore the figures of females and males taking their customer's orders. One however was particularly attractive, with her unique pink hair and the diamond on her forehead. The corner of his eyes saw her walk away with a little smile on her face, with her luscious legs walking towards the bar to request the drinks. Nevertheless he stood by the curtain and waited for his blonde friend to arrive.

"Naruto you know this isn't our speciality. You definitely have to go now and unless you guys text us, we're entitled to stay here." Shikamaru saw the growing annoyance in Naruto's face as he realised the truth of his words.

"Urghhh I hate it when you're right." Straightening his suit, he walked towards Sasuke with an annoyed look. It still hadn't stopped females to look at him with a little wink or a with a kiss they blew towards him. Naruto's cheeks were engraved with the same whiskers the represented the legend of the tailed beast, but he hadn't realised that it was an apparently 'attractive trait'. Quite frankly, he was very slow with women, their signals and his feelings towards them. That isn't to stay only one would ever catch his attention but would never be his. Not now anyway, not until he redeemed himself.

The two disappeared beyond the curtains, leaving Kiba and Shikamaru to do whatever they wanted. They could eat any food they craved or any drugs that irked their interest in the click of a finger. Anything was possible for the two. So what was Shikamaru's first thought?

"I need a cigarette, you wouldn't happen to have one would you?"

Of course he'd choose a cigarette.

The waiter pulled out a pack.

"You can keep it all sir."

"You don't need to call me sir it's okay. Thanks a lot," he slid money across the counter towards the waiter.

"Take it, it's fine."
The waiter smiled at Shikamaru's command before walking away to serve others. He turned back to Kiba with a cigarette in his mouth, offering the contents from the pack.

"That stuff would kill me quicker than drugs and alcohol combined."

"Tch you're being silly. Alcohol is s-oh the guy just scored," he turned to his companion who now gleamed at the television and threw his fists in the air.

"You can start your celebrations," smoke emerged from Shikamaru's lips as he looked over the bottle of alcohol now next to him. Thanking the bartender, Kiba smirked as he took his shots. Akamaru sat on the stool next to him and ate the food that was specifically prepared for him. The Konoha gangsters believed in a world of respect: a simple thank you could bring you more benefits than a simple nod of acknowledgement or ignoring a nice gesture. Every time the bartender voluntarily improved the gangster's good vibes, they'd be met with overly generous tips and thank you's.

As if life wasn't already good enough, it had gotten better. Naruto had a grin whilst Sasuke smirked as the two approached their friends. Naruto wiped the imaginary dust off his hands and Sasuke's hands rested in his pockets.

"We have bigger profits now."

Sequences of 'yes's and smiles brightened the four friends' moods.

"Oh and Naruto thank you for the drinks." Kiba pointed at the screen, with the score now shouting 2-0.

"EHHH?! I was gone for 5 minutes!"

"Here, have some alcohol to drown your sorrows." Kiba teased as he held up a drink to him which Naruto accepted with a pout.

"It's free so why are you upset?"

"Still..."

They couldn't help but laugh at Naruto's peculiar side, sometimes he never failed to amuse them. They all poured themselves a drink before turning to each other.

"Here's a toast: to us."

"The Konoha Four."

"And to Neji as well."

Oh Neji. They missed him dearly, but this day was for him. One shouldn't feel sorrow over his death, but respect over his endless lists of accomplishments.

"Hear hear!" The four cheered as they downed the contents of the glass, ready for more.

They were untouchable and had it all. Through the endless moments they shared with each other, from the good and bad memories, from the lowest moments they had to the euphoria of reaching the top of the top, they were happy to do it all together. Not as friends, but family. Not as a bunch of criminals, but as human beings. Nothing could break their bond and god forbid anyone that tried to hurt them otherwise.

.

.

.

Tonight, located in the centre of dreams, was all about the celebration and successes of one of the most notorious group of gangsters:

The Konoha Four.

A/N: Hope you're enjoying it all so far!

(1) I will be referring to whole names in Japanese terms. So I will write their surname first, then their first names.
(2) 'Ya-tta' is Japanese for 'yay'/'woo hoo'

Also sorry but in this story Neji isn't alive. However I'll write scenes with their past experiences with him to keep the memory of him going.
Some other characters will still be alive though (you'll see later I don't want to spoil it for now huehue)