Disclaimer: I own nothing, nothing at all. :(
AN: I am sorry for taking soo long to update this fic. I have only just crawled out from under the humungous rubble of school work I was buried under.
Also, Anonymous reviewers please look into my profile for your review reply.
Chapter 4
Rudra closed his eyes, willing his body to relax, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. With careful deliberation he began to center himself, slowly turning his five senses inwards.
Around him the world appeared to fall away and for that endless moment he seemed to float in a soundless bubble.
And then, they greeted him, the touch of patterned sunlight on his face and the whisper of leaves against its skin. His eyes wandered over the gnarled barks, craning his neck upwards towards the dark leaves clustered overhead like an intricate canopy. He pushed through the dense undergrowth, enjoying the feel of wet leaves against his fingers. He brushed aside the droplets of water that anointed his dark head and glimmered like diamonds on the green leaves.
He frowned.
Something probed on the periphery of his self and then somebody poked him. His concentration shattered like spun glass under a sledgehammer. His fingers curled into fists, the nails biting into the soft flesh till they drew blood. It would not serve if he were to suddenly revert to his old manners for, while it was fitting for one of the Seven Swordsmen of Mist to violently exterminate anyone who came upon them in their unawares, it was quite unbecoming of a poor, defenseless traveling minstrel.
His eyelashes fluttered open and forced a surprised smile on his lips as he turned towards the one who had intruded in his solitude. His eyes widened a little, even as his smile wavered. It was the boy.
"Kisame." He sighed heavily as they trudged up the narrow path that led to his home. "I always knew you were frustrated …"
There were splotches of purple on Kisame's cheeks and he looked downright murderous.
"Not another word Rudra."
He ground the words out.
"Oh!" Rudra skidded to a halt, his eyes suddenly bright. "So that is how it is!"
Kisame froze, trying not to look panicked.
"I finally understand." Rudra shook his head sadly. "She must have been so devastated."
"Who?"
"I can almost picture it." He sighed. "Her innocent blue eyes must have brimmed over with tears as she stood at the large gates. Her heart shaped face pale, bearing deep tear strains, her hands clasped in mute supplication, as soft snow drifted all around her settling on her long golden waves."
"She? Golden waves?" Kisame snorted confused. "Snow in Konoha?"
"All right rain then." Rudra spat out with barely contained irritation but his mental picture had already changed; rain did make it much more poetic. "Oh… How her hand must have shook as she extended them to stop the man she loved, how much must she have pleaded…" He clasped his hand together. "Don't go!"
Rudra paused dramatically casting a caustic glance at his unappreciative audience.
"But alas!" He sighed heavily. "The man she loved was stone hearted, deaf to her entreaties and her tears. He was too drunk with power, too obsessed with wreaking destruction." He crossed his arms over one another and summoned a sneer on his handsome face. "Only fools are deluded by that thing you call love woman." Shapely fingers flicked away the dark curls from his shoulders. "And yet, her eyes followed his retreating back, tears streaming down her pale cheeks."
"Rudra." Kisame resisted the urge to massage his throbbing forehead. "What rubbish are you sprouting?"
Rudra scowled at him. "Don't stop the flow!" He snapped. "Now where was I? Oh yes. She clung to hope, waiting for him to return. Every day she waited at the gates till she was no more than a lingering memory."
Rudra sighed again.
"Then one day, many years later, he returned." There was a sad smile on his lips. "Parched eyes searched in vain for her, until finally he spotted a small underfed child with golden hair begging on the streets…"
"Underfed child? Golden hair?" Realization dawned on Kisame's face and his eyebrows knitted together with a rather thunderous expression. "Begging?"
"Kisame." Rudra patted his hand sympathetically. "Your secret is safe with me; though I am kind of surprised that he doesn't have gills. Must take after his mother, huh?"
"Those crappy novels and that Fuun-hime did your brain in Rudra." Kisame snapped. "Naruto …"
"Naruto… You would not have allowed him to be named after ramen topping. Yet another addition to your long list of regrets."
"Now look here Rudra, Well, get this through your head before I personally carve it with Samehada. What ever you thinking it's all as imaginary as your intelligence!" Kisame bared his teeth. "I am in no way linked with that shrimp."
"Methinks you protest too much."
"Methinks I should reintroduce you to Samehada."
"Oh well." Rudra deflated. "Then why is he following you around like a lost puppy."
"Naruto, is an odd kid." Kisame shifted and his trained eyes did not miss the slight discomfort in the expressionless orbs. "That's all."
"Ah."
This promised to be interesting and for now he was content to let the subject drop. He had no further intention of trying Kisame's already strained nerves. Still…
"His mother must have been hot."
"Hey!"
Rudra jolted out of his reverie. Reinforcing the sunny smile on his face he turned towards the object of his interest. Contrary to what Kisame may have assumed the concept of information gathering was not lost on him. Besides, he was a little interested in knowing as to how the boy found him in his cozy secret hangout.
He raised a hand, mindful of keeping his voice at its most pleasant tenor.
"Come here child."
The boy scratched his golden mop, the droop of his sulking mouth lifted slightly. Rudra raised an enquiring eyebrow and repeated the action.
"Come on."
Rudra patted the empty spot beside him suggestively.
The boy's face broke into a grin and he moved forward, precariously balancing himself on the narrow ledge, wonderfully agile for a six year old with no ninja training.
"I don't like you."
It was a statement, abruptly and clearly delivered and with a sunny smile.
'Not like me?' Rudra eyebrows rose slightly through the smile didn't waver. "That's nice. After all, a favorite has no friends." He scooted over to allow the boy a little more space. 'Well I don't like you either' He resisted the urge to prop out his tongue reflecting his thoughts. After all he was older than the midget.
The boy settled beside him, dangling his short legs over the ledge, the smile on his face widening.
Rudra sighed. It would appear that no secrets were safe in a ninja village. Not even this silent niche he found on one of the tallest buildings of Konoha, conveniently hidden behind a humungous billboard proudly displaying the poster for the movie Make out tactics.
"How did you find this place?" He asked curiously. He had been rather proud of the anonymity of the meditating spot after all.
The boy's grin widened further, his eyes crinkling into crescent half moons, the strange markings on his face stretched like whiskers suddenly transforming a sunny smile into a sly smirk. Rudra twitched. The boy was indeed very special.
"My name is Rudra." He decided to try a different tactic. "And you are?"
"I am Uzumaki Naruto sama." The boy announced loudly. "The next great swords guy!"
"Swordsman." Rudra corrected him automatically. 'The boy will have a future in drama should he choose to pursue it.'
"You know Fish sama."
'Fish-sama?'
Rudra's eyebrows shot upwards. The edges of his lips twitched as he fought valiantly trying not to give into peals of laughter gurgling up from deep within him and the fact that the boy was looking so serious did not help his cause at all.
However he was a honed ninja and he managed to keep his face straight after a valiant effort on his part and it was with perfect composure that he was able to mouth his answer.
"You could say that I have some acquaintance with Fish-sama"
"You're weird"
'You're one to talk midget, hanging around an S-class criminal.' He favored his companion with a slight scowl. "I believe that you aren't here to discuss my eccentricities Naruto-kun."
"No." The boy agreed readily. "Can you contact Fish-sama?"
Rudra thought that his eyebrows would never return from that elevated position in his forehead. "Why would I do that?"
"Isn't he your friend?"
"Friends… No." Rudra paused thoughtfully, carefully choosing his words. "We're more like work place acquaintances."
"But…" Naruto puffed his cheeks sullenly. "Does that mean you can't call him?"
"Of course I can!" Rudra snapped irritatibly. "But I don't want to."
"You will. I'll hound you till you do." Naruto smiled at him open challenge in the blue depths. "Believe It!"
The boy was smiling but there was something in his innocent smile that was unsettling him. He sighed; he was growing old if he found himself disturbed by threats of an innocent little blonde.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Good Morning." Even though Hana's lips curved into an affable smile, the emotion did not touch her carefully blank eyes. "Itachi kun."
"Inuzuka-san." The dark head was tilted slightly in acknowledgement.
One of Hana's eyebrows rose imperceptibly.
'Damn!' Hana gracefully slid into the seat opposite to her newest teammate. 'The brat has a better poker face than I do.'
The comfortable bulk of her closest companions settled around her feet and she felt that she could look forward to the mission with a little less trepidation.
"I'll have a plate of dangos." She glanced briefly at the wiry form of the waiter who was hovering around the table. "And coffee." She turned towards Itachi. "And you?"
"Green tea please."
"At once Sir." The waiter bowed before scurrying back to the shop. "Madam."
Silence descended, thick and uncomfortable like the mists of Kiri and Itachi did not look eager to initiate any kind conversation.
'Well it could have been worse.' Hana suppressed a sigh. 'I could have been stuck with one of those narcissist Yamanakas.'
To tell the truth she had expected them to meet at a fancier place considering the fact that her allotted teammate was the Uchiha Itachi. After all Uchiha's were widely acclaimed for the legendary amount of sticks they had up their posteriors.
Still, she could find no fault with his choice. The establishment was tiny, almost unobtrusive and this early in the morning it was almost empty. Besides the delicate aroma wafting from the stand brought with it the promise of excellent food.
She had been surprised to receive this mission but she was even more surprised at the choice of her partner.
Her mom however, was overjoyed:
"Just think Hana." For an Inuzuka Tsume's smile looked liked a cat who has just spotted a nice, juicy canary. "Uchiha Itachi." The smile deepened. "I mean, the entire village is talking about him."
"Umm…" She responded idly munching her toast.
"He's already an ANBU." Tsume poured her some orange juice. "This is a great opportunity for you Hana…" She rubbed her hands on her grubby apron.
"Eww mom." The half eaten toast dangled from her mouth. "He is like …twelve."
"To learn something from him." Tsume snapped, administering a sharp rap on her knuckles with the spatula she was carrying. "Like manners for instance. Have you noticed how graceful and composed he is?"
"He is abnormal mom."
She barely had the time to duck another well aimed hit from her mother's spatula.
"So." Tsume had resumed stirring the vegetables in the pan, balancing the pan over slow burning fire. "This mission …"
"Sorry mom." She washed down the rest of her toast with some cold milk. "Classified."
Tsume's hand stilled momentarily.
"Ah."
"I gotta go mom." She pushed back the chair, rising from the well worn table. "I need to do some research."
"Just so you know Hana, opportunity is such a many faceted word." Hana felt the hairs at the nape of her neck rise. It was never good news when her mother decided to get into teasing mood. "I was always an advocate of catching them young."
"Mom!" Hana was scandalized.
"What?" Tsume shrugged. "He is twelve now but he is not going to remain twelve forever you know." She sighed wistfully. "I am telling you that boy is going mature deliciously."
"Your orders."
The waiter's dry voice drew her out of her reverie and it was with a conscious effort that she pushed back the sudden heat that flooded her face.
"Thank you."
Itachi's voice still retained a childlike tenor but the aristocratic veneer in his perfunctory words was unmistakable.
'I gotta learn how to do that.'
The waiter bowed more deeply than before and scurried back to his position by the counter, keeping his vigil for the customers who had begun to trickle in.
'And since Itachi is not going to cave in first…'
She watched him raise the cup to his lips and drink the scalding liquid with small measured sips.
"My late grandpa." She rested an arm on the wooden table her full lips curled into a reminiscent smile. "Used to love green tea."
"I see." He uttered in a monotone, his features perfect like a marble statue, beautiful and cold.
"He was hundred and two."
"Ah."
'I am so going to die.'
"So …" She decided to try a different track this time. "Interesting job huh? Though I bet its very commonplace for you"
A ghost of a smile flitted over his thin lips, barely perceptible but to the trained eye.
'Did he just laugh or is my imagination playing tricks again?'
"I still don't see why a kid needs surveillance. I mean I saw his picture and he looks about Kiba's age." She bit her lips thoughtfully. "I heard you have a little brother of the same age as well. What's his name?"
"Sasuke."
The cold charcoal eyes seemed to grow slightly warmer for an infinitesimal second, a subtle change that did not miss Hana's keen gaze.
"When is he going to join the academy?"
"Next year."
"Well, Kiba is going to next year as well."
Hana carefully shielded her triumphant smile, somehow contriving to keep her voice casual. It seemed that the frozen genius liked to talk about his younger brother. Continuing conversation in that vein did have a chance of evolving into something more than a monosyllable.
"Has Sasuke's weapon's training begun yet?"
"Yes."
'And then again.'
"Kiba has started with some of the standard fare." Making inane conversation with an uncooperative partner was truly painful. "Any ideas on how we go about this business."
Over the rim of the cup Itachi's eyes appeared shadowed, aged beyond years.
Gently he lowered the cup and slipped a fine boned hand inside on of the numerous pockets his flak vest extracting a scroll from its confines. With soft graceful flicks of the elegant ivory fingers he spread the scroll on the table.
One of Hana's eyebrows shot up.
'Wow!'
It was a basic map of Konoha; some one had scribbled instructions and notes across the many winding two dimensional roads, if the elegant calligraphy could be called a scribble that is.
'Now I understand why he is ANBU while I am sixteen and still a Chunin.'
He had drawn up a basic strategy, various shifts they could use to tail their quarry and no one would be wiser. He had used the natural chaos Konoha had to offer turning it into deceptively clever trails that led almost every where in their village.
The trails had natural traits that would mask their chakra signatures like a concentration of power lines, or the roar from the chakra infused bakery …
Dark eyes looked up a little confused, "Aren't we trailing a six year old?" Full lips pursed into a troubled frown. "Is all this really necessary?"
"Naruto-kun is..." Charcoal orbs peered from underneath long curling lashes. "Unique."
"Hnn."
Hana delicately bit into the dango savoring its taste. She knew that Naruto was unique. Hell everyone in Konoha was privy to that fact. What she did not know was why?
"He is good at disappearing."
"Good?" Hana lowered the half eaten dango stick, momentarily diverted.
"Very good." Itachi reaffirmed. "The ABNU can verify."
"No shit!" The words slipped out before she could help it.
"My sentiments exactly." It was back again, that ghost of a smile on Itachi's lips. "Inuzuka san."
"Hana."
Itachi's eyebrow rose imperceptibly.
"Call me Hana. Inuzuka san is way too formal for my taste."
"As you wish." Itachi inclined his head gracefully. "Hana."
"Thanks." She rose from the table, leaving the change by the half eaten dango plate. "We will rendezvous in an hour's time by the monument and kick start this game. Meanwhile…" She chewed her lips thoughtfully. "Don't you think that this mission has way too many loose ends?"
Itachi carefully rolled up his scroll before returning it to its resting place.
"I mean why were the ANBU shadowing a six year old kid? And have you noticed how the adults react when even the name of the subject is mentioned? It's like he has plague or something…"
"It is not our job to probe Konoha's secrets." Itachi sounded ancient, tired, long fingers easily flowed into a familiar seal. "I will see you in an hour Hana."
Hana stared at the fading swirl, watching the dried maple leaves settle on the now empty bench, her smooth forehead creased into a frown.
'Damn it!' She stuck her hands inside her pockets. This mission was not as simple as it looked. 'I am not paid enough to deal with this shit.'
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Naruto dragged his unwilling feet forward cradling the stack of instant noodles to his chest, delicately balancing the packaged milk under his armpits. Shopping was never his favorite pastime but then again packets of miso beef ramen wouldn't just magically appear in the depleted resources of his cupboard. Carefully keeping his gaze on the weathered wooden flooring he maneuvered towards the counter.
'For far so good.'
He stole a glance from under his lashes, lips curving into a sly smile. It was near lunch time and most of Konoha's residents were either indoors or making a beeline for the nearest restaurant to partake some nourishment. That meant that the modest departmental store which he had graced with his presence was almost deserted. As far as he could see there was only a single purple haired woman standing between the empty aisles, carelessly inspecting a bottle of fruity flavored shampoo. With any luck she would not even notice him.
'All right.'
Naruto took a deep breath inching forward. He did not feel like dealing with too many people today, especially with an empty stomach.
'Here we go.'
The purple haired lady was absorbed in her present task; her free hand was inserted into the pocket of the full sleeved white trench coat she was sporting, showing no sign of having noticed him.
The counter loomed ahead of him and Naruto felt quite pleased with his plan.
'Am I clever or what?' Blue eyes danced. 'Eh Stick?'
The piece of wood jutting out from his back remained impassive but he was finally beginning to understand what Fish-sama meant when he said…
"Get this through your meager brain shrimp. Everything is about timing…"
Carefully avoiding the stack of tinned beans, some large brown boards and other assorted items stacked in a ramshackle manner on either side of the counter, he balanced himself on his toes and deposited the items on the glazed top.
"Umm … old man…"
Tiny brown eyes peered at him over the rim of the newspaper. Large pink sausage like fingers folded the paper slowly and laboriously.
The sunny smile on his lips wavered. Naruto hadn't missed the tension in the pink fingers as they worked to fold the newspaper.
The round face of the shopkeeper had turned slightly purple, throbbing veins lined the balding head. Bushy eyebrows had knitted together and Naruto didn't like the look in the watery eyes one bit.
Even from his position he could hear his slow laborious breathing.
Naruto took a step back, color draining from his face. He knew the signs all too well. A part of him considered deserting the articles and heading for his apartment as fast as his legs could carry him.
The other more stupid part of him wanted to stay and glare at the man after all he was sure he had nothing wrong. Why he had even kept the orange to a minimal.
The debate lasted a millisecond. The stupid part won, it always did. Cerulean blue blazed from under knotted golden brows.
The expression was obviously a wrong idea as the man's face turned a darker shade of purple. Still, he couldn't …wouldn't back down now.
"You…" The words were uttered in a jagged breath through clenched teeth, the thick fingers curling around the plastic wrapping, the singular word leaving the thin lips like a vile epithet. "You…"
Naruto's nostrils flared and suddenly the round collar of his threadbare shirt seemed too tight around his neck. The edges of the world appeared to constrict around him and the dull monotone of the shopkeeper sounded distant to his ears.
"Ten ryo."
Mechanically he fished within the depths of his wallet for the requisite amount. Gama-chan was looking starved now.
"Here." The man almost spat the words out; thrusting the brown package at him like it was something contagious.
Naruto rose on the tips of his toes, stretching a hand to accept his groceries. Even as his fingers closed around the brown paper he felt something cold creep down his spine.
For a panicked moment Time slowed, horrified eyes watched the mountain of tinned beans tilt forward, rolling down with the force of an oncoming avalanche. His legs moved on their own, the packet falling from his hands as he lifted them to shield his face.
'Oh shit!'
The shout died at his throat as his world exploded in a kaleidoscope of pain, everything tilted before is eyes, suddenly snuffed out like a used candle.
'Where am I?'
He felt as if body was afloat, carried on the fluid darkness that enveloped him, caressing his limp limbs like smooth ramen. He shivered. The air was cold, settling on his self like a heavy blanket almost suffocating him.
There was something in the void that surrounded him, uncurling like a sleeping python. He could hear it again, that faint scraping sound, like a metal being dragged across stone.
'Shit!'
Something warm tickled his cheek, whispering into his ears, murmuring a strange hymn from another world, the unknown notes drawing him into the liquid void.
'Shit! Shit! Shit!'
His eyes snapped open. The world seemed to be painted in shades of scarlet and red, almost as if it were bathed in blood. A pink tongue moistened his dry lips, his nostrils flared imperceptibly.
'This must be a dream.'
There was something else in the air, something that filled his veins with liquid heat. That strange song had followed him from beyond, vibrating in his skull, the words lingering in the air long after they were uttered. The alien language was strangely mesmerizing; the after image of the strange sounds chilled him and burned him.
His body felt strangely supple; his senses polished like a sharp kunai. He raised himself on his hands, shadowed eyes watching the shopkeeper from under the golden bangs. Something was wafting off the man. Naruto titled his head, wondering why he had never noticed it before.
He edged forward, lips curling upwards.
It was a wondrous smell, so subtle and enchanting, almost as good as ramen. He would have to ask Jiji about it or maybe Fish-sama…
'I need to …'
His body moved of it own accord, lunging forward with a feral grace, ivory talons drawing little rivulets of blood on the shopkeeper's soft flesh, sharp teeth sinking into the man's unprotected neck.
"Oi you okay?"
There was somebody shaking him. The world shifted violently again, his head exploded in aura of pain. Naruto opened his eyes slowly, his expression dazed and stupid. He felt like he had been ducked in ice cold water.
"Oi!"
Some one shook his shoulders more violently. Cerulean eyes sluggishly turned towards the source of the disturbance.
'I am …dreaming.'
His head hurt, scowling he tried to focus on the swimming lines that filled his vision.
Purple eyes …
Purple eyes were staring at him.
'Holy Hokage!'
His vision cleared as he stared wide eyed taking in his surroundings. He had killed the shopkeeper!
How ever the shopkeeper stood a little way off, looking terribly frightened but unhurt.
But, he had ripped the man's throat and he had claws …
He raised his fingers for inspection, ordinary tanned fingers wriggled when he commanded them to.
"Need to visit the Hospital gaki?" He heard the purple haired girl mutter under her breath. "Though the brain damage might be permanent."
He lifted himself off the ground clumsily, heart hammering in his chest. "I'm fine."
He moved towards the door in short jerky strides. Behind him he heard the woman shout
"Why did you do that for? Now I have to do paperwork. Do you have any idea?..."
"Accident, Anko-sama, please…"
Naruto ran out the door. He ran until only the faint burning sensation in his lungs prevailed. He didn't know where he was. He didn't care.
He panted heavily, slipping down against the rough bark drawing his knees up, squeezing his eyes shut.
'It's only a dream.' He chanted. 'Only a dream.'
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kisame barely repressed a sigh, resting his chin on his hands casting a look around the oval mahogany table.
He never did share his leader's morbid fascination with underground lairs and minimal lighting but he had to admit that it did have some uses.
Five lamps hung precariously from the alcoves gauged into the bare rock walls, their flickering flames seemed to accentuate the darkness of the room further. Shadows clawed up cold floor and over the remaining occupants of the table, casting their features into obscurity.
Jagged teeth bared a little. Perhaps it was his special abilities that made him immune to his leader's choice in décor. But that didn't mean he was immune to sheer boredom to these debriefing meetings.
He traced an unrecognizable pattern on the smooth expensive surface allowing his mind to wander.
"You'll regret not using Sword-sama." The little blonde yelled over the sound of the wind leveling the spindly piece of wood at him. "Believe it!"
The wind surged in between them playing with their clothes and ruffling their hairs. Far below them Konoha continued her usual day and his sensitive ears could easily discern the many sounds that made up the chaotic orchestra of life, like the sound of cart wheels scrunching on the pebbled roads or that of two ninja's bickering.
With a poor mimicry of a battle cry the little golden mass hurled himself at him. He was pleased to recognize the controlled move; it was one from the standard mist katas he had taught the boy, a rather flashy feint that involved a sweeping kick to the temple.
'An unusual choice.'
In general traditional warriors sought to open with a more guarded move. It would serve both the purpose of gauging the opponent's strengths and adapting ones strategy for that purpose.
However, he wasn't that big a fan of convention.
His lips rose upwards as Naruto lunged forward, his lithe body twisting in mid air before moving swiftly towards the ground.
'Interesting.'
His smirk deepened as Naruto landed near his feet with a soft thud swinging Stick in an arc.
'But …'
Naruto feinted in midair abruptly substituting a leg sweep for what had looked like a straight forward hit to the chin.
'But…'
His leg met Naruto's abdomen with a sickening thud propelling the boy backwards, his body sliding through the dirt.
"You should know better than to keep yourself so open to an attack." He drawled softly.
Naruto slowly rose to feet, using the flat of his palm to brush away the dirt lining the puffy whiskered cheeks. His nostrils flared as he assumed the usual stance, his makeshift sword poised over his head.
'He's been practicing.'
He noted with approval. His eyes took in the straight arms and the deceptive angle that the brat's legs formed.
'Hnnn…'
Naruto ran forward at a surprising speed. Using the flat of his hand he twisted his makeshift sword forward intending a basic jab to the gut, something that very like his pervious attack, very flashy and very predictable.
However Kisame had learnt that with Naruto one could never know what went on behind the crystal blue eyes. He was impossible to predict; a trait that would undoubtedly save his life countless times in the future.
Brown eyes widened.
Cerulean eyes twinkled and spilt lips broke into a cheeky grin, using a free hand to grip his billowing cloak Naruto swung around his form like a monkey. The little boy had used him like a miniature merry-go-round; using his own height to land behind him.
'So you intend to attack from the rear brat. Not bad.'
He chuckled, cleanly sidestepping the clumsy effort. His legs swept in an arc sweeping Naruto clean off his feet and it was with a deal of satisfaction that he enjoyed Naruto's reintroduction to the ground.
"No fair Fish-sama." Naruto pouted. "Have you got eyes behind your head too?"
"I'm a Ninja." He loomed over the tiny blonde who rose clumsily to his feet. "I have eyes everywhere."
The boy tried again, each time something very different. His permutations and combinations with the existing mist drills were innovative. Strange yet effective. Naruto never tried the same thing twice.
Strangely however he never seemed to give up. Every time he was pushed to the ground, the boy stood up again with the very same sunny smile and the bland confidence in his cerulean depths.
Naruto was tenacious.
The mark of a great swordsman, perfection was achieved through practice.
However the child's form was far from perfect. In fact they missed a very essential thing.
"Grace." He snorted irritatibly.
Naruto skidded to halt, his face scrunching. "What?"
"You move like a tree stump." Kisame said sharply. "You have no grace."
Naruto's face broke into a small pout as he crossed his arm over his chest. "So how do I get grace?"
"It's not something I can explain." He sighed, squashing the urge to rub the bridge of his nose and that little voice that kept on asking him what the hell he was doing. " Grace is the way a stream moves, skirting effortlessly around huge rocks, tree stumps and uneven ground. Grace is the way dew shimmers … Get my drift?" One look at the large glazed eyes were enough to tell him that most of his speech had passed tangentially over his golden spikes.
"I don't get it!" Naruto said with an owlish expression, reaffirming his belief.
"Have you seen people dance shrimp?"
"Of course!" Naruto puffed his chest proudly. "Jiji took me to his dance once…"
He raised a hand to halt the excited blabber before they drifted away from their present conversation.
"Did you see how the dancers moved? That's grace."
"Oh" Naruto digested the information. "But" He raised his face towards him perplexed by an unforeseen dilemma. "They were all women!"
"So?" His patience was wearing thin.
"I have to be a girl to be a swordsguy!" Naruto exclaimed horrified.
"May be I had over estimated your intelligence shrimp!" He massaged the bridge of his nose. "After all a monkey isn't likely to understand human speech." His lips curled into a sneer. "We'll keep trying until you get it right."
"All right!"
Naruto's face erupted into a wide grin as he jumped into the air with a silent whoop, displaying an enthusiasm totally unbecoming of one who had been exposed to his virulent death glare.
"Lack of concentration." He mumbled to himself.
"Whose concentration are we talking about?"
The voice was like steel coated in the softest silk and it effectively jarred him out of his reverie.
Years of experience kept him from jumping up when he felt the attention of all those assembled turn to him at the same time. Luckily he had his ever present and rather handy smile at his disposal.
"Rudra's concentration." His voice was nonchalant. "Naturally."
The leader had his strange unsettling eyes fixed on him and long practice kept him from flinching.
"So I take it that the mission was unsuccessful?"
"My apologies." He managed to keep his voice neutral; the muted light glinted off the crooked edges of his teeth. "Rudra claims to have dedicated his body and his soul to the service of women all over the world. I am afraid I wasn't persuasive enough to sway him from his selfless goal."
There was a sharp snort from one of the occupants. "All messed up in the attic eh?" The voice was gravelly, almost as if its owner was unused to speaking.
"Aren't we all?" Chimed a soft pleasant voice from somewhere amidst the gloom.
"Do we really need someone like him?" Another enquired in a deep throaty baritone.
"His skills are unquestionable." The voice which answered the question was slick, dripping over the congregation like fine sake. "Despite his … err…eccentricities."
"Besides he thinks that living in a cave does nothing for the complexion." Kisame injected, enjoying the discussion thoroughly.
"That's it!" A deeper shadow in the darkness rose with a half muttered curse slamming his fist down on the stone table. "We can't work with some self obsessed…"
"Take your seat Hidan."
The Leader did not lift his voice, yet it cracked like a whip across the room. For a moment it appeared almost as if Hidan would protest but he took his seat, grumbling and cursing under his breath.
"It is a pity." The hypnotic spiraling eyes turned to him once again. "A man of Rudra's caliber would have been a worthy addition to our cause." There was a momentary pause. "This is the first time you have failed Kisame. Take care not to repeat it."
"You are being to harsh Leader." The slight inflection of mockery in the sinuous voice was barely perceptible, shadowed amber eyes rested on his face. "I am sure that Kisame san spared no effort to convince his friend. That would explain all this extra time."
Kisame's did not allow his smirk to waver. He leaned forward, letting the shadows caress the harsh lines of his angular face.
"Actually, I did some sight seeing."
"Oh." Kisame had the impression of something slithering in the dark, slowly coiling around him. "Did you find anything interesting?"
"As a matter of fact I did. After all your home town is littered with interesting things" He had the satisfaction of noting the slight stiffening in the lithe frame. 'You forget that I am a predator as well Orochimaru.'
For a moment a terse silence blanketed the hall.
"I believe we can now move on to our next order of business." Leader's soft voice washed over him. "Now for the other recruits …"
'A really bored predator.'
Kisame tried to listen to their leader talk about numerous candidates that would suit the organizations high standards but he could feel his eyes glazing over and his mind drift away from the leader's emotionless voice.
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Two stone lions guarded the long flight of marble steps that opened to a large gilded door. Naruto stared at the impressive structure feeling strangely out of place.
The library towered over him with its many columns reaching for the skies. May be it was just his imagination but dark clouds seemed to have amassed behind the triangular roof making the whole place seem right out of a horror movie.
In spite of himself he felt a shiver run down his spine. No wonder the place looked so forlorn.
He gripped the edges of his makeshift sheath; having Stick by his side was strangely reassuring.
'Brave. Swords guys are supposed to be brave'
He took a step forward. On finding his body intact he resumed his journey up the wide staircase.
On reaching the large doorway he sighed in relief. For a while he rested his hands on the cool wooden frame to compose himself and then he pushed the heavy doors open.
'Now that wasn't so bad.'
For a while Naruto stared, dumbfounded by the grandeur of Konoha's archives. Narrow shelves stacked with books reached to the ceilings. Filtered golden beams of lights crisscrossed one another in a tapestry of light and shadow, golden specks of dirt danced in them making the air smell slightly musty but not altogether unpleasant.
"Can I help you?" A man leant forward. He had a pleasant face except for the single scar that ran across his nose. "Why don't you come inside?"
"Um …"
He entered the hallowed portals reverently. The place was so silent that even his footsteps had seemed oddly loud in his ears.
"So do you have a name?"
Naruto nodded, dreading to answer the question.
"I am." Blue eyes stared defiantly into the brown orbs, little fingers curled into fists. "Uzumaki Naruto."
The friendly smile on the man's face wavered and Naruto hated the speculative gleam in his eyes.
"Uzumaki Naruto."
The man repeated his name in a crisp business like manner yet Naruto did not miss the slight bite behind each syllable. Naruto's heart hammered in his chest as he forced himself to hold the man's gaze pushing back the strange pricking sensation at the back of his eyes. Abruptly the man's eyes softened.
"I am Umino Iruka. You may call me Iruka san."
Naruto gaped. So he wasn't going to be thrown out?
"Is this your first time visiting the library?"
Naruto looked up a little surprised but experience had taught him to be cautious. Was the man trying to converse with him or were his ears going nuts?
"Are you lost?"
The man's expression had softened further and there were traces of concern in the brown orbs.
"No" He nodded his head vigorously. "I am here for books"
"Really?" To his surprise the man's face broke into a smile. "What kind of books are you looking for? Come on. Why don't you and I find them together?"
He started to move forward making his way towards the towering shelves, Naruto followed.
"I'm looking for –Secrets of inner peace …" He read from the scarp of paper he had just extracted from the pockets of his loose shorts. "Swordsmanship: an art, Katas and Discipline: A guide to the swordsmen of Mist, Shinobi wars: an essay, Basic mathematics for Ninjas…"
Naruto paused feeling the other man stare at him.
There was something of a laugh in Iruka's eyes. He extended a bright purple book forward. "Are you sure you don't want Nono: the friendly whale?"
Naruto scowled. "No, I don't want Nono: The friendly whale" He snapped taking the book nonetheless. The picture of the large blue whale on the front page was rather attractive. And the fish reminded him of Fish-sama.
He smiled at the thought; though the bulbous fish didn't exactly match the blue skinned man, he was much more … He paused scratching his chin searching for the suitable word…'
"I'd like these books" He pressed the scrap of paper into the other man's hand, blue eyes transfixed on the large whale on the cover.
"Okay, would you like to read this book while I get the other titles?" The man offered.
That sounded like a nice deal and Naruto liked the brown haired man. He was kind.
"'Kay" He allowed himself to be lead to a well lit desk cradling his new book.
The table wasn't empty. There was a single occupant who was too busy buried in the pile of books to notice his arrival. He smirked to himself; he could get used to this.
He slid noiselessly in the chair which was the furthest from the occupant and opened his new book.
A long long time ago, in the middle of the great nowhere, there was a lonely whale called Nono …
Naruto traced the outline of the whale with his fingers.
"I don't understand Fish-sama?" He looked up from the aromatic swirling broth, confusion apparent in his bright cerulean eyes. "I have to be a girl to be a swordsguy?"
The other man sighed and adjusted his glasses. It was weird to see Fish-sama like that. Non-blue and all but sometimes when he'd smile Naruto could see a glimpse of the actual man hiding behind the mousy hair and watery smile.
It was kind of fascinating really turning into another person but right now his mind was filled with bigger problems.
"Swordsman." Fish-sama corrected raising his chopsticks to his lips. "And try not to showcase the half digested fare in your mouth every time you talk."
He smiled turning to his own bowl swinging his legs swinging against the metal stool. He wasn't eating alone; the thought make him feel queer but not unpleasant inside.
"I still don't want to be a girl!"
"I'll try to keep this a little simple so that you can catch up." Fish-sama rested the chopsticks on his nearly empty bowl and turned towards him. "What you lack is mainly grace and concentration along with discipline, intelligence and common sense but I believe that those are inherent manufacturing drawbacks. There's nothing you can do about it what so ever. You can how ever try to improve your concentration, grace and knowledge."
Naruto leaned closer trying to absorb as much of the eloquent speech as possible though most of it had sailed over his head.
"Ever heard of a library?"
"Of course." Naruto colored; he couldn't believe Fish-sama had just asked him that question. "Jiji goes there a lot." He replied disdainfully.
"Go there and read" Watery eyes were laughing at him from behind the glass.
"Read what?"
"I'll write down some titles for you" Fish-sama turned away twirling the last noodles with his chopsticks. "Next time I come I want them read"
"kay" Naruto lifted the bowl to drown the last fragments of the delicious soup. He hoped that Fish-sama hadn't detected the slight hesitancy in his voice, books were intimidating for him. After all he wasn't very comfortable with Kanji. Guess he had to pay Jiji a visit soon.
"Here you are"
A pile of heavy books rained down on him making him look up. Naruto coughed slightly as the dust from the numerous books entered into his nose.
He stared in dismal horror at the large bleak volumes of books piled on the desk. They didn't have pictures on their faces and large spidery Kanji ran across their surfaces like slithering venomous snakes.
"Are you sure you don't want Nono?" Iruka enquired leaning over the mountain of dusty volumes.
"No" He muttered bleakly.
"Why do you want these books Naruto?"
"I have to read them." He declared grabbing a particularly heavy book and propping it open. As he had expected the yellowing pages were filled to the brim with sprawling and difficult kanji. He groaned inwardly.
The brown eyes sparkled with amusement. "Can I enquire why?"
"No" He grinned apologetically his own eyes dancing in the pale light of the lamps. "Can I take all these with me?"
"I'm afraid I can't let you check out all these books. Are you in the academy yet?"
Naruto pursed his lips. "I will be" He paused contemplatively. "Next year" He added.
The man's serious expression relaxed into a smile. "Well then you can take out all these books. For now only two will have to suffice."
"Only two?" Blue eyes pleaded with serious unwavering brown eyes.
"Only two" There was a finality in his tone.
Naruto dropped his gaze his whiskered cheeks puffing a little. "I see"
"I'll see you next year at the academy" The brown haired man stood up grinning. "Or maybe here, should you decide to visit again."
Golden brows rose but the man had already disappeared into the gloom. Sighing he decided to skim through the dusty volumes and take the ones he could make any sense of.
Before he could concentrate of the dreary task that stretched before him he found a pair of smoldering charcoal eyes glare at him from above a large red volume.
The other occupant had noticed him after all.
"Hi"
Dark eyes were pulled into a frown. Naruto scowled back giving the owner of the pair of eyes a deluxe whats-your-problem look.
With an indignant huff the eyes buried themselves in the red volume; only the tips of the wind swept black hair stuck out like the peaks of a mountain range.
'What a creep!' Naruto was glad to occupy himself with the task at hand, fingering through the crumbling yellow pages.
Having decided the two books he wanted he tucked them under his arm and got ready to leave, casting a last longing glance at 'Nono: the Friendly whale.'
He stopped on an after thought and picked up the bright blue volume to tuck it under his arms. Smiling to himself he headed to the counter to check out his new books.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
The sky was ablaze; angry orange and red tinted clouds seemed to be suspended in the boiling skyline.
The all too familiar stench hung in the air like a putrid shroud. Mist curled up from the ground, cold white fingers wrapping themselves around his ankles.
He moved forward, his shoulders slouched and his lean body bleeding from numerous cuts. He dragged Samehada behind him; the blunt edge creating a fissure in the sea of bodies that stretched till the red horizon.
His chest rose and fell in uneven gasps; beads of sweat lined the pale blue skin. Glittering eyes swept over all the bodies that now swathed the once lush landscape making it almost unrecognizable. Torn lips slowly curved upwards.
He had killed them all.
He moved forward trudging through broken swords jutting out from the ground like jagged and cruel teeth. Sightless eyes followed his every move while angry sky seemed to blaze behind him and the overlapping scales of Samehada glittered greedily.
He stopped to stare at his hand stained crimson till his elbows.
'Blood?' Detached he watched ruby drops drip from his slender fingers. 'Mine or theirs?'
Bored eyes wandered over the mangled body of the man at his feet. Merely a boy, dull eyes frozen in an expression of shock and surprise, almost as if he could not believe that his life had ended so suddenly. Limp golden strands framed the delicate face, nearly hiding his hitae-te.
'Untrained and unprepared.' The upward curve of his lips deepened. 'Fools.'
"Well" A honeyed voice washed over him. "This is certainly impressive."
He looked up.
"Tell me Kisame." The strange play of light had cast a veil of shadows over Rudra's face casting most of his features into obscurity, yet leaving his obsidian eyes visible, glittering like some exotic jewel. The curved blade hung limply from the slender fingers, deceptively innocent. "Are you happy?"
Kisame cracked his eyes open and found himself staring at the familiar faded patterns that decorated his ceiling. He lay still for a moment waiting for his swallow unsteady breathing to stabilize.
There was a slight scratch on the door making him sit up instinctively reaching for Samehada, the tousled sheets sliding off in the process.
"Come in." He managed to find his usual drawl.
The door was parted slightly to reveal a single amber eye carefully highlighted with touches of purple.
'Great!'
The door was opened with a creak. "Did I wake you?" The voice was silken and yet it seemed to wrap itself around him like leaden coils.
The edges of Kisame's lips curved upwards as he raised his hand to move the moist blue strands that clung to his face.
"No."
The ivory skinned man smiled, the amber eyes never left his face. He sauntered forward, his body moving with a kind of surreal grace; his feet falling noiselessly on the floor. He took his seat in one of the empty chairs crossing one leg over another.
"I'm sorry to intrude of your privacy." Forked golden eyes sparkled in the pale sunlight that stole in through the only window of the Spartan room
'Yeah right.' Kisame almost snorted but he had learned long ago that it more disconcerting to be polite. "Of course not Orochimaru. Friends are always welcome in my humble abode."
Orochimaru leaned back and for a moment the ghost of a smile touched his lips. "I have something for you." His voice was a soft hiss and the amusement in the golden eyes was almost palpable.
Kisame stretched, careful to keep his face neutral despite the unhealthy feeling of something crawling up his skin.
"Oh."
"I see that you aren't surprised."
His lack of enthusiasm didn't seem to faze Orochimaru and even if it did, he, like the rest of them hid it rather well.
"Should I be?"
Orochimaru tilted his head, allowing the silken charcoal locks to shade his face. The upturn of his lips deepened, as did the speculation in the amused amber eyes. He rested a pointed chin on the intercrossed spindly fingers and started to laugh, dark throaty chuckles that seemed to suck out the warmth of the sunlight filling the room.
'Impressive.' Sharp jagged teeth glinted sardonically from underneath the blue lips. 'But I could do better.'
"The tree has a way …" Orochimaru let his words linger as ivory fingers drew a brown parchment from within the folds of his yellow robe in one fluid motion. "Of tying things to itself."
'I'll not even pretend that I understood that.'
He accepted the brown package from Orochimaru's hands, only too aware of the delicate smell of roses that wafted up from it.
Kisame groaned inwardly.
"I'd be very careful Kisame." Orochimaru did not bother to hide the steel in his voice as he extended the letter in his direction. "If I were you, that is."
"Your concern for my wellbeing is touching though rather unappreciated." Slender blue fingers closed around the missive, glistening beetle eyes narrowed.
"I'm your well wisher Kisame. So I undoubtedly take an interest in … your …well being." Amber eyes washed over his lean form, stopping at the three crescent slits running underneath the shadows that lined each slightly spherical eye. "It's such a waste you don't see that yourself."
'Why don't you take your well wishes and shove them up your …'
It was a pity that he could not continue in that comforting train of though any further. The letter seemed heavy in his hand and he was getting annoyed. He yawned, corded muscles rippling underneath the white shirt.
"Even though I am thoroughly enjoying our very enlivening conversation" He drawled, his tone low and foreboding as the air around his form grew steadily frostier. "I really mustn't keep you from your engagements any longer."
Orochimaru straightened himself; Charcoal strands fanning out in an invisible wind as he rose gracefully to his feet. Arching dark eyebrows were pulled over golden eyes but his thin lips were still curled into a sinister smile. Kisame could practically feel his skin crawl and that; he thought with a feeling of disembodied admiration was quite a feat. After all, there were very few things that made his skin crawl.
"Oh my, I'm being dismissed"
Kisame smiled back in his style with his own predatory grin.
'Aren't you a bright one?'
"Let's talk again, shall we?" Orochimaru parted the door slightly, his voice sounded like he was about to sing a lullaby. "Kisame-san."
Kisame did not bother to answer.
The door closed behind Orochimaru soundlessly. Kisame thought he heard the man's cackling laugh on the other side.
His gaze rested on the parchment at hand, a part of his still sane mind seemed to say.
'This won't end well, especially for me. It's best to throw the letter before …'
It wasn't often that he ignored the little voice in his head. His hesitance barely lasted a moment before he raised his hand to his mouth; sharp teeth drawing a tiny trickle of blood. The crimson drops splattered onto the brown parchment before disappearing into its uneven surface.
Sunken eyes watched as a red spiraling seal spread out like a spider web covering every inch of the parchment. Carefully he studied the seal. He would not put it above Orochimaru or any of the others for trying to tamper with any personal missive of his, especially if it came in rose scented stationary.
'Anyone would find it difficult to believe that a man like me could get lucky.'
Besides in the world that he lived in, information was power.
The seal looked undamaged.
'Well, you haven't lost your touch.'
He rested his index finger on the seal and injected a little of his chakra into it, his free hand flowing into the symbols required to dispel the jutsu.
This method of communication was a relic from the days when he was still one of the Seven Swordsmen of Mist and on occasions such as this it proved most useful.
There was a poof of grey smoke and the letter spread itself before him.
He leant back in his standard military cot lifting the letter for his perusal.
Dear friend Kisame,
The script was elegant and Kisame took a moment to admire the fine penmanship.
Hope you are sailing in the twin boats of love and happiness. Hope that this letter finds you in the best of health.
I am deeply grieved to encroach upon your solitude but I feel that the matter of which I'm writing is of such urgency that this action was absolutely necessary.
The word absolutely was heavily underscored. Kisame straightened slightly, thin lips pursing together.
As you know, I am merely a minstrel, weak and helpless, thrust out to face the cruel world and her many unpleasant faces. So, I cannot help but ask you to perform your rightful duty and remove your protégé from my charge.
The golden haired bundle of joy has attached himself to me like a tick and refuses to let go unless I summon you.
I tried to convince the child of course. I even attempted explaining that your profession can be very demanding but he refrains from understanding.
So I beseech you to preserve my remaining sanity by gracing me with your presence. I know that keeping requests might be a new thing for you but you're bound to get used to it sooner or later.
I hope to see you soon.
Impatiently yours
Rudra.
He looked up from his sheet; a little amused by its contents. He was mildly curious as to how Rudra had managed to obtain information about the hideout of the infamous Akatsuki but then he had always been a resourceful ninja
A rare smile lightened the levity of his angular features for an infinitesimal second, before the gravity of the situation dawned on him. He massaged the bridge of his nose looking at Samehada's sharp deep blue scales glitter in the pale light.
'Protégé huh?'
The sword broke into a series of undulating throbs.
He frowned; he was sinking really fast into a quagmire of his own creation and his own traitorous sword was laughing at him!
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