Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo Happy New Year oooooooooooooooooooooooooO
Standard disclaimers apply.
AN: First of all I apologize for updating this fic so late. My semesters got over recently and I have just clawed my way out from under the mountain of schoolwork I was buried under. Yay!
Kindly forgive the grammar.
Also, I would like to apologize for calling the Shodaime Hokage, the Ichidaime Hokage. I am going to correct the errors soon (eventually). Thank you for pointing it out to me.
Chapter 5
He was a wanderer. A sailor who took to life's turbulent waters with a smile, ready to face whatever the ever widening horizon threw at him.
Or at least that was what he used to think.
He suppressed a sigh, passing a distracted hand through his hair somehow managing to maintain the careful disorder in which they fell over his broad shoulders. Dark eyes unobtrusively observed the large rectangular hall from under the curling lashes with ill concealed distaste.
Life was cruel.
Or perhaps, it was Fate's way of getting back for all that bad karma he had accumulated.
Stark, unadorned columns rose from the cold granite floor to disappear in the gloom of the vaulted ceilings. Tiny chakra lamps hung precariously from the narrow niches carved into the slippery walls, their nubile blue flames fighting a loosing battle with the liquid darkness which engulfed the hall.
'Other than an eyesore…'
Outside lighting flashed painting the dreary hall in shades of gray and back and over the pitter patter of the rain on the stained glass of the narrow windows that lined the room, he could hear the distant rumble of thunder.
'This is such a pitiful place that not even my glowing presence can redeem it.'
He was convinced now. It was all that bad karma.
Soft footsteps approached him and despite himself he found his fingers resting on the ornate hilt of his sword with careless ease. It would appear that his one of new comrades had finally decided to socialize.
"You're that foreigner aren't you?"
Carefully indifferent eyes casually wandered over the powerful torso, the stubborn lines that defined his face and the mop of unruly gray black hair that was definitely in need of some serious conditioning.
"Yes."
Curt, clipped tone, no smile and a barely contained killing intent. Perfect. Fitting in would be a breeze as long as he remembered the golden rules concerning interaction in Mist.
Purple eyes glared at him.
"Mizukage-sama wishes to see you after the meeting."
That was friendly.
He barely inclined his head in response, careful to let the shadows play over his face.
"Hnn."
One did not smile in Mist unless one could produce a spectacularly sadistic expression.
"Perhaps you can inform me when the last member of our charming little gathering is going to arrive?" His voice was appropriately icy, a circumstance which could be entirely blamed on the abysmal décor. "I tire of his tardiness."
The last part was partially true. The man or woman, hopefully, was more than an hour late.
'Is it me?' He glanced around, acutely aware of the eyes that followed his movements. 'Or is the hall quieter than usual?'
He did not think that a day would come when he would find being the center of attraction anything but gratifying.
"Hey, new guy." The dark haired man moved closer, thick lips parting into a sneer. "You in for a death wish?"
"Death wish?" He repeated, arching a fine eyebrow in mild hauteur. "Me?" For a distracted moment he wondered whether he should have worn the pale blue vest to accentuate his sea green ensemble. "Well…yes."
Purple eyes peered into his.
"Keep that up and we'll have a funeral soon." Oddly the word 'funeral' seemed to cheer the other man up, a wry grin disturbing the gravity of his face. "I'd keep all that smart comments to myself if I were you pretty boy"
"Is that so?" He flipped a dark curl off his shoulder, the only outward sign of the irritation he felt within. "You speak of this last swordsman as if he were a demon."
Something in the other man's face told him that perhaps this time he had stepped out of line, way out of line. For some reason the air around him seemed colder and heavier and he could feel the hair at the nape of his neck rise. The other man was slowly inching away from him so as not to appear unduly hasty and a moment he had no trouble in reading the stark emotions in the usually carefully guarded eyes.
Hate …and fear.
"Demon …"
The statement was a little contemplative, uttered in a voice was thick and a bit guttural.
The hall had gone so silent that he was sure that it was his own heart heartbeat echoing in his ears.
"That's a bit unfair don't you think"
The temperature seemed to drop further as his eyes turned towards the tall figure that stood silhouetted in the dull yellow light that crept in through the arched door.
"After all." The man stalked forward, his footsteps unnaturally loud on the cold stone floor. "You haven't even met me yet."
Unlike the rest of his brethren he made no effort to sheathe his face in the darkness, allowing the light and shadow to draw a curious pattern on pale blue skin of the angular face. There was something of a predator about the way he moved, an overlarge sword bandaged with thick strips of linen casually slung over a wide shoulder like a piece of straw.
"True."
He agreed, pushing back the trepidation that rose within his self. Mr. Late was strong, very strong. He willed himself to hold the man's piercing gaze.
"It was rude of me."
The man edged closer, sharp teeth glinting and he resisted the urge to step backwards.
"Oh yes." The syllables came as a soft purr. "Very rude."
Somewhere outside thunder boomed. Despite himself he found a wry smile gracing his lips. Mr. Late was really good at intimidation. The situation needed to be handled with a great deal of delicacy.
"My apologies." It was clear even to his ears that he did not sound apologetic at all. "Now that we are all here perhaps we can start our meeting." He barely glanced at Mr. Late, uncomfortably aware of the killing intent that was now centered on him. "I do not wish to keep the Mizukage waiting."
It was such a shame that delicacy was never one of his strong points. And now his expensive silk tunic would be ruined with all that blood and gore that would no doubt be spilled all over the place.
'Too bad.' He sighed. 'I really could have helped him with that skin of his.'
"Did that shark boy visit?"
Rudra's head jerked up, effective jarred out of his reverie by a soft mellifluous voice.
"Ah …well."
He murmured, eyes resting on the one person who could reduce him to such a level of intelligence.
She emerged from within the within the recesses of his hut balancing a laden tray on the palm of her hand, soft petal like lips pulled into a small frown.
"Rudra." She moved towards him, her hips swaying in an unconscious rhythm. "I asked you a question."
At another time he found the soft music of the golden anklet soothing. Now, he merely gulped.
"Which shark boy are we talking about Charu?"
He decided that more the moment he would be purposely obtuse. Besides his question was technically sound. After all, there was an entire clan dedicated to producing little Shark boys.
Charulata clicked her teeth, a habit he had come to associate with annoyance, large eyes accentuated with kohl narrowed.
"We are talking about." She ground out each word as she deposited the laden tray onto the low table in front of him. "That boy."
"By the way." He decided to try a different tactic this time. "Those white flowers suit you marvelously."
For a moment her eyes lingered on the fragrant blossoms woven into her hair before she contemptuously flicked the thick braid over her shoulders.
"Don't try to change the subject Rudra."
She was beginning to look a little frazzled now and that was in Rudra's opinion never a good thing.
"Kisame came to see me about joining some club" He was unable to stop the sheepish smile that adorned his face. 'Yes a club called Akatsuki filled with like minded, crazed, super powerful shinobis obsessed with ruling the world.'
"Club?"
She repeated the word thoughtfully, delicate wheat colored fingers absently played with the dark tendrils of hair that had escaped the confines of the braid.
Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, Rudra picked up the steaming bowl. The delicate aroma of the dish teased his senses and he couldn't resist the urge to dip a long finger into the mixture and lick the thick milk off it.
"Mmmm." His eyes squinted close in delight. "Payasm." He lifted the bowl to his mouth and took a sip. "Can't remember the last time I had it. Besides." Mischief danced in the dark orbs. "No one makes it like you do."
He felt pleased to see her flush a pretty pink and her eyes sparkled in a delighted smile.
"Flatterer."
She flopped on the bamboo bench down beside him.
"Now." She turned towards him, the dark eyes that peeped at him from under long curling lashes held the unmistakable glint of steel. "About that club."
He never could distract her. Not even once. Sometimes he wondered why he even bothered.
"It's a guy thing Charu" He lowered the bowl with a sigh. "And I have already absolutely, positively, definitely refused to entertain the idea. I mean, their club house is in a cave!"
Charulata chose not to answer; the expression in the heart shaped face was difficult to read. Her fingers toyed with the edges of her yellow dupatta that settled like the morning mist over her slender curves.
For a while they sat in companionable silence and around them the wind whistled through the forest bearing with it the smell of moist earth, wild flowers and the promise of rain. The trees swayed, their dark crowns silhouetted against the grey skies.
"I don't want you being friends with that boy."
Rudra sighed.
'I can't believe we are having this argument again.'
He summoned forth the most dazzling smile he had in his arsenal.
"Charu" He began, his tone placatory. "Kisame …"
"No Rudra." She whipped around, eyes blazing, lips pursed into a thin line. "That boy is bad news. Nothing good will ever come out of associating with him." Her nostrils flared. "I can smell the dried blood on him and that accursed sword of his."
"Kisame isn't as crazed as you think he is." Rudra waved his hand dismissively. "He just looks that way." The words were out before he could curb his tongue. 'What the hell! Did I just defend Kisame?'
A delicately shaped eyebrow rose in faint disbelief. "And since when" Her dark eyes narrowed. "Did you start standing up for that boy?" She spat the syllable with unhidden distaste.
'I am sort of wondering about that myself.' Rudra frowned, his brow creasing slightly. "I am not standing up for anyone Charu" The words came out a little harsher than he had intended.
The edges of Charulata's lips twitched.
"Don't frown so much Rudra. It'll begin to leave wrinkles."
"What?"
Rudra's brows immediately unknotted themselves and he forced the smile back on his lips.
Charu broke into peals of laughter so infectious that Rudra could not help but join in with her.
"Say Rudra?" Charu's large eyes danced with mirth, she wrapped a an arm around his shoulders. "When are we going back?"
"Not that again!" Rudra groaned. "We've already had this discussion before like …a thousand times."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"The angle at which maximum …damage is caused is known as …err…err…critical angle. The critical angle is directly … pro ….pro …whatever to velocity of the sword in motion and the swordsman's own directive err…assumption, rather appro…. approxithingy …"
Naruto paused, a hand rising to scratch the messy blonde spikes. His face scrunched pathetically. At this point he couldn't even pretend that he had understood anything. Well at least the script was not as hard as the last one he had gotten from the library. Besides this one had pictures.
"This is going nowhere." He gestured to the long piece of wood that lay by his side. "Huh Stick?"
'The next time I come I want them read'
He landed on the wooden floorwith a thud and lay there, staring at the ceiling.
'What am I going to do?'
He turned over, lips quivering. In his mind's eye this wasn't going to end well.
"I am so sorry Fish-sama" He pleaded prostrating himself on the ground.
"O" Sharp teeth bared into a smile, beady eyes glared at him.
"It's just that I don't really understand Kanji that well and …" He raised his head risking a look at Fish Sama's thunderous face. He promptly lowered it again. "And …and ... so…"
"In that case." Fish Sama's voice sounded ominous. The dark cloak whipped in the air as he walked away. "I can't be friends with you then."
Naruto sat up, shaking his head vigorously to rid him of his morbid daydream. He pulled his legs up and rested his chin on his knees.
'No. No.' He sighed miserably. "What am I going to do?"
"Do what Naruto-kun?" The door creaked as it was parted.
Divine intervention.
Naruto had about those before. His answer stood right at the door. Slowly his face broke into a smile.
"Jiji!"
He launched himself at the old man throwing his arms around his middle.
Sarutobi pulled the little blonde into a tight hug, a gnarled hand rested on the messy spikes. His eyes moved over the spartan room, wandering over its threadbare comfort to finally rest on the book that now lay abandoned at the base of the messy bed.
"You hardly visit anymore Jiji." Naruto pouted, the whiskered cheeks puffing slightly.
"I'm really sorry Naruto-kun. I was busy. " Sarutobi held up a slightly bulging packet. "But I brought ramen. Will that do as an apology?"
"Ramen." The last clouds from Naruto's horizon disappeared as he grabbed the packet from Sarutobi's outstretched hands. "Yay!"
Naruto couldn't stop smiling as he deposited the packet on the table. Jiji was always good at knowing exactly what he wanted. It was a while since he had ramen. After the incident at the department store he didn't even dare buy instant ramen. His fingers grasped the packet with surprising force.
'No.'
He wasn't going to think about that. At this point he had bigger problems to deal with.
"Beginner's mathematics for Ninjas?" Sarutobi read aloud, as his fingers leafed through the pages of the book Naruto had been trying to unsuccessfully read for the last couple of hours. "This is an unusual choice Naruto."
"Um …" Naruto suddenly found the non-existent patterns on the wooden flooring very interesting. "Well…"
Something told him that Jiji would not approve of his friendship with Fish-sama. Adults were weird like that.
"I went to the library the other day and …" His stomach felt uncomfortable. "Well … I found…" Naruto hurtled headlong into a mess of garbled excuses. Keeping secrets was truly a painful process, especially from Jiji.
"And." Sarutobi's eyes danced as he lifted Stick up from its resting place by the book for a casual inspection. "This is?"
Naruto's shoulders almost sagged with relief. Someday, he promised himself, when he could understand adults well he would tell Jiji about Fish-sama.
"My sword." Naruto scowled, a little displeased at Sarutobi's lack of knowledge. "Stick."
"Ah, a sword." Sarutobi inspected the piece of wood carefully before reverently placing it back in its resting place. "It is truly magnificent Naruto."
Naruto could actually feel his chest swell with pride.
"Yeah." He starched the back of his head; an embarrassed smile blooming on his face. "Stick's cool."
Sarutobi made no effort of contest his words. Instead he settled on the weathered couch by the open window and patted the empty spot beside him invitingly.
"Come Naruto."
Naruto was only too happy to oblige. Grabbing the ramen from its place of honor on the table he flopped down beside Sarutobi.
"Here is yours Jiji." He barely handed Sarutobi one of the packets, before his chubby fingers eagerly ripped off the seal of his own. "Mmmm." He inhaled deeply, rubbing his hands together eagerly. "Yosh! Let's begin."
For a while none of them spoke. Naruto did not mind silence much, not when he had ramen and someone to share it with.
"Naruto-kun." Sarutobi's voice was soft. "Do you know what that is?"
"Huh?"
Naruto looked up a little surprised. His gaze followed Sarutobi's out of the open window to the cliff face from where the vigilant eyes of the former Hokages stared down Konoha.
"The Hokage Monument?"
Sarutobi smiled. For some reason he looked tired and in the harsh unforgiving light of the day he looked more wrinkled than usual.
"Do you when a Ninja is called Hokage Naruto?"
Naruto stared. It would appear that Jiji was in one of his lecturing modes.
"I dunno." He began hesitantly. "When a Ninja becomes very powerful, the most powerful and cool …I guess"
"No Naruto" Sarutobi turned to him and Naruto could see that the old eyes had regained their sparkle. "A Ninja becomes a Hokage when he discovers the meaning of true strength."
"True strength?"
Naruto scratched his head. He was sure that Jiji was trying to tell him something really important.
"It is only when a Ninja understands the meaning of true strength that he can grow from a sapling to a tree." A withered hand rested on his shoulders. "Tall and strong, sheltering thousands in its shade..." The grasp on his shoulders tightened a bit. "Naruto, do you understand?"
Naruto's eyes had glazed over in the middle of Sarutobi's speech. But nonetheless he shook his head vigorously. He did understand bits of it, especially about the tall and strong part.
Bet no one would dare ignore him if he was tall and strong. His nostrils flared as his fingers curled into fist, even as his lips parted into a foxy grin. Jiji was really wise. He would have to give this some thought.
"All those men knew true strength." Sarutobi raised a gnarled hand to point at the Hokage monument. "Some day you will too."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"I see that you're leaving again." Apathetic brown eyes traveled over the numerous items scattered over the bed. "And so soon too." Delicate fingers trailed lightly across the edges of the mahogany chair he had been offered.
"Well you know how it is …" Kisame paused, lifting a blue hand to push the blue strands out of his eyes. "The leader wants me to do a little clean up exercise." Thin lips curled into a sardonic sneer. "After all, it's what I do best"
"Undoubtedly."
The boy took a seat on the only chair in the room, crossing one elegant leg over the other, drooping eyes observed the blue fingers work with surprising grace as they wrapped the white bandages around the pulsating broad sword.
"What did you want to see me about?" He was never one to beat around the bush.
The fingers stilled and sunken eyes gazed at him. He found it slightly disconcerting that he wasn't able to decipher what went on behind Kisame's rather unique face. It was rather … upsetting, for he had dedicated years in studying the human nature and considered himself something of an expert in that sphere.
"Ah." Kisame smiled, revealing his oddly pointed teeth, typical of the clan that bred him. "I wanted to ask you about chakra control."
"Chakra control?" He tilted his head slightly; garnet strands fell idly over his cherubic face.
"Yes, Sasori sama." Kisame leant forward resting his sinewy arms on the flat of his blade. "Fine tuning ones' chakra is an art, one that you excel in." He settled his bulk on the bed. "And if one must gather information, one must always go to the master."
"I concur." Sasori's tone was colorless. "Dare I ask, why this sudden interest?"
For a moment Kisame was silent. If Sasori had hoped to see the barest inflection of what the boy was thinking on his facial muscles then he was disappointed. He rested his chin on the palm of his hand, mildly curious. That Kisame had enough chakra to rival a tailed beast was no secret and to date the boy had shown a remarkable aptitude in controlling his enormous reserves.
"Hypothetically speaking..." Kisame spoke at last, his words coming slowly. "Is it possible for one to access one's chakra reserves even if one has no idea of the concept of chakra manipulation or familiar with the word chakra?"
A ghost of a smile graced Sasori's lips. Kisame was adept at speech craft, careful to hide his true intentions but… The situation truly warranted further observation.
"There is no one to teach a tiger how to be a predator and yet, it knows how to hunt. It's instinct. So, technically it is possible for one to access one's chakra instinctually." A thin smile touched his perfect lips. "Hypothetically speaking of course."
"Ah." Kisame mused thoughtfully. "You mean even jutsus can be performed unknowingly?"
This was getting more and more interesting.
"The bastardized version of it, yes; after all, even a puppy bares its teeth if it is in danger."
"I see"
"In my day, we did not have instructors spoon feeding us like they do with the kids now." There was a tinge of dissatisfaction in his voice. "We merely had a vague idea of what chakra was and adults too busy with the war to show us anything more than a couple of low level techniques." He paused. "So, we adapted, experimented and frankly, we turned out better than the weaklings that call themselves ninja today."
"I agree Sasori sama." Kisame's teeth glinted. "They don't make ninja's like they used to."
"Hnn."
In the soft glow of the single candle Sasori found himself wondering if the boy's face could possibly look more inhuman.
'But then…' Hazel eyes were lowered letting the blood red strands obscure his features. 'Humanity remains such a vague and relative term.'
He uncrossed his fingers.
"That aside, Kisame, have I resolved your dilemma?"
"Not really."
At least the boy was honest.
"But you have cleared it up for me somewhat. Perhaps, with your permission we can carry on this discussion later."
Fascinating.
"With pleasure, Kisame." He rose slowly. "I will not keep you from your … engagements any longer."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Naruto sniffed, unhappily rubbing his wet nose against the palm of his hand. He was cold, hungry and scared. Pulling his scratched legs up to his chin, he rested his woebegone face on his knees.
Lightning illuminated the dark forest for a second, the gnarled tree trunks seemed to laugh at him stretching out their spindly fingers to grab him. Naruto could swear that there were faces in the darkness, faces that were dark as the night and eyes than glowed like red hot coals.
'It's all that weirdo's fault.'
Naruto rubbed his cold palms together in a desperate attempt to warm his frozen limbs. It was a piece of good luck that he found this hollow gouged out at the base of two intertwined trees before the rain got any worse. It was still cold and dark but at least it was dry.
'I hate him.'
His fingers curled around Stick and his nostrils flared a little. Outside the mouth of his little shelter, the faces of his nightmares waited. Sometimes over the steady drumming of the rain on the dark leaves he could hear them whispering.
'What the hell did that stupid singer stop coming to Konoha?'
He rubbed his watery nose again. If that weird singer hadn't stopped coming to Konoha he wouldn't have had the need to trail him. Thus, he wouldn't be sitting …here…lost and hungry.
'But he seemed so happy when I went to see him after his performance.'
His whiskered face scrunched in thought.
'Or maybe it was Ayame-neechan.'
After all,the idiot had never once looked at him during their conversation, his smiles and words were all for his blushing neechan.
'Adults are weird.'
Naruto scratched his chin thoughtfully. There were times when Jiji fell into those strange uncomfortable silences and looked at him like he was about to cryand then there was that singer. He only smiled when there were girls around.
'Creepy.'
Naruto edged further into the hollow. If it was up to him, he was never going to become an adult. And if they forced him to grow up he was going to be just like Fish-sama. All tall and blue, with pointy teeth…
'Bet no one ignores him.'
The sparkle in the azure eyes dimmed as he poked the ground with Stick, drawing circles on the loose soil and the salty tears that he had kept at bay for so long ran down his whiskered cheeks.
'I just want to go home.'
No one answered him, except the pitter patter of rain and the distant rumble of thunder. It was then that he first noticed it, above the chirping of crickets and the song of the forest, a soft musical sound, like the tinkling of small bells. Naruto bit his lips crawling to the mouth of the hollow. He strained his ears searching for the elusive sound.
'Maybe, I've been imagining things.'
There it was again, that soft tinkling noise. Something cold slid down Naruto's spine. He lay flat on his stomach, absolutely still.
'It's a …Nightmare!'
They all said that Nightmares did not exist and that Fuun-hime was a stupid story but Naruto knew better. He would have to stay as quite as a mouse or the Nightmares would eat his heart and turn him into a Nightmare.
"Hello." The voice, melodious and pleasing to the ear was definitely that of a woman. "Is anyone there?"
Despite the cold Naruto felt a trickle of sweat run down the small of his back.
"Is any one there?"
The voice was much closer now.
"Come on…."
"I keep telling you Charu, there is no one here."
Naruto's fingers curled around the loose earth. That was a voice he knew very well. A happy bubble seemed to swell inside him.
"Weird singer guy." His voice was hesitant, pleading. "Is that you?"
For a moment only silence answered him. Then he heard a laugh.
"See Rudra." He heard the woman speak again, her voice decidedly smug. "This is where I say, I told you so."
The under-bush rustled as they moved towards where he was hiding.
"Don't be afraid." The woman was speaking to him now. "Stay where you are. We'll come and get you."
Naruto sniffed nodding feverishly, hardly daring to believe his good fortune.
"Okay."
He had almost given up hope that anyone would find him in this cold, rainy night. Even as he heard the footsteps approached him a small niggling doubt raised its head in his mind. What if the person who was coming wasn't a human at all?
'Just like on episode 23 of Fuun-hime- Attack of the Nightmares.'
Nightmares could take any form, call in any voice and if you answered them before they call you thrice, you're dead.
'Shit!' His eyes widened. 'I answered before they called three times!'
But there was still a way. He wasn't going to become Nightmare ramen.
"Hey Neechan." His voice was suspicious. "Do you like leek?" He was a little proud of himself; everyone knew that Nightmares were terribly frightened of leek.
"The poor child must be rambling to himself." The voice muttered. "Well … yes I like leek …"
"Charu." The familiar baritone washed over him. "The kid thinks we are Nightmares from Fuun-hime episode 23. Everyone knows Nightmares hate leek."
There was no doubt in Naruto's mind now.
"Weird singer guy!"
With a whoop he crawled out of the hollow and ran towards where he could now see a lantern floating like a will-o-wisp in the darkness. He could hate the stupid guy but anyone who followed Fuun-hime so religiously couldn't be all that bad! Tears blurred his vision and it was not until he had barreled into somebody that his speed was checked.
"Oh my god!" Soft, warm hands encompassed his shivering form. "Are you okay little one?"
Blue eyes rose to meet smiling green eyes. Naruto felt his cheeks heat up; the neechan smelled nice and was really warm but he just wasn't used to hugs. Besides, he was a big boy now.
"Let go lady." He made an half hearted attempt to free himself.
"Rudra." The arms tightened around him. "We have to take him back with us to the hut."
"Absolutely not Charu!" Rudra's voice was a little vehement. "Let's just leave him here okay. People are bound to find him by morning."
It was official. The guy was a jerk.
"Rudra." Charu's voice was sweet. "We are taking him back with us."
It was a while before Rudra spoke.
"Charu." Rudra sounded a little terse. "This child is from Konoha." Naruto had never seen him get annoyed in front of a woman before. "They'll send ninjas after him soon…"
The fingers that were caressing his hair stilled. Glancing up from his secure position in the woman's arms Naruto saw that she and Rudra were engaged in some kind of serious silent conversation.
"And when they arrive." Rudra's voice was unnaturally docile. "They will find this bundle of joy waiting for them, safe and sound in my humble hovel."
Charu gave a happy squeal.
"Did you hear that little one? You are coming with us."
Naruto nodded, his face splitting into a grin. This neechan was nice.
"Yay." Rudra snapped. "Now, let's head over to my humble abode. The rain isn't doing anything for my skin."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
He stood by the single window, one hooded eye resting on the jagged cliff that rose like an unsightly thorn from amidst the surrounding greenery. Konoha called it The Kyuubi's Claw. It stood, proud and unrelenting, shrugging off the vines which crept up its base, a stark reminder of the wound the Kyuubi had inflicted on Konoha six years ago.
"Hnn…"
He carefully digested the information presented to him, the drooping edges of his mouth sagging further. Power in its raw form was beautiful and terrible, yet of so little use; a mere eye candy like the Kyuubi's Claw. He preferred power in its more domesticated form, like a garden for example where he could choose to grow the flowers he desired and trim the ones no longer necessary.
"Any idea about who this individual actually is?"
Of course, some people had no appreciation for his views. They just didn't understand that in order get a good tree; one must start caring for it when it is still a sapling.
"No, Danzo-sama." The voice that answered him was effectively bland. "But the individual is undoubtedly an Outsider."
Hnn. Good breeding produced such good results. Out of the corner of his eye he observed the erect shadow in the darker recesses of his room.
"Nationality?"
"Unknown." The ninja spoke again, his features obscured behind an emotionless voice and a ceramic mask. "The individual is difficult to track."
"And he is related with the Target how?"
There was a moment of silence.
"The Target seeks him out."
He chewed on that.
"Resume your vigil Raven." He spoke at last. "At this point, observation is of top priority. Intervention is not to be attempted until rendered the only option."
"Understood." Raven melted back into the encroaching shadows, disappearing as silently as he had come. "Danzo sama."
His gaze rested on the claw once more. Power is always meant to harnessed and used. Anyone who thought otherwise was a fool.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The soft hiss of the kettle simmering over the stove seemed oddly comforting within the confines of his little cozy shack, somehow in sync with the muted sound of the incessant rain tapping against the closed shutters. He hugged the cloak closer around himself, leaning back into his chair, his eyes closing of their own accord.
'Hmm…peace at last.'
Tiny feet shuffled across the wooden floor, followed by a thud and the sharp tinkle on another vase coming to grief. He opened his eye fractionally glaring at the perpetrator.
"Didn't I tell you to sit quietly and not touch anything?"
Frightened blue eyes stared at him, whiskered cheeks puffed and a lower lip quivered tremulously.
"I am sorry."
The voice was piteous.
'Oh for the love of …'
"What did you do now?" Charulata materialized behind the child waving her ladle threateningly. "Don't you have any feelings Rudra?"
It was official. He hated the brat.
"Was he mean to you sweety?" Charulata ruffled Naruto's hair, carefully rearranging the layers of blankets that were wrapped around the tiny form. "Don't worry. Neechan will take care of this."
Large eyes glared at him and he found himself bristling with righteous indignation.
"What?"
His tone was perhaps a little too defensive.
"I have made some stew for dinner."
Rudra blanched.
"You're leaving?"
Charulata nodded.
"I have to. I have already lingered for too long."
He was fond of Charulata and truly he should have never involved her in a situation like this. He should have ditched Konoha when he had the chance.
"You are going to leave me here, alone." He pointed at Naruto. "With him?"
The truth was that he was simply not equipped to deal with a circumstance like this. Charulata was right. Associating with Kisame would never do any good.
"Don't go neechan!" Naruto flung his arms around Charulata, hugging her for all she was worth. "Can't you stay?"
Well, at least somebody agreed with him.
It was clear as daylight Charulata was won over, more than she already was, that is.
"Oh, I can't love." She sighed. "I have to leave now but we shall see each other again." She placed a small kiss on his forehead. "I promise."
"But …" Naruto formed a most adorable pout. "He … he."
"He won't do anything love." She assured soothing. "If he does you can tell me." She paused. "And I'll assure you that he is going to be sorry." Rudra did not miss the steel in her voice.
Rudra repressed an involuntary shudder watching the evil blonde glare at him over Charu's white shoulders and even had the audacity to blow him a wet raspberry.
'Every dog has his day brat.'
Charu stood up flicking away the heavy braid, her hands rested on her voluptuous hips.
"The stews on the stove, the bed's been made." She smiled sweetly. "And Rudra, play nice."
And here he was thinking that he had finally escaped D-rank babysitting missions.
A blast of rogue breeze that whirled around Charulata, carrying her off with it on its flighty wings leaving a delicate unspeakable fragrance in her wake.
For a moment both of them were silent.
"Weird singer guy." Naruto addressed him, a martial light dancing in the blue depths. "Where did the pretty neechan go?"
"Rudra. The name's Rudra." He muttered, trying not to give in to the urge of gnashing his teeth. "Charu's gone home." He ran a hand through his carefully disarranged hair, patting an unruly tendril into place.
"Is she a ninja?"
Rudra contemplated on that for a while.
"No."
Naruto digested his answer.
"She's cool."
He could not contest that.
"Yeah."
There was a moment of silence.
"So." Golden brows knitted and the little shoulders rose. "Did you call Fish-sama?"
Rudra could feel the signs of an oncoming headache and resisted the urge to rub his temple. And everyone knew headaches induced wrinkles. God forbid!
"Go sit." He snapped trying to regain some of his calm. 'Damn that blue man!' Brown fingers worked with surprising dexterity on the kettle he had put to boil. 'Is this is divine retribution for some trivial comments about other less fortunate individual's appearance?' He glanced heavenward. 'I am… sorry.'
Only the falling pitter patter of rain answered him. It was true, the Gods had abandoned him. He would have to bear with the blond pestilence for a while now.
"Did you call Fish-sama or not?" Naruto was beginning to sound like a broken record.
'At least grant me patience.'
"What's this?"
It would appear that boy had been momentarily diverted. Rudra's eyes widened.
'Oh shit! Not that.'
The boy was probing his prized marble statue, standing on the tips of his toes, stretching a chubby finger towards its seat of honor on the high table. Horrified he watched the statue wobble for what seemed to be an eternity before toppling over and landing on the floor with a resounding crash.
'Nooooo!'
Rudra picked up the beheaded figurine, his nostrils flaring, narrow eyes resting on the hapless boy.
'Well Charu isn't here anymore.'
He took a step in Naruto's direction.
"I'm sorry."
Naruto sounded panicked, eyes wide with terror, looking ready to bolt out of door.
His feet stilled.
'Surely the boy does not think that I would do something so… provincial as to hit him.'
Naruto trembled his whiskered face paling.
'Somebody who is as refined as I am would never do anything so barbaric. So why the hell is the boy reacting like that?'
His expression softened. With a soft he picked up the beheaded figurine from the floor and placed it on the table.
"Don't do it again." At this point Naruto reminded him of a cornered animal, frightened and jumpy. "So why don't we have some of that stew Charu left for us?"
Naruto nodded jerkily.
Frankly Rudra found this avatar of the brat much less tolerable than his unflinchingly irritating mode. He had to come up with an idea to amuse the boy and fast, one that would hopefully divert him from the present situation.
'How difficult can it be?' He scratched his chin absentmindedly. 'After all I'm good looking, smart and extremely modest.'
"So, Naruto would you like to hear a story?" Rudra couldn't help the slight smile that rose to his lips. 'I'm also a genius!'
Color flooded Naruto's cheeks, the blue eyes glimmered but he shrugged the thin shoulders indifferently.
"I guess."
He scooped up a helping of the stew in two chipped bowls handing one to Naruto.
'I need better china.'
Naruto accepted the bowl with muted thanks. He still looked shaken and scared.
"Sit." He commanded, settling into his favorite armchair. "You don't want to hear the story standing up do you?"
Naruto muttered something under his breath and flopped down unceremoniously on one of the comfortable chairs. He squinted, sniffing the contents of his bowl suspiciously.
"But I really rather see Fish-sama."
"I tell you what." Rudra forced his rising temper to settle down. "Listen to my story and maybe after that Fish-sama will come and visit you."
"Really?" Naruto perked up, the azure depths lighting up almost immediately.
"Yes." Rudra smiled placidly.
Did he care that he was lying to a poor, naïve child? Did he care that he would have to answer for his lies later?
Of course not!
He was fairly confident that the boy would start snoring by the time his story ended. Then all he had to do to was wait for the Konoha ninjas to come and collect him.
If he played his cards right, he might even be compensated for … babysitting.
"No one's really told me a story before." Naruto said shyly.
"Really?" He was a bit curious "What about your parents?"
"Don't have any." Naruto shrugged his shoulders, his face oddly dispassionate.
"Oh?" Rudra mumbled sipping his stew a little uncomfortably. 'I finally understand why the poor kid roams about with potentially dangerous criminals.'
"So are you ready?" Rudra cleared his tone.
"Yeah." The child exclaimed with a lot of unnecessary energy.
"Once upon a time, far far away, beyond the seven seas, there was peaceful little island."
"Do I know of this island?" A blonde eyebrow rose speculatively. "Is that where Fish-sama stays?"
"No and don't interrupt." He snapped. "The island was ruled by a kind and just king. The island was very prosperous and happy. But the king was growing old and it was time to choose the next king. Unfortunately, the king had many eligible sons. So no body knew who would be the next king"
"Ppft" Naruto blew on his golden bangs. "That's hardly a problem. Just do something like a lottery or something."
Rudra chose to ignore the kid's intrusion and continued unruffled in his honeyed baritone.
"One of these Princes was really smart. He prayed to the Mighty God of the Sea and requested the God's aid. The God was touched the Prince's earnest entreaty and send forth a white Bull from below the waves as a sign of his favor."
"Bull?" Naruto cut in. "That's just ridiculous! Why not send ramen?"
"I don't know. I am not the God of the Sea." Rudra sounded annoyed. "So anyway, it was decided that after the Prince became King he would sacrifice the bull as an acknowledgement to the God. However, after the Prince became King, he forgot his promise. The Bull was a powerful and beautiful animal. Perhaps the prince didn't see any justice in sacrificing it. He decided to keep the Bull for himself. The Sea God was angered."
Rudra paused watching with mounting dismay as Naruto hung on to his every word showing no sign what so ever of falling asleep any time soon.
"The Sea God decided to punish the Prince. He made his Queen fall in love with the Bull."
"Eww." Naruto's eyes narrowed with open distaste. "That's just plain gross."
Rudra felt a small smile tug at the corners of his lips.
"Out of their love came a monster; neither man nor bull, a strange amalgamation of both, a beast whose power was matched by its ferocity alone." He continued smoothly. "The King was enraged and for a while contemplated on destroying this abomination. But the creature was strong and difficult to kill. So he consulted a Wise Woman. She advised him to build a labyrinth deep within the bowels of the Earth and trap the beast in its serpentine coils for all eternity."
He paused dramatically.
"A thousands artisans worked through the scorching sun and winter nights till at last the maze was completed and in it the King trapped the beast, now cursed to roam the dark halls forever in search of a way out."
"But why trap the beast?" Naruto interrupted; his round face thoughtful. "I mean it wasn't his fault that his mom caught a severe case of cooties."
"Yeah well." Rudra gracefully skirted around the question. "Once in a while a brave man would try his luck and courage down in the labyrinth. Perhaps the King expected that one of them would slay the creature. But …"
"But?" Naruto parroted excitedly.
"But those who went into the labyrinth's murky depths were never seen again!" Rudra let his words linger in the air ominously.
"What happed to those men?" Naruto was at the edge of his seat, blue eyes shining with interest.
"May be the beast devoured them." He shrugged, a pleasant half smile hovering over his lips.
"How do you know?" Naruto raised an enquiring eyebrow. "I mean it's not like any one's seen what happened to these people once they went into the maze correct? So the king could also be doing off with these people and blaming the beast."
'Valid point brat.'
Rudra leant back into his chair. Maybe, just maybe he had assessed the boy wrong. Dark eyes took in the slight frame leaning from the chair, his feet swinging. There seemed to be more to the blonde than he had come to assume. Still this kind of reasoning seemed too jaded for a boy of such tender years.
"You're wrong shrimp." The guttural drawl brought an abrupt end to what he was about to say.
Rudra's jaw went slack, the words he had been concocting lay forgotten in his mind. All that encompassed his mind was the singular sinister chakra signature emanating from right outside his door.
'How the hell did I miss that? I am getting rusty.'
The door was thrown open on its hinges making the old wood creak dangerously. The familiar tall figure stood silhouetted against the downpour before he lowered his head and crossed the threshold with his usual careless grace. A large broad sword almost the same size as the man trailed behind. Wet blue strands of the usual upright hair clung to the angular face, lips curled into a parody of a smile.
"It wasthe beast who had killed all those men."
He drawled tilting his head, glistening eyes staring at the boy.
A slow smile spread over Naruto's face, the azure depths lit up. He was on his feet in a flash, luckily sparing his china this time. He rushed over to the towering figure and gripped the ends on the damp cloak a bit hesitantly.
"Fish-sama" The boy raised his eyes, his cheeks flushed, all most as if could not believe his good fortune.
Rudra rested his face on hands watching the interchange with feelings torn between resentment and amusement. The boy was delighted to see the blue man and was clearly showing it but Kisame …
He was smiling as usual, his triangular teeth made it very difficult to look at anything else. But he looked slightly uncomfortable though. Dark eyes widened infinitesimally when a trembling blue hand brushed the golden locks for a fraction of a second. Of course, the long graceful fingers were retracted so quickly that the entire incident seemed like a trick his eyes were playing on him. Luckily for him he was a ninja, his eyes didn't miss such miniscule details.
"Ah Kisame." He greeted almost lazily making no effort to straighten himself. "I see you chose to honor my request."
"Nothing of the sort." Kisame turned at him with a slight sneer. "I was on business."
'Yeah right.' He rolled his eyes. "Remove that coat." Rudra gazed at him from under heavy lidded eyes. "You're making my floor wet."
Yeah, so he was tempting death. He watched the Kisame's upper lip curl unpleasantly. But he had just put up with a criminal's charge for the entire evening and he had every right to be crabby.
However Kisame merely removed his cloak in a fluidic motion and folded it up with well practiced ease. Corded muscles rippled underneath the white wrap he had on, dropping the offending garment on his favorite shirt without a second glance.
'I hate that man.' Rudra's expressive eyebrows formed a slight frown distorting the levity of his expression.
Kisame apparently did not think that he had done anything wrong. He settling his bulk into a protesting chair.
"I have removed my cloak." One eyebrow rose in mild hauteur.
"I can see that." Rudra said through gritted teeth.
"Weird singer guy was telling me a story Fish-sama." Naruto gushed skipping.
"I could hear shrimp." Kisame turned his head towards the boy.
"It wasn't a good story!"
'Excuse me!'
"There was this King and this Bull." Naruto proceeded, excitedly, arms akimbo. "No, no. There was this King and this God" He paused, his forehead furrowed, starching the golden head in an effort to remember the words.
'Then again maybe I overestimated the kid's intelligence.'
"I have heard the story before." Kisame said with surprising patience.
"Ah! Really?" Naruto accepted this information readily. "Then why did you say that the beast killed who ever went into the maze? It could have been the king. After all, the maze was dark."
"The beast was bored kid." Kisame inspected his teal colored nails with indifference. "He had to stay in that maze and all that his stupid father did was send all these worthless people to finish him off. What's a half-man half-bull supposed to do?"
The entire hut had gone completely still, except for the sound of rain.
"So." He grabbed a floppy towel. "He killed them all." The fact that he sounded so casual made Rudra cringe inwardly.
Kisame proceeded to rub the damp blue tresses.
"Oh." Naruto asked turning his blue eyes at Rudra. "What happed to the beast?"
"Oh the beast." Rudra said suddenly recollecting the unfinished story. "Well one day …"
"One day the beast decided that it was tired of the flimsy walls that formed his prison, tired of being a shadow used to scare silly little children." Kisame cut in silkily. "He broke free and forced the world to acknowledge his existence, etching his name in history with blood."
'Does Kisame realize that this story was supposed to be PG-13?'
"Oh?" Naruto's face scrunched thoughtfully. "And every one accepted him?"
"Everybody did." A contemptuous smile played on Kisame's thin lips. "They had to do. He was too powerful to provoke."
Rudra got the feeling that they weren't exactly discussing the story any more.
"So because the beast was powerful so every one acknowledged it?" Naruto muttered with a queer expression on his childish features.
Rudra did not doubt the kid was doing some serious mental math.
"You could say that." Kisame occupied himself on drying his long sinewy arms.
"Hnnn." Naruto clasped his chin and let the golden bangs obscure his eyes.
For a while no one spoke.
"That's it!" Naruto exclaimed loudly, jumping into the air. "That's it!" He turned towards a startled Kisame.
"I…" He leveled a confident finger in front on Kisame's aquiline nose. "I know what to do in order to get acknowledged by everyone"
Rudra choked on his tea. Years of experience prevented him from spitting out the contents of his mouth.
'The kid wants to be a mass murderer!'
Kisame raised a nonexistent eyebrow.
"I'll…" Naruto paused, his little chest puffing outward. "I'll become Hokage!" Naruto pressed his lips together, a look of mulish determination crossed his features. "Believe it!"
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