AN : First of all, I would like to thank all who reviewed this story, very, very much. I am very sorry that I could not answer you individually but my semesters start next week and I am really up to my neck in school work. Now that I have bored you enough, let's proceed.

Disclaimers: Standard disclaimers apply.

Chapter 6

"The way I see it?" Naruto paused thoughtfully raising a hand to scratch his chin.

"The way you see it …" Rudra prompted gently, his voice only mildly curious even though his eyes said otherwise.

Despite his feigned indifference, Kisame could not deny his interest in the brat's answer. Resting his chin on the flat of his palm he allowed his heavily guarded eyes to rest on the boy's face.

Naruto scowled, crossing his hands over his chest, golden brows furrowed in thought.

"When you become strong you can either become the Bull prince or …"

He paused dramatically, blue eyes sweeping over his captive audience.

"Or?" He snapped irritatibly. Patience was never one of his strong points.

"Or you can become the Hokage!" Naruto declared triumphantly.

Silence descended, thicker than the mists of Kiri and just as uncomfortable. The blazing smile on Naruto's lips dimmed as his eyes nervously flitted over their faces. Somewhere outside the crickets continued with their monotonous orchestra.

"Well, everyonelikes the Hokage." He continued in a much subdued tone. "But… I don't think anyone likes the Bull Prince."

Kisame almost snorted, wondering for a detached moment at the twinge of disappointment at the brat's explanation. The boy was being objective after all, his reasoning following the common perception.

"Also, when I become Hokage." The dying flames of the fire smoldering in the pit intensified the growing shadows that danced maliciously on the walls of the hut, and drew intricate tattoos over Naruto's whiskers. "I'll give lots of orders." The slight fox like grin was back in place, the azure orbs glimmered as they rested on his face. "And you'll have to obey them too."

A non-existent eyebrow arched upwards.

"Oh?"

"Of course" Naruto puffed his cheeks, unimpressed at his lack of knowledge. "Everyone listens to the Hokage." Naruto paused, his eyes widening and Kisame could almost see the gears turn behind in his head. "I'll order you to stay and you'll have to obey!" Naruto smiled looking highly pleased with his first decision as Hokage.

Perhaps there was a reason why even the crickets stopped singing.

"Stay? Him?" Evidently even Rudra was having trouble grasping the concept. "Where?" Rudra sounded almost too afraid to pose that query.

"In Konoha, of course." Naruto rolled his eyes, scowling at Rudra's ignorance.

"Oh merciful heavens." Rudra mumbled, palming his forehead. "You are inviting him to stay?"

His thoughts exactly but not in so many words.

"Who else would I invite?" Naruto's scowl deepened. "You?"

Rudra's jaw went slightly slack, a disgusting show of emotions for a ninja.

He straightened himself running a hand over his face hoping to smoothen out the growing smile into a proper scowl or even a respectable sneer.

He was Hoshigaki Kisame.

He just didn't do smiles.

Still, even two hours, he still felt like smiling. Horrified at the stubbornness of the unfamiliar emotion and his sudden lack of control he ran his fingers over the jagged planes that defined his face, trailing fingers over the wave shaped slits underneath his eyes.

'They are still here.' He thought, a little bitterly. 'At least some things do not show the sign of changing any time soon.'

"Fish-sama."

"Hnn.".

The storm was over so Rudra insisted that they move outside to the porch, muttering something about saving firewood and wonderful weather. At least he had been right about the weather part. The sky had been washed clean, decorated with a plethora of stars. They lay sprinkled like diamonds on a charcoal carpet looming over the dark heads of the whispering trees. The air was cool, laden with the fragrance of some unknown blossom, comforting when it played with the strands of his hair.

"Why didn't you come last week?"

He turned to the boy sitting on the porch a little further away from him swinging his legs over the edge.

"I was busy. I had work" His tone was clipped. "Grown up work"

"Really?" Naruto inched closer, his large eyes looking at him expectantly. "What work do grown ups do? I mean, Jiji works too …"

"Grown ups have lots of work" The words came sharper than he intended. 'Murder, pilferage, assassination, wars …' He looked unseeingly into the horizon. "You'll understand when you grow up."

"Cool." Naruto didn't seem much bothered by the harshness in his tone. "I want to work too." He declared suddenly, crossing his arms over his chest mulishly. "I want to do what you do!"

Kisame jerked up. 'What?'

A more honeyed baritone voiced his thoughts. "What?" Rudra stood at the door gaping at Naruto, a delicate eyebrow arched incredulously.

"I thought you wanted to be Hokage." He drawled, managing to keep his voice even. "I certainly am no Hokage"

"Oh yeah!" Naruto brightened, instantly diverted. "Hokage" he muttered giddily. "Hokage Naruto-sama, the greatest swords guy Hokage ever." He flung out his arms triumphantly, his sudden yell disturbing the birds roosting in the tress.

"Hokages are supposed to be responsible, intelligent..." Rudra sounded grave as he took his seat on the porch on the other side of Naruto. "Did you tell your Fish-sama that you sneaked off into the night, alone, hmm?"

The smile on Naruto's face flickered and disappeared.

"Did you tell him that you'd be dinner for the wild animals if Charulata hadn't chanced upon you?" Rudra ran a hand though his charcoal locks. "And did you tell him that right now your Jiji is probably frantically looking for you?" Rudra's tone was oddly terse. "Jiji, who just happens to be the Hokage of Kohona!"

Underneath the flimsy white tunic Rudra had provided him, his shoulders stiffened. "Hokage." He repeated, feeling oddly numb. This required a talk with Rudra later.

"Those masked men who look after you will undoubtedly be here soon." Rudra continued but the sternness his gaze softened a little when it rested on Naruto. "Right?"

"I…" Naruto's fingers curled into fists, the stubborn glint was back in his eyes again. "I want to go with you Fish-sama!"

'What?' That seemed to be the only word in his vocabulary these days.

"I'll ask Jiji." The boy whipped around to face him. "I am sure he'll let me. He always let's me do what I want"

"Oh I'm sure he'll flip with joy." Rudra said dryly inspecting his hand. "After all, your Fish sama makes such a good role model."

Blue fingers tightened around Samehada's hilt and over the golden spikes, sunken eyes met large charcoal ones.

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

'Don't push it singer'

The charcoal ones smiled in return but he could catch the glint of steel behind them. For some reason Rudra was displeased and he couldn't care less.

"Fish sama, don't you want me to come with you?" Naruto cut in, frowning.

"Tell me Naruto." Rudra's voice was indulgent, his eyes twinkling. "How will you be Hokage if you leave?"

"That's right." Naruto agreed glumly. A crease appeared in his smooth forehead as he pondered on the grave dilemma. "Then I'll just have to tell Jiji that I want Fish-sama to stay with me."

"No!"

Both men shouted in unison.

Kisame chanced a glance in Rudra's direction. It was sad day indeed when he had to agree with Rudra on anything.

"Why?"

"Didn't you hear anything brat?" Kisame snapped. "I have a job."

"Yeah." Rudra repeated unnecessarily. "He has a job."

One of these days he would kill Rudra.

"Oh." Naruto's face fell. "But…" The blazing grin was back on the scarred face, hopeful azure eyes met his. "You will come to see me, right?"

"Yes Fish sama." He did not miss the twinge of sarcasm in Rudra's voice. "You will come, right?"

"Hnn."

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"Captain …"

He crouched amidst the fluttering leaves, carefully balanced on the gnarled branch, for once glad of the blank ceramic mask that covered his scarred face. He did not bother to turn when a large figure landed noiselessly beside him, the standard black cloak pooling around his enormous girth.

"I am afraid that the Chakra trail is no longer readable sir."

"Hmm."

There were some would find beauty in this little glade, poetry in the way the tall trees hemmed in between them a patch of velvet grass like a forgotten Princess. He however, saw only standard Konoha vegetation and a dead end.

He jumped off the branch, gracefully landing on the ground, narrow brown eyes scanning the quivering tips of grass for some clue that C-122 might have missed.

"The target was near Konoha. Perhaps they know something." The voice was low and pleasing to the ears. "We could just ask them about it, right C-122?"

C-122 didn't deign to reply.

The third member of their squad still persisted. "What do you think Captain? We could just …"

"Quiet C-15." His lips twisted into a frown. 'Che. Rookies.'

There must something seriously wrong with the new curriculum at the academy if C-15 was coming up with suggestions like that. One simply did not ask another hidden village for help when tracking down a defector … a traitor. Information maybe, not help, never help. And in this particular case…

"C-122, commence initial chakra signature analysis procedure p-12."

"Yes sir." C-122's disembodied voice came from somewhere amidst the dark leaves.

Procedure p-12 wasn't very flashy but it was useful to pick up the barest trace of chakra or scent, almost undetectable to all but the finest of trackers.

'Like the Inuzuka for example.'

But most importantly the chakra consumed was so minimal that it usually escaped the radar of most ninja's, a move that was particularly useful when one had to hunt so close to walls of a hidden village.

"Set it as level 10." He added as an after thought. Where this particular object was concerned, it was unwise to take chances.

"I still think we're wasting time." C-15 complained resting her arms on her hips. "This is going to take all day."

He repressed a sigh, reminding himself for the umpteenth time that C-15 was very young and a very talented ninja, which, probably the only reason he had put up with her. One could hope that one day she would mature into a reasonably powerful Hunter.

'If she survives.' His lips twisted into a bitter smile. 'That is.'

"Chakra analysis has been completed." C-122 announced his voice like the distant roll of thunder, landing beside him like an overgrown bat.

"What did you find?" C-15 probed a little too curiously for his liking. He would have to condition C-15 to be less expressive.

C-122 droned on his low booming voice as if he had never heard C-15. "I have detected S-class levels of chakra and traces of chakra signatures that match with Team Delta."

'I was right!' In spite of himself he felt his fingers curl into fists.

"How ever Team Delta's signatures are faint."

"They're dead aren't they?" C-15 cut in her voice sharp and quivering with barely contained anger. "That monster!"

His lips tightened into a thin line. C-15's loss of control was most unseemly.

"Team Delta had been neutralized." C-122 continued almost as if he were commenting on the weather. "Shall we proceed with the standard procedure Sir?"

Underneath his mask his eyes felt strangely wet and for some reason his hands refused to stop shaking.

"Sir?" C-122 took a cautious step forward. "Captain?"

He straightened, feeling the wind play within the folds of his cloak.

"Yes." He managed to keep his voice even, crisp. "Proceed with a territory sweep C-15. I want to know if the quarry is still here."

'I guess this is it …'

"Also call for back up." His talons dug into his palm till they drew blood. "Four squads of E-level Hunter ninjas at least."

'Huh Sempai?'

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He swirled the brown contents of his cup a little apathetically.

"He's asleep." Rudra sat down on the porch, stretching his long legs in front of him

"I see." He lifted the chipped cup to his lips.

"He made me promise him though." Rudra poured himself some tea. "I am to make sure that you are still here when he wakes up." The flickering lamp cast live shadows on Rudra's aquiline features. "Though I am afraid that his faith in my abilities is, shall we say, rather limited."

For a while they sat in silence.

"So…" Rudra was the first to speak. But then he never could remain silent for extended periods of time.

He placed the now empty cup beside him, staring stonily into the distance. He could only hope that Rudra would take the hint and refrain from initiating further conversation.

"My letter found you?"

It would appear that his hint had merely glanced off Rudra's armor.

"Yes." He closed his eyes allowing his mind to wander.

"And you found it …" Kisame had the feeling that Rudra seemed to be walking on eggshells. "Agreeable to pay me a visit?"

"I had work here." He replied, his eyebrows knitting slightly.

"Ah. That would explain it." Rudra's voice sounded a little too understanding for his comfort. "I almost believed that you were here for the kid. After all, now-a-days it seems to be the trend in the Seven Swordsmen." Rudra stifled another yawn. "Do you remember Raiga?"

"Yes." His eyes narrowed unpleasantly, wondering where this conversation was heading.

"Morbid fellow with horrible skin." Rudra shuddered. "There are rumors about him and some kid he carries about in his backpack."

The frown deepened as he fingered Samehada's bandages absentmindedly. This conversation was becoming rather tiring.

"Ah and I almost forgot about Zabuza, the boy with the charming smile." Rudra grinned at him. "I hear that he too has adopted some poor, orphaned, homeless child …"

"What are you trying to say Rudra?" He was never one to beat around the bush.

"It is also rumored that both these children are rather gifted." Rudra was pointedly observing his nails, continuing almost as if he had not heard the question. "So in some way it makes sense but …" He let the sentence hang, heavy with unsaid words.

There was strange gleam in Kisame's eyes. "Are you comparing me to Zabuza, Rudra?"

"I wouldn't dare." Rudra gave a humorless chuckle. "It's just that the little blonde menace has placed you on a pedestal. And that." A long sinewy arm rose to flick away a serpentine lock. "Is bound to have complications, no?"

Kisame leant back, the sneer dying on his lips.

"Like for example, the boy is always …. Let's just say the boy's always watched." The smile in Rudra's eyes had disappeared making him appear almost unpleasant. "He has the ANBU shadowing him."

"I know." He said simply.

"Oh." The flickering candle light anointed Rudra's skin making it seem like a rich earthen gold. "I thought you might."

There was slow lift at the corners of Kisame's lips. "I am touched by your … concern Rudra." He made no effort to veil the sarcasm that laced his slightly nasal drawl.

"Besides, the Professor, the third Hokage of Konoha also appears to be rather close to the boy. I have seen them together occasionally."

"You are very well informed."

"It's like I said before. You have no idea how much information a good looking traveling minstrel can gather." The twinkle was back in Rudra's eyes. "And then we must consider those lovely individuals you hang around with…"

Kisame's lips pursed into a thin line.

"Get to the point Rudra."

Rudra stared, his smile crooked like the naked blade decorating his inner chambers.

"Now look at what you've done." His voice was however a pitiful whine. "You are really nothing but trouble."

Kisame stilled feeling the ghostly fingers of the white mist claw up his self, curling around his form like a white shroud. In his fingers Samehada quivered with excitement.

He heard Rudra curse softly.

He stretched his senses, skimming through the white veil. It had been a while since he had seen this particular jutsu used so competently. It almost felt like he had been immersed in a pristine white ocean.

'Unfortunately.' He lifted Samehada over his broad shoulders with a deceptive laxness. 'It is at the ocean that I am most dangerous.'

Unfortunately or fortunately, Rudra was not particularly fond of this technique, not even after his years as a Mist ninja.

"Damn this fog." Rudra's prejudice against a most useful jutsu still escaped him. "Che! Can't a poor musician enjoy a little peace?"

"Rudra-san." Kisame cocked his head, the barest hint of recognition passing through his self at the sound of the soft feminine tone. "Kisame-san."

He did not dwell much on identifying the voice however. There was no point in identifying someone he was about to kill.

"You are hereby detained for your crimes against Kiri and her people." Kisame was pleased to note the barest quiver in the disembodied voice. It appeared that his fame had only grown with time. "Please refrain from any hostile behavior."

'That speech …' He stalked forward. 'Never ceases to bore me.'

Around him the fog swirled and danced, reducing his visibility to zero.

"And allow us to accompany you to Kiri where you shall be judged for your crimes."

'And exactly who do you think I am?' Kisame almost laughed. 'A nice, obedient little boy'

He moved silently, soft footed like a malevolent wind, swinging Samehada in a vicious arc, reveling in the sound of snapping bones and tearing muscles and the scream that ended before it had even started. The silken white strands rippled for an instant as a broken body fell at his feet with a thud.

'The standard of Mist is slipping Samehada.' Kisame sighed. 'What were they thinking? Using this technique on their sempai?"

Samehada throbbed, almost as if in agreement, its pristine linen bandages stained a deep scarlet.

"Kisame didn't you listen to the good lady?" Rudra voice was long suffering. "Kindly refrain from any hostile activities."

'Moron.'

"Come." He heard a Rudra's thick, slightly accented voice ripple out. "Pavan."

The wind rushed past his ears like an invisible dog heeding the call of its master. Suddenly the lazy mist was alive, thick white layers dancing to the tune of some unknown song, even as the howling khasmin tore at it with invisible talons, dispersing the mist like shredded paper in the face of a cyclone.

'Show off.'

Rudra stood in the eye of the storm, his dark hair fanning out in the wild wind that curled around his body.

"Now, isn't that better?" He commented cheerily. "So gentlemen?" Rudra wrung his hands together, the smile on his face was almost blinding. "It is obvious that you have some business with that blue skinned gentleman over there." A bronze hand was pointed at him.

The silent wraiths hidden in the liquid darkness of the tress remained unresponsive. Kisame allowed his senses to sweep the perimeter yet again.

'Four squads huh? Should I be honored?'

"So if you'll excuse me I'll leave you guys to conduct whatever business you have with him, who by the way I don't even know." Rudra started to inch away discreetly. "It was nice meeting you."

'That worm …'

How ever, much to Rudra's chagrin two cloaked forms materialized in front of him dashing all hopes he had of getting away without a fight.

'Hah!'

Their leader walked forward, his pristine white demon mask glistening in the dull moonlight.

"Since your aggression has made it quite clear that you will not submit yourselves to Kiri's judgment." His tone was non-committal. "We are forced to retaliate."

"It has been a while Genji." Kisame made no effort to keep the boredom out of his voice. "Kiri must be very short of manpower if they made you Captain."

"Sempai." Genji acknowledged; there was tinge of an unreadable emotion in his tone. "This ends here today."

"Right." Kisame rested the tip of his broad sword on the ground idly. "So do you intend to start anytime soon? I tire of all this conversation."

"Very well." Kisame did not miss the subtle flick of his finger. "Sempai."

Almost instantaneously, the leaves rustled violently and more than a dozen Hunters leapt out of the shadows, circling around the perimeter like some overgrown bird of prey. Something familiar sang in his blood and his chakra rose to answer that siren's call. Vaguely he was aware of Rudra moving into position, effortlessly falling into sync even without years of practice.

"Kisame."

He spared Rudra an irritated glance over his shoulders, his long fingers tightening around Samehada's hilt.

"I don't want you disgorging water on my land."

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A single blue eye cracked open followed by another. For a while Naruto lay still staring at the unfamiliar rafters holding up the ceiling.

'Hokage…'

He sat up rubbing his eyes, pushing the sheets off his self, reiterating his earlier decision in his mind. That was right. He had to become Hokage now so every one would listen to him, especially Fish-sama.

Besides, now that he thought about it, there were many other cool benefits of becoming Hokage, like having their faces etched on the Hokage Mountain for the entire world to see.

'But.' He crossed his arms over his chest decisively. 'Mine has to be bigger.'

After all it was only fitting since he was going to be even greater than all the previous Hokages put together.

His impish grin widened.

'Yeah, I am going to be so great that…'

A sudden explosion shook the hut violently, knocking Naruto off his balance and flat onto his back.

'What the hell was that?'

There was another tremor, shaking the rafters and tearing the door off its hinges in an explosion wood and dust. Several pieces of china heaped on the wash basin tumbled to the floor with an ear splitting crash and broke into a thousand pieces.

'What is happening?'

Naruto yelped retreating into the sheets, drawing the cloth over his head.

'Fish-sama!' His heart hammered in his chest even as his mind ran around in circles screaming. 'Weird singer guy! Where …where are you?'

The ground shook and the furniture toppled on to the ground. Naruto wrapped the cloth closer around himself, shaking.

'I am not scared.' His mouth felt dry and his forehead sweaty. 'I am the great Uzumaki Naruto sama greatest swords guy Hokage ever.'

A piercing scream effectively shattered all his attempts at mental fortification. Naruto went perfectly still, clammy hands grasping at the crumpled sheets like a drowning man.

'Fish-sama…'

Something cold coiled in his stomach.

'Fish-sama …'

There was a strange lump stuck in his throat.

'What… what if he is in trouble?'

For a moment he felt like he had drank too much curdled milk. He curled his arms around his midsection, biting his lips in his indecision. But Fish-sama was out there, probably in trouble, so…

'Yeah!'

Naruto's pumped his fists into the air reaching a decision. Collecting his flagging courage, he flung the sheets off him and scrambled off the bed, blue eyes desperately searching for Stick. The floor was covered with debris now and the rafters creaked ominously every time the ground shook.

Damn the weird singer, where was Stick?

Naruto frowned, helplessly looking around.

'What do I do?'

Then he saw it, the unadorned blade resting on the wall, the light of the single lamp glinting on its polished edge. It was not nearly as cool or big as Samehada-sama but the curved blade seemed to smile and he felt himself oddly fascinated. Balancing on the balls of his feet he extended a hand towards the sword, little fingers curling around the hilt. He was a big grown up now and therefore he could surely handle a grown up sword.

'Oof.'

It was a lot bigger and heavier and he had first assumed as the sword slumped to the floor. Try as he might he was unable to lift it like he could lift Stick. Panting, he dragged the sword across the floor heading towards the ruined door.

'Fish sama.'

Tentatively he peered around the corner of the door, feeling his heart freeze. Fish-sama stood in the middle of the clearing, his broad silhouette outlined against the starry sky, Samehada slung loosely over his shoulders.

'Just like Renjiro from Fuun-hime.' Stars danced in Naruto's eyes. 'So cool.'

There were several shadows that circled him, for some reason reminding Naruto of the starved, hungry dogs he had seen fighting over food at the dumpster the other day. Naruto squinted, his eyes observing further.

'It's them!'

Naruto's eyes widened, drinking in the plain porcelain masks that covered their faces. He recognized those masks. Fish-sama had broken some of their friends and now they were here to return the favor. His nostrils flared and he frowned.

'I can't let them break Fish-sama.'

Naruto edged forward.

"Are you sure you won't settle for tea instead?"

Naruto's head snapped in the direction of the honeyed voice for the first time aware of Rudra's presence. He stood a little further away, holding up a placating hand.

'So not cool.'

Offering tea seemed to have hit a nerve for the figures moved, their flapping cloaks and white masks making them appear like gigantic bats, a flash of steel visible in the dark folds.

There was a dull thud as steel met Samehada; almost instantaneously Fish-sama whirled back releasing the deadlock even as his foot crashed into his assaulters jaw with a sickening crunch.

Naruto's eyes widened; his heart beat with twice its normal tempo. His Fish-sama was fighting.

The white bandages had peeled off from sword-sama's self exposing the interleaved, jagged blue scales anointed with crimson streaks. He swung the heavy blade with a careless grace, his tall frame weaving in and around his many assaulters. His movements were so precise that it seemed as if he was dancing to some forgotten tune underneath the starry sky.

'Woah!' Naruto was mesmerized.

One of the assaulters leapt into the air, his hands blurring into a peculiar sequence of movements. White hot flames erupted from his mouth burning the landscape and Naruto watched horrified as the raging inferno engulfed Kisame in a halo of yellow and gold fire.

He stood very still uncaring of the hot wind that singed his face or the fact that behind him the lamp fell on the ground with a tinkle of breaking grass, the greedy flames licking eagerly at the wooden floor. In front of his eyes the world began to bleed red and he felt something inside his self uncurl like a cat.

'Fish-sama…'

It was very hot; the once cold hilt now seemed to burn in his fingers. Something whispered in his ears and rose like bitter medicine in his mouth. He could hear it again, that call from beyond the abyss; that hum in that unknown tongue. His hands itched to tear something apart, rip it into a thousand pieces. He was not even aware when he had started to move, streaking across the burning grass.

'Fish-sama…'

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He was bored.

'They don't make Hunters like they used to, eh Samehada?'

They surrounded him like ants on a cube, diligent, predictable and unimaginative, two taking the place of the one he had pulled off. He flirted with their blades, feeling the joy of battle fill his veins with molten chakra, yet still bereft of that thrill which came when he gambled on the precipice of life and death.

'It would've been better if I had fought Rudra. At least he could have sprung some surprises.'

He moved at the last instant, slipping out of the grasp of the white flames like a fresh water eel, reveling in the instantaneous kiss of the hot air on his face.

'And he knows how to use a jutsu.'

The smoke settled and the dying embers flirted like butterflies around his form. In his fingers Samehada pulsed angrily.

'Great! Now, Samehada is bored!' His lips curved upwards. 'Perhaps we should spice it up a bit eh?'

He concentrated, raising a single finger of his free hand to his mouth. His chakra rose to his call bringing with it the familiar feeling of a thousand hot needles stinging his flesh. The air around him suddenly felt dry even as a tiny shimmering globule appeared before him, in the beginning no bigger than a dewdrop, spinning and growing with the passage of time.

'Watch and learn children. Watch and learn.'

They circled him like vultures, wary and patient. Yet he could see the anxiety in their form, taste their fear. They knew him too well to allow him to complete the jutsu. Perhaps now they would be inspired to some moderate heights. A strategy which was perhaps not as predictable as a Hunter sneaking up behind him using the others as cover.

'Such foolish tactics.' It was hard repressing a sigh. 'Why even that brat, Naruto…'

Kisame stiffened, the hair at the nape of his neck rising. There was something else in the air now, heavy and oppressing, making it almost difficult for him to breathe.

'What …'

The Hunters pounced on him like a pack of hungry jackals. His body moved of its own accord, deftly avoiding their attacks.

' …is that?'

Vaguely he was aware of a Hunter leaping at his apparently unguarded back, the flash of steel and the faint hiss of poison that rose from the gleaming edge.

"Fish-sama!"

A crimson blur streaked between him and the Hunter and Kisame heard the twang of a blade cutting through the air before meeting the sharp edge of the kunai in a savage kiss.

"You will not." There was something primal in Naruto's voice and his body, ancient and frightening. His small form seemed to be covered with crimson gauze, a vile red chakra that at once fascinated and repulsed him. The scars on his face looked darker than usual and his hand shook with the effort of holding Bichoo up. "Harm Fish sama."

The words had hardly left Naruto's mouth when the Hunter broke the deadlock, swiftly moving backwards.

For a moment the world seemed to slow down before Kisame's eyes and he was not even aware of the Kunai digging into his arm or his half formed jutsu shattering like spun glass under the force of a mallet.

'Move brat! Move!'

The Hunter's leg rose in one fluid motion, colliding with Naruto's abdomen sending him flying across the clearing, colliding with a tree with a thud of splintering wood and flying saw dust, crumpling like sodden paper at its base.

'Naruto…'

The world seemed to go blank and tilt out of focus, Samehada hanging limply from his fingers. Dimly he was aware of Rudra moving in front of him and the sound the clashing metals sounded distant to his ears.

Slowly the cerulean orbs rose to meet his obsidian gaze. The red chakra that had coated the boy was gone now and he looked pale now, too pale.

"Fis…Fish…sama." Spilt lips curved into a slow smile. "I….I…"

He smiled too, thin lips stretched over his gleaming canines.

"I …"

Naruto panted, attempting to rise.

"I…"

Naruto's eyes rolled in his head and fell onto the ground, the blood from his forehead staining the swaying green tips of grass a deep scarlet.

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