Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any abilities and techniques in this story that came from other stories. Give credit to where credit is due.
Chapter 05: Slaughter
Naruto reached the Northern Gate of Konoha to see the Hokage and his two bodyguards standing in wait. His curiosity, however, was piqued when he saw a merchant's caravan alongside the group.
"Good morning, old man." greeted Naruto with a smile as he approached the Hokage and his group.
"Good morning to you too, Naruto. From the looks of it, you're ready for the trip. The orange scarf is a nice touch considering that we would be traveling through a desert when we reach the Suna border." commented the Hokage as he appraised Naruto's outfit, especially the orange scarf wrapped around the blonde's neck. He had gotten used to the blonde's somewhat traditional outfit of kimono, hakama, and geta sandals. It was unique considering that such an outfit was mostly used by the Daimyo's court in the capital of Fire Country.
Naruto gave his surrogate grandfather a grin and pulled up the scarf to cover his mouth and nose to demonstrate its use.
"One of reasons I wear this, jiji. I know that Suna is well-known for its wind and sand storms so it's best to be prepared." explained Naruto before pulling down the scarf again since such facial protection wasn't needed as of yet.
"Where is your pack, Naruto-kun? Don't tell me you plan to wear only what you're wearing now from here to Suna and back. We will be gone for a month, after all." said the Hokage, noting the absence of any gears on the blonde's person.
"No problem, jiji. I got it covered." said Naruto before pulling out a green scroll from a hidden pocket in his right sleeve. "As you can see, I have everything I need here in this scroll. Storage scrolls are just so cool."
The Hokage chuckled and ruffled Naruto's hair in amusement.
"Indeed it is, Naruto-kun." the aged leader agreed. "Now before we leave, we will be joining this merchant caravan to Suna since they are going the same way. They requested a team to protect them from bandits and since we are going the same way, we will be providing that protection."
The head of the merchant family approached the Hokage.
"And I thank you for such an offer, Hokage-sama." said the man with a respectful bow before turning to Naruto and gave the boy a smile which the blonde returned. "My name is Haruhi Kijo. My family and I are going on a business trip to Suna to peddle our goods, as well as making sure that some of our deals there are still in working order. It is a surprise on my part that the Hokage himself took our request for bodyguards for the trip."
Naruto chuckled and gave the aged leader a grin.
"I think it is more for his convenience that nothing else, Haruhi-san. I think the old man was getting tired of sitting in his office for too long so he needed the exercise. Besides, old people need to stretch their old bones once in a while to keep in shape." explained Naruto with a mischievous grin. This comment, however, earned him a bonk on the head from a twitching Hokage. "Ouch! What did you do that for, old man?"
"I may be old, Naruto-kun, but I still have some strength in these old bones to put young ones like you in place." said the Hokage in annoyance. Sure, he was old but he wasn't that old. He still had a few more years in his body before retiring.
"Fine fine. You don't have to damage my brain cells for it, you perverted old geezer." grumbled Naruto before dodging another fist to the head. He stuck his tongue out to the Hokage who was twitching in annoyance. The merchant caravan and the Hokage's bodyguards were snickering in amusement.
It didn't take long for the Hokage to sort out the travel papers with the Chuunins assigned on the gate. When all the signatures were in place, the caravan to Suna departed Konoha with much cheer and excitement, especially for a certain blonde jinchuuriki.
On the third day of their travel to Suna, Naruto could help but enjoy the trip. True, it was a bit boring to see nothing but trees as they traversed the road to Wind Country, but the company he was in made the journey enjoyable.
Naruto got to know Haruhi's family better, especially little Misao, their adorable 3-year old daughter. Considering that the blonde lacked social interaction with people his age or younger, having the girl take up his time was a welcome experience. They would spend the rest of the journey either talking or storytelling. It was a good thing that Naruto was well-read since the girl was always demanding new stories for him to tell. Naruto wasn't bothered by the demands; in fact, he dived into her requests with gusto. It was like having a sister, and by extension, a family he never had.
Naruto also found the Haruhi elders to be like a family who treated him as such. Haruhi Suki was very motherly to the two kids, especially to Naruto who he treated like a son and didn't spare any expense in mothering him with food and care. Haruhi Kijo, on the other hand, was like a father figure, talking about stuff that Naruto should have learned from a grown-up.
All-in-all, Naruto was happy and vowed to always spend time with the family once they return to Konoha. If Naruto was honest with himself, he treated the Haruhi family an extension of his own and became his precious people.
It was on the fourth day of their trip that disaster struck. The cart that Naruto and the Haruhi family was riding on exploded without any warning, throwing off its passengers to the ground and showering them with debris.
The Hokage immediately went into alert and ordered one of his body guards to check for survivors. However, they were cut off when twelve shinobis wearing Iwa headbands surrounded them, stopping them from leaving the area.
"Well, well, well….it seems that we finally caught you, Hokage-san." said one of the shinobis who was giving the group an evil grin.
"Who are you and what have you done?" the Hokage demanded, prepared to square off with the attackers. Inwardly, however, he was worried. Worried about his surrogate grandson who was riding the cart and wanted to know how he was faring. He was also worried about the attackers. It seemed that they were well-prepared considering their numbers. From the chakra signature, these were Jounin-level shinobis and it seemed that they have come prepared.
"The answer to your question is simple, old man. We are the Rock Biter Brigade and it seemed that our information was correct. It was stupid of you to leave the safety of your village without bringing along enough manpower to protect you in case of an attack. In fact, it was…fearless…of you to do so." the Jounin answered in a mocking tone.
The Hokage tensed, as well as his bodyguards when they heard the group introduced themselves. The Rock Biter Brigade was part of Iwa's elite. Their expertise as assassins was impeccable, and their teamwork was well-known throughout the Elemental Nation. Also, this group was a master of Doton (Earth) techniques. He could easily dispatch them but it would take time, time he didn't have if he wanted to check on Naruto.
The battle started in earnest, a group attacking the Hokage while the rest were taking care of the bodyguards. The trio didn't have time to check the ruined cart. They were in a fierce battle for their lives.
Naruto, on the other hand, was unaware of the battle taking place. He groaned when a sudden pain made its way to his left arm as he shifted. He opened his eyes and saw the devastation in front of him. The cart was blown to bits and the area they were in was littered with debris. His memory kicked in and his eyes opened wide as he started looking around for any signs of the Haruhi family.
"Kurama, can you heal my arm please. I have to find the Haruhi's." asked Naruto as he gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the pain as he pushed himself off the ground.
"I'm working on it, Naruto. Give me a few more minutes and it would be good as new." answered Kurama.
Naruto felt his tenant's chakra already making its way into his arm and healing the damage. Oblivious to the battle taking place a few meters away from him, he made his way around the explosion site looking for survivors. His heart clenched when he saw the still forms of the Haruhis a few feet away from the small crater where the explosion took place. He immediately ran to the trio on the ground and couldn't help but gasp at what he saw.
Haruhi Kijo was sprawled on the ground with his neck broken, clearly dead. Suki was currently hugging Misao. Both were covered in burn marks and wounds from the sharpened wooden debris from the cart. His hearts clenched when he saw a piece of wood impaling Suki and Misao through their chest. It was clear that Suki was protecting her daughter but the force of the explosion made sure that the piece of wood pierced both of them, taking their life.
Both were dead.
The Haruhis were dead.
Naruto's heart clenched.
His blue eyes that showed warmth for the first time in years became colder.
He knelt on the ground and reached out with shaky hands and closed the eyes of the dead family in front of him. Tears made its ways down his cheeks, cold blue eyes, eyes that reflected the death of loved ones shed tears for the last time.
A cold detachment gripped Naruto's heart as he stood up and turned his head to see the intense battle happening in front of him.
They would pay.
They would pay dearly.
They would die.
He would make sure of it.
"Kurama," said Naruto whispered out loud in a detached voice, devoid of any emotion. "How's my arm?"
Kurama shivered at the mental voice of its container. It did not hold any emotion and brought chill down his spine.
"All healed, Naruto. I also made sure that the superficial damage was healed as well." Kurama answered, the bijuu's mental voice subdued, already knowing what Naruto was about to do.
"Thank you." whispered Naruto as he slowly made his way to the battle, his pace slow and measured. It wasn't the pace of a boy or any man. It was the pace of a killer stalking his prey. Blood will be flowing today and it wasn't his.
Sarutobi was having a hard time getting rid of his attackers. If they were ordinary shinobis then he could have taken care of them easily. However, these were no pushovers. It seemed that these shinobis came prepared, countering all of his techniques with ease as if they prepared for this in advance. It seemed that Iwa was hell-bent in destroying him and deal a decisive blow to the leave.
He dodged a rock dragon that erupted from the ground in front of him but was unprepared when a second dragon came at him from behind it. He braced himself for impact since it was too close to dodge or counter. However, he was shocked when he heard a familiar voice speak from behind him, a voice that he was familiar with but devoid of any warmth.
It was like ice. No, it was colder than ice.
"Byakurai."
The Hokage was unprepared when a blast of white energy, like lightning, hit the rock dragon in the face causing it to explode. Shocked at this turn of events, he turned and saw something that made his heart grip in worry and fear. Naruto was slowly walking towards him with a smoking index finger pointing at where the dragon was. He didn't doubt it but whatever that attack was, it came from the boy that he considered a grandson.
Whatever that attack was, it saved his life.
Naruto walked towards the battle as he watched the fighting without emotions. However, he had a brief flash of anger when he saw his surrogate grandfather getting attacked by a jutsu that produced a large dragon made of rocks which was dodged with ease but the second one that followed would surely hit.
"No, I will never lose a precious person ever again."
He slowly raised his right hand with index fingers pointed at the dragon.
"Byakurai." was all he said before white lightning burst out of his stretched finger and hit the rock dragon, blowing it to pieces.
He continued walking closer to the battle as he observed every single participant. Every single move didn't escape his notice. He saw one of the Iwa shinobis charge forward to blindside his surrogate grandfather. He corrected his aim and spoke his next attack.
"Sho."
The attacker was hit in the head causing it to explode. Sho was a simple impact-based spell but the amount of power he used in the spell made sure that the impact was powerful, powerful enough to blow one's head off.
"Naruto…" said the Hokage but he was cut off when the blonde looked at him. Cold blue eyes met wary brown.
"Jiji. Please stand back." whispered Naruto as he raised his left hand.
The Hokage was about to argue but shut up when a sword materialized in Naruto's left hand. He was further shocked when the boy placed it on his sash with practiced ease before drawing out the blade, a reverse-edged blade.
He finally discovered the identity of the person who was taking down the bandits. He was about to say something when Naruto disappeared and turned when a shout came from behind him. What he saw made his blood run cold.
Naruto was in front of an Iwa shinobi with both arms cut off from the shoulder. A reverse-edged sword wasn't capable of such a feat but he got his answer when he saw the bloody katana in the boy's hand. Instead of the blunt end at the front, the bladed edge was now exposed. Not only that, Naruto moved faster than even his trained eye could follow. Also, the damage he dealt was powerful, powerful for an eight year old to produce. It wasn't possible but he couldn't deny the fact that everything that happened in front of him was real.
Sarutobi was shocked yet again when Naruto disappeared without a sound followed by a scream of pain. He followed it immediately to see an Iwa shinobi sprawled on the ground with his both legs cut off, He was astounded at the bloodshed that was happening in front him. Blood was flying through the air with each swing and it wasn't letting up.
The boy disappeared, an Iwa shinobi lost his head.
The boy disappeared again, an Iwa shinobi lost both arms before he was literally cut in two from the waist.
The boy disappeared again for an Iwa shinobi to have a hole blasted through his chest where his heart was by the same technique that the boy used earlier.
Sarutobi was mesmerized and afraid at the same time. His surrogate grandson was killing Iwa shinobis with such power and precision that it was like a dance, a dance of death. Where did Naruto learn such skills? Where did Naruto earn such mastery over the sword?
"Hokage-sama." said one of his Jounin bodyguards who appeared beside him, kunai at the ready in case of an attack. The other Jounin was limping his way to both of them, one hand gripping a bloodied shoulder. "What is happening?"
"I don't know what is happening but it seems that Naruto-kun is killing our enemies. What's worst, he is killing them as if he killed before." whispered Sarutobi as he watched the slaughter in front of him. He couldn't take his eyes away from it no matter how much he wanted to. His breath hitched, however, when the rest of the Iwa shinobis surrounded his grandson from all sides, readying to attack him all at once. He was about to help but he was rooted to the spot when Naruto's mouth opened to ask a single question.
"Did you do it?" whispered Naruto as he looked at the ground, his hair covering his eyes, his bloodied blade at his side, dripping lifeblood on the ground.
"Did what, brat?" snarled one of the Jounin who threw a kunai at Naruto.
Naruto raised his left hand, palm towards the incoming projectile and spoke a single word.
"Seki." Naruto whispered causing a blue orb of energy to materialize in front of him that intercepted the kunai. When the projectile hit the orb, it blew up and reflected the kunai back to the thrower, impaling him on the head, dead. "Did you cause the cart to explode and killing the Haruhis?"
The leader of the group sneered at the boy in front of him before answering.
"So what if we did? Besides, it was supposed to be for the Hokage. All our preparation was wasted on some useless civilians. They got what they deserved."
"I see. Did you know that they were a family and that you killed a loving father and mother along with their 3-year old daughter?" whispered Naruto as he gripped Kenshin tighter.
"So? It's not like they were shinobis or anything. They were just useless civilians. People die kid, live with it." sneered the shinobis who pulled a Tanto from his back.
"I understand. You're right. I'll live with it…forever. However…" said Naruto before he disappeared and reappeared in the air on top of the shinobi who answered him. "You'll never live with it since you're going to die right now. Ryuutsuisen." He whispered but everyone could clearly hear him.
The Iwa shinobis wasn't prepared for what happened to their teammate. The shinobi who answered Naruto's question was literally cut evenly in half as Kenshin sliced him from the head to his groin. Naruto disappeared again and started the massacre that would put others to shame.
It was five minutes later that Naruto was standing in front of the shinobi whose arms he cut off. The Iwa Jounin was looking at the bloodied boy in front of him in fear as he struggled to get away from the vengeful blonde by using his feet to push himself back.
"Get away from me. Don't kill me, please!" the Iwa shinobi begged, tears streaming down his face.
"Why? Why should I not kill you? Did you ask the Haruhis if they wanted to die? Did you ask Kijo and Suki if they wanted to die? DID YOU ASK MISAO IF SHE WANTED TO DIE?" Naruto shouted the last part and raised Kenshin on top of him as he looked at the downed Jounin with a crazed look in his eyes. "DIE!"
Before Naruto could complete his swing, a hand gripped him on the wrist, stopping the blade before it could cleave the Iwa shinobi in two. The blonde boy turned his head to stare at the brown eyes of the Hokage.
"Jiji?"
"That's enough, Naruto-kun. You've done enough for today." said Sarutobi in a firm voice but it was laced with compassion and understanding.
"But, jiji. They killed Misao. They don't even regret it." screamed Naruto as he struggled against the Hokage's grip, tears of rage and sadness dribbled down his cheeks.
"I know, Naruto-kun. But if you kill this man then we will never be able to find out why they attacked in the first place. We need to know what Iwa is planning in order to avoid the same situation that happened to the Haruhis." explained the Hokage.
It seemed that whatever he said got through to the distraught blonde since he could no longer feel the strength behind the hand he was holding. He let go and saw Naruto flick the blade to the side to get rid of the blood before putting it back in its sheath with a detached grace.
"I understand, jiji. If you need me, I'll be with the Haruhis." whispered Naruto before he turned and disappeared without a sound.
Sarutobi saw Naruto appear before the dead family and kneeled beside them. He turned to the Iwa shinobi who was clearly looking at his surrogate grandson in fear.
"Now, let's see if you can provide me with the information I seek." said the Hokage with an evil glint in his eyes causing the survivor of the Rock Biter Brigade to gulp.
End of Chapter 5
Date Uploaded: July 5, 2012
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