"Tsunade-kaasan, Ero-sennin, we would like to travel with you but we have something important we need to do." Naruto began to head to the base Orochimaru had kept in Fire.
"When will you be back," Shizune asked.
"...We'd say up to a week you. It is a bit off." He gave Tsunade a hug, a nod to Jiriaya, and jumped up, gave Shizune a kiss on the cheek, and swung off. Despite what he said, he was there in less than a day. He landed on a branch over looking the bunker and Venom shifted into his hunter form. On his back appeared the Kage Keiri. He didn't know what he would find in here but he would get Suigetsu out of there.
—oo000oo—
Kimimaro breathed in a deep breath. He was healed. "Thank you, Kabuto."
He dismissed it. "Just an organ transplant," he said, reaching for a bottle of Sake. Kimimaro frowned and took it away from him. "Give that back."
"I will not allow you to crawl inside a bottle."
"Shut the hell up and give it back!" He tried to get it but Kimimaro jumped back. "You don't get it! He gave me back my life and I could do nothing to save him!"
Kimimaro was quiet for a moment. "Why did you save me?"
Kabuto took the bottle back and took a swig of it. "Because I couldn't even get the remains of Lord Orochimaru to at least keep him alive that way. But I did get this damn sword." The Kusanagi was laying on a table. "If anyone can wield it, it is you."
"And what do you want done with it?"
"We are going to kill the man that kill him," Kabuto told him. "Uzumaki Naruto will die by our hands."
—oo000oo—
Naruto walked through the halls of the base, ignoring the guards. None of them even suspected he was there. He stopped when he found two talkative ninja. "Lord Orochimaru has been gone too long," the first said.
"I agree, what do you think happened to him?"
"I don't know. But it can't be good, those comatose guys with the curse seals, they have been acting up lately. Like something about them changed."
"...And I noticed that most of the others have died. What is going on? Things here have gone to hell ever since Kabuto returned." Naruto widened his eyes and narrowed them. With a quick motion of his hands, both were unconscious and he dragged them to a room and locked the door behind him.
Hanging them from the ceiling by their feet and binding their hands, Naruto slapped them both awake. "Good afternoon, gentlemen. You are in for a special treat." Naruto looked around there and smiled under his mask. He just happened to pick a work shop and forge. "You see, we want some answers." He walked to the side and picked up a gas torch.
"Who are you," the first demanded.
"Rule one, we ask the questions, you answer the questions. Rule two, we don't like the answer or neither of you answer, you are punished. But only one of you will be punished. The other has it in him to stop it." He pumped the gas through the nozzle and used the flint and tinder. "By the way, we used a silencing jutsu in this room. No one will hear the screaming." He narrowed the flame until it reached a fine point. "Four thousand degrees, hot enough to melt steel like butter." He looked at them and smiled under his mask. "At that temperature, you wouldn't even feel it. First you would smell burning flesh. Followed by the juices of your fat melting flowing down you back. While at the same time, feeling this cold. You see, it cauterizes the wound and destroys the nerves there. Isn't science fun?"
Naruto spun one around to look at the back of the other. He then pointed to the small of the back on the one he was looking at. "You are going to tell him what you are seeing if he doesn't answer." Holding the flame over six inches away, Naruto pointed it at the back. The flesh turned red and the hairs melted. The man screamed but no one but them heard. "Now, this 'Kabuto', was he a spy in Konoha?"
"D-Don't tell him anything," the second told the first. "Oh god... Kale, grit your teeth!" Naruto did not enjoy what he was about to do. He pointed it just behind his stomach and slowly began to move it in a line. True to his word, the man felt no pain at first. But as then the fires reached the organ and fire erupted inside of him. After thirty seconds of screaming and the other man trying to look away, Naruto backed off.
"Tell him what you see," Naruto told him. He didn't lose his horrified looked and his mouth moved not working. Naruto grabbed his hair and pulled him close to his face. "Tell him what you see. Or I will continue."
He swallowed, and tears fell down his face as he began to describe it. "It...looks like he dissected your back. He carved right into your stomach. The acids either boiled away or fell to the floor... I can see right into your stomach. It... Oh god."
"Tell him what else," Naruto said.
"Stop," Kale begged. "Please, no more."
"Tell him what else," Naruto said again.
"You back is burned by the acid," the second told Kale. "...You will be scarred for life if you survive."
"Now, let us try again." Naruto positioned the torch over Kale's lung. "Who is Kabuto?"
Kale started to cry and said, "He was a spy." He started to sob as the pain began to be felt from the cauterized wounds. "He reported directly to Orochimaru."
"Where is the prisoner Suigetsu kept?"
"He is in the experiment lab," Kale's friend told him. "Orochimaru changed him so that he can change into water and keeps him in a tube."
Naruto nodded. "And where is Kabuto?"
"He is performing surgery on Kimimaro."
"Who is Kimimaro?"
"The leader of the Sound Five."
Naruto looked to them. "Why are you here? Did you agree to work with Orochimaru willingly or did he force you as well?"
"My family," Kale said. "He has my family."
"...He said that he would kill my wife," the second said, crying as well. "Please don't kill us!"
Naruto looked at both of them for a second before he put out the fire. "We won't kill you. Orochimaru is dead, you should have just told us." He pressed his hand against the back of Kale. Slowly, Venom spread from it to the wounds. He shivered and jerked but Naruto never took his hand off him. After five minutes, he stepped back and said, "Tell him what you see now."
"How... Kale, you...you're alright. You only have some slight scars." Naruto untied them and let them down as easy as he could.
"We are sorry that we had to do that. We are a hunter ninja from Konoha and needed answers. Do you know where your families are?"
Kale swallowed, "You're not going to hurt them, are you?"
"No. If you know where your families are, go to them, and get the hell away from this base. If not, we will try to help you find them and get all of you out of here before the attack."
They both swallowed. "We know," the second said. "...You're not lying, are you? To give us false hope?"
"We are not," Naruto said, helping them stand. "Go to them and leave. We are going to cause a distraction so don't worry. Wait five minutes." Naruto turned and walked away, his cloak hiding him from those around him. He found what he wanted and, after knocking out the men in the room, turned on the intercom. "Attention, attention, this is an emergency."
He looked at the monitors as everyone in the base looked at the speakers. Including Kabuto. "We have just received word that Konoha has killed Orochimaru! Repeat, we have just received word that Konoha has killed Orochimaru! ...Well, actually, you didn't receive word. You see, this is the hunter ninja Venom, and we killed Orochimaru." He saw Kabuto scowl. "The only thing keeping you here is yourselves now. But let us make this clear. Your only chance to survive is if you drop your weapons, get your families and friends, and leave quietly. Remember, we are watching you."
Like he thought, several men and woman dropped whatever they were doing and started running to the prison block. The loyal guards tried to stop them but they were too shocked and there were too many. Naruto watched it before turning to the screen with Kabuto and his friend, probably this Kimimaro. They weren't there. They were running for this room, no doubt. Looking at the camera for outside the hall, Naruto saw some of the fools preparing to break in. Naruto shook his head and grabbed his sword. "Attention people, our orders were drop your weapons. Some idiots not only ignored this order, they are about to try and kill me. In ten seconds, you will hear their screams."
He wasn't off by a moment. "Kabuto and Kimimaro, Kabuto and Kimimaro, please report to the communications office."
—oo000oo—
Kimimaro skid to a halt when he reached the hallway. Thirty men were cut apart and one was being held in the air, bending like he was being held there by something in his back. Blood began to drip down from him and a sword began to appear. Naruto dropped the cloak and looked at them. "Kabuto, you know the law concerning traitors."
"These men had families," he growled.
"They should have gotten them and ran with the others." Naruto flipped his sword around, throwing the body. "Now, you, Kimimaro, which is more important to you? Your revenge or your life and your friends?"
"...I lived for Orochimaru-sama only," Kimimaro told him. "You killed him so I have nothing to live for."
"...You honestly think that?" He reached inside the room and pulled out the Samehada. He swung his weapons at a wall, collapsing it, opening them to a much larger room. "Inside, so we can finish this with room." He walked in and waited for them. He saw Kabuto enter, smelling of sake, and Kimimaro, wielding a sword that glistened, likely from poison.
"I will make you pay for what you did," Kabuto said.
"You can barely stand," Naruto told him. "Either surrender or die."
"I will never!"
"You have a father at home that loves you. Do you honestly want me to take your headband and add it to the ones I have? And then, after confirming that you are dead, give it to him?"
"I don't care! He can die for all that damn village matters!"
Naruto sighed before throwing a kage shuriken. He cut a scratch across Kabuto's headband. "You death is certain than." He vanished from sight, and reappeared behind him, the Samehada raise, swinging down. Kabuto's head fell from his shoulders, onto the ground. Naruto reached for the headband and tied it to his arm. "You eager to die as well?"
"No. But I have nothing to live for, I have already told you that."
Naruto leveled his swords, Kage Keiri with his neck, Samehada with his waist. "The only ones that can get passed us for any amount of time is our sensei and teammate. They have never won, and they have the Sharigan. What hope do you have?"
"Fight me and find out." He created a second sword with the bones of his arm, restored us the the limb and held both weapons out. The two ran at each other and their weapons clashed. Samehada caught the Kusanagi while the Kage Keiri was blocked the Bone Blade. "You are strong...far stronger than we are." Even as he said that, Naruto was pushing him back. All of a sudden, he leaped backwards before several bones came from his chest and tried to tear into Naruto's.
"We take it Kabuto did not tell you what little he knew about us, did he?"
"No, he didn't."
"Our bloodline allows us to make weapons, yes. But it also gives us reflexes that surpass humans. Almost precognition, we know when someone is about to strike us." Naruto rushed forward and spun under Kimimaro's blades. He brought Samehada down and Kimimaro blocked with his arm. Though the flesh there was torn, it stopped before removing the limb. Right under the skin was bone.
"Nor do you know of me. I can control the density of my bones, able to make them grow how I want." Naruto considered this and placed the Samehada on his back. "Enmu no jutsu! Dance of the Crescent Moon!" He jumped and brought the Kage Keiri across his neck. Kimimaro ducked under it and kicked behind him. Naruto spun, missing the kick, and brought his own boot to Kimimaro's head, throwing him against the wall.
"You are good," Naruto stated. "It is a shame we must kill you." Naruto removed his mask and bowed to him. "We have enjoyed this fight, but it must end now."
Before he could replace it, Kimimaro held up his hand. "Your eyes, what happened to them?"
Naruto scowled. He had perfect blue eyes before Orochimaru but now...they were slitted. It was barely noticeable but they looked like a snake's now. "When your master, Orochimaru, tried to possess us, we fought inside our mind and we won."
"So he is inside you?"
"No. He is dead, his soul was fed to Kyuubi." It was quiet for several seconds before Kimimaro lowered his weapons. "...Why did you do that?"
"Kabuto was wrong," Kimimaro said. "Lord Orochimaru did fully die. What little of him still lives is in you. We don't want to die, and you offered us a chance. We will take it and serve you, Lord Naruto."
Naruto blinked in surprise. "Excuse us?"
"I was going to be his body before I became sick. And I would have done it willingly because he saved me." He tilted his head in confusion when Naruto groaned and ran his hands through his hair. "I say something wrong?"
"No... You want to live, fine. You want to serve us... We guess that is okay as well. We will take you back to Konoha. No killing people, understand?"
"Yes, Lord Naruto."
"And stop calling us that. We are either Naruto, or while we are in this uniform, Venom."
"Yes, Venom."
"And let us make this clear. If you betray us, we will destroy your existence."
Kimimaro nodded, "I will not betray your trust in me. My life is now your's."
Naruto sighed. "How the hell did we get into this?" He turned, placed both weapons on his back, and headed to the labs. He punched the tube filled with water and it flooded out. An instant later, Naruto had a kage katana in hand, pointed over his shoulder.
"Wow...you are one cool customer," a new voice said to him. "You didn't even see me and you are ready to kill me." Naruto pushed the blade father back, making him step back.
"We take it you are Suigetsu," Naruto said.
"The one and only." He looked at the swords on his back and began to growl. "Give those to me."
"You will not speak to him like that," Kimimaro stated.
Suigetsu looked at him and smirked. "Finally gave up on Orochimaru, eh? Couldn't get him to be butt buddies with you?"
"Suigetsu, I almost killed you when you were brought in. I regret that I didn't. I was willing to be his new body, that does not mean I am gay."
"Prove it."
"...Do you want the full details or the name of the girl?"
"Details," Suigetsu told him.
"Can it," Naruto told them both. "If you want the Kage Keiri, here." He gave him the sword and Suigetsu looked at it before raising it and was about to swing to take Naruto's head off. It dissolved before he even reached the full height. "Our bloodline creates those. We respect Zabuza so we use a weapon like his." Naruto created a new one and put it on his back.
"And the Samehada?"
"That is real. He came to kill us so we killed him. And it is bound to us until we die. Just as it was for Kisame."
"Then we only need to kill you to get it."
Naruto sighed. "Listen, we are already going to have a hard enough time telling Haku-chan that one of her uncles is dead by our hand. We don't..."
"Haku! You know her!?"
"Of course. She is our girlfriend. Zabuza is a friend of ours now. And we know three...four other of the seven swordsmen."
"...Why did you kill him if you befriended them?"
"He was out to kill us. In doing so, he was going to release a demon. We couldn't let that happen."
Suigetsu sighed and lowered his head. "...Would it be too much to ask for some pants?"
—oo000oo—
Naruto, Suigetsu, and Kimimaro walked up to the gates of Konoha. "Hunter ninja Venom, reporting in."
The chunin nodded and pressed his fingers to his lips. He let out a high, then low, whistle. Moments later, an ANBU appeared in front of them. "Venom, we were starting to wonder what became of you when you didn't return with Jiriaya and Tsunade."
"We were under an agreement with the Mizukage to find the brother of one his men, Oni. We also found the nuke ninja, Kabuto. As well as the base that Orochimaru kept here in Fire. With maps to others." He handed over the map to his commander.
The Oni masked ANBU, Seto, looked at it, nodded, and rolled it up. He then held his hand out for the headbands Naruto collected. "This belonged to Kabuto. This belonged to Uchiha Itachi." Oni dropped his jaw under the mask. He flipped it over and checked the bar code on the back of the plate.
"My god..." He looked up and then at the last headband, the Kiri one. "Why did you not give that one to me, Venom?"
"Because this belong to Kisame of the Seven Swordsmen. We need to give it to Zabuza, as he was wanted alive."
Oni groaned, he knew this was bad. "Venom, Kisame was seen by Haku a few weeks ago, he told her that he was going to head back once he finished something.
"That something was capture the Kyuubi." That made him stop. "Did not Jiriaya tell you this?"
"No, he left out that part... Venom, meet me in my office in an hour." Naruto nodded and led the two inside.
"We are going to our home," Naruto told them. He led them to a forested part of the village. There, in the trees, was a large house. It wasn't a mansion, but larger than a five room house. The people that had it built obviously expected lots of children. "Stay here," Naruto told them when got them into the living room. "Relax, just don't go anywhere." He went into his room and took a shower. When he came out, he turned to them. "We are going to go get Haku-chan. Stay here, and be polite when she gets here."
—oo000oo—
Naruto found Haku helping a blue haired ninja at the hospital. "Hello, Naruto-kun." She froze though when she saw the headband and the sword on his back. "Where did you get those?"
"Haku-chan...Suigetsu is waiting at home."
"Where did you get those!?"
"There is also someone else there. His name is Kimimaro."
"WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE!?"
Naruto was quiet for a moment. "In private please." She led him to an empty room. "Kisame and his partner, Uchiha Itachi, attacked us. We interrogated them and found there were after Kyuubi. They worked for a man trying to get the nine bijuu together to use in some plan. We were forced to defend ourselves and...we killed him."
She fell back, tears threatening to fall. "Where is he?" Naruto reached into his pocket and took out a scroll. "...Thank you, Naruto."
"We are sorry, Haku-chan, we had no other choice."
"We know, he is...was an S class ninja, of course you had no other choice. If you held back, you would likely be dead. Just...can you leave me alone for a bit?"
Naruto nodded. "Please don't forget about Suigetsu and Kimimaro." He left and prayed that Haku would forgive him for this.
—oo000oo—
Oni stood up when the door opened but relaxed when he saw it was Venom. "First off, this is your pay for the deaths of traitor ninja Itachi and Kabuto." He gave Naruto a note so he could get it exchanged. "Second, the two that you brought in?"
"One of the generals of the Mizukage, Mangetsu, asked us to find him while we were out there. Orochimaru's base was not far so we went there to find any signs of what he was doing there. We found him, informed those that worked out of fear that he was dead, killed those loyal to him, and..." Naruto reached into his pocket and pulled another scroll out. He unrolled it, showing the kanji for 'prisoner'.
"Good work, Venom. Now, about Kisame, what was it I was not told?"
"An organization called Akatsuki are after the nine bijuu, based in Amegakure. And they are led by Uchiha Madara. He helped kill most of the Uchiha here in the village. By the way, we have new information on why Itachi did what he did."
Oni held up his hand to stop him. "They were planning to betray Konoha." Naruto adopted a shocked look on his face under his mask. "I worked with Itachi back then. He told me before he did it."
"Why was he made a missing ninja then!?"
"...Because it can't be known that he was ordered to kill a very prestige clan of Konoha." Oni was a master at reading the expressions of those wearing a mask. Naruto was angry, very angry. "There was no choice."
"There is always a choice," Naruto said, clenching his fist. "Who ordered it?"
"I can't reveal that," Oni told him. "What else about the bijuu and Akatsuki?"
"...Four are still free. Five are jinchuuriki and four are accounted for. Uzumaki Naruto of Konoha, Sabaku no Gaara of Suna, Nii Yugito and Bii Kira of Kumo. The last, an old man known only as Roushi, is somewhere in Fire, no village affiliation."
"And the other four?"
"Their location is currently hidden."
Oni nodded. "Venom, your new orders are as followed. You are to take two weeks rest leave, to handle affairs here in Konoha. Afterwards, you will investigate..." He looked closely at the map. "The lab in Sea Country. During your travels, you are to keep an eye out for this 'Roushi'. Capture or kill all targets of opportunity. You are to stay away from Amegakure for now. If you should be forced there, or find him along the way, kill Rokusho Aoi and retrieve the weapon of the Nindaime."
Naruto saluted, "Aye, aye, sir."
"And, these orders are for are for Naruto. The afternoon of your return, you are to report to the council. I have already informed them that you are back and that you have brought the headbands of two missing ninja and their identities." Naruto nodded, did an about face, and walked out.
—oo000oo—
Naruto, once again in his chunin dress, walked into the council chamber after they were informed he was there. "Chunin, Uzumaki Naruto, reporting as ordered."
Tsunade stood up. "Step forward." Naruto walked to the center of the room. "Uzumaki Naruto, you have displayed traits of being a good leader and your Kekkei Genkai is proving to be invaluable."
Homura nodded. "With your lineage revealed, and the clear skill you possess, it is the decision that, should you wish to put it forward, you may start an official clan here in Konoha."
Naruto's eyebrows rose until they were hidden under his hair. "We...are honored, council... And surprised. We were under the impression that we were not well liked by the members."
"Though I don't like to admit it," Council member Haruno spoke up, "they are correct. You hold the judgment that is needed for situations that we cover."
"...And making us the leader of an official clan, that would put us on a seat here, would it not?"
"It would," Homura told him. Naruto looked at each in turn. While some were not happy about it but they all agreed.
"The council knows about our...job. This will keep us away often."
"True," Hiashi said. "But many on this council are still active ninja."
Naruto thought about this for a bit. "Council, we accept."
Tsunade grinned at him. "Then the Namikaze..."
"Uzumaki," Naruto told her.
"Fair enough. Uzumaki clan is now an official clan of Konoha. With Uzumaki Naruto as the Clan Head. In his absence, Uzumaki Haku will be in charge and council member. As there is more than one Uzumaki, we will not force you to stay in Konoha until you bear children. But we will be forcing something."
They way she smiled made Naruto very, very nervous. "And that would be, Hokage-sama?"
"It is my decision that you, as the last male Uzumaki, will marry a minimum of two wives. That when they become of age, will bear your children." Naruto dropped his jaw and began to mumble incoherently. Making several present laugh at him. "Is that a problem, Council member Uzumaki?"
"...No, Hokage-sama."
"Good...because you have two weeks to get them arranged and over with."
"NANI!? Even we know those things take time!"
Tsunade smiled, "Payback is a bitch." She was obviously still mad about being forced into this. "Strike that last comment from the records. You are dismissed, Naruto."
"...Hai, Hokage-sama." He turned on his heel and walked out the way he came. Moments after he shut the door, they heard, "SHIT!"
—oo000oo—
Naruto wanted to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. But that would accomplish nothing. Two weeks! Two damn weeks to find two girls, get them to fall in love with him, and marry them! Sure, one was easy, Haku-chan. But the other would be impossible!
As he was walking, he saw Hinata being pestered by Kiba, trying to get a date from her. He noted his big sister, Hana, was close by. Naruto found himself growling at what Kiba was doing. It was then that he realized, he already not only had two women that loved him, he loved in return. "Kiba, leave Hinata-chan alone."
"Naruto-kun! When did you get back!?"
"Just this morning. We had a mission brief to fill out and a meeting with the council. Kiba, we will give you this one chance to walk away."
"Bite me," he said to him. "I am going to give my damn best to make Hinata-chan mine." Hana knew this would end bad.
Naruto showed no signs of this bothering him. He went over to a newspaper box, got one, and walked over to Kiba, rolling it up as he did. Next thing Kiba knew, he was clutching his head, having been hit by the paper and Naruto going, "Bad dog!"
"You did not just..."
"Bad dog!" Naruto hit him again.
"I am going to kick..."
"Bad dog!" Every time he said it, he hit Kiba again. "Go lay down!"
Kiba jumped back and gave a soldier pill to Akamaru, making him change into his bunshin form. "We are going to kick your ass, Naruto! How well do you think you will do, fighting the two of us!?"
Naruto made a cross shaped handsign and with the words, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu," three hundred of him appeared, standing on every surface around them. As the two cowered in fear, one stepped forward. "There, the dogs shake, sheer terror gripping tight their hearts with icy fingers. Knowing full well what merciless horrors they have suffered from just one Naruto. Yet they stare now at an army of three hundred! HORRUK!" The clones all raised their newspapers and shouted, "BAD DOG! BAD DOG! BAD DOG!"
"We outnumber the enemy a paltry three hundred to two! Good odds for any chunin. Give thanks men! For the Third Hokage for letting us learn this jutsu! For victory!" They started to descend on Kiba and Akamaru, who had the wise idea of getting the hell out of there. Hana watched with mixed shame an humor on her face as the three hundred of them gave chase while Hinata and the original Naruto were left behind, laughing hard enough to burst their sides.
"That should put him in his place," Hana said before walking after them, knowing she will find a traumatized brother at the end of the chase.
Naruto turned to Hinata, pulled her into a kiss, ignoring the staring people around them and said, "Will you marry us, Hinata-chan?" He told her everything, and was glad he could stop all this cloak and shadow to just be with her as she said yes. He picked her up, spun her around and kissed her again.
—oo000oo—
Author's notes. Knives, Xynth, Bobboky, and the Don, I want to thank you for your help with this chapter.
See ya Space Cowboy
