Disclaimer: I feel as if I should put something incredibly witty here, but I have nothing witty to say. So, no, Naruto is something I do not own.

Author's Notes: I just got done with three hours of shopping. My brain is dangerously near exploding. Neverhtless, I prevail! Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy.

oOo

Always forgive your enemies, but never forget their names. -Unknown

oOo

Trash was overflowing onto the streets from overstuffed trashcans; rats that had been nibbling on rotten apple cores and old diapers scattering into hidey-holes, chittering in fear when he came too close. The pitted streets were waterlogged and stagnant, and the only decoration was graffiti sprayed on the sides of old brick and rusting metal buildings. Cardboard flapped in place of a broken window, and the few streetlights flickered haphazardly.

This, Naruto thought, is not the best part of town.

Usually, he wouldn't step foot down here unless he got a request. It stank, and only the lowest of the low crawled thought the mud pits- the perfect place for a worm trying to hide.

"Take a left at the next intersection."

The instruction was relayed in his ear through the little flesh colored bit of technology he was wearing. Khalid was the one on the other end, helping him get to Orochimaru's too-obvious hideout. Supposedly, it was above ground, which broke the Snake's usual pattern. Naruto would have bet a million dollars that there was some kind of secret cave below the abandoned night-club he was being lead to.

Naruto took a left, skipping over a pothole teeming with insect life. Khalid spoke again, but Naruto no longer needed him. It was obvious where Orochimaru had set up shop.

It was a big building, made of old red brick and three stories tall. But the building stood out from the rest on the street, mostly because it was well-lit and clean. Soft light shone through the whole windows, the graffiti had either been scrubbed off or painted over, and the cracks in the sidewalk and the stoop had been repaired. Steel doors with a snake carved onto them were closed tight, and two men stood outside holding crowbars, the overhead light beaming down on them masking their faces. Their heavy breathing frosted in the frozen air.

Naruto paused, switched off his earpiece, and stood watching them for a moment. They were talking quietly, about how cold it was, about how much they disliked this job, about how much they wouldn't mind a warm bloody before bed tonight.

Nothing interesting, nothing helpful, and certainly nothing that couldn't be interrupted.

Naruto rearranged his face into a tight, frightening half-grin and strolled into the light, letting them see him.

One of them, wearing a spiked leather jacket, nudged his companion, nodding to Naruto. The other held up his crowbar threateningly. "Don't come any closer!"

"Why not?" Naruto asked, stepping closer, letting them see his face. He smiled as they paled. "I'm just here to talk to Orochimaru. That's all."

"Th—the boss-" stuttered the one with the jacket, and Naruto glared at him.

"There's only one boss in this town, and it's not that scum-eating worm in there."

This is so fun, Naruto thought, watching the two exchange puzzled, scared looks. I've gotta do this more often. It's worth ruining a pair of shoes to see that face.

"Take me to him. Now," Naruto ordered.

They jumped, muttered at each other about how much trouble they were going to get in for this, if it was worth it, and Naruto released a tiny little spark of power to help them make up their minds.

They jumped again, and then almost fell over themselves wrenching the door open and calling for Master Kabuto.

Naruto took the time to stride up to the door and ease himself into the old club. The bar had been removed, anything disassembled except the square dance floor that was sunk in the middle of the huge room. The dance floor was crowded with tables and chairs, dimly lit, the muted conversation cutting off as soon as he entered. Their drinks reflected a dim red through their plastic cups, but he kept smiling, waiting patiently just inside the doors. It was the highest point in the room, and Tsunade had pounded repeatedly into his head how important little symbols of authority could be.

Someone went running off through a side door, and returned a minute later with a silver-haired man wearing glasses in tow. Naruto took the time to memorize the faces of the traitors around the room. Most of them shrank from his searching gaze.

"Master Uzumaki," Kabuto said, face lighting up. "How good of you to come pay us a visit. Please, please, come in. Master-"

Naruto's pleasant smile snapped from his face, and Kabuto's froze for an instant.

He laughed carefully, waving his hand. "Sorry, an old habit showing up again. This city brings back a lot of memoires. For many people."

Naruto refused to let the dig ruffle his composure, "Yeah, I heard Sasuke paid you a visit."

"He did," Kabuto murmured. "He did indeed. I'm afraid he was very antagonistic and violent. We did not, of course, break any Laws."

Because saying, 'He started it!' just wouldn't sound as cool. "Yes, well, I'd still like to talk to Orochimaru. I talk to all the people who… visit."

"An excellent policy," Kabuto gushed, leading him to the back of the club. Heads turned to watch him go, but he didn't acknowledge them. "Right through here."

Naruto walked down a dimly lit hallway and was let into a black-wood paneled office, a huge desk and a tall leather chair dominated the area, with only a single straight-backed, uncomfortable-looking chair in front of it. Naruto spun it around and straddled it, grinning at the pale-faced man smiling pleasantly back at him.

"Man, it's been a while," Naruto said. "I haven't seen you since I broke the mind-control spell you had on Sasuke and took my rightful place as Master of the city. Been a long while."

"It certainly has," Orochimaru agreed. "So good to see you again."

"Can't say the same. What are you doing here?"

"Oh," Orochimaru murmured, his slitted yellow eyes glittering. "It's a free country. …Last time I checked."

"More free than ever," Naruto corrected, trying not to grind his teeth. "I don't Order everyone."

"How wonderful!" Orochimaru cried, the long purple marks along his noses crinkling as his wide mouth broke into a beam. "Then you won't be Ordering us out of the city."

"You're free to be here," Naruto admitted. "But," his eyes narrowed, and he let his eyes burn, making sure the threat was clear. "You touch any of mine again—ever—and I will assume you are guilty."

"Clear," Orochimaru said, his smile barely wavering. "Thanks for coming to see us."

"Make sure I don't have to come back again."

oOo

Author's Notes: Am I the only one that thinks Naruto eats awesome for breakfast?

Well, for those of you who are at all confused, here's a recap of what we've learned:

1. Naruto is not normal and neither is anyone with whom he associates. 2. Hinata is clueless. 3. Naruto can give Orders that lets him control certain other weird people. 4. Naruto and Orochimaru are "Masters" (not like the kind on Buffy) and Naruto pwned snake face sometime in the past. 5. Their abilities so far seem to include giving orders, taking orders, healing quickly, mind-trapping evilness (from the evil people), and being rich. 6. There is no six, I just wanted to end everything on an even note.

So, that's what we have so far. All theories anyone has are welcome and... REVIEW.

BTW, what's the earpiece called? Couldn't remember for the life of me.