Hey everyone! Second chapter time! Well I started playing Guild Wars again and was inspired to write this, so there ya go. Yeah…this was a long time coming. And just for a note..yes Zenku is based after my personal character in GW.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Guild Wars.



Way of the Blade

Chapter 2

Naruto slowly began to awaken to the sound of raised voices. He could barely hear them, everything was muffled like he was under water. His vision swam as he slowly began to regain consciousness.

"..do you think…do that….village?" A demanding yet familiar female voice made Naruto blink. His vision went white as he tried to open his eyes, blinded by the sudden light.

"He….beaten. I…..him die." Another voice, this one strange. Naruto blinked and his vision slowly began to return. The light faded into shapes. He became aware that he was in an office. Naruto turned his head and tried to look around.

He was in the Hokage office..Apparently in the middle of a heated debate.

Tsunade was glaring at a strange hooded man, who was (though Naruto couldn't see his face) glaring right back. Naruto tried to sit up, but immediately slumped back down as a wave of pain hit him, sending the boy reeling. He fell back with a groan, drawing the attention of the room's other occupants.

"Naruto!" Tsunade exclaimed, quickly running from her desk to the small couch where Naruto laid. She bent over him, face marred with concern. "How do you feel?"

"I..I'm fine obaa-san." Naruto muttered, trying to sit up again. Tsunade frowned but nodded.

"Your wounds are mostly healed already from the Kyu-" She stopped and glanced back at Zenku. "From your tenant. What can you remember?" She asked. Naruto's brow furrowed as he tried calling back the events. It hit him in an instant. The beating, Sakura….

"I..the villagers attacked me again…"

"Again?" The strange hooded man that Naruto noticed earlier cut in. "You mean this has happened before?" There was disbelief and a slight edge of anger in his voice. Naruto looked at him in confusion.

"Obaa-san, who's this?"

Tsunade sighed and stood up, turning toward the man. "This is the man who saved you yesterday. I wanted to send you to the hospital, but he wouldn't allow it."

"What do you expect?" The man snorted. "He barely got out of the hospital the first time before he was attacked." The man turned and knelt down by Naruto. "My name is Zenku Ryuuken. A pleasure to see you again, Naruto." He said. Naruto stared at him in confusion.

"Again?" he asked. Tsunade cleared her throat.

"Zenku-san here tended to a lot of your wounds after your fight with Sasuke. Before Kakashi found you." She explained. Naruto looked the man up and down, observing his rather outlandish appearance.

"Thanks." He said shortly, feeling too unsure of himself to say more. Zenku nodded.

"It was my pleasure. I saw the ending of your fight. Extraordinary." He said casually, though there was a searching gleam in his eyes. Tsunade frowned and stepped between the two. "Naruto, can you tell us exactly what happened? I want to hear it from you. Normally we would have sent the mob members to Ibiki for interrogation but this time that runs a bit of a problem." She glanced over at Zenku who didn't show any signs of remorse, though it was hard to see from his hood. And so Naruto explained how he had left the hospital, run into Sakura and the events that followed. By the end, Tsunade was beet-faced, and Zenku looked rather angry himself.

"By Dwayna, have these villagers no sense at all?" he muttered, drawing an odd glance from Naruto and Tsunade. The Hokage shook her head and walked over to her office door, peaking her head out.

"Shizune, I want Haruno Sakura in my office IMMEDIATELY!" she yelled and slammed the door shut. "Back to our discussion, Zeknu-san. You killed twenty civilians in a matter of seconds, if the report from ANBU is correct." She said. Naruto's eyes widened and he glanced over at Zenku, meeting the man's gaze.

"That sounds about right. I will not stand for the harassment of innocents, Hokage-sama. I watched the boy fight, and there is definitely something…unique about him. But I see no reason for him to simply be attacked in the street!"

Tsunade was about to retort when Zenku continued, "I am curious as to what exactly it is, that makes this boy so special." He said, making Naruto tense up. Tsuande fixed the man with a scowl.

"That is an S-ranked secret, punishable by death. Only Naruto has the right to tell you anything." Both looked at the boy expectantly. All throughout the interaction Naruto had remained mostly silent, head spinning from all the happenings around him. Tsunade's and Zenku's voices became muffled into the background as Naruto began thinking. He had been blamed for Sasuke's defection. Sakura hated him for failing to bring Sasuke back.

Sasuke…..

It was always about him! Everyone bowed down to the Uchiha, while Naruto was left to be despised. A feeling welled up inside the boy, one he had not truly felt for quite a long time.

Hatred.

At the villagers, at Konoha, at the Fourth who had condemned him to such a life. For the damned Kyuubi. For Team Seven who had always looked down on him. For Sakura….

Naruto stood suddenly, making Zenku and Tsunade paused and glance at the boy. "Naruto?" Tsunade said uncertainly. Naruto hung his head, eyes hidden behind his bangs.

"Obaa-san.." he said, voice lacking its normal flamboyance. "I need to go clear my head. May I leave?" Tsunade stared at the boy in worry and anger. This last attack had been by far the worst, the Hokage knew. Not only was he blamed for the loss of one he saw as a brother, but had his heart completely shattered.

"Of course." The Hokage said softly. "If you need to talk…" She trailed off. Naruto nodded and headed for the office door.

"I'll probably be at Ichiraku's." he said and then left. The room was silent for a moment before Tsunade let out a frustrated sigh. Zenku watched her for a moment before saying,

"That boy will need a good talking. You can hear it in his voice; he's broken." The man shook his head. "I still don't understand what would drive people to attack such a boy."

"Again, you will have to ask him yourself. And I doubt he would tell anyone, now more than ever." Tsunade retorted. She paced back to her desk and sat down heavily, massaging her temples. "But there is a more pressing issue at hand, Zenku-san. The fact still remains that you have murdered a good number of civilians right in Konoha's streets. Even if I pardoned you, which I see no reason to, the Council would not." She said. "I will not even go into the issue of your strange abilities. Only that you, are a complete stranger in these lands as you have said, and given no inclination as to where you are from. "

Zenka sighed and nodded. "I know, Hokage-sama. But I gave those people ample warning to stop, and they did not. Had it been YOUR ninja that had confronted the mob, would they have done any different?"

Tsunade stared at the man and nodded. "I suppose. But again, you give me no reason to pardon you other than the fact that you saved Naruto. I love the boy like a son, but as leader of this village I cannot show favoritism."

"I understand that."

"Then do explain WHY I should not have you killed." The Hokage glared at Zenku who, for his part, remained calm. He considered the question for a moment before sighing again.

"I had not planned to stay in Konoha for long. In fact I had not planned to stay in the Elemental Countries for long. Hokage-sama, I am..well more than a traveler. The land I am from has come across hard times in the wake of a terrible crisis. I was sent to explore new lands in hope of economic strengthening between our countries." He said. Tsunade's eyes widened considerably at this, and she leaned forward.

"Continue…"

"I traveled to Konoha because I had heard it was the most prosperous of the shinobi villages. My country is eager to establish communication and a mutual trade between ourselves and Konoha."

"Oh?" Tsunade remarked. "Is that all? Then why not send dignitaries? Surely it would be more suitable politically than well, not to be rude but, yourself." She said. Zenku shrugged, a little sheepishly.

"Truth be told I am little more than a messenger. But my status is more than qualified, I assure you. But now Hokage-sama, I ask you; will Konoha agree upon a trade agreement with my country, the Canthan Empire?"

Tsunade stood and began pacing. Zenku watched her, remaining silent, for the next five minutes. Finally the Hokage turned and faced him. "This is quite a change of situation. I would need to discuss this with not only the Council but the Fire Daimyo as well." She said. Zenku nodded.

"That is perfectly fine."

"Until then, you may go free, under constant ANBU surveillance. If the council votes against such an agreement, though I doubt it, then you will be banished from this village."

Zenku nodded again and turned to the door. "Agreed. Now then, by your leave, I think I will go get some food." Tsunade nodded wearily and waved him off, sitting back in her chair as the man exited the office. The Hokage groaned. As if this day could get any worse…

"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune's voice called from the door. "Sakura is here as you requested."

Tsunade groaned louder.


Ichiraku's Ramen was filled with the usual delicious sights and smells that Naruto had grown to adore over the years. But now, he had barely touched the one bowl of ramen sitting in front of him. The stand owner Teuchi gave him a concerned look. He knew about the attack, and didn't need to ask what the matter was. But it was still a worrying sight. Just then a second figure sat down at the bar, much to the man's surprise. Most people tended to steer clear of Ichiraku's when Naruto was around. "Welcome to Ichiraku's!" He called as warmly as he could muster. "What can I get you, sir?"

"A bowl of miso, please." Zenku said, sitting himself down on the stool next to Naruto, who didn't seem to notice him. Teuchi nodded and went into the back to begin preparing the meal.

"You know, you're going to burn a hole right through that food if you stare it too long." Zenku commented after a long minute. Naruto started looked up at him.

"Ah, you're Zenku right?" He asked. Zenku nodded.

"That's right." He said. "I heard that you eat here often." The boy nodded in confirmation and said,

"Yeah. I pretty much eat here every day." He said, finally eating some of his food, now that his reverie was broken. Zenku noticed a few glares being shot their way by passing villagers and sighed. He couldn't understand how this boy lived with it each day.

"Why do they hate at you?" he asked bluntly. He truly wanted to know, even if Tsunade had all but told him it wasn't his business. Naruto almost choked on his food from the abrupt question. When he had managed to swallow he thought for a moment, looking a bit pensive.

"I..well, it's a secret." He said finally. "Only the adults of this village know." He said. Zenku raised an eyebrow beneath his hood. That didn't really explain anything, but who was he to be pushy?

"I see…well you don't have to say if you do not want to." He replied. Naruto seemed grateful and went back to his food. After a few minutes, during which Ayame brought Zenku his own food, Naruto finally asked,

"When you, y'know, saved me before. I was wondering how you did it. Obaa-chan said you killed twenty people in seconds. Are you a ninja?" He asked curiously. Zenku shook his head.

"No, I'm no shinobi. Actually, I'm not from any of the Hidden Villages. My home country is north of Iwagakure." He said. Naruto's eyes widened at that. There were lands beyond the Elemental Countries? He had never stopped to consider that there might be. Now the blonde was fully interested in his mysterious savior.

"You're not? Where are you from? Can everyone from your home do what you did? And what exactly did you do anyway?" The questions rushed out almost as fast as Naruto could think them. A bit of his old hyper self broke through his dreary face. Zenku chuckled at the boy's curiosity.

"Slow down. To answer your questions, I'm from a land called Cantha." He said. "And yes there are quite a few people who can do what I do, and more." He said. Naruto took a moment to process that and then asked,

"Can you show me?"

Zenku looked hesitant for a moment. Aw heck, what was the harm? This kid needed something to take his mind off his troubles anyway. Zenku nodded a 'yes'.


The two finished their meals quickly, and Naruto showed him to Training ground Seven, his usual team training spot. Standing in the clearing, Zenku looked around at the wooden posts and nodded. "That will work." He said. He reached up and pulled off his cloak, for the first time actually revealing himself. Zenku was clad in the strangest, and in Naruto's opinion, the coolest looking armor he had ever seen. It was a form-fitting armor, painted black with golden trim. Hooked blades ran along the forearms and the legs of the armor. Naruto could see a great deal of knives tucked in various places on Zenku's person. His face was covered in a black mask that reminded Naruto of Kakashi. "Now then," Zenku said, stretching lightly. "Watch closely."

Almost before Naruto could blink, Zenku disappeared in a burst of dark smoke. He reappeared among the training dummies, his arms a whirlwind of movement as the man struck with his twin daggers. The two nearest dummies splintered and shredded under the assault. Zenku disappeared in another flash and was suddenly in midair, above the targets. He hurled a flurry of knives at the posts, each one hitting its mark with a loud 'thunk'. Before Zenku hit the ground he once again disappeared, reappearing in the spot where he had began, next to Naruto. The boy was staring at him wide-eyed.

"How..how did you do that? Was that some type of shushnin?" the blonde asked. Zenku shook his head.

"Magic." He said simply. Naruto stared at him disbelievingly. "It's a lot like chakra actually, but instead of using the body's inner energy, magic comes from all around us." Zenku explained, seeing the skeptical look. "It's really complicated, and I doubt I could explain it all to you." He said. Naruto nodded slowly.

"So…everyone from your land can do that sort of thing?" He asked.

"Some. But there are different ways people use magic. There is elemental magic, necromancy, illusion magic, spirit summoning magic, and much more." Zenku explained. Naruto tried to think about all the things he was saying, but it was all a lot to take in.

"What about the stuff you just used?" He asked.

"I use teleportation magic, allowing me to appear wherever I wish." Zenku said. "I'm an assassin." If Naruto's eyes could get any wider, they surely did then. An assassin? What did that mean? Why was he here in Konoha? Naruto tensed. Zenku chuckled, holding up a placating hand. "Assassin is the name of my class. The different skills magic users utilize is classified into different classes." He explained. "Just because I'm an assassin doesn't mean I'm here to kill anyone." 'Though I do plenty of that.' Zenku silently thought. The two stood in silence for a while, before Naruto finally spoke.

"Hey, you were wondering why the adults here hate me right?" He asked. Zenku blinked.

"Well, yes. But it's quite alright if you don't want to tell me that."

"No, it's fine. You told me something about yourself, it's only fair I do the same. Besides, I get the feeling you won't care as much as everyone here." Naruto said with a weak grin. Zenku nodded. And so Naruto told him everything. About how the Kyuubi no Kitsune had attacked, how the Yondaime had given his life to seal it within Naruto, and how Naruto had grown up bearing the burden of being a Jinchurriki. Zenku listened quietly, and when Naruto was finished, simply said,

"Interesting."

"You…you don't think I'm a monster, do you?" Naruto asked, almost fearfully. Zenku shook his head.

"I have fought monsters and demons and even worse, and I can definitely say, you are no monster Naruto." He said sternly. Naruto gave him a look that was a mixture of relief and happiness. Zenku mentally winced. Just how much had this boy been abused? If the attack earlier was any indication, then it had to be bad. A part of Zenku was suddenly angry at this ignorant village. A thought suddenly struck him and he hummed thoughtfully. "Naruto, would you like to hear about my home?" the assassin asked. Naruto blinked in surprise, but nodded eagerly.

"Sure!" he said, a bit of his sunny personality peaking through. Zenku nodded and began telling his tale; a world of heroes, and monsters of all shapes and sizes. The massive cities of Cantha, the wonders of the Jade Sea and the Stone Forests. Of dragons and magic. The culture and wonders of the Dragon Empire. Naruto listened with awe the entire time, and when Zenku finished, Naruto stared at him in a new light.

"That..that sounds awesome!" He exclaimed. Zenku chuckled.

"It is. It's also very dangerous, but yes, a truly amazing place." He said, trailing off. He looked away for a second before snapping his gaze back to Naruto. "Naruto…do you know why I'm telling you all this?" he asked. The boy shook his head. "Do you truly like this village, Naruto?" He asked a second question, making the boy freeze. If he had been asked that at any point before the Sasuke Retrieval mission, he would have answered with a prompt and loud 'yes!'. But His latest assault had opened the boy's eyes to a great deal, and he hesitated. "I'm asking you this," Zenku said, "Because….I'd like for you to come back to Cantha with me."

It was dead quiet in the training field as Naruto stared at Zenku in surprise. He…wanted to take Naruto from Konoha? He was surprised to find that he was actually considering the idea. What did he actually have in this village? Certainly not the love of the villagers or ninja. There were none of the Rookie Nine that he really considered to be a true friend, not after Sasuke left. And Sakura….

His heart clenched. He thought about Teichu and Ayame Ichiraku. About Tsunade and Shizame, and Jirayha and Kakashi and Iruka-sensei. They were all his precious people. He didn't want to leave them. But at the same time, he longed for a life free of this village. And Cantah sounded like a truly amazing place.

"Well, Naruto? Would you like to come with me?" Zenku asked softly. Naruto looked up at the man and held his gave for a moment before softly saying,

"Yes."


An:) Well that's it for this chapter! Yeah, it's been quite a while, but I think I'm actually getting some free time to write again (at least a little). I thought I'd go ahead and update this story.

Note: Zenku's armor is Elite Kurzick Assassin armor.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and don't forget to review on your way out! Also, before I go, I'd like to recommend a story: Among the Shadows, by Vuurdmeister. Check it out, it's quite good.

Till next time,

TheHiddenAssassin signing off.