I do not own Naruto or Warhammer 40K
AN. This is fic is set immediately after the events of the novel "Lord of the night." by Simon Spurrier. It is not necessary to have read it to understand this fic, but it is an amazing book and I highly recommend it. For those new to the Warhammer40k universe there will be a glossary at the end of each chapter when terms need to be explained. This will be a darker Naruto than in canon. If you have any questions leave them in your review or PM me.
oOo
Heir of the Talon-Master.
Chapter 6. Battle March
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"For the Emperor! For Macragge! You will hold this line!" Proteus roared as he backhanded his power sword through the chest of one of the chattering abominations that poured through the hatches leading from the crew quarters of the Shadow-Slip. Screeching as they advanced they resembled nothing more than skeletal children with outsized jaws and clawed hands. Their mouths were filled with row upon row of blunt teeth.
Proteus anchored the center of a line of guardsmen protecting the Navigator's bubble on the bridge.
"Guardsmen firing line." Their commander a grim faced sergeant with a bionic eye and wielding a hell pistol and sword barked out orders. Half of the guardsmen dropped to one knee and the rest lined up behind them, as one they all shouldered their weapons.
"FIRE!" The sergeant commanded "As one!". The guardsmen poured las fire into the horde with their hell gun's. Flesh boiled and blood flew as incandescent bolts of light smashed into the enemy horde.
"Sergeant I shall lead our prayers. Stand fast." Proteus swung his sword and cleared a space in front of him firing his bolt pistol to pick off any wounded. "I am the Hammer. I am the sword in his Hand. I am the point of His spear. I am the gauntlet about His fist." His voice rose and fell as he led the guardsmen in prayer.
Mind wiped after every mission these troopers were protected from the horrors of the warp by having traumatic or dangerous memories removed. They chanted along with Proteus the sacred words protecting their minds and souls.
"I am the bane of His foes and the woes of the treacherous!" Proteus continued to pray and fight, but the stream of demons continued to pour in. Soon the air was thick with the smell of burned flesh and ozone.
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"Look at that." Asuma muttered as he and Anko crouched in the treetops near the bridge to the land of waves. From their position they could just see all the way across the bridge. The bulk of the land of waves was only visible intermittently through the greasy fog that hung over the islands just after sunrise. "I thought this bridge was new?"
"It is." Anko replied her voice laced with confusion. The thick timbers that made up the bridge were worn, pitted and slick with fluid. Spaced more or less evenly along the bridge were tall poles which were hung with tattered rags. "They look rotten." As the wind shifted it brought with it the sour sweet smell of decay.
"Maybe that's all they had to build with. There's no reason to over think it. All that matters is will it hold under the weight of the Fire Lord's troops."
"It should. Not that it matters." Anko whispered back her voice hushed by the unnatural feeling that seemed to hang in the air.
"What do yo mean?" Asuma glanced over at the younger woman.
"You heard the Hokage, were bringing war to this land. Total war. By the time we're done here all the troops will have to do is pick up the bodies." Anko let a feral grin cross her face.
Opening his mouth to respond Asuma shut it after a moment. He couldn't deny the truth of her words. Gato had overstepped his bounds and insulted the Fire Lord with his claim to the title of Daimyo. And now a whole land would be put to the sword for his actions. Shaking himself once he reached into his vest and pulled out a small cloth wrapped bundle. "Lets just finish this recon and head back to base." Pulling out a small compact telescope he focused it on the area at the far end of the bridge where a large structure was visible. "Damn." He passed the telescope to Anko who took it without a word.
Putting it to her eye she quickly spotted what had made Asuma swear. At the far end of the bridge a squat fortress sat in the middle of field of sharpened wooden stakes. Checking the stakes she spotted the occasional impaled figure but she dismissed them from her mind after no more than a passing glance. Readjusting her gaze back on the fortress she studied it minutely. It seemed to have been clapped together from whatever materials had been lying around, mostly crudely cut sheets of stone held up by even more massive timber walls. It looked flimsy but the amount of scattered dirt piled up everywhere told her that those walls were anchored deep in the earth and could probably take a great deal of punishment.
The walls themselves were thick and high with sharpened stakes studding the parapets. Guards armed in piecemeal armor and bows patrolled the parapets in large disorganized groups. Taking a bearing from the guards she estimated that the walls were of sufficient height that only her and the other Jounins could clear them in a single jump. The Genin would all have to at least scale part of the wall, and between the archers and stakes there was no real guarantee they could all make it up the wall with no losses. Damn, its not just the archers looks like there's murder holes all through the walls. At least a 100 men on the walls. Assuming there's two shifts minimum and some support staff were looking at 250 men inside that fortress alone. Probably more.
"So what do yo think any ninja in there?" She asked as she handed the telescope back to Asuma.
After examining the walls again for several long moments Asuma shook his head. "I don't think there's any ninja of any caliber in those groups patrolling the walls but there might be one or two inside the walls where we can't see them."
"All right. Lets stay here another hour then we head back." Anko ordered crisply as she readjusted her position in the tree, earning an affirmative from Asuma.
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"Captain we have sealed the breach." Drigo's voice came in over his vox bead. "Void shields are up and we are clearing the ship deck by deck. Captain what is your status?" Drigo's voice was distorted by the vox but it was clear that he was in the middle of heavy fighting himself.
"We are holding Brother. The guardsmen are low on ammo. They will need support soon." Proteus snarled as he lifted one of the demons and tossed it back into the horde surrounding him, where it was savaged by hell gun fire. Discarding his spent bolt pistol he began hewing right and left with his power sword.
"Acknowledged. Boris and Tyrus are one their way to you now. Hold Brother-Captain." Drigo voxed back.
Acknowledging with a double click of his vox bead Proteus returned his full attention to the battle.
Behind him he heard the distinctive clicks of bayonets being fixed.
oOo
Tenten idly counted and cataloged her weapons as she sat between her two team mates while she listened with one ear to yet another speech from her sensei about the power of youth. Her attention however was fixed almost entirely at the armored figure that sat in the shadow of a tree surrounded by the slumbering forms of some of the Inuzuka ninken.
She remembered Naruto from her academy class last year. Back then he had been a middling fighter with only a passing familiarity with all the other ninja skills. Mostly he seemed to do nothing but get in trouble for pranks that he had done or would have done had he not gotten caught. Back then his looks alone made him remarkably memorable. An orange jumpsuit and and startling blue eyes below shockingly blonde hair. I wonder who his parents were? There really aren't any blondes other than the Yamanaka's in Konoha. If you factor in his behavior I'd be surprised if anyone EVER forget him.
But her thought's were getting off track. What really drew her attention was his armor and those strange armored claws he wore over his hands. Right after they had set off she had contrived to brush against him in order to get a feel for them. Naruto had shifted out of her arms reach in a single liquid motion, but not before she had had the chance to run her fingers over his back plate.
She was personally familiar with most metals that were used in weapons and could identify many many more just from research she had done on the subjects of armor and weapon making. But she had never felt or seen anything that matched what she had felt of Naruto's armor. It had been smooth, almost frictionless and she couldn't get it out of her head. I want to examine it! But he never took it off, even sleeping in it. As for his claws the only time they left his arms was presumably when he went to the bathroom, he even ate with them! The only thing he took off was his mask and hair band and only to eat.
And worse yet he was always surrounded by the ninken. She couldn't sneak up on him at all! Pouting a little she finally tore her gaze away from Naruto and back to her sensei. She sighed theatrically as Maito Guy began to pose.
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The guardsmen Hell-Guns finally shut down with a mechanical whine as their power packs finally depleted.
"Stand fast Guardsmen. We are His red right hand. We are the champions of humanity. We will hold this line." Proteus called out in a ringing voice. Sensing a weakness in their line the daemon lings bunched together for a final all out attack.
"Brother-Captain this is Tyrus we are approaching your position. ETA 30 seconds tell the guardsmen to take cover."
"Acknowledged. Guardsmen down!" Proteus relayed the order. A clatter of metal behind him let him know the guardsmen had all hit the deck. And none too soon as metal spheres rolled down the hallway to land in the midst of the horde before detonating, tearing the daemons apart in a spray of fire and gore.
"For the emperor!" the blood raven assault marine Tyrus charged in from the left wielding his power ax in one hand while spraying burning promethium from the flamer in his other hand. Magnificent in the black armor of the Deathwatch, he laid waste to the enemy with every step he took.
"In the name of the All-Father. For Russ!" The Grey hunter Boris of the Space wolves Charged in from the right wielding twin lightning claws. Laughing in joy as he joined the fray he struck right and left with his claws tearing open demons with every blow. The grizzled veteran fought with an abrupt and terrifying style even more savagely than the demons he fought.
Together the two assault marines made short work of the remaining demons as they fought back to back while Proteus and the remaining guardsmen picked off the stragglers.
Burying his sword to the hilt in the chest of one demons Proteus looked around. The last of the demons was dead and the area seemed clear.
Reaching up he tapped the vox bead in his ear. "All hands this is Captain Proteus report any contacts on this channel. Deathwatch continue your sweeps two by two.
"Well Captain that was fair scrap wasn't it?" Boris removed his helmet showing off the long yellowed tusks growing from his lips, and his yellowish eyes. The distinctive features of the Space Wolves space marine chapter. Shaking some of the gore from his claws he nodded towards Proteus taking deep breaths as he did so. "I don't smell anymore captain. Were clear for the moment."
"Good. Boris, Tyrus do you know what caused the breach in the shields."
Boris shrugged, but Tyrus activated his vox instead of answering out loud. "Someone deliberately turned them off Brother-Captain. This was treason."
oOo
Keeping his eyes closed Naruto ran through the mental exercises that Sahaal had taught him. The last month had been difficult as he learned to control and focus the anger that he had ignored for so long. Even now he felt the anger bubbling up inside him. It was so much stronger now than before, his anger, his rage. Sometimes it scared him.
And somehow he knew that it had made him not only stronger but faster as well, but it was also changing him in other more subtle ways. Only Sahaal knew, but he didn't need as much sleep anymore. Only a few hours every few days. And cuts and wounds that before had taken days to heal now only took hours.
But these thoughts were distracting him. He needed to focus. Clasping his hands together he linked his armored fingers. He took a deep breath and began to recite. A creed taught to every Night Lord young and old. Novice and Veteran.
"To kill an enemy, strike you in three places." This was how the lecture began. Naruto sitting at his masters feet. Taught to him just as it had been taught to Sahaal when Sahaal had been a novice sitting at his masters feet, thousands of years ago...
"Strike you at his hands, and he shall not cut you." The lessons of fear.
"Strike you at his heart, and his life shall wane." The words of Konrad Curze.
"Strike you at his mind, and his courage shall fail." The legacy of the Night Haunter.
"His faith will leave him, and his defeat is assured." Naruto finished his prayer, his creed.
Breathing deeply he began again his lips moving soundlessly. Around him the ninken stirred, the tempo of their breathing rising and falling with his silent words.
oOo
Sitting around a small cooking fire Aoba pulled out a map of the land of waves and studied it while he waited for the Jounin he had sent out to scout to return.
Looking around their makeshift camp he checked to see if all the active defenses were still in place. With all the ninken prowling around it was doubtful in the extreme that someone could sneak up on them but he didn't feel like taking any chances. This mission came directly from the Fire Lords hands and he was determined to carry it off without a hitch. The only thing that had him worried was Naruto.
The boy was a joker in his deck of cards. After hearing that the boy would be coming along he had nosed around for some more information on him. But despite the boy's now far more public relationship with the village he hadn't been able to find out much more than what was already generally known amongst the older generation. Even the announcement that Naruto was the Jinchuriki of Konoha had been a subdued one, only really passed on officially to the Jounin and village leaders.
He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye. According to Anko his training was up to snuff for a mission like this so he wasn't worried about that. It wasn't that he distrusted the boy, he just had the feeling he was missing some crucial part of the puzzle that was Naruto. Before he could think too much more on the matter he spotted his scouts coming back.
oOo
"So what did you find?" Aoba asked as Anko and Asuma joined him. He handed each a cup of coffee as they sat down.
"They got a fortress right on the far side of the bridge. We can go right across the water or around without too much problem. But." Asuma spoke up as he sat down.
"But the Fire Lords troops will get thrown into a meat grinder if they have to take it by force." Anko finished. Crouching down she smoothed some dirt out and quickly sketched out a hasty map. "From what we observed I estimate there is a minimum of 250 personnel inside. We didn't see any sign of ninja."
"And the rest of the coast?" Aoba asked his eyes never leaving the hastily drawn map.
"Nothing as far as we could see. Only the big fortress opposite the bridge. But we spent most of our search checking the area between here and the land of waves." Asuma answered this time. "Its clear. No patrols no guard posts. Nothing at all, not even any foot traffic."
"Nothing? Are you sure?" Aoba glanced up sharply his gaze inscrutable.
"Yes." Asuma looked confused until the implication hit him. "Its a trap."
"We've been betrayed." Anko snarled out her face a mask of rage. She slammed her fist down on the ground drawing the attention of all the Genin. Aoba silenced her with a look.
"No I don't thinks so." Aoba spoke up but kept his gaze on Anko. "The Fire Lord wasn't exactly subtle about wanting Gato gone. It really isn't a surprise that they knew something was coming. If nothing else the Fire Lords troops that are coming to support us could have been spotted any number of ways."
"Kakashi what did your shadow clones find?" Aoba asked the silver haired Jounin who appeared to be drowsing a few feet away.
"Its bad Aoba." Kakashi's voice was uncharacteristically somber. "I didn't see anything but rotting corpses and Gato's thugs. Gato's holed up in a big house in the center of town. Whole place is crawling with guards. We'll need a distraction to get the guards concentrated so we can take them out wholesale instead of one group at a time."
"Is that your assessment Kakashi?" Aoba asked the one eyed Jounin.
"Yes. I didn't see any missing nin. Or sense any. Not even the dead zones where chakra barriers might be. Just all those guards. My guess is that after me and my team took out Zabuza and his partner he doesn't trust missing nin anymore."
Aoba stared at the terrain map for a few moments more. "Get everyone together I have a plan."
oOo
Moving his hands over the dirt map Aoba sketched out an order of movement. "Listen up. Were splitting our forces into two groups. Anko I'm putting every Genin under your command as part of Team Anko. Tomorrow at dawn you will take your team and mount an attack on the fortress at the end of the bridge. Don't let yourselves get bogged down. Stay mobile."
"Aoba I take it this is mostly in the vein of a diversion." Tsume asked, cutting him off.
"Yes. Since Kakashi found no sign of any ninja we need to draw the enemy forces out. Once the Genin start attacking they'll be forced to mobilize ALL of their defenders. Once were sure they're fully mobilized that will be our cue to attack. We will set up here on the opposite side of the island from the bridge." Pointing with one hand he indicated a small section of ocean just off the far side of the island. "We will then push our way towards the bridge taking out strong points and enemies as we go along."
"Aoba doesn't this plan put the Genin in unnecessary danger." Kurenai asked concern evident in her tone and posture.
"Anko is more than capable of protecting the Genin, however." Here Aoba's voice grew more serious and he turned his gaze towards the assembled Genin. "I expect each of you to obey Anko's orders immediately. Any grandstanding or showing off and I will personally break your chakra center and toss you back to Konoha as a civilian. Is that understood?" The Genin all nodded nervously. "I said DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"
"YES SIR!" all the kids shouted back. Behind them their sensei's all hid smiles in one way or another.
"Tsume you and your clan will be responsible for finding and then rooting our foe out of their hiding places so we can kill them. The Jounin sensei's and I will limit ourselves to area of effect jutsus. Let Tsume and her clan deal with any small groups and let us take out any large concentrations of enemy troops. Anko once you hear our attack start that's your signal to pull back and set up a blocking position at the other end of the bridge. This is our basic plan of battle but feel free to improvise if the situation calls for it."
Aoba looked up. "If you have any questions I'd like to hear them now. Jounin I'll be giving you specific marching orders after the Q&A."
"What about Gato?" Guy spoke up for the first time. "Are we leaving him alone until we secure the island?"
"No." Aoba nodded towards the silver haired Jounin. "Kakashi."
"I'll see to it." The Jounin nodded back.
"Thank you. Any other questions."
Sasuke stepped forward holding himself confidently. "Who will be second in command of Team Anko? In case something happens to her I mean. Someone should be ready to take charge."
"Anko its your team." Aoba said gesturing towards her.
"Hmm." Smiling wickedly Anko strutted in front of the Genin examining each in turn. Only a few managed to meet her gaze without flinching and she marked them carefully. But she finally turned back towards the raven haired boy. "Since you spoke up first you get to be second in command."
Sasuke smirked in satisfaction. Most of the other Genin clapped enthusiastically as he fairly strutted back to his seat.
"If that's all everyone start your prep. Get some food get some sleep. Well be moving out before sunrise tomorrow. Jounin we'll have a final brief at sundown. Dismissed."
oOo
Moving forward step by step Naruto eased past some bushes. The Jounin had left hours ago to be in position when the Genin made their attack, he had left right after they did. He had no intention of following the attack plan that Anko had let Sasuke come up with. A head on attack. Just thinking of such a crude attempt at strategy made him sick, no discipline no purpose only strength. Just what I would have picked a month ago. The thought made him smirk and cooled his temper considerably. Pushing aside some leaves he placed his feet carefully on some dry stones and kept moving forward. At least he planned to lead from the front, which was Sasuke's plan only redeeming quality. But still head on with only Kiba Shino and Neji? What was he thinking leaving everybody else behind as long range support?
Shaking his body to settle his armor he sped up. He was almost clear of the camp and he needed to pick up speed if he wanted to launch his own attack before the Genin arrived.
"And where do you think your going?" A soft and eerily threatening voice came from just above him.
Naruto responded instantly sliding into the nearest patch of shadows and palming shuriken into each hand.
Anko was impressed. The boy had taken cover instantly without freaking out or screaming or anything. Now he was staring back at her with those baby blues. "I asked you a question Tokubetsu Jounin Uzumaki Naruto?" She placed some emphasis on his rank to get his attention. She had noticed early on that he seemed to pay special attention to ranks and titles.
"Scouting Anko-San." The boy replied tonelessly.
She arched an eyebrow at the unexpectedly logical remark. "Carry on then." She held up a hand to keep him in place a moment longer. "Uzumaki if you see an opportunity... Feel free to exploit it. Dismissed."
"Hai." Nodding once to Anko Naruto took off towards the bridge picking up speed as he went. In seconds he was beyond Anko's senses. Anko let a grin cross her face before she too disappeared.
Arriving back at camp she dismissed the mud clones she had left guarding the camp. Walking over to one of the sleeping bags spread under a tree she kicked it. Hard. Sending the poor soul inside rolling into a tree.
Sasuke woke up spluttering and disoriented. His hair was a mess and his eyes were wild as they tried to focus on something while stammering incoherently. Anko solved the problem by dumping the contents of her canteen on his head.
"What the hell?" Sasuke screamed in rage waking several others. He took a sniff of the liquid staining his clothes. "Is this SAKE?" He asked incredulously.
Shrugging Anko walked past him. "Get everybody awake and ready. Were leaving in 15 minutes." She grinned a little as she thought of the mischief Naruto was going to get into. Once he botched his attack the mud clone she sent to tail him would pull him out of the fire. Then she would take over the attack with her own high level attack jutsus and not use the idiotic plan the last Uchiha had come up with. She had seen right through Sasuke's thinly veiled attempt to grab the lions share of glory. Still it showed initiative something she respected. Plus her plan would keep all the little Genin safe. Aoba was a good man and a better ninja but he was too hardened to realize the Genin weren't ready for the sheer amount of killing this diversion would really entail. Which was precisely why she had let Naruto go ahead with his diversion.
It was so nice when a plan came together.
oOo
Clinging to the bottom of the bridge like a beetle Naruto made his way towards the castle that was his objective. Last night he had sat there seething as Sasuke had outlined his plan. To calm himself he thought back to the stories Mita would tell him as rewards for jobs well done. And then inspiration had struck him. He smiled under his mask as he remembered. An attack carried out on another world by his master. Amongst ice and metal he too had hunted mercenaries. They had called themselves the Glacier Rats...
Reaching the end of the bridge he dropped silently down to the ground. With dawn still an hour away there was plenty of concealment. A step a leap and a grab and he was climbing the castle walls hidden in the gap between two badly set sheets of stone. He slipped over the walls in the space between roving patrols. He hid himself in the deepest darkest corner he could find.
Closing his eyes he breathed deeply and called forth a trickle of anger that was his greatest source of strength. Like bloody lightning it raced down his arms and legs and filled him with energy. Blood thundered in his ears as he rode the first heady rush of power, it made him want to kill, to hurt, to bathe in the blood of his enemies. Discipline. His master's words rang in his mind. With an effort will he grasped that flowing river of power and grasped it in burning hands. Focus.
When he opened his eyes a soft silver light burned out from within his eyes. "Time to hunt."
The first guard he found he killed quietly, suppressing the wild rush of joy at his first kill. Glancing down into the courtyard he saw a mess of tents, walls and other debris clogging the killing floor the courtyard should have been. Even the castle was a chaotic jumble of beams walls and protrusions that only resembled a keep.
The second guard he killed quickly propping up the body against the wall. Moving on he disappeared into the shadows flitting from hiding spot to hiding spot. Now near the back of the castle he dropped onto the shoulders of the lone guard at the back gates. Pushing the back gates open he moved back into the gloom surrounding the castle. Strike you at the hands.
The fourth to die screamed as Naruto's talons ripped out his kidneys. His screams roused the castle. More guards began to yell as the bodies of the first guards were found. Torches were lit and commands began to rise into the night air, angry and hoarse they tried to impose order.
They failed.
Embracing the darkness Naruto abandoned most of his stealth and began his attack in earnest. Spacing out his attacks he began to pick his targets. Here a guard stumbled as his Achilles tendon was cut through. There another screamed as a bloody claw dug out his eyes like pits from cherries. Elsewhere another died as a kunai thrown from the shadows pierced his heart as he tried to throw on his armor. Naruto began to let guards glimpse him as he moved at the very edges of the circle of light thrown out by the torches.
"What is it?" They yelled as they sought him out.
And like the smallest ember in a fire, terror began to burn inside their hearts.
"How many?"
"They're everywhere!"
Like his master before him he played with their . A shadow here, a vision of a skull mask as he leaped into a group and slashed away killing no one but wounding many before leaping back into the shadows.
Fear sapped at their strength, warped their vision. Arrows flew into the sky randomly as terrors forced hands into action, any action.
More and more the balance towards panic began. Mercenaries began to attack each other, panic and fear taking the weakest. Strike you at the heart.
Watching the chaos unfold him beneath him Naruto crouched on top of the tallest tower hands held out at his side like wings. His instincts told him the moment was coming.
He could feel it.
Now.
"In your name Master." He whispered his hands moving in front of him as he prepared a jutsu.
"Battle Voice Jutsu." He took a deep breath, threw his head back and Screamed.
With the jutsu amplifying his voice a hundred fold he screamed.
The call of the night lords, a call designed at every level to push terror straight into the gibbering hind brain of every thinking creature. Strike you at his mind.
Throwing his arms wide he released a small rain of kunai wrapped around explosive tags.
Helpless, paralyzed every man in the castle looked up. Eyes inexorably drawn upwards, afraid to look even more afraid not to they looked up. His faith will leave him.
And died as the tags blew. A rain of razor edged steel scythed downwards cutting deep into upraised arms, faces bodies...
Far away crouched in cover, on the far side of the island the Jounin heard the screams.
"Move out." the order was passed and Konoha's attack on the Land of Waves began in earnest.
His defeat is assured.
oOo
"What the hell was that?" Sasuke yelled out as the bloodcurdling wail came crashing through the trees startling the Genin and sending a shiver down their spines. The wind caught the sound and sent it crashing through the trees, a clarion call of fear and panic.
Anko shook off the chill that scream had brought. "All right Boy's and Girl's that's our cue. Looks like the party's getting started" Well well well looks like the brat had a few tricks up his sleeve. "Move out!" Putting words to action she took off at a dead run leaving the Genin scrambling to catch up. All of the Genin save one.
Ino stayed where she was, forgotten in the mad rush to catch up with Anko. I can't stop the shaking. She gripped her arms tightly her fingers digging deep into her flesh. That scream had hit her like a bolt of lightning punching past all her mental defenses to set her mind and body ablaze. Her body shook as the back lash of powerful emotions thundered through her frame. Her nails drew blood as she continued to shake, pain singing along already brutalized nerves. More than any other clan or ninja the Yamanaka's were attuned to thought and emotion, intimately familiar with the exhilarating highs and crushing depths that emotion could ravage a mind with in order to protect themselves when entering a foreign mind.
But that scream. That wail, the very essence of terror distilled into pure sound. That scream had sent fear racing down every nerve, her heart to hammering, her senses into overdrive. It was exhilarating and unbearable and mixed with the pain it turned a maelstrom of sensation that left her dizzy. She had never experienced a such a terrifying and pure rush of sensation and emotion. But what scared her the most was...
I enjoyed it. Kami help me I didn't want it to stop. Her mind whispered as it tried to hold on to the last vestiges of raw emotion that still crawled along her senses. What's happening to me?
More screams fainter than the first tickled the edges of her perception, jolting her free from her paralysis.
Picking herself up and standing on shaky legs she stared down the path towards the bridge with hungry eyes.
oOo
"I am coming For YOU!" Naruto roared as he dropped straight down the castle wall to land in the center of a disorganized mass of men. Sheer blood lust drove him to attack head on. The mercenaries milling aimlessly in the castle courtyard had survived relatively unscathed. They had been shielded by the bulk of the castle from the deadly rain of steel. But now buoyed by his effect on the castle and emboldened by his stunning success so far he threw caution to the wind. Landing on the shoulders of one he drove him to the ground in a rush of blue and black steel and flashing claws. He hopped once birdlike, and brought his armored feet down on the mans prone form. There was a particularly pleasant percussion to the sound as bones snapped and crunched.
But his sudden appearance had an immediate and perhaps not unexpected action. The sudden appearance of Naruto's armored form finally gave the frightened and disorganized men something to focus on. Now he was no longer a shadowy specter that killed from all sides with impunity. With dawn breaking and warm golden light spilling into the courtyard the spell of fear was breaking. The wild excess that he had cultivated turned into anger, indecision and panic turned into iron willed unity as they spurred themselves into action. Almost as one they drew their weapons and charged.
"Kill the Ninja!"
"For our father Gato!"
"Kill, Kill!" the chant began slowly.
"KILL, KILL, KILL." and rose and rose. It drowned out the screams of the dying, the shouts of panic.
Naruto found himself chanting with them as he and the mercenaries came together in a clash of muscle and steel.
Surrounded on all sides he fought with the fury of a cornered rat. Slashing in all directions he fought like a dervish spinning and clawing at every inch of exposed flesh he could see. He knew that he should retreat but the blood lust that had carried him this far refused to retreat. And neither could he. He needed this to fight to kill. To spill blood face to face. To fight with flesh and steel.
A sword strike skidded off his breastplate in a shower of sparks while he clawed furiously at the mass of men surrounding him. A spear butt hit his leg sending flashes of pain through his body. He was so close to the press of bodies that he was almost overwhelmed by the stink coming off their unwashed bodies an odd mix of rust, rot and sweat. Spinning he cleared the area around him. Making a fist he clubbed a mercenary down while dodging a clumsy strike from a spear. Surrounded by a sea of men he kept fighting.
But step by step, blow by blow he was being forced down. Only his armor kept him from being cut to pieces and the parts of him that weren't covered in armor were being brutally bludgeoned. NO not now. I can't die. Not yet. Deep within him something stirred waking up one slow step at a time. Red chakra began to seep from his wounds hardening his blood to stem wounds and renewing his strength.
For a moment Naruto rode a red tide of rage and swept forward in a killing frenzy, slashing and tearing through men and armor as though they were paper. Spilling blood with every step. No not like this either. Focus! Discipline! Clamping down on his emotions the sudden wave of energy and strength left him, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Grab him!" One of the mercs swaggered forward and grabbed Naruto by the collar lifting him off the ground. Too tired to move Naruto's arms hung at his side though he managed to glare back. Reeking of grease and rot the overweight merc swung Naruto by the neck. He cleared his throat hoarsely his breath coming in wet gasps. Dried mucus stained the scraggly collection of hairs that sat weed like on his upper lip. Grasping Naruto's mask and bandanna he tore them off. "Look'ee here boys. Looks like they sent a kid against us." He paused as he got a good look at Naruto. "Ooh your a pretty one were going to have some fun with you before you get dead." Laughing hoarsely he tossed Naruto's mask and bandanna out into the crowd where they were fought over and quickly snatched up by the victors.
"Skin the punk."
"Feed him to the crows."
"Now now boys." The fat one holding Naruto waved the crowd down. "I'm sure papa Gato would love to get his hands on a Konoha punk." The crowd of surviving mercs laughed sycophantically. A few laughed so hard they sent themselves into coughing fits. "So how bout it brat you got two options." The fat man holding him tapped a rusty dagger against Naruto's face. "One we have some fun with you and then kill you or two we take you to papa Gato and he eats you for dinner." More laughter came from all around. He shook Naruto to emphasize his point. "So how bout it punk? Option one or two?" Naruto spit in his face earning a laugh and a slap across the face that rattled his teeth.
"How about option three." A voice rang out from above and behind them. Turning the fat man holding Naruto caught a kunai in the throat. Standing on the wall above them was Anko and the rest of the Konoha Genin their faces grim and weapons held in every hand..
"We save the brat and we kill all of you."
oOo
AN: Thanks to my Beta's Whitedragon17 and Psudocode Samurai, without whose help and inspiration this story would never have gotten off the ground. Both are amazing authors and I highly recommend All of their fics. And thanks to all my reviewers. Also check Out 'PersonalFable' he just started a pretty amazing warhammer40k/Kim Possible crossover.
AAN: If you think I made a mistake or have a suggestion or an idea, Please PM me or leave it in a review.
Also For those of you who are curious about the Night Lords and the Night Haunter. There are links on my profile.
Glossary.
Hell gun: A standard lasgun fed by a substantial backpack mounted power pack. This allows the Hell Gun to fire far more powerful shots than a standard issue lasgun.
Power Sword: A sword with a power field that when activated sheathes the blade in matter disrupting energy allowing it to tear through most materials with ease.
Lightning claws: Armored gauntlets with 4 blade like claws. The claws are covered in the same matter disrupting energy as power swords.
Promethium: A general term for any source of fuel in the Imperium. Also associated with the burning gel that is used in Imperial Flame weapons.