Thanks for the reviews everyone, and something I should probably clear up. While Naruto is strong, there are stronger ninja out there. And as stated in my little issue earlier, I don't like super Naruto, there's no challenge in it. The reasons he doesn't go into Sage or Bijuu mode will be explained in a bit.
One more thing, as said in my issue, Naruto must rely on his kunai for the Hiraishin, no seal placement for him.
Anyway, this chapter will contain some more action, and a hint to the next two major battles Naruto will have in the story, or at least in the normal time frame of the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Naruto kicked Naoko down into the water and quickly followed him. He looked around but Naoko was nowhere to be found. The sky had turned dark making it almost impossible to see under the water. When an odd pull of the water made him turn around, he saw Naoko with his hands in the bird seal again. Another water dragon took form, he tried to kick his way out of the water but the dragon was faster. As the jutsu hit him full force he was shot out of the water then felt a chakra infused whip of water wrap around his leg before it flung him back down.
'Dammit!' Naruto cursed with his eyes closed.
When he opened them again Naoko was right above him going through more handsigns. Not wanting to get hit with more powerful water jutsu, Naruto started up his own handsigns, first the fireball jutsu closely followed by a wind blade. The impact of the two jutsu sent Naoko flying out of the water.
'That should do it.' Naruto thought.
He quickly kicked his way to the surface of the lake and stood up. Taking a good long look around, he spotted Naoko. Bloodied and burnt floating face up on the water, he was finished. Naruto turned around ready to go lend aid to his Kunoichi.
"W-wait!" Naoko rasped out.
He was still alive? Naruto turned back around, Naoko was on one knee with one hand holding his sword which was under the water. He was breathing heavy, struggled breaths as blood ran from his mouth.
"It's over Naoko, limp away before I finish it." Naruto told him.
"Y-you ca... can't le-leave me like t-knng!-this!" Naoko wheezed.
"I have nothing against you Naoko. You seem a good man, but locked in by your family's honor. I saw it in your eyes, you truly did feel sympathy at my loss." Naruto said.
"My family honor demands that I take revenge or die by your hands!" Naoko growled.
Naruto walked up to the defeated man and looked down at him. Naoko tried another slash of his blade only to have Naruto grab his forearm. He put his blade to Naoko's throat.
"I am honored to be killed by you Naruto-san." he smiled.
"You're not making this easy Naoko." Naruto said.
"B-before you kill me... I have information that may help you." he rasped. "I gave an oath of loyalty to my leader, I cannot give you his name."
"Loyalty? From a ninja?" Naruto asked.
Naoko smirked at him. "I am a man of my word... I have made no such oath to the other one."
"Other one?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, Oshiro Ryuu... a demon in human form." he said.
"Never heard of him." Naruto said.
"That... is the point! He is one of the most powerful ninja I have ever seen! Not the most well known." he explained. "His Kenjutsu skills... you would be wise to avoid his sword arm. Beware his lightning jutsu... and his Sharingan, the right eye."
A coughing fit stopped Naoko's speech. He coughed up a fair amount of blood before continuing.
"Our leader and Ryuu... they are the ones responsible for the death of your three. Ryuu uses a Genjutsu with his Sharingan, and our leader finishes them off." Naoko said.
"What is their issue with me?" Naruto asked.
"Again I'm sorry, I cannot tell you... of my leader. Ryuu though, he has nothing against you, he just wants to see who is stronger. The demon in human form, or the human who holds a demon. He, much like myself, joined the Blood Mist because he knew it was his best chance to get after you." Naoko answered. "He feels no regret at taking the lives of those close to you, he hopes it will make you stronger... angrier."
"How can you know what he feels?" Naruto asked.
"Because, I was with them for the last woman... that one from Suna... I'm afraid I never got her name." Naoko rasped. "I did not help, I was but an observer. Ryuu blocked her path, and in that split second of surprise, well you know that moment better than anyone right Naruto-san?"
"Why tell me all this?" Naruto asked.
"Because they will be coming after you in earnest now. Our leader has taken notice of your lack of romance in the last couple of years... he will send another team soon. Should they fail too, he will send Ryuu."
"Then himself." Naruto finished.
"Yes..." Naoko rasped.
"Thank you, Naoko." he said.
Naoko smiled when he felt Naruto's kunai slide across his throat. Naruto let the body drop into the water, he let out a sigh and dragged the corpse back onto dry land. No need to contaminate the water. He turned back towards where he hoped his team was and took off.
Sakura, Keiko and Hitomi all stood on shaky legs. They were finished, barely enough chakra between the three of them to use a simple transformation technique. Sakura looked behind her to the other two exhausted Kunoichi, she nodded to herself. She took a couple step backs to stand beside the two girls.
"We need to run." she told them.
They both nodded in agreement, there was nothing more they could do. Sakura focused whatever chakra she could spare in her leg. A good stomp would break the earth away and kick up a considerable amount of dust. It wasn't a good plan but it was all she had. No smoke bombs, flash bombs or explosive tags to provide a better cover. She raised her leg up and there was a flash across the ground, she brought her foot down. The earth shook and crumbled away.
"Go!" Sakura ordered.
The two younger ninja turned around with Sakura right behind her. Keiko and Hitomi made it halfway up the trail, Sakura was three steps behind them when her ankle buckled under her. She fell face first into the dirt with a hard thud.
'I... tripped?!' Sakura thought.
"Sakura-san!" both girls cried out.
None of them noticed one of the Blood Mist members drop a length of ninja wire.
'I tripped... I fucking tripped?!' Sakura thought.
The three members of the Blood Mist jumped over the gap that Sakura had made and casually walked over to the downed Kunoichi. The lead one stepped up to her, a wicked grin split his face. He reached into his kunai pouch and pulled out one of the small blades.
"Number eighty-three." he chuckled.
He raised the kunai high above his head a sick gleam in his eye as he did so. Sakura tried to stand but when she had fallen her ankle took all of her weight, she couldn't crawl away and the girls were too far away. She refused to die cowering like a scared little girl. She turned her head around to look the man in the eyes.
"She's fiesty man." another chuckled.
"Yeah, they all die the same though." the one with the kunai laughed.
He fanned his fingers out and back to the kunai handle. He tensed up his arm and started to bring the blade down. Even with her resolve not to cower, she couldn't help but flinch. When nothing happened she cracked her eyes open and looked up at the man again. He still had a grip his kunai and with a shaky hand lightly touched the kunai lodged into his neck.
'That looks like Naruto's' Sakura thought.
He tried to attack Sakura again, his dying act as it were. He never got close with his own blade. Out of what seemed to be nowhere, Naruto came flying in with a kick.
"Naruto-sensei!" the girls cheered.
In one swift motion he retrieved the kunai from the man's neck, did a small spin, and landed with his weapon at the ready.
"Are you okay Sakura?" he asked without bothering to look at her.
"Y... yeah... Thank you." she answered.
A slight nod of his head in conformation. The knot of his headband came loose and the accessory fell to the ground. The three Kunoichi glanced at it and gasped a large jagged gash ran through the left of it and the cloth near the bottom of the metal plate was dark with blood. They all had the same thought, how bad was his eye? Naruto loosened his grip on the kunai and tossed it as fast as he could. He reached into his kunai pouch and gripped a normal one before activating the seal. His first kunai landed in the throat of the Blood Mist member on the right, as Naruto came back into view he threw his normal kunai into the temple of the other Blood Mist member. Taking his Hiraishin kunai out of the man's neck he walked back over to his headband. After that he walked over to Sakura and helped her up, she winced and fell back down.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"My ankle... it's hurt real bad." she answered. "I don't have the chakra to heal it right now."
He nodded and picked her up bridal style causing her to blush. Making sure she was secure in his arms he walked over to Keiko and Hitomi. He looked them over, a few cuts and bruises with obvious physical and chakra exhaustion but all in all they were okay. He sighed a breath of relief.
"Do either of you have my backpack?" he asked.
They gulped and pointed at the large gaps in the trail. He sighed and looked back towards them.
"Really?"
They looked away and scratched their cheeks. He put Sakura down before jumping into the large gaps to retrieve his backpack. Keiko and Hitomi crouched down on either side of Sakura.
"Are you okay Sakura-san?" Hitomi asked.
"Yeah, a few bumps and bruises. Once I've got some chakra back I'll get to work healing." she said.
"Don't strain yourself Sakura-san." Keiko said.
She smiled and waved the young woman off. She put up a happy front, they were alive! A possibility she thought was out the window, inside however she was going ballistic. Even now at twenty-five she needed Naruto to save her, because. She. Tripped?!
Naruto finally came back up with his backpack, and their's too. He let out a short breath through his nose and tossed the other packs to the respective owner. Sakura didn't have time to put her's on when Naruto placed it in her lap and picked her up. Her blush deepened when she felt him hold her closer.
"Alright, lets get outta here." he said.
Next chapter will have a sweet little NaruSaku moment, then chapter 14 will be the NaruHina past chapter.
It will also mention Sakura falling a few times. We know that she was tripped, but she still thinks that she tripped herself.
-Raidori