Hey guys! I'm still alive! Since I was away for so long, I made the chapter extra extra long so I hope this will tie over people until the next update. Since it's the summer I'll have more free time which equals more updates!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and/or any of the characters. Let's get on with the story!
At the Inn (Two days later-Night)…
It didn't take long for Shikamaru and Shino to suit up. They changed into their regular clothes and watched Asuma lock the doors of the inn and begin walking to Old man's Parish. They melted into the shadows. For half an hour they waited, until they started to follow their sensei's direction. Shino and Shikamaru split as they reached the marshes.
Shino took to the trees, only rustling a few leaves before taking an even higher route. Shikamaru stood closer to the ground and stayed near the shadows.
Neither of the boys could see their sensei, but they also knew that he was probably nowhere around here by now. Asuma had them scope around the area first yesterday, before they came out here.
"See anything yet lazy pineapple?" Shikamaru felt his left eye twitch as he looked towards Shino's general direction.
"I don't know. You're the guy in the trees!"
When they reached Old man's parish, they stopped. Shino gave a startled cry as he was knocked out of the trees. A bit of dust covered the spot he landed to as Shikamaru took to the shadows. Shikamaru was fifty meters behind him and spotted a masked figure in the spot Shino fell out of. He threw a kunai at the figure, but the person easily blocked the kunai and sent two more back at him.
Shikamaru moved out the way as they tore in the bark. Shikamaru spared the bark a sideways glance and gulped. Both kunais had drilled themselves in the bark at least three quarters in. Shikamaru dodged another kunai before he heard a crackle behind him. He jumped into the trees to avoid the explosion, before he felt cold metal slide across his cheek.
Ignoring the blood running down his face, he quickly slipped out a few kunai of his own. He ran towards the figure tossing both kunai before turning underneath the branch. The figure jumped out of the way and reached for Shikamaru's throat with a gleaming hand. Shikamaru felt two little nubs pressing against his back. Thinking quickly, he replaced with himself a log, and dropped to the ground floor, melting into the shadows.
He was searching for Shino. There were no leaves rustling or faint murmuring, as Shikamaru cursed under his breath. "Shino." He whispered.
"Pineapple." Shikamaru felt his left eye twitch again as he turned towards his right. Keeping an eye on the tree tops, he stalked his way over to where Shino was laying. His left ankle looked twisted and blood was coming out the side of his ear. If Shino was really knocked out, then who-
"For someone so smart, you fell for such a basic trap." Metal pressed against his jugular as a feminine voice materialized behind him. Shikamaru heard a small 'tsk-tsk' behind him. Turning his head to the left, he saw a girl dressed in all black with a jade pendant around her neck. In the middle was a broken heart.
With Asuma…
Asuma was running through the forest when a twig cracked on his left. He tossed two kunai faster than the eye could follow and heard a gasp and a short thud. He couldn't help but pause as another twig cracked. Another kunai, and another thud to the ground. He found two bodies on the ground, with blood trickling down their chins.
Asuma continued on to Old Man's Parish where he found three guards at the front gate and three on the inside. Asuma's attention was draw to the back of the house where there was a lot of screaming. From the sounds of it, it was a male screaming too. His fist clenched at the thought of it being his missing student. The screaming suddenly stopped and then a black shadow raced out of the compound. Asuma clocked himself in the trees as the shadow passed him. Making a mental note to check that out later, he knocked out the guards in the front and carefully got rid of the inside ones as well.
He searched the entire compound and only had a one hallway left. He found scrolls that had been missing since the last War, but not a living soul.
"It's a little rude to sneak in a person's home unannounced don't you think?" Asuma pulled out a trench knife and used of his wind charka to power it. He looked the man up and down, and assumed an offensive stance. His muscles tightened and his jaw remained locked.
"I haven't seen you for a long time Aoi Rokusho."
The now identified Aoi smirked, and twirled a kunai around his finger. In his other hand was the famed Sword of the Thunder God. His Kohona forehead protector was now replaced with an Amegakure symbol. His flack was also missing and instead was replaced by a sleeveless purple jacket that covered his top half, with simple cargo pants for his lower half. His eyes stared coldly at Asuma who brought out a second trench knife.
"I would be lying if I said it was nice to see you again Asuma."
"What are you doing here?" Aoi chuckled as he inched his way closer.
"I could ask you the same thing. But if you must know, I'm doing a little…testing if you will. The results are quite fantastic." They were less than three meters away.
"What kind of testing?" Aoi continued on as if Asuma hadn't spoken.
"Your little genin… Naruto was it? He made for the perfect test subject. Jinchuriki are much more resilient than your average citizen though, so that could be why."
Asuma gritted his teeth as Aoi laughed his head off. He lunged at Asuma, aiming for a high kick to his head, but was blocked, and nearly got his leg twisted. He began doing hand signs, getting space between them calling out "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."
"Are you crazy?!" Asuma shunshined to the roof and immediately found himself surrounded by five guards, not including Aoi.
Asuma ducked under one guard and pushed him into Aoi. A dark figure appeared where the guard previous stood and attacked Asuma with a cry. He felt himself get kicked in the gut before something sharp flew past his cheek. He flipped away from the boy and blocked an attack with a trench knife.
"I'll let you two get reacquainted for a moment, before our little friend go meets his friends." Aoi gave another laugh as he disappeared again, taking the remaining guards with him. The scratched Kohona band shinned in the moon light.
"Naruto?"
"…"
"Naruto can you hear me?" Another strike. Asuma kicked the boy off the roof and chased him into the trees.
"Crystal Release: Crying Wolf!" A howl could be heard throughout the forest as fangs sunk their teeth into Asuma's arm. He was tossed into a tree and felt the bark protesting. He shunshined past Naruto and punched him in the gut, knocking the breath out of him for a few moments. Empty and cold azure eyes stared back at Asuma, as he gripped the boy's shoulders.
"Snap out of it Naruto. Fight back." The only response was narrowed eyes.
Naruto replaced himself with a nearby log and placed distance between himself and Asuma. He whipped out the Sword of the Thunder God and made a downward slash with it, causing a bolt of lightening to come off. Naruto began attacking Asuma again, this time going with a thrust which was easily blocked.
"Please…" He managed to choke out. Naruto reached out and gripped Asuma's arm.
"Sensei…please…"
"Fight it Naruto. I believe in you."
"Finish him. Now." Asuma's eyes widened as Naruto's eyes hardened again and his assault was renewed with vigor.
"Crystal Release: Crying Wolf!" Asuma dodged the wolf's bite this time, and slid past Naruto and knocked him out with a chop to the neck. Aoi let out an angered cry from above and attacked Asuma with a downward swipe. Asuma swiped at his side and a gash immediately started flowing. Aoi cried out from pain and pulled back.
"Damn you Asuma." Aoi tightened his fist and summoned the other guards. "Kill him and retrieve the boy alive. Go!"
Asuma threw down a smoke bomb , quickly killed the guards in the confusion, and hoisted Naruto on his shoulder. It was time to get the others and get out of here.
Back to Shikamaru and Shino…
"I'm very disappointed Mr. Pineapple."
Whipping out a kunai, Shikamaru stabbed the girl in the kidney. There was a yelp before Shikamaru found himself flying past trees and only stopping when his back connected with a bark.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with you Mr. Pineapple." The girl gripped his shirt and brought the kunai across his throat, a trickle flowing down his throat. The girl's head whipped around and she backed away in caution. She began shaking her head, as if she was trying to get a voice out of her head, leaving Shikamaru dazed and bleeding on the floor.
The girl yelped again as a flash of smoke covered the area. Shikamaru applied pressure to his throat as he was lifted off the ground. He felt himself slung over a shoulder. He ripped a piece of his shift off and held the cloth in place and tried to hold in his grunts of pain as he lost consciousness.
A Week Later…
Blue eyes opened to see a ceiling staring back at him. The sun kissed his face and he had to raise a hand to protect his eyes from the sudden light. A door creaked open and for a second, fear was spreading in his veins like a wildfire. His heart clenched as the door creaked wider. His frame relaxed as a pineapple shaped head popped in.
"How you feeling Naruto?" Naruto took a sip of the soup Shikamaru had given him and stared at his own reflection. His hair was the same color, but there weren't any new scars left on his face. His eyes however, were different. They were still a cerulean blue, but there was splotches of red mixed in there. He muttered a quiet fine to Shikamaru and laid back down on the bed.
"Asuma-sensei said he'll stop by to check on you later. Shino's still at work, so he'll check in later." Naruto nodded. Shikamaru signed as he finished his version of the report.
"It's nice to see you again Naruto."
Asuma did visit later that night and helped Naruto redress his bandages. He hissed as the ointment was reapplied.
"I managed to suppress the seal they used on you Naruto. When we return to Kohona in about a week, we'll have the Hokage check it alright?" Naruto nodded.
"I felt so cold sensei." He gripped his sheets tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"Thank you Asuma-sensei."
"When you're ready to talk about it, you always have your team."
For the next days, Naruto and his teammates recovered from the battle and began training again after returning from work. Naruto worked with Asuma as his assistant at the hotel. Physically most of their wounds were healed. Shino's left ankle still needed a few more weeks. He was working on improving his speed regardless, but that wasn't helping him much.
Naruto found himself mediating on the ceiling one evening, when a knock alerted him. He turned to see Shino wave him over. He raised an eyebrow, but dropped down nonetheless.
"What is it Shino?"
"Shikamaru needs your help downstairs."
Naruto nodded and pretended he was stretching, when he kicked 'Shino' in the ribs. A loud groan was heard before 'Shino' changed into Aoi in a puff of smoke.
"How did you know it wasn't Shino?"
"No one on the team calls Shikamaru 'Shikamaru'. He's known as lazy pineapple or pineapple head. Duh." Somewhere, a certain lazy genius sneezed.
"Doesn't matter. I'm taking back what's rightfully mine, you brat. Now hand over the Sword of Thunder God, come back with me, and no one else dies. At least not painfully."
Aoi moved to strike Naruto with his kunai when he realized that he couldn't move. He turned his head to see Shikamaru controlling his movements, while Naruto was twirling a kunai around his finger. He casually walked over to Aoi and tied him taking his time whistling a happy. Aoi struggled in his bonds, but suddenly felt light headed.
"It's quite sad. For a guy so smart, you fell for such a basic plan." Naruto began. Aoi slumped to the ground and finally noticed the little beetles that were making a swarm around him.
"Honestly, I'm ashamed to say that I was kidnapped and tortured by you." Naruto signed as he made room for Asuma. Asuma quickly sealed off Aoi's charka and bounded his arms together.
"You're lucky Hokage-sama wanted us to bring any enemies alive." Despite being beaten, Aoi still sneered.
"Please Asuma…your precious father wants to use the seals we've created because of the connection with him." Asuma shrugged his shoulders as he hauled him up.
"Well, it doesn't matter I suppose. You're wanted for treason already. I'm sure the council will add some more to that list as well. Boys get ready, we're leaving now."
"Sir yes sir!"
Later That Night…
Naruto and Asuma were guarding Aoi that first night and Shino and Shikamaru were knocked out by the firewood. Asuma got up and left to take off his business, leaving Naruto with Aoi.
"Tell me Naruto. Do you really think they'll accept you for being a monster?" Naruto poked at the fire and ignored Aoi's comment, stirring the wood instead.
"I gave you a purpose in life. I can show you the full potential of your ability." Aoi felt metal tickle his throat.
"I already a have a purpose in life. You are nothing more than a bad memory." Aoi gulped in fear as Naruto's eyes unconsciously bled red.
An explosion drew his attention away from Aoi and toward the trees. Shino and Shikamaru were awake and on their feet moments later. Naruto motioned Shino to stay close to Aoi as he took to the trees. Shikamaru placed himself towards the middle of the camp and slipped three kunai from his pouch. He was starting to run low, but hopefully he would be fine for now. Another explosion took place, this time on the other side of the camp. Shino's calm voice ranged throughout the camp.
"My bugs are only detecting one person beside Asuma-sensei and Naruto. The person is obviously here for Aoi." Shikamaru nodded as a black figure sped towards him.
"Shino guard Aoi! I'll take care of her."
He threw the first kunai-missed and followed up immediately with his second and third. He went in for close range and avoided a downward strike and launched a kick of his own to the girl's bandaged side. Shikamaru noted that the wound had several stitches. Some old, some new. The wound reopened slightly and the girl hastily gripped the side with one hand. The stitches were done poorly and the wound was probably infected. Naruto came bursting out of the trees and had aimed a crystal ball at the girl's head.
Shikamaru immediately fell back, and watched the girl catch the ball, before tossing it back to Naruto who dodged it as it exploded next to his ear. Shikamaru quickly began making hand signs as the girl turned back to him, running. She started doing hand signs of her own, calling out her move.
"Crystal release: Jade crystal blade!" A purple blade resembling a tanto formed on both arms. Shikamaru's eyes widened at the name of the technique, but immediately refocused.
"Shadow technique: Shadow-neck binding." A shadow rushed toward the girl, which she merely step sided but was pulled back by Naruto's crystal wolf.
Half of Naruto's face was bloody, with a little blood also coming out of his ear. The wolf dug into the girl's arm, wringing her in place while Shikamaru quickly recast his jutsu. The girl managed to choke out a gasp as she felt the shadow creeping up her throat. She fell to her knees, and as Naruto stepped closer to bind her arms, she dropped a flash bomb, forcing everyone in the clearing to cover their eyes.
They heard shuffling indicating a brief struggle, and when the light faded the girl was missing. Team eight turned toward where Aoi was and his throat had been slit. His eyes were wide in horror.
At least that's what they thought until a puff of smoke revealed it was a clone. Asuma stepped out of the trees holding up a scroll. Shikamaru glared at his sensei who merely whistled a happy tune.
"Were you just going to stand there the whole time?" Asuma looked offended.
"I won't always be here with you guys Shikamaru. Think of this as a kick start to independence." All three boys felt their eyes twitch in annoyance as Asuma held up the scroll.
"Either way, we've still got the bastard."
Two Days Later-Kohona…
The trip back to Konoha was relatively eventful. The girl attacked them two more times, forcing Asuma to step in and drive her off. The moment the boys reached the gates, they fell to the ground and started kissing it. Shikamaru even hugged one of the guards. Asuma cleared his throat and they halted.
"I think you guys are forgetting something." Naruto waved at him and placed his arms behind his back.
"Can't we meet Hokage tomorrow?"
"Sorry boys. It's standard protocol. Better get used to it now." They took the fast way to get to the Hokage's office and when his door finally did open, Might Guy and his little genin stepped out. Asuma and Guy chatted for a few moments, however their genin stayed quiet. Shikamaru was closing his eyes when he felt a poke. Well it was really more like a kick.
"Come on, let's get this over with."
"Hokage-sama, our reports have already been completed."
"Good. Good. I understand that you're group was separated before you reached your target." They nodded. "And that Naruto was captured, and subjected to torture." Naruto's head dipped at this, but they all nodded again. "You boys did a nice job overall. I want you three to take a rest for a while and have a few weeks of therapy as well. Especially you Naruto. Also, I'm ordering Inoichi to have a look in your mind. Is that alright?"
Naruto sweat dropped. 'I have to go through it whether or not I want to anyways. So why ask if its alright with me?' he thought. He nodded again.
"I have a seal master coming tomorrow morning to remove the seal on your back as well. For now, please deal with it for one more night. Asuma, the scroll please." Asuma handed him the scroll containing Aoi and another holding the Sword of the Thunder God.
Shino turned to the others and whispered "Where did he get that from?" They shrugged their shoulders.
"Over the next few days, I would like to speak to you three individually starting with Naruto in the morning. Then I would like to speak with Shino and Shikamaru. Alright? Dismissed." The three of them left the room in a puff of smoke happy to fall asleep in their beds. Asuma turned towards his father and lit a smoke.
"You see the way Naruto's eye color changed." He asked. Sarutobi nodded. "You don't think they could have tampered with his other seal do you?"
"They must have if his eyes have bled like that. That's why I have summoned Jiraiya. I wasn't about to remove one seal without the getting the other one checked first." Asuma nodded.
"What are you going to do with him?" He pointed to the scroll holding Aoi.
"I'm sending him to be dealt with by Ibiki and Anko. Then he'll be executed." Asuma nodded.
"Is that all?" He asked. Asuma nodded. "You're dismissed then."
"Yes sir!"
I think this a good place to end. I'll be finishing this arc within the next chapter so if anyone is confused about anything it will be cleared up hopefully with the next chapter. Thank you all for your patience, reviews, favorites/alerts. Please review if you have the time. Ja ne!