A.N: Hello. This is your not so missed author. First of all, I'm very sorry for the long delay. There's a mid-term exam that I have to take and my computer got crashed. All my data are gone and I have to do it from scratch. That and I need to find some good reason not to abandon this story. Because... well, when your most dearly love a.k.a computer crashed and all those lovely files are gone, it's feels worse than doomsday.

Bring me zombie apocalypse, I don't care. Bring me a meteor shower, I don't give a damn. Someone got killed in front of me? I don't fucking care. But my computer crashed... Well, fuck.

Anyway, here I am with a new chapter. But before that, as usual, reviews comeback!

REVANOFSITHLORD: Don't worry, you don't miss anything. But you're welcomed to re-read the whole story if you want.

Bigdaddylongstrokes: Nah, just read the chapter bellow. How Naruto will fight will be shown down there.

"Character speaking"

'Character thinking'

"Flashback"

THIS IS PURELY FANFICTION, IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THEN DON'T READ IT!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Koihime Musou, Naruto belongs to Masahi Kishimoto and Koihime Musou belongs to BaseSon. And I also don't own any other part from any Animes that show in this story. All of them are belongs to their respectively creators.

Chapter 14: Flowers, Blades, and Blood

"I've drenched it for three days, but the swelling hasn't really come down." Suikyou checking Sei's ankle that hasn't swell down at all. Her voice sounds very worried.

"I thought it's just a sprained ankle." Sei said to her.

"It is, but I feared that it's much worse that I thought it would be." Suikyou look at her ankle more carefully, "It would be nice if we had Saronpa herbs right now."

"Saronpa?" Naruto asked.

Suikyou nodded, "It's a medical herb that's really effective on this kind of swelling. It's an herb with a small white flower. We make it into medicine by grinding its leaves."

"Sensei, I'll go get the Saronpa herb." Koumei suddenly said to the others.

Suikyou look at her with a worried look, "Eh, but Saronpa herb grows in a rather high spot on the hill."

"It's okay. I've gone there with you many times. I remember the location." Koumei said again with a determination look.

"That's true. It would be nice if I could go with you, but I have to deliver the medicine that the village at the foot of the hill requested." Suikyou seems to be thinking very hard about this.

"Then, what if I accompany her?" offer Naruto.

Suikyou look at him, "You don't have to, Naruto-dono. You can just stay here and accompany Chouun-dono."

Naruto shocked his head, "Its fine. I don't mind at all."

"But still..." Suikyou seems still unsure.

Naruto decide to give her the last push, "Believe me, this way, you can go to the village with an easy mind, Koumei will be safe, and Sei will get her medicine."

"Very well then, please take care of her, Naruto-dono."

Naruto nodded, "Just leave it to me."

Suikyou then look at Koumei, "Now, go and prepare to go."

Koumei smiled, "Okay." She immediately leaves the room.

Suikyou then look at Naruto, "Naruto-dono, can we talk for a moment?"

Naruto nodded, he look at Sei, "I'll be back."

Then Naruto and Suikyou leave the room. They headed to Suikyou's office. Suikyou closed the door and look at the window, "That child lost her parents when she was small. She and her sisters were sent from one relative to another. After that, she ended up at my teacher's place for a while, but eventually I took her in."

"I see." Naruto said

"As you said, she really is a good child. She's very reasonable, and she hasn't said a single selfish thing since she came to my place." Suikyou said again, "But, there are times I think she acquired those sad traits unknowingly because of the hardships she went through."

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

Suikyou feel silent for a moment, then she look at Naruto, her eyes are glittering with tears, "Naruto-dono, please bring Shuri with you on your journey!"

Naruto look surprised with her actions and words. But before he can said anything, Suikyou already said more, "Please, she's said before that she wants to go on a journey and see the world. When I was young, I also travelled around, saw more of the world, and learned a lot of things. That's why I've thought of letting her do the same thing too."

Naruto scratch his head. He really didn't want to deal with this kind of things. Chouun, fine. He can tolerate her. At least she can handle herself and Zelretch already give his OK. But this is different. He can't throw peoples in his party like some kind of drunkard teenagers. Although, he has a feeling that if he tells Zelretch about it, he will give his OK. A big one.

He needs to convince her that it isn't safe to travel with him, "Are you an idiot?"

Suikyou look at him confused. Naruto give her a dry look, "You know about Shiroi-fudo and me. You know what those guys do and my journey will be facing them. My journey is not what you'll call a gentle and pleasant one. Have you ever thought about that?"

Suikyou look down, "I know. But if Shiroi-fudo wants my life, then it won't be matter anyway, she'll be in danger too. At least, if she's with you, I know she'll be safe."

"How can you be so sure about that?"

"Because, I know you'll protect her."

'She's not wrong about that though' thought Naruto, "What about her feelings? What if she refuses?"

"She won't. Please, I know it sounds very selfish, but I don't want to see her sad face. Sooner or later, I'll be dead. Be it from Shiroi-fudo, or from my illness. If that time comes, she'll be forced to leave eventually. Please Naruto-dono, take her with you." At this moment, Suikyou already cried a lot. Although she can hold her sob, but her voice already cracked and her tears are real.

Naruto sighed, slowly he move to her and wiped her tears, "Idiot. I can't take her just like that, you know. Fine, I'll think about it."

Suikyou look up at Naruto. A happy face etched on her face. Naruto quickly said, "I'll THINK about it. I haven't said that I'll agree with this."

"But that also means you also won't refuse it just like that right?"

Naruto glared at her with an irritated look, "Yes. There's that too."

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"Upsy-daisy." Koumei fixed her hat happily. They are at the front door now. Koumei looks very excited. Too excited for going to take an herb from mountain. On her side, Naruto carried a big basket made from bamboo. They'll use it to carry the herbs. In case they found other herbs.

"We'll go, then." Naruto said to Suikyou who also get ready to get down to the village.

"Be careful not to trip and fall." Suikyou said to Koumei.

"Okay!" answer Koumei.

The two of them soon enough arrived at the road to the higher part of the mountain.

"The Master said, 'Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application?'"

Koumei has been chanting Confucius book since they leave the house.

"Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?"

Naruto look at her. His mind has been filled about either he should let her join him or not. What Suikyou said is true. If she travelling alongside with him, she will be safer. But on the other hand, that also means he'll bring her closer to Shiroi-fudo. That, of course, apart from Naruto's existance wills affect this world balance by being closer with her. But if Zelretch can let Chouun, why not her?

"Naruto-san. Naruto-san!"

Naruto cut off from his mussing by Koumei's voice. He smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, did you say something?"

Koumei shocked her head, "It's just that you have a sullen look since we left. Is there something wrong?"

Naruto blinked once before laughed, "You don't have to worry about it. I'm just thinking about stuffs."

"Really? It's not good for your health if you keep your problem alone you know. If you want, I can at least listen to your problem." Koumei look at him with a concerned look.

Naruto shocked his head, "Nah, I'll be fine. But who told you about it? About its not healthy if you keep something from others?"

"Suikyou-sensei!" Koumei said with a smile.

"Figures. So she's not only a doctor, she's also a scholar and a physic?" Naruto asked with a dry tone. The more he knows about her, the more he wonders why Shiroi-fudo wants Koumei instead of her.

"Hawawa! But what she meant is a good one, Naruto-san! If someon-" Koumei panicked thinking that Naruto has taken her words in a wrong way.

Naruto cut off her ramblings, "I know, calm down. It's just that someone has said the same thing to me. But if she's that good, why people know her only as a doctor?"

Koumei looks relieved a little knowing that she isn't giving her master a bad name, "Because she can makes many medicine for many illness!"

"She's that good huh?" said Naruto. 'Although she can't cure herself'

Koumei nodded, "Yes. That's why, from time to time, the villagers living at the foot of the hill ask us to bring them medicine that she's made. I want to become a person who's helpful to others, like sensei."

Koumei looks very excited talking about Suikyou, "But to do that, I think I need to study all kinds of things more."

"I see." Naruto smiled, "You really are a good child." He unconsciously pats her head.

Koumei giggled from the contact. Naruto noticed what he has done quickly pull his hand, "Ah, sorry."

He really couldn't help it. There's just this aura about Koumei that makes you want to pat her head.

Like a cat. A docile cat.

Koumei shocked her head, "Its fine. I like to be patted."

Naruto smiled, "Really? Want me to pat you more?"

Koumei nodded and Naruto continue patting her head more. They travel quite a long way until they reached a bridge. A very old bridge. It's so old that it looks like it can break apart just from a gentle wind. Some of its wooden floor has gone missing. Below it, a deep craters with a fast stream river waiting like a predators.

Naruto look at the bridge with a sweat dropped, 'Is she seriously going to let Koumei went by herself? This bridge looks like it can fall off anytime!'

Naruto look at Koumei and sweat dropped more. The little girl looks about to burst tears. Her knees are shacking and her hand clutching his shirt tightly. Not that she realized about the last part. She looks down at the river and petrified with its stream.

Naruto look at her, "Are you okay? You can stay here and wait if you want. The bridge looks unsafe too."

Koumei shocked her head, "No it's fine. It's just that when I came with sensei, she always held my hand and crossed with me."

Naruto smiled, "Want to hold my hand?" He holds out his hand to her. Koumei looks very relieved and grasped his hand tightly. Very tightly.

When they reached the other side, Koumei slumped at the ground. It seems that she almost use every single strength she has just by crossing that bridge.

Naruto crouched down next to her, "We can take a rest if you want."

Koumei shakes her head, "No, let's go. The place isn't that far."

"You sure?"

Koumei look at him with a very determined face and nodded, "I'm sure! We can't let Chouun-san waiting any longer!"

'She sounded it like Sei's life is in grave danger. But I have to give her applause. Her determination is really something.'

"Very well then. Let's get moving."

True as she said, not far ahead, they reached a clear area where many kinds of herbs grow. They are so colourful. But Koumei frowned when she look at those.

"I'm sure it grows around here." She mussing aloud.

Naruto asked her, "What does it looks like?"

"Um, it has a white and bluish colour for its petal. It isn't that big and the branched is green." Koumei said while looking around.

"You mean like that?" Naruto pointed at the top of a cliff.

Koumei following Naruto's direction and smiled, "Ah, that's it! But..." She immediately sounds crestfallen.

Naruto can see why. The cliff is very rocky and tall. The terrain is too hard for a normal people.

Luckily Naruto is all but normal.

Naruto put the basket he carried and crouched down, "Koumei-chan, stay here. I'll take the herb."

Naruto then jumped to the cliff and quickly climbed up. He jumped from rock to rock, carefully not touching any fragile rocks. He didn't want to make a landslide here.

In no time, Naruto arrived at the spot where the herb lives. He quickly snatches it and jumped down the cliff. Naruto give the herbs to her, "There you go."

"Thank you, Naruto-san!"

Naruto look around, "Since we're here, do you want to pick some other herbs? They sure grow a lot here."

Koumei smiled and nodded, "Yeah! Let's do it!"

With that, both of them start picking the herbs around. They make sure that they didn't pick too much. Because if you pick everything in one go, there won't be any herbs left to reproduce.

After Koumei looks satisfied with what they pick, both of them go back to the village. Once again, they arrived at the bridge with Koumei shacking terrified.

Naruto frowned and look at Koumei, "I can carry you on my back if you want."

That simple sentence brings a very wide smile on Koumei face. Naruto sweat dropped looking at it, 'She must be REALLY scared with that bridge. I wonder if she's like this every time Suikyou bring her.'

Naruto squat down, letting Koumei climbed his back. As soon as Naruto steped on the first wooden plank of the bridge, Koumei shut her eyes very tightly.

'Yep, she and this bridge is not a perfect match.' Naruto tought.

After they reached the opposite part of the bridge, Naruto squat down again to let Koumei down from his back. Koumei smiled at him, "Thank you Naruto-san! As I expected, you are really a nice man!"

Naruto smiled at her, "Am I? Well, let's go back shall we?"

But suddenly, Naruto tensed and looking around. His eyes narrowed at a certain spot over the forest. Still not letting his gaze away, he crouched down and whispered to Koumei, "Koumei-chan, why don't you go back first. I think I forgot something at the place where we picking up the herbs."

Koumei look at him with a puzzled look, "But Naruto-san, you didn't bring anything with you."

Naruto didn't answer her but his facial look becomes harder. Naruto look at her with a serious face, "Koumei-chan, please go back first. Tell Suikyou to precede the herbs as soon as she gets it. Then make sure that all of you, including Sei leave the house. Go to the village and seek shelter there. Can you do that?"

Koumei still confused at his sudden change of behaviour but nodded, "Yes. I'll tell them that."

Naruto nodded, "Good. Just tell Suikyou and Sei that the 'group' is here. They will understand. Now go!"

Naruto nudge her and Koumei quickly walked down to her home. She glances back but Naruto is already gone.

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Gilgamesh smirked from behind the shadow of trees. He has to admit that this man, Naruto is quite good. He has wrapped himself with his Cloth of Concealment, but much to his surprised, that man manages to detect him.

True that Cloth of Concealment does not obscure sound or smell. He may not be assassin, but he's pretty sure that he didn't make any sound. That left with smell.

Gilgamesh decide that he won't need the Cloth of Concealment anymore, since Naruto already track him down. He takes off the cloth and put it back inside his Gate of Babylon. Then he stands there waiting for Naruto to come for him.

He didn't need to wait long as Naruto jumped down in front of him from a tree. His eyes are hard and his expression is emotionless.

Gilgamesh smirked at him, "I'll give you my congrats for detecting me trough my Cloth of Concealment, mongrel. Tell me, how do you do that? Is it my smell?"

Naruto give him a small nod, "Are you from Shiroi-fudo?"

"I see. Then I'm not mistaken for calling you a dog." said Gilgamesh.

Naruto brandished a kunai and held it in front of him, "I ask you again, are you from Shiroi-fudo?"

Gilgamesh gives him a taunting smirk, "What do you think?"

Naruto take a moment before answering, "You have a strong presence, I admit. But your appearance didn't look like them. For an example, Shiroi-fudo wears a white cloak. Not glistering gold armour. Bad taste of colour. Orange is better."

Gilgamesh laughed, "You think that every member of Shiroi-fudo wears that plebeians' cloths?! If you think so, then you are gravely mistaken, gold is a befitting colours for a king! Especially for someone like me!"

Naruto take a fighting stance, "So you are from Shiroi-fudo."

"Indeed. Indeed I am! Now look carefully, mongrel! Because I will be the last person you will see today! Be grateful that you can see the king of heroes! King of the first empire in the world! My name is Gilgamesh, and I will kill you!" Gilgamesh laughing like a maniac.

"Sorry, but I didn't plan to die today." As soon as Naruto said that, he throws the kunai at Gilgamesh and makes a double clone in right and left. He charged at him at full speed.

The kunai didn't make any visible effect at Gilgamesh armour. This is a surprised since Naruto enhanced the kunai with wind chakra. Gilgamesh in other hand, stand still and shouted, "Gate of Babylon!" Ripples start to form behind his back. Three spears launched from the ripples and strike through Narutos, which quickly disappear in a puff of smoke.

"Your small attractions of clone will not enough to face me, mongrel. If you want to beg for your live, you have to do better than that!" Gilgamesh looking around trying to pinpoint Naruto's location.

Naruto on the other hand, is hiding behind a tree while calculating his move. This man is powerful. He can tell that much just from his presence. The fact that the man just throwing a couple weapons from that ripples proofing his deduction.

In silent, Naruto make dozen of clones. He sends them to Suikyou and the others. It won't be good if this man is just bait. Naruto then jumped from the tree he sits towards Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh saw him coming laughed, "I see you are very stupid or very brave to face me like this. Gate of Babylon!"

More weapons pouring down towards Naruto. Naruto drops three kunai on each hand and held them between his fingers. There's a explosive tags on each kunai. Naruto throw them all on the weapons Gilgamesh throw. All of them exploded when they collide. But that's not all. A big smoke covered erupted from the collides weapons. The smoke is very thick that it covered Gilgamesh's view.

Gilgamesh quickly moved out from the smoke, but not fast enough. Out of nowhere, Naruto lunged at him with a big rasengan on his hand. A big smoke erupted from the attack. Naruto can feel that his attacks meet something solid. But his alarm sense make him jumped back avoiding a sword that hit the ground where he was before.

When the cloud dispatched, Naruto can see that his attack is pretty much useless. A large collection of shield of all variety blocking his attacks. There's some bent on the part where the attacks collided. But that's it. Nothing else.

When the shield gone, Naruto can see Gilgamesh holding a large, jagged sword, "That last attacks of yours is pretty dangerous. I have to use my Shield of God to block it, but that doesn't matter anymore. Sul-sagana!"

A large beam came out from the jagged sword. Naruto, instead running away, run straight to Gilgamesh with another bigger rasengan on both of his hand.

Gilgamesh jumped away from the attacks. Both rasengans hit the ground and make some dirt came out to the air. Naruto, not missing a beat jumped towards Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh quickly opens his Gate of Babylon and hurling some weapons to Naruto. Naruto, saw the weapons coming straight to him, quickly make a Kawarimi to substitute. The weapons exploded upon contacts.

Gilgamesh's eyes widened when he saw that instead a dead body, there's a log that has burned and crippled from the explosion. His eyes quickly scanning around and sure enough, jumping from above is Naruto with his fist ready to pummel him to the ground. Gilgamesh manages to evade it on the last second. The fist hit the ground and makes a huge crater.

'Damn, I never been good at controlling my chakra, unlike Sakura.' Naruto thought silently.

Using the momentum, Naruto jumped back towards Gilgamesh, this time he make eight clones more. Each clones charging a Rasenshuriken on each hand. Gilgamesh can sense the power behind those Rasenshuriken, he take out another weapons from his gate. It's a massive ballista-like weapon.

Gilgamesh gets behind the weapon and shouted, "True Nine Lives!"

Naruto quickly launched all the Rasenshurikens. In the other hand, nine beam shots launched from the weapon. The Rasenshurikens met the beams and exploded. The shockwave is big enough to dispel all the clones. Gilgamesh also thrown back from it. Many tresses are levitated and thrown into many places. Naruto need to stick his feet on the ground with chakra, or else he would also throw away.

A large smoke clouding the area. Naruto remained silent for a moment before jumped dodging a huge, A VERY HUGE SWORD coming straight to him.

"For me to use Ig-Alima, the Mountain Feeling Sword to you! You will pay for this! Mongrel!" Gilgamesh shouted from the other end of the sword.

More weapons come to Naruto from Gate of Babylon. The weapons exploded upon contacts, so Naruto can't use any close combat techniques unless he want to be exploded as well. That leaves him with a long ranged technique.

But before he can do anything, Gilgamesh run to him with a golden short dagger on his hand, "Vajra!"

A huge lightning erupted from the dagger and hit Naruto on his chest. The lightning is very big that it scorched the surrounding forest.

Gilgamesh frowned at this. This feels too easy. A loud shrieking sound comes from his behind. Gilgamesh look back and saw Naruto holding a massive Rasenshuriken on his hand. His iris has changed red with a black slit crossed with a rectangular shape.

Gilgamesh quickly draw another weapon from his collection, it's a sword which emitting a holy radiant. This is Durandal, The Peerlees Sword. Known as an indestructible sword. The sword met Naruto's Rasenshuriken. Much to both surprised, Naruto's Rasenshuriken didn't destroy the sword. It's just cracking the sword, but not destroys it.

Both of them jumped back and watch each other. Gilgamesh look furious looking at the cracking Durandal, "You dare to make a crack on my Durandal?! Know your place, plebeian! Merodach!"

Naruto watch as Gilgamesh ripped another sword from his treasure. For a moment, it looks like a normal sword. But a strange aura comes from the sword.

"This is Merodach, The Original Sins. It's the originating sword of Caliburn and Gram. Now! Let it taste your blood!"

Gilgamesh lunged at Naruto holding the sword. Naruto pulled another set of kunai and throw it all to Gilgamesh. Some of them are eradicated as soon as it meets the sword. But one kunai manage to slip past behind Gilgamesh's back.

'I'll borrow your technique, Dad!' Naruto thought.

In an orange flash, Naruto disappear and appeared behind Gilgamesh's back. This time, he held two Rasenshuriken. Naruto hit them both on Gilgamesh's back. He drills them both through Ig-Alima until the ground.

Naruto watched the unmoving figure of Gilgamesh. There's a large hole on both of his side, result of the Rasenshuriken.

When Naruto turn back to went back at Suikyou place. Two blades piercing from his back, one of it has a curved end which similar as a scythe. The other one has a red glowing demonic aura. Those two are Harpe, The Snake Hunter Scythe and Dainsleif, a demonic sword that can't be returned to its sheath before killing a man once it's drawn. "Guaghhh!" Blood gushed out from Naruto's mouth. Naruto look back and surprised as he watched Gilgamesh emerged from the ground. A black shadow covering his body and healing his wounds. His body became misty too.

"Yo-you're still alive?!" Naruto look at Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh laughed at him, "A mongrel can't kill a king! That's what you called fate!"

Gilgamesh held Naruto's head and throws him away. Naruto slammed at the ground and rolled before hitting a tree and stop. His injury is severe, blood leaking out rapidly. But his agony didn't stop just like that.

Gilgamesh opens the Gate of Babylon once again and pulls out a golden chain, "Enkidu, Chains of Heaven!"

Gilgamesh throws the chain towards Naruto. At the same time, multitude ripples emerged surrounding Naruto's body. The same chain came out from each ripple. All of them strangle Naruto and pull him up to the air. Naruto tried to use a Kawarimi and Hiraishin. But much to his surprised, both of his techniques are being forced cancelled. It seems that the chain is preventing him to use any jutsu.

"Vimana!"

Naruto look back at Gilgamesh and feel his jaw drop. A flying machine came out from the Gate of Babylon. Gilgamesh stands at its top and its floating high.

"Look and behold! Vimana! Throne of Heaven-soaring King! You should be pleased for sighting such majestic weapon! Now, you shall die while watching it!"

Thousand swords, axe, lance, and many other weapons come out from the Bate of Babylon. Then, with a swift gesture from Gilgamesh, all the weapons flying through Naruto and exploded.

The weapons come raining down like a rain for quite a long time. A huge cloud of smoke is resulted from it. Gilgamesh comes down to check on Naruto. What he saw makes him very pleased.

A bloodied form of Naruto hanged like a doll on the chain. He didn't move at all. Many swords embedded itself on his body. Some even pierces through.

Gilgamesh then draws back all the weapons excluding the Vimana. Even the Enkidu is drawn back to his treasury.

"Such a pity. You fight well for a mongrel, I give you that much. But no matter how you struggle, you are a mongrel and you will always be a mongrel. That's the fate you have and you will never be able to chance that." Gilgamesh said mockingly.

With those words, Gilgamesh turns around and brings the Vimana up, "It's too bad you're dead. Maybe, we can be a good partner. With you as my property."

Gilgamesh then commands the Vimana to go towards the bottom of the mountain. Behind him, the remains of the forest where he fight Naruto are still smoking. A little fire burning some weeds and trees. The explosions of the last one begin to burn the forest. While in the centre of all those catastrophic, laying still unmoving Naruto's body. But Gilgamesh didn't care. He has some pest to get rid of.

A.N: That's it. That's all I can manage to write.

I know this one is short. But so what? This is my Goddamn story! You got a problem with that?!

*ehem* Sorry, I still sore about my computer.

Anyway, that's it all. Don't forget to review this and don't bother flaming, because I'll ignore it.