(Chapter 5 – What Happened?)
A Few Minutes before the Fight
The warm wind blew and the hot sun shined down on the torturous desert, a non-effected body stood in the middle of all that searing weather without suffering the heat. The figure was clad in a tan colored cloak, a beautiful odachi was strapped on his back. Both weapon and owner were emitting power and elegance. The silver crack-like lines on the figure's black mask illuminated with the sun's light in a creepy way that gives other people shivers and chills down their spines. I mean, who wouldn't be scared? The mask and odachi is known to be possessed by the one and only Mirror Demon, who had been reported to be one of the most strongest mercenaries there is.
The powerful man was known to save and defend villages that were being ransacked or terrorized by unworthy scums. News were being reported about the said person clearing out many villainous criminals littering many villages that had no chance of fighting back against the cruel crooks. No one had ever seen the famous demon's face under that mask but many had already knew and loved his kindhearted nature. Even for a scary mercenary, he had a very pure soul; helping others who needed it and getting rid of bad people who deserved to be punished. Of course, we already who the mystery mercenary is, don't we?
'It seems their running a bit late on the specific calculated time. Oh, well! Their lack of punctuality won't effect any matter, anyway', the blonde chuckled at his own thought. It was satisfying to know that he had widened his vocabulary and intelligence since he had been banished, it was also strange that he would convert to a, in his own words, scary(a little bit sadistic)smartass every time he would wear his self-made mask and face off with some unknown villain. The only difference this time is that he recognize the shinobis he is going to face.
Speaking of shinobis, a group of them were slowly making their way on the masked demon in the middle of the hot desert. Some of them seemed to be traveling much slower than the others but all them looked equally as tired as other members in the party. When they were almost near Naruto, the one leading the group, who had familiar silver hair, stopped in his tracks; causing the others to do the same. The notorious band of characters were outright staring at him with neither awe or worry. One of them, who was obviously known as Sakura with her definitely remembered pink hair, broke the awkward silence and stepped forward.
"Naruto...? Is that you?", she dumbly asked while her eyes watered. Naruto only narrowed his eyes under his mask but kept silent. Sasuke noticed the silence of his ex-teammate and growled.
"We know it's you, dobe. So, speak up", the raven spoke.
"Well, then if you knew then why did Princess Cotton Candy need to ask something you already acknowledge", the blonde retaliated with his matured, smooth voice. The sound of his voice was almost unrecognizable to the team of leaf ninjas since they had never heard from Naruto for more than five years. The comment that he released slightly shocked them, they were expecting him to at least be a little more polite and the name he gave Sakura was unexpected, too.
"There is no need for insults, Naruto. Sakura was just trying to make sure it was you", Kakashi replied cheerfully, trying to ease the tension around them. It was very hard to joke around with your old student when you're fully aware that he was still upset with the whole banishment ordeal. The mask and cloak that the blonde was wearing wasn't helping, either, it made them nervous on how they can't figure out what he was feeling, right now. Currently, they didn't have anything to warn them if he ever snaps.
"I'm not here to joke around with you, Kakashi-san; I'm not even here to see any of you. I never planned to, if you must know", Naruto monotonously, emphasizing the 'never' part.
"Why are you here, then?", Shikamaru nervously asked. For the first time, the knowledgeable Nara was afraid of what the blonde was going to say. It was scary seeing the once friendly, cheerful, orange-loving idiot so...different from his old self. Under his mask, Naruto smirked in triumph, witnessing his old friends squirm in discomfort in his presence. Oh, this is going to be fun.
"I'm here to know why you request for my presence. Unless you give me a valid reason for me to even be in the same ground as you, then I will joyfully take my leave", the blonde demon replied with no hesitation; clearly showing that he was uninterested.
The group of leaf nins glanced at each other with determination, they nodded and Kakashi bravely took a step forward. Naruto just watched in boredom, the silver haired jounin straightened his form and confidently stated;
"Naruto, we're here to bring you back to Konoha"
There was another awkward silence that made the some chew on their lower lip in nervousness. Shikamaru, Neji, Kakashi and Sasuke remained unfazed by the unsettling silence. Suddenly, the air was filled with the sound of laughter; humorless laughter. The masked blonde laughed and snickered at the serious statement his old teacher spoke. Naruto slowly calmed down to sadistic chuckles.
"That's funny, Kakashi. But seriously, what do you need from me", he adjusted his cloak casually. Sakura took a deep breath and mustered as much courage as she can before she spoke.
"We are serious, Naruto. We're here to bring you home", the pink haired medic nin softly smiled, expecting the blonde to forget about his foul mood. How pathetic. Naruto predicted that she would do that; she would announce that it wasn't a joke and smile like she hadn't done anything wrong to him. He mentally scoffed at her foolishness, his blue orbs hardened underneath his mask.
"And why would you assume that I would want to return to that hellhole?", the blonde asked, his voice soaked with fake curiosity and innocence.
"Because you belong there", Sasuke answered for Sakura. The dark haired man's face showing seriousness, his eyes shining with determination.
" Really? Because the last time I checked, I was unwanted, despised and hated by almost everyone in that cesspool", Naruto monotonously retaliated.
The Konoha shinobis noticed the change of the the former jinchuuriki's voice. The once playful and mischievous(with a hint of sadism) voice quickly turned icy and cold. Pain and anger radiated from the blonde, which he freely unleashed. The odachi on his back glinting eerily under the hot sun, shaking for an unknown reason while it gently lifted itself from its sheath. Naruto only gazed up to the weapon and hushed in a low voice.
"It's okay, Noroi. Their useless blood is not even worth to be spilled. Let Shinigami-sama take care of their tainted souls". The odachi slowly ceased its movements and sheathed itself once more. The others gulped in fear of the blade that abnormally showed a sign of life. Sasuke only raised an elegant eyebrow in confusion and interest.
"Look, Uzumaki, we'll explain everything but right now, we need you to come back with us to the village", Neji spoke.
Naruto stopped gazing at his weapon and faced the male Hyuuga. "I'm not going anywhere, Neji. And I'm certain I'm not going anywhere with any of you as company, either".
"Don't make us resort to force, Naruto. We don't want to hurt you", Ino voiced her concern and worry. The blonde chuckled and fingered the kunai pouch under his cloak, hidden from the other people's view.
"Hurt me? Haven't you seen my profile in the bingo book?", he questioned.
"Yes, we have but we would still use any chance to get you back to Konoha; including force", Kakashi replied, he already had a kunai in hand. Just in case, his former student would make a move. Naruto smirked and swiftly took out a kunai, he flicked his wrist and the kunai immediately flew towards the silver haired jounin, who luckily dodged the speeding projectile.
Jigoku no Noroi was now unsheathed and was resting on the blonde demon's right hand. His left hand emerged from his cloak before it removed the cloth. The same hand reached for the black mask, carefully removed it from his face and softly dropped it on to the sizzling sand. The blond's handsome face was revealed, his narrow blue eyes were seen and the bloodthirsty grin on his lips were as visible as the sky.
"Well then, I guess force is the only option here. Because I'm not backing down without a fight"