Kannabi Bridge

Naruto looked at the bridge he was standing on taking in every detail of it. He knelt down and felt the material beneath remembering the events that yet to occur. Pink hair, black cloak with red clouds, snake-like man, red chakra… possession. The blonde immediately stood up looking away from the bridge to the sky to see what time of day it was.

A voice behind him spoke, "It's like this is your first time seeing the bridge".

In reflex, Naruto drew out his short sword and pointed it at none other than Minato Namikaze.

"Not even 5 seconds and your already pointing weapons at my face," said Minato with a grin raising up his hands.

"Well… you usually say hello and not just sneaking up on people you know" scoffed the Uzumaki putting his short sword away. They both then began sizing each other up seeing if anything has changed since their previous battle.

Minato stared at the dragon mask that seemed fully repaired slightly disappointed that he couldn't see his face again. Immediately he blushed lightly. What was he thinking?

"Er… is there something on my mask?" asked Naruto removing it to inspect the outside.

"No! Not at all." He said laughing awkwardly.

"Let me introduce myself, my name is Minato Namikaze, I look forward to participating in this mission with you," he said as he stuck out his hand smiling.

Naruto was hesitant as he looked at the hand and back at Minato quizzically. After placing his mask back on, much to Minato's disappointment, he finally decided to grab his hand and shake it "Uzumaki, Naruto Uzumaki" he stated.

"So, let's get going then," said Minato quickly pulling his hand away as he started to move towards the east end of the bridge towards the Stone.

"Where are you going?" Naruto said tilting his head.

"Well I heard from a reliable source that Gari was last seen near the Hidden Stone Village"

"Why would Gari be near his home village? He would be found easily in a matter of time"

"It's actually very smart, it's like hiding in plain sight," said Minato frowning folding his arms.

"We're going to Land of Lightning," Naruto said walking towards the east.

"The Land of Lightning is the least of our worries, and there has been no sight of him from our spies"

Naruto spun around and narrowed his eyes at the other blonde and said "Well maybe your intel is off" he then folded his own arms daring the Namikaze to retort.

"Naruto, we need to work as a team," he said slightly annoyed as he gave Naruto a serious look.

The Uzumaki stared at Minato for a couple of seconds before sighing, "Look we received information from our own intel that he was last spotted ravaging a town in the Land of Lightning two days ago, and it's not a hundred percent accurate but it's the closest thing we have" he explained "I thought that we could give it a look and see if there are any witness available to talk to."

"My intel is a week old…" Minato muttered as he put his hand to his chin "How about we look around in the Land of Lightning and if we don't see any sign of him or leads then we'll come back near the Hidden Stone Village?"

Naruto's eyes glazed over for a second staring at Minato before he quickly blinked and nodded as Minato then started walking to the east alongside Naruto.

"Do think we should get to know each other?" asked Minato before they officially set off.

"Why would you want to do that?"

"It's been proven that teams who know their teammates work together in such a different dynamic than those who don't."

Naruto didn't respond as he looked forward as he then ran off jumping into the trees leaving Minato alone on the ground who silently joined him a moment later.

Few Hours Later

Minato stopped on a tree branch abruptly and Naruto followed suit a few feet in front of the Namikaze. The latter looked at him with concern as Minato was staring out into the forest.

"What's wrong?" asked Naruto leaning against the tree.

"I thought I heard something," said Minato looking around a little bit more. He then jumped to Naruto's branch and the two left once again doubling their speed.

A figure then looked out from behind a tree, in the exact direction that Minato was looking in, before melting back into the ground.

Small Village in the Land of Fire (Below Land of Waterfalls)

"Alright, it's time to call it for a night" Yawned Naruto as the sun was just setting over the horizon.

"Don't you think it's important that we move through the night?" asked Minato.

Naruto gave him a 'are you crazy' look "I understand your "Will of Fire" from the Leaf but let's face it I traveled from the Hidden Stone Village as you did from the Hidden Leaf Village. That's a lot of distance, plus the amount of traveling we just did. We deserve some rest." He then put his hands behind his head and walked off to look for a place to stay.

Minato then followed as he walked beside Naruto noticing the difference in height.

Naruto looked over to see Minato staring at him intensely "Okay, what is it?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" asked the Namikaze looking everywhere but at the now obviously shorter blonde.

"You keep staring at me for long periods of time… are you sure there's nothing on my mask?" he said slightly annoyed.

"No, it's just-"

"Just what?"

"I was just noticing your height for once," said an awkward Minato.

"Oh… why didn't you just say that?" said Naruto grumbling about Minato being 'weird' as he put his hands behind his head walking into the town.

They followed the dirt road towards the center of town but as they continued they noticed only a couple of people about but even they scurried inside their homes quickly at the sight of Minato and Naruto.

"What's going on…" Minato said as he looked around.

"You! How dare you, ninja, come back into our town!" shouted an old man as he quickly came up to the pair of blondes pointing a pitchfork at them.

Minato looked towards the old man with concern "What do you mean?"

Naruto whispered to the Namikaze "I say we leave… it's clear we're not wanted"

The former then looked at the Uzumaki in shock "We're ninja. It's our job to help them"

Naruto looked away from the blonde; obviously irritated.

The Namikaze gave his partner a look then walked forward to the old man frustrated in Narutos willingness to just abandon these people that looked worse for wear.

"Please, understand we only want to help you" pleaded Minato as he stopped in front of the man and calmly putting his hands up indicating he meant no harm.

The old man began to shake in fright "Ninja have been plaguing this town for a very long time… how can we trust you?"

"I am Minato Namikaze and this is Naruto Uzumaki," Minato said pointing at the blonde had crossed his arms "We… well, I want to help you, what ninja have been attacking you?"

"Wait you're thee Minato Namikaze?! Please come inside it's the least I can do for threatening you"

Minato nodded and followed the old man into his house that was nearby with Naruto who begrudgingly followed the other two.

They all sat at a shabby looking wooden table that had looked like it's been used far too much and that the structural integrity wouldn't last much longer either. It was uncomfortable and obviously tense for all three of them before the man went to the kitchen saying something about making tea for them.

As soon as he was out of hearing range Minato looked at his partner with irritation. "What's your problem Naruto?"

Naruto's eyes focused on Minato through his mask with aggravation "My problem? My problem is that we already have a mission to defeat and kill a very powerful missing ninja. I- We don't need to get caught up in these ridiculous miscellaneous adventures"

Minato just scoffed "How can you take pride in being a ninja if you won't even listen to a cry for help?"

"Who said I had any pride in being a ninja," Naruto said grumbling.

"Obviously, if you're here on this mission with me trying to bring peace between two villages then you have some pride" Minato whispering angrily making sure the old man didn't hear.

"I'm sorry that we all can't be as compassionate as the great Minato Namikaze can," said the Uzumaki with even heavier sarcasm getting irritated as the conversation continued.

"You're so infuriating," said Minato rubbing his temple in irritation.

Naruto scoffed and folded his arms looking straight ahead ignoring his partner as the two of them sat in uncomfortable silence until the old man returned with drinks.

Minato grabbed one but Naruto shook his head when offered a drink as the former spoiled his appetite.

"So what's been going on?" asked the Namikaze after taking a sip of tea.

"Well… how to start… a group of ninja wandered into our village informing us they would provide protection from the outside world" Minato nodded but Naruto stared blankly as the man then continued, "We first reacted with great joy and happiness of having protection, and not worry of threats against our lives. But as time progressed the ninja's intentions then appeared to alter."

The old man coughed into his arm and started talking once more, "They started taking our food rations, making us give them money for "tax" reasons, and they even recently started taking our people away if we give them resistance" he said with sheer sadness as he bowed his head shaking slightly.

"Have they… have they taken someone close to you?" Minato asked giving the man an empathetic look.

"Yes, my son was taken from me," said the old man clenching his hands tightly. "I couldn't save him. He was trying to stand up for the other people in this village when the ninja began asking for more money. But that was when they instead took him for compensation and said if anyone wishes to disrespect them they end up like my son."

"We will help," Minato said with a serious tone as he looked at Naruto who in turn was looking out the window. Even if the old man and Minato couldn't see it his eyes glazed over. 'That's been a very common trait with him so far' thought Minato as he then readjusted his focus on the old man.

"But we have no money… barely any food… are you-" the old man started saying but was interrupted by Naruto as he stood up and began walking for the door.

"Where are you going?" asked Minato.

"Need some air," said Naruto looking very uncomfortable. Minato gave his partner a quizzical look as did the old man.

Minato then looked at the old man and continued to discuss what had happened but that strange outburst from Naruto left him wondering if he truly just needed air.

Outside the House

Naruto put his hand on the tree while he clutched his stomach as he felt a major pain. It was like a metal spike lit on fire had been shoved into his gut.

Naruto then bit his bottom lip as to not yell in pain as he then fell onto the ground with both arms around his stomach trying to somehow figure out a way to make this pain stop.

'Let me go' whispered a deep demonic voice inside Naruto's head. Darkness started to pull at Naruto's eyes.

'Shut up' thought Naruto closing his eyes trying to force the voice to go away with sheer willpower. The Uzumaki took a sharp intake of breath as the pain began hitch but then to ebbed away.

'I thought you were under control' thought Naruto as he picked himself off the wet earth and stood up straight breathing deeply. Just in time as Minato then exited the house not a moment later analyzing Naruto.

Minato just stared looking up and down at Naruto.

"What are you doing, checking me out?" asked the Uzumaki teasingly.

"N-no –Minato turned a bright shade of pink- I was just wondering why you have mud all of you and blood dripping from your mask," said Minato looking at the ground scratching the back of his head.

Naruto then touched his mask noticing blood and looked down at his muddy knees and arms.

"Oh…" he said as he crossed his arms thanking himself for wearing the mask that was hiding his slightly blushing cheeks.

Awkwardness filled the air until Minato coughed into his hand and explained where the ninja were and what plan of action they were going to take.

It was then that they began running two miles north of the village.

Outside of a Wooden House

Two waterfall ninja laughed while drinking the sake from the village outside their house.

"They're so pitiful – causing the other ninja to laugh- I mean we've been taking supplies from them for so long, it's crazy how we've gotten such minimal resistance"

"Except from that one guy we had to kill' giggled the other waterfall ninja.

Snap

One of the ninja turned around quickly and squinted her eyes looking out into the dark woods "Hey, did you hear that?" she asked in the open air as she then turned around to find the other ninja vanished.

Looking down the Waterfall ninja saw mud and a sake bottled stuck halfway into the ground.

"What the…" she began but then a hand came up from behind clasping her mouth shut and a cold piece of sharp metal was against her throat.

"I want you to listen carefully" Minato whispered into the Waterfall ninjas ear "I want you to tell me how many of you are here, if any of you have any special abilities, and where you keep your supplies… I'm going to remove my hand and if you dare say anything other than I requested your life will be over"

The Waterfall ninja, wide-eyed, nodded with a shudder and began to say where everything is and that no ninja inside had any special abilities but there was a total of six other ninja inside.

Minato then knocked the ninja out as Naruto rose from the mud next to him. "Are you serious? Knocking her out?" he whispered.

The Namikaze shrugged and then his whole body seemed to disappear as it sneaked inside the building.

Naruto rolled his eyes 'Not all of us can be that fancy' he thought as he removed his mask and changed his appearance to match the knocked out ninja and walked towards the house.

Naruto then walked through the door casually and was welcomed by the other ninja who were pigging out on the food from the village below.

The Uzumaki waved and laughed as he then sat down with four other ninja.

"So, what should we do tomorrow? Burn a house?" asked one of them causing the others to laugh as well with Naruto trying his best to act like them.

"No, you know what we should do is kill that old man like we did his son! Make another example if they try to rebel. They're all just peasants anyways" he said chugging down more sake.

"But I at least want a girl to have fun with," said another giggling.

"Make that two!" added another.

"We've been sent to "guard" these people but really they're just like slaves in all reality. Here to do our bidding" said one and the rest cheered.

"Hey… you okay Kiro?" asked one to Naruto's direction who didn't cheer with the rest of them.

"You people. Thinking you're gods, that you're better than an average person" whispered Naruto as he then slipped a kunai from his sleeve as his appearance immediately changed to his real one.

Some looked in shock as he quickly stabbed the ninja to his left in the throat.

The others, some drunk others not, quickly stood in an awkward fighting stance. "You people aren't even scum. You're worse than that" Naruto added as his anger seemed almost visible.

He took the table they were sitting at and threw it against the wall ultimately making the table fall apart. The blonde grabbed his short sword and pointed it at the ninja that began to encircle him.

Dropping to the floor Naruto then slashed at two of the ninjas' feet in front of him causing them to fall as they shouted in pain as the others stabbed downward at Naruto with kunai.

Naruto, without even flinching, sunk into the ground and reappeared behind the group.

'One dead, two incapacitated, four remaining' he thought quickly as he dodged a kick the face, punch to the abdomen, and kunai to the spine.

"They're pigs for slaughter! Why do you want to help them by killing us?" asked one woman as she stumbled to the left a little from drinking too much.

As quick as possible Naruto shoved the short sword into her chest with a sickening sound as his eyes they were no longer blue but blood red with his pupils turning into slits.

"You people are sickening" he hissed into the woman's ear tearing out his sword through the side of her chest. The other five were silent as they saw the blood red eyes that were calling, no demanding, for their own blood.

Flicking off the woman's blood Naruto then bent his legs and jumped slicing at another's throat as the others then backed up falling over the men who couldn't walk anymore and those were already dead.

There screams echoed through the forest audible to only Minato.

Outside the Wooden House

Minato leaned against a tree as he saw Naruto walked out with his eyes closed but blood covering Naruto's clothing.

"What happened to stealthily dragging them into the earth?" Minato asked in curiosity as Naruto opened his blue eyes but they were filled with sadness.

"Did you fulfill your part of the mission?" asked Naruto ignoring Minato's question who in return nodded as they both walked off into the distance back towards the village.

"Listen Naruto, they were awful people and your actions were just," said the Namikaze supporting his partner who in return looked at him.

Naruto then looked forward as Minato then kept commending his choices and that he did nothing wrong. He then felt a strange feeling of support which he'd only received from some of his fellow stone ninja and the Tsuchikage.

"Minato," said Naruto interrupted the other blonde "Thank you." He then walked forward towards the village leaving Minato behind with a large smile on his face.

The Next Day

The two walked silently out of the village after a good rest and food being given to them for their heroism for returning their money, food, and freedom.

Naruto then took of his mask randomly and looked at Minato "I'm nineteen years old, five feet and eight inches, heritage is unknown, and home village… unknown" said Naruto looking at Minato who looked back in confusion "You wanted to know something about me right?"

Minato then smiled widely at the other blonde who in returned was flushed with embarrassment.

"I'm twenty years old, five feet and ten inches, heritage unknown as well, and home village is the Leaf," he said happily putting both hands behind his head as Naruto smiled as well.

'That's a smile to remember' thought Minato as the both of them haven't gotten along until now, and then they walked together into the distance.

"How did you get to the Stone then?" asked Minato.

"Don't push it" said Naruto slightly teasing the other blonde.

Well what do you think of this chapter? I tried to put some fluff in there for you guys. If you guys enjoy this please favorite, follow, or even better post a review!