Chapter 7
Beta: Old man of the mountain/Darklord331
Naruto and Beelzebub both settled into a calm walk to the nearest town. One that Naruto was somewhat familiar with given that he was here to find Tsunade a while back. Just being here dredged up bad memories and he wasn't too interested in revisiting them.
But they were in a bit of a spot; they had little to no money. They were both broke with Beelzebub never having any on him during his travels while Naruto had some given to him by the people of Wave. But they needed more and plus, they needed some new clothes for Naruto. While he appreciated the clothes that Tazuna's family gave him of their former family member he did want to change up his style a bit.
"Okay, so the best thing we can do in this town is gamble."
Beelzebub just raised an eyebrow,
"Naruto is there something your not telling me?"
"Come again?"
"Is there an addiction that we need to find a meeting for?"
"What? No! This is literally the gambling capital of the Elemental Nations suckers from all over come here to gamble their life savings away."
"Ah. But why are we gambling?"
"Because for some reason ever since I was a kid I have had insane luck when it comes to games like this. So if we test it a bit maybe things will go our way."
Beelzebub rolled his eyes,
"Naruto you know the games are rigged right?"
"Yeah but never hurts to try."
The man sighed and followed his friend into one of the casinos.
"This is going to end badly."
Three hours later
"I can't believe that worked."
"I know right the owner was downright pissed."
"Yeah, didn't know I would be good at it too once I understood the rules."
"Yep now we have cash to blow."
Within the first hour, Naruto and Beelzebub attracted a crowd due to the length of their game. On top of that, they dominated every game they took part in to the point that the owner finally asked them to leave while paying them extra not to come back.
They were fine with it as they had more than enough for travel expenses, change of clothes, and to find a room.
Which is their first stop; the clothing shops. Naruto had gone through half a dozen stores until finally finding one that he liked that was selling the type of clothes he was interested in. Before he was fine with the jumpsuit but he did have to admit it was like putting a target on his back. So, he traded away that old concept and now is wearing something more akin to a monk.
It was a elbow length monk robe that had light design allowing free flowing movement and ended with his ankles for the pants. He had on sleeveless gi top underneath the robes and had on the pants as mentioned along with wearing now slip on shoes rather than sandals.
"Got to say white and black are good color scheme."
Beelzebub nodded,
"It suits you little brother."
Naruto smirked,
"Then let me get at least three or four of these and then we can head to the hotel. Maybe there is a card table we can drop in on."
He shook his head,
"Careful luck might turn against you if you're not careful."
Naruto laughed,
"She already did remember the prison?"
"Yeah." He frowned, "By the way I had to ask do you ever want to see your old village? I mean most people in your position would seek revenge."
"I had thought about it." He fitted his robes and paid at the register. "But then I thought about it and realized why I should bother? I mean it warrants that they were worth the effort to get mad at and come after. For me, I don't know after spending time in Wave, training with Sukuna, and meeting you I guess I haven't really thought about it much. To me, I saw what revenge can make someone do and I just said, "No thanks I'll pass on that one."
"I see."
"Personally, I think I just want to travel, learn, evolve, and find my own place in the world you know?"
"Yeah that makes sense."
"Come on lets find a hotel and then later we can try and find someone that knows where this Land of Darkness is or at least what is called now."
Walking through town the brothers arrived at a nice hotel and book a room for the both of them for the night. They weren't sure they were going to stick around longer than that since they both sensed someone was following them through town.
Naruto had to guess it was probably people hired by the owner of the casino wanting to get his money back. Angry someone actually managed to pull one over him and get so much cash that it literally cut into their profit margin.
But he didn't care as the person he sensed wasn't any stronger than a normal person or a bandit at least. Meaning with no more than basic reserves, they probably aren't that great of a threat. But then again, one should never underestimate so they set up a seal on their door to prevent people from coming in without their permission.
They exited the room and walked down to the lobby where they saw several well-traveled individuals sitting around a table and playing cards. Another table had some women just drinking and laughing.
The guy that was following tried to sneak behind them and head up to their room without being noticed.
"Hey you want to deal with him or do you want me to do it?"
Beelzebub hummed,
"Why don't you? I don't think I can hold back and plus I think it be better I talk to the travelers. Given my dress sense they might think I'm a snot nose noble in over his head."
Naruto shrugged before handing him some cash out of his sleeve.
"Play carefully."
"Will do."
Naruto turned on his heels and walked back up the stairs and back to his room.
At the door he saw the man growling,
"Why isn't this stupid key working!?"
He was hissing, he couldn't get into the room. His boss had told him that these two kids managed to take a shit ton of money from the casino and he wanted it back. Telling him to follow them and rob them when they were out of the room and, if he can't find the money, to steal whatever he could from them so he can get reimbursed for his losses. While this is considered illegal his boss gave the order so he had to obey.
But for some reason the damn door wouldn't open.
"You know we knew you were following us since we left the casino."
The man's eyes widened and saw the blond hair kid leaning against a wall with his arms crossed.
"Personally this is just childish. I mean, we won that money fair and square and now he wants you to steal our money just so he can feel like a king?" Naruto shook his head, "How shameful but then again this is the town of vices so I shouldn't be too surprised."
Shit this kid knew who he was and who he was working for.
Acting on instinct he pulled out a knife and charged the kid.
Naruto sighed,
"Clueless."
Naruto uncrossed his arms, turned to the man, and within a flash the move was made.
He slapped the knife down and the weapon rattled on the ground, he hit him in the throat, and grabbed the back of his head and threw him into the floor. His knee was pressed into his neck and he was left barely breathing on the ground.
"Alright, I know your boss and I know why you're here but maybe if you answer a question for me, maybe just maybe, I won't snap your fucking neck."
The man was sweating. His boss got him into a world of trouble. Who would've guess these kids were some kind of trained warriors? In fact, he was quite sure they were just rich kids coming to live it up but that was not the case. Looking up he saw the look in the blond's eyes and they were cold.
He would really kill him if he doesn't answer.
"W-w-w-what do you want to know?"
Naruto smiled,
"Now see? We can all be civilized unlike that boss of yours right?"
He grunted but soon felt the pressure lessen on his neck.
"I'm looking for the Land of Darkness, or what it is called now. Tell me where I can find it and I will let you leave with your life and the chance to start over elsewhere." Naruto smiled, "I can see it in your eyes, you thought, 'what if I could get my knife back or I sweep this kid, or wait until he drops his guard because after all he is a stupid kid right?' Well if you try that," Naruto pushed his knee down on his neck making him gag. "Do you get the picture?"
He nodded.
"Good, now answer."
"The land of Darkness that you're looking for. I heard about it a while back but it is called the land of Hot Springs now."
Naruto's eyes widened and he felt Sukuna go stiff.
"I see. Well then thank you for the information." Naruto pulled his knee off and grabbed the back of his jacket.
Picking him up, he put him back on his feet and dusted him off. Grabbing the chin he brought his head next to his mouth, "Now leave and if I ever see you again I will make sure your death is a slow one."
No more motivation was needed. The man fled, faster than he ever seen and he was sure that he saw the man pee himself. Small streams on the ground were evident.
"My home; a land once herald for studies in the Dark Chakra and one of the havens for those that would become practitioners of the dark styles and even the legendary weapons of this world. It has been reduced to a public resort of hot springs?"
'Ironic no? But at least we have a destination in mind once we are done in this town.'
"Oh?"
'Yeah I mean I don't think that little boss man is going to let us leave. Not without a big fight or trumped up charges. So if that is the case I think it is best we deal with the situation before we leave.'
"Hm, it would be better safe than sorry. Who knows the man might send mercenaries or even rogues to kill the both of you after this little stunt. Plus if he were to give out your general description there is no telling how the other villages would react to this news."
'True and that is one more reason to end this mess before we leave.'
Walking down the stairs he entered the lobby and sweatdropped.
At the table Beelzebub was surrounded by the women from before all flirting with him. Each one asking him to buy drinks and have some 'special time' with them.
Probably due to the fact that everyone at the table was out of chips and cash and he was sitting there with all of it.
Naruto rolled his eyes,
"Hey bro."
Beelzebub turned,
"Yeah?"
"Let's go there is something we have to take care of before we leave."
"Right. Want to rest though?"
"Nah we can do that once we are done."
The man shrugged before sealing away all the money and trading his chips for cash. There he sealed them away, excused himself from the women, and they walked out the door.
"So where we heading?"
"Back to the casino."
"Oh?"
Naruto glared,
"I think we need to talk to this owner and remind him what happens when he tries to wrong the wrong people."
Beelzebub smiled,
"Yes I think we do."
Casino
"Where the hell is he!"
"Not sure boss." The woman looked at her clipboard, "From my understanding those two boys went into some nearby hotel from the last report we got. He followed in after them but he came back out after five minutes."
"Then he should have been back here now!"
"I don't know why he isn't sir."
"Then what good are you! Get out of my sight!"
The woman nodded before walking out of the office. Never letting him see her rolling eyes.
"Damn it those little shits are making a fool out of me! I'll show them no one does this to me and gets away from me!" He smirked, "Maybe it is time to call in that mercenary band and have them track down these two brats! I think one of them only works for money anyway so it should work." He started laughing to himself.
Taisho Megura. He was the owner of this casino. He was considered one of the most powerful people in town and someone you don't cross.
He had took the place after his previous boss had a bit of an 'accident' when falling off the roof of the building. No one question it as he was a bit of a drinker and tended to wonder around drunk all the time. But doing this wasn't good for the reputation for their business so he had to go.
Did Taisho want to do it? No, but he knew his old boss would never give up his position and the money.
Taisho knew that eventually someone is going to hit a lucky streak and just win big in an instant.
But most of those streaks only last from one lucky moment or one lucky placing of the chips, roll of the dice, etc.
This was different.
Those kids, he didn't know how they did it but both of them were raking up money everywhere. No matter what they played they seemed to win big and walk away from the table with a ton of cash.
Seeing this he tried to do damage control by paying them to leave the casino floor but offered them a room at the casino. Either to spend all their money after making sure to cheat more efficiently or to have them robbed while they were sleeping in their rooms.
But those damn brats took off and spent the money on clothes and a hotel room at a less ritzy place than his own!
That's why he sent that fucking collector! To follow and get his money back! But he was late, he didn't know why but he was going to string him up for this!
Soon a knock was heard and he sighed,
"What is it Ty, I'm busy."
There was silence.
"Ty if this is a joke, I'll have you know, I'll fire you for this!"
Nothing.
"God damn it come in and explain yourself!"
The door didn't budge, there was nothing on the other side of the door. No noise, no nothing.
"Okay that is it bitch! I'm going to give you to those men downstairs! You might be good as a secretary but you tested your luck one too many times!" He got out from behind his desk and walked to the door. There he grabbed onto the handle of the door and swung it open.
A foot met his chest sending him flying backwards into his desk.
He coughed up spit and blood and looked up.
"Who the fuck-"
"Well now isn't this a surprise."
His eyes widened, what the fuck were they doing here!
Naruto walked into the office, he looked around the room and noticed now ritzy the room was made.
"Damn and I thought the hotel was nice this place looks like a fancy ass penthouse."
"Yeah." His brother walked in with him and just sighed, "Kinda a waste."
"It sure is." Naruto turned to the man on the ground. "You know it is weird."
"What?"
"Every time I come across a money grubber; they all seem to be short. I wonder if that is supposed to be a pattern or say something about what is it? Short man complex?"
"Yeah I think that is right and you might be onto something he can't be more than 5 foot."
Yeah, he might only be slightly taller than Gato." Naruto shrugged, "But that isn't important."
Naruto walked over to the man, making him scramble to get behind his desk.
"Security!" He slammed his hand on the monitor on his table. "Get your lazy asses up here we have intruders!"
Naruto sighed.
"You shouldn't bother we already talked to them."
Beelzebub rolled his shoulder,
"Talk, right, that is all we did."
Naruto sighed,
"Details, details."
The man paled,
"There is no way. Most of them were war veterans from many of the nearby-,"
"Yeah but they didn't expect two punk kids to have chakra and know how to use it better than most adults and not hesitate on the kill strike." Naruto smiled, "It is common sense really."
The man paled,
"W-what did you do to my secretary!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow and turned to his brother.
"I think he meant that girl we saw on the way up."
"Right." Naruto smiled, "She actually was the one that showed us to your office. Real sweet of her, said something about not wanting to deal with your sweaty ass anymore and that we should do as we like?"
"T-t-that bitch after everything I have given her!"
Naruto shrugged again.
"Not my problem; personally can't blame her. You have all of this," He waved his hand around, "And your hoarding it for yourself. Well anyone would be jealous and want you out of the picture in the hopes of claiming it for themselves."
"You brats won't get away with this!" He pointed at them and smirked, ignoring the fact that Naruto's robe had a small bit of blood on the sleeves while Beezlebub had blood on his face. "Killing me will only lead to your own demise! I have friends everywhere that will hunt you both down and kill you on the spot! Maybe you heard of a man that rules Snow country?"
"Doto? Yeah he's dead killed him a while back."
"Huh?" His smirk returned, "Whatever there is also Gato my older-"
"Wait your family to him? Woah the irony of this world is surprising. Well he is dead too killed by a pissed off rogue shinobi he tried to double cross."
"N-no way your lying!"
"Yeah I mean I don't know why this is a surprise he has been dead for more than a year I think." Naruto rubbed the back of his head, "Plus what would I get for lying to someone that is about to die."
"You can't kill me!"
Naruto smiled,
"You see that is where you are wrong. I don't mind killing people now." He looked out the window to the side showing the village. "In fact I have come to respect the art of war and the means to kill to protect oneself. Will it always be seen as such? Probably not, but to me that doesn't matter. As long as I have a reason to keep moving forward and can justify to myself why I did it that is all that matters. But I'm no saint but I'm no sociopath. I'm just a kid that is tired of the world fucking with him and thinking they can walk all over him." He turned to the man, "Now then, shall we finish this mess?"
"No!" He reached for something under his desk.
Naruto swiped his hand upward creating a wind slash that cut the desk in half. Revealing him holding an explosive seal in his hand.
But it now laid on the ground with his severed arm.
"Fuck that hurt you little fuck! God I'm bleeding! He looked up and tears were coming out of his eyes. "Someone save me!"
Naruto rolled his eyes,
"Typical."
Naruto did two hand signs before breathing in and breathing out. There a large torrent of flames exploded from his mouth and soon the man was engulfed in the flames and so was most of the room.
"Well that was productive," Naruto turned from the burning room and the screaming man, "Shall we go?"
"Yeah off to the land of Hot Springs."
Naruto smiled, 'That's still funny.'
Reports would go out about the large fire that broke out at the casino that night. The fire was seen from all across the village. No one knew who did it or why, as no one saw anyone going in there or walking out of that floor that was suspicious. But the guards were found dead and the owner was found burnt alive to the point that he wouldn't be identifiable if not for his short stature and the room.
Ty quickly became the new owner after the murder of her boss and ordered reconstruction to happen in the office and to salvage their losses from the room. From there, she quickly ordered all investigations into the fire to stop as there was no point. There was no evidence and she didn't want to focus on that matter more than she had to.
Plus she didn't want those two boys coming back. She owed them so might as well play nice.
She would never see them again but she knew; where they walked, blood and fire would rain from the heavens.
Word would spread through the nations of the murder and some people even wondered who did it and had the capacity to do something so cold and cruel.
It would be a question that would go unanswered for a long time.
Chapter End