Hey there! Coming in with an update for this story! It's a bit longer than the other chapters, but I hope you enjoy it! Not much to say right now in this AN, but just know that the pairing is Naruto x C.C. Just keep in mind again that this Naruto is a version in which he was inducted into the Root and the Leaf Village overall was much crueler to him. With that, enjoy.
Geass, that is the power that C.C. had called it. Naruto didn't know much about it, however, what he could observe from Lelouch's usage of it was an ability that required visual contact with the foe, and it allowed Lelouch to command the said foe. Naruto reasoned that the commands could be basic questions to complicated orders. In a way, it was like creating sleeper agents.
"It reminds me of the Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai." He thought to himself as he glanced at all a few people that were sitting quietly in the…what did Lelouch call it? Train. Yes, a train. All the passengers were caught in a daze, completely unaware of him or Lelouch, who stood next to him in a black suit.
"You know, I can save your friend on my own." Naruto offered. A simple rescue mission. He had been trained for this; he was trained for everything. And against people who didn't know Chakra? Slipping in and out would be easy. However, Lelouch shook his head.
"I appreciate the offer, but I have a greater plan." Lelouch left it at that. True he wanted to save Suzaku, but he also wanted to throw the Britannian leadership into chaos. Naruto didn't say anything. He would help Lelouch for now. The fact that Lelouch was trying to hide his identity, with only him and C.C. knowing who he truly was, showed that Lelouch trusted him to some extent.
"No, he doesn't trust me. I hold his life in the palm of my hand." Naruto thought with a stoic face, not that his mask could show it. Lelouch had no choice but to trust him.
"Kekkei Genkai or not, I was trained to dispel Genjutsu." Naruto thought as a low rumbling echoed in his head, it was the Kyūbi.
"Kid, even if you weren't trained to dispel Genjutsu, you got way too much Chakra to be caught in a Genjutsu, not to mention that you have me in your gut. Dispelling a Genjutsu is easy work for me." The Kyūbi chuckled within the seal as Naruto remained impassive. Yes, that much was true.
"They are here," Lelouch muttered to himself as Naruto looked on ahead as a group of four entered the carriage. Naruto slightly frowned to himself. This world was full of technology that he knew nothing of. He needed to adapt.
"That girl. Her name is Kallen. Although I don't know her compatriots." Naruto thought to himself as Lelouch threw out his arms.
"So, what did you think about my tour of the settlement?" Lelouch questioned them, his voice muffled, slightly altered by his mask. This caused the group to frown at him.
"You're tour?" One of them questioned while another scoffed.
"Come on, no way it was this joker at Shinjuku." His compatriot stated, not believing that the voice that led them to a somewhat victory against Britannia was this fool. The group of four saw the masked figure as a joke, however, the one next to him to his right standing a few feet away from him…
"I've got a bad feeling about that one." The self-appointed leader of the group, a man, thought to himself. They had already been expecting a trap, but this was not what he was expecting.
"I wanted you to fully grasp the difference between the two," Lelouch stated as the said leader frowned and stepped forward.
"Yh, we know. There is a difference between us and them, and it's a harsh one." The man stated while Lelouch shook his head.
"It is not the people that are your enemy, it is Britannia itself." Lelouch countered while the four were taken back by that statement.
"What?" The girl, no, Kallen as Naruto and Lelouch recognized, questioned. Lelouch slightly nodded to himself, now he had their attention.
"Britannia won't fall to petty terrorism. Your fight is with Britannia, not the people. Take up your sword and fight for justice." Lelouch argued while they looked at him like he was crazy.
"What was that? You calling us a bunch of kids?!" One of them shouted at him. They had all lost something to Britannia, they had all devoted their lives to fighting Britannia. And now this masked fool was telling them that their actions meant nothing?
"Terrorism is nothing but a mild inconvenience for Britannia. It is but child's play. If you want to fight, if you want to wage war, wage it on Britannia." Lelouch shot back. He needed people, he needed an army of pawns, to save his friend, protect his sister, and obliterate Britannia.
"Easy for you to say behind that mask!" Kallen shouted as her fellow Japanese agreed. Words like that meant nothing coming from someone who hid behind a mask. They stepped forward but stopped as the other masked figure stepped forward armed with a…
"A Tantō?" Kallen muttered to herself. Swords in general were banned weapons, confiscated by Britannia after their occupation of Japan. But a Tantō? Those were rare. Taking a closer look at the figure holding the Tantō, they realized that his clothing was more…tattered. His mask was white, with no eyeholes and it looked worn.
"Apologies for my associate here," Lelouch spoke up as Naruto eyed the group before he stepped back, his Tantō retreating back to his trench coat.
"We don't need their help," Naruto spoke up finally. He was starting to get annoyed. If Lelouch wanted to save his friend so badly, then why not let him infiltrate the location where they were holding him, and allow him to retrieve him? It was a simple mission.
"What was that?" The leader of the group spoke up again. Did this…kid…really think he and this jokester could take on Britannia alone? Naruto said nothing while Lelouch frowned. He needed to get the conversation back on track.
"I will not show you my face, but I will show you a miracle, achieve the impossible! If I can do that, will I have gained your trust?" Lelouch offered them as the group looked at each other while Naruto was in his own thought process.
"He doesn't want to totally rely on me. He wants a force of his own." Naruto reasoned to himself. He could reason what this impossible task was; saving Lelouch's friend. That way, Lelouch could knock out two birds with one stone.
"He'll save his friend while gaining their trust. That boy is smart." The Kyūbi grunted while Naruto nodded to himself.
"He wants to wage war; you cannot wage war without an army. He wants to do just that." Naruto thought. Lelouch was an asset, but his asset wanted to wage war. He could cut his losses here and just be done with Lelouch and hide in the shadows but…
"I…I don't want to live in the shadows…" He thought absent-mindedly. Memories of his past, before being indoctrinated into the Root, were starting to clash against all he was taught.
"Nature vs. Nurture." The fox stated. He knew the boy's nature, and it was not to be a cold-blooded killer. He was but a child who knew nothing of this world, let alone his own. Naruto mauled over that. What was his nature? Was it to be the boy he was before the Root took him? Was it to be what Hinata was like? No. She was a kind and gentle soul. The world didn't deserve her.
"You need to stop sulking. What is dead, is dead. You can't change the past. Instead of sulking over her loss, you should celebrate the fact that in the end, she chose to die to protect you." The Kyūbi spoke up as Naruto paid attention to his words. She had indeed chosen to die by not fighting him.
"I was weak…" Naruto spoke mentally. If he was stronger, if he didn't break…she would be alive.
"Is it good to be strong?" The fox questioned him as Naruto zoned everything out by this point.
"Yes…" He muttered lowly, not loud enough for even Lelouch to hear.
"So, is it bad to be weak?" The fox questioned again as the blond opened his mouth but found no words. What did it mean to be strong? What did it mean to be weak? She was the strong one, he was the weak one, and yet…
"In the end, it doesn't matter. You and she were but mere children. The Foundation was NOT going to let one of you live that day. Weak, strong, it doesn't matter. You lived and are here now. You can only learn from your past experiences and push forward. Be strong, if not for yourself, then for her." The Kyūbi offered his advice. He wasn't the most talkative of his siblings, but seeing what his current host has gone through…
"Human depravity knows no bounds. Father, I wonder if your decision to allow them to use Chakra was the wrong call." The Kyūbi thought to himself. Humans were fickle creatures, but even the Kyūbi understood that just as there was good, there was bad. His father saw the good in humanity and imparted Chakra to them in the hopes they would use it to understand each other. Instead, they used it to wage wars.
"I…I want to become strong." Naruto's voice broke the fox out of his thoughts as the Kyūbi looked down within his cage, seeing Naruto standing on the other side of the gate.
"Why?" The Kyūbi questioned him. People wanted to be strong for many reasons. Most of them were selfish ones. In a way, this was a test for the boy, but he suspected his reasoning. Naruto looked up at the fearsome beast before he slowly brought his hand up to his mask and gently removed it. His lavender eyes were framed by his blond hair graced the world for a second time, albeit within the seal. The Kyūbi could see the scaring around the eyes.
"So that I never lose anyone again…" Naruto muttered. Was he being selfish? Yes, he reasoned.
"Lose who? You have no one." The Kyūbi spoke causing Naruto to look down. It was true, he had no one. No one other than Hinata cared about him in his world. He had no one, he was truly alone…
"I…I can make…friends…" He let out, the word friend sounding so foreign to him. Did he even deserve such companionship? The Kyūbi looked down at him, his eyes judging his very character.
"And how will you do that? Your first impulse when meeting someone unknown is to plunge a kunai in their head." The Kyūbi questioned him further. He wasn't wrong. That was the truth.
"I'll change," Naruto responded curtly causing Kyūbi to raise an eyebrow before he began to chuckle.
"You're an interesting one, kid." The Kyūbi stated as Naruto looked up at him and for the first time, in a very long time, the Kyūbi saw the same fire in his host's eyes he saw years ago. That determination, that will in his eyes. The Kyūbi began to laugh harder. Those eyes might not be his, but the Kyūbi could say for sure that Naruto was truly like his parents.
"Kurama." The Kyūbi spoke as his laughter died down, much to Naruto's confusion.
"What?" Naruto questioned while the Kyūbi sat up on his hind legs and pointed to himself.
"My name, it's Kurama." The Kyūbi spoke, introducing himself for the first time to one of his hosts. Naruto looked at the Kyūbi in what could only be described as shock. He had never known that the mighty Kyūbi had a name.
"Thank you…Kurama. For trusting me." Naruto thanked him. If the Kyūbi had a name and no one knew, it only meant that he didn't want people to know. The fact that he was telling him his name meant that the Kyūbi trusted him.
"Don't get used to it, kid. The road ahead is long and hard." Kurama stated as Naruto nodded in understanding as he looked at the fox.
"One day, Kurama, one day I will set you free. I promise." Naruto promised, causing Kurama's eyes to widen. He was not expecting that.
"But you will die," Kurama stated that fact. Releasing him meant certain death, surly his host knew that?
"You are not a bad person, Kurama. I can tell. You do not deserve to be locked up. Just…allow me to live before I grant you your freedom." Naruto asked of him before his body slowly vanished from his mindscape, leaving Kurama to ponder on the blond's words.
Naruto focused his attention back on Lelouch. While he was conversing with Kurama, he was also paying attention to his surroundings.
"Then I will see you all later today at the junkyard." Lelouch finished as the train came to a stop before he turned right and began to march out. Naruto threw him a glance before he turned his attention to the four before him.
"Hey, he called himself Zero, but who are you?" Kallen questioned him. He had remained silent for most of the discussion aside from his earlier outburst. Zero hadn't told them anything about him. He looked at them stoically, which creeped them out. He said nothing as he turned and left. While he did want to change, it wouldn't come overnight. He still was hesitant to trust unknown people. He knew nothing of these people.
"You could have at least told them your name," Lelouch spoke as he walked through the empty station. Geass is a powerful tool at his command.
"It was not necessary," Naruto responded. Lelouch sighed as he took off his mask.
"I need to know some of your abilities so I can better utilize you on the field. Would you be willing to divulge that information?" Lelouch questioned him as Naruto thought over that. Out of the question. He would not be showing his abilities unless needed.
"No, but I will assist in the rescue of your friend as I promised," Naruto responded much to Lelouch's disappointment. He reasoned that if a power like Geass existed, then there are possibilities of other powers. And surely Sunflower would have some sort of abilities.
"Fine, keep your secrets. I'll let you know your role in the rescue." Lelouch left it at that. For now, he had to focus on saving Suzaku, earning the terrorist's trust, and finally sowing the seeds of doubt within the Pure Bloods.
Later that day:
Naruto stood in Lelouch's room as the sun began to set. Like before, Lelouch had instructed him to remain in the room until better arrangements could be made. That also meant that he was stuck with C.C. as well.
"You sure you don't want Geass?" C.C. questioned for the tenth time as Naruto remained impassive, standing guard like a statue.
"No." He answered once more. He didn't want the power she was offering. C.C. pouted. He was the first candidate that held so much promise in her opinion. Yet every time she questioned him, he would deny it. He did not want the power she was offering, making him even more interesting.
"Is it because…of her eyes?" She questioned him and smirked slightly as she saw him stiffen a bit. She didn't know what he meant by that or whose eyes he was referring to.
"…" He said nothing as he debated if he should tell her. C.C. was a mystery. She was apparently immortal. Although he did wonder to what extent she was immortal. She could grant people the power of Geass, a power he had seen Lelouch utilize.
"Just tell her. You said you wanted to change, right? Make friends? Then why not start with her?" Kurama encouraged him as Naruto's hand twitched, should he…
"You know you can trust me, right?" C.C. spoke up as she approached him. He didn't say anything to her words. Maybe he should put some trust in her. Before he could speak, the door to the room opened as Lelouch walked in, his face showing utter confidence.
"Sunflower, let's go," Lelouch stated as Naruto said nothing but followed the older teen. C.C. pouted at having her chance to learn more about Sunflower slip through her fingers, but she was immortal. She had all the time in the world to do that, for now.
Later that night:
Preached up high on one of the towers of the massive bridge, Naruto blankly looked at the proceedings below. Lelouch's plan was bold, and he knew that without the power of Geass, it would not be possible. To just march up to a fully armed military convoy and demand the release of a prisoner? Fat chance of them actually accepting such a demand.
"Leloush wanted to paint the leader of the Purebloods as an enemy, but…" He thought, recalling the last-minute conversation they had about the plan.
"I want the Purist Faction to splinter and turn on itself by sowing seeds of doubts. They consider themselves comrades of like-minded individuals. But after I'm through with them, their suspicions of each other will only grow." Lelouch explained as Naruto listened while the said teenager put on his suit.
"You aim to discredit their leadership in some way?" Naruto theorized as Lelouch nodded.
"Their leadership is centralized under Jeremiah Gottwald. If I discredit his character in a manner that might make him look like a traitor, then they will turn on him." Lelouch stated while Naruto listened. The Root was known to carry out missions like such where central leadership or factions within villages were pitted against each other.
"Instead of discrediting him, why don't you discredit one of his prominent followers?" Naruto advised causing Lelouch to raise an eyebrow. This might prove interesting.
"Explain." He spoke as Naruto simply stood there.
"While it will no doubt have the effect that you seek, all the Purists will have to do is remove Jeremiah and install someone else. Your plan hinges on Jeremiah alone being a supposed traitor. Instead of going after him, go after his followers. Make Jeremiah think that his own faction is comprised, and he'd have no idea at what levels the conspiracy goes." Naruto began explaining. He remembered how the Uchiha were conspiring against the Leaf.
Rather than decapitate the leadership of the Uchiha, the Hokage in league with Danzo, had two Uchiha loyalists work against the Uchiha Clan, with the question of loyalty being ambiguous. Ultimately, the Uchiha were wiped out save for Sasuke, by the hands of the loyalists no less.
"And he'll go on a wild goose chase trying to find all the conspirators, tearing his own organization apart. That'll create more resentment between him and his own comrades. He'll do a purge, and they'll resent him for that." Lelouch finished before he started to chuckle. That was far more effective than what he wanted. If he had gone with his plan, then as Sunflower had stated all they had to do was replace Jeremiah, and knowing Britannian politics they would have done it without missing a beat.
"You still haven't told me of your abilities. How will I know how to utilize you?" Lelouch questioned him as Naruto remained quiet for a bit before he sighed slightly.
"Shadow Clone." He thought, not needing hand signs to perform such a vital ability in his arsenal. Lelouch's eyes almost popped out of his eye socket as he saw two more Sunflowers manifest out of nowhere!
"W-What?" Lelouch let out. Was this Geass? No. He knew for a fact that Sunflower had denied the power of Geass when offered. So, what was this?
"I can form solid copies of myself," Naruto stated simply as if he hadn't just performed the impossible, well, the word impossible was losing its meaning to Lelouch now. Recomposing himself, Lelouch studied the copies. They were perfect in the sense that they looked exactly like the original.
"How many?" Lelouch questioned as Naruto thought about that. He didn't know. Shadow Clone was a highly forbidden Jutsu as it required a lot of Chakra. Most Shinobi weren't able to do more than two or three. He could do far more than that and depleted of Chakra.
"Doesn't matter. How many do you require?" Naruto answered. Lelouch didn't need to know the exact limit of his power. Yes, he was sharing a bit about his abilities, but keeping the functions behind it was something Lelouch didn't need to know.
"Depending on how many soldiers they have in the convoy. I want you to put a blade on their neck. I'll approach one of them and use my Geass to have them 'turn' to our side." Lelouch stated as Naruto nodded. That was simple enough.
"Six, nine, thirteen, twenty… twenty-six." He thought. He countered twenty-six Britannians. Two standing guard next to the prisoner, a few in Knightmares, though he had scanned the sky, and with his superior sight he saw a lot more of those Knightmares on standby in their transports.
"Right on time." Naruto thought as he saw a car barreling down the other side of the bridge. The one that contained the 'poison gas'.
"But they aren't aware of that. And to them, he's taking everyone on the bridge as hostage." Naruto thought. It was an interesting plan. Lelouch was willing to negotiate, but at the same time, his means of negotiation required holding innocent people hostage. A terrorist that was willing to negotiate.
"Not like I can criticize him. The Root and the Leaf was no better. No one was better…" He thought absent-mindedly. The Shinobi world was built on lies and deceit. Everyone was considered a possible enemy and Shinobi were not above conducting genocidal warfare. All for the sake of their Villages and their power. A gunshot broke him out of his thoughts as he felt the wind rush past him as Knightmares dropped from above and onto the bridge, surrounding Lelouch and his driver, Kallen.
"Lord Jeremiah, what would you prefer? Handing over one prisoner, or saving countless Britannian lives?" Lelouch questioned the man, who looked at him in confusion.
"What?" Jeremiah questioned. Who was this buffoon calling himself Zero? He shook his head.
"Like hell, I'd surrender him over to you. He's charged for the murder of Prince Clovis." Jeremiah retorted as he leveled his gun at the masked man.
"No, Lord Jeremiah, it was I who killed Clovis." Lelouch declared as he snapped his fingers, the panels on the back of the car fell off revealing a large canister of sorts. Jeremiah's eyes widened at that. Suzaku saw and moved to speak, but the shock collar prevented him.
"You bastard." Jeremiah gritted his teeth. He didn't want to say it to prevent a panic, but he had taken every single Britannian here hostage without them even knowing!
"As you can see, I am the one in charge here," Lelouch stated. With that, Naruto wordlessly stepped off the tower going into a free fall as he summoned the required Clones. He made no sound, not even when drawing his Tantō as he and his Clones landed silently behind each of the Britannian soldiers and Knightmare pilots, taking them all by surprise.
"Don't move," Naruto whispered to Jeremiah whose eyes widened as he felt a blade to his neck.
"What?! Where did he come from?!" Jeremiah shouted mentally as he looked around and realized that his comrades were in the same position as him.
"W-Who are –" Jeremiah couldn't finish as the blade slightly dug into his neck.
"Don't move," Naruto repeated, and this time Jeremiah obeyed. The sheer coldness behind that voice…This was no ordinary person he was dealing with. No, this was the voice of someone who would not hesitate to kill, and with no emotions behind that voice…
"As you can see, Lord Jeremiah, I am in charge, but I am a generous man. I am willing to negotiate." Lelouch said condescendingly, an almost smug grin forming on his face, not that anyone could see. Jeremiah simply narrowed his eyes. He was taunting him! This wasn't a negotiation at all! Lelouch scanned the Britannian pilots, all from the Purist factions before he found a suitable scapegoat.
"Kewell Soresi. He is an ambitious man and what's more, he has a history of butting heads with Jeremiah already. It would only look natural if he tried to remove Jeremiah from power to seize it from himself." He thought. Yes, paint Kewell as the supposed traitor. Tapping on the roof of the car, the car jerked forward slowly.
"I'm surprised, Lord Jeremiah. That for someone so vigilant that you wouldn't even realize the conspiracy within your own mist." Lelouch started as Jeremiah blinked at that. What? What Conspiracy?
"I must thank you, Kewell. The rescue operation went just as planned thanks to your vital information." Lelouch spoke up as Kewell looked at him like he was crazy. What? What was he talking about? But the moment Kewell looked at Lelouch, it was already over. Lelouch's Geass came to life as a part of the mask where his right eye was slightly opened.
"Isn't that right? Orange?" Lelouch stated as Kewell went ridged, his features going blank as he nodded while Naruto withdrew his Tantō from the man's neck.
"Kewell, kindly order that prisoner be handed over," Lelouch ordered. Even if he hadn't used his Geass, saving Suzaku would be easy. Naruto held every single Britannian soldier hostage. But for the sake of his plan, he needed to follow the act.
"Kewell don't you dare!" Another one of the Knightmare pilots shouted as he tried to turn around and attack the person holding him hostage. But Naruto was faster. Before the man could even turn, the blade of the Tantō ran across his neck. What followed was a shower of blood as the cockpit of the Knightmare was filled with the blood of its pilot as the said pilot jerked forward and fell into the cockpit, dead.
"H-He killed him…" These were the first words from the Britannian citizens, who looked on in utter shock. Most of them had never seen someone get killed like that, let alone a Britannian soldier! Naruto's Clone looked at the dead pilot with no empathy before he looked up.
"I warned him once." Was all he spoke as everyone just stared at him. The way he spoke, his mannerisms as if he hadn't just killed someone. Lelouch would have had the same reaction, but he knew that Sunflower had been a trained killer since his childhood. Turning his attention to Suzaku, he realized that the shock collar was still on him.
"I see that they haven't removed the shock collar. No matter. Let's go." Lelouch stated as Suzaku frowned, and he threw a glare at the Shadow Clone that had killed the Britannian pilot.
"Senseless bloodshed…" He thought as he followed the man calling himself Zero, the supposed real killer of Prince Clovis. Not like he had a choice of following him or not. As Lelouch, Kallen, and Suzaku left the scene, Naruto stayed back. Looking back, Lelouch smirked as he held the detonator. One more way to cause panic.
"Farewell, Lord Jeremiah," Lelouch stated as he pressed the bottom causing Suzaku's eyes to widen, but he didn't have time to think as he was pushed off the side of the bridge by Zero. Pandemonium followed as the crowd of people began to stampede and run away from whatever Zero had unleashed. Jeremiah gritted his teeth at the scene. As the 'poison gas' began to spread, Jeremiah felt the blade at his neck back away. Looking back, he noticed that the one holding his life hostage was gone as if he had just vanished.
"Lord Jeremiah!" He was brought out of his thoughts as Villetta shouted at him. Looking over, he saw that his remaining comrades were no longer being held hostage. Shaking his head, he quickly took command.
"Form a perimeter! Get the Medical Corp up here now! Chase after Zero!" He barked out his orders as his subordinates quickly followed his commands to get the panic under control. Turning his sight, he scowled as he saw Kewell.
"And arrest that man for treason!" He shouted, pointing at Kewell who blinked in confusion.
Unknown location:
Suzaku massaged his wrists as the restraints were removed, but his expression was less than pleased.
"Looks like they treated you roughly. Now you know what they are really like, Kururugi. Britannia is rotten. If you wish to change the world, join me." Suzaku looked behind him as his eyes narrowed at the man calling himself Zero. Change the world? Through such methods? Never.
"Is it true? Did you kill Prince Clovis?" Suzaku questioned his voice already on edge. Lelouch scoffed at the question slightly, as if it was a dumb question.
"This is war, why wouldn't I kill the enemy commander?" Lelouch questioned him back. Granted that he didn't kill Clovis, but he would have anyway. And taking out enemy command was the best way to throw them into chaos. Suzaku's frown deepened but saw the logic in that.
"And the gas? Those were civilians out there." Suzaku questioned again while Lelouch smirked.
"A bluff. It wasn't poison gas. And the result? Not a single casualty." Lelouch declared as Suzaku's hands balled into a fist.
"Is that all that matters to you? Results? And what about that pilot your comrade killed?" Suzaku questioned him as Lelouch frowned this time.
"He was warned. What did you expect my comrade to do? Allow himself to be killed?" Lelouch pointed out as Suzaku shook his head.
"An excuse for everything, huh?" Suzaku questioned him as Lelouch narrowed his eyes at that, but he extended his hand.
"The Britannia you serve is a worthless dominion. Join me if you want to bring real change." Lelouch offered. Suzaku stared at the offered hand before shaking his head.
"That may be so, but this nation…it can be changed from within," Suzaku stated causing Lelouch's eyes to widen.
"Changed? From within? Don't be a fool! Look at what they did you to! Found you to be a good scapegoat, to scarp the idea of Honorary Britannians, with no proof." Lelouch said in frustration. Was his childhood friend this much of an idiot?!
"I'm going back to my trial," Suzaku spoke up as he turned to leave causing Lelouch's eyes to widen at that. What?! But before Suzaku could even move he felt a blade rest on his neck, stopping him dead in his tracks. Lelouch looked at the scene in shock before he spoke up.
"Stand down Sunflower!" Lelouch ordered as Naruto stopped, his blade still on the older teen's neck.
"He's a liability," Naruto responded. Yes, he had offered his help to save Lelouch's friend and he carried through with that promise. But this was now a different situation. Now Lelouch's friend was going back to the enemy. A liability.
"I said, stand down," Lelouch ordered again as Naruto looked at him like he was crazy, but relented. If Lelouch wanted to play with fire, so be it. He threw his Tantō as he stepped aside from Suzaku, who glared at the younger boy.
"Why did you kill that man?" Suzaku questioned him as Naruto looked at him. Although Suzaku could not see his face due to the mask, he still shuddered at his gut feeling.
"He was warned once," Naruto repeated the same excuse as he did before, but Suzaku shook his head.
"You could have knocked him out! Killing was not necessary!" Suzaku argued while Naruto tilted his head slightly.
"He was warned once, and he still tried to attack me. Killing was easier and more efficient in permanently subduing a threat." Naruto stated simply, with no emotions behind his voice and reasoning causing Suzaku's eyes to widen as he took a step back.
"You…you really believe that…don't you?" Suzaku questioned him. He knew the cruelty of war, the cruelty of man, but this…this person before him. He killed without hesitation, without emotion.
"My belief in it does not matter. It is a simple fact. As a soldier, you should understand that well." Naruto stated as Suzaku gritted his teeth.
"I could never understand that! All the senseless violence…the killing. People like you only add fuel to the fire and keep the cycle going! I'm nothing like you!" Suzaku shouted, offended at even being compared in a manner. He turned and began to walk away. He was wasting his time here, he had to go to a trial.
"You…fool," Lelouch muttered as he watched his friend march off to a kangaroo court. Naruto stood there silently as he turned to look at Lelouch.
"Your friend is a fool and more, an extreme liability to you. I'd advise you to eliminate him before he becomes a threat." Naruto suggested blankly as Lelouch looked at Naruto in anger.
"Shut up." He responded before he turned and walked off as well, leaving Naruto alone in the destroyed stadium.
"You really are a fool, you know what? Why would you ask him to kill his own friend that he wanted to save? Would you kill Hinata if you and her were in this situation?" The Kyūbi questioned him as Naruto's features softened.
"I would never harm her…I…I could never…" He muttered. Hinata was special to him. She was the first person to see him for himself, not a monster. She was his first friend, his only friend. And it broke him when she died at his hands.
"In the same sense, Lelouch does not seek to harm his friend Suzaku. Lelouch seems to know Suzaku somehow to not only save him but to also let him go." The Kyūbi stated as Naruto said nothing in turn.
"I…I guess I was out of line…" He said awkwardly as he looked at his hands. His hands had been covered in blood for so long. Kill this person, kill that family. The killing was all he knew. Ultimately it was the solution to the problems of his masters.
"You should apologize," Kyūbi suggested as Naruto pondered over that. Yes, that should solve the issue, right?
Well, that's it for now! Let me know what you all think in your reviews! See you all next time!
