Hello everyone I'm back once again to bring you another chapter of my story; I hope you enjoy it and keep on supporting me and my work. Now with nothing else to say lets begin.
Money and Malice: Chapter 3
Konoha: Hokage office
Hiruzen was going through reports on his desk trying to figure out the situation; it's been a week since Naruto has gone missing and he is getting frustrated because the anbu have not found any clues as to where he may be. As he combed through the reports a figure wearing a dog mask landed in front of him.
"Lord Hokage" Dog said.
"Dog; report, have you found the weapon" Hiruzen said and dog shook his head.
"No lord Hokage the Kyuubi hasn't been found" Dog said and Hiruzen frowned I frustration "it's been over a week my lord; I think it's time to expand the search, maybe he ran off west to Suna or South to Tea country" he said.
"It's possible he was taken to the southern forests by the Hyuga" Hiruzen said "expand the search; we must find him before the other nations find out and try to capture him" he said. "We are already taking the 7 tails from Taki; the sooner we get him back the sooner they can have their weapon back as well" Hiruzen said "I wonder when they are going to arrive; they're a day late" he said.
Suddenly the door burst open and another anbu ran in "Lord Hokage; it's urgent" the anbu said gaining both Hiruzen and Dogs attention "the envoy from Taki has been ambushed; and the 'package' has been taken" he said and Hiruzen stood up.
"WHAT" Hiruzen roared "how the hell did this happen" he shouted.
At the same time: Waterfall country
Fu was eating her food while looking at the strange man and the boy that was traveling with him; they both wore masks on their faces but the boy Naruto seemed to be very uncomfortable around her while Kakuzu seemed indifferent. So far, she has spent a day with them and by far she liked it better than Taki; hard to believe so much has happened in such a short amount of time.
*Flashback: yesterday
Kakuzu and Naruto were walking down the road to Taki in silence until Naruto decided to speak "so Kakuzu sensei; how long has it been since you been to Taki" he asked and Kakuzu 'hummed' in thought.
"60 years I believe" Kakuzu said making Naruto go wide eyed "the last time I was there I was just banished and stole the scroll that gave me my powers" he said.
"If you stole it, why is it still in Taki" Naruto asked in curiosity.
"If I took it with me then I would've had an even higher bounty on my head; so, I left it behind" Kakuzu said "I was placed as an A-class missing ninja; if I stole the scroll, I would've been S-class, ironically though they put me as a S-class 40 years later due to me being gone for so long" he said. "But their information and picture of me is outdated; which is how I'm able to walk around so freely" he said and Naruto nodded.
"Wow that's pretty cool" Naruto said "so what kind of- "Naruto began but Kakuzu held his hand up stopping him.
"Hide now" Kakuzu said as he and Naruto darted into the bushes "conceal your presence like I taught you" he said and Naruto made a hand sign. Naruto suppressed his chakra and both him and Kakuzu saw what was coming from up the road.
A Prison cart being pulled by a horse guarded by 4 Taki ninja; inside the cell was a girl about 2 years older than Naruto. She had tan skin, mint green hair and was wearing tattered and worn-out cloths; Naruto looked at her in pity when suddenly he felt something.
"You feel it brat" The Kyuubi said "She's like you boy; a container used as a weapon" it said; since finding out about the Kyuubi Naruto has been communicating with it, so far, they have a lukewarm relationship where they both tolerate each other.
'I should help her' Naruto thought as he looked over to Kakuzu "Kakuzu sensei; that girl is like me, she has a demon inside her, we should help her" Naruto whispered.
"No" Kakuzu said "we are not going to waste our time saving some girl; regardless of her circumstances" he said and Naruto growled.
"55%" Naruto said making Kakuzu look at him "I'll give you 55% of my pay for 4 and a half years if you save her" he said.
"Adding half a year and a twenty percent increase to what you're paying" Kakuzu said raising an eyebrow "I'm not going to pass on that deal" Kakuzu said standing up and walking out into the road. "Give me 5 minutes" Kakuzu said and Naruto smiled behind his mask.
'Holy crap it worked' Naruto thought 'never haggled before but it looks like I did a good job' he thought as he began to sneak to another part of the woods.
The Taki jounin was walking point when a earth pillar shot out of the ground and nearly hit him "Ambush" he shouted to his 3 chunin squad mates "defend the package" he shouted. 2 chunin ran forward to assist him and 1 stayed next to the cart in order to guard the cell.
Fu looked on and saw 3 of her guards fight the man who just appeared out of nowhere.
Kakuzu was allowing the Taki ninjas to attack as he wanted to lure them in; the jonin threw a volley of kunai at Kakuzu and began to go through hand signs 'water style: water bullets'. The jounin shot multiple water bullets from his mouth at Kakuzu.
Kakuzu easily dodged the kunai and went through hand signs 'Earth Style: Mud wall' Kakuzu created a earth wall to block the incoming water bullets; when the water bullets hit the jounin jumped on top og the wall while his 2 chunin flanked around the other side.
When the reached it they saw nothing "where the hell did he go" one of the chunin asked; the next moment he had a hand protruding through his chest. Kakuzu appeared from behind him and pulled his hand out; Kakuzu used another earth jutsu to hide and move underground behind the chunin.
"One down; 2 to go" Kakuzu said and both the jounin and the chunin charged in a attempt to avenge their fallen comrade.
With Naruto
Naruto was sneaking around to the wagon to free the girl that was inside the cell; Naruto still hiding his presence snuck up behind the lone Taki ninja who was to distracted by the fight happening up ahead. Naruto took out a kunai that Kakuzu gave him and began slowly approaching the ninja to take him out; Naruto drew closer and raised up the kunai.
Naruto brought down the kunai into the chunin's back as he released his breath; Naruto however was blind sided when the ninja turned around and elbowed him in the face.
"Gah you little fucker" the Taki ninja shouted "did you just fucking stab me" he said as he started wobbling onto the side of the cart. 'If I wasn't wearing my flak vest, I'd be dead right now' he thought as he looked at Naruto "your dead kid" the man said.
Before the man could move Fu grabbed him through the bars and put him in a head lock "hey kill him" Fu shouted to Naruto; Naruto snapping out of his daze got up taking out another kunai and ran up and stabbed the Taki ninja while he was being restrained by Fu.
Naruto stabbed the man in the chest making him cough up blood as he fell to the ground and began to convulse; after a few minutes he stopped moving and laid still.
Naruto looking at the man he just killed bent over lifted the bottom of his mask and threw up 'oh god he's dead' Naruto thought as he kept throwing up 'I-I-I just killed someone' he thought.
"Hey" Fu shouted gaining Naruto's attention "grab the keys off him and let me out; they put a seal me chakra so I can't do much" Fu said and Naruto nodded. Naruto went over to the dead man while still feeling nauseous and rummaged through his pockets; Naruto took off his kunai pouch, his wallet and a key ring with well over 2 dozen keys on it.
"Uhh… Do you know which one" Naruto asked Fu holding up the keys.
With Kakuzu
The Taki chunin was running towards Kakuzu, kunai in hand ready to take out the rogue ninja; Kakuzu seeing this put his arm up. Kakuzu sent his arm towards the chunin using his threads to control the limb and grab him by the neck; Kakuzu proceeded to use earth chakra to strengthen his arm and crushed the throat of the chunin. Kakuzu tossed the man to the side and looked at the jounin.
"And then there was 1" Kakuzu said and the jounin scowled.
"I know who you are now" the jounin said "you're Kakuzu rogue ninja of Taki; although I'm curious how you are still alive and moving so well considering you are suppose to be in your 90's" he said and Kakuzu chuckled.
"Sadly you will never know" Kakuzu said as he got ready to do battle until he heard a shout.
"Mister close your eyes" a feminine voice shouted; Kakuzu and the jounin both looked over and saw the green haired girl running towards them going through hand signs. Kakuzu listening to the girl closed his eyes just in time as a bright flash of light blinded everything in the area.
"Gaaah, my eyes" the jounin shouted as he was too slow; he began to rub his eyes as Kakuzu ran up to him. Kakuzu using earth chakra to strengthen his fist once more punched the jounin in the back; Kakazu's fist came out of the man's chest as he coughed up blood. Kakuzu pulled his arm out of the man's chest and he fell to the ground lifeless; Kakuzu turned and looked over to the mint haired girl and spoke.
"Thank you girl" Kakuzu said "you saved me 2 minutes and my time is precious" he said; Naruto walked up and joined the 2. "What of the other guard" Kakuzu said and Naruto flinched.
"I-I killed him" Naruto said sadly; Fu had a look of sympathy as he killed him to free her but Kakuzu had no such reservations.
"It's your first and most certainly won't be your last" Kakuzu said coldly "this is the life of a shinobi; kill and eventually be killed unless you harden your heart. So, get over it" he said and Naruto nodded.
Naruto didn't feel better and felt sick until he felt a hand on his shoulder; he looked and saw the girl he saved and she smiled at him.
"Thank you for saving me" she said sweetly "I'm Fu how about you" she said and Naruto perked up a little.
"I'm Naruto" Naruto said "you're welcome; and my friend wants to talk to your friend" he said as he grabbed her hand.
Shared mindscape
Naruto and Fu both stood in a white plane while 2 giant beasts stood looking across at each other.
"Kurama" a giant 7 tailed beetle said.
"Chomei" the 9 tailed fox said "it's been a while; let's talk" it said.
Flashback end
"So what do you intend to do back in Taki" Fu asked and Kakuzu spoke up.
"We are going back to steal a scroll containing the secret techniques of Taki" Kakuzu said plainly "but first we need to find a way in as despite how powerful I am I cannot take on a whole village and Naruto here is still in training" he said.
"I can help you sneak in" Fu said making both Kakuzu and Naruto look at her in surprise "I used to sneak out of the village all the time to go and find food; I know a secret tunnel we can take" she said. Kakuzu looked at her and then Naruto.
"Keep the payment you offered me boy" Kakuzu said making Naruto look at him in surprise "looks like your thinking has given us a golden ticket into the village" he said and Fu held her hand up.
"I'll help you 2 sneak in but on 2 conditions" Fu said.
"What are they" Naruto asked.
"After we do so I want to come with you 2" Fu said making them both look at her "I hated my life in Taki; everyone was mean to me, they threw rocks at me, destroyed my house and even kept their children from me" she said. Fu then looked at Naruto with sad eyes "I know it's not as bad as what they did to you Naruto but it's still not nice" Fu said and Naruto nodded sadly.
"I understand" Naruto said "that's kind of why I wanted to save you from whatever they were planning on doing to you; no one should suffer like we do" he said and Fu smiled softly.
"What's the second condition" Kakuzu said and Fu spoke.
"Before we leave Taki there is somewhere I want to go; just for a minute" Fu said making Kakuzu confused "and all I'll need is 2 pieces of paper and a pencil" she said and Kakuzu nodded.
"As long as you get us inside the village" Kakuzu said as he extended his hand "you have a deal girl" he said; Fu shook his hand and nodded as the deal was made. "Now get some sleep we will arrive there tomorrow" Kakuzu said as he leaned up against a tree.
Naruto handed Fu his blanket "here so you don't get cold" he said and Fu shook her head.
"I can't take it" she said "we can share it ok" Fu said and Naruto nodded. Naruto and Fu both went to another tree and leaned up against it; Naruto draped the blanket over him and Fu and they both closed their eyes.
Kakuzu looked over at the 2 sleeping children had a thought '2 containers now; both young and have so much potential' he thought. 'If I train them properly, we can be a nearly unstoppable mercenary group' Kakuzu thought 'hmmm; I guess I can start after we are done here Taki' he thought. Kakuzu closed his eyes and began to sleep.
The mercenary and the now 2 mercenaries in training all slept in order to prepare for their heist tomorrow.
Ok another chapter done; I hope you all enjoyed it and if you did, please like, comment and share with your friends. And until next time bye.