It took two days for the second squad to arrive.
The blonde supposed that was inaccurate. They arrived yesterday, but they were clearly securing the area. Not that the blonde man really cared. He was not going to flee. He had to send a message. Defeating the second squad would do that. The didn't mean he was entirely wasting his time though. No, he had confirmed it.
They were from Konoha.
Scent blockers, subtle layers of genjutsu, sleep drugs. He recognized all of the signs of the Konoha ANBU tactics when hunting down a missing-nin. Textbook. He respected how dilligently they stuck to the rules of weakening a target before engaging. Of course, it didn't mean anything to him. Scent blockers didn't mean much to him. His nose was on par with an Inuzuka's, they couldn't stop him. The genjutsu was trickier, he was always bad at dispelling them, but either they lacked high level genjutsu experts or he wasn't good enough to dispel them. Considering who he was he doubted they didn't bring high level genjutsu experts with them.
Of course, give him a day and even he would notice the most high level genjutsu.
Shattered like glass.
Sleep drugs?
Please. He was former black ops. Learning how to resist sleep was practically a job requirement.
The blonde stepped out of his cottage, the sun shining down on the forest. Shadows cast by the suns rays extended far. Odd time for a large attack. It was bright, so he'd see them coming, especially in the numbers they were in.
Must have a Nara.
"So this is where you've hidden out all these years?"
The blonde man's eyes lazily looked around. Twenty ANBU surrounding him in a circle. A surprisingly large commitment but nothing noteable. Surely, the Hokage didn't think twenty ANBU could take him. Even with the annoying trio they brought with them.
"You didn't seriously think you'd be able to stay here for the rest of your life did you?"
"A man can dream."
The blonde man turned his head, violet eyes locking with crimson red with no fear. They wouldn't dare try to ensnare him. No.
Sasuke Uchiha always wanted to prove himself superior to him after all.
"Tch. Shit dream if you ask me. Sitting out here on your ass."
"Oh look, the famous opinion I literally never ask for. Congratulations. You haven't changed a bit in three years."
The words almost drew the Uchiha to blows. The blonde man smirked, watching his right hand twitch. The old habit was still there. The katana at Sasuke's hip was an obvious tell of a swordsman, but the blonde man couldn't believe that he still didn't have the quirk figured out. He relied too much on his blade.
"Enough, we didn't come here to fight."
"The amount of ANBU around you dare to disagree Shikamaru."
The Nara sighed. "Honestly, if it was up to me I wouldn't have brought them."
"This whole situation would be too much of a drag for you."
"Exactly. But orders are orders."
Silence reigned for a brief moment before the third of the trio spoke up.
"Naruto Uzumaki, Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi. You are to return to Konohagakure and re-enlist in the shinobi force effective immediately under the authority of the Godaime Hokage, Danzo Shimura."
Naruto's violet eyes cut towards the pale eyes of the one that spoke. He stared at him. The man stared back.
"Neji..."
"There is no room for arguing. Comply."
"I refuse."
"We expected as much," came the call from crimson eyes. "Now finally I can beat you down and drag you back by force."
"As if you could."
"Do you not see the ANBU squad around you? Plus, us."
"ANBU? Please. We all know they're nothing more than a distraction. And out of you three...the biggest threat is the least likely to stop me if I decided to stroll out of here."
The pride of the two most royal Clans left in Konoha was clearly bristled by the insinuation that a Nara was a bigger threat than them. They both took a step forward only for Shikamaru to reach his hand out to stop them. Like a puppet they halted instantly. The blonde man smirked.
"Look at the little pups. So obedient to their superior. What are your ranks now huh? Shikamaru is clearly the Jonin leader of this mission. I suppose you both could be too. It'd be a damn shame if you're still just tokubetsu."
The duo snarled.
"At least we improved. We served our country. Words of scum like you have no effect on us," came the hiss from the Uchiha.
"And I'm all the better for it," Naruto stated plainly. "I refuse to hold another I care for in my arms as they die. These petty wars mean nothing to me. Chalk it up to service or faith or the Will of Fire or whatever other brainwashing they've given you to justify it. I refuse to watch those I care about die again. Not again."
"So you come out here to run from your responsibility? Sure, I guess you never have to see their deaths. That way you don't need to acknowledge that they're you're fault."
"What are you talking about?"
"How the hell do you think the Sandaime died?"
Naruto was silent.
"He gave you his blessing. You. The Jinchuriki. During a war. How could Konoha begin to fight off invaders without the fear instilled by having the most powerful Jinchuriki on its side? Something had to make the other villages fear it."
"The other Jinchuriki weren't even on the battlefield then. Besides, it's not like rumor of my disappearance would have spread quickly. Hiruzen would have kept it under wraps."
"He did. But it was three years Naruto. He couldn't keep it under wraps forever. Eventually, the other villages found out. And well, when Konoha is missing it's Jinchuriki, why not send theirs to battle? Tip the odds in their favor. The guarantee of mutually assured destruction wasn't so guaranteed anymore."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"Sandaime went to the battlefield himself. In his ridiculously old age. He burdened the responsibility you were too much of a shit stain to bear."
"And he died in the field," Naruto whispered. It was the obvious logical conclusion. Konoha had lost their boogeyman. Of course the other villages wouldn't stand by when they found out. "So now you all want your boogeyman back."
"I want you to stand trial," Neji hissed. "But, Godaime-sama thinks it would be foolhardy to kill someone as capable as yourself. Rearing shinobi as powerful as you takes time. Time we don't have."
"So what," Naruto muttered. "I am truly saddened to hear that the old man died. But I'm not returning. Don't tell me Danzo of all people thinks that you all are capable of bringing me back."
"We're not who we once were Naruto," the Uchiha hissed.
"Yeah, maybe you're slightly more capable sacrifices in the altar of this world."
"Did her sacrifice mean nothing to you?"
Naruto's eyes snapped upwards to lock with Neji's, nothing but pure unadulterated rage in them.
"Watch yourself."
"No." The response was a hiss, like that of venom. "I knew her too. And this is not what she would have wanted from you."
"What would you know of what she wanted? You left her on the battlefield. What happened to your sacred branch family duty?"
The Byakugan greeted the world with fury roaring in its eyes.
"Say that again."
"Calm down Neji," Sasuke stated. "Remember who you're talking to. This guy is responsible for the Sandaime's death. Of course her death meant nothing to him."
"She deserved better than you, you know," Neji hissed. "She was the best of us."
"Then where were you on the battlefield Neji! Kiri came in force and you did what? Abandon your sacred duty?"
"I will live with that regret for the rest of my life."
"Oh will you? Fantastic. Maybe that regret will bring her back. Maybe that regret will atone for the human shit stain you are to have left her to die out of your distate for that fucking mark on your head."
"You know nothing of the branch families struggles!"
"Maybe I don't," Naruto spat. "But I do know that a branch family member sat there and did nothing as his charge died."
"What would you know of protecting one's charge," Neji hissed. "She was your wife. Where were you Naruto? Where were you when Hinata was dying on the battlefield, crying out for her husband."
It was like the world went quiet. All understood the weight of the words that were just said.
"It would be like you to insult the sacrifices your betters made for the sake of their village. After all, after her death you ran."
Naruto snarled. "Shut. Up. Neji."
"What? Can't handle the truth? You, Naruto Uzumaki, ran from your duty. Your wife died in combat serving the village and this is how you honor her memory? You're a disgrace."
"Coming from the man responsible for her death? You're lucky I didn't kill you then. You won't be so lucky now."
"Enough!" Sasuke roared. "No more talking. We take him down, now."
The ANBU blurred forwards, but Naruto was angry.
It had been a long time since he was angry.
The ANBU didn't stand a chance. He tore through them like a shark, his movements reflecting only the most efficient methods of killing a target. It was over in an instant. Half the ANBU dead before their bodies had even reached halfway to his cottage. Blood strewn across the ground like party decorations. It coated his worn clothes, the hue of his violet eyes making him a ghastly sight.
A bolt of lightning stopped the carnage.
Naruto nimbly avoided the assault, his eyes snapping up to see Sasuke charging him with his sword covered in lightning. Naruto nimbly dodged the swinging blade, watching as it continued to cut air no matter how much Sasuke tried to cut him down. It was as if watching a dance, where the slightest mistake would lead to death. The Uchiha cracked first.
The blade swung upwards, only for Naruto to twist his body to the side, allowing it to bypass him. Sasuke grinned, lightning sparking along his free hand to lunge at the blonde, only for Naruto to catch the assault at Sasuke's wrist. With a quick twist the body part was broken, Sasuke's screams filling the air as he was kicked away from the blonde.
It was Neji's turn next.
The Hyuga approached, only for Naruto to grin. He lashed out, his hands blindingly fast. They swatted down Neji's chakra strikes, before his palm smashed into the Hyuga's chest, forcing him backwards. The blonde moved upon his prey like a shark, closing the gap. He smashed his fist into Neji's kidney repeatedly, forcing the man to throw up bile onto the grassy ground. Naruto did not let that be his reprieve however, snapping up with a knee that forced Neji's head upwards. It was only through the intervention of Shikamaru that his life was saved. A shadow yanked Neji's body to the side as a blade of wind cut where Neji's throat had been, just barely missing him.
"Are you both idiots? Stop engaging wildly! He isn't someone either of you can beat alone."
Both the Uchiha and Hyuga rose, their respective clan eyes glaring holes into the blonde. If looks could kill, he'd be dead thrice over.
"You should listen to Shikamaru. You're both still far weaker than me."
"You got in some lucky strikes. It's your fate to return to Konoha here."
"Tell me Neji, was it fate pounding your kidney into your ass or my fist?"
The Hyuga almost rushed in blindly once more, but Sasuke pulled him back.
"He's just antagonizing you. Calm down."
"Like you're one to talk."
"I also understand exactly what we're up against right now. I thought the gap had closed but it clearly hasn't. For fucks sake he isn't even out of practice. We're going up against a Kage-level threat Neji. Wisen up."
"Did breaking your wrist put some sense into you? You think it's transferable via osmosis? The Hyuga could benefit to learn when he's painfully outclassed."
"So how do we beat him? He'd cut through all of us like butter if we fought him individually."
"Hashimon Gate Formation," Shikamaru roared, and the strategy was clear.
Naruto frowned. His taunts weren't working. He wouldn't be able to disrupt their strategy any longer. Sasuke and Neji charged in once more, but this time as a duo. The blonde watched them approach, careful to sense for the others chakra. Hashimon Gate Formation. A familiar ANBU strategy. The two most powerful frontal combat troops engaged the target while the remaining members slowly set up a powerful genjutsu in tandem to lead to the targets eventual capture. An effective strategy, especially against someone like him who was shit at dispelling genjutsu. There was just one flaw.
He practically invented the damn formation.
It had one major flaw. The genjutsu required it to work in tandem with other members. Break one member and the entire thing crumpled.
As Sasuke and Neji launched their attacks Naruto moved. His body basically disappeared. Of course, neither Sasuke nor Neji were surprised by the speed. Their eyes instantly tracked him to the nearest ANBU and sprang towards them, but it was too late. By the time they reached him the woman's head was clean off her body. They snarled, Sasuke bringing his weapon down as Neji speared towards Naruto's chest. However, both blade and flesh were stopped centimeters before they reached his skin.
A faint howling sound filled the air.
"After all these years neither of you are capable of piercing my Fuuton no Yoroi (Wind Release Armor) huh? Sage, what have you all been doing all these years?"
The punches from Naruto sent blood and spit flying from both of their mouths as they were sent flying backwards. However, before they touched the ground the blonde had moved, heading to the nearest ANBU and splitting them in half with nothing more than the wind around his hand. Shikamaru watched the display with a frown on his face. His hands blurred together.
'I don't know Nara Clan jutsu well enough to predict this technique.'
Naruto shot towards Shikamaru, only for Sasuke to appear before him, blocking his strike with lightning coating his blade. He was bleeding from his mouth, but had a savage grin on all the while.
"Don't tell me you thought that would be all it took to beat us?"
Naruto immediately recoiled, feeling a finger jab itself into his back. He stepped fowards awkwardly, giving Sasuke time to lash out with his blade and pierce his shoulder. He hissed, leaping away and forcing the blade out of his body in the process. The wound was nothing major, but it hurt his pride to know that he had been damaged by the Uchiha. The major problem was reactivating his chakra point that Neji had blocked. That would take time. He could still use his jutsu, but it would take quite a bit more effort. Still, if the mangled finger on Neji's right hand was any indication, it had come at a cost.
Shadows leapt up from around the blonde, trapping him. He rolled his eyes. Surely Shikamaru didn't think that would be able to hold him?
His throat tightened.
He grit his teeth as shadows pulled him to the ground, hands reaching up all around him. One locked itself onto his neck and squeezed, depriving him of oxygen. The rest forced him to his hands, his eyes focused entirely on the ground. ANBU moved in, hands reaching out to apply chakra suppressing seals only for the blonde to grab the shadow around his neck and rip it off of him. His violet eyes snapped up and his muscles bulged, ripping his body free with an exertion of physical force and chakra. The ANBU tried to retreat, but the closest one found his neck snapped for his eagerness to win the battle.
Naruto wouldn't have let the others retreat either if not for Sasuke appearing above him once more, blade descending. Naruto caught the blade in his hand, a snarl on his face before he broke it in half. Sasuke's eyes widened before Naruto smashed a kick into his stomach. However, before the Uchiha could fly away Naruto grabbed his arm and smashed him into the ground.
"You know I wasn't planning on killing you here today Sasuke. I really don't want Itachi or Fugaku breathing down my neck after all. But you just seem so eager."
Before Naruto could flatten the Uchiha's skull the man disappeared in a flock of crows. Naruto grunted, dispelling the genjutsu.
"Using the sound of me slamming you into the ground to trigger a genjutsu so you could escape. Resourceful, however cowardly."
"You're in my field of divination."
Naruto whirled just in time for Neji's fingers to lurch towards his chakra points. The attack was sure to land. A dangerous one. If Neji could maintain the attack he'd seal off his chakra points. He couldn't have that. With a pulse of chakra the Fuuton no Yoroi expanded, forcing Neji to retreat, but not without losing a finger. The Hyuga cried out in pain, holding his injured hand. Naruto smirked.
"Did you really think that because you got passed the first stages defenses you would get passed the second's?"
Naruto flexed his back, feeling it loosen. He had forced open the tenketsu. It was a painful process, but he'd live. The surge of chakra was necessary. He turned to the Uchiha, noticing the lancing blades of electricity that shot towards him. They clashed harmlessly against his armor, unable to pierce it despite the famed power of lightning.
"Elemental mismatch and you lack the output I do. Do you really think you're my worst matchup Sasuke?"
"Oh I know I'm a terrible matchup against you," he muttered, raising his broken blade so that it pointed directly at Naruto. "It's going to make it all the more satisfying when I win." He leapt back, gaining distance as a grin split his face. Lightning shot forwards, but it wasn't aimed at the blonde. No, it erected walls on either side of the two combatants. Sasuke grinned.
"Say Naruto, you weren't around when I developed this technique. So I hope you enjoy seeing just how much I've closed the gap between us."
"Oh? Well pray tell what is it? This fancy light show is almost as disappointing as your career."
Sasuke snarled and let his broken blade go. Normally it would have clattered to the ground.
Normally.
"RÅrentsugan (Electromagnetic Induction Throwing)."
The blade shot forwards as if powered by an otherworldy force. It tore through the distance between Sasuke and Naruto at quite literal lightning speed. Naruto was completely unprepared for the attack. The blade speared clean through his abdomen, throwing him backwards, the impact leaving a shockwave of force that ruffled the trees. It would have killed an ordinary man.
Instead, a smoke cloud filled the air where Naruto was previously standing.
Sasuke's eyes widened before his world went dark, crumpling to the ground unconscious. Naruto stood behind him, an interested look in his eyes.
"Well damn. Wasn't expecting that. If that had hit me instead of a clone that might have actually caused some serious damage."
Naruto turned to the ANBU surrounding him. A grin split his face.
Shikamaru grit his teeth. This was already looking bleak. Injuries to Sasuke and Neji with thirteen dead ANBU and all they had to show for it was one measly stab wound and a partially blocked chakra point. He had suspected as much, but this was just not a fight they could win. Preparation or not, there was no way they could defeat Naruto Uzumaki without heavy hitters they just didn't have. He had blown up the Hashimon Gate Formation in an instant, and it wouldn't work again if they tried. The Nara Clan heir briefly reminded himself of Naruto's Bingo Book entry. It didn't really do him justice.
Name: Naruto Uzumaki
Titles: The Blonde Devil, Blood Reaper, Son of the Yellow Flash, Butcher of Kanzaki Bridge
Affiliation: N/A
Bounty: 1,000,000,000
Rank: S+
Fighting Style: Devastating nintaijutsu expert. Master of Fuuton. Auguments this ability with a bo staff. Proficiency in Suiton as well.
Status: Unclaimed
Advisory: Flee on Sight
That entry was a damn fairy tail compared to what Naruto was actually capable of. Shikamaru had doubted their ability for the mission to be successful in the first place, but this?
Either Danzo was running dangerously low on manpower to spare, or he vastly overestimated their abilities.
The Nara could only watch as the blonde cut through the remaining ANBU. He couldn't think of a strategy to counter him, and he knew Naruto's abilities. He wasn't foolish enough to throw fire at his wind armor. He knew how that song and dance ended up.
How could he beat him?
The entry didn't do him justice.
He had taken out Sasuke from the equation.
Neji was missing a finger, and couldn't engage in close combat, his specialty.
Shikamaru waived the white flag.
"We give up."
Naruto paused, his fist inches from Shikamaru's face.
"Finally realizing the obvious here ey?"
"Believe me it was of no desire of mine to come here."
"Smart man."
"What! What do you mean we give up! The Godaime demanded-"
"The Godaime," Shikamaru spat, "can go straight to hell as far as I care. Neji he sent us out here with a barebones squad to take on Naruto fucking Uzumaki. Hate him all you want, but this man has defeated people none of us could have dreamed of defeating. Shit, Neji you were there when he killed Onoki at the age of sixteen! Did you really think we stood a rats chance in hell of beating him?"
"Nara," Neji hissed. "I'll forgive this treason once but not again. Stay on mission! Uzumaki comes with us!"
"Fine," Shikamaru stated. "You have a go at it. Meanwhile I'll take Sasuke back to the village and come back with a group to clean up your corpse just like the others."
Neji was quiet.
Naruto grinned. "Wow, you sure know how to put the shit stain in his place. Wish I could do that."
"Don't push it Naruto."
Naruto placed his hands in his pockets, grinning. "Alright, alright I'll stop I promise."
The blonde turned to walk away, ignoring the hate-filled stare in his back that Neji gave him.
"You know Naruto, for someone who hates death so much you sure did kill a lot of people here today."
Naruto paused and a brief silence filled the air. It was broken, but tentatively.
"You know Shikamaru for what it's worth I didn't enjoy killing these shinboi."
"Does that change the fact that they're dead Naruto? They were just trying to do their duty. We all know you didn't have to kill them."
"And let you all keep hunting me for the rest of my life? I needed to send a message."
"Spoken just like a shinobi."
Naruto winced. "Don't...don't do that."
The Nara shrugged, picking up Sasuke onto his back as he walked towards the trees to leave.
"I'm not wrong Naruto. You could have defeated everyone here without killing them. So why do it? How do you justify killing people but despise it when others kill those you care about?"
"Shikamaru-"
"Face it Naruto. Regardless of whether or not you try to run from it. You'll always be a shinobi."
With that the Hyuga and Nara took off into the forest.
Naruto stood there for a long time before he disappeared in a blur, leaving only a faint whisper in his wake.
"Don't call me a shinobi...a shinobi...that's just another word for monster."