Hello everyone I'm back once again to bring you another chapter of my story; if you are enjoying it please keep on supporting me and my other stories. Now with nothing else to say let's begin.
Stitched Kitsune: Chapter 5
Land of Rivers: One month after the Taki heist
Naruto and Fu were both sparring in a forest not far from their camp site; Kakuzu went off for a little while and both children decided to spar to kill the time.
Naruto charged at Fu cocking back his fist to throw a punch; Naruto threw his punch but Fu blocked it. Fu proceeded to grab a hold onto Naruto's arm and flipped him over her shoulder; Naruto landed on his back but quickly recovered and threw a kick at Fu hitting her in the stomach.
Fu was sent stumbling back and Naruto got back up; Naruto proceeded to grab onto one of the threads on his wrist and pulled it out still attached to his body. Naruto then swung the thread like a whip towards Fu's feet; the thread wrapped around her feet and Naruto pulled his thread taking Fu off her feet.
Fu fell onto her back and saw her feet bound by Naruto's thread "got you now" Naruto said rushing over to Fu; Fu smirked as she shrunk down escaping her bondage. Naruto stopped and looked around trying to find her "where'd you go" Naruto said trying to find his friend; just then Fu appeared in front of him shrunken down to the size of a crayon.
"Right here" Fu said with a smile as she cocked back her fist; Fu transformed back into her full size and proceeded to punch Naruto in the face sending him to the ground. Naruto gripped his face as his eyes began to tear up; Fu proceeded to get on top of Naruto and hold him down "I win" Fu said with a smile.
Naruto groaned and nodded "fine, you win" Naruto said and Fu chuckled; Fu got off Naruto and helped him to his feet "just you wait I'll beat you next time" Naruto proclaimed and Fu smiled.
"Well, you have a way to go" Fu said with a smirk "after all we sparred every day for the past month; and what is our ratio? 24 wins for me and 6 you" she said to which Naruto got a tic mark.
"That doesn't mean anything" Naruto said pointing at her "I will become stronger; just you see" Naruto said; Naruto proceeded to do a back flip and at the same time sent his threads from his ankles upwards until they wrapped around a tree limb. Naruto pulled himself up hanging about 6 feet off the ground upside down from the threads coming from his feet "my control over my threads is getting better; and when I master them, I'll be able to kick you but super-duper easy" Naruto said lightly swing from his threads.
"Naruto be careful" Fu said "you don't know if that tree can hold your- "she began; the tree branch holding Naruto snapped and Naruto fell to the ground with a thud. "Weight" Fu said with a sweat drop; Naruto stood up rubbing the back of his neck bashfully.
"I'm ok" Naruto said with a smile behind his mask; Fu giggled at Naruto's antic.
Fu and Naruto have been growing closer over the past month they been together; she enjoyed his company and frankly he was a breath of fresh air from the usual hostility she received from the population in Taki.
Both Naruto and Fu were brought out of their thoughts by Kakuzu walking up to them "you were sparring again" Kakuzu said and both children nodded "good; now enough socializing, time for work" Kakuzu said and both children looked towards him in surprise. "You both been with me for a month now, a month worth of food, training and time" Kakuzu said "now it's time to see if you were worth the effort or a waste of my time" he said.
"What do we got Kakuzu sensei" Naruto said in anticipation; Kakuzu produced a scroll and spoke.
"We are going to be taking out a Kusa ninja camp; we will have to go North through Ame and cross the border into Kusa territory" Kakuzu said making both Naruto and Fu go wide eyed "Kusa and Ame are currently at war with each other over some land bordering their countries" he said. "The person who hired us for the job wants us to work under the table" he said and Fu raised her hand.
"But why use us when they have their own ninja" Fu said and Kakuzu chuckled.
"Because why sacrifice your own ninja when you could hire some mercenaries" Kakuzu said "we offer them plausible deniability and if we mess up and die… well it's no skin of their noses" he said.
Naruto and Fu both looked at each other nervously for a second; both then steeled themselves as this was the life they chose. Naruto was almost murdered by his village and Fu was an outcast with no real home; they had nothing to lose.
"Let's do it" Naruto said with excitement and Kakuzu nodded.
"Pack up camp; we leave in 2 hours" Kakuzu said "it'll take us 2 days to get there and 1 day to prepare; let's not waste out time" he said. Both Naruto and Fu ran to the camp and began to tear it down in order to leave for their mission 'now I can see what the brats are made of' Kakuzu thought as he walked over to collect everything they would need.
3 days later: In Kusa country
Naruto, Kakuzu and Fu were all hiding in a tree line looking at the camp down below; there were dozens of tents and camp fires lighting it up as the sun began to set. Kakuzu saw Kusa ninja entering the camp limping and clutching their wounds; they were then escorted by Kusa ninja into the camp and taken to a large tent in the center of the camp.
'I see' Kakuzu thought 'this is a medical camp for all the injured ninja coming back from the battles raging along the border' he thought. 'No wonder they wanted us to take out this particular camp' Kakuzu thought 'we kill their wounded when they are defenseless; along with the medical staff treating them in order to increase the death rates in the future' he thought.
Kakuzu turned to Naruto and Fu and spoke "Naruto set up your wire traps along the trees; when you are done come to me and we will work on our pit traps" he said in a whisper. Naruto nodded and spoke.
"Ok sensei" Naruto said before turning to Fu "lets go and get set up" Naruto said and Fu nodded; both children went off into the woods.
With Naruto and Fu: 1 hour later
"Ok Fu last one" Naruto said and Fu nodded; Naruto produced a thread as thin as a hair from his arm. Naruto's threads were different from Kakuzu's in more ways than just color; Naruto's threads were thinner than his and were sharper the thinner he made them. The thread Naruto was producing could cut through an apple with relative ease; only now instead of fruit he was using it on humans "here you go" Naruto said to Fu.
"Ok give me a sec" Fu said as she grabbed the thread and brought out her wings; Fu pulled the thread while flying around wrapping it around the trees in a maze at fluctuating heights. Some were at ankle height while some were higher up in the trees in case some ninja hops through the branches to escape; Fu finished her last fly through and landed next to Naruto "done" Fu said and Naruto nodded as he severed the thread and secured it to the tree he was standing next too.
"Let's go and find Kakuzu sensei" Naruto said as he and Fu ran off; they didn't have to look very far as they found Kakuzu going through hand signs.
"Earth Style: Pit fall" Kakuzu said as he slammed his hands onto the ground; in front of him a 10-foot deep and 20-foot-wide hole was created. Kakuzu seeing Naruto and Fu approach him spoke "are the tree traps set" he asked and Naruto nodded.
"Yes sensei" Naruto said and Kakuzu nodded in acknowledgement.
"Good now use your wired for the pit traps; I set them around the forest at 10-meter intervals" Kakuzu said as he walked off; Naruto looked over to Fu.
"Oh boy this is going to take a while" Naruto said as he made more of his thread; he then kneeled down and sent it into the ground until it entered the hole. The threads began to make a spider web type pattern to cover every square inch of the hole; Naruto finished after a few minutes "one down about a million more to go" Naruto whined and Fu giggled.
Naruto and Fu began to walk around the forest to set up the other traps.
Midnight
Kakuzu was standing on the ground while Naruto and Fu hid in the trees "I'll lead the attack; you 2 take out the stragglers" Kakuzu said and both children nodded. Kakuzu began to walk towards the camp as he began to remove his shirt and both his wind heart and fire heart formed into their thread bodies and combined together "lets get to work" Kakuzu said.
Both the wind and fire heart took in a deep breath as they approached the camp entrance; as they did 4 Kusa ninja guarding the camp called out.
"Hey stop" A Kusa jonin said "this is your only warning; put your hands up or- "he didn't get to finish his sentence; the fire and wind hearts both launched a powered-up stream of fire towards the guards setting all 4 alight as they danced around screaming as the fire engulfed them.
Kakuzu saw the flames hit several tents and people began to funnel out trying to escape the flames.
"Enemy attack" "Is it Ame" "protect the medics and doctors" "save the wounded" they all shouted; a Kusa ninja ran towards Kakuzu sword drawn ready to kill him "you bastard" he shouted.
Kakuzu used his earth style to harden his hand and sent it towards the ninja using his threads to guide it; the fist smashed into the ninja's face splattering his brains all over the ground. Kakuzu proceeded to recall his hand and flick the brain matter off his hands as he casually walked into the camp; more and more ninja came out of the tents some with wounds in order to fight him.
Kakuzu began to harden his body and prepare for his fight 'come to me' he thought.
In the forest
"Stay with me Karin" a red-haired woman said to her daughter as she pulled her along.
"Mom I'm scared" Karin said as tears rolled down her face from behind her black framed glasses.
"I know honey but stay with me" she said; she never wanted this or for her daughter to be here. She was forced to come here by Kusa to provide her healing services to the wounded. The bandages where they bit here were still bleeding through; she was on the verge of passing out when the camp came under attack. Now she was being escorted by 3 Kusa chunin as they did not want to lose her; or more accurately her healing ability.
"Shut that fucking brat up" one of the Kusa ninjas leading the group said scaring both Karin and her mom "if it weren't for you and your healing ability you 2 outsiders would've been left back in the camp" he snarled. "Now shut the fuck up and- "he began until he fell.
The Kusa ninja fell into a pit about 10 feet deep; when he was half way down he hit a spider web looking thing handing from the walls. When he passed through the other side he fell into literal pieces as the threads cut through him like a hot knife through butter; he landed at the bottom of the pit in a literal puddle of meat and blood.
Karin screamed at this and was silenced by one of the Kusa ninjas slapping her across her face "shut the fuck up you little shit" he shouted; Karin crawled over to her mother who was on the ground and held her "if you don't, I'll- "he began until he choked.
The man was then lifted about 10 feet off of the ground by a thread around his neck; the thread cut into his neck severing the arteries and the wind pipe using his body weight to do so.
"Oh god, oh fuck, oh fuck" the last Kusa ninja said as he looked over to Karin and her mother who were both huddled at a tree holding onto each other "fuck you both" he shouted as he began to run back the way he came.
"He left us, h-he left us" Karin said in a panic; Karin watched as the man ran away.
The Kusa ninja ran back "I got to get out of here" he said to himself; as he did, he noticed something fly in front of him for a split second. The Kusa man fell backwards as he was clotheslined across the neck by the same thread that killed his to comrades; the velocity was enough to where it cut his throat open and he tried to stem the bleeding.
Suddenly out of nowhere a mint green haired girl appeared and looked down on him "coward" she said coldly as she kneeled down next to him; she reached into his kunai holster and took out a kunai and held it at a downward angle.
She proceeded to stab the mortally wounded man in the eye socket twisting the knife to scramble his brain; she then let go of the knife and stood up looking over to the woman and Karin.
"D-don't worry honey" the woman said to Karin who was crying uncontrollably "it-it will all be ok" she said her voice beginning to crack as the green haired girl began to walk over to them. As that happened another figure came down from the trees using a thread to control his descent; the figure let go and landed in front of Karin and her mother as the girl stood next to him.
Both Karin and her mother began to hyperventilate as they approached and both closed their eyes to not see what was coming.
"Are you 2 oks" came the voice of a boy; both Karin and her mother opened their eyes and saw the bright blue eyes of the figure who talked "they didn't hurt you too much did they" he asked and both Karin and her mother were speechless.
"I don't see a Kusa head band on either of you; are you not with them" the girls asked her face neutral.
"N-no" the woman said "I-I was f-forced to work for them as a healer" the she said. "M-my daughter has nothing to do with them" she said "p-please don't hurt us" she said.
"We won't I promise" the boy said as he looked over to the 3 ninja he killed "frankly those guys were a bund of as- "Naruto began until he heard Fu clear her throat. "Not good guys" he said trying not to curse; he then turned to Karin and took out a handkerchief he had in his pocket.
He leaned forward and wiped her bloody lip from where the man hit her and then wiped her tears away; Naruto reached up and pulled down his mask shocking both Karin and her mother by his appearance. Karin looked at the stitched along his face and mouth and wondered what happened to him "My name is Naruto; what's yours" Naruto said with his nicest smile.
Karin blushed at this; she was scared of the boy a second ago but now for some reason she felt a sense of safety emanating from the boy "I-I'm Karin" Karin said in a whisper. Naruto turned nodded and turned to her mother.
"My name is Mie Uzumaki" Mie said to Naruto who went wide eyed.
"Wait Uzumaki; that's my last name" Naruto said making both Karin and Mie look at him surprised "how about that we have the same last name" he said.
"Are you part of the Uzumaki clan" Mie asked and Naruto scrunched up his face in confusion.
"Uzumaki clan" Naruto asked cocking his head to the side "not sure about all of that but- "he began until Fu interrupted.
"Naruto, we have a mission" Fu said reminding her blonde friend.
"Yeah ok; just give me a sec ok Fu" Naruto said pulling his mask back up and standing up "you 2 stay here and hide; when the battle is done, we will come back for you" Naruto said and Mie spoke up.
"Why do we have to stay here" Mie asked.
"Because we have traps all over the forest and if you walk around you might walk into one" Naruto said making both Karin and Mie flinch "ok be back in a little while; don't go wandering off" he said as he began to run off with Fu.
"Mom" Karin said to her mother who looked down at her.
"Yeah sweetie" Mie asked.
"He has very pretty eyes" Karin said.
With Naruto and Fu
Naruto and Fu were hopping in the trees looking for more escaping ninjas.
"They have your last name; it can't be a coincidence" Fu said and Naruto nodded "maybe you're from like a rare clan or something; like there isn't much of you left" she said.
"I don't know Fu" Naruto said "but I saw the way they treated those 2; I can tell they aren't bad" Naruto said as he ran ahead. "At the very least we could take them away from here" Naruto said "come on lets focus on the job" he said and Fu nodded.
With Kakuzu
"Get the patients out of the beds" A nurse shouted as she tried to help a double leg amputee "we have to get them out" she yelled; all around her doctors, nurses and able-bodied patients were trying to evacuate those who were too wounded to help themselves. As she did so the tent flaps were opened and she saw a horrific sight.
A beast made of threads and seemed to have 2 heads walked in "kill it" one ninja shouted as he threw several shuriken at it to no effect; one of the masks it was wearing opened its mouth and began to shoot out water covering everyone in the liquid "what the hell" a ninja shouted.
The other mouth opened and everyone saw lightning began to crackle; the mouth fired a steady stream of lightning at the soaking wet crowd of people. The effects were immediate at the lightning mixed with the water began to electrocute everyone; they all screamed and convulsed as the current ran through their systems.
When they all stopped screaming, they fell to the ground smoking at the lightning burnt them to a crisp; Kakuzu recalled his hearts into his body and looked inside the tent. He saw about 80 men and women dead all with faces of pain and horror; Kakuzu did not even flinch at the sight as he walked out.
Kakuzu walked out and saw his other hearts rampaging around the camp killing all those who stood in his way; Kakuzu continued to walk until he felt his foot get grabbed. Kakuzu looked down and saw a young ninja no more than 14 or 15 holding onto his foot; he was missing both of his legs and had cuts from all over his body probably a survivor of his wind heart.
"W-why" he groaned out "why did you do all of this" he asked; Kakuzu pulled his foot away and raised it up while hardening it.
"Money" Kakuzu said simply; Kakuzu brought his foot down smashing the ninjas head killing him. Kakuzu saw 2 more Kusa ninja run towards him a male and a female 'more of them; they're like cockroaches' Kakuzu thought as he ran towards them.
Both ninjas took out a kunai as they tried to avenge their comrades; the woman jumped and came down with her kunai aimed at Kakuzu's head. Kakuzu caught the woman when she got close holding her hand with the kunai and holding her up by the neck; with a twist of his wrist, he broke the woman's neck killing her instantly.
"Momo" the other ninja shouted as he went through hand signs "you bastard" he shouted as he took in a deep breath. "Wind Style: Greak break through" the ninja shot a powerful gust of wind at Kakuzu who stood there passively; Kakuzu threw the body of the woman to the side and dodged the win jutsu and he rushed towards the man.
The Kusa ninja put up his arms to defend himself as Kakuzu threw a punch at him; Kakuzu's hardened punch hit the man's arm breaking it as it limply hung to his side. Kakuzu pressed on with the attack and kneed the ninja in the gut making him spit up blood; Kakuzu grabbed him into a head lock and with a swift motion pulled up breaking his neck.
Kakuzu let his body fall to the ground and began walking around again; he stopped when he noticed his earth, wind and fire heart approaching him 'looks like any survivors are dead' Kakuzu thought as he fused his hearts back into his body. Kakuzu began to back track in order to find Naruto and Fu 'let's see how the brats did' he thought.
With Naruto and Fu
"No! No ple- guh" a Kusa ninja begged as Naruto slit his throat with one of his own kunai's and he began to gargle his own blood. Naruto stepped back as he looked at the 5 or so Kusa ninja who were trapped in his thread maze; they all ran inside the maze in a panic and got tangled up.
Naruto looked at the dead ninja with a sad expression; he did not want to kill them but he remembered Kakuzu's words 'the mission comes first always. Naruto sighed as he began to rummage through the pockets of the dead; Naruto pulled out a wallet and opened it and saw a few hundred Ryo.
Naruto pocketed the money and looked inside the wallet; there was a picture of the mans family showing his wife and 2 kids. 'Sucks to be y'all' Naruto thought as he threw the wallet on the ground; Naruto heard Fu land next to him and he looked over "find anything good" Naruto asked and Fu nodded as she held up her pouch.
"A few hundred Ryo, wedding rings and some nick nacks" Fu said and Naruto nodded "they won't need them where they are going" Fu said putting the sack on her belt. "Ready to head back to Karin and Mie" Fu asked and Naruto nodded.
"Yeah" Naruto said as they both ran off; Naruto and Fu ran for about 5 minutes until they found Karin and Mie right where they left them "Hey you 2" Naruto said in a cheerful tone. As he walked up both he and Fu looked off in the distance and saw Kakuzu approaching.
"Naruto, Fu are you done" Kakuzu said and both children nodded; Kakuzu was about to speak again until he noticed the 2 cowering red heads "who are those 2" Kakuzu asked. Karin and Mie flinched at his voice; Karin could feel the evil and greed rolling off this man in waves.
Naruto stood in front of the 2 of them and spoke "this is Karin and Mie" Naruto said "they were forced to work for Kusa; they also have my last name" Naruto said to which Kakuzu raised a eyebrow.
'Uzumaki eh' Kakuzu thought as he looked at them 'red hair, pale skin… seems about right; probably stragglers from the fall of Uzu 30 years ago' he thought. "It doesn't matter let's go" Kakuzu said as he began to walk away; he noticed both Naruto and Fu not following "I said let's go" Kakuzu said more forcefully.
"We can't just leave them" Naruto said "Kusa was using Mie for her abilities; if we don't- "Naruto began until Kakuzu turned around.
"I don't care" Kakuzu said coldly "we have to collect the payment for the job; they are dead weight" he said; Naruto was about to speak again until Mie spoke up.
"Wait, wait" Mie said "if it's money you want, I can pay you" Mie said gaining Kakuzu's interest. "B-back where we live about 20 miles north in a small house; we have things" Mie said "a gold bracelet, a platinum locket… and my diamond wedding ring; genuine Uzumaki artifacts" she said. "I'll give you all 3 if you take us with you" Mie said.
Kakuzu looked at the desperate woman and nodded "very well" Kakuzu said turning around "but if you slow us down you and your daughter will be left behind" Kakuzu said as he turned around.
Mie gulped as she helped her Karin to her feet; she then looked over to Naruto who spoke "welcome to the group" Naruto said as he started walking after Kakuzu.
"Kakuzu is a greedy, selfish and evil man" Fu said to Mie; Fu then began to walk after Naruto and Kakuzu.
"And…" Mie said expecting more.
"That's it" Fu said as she followed.
Mie began to doubt herself as she held onto Karin "lets go honey" Mie said as she began to lead Karin by the hand "I-I… I hope I made the right choice" she said as she followed the 3 mercenaries.
The next day Ame country
Mie and Karin were huddling by the fire in a cave trying to stay warm despite the down pour outside the cave; Fu was also there tending to the fire and cooking some meat she bought. As she was doing so she heard a noise from the entrance of the cave; Naruto and Kakuzu walked in Kakuzu holding a briefcase full of money.
"Payment complete" Kakuzu said as he reached into his pocket and threw a stack of money at Fu "here's your cut" he said; Fu caught it and put it in her pocket. Kakuzu looked at Naruto and spoke "that was a stupid buy" Kakuzu said and Naruto snorted in response.
"I find it hard to like you sometimes" Naruto said and Kakuzu chuckled.
"That's the attitude" Kakuzu said "never trust anyone but yourself" Kakuzu said as he walked to his corner of the cave and began to ignore everyone.
Naruto walked up to Mie and Karin "hey I got something for you" Naruto said as he pulled out a small box and handed it to Mie; Mie opened it and saw her wedding ring, locket and several pictures of her and her husband from inside her old home.
"What- how do you have these" Mie asked "these were payment to him" Mie said pointing to Kakuzu; Naruto smiled behind his mask.
"I gave him my pay for the job in exchange for those 2 things; and I broke into your house and took stuff that looked sentimental" Naruto said making Mie and Karin go wide eyed "I might have to cut back on eating for a while but it was worth it" he said kneeling down next to her.
Mie wrapped Naruto into a hug and held him close "thank you so much" she said crying a little "you have no idea what this kindness means to me and Karin" she said. Naruto not sure what to do patted her on the back and she broke the hug; Karin came up next and hugged Naruto.
"You are a good person Naruto; thank you" Karin said; she then pulled down his mask and kissed his cheek. Naruto blushed as he sat by the fire next to the 2 red heads; he did miss however the annoyed look on Fu's face.
'Red haired hussy' Fu thought.
Kakuzu walked up and looked at all 4 of his traveling companions "since you 2 are staying I expect you 2 to work" Kakuzu said to Mie and Karin; they both nodded "good; your training starts tomorrow" Kakuzu said to Karin who nodded fearfully. "Now get some rest we leave tomorrow" Kakuzu said and Naruto spoke up.
"Where to now" Naruto asked and Kakuzu spoke without stopping.
"Suna; there are probably some bounties there" Kakuzu said "we'll head to a town called Kareta Ki tomorrow; Fu, Karin and Mie will not enter just me and Naruto" Kakuzu said. "It's… not a town for women" Kakuzu said which made all 3 girls shiver in fear.
Naruto hearing this groaned 'great wonder what's going to happen this time' Naruto thought as he picked up his stick of meat and chomped down on it.
Ok another chapter done; I hope you all enjoyed it. So yeah, if you thought Kakuzu was a good guy… nope; also, Karin and her mother joined the group yay. Also, Kareta Ki literally means 'Deadwood' in Japanese; like the western TV show. Ok then like comment and share with your friends and until next time bye.