Rising Darkness

"I'm giving you one chance to surrender or else you'll eat through a straw." Naruto could feel Pierrot's power and practically see his bloodthirsty expression behind his mask.

"My. Big words little boy. I just defeated Choza Akimichi, an experienced wizard. What makes you think that you can defeat me?" Pierrot indeed had a grin behind his mask.

"You didn't beat me! Our fight isn't over yet! The only way you're getting to this boy is by killing me!" Choza wiped his bloody mouth, only for Naruto to place his hand on Choza's shoulder.

"Sorry old man Choza, but you're hurt. I beat his friend and I can beat Parrot over here." When Naruto called Pierrot Parrot again, this annoyed the shadow user.

"It's Pierrot!" Pierrot then realised what he did. "My apologies for that contraction. But my dear boy, unlike Raze, I am far deadlier than he ever could be."

"Using fancy words won't stop me." Naruto cracked his knuckles and his eyes briefly glowed.

'This child…..I can sense the power of darkness within him. I can see why you selected me, Master Hades.' Pierrot took out a knife and threw it at Naruto. Suddenly, Pierrot's shadow appeared in front of Naruto and almost flattened him. Naruto jumped out of the way, but his left shoulder was stabbed by the same knife Pierrot had thrown just now.

'Where did that knife come from?' Naruto then noticed a smaller shadow retracting back to Pierrot's own shadow.

"Oh my, my aim was a little off. I meant to stab you through your head." Pierrot laughed at Naruto's confused expression, which only made Naruto angry.

'He threw the knife, but his shadow got in its way. Then his knife stabbed me from behind and there was a shadow moving.' Naruto analysed his opponent's ability. He pulled out the knife from his shoulder, putting the knife in his left hand and doused the shoulder wound with darkness.

"Kid! He can manipulate his shadow and use it to travel! His knife went into the shadow in front of you and a piece of his shadow appeared to your side!" Choza confirmed Naruto's suspicions.

"You already had your chance Choza, so stay out of this!" Pierrot shot his hand out and his shadow headed towards Choza, splitting into several before emerging from the ground to stab Choza.

"Not on my watch!" Naruto threw the knife which was jabbed into his shoulder earlier and it was covered in darkness. The shadows were sliced by the dark-enhanced knife, with the the cut off parts bursting and Pierrot's shadow returned to him.

'He acts fast. He is faster than Choza Akimichi. That could be a problem.' Pierrot was no fool, despite his psychopathic tendencies, he had an analytical mind. 'His durability is good too and he is moving his arm around despite his shoulder being stabbed by my knife, which is also doused with a chemical that increases pain tenfold. And he used his Darkness Magic to cover the wound, he used it to dull the effects of the chemical. Not intentionally but subconsciously…I can see why you wanted me to test him, Hades.'

"Thanks for the info old man Choza. I saw his shadow move, so all I need to do is avoid it and whatever he throws into it." Naruto then turned his attention back to Pierrot.

"Big words for someone so young. I can tell that you possess great power and potential, but only if you have the chance to grow. Today is the day you die!" Pierrot was not actually going to kill Naruto, but to gauge Naruto's abilities, he had to take him seriously.

(Play My Hero Academia OST-Iron Battle)

"Shadow Carnival!" Pierrot's shadow stretched in several directions before coming out of the ground, claw-like hands.

'Crap!' Naruto used darkness to boost his jump to the air, with the shadowed hands following him. 'He can throw his knives through his shadows too.' Naruto spun around as he covered his body in darkness again. "Dark Drill!" Naruto's spell tore through the shadow hands.

'His darkness can tear through my shadows. And he covered his entire body with darkness, I cannot have him shadow travel either. This is most troublesome.' Pierrot witnessed Naruto head towards him. 'Your spell is powerful boy, however…..' Pierrot blended with his shadow into the ground to escape it, with Naruto hitting the ground and formed a large crater, alongside a smokescreen.

'These two. Naruto's already stronger than I was at his age, there's no doubt about that but I don't know if he can beat Pierrot by himself.' Choza was in deep thought. 'I made a mistake in challenging Pierrot in my Giant Form, Pierrot used it to his advantage and I can't even help the kid. But if I can land at least one attack, then Pierrot won't stand a chance.' Choza was nursing his wound and simply focused on recovering, waiting for a chance to attack Pierrot when the opportunity presents itself.

"Pierce!" Pierrot pointed his finger at Naruto, who was defenceless after his spell dispelled. Shadows moved swiftly to pierce Naruto but could only pierce Naruto's other shoulder and left leg. Pierrot then motioned his hand to forcefully pull Naruto towards him using his shadow tendrils. "Now brat, let us end this." Pierrot took out a knife and held it in his other hand.

"I'm not going down this easy!" Naruto had darkness cover his right hand landed a hit on Pierrot's face, who was sent flying. The shadow tendrils released Naruto and the blonde hit the dirt, blood leaking from his new wounds.

(OST End)

'T-This brat is getting on my nerves!' Pierrot was disorientated and part of his mask broke, which he covered with his left hand. 'I'm bleeding! And I just used a contraction!'

"You're underestimating me bastard! Something as weak as your shadows won't phase me!" Naruto did grunt in pain slightly, but he stood back up.

"Weak?" Pierrot removed his hand from his face, revealing a scarred man with brown hair and long face. "I wasn't going to kill you, but I'm sure my employer won't mind if you're gravely injured."

"Your employer?" Naruto was surprised at that piece of information. Choza finally managed to speak up about what he learned earlier.

"Before you got here, he mentioned that he came here to test your progress for somebody." Choza could not stand up. 'If this was 20….no, even 10 years ago, I could have recovered much quicker.' Choza gritted his teeth.

"Sorry, but whatever you and your boss want with me, I ain't interested, you masked pervert!" Naruto calling him a pervert just made the jester's eyes widen to comical proportions.

"I-It's not like that!" Pierrot's shadow split from him to form Shadow Pierrot. 'Another contraction…it doesn't matter now. I can't withstand another attack, so I'll keep my distance. Master Hades, I will keep him alive, but I'll bring him back broken!'

'What's with the shadow, it looks exactly like him. Oh crap!' Naruto noticed that Shadow Pierrot was much swifter than Pierrot himself and it formed into a circle around 5 meters from Naruto. It emerged and whipped Naruto with a shadow tendril from its right hand, scratching Naruto's left cheek. Naruto then tried to shoot Shadow Pierrot by focusing a beam of darkness from his index and middle finger, only for Shadow Pierrot to retreat into the shadow.

"Your injuries are finally slowing you down. In fact, most grown men would already pass out. I guess whoever trained you must have been harsh." Pierrot knew Hades was powerful and had no doubt that he helped Naruto with his training. "You and I are the same. We both suffered at the hand of others. For me, my old employers treated me worse than a dog on a leash just because they were rich and nobility. I gained power and used it to rid myself of them."

"We ain't nothing alike! You like hurting people because you think it's fun!" Naruto sounded childish to Pierrot.

'He does not understand what it means to be part of a Dark Guild yet. So young and so naïve.' Pierrot chuckled to himself silently. "Trust me brat, someday you will enjoy inflicting pain. Those who are shrouded in darkness all succumb to it. Or do you not want to find and kill the man who murdered your father?"

"H-How do you know that!?" Naruto was getting angrier, some darkness forming slowly on his body.

"My employer didn't spare any details about you. How you are just a boy who misses his daddy!" Pierrot kept adding fuel to the fire that was Naruto's rage.

Pierrot's shadow repeated its attacks, slashing Naruto's back with the blonde hissing in pain. Naruto then shot at Shadow Pierrot again, only for it to retreat into the shadow once more. Pierrot's shadow repeated this hit and run tactic. If Pierrot had stopped talking and not enraged Naruto, he would have won.

'Yes! Suffer, you stupid brat!' Pierrot did not realise that he was simply adding fuel to the fire as Naruto's body gave off a dark glow. "What's wrong? Where's the bravado from earlier? Worried you going to die so yo….."

"SILENCE!" Naruto released an explosion of darkness which blasted through Shadow Pierrot's attack and dissipated the entire shadow, forcing it to return to Pierrot and released a shockwave. Pierrot was sent flying back, but Choza punched the ground and held on slightly until he was also blasted back.

'He attacked in all directions and took out Shadow Pierrot. Hades, you bastard! You knew that I would underestimate this child! His rage is fearsome!' Pierrot was weak and tired. "You pushed me far child and made me use contractions with your annoying attitude. You win this battle, but we will meet again brat." Pierrot used the last of his strength to merge with his shadow and slither away. However, Naruto shot a blast of darkness at the shadow, which forcefully ejected Pierrot from his shadow.

"Y-You damned br…" Pierrot was hit by a punch from Naruto, who used a dark blast on his feet to land the punch. "Y-You broke my no….." Naruto did not let Pierrot speak and punched him repeatedly. Choza stood up and saw Naruto being covered in dark aura.

"Kid! Stop it! You're gonna kill him!" Choza called out to Naruto, who stopped after hearing that. His dark aura receded, and he looked at Pierrot's bruised and bloodied face.

'I-I let my anger get the best of me.' Naruto got up and limped towards Choza.

"H-Haha. I knew it." Pierrot was still conscious, albeit barely. "The darkness in your heart is strong. You have potential, the potential to become the strongest user of darkness I have ever seen." Pierrot stood up and shadows danced around his body. "But I've decided that you cannot be allowed to live!" 'Your orders be damned old man!' Pierrot sent as many shadow spikes as he could.

"Not today!" Choza enlarged his right hand and used it to propel himself. He then pulled back his left, enlarging it after his right hand turned back to normal. "Go flying!" Choza hit Pierrot dead on with his open palm and sent him flying.

"CURSE YOU!" Pierrot exclaimed as his shadows dissipated before they could reach Naruto.

"Looks like I owe you old man Choza…" Naruto gave a tired smile before he fainted.

'Looks like he's finally out. This kid will be a monster when grows up.' Choza smiled and took out a spherical lacrima. 'Better call for help, I can't move until my leg is treated.'

(With Lee's group)

"Father, are you alright?" Shino asked his father, who luckily did not have major injuries. Shino was joined by Choji and Lee.

"Yes. Your new friend Naruto defeated Raze. He is quite powerful despite his age." Shibi commented, which got a cry of happiness from Lee.

"Of course, he must be if he is to be my boss! So youthful!" Lee's outburst made the other two step away from him. Suddenly, a noise came out of nowhere, making all three boys jump and ready to fight.

"Calm down, it's just the communication lacrima Choza I have on my person." Shibi told them and took out a lacrima that was exactly like the one Choza had. 'It's a good thing I gave Choza a communication lacrima in case.' Shibi saw that is was Choza and was alleviated when Choza explained what happened.

(With Pierrot)

'A good thing I used my shadows to cushion my fall.' Pierrot took a beating and was breathing heavily.

"You went too far you pathetic clown." A voice called out and made Pierrot look around to locate the source of the voice. It was a now older Ultear and she looked angry. "Your contract was only to test him and leave him alive. You tried to kill him." Her voice was cold.

"Y-You! You're the girl that was with H-Hades." Pierrot was fearful, he had no strength left and knew from that expression, Ultear was dangerous.

"My name is Ultear, but you don't need to remember that. Not where you're going at least." Ultear had an orb in her hand. It floated, towards Pierrot.

"W-Wait! I know I went against the contract, but he's technically alive. I-In fact, consider this job free of cha…..AHHHHHH!" Pierrot was attacked before he could finish his sentence.

(With Naruto, a few days later)

"Eat up everyone!" Naruto was bandaged up but he was well enough to cook for everyone. Everyone began eating, with the group praising Naruto.

"This is good kid! If you ever want to retire from wizardry, you're more than welcome to be a chef here." Choza just devoured a chicken leg.

"Yeah! This is good meat!" Choji took another bite of his food. Even Shibi and Shino, the most stoic of the group, enjoyed their meal greatly. Lee just kept going on about on how youthful Naruto's cooking was.

"Well, I've had a lot of practice. And thanks for the offer, I'll have to get back to you on that one, but I must do something first." Naruto's expression turned serious, and he looked around the table.

"I see. Well, you're always welcome here." Choza told him with a sincere smile, and they all continued their celebration.

(Outside the Restaurant)

"Master Hades, I believe Naruto found his new teammates. Two of them are the sons of former Military personnel. And a boy with weird eyebrows." An older Ultear spoke through her orb.

"I see. Do they have potential?" Hades was on the other line and was curious to hear about the Naruto's potential teammate's talents.

"Potential is a strong word. One is named Shino Aburame and he controls insects, but is limited in combat. The other is called Choji Akimichi and needs to maintain calories to use his magic, able to change his size. But the last one is Naruto's first recruit, Rock Lee. His magic relies on his physical abilities, but something is strange about him." Ultear gave a brief explanation about Naruto's potential teammates.

"Those surnames are familiar. Yes, Orochimaru mentioned them being Minato Namikaze's old friends and they all enlisted in the military together. But I am worried about their connection to the Magic Council. That Lee boy, though, I know nothing of him." Hades told Ultear with some curiosity laced in his tone.

"Well, once I infiltrate the Magic Council and become a member, that should not be a problem." Ultear exclaimed. "But if Naruto's new comrades find out they're a part of a Dark Guild, there will be complications. They don't seem to be the type to join a lawless guild. What shall I do if they refuse?"

"Then they are simply dead weight, take Naruto out of there if he gets in trouble and you may dispose of them any way you wish. He has great potential which we cannot waste. But I also have good news. Soon we will have enough members to form the Seven Kin." Hades replied to her and had a hidden smirk.

"Understood, Master Hades." Ultear shut off the lacrima and looked at Naruto. 'Please don't do anything reckless, Naruto.'

(Unknown Location)

"Jiraiya. You need to eat. You're getting obsessed with that book, so, put it away before I punch you….again." Tsunade appeared behind Jiraiya, who was still researching the Book of Belilal.

"Sorry. I'll put it away." Jiraiya closed the book and rubbed his eyes. "This book has a lot of information. Orochimaru was interested in it and after researching it, I can see why."

"Well, it's better than your previous research." Tsunade glared at him and made the white-haired man chuckle nervously. "But seriously, you've been out of it for a while. You should take a break and more importantly, take a bath." Tsunade covered her nose with her hand.

"Will you wash me?" Jiraiya said perversely, only to stop as Tsunade glared at him after breaking the wall next to her. "N-Nevermind. I'll join you for lunch."

"Lunch was hours ago. Now get your butt moving." Tsunade pointed to the door, as if Jiraiya was a teenager. 'That book gives me the creeps.' Tsunade left the room, both wizards did not see the book give out a dark miasma briefly.

End. Sorry for the delay, I am working on improving my timing, though it can be difficult since I work more than one job now. I will be working on a few more chapters for this story before going back to Fairy Tail: Bonds.

Now, I kind of wrote myself into a little corner as Naruto is a Dark Wizard and his new friends aren't, but I have thought of a few ways I can write that into my story. Just debating what would be the best way.