Naruto: Kōkai

by Ken Miyamoto

After the failure of the Sasuke Retrieval Mission the Council of the Hidden Leaf decides to punish Naruto with banishment from the village forcing the hand of Tsunade. Now alone and no longer a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Naruto decides to take his newfound life into his own hands. Follow Naruto Uzumaki as he tries to find his place in the ninja world.

33. Chapter 33

Yo, it's Ken

Long time no see everyone, I've been writing my heart out for these chapters and I'm looking forward to this arc and how it pans out. Now as this is a double upload this chapter will drop as well as the next one after it so I'll keep the note brief. This time around things are going to be a little different with this upload, this chapter will drop today, and the next chapter will drop on Wednesday the 24th with the next chapter dropping the week after that.

That's right back to back uploads, it's going to be a whole thing but I'm running off of my excitement, so I've got this haha. Anyway I read the reviews and I want to thank all of you but I won't be responding to them in this chapter but I will be responding to them as well as any new ones in the next chapter of the double upload but I have read them and I highly appreciate you guys.

This chapter kicks off the Land of Lightning portion of the arc as Naruto and Tayuya continue to venture toward Uzushiogakure, that being said I'll be introducing a few original characters in this arc starting from here probably the most I've ever written in the story so far but nothing too crazy and I won't get ahead of myself.

As always, if you have any questions thoughts or criticisms you can leave a review I read all of them and will do my best to respond to them in the next chapter.

Thank you again for reading and I'll see you guys in the next one soon!

I hope you enjoy.

-Ken

Next Time! Chapter 34: A Friend Like Me (04/24/2024)

{...}

Chapter 33: What Burns Ahead

Amaterasu.

The great divinity that illuminates all of heaven.

Whose light would shine, brightening all that came into contact with the divine light of the gentle goddess. However, that light had a different effect on those deemed demons from the underworld, instead of illuminating and warm light for them the light…

Became flames that would cleanse those demons entirely.

He was one of those demons.

A small boy sat in the fetal position while placing his face on his lifted knees, he sat in a pile of ashes on top of what was left of a floor. His fingers trembled as he clawed them into his legs, soft sobs left his throat while he clawed harder. He and his family were demons in the divine light of the goddess meaning they should all be cleaned by the damned flames they carried.

That was the case, that was the truth.

…So why wouldn't he burn too?

The small boy grabbed his legs sobbing harder while the bright red and orange flames covered his entire body burning fiercely, yet the flames seemed to never touch him or even attempt to harm him. They cloaked him warmly while everything else around him burned away.

The bones of multiple individuals including his parents were scattered around while the flames danced on the boy's body, the boy let out another cry while his body shook from his sobs.

"Burn…"

The boy said while he looked up out of the flames around while the tears on his faces evaporated upon contact with the heat from the flames touching his face.

"Why won't I burn?"

The small boy said while he sobbed again, there were multiple houses next to him that had been burned completely to ashes revealing the bones of more individuals as the entirety of the village around him had been burned down.

The only thing left standing in the village was the small boy sitting in the snow like ash that covered the ground while he sobbed again.

The sole survivor.

All that was left…

…

-Current Day-

"Please help!"

The sound of a woman screaming was heard in a small alleyway while she was thrown to the ground, "Damn she's noisy." one of the men said while the other kicked her in the stomach. The woman coughed violently while the second man threw her over his shoulder.

"No one's coming to save you."

The second thug spoke while the first thug started laughing, "Yeah, that's right. Your family sold you remember? You're just merchandise now. That's all you are." The first thug spoke while licking his teeth while the woman coughed again.

The two thugs walked down an alleyway toward a large, gated compound that had an old looking castle surrounded by a garden. The woman continued to struggle during their entire trip into the castle, fighting for her life it was to no use.

She found herself being thrown on the floor roughly, she whimpered and glared at the two thugs who delivered her. "Fresh meat?" a blue haired woman with an eye patch spoke, getting the girl's attention. The woman was surrounded by four more thugs, she had a gold chain that had a tiger fang attached to it hanging earring that hung from her earlobe.

The blue haired woman quickly grabbed the younger woman's face, the younger woman groaned while the blue haired woman inspected her facial features.

"A high-quality cut too. The Kamaguri finally folded to the pressure huh?"

The blue haired woman asked while the serious thug stepped forward, "Yes ma'am." the thug spoke while the second one chuckled.

"They practically threw the bitch at us, when we got there! You should have seen it!"

The thug laughed while the blue haired woman chuckled, the younger woman caught a glimpse of the scar over her other still open eye while the woman finally let her face go.

"We'll put her with the rest. I'm sure the lord will be pleased with this one."

The eye patched woman said while the serious thug stepped forward, "Ma'am, if I may ask… are we not going to test her?" the man asked while the woman lifted her head toward him.

"Oh, I almost forgot. So, distracted by a pretty face I barely thought about it. That does affect her value, though I have to wonder… You really think she'd be worth that much to our lord? I can see her more useful for… other purposes."

The blue haired woman spoke slowly, dragging one of her fingers across the cheek of the young woman, the younger woman flinched at the touch while the eye patch wearing woman pulled out a small piece of paper from her pocket.

"Though you're right, the lord did ask us to look for that too."

The woman said placing the young woman's hands around the paper, the young woman felt a pinch while it turned into a sharp pain causing her to cry out. The blue haired woman looked toward the piece of paper; the paper became wet before it quickly dissolved.

"Water nature. She's got quite the affinity for it too. Just when I thought she couldn't get any better! This is why we keep guys like you on the team, our lord will be more than pleased."

The woman spoke excitedly while the serious thug merely nodded his head, "Great! So, we'll get her packed up and ready to move. Act quickly, you know he doesn't like being kept waiting." the woman said, dropping the younger woman to the floor.

"...It's kind of a waste, boss lady. You sure we can't just inspect the goods… for quality of course."

The first thug spoke while the men at her side looked toward her as well, she looked around at all of them before her eye landed on the younger woman who looked back at her filled with fear.

"Of course… you bunch of meatheads. Make it quick… Remember not to damage her too much or kill her. We still need her in one piece."

The blue haired woman spoke while the first thug grinned in response to the woman before turning his gaze to the younger woman who paled in response. The men approached her while she pushed herself away trying to make it to her feet.

The first thug quickly walked her down pinning her, "Is this really necessary?" the serious thug spoke while the first one chuckled.

"Don't be such a hardass, you heard the boss lady. As long as she doesn't die it's fine! Lighten up!"

The thug said while the other five men walked toward the pinned girl, the serious thug looked toward them before he just turned his head away. "Stop! Please!" the young woman yelled while the blue haired woman looked toward the serious thug.

"This is the food chain, she was weak. Her weakness is the reason she'll get consumed, you can't expect a hungry wolf to ever spare a sheep nor ever try wearing it's clothes. This is just the way it is. That's why we have to remain strong and consume."

The blue haired woman spoke while the serious thug looked toward the woman as she began walking away with a light sway in her hips, she took a deep breath before exhaling, running a hand over her face.

"What a day."

The woman said while the young woman who was pinned underneath the men struggled and fought them off while they kicked at her, she screamed and kicked while they continued to grab at her. She looked toward the dark ceiling while she was pinned again.

Was she really just thrown away? Abandoned to her fate? Abandoned by her family? Left alone to suffer the worst of what life could throw?

Was there really no one that would save her.

The young woman reached her hand out toward the ceiling desperately toward nothing, her eyes suddenly widened while the dark ceiling above her began to shine a small red-orange light.

The next few moments happened so quickly she could barely register it, one moment she was reaching toward the ceiling and the next she was thrown to the side roughly. The only thing she did know was something was there…

Something grabbed her hand.

The young woman quickly looked up toward a figure standing in front of her, he wore black clothes similar to ninja attire with white bandages wrapped on his wrists, his ankles, and his neck. The thing that stuck out to her the most was his hair.

It was the color of smoke.

"You… You're Yuria Orikage, right?"

The pale gray haired teen asked while the group of thugs who didn't even see the boy take the young woman from their grasp quickly got to their feet, Yuria looked toward the new arrival with surprise while she huffed at him.

"You're an interesting one."

The woman said while the young man glared back at her with his amber colored eyes, "Who the hell are you?!" the first thug yelled while the gray-haired young man said nothing as he merely pulled out a rolled-up page from his pocket.

He unrolled the page revealing Yuria's face on it with a bounty while he narrowed his eyes at the woman ignoring the other thugs, "Oh, we got ourselves a little bounty hunter… you come for my head, Cutie?" the woman asked while the first thug gritted his teeth pointing toward the gray-haired boy.

"I'll fucking kill this bas-"

The finger the thug pointed toward the gray-haired boy came off flipping in the air before hitting the floor, the thug looked at his now missing finger as blood spilled from it. The thug was about to scream but couldn't as a small scythe blade connected to a chain stabbed into his throat.

His head came off of his shoulders with a tug, the thug's headless body hit the floor bleeding out onto it while boy tugged his blade back to his hands. The rest of the group of thugs looked toward the boy while he pointed his own finger toward Yuria.

"Just her… I don't need the rest of you."

The gray-haired teen spoke while the young woman standing behind him looked at the now dead man on the ground with a slight horror in her eyes, "How uncute, just my type." Yuria said while the other thugs pulled out their weapons.

The young woman was about to take the opportunity to leave but she was stopped by a backward step from the gray-haired boy.

"…If you die, getting caught in the crossfire. Don't expect me to mourn for you."

The teen said while the young woman fearfully sat in place, as the stare down between himself and the men began. "Try not to hurt his face too much." The woman spoke, nudging her head toward the teen causing the thugs to charge at him.

The gray-haired teen spun his kusarigama rapidly spinning the blade before launching it toward the blade toward one of the thugs who deflected the blade only for the lead weight to slam into his knee, the cold glaring teen tugged at the chain dragging the thug toward him.

The thug slid across the ground toward him while avoiding another slash at his side rolling on top of the thug he dragged stabbing the sickle blade into his chest, the thug screamed while another thug stabbed toward the gray-haired teen who avoided it wrapping the chain around his wrist.

The teen then pulled the sickle blade out of the chest of the downed thug using it to cut off the hand of the thug who's hand he caught, that thug screamed out while his wrist gushed out blood. The gray-haired teen stabbed the blade of his kusarigama into the skull of the downed thug.

He stood to his feet walking toward the thug holding the wrist missing his hand, the teen then moved his wrist downward revealing two bladed tonfa. The thug attacked the gray-haired teen with one hand who deflected the blows before putting his arm into an arm lock.

The thug's good arm broke as it was bent by the gray-haired teen who kicked the man against the wall, the gray-haired teen pummeled the man against the wall stabbing aggressively into him with the bladed tonfa until the wall cracked behind him.

The gray-haired teen pulled the blades out of the man's body using the tonfa to block strikes from two different thugs attacking him from behind, the young man then turned around letting the corpse of the thug he was attacking slide to the floor covered the wall and floor with blood.

The thugs attacked the teen aggressively while he blocked with his tonfa dodging whatever he couldn't block as the men applied pressure to the smoky haired teen, the thugs continued to swing while the teen deflected a blow putting one of the thugs into an arm lock.

He kicked the other thug away before he began beating the blunt end of the tonfa into his body aggressively before slamming one of the blunt ends of the tonfa into the man's leg hard enough to break it, the thug screamed as the teen kicked him to the ground.

The second thug recovered running toward the white haired with his blade stabbing it forward, the gray-haired teen caught the blade with one of his tonfa disarming the thug pinning his weapon to the ground with the blade of his discarded tonfa.

The thug engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the gray-haired teen knocking the tonfa out of his hand before continuing to attack the teen aggressively, the thug managed to break the guard of the teen landing a hard punch across his face.

The thug went to swing again but the gray-haired teen seemingly unfazed by the attack caught his next punch, he then caught the hook from the man's free hand. The gray-haired teen put the man's wrists together while the thug fought and struggled in his grip.

The thug suddenly felt heat growing in his wrists causing him to groan before the gray-haired teen let the thug go, the heat continued to build up while the teen walked toward the thug. The man yelled as he threw a punch, the teen easily dodged the punch getting close enough to glare into the thug's eyes bumping his shoulder with his own.

The thug suddenly caught on fire, screaming as the flames cloaked over him burning him. The teen then looked toward the thug with the broken leg, walking toward him while picking one of his tonfa from the floor.

The thug tried to drag himself away while the teen approached him, the gray-haired teen caught up pulling the man off of the ground hitting him in the chest twice with the tonfa before stabbing the blade into his leg. The thug screamed while the blade extended to the floor keeping him upward while he grabbed his other tonfa from the floor.

The teen glared toward the man before stabbing the blunt end of the tonfa into the pinned man's body causing it to stick out of his chest with the blade facing outward. The thug yelled out in pain while the smoky haired teen grabbed the burning man, then pulled him toward the pinned thug.

The teen pushed the burning man toward the pinned screaming man before kicking the burning man into the blade sticking out of the chest of the pinned man, both men screamed as they hit the floor burning on top of each other.

The serious thug looked at the gray-haired teen in horror while he approached him next, "What the hell are you?" the serious thug asked while the gray-haired teen narrowed his eyes at the last of the thugs.

"A demon."

The gray-haired boy said with a straight face while the thug took a step back fearfully from the teen before he grounded himself, he took a few breaths before he glared at the teen while unsheathing his blade. "For my lord!" the man yelled while he attacked the teen.

The teen dodged the slashes while he reached toward his back unsheathing a short sword, the serious thug continued to slash at the boy who deflected the strikes. The serious thug pushed attacking more aggressively while the teen dodged more attacks, deflecting a hard slash.

He countered cutting into the thug's chest with a slash, he quickly pulled out two kunai throwing them at the thug's feet stabbing into them pinning him to the floor. The thug yelled while the teen slashed into him multiple times before stabbing his blade into the thug's chest.

The teen looked directly into the eyes of the thug who felt heat running though his body before he coughed, smoke came out with every cough before he screamed flames shooting out of his mouth when he screamed as the rest of his body set on fire.

The gray-haired teen then looked toward an amused Yuria as he kicked the body of the serious thug into several barrels setting them on fire, the fire reached the wooden walls setting them on fire as well.

"Well… from that display it looks like you and I have a lot to talk about."

The woman spoke while the teen walked toward her, the young woman stayed in the same place looking around in horror at the way the men were killed. From the light she saw before she was saved, she could have sworn that some divine angel was the one who saved her life.

Instead.

To save her from the clutches of hell, the heavens had sent her a devil.

"Well? What do I owe you for the show you put on with my men? As much as I love that look on your face, a man that doesn't get to the point makes for a boring night."

Yuria spoke while the gray-haired boy narrowed his eyes at her while he approached her, "I'm here for your head. You're still alive for now to answer my questions." the boy said while the flames burned the building around them while the woman huffed.

"Aw, you did all this for little ole me? You want my attention? You got it."

Yuria spoke while she brandished her weapon, a long blue colored steel umbrella. The blue haired woman spun it before she pointed the sharp end toward the gray-haired boy, "I really hope you last longer than the other boys." Yuria spoke while she licked her lips.

"You'll wish I didn't."

The boy said while he lifted his blade, the pair stared at each other for a moment before Yuri quickly opened the umbrella, spinning the steel. The gray-haired teen quickly deflected a shower of thin senbon showered out of the umbrella.

Yuria moved quickly swinging toward the gray-haired teen while he was deflecting the needles, the teen leaned backward avoiding her swing while he slashed at her with his blade. Metal clashed as Yuria blocked the blow, the teen attacked aggressively while the blue haired woman defended against the blows.

A grin began widening on her face while a glare formed on the gray-haired teen's face, Yuria blocked the teen's heavy slash knocking his blade upward before she kicked toward him sending him sliding backward. "That last one felt personal, do I know you from somewhere? Did I take something from you?" the woman said while her grin stayed on her face.

The gray-haired teen growled dashing toward her with his blade readied while she opened her umbrella again, "Water Style: Deathly Rain!" the woman yelled while senbon launched out of the umbrella with jets of water launching them fast enough to tear through the wood flooring like paper.

The teen backflipped avoiding the shower of needles, Yuria smiled while she began waving her umbrella launching the water covered needles in multiple different patterns causing the gray-haired teen to go on the defensive slashing the needles out of the air while carefully weaving through the needles flying toward him dodging the ones he couldn't deflect.

"Let's keep up the fun, boy!"

Yuria yelled while she sucked in a deep breath before forming a hand sign, she then spat out a stream of water that the teen barely avoided. The stream easily cut into the building slicing through the wall, Yuria turned her head moving the pressurized stream of water along with continuing to swing her umbrella launching the needles from it.

The gray-haired teen struggled to navigate the attacks trying to avoid the needles and the pressurized stream of water, his blade swung deflecting needles while he flipped and somersaulted over the moving stream of water. A few needles dug into his shoulders while the stream cut into his side.

"Gotcha!"

Yuria laughed while she increased the pressure of the stream of water, the teen quickly moved his blade to catch the steam from hitting his body. His eyes widened from the impact of the water slamming against his blade, he was pushed backward as Yuria added more pressure to the water increasing the amount of water as it pushed him into the flames.

Yuria moved the stream rapidly, slicing the large section of the wall where the gray-haired teen landed apart, she exhaled while the torn and burning wall landed on top of where the teen landed. "That all? Way to disappoint, Cutie. Guess you didn't want the answers to those questions that badly." the blue haired woman spoke while she watched the burning rumble.

"Ugh, guess I gotta clean up the mess. The lord is going to be pissed… No matter, the merchandise is still in one piece."

Her one eye flicked over to the young woman on the floor who looked toward the eye patch wearing woman, "Don't worry, Doll. I'll take good care of you until we leave." the woman said with a grin on her face while the young woman looked at her with fear in her eyes.

The two women both paused at the sound of wood moving, "Well well. You were holding out on me huh Cutie?" Yuria said with a chuckle while the young woman on the ground watched the wood move in the fire before a silhouette of the young man stood covered in the flames.

His eyes gleamed in the raging fire before he stepped out of it unscathed, he moved his blade into a reverse grip while he glared at Yuria who unfolded her umbrella again. The gray-haired teen crouched while the floor under his feet ignited, "Come and get it!" Yuria yelled while the water covered senbon launched out of the umbrella toward the boy.

The teen quickly moved his blade shredding the needles flying toward him, he leaned avoiding the water stream shooting toward his head. His footsteps left a trail of fire in his wake as he shredded through the needles and weaved through the moving stream of pressurized water.

The gray haired glared while he got closer to Yuria who closed her mouth cutting off the steam of water right as he got closer to her, the blue haired woman grinned while she opened her mouth unleashing the blast of pressurized water that she built up point blank toward the gray-haired boy.

The wood in front of her splintered while she raised an eyebrow, she quickly looked up as the smoky haired boy flipped above her. Yuria quickly opened her mouth blasting a stream of water toward the teen who quickly vanished causing the water to shoot through the ceiling.

Yuria cut off the stream quickly, turning around slashing at the sound of something landing behind her, her weapon cut through air while she found nothing there except for two burning footprints. Yuria looked around at the sound of running, she spotted nothing but burning footprints everywhere her eye landed.

"Damn it!"

Yuria yelled while she aimed her umbrella, launching a shower of needles at a pair of footprints, she turned her head trying to locate the boy who was quickly moving around her faster than she could see. The woman was about to attack again but a sharp pain shot through her arms, blood shot out of her arms as deep cuts opened in them.

Yuria groaned while her umbrella was quickly cut apart, "Mother fu-" Yuria was cut off by a sharp pain in the back of her legs as her Achilles tendons were sliced into causing her to fall to her knees. The woman growled in pain while she finally spotted the gray-haired teen appearing in front of her, "Playtime's over, Cutie!" the blue haired woman yelled while she managed to slap her dangling arms together long enough to form a hand sign.

She blasted a pressurized water stream point blank at the teen's head, the teen glared lifting his hand that ignited with flames smacking it against his face setting his head on fire right as the blast of pressurized water hit him.

Yuria grinned while she blasted the water against the boy's head until her expression shifted into one of horror as the gray-haired teen's fire covered head turned toward her, the flames covering his head burned hot enough that the pressurized water immediately became steam on contact never reaching his skin.

A knee slammed into her gut causing her to cough up blood before a hard kick knocked her to the ground, the blade in the boy's hand stabbed into one of her arms pinning it to the ground where she yelled out in pain.

The gray-haired teen exhaled causing black smoke to come out of his fire-covered head as he stared into Yuria's eye.

"That earring, the man who gave it to you… the one you call your lord. The Bandit King… Where is he?"

The teen growled while Yuria breathed heavily, "What the hell do you want from him?" the woman spoke while she yelled out in pain while gray haired used his foot to push into the blade stabbed into her arm cutting further through it.

"Not. My. Question. Where is he?"

The gray-haired teen's flaming head spat out smoke while Yuria yelled in pain again as the blade cut further through her arm, "He moves constantly! Right now, he should be in Nimbus Village waiting for merchandise! He mentioned someone! A blue-eyed demon! Please, that's all I know!" the woman yelled out in pain while the gray-haired teen took his foot off the blade.

Yuria coughed while she breathed heavily, the gray-haired boy's flaming head looked at her while he exhaled black smoke out of his mouth. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry just let me go!" the woman sobbed while the teen's eyes gleamed through the flames covering his face.

"The weak get consumed… that's the order of the world, right? One last question."

The gray-haired teen said while Yuria looked at him with horror, "Please… Just let me go!" the woman yelled while the teen leaned closer to her face while the flames continued burning on his.

"7 years ago… Homura shrine… do you remember?"

The gray-haired teen asked while Yuria groaned in pain, "I don't! I don't! Whatever it was, forgive me!" the woman yelled in fear while the teen looked at her before he exhaled more black smoke from his burning face pulling the blade out of her arm.

"So, you don't remember, that's too bad…"

The gray-haired teen sheathed his blade while he lifted Yuria from the ground by her injured arms causing her to groan in pain while he brought her as close to his face as possible, "I… I…" Yuria couldn't get a word out of her mouth while the eyes behind the fire looked into her eye.

"Cause I never forget a face."

The teen said while Yuria looked at the boy in horror as he leaned his head back slightly, "You mentioned I was your type, right? Here's a gift then." the gray-haired teen said while he blew outward quickly moving the flames from covering his head into a fireball that went into Yuria's mouth.

"A kiss."

The gray-haired teen whose face was perfectly unscathed from the fire covering it said while Yuria stared at him in horror as she coughed black smoke, "That'll jog your memory." the teen said while the woman blinked watching the teen's face become a younger version of it for a moment.

The sight of multiple houses burning around her and the rest of the group she was with at that time standing in front of a house two dead adults and a single child covered in the flames crying over them. Her gold earring gleamed as the grin on her face almost shined in the light of the fire.

Yuria stared at the gray-haired teen in realization while she coughed out more black smoke, suddenly the cuts on her arms and her legs had flames coming out of them while the teen gave her a look of pure apathy as he kicked her backward.

Yuria screamed, unleashing a stream of fire from her mouth as her back hit the ground setting the rest of her body on fire, the gray-haired teen watched her burn for a moment before he looked back toward the young woman looking at the scene in horror.

If this scene was bad, then the one that she was met with when they both made it to the exit was just as bad if not worse.

This man who had saved her life, on one hand she was terrified. She just watched this devil tear through people in a horrific manner she had never seen or even heard of in the worst of horror stories. On the other hand, despite the scene.

She felt gratitude.

"...Thank-"

"This place will be ash soon, leave or die. I don't really care."

The gray-haired teen said while the young woman closed her mouth, the look in his eyes was cold and driven by something horrific. Something deep and dark, his eyes were like fire itself, yet she felt like if she stared into them any longer, she'd drown.

The young woman looked away while the gray-haired teen gave her one last glance before he started walking away from her. The woman gripped her clothes before she mustered the courage to look at the back of the boy walking away.

"Thank you!"

She yelled while the gray-haired teen paused for a moment at her yell before he kept walking away from her, leaving her in the garden once filled with flowers covered in flames as multiple bodies of additional men stationed outside the castle burned scattered across the grounds.

The woman quickly left the burning estate while the boy walked further away from the estate burning the wanted poster of Yuria's face, he reached into his pouch before he pulled out another parchment unrolling it to reveal a familiar face.

"A blue-eyed demon."

The gray-haired teen spoke while the poster had a picture of Naruto's face on it along with the amount of ryo his bounty was underneath it, the teen looked at the poster for a few more moments before he rolled it back up and put it in his pouch.

He quickly dashed into the woods on his way to his next destination tracking down his new lead, once he found this demon he would potentially find the man he had been looking for years. Even if he had to fight against this demon to do it, whatever it took. It didn't matter to him, after all…

It takes a monster to kill monsters.

{...}

"Take that damn thing off, Shithead."

"I don't wanna."

"It looks goofy as hell on you! Are you trying to bring unnecessary attention to us?!"

"Says the woman screaming."

"Naruto!"

"Let me mourn in peace!"

Naruto argued with Tayuya while he tipped the straw hat on his head over his eyes dramatically causing the reddish haired girl to roll her eyes while the blonde dramatically pushed her wheelchair forward with a pained look on his face.

"It's an awful day for rain."

The blonde spoke in a gruff voice while Tayuya huffed, "It ain't raining, Dumbass. I can't believe you're so butthurt over a book of porn." the girl said while Naruto gave her a shocked expression from her response lifting his hat slightly.

"It's not porn! There's a wholesome story about a couple trying to figure out their lives together and the trails they go through along the way. I can't believe Pervy Sage hasn't written another book! What's he so busy with that he can't hurry up and publish the next one?"

Naruto ranted while Tayuya "Who the hell is Pervy Sage? Sounds like I'd want nothing to do with the guy, actually it makes sense you know a guy named that. Especially with your taste of 'Literature'" the girl said while the blonde shot her a look.

"It's a good story, it just has some adult parts… Besides I didn't hear you complaining when you started reading Vol. 1 during the trip-"

The blonde was cut off by Tayuya lifting a finger, "Shut up, that didn't happen. You have no evidence or witnesses. You'll just be a liar in the eyes of everyone." the girl quickly spoke trying to cover for herself while the blonde chuckled.

"I watched you read the book."

"Screw you."

Tayuya said while the teens stared at each other for a moment before they chuckled, "Seriously though, ditch the hat. I let the scarf slide because of my infinite kindness, but that hat is the cherry on top of the 'Come and get me, Fuckers.' cake." the girl explained while the blonde sighed.

"Lighten up, Tayuya. I get we're pretty popular targets, but I've got us if anything happens, you know that. This is a part of the whole freedom thing, having a little fun."

Naruto spoke while Tayuya tried to give him a glare but the smile on his face immediately melted away whatever stress she managed to scrounge together to keep the teen on his toes, "I hate how good you are at that." the girl grumbled while the blonde chuckled.

"What can I say, I'm a pretty comforting presence."

Naruto spoke while Tayuya giggled, "Yeah, don't push your luck-" her thought was cut short by something that caught her vision causing her eyes to widen at the sight of it.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Naruto asked while Tayuya slapped him on the leg and pointed toward a shop, "That." the girl spoke while they both stared toward the direction she pointed at.

"Yeah… That Barbeque place does look good, looks like they've got something called bulgogi on the menu. We should try it out."

Naruto said while Tayuya shot a glare at him, "The posters on the wall you idiot!" the girl yelled while the blonde grinned at her.

"Yeah, I know. I see them."

The teen said while Tayuya narrowed her eyes at him as they approached the wall, "So much for being a comforting presence huh?" the girl said while the blonde looked at his own poster before taking it off of the wall.

"This picture… It looks nothing like me. Seriously, this poster makes me look so… handsome."

The blonde pointed out the dramatized drawing of himself while Tayuya punched his side, "Shut up, the point is it looks like the Land of Lightning is aware of your presence here. There goes our peaceful and boring route to Uzushiogakure." the girl said while the blonde took another poster from the wall.

"I really like this one though."

The blonde took the poster from the wall showing it to Tayuya who snatched it out of his hands before staring at it in disbelief, the picture was of Tayuya's face the girl marveled at having her own wanted poster for a moment before she blinked. "Wait a minute, this looks nothing like me! What the hell is up with this little amount of ryo? It's like half of yours!" Tayuya complained while she looked toward the blonde who kept his mouth shut at her comment.

"I didn't say a thing."

Naruto said holding his tongue while the girl narrowed her eyes, "Smart. Shithead, we're making a detour. We're finding the brilliant artist who drew these and painting the walls with his blood." Tayuya said while Naruto tapped his chin.

"Y'know, if I had 100 ryo for every time I had to fight an artist, I'd have 200 ryo. Not a lot but it's odd it's happened twice."

Naruto spoke while Tayuya gave him a look before she sighed, "Do I wanna know?" the girl said exasperated while the blonde nodded his head.

"Yes, but now's not the time. We're not killing the artist either. Besides, I think this looks pretty accurate… except they spelled your name wrong."

The blonde said while Tayuya's eyes widened as she stared back toward the page, "Tayayu?!" the girl yelled while the blonde laughed at her dismay, "We're burying this son of bitch!" the girl freaked out while the blonde took the poster from her.

"Yeah, you look like a 'Yayu' to me. I'm totally keeping this."

The blonde said, rolling up the poster while Tayuya growled, "We should burn them both! Who knows when those Akatsuki asshats are going to decide to waltz here and collect your dumb fox." the girl said while the blonde went quiet for a moment.

"I thought it was funny."

Naruto said while Tayuya gave him a look, "Ah, it's uh the Nine Tails. He's butthurt about being called dumb. I forgot other people can't hear it." the blonde spoke while Tayuya blinked. "Ladies and gentlefucks. My savior, the weird boy who speaks to the demon in his body." the girl sighed while the blonde laughed.

"Yeah yeah, we won't spend too much longer here anyway. Once we're out of Nimbus Village it'll be a straight shot for a while if we avoid villages, looks like we're back to camping."

The blonde said while Tayuya threw her arms up as she was being pushed, "Yay." the girl said sarcastically while Naruto chuckled.

The pair traveled to the edge of the village where Tayuya pulled out the map taking a look at it, "Let's see, if we're avoiding villages then it looks like we'll make it to the Land of Frost within a week through the forest. We definitely want to take the furthest route from the Hidden Cloud Village as possible." the girl said while the blonde gave her a look.

"Is the Hidden Cloud that bad? I've heard things about them growing up."

Naruto asked while Tayuya nodded her head, "The Hidden Cloud are the worst kind of Shinobi hard asses only followed by The Hidden Earth. Brutal ninja that used to take ninja from other villages and indoctrinate them. Not to mention they have two Jinchuriki at their disposal." Tayuya explained while the blonde's eyes widened.

"Jinchuriki? Like me? They have two of them here?"

The blonde asked almost excitedly while the girl huffed, "As much as I would love to host a playdate get-together with a collection of beings that if they fought could destroy the entire county and then some, I think I'd pass. With the target on your head currently I'm pretty sure they would just straight up kill you. I'd like you in one piece so let's avoid a meeting if possible." Tayuya said while Naruto nodded his head.

"Yeah… makes sense. It would've been really cool to meet people like me that are out there, who knows what they've been through."

Naruto spoke while Tayuya looked toward him with a gentler look on her face, it's simple to forget the kind of things that a guy like Naruto has been through or any other Jinchuriki could have been through his sunny disposition displays his character and it makes sense he's thinking about other people.

It made her feel a little bad… just a tiny bit.

"Well uh, maybe somehow possibly there could be some kind of decent brief encounter or something… fuck."

"...Thanks, Yuya."

The blonde said while Tayuya looked at the boy and gave him a small smile, "My infinite kindness." The girl spoke as the blonde rolled his eyes in response.

He lifted his head to continue pushing her wheelchair only for Tayuya's eyes to widen at the first thing she spotted.

A blade flying directly toward her face.

Tayuya snapped her eyes shut bracing for an impact that never came, her brown eyes slowly opened back up spotting Naruto's fingers around the blade. He had caught it just before it made it to her.

Naruto and Tayuya looked toward the owner of the knife, who stood a little further away from them with a glare in his flame like eyes.

"Hey. I think you dropped this."

Naruto said as he lifted the knife, "See, I fucking told you! We're barely out for the village and already the bastards are coming in droves." Tayuya yelled while the blonde continued staring toward the gray-haired teen ahead of them.

The teen looked tattered and like he hadn't slept in days, his gray hair danced in the breeze like smoke while he lifted his blade he drew from his back.

"You… you're the Blue-Eyed Demon… you're the one he's looking for."

The teen spoke while Naruto lifted an eyebrow, "Get lost, knife throwing bastard. A henchman like you is noticing to waste time on, run back to your master with your tail between your legs and we'll let you live." Tayuya said while the teen's glare intensified.

"Who's looking for me this time? Also, Tayuya you really shouldn't randomly provoke people like that."

"He threw a Fucking Knife at me! Fuck this guy!"

"Fair…"

Naruto said while the gray-haired boy's feet began smoking, "Since I found you, that bastard shouldn't be far behind. I'll make this quick." The teen said while the blonde lifted his hands.

"Hold on. You still didn't answer my question! Also, shouldn't you at least try to ask someone who they are before you attack them?"

Naruto said while the gray-haired teen pulled out the parchment that had Naruto's face and bounty on it causing the blonde to quickly shut his mouth.

"...Fair."

Naruto said while Tayuya gave him a small glare, "Of fucking course he'd know who you are! This bastard must be some kind of bounty hunter. A shitty one if he's deciding to fight this close to town." The girl spoke while the blonde blinked before he turned his head toward the teen.

"You need money or something? We're happy to help if we can."

Naruto spoke while Tayuya punched his side, "Stop trying to make peace with people who try to kill us!" The girl spoke before she glared toward the gray-haired teen. "And you fuck off or die. You're seriously barking up the wrong tree with this one." The girl said while the teen gripped his blade harder.

"I don't feel fear… you're no different than anyone else I have to kill to accomplish my goals. Once I kill you then I'll find him next and end him as well."

The gray-haired teen spoke while Naruto's eyes widened slightly at the look in the gray-haired teen's glare, for a moment he remembered Sasuke's face.

"It takes a demon to kill demons, doesn't it? Naruto?"

The gray-haired teen asked while the blonde's eyes looked toward the teen, the knife the blonde caught started glowing. "Shit, he was running out a timer! Shithead!" Tayuya yelled while black smoke erupted from the knife in Naruto's hand blanketing them both. The gray-haired teen planted his feet setting them on fire before he blasted forward into the smoke with a thrust.

The gray-haired teen's eyes widened the minute his thrust landed. The smoke around them blew away in an instant revealing Naruto's hand around his wrist stopping the blade.

'This grip?'

The gray-haired teen thought in surprise at the strength of the grip Naruto had around his wrist, the teen flew backward from a kick from the blonde. The teen flew backward before catching himself rolling on the ground before he recovered back to his feet, he glared at Naruto again who quickly moved Tayuya out of the way.

"A demon to fight demons huh?"

Naruto said while Tayuya gave him a look, "Shithead, we should really just get out of here. Fighting this close to the village is going to attract unwanted attention, we shouldn't risk the trouble or-" the girl was cut off by the feeling of a straw hat landing gently on her head.

"You needed a new hat since you burned your other one, right?"

Naruto spoke calmly while Tayuya gave the blonde a look as he gave her a small grin with a reassuring look in his blue eyes. "Just as I thought too… That looks better on you." The blonde said while grinning as Tayuya stared toward the boy, her anxiety fading while watching the boy face the gray-haired teen.

"So that's what you are, right? A demon?"

Naruto asked while the gray-haired teen broke a small sweat looking toward the blonde, switching his blade out for his kusarigama.

"That's right, I'm a demon."

The teen spoke while he kept his eyes on Naruto, his blonde opponent had an aura that came from him that he hadn't felt from his other prey. He wasn't going to be like his other fights, but he had to win.

He had to kill that man.

"I see… That's a little sad."

Naruto said while the gray-haired teen looked at the blonde teen clenching a fist with a gentle look on his face.

Sad?

Visages of a burning house flickered in the gray-haired teen's mind as the boy gritted his teeth swinging the blade of the kusarigama setting it on fire.

"I'll kill you."

The gray-haired teen growled while he threw the blade toward Naruto, the chain flew through the air toward the blonde who avoided the blade. The gray-haired teen tugged at the chain swinging the flaming blade back toward the blonde who continued to dodge the blade.

The teen grabbed on the chain spinning it faster and in tighter arches trying to trap Naruto in the path of the blade, however the blonde seemingly moved freely even in the tighter attacks. The teen growled as he pulled the blade backward toward himself while Naruto flipped over it, the teen pivoted on his heel throwing the lead weight side of the chain back toward Naruto.

The blonde leaned backward avoiding the flying weight, he lifted his wrist upward allowing the chain to hook around it, the gray-haired teen gripped the chain sending a line of fire from his palms down it toward Naruto's wrist.

Naruto planted his feet while the fire raced down the chain as he formed hand signs, "Wind Style" Great Gale Separation!" The blonde yelled while the flames that were about to reach his wrist were blown away into black smoke. The gray-haired teen gritted his teeth throwing the blade side of his weapon toward Naruto through the sudden cloud of smoke, he felt himself getting tugged lifting from his feet.

The teen was pulled through the smoke right into the line of sight of the gleaming blue eyes of his opponent, the teen didn't have time to react before Naruto's chain covered leg slammed into his gut sending the teen into the ground and shattering the chains on impact.

'What the hell?'

The gray-haired teen thought to himself while Naruto's face seemed unfazed, this made the smoky haired teen growled before he roared at the ground launching fire out of his mouth.

Naruto jumped backward avoiding the wall of fire, "These flames, they're so hot." The blonde spoke while Tayuya could feel the heat even from her distance.

"Those aren't normal flames from some fire style jutsu. They even have a different color… could this be some kind of Kekkei Genkai?"

Tayuya analyzed the fire with the bright white core while the gray-haired teen ran through the flames with his tonfa, the blade extended outward while the girl looked toward Naruto.

"Shithead! Those flames aren't normal! Don't let them touch you!"

Tayuya yelled while Naruto dodged a swipe before putting the gray-haired teen's arm in a lock before punching the boy in his face.

"So, you think the flames are weird too?"

The blonde asked while the teen pushed his head forward with smoke billowing out of his mouth, "Focus on the fight!" The teen roared while the flames blasted out of his mouth toward Naruto who avoided the fire.

The flames hit a tree incinerating it almost immediately, the gray-haired teen was about to blast at Naruto again, but his jaw was slammed shut by a palm strike to the bottom of his chin causing the smoke to shoot out of his nose. Naruto followed up with a knee to his side before a clone appeared kicking the gray-haired teen in the back before Naruto followed up with a kick to his face.

The gray-haired teen flew backward while the clone pursued him, then hit the boy's back with a double kick sending him upward into an axe kick from Naruto jumping above sending him crashing into the ground. Naruto landed while he looked toward the downed boy, his clone exploded into smoke while flames erupted around the teen.

Naruto covered his face from the amount of heat coming off of the boy cloaked in fire as he stood back to his feet, his silhouette waved and flicked in the fire while he glared at the blonde.

"This heat… it feels like Arashi's. No. These flames might even be hotter than that."

Naruto said while the visage of Arashi's fire stance entered his vision for a moment while the gray-haired teen pointed toward him.

"I'll kill you and anyone else who gets in my way. Of ending that man."

The gray-haired teen's voice spoke out of the flames grimly while black smoke came out of his mouth, he crouched before he dashed out of the flames.

Within an instant he closed the distance between himself and Naruto attacking the blonde with his tonfa, the blonde avoided the first initial strikes before one of the tonfa slammed against his face hard enough to shatter the wooden handle of the into splinters. Furious orange met a determined blue as the teens made eye contact, the gray-haired boy roared while swinging his other tonfa at Naruto who swung his fist easily smashing through the weapon hitting the boy in the sending him spinning into several trees.

"Who is it? Who are you trying to kill so badly that you'd go this far?"

Naruto asked while the gray-haired teen exploded to his feet glaring toward the blonde, "I'll kill you. I can't lose." The teen growled like a man possessed while the blonde looked at the teen with a somber look before he closed his eyes.

There was no reasoning with this guy like this, right now he was as furious as his flames so caught up in his fury.

He was rage incarnate.

"Fine. You want to be a demon so badly…"

Naruto's look turned into a cold blue while wind began to pick up around his feet, the gray-haired teen obliged, setting his legs aflame in response.

"Then show me a demon."

Naruto said while the teen roared blasting toward the blonde in a streak of flames while the air pressure changed as the blonde met him halfway clashing with him. An explosion of wind and fire blasted out while Tayuya covered her face, "This is insane." The girl said while she uncovered her face noticing both boys were gone.

She looked around trying to spot the boys but couldn't see them, Tayuya could still feel the change in air pressure from Naruto's jutsu though.

Suddenly she heard an impact, she turned her head toward it only spotting a small flame. Another impact sounded, she tried to look even faster but only found yet another small flame.

Slowly the impacts continued in front of her leaving small flames in their wake as she focused as hard as she could.

Then she could only make out traces of the fight happening between the boys, yet they were still moving almost faster than her eyes could see. "How fast are they even fighting?" Tayuya asked in amazement while another impact sounded, in the clash the gray-haired boy growled before taking a punch from Naruto.

Footsteps of fire trailed across the ground while the gray-haired teen was on the back foot from Naruto attacking, the trees swayed violently from the wind while the blonde pursued.

The teen dashed attacking Naruto who defended against the attacks countering with even more power while he swung as hard as he could trying to hit the blonde. Another impact sounded as the gray-haired teen took a hard punch to his face, he swung back punching Naruto who quickly shook it off before hitting the gray haired with another heavy hit.

More flaming footsteps trailed across the ground while the gray-haired teen continued to clash against Naruto. The gray-haired boy had been fighting for years, training and getting stronger and stronger with every one of his fights since he was a child after that day.

Yet he was on the defensive.

Another clash with Naruto caused the air to move violently. The gray-haired boy roared attacking at the blonde again while the attack was quickly countered, the even look in Naruto's blue eyes never leaving seemingly unfazed by his ferocity.

His experience.

His strength.

His speed.

The longer they clashed the more it became apparent to the gray-haired teen who fought back with all his might. He was outmatched. In the clash between demons, the one with blue eyes was the one who truly matched the moniker in this fight.

He couldn't lose.

He couldn't fail.

Even if his bones shattered. Even if every drop of blood in his body was lost. Even if the last breath of his lungs turned to black smoke.

Even if it killed him.

He couldn't lose here.

A small boy covered in flames sobbed in rage while surrounded by ashes.

The teen's eyes rolled in the back of his head while the sharp tooth grin of a man staring into a burning house entered his mind. The teen roared while smoke shot out of his mouth as he launched a flurry of attacks at Naruto who was pushed back from the impacts slowly the gray-haired teen's body began to ignite with his own flames.

Burn.

Burn.

Burn!

The gray-haired kept throwing punches now cloaked by flames; he roared as he pushed as hard as he could against Naruto.

Then he felt something.

The teen felt his blows being pushed back slowly; Naruto picked up his own pace slamming his fists against the gray-haired teen's flaming ones.

"The amount of wind chakra I was using wasn't enough to put out these flames, so I'm gonna push myself a little harder."

Naruto spoke while the gray-haired teen's look turned into a shocked one as the blonde's punches made contact with his putting out the flames wrapped around his knuckles each time they met. On the outside of the clash Tayuya watched as the large fire that exploded from the teen was slowly being swallowed up by the wind rushing from Naruto.

The gray-haired teen kept swinging as hard as he could against Naruto, but he could feel himself continuing to be overwhelmed. "I can feel it. All of it. Everything you're throwing behind these punches. It's so heavy." Naruto said while he continued to overwhelm the gray-haired teen who roared while trying to fight back against the blonde.

Don't die.

Don't die!

The gray-haired teen, despite his best efforts, felt his swings become completely overwhelmed by Naruto's punches while the fire around him was engulfed by the blonde's wind chakra.

Naruto's punches began to pummel against the gray-haired teen's body while he tried to fight back in vain, the flames cloaking his body were being extinguished by Naruto's with everyone that hit him.

Naruto's punches continued to rain on the gray-haired teen who continued to roar in rage in a last attempt to fight back only for his roar to become a sob while the blonde reeled back one more punch looking toward the teen with somber blue eyes.

"Damn it… Looks like I can't understand you either."

Naruto spoke while the gray-haired teen felt a tear run down his extinguished face before the blonde slammed his last attack into the boy slamming him against the ground hard enough to leave him in a crater.

The gust was enough to push Tayuya in her wheelchair backward further into the trees while she covered her face from the impact. The gust subsided while Naruto stood over the gray-haired teen who stared back up toward the blonde with an empty look in his normally fiery eyes.

"..."

The gray-haired teen looked at Naruto in shock as he noticed other than a few scratches his opponent was basically untouched by his onslaught. He was overwhelmed and beaten and all the while he could the blonde was holding back against him actively trying not to kill him even though he could have multiple times.

He lost.

After everything, all those fights, all those deaths, everything he lost.

Yet he was still beaten.

Beaten by a person who was only supposed to be an obstacle to get to that man.

If he couldn't even kill Naruto…

What chance in hell did he even have against him?

"...Kill me."

The gray-haired teen spoke while Naruto gave the boy on the ground a somber look, the smoky haired teen's face looked defeated as a shaky breath came out of his mouth.

"Just kill me."

The gray-haired teen said while Naruto was about to speak but puffs of smoke suddenly appeared before them. The blonde looked around while multiple men in black long sleeve shirts with white kumo style vests over them surrounded the pair of teens.

"Don't move! You're being apprehended, any sudden or violent movements and we'll kill you."

One of the ninjas spoke while Tayuya was about to yell something but was stopped by Naruto glancing her direction and shaking his head.

Naruto then put his hands up surrendering while the men approached him, the ninja also approached the gray-haired teen on the ground lifting him to his before putting cuffs on him. They were about to cuff Naruto but were stopped by the sound of chains tugging as a growl came out of the teen's mouth.

"Kill me. You bastard! If you don't, I'll kill you! I'll burn every single thing in my path until I do! I'll kill these men! I'll kill your friend! I'll kill you! Everyone in my way until I die!"

The gray-haired teen roared while small flames came out of his mouth, the ninja looked at the death glare of the teen in shock while he growled.

The ninja pulled out their kunai to attack the bound gray-haired boy who roared "I'll kill you al-" the boy's yell was cut off by a punch cracking across his face knocking him out cold.

"Sorry."

Naruto said while the men pointed kunai toward him after he knocked out the gray-haired teen, the blonde sighed as he lifted his hands.

"All yours."

The blonde spoke calmly while the ninja looked at each other with confusion at the blonde's compliance before they carefully cuffed the blonde boy as well. Tayuya shot him a glare from the trees, wheeling toward him in an attempt to help him but once again she was stopped by the blonde who gave her a grin. Tayuya then watched as the group all disappeared in a puff of smoke leaving an empty area in front of her.

"...You. You fucking idiot! Don't grin like that you stupid bastard! We just barely got into the Land of Lightning, and you get arrest tussling with some edge lord fuck! Just you wait until I fucking find you! I'm gonna kill you! You're going to wish that guy was strong enough to kill you when I'm done!"

Tayuya ranted to herself while she pulled the straw hat from her head, staring at it for a moment before a smirk grew on her face.

"Ah ha! You see you Shithead bastard! I can track you down with this! Yeah, just you wait! The only reason why I'm saving you is to kill you myself! No other reason! So don't do that stupid smile when I show up!"

Tayuya formed a few hand signs while she fumed before she touched the hat, now wheeling herself toward a direction.

Off on her way to kill (save), that Shithead.

{...}

A small boy ran with a small pail in his hands toward a well in the center of a small village in front of a temple.

The boy huffed and puffed while he rested his little legs in front of the well that had a small stone statue of a beautiful woman in front of it. The boy smiled at the statue before he dipped his pail of water into the well, he then splashed the water over himself and clapped his hands together in front of the statue.

"Praising Homura again, young man?"

An elderly monk asked the boy while the boy gave him a big smile and nodded his head.

"Ha. For your family again I presume? You come here more than they do."

The monk spoke while the boy nodded his head before he looked at the face of the woman, "Homura, she protects with her flames, right? I just want to say thank you to her." The boy spoke while the monk smiled.

"You will be rewarded for your faith, my boy. By something more precious than you know. Trust that."

The monk spoke while he rubbed the boy's dark gray hair gently, the boy then looked at the statue before reading a description on it.

'人を殺す者は自分が死ぬことを覚えている'

The boy blinked at the carved words not understanding their meaning for a moment before he turned to the monk to ask.

Only the monk was gone.

So was everything else.

The boy looked around only finding ashes while he looked at his hands finding them covered in fire as well as the rest of him.

But he wouldn't burn.

The boy screamed into the air.

…

Orange eyes snapped open.

The gray-haired teen took a few quick breaths as he looked around himself.

He was in a cell.

The bars caged the teen in while he moved his arms, noticing his wrists were bound together with cuffs that were changed to the floor. The orange eyed teen looked at the chains before he sighed, closing his eyes again.

"Wow, I thought this place would be bigger."

The gray-haired teen's eyes opened again as he quickly turned his head toward the cell next to his spotting blonde hair.

"Yeah, definitely not as intense as the cells in the Land of Snow… I guess it's the Land of Spring now huh? Been a while."

Naruto spoke while the gray-haired teen looked toward the blonde with surprise, "You're here?" The teen asked while the blonde raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, and you're not yelling about dying this time. We're off to a pretty good start."

The blonde spoke with a smile while the gray-haired teen looked away from him back toward the floor of his cell. "I'm Naruto… well you said my name, so I guess you already knew that. I wanted to introduce myself again anyway though." The blonde spoke while the gray-haired boy looked toward the teen in the cell next to him as he clenched his fists.

"Why didn't you kill me?"

The teen asked while Naruto sighed in response, "Straight to the point huh? Not even going to ask about the weather or even being in prison?" The blonde spoke while the gray-haired boy just gave him a look.

"My bad, just trying to lighten the mood. I didn't kill you because I didn't want to, simple."

The blonde boy said while the gray-haired teen glared toward him, "I tried to kill you and your friend." The teen responded while Naruto sighed.

"Why do they always say that? 'I tried to kill you so kill me'. Well, you tried and failed so you don't really have much room to argue there, pal. I just decided and frankly there isn't much you could do to change that."

Naruto spoke with a smile on his face and a hint of annoyance in his voice, "I should be dead." The gray-haired teen said while the blonde kept looking around his cell.

"Well, you're not. You're alive, just like me."

The blonde said while he laid on his back kicking his foot at the air for a moment before he sat back up, "I'm not alive… I've been dead for years. A walking corpse." The gray-haired teen said while Naruto gave him a look.

"That guy you were looking for… you want revenge on him?"

Naruto asked while the gray-haired teen looked at the blonde with surprise before he looked toward the floor of his cell.

"I am… I was… I can no longer get revenge now."

The gray-haired teen said while Naruto tilted his head at the teen, "Why?" The blonde asked while the teen huffed grimly.

"I lost. You could have killed me multiple times in that fight. I could feel it, I fought hard as hard as I could, and you beat me. If I lost against you… who the hell am I fighting against that man? Someone that strong?"

The gray-haired teen spoke in a defeated tone while Naruto gave him a somber look, "You're going to let one little loss hit the brakes on your goal? I fought you and I could see it in your eyes. That fury. You're really going to let a defeat stop you?" The blonde asked while the gray-haired boy gritted his teeth.

"You don't understand! That man is a monster! I didn't just lose to you, you spared me without meeting me with your full strength! If I lost that badly to you… then what chance do I even stand against a monster like him?"

The gray-haired teen said while he looked toward the floor again the two teens were silent for a moment before Naruto huffed.

"That's a load of crap."

The blonde spoke while the gray-haired teen looked toward the blonde with slight surprise, "What?" The teen asked while Naruto looked toward him.

"What kind of a flimsy dream is that? You lose so you just say screw it and drop everything? That's crap. I thought you said you don't feel free fear, if you're scared then just admit that."

Naruto said while the gray-haired teen stood to his feet, "Scared? I'm not scared. I don't feel a thing. I haven't felt a thing other than that hate for years. It's not fear to know something is impossible." The teen spoke while the blonde sighed.

"You know, if you're scared that's a good thing… but you can't let that fear stop you. If your dream is so important and you gotta let it push you, let it drive you until you can face it."

Naruto spoke while the gray-haired teen growled, "I told you I'm not scared. I just hate him; I hate him so damn much. I can't run away from the facts. From the truth. The truth is if I lost to you then I'll lose to him." The gray-haired teen spoke while the blonde stood up.

"Then get stronger and win. Dreams don't get accomplished from sitting around and mulling over a little failure!"

Naruto raised his voice while the fire in the gray-haired teen's eyes returned slightly, "I don't have dreams! They all died with everybody else! They're buried in ash! Killing him wasn't something I dreamed of doing. It was something I needed to do!" The gray-haired teen raised his voice before he shut his mouth.

"Sorry… I guess I didn't get that part. Goals aren't exactly the same as dreams… your revenge isn't just a thing you want to do. It's something you feel like you have to do and that haunts you. It doesn't just drive you. It hurts."

Naruto said while the gray-haired teen looked at the somber expression on the blonde's face before he sighed. "I had to… I just had to kill him. It hurt. Now I realize and that hurts even more." The gray-haired teen spoke while he sat back down on the floor, his chains rattling as he sat down.

The two boys sat in silence while the small fire in the gray-haired teen's eyes disappeared, he stared at the floor while the sound of laughter from that night filled his head.

Laughing at the impossibility.

Laughing at his weakness.

Laughing at his failure.

"What if you made your need into a dream?"

Naruto spoke standing up in his cell, the gray-haired teen looked back toward the blonde with a confused look on his face.

"What? Didn't you just here me sa-"

"What do you want?"

Naruto asked while the gray-haired teen paused, staring toward the blonde staring back at him.

"Other than revenge, anything in the world with no restrictions. If you could have that anything, what would you want?"

Naruto asked while the gray-haired teen growled, "What kind of question is that? What do I want? I don't want anything. I just need to kill him. I just need this feeling. This rage. It's all I've ever had for a long time." The teen said while Naruto stood his ground.

"And after that? After you get what you need? Then what else? What's after that need?"

Naruto spoke while the gray-haired teen glared toward him, "I just told you I don't want anything else. I don't have dreams. I don't need them. I'm a demon, all I do kill. That's all I do. That's all I am. That's all I'll ever need to be." The teen responded while he turned away from the blonde.

"That's what you are. That's not all you need to be."

The blonde spoke while chains fell to the ground, the gray-haired teen turned around spotting Naruto's free hands before he looked the boy in the eyes.

"So, what then? If that's not what I need to be. If that's not all I am… then what the hell else could I be?"

The gray-haired teen spoke while the blonde put his hands on the bars looking closer toward his fellow teen.

"You can be more."

Naruto spoke, causing the gray-haired teen's eyes to widen while the blonde moved toward the lock of his cell and began working at it.

More…

The teen mulled in his thoughts before he looked at Naruto again, "You're escaping?" The teen asked while the blonde nodded his head.

"Yup, you see. I have a dream. It's a dumb dream, it looks impossible too on the grand scale but it's what I want to do. It's something that I believe that I can do. That I'm going to push myself to be able to do, it means that much to me. I can't fulfill that dream from in here. So, I'll just leave."

Naruto while the gray haired watched him fiddle with the lock, "You'll just leave? Even if you're locked in here? You don't have a key, even if you can't open the door?" The teen spoke while Naruto stopped fiddling with the lock.

"See… you can't just-"

The gray-haired teen was cut off by the door flying off of the cell from a single kick from the blonde who put his leg back down on the ground.

"Who said I needed a key?"

Naruto spoke while he walked out of his cell while the gray-haired boy looked at him with surprise as he walked over to his cell and began fiddling with the lock.

"Stop… just leave me here."

The gray-haired teen spoke while the blonde kept fiddling with the lock, "Nah. I don't think I will. You aren't a bad guy, y'know." Naruto spoke while the teen stood up quickly and glared through the bars.

"You don't know that. You don't know how many people I'd killed. You don't know how many more I'll kill."

The teen threatened while the blonde looked into his eyes unfazed, "I know you aren't, because I can feel it. You know killing someone doesn't make you a bad person… it's why. I have the feeling that your why makes sense." The blonde spoke while the gray-haired teen took a step back.

"You got a name?"

Naruto asked while the gray-haired teen stared toward the boy, he blinked before he tried to think about it. The only thought that came to his head was of fire burning and the look of that man's face.

It had been so long.

This is what he's been so long…

"I… don't remember."

The gray-haired teen said while the blonde gave him a look, "Oh, that's a shame. Tell you what…" the blonde said while he stopped fiddling with the lock. The door opened with a push while the blonde smiled.

"When you remember your name… tell it to me."

The blonde said while he took out a kunai and threw it at the chains on the boy's arms breaking them, the teen looked at Naruto with shock while the blonde sighed.

"I still don't completely understand how you feel, but I do understand one thing. You're trapped. Stuck in that feeling and that moment. It won't ever go away and I can't make it go away even if I want to."

Naruto spoke while the boy continued looking up toward the blonde who continued to smile as he pushed on the door.

"But I can open the door and break your chains. I can't force you to walk out, you gotta do that on your own. Once you do then, you get to do whatever you want after that. Right?"

Naruto spoke while the gray-haired teen watched him turn around to walk away, "You really think it's that simple? That even a demon like me, that's made his life into hell so he could meet the man who lives there to kill him. You really think something like that can be more? That a demon can be more? That I can be more? I can't." The teen said while Naruto stopped.

"I let myself get arrested because I wanted to talk to you… you remind me of someone. My friend, no… my brother. I thought if I could speak with you then it would make sense… I could understand him. I still don't completely but I do a little more now. Thanks to you."

Naruto said while the teen gave him a look of surprise while the blonde rubbed the back of his head. "I was thinking I wanted to be your friend because of that. That's how I knew you weren't a bad guy, he isn't either." Naruto said before he took a couple more steps forward before, he stopped again, the gray-haired teen watched him tap a foot before he sighed.

"I almost forgot; you asked me if a demon like you could be more. I know can be, I've got a lot of proof I've collected for a long time that says you can be."

The blonde said while the gray-haired teen looked toward the floor, "...How?" The teen asked as the blonde turned a little to give him a small smile with bright blue eyes.

"Cause I was a demon too."

Naruto said before he quickly dashed away leaving the gray-haired teen on his own while the boy looked through the open door.

The door was open.

He wasn't trapped here anymore.

So why wouldn't he move?

Why couldn't he leave?

The gray-haired teen heard the sounds of footsteps running down the hall toward his cell while he continued to look out of the open door coming to his realization.

He didn't want to.

"Damn it, the other guy escaped. This one's cell is open."

One of the ninja spoke while the other shrugged, "No matter, the important part is this one is still here." The ninja said as they walked into his cell and pulled him to his feet.

They began walking with him while the gray-haired teen stared at the floor not caring where they were going.

They would probably put him in a new cell, one more secure than the other one. Keeping him trapped here, but he couldn't find it in himself to care.

To fight.

His fire… it felt like it was gone now.

"This is the one that's been bothering our lord so much."

The words of the ninja caused the gray-haired teen's eyes to widen, "What… did you just say?" The teen asked while the ninja looked toward him.

"Look who's responsive all the sudden. Good thing you woke up, you need to be nice and alert for what's next."

One of the ninja said while the gray-haired teen looked up at a large door at the end of the hallway, they were getting closer to.

"What's next?"

The teen asked with slight confusion lacing his tone while they made it to the door, "That's right kid, you're the main event." One of the ninja spoke while the door opened, and the gray-haired teen was blasted by the roar of applause.

The gray-haired teen looked around at the large seating area filled with people, they were all cheering and applauding as he was pulled out into the open.

"There he is!"

"It's the demon!"

"Kill him!"

The cheers reached his ears while the gray-haired boy slowly came to the realization of what was happening, standing by more chains was a large man with an axe in his hands.

This wasn't some kind of cell or further imprisonment for Nimbus village by Hidden Cloud shinobi…

It was an execution.

The sound of cheering roared out while the man with the axe in his hands lifted his blade, the gray-haired teen was in a stunned silence as the two ninja carrying him set him down in front of the chains.

They locked him in the chains while the executioner egged on the audience making them cheer even louder.

"Ladies and gentleman! After the burning and slaughter of our comrades mercilessly by his hands we present to you the man that wronged our lord! I present to you… The Demon!"

The executioner yelled while the crowd cheered loudly in response while the orange eyed teen continued looking around with shock.

"Demon, for your crimes against our lord of murder you have been sentenced to death. How do you plead?"

The executioner asked him while the gray-haired teen said nothing while the masked man looked toward the roaring crowd, "How about the audience? How does he plead?" The large man asked loudly while the crowd cheered.

"GUILTY!"

The crowd yelled while the gray-haired teen's mind went blank, when they said the lord that made him only think of one man.

That man… the one who took everything away from him that night.

All this searching.

All this time fighting.

All to play into his hands.

"Well, Demon. No need to delay the inevitable right? You had a good run, you were almost impressive. So much so the lord himself came all the way out here to watch you die. To make you an example."

The executioner spoke into the boy's ear while his shocked face looked at the ground before he lifted his head enough to spot a large seating area that had a black covering over it.

His orange eyes could make out a silhouette sitting behind the curtain, they trembled as the man sat behind the curtain.

The teen could practically see his face already, that look.

That damn look!

The sharp grin of the man entered his mind as he began to breathe faster in response to the thought while his ears were flooded by applause.

He saw his house again while the man and a group of people stood outside of his door while the flames blazed around him, already engulfing his parents in them. He looked the man in the eyes as the flames covered his small body as a grin grew on the man's face as red shapes where his eyes should have been glowed.

"Well then… What are you waiting for, boy? Hurry up and burn."

The man's deep and laugh echoed in his memories while the gray-haired teen stared toward the curtain in shock. "Ladies and gentleman! Let this demon act as a reminder to any of you who believe you can defy our lord's rule! Say goodbye!" The executioner yelled while the crowd yelled out goodbye while the teen never took his eyes away from the black curtain.

Why?

Why couldn't he do anything?

Why did he have to fail?

Why did he get so close only to be further away now than he ever was?

Was he cursed?

Was anything he did ever worth it?

'人を殺す者は自分が死ぬことを覚えている'

'Those who kill, must remember they will die.'

Right…

He was supposed to die.

That was his real fate… not revenge… not leaving those ashes… he was supposed to burn too.

The gray-haired teen looked at the younger version of himself standing right in front of him glaring at him. The flames that were burning on the kid slowly stripped away the dark color from his gray hair turning it into the smoky gray it was ever since that day.

'Burn.'

The boy said to him while the gray-haired teen looked at his younger self while he couldn't make a sound.

He was supposed to burn.

His home.

His family.

He was supposed to burn like they did, he was supposed to turn to ashes with them on that day too. Amaterasu, the flames of Homura that were supposed to cleanse. They didn't cleanse him, they abandoned him.

Left him to suffer.

He was supposed to burn too.

The executioner lifted his axe after lining it up with the gray-haired teen's neck, he lifted it backward ready to swing while the teen looked at the ground.

So, why didn't he?

Why didn't he burn that day?

If he was supposed to burn, then why was he here? Why was he not ashes? Why wasn't he with them? Why is he still here?

"You can be more."

The way he was able to smile, the way he was able to break out, the way he was able to dream. How could someone called the Blue-Eyed Demon be so human?

Could he dream too?

The executioner swung his axe downward with all his might while the gray-haired teen stared at the ground.

"Isn't that right, Tsubasa?"

The voice of the monk rang in his ears as Tsubasa's eyes gleamed a fiery orange, the axe blade made contact with his neck shattering into pieces causing the crowd to stop cheering.

"...More."

Tsubasa said while the executioner looked at the teen in shock while the gray-haired teen pushed himself to his feet.

What do I want?

"More."

What do I want after that need?

"More!"

What is it that I want to be?

"More!"

Tsubasa roared, causing the audience to look at the boy in horror as flames began to creep around his figure.

"I want more!"

Tsubasa yelled as he thought past the fire and past the sharp grin on that man's face and past that there was nothing.

Then nothing became Naruto standing in front of the open cell door.

"Bandit King! I'll kill you! I won't die until I kill you! Then after you're dead! After you've burned to ashes! I want more! I want a dream!"

Tsubasa roars made the flames around him burn even hotter and with more ferocity while multiple ninjas converged on his position. "Sir!" One of the ninja threw a large axe toward the executioner, the large man winded up for a swing while Tsubasa's fiery eyes looked toward the man before he looked at his axe.

He spotted a fang charm with a gold chain swinging from it, another image of the group standing in front of his burning childhood home appeared in his vision. Tsubasa's eyes flared as he grabbed onto the chains holding him in as he roared.

"MORE!"

The smoky haired teen yelled as he tightened his grip around the chain, beginning to heat them up while he pulled at them.

"Lights out, Demon!"

The executioner yelled while the blade of his axe covered in water, Tsubasa's fiery orange eyes glared at the executioner while he tugged at the chains holding him.

The crowd looked at the teen with a shocked awe while they watched the chains beginning to melt while he roared. The younger Tsubasa faded as the current teenage boy stood in his place, the executioner swung his axe toward the gray-haired teen's neck.

"Water Style: Torrential Beheading!"

The executioner yelled while Tsubasa roared in defiance, bending his chains more as they were beginning to fall apart, the teen faced the executioner as his axe grew closer to his neck.

Time seemed to slow down as the executioner's water covered axe slowly reached toward the flames flaring from around the gray-haired teen's neck.

"I can open the door and break your chains… I can't force you to walk out, you gotta do that on your own. Once you do then, you get to do whatever you want after that. Right?"

Naruto's words echoed through Tsubasa's head as he gave one last roar while his chains continued to bend right as the axe was about to meet its mark.

I want to know what's next.

I want to know why I didn't die and what that means.

"I'm going to live, even if it kills me!"

Tsubasa yelled while the axe made contact with his neck, his fiery eyes still held that determined look as dust exploded around them. "That look in your eyes…" A voice spoke while broken chain links flew through the air, Tsubasa's orange-colored eyes widened at the figure now standing in front of him as he grinned.

"That's a good look."

{...}

Naruto said while Tsubasa stared at the blonde in disbelief while the crowd began speaking amongst themselves.

"That's the wanted ninja!"

"The Blue-Eyed Demon!"

The crowd yelled out while the executioner looked toward the blonde teen, "You!" The man spoke while Naruto rubbed the back of his head.

"Jeez, out of all the names to stick they picked that one huh?"

Naruto spoke while he gave a confident look back toward Tsubasa who continued to stare at him from the ground while the executioner gritted his teeth.

"Fine by me."

The crowd continued to make a commotion while the blonde raised an eyebrow while looking around.

"So, is this what they mean when they say stuff like 'Showstopper'?"

The blonde joked while Tsubasa stood to his feet, "Naruto… What are you doing here?" The gray-haired boy asked while the blonde gave him a smile.

"Like I said, I can break your chains… but you were the one who chose to walk out. I'm here to make sure you do."

Naruto said while several ninjas in white vests jumped down into the stage area surrounding the two teenage boys. "This place was a maze; I can't even begin to tell you how long it took to find things in there. Tayuya was a big help just getting me here, oh that being said. I found this." Naruto explained while he tossed a blade to Tsubasa who caught it, the boy stared at his blade for a moment before he looked back up toward the blonde.

"You're going to need that, Tayuya gets cranky when I take too long, so we'll have to make this quick."

Naruto said while Tsubasa gave him a look for a moment before he nodded, "It doesn't matter who you are! I'll kill you and that demon!" The executioner yelled while the blonde shook his head.

"You're wrong."

Naruto said while he gave the large man a thumbs down before he pointed that thumb back toward himself. "You're dealing with two demons now!" Naruto yelled out while Tsubasa looked toward the boy with surprise while he thought back to their fight when he called the blonde a demon.

"Naruto…"

Tsubasa spoke standing to his feet while the blonde looked toward the smoky haired boy gripping his blade. "The one with the axe… he's mine." Tsubasa said glaring toward the executioner while Naruto nodded his head before clenching his fist tightly.

"Alright, I'll take care of the rest then."

Naruto spoke while he walked behind Tsubasa who crouched slightly, the blonde faced the rest of the ninja as he crouched. "Don't let either of them leave alive!" The executioner yelled while the ninja surrounding them quickly generated electricity firing it toward the pair.

Naruto's heels made contact with Tsubasa's heels as flames met wind, they exploded from the large explosion from their feet toward their opponents quickly.

Naruto spun, slamming a kick into one of the ninja's sides before slamming a punch into the cheek of another one.

Tsubasa blasted by one ninja slashing him on the side setting the man on fire before he avoided another lightning jutsu, the gray haired quickly dispatched the ninja before glaring toward the large man.

"That day all those years ago… I'm guessing you don't remember either?"

Tsubasa growled while the executioner huffed gripping his axe, "If I remembered every meaningless life I've taken, I wouldn't ever remember anything important." The large man spoke while the gray haired exhaled black smoke.

"Let's fix that."

Tsubasa's feet ignited with flames while he blasted toward the executioner kicking at him, the executioner blocked the kick with his axe before pushing the boy backward.

Tsubasa slid while the executioner moved quickly swinging his axe down on the teen who dodged the slash.

Naruto meanwhile spun avoiding a bolt of lightning flying toward him, he then ducked underneath a stab toward his head from a ninja with a sword.

Naruto grabbed the ninja's arm slamming a knee into his side before spinning the ninja around rapidly before throwing him, a clone puffed into existence holding onto him as they collided into a small group of the ninja. The clone exploded into wind launching them into the air where more clones kicked the multiple men in the air into the axe kick of a clone above them.

The men crashed into the ground while Naruto dodged the lightning-covered punches of a ninja that got close, the ninja swung at the blonde aggressively until the teen leaned backward avoiding a quick jab. The ninja unleashed a spinning kick with his lightning-covered leg while Naruto formed hand signs as he clapped his hands together.

"Wind Style: Gale Separation!"

Naruto yelled while the ninjas leg stopped in place being held by the wind between the blonde's palms, the teen then hopped off of the ground placing both feet against the ninja before blasting him into one of the walls. The blonde landed while the ground at his feet formed spikes, Naruto avoided the spikes as several ninja pursued him.

Tsubasa slid backward after blocking an attack from the masked man's axe, the executioner quickly kept the pressure on the gray-haired boy as he attacked relentlessly.

Tsubasa narrowly dodged the fast and powerful slashes as he crouched avoiding an upward slash, the gray-haired teen rubbed his hands together, coating his hands in bright flames. Tsubasa struck at the executioner with a cross chop that the large man narrowly avoided, the teen's flaming hands grazed both of sides causing the fire to begin to spread.

Tsubasa spun on his heel pressing forward to continue his attack jabbing his flaming hands toward the executioner, the large man tore his shirt off as it quickly burned to dust.

The gray-haired teen's strikes slammed against the blade of the axe the executioner used to block his jabs, Tsubasa struck harder and faster pushing the executioner backward slightly.

The teen slammed a heavy enough strike to break through the guard, his flaming hand jabbed the large man but only steam left his attack. Tsubasa's eyes widened as he took a heavy kick that sent him spinning, he recovered landing on his feet while the executioner chuckled.

"I heard about what happened to Yuria, what you did to her. Those flames of yours are too dangerous to deal with without precaution, so I made this just for you."

The executioner spoke while Tsubasa noticed his body was glistening in the light, "Water Style: Second Skin!" The executioner yelled while he grinned underneath his mask.

Tsubasa gritted his teeth while he dashed leaving a trail of flaming footsteps in his wake, his speed caught the executioner off guard allowing the teen close enough to slash him. The executioner grinned as Tsubasa's blade just slid off of his body without cutting it, the gray-haired teen spun on his heel sucking in a deep breath.

He exhaled the black smoke and bright red and orange flames directly against the executioner's body cloaking in a bath of flames, Tsubasa looked toward the fire burning until an axe swung out of the flames.

Tsubasa blocked it with his sword launching the teen backward, the executioner lunged out of the flames unscathed swinging toward the boy aggressively.

Tsubasa dodged and blocked while the large man began to wear him down with his heavy attacks, the executioner turned his axe smacking Tsubasa across the face with the back of it causing the boy to spit out blood. The executioner spun sweeping Tsubasa's feet from the ground before turning his axe back to the bladed side swing toward the gray-haired teen's exposed torso.

The teen was able to react quick enough to block the blade of the axe with his blade as he was launched into the ground, Tsubasa coughed as he crashed into the ground.

"Time's up, Demon!"

The executioner yelled while he dashed toward the teen who quickly got to his feet quick enough to ignite his blade, the large man unleashed a heavy swing that launched a sharp wave of water from it.

The water quickly turned to steam on contact with the flaming blade while the large man swung again. "Another swing?" Tsubasa said while he barely blocked this one with his blade as the sharp wave of water turned to steam on contact with his blade, but the edges slashed into Tsubasa.

The gray-haired teen gritted his teeth as his guard failed while the large man lifted his axe in his third and heaviest swing.

Tsubasa looked up toward the swing while it moved downward on top of him even faster than the other two swings, the teen tried to reignite his blade to guard but the axe was too close to block.

"Torrential Beheading!"

The executioner laughed while he swung the water covered axe, Tsubasa ignited his chest in an attempt to counter the water as the sound of a boom echoed while Naruto's leg kicked the axe out of the way. Naruto spun throwing a punch, but his fist slid across the large man's chest, the executioner swung again while the blonde blasted him backward with wind.

"The hell is with this guy? Why is he so slippery?"

Naruto asked waving his hand that touched him in disgust while Tsubasa panted, "It's a jutsu he's using to counter attacks, not even blades or my flames can affect him." The gray-haired teen said while he regained his composure.

"Gross."

The blonde said while the executioner laughed, "Good for me! I'll get to take two demon heads!" The large man readied his axe while Naruto tucked his necklace in his shirt.

"Recover as much as you can and the minute you can start attacking this guy."

Naruto said while Tsubasa gave him a look, "You got a plan?" The teen asked while the blonde shook his head.

"Not really, but I got a feeling we've got this as long as we fight together. When you attack, keep moving, I'll adjust to your pace."

The blonde said while Tsubasa nodded his head, the executioner appeared in front of them aggressively swinging his axe upward toward Naruto. Naruto somersaulted avoiding the slash, the blonde landed back on his feet as he spun kicking the large man.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Kick!"

The blonde yelled while the air-covered kick sent the axe-wielding man backward, "You didn't honestly think that'd-" the executioner was cut off as he blocked a strike from Naruto.

Naruto began to attack the executioner aggressively while the large man was put on the defensive, 'He's fast!' the executioner thought while he could barely react to the blonde's attacks. The executioner tried to slash at Naruto's head but the blonde ducked, avoiding the slash completely before he started throwing punches into the man's muscular chest.

Naruto's punches slid off of the executioner's chest while the man grinned, "That isn't going to work!" He yelled while Naruto continued to swing creating ripples across his skin.

The executioner's face was knocked to the side by a punch while Naruto continued to swing into the large man's chest, "I told you there's no us- huh?" The executioner raised an eyebrow as he noticed bubbles beginning to form.

"At the end of the day, a jutsu is a jutsu. That means there's always some kind of way around it!"

Naruto yelled as he jabbed two fingers against the executioner's chest causing the air bubbles to pop exposing his skin, the blonde was about to unleash a devastating kick into the opening, but he was stopped by the swing of an axe.

The blonde flipped backward while the large man advanced, "Damn you!" The executioner yelled while a kick slammed across his face.

Tsubasa spun landing to his feet while the executioner staggered, "I get it now. Don't stop moving!" The gray-haired teen said while Naruto grinned.

The executioner glared at both boys while he growled, "You bastards!" The man yelled while his water skin reformed itself.

"Hey, you mind if we pick up the pace a bit?"

Naruto said while the executioner watched wind build up around the blonde's legs while flames flared from Tsubasa's legs, "I'll kill you both!" The executioner yelled while the teens put their hands to their sides.

"Go!"

Naruto yelled while both teens exploded from their spots, the executioner swung while the blonde avoided the swings slamming punches and kicks into the large man's body.

Following up with Naruto, Tsubasa attacked closely, taking advantage of the overwhelmed man to attack.

Their attacks continued to slide off of the executioner while he struggling to keep up with their attacks, he swung his axe toward Naruto who slid backward before he bursted forward slamming a knee into his chest.

Tsubasa slid in throwing jabs into his chest while Naruto went high attacking the large man's head and face, the executioner growled as he swung his axe in a wild trapping the two boys and himself in a circle of water.

He spun his axe around his head slamming his axe blade into the ground, the water was pulled in before splashing outward into spikes. The executioner panted as he spotted the two boys gone from his vision, he turned around right as the air pressure changed. Naruto's kick slammed into the water skin pushing him backward, the executioner swung toward the blonde only for Tsubasa to slide in jabbing his hand against the man's chest.

Tsubasa's hand ignited as he slapped his palm against the executioner's chest, an air bubble was formed that the teen pushed his burning hand against. The bubble popped exposing the bare skin of the executioner while Tsubasa tried to touch him, the water skin quickly tried to reform against the teen's pushing hand.

"Damn it!"

The executioner expelled the water outward causing Tsubasa to stagger, he then swung his axe trying to slash through the boy, but the gray-haired teen jumped over his slash right as Naruto came in with a kick.

Naruto swung another kick he used to launch Tsubasa in the air while he planted his feet and started throwing punches. The executioner yelled in pain while Naruto pummeled into him, his blue eyes gleaming as he swung harder.

Tsubasa pointed his blade downward igniting it in his flames while Naruto continued to pummel into the large man, the blonde twisted his wrist slamming a heavy punch against the axe-wielding man's body before he flipped backward. Wind concentrated around the executioner before exploding outward around him keeping him in place while Tsubasa fell toward him.

Tsubasa's blade stabbed downward right as the wind let up, "Water Style: Second Skin!" The large man yelled while the water covered him just as the tip of Tsubasa's blade made contact.

The water bubbled against the heat of the blade while Tsubasa pushed downward against the thin layer of water.

The visage of himself as a child holding onto the monk's corpse while the flames burned around him, the group still standing outside watching him.

Tsubasa yelled while the flames grew more intense around his blade, the water skin began to evaporate faster as the executioner poured his chakra into maintaining the jutsu.

The visage of a young Tsubasa praying in front of the Homura statue while the monk playfully splashed water over him. The young boy laughed while the older man smiled at him.

Tsubasa roared while the flames grew beginning to engulf his body, the executioner looked scared as he continued to pour as much chakra as he could into the skin that bubbled away faster and faster.

I… almost forgot who I was.

I forgot my name. I just became the very thing I hated. The thing that I swore that I would fear.

The flames.

That hate filled fire.

Tsubasa roared louder as the flames continued to burn hotter, climbing up his body while the executioner lifted his axe, "Die, Demon!" the man yelled while his weapon snapped in half.

"Not on my watch."

Naruto said while the executioner's eyes widened into a fear filled expression while the flames began to burn brighter.

I don't feel like that this time… I still feel the heat and the hate…

How much it burns in me.

But now I can see something… Something more than the fire… Something different.

Something… more.

Behind a large fire Naruto stood outside an open-door waving at him to walk out while the younger Tsubasa looked out toward him. The young boy began taking steps toward Naruto outside the door while reaching his hand out, the younger boy staggered and struggled but he still reached.

The boy then tripped over toward more flames burning in front of him, he looked fearfully at them before a hand grabbed his. Tsubasa, now a teenager, looked up in surprise toward Naruto who held onto his wrist grinning at him.

"That something… Something more… some kind of dream… some kind of life… It's the beginning. I can feel it."

Tsubasa spoke while the flames covered his body completely as he pushed down into the skin vaporizing it.

The monk.

His parents.

Then Naruto pulling him through the open door away from the dark and the fire.

"That beginning… starts with your end!"

Tsubasa's yell grew into a roar as the flames covered his entire body and his face as the water skin was punctured by his blade, the executioner screamed in pain while the flames danced across his body. The flames burned away his mask revealing his face, the executioner remembered placing his axe on his shoulder staring at the burning house with pride.

He also remembered that child's face…

The look in his eyes that night.

Back to send him to his grave.

The orange eyes of the child transitioned into the flame covered eyes of the roaring Tsubasa stabbing into him as the flames engulfed them both.

"My lord!"

The executioner screamed one last time as smoke and flames came out of his mouth and eyes as he was burned to ashes underneath the fire of Tsubasa. The fire exploded outward creating a large blossoming flower of fire that died away as soon as it was formed.

The crowd was silent.

They watched as Tsubasa panted over the ashes of where the executioner used to be, the teen took deep breaths while Naruto put a hand on his shoulder. Tsubasa flinched looking toward Naruto expecting disgust but all he could see in those blue eyes was kindness.

Like someone looking at another human… not a monster.

"I'm… I'm sorry."

Tsubasa spoke while Naruto lifted the gray-haired teen to his feet, he looked around at the crowd but instead of fear filled faces.

They looked like they were in relief instead.

"It's over."

Naruto said while Tsubasa gave the blonde a look before he closed his eyes, the gray-haired teen took the fang accessory off of the axe head before he set it on fire, chucking it toward the large seat with the black veil over it.

"It's not over… Not until that man… The Bandit King is dead."

Tsubasa watched as the empty seating area caught on fire burning up completely while Naruto watched it as well.

"Let's go, got a cranky person waiting, remember?"

Naruto spoke in a lighter tone while Tsubasa stared toward the blonde for a moment before he nodded his head. The two teens walked away from the crowd as cheers that were once for death became cheers of gratitude.

{...}

"You mind filling me in on what exactly your dumbass fucked up plan was getting yourself arrested?!"

Tayuya yelled while Naruto chuckled at the girl who was yelling at him, "I-" Tsubasa tried to speak up but the girl pointed at him.

"Shut up, Fuck Face! I got more than a few words for you!"

Tayaya yelled while Tsubasa shut his mouth in response to the girl yelling at him while Naruto rubbed the back of his head.

"Don't worry, she gets like this when she's worried."

Naruto said with a smile while Tsubasa sweat dropped, "You're going to be worried about my foot up your ass, if you don't get to explaining." The reddish haired girl said while Tsubasa was taken aback by the girl.

Tsubasa watched Naruto explaining the method behind his madness while Tayuya gave him little chance to joke around which he did anyway.

He could tell that they were close.

He was a little odd and she was aggressive, but he could tell they both meant well to each other. "Now, let's get to the elephant in the room. The fuck is Edge Lord doing here? He's had his piss and moan, send his ass on the road already." Tayuya said while Naruto shook his head as he looked toward the smokey haired teen standing across from him.

"I have questions… I noticed that the ninja we were fighting back there were Hidden Cloud ninja but weirdly enough they didn't act that way and were calling someone their lord… I have a feeling it might have something to do with your guy."

Naruto said while Tsubasa looked toward the ground, "You'd be right…. Right now, the Land of Lightning is under the influence of someone under the nose of the Kazekage. Since he arrived, he's taken over a majority of the villages in the Land save for the Hidden Cloud and those nearby for now." Tsubasa explained while he clenched a fist to his side.

"The Bandit King."

Tsubasa said with venom in his voice while Naruto and Tayuya looked at each other for a moment before Tayuya snorted.

"The Bandit King? Sounds like some wackjob with a complex to me."

Naruto said while Tayuya laughed, "Don't fucking tell me he makes people call him that shit? The Land of Lightning being overrun but a fucking child. I've seen it all." The girl laughed while Tsubasa looked at them with a serious expression.

"He's a tyrant and a monster. His army and influence span through the land, once you're in his sights he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants."

Tsubasa explained while Naruto's expression softened looking toward the expression on his face, "That's good news, we don't plan on sticking around long so he and his goons are shit out of luck." Tayuya said while Naruto sighed.

"He's the guy… the one you need to kill. For burning your home, right?"

Naruto asked while Tsubasa looked toward the blonde before nodding his head, "I… I have to kill him. I just couldn't live with myself if I allowed him to live after what he did…" the teen said while the blonde looked toward his face.

He reminded him of Sasuke, Tsubasa sounded just like him.

"...Then let's go get revenge."

Naruto spoke causing Tayuya and Tsubasa to give him looks, "Ex-fucking-scuse me?" The girl said while Tsubasa looked toward Naruto with surprise.

"You can't… this isn't your fight. I appreciate you helping me back there, but I can't get you involved in my hatred… I can't let you get consumed by those flames too."

Tsubasa spoke while Naruto sighed rolling out his shoulders before giving the gray-haired teen a big grin.

"You said this Bandit King guy was bad news, right? He's hurting people and controlling them? Sounds like a guy to get revenge on to me. Besides, arriving in new lands and beating the big bad is kinda my forte now."

Naruto said while Tsubasa shook his head, "Naruto, you don't understand. Risking your life for something as petty as revenge, someone else's vengeance. It's asinine. You're supposed to tell me it's wrong, not agree…" Tsubasa said while the blonde gave him a somber look.

"I have a friend… No, a brother. He's been looking for revenge for so long that it's driven him into darkness… and I couldn't save him. Yeah, you're right I don't understand, but how am I supposed to tell you it's wrong when I don't get it the way you guys do?"

Naruto said while Tayuya's expression softened looking at the blonde's face as Tsubasa looked toward his fellow teen.

"I won't dare call either of you wrong, until I understand you. So hopefully I can come up with some way to save you both.

Naruto said while Tsubasa felt his eyes become watery, "You'd go so far?" The boy asked while the blonde smiled.

"Yeah, cause you're my friend."

Naruto said while Tsubasa was taken aback by the boy's response while Tayuya huffed looking off to the side.

"So, let's go get your revenge together and free the Land of Lightning from some king. Maybe even find you a dream along the way huh?"

Naruto asked while Tsubasa stared silently at the blonde while the face of the monk appeared in his head while his current self looked back into the door where the flames were.

He was now on the other side.

On his way to more.

"...Thank you, Naruto."

Tsubasa said while Naruto smiled at the teen, "Alright, now that the sniffling bitchfest is over we need to have a team meeting, Shithead." Tayuya said while the blonde gave her a look.

"Rich coming from you, ya big crybaby."

"Shut up and come here!"

Tayuya raised her voice while Naruto pushed her chair, Tsubasa walked with them as the girl shot him a glare. "I said a team meeting." She growled while Naruto and Tsubasa looked at each other.

"He is on the team."

"Am I not on the team?"

The two boys spoke at the same time while the pinkette groaned, "The original two!" Tayuya yelled while Tsubasa nodded his head allowing Naruto and Tayuya privacy.

"Look Shithead, while I get you have a thing about adopting enemies ain't three a crowd?"

"Aw Yuya? You worried about being replaced by the new guy? I'd never do that… you wouldn't let me anyway."

"Shut up. I mean getting revenge with this guy throws us off track, we're going to end up stuck in the Land of Lightning longer. Uzushiogakure is the destination, remember?"

"Look think of this as some kind of side quest for a friend, we'll still take the route to Uzushiogakure but we're going to add cleaning up along the way, you know?"

"Shithead, he tried to kill you and has literally burned people to ash."

"...You really want to get started on histories?"

"I'm the exception, you and I are a pair now. My past doesn't matter, we burned it together, remember?"

"See? We burned stuff too."

"It was a fucking hat."

"Regardless, he's our friend and I don't leave friends behind… you know that."

"...Yeah. I know…"

"So please just give this a shot… I promise you won't regret it and we'll make it to Uzushiogakure in good time."

Naruto said while he stared into Tayuya's eyes his blue orbs seemed to stare right through her brown ones into her very soul, "...Fine, fine just stop doing that. It feels weird." The girl looked away while she caught a glimpse of his smile.

"I won't let you down!"

Naruto cheered while Tayuya huffed looking away from his face, "I fucking hate it when you make that face, for some reason I just can refuse shit. I'm getting fucking soft." Tayuya grumbled to herself while the blonde gave her a look.

"What was that?"

"Eat shit."

"That checks out."

Naruto said while he wheeled them both back toward Tsubasa while giving him a thumbs up and a grin.

"You're in! Welcome to the dream gang."

Naruto said while Tayuya shot him a look, "We aren't called that shit." The girl said while Tsubasa gave them a relaxed look.

"Thanks for having me."

The teen responded while Tayuya huffed, "At least this one is polite." The girl said while Naruto chuckled.

"You get what you give."

Naruto joked while Tayuya rolled her eyes as the now trio began walking forward out of the woods together.

"Shithead, let the new guy push me. It's his first task."

"I'm fine with pushing you, I'm not that tired."

"Shithead."

"Tayuya."

"Just listen to me, please."

"...Fine."

The blonde reluctantly let go of her wheelchair and gave Tsubasa a look before he took a step away.

"I think she likes you."

The blonde said while the girl growled, "Piss off!" She barked while Tsubasa walked toward her chair with an almost smile on his face giving her a push.

Naruto walked ahead of them with the map in his hands as they both stared at his back for a moment, "Listen Edgelord. While Shithead thinks of you as a friend, I want you to know that I don't trust you." The girl said while Tsubasa flinched at her words.

"Let's get something straight, I'm the brains of this operation. Shithead is the muscle. He pushes me around and I guarantee his safety and grant him my tolerance. Anyone that tries to put his life in danger is someone I'll personally end myself, is that clear?"

Tayuya said while Tsubasa looked at her for a few more moments as he looked up toward the blonde ahead of them.

"He's really special to you huh?"

Tsubasa said while Tayuya's eyes widened. "What? Fuck off and mind your own business. Shithead he's…" the girl looked up toward the blonde in front of them.

"He's all I got."

Tayuya spoke in a tone Tsubasa didn't expect from her as he gave her a surprised look, "...I can't say that I'll gain your trust anytime soon, but Naruto to me is someone I want to stand by. I did try to kill him, and he still saved me. I want to pay him back… because he's my friend." Tsubasa said while Tayuya gave him a softened look before she huffed.

"Don't think that earned you points."

Tayuya said while Tsubasa gave her a small smile, "I wouldn't even think of it." The boy said while Naruto turned around.

"Jeez, you guys are moving slow. Is she giving you a hard time?"

The blonde asked while Tayuya gave him the finger, "How about you piss off?" The girl said while Tsubasa shook his head.

"No, she isn't."

The gray-haired teen said while Naruto grinned, and the girl rolled her eyes as they all reached the same pace.

"Hey Tayuya?"

"Yeah, Shithead?"

"What happened to the straw hat?"

"Shut up, Shithead."

Naruto and Tayuya chatted while the blonde laughed, Tsubasa watched the pair interact as he walked with them before a small chuckle came out of his mouth as they walked toward their next destination.

"You will be rewarded for your faith, my boy. By something more precious than you know. Trust that."

{...}

"We'll make camp here."

A voice spoke while several other pairs of feet stopped walking, taking their bags off of their shoulders.

"Finally, that trek was a pain."

"Seemed pretty nice to me."

"That's because you do 500 laps around the village a day."

Voices conversated as one of them laughed in response as one pair of feet took a few steps forward.

"Pakkun?"

The figure asked while a small ninja dog walked ahead while sniffing the ground, "Yeah, it's really faint but he's been here." The small dog spoke while the gray-haired man looked ahead.

"Good, that means we'll find him soon."

Kakashi said while Tenten sat on the ground by her bag, "Hope that means before anything crazy happens." The girl spoke while Lee pumped his fist in the air.

"Alright! Kakashi sensei, I'm still primed and ready to go! Please allow me to scout ahead!"

Lee spoke while Sakura shook her head, "That's not a good idea, Lee. He could still be traveling, if the scent is faint then we should keep going in the morning." The pinkette spoke while Shikamaru nodded while yawning.

"I agree, trekking further following a ghost of a trail is pointless without the light of day."

Shikamaru said while Neji shot him a look, "I'm fairly sure that's mostly because you want to be lazy." The teen spoke while Shikamaru sighed.

"Guilty."

The black-haired boy said while Hinata stood beside Lee, "I still have plenty of energy as well and I can see in case we need to be on guard. Please allow us to trek ahead to see if we can at least find anything." The girl spoke while Neji gave her a look.

"Lady Hinata."

Neji spoke while Ino gave them a look, "I can go with them as well, it might be a good idea." The blonde said while Kakashi gave them all a look.

"I said we camp, that's an order. While I have no doubts in any of your abilities or even the potential to find something. My concern is something else completely."

Kakashi said while Pakkun nodded and puffed into smoke, the gray-haired man looked into the trees ahead while narrowing his eye. "We are in the Land of Lightning now, the ninja here are unlike any you've encountered before. The last thing we need is any of you having an encounter with one in the dark, we stick together. That's final." Kakashi explained while Hinata looked off to the side with disappointment while Lee placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, it's alright. We're going to find him, in fact let us cover twice as much ground as we did today to compensate!"

Lee exclaimed while most of the group groaned while Kakashi chuckled quietly before his gaze landed back on the woods.

"Sensei… Do you really think we'll be able to find him soon?"

Sakura asked him while Kakashi could tell she was worried about something before he nodded his head and gave her an eye smile.

"Yes. I believe that fact whole heartedly."

Kakashi answered hoping to take away some of her worry despite knowing that wasn't what she was really worried about. If they did find Naruto, it's been 11 months since he was banished. That's a long time in the world on his own.

He could be changed.

Darkened by his encounters in the world that have made him into a different person, he could be someone completely different now. Kakashi shook his head while he turned his determined look toward the forest again with a hope in his eye.

He doubted that a lot knowing him.

"We're coming, Naruto."

{...}

Throughout a village multiple civilians chattered amongst themselves while passing a poster with Naruto's face on it.

Slowly a figure walked over to the poster stopping in front of it for a moment inspecting the page before raising a hand toward it. The figure's thumb ran over the word 'Demon.' before a smile grew over the girl's face, while she tapped the word before turning around.

The villagers watched as the girl had a small skip to her step as she moved forward.

Her mint green hair bouncing with every step.