Zetsubo no Karera

Zetsubo no Karera
(Their despair)

STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLIED AND OBSERVED

Warnings: Blood and Language
Author's Note: this is not beta-ed and I apologize! My beta is sick right now, so please bare with my mistakes a bit. *bows deeply and begs for forgiveness*...GOMEN!


Chapter one


“Squad leader one, this is Hawk, the intruders are making their way towards the North Gate. Be advised, they’re moving quickly. Hawk over,” Naruto heard his subordinates report over the earpiece.

‘Good, let them come. It’s been a while. I need a good fight, me thinks,’ the fox baring man smirked, letting that little gleam twinkle in his eyes as he monitored the approach of the ‘visitors’.

“Behave yourself, fox-face; we can’t tackle every stranger wondering into our Village.” The insolent comment flooded his hearing. The other Shinobi knowing full well what there internal thoughts of one Uzamaki Naruto were.

“Shove it, ASS-face. I know protocol,” he snapped back, sneering into the radio’s mouthpiece.

“I know you know you say you do, but the question still remains, Naruto, do you plan on following protocol?” Shino’s calm voice came over the receiver.

“I know my orders,” Naruto replied turning off the system. Shoving it into one of the many pockets to his pants, the blond haired streak flashed from his perch and barreled down on the wondering strangers.

Now, you must let me explain something before you begin jumping to conclusions over the man’s rash behavior. After a raging battle, between himself and the bastard hell spawn known as Kabuto, that resulted in the near destruction of an entire Village, many homes, a few innocent lives, and a very pissed off teme he’d learn to gauge his responses a bit.

Naruto fought fang and claw through the armed front lines of very talented Shinobi only to reach a reluctant Sasuke surveying the progress of his once rival’s advances. The dark haired Nin had decided, with easy coaxing from Kabuto ushering at his back, that retreat was a wise course of action.

Severely pissed at the other’s cowardice response only fueled the heat pulsing in Naruto’s already hot veins. Upon reaching the tail tucked Uchiha, Uzamaki Naruto did the only thing he could rationally think of at the moment to stop his ‘friends’ back paddle from the battlefield.

He released a plethora of shadow clones out, barred them down on Sasuke with on strict order embedded into their conscious. Many fell in their slaughtered attempt at reaching the pair running, but one strong willed clone made it. And, mind you this greatly surprised the Uchiha. Seeing his only chance for victory, the clone delivered the order.

He hauled off and kicked the bastard Shinobi in the groin.

Howling in pain Sasuke fell to the swampy earth. The last thing he saw straight was the clone looking pitifully down at the gasping man before Kabuto lobbed its head clean off.

It was a low blow. Naruto knew this, but damn it worked out beautifully. The move slowed the retreat to a near halt and gave the needed time to the pissed off Kyuubi empowered man to reach them in the middle of hell.

Uchiha paled, Kabuto raised his chakra hand swords in defense, and Uzamaki Naruto belted off a war cry to do any highlander proud and ran in for the kill. Galloping head long, feigning a frontal attack, the silver haired medic grinned maliciously at the idiot’s fatal mistake. Just as the faced the jounin, the blond split in to three clones. Smiling, Kabuto made quick work of them. All three of them.

The question faltered in his mind. ‘Where’s the real one?!’ Sadly, for him, it was a tad too late. By the time he realized ‘his’ mistake he saw Naruto dragging a blacked out Uchiha across the field. Right into the waiting line of Leaf’s elite Shinobi.

“What the FUCK!” he screamed, giving chase towards the stolen vessel. Death at the hands of the enemy would prove to be much easier to digest than the wraith Orochimaru would deliver once he knew of Sasuke-sama’s abduction. “Fuck, he’s going to slaughter me for loosing that arrogant ass.”

“Not before I have the pleasure,” Naruto rasped out from close behind Kabuto’s still form. Looking up, the medic noticed his fatal mistake much too slowly. Nara Shikamaru was looking stressed, but strong, behind the protected lines holding the shadow restraint jutsu nicely; while a very pissed, very real, Naruto walked up behind him. “And, I fear I’m feeling greedy today Kabuto, so I don’t expect there will be much left of you for Orochimaru’s use.” He heard the beast croon seductively, knowing without a doubt, that there was an eerie smirk twisting the features.

With that warning, Naruto gave the fear of Kyuubi into the man shaking before his power. Crouching on his hunches, he leaped skillfully at him. Fangs garnished, claws flexing, and eyes donning a far away look he struck in rapid succession.

Landing squarely on the medic’s back, Naruto turned him sharply and made him stare him directly into the eyes before he gave him a demon’s farewell. Not another second wasted, the fox beast ate him. Well, mostly, he ripped the pulsing heart from its prey’s chest and gnawed at the vein fluttering nicely in his throat, letting the spray of Kabuto’s poisoned blood spill onto the death stained ground and mingle with that of his fallen brethren.

That was when everything went black for the young Shinobi. Having come back from the unsteady precipice created by the demon’s boiling chakra flow; Naruto woke from the trance of power. The demon, in true demonic fashion, deemed it the necessary right time to withdraw its fed line of power into the boy. As it slipped away, Naruto could easily hear the insane chuckling of Kyuubi’s pride in his sick joke of sorts. For clarity revealed the blood forcing its way down his throat and a still pulsing organ beating frantically within his grasp. That was the moment, when Uzamaki Naruto passed out and slid silently away from reality.

After the fiasco in the borders of some no-name village Orochimaru warped to his will, Naruto’s whole person changed. He was still the prank pulling numb skull that never realized when to call it quits, but there was that still, quiet, under tone that his subconscious held. It was the inkling of mistrust and sense of wary. And, it was begrudging acceptance. He had accepted the foxes aide and now must always under stand its price.

His sanity for a friend. Well, maybe not his sanity, but most certainly his nightly revisits from the fight. Gods, the cold sweats he’d wake in were enough to drown all of Suna at times. Luckily, for Sasuke’s sake, Naruto deemed the price appropriate. So you see, and must understand, Naruto has become smarter. Better to be wary then trust the unknown, Konoha has been burned before for their trust in others who come baring peace.

Hiding the bleak look to his eyes, Naruto plastered the easy, honest, smile across his face. Its one thing to be cautious; another to be down right rude.
‘Really, what do they take me for!?’ he hissed. Slowing to a walking pace, he looked towards the pair now walking nearer the Village.

“OHAYO!” he yelled loudly, waving rapidly.

“Cease Shiori,” Ryokotsuke signaled his sister. Placing a paling hand on her bared shoulder, he quietly held her in place. “Remain calm, be polite, and it’ll be alright.”

“Ohayo,” he responded softly waiting for the other man to be near. Bowing slightly at the waist, he greeted the stranger properly, and not as some overactive loon.

“Where ya headed?” Naruto inquired, seemingly innocent enough. “It’s kinda chilly for traveling, especially with a young kid in tow.”

The jolting spike of anger that rose then fell instantly wasn’t lost to the blond Anbu trained Shinobi, but he chose to let it go for now. ‘As long as the boy doesn’t make a move, I’ll let him be.’

“Thank you for you worries, stranger, but I assure you were quite fit for travel,” Ryo replied, a bit too chilly for Naruto’s liking.

“I can see that, stranger, but you still didn’t say where you were headed. If you tell me I can get you there faster, I live in this village.” Naruto let the kindness ooze from his every pore, as he laid the ‘I’m a really nice guy you can trust me’ treatment on thick. Come on now, no one can resist those baby blues!

Judging by the bored expression looming in the cold eyes of the male, the blond seriously began to wonder if the other was even human at all. Even the uptight Hyuuga couldn’t resist his charms for too long.

‘So goes plan B,’ Naruto mused. /Live by protocol/, Kakashi-sensei’s words of wisdom echoed in his head. ‘Protocol it is then,’ he cheered on. “Well, just so you know, a little bit of friendly advice, Konoha is under tight security right now, so unless you have orders, papers, or escorts you will be stopped at the gates. Given the situation, the watch guards may turn you away.”

Smiling sweetly at the snowed pair, Naruto turned in his heel; hands knitted behind his crazy-wild hair, and began humming as he walked away. ‘3…2…1…’

“Wait.” ‘Bingo!’ inner Naruto sang and proceeded to do the happy dance.

“Yeesss?” he asked, peering over his shoulder. Triumphant smirk firmly in place.

“We…could be in need of escorts,” Ryokotsuke forced out, making no attempt at niceties.

“Well, then, back to our original line of questioning. Where ya headed?” the blond drawled out, still the epiphany of all things cute and innocent.

“Take me to your Village’s Kage, there are things I…we…need to speak with him about,” the ever careful Ryo supplied. Not falling for a minute at the other’s attempts at an open, friendly, attitude. He didn’t get to this point in their journey by trusting others, so why start now.

“She,” Naruto snipped while slipping a hand idly into his pocket while turning on the system’s earpiece to speaker, really hoping that the others weren’t prattling on, “Isn’t taking visitors today. It’s a day of mourning for her greatness.” Giving the first excuse he could think of to keep them away from the Hokage until they were assessed.

Naruto nearly gagged on the indigestible phrase. ‘Her greatness! GAK..it tastes bad…get it out!’ he inwardly choked. “But our Ibiki would be pleased to help you settle until she is free,” he composed himself enough to say sweetly.

‘Good work Naruto,’ Shino thought, as he silently sent Kiba off to prepare Ibiki for his new guest. ‘When the loud mouth was a loud mouth he was an idiot, but when he was a Shinobi he was a damned good Shinobi,’ Shino sighed as he slipped easily from the branch. Making quick work of the distance from their station to the gates, he left feeling comfortable in the idiot’s ability to protect himself if the need arises. That, and Hawk was always ever present, looming not to far off in the woods.

“That will be adequate,” Ryo stated, moving to catch up to the blond man who was apparently now he’s ticket into the Village. ‘As long as we’re within Konoha’s walls we’ll be safe. Shiori…’

Naruto didn’t let the two travelers escape his field of vision as he began moving toward the Gates. Walking at an awkward sideways angle it was easy enough, albeit uncomfortable, to keep them in sight at all times. His constant chatter was the only to be heard as they made the small distance to his home. Going on and on about nothing in particular, mostly prattling about Konoha and the Village’s history; sounding very much like a happy tour guide.

“Oh, yeah, I’m rude and forgot to introduce myself,” he grinned, slipping his hand smoothly into his pocket to shut down the interactive system. “I am Uzamaki Naruto! Konohagakure’s number on ninja!”

‘Riiight,’ Ryokotsuke thought, as cold eyes narrowed narrowing on the boisterous blond standing in the most ridiculous pose. Starring at the idiot, he seriously wondered what village would make a complete moron a Shinobi. He didn’t ask for information, whether if be personal or about the Village, all he needed was to get Shiori within in the gates safe and in one piece. ‘Preferably before out mysterious stranger gains anymore ground,’ he winced upping the speed of movement a bit.

“Uh, hello, this is where you give me your manes. It’s only polite you know,” Naruto mumbled, slightly miffed at the others complete lack of etiquette.

“I’m Hiru Shiori,” the silver haired waif answered exasperatedly, “and,” she stressed, “this is my aniki Yoru Ryokotsuke.” Pissed grey eyes glared at the blond Shinobi as she introduced them, not liking the way Naruto was starring at her.

“Shiori…” Ryo stressed, knowing she said too much. ‘What was she thinking; we never give our given names out! That’s it, they’re going to know who we are and hand us back over to the bastard,’ Ryo’s mind reeled, already planning an out should the need arise.

“You….you’re a GIRL?!” Naruto blanched!

“HAI, you moron!” she wailed, temporarily forgetting her brother’s genjutsu. Stacking her anger, she simply crossed her arms and ‘humphed’.

“Sheesh, gomen okay?” Naruto awkwardly apologized. Looking up at the large gates, he realized they were here already. ‘Hmm, the guards have changed,’ the blond quickly noticed. For once he didn’t recognize the pair standing watch. “Well that’s unusual,” he muttered.

“Yorusu?” Ryo inquired, noting the minuscule change in their escort’s demeanor. ‘This better not be a trap, we’re just too drained to fight back…’

“Huh?” he asked dumbly.

“You said something was amiss,” Ryo supplied, tensing.

Flushing at his rookie mistake of the tongue, Naruto slid a hand up and scratched at the back of his head. Grinning, he said, “Sorry, just a stray thought that escaped. Everything’s fine.”

Before Ryo could reply, a loud voice boomed over the three. “State your purpose.” Looking back to the sentinels, Naruto tried to place the dark skinned Shinobi, but failed. And in an instant he knew why he didn’t know him. The hitae-ate tied around his upper leg was one issued from Sunagakure. ‘What the hell,’ he snickered, ‘He must have surely pissed Gaara off something fierce to have him posted as a Konoha door man!’

“I am Uzamaki Naruto, I am returning from a peace keeping mission from the bordering Village,” he said cheerily, lying through his teeth.

The man look far from impressed and not the least bit convinced. ‘Point one for Gaara’s goon,’ Naruto laughed, and pointed to his leaf headband tied around his left bicep. ‘It’s good to know they perform well.’

Noticing the garment, the guard heaved the gate open appearing easier than it actually was. Naruto knew the weight those gates held. Having truly pissed of the ba-chan one too many times, she’s given up on violence, yelling, and opted for more creative ways of punishment for her little hellion. ‘How does community service sound to you, Naru-chan?’ the evil question deadpanned in his head, as he frowned at the very thought of that whole scenario. ‘Damned baka-onna making me, the greatest assessed to the Village, guard the gates!’

Swimming back from the horrid memory, he moved to step through the gates, his two partners following suit. ‘Oi, ba-chan, I hope your ready for this,’ he mused. There was just something off with the pair, but he couldn’t figure it out. Looking back at his ‘buddies’ he delivered a cheeky grin and wailed proudly, “Welcome to Konohagakure!”

Looking around at the busy Village’s entrance, Ryo took in everything. All the Shinobi stationed around the perimeter, the few hidden discretely, and the large building, to which they were currently headed towards, marked ANBU. The loud slam startled him slightly as the gates finally fell shut. Now safely within the town’s walls, Ryo and Shiori sighed. And twin thoughts released silently, ‘Safe at last.’

“Come on this way,” Naruto told them, moving closer to the Anbu building. So easily he led them blindly into Ibiki’s arms. Something inside the blond broke at his betrayal to all things nice and innocent, knowing that it was hell they were headed to as they were to face the interrogator, but the thought was quickly pushed aside by the image of Orochimaru tearing Leaf apart by her phosphorous veins. ‘Remember, this isn’t a time of peace, Naruto,’ he chided himself.

They’d lost so many already, by hell if they were going to loose anymore from his aversion to acting like a prick. ‘La-dee-freaking-da, Sasuke-teme would be proud of my might prick-ness,’ he chuckled. And, then, after he thought of the rubbish he just said, he promptly bit his tongue and cursed himself for his petulant thoughts.

Finally at the door of the Anbu office, Naruto noticed Ibiki waiting for them. Cringing at that familiar look his guilt tripled at leaving them with the talented Shinobi. “Well, this is your stop. Ibiki will help you now. Good Luck” he waved farewell, so easy it was to lead the sheep to the lion’s den.

A sharp nod from Ryokotsuke and a soft, sternly forced, ‘Agrigato,’ from the girl, then they were being lead into Ibiki’s lair….office…no lair’s appropriate. “Well, that’s that,” Naruto sighed, leaping up to the roof. Running full out towards the Hokage tower, he finally picked up on the familiar chakra signature drawing near. “Oh, this day is just getting better and better,” he grinned.

With high spirits and an empty tummy, Naruto moved faster adding a small bounce to his step. ‘It’s been too long,’ he chuckled as he felt the other once more. Seeing the tower in his line of sight, the blond laughed out loud at the hard time Tsunade-ba-chan is going to be in for. ‘Mind as well makes her day a little brighter,’ he thought, fully intending to force him into a position to buy him ramen for his WONDERFUL work as an elite Shinobi.

“Ah!” he sighed, landing at the base of the tower, “Life as a Shinobi is so….rewarding!”


To be continued….

Author’s note time!

So whatda think? I love this Naruto; he’s grown up, but not out of his silly boyish habits! I do hope you liked this, and please for my use in constructive criticism…please answer me this question.

How did you like the fight scene between Kabuto and Naruto?

That was my first time writing an action scene such as it were. I hope I did it ok. Well, thanks for reading I am off the air now.

JA,
SeveredWings

Oh, yea…one more question…cookies to who ever can guess the identity of the person following!


*Smirks this is for you Mija* AND, next time in chapter two:

Ibiki makes nice with the new additions to Leaf. Tsunade has a head ache. And WHAT…Naruto’s jealous!

See ya next time, in Zetsubo no Karera!