Chapter : 14

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

"Kimimaro…worried." The voice belonging to a Sound ninja who wore a masked helmet like that of a bison to cover his face as he looked on at the Kaguya who was watching on out the window of the room.

The white haired Kaguya turned and saw the bare footed person who had several cuts on his arms and legs from past battles walking towards him. Another one of the misguided souls that lived in Otogakure and one of the few people Kimimaro could have a conversation with.

"I…not like it…when Kimimaro-san sad." Toshihiro said as due to being apart of an experiment and a wound he suffered to his throat hindered his ability to speak and only spoke in few words. "Orochimaru-sama?" He asked him thinking that was why he was upset.

Kimimaro didn't respond to him as he looked out.

He was, if he was capable of performing, to lead the planned attack on Konoha in over a month's time. Normally Kimimaro would have gladly lead the charge for his master and to do his wishes with no complaint. But now after these past couple of months and what had happened, his heart wasn't in it.

Doing so would lead to a direct confrontation with his Cousin and the boy would most likely die in the chaos thus ending any chance of the Uzumaki line continuing. The boy would never forgive him if they met as well.

Yet he was torn in it as his master had found him and taken him in when he was lost and on the verge of committing suicide, being a better father to him than his real father. Had given him a purpose in life again and he had been ready to sacrifice his own life for his cause at any moment. The man had given him for the first time an actual meaning in life.

He was in quite the predicament it appeared to be as on one side it was his master and on the other it was his only remaining family.

A scarred black haired man who had his left eye covered with an eye patch caught the pouch of money that was thrown at him with his one arm. Catching it and feeling the weight of it he nodded in confirmation accepting the offer.

"You want us to kill some boy?" He said as he with his two teammates a red headed pale teenager and a gray haired kunoichi who wore several pieces of jewerly stood across from an older ninja. They wore no Hitai-ate or symbol of any ninja village and appeared to be more like mercenaries than Ninja. Each wore grey cloaks and carried a type of weapon on them.

"Correct. I want you to kill Naruto Uzumaki." The ninja who had a Grass Hitai-ate across his forehead said to them. "Kill him, and I'll pay you mercenaries double the money. I want him dead before the day is over." He said to them. "Leave the other boy alone, I want Sasuke alive. Harm him and I'll make you regret it for the rest of your wretched lives." He said with a hiss.

The three each reached towards their weapons at the threat.

"Kill him…" He said glaring at the three hired assassins and they left.

"That should deal with that wretched boy." He muttered to himself and reaching up peeled off the face of the person he had stolen to reveal a ghost white face with golden snake like eyes.

"I'll have this nuisance nipped in the bud before it even becomes a threat to my plans." Orochimaru, The Snake Sannin, Traitor to the Leaf, and current ruler of The Hidden Sound Village said as he thought back as to what had happened.

"Damn it all, how could that little fool have Shikotsumyaku?" He cursed as he remembered the boy using the Kekkai Genkai that he had desired for so long. That bloodline he desired as badly as the Sharingan as he would have no fear of injury with it and be almost unstoppable in battle. And that idiotic boy, the Yondaime's legacy had it! Not for the first time he cursed the fates as they seemed to conspire and mock him.

If it wasn't for that fact that that boy was also the vessel for the Kyuubi demon he would have inflicted him with the Cursed Seal instead and get Sasuke at a later date. Due to being the host of it, it forbidden him from attempting to take his body as that would drive the Tailed Beast out of his body as it occupied the boy and the last thing he wanted was to be face to face with an angry Kyuubi.

But no matter, those mercenaries should deal with him. If he couldn't have the rarest and most powerful of all bloodlines, he would see to it that no one else would have it either. That boy would die before he would use it against him. Sasuke would be unable to continue the exams after it but that was a small price to pay by getting rid of a potential thorn in his side.

Besides, he also thought to himself with a small smile which turned to a grin, he needed to see just how strong Sasuke had gotten after he'd awaken. Perhaps he might direct some of that new power towards him…

"No matter, I shall achieve what I desire." He said and went to leave The Forest undetected.

Elsewhere…

Naruto stood outside of the tree Team 7 was using as a base after what had happened. He looked back into it and saw Sakura sitting down looking over an unconscious Sasuke. Every now and then he would give a grunt of pain but other than that showed no signs of waking up.

Having been bitten by that strange ninja and three comma marks had appeared on his neck due to that as well. That was hours ago and Sasuke had been out ever since then. The only thing they could do was wait and see if he would wake up.

Ever since then Sakura who now had her hair short having cutting it to save herself during the unexpected encounter hadn't spoken a word to him and every now and then Naruto had noticed her staring at him.

He knew what she had seen, she along with Sasuke had saw him using Shikotsumyaku in that fight against him. Sasuke was the first to have known about it and now she saw it as well. Sasuke hadn't said anything to the others but he knew she would be unable to contain herself from telling the first people she met about his bloodline.

It wasn't like he had much of a choice though, that guy would be too powerful to beat just using his regular skills he had to use his Kekkai Genkai in order to have a chance against him. And even then he had a feeling the guy was holding back on him a great bit. If he had fought him seriously he'd be dead within seconds against that guy as nothing but badness came from him.

Traps had been setup by him and Sakura to incapacitate and defeat anyone who found them, hopefully it wouldn't come to that as they was at a distinct disadvantage right now.

He noticed Sakura looking at him again and he frowned.

"Stop it," He said to her and she gasped having been caught. "Stop looking at me like that." He said and turned to look at her. "I have a bloodline yes, but that doesn't mean you can look at me as if you expect me to kill you." He said to her. "It's my bloodline that I possess and I don't need you or anyone else looking at me like you are."

Sakura looked at him and then lowered her head looking down at Sasuke.

"I'm going hunting…" He said and started to walk away. It was just an excuse actually, he needed some time alone to think.

"Naruto!" Sakura cried out to him suddenly and he stopped and turned to look at her.

"Thank you…for saving me." She said to him recalling how she fell off the tree and would've plummeted to her death if not for him. "And thank you for using your bloodline to help us."

Naruto stared into her emerald eyes and smirked.

"You're welcome. I'll be back within a half hour." He said and walked away.

After going about fifty yards Naruto stopped and sighing sat on a stump his chin on his hands a contemplating look on his face. He was thinking about what had happened and the last words the man had said to him.

"I know someone who would want to see you boy."

What did he mean? Someone who would want to see him? That didn't make any sense. How did that guy know his clan also? The Old man said that nearly everyone had forgotten about them.

He reached toward his sleeve and rolled and it up and looked at the two blue dots that where on the side of his arm that stood as the symbol of the Uzumakis.

"Alone in the middle of a hostile environment? You're not very bright are you?" A voice said and he raised his head up and saw three people looking down at him from the trees.

"Most ninja would never go out in the middle of the open where they could easily be assassinated." The one eyed man said to him.

"Who the heck are you three?"

"Our names aren't important, but I'm guessing you're Naruto Uzumaki." He responded to him.

"I have no scroll, so get lost, fighting me won't get you anything."

"Oh I'm afraid it will," The one eyed man said and smirked. "You see for some reason a man's put a rather large bounty on you. He's hired us and gave us direct orders to kill you."

Naruto's eyes narrowed as he stood up looking at them.

"Nothing personal, but orders are orders." He said and reached behind his back and pulled out a large spiked club. The red headed male revealed a pair of clawed gauntlets whilst the female showed no weapon.

Naruto got into a stance but felt he might be outmatched here.

"You can try and run, it'll just make things more fun. We'll chase you all the way to Hell if need be."

Naruto said nothing. Instead he had shuriken fall out of the sleeves of his outfit into his hands. He then threw them at them and forced them to leap apart. He then broke off into a run.

Divide and conquer, that was the key here.

"Jin! Hamada! To the sides!" The one eyed leader shouted giving orders. "Don't let him get into the deeper woods!"

The gauntlet wielding one and the female where at his side running at his speed to try and cut him off. He stopped and u turned and doing a somersault threw Kunai at them which they dodged.

"Your mine!" Jin shouted and slashed at him which Naruto dodged. He backflipped and cart wheeled out of range keeping away from him.

He didn't see Hamada though starting to cast hand symbols and the brooch she wore started to glow.

"Earthen Ice!" She shouted and suddenly to his surprise the grass beneath him turned to solid ice. He lost his footing and tripped and skidded and wounded up falling on his back. He looked up and saw Jin above leaping down below. In the nick of time he rolled out of the way.

His claws stabbed into the Ice and to Naruto's fortune got in too deep and left him stuck as he tried to pull them out. This gave him an opening to get up and he kicked him in the face and prepared to pummel him into submission.

He heard a sound behind him and turned and saw Hamada pointing the bracelets she wore at him. He then noticed that several small compartments in it opened and revealed several small arrow bolts. Pressing her hands together she fired ten right at him and he dodged one living a small cut on his face.

Studying her he saw that her body was covered in jewelry she was wearing and each one was probably capable of doing something like her brooch.

"Kage Bushin No Jutsu!" Naruto shouted and created dozens of clones and sent them out trying to confuse her.

"Fool!" She shouted and doing Hand Symbols pointed her hand at him which had a ring on it. A beam of light shot out and the Bushin's all turned into different people, except for the real Naruto.

"What the?" Naruto said not understanding.

"You're not the first to try and use Bushin's to deceive me. I acquired this nifty trinket which changes their appearance so I know which one's the real you."

Naruto glared at her. "Deceive this!" He said and did hand symbols doing a Jutsu Iruka had also taught him.

Suddenly blue purplish flames outlined her entire body. The flames where superficial and unable to harm or burn the target.

Naruto was betting she didn't know that…

Hamada shrieked and patted and smacked at the flames trying to douse them. In her attempts to do so she never noticed Naruto charging at her until he was inches away.

Pow! His fist slammed right into her face knocking her backwards and onto the ground.

Naruto saw Jin still trying to break free and went to deal with him.

"So you're not the weakling I took you for." A voice said and he turned and saw the One eyed man. "You may have handled them but can you match up against Josui?" He asked and brought that large spiked club forward.

Naruto responded by pulling out two bones which took the shape of swords and brought them together connecting them.

"You have some tricks, but it won't save you." Josui said and rushed him and swung his club. Naruto seeing how big it was knew blocking it would be suicidal and got out of the way. The weapon slammed into the ground and left a deep crater. Josui grinned and pulled it up and swung it effortlessly at him which he dodged and saw it smash through a tree tearing it in half.

Naruto's jaw dropped as it smashed through it the same way an adult man would tear a leaf apart. Even with his added skeletal protection he had a few hits from that would turn his body into mush!

He had to fight a defensive battle, wait for the heavy weapon to take a toll on the man's arms before he fought back. Something as big as that club would take a lot out of a guy, even after a few swings. Goad him into doing multiple attacks and then take him down.

Naruto avoided the next swing. "Can't hit me can ya?" He taunted him smirking. "I thought you said you was tough." He said as he dodged the next one.

Again and again he did it, just keeping out of reach of his attacks and egging him on. After a few minutes he noticed Josui was starting to wear down and saw a bit of strain on his face. One more should do it…

He suddenly sensed a presence coming at him from behind. He leapt up out of the way in the nick of time as Jin having finally freed himself had charged him from behind with his claws.

"Damn!" He shouted having forgotten about him and he saw Hamada having recovered as well. He had forgotten all about them so he was so focused on Josui.

Josui brought his club up and smashed it down missing him. Jin charged and went to run him through and Naruto managed to deflect his attacks but was hit in the back by Hamada's bolts. Luckily they where too small to do any sufficient damage and he was protected from any serious damage.

Naruto dodged an attack and blocked and deflected, moving gracefully and skillfully avoiding all three attacks. He took some minor hits but nothing serious as the three where on him at all time. One on One he would be able to hold his own and outmatch them but Three on one he had to keep moving, had to stay in motion dodging their attacks and Jutsus.

Suddenly he noticed he was near where Sakura and Sasuke was at seeing her faintly. He looked and saw lurking down upon her nearby was those three ninjas from Sound from before. An idea sprung into his head thinking he could use them.

"Come and get me!" He said taunting the assassins and leapt up into the trees, they chased after them continuing to pursue him.

The Sound trio, Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, and Kin Tsuchi where preparing to launch an attack on the unconscious Sasuke and complete there mission. They had disabled most of the traps that had been set up and preparing to strike when suddenly a blond haired boy landed amongst them.

"What the?" Dosu shouted in shock as he had surprised them. Suddenly a small fire ball was fired at them and the group scattered.

"Who the hell did that?" Zaku shouted as Naruto seeing that his plan was working leapt down and dashed towards where Sakura was at.

"N-Naruto?" Sakura shouted in confusion seeing him running towards her. His body was covered in sweat and he panted when he got near her. "What did you do?"

Naruto only smiled and turned his head and saw Josui, Jin, and Hamada land on the ground.

"Nowhere to run this time." Josui said when suddenly he and the others where blasted from the side.

"You got some nerve trying to kill us like that!" Zaku said The Sound Genin angrily revealing himself.

Naruto smirked and whispered to Sakura. "Looks like the ones who where originally fighting me and the ones about to attack you are fight each other now."

"Stupid boy. You'll pay for that!" Jin said snarling and did hand symbols and summoning kunai fired them at him. Zaku thrusted his hands forward and fired out bursts of air from the holes in his palms dropping them in their tracks.

"Those who interfere in our mission to kill Sasuke will die as well." Dosu said him and Kin landing beside their teammate. His words caught Naruto's attention at that.

"Enough talk!" Hamada shouted and doing hand symbols her necklace glowed and sent another ball of fire at them, which The group dodged it.

"So you have some skill!" Kin shouted back and threw kunai at them which Josui deflected.

"Deal with them!" He ordered Jin and Hamada. "I'll take care of the boy." He said turning to face Naruto and started to walk towards them.

Naruto got into a fighting stance when suddenly a green blur appeared and kicked Josui.

"Ha Ha! The Green Beast strikes again!" The blur said speeding around and stopped in front of Sakura. "Fear not Sakura, I shall protect you this day." Rock Lee shouted making his intro.

"You gotta be kidding me." Naruto muttered at his unexpected arrival.

"Enough interruptions!" Josui snarled in fury the scarred man getting furious. His weapon then broke apart revealing a second smaller spiked club in the first. Taking it in his right hand and the first in his left he slammed them into the ground shaking it.

Lee got ready to face him when Naruto stopped him. "He's mine to face. Protect Sakura and Sasuke." He said and stepped forward.

Josui charged him and Naruto leapt out of the way leading him away from the others.

Sakura seeing she had to do something saw a nearby rope she had setup and the Sound nins and Mercenaries fighting grabbed it and pulled it activating the trap.

A pair of setup kunai launched themselves at them and one hit Jin in the shoulder. He pulled it out and unknowingly activated another trap by tripping across a hidden rope.

A large log out of nowhere fell down suddenly seemingly ready to crush them. All of them moved out of the way.

Except for Dosu who leapt up and revealing his device on his arm threw a punch which shattered it.

Suddenly when he landed on the ground he was incapable of moving, despite his efforts he found himself unable to move.

"Something's got a hold of me!" He exclaimed as he tried to break free.

"That'll hold him." A voice said and Sakura looked and saw in the bushes Team 10. Shikamaru Nara immobilizing him with his Kage Mane.

"Where's Sasuke-kun Forehead girl?" Ino asked.

"Who are these guys and why are they fighting?" Choji asked as well.

Jin dodged Kin's attacks and saw the new intruders. "Get out of here you fat slob or I'll gut you next!"

"What did you call ME?" Choji shouted stomping forward. "I'm BIG BONED!" He exclaimed. "Expansion Jutsu!" He shouted and his body enlarged itself and his arms and legs as well as his head sucked into a hole. "Meat Tank!" He shouted and rolled at him preparing to crush him and his partner.

Jin and Hamada moved out of the way and Choji unable to change direction started to head towards Dosu who was still trapped. His lone eye widened in horror as he would be crushed.

"Dosu!" Zaku shouted appearing in front of him and thrusted his air cutters forward. "100% Air 0% Sound!" He shouted changing the style of attack. Powerful bursts of air shot out of his arms stopping the boulder like Choji. Using all his power he kept him back.

However it came at a price as he felt the strain on his arms. "Damn it, feels like they are about to snap off. Kin grab him!" He shouted seeing as he couldn't do it much longer.

The long haired girl rushed forward and grabbing Dosu leapt and pulled him out of the way. Still unable to move but now out of Choji's path and that allowed Zaku to move as well.

(They are working well together) Sakura thought. (Unlike us they aren't arguing or being dysfunctional.)

"I can't do it any longer." Shikamaru said out of chakra dropping to a squat and released his hold on Dosu. Choji had also turned back to his regular self.

Around that time Naruto and Josui did battle a distance away as Naruto avoided his spiked clubs. The two battled pitting blade against mace.

"Drilling Bullets!" Naruto shouted and Josui blocked them with his weapons. Naruto slashed at him with his bone blade but Josui blocked it.

Josui brought his weapons overhead and smashed them into the ground causing a tremor. Naruto lost his footing but stayed upright from the shockwaves.

Josui bashed at him and Naruto avoided it as the two continued to fight. He had delibarelty led him here so the others wouldn't get hurt and that they wouldn't see him use his bloodline.

Naruto slashed at him and dodged his attacks. Josui swung at him as the two fought on each one determined to win.

"You're skill is good, it's been a while since I've enjoyed a good fight." Josui said to him. "But you die now!" He shouted and threw his clubs at him. Naruto not expecting it barely got to bring himself up to block them. The blows stunned him and lost his footing unable to absorb it the blunt force of the attack.

That give Josui the moment he needed to dash forward and retrieve his weapons. He slammed the first one across Naruto's stomach causing him to keel over in pain. He then used the second one right on Naruto's back knocking him to the ground. Naruto laid there not moving.

"Like all Leaf nins, too trusting and pathetic. Unlike the ones who gave me these scars and took my eye years ago." He said as he circled the boy who wasn't moving. "What was your dream? To become Hokage perhaps? Gain your clan's approval? What foolishness. Dreams are nothing more than foolish illusions that wind up killing the person who has them." He said to him. "Not going to talk back are you? Have you accepted death then?" He taunted him. "That man was a fool, what did he see in you that he perceived as dangerous? No matter a job's a job." He said and stopped in front of him.

"Allow me to end your misery. No one will mourn your passing." He said and lifted his heavier weapon overhead. "Farewell…"

He brought his weapon down crushing his head.

Or so he thought what would happen...

A hand shot up and caught it surprising him as it stopped in midair.

"What the?" Josui exclaimed in disbelief as suddenly a red aura started to form around Naruto. "What Jutsu is this!" He shouted not understanding.

The hand stopping his club suddenly grasped it and shattered it much to his shock as Naruto pulled himself up. Josui found himself face to face with a different boy.

Gone was the friendly blue eyes in place was a murderous red. The boy's teeth had been changed to resemble fangs and his hands had become more claw like. And the red aura around the boy was taking the shape of an animal, a fox it looked like.

The Kyuubi had awoken at long last…

Josui not understanding his peril swung his other Spike club thinking to bash his head in. To his shock and horror it crumbled on impact with the Aura surrounding the boy.

"You…will not mock my dream!" Naruto snarled at him and slugged him hard across the face knocking him to the ground. Josui felt at his skin and felt like it was burning from it. As if Naruto's body was made of fire.

Josui pulled himself up and threw a fist at him Naruto caught it and he cried out in pain and agony as Naruto slowly twisted it and the loud snapping sound of his wrist being broken

Several bones sprouted out of Naruto's chest and he began running forward forcing Josui to go backwards at a fast speed. Josui tried to stop but found himself unable too despite his efforts as Naruto pushed him back.

Naruto slammed him into a tree and his bones impaled him running him through as the man screamed in horror and pain as Naruto held him in place and skewered him.

Then he was dead…

Naruto retracted the bones into his chest and dropped the dead man. Slowly the fangs disappeared and his hands turned back to normal. His eyes though still remained red though.

"This is Kyuubi's power huh?" He said over what he just did.

Back at the other fight…

"Damn it, thanks to those idiots our chance to kill Sasuke's ruined!" Kin muttered under her breath as due to fighting with Jin and Hamada had hindered them. Even if they had defeated them there was still those other ninjas who would protect them.

"It's over!" Jin shouted preparing to end it when suddenly Rock Lee appeared in front of him.

"For you!" He shouted and dropped low and kicked him hard in the jaw sending him upwards. Lee then leapt up and removing his bandages ensnared him and went upside down. He then started to spin.

"Front Lotus!" He shouted and slammed into the ground sending a large amount of dust into the air and a deep crater.

Lee emerged from it heavily fatigued but Jin was out cold.

That left only Hamada and the kunoichi appeared ready to flee as Lee's teammates Neji and TenTen arrived as well.

Suddenly to all of them surprise each one felt a dark energy coming from the hideout. Sakura turned around and stepped back in shock at what she saw.

Slowly stepping out of the tree was Sasuke, a dark purple aura surrounding him and each one looked on in disbelief at what they saw. Black markings covered his entire body and his eyes where a murderous red. He staggered out of the tree and looked at himself.

"What the hell?" Dosu said as he looked on shock in his lone eye. Kin also had a look of horror on her face.

His teammate Zaku wasn't as intimidated. "Dosu, Kin, let's take him out now!" He shouted. "He's weak, he can barely stand, let's kill him!" He said and stepped forward.

"Zaku! Don't!" Dosu shouted

"Extreme Decapitating Airwaves!" He shouted and thrusting his palms forward fired a powerful burst right at Sasuke consuming him and the entire area. All of the Genins held on at the powerful force of the attack threatened to blow them all away.