Chapter 59: Shadowed Allegiances
"No! No! I don't believe you! You're lying! Jiji would never do that to me!"
Sasuke frowned with folded arms, his back resting on a tree trunk, while he watched Uzumei continue to explain to Naruto the lies Konoha had constantly fed him. Truth be told, some of these surprised even Sasuke. So...the dobe was the container for the Kyuubi no Yoko, the demon fox that had laid death and destruction to Konoha? The very same Kyuubi that the Academy taught had been killed by the Yondaime? Someone like Naruto had access to that kind of power and he never knew it? The very thought infuriated the Uchiha, but he kept it to himself.
It all started to make sense. The comments the villagers made about the idiot, his poor grades, his even poorer skills, and terrible living manners. Sasuke dared not say it, but he felt rather bad for Naruto. He was still an idiot though. He would say this because, as typical of the dobe, Naruto now got violent. He tried to punch Uzumei with poor form, but she expertly dodged each one of them. She then grabbed his arm and easily subdued him.
"It took a lot of effort to free you, Uzumaki Naruto. We see potential inside of you. Potential that has been squandered at the hands of your Hokage and the people you so desperately tried to receive acknowledgement from! We shall make you great! We shall rise you above the Hokage, and all Kage who have come before! You can come with us, take revenge on those who spat on you, or...you can be a dog in Konoha for the rest of your life," Uzumei said. She let Naruto go and walked away. Well, walked away from the dobe. She walked over to Sasuke.
"Come Sasuke, let's leave Naruto-san to his thoughts," Uzumei said. Sasuke grumbled, but complied. Both left the area that Naruto had been sitting in. Once they were gone, the frown on Naruto's face disappeared. In its place lay a twisted smile, and a gleam laden with maddening blood lust.
"Perhaps I should cast Uzumei in shinobi movies. She's a pretty good actor. Good, now I won't need Sasuke hovering over me with suspicions while I do my work. He's a gullible Uchiha after all. Hmm, perhaps I should have told that it was rumored the Kyuubi had been controlled by the Sharingan. That would have inflated his ego even more. No wonder the civilian populace started distrusting the Uchiha." Naruto said with a laugh.
Anyway, the joke's aside, Naruto took some time to reflect. He had covered the bases that he needed to. Now, he did not need to rely on working within Konoha to achieve his ends. Now, he had free reign to do as he pleased. He could feel his shivering with excitement. The countless coups of blood within him were quickly racing heightening his senses and drive him made with emotion.
"Heh, a year later and I still can't help the blood rushing through my body when I'm excited. I'll have to work on that. Now then, the main question is which objective should I work towards first? So many endless possibilities, and so many plans to move." Naruto thought to himself. He supposed he could send a contact to Orochimaru. That snake bastard had been researching a rather interesting idea that Naruto had been coming up with.
"Hmph, no. Ever since I've been giving him a two-month dose of Sasuke's blood to work his...whatever he works on, he's been rather compliant. I don't need to meet his little spies any time soon. Hmm, where to go…," Naruto thought. A sigh, he held out his hand.
"Hand me the map," Naruto said. Almost immediately, Yugao appeared from where she had been hiding and gave the blonde her copy of the map she had...procured from the Anbu headquarters. Oh sure, she couldn't have gotten any old map, but the blonde wanted her to get one from the ANBU itself. Call it...playing with tension.
"If you're looking for the way to hell, I'd be happy to show you. No earthly map is gonna get you there," Yugao said, a slight jab that made Naruto smile. He unfurled the map and began to give it a one over. Yet, he still had time to always have fun banter with his favorite Anbu.
He cleared his throat. "Hmm, an interesting prospect. I wouldn't mind taking over the Demon Realm. Maybe I'll become the Demon Lord, an army of devils at my command, a field of she-devils and succubi to shower my bed, doesn't sound too bad. Then, I can come back here to thank you for the suggestion. Who knows...maybe I can have an Incubus work on Hayate-kun's...performance issues," Naruto fired back.
Yugao took a steady breath. "Hayate performs just fine!" She said back to him. Wait, why was she discussing her...intimate moments with her current captor and tormentor? This was ridiculous! Why is it that everything involving Hayate made her angry? It hadn't stopped being that way even a year ago.
"I dunno, with that cough of his, I don't think he has time to focus on many...other things. Now then, as much as I'd like to continue this discussion I at least now know where we can go. Now, be a good Nee-chan and fetch me Uzumei," Naruto said, a smile on his face that did not make Yugao very happy. As luck would have it, there was bound to be entertainment and opportunities to be found.
"Yes, my Lord," Yugao said through strained teeth. It was an act that made Naruto inwardly laugh. Honestly, Yugao provided some of his best entertainment, but he would have to take it slowly. Slowly, gently, passionately, he would corrupt her, but he could be patient. The best fruit which a king tasted...was one that was carefully planted, grown, and cultivated.
"We're going to Kusagakure? What do we need from there?" Sasuke asked. His eyes drifted over to Naruto who remained pouting at the side of the tree. The Uchiha sucked his teeth. Seriously, the idiot didn't even have to say anything and he was the most annoying guy on the planet! No matter what Uzumei told him, Sasuke did not understand why they were bringing him! What could the powers of a demon be in the hands of the dead last?
Uzumei caught the glances that Sasuke kept giving the blonde. Honestly, in her times that she spent with him, most of them unwillingly, she had found him to have a large superiority complex...and an even bigger inferiority one to match. There always seemed to be a constant line for her between cracking his fragile, if meaningless, ego and keeping it from blowing up too much. Even for her, it felt rather infuriating, but it was what Naruto tasked her with, and she claimed that she would be what he needed her to be. Right now, that meant being as close to Sasuke as possible.
"Well, there are currently two reasons. One is for your benefit, Sasuke. Kusagakure is known for excellent shinobi weaponry. This will be a chance for you to find what you need since we will be traveling. Be sure to purchase training equipment, and study material as well. This will make you stronger and bring you steps closer to your goals. We'll also be undergoing a harsher regimen for you since you've adapted to the previous one. Two, I will be meeting a contact for one of our associates," the redhead woman replied.
Sasuke smirked at the thought. He didn't mind being pushed harder. If he managed to learn some valuable techniques out of this experience then that was all that mattered. "And her?" he thumbed over to Yugao who stood next to the irate blonde. Uzumei chuckled.
"She's going to make sure that our other guest calmly makes his decision and doesn't try to jump ship too early," Uzumei replied. The Uchiha snorted, but didn't say anything further. For himself, Naruto decided to stay silent and continue his personal muted tirade. To be honest, keeping up this "stupid" facade was rather enjoyable. If it meant that Sasuke could get stronger then that was fine. Naruto had such wonderful plans in store for him.
"Now then, let's be on our way. It's harder to travel during the night and we've burned enough sunlight," Uzumei called. She and the avenger began making their way through the trees.
"OW! Alright, I can run on my own dattebayo!" Both glanced back to see Naruto and the Anbu catching up with them. No doubt he had been stubborn in refusing to move. Yugao knew this was a ploy, and damn did she hate it, but she couldn't deny that the little jabs she hit on the blonde made her a bit happy. She prayed not too happy, but she was aware that he could hear her thoughts, and she was not in the mood for him to think she 'should' be enjoying this.
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