The sounds of a samisen drifting in the air caused Naruto to open his eyes lazily.
"Good morning."
"...Sasuke." The blond stretched, looking to the side. Sasuke-chan was sitting by the window, a thin, silk yukata loose on her as her fingers deftly moved on the strings of the samisen.
The Uchiha cocked her head, looking at the blond with a smirk, before her eyes traveled to the side, at the naked courtesan, covered only by the thin veil of silk.
"Hmm. Only one?" The kunoichi chuckled.
"I just needed some company tonight." The jinchuuriki shrugged, reaching for the sake on the nightstand.
"You could have asked me." The heiress pointed out, amusement in her onyx orbs.
"I'm so not having this conversation." The blond muttered, sipping the alcohol lazily. "Had your fun?"
"Ah that, yes." Sasuke turned back to her samisen. "I think they are still asleep."
"Good for you." The jinchuuriki poured some alcohol to the saucers. "Want some?"
"I won't say no." The Uchiha gracefully accepted the drink.
"Of course you won't." Naruto snorted, taking a sip.
Sasuke-chan just chuckled.
"Where's Hana?"
"Asleep. Drank herself to oblivion, our little bitch did." The neo-girl shrugged.
"After that stunt you pulled?" Naruto said dryly. "I don't blame her."
"You're saying that like it was a bad thing." Sasuke-chan cocked an eyebrow. "You enjoyed it as much as I did."
"I enjoyed it as much as I was, as ever, disturbed by it."
"Liar." Sharingan blazed briefly with amusement.
"And what if I am?" Naruto drawled. "You are a greater one."
"I have no need to lie." The kunoichi smirked. "You know that."
Naruto shrugged, pouring them some more sake.
"And that is why I like you like that." Sasuke-chan laughed lightly. "Half drunk, lazy and sated... Or are you?" The red eyes narrowed, the crimson lips baring teeth.
"You and your games." The jinchuuriki growled, his eyes flashing red, pupils slitting. "You are a real piece of work."
"Pot, this is kettle." The neo-girl said, pursing her lips. "I'd hate to say it but... There is something about your new, dark color that just... bothers me."
"Ah shut up." The blond muttered, draining his saucer.
"You'd get bored too easily if I did."
"So would you." Naruto pointed out.
"Now, now... Naruto-kun." Sasuke-chan chided, a dark glint in her eyes as her sharingan kept spinning. "You wouldn't like me to be bored, now would you?"
The blond snorted, the angry red fading into violet, to finally diminish into cerulean.
"Got attached to that yukata, I see." He said, changing the topic.
"Yes. Red is certainly my color." Sasuke-chan traced the edge of the sleeve lightly. "I bought a few quite nice ones, this time around. Shops here are very good, and the seamstresses can work some amazing things."
Naruto frowned.
"I don't like that tone, bastard." He said dangerously.
"Now, now. I told you you should dress better." She smirked. "Now you will."
Naruto scanned the vicinity of the room, already half-knowing what he would find even before his eyes caught the expensive looking shirt, pants and haori.
"Where are my clothes, bastard?" He snapped.
"Bitch, dobe. Bitch. How many times should I tell you?" Sasuke-chan sighed. "Your clothes are..." She shrugged. "Well, they were."
"...I so hate you at times." The blond glared.
"Yes, so you told me. Repeatedly." The neo-girl went back to her samisen. "But you know what they say about hate and love, hmm? A thin..." She traced a string of samisen. "A very thin line."
"I knew I shouldn't have taken you with me here." The blond growled. "It is one of those moods, isn't it?"
"Now what a cruel thing to say, Naruto-kun." Sasuke-chan pouted. "I'm just practicing, you know. To be as good little kunoichi lover as I can be. A sensuous femme fatale of a most... convincing shade."
"You don't need to practice." The jinchuuriki snorted.
"Ah, my. What a kind thing to say." The Uchiha smiled serenly.
"You are really annoying that way, you know?" Naruto said finally after a long pause.
Sasuke just threw him an amused look.
"Of course, what was I thinking." The young shinobi said dryly. "I can't win that, can I?" He sighed, grabbing the clothes.
"You can certainly try." Sasuke-chan said with amusement.
"Yeah, that would be just fine and dandy for you, now wouldn't it." The blond muttered, putting on the robe, when a soft knocking interrupted him.
"Come in!"
A second later shoji moved, a young courtesan walking in with a sealed scroll in hand.
"Forgive me, honored customers, but you have a letter." She said softly. "The messenger said it was urgent."
Naruto looked at Sasuke, who just shrugged.
"Now that's interesting..." The blond muttered, grabbing and unsealing the small scroll, unrolling it.
A second later a faint growl could be heard as Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"Now that doesn't sound good." Sasuke quirked an eyebrow.
Naruto threw her the scroll.
"'Dear gambler. If you haven't noticed by now I-'" Sasuke muttered, scanning the letter, before halting.
"...That bitch took our money." Her eyes narrowed. "Who is Yamada Reiko anyway? No, wait. I don't care. Where does she live so I can go there and kill her?"
The courtesan blanched.
Naruto frowned, looking at her.
"You know something." He said.
"No I-"
"You know something." Sasuke's hand snapped, grabbing the girl's hair, sharingan wheels spinning angrily. "You. Will. Tell. Me." She hissed. "Who is that wretch who dares to move against us?"
"Sasuke!" The Uchiha glared at the blond. "Don't break her." Naruto cautioned.
"Don't worry. I'll reserve that for the Reiko bitch." The Uchiha purred, before looking into the terrified courtesan's eyes. "You will tell me all you know."
"I... Can't. Reiko-sama... She will..."
"Wait. Reiko... Reiko... A tall woman in her late twenties, fondness for a long pipe and that odd, lemon-scented tobacco...?"
The scared eyes looked at him.
"I met her." Naruto growled. "She was one of the people by the poker table. Cool, calm. Very good. Is that her?"
"Please, don't make me-"
"That woman not only holds all my winnings, she also kidnapped Katsuhito, if that letter is right. She is holding your boss, girl." Naruto snarled. "Where. Is. She?"
The courtesan swallowed heavily.
"This is a waste of time." Sasuke muttered, grabbing the girl's chin, sharingan blazing in her eyes.
The woman stiffened, her eyes glazing.
"Now..." The Uchiha heiress purred. "You will tell me all you know, girl."
The step was calm, measured.
"I have heard an interesting story from one of the girls." The yo-yo moved in a lazy arc.
"A story?" The blond eyebrow rose. "You actually listened to more than moans?"
"Well, shibari is fun this way." Teeth flashed in a small smile. "Anyway... They say that once upon a time, there was a samurai. No one remembers his name now, but he was here."
"So?"
"Easy, easy. I'm getting to it." Sasuke-chan chided, yo-yo making another pass. "Anyway, Sunflower was a heaven for pirates, thugs and prostitutes. Lawless and dirty, a den of villainy."
"Oh, I like it already." Naruto chuckled.
"Of course you do." Sasuke snorted. "Anyway, the samurai who came here was famous and quite strong. He was ordered by one daimyo or other to cut out the 'cancer' that was festering here. Obedient, like a good little dog that he was, he came and did just that."
"Now that must have been some samurai." The blond bit into his steaming teriyaki. "All alone, against scores of thugs? Kinda don't buy it."
"It is just a fairy tale, you know." Sasuke chided. "Don't spoil it, Naruto."
"Sorry."
"Anyway, the samurai succeeded into killing some minor oyabun or two, but at the heart of it was a man, Genzo. Genzo, seeing his forces and life in peril, concluded a brilliant plan - or as brilliant as a simpleton yakuza overlord can. He had a daughter - a very beautiful young woman by all accounts. The details are sketchy - some say he pushed his daughter to do it, some say the daughter offered - but the result is always the same. He wanted to use the daughter to seduce the brave samurai and lead him to his doom. The daughter fell in love with samurai however, and instead of leading him into the ambush, she led him out of danger. Then, with the samurai indignant and angry, she led him to the palace, where the mighty samurai cut Genzo down, ending his empire of crime with one, swift cut of his katana. The beauty and the hero decided to marry the same day. The grateful daimyo offered the title and position to his former retainer, elevating him and his wife in status - after all who could keep such a lawless and dangerous place in check but the hero?"
"Kinda sucks that fairy tale of yours, you know." Naruto threw away the leftover stick before reaching for the bottle of sake he took from the brothel.
"Ah, ah, ah!" Sasuke tssked, yo-yo spinning in an elaborate pattern. "And who said I was finished? Anyway, on the day of the lovely, romantic matrimony, the groom felt weak. He thought nothing of it - after all, he had long weeks of fighting after him. But he wasn't just weak - he was ill. In fact, he was so ill he suddenly couldn't hold his sword as the blushing bride calmly stabbed him in their bed during their night together. After that, the grieving widow took over as the daimyo, consolidating her power over the weakened yakuza, minor lords and nobles in the area, as well as merchant clans and local companies over the years. Her family holds the beautiful Sunflower to this day." Sasuke smirked, yo-yo snapping back. "Sunflower slowly crawled to legitimacy and prosperity, never dismissing its ties to the smuggling entirely, but it was a small price to pay for... legitimate authority. However, they say that when the moon is full, like on their wedding night, the spirit of the samurai dons the armor the 'grieving widow' left on the display to honor her husbands 'bravery' and walks the halls of Sunflower Castle, looking for the blood of his betrayers."
"Blood, betrayal, vengeance... Cute." Naruto said dryly.
"Isn't it?" Sasuke-chan smiled pleasantly, before quirking an eyebrow. "Are those two trying to stop us?"
"Looks like." Naruto eyed the two thugs who moved to intercept them.
"Ah. I thought so."
The yo-yo blurred and the duo passed, the two bodies already cooling, necks broken.
"Time to get our money back."
"Yeah." Naruto's hands shuffled the deck lazily before stopping.
The blond smirked as the card flew, the doors exploding into splinters and sawdust a second later.
"Ah, Queen of hearts. Beautiful, ain't she?"
"Quite." Sasuke's smirk turned predatory.
"Are you getting off on this, bitch?"
"And what if I am?" The yo-yo spun, a tantalizing pattern of red arcs as the spikes ripped the half moon upwards of a yakuza's chest, ripping out his throat.
"Just asking." The deck spread out and the cards flew, a trail of balze and exploding bodies following. "Just asking."
"You bastard you-!"
"Shut up!" Blue eyes narrowed, chain appearing as if by magic. "Dead have no voice!" The segmented weapon howled in the air, the sharp blade on the end cutting the thug in half.
"I'm beginning to really like that chain." Sasuke-chan said with interest, before frowning. "Do watch the blood though, dobe. I just bought this yukata."
"You and your fucking clothes." Naruto rolled his eyes, snapping the chain back, absently throwing kunai to the side, right into a yakuza's throat.
"Some class, Naruto. Just a little bit of it, all I am asking." Sasuke tsked, letting her spiked yo-yo trace an elegant pattern that ended ripping half of a yakuza's face.
"Sure." Naruto shrugged. "Whatever." The chain split. "GET OVER HERE!"
The spike speared two yakuza and Naruto snapped a seal, sending a high-level raiton jutsu through it.
"See, is that so hard?"
Naruto shrugged again, snapping the chain into its original configuration and back.
"Want class? Okay." He let the chain back into the storage seal, drawing a scroll. "I can do class."
Sasuke chuckled, before breaking into a run and kicking off the wall, yo-yo snagging a hapless yakuza , dragging him right into Sasuke's kunai.
"You really, really, really..." The kunoichi murmured into the dying man's ear, "...shouldn't have built that house near the bay."
"Kuchiyose!"
The water exploded, the wave knocking around several thugs like toys.
The azure claws emerged, trailing red as the thugs screamed.
The trident gleamed before skewering the screaming man into silence.
"Why hello there, lovely lady." Naruto smiled at the siren.
Keisei smiled back.
The trident, a bonafide chakra weapon in its own way, cut through the oaken doors as if through tissue paper.
The Siren frowned, casually swiping her claws out at the nearest yakuza before snarling at another.
"Hello there, Reiko-san." Naruto walked through the doors, glaring at the stunned woman. "I believe you have something of mine."
"Hmm. Nice crib." Sasuke-chan snapped her yo-yo, looking around the well decorated room with interest. "It seems crime does pay."
"...You... You..." The woman swallowed. "What have you-?" She muttered, her eyes wide.
"That's what happens when you take something from us." Naruto's eyes flashed red briefly. "My money. Katsuhito. And I just might kill you quickly. Or I might let her do it." The siren, now again with two legs instead of the tail, smirked, her claws outstretched. "Slowly."
"I..." The yakuza composed herself. "It isn't exactly the meeting I hoped for."
"You take our property, you dare to steal from us and you expected... what?" Sasuke quirked an eyebrow. "Tea and crumpets?"
Reiko's eyes widened as she spotted the spinning wheels of sharingan.
"...You are an Uchiha!" She said with disbelief. "But... But you are all dead, save two! And those are both-"
"So?"
"But... But..." She took a deep breath. "Listen, I admit it wasn't the.. best way, but I just wanted your attention and-"
"And you got it." Naruto growled. "Now, our money and the old man. Or she gets to rip you to pieces, an ounce at a time."
"Don't be so hasty!" Reiko said quickly. "I have a proposition for you!"
"You could have asked like a normal person." Sasuke-chan said blandly, turning back to browsing the contents of the room curiously.
"I couldn't! That's just it! If he got to know...!" Reiko raised her hands. "Listen... Just give me five minutes. I swear I can make it worth your time far beyond whatever money you would get out of my death. I swear it!"
"And we should listen to you... why?" Naruto scowled.
"Because I have your money, that you will lose if you kill me, and because I have your ship all but wrapped in explosive notes that will explode at the merest hint of tampering." She said simply.
Naruto looked at her for a long moment, before grabbing a chair and sitting before her desk.
"Talk. Five minutes." The blue eyes narrowed.
"For the start, my name isn't Yamada Reiko, but Aida Kaede."
Naruto's eyes widened a fraction and Sasuke halted her browsing.
"As in, Aida Omezu, the daimyo of this island?" Naruto asked slowly.
"He is my father." Reiko nodded curtly.
"Now that's interesting." Sasuke-chan said, her eyes narrowing. "You look quite good for a dead woman."
"That's what my father would like you and everybody else to think." The yakuza's eyes hardened. "He tried to kill me, but failed."
"Now this is interesting..." Naruto leaned back in the chair. "And why would he do that?"
"Because I am a bastard. And now that he has a son with his legitimate wife, he doesn't need me around demanding my share."
"Oh yes, The lovely games nobles play - the stabbing in the back between family and arsenic in the tea, with some honeyed venom on the tongues as a nice addition." Sasuke said dryly. "How could I forget?"
"I didn't want that bloody throne." Reiko snapped. "I'd have been happy with some money and being left alone. But that bastard just had to push!"
"So... Now you want to push back." Naruto said calmly. "You couldn't have simply hired a shinobi to assassinate him? You don't seem to be strapped for money."
"I learned to live as yakuza." She admitted. "But it is not so simple. I don't have enough money to hire nukenin powerful enough - not without my bastard of a father finding about it. The asshole is cosy with Mist - he pays them off and they pretend they don't see the nuke-nin he hires as his personal guard." She sighed. "No village will bother working for a two-bit yakuza. Damned if I do, damned if I don't."
"And so you turn to... us?" Naruto laughed. "You are either desperate or just plain insane."
"Neither, actually." She said calmly. "You have as much stake in it as I do."
"You think holding money above our heads will work?" Sasuke snorted. "Fool. We just shredded your bodyguards. You think you can keep something from us? You think the likes of you can stop us?" The sharingan blazed angrily. "Wretch! Know your place!" She hissed.
"I do. And I'm not talking about the money." Reiko said calmly, though her eyes were wary. "You have killed the pirates on the way here, didn't you?"
Naruto cocked his head to the side.
"So?"
"The captain of one of the ships was son of the head of my bastard father's guard. Moreover, he knows you're here from Gihei." Reiko said simply.
"I knew I should have killed that piece of trash." Sasuke grumbled.
"Masa won't let you leave. Bastrard that he is, he loved his son. He will do his best to capture you and torture you in a worst way possible. Even if you do escape, he will send his men after you."
"Let him try." Naruto shrugged.
Sasuke swung her yo-yo with a smirk.
"Indeed."
"And that is precisely why I want you." Reiko looked at the duo. "I don't know who you really are, I have no idea why are you here for but... You are powerful. You don't bow to the bastard, you don't bow to the Mist, nor are you afraid."
"You are really desperate." Sasuke said with amusement. "You have no idea what we are capable of, or if we are competent enough to do what you want us to."
"I don't." Reiko nodded. "But you are strong. Stronger than anyone I could have gotten my hands on. I am more than willing to risk it."
"And why should we do it?" Naruto folded hand son his chest. "Why risk ourselves? Bounty hunters we can deal with - we already ripped those pirates apart. We can simply kill you, get our money and sail away. I assure you, I can defuse those explosive notes. I am good at seals." The blond smiled. "So why should we?"
"Because once my father is away, I can make it worth your while."
"We have our own way of getting money and it is not like we're strapped for cash." The jinchuuriki riposted. "Try another one."
"It is true, I can't give you all that much money, but there are other opportunities - titles, land grants, slaves, safe heaven... Name it. Now that Gihei is weakened, I can take him out and become the real force here, bigger than my little brother can ever hope to be. If it is within my ability, I will do my best to give you that."
Naruto looked at the woman for a long moment.
"You are serious." He said finally.
"It is my life we're talking about. And I really want that bastard dead." Her eyes hardened. "So?"
"We'll help you."
Naruto blinked, before looking at Sasuke.
"...Excuse me?" He said, narrowing his eyes.
"I said we'll help her." The brunette turned away form the shelves. "Your father will be dead by tomorrow."
"And why should we do that?" The blond raised his eyebrow.
"Simple." Sasuke-chan tapped the ornamental map that was spread the wall. "When all is said and done, we want those."
Naruto blinked.
"We do?" He asked, bewildered.
"We do." Sasuke nodded.
"Okay."
Reiko blinked.
"Just like that?"
"Yeah. Sure. Why not." Naruto shrugged. "As long as I get my cash, I'm cool with it. Otherwise..." Keisei smirked, her long claws leaving gouges on the solid mahogany wood of Reiko's desk.
"Besides, Reiko-san..." Sasuke smiled, grabbing a leather-bound tome from the shelf. "No one who likes Princess Bride enough to have the exclusive silver-branded edition can be so bad."
Naruto just pinched the bridge of his nose while Reiko blinked owlishly.
Keisei patted her master's back consolingly.
"Thanks, honey. Nice to know at least someone is normal here."
"What are you doing?" Sasuke looked at Naruto curiously.
They went back to the brothel without too much of a problem. Fortunately, Masa or anyone else had figured to attack it as of yet. Hana was still dead to the world - though it was still pretty early. Katsuhito was back and was told to keep silent.
"Well, I got to thinking... We can go in and assault him. We can go the assassination angle, but we need to kill him and those rogue 'guard' assholes, right?"
Sasuke nodded.
"Well, I don't want the... publicity." The blond grimaced. "At least not under our own names."
"Who cares." Sasuke shrugged.
"I care." Naruto snapped. "My ramen festival cares, my Suna fesitval really, really cares." He glared at the Uchiha heiress.
"Ah. Right."
"So... I've got to thinking." he moved his brush gently over the large scroll. "Actually, your little fairy tale got me thinking." Another line was added to the seals, chakra seeping into the construct. "Remember Bishamon?"
"The... walking armor summoning, or whatever it was? Yes. Little ponderous, from what I remember." The kunoichi muttered thoughtfully, snapping her fan open.
"Well... let's just say I have a fun little idea that can make this all loud, effective... and rather unbelievable." Naruto chuckled. "Very poetic, even."
Sasuke cocked an eyebrow.
"In the poetic justice kind of way." Naruto grinned wolfishly.
"Okay, now I am interested." Sasuke leaned in, looking over the scroll. "What exactly are you planning?"
"You'll see." The blond snickered, rubbing his hands gleefully. "That armor is still on the display, right?"
"From what I heard, yes." Sasuke's eyes widened. "Oh."
Naruto's eyes flashed with glee.
"Think you can work some of that fire in your blood?"
A nasty smirk bloomed on Sasuke's face.
"Oh. For a former pirate heaven they have really nice palace." Sasuke muttered with appreciation.
"Piracy, smuggling, drugs, yakuza..." Naruto shrugged. "What the hell did you expect?"
"A fortress?" Sasuke looked at the blond "Come on, it is pure logic here."
"Well, it is not a pirate heaven now, is it?"
"Sure it is." Sasuke smirked.
"Ah. Point." Naruto nodded. "Anyway... Let's go and find that armor, okay?"
"According to Reiko, that stand should be..." Sasuke-chan narrowed her eyes, looking at the palace, before pointing at one of the smaller towers. "There. East wing, third from the right, lower floor."
"And several shinobi to go, next to the traps and all other goodies. And I was supposed to relax..." Naruto grumbled.
"Oh don't complain, dead last!" Sasuke-chan smirked. "I'll be there to bail you out of trouble."
"And that is exactly what I am afraid of." The blond muttered. "Let's try not to blow it all up, okay?"
"I am not the one who blew up an entire village here." The neo-girl shrugged.
"It was an accident, for kami's sake! How many times do I have to tell you that, you stupid bitch!"
"Yeah, like the Uchiha Complex." Sasuke rolled her eyes. "Let's just get this over with. We should have been setting sail to Coral a long time ago."
"Eh. You just want to show off in those new dresses." Naruto muttered, breaking into the brisk march up the wall.
"So?" Sasuke shrugged. "You want to hit daimyo's son for all his pocket change and then some."
"Well, true that." The blond nodded.
"See?" Sasuke-chan said with a smile. "Everybody has their simple pleasures."
"So what is this thing supposed to do anyway?" The Uchiha heir(ess) looked over the scroll that Naruto unrolled and was now placing pieces of armor on with care.
"Patience, Sasuke." The blond snickered. "I just need-"
"Who are you?! What are you doing here?!" The ninja reached for kunai. "This is-"
Naruto's eyes widened.
"Wait Sasuke this is-!"
The yo-yo snapped, spikes turning it into a veritable buzzsaw that ripped the man's throat out.
The smoke erupted.
"...Kage Bunshin..." Naruto finished lamely.
Sasuke blinked, snapping her yo-yo lazily. She frowned, looking at the dissipating cloud of smoke for a second, before looking at Naruto innocently.
"Sorry?"
The blond palmed his face.
"...So much for peace and quiet..." He muttered. " Just..." He waved his hand.
"Yes, yes. I'll give you some time."
"And don't blow things up this time, okay?"
"Whatever." The kunoichi waved her hand dismissively.
It was barely a second later when the familiar presence of shunshin assaulted Sasuke's senses. True to form, two silhouettes appeared in a poof of smoke, only meet the cords of twin yo-yos.
"Fry." Sasuke said cheerfully, lightning sparking and enveloping the two shinobi in a deadly halo of power.
"Don't waste time! Just barricade that stupid door!" Naruto growled, not looking up from his scroll.
"Feh." Sasuke-chan snorted. "Spoilsport. But I see your point." She admitted, before kicking the large doors. A second later a stream of fire hit the lock, melting it and welding the doors closed permanently.
"Well, that should buy us some time." She muttered.
"Y-you'll never... c-c...come... out... alive..." One of the shinobi rasped.
"Managed to survive?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Raiton user, aren't you?"
"...You... bitch..." The shinobi gasped. "Masa will-"
He screamed as a a casual stomp crushed his knee.
"I am a bitch. And a I couldn't care less what worthless trash like 'Masa' wants." She said blandly.
The bolt of pressured, high intensity flame hit the Kumo nukenin's head.
Naruto just shook his head.
"What?" Sasuke quirked an eyebrow. .
"Nothing. He had it coming."
"And so do we." The Uchiha heiress looked at the bucking door. "They are not using jutsu... Curious."
"Because they don't want to bring down the corridor, I'd guess." Naruto muttered, carefully adding another symbol to the armor.
"Naruto..." Sasuke said warningly.
"I'm doing it as fast as I CAN!" The blond growled, his brush moving quickly over the metal. "I can't rush it anymore! I wouldn't need to rush it at all if not for you!"
"Yes, yes. Keep whining some more." Sasuke-chan rolled her eyes.
"Fuck you, bastard." Naruto bit his lip, the brush making another pass over the metal. "I just need..."
"I get it." Sasuke-chan nodded, walking out of the inner display chamber. "I'll hold them off a bit, pull a trap or two. Some genjutsu."
"Good idea." Naruto nodded absently. "I should be done by the-"
Both their heads snapped to the side as the wall erupted into dust and kunai flew like a swarm of angry bees.
Sasuke moved like quicksilver, her fans blurring as she deflected the projectiles.
"So much for not bringing the place down." She said dryly.
"So okay, I was wrong." Naruto growled "Big fucking deal!"
"So, you are the intruders." A tall, well built man walked through the hole several armored shinobi on his sides only to halt, his eyes widening. "Well, well, well..." He looked at Naruto and then at Sasuke. "One blond summoner... and one raven haired slender boy... But you don't look like much of a boy to me, kunoichi."
"And who might you be?" Sasuke's eyes narrowed as she tucked the fans back in her sleeves.
"Ikomatsu Masahiro. Captain of Aida-sama's personal guard." His jaw tensed."I believe you two knew my son, Norihisa."
"Doesn't ring a bell." Sasuke said glibly, her eyes scanning the crowd carefully.
"No? Three ships at the sea, attacked by two shinobi... and decimated almost to the last man save one who managed to flee by pure luck? Three ships blown up to the splinters, along with every man and woman on them, along with a bright and promising shinobi ripped apart and fried to death before he had a chance to defend himself?"
"Can't say I remember. I have killed plenty of trash. One more, one less..." Sasuke-chan shrugged.
"Oh I will make you remember, little kunoichi." Masahiro said softly, his eyes flashing dangerously. "When you scream as I pull you apart piece by piece... You will remember. I guarantee that."
"Masa, what is that commotion in my castle?! I have guests and-" A middle aged man in a fine robe, two shinobi at his sides, stopped gaping at the damage, before reddening. "What is this?!" he thundered. "Who dared to do this?!"
"We seem to have intruders, Aida-sama." Masahiro said blandly.
"Then deal with them!" The daimyo snapped. "This is what I-"
"'Deal' with us?" Sasuke barked a laugh. "You? You're out of your league you little pretender of a lord."
The daimyo paled, before reddening even more than previously.
"You insolent little whore!" He growled. "I will have you suffer for that! Kill them, Masahiro!"
"With pleasure, Aida-sama." The captain said smoothly, drawing a kodachi.
Sasuke-chan smirked, sharingan again blazing to life.
Masahiro frowned, performing a quick kai.
"You're bluffing." He said calmly. "And all Uchiha are dead, save two brothers - you are neither. And this is not a henge or it'd break on kai. You are not Uchiha."
"So you think." Sasuke-chan said smoothly.
"I don't need to think. I'll deal with you easy enough." The captain growled.
"Deal with us?" A smoke erupted from the scroll as Naruto glared up. "Deal with us?"
The paper twisted and crackled as the red chakra licked it, activating seal after seal.
"Deal with my rider."
The fire smoke enveloped the corridor.
"Protect Aida-sama!" Masahiro barked. "Block the exits!"
"What happened?!" The daimyo screamed, his voice fearful.
"Please, don't speak, Aida-sama!" Masahiro barked, pouring chakra into his senses, trying to detect the duo, only to frown. '...Sulfur?' He sniffed the air. 'Why would there be-'
He trailed off, tensing as he heard a loud, metallic sound, accompanied by a faint crackling sound.
Steel scraped the wood.
Smell of sulfur intensified even as the smoke dissipated.
The daimyo paled.
"...that's impossible..." He whispered taking a step back, white as sheet. "That's just not-!"
The large figure drew the katana, the armor moving almost gracefully, if menacingly despite its bulk. Two empty sockets of the skull lit by unholy fire that burned, charring the sorroundings yet not harming the armor, flared up.
"...No... No...! You're dead! You have been dead for a century! You're just a myth!"
There was an odd, half blazing, half screeching sound that no human throat could make, and it took Masahiro a good moment to realize that the creature, whatever it was, was laughing.
"Myth?" The armor rasped.
One of the shinobi moved his hands in seals, only to scream as the blazing hooves craushed his head, melting the skin and bone even as they were grounding it to the floor.
The skeletal figure of the horse, covered in full, if faded, samurai regalia and almost uncommonly complete horse plate, let out a snort of flames.
"...It... it can't be... real...! Masahiro...!" The daimyo squeaked.
The shinobi jerked as a loud laughter erupted, seemingly from every corner of the hall.
"Oh it is very real." The voice said with amusement. "He had been waiting for centuries to have his revenge, wandering those halls as an impotent spirit... It seemed unjust. So I gave him a body."
"That's not possible! No human can do something like this, Aida-sama." Masahiro said coldly. "It is just a trick, a clever use of-
"Well, lookie here. They do have some brains."
Masahiro froze as the malevolent, overwhelming and just plain inhuman chakra filled the room.
He, like every other person, darted his head up, to see the young shinobi from before, accompanied by the kunoichi. Only this time, the blue eyes were blazing, monstrous red, the pupils slitted. The cheeks bore the six long, thin and almost ornamentally curved lines and Masahirio's eyes widened as he saw the clawed hands oozing faint, yet almost overwhelming to his senses miasma of power and malice. His blond hair were stark white now, long and wild, almost feral, spikes falling down on his back.
His fingers moved almost automatically, pouring his chakra to break the illusion, only for the woman next to the blond laugh.
Masahrio turned his eyes to her and swallowed heavily.
The complexion, fair before, was now almost deathly white and he could see the long incisors flashing just before she covered her mouth with a fan.
"This won't help you, little wretch." She chided him. "This isn't genjutsu. This is real."
"...How...?" He whispered.
"Not all bijuu are shackled, little ninja." The white haired monster chuckled.
"And not all monsters are bijuu." The crimson lips, so contrasting with inhumanly pale countenance formed a smirk.
"Why are you doing this?!" The daimyo howled. "Why?! What do you want?! Money? POWER?! I will give you everything! Just call this... this thing OFF!"
"We have no need for your money, trash." The demon scoffed.
"As for power..." The woman chuckled, a rich and pleasant sound that would be enchantingly beautiful in other circumstances, but was just plain terrifying now. "This, little man, is power." Her fan pointed at the armor and the katana in the creature's hand lit up with fire.
"Why?! WHY?! WHY ME?!"
"You? It was never about you." The monster shrugged. "He had been wandering, mad, howling for revenge on the blood of his betrayers. Naught but a hurt, old and angry myth, a half forgotten fairy tale." The red eyes blazed with dark amusement. "Well, how do you like your myths and fairy tales now, wretch?"
The daimyo backed away as the armor moved.
"No... No...! Stay away!" He shrieked. "You! Shinobi! Protect me!" His voice broke into an indignified screech.
The nuke-nin looked at each other, then at their commander, who was staring at the two figures, transfixed by the sight.
"You... I don't... care what you say you are." He said finally, pointing his kodachi at them. "Be you spirits, monsters or demons... I will have my vengeance! For my son I will-!"
The fan moved fluidly.
Masahiro's eyes widened and he stood still, a long crack appeared, wood and stone chipping off at the height of his throat.
A second later, the captain's body fell backward, his head rolling away.
"You will die like the trash you are." The woman said calmly, before looking at the shinobi. "Though he was right about one thing." Her incisors flashed even as the the misama pouring around her from her companion's aura engulfed her, leaving only two spinning wheels of shraingan turning in the violet tinged cloud of darkness. "All Uchiha save two, both brothers, are dead."
Her laughter resounded even as the miasma vanished, taking two monstrous figures with it.
The smell of sulfur erupted, the fires of the armor blazing.
Aida screamed as the flame consumed his world.
The violet mist crawled over the ground, the darkness departing to leave violet stream and smoke.
"Hoo." Sasuke-chan let out a breath, the inhuman paleness fading as the mist grew dimmer with each step. "Ah man... what a rush!" She threw her head back, laughing as the streams circled her.
"Kyuubi's red and your blue..." Naruto sighed, sitting on the nearby rock heavily. "Channeling it through you without letting the toxic energy harm you... Fucking bothersome." He murmured as his red eyes slowly faded into violet, following into blue and the whisker marks on his cheeks coming back to their usual look even as his wild mane regained its sunny shade.
"Ah, don't whine, don't whine." Sasuke smiled closing her eyes and drawing a long breath. "It is better than wine on the cloudless night." The Uchiha chuckled.
"Crazy bitch." Naruto snorted, reaching for his sake.
"You say that like it is a bad thing." Sasuke opened her eyes, looking at Naruto, the remnants of raw mix of the energies still circling around her as she poked him in the chest. "You had fun with that. Admit it."
"Yeah. I did. Still..." He took a large swing from the bottle. "Restraining myself... Bitchy fox, even when asleep it is so bloodthirsty..." He let out a long hiss.
"Well, if we killed them, it would be a waste, right?" Sasuke looked down at the burning wing of the palace. "Now, all they will remember is the fantastic story that no one will really believe." She cocked her head to the side. "Those who will survive, anyway."
"Some will." Naruto threw the bottle to Sasuke. "I left some holes, only leaving a surprise or two. Still... a shame. That was a nice palace."
"Ruled by a fool." Sasuke scoffed, taking a long swing form the bottle. "Good riddance to bad rubbish."
"Heh. So you say." Naruto chuckled, before cocking an eyebrow. "You hair grew again."
Sasuke blinked, tracing the longer raven tresses.
"Ah." She shrugged. "Seems I won't be able to change shapes now for some time." She shook her head with amusement. "That kind of reckless power... Well, I wanted to try those new dresses anyway."
"We wouldn't have to use that if we had time for the proper genjutsu." Naruto got up. "And you say I lack patience."
"Just as well." Sasuke shrugged. "Not like I would, with the Coral thing and all."
"Admit it, you just wanted an excuse." The blond grumbled.
"And I bought some new swimsuits, too!" Sasuke-chan smiled cheerfully. "Come on, let's get our prize." She turned away before vanishing in a soundless shunshin.
Naruto rolled his eyes, following shortly after.
"...You... what kind of- what are you?" Reiko swallowed heavily.
"Oh?" Sasuke cocked an eyebrow. "Noticed that already? Quick, aren't you?"
"My men... in the palace..." The yakuza shook her head slowly, her face pale. "They told me..."
"Don't worry your pretty little head about it, eh?" Naruto sat on the chair, putting his feet on Reiko's desk. "Too much thinking can hurt."
"And curiosity did kill the cat, Reiko-san." Sasuke flashed a lazy smirk.
"Ah." Reiko noded slowly. "I understand."
"Cool." Naruto nodded cheerfully. "Now... I think you owe us something."
"Yes, indeed." The woman regained her composure. "Money is already on your ship and the notes were taken care of. Here is the last part of the deal as I promised." She pulled out an ornate scroll that was snagged by Sasuke.
"I will take that." The kunoichi purred, opening the scroll and scanning the contents. "Well, it seems like everything is mostly in order."
"It is not one hundred percent official yet, but with that bastard gone, I will push it in a day or two, have no worries. The Sanshu no Jingi islands are yours, as we agreed." Reiko looked at the Uchiha heiress curiously. "But I'm still curious... why would you want those pieces of rock? There is nothing there."
"That is not your problem." Sasuke chuckled. "Indeed, it would be better you didn't think about it anymore, hmm?"
Reiko nodded.
"I see." She murmured.
Sasuke smirked, twirling the scroll in her fingers deftly as she turned to the exit.
Naruto kicked away form the desk, standing up.
"Deal's a deal, well bargained and done." He nodded to the yakuza woman and took a step to the door, before halting, and looking at her again. "And Reiko-san...?
The female Oyabun looked at him only to freeze as an overwhelming amount of killer intent chocked the air out of her lungs.
"Dare to take anything from us again..." The blue briefly blazed with crimson. "And we will break you."
Reiko nodded jerkily, unable to so much as utter a word.
Naruto smiled cheerfully, the killer intent fading without a trace, eyes bright and blue again.
"Cool." He said jovially, before walking after Sasuke.
Reiko kept staring at the empty doorway for a long moment, before letting out a shaky breath.
"...Those two... Kami... What was I thinking...?" She murmured, her shaking hands reaching for a bottle on her desk. She poured herself a saucer of sake, not caring that she spilled it over the expensive mahogany wood.
She really needed that drink.
It was not everyday one survived a meeting with two genuine monsters after all.