A Different Path

Old Comrades

Naruto's POV

Naruto looked into Sasuke's onyx eyes for a moment. He missed his best friend, but couldn't let himself fall into their arms again. He turned his head as if the teens at the door didn't exist. They still couldn't move. Sasuke was completely frozen, unable to speak or to move. He had lots of questions and he didn't know if he wanted to kill him or to hug him. Anyway, it's not like he could do any of those, in his current state.
Suddenly, a young jounin burst through the crowd of teens at the door, with a man in his grip. He didn't seem to recognize the blond in front of him.
"Lady Hokage! We found this man trying to infiltrate inside the village." Naruto moved his gaze upon the intruder as his brows twitched slightly.

The man looked at him and shock ran over his face, his eyes full of terror.
"No! Not him! Please! Anything but him!" He pointed at Naruto who didn't react at all. Sasuke moved his gaze from one to another.
"Naruto? What is this man saying?" Lady Tsunade walked next to him. Her words confirmed Sasuke's guess as a shudder ran over his spine.
"He's from the Oharo Clan, a clan made of criminals. I had.. A dispute with their clan leader and they've sworn to kill me, so it's something usual to come across a group like this. This man might be part of the gang of the rogues I killed three days ago. I was pretty tired so I might have forgotten to make sure I got them all." He shrugged his shoulders casually.

Everyone seemed shocked. Konohamaru was in utter fear. He looked up to Naruto but this boy in front of him was completely different. The aura he emanated.. It was simply dark. He hid behind Sakura, grabbing a handful of her pink shirt. Sasuke couldn't believe his best friend would become an assassin, no matter who he killed. Same reaction had Tsunade, Kakashi and the others, but none dared to make a sound.
"Whether I kill him or not, it's up to how much he's seen." Naruto showed no emotion in his gaze or words. Tsunade raised one eyebrow as she moved her gaze over her 'grandson'.

"So you're just going to kill this guy? That's what you've become?" Kiba snarled with a shaky breath while Sasuke still couldn't say anything. He felt the same as the dog-boy, though.
"He's killed lots of innocent people. Besides, if he didn't get to see anything, then I'll let him go to prison." Naruto didn't wait for an answer and approached the man, who was squirming on the floor, trying to get out of the Jounin's strong grip on his collar.
The blond sighed with annoyance and closed his eyes. His whisker marks deepened while his teeth turned into fangs. He opened his red, feline-like eyes as the man collapsed on the ground. Everyone gasped, sweatdrops rolling down their faces. Those eyes.. I've seen them before! Sasuke's muscle tensed as he searched his memories. The blond walked over and kneeled next to the unconscious body.

"I-Is he alright?" Sakura stuttered out.
"He's under a genjutsu." Naruto didn't even bother to look at her.
A genjustu?! Since when's Naruto able to use genjustu?! Sasuke's eyes widened even more, if that's possible. The blond pressed his palm against the guy's forehead, searching his mind. Fortunately for the rogue, no important information was found. He stood up and turned around, going back to normal. "He's clueless. You can do whatever you want with him. It's not my business anymore." Sasuke gulped. Naruto's seemed.. So different.
"Take him away." The Hokage raised her hand. The jounin bowed before he dragged him out of the room and closed the door, everyone getting inside. Their anxious gazes were still on the not-so-missing nin. Hinata couldn't believe how much the boy she had loved for so long had changed. Possibly, into someone they had no clue about.

"May I ask something else of you?" The blond faced the Hokage as she nodded her head.
"Can you deliver a direct letter to the Raikage and tell him about my mission?"
"Of course. Now, where are you going to stay for this time?" Tsunade didn't bother to get the people out of her office. She seemed to expect a certain answer. Shikamaru evaluated the situation carefully. There weren't many ways the current situation could turn out to be.
"Mount Myoboku." He said no more. The woman was surprised. Only Jiraiya and Minato had underwent Sage training.
"Naruto. While I still have some authority over you, I'm telling you to stay in the village while we wait for them to make a move." Lady Tsunade raised her voice. She was a bit angry. But Naruto was furious. 'They?' What are they talking about?

"I don't have to stay here. I can still-" He gritted his teeth. She cut him off.
"You're staying here. It's a direct order from the Hokage. And just so you know, your old apartment is still available for you." She glared at him. Naruto's eyes turned red with rage. He hissed and walked to the door. Everyone flinched again at the sight of those demonic eyes. They gave off some sort of shocking fear that paralyzes you. He didn't bother to look at his so called 'friends'. Naruto's always been short-tempered but he never acted like this.. And what's wrong with his eyes? Ino thought to herself. She had her hands huddled on her chest.

"Fine. But don't expect me to act like one of your damn villagers." He spat, his back still turned at her. Tsunade's eyes filled with hurt and regret but there was nothing she could do. She needed him there, at least for a short amount of time. Suddenly, he dissapeared, leaving only a black shadow behind, which soon faded away. So fast! How is this even possible? Kiba was bewildered. Akamaru pressed his fur against him comfortingly.
"L-Lady Tsunade? What's going on?" Sakura finally broke the silence. All of them held the same question on their faces.
"Close the door. I'll summon your sensei and tell all of you." She crashed into her chair as she grabbed her head into her palms and sighed heavily before putting up a sound barrier.

______________________________
Hello! Merry Christmas to all of you! 🎁 I hope you like the story so far!
Vote
Comment
& Share!
~Until then!~
~Bella~
💕