A Blaze in the Dark

"You see, Yugao-neechan, I remember the Bunshin technique back at the academy. To this day, I still can't get it right, but...then I created this. Sure it's an unoriginal name, but say hello to my Chi Bunshin Jutsu. Believe you me, it took me a lot of time and effort to perfect this. Unlike the Bunshin, they are very real. They are also...very durable. Once I dispel them, anything they learn I will learn, but they're also better than those Kage Bunshin you're so worried about me stealing," Naruto replied which made Yugao stiffen. It was then brought to her attention that because he had directly consumed her blood he held a telepathic link with her. In essence, he no doubt heard what she was thinking.

"And what is that?" she asked, she tried to glean this information from him, but she watched him face her.

"Figure it out. You're an Anbu. You can handle a little puzzle. Now then, the both of you have your objectives. Do them!" Naruto said. Both nodded. The Sasuke clone walked out of the door and the Naruto clone proceeded to get ready for bed. While they did this, Naruto turned out the lights to his apartment and jumped on the ledge of his window which led to the cool night air outside. Naruto dashed out and so did Yugao.

....

Sasuke had to admit, he had done some odd assignments for the organization he was serving under. Some were delivery, others were scouting, but even he was not expecting to see Uzumei standing over five decapitated Konoha shinobi, a long blade in her hands. Judging by the back she was carrying, it was most likely true that she had been discovered and quickly dispatched her adversaries.

Uzumei turned and stared at the Uchiha. He found down a shiver with the way her violet eyes stared at him. "Does this scare you, Sasuke? Sorry if it does, but you'll be doing this too as well," Uzumei said. Sasuke stared at the bodies. While yes, it definitely unnerved him, it wasn't about to make him lose his lunch. He had seen some...unsavory things in his time with the organization. He didn't tell her, but Uzumei had definitely helped him with keeping what remained of his sanity there.

"Hn, if they got in the way then they deserved to die," Sasuke replied, his arms folded. Uzumei smiled at him before she kicked one of the bodies sending it into a nearby trash area. No sooner than her doing this did rats begin sniffing the carcass.

"That they did. Did you manage to convince your classmate?" she asked. She didn't need the answer to that question. Of course she knew that he had. However, the scowl that seemed to mar his face was almost too easy to smile at. Honestly, even someone like Sasuke could wear his emotions on his sleeve when he wanted to.

"Tch, it's better if we leave the loser here. Why are we even bringing him?" Sasuke asked.

Uzumei sheathed her blade and stepped herself from the massacre she had just caused. She brushed a tiny splatter of blood that had been on her cheek. "Sasuke, what was the first lesson you were taught?" Uzumei asked. She heard the Uchiha snarl, but he had apparently been trained well enough to hold his tongue. Though she had only recently come into combat for about a year, Uzumei had quickly proven herself, even at her presumed middle age, to be an almost prodigal talent in the nature of combat. Even Izumi had difficulty with the woman. This was something that infuriated the older Uchiha to almost no end.

"Even rusty metal can be forged into the most terrifying weapons. Yeah, I remember that. Just don't expect me to hold my breath that the Dobe will do anything competent," he returned. Uzumei decided not to reply to that. Sometimes, no matter how she tried, the Uchiha was too headstrong for his own good. Then again, Uzumei still had plenty of time to rectify that, and when her Lord deemed that she finally be rid of this farce then perhaps the Uchiha's true humility might begin.

"Exactly. Though he is nothing significant right now, we'll make Uzumaki Naruto someone so great that even the position of Hokage will be a mere child's toy for him. He is that influential," She said. This seemed to spark Sasuke's curiosity further, but he had to be placed on hold.

"Alright Teme, I'm here. Now what the hell did you...guak!"

Sasuke barely had time to register than Naruto had shown up before an Anbu came up behind the blonde and knocked him out with the handle of her blade. She caught him before he fell to the ground. Seeing this, Uzumei nodded. "Alright, let's go. We have a long journey to the Northeast. We'll be meeting up with some of the others later. Try not to drop him," Uzumei said, the underlying threat to Yugao was perfectly clear.

Said Anbu glared behind her mask. Oh she would, if she were able to. Then again, she also would have not hit him with the back of her blade, and the feeling of steel on bone would have probably been more exhilarating than it should have been. Nevertheless, she treated his body like a valuable possession, not of her own volition, and the three were quick to come to the top of Konoha's outer walls.

"Who are you?! What are you doing up he...Guak!" A kunoichi was barely able to get her question out before her head detached from her body. Uzumei stared at the fallen body, a sharp gleam in her eyes when she had done so. Wisely, Sasuke turned away from the scene. Call him what you will, but it was a tad unsettling.

Uzumei flung the blood from her sword. It stained the walls with its color. "You remember the plan, Sasuke?" Uzumei asked. She and Yugao stood just at the edge of the wall. They could see for miles into the outside world. The redhead turned around. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the Uchiha take position on the opposing wall. She wondered what he was seeing when he looked down at Konoha.

"Hn, don't insult me. I know what I have to do!" Sasuke said. He swiftly slapped his hands together. He then flung through the handsigns which he had known ever since he had passed his coming of age rite with his father watching. Now, this very technique which had been burned into the hearts of his clansmen...would burn in the minds of the Konoha people!

"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Grand Fireball Technique)," Sasuke roared as a piercing white-hot flame exploded from his mouth. It grew bigger and bigger in the size of a massive ball before it descended upon the village causing a shattering explosion of pure fire and destruction. Chaos seemed to erupt like a great beast. Sasuke...had been the key which unleashed that beast.

He felt his arm grabbed. "No time for watching. We leave, now!" Uzumei said. She dashed away. Sasuke ran off with her and Yugao, Naruto hung over her shoulder, wasn't far behind. Yet, as they dashed away, Naruto stared at Konoha's retreating form. His smile grew bigger and bigger. Rest easy this time Konoha, Naruto would be back.

"Take care of things while I'm gone, Izumi. Konoha's your playground now dattebayo!"

....

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