Usefulness

Hana did not say anything for a moment. She released a growl. "May I go back to the grounds?" Hana asked, rage filling her body. Naruto smirked off to the side.

"Is that all you wanted to hear?" Naruto asked. He was not disappointed by her response.

"No, but that's all I can stand for one night!" She returned, no disrespect in her tongue. There was the traces of steel laced with venom. The chakra rolled off her body. It was much stronger from when Naruto had spoken with her the first time he had met her.

"In that case, then you may go. Try not to kill the guards when you train. I still have need for them dattebayo!" Naruto replied. Hana walked out of the room without another word. This action was followed by Izumi releasing the facility caretaker's wife and child. They ran to him and cried while he whispered encouraging words to them. The smile that had been on Naruto's face slowly disappeared.

Izumi watched out of the corner of her eyes as a pool of blood began to swirl through Naruto's fingers. She watched it grow longer and darker. Like tendrils from the Gates of Hades, they wrapped around each other. Like strengthening fibers they former the body of a very long blade. Once its handle was formed, then came the glistening sight of its curved edge. A deadly scythe, like those of scary children's tales of the God of Death, loomed over the family. Izumi watched as hope, once threatening to spring forth, had been crushed beneath the weight of shock and horror. Mother and son watched a husband and father's head sail through the air before it rolled like a ball on the ground. However, there was no time for them to scream as Naruto grabbed the woman and forced her to look into his eyes.

"Stop! Don't hurt my Kaa-chan!" the boy cried, but Izumi was quick to move. A swift push sent him crashing to the floor while Naruto swung his blade until it's unholy glimmer rested just at the nape of her neck. He could feel the wife's chest beating. It was like a chorus of despair and pain. He had to commend her for keeping the rest of her nerve. She would have been joining her husband on the floor if he had seen the beginning vocal contractions for a scream.

"There is a law of the universe I'm starting to actually like. What goes around, comes around. It has a nice sense of ironic meaning don't you think? I'm also a firm believer in harsh lessons, like you and the rest of Konoha taught me. Now, here's a lesson for you. The next man you decide to open your legs for in holy matrimony better learn that throwing alcohol bottles at kids...is very unpleasant! Understand me?" Naruto asked. Through her whimpers she quickly nodded.

"Good, now you're going to get out of Konoha. You're going to tell no one what transpired here. Believe me, I will know if you do. And, if by chance, I see your face in this village tomorrow morning...you'll soon find yourself starting a whole new family," he claimed. His eyes stared at the boy who was no doubt the same age as him. He withdrew the scythe from her throat and swirled it around until it flew back into his body. Both mother and child shivered and whimpered at Naruto's feet. Their sobs were a crooked chorus to his ears.

"Come Izumi-chan, we're done here," Naruto said. She followed him out the door. Both exited the house as if nothing had transpired. Then again, even if no one was to notice it, Naruto had firmly cemented a place for himself.. All it took...was one year.

Yes, a full year passed ever since Naruto had allowed Sasuke to become part of the grand plan he was creating. Even until this time he had not allowed the Uchiha to know that he was the one behind the scenes of this sudden organization the blonde found himself constructing. Of course a small portion that had remained of Naruto's childish age wanted to flaunt the fact that he was the one giving the orders to the Uchiha, but...well the silent victories were always more satisfying. After all, Naruto didn't care what Sasuke did outside of his assignments. As long as the Uchiha was a good little avenger and followed orders, well Naruto was pleased.

Yet, there was one thing about the Uchiha that made the Uzumaki smile keep growing. From Uzumei's reports, just like Naruto had anticipated, Sasuke was completely enamored with the redhead. Perhaps this was more platonic than romantic, but the point still stood. Naturally, Uzumei said Uchiha Sasuke never...said this, but from his body language he definitely kept her closer than any other person in the village. He was even more attached to her than he was to Izumi.

Admittedly, Izumi didn't provide much of a battle in that regard. Whatever assignments Naruto gave her she did. She then went back to training. It had gotten to a point that Naruto ordered her to spend at least one week every month not training. It pissed her off, but he didn't care. She was too valuable a tool to have collapsing. In any case, she trained Sasuke, and gave him assignments. Both did not talk about their clan, nor did they talk about becoming a family. Izumi had made it clear that if Sasuke got in the way of her goal of killing Itachi, then he would be next. In all honesty, Naruto was sure that Sasuke didn't seem to mind that. Uchiha, who could figure them out?

In any case, Naruto had once asked Uzumei on her opinion of Sasuke. Her answer was rather surprising, even to him.

"I have no feelings one way or the other for him. If he's outlived his usefulness then I can quickly get rid of him. He's an assignment, nothing more and nothing less. I love him as much as you ask me to. If I should show him more affection then merely say the word. If you want me to kill him then I'll bring you his head in less than ten minutes," she had claimed.

Naruto didn't mind this. He was glad that Uzumei understood the right amount of worth Uchiha Sasuke held to Naruto. In any case, he spoke for her to remain with him. She continued to perform friendly acts with him. It was so good, that even Naruto was embarrassed to say he couldn't tell the difference sometimes. Needless to say, but both Izumi and Uzumei had quickly returned to an acceptable status of strength. If there was one thing Naruto applauded with Izumi was that she never, not once, asked him for Takamura's whereabouts. She seemed content to let her rage slowly boil until it was unleashed.

An hour passed before Naruto and Izumi came back to the blonde's undercover base of operations, naturally the nightclub which had been previously owned by Shingen. Naruto opened its door. "Izumi, tell Anko, and Ko to meet with me. Also, complete a little...task for me. Once you've done that...you may begin your hunt," Naruto claimed.

Naruto didn't need to turn around to see the murderous gleam on Izumi's face. Finally, after a year of patience and service, she was rewarded. "Yes sir," she claimed and walked off. Of course Izumi would have liked to begin immediately, but the blonde had just given her the best news she had heard since becoming a part of this organization. She wasn't about to ruin it now.

....

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