Sailor Naruto

Chapter 4: Doubt

Sasuke, Naruto and Shikamaru had gone their separate ways, and Sasuke headed home, ruminating on past events.

The three of them were now Sailor Senshi, with Naruto being their leader more or less, and they had to find two more to complete their team. And they also had to defeat an evil group of demons who wanted to destroy the world or something. But that wasn't what bothered him at the moment.

He and Naruto didn't seem to really care about suddenly changing into girls, and a small part of them (at least, of Sasuke) actually seemed to enjoy it. And he just knew that this was odd, that they wouldn't act this way under normal circumstances. Sure, Naruto used that Sexy Jutsu thing a lot, but he doubted it was because the dobe enjoyed pretending to be a sexy girl.

Shikamaru didn't really seem the type to be bothered by much, and so Sasuke wasn't too surprised by how calmly the genius took everything.

Sasuke stopped his movements as he saw a figure in the darkness. It was a man wearing a black trenchcoat, hat, pants and shoes. His whole face seemed to be a giant grinning mouth. Sasuke knew that this was one of their enemies.

"What are you doing here!?" He demanded of the figure.

The figure chuckled. "Take it easy, Sasuke-kun, I just wanna talk. Now's not the time for our confrontation: far, far too soon for that." He bowed. "Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Machiavillain, though I have other names. I am a God of Chaos, and I am the creator of the demons you have thus far killed and will fight in the near future."

Sasuke reached for his shuriken and his pen at the same time instinctively, his brain not sure which to prioritise. "That's even less reason for me to just stand here and let you get away."

"As I said, far too soon for that. But don't worry; we'll have our big battle, eventually. Anyway, I'm here to tell you something quite, quite important."

"And what is that?"

"You're wondering why you weren't bothered by the transformations, right?"

Sasuke hesitated, gasped slightly.

Machiavillain grinned wider. "Well, you see, I know why. And I'll tell you, but you must promise to do something for me first."

"And what is that?"

The Chaos God shook his head. "I'm not telling, can't have you backing out at the last minute. Just promise and I'll tell ya."

Sasuke grunted, looking at the ground shamefully. "Alright, I accept."

Machiavilain clapped his hands eagerly. "Very good, my friend. And now, your reward, and why you won't regret siding with me: the reason why you, Naruto and...Whoever Sailor Mercury are so comfortable with having your genders changed."

"What is it?"

"Luna. That cat has subtly altered your minds, brainwashing you into accepting everything: the senshi, the outfits, and most importantly the change in your genders. She's been using you to achieve her own goals."

Sasuke gasped eyes wide. "What!? Why!?"

The Chaos God shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe she lacks a hobby? Anyhoo, that's why. Are you willing to side with her, knowing that she has some mysterious second agenda, one that she'd be willing to take away your very free will to perform?"

Sasuke growled. "That doesn't make what you're doing any better."

"Perhaps. But, maybe given enough time, you'll change your tune. And remember, one day I will ask your help in something, and you will not be able to refuse. One way, or another." He cackled as he vanished from view.

Sasuke clenched his fists, unsure what to do, how to respond to this revelation. There WAS the chance Machiavillain was lying, but there was also the possibility that what he said was the unfiltered truth. And if that were the case...

He had to figure things out, try and see if it was all lies or not. And that meant continuing his duty as a Senshi, and keeping a close eye on a certain talking black moon cat.

Another day, another delicious bowl of Ichiraku's ramen being eaten by Naruto and Luna.

Elsewhere, Shikamaru lay watching the sky, switching between his Senshi and normal forms, trying to see which one was the best for cloud watching.

And elsewhere still, Sasuke sat alone, in his home, pondering his next step.

However, our focus is not on the boys. No, this time, we're having a look at a group of girls. Namely, Ino and her Sailor Moon Ninja Fan Club. They were currently scouting for new recruits, and had managed to corner Sakura and Hinata.

"But why not!?"

Sakura glared at the pony-tailed blonde. "Because this is just too stupid! I mean, a bunch of girls in silly outfits running around beating up monsters; do you realise how stupid that sounds!?"

"It's not stupid!" Ino proclaimed, with several club members echoing her. "The Senshi are the greatest there ever was! I won't hear anyone bad-mouthing them! They've saved us so many times already!"

Sakura leaned forward, glaring stubbornly. "I have yet to see this so called 'Senshi' of yours, and I doubt I ever will! If they're so great, why don't you show me, then!?"

Ino backed away, slumping sadly. "It's not like I can call them, you know..."

"So just get out of here and don't bother me about this goddamn Senshi of yours again!"

Ino frowned. "Fine! But you'll be begging to join us, and I won't let you, so there!"

The blonde turned away, followed closely by her large entourage.

Sakura harrumphed, and turned away, fuming. How dare Ino try and drag her into something so stupid? She had much more important things to worry about, like Sasuke-kun....

Hinata stood, very confused. What was Ino talking about, and why was Sakura so mad? She just didn't understand some people. Still, it might be interesting to go see what Ino's club is all about, so she timidly ran after the pony-tailed blonde and her group. Besides, she had heard that Naruto was one of their members.

Sasuke, Shikamaru and Naruto were together at Sasuke's home, Luna having expressed a desire to start up what she called 'Senshi meetings', allowing the group to pool together their knowledge to come up with a plan to deal with the enemy threat, as well as to discuss other matters.

Sasuke eyed the black cat warily, his suspicions growing. He cleared his throat, interrupting Luna's appraisal of the current situation.

Luna turned to the raven-haired boy. "What is it, Sasuke? Something you'd like to discuss?"

Sasuke glared at her icily, but his expression remaining neutral. "Just wondering, why did you pick us, out of everyone in the village, why us specifically?"

Luna sighed. "Well, I chose Naruto because he was the closest at the time, and an emergency had arisen then, and so I gave him the power of Sailor Moon. As for you and Shikamaru, well, that's different. I actually hold the power of Sailor Moon inside of me, and I am able to give it to whomever I deem worthy. However, I was able to actually transport the souls of the other Senshi here, but I was unable to keep track of them. I don't know who holds them now, but I do know that I am able to unlock the power hidden inside the new holders of their souls, and thus allow them to become Senshi."

Shikamaru nodded in understanding. "So, in other words, Naruto was simply a victim of circumstance, while we have no choice in the matter."

"That's correct."

Sasuke continued to glare. "But, does anything else happen? Are there any side-effects we should be aware of, concerned about?"

Luna looked away. "I-I don't know what it is you're trying to imply..." Her face, however, was incredibly guilty. Sasuke's eye twitched, noticing this fact.

"I am simply concerned that maybe there's something more that happened to us, other than a hidden power being unlocked or bestowed upon us."

Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah, I too think that there's something else that we need to be concnerned with, something we haven't yet been able to identify."

Luna smiled shakily, defensively. "T-there's nothing to be concerned about. I merely gave unto you the power of the Senshi, that's all..."

Naruto slammed his hands on the ground, grinning companionably. "Now, now, guys, if Luna says there's nothing to worry about, then there's nothing to worry about. If there was anything, I'm sure she would've told us by now." He turned to the cat. "Right, Luna-sensei?"

Luna nodded, smiling guiltily. "R-right."

Sasuke still glared, but said nothing, knowing his chance was now gone.

-------------------

Luna sat on the roof of Naruto's house, sighing. Naruto was now asleep, and now she could be left alone with her thoughts.

"Luna."

She cringed in fright, and turned to find Sasuke sitting behind her. He was in his Senshi form, glaring coldly.

"W-what is it, Sasuke?"

Sasuke continued to glare. "Don't you dare to talk me like that, like we're friends. I know what you did, and I won't stand for it."

Luna frowned. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

The Senshi of Mars scowled. "Don't you lie to me! I know you brainwashed, changed us so that we'd go along with whatever you said, accept whatever you forced down our throats! I won't forgive you, never!"

Luna shook her head. "Sasuke, I don't..."

"Shut up! We're not friends! We never were, and we certainly won't be anytime soon! I came in this form to prove to myself that, even as a Senshi, I'm still myself! But, that's not true!" Tears were falling from her eyes. "I've found myself thinking things that I KNOW I would never think! I even rememebr things that NEVER HAPPENED! So don't you dare lie to me, not when I know what you've done!"

Luna was silent for some time, and then her expression became colder, more together. "And what are you going to do with this knowledge?"

"You admit it?"

"Well, I certainly can't lie to you, now can I? You're right, I did alter your minds, but only so you could accept your responsibilities as Senshi. I didn't want you making a ruckus, not when we have such important matters to..."

"I don't care about your reasons! You lied to us, used us! No matter what your intentions, we were still nothing more than puppets bent to your whim! You gave us no choice in the matter!" She sighed, and then once more glared at the black moon cat. "Don't worry; I'll continue my duties as a Senshi. I'm still a ninja, a warrior, after all, I won't allow innocent people be endangered by some lunatic. And I won't tell Naruto or Shikamaru, that'll just cause problems. Besides, it's better if you tell them. But, remember that I won't follow your instructions, no matter what. I'm my own person, not your lapdog." She leapt away, leaving Luna alone.

The cat sighed. "I'm sorry, everyone. I truly, truly am..."

Watching these events some distance away, two mysterious figures watched.

"It seems that Sasuke found out about Luna's misdemeanours."

The other nodded. "I'm not surprised; he was the top ranking student in their class. It's perfectly understandable that he'd figure it out. Him and Shikamaru."

"I don't think he figured this out." A third voice spoke up. "He was told by someone else."

The second figure looked to the third. "And what makes you so sure?"

"Now, now, I'm entitled to some mysteries of my own." The third person replied with a chuckle and a smirk. "Just trust me on this."

"Alright. Should we contact them?"

The third shook their head. "No. Now's not the time."

"Then when!?" The first cried incredulously. "I don;t like standing here watching! Naruto..."

"I know how much naruto means to you, Neptune, but please understand. We can't interefere, not now. There's too much at stake." The third sighed. "As for when, we'll make contact when verybody is assembled. UNTIL THEN, we wait in the shadows, and should it get too much, we'll offer a helping hand. But we won't reveal ourselves, understood?"

The other two nodded.

"Good. Let's go then, before we're spotted."

The three of them leapt away.

Machiavillain grinned. The seeds of doubt had been planted, and soon, he would be able to tear the Senshi asunder.

Hope I haven't kept you all waiting long!

So yeah, Naruto and the gang have a lot to look forward to now. What will happen with Sasuke? Who are these mysterious people watching them from the shadows (as if you can't guess)? And just what the hell is up with Ino!? Stay tuned for some possible answers to these and other questions.

Again, if you have any ideas, please let me know.

Next time, Jupiter will make her debut! Who will it be!?

Hope ya enjoyed it, and please comment!