"The Wandering Shinobi"

It was a sunny day in the village, as children played, adults tended to their business. A local villager named Zaki who was the elder brother of Raki seemingly watched the road with an unreadable expression as he saw a figure walk slowly from the light, its front seemingly blocked by its shadow. His fingers twitched as word from the elder was that a Claymore, a sliver witch as his kind called them would be coming to exterminate a Yoma in hiding here.

He himself apparently was the Yoma as he had no idea when so he had to slip in a few meals before preparing to leave.

Starting with a villager tonight and maybe the human's little brother whose body he had taken over the weeks prior.

Oh the boy tasted so sweet by smell alone, that it took all his self control to force the hunger down.

"Savoring a meal is always the best when it rips with sweetness."

He got pulled from his thoughts in order to look at a commotion forming ahead.

Villagers looked to hear the soft padding sound of footwear as a lone figure walked to the gates, and whispers of the potential of claymore came around as Zaki hissed under his breath to see if this was the Witch sent to kill him. The figure walked causally as the clouds shunned the sun to reveal a black clothed figure of some sorts with either a straw or grained hat.

It covered his face concealing him from view as the man with a coat that dropped to his shins, which also covered up to his neck. It was closed as the black coated man seemingly walked into the village without a care, and many returned to their duties though watched the man as it appeared to be a traveling mercenary or possible bandit.

Zaki could smell he was human, though something made him bothered by its scent this human was covered in blood.

Extremely fresh, if the scent could've passed for by a few hours. Usually a human with that amount of blood must've been attacked and had successfully fended the ambush or attack off.

Sighing he went to go find the humans brother that he took his mind from, Raki of whatever his name was as he traveled down the road.

The black trench coated man walked to a man who was shipping goods to the next town over. Warily he looked down to see the stranger looking at him. Slowly the merchant asked, "What can I do for you traveler?" The young man answered in a voice that seemed to be in a monotone, which scared the merchant shit-less as it did not sound human at all. Maybe the Yoma infesting the village had made him paranoid as the he tried to answer without trembling.

"I'm inquiring if there is an Inn or Tavern in the town. Can you direct me to one?"

The man pointed down to the main street, where the church was and take the road to the right their was a business called "Hallie's Inn."

There he could find a room for the night.

Somewhat relived, the cloaked man handed him a few silver coins for his help as he quietly walked down the street.

Walking down the road the man could see the people edge away from him, as fear was the prominent emotion his eyes could see.

"Fear, it's on everyone's face. But why?"

Fear was something he could use to influence others back in his own village.

Again something very common, sadly.

He looked to see children with widened eyes back away from him, he could relate. Just a new face to a town that had suffering attacks from a Yoma imbedded within their citizens. Human eyes nor ears could find the creature, a so called demon. Ever since arriving here, the shinobi had taken a preferred interest to see if they were powerful enough to be a threat.

So far, not really.

Not to say they weren't deadly, no they were deadly towards normal people.

Yet the fact remained these demons were a mockery of the word since the Biju could've been offended by such lowly creatures, even the mighty kitsune that was once housed inside of him would've snorted at these creatures.

Glancing around him, he was inhaling the scent of blood, not very old as well much to surprise of his mind. Several alleys had the strongest scent of a rotting smell, very subtle that the average human could not detect. For him it was clear as day, these Yoma were inside the town." Great, there's one already nearby, must've watched me come through."

Either the Yoma was bored or it didn't wish to cross paths with him.

"Good thing that the Yoma and bandits early on had some money on them, I'd be in a bind to get a place for the night. They thought I was an easy target, well see you in hell if I ever get there to tell them that..."

Smiling at his crude fate, he went back on that fight. It seemed that Yoma, he killed after the bandits, was on the level of killing a Chunin in his own land.

Seemed easy yet potentially hazardous if he let his guard slip up, nothing was easy to kill if you were cocky.

Just then a young little child ran into him, causing him to grunt from the impact.

He watched girl that was rubbing her head. He noted she looked quite scared, when she looked up in fear to see red eyes analyzing her in a bored yet curious manner.

Within a moment the red eyes receded behind a straw-veil under a straw hat.

She was scared as her mother told her to watch out for strange people as the red disappeared to see green jadish eyes that made her looked awed at them.

"Be careful of your surroundings child, it'd be thoughtful to watch were you go."

Maybe it was that calm voice that caste a surprisingly creepy feeling, that the girl merely spoke in a weak voice, "Sorry mister, I...I was just running an errand for my mama from the Inn."

The man merely smiled if faintly if she saw briefly, "Is it Hallies Inn that you came from?"

Happily the little girl nodded before she looked at the store, "Yes I did. Mama needed some food for the kitchen but the man said he didn't accept the money we have."

A simple question came forth, "Why did he reject your money?"

Another down ridden tone making the shinobi curl his mouth in annoyance, when the girl answered reluctantly. "He said something under his breath, 'whores cash," Now that drew cautiously cracked knuckles from their owner, while thankfully out of hearing from the child, as she spoke those two words. In truth he had no idea as to why a grown man could say that to a child without feeling sick. But when this girl tried to find an answer, the shinobi merely wanted to get to an Inn to rest for the night. He needed some time to sort out to figure out a few things.

Especially sort out where he was and how in the hell he got here...

"Hey mister, do you know what that means?" she was too innocent to hear the meaning of the words before the man sighed in order to gain his bearings. So instead glancing around to find where this Inn was located at could be a good thing to accomplish.

"Would it be possible if I could get a room at the inn for a night or two, while I helped you with your errand child?"

The girl looked confused at the wording of his help and question, although nodded nonetheless.

The man walked to the opened counter of clerk who was washing a knife of some sort, as he looked middle aged with a black beard around his chin. He seemed to be overweight much to man's bored analysis of him. "Good day how can I help you?" asked the clerk as he smiled, though he barely scowled at the little girl behind his legs looking a bit embarrassed to hide.

Covered by his trench coat and straw hat the question came out partially odd because, "Yes I would like to purchase some…" he looked down at the child behind him,due to the fact he didn't know what the kid was getting. He felt kind of cheated now, in a comedic sense.

"Bread, and potatoes." She whispered sheepishly much to the low sigh of the man looking at the now middle aged clerk's mask of politeness.

He was growing angry at the presence of the child, apparently the clerk must've held an obsession with the mother. Which she must've turned this guy down in the past for sex or a relationship, only to be humiliated in some sort of fashion. That would've been the only scenario he could think of because the way this clerk looked at the kid as the focal point of his rage stemmed from her parent. Personally blaming or refusing a child the right to buy food would've warranted a good old fashion beat down.

"Really this man is going to scorn and make this girl's life a hell because of whatever happened in the past? Disgusting human..."

"I'm sorry I'm all out of stock. You might want to wait till the next shipment of goods comes in I am afraid." That was some bullshit answer to use since it was clear the man had bags of potatoes and bread on the shelves behind him.

He would be certainly much more familiar with his surroundings then to shoot shit out his mouth.

Causally the shinobi twitched his finger to implement his jutsu into action.

"Genjutsu Art- Maindo sakkaku no jutsu."

The clerk watched the man lift his hat if slightly to see the dark brown orbs beneath them, as seemingly a bag of gold appeared on the desk the clerk reached forward to feel the money beneath his wasn't fake, overpaying for some half rated potatos and bread would definetly make his store a good profit. All he had to do was just give up a small thing for a huge money pouch.

Smirking he nodded at the man, well screw the whore's child he was living large now. With this money he'd by a bucket load of ale at the tavern, as he got three loafs of bread and a decent size of potatoes as the money went a little over what he had in mind. It was worth the effort and quite daunting if he could rake in more money from doing things like this often.

He handed the food purchases to the man in black who gave the small loaves of bread to the girl while he carried the bag.

They left as the girl thanked the clerk and the man who barely nodded his head.

The clerk watched them disappear before placing the bag underneath the counter only to await several days later to see that the bag of "gold" were mere rocks.

They were dirtied rocks to be precise, found near a horse's pile of shit.

"Like sensei once said, 'There's some people whose greed overshadows their stupidity'." A small smile from under the veil made the reaction of the clerk in a day or so, tempted to stay and watch. However his antics actually got another to laugh at the clerk's misfortune as from the corner of his peripherals he noticed his smaller companion.

The girl giggled as she saw the pile of rocks in the bag the man in black gave the grumpy clerk, "Hey mister, why did that man like those rocks? They didn't seem pretty at all."

An amused answer, made the girl giggle at the way the shinobi spoke casually as if discussing the weather, no hesitation on his part to do such things if he desired too.

"He'll learn not to bother little girls like you, dirty rocks are what he got for doing that."

They continued to walk to a two story structure, that had a large chimney for the main fireplace, and the man noted that it held almost a dozen runs.

Two were in use probably the girls, and mothers.

The girl opened the door, "Mama I'm back with the food. That grumpy old man said something weird again." Warily glancing around to look, he saw a large room with several small tables to fit two or three people and with a stair case to the next floor to his left. All the while at a bar with a woman cleaning the wood looked up to see her daughter and some cloaked man holding potatoes.

The woman felt uneasy with the man, who merely looked at her.

"Sweetie who is your friend?" she asked lightly as the browned hair mother asked her child, to whom she beamed, "Oh this is…uh what is your name mister? He helped me get my errands done as that man said some whore's cash." She said innocently much to the wince of her mother. The man placed the bag of potatoes on one of the tables before sitting at the stool at the bar.

"I'm a traveler who is requiring a room. Your daughter was passing by me and I needed directions." He half lied in a respectful voice that made the woman grimace at its lack of emotion. It was creepy if she thought about it.

"Well I can thank you for your help for my daughter. And yes we have rooms available as you can see. I can cut the price since you helped my little Lily."

The man opened his hand to place three silver coins onto the wood top and the woman's voice gasped.

"Would this be sufficient for a few days?" he inquired softly as the woman laughed a bit amused, "Sir two would be enough for a week here so please it's enough."

She took two much to her laughing shock, as the man merely nodded lightly before heading up stairs to pick a room.

"Please sir, at least have a white cloth on the hook of the door to let others know it's occupied."

Again the man looked back, before continuing his way up to his room.

"Uh Mama we never got his name?" said Lily from the base of the stairs watching the black cloaked man went up to rest. She also saw her mother sighed before taking the coins and food into the kitchen.

"I'm more worried about the Yoma, Lily." She said to herself as the town was plagued by the demon as deaths occurred every night.

Almost every two nights someone is the next victim.

(The Evening)

Sitting calmly on the roof of the Inn he was residing in currently as he watched the small village seemingly asleep.

"OH GOD HELP!"

A scream penetrated the silence as the night became a murder of hunger, organs, blood, and death as the man lay with a knee up and his hand leaning against it. The moon was half full, just like in his home land, he sighed as his eyes could see the faint figure of something large devouring another helpless villager. If he channeled chakra into his ears, he could pick up on bones being crushed.

The monster, this Yoma was very predictable from his position on the other side of the village as it merely hunted lone victims who were foolish enough to fall for its ploys of help.

Whatever this demon does, it was not subtle to clean the attack scene, more like letting the village drench in fear. It was rather rash to leave such a picture, and not to mention he could smell the trail of the killer as a human could smell pie baking in the sun.

He smiled faintly, this was almost too easy to track as a Genin squad could likely kill the monster, it was sluggish to his eyes.

Then again underestimate any enemy leads to death, so he would be on his guard regardless of the level this Yoma was on. Till then he would simply sleep on the roof and if this monster came close to his position then the child Lily, and her mother would be having a Yoma hanging in their lobby very much indeed dead.

Now he had some time to see if his summons would answer his call from this new land, he hoped so as it would be rather helpful to move in a moment's notice. Making quick hand signs he pushed chakra into his palm before hitting the room top to see a puff of smoke.

Nothing came from his call, he sighed looking out into the night.

Apparently summons could not be called upon where he was, and he shut his eyes determining what courses he could take.

"Summoning No Jutsu."

A flap of wings caused him to glance onto his shoulder to see a black Raven perched there as it cawed. Curious he stroked the bird as it cawed, so the wild birds were attuned to his signature, very interesting. Weird, he barely sensed anything remotely towards chakra which was impossible unless something extremely wrong happened.

No chakra in their bodies yet they could sense him?

This was rather a peculiar aspect to the creatures here, so they could sense spirits of his chakra as in the Yin and Yang?

Which set off another question: were his Yin and Yang off balanced that much to cause this?

Possible but unlikely, he needed to gather information as to what this place could be first of all.

Gently let the bird move down his arm before speaking softly, "You may go now, there is no need for aid."

He threw his arm briefly letting the raven caw before flying off into the night, where a small grin graced his lips if he could summon a boss summon then travel would be well appreciated. Then again the contract he had didn't actually have a boss summon, shinobi-made jutsu always had their limits to the user. Always, not once didn't have a price attached to its creation.

His eyes flickered to the streets of the village to see the Yoma shift shape into a smaller organism, meaning he went into a human form of sorts. No wonder many could not spot this monsters its capabilities required expertise unlucky for the village yet luckily for him, sighing he rested against the roof's surface enjoying the warm breeze as he slept.

"Kage-Bunshin no jutsu."

With that sub-vocalized technique, the same man appeared behind him watching over him till the sun rose as his red eyes spun cataloging everything that came within.

(Next Morning)

The man woke from the voice of the young child Lily as the previous day's events came to mind as she was playing in front of Inn with several other children. Sitting up he rolled his shoulder to hear crack with satisfaction came next to mind, sitting on the edge of the roof a small puff of smoke appeared behind him as the clone of his revealed nothing happened after the initial kill of the villager. Glancing down the smell of undead flesh was awfully close to where young Lily was playing tag with her friends.

The sound was nostalgic to him as he sighed before walking to the back of the Inn.

No need to cause suspicion from these people about being a Yoma apparently, as he wanted suitability to move around. He landed in the back of the Inn silently as his feet barely registered the drop he moved along the alley to the front of the Inn. The group of children looked to see him as they all waved happily at him to which he merely walked by.

Lily and the other three children swarmed around him much to the man's rather annoyed sigh if anyone had caught it.

"Hey mister you never gave my mama your name?" she spoke giggling with the other girls as they thought he was being funny.

"Kids, there just kids."

"Are you from around here, or are you a traveler?"

Another child spoke curious as he looked down at them through his partial veil of paper that hid his eyes from view.

"I just travel young one, I'm merely getting acquainted with the town before I move on." The man relented to the curious children that walked with him down the busy street past the clerk with his bag of "gold" that illusion would break as soon as he would leave the perimeter of the village. He would need water or at least some glasses to hold the liquid when he would travel, it would be revealing if he magically pulled water from the air in front of public eyes.

The children merely watched the man walk around the village as if seeing what there was to be, Lily saw someone she knew it was Raki, and his older brother Zaki at the gate of the village she ran over to them. The man watched his child acquaintance meet a boy roughly fifteen or sixteen give or take. She seemed to know him, and he some information on where the next town or village was so it would be wise to know his next destination.

Sighing lightly he followed Lily, and her friends as the young teen smiled at the younger children as his elder brother stood to the side with an unreadable expression on his face viewing the path he took entering the village.

"Oh Raki, this is uh….um you did say your name mister." Lily pouted much to the smiling teen Raki, while he saw the man merely look down to the girl as if curious in why she seemed to want to know his name. He might as well say an alias to satisfy his child acquaintance else he would leave soon anyways. Though before he could say that the elder next to the teen shifted as someone was walking into the village as all the people at the gate froze.

The sound clacking came as metallic boots hit the ground coming closer, and closer.

Lily gasped as the figure of something imposing came with a very large weapon strapped on its back as the children moved behind him clearly frightened as he watched the now identified woman slowly make her way to the village gate.

Whispers of frantic villagers came as some spoke next to him, "Look its one of those Claymores." A man whispered to another man as the Claymore was a woman who would most have to agree was beautiful. Light blond hair, clamped in tight armor that showed off her figure yet held a deadly grace if someone tampered with her.

Though what caught his attention was the reaction of the people, her eyes, and the weapon of choice.

As she got closer he felt the little children press against him as he heard Lily gasp in fear as she pushed her head into his coat as the other children pushed him lightly into the shadow of a building. He inspected the giant sword as it reminded him of those created the Hidden Village of the Mist, especially the one Zabuza and Kisame of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. He was wary of such blades as the size was nothing if the wielder couldn't handle the blade.

He saw that this woman or Claymore apparently was indeed skilled.

A deadly adversary if he underestimated her level at first glance.

"Damn those sliver eyed witches, pretending to be human. I bet they would turn on us if there were no Yoma's around." Another villager whispered harshly as the shinobi frowned at the man's words. To have such ignorance about these sliver eyed woman, mind him, fought the creatures that ate their organs for this was for the protection of humanity apparently.

To be scorned, feared and downright frightened.

Either these woman fought willingly or not, they were the only line of defense these people had. Although he preferred to watch from the side to see how the situation would play out. Also with some amusement, he noted that Raki followed the Claymore with either a curiosity to know her or was simply stupid.

He took a bet on the latter based on his face, since wasn't totally afraid of the imposing Sliver eyed woman.

"Maybe there's some hope yet, the boy seems more curious than anything really. Good luck kid."

He gave the boy credit as it reminded him so much of someone so long ago, that innocent interest that did not show any fear or distrusting stigma. It was during the time in that village, the sight of blood. Ruthlessly he buried those thoughts down as that was in the past before he spoke softly to Lily, "Go home Lily, you can't play anymore."

The voice of her human shield apparently Lily nodded scared as she and the other children ran to their homes probably telling their parents of the well known Claymore.

Interested he began to walk in the general direction of where the silver eyed woman went as the Inn was in that part of town nearing the church. He looked to the sky to see that he slept till roughly mid afternoon if not the least as the previous events of yesterday were tiring enough. Sighing he saw that the shop he was in front of held some sort of water canteens it would wise to purchase one as food was simple for him of his caliber to acquire.

He went in, and asked the clerk there, a young woman who said that the price was a mere ten bronze coins as he pulled out ten bronze from his purse within his pocket to satisfy the transaction. As we walked out with the canteen under his coat, he caught the scent of undead flesh as Raki was talking to Zaki his elder before running off to see the Claymore down the street.

"That man, Zaki, he's the one alright. Rotting flesh, smells of blood, wish you luck again kid."

Gazing down towards the Claymore, who said woman had a cold, expressionless face while holding a serious edge to her walk scanned the area.

Gathering that Zaki was the Yoma as the he smell it so clearly.

Then it was obvious that the boy was in for a shock. If that didn't get him killed, then waiting for the transformation would be soul shattering for the boy to see his brother the actual killer of the village. Again kind of sad for the boy really but once he was in danger then that was a mute point, if he didn't die from the creature itself. Almost playfully, walking by the monster in disguise, he would 'pass a message' if he tried anything.

"I wonder if I can provoke this creature, will he run because of the Claymore or myself?"

He walked by the frozen elder 'human' brother of Raki before glancing out of the corner of his eyes to spike his chakra.

It didn't disappoint him in the slightest.

The monster beneath that flesh called 'Zaki' trembled, flinching as he felt sheer strength that the new traveler radiated.

Zaki could feel the man smile, although it was merely a warning. The Yoma needed to leave by nightfall, after a well earned snack the he'd been savoring for a bit.

The man continued to walk around the village as the sun set lower and lower onto the horizon as the sky became a dark reddish orange coloring.

One could say it was a rather fitting beginning to the night that carried death in its wake.

These colors in the skies as always ended up in missions where he had to kill. Always the same on a mission to eradicate bandits, the dusk of death which seemed dramatic in all fairness. But it wasn't, he killed and not a soul could say they saw him. Blending with the shadows that the sun cast onto the allyways inside the village itself, he came across a rather interesting conversation.

"I remember when that Yoma killed my parents, father was a good man while mother would always help anyone in need and I always felt..."

He faintly heard the talking between Raki and the Claymore as he was in the shadow of a building less than a block away. Leaning against the wooden frame of the building, he channeled chakra into his ears in order to hear every word between the two people. People, not a boy and something else but a woman who listened in with a faint sense of surprise at the humanized treatment.

He had to almost smile nostalgically when he thought of the person talking to the would be monster as another person.

"Reminds me of..."

Again he crushed those thoughts immediately, no need to bring up the dead.

As much as it hurt to remember he was the reason why she was dead.

She had potential to become strong but had been cut short because he had unknowingly made her a target...

He sighed as once again he focused on seeing Raki run to his home.

It appeared to be on the other side of the village as he followed from the alleys between buildings, walking up them steadily to keep track of the teenager.

Soon enough he leaped from building to building, all the while enjoying the breeze as his gaze narrowed onto Raki's form.

The young man finally reached his home as he panted, "Oh man I forgot to get dinner started. Uncle! I'll get dinner started…" he abruptly paused as a faint smile appeared on his face, the Yoma which he presumed was inside as the scent of undead flesh came through the door to the structure. What would the boy do he wondered briefly as he created a clone and henged it into a raven.

The henged raven flew anonymously into the entrance as the sound of gasping and a cry of rage or fright echoed from within its doors.

"Let's see what happens now, I wonder if that Claymore will show up. I'd like see how they kill these things quick."

Surprisingly a real raven flapped onto his shoulder.

Real much to the man's surprise he heard crashing noise as he assumed the boy was being thrown around. He wouldn't need to help teen as he witnessed the half-breed woman, appear on top of the building across the street from his position. Her eyes wreaked of malice and utter hatred towards the creature attacking the human teen.

He wagered she had some personal issues and troubles involving Yoma in her life.

Quietly he checked his position now, considering he was well concealed within the shadows of the alleyway he felt exposed. Suppressing his chakra to the best of his ability the shinobi watched events unfold in front of his eyes, which took note of every detail. Sighing deeply, his heart rate calmed down significantly.

The woman smashed her massive sword onto the roof of the building of where the attack was taking place.

For minutes the sound of flesh being cleaved could be heard as roars of pain, anguish and fear came from the supposed top of the food chain screamed from its own wounds.

"Arrogance gets one killed, all to easily I'm afraid."

You could say size was not the only aspect for survival: to mix that with power, intelligence, and to adapt to any situation was what made the apex of predators survive. Humanity in this instance, hence the Claymore to the Yoma we're knocked off the chain altogether once they figured out to counter them. It was amusing to him as his clone dispelled silently as he reached the memories of what transpired.

Such a shame to the teenager, he'd be the target of the soon to be lynch mob if things get out of hand.

Through the memories, though he huddled into the corner as the Claymore walked out without a word heading to the entrance of the village.

Shaking his head he saw the hesitant villagers as they made their way to the home of the boy before screaming at the sight of the quarter pieced body of the Yoma, the uncle and the traumatized teenager. He felt some pity as the villagers ushered him out as they were talking excitedly as the monster was killed.

Though he idly noted that some were looking at him, those eyes that fear, along with feared anger and the answer of the unknown. They believed him to be a Yoma as well since the body of Zaki was the actual Yoma. He could listen as they suggested ridding themselves of the boy know before he transformed or what not in a killer as his brother did.

Some outright suggested killing him, so he didn't seek revenge.

"This ignorance is something sensei would say is the reason why the world is so shallow, people panic so easily and they don't see what's in front of them. In this case, a boy is the focal point for all the pent up anger and rage they have when the actual killer killed had them at its leisure. I don't know what's worse, them or the Yoma..."

Following the group of villagers they went into the town elder's quarters were most of the now awakened village lay.

He reappeared on the ground walking into the room, not a soul witnessed him enter.

They were quite a few were there with Raki, who was near a wall huddled.

"What now?"

That blank look more than likely meant, he barely registered in what was happening around him. The shinobi took quiet pity and had some sympathetic feelings but didn't act on them. He was a stranger, he didn't have the right to interfere, he had stopped doing things like this years ago when he got pushed to the edge of insanity.

"What are you going to do about him?" a man asked as most looked at him, "His brother was a Yoma, he might be one too."

Someone else answered back. "He's one of them, that's really possible. Look at his family slaughtered by the same Yoma, he's cursed. We should get rid of him."

As more and more villagers appeared in agreement the man in the back leaning in the window spoke as the elder finally relented to the mass of people agreeing to exile the young man to the wasteland.

"You're all complete fools."

A monotone voice made everybody look to the corner of the room.

Shocked they witnessed a man in the black coat barely was visible to the darkness of the room.

The candles held no sway over his face as the straw hat barely lifted to address them all.

"You're all idiots in thinking that the boy there, is a Yoma." He spoke loud enough to make sure everyone heard him loud, and clear.

"He is a Yoma, look at his brother piece of fucking damned monster!" A man viciously spat much to the fear in the eyes of the fellow villagers. Capitalizing on this, the shinobi merely looked over at him, the candle's flickering flame making the shadows around the cloaked male flutter as if alive. It caused open nerves to tremble as villagers felt like they just probbed a silent wolf.

"No, the Yoma took over his brother not vice versa. You're fucking clueless, so shut your mouth."

Turning to look over the rest of the villagers, he spared no expense to lash them verbally as well.

"The rest of you are no better, focusing all that anger at a defenseless boy because none of you had the courage to face the monster, as he did, alone. It's amusing to see cowards act mighty when they are worthless then the actual monster itself, mind the fact I have half a mind to say you're all complete idiots yourselves."

That drew less than friendly looks pointed at the man, which the a random villager who sneered at the black coated traveler.

"Who are you to say what we think and know is true. You're probably a fucking Yoma yourself, else why would you defend him?" he accused the black clothed man to which the other people murmured quietly about the possibility. It seemed possible due to the defense he came after the monster had been discovered, also he was new in town so it's fairly possible for him to be a Yoma stalking new grounds as well.

Yet the shinobi's tone took on a sinister track, which confirmed some wild speculations.

"If that were the case, I'd definitely kill you first hands down."

The man's monotone voice was flatter then possible as it gave everyone chills at the lack of emotion coursing through its vocal cords.

"You're just ignorant, it's amazing how dull you are. If you see a Yoma, cry out and just learn to shut your mouth."

"Genjutsu Art- Jigoku-kyō-jutsu."

The same man who sneered as he whimpered as the black clothed hat man stepped to the door as he screamed, "Yoma!" he pointed at everyone in the room practically screaming his lungs out. Images of the demons sprung up, come out of flesh and wood alike melding together in the most horrific site he had ever seen. Lunging up at him, they started to tear out his organs brutally.

Next the tears went down his face as the demonic images all jumped onto him causing the man to flip out.

He was stumbling out the door, screaming like mad.

Following him were the walls of the room, at least in his mind, with images of Yoma appearing on men, woman and from the outside appearing as they advanced on him. Several moments went by as all the villagers looked towards the cloaked male who just laughed lightly at the insanity displayed. He had his fun for now, as the screaming continued in the distance.

Ignorance was bliss, as they said until a fool came along to stir it up.

Moving towards his way out, the crowd whimpered in various forms of men and woman alike, to wait till the danger passed.

The shinobi stopped at the door before looking back at the elder before giving a dreaded proclamation, "Do what you will with the boy, I reason with people who don't listen."

Yet he paused before turning the corner of his face, partially visible due to the moon striking his back.

Tanned yet horizontal marks on his cheek lead to healthy lips who curled into a sinister facial expression, as red hues glowered lightly where his eyes were.

"For the record, if I ever encounter a Yoma again. I will tell it where it can get an easy meal, so put this on your gravestones:' You can't fix stupid.' Have a good evening..."

He walked out into the night fading into the shadows much to the crowds horrified faces. It became more so when the crying started on the elder who looked like the Sliver Eyed With was in front of him all over again as he was sweating bullets. To see something so inhumane to be an actual human made a horrifying truth spill: what in the hell did God create?

Despite all this, only one person listened.

That person was ironically: the one who'd be a would be meal to a predator.

Raki glanced at the man before wondering who was he, and would he meet him again.

He never noticed the villagers looking at him with fear and before long did not heed the words of a man would warned them of such actions.

And Raki felt himself falling off the cliff into the wasteland below.

(Village Gate)

"I heard you speak at the elder's center." Lily's mother said as the man turned back to see that Lily was asleep in her arms. Her face was so peaceful that it again brought back memories of someone in his arms like, seemingly a long time ago. In fact it was only a few years though he thought otherwise. Feeling his heart grow heavy, he took a moment to think about the teen whose time as a normal person, was over.

"What do you think, will happen to Raki?"

The answer, less than humane considering the villagers were human themselves.

"The boy is going to be cast out. Apparently I guess some of us are fools since I don't think Raki was a Yoma. It's a pile of horse shit."

She threaded her daughter's hair in her sleep as she pressed against her mother's chest. The man merely spoke in an amused tone, "Indeed most are foolish. But from fools, smarts can sprout if you're willing." The woman merely laughed lightly at the idea she or someone will have the courage to lead their village if things ever go south again. She sighed as the man, whose name they did not know still, went on about the subject which seemed off.

"I just hope the boy will be fine. It's been nice, but I have to leave now. Maybe in time I'll return..." He trailed off solumely as the mother watched the male look at her almost sad? No, he was looking at the child in her arms as a small yet cruel fate hit the young mother, this man's child had been killed or perhaps taken from him at the age where no one could say it was right.

"Maybe you can come back, I'd be honored to have you as a friend since you did so much for two people in this village who I cared about. My daughter and Raki's whose family was so close to my own in the past, now I regret I can never repay them for what they did for me. In my time of need, I got their help only to never repay them..."

He turned to leave, "You don't want to be my friend, I'm the farthest thing you want to befriend since I'm more of a monster myself than anything."

The woman persisted, but instead called out with a plea that didn't seem to much to ask for.

"Can we at least know your name since Lily will be saddened that you left without saying goodbye, she see's you as a friend."

The man considered this thoughtfully, as he looked out into the moonlight sky, seeing the stars sparkle.

He spoke three words, "Namikaze. Naruto Namikaze."

With that he vanished as the moon darkened due to the clouds as the man Naruto begun his journey into the lands Unknown.

End of Chapter 1 :"The Wandering Shinobi"

Author's Note: Edited/Re-posted

(Updated 10 November 2013) - I made this story years ago, I finally have the courage to come out and confront those critics who just say my writing is Shit.

To be honest I was failing bad at writing and reading during high school in my freshman year. And what did I in order to get better, actually write a massive story whose very literal amounts took hours of me trying to come up with it. Trying so hard to use what I leaned in lessons to make this a story, I could feel proud of. Pride is a dangerous thing and its gotten me very annoyed.

I feel proud I can write this amount of literature all the while having time to make hundreds of others out there in the same boat as me. Maybe to feel strong enough to write or enjoy to read as I did, before the whole censorship on FFnet came around. Half a decade or more, I've been on this site and it changed so much I feel sick at it becomes daily.

At the interface, not the people but it's coming a full circle to see some people are amusing to rant at me.

I've made friends on here, so do not get me wrong sometimes good things happen to those who share the same motivations and ideals.

No this does not mean, I am quitting, I'm just gonna rewrite all the confused and mixed up chapters till War in the Campaign in the North ARC. Believe me I have an inexplicable rage to those who say, "Your format is a mess, just stop writing." In case many of those missed the fact I developed my structure from public schooling, while writing more recent stories in clear crystal perspectives.

Granted all my early works(The Hybrid, Jurassic Park, Praetorian's Crush )were when I started, at age 13 when I got out of middle school itself. So yea the beginnings all suck bad, I laugh at how bad I was back then but it gives me strength to where I'm at now is much more superior overall. I am not great, I am not bad either.

I'm just an average Joe, with average writing skills who just will work to clean up his mess so that others can at least read with a smile.

No more no less...

On a side note: "Proeliator of Rutilus Diluculo" is the title of this story, for any curious this is the Latin translated phrase "Warrior of the Red Dawn", it's kind of a clinche in english so I went with Latin Since well, sounds more mystic by any means if I had to offer honestly. So what did you think of this intro, any problems with Naruto's personality, or did you find some dialog a bit drawn out. Again any feedback is appreciated as I need something to go on as I continue.