Welcome back to The Mightiest Disciple! It took me long enough, and I sincerely apologize for even putting it into Hiatus. But I am back, and this chapter… we see Naruto's descent into darkness. I am probably going to have people HATE me for this chapter, but this is something I had planned to do since the first seven chapters. So try to enjoy, and be wary. Oh! And Merry Christmas!

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None of the fighters of the group knew how Niijima did it, but the safe house was back in top form, with some people still clearing out some of the rubble here and there. But what took Takeda by surprise was the newest training room inside it. Apparently, Niijima had it cleared and given some very hardy gear for practice, and the one who was using it was none other than the landlord herself, Valkyrie. Kisara was inside the room and slamming her legs into every obstacle in the room as it swung around and popped up from the ground.

To the blind eye, it was normal practice, but to Takeda, who knew better, he could see the red bruises on the woman's legs, the red and raw skin as it slammed into another target, weights attached at the ankles. Kisara was training extremely hard.

He had to admit, she was working harder than he was at the moment. Nijima stepped up beside him. "She's been at this for seven hours. We've started thinking up ways to strengthen all our gear after she broke a quarter of the things she's practiced with today. Though I worry she's overdoing it… We don't have the fighters to spare one of us being downed."

Everything turned off around Kisara, until Takeda saw clear as day something behind her start falling, a huge ball coming down on top of her. "Kisara!" He tried to warn her, but he watched in awe as she roared with all her willpower and kicked back at the ball. As her foot connected, Takeda and Niijima were worried she'd hurt herself terribly. but the very opposite happened as the ball burst and broke in midair, Kisara letting her leg down and she stood tall.

Turning to the two as she walked and grabbed a towel, the red-headed lean bad girl of the group smirked. "Need to give me something harder there, Niijima. Add ten percent to the course. I'll take 24 hours off. Takeda, what brings you here?"

Recovering from his surprise, the boxer smiled. "Was going to see how you were doing… It seems you are doing alright. Surprising to see you getting this strong without a Master."

Scoffing, the woman tossed the wet towel aside. "I'm not risking it. Seigfried's went to find his, Ukita's at Ryozanpaku, and you're out trying to find a Master yourself. We need someone here at all times in case it all goes to shit again. I figure I'll work in a similar way to Naruto, push myself past my limits and then go beyond. He had master healers though, so I have to take breaks when I KNOW my body isn't up to the task."

"What about Thor? Freya even?" He didn't realize yet that, though they were allies with Shinka…

Niijima answered. "Technically they are not part of the group. Freya expressed concerns it was another gang, and Thor only tolerated us because of Seigfried. Our only fighter for the moment is Kisara, and I worry she's burning out. Until she says otherwise, however, we will continue to improve."

Humming in thought, the boxer had to admit, they had a point. He was even a part of Ragnarok when they put up an attack at a very unprepared moment. Keeping prepared was the best thing to do, and right now he could understand everyone's motivations after Spark kicked them up and down the courtyard.

"So, still looking for your master boxer?" Kisara sat down after getting a bottle of water. "Have you tried looking into dojo's?"

With a long sigh, Takeda shook his head. "I haven't been looking… Don't get me wrong, I want to find one. But finding one isn't the problem, it's finding one with the same method of fighting as those from Ryozanpaku, even Naruto and Miu. I don't want to bother them either, but I am afraid I may have to. One of them has to know a good master."

Rolling her eyes, the redhead just told him. "Just go ask. Look, regardless of their training, they will still have time to talk. You need to stop thinking and start training. It's been, what, a week? You've been sitting down trying to figure out the right time to go ask? no time like the present. The more you worry, the less strength you train for, the less you'll be able to fight these super-strong freaks from Yami. So the real question, Puncher, is this. You going to start training, or just sit back and let the dedicated ones do the fighting?"

Whilst his resolve to ask has been in flux, his resolve to fight has never been higher. "I've not been slacking off, but it seems you've jumped through hoops yourself to get stronger. Alright, I'll go ask."

Smirking, Kisara sighed and stood back up. "I'm coming with. Make sure you don't get cold feet. Besides, it's been a while since I saw anyone else. It would be nice to talk to Naruto a bit."

"I'll stick here, need to finish the command center in the basement. You two have fun." The alien co-leader of the Shinka group said as he left to make arrangements for tougher gear.

As the two former Ragnarok fighters were walking around, they were suddenly surprised by a screaming figure speeding at them. In seconds, they realized it was Ukita, and behind him with a whip was Akisame on a tire being dragged by him. Both of them got out of the way as Ukita was screaming in fear. "AHHHHHH!"

Though Takeda was used to the rather intense training Ryozanpaku had, he never witnessed such training being used upon someone who had no idea how I really felt. "Uhh, shouldn't we be helping? That seems a bit too much to start Ukita off with."

Kisara shrugged and started walking again. "That's tame compared to what the Masters do themselves without complaining. They actually go beyond their limits to keep their skills sharp, and do it without hesitation." Seeing Takeda listening, Kisara continued. "That's the difference between what we used to be, and what we have to become to fight this new threat. We cannot stray from hard training, we cannot hesitate when our new opponents are also training day in and day out. It wasn't until I first saw Naruto for the first time, saving me and my cat, that I found my drive to train until I was the very best. I found a goal, but then I made it and felt complacent. After taking Odin down, and Spark, I found my own spark."

The two finally made it to the gates. Takeda was still listening intently, though he knew the trials the masters went through he seemed to have looked too shallow, whereas Kisara took a hard look below the surface. Putting her foot on the gate, Takeda witnessed her grunt loudly and shove the single door almost completely open. "I don't train to become the best, I don't train to be a master. I train and get stronger for those I care about, for those I hold dear, and if it means nearly breaking my body to do it, I will get stronger, sharpen all my skills. And anyone who tries to challenge me to get to any of you? I won't let them beat me without a fight. If it means becoming a master, becoming the best? Then so be it. If you feel the same way?" She gave a grin. "Then you'll find the right master to help you."

It was surprising how strong Kisara had gotten in a single week. Takeda knew that she was still the strict, but good-hearted woman he knew. She was just stronger and driven to grow even more so. He felt a similar spark, but his fear kept him from driving forward. "Let's go find out." Not anymore.

And just as they entered the courtyard, they witnessed as a large sandbag burst open like an explosive. As the cloud of sand and dust cleared, they looked to see Naruto standing at the side of the broken piece of equipment.

What surprised them more was that it wasn't Naruto who did it, but one of their old friends and allies Tsuji. He had hit the thing so hard it exploded from the inside, and Naruto was… unimpressed. "You can stop the tough guy act, I got your number now! That training in the mountains really got my skills up!"

"Maybe so, but I've been keeping sharp myself. So why don't you see about facing me for real?" Naruto's Ki shot up, and everyone around him that was normal went rigid from the force. This was a whole different Naruto they were seeing, as he glared death at Tsuji. The long-haired wild man was stunned into paralyzing fear of the Ki shooting out directly at him.

It was so strong that even Kensei, who was reading his naughty books, looked up in a serious stare at the blonde. Tsuji tried desperately to get into a fighting stance, but Naruto was already in front of him. "Don't back down from a challenge, huh? Show me that fighting spirit, Tsuji, like you did way back when you and Ragnarok stormed my path."

"Naruto, hey, take it easy!" He turned to see Kisara shaking but walking up to him. "Come on, don't be like that. This isn't like you, what's gotten into you?"

He turned his Ki off, making Takeda and Tsuji both take a knee or two. "I'm sick of everyone coming up and threatening me and those I care about… I'm starting to think it's best to end the fight quickly."

Takeda could feel the stares, looking to see Sakaki, Kensai, even the Elder back in the yard get serious as if they know what this meant. He could sense their dread over this admission.

Though Kisara stood fast and came up to Naruto with her guard up but her arms bare. "Come on, it's not like we're weaklings. Miu, Renka, me, Takeda and Ukita, everyone you know is a strong fighter. And only getting stronger. You don't need to worry if we can take care of ourselves, only that we can stick together against these challenges. As you've always shown, as you will CONTINUE to show."

It took a moment but he looked down, almost faltering in his step. She could see the conflict in him. She could see now the fear Takeda had, about the Path they chose. About how fragile a belief it can be to those in Martial Arts. The whisker-wearing man of her heart stepped away, sighing. "I just don't know anymore… And I have to go pay my respects."

He left, unwrapping his arms. As he exited the room, Akisame came up. "Ever since Spark almost killed you all, he's been… Having a difficult time understanding what place our way of life presents in the face of such overwhelming force for death. We were hoping to solidify the choice of Katsujinken within him before Yami and Yomi struck, but it seems we ran out of time."

Standing up, Tsuji frowned. "Killing is just how fighting goes, sometimes you can't stop yourself. Sometimes you can't hold back or else you die yourself."

The Elder was behind him, which scared him for several reasons, including silently wondering how much power lay behind those passive eyes as the large man brushed his beard. "True, but that is why a true Martial Artist gains a code to live by, one that leads to a final path, one to kill because it's a normal end to fight, or ones who keep everyone they can alive, even their opponent, to prove that life is precious in all things, even those that have dark hearts and souls. Naruto has always had trouble finding out where he lands on the moral spectrum of life and death. He's followed our ideals because that is how we taught him, but there have been many troubles since then that have given him pause. Many that he fought to save others in his nightly escapades, Raganrok's recent incursion, and the current situation with Yomi. We are fearing the final straw to break the back of his will to follow our path."

"So, what can we do? He's brought us all back from a dark place, I feel it's the time we bring him back from his." Takeda stood quickly to ask.

"Not so easy, little guy. You cannot force him back, he has to find the will to keep going towards life and peace. We've been hoping that if the numbness he feels when training can't help, then maybe the love of others. It's looking like he's barely hanging on as is for that connection, but so far it's working." He knew the others agreed not to say much, but he had to give something to them to understand."

Kisara looked towards where Naruto went and put her hands in her pockets. She thought about it hard. After a moment, she smiled. "I see. Well, I'll be here to give that love and guidance for good, because he was there for me."

Naruto came out in casual clothes, which kind of shocked them. He saw their curious looks. "Sorry, forgot to tell you I guess… Been a long week. It's the day Mui goes to see her parents grave… Elder and I always accompany her."

The Elder explained to the ones who didn't know. "That's right. Miu is my granddaughter and I brought her into my home to raise when my son and his wife died when Miu was still a baby... I apologize, but if you all wish to stay and wait for Naruto to return, we will be back by dark. I still must get ready myself, so you have time to talk before then."

As he left, Tsuji looked to the blond rival of his. "This is all too strange for me… I'm out, I'll be training some more for a real fight later, got it spiky!?" He left in a hurry without an answer.

The three friends talked a bit about their week, Naruto telling them of his rigorous training, making Takeda slightly pale and Kisara to just chuckle.

Naruto looked to his dark-skinned friend. "Takeda, what brings you around? I thought your therapy was over with, you usually don't visit much."

"Well, true, but I got a good reason." He took a deep breath. "You see, I need to find a Boxing master, one that has my style, but is part of the Katsujinken way of martial arts. Know anyone?"

Naruto rolled his eyes and looked to Akisame, who had his back turned and was standing straight and seriously. "Akisame-sensei, you know one don't you?"

"Not a one, sorry, my memory is failing me. I cannot seem to think of a single Boxing master that practices the Fist of Life." He almost huffed as he raised his chin up.

Sighing, Naruto looked to Takeda. "He does, and so do I… every other month they find a small place to bet and dare the other to shave their mustaches. You'll be looking for a man named Shiba, James Shiba. Though he's a bit of an oddball, and slightly rude, so be careful. Don't let him run you over with any stupid ploy. Show him you're just as stubborn and ready to be a top Boxer, and he'll respect you enough to train you. It may take a week or a month, but it'll happen."

"James Shiba huh? Thanks for the tip Naruto." Smiling, Takeda put out a fist. "You always come through, keep honey safe and sound during your trip, ok?"

Smiling a bit, the blonde bumped fists to the puncher. "Keep that left sharp, may need it against these darkness toting renegades."

The Boxer left, leaving the red-haired tomboy with Naruto. She looked at him. "Having a rough go of it since the attack on Shinka HQ?"

"Yeah… I just…" Naruto sighed and looked down.

Kisara smiled and stepped up. "You'll figure it out. I know you, I know your heart. Even if it's locking down, I've seen it. You care. The road of kindness and good nature may be difficult, but it's more rewarding. The more your heart shines, the more people are drawn to it. I may not be mushy like some people, but I do know this, I will always believe in you." She opened her arms and Naruto was a little surprised that she hugged him.

Blushing a little, but hiding it well, the red-haired fighter gave his cheek a small peck before letting go and turning around. "And I will always care about you, knuckle-head. Keep standing up for others as you've always done. See you tomorrow, ok?"

As she left, Naruto was internally fighting himself. Every argument was being thrown back at him for both sides of his feelings. Like something wanted him so badly to start killing Yomi for how they almost killed her and everyone, but also the reason they are alive is that he held back.

"They were once my enemies.- But my new enemies almost killed them.- And what if keeping to the light they may become my friends as well? Spark herself is seeing the light now too.- Not everyone can be turned to the light, and if they kill Kisara, Takeda, even Miu, then they are too far gone to save anymore.- And if I kill them, I won't be any better…" He shook his head, trying hard to banish the thoughts. Though whatever dark thoughts were fighting him, it had the last word. "And if we don't take that chance, we may lose those we care for… If we don't take action, maybe even those who say they love us may abandon us. We cannot afford to be passive any longer."

Ignoring that, Naruto just went and waited for Miu and the Elder to get ready to visit the grave of Miu's mother.

XxX Hours later XxX

It was relatively somber, as always. Naruto prayed with Miu as they looked upon the grave of both Miu's mother and her grandmother. Though Naruto knew from Hayato that the father was gone too, he never saw the grave.

Looking to Miu, Naruto came and hugged her close. Though she was bubbly and head-strong normally, she was focused and distant during these visits. He had always been her pillar of support, and every time she cried as she stood beside him.

The three of them prayed and paid respects for a while before the Elder chose to see the priest about the grave. As he went, the two young fighters left the other way. Normally they got ice cream and sat down in the park, but something about this year had Miu thinking of other things. "There's a zoo nearby, want to go see some of the animals there before heading home?" She wanted to have a nice date with him, seeing as how Renka was not here and they were alone, she wanted her chance to claim his heart.

But deep down, she knew he was struggling with the Yomi incident. She knew how he started training harder, and striking at dummies in vital areas. Miu was hoping to lift his spirits, maybe find clarity to keep fighting for life. Naruto hummed but smiled a bit. "Sure, we have time before he gets back from talking to the priest. It might be cool to relax a bit."

It didn't take long to get there and start looking at the many varieties of animals they had. The two were having a good time so far, with Miu on his arm and looking at the fancy cold weather mammals and their eating habits.

Naruto was starting to feel better about it all, feeling like he could see the light again. Remembering they usually got ice cream, he looked to Miu. "Hey, let me go get us some of our favorite cold treats. I'll be right back ok?"

Miu nodded, having wanted to see the bird exhibit as soon as the sign showed up. As her love walked to the stand she went into the cages. Though apparently one of the birds was stuck, but no one could see them trapped by their leg in their own nest, normal people just thought it was being a loud annoyance but her trained eyes saw the leg was red from pulling on it so hard.

Unbeknownst to her, someone else also saw it, and also was compelled to help, and both of them jumped up to do so. Miu and the young man with a tattoo on his face and long blonde hair, they both helped the bird out of the next, Miu herself having some spare cloth to help the leg.

After she finished, the man, who had been staring at her the entire time, was still staring but was smiling. She kind of saw his movements. "You made it up here pretty quickly with those moves… Are you a Martial Artist too?"

The silent permeated the area before he started giggling, then laughing before jumping up on his feet and looking at her arms up in the air. "I found you at last! I've been searching for my flying maiden for so long!"

That got her attention to be freaked out by his crazy confession of stalking her possibly. "Maybe just the fact I am very acrobatic in my style and he likes that kind of thing? Too bad I'll have to let him down- huh!?" In her thoughts, she didn't really focus on defending against anything as he grabbed her hand and held it close to him.

Smiling so wide, the man just blurted out randomly. "My name is Kanou Shou! Let us fly the skies of darkness together!"

That got Miu's attention. "Darkness?! Yami?!"

"Yeah! You'll be accepted instantly I bet!"

Whipping her arm and twisting it, she stuck fast to knock him out. "Assasin!"

"Whoa! Nice moves, but I know that technique from Saiga Furinji!" As he flipped out of the way quickly, he saw her freeze in shock.

"Saiga Furinji?! How do you know him!" Sadly her shock and frozen action were enough for him to get behind her and trap her in a lock.

"Well, as a part of Yami I know all the information we've gathered on people, including him!" He smirked behind her, finding a way to get her to follow him. "Hey, if you want to know more about him, I can tell you everything… But you'd have to follow me to hear it all."

She knew nothing, only that he was not buried with her mother. She had always wondered… "Grandfather would never say anything about it… Nothing about my father, who he was, nothing. If Yami knows something… Is that why he wouldn't tell me?" She looked at Shou, who was smiling brighter. She looked towards where Naruto went, but where she was he wouldn't see through the trees.

Miu was at a crossroads… But she couldn't resist the temptation, finally knowing about her father. "Lead the way…"

Minutes passed, and Naruto was looking all over. He knew she was towards the birds, but she was supposed to be waiting for him. He couldn't feel her Ki anywhere, so she wasn't being harassed. But something didn't feel right.

He chose to climb the highest peak of the Zoo and look and quickly managed to do just that. As the young blond fighter looked, he was quick in finding something, and to his dismay, it was Miu, he was sure of it with her flowing hair and the dress she wore today to visit the grave, and she was riding away fast on a motorcycle with some jacket-wearing dude.

Giving chase, quickly catching up but keeping distance to see what was going on, he found her not tied or chained, so she was willing. This confused him. "Why isn't she resisting? Why leave suddenly with this person? Who is he?" The guy was also giving off vibes he did not like.

Sadly, he was giving off his own vibes, and they both saw him. Miu looked surprised, and the guy looked annoyed, and Naruto felt a pang of jealously. Miu was willingly going for sure, cause her eyes spoke volumes of being worried but also apologetic.

Shou hit the gas more, but Naruto managed to put out all the stops and run fast enough to catch the bike and get in front of it. Miu, seeing Shou was willing to run her love over, stopped the bike for them, which made them flip cause the bike skid and almost flipped itself. Flying off it, both of them landed as the bike skid along the ground.

Taking off their helmets, Shou glared at Naruto. "You annoying bug! Trying to fly faster than me…"

Not looking to Shou, Naruto chose to look to Miu, though his eyes were indifferent, and Miu felt a pang of guilt. "What's going on? Who is this guy?"

The Ki started flowing from Shou, and Naruto as unfazed by it all. "Hey, Ant! Scram before I tear your head off!"

Miu looked to Naruto. "He's… well…" She didn't know what to say. If she said from Yami, with how he was now, he might do something drastic. She was fighting over how bad it would be.

Though she never got an answer, and someone came up to them. "Kanou Shou… Suparna. What the hell are you doing here?"

Turning, they all saw Hermit, Natsu Tanimoto. Shou scoffed. "Well look who it is, Hermit. Been a long time huh?"

"Yeah, though I wonder what the leader of Yomi is doing here." Naruto's Ki suddenly blasted, Hermit looked shocked, not ever feeling this kind of killing Intent before from the fellow blond.

Shou was feeling it bearing down on him, but he wasn't totally unprepared for it. "What, you wanna go against me?!"

Miu got in the middle. "No!" She was facing Shou, which had Naruto's thoughts go in several directions. Did she think Shou was stronger? Or was she just protecting him as someone who cares for him and chose his side?

The standstill was silent for a few moments. Hermit knew this was bad, he heard from Takeda today that naruto's Ki was something else, and was not like he's ever shown before. He had to defuse the situation before it got bloody for them all. "Hey, Shou. might want to back off."

"Yeah, and why is that? I'll break this grounded bug if he tries anything!"

"Even if you do, what do you think Godhand is gonna do to you finding out you're out here?"

That got Shou scared. He grabbed Miu's hand. "Shit, let's go, Miu, I can't stay out here but we have lots to talk about!"

She pulled her hand away, and that got him shocked. She frowned but stood tall. "Sorry, but no…" She looked back at Naruto. "I can't just leave him, not like this… I love him too much to let him go down a dark path. Information on my father can wait, Naruto needs me, and I will not let my love's heart grow cold."

Shou saw she wasn't going to be pulled towards the dark yet, so he smiled. "I see. I can wait. I should know better than to be pushy with girls." he was by her side, passive as well which had Naruto let his guard down a little bit. "You'll understand one day… You should be on our side, my wings…" He gently laid a kiss on her cheek and backed off…. Until everyone froze.

The time it took for Naruto to process the information in front of him, something inside him broke out. He knew Miu, everything about her, even the reflexes pounded into her muscle memory by the Elder, and the deep dark voice in his head that was aiming to push him to kill had snuffed out the voice of light, just enough that his heart broke… "She has every reflex to throw anyone who gets behind her like that to the ground, even if they try to get her into a grapple. She would never allow that to happen, but she let him kiss her… She was supposed to be on a date with us, but she chose to abandon us for him, and now it's clear! She doesn't truly…"

A tear ran down his cheek seeing her not even try to kick his ass for it, but that last vestige of light snuffed as a Ki so powerful that even the Masters, Elder too, were shocked to sense from such far away. It was almost visible as his body grew a shade of red, his muscles bulging.

Shou, Hermit, even Miu were paralyzed, but as soon as their breath was taken away, they were given it back as Naruto's Ki vanished completely, and his eyes grew dull. He turned and started running as fast as he could. Hermit dropped to his knees, Shou was shaking in his shoes, but Miu was still paralyzed, seeing his eyes go dead. "What… what happened? He looked so… Oh no, he thought-!" "Naruto!"

The Elder appeared. "Miu, what's wrong!? Where's Naruto?"

Tears started streaming down her face as she looked to her grandfather. "He just ran! We have to catch him!" Hayato nodded and they started running after Naruto…

Hermit huffed and looked to Shou, his eyes wide. "I don't know what happened… But I think you just pissed him off. Whatever you did, I would pray he doesn't find you in that bad mood again." Shou didn't speak, but he grabbed his bike and got out of there.

XxX That night, Ryozanpaku XxX

The Masters were all worried, pacing, almost ready to go out and find Hayato. Akisame was pacing. "This is not good… That Ki, it's the same as when he was a child. When he grew angry it felt like that, so similar… but far more potent. That is Naruto, but not the one we know."

"We should… try… to find him… soon." Their resident weapons master said, upside down and counting her shuriken.

They didn't have to wait long as Hayato came in… but only with Miu. "Everyone, high alert!... Naruto's vanished completely, we can't find him anywhere, and he's masking his Ki… I think the final straw broke the will he had left…"

Miu was crying still. "It's all my fault…" "Naruto… I'm sorry. I should have been on guard, I should have beaten that guy to a pulp! I shouldn't have let him even try to kiss me… Next time I see him though, for that gross kiss of his, I will break his jaw! But first, I must find you again, Naruto… I have to show you I truly love you… and bring you back."