Dark Lord Naruto Ch1

Many years ago, the continent was shook by the rise of a demon beast from the north; its reign of terror washed across the land like a wave, leaving destruction in their wake, and displacing the survivors further south.

The nearest kingdoms rose up, but the fox demon lord known as Kurama, quickly became a crisis, soon more and more demons joined the fight, rising out of the shadows, and from the depths of the demonic lands.

The small kingdoms, desperate, and on the brink of destruction called upon the three great kingdoms that ruled most of the continent for help, and together, to deal with it.

The Prosperous Hyuuga Kingdom, lush and bountiful lands.

The Desert Kingdom of Suna, a mysterious land of desert dwellers.

The Restored kingdom of Ootsuki, an ancient empire refounded by the Uchiha royals.

With the three greatest armies united, the war against Kurama began, many soldiers losing their lives before the kingdoms greatest heroes rose up and defeated the fox and his growing army,

with only a few surviving the final encounter.

Across the battlefield, the defeat of Kurama was felt, and the horde of demons began their retreat, dispersing back to their realm from whence they were summoned..

But the body of the fox still emanated with dark power, and could not be left, as the corruptive power not only began to threaten not only corrupt the land, but those around the body.

Priests came to try and destroy the body, only find it was already healing, and the risk of resurrection became a concern.

The three kingdoms argued over what was to be done with the body as it was chopped up, as each piece continued to release the energy, like an endless river.

The mages and priests of the kingdoms came together, their magic sealing the pieces into nine jewels, but even the jewels themselves were dangerous, and had to be sealed away further before being separated, and spread out across the continent, to keep the power in check.

It seemed like that would be the end of it, but mysterious rumors about the origin of the fox began to spread, that it was no accident; those who spoke of such rumors or looked into the event would vanish.

Even the heroes who survived would disappear without a trace, their fates unknown, but after many years passed, the dangerous times faced became stories and whispers, and any secrets once whispered were forgotten.

==================

Naruto was a seventeen year old man who had lived mostly a quiet life in the small village of Leafton, a farming community where he lived a peaceful life in the home of his parents, long lost to him, who he only knew were soldiers for the Hyuuga Kingdom.

His grandfather, Jiraiya was barely around the last several years, his job as a storyteller had made him popular, and he was always searching for new inspirations, so it kept him away for months at a time.

The village had raised Naruto in his grandfather's stead, and though he was a wild child, he was pretty much a son to many of the families.

But, Naruto was also a curious type, and no matter how familial the village felt to him, they were never his real family.

He never gave up wondering about his parents, and what happened to them, as the only thing he could find out was, they died on a mission.

The mission itself, and how they died were all a mystery, a mystery the nobles either didn’t know or simply kept from him, and even his grandfather.

As the years passed, his desire for information led him to hold a grudge towards many nobles, and his mischievous nature could not hold back the urge to cause trouble for them; though the risk of it falling back on those he cared for was something he didn't want to happen.

The first time he stole from a noble was an opportunity he could not resist; stealing the purse of a noble during a meal that he could not pay for was fun to watch when he tried to explain, and begging the restaurant owner not to call the town guard, amused him.

More opportunities arose over time, and his skills at pickpocketing soon evolved into sabotage. Making life hard for the nobles and the rich was just a hobby, but he did soon catch the attention of friends he had.

Tenten, the daughter of Leaftons blacksmith.

Sakura, the assistant to the village apothecary, who claimed to have been the apprentice to a famous hero healer.

Shikamaru, a scribe for the lord of the nearest town to Leafton.

And more...

Each one discovering Naruto's antics in different ways, and instead of reporting him, offered to help, and many even joining in.

It was Shikamaru who gave intelligence on important details, and events, that allowed Naruto's growing gang to know where and what was to be targeted.

Naruto's gang would steal rarely, but when they did, it was fast, and secret, many of their victims not knowing anything had been stolen until days later.

Especially the caravans that passed through. No one had noticed goods go missing until they reached their destination, Shikamaru had reported many times, having overheard the Local Lord being complained to.

This night was much the same.

Shikamaru had given the details of the caravan to Naruto, hearing that Lord Danzo had personally known the trader, and was having several items delivered to his private estate far from the town he ruled over.

Whatever it was, it was enough interest for Naruto to not be able to pass up, and as the group of wagons were secured, and the trading group sat around the campfire, Naruto's gang slipped through the shadows, making little to no noise that would alert any guards nearby, no matter how good the freelancers were.

They were careful, slow. Taking small items that wouldn't be missed immediately, if at all.

The gang were well practiced in their stealth, and evasion, so it almost felt like a patient game of hide and seek, with the added challenge of each stealing something valuable looking.

Naruto though had the biggest challenge, as always sneaking into the most guarded part of the camp, but somehow he always pulled it off; maybe that was why he was still the leader?

He had snuck into the lead carriage, where the trader would sit and travel in style and comfort; there was usually something good hidden away there.

He checked the usual hiding places, and found a few goodies, taking portions of coins, jewels, and a few jewelry items from each point, being sure to not make the amount missing noticeable on a quick glance.

But as he prepared to leave, he felt something, a warm feeling in the back of his head.

He wondered at first if he had triggered some trap spell, but the warmth seemed to be pulling at him lightly.

He could feel the direction, and when he looked, something instinctively told him that there was something important hidden under the seat.

It was not one of the usual spots to check, but he looked around it, and saw nothing; the seat didn't move, nor did there look like a latch anywhere, or hinge.

He wanted to give up and leave, he was already running out of the time he usually took, but something drove him to keep looking.

He was about to rip the seat off when his hand stopped. A warm feeling hitting his palm, like he was holding it over an open flame, yet, it didn't burn, or feel uncomfortable.

His head pounded, and he felt something at the back, like a buried memory hidden in darkness pushing through and blurring his thoughts a little before he regained composure, and noticed that a small box had appeared on the seat, having appeared out of thin air.

He had heard about magical storage, but he had neither experienced, nor knew how to access one before, yet somehow, he had pulled out a small, rather ornate silver box out.

He decided to think about it later, taking the the box, and made his escape finally.

The gang was waiting a fair distance away in the forest, pacing about, waiting, and worried. Only when Naruto appeared did they breathe a sigh of relief.

Sakura walked up, and got in his face. "Where the hell have you been?" she said. "You're late!"

"Sorry, I... well, something came up." Naruto says, laughing it off a little, making Sakura pout.

"Well, we're all safe, that's all that matters." Tenten says "And we got a good haul."

The rest of the gang all cheered, pulling the few things they took out from their pouches.

Naruto smiled, as he showed his haul, and was met with silence.

"I thought, no boxes." Sakura asks.

"Yeah... i know, but... this..." he looked at it, concerned. "Something drew me to it."

"Naruto, we can't break the rules, what if they find it missing?" tenten asks, worried.

"It was hidden in some sort of magical storage spell thingy, thing" he said.

"Dimensional storage?" sakura said. "An expensive spell, it must be valuable."

"Yeah. I'm not even sure how I found it." he said, "...or how I got it out."

"Weird.'' Sakura says. "So, let's have a look."

Naruto nods and looks over the box to find the hinges, and then opens the lid.

With just a crack of the lid, the air around them grew thicker, and hot, everyone felt the pressure grow, like they were gaining weight, though Naruto seemed unaffected, focused on the box as he opened it wider, releasing a wave of energy as he saw a shimmering jewel inside.

Many miles away, close to the capital of the Hyuuga kingdom, the young knight Neji flinched as he turned to face what he sensed.

The area around his eyes tensed and veins appeared as his white pupilless eyes constricted.

It was beyond his mystical vision, but the aura of demon energy was unmistakable.

He turned to his men, who were around a campfire and yelled "To the horses, we must return to the castle."

Naruto's eyes were firmly locked on to the crystal, as whispers grew louder and louder, indistinct, feral, deep.

It wasn't until he heard his friends cry out to him, that he realized and snapped the box shut.

"w-what the hell was that?" Sakura gasped, as the pressure on her body allowed her to breathe again.

"I have... no idea." he says. "But it was... weird."

"You call that weird? I call it dangerous." Tenten says. "Maybe not keep it?"

"I know what you mean. But something tells me this is... important." he says.

"I know that tone." sakura says. "What makes you think this has something to do with your parents?"

"Just a feeling." he says. "It's been the first time since... well since i was a kid I found something."

"You found a feeling." tenten said.

"Wasn't that weird knife a feeling?" sakura asks. "You know, the one you thought felt like it was some ancient dagger your mom used?"

"Yes, but..."

"What did it turn out to be again?" tenten asks.

"..." he paused "An art piece..."

"That they sold in the town market during the festival of monsters." the two girls pointed out.

"I know!" he said, frustrated. "But this is different. even you guys felt that energy, right?"

"Yes, it is a powerful item, but..." sakura nodded.

"I'm keeping the box." he said, with a frown, as he began to leave. "Lets go home."

The gang all looked on as he walked off, before following. His parents' deaths were always a sore topic, but even they thought this seemed different.

=========

As morning began in the capital city Neji knelt before the throne of the king.

Hiashi walks in, his robes flowing behind him as he strides across the hall to his throne, standing before it instead of sitting.

"This had better be good Nephew." he says. "I have yet to eat breakfast."

"Forgive me my lord. But, I thought I should report this as soon as I could." Neji says, still kneeeling with his head down.

"Is it to do with the missing... Item?" he asked.

"Perhaps." he said. "It was on the edge of my senses, but I felt the demonic energy emanating from the direction of Lord Danzo's land."

"Danzo?!" he said "We suspected he was the one to organise the theft... but was he really foolish enough to open the box so recklessly?"

"Should I go and interrogate him?" Neji asked.

"Do so." Hiashi nodded, sternly frowning. "If you cannot find them, then check the area for signs of the demon." he moved up to his nephew and touched his shoulder, letting him stand. "Take the priests. If you find signs, we can cover our bases."

"As you order, my king." he said, crossing his arm over his chest, in a loyal salute.

After he left Hiashi sat on his throne, and gripped the arms tightly, the anger, the frustration building quickly.

He might have yelled out, or destroyed something with a spell, but his emotions were calmed by a calm voice.

"Father?" the female voice of his elder daughter rang out as she entered the hall. "I heard cousin Neji had returned..."

He stood from his throne to meet the princess part way from the side entrance.

"He was, but it was only briefly." he said, his calm, regal demeanor returned.

"aww... It's been some time since I last saw him." she sighed, saddened at missing him.

"worry not, my daughter, his mission will not keep him away for long." he says. "Then all will be as it should be."

And with that he led his daughter away to have breakfast.