The trench coat man stepped on the boutique's floor. Clothes and hangers scattered everywhere, some mannequins tore apart and few shelves broke down. A crack appeared on the furthest wall, like a web pattern from spider's nest.
He squinted his eyes as his sight swept the entire room and found two other people inside but neither of them was the blonde. One person laid unconscious near a shelve and another one slumped behind the counter. Her body shivered with cold sweat beaded her forehead.
"Where is he?"
She rose her left hand and pointed her finger at the path beside the cracked wall. The trench coat man turned around and sauntered there without a care. When he arrived at the entrance, he noticed spots of blood trailed its way down the path, he let out an eerie laugh and strolled forward following the trail, he turned around at the corner and found himself in the boutique's storage, he sneered and entered the room.
"I know you here..."
His eyes wandered among the wooden racks and plastic-covered clothes, the place built with concrete cement and paint in grey-white color. He trod on many stuff while walking around the room, even brushed several hanging shirts that block his view.
*Bang!*
Suddenly, the wooden rack beside him fell and it would hit him in a second. The gap between the rack was quite wide so crouching was not an option to avoid this. Normal people might be already panic, but the trench coat man just sneered. He put some strength into his legs and jumped backward. His back hit the wall behind him as he managed to avoid the tribulation.
*Pa!*
But before he wiped that sneer out of his face, a blurred shadow struck his face followed by another one toward his gut, he coughed a mouthful of saliva but before he recovered, the attacker grabbed his coat and threw him across the room. The hard and strong wood immediately broke when the trench coat man fell upon it. It's not that his body made of steel but the force used to throw him was not a joke.
"Ahahahah! That's it! That's more like it!"
Despite pain all over his body, the trench coat man didn't let out any groan, instead his mouth wide open and he laughed like a madman.
Naruto stood on the far side of the room, except dust and tear on his suit, and also a line of blood from the corner of his lips, he still in fine condition.
"Who are you?" Naruto said with a fixed face.
"Me?" the man rose, he patted some specks of dust from his yellow trench coat, "you can call me Fenris..."
His big rounded hat has gone from the top of his head, revealing a savage looking man with silver hair and large 'X' scar on his right cheek. His face has a square contour and with a pair of black eyes like raven's feather.
Naruto felt unfamiliar with this man, he frowned, "I don't know any Fenris.."
"Aw, really? You break my heart..." Fenris said with hurtful tone, then change into sinister, "you have to replace it with yours.:"
"You can try," Naruto swipe the dust on his shoulder, "I like to see your chance."
Fenris roared and shoot out from his place, his right arm bend and ready to pummel his target.
*Bang!*
His fist lashed out but Naruto leaned his head to his right thus Fenris's hand passed by him on a hair's breadth. The wall behind him cracked upon being hit, this shown how strong Fenris' fist was.
Fenris grunted and shoot out his left hand, performing low uppercut toward Naruto's abdomen. His attempt blocked by Naruto's arms as he crossed them in front of his stomach. Fenris punched several times in hope to hurt his enemy arms and broke through his defense, then he pulled his right hand and gave Naruto a hook punch on his right rib. Naruto let out a groan from this and Fenris left-hand changes his target toward Naruto's face.
Naruto dodged it by bending his body down, his once crossed arms pushed out and launched his both fist toward Fenris abdomen.
*Pa!*
Fenris got push few steps back and his face twisted in pain. As Naruto approaching him, he lashed out his right arm but Naruto dodged it and gave the man another strike on his left knee with a hook punch which causing Fenris to crouch. Naruto quickly followed his attack with left arm uppercut on Fenris right armpit thus dislocating his right shoulder. Naruto twisted around with one leg on the ground and swept Fenris head his left leg's backside. His head fell to the ground with a blunt sound could be heard throughout the room.
Naruto kicked the man's chest and followed with a stomp, his eyes coldly stare at him, "Who send you?"
Fenris moaned, his head felt dizzy, shoulder and knee ache in pain, and now he can hardly breathe with a foot on his chest, but he didn't show any fear, he sneered and said: "No one."
Naruto squinted his eyes and slowly increase the pressure within his feet, "Who?"
*Crack* *Crack*
Fenris face twisted but his mouth still gaped with a long tone of laughter, "Ahahaha keep going, I can withstand the pain."
Naruto stopped his pressure but stayed his feet on his chest, "Then you never taste a true pain."
"Ooh I don't need to," His eyes reflected odd light, then in a swift movement, his right hand reached up for a secret pocket on his pant and pull out a small knife, then move it in attempt to stab Naruto's free leg.
Naruto noticed only a few moments before the small knife nailed him, he grumbled and put a strength into his both legs and jumped backward a few meters from Fenris.
Even though he missed his target, Fenris still laughed as he rose from the ground, he played with the small knife in his hand as if it was a toy.
"You have a quick reflex, I give you that," he sneered, "and strong too, hehe, no wonder they easily be killed."
"They?" Naruto raised his eyebrows.
"Whoops almost spilled out the secret hehe, it wouldn't be fun if it was to easy."
"I have enough with your game, time to play a bad cop," Naruto readied his stance.
"Ahahaha so you saying you're going easy with me before?" Fenris threw his head back while laughed, "good, good, then I supposed I have to get serious too."
Fenris took a deep breath and closed his eyes, suddenly the air around him changed and a growl coming from his throat, his silver hair reached up to his neck and hairs on his arms grew visible into naked eyes. His ears became sharp but his nose retracted from its initial position. The space between his eyes became crooked as his once square face now has strong chins. Nails grew longer and teeth became sharper as his jaw became bigger.
"This is..." Naruto eyes widened at the transformation happen before him, he felt some familiar power surged inside the beastly looking man but couldn't remember exactly when and where.
Fenris opened his eyes and his previous dark eyes turned golden at this moment, his grinning mouth showed a complete set of ferocious teeth that can ripe any meats and bones.
"What? No shocked face or terrified eyes? Man, you're no fun," his said with a deep tone.
"I have seen far more than puppy looking monster like you," Naruto shook his head, his expression remains fixed.
"A puppy?" Fenris growled, "I show you how dangerous this puppy's claw."
Fenris strode forward and stretched wide his arm, his movement became faster as Naruto eyes missed to catch him before he already in close proximity. Fenris opened his arm and brandished his claw, Naruto leaned backward and the claw swung in front of him, it scratches the wooden rack beside him and cut them completely.
For a few seconds, Fenris kept brandishing his claws while Naruto did his best to avoid them, furniture around already torn apart and the ground beneath him left with a lot of claws dent.
Naruto tried to punch him but not only Fenris' skin became tougher, his reflex also a lot quicker, Naruto couldn't help but annoyed with the difficulty he faced.
Naruto slumped down and rolled to his side as Fenris managed to corner him to the wall, his scratch left a long claw mark on the concrete cement.
"Ahahah, where's your previous bravado. Dodge and evade wouldn't kill me!"
Fenris roared, in truth, he's very frustrated he couldn't land any hit on him, the thought of seeing his enemy body ripped apart getting longer made him depressed and became impatient.
"Aww, what's wrong puppy? Bored playing with your master?" Naruto sneered
"Arggh!" Fenris golden eyes glared at him with a murderous look, he lunged forward and gaped wide his mouth, the grinding tooth was ready to tear its target. This time Naruto didn't move backward, he slid underneath Fenris and kicked his lower abdomen, the force didn't throw Fenris back but flipped him instead. Naruto moved his hands to do a handstand and his legs pinched Fenris head then slammed him to the ground.
*Bam!*
Naruto rode his neck and gave Fenris punches on his head. With frustration and severe pain, Fenris roared and moved his claws to stab the cowboy on his neck, but found he only stab air. Naruto already rolled forward and stood in his direction.
Fenris tried to stand but concussion on his head causing him to wobble on his feet, and his sight blurred. Naruto smirked at his opponent condition and strolled carefully toward him. Fenris knew he would be doom if he couldn't see right any sooner, despite he still has a nose to detect his target, but a severe headache making him unable to focus, thus he can only swing his arms uncontrollably in hope to prevent his enemy.
Naruto waited for a right time to evade Fenris berserk scratches.
'Now!'
Naruto bent as a claw passed above him and decked Fenris's jaw, his head got thrown back and his body stumbled, Naruto didn't let the opportunity go waste, he launched several combinations of attack and cornered Fenris to the wall.
Fenris completely in stunned state after Naruto finished his assault. His head dizzy and pain reigned all over his body, he neither know north or south, he only knew his life was in peril danger.
"W-wait, you can't kill me!" In desperation, he can only plead.
"Oh come on, puppy! Don't tell you're going to beg now?" Naruto sneered.
"If you killed me, you wouldn't know who the one sending us!"
"Us?" Naruto frowned.
"Y-Yes, me and my teammate!"
Naruto startled and his eyes became colder, "Where are they?"
"Promise me you let me live and I tell you!"
"..." Naruto stood silent for a while, despite he already knew who hired these people based on familiar power this man had, but it wouldn't hurt to confirm it, "fine I let you live, tell me who's the one hiring you and where is your base?"
"It's someone called Lin Kun and our base is in the Eastern Zhong Hai harbor's warehouse, number 83"
Lin Kun huh? I never would have thought that.
Naruto bitterly shook his head, "If you have teammate then why are you alone now? What's your plan?"
Fenris sat on the floor with his pointy ears dropped, no longer the savage looking beast exists in his appearance, he resembling a pug that was castrated for bad behavior.
"I-I went rogue and hunt you myself, I thought I could take you on," Fenris said with a regret tone.
Naruto put his palm over his face, he couldn't believe what he just heard.
Hello? They sent you with a teammate for a reason...
Resisting the urge to beat this dog, Naruto said: "What about your team? Tell me all you know about them."
In short, There were five people arrived in Zhong Hai, and they were all genetic mutation people. The leader was called Hawke and he has a DNA of a hawk, he was chosen as a leader not because he's the strongest but his observation power and wise thought capability. The strongest in the team was Sebas, he had a gorilla's DNA and capable of destroying steels with his punch. Among all of them, Fenris had the hottest temper and always unable to stay still, thus he decided to sneak outside and hunt the target by himself.
Naruto sat on among the boxes, he held a solemn expression, "If what you said about this Hawke was true then why he or someone didn't chase after you? If he's wise, he should at least be wary of me, after all, Lin Kun should have told him about me."
Fenris nodded, "He did tell us about you and Hawke indeed told us not to act rash."
You also know about me yet still decided to hunt me alone? Boy, I'm worried about this association future.
Naruto rubbed his temple, "Tell me about your organization."
This time, Fenris surprisingly shook his head, "We have made a pledge not to tell about our organization secret, and it's a death pledge."
"Are you bound by a curse?" Naruto eyes lit in amazement
"Yeah, you know about curses?" Fenris raised his eyebrows.
Naruto's blood brimmed with excitement, he always fond toward this kind of thing and has a knack to solve formations, when he was pondering whether he have to check Fenris's curse or not, a sound of police alarm entered his hearing range.
Fenris also heard this and looked at Naruto with terrified eyes, "You... release me right? You promise!"
Naruto sighed, in truth, he didn't want to let this man alive but he already gave his word and Naruto never broke his promises.
"Fine... go away," Naruto turned his head to the side and waved his hand
Fenris threw a surprised look and stood from the ground, his body still aching with pain and he walked somehow with a dragged feet.
He stopped before the storage's entrance and glanced at Naruto with a complicated look, "Hey if you decided to 'visit' my team, can you spare Rilla for me? I have... this kind of crush on her..."
Rilla was a hybrid of human and rabbit, she had a cute appearance and seemingly acted as the team medic.
"Are you courting death?!" Naruto snapped his head and glared with his cold eyes.
"No! No! No! I'm just kidding, goodbye," Fenris abruptly left the entrance, he feared Naruto will change his mind if he stays any longer, he sighed, Well there goes my love life.
(***)
"I'm home..."
Naruto closed the door behind him and strolled forward. He took off his shoes, bent down and properly arranged them beside Ruoxi's. With a pair of shocks, Naruto stepped into the hallway and off to the living room.
The sun already set at this point and moon elegantly made its way toward the sky. The living room was illuminated with translucent lights from a various resource. From the chandelier at the center of the room to the unique one at the telephone table.
Right now, there were two people sitting on the soft sofa at the middle of the room, one was a middle-aged woman wearing a blue dress and another was a young woman who wore a business suit. Their face was full of worried and skin was a little pale.
"Auntie Wang, Ruoxi, what happen?" Naruto couldn't help but raised his brow at this situation.
"Naruto?!"
"Young master?!"
They both startled and rushed toward him, Ruoxi reached very near and her face fuming red, "Where the hell you just been you jerk?! We cannot contact you at all! Do you know how worried we were?"
"Worried?" Naruto's brow wrinkled, "why would you worry about me?"
Ruoxi frowned, with a bitter tone she said: "Qianni just called me, she said there has been a murder incident not far from Yu Lei and apparently the victim was our person, you haven't been home and I try calling you several times but failed, I'm worried that victim was you."
Naruto scratched his cheek, "Well, I'm sorry. but it was indeed me."
"Huh?!" both Ruoxi and Wang Ma shocked with horror in their eyes. They were preoccupied with Naruto arrival so they didn't notice several torn on his suit and brush at the corner of his lips.
"Sorry, I'm ruining your clothes," Naruto wryly smiled, "and losing your phone too."
"Screw that! Are you alright? Do you have any injury? Should we go to the hospital? Or we called a doctor to come here?" her voice shivered and her eyes checked Naruto's body all over.
"I'm fine Ruoxi, we don't have to do anything."
"Don't lie to me, are you really fine?"
Naruto sighed and patted her head, "Since when I'm lying to you. See? I'm walking and talking just fine."
After checking Naruto for the last time, Ruoxi let out a relieved breath but her face turned red as feeling Naruto's hand on her head.
They both walked toward the sofa while Wang Ma ran toward the kitchen to prepare something for them to drink.
"Naruto, who's the people that trying to kill you?" Ruoxi asked as soon as they sat.
"Lin Kun's henchman," Naruto leaned his back against the comfortable seat.
"Fathers?!" Ruoxi eyes widened then a bitter smile came out from her lips, "so it was me who put you in harm."
"Hey..." Naruto straighten his back, "it's no one fault, besides, I'm not in any harm."
Ruoxi frowned, "It can't be this way again, if I didn't stop him, more and more person will come to hurt you or worst, kill you."
Naruto sighed, "You do realize stopping your father meant nothing to someone right?"
Ruoxi's forced a smile, "Ah yes, Xu Zhihong just going to put another pawn under his feet or he simply interferes himself."
"He already did," Naruto shook his head, "the people who tried to kill me was impossible funded with Lin Kun's wealth alone."
Ruoxi clenched her fist, her hatred toward Xu Zhihong has reached another level today. When someone close to you was hurt or in danger, you will release endless hostility toward the perpetrator, this practice applied to both human and animal. Whether Ruoxi realized it or not, she already thought Naruto as someone dear to her.
He has to be stopped, he has to be!
Naruto looked at Ruoxi's eyes full of hate, he started pondering about something.
Wang Ma came back from the kitchen and holding a tray with two cups and a teapot on it. Naruto and Ruoxi were talking with a serious face when she put the tray on the center desk and placed the cups for each young people, then she took the teapot and poured a fragrant and steamed tea inside the cups respectively.
"Thanks, Auntie Wang."
"Thank you Wang Ma."
Wang Ma nodded with a smiling face and stood beside them, waiting to pour another tea if any of them ran out. Naruto and Ruoxi didn't hide the content of the topic they talk about in front of Wang Ma, and Wang Ma didn't bother interrupting their discussion.
Two hours later.
"Alright, I should get going," Naruto said with his attire already change to his white jacket trademark and an orange long pants.
"You, be careful! If you didn't come home sooner, I'll burn your secret ramen stash," despite the threat she voiced, her eyes filled with concern.
Naruto laughed and pinched her cheek, "You have to found it first."
She brushed his hand with slight reddish on her face, "Humph, how hard can it be! You probably hiding it inside your closet."
"Bye Ruoxi!" Naruto abruptly turned around and strode forward without looking back.
"Yi? Did he really put them in his closet?" Ruoxi wrinkled her brow.
The sound of sea wave entered his ears as a cold flavor in the air crawled on his skin. The unique salt basin smell encroached upon his nose while Ships and boats lined up to the horizon. Naruto closed his eyes at this moment, he stood on a wide advertisement board right at the corner before the harbor. Zephyr gently flapping his clothes while caressing his cheeks like a young girl's hand.
He opened his eyes and looked in a certain direction at the harbor. Tapping his feet on the surface where he stood, he leaped forward and disappeared into the dark.
5 minutes later, Naruto arrived at his destination. The warehouse's skin already peeled off and brownish tint decorated several iron parts. Messy boxes and carts scattered on the outside, while discarded rocky materials and lime powder lay everywhere. Among these junks, one car in still good condition parked outside. It's a Maserati Quattroporte, an expensive accommodation for any poor people but everyday carriage for riches one.
Naruto ignored all the unrelatable things to him, and pushed the big door, it gave a big screeching sound that made people ears cringe and their back's hair stood.
He entered the building with light steps.
His eyes could barely recognize his surrounding, but his nose caught a stench and burned smell. The skin on his hands could feel the unpleasant element on the air, it filled with heavy disruptive property. Naruto joined his hands and controlled his chakra flow into his eyes. Soon Naruto's cerulean eyes glowed and everything around him became clearer.
Burn mark could be found everywhere; the ground, the wall, even the ceiling. Equipment per equipment broke beyond salvage and used bullets crowded the ground with several magazine cartridges.
Naruto strolled with tightening up expression, his nose twitched upon arrived at the center of the building, a charred corpse laid there with its body make a certain gesture. It raised both of its hands like it tries to shield its body from something. It's hard to identify whether it was a man or a woman by the look of this corpse but Naruto remembered Fenris said his teammate consist of 4 men and 1 woman. This woman, Rilla, the one that Fenris has a crush for, has a small and delicate figure. The corpse at least over 170, this is clearly not considered as small or delicate.
Naruto sighed and walked away from the corpse, he strolled several meters in east direction and found another charred corpse there. This time, he could identify it by several burned feathers not far from the corpse.
This must be Hawke.
Naruto approached the corpse and prayed before him. They were enemies but it doesn't mean they must disrespect each other, of course, it didn't mean that Naruto will respect any enemy he met either.
Naruto left the corpse and went back to the center of the room then made his way toward the west direction. There were boxes lining up each other like an avalanche from a huge mountain.
"Shadow Clone Technique"
In a puff of smokes, twenty Naruto appeared on the place and stood behind the original.
"Cleared this boxes, and be careful, we don't want the person buried underneath it suddenly died," his voice was strict and stern.
The clones saluted and began picking up boxed, one after another. With this amount of working people, the once huge avalanche turned into a small slope. Finally, after one of the boxes removed, a head of a person showed up, his hair was messy and several part of his face had a burn mark on them.
Naruto gazed at him with complicated color, "Lin Kun, you're one lucky asshole."