I OWN NOTHING

I felt oddly cheerful when writing a certain part that may as well just be random, but I feel too damn good to care about how serious it is.

XXXXXX

HUNT

FOR

THE

UNWORTHY

AND

SAVOR

THEIR

FEAR

ONCE

YOU

END

THEIR

LIFE

"To think we would find a king in the middle of this place is marvelous!"

When they arrived at a clearing in the middle of a field filled with bamboo sticks, Naruto expected many things at the place the hunter was taking him and the group. Large yellow tents were somewhere along the lines when he pictured a group camping. Crystal instruments the likes he hadn't seen before, a large clock, and an elegant tea set weren't one of it. People with an accent he had never heard before weren't too.

And he certainly didn't expect to see another pretty brunette, though he wouldn't complain when she heard of the news and introduced herself. At her side a balding man with a bushy white mustache, a noticeable gut, scrawny limbs, and short stature. He wore a pair of yellow shorts, a white shirt, and a blue bow tie. After getting Naruto's attention he served the boy and his companions as well as Donald and Goofy some tea.

"Where are our manners? I am Jane Porter, this is my father and it is a delight to meet you, Your Majesty." The lady wore a yellow polo shirt and green cloth as a skirt. Her long brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, and she had a reasonable amount of makeup on her face. She also possessed a figure that could give La some competition, though her pale complexion said she wasn't native to the jungle.

She bowed gracefully with her hands pulling her skirt slightly up so it didn't touch the ground, and while he felt tempted to bow, La showed him how to greet others, "Wave your hand up, my lord." She whispered.

Doing as told, he spoke, "Thank you for taking us in."

He got a curious look from her, "I must admit I didn't expect royalty in this jungle, let alone one as young as yourself, Your Highness. Oh dear, I hope I didn't offend you…" she let out a nervous chuckle while getting a set of stares from the boy's female servants that unnerved her, "It's just that I never expected to see such a group drop in."

"I can understand; I've been king for a short time." He gave her a calm smile to ease her worries, "Now that we're here, I have some questions I would like to make regarding what you're doing in my jungle."

"I can fill you in, dear lad." Spoke the young woman's father, Professor Porter, "I am a man of science, and my lovely daughter is my assistant. We came all the way here to study the lifestyle of the gorillas. Must I at least take some time and tell you what wonderful and curious creatures they are? Heh, sorry if I get a skip on my step, but now that I look at you all I feel my curiosity as a researcher dancing with joy!"

"You certainly look like it." Naruto said while the small man examined the leopard woman, the gargoyle, and even the blond.

"What kind of evolution did you partake to become humanoids?" he asked mostly to himself before turning to the king, "And to think a normal boy like you is king of them, hmm… Coexistence may mean that it is possible to find compatibility in our genes. Could you and your ancestors have shared blood with other beings to create such-"

Demona grabbed the man by his shirt's lapels, horrifying Jane and giving Clayton the excuse needed to aim his shotgun at her, "Talk like that again, saying I or my kind would just give our bodies like that, and-"

"Enough!" Naruto commanded with a roar, making Demona drop the small scientist. As Jane hurriedly pulled him away, Naruto spoke, "Demona, I know you're proud, but this old man didn't mean to insult you."

"Oh my, if I did hurt your pride then that was indeed not my intention!" the man waved his hands frantically, gulping.

Naruto then turned to Clayton, who still kept his shotgun aimed at Demona's head, "And you, put that thing down. I know Demona crossed the line, but she's one of my own. Harm her and I won't stand still."

The hunter lifted his shotgun, giving the boy a narrowed look that didn't seem to carry ill intent as if he were examining him, and holstered his weapon on his back, "Then allow me a couple of words. If you are her king, having her act like this before you, with others you're trying to talk, doesn't give good impressions. It's almost like she's – and I beg pardon for the expression – an animal without a proper leash."

Demona growled, readying her claws, but Naruto stopped her by firmly gripping her shoulder, "It's not worth it, and you do deserve it."

She snapped, "I deserve to be treated like a simple pet?!"

He snapped back, "No, you deserve being called on how you act! If someone acts like a monster, I'll say so! You, so far, just act like an overgrown brat who doesn't have their way!"

She held up her claws, but he was unafraid. And then she noticed something that surprised her; despite having shown her intent to fight him, the boy didn't lift his sword. The incomplete Keyblade was pointed down at the ground. She looked into his eyes, and while they were graced with the pure blue of those blessed by light, there was something in them that put her at an awkward ease. He was concerned about her.

While La and Sabor were ready to strike her, they were surprised when the gargoyle woman lowered her claws and looked away, "Fine… I owe you and your pets too much." Memories about how thanks to him she was able to be in the sun as a gargoyle resurfaced, however, her pride was still there, "But if one insults me directly and means it-"

"I'll be the first one they'll hear something from… that or get a decent punch to the face." He offered, even grinning a bit at the end. Seeing her nod, cross her arms, and walk away to a corner to stand idly there, he turned to the others, "Sorry about that."

"No need, lad, I should have worded myself better." The professor approached him and put a hand to his chin, "Is there anything we can do to help you? After all, I believe you have questions. We could give you a hand to solve a few problems, too."

Naruto nodded, "I recall you said you were studying gorillas." He tried to find a way of how to ask his next question without being suspicious, "Have you had any luck finding them?"

The professor's mood fell to the floor, and his daughter stepped in, "Sadly not… Though we've done a good job researching clues to their behavior by following their trails. They live in packs, for starters."

"Which makes it all the more dangerous if you get close to them." Clayton interrupted with a grin, "Those beasts would rip your head off alone, think what a bunch of them would do if they got close to you."

"I think we can deal with th-" Naruto offered before Sabor nudged him, more like a housecat than a hunting feline, "What is it?"

She whispered into his ear, "It's him, the boy you brought to our kingdom. He's near."

Seeing how Donald and Goofy were there and knowing that Sora may want answers about why he's hunting the gorillas, Naruto was quick to ask, "It seems we have to go. I…"

He chuckled, trying to think of a good excuse, "Indeed." La was quick to cover him, acting natural with a small smile, "Apologies, but my lord has to attend to his duties, and the trip back is quite long. However, if a gorilla really is such a dangerous beast as you claim, do you know where they tend to be so we can avoid them?"

Naruto nearly pumped a fist at La's ingenuity, "I'd say not a problem in any other circumstances." Jane started, sounding angry, worrying the group that she was catching on to them, "But I assure you that our proper research show that gorillas aren't as terrible as Mr. Clayton makes them out to be. They're like any other animal, they only fight when threatened."

She glared at the man, who merely chortled with a smirk, "Miss Porter, you fail to realize that to feel threatened an animal just has to see another or a different being."

"We wouldn't want to disturb them either way." La cut the argument short with a polite smile, "Besides, perhaps we can be of assistance by telling you of their whereabouts if we happen to find them."

"Sounds smashing." Jane liked the idea, although Naruto was confused about what smashing something had to do with what they were talking about.

FOOL

THEM

BEFORE

THEY

DECIEVE

YOU

As the dark party made his way through the jungle, Naruto was contemplating his next actions, "I really didn't like that Clayton guy. He looks as fake as that mustache of his." The young and rather small dark king crossed his arms in thought, "And I know you girls also hated his guts when we first saw him."

"What are you getting at, boy?" Demona asked impatiently.

"The nagging feeling at the back of my head that tells me he'll backstab them." Naruto summoned his Guardian, which held a certain heart for him, "And I know she wouldn't be happy if anything happened to Sora."

"You worry too much for that child, my lord." La started, hovering over his back, "Have you not seen what a weakness that is? If you were to fight, he'd be able to strike your heart."

Demona agreed, "Those who follow the light never hesitate to go in for the kill when it comes to our kind."

"You do have a point, and that's why I don't want to mess it up." He glared at nothing when a memory came to hunt him of someone literally striking his heart, "I'm not going to let my guard down. I just don't think Sora is that kind of guy. He's actually too nice for that."

"And that could be his downfall, so be careful not to make that mistake." Demona retorted.

He grinned, "If I did, I would never have this conversation with you girls."

All three blushed at his statement, Demona in anger and shame as she looked away, La with a smile she failed to contain by biting her lower lip, and Sabor merely stared at him, tail swishing and cheeks hot.

Just as Naruto was about to resume walking, something odd happened, the heart glowed, and he heard something, "Huh…?"

And in a flash of light, he was in a lovely island. At the other side of the ocean was another with homes, but all around him there was nothing but palms, trees, a small mountain, and few wooden structures. As the events got more bizarre, he heard steps behind him. Swiftly turning around, he saw nothing except a palm tree and sand. However, a closer inspection to the sand revealed footprints.

Scratching his head, the boy looked around and approached the tree, "Alright." He started slowly, observing the blue sky and enjoying the cool breeze under the sun, "This isn't the weirdest that's happened to me. Hey, you behind the tree, just listen to me. I'm not going to fight you unless you give me a reason to, and trying to hide from me isn't going to get you points."

After giving the person behind the tree some time to think over his words, they stepped out to reveal themselves as a she. A very pretty and cute she, he mentally added. Short red hair cut in a mop around her round face, kind and lively blue eyes, and a good figure for a girl his age. She wore a purple skirt with a white top and matching shoes as big as Sora's.

"Hi…" she started, "Naruto, right?"

He was surprised, "How did you know my name?"

She snorted, "The future King of Darkness, everyone…" she saw him frown and regretted her words, "Sorry, I'm used to teasing my friends. Listen, I have been watching what you've done. After all, your shadowy bodyguard is the one holding my heart."

He connected the dots and was further surprised, "You're Kairi?" he took a step closer, examining her, "Well, I imagined that you'd be cute to have Sora all wrapped around your finger."

She grinned, "I'll take the compliment, kind sir." Then she stepped closer to him, "Now, I don't know how this happened or why. When you took me out something strong seemed to stir me, as if waking me up. Just so you know, I don't have any idea what it was. What I do know is that I need to talk to you."

He crossed his arms, "What about?"

"King of Darkness isn't a title everyone just gets." She explained to him, "Back home my grandmother told me stories, many. But there never was a King of Darkness. Most of the greatest evils in them only managed to be lords, never kings or queens. I remember only bits and pieces since I haven't seen my grandmother in a very long time. Though I know none of them ever dared to call themselves something like a king."

"Can you make it simple…?" he asked with a hand scratching the back of his head.

The girl took a step closer and her eyes took a firm expression, "You're different from them, greatly. Perhaps that's what you need to become a king. All I ask is that you never harm Sora, and I'll… help you."

He stared at her confused, "Help me for his sake?" he tried to look her in the eye, but she turned her gaze away.

"That's what I said." She stated firmly, "You will also keep him safe, and in return I can tell you of some things I know of and do whatever you need me to do."

Grabbing her cheek, he made her look at him, "Listen…" Kairi felt something odd shift, "I promised him I'd keep you safe. And seeing you act like this for his sake is… nice. Back in my world, a girl told me to help the one she loved even after he betrayed everyone in our village for power, and he tried to kill me. You know who and what I am and still risk yourself for Sora. I can't harm someone like you."

She blushed and put her hands to her chest, "So if what you're saying is true, then you should be helping Sora to-"

He raised a hand, "You and Sora are the people I'd have liked to have as friends the most if nothing like this had ever happened." He said sincerely before his eyes hardened, "But I know you will dislike many of the things I'll do. While I don't want to be as cruel as the people who ruined my life, I can't just stop now. I hope you understand."

Looking away again, she hugged herself, "I still offered to help you, so maybe you can think about it. Please, I can feel it too…" she put a hand to her chest, "There is light in you, so you could be-"

"You said I was different to those other kings." He retorted, "Did they ever try to become true kings for something other than themselves?"

She closed her eyes sadly, "Naruto..." thinking on it, she shook her head, "So you'd fight Sora if needed… Does that mean your promise to him was for nothing?"

"No." he replied swiftly, "If I must face him to end this madness with the worlds, the wars between light and darkness, I'll fight."

She stepped back, "What is your goal, then?" she felt both afraid and angry at the fact he was so determined.

"I want to destroy the fate many put on people like us." Naruto answered firmly, his hatred merging with his determination, "I don't want kids like us to live a life someone chose for them. I'm a demon to the people of my world because someone shrugged their responsibilities to me! They were praised as a hero while I was treated as a monster, so I may as well fight as one to achieve a dream of my own."

When dark energy pulsed around him, the redhead gasped and stepped back in fear. The sight of her frightened face had his heart sinking, the fear in her eyes as she avoided him was too familiar. But what he never expected was to have her hug him. Neither did he expect himself to hug the girl back, or feel her warm tears on his cheeks.

"I can feel it… this is your pain…" she whispered, surprised at her own actions, "Why am I feeling this? And how… how can it be so horrible?"

Naruto realized what was up, "I have your heart! While you're in my control, you are like a part of me… Dammit!" he growled, "Kairi, step away from me! This isn't something you can handle!"

With a mental command, his Guardian appeared and took the girl away, separating the two.

And with another flash of light, he heard Demona's voice, "I will give you that, boy."

Naruto looked around, confusing his companions, "My lord?" La asked, "Are you alright?"

He held his face with a hand to clear his thoughts, "I just… I was in a beach talking with someone."

"You have been here with us this entire time and not a second passed since that stupid quip of yours." Demona answered flatly.

Sabor, though, sniffed the heart still in the Guardian's grip, "Hmm…" she silently observed it with her green eyes, even as he put it away.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Naruto asked, "Alright, I'll explain it to you as we go find the gorillas."

BONDS

WITH

A

PRINCESS

OF

HEART

? ? ?

As the group made their way over a waterfall by wall-walking, climbing with sharp claws or using magic to appear at the top, Naruto had informed his party members of what had happened.

"Interesting," Demona smirked, "a child of light begging for us to spare that boy in exchange for her services. It appears she doesn't have much hope for him, which shows his strength is laughable at best."

"He does have the Keyblade, which says something." Naruto replied and held up the girl's heart, "She knows what I'm doing, which surprises me."

"To conquer all worlds for you to keep them safe under your fist is quite admirable, my lord." La praised him with a sly smile, "Is it a wonder you win people over with such strong motivations and powerful will?"

"Seeing how some good people can act for cruel bastards, I wouldn't know." He answered softly.

Demona growled, "You're too soft, boy. When will you see that you need to stop trying to please everyone? You're supposed to be a king, not a rug for a simple girl who's also the enemy to step on."

He looked the gargoyle woman in the eye and fearlessly answered her, "Kairi has her reasons to risk her life with someone like me. And I know for a fact you were no different from her when we met."

She snapped, "What has that girl to compare her to me?!" Naruto mentally kicked himself for forgetting how touchy the redhead was when humans were around.

Thus, he answered swiftly and firmly, "You were ready to risk your life to achieve what you wanted." That made the gargoyle pause, "Sure, the methods and ideas are different, but at least none of you hide behind others to do your dirty work. Just like you trying to beat me or her risking her life working for me."

La chuckled amusedly, "He has a point."

The queen and gargoyle locked glares, but Sabor was more helpful to her king, "I found a trace, my king."

They ran after her as she dashed through the trees and bushes before going slower. After slowing to a crawl, literally, the party peeked over a bush to see the gorillas, and a massive one watching guard over them.

"That's Kerchak, no doubt." Naruto said and smiled before instinctively petting Sabor's head, "Good girl."

She purred and leaned her head into his warm palm, which La cut short with a jealous sneer, "Focus, my lord."

"Alright." He replied and observed the large apes, "How do we do this, though? Kerchak looks like he'd charge at anyone other than a gorilla and rip out their heart."

"Hold someone hostage." La and Demona answered in unison, and looked at each other in surprise before settling for glaring.

Pinching the bridge of his nose at their antics, Naruto took a deep breath, "Something told me you would say that."

"Think on it, my lord." La cut in, "If you try to win his trust, it wouldn't work. Animals can sense the darkness in humans better than others, it is why they tend to flee or attack them."

Sabor nodded, "I attacked you and that boy because you looked like strong prey, good to devour and enjoy after a good battle."

He turned to Demona, who spoke coldly, "Do you think they'll just trust you when you talk to them? Guardians of the Heart are beings chosen by their ancestors to guard the secrets of their world's heart. Some may be royalty like that beast, but there are animals with great hearts that keep the secret. When he identifies you as what you are, he will kill you."

Sabor turned to her liege, "Kerchak wouldn't tell us where the heart is either way, though." She leaned down, ready to leap out of their hiding spot, "I've fought him before, and I can tell he won't give away what you're looking for even if it was at the cost of his life. Threatening his family would just make him more determined to not tell us out of spite."

"No choice, then." He said and stood up, "I'll take the answers out of him first by force. He can hate me if he wants to."

Demona smiled slyly, "And I thought you were a goody two shoes."

He told her and the others, "I came here to make sure no one can touch this heart's world one way or another, not to get popular."

"Though doing so with your power instead of pretty words will make less people oppose you." La informed him with a smile.

"So long as he doesn't get sloppy." Demona added.

Sabor's tail wiggled in anticipation, "Who do I strike, my liege?"

"Leave Kerchak to me." he told them, "No use proving I'm the king if I can't beat another on my own."

Demona agreed, "A king has an army, but he shouldn't rely on them and get sloppy."

"I won't let you girls do all the work, I'm not that lazy." He told her and jumped out.

The girls watched as the gorillas scattered in his presence, and heard the heavy steps of the massive leader. Kerchak narrowed his eyes at the blond boy and bared his teeth. Naruto stepped forward and summoned his Keyblade. Upon seeing the weapon, the gorilla roared and punched his chest before charging at the boy. Seeing the size difference Naruto felt an odd sense of déjà vu from when he met Beast in his castle.

Bringing his large fists up and swinging them down like two heavy hammers, Kerchak hit the ground hard enough to leave a mark. The future dark king jumped over the strike and slashed at the gorilla's back. Kerchak growled from the wound as he staggered a bit. The blond hit the ground behind him and held his sword in front of his face like a kunai, with an inverted grip and the blade parallel to the ground.

"My liege wishes to know where the heart of this world is." Sabor told the gorilla, who glared at her and the others watching the battle while the other gorillas ran away, "If you value your family's life, tell him."

Kerchak raced at the blond, who as a shinobi that was proficient in close quarter combat saw it coming. Ducking under the large ape's swing was easy, and with the gorilla's guard lowered he was able to kick him on the chest with a solid kick that sent him back. Growling in pain after his back hit a tree, Kerchak tried to fight again only to find Naruto's incomplete Keyblade's tip inches from his neck and the boy staring at him.

"Interesting… I feel much stronger than when I fought Sabor." He clenched a hand, smirking a bit as he could feel a new strength growing inside him.

La smiled as she approached him, "I don't know the reason, but maybe you've become more in tune with your inner darkness through our hearts being bound to yours, my lord."

Her magic kept Kerchak locked in place while the others approached and kept the gorillas at bay so Sabor could question him, "To tell you of that place would be a fate worse than death."

"My liege, as I told you, he'd prefer death." The leopard told him, claws ready.

Naruto kneeled down to be on eye level with Kerchak, "Then listen closely, and don't be an idiot." He glared at the gorilla to let him know that there would be no changing his mind either, "What if you drop the act of being a tough guy? This world, your family, and everyone in it can live in peace if you tell me. However, I don't have the time to wait."

Sabor translated for him, and Kerchak replied without fear, "Then wait for all eternity, for I won't-"

A shadow flew past them, and Naruto reacted quickly when seeing it move. He gripped his Keyblade with both hands and swung it, splitting a spear in two. It was a simple weapon made with a long stick and carved stone. However, the one who had used it was very unusual. Clad in only a brown loincloth with wild brown hair and a muscular but lean body, a human man narrowed his eyes at the blond.

"And you are…?" La asked dully.

The stranger threw himself at them, grabbing a vine to swing down and use the momentum to launch his body for a strong kick to Naruto. The boy ducked under the strike and saw the man kick a tree, bounce off it and give chase. It would have been amazing if La's magic hadn't blasted him to the ground, chaining him to the ground by making the tree's roots coil around his wrists like shackles.

Demona grew irritated, "Is there anyone else who'd like to play hero?" she asked and approached the man with her claws out.

"Leave him alone!" Kerchak exclaimed.

Confusion settled on everyone's face, except for Sabor's, "Ah yes, this is the human cub your mate cherishes so much…" she crawled to him and smirked, "Do you know who I am?"

The man growled and tried to break free to no avail.

"Kerchak! What's it going to be? Will you not attempt to make peace for your people?! See reason! I will not harm this world, but if you don't tell me where the Heart is…" Naruto trailed off warningly, the gorilla huffed furiously, eyes shooting to the repentant man then to Naruto, whose eyes grew colder but also showed a good deal of pleading.

He grunted and snarled something, Sabor translating for him as she got away from Tarzan, "He says it's near the nesting grounds. In the waterfall. He will show you to it, but he will not forget this."

Naruto closed his eyes painfully, before opening them, their gaze hardening after a twig had snapped behind them. Everyone slowly turned to face someone who had been following them from the start.

He pointed his Keyblade at the man, "Why are you here Clayton?"

His question wasn't answered, something about the man showed a complete lack of cognizant awareness, but Naruto recognized the look in his eyes. A blank and foreboding stare, one of immense greed and hatred. Naruto was already moving when he slowly raised his hunting rifle and aimed it right at Naruto. One hand grabbed Clayton's arm and shoved it to the side, making the shot go wide while Demona shrieked in rage, her chilling cry heralding the gargoyle rushing down Clayton.

"You dare aim at him!? AT ME!?" She was a practiced fighter, and relied on brute force and raw speed to take her opponents apart.

It was more than enough as Queen La instantly threw up a barrier to block off Kerchak and the gorillas from the fight that was about to happen, "Stay back! Let our king fight… He will show you and this world why he is most fit to rule." Queen La declared with a commanding voice, her staff slamming into the ground and creating a cone of force that blew Clayton off his feet.

He silently got back up, a dark aura covering his body as he raised his head again. The Heartless symbol flashed above his body, before something invisible snatched him up and onto its back.

"Another world, but the same kind of selfish bastard." Naruto remarked with a growingly embittered tone, even as he raised his Keyblade up, "Then again, right now I'm not one to talk."

Demona and Queen La took their places at his side, "What's the plan my king?" the sorceress asked him, aiming a dark glare that promised much suffering at the mad Clayton.

"Beat him senseless, remove this greedy jerk from my sight." Naruto listed in short order with a growl.

Demona took out the mace she had taken from Beast's Castle, while Queen La prepared to support Naruto and Demona with spell-craft. Sabor flexed her claws slowly, seeking to savor this kill. They didn't hesitate or wait for Clayton to make the first move. Naruto merely rushed forward, Demona flying off ahead and nailing what she believed was the head of the invisible Heartless he was riding upon.

By the way he shuddered and was knocked back, she hit her mark just fine. The man tried aiming right at Naruto, only to be blindsided when the young man shot into him as if fired from a cannonball, a burning green aura enveloping him like dark fire. The young king sucker punched the hunter hard enough to make his face turn to the side and spit out blood.

That blank stare faded just a second to reveal an expression of fear before it became the same blank glare full of hatred and anger. A mighty blow hit Naruto's body, the aura cushioning the strike and what should've been a mighty hit that near crippled him merely knocked him back a few feet.

"Your spell-work is amazing, La!" He admitted to her, making her smile.

Sabor leapt into the tree line above them, falling down like a comet with her claws ripping into the invisible Heartless' body once more. This time it shuddered and came into view, a large chameleon like Heartless with bright yellow eyes, and a monstrously long tongue was what Clayton was riding upon. While the leopard woman struggled to remain on its head while clawing at its face, Clayton was already lining his sights.

With her feline reflexes, she jumped back to the trees, hissing just as the pellets tore off its bark, "Your head will be a fine trophy along those gorillas…" Clayton grinned widely and wildly as his ride turned invisible. And, just to make things just harder, he leapt off into the trees too in order to take shots while his ride started roaming around.

"Can't you command this Heartless, boy?" Demona asked, angered that her enemy was out of her sight.

"What did you think I was doing when I aimed my Keyblade at him?" he asked tiredly, "It seems that since he made it, it's like a part of his heart."

Demona growled, "Then rip his heart out."

Hearing the enemy's footsteps, the group knew the Heartless was somewhere else now, but after a shot from above that they dodged by rolling away, their eyes were on Clayton. Now they didn't know where it was. Thinking quickly, La lifted her staff, summoning multiple lightning bolts that rained down around them, hitting every spot in the area, while just barely avoiding her allies. As her logic would have it, many of the lightning bolts struck the invisible being, as well as Clayton, who fell from the trees and into the forest ground with a thud and an exasperated groan.

With its cover blown, the Heartless was punched in the gut by Demona, whose strength lifted him in the air half a dozen feet. Using her sense of smell, Sabor was quick to leap on its belly and start biting furiously at it. While the Heartless struggled to get the leopard woman off it and the gargoyle readied another punch, Naruto readied himself to attack as well, but stopped when he noticed how tired La was.

"Are you alright?" Naruto asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm not used to that spell. Don't worry, I'll be fine." she said with a sweet smile at his gesture. But just after she said this, Sabor was thrown onto her by the angry Heartless, crushing the sorceress.

"Bastard!" Naruto yelled to where he thought the invisible was, for it was once again invisible, "We have to make it show itself…"

Demona landed by his side while La began using her healing spells on herself and the injured leopard woman, "Keep moving, boy. The foolish hunter is still aiming at our heads."

Naruto stared around, listening carefully for any sound of movement. However, the Heartless was so quiet it was able to sneak up behind both and flick them into a tree. The Stealth Sneak prepared to strike Naruto with its large foot. Sabor, thinking fast once healed, jumped at it and threw a sharp flying kick at the chameleon's eye, which at least managed to distract it from Naruto, though now it was after her.

The chameleon Heartless charged at the leopard woman, and would have squashed her if not for La using her magic to make a barrier that kept its foot away from the female leopard. Smirking, La moved the green energy and fully captured the Stealth Sneak in a magical cocoon. The Heartless was held back due to the ground by the green magic energy, and Naruto, Demona and Sabor took their chance to attack it.

"Annoying little brat!" Clayton growled and took aim.

Just as Naruto was about to strike his Keyblade into Heartless' head, La, who had been struggling to hold down such a large and powerful creature, a gunshot echoed in the forest. The Heartless was free and it furiously swatted Naruto and Demona away while attacking Sabor by shooting rainbow colored beams from its eyes. Sabor panicked and ran away from the beam, which followed her around the trees, as another followed the Keyblade master… before both were shot down by them.

The boy grunted, but got up while pulling Sabor away from the monster, "La, what happened?" he turned to her for answers and gasped.

"I'll be fine, my lord." She was not.

La tried desperately to subdue the Heartless, but due to a large wound from a shotgun on her side she was having trouble healing herself properly with her magic, and now she also had to help Sabor. Angry, Demona jumped and slashed the chameleon's tail with her claws, and due to the surprising power of his arms and sharpness of her claws, the monster's tail was cut clean off. It landed on the floor before vanishing into darkness. The heartless shrieked in agony at the loss of its tail and angrily turned towards the furious gargoyle whose eyes turned red.

The red-haired woman simply stood in place; she was too furious to think straight and thus lunged at it. And thus, in her moment of anger, the Heartless slammed its hand on the gargoyle, creating a large crater where the now badly bruised woman was. La frantically tried to heal her and herself with her magic, though this exhausted the sorceress. The Heartless turned to Naruto with a hungry look in its eye while the boy was trying to stay on his feet, grunting at the pain on his back from the beam that magic projectile.

Naruto clenched his jaw before raising the Keyblade and yelling, "I won't sell my heart cheap, you know!"

But he soon heard the laugh of the mad hunter, "Ha ha ha ha ha, don't you see yet? You've lost! Your friends are going to die, you are just sitting ducks now!" Clayton taunted him.

Naruto stared at his comrades. Sabor had barely regained consciousness, but was in bad shape just like him. La also looked very weak due to the great amount of energy she had used to close her wound while in pain from it. Demona was still badly injured from earlier, and was desperately trying to get up with her wings bent in bad ways. The young king let out a guttural angry growl at the sight of his allies.

"Naruto…" he heard a familiar voice in his head, "I know you care for them, love them… I'll give you some of my power to help them, to stop this rotten rat from harming another!"

"You'll soon join them in death, maybe I'll add your head with theirs to my living room!" Clayton said to Naruto, then looked at the kid with a mocking smile.

As the Heartless prepared to squash Naruto, something finally snapped inside him, "Oh really?" he chuckled. And, before Clayton could respond, Naruto dashed to his right… and sliced off the Stealth Sneak's right arm! And when everyone saw the now visible chameleon they turned to look at the blond and gasped in shock. Naruto's eyes, which once were blue, were now a dark amber color.

Kairi's voice echoed deep inside him, "I'll help you with my light, so use your darkness to make this monster regret being such an awful human being!"

Naruto chuckled at the Heartless, "Sorry, but you can't hide from me anymore." he said holding the Keyblade up. "I'm going to make sure everyone can see the beating I'll give you!" he shouted as he lunged at it. With its advantage useless, the Heartless couldn't dodge the powerful slashes from the blond, and every time it tried to attack the young former shinobi his attacks would either be deflected or avoided easily.

"Damn brat!" Clayton shouted as he jumped behind the boy and aimed his shotgun at the back of his head.

And then he was swatted away by a large furry arm, "Be gone!" Kerchak shouted as Naruto swung his sword down, cleaving through the Heartless diagonally as it who let out a final cry of pain, vanishing.

Clayton crashed against a tree with enough force to leave a mark in the bark, "Huff…" he breathed in painfully, his ribs broken.

He also noticed that, after shooting La, her barrier had been broken and the gorillas were ready to do some serious harm to him. He was also surrounded by everyone he and his Heartless injured, with Naruto aiming his Keyblade at his neck with the darkness from the Stealth Sneak being drained into it.

"I'm sure you know what we're thinking." He said menacingly.

Kerchak growled at the boy, "I didn't do this to help you, just to stop what I thought was the worse of two evils."

Sabor translated for Naruto, who chuckled, "That's a start, I guess."

"What do we do with him?" La asked and kicked the shotgun away from the hunter.

Naruto looked at the huntsman with an intense yet contained hatred, "Killing him would be too easy, and after what he did to you, I want him to suffer something far worse." He hefted his Keyblade on his shoulder, "I'll let you decide, La. If you can turn leopards into servants, what can you turn this guy into?"

La smirked and slammed her staff against Clayton's gut, making sure it hurt, "I got just the thing…"

A cloud of green smoke covered the huntsman, who cried and struggled to break free as his body grew smaller, bones and flesh twisting and ripping as he changed… into a rat. It even had the small mustache.

"Fitting, now he's prey." Naruto said as he picked up the rat Clayton and tossed him to the man that had come save Kerchak, "Toss him wherever you want."

The man caught it and nodded, and thus La asked, "What do you wish to do now, My Liege?"

Naruto smiled, "Now we get that heart."

Demona cackled at his words, "You waste no time O King. I love that about you. Business before pleasure."

"Is that a problem Demona?" He asked her with a chuckle.

She gave him a smirk, "I wouldn't be watching you with such great interest if you bored me."

"Well, I aim to impress when I can." He shrugged back, Demona placing a claw on his shoulder, gripping it firmly but not unkindly, "You've already impressed me more than once. Helping me find ways to conquer the accursed light, and being a companion on this long dark path I have found myself on. You're not like the wretched humans and spawn of the light, you're one of the Darkness."

That was the highest praise Demona could grant upon someone, to consider them like her, Naruto unaware of how much that praise meant to her, just gave her one of his usual grins.

"You're a great partner too Demona." He said, rolling his shoulders around slowly to get the soreness of the fight off them.

However, someone else had to say something, Kairi, "Naruto…" she sighed, feeling something strange inside her, "What just happened there? That rush was…"

"Incredible…" he whispered for her to hear.

She would've nodded if he could see her, "Indeed, and that scares me… If I help you like that again, we need to be careful."

"Thank you…" he said, smiling, "Thanks to all of you, girls. That'd have been rough if I didn't have you by me."

His followers felt something stir inside them, but Kairi's heart began beating.

Something was definitely going on, and it could be dangerous.

AS

POWER

GROWS

AND

ATTRACTS

MORE

POWER

SO

WILL

YOUR

LOVE

FOR

. . .

XXXXXX

And that's my rap!

I hope you like this chapter. I had trouble starting it, but I think it came out rather decently. I don't want to make Naruto unlikeable, but he will start to get more and more in touch with his dark side. Those of you who think he's being too nice or still has a heroic agenda… are right, I'll say so. But the story's still at the first 2 worlds, so be patient and see how things change.

Swordslinger out!