Caranril: Well hello my dear readers. This was once posted under "Juubi no Akuma Anaguma", but several things went wrong. First, in Japanese mythology the badger had eight tails, so I had to create another demon to bear the ten. Secondly, this fic is going to be way longer than I intended and decided to write it in parts (this as much for my sanity as those who may be faced with a plethora of chappies). Some things may be a bit different because of changes I've made, but the story is more or less whole.
disCLAIMER: While I do not own Naruto nor any affiliated subjects therein, Kishimoto-sama does and therefore he owns my soul.
Chapter 1: Parades and Petitions
Magnificent smells swirled through the streets of Konoha: baked bread, teriyaki, fish, ramen. Citizens had fervently cleaned the streets while the merchants had tidied and decorated their shops. A banner reading "Happy 55th Birthday" stretched between buildings across the start of the main street, the August morning sun heating the stones quickly. Shinobi volunteers stood along the ropes keeping the street clear; the parade would go without a hitch with the ninja on guard. This birthday celebration was special not just because it was Tsunade's birthday, but it also marked the fifth year of her successful watch as Hokage.
Naruto was supposed to patrol an area of his own, but his nostrils flared eagerly as the ramen stands displayed samples on their counters. In fact, the Ichiraku Ramen shop was just a few meters away in Sakura's patrol area. Naruto chortled gleefully. Oh, the Godaime Hokage's birthday celebration wouldn't be complete without ramen. And it smelled so...nice...
He glanced around. All the other Shinobi were tending to their crowded sections, while Sakura was gazing wistfully across the street at Sasuke, who was silent as usual and immobile with his arms crossed, wearing a long cloak despite the warmth from the ten o'clock sun. Naruto snorted. Sasuke. He'd try to pick a fight later. Right now, his mission was those ramen samples...
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu," he muttered, producing a replicate Naruto. He left the clone to pretend to look busy, while he would prey upon the ramen sitting so innocently in the window. Naruto plunged into the growing crowd, immediately met with heat from the bodies, shops, and sun. By the time he'd reached the ramen stand without Sakura spotting him, sweat droplets slid down his tan cheeks. But it was so worth it, for in seconds he had snatched a hefty tray with small sample bowls. He scooped a bowl up and dumped its contents into his mouth, which turned out to be a big mistake.
"Gaaaagh!" Naruto choked on the piping hot ramen noodles. He fanned his scorched tongue with his hands only to up-end the tray all over his lap.
"Waaaaaaaah!" Naruto hopped about, knocking startled people over as he waved his hands at the mess on his crotch.
"Narutoooooo..."
Naruto froze at the familiar irritation in the voice. He yelped and ducked just in time as Sakura swung at him.
"Naruto, you idiot! You're supposed to be watching your own area, not mine!" Sakura swung again, but this time Naruto was safely back on his own side. His clone disappeared before it could get involved.
"This time you stay over there. Do you know how much trouble you could get into for shirking on the job?" As Sakura continued to yell across the crowd, Naruto sighed. That had been close. It had given some of the crowd great entertainment, though. Through the years, Tsunade's vivacity had infected all of Konoha, and the Konohagakure had surpassed its prosperity before the Sunagakure and Otogakure's attacks. Part of that had to do with the crowds drawn by gambling joints established recently. The Legendary Sucker would never give up her addiction to gambling.
So as the restless crowd tittered at Naruto's close encounter, drums and brass sounded as the parade began. A band led the entourage, immediately followed by an impressive float that held the image of the five Hokages' faces carved in stone. Atop the mountain replication sat a smiling, waving Tsunade dressed in long green robes. Acrobats flipped and danced behind the main float, twirling ribbons and throwing confetti. As the parade continued, various floats drifted by, displaying various, well-known aspects of the Land of Fire's culture. The most eye-catching was a terrifying replication of the Kyuubi. Naruto's lower back shivered slightly, though out of fear or thrill he couldn't tell. The nine tails even danced about and the eyes glowed. A child nearby started crying, but as the float passed all fears were forgotten as several attractive young women threw candy into the crowd. Naruto's eyes bulged, desperate to grab some for himself. But Sakura was giving him the evil eye, so he had to be sneaky.
"Whaaaat?" Naruto's jaw dropped to his chest and he stared at the next float, decorated with flowers and women. In the middle sat none other than Jiraiya, blushing like a fool at the girls surrounding him. He spotted Naruto and waved sheepishly, then continued to entertain the crowd with a goofy smile and more tossed candy. People cheered for the Sannin, but Naruto crossed his arms and sneered.
"Leave it to Ero-sennin to take the cushy jobs," he grumbled. His eyes went wide as a pink-clad blond slid up to him and gave him a handful of candy.
"Present from Jiraiya-sama," she winked, then grabbing his ears she gave his cheek a big wet kiss. And then she danced away. Naruto flushed and wiped the gloss from his cheek. He chuckled gleefully, which died away as he felt hot eyes burning into him. Sakura was glaring. He sheepishly waved, then turned away and popped a piece of candy into his mouth. His tongue still stung from the boiling hot ramen.
The rest of the parade was boring, and Naruto found himself drenched with sweat under the sun. He wearily glanced at Sasuke, who looked nice and cool despite the black cloak. Gr, how could that Uchiha do that? A tap on his shoulder distracted him from his musings.
"We're done, Naruto," Sakura yawned, looking just as beautiful despite the beads of sweat on her face. She wiped on a droplet from her brow before it dripped in her eye.
"See, Sakura?" Naruto pointed to his forehead protector. "That's why you wear the headband on your forehead!"
"Hmph. Don't wanna mess up my hair." Sakura tossed her locks in emphasis and fluttered her eyes exaggeratedly in a perfect imitation of Ino. The pair stood in the shade of a canopy, though with crowded streets and no breeze the air was just as stifling. The crowd undulated as the after-parade activities began. Naruto hoisted his pack, gripped his wallet and charged into the crowd after Sasuke. There was a dueling rink further down the main drag, which Naruto hoped to use as an excuse to pick a fight with the Uchiha.
Since Sasuke had returned to Konoha unexpectedly six months ago, he hardly said a word. Naruto assumed he'd already spoken to Tsunade, for he was indeed a traitor to the Land of Fire. Kakashi had been a part of the conference, as well as several ANBU members and a few Jounin. The danger Sasuke might have posed to Konoha had passed, for he was allowed to take his place among the Jounin, though it was suspected he was under some sort of parol. Sakura heard from Shizune that Sasuke had signed a contract in blood, though the deal's exact nature was unknown. Naruto doubted that Sasuke had been forced to do something so extreme, but Kakashi adamantly avoided the matter. He said Sasuke wouldn't betray them again and he should be happy that his best friend was back. But Naruto could hardly call him that anymore, for he was a silent shell of the old Sasuke. Naruto had a suspicion that Sasuke had succeeded in killing Uchiha Itachi, but something had changed him irreversibly.
"Hey. Naruto," a placid voice called. Naruto paused a moment to acknowledge Kakashi, but immediately resumed stalking towards Sasuke.
"Later, Kakashi-sensei. I have business with Sasuke."
"Hokage-sama wants to talk with you."
Naruto sighed. Sasuke had disappeared into the flood of people. And Kakashi didn't seem willing to let him enjoy himself. Nor did Tsunade.
"All right, all right, fine." Naruto followed Kakashi to Tsunade's office, which was impossibly hotter than the rest of Konoha. Yet despite the fact that Shizune, Kakashi, and Naruto were all soaking with sweat, Tsunade looked as irritating as ever without any signs of heat fatigue. Not even her blue diamond-crested forehead was damp.
"Naruto, do you recall the attack Haido made on the Land of Wind?" Tsunade spoke through her hands resting against her chin.
Naruto thought hard. "Uh, is that the guy who wanted a utopia?"
"Yes. And do you recall what his true quest was for?"
"Yes! A stone!"
Tsunade held out a hand. In her palm lay a tiny green shard. "I've been a sent a part of this stone. By a young man of the name Temujin."
"Temujin?" Naruto's eyes went wide. "The bastard sent you a piece of the stone?"
"Ah, so you do know him." Tsunade leaned back, relieved. "I received a message from him containing this shard as well as instructions on how to use it. He claimed to know you and that he had even met Sakura and Shikamaru at one point. I wouldn't follow his instructions unless I knew for sure that you and he were indeed on friendly terms."
"I...yes. He's the one who stopped the collapse of the Vein of Gelel," Naruto recalled. "I saved his- well what does he want?"
"He wanted to give you news of his progress overseas. Things are looking up, and when they finally settle down he's requested ambassadors from Konoha to encourage peaceful solutions for the country." Tsunade handed Temujin's letter to Naruto, who scanned it quickly. Naruto stopped suddenly when he reached the third subject.
"Who's...?"
"I don't know much about the way they live overseas, but apparently Chakra is unheard of. Temujin's brief encounter with you showed him enough to recognize the power in a young woman. He requests, most politely, that he be allowed to visit Konoha with the lady and have her trained in the way of the Shinobi. He feels that..."
"'Such talents are amazing to me, though shunned by the villagers here. I don't know much about Chakra levels, but hers seem overflowing,'" Naruto read. "Huh! How could a person who's never heard of Chakra have a lot of it?"
"The distribution of Chakra is not specific," Tsunade said, closing her eyes in concentration. "It's possible there are many potential ninjas overseas, but the power is strange and frightening to the people there."
"With a country always at war, a little bit of strangeness is alarming, even if the oddity could help the country," Kakashi said quietly.
"Tsunade-sama, what are you going to do?" Shizune asked.
Tsunade was still for a moment, then when her eyes flashed open they were filled with determination. She gripped the stone in her palm.
"I will contact Temujin and tell him he's welcome here. Shizune, bring Rock Lee and Hyuuga Neji to me. Kakashi, I will meet with you and Umino Iruka in an hour."
"Hey, Tsunade-'baachan! What about me?" Naruto puffed his chest out slightly.
"Dismissed for now," Tsunade waved her hand. "I need to contact Temujin."
"How are they getting here? Who's gonna show them to Konoha? Who's gonna show them around Konoha?"
Tsunade slapped her hand on the desk. "Enough, Naruto! I need to contact Temujin-san before anything else!"
"Hey, Naruto, let Hokage-sama get to work," Kakashi said, turning to leave.
"Naruto."
Naruto stopped at Tsunade's voice. He turned around, but her chair was facing the window.
"You should prepare a place for Temujin and his guest to stay. You have my orders."
"Hai, Hokage-sama!" Naruto saluted before dashing out of the room ahead of Kakashi.
Tsunade allowed herself a smile behind the tall back of her chair. Naruto was respectful to her only when he was pleased. How ironic she should tolerate it. She held the stone shard between her index finger and thumb and sent Chakra into it. The stone glowed, and with that Tsunade knew she was to leave her message of invitation.