A/N: Okay, people. I'm taking a shot at the Naruto Guardian fic and I think you'll find it… slightly different from how they're usually written. I've no idea who I'm sticking my character with, I feel like I should put that out there right now. But I'm open for voting and suggestions if you guys want, in fact, please, by all means VOTE! :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto… depressing, right? -.-'
Chapter 1
PS: I Ate Your Pocky
(But to someone like me, a relatively antisocial, murdering spy, who may or may not have Asperger's Syndrome, Uzumaki was a genius in the making.…)
Orochimaru had always been an ambitious sort of fellow, if you asked me. I mean, honestly, did he actually think he could control the power of a true demon? But really, it was none of my affair what happened after I came through with my mission, and, if the demon went out of control and they all died because they had been idiots, well, I didn't see how that had any effect on me. Even if the thing got loose and started wreaking havoc, I couldn't find it in me to care much, this whole world could go to hell, for all I gave a damn.
Besides, I wasn't being paid to offer my advice, and it was generally bad for business when you told your employer that they were being a complete moron.
I smirked at the idea.
I was not so cocky as to think myself capable of defeating the snake, but I knew if he ever wanted my head, he'd have to catch me first. Which was something he'd never be able to accomplish. Ever.
True, I had not been hired for my advice, that wasn't the kind of person he needed for this job. Orochimaru had requested my assistance in this mission because he needed my stealth more than anything right now. I was primarily a spy, a simple information collector who would be in and out of circumstance before the enemy could even flinch. Second, I was an assassin, because I was not incredibly strong, I relied heavily on pressure points and vital areas to get the job done before they had a chance to confront me for what I was.
So really, if anyone truly powerful were to come after me, I would run for it. I was not a coward, per say, but I wasn't stupid either. I simply knew what my limits were and if the situation wasn't worth it, I would be out of there before you knew it. And though people say 'you can't run or hide forever,' I was the living reason that could prove them wrong; I really could run and hide forever. I had never been able to come up with a single good reason to die, mind you. All the things I've done that involved people were my missions and those weren't, in any way, good reasons to die.
Nevertheless, there was never a mission I'd failed to complete, and Orochimaru was offering a hefty sum for this simple kidnapping, no matter how stupid the whole thing was. So sure, I'd decided to take the job. This wasn't the first time I'd done business with Orochimaru either, and despite his incredibly creepy nature, his lack of respect in regards to personal space, and his annoying habit of not so subtly suggesting I join him as a permanent subordinate, he always came through with the price. Then again, he also knew that if he didn't come through with the price, he'd loose any and all business with me, possibly permanently. What was even better was that he knew if I chose to refuse him there was nothing he could do about it. There was no contact link between us except the ones I allowed and I always came to the client.
I had only just received orders to kidnap the boy. His name was Uzumaki Naruto and he was supposedly living alone in the Tranzen Apartments of Konohagakure no Sato. I didn't ask why a seven-year-old boy was living by himself because, frankly, I didn't care. What did interest me was that the boy was on constant ANBU watch. It also explained why I had been called in.
Orochimaru did not tell me what it was that resided within the child, but that suited me just fine, as it wasn't hard to figure out. I had made it my business to know all about my clients, they're pasts and of course, they're current associates. It was only natural for me, because how would I have found him otherwise? These findings were what led me to the Akatsuki base, and so to my client. And naturally, since I made it my business to know these things, I also had prior knowledge that the Akatsuki, though still a young organization, was rather intent on demon containers. A rather high goal in my opinion, but again, I was not paid to give my opinion.
This base, much to my annoyance, was different from the one they'd occupied when I had last done business our little Snake. I had a suspicion that they moved specifically because I had been able to find it. They could, of course, try to hide from me all they wanted, the fact remained that I would always find them. It was my job, after all.
Then again, perhaps I was thinking too deeply into this. I'd recently discovered that Akatsuki was on their way to recruiting a new member, a boy by the name of Itachi, if I was not mistaken. And I wasn't. I'd done a bit more digging on the boy after I'd discovered—completely by accident, mind you—that he was very young, three years my junior come June. Of course, I'd heard of the Uchiha prodigy before—I'd be ashamed if I hadn't—but I'd soon learn more than was normal about him, under the guise that he was an associate of my client.
I wrinkled my nose in disgust as I poured a long-expired carton of milk down the sink drain. Much like dying, I couldn't think of a reason why anyone would want to join the Akatsuki. I mean, really, they never had food at any of their bases. Not good food anyway. And no, I'm not fat, so you can drop that train of thought. I just have a bit of a weak spot concerning sweets. They also seemed to have a consistency in where they resided. Dark, dank, and damp; the triple D's.
Perhaps if I ran into the boy while in Konoha I could warn him.
"Ah, I see you'll be leaving soon then, Tanaka-san." I did not have to look at him to tell the boy was smirking; he was always smirking when he wasn't undercover. So it was for the sole purpose of bruising the cocky medic's ego that I did not turn immediately once he addressed me; just to show him the he had not been successful in sneaking up on me.
"Hm, you catch on quickly," I commented with very little enthusiasm. I still had yet to pull my head out of the fridge.
"You do always seem to raid the kitchen before you go anywhere." He did not approach nor give any hint that I'd annoyed him in the slightest. Finally, I withdrew myself to look him in the face with raised eyebrows.
"You've realized this, and yet I still come to these bases and find the food supply lacking. I'm hurt, Yakushi-kun." I watched his smirk grow, but did not regret my choice in suffix. I would not show him the same respect as I did Orochimaru, because he was not my employer. He may have been a subordinate of my employer, but I didn't particularly care and I most certainly did not take orders from him.
"When will you call me Kabuto?"
"When I find it in myself to care." I was only mildly impressed by his lack of reaction in that polite façade of his, for I knew everything there was to know about Yakushi Kabuto, the 15-year-old underling spy to Orochimaru and Sasori, Blood type: AB.
"Shouldn't you be somewhere failing a Chunin exam?"
"Now now Tanaka-chan, we're all friends here," he said slyly, and there was not a moment when I was unaware of his change in suffix. That was just fine with me. If Helmet-boy(1) over there wanted to play a little game with me, I wasn't going to stop him. "I'd like to thank you again for the cards."(2)
"Think of them as a late birthday gift," I said lightly, leaving the fridge to search the cabinets. Late indeed, for it was already greatly into April and his birthday had passed in February.
"But I paid for them, Tanaka-chan." He took a few subtle steps into the kitchen.
"Then don't thank me, Yakushi-kun. It's all a part of the job." I nodded to him, abandoning my search completely upon realizing that it would be a lost cause.
I admit to being slightly surprised at how close he had gotten, but not enough to let it show, thankfully. The boy was taller then me by several inches, though I was his senior by almost a year. Much like Orochimaru, Kabuto held little regard for personal space and I found my amber eyes narrowing at his blatant disrespect.
"I will make sure there is something in the kitchen for you… upon your return." Onyx eyes glinted behind those glasses with an intent I was unsure of. I was somewhat fond of the boy. I had to have been, or he'd never have received those valuable info cards. He was intelligent beyond his age and we shared similar fighting techniques. However, I'd never really been able to decipher what went on in his head; I don't think Orochimaru knew either, and this intrigued me. But only slightly, not enough for me to waste my time with. I had a feeling I didn't particularly want to know either, and I always trusted those kinds of feelings.
"That would be, much appreciated… Yakushi-kun." I gave him a coy smile and my voice had dropped a notch to utter the sentence. He smirked again and took two steps back as though deciding to stand down. Smart boy.
"When will you call me Kabuto?" he asked again, though lacing the question with an amusement that said he liked the game we played.
I swept passed him, letting the smile stay, for whatever it was he thought we were doing, I had clearly come out the victor. "When I find it in myself to care."
I was glad when he didn't follow me out of the kitchen, for I rather liked the note we had departed on. This however, also marked that it was time for me to leave, as was routine. It was very unlikely that anyone else in the base would talk to me; so really, my work here was done until I came with the boy and pocketed my price.
Very few people at the Akatsuki bases ever spoke to me. Generally, it was just Orochimaru, for he was my employer, and Kabuto, because he had the gall. I had once found myself in the kitchen with the puppet master, Sasori, while taking something green and moldy out of their fridge. He had raised an eyebrow and I had waved casually before politely offering the ice cream I had found hiding behind the offending green scum and was about to indulge myself in. I knew he would decline, which was just fine with me, for I never had particularly liked sharing. But he had otherwise not shown any interest in the new stranger at the base, dubbing it 'not his problem.' He hadn't spoken a word to me and I found myself fond of the man who was my employer's partner.
I pulled my dark hair into a ponytail and tightened my traveling jacket around me as I exited the place and prepared myself for the trip to Konoha. 'Two days,' I decided. If it didn't rain, I could make it there in two days. 'Perfect.'
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I looked up at the tall gates of Konoha. It had been a good year or so since I'd last been here. From what I'd remembered, it was a rather nice village, quite peaceful, a little on the boring side, in my opinion. But nevertheless, I would not be here very long so I schooled an innocent smile on my face and widened my eyes into a doe-like expression.
"Excuse me."
I feigned shock as the ninja appeared before me. He was Chunin, if I was not mistaken, but young and with a welcoming smile that almost made me laugh. He really had no idea who I was, for if he had, he would most certainly not be smiling. "State your name and business," he asked politely.
"I am Tanaka Arisa, and I'm just visiting." I gave him a sweet smile. He nodded.
"Are you a ninja, Tanaka?" I found it funny he was even asking that question, it would be so easy to lie to it. Fortunately, I didn't even need to lie.
"Nope!" I wasn't, not officially anyway. There was no country that held my allegiance and I'd never so much as taken an exam before.
"And where are you coming from?" he continued, as was his duty.
"Suna, I'm afraid. I'm going to have to say I much prefer the trees here, though. I'm thinking about moving here. What do you think?" I rambled. That's right, cuz in his eyes, I'm just a normal sixteen-year-old girl with black hair, gold eyes, and one hell of a tan.
"It's lovely here and I'm sure you'd be welcomed. Konoha's in a peaceful time right now," he admitted with a shy smile. "I'm Umino Iruka, by the way, if you have any troubles please feel free to come to me." His offer was sincere, which did, in fact, surprise me, but that's how they were in Konoha, so I'd have to get used to it. "You may go through."
"Thanks!" I nodded and brushed by him.
'Iruka Umino. 21-year-old academy instructor, come May 26. Blood Type A. Proficient in all fields. Specialty Jutsu: Sealed Bomb Square Release. By guessing, I'd peg his height around 5 feet 8 inches. And he was thin, 150 lbs tops.' The question was, could I take him if something went wrong? Yes, easily. He trusted too easily.
Step one complete.
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I bought a map.
It's not what it looks like. I'm not 'forgetting' my duties in honor of sightseeing this rather lovely village. I'm simply 'getting to know my surroundings.' So with a smile and delightfully faked excitement I scouted the entire town and picked out the best routs of escape, should my mission go wrong. Granted, I had it limited in certain areas, for if I made the mistake of being caught, it would be when I already had the boy. Perhaps it is cocky of me to think it impossible that something should occur between now and then, but I really do think that highly of myself.
'I'm damn good at what I do.'
I stopped briefly at an art store to examine a painting of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. It was a giant—and when I say giant, I mean, it's like Godzilla—orange fox with nine long tails that swept about its body in a chaotic way. It was a good painting and looking at it almost made me laugh.
Did they really think they could control that thing? Holy shit, I was glad I wouldn't be there when they took it out of its cage. That poor child, Naruto. Though I admit, when it killed them all, Orochimaru's rather… profitable business would go with it, and it would be a right shame to lose someone like Kabuto.
But again, I wasn't being paid for my opinion. So I shrugged and exited the building in favor of finding a place I could spend the night.
I was a patient person and I would do my mission the right way. If there were, in fact, ANBU guarding the child, then I would need just a bit more time…
"Oomf!" I staggered backwards, blinking in surprise. Something, or rather someone, had almost completely bowled me over. My eyes darted around to find the source and came to rest upon a boy who had gone flying backwards and was now rubbing his backside with a pained expression.
He was… cute; with blond hair spiked in a messy fashion. He was also young and, I suspected, short for his age. The kid was like two feet shorter than I was, and I was most certainly not tall.
"Eh? Sorry, lady!" he exclaimed, jumping up and glancing behind him with a worried expression.
"Hey! Get back here!" someone yelled. They sounded angry.
"Uh-oh. Gotta go!" he said, but I didn't know if he was speaking to me or just saying it. I felt a smile curling at my lips, and it was not the innocent excited one I'd used in my tourist act. This smile was crueler, but amused, and my hand shot out to catch the boy by the shoulder. And he yelled. Damn, that child had a set of lungs on him. And he struggled with an impressive persistence.
I clamped my hand over his mouth and stretched my other arm over his shoulders to hold him steady. He screamed indignantly through my hand and I twitched, for it had done little to muffle the sound. Then, I dragged us both into the nearest alleyway and pinned him between the wall and myself.
He stilled completely as the voices were getting closer and then… they passed us.
The boy's adorable blue eyes radiated confusion and I felt it safe to remove my hold on him. He staggered away from me, breathing as though he'd just run miles.
"Y-You…" His form trembled and I didn't quiet understand. I'd only ever received that look from people who thought I was going to harm them; did this boy not understand I had just saved him?
"Goodness, child, what on earth did you do to them?" I asked, giving him a warmly interested look and he smiled. It was shy and unsure, but a smile just the same.
He mumbled something I didn't quite catch.
"I'm sorry," I started, kneeling down to his height. "What did you say?"
"Well one of them is really scared of bugs, right? And he had it coming to him for calling me a-a…" The boy swallowed and I grinned at him, deciding I liked him.
"So you used his fear against him, ne?" His worried eyes darted up to mine. "That's very clever… Naruto-kun." He cracked a smile and didn't deny the name.
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Uzumaki Naruto: Was only 7 years old. Blood Type: B and he was destined to be great. It was pure luck that I had run into my target so early on in the game. And when he left me in the alleyway, I found myself intensely fond of the brilliant child.
It's very true that Naruto was lacking in several areas of a shinobi. He had nothing as far as Genjutsu was concerned. Naruto had a poor Taijutsu stance that was more likely to get him killed than anything else was. No doubt, that had been his teacher's desire. His Ninjutsu was nonexistent. As far as I knew, he wasn't able to produce even the simplest of Jutsu. It made me wonder how stupid his instructors really were. Anyone with half an education could tell the child didn't have the control for those kinds of Jutsu. His reserves would have to be ridiculously large. He'd be better off learning upper level Jutsu until he got the proper control. Then again, perhaps they did know.
Ten minutes with the boy was all I needed to know that this village hated him. They loathed him because they feared him. They were cowards treating a hero like scum. No, they treated him worse than scum. They treated him like something I'd have pulled out of the Akatsuki refrigerator.
He was not as withdrawn as I personally thought he'd have been. I had imagined him something like the Ichibi container. And young Gaara of the Sand, as far as I had been informed, had gone from bad to worse to homicidal.
To the untrained eye, Uzumaki was a worthless prankster with a stupid grin. To an unbiased physiatrist, Naruto could be reviled as wearing a mask to hide his pain. But to someone like me—a relatively antisocial, murdering spy, who may or may not have Asperger's Syndrome—Uzumaki was a genius in the making.
He hadn't just poured a bucket of water on a guy who more than likely had beaten the child before. Uzumaki Naruto had looked for the information on what would really get back at this guy. He had gone and found this man's fears and then he had used them in his mini revenge plot. For a seven-year-old to be that perceptive was amazing. I would watch him, for now. Just watch the boy until I could take him.
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I spent the next few weeks trailing Uzumaki Naruto, doing what I do best, and gathering information. His diet was horrid. How anyone could live solely off scraps and ramen was completely beyond me. But again, this was not his fault.
This village dearly needed a wakeup call. It was lovely and prosperous in this time of peace, powerful as a nation and yet it rotted at its core. Fear drove decisions at a poor perspective and, in their mad need to blame something, they turned their hate on a child. A boy with hands soaked in innocence. They would taint him if they hadn't already. Infect him with the horrid decomposition that already plagued the old generation and was seeping by association into the new.
And it made me angry.
Every insult cast at the child, every glare, every refusal, made me want to blow this entire village into the ground. I wanted to grind this entire place to dust beneath the heal of my comfortable yet stylish boots. Every moment alone in his apartment was a moment without his smile, and every moment his tears were shed, there was no one to comfort him.
How he must have hated this village for what they'd done to him. How he must have wanted revenge upon them.
I watched them beat him, spit on him, abuse him, yet I had not thrown my cover. But I let the anger build within me. Nothing was worse in my golden eyes than a hypocrite was. You could not trust the words they said, you could not infer the actions they'd make, and you most certainly could not rely upon them.
And oh, how the son of the Yondaime must have wanted to destroy the village that had taken everything from him. His father, his childhood, his dignity, his happiness. Gone. All gone. To save a village that deserved to be crushed by the Kyuubi no Kitsune.
I watched the boy well into May before I met with him again.
"We meet again, little fox!" I announced, baring a real grin as I slid into the seat next to his.
"Eh? Oh! It's you!" He seemed shocked, as though he'd thought he'd never see me again, and perhaps he had.
"The ramen here any good, kid?" I asked.
"Oh ya! Ramen here is the best! Believe it!" His voice was… loud, but he was still cute. It was the first time I had ever wanted to pinch anyone's cheeks, but deciding that would be entirely odd, I settled for ruffling his hair affectionately.
"Alright then, I'll take one Chicken Ramen, please!" I ordered. The owner was a nice man who I subconsciously decided to let live should I ever destroy this place. His little daughter also, who I'd seen helping out in the back on occasion. "Have you been staying out of trouble, Naruto-kun?" I asked, though it was for the soul purpose of normality, for I already knew the answer and then some.
"Um…" He looked down guiltily and, though I'd trailed the boy for so long, the response still surprised me.
"Order another bowl, Naruto-kun. I'm paying," I said. It was not really an offer either. I was better at commands. But his face lit up and he ordered just the same.
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Leaving the booth that day, I concluded that I would be more than happy to kidnap Uzumaki Naruto. I would consider it a pleasure, nay, a privilege to take him from this horrid place. I would ask him, and he would take my hand. He was absolutely adorable. Then I'd ask Orochimaru if I could keep him!
I stopped dead at that thought. What was wrong with me? I wanted to keep Naruto? Why didn't that sound right? Oh, right. I work alone, I live alone, and I'd probably twist the child before he hit puberty. And I wanted to keep Uzumaki Naruto.
…
Crap.
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I put off actually kidnapping him far more than was necessary and I was running out of excuses. I couldn't use the ANBU one very much for I'd learned their routine and, in doing so, I also learned which time there were people on guard who really didn't give a damn what happened to Naruto.
I also became unreasonably grateful to the ANBU I found assisting the boy. The one with the dog mask and silver hair helped the most. I watched him discreetly save the boy from assassination attempts such as poisoning or being run over by a cart. Naruto was hardly being guarded by the ANBU so much as they were protecting him.
But every time the perfect chance presented itself, it was when something greatly unjust was happening to Naruto. That would fill me with anger, the anger would confuse me, and I would have to leave. I would have to leave and regain control of myself, for it was all very new to me. I never had a problem controlling my emotions before. Never. It was just part of the job.
Something about that boy was off, I could tell. Something made me want to protect him. Get him the hell away from this village and protect him. It was so foreign to me. I was not scared, per say. I just wanted to know, I wanted to figure it all out.
So I would remind myself that I had plenty of time to kidnap him. Then, I would sink away into the dark.
"Aniki, Aniki! I'm top in my class again!" a boy shouted. I thought nothing of the conversation, aside from the fact that I had really put off taking Naruto for so very long. If they'd gotten their grades then surely we'd entered June. I ignored the child until… "Itachi, will you help train me today!?"
My head swiveled to the left and I spun fluidly to see the young child, no older than my Naruto, and his older brother.
Uchiha Itachi's photo did not do him justice, and I grudgingly decided I'd have to store away this real image of him in my mind to compensate. He was still shorter than I was, but just barely, and he walked with such confidence it was marvelous. Uchiha Itachi: Blood Type AB and he was handsome for his age. At this moment, before me was a boy almost thirteen years old and he was already powerful enough to be zeroed in on by people like the Akatsuki.
He became a ninja at the tender age of 7, only three years after the end of the war, which, no doubt, had some effect on him. When he turned 8, he awoke his Sharingan, only to become a Chunin when he hit 10. And now he had just become an ANBU captain. And on a side note, he liked dango.
He was so powerful; I doubted that I could take him. But then again, he was a Genjutsu specialist, so if it ever came down to it, I did, in fact, stand a chance.
Genjutsu was in my very blood. It was a key factor in what made me so very good at what I did. Genjutsu could never work on me. Half the time, I never even noticed anything had been cast, I wouldn't even see what they had wanted me to see. I'd just walk through the real world. Something about the way my brain worked allowed me to differentiate reality from illusion in the perfect way. They tell my brain I'm smelling smoke but all I get in return is clean air.
However, my Genjutsu would also be useless among anyone with the Sharingan at his level. I used Genjutsu in an impure way. I look into my opponents' mind to find what it is they fear. And then I make it reality, but not with Genjutsu—oh no, I wasn't that good—I did it in the flesh.
Perhaps sensing that someone was staring caused his eyes to turn to mine. And when his eyes locked with mine, I gave him a coy smile, much like the one I'd given Kabuto, and then I turned away. I didn't know if that meant I was backing down, but if it did, I was not ashamed. Even if I could defeat the young Uchiha now, give it a few years and it would be obvious who held the advantage. In just a few years, if Uchiha Itachi ever wanted my head, I knew that I would deem it 'not worth it.' I knew that I would run.
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I took a break in my 'Stalk Naruto' routine, only three days later. June 9th, to be precise. The day Itachi turned 13. As my birthday gift to him, I would talk to him. I wanted to talk to him anyway. I wanted to find out for myself how screwed up the Uchiha prodigy was. But his birthday was busy, being the heir and all. I had never really been the heir to anything, but I imagined it royally sucked.
This of course, gave me a lot of time to create a hammock between two trees that he would pass on his way to his personal training grounds. Yes, a hammock, with a sheet and two kunai. However I'd misjudged the time he'd come by and had fallen asleep. In my defense, it was impressively comfortable and I couldn't imagine why people chose bedrolls over a good old hammock.
"You."
It was one word, blankly said, with the possible edge of a threat, and it should have been enough to wake me up. Should have, but wasn't.
"Ngh, no money, no business," I grunted, burying my head between my arm and the sheet.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, approaching my hammock.
I turned over, fully intent on tuning him out and—"Oomph."—fell out of my hammock. Charming. "Well… I was sleeping," I muttered. When I looked up, I regretted my decision to 'rest my eyes.' This was a bad way to make an impression on the Uchiha prodigy. Oh well.
"Oh, it's you," I acknowledged, standing up, though only to push my sunglasses farther up my nose and crawl back onto my hammock. "Happy birthday."
He raised a brow, but remained impassive, which I found impressive considering the situation. Then I think he decided he didn't want to know and he turned and began to walk away.
'No, no, no, that most certainly will not do.'
"So you're really gonna go through with it, huh?" I asked casually. It was enough to make him stop. "I should warn you though, they're all insane, and they never have very good food in their fridge," I rambled.
"Go through with what?" he asked grudgingly.
"Oh, the Akatsuki, of course."
There wasn't even moment that passed after my sentence before he suddenly had his hand on my neck in a threatening manner. 'Fast,' I noted.
"You speak too much." He spoke as though he was bored, and it fascinated me. Craning my neck uncomfortably, I peered at him over the rims of my sunglasses and smirked.
"Now now, Tichi-kins, we're all friends here. And as such, I'm just giving some friendly advice. Buy your own food and avoid the snake," I said, smiling, though secretly I was losing air.
"Avoid the snake?" he asked again, and I grinned.
"You have pretty eyes."(3) He let go and was already two feet from me. I chuckled to cover up my deep inhale of air.
"You're insane," he stated, walking away again.
"I am, am I?" I settled back into the sheet and relaxed. "See ya around, Tichi-kins!" I called.
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Talking to Itachi had been just what I had needed. I should have taken a break sooner. I had been somewhat surprised that Itachi hadn't tried to kill me. He wasn't very bad, not yet anyway. Once he left the village though, who knows what was going to happen? It changed a person; having everyone hate you.
It had been three long weeks since I'd last seen the Uchiha and I was completely out of excuses for young Naruto.
"Does it hurt, monster?" one man slurred.
"You deserve it, for everything you did to us," another hissed.
They were little more than thugs, drunken thugs who'd caught the boy going home after dinner. The first one had kicked him down and the second was laughing. I would do it now, I calmly decided. I would take Uzumaki Naruto from this village now.
I slugged the first man in an unprofessional way and he went down easy, for he was further intoxicated than his comrade. You could smell it on him. The second literally stood there stupidly until I pressed a point on the back of his neck. His eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed. Yes, they were no better than thugs were.
I bent down and put my hands on Naruto's shoulders. He was dirty and beaten and a black eye was already forming on his face. He was not crying, but I could see the tears he was desperately holding back.
"Naruto-kun," I whispered, "would like me to take you away from here?" He brought his beaten face up to look at me and I gasped softly at the sight. I should have killed those men. "I can take you away from here, Naruto-kun. You wouldn't have to go through this anymore. I'd take you away and you'd never have to come back. No one could blame you for leaving."
I moved my hands to his face and made him lock eyes with me so he'd know I meant every word. "You've done nothing wrong, you got that? Never. Never. And I would protect you, I promise." My voice was still hushed and finally, painfully, tears began to track down the young boy's cheeks. I nodded. We would finally leave this place. And then…
"Iie," came his soft whisper. His small hands gripped at my white tank top and his small blond head shook from side to side. I could feel his entire form tremble against my own, but from what, I was unsure. "I-I can't leave. I have to stay," he said.
"Why?" I asked in exasperation. "Naruto-kun, you don't deserve this. What they do to you, it's horrible. So why, in Kami's name, would you want to stay?"
"If I leave, I can't become Hokage. And I will become Hokage!" It started a whisper and then became something more. "I'll show them that I'm worth something. I'll make them acknowledge me!"
"Naruto…" Not only was he refusing to leave this village, he was also telling me that he wanted the job of the man who's sworn duty it was to protect this village. What was going on?
"I can't run away. There are no shortcuts. I'll, I'll-"
"I understand," I said, pulling him to me. I didn't understand but his words made me feel something. "Alright, I-I let you stay," I choked out. I scooped him up and let him cry into my shoulder as we headed to the Hokage tower.
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Naruto had fallen asleep by the time I'd made the long trek up the tower stairs. For some reason that I could not fathom, with the boy snuggled peacefully in my shoulder, the shoulder of a murderer, I felt warm and protective.
He was only seven, after all. Where had I been at his age? Iwa, I had been in Iwa, pouring poison into a general's cup during the last great shinobi war.
Kami, no wonder I was fucked up.
I set him in one of the waiting benches outside of the Hokage's office and tipped my head to the current guard. Iruka Umino knew better then to talk and wake the child, so I expected him to also watch the child. He nodded to me and I smiled thankfully at him before passing through the thick doors that lead to the Sandaime Hokage.
Sarutobi was old, 65 last February, to be precise. He had age lines, spots, and white hair only shown by his beard, for he was wearing the costmary Hokage hat. His blood type was A, he was a consistent smoker, and he summoned monkeys. I knew this already when I found him reading documents at his desk.
I determined that, 'no, I could not take this man in a fight.'
"Ah," he started pleasantly, "and how may I help you, young lady?"
"I've come to inform you on a few matters," I began casually. This was clearly not one of my smarter ideas but I had already made up my mind and I wasn't going back now.
"Is that so?" he drew a long breath through his pipe. "Then please, continue."
"Sandaime Hokage; Sarutobi-sama, of Konohagakure no Sato. I, Tanaka Arisa, came here April 22nd at approximately 1500 hours, with every intention of kidnapping Uzumaki Naruto." I watched as he stiffened but otherwise did not move to interrupt me. "After watching Uzumaki-san, it became clear to me that this village was guilty of horrible acts against the innocent boy and that it would be better for all parties if he was taken from this place." I was not nervous; no that was not why I had paused. I paused because I needed that small moment to reign in my exasperation, for I did not want it to show. So, taking a deep breath, I continued.
"However it appears that young Naruto-kun wishes to remain in the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Despite everything the child has been put through, he still desires to become Hokage of this pathetic village." I was letting myself slip, and I didn't care. "I will not take him for this very reason. However, I will remain here with him as his guardian, because that's what he needs."
"And if I refuse?" he drawled.
I gave a short humorless laugh.
"I am not asking for your permission, I am telling you a fact." I smiled wryly, but he did not look offended, if anything he looked interested in what I had to say. "Do not mistake me, Sarutobi-sama; there is no village that holds my loyalty, so you will never really be able to order me around. I give my loyalty solely to the boy, Uzumaki Naruto, and if he ever wished to betray the place that has given him nothing but years of pain, then I will not hesitate to assist him.
"Personally I think this entire village deserves to be shot and burned for the crimes it has committed, but… Naruto-kun seems to like you all, Kami only knows why." I muttered under my breath, but I was sure the old man had heard.
"Hm, I've heard of you before, Tanaka-san, and this is… quite a bit different from your usual routine. Luckily, you hold no incredible crime against Konoha; in fact, I believe it was your family who aided us with a string of assassinations during the Last Great Shinobi War. As such, I will allow you residence in Konoha and guardianship over Uzumaki Naruto. However, I must warn you. You harm one hair on that boy's head-"
"Hokage-sama, I'm really the last person you should be reprimanding about that. But I will agree to your terms nonetheless. I will not harm a hair on Uzumaki Naruto. And I get permission to slug anyone who tries," I growled.
And then, the old man did something I had not been expecting at all.
He smiled at me.
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I tapped my pen thoughtfully against my bottom lip. 'How to write this. Hm…'
I had returned to the Akatsuki base, or rather I had found their new one. It had taken me a good couple of weeks to find it but here I was. Yay me! Before Uzumaki Naruto, I wouldn't have ever thought that last line. That boy had a power, some kind of power that changed people, made them want to protect him. At least, that's what I thought.
"It's you."
"Hm?" I turned thoughtfully towards the voice, for I had not heard my little guest approaching and what I saw made me smile. "Tichi-kins! Fancy meeting you here!"
He gave me a stony sort of look that forced a pout on my lips.
"Tichi, darling, don't be that way. Especially after you dumped your kid brother on me." Something I said caught his attention and held it in full. "Oh yes. Poor little Uchiha turned up face down in my back yard shortly after your little massacre. That's one crappy reason you're giving him, but whatever. We're all criminals here, so to hell with it. Unfortunately he's a stubborn little brat and only stayed for the night before heading home."
He remained silent and I sent him a secretive sort of smile. "I'll watch over him for you, ne? Make sure you didn't drive him over the edge and whatnot. He's cute and I'd hate to see talent like his go to waste," I ranted.
"Who are you?" he asked. I blinked rapidly at him in disbelief.
"Dear lord… didn't I tell you my name?" I asked and he just started at me. Oopsy. "Tanaka Arisa, at your service," I winked.
"And are you also in the Akatsuki?"
"No she's not," a sly voice cut in, and I did my best not to stiffen. "Figures you'd be in the kitchen, Tanaka-chan." Kabuto entered the room smiling good-naturedly. It was a mask.
"Ah well, I'm afraid this is my first time at this base and the first room I came upon just happened to be the kitchen. Who knew?" I rambled dramatically. "Unfortunately, if either of you are here for a snack I've already raided the place and there's nothing edible here. Oh woe, Yakushi-san, it seems you've failed me yet again!"
"Have I?" he asked slyly. He came toward me until he invaded my personal space as he and his master so often did. The he reached passed me, a sneaky smile on his face and opened one of the cabinets.
I took the package of pocky gingerly from his hands with a coy smile. "Why how thoughtful of you, Yakushi-kun." He smirked and backed down again.
"I'm afraid Orochimaru-sama is not here at the moment. He will not mind if you take his pocky, I am sure."
"I would be so sure of that," I chuckled. The action seemed to intrigue him, and I took a moment to wonder if I'd ever done it in front of him before. "I'm afraid this is me declining my mission," I said, waving the paper in a nonchalant way.
"Is that so?" Behind his glasses, onyx eyes narrowed dangerously. I narrowed my own in return. "That's quite a shame… Tanaka-chan."
Every time we talked, I silently dared him to make the same mistake he'd made those years ago. I dared him to call me Arisa before permission was given.
"Are you going to try to stop me?" I asked, with little to no interest.
"Sorry, not today." His response was… unexpected. Something must have showed on my face for he smirked and elaborated. "I'm not strong enough to beat you. Not yet. Why engage in a pointless fight?"
"Ah," I acknowledged favorably, while prying open my pocky. "I knew I liked you for a reason." I stuck a stick of pocky in my mouth and sucked on it while writing my last sentence on the paper.
"Hm, can you give this to Orochimaru for me, Yaku-kun?" I asked, handing Kabuto the paper.
"When will you call me Kabuto?" he asked as usual, but I saw that the nickname had pleased him in some form or another as I headed to the door.
I stopped in front of Itachi, who had been silent this whole time, and I smiled teasingly at him. "Been nice seeing you, Tichi-kins!" I called, passing him. I could practically feel Kabuto frowning at my familiarity with the Uchiha prodigy. "Don't ya'll be afraid to write!"
"What does it say?" Itachi asked with a grudging curiosity. Kabuto handed him the paper, still frowning.
Hey, Orochimaru-sama,
You know that kid you sent me to kidnap?
Yeah, I adopted him instead.
No hard feelings!
Je ne,
Arisa ;)
PS: I ate your pocky…
AN: Well now that this chapter is done, I'm going to bed. It's 8am in the morning. Vote for pairings, because I can go for anything right now. Tell me what you think, ne? It's different, right? PLEASE REVIEW!! LOVE!
Helmet-boy -- Kabuto can mean helmet
Info Cards – those little cards Kabuto feeds his chakra and whatever information he has stored there pops up for him to use. Arisa does not use Info Cards; it's all in her head. Another reason why she's so good at what she does.
"You have pretty eyes." — She's referring to the Sharingan, because that is why Orochimaru goes after Itachi in the first place. :)