Yes! Finally! D Sorry for the shortness
This is a sequel of "Naruto Tsurugi", a previous fanfic of mine. Rather than replacing a chapter of Naruto, this is a whole new filler in the normal story of Naruto, taking place righhht before Naruto come's back to Konoha. Enjoy!
Tsurugi: Next Gen
Prologue + Chapter 1
I do not own Naruto
Hokage's office, 11h00
"Dear Sakura-chan,
here at Tsurugi, things couldn't be more active! Since the last letter I sent to you, 23 new kids entered the academy! Counting the two last inscription, soon we'll have more than sixty genins who are gonna help to re-gain Tsurugikure's glory! I'm so happy!
I still need confirmation from the Fourth Hokage about the next chuunins exams (which I think Shikamaru-san must take care of, right?).
Also, the sword monument was finally finished... Syng and Juusan-Sensei may rest in peace now! The technique of the summoning swords will be revised to cause less damage to the body... hopefully, this may save some pain to the new genins who are learning the jutsu...
I may drop by the end of the month. Misty will probably come too (to see Shino, probably!).
In hope of seeing you soon,
Tifa of Tsurugi."
The kunoichi finished reading the letter the carrier bird had just brought and smile. In two years, things sure had changed. Naruto was gone with Jiraiya, Sakura had start medical training with Tsunade-Sama and much everyone had change. The blonde boy was rumored to come back in a few month, and, of course, everyone was eager of the news, but the chuunins exam were taking most of the ninjas time, when they weren't in a mission.
Someone knocked at the door, breaking the thread of thought of Sakura.
-Oi, said a masculine voice.
-You may enter Kiba, said Sakura.
The pink-haired kunoichi was resting at Tsunade's place. The fourth being "sick" (How could a medical ninja like her be sick anyway?) Sakura had to fill most of the document, leaving only the seal of Konoha missing (which could be only applied by the Hokage). The dog-boy entered with his still-growing "pup".
-I don't think Tsunade-sama would like to see Akamaru here... smiled Sakura, obviously joking.
-Very funny, Sakura-chan. Answered Kiba, probably coming back from a mission, watching the state in which he was. Hey... is that a letter from Tiffany-chan? The adolescent smiled.
Sakura took the letter and removed it before Kiba would take it and closed her eyes.
-Since when did the "cat-girl" interested you, if I may? Smiled the girl.
Kiba blushed and looked away. The boy had been a great friend of late Syng and wanted fresh news from Tsurugi... of course, the girl herself interested him... a little.
-Each time she come, its only about Lee-san, anyway! Said Kiba looking back at Sakura.
He handed a dozen sheets of papers to Sakura, who was still smiling at the dog-boy. Akamaru barked, claiming the attention of Kiba who dropped on his knee and started petting him. Sure he had grown, the little pup!
-I guess your sister wrote your mission report, again, Kiba? You almost worst than Naruto or... the smiled softened away... Syng-san...
Kiba got back up and looked at Sakura.
-Y'know... I miss them too... At least... we know Naruto'll come back, smiled Kiba. And I think Syng would like us to smile!
They both grinned at each other before the boy leaved. While getting near the door, another knocked was heard from the door. Sakura did the same with Kiba and asked them to enter, which Shikamaru and Temari did.
-Oi, Shikamaru and... euh... the sand girl! Smiled Kiba.
-That's Temari, answered the women, sister of Sabaku No Gaara.
-Hey Kiba... finished your mission? Asked Shikamaru, now a chuunin.
-Yeah, just reminiscing with Sakura. See-ya later! Said the boy, leaving with his dog.
Kiba left the three of them talking about boring things, which he really didn't want to hear about. That last mission had been a pain in the ass and he couldn't stand anymore... He had only about an hour to write his report (which his sister, Hana, had gently mostly done for him) and he hadn't take a shower or anything. He smelled like dog! (That thought made him laugh).
-Kiba-san? Said a soft voice behind him.
-Oi Hinata! Smiled Kiba looking at the shy girl. It seems everyone's in here today!
Hinata laugh and got near Kiba.
-Did you hear? She said. Naruto-kun will soon come back...
-Isn't it like... in a few month only he's said to come back? Why the haste? Teased Kiba.
Hinata blushed, looking down the ground while walking by the dog boy. Akamaru whined suddenly.
-Akamaru?
The dog looked at the ground and started whining. Kiba, wondering was what happening, walked with Hinata outside the Hokage edifice. The dog rushed behind Kiba to hide. Hinata looked around but saw nothing, even with her Byakugan.
-T-There's nothing around, explained Hinata.
Kiba growled a little.
-By the way have you seen Shino? He said he'd help me with something when I'd get back, Kiba asked.
-No... he said he needed to meet someone.
-Someone?
They both heard a giant growl, coming from in front of them, Akamaru whined instead of growling.
-What the!?
Standing in front of them was a horse-size black panther. The giant feline wasn't eager to attack, but instead was watching the two ninjas. Actually, the animal had a yin yang icon on his forehead... and lying on her, Tsuki was bearing a kunoichi.
-That's Tsuki!? That means...
The panther kneeled before them, revealing a beautiful young women on her back.
-Cat-girl!?
-Tifa!... is she... unconscious?! Hinata panicked, running to her.
Tifa's body rolled from Tsuki back to hit the ground hard, hear first. Tifa snored... then woke up.
-Uh...? Why am I... oh...
The beautiful women, wearing new garments looked at Hinata, still half-asleep.
-Hey, who's trying to get a bigger breast than I? Tifa said drowsy.
Hinata blushed and Kiba started to laugh while Tiffany was getting on her feet.
-Dog-boy? So I'm already in Konoha? Man, that was fast! Tifa laughed heavily.
The black panther behind her seemed to sigh. She had been summoned for three days now! (The time it took for Tsuki to go between Tsurugi and Konoha, rather than a whole week by foot)
-W-well, it's a surprise, said Hinata, coming back from the shock.
Tifa got to Hinata and hugged her like a big sister, while looking at the dog-boy. While having Hinata in her arms, Tifa smiled at Kiba.
-So, why are you here, Cat-girl? Asked Kiba (blushing against him)
-Because... its THAT date... and I wanted to come back, softly said Tifa.
-Already? Softened Kiba.
-Actually, it was yesterday, whispered Tifa. But I couldn't be in time.
Hinata looked down while Tifa released her. Tifa was still smiling, but it was evident she was suddenly sad against herself, reminiscing the sad moment.
After a few minutes of silence, a joyful youth came by them with a smile, sweatingfor his heavy work.
-Oi Tifa-chan! Kiba-san, Hinata-chan! Smiled Lee, jogging on place. Why are you so gloomy? The spring of youth awaits all of you!
Tifa giggled at the voice of the boy and jumped to hug him. She let him go soon to look back at the dog-boy and the Hyuuga-girl.
-I'll be going now! Said Tifa, without explaining anything to Lee who was wondering what happened just now (still blushing, poor boy).
The young girl, now wearing a fur top-coat, jumped on the panther's back with ease. The panther knew immediately where to go, has she ran off toward the south gate, leaving the three Konoha-nin watching her from afar.
It seemed it was still hard on the girl. Misty wasn't afraid to show her feeling anymore about it, being rather "proud" then sad, like Syng would've want it, but Tifa felt her heart aching each time. He was dead, and there was nothing she could have done.
"Another tree... strange, I don't recall coming here too often, yet there's a path cleared..." Thought Tifa walking, having undid her summoning.
She finally got to the glade where the light of the day was making a giant sword shine. However, rather than seeing a blade shining in the middle of a sand patch, she saw a blonde girl planting flowers at the blade of the metal lump.
-Ino-chan!! Smiled Tifa.
The blonde startled at first, but turn around and smile. Once she had recognize Tifa, she jumped to hug her with a big grin.
-Tifa! She shouted.
She release the girl, only to look at the breast Tifa's coat was hardly hiding. The grin change to a sarcastic face.
-Say, they aren't shrinking any day... She said.
-Whatever! Blushed Tifa. What are you doing here?
Ino got back on her knee near Syng's last sword to finish planting the flowers.
-I was only finishing the flowers... I couldn't be here yesterday because of a mission, so I missed everybody, but I wanted to do my part... So I took some flower from the shop.
Tifa's smile faded away.
-What? She softly said.
-Of course you couldn't know! You couldn't come last year because you were busy at Tsurugi, or so that's what Sakura said... But after the Fourth Hokage's remembering, both last year and this one, everyone that befriended Syng came here. See?
She invited Tifa to kneel before her in front of the sword, which she did.
-There's a pack of cigarette from Asuma-sensei, there's riceballs from Hinata, flowers from Sakura and me, and all those things! The Kazekage even send deserts flower!
Tifa smiled a little bit. Gaara of the desert... once being sanctified Kazekage, he had traveled to Tsurugi in person to help the village in return of Juusan and Syng's life which he had both take. He helped with money to build the "Sword Monument" and helped with money and trades the economy of Tsurugi. It was because of him and the Fifth Hokage Tsunade that Tsurugi would re-do all his glory.
-So... everyone... came here... to remember Syng? Tifa said hardly.
-Yup! Even that lazy Shikamaru came! Of course, Naruto isn't in the village, nor Sasuke-kun, but everyone else came! Ino smiled and blabbered until she noticed Tifa.
The Tsurugi girl was smiling, yet crying at the same time. She was looking at all the gift people had give to Syng, while she couldn't even come to see his "grave" at last year's date.
-Why are you crying? Said Ino with a serious tone. So what if you couldn't come? Syng would've been the type of guy to forget that date! He wouldn't hold a grudge on ya! Smiled Ino.
Tifa stopped crying after a while, giggling at what Ino had say. Sometime, the blonde would drive her crazy with her teenage-girly-exaggerate syndrome, but sometime, she could be so nice. The blonde girl finally got up and stretch herself, soon followed and mimicked by the other young women.
-Say, want to go lunch somewhere? Said Ino.
-Sure... I'd like to eat at the candy-restaurant thing we used to go! Grinned Tifa.
Ino remembered the night were Tifa, on a sugar-high, had beaten the four Konoha-Kunoichi by herself. At the thought, the girl shivered.
-What's the deal, Ino?
-Nothing! But I think there's a new restaurant, Choji was talking about it, we should try something new!
Ino dragged of Tifa in the little pathway made by the people of Konoha who had came, over the months, to see and "talk" to Syng. With a last sight, Tifa looked at the key, still waving in the wind, resting where it has been put on the sword's guard. Syng's key, still waiting for the boy's neck.
Rolled Beef Restaurant, 13h00
-I'm stuffed! Growled Kiba.
-You didn't have to eat that much just to impress the girls, dog-boy, shot Tifa, smiling.
-Who're you talking to, cat-girl!
Everyone giggled at Kiba over-reacted reaction. Hinata, Shikamaru, Temari, Ino, Kiba and Tifa had just finish eating at the new restaurant. It seemed everyone else, except Shino who was missing, was busy or on a mission. Temari, who was with Shikamaru at the moment, had accepted Ino's invitation to eat with everyone.
-Say Temari-chan, how are you brothers? Asked Tifa.
To now, Temari, even as a strong Kunoichi, had looked away from the Tsurugi girl. Probably ashamed of her previous action which had caused Syng's dead. Just like She had been designed to be Konoha's and Suna's messenger/rely point, Kankuro had been assigned to relation concerning Tsurugi and Suna.
-You saw Kankuro recently, she tried to smiled, and Gaara's busy as always. He don't talk to me much, he's more opened with his brother rather than his sister...
-That's something normal: Girls are troublesome, said Shikamaru being serious rather than joking.
-Yeah, but we can't live without'em! Joyfully said Kiba putting an hand on Hinata's shoulder.
Of course, the girl blushed at first, giggled at most.
-You should remove your dirty hand from her, said another serious voice, but with a joke tone.
They looked behind to see the team Gai entering the restaurant. Tenten had grown into a fine women, while Neji looked way more mature than he ever looked. After a few greeting of everyone, they took place at a table just beside the table the others were sharing. They all talked about missions, and the time they had spent together years ago, when the chuunin had been held in Konoha. Finally, the subject came down to her...
-Hum, and where's Misty? Asked Tenten.
-Yeah, I haven't seen her either, said Ino.
-Well, she's probably with Shino, Kiba laughed.
-Actually... She came her before me, I don't know if she's still in town...
A moment of silence seemed to weight on everyone.
-Well... anyway, she's fine on her own! Smiled Tifa.
They left the restaurant with a smile on their face, even the serious one like Shikamaru and Neji had laugh their lot during the afternoon. It seemed like a peaceful day on Konoha...
"But it isn't..." Thought a certain Kunoichi, walking between two tree in the forest.