The Ninja Samurai

by Foxcomm

Akechi Mitsuhide was a samurai just passing through. When his life was saved because of his kindness to a small boy, Naruto. Now his son, Naruto seeks to show the world what it has forgotten. Honor, Justice, and Right. Picture by Asuka Kureru askerian dot deviantart dot com , with permission.

2. Chapter 2

"Okay, class, your first lesson today will be working on aim," Iruka told them once Naruto sat back down with Hinata and Kiba. "So go grab your ninja gear and head outside to the targets." Naruto just stood up and walked outside. He brought nothing with him but his weapons, armor, and some money to go visit Icharuka Ramen and Nothing but Dango. He smiled as he thought about lunch and afternoon snack before heading home.

"...Iruka-sensei, where is the targets?"

"Just outside. Follow me, Naruto, and I'll show you." He led them outside and showed Naruto the small range. "This is it."

Naruto looked confused. "Sensei, is this big enough?"

"What do you mean?"

"It is only twenty feet long. Anyone could hit a target at that distance."

Now Iruka looked confused. For a student, that was a good size distance. And they would only be at the end once he felt they were ready for it. "...Naruto, have you received formal training before this?"

"Just what my father showed me," Naruto told him.

Sasuke was behind him. "He isn't talking about that sword. He is talking about kunai."

"...What is a kunai?"

"Thought so. A samurai really has no place here with ninja. This is a kunai, dobe." Sasuke took out a knife and walked to the fifteen foot mark, the farthest he knew he could hit the target. With a throw, the throwing dagger hit dead center. He looked back with a look that wasn't arrogance but wasn't far from it either. "See what this training is now?"

"I see," Naruto said. Sasuke walked to the side of target and reached for his kunai. But an arrow went through the ring. Sasuke's hand jumped back like it tried to bite him. His head turned to see Naruto was standing thirty feet back, bow in hand. "Yeah, I see." The mutters of students as they saw how he easily shot that reached his ears.

"Impressive, Naruto. ...Well, as I do not know your skill yet, I am going to give you a little test. Very simple, the first test is to see how fast you are in firing those. The second test is to see just how far you can shot and still hit the center. Come up to the line... Now when I tell you, you will shoot as many arrows as you can for a minute. Just hit the target. Sasuke, come back down here."

With a frown, Sasuke pulled his kunai and the arrow out and walked back. Iruka held his hand up in the air when Sasuke gave it to him. Naruto put it in his quiver. "Go." Naruto grabbed his first arrow, notched it, pulled it back, and let it loose. The whole thing took a second. Twice as long a student with a kunai who only had to grab it and throw. But as his drawing hand was already at the quiver, he kept that second a constant pace. After twenty seconds and arrows, he stopped, his quiver empty. The arrows all hit within the two inside circles.

But Naruto frowned. "My grandfather would have split his arrows every time."

Iruka nodded. His aim under speed was incredible in his opinion. But the ammunition he could hold was slow to draw and limited the number he could carry. He grinned as he considered making a note in his report card to suggest putting storage seals on the inside to hold more. "Well, even for a student that has had training, that is impressive. Now I want you to go to where you feel comfortable and make five shots. As far as you know you can hit. Take your time."

Kiba grinned while Naruto replaced his arrows back inside his quiver. "Everyone back up. I got the feeling he is going for a walk." Naruto carefully counted his paces from the target until he reach fifty two feet. Two years of practice and he still couldn't reach across his family's range. He faced the target, ignoring the looks of disbelief and drew a single arrow. Placing it on the string, he looked downrange as he brought the string to his cheek. After a moment, he let it go. It hit bullseye, about to go out of it at the top right.

Naruto compensated with the next shot and was now left and low of the center. He took a deep breath, looked down the shaft, then pass it to the target. Lifting it up a tenth of an inch, he let it go. It hit in line, to the left of the target. Another deep breath and holding it, he hit center. Letting his breath out while making sure not to move the bow, he drew his last shot and notched it. "Satsu," Naruto mumbled as he let it go.

Sasuke heard him say 'split' so he ran up there to check. His fifth arrow had split his forth, making two perfect center shots. "I don't believe it..."

"Being able to hit something several times faster than the other means nothing if he can hit you long before hand," Iruka told his class when they gathered around him. "I actually trained with a bow when I was younger but stopped when I was told that I would find it useless by an older ninja. I am not going to tell you the same thing, as you saw it was far from the truth. Naruto," he turned to the young samurai, "that was good but I can tell you still need work with it. But there is no one here that can teach you that very well. So until then, you will have to train with it at home."

"Hai, Iruka-sensei. What should I do right now?"

"Well, since you and Sasuke obviously do not need help with distance right now, you two can spar."

"Hai, Iruka-sensei," Naruto said before he walked a bit away after retrieving his arrows. Using half the broken one, he drew a circle in the dirt. "Ready, Uchiha?"

"It is taijutsu, samurai, as in hand to hand. Remove your weapons." Naruto nodded as he place his bow and arrows outside the circle. "Don't forget your fox and swords."

Naruto snarled. "Kitsu will not be fighting so I will place him outside the circle. But I will never be parted from my daisho!"

"Oh, I see. Too afraid to be without those useless blades..." A fist met his face.

"I may not be a monk but I know how to fight without weapons! Insult me if you wish but ever say anything against my swords again and I will end you life!"

Sasuke jumped back to his feet and wiped the blood from his nose. He was more than angry. No one had ever struck him before. His father may have ignored him, or told him to be like Itachi, but he never once raised his hand to him. "Like you could, pathetic swordsman." He may now hate his guts but he would not go that far again, at least just yet.

Naruto took a deep breath. He disliked ninja enough as is besides a very select few. And this one just kept adding to the list. "One more insult and honor will demand I make you pay."

Sasuke grinned. An angry opponent was a reckless one. "Your clan is nothing but a bunch of forgotten warriors, moaning about the good old days, better left in the history books that no one will every read."

Naruto drew the Fox Claw and ran at him. Sasuke revealed his kunai in hand and intercepted it. He then dropped his right leg and twisted to the side. Naruto fell forward and Sasuke went for the stab. "For that punch, those damn swords are mine!" But Naruto, having went with the fall, was not there for him to injure. He had rolled back to his feet and was running at Sasuke again, this time, letting his head rule. He attacked with his sheath, forcing Sasuke to block it with his kunai while the Fox Claw was hidden by it and went in for the stab unmolested.

Both students went flying backwards, a bruise forming on Naruto's cheek while another bruise appeared on Sasuke's. "What the hell are you two doing," Iruka roared.

"He insulted myself, my clan, and my swords unprovoked! When I warned him not to say anything again, he continued," Naruto told him, looking for a way around the teacher to finish this.

"Naruto, I know that as a samurai, you pride is great and will only take so much. But while at this school you will learn to take more!" Sasuke smirked at the enraged warrior that struggled to give a "Hai, Iruka-sensei." Iruka turned to Sasuke, even madder. "What the hell is wrong with you!? What was one of the first lessons I taught you Sasuke!?"

He swallowed, "Never provoke an enemy that you know nothing about."

"And you do know that he has received combat training! Look what almost happened! You would have died had I not intervened!"

"His blood would not be the first that my hands were stained with," Naruto growled.

"Liar," Sasuke growled.

"Samurai will not like, Sasuke," Iruka told him. "For that would be a dishonor to himself and he would have to commit seppuku, suicide to save his family honor. Something that seems to be lacking from you if this is what I can expect."

Sasuke scowl went from Naruto to Iruka. "Are you saying my family has no honor? We are one of the founding clans of Konoha!"

"A fact that your clan never forgets to flaunt," Naruto stated, his anger abating. "That and your Sharigan."

"Oh, the little samurai..." Naruto's hand reached for the hilt of the Fox Fang while Iruka glared at both of them.

"That is enough from the both of you. If this is how you wish to act, then you can go home. Imagine how your father's will react to that." Sasuke calmed down instantly. Naruto actually looked like he would be sick. "I thought so. I want you two to take some time to cool off. I will see you in an hour, Sasuke. Naruto, the Hokage would like to welcome you as a student to the academy so you will go to the Hokage tower. After wards, return a half hour later. If it is lunch time, be in class by one."

"Hai, Iruka-sensei," they both said before giving one last glare to each other and walking away. Naruto picked up his weapons as he did. Before Naruto went far, Kiba and Hinata came up to him.

"That was amazing," Kiba said. "You were really going to kick his ass!"

"Ano...Th-That was v-very good, N-Naruto-san," Hinata said to him.

But Naruto wasn't exactly happy with it. "I should have gotten him with the first strike."

Now Naruto expected one of them to say something against this. He just didn't expect the one to be Hinata. "N-No, N-Naruto-san, he was r-ready, you were not. You envisioned a h-honorable fight. He pl-planned an a-assassination. He h-had hid h-his kunai be-behind his arm."

"How did you know," Naruto asked him.

"Because we would have done the same," Kiba said to him. "That is what we are supposed to do, take every advantage. That is something about being ninja that I am afraid you may never be able to force yourself to do."

Naruto looked shocked with realization. He had known that once, and he would have expected that. He swallowed and nodded. "This is going to be harder than I thought."

"Hey," Kiba said, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, "no worries mate. We will be there to keep you out of trouble. After all, that is what a pack is for. Right Akamaru?" The puppy barked.

"H-Hai," Hinata stated as Bandit crawled up her coat and atop her head. "W-We are the B-Bijuu Three after all."

Naruto smiled and nodded his thanks. "Although... I would have liked to see Sasuke's face when his kunai broke on my armor." This made Kiba laugh aloud while Hinata giggled. "I have to go speak with the Hokage. I will see you soon." He bowed to his friends and walked away.

Iruka did not miss this exchange and he smiled. Maybe there was hope for Naruto after all. Behind him, the self proclaimed strongest kunoichi duo was talking about what they had seen. And they were still talking like twins and speaking at the same time.

"What Sasuke did wasn't right but Naruto shouldn't have lost his temper. True, his code of honor demanded that he do something to stop it. But to kill him? Not that Sasuke is clean of all wrongs, using such a dirty trick against Naruto," they said. "So what should we do? Naruto looks so regal that it is hard not to blush when we look at him. But Sasuke is so awesome..." They looked at Hinata and saw she had a slight blush on her face as Naruto walked away. "Blackmail," the said with an evil grin.

"It is just creepy that they do that," Shikamaru said to his best friend, Choji.

They ignored him. "Looks like we can leave her to the Naruto fan club." They took on a thoughtful look. "We wonder how he got his hair that shiny? What conditioner does he use?" They ran a hand through their equally long hair and continued thinking about it until it was their turn to practice.

—oo000oo—

"And so the Forty Seven Ronin stood before the body of the man their master had wished slain before he committed seppuku. These remaining samurai nodded to each other at their task complete. And at the what they had also done. They had committed murder. The surviving twenty three men, tired from their battle with the retainers of Yoshinaka Kira, all knelt where they were. Those that were left behind wounded were no longer fighting, their honor saved and spared. Those already dead, waiting for them with Kami.

"As one, they slid their tanto from their belts and stabbed them into their own stomachs, cutting from left to right. They had not their seconds to cut their heads off to end the pain. So they merely remained kneeling and and welcomed death when he came for them," Sarutobi finished.

"The Revenge of the Forty Seven Ronin," Naruto said when he entered. He bowed to the Hokage when he looked up. "You have summoned me, Lord Hokage."

"Yes, please take a seat, Akechi-kun. And do please close the door." Naruto did and sat down. Sarutobi then smiled. "I was so afraid you had died, Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto grinned. "I am afraid you are mistaken, Lord Hokage. My name is Akechi, not Uzumaki." A moment later, he finally laughed. "It has been far too long, old man!"

Sarutobi sighed at hearing that again, how he had missed it. "Yes it has. Honestly, I had thought you had died. You could have written me a letter."

Naruto shook his head. "I was busy, Lord Hokage. There was much for me to learn from my father. As there is now still."

"Manners was obviously under the things that you had learned. I know all about the rule of behind closed doors, Naruto, yet you still call me that. I'm not sure I prefer this over 'old man'."

"It is a title you have earned many times, sir. And to disrespect that title would be to disrespect you. And for just spending time with me when you could, I could never do that. But if you wish me to, I shall return to calling you old man."

Sarutobi looked at Naruto in a new light. A question came to him that he had to know. "Naruto, if your lord was to order you to kill yourself, would you?"

"Is that what you wish, Lord Hokage? You need only tell me and I will." He was very serious about it.

Sarutobi sighed, he was fully taken to being a samurai. "No, I do not wish you to. And don't your family already serve another lord?"

"That is a special case. My father took his position to keep honor. But with the understanding that if need be, he is just doing this to protect the town. It is not official, thus he cannot give orders like our real lord."

"Me," Sarutobi assumed.

"That remains to be seen," Naruto told him. "You have proven your honor to me so I accept you as such. And my re-countenance to my father, Akechi Mitsuhide, has put you in high standing with my clan. But they must see for themselves first."

Sarutobi nodded. In truth, he did not like that he might hold such a clan like that. "And what do you think of that?"

Naruto smiled. "Only one thing would make me happier."

Sarutobi grinned. "This hat on my head."

"No," Naruto told him, making him drop his jaw. "The servant cannot become the lord. I may become the lord of my clan and even the village I live in but I will never become the Lord over the Akechi clan. And I serve you."

"Hmm. ...Seems to me, that you serve me, not the title right?"

Naruto blinked. "Yes..."

"Then you can still become Hokage."

Naruto still shook his head. "I may or I may not, it doesn't matter anymore. I wish only to prove that Samurai are not just for the 'history books' anymore."

"Did someone insult you for being one, Naruto?"

"Yes but I do not wish to involve you in a child's fight. And with what was said and done, that is all it was."

"If you want it like that then I shall remain out of it. I welcome you to Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in the Leaves. I expect you to uphold the Will of Fire, the will to protect this village and it's people.

"Now that that is out of the way, tell about your life ever since you left, Naruto. Especially your father and grandfather."

Naruto smiled. There was oh so much to tell. "Well, first off, I was loved. I met Lord Mitsuhide when three crooks walked into Nothing but Dango..."

—oo000oo—

Naruto walked out of the tower at around eleven. He headed back to the academy to find out that they had gone to lunch. With a smile on his face, he flipped a coin, leaving it to luck who he visited first. Icharuka Ramen.

Naruto entered and sat down on his favorite stool. Teuchi raised both his eyebrows when he saw the daisho. "What would you like, Samurai-san?"

"Well... I am really hungry so give me the Uzumaki special; two beef, two miso, two chicken, and two shrimp."

Teuchi blinked a few time before walking around the counter and looked him in his sapphire eyes. "...Naruto?" His answer was the boy grinning before Teuchi wrapped him in a powerful hug. "How have you been my boy!?"

"I have been great, Teuchi-san. I have missed both you and Ayame-chan."

"Yes, of course, Ayame. Ayame, come down and greet a good customer!"

"Yes father," she said coming down the steps and walking through the curtain door to the stairs. "Hello, thank you for coming to our shop."

"The honor is all mine, Ayame-chan."

She looked at him in surprise and instantly recognized him. Jumping on him to give him a hug, she said, "Naruto! Where have you been!?"

"I was adopted. My father is Akechi Mitsuhide and I live outside the village in the one twenty minutes away just down the main road."

"Why didn't you visit," she demanded.

"Because my father was teaching me to use these," he said with a gesture to his swords. "I'm a samurai now."

She dropped her jaw and him. "Wow... Just wow. I never would have thought that." She looked him up and down. "You really have changed."

"So have you, Ayame-chan. You're so tall now." He only came up to her shoulders. He then hugged them both. I really have missed you. And I have been dying for good ramen!"

"I'll go make you some then," Teuchi said. "The Uzumaki Special, coming up. And this is on the house."

"No, I couldn't accept that..."

"You can and will, Naruto," Ayame told him forcefully. "And now that you can visit, you better come by here more often... HE IS SO KAWAII!" She scooped the little fox up and cuddled him to her face. "Who is this, Naruto?"

"My partner, Kitsu," Naruto said, rubbing his ears. "My friends at the academy has a dog and the other has a ferret."

"I doubt they are as cute as this little guy." Naruto could have laughed, Kitsu was obviously enjoying the attention. "So, looks like you are on your way to become Hokage."

"Nah, I found a dream that is far better. Oh, Ayame-chan, this is a picture of my father and grandfather." Naruto pulled out one his father had taken when he gave Naruto his swords. Naruto still laughed at the face he made when he got them. Ayame obviously thought it was funny to because she laughed as well. But then she blushed as she looked at Mitsuhide's image. "Your father is very handsome, Naruto-kun. You actually look allot like him."

"Yeah, I just wish I was his real son or that his wife was still alive so I could have a mom as well. But I am more happy now than any other time in my life so I won't complain. Hard to believe I have a grandfather, an aunt, cousins, and other family. And they are all arranging their affairs and moving here." His grin couldn't have been bigger. "And I am clan heir, isn't that something." His nose twitched when the first bowl was set on the counter. "RAMEN!" Belatedly, he thought about his dignity. But as he was already digging in, all he could do was salvage it. "Pardon me. Normally, I have more control than that."

Teuchi smiled before turning to Ayame. "Let that fox breath while you close the curtain so Naruto can be himself while he is here."

"Arigato, Teuchi-san," Naruto sat before he ate the bowl of ramen.

—oo000oo—

Naruto walked back into class content and full. With a sigh, he sat back down in his chair and waited as he had arrived fifteen minutes early. Only the Uchiha was there. But he wasn't going to let him ruin his good mood. "Hey dobe." No, he wasn't. "...I said, 'Hey dobe'." His reply was just another content sigh. "I'm talking to you!"

"You talk too much for a person that is dead to rights." That stung Sasuke's pride but he was right, had Iruka not stopped him, that sword would have gone through his head. He remained quiet until everyone else arrived.

Nothing of really much interest happened the rest of the day. Sasuke and Naruto glared at each other but made no other move to fight. For which, Iruka was glad. He did not need two of his students killing each other. When the final bell rang, they all stood up to leave. "Hinata-chan," Naruto said to her. "May I walk you home?"

She blushed and nodded yes. Kiba wasn't sure if he should growl or laugh so he just shook his head and headed home. Naruto walked in silence, his hand never leaving the hilt of the Fox Fang. Ahead of them, Hinata saw her cousin and started falling back. Naruto noticed this and stopped. "What troubles you, Lady Hyuuga?"

"N-Nothing, N-Naruto-san."

"Hinata-sama," came from behind Naruto and Hinata looked even more pale. "Who is this with you?"

Naruto turned around and saw a boy maybe a year older with pitch black hair and the same pale eyes as Hinata. "It is customary to give your name first when you ask for someone else's," Naruto told him.

"I am Hyuuga Neji, Hinata's cousin." Naruto looked at Hinata for confirmation and she nodded, still pale.

"I am Akechi Naruto. Why is your cousin so afraid of you?"

"Because she is weak and is afraid of even a mouse."

Naruto straightened his back. "If she was weak, then she wouldn't be trying to become a shinobi."

"You know nothing of her," Neji said, his voice still impassive.

"I know enough." He turned back to Hinata. "Let us continue, Lady Hyuuga." He wrapped his arm around hers and walked away.

"N-No one h-has ever d-dismissed him l-like that," Hinata told him.

"My respect is earned, not given," Naruto told her. He could feel Neji seethe behind him but couldn't care less. When they reach the gates to the Hyuuga estate though, he found Neji already there standing next to a man around the age of Mitsuhide. He was frowning at them. "You, young man, let go of my daughter."

Naruto complied and bowed to him. "I was merely walking her home, Lord Hyuuga."

Hiashi looked him up and down. "Why are you dress for war?"

"I am dress for combat as that is what I am to be learning."

Hiashi focused on his swords. "Akechi, was it? By any chance, would that be the same Akechi clan that my clan fought with before the founding of Konoha?"

"It would," Naruto told him. "My father, Akechi Mitsuhide, is the Clan Leader as was his father, Hidemitsu, before him."

Hiashi nodded. "Then I trust you had nothing but honorable intentions walking her home."

"I had none other."

"Hinata, head inside. Neji, next time you bother me, make sure it is for something of importance." Hiashi turned and walked inside. "By the way, Akechi Naruto, please invite your father to visit some time." A moment later, he was gone.

Both Hinata and Neji had dropped their jaw, they had not expected that. "Just who are you," Neji asked again.

"Neji-neesan, he is an Akechi, the same clan that is allied to ours for over a hundred years before Konoha's founding. From the clan history scrolls," Hinata reminded.

"You mean his ancestors are some of the strongest warriors ours has ever fought?"

Naruto brushed a hand over his Akechi crest on his chest. "Lady Hyuuga, I must bid you farewell. I have something I must do before I return home." He gave her a bow and walked away.

Hiashi watched the exchange and took it in. If the boy was an example of most of the clan, then he would do well to strengthen old ties. And a glance at the interaction between him and Hinata make it clear his daughter was the key to it.

He was about to go read up on some of the old clan laws when he stopped. The Akechi were notorious for their ability to judge a person's mettle. And they only respected those they thought strong. He had given Hiashi the proper respect for his station. He had given Neji none. But he held Hinata in a higher position than himself. Maybe he had misjudged her?

He looked back and saw his daughter righting a note and was about to give it to a servant. "And who is that for?"

Hinata froze and turned to face him. "I-It was for y-you, father."

"Well, I am right here so tell me. And stop stuttering, it makes you sound weak when you shouldn't."

Hinata looked downtrodden by that but then she noticed that his voice lacked the usual harshness. "I was planning to... To go and learn about the ninjutsu the..." She took a deep breath to calm herself some more. Her father just challenged her to be strong, not told her she was weak. She would be. "The Inuzuka use so I... will be better prepared if I ever have... to fight those that use animals in combat." She let out her breath, proud of herself that she forced herself not to stutter.

Hiashi nodded. "A wise move. One that will be beneficial for yourself and the clan if it works out well... Did not Akechi Naruto have a fox with him?"

"Yes, father."

"...And I assume that fox can help him in combat?"

"He... has said so."

Hiashi considered this bit of information. "And you have been inspired to take initiative to find out about those that use animals in combat?"

Hinata almost felt that new found courage crumble away, leaving her with only enough to say "Yes, father."

"Alright." Hiashi told her. "I shall call Inuzuka Tsume and let her know that you are coming over. I believe she has a son around your age that will show you some things if he can."

"Y-Yes father, thank you so very much!" She was about to run off to them.

"Oh, and Hinata," Hiashi called after her, "try to see if some of those skills will be useful to you and Bandit as well." Hinata almost fell at that, her father had obviously seen through her plan.

"I-I will father. I shall see you tonight for dinner." She gave him a bow and ran off, not wanting to stay around to give him the chance to change his mind. Hiashi just walked to his study and called the clan head of the Inuzuka. Yeah, the elders probably wouldn't like it that she was learn from outside the clan but he didn't care right now. So he would 'run interference' for his daughter until she either gave up or succeeded.

—oo000oo—

"Hello, welcome to Nothing... I know you," Baa-san said when Naruto entered.

"Hello Baa-san."

"Naruto, what a surprise," she said with a smile. "I will be right back with some tea and my husband. Please take a seat."

With a smile, he sat down, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. He loved the smell of this small tea house. "Well, isn't this something," came from behind him. Looking at the source, he saw the only person that visited here more than himself. "Mitarashi Anko, a pleasure to meet you."

"Ah, you must be that Akechi Naruto," Anko said as she sat down. "You caused quite a stir today. You visited the Hokage and it ends with him in a better mood than he has been in two years. You go to the academy and an Uchiha is knocked down a peg in his arrogance. You walk a Hyuuga home and leave more than a few dumbfounded. You are shaking up the very routine of this village." Despite it sounding like a bad thing, she couldn't have been smiling more.

"Just wait until you hear the details put the Uchiha down a peg. And I'm sure you will, considering the whole class saw it."

"Word has it you kicked his ass."

"It isn't far from the truth," Naruto told her. "Hello, Jii-san," Naruto said when he came out.

"Naruto, it has been too long. I was wondering when you would come by again."

"My father and I moved," Naruto told him. "We live outside the village now."

Jii-san looked Naruto up and down, noticing his change in how he held himself and his cloths. "Yeah, how is Mitsuhide-san."

"Good but having trouble getting the clan back together. The families went separate ways to find a new lord to serve."

"I miss something," Anko asked.

"I am a samurai, Anko-san," Naruto told her. "And because of the kindness and honor the Lord Hokage has shown, I have sworn my loyalty to him. It is still too soon to say that my whole clan will as well but we will have a station in the town just beyond the walls if nothing else."

"Well now, that is something," Anko mused. "How skilled is your father?"

"I have seen him kill at least three former nin and six nuke-nin."

"He has been busy," Baa-san said.

"A hazard of being the defender of a town," Naruto told them off hand. Finishing his tea, he stood and bowed to the elderly couple. "It has been a pleasure to see you again, Baa-san, Jii-san."

"Now, just because you are a samurai now," Baa-san said, "doesn't mean you can just leave without a hug."

Naruto grinned, "No, I guess not." He gave them both a hug and promised to come by tomorrow. With a smile after introducing Kitsu to them, he headed for home. "Today was a good day," he told his friend. "I hope tomorrow is just as good." He was so happy that he even encouraged Kitsu when he curled into a ball in the crook of his neck that night when he laid down to sleep that night.

—oo000oo—

Author's notes: The Long Bow. Traditionally in Europe, this is the most worthless unit on the battlefield because they often lacked proper training. The exception, of course, was the English bowman. Now, I have two hand carve yew longbow, fifty five pounds and twenty five. Even that twenty five pound bow could hit a target at twenty feet, it is almost a given. The reason is the bow has been perfected after thousands of years of use. It is the oldest weapon there is, along with the club. At twenty feet, throwing a knife is impressive. But a bow, it isn't. And what I said is true, they are far slower than throwing knives because you have to take them out the quiver and draw the string back. But they also have far more punch. The proper arrow head can, and did, punch through steel helms.

Who liked the trashing? I did. At one time, I did like Sasuke but he is just a traitorous emo now.

The Revenge of the Forty Seven Ronin took place some time in japan before the 1800s. But I am not sure when. The lord of forty seven samurai tried to kill Yoshinaka Kira, a high ranking politician. He failed to and had to commit seppuku. Leaving his forty seven samurai as ronin. To honor their dead lord, they killed Kira. But as they had no lord, and as such, no reason, they had committed murder. To save their honor, they also committed seppuku. Their wives also did. This story, though very popular about loyalty of the samurai, has gotten nearly no exaggeration. Now, I don't know if it happened like I put it above. But this down here is the facts.