Disclaimer: Naruto, character, names and related indicia are trademarks of and Ⓒ Masashi Kishimoto and Weekly Shōnen Jump. Naruto Publishing Rights Ⓒ Shueisha. I do not make any $$$ from the publishing of this story to any website.
The original FanFiction of Crimson Wind Red Dream is the concept of Tsukune08. This is merely a reproduction of their original story with the same title and some of my own original ideas. Please check them out and read their stuff.
Rated M for explicit language and trigger scenes!
Explanations and Allies?
October 11th, 7 AK - Con't.
Hiruzen Sarutobi rushed to Naruto's aide with a spryness of a man thirty years younger, as he managed to stop the small boy's fall and catch him before he face planted into the ground. The Hokage knew the boy was out cold, and so he decided that he could question the child later on. He set the boy down against a tree trunk before he moved over to check the nearly naked Kunoichi's vitals, whom he recognized almost immediately. Satisfied that the woman was only unconscious, he tossed his white robes over her exposed body before he gathered Naruto up into his arms.
Pursing his lips together, the venerable Shinobi whistled sharply to signal the four ANBU Officers that appeared immediately. These four officers were among the very best of the best, his personal guard that never leave his sight, rotating on an eight hour shift with two other sets of four ANBU Officers. The four currently on duty that responded kneeled directly in front of the Hokage, Military Leader of Konohagakure no Sato. These Officers answer to no one but himself.
"Take Chūnin Yūhi to the Hospital for an examination and instruct the medical staff that I want notified immediately of any and all results. Instruct them that I am to be notified the moment she wakes up." The Hokage spoke in a commanding tone.
"Hai, Hokage-Sama!" Two of the female Anbu Officers saluted their Commanding Officer before each grabbed a hold of an arm of the unconscious woman before they used shushin to transport her to the Shinobi Hospital.
Sarutobi nodded to the two remaining ANBU Officers who simultaneously saluted the Hokage before returning to their over-watch positions, allowing the venerable man to cradle Naruto Uzumaki in his arms as he returned to the Hokage Tower. The trip itself was short and many questions came to Sarutobi's mind about the condition of the boy within his arms. How had all of this come to be? What had happened not only to a Shinobi of Konohagakure that she would need to be escorted back by a child; but how had it been that a young child who should be at one of the village's orphanages managed to be in a position to escort back the unconscious Kunoichi.
When the Hokage arrived back to the administrative office building afforded to his position within village's military force; Sarutobi was swamped with various aides and several Shinobi asking questions about what Naruto had done. Several low-ranking Shinobi began making claims to anyone that would listen, the small child had been caught disrupting various celebratory festivals the previous night. A few speculated if his unconscious condition was the result of getting what they believed he deserved. After the Hokage's patience had been severely tested and he finally had enough of the ludicrous rumors that he could hear picking up traction-Sarutobi unleashed a small portion of KI to gain the attention of everyone within the room.
"The next person to raise a question to Naruto Uzumaki's presence or utter single accusation will find themselves stripped of any and all rank for any Shinobi present, find their employment removed from within this administration, and summarily face imprisonment and quite possibly executed. Do I make myself clear!?" bellowed the Commander in Chief.
"Hai, Hokage-Sama!" The resounding response filled the room as several civilian aides were quick to disperse while the numerous Shinobi saluted and made themselves sparse.
The Hokage eased off of his KI and let out a deep sigh, something he seemed to be doing a lot of lately, before he made his way into his office. After setting the boy down on one of the couches, Sarutobi sat in the comfy leather chair behind his desk. A mountain of paperwork was pushed off to one side as several pouches had been laid on his desk-most likely the same pouches that had accompanied Kunoichi Yūhi on the sled. As he looked through them, he discovered little more than inferior Shinobi Tools, the Mission Documents that Chūnin Yūhi and Chūnin Raft were meant to deliver from Sunagakure no Sato, and a sealing scroll. After checking that the scroll was not trapped; The Hokage signaled for one of the ANBU Officers hidden within the office to take the scroll and confirm its contents.
After several moments, a detailed document appeared his desk listing the contents of the sealing scroll. Several identifiable heads were contained within that have associated bounties to them. Most of them barely warrant a D-Rank but the Iwa Nukenin was a B-Rank. The elderly Shinobi couldn't help but chuckle as he wondered just how it was the Tsuchikage Administration would respond to having to pay the bounty of the Iwagakure No Sato Nukenin to a Konohagakure no Sato Shinobi. Sarutobi made a note to record Chūnin Yūhi for the B-Rank Nukenin and upgrade the Mission from a C-Rank to a B-Rank. As he turned his attention back to the ever-present paperwork, he couldn't help but continuously look up towards the boy asleep on the couch-more specifically, the sword on his back.
Moving from behind the desk and over the couch, Sarutobi observed the weapon or at the very least-the sheath, tsuba and hilt. The size of the scabbard lead him to believe the weapon was either a Kodachi or a Wakizashi, but without looking at the blade itself; The Hokage could not be certain as he wasn't a practitioner of Kenjutsu. He had a vague idea of specifications of swords but he would admit that his knowledge was rather limited as Kenjutsu wasn't his strong suit. The scabbard itself was worn, wrapped in some sort of protective tanned animal skin and the guard appeared to be breaking a part in several places. Even the cloth wrapped around the hilt, which was meant to ensure a firm and easy grip, was tearing away. The Sandaime Hokage attempted to get a better look at the blade by drawing it from the scabbard but found that the blade was stuck, leading Sarutobi to believe perhaps that the weapon itself just happened to be something Naruto picked up and thought might make him look cool-as children were often to do.
With a slight frown, the Sandaime returned to his seat to continue working on the constant paperwork and to contemplate the thoughts that circulated through his mind. Seeing Naruto's face as he slept made Sarutobi soften. The young boy's hair was blackened with dried mud, dirt, leaves and quite possibly more. His exposed arms and legs were covered in numerous scars and scratches, quite possibly from his time within the forest. However, it was the boy's chest that made the venerable Shinobi seethe. Naruto's ribs were clear as day and could easily be counted with how tight the skin stretched over them. The scars were also much worse than anywhere else and his breath rattled within his lungs, as if each breath the boy drew in caused him pain.
The Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato, Military Leader and Commander in Chief of the Shinobi Armed Forces, wondered what else had been missed if the reports of the ANBU detail assigned to track and report Naruto's condition did not mention any of this.
Naruto Uzumaki began to stir from his exhausted sleep, his eyes caked with sleep and his body sore from over exertion. The first thing he noticed that it was dark, the only light just beyond his blurred eyesight, while the second thing he noticed was that he was on a comfortable sofa. The young child froze as he could not remember how it was that he could possibly end up on a sofa as he made it a personal point never to break into anyone's place of residence. Shinobi often lived within Shinobi districts and their homes were protected while the Shinobi was away from the village on missions-while Civilians returned home most nights; not to mention his personal honor of not being the type of person to break into someone else's home.
"You were recovered by the Old Man and brought back to some form of office while you slept," An old voice spoke deep within the young child's mind.
The boy sat up and began rubbing the sleep from his eyes, allowing them to adjust to the darkness. He spotted the Old Man standing at an open window, his wooden pipe in his hand as sweet smoke curled upwards from the bowl and disappeared into the surrounding air. He noticed that the Old Man had not seen that he was awake yet but Naruto knew that didn't mean anything. Instead he put on the biggest smile he could muster and looked up at the venerable Shinobi in front of him. He hadn't changed a bit in four years.
"Ohayo, Ji-san,"
"Hello, Naruto-Kun," The Sandaime chuckled, as he thought that there was nothing that could keep the poor boy down, and favored him with a small smile.
"Ji-san, where is Kurenai-chan?" Naruto questioned curiously. He was genuinely concerned for the young woman whom he had rescued.
"Kurenai-chan, is it?" Sarutobi thought to himself. "I had her taken to the Shinobi Hospital once you arrived. You've slept for close to twelve hours, Naruto. Now I need you to be serious, and tell me what happened,"
"Perhaps it would be best to keep me out of this conversation, young one. Just tell him that you found the sword in a cave but nothing else. No one else is allowed to draw my blade unless I deem them worthy, so there is no harm done," Whispered the voice.
"...Then I saw Kurenai-chan collapse. I made a sled and dragged her back to the village," Naruto finished his story after just over an hour. Just as the sword told him, he didn't mention the Old Man within the cave or just how exactly it was he found the sword; or anything else about the sword really.
The Sandaime Hokage was gobsmacked. The small child in front of him, at only seven years old and without a lick of formal training, had not only managed to safely protect a Konohagakure no Sato Chūnin Kunoichi but take down 3 full grown adults. One of which had some minor training within the Shinobi Arts if the child's tale was to be believed. On top of all of that, the small boy had only just been severely beaten-possibly within an inch of his life. Yes the Hokage was utterly speechless for about all of 5 minutes afterwards. He would like to believe Naruto but he knew from experience that children could make up fanciful tales to make themselves seem more impressive. He would need to wait for Chūnin Yūhi's condition and her Official Report.
"Well, Naruto, I think it best we get you back to the Orphanage. Even though it is quite late, I am sure there is still an empty bed for you."
"Oji-san, I have not been to the Orphanage for almost 4 of my birthdays now," Naruto stated with a serious expression, his head cocked to the left a little bit out of confusion.
Once more, Hiruzen Sarutobi found himself speechless. Naruto had not been in the Orphanage for almost four years!? Where had all of the reports come from then? What about the ANBU Officer that gave him weekly reports on the boy's activity at the Orphanage? Had every single one of them been falsified? Without a single moment of Hesitation, he clicked his teeth and wasn't surprised when his personal guard responded immediately, each one kneeled with their head bowed in respect.
"Wake Tsekumi Mishima and tell her to report to my Office, immediately! I don't care what time of the night it is. She is to have every report filed on Naruto Uzumaki with her." The Hokage commanded, his temper rising. The ANBU Officers each saluted and disappeared without a sound as quickly as they had appeared. "Naruto, where do you live right now? How do you get food?" Sarutobi dreaded the answer.
"I have a nice corner of an alley. I think it is called the Red Light District or something, though I don't know why as there aren't many red lights. It's about three blocks from the Western Wall. I have a cardboard box that kind of keeps out the rain and snow. Sometimes when it is really cold out, the nice ladies might let me inside to warm up for a moment or two but usually their boyfriends tell me to leave. As for food, well the restaurants and grocery stores usually have a few bins or pile of waste they set out at night to be collected-so that is usually where I go, although lately it has been harder because people usually throw stuff at me or chase me away. On my birthday I like to treat myself to the Aki...Aki… Aki.. Uhm… The big people's restaurant. Usually they have lots of bones and stuff that tastes sweet but is really sticky," Naruto explained, a big smile on his face even though there were tears beginning to form in the corner of his eyes.
A single tear rolled down Sarutobi's cheek as he heard more and more details about the horrible life the child in front of him had to endure. He should have been in a loving, caring environment-instead the Civilian Council had blocked every attempt of The Hokage's in trying to get any form of legal power in order to help the boy. Not only that-but many on the Shinobi Council argued that to place him with any one Shinobi Family showed a form of favoritism. Even most of the Shinobi Council did not want to accept the boy into their own clan-they would not settle to see the boy placed within another clan. The boy wasn't meant to have grown up like this and yet; the Council, civilians, and even his own Shinobi had a hand in ruining the poor boy's childhood.
Steel came to The Hokage's eyes as he contemplated what he would do in the coming days. His Will of Fire rekindled at the injustice that had been served to Naruto. He didn't care whose toes he had to step on, he was going to insure that Naruto got what he rightfully deserved.
There was a knock at the door and The Hokage snapped his fingers-the door opened by an unseen ANBU Officer. In the doorway stood a middle-aged woman with a couple boxes and several scrolls in her arms. It was clear she had been woken up in the middle of the night as there was an absence of any make-up and her eyes were ringed with shadows.
"Mishima-san, is that all of the reports for Naruto Uzumaki on file?" Sarutobi asked, his voice crisp and sharp like a tempered blade.
"Hai, Hokage-sama. This was everything the records office has under Naruto Uzumaki," The woman responded as she shuffled in, her voice wavering with a hint of fear.
"Good, you can set them down right here on the table and I want you to pick out three random reports regarding Naruto Uzumaki's activities at the Orphanage. Then I want you to tell me who wrote the report." Sarutobi commanded, setting the wooden pipe down on his desk.
"Hai, Hokage Sama," The woman responded before she set the boxes down where The Hokage instructed and began to dig through them for what he requested. After a few seconds, she pulled out three individual reports and set them on the table. "Report 1172-B, dated for March 16th, 5 AK… Filed by ANBU Officer Rat. Report 1263-C, dated August 19th, 6 AK… Filed by ANBU Officer Rat. Report 1421-A, dated October 2nd, 7 AK…. Filed by ANBU Officer Rat."
"You are dismissed, Mishima-san. Please leave the collected reports of Naruto Uzumaki right there. Before you retire back home for the night, I want a report filed with what I ordered of you tonight and left on my desk. This is something that may end up before the Council," The Hokage stated before he gave a silent signal to his personal ANBU Officers. They didn't need a verbal command to know that he needed to see ANBU Officer Rat in his office immediately.
It only took a few short moments and as Tsekumi Mishima was closing the door to The Hokage's Office for an ANBU Officer to appear, kneeling in front of his Commander-in-Chief with his head bowed.
"ANBU Officer Rat. I want you to take a look at the three reports sitting on the table and confirm that they were written and filed by you," Sarutobi directed. It was in moments like this that he truly felt his age and was thankful that Naruto had chosen to remain quiet throughout the whole ordeal.
"Hai, Hokage-Sama," The ANBU Officer known as Rat saluted and looked down at the three sheets of parchment on the table. "Hai, these are all field reports on war orphan, Naruto Uzumaki, about his daily activity at one of the Orphanages. All three were written by me and filed accordingly, Hokage-Sama,"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sandaime Hokage and Commander-in-Chief of Konohagakure no Sato, bowed his head in regret as he moved from behind his desk and to the ANBU Officer before reaching up and pulling the mask from the Shinobi's face. Underneath was a young man, perhaps no older than sixteen or seventeen. His grey eyes and hook nose were the only identifiable traits of an otherwise unassuming teenager.
"You are hereby stripped of your rank as an ANBU Officer, You are hereby stripped of any and all Shinobi Rank under this Administration. You will be reprimanded into the custody of the T & I Department of Konohagakure no Sato until such a time as you can be brought up on formal charges for Neglect of Duty, Actions unbefitting an Officer, and Falsifying Reports . Do you have anything to say for yourself at this time?" The Hokage stated, his expression belying the anger he felt boiling away within his stomach.
"I did nothing wrong. I was ordered to report on the daily activity of the Demon Brat. Who cares what the reports say? No one reads them anyways." The young man shouted out before immediately finding himself prone on the floor, his hands held tightly behind his back with a knee pressed down between his shoulder blades.
"Get this man out of my sight. Inform Ibiki Morino that I expect a full investigation into this manner. He is to report to me directly." The Hokage gave an inaudible signal and then turned back to the boy sitting on the couch. Naruto's eyes were wide open at this point and beginning to reflect the early dawn light that was filtering through the window. "Naruto, is there anything that you can think of that might make up for what you have been made to go through?"
Naruto thought for a moment before a grin seemed to split his face in half from ear to ear.
"I want to become a Shinobi, Oji-san. A place to sleep would be nice too. Maybe something to eat and maybe a new shirt since I had to use what I was wearing to cover up Kurenai-chan," Naruto was excited. No one ever asked him what he wanted and he hoped what he asked for wasn't too much.
The Hokage blinked a few times before his eyes softened. He let out a small chuckle as he sat down on the couch beside the small child and looked out the window, taking note of the rising sun. He heard a loud groan from the boy's stomach and that only made him laugh a little harder before his own stomach groaned in hunger as well.
"Very well, Naruto. I will see what I can do about having an apartment set up for you. Beyond that, I am going to authorize a monthly stipend for you. You will be able to collect it every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. In fact, you can come to see me directly and I will make sure to give you the Ryu personally. After the apartment is set up, you and I will go buy you groceries for your new apartment. Later today, we can see about getting you some new clothes to wear as well. In the meantime, you can stay with me while I make sure things are taken care of, okay?"
"Naruto thought for about all of one second before he nodded enthusiastically at The Old Man in agreement. There was one other thing though that the boy wanted. "Uhm, can I ask for one last thing, Oji-san?"
"Hmm, something else, Naruto?"
"Hai, please do not tell Kurenai-chan who saved her. Please inform her that it was just a random stranger who simply must have wanted to help," Naruto almost practically pleaded, his words rushed and his voice high.
"Why?" The Hokage's eyes widened at the request as he pondered the excuse Naruto gave them. His eyes almost immediately narrowed at the boy's answer.
"I see how the villagers and Shinobi look at me, Oji-san. I hear some of the stuff they say. I do not know why they all seem to hate me so much, but a beautiful woman like Kurenai-chan? She does not need to have that same sort of hate thrown at her simply for what I did to save her. I do not need her thanks either, and I don't really want her pity. Please, Oji-san. Make up some sort of excuse for me so she may continue to live her life and not have to be lumped in with someone like me,"
"Alright, Naruto-kun. I agree," The Hokage sighed once again with a heavy heart as another tear rolled down his cheek at the maturity shown by the small child in the past few hours. "Well how about you and I go visit a Hot Spring to clean you up and we seek out something to fill our stomachs for breakfast. Then I can take you to my home before I return here to work for the day?"
It took about two hours of scrubbing to get Naruto's hair back to its natural golden blonde color and after a lot of struggling, Sarutobi managed to get Naruto to clean out his scratches so they could start to heal. Afterwards, the two of them visited a roadside stand for some porridge and eggs before Hiruzen Sarutobi took Naruto to his home and showed him to a converted guest room. The very same one that had belonged to his own son before his son decided to live on his own as many young Shinobi chose to do. After crawling into the first bed in four years, Naruto fell into the most peaceful rest in his entire life. He felt safe under The Sandaime Hokage's protection.
The smell of disinfectant was thick in the air, accompanied by the scent of blood, death, and despair. The rhythmic sounds of machines that monitored the condition of a young woman fought against the silence in the room. The drapes were drawn shut with the lights dimmed as the young woman slept. When she awoke, her head hurt with a pounding, throbbing sensation. Her movements were sluggish as she tried her best to prop herself with little success. Her inability left her feeling powerless as she continue to lie on the uncomfortable bedding.
"Ugh, I feel so horrible. What happened to me?" Kurenai tried her best to recall the last events leading to her waking up in the hospital bed. She remembered the horrible mission and the death of her comrade and the resulting depression. She tried her best to think about the person who saved her but his image only stayed on the very edge of her memory. Like an almost forgotten dream. The small details of his weird weapon that he carried with him; that strong ferocious, almost animistic, aura that surrounded him as he fought to protect her.
Kurenai Yūhi shot up as she managed to recall details about his face, and this elicited a short scream of pain from the young woman. A machine monitoring her began to beep loudly as her heart rate skyrocketed. A nurse came rushing in almost immediately to check on the situation.
"Ms. Yūhi, you need to calm down," The nurse attempted to push the Kunoichi down into the bed and check over the machines.
"What time is it? When did I get here? I need to report to The Hokage!" Kurenai tried her best to get her point across, doing her best to sit back up only to be pushed back down against the bed.
"You were brought in yesterday morning with extensive physical trauma and Chakra Exhaustion. The Hokage will be notified that you have woken up but you need to calm down. You're more likely to do yourself more harm," The nurse calmly explained before she stuck her head out and spoke to someone within the hall. Moments later both women were joined by a man in a clean white coat.
"Ah, Ms. Yūhi, glad to see that you are finally awake. You gave us quite a scare at first when you came in. How are you feeling?" The man questioned as he checked over some paperwork on a clipboard.
"I am in a lot of pain and I feel heavy. I must speak with The Hokage," Kurenai tried to explain. This wasn't her first time in the Shinobi Hospital and it probably wouldn't be her last, but none of that mattered to the young woman at this point. She had information she needed to report in regards to her mission and the death of her companion.
"Well that isn't surprising, you came in with multiple lacerations and abrasions, two cracked ribs with one broken, and you were suffering from Chakra Exhaustion. It was touch and go for a moment but thankfully it appears that your reserves have started to refill and your body is on the slow track of healing. You will be sore for several days, and following your release-I would caution against any training for at least two weeks. That being said; The Hokage already requested that he be notified about your condition immediately and we will send a notice that you have woken up. In the meantime, I need you to try and relax while we do a final check-up. If there are no other problems, then I see no reason why you cannot be released shortly following lunch." The Doctor spoke as the nurse performed the check-up and looked over the bandages to see if they were in need of being changed.
"How did I get here? Who brought me here?" Kurenai questioned.
"Your paperwork says that you were brought in by two female ANBU Officers," The doctor responded as he made several notes in the paperwork. "Can you tell me what you remember?"
"I remember returning to the Village from a mission. Encountering an enemy Shinobi, my teammate dying, and being ambushed by a trio of bandits. Then.. Oh god… They tried to rape me," Kurenai once again tried to sit straight up, the machines beside her beeping rapidly.
"Nurse, I need you to get a mild sedative. Ms. Yūhi, while you check out physically-I am going to insist you speak to a trauma counselor, perhaps out-patient," The doctor made several more notes as Kurenai began to feel relaxed, the sedative working its way through her system. Her eyes felt heavy as she laid back into the uncomfortable mattress and drifted off to sleep.
The warm light of dusk was washing over the village of Konohagakure no Sato as Kurenai Yūhi, Chūnin Kunichi, was on her way to The Hokage tower to deliver her mission report. She had finally been cleared by the Hospital after speaking to an in-house trauma counselor for a couple hours and made a follow up appointment. The entire time she had been awake, she thought about the person that saved her. She felt a desire at the very least and thank him, but to do that-she would need to find out his name.
After a short time of talking to the elderly secretary, Kurenai was allowed to present herself her the Commander-in-Chief, kneeling as she saluted him. This was only the second time she was ever directly in the Office of the Hokage herself, and she noticed the four photographs of the previous and current Hokage, as well as a sofa with accompanying table for drinks or leisure. There is a large oak desk with a high wing chair facing the office with its back to the most impressive view of the village, the Hokage Monument off in the distance.
The Hokage watched as Kurenai went through the motions of greeting him as according to her station and rank. He was ultimately curious what her report would reveal, as he had already heard Naruto's portion, and wanted to set the story straight for the official mission files.
"Chūnin Yūhi, how are you feeling?" The venerable Shinobi asked, a released report of her medical condition and mental state already on his desk for him. While he had read over the file itself, he was more curious to hear from her directly following her brief stay in the Shinobi Hospital.
"As fine as I suppose I can be, Hokage-Sama. Thank you for your concern. Should I start my report now?" Kurenai asked politely, as she still kneeled. The Hokage motioned with a simply wave of his hand for her to begin. "Hai, Hokage-Sama. Chūnin Raft and I set out for Sunagakure no Sato in regards to our mission. We encountered no problems upon reaching the border of Hi no Kuni and continued on through Kawa no Kuni before we finally reached the border of Kaze no Kuni. After two nights, we arrived in Sunagakure no Sato where we were given an escort and delivered documents. We were then directed to a Hotel to rest and wait for the package we were tasked with bringing back with us. When we received the package, Chūnin Raft and I were given leave to return to Knohagakure no Sato. We did not encounter any trouble until we were within the Hi no Kuni borders. Chūnin Raft and I were caught by a group of bandit, whom we dispatched while Chūnin Raft was injured. I performed Basic First Aid and continued on our way back to the village. After a day of travel, we happened upon an Iwa Nukenin. Chūnin lost his life during combat as I was unable to save him in time before I managed to finally catch the Nukenin in a Genjutsu and dispatched him. Following that, I sought out a place to rest and was interrupted by a trio of bandits. I waited for my chance to flee and took it when the opportunity presented itself. The bandits gave chase and I managed to make to the borders of a forest when they finally managed to ambush me. After a brief bout of Taijutsu, I was overpowered and the bandits felt secure in their attempt at sexually assaulting me. I believe they would have succeeded if not for a young boy that arrived to my rescue wielding an old sword. He engaged in close quarter combat with two of the men and managed to decapitate both of them. The third man had enough time to use a Kanton Jutsu in which I tried to get the young boy to run but he stood his ground. When I was sure that the Jutsu had connected, a cloak of Chakra surrounded the boy and he did something. I wasn't in a position to see but a crescent form of red energy cut through the Jutsu and then through the remaining bandit. Beyond that, my memory becomes fuzzy but I believe I introduced myself and pleaded that he deliver me to you before I lost consciousness."
"That is quite the report, Chūnin Yūhi. It grieves me to hear that a Konohagakure Shinobi lost his life on a mission with what should have been minimal risk. I do not believe anyone could foresee the two of you encountering a Nukenin from Iwa either." The Hokage responded after several moments as he inhaled the sweet smoke from within his pipe before setting it back down on his desk. "Is there anything else, Chūnin Yūhi?"
"Hai, Hokage-Sama, I was wondering about the identity of the person that saved me. I would like to thank him for his efforts but I did not recognize him and could not tell if he had a Hitai-ate." Kurenai unconsciously chewed on the corner of her lip as she suddenly sounded like the teenager she truly is.
"I cannot say for certain. He seemed to be a Rōnin of sorts, quite possibly under a Henge of a vagrant child. He left town shortly after he delivered you to the outskirts of town. He did not seem to expect any form of gratitude either as he departed as soon he was sure that you had been admitted to the Shinobi Hospital. He did leave a message though, 'There is no one lower in the world than someone who would assault a woman sexually, perhaps besides those that would beat a defenseless child,'," The Hokage's eyes flashed sorrowfully.
To say that Kurenai was stunned is a vast understatement as she had released a breath she had been aware she had been holding. She was sure that the person that the person who saved her hadn't been under a Henge, and that he would have wanted something in return. Who just helps a person out, out of the kindness of their heart? What kind of person was this Rōnin? If the Hokage was to be believed, he left before even seeing if there was something she could do-and she didn't have a reason to believe that The Hokage would lie about something like this. She felt a pang of sadness at the opportunity to show gratitude to the person taken away from her. She started to think about what the wise Shinobi in front of her said though. Who would use a Henge of a vagrant child? What about those identifiable whisker marks on the cheeks? She was resolved to discover more information about the identity of the person that saved her.
"He did ask that you not seek him out to thank him, and to simply move on with your life. He did not seem to want you to dwell on such a traumatic experience. As I said, he did ensure that you were admitted to the Shinobi Hospital before he departed and I do believe he would have wished you well in your life," The Hokage sensed the direction of Kurenai's thoughts as he spoke, exhaling some of the sweet smoke from his pipe before he set it down once more.
"Hai, Hokage-Sama. Thank you for relaying his message," Kurenai hid her shock this time, but The Hokage observed the steel resolve that remained in the Kunoichi's eyes.
"Chūnin Yūhi, the Shinobi that you encountered is listed under the Bingo Book as a B-Rank Nukenin from Iwa. As such, the Mission will go under your file as a successful B-Rank due to the encounter with the Iwa Nukenin and you will be compensated both for the Mission as well as the bounty. I admit that I am quite curious to see how the Tsuchikage Administration of Iwagakure no Sato will handle the news that they will need to compensate a Konogakure no Sato Kunoichi for encountering, engaging and killing their Nukenin within Hi no Kuni borders. Ah, well-perhaps that is for another time. Due to difficulty of the Mission and on the Doctor's recommendation, you are given a Two Week leave. I would advise that you follow any and all medical orders that you were given in regards to training and you attend any follow-up appoints in regards to the traumatic experience you went through," The Hokage stated as he looked over the medical report in front of him once more.
"Hai, Hokage-Sama, but before I am dismissed-I do have one last question." Kurenai responded, a hint of trepidation in her voice. "Will I lose my rank because of this? I know that the mission was considered a success as you just stated, but I also lost the life of my comrade. I was not able to save him in time, not to mention what happened with the bandits,"
"The Simplest answer? No you will not, you will retain your rank of Chūnin; as Chūnin Raft and yourself were caught unaware by the Iwagakure Nukenin. From your report; you did what you were able to with limited options and no means of calling for backup, as you were not prepared to engage with an unknown unknown variable. The fact of the matter is that I believe you managed to remain level-headed throughout the entire ordeal and still returned to the village safely, albeit with some assistance," The Hokage answered with kind eyes, the sharpness of command were replaced with a gentle old man who had witnessed his own fair share through the years.
"Unknown Unknown, sir?" Kurenai asked.
"Yes, Chūnin Yūhi. There are Known Knowns and Known Unknowns; things that we know that we know and things that we do know that we do not know. Then there are Unknown Knowns and Unknown Unknowns; things that we do not know that we know and things we do not know that do not know," The Hokage chuckled as he relished the opportunity to teach. "To put it in simplest term, there will be Known Variables and Unknown Variables, but there will also be Known Unknown Variables and Unknown Unknown Variables, things that cannot necessarily be accounted for,"
"Hai, Hokage-Sama, thank you for explaining that to me,"
"Now if there is nothing else Chūnin Yūhi, you are dismissed." The Hokage gave a final wave of his hand and watched as Kurenai left his office. "How was that? What that good enough?"
"Hai, Oji-san, I doubt she will recognize me with my hair clean and when I get new clothes. Thank you," Naruto answered as he moved out from behind a bookshelf, concealing a secret room that he had hidden in when the pair were informed of Kurenai's arrival.
"I have one last appointment for the afternoon before we can leave to get you a new outfit. You may stay if you think you can remain silent, otherwise you may wait out in the lobby," The Hokage smiled briefly before he pressed a button on his desk to inform the secretary to escort in his last appointment for the day.
In walked a teenage girl around the same age as Kurenai. The young woman had red hair that flowed down her back to her knees, with a single bang swept over her left eye, leaving her right sea-foam green eye un-obscured. Her blue dress fell around her in folds that seemed to leave little to the imagination, yet seem to conceal her all the same, as it left her shoulders bare and shown the barest hint of her sizeable bust. The faint smell of sea salt followed her as she approached the Hokage's Desk and passed the young boy on the couch.
Naruto thought she was beautiful, for lack of a better word. Perhaps not as beautiful as Kurenai but this young woman had her own unknown qualities that made her just as radiant and mysterious to the starry eyed boy. This elicited a quiet chuckle from the young woman while she observed the boy as she stepped past him.
"Greetings, Hokage-Sama of Konohagakure no Sato, thank you for taking the time to see me and hear what I have to say, my name is Mei Terumi" The young woman bowed her head in respect of the older Shinobi. "I am here on a diplomatic mission-to formally request the aid of your forces in combating the Kekkei Genkai Purge taking place within Kirigakure no Sato and by extension, Kiri no Kuni,"
"While it is both a pleasure to meet you and a shame to hear that there is a purge going on within Kiri no Kuni; it is not in our policy to formally assist anyone that is currently not our Allies. Konohagakure no Sato and by extension, Hi no Kuni, cannot afford to be present in any civil war at this time-especially one that we have fought against in the previous war. Please accept my sincerest apologies," The Hokage responded in a somber tone. He had heard about the civil unrest taking place within the country of Kiri no Kuni but his hands were tied without a Formal Alliance and could not be a part of a civil war as the casualties and consequences of a lost war were insurmountable in comparison.
"For a village that flaunts its clans with their Kekkei Genkai, you do not wish to sully your name by supporting those fighting to stop other Kekkei Genkai from being eradicated?" Mei was downcast but those feelings were quickly turning into hostility. "You are supposed to be among the strongest of the Five Great Nations, yet you won't help end the pain and suffering of those from another Nation?"
"My hands are tied, I am afraid. There is little I can offer you in assistance. It is just not in our Policy to assist in any nation's Civil War," The Hokage answered apologetically. "You must understand, the consequences far out-way the benefits if Konohagakure no Sato and by extension, Hi no Kuni, were to back you in your rebellion and you were to lose. The sanctions that Kirigakure no Sato and Kiri no Kuni could leverage against Konohagakure no Sato and Hi no Kuni would mean the end of this village-and as the Hokage, that is not something I can allow. I truly am sorry,"
"What good are you then? How can you honestly hear that people are being slaughtered just because they are born with a gift? Children are being killed by their parents all because others would use them in a war they did not ask for," Mei was doing her best to reign in her own anger, but her quick temper was starting to get the better of her.
"I understand how it must seem to you, Terumi-san, but there is nothing I can do. I cannot put my own Shinobi and village at risk simply because of a civil war." The Hokage responded, truly apologetic that there just was nothing he could do. To him it felt like Amegakure no Sato all over again.
Mei Terumi bowed her head in respect once more and turned on her heels to march out of the office, as it was clear to her that she was simply wasting her breath. However, she found her path blocked by the young blonde child whom had remained silent the entire time.
"Please do not be mad at Hokage-sama, he is just doing what he feels is best in order to protect him home and keep it safe, just as you are doing," Naruto smiled up at her. "I hope you live, Mei-chan. You are a strong and possibly deadly woman if your rebellion would choose you to seek out assistance from other Shinobi Villages. Please take my hope that you will win such an awful thing within your home, and come out safe and sound."
"Do not worry, little one-I am only frustrated at my own feelings of helplessness to save my fellow countryman. What is your name?" Mei's eyes softened as she spoke.
"Naruto Uzumaki, Mei-chan,"
"Well Naruto-kun, I hope you live a long life and that I will see you again in the future," Mei chuckled at her newfound suffix, her anger temporarily forgotten about as she left The Hokage's Office.
"Well then, since that was my last appointment for the day-what do you say we both get out of here Naruto-kun, and see about getting you some new clothes. Then I can figure out how much money is owed to you," The Hokage smiled as he witnessed Naruto's uncanny ability to bring even the worst of enemies together. His eyes however grew steel when he brought up the topic of money. He had Ryu sent every month to Sister Kagawa's Home for War Orphans for the past seven years, automatically withdrawn from a trust fund specifically set aside for the boy by his late father. It was high time that Hiruzen Sarutobi learned just where Naruto's inheritance had been disappearing to. Afterwards he would figure out how to approach the council about Naruto's living situation.
The Sandaime Hokage directed Naruto to a Shinobi owned store to meet a very old friend of his that he positive would not discriminate against the boy for the burden contained with him. As they walked in companionable and comfortable silence, the duo entered into a district that was commonly visited by the village Shinobi. While they walked, a question came to the venerable Shinobi's mind.
"Naruto-kun, have you considered just what you might want to be when you grow up? What you want to do with your life?" Sarutobi asked the child beside him.
"I want to become a Shinobi, Oji-san. One so powerful that people will recognize me and say nothing but great things about me," Naruto smiled up at The Hokage, as if it was the simplest answer ever.
"So you only want power to be recognized?" Sarutobi chuckled as he asked.
"I want to protect people, my precious people like you, Oji-san. I want to protect people that are precious to you and people precious to them and even people precious to those people, like you do!"
"That is quite the dream, Naruto. I guess that someday you hope to become Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato then?" The Hokage's eyes softened at Naruto's childlike wonder. One moment he could show the wisdom of someone years older than a seven year old child, and then other moments he reminded Sarutobi that Naruto was just a child. A child who might have lived a tough life so far, but a child nonetheless.
"Hai, Oji-san. I want to become The Hokage!" Naruto all but shouted at the top of his lungs. It was a good thing that the street was bare any passersby and they might not have taken to kindly to the child's exclamation.
"Being a Shinobi is a hard life, Naruto. It is filled with misery and death. You would have moments where your best friend becomes your enemy, and moments where your enemy becomes your ally. You have to be prepared for all of those things as a Shinobi, not just of Konohagakure no Sato-but everywhere. Are you sure that is something you can endure?" It hurt to be so brutally honest with the boy, but The Hokage had to be sure Naruto wanted this. Even though he could do many things, ultimately it could become just another issue in front of the Council and he needed to know that Naruto's resolve was ironclad if he was to do something that could end her tenure as Hokage and Commander-in-Chief of the Shinobi Forces within the village.
"I will become the most powerful Shinobi, to protect the people I consider precious," Naruto responded without hesitation.
"Then how about we get you some things that you will need in the next couple of days," The Hokage replied with a soft smile as they arrived in front of a store. One that did not impress Naruto to say the least. It looked like nothing more than a run-down shack that could topple at the slightest breeze.
"All is not as it would seem," The Hokage thought to himself, but before he could say anything to the young boy, Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"Oji-san, something feels very weird about this store. The two next to it on either side look a lot better and are giving this store a lot of space on either side," Naruto stated as he tried to understand just why this peculiar store felt strange to him.
"Hai, Naruto-kun. The store is under a Genjutsu so only those trained within the Shinobi Arts can detect it. Normally the rule is that only those who can break the Genjutsu, may shop here. I will speak to the shop owner about allowing you to shop here as you managed to detect the Genjutsu at such a young age without any formal training," The Hokage's eyes narrowed a bit but remained soft as he wondered if he would have to have the boy's senses tested. Perhaps he was developing extra senses, which would be beneficial for him later in life.
Naruto was ecstatic to be able to shop where the elite of The Hokage could, and almost ran to the door before he walked inside along with the Sandaime. Once inside, Naruto was stunned by the level of cleanliness of the store. He observed row upon row of sharpened Shinobi Tools, Weapon, Protective Gear and even more. He finally came full circle to see the counter and the older man standing behind it. The man seemed to just stare at Naruto with a critical eye. The young boy flinched back when he witnessed this, but gathered his strength and courage to return a glare back at the man-Naruto dared him to try something.
"So, if it isn't Old Man Hiruzen and a Little Brat, what do you want?" The man asked, his tone sharp as the weapons he sold.
"Old Man? You're at least six months older than I am, Sugiyama-san," The Hokage answered with a laugh as he pushed the boy beside him forward a little. "This is Naruto Uzumaki, we are here to get him a couple changes of clothes and some supplies,"
"Harrumph, just don't break anything in my store. If you take it off the shelf, put it back exactly where you picked it up from. Uzumaki eh? I see. I guess that would make sense," Sugiyama narrowed his eyes as he gave the brat in front of him a look over. "By the way, Brat, before you disappear on me-where did you happen to come across your weapon? It looks weather-beaten and worn down,"
"I found it in a cave, I just thought it looked cool, so I picked it up, what is it to you?" Naruto explained with his head clocked to the side in confusion, as he continued to return the glare and feel a level of confidence with The Old Man behind him.
"Pretty wasteful if you ask me, Brat, carrying a weapon that will probably break the moment it is pulled from the scabbard? You'd probably just be better off tossing it down a ravine and forgetting completely about it," The Shop owner glared, though there was a hint of respect hidden away within his eyes. "Alright, get-go pick out some clothes and I'll bundle you up a Basic Kit for supplies while I speak to the Hokage,"
Naruto didn't need to be told twice as he ventured deeper into the store, obvious to the conversation that continued at the front. After some time looking at clothes, he was no closer to a decision until he spotted a group of orange and blue jumpsuits.
"Those will not do, young one. You cannot be a Shinobi with something like that, you would lose all hint of subtlety, as they offer no benefit to camouflage. I suggest you stick to something darker." An old voice whispered deep in the boy's mind. The first time it had spoken in over a day.
"But I like the color, it is so bright and it makes me think of love for some reason," Naruto thought to himself in response. He decided that he would heed the advice and continue to look for something else.
"So what is the real story with the Brat, Old Man? Do you know where he really got that sword?" Sugiyama questioned the Hokage.
"Naruto-kun said he found it in a cave, and I don't have much reason not to believe him. Why do you ask? Is there something special about the sword?" Sarutobi asked his long time friend.
"No, probably not. I thought perhaps I recognized the scabbard, but it is probably just some piece of garbage. If the Gaki wants to carry around a useless weapon, that is his choice," Sugiyama responded as he watched the boy in question return to the front of the store dressed in a new outfit.
Naruto emerged from the back of the store in a whole brand new outfit; a black short sleeved shirt that was a little loose on him, gray cargo shorts that went below his knees and tied off with a clasp and string at the cuff, black Shinobi sandals, a pair of orange finger-less gloves, and an orange bandana that functioned much like a standard Shinobi mask. His sword was still tied over his back with the hilt at his right shoulder. The boy appeared to have two more sets bundled underneath his thin arms. When Naruto had changed his clothes, he finally realized just how long his own hair had gotten as the spiky golden-blonde ended at his mid back. For some reason, the boy thought it reminded him of someone but could not really recall seeing anyone else with long golden-blonde hair like his. When he stood in front of the counter, he set the clothes up on the smooth wooden surface and waited. Sarutobi and Sugiyama seemed to be pleased with his choice.
"Very well, can't say that it is what I would have picked; especially the orange but who am I say to what a person should and shouldn't wear. Children your age would prefer to go with something fancy but I see that you chose something a little more practical," The wrinkled old shopkeeper stated, his voice scratchy and gruff as he set a single black pouch on top of the pile of clothes. "Here is a Basic Kit-it included 5 of each, Kunai and Shuriken. There is also a spool of Shinobi Wire and several smoke bombs. Now for your payment,"
Naruto waited with a bated breath as Sugiyama started to click the rotary buttons on his register. He had never been able to own anything that he had not already scrounged out of a refuse bin, and he he was not only getting new clothes-but Shinobi Tools as well. He felt like perhaps today was the best day of his life.
"Tell me, Brat-where will you go to shop after you are finished becoming a Shinobi?"
"I would like to shop here, Sugiyama-Ji-san," Naruto had been a little surprised from the question but responded with a grin he just could not contain.
"Ji-san, huh? Well then Brat, consider this an investment. I will hold you to that, and don't expect you to take your business elsewhere for the rest of your life. I will give you all of this equipment today as a gift, clothes included-if you solemnly swear not to shop at any other store for your Shinobi needs," Sugiyama was rather impressed with the loud-mouthed child's attitude.
"I solemnly swear," Naruto answered with an even larger grin.
Sarutobi knew he had picked the right place to bring Naruto. Sugiyama Nagatsuka might be a right bastard about a lot in life; a crotchety old bastard with a chip on his shoulder even-but ultimately he was not a bad guy. He was simply rough around the edges. What could be expected of a retired Shinobi? It was a testament to his strength and perseverance to have lived this long during a period when a Shinobi's life spans were uncharacteristically shortened. The Hokage knew that Naruto had managed to gain himself a new ally, Sugiyama would keep an eye out for Naruto when he wasn't able to.
A/N: So another chapter with some added dialogue. If anyone has read Tsukune08's Fanfiction; Master of Genjustu-then you will find a lot of his early ideas came from his first Fanfiction; Crimson Wind Red Dream. I thoroughly enjoyed both stories though I found that CWRD rushed a lot-and while there is nothing wrong with that, I hope that I can slow it down to give time for things to build up. As such, while I have been writing this chapter; I have been going back to re-read a lot of older Naruto Fanfiction that I enjoy and have undoubtedly been inspired by. One such story will inspire the next coming couple of chapters as I have a few twists and turns in mind for this version of Crimson Wind Red Dream. That being said, I believe some people might be in for a surprise. As always though; Read and Review!