Flames of War
Chapter 2: Base Established
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters involved except Guardian F. Fire and Guardian I. Inferno
Naruto and Fire were making their way down the wide streets of the rebuilding hidden leaf village, Naruto had his hands behind his head as he walked and Fire seemed distant, even though they were walking close together, as he stared at the ground in front of him.
"So… I guess introductions are in order?" Naruto asked with a side glance at Fire.
"If you want to, I already know all about you from the mission briefing and Master Inferno's description of you,"
"Yeah, well, it's been a long time since your Master came to visit," Naruto gave him a beaming grin.
Fire nodded and turned so that he was looking directly at Naruto. He held out a hand.
"Guardian F. Fire, at your service,"
Naruto lowering his arms and stretching one out to take Fire's hand shook firmly. "Naruto Uzumaki,"
The two let go of one another's hand before continuing on their way. Fire didn't seem as distant now as he looked ahead, taking in the sights and sounds of the village being rebuilt.
"What happened here?" he asked.
"Did your briefing not explain that part? I thought you Guardians knew everything?" Naruto asked.
Fire shook his head, "No, we only know what is supposed to happen, our retelling of events that have already transpired are shaky at best, usually we have a one to two month gap in our briefing for current events,"
"So you don't know what's gone on in the last few months is what you're telling me?"
Fire nodded.
Naruto sighed before he dove into an explanation of Jiraya's death, his training, Pain's attack, and his subsequent victory over the evil ninja.
Fire listened intently and when Naruto finished he was in awe of the young man.
"You're really strong!" He said after a minute.
"Of course! I have to be if I want to be Hokage some day," Naruto grinned as he declared his life's goal.
"You want to be Hokage? I thought it was an appointed position,"
"It is appointed,"
"But you want to take it?"
"Yeah… is that a problem?"
"No… it's just… aren't appointed positions usually appointed because nobody wants to do them?" Fire asked.
Naruto stopped as he considered the young man's statement, before shaking his head.
"It doesn't matter how they're chosen, people become Hokage because they know that the village needs them, they're someone the people can look up to… not unlike what you Guardians are supposed to be,"
Fire nodded his understanding, that last statement drove home what Naruto was trying to say.
"Well… good luck then, I wish you the best," He said with a smile.
Naruto grinned back at him before giving him a joking punch on the shoulder, "You too, you can't stay an apprentice forever right?"
Fire nodded.
"C'mon, I'll race you back to my place!" Naruto took off in a blur of speed, leaping from one rooftop to the next toward where his apartment building was.
Fire gave an exasperated cry as he took off, sighing to himself he leapt after Naruto in an attempt to keep up.
Inferno meanwhile was standing in front of Tsunade in her office.
"This doesn't bode well for us… if the Akatsuki have this Jirn creature under their control we'll be in for a rude awakening when the war starts,"
Inferno deemed not to say anything as he let Tsunade continue her train of thought.
"What I don't understand: is how something that powerful can exist under your noses and you not do anything about it,"
Inferno shrugged, it wasn't his job to monitor the natural creatures of his home, but he could see her point.
"The council decided I was better suited elsewhere, I can't say much more than that,"
"And that's another thing, who's this council you keep referring to?"
He frowned at that, the Council was a closely kept secret amongst Guardians only. They were under strict orders to not reveal any more information other than the Council sent them on missions. He trust Tsunade but he was conflicted with his orders.
"I'm afraid I'm not allowed to tell you much more than the Council decides where we Guardians go and when,"
"Inferno… as your Hokage I demand you tell me everything,"
Inferno sighed, "I'm sorry ma'am, arrest me for treason if you think that's what you need to do but I have a greater loyalty to my people and can't tell you anything else about the Council,"
Tusnade sighed as she dropped back into her chair, "You Guardians and your secrets, one of these days it'll come back to bite you, mark my words,"
Inferno gave a small nod of his head in agreement, it had already come back to bite them. The war that had occurred years ago was a sign of that.
"Regardless of the Council's prior decisions, I'm here now to capture or kill Jirn,"
"Well, can you at least tell me what this damn thing looks like so I can warn my people about it?"
Inferno gave another frown, "I unfortunately can't give you a description of it… well, I can, but it won't matter,"
Tsunade gave him a confused and angry glare, "Explain,"
"Jirn isn't just a copier of techniques, he can replicate appearances, personalities… anything. Our scholars believe that his base form looks like some kind of amorphous mass of slime, but upon sighting a creature it immediately takes its form to better replicate its abilities and personality. No one knows where Jirn came from or what he wants, just that he continues to shift and accumulate different powers and appearances,"
"So you're telling me that this thing can turn into anyone it's seen before too?"
"Yes ma'am, any creature Jirn has sighted becomes a potential appearance, there's even theories that it can mix portions of a creature's appearance with another. For example, it might take Naruto's physique and mix it with Fire's hair or eye color, becoming a new entity entirely,"
"How intelligent is this creature?"
"We're unsure, our scholar's also theorize that when it takes the form of a creature it copies talents and mental faculties as well, so it might be incredibly intelligent based on the sheer number of people it's cloned up tot his point… or it might still have only the bestial instincts it started with,"
Tsunade sighed again as she leaned back into her chair, "Why the hell did you guys let this thing leave?"
"We didn't, it escaped, as previously stated," Inferno corrected her.
"Well, I guess it's a good thing you're here to bring it back then," Tsunade gave him a look at told him this conversation was over.
Inferno gave her a bow from the waist and turned to leave.
"I'll be assisting the repair efforts if you need me," he told her.
"Yes, that'll be all Inferno," Tsunade vocalized the orders and gave a dismissive wave of her hand.
Inferno stepped out into the hallway and released a pent up sigh.
"Why does she always scare the devil out of me?"