Perfect Lionheart's: Missing Hokage Challenge.
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto... Well I'd be rich. As it is I don't even own a car that runs anymore.
Chapter 2
"N-N-Naruto? May I come in?" asked a rather shy Hinata Hyuuga after having knocked softly on the hospital room door. After waiting a moment more, for a reply, she turned to leave. Only to find a weary looking Lady Tsunade and her apprentice Shizune standing in the hall with her.
"Why, hello Hinata. Did you want to see Naruto?" Shizune asked with a pleasant if tired smile.
"W-W- Would that be all right?" asked the young girl hopefully.
"That shouldn't be a problem. Brat's just got a mild case of chakra burns and exhaustion." The Hokage said as she reached for the door..
"We were just coming to see the knuckle head before calling it a night. You've been to visit your cousin I take it?"
Hinata nodded in the affirmative before gasping at the sight on the other side of the open door.
"What the hell? Shizune! Prep Operating Room 3! Those bastards took his arm and gave it to the damn Uchiha."
Hinata could only stand there in shock. Her crush's eyes were glazed and distant. His right arm had been removed to the shoulder, and the bandage around the wound was seeping blood. Looking at the floor she could see a pool of his precious life's blood. It was almost more than she could handle.
At that point something seemed to snap inside the 'weak' heir of the Hyuuga clan. Moving quickly to the bedside she started to work in tandem with the older woman. Quickly setting up an IV and starting a saline drip to restore his blood loss. While doing this she activated her Byakugan, without seals, to study his internal anatomy.
She quickly determined that his chakra was trying in vain to heal the damaged tissue. Additional investigation determined that all of his muscles were completely relaxed yet she found no damage to his spine or nervous system, aside from the obvious amputation. This indicated a chemically induced paralysis as he was still conscious if catatonic.
Stating this to the Hokage prompted the order to retrieve a number of vials from the nearby pharmaceutical station. The orderly in charge of the station was uncooperative, and after a short argument, consisting of Jyuuken strikes into unconciousness, Hinata returned to the room.
There she found the Hokage placing the blond boy carefully on a gurney Shizune had provided. Taking the medicine from the girl she gave new orders.
"Shizune, bring me the storage scroll 129-KK. It is in my office, second drawer down."
"Right." Shizune took off a dead sprint.
"Hinata, I need you to find Naruto's teacher Jiraiya. It is urgent that he knows about what has happened. Do you understand?" Tsunade only saw the girl nod as she ran to the end of the hall and leapt out the window..
Hinata made good time to the center of the village. There she pumped as much chakra into her eyes as she could stand. Rapidly the radius of her sight reached the outer walls of Konoha. Concentrating on finding the white haired man she'd seen, working with Naruto, the month before the finals of the chunnin exams.
Shortly she located the Toad Sage at a bar, on the south end of the village. Taking off like a shot her vision narrowed in on the older man. Not losing sight of the Sage she began weaving in and out of the busy street traffic. In her haste, she did not even notice leaping over her younger sister. Who was being taken to visit Neji by none other than her father Hiashi.
Neither showed visible reactions to the girl rapidly disappearing into the distance.
Hiashi had taken a 'day off', so to speak, in order to visit his nephew. He'd invested much time into the lad. Standing in his stead, in clan business, was Elder Shinta. Shinta was the most neutral party among the elder Hyuuga council. Picking up his youngest from her half day at school was the intelligent thing to do.
Young Hinabi was a rabid, for a Hyuuga, fan of the Lady Tsunade. The last time he'd been to the Hospital, and he hadn't taken his youngest… Well she tried to poison his tea the next day, all the while asking sweetly if he'd take her to the hospital next time he went.
In his daughter's defense she was indeed trying to make him tea and 'sweet talk' him into taking her along next time. Either way, it worked.
Calmly continuing to the Hospital both kept track of Hinata as long as they were able. In Hinabi's case it was for nearly five blocks. In the case of the older man, he kept sight of her even until she found Jiraiya of the Sannin.
'This does not bode well.' Hiashi thought as they came into sight of the hospital.
Concentrating toward the medical facility Hiashi searched for any sign of trouble. Shortly he spotted two heads of blond hair. One was the Hokage operating on the second yellow haired individual. Close examination clarified the situation.
'Uzumaki is seriously injured, Tsunade is incredibly upset…' Panning his vision to take in a greater area he added two more to his list. 'Jiraiya is heading toward the Hokage's tower, and a two-thirds vote was just made among the council.'
"Hanabi, we are going to wait in the lobby until the Hokage is finished with her work."
"Yes, Father." The girl sat on one of the uncomfortable seats. None, but a member of her family, could measure her extreme excitement.
'Please, let Shinta not have done something stupid.' The clan head prayed to him self.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Elsewhere in the Hospital a rushed operation was about to begin. Shizune had unsealed the dead Sound ninja's body. Carefully she went about removing the cadaver's right arm at the shoulder joint. Shortly though Tsunade had to lend her strength to wrench the appendage free of its socket.
"Even dead the skeletal structure is incredibly strong. I really hope this works." Shizune stated as her teacher went about attaching the new arm to her adopted little brother. The flesh of the boy's arm was a mess of exposed flesh and slowly pumping blood.
'If it hadn't been for the fox…' She cut off that line of thought sharply.
The moment the arm came into contact with Naruto's body, something unexpected occurred. Green chakra flooded the area and slowly worked down the length of the newly attached appendage. Naruto, unconscious for this approved surgery, shifted slightly as the green glow spread to the rest of his body.
In short order the glow dispersed leaving a gently sleeping blond ninja in its place. That is to say, a completely whole, regenerated Naruto. There was no evidence that the arm had ever belonged to another.
Reaching out to examine the boy's unblemished shoulder provoked an unexpected response. As she touched the arm three long bone protrusions reacted to her touch. They were slow, but had they reacted any faster they would have trapped or impaled her arm. Shifting as if in pain the sleeping boy turned on his left side and the bones retreated back into his body.
"I think the brat's going to be alright… Have him moved to secure ward three and post a guard. Get anyone you believe can be trusted." As Shizune moved to carry out her orders Tsunade draped a sheet over the blond and slowly moved out of the operating room.
Taking a seat at a nearby bench she hid her face in her hands. It had been so much like when she'd lost her little brother Nawaki. The fear had been like lead in her stomach. If she had lost another piece of her family, well, she'd have leveled half the village before they'd stop her rampage.
Looking around for observers, she carefully brushed aside her few shed tears, and made a decision.
'No more. Not for this village. Not for sensei. The only thing that matters to me is my family.' Nodding her head at her own thoughts she watched as the sun set on this exhausting day.
Shizune returned moments later with Maito Gai, Yuuhi Kurenai, and Sarutobi Asuma. All three had apparently been visiting their incapacitated genin. None looked pleased.
"They have been informed of the situation?" At her apprentice's affirmative nod Tsunade crossed her arms and gazed at the group. At their subdued attitude, mostly Gai who was not smiling, she gave them brief instructions.
"Shizune knows where to move the patient. You are welcome to have your genin moved to the same area. I don't know for certain what happened, but I'd like to take no unnecessary risks." At her words a certain amount of tenseness eased from the three. If a genin such as Usumaki, personal friend to the Hokage her self, was in such a situation…
It did not bode well for the rest of their genin, or the hospital should something similar happen again.
"Now if you will excuse me? I have to find an old man that should have been here by now." Tsunade moved passed the assembled people toward the nearest exit. Only her apprentice noticed the hand signal given to her.
'Plan 13? Well, it was nice while it lasted.' Shizune thought even as she directed her team to moving Naruto.
Deep inside the slumbering blonde a meeting between two individuals was taking place.
One was human and the other was a massive fox. The fox was in a cage while the human boy was seated, slumped, against a wall as far from the bars as possible.
"Why did they do it?" The brat was asking himself over and over again.
"Does it matter," asked the massive, green, beast? Its body was sprawled on its side in a relaxed position.
"Of course it matters!" The blonde shouted at the nine tailed beast.
Stopping a moment to stare at the demon he asked a pertinent if out of place question.
"And why are you green?"
Quirking a massive eyebrow at the boy the fox studied itself for a moment.
"That would be because you are no longer an enemy designated for eventual death." The immortal being known as Kyuubi explained in a way that explained very little.
"Whaaaat" Asked the dumbfounded boy?
"I'll answer five questions if you'll do two things for me." Naruto acted affronted at the deal and his eyes squinting at the beast shook his head wildly.
"No way am I letting you out of there. You think I'm stupid, but I'm not." Naruto stated.
"Of course, you wouldn't have to release me. I only need two simple things done that have nothing to do with the seal holding me here." Not quite true as neither were quite as simple for others as it would be for this boy.
"What is it then?" The boy asked his eyes shining with curiosity he couldn't hide, even as upset as he currently was.
"It's would be quite simple for normal ninja to do. Given your skill level, I assure you it would require hardly any effort on your part. On the wall to your left there is a stone five down five across from the right corner. If you can hit it with a kunai, I'll answer any two questions you have truthfully."
"Promise?" asked Naruto as he eyed the brick in question.
Wincing at the question the Kyuubi nodded in agreement.
Seeing the fox wince at the agreement to a promise Naruto smiled and threw a kunai at the stone only to miss the stone by three feet. Annoyed Naruto pulled out more blades and began saturating the wall with the thrown weapons.
Soon the wall was coated with metal. The only spot not touched was the stone he was aiming for. Taking that into account he moved to climb the very kunai he'd embedded into the wall. The deal didn't say he had to throw the blade at the stone. Merely that he hit it with a kunai.
Smirking at the boy stabbed the stone. Quickly it moved a tail to shield its sight from the bright light that came from the now damaged piece of masonry. Soon the stone crumbled to nothing revealing an image of a three tomoe sharnigan. Feeling an intense amount of unexplained rage, Naruto formed a mental Rasengan and obliterated the image.
New memories flooded his mind. Techniques and knowledge filled his mind. Things he'd learned after graduating the academy. He'd had access to the shinobi library as a genin, and he'd read so many scrolls.
All of which was noticed by his teacher.
"I see you've been studying." Kakashi had stated when Naruto had asked to train with him on one of their few days of rest.
"Yeah, I used the Kage Bushin and studied a whole lot." Answered the smiling Naruto.
The spar had been far more even between the two than Kakashi had liked. Shortly afterwards Kakashi asked why he'd wanted to spar away from his teammates."
"Sasuke would get upset. I mean I like to tease him, but its fun being rivals." Naruto said as he turned to head home with his hands behind his head.
"Naruto before you leave…" At that pause Naruto turned to see his teacher's eye had been uncovered.
"A months worth of improvement put you at near my level Naruto. I can't have you outclassing your teammates that fast. This will be better in the long run. You'll see." And Kakashi the Copy ninja, teacher of team seven, locked away one of his students potential with no real explanation as to why.
"NO! Why? Why!? Why would he do that to me?! I worked hard. I studied! I even managed some decent chakra control!? He took it all away from me!" Naruto screamed to the ceiling of his mind after the memories played out.
"Why did he seal away your potential with the Sharingan? Well as your first question I can honestly say I don't know for certain. My assumption though is that he wanted that Uchiha brat to be the prodigy of his team. He after all holds one of those precious eyes within his own skull. You ninja can be such an eccentric and unreliable bunch." The green beast of nine tails fury eyed the boy kneeling with his head between his hands.
"Why don't you think for a while brat about your second question? Then maybe you wont waste it on something so obvious." Turning its head from the boy to make preparations for a nap, the fox barely heard the boy's second question.
"Why did you attack Konoha and make my life a living nightmare?" The loaded question was asked in barely a whisper.
"Good question…" Then the Kyubii explained about a summoning, a contract, and the reasons behind the attack twelve years ago, and as a treat the reason he appeared green to the boy.
"I'm what?!" Screamed the boy.
In the council with the one pissed of Hokage, and a very upset Jiraiya.
"On what authority do you have to banish one of my ninja?" Demanded Tsunade of the assembled group of clan leaders.
"WE have the right to demand the immediate banishment of any ninja or civilian believed, by a majority, to be a threat to the civilians of the village. As clans brought to this village we were assured certain rights. This boy has caused plenty of damage through-out the years. Only now it is shown how dangerous the boy has become." Danzo stated to the woman at the head of the table.
To the side a good portion of the table nodded in agreement. Most of those in agreement were civilian clans or those who had lost a great deal during the demon attack so many years prior.
"And yet Danzo, you are not of a recognized clan. How is it you have any influence in this decision?" Jiraiya asked from the side while Tsunade managed to calm her self before slaughtering the cripple.
"I was awarded the guardian status of young Sasuke after the, much lamented, death of the third Hokage. As such I am his proxy until such time as he comes of age." That explained his position at the table. Without the Uchiha his power among the council would become tenuous once again.
"Who will nay say this course of action?" The military leader of the village asked of the council.
The representatives of the Aburame, Akimichi, Nara, Yamanaka, Inuzuka, clans all raised their hands. The proxies for the Senju, and the Sarutobi also raised their hands in rejecting the action taken.
"He seriously injured a member of a prestigious clan and must pay the price for his actions." This caused Tsunade to turn sharp eyes to the Hyuuga representative.
"I know exactly how injured that boy was. I also know exactly what happened during the majority of this mission." Tsunade ground out through clenched teeth.
"We of the council, Heads of all the clans of Konoha, have decided to invoke Addendum 122 of the Konoha Charter. Invoking this we, hence forth, exile Uzumaki Naruto from the land of Fire. Should he return more than his arm will be taken in retribution for the Uchiha Clan."
Sighing at the stupidity of the majority of the council she made only one demand.
"He will have two days to recuperate from the trauma inflicted upon his body, then three days will be allowed for his travel out of the country. He may no longer be a citizen of the leaf." At this she paused thoughtfully. "But he is for that time a guest of mine. He will leave at the appointed time and none will cause undo harm. If this can be agreed upon I will not oppose the banishment."
With that to throw them off balance she left the room with her teammate.
Koharu and Homura shared a brief look of concern before leaving the room to consider the statement made by their dead teammate's student. She'd caved almost to easily to the demands of the council. The table had even been left in one piece.
A calm Tsunade could be a very dangerous Tsunade.
Little Hanabi never got to meet with the Hokage that day. Once the cause of that little oversight was determined… Well Hanabi had several people on her list to deal with.
Two days later.
"This is not over." Tsunade quietly threatened watching her little brother walk stolidly through the great gate to the village.
Naruto gazed upon the gathered throng. Noting the few sad and some determined faces he left his home behind him. Breaking into a sprint the tears in his eyes were brushed off his face. Even the pain of his new arm didn't distract him from making the best time he could to the country of wave.
There he would wait for his precious people to follow.
His pack was heavy with gifts, unopened, from his few special people. As he ran a small part of him considered what had happened and what could happen. Perhaps this could be his chance to create his own place in the world. What better place than where his name marked a bridge dedicated to making a country better than it was?
The young Uzumaki ran to his future alone, if only, for a short while.
To Be Continued.
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