Hero of the Light Ch 3: Acquaintances (Revised)

(Italics: Thoughts/Flashbacks/Dream sequence. Bold: Title and Kyubi's/Demon's/Inner Characters's Speech. Underline: Time Skips)

Naruto reflexively dodged a stray Kunai as a beautiful, tall, slender, brunette Kunoichi jumped up into the air.

An enormous scroll spiraled around her, sending down a barrage of various bladed weapons at one concentrated target, leaving much of the training ground in ruins, afterward she fell to the ground and began collecting her weapons, as she was doing this Naruto observed her, she had long brunette hair that ended at her butt, she was the most beautiful and graceful woman he had ever seen...

She looked strangely familiar and her technique... He knew he had seen it somewhere before... After a moment of thought his eyes opened in realization and he said:

"Tenten?"

Tenten turned around and looked right at Naruto, each remaining eye contact for what seemed like a full minute Tenten looked at the young Jinchuuriki curiously and said:

"Naruto?"

Naruto grinned as he eyed the weapon mistress up and down and asked with a grin:

"Tenten is that you?"

Tenten smiled at Naruto's reaction to her womanly charms and replied:

"Yes Tenten the weapon mistress at your service, now are you Naruto or not?"

Naruto flashed Tenten his trademark fox-like grin and replied:

"The one and only."

Tenten smiled and winked at Naruto as she began picking up the various bladed weapons littering the training ground. There was a moment of silence and Naruto said:

"Wow Tenten you've really changed..."

Tenten grinned to herself at her blond friend's bold compliment and replied:

"You've become quite the man yourself Naruto."

She ended with a wink and a seductive grin. Naruto smiled and responded:

"Not just deadly but sexy as well..."

Tenten smiled wide and winked at Naruto as she said:

"And don't you forget it."

Naruto looked around at the various scattered bladed weapons weapons, turned to Tenten and asked:

"Need any help picking up your weapons?"

Tenten grinned as she replied:

"Well if you insist..."

Naruto concentrated a large quantity of chakra and performed his signature cross hand symbol, a small army of replications manifesting into existance. As Naruto's shadow clones picked up the various weapons scattered all over the training ground Naruto shifted his gaze in Tenten's direction and said:

"So Tenten besides perfecting your weapon summoning technique what have you been up to these past four years?"

Tenten sighed as if reliving a very exhausting memory and replied:

"Mostly training, my latest technique involves molding chakra around the blade of my sword in order to reenforce the blade."

Naruto smiled and said:

"Well your beauty and power have if anything increased over the last four years, anyway it was nice seeing you Tenten I'm going to head off into town to see if I run into any of my other friends, later Tenten!"

And with those words the young Jinchuuriki turned around, headed toward the direction of the village, his shadow clones dropping Tenten's various bladed weapons into an enormous pile before dismissing themselves. As Tenten watched Naruto walked away she thought:

Is that the same knucklehead that would rant on about becoming Hokage?


Naruto grinned as he walked down the long, familiar, dirt road that led straight through the main business dictrict of Konoha. Now over the past four years Naruto had developed certain habits prior to the influence of his teacher, Jiraiya. Whether they would be considered good habits or bad habits was merely a matter of perception and Judgement.

The first habit was a love for fine Sake, because in Naruto's culture when one became sixteen they were of legal drinking age, and ever since Jiraiya took him out drinking his sixteenth birthday he couldn't get enough of the stuff.

Even to this present day and age Naruto's love for the bittersweet liquor had if anything doubled. The second habit was his eyes tended to wander whenever he was in the presence of an attractive member of the female species.

And the third and final habit could almost be considered a default action induced by paranoia, he had a shadow clone tail him at all times for a quick substitution Jutsu in case he were placed in a situation where he required immediate escape.

As Naruto was walking a voice called out from his left:

"Hey Naruto!"

Naruto immediately shifted his gaze toward the source of the voice, only to come face to face with Ino Yamanaka. Ino was dressed in a tight purple tank top and matching Kunoichi pants, bandages and fishnet covering her arms and legs, giving her a sexy, yet powerful look.

Ino smiled and said:

"I knew that was you Naruto, when did you get back?"

Naruto grinned and said: "Earlier today Ino..."

Naruto eyes the blond Kunoichi up and down with much interest, Ino caught his eyes and asked in a seductive voice:

"See something you like?"

Naruto grinned and replied:

"You bet... Wow Ino you've really changed..."

Ino eyes her fellow blond shinobi up and down with a seductive grin and replied:

"You've changed in more ways than one too Naruto..."

Naruto smiled and said:

"You've grown very beautiful and powerful these past four years Ino."

Ino seemed almost taken aback from what Naruto was said and asked in a defensive tone:

"Are you saying I wasn't powerful and beautiful four years ago?"

Naruto waved his arms in front of him defensively and replied:

"No! No that's not what I'm saying! I'm just saying your beauty and power are more visible and defined, that's all!"

Ino smiled at her fellow shinobi's compliment and said:

"Thank you Naruto."

Naruto gave Ino a thumbs up and said:

"No problem... Hey listen Ino I was about to go out for a drink, would you like to join me?"

Ino smirked and asked sarcastically:

"Is the great Naruto Uzumaki asking me out on a date?"

Naruto sighed and replied with equal sarcasm:

"Who said anything about a date? Now are you going to join me or am I drinking alone tonight?"

Ino smirked and grabbed his hand. leading him through town as she said:

"I know just the place."


The Hidden Mist Village was lit ablaze as screams of horror and blood filled the many streets. A Jounin captain unsheathed his sword and called out to the various chunin and jounin surrounding him:

"Don't let them near the Mizukage!"

Before he could finish what he was going to say countless dark clothed Assassins appeared next to them and slaughtered them like child's play.

The Mizukage sat in his throne-like seat, surrounded by his most highly trained and trusted ANBU agents.

The gateway was suddenly swung open and before the Mizukage could even blink his entire military force was eliminated.

The Mizukage's mouth was wide open in shock that his entire military force could be wiped out so quickly and effortlessly.

The small army of Assassins all moved to the side as Itachi came up to the front. The Mizukage's gaze drifted toward the Uchiha and he pointed his finger forward and said:

"You! Itachi Uchiha!"

Itachi grinned sinisterly and said:

"I'm honored you remember me lord Mizukage... Or should I call you Kyoshi?"

Kyoshi trembled in fear and replied:

"I could never forget those sinister eyes of yours."

Itachi smiled, satisfied with the Mizukage's reaction.

He looked Kyoshi right in the eyes and said:

"Now that you've seen the power of my Assassins I think you should listen to my proposition."

The Mizukage glanced around nervously at Itachi's various Assassins and replied:

"I'm listening..."