Mahou Sensei Negima: Tales of the Jinchuriki Guardian
Chapter 3: The Toads in the train... is Naruto-sensei a spy from the west! The Monkey incident!
The sun shone brightly as Naruto woke up... he opened his mouth to yawn and then left his room, he went on over to see why was the place so quiet... he walked to Eva's room and looked over to see Evangeline still asleep on her bed, she looked like a little princes, Chachamaru was awake though and was sitting down on the living room.
"Morning Cha-chan, ready to go to the field-trip?" Naruto asked.
"I am sorry, but I won't be able to accompany you on this trip" Chachamaru said.
"Eh? Really? That's a shame... I wanted to spend some time with you and Chibi-chan" Naruto said.
"Who are you calling Chibi-chan... you mongrel" Evangeline said with a glare, she yawned a bit as she walked down the stairs...it was too early for this crap.
"Say Chibi-chan, why aren't you ready? I thought you might be going" Naruto asked.
"I can't... I am unable to leave the campus" Evangeline said, it was a half lie, she couldn't leave... she was a prisoner in here because of that bastard mage... Negi's father, Nagi 'The Thousand Master.'
"That's a shame... say is there something you might want me to get for you?" Naruto asked.
Evangeline was taken aback by this "No... but... thanks for asking" Evangeline said with a slight tinge of pink color on her cheeks.
"No problem... just trying to be friendly with my roomies. I am all set... Chibi-chan? Behave... stop getting in trouble" Naruto said as he ruffled her hair leaving a dumbstruck Evangeline...
"HOW DARE HE TREAT ME LIKE A CHILD! I WILL DESTROY HIM AND HIS BONES AND HIS ASHES!" Evangeline roared in her mind as she blushed in anger and shame.
Naruto, however, misunderstood her blush and smiled.
"Take care Chibi-chan" Naruto said as he left with a couple of bags on his hands.
"Chachamaru... let's go to his room... we must investigate him further" Evangeline ordered.
"Yes, master" Chachamaru said as they opened the door.
Once inside they looked around, the room was bare, just a few personal items lying around, however what caught her attention were the pictures.
She observed them, in it Naruto looked happy and natural, she smiled as she saw Naruto's child form in the picture, and he looked rather annoyed, from what she could tell, it was from the raven haired boy to his side.
The other one was one of a group, all of them were smiling, she noticed the lack of the raven haired boy, however she saw a pale-pink eyed girl was staring at the blond rather longingly... the other was of a blond haired man, he was quite handsome and looked like Naruto... Evangeline wondered if Naruto would look like that when he gets older, then he saw another picture, the same older blond man, this time with a red haired woman, she looked content and had her hand on her stomach, clearly indicating she was pregnant... then was a picture of the woman alone... the pictures were rather old (the ones of Naruto's parents) and realized something, the parent's must be long gone.
Also proving her point on her thoughts about Naruto's parents being gone was the fact that the edges of those pictures looked rather eroded by touch... a lot of marks were on the edges.
Evangeline sighed... "Let's leave Chachamaru" Evangeline said with a sigh... she felt a bit bad doing this, even an evil mage has standards.
"Are you certain master?" Chachamaru questioned.
"Yeah... I'll have my time to find out... one way or another" Evangeline said with an evil smirk... she liked a challenge and she decided to up the difficulty... it was no fun if she got answer the easy way.
With Negi
Negi was wide awake, watching the clock tick the minutes and seconds to the day of the trip, there was a clue of his father whereabouts.
*BRRRIIIIIN! * the watch rung, Negi rose immediately and shut the alarm out, waking up Asuna in the process (he crept up to her bunk while asleep again)
Negi then put on his clothes and fastened his backpack and his staff "YAHOO! I've been waiting so long for this day!" Negi said brimming with excitement "THE DAY OF THE SCHOOL TRIP!" Negi shouted excited.
Negi then began to wake up the other girls "ASUNA-SAN KONOKA-SAN! GOOD MORNING!"
Asuna then rubbed her eyes as she woke up "Uu~uun... damn, you...are so noisy" Asuna said as she began to change.
"PLEASE WAKE UP!" Negi said in an energetic and hyper way "TODAY IS THE DAY OF THE SCHOOL TRIP! We can't be late!"
"So early" Konoka commented "Negi-kun sure is energetic."
Negi then explained that as a teacher he had to go early, Asuna then decided to catch some extra "Z's."
Konoka however decided to make something nice for Negi and then stopped to consider something, then began anew, she made another set of onigiri.
Konoka gave Negi 2 bags "Here you go, give one to Naruto-kun" Konoka said with a wink.
Asuna then was all motherly asking Negi about the tickets and passport and fixing his collar... Negi then rushed off.
Negi and Naruto then bumped into each other as they took the tram to the Japanese bullet train station, Naruto was lucky since he had NO idea how to get there, and finding Negi helped him...A LOT.
"Hey Negi, excited about the trip?" Naruto asked with a grin as he himself never went on school functions.
"Yeah... I am!" Negi said with a childlike smile.
A few minutes later they arrived and much to both teacher's surprise, the students were already here.
"Hey! Morning" Naruto said to the class, then looked at Shizuna "morning Shizuna-san" Naruto said with a warm smile.
She blushed but nonetheless delivered her own greeting to him and Negi.
The class greeted the two teachers, Ako and Makie were looking at the blonde though... and Yuna as well, and she began to tease Naruto about the bathing incident but stopped after awhile.
Naruto then felt a presence hiding behind a pillar, and looked into his roster, according to it was Setsuna Sakurasaki.
Shizuna then said that the trip was to begin and Negi and Naruto paired up to control 3-A, The teachers and the students then slowly began to crowd the bullet train.
"Ah yes, before I forget, here you go Naruto-nii... this is from Konoka, she said to give this to you" Negi said handing a small package to Naruto.
"Thanks Negi" Naruto said as he opened it, it was some onigiri, still warm, he took one and took an experimental bite... it was delicious.
Then the cheerleading trio and the twins came in, the trio commenting about the birthday bash they had and the fun time on the karaoke, the youngest twin was a bit sore that she was not invited while the eldest was sneaking into anther compartment, she was caught by Naruto who carried her by the collar, much to her dismay... that was group 1.
Group 2 was a rather large group, consisting on Kaede, Kasuga (Misora), Yotsuba (the chubby girl... not that Naruto would ever say that... considering who he had for a friend and his... reaction to that word), Hakase, Ku Fei and Chao.
Ku Fei was egging Naruto for a match while Naruto excused himself as still recuperating... Chao and Yotsuba however began selling Nikuman around the train.
Kaede however was eying Naruto... something caught her attention about him...she was not sure why but there was something...familiar about him.
Group 3 however had a few people Naruto recognized as well, he went over his roster to get their names right but he specially recognized 3 of them...
Asakura was taking pictures while another shorter girl with short hair and freckles was a bit panicky, the girl behind her was a tad annoyed and Chizuru was amused at Ayaka's antics trying to get Negi's attention, only to be stopped dead on her tracks by Naruto.
"UH? Oh! Hey Chizuru-chan! Good morning" Naruto greeted.
Chizuru bowed lightly "Good Morning Naruto-kun how have you been?" Chizuru asked a slight blush on her face was seen, the other girls however looked at them with intent. It was weird of Chizuru to be this way.
"I been well, I trust you been the same?" Naruto asked.
"Hai, by the way... thanks for loaning me your jacket... it was rather warm" she said with a tender smile.
Now THAT got the girls thinking, what were Naruto and Chizuru doing alone at night?
Ayaka was trying to get Negi to herself on the green wagon (VIP class on the train) but Negi got out of it due to his obligations.
The other group was group 4, and noticed the dark skinned, tall girl... Mana, if Naruto's memory served him right, Ako was there as well, she was feeling unwell however and another student. This time Naruto took out his roster to identify the person, as Akira Okouchi. This girl was rubbing Ako's back as to help her nausea she was having, there was the other girl he meet at the baths as well, Yuna Akashi... as well as another girl with a brownish-pink hair and a bubbly attitude, Makie Saski, who was inviting Negi to join her team on the free day activity and also hinting it to Naruto who chuckled and simply said "Will see how it goes... I might just take you up on your offer."
Then group 5 appeared, this was composed of Asuna Kagurazaka, Konoka ("Thank you very much for the onigiri" Naruto said with a cheerful and contagious smile" which she countered with a "You are very welcome" and a tender smile of her own), Nodoka Miyazaki (Naruto felt a tang of pain in his heart, since she reminded him of Hinata...) also there was Yue and Haruka.
Negi was feeling a tad overwhelmed when he remembered that Naruto would be helping him if he needed help, he kinda relaxed a bit on that particular thing when he noticed something amiss.
"Hey, wait... that was the 5th group right... am I missing one?" Negi asked himself as he recounted.
"Negi-sensei" a female voice said
Negi and Naruto both turned around, it was the pale girl from the bath... Setsuna Sakurazaki.
"Ah, hello Setsuna-san... sorry about the other time" Naruto said with a blush as both adverted their eyes from each other.
"I- it was an accident" Setsuna mumbled a bit self conscious of her body.
Naruto looked at the girl behind her... and looked at his roster again ("I swear, this is like a BINGO book from my village" Naruto thought) he found the girl's name... Zazie Rayniday.
"I was meant to be the leader of group 6, but without Evangeline-san and Chachamaru-san group 6 is essentially just the two of us" Setsuna informed.
"Uhmm... I knew Chibi-chan's not coming WOULD bring some troublesome implications" Naruto said in a thoughtful pose.
"Chibi-chan? Who are you referring of?" Negi asked.
"That girl... Ev-something girl" Naruto said.
Negi and Chamo and Asuna paled "He's going to die! There's no way Evangeline-san would even ALLOW him to breath let alone live if he ever called her that" the trio thought on horror and fright.
"Eh? Something wrong?" Naruto said innocently.
The trio shook their heads...
"Say... why not just disband group 6 and merge them with other groups? That should do, right?" Naruto offered as a suggestion.
Negi nodded "Is that okay with you two?" Negi asked.
"I don't mind" Ayaka said.
"Sure... why not?" Asuna said.
"Eh?" Konoka said noticing the other girl.
"Se-chan! Looks like we're in the same group!" Konoka said with a smile, happy at the news, however the other girl bowed and left for another wagon, leaving Konoka speechless and a tad sad.
Naruto took a note to talk to Setsuna about this... he did NOT like that.
The train began to leave the station as the girls started to chat excited about the trip, Naruto had to (almost) tie up the twins, since they started running up and down the place, not that Naruto cared, he understood them quite well, he was feeling quiet hyper himself.
What worried him most was Konoka and Setsuna... the latter was cold to the former...
Naruto vowed to find out what just happened between those two.
"Alright everyone! The 15th annual school trip is about to begin! Please make the most out of these 5 days and four nights" Shizuna said.
The class cheered loudly.
Negi then asked the class to behave and respect the locals and to be careful as to avoid injury...
However, JUST as he finished saying that, the lady with the lunch-cart walked in and accidentally collided with Negi.
She apologized, but the class started to laugh at the irony... Naruto included.
"Sheesh... will he be ok?" Asuna wondered.
Naruto and Negi then walked about as they saw a couple of girls playing what seemed to be a card game, interested, both Negi and Naruto observed the game.
"It's a popular trading card game!" Yuna said with a smile.
"It's a game were you duel with magic" Yue said with a smile, she was really enjoying the game.
Negi smiled a tad awkwardly and Naruto was fighting to contain a laugh.
"All right! I cast "spell of flames" on you for 5 points" Yuna exclaimed.
"Damn I was killing you slowly with my "Frog Perdition" card too!" Haruna said.
"Arg... these stupid frogs" Haruna said as she dug into her backpack to get Yuna's prize, they were betting with chocolates.
Haruna opened the box and a toad jumped out, scaring the girls.
"GYAH! A FROG!" Haruna and Yuna said shocked, Yue was as well, but she showed more on her face than by her words.
Kaede however was worst, she was shivering in fright.
Naruto looked around and gasped...
Those toads... he knew them... at first he thought it might be a trick of the eye... but it was there, right in front of him.
The toads however continued to appear from almost everywhere, from one of the twin's bento, from Shizuna's thermos (which shocked her into fainting)
Negi turned around and saw the disaster that was occurring, distracted by his small chat with Chamo.
Naruto stepped in and looked both sad and angry... sad at seeing his old time friend the toads and angry at someone manipulating them... since he was the new Sage, he was the sole and ONLY holder of the toad summoning contract... whoever did this was going to have a slow and painful death.
"I AM UZUMAKI NARUTO AND I ORDER YOU ALL TO STOP!" Naruto roared.
The girls looked at Naruto... and then they heard nothing...
The frogs slowly turned their heads and looked at the blond... many of them looked teary eyed, but most of the girls thought of it as an optical illusion... toads don't have emotions... right?
He picked a particularly odd looking one and then he said "Why?" in a whisper to the toad in his hand.
The toad talked to him in a whisper as to not let the others hear him "I am sorry Aniki... someone used a powerful jutsu and we became compelled to follow the orders... I am glad you are alive" the toad said to him "for us it has been years but centuries have passed... we thought you where gone!".
"Right now I am not able to summon anything bigger than you... tell Gamakichi and the elders that I am alive... and that I will talk to them soon" Naruto whispered.
"All of you vanish" Naruto said... the toads then jumped into the boxes, and thermos... when the girls saw the interior of said containers... they were all gone
Negi then began patting himself... and pulled out a letter, he sighed in relief... only to gasp on shock when a bird flew by and took the letter.
Negi then started to follow as well as Naruto... Negi bumped into Asuna and Naruto... well Naruto jumped over her and began to run on the roof to avoid been seen.
Naruto then saw up front and saw Setsuna drawing her sword and sheeting it back in one fluid movement, slicing the bird in half... no blood came.
"That looks like Konan's origami jutsu...!" Naruto thought.
Negi rushed behind him and crashed AGAIN against the lunch-cart lady but he got his bearings and continued following the bird's trail... well, ONLY trail.
He arrived and saw Setsuna picking up the letter, she noticed his arrived.
"Negi-sensei" she said.
"Sa...Sakurazaki-san?" Negi said a bit confused.
"Uhm... I believe you dropped this" Setsuna said a tad sternly.
"AH! MY IMPORTANT LETTER!" Negi said in shock.
"T-Thank you! You really saved me there!" Negi said relieved.
"Does it belong to you sensei? It would be wise to be careful sensei, especially... when we arrive to the other side... if you'll excuse me" Setsuna said as she walked away, neither person noticing Naruto who was looking at Setsuna.
"Iiiinteresting... you just peaked my curiosity... now I got TWO things to figure out... no wait... THREE things, well... this trip is going to be fun indeed" Naruto mussed to himself.
Naruto then looked down to where Negi was
"THAT GIRL IS SUSPICIOUS ANIKI!" The ermine whispered.
"OH? Is that a summon? Reminds me of Temari's... uhmm...darn, what was it called?." Naruto thought.
"You better keep an eye on her!" the ermine said.
"Eh? What do you mean?" Negi said.
"Look... look under your feet!" the ermine said.
"EH? The bird?" Negi said shocked.
"She must be the one who was controlling it" the ermine said.
"But... that would mean..." Negi said feeling afraid.
"Yes... she could be a spy from the west... and I wouldn't count out that Naruto guy... pretty suspicious that he came JUST a few days before the trip... and the frogs were VERY submissive to him... only a summoner can control the summons" the ermine said.
"Aww man... that means even Naruto-nii? First Evangeline and now those two?" Negi said as he felt emotionally and mentally drained.
"Nice job you stupid ferret" Naruto thought with annoyance "This will make my trying to help him even more... troublesome" Naruto thought.
After Negi left Naruto jumped down and picked up the paper bird's remains... he kept it to use it to be able to find its owner... trying to sniff it he came out with nothing... the person was good not leaving a trail to follow... it only added to the chase... something that Naruto enjoyed, like a certain vampire.
Naruto then appeared as the train came to their stop... when they exited Naruto shielded his eyes a bit and saw the area... he gasped.
It looked beautiful... sure things have changed... A LOT! But... the changes have not been ALL bad...
Asakura then asked the class to line up for a commemorative picture... Naruto was walking away when someone (Asakura) grabbed him and pulled him in.
"Come on... you might as well be in it as well!" Asakura said with a feline grin.
Naruto was behind them, shouldering the twins on his shoulder, since they were a tad too short .
Sakurako, Misa and Madoka were next to Naruto along with Chizuru to his other side.
"Hey... think I could get a copy?" Naruto asked.
"Sure... why not?" Asakura said.
"Rambunctious class eh?" Naruto commented to Negi with a light chuckle on his part.
"They sure are" Negi said... forgetting for a second about Naruto's status as a 'would be' spy.
They arrived at Kiyomizu temple.
"KYOTO!" Sakurako yelled energetically pumping her fist to the air.
"This must be that place where you jump off! I've heard about this!" Yuna said.
"Someone try jumping off!" Fuka said.
"All right then" Kaede said.
"STOP THAT" Ayaka said.
"This is... the Kiyomizu main temple's famous stage, isn't it?" Yue said.
Yue then explained a bit of the history of this temple, Chao, Negi and Naruto were pretty surprised.
"I knew you were smart... as I thought... you just hate studying... don't you?" Naruto said to Yue, who lightly blushed a bit.
"Don't worry... I had a friend who was like that... he was the smarted guy ever... PERIOD... IQ of over 200 hundred... but was too lazy to even lift the pencil to take the test... he was a funny guy" Naruto said as he remembered Shikamaru and his trademark phrase.
The rest were looking from the temple's borders at the sights... they commented on the nice weather and some of them took pictures. ALL in all it was a quiet time... in contrast with what had happened in the bullet train.
Yue then remembered something.
"That's right... I forgot.. if you go further from here, there's a fortune telling place for your love life, it's quite popular with the girls" Yue said.
Ayaka then grabbed Negi, however, Naruto pulled a fast substitution and unknown to Ayaka she was pulling Naruto who was grinning.
"Hey.. .I didn't know you liked me that way... well I think you are cute and all... but shouldn't be get to know each other a bit better?" Naruto said making Ayaka squeak in fright and blushed in shame at getting the wrong boy... and a bit from being called cute.
"By the way there is a waterfall that is quite famous as well... if you drink from those streams you'll stay healthy, do well in school and even get married... depending on which stream you drink from" Yue added.
The girls quickly grabbed Negi and Naruto and pushed them down to the waterfall.
Negi was walking calmly as Naruto was chatting with the other girls and getting to know each other a bit better. Makie-chan was a very nice girl, followed with Ako... he like being with them, Makie apparently was trying to get to know Naruto better and Ako... well she was torn in between talking to him or running away in embarrassment (due to what happened in the bathing area), because of being torn with that she was not aware she was wobbling and almost tripped down the stairs.
A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her close to a well toned chest.
"Jeesh... that was close, you ok, Ako-chan?" Naruto asked as he examined the girl who was blushing, Naruto thought that she might be running a fever and put his hand on her forehead and put another on his.
"Fever? No... you seem fine... just be careful ok?" Naruto said as he checked her temperature and then released her.
"H...hai" Ako said with her face in a bright pink/red color.
"What a nice girl" Naruto said with a smile as the girl ran with a heavy red blush on her face.
They all stopped when they saw a strange stone in the ground.
"Uh... according to this, if you make it from here to the stone without opening your eyes, you'll find success in love? One of the girls said.
Ayaka. Makie and Nodoka decided to test their luck.
Nodoka and the others walked a tad disoriented until Ayaka used her martial arts skill and targeted the stone and ran... Makie was a tad sore and lightly opened her eyes... Naruto then noticed something... there was a dug-out part in the ground.
"A pitfall!... wait it doesn't seem deep... well, let see how this turns out" Naruto thought.
Ayaka was a few feet away along with Makie, Nodoka was still wandering about trying to regain her composure and find her way to the stone.
Then disaster struck when they both feel down the trap... Naruto and Negi and some of the rest came over to help, Naruto helped Makie as Asuna helped Ayaka, Setsuna then appeared, she was half hidden and looking their way.
"If she keeps going like that is going to create even MORE confusion... stupid girl" Naruto said.
After that incident the girls reached the waterfall when he (Naruto) heard some soft tapping on the roof... Someone was there... however due to the students he couldn't do a thing... then as quickly as it came, it left, Naruto decided to let it go and watched the students struggling to get the marriage stream.
Now Naruto was not a drinker... he never was one... however due to his travels with Ero-sennin he was really good at detecting booze... he noticed as well some of the girls faces have gotten flushed.
Naruto then face palmed as it was too late... all of the girls were passed out... drunk out of their arses...
Naruto and Negi both investigated and found a barrel of sweet sake pouring down one of the waterfalls (can you guess which one?)
Naruto, Asuna, Yue, Konoka and Negi tried to cover this incident as they dragged/carried the girls into the bus and off to the inn.
Later at the inn
The girls that were not drunk... correction... drunk enough to pass out, started playing around a bit.
Naruto decided to follow Negi a bit and hid behind them using a camo-sheet and hid behind them as Asuna came by.
Negi was fretting and Asuna had a worried face.
"Oh! Negi! NEGI!" She shouted trying to get the child teacher's attention.
Negi snapped out and looked at her "oh! Asuna-san..."
"I've told them that the drunk students went to sleep on their rooms... thank KAMI Naruto-sensei helped me and covered up with a bogus story... kinda saved us from a LOT of trouble,but... can you tell me what's going on here?" Asuna asked a tad worried, she felt something was out of place here.
"Well... the truth is..." Negi said hesitantly.
"JUST TELL HER!" the ermine said.
Naruto raised an eyebrow... apparently Asuna was in the know-how of magic's existence.
"EEE~H? 3-A IS BEING TARGETTED BY SOME WEIRD MAGIC ASSOCIATION FROM KANSAI!" Asuna said shocked.
"Yes! Is called Kansai magic association..." Negi said.
"I knew there was something odd about those frogs" Asuna said.
She huffed a bit "Another one of your magical disasters eh?" Asuna said
"I am sorry" Negi said feeling a tad down.
She then relaxed and smiled "I guess you want my help again uh? No problem... I'll help with what I can" Asuna said.
"Thanks Asuna-san!" Negi said a bit moved by her helpfulness.
The ermine (now identified as Chamo by Negi) told them about his suspicion of Setsuna being a spy...
"I don't know... I heard that Setsuna was a childhood friend of Konoka, but... I never once saw them together" Asuna said as she began to think.
"Wait... if it what you say is true..." Chamo said.
"HOLD ON A SECOND!" Negi said as he dug into his backpack and pulled his roster.
He opened it and saw Setsuna's picture... in it said "Setsuna Sakurazaki, Kendo Club" and in handwriting bellow it said "Kyoto Shimenryuu."
"DAMN! SO SHE'S FROM KYOTO! THAT MEANS..." Chamo paused for dramatic effect.
"That means?" Asuna and Negi asked
"THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! SHE'S AN ASSASSIN FROM THE KANSAI MAGIC ASSOCIATION!" Chamo said.
"Do... do you really think so?" Asuna said.
"And to add... the boy... Naruto... he's even MORE suspicious! Did you see how those frogs reacted!" Chamo said.
"Uhmm... I don't know... he seems like a nice enough guy... I don't know him very well but I doubt it" Asuna said.
"NAIVE! It's that kind of thinking that will get us killed in a battle!" Chamo said "for a spy, the first rule is to gain the enemy's trust! Then... when they are vulnerable... stab em in the back" Chamo said.
"Sounds like he knows people like that..." Naruto thought with a sweat-drop.
Shizuna then came by walking with a yukata... Naruto couldn't help but looking at her... she looked beautiful... he blushed and shook his head... he needed to clear those thoughts... he could come back to those thoughts LATER.
Asuna then asked Negi to take a bath, since it was the teacher's time to use the bath, Negi entered the bath and Naruto stealthily followed him in.
"Hey! What's going on Negi" Naruto said as he waved him and got into the hot water inside.
"AH! oh... Naruto-nii... how are you?" Negi asked.
"I am doing good... man was today hectic" Naruto said as he dipped himself further in and put the towel on his head.
Chamo then whispered something on Negi's ears "Say... how did you come by to be a teacher here?" Negi asked.
"Fishing for information eh? ok... I get the game..." Naruto thought.
"Well... I was found passed out under the world tree... I've been in a coma for almost a month... I found out the place I used to live... well... is gone..." Naruto said "So... I laid there... thinking about what to do... when the headmaster offered a helping hand... you see... when you have no purpose... no reason to do things... you are not really alive... you only drift in a sea of uncertainty and float with the sheer power of hope... but sooner or later you will drown on it... he gave me the most important thing in the world..." Naruto said smiling.
"What's that?" Negi asked.
"A purpose... let me tell you something Negi, and take it to heart, without something or someone to live for, you are not really live... you are just floating in a sea of uncertainty, you just drift and hope... until you drown" Naruto said looking at the moon that rose in the sky.
"What do you live for Naruto-nii?" Negi asked.
Naruto grinned "I told you right? I live for you and this class's sake" Naruto said.
"But... THAT'S WRONG!" Negi yelled "to not even think about yourself at all" Negi said.
"Oh... But I do... you see... I lived for the sake of my home-place; I wanted to become the next leader, so that I could protect everyone's smiles because that's all that mattered to me, their happiness was mine... but... they are gone now... I was drifting until the old man found me... and introduced me to you all... now... I want to you and those girls to be happy and safe too. If it's for their safety of those I care about... I will gladly give my life away" Naruto said with a jaded look and a sad but tender smile.
"You can't think like that... that way of thinking is wrong!" Negi said "to throw away your life so easily."
"Eh? Did it sound like that? Well... I suppose... but what I meant was... I am not going to just keel over and die... if I can live and safe them... I will do everything in my power to do so... or are you saying you wouldn't give your life to protect them?" Naruto asked.
"That's different!" Negi said.
"So you would eh?" Naruto smiled and patted him "Then is all okay... remember, protect this girls... always" Naruto said with a wink.
The conversation was interrupted as they heard the door open up.
"One of the teachers maybe?" Negi half asked, half said.
"I hope is Shizuna...wait... what am I thinking! no bad Naruto,no,you do not go the Ero-sennin side, bad!" Naruto mentally chastised himself.
They both peered over the boulder in the open air bath and saw a majestic sight... second time for Naruto really.
It was Setsuna in her naked glory washing herself with water to get into the bath.
"Wow... she is short... but beautiful... like a Yamato Nadaishiko" Negi thought out loud
Naruto then smacked the back of Negi's head
"Stop staring! I think we better hide" Naruto said sounding a bit worried.
"Eh? Why?" Negi asked.
"Ju-just trust me ok? Is a thing" Naruto said with a slight shiver of fear washing over him.
Setsuna sighed as she poured water on her beautiful pale skin.
"How troublesome...if Negi-sensei is indeed a mage... then I should take some action... but..." Setsuna said thinking to herself.
Naruto then saw Negi having a slight panic attack... forgetting about Naruto he pulled a small stick with a ball and hoop around it.
"Evil intent?" Sakuraski said.
Naruto decided to make himself scarce, but it was too late... again.
She used a pebble and broke the lights, blinding them.
"WHO'S THERE!" She yelled.
Negi began to run but because of the water his position was easy to locate even in the dark.
"You can't get away!" Setsuna said.
She then sliced the boulder... Naruto whistled in his hiding place, as Negi narrowly dodged it... the attack sliced part of his ahoge.
"FLANS EXARMATIO!" Negi shouted.
Setsuna's sword flew away... Naruto took the chance and jumped out of the water and grabbed the sword...
Setsuna smirked then lunged herself towards Negi and grabbed his neck and... his... well... ehm genitalia...
"WHO ARE YOU?" She said in a dangerous tone "If you don't answer I'll crush IT and SNAP IT OFF!"
Then she saw the terrified face of the person that she was attacking...
"huh?" she had a questioning look on her face "Negi-sensei..." she then released lightly.
Setsuna blushed as she pulled both hands out.
"AH! I.. I am sorry, Negi-sensei... ah" She said a bit shocked and embarrassed as Negi was shaking in fright at the experience.
Then... Setsuna saw the hand that was holding it and blushed even deeper "AH... err...this... I mean... well, to aim for the vital spot is just basic theory" Setsuna said but then felt a pair of hands grabbing her shoulders, she cringed... she hasn't sensed the person at all.
She was then thrown into a boulder and Naruto appeared in front of her with an elbow on her neck...
"EH! Setsuna-chan?" Naruto said now confused... the person attacking them was the same girl?
"Naruto-sensei?" Setsuna said.
"We REALLY need to stop meeting each other like this" Naruto said.
She blushed...
Then a scream filled the air.
"HYAAAH!"
"Eh? I recognize that voice!" Naruto said.
"T...that scream!" Negi said.
"Konoka-ojou-sama!" Setsuna said.
Naruto and Setsuna arrived first, followed by Negi.
They expected to see blood and violence...
However... the vision they got instead...
A bunch of little monkeys were stripping both Asuna and Konoka... Naruto's eyebrow twitched...
"Why the hell am I involved in perverted situations?... not that I mind" Naruto thought.
"Wha... Negi? What the hell are these monkeys doing to our underwear!" Asuna yelled in fury as she tried to keep her panties on, same as Konoka.
Then the monkeys managed to take their underwear out from Konoka, all of them chattering in glee.
"Ahhh... Negi-kun! Naru-kun! Set-cha~an! Don't look" Konoka said as she tried to cover her shame...
"YOU DAMN MONKEYS! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO KONOKA-OJOU-SAMA? I WILL SLASH YOU UP!" Setsuna said pissed off.
"EH!" Negi shouted
"Is that a real sword? What the heck are you doing!" Asuna shouted as she punched a monkey out of her bra.
"Those are just Shikigami... they will turn to paper once I slash them so don't worry" Setsuna tried to explain.
A monkey then pulled the towel off Setsuna and she tripped over Naruto and Negi (who was holding Setsuna as to stop killing the monkeys) fell on top of Naruto.
Setsuna was clad naked right on Naruto's chest... while Negi landed in seiza on Naruto's stomach, and Naruto hit the floor hard head-first.
"ARG... damn it... that fucking... hurt?" Naruto said as he felt something warm... and he looked up...
Asuna gasped and Setsuna moaned a tad in the slight discomfort... then realized where she was... and what was going on, she blushed furiously.
Naruto turned red as a beet and jumped right out of the way with his hands up in the air.
"Wait! Where the... Konoka!" Naruto yelled as he went to chase after the monkeys... however Setsuna was faster and took out the sword "OJOU-SAMA!" Setsuna yelled.
Then she used her sword technique and eliminated every monkey on the scene... freeing Konoka... Naruto then went back and brought her yukata so she could have some modesty...
Naruto then noticed something on a tree and saw it... a female was over there... but couldn't see it very well... she vanished a few seconds after.
"Se-chan! I don't understand what happened... but you saved me right? Thank you!" Konoka said.
Setsuna blushed and dropped Konoka into the water and dashed away.
"Ah! Se-chan?" Konoka said as the girl left.
Naruto went inside and did a sensible thing... he made a kage bunshin and left it with them... as he went after Setsuna.
-events in here happen in the exact same time, so it will look a tad confusing but bear with me... The author-
Kage bunshin with Negi, Asuna and Konoka
"Konoka-chan... sorry, but do you mind me asking... what is Setsuna-chan to you?" Naruto asked as he sat on a boulder, but not before handing Konoka a towel.
"Konoka... something happened between you and Sakurazaki-san before right?" Asuna said feeling bad about the situation.
"Un... I never really talked about it with you either Asuna" Konoka said.
"You know that before I moved and started living with you... I lived in Kyoto, right? When I was a little girl, I was raised in a huge, quiet mansion, it was located deep within the mountains so I didn't even have one friend to call my own... then... one day people from the shimeryuu came... Se-chan was the first friend I ever had, Se-chan was learning kendo she did things like drive away scary dogs... she protected me when I was in danger... but one day I fell in a river and I was drowning She did her best to help me... however we both got sweep up and were rescued by adults... after that Se-chan became busier and busier with kendo so much we never had any time to talk... and then I moved to Mahora... when I was in the first year of middle school, Se-chan also transferred in and we were able to meet again... but..." Konoka began to tear up, tears flowed from her eyes and Naruto (kage bunshin) couldn't take this much longer...
"It was like I had done something wrong... Se-chan wouldn't talk to me like she did before" Konoka said as she sniffed a bit, Naruto... not being able to hold it in... went, and much to the shock of Asuna and Negi, hugged her, Konoka gasped at the sudden outburst but held on to him.
"It's okay... cry all you want" Naruto said as he patted her, and cry she did.
He was also hurting about that... he could feel her pain... not being able to be with someone you loved...
Naruto offered her something to clean her tears "Tears don't suit you... a smile from you is a million times better" Naruto said with his own contagious smile.
"Hai... thank you Naru-kun" Konoka said as she tried to smile
"I'll take Konoka-chan to her room, so if it's okay you look around... I don't want more monkeys... well... monkeying around like that around other students" Naruto said as he walked along Konoka.
After leaving Konoka on her room safely Naruto looked at her once more... "Konoka-chan?" Naruto said
"Yes?" she said, a bit of a confused .
"If... you ever need a friend... or someone to talk to... count on me" Naruto said with a tender smile with a slight blush and a wink... he closed the door and popped out of existence.
With Setsuna
Setsuna was dashing about the hallways... in retrospective it might have been a better idea to put something on first.
"I think you might need this" a voice said right to her side,
She stopped in shock to find Naruto next to her... and keeping up with her no less.
"Ah... thanks" Setsuna said while blushing... covering herself and tying up the yukata...
"We need to talk" Naruto said with a stern face.
Setsuna sighed and indicated an empty room... she sat down in seiza.
"So... 'Se-chan' is it?" Naruto said, Setsuna growled at him using that nickname... something Naruto ignored.
"First... I want you to forgive me for what I am about to do" Naruto said solemnly.
Setsuna looked a bit confuses, Naruto rose up and then.
*CONK *
"OUCH! What the-! Sensei!" Setsuna said nursing the bump on her head with a few tears of pain and indignation.
"That... that was for being an idiot... I mean... seriously... aren't you supposed to protect Konoka? Leaving her like that... what the heck are you thinking..." Naruto said irritated.
"Ex-excuse me?" Setsuna said shocked.
"Really now... and attacking like that without looking who is the attacker? Are you trying to kill your allies?" Naruto said.
"I... wha..." Setsuna mumbled.
"I admit... the swordsmanship part WAS kinda awesome... but still, did you have to be so cold to Konoka-chan? She really wants to be with you... she misses you... you are her FIRST friend for God's sake" Naruto said irritated.
Setsuna was shocked... "When did you-?"
"Learn that?" just a second ago... Konoka told us about your story... well... not to me... but to my bunshin... kinda got the information back... now... explain" Naruto said as he sat down with his legs crossed over each other.
"I am not worthy" Setsuna said.
"Okay... how about you start explaining a bit better?" Naruto said.
"I am not strong enough to be by her side" Setsuna said.
"Do you want another smack on the head?" Naruto said as he glared at her... making Setsuna blush.
"Because... is my duty to protect Ojou-sama, but I am not strong enough to stay by her side... I failed her once... when we were children" Setsuna said.
"Yes... the river incident..." Naruto said.
Setsuna nodded.
"I promised myself to never allow that to happen, that is why I dedicated myself to my art, and I devoted myself to it... to never fail her again" Setsuna said.
He sat beside her and turned her around, she found it a tad uncomfortable being this close to him and slightly blushed "So you're her bodyguard... and you left her side directly after an attempted kidnapping!" He said, giving her another small bop on the head.
"DAH!" Setsuna again shouted in pain and nursed her head again.
"At least you didn't leave her alone." He finished with a frustrated sigh. Setsuna looked up and saw him as he sighed.
Her expression of pain and stoic shock changed to that of resignation at his words.
"You say your job is to protect her... here's a tip from someone whose done it before... is MUCH EASIER to do it up close!... it is stupid to keep your distance, it'll make it THAT much harder to do your job right, just stick with her, re-establish your friendship with her... I know she would like that" Naruto said as he put a hand on her shoulder with a fatherly smile.
"I can't do that!" Setsuna said with a blush.
"Have you seen Konoka? She was a wreck! You say you are going to protect her... well... protect her! Protect her from the guilt and pain YOU cause her as well" Naruto said as he put both hands on her shoulder and looked directly into Setsuna's eyes.
"Wha… what do you mean?" Setsuna asked him.
"SHE WAS CRYING! SHE BLAMES HERSELF! THINKING THAT SHE DID SOMETHING WRONG AND THAT IS WHY YOU ACT SO COLD AND DISTANT Naruto yelled, feeling irritated.
Setsuna was shocked at the revelation... "Is... is what you are saying true?" Setsuna asked.
"Sheesh... I thought girls were supposed to be better at reading the emotions and crap..." Naruto said "Why is it so hard? Don't you like her?" Naruto asked.
"No, I mean I do, it's just" Setsuna said a bit obfuscated.
"Then what the hell is the problem! Go!" Naruto said as he smirked and patted her.
"Thank you for the advice Naruto-sensei..." Setsuna said with bow.
"Just call me Naruto... I like it better... and... sorry about what happened in the bath... again... and again" Naruto said with a blush as he had seen her naked twice in the same day... once closer than the other.
"It... It was an accident... ok...?" Setsuna said as she blushed as well.
"Naruto... I suppose you have experience as a body guard?" Setsuna asked.
"heh... picked up on that eh?... yeah I done my fair share of it... from bridge builder to priestesses; I've even guarded a couple princesses in my time" Naruto said with a smile as he remembered his days as a konoha shinobi..
"Is that why you are here? To protect Ojou-sama?" Setsuna asked.
Naruto poked her forehead lightly "Not just her... the whole class... yourself included" Naruto said with a playful wink.
Setsuna blushed a bit "I...I see" Setsuna said.
"By the way... don't tell Negi I know about magic... he's not supposed to know... okay?" Naruto asked.
"Yes... Naruto-sensei" Setsuna said.
"Oi, what did I just say about the formalities?" Naruto chided.
"Yes, but I rather call you sensei" she responded meekly.
Naruto sighed in exasperation, "Fine, in class and functions you can call me sensei, otherwise it's just Naruto, got it?"
"Hai" Setsuna responded with a bow and exited a slight smile appeared on her face .
Chapter end
