Naruto; The only show without pictures.
Sasuke; With blind ninja.
LC; Your never letting that go are you?
Sasuke; YOU MADE ME BLIND!
LC; Be quiet you little baby!
Disclaimer; They aren't mine so leave me the hell alone, I got enough on my plate right now.
Chapter 4; A Journey, a few explosions, and a triumphant return.
Sasuke disliked lots of things. Like being mind controlled into nearly killing his best friend. Yeah, he hated that. But there was one thing he hated above all others.
Pity. Four letters, but so many levels of hate. So many heated glares that he sent to absolutely nobody since glaring at random people in the streets would no doubt be bad.
He never thought he'd even think this, but he was jealous of Naru Uzumaki! She was damned lucky! She was able to go where she wanted when she wanted, so long as it wasn't in the village.
She could go to any country she wanted so long as she wasn't caught. She was even building her own village for Pete's sake!
He'd never been jealous of someone before. It was a new feeling and one he didn't like. But that didn't make it any less true.
Danzo watched the disgruntled Uchiha through the Sandaime's crystal ball, which he'd taken from storage. He needed to do something about that.
At the rate things were going the Uchiha's loyalty was constantly in question. He needed the Uchiha to stay here to marry and make little Uchihas. How else was he going to get a constant supply of Sharingan eyes?
Sighing his frustration he thought to the last thing he'd seen when his clone had been tailing Naru Uzumaki.
She'd last been travelling to Suna. Probably to visit that jinchuriki friend of her's, Gaara. He hadn't been able to find her since then though.
He didn't even know if she was still in Suna anymore. For all he knew she was in his backyard! He needed to think of a way to bring her back to begin training under him to become Konoha's weapon. He wasn't able to come up with anything though.
All of her friends were clan heirs, abroad, or would look suspicious if they went missing. She'd made friends in high places.
Speaking of Naru, one could find her travelling through Unnamed lands through a mountain pass. Behind her was a carriage of people, her friends and new family.
It had taken longer, but now they were almost to Uzu no Sato. 'Almost home.' Naru thought wirly.
Haradai didn't see any water. All he saw were mountains, trees, and rocks. The occasional animal, sure. But no water. So where was Uzu no Sato?
Naru stopped at the foot of the largest mountain and began flashing through some signs. When she had finished, a large cave had appeared on the rock surface. It was a tunnel that seemed to go on for ages.
Naru sealed up at the entrance after everyone had gone through. She then led everyone through the tunnel to the ocean on the other side.
Everyone gasped when they saw the wide expanse of clear blue water. It sparkled in the sun like a diamand. The sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks and sand echoed all around the cave exit, reveberating through their heads.
Naru stepped forward until she was knee deep in the water. Raising one arm, she swept it and the ocean water to the left. Using the other arm she swept it to the right.
Thus the ocean parted like the Red Sea.
Which is when they came to a problem. How to bring down the carriage and all their supplies, down the stairs to the city below?
"I got an idea that may result in serious fun." Naru said with a michevous grin. "First, all of you will lead the horses and breakable stuff down the stairs, then Dei will send up a flash bomb to tell me it's safe to go."
Wary of their undisputed leader's idea of fun, they did as they were told quickly. When they had moved out of the way, Deidara sent up the flash bang, signalling Naru to let loose.
They watched as ice crept over the stairs until it made a very slick ramp. When Haradai realized what his mistress was planning he had split reactions.
On one hand, he really really really wanted to be the one riding down that ramp! It probably was going to be fun! On the other, he knew from personal expierence that if she slid down that on the carriage, she'd crash into the first solid thing in the way.
Which would mean injuries to his mistress, something he could not tolerate.
He tried to tell Naru it was a bad idea, but it was too late. "LOOK OUT BELOOOOOWWWWW!" The carriage, with Naru sitting on the driver's seat, sped past in a blur. "WHERE ARE THE BRAKES ON THIS THING?"
Haradai watched in a mixture of awe and horror as Naru sped down the streets of Uzu no Sato reaching unimaginable speeds.
Naru's eyes were wide as saucers as she watched everything move in a blur. It took all the control she had not to raise up her arms and cry WHEE!
Of course, the rush of the ride ended when she saw she was heading straight for the largest tower in the village. 'CRAP!' She mentally screamed, gathering her will to create a soft road block to at least slow them down.
The water slowed her down considerably but she was still on a collision course with the tower. "Kage Bunshin Jutsu!" She screamed, summoning up a dozen clones that managed to stop the cart an inch from the building.
Everyone, even little Ichiro, breathed a sigh of relief. Way too close for comfort. Deidara shook his head and tried to figure out wether or not Naru was more than a little insane.
Akane tried, rather unsuccessfully, to quell her speeding heart. Never before had she seen such reckless behavior! It was horrifying seeing her personal heroin racing to what she thought was her death.
What kind of girl had she been following?
When they caught up to the carriage they saw Naru sitting on the driver's seat looking like she'd just had some fun. Which judging from her face when she'd been barreling down, she had.
"Let's do that again!" Cue group sweatdrop. "What? It was fun! I'm entitled to fun!" She argued playfully, jumping down.
"Anyway, what do you guys think of Uzu no Sato?" She gestured around them, at the sparkling buildings and the clean roads. At the top of the dome, was a giant crystal that provided sunlight to the entire city.
A beautiful paradise waiting for someone to take haven inside.
Isamu had never seen such a beautiful, wonderful place before. It seemed he needed about forty-eight more eyes to take in everything he was seeing.
Under the water, he felt so safe. Like nothing could hurt him with those waves crashing overhead, distant and constant. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath of this strange new world's air and felt at peace.
For the first time in his life, he was at peace. Even if he had died right then, he wouldn't feel any regret. Because he had followed lady Uzumaki to the ends of the world and found the garden of Eden, just like she'd promised.
Akane felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. Here it was, a place she wouldn't be shunned. An entire village where her baby boy could grow up without fear to be a great man.
Maybe someday he would join the ninja academy Naru planned to start. Then he would fight to protect a place where the outcasts of the world could come and live freely. That was something she would be proud of. Looking down at little Ichiro, she vowed to do her best to look after the city as well. But not just for her baby. But for Naru Uzumaki as well.
The Uzukage, lady Uzumaki.
Deidara could only think about one thing. He was glad he'd turned down that offer. If he hadn't, he'd never gotten to see the most wonderful place in the world like the one right before his eyes.
Sure, it would be a little weird to work for someone who was younger than him, but at least it was someone he respected. Someone who didn't flinch when they shook his hand. Who's eyes lit up when he told them about how his hands worked.
He could make a life here. No problem.
Haradai was amazed. For a few minutes when they'd first met he'd been convinced he'd sworn his life to a madwoman. Now, seeing this, he realized which was the really mad one.
It was him, for ever doubting the words that fell from the lips of Naru Uzumaki. Thinking of his departed master, he knew he could never find a better person to live for. No one better than lady Uzumaki, someone who could offer up everything for nothing in return.
For two days they all got moved in to their respective homes near the center tower. The same tower the entire group had to nearly bully Naru into moving into.
The top floor were magnificant living quarters meant for the leader of the village.
"I don't know what to do with half of the stuff in there!" She argued frantically. "What if I brake something? I can't very well replace anything!"
To Naru's displeasure they all managed to hoist her up there anyway. So now she sat on the bed of her boring blue and white room.
Sure, she wore only blue and black now, but that was because she was a ninja. That did not mean she had to have a boring room too. Cracking her knuckles menacingly, she began to redecorate.
By time she was done it was midnight of the first day and she was beat. But at least now her room had a splash of color in it. Her seashell collection rested on the mantle of her fireplace. A bright orange, fur rug lay from the foot of her bed to the baby blue couch. On the side-table she had placed a picture of team seven, one of Pappy and her, and finally one of all her new friends, Garra and his siblings, and her.
The things she'd added had to take the places of things she had relocated. The black and white pictures of past leaders she'd moved from the mantle to the walls.
The curtains she'd tucked away safely in the back of her closet and replaced with some purple ones. On the coffee table in front of the couch she decided to put a figurine she'd gotten in Suna. It was of a large fox sitting proudly, his head cocked the side.
Gaara had questioned her purchase but she felt she needed something to remind her, though she didn't tell him that. She wanted to remember why she'd had to leave her old home for this new one.
That completed the living quarters of her new suite. So now she lay down on the warm, velvety covers of the bed and closed her eyes. A new day would soon be dawning.
She couldn't wait to see what she'd make of it.
The second day was spent exploring the many twists and turns of the village. Naru spent the majority of the day at the graveyard, where Pappy and many other people were buried.
Haradai found her there praying for Pappy's soul.
"Lady Uzumaki?" He called uncertainly. He didn't wish to disturb her.
"You need something Haradai?" Naru asked curiously.
"The others sent me because everyone is curious about what we'll do next." He reported quickly. "Everyone's waiting for you."
"Right, let's go then!" Naru said happily, running to the gates. "Race ya!"
"We need to start letting people know about us so we can get jobs to make money." Deidara proposed at the meeting. "To do that though, we have to wear something recognizable, like a headband, to show our affiliation."
Naru thought to all the time she spent training under Pappy. "I think there's a storage room filled with headbands with the village's symbol on them in the basement of the tower." She told him. "We also need to bring more people here." Akane pointed out. "I highly doubt we're the only outcasts of the world."
"My sentiments exactly." Naru said demurly. "I think we all know the danger our kind are constantly in. That's why I propose to send Haradai to Iwa, to search there for people who want to come. I myself will be going on a trip to the land of Wave with Isamu."
There was instantanous uproar to her proposition. Naru knew one of the tests of a great leader was to make people see things her way, so she stood up for herself.
And slammed her palm down on the table. "Listen! I know for a fact these mountains aren't as safe as they first appear. I want to be sure that all of you will be safe in this village. That's why I propose that Akane and her son Ichiro stay here to look after the place while Deidara does various missions to gain money. Haradai, you swore your life to me but if I can help it you'll never have to shed your own blood in my name. Iwa isn't a safe place to me because I'm in their bingo book, but I'm sure there are various orphans in need of homes in that land." Haradai nodded sagely as he saw the reasoning behind the lunacy. "Isamu and I will be going to Wave because I want him to see something and to gather some intelligence from old friends of mine."
It took a good hour, but eventually Naru had them all convinced it was the best method availiable. "We'll all return to the mountain pass in a month's time, no excuses." She finished, dissmissing them all. "I'm going to put my trust in all of you to help me save the helpless ones. I'm trusting you to help me save those who don't know how to save themselves."
While waiting for everyone, Akane was to begin organizing everything in the village. From the ancient library to old records, it was going to be her job to make sure it was all catagorized and filed away neatly.
Deidara would take up missions like before to spread the word of Uzu no Sato and earn money. Haradai would travel to seek out the outcast and downtrod people of Iwa. Finally Isamu and Naru would travel to Wave to see about her old friends in the rebellion against Danzo.
Because if there was one thing Pappy had drilled into her head, it was that an unknown enemy was a dangerous one.
They all met up the next day at the village gates. Naru exorted her will upon the ocean outside the doors before Haradai opened them.
The horses and people climbed up somewhat solemnly, hesitant to leave their new home. Their only comfort was that it was real. They had touched it and lived in it for two short days. Akane closed the doors after them, holding Ichiro close to her heart and praying for their safety. Upon reaching the surface, they met with Danzo himself.
Without waiting to see what he wanted, Naru closed the gates to her village. Meaning she let the water fill back over the stairs and let the tide come in.
"Greetings Naru Uzumaki." He greeted her formally. On either side of him stood an operative of his ROOT. They stood tall and emotionless next to their master, not saying a thing. "What a pleasure to see you again."
"Danzo, I heard recently you'd been made hokage. I congratulate you." She said civily, her face straight and her posture loose.
"I came to offer you a home back in Konoha." He sure didn't waste time beating around the bush, she had to give him that much.
"Sorry Danzo, but I have new commitments." Naru said politely, kind of hoping they wouldn't have to fight. "I am a bit busy running my own operations. We're both busy people, you hokage, me trying to keep this ragtag group of pals fed and clothed."
"I can offer your friends a home as well." He pointed out stiffly, his small smile faltering slightly at her tone. "You can become a shinobi again and your friends would not be turned away."
"I'm afraid that would be counter-productive." Naru replied. "Besides, I highly doubt the people of Konoha will be more accepting of them then of me."
Danzo knew this was a bit of a gamble, but he needed that girl to join him. Alone she was a possible threat. With her new powerful friends she was a certainty. Especially with her new abilities. He'd give his other arm to know how that crazy old man had implanted his gekkie genkai into the girl. It was a mysterious process he thought might involve some kind of ritual.
He needed to pull out his secret weapon.
"It is true I am hokage." He said slowly, choosing his words carefully. He was no fool, making her angry near such a large body of water would be foolhardy. "As hokage, I am able to read certain confidential files left by previous kage."
"Let me guess, you read something in this file that you think would intrest me?" She asked quizically. "Maybe you found some blackmail material like painting the hokage monuments?"
"Actually, I found information on your parents." He said wirly, grinning gruesomely.
Naru's eyes widened at the info he was offering to her. "My parents left me the day I was born on October tenth, the day of the Kyubi attack." She told him fiercly. "They were probably some shinobi that died in battle. Or maybe civilians killed by the fox. Whoever they were they're dead!"
"They may be dead but it might interest you to know who they were." He said, mentally beginning to panic. He had next to nothing on the girl other than her heritage, which he was extremely pissed he hadn't known about before. If that fool Sarutobi had told him she was the fourth's daughter he'd have recruited her while she was young.
"Knowing their names won't bring them back or let me be accepted by Konoha." Naru said sternly, moving her hand deliberatly closer to her kunai pouch.
This signaled Haradai to move Isamu behind her and to place his hand on the hilt of his katana. Deidara dug his hands in his pockets casually, fingering some of the explosive clay he always carried.
"Leave Danzo, I decline." Naru ordered him seriously. "I want you out of these mountains, I want you as far away from Uzu no Sato as physically possible. We're no where near Konoha, and you have no idea about my abilities. If you fight me on this, I won't lose."
The two ROOT operatives looked questioningly at their master. Did they fight or leave now? Who did he want them to fight?
"I suggest you reconsider Uzumaki." Danzo growled threateningly. "If we fight here you and your friends will die."
Naru bit her lip in concentration, trying to see what their chances were. The two ROOT were unknowns, dangerous. Isamu was just a child, he couldn't protect himself.
"Isamu, I want you to dive under the water." During the second day, they had discovered Isamu had grown gills under his ears. Allowing him to breathe under water.
"Yes, lady Uzumaki." He said obediantly, turning and jumping under the waves. He'd stay until lady Uzumaki came to find him.
"Danzo, this is your last chance to leave." She warned him.
ENDOFCHAPTERBABY!?WHATKINDOFEVILMONSTERAMI?OHTHAT'SRIGHT,LC!
LC; I just want it to be written in the record that if I die you won't find out what happens.
Naruto; I sincerely hope your not going to make them wait for it.
Sasuke; Otherwise I don't think you'll live long enough to type the next chapter up.
LC;...I was going to take a break to work on something else but...
Both; Your insane!