Yay, I'm back! Some of you are probably thinking "it's about damn time woman!" well, I apologize. Semester exams are coming up for me (whoooo... -_-) so I've been studying like crazy. So the next chapter probably won't be up for another couple of weeks because my brain will probably be fried after next week. But please hang in there with me until then.
Gasp! Over 7,000 hits for this story already? I'm so happy. This is far more popular than Petals in the Wind, and it's all because of my amazing readers! Keep on being awesome :) Okay, let me shutup so you can read.
Chapter 4: Trouble
- 2 days earlier-
Somewhere deep in the land of sound, a meeting was being held between many shrouded men. At the head of the table sat a menacing-looking man with dark chakra emanating from him. Another man stood beside him, his assistant obviously.
"Why have you called us here?" a deep voice asked.
"Patience. As you all are aware of, the chuunin exams begin next week in Konoha. Many powerful genin will be there, including Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki." the man at the head of the table answered. There were several gasps around the table.
"U-Uzumaki? I knew it! I knew she had a child! That damn village covered it up so well. If she had a child he has to be the son of Minato Namikaze. This could pose a real threat to us. If he learns Kushina's pure chakra techniques and Minato's flying thunder god technique he'll most likely learn about us eventually and come seeking revenge." the same man said.
"The son of Minato Namikaze? Something must be done!" another man shouted. The man at the head of the table ignored him and stayed on the primary subject.
"What did you do?"
"We kidnapped Kushina and tried to force her to bear one of our children. But she was saved by Minato. As for-"
"That's all I wanted to hear. My plan is to invade Konoha during the exams, preferably during the third exam. I you will join us, say so now. If not, well I can't guarantee your safety." all men present raised their hands, some more reluctant than others, but not wanting to invoke the wrath of the man before them. Said man smiled wickedly. "Good. Know this: my own target is the Uchiha so I'll leave the jinchuuriki to you and the rest of Kumo."
"H-he's a jinchuuriki as well? Which one?"
"The fox."
"This is bad, this is very bad. Excuse us, we must be going now. We must prepare for the exams." the man said, standing up. Half of the men stood and followed him out of the room. The other man who'd cried out earlier stood up as well, leading the other half of the men out. When the room had been cleared, the man standing next to the head of the table leaned down.
"Orochimaru-sama, what do you want me to do?"
"Simple Kabuto. Get the sound four ready and pick out a team for yourself. You're going to be taking this exam."
"But sir-"
"Not for discussion. My plan is to take Sasuke away and destroy that pathetic village while I'm at it. If Iwa and Kumo get caught in it, so be it."
"Yes my lord. I apologize for speaking out of turn." Kabuto said, retreating into the darkness. Oh how he dreaded having to be amongst those weaklings, acting as if he were one of them.
"This is horrible! Raikage, that child must be either captured or killed!" The second man said to the other.
"You think I'm not aware of this? Of course the brat needs to be handled. How do you propose we go about this, Tsuchikage?"
"I say we send a couple of teams of our strongest genin to Konoha to participate in the exams. But their actual goal will be to capture the boy. If he resists, then they have permission to kill him."
"Hmm, your village and my village working together? I don't know if my boys will be able to handle that. But... we have no choice in the matter. Fine, we'll work together just this once. Got it?"
"Yeah, I got it. I'll send mission plans to you within two days." and the men separated, going to their respective village.
Over in Konoha, Naruto was already up and about. He was extremely excited about today. He'd start his training with Kakashi this evening. He spent all morning making sure he had everything he needed: his weapons, his mother's first diary entry, his father's first journal entry, food and water. He stuffed all of the items into his backpack and put it by his bed. Deciding to get some fresh air, he quickly locked up and made his way onto the street. Mornings in Konoha were always the same: people filled the streets, making their way to vendors and other shops. And with the new genin arriving from other villages, they were becoming even more packed.
'Hey kit, you still not talking to me?' Kyuubi mock pouted.
'Why the hell would I want to talk to you? You're making this training more difficult than it needs to be.' Naruto snarled back.
'That's my aim. Stop being such a cub. This training is aimed to make you stronger right? How much sense would it make if I made it easy for you? A ninja really only gets stronger after some sort of struggle.'
'Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the proverbs, but I can do this just fine without any assistance. And I don't need any ninja 101, I already know this.'
'Oh yeah Great Ninja Master, then tell me why you've failed to notice that someone has been following you since you left your home.' Naruto's eyes widened, and then narrowed as he searched out the chakra pattern. Kami he hated when Kyuu was right. Sure enough, someone was indeed following him.
'Thanks a lot you damn fox. When were you gonna tell me, when I was knocking at death's door? That chakra is huge!' Naruto snapped. Kyuu didn't answer, so Naruto took things into his own hands. He acted as if nothing had occurred, all the while leading said follower to a more secluded area. He went all the way to a small grouping of trees near the memorial stone. He stopped and suddenly threw a kunai toward the person. Naruto could easily tell whoever it was dodged due to the shift in chakra. Naruto pulled out two more kunai and held them at the ready. The person still wasn't coming out so Naruto charged. Now the person began to run the opposite direction, but Naruto was too fast and tackled his follower to the ground.
"Ow!" a female voice cried out. Naruto got up and looked at her. He hadn't seen her around before and looking at her headband, he knew why. She was a kunoichi of Kumo.
"Why were you following me?" Naruto demanded. She sat up and looked into Naruto's angry eyes and sighed.
"I had heard about the strong genin in Konoha, so when I finally got here I decided to see how a Konoha ninja trains. When I felt your huge chakra I had to follow it. Sorry, my name is Raya." she explained, picking herself up.
"You should've just come out and talked to me instead of making me think a stalker was on my tail."
"Well how was I supposed to know that Konoha ninja aren't hostile against us?"
"That's why you talk to people, to find out these things. Oh, and a piece of advice. Learn to conceal your chakra better. It wasn't that hard to find out you were following me."
"I never meant to hide from you. If I had hidden my chakra you would've thought I was hostile, trying to attack you. And stop spewing crap about just talking to people to find out information. I take it you're new to this, being a ninja. Getting information you want is never that easy."
"But you're a genin just like me. How much longer could you have been one than me?"
"Try 3 years more. My personal story is none of your business but I can tell you that the ninja of Kumo are to be feared." and with that statement Raya walked off. Naruto watched her go then shook his head.
'I think I've had enough fresh air for today.' Naruto sighed, heading home. He sighed heavily as he walked through the door. As much as he hated to admit it, that girl had tremendous strength. It seemed as if all the foreign genin were amazingly strong: Raya, Gaara, Temari. He had so far to go. He just hoped he wouldn't have to face one of them in battle.
'Might as well read dad's journal while I'm at it.' Naruto dug the bluish scroll out of his backpack and plopped down on his bed. He broke the seal and unrolled it.
'Naruto, so I guess if you're reading this, your mom had guided you to it. Remember what she said: one entry a week from us both, and practice the material, and as you learn more, combine your knowledge. Now in this scroll I begin my training to learn the flying thunder god technique. This is a very dangerous technique, my dad wouldn't even teach it to me until I had either turned 18 or became a jonin. I became a jonin first, but anyways, good luck Naruto. And... don't let that damn fox get you worked up. Mixed emotions will only negatively impact your training. -Minato' Naruto set aside the letter and continued reading. He noticed this was dated January 16, the day before his mom started training.
'Um, so my mom says I need a "creative outlet for all my energy". She says I train too much. But I want dad to teach me more of his techniques, they're so amazing! But anyways, he actually started my training afterschool today. He made me run like 5 laps around the village. I'm so tired. He says it's for improved stamina and chakra control. Makes sense to me. Just wish we could do something more fun. So, the first step would be to do lots of running and exercising and chakra consuming things to improve chakra control. I'm not gonna write much to you, so later.' Naruto put away the scroll and chuckled.
'Me and dad have a lot in common too.' Naruto created five clones and they stood at attention.
"Alright you guys. I want you to go do some exercises for me. I want you to run 5 laps around the village, I want you to practice some tree climbing techniques, I want you to practice some water walking, and I want you two to just meditate and try to find our chakra center for mom's training. Now go!"
"Right!" the clones dispersed, going off to perform their separate tasks. Naruto laid back and closed his eyes, figuring he should get more rest before his training.
"Raya, report." a gruff voice demanded. The girl from before knelt at her master's foot.
"Hmph, as far as I can tell he isn't too much to worry about. I could take him down easily. He didn't notice I was following him until he was a half mile from his home. His body language changed ever so slightly, but it was enough to notice. It is my specialty."
"Enough bragging girl. Get to the point."
"Well, he may be a bit unpredictable in battle. His chakra doesn't flow at a steady pace. It kept spiking, then lowering. He must not have gained full control of the fox yet."
"Excellent. If he can't control it all the way, then he is just another genin. Raya, I'm assigning you to that brat. Get close to him, get him to trust you. Then we'll kill him once the invasion starts and be on our way."
"Yes master." Raya said, getting up and leaving with two guys following her.
"Jintaro, Kai. Follow the boy. Get info on his close ties. Meet me back here in an hour." Raya ordered. The two immediately left. Raya looked around and walked down the street.
On the rooftop Temari lay, still as a mouse, comprehending what was going on.
'This is bad, very bad. I've got to warn Naruto. But, they're watching him. Maybe if I ask him to take me to dinner tonight. Then I can... I hate to have to do that, but I have to. I wasn't trained to use it to not use it.' Temari sighed and rushed to her apartment.
A few hours later, around 4, Naruto was rested and ready to train. The work his clones did for him paid off. He was now a bit faster and more balanced than he ever was before. He got up and checked to make sure he had everything, then grabbed his backpack. He quickly put it on and walked toward the door. Right before he touched the knob someone knocked. The sound made Naruto jump, but he steadied himself and opened it.
"Temari!" he yelled happily. He went to give her a hug, but she stopped him.
"Shh!" she looked around, scanning the area. Seeing that those guys were gone, she pushed Naruto into the building. She locked the doors behind herself and shut all the windows and curtains.
"Tema-chan? What's wrong?"
"What's wrong is this Raya girl. She's a Kumo ninja. If you see her know this: she's not friendly. She's plotting against you, to kill you during the third exams." Naruto looked at her with a blank expression. Apparently, she wasn't making much sense.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down Temari. Just tell me what happened. From the beginning." Naruto gently said, sitting down on his bed. He patted the space next to him without thinking, and Temari sat down. She began to tell him her story, and he listened intently. Well, mostly intently. A voice in the back of his head wouldn't stop commenting on the obvious: how beautiful she was, how she was sitting on his bed, how irresistible she looked when she was serious.
'Shut the hell up Kyuu!' Naruto shouted.
'The hell you going on about kit? I haven't said anything to you.' Kyuubi growled. Naruto gulped. It was... his own imagination doing that? He tried to ignore the fact that those thoughts intensified now that he was aware that they were his own.
"So, what should I do?" Naruto asked.
"Well, I was thinking that when you're out in the daytime, don't flaunt your strength around. And when you're training with-" Temari heard a noise outside and stopped talking.
"What Temari? Go on." Naruto said. Temari slapped her hand over his mouth. The noise was closer now, like right outside of his window. If they discovered her counterplan, things would be bad. Thankfully, she was sitting on the right of Naruto, closest to his pillows, so she tackled him. He shifted just the right way and Temari climbed on top of him, nearly straddling him. She glanced up and saw a body crouching down at the window and she lowered her body, fully laying on Naruto now. She sealed it by kissing him, and deeply. Naruto was frozen like a statue, but he began to respond. The kiss intensified. Naruto's animal instincts began to take over and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. Temari was able to look up, even in that position, and she saw an eye. The person was obviously shocked and he fled quickly. Naruto was just getting into it. He prepared to flip them so that he would be on top, but sadly, Temari climbed off of him as quickly as she had climbed on.
"Temari, what's wrong?" Naruto asked, confused.
"Nothing. There was a spy there. I had to make it look like you were busy so that they wouldn't have anything to report." Temari explained.
"So... you weren't into it?" Naruto mumbled.
"Not into it...? Naruto, do you think I'm that easy? We barely know each other, and you think I would throw myself all over a guy after a couple of days? Some girls here may be like that Naruto, but I am nothing like that!" Temari shouted. Naruto had nothing to say, but his face was etched in guilt.
'Oh Kami, if that guy hadn't left, what would I have done? I wouldn't have forced myself on her, right? I wouldn't make her do something she wasn't ready for, right?' Naruto thought. Truth is, he probably would've, but then he'd be a dead man.
"Temari, I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. But I wouldn't dare compare you to the girls here. The only ones I know or have seen are the prissy 'oh save me' type. I can't stand them. But you, you're like a rose, with thorns. If people treat you right, then you're nice to them. If they cross you, then Kami help them. That I already know about you. But truth is, I've never had a relationship before so I didn't know how to respond to what you did. I'm-" Naruto was cut off by lips against his own. Temari gave him a short kiss then pulled back with a small smile.
"Shutup Naruto. You talk too much. Apology accepted, I guess. But you can make it up to me tonight. I want that ramen you promised me. We can talk more about my plan then." Temari whispered.
"It's a date then. I'll see you at... what works best for you?"
"Hmm, midnight. Remember, you're paying." Temari smirked. She turned and left, gently closing the door behind her. Naruto got up and locked the door, then laid down on his bed. He stared at the ceiling with a wide grin.
'I have a date with Temari.' he sighed dreamily. He thought of when he'd meet her, how she would look, what he would wear, her brothers, what they would eat, her brothers, what they'd do afterwards. Maybe the park or something, her brothers.' Naruto broke out in a cold sweat once the pieces clicked together.
'I have a date with Temari!' his mind screamed. Oh Kami, he was a dead man. A DEAD man. Gaara would probably crush him, or maybe Kankuro? No, Gaara would probably catch him first. He seemed the most protective of her. Naruto glanced at the clock and saw it read 6:30. He jumped up and grabbed his backpack.
'I'm late for training!' Naruto burst out of the door, pausing to lock it, then took off. He ran at a break-neck pace, hoping Kakashi would be late as always. Naruto had grown accustomed to the man being late over the years, and adjusted his schedule accordingly. Kakashi had told him to meet him at the training fields at 5. Naruto added an hour to give his lazy sensei time. But now he was half an hour late!
Naruto arrived at the grounds and gulped. Kakashi stood in the center, reading his Icha Icha Paradise book. He noticed Naruto and closed the book irritably.
"You're late Naruto."
"I-I know Kakashi sensei. It's just that-"
"40 laps around this field. And no shadow clones." Kakashi cut him off. Naruto looked around. The field had to be at least a quarter of a mile around.
"You've got to be kidding-"
"When you're finished, report back to me. Go!" and with that, Kakashi sat down and continued reading. Naruto sighed hopelessly and sulked off to do his laps.
"No shadow clones, he expects me to do this? He's trying to kill me! All those times he's late. He should make himself run those laps." Naruto mumbled.
"Naruto, 50 laps." Kakashi said, looking up for a few seconds. Then back to the book. Naruto wanted to punch something. He'd never finish.
About two hours later, Naruto had finished. He was sweaty, tired and aggravated.
"Go home Naruto. Take a shower, eat, and sleep. Tomorrow, we'll try again." Kakashi said, and he disappeared in a puff of smoke. Naruto groaned in frustration and went home, wondering what pole found its way up his sensei's butt. After he freshened up he looked at the clock: 9:30. He grabbed a bowl of instant ramen and inhaled it in no time. The clock now read 9:45. He could get an hour and three quarters of sleep, and still be ready for the date. He jumped onto the bed and fell asleep almost immediately.
It was 10 when the siblings called lights out. They went to their own rooms and there was no more sound. Temari lay under her covers and thought about what Naruto would wear. Probably something casual. Midnight was no time to be getting dressed for a night out on the town. She'd just wear her normal clothes to the date, she decided. She was completely still, listening for the sounds of her brothers sleeping. There was a deep, drawn out snore. Kankuro down, Gaara to go. With startling realization, Temari remembered that Gaara didn't sleep. How could she have forgotten? She needed a plan, and quick.
-11:30-
Naruto's alarm went off, blasting the tune of Number One (A/N: from the Bleach soundtrack). Naruto got up, slapping the snooze button just as the song got to the chorus, and put on the clothes he decided to wear: he wore his normal pants and shoes, but he switched his top for a black short sleeved v-neck shirt that clung to his body like a second skin. On top of that he wore an orange jacket. He washed his face once more and brushed his teeth. He looked himself over in the mirror and kept saying to himself 'I can do this, I can do this.' he took a confident breath and ran out of his apartment.
Temari was dressed and ready to go. She did choose her normal outfit, but swapped the red sash for a cerulean one. Hell, she'd never been on a date either. She didn't know what was expected of her in this process. What she did know was that she wasn't going out of her way to doll herself up. If a guy wanted her and she actually paid attention to him, then he would have to settle for the good old plain Temari. And if it wasn't enough for them, then bye-bye-bye, plenty more where he came from. Temari silently made her way down the hallway to Gaara's room. She pushed open the door and saw him sitting on the windowsill, looking out into the darkness.
"Gaara?" he turned to her. "I need to run to one of those convenience stores. I need some medicine."
"What kind?" he asked, intrigued.
"You wouldn't understand. It's women's medicine." Gaara pondered it.
"Didn't you buy some already?"
"No, that was just my vitamins remember?"
"Ah, I think I do. Fine, the village seems safe enough for a safe trip. Be back within 30 minutes." Gaara declared. Temari smiled and left. It was shorter than what she hoped for, but it could work. She slipped out of the door and made her way to the ramen shop.
Naruto knocked on Temari's window as gently as he could, while still doing it so that she would hear. The window shifted and rose up. But behind it was...
"Gaara! Uh, where's Temari?"
"At the store, buying medicine. Why?"
"I had to ask her something." Naruto said.
"At midnight? Uzumaki, I do not want you distracting Temari from her training and duties. The ambassador selection test will be happening soon after the chuunin exams, and she wants to be that." Gaara said.
"No problem Gaara. I would never think of compromising her chances." Just then, a panicked woman ran down the streets. She saw the boys and ran up to Naruto.
"Please, you've got to help her! They shot arrows at her, but she couldn't dodge them all. One got her arm and she collapsed. It must've been a poison. They took her away." she sobbed.
"Please ma'am, we need you to tell us what she looks like." Naruto said, placing a hand on the woman's shoulder.
"Well, she's kinda tall, she had green eyes and fair skin. I don't think she's from here. It's took dark to see, but I'd bet that kimono she was wearing was black." the two boys were completely worried now.
"W-what did her hair look like?" Gaara asked.
"Oh, it was so unique, so weird. She had her blonde hair tied into 4 ponytails." the lady said. Their fears were confirmed
"Temari!"
Holy plot twist! Who took Temari and why? Will she be recovered before the exams? Will Naruto ever get that date? Stay with me for future chapters :) it'll get better, I promise. Oh, review please. You all make me so happy with reviews.