Warning: Maybe a bit of violence but not much
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto but if I did...
Chapter 4: Naruto and the Council
The battle between Hidan and Shadow-hime lasted longer than 30 minutes. Neither Kakuzu nor the rest of our team interfered. For anyone but Shadow-sama, fighting Hidan would have been suicide. She managed to avoid his scythe as much as possible. After watching for about 30 minutes, Itachi and I began our own battle with Kakuzu."
XXFlashbackXX
"It will be fun to kill you and gain your bounty, Raven. You are quite well known just by your mask." Raven inclined his head but did not speak for fear of being recognized. "Let us begin, AMAZON ninja. Your country has given me huge bounties. For that and the bounty I will soon gain, I thank you." Itachi moved, removing Ravens song from his sheath. Naruto followed and channeled chakra into Foxes Flight.
"You have interesting weapons." Kakuzu commented, jumping away from a slice from the katana and avoiding a swipe from the claws. The Akatsuki attacked Naruto, putting him on the defensive. Itachi snuck behind and hit Kakuzu directly in the heart. Neither Itachi nor Naruto lowered their guard as Kakuzu 'died.' Seeing the guise wasn't working, Kakuzu stood and narrowed his eyes at the two ninja.
Naruto grinned. "Eight AMAZON ninja were killed. We aren't about to underestimate you." Kakuzu sighed but nodded at the wisdom of the team in front of him. He made a handsign and Itachi yelled out a warning. Naruto jumped back as five monsters appeared. One of them almost immediately collapsed. Naruto and Itachi knew that one of the hearts was gone.
"Four more to go." Itachi muttered before attacking one with his unnatural speed. Naruto followed his partners lead and attacked a second one. Itachi easily dispatched his, given that the element it had covered was wind. Naruto, on the other hand, struggled immensly with the fire one. His arm came out seared as Itachi interfered. Jumping back, Naruto attacked the lightning one and killed it quickly. Kakuzu cursed and called the other two back. Naruto and Itachi jumped in front of the ninja as black tendrels came out.
"Fox!" The warning came to late. Earth shattered from underneath Naruto and pierced his leg and his lower chest. Naruto fell with a cry and Kakuzu moved to end him, forgetting momentarily about Itachi. Itachi made a jutsu as quickly as possible. Fire Style: Phoenix Blossom. The jutsu attacked the earth heart and ended it. Kakuzu jumped back, anticipating a final jutsu. Instead, Itachi moved to his partners side.
Earth style: Protective barrier. Naruto was encased in an earth barrier. Itachi panted and turned to the enemy ninja. "Let's end this quickly." Kakuzu nodded and made a hand signal, hardening his body. Itachi grinned and activated his sharingan. Making the handsigns for Kakashi's signature assassination jutsu. Realizing the danger too late, Kakuzu didn't move fast enough.
"Chidori: A thousand birds" Kakuzu cursed but collapsed, dead. Itachi felt the pulse and nodded before collapsing out of breath. "Shit. I used too much chakra." Inside the barrier, Naruto was trying to stop the bleeding. It was working but slowly. Shadow and Destiny ran up from the area that they were fighting in and Shadow released Itachi's barrier while Destiny ran to Itachi and handed him a soldier pill. Shadow looked worse for the wear as well, but she had no blood on her, nor any visible wounds.
"Dolphin! Get over here!" Destiny turned and ran to Fox. She shook her blonde hair out of her face and began to do her best to heal him. "We need to get back to the village. Fox's injury is critical." The others nodded and rushed to help.
XXEnd FlashbackXX
"I was in critical for awhile and the only things keeping me alive where Kyuubi and Destiny-sama. By the time we got to the hospital, I really needed a blood transfusion. That was when I discovered that Serenity was my blood cousin. Destiny-hime tested Serenity's blood to make sure it was safe for me and figured that interesting tidbit at the same time. That was the hardest mission Itachi and I went on. Since then, Serenity-sama has given us various assassinations and I just recently acquired a genin team. So... yeah..." Naruto ended and Gaara nodded once.
"I will meet your team." Naruto sighed but agreed with the condition that Gaara did not reveal his identity to the genin. Gaara agreed and after Naruto replaced his mask, they returned to the hotel room.
The genin jumped back in alarm as the Kazekage and Fox returned. The redhead was much less angry and Fox seemed less alarmed at his presence.
"Hatori, Kyo, Haruka, I'd like to introduce you to Kazekage-sama. Gaara-sama, this is my genin team." Gaara nodded politely at them.
"Do not bother with formalities when in private. Call me Gaara." Naruto smirked under the mask.
"Whatever you say, Gaara-sama." Gaara glared at the masked shinobi and silently commanded the sand to move. Naruto, sensing danger, jumped behind his partner who sighed in irritation. Gaara politely asked Itachi to move and he nodded, informing his team of genins to follow him. They agreed willingly and disappeared.
"Fox, you will refer to me as Gaara." Fox laughed and scratched his head a bit nervously.
"Whatever you say, Gaara." The redhead nodded and turned.
"What have you learned from your sensei?" The genin glanced at each other before Kyo went through their training regimen. To most, it would seem over the top, but Gaara and Naruto understood that any students of a jinchuriki would be at risk right now. After an hour of civil conversation, an ANBU appeared and informed Gaara he was wanted by the council. Gaara nodded and left and Naruto smiled and took his team to training.
NININININININININININININ
"The council has summoned the AMAZON ninja and their teams." The ANBU informed the irritated Itachi.
"At 7 am?" Itachi answered icily. The ANBU nodded and reached for his weapon, sensing the masked nins killer intent. Naruto grabbed Itachis arm and grinned.
"Now now, don't kill the messenger." Itachi nodded and sighed.
"We will come, but our genin will not. There is a reason they have not been exposed to politics yet and it will remain that way." Naruto nodded and informed the genins of the situation and gave them a new code phrase. He darted out past the ANBU and led the way. The ANBU and Itachi followed closely behind. Outside the council chambers Naruto halted and the ANBU took the lead.
"Tsunade-sama, I have the ninja you asked for." The blonde kage nodded and the council visibly stirred.
"We asked for the genin as well." One council-member said haughtily. Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"Our genin are not coming. They do not need to be in such a critical meeting, especially at such a young age. One wrong word between Light and Leaf will cause a war. We do not wish for our genin to make such a mistake." Itachi said, stepping forward slightly. Gaara, in a gust of sand, appeared beside the two AMAZON ninja. His guards were left behind as usual.
"The council wishes to make amends with your Shadow." Another civilian spoke up.
"Then come and formally apologize to her and her student, Uzumaki Naruto." The civilian narrowed his eyes.
"Why would we apologize to that demon?" The civilian asked with anger. He froze however when Gaara growled.
"This is the arrogance of the leaf!" The kazekage snapped, and the entire council averted their attention from the AMAZON. "This is the reason we cut ties." Itachi nodded.
"I agree. With this attitude, Shadow-hime will repeat her actions three years ago and end anothers life. Naruto-sama is a respected warrior of the light and her favored student. Do not insult him in our presence." The civilian turned to his partner, hoping for a little support.
"I cannot help but notice your partner has yet to speak. Surely he agrees with me." Naruto let out a barking laugh and quickly altered his voice with chakra.
"Naruto-sama is not a demon." With that, the usually loud-mouthed shinobi backed off earning glares from the civilians. Hiashi Hyuuga stood and formally bowed to the ninja, glaring at the civilians.
"We mean no disrespect to Shadow-sama or her student. The council would really like to make amends with Shadow-sama." Itachi sighed.
"You expect to make amends with Shadow while insulting a student of hers? Perhaps you and your fellow council-members fail to realize that as long as Naruto-sama is seen as a 'demon' in the leaf, the best that our nations can be is nuetral. Whether the leaf realizes it or not, Shadow-hime wants this council destroyed for the very attitude you fail to realize is a tragically misplaced blame. Be grateful that we are not at war. If I may speak out of turn and give some advice, Hyuuga?" Hiashi nodded, tightlipped.
Gaara grinned and Tsunade silently flinched. Itachi was not one to hold back and Naruto would not stop his partner from letting loose.
"Look into Naruto-sama's past. Check his medical files and his hospital history. Check with the villagers and ask how they treated the demon brat. Put yourself in a five-year old body and with a five-year old mind and then, when your done, thank whatever god that you worship that Naruto-sama has a pure heart and a strong-will. Because if he didn't, no one would be left to stop Naruto-sama from fading into obscurity and willing releasing his body to the Kyuubi no Kitsune." Itachi stepped back, in line with his partner. Tsunade and Gaara smiled at the AMAZON ninja.
"And you, Fox? What advice would you give?" It was Gaara who asked, shocking the ninja and Naruto, who glared at his powerful friend.
"None. The leaf is not worthy of Shadow-sama's aid." Naruto said, never turning away from the Kazekage, who smirked viciously.
"And how can you speak for your superior, boy?" A councilmember asked. Naruto sighed but resigned himself to joining the convesation. Tsunade and Itachi both watched him with pity. They knew that Naruto hated this council.
"Because I have worked with her as a subordinate. She often leads AMAZON missions with different teams, including the partnership with myself and Raven. She hates the leaf council. There is no doubt." Naruto stated emotionlessly, hiding the pain.
"But you do not know that she would not forgive us?" The councilmember countered. Itachi made a handsign. We are on Naruto's team. Naruto nodded, understanding the hidden message.
"I am a student of hers. I know very well her opinion of the leaf." Gaara and Tsunade glanced at Itachi, having noticed the barely perceptable handsigns. Itachi, noticing their stares, nodded his head slightly. Tsunade bared her teeth but sighed. Gaara too was not happy with the developments of this meeting.
"So you know the demon brat." Naruto turned to yet another villager who dared insult him.
"Yes." The villager was not happy with the answer and began to press for answers. Naruto became more and more irritated and Itachi was about to interfere when the doors slammed open. Shadow stood there, followed by the worried Sand siblings who had been searching for their brother.
"Hello council members..."
NINININININININININININININI N
"Well that could have gone better." Tsunade commented. Shadow glared at her angrily. Naruto, in the presence of the few in the village who knew his identity, wore no mask. Itachi remained masked, due to the presence of Hyuuga Neji and Nara Shikamaru. Gaara, Temari and Kankurou stood to the side. The sand siblings were watching Naruto and Itachi interact with Shadow. It was clear that the three of them had a heirarchy. Shadow was the captain, without a doubt in charge. Itachi and Naruto seemed to switch of command and had a kind of non-verbal communication. Both knew what the other would do and would cover for him. Everyone could see why Shadow thought so highly of this team.
"Tsunade-sama, I want your council gone." Shadow hissed in irritation, clearly annoyed with the meeting. The council had the audacity to ask for forgiveness and then insult Naruto. If Itachi and Naruto hadn't been there, blood would have been shed. Thankfully, Itachi reminded her that they didn't want to start a war... Yet.
"I agree." Gaara said, his monotone voice filling the room. Tsunade sighed and leaned against her desk.
"How?" The question was valid. Shadow's answer, however, was simple.
"Kill the civilians. Make it seem like an 'accident.' Or, use a loyal ANBU who would do anything for the village and have him wipe the civilian council, and the ignorant members of the ninja council, out." Gaara and Tsunade made a mental note not to piss this girl off.
"That's impractical, Shadow-hime." Naruto said, glancing at her. "Someone would see past it, like Danzo, and then there'd be a coup and the light would be at war." Shadow glared at the blonde who merely grinned back.
"Then what do you recommend?" Shadow asked snidely.
"Have another meeting and mention that you've calmed down and are considering peace. Get the council complacent and then reveal my identity and my position as a high ranked AMAZON and a genin sensei. If they attack, kill them. If they try to attack my genin, kill them, and if they verbally attack me, kill them. No matter what, they end up dead and we end up happy." The Konoha and Suna ninjas considered it before Gaara spoke up.
"Sand will gladly kill any members of the council that try to kill Naruto. After all, Suna is an ally with Light." Tsunade sighed but nodded.
"Very well. The hour long recess period is up and we have to return anyway. We might as well try it. Should I send some ANBU to guard your teams genin?" Shikamaru spoke up.
"No need. As troublesome as it might be, I will watch them." Neji agreed with the lazy genius and they disappeared after getting the phrase from Itachi and Naruto.
NINININININININININININI
"I am willing to consider peace." Shadow said, though her tone was still slightly irritated. Hyuuga Hiashi narrowed his eyes, as did a few other suspicious ninja clan heads. Aburame Shibi, Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Chouza and Nara Shikaku were among them, wondering what the Kira ninjas gameplan was.
"Thats wonderful!" An ignorant civilian said, jumping up. "Let's make a treaty immediately." Shadow shook her head.
"Not quite yet. Many of you know this, but my student Naruto is advancing quickly through the ranks. Before I agree to any kind of pact, I need Konohagakures words that no ninja or missing ninja hired by the leaf will attack him." The civilians grumbled, but Shikaku and the rest of the ninja agreed immediately.
"I would like to see your student sometime, Shadow-san, to see how much he's grown." The obvious lead in caused Shadow to grin a sinister smile. The ninja in the council knew immediately what was about to happen and took a step back.
"Do we have an agreement, civilian council?" Himura nodded and Koharu and Danzo also agreed. "Then let's test it. Naru, remove your mask." The civilians backed up as Naruto removed his fox mask and turned to face the council. Almost immediately, the council began protesting his ability to remain in the leaf. Shadow grinned and turned to Tsunade. The ninja's watched with horror, knowing they could not stop this councilmember from declaring war with the full support of the Karikage.
"At this point, we have two options." Tsunade nodded warily. "One, I can declare war immediately for violating an agreement, written or not written. Or two, I can kill those who just spoke against my student and try again. The option is yours, Hokage-sama." Tsunade almost immediately chose the second option and the three AMAZON began the massacre. Few of the leaf nnja tried to interfere and those that did died in the slaughter. Danzo was spared simply because he hadn't voiced his disgust, to Shadow's dismay. Koharu and Himura on the other hand, were among the civilian casualties.
"War is unpleasant. For everyone. This option was ideal. As long as you are the Hokage, Light will not attack. However, the instant one person makes a wrong move," Shadow glared at Danzo, "Light will declare war on the leaf and the leaf will fall at the combined inslaught of Light, Rock and Cloud. With that, I bid you goodbye. Naru, replace your mask. You and Raven have genin teams to look after. I'm headed off. See ya!" Shadow disappeared and Naruto obeyed her command and replaced his mask before he said his goodbyes and left. The remaining councilmembers, almost all shinobi, looked at the scene in distaste.
"It needed to be done." Hiashi stated boldly and Inuzuka Tsume agreed, along with most of the council. A few remained silent but knew better than to speak up now. Shadow had shown her legendary sadistic side, and would do so again. Naruto was her student, and she was very protective of him.
NININININININININININININI
"That was fun." Naruto said, walking calmly beside his teammate.
"I bet, if you wanted back in Konoha, the council would reinstate you, since most of the council are shinobis again." Naruto stopped and stared at Itachi, silently sending the message 'are you crazy?' Itachi just shrugged and kept watching, and Naruto caught back up.
"How's your team doing?" Naruto asked, his eyes on the Hokage monument. Itachi followed his gaze and placed a hand on Foxes shoulder. Fox smiled and Itachi nodded, guessing at the expression behind the mask.
"My team will crush yours. They excel at genjutsu, especially Aurora. Aita has skill in ninjutsu and Hitari will be a taijutsu mistress very soon." Naruto snickered slightly at the challenge. Itachi may not have the typical Uchiha arrogance he did have the competitive spirit.
"I'll take you up on that." Itachi and Naruto headed to the hotel where the two teams waited with Neji and Shikamaru. The girl waiting inside, however, surprised Naruto and Itachi. Hyuuga Hinata had changed, a lot. Her stutter was gone and she talked with confidence. She clearly broke out of her shell and when the two entered, Hinata smiled at Naruto and his partner.
"Hello, Fox-kun." Naruto grinned at Hinata and glanced at his partner.
"Go. I'll take care of the brats." Naruto smiled and gestured for Hinata to follow him. Neji and Shikamaru glanced at each other and decided together to wait with the 6 8-year old ninjas.
NINININININININININININININI N
"It's still stunning up here." Naruto said, standing on the fourth Hokage's head- his father's head. Hinata smiled, her hair blowing softly in the wind and her pupil-less eyes sparkling with emotion.
"When I found out, I was furious." Hinata said, eyes on her former flame. "I wanted to go with you, or at least say goodbye, but the AMAZON ninja and the Karikage left before I could ask. Most of the Konoha 12 had similar feelings. Kiba and Lee both wanted to bash the heads of the council-members in. Shino yelled when he found out. Shikamaru blamed himself and wouldn't come out and Chouji started training harder and longer and nearly killed himself. TenTen threatened the council with her weapons. Gai, Asuma and Kurenai, well, they didn't take it well. The only three that didn't care were Yamanaka, Haruno and Hatake. Yamanaka eventually got better, but it took Shikamaru losing his temper with her and yelling before she got it. Hatake and Haruno only cared about the Uchiha. Asuma punched Hatake after Hatake went off on you. But Sakura got it the worst. After Haruno's mom died during the council meeting, she went around the village and told everyone you were gone. Anko heard her and the aftermath wasn't pretty. To this day, if banshee sees a snake, she runs the other way."
Naruto smiled slightly, still looking out over the village. His face was covered but Hinata activated her Byakugan so she could see him. "Hinata-chan, you've changed." The words caused Hinata to smile.
"I had to. The day you were banished I realized that I was truly weak and it sickened me. I was furious that there wasn't anything I could do to help you and so I started to train. Neji-nii and Hokage-sama were great helps and I've become a great medic-nin and combat-nin and in certain aspects of the Gentle Fist style, I've surpassed Neji-nii." Naruto nodded.
"How's Kiba?" Hinata stopped talking and looked at Naruto before blushing.
"You noticed?"
"Yeah. Raven and I walked passed as you and Kiba were on a date. He made the observation that you looked cute together, and I agree." Hinata smiled.
"We're engaged." Hinata said, eyes on her former crush. "He asked for father's blessing and father granted it."
"Congratulations." The response caused Hinata to grin before lowering her head to the ground. The two of them hadn't really talked before and now that Naruto hadn't been here for years, Hinata didn't know how to act around him.
"I loved you." The words flew out and Hinata covered her mouth. Naruto didn't turn but laughed.
"I know." The response made Hinata turn a brighter crimson. "You were a friend to me. But all I could think about then was Sakura this and Sakura that. Besides, you have Kiba now. And I live somewhere different, worlds away. You're happy, Hinata-chan?" Hinata closed her eyes and nodded and Naruto grinned under his mask. "And you love Kiba, don't you?" Again, Hinata nodded. "Then I wish you both happiness. Hope you like Dog-breath." The joke caused Hinata to hit him and laugh and the two started to talk about their lives. The sun started to set when the two left each other and Naruto smiled as she left. Once, Hinata-chan, I loved you too.
(A/N) Sorry to HinaXNaru fans but there are too many and my fic is cliche enough. Which leads to the plotline. I'm not gonna add much romance to the fic but I do want a main pairing. Obviously, Hinata is out for Naruto, but if you want another girl for Naru, then review. Also, I want to move the plot onto the war that will happen. I'm thinking of having Light completely nuetral until the enemy, (not gonna say who yet) attacks Light. If you want something else, please let me know.