Chapter 4: A new look
Once Hinagi and Katsuhiko deemed it safe enough from the oncoming danger that would be Leaf Anbu, Hinagi sat Naoko down against a trunk of a tree and pulled back her robe to see the unfinished binding marks on her shoulder and arm. "S-so tell me about that... awesome jutsu you guys pulled off..." she said weakly smiling.
Katsuhiko knelt next to her and cupped her cheek, "It is a jutsu known to my family. The jutsu allows us to create huge tides until they are almost tsunami level. I think Hinagi put most of his strength in that one, I know I did." Then trailing a finger over the blue sigils on her shoulder they started to glow a light blue and he could feel his chakra being slightly absorbed by them. Retracting his hand like it hurt, he noticed Hinagi move his hand while inspected the seals. "It looks like Sasuke didn't finish in time. Which is good, but this has wreaked havoc on her body. I need to release the jutsu before it dampers her anymore."
As they laid her down on the ground, her eyes flickered open while her mouth twisted in pain. "Ugh, it feels like I have a hundred pound wet blanket on me..." She glanced down at her arm and sighed, thankful it wasn't complete but worried about it coming off. Katsuhiko gripped her hand firmly but just nodded at her. "This will be just a moment Naoko-chan, shouldn't hurt as it did when it went on."
With lightning fast moves, Hinagi created the reverse hand signs to this particular binding jutsu, and placed his glowing green hand on her forearm. He felt her shift, but the sigils started to unravel and follow up his hand and around his ring finger. After about a moment, the last of the sigils were completely removed from Naoko, which now rested permanently on his finger in a Celtic design that was similar to a ring. He clenched his fist a few times looking at the front and back of his hand before standing up to glance at the surrounding area.
Naoko looked up at him in worry but sat up feeling much better. "You put that binding on yourself and now you're tailored to me" She pulled her robe up on to her shoulder again and let Katsuhiko pull her to her feet. "Let me see your hand really quick, I think I can help-"
He shook his head before glancing at her. "It's not important now Naoko, I wanted you to be able to use your chakra for this cure. For your freedom, unlike you and Katsuhiko, I can use more of my chakra, so this won't damper me as much as it has you. It just means I'm going to get some re-enforcements soon to help us steer clear of your parents."
Her eyes sunk at the sound of that. She knew her fathers wouldn't let this stand for a second and she was terrified at all who they'd send. If she had to deal with either of her grandparents, she may have to be reduced to nothing but a porcelain doll for the rest of her life under their watch. But this wasn't a time to be scared about Naruto or Sasuke. Right now they needed to find shelter and get a head start on moving to the next village. They gathered around as Hinagi pulled his hand over an unraveled scroll and play with his sand to make the world map.
His hand danced along the Fire Country and down to the Wave country. He emphasized the Wave Country and pulled up the escape routes. "From where we are now, there is the Great Naruto Bridge and six ports that lead to the Water Country, Whirlpool country, and Tea Country. We can attempt travel by foot through the Fire Country to get to any of the Southern areas, but our chances of being caught are almost ninety five percent."
Katsuhiko chimed in then, sliding his mask to the side to get a better view. "I have a feeling the search team sent out to find us will hit those places first, especially in Suna. I know the Hokage will round up his team mates there and have the group do just about anything. I recommend we go to the most Northern part of the Wave Country and meet with my sister. She can help up get passes to those ships and new identities; from there we can travel to our sister country, and ask for help."
Hinagi nodded but started to disagree about going with what the Hokage may already assume. Katsu countered back that anything is possible at this point and they just needed to get a move on.
Naoko watched the two of them point at the map and change the route for a few moments. She knew about Katsuhiko's extended family in the Water Country. They had some of the best medical practitioners there and more of the equipment that she would need to continue their research. Getting frustrated with their arguing she held her hand out above the map and caught their attentions. "How about we go with plan A, which is to make arrangements to go to Water Country? Katsuhiko, did you take that parcel to Tsunade like I'd asked?"
He nodded and held his hand to his head in a salute "Yes, Tsunade was to make that batch of the Akimichi 2.0 pills and send them out to a post here in Wave. By now, they should have arrived and placed safely." Hinagi looked confused at him and turned to Naoko. "Akimichi? Do you mean those pills that max out your chakra and use all of the calories in your body to do so?"
"Yes you're correct. However, I've modified them. I found the link in those pills that will use what calories we have to use as chakra, and combined it with the military capsules that gives us strength for three straight days and nights. Only, there is no lag after using them. At least not in Katsuhiko and I. From our previous trials and surveys, humanoids like us who start to lose their chakra around age 5 or 6 will lose that chakra for good. Thankfully through taijutsu training we can help slow that process down, but it will catch up to us eventually, however in regular shinobi, the extra energy for those three days and nights will run ragged on you and will need a few more days to catch back up."
He nodded and sealed the scroll up again replacing it in his side pouch. He then learned that Naoko and Katsuhiko had found a dual link in both types of pills that will help the group keep up their strength while running from the Leaf Anbu and whatever team Naruto may send out to find them. After an added round of information circled the group, they broke and leaped into the trees, in search of the parcel that was hidden by that familiar of Tsunade's.
It didn't take long for the three of them to meet up in a clearing just outside of a small section of rice fields. Just before an opening into the next forest, a small shrine was placed with mini Bodhisattva's placed around. There had been incense burning not too long ago and some sweets placed at the altar of the shrine. Naoko bent down just enough to see a small bag hanging inside of the altar. With an offering of a cut off piece of her bindings, she replaced the bag. Bowing in thanks for protecting the small bag she stood and smirked to the two boys.
Hinagi looked at her in question. "Are those the Akimichi pills?" She nodded and had everyone place their hands out, giving them equal parts. "Yes, I think this was good thinking on my part. I'm not a genius but I have seen my parents do this enough that I guess it stuck." she stuck her tongue out and winked at the two of them. "Okay, we got these. Now we need to change up our looks before traveling. Katsuhiko, you're from around here, do you know any shops we could get some new threads at?"
"Well, yeah!" He exclaimed as he licked his fingers. Naoko turned and did a double take at him, making a horrified look at the crumbs on his cheeks. "You just ate the sweets! How dare you, they was for the spirits!" Her mouth couldn't have dropped any lower to the ground.
"What?" he said licking his thumb, "It's not like the spirits can actually eat this stuff. Besides I'm sure that they get plenty of other offerings every day of the year by my people. Two sweet cakes won't do that much harm." Next thing he knew he was being sent into a tree, rattling the branches and falling down. Hinagi cracked his knuckles and shook his head. "You're heartless. It doesn't matter if the spirits can eat it or not, it wasn't meant for you. Now stop upsetting Naoko and lead us to the shops."
Katsuhiko grumbled rubbing his now red throbbing face as he made his way down the rice field. "Some friends you are... no sweets..."
Naruto paced back and forth in his office, kicking his desk every time he passed it. Sasuke visible flinched each time. Passing by his desk again, Naruto just kept shaking his head, ruffling his hair and grumbling to himself. He was so livid, the thought his daughter being kidnapped was his worst dream come true. He knew she was wanted by Orochimaru's followers and the rumor of her being Jinchuuriki had spread like wild fire with the surrounding countries. Although no one would believe him, the enemies were out on a bounty they would never receive, he had made sure that under every pretense she would be protected. Even with the best Anbu, here he was worrying himself sick over the whole situation.
"I can't believe this Sasuke!" His fist slammed against the window seal. Sasuke flinched for the hundredth time. He sighed and made his way toward the blond, putting a warm hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I know. We just-" he was cut off before Naruto put a hand over Sasuke's and gripped it tighter. "I'm going after her. I need to find my little girl." He whipped around before Sasuke could take a breath, leading to his desk to pull out scrolls, placing weapons in them and raveling them up, now he was slamming kunai and shuriken on to the scrolls now, making a stack of papers fall the to the floor.
"Naruto, wait. You can't act so rash when you have all of Konoha to still protect." Sasuke pushed Naruto back in his seat and stared him in the eye.
"I'm not going to sit here all stoic like you while they have my baby! They will turn her inside out just like Madara tried to do with me and the Kyuubi! Don't you understand Sasuke?! If she can't use her chakra she can't protect herself, if she does use it, it's going to kill her either way. She will die without us." He screamed at Sasuke. All his anger and fear was building up and his cool Hokage image was starting to tear at the seams. Sasuke could feel him shaking and he was just as hurt as Naruto was. He tried once more to reason with him.
"Naruto, I know how you feel. Trust me on this when I say we need to get a search team out as soon as possible to make sure she makes it home safe." The raven put his forehead to Naruto's and grabbed his hand, squeezing it firmly. Naruto let out a shaky breath, his lip threatening to tremble and tears pricking the back of his eyes. "I'd give this all up in an instant Sasuke, to make sure she'd come back safe. I'd do anything. Even give my life."
"Don't talk like that dobe. I know you would, I would too. I would of done anything to rewind back to the moment she flew out of my grasp in that storm. I feel that was planned, I know that was no normal storm. I don't know who is after her, but I promise I will find her. She will be back home safe with us. I'll do everything in my power to make sure so." He tilted back and urged Naruto to get up with him.
"I know you will." Naruto looked him straight in the eyes and let out a firm breath again. He stood and wiped his cloak straight, rubbing his face and nose. "Send in Shikamaru. I want Team Gai as well as Team Azuma. Make sure they are here within the hour. I want everyone ready to go by tomorrow morning." Sasuke nodded. "Hai." and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
The two shinobi's mouths dropped to the floor and had eyes as wide as saucers "What did you do to your hair?!" Katsuhiko and Hinagi both stared in shock as Naoko walked out of a ramen shop burping. The three had split up for the hour to get some new attire and hopefully throw off any leads that ambush the other day may have caused. Naoko blushed and rubbed the back of her hair, just grinning like a fool to the both of them.
"What? Do you not like it? I thought I needed a change." Before, with two long flowing thick locks of blond hair, she resembled too much like her father's female genjutsu. She didn't mind it when she was younger, but recently being a shinobi, it was always getting in her way. Now, with lighter hair, she sported a Mohawk that had a single braid go up the side of her hair. The rest was pulled back into a long pony tail. Not as long as her hair was before, but long enough to still get in the way without proper restraints. "Besides, the search party for me will have a little more of a difficult time looking for a girl with pig tails, and well since I don't have any..." she shrugged looking at the two of them.
"I think..." Katsuhiko walked around her a few times, poking at the spiky strands. "Well... it's definitely different." He then smiled evilly and tugged on the back of her hair where her pony tail started and she let out a whelp before a mad blush married her face. "Whelp it's all good as long as I can get a handful in, yah know?" he grinned and elbowed Hinagi in the ribs, he stepped aside as he looked at Naoko. Naoko let out a grunt as her face turned a deathly red. Hinagi could have sworn he saw steam come out of her ears.
One minute Katsuhiko is laughing his ass off and the next he is getting hit with an enlarged fist and being sent flying backwards into a stand of fresh flowers. He shakily crooked his head up and stared at her scared.
"Try that shit again and you'll learn what it's like to be fish food! CHA!" She turned on her foot and strutted past him heading toward the ramen shop once more. Hinagi looked at the red haired man again an grinned. "I wonder how you are always able to find her spots Katsu." Katsuhiko brushed himself off and made his way over to Hinagi, nursing his whacked cheek.
"Do you think it's that time of month again for her? That hurt a little more than usual." Totally evading the question, his cheek was starting to swell now and he could only imagine her painting her nails with a venomous nail polish. He shivered at the possibility.
"Maybe, she has been eating more lately. I mean do you know how many bowls of ramen she's been through this last hour?" Hinagi said with wide eyes. He'd never thought he'd seen anyone else other than Naruto be able to scarf down about six bowls of super-sized udon ramen with vegetables and broth like that, but here Naoko was almost doubling it, only stopping because she knew she'd run out of money if she kept it up.
"Dude, when isn't Naoko-chan eating? She's like her father, could eat a cow and not gain a pound either. I love her metabolism." Katsuhiko grinned again and continued to walk with Hinagi as they caught up to the ramen shop. Inside they could hear her slurping down more noodles and cussing up a storm about how men are just so damn predictable.
"Her metabolism? Really? All the things that Naoko is, you complement her metabolism?" Hinagi looked at him as if he thought Katsuhiko could magically turn apple pie into butter.
"Well it was either her metabolism or her ass." He stated nonchalantly. Hinagi visibly had a vein pop out on his forehead before he whacked Katsuhiko on the other side of his face. "Do you have no shame?"
"Ow! Why must you hit me all the damn time! I swear dude, this is becoming an abusive relationship, I don't know if I can commit anymore." Hinagi wanted to grimace but kept his cool. Instead, he just stared at Katsuhiko.
"Fine then, what should I complement her on so she'll forgive me?" Katsuhiko now rubbed both sides of his face, pouting.
"Well I don't know about you, but have you ever notice her orbs?" dark eyes hit the floor and a small smile tugged at his mouth.
"You mean her tits? She hides those all the time though; I've never gotten a good view."
"No you fool! Her eyes! Sheesh get your mind out of the gutter!" He swung at Katsu's head again but the red haired man manage to step back just in time.
"But you know if it weren't for the gutter my mind would be homeless! Come on; give me one of those romantic lines you always use. I've heard you recite some mushy lines before that I'm sure would make any girl, or guy melt." Katsuhiko's eyes almost sparkled.
Hinagi fought to hold back a blush. He remembered a few times when Katsu had walked up on him a few times reciting some of his poetry that he was working on for the blonde girl. Though he'd never admit to having a crush on her, let alone writing poetry…
"Why don't you complement on how blue her eyes are? It's a rare color for eyes now a day. The only other people to have those eyes are Naruto. I have never met a blonde hair blue eyed individual anywhere else. Start with something like… 'I fell in love with your eyes, your eyes that remind me of the sky and the heart of the ocean'" Hinagi stated looking up into the sky noticing the slow moving clouds. He didn't notice Katsuhiko writing some of this down in a flip notebook before he sheathed it back into his chest pocket.
"Yeah, that's pretty romantic dude. Thanks. Oh there she comes now. I guess we need to get a move on huh?"
Naoko then walked up to them her face content as she patted her full stomach. "I think I have a food baby. That was the best second helping of ramen ever." She then belched explosively almost startling the both of them. She giggled before turning again and pointing to nowhere in particular. "Let's get a move on! We have things to see and people to do!"
Katsuhiko couldn't hold back a chuckle as he slapped Naoko's shoulder walking by her crossing his arms. "I think you mean things to do and people to see, Naoko-chan."
"Same difference!" She blushed and caught up with the two. The three of them put on their masks and nodded to each other. In an instant they were sprinting towards the trails that lead into the mountains, heading straight toward the mansion of the Waves leader. They didn't notice a set of eyes from a nearby shop watching them race toward the mountain's entrance.
The moon was shining bright tonight, seven pairs of eyes were staring into the forest waiting for the leader with his hands in his pockets to finally brief them on the next movement.
"Alright gang. This mission is to be as quick as possible; we need to find the Hokage's daughter. We all know her, she isn't as troublesome as our Hokage use to be, and although she is strong willed she is weak in the world where she can't use her chakra." Everyone nodded at this and stepped in closer. A tail wagged as a hand reached down to scratch the ears of the beast. "She was last seen in Waves right? Then let's start there and work on some clues to see where she may be taken next."
"That's right. This is going to be troublesome since we can only assume that she has been kidnapped by some henchmen who use to work under Orochimaru. Naruto has concluded that they are deluded to thinking that Naoko is a Jinchuuriki. However, we all know she isn't but that won't stop them from draining what's left of her unique chakra." The ponytail individual then shifts to the side and glances at a white pair of eyes that seemed determined to find the missing ninja.
"You'll be going to the northern part of waves, I want you to find any trace of her chakra and follow it. When the chakra line becomes stronger I want you to send the signal for the rest of us to come meet up. Do whatever possible to make sure she stays put."
"R-right." The quiet individual nodded with determination. He moved to another set of glowing slanted eyes. "You'll be sniffing her out. I want all leads possible in this group to work towards bringing her home safely and if you find anything suspicious report back to me immediately."
With a nod and bark the two grunted and stepped back. Finally the lazy eyes settled on the last two. "You guys will follow me; we will start at the temple in waves and collect data for now. If there is nothing to follow in two days' time, I want everyone to meet back at the bridge connecting us to Waves. Let's move out."
"Right!" they all scattered in separate directions. The wind blew by pleasantly after that.
SMACK.
Naoko grunted as she hit her own cheek. A small mosquito lay crushed in her hand. That was the fifteenth one in the last hour. She couldn't believe how many bugs were swarming this summer, but this made her think about something. Back at the academy they had started to learn about the migration habits of different types of insects, thanks to that wonderfully creepy teacher she had. She glanced down at the bug again, noticing a weird color on each of the legs.
Unlike the regular ones she had seen that had striped black and white legs, this one had red and black. This wasn't natural for mosquitoes and this clicked something wrong for her. She pulled out a vile from her back pack and scraped the insect into it, pushing a cork on it tightly. If she found any more, she was determined to keep them and run some tests later.
Not so much as ten minutes later, her legs started to wobble and she had to lean against a tree. Her vision doubling for a split second, 'this is weird' she thought, she'd never had her vision double from just walking up a mountain side…
"Naoko, is something the matter? We can rest; we've been at it for a few hours now." Hinagi called back. She shook her head rubbing her temples. "Giggidy" she chuckled "but no, I think it's just the altitude. I'm not use to heights like this. Don't worry, I'll drink some water and catch right up." She smiled briefly at him and leaned against the tree again, this time sliding down into a seating position.
"Oh no, I don't like the sight of that." Katsuhiko skipped down on to the same ledge she was at and position his backpack on to his front side. After giving her a drink of water, he pulled her up onto his back and held securely on to her legs. "Don't worry Naoko-chan; I'll get you up there. Man look at you, you're all bitten up from the bugs. I didn't think that there would be so many up here in the cold mountains like this." His lips had turned blue without him noticing and he was slightly shivering.
Hinagi stopped him and looked at both of them. "Katsuhiko, it's not cold up here yet. We've only gone about a quarter of the way up; we won't feel the temperature change for another hour. You're bitten up as well. Are you feeling dizzy or tired by chance?" He placed his hand on both of their foreheads.
Katsu swatted his hand away and re adjusted Naoko on his back. "Quit it. I'm a medic Ninja, I'd know if I was running any symptoms..." just as the words left his mouth, his eyes fluttered for a moment and his face begun to look like he had gotten drunk. He almost looked like a serious drunk, but then he about tipped to the side. Hinagi helped both of them down to rest for a moment, shaking his head at the two of them. "What is going on here?"
While he checked their vitals, a buzzing could be heard. Hinagi turned and whacked his hand to the back of his neck. That stung really bad he thought, was it a wasp or something? But before he could check his hand, he felt himself go limp on the ground in front of his two team mates. All three's world faded black.
Naoko was breathing shallowly, she felt how warm Katsuhiko's back was, and she snuggled deeper into his shoulder then faded into a cold sleep. She kept thinking of how she could always depend on the red head, no matter his antics or pranks, he was always reliable and a great friend. She remembered when they first met and how she thought he was so different from the rest of the rowdy kids at the academy.
"Stop trying to pick a fight with me, I'm not scared of you!" Naoko, age 12 at this time, screamed as she was blocking hits from an older classmate. The other girl was whacking her and screaming obscenities. "Just because you're the Hokage's daughter doesn't give you special treatment!" The other girl screamed again. Just as the other kid was about to hit Naoko in the face, a hand caught the face and pushed her away.
Naoko looked up at a black sleeved, toned arm. He had tan skin and a blank expression, and that hair! It was like he had flames for hair. This was something that reminded her of her other father. He smiled gently and the other girl looked at him in astonishment almost immediately.
"Ka-Katsuhiko!" The girl squealed. "What are you doing? This bitch is trying to be tough shit saying she's better than the rest! Why are you stopping me?" He shook his head and kept his warm smile.
"Please Sanoke-san; you don't have to protect your popularity by getting into fights with younger classmates. She works just as hard as you to be the best that she can. That's all we are all asked for. Just leave it be." The girl was then turned around and pushed away. She grunted and walked away annoyed. He then turned his glance to her and smiled again, his eyes closing in a happy curve.
"I'm sorry about her; you're not hurt are you?" He glanced at her cheek and frowned. "You have a cut though, let me help with that." He took out a small ten from his shorts and dabbed his pinky into the green substance. He then placed it over her cheek; it was cool to the touch and smelt like mint.
"There, that will help with infection. Just make sure to clean it when you get home okay?"
Her eyes practically shimmered with sparkles. That touch, just from his pinky, sent shivers down her neck and made her hair stand on end. What was this feeling, could it of been the medicine? She nodded sheepishly and looked down. "Thanks. That's really cool of you. What is that stuff anyways?"
He smiled again and sat down on the rock next to her. "Cow piss." He said blatantly. She looked at him in utter disgust. He laughed and waved it off "It's just an ointment my family grows and sells at our clinic. I'm constantly getting cuts and scrapes so I carry this on me at all times." He tilted his head, gesturing for her to sit too. As she did his held out his hand to her. "I'm Katsuhiko, from the Land of Waves. Who might you be guppy?"
She looked at his hand then back at his face in question. She didn't want to touch his hand again in the event he'd feel that shiver too; also she questioned his sanity, what kind of joke was that? She looked at him with a tilted head, "I'm Naoko." She started, thinking for a minute she looked back up at him with her eyebrows knitted. "I'm from here. I am constantly getting into fights because everyone doesn't like the fact that I'm the Hokage's daughter."
He looked at her with no change in his expression. "I see. I think they are jealous."
"Hm?" she thought she heard it wrong. Who'd be jealous of her? The only thing they should be doing is leaving her alone, all she wanted to do was to study and find what she could be good at. She didn't like the idea of being the type to just sit around. She knew she couldn't use her chakra for anything right now, though she was determined to learn her family's traditional fire style jutsu. She wanted to make her dads proud. She didn't have anything for people to be jealous of right now...
"I think they are jealous." He repeated. She looked up and met his gaze. She felt spot lighted but listened anyways. "I think they know you're different. I mean, your parents had such a history here in Konoha. I know about those stories even in the Land of Waves. How Naruto and Sasuke had epic adventures and powerful days before returning to Konoha to settle down."
"Yeah, but that's all I ever hear. How great my parents are, but what about me? I don't want to live for my parent's legacy; I want to live for my own! I want to be something different, something... unique that no one has ever seen before! CHA!" She exclaimed with her fist pumped. She was almost panting by the end of that. Katsuhiko laughed again and grinned at her.
"Then be unique! Fight for what you want and you'll out grow your father's legacy. Both of them! I believe in you." He stood up with her and held out his fist. "Let's do this!"
Without a second thought, she hit her fist with his. They shared a knowing smile and have been best of friends ever since. These were the memories most precious to Naoko. She wouldn't have traded her boys for the world, and this was going to be an adventure of a life time. She just knew it.
Hello again! Thanks for following along if you have been. I felt good writing this chapter, also if you'd like to see the art work for my fanfiction you can go to my facebook and check em out! I'm doing action scenes and highlighted scenes. If anyone else would like to request me drawing something I do that as well! Thanks again and stay tuned for chapter 5~!