(Welcome back readers to my latest installment. Naruto's gonna have even more fun in this chapter so everyone be prepared.)
In Konoha Tsunade was slouching over her paperwork while Shizune was lecturing her about taking her job seriously. Then Jiraiya climbed in through the window, "Well good morning ladies."
"What is it this time Jiraiya?" Tsunade asked boredly.
"Well Tsunade you'll be happy to know one of my messenger toads has delivered me a message from Naruto." Jiraiya began as Tsunade's bored demeanor vanished and she looked serious.
"Where is it let me see it!"
"Easy there, allow me." Jiraiya unraveled a scroll and read from it while Naruto's voice read it as well before only his voice could be heard.
Dear Baa-san, Shizune-neesan, Ero-Sennin and all my loved ones in that godforsaken village:
It's been a week or so since my banishment but I want you to know I'm doing perfectly fine on my own. I will admit though I do miss all of you, things aren't the same as they used to be since I no longer take ninja missions. I managed to find myself a great job with a good pay. I do magic now. I had to really practice with it, but the kids and the people just can't get enough of my work.
It cuts to Naruto's POV who had been doing a magic show in a town. Naruto was dressed in his cloak and wore a Kabuki mask that covered all but the top right side of his face exposing his right eye. He stood before an audience of kids and adults while pulling out a deck of cards and shuffled them before dropping them on the ground making a bad first impression, but smirked as he held out his hand and the cards went up from the ground and into his hand in a perfect deck again leaving the audience in awe. What Naruto hadn't said in his letter was that the use of his new power was the source of his success in his magic show. Other performances he did included juggling but used his mind to make the balls stay airborne while he took a sip of water and held his hands out catching them. He even did some hard juggling on line wires.
I still haven't decided on where I'm going to now live, but don't worry I'm just enjoying myself and getting a chance to see more of the ninja land I've never seen before. I'm still keeping up on my training with the Rasengan among other techniques. Just checking in and making sure you're all doing ok, I honestly wish I look forward to seeing you all again, but I won't be coming back and all. You never know though maybe I'll run into some of you when you're out on missions. It could happen. Well I got to get going. I'll write to you very soon.
With Love,
Naruto
Jiraiya and Shizune smiled while Tsunade shedded a tear, "At least he's still alive out there." Jiraiya said.
"Yes I was worried.
"We all are," Tsunade replied, "I wonder where he is now?"
Meanwhile Naruto was flying across the sky above the clouds cheering and whooping, "Activating hyper drive!" he flew faster. Soon he pulled to a halt and looked down seeing the water below and land up ahead, "Seems like I should stop there for a bit and conserve my energy." He flew ahead but suddenly saw he was flying right into a storm.
"Naruto get out of there!" Kurama called but Naruto was already caught up in the strong wind that was messing with his balance in the sky.
"Whoa! The wind's all of a sudden on the move here!" Naruto called as he tried to maintain altitude not wanting to crash into the water before reaching the land up ahead.
He flew through the storm dodging some lightning strikes before finally flying out of the storm and was right above the land before another breeze knocked him off balance and he started flying downward seeing he was heading right for a building's roof.
"Oh this is gonna hurt," Naruto said as he braced for impact as he crashed through the roof and landed in water and heard female cries. Naruto lifted his head out of the water, "Oh what a wipe out. Where am I?" he looked seeing it appeared to be a bathhouse, "A bathhouse?" suddenly he felt killer intent all around him.
He looked and to his shock was surrounded by multiple girls ranging from his age and older. Some of them were wrapped in towels, while others used wash pans to cover themselves up. What Naruto noticed most about these girls was that they had some very impressive rack sizes. Nothing like Tsunade's but very busty.
Naruto looked sheepish, "Hey ladies was this your bathhouse, sorry I must've taken a wrong turn. You all enjoy your bath and I'll be on my way." He got up planning to leave only to see the girls held kunai aimed at him making him nervous.
"What are you doing here male?" one of the girls asked with a frown.
"Honestly, I'm here by mistake."
"Oh it's a mistake alright," another girl began, "You don't belong here."
"I agree, that's why I'm leaving this building." Naruto said wanting to make a break without exposing his power to them right away.
"It's not just that," a third said, "Men aren't welcomed in this village. Therefore you are an intruder and must be dealt with." The girls were ganging up on him before Naruto pointed behind them
"Behold!"
They all turned and Naruto bolted out of the bathhouse and ran through the village, "Where the hell am I?" he asked before hearing alarms and a spotlight shine around, "Oh shit." He ran.
"Naruto why don't you just fly?"
"And what ruin the chance to explain myself, besides I need to keep my leg muscles in shape," He replied as he ran seeing multiple kunoichi aiming throwing their kunai at him almost nailing him had he not used his power to make them fly to the ground instead, "Man that was close, these girls got good aim."
"Are you going to keep running forever? You have more than enough power to take them all on."
"Alright then I'll stop running," Naruto replied as he spun facing them as the girls land on the ground forming a mob, "Alright girls, who wants some?"
The girls each went at him using hand to hand combat while Naruto blocked some of their moves but used his telekinesis to push them back, but more kept coming and attacking him. Naruto sighed as he summoned a shadow clone, "I didn't wanna have to use this on you but you force me to take desperate measures." His clone started forming a Rasengan in his palm.
"Attack!" one of the kunoichi's called as they were about to strike until another called.
"Halt!"
They all froze as Naruto stopped as well ending his Rasengan. The kunoichi made way as another made their way through the crowd. It was a woman in her thirties who had an imposing figure, along with a slender physique and a very angular face framed by short brown hair along with a dark shade of red lipstick. She wore a short, backless, red, full-body suit over mesh armor, along with a pair of arm-length gloves, a long apron skirt opened in the front. She also wore bandages on her wrists, covering all of her right left as well as her left thigh and leg. And strapped to her back was an extremely long and thin katana.
"Everyone stand down." She ordered.
"But Lady Tokiwa we cannot let a man in our village." One tried to object.
"That's an order!" the woman Tokiwa called and the kunoichi lowered their guard putting Naruto at ease until Tokiwa approached him.
"You there sir." She said.
"Um yes?"
"That technique you were about to use, it was the Rasengan wasn't it?"
"It might've been." He replied.
"Only two people have been known to use that technique one was the Yondaime Hokage of Konoha but he is long since deceased. The other is Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin. Tell me are you an apprentice to Jiraiya-sama?"
"More like was, but still I did learn under him until I went on my own. My name's Naruto."
"This is just what we've been waiting for," Tokiwa began confusing Naruto and turned to the guards, "Take us to the palace. Lady Shizuka must know of this."
"Hai!" two guards nodded.
"Follow me please." Tokiwa told Naruto who did so wondering what was up.
Soon they reached a palace where they made it to a chamber. Naruto looked ahead seeing someone in a throne like chair. It was a girl. This girl had fair-skin and sported a noticeably curvaceous frame and large bust which Naruto could barely take his eyes off of. She had green eyes and waist-length black hair in a hime-style tied in a high ponytail with short bangs and chin-length strands framing her face. Behind her bangs was a black forehead protector with the symbol of a flower on it which was worn by all the kunoichi in the village, and she also wore a form-fitting kunoichi uniform that was grey-colored with a right shoulder-armor, grey gloves, and an opening in her shirt which reveals her cleavage which went noticed by Naruto making him blush but shook it off as he watched what happened next.
"Behold our illustrious leader Princess Shizuka," Tokiwa announced as Naruto looked at the girl on the throne, "Everyone leave us." Tokiwa ordered as the guards left her, Naruto, and the girl on the throne.
"What is the meaning of this Tokiwa?" the girl asked eyeing Naruto who blushed.
"Lady Shizuka, our guards have found this male in our village, but there is something about him you should know." The woman began.
"Speak." Shizuka replied.
"His name is Naruto and he was an apprentice of Jiraiya-sama."
Suddenly the girl Shizuka looked surprised, "Jiraiya-sama, then he is the one."
"One what?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"First of all Naruto, this village you are in now is Nadeshiko no Sato (Pink Flower Country)." Tokiwa explained.
"Nadeshiko?" Naruto asked never heard of a country from Kakashi, Jiraiya, or anybody.
"Yes, in this village only kunoichi exist and train."
"Wow sounds like the type of village Ero-sennin would love." Naruto replied.
"We have been waiting for an apprentice of Jiraiya-sama's for a long time now." The woman continued.
"Why's that?"
"Didn't Jiraiya-sama tell you anything?" Tokiwa asked.
"Tell me what?"
"Well I guess I'll tell you then," the woman began, "Many years ago Jiraiya-sama had traveled to our village."
"Gee I wonder why." Naruto said in sarcasm.
"Anyway, our former leader who was Shizuka's mother chased Jiraiya until they dueled it out. And the only thing on the line between them was Shizuka's mothers hand in marriage."
"I don't like where this is going." Naruto had a bad feeling about it.
Shizuka spoke, "Our village is matrilineal, only women are born into our line."
"Say what?" Naruto asked as she continued.
"Our code is that we kunoichi of Nadeshiko only marry men we deem strong enough to be our husbands." Shizuka explained.
"And what does this have to do with me?"
Tokiwa continued, "Jiraiya-sama and Shizuka's mother fought to the peak of their strengths, but the duel was left unresolved. It was then a compromise was made that if the students of the two should ever meet they would continue the fight with the same price on the line."
"Wait so you mean that?" Naruto was shocked as Shizuka approached him and took his hands into hers.
"Please duel with me Naruto, should you win I will gladly make you my husband."
Naruto stumbled backward falling on his back from the shock and surprised the two women as he got back up, "Hey this is all so sudden, I mean I was just told this. You can't honestly expect me to go along with some promise my master made!"
"Please denying a request to duel would bring shame to our village." Tokiwa reasoned with him.
"Well sorry to disappoint you, but like I said I'm no longer Ero-Sennin's student. Not since I was banished from Konoha."
"Banished?" Shizuka asked.
"Yeah I've been on my own for more than a week enjoying my liberation."
"Liberation? That's what you call your banishment?" Tokiwa asked.
"That's right, and more to the point I have to pass on this marriage duel." Naruto said.
"Please you must do this for Shizuka's sake." Tokiwa pleaded.
"Sorry but that's not my problem. It's been fun but have to go." Naruto was prepared to leave only for two guards to appear and block him.
"Even if you do try to leave you are still considered trespassing in our village." Shizuka warned him.
"How did you even wind up falling into the bathhouse without crossing the entrance of the village?" Tokiwa questioned him.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Naruto replied.
"Regardless Naruto, we are giving you an ultimatum," Shizuka continued, "Duel me, or be killed."
Naruto smirked to himself, 'Like they could do that to me.'
'So now you'll escape?' Kurama thought.
'Not just yet,' Naruto thought back and spoke, "Alright then I accept your terms Princess."
Shizuka nodded, "A wise choice," she turned to Tokiwa, "See that our guest is properly welcomed here, and make arrangements for tomorrow's match."
"At once my lady." Tokiwa nodded.
Soon Tokiwa had shown Naruto to his room where he got settled in, and within the hour it was dinner time with Naruto sitting with Shizuka and Tokiwa at a dinner table with a wide spread of food.
"Wow this sure looks good." Naruto admitted.
"Eat up." Shizuka beckoned him and Naruto chowed while Tokiwa and Shizuka ate regularly.
"You know you Nadeshiko ladies are very hospitable." Naruto admitted.
"You should consider yourself lucky, we don't normally treat men this generously." Shizuka replied.
"I'll take your word for it." Naruto said as he continued eating.
After dinner Naruto was sitting out on a balcony in thought, 'I can't believe this tomorrow I'm fighting against a kunoichi for marriage.'
'I know how lucky can ya get?' Kurama thought.
'Focus Kurama, because if I win I'm going to have to marry her, and if I lose… Actually I'd rather not even think about the consequences if it goes that far.'
'Would marrying her be so bad to you?'
'It's not that I don't like her believe me I won't deny she's hot. But I barely know her, and I'm on the run from Root.'
'I see your point, but maybe you can make this your home if you succeed. After all Root Anbu wouldn't be welcomed here even if they could sneak in.'
'You're not much help in this case Kurama.'
Suddenly he was broken out of his thoughts by Tokiwa, "Naruto?"
Naruto jumped before looking up at the woman, "Oh Tokiwa, I didn't hear ya there."
"I sense you are distressed." She took a seat next to him.
"I'm way past distressed. When I woke up this morning I wasn't counting on an arranged marriage proposal as a result of something my master promised years ago."
"I know it's so sudden, but I should tell you this is more than just about the promise between yours and Shizuka's masters, but to restore Shizuka's belief in love." She explained.
"Huh?" the blonde was confused.
"Perhaps I ought to explain why Shizuka trains so hard," she began, "You see she's always despised how our village upholds the tradition of making men our husbands by proving themselves, and many years ago she was in love with a merchant named Sagiri but due to our village customs was forbidden. One day Sagiri was killed and Shizuka resigned never to love again. Since then she's done nothing but train herself so that she would be stronger and never lose someone dearest to her again. Personally I believe she is only punishing herself."
Naruto finally hearing this about Shizuka could only sympathize with her, "So that's it?"
"Yes, I'm hoping you fighting her would be able to help her love again and not close herself off."
Naruto started processing all this about Shizuka having originally thought this was all just about a promise made years ago realized it was much more. He smiled before speaking, "Alright then, I'll be ready for tomorrow."
"Really?" the woman asked surprised at his change in behavior.
"Yeah when it comes to changing people's outlooks I've been known to be a natural at it." Naruto smiled recalling past experiences with Inari, Gaara, and Tsunade.
"I thank you Naruto, you have no idea how much this will mean for me and Shizuka's mother."
"Don't mention it." He smiled.
When morning came all the kunoichi in the village were gathered inside an arena similar to the Chunin exam stadium in terms of size and space. In the stands were just about all the kunoichi in Nadeshiko. On the field stood Naruto and Shizuka warming up until Tokiwa walked onto the field.
"Welcome kunoichi of Nadeshiko to the event you've all been waiting for. Today we bare witness on the long awaited match between our late ruler's daughter Princess Shizuka," Tokiwa began as the crowd of kunoichi cheered her on, "And her challenger the student of the legendary Jiraiya-sama all the way from Konohagakure Naruto!"
Naruto was given boos from the ladies but he couldn't blame them since he's yet to prove himself to Shizuka or anyone.
"Let the match begin!" Tokiwa called as she stepped away for the fighters to go at it.
"Prepare yourself Naruto!" Shizuka called as she ran forward, "Nadeshiko style! Roaring gale chop!" she called as her right hand glowed with wind chakra and was thrusted forward.
Naruto jumped back avoiding her strike but felt the ground below them shake as fissures erupted on the ground Shizuka stood on. 'Wow she's good, but I can't take chances.' He drew a kunai. He looked up seeing her jump above him holding multiple kunai,
"Nadeshiko style! Aerial dance!" She threw the barrage of kunai that proved to have deadly accuracy. Naruto however used his telekinesis to make the kunai miss him surprising the kunoichi.
"How did he do that?" one asked.
"Princess Shizuka never misses, and he didn't even move a muscle." Another said.
"This Naruto must be special if he was trained by Jiraiya-sama." A third noted.
Naruto jumped at Shizuka summoning three shadow clones each using their kunai to fight against her. However Shizuka spun kicked all four with the clones dispelling while Naruto landed on his feet.
"What do ya think of that huh?" Naruto asked.
"You are strong indeed Naruto, but I'm not finished. Spinning waltz!" Shizuka jumped into the air spinning like a top launching needles all around.
"Whoa needles!" Naruto gasped as he crossed his arms around his body and forcibly spreaded them like he did before with the Root Anbu only to get a nosebleed from using more force than he was used to, "Jeez I was almost a pincushion." He wiped the blood from his nose.
"He deflected all her needles just like that." A kunoichi gasped.
"What is that boy?"
"Gale fan!" Shizuka called using her wind chakra to expel a large breath of wind forcing Naruto back but he back flipped landing perfectly on the ground. Seeing this Shizuka ran forward preparing to use another Gale chop.
"You know what I grow tired of this." Naruto said plainly as he held out his hand and was levitating Shizuka off the ground keeping her suspended above him.
"What is this?" Shizuka struggled.
"My special ability," Naruto explained, "I've never dealt with anybody who's able to escape it, at least not yet."
Shizuka sighed seeing she did not have the strength to break this hold he had on her, "No one's ever bested me before. Go ahead deliver the final blow."
Naruto scowled as he lowered the kunoichi back to the ground releasing his hold on her surprising Shizuka and her fellow village kunoichi, "I have no reason to finish you."
"But our duel!" she reminded him.
"It would prove nothing if I finished you off, because I bare nothing against you or this village. But the thing is, I don't live by your village rules. I'd marry for love not by force."
"Love?" Shizuka asked but before anyone could respond there was a crash in the arena putting all kunoichi on guard.
Entering onto the arena was a man dressed in a horrendous pink and light purple outfit while piloting a mechanical puppet along with dozens and dozens of other mechanical puppets contraptions.
"At last Princess I have come for you!" the man declared.
"This again?" Tokiwa asked with a frown.
"You know this horrible dresser?" Naruto asked.
"Kokuya; this man has been stalking Princess Shizuka for months now wanting her to marry him. He keeps coming back with more of those puppet devices, but he's never done a full frontal attack like this." She explained.
Shizuka frowned at the man and shouted, "You're butting in on our private matter!"
"So sorry but I came here with one thing in mind, to make you my bride!" he declared,
"And I will do it by force!" his puppets started swarming into the arena.
Naruto frowned, "This guy badly dressed and insane."
"All Nadeshiko kunoichi defend Princess Shizuka!" Tokiwa ordered as they all piled into the arena and started fighting Kokuya's puppets.
Naruto watched seeing the kunoichi defend their leader with all their might, "While I'm not of this village, I can just sit by and do nothing."
'Then do what you gotta do, since no one's stopping you.'
"Hai," Naruto replied as he charged into battle dodging several puppets but gasped seeing Shizuka was caught by Kokuya's main puppet he was piloting.
"Shizuka!" Tokiwa cried.
"I got her!" Naruto called summoning four clones. He then held his arms out in front of the puppet and slowly started making a fist, doing so the puppet started getting crushed as well as if it was in the palm of Naruto's hand.
"What's going on?" Kokuya was surprised as his puppet exploded and Shizuka was tossed into the air while the real Naruto jumped up catching her in his arms.
"Missed me?" he asked while Shizuka blushed.
When they landed on the ground Shizuka saw Naruto clones were holding Kokuya in place with their psychic hold, "I know you have more beef with him with stalking you constantly, but may I finish this?" Naruto asked.
"You may." She allowed.
"Arigato," Naruto had another clone conjure a Rasengan for him, "You try taking women by force well you're just doing yourself in. Now have some of this!" he charged at Kokuya, "Rasengan!" he thrusted it into the man's chest as the clones released their hold on him.
Kokuya was sent flying off into the sky screaming with a ping when he was out of sight. The Nadeshiko kunoichi cheered in victory as Tokiwa approached the princess, "I'm sorry the duel has been cut short my lady." she apologized.
Shizuka held up a hand to silence her, "What's done is done Tokiwa, besides I already know the victor of this match. He's proven himself worthy to me," she looked at Naruto before announcing, "Naruto is the winner!"
Before anyone could respond Naruto spoke, "I didn't win because of my strength and jutsu. It's because I had something to fight for."
"And that was?" Shizuka asked.
"To bring you back to your senses," He answered confusing her, "It's painful to lose somebody you love I can tell. But training yourself like crazy to protect those you care about can only get you so much, but unless you are able to love then it'll be harder to protect those who mean something to you. Believe me I know. And if I am supposed to marry you I will accept your terms, however I don't know you and you don't know me. I do not want us to be forced together because of your law. I want us to get to know each other more that way your heart will be able to tell if I am the one for you."
Shizuka was surprised at his choice of words while remembering Sagiri and how much he meant to her. And this boy who she was promised to one day face in battle defeated her claiming that he won because he was trying to help her learn to love again. She could only smile and shed a tear, "Naruto, arigato."
Suddenly the kunoichi and Tokiwa applauded for the two. Later that night Naruto was once again sitting on his balcony looking up at the night as Shizuka approached, "How are your injuries?"
"Not bad, I heal quickly. What about you?"
"I'm fine."
"That's good." He smiled.
"Naruto, can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"Why were you banished from Konoha?"
Naruto looked at her wondering about confessing about himself but knew if Hotaru and the Mizukage could take it well and not judge him, there may be hope for others, "My tale is complicated, but you'll have to hear everything from the beginning of my life." Naruto explained.
Shizuka listened in as Naruto told Shizuka his past ranging from his birth to how he became a ninja up to his banishment.
"I had no idea." Shizuka gasped.
"Well it's all true, the stuff I said about Kurama and Sasuke is legit." Naruto assured her.
"What a horrible life you endured." Shizuka was saddened.
"Yeah, but that's all in the past. I only hold the select good memories in my village such as the people who were actually nice to me." Naruto admitted
"But you didn't deserve banishment because you did nothing wrong." Shizuka said.
"Everyone else I cared about said that too, but the council and the civilians are biased against me because I'm not like everyone else. And with Root Ninja after me things are only gonna be more complicated." Naruto replied.
"Maybe you should stay here so that they won't trace you here. After all we are now engaged."
"I appreciate the offer Shizuka, but must pass on that offer. I want to see all of the ninja land even those I've never know about. Plus the Akatsuki are targeting me, if you get attacked by them I would never forgive myself."
"I understand." Shizuka said a little disappointed.
Naruto smiled putting a hand on her right cheek, "Don't worry though. If I ever find a place to call my own that no one would go to look for me I'll bring you over there and we can start a family, you, me, Hotaru, and anyone else I might meet along the way."
Shizuka smiled with her hope restored, "I would love that Naruto. Also how did you manage to do all that stuff to me and to Kokuya and his puppet?"
"I'm a very skilled wind manipulator able to use the element in ways not many can use it for." He explained.
"I see, well they're amazing." she smiled and hugged him.
Naruto thought, 'Sorry Shizuka, but maybe one day I really can trust you and Hotaru with my secret. Until then just hang in there."
When they parted they looked into each others eyes and Shizuka spoke, "Let's you and I have a wonderful life together sometime in the future Naruto."
"Yeah." Naruto agreed as the two leaned in closer until their lips met into a passionate kiss that lasted for five minutes due to both being so caught up in the warm sensation, especially Shizuka who had been closing off her feeling of love for years.
When they parted Shizuka then took a hold of Naruto's right hand and moved over to her breast placing his palm on it, "Wha- Shizuka?" Naruto panted at the soft bosom beneath his palm.
"Though you may go on a long journey Naruto I'll always keep you close here to my heart." Shizuka explained.
Naruto smiled, "Same here, and who knows I'll come back again one day. You never know."
The two smiled until they turned in. The next day Naruto stood before Shizuka and Tokiwa on one of the building rooftops.
"We'll miss you Naruto." Shizuka said.
"Likewise." Naruto replied.
"You'll always be welcomed here, though next time use the village entrance and not drop in through the bathhouse roof." Tokiwa joked.
"I'll keep that in mind." Naruto said sheepishly.
"Be careful out there Naruto." Shizuka added.
"I will. Well ladies, time for me to go," he hovered up a bit, "Arrivederci, I'm out of here!" he took off into the sky.
Shizuka smiled as she walked off heading back to her palace with her head up high and knew deep in her heart she would see Naruto again. Tokiwa watched seeing the girl had finally learned how to love again, 'Shizuka, your mother would be so proud of you.' She followed her Princess.
(And that's the chapter. Now Naruto has two girls not from Konoha who have it in for him. What else is in store for him now? Tune into next time readers. And the magic act for Naruto is similar to the stunts performed in the part of Chronicle the movie. That way bounty hunting isn't Naruto's only way of earning money. See ya later.)