Chapter 7: Final Step: Seek Revelation
The beds here are the softest I have ever felt before with its soft silky material and its pillows that were of firm yet smooth on my cheeks. I had never felt anything like it before. I know this feeling well enough to know that I wasn't alone in my bed because the two pillows I was on happened to be breasts. Large breasts at that. My eyes shot open to a smirk that made my skin crawl.
"Morning Naru-chan." I was being hugged by someone and that someone is that onee-chan from before.
I wanted to sigh because I just woke up and already I will have to get back into character. Holding up different masks and persona can be tiring but I have so much experience doing this it means little to me now. It made me wonder just how much of the "dope" persona I used was real and how much was fake.
"Ahhh!" I shot from her and the bed with my face feeling like it was slapped a thousand times. "Y-you!" I pointed at her.
The woman laughed with her cheek resting in her hand not even bothering to cover her modesty at all giving me full view of her body. Every inch of skin from her breasts to the small well-trimmed bush of dark green hair at her crotch. Her body spoke of years of extreme training and abuse for it was all scarred, extremely well muscular, but so well balanced that it didn't prove to be a detriment to her abilities. Her skin was tanned all the way down to her breasts and crouch. She must train in nothing but a bikini and mesh in the form of a small net like pattern on her body. She even has abs, four of them, and such great blood flow. I could see her veins through her tanned skin pumping in and out in a slow rhythmic fashion.
The woman tilted her head and smiled before saying "you're staring kid." I blinked. I suppose I really was staring a bit too hard at the moment, but it's out of habit. I'm known for exceeding the necessary need to observe a person's physical values. Though in the fashion that I'm gazing at her isn't the same as the usual gathering of critical information on a possible target. I shouldn't be this effected by a naked woman. I have seen my fair share of naked woman before so this shouldn't be anything new, but still I feel so nervous and discomfited by this sort of treatment regardless. I am not used to it. Not even Sakura-chan acted like this in front of me or any woman for that matter. I've been used by a couple women once or twice but it was forced and I didn't enjoy it at all. With that orange memory came a headache began to grow.
I coughed one last time.
"Coughing isn't going to help swallow the sight anymore kid."
"No," I admitted with a third cough just to look away from the woman for a second more to get my bearings than. "It won't but it helps regardless." The woman began to laugh again seemingly amused about something, but I ignored her. I thought more on I just why she's here. "Why are you here, naked, in my room?"
The woman rose up causing her boobs to bounce up then down. "This is my room kid and that isn't true part isn't true." The woman rose a hand up and let it slid up her left breast to her lips. She smiled while placed her index finger at the tip of her smile. "I do have clothes on, see?" Indeed she did have that fishnet stuff on her body but fishnet covers absolutely nothing when I comes to modesty though. I mean I can see everything from her curves, to her intimate parts, and to her scars. I just about told her off until she moved her hand which caught my attention. "And if anyone here's naked kid," she bemused while pointing to me. "It's you." she finished before dropping her hand and her eyes. She tilted her head with a thoughtful gaze on something. One that I followed down to the thing between my legs that was open for all to see. I was indeed naked unlike her so yet again she was right and I am more than embarrassed. I covered my crotch lightning fast and stepped back.
"Okay," I cried, "where are my clothes?" I asked quickly while scanning the room for anything for me to wear but found it empty of anything thing to use other than the bed sheets Onee-chan was using.
"Come on kid don't be embarrassed. You're a good size for your age," she mused with a wide smile.
"Come on!" I cried to the woman. My cheeks felt as if someone slapped them a thousand times. I don't think I've ever been this embarrassed since the day I accidently kissed that one Sasuke kid. "Onee-chan please," I begged the only person in the room who isn't naked. "I just want something to wear."
The woman smiled and kicked off of her bed. "You know, you been out for at least two days after you killed that one assassin." She walked toward me with a sway of her hips to the left and right and pat me on the head. "Nice work Naru-chan." I moaned from the praise feeling so happy and fulfilled from it. A smile rose up to my lips. One the Onee-chan returned as well.
"Wait, I was unconscious for two days?"
The woman nodded. "Yes. You see whatever you did to save her I guess tacked on with your previous injuries during the games. It was too much for you. To put it simply, you were dying and it didn't appear as if you were going to pull though."
I took in this information and shook my head. I won and pushed a little too hard then if I was going to die right then and there on the floor. If I was dying and it didn't seem I was going to survive then just how am I alive right now? Did someone save my life? I removed my hands from my privates and walked towards the mirror the woman had to my right in her room. I stopped in front of it and gave myself a nice long look. What I noticed first wasn't a visual observation but more physical. I'm not limping and my arms, both of them, are responding equally to my commands. The hand prints, the grey skin, the cut nerves, and dead muscle cells are all… restored. I looked to my shoulder and found the rash from the poison dart that his my shoulder was gone on top of this. I jumped up by using only my ankles and found that my feet and joints no longer pained me. I'm fully healed? Even the scar on my chest is all but gone.
"I guess you're wondering just how you're so healthy right now instead of in a body bag or emergency room right?" The woman asked and I nodded swiftly. "I wish to know," I came close to demanding from the woman and she placed her hands up as if telling me to calm down. I took a breath and shook out my chills. I'm a little put off by the fact I was literally on death's door mat for god knows how many days and really wish to know who it was that saved my life.
"First let me get into explaining what happened," the woman sat down at the edge of her bed and pat the spot next to her. I glared at the spot for a moment before taking a breath and joining her right on top of the bed. "That man that tried to kill the princess was stopped by you and you're to be commended for that but I'm getting off track. You see kid when we found you the princess wouldn't let you go despite the fact that you were bleeding out of your mouth and your eyes on top of this."
Again? Did I have a relapse when I fell into the void then? Did the walls I put up to protect my mind from the Memory collapse fall? If so that means my body and mind were both suffering. It was a war from my life and I was getting hit from two fronts.
"Thankfully we were able to pry you away from me and get you to our doctor. Sadly he told us the best we could do was "make you comfortable,'" the woman finished with a grave tone. "That thought of me as a lost cause then?" I asked with my head down. "Yeah kid and to be honest it didn't look good at all. You're wounds opened up that we thought we fixed and you spasms grew in number. You fought for past the time we believed you were going to die which surprised me. The Daimyo himself went out and made an announcement to all the citizens of the Fire Festival that he would pay a generous amount for anyone willing to save your life. That was yesterday."
"And I'm going to assume someone stepped up to save me? Someone more proficient that your doctor?" I asked and the woman smiled.
"You'd be right. With the large amount that we offered there was a long line of idiots that wanted to get to you to either to kill you or "attempt' to save you just to get something out of the boss."
"People tried to kill me?"
"You won against all odds and a fair amount of men lost fortunes because of that. Though a few did come out for the best, me being one of them," the woman chortled and I smiled a bit. I happened to be one of those people as well now that I think of it. I need to go and claim my money soon. "So yeah, some want you dead and they tried only for myself and my brother to beat them to an inch of their lives. It took a bit but eventually someone did step up to save your life and you won't believe who it was."
I shrugged. I have no idea who it was that saved my life if the best the Daimyo believed me to be a lost cause.
"It was the legendary Slug Sannin herself, Tsunade Senju." I rose a brow at this. I don't really remember that name. I know the Senju line and the history written from their part in the Warring States Era as well as the creation of the Land of Fire but not much else other than that. I know I've heard that name before but I can't remember when all that well. If I try to reach for the memory I'm reaching for a blue memory that's nearly empty and not because of alteration of the information. It's just that the old Naruto never once listened to any of Iruka's lectures on history and the legendary starting clans of Konohagakure. The name came up but I don't even know what a Sannin is or why she's and "Slug Sannin" out of everything.
"And that would be?" I asked and felt like I just asked the most ignorant question a native to the Land of Fire could ask. Onee just stared at me like I grew a second head. "Are you serious right now?" I nodded for I don't know who she is. She's obviously and important figure in some way and the best doctor a man could have but I don't know her specifics. Onee seemed eager to get me a heated breakdown on who the legend happened to be. I think someone might be a bit of a fangirl towards this woman if she's willing to get this emotional over something as small as not knowing who this woman is.
"Do you understand now?" Onee-san growled at me. "Yes," I sighed. "Can you continue the story please?" I heard enough about that Senju woman for one day. I don't care if she fought in a shinobi war and could punch down a mountain. While this is impressive it meant little to me and what happened to me. My sister here shook her head and looked ready to hit me with more knowledge but thankfully she didn't.
"Tsunade-sama here," she pointed to a picture of a woman in a magazine for me to look at. Its call Kunoichi's Blast and oddly enough it's the Summertime Swimsuit Edition out of everything. Looking though it I recognized a few very beautiful women in this from all walks of life and different countries. Each even had their own backgrounds to show off their home country. One woman was Anko Mitarashi with her sitting on top of snake coiled upwards with a savage but oddly sexy smirk on her lips. She wore a purple swimsuit and this picture scored a 7.7 out of ten. Another that caught my eye is a very beautiful woman from Kumo name Mabui. She's a caramel beauty with a rating above that of Anko being a 8.2 out of ten. Looking at Tsunade Senju I will admit that she is beautiful and more than holds up against the much younger competition with an impressive 8.6 out of ten. She has a nice face with a confident nearing seductive smile and sly narrowing of her eyes. She on all fours with her body arcing to the right while looking straight into the camera. Most predominate feature are the breasts. They are huge.
"She's the woman that took it upon herself to come here to saved you, and thanks to her you're alive and more than well. It took almost an entire day of her operating on you but she succeeded in saving your life. As you saw as well you are fully healed almost as if nothing happened right?"
"Yes," I affirmed and rose my hand up. I focused and felt a bit of chakra surround my fingertips. Just below that I used Chi from my pool to give the chakra a bit of color to make it shine. I took a breath and pushed Ki into my palm and brought it all together into a form reminiscent to that of fire bit it wasn't. I closed my hand and smiled. I'm more than fully healed. That woman repaired my pathways and circuits as well. I noticed while I was fighting in the preliminary rounds that my circuits were damaged and my chakra pathways studded by something. She healed me and fixed me it seems. What a wonderful woman.
"Where is Tsuande-sama," I gave her an actual honorific. She did more than save my life and I feel I owe her at least that respect. "She left last night with her reward," my sister her answered. That's a disappointment. I wished to thank that woman but she was paid to do a job and left when it was done. I can understand this but still it's a shame. I closed this issue of Kunoichi's Blast and handed it back to my sister. She took it and placed it back in her desk then returned to the bed next to me.
"That explains why I'm alive but why am I in your bed," I brought back to light. If I was saved I should have been taken back to my room to rest not some strange woman that I don't know.
"You came down with a bad fever after the surgery and Lady Tsunade told us to insure you stayed warm so your body could do the rest. I felt that someone had to keep you warm," she turned from her closes with a cheeky grin. "So I volunteered."
"I see, well thank you for that. It's not every day a guy wakes up next to such a hot woman," I teased slightly.
My sister laughed and climbed up to her feet. "That is true. I can count how many other guys have been in bed with me with one hand." I'm not sure what to think about that information but remained silent nevertheless.
I can't believe I had to have surgery and she didn't even leave a scar as a reminder. That's a shock. Her skills as a doctor and medical nin of legend show as proof when I look down at myself. I'm feel like I can do the tournament all over again without any issues. I'm a bit eager to meet this woman again if I ever get the chance again.
I heard the sounds of a door opening and looked up from my legs and hands to my sister. She opened the wardrobe in front of me to a large assortment of clothes of all types from robes to armor. "Onee-chan is decked out," I observed in wonder at all the gold stuff I saw inside as well. Those clothes must be worth more than 100 D ranks put together. "Damn right I am. This job does have its perks ya know." I gave her a doltish nod as I watched her choose a black tank top and throw it on over her fishnet singlet. While I wanted to pay attention to what she wanted to wear sadly I could. That entire time she was looking for clothes to wear she was swaying her butt in a mesmerizing way that I couldn't help but follow along with it. When she removed her shirt for another she turned to the left enough for me to see her breasts rise and fall and examined the contours of her body. She's not beautiful but she's certainly hot.
"Ah." I paused as Onee-chan got up on her tip toes stretching out what I really shouldn't be watching stretch out. I blinked and shook my head. "W-What happened to the… princess?"
"Your sweet princess who was hugging you to death and would never let go," she teased glancing back at me. "As I said we had to pry you from her in the end. You're a real romantic kid. She even explained everything to us when we questioned her on how she knew you. You're the knight in shining armor to save the princess." Onee-chan pulled up a pair of regular beige short shorts but tight on her bodice. "Then again it's the knight that saves her and you're not a knight but a dragon. In the story books is the dragon that's the bad guy huh?" My sister pulled a black sleeveless shirt on. "The Princess likes you kid so you better take care of her you got that? Kid?"
Onee-san looked back and saw me glazed eye. She approached and waved a hand in front of my eyes to no response. "Damn I broke him. Kid!" A snap of the fingers woke me from my trance.
"Huh what?"
"Kid you lick the windows way too much."
The woman returned to her closet thing and grabbed both her sash and her belt. "Oh yeah, before I forget to tell you, a man came by yesterday with a package for you. It's on the desk."
"A package?"
"Yeah kid, a package," she repeated. There was indeed a pack of some sort on the desk to my right. It was quite large to be a package. It was more like a bundle with the amount. At least four of them
I approached the first and picked it up. It's pretty light so I gave it a shake to deduce what was inside. Finally my curiosity go the best of me I opened it. I grin grew on my lips and placed the item down to the next and the next package. My smile only got bigger. They're clothes but not just any sort of clothes exactly. It's exactly what I ordered from the man at the tailor store, what I ordered from that one shoe store, what I wanted from the blacksmith. My own version of my old garb that all jaeger wore once they became part of the inner circle. I held up the robe-esque coat and the hood buttoned to the shoulders like I asked.
Last was in a red velvet wrapping paper not like the brown paper parcel like the other three. Inside was that prize the princess was going to give me if I won. The prize that caught my eyes the moment I saw it. It was only a necklace or better yet a pendant. A simple gold and silver vined pendant with five special jewels space evenly along a mixture of gold, silver, and wood. A sapphire, ruby, emerald, diamond, and a light blue aquamarine gem. I wanted it not because of the gems or how priceless it was but what I feel when I saw it. I couldn't explain it but I really wanted it.
I rose up the necklace and put my head through the loop of wooden segments and felt a little different. No, not different but more like I just placed something important around my neck. I don't like these feelings because they never end to a happy ending. Maybe I'm just overthinking it. I thought this as I unconsciously rubbed the three tomoe on both sides of the pendant and smiled. This felt nice and the wood on the back of the pendant before the metal is smooth. I don't have to worry about irritation from the metal or splinters.
I took the socks and boots from inside one of the packages and placed it down by the chair. The navy blue nearing black trousers felt nice on my body and legs and fit so well. Like I asked padding was added to the knees and my hips. My black shirt was next and fit well on my body. Before the shirt was too big but now that it's now a little slimmer than before. I took the hooded jacket in hand and marveled at the designs on it now. Black with red stitching and grey fading in at different angle for visual distortion at a distance. What I didn't really approve is there being a magenta dragon on the sides roaring upward from my hips all the way to my shoulders. I didn't really want that but I can assume that the tailor was there at the games, saw my consecutive victories, and modified the jacket accordingly.
I twisted my coat and saw that the Uzumaki swirl was of course on my shoulder same for the mark of the Senju on my collar. The only reason I've decided to wear the emblem of a family that wasn't my own is because of what I found out before. How I have an ancestor in the Senju clan so it's only right I represent this clan as well. Maybe I can meet a couple in the village if I'm lucky. I couldn't meet Tsunade Senju but I can at least show my support for her clan like the leaf does for the Uzumaki with my swirl on their backs.
The jacket fell down below my knees with red in under carried places that are not so easy to notice including inside my hood. I finished with my clothing adjusting the fit and everything else along with the boots. The straps were next. Two loops for the harness that goes over my torso I can assume for the scabbard for Ketsugetsu and doubles to hold a second sword as well. Now I don't have to carry it in hand thankfully.
I propped up to feet after a good tighten of my boots but noticed something missing; I have no sash. I know I ordered one but where is it?
"Just missing the armor now huh kid," a fully clothed Fire Guardian said with her gauntlets and armored boots on.
"What armor?"
"You know, that armor you took along with the body from before."
I flickered back and forth through my memories until I made an open "O" with my mouth. "Ohh that." The onee-chan rolled her eyes. It seemed my façade is actually working well if she's showing faint exasperation.
"Yes that. Now come on, let's put it on ya."
"But, but…"
"No buts, now come on, the scroll is in the desk as well." I looked into the shelf of the desk to my three scrolls. Each labeled. Books, bounties, and armory.
"Thank you." They actually took everything I had and placed it in scrolls. That's nice of them. I pushed the seal on the armory scroll with a little chakra releasing the things inside. The armor, the crossbow, both my swords, my remaining set of knives, and my ninja pouch fell in front of me. Well that answers the question of the missing gear.
The armor was a little big on me; too big in fact. I'm unsure of what she was talking about when it comes to wearing this. It's not like the armor will shrink and form to my body. That's impossible for one. Even in the world of magic this doesn't happen without a great cost for the wearer to pay later. Maybe I can just sell this armor then for a hefty sum. Maybe I return it to the samurai for a favor or as I sign of goodwill.
"I took the liberty to cash in those bounties of yours. They are in one of the scrolls as well."
"Thank you, again." She really did me a favor in that regard. I'm unsure where to go to turn in a bounty anyway.
"Same with your winnings as well. From the money you bet on yourself. Thanks again for that by the way," she winked at me.
"Thank you," I said once more. I already remembered thanks to her but best not ruin the roll she's on. "I can't believe I forgot."
Onee-chan just chuckled as she assisted me taking everything I just strapped on off. Once that was finish she assisted me with strapping on the armor. I still don't see what the point behind this is. It's obvious that this armor will never fit m. It's too big and the molding isn't the shape I can envision my body fitting into. Suddenly I felt some pressure on my back. I glanced back and saw the back of the Do is beginning to literally mold to my body. "What the," I grunted at how tight it go on my chest and legs. The kote felt like they could squeeze the life out of my arms. The hizayoroi just kept tightening and placing pressure in random areas at my legs. Even the leather poleyn felt like it could ring my knees like a wet towel. The suneate molded to my shins and pressed down on my boots and feet.
"This…hurts," I winced as the armor encased my body within.
"Stop fidgeting and stop being a baby." Easy for her to say. She doesn't wear armor and she doesn't know what this feels like. Gods above this hurts. I felt her hands adjusting the armor little by little then putting something on over it. The straps to my swords to be exact. I felt my back become a little heavier when she place Kanryō on my back along with Ketsugetsu. My lower back felt a little smothered when my cross bow was strapped down to it. This armor doesn't feel good. I made a move to remove the spaulders from my body from restricting full use of my arms along with the fauld from my hips and the cuisse. Suddenly those parts of the armor squeezed down to the point that I had to stop. No taking off pieces then. Noted.
The armor felt heavy. It felt heavy and bulky. Strangely enough after a couple moments it's become sort of comfortable. The cushioning inside was really nice.
I looked back to the hilt of the Katana and took it in hand. I believe that man call this thing Kanryō or something like that. I pulled and drew it in a typical "shingk" noise like before. It was a nice sword made of chakra condensed metal and something else, maybe steel but I know that's not right. It's well balanced and sharp at the edge. I sheathe it back to my back and grabbed Ketsugetsu. I place him on my back under Kanryō. I felt good to be back in trend again.
"Looking good kid. You ready?"
"For?"
"Aren't you hungry?" I narrowed my eyes at her and my sis smirked at me. "Yes," I growled and she waved for me to follow.
"So ki… Naruto how ya doin hm," my one and only friend in this missed up town asked me. I don't mind questions pertaining to my wellbeing but I'm currently eating after two entire days of not eating. The last thing I want to do is talk.
I placed my turkey leg down on top of my plate and swallowed. "I'm good for the most part. I'm alive and some can't say the same," I grinned at my friend and he did the same. "Ain't that the truth?" He said back to me.
My friend Deidara looked around the small room for all able bodied champions to enjoy a breakfast together to get respect to those who fell. Sadly only Deidara and I are here but it's for the best. If that woman were here I'd have to watch food encase she'd attempt to poison it. It's also a shame because now that I'm out of my Contact I can see past my own desire to hunt and kill that she's quite attractive. She's obviously a tough girl and prideful but with those black eyes backed up her ego. I think she's only 4 or so years over me but fiercely determined. Hiroki left yesterday apparently but that's not possible. I shattered his very being so he should be in a coma right now for a month at least. I think someone picked up his body and left with it until he awakens. Of course I killed the snake so it's only the two of us.
"At least it's quiet though," I noted as I looked around the room. We are the only ones at the table with five maids and three Fire Guardians. For the most part we have the room to ourselves.
"And the food is good," Deidara rose up chop sticks with a piece of lettuce at the end. He sighed and let it drop. "Hey Naruto my friend." I looked up from my turkey leg with my mouth full of meat. I nodded for him to continue while I ate. I'm starving enough to eat this place bare right now.
"Can I ask you for a favor man?" I nodded and kept eating. "Can I have the winnings you earned from the bets." I didn't bother ask him why he knows about this but already had my answer ready for such a question. I swallowed my food and took a drink of water before giving him a firm "nope" before getting back to eating. "Come on Naruto I'm begging ya," he persisted.
I took a breath and dropped my leg to my done plate and reached for a pig's leg next. "I have no reason to give you anything of mine. Yes, we are kindred spirits and I feel we could comrades razing cities to the ground but why should I give you my winnings?" I turned my eyes towards him with my hood to restrict my visual intent. "For what reason should I give you my money without anything to show for it?"
"You will though," he countered. I rose a brow and bit into the leg in my hands. Deidara leaned in with a frown. "Look, I was supposed to win and or gain the means to get that money or at least the second place reward. I have… business that I need funds for." I tossed my finished leg away and grabbed a cup of water and gulped the contents down. "The organization that was scooping out the tournament as well has left and I have nothing to show for it."
"No offense but I'm not seeing just what any of that has to do with me." I slammed my cup down and faced the man. I even turned my chair around to face him as well seeing that he's sitting right next to me. "You need to stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want, why you want it, and how you can pay me back."
"I can get the money…" I stopped him right there with a hand. "I don't want money. I have enough to set me up for life. While I do want more that's not the most important asset I want at the moment."
"What do you mean?"
I smiled at my senior in age. "It's simple really," I rose my hand up and pointed to him. Deidara blinked and turned to look behind himself only for there to be no one behind him. "I want you Deidara," I put bluntly and to the point. Deidara cringed and scoot back away from me making my eyes roll. "I don't mean it like that."
"Yeah, whatever ya say," my friend scoffed.
Ignoring his comment I continued. "I don't need money. I don't care for money with my prize and the favor I have with the Daimyo and his Guardians. Money is of no consequence. What I can use is your services though. I could use your talents and hope you consider accepting."
"What, are you trying to hire me or something?" I nodded and Deidara laughed. He laughed until he noticed that I was serious. Deathly serious. "You can't be serious?"
"I am."
"And what would you want to hire me for?" My friend narrowed his eyes at me as he leaned back in his chair. "As a spy for the most part. You can go where I can't and so I could use you. Of course you'll get my winnings as a down payment for your services and more as the months go by depending on the job I task you with. I won't restrict you from stealing, pillaging, and explosive tendencies."
"Okay, what do you have planned Naruto," Deidara sneered at me. "I know that crazed rantings of a schemer anywhere. What do you really want from me or better yet, what do you want me to represent?"
Deidara must have heard this same pitch before and isn't a fool. That's good because my organization doesn't need fools in it. "I plan to start up a bit of a group, an organization if you will, that acts to promote the livelihood of myself and anyone else within."
"And I'm supposed to be your first agent?" I nodded. "Thanks but no thanks," he declined with a waved of his hand as well. "I don bow up just anyone unless I'm angry. I also don't listen to authority that well and last I checked I'm older than you." I shrugged. I'm not going to force him to follow my lead. While this is a shame and a loss I learned long ago that they come in stride alongside wins.
"Okay." I faced my chair back around and reached for a bowl of soup and white bread. The soup was really good and the bread even better. Normally I'd eat dark bread or that full wheat bread but this white bread is exactly what I needed. I dipped the bread into the soup and savored the flavor. All the other times I ate there was a bit of urgency behind my speed but now I'm taking my time. I've died or almost died so many times this week and I realized I need to value life more than I do. The fact I threw myself to the wolves like I did is proof of this. Just as I began to reach for a stuffed potato with my name on it I noticed something. I'm the only one eating. I turned my attention towards my friend. Guy was literally staring at me. "What?" I asked.
"Seriously?" I shook my head and shrugged. I don't get why he's staring at me right now and not eating. Unlike me he doesn't have all day. "You're not gonna put up a fight or anythings?"
"No means no," I put simply and reached for that potato and grasp the place it was on top of. Deidara snort and crossed his arms over his chest. "You sound like her for a moment," he muttered.
"She must be important," I quipped. Deidara looked at me in confusion. He must have meant to say that out loud. "You just said "you sound like here for a moment,' and I said that she much be important if a guy like you is willing to hold her to memory."
"What, no she doesn't matter," he denounced.
"Whatever you say." I went back to munching away at my food. I'm not in a prying mood and so not willing to look into his mind just yet.
"She's not important," he said again. "I heard you the first time and still don't believe you. The only reason guys like us hold anyone to memory is one of two reasons." I rose my hand up and a single finger. "Because we want to kill his person." I rose my second finger. "Or because they're too important to kill at the moment." I let my hand fall. "So first or second Deidara?"
Deidara snickered a bit and shook his head in think in disbelief. "The second… You asked me why I need the money right? It's because of her and a few of other okay."
"Siblings?"
"They treat me like one, the little brats."
I sighed and waved down one of maid. One of the came over and I ordered some melon sake. I feel if I'm going to listen to a story than I at least need a drink. I waved down a second maid and ordered some hot tea next for the nerves. Once you lay your burdens down its best to have something to sooth the blood and tea helps.
"You ever had anyone you'd kill for Naruto?" I though on my answer. I've killed a lot people in the past as a Hunter. I've killed people for the smallest of transgressions. Every rarely did I ever do it to for another when money wasn't involved. I did it once but only once because it was my duty. I owed the duo my services because of a mistake. My thoughts went towards my sister figure next and the sins I committed after her death.
"Yes," I answer and felt a dark rage fill me to the point that my fist began to clench. "I've had someone I'd kill for before in my life."
"It didn't end well I'm guessing huh," Deidara perceived as his eyes focused on me seriously now.
I felt my other hand clench as the memories flowed past my eyes like I was seeing it. If I though my Naruto self suffered the hunter lost his family before his eyes and could do nothing to stop it. "My sister," I breathed out. "It was when I was… young. She and I were pickpockets and thieves living in a big city struggling to survive. She was four years older than me and at marrying age. A baker… he approached us and offered her a job. No, that not right. He offered her a job and I was left in the wind. At that time I wasn't able to feel the emotions of others that well but I knew he was up to something. I warned her not to leave but she told me not to worry. She told me she'd be back at night time. She told me to wait for her in that spot."
"And you waited for her hm? I'm guess she didn't come back?"
"You'd guess right. I still remember that long night when midnight his. I searched, tracked, and followed the trail. From the baker's home I followed my sister's trail to a windmill. She tore the frills from her scarf off and leave for me to follow and I ran as fast as I could to find her. When I got there four men left all of them deeply satisfied with the stench of true monsters in the air. The baker left with them leaving on single man inside to "clean up' I think they said." I sighed and closed my eyes. "My sister was on a wooden table… dead. They raped her to death. From the scratches and the blood I saw around she put up the best fight she could muster but in the end they got what they wanted. They choked, beat, and stabbed her until she couldn't fight back anymore. If not for the scarf on the ground and her body figure I wouldn't have recognized her."
I remembered well one man that remained behind and what forced me to lose what restraints I had left. "A butcher with a cleaver was moments from cutting up her body remained. I believe he wished to sell her as meat to nobles for a special banquet two days from then. That's what he said."
I heard a crash and turned my attention towards it. A woman stepped back away from me with her platter in hand. I looked down and noticed a pot of tea shattered and broken below me and looked back up to the woman. The maid quickly bowed to me and began to clean it up little by little. A few others joined her to clean up and apologized to me for the inconvenient. I waved them off and they quickly left to brew some more. The sake arrived a moment later and I took the bottle away and the cups. I poured two of them and leaned back down in my chair.
"I never knew humans could be so evil before until that moment." I tilted my head a bit and rose my cup to my lips. I felt the liquid burn away at my throat as I drank down the contents. "Before the butcher started he said, "you little bitch, you gave me this'." I made the same movement the butcher made from the mark my sister made in his neck. Ironically it was the same gesture as if you want to slice a man's throat. "Now I'm going to give you one,' is what he said just as he rose his cleave to cut off her head. That moment I ran up to the butcher with my sister's knife and stabbed him in the back. He pushed me away but I was back on him in moments. I stabbed it into his knee and tore it straight out. I stabbed him again and again and again until he was on his knees barely breathing. I heard screaming the entire time and to this day I'm not sure whether or not it was all his."
I let out a harrowing breath and felt a grin flow to my lips. I felt my eyes burn and the room turn cold. "I said to him, "I'll finish what she started,'" I chuckled and cupped my forehead. "My knife was stuck in his shoulder so I had to grab his cleaver. In one messy slip across his neck I watched him bleed out like a pig beneath me… That was my first kill out of many, many more." The dark emotions that filled my body that day are unlike any other I've ever felt in my life. That's when my alignment turned to a darker side. That's when I first began hunting monsters that wear the faces of men. "I hung him up on the rafters above with a hook going through his jaw up out his mouth and set fire to the mill as I left with my sister's body and scarf." I pointed to my waste. "I used the scarf as a sash for the longest time."
"What ya do after hm?"
"I burned my sister's body and devoured the ashes… that way she would be with me until I died. After that," I sighed and lightened up my tone. "Since those men took away my family I took away theirs. Mothers, fathers, wives, children, brothers, cousins, or significate others. Anyone they loved to the point they'd feel dead without them I killed them until those men were all that were left. Then I killed them one by one but I won't go into specifics." I felt my smile fade away as my thoughts turned to the baker. "That baker though… I let him live, no he wasn't alive anymore when I was done. Correction, I let him linger to fall into the same pit I did. Even when he begged me to kill him I simply told him to do it himself and left." I sighed as I brought tale to a close.
"Answer to your question once more, I did have someone I'd kill for but I did more than kill. I murdered, tortured, and slaughtered for her. The funny part is she wasn't even my blood either. She was a girl who took me and in an unfair war torn world and tried to teach me how to survive. Because of what she did for me and the connect we had I'd do it all again. I'd make another scarecrow in a field using one of their bodies and a hanged man over bar by his leg with sewing needles puncturing his throat and lungs." I finished my 14th cup of sake and Deidara his 8th before we finished the bottle. "From then on I hunted and killed anything that was a monster in my eyes. It…fulfilled me."
"I think you and I have a tie," Deidara muttered and peaked my interest now. "My little siblings, I need money for them but they aren't really my blood either. The different ways I met them and gathered them together… I don't understand what made them different from the many other men, women, and children I had become a part of my art. I don't know what it was about them that stopped me from making their lives worth something if only for that one moment." My friend sighed and grinned as well. The mouths on his hands bit down on the cup in his hand and shattered it into pieces.
"Hey, Naruto." I nodded and gave him the go ahead. "You got a deal. Let's do this." Deidara rose his hand up and a knife. He cut into his palm and drew blood with a sick and demented smile on his lips. One of which a darker part of me was receptive too. That darker part of me followed along with his smile with one of my own. I picked up a knife and stabbed into my hand and slit it across my palm. The pain is nothing to me. I've felt much worse. Deidara rose his hand and I took it in mine.
"For now on let's make some money, kill some monsters, and keep our "too important to kill now" people alive. If you need information… I got you covered and I can trust a twisted bastard like you knows what to do with it."
"I can do that more. Much more."
I gave my friend my winnings and he gave me a little bird of clay. Sadly Deidara didn't tell me anything on these "siblings' of his but gaining his services as an agent is more than enough to satisfy me. Sadly I had to make sure to keep my tale between the men and women of the room meaning I had to give them a few choice words to keep them silent. I can't have them telling everyone a personal story like that. They promised never to speak of it and I was satisfied with that. I just had to ask them a simple question on whether or not they had family and they understood I'm quite serious with my demands.
My agent left and will use this little birdy to track me down to relay information on anything "Of Interest" that might come up. I will do the same if I hear anything in the village. Any missions for him to take and any people he might discover that are "Of Interest" as well. We will work together and pool our sick minds together to get a leg up on the world and show them our art one way or another. I will send him fund of course to work and we will collaborate in the period of two months. I have a plan and can't wait to see it unfold.
"So, kid… that story of yours."
"Huh," I looked up to my sister as she winced when my eyes turned towards her.
"How old are you?"
"13."
"Was any of that true?" The woman gulped. I blinked and licked my lips. "Does it matter whether or not it is? Would it change anything that's going to happen? Would it make you feel any less comfortable around me if I said it wasn't? I sounded pretty convincing didn't I? Did my aura pressure the room? Did my tone make a shiver climb up your spine? Did my eyes turn red for a moment to the point that it was like you were looking into the pit itself?"
I asked a fair amount of questions so it's understandable that she might be a bit unsure of which to answer first. I looked back and saw that look of certainty and amusement towards the little boy from before completed missing from her eyes and aura. She's a bit unsettled and it shows with how she rubs her index and middle finger of her dominate left hand together. She acts like she's right handed but she can't full her natural balance. Even her left ear shook a bit under her hair.
I used a Naruto signature foxy smile when a minute or so pass. "I wouldn't worry about some story by a kind Onee. It's cool." Her aura lighted up a bit but now she's a bit guarded now.
"Hehehe," she chuckled nervously before she calmed down with a sigh. "God kid you had me for a bit."
I giggled a bit and took her hand with a light smile this time. "Don't worry sis. How can a kid like me do any of that?"
"Right," she breathed out. "I know the world is fucked at times but I can't imagine that happening to you. You wouldn't stand for that or be tricked in such a way." She's right. I won't be tricked again though I will admit Naruto did suffer in his own way. I've witnessed rape before but never before I've I suffered it. Not until I awoke once more here.
"So, are you good enough to face the music?"
"Music?" I looked up with a frown towards a face that gained a smile once more.
"Yeah the Damiyo and his family wish to see you along with the rest of the Fire Guardians. Your prize remember?"
"Oh." I just about forgot about that. Going down memory lane is a trip.
"Ha," she laughed. "Oh' he says."
My sister pat me on the back then pushed me forward. "Come on kid it's time to go."
"Sure sis." I am not sure when we developed this little younger brother and older sister 'thing', but she has just taken so much care of me and shown me nothing but generosity the whole time so why not play along to see how far I can take it. I am thankful for her help and what she has done for me so far like keeping me company, letting me see her naked, collecting my bounties, letting me sleep with her, cleaning my armor and blades, letting me touch her breasts, and helping me get dressed.
Pretty much during the entire time she escorted me to the main hall where the family awaits the dragon I fiddled with my effects starting with my crossbow. While I examined it I confirmed the different projectiles I could fire with this. Sadly its only bolts for right now. I miss Isabella. She was a beautiful weapon of mass genocide in the form of a crossbow. I miss her so much but I suppose I have to make do with this thing.
The stock has a rotating lever on it to assist with pulling back the bridle with a second that goes to the next set of prods I think to add onto the power and pushback of each shot. I pulled back on the lever and spun it around on the pulley like mechanism until the bridle sailed across the stock to the aback. I need some sights for this thing and maybe an ocular scope as well. I know a friend of mine placed a small scope on his rifle to assist him a target at long distance. With a powerful crossbow I can do the same.
I noticed some clips on the sides. Four on each side of the stock. Most likely for the bolts or arrows it can follow. Seeing that they are empty maybe I can fix that here and now. I drew four bolts from my side pouch that Sisy put on my rear without me noticing and snapped the four on the stock. I grabbed a fifth one and sat it in the center of the bow in the grooves. I noticed a small clipping on the front and closed it as well. The arrow was now trapped ready for fire no matter what movement I make.
"Kid, what are you doing?" Sis asked me I'm sure a little curious on why I've loaded a weapon indoors.
"Nothing," I responded as I went back to inspecting my trophy. I took the grip I hand and held the crossbow point upward to the ceiling. My finger rested on the trigger and felt a little strange on the palm of my hand. This wasn't made for me that much is for sure so I will have to change it around soon.
I stopped right before passing a hallway to the right and extended my arm out aiming it down the hallway. I noticed a picture of the Daimyo's wife at the end of the hall maybe twenty yards away. With a grin I pulled the trigger. The bolt fired from my trophy and hit the picture in less than a second. That was fast. Really fast.
I glanced back when I heard a soft gasp. Sisy watched with wide eyes at the test fire and as loaded it just as fast as it fired and aimed at my target. That took at least 3 seconds for me to reload a new bolt from the side and yet another two seconds to awkwardly grasp the lever. Then another four seconds turn it to the max. That took a total of nine seconds. If this was a battle ground I could have died at least 27 times in that time.
"Damn kid that was cold," Sisy mused at the needle sticking out of the forehead on the picture. "Nice shot."
"Thanks… Sisy." Sisy rose an eyebrow and ripped the needle out of the painting.
"Sisy?" I nodded. "Yeah seeing that I don't know your name and I call you sis I decided just to call you Sisy for now on." I gave her the look and frowned. "Do you not like it?"
"Nononono I do! Thank you kid I love the name."
I smirked and turned back to my trophy. This will work well for me and with a couple seals I can increase the speed, range, and push back maybe. I pulled off the bolt and clipped it back to the side of the stock before replacing my crossbow to my lower back again. This will work for now until I can create something greater.
"And here we are." I looked up from my toy and drooped my eyes. "Nice door," I deadpanned. "Yeah I hate it to."
Sisy propped her foot at the door and I mirrored her. "In one," Sisy said. "Two," I responded and put my hood up. "Three!" We both said the bashed down the door. She used her super kicking strength and I used my Ki infused kick to get the large door open. The large ugly green door burst and slammed against the wall on the other side.
"Nice kick Naru-chan."
"Amazing power Sisy."
We grinned then faced the deadpanned looks of the rest of the Fire guardians, guardsmen, and the shocked looks on the royal family. We waved simultaneously before entering the large room.
"God there's two of them." I stepped almost instantly in front of the man that said that and grabbed his wrist. "You know if you talk about my Sister like that I might take offense." The man flinched back and bounced back when he hit something soft and looked back to her. "You know if you talk about my little brother and me like that I might just take offense as well." The man looked from Sisy to me.
"Ah, sorry." I twisted the man's wrist and kicked his knee out down to my level. "You're forgiven." Sisy said after the small crack of his wrist and looked to me with one of those looks. I released the man and walked away. Sisy smiled and took the empty spot next to the bald one in the front. I stood in front of the family at the end of the Guardians.
I got a really good look at the five above me.
The Daimyo himself, his wife, his two daughters, and Yuuki placed in the very front at the center. Unlike the rest instead of the chair she was sitting on a pillow with a large amount of stuff on her body like gold and jewelry and some stupid head ornament as well that I guess resembles a crown or tiara or something. She had a ton of makeup on as well. Too much in fact. Are they trying to make her look less appealing to me?
Before I could speak out anything a man came forth with a pillow in hand. On the pillow is a sash. A black one with magenta outlines and a dragon on the ends but white and breathing fire of the same coloration as the outlines "This is for you Dragon champion. Like the other of the champions before you a sash is awarded to you as proof of your strength and supremacy over your greatest foes." I looked up and spotted the old me from before and under his beard he wore a smile.
"I…." The old man shook his head and held the pillow up to me. "You are a worthy successor my boy and I look forward to seeing you make history like the three who came before you." I gulp and looked down to the sash. This old man… who is he? What is he? He said that the three before me made history but what could that mean. Are the dragons of old important figures in history? That's a possibility. I didn't even know who Tsunade Senju was until this morning and this old man might be in the same boat. He's at least 90 years old but looks as old as the hokage. This man… his aura is amazing. He's been hiding it this entire time but now he's allowing me to see it. I can see an ocean, vast and deep, containing all the life in the world. I can feel the weight of this ocean on my shoulders and it's heavy.
As I looked into the water I saw it. A pair of yellowish eyes staring back at me. I stepped back on the small patch of land I found myself on but there's nowhere to run. This… dragon has me in its sights. This dragon that controls the depths of the sea, the layers of land, and the levels of heaven above. This isn't a red dragon that breeds destruction, its gold. One of the four dragon gods… by the goddess what is this old man.
"You will surpass me," I blinked and the yellow eyes in the water replaced the blueish-purple ones he held previously. "It's one thing to control the very elements that breed life. It's another to be the force that keeps all from unraveling and defending the balance in which we base our life upon. You are not red, black, or gold," he stressed and pushed the pillow further towards me. "You are magenta and the balance of this country is the weight upon your shoulders. It's your role and your time. Take it."
I looked down to the sash and took a breath. I have to defend the balance. I can do that. I took the sash in hand and presented it to the old man. The dragon before me. The man that defended the life within the ocean that is the Hi no Kuni. The man who defended the people when the storm threatened to sweep them away from land. And the man who watched from up high to ensure this country and world survived though the wars humans have caused. This man is the dragon of Light and sustain it throughout his time. He's no red dragon or black dragon. He's not magenta either. I can take life as easily as I can give it but this man can't do the same. Maybe that's why I'm here. I have a role to fulfil and this is these are the steps I must take to the end.
I'm ready.
I wrapped it around my waist over my straps and allowed the two dragon ends to fall down as far as my jacket did as well. "I know my role for I've held it once before. Rest easy knowing that I will defend the balance with my life even if it kills me."
The old man bowed to me but I went beyond that. I drop down to my knee and gave a deep bow to this man, no this dragon before me. This dragon that completed his role and didn't fall to become a cursed serpent. Dragons in the stories never live and are always felled by a human determined enough to challenge it. This man proved that it's possible break the trend and complete your mission. It's possible to live long enough to see the fruits of your labor. It's possible which means there's a chance I won't fall this time. A chance is all I need.
"Don't bow so low my boy. Have you no pride?"
I heard the gold dragon's words and felt a smile arc my lips. "Pride," I whispered. I have that and more. I climbed up to me feet and pulled back my hood with a straight battle face on for all the seriousness I felt around the room. "If a dragon has anything in abundances its pride old man." I said this but the old man was gone from my sights once more. I didn't bother looking around the room because I could no longer feel him around me. Like life he was gone in an instant. I suppose all I have left is facing the music so to speak.
I faced the family that remained quiet during the whole fiasco with one thing on mind. "Where's my money?"
The Daimyo pointed towards a door on the other side of the room. "Your prize money, from what Satomi-kun told me, has been divided into gold, then silver, and then ryo." A cart of gold and silver was carried in next to me and a box of ryo paperback as well. My eyes widened at the sight of the gold and everything else. I put my hands together and three clones spawned behind me. I pointed to the money and said, "You know what to do."
"Yes, sir!" They all saluted then took the box of money in hand and walked away.
"Okay~" Said one of the guardians. I made two more clones and tossed the Bounties scroll to them.
"Well then now for the choice at hand but first I still wish to congratulate you for your accomplishments Magenta Dragon Uzumaki. I have already sent word to your Hokage of your whereabouts so you don't have to worry about any… manhunts," the elder man chuckled a bit.
I swallowed a sigh and bowed my head. "Thank you but what do you mean by choice?" I asked again for the second time since my being here.
"The winner of the Tournament is to take my second eldest daughter's hand, join my Guardians, or…" "I get the money," I finished tightening my sash and looked back up to the Daimyo. "I chose the money sir so what other choice is there?"
The elder man's easy going aura faded away and his smile replaced by a frown. "I have a favor to ask of you." This sounded serious.
"What do you wish of me?" I kept my response humble.
The Daimyo waved his hand and the main hall began to clear out. The family was left and the Guardians. "I wish for you to…"
"Darling!" The wife said out loud cutting off the Daimyo. "I am not sure this boy can do it."
"Do what," I said but was ignored.
"Dragon has done as you have asked and fulfilled your requirements. He's survived your allotted time as well before Tsunade-sama intervention. What more is there?"
"Yes but this boy," the fat lady rose her nose to me as if looking down upon me. "I doubt he even wants you to do this. You can tell by his gluttonous expression he does not want this."
"Want what," I asked again.
"I believe we should let the boy decide. It's his choice."
"What choice is this?" I yelled quieting the two from their match.
"Father, mother, can I have him instead?" One of the other girls above asked. I had to fight to urge to cringe when she looked upon me.
"That's a wonderful…." "I'm afraid not my dear. You already have a suitor and your sister deserves the same. If she doesn't wish to take him then you may ask."
"Wait," I roared and earned the attention of the entire floor. "What is going on? What am I taking other than the money? What do you want me to take?" I asked the family
"To take me." The answer came from an unexpected source that took to her feet. It came from Yuuki. "Would you take me?" She asked stepping down from the pedestal. I waited until she was closer to answer but couldn't when a scent cut into my nose. It was terrible. They really are trying to make her less appealing and I could see it in the smirk on the Wife's face when she saw my back step.
"Yuuki what is with all that makeup," I said rising my sleeve up and wiping a bit of the white powder off her of cheeks. "You look lovelier without it." I couldn't tell if she was blushing or not but she did avert her eyes from me with a faint smile on her lips. I reached up and took the head ornament from her head. "This as well," I tossed the ornament up in the air a couple times, "it's covering your beautiful hair." I tossed the ornament and pulled out a rag. I licked the rag and rose it up to her eyes to wipe the red eyeliner from her eyes.
"Naruto." Her hands came up to my shoulders and brought me closer.
"I heard from Sisy that you protected me and held me before so."
"Eh." I chuckled lightly at the noise she made and licked my rag again. "I have your gift as well." I pulled the necklace out from under my Do. The gift gleamed on my wrist in affirmation moving back and forth with a light the precious stones made lite up upon her cheeks.
"You smell. What are you wearing?" Yuuki pouted and looked away showing her bun on her head. "It isn't my fault I didn't want to put any of this on but…" She paused and looked down to the floor. I tilted my head and noticed a couple smirked on the females above me.
"It doesn't matter." I pulled back and placed the rag back into my pocket. "But it does seem a little unfair for me and for you. I doubt you even would want to deal with a kid like me. I mean, I'm a ninja and got your freedom so that means our relationship is over." Yuuki met my eyes. They wavered with a swirl of emotions the flowed from one to the next.
I can't lie to this girl at all. We had nothing keeping me here or forcing me to accept her. She has no reason to leave her comfortable life to be with a pariah like myself. It's not a life I want for anyone to suffer with me. Especially a sweet and innocent girl like this. "You wouldn't want me Yuuki. I am low born and not the best man around. I am also a killer ya know. You saw me kill twice. I also fight and you said you don't like fighting at all. I am not the best looking and hmmm…" My eyes widened when Yuuki leaned down and took my lips with her own. My first kiss for I can't count the one with Sauce at all because that was freaking gross and much more different than this. This was even more of a surprise but much more pleasant. The taste of apples and lemon if that makes any sense. A sensation of both sour and sweet pleasure.
My eyes closed on instinct. I stood on the tips of my toes to reach up high enough on this bigger girl and allowed years of experience to take hold of me. My arms wrapped securely around waist pulling her closer to me in every way possible. Yuuki moaned lightly as my tongue plunged past her lips onto her tongue as well. Instinct started to take root as she wrapped her arms around to my back and pulled me up instead of the other way around seeing that she was taller than me still. I was too happy and self-absorbed to notice though.
We broke the kiss with our faces an equal shade or red and a light smile on our faces.
"I guess we both got our answer." I looked up to the approving smile on the daimyo's lips.
"Hehehehe, there you go little brother!" Sisy roared with her fist up.
The Daimyo clapped with a wide smile on his face. "I am happy to see she is so infatuated with you so quickly. Make lots of grandchildren for me if you can."
"Father!" Yuuki hid herself in my shoulder hugging me even closer than before.
"Of course I don't expect one of the few Uzumaki left to be without his rights so I expect many things in your future Dragon."
I could only guess what he means by that. "Ah, thanks," was all I call say. My brain was fried right now.
"Hey boss." One of my clones approached with the scroll in hand. "Oh, thanks." I reached for the scroll but the clone rose it overhead out of my reach. "I will give it to you on one condition." I rose an eyebrow but humored my clone. "And that would be," I ask my now bartering clone. "I want to kiss the Princess too."
That overly possessive nature of mine acted first before my rational side. I punched at the clone but he dodged out of my reach. I frowned and threw a kunai towards him. The clone dodged expertly and drew Kanryō. I made my shadow clone sign and made three clones. My clones turned into kunai with which I tossed each in the air around us.
I drew my Kanryō and met my clones and easily pushed him back. He's holding the sword wrong with his recessive hand below the dominate hand. I kicked his knee out and brought the pommel of my sword down on top his wrist. My clone brought his Kanryō upward to stab me. I rose my hand and appeared behind him evading the thrust. I switched to single handed grip instead of doubly and spun around to cut my clone down. He turned back with a clumsy block but by the position of his sword he will survive this. I substituted again and slashed his back as the weak spot at the waist for the armor. The clone fell to the ground and burst into smoke.
The Substitution isn't hard to do but it's difficult when you try to exchange places with something that is smaller or lighter than you. I learned that the hard way during the fight with Deidara and Hiruko. With a clone henged into a kunai though I don't pay the larger amount of chakra required for a regular kunai.
I glanced back and rose my hand again and appeared next to Yuuki. I brought my sword back stabbed behind me. My blade found home in the shoulder of my last clone that saw his chance and took it. "Damn so close," he said before fading away as well.
"Sorry," I sheathe my sword behind me. "I'm very possessive and the only one that can touch her now," I smiled at Yuuki, "Is me."
Sisy whistled. "Nice."
I collected my kunai one by one and placed them in the holster at my leg. "I can do your favor and take your daughter sir if you allow her to leave with me to for Konoha." The Daimyo's smile waned as all eyes landed on him. "I will not stay in this place I am sorry. I have a life to build myself and refuse to have it given to me and take the easy route. I have plans and many other choices to build up on. If you say I can't then I take my leave and visit when I can."
Yuuki reached out to me but I stepped out of it. "But if you let her leave to the outside world you have my vow that anyone that tries to harm her will suffer. Anyone that means the noble and the poor." I looked directly at the wife and felt her tense under my gaze.
"And I believe you." The man rubbed his chin.
"Father." The man looked from me to Yuuki into her dark red eyes and sighed.
"What do you want my dear?"
Yuuki shuttered lightly in place. "I want… I want my boyfriend father."
All the men looked over to me and Sisy rose an eyebrow at me.
The daimyo smirked
I gulped.
"Then you shall have him."
Never in my life have I bared witness to one of these princess with the dirty blood fiascos actually coming to be. I'm shocked that I succeeded in getting the royal family to allow me to take one of royal blood but that leaves me in an precarious position. I didn't really account for the feeling of that princess, and even if I did I didn't count on her willing leaving everything to follow me.
For now I'm stuck sitting in a chair unsure of just what is going on right now. I thought I was going to get my money and leave but I guess it's not that easy. It never is. So far I've been stuck in this room for a good ten minutes twiddling my thumbs waiting for something. It got to the point that I've been forced to dive into my mindscape and read the many books within my library seeing that I'm that bored. I looked into bloodline limits of the Senju clan I acquired along with that of the Uchiha. The wood release and the sharingan are very fascinating to study. If you combined the two of them who knows what would happen. If you combined the bloodline limit of the Uzumaki clan along with that of the Uchiha I can only imagine the warrior spawned from this combination. The sharingan can copy techniques and induce illusions with a single glance. It's my kind of ocular jutsu compared to that of the byakugan. I came across a third one from a story book I've read about one that is supposed to belong to god. The Rinne something. It's a myth apparently so it doesn't really matter.
I turned to the next book I had and looked into the history of the casinos. This first one was spawned within a brothel of all things when the betting being women on the scale of attraction. It sounded interesting so I looking further into it. I might aim to get into the prostitution business. There's a lot of money in it next to drugs though I don't deal in drugs. While I don't get mixed up with the practice I don't necessarily discontinue the practice either. Business is business whether in selling produce or human lives. To me it's all the same. Humans don't matter until they are close to causing self-genocide. That's when I have to step in. I must keep the balance and humans are going to commit acts of sin no matter what I do. My sister died because of this, but I know not all are evil, just some. Stopping a single battle doesn't end the war and until all mankind unify atrocities will befall us. That's one absolute out of five down.
The books I could read in my mind are all interesting and all but most of the information I've been looking into isn't relevant to my current situation and yet I find myself reading them regardless.
I opened my eyes and looked around the room once more to nothing. Just me and the chair I found myself in with a fireplace to my left and another chair in front of me. I leaned forward and rested my chin on Ketsugetsu. Just how long will I have to wait for whatever is about to happen?
The double doors to the room opened and I leaned up and straightened out my back. The Daimyo himself walked into the room with a couple maids holding the door open for him. The man regarded me with a smile before sitting down in front of me. We sat in silence and not by my choice. I have close to little to discuss with the man and he seems keen on examining me. Suddenly he pass me a piece of folded paper from his hakama. I took it and he gestured for me to read it. I opened the folds and read the contents. It's from the old man back home it seems. He's worried about me but trusts the word of our Daimyo that I can get home on my own. I won't face judicial punishment for my absence and will be given a week to get settled with my new title and its benefits.
"I never imagined the Kyubi boy would come here and play in my games," the man pulled out a fan and hid a bit behind it. "You are a long way from home," he pointed out. "You've even changed my daughter despite all the efforts I made to make her more demanding. I tried for years and you succeeded in only a few days. The Hokage was right about you. You have an interesting power to change hearts don't you."
"I don't think so," I muttered. I don't change people for the better. I never have and never will.
"I don't believe so. That was the first time I've seen her "want' something. Though it happened to be a boy instead of a silk kimono like I would prefer it's progress."
"What do you wish of me?" I asked of the man. He didn't bring me her just to discuss his daughter's changes.
"Do you know the specifics of my daughter's status as fallen?"
"I know that she's not the child of your current wife. I know that she's rejected by most your family. I know that she's much more special than most are lead to believe." I thought back on the comments of the guards from before and the little I've seen of her aura from her conflicts. She's special and I'm curious enough to find out why.
"You are correct but not fully." The man closed his fan. "Do you know about the legend of the Phoenix?"
"The Phoenix?" I questioned.
"It's a legend that a child will be born with the power over life and death. It's the story of child with a destiny that until realized they will not die. It's actually tied to the dragon if you read the old folklore from my study." The man gave me a knowing gaze. Ah, so the man knows that it was me. It's not too hard to figure out I guess. The thief is a ninja with the ability to use the shadow clone jutsu with the body of a child. I fulfill all the wickets.
"I have the book with me actually and I'd like if you added this to your stake. You will won't you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Excellent. Now, I've secured passaged for your trip back to Konoha and wish for you to understand that even though my daughter has put her faith in you I need you to understand that more than her life is in your hands. Her very happiness is focused on you so do well to keep her satisfied." The man pulled a book out of the folds of his outfit and placed it on the table before me. "These are notes I've written on my little girl that will help you from her birthday to her favorite color. I suggest reading though it and understanding its implications."
"Yes sir."
"I have as well a written contract for you to sign for the day that you consummate the coming marriage between you both. I understand that the laws of the country will give you leeway with females I'd have to demand you stay faithful to her as your "first' if you will."
"Yes sir." I reached up and signed the contracted and sat back down.
"Excellent. Now I need you to remember that even though you're a ninja under the leadership of the chosen Hokage you're also my Dragon tasked to protect your Phoenix. Placed your career up front but remember that she must come first. You must become stronger to create good grandchildren for me as well. They must be strong, fast, resilient, and beautiful like the both of you combined."
"Y-yes sir. I-Is that all?" I prayed that it is.
"Actually I have these notes on possible contracts and attempts that will be placed on my little girl's life. I'll hand these to you and make sure you stay up-to-date."
"Yes sir!" Finally something I can use.
"Now," the man smacked his fan to the palm of his hands. He must be done now. Thank the goddess. "I must tell you the tale of her mother and just how this all happened. Once you understand my choice you can…"
I sort of cut him off there and stopped listening for a moment. Something tells me this is going to take a moment…
God Help ME!
A/N: This took a bit to get out didn't it. The next chapter is the introduction of the MC to Konoha. Once that happens who knows what I might do there. So many choices and so many games to play with so many people. I can't wait.
Oh yeah, if you like Familiar of Zero I just started one of those and Dragon Age is coming soon as well. Stay frosty, thanks for reading, and review please.
