Author's Note: Hello all again, and glad to see you all for the next chapter for this story.

This installment marks the end of the Kappa Arc and the start of Naruto's graduation arc or what I would call the Academy Arc, which has the whole Mizuki play out. I've changed this one to give Naruto a new challenge to overcome, as well as a chance for maybe a couple more characters to come into the folds of this story.

Of course this fic ends with a quick look into the future to show where I'm taking this story.

The character that shows up at the end is one created by AlphaDelta1001 (my original account), as it was an original creation. The spinoff story is also based off of my own concept.

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Once again I'm still double-checking this one for errors.


NARUTO

Maoyū

Old and New Habits

(The very next day)

Following yesterday's hell of a battle in the lakeside town situated in the heart of a series of mountain ranges and forests, the morning turned out to be far brighter than everyone had been expecting. Maybe it was because the battle they'd fought had been so rough that it made the day afterwards seem far better by contrast. Or maybe it was because the world was deciding to reward the hard-fought, hard-won team with some rays of sunshine in return for all the pain they'd suffered. Either way, when the rays of light came beating down on the valley following a rather enjoyable and filling breakfast, the team from Kumogakure and their vagrant tagalong welcomed the conditions gladly with smiles on their faces.

Gathering at the entrance to the half ruined Karatsu Village, the Genin team from the hidden cloud, their Jonin sensei, and Naruto, along with his little fox companion, stood side-by-side facing the townspeople, all of whom had turned out to see them off. Each of them reflecting the scrapes and bruises from yesterday's scuffle in the form of multiple patches and bandages wrapped around their bodies, the ragtag group of youngsters were met with grins and well wishes from the people they had saved.

"Thank you so much for saving us all from that dreadful monster," the village leader Tenzen said with a bow, a gesture that was shared by several other people in the crowd. "We owe you five everything."

"Yes. Thank you," a middle-aged woman carrying a baby in the crowd spoke up.

"Thank you all so much," another fisherman added, tipping his straw hat in kind. "Everyone in this village is indebted to you."

"You guys are the best ninja ever," a young teenager inside the throng called.

"Yeah. You five are awesome."

"We wish you guys all the best."

Giving a light chuckle at the thanks and wishes of good fortune coming their way, Naruto slipped his hands into his pockets while his friend Tama sat looking proud on his left shoulder. "Ah, shucks. It was nothing, really." If this is what it felt like to be praised for a good, honest day of work, then he liked it.

He could've done without the bandages wrapped around his torso and the first aid patches slapped on his face though. These odd little pings and pangs kind of ruined the moment.

"The ninja of Kumogakure are always happy to help those in need," Mabui informed on behalf of her team. "It was our pleasure."

It was then a confidently smiling yet bandaged up Karui beamed brightly. "If any of you guys are in the neighborhood and looking for a set of extra hands, don't hesitate to give us a call." She then gestured between herself and the rest of her squad. "Just ask for Team Bee. We're always on call and ready to work at your convenience."

An equally battered and mended Omoi chuckled as he glanced across at his teammate. "Way to sell us, Karui." He then lifted his hand and formed a fist, upon which he bumped knuckles with the equally enthusiastic girl.

Tenzen chuckled and nodded to the youngsters. "We'll keep that in mind." He then turned to the young traveler with the fox on his shoulder, where he quickly spied the petrified lake monster hanging from a string around his neck. "Are you sure you'll be okay taking that thing back to your home town?"

Glancing down at the new charm hanging from his person, Naruto smiled. "Oh. Yeah. I'll be fine. I'm already used to hanging out with powerful mythological creatures anyway." A quick gesture to Tama hanging over his neck quickly confirmed this fact. "I'm sure I can handle one more in my life."

Samui crossed her arms as she looked at the young male traveler in the middle. "Don't tell me you're going to start collecting legendary beings and demons."

Naruto shrugged back at the girl with his signature grin. "Hey. Everyone's gotta have some kind of hobby."

After the group shared a round of laughs with the villagers, Tenzen concluded their business with the team by giving them all supplies for the road home, while also stating that it would be their honor to name a shrine in their little community after them. Though Mabui bashfully stated that wasn't necessary, the townspeople insisted, and continued to do so until the departing group eventually relented. Once that was all said and done, the squad bade the lake-side village farewell and hit the road, taking the main road out of town and onto the countryside's main highways. In a matter of minutes the six travelers were ascending the slopes of the outlying hills and away from the small settlement, which eventually disappeared into the distance.

For the next hour into that morning the group continued on walking, chatting animatedly with one another over how terrifying their battle had been, and how each of them had to become much better ninja if they wanted to avoid being utterly thrashed again. Though Mabui remained silent throughout most of this conversation, she not only agreed with them wholeheartedly, but was also able to hear all of the youngsters' aspirations and plans for the future, which put a proud smile on her face over how driven her temporary squad actually was. Eventually the entourage of injured ninja happened across a T-junction where, after seeing which sign pointed where on the intersection, knew that there time traveling together had come to an end.

Knowing that the Kumogakure squad would be heading north back to the Land of Lightning, Naruto picked the road going right and stood facing the team for what he hoped wasn't their last time.

Shouldering up his duffle bag, the boy with the patch over his right eye and cheek, and his right arm and ribs wrapped in medical gauze, grinned at the team standing across from him. "Well… I suppose this is where we part ways," the whisker-marked boy chirped as Tama napped comfortably on his shoulder. "Thanks for letting me stick around."

Mabui, Omoi, Karui and Samui all smiled, with the Jonin being the first to answer the boy's words of sincerity and appreciation. "I hope this detour didn't put you out in any way."

"Nah. No way. The walk down here was great. I had loads of fun," Naruto laughed while waving at them, at the same time slipping his left hand into his jacket pocket, wincing as he did from his healing bones. "But… next time you're on a mission, be sure to warn people exactly where you're going before you take them there. Because unless they're me, they probably won't enjoy the deviation as much. You know what I'm sayin'?"

The white haired woman giggled at the boy's cheeky question. "I'll remember that for next time."

Omoi, rolling his second lollipop for the day between his lips, smiled back at the gutsy delinquent. "It was great hanging out with you, man." He then raised a fist towards him in a sign of respect and farewell. "Be careful on your way home… and don't be a stranger. We expect you to drop us a letter sometime down the line."

Naruto returned the boy's gesture with a bump from his knuckles. "No problem. I've got your details, so I know where to find you."

Arms crossed, the normally hostile Karui cracked a smile and nodded to the kid when he turned to her. "You know what… for a delinquent and a vagrant, you're alright. Just… for your sake, don't go peeping on anymore girls in the hot baths, okay? That's just something you really don't want to make a habit out of."

"Heh. I'll do my best," Naruto replied, before then turning his attention to Samui, who stepped right up to him with a cool smile on her face and hands on her hips. Her presence prompted the boy to bow politely to her. "Crazy couple of days, huh?"

"Yeah. Crazy… but certainly not unwelcome," the blonde replied, looking into the boy's eyes searchingly for the longest of moments. Upon which she started speaking in a slightly more anxious tone. "You know… yesterday… after we defeated Suiro and asked him questions about our futures, I could've asked him so many other things… like where exactly am I going to end up in the next ten years or who I'll end up falling in love with. But I didn't." She then shrugged at him as their gazes met. "I guess I didn't want the pressure of knowing and taking that chance."

Naruto beamed in return, "Life is an adventure that's full of surprises, both good and bad. None of us really knows exactly where we're going or who we're going to become in the future. All I know is that if we play our cards right, we'll be able to make the best out of what the world has to offer." He then grinned happily at the female Genin. "Knowing what lies ahead and what's waiting for us around the corner just ruins the whole experience. That's probably another reason why you didn't ask that walking turtle any more than what you did."

"Or… maybe it's because I already know the answers to those questions," Samui replied, while simultaneously reaching up to tentatively brush some strands of hair behind her ear. "Of course… that last one all depends on whether or not he feels the same way." When she saw the quizzical look the blond gave in response to her cryptic words, the girl then removed her hand from behind her hip and revealed a folded up note, which she promptly handed to Naruto.

Looking down at the piece of paper in confusion, Naruto reached forward and took it, before then glancing back up at the kunoichi. "So, what's th-" He was then effectively silenced when Samui suddenly leaned in and pressed her lips to his, catching him mid-sentence and causing his eyes to widen in alarm.

The warm, tender moment of contact lasted for only a few seconds, but when the blonde girl finally pulled away, both kids' cheeks were glowing red, with the Kumo Genin giving a quiet giggle as she ambled backwards with her hands behind her.

"I'll see you around, Naruto-kun," Samui said, before spinning around and walking back to her team, completely ignoring the surprised looks both Omoi and Karui were giving her. When she strolled past them, the rest of her squad followed suit, giving one last wave back to Naruto whom they could see was still standing frozen in place.

As the group started heading down their road from the valley intersection, the other members of Samui's team quickly fell in step with her, with the girl's two friends moving to walk on either side of the proud looking Genin.

"Well… that was a surprise," Omoi remarked with his hands in his pockets.

"No shit. I mean, really, Samui?" Karui asked in bewilderment as she looked across at her teammate. "That guy?"

"Of course. You got a problem with that?" the blonde asked without looking.

Scrunching her face up uncomfortably, the sword-wielding girl with bandages wrapped around her waist and left arm, sighed and glared ahead of her. "Now that I think about it… not really. Compared to most other guys we know, I suppose you could do a lot worse."

As the squad started to shrink further and further into the distance, Naruto was eventually snapped out of his trance by Tama leaning over to lick his cheek and yip in his ear. The act of which caused him to jump out of his daze and open the folded up note in his hand. When he looked down at it, he smiled when he saw the girl had written her address, postage details, and a little message just for him.

It read; 'Stay in touch' – Samui

She'd even included a pencil drawn love heart at the end of it. That was a nice little addition.

Giving a sweet chuckle at the penmanship and turning to Tama to see her smiling as well, the boy then looked up to watch the gang from Kumogakure disappear over the hill.

"I'm so glad I went on this trip," Naruto said, slipping the note into his pocket as a cool wind whipped over the valley. The sensation of the grassland surrounding the highway and brushing against his face brought a bright smile to his lips.

His first outing, his first encounter with other shinobi, his first in-mission fight, his first liberation of a village, and his first romantic encounter…

Honestly… that was not a bad way to start a week.

XXX

(The next day)

(Evening)

Tayuya breathed a weary sigh as she walked down the dirt road towards her second story apartment home, carrying a plastic bag filled with shopping in each hand and listening to the flute music playing from her red headset. Despite having a good early morning training session and a productive day at school, the girl was feeling more downtrodden than usual due to the absence of one particular person in her life.

"It's been almost a week already and Naruto-kun still hasn't come home yet," the girl with pinkish-red hair spoke with a disgruntled tone of voice as her body automatically turned down another street, passing by random villagers along the way. With her apartment coming into sight, Tayuya looked up at it apprehensively. "He just took off without any word or warning. The least the idiot could've done was wait for me to wake up before he left."

And it wasn't just the frustration of waking up and finding her roommate had vanished either. While he was thoughtful enough to have left her a note informing her of where he was going and what he was going to do, in the next two days to follow the flute player quickly became concerned as to her friend's safety and wellbeing.

After all, the outside world was completely new turf for the blond haired troublemaker from the hidden leaf, and was something he'd never seen or experienced before. Not only were the surroundings and the terrain different, but so were the people and the roads leading through it. If Naruto was struggling to make a good reputation with the villagers in Konoha, how was he going to cope with the people outside of its walls? That thought alone was worrisome enough. And this wasn't even counting the crooks and bandits wandering about, many of whom require actual ninja teams to be dealt with.

Tayuya's expression then became even more miserable as she approached the front gates to her block.

"I sure hope nothing bad has happened to him."

It was all Indian Territory for the delinquent out there in the lands beyond the village's walls; filled with all sorts of pitfalls and peril. There was no telling what kind of trouble Naruto had gotten himself into over the last few days.

These woes continued to plague the young girl when she finally made it to her apartment. Expertly flicking her keys into her fingers, she then unlocked the door and stepped in, knowing full well that an empty, blondeless apartment waited for her. She then stopped dead in her tracks when she saw, sitting at their coffee table with Tama sleeping on a pillow beside him, a perfectly alive and well Naruto Uzumaki, with a tranquil smile on his face and his nose stuck in a book.

Having been working on his assignment since his return a few hours ago, the whisker-marked traveler, now dressed in a casual white shirt and orange shorts, looked over to his entrance when he heard the door open. When he spotted his roommate standing in the archway, clad in a black jock jacket with white trim, black spandex shorts, and a stunned visage gaping in his direction, Naruto's face quickly lit up. "Oh. Tay-chan! Welcome home. How was the academy today? Did you have-"

Before he could even finish his question Tayuya had already dropped her bags and sprinted right at him, which quickly ended in the girl tackling the surprised boy to the floor. With the delinquent on his back and the girl pressing down on his shoulders with her hands, the would-be 'jinchuriki' found himself under his roommate's fierce glare.

"T-Tayuya-chan?"

"You blond, fox-faced bastard!" the girl shouted, startling Tama from her sleep and causing the vixen to stare across at the two in alarm. "You said you would be back in a couple of days! Why the hell were you gone for so long?!"

Sensing the girl's ire through her expression and words, a startled Naruto then threw her a nervous look in an attempt to appeal to her good, reasonable side. "W-Well… on our way through the Land of Hot Water, Tama and I got a little bit side-tracked."

Tayuya however ignored the boy's stuttered response in favor of a further tongue lashing. "Do you know how worried I was about you? Every day I kept thinking you'd wound up being attacked and dumped in some ditch out in the middle of nowhere… or worse! I mean, seriously! How can you be so reckless?" It was then as she was staring into the ruffian's nervous face, the girl suddenly noticed the scar in the corner of his left eyebrow, which she stared at before grabbing with her fingers. "Whoa. And what the hell happened to you here? Did some prick try to knife you or something?"

"It was a spear, actually," Naruto replied anxiously, feeling Tayuya recoil and look down at him in confusion. "The girl I was fighting sliced through the hat that I borrowed from some old lady, and came close to cutting my face in half. Good thing I have such quick reflexes, otherwise I would be a goner."

Feeling a sense of dread come over her, the redhead immediately pulled back, straddling the boy's lap as he propped himself up on his elbows. "What happened out there on the road? Where did you go?"

The delinquent grinned at his roommate. "It's a long story… but a good one. You wanna hear it?"

Tayuya frowned and barked in a typical, tomboyish manner, "Of course I do!"

A laugh left Naruto's lips. "Alright. Alright. Well, it all started after I left the apartment…"

From that point onwards the whisker-marked traveller proceeded to recount the entire course of his journey, from the day he snuck out of the hidden leaf to his eventual return trip home. No detail of his venture across the countryside was left out of his story, as he would gush excitedly about how amazing the countryside was and all the interesting people he met along the road. When he eventually told Tayuya about his encounter with the squad from Kirigakure in the northern village and their spear-wielding teammate, he had to pause for a moment when his roommate became blown away by the reveal that the girl had actually been a member of the Uzumaki Clan.

He explained that she was perhaps the most difficult opponent he'd fought up to that point, as she was not only the first one to get him to work hard, but also the first person to leave a permanent scratch on him. What's more, the two of them had just been getting warmed up, which made both Naruto and Tayuya shiver at the thought of how strong she and her teammates actually were.

Eventually Naruto got into the real nitty gritty parts of the story, where he told his roommate about his arrival at Genno Temple and then meeting Samui's team at the onsen hotel. He wisely glossed over the fact that he'd actually met the girl in the hot spring, as he knew telling Tayuya this would lead into some very bad things, so he told her he met the team in the lobby. This all then led to the detour to the lakeside village, where Naruto and his company met the king of all predators. Tayuya was literally cementing herself to the floor with fear and fever when the blond told her all about that battle, from their last minute saves to the power struggle between the demon and Mabui. He then showed her the petrified body of Suiro himself, which he'd fashioned to a rock bracelet and had wrapped around his wrist.

The little, petrified statue of the Kappa, which was no bigger than a key chain souvenier, dangled in front of Tayuya when the boy held his arm up in front of her. She could even see a tiny black seal painted on its turtle shell, which Naruto had put there as a way of summoning it should it be misplaced in any way.

"So… this is the little blighter that caused you guys so much trouble?"

"Oh yeah. He damn near ended up killing us too… even Tama-chan," Naruto chuckled as he also looked at the dark-green talisman hanging alongside the string of rock beads it was attached to. "If it wasn't for Omoi, I doubt any of us would still be standing right now."

Tayuya smiled as she leaned back on her hands in a laidback way. "Even so, I bet you weren't scared one bit, even against such a big, scary demon."

The blond shrugged as he dropped his arm to the floor. "I admit I was a little bit worried and intimidated a few times during that fight, but everything turned out well in the end thanks to good, old-fashioned teamwork. There was no way we would've been able to beat that monster if we didn't work together." And that was the truth, plain and simple.

Naruto knew he was strong. Stronger than most other kids his age, teenagers, and even some adults. But the fight with the Kappa monster had opened his eyes to a much bigger picture; that there were enemies and creatures out there that couldn't be beaten without help or support. Even though Suiro was a special case, it still gave the delinquent an experience that was worth taking away from, and allowed him to make better plans for the future.

Anyway, after telling Tayuya all the most epic and significant moments of that battle, the boy then went on to tell her about the premonitions and Suiro's ability to read the future when defeated in combat. Since the walking fish was currently out of commission, it was impossible for him to make an effective demonstration, but Tayuya believed him easily enough. He then told her about some man named Oda Nobunaga, asking his friend whether or not she'd heard of anyone like that, to which the redhead replied she hadn't. As far as either of them was concerned, this person was just a nobody now; probably someone who was incognito and staying out of the public's eye.

Once all the stress over the unidentified future enemy was taken under consideration, the story eventually led to them here. By the time Naruto was finished, Tama had fallen asleep again and Tayuya was emotionally reeling from the aftermath of the tale.

"Wow… just… wow," Tayuya breathed as she leant back on the floor, having cracked out the take-away she'd bought for both of them to share. Watching Naruto use the chopsticks in the bag to dig into the udon brought a warm smile to the redhead. "If I didn't know you as well as I do, I'd be having a really hard time believing some of the shit you'd just told me. But… considering you're the most honest, straight-shooting, and unlucky bastard in the world, I can easily see something like this happening to you."

Naruto chuckled after slurping up the noodles he'd successfully grabbed. "Yeah. My bones are still aching from that ass-kicking I got at the start of the fight… especially after I was sent flying through those trees. Ugh. It was rough." Absently tapping the red pendant hanging around his neck, which he'd worn the entire trip and the way back in, the blonde youngster shrugged. "Even if that mission was a one in a thousand gig, it still makes me wonder how tough our actual assignments are going to be when we're finally put onto a squad." He then grinned as he handed the girl the chop sticks. "Think they'll be just as hard?"

"I doubt it. There's no way the village would send a new team of Genin out on a B-Rank mission to hunt down monsters and predators right out the gate. That's the kind of work that they give to the more seasoned squads," Tayuya replied, taking the utensils from the boy and the bowl of udon from the table, which she then proceeded to eat as well. Sitting across from one another, the pair really did look the part of a couple of best friends hanging out in their small, one-room apartment. "They'll probably just be sending us on a bunch of lame errands for the first few weeks, just like what Samui told you."

"Heh. True. But at least I'll know what to expect if we're suddenly hit by a higher-ranked mission," Naruto responded, resting his elbow on their central table and leaning over tiredly. "It was hard going there for a bit, but at least my trip up north was a success and I managed to come back in one piece. Now I'm ready to get back into something normal for a change… like training and studying. Did I miss out on anything while I was gone?"

"Nah. Not much. Just a whole bunch of revision material and busy work from school. I'll give you the practice sheets I saved so you can take a look at them later." It was then Tayuya stopped from shoveling more noodles into her mouth and perked up. "Oh yeah. That reminds me. Iruka-sensei said he wanted to talk to you about something when you're back in class."

"Really? Did he say what it was about?"

"No. But from the way he spoke to me a couple days ago, it must be pretty important, so I suggest you be there tomorrow."

Naruto smiled in response, "Yeah. No sweat. I'll be there."

After that the two friends and roommates went back to eating, upon which they moved on to finishing their assignments. Studying to the point of mental fatigue for the next couple of hours, the pair then hit the hay.

XXX

(The next day)

The morning set of lessons at the academy came and went at a surprisingly brisk pace, as the teacher had taken the opportinity to re-explain to his students the mechanics of proper hiding techniques for shinobi out on the field. Upon clarifying that this topic and the details of it would be in the final exam, Iruka then dismissed his students for recess, allowing them all to take off while he stayed behind to sort out his paperwork.

As the majority of the room filed into the corridor through the two respective entrances, Naruto hopped out of his seat and, with Tama resting on his shoulder, made his way down to the front of the class. Hands in his white jacket pockets, the blond with the blue scarf wrapped around his neck stopped in front of the Chunin's desk and waited patiently for the man to acknowledge his presence.

Iruka looked up when he saw a shadow fall over his workspace and spotted his formerly wayward student. "Oh. Naruto. How's your cold? Feeling better?"

The would-be jinchuriki nodded with a million-ryo smile. "Yeah. It came as a bit of a shock to me when I woke up with a fever a few days ago, since it's been a long time since I was last sick. But I'm all better now." He then allowed his expression to become serious. "You wanted to see me about something, sensei?"

"Yes. Yes, I did," the Chunin replied, clearing his throat and straightening up. When he placed his hands on his hips, he looked down at the boy with a small smile. "The Genin exams are coming up on us fast... something that I know you're all looking forward to. Are you and Tayuya up for them?"

A smirk graced Naruto's lips as Tama listened intently to their conversation. "I'm feeling pretty confident, dattebayo." He then lifted his hand and clenched it into a fist. "I'm in top form for my taijutsu and shurikenjutsu, I've got a good handle on the replacement and henge techniques, and I'm up to date on all the theory." He then dropped his arm and allowed it to sit at his side. "So yeah. I'm not worried."

Iruka then raised an eyebrow curiously. "How about the Bunshin no Jutsu? What's your progress on that?"

It was then the boy's smile dropped and he looked down at the floor in frustration. "Honestly… it's not great." Naruto glanced back up at his teacher, who he noted was giving him his full and undivided attention. "No matter how much I practice it, I can't produce a proper, working clone. Every form I produce always turns out pale and shriveled up, or just explodes on me the moment it appears." He then reached up and scratched his head worriedly. "Seriously… I have no idea what's going on. If I can't create a working clone on the field, then how can I..."

Sensing the child's concerns over his final results if he is unable to produce a working copy during the testing period, Iruka then gave the boy a reassuring look and crossed his arms. "I'm guessing it has something to do with your chakra. Since you've got so much of it coursing through your body, it's impossible for you to produce a fully functioning Bunshin, due to the fact that you can't get the amount needed for it right. It's like trying to squeeze a single drop of water out of an entire ocean." When he saw the boy slump forward in dread, the Chunin smiled softly and continued. "However… considering your grades in all the other areas, I'm going to disregard that aspect of the assessment and allow you to graduate without having to take the Bunshin exam."

Naruto's head then snapped up with a start. "Wait… are you serious?" When he saw Iruka's grin, the boy's smile widened. "You're not messing with me? You'll... you'll let me graduate, sensei?"

"Of course I will," the scar-faced man chuckled. "I've allowed other young prospects in the past to graduate without passing all of their exams. The most recent one was Rock Lee, and that boy could only use taijutsu and shurikenjutsu. You're already excelling in so many other aspects of your development that you've more than secured a passing grade from this group, with distinction. You, Tayuya, Sasuke and Hinata are the top four students in this year's batch, so to let them move forward and not you would be incredibly unfair of me." When he saw a wide grin of sheer delight spread across Naruto's lips as his hands clenched in triumph, Iruka concluded his overview with an admission of faith. "I'm placing all my bets on you becoming a great ninja one day, Naruto. So don't let this opportunity go to waste."

"I won't, sensei. I won't. You can count on it," Naruto chuckled, turning to his kitsune companion sitting on his shoulder and giving the fox a laugh. "You hear that, Tama-chan? We're going to become Genin!" The white mammal responded by giving a loud bark of excitement.

Giving a laugh at the pair's interaction, Iruka then waved his hand at the boy. "Now get out of here, you little ruffian. I've still got some work to finish up here, so you go and enjoy your recess." Returning the blonde's thumbs-up with his own, the Chunin then watched the kid dash towards the door, only to then call out to him. "By the way, Naruto. How did you get that scar over your left eye?"

Stopping and looking back at the man for a moment, Naruto then remembered the cut over his eyebrow and reached up to rub it with his fingers. "I… hit my head hard on our table when I woke up about three days ago. Gave myself one hell of a headache."

"Ah. I see," Iruka nodded in understanding, as he was well aware of the boy's living conditions. "Try not to roll around so much in your sleep next time."

Giving a light-hearted snicker, the boy then ran the rest of the way out of the room, doing a little skip on the way through the door. Iruka actually had to spare a small headshake when he heard the youngster's cheerful 'whoop' echo down the corridor, before turning back to the papers on his desk.

"The world is going to be in for one hell of a surprise," the classroom teacher thought to himself in amusement.

Unbeknownst to the Chunin and a couple other kids still in the class, they completely missed the shadow of an intently observing Mizuki lurking outside the room's exits. Hands in his pockets and an unpleasant aura wafting around him, the pale-haired teacher in the shinobi uniform frowned deeply before, with a huff of frustration, he turned and headed down the hallway on his own.

OOO

(A few minutes later)

Out in the courts where the academy's teachers conducted their outdoor lessons with their classes, the students from the uppermost year levels scattered across the area were enjoying a filling, and somewhat relaxing recess. Having taken up their usual spots in the area as per the usual routine; Kiba tending to a boisterous Akamaru out in the open, Shikamaru and Choji chatting with each other nearby, Sasuke having a drink from a juice bottle by the academy wall while a group of girls were ogling him, and Hinata leaning against the fence with her hands in her pockets, things seemed pretty ordinary.

That was until a commotion nearby had everyone stop their current activities and turn their attention to the middle of the yard, where they suddenly saw two of the students scuffling with one another in the open. However, this wasn't so much as a playground brawl as it was a playful training session between two close friends, as everyone in the area quickly saw that it was Naruto and Tayuya sparring with each other across the dirt.

Trading shots with their partner, the red haired girl attempted to get the drop on her roommate with a swift roundhouse kick, only to have him check it and retaliate with a casual palm strike. Reacting in alarm to the swiftly thrown blow, Tayuya crossed her arms over and took the blow, which landed with a heavy thump and sent her skidding across the floor. Grinding to a stop, the flute player looked up with a smirk, where she saw Naruto smiling casually back at her.

"Damn. You're pretty fired up all of a sudden, spiky," Tayuya said teasingly, ignoring the stinging sensation in her forearm from taking such a heavy blow. Even though she was nearly trying her best while also working up a sweat in the process, she knew Naruto wasn't even trying. This much was obvious from the way he was casually standing there with his hands held forward in a laidback stance. He even still had his training weights on. "Did something good happen to you in class?"

The blond chuckled as he ignored the looks they were getting from the other students around them. "You can say that."

"Well… are you gonna let me in on your little secret?" the redhead asked pryingly.

Naruto wagged his eyebrows at her, "Sure. But you're going to have to beat me first."

A frown then appeared on Tayuya's face as she glared back at him. "That's flippin' impossible. There's no way I can beat you in hand-to-hand. You kick my ass constantly!"

"So I guess… you don't want to find out what I know," the blond replied teasingly. When he saw Tayuya stiffen up and her eye twitch, the young delinquent then shrugged and looked away coyly. "Okay. That's fine. But just a heads up… it's really goo~od."

Gritting her teeth, Tayuya then unclasped her holster and pulled out her flute, twirling it about with her fingers and setting herself into a new stance. "Okay you smug bastard," the girl said with a competitive grin. "You asked for it, bucko!" She then sprinted forward with a roar, intent on giving the boy a clobbering.

As the pair continued to play-spar as they normally did, the rest of the kids standing around them slowly returned to what they were doing. Although, while guys like Shikamaru and Choji went back to chatting with one another, Sasuke continued to watch the duo fight, Ino quietly awed at the way Naruto masterfully evaded Tayuya's attacks, and a nearby brooding Hinata couldn't help but observe the delinquent's activity with an admiring gaze.

OOO

(Meanwhile)

While this little friendly contest was going on down in the academy's quad, up in the Hokage Tower portion of the administration area, Hiruzen Sarutobi was presently sitting in his big office chair, with his fingers crossed in front of him and a warm smile on his face as he watched the scene taking place in his crystal bal. His eyes fixed upon the activity being played out in front of him and, as Naruto and Tayuya attempted to tag one another in their duel, couldn't help but chuckle at how happy they both looked.

"It looks like things are going to be okay from now on," Hiruzen whispered to himself, at the same time reaching into his pocket and drawing his pipe.

Over the years the old man had made it a habit to check in on the village to make sure things were alright and business was running smoothly, particularly with individual villagers. However, aside from the farmers, the orphans, the shinobi, and shop owners, the one individual he always made sure to check up on every couple of weeks was Naruto. Seeing as how the boy had spent much of his life alone and struggling for acceptance, the elder always maintained an open time slot for the youngster to not only observe him, but also to give him counsel should he ever feel the need to come visit him. After all, every child needed someone to look out for them and help them.

But, considering how well he was doing in school and looking at the way he interacted with his classmates, particularly Tayuya, Sasuke and a few other people, Hiruzen was confident the boy would be alright. The more relationships he formed, the better his circumstances would become, as well as his chances and future.

Assured that the boy was alright, Hiruzen deactivated his crystal ball. A few moments later there was a knock on the door, prompting the elder to look up.

"Enter," the Hokage spoke, watching the entrance swing open and a male Chunin step in. "Yes?"

The young man with brown hair bowed to the village leader. "Hokage-sama. Mikoto Uchiha is here to see you, as requested."

Hiruzen nodded in acknowledgement and waved to him. "Of course. Send her in." Pushing several of the scrolls on his desk aside, the old man then rose out of his chair and stood with his hands behind his back. As soon as he did, he saw the Chunin step aside and make room for the head of the Uchiha Clan.

Dressed in her kunoichi uniform, consisting of a black skintight suit, red obi around her waist, green Konoha vest, and forehead protector fastened securely around her head, the raven haired mother Mikoto stepped into the office. Thanking the Chunin and watching him close the door behind her, the woman then stopped in the middle of the oval room and stood at attention, as she now found herself under the firm, unflinching gaze of the village's leader.

"Mikoto-chan. Good to see you," Hiruzen spoke with a smile.

"It's good to see you too, sir," Mikoto responded with a nod of her own, before her expression became serious once more. "You sent a message asking for me?"

"Yes. Yes. Of course," the Hokage replied, clearing his throat as he began walking out from behind his desk, with the kunoichi watching him closely as he did. "I wanted to speak to you regarding a very important political matter… something that I have not yet brought up with the village council or with the daimyo. In truth… I actually wanted you to be the first one to hear this."

"What is it? Another S-Rank mission?" Mikoto asked, appearing and sounding both curious as to where the most powerful Kage in the land was taking this conversation. She suspected it could be any number of things. But seeing as how he went through all the trouble of calling her up to the tower to speak with her, she figured it had to be something top secret.

A small smile tugged at Hiruzen's lips as he focused his attention on the wall across from him, which had the four pictures of the past Hokage lined up side-by-side. "It is and it isn't," he answered, causing a more puzzled look to fall upon the woman's face. "While it is not an official mission that would be given to any shinobi, it is one that is of great significance… one that has the potential to shape the future of our village and pave the way for many more generations to follow. This assignment will require a hundred percent of your dedication and commitment, where you will be forced to make great decisions, while also sacrificing a little bit of yourself for the sake of the people."

Mikoto, feeling a nervous tension building in her chest, took a deep breath of preparation. "It sounds serious."

"It is. And I wouldn't think of giving the responsibilities of a task such as this to anyone except you," Hiruzen informed, turning around and fixing his eyes outside the window. It was then he raised a hand and gestured to the woman behind him. "Come here. I want to show you something, Mikoto."

Too wrapped up to deny the man's request, the raven haired Jonin marched forward and stood beside the Hokage. When she did, she found herself gazing across the full expanse of the village. From vanishing point to vanishing point, she saw the entirety of the Hidden Leaf spread out before her, from the forests to the east to the farm lands to the west, with the denser suburbs focused entirely in the center. As she admired the view, she also saw the clouds in the clear blue sky drifting overhead, and heard the telltale signs of birds singing outside.

For the next minute or so she stood there with the Hokage, who at first said nothing. But once that moment of clarity and admiration had passed, Hiruzen once again chose to speak.

"This village has gone through many great trials since it was first established by Hashirama and Madara all those years ago. The people have braved wars, famine, storms, strife, and a great many other calamities and losses too painful to comprehend." Sensing the woman's eyes on him, the elder paused for a moment to let the information sink in, before speaking with his head held high. "But in its time, the leaf has also seen its fair share of good times… such as the formation of friendships, alliances, and partnerships with nations we initially deemed as enemies, the development of technology, medicine, trade, infrastructure and economics, an increase in quality of life, and many more historical events that have forever shaped our community and its people for the better. I have watched these moments and experienced them firsthand more times than I can count, and through it all I've seen our people endure the calm and harsh weathers of the decades, and emerge from them even stronger than before. It is because of all this that I have come to realize that with every generation that passes, the next one will emerge even stronger than the one before, whether it's physically or mentally. They learn from the mistakes of the old… and prepare themselves for the changes to follow," Hiruzen stated.

There was another long breadth of silence where neither of them said anything, with Mikoto doing her best to take in everything the village leader was saying to her. As she turned her eyes back to the village and processed the words spoken to her by the wise leader, the pause was broken a second time by Hiruzen following through on his topic.

"I feel that times are changing once again… and that the next generation is going to face its greatest test yet," the Hokage said, his voice not wavering or breaking for even a moment. "And like every generation, it needs a strong leader to help see it through to the next; someone that the people look up to, know and trust. And someone that has already endured so much, and can use their collective experiences and strength to inspire others to follow them." It was the moment he said this that something in Mikoto finally clicked, and the woman's eyes snapped towards Hiruzen in shock. "You've spent these last few years rebuilding your clan from the ground up following the incident with Itachi, as well as forging a strong relationship between the Uchiha and the people of Konohagakure. The villagers had already regarded you as a strong kunoichi and a potential leader; someone who is compassionate, caring, responsible, and well-versed in the ways of the world. Even now you are continuing to prove yourself to be a reliable, adept, and steadfast individual. Furthermore, not only were you close friends with the Fourth Hokage, Minato, but you were also one of the few shinobi who fought and stopped The Wind Demon, Fuma Kotaro. That last merit alone has more than solidified your worthiness for the position."

Mikoto blinked in amazement, as she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. "You… want me… to become the next Hokage?"

The old man nodded, at the same time turning to face her completely. "My time for retirement is long overdue. I plan on stepping down very soon. But before I do, I would like to leave knowing that the village and its people are in safe, capable hands." He then lowered his head candidly to the kunoichi. "Originally I considered Fugaku to be the next Hokage, back when Minato was still around… and even prior to the attack on the Uchiha Clan I was still lobbying for his advancement to the seat. The only reason I didn't consider you for the position was because you declined from running in favor of raising your family, and I respected that decision." Hiruzen then beamed. "But now that Sasuke is about to become a Genin and your clan has once again joined with the village, I believe you are now ready to make that final step forward."

Stepping back a bit, the raven haired Jonin took a few deep breaths, as she weighed the elder's words on her mind. "I… I don't… I'm not…"

Hiruzen, watching the woman settle down and catch her breath, then slowly moved towards her. "Mikoto… you share the same views and virtues that Minato and Kushina once shared, as well as their unwavering sense of duty, responsibility, and fairness. The Fourth had a great deal of faith in you and your abilities, and knew he could trust you above everyone else." He then raised a hand and placed it on the woman's shoulder, prompting the kunoichi to look up at him. "If you take up the seat of Hokage, you will not only be carrying on their hopes and dreams, but the hopes of everyone else. Honor their memory by doing what they could not, and protect the village in their place." The Third then nodded to her reassuringly when he saw her gaze meet his. "I know you will do great."

Not saying anything for a moment, Mikoto watched the Hokage step away and place his hands behind her, waiting for her to make her decision. Seeing her thoughts flicker through her eyes for several seconds, Hiruzen didn't have to wait long for her answer, which came with a smile and a nod.

"I'll do it," Mikoto said, raising her head high as she did. "I accept your offer for the position of village leader."

Acknowledging her response, the Hokage stepped back. "I will inform the council and the daimyo of your decision this afternoon. Though I believe the council will initially protest, I'm a hundred percent positive that the feudal lord will approve and support my decision." He then reached a hand out and placed it atop of his desk where the paperwork was. "I'm planning on stepping down from the seat one month from today. On the same date that the Genin graduation is set to take place. I think it would be fitting that you be there to attend the ceremony and christen the new group, as your first official act as the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure."

Mikoto, feeling her chest swell, bowed her head in acceptance. "It would be an honor, sir."

OOO

(That afternoon)

(Hundreds of miles away)

On the edge of what is considered Kusagakure territory, situated between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, there sat a large, old stone castle situated atop a steep cliff. Overlooking a large inlet filled with raging whirlpools on one side and an open field of grassy valleys on the other, the structure sat as a beacon beneath the dark, cloud sky. At this time of day the sun had started to set, making the cloudy, dreary atmosphere surrounding the land look all the more depressing.

However, while a majority of the countryside was empty and devoid of activity, there was plenty of it going on at Hozuki Castle. It was there, situated by the main command building, a large blimp, with an armored hull, large propeller engines, and an insignia with a big 'G' painted on the side, had been tied down above the main courtyard. It was from this large dirigible cruiser, which was as long as the castle's estate was wide, a ramp had been deployed, which was now being guarded by a group of soldiers dressed in black uniforms that had red epaulettes on their shoulders, steel helmets, and armed with bolt-action rifles.

They were a stark contrast to the castle guards, the latter of whom were men wearing green, buttoned up uniforms, silver helmets, and were armed with more primitive single-shot breach-loading rifles. However, despite this gap in technology, this didn't stop both sides from glaring one another down, as the vessel parked above the castle was somewhat of an unwelcome guest to the scene.

An air transport hovering over a large fortress prison in the middle of nowhere? You bet there was going to be some tension floating between the two.

The reason why this vessel was here came in the form of two VIPs, whom were currently inside the main structure of the stone castle and being escorted through the property by a couple of prison guards, two soldiers from the airship, and a pale, tall, stiff of an individual with long black hair, and wearing a red officer's uniform and black cape. From just one look you could tell that this particular individual was the warden of the castle, as his rank and insignia were clearly displayed proudly on his top.

The first VIP was a man of short stature with scraggly brown hair and a thin mustache, dressed in a black and white, incredibly expensive suit, and a pair of round sunglasses. Marching with his hands behind his back, to short man was also accompanied by a tall, incredibly attractive young woman with long blue hair tied into a topknot with a single bang hanging over a fair face, covered by a pair of thin reading glasses, and was dressed in a blue suit and short-skirt.

Admiring the prison cells that they passed along their way through wooden halls of this part of the structure, the short man chuckled as he looked up at the tall man escorting them. "I see that you've beefed up the security around the place since the last time I was here, Mui-san. Did something 'fun' happen around here recently?"

The man in the officer's uniform looked down at the man without a change in his expression. "Not really. Just a couple of new prisoners from Kirigakure who thought it was a good idea to start a riot and break out. Unfortunately for them their little bloody midnight bash didn't last for very long, as they were all reduced to ash a few minutes after they broke out of their pens." Mui then turned his attention back to the path ahead and the set of stairs they were approaching. "I've put a few more guards on rotation to make sure that the others don't get the same idea and go rogue."

"Harsh," the short man chuckled, his glasses flashing with amusement as the group turned onto the stairs and began descending further into the main structure. "But, if you plan on keeping a bunch of rowdy ex-shinobi criminals under control, examples need to be made and boundaries need to be set. So it makes sense to resort to those kinds of punishments. I can certainly respect that." As they left the ground level of that part of the prison, they then entered another part of the castle, which took them straight down a wide tunnel with only a few lanterns and doors marking their path. "By the way, that last order of prisoners you loaned out to me for my highway project last season were fantastic. They lasted much longer on the line than the previous group of men I bought from the Land of Wind's institute."

"Well… criminals from Iwagakure tend to be a lot tougher than your ordinary highway robbers and scumbags. They are much harder to be broken in, but deliver a far more honest day of work afterwards," Mui responded as he continued leading his visitors down the corridor. Passing a couple of guards who saluted the warden, the well-dressed chief than glanced down at the magnate. "I have a new shipment of lowlifes that have just came in from both Suna and Kiri if you're interested, Gato-san. They're over in Block D."

"That sounds like fun. Is this batch strong?" the magnate replied eagerly.

"Strong enough to be classified as C-Rank targets by their respective villages," Mui answered calmly with his hands behind his back.

This assessment had Gato shrug. "Free labor is better than no labor, I suppose. But I certainly do love variety in my shopping trips. It makes outings like this a whole lot more fun." He then glanced behind him at the woman following close behind them, whom he saw swing out her writing pad. "Start writing out the payment to Mui-san in full, my dear… with an additional ten percent from the last check as a token of good faith to my warden friend. I'd like to make this transaction between us as smooth and as quick as possible, after we inspect the merchandise."

The young woman behind the entrepreneur nodded, her glasses flashing as she started scribbling over the paperwork in her grip. "I'll start crunching the numbers now, sir."

Eyeing the female as she scanned the papers, Mui then glanced down at the smirking Gato calmly. "Obedient and efficient. She certainly knows the way things work around you."

"She's my daughter, so you can expect that she knows this kind of routine like the back of her hand," the billionaire business owner exclaimed, while once again regarding the warden with the same disposition he gave every other valuable client. "I'm grooming her to take over my company sometime in the distant future, which is why I have her on assignment with me today. This visit is just another part of her training."

"Well… I hope that this tour proves to be a very enlightening excursion for her," Mui responded, once again giving the female a glance before turning back to the corridor.

After walking for a few more doors with the group's respective guards flanking them, Gato suddenly had his attention pulled towards a large iron door down a small junction of the concrete corridor. Seeing the large gate a few yards into the area was lit by two large lanterns, the man could distinctly make out a figure through the overlapping bars on the other side. This instantly peeked his curiosity and, stopping from his walk for a moment along with his female company, took a step towards it.

"Ooh. What about this one?" the man in glasses asked with interest, catching Mui's attention and forcing the warden to a stop. Gato continued to amble towards the bars heedlessly, as there weren't any guards standing by it. "This looks more like a cage for a wild animal than an ordinary prisoner. How much are you willing to sell this beast?"

Mui's eyes widened when he saw the man getting closer to the cell and reeled forward, "Stop! Now!" When he saw Gato halt and look over his shoulder, the warden marched forward and ushered the man back, before then pointing at the ground. "Mind the yellow line."

Looking down, Gato then saw the yellow line painted into the floor with red seals drawn into it, forcing him to take a cautious step away. By the time he looked back up, he was joined by both his secretary and the guards escorting them. "What's this one's story?"

Frowning, the warden then turned to glare at the massive iron bars a few feet in front of them and the darkness of the room that lay within. "This is a custom-made, solitary confinement cell, designed to keep the most powerful and dangerous criminal in the entire Elemental Nations under lock and key. After four riots, multiple escape attempts, constant flaunting of prison authority, and various other cases of assault, larceny, and disruption of the system, I had no choice but to move her down here for permanent keep." Mui's eyes narrowed when he began recalling the information on this case. "The Wind Demon… otherwise known as the Demon of the Windmill Blade and The Untraceable Shadow; Fuma Kotaro."

Gato recoiled as he stared at the black, depressing, battered looking cell. "Wait… Kotaro… I think I've heard that name before."

"I'd be surprised if you didn't," Mui mumbled as he kept his eyes fixed on the cell. "This woman was brought into my custody years ago by a squad sent from Konoha, as every other prison system across the continent refused to take her in out of fear. That's how troublesome a person she actually is. Before she was captured, this woman was responsible for inciting a potential Shinobi World War and starting an international conflict that would later become known as the Kotaro Crisis. This was a full year before the start of the Third Great Shinobi War. During this period, the kunoichi and her gang assaulted the Land of Fire's capital, attacked two hidden villages, destroyed an entire portion of the northern mountains, and led all the shinobi villages on a cat-and-mouse chase across multiple borders. It was chaos."

The business owner whistled as a smirk crossed his lips. "Now that's one badass babe. How did they manage to get her?"

"From what I heard… she turned herself in willingly," Mui replied, earning a strange look from Gato as the officer proceeded to elaborate. "The events leading up to her 'capture' are quite baffling to comprehend. Not only did she defeat four whole battalions of shinobi and two jinchuriki sent after her from Kumo, Suna, Kiri and Iwa without killing a single one of them, she also fought Minato Namikaze, Hanzo of the Salamander, Jiraiya of the Sannin, Mikoto Uchiha, the bounty hunter Kakuzu and the jinchuriki of the Kyuubi… and won." The warden then looked down at the man beside him seriously. "To put things into perspective, that's six Kage level shinobi defeated at once. The battle itself destroyed an entire cluster of islands and wiped a peninsula off the face of the map… an area which is now called the Demon's Crossing in the North Sea. The entire battle could be seen and felt for hundreds of miles in all directions."

Narrowing his eyes, a now nervous looking Gato stared back at Mui. "How are you able to keep such a demon under control? And in this cell?" From the way Mui was describing her, this woman was capable of laying waste to entire countries.

"With great care and difficulty," Mui stated darkly, not tearing his eyes away from the cell for a moment. "In the past, Fuma Kotaro was notorious for being able to break in and out of the most heavily guarded fortresses and installations in the world… wherever and whenever she pleased. That being said, I'm guessing the only reason she hasn't broken out of here yet is because she's staying of her own volition." Pausing for a moment, the warden turned to look down at Gato very firmly. "Compared to shinobi like Hashirama Senju, who was historically assessed as being 'incredibly remarkable', Fuma Kotaro was assessed as 'incandescent… an era-defining monster beyond Madara.' When we tried running psychological tests on her to assess her mental capabilities, two of my psychiatrists were sent to a mental institute from talking with her for only three minutes, and five of my guards were inadvertently 'reprogrammed' and used by Kotaro to help start her riots. That's why we laid down this yellow marker, because anyone who gets within three meters of her cell becomes instantly compromised."

"And… why exactly haven't you killed this woman yet?" Gato asked, taking another step away from the yellow line for good measure.

"We've tried… many times before. But not only did she shrug off my Katon: Tenro (Fire Release: Heavenly Prison) technique, she's also survived and resisted multiple drugging attempts, death by firing squad, and every other method of execution you can possibly imagine. So we just stopped trying and moved her down here instead," Mui said, at the same time gesturing into her cell.

When Gato and his secretary got a closer look into the dark of the chamber behind the iron bars, they saw that the pale, silver haired person shrouded in darkness was not only wearing just a pair of white panties and a flimsy halter top, but was also cuffed by chains fixed to her wrists, feet and waist, all of which were nailed down to the floor at a single point. This meant that she could only move around the confines of her cell to just a few inches from the bars and walls, with only the floor and a bucket to keep her company.

Needless to say, it was a pretty miserable place to be. She didn't even have a pillow.

Watching the person sitting in the center of the pen, Gato and the others soon became aware of a soft melody coming from the cell. Opening their ears more, the troop gathered behind the yellow line quickly identified the noise as humming, which then slowly transformed into a series of lyrics stringed together moments later. Upon listening in, the words being added to the song transformed the haunting tune into something far more foreboding.

"What once was truth shall be no more,"

"For the age of man is at death's door,"

"A war for peace and unity shall end,"

"In land soaked in iron, blood, fire and friend,"

"Death comes to those who join this final arc,"

"In a song that echoes through time and past,"

"For one man wishes for a love long spark,"

"And another longs for a world that's glassed,"

"But in it other players shall arise,"

"To see the end for human, beast and lies,"

"The false goddess and child with heaven's eyes,"

"The true goddess of the moon, earth and skies,"

"From distant parts of the earth they'll come,"

"Shadow, God, biju, demon, everyone,"

"Yet all will fall to the mightiest foe,"

"A figure of blood, fire, death's shadow,"

"The earth will still and the heavens will crack,"

"Under the heel of this devil's attack,"

"For you though your destined one I see clear,"

"The Demon King of blond, whiskers and cheer,"

"For he will save earth from the evil one,"

"And give you the future the stars have spun."

Hearing the woman sing this poem to them from the darkened cell had everyone staring, until Gato leaned over and whispered to Mui nervously.

"What the hell does all of that mean?"

The prison warden shrugged, "It's just a song she's been babbling for the last several years, over and over again. No one knows what the hell it's supposed to be." Adjusting the hem of his cape, the dark haired man then turned and gestured down the corridor they'd been following. "So… would you like to check out those prisoners now?"

Gato, pushing his glasses up his nose, nodded with a smile. "Sure. Lead on." Following Mui as he started down the hallway once more, the short business owner then stopped when he noticed that his daughter and secretary was still staring at Fuma Kotaro's dark, concrete and iron prison. Appearing puzzled, the magnate spoke, "What's wrong, Ryoda-chan?"

Expression remaining neutral, the woman with dark blue hair kept her eyes fixed on the fortified pen. "You go on ahead, oto-san. I want to check this person out for a little bit longer."

Glancing between her and the cell a couple more times, Gato then scrunched his brow curiously. "You want to keep observing her... the mad woman?" When he saw Ryoda nod, the man then gestured in understanding. "Very well. Just don't take too long. We've got a schedule to keep." He then proceeded to follow Mui down the corridor with one of his guards, leaving one behind to stand guard over his daughter.

Waiting for both Gato and Mui to disappear down the hall, Ryoda remained where she was, staring hard across at the cell. As a silence and cold continued to grip the isolated chamber, and Kotaro's haunting melody continued to reverberate off of the walls on a loop, the secretary then completely disregarded the yellow line drawn across the floor, and approached the cell's metal gates.

Her bodyguard standing behind her didn't even bother to protest as he watched the woman cross the threshold.

Stopping just a foot from them, Ryoda was able to get a much better look inside the chamber. Seeing the prisoner in question sitting cross-legged on the floor, head slumped forward, hair concealing her face, and hands cupped in front of her in meditation, nothing happened for the first few seconds. But then, hearing the rattling of chains join the woman's singing, the secretary watched the prisoner stand up and stagger over to her.

When the person reached the bars of the cell, they suddenly slammed their face between the rods, bringing her hands up and gripping the metal tightly. This ended with the silver haired, dirty, yet gorgeous woman with golden eyes trapped in the room staring right into the face of Ryoda, who stood calmly in place just a foot from her.

Breathing heavily, Kotaro took a whiff through her nose, before a wide, lecherous grin spread across her lips. "Mmm… you smell just like cherry blossoms in a warm spring…" Pressing her cheek up against the bar, she then proceeded to stroke it with her hand in a seductive manner, all the while her eyes narrowed lewdly. "Did Mui-san and his boys leave you here for me? That's awfully nice of them. Though I admit, is has been a while since the last time I messed around with another woman." She then ran her tongue over her top lip hungrily. "It'll be a tight fit, but if we do this right, I know we can have a lot of fun. Get a little rough with each other… maybe even act out a dirty prison guard and inmate scene. If you just turn that hot ass of yours this way, I can-"

"You can drop the fake, crazy prisoner act now. I know a poorly made mask when I see one," Ryoda spoke in a firm, mature and commanding voice, causing Kotaro to stop and stare at her for a moment. Upon which the secretary then raised her head, causing her glasses to flash seriously. "Fuma Kotaro… I heard a great deal about you and your exploits while I was serving in the military overseas. Your actions really shook the world up something fierce."

Her own expression reflecting seriousness for a moment, the grungy looking kunoichi prisoner then smirked. "What can I say? I like to leave a big impression on people."

"I can tell," the daughter of Gato spoke. Reaching up to push her glasses back, the golden eyed female then faced her silver-haired compatriot and spoke with a smile. "Gato International could really use someone of your unique skillset and talents… something that my father fails to see. If it isn't too much trouble, I have a little business proposition for you."

Tilting her head curiously to match the angle of her sly negotiator, the dangerous rogue thief smirk. "I'm listening."

TO BE CONTINUED…


If you want to find out more about Fuma Kotaro's history, check out my spinoff series, Naruto: Ronin – The Wind Demon.

Hope you guys enjoyed this.