I'm Not a Fighter

by Dailydour

In a world where only Kunoichi exist, Naruto was happy to dream of being a healer. Life, however, is not without its tragedies, and the young boy will end up journeying across the land in search of himself. His journey, however, leads him into some spectacular situations. DISCONTINUED

10. Which Led Me to Big Surprises

Every writer should make sure to thank their betas/editors so thanks to my Betas otakufangirl101 and The Keeper of Worlds. Their support improves and keeps this story running.

A real big, and I mean mountain-sized, thank for everyone that favorite, followed, and reviewed. Makes me really happy to see so many people reading this story.

Tako Naegi: Your question will be answered in this chapter.

bcsclaymore: Not exactly what you think.

Pric3y: Yes he will be, but I'm not saying which.

Kurogane7: Glad to see someone referred you to this story and I hope I can keep you reading.

Gundarr: Good idea, I'll try to think up a hobby for him, give him more dimension than just being a doctor.

A special note to Rickjames196 for his unique reviews; sir, they are something to read. And I mean that in a good way.

So go on and read the story, I hope you enjoy it. I also hope it helps to satisfy those demanding longer chapters.

NOTE: This chapter has not been beta'd

xxxXxxx

Month Two Week Two: Which Led Me to a Big Surprise

Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose in a feeble attempt to stave off the headache throbbing behind his eyes. As his hand came away he couldn't help but stare at it. It had been nearly an hour since he had saved Captain Iori's life, and he was still reeling from how he had done it. Luckily, Naoki had made herself busy, and gave Naruto some time to himself when she saw how out of sorts he was.

That chakra came from him, from his body, but it shouldn't have and it had never done so before. Like most boys, he had dreamed of being able to use chakra, even tried the exercises he had heard the other boys talking about, but it had never worked.

So, why this time? He asked himself, and where had it come from? These questions and their possible answers swirled and muddled about in his thoughts. Finding the solution to regaining his lost memories seemed like a much easier task now, at least amnesia was common. But this, a man using chakra was entirely out of the realm of existence, or at least it used to be.

He also had to worry about the inopportune time of this discovery. It might not be so upsetting if this had all happened among friends or allies, but he was stuck smack dab in enemy territory. Though it could be worse, he'd have to say a prayer to whatever deity kept the kunoichi from learning about the sheep among the wolves. Not for a lack of trying though; that Oda woman really wanted to get into his pants…or under his skirt? The whole being a woman thing was still tricky, sticky situation.

A loud rattle from the doorknob snapped his mind back to the present just in time to see Naoki enter the room, "Naoki-san."

"Quite an eventful day, wasn't it, Risei-chan?" Naruto listened as Naoki walked over to window. Her old eyes, still alert and sharp, watched over the children at play outside. He could tell the woman was after something this time. The lack of jovial smiles and her usual forward familiarity weighed only made his worries heavier in his gut. "What amazes me the most was your little miracle."

"Y-Yes, it came as a shock to me to," Naruto answered, as he twiddled his thumbs.

"Did it now? So, I take it this is the first time you've done that?" at Naruto's nod she continued, "That's surprising, usually it take many hours of practice to perform iryo-jutsu like that," Naoki turned her sharp stare onto Naruto, "Unless it wasn't iryo-jutsu?"

"Maybe, I'm just a natural?" Naruto answered. Naoki was definitely after something, and then he realized what it was. He could almost smack himself for forgetting that his reason for even being here was to play the role of a pretty doctor, a pretty doctor that didn't know how to use chakra. And now he just talked himself into a hole. The overwhelming anxiousness now hardened into s a stone in his gut, and he concluded that the only way to get out of this situation was to downplay it as much as possible.

"A natural? I don't think so, you see, medical justu is more akin to genjustu than nin or taijustu. Whereas the latter relies more on the amount of chakra a person has, genjustu is all about control. No matter how much chakra a person has, it's useless for genjutsu if there is no control and control must be learned; iryo-jutsu is the same," Naoki finished and sat down in the chair across from Naruto. Naruto did his best to not squirm under her gaze; who could ever think that this sweet, old lady could create such pressure. "I'm going to ask you a question and I need you to answer it honestly. If you don't there are going to be some very serious consequences, do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Risei-chan, do you have a bloodline?"

Naruto was ready to deny any and every accusation about being a kunoichi spy thrown at him, but he wasn't prepared for that question. What a preposterous question, as if he, a man, could ever have a blood line? Then again, men weren't supposed to use chakra either, but here he was. Would it really be so farfetched that he had a bloodline? The more he thought about it, the more it made sense to him. No one could use chakra without training, training he had never received, so the only way for him to have used chakra so effectively and easily was a bloodline.

Just as he was about to voice his agreement, another moment of clarity struck him. He was with the Kiri forces, the same Kiri forces who were exterminating everyone that had a bloodline. If he said yes, then he wasn't going to make it out of here with his head. On the other hand, if he said no, then Naoki might assume that he had lied about being a civilian and was really a spy, a bad one, but still a spy.

A rock and hard place if there ever was one, and the only question left to answer was; which is worse?

"Risei-chan, I won't ask again. Do you have a bloodline?"

Naruto took a breath and said the only sensible answer he could think of, "I don't know."

Naoki clearly didn't believe that answer by the stern, disapproving face she was giving him.

"It's true. My grandma told me that my parents had left me at her doorstep. She never even met them," Naruto said, "I have no idea what that was in there. A bloodline or miracle, all I know is that I wanted to save Captain Iori and I did."

Naoki leaned back in her chair, and rested her chin in her hand. After a minute of silence she said a small, "I see."

"I know it's hard swallow, but it's the truth." Lie, he thought to himself, just lie your ass off, and you'll live to see tomorrow. That was the only option left to him; problem was that he didn't know what the outcome would be.

"I…I believe you," Naruto sighed in relief when Naoki spoke those words, "but, now we have a bigger problem. If Iori even suspects that you might have a bloodline, she'll turn you in."

"B-But, I saved her life," Naruto sputtered.

"Iori is a loyal kunoichi. In her book that just means that she won't take yours," Naoki replied.

Naruto shook his head as he realized what Naoki was doing, "Wait? Are you trying to protect me?"

"Believe it or not, but not every Kiri kunoichi is out to commit genocide," Naoki answered, "I've fought and survived one Great War, and I performed my duties without question. Our Mizukage, Yagura, was always strict and militant, nothing new to Kirigakure, but she has gone mad, because this civil war is nothing but a witch hunt fueled by the fear and paranoia that she has fed to everyone."

She'd lost so many night of sleep after hearing the news and rumors about her people butchering one another. The only comfort she had on those nights was the good fortune of the village she called home being far away from that waking nightmare. "So yes, dear, I'm trying to protect you, because you have tried to do the same for us."

"You want this war to end, don't you?" Naruto asked as he heard opportunity knocking. The rebels' original scheme had called for him to be saved by Kiri kunoichi, and then make his way to Kirigakure and make contact with one of the few moles they had in the village. The biggest obstacle to that plan was the rebels' inability to provide travel to Kirigakure, and safe passage through the village's security.

"With all my being, but helping you is all I can do now," Naoki replied as the implications of this new information ran through her mind. With the activation of her bloodline Naoki realized that it was too dangerous to keep Risei here. The rebels must have known about her ability, and Chojuri could have abandoned Risei to throw off suspicion and keep the loyalists from making Risei a target. And if they were desperate enough to send one of their strongest kunoichi into enemy territory for this girl's power, then they would be desperate enough to make another attempt on the girl. It wouldn't be hard for the rebels to figure out where Risei was being kept, Naoki thought, and this time they would send one woman to the job. Her heart raced as she saw this village being turned into a battlefield, and the fragile peace these people had managed to keep shattered in an instant. "But I have no idea what to do."

The contact, Naruto's mind rang, there was someone waiting for him in Kiri, and what better way to hide than in plain sight. It's not like Kiri had a way to test for bloodlines, Mei had informed that they could only identify people by those unique familial traits that clan carried. His bloodline, if that's what it was, was foreign to Water Country, so no one would be able to identify him. With all that in mind he told Naoki, "My grandma once told me that if I ever experienced anything strange, and were she already dead, that there was a person, in Kiri, that I should go see. This person would explain things to me and look after me, and only we know about this. I just won't use that power again."

Naoki could feel her anxiety slip away; it was a perfect way out for her village and Risei. The rebels would no doubt learn about this, through whatever means they learned of Risei in the first place. She could leave that part about Risei's bloodline, and use the recent operation to convince Iori that Risei's abilities were being wasted out here. That they could be put to better use in Kirigakure, an idea a patriot like Iori would agree to it immediately. She explained all this to Risei who looked elated at the idea, "But, dear, you won't be able to use that power in Kiri without raising suspicion. Do you think you can fight that temptation?"

That would be a problem seeing as he didn't know how to control it. The green chakra came when he was trying to save Iori, but was it his wish to save her or the panic that he felt that summoned it? The lack of control was just asking for trouble. "If this is a bloodline, I can't control it, so I need another option."

Naoki leaned back in her seat as she tried to think of an idea. The only believable story that came to mind was to pass off Risei's bloodline as iryo-jutsu. In fact, the only reason she had been able to tell the difference was because she knew Risei's back story, and saw the panicked state in which she had activated her power. She could tweak the official report, and feed Iori a lie about Risei's training; after having her life saved the woman would swallow it no problem. Naoki related her plan to her young friend, and asked, "What do you think?"

"It's a bit of stretch, but I can't think anything better," Naruto replied.

"Good. Now, Captain Iori won't be waking until tomorrow, so get some sleep while I handle the detais," and with that Naoki took her leave.

Left all alone again, Naruto decided to take Naoki's advice and threw himself into one of the office cot that had served as his bed. He tried to drift off to sleep, but his eyes refused to close, because they kept being drawn to the cause of his dilemma. Though he had a way into Kiri, he was still no closer to finding out why or where this power had come from.

When his eyes finally allowed him some sleep, he would find his slumber plagued by an entirely new dilemma.

xxxXxxx

Cold, wet, grimy water suddenly soaked deep into Naruto's body startling him from his rest. His sputtered and sloshed around in the water as the fear of drowning pervaded his thought. That is, until, he finally calmed down and realized, with no small chunk of embarrassment, that the water was only ankle deep. "Glad no one was around to see that."

"I wouldn't say no one," Naruto's body nearly froze, but his neck managed to stiffly turn towards a familiar set of metal bars. Inside was a familiar red-headed knock-out, smiling and waving at him, "Hey there, pretty boy, I knew you couldn't stay away."

Naruto backpedaled so hard he fell on his butt, and then kept scrambling backwards until his back said hello to a wall. This place, how could he be back in this place? He hoped that this place had been nothing more than a nightmare concocted by a troubled mind, but he could feel the chill of the water, the draft in the air, and read the kanji on the great seal stamped on the woman's cage. This place was real.

The woman just watched him work through his denial, a small smirk the only indication of her amusement. "Don't be like that, pretty boy, why don't you come closer?"

"Because I remember what happened last time I listened to you," Naruto muttered under his breath, and, having his fill of being soaked in sewer water, stood up. Nothing had changed since his last visit; the water was still murky, the cracked pipes still ran red with energy, and there was still a cage housing a crazy woman.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you," the woman leaned forward and cupped an ear, "Maybe you could come closer?"

"This feels like déjà vu," Naruto replied, "and I'm going to stay way over here, if you don't mind?"

The woman pouted and said, "You're no fun."

"Lady, I'm pretty sure you and I have very different definitions of the word: fun," Naruto shot back.

"Is that sass I hear?" the lady asked, enjoying the glare he shot her. "What's the matter, pretty boy? Don't you enjoy seeing little, old me?"

"I don't even know who you are. I don't even know where I am." Questions, questions, questions, that's all he seemed to have. Who did he have to pay to get some answers? He was snatched from his frustration by the loud chortles of the lunatic lady. "Did I say something funny?"

"You don't know who, you don't know where, hell, you don't even know yourself," the woman broke into another fit, as she walked alongside the bars. When the mocking laughter died down she sneered and said, "And then there's that chakra; poor, pretty boy, stumbling around in the dark."

"I get the feeling you can shine some light on my situation," Naruto said, and when she cracked that inhumanly, wide grin he had his answer. "I also get the feeling that it's going to cost me."

"Oh, don't make that face," the woman cooed, "All I want is to be closer to you, pretty boy."

"You know I'm not going to do that," Naruto replied, but he gained enough courage to push off from the wall. "Besides, what you know might not be worth anything to me?"

The woman sighed and leaned against one of the giant bars, "One on the house wouldn't hurt, I suppose, so go on, ask me one of those question rolling around in that handsome head of yours."

Naruto looked skeptical, but he wasn't going to let opportunity slip through his fingers. Only thing left decide was which question to ask. He was confident that his memories would come back in time, so not that one. He could ask where, but a sewer meant he had to be under a city of some kind. He was curious about the green chakra, but there was something plaguing him more at the moment, "Who are you?"

The woman's smile couldn't be any more pleased. "I knew you couldn't resist all this," the woman said, running her wantonly all over the sensual curves of her body.

Naruto did his best to look away, but his eyes betrayed him and burned the delightful image in his mind. Red faced he managed to ask, "Are you going to tell me or not?"

"Don't you want to take things slow?" she asked playfully, but received nothing but his impatient stare, "so, quick and to the point? You're no fun, but I can forgive that."

Seeing that he wasn't going to humor her any further the smirk fell from her lips, and she decided to finally answer his question. "Fine," the woman's body crumbled into dust, and the malevolent, red eyes of the giant beast behindher opened. It rose to its feet and the sheer size of it made Naruto feel line an ant. When it finally looked down on him, Naruto had to resist the urge to run again, "I am the Kyuubi no Yoko."

Naruto could only manage a dry wheeze, as his brain tried to process that information. Everyone across the Elemental Nations had heard of the Bijuu, of the giant monstrous beasts who tore through the landscape like papier-mâché and squashed humans into red paste for fun.

"What's wrong? Cat got you tongue?"

The frog finally hopped out his throat and he managed to say, "H-How?"

"Ah-ah, only the first one was free," the Kyuubi said wagging her finger, which normally would have been hilarious given that a giant fox was doing it, if Naruto's attention wasn't focused on the razor sharp teeth in its massive maw. "Anymore will cost you."

"What do you want? And no I definitely won't be moving any closer to you from now on," Naruto said, deciding whether or not to hug the wall again.

"Hmm, how about another shot of that green chakra?" Kyuubi asked. "After all, I never thought I'd see it again."

"I don't know how to control it," Naruto replied.

"I can tell you how, but only if you agree to the deal," Kyuubi replied.

"You can?"

"Yes, do we have deal?"

Not having to go anywhere near her was a plus, but making a deal with monster just didn't seem safe. Still, he wouldn't be able to rest until he has those answers, "Deal, now tell me about the green chakra."

"Impatient aren't we?" Kyuubi commented as she rested her body on the floor and reformed her human body. When the giant fox closed her eyes, the woman's snapped open. She stretched her naked body languidly and took an inordinate amount of time to stand, which made Naruto experience an uncomfortable mixture of fear and arousal. "While I prefer my original body, this one has its perks. Don't you think, pretty boy?"

Naruto said nothing, and focused his eyes entirely on her face.

"I'll take that as yes," Kyuubi continued, "but let's move onto that special chakra of yours. You see, a long time ago I was used as pawn in an evil woman's revenge. She forced me to attack her most hated enemy, a powerful kunoichi. Now, this wouldn't have been a problem since I'm, well, me, but this woman had special chakra. Special chakra that contained the essence of life itself, with it she was inexhaustible, she had the strength to crumble mountains, fatal wound were minor troubles, and she could raise forests with a thought." Naruto almost thought he detected a hint of respect in the Kyuubi's eyes, until she guffawed, "Of course, all of that was nothing compared to my power, but that special chakra had a surprising effect on me."

"It could put you to sleep," Naruto interrupted, "That's how I got away from you last time."

"Close, handsome, but no that chakra doesn't put me to sleep," Kyuubi replied, and shivered as she recalled his last visit. "That foolish woman thought the same thing. No, that special chakra does something much more interesting."

"What?"

"It drowns me in pleasure," the woman gave a full body shudder, and when she was finished, she rested her cheek on her palm and sighed, "It was enjoyable defeat at least."

Naruto was flabbergasted, not only by her answer, but by her description of the chakra's properties. Its ability to heal must have been how he'd saved Iori. The essence of life, Naruto thought, what an incredible power, if he could only harness it. His mind raced at the possibilities, if could unlock the secrets of this energy who knows how many lives he could save. He looked to the woman, a fire in his eyes, "How do I control it?"

"Like any kunoichi would, by training, and you already know those silly little exercises," Kyuubi replied, "You have everything you need, but, unfortunately it looks like our time is up." Naruto wondered what she meant, but a sudden wave of wooziness overcame him. He tried to shake it off, but collapsed to his knees, and the last thing he heard before he plopped into the water was, "I expect you to pay up next time, pretty boy."

xxxXxxx

Naruto's eyes opened to greet the dark early morning sky. Early to bed, early to rise, he thought to himself, but it might be the perfect time to learn how to control his chakra. He carefully rose from his bed and quietly stepped to the door. Cracking it open slowly, he took a look around the small hallway, before leaving the room and making his way through the outpost. He found Iori resting in her room, Naoki and Oda sleeping in the barracks with the other kunoichi not on patrol, which meant meant that Mari was out on patrol with the others. Naruto hurried back to his room as silently as he could, unwilling to waste a moment of practice without the risk of being caught. Naruto sat on the floor in the lotus position, and recalled all the steps he'd heard of to summon one's chakra for the first time.

First step, clear your mind; empty it of all thoughts until all you could hear was your heart beat. Not really an easy feat, when you kept imagining all the awesome ninja things you might be able to do. But an hour of pretending to shoot fireballs and lightening from his hands fix that; boy did he hope no one ever saw that. With his mind and body calmed he was able to reach the state of clarity necessary to move on.

Second step, listen to that heartbeat, feel its vibrations flow through your whole body, and focus on them. As those vibrations flow through you should sense a tingle following it, that tingle is your chakra flowing through the chakra network. Grow accustomed to that tingle, until you don't even notice your heartbeat anymore. This step took him longer than the last, because it was no easy task to feel the microscopic vibrations of a heartbeat. Once he got that, finding the tingle was the next problem, one second he' have it and the next it would be gone. Then, when he finally found the tingle, it was hard to drive out the vibrations he'd worked so hard to find. By the time he'd gotten past this step the sun was rising over the horizon. He could wait until tonight to try again, but he's already come this far, so he didn't want to quit now.

Third step, try to push your chakra outward, you should feel the tingle grow stronger and the energy flow out of your body. This step was the hardest, because it was difficult to understand how exactly to push in the first place. After a bit of trial and embarrassing error he finally figured it out. He had been trying to physically exert the whole time, but in reality he had to push with his mind, and while it had all be mental it did exhaust his body. When it was all said and done he was sweating noticeably, but he couldn't help smiling when he summoned his chakra and saw that green chakra flicker about. Some wouldn't call the progress, but to him it was like holding a star.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Naruto nearly jumped off the bed, and waved his arm around chicken wing dispelling the chakra. "Risei-chan, Are you awake?"

Naoki's soft voice snapped him out of his panic, and he was able to compose himself enough to reply. "Yes, Naoki-san, you can come in if you want," Naruto replied. His friend walked in with a smile and a tray of food, from her sunny disposition Naruto could tell she had some good news for him.

Naoki set the tray down in front of Risei and took a seat across from her. "Dig in, you must be hungry after yesterday's excitement." Naoki watched as Risei took a bite of toast, before suddenly scarfing it down like it was her last meal. The rest of the tray didn't last long as the young woman dug into it ferociously, and Naoki had to hold back a snicker at her young friend's antics. "I didn't think a small thing like you could put it away like that," despite her pout, Risei had the decency blush, "but, I can't blame you for working up an appetite. Now, I've got some good news for you."

"Really?" Naruto could use some good news, especially after learning that he's being visited by a demon in his sleep. The thought of confronting that woman again made him shudder, and the realization that she was expecting her due made him want to hide under the bed sheets.

"Are you alright, dearie? You look as white as a ghost," Naoki said, resting her soft, comforting hand on Risei's shoulder; it was enough to yank the woman away from her dreadful reverie."Risei-chan?"

"I'm fine, Naoki-san, thank you," Naruto answered as he gently took Naoki's hand from his shoulder. Gathering himself together, Naruto managed a perky smile as he asked, "Now, what was that good news you wanted to give me."

Noticing the obvious deflection, but not calling her friend out on it, Naoki picked up where she left of, "Well, yesterday Captain Iori woke up for a moment, and while she was groggy I suggested sending you to Kiri. Suffice it to say, the good captain agreed to it, and signed the authorization papers I just happened to have on hand. By this time Friday you'll be headed to Kiri, safe from the rebels."

The news had the opposite effect Naruto had been hoping for. While he knew finding a way to feed the rebels information could help ends this war, it wasn't something he was comfortable with. He shook off his tiny pity fest; however, because he knew the risk Naoki had taken to do this for him, "Thank you, Naoki-san, for this and everything else."

He was surprised when Naoki took his hand in her own and said, "No, thank you, Risei-chan. I know you must be scared, especially since you have to go to Kiri of all places to be safe, but what you're doing is going to save this village from the civil war."

"What?" Naruto was completely unaware that he was doing anything, except acting being a reluctant spy, "am I really?"

"Yes," Naoki replied, "with the rebels after you, there's no telling how much damage could cause to this village. This village has been lucky enough to avoid any serious contact with the war, by leaving your saving many innocent lives."

Reluctant and uncomfortable turned into guilt very quickly when Naoki explained herself. She was looking out for the wellbeing of her people, while he was just using her to spy on the loyalists. It's all to end the war, he thought to himself, you're helping to end the senseless bloodshed Naoki-san is scared. He felt that he'd be rationalizing a lot of things from this point on, "You don't have to thank me."

"But I want to," Naoki replied, before clapping her hands and blowing away the serious atmosphere, "Well that's enough of that, go clean up and we can start our daily rounds."

xxxXxxx

While Naruto was dealing with this, Saruhi was handling the problem of his presumed death in Konoha. At first she had considered calling an emergency meeting, but given the clans' attachment to Naruto, placing them in a room at a heightened emotional state seemed like a bad way to break sad news. So, she waited for the monthly council meeting, and was subdued as the council went through the previous minutes, and attended to the necessary business. When all that was taken care of she rose from her seat to speak the council, "Council members, I must discuss with you the recent C-rank mission undertaken by Team 7."

"Hokage-sama, forgive me, but I fail to see the baring a C-rank mission has on this council," Himeko Hyuuga spoke up. Some of her features matched those common in her clan; smooth pale skin, long silky brown hair, a small bust line, and the striking white eyes that made her clan famous. Her high cheekbones and small nose set her apart, but what really separated her from her clan was her height. Standing at 5'2" Himeko was shorter than most of her clanswoman, and the shortest clan head in recorded history, a fact most enjoyed pointing out. But, despite her lack of physical stature she still had an impressive and heavy presence. It wasn't solely her beauty that made her attractive; Himeko carried herself with pride and grace at representing the strongest clan in Konoha.

"I gotta agree with shorty, Hokage-sama," Tsume Inuzuka said, throwing in her two bits and enjoying the eyebrow twitch she got out of Himeko. She had short messy brown hair, vertical slit eyes, red eye shadow, and her cheeks bore the red fang marks of the Inuzuka clan. The teasing grin she shot at Himeko revealed her long razor sharp canines. She wore a standard jonin uniform consisting of a long sleeved black shirt, black pants, black kunoichi sandals, and green flak jacket that did nothing to hide her impressive C-cup bust line. Her tanned skin and wicked claws only added to the woman's wild beauty. Tsume was strong, brash, and dangerous, but as leader of the Inuzuka pack she cared deep for her clanswomen, and only placed their well-being second to Konoha's.

"See, Hokage-sama, even the mutt agrees," Himeko replied as she reveled in Tsume's snarl.

"Hey, short stack, you better-"

"Don't start, Tsume," interrupted Shikaza Nara. She had piercing black eyes, a straight narrow nose, pierced ears, and was a sporting a semi-permanent frown. Her hair was tied up in a spiky ponytail and her most noticeable feature were the two scars on the right side of her face; one on her cheek, and one above her brow. She wore black pants, hand guards, a mesh shirt underneath her Konoha vest, and a deer skin jacket above her vest. She had large B-cup breasts, but was more gifted in the hips than her fellow Inuzuka and Hyuuga council members which turned more than one head in the village. She also proved to share the same lethargic demeanor of her clan as she gave a great loud yawn, but also displayed the intelligence they were known for by saying, "Besides, if Hokage-sama felt the need to discuss the particulars of a C-rank during a council meeting both of you should know how serious it really is."

That quieted any further comments the council thought about voicing. Hiroko Sarutobi gave Shikaza a grateful nod before speaking, "Team 7, led by jonin, Kashiko Hatake, were tasked with escorting a bridge builder, Tazuna, to Wave Country and protecting him as he finished construction. Along the way it was discovered that the client had lied about the mission parameters and that Gato, the shipping magnate, had put a hit on him. Knowing this the team continued with the mission, and encountered Zasuna Momochi and an unknown accomplice whom they defeated temporarily. After the battle they reached Wave Country and made base in the client's home and met a young man, Keiji, who had been helping the village as a doctor. It was during their second encounter on top of the bridge with Zasuna that Keiji revealed his true identity to Team 7. This young man turned out to be Naruto Uzumaki."

A flock of birds could've flown into the room and the council would have been completely oblivious. Shock, disbelief, and happiness where the common emotions working their way through each of the council women; followed by question how, who, and where their favorite ball of sunshine was? The one to break the silence and voice the councils' most paramount question was Shibi Aburame.

Shibi wasn't exactly a woman that would stand out in a crowd; she had very spiky short hair and her face was covered by black shades, and the collar of a large grey coat which covered most of her body. Shibi's personality was what was most unique about her; she was a quiet and stoic woman by nature, only speaking when she had something to say or a point to make, which caused most to listen when she spoke. A level head under even the most extreme pressure, Shibi was respected by her peers and looked up to as the ideal of the Aburame clan. "W-Where is Naruto-kun?" which is why the small break in the usually cool and collected Shibi's voice spoke volumes about her emotional state.

Hiroko bowed her head and continued with the rest of the story, "The reason Naruto was able to convince Zasuna and her accomplice to change alliances was because he'd found out that Gato was planning to double cross them. When Gato finally made his appearance he also brought a hostage, the bridge builder's daughter Tsunami, but Naruto succeeded in negotiating a trade; himself for the woman. Kashiko refused the terms and tried to stop Naruto, but he forced his way to Gato and freed the woman."

"Hokage-sama," Himeko spoke up through shuddering breaths, "Gato died almost a month ago, we would have known if Naruto was back in the village."

The implication weighed heavily on all the council women, and all eyes were on the Hokage. She took a breath and soldiered on, "Kashiko and her team placed explosives on the bridge as a last resort, and Naruto assisted him. Only she and her team had the triggers, or so she believed. When Naruto was captured he placed the trigger seal on the bridge and activated it." The kunoichi in the room gasped, as their hearts ached once more for the blond haired boy. "Naruto Uzumaki sacrificed himself to save the people of Wave."

The room was wrought with grief as each kunoichi felt the familiar pain of loss, and dealt with the cruel blow of having their hopes crushed. The first to compose herself, Himeko, asked, "Where we at least able to recover his body this time?"

"Despite their best efforts, Kashiko and her team failed to do so, but the people of Wave named their new bridge 'The Great Naruto Bridge' in respect to his sacrifice," Hiroko answered, knowing it would be cold comfort to her kunoichi. She knew this would be the reaction of the clans as they all had strangely strong ties to the boys. Hiroko realized that the council wouldn't be able to accomplish anything else today so she said, "I told you all this, because you all knew and cared for Naruto, and I didn't think it right you be kept in the dark. Feel free to inform your clan at your own discretion; I'm sure once the full details of Gato's death are revealed they will find out as well. This council meeting is adjourned for the day."

As she left the room, Hiroko pulled her hat down low to cover the pain in her own eyes.

xxxXxxx

Friday seemed to sneak up on Naruto, and he suddenly found himself saying goodbye to Naoki, Mari, and even Oda. "I don't what say, Naoki-san, thank you for everything."

"Don't worry about that, dearie, just keep safe in Kiri," Naoki replied as she hugged Risei fiercely. "I'm sure I won't be the only one missing you though."

True, Naruto had gained a little fan club as the pretty nurse Risei, in fact, one of her fans was standing next to Naoki. "Risei-chan, don't forget about me!"

"I don't think that'll be possible, Oda-chan," Naruto replied as one of his would-be rescuers wrapped her arms around him, "especially with everything you've done."

"Aww, don't be that way," Oda replied as she her perverted hands groped his ass, "I'm sure you liked it as much as I-ow, ow!"

"Oda, what did I say?" Mari asked as she twisted Oda's arm behind her back painfully.

"D-Don't touch someone without their permission!" Oda exclaimed and sighed gratefully as Mari released her arm, "Geez, I was only playing around…"

"Sure," Mari commented before clearing her throat and turning to Risei, "Now, Risei-san, the journey from here to Kiri isn't very dangerous, but still I'd like you to be cautious. It'd be terrible if something happened to you."

"Of course, Mari-chan," Naruto replied as he hugged Mari, surprising the straight laced woman into blushing hard, "Thank you for saving me, I won't forget it."

"I-It w-was my pleasure," Mari replied.

"Sucks that we can't come along, but me Mari still have time to serve here," Oda butted in, pushing Mari and Risei apart, before holding the disguised boy to his bosom, "but once we're done with that we promise to visit you on our time off."

"I'd like that," Naruto replied, and he meant; these two had grown on him, just as much as Naoki had. "But I have to go now." Oda pouted, but let him go, and he joined the other kunoichi, who were heading back to Kiri for reassignment. He would be travelling with them for the whole trip to Kiri through the swamp, hopefully with no incidents. Once he was there he would find his contact and take his new order from there. As the group began their trek away from the village Naruto glanced back at Naoki to see her tending to an inconsolable Oda. He remembered their conversation about protecting the people and how everything she did wasn't for Kiri, but to preserve life; it hardened his resolve.

"Naoki-san, I promise that I'll do everything in my power to end this war," with the promise in mind, Naruto gazed straight ahead, ready to face whatever may come.

xxxXxxx

And we're off to Kiri folks, will Naruto being to feed the rebels the intel they need or will he be found out? Look out for the next chapter of I'm Not a Fighter to find out.

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