Naruto re-checked his supplies before nodding in satisfaction. A day ago, Meme had informed him about her proposition for a training trip. He was however surprised that the Hokage even agreed to letting him out of the village. The only thing that remained was his own decision. Ofcourse he agreed aswell. So now he was, waiting near the gates of Konoha for his two other companion who have vanished before he woke up and only left a note telling him to wait near the gates at six.
With nothing to do the blonde pulled out the scroll he had received from the Hokage and started reading it. When the anbu had handed him the scroll, he was ecstatic about the thought of learning a new jutsu. But that enthusiasm quickly crumbled when he saw it was a bunshin jutsu. The Hokage knew about his inability to perform bunshins, so why? Upon reading the description Naruto was stunned. The ability to create solid clones was something he never heard about before. The sound of approaching footsteps signalled the arrival of his two companions.
"Got everything you need?", Meme inquired to which Naruto nodded. Turning back to the village one last time, his eyes landed on the Hokage monument. Or more specifically on the fourth. I will become strong, stronger than even you, he promised himself before turning back and walking away.
~~o0o~~
The trip was uneventful and quiet. The blonde was already informed of their destination— The huge clan house where he first met his two companions. During the whole time, Naruto eyes were glued to the scroll he received from the old man. He had already grasped the theory behind the shadow close jutsu. All that was left was to test it after they make their stop. Right now, he was busy studying the other two techniques. Shuriken Shadow Clone and Clone Great Explosion technique. Both seemed very interesting to the blonde, especially the last one. It sounded like a very flashy jutsu, and flashy things are always cool. But even though he never tried it, the blonde already thought of a hundred tactics to utilize it in the most effective ways. Like how it could create confusion among the enemies or even use it as a decoy or distraction to escape enemy units. He was so immersed in his thoughts that he missed what Meme said.
"Huh?"
"I said we are here", Meme repeated.
Confused Naruto looked around and saw that, indeed there were already at the lake. He turned and gave her a sheepish look to which the bluenett rolled her eyes. She walked to the edge of large water mass and flared her chakra before running though a set on one-hand seals.
"Release", she said as the group watched the lake disappear to reveal a familiar clan house. Meme tapped her foot, and to Naruto's surprise, a staircase erupted from the ground. Meme saw the look on the blonde's face and gave a small smile,
"You can admire my handiwork later but for now lets hurry. Someone might see this and that would cause some trouble".
"Show off", Naruto grumbled but did as he was told and quickly descended the stairs.
~~o0o~~
Sarutobi Hiruzen was looking through some file reports when a knock on his door interrupted him.
"Enter".
The door opened to reveal an anbu wearing a dog mask with spiky silver hair. He strode to the middle of the room before bowing towards the hokage.
"Ah, Inu. Are you here for the next mission?", the hokage inquired still going through the reports.
"No Hokage-same, its something else", he said before before removing his mask indicating it as a personal conversation.
The Hokage raised his eyebrow before putting the files aside and folding his hands on the table.
"What's wrong Kakashi-kun?", he asked kindly.
"It's about Naruto". The hokage gestured him to continue. "This morning during my patrol shift near the village boundaries, I saw Naruto heading out of the village with two other people, a woman and a child his age. I remember seeing them a few times with Naruto so I thought they knew each other. But I never saw their profile in the active shinobi register so I presumed they were civilians. I kept an eye on them, but they didn't seem to have any ill intent towards the boy. However, this morning's development doesn't make any sense. If they are going out of the village, should they be accompanied by a shinobi? If it was just the two of them, then it wasn't necessary, however with Naruto with them...".
He trailed off but the Hokage nodded. He knew what this was about from the beginning but waited for his subordinate to finish his report. A civilian huh?, he laughed inwardly knowing that said civilian can give his ninjas a run for their money.
"To answer your questions Kakashi-kun, I will first tell you identities of this two individuals. They are Meme and her daughter Erio. I will not give out their true surnames but for now, they are members of Touwa clan".
Kakashi gave his leader a confused look. "Forgive me Hokage-sama but is there a reason for hiding their real surnames?"
The hokage hummed for a bit. "Naruto 'Uzumaki'", he said emphasizing the word Uzumaki. To others, it would only serve to confuse them but Kakashi quickly caught on as his lone eye widened. He knew Naruto's true surname was Namikaze but he was given the name Uzumaki to protect him from enemies beyond the village walls. Did that mean that those two also had enemies out there or something ?
"Also I should inform you that while both are not ninjas, they are not civilians either. I don't know about the Erio-chan but Meme has perfect chakra control and is very skilled in the illusion arts. They reason you mistook them for civilian is because they can hide their presence completely. From this we can deduct that Erio-chan also has perfect chakra control. They appeared in the village not too long ago. Apparently Naruto had met them during his small vacation and due to some circumstances brought them back with him inside Konoha. Yesterday Meme proposed that she was willing to train Naruto to repay his kindness under the condition that they were allowed to leave the village for the next two years. Today was the morning of their departure".
Kakashi meanwhile was starting at his leader in disbelief. "Hokage-sama forgive my rudeness but what are you think—"
Sarutobi raised his hand for silence.
"I understand your concern Kakashi-kun for I know how much Naruto-kun means to you. But do not forget that he is like a grandson to me aswell. I wouldn't let just any ninja train him even if Naruto agreed to it".
Kakashi quickly bowed his head in apology. "Forgive me Hokage-sama".
The Hokage sighed before continuing with his explanation. "While it may seem absurd to trust someone who just appeared in the village a month ago I do have my reasons". He looked to see the silver haired man giving him his full attention. "Do you know the quickest way to understand someone?"
Said anbu thought for a second before shaking his head.
"It's their chakra. Words and memories could be lies but ones chakra always represent their souls, their true intentions. If you can touch someone's chakra with your own, you will instantly know the person infront of you. And vice-versa".
Kakashi scratched his head in confusion. "But we do that many times. Like sharing our chakra in battle or disrupting a genjutsu if our allies fall under one".
Sarutobi shook his head. "What we use is simply a mix of inner spiritual energy and physical energy. Chakra is different. You could say it is pure spiritual energy. We just call it chakra even though its not".
"But...how is that possible? I never heard of this before", Kakashi said still comprehending what he just heard.
Sarutobi smiled. "We don't know lots of things Kakashi-kun, but that is what makes our everyday life interesting".
~~o0o~~
Naruto stared at the black obelisk in the middle of the garden. He had seen it before when he first came here. Even staring from a distance he could feel a strange power humming inside it. It didn't feel like chakra but still it felt familiar in some ways.
"What is it?", he asked Meme as she was the only person beside him. Erio seemed to have disappeared the moment they stepped inside, though where she went he had no idea.
"It's called a Moon Pillar"
When Naruto looked at her for further explanation she continued, "Though I would like to sit here and tell about it's history, that's for some other time". She rubbed his head when he pouted.
"Right now I think you would want to try out that jutsu you were learning on our way here", Meme reminded. Naruto perked up before nodding his head. She then proceeded to show him a place where he can train without worrying about collateral damage.
LATER THAT NIGHT:
Meme sat infront of a low desk as she read though numerous scrolls. A lone candle filled the room with a yellowish glow but it was enough to make out the letters on the scrolls. At a corner sat Erio with her face half buried inside a pillow between her legs. She quietly stared at her mother watching her reading a scroll before scribbling something on it. After a minute she broke the silence with a question directed towards the woman.
"When will you tell him?"
Meme stopped writing but didn't look up from the scrolls. Erio knew she was listening so she continued. "You could have told the village leader. Itoko should know too. Even if Mr. Fox helps him, he isn't strong enough to face them alone. Not even we are".
Meme sighed before rubbing her temples. "I understand Erio-chan but that's why we will help him. And besides, he is too young to carry this burden. One is enough for now". Her thoughts wandered to the young blonde boy who was now sleeping in one of her empty clan houses. "We will need more allies if we want everyone to survive".
"Do you think our descendants in that village knows about this ?"
Meme shook her head confidently. "If they did, they would have recognised your eyes".
A silence descended upon them, a soft breeze blew making the candlelight flicker.
"What should we do?", Erio asked but her voice was barely a whisper.
"For now...we can only hope".
Author's Note: Sorry for posting after so long. I kinda forgot about this story :P
Anyway I will tell you that there will be no Akatsuki arc. This is why it's taking so long to think about a descent plot. I just hope i can describe everything I have in mind into words.
~Velsked logging out.