Hey everyone, I apologize for not uploading a new chapter for practically the whole year. I can have a 101 excuses but I should have at least put in an effort to pass up my 'homework'. But thank you for supporting me until the end. There are a lot of you who have supported me and given me lots of advice. I thank you all for that.
Now, my appreciations aside, enjoy your new chapter. I had put in quite an effort in it. Hope you guys will love it.
DISCLAIMER : I DON'T OWN ANYTHING...SADLY...;)
Chapter 10: The Interrogation and Truth
Albus Dumbledore loved the confines of his room. Peaceful, though sometimes with the constant bickers among the past headmasters and headmistresses in their potraits and the strange mumbles from the Sorting Hat, things could get quite a mess but Headmaster Dumbledore still loved it anyway.
Well, that was until one day the shinobis of Konohagakure had told him that the castle had been breeched. He was worried but why should he? They could take care of it. He wouldn't doubt Tsunade's people.
Ah, dear Tsunade. He did miss having the drunken times he had with her. Powerful sakes, those drinks she drank.
But point being that he had never, not in his long age of life, expect his door to burst open and in come the leader of Sunagakure, an ally of Konoha, with an unconsious man tied up in metal chains.
"Dear Merlin," Albus breathed to himself.
The red-head, who looked like he was still suppose to be in school, dragged the unconcious- but still breathing- man to the chair right in front of his table. The boy was sweaty and his breathing was quite ragged and hoarse.
"I apologize for the intrusion, Dumbledore-san, but Naruto has told me to send the remaining culprit up to your office," Gaara said, doing a half-bow.
There was a slight pause before Dumbledore continued on, "And where is Naruto now?"
"He should be on his way. But I doubt he'd be here anytime sooner than his council members," he replied. Dumbledore just nodded. What could happen next? A bunch of old coots trying to torture the life out of this...man? That wouldn't happen right?
The door to his office opened once more and the council members Naruto had Sakura ordered to fetch arrived. Hiashi came in right after Sakura, his white robes, neat. Inoichi and Shikaku a tad bit pink in the cheeks for having drunk a bit of the hidden stash of sake they brought. And lastly, Ibiki and Anko looking alive and scary- probably finally had something interesting to play with.
"Kazekage-sama," they greeted the boy with the red hair respectfully. "Is this the intruder?"
"One of the remaining ones," replied Gaara.
"I should seal of his chakra points before he tries to do anything," Hiashi announced and after gotten the agreements, he activated his family bloodline and sealed off the man's chakra. "There, that should do it. Where is Naruto-sama?"
"Here," came the reply and they turned to find the blond walking in the room with Sasuke trailing behind. "Good afternoon, Dumbledore-san. I must deeply apologize for barging into your office like that but we couldn't do the interrogation anywhere else."
Dumbledore cursed himself for having such a potty mouth. Why did they have to do the torture session in the middle of his office?!
"Let's start," Naruto nodded to the elders. He positioned himself in front of the man and slapped the intruder awake. "You awake now?" The intruder made no reply, just blinked blankly back at him. "Right. Now, if you cooperate with us, we'll let you go. That's the standard rule, no? So I'll be asking a few questions. If you don't answer me, you'll have to face Ibiki and probably will not make it out alive," Naruto made a note to grimace a little. "If you try to escape, you'll be facing Anko here who is probably hungry for your blood at the moment."
"And what if I resist all that," The intruder questioned.
"You face me, and death."
Naruto clapped his hands and stared into the man's eyes. "What's your name?"
"Shiroki Hyoumaru."
"Rank?"
"Anbu."
"Where's your mask?"
"Destroyed by that weird man in green."
"Lee. Alright, never mind about that. Tell me about yourself."
"Why do you want to know about me?"
"Why not?"
"I do not play games, Uzumaki Naruto."
"Nor do I, Hyoumaru-san. And you have not answered my question."
"Why don't we get to the point, Hokage-sama?" the man leaned forward a little, his hands behind his back, his body in chakra-infused chains. "These questions are meaningless. I know you want information from me. But I cannot give those. Because I do not know any. Does that answer all your questions?"
"No. Because I know you know something. At least something that values meaning to me. Tell me, Hyoumaru-san. Do you have a family?" the black-haired intruder narrowed his gaze at the blond Hokage and almost growled out loud. "Don't worry, I'm not as low and cheap as some who threatens one with their family. I'm merely asking for your sake."
"I do not understand."
"There's going to be a big war soon, Shiroki Hyoumaru. A big, big war. Bigger than the last. And everything is going to fall to blood, fire and ashes. And I'm not scaring you. Children, women and every man is going to be caught in this. There won't be a way out, including your family. No matter what your leader said, this war will destroy everyone," Naruto said gravely.
Shiroki thought silently for a while with his eyes close. And after a moment when he opened his eyes, he shook his head. "I'm sorry but I cannot help you."
"Well, that is sad indeed," Naruto said. He looked towards Ibiki and nodded his head. "Do it."
Ibiki approached the man and activated his torture jutsu, which caused the man to scream out loud. The vicious scene he had the endure, the man thought he wasn't able to handle them. And then, he finally was free from the endless cages that caused him pain and bitterness. By that time, he was panting in exhaustion.
"Are you ready to answer my questions again?" Naruto asked. The only reply he got was a spit mixed with blood at his face.
Sasuke, angry at the man for insulting his best friend, shot up from his place and went to lunge at the man but Sakura stopped him. Anko did the job for him anyway. She grabbed her kunai from her hidden pocket and stabbed the man on his right tigh with it. A scream was heard and blood was gushing out of his deep wound where the kunai was still stuck.
"That was rude," Naruto wiped away the last bloodied-spit from his face and faced the man again. His face edged with coldness. "I'm going to ask you one more time. And this will probably be the last chance you'll get. If you are willing to coorperate, you'll get to live but if you don't, don't expect me to be forgiving."
"Naruto," Sakura warned Naruto to stay calm as she felt the spike of the Kyuubi's chakra from him.
"Who sent you? Was it Orochimaru?" Naruto demanded. "How many army did he rise from the dead?"
"I cannot tell you anything," he spoke, panting from the pain. Anko was about to stab him on the second leg when he continued, "But...Should there come a time where you feel lost, the answers can be found within your heart. That is the only advise I can give you. You are a good man, Uzumaki Naruto. Goodbye, Rokudaime Hokage, I hope I can serve you in the afterlife."
With that, the man activated the 'Anbu-die-on-sight' jutsu and he just vanished into thin air. Naruto cursed. Answers...within your heart? What did he mean? Why would he feel lost?
"-ruto. Naruto!" Sasuke shook the blond back to Earth. "Dumbledore-sama was calling you for some minutes. What were you thinking?"
"What Shiroki said," Naruto shook his head before turning back to the headmaster. "I think he was from the enemy. By killing himself just proves me right."
"But, Hokage-sama, did you have any idea what he said before he...killed himself?" Inoichi asked. Shikaku narrowed his gaze at the younger blond in suspicion.
"No, I don't. But I hope I can find out. Clear out for now," he dismissed the lot but told Sasuke and Sakura to stay back with him. He faced Dumbledore. "About the training, Dumbledore-san. Harry is progressing well, a little bit too slow for our taste, but good considering that he was not trained to be a ninja. We will build him up more then start him with hand-to-hand combat before teaching him the different weapons."
"Good, good. I must thank you for your help, once again, Naruto," Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles. "But if you do need to interrogate anyone, there is a hidden room on the 7th floor. All you need to do is to pace in front of the wall three times thinking about what you want the most. And there you'll have it. But I'd not encourage the torture sessions. It can be quite disturbing."
"I understand, Dumbledore-san. But...I'm afraid that Miss Granger was quite suspicious of us at one time but we manage to distract her away from it all. Plus, Harry and his best friend, Ron's relationship isn't really good at the moment So I don't think Harry would doubt us any moment."
"Okay, but Naruto. I think you should tell Harry the truth. We should put some trust in him so that he understands our need to protect him. Help me guide him when I cannot."
"We will help him in every way we can, Dumbledore-sama," Sakura gave a polite bow before Naruto and Sasuke doing the same and retreating out of the Headmaster's office.
It was also then that Albus Dumbledore swore not to mess with the ninjas.
"We checked the areas and there's no sign or clue how the hunters came from the Forbidden Forest. Kiba and Akamaru are still sniffing around the place just to be sure. They'll report in immediately if they found anything," Neji reported to Naruto.
They were waiting outside the class Harry was currently having and were having a discussion on how to break this news to Harry. Naruto knew that the boy had his suspicions of them, even though he had not bothered going to the library with his friend, Hermione Granger anymore to check up more information on them. However, this incident would prove every doubt Harry has of them and Naruto prayed and hoped with all his heart that the boy wouldn't hate them for it.
"Good job, Neji. You're dismissed, but I want you to pass on a message to the others about keeping their eyes peeled open now. And I want night patrols in case the enemy tries to take another chance," Naruto patted his friend on the back and watched the long brown haired Hyuuga leave his side. He had sent Sasuke away, knowing that he had to confront Harry alone. And now, his heart was starting to regret that decision a little.
The classroom's door opened and students from the houses of Hufflepuff and Gryffindor flooded out. Naruto leaned against the wall to avoid any of them and kept a constant look out for his target. He was starting to worry that Harry had not went back to his class after the ceremony and a frown etched its way to his beautiful tan face.
But, no, there the boy was.
"Harry," Naruto called out and Harry turned to see the blond waiting for him by the wall of his Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"Naruto," Harry greeted back with a...slightly wary tone.
"I understand that you have a lot of questions," Naruto said, pushing himself away from the wall. "And I will answer them but is there a...more secluded place we could go to? One that we would not worry that we will be disturbed?"
"Yeah, the astronomy tower," Harry replied. "But I've got to go to Divinations now."
"Alright, meet me there at 10 sharp after dinner. I'll be seeing you then," Naruto grunted and made a move to leave but stopped and looked over his shoulder to say, "Don't worry too much. We're not your enemy."
And Naruto left a baffled Harry standing in the middle of the hallway until the black-haired wizard realised that he would be late for Divinations.
Naruto was already there waiting for Harry. Leaning against the railing, he looked towards the vast space in front of him. Hogwarts was really a magnificent place. But Naruto loved Konoha better. In Konoha where the trees grew tall, the grass thick under your feet, the warm breeze brushing through your hair, the sun tingling on your skin...Konoha was where his heart was at all the time. And no matter how many times he convinced himself, no matter how many times his friends tell him that Konoha was not going anywhere, he couldn't get past the real truth inside him.
And he couldn't do a damn thing.
Naruto laughed to himself as he looked up, staring into the stars that were high up in the sky. How many times had he argued with himself, told himself that he couldn't do anything to help Konoha? Hogwarts was indeed a strange place. Naruto had never thought so much even since young but once he came to Hogwarts, his mind kept wheeling, going in circles, working like a machine. He only wished that this...war could stop and peace could finally come.
"Naruto?"
But not yet.
"Harry," Naruto turned to greet the wizard. "Had your dinner?"
"Yeah," the wizard replied, moving to rub his neck with his right hand. "But...I didn't see you there."
"Hm, I was just taking the chance to think," Naruto said, taking one good look at Harry before turning back to see the stars.
Harry cautiously moved to stand beside Naruto and looked to see what he was staring at. His breath was instantly taken away. The stars were beautiful. They shone and sparkle in the night sky. It was like a million of lights guiding people who have lost their faith in life. If only, Harry thought, that were true, he would wish that they could take him out of this mess. What he didn't know was that Naruto was thinking about the same thing as he did.
"At times, Harry, when I was your age, I would look up, like this very moment, and gaze at the stars. Hoping that they would help me find my way back," Naruto whispered.
"Why?" Harry asked shockingly. "Were you lost?"
"No, but my heart was," Naruto swallowing his saliva as if his throat dried up all of a sudden. "Remember that story Sakura told you? About Sasuke leaving Konoha? Leaving us, leaving her, leaving me?"
"Yeah..."
"I felt so lost back then. My heart just couldn't bear the pain. I was so confused as to why he had to leave. I couldn't accept it. I needed him to tell me why he had to leave our home, why he had to leave me. I...felt like I lost everything," Naruto shook his head in sadness. "I wanted answers and I used to think that by looking at the stars, I could have mine. But it didn't come. I prayed and prayed and hoped that Sasuke would come back."
"And he did right?"
"No, he didn't. And I realised that I can't keep wishing for something that was not going to happen if I don't do anything about it. And so I trained hard, made my goals, never loose my focus, and then, I got him back," Naruto chuckled out loud. "It was so frustrating and amusing at the same time that when we finally ended our battle, I just laughed out loud on the floor."
"You finally went nuts?" Harry asked ridiculously.
"No, Harry. I finally got the lesson to the whole thing," Naruto turned to his right and stared into Harry's green emerald eyes. "No matter what happens or how big a change, you can't just sit down there and wish for it to go away. Your life and destiny lies in your hands. You have the ability to throw it away or take it and use it to your might. And remember what your purpose is in life."
"What does this lesson has anything to do with the incident this afternoon?" Harry cocked an eyebrow.
"This lesson has everything to do with what's going to happen and the things that are happening," Naruto explained. "But...it is time for the real truth."
Harry looked at Naruto eagerly.
"We're...not who we really are. We're definitely human. Dumbledore has agreed with us that we should tell you the whole truth. Honestly, I hate leaving you in the dark. But I want you to promise me that whatever you hear from me now comes nothing out of your mouth after you leave this place. It is both a warning and a promise that if you ever speak of this secret to anyone, anyone at all, even your best friends. My group of friends will never let you go."
Harry gulped in fear and nodded his head. "I promise."
"Alright. I believe you. Harry, we are ninjas. You do know what is that right?" Wide eyes and a nod. "So you understand that we can do remarkable things. This whole...wandless-magic school thing is actually a cover up. What we're doing now is our mission and our mission is to protect this school and most importantly you."
"Me?"
"Yes," Naruto nodded his head in confirmation. "Dumbledore had a bad feeling what with all those incidents you had with Voldemort reviving every year since you came to Hogwarts-"
"-well, not really...last year...I didn't really...-"
"-so, he came to our village, Konohagakure no Sato. The Hidden Village of the Leaf. He came to us for help, in dire need of our assistance. But you see, we, ourselves, were in the midst of a problem back in our village as well. We were having a war against the The Hidden Village of the Sound. Long story short, they are really bad people and their leader has a hardcore hatred against us. However, wind has it that the leader of the Sound village had banded with some wizards from...well, from here. I had two choices. One, I go on the mission with the Rookies and leave the battle to the previous leader or two, I stay behind and fight for my village. I wanted to stay in the village so that I could protect my people. But truth was to stop the war means I had to come here, to protect you and stop what evil I can here."
-flashback-
"Uchiha Sasuke, you will be the leader of this mission. Any reports needed be made-"
The door burst open and everyone turned their heads to catch sight of the Godaime Hokage, Senju Tsunade standing there with her assistant, Shizune behind her.
"Wait, Naruto," she grunted.
She walked in and went to stand by Naruto's desk. Naruto stood up in confusion and frowned.
"What is it, baa-san?"
Tsunade pursed her lips and stared down at him. Even though he had grown tremendously over the years, he was still the shortest among the rookies and Tsunade felt a little guilty for what she was about to do.
"Uzumaki Naruto," she spoke out loud. "From this day forward, you will step down as the Rokudaime Hokage of Konoha. I, Senju Tsunade, the Godaime of Konoha, will take over Konoha until the Rokudaime is once more fit enough to take over the village. However, wherever you go, you will still be referred as the Rokudaime Hokage. Your authrority is unquestionable."
Silence took over- and then, loud proclamations.
"Tsunade-sama!"
"Tsunade-sama, you cannot do this!"
"What are you doing, Tsunade-sama?"
"Tsunade-sama, is there a reason you're doing this?"
"Silence!" Tsunade yelled and everyone went silent. "There is no reason and there shall not be a reason that need to be explained to you! Back to the mission to Hogwarts school of magic, you will all partake this mission as ordered but...Uzumaki Naruto will be leader instead. The Godaime Kazekage will be accompanying you on this mission with his siblings. Are there any question on this mission?" Ignoring the vigrously noddings, she turned and faced the village from the open window. "You are all dismissed. Uzumaki, you will stay behind."
At once, the shinobis left the room, leaving Shizune, Naruto and Tsunade in the room.
"I know you're wondering why I did what I did. As Hokage of Konoha, you know and understand that your most important priority is to the village. Now that you are not the Hokage of the village, you can carry out the mission as you will."
"But I don't want to carry out the mission, baa-san! I swore!" He thundered. "I swore, on the First Hokage's grave, the Third Hokage's grave and MY father's grave that I would protect the village from any harm that might befall on Konoha. War is upon us, I cannot leave-!"
"No, you will leave! You HAVE to leave," Tsuande snapped. Hearing her sharp words, Naruto's blue eyes widened in fear. Suddenly, all tension from the blond woman vanished. She heaved a sigh. "Times are changing, Naruto. And they are changing for the worse. I fear that this war will be the end of Konoha."
"THEN WHY ARE YOU TAKING ME AWAY?!"
"Because when-if Konoha falls, you will be the one to bring it back!"
"What?"
"I fear the future, Naruto. Your future. Konoha's future, our future too. But we might be able to change that. Not long back, we recieve news that the other side is making an alliance with the wizards. By carrying this mission that Albus-san gave us, we might able to change our future."
"But I cannot leave, baa-san! Let Sasuke carry out the mission. He will be able to finish it as well as I would."
"No, this is a precaution, Naruto. Whatever I am doing is for the best for everyone," she turned and placed and hand on his shoulder, looking into his blue eyes. "Remember Naruto: You will always be a Hokage of Konoha, wherever you go."
-flashback ended-
"Of course, Tsunade is more experienced and had thought that it would befor the best. So we came here," Naruto shrugged.
"But...But...your village is having a war!"
"Sometimes...there are things that we can't prevent, things that goes out of our control," Naruto explained. "But all we have to do is to look ahead and continue to move on. We are not running away, in fact we are facing the inevitable truth. My mission is to stop and prevent the war of my village to continue by being here. The alliance of the Sound and Voldemort will need to be wary of. And that's why we are training you. We can't teach you much of our stuff because you will need certain requirement for that but we will help you."
"I...sort of, understand. It is kind of a shock to me...I mean, I didn't know ninjas exist! But...I hadn't believed that magic existed too when I was younger. So I guess you can't really say anything about it..." Harry grinned. "Thanks, Naruto."
"We're friends, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then, no thanks is needed."
I hope you guys enjoyed it. And since my exams are over, (did you know I finally graduated from Secondary School?!), I can work on the next chapter as soon as possible. R&R, please! :) Thank you!
Signing off,
Uchiha Shiyo