The
Dokushinsha
by
eixirt
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Chapter 10
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Konohagakure no Sato was never been like this ever since the invasion of the sand-sound Nin. These proved the invulnerability of the village and even its villagers. It wasn't until that the Third Hokage announced to a board meeting that he will be retiring soon.
News can fly like a hawk and soon everybody started to talk about it. Rumors didn't stop until it reached the outside walls of Konoha. Slowly, the help being asked from the leaf ninjas were becoming limited. It couldn't be helped, just as Sandaime thought.
Naruto heard the news which he called trash. He decided to hear it from the old goat himself. He ran fast as he could to the Sarutobi compound.
"Ah... Naruto-kun, it's so nice---" Sandaime partly said but then...
"Cut the crap! Is it true that you're going to resign?-!" Naruto asked. He was looking straight at Sarutobi's eyes.
At first, Sarutobi didn't look; he just sighed and smiled which made Naruto frustrated to the bone. "What is it?" Naruto asked again.
"True... I'm going to resign... Didn't Ayeka-chan tell you? Or haven't she told you that she's one of the candidates as one of the new Hokage?" Sandaime said.
Naruto was struck. Both of his fists were trembling in anger. He didn't expect Ayeka, his former sensei which he still recognizes as one of his senseis would not tell something like this to him. Sarutobi didn't expect of what he is seeing right now. He wouldn't think Naruto didn't know about this. By the time Sarutobi was going to open his mouth to talk to the blonde teenager, Naruto was already gone. Sarutobi only did was to sigh.
'Darn her! Why wouldn't she tell something like this to me?-!' Naruto thought as he jumped to roof after roof of the village like as if he was looking for someone, until, he saw someone vaguely particular...
"ERO-SENNIN..!" The young blond shouted as he jumped down from the roof.
The said man stopped from his tracks. The Toad-Sannin, Jiraiya looked behind him with a dry and raised eyebrow. 'Darn brat, he never shows any respect.' Jiraiya thought. Naruto definitely got his attention.
"Ero-sennin, I wanted to see you!" Naruto said.
"Eh?" Was all Jiraiya had said but then... He added. "Why?"
"What do you mean why?-! What about my training?-!" Naruto exaggerated.
'I knew it...' Jiraiya thought but then... 'Aha! I think I know what to do with this brat hee-hee...' Jiraiya giggled with his thoughts.
"Oi, Ero-sennin! What are you thinking?-!" Naruto asked as he waved his hand in front of the said Sannin.
"Huh? Oh?" Was Jiraiya's first statement just then he continued. "Oh yeah... I've been thinking on what to teach you... since, we're going on a training trip." Jiraiya said.
"Really?-!" Naruto said. Obviously Naruto was ecstatic, a training trip with the Toad Sannin. The only thing left was how in hell he'll tell his Jounin sensei about this training trip?
"Don't worry about telling your Jounin sensei about our little trip. I'll talk to her, okay? Now, why won't you run off and get packin'..." Jiraiya said as he rubbed the young blonde's spiky hair.
"No."
"What?-!" Jiraiya asked looking confused at the young blonde.
"I... I'll tell her myself... It has to come from me." Naruto said.
"Okay then, I'll see you tomorrow at the northern gate... around 10 am." Jiraiya said as he poofed away, leaving Naruto at the street with a heavy thought in mind.
Meanwhile...
Outside of a sweets shop stood Kakashi reading his new volume of the Icha Icha Paradise series. It hadn't taken long enough for his colleagues to come namely, Yuuhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma. Both were looking at Kakashi with an annoyed look on their faces well not as annoyed as Kurenai. Kakashi had a smile on his face but both Kurenai and Asuma knew that he was smiling beneath his face mask BUT to their horror they both don't know what the heck he's smiling about...
"My – my – my... You both are getting along quite well lately..." Kakashi said which earned a blush from the chain smoker and a raised brow from the genjutsu mistress.
"Come on... you know why were here..." Kurenai said.
"... And besides even I don't want to keep 'our' special guests waiting." Asuma added.
It didn't take long for their guests to make their move. The sooner they realized their guests were gone. Kakashi told the other Elite Jounins to give their guests a proper welcoming as he would have to go and meet someone.
For the meantime, Asuma and Kurenai followed their guests, who apparently wore a black coat with red clouds as designs, stopped from their tracks and faced their pursuers. Both took off their hats to reveal their faces for their welcoming committee.
"It's been awhile, Kurenai-san and Asuma-san." The man said. He had a pair of red eyes that seemingly comparable with the Uchiha's.
Both Asuma and Kurenai now knew who they were talking to. The man who just greeted them was Uchiha Itachi, a former Konoha ninja but ever since the Uchiha massacre he became a missing ninja. The other man who was standing next to Uchiha Itachi was Hoshigaki Kisame. Both Kurenai and Asuma knew who the man was since he was listed in their enemy bingo book.
"Itachi-san, it seems like you're quite popular in this village." Kisame said not even looking at Itachi but instead looking at Kurenai and Asuma.
"Itachi, you came back to this village after what you have pulled... you have a lot of guts showing up again." Asuma said.
"I guess I have to take back what I have said, Itachi. You're quite hated in this village." Kisame said. But then as a few seconds passed on he was starting to get infuriated. He crept up to his sword also known as the 'Samehada' and smashed it on the ground, making a hole on it. "This guy is starting to get on my nerves. Shall I kill him?" Kisame said.
"It looks like we cannot leave this village without a fight. Don't over do it... your moves stand out to much." Itachi said without any emotion from his face.
"Then it's settled." Kisame said, moving back his sword from where it was placed. After three seconds, Kisame lounged in charging on to Asuma, who had managed to get his trench knives for protection.
'Darn it... I'm being over-powered by the tip of the sword. This guy is so strong.' Asuma thought as he blocked the large sword with his trench knives over and over again. He can see the smirk on Kisame's face.
"What's the matter?-!" Kisame asked.
Asuma just glared at him not wanting to give a reply or even a retort.
"You really don't have to worry..." Kisame paused as he pressed the sword harder. But this time it's different. "...Because my Samehada..." Kisame added as he pressed the sword even harder until it managed to injure Asuma's left arm. "...Doesn't slice... It shaves!" Kisame shouted.
Asuma wasn't the only one busy for the moment. Kurenai was up against Uchiha Itachi. She only did where she's good at. She casted an illusionary technique, hoping to capture Itachi. At first, it worked after seeing the said Nukenin entangled by the wooden branches. But, after a couple of seconds, Kurenai was face-to-face with Itachi but instead of him tied on the tree it was Kurenai who was tied on it.
'He countered my genjutsu.' Kurenai thought. She bit her lower lip for her to get out of the genjutsu. Once Kurenai was out from the genjutsu, she was greeted by a kick in the middle rib coming from Itachi. Kurenai managed to duck when Itachi was about to slash her with his kunai. But then, Kurenai didn't get to see Itachi's next attack, as she was soon flying to the lake next to them.
"Kurenai!" Asuma shouted.
"You have no time to look away from me!" Kisame said as he held his sword with both hands. Asuma knew what this shark-faced freak will do next. Kisame lounged again to attack. Asuma found himself defending himself again but this time it's different as he managed to slice Kisame's cheek which to his loss this made the shark-faced freak even more annoyed at him.
As both shinobis fought, Kurenai was trying to stand up from the landing but then...
"That was pretty nice, Kurenai-san. But..." Itachi said.
Kurenai, who was just recovering from the attack, hadn't got much time to move or escape. Itachi was just behind her and to the fact that she hadn't rose up from her feet. Just when Itachi was about to continue with his speech...
"But... this is the end for you that is." A voice interrupted the scene.
Both shinobis turned and saw Konoha's Copy Ninja, Hatake Kakashi.
"Hatake Kakashi." Itachi said, still not showing any signs of interest.
"Kakashi, what are you doing here?" Kurenai asked as she got up from her feet.
"Well, since I was the one who asked you two to look out for them... well... let's just say I was kind of worried for the both of you." Kakashi said.
Kurenai could tell that he was smiling since his revealed eye was formed to an arc. However, his reaction changed when he pulled up his hitai-ate to reveal his Sharingan.
"What does a renegade ninja like you want in this village?" Kakashi asked with his kunai pointed just above Itachi's right shoulder.
Itachi didn't answer his question nor even reacted to it. He just remained still like he didn't even hear a thing. His partner, on the other hand, was getting annoyed with his opponent, Asuma, who was able to dodge all of his attacks but when Asuma managed to slice Kisame's side. Kisame noticed his opponent's knives which have chakra on its edges, making the said knives sharp enough to cut through a tree with just one throw. Once Kisame saw this, he moved back and cast a set of hand seals and shouted. "Suiton: Suigodan no jutsu!" To his surprise, the technique wasn't a success.
"Hmph... I shouldn't have expected it was you... Copy Ninja Kakashi..." Kisame said.
'Kage bushin...' Asuma thought.
"I was just going to buy some sweets... but then, I came across with some guy name Uchiha Itachi and the monster from the Hidden Village of the Mist, Hoshigaki Kisame." Kakashi said.
Kisame chuckled, at first. "I'm flattered you know my name, Copy Ninja..." He paused. A chuckle came out again but this time Kisame held out his Samehada, starting a battle position, while Kakashi readied a kunai from his back. "I think I'll enjoy shaving you to death." Kisame said, pointing at large sword to Kakashi.
Both ninjas were ready to fight but then...
"Stop it, Kisame." It was Itachi who stopped the upcoming fight. "Do not forget our purpose here. You didn't come here to get hurt." Itachi added.
"Then tell us your purpose." Kakashi said.
"We just came to find something we're looking for." Itachi said.
"And what exactly are you looking for?" Kakashi asked as he held up his kunai in front of Itachi.
"This won't take too long unlike what just Kisame did." Itachi said as he slowly faced Kakashi. But Kakashi saw what was about happen with his Sharingan. He immediately cast a jutsu and said. "Suiton: Suijinheki!" Soon Kakashi was covered with water, using it as a shield from the upcoming attack. But the attack didn't come; hence, it was merely a test.
"Your eye of sight is impressive." Another Itachi showed up behind Kakashi, stabbing him from behind with his kunai. But to everyone's surprise Kakashi suddenly dissipated himself, revealing that he was just a clone. As for the real Kakashi who suddenly jumped from bellow, he moved away with Kurenai in tow. Kurenai was left wondering why Kakashi was carrying her. Then suddenly, in front of her was a huge explosion of water. Once the explosion was gone, the place looked like it was currently raining and Uchiha Itachi was still standing from his place like nothing had happened and next to him was Kisame.
"What the?-!"
"You both better keep your guards up... this is Uchiha Itachi we're fighting here... the man who killed his own clan single handedly." Kakashi said. He looked at Itachi again and said. "What is you're purpose here exactly? Are you here for Sasuke?" Kakashi asked.
Kisame looked at Kakashi with an annoyed look. He stepped forward but Itachi's hand blocked him. "Don't." Said Itachi. Kisame was about to say something but then he just watched what will his partner will do to this situation.
"We are not looking for my little weak so-called 'brother' of mine... we're here for the 'Fourth's Legacy'." Itachi said.
"Fourth's Legacy?" Kurenai wondered out loud.
"Are you looking for Naruto-kun?" Kakashi asked as he brought forth his kunai towards Itachi.
Itachi didn't answer. He just stared at Kakashi as if he hadn't said a thing. Kakashi, on the other hand, noticed something. It was Itachi's eyes. 'Impossible...' Kakashi thought. He had to warn Asuma and Kurenai about it but suddenly...
A splash of water unexpectedly burst out from the middle and the next thing they knew Naruto was at the middle, looking directly at Itachi and Kisame.
"I take it this is Uzumaki Naruto..." Kisame said.
"True." Itachi said.
"Naruto, get back here!" Kurenai shouted but Naruto doesn't seem to respond to her, instead...
Naruto just stood from his place not even moving. 'What is he doing?' Kakashi thought. 'Could it be... impossible... he can't counter such technique.' Kakashi continued to wonder around his head.
'This is bad... Itachi's going to fight us now.' Kakashi thought as he saw Itachi brought out both of his hands. From a slight second, he was gone, leaving a grinning Kisame. Naruto knew already what was going to happen next. 'It was very predictable.' He thought.
"Why don't you just come with us like a nice little boy, Naruto-kun?" Itachi said as he pointed his kunai on his neck. At this point, Asuma, Kakashi, and Kurenai didn't make any drastic movements. They just watched the whole situation for Naruto's sake.
Kisame's grin grew. They finally had the jinchuuriki or did they?
"You're fast... but not that fast." Naruto said as he suddenly dissipated to a puff of smoke.
'Kage Bushin?' Kurenai thought out loud.
"I guess I can't persuade you in a nice way... how about this way?" Itachi said as he charged at the young blonde. He immediately casted a few set of hand seals and said. "Suiton: Suiryudan no jutsu!" Soon, there came a water dragon like figure coming at Naruto's way. Everybody hadn't got much time to evade but then...
"Hyoton: Tsubame Fubuki!!!" A voice shouted from above obviously making a scene.
Once both jutsus collided and dissipated, everybody saw the new additions and they were...
Momochi Zabuza and his sister, Haku (who was hugging Naruto) checking if he was alright.
"Are you alright, Naruto-kun? Did those bad guys hurt you?" Haku asked as she held Naruto's cheek, directly looking at his cerulean eyes. Once Haku let him go, she hugged the blonde boy once again and faced Itachi herself.
With a determined look on her face she suddenly spat out. "How dare you do that to my Naruto-kun... you will pay with your life for doing such a thing!" Haku formed a set of hand seals and shouted.
"Hyoton: Haryu Moko" (Haku / Itachi)
"What the?-!" Haku didn't expect that this man would be able to counter her jutsu with the same jutsu but then realization just sunk in when she saw her opponent's eyes. 'No wonder he knows what was I about to prepare... he has a Sharingan.' Between her thoughts, she hadn't recovered from the attack until...
Itachi cast a few set of hand seals and said. "Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu," He blew an enormous ball of fire directly coming at Haku's way. Zabuza was about to help her little sister but then a familiar sword came crashing on his way, the Samehada...
"It's been a while, Zabuza, why won't you and I have a little reconciliation, ne?" Kisame said as he swung his sword again, clashing with Zabuza's 'Kubikiri Houcho'.
"Sure... when was the time we last fought?-!" Zabuza said as he blocked an attack.
Kisame didn't answer. He just snickered as he continued to swing his sword at Zabuza but then somebody/something interrupted them. A kunai with an explosive tag came between them. Once the smoke from the attack was out, a voice was soon followed by it.
"I hope none of you mind if I joined in..."
"Great way for you to interrupt us but anyway—"Zabuza said but was cut off by Asuma himself.
"What do you mean interrupt? I just simply missed with my kunai... that was supposed to hit his head not the ground." Asuma said.
"What?-! For a jounin, you simply can't aim well..." Zabuza replied back.
Kisame was watching the two bickering about a simple thing but then he decided to break it off. "For goodness sake will you two get on with it!" Kisame shouted, making both shinobis look at him at the same time. Both nodding their heads, they attacked Kisame from side to side.
Meanwhile, back with Haku, she wasn't prepared for the upcoming attack. She just suddenly heard someone yelled. "Suiton: Suikoudan no jutsu" She watched in awe at how amazing 'her' Naruto-kun fought this Uchiha. Naruto, on the other hand, was looking furiously at Itachi. He was watching his every move just then he noticed that Itachi was walking directly at Kisame's place.
"Kisame, let's go we've stayed here for quite awhile... we don't want any other welcoming committee coming our way." Itachi said and disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
Kisame stopped from attacking one of his opponents. His sword was about to slice/shave a part of Asuma's skin at the part of his neck. He grinned again and with that he left.
"Glad that was over..." Kakashi said.
"Got that right." Asuma said. Silence came in just as everybody rested for a while. They wouldn't never thought fighting with some S-Class Nukenins will be like this, knowing that they both hadn't even showed their real powers but then...
"NAARUUTOOO!" Haku shouted as she immediately hugged the said shinobi, thanking him for saving her from that Uchiha they fought awhile ago. She was hugging and kissing him all at the same time. Naruto, on the other hand, was trying to get Haku off of him but to no avail... he was too tired to fight back, especially with a woman who had eyes for him.
"Naruto, take your hands off my sister!" Zabuza shouted, pointing his sword at the said blonde.
"What?-! Tell that to her!" Naruto said as he continued to get Haku off him.
"Haku!" Zabuza shouted, obviously enraged at his little sister's attitude but then... miraculously, Haku let Naruto go.
As this was happening, almost everybody was laughing at the two... well almost. Kurenai found herself a bit irritated and to the fact that she didn't know why.
'I don't need this!' Kurenai stormed off.
"Hey, where are you going?" Kakashi asked but Kurenai didn't answer she just continued to run away...
Nobody had noticed but Naruto had a small smile on his face as he watched Kurenai run away.
"What's up with her?" Asuma asked. Zabuza and Haku just shrugged.
"You know how the female mind works... it's such a mystery that even I can't comprehend." Kakashi said which earned him a look from Haku.
"I guess we better go before my sister here turns someone into an icicle." Zabuza said as he pulled her sister along with him.
"I better go too... see you guys around." Asuma said as he waved his goodbyes.
Once everybody was gone, Kakashi finally spoke. "I want to thank you for suddenly showing up, Ayeka-san. If you didn't show up we could have been toast and I mean that literally."
"That was nothing but what amuses me is why were they were looking for Naruto-kun?" Naruto, or shall I say, Ayeka said as she dropped the henge she had awhile ago. From what she was expecting, no one was supposed to know she was Ayeka but apparently Kakashi beat her up to it.
"That I don't know..." Kakashi replied.
"Hatake-san, how did you know who I was?" Ayeka asked.
"It's kinda simple you see when Naruto sees his Jounin Sensei, Kurenai, the one who suddenly walked away, in distress he immediately helps her, take cares of her, and the like. So when Kurenai ran off, I would already suspect that Naruto would run after her even though Haku was all over him." Kakashi said.
Ayeka, on the other hand, shivered when she heard that familiar name. She now knew how Naruto felt whenever a group of females came wanting him in every way that they want. Kakashi watched Ayeka's reactions. Awhile ago she was curious and then suddenly her face faltered as she had eaten a rotten miso ramen.
"Ayeka-san, are you alright?" Kakashi asked as he placed his hand on her shoulder shaking her in the process.
Ayeka looked at him first, then, brushed Kakashi's hand away. Her stare was suddenly turned into a glare which made Kakashi to step back.
"Uh..." Kakashi couldn't say a word.
"What? Cat caught your tongue? Oh yeah! You don't know how the female mind works... it's such a mystery that even you can't comprehend. Did that ring any bells for you?" Ayeka asked the dumbfounded Kakashi. He was about to say something but Ayeka already poofed away.
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The Main Street of Konoha was filled with enormous busy people. Some were still busy with the reconstruction of some buildings and places around the village but that didn't matter to a certain kunoichi...
Kurenai had been walking around the village not knowing where she would go. 'I'm so stupid! Why did I have to run like that?-! Now they probably think that I'm a complete idiot.' She thought as she continuously walked to the main street until she decided to walk back to her apartment which to her surprise someone was waiting for her.
"Naruto-kun?" Kurenai said, stopping from her tracks.
The said blonde looked at her direction. "Kurenai-sensei..." He said with a smile but then his smile faded. "Um... uh... there's something I have to tell you..." He said, not even looking at Kurenai's eyes.
Kurenai looked at Naruto for awhile. She wasn't sure but there's something wrong by the way Naruto looked at her. "By the looks on your face this is should be serious... why won't we go inside for awhile, ne?" Kurenai said with a small smile on her face.
'Oh Kami! There's that feeling again...' Naruto said in his mind.
'Relax, Kit. It's not like you're going to propose to her or something... you're just going to tell her that you're going on a training trip with that white haired sannin.' Kyuubi said to his dreading vessel.
Naruto was currently waiting for his jounin sensei at the living room. He sat at the couch, still thinking how to start his speech.
'For goodness sake get on with it will you?-! By the time you look at her face, you're gonna blow up in front of her!' Kyuubi said.
When Kyuubi cuts off their link, the first thing Naruto saw was Kurenai, asking him if he was alright.
"AHH!" Naruto suddenly yelped when he saw Kurenai.
"Naruto, it's just me... are you alright?" Kurenai asked again. This time she looked directly at Naruto's eyes.
Meanwhile...
'Kit, if you're gonna mess up then you better not do it... you might end up proposing to this lady or something.' Kyuubi interrupted once again.
'What are you talking about?-!' Naruto replied back. He was between conversation with Kurenai and the nine-tailed demon fox himself.
'What I'm saying is if you mess up and ended up telling her your bottled feelings... what do you think she'll say?'Kyuubi said inside his jail.
'What?-! Well... I don't know. Actually, I... I haven't realized if I'm going to tell her that.' Naruto replied.
'I may be a demon and a fox but I have feelings too... but if you keep those emotions bottled up for so long... it will give you grief than you would never imagine...'Kyuubi said.
'I guess so...' Naruto said as he ended the telepathic link. Once he was back to reality, he saw the ceiling and it was just until now that he realized that he was lying on the couch. He sat up and noticed that Kurenai was nowhere insight. He stood up and walked around the place looking for Kurenai.
Kurenai, on the other hand, was currently making some tea just in case Naruto woke up. She waited for the last few seconds until...
"Naruto-kun, I didn't know you where already awake... how are you feeling?" Kurenai asked as she placed the beverage in two cups, one for her and one for Naruto.
"I'm fine." Naruto said. 'Darn it! There it goes again...' Naruto thought.
"You sure? You don't feel like fainting or something?" Kurenai asked.
'Fainting?' Naruto cocked an eyebrow.
"So, what were you going to tell me?" Kurenai asked.
"Right... that... he-he-he... 'Hear it goes'... Kurenai-sensei, I uh... I l-lov... I mean, I... I'm leaving... I'm leaving for a training trip with Jiraiya-sama... you know him... his one of the legendary sannin." Naruto said. Meanwhile, inside his head... Kyuubi sighed in relief just when his jailor had managed to say it all out right.
After hearing those words, Kurenai seemed to have blackened out. She couldn't explain as to why was she feeling so uneasy about this news. Sure he was going with Jiraiya, one of the legendary three, and also a student of the third hokage (who apparently is the most powerful among the five kages in the shinobi world).
"Naruto, I... I don't know where to start... I know you'll be safe since you said that Jiraiya-sama is going with you but..." Kurenai started but it seems like she's losing the right words but after knowing that there were people after him including Uchiha Itachi and his lackeys. This didn't go unnoticed by Naruto.
Naruto watched Kurenai's reactions awhile ago he can tell that she's worried but now he can see fear in her eyes which worried him even more. "Kurenai-sensei, I know this is sudden and I don't know if this will comfort you..." With that said, Naruto walked up to the said woman.
Kurenai was taken aback, she didn't expect this from Naruto. She saw him walking up to her and hugged her in a way he hadn't done before. She could feel both of his arms giving her warmth and comfort. "Kurenai-sensei, I've wanted to tell you this I know it's sudden but I will tell you about it anyway... Kurenai-sensei, I... I'm in love with you..." Naruto finally said it. The moment he let her go... he was only greeted by a shocked or nevertheless Kurenai had an unexplainable look on her face.
"N-N-Naruto..." Kurenai stuttered in a low voice.
"I know you probably think that I'm confused but I'm not!" Naruto said in defense. "I do love you, Kurenai." Naruto said, dropping the 'sensei'. He looked at Kurenai's wine-red crimson eyes. From what he could see, she was definitely shocked. For the meantime, Kyuubi was cursing his jailor for his stupidity and the like.
"I guess I better leave now, Kurenai-sensei..." Naruto said as he stood up from the couch. With his head low, he walked to the door and for a second or two he glanced at Kurenai, hoping that she would look back.
But she never did...
Naruto continued to walk alongside the streets around Konoha. It was becoming dark as he saw the sun set from horizon. He didn't know how long he was inside Kurenai's apartment. The moment he remembered what he had done, he wanted not to blame himself as to why the in hell he did that. He sighed as he continued to walk. He hadn't even realized there were some people looking at him from the distance or even some people calling out for him. It had taken him several minutes to reach his apartment. Once he opened the apartment's door, he was greeted by tempting aroma coming from the kitchen.
"Naruto-kun, is that you?" A voice called out.
"Hai..." Naruto replied.
After a couple of minutes, Naruto saw Ayeka with a hot bowl of miso ramen. She was living with him ever since she was back from her so called trip. But right now, Ayeka was looking at Naruto with a raised eyebrow and said. "What are you waiting for? Come on let's eat." Ayeka said.
Ayeka looked at her student, who was looking at the ramen before him. She wasn't sure as to why was he acting like this. It wasn't the food since she knows that Naruto loves ramen or even any food that was being served to him.
"Hey, Jiraiya told me about this trip of yours... so, when are you guys leaving?" Ayeka asked.
Naruto looked up and said. "Tomorrow... 10 in the morning at the northern gate."
"Okay then... I guess you better sleep early... for an early start." Ayeka said with a smile on her face.
Naruto looked at her with a raised brow. 'Am I dreaming?' He thought. He slowly stood up but before he could even reach the bedroom...
"Wait just a minute!" Ayeka said.
"What?-!" Naruto asked.
"You almost forgot to clean the dishes." Ayeka said as she sat at the couch flipping at the magazine's pages.
Naruto was about to whack his sensei but something made him not to do it since he could be simply overpowered, literally... so; he only did what he was told.
'And I thought I wasn't dreaming... the heck! She hasn't even changed at all!' That was when he remembered his recent encounter with the Third Hokage. He immediately washed the dishes and went to look for his sensei at the living room.
"Ayeka-sensei..." Naruto called.
"Hmm?" Ayeka hummed. She didn't look at the said blonde before her as she was busy flipping and reading the magazine at her hands.
"How come you never told me that you were chosen as one of the candidates to be the next Hokage?" Naruto said in a serious tone.
Ayeka sensing where this conversation would lead to, she put the magazine back to its place and looked at Naruto straight to his eyes. "I simply didn't tell you because it doesn't matter." Ayeka said.
"Well... it matters to me!" Naruto shouted.
Ayeka was taken aback. This was the first time she'd seen and heard Naruto raised his tone at her like this.
"First, Sandaime-jiji and then you! Who's next Kakashi-onii-san?-! You're all starting to be like the villagers before! All lies..!" Naruto shouted.
Ayeka listened to every word Naruto had said. Truly, he had felt so much hurt in every way back from his childhood years. Ayeka slowly walked up to him and caressed both of his wet cheeks.
"I'm not like those villagers, Naruto-kun... and you know that. And for goodness sake, will you stop crying?-! It doesn't suit you!" Ayeka said with a smile.
Naruto looked at her and smiled as well. He wiped away his tears. "You really know how to cheer up people, don't you?" Naruto said in a low voice although Ayeka managed to catch it from a distance.
"I heard that! You of all people should go to bed! Or else..." Naruto knew what she meant when he saw her forming a set of hand seals. Without any hesitation, he immediately ran to bed and hoping that tomorrow will be a new day for him. After a few hours, Ayeka walked inside the said bedroom and went to sleep as well.
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Morning breeze flew across Konoha. It was definitely great to start the day with a few walks or a hundred or two of jogging around Konoha as Gai-san would suggest. As for now that didn't matter. In the middle of the street, people overflowing almost everywhere buying groceries and such while some walked to spend some leisure time of their own... but for the meantime...
"Oi hey, Kakashi..!" A voice called out.
The said man, who was reading his Icha Icha Paradise copy, looked and waved his hand. "Yo!" He promptly greeted the pair. It was Mitarashi Anko who called him along with Yuuhi Kurenai. They were currently standing outside a dango shop and suddenly eyed the said Copy Nin.
"Where you off to?" Anko asked as she munched on the said food.
Kakashi looked at her then to Kurenai... then a thought struck to him. "Me? I'm going to Naruto's place for breakfast... you know me and besides I haven't visited him for quite awhile...---" Before Kakashi could continue Anko cut in.
"Can we come? And besides I haven't visited him for quite awhile too..." Anko said, finishing up her last stick of dango.
Kurenai was about to decline but suddenly Anko pulled her arm as they walked behind Kakashi. She didn't like the fact that she was being dragged by her best friend but most of all she didn't like the gut feeling she's feeling right know. She felt like a nervous-wreck as they went up to Naruto's apartment. She watched as Kakashi knocked on the door. Slowly, they heard a couple of foot steps and then suddenly the door opened, revealing a woman wearing a black night gown.
"Who are you?-!" Anko asked with such a volume.
"I should be the one asking you that question!" The woman retorted and glanced at the silver-haired ninja and said. "Stop staring at me..! You PERVERT!" The woman said as she held the Copy Nin by the collar and without a second or two, Kakashi was thrown to the wall which apparently made the other resident/s of the apartment stand up on their feet.
"What in the world is going on?-!" Naruto asked as he walked directly at the scene. Apparently, he was only clad in his boxers.
"Naruto, save me!" Kakashi cried.
"Huh?" Naruto asked.
"Can't you see?-! She's horrible... her strength... it's humongous!" Kakashi said.
"Aniki, what are you talking about?" Naruto asked.
"Save me from her!" Kakashi said as he pointed at the said woman with his index finger.
"Actually, I can't do that... you see even I am afraid of her... he-he-he..." Naruto said as he watched the woman namely, Ayeka, crack her knuckles which made both male nervous for their dear lives.
Ayeka looked at Naruto and said. "I'll go and get change while you better wait here or better yet entertain your guests, understood?"
"Hai" Naruto said with a not-so-enthusiastic tone.
Once Ayeka was gone, Naruto couldn't look directly at his guests due to his current attire.
"Say, Naruto... That woman was your former sensei, right? Did you and that woman slept together?" Anko asked forwardly.
"WHAT?! Of course not!" Naruto snapped back.
"Oh come on... how can you explain your clothes right now?" Anko said with a sly smirk on her face.
"Wha- that doesn't mean we did... what ever you just said!" Naruto said but after a couple of seconds he walked straight to his bedroom. Once he was in front of the door, Ayeka walked out and saw the look on Naruto's face.
"What happened to him?" Ayeka asked the remaining three back at the living room.
"Ask Anko she knows the answer." Kakashi said.
Ayeka didn't react on what Kakashi had said. She just continued her way to the living room and sat in front of the three Jounins. Anko was still watching every move that Ayeka did. Ayeka, on the other hand, was starting to get annoyed. So, she only did what she had on her mind.
"Mitarashi-san, could you please stop staring at me like that." Ayeka said in a calm voice.
But before Anko could retort back Naruto suddenly came. Everybody looked at his direction. He was wearing a light blue polo, beige khaki pants, and a pair of black ninja sandals.
"Is there something on my face?" he asked.
"No – no – no of course not…what made you ask that?" Anko said.
"Naruto, could you make breakfast for all of us?" Ayeka asked with a smile on her face. Once Naruto left the living room, the smile on Ayeka's face bore down. She looked at the three ninjas in front of her. "What are your reports after the incident at the lake?" she asked.
Kakashi knew what Ayeka was talking about but unfortunately the other two don't. "What incident?" asked Anko.
Ayeka's direction led to the tokubetsu jounin and said. "Yesterday…Uchiha Itachi along with his lackey, Hoshigaki Kisame came here to Konoha searching for Naruto. Thank goodness I came there just on time to help the ninjas who were confronting those two Nukenins."
'She was there…but I didn't even get to see her.' Kurenai thought.
"Nobody would have thought that I was there because…I disguised myself as Naruto using henge. But, there's one thing that I can't forget…" said Ayeka. She looked amused and couldn't help to giggle in front of the three guests. Kurenai knew that she was the one Ayeka was talking about.
"So, what are you guys talking about? You all seem like having fun here… I hope you don't mind sharing it with me?" said Naruto. He just recently entered the living room and caught four of them having a decent conversation. "Oh before I forgot…breakfast is ready." he added.
"We…well we were talking about how slow you cook… you know, Naruto, you better improve your cooking skills if you want to impress the ladies." said Ayeka.
"Ah so now I cook so slow?-!" said Naruto. He looked at Ayeka with serious look on his face then after a couple of seconds, he stormed off and went to the dining area where he started to eat alone. Everybody saw him and just sat to join him.
"So Naruto, what happened to you last night?" Ayeka started.
"Whatever do you mean?" Naruto said without looking at his former sensei.
"It's just that you look like somebody ripped your heart away." Ayeka said.
#Cough# #Cough#
"Are you alright, Yuuhi-san?" Ayeka asked.
"I'm fine…" Kurenai replied back.
"Let's change the topic! Naruto, what this I'm hearing that you're going on a training trip with someone…is this true?" Anko asked.
"True to be exact…" said Naruto but to his surprise Anko immediately stood up from her seat. She grabbed Naruto by his collar and asked him.
"When are you leaving?-!"
"T-To-Today…after breakfast…" Naruto said in panic.
Miraculously, Anko let him go. Everybody looked at the Tokubetsu Jounin with caution. Kakashi and Kurenai were signaling each other if ever Anko tried to do something radical again. They both will have to stop the said Tokubetsu Jounin.
"What?-!" asked Anko. "I was merely asking the guy when he will be leaving…is that so wrong." said Anko which earned her a couple of sweat-drops from everybody.
Ayeka sighed and said. "Look at the time…Naruto, you better get ready…" Ayeka paused and looked at Kurenai. "Yuuhi-san, I hope you don't mind if you help me clean the dishes…" said Ayeka.
Kurenai looked at her first. She had a feeling that Ayeka will talk to her about something that, of course she doesn't know. "Okay" she said and soon she followed Ayeka to the kitchen to clean the dirty dishes. At first, they were both silent. Kurenai was thinking fast. She was a bit nervous around Ayeka and the worst of all she doesn't know why…
"Yuuhi-san, try not to be nervous. I won't hurt you…" said Ayeka.
Kurenai was dead shocked. 'Did she just read my mind?' thought Kurenai.
"If you were thinking that I just went through your head…no…I didn't read your mind…you simply looked tense that's all." said Ayeka. After a few seconds Ayeka waited for Kurenai to talk but she just continue to clean the dishes.
"Yuuhi-san?" Ayeka started again.
"Yes?" asked Kurenai.
"Can I ask you something… something personal?" said Ayeka.
At this point, Kurenai looked at the woman next to her and said. "What is it?" asked Kurenai.
"Do you like my nephew?" Ayeka asked forwardly.
Kurenai was taken aback. She didn't at least expect this kind of question from Ayeka. "Why made you ask that?" Kurenai asked.
"Hey…I asked you first!" Ayeka asked.
"Well… I…"
"You know I don't really care whether he chose someone older than him as a lover…but, to tell you the truth. I think it's my fault that he acts like a grown up already. Back when he was little, it wasn't just me who became his instructor. Naruto had a couple of instructors before not just me but a couple… let's say around 7 instructors, including me, and each of them came from different parts of the ninja world. And most importantly, they're my friends." Ayeka said.
"So what's the connection between him acting like a grown up and those instructors?" Kurenai asked.
"Oh that! Well, you see out of those 7 instructors there are only 3 men while the other 4 are you know women which includes me. Do you get the point?" Ayeka asked which earned her a nod from the genjutsus mistress.
"Hey you two… are you guys done cleaning the dishes? Naruto has been waiting for the both of you at the living room." Anko asked.
"Yeah-yeah-yeah… we'll be there in a second." Ayeka said. She looked at Kurenai and said. "Is she always like that?" Ayeka asked.
"24/7" Kurenai said.
"I HEARD THAT!" Anko shouted from the living room.
"What are you three been up to?" Naruto asked.
"Nothing-nothing…but you know? I really enjoyed talking with your Jounin Sensei." Ayeka said as she dragged the young blonde to the door. "Come on let's go… you don't want to be late."
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On top of one of the highest buildings stood a lone man, currently he was enjoying the every minute of what he was doing.
"He-he-he…this view is one of the best that I have ever seen..!" The man said. He was giggling as he peeped at the ladies in the hot springs using his telescope, unfortunately…
"Is this what you do during your free time?" Somebody asked from behind.
The man looked behind and saw the former team-mates of the third hokage.
"It's called researching…anyway, what brings you two here?" The man asked.
"We'll cut to the chase…we want you to be the next Hokage, Jiraiya." Homura said.
"Why? Is it because Ayeka rejected your offer? Unfortunately, I can't. Besides, nobody wants a lazy old man like me to be a Hokage." Jiraiya said.
"Are you hearing what you're talking about?-!" Homura asked.
"Of course I do… besides, there's someone who can replace my and Ayeka's place…" Jiraiya said.
"And who would that be?" Koharu asked.
"That would be my former team-mate, Tsunade." Jiraiya said.
"This no time to tell jokes, Jiraiya! None of us know where her whereabouts is!" Homura said.
Jiraiya sighed and said. "You really don't have to worry about that… I'll find her besides she's so easy to find." Jiraiya said with a grin on his face.
"Fine…do it your way!" Homura said.
"We will set up a group of ANBU to escort you." Koharu said.
"You don't have to… I already have someone who will come to escort me with the search and like you said… I have to do it my way. Oh geez…look at the time I have to go and meet him. It won't be long Konoha will have a new Hokage! See ya…" With that said Jiraiya, vanished in a swirl of leaves and left the council.
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"Now where is that hermit?-! We've been waiting here for almost half an hour and yet he hasn't shown up! Where the hell is he?-!" Ayeka said. She has been walking everywhere asking no one in particular about Jiraiya's whereabouts.
"Sensei, calm down… he'll be here probably when it's already Christmas…he-he-he…" Naruto said with a smile on his face.
"Hey guys…what's up?-!" A familiar voice rang from the distance.
"What took you so long?" Ayeka asked.
"It's a long story, okay… sorry. Come on, Naruto…we have to go." Jiraiya said.
"Right!" Naruto said as he walked towards Jiraiya's side.
"Oh yeah before I forgot…aren't you going to say goodbye to them?" Jiraiya said.
Naruto looked at the people behind him and then slowly he walked first at Kakashi and said his goodbye, second was Anko then Ayeka and last was Kurenai. He hugged each and everyone of them but before that…
"That's all?-! Aren't you going to give your Jounin Sensei a goodbye kiss?-! Or even anything that's on your little mind… geez, Naruto you'll never get a girlfriend if you're like this." Ayeka said.
Naruto sighed loudly as he walked towards to his Jounin Sensei. "You know… I will thank you for this…" Naruto said to Ayeka. Slowly, he leaned close to Kurenai and then he kissed her on her right cheek but before he let her go… "I'm sorry about last night…" Naruto whispered.
Kurenai just kept still even after Naruto let her go. She didn't expect him to apologize after what had happened. It wasn't even his fault in the first place.And now, she just let him walk away just like the way she let him walk away on the night he told her that he love her.
"That's it… they're already gone…" Ayeka said. She slowly turned her heel and started to walk back along with Anko.
Kakashi sighed as he looked at his fellow Jounin. "Does it hurt that much? Why won't you just tell him how you feel?" Kakashi said.
Kurenai heard what had Kakashi said but the thing is it doesn't seem to register in her mind until…
"Hey, Naruto you're back early did you forget something?" Kakashi asked.
Immediately Kurenai was back to her senses but then there was something was missing…
Naruto wasn't there.
Kurenai only saw Kakashi looking at her. Her eyes bore down to the ground as she realized that it was only a prank.
"Do you think that was funny?" Kurenai asked. Unfortunately, Kakashi didn't get what Kurenai had said. "Do you think that was funny?-!" Kurenai shouted.
At this point, Kakashi heard the whole sentence. He didn't expect to see or even hear Kurenai yell at him like that. "K-Kurenai…it was only a joke. I was just trying to catch your attention… you were like staring at nothing." Kakashi said. But to his surprise, Kurenai stormed off, leaving Kakashi alone near the northern gate.
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A/N: TBC…
Next Chapter Feature/s: Godaime arc.
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine.