Chapter 10 of "I See You" - For A Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic & Let The Flames Begin
A/N: Hey! Sorry I haven't updated in 2 weeks. I've been busy lately.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and if I did, Naruto's parents would still be alive.
Kushina stood, watching the battles as if it were nothing. Time passed quickly and she didn't care enough to be nervous anymore. Nothing mattered anymore now that Minato and her got through. Naturally, Haruka and Ryo got through. She had been barely paying attention when that happened. Haruka had narrowly beat Akira. It was break now.
"Hey Kushina, I'll be back. Just have to run and get food" Minato said. Kushina smiled and nodded. She leaned against the wall. She had just finished washing her face and hair of Hotaru's dried blood. Her sword was still crusted with blood.
"I'm so tired…" moaned Misaki. She had just won her fight against Inomae who was leaning against the wall, half asleep.
"You exhausted yourself, Misaki-chan. Your Byakugan takes so much chakra. But you did great fighting me" Inomae said, cheerfully. She never took anything bad. Kushina smiled and she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and stared at the 19 year old Sarutobi Ren.
"You're an amazing fighter" Ren commented. Kushina looked up at him, her head raised, indignantly.
"I know. Thank you. Can I help you?" Kushina asked, coldly. Ren's eyebrows raised and he said nothing.
"I thought so…" Kushina said. She turned when she felt someone grab her wrist. On instinct she swung back around and threw out her fist. Ren caught the other one. Kushina jumped and kicked him in the chest with both feet. As he flew to the ground Kushina propelled off and flipped back into position.
"Sorry! I-I just wished to speak to you. I've never seen a genin as good as you besides Namikaze Minato. I didn't know…" Ren stammered. Kushina sneered at him and crossed her arms.
"Mhm…you didn't think there was anyone as great as him? Yeah, right. He has so much learn. He's like a baby. He doesn't know what to do" Kushina said. Ren noticed as she spoke of Namikaze Minato her voice turned endearing. Something flared within him that wasn't interest.
"I see. You have quick instincts. If I may ask, does your kekkei genkai mature?" Ren asked. Kushina nodded curtly and then a smile spread across her face as a certain thought entered her mine.
"What you doing?" she heard Minato think. She showed him her conversation and his prescence left her mind. Ren believed the smile to be for him and he was encouraged despite her now hard gaze.
"So…can I see your sword?" asked Ren. Kushina drew her sword and touched the dried blood. She took out a kunai and scraped the dried blood from the blade. Ren's outstretched fingers moved to the sword carefully.
"Stop right there. Ryūketsu no me" whispered Kushina. She hid the lines that made her kekkei genkai so distinct. Ren jerked back from her dangerous glare.
"Sorry…I have a few more questions" Ren said. Kushina held a hand up and glared
"Why are you asking me questions? Are you interested in my elder sister, Kasandora…I mean Minako?" Kushina asked. Ren laughed. He had interest in an Uzumaki but it wasn't the one that was almost his age.
"No…Kasandora is her name?" Ren asked. Kushina froze and shook her head. She felt hands wrap around her waist and Ren's gaze hardened.
"Kasandora? Are you really going to do this Kushina? Are you hiding the Ryūketsu no me?" asked a voice into her neck. Kushina froze up as lips found the back of her neck where the seal was. It pulled back and she groaned in pain as the seal work it's way down her arms.
"What are you doing? I didn't even know you knew each other" Ren snapped. He winced at Minato's gaze. He watched as strands of chakra erupted from Minato's fingers. He made her stand still as he moved to face her. Her pupils were purple. Minato rolled his eyes and sucked the chakra out of her as she fell to her knees.
"What are you doing?" Ren demanded. Misaki and Inomae exchanged a look before turning back to the brewing problem.
"He's only helping her" Misaki reassured the Sarutobi. Minato took the sword from Kushina's grip and Ren watched in surprise, as she didn't snatch it back. Minato finally cut his chakra strands and the seals receded.
"Sorry…it was starting again. Minako really needs to do something about that" Kushina apologized to Minato. Minato slid the sword back into her sheath and pulled her closer.
"It's all good, Kushina. Now that we're going on to the next phase I'm worried about our opponents. Do you know anyone who wishes to fight me?" asked Minato. Kushina laughed and nodded.
"Anyone who beats you will be recognized as strong. Everyone wants to fight you. Everyone is afraid to fight me…" sighed Kushina, sadly. Minato laughed and ran a hand through his spiky hair.
"I'm not afraid to fight you, Kushina. We both know I'd win" Minato smirked. Kushina glared at Minato, pouting.
"Because you're a cheater" Kushina snapped. Minato rolled his eyes and sighed. He shook his head.
"Isn't it just like you giving me chakra to fight Ken?" Minato asked. They had both forgotten who was standing there when Ren grabbed Minato's wrist. Suddenly, everything was quiet. Kushina's hand was on her hilt and it was half pulled out. In their eyes burned the shadow of the Ryūketsu no me. Ren let go immediately.
"You didn't even win…" Ren said. Minato and Kushina laughed in unison and crossed their arms across their chests.
"His chakra is my chakra and my chakra is his chakra. I share everything with my territory, my salvation. Ken was finished long before we had even seen the start" Kushina said. She turned around and walked away to cool off. Minato glared as Ren's gaze followed her.
"She's mine" Minato hissed. Ren jumped and Minato smirked as he was thirteen and scared Ren, a nineteen-year-old.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Ren protested. Misaki glared at Ren. Ren had forgotten they were there.
"Don't pretend. She's made for Minato. You shouldn't interfere. You're too old for her anyway" Misaki snapped. Inomae nodded in agreement. Ren stared at them, indignant.
"She is too young. She's only thirteen. I have no interest in her. I'm nineteen and a Chūnin. I have no interest in a little genin" Ren said, self righteously. He looked down at Minato who was glaring with such intensity that Ren backed away a little.
"Sarutobi. Since I met Kushina, I have feared no one. I don't fear a Chunin either. You were flirting with her. I'm in her mind at all times. Why don't you stand up and be a man about it? Fight with your bare hands about it. Because you know you'll lose. Stay away from Uzumaki Kushina" Minato hissed.
"Namikaze Minato…you've done well. You're just as powerful as your counterpart. Fight me since she isn't present" demanded a voice. He turned and saw Hyuuga Hiashi, standing there, his Byakugan activated. And suddenly far away, a woman with golden hair had a vision.
The man with the spiky golden hair stood on the Hokage Monument. He was in a Jonin uniform. The woman next to him had long bright red hair. In her hand was something white red. The woman straightened her Jounin vest.
"Come on now. Put it on" the woman chastised the man. The man sighed.
"Now?" he asked. The woman laughed softly. She stroked the sword on her waist and nodded.
"Now" she assured him. He slipped on the jacket. The woman smiled and touched his cheek.
"I'm happy that you know some battles just can't be won" the woman said. The golden haired man rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"I just didn't want to fight. There are times when you aren't supposed to fight" the man said. The woman smiled and kissed him sweetly.
"You'll be a good leader…" murmured the woman. The man turned and on the back of his coat said 'Yondaime Hokage'.
Minako emerged from vision and smiled softly and nodded.
"He's getting there…" she murmured.
Minato looked at Hiashi with an amused smirk on his face. He turned away as a chuckle escaped his mouth. Hiashi looked at him, confused before having his face become an almost emotionless mask once again.
"I'm not kidding! Fight me!" Hiashi demanded. There was a puff of smoke and Kushina appeared, perched on the table next to him. Kushina slid off and crossed her arms.
"This isn't the time to fight" Minato said. Kushina gave Hiashi a feral grin to intimidate him.
"But I'm willing to fight…anytime" she said, grinning. Hiashi faltered slightly but stood strong.
"I accept your…" Hiashi said. Minato cut him off with a look and turned back to Kushina, a hard look in his eyes.
"There is a time and place to fight. You shouldn't fight your comrades, Kushina. This isn't the place or time to fight. And could you make an effort to be less creepy? Or am I the only one who knows you aren't as creepy as you pretend to be?" asked Minato. Kushina glared at Minato.
"Shut up…" she hissed. They turned back to Hiashi and Kushina smiled, charmingly now. Hiashi was taken aback by how abruptly she had changed. It was disconcerting.
"Why won't you fight me? Are you too weak?" Hiashi demanded. Kushina shook her head slowly.
"Those who are truly strong know when to forfeit a fight. Those who are truly strong know that to fight is to give in to the ninja way of hatred" Kushina answered, thoughtfully. Hiashi looked at her confused.
"That is not Uzumaki Kushina" Hiashi concluded. Minato and Kushina exchanged a look and burst out laughing. Hiashi glared at them, hesitantly.
"I am myself. Just not the self that you are used to seeing. I am Uzumaki Kushina, sweet yet harsh girl. The other personality you know me as is the Imperial Bloody Dancer, resident monster. I prefer the personality where people fear me" Kushina said, a small smile gracing her lips. She turned back to Minato who was staring at her, boredly.
"So do I…you can be such a drag sometimes…" Minato sighed. Inomae smirked from next to the duo.
"You're using Shikaku's vocabulary. Is that such a great idea? That's how he gets in trouble with that girl that he likes from his clan" Misaki pointed out. Inomae nodded in agreement. Minato laughed and sighed. He looked up and saw Jiraiya, standing there, ready with Minako.
"Kushina…come on" Minato said. Kushina nodded and the pair walked over. Inomae and Misaki exchanged a look.
"Let's go…" Misaki whispered. The pair watched as the group walked around the corner and they stood at the corner, listening into the quiet conversation. They could see Kushina, her long hair no longer in a ponytail. It fell well below her waist when out of its ponytail.
"Kushina…I have something very important to tell you. I only just told Jiraiya-sama about it" Minako said. She didn't sound frantic but her voice held the air of someone who was going to tell someone the most important detail of his or her life.
"What does it have to do with Minato?" asked Kushina. Minako gestured at Jiraiya and he cleared his throat.
"I was going take him anyway. As you know, you're turning 14 two weeks after Minato is. The day after your fourteenth birthday, I would like you to join Minato and I on a journey" Jiraiya explained. Kushina's face showed the utmost shock. She turned to Minato who had suddenly paled.
"You were leaving? After my birthday? And you didn't tell me!" Kushina snapped. Jiraiya and Minako looked surprised and looked at the best friends. Minato stammered before quieting once again.
"I was going to…just not during the Chūnin Exams. I didn't want you to freak out and worry…" Minato explained, quietly. Kushina glared at the teenager and crossed her arms.
"Don't worry about how I'd react then. Worry about how I'm reacting now. You should've told me. How long have you been planning this trip?" demanded Kushina. She was asking Minato. She was asking Jiraiya.
"For a month now. I'll be training him. Minako suggested it. She said that you would need to go with us. She wouldn't tell me why" Jiraiya explained. Kushina nodded, slowly and turned to her elder sister.
"Do I have much of a choice?" Kushina asked, sighing. Minako laughed and shook his head.
"No…" murmured Minako. Kushina sighed and nodded. She turned Jiraiya and sent a weak glare at Minato.
"I accept…I will join you. How long is the trip?" Kushina prompted. This time she was asking Minato.
"A year…" he whispered. On impulse Misaki and Inomae jumped from their hiding place.
"No! You can't leave Konoha for a year! You've only been here for a few months" Inomae protested. Misaki and her exchanged looks and Minako, Kushina, Minato and Jiraiya sweatdropped.
"I see…I have to go. I don't have a choice" Kushina said, stubbornly. Misaki shook her head in shock and disappointment.
"Yes you do! You don't have to do what your older sister says" Misaki challenged. A short bark of a laugh escaped Kushina's mouth and she shook her head, slowly. Minako was grinning now.
"I know. I never listen to Minako. But I haveto listen to the Uzumaki prophetess if it greatly affects my future. Does this greatly affect my future?" Kushina asked, Minako. Minako nodded. Her gaze lingered on the pair and her vision returned to her. In her dreams the vision continued to visit her as if it were haunting her. Minato had been so reluctant yet strong…
"Yes, you must go" Minako said, decidedly. Kushina turned back to her friends who looked crestfallen.
"That means I must go. I have a couple weeks. You know the final round of the Chūnin Exams are held in a week. Then Minato's birthday is a week after that and then my birthday. We have about a month. I'll spend all my free time with you guys" Kushina promised. Minato stared at her with his mouth open.
"What about me?" he sputtered. Kushina glared at me and his stammering stopped abruptly.
"I'll be stuck with you and the perv for a year. I think I can spare some of you time for people I won'tbe seeing for a year…now that I think about it I think a lot of people will be relieved that I'm gone" Kushina said, thinking over it. This caused a small titter of laughter that descended into an awkward silence.
"Don't tell anyone about the trip. I want it to be as if you just…disappear. Alright?" Jiraiya said. Kushina almost nodded before she thought about her teammates…Ryo, Haruka.
"What about my teammates?" demanded Kushina. Jiraiya sighed and nodded slowly.
"You may tell your teammates. You can discuss it with your sensei" Jiraiya said, dismissively. Minako stared at Jiraiya in shock.
"You should deal with that Jiraiya, not let a teenager to deal with it. You're so irresponsible" Minako snapped to Jiraiya. Jiraiya rolled his eyes.
"I swear you nag me just as much as Tsunade…I'm lucky you're not as strong as her" Jiraiya sighed. Minako's even temper flared, unusually and glared at Jiraiya.
"Do you want to test me?" she hissed. Jiraiya shrugged, dismissively. Minako's fist flew forward and the next thing Jiraiya knew was the fact that he was clutching his arm in pain.
"That actually hurt!" Jiraiya protested. Minako smiled softly in victory and patted his arm.
"I may not be a ninja but that doesn't mean I wasn't trained to be a ninja in Whirlpool. I chose to remain as only the prophetess" Minako said. Kushina bumped fist with her sisters and turned back to Misaki and Inomae.
"Could you keep this quiet for now? I don't want this to really get out yet. I'll tell Ryo and Haruka…but not now. They have too much on their mind as it is" Kushina whispered. Misaki and Inomae nodded slowly and Kushina and Minato turned to face each other.
"So I'll be stuck with you for a year? Alright. Gives me time to make you practice, day and night," Kushina laughed. Minato groaned and glared at his sensei.
"Really, Sensei! You just had to invite her" Minato snapped. Jiraiya chuckled quietly and pointed at Minako.
"You have to have her come with you…you are destined for great things, Minato…she'll help you get there" Minako said, mysteriously. Minato rolled his eyes and laughed.
"Really? Are you purposely sounding mysterious and ominous to piss me off?" demanded Minato. Minako laughed and shrugged.
"It's just how I am…Inomae, Misaki I would advise you to return to your teammates now" Minako suggested. Inomae and Misaki nodded before tackling Kushina with a hug. The girls laughed as they helped each other up. Minato was leaning on the wall, rolling his eyes.
"Nobody would do that to me…" Minato hissed under his breath in annoyance. He was still pissed off at Minako's mysterious telling.
"Oh, shut up, Minato. All your friends are in the infirmary or forfeited. Inoichi forfeited against Shikaku. Chouja got beat down by Hizashi Hyuuga. I can't believe Hiashi passed though…so whose it now? Me, you, Hizashi, Misaki, Hiashi, Ryo, and Haruka. Wow…this will be a short phase, I think. Remember it doesn't matter who wins…just crushthem and then forfeit. I won't have my counterpart be known as a wimp who just forfeits. Forfeit after you deal damage" Kushina said, babbling slightly. Minato snickered under his breath at Misaki's expression.
"Misaki-chan, you better pray that you don't get one of us for an opponent. We don't discriminate. We'd go easy on you but…you've seen what going easy is…let's just say we aren't merciful people" Minato said, flippantly. Misaki nodded, slightly scared by his attitude.
"Let's go now…I want to spar and I need to speak to Sensei. He's outside of here" Kushina said. Minato nodded and just as he disappeared Kushina jumped on his back and they disappeared. Minako nodded and smiled.
"There's more to this, isn't there?" asked Jiraiya. Minako nodded and smiled at her colleague.
"Oh yes…there's much more in store for them. And it's going to kill Kushina when she loses her best friend" Minako whispered as Inomae and Misaki walked away, their reason for being there now gone.
"What do you mean? He's going to die?" asked Jiraiya, horrified. Minako laughed quietly and shook her head.
"Let's just say…their relationship evolves a bit past their flirting" Minako whispered. Now it was Jiraiya's turn to laugh.
A/N: Sorry if there are any grammatical errors. Hope you guys enjoyed it! Review, follow, and favorite!