Uh, Mein Gott ('my god' in German)
I've think my brother has figured my passowrd to a majority of my accounts. This meaning he's been reading my PMS, because my email says I have certain PMs, but when I go to check them, they aren't tehre. So for all of you who do send me PMs, keep this in mind.
And now I'm back! From outerspace! I come in with this look upon your faces! Thats right! Only a few days after my alst chapter, BAM! I come in with 23, count em, 23 pages. I have enver written this much, this fast. And it was ALL with my stupid brother hovering over my shoulder for god knows what reason.
Meta: *wide eyed at the amount of pages* Holy mother fucking bitch with a spoon....
Amen, Meta. Amen to that...
And and before I forget.
Sierra, I love you.
Edit: Fixed the mistakes. Soem parts of ym story were in other. Fanfcition seems to hate me. Bit tis fixed! BTW, is anyone here and artist and feel like doing a scene from the story for me? ^^;;
Chapter 10
Yes Ten!
Aka
Yosh! 23 pages! And they're spellchecked. See for yourself.
A slight wind blew through the trees, causing the leaves to rustle. Tsunako panted, holding his sword in front, ready for anything. Meta stood behind him, back to back, as they surveyed the forest around them.
"We're surrounded..." Tsunako panted. He hated daylight so much. He never had the physical advantage like other ninjas at night. Meta drew a pair of exploding notes.
"Well, it was fun while it lasted..." the armor muttered.
"How many explosives do you have let?" Tsunako asked, looking at Meta from the corner of his eye. Meta chuckled.
"8 explosive notes, 3 smoke bombs, one stick of dynamite and a few fireworks. Oh, and those weird paper things you throw on the ground and make a cracking noise with..." Meta mumbled, 'smiling'.
"Your time has come, assassin!"
Three figures leapt out of the trees around them, all of them aiming kunai at the two. Tsunako planted his feet on Meta's shoulders, and jumped into the air. He japped the hilt of his sword into the first figure's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Meta Meta grabbed a hold of the leg of the other figures and swung them around into the last one. They collapsed like a ton of bricks.
The young ninja tried to move, but found himself pinned as Tsunako planted a foot on his chest.
Raising his sword, Tsunako continued, "Your lack of skill has made you worthy not of true ninja status—but of a one-way trip to the afterlife!" The katana flashed into sight as the rhonin raised it higher, preparing to kill the young ninja. "See you in Hell!"
"Will the five of you shut the hell up!?" a woman's voice bellowed angrily. "It's six in the morning, for crying out loud!"
Tsunako sweat dropped and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Sorry Mrs. Miyo!" he called to the old woman sitting on her porch. He took his foot off of Naruto and helped him up.
"Alright, Naruto, Sonja, Ira. Tell me. What was your mistake?" Meta asked, planting the other two next to Naruto. The Sonja and Ira sighed, pointing at Naruto.
"HE compromised our position, and made us viable to the enemy." the two said, unanimously. Naruto, sweat-dropped, scratching his cheek with a finger. A red swirl could be seen on the back of his hand and one on the palm of his other hand.
"W-what? I have no idea what you're talking about. You sure that wasn't you, Ira?" he asked.
" 'You're time has come, assassin!'? Does that really seem like me, nii-san?" Ira asked, innocently.
"Hehe, good point. Alright, it was me..." Naruto admitted, giving a foxxy grin. Meta bonked him over the head with a fist.
"Revealing your position to the enemy will only get you killed!" Meta barked. "Now drop and give me five!"
"Five pushups?" Naruto asked, grinning.
"No, you stupid dolt, five hundred!" Meta said, kicking Naruto down. Naruto could only grin and began to do one armed pushups as fast as he could. Meta smirked, and shook his head.
"For being smart, you get another five hundred." the armor said, half amused.
"Yes sensei!"
Meta smirked at Tsunako. "I love my job..."
Tsunako sighed, shaking his head up at the sky, but smiling.
"He's your student. Not mine. Deal with him as you see fit." Tsunako said. He turned to Ira and Sonja, who paled. Sometimes, Tsunako-sensei could be just as sadistic as Meta when it came to punishments.
"Now, Sonja, since Konamo isn't here, I technically don't have authority over you. But Ira, its a given. Don't try to get out of it. Naruto looks lonely over there. So Ira, one thousand pushups." he said, grinning.
"Sure thing sensei!" Ira said, getting down next to Naruto. "Betcha I can do them faster." he whispered to the blonde.
"Betcha you can't." Naruto whispered back, grinning.
"If I cannot, then I shall run twice around the village!"
"If I can't, then I'll run four times around the village."
"If you both don't shut it, you'll be running twenty times with me kicking you from behind!" Meta shouted, fuming. "This is supposed to be punishment! Not fun!"
"Yes sensei!" they chanted, unanimously, smiling. This only made Meta angrier.
"What is rule number 3?!" he shouted. A very important rule that Meta had constantly drilled into their heads since day one, and the reason they had botched the training.
"Never leave an opening for your opponent, lest he strike while your guard is down. And if you do leave an opening, fix it you idiot." Ira and Naruto recited.
Tsunako left out a laugh, his voice ringing throughout the forest.
Three Months Ago
Tsunako glanced at Meta standing by the door, guarding it.
"How is he?" Tsunako asked. The armor looked up at Tsunako.
"He refuses to eat, drink, or even talk to me. He's been shattered..." Meta said, almost sadly. He stared at the rain drizzling outside, and the storm clouds that had refused to give up for days.
Naruto sat on the bed of the room he had woken up at. He had his face in his hands, and he was now dry sobbing. His tears were all gone...
"In my heart I hated you! You took the life of my parents when you were born! I tried to believe the Fourth's wishes... that you weren't the demon... but I couldn't... my parents died protecting the Leaf, while you tried to destroy it..." Iruka said. He began to unbotton his chunin vest. Rain began to pour down on them both, and lightening clashed against a wounded sky.
"And now they can rest in peace..." Iruka coughed. His chest was covered with paper bombs. "Naruto... you are the nine-tailed fox... now please... die..."
"Take my power and become a demon!"
"Take my power and become the storm!"
"Accept..."
"And live!"
As the explosives went off, a sphere of air surrounded him. The tonges of flames were swept away by the rush of a searing wind, stronger then the fabled kamikaze storms. A rush of rain dampened the hot flames before the could even trully ignite, and lightening flashed against the sky, Naruto's screams drowned in the even pounding thunder.
He laid down on the bed, bringing his knees up to his chest. He just wanted to curl up and die so badly. First Sasuke, then Lady Tsunade, and now Iruka... there wasn't anyone he could trust left. The Pervy Sage was never around to train him, and Kakashi always just trained Sasuke.
Naruto closed his eyes, just wishing he could fade away. He clutched the bed sheets, shaking in a mix of hate, fear, and sorrow. Naruto felt a weight on his bed, and a hand on his back.
"Its hard to lose a loved one..." Tsunako whispered, rubbing Naruto's back. Naruto tensed his body, eyes snapping open.
"Its all your fault..." Naruto whispered, angrily. His eyes opened, and he quivered with emotion.
"I know..." Tsunako said, his hand still on Naruto's back.
'If you hadn't come to Leaf... then Lady Tsunade wouldn't have sent me on this mission... my Sasuke wouldn't have tried to attack and my team wouldn't have let me... and... and Iruka wouldn't have had to die..." Naruto said, angrier then ever. He turned and faced Tsunako, his eyes red from the rage leaking through. The rhonin smiled sadly.
"I know... and in a way... your right... and I'm sorry..." Tsunako said, gently. He gently took Naruto's hand, and squeezed it. "I don't expect you to forgive me, Uzumaki-sama, but just list-" Tsunako said, but Naruto turned and punched him in the face and knocked him off the bed before he could finish.
"WHY COULDN'T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE? HUH?! I DON'T NEED YOUR FREAKING PITY! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING!" Naruto shouted. He was surprised as Tsunako got up and punched him back, sending him hurtling against the wall. Through the stars, he could see Tsunako's right arm spasming and the muscles cramping, and he was clutching it painfully.
"Please... do not anger me Uzumaki-sama... you are... not the only one to feel grief..." Tsunako said, panting, evidently trying to get control of himself. "We both have demons inside of us, and have lost the ones we loved... so don't act... like I don't understand... there are more people like you and me so close to us right now... its a sin..." Tsunako said, with clenched fist. He sighed, relaxing his grip, and slumped against the wall. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. Naruto got up, and rubbed the back of his head. Tsunako had raised quite a bump. What Tsunako had just said made him think.
Tsunako stood upright, and left the room. Naruto followed him into much larger room that was a kitchen, living room, and training room combined. A set of windows let fresh air into the home, the sweet smell of flowers wafting in from a beautiful garden outside.
"Sit down..." Tsunako said, putting a kettle on to boil. "I'll make us some tea..." Naruto took a seat at the table Tsunako had by a small fireplace with a mantle. Pictures lined the top of it in their frames, the glass reflecting the light. Naruto stared at them, interested while Tsunako worked in the kitchen. He saw a brown hair teenager with a sword, no older then himself, smiling at the camera holding a white haired baby wrapped in swaddling blankets. The same teenager with a bunch of other teens, all with swords as well. Naruto could've sworn that he recognized a few of them. Another picture of the brown-haired teen, feeding the baby.
"That's you, isn't it?" Naruto asked, looking at the pictures. The teen was defiantly Tsunako when he was younger. "Whose the kid?"
Tsunako smiled and set down a tray of tea at the table. He sat down, pouring a cup for himself.
"That's Ira's baby pictures... I think that one was taken a few days after I found him..." Tsunako said, smiling. "He was an orphan from the civil war. A short time before that, a majority of the Kaguya clan revolted against the Mist. They couldn't control their blood lust. Only a few of them survived." Tsunako said. He poured a cup for Naruto, explaining.
"It was a cold winter's night about ten years ago. I was twelve at the time and my sensei had left me about a year before that. I was walking home from my favorite tea shop, trying to drown out my sorrow in jasmine and green tea. I had been depressed for a very long time. I remember, it was just beginning to snow. And I heard crying... and I found Ira. He was just left to die in a dumpster... they couldn't even put clothes on a new born... hell, they looked like they had just cut his umbilical cord... and they left him to die..." Tsunako said, sadly. He grimaced.
"So what did you do?" Naruto asked, a sad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He took a sip of his tea. It was delicious.
"Well...."
Zabuza yawned, walking through the door of the Mizukage's office. He had been called early that morning by the Anbu that the Mizukage had summoned the Seven. He thought it was another assassination mission they had to do. Boy was he wrong.
What he saw shocked him.
Each of the hardened, battle worn, youthful Seven were gathered around a cradle. In it was a wailing, crying baby.
Mao was chanting over it, waving his ridiculous staff over the child for good luck, and Kisame looked like he would chomp off either the baby's or Mao's leg off if they didn't be quiet. Raika was clamping his hands over his ears, trying to block out the noise and Tsunako, their leader, the fabled heir to the Lunaros Clan, had picked the white haired baby up and was ridiculously cradling the baby in his arms, the motion seeming to quiet to crying baby. Konamo, the only swordswoman was cooing over the baby and saying who cute and adorable it was. And Raiga was hovering over them. He loved kids.
The Mizukage, an old man with grizzled gray hair, but well respected by the people of Mist at the time, rubbed his temples.
"Zabuza Momochi. I have gathered the Seven today because Tsunako has found something interesting. Take a look at the child..."
Zabua peered closer, and noticed the two red marks on the child forhead.
"He's one of the Kaguya Clan." Zabuza answered.
"Precisely. He is still young, and there aren't many Kaguya left." the Mizukage said, stroking his beard. "A weapon must first be forged the cut through steel before it is ready. I think its time for one of you to take on an apprent-"
"I'll take him." Tsunako answered, right away, looking up with a determined look in his eye. "I'll raise him... with or without your permission."
There was a deathly chill in the air as the Mizukage and Tsunako stared each other down.
'Tsunako, if you had been anyone else that I did not respect, I would have killed you right there for your impudence." the Mizukage said, with a sigh.
"And I would've given one hell of a fight, right old man?" Tsunako said, grinning. The Mizukage gave a chuckle.
"Maybe.. very well... he is yours to do as you please, Tsunako."
Tsunako got up with the baby, and gave a short bow, walking out of the room. After closing the door behind him, he smiled, and looked down at the baby staring back up at him with blue eyes.
"Lets see... what would be a good name for you? Maybe Naga... nah, to feminine. How about Ira?" Tsunako asked, rocking the baby. There was a smile from the baby.
"Aha! Got it, didn't I?" Tsunako asked, grinning broadly. "Alright Ira, you're coming with me. From now on, I'll be your new daddy..."
"And that's how it went." Tsunako asked, sipping his tea.
"So you raised him? But you were just twelve!" Naruto asked. He couldn't possibly imagine trying to raise a baby by himself right now. Tsunako gave a small smile.
"So? What's really needed to raise a child? Clothes, money? Those are necessary, but the true component is a parents love." Tsunako said, winking.
"So, why does he have his own apartment now?" Naruto asked. Tsunako smiled embarrassedly.
"Well... when he finally got old enough to understand that I was going to train him, he was over-thrilled. The kid was ecstatic, because its rare that the Seven pick up apprentices... but he insisted he move out... and about that time, he stopped calling me Dad and started calling me Sensei." Tsunako said sadly. "I hope he hasn't changed the thought of me completely."
"You're mother did a fine job as a panre, too though..." Tsunako said after a long pause, looking towards the mantle place. Naruto frowned.
"She died when I was born. That's all I know about her. She didn't raise me..." Naruto said darkly. He looked towards where Tsunako was staring, and his eyes grew wide. The very last photograph was a faded black and white picture. It showed a little dark-haired baby in a bath tub, covered in bubbles and laughing happily at the long-haired girl who sat at the edge, holding a rubber ducky just out of his reach. She was smiling, and happy too, practically radiating maternal love.
"Is that..." Naruto asked, getting up. He picked the picture up off the mantle, and stared at it. The faces were so similar, yet so different...
"Yeah... that's her... at your age..." Tsunako said, with a sad smile. He sipped his tea. "You're mother was a wonderful woman, Naruto. The same way I've raised Ira, she raised me." he said, smiling. That was the truth. "Basically the same story, really, down to every last detail..." That was a lie.
"I thought..."
"You thought she was a Leaf-Nin. Like your father?" Tsunako asked, half amused. "I can assure you, she was born right here in Mist. To a very nice set of parents. Your grandparents were furious when she wanted to become a swordswoman." Tsunako said, smiling.
"Are they... you know..." Naruto asked, a bit of hope raising in him. Tsunako sighed.
"Your Grandfather was killed on a mission to Rock, back when he came out of retirement for a few years. That was about a year before you were born. And your Grandmother passed away a few years ago. I'm sorry, Naruto." Tsunako told him, sadly. Naruto's hair hid his face, to hid the twinge of sorrow he felt inside.
"You would've liked your grandmother..." Tsunako said, smiling. "She was a very outspoken women. A lot like you actually. Pretty loud." he teased, poking Naruto's forehead. Naruto looked up a gave a small smile. "Now your grandfather, he was a real hum-dinger. He was totally against your mom having me. He thought I would never become a warrior." Tsunako laughed. "Believe me, it was hard trying to appease the Walrus of the North. He was a regular old dog of war..." Tsunako said, grinning fiercely.
"Walrus of the North?" Naruto asked, with a half smile. "What kind of a nickname was that?" Tsunako grinned broadly.
"You're like me, Naruto. Our clans, and a good number of others in this village, come from the lands of ice and snow from the far North. Legend has it that we came from the great Sea of Ice. Where the plains of snow stretch on forever, spotted here and there by tundra and great shimmering lights in the sky..." Tsunako said, almost dreamily. He looked at Naruto, who was drinking in every word. "You're grandfather was a large man of brute strength, but just as deadly with his twin blades..."
Tsunako had Naruto there for a many hours, telling him everything he could about his family. Naruto never seemed to run out of questions. Everything Tsunako answered just led to more questions. Did his mother have any friends when she was his age? What did she teach him? What were his grandparents like? Could his grandmother make ramen?
Eventually, the sun was casting long shadows into the home, burning orange in the sunset. Naruto finished his second bowl of seafood ramen that Tsunako made for him. Tsunako sat down to his own bowl.
"The secrete is to let the shrimp stew in their own juices first, then add that juice to the broth as you put in the shrimp. And only use watercress and just a touch of mint. I know, it doesn't sound good, but you feel that spicy tingle? The tingle is the mint." Tsunako explained, pulling apart his chopsticks.
"AMPFH- Its delicious..." Naruto said between mouthfuls. Heck, it was almost as good as Ichiraku's ramen. And that was saying something.
"Why thank-you." Tsunako said, smiling. He began to eat as fast as Naruto. "You're mother taught me to make it..."
"Can you teach me" Naruto asked, hopefully.
"Of course. Why would I keep a recipe this good to myself. That would a such a sin..." Tsunako teased, refilling both his and Naruto's bowl. He looked up as Meta entered the home, wearing a gardener's hat, and carrying a basket filled with herbs and plants.
"Ah, you're back." Tsunako said brightly.
"Yeah, I'm back after working all day in up keeping YOUR garden. And I come home to find YOU sitting and laughing your ass off, stuffing your face. You ungrateful bastard..." Meta said annoyed, as he set the basket on the kitchen counter.
"Tsunako-sensei made ramen if you want some!" Naruto called to Meta, waving his bowl happily. Meta glared at him.
"Oh hardy har har, you think your very don't you? Just wait till I put firecrackers in those sandals of yours..." Meta grumbled, as he began to dice the vegetables.
Tsunako laughed heartily, 'saying Good one' to Naruto and slapping the blonde haired ninja on the back. Naruto grinned, and a thought struck his mind. When did he start calling Tsunako his sensei? He barely knew him?
That was wrong.
He knew a lot about his past, and his childhood. Tsunako had told him EVERYTHING. Kyuubi before had told him how his kekei genkai worked and how his clan even came to be. Heck, he knew more about Tsunako, then Tsunako knew about him.
"So... if I might ask... what do you plan on doing now?" Tsunako asked Naruto gently. Meta snorted, but continued to cut the vegetables. Naruto paused. What was he going to do now? Could he go back to Leaf safely? Or did Lady Tsunade really want him dead...
"Hey, come here..." Tsunako said, getting up from the table and going over to the dojo part of his home.
'What for?" Naruto asked.
"I wanna see something..." Tsunako said, going over to a rack of wooden swords. He picked each one up in turn, murmuring things like 'too big', or 'too heavy'. He finally found one he liked and tossed it to Naruto, before picking one up himself.
"Here, come at me with everything you got..." Tsunako said, getting into a stance.
"WHAT?! You'll clobber me!" Naruto said, holding the sword unsure. Even though it was wooden, it was unusually heavy in his arms.
"Nah, you'll do fine. Here, I'll even fight you with one hand behind my back." Tsunako said, holding the sword in one hand. He held the sword, almost as if he was fencing now. "En garde!" he said, lunging forward. Naruto tucked and rolled to the side, to avoid Tsunako strike. Tsunako moved forward, swiping at Naruto's heels.
"What the hell! Give me a chance to get up!" Naruto shouted, trying to scramble to his feet. Tsunako rapped Naruto's free hand with the sword.
"Never give you're an opponent a chance to breathe. Don't show him any mercy, because chances are he wont show you any either." Tsunako said. He turned swiftly and cut apart the Shadow clone that tried to attack him from behind. He turned again, blocking a strike from Naruto and kicked him in the stomach. Naruto fell back, only to disappear into another cloud of smoke. Tsunako jabbed upwards, catching another Shadow Clone in the gut as it tried to stab him from above. He side stepped just in time as the real Naruto tried to stab him from behind, and grabbed Naruto by the throat, pinning him to the ground. He had his wooden sword poised as though he'd stab him in the throat.
"Okay! You win! Enough!" Naruto said, staring at the sword. His wooden one was held forgotten in his hand.
"You're pathetic." Tsunako said, disgustedly. He got off of Naruto. "So much potential, and yet you refuse to use it... your not even a weapon yet! You're a blunt piece of raw iron that has yet to be even heated." Tsunako said, shaking his head sadly. Naruto got up, angry.
"Well what the hell was I suppose to do? You're one of the freaking Seven of the Mist..." Naruto shouted, tossing his sword to the side. It clattered against the corner.
"Meta!" Tsunako called. Suddenly, the wooden sword in his hands exploded in a shower of wood chips. Imbedded in the wall next to where Tsunako's hands were near was a metal spoon. Tsunako yanked it out.
"You see this? This shattered a wooden sword in the hands of 'One of the Seven of the Mist'. It doesn't matter who you are, what you have, what clan your from, or how good your weapon is. ANYTHING in the hands of an experienced and trained warrior can be deadlier than any kekei genkei." Tsunako said. Meta waved cheekily from the kitchen, holding up more silverware.
"I am Meta! Shinigami of Silverware!" the armor joked. Tsunako threw the spoon at his helmet, where it collided with an audible thonk.
"Yeah yeah. Meta the great windbag is more like." Tsunako muttered. He glanced at Naruto. "My point is, there ARE no excuses. There is nothing I hate more then someone who relies on raw talent alone. Only through years of training will let you accomplish anything." Tsunako firmly.
Naruto thought about it. Tsunako, was partially right. All one had to do was look at Rock Lee, who trained every day. And Lee could still probably flatten Neji, who had his Byakugan, in a fight.
"And how long would it take to gain skill like yours?" Naruto asked. Meta laughed from the back ground.
"Depends, do you still want your soul intact?" Meta muttered, scrubbing at a pot.
"It would take years of natural training. The ways of Kenjutsu are closely guarded secrets. You have a basis for it, seeing what family you come from. But lets be honest with each other. That's the only thing you have going for you." Tsunako sighed. He opened the door to his home, letting in a cool night breeze. He walked outside to his garden. Terraces of sakura trees, always in bloom thanks to a jutsu, lined the walkways to his home, while vines of moonflowers ran up their trunk. Their white open heads drank the moonlight in greedily, while moths hovered about them. To each other side of the walkway was a garden with a wide variety plants, and flowers, and vegetables.
Naruto followed Tsunako outside, gazing in awe at the wide garden, the pink sakura blossoms moving in the breeze.
"The guy is right, Kit." Kyuubi said, from inside of Naruto's mind. "I really, really don't like you. But we're stuck together. If you die, I die as well." Kyuubi muttered, depressed. "You're pathetic for a shinobi. You know only two jutsu, which you use constantly. Both take tremendous amounts of chakra, both of which you can perform because you have me. You have no genjutsu ability whatsoever, and your taijutsu fucking sucks." Kyuubi said. "Your weapons ability is just as bad. Your 'teachers' don't give you anything important, and your summon just about hates your guts. Hell, if it wasn't for me, you'd have been dead along time ago."
Naruto's heart sunk. Kyuubi was right. The only jutsu he knew were the Shadow Clone and Rasengan, and he couldn't fight every battle with them. Most battles he only won by sheer numbers.
"But you DO have a potential in kenjutsu. Lunaros has a talent for seeing potential ability, though he's terrible at gauging current talent, causing him to sometimes over estiamte his opponents." Kyuubi said. "Plus, once your kekei genkei is..." Kyuubi instantly shut up. He wasn't suppose to say a word about it. The last thing the Kit needed in his head was the thought that he didn't always have to rely on him.
"What?!" Naruto exclaimed mentally. "What did you just say!"
"Nothing. I didn't say anything!" Kyuubi lied, panicking.
"Kyuubi just said something about me having a kekei genkai." Naruto said. Tsunako looked up surprised. "What does he mean?" Naruto asked.
Tsunako sighed, and turned his head away, rubbing the back of his hair unsure. "I'm not sure you want to know..." Tsunako muttered, sighing.
"No, I want to know. I need to know everything. Tell me." Naruto asked, almost pleadingly. He had to know. He had a bloodline too? What was it like?
Tsunako seemed to have a cloud of sadness hang over him as he disappeared inside his home. A minute later, he was back out, and a sealed envelope was in his hands.
"This is for you... your mother gave this to me to safe-keep before she left with your father for Leaf. That was the last time I saw her..." Tsunako said with a sad smile. "She was pregnant with you at the time..."
Naruto snatched the envelope and ripped it open, reading the letter inside.
Dear Naruto,
If you are reading this, then it means that I've finally joined my own father in the rain. I'm so sorry Naruto, for leaving you. I asked my apprentice, Tsunako-kun to give you this when he felt the time is right. Hopefully, this means you are safe and happy with your father, and that he has taken you to Mist to continue our family's training. Naruto, I would give anything to see you as you are right now. You cannot believe of how proud of you I am. I am writing this letter to inform, no, to protect you from my mistakes.
It is true that I was one of the Seven. My parents were upset at first, but my father who had been a Seven in years past allowed me. Those were some of the best years in my life. The Seven was like another family to me. And Tsunako-kun's father and mother were some of my best friends. Although when Rikka got pregnat with him I almst beat the hell out of Tsume. What were they thinking having a kid at 15? I mean, I knew about Tsume's condition, but still! Its a shame Tsunako never knew them, though. They were wonderful people, as well as the rest of my 'family'. I tried to give him the same love that had been given to me, and I don't regret it.
But eventually being a swordswoman got to me. Sometimes when I turned on the shower or faucet, all I saw was blood coming out. I had to reassure myself many times that it would go away soon. That the screams I heard in my sleep weren't actually there. Being a shinobi of any kind is a heavy burden my some, and greater for others sometimes.
Eventually I met your father on a mission to Leaf. He seemed to understand me in ways that only my team mates could. But he didn't have the same blood lust we did. He lived a rather peaceful life. He was incredibly manipulative though. He was a brilliant man, but even when we small talked he always seemed to have some sort of hidden agenda. I found out that agenda when he became Hokage and I found out I was pregnant with you.
Hopefully, you won't ever have to read this. But if you do, and your training isn't complete, your father can help fill in the basics. And if, kami forbid it, he isn't there as well, then trust in Tsunako. My mom and dad probably left him alot of things that could help you, including training scrolls. After that, its up to you sweetheart. Only hard work and training can allow you to master our ability. By the time the red swirls appear, you should have begun your training.
Our clan's kekei genkai is called the Amefurikozo. We are the children of the storm, and the wind, and the rain, Naruto. Our power comes from the skies above. With it, our clan has been able to create and manipulate storms, wind, water, and even lightening. The training scrolls will guide you through, but remember. Hard work achieves over any other kind of talent.
I can feel you kicking Naruto. It will be soon, I hope. I'm looking forward to being a mother, I really am. I hope that I'll be able to teach you myself. I hope that I'll still be around to see if you graduate and become a fine young ninja swift on his way to becoming the next Hokage... or who knows? Maybe the next Mizukage? Stranger things have happened my son. And if something does happen to me. Please remember, Naruto.
I love you.
We must be as gentle as the rain.
Kushina Uzamaki, Kamikaze of the Mist.
Naruto stood there, crying. The letter was held clenched in his hand. She was real She wasn't just some name someone kept tossing around. She was an actual person. And she loved him. She had actually cared. And he had a bloodline. He wasn't trash. He was was once a perfectly clear night had now became covered in storm clouds. A light drizzle of rain watered the earth. Only this time Naruto knew that it wasn't just the rain...
He tucked the envelope into his gi, staring up at the clouds. He didn't feel alone anymore.
"What was in that letter was for your eyes only, Naruto." Tsunako said, leaning against the tree. He closed his eyes. "This is how your bloodline will manifest itself until the swirls appear. They should have been revealed when you were eight, but a certain seal back them back. But I think Kyuubi has been weakening the seal all this time, so they're finally being released..." Tsunako said. He looked upwards towards the night sky as the rain fell. "They should appear soon. Once they do, you can utilize the Amefurikozo, and begin training with it." Tsunako began to walk back towards the house. "I'm sure you can find someone in Leaf to help you train it once you get back..."
"I'm not going back." Naruto said. Tsunako stopped walking.
"So where will you go then?" Tsunako asked, not glancing back.
"There's no one there for me anymore. Iruka-sensei was right... the people don't want me there." Naruto said. He smiled, and looked towards the sky. "I thought when I came on this mission, I was going to a new place... but it seems like I was actually coming home..."
Tsunako smirked for a moment, but it was gone in a second. Whether it was Kyuubi or the seal influencing Naruto, it didn't matter anymore. The boy seemed to be making his own choices now.
"So you're staying then..." Tsunako asked, glancing back at him. Naruto nodded.
"Yeah... and... I was... I was hoping to train under you..." Naruto asked, hopefully. Tsunako looked thoughtful for a minute.
"Absolutely not." he said at last.
"NANI?!" Naruto shouted. "Why not?!"
"Reason Number One: You're too loud for my tastes. Reason Number Two: You're not even a Mist-nin, so it wouldn't be possible. And finally, Reason Number 3: I already have my own apprentice. A swordsman can only take on one apprentice at a time. And Ira happens to be that apprentice..." Tsunako said, pointedly. He sweat-dropped at how downcast Naruto looked.
"B-But I'll tell you what. Tomorrow I'll go to the Mizukage tower and get you citizenship for Mist. As for teaching you.... META!!! GET OUT HERE!!" Tsunako shouted. Meta stuck his head out the door, eyeing the sky warily.
"What?! What the fuck do you want now?"
"Congrats, you have an apprentice now." Tsunako said, walking back towards the house. Meta looked at Naruto and put two and two together.
"Of fuck. Hell no. No fucking way. Nu uh. I am not training the little dipshit. The little mother fucker cant even throw a punch right!" Meta said, angrily. "Oh sure! Just throw more shit onto my to do list! Its not like I don't already take care of every single goddamn problem around this place! Now you want me to train him! Forget it!" Meta said, growing angrier with every thought of it.
"Can't one of the Seven train me? Please?" Naruto asked, glancing at Meta a little frightened.
"Sorry, but Mao the Taoist Nutball is the only free-be at the moment." Tsunako said, amused. "I'm sure the two of you would get along great. Infact, I think I can hear him screaming 'Teakettle' right now..."
Naruto sweat dropped.
"I think I'll take the armor..." Naruto said, hesitantly.
"You still haven't gotten me to agree to ANYTHING." Meta said, fuming. Tsunako whispered something to him, and Meta's eyes grew wide, but whether from fear or awe, Naruto wasn't sure.
"You wouldn't do it, no, you couldn't do it!" Meta said, in a soft voice.
"I always keep my word. Keep that in mind..." Tsunako said, nodding, as he disappeared inside the house. Meta muttered something under his breath, and looked at Naruto standing in the rain.
"Well, comeone you little gaki. Get inside. Before you get a cold or something. Get to sleep early, because your getting up at the crack of dawn to train. Is that understood?" Meta asked.
"Yes Meta...sensei..." Naruto said. Meta sighed.
"I am never gonna get used to this..." the armor muttered. He made to turn and go back inside, but paused and jerked his thumb at Naruto's headband.
"And for the love of kami, take that off..." Meta said. Naruto took his headband off, looking at the Leaf symbol.
"Oh, and Naruto... one more thing..." Meta called. Naruto looked up.
"Welcome to our family..."
"Hey Naruto, close your eyes," said Iruka. Naruto complied and when he opened them, he noticed the Iruka's hitai-ate was no longer on Iruka's head. It was his. Naruto began to jump for joy and his happiness was infectious.
"Congrats Naruto! You passed! Your now a ninja!
Naruto went inside, the Leaf hitai-ate left forgotten in the rain.
Two Days Later
"GO!"
Meta ran forward, feigning a punch at Naruto, before sliding systematically into a sweep kick. Taken off guard, Naruto managed to turn his fall into a series of back flips before turning to face Meta again. "Almost got me there sensei!"
Deciding to attack head on, Naruto closed in on Meta before launching a flurry of punches. With no trouble at all, Meta dodged each one, redirecting the last punch toward the ground. As Naruto fell forward, Meta swung his right leg around, aiming for the back of Naruto's head. His foot collided with Naruto's head, sending the blonde face first into the ground.
"Stop." Tsunako said, clicking a timer. "Congrats Naruto, you lasted five seconds more then last time."
Naruto got up, scowling. "So how long is that?"
"Exactly 17 seconds." Meta grumbled, swinging his arm around. Tsunako blocked a sword strike from Ira and Sanjo, and vanished, appearing on their swords.
"You know, you two have excellent views of my feet..." Tsunako said, kicking them each across the face. They were sent hurtling into a set of trees.
"Tsunako, if you beat Sanjo up to badly, I won't be able to teach her that new jutsu..." Konamo said from a tree. her legs hung off of it, and she was watching the fights. Sanjo stuck her tounge out at Tsunako. "Oh, and Sanjo. If you don't last more then a minute, I won't teach you that new jutsu..." Konamo said, innocently.
"What! Sensei that isn't fair!" Sanjo cried. She gave a loud eep as Tsunako's sword barely missed the top of her head.
"Then stop day dreaming and fight!" Ira shouted, launching a side attack at his sensei. Tsunako blocked the strike, and pulled off a flip kick into Ira's chest.
"That was so ripped off of a Jet Lee movie..." Meta sighed, sweat dropping as Naruto's face met the ground for the hundreth time that day. "Clean yourself off..." he muttered, tossing a towel onto Naruto. Naruto grabbed the towel, wiping that dirt off of his face.
"It would be easier to hit you if I wasn't wearing this stupid weights." Naruto muttered, raising his arm. Meta have given him weighted clothing to wear under his new clothes. "Twenty pounds is insane..."
"You think thats bad? Tsunako-sensei makes me wear fifty!" Ira protested.
"Your all a bunch of dumplings, you know that?" Tsuanko said. He tapped his rhonin clothes, which produced a dull clinking noise. "six-hundred pounds right here."
Konamo snorted before pointing to her kimono. "Only six-hundred? You sissy. Eight-hundred pounds."
"Yeah, but we expect you to be good at carrying heavy stuff. I mean, for nine-months you have too..." Meta mumbled.
"What was that!?" Konamo shouted, a tick mark on her forehead.
"For nine-months you carry around a ten pound baby. What the hell am I suppose to think?" Meta answered, before paling as Konamo came after him.
For the rest of the afternoon, Meta and Konamo were busy playing were playing a game of hide and seek. Or maybe it was 'META, GET BACK HERE SO I CAN FUCKING KILL YOU, YOU PILE OF SCRAP!'.
------------
"What do you mean he's gone!" Tsunade screamed. Kakashi paled at the woman's fury.
"Three guards were killed one the outer wall late last night, M'Lady. Mostly by burn marks. We have reason to believe that it was Sasuke Uchiha's work, and that he's join Orochimaru." Kakashi said. Tsunako through her bottle at him, and missed. It smashed against the wall into a thousand pieces of glass. First Iruka's death, and Naruto was still missing, and now this!
"Do you know for sure that it was Sasuke going to Orochumaru?" Tsunade asked, rubbing her forehead.
"Well, we've known that Sasuke has tried to leave before. Also, I think the graffiti on the outer wall kinda gives it away..." Kakashi said, handing Tsunade a picture of the scene. Her eye twitched.
"You gotta admit, the boy has artistic style..." Kakashi said, picking up his book again.
2 weeks later
Naruto awoke to the sound of his alarm clock screaming in his ear. He knocked onto the ground, pulling the pillow over his head. It was to early in the morning. He sighed, getting up out of bed and putting on his clothes.
"Ira. Comeon. Its time to get up..." Naruto whispered, shaking the boy next to him. Ira muttered something, turning over.
"Its five o'clock in the morning, nii-san. Just five more minutes..." Ira begged. He rubbed his eyes as Naruto turned on the light. For the past weeks he had begun to call Naruto nii-san, since they constantly tried to one-up each other, but in a good way. During sparring they always had each others back. And since they were connected in a way (Ira being Tsunako's 'son' and Tsunako being Kushina's 'son'), they had no problem sharing an apartment together. Naruto didn't mind. It gave him someone else in his life to care about.
Ira sighed, pulling on his kimono and hakama. They were going to meet their sensei's early that morning to help set up for the Star Festival.
"This has got to be the worst mission ever..." Ira muttered, as they walked out the front door. They didn't even have time for breakfast.
"We just gotta get it over with..." Naruto muttered. In a few minutes, they were at the bridge where they were suppose to meet their team mate. Sanjo gave a very friendly smile when she saw Naruto.
"Hey, Naruto-kun, do you want to hang out today?" she asked, blushing. In other villages, dating a dating a demon container was a taboo, but in Mist Village, everyone knew about the Kyuubi vessel. Naruto had made friends with alot of the villagers, and even had a few fans in the academy. Of course, even without the Kyuubi giving Naruto the image of a powerhouse, he was the son of a highly regarded Swordswoman and the apprentice of a rather prodigious metallic Jonin. Naturally, this gave the boy a sort of status in Sanjo's eyes.
But she didn't care. She had seen Naruto fight on television during the Chunin exams earlier. One look at him, and it was love at first sight for her. He just gave off this image of kindness and courage. The only thing she had to go on was Naruto Uzumaki. She had done all sorts of research on him afterwards from her sensei, and when she knew his back ground, she knew it was meant to be. And then, when he was admitted to her family's hospital, she couldn't stop thanking Tsunako. It was fate! Now if she could only stop making a fool of herself!
"But it's raining like hell today, Sanjo." Naruto pointed out, waving a hand at sky. Suddenly, water fell in rolling sheets, making nearly impossible to see where one was headed. Such a thing was a common occurrence in Kiri. Ever since a certain Uzumaki gained a bit more control over his powers.
"Great. Now I'm going to be soaking wet." Ira said, pulling an umbrella seemingly out of nowhere.
Sanjo pouted, her lower lip sticking out.
"Please?" she asked weakly.
Meh," Naruto shrugged. "We have to get this festival rolling. But maybe afterwards..."
Naruto was knocked back as Sanjo hugged him.
"Oh thank-you, thank-you!" she said, happily. Naruto blushed. There was nothing wrong with Sanjo. But he was so unused to actually having someone chase after him instead of the other way around. He didn't have the heart to cut her off like Sakura always did to him. And besides, Sanjo was rather pretty.
"Ahem." came a voice behind them. They turned to see Tsunako, Konamo and Meta. Meta was holding an umbrella over himself, muttering about the rain, and Tsunako kept tring to blow his hair out of his face.
"Eh he, Sorry sensei..." Naruto said, sheepishly. The rain stopped a moment later.
"THAT'S better..." Meta said, closing the umbrella and shaking the water off of it. "Alright, Sanjo, you're with us today for helping to decorate the square."
"What about nii-san and me?" Ira asked. Tsunako shook his head.
"I'd like to have a little talk to Naruto and you, Ira..." Tsunako said. He watched as the others left, and then turned to Naruto.
"So I hear your first C mission was a success." Tsunako said, smiling. Naruto nodded. Team Blue Moon (as Meta liked to call it) had been assigned to break into a rich merchant's house and steal a series of scrolls. The missions were much more enjoying and challenging then the ones they gave at Leaf. Mist would take on any mission, no matter how 'low' it was.
"Good, glad to hear it." Tsunako said.
"What did you want to talk to us about?" Naruto asked.
"Meh, I heard Leaf was also having a festival today. Who knew? Anyway, I have business in Leaf, and I'd thought you might wanna come along. Check out the old stomping ground and what not. Maybe pick up anything you need at your house." Tsunako said, smiling. Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but Tsunako put his arm around him and Ira.
"I'm not taking no for an answer..." the Swordsman said, as they vanished in a whirl of white petals.
Around the Village Hidden in the Leaf people were celebrating. There was now two reasons to celebrate. Not only could they cheer for the Fourth who had fought a glorious battle with the Kyuubi no Kitsune all those years ago but they could now celebrate the fact that they had finally gotten rid of the taint the battle had left on their good town. Naruto the demon child was dead! Iruka had valiantly killed him when the brat had tried to flee to Mist. A large number of storm clouds covered the sky. Every so often a firework would go off, showering the village with dancing light and color.
Tsunako stood of the face of the Hoakge Mountain, grinning. He stretched his arms out.
"I had no idea the Leaf could throw such a party! I smell fried food and goodies and sweet smelling baked goods all over this city."
"I think ours is nicer." Ira said. He had noticed how subdued his nii-san was when they came here. Tsunako seemed oblivient.
"I'm gonna go take care of business, kay?" Tsunako said, dropping a small bundle of coins into Naruto's hand. "You guys have fun." the rhonin said, as he vanished in a whirl of petals again. Naruto clutched the bag, and grimaced.
"Is everything okay, nii-san?" Ira asked, tugging on Naruto sleeve. Naruto sighed, feeling his heart drop. "No, not really, Ira..."
"Why not?" Ira asked.
"Its nothing, Ira. I just don't like this festival at all..." Naruto said, with a weak smile. "Come on, I know a good ramen stand around here..."
"Lady Tsunade, someone's here to see you..." Shizune said. Tsunade sighed, slumped voer her desk. The paper work never seemed to stop.
"Tell them I'm not here... I'm not in the mood..." Tsunade said. Shizune hesitated.
"I think you might wanna see them, M'lady..." Shizune said, before someone pushed past her.
"Hey granny! Whats up?" Tsunako said, grinning as he stopped into the Hokage office. He side stepped a punch from Tsunade's fist, and blocked a kick from her with the sheath of his sword.
"YOU BASTARD!! What the hell are you doing here! Where's Naruto?!" Tsunade screamed. Tsunade backed up, sweat dropping.
"Can't we talk about this!" he asked, giving a sheepish grin. He dodged a desk being thrown at him. "Apparently not..."
"This is where you lived?" Ira asked, in shock. Naruto apartment was a compete disaster, filthy, and run down. Profane graffiti was on some of the wall, and he was astounded the lights even worked. Ira couldn't hide a look of concern as he stepped in and looked around.
"Since I was four..." Naruto said, opening up his closet. There wasn't anything he really needed. Like hell would he ever wear that stupid orange jumpsuit again. All he really wanted to do was to pick up his mission reward savings, any spare ninja gear he had, and maybe a few extra changes of clothes and leave. "Im just glad they didn't ransack the place."
"This is a sin..." Ira said. He looked out the window. A large wooden replica of the Kyuubi was being burned outside in street. "What are they celebrating?"
"My birthday..." Naruto answered. He threw a picture of Team 7 at the wall where it shattered. "You already know the story about me and Kyuubi. I guess today is my birthday. They always throw this festival today."
"Did they give you presents?" Ira asked, unsure. Naruto gave a laugh.
"Sure Ira. Lots of presents! Tons infact! As many beatings and stabbings and rapings as I wanted." Naruto said, angrily. He threw out another picture. This time of Iruka.
"I'm sorry..." Ira whispered. Naruto didn't say anything and continued rummaging through his stuff. "Today is my birthday too..."
Naruto paused.
"Really?" he asked. Ira nodded, and sat on Naruto's bed. "Thats when Tsunako-sensei found me. So, I think of it as my birthday. Today's the day, 11 years ago. During the Star Festival. Thats why I love it so much. Its like one big party, all for me." Ira said, smiling. "And now Naruto nii-san can celebrate his party with me now too."
Naruto chuckled, smiling gently. An orange jump suit landed on Ira's lap. "Well then, happy birthday nii-chan." Naruto said, grinning. Ira picked it up and stuck his tounge out.
"No way am I ever gonna wear this..." Ira said. Naruto laughed, and picked up a green spandex suit that Gai had once given him.
"Howabout this?"
"Oh kami no. Tell me you weren't on the same team as that bushy brow guy." Ira asked, almost pleadingly. "He was cool, but freaky at the same time."
Somewhere, Gai and Lee felt a pang in their hearts that they couldn't quite explain.
"Now that we've gotten over the physical violence, I'd like to talk to you about Naruto." Tsunako said, after resorting to destroying half of Tsunade office. "As of right now, Naruto is officially a Mist-nin. I'd like his release papers, however, so if he's appen to be seen on a mission for some reason, he's not attacked by your village." Tsunako said.
"Out of the question. Naruto is a Leaf-nin and will be returned to Leaf." Tsunade said. She tried to stare down Tsunako.
"Then as Naruto's last remaining relative, I claim custody of him." Tsunako said, shrugging his shoulders.
'You have no right..."
The man tossed a pamphlet of papers onto her desk, and elaned against the wall.
"Very well, you've forced me to play my hand." Tsunako said, as Tsuande opened the pamphlet. "Yes, I was Kushina Uzamaki's apprentice. But that's as far as your file on me goes, doesn't it? What you have in your hands are adoption papers. MY adoption papers to the Uzamaki clan, as Kushina Uzamaki as my adoptive mother." Tsunako said. "And, as his relative, I have the right of custody and guardianship until he turns 18. Though I don't think that matters now. Naruto has made his own choice..." Tsunako said, with a triumphant grin.
Tsunade scanned them over, racking her brain for anything to use. Tsunako had her good and fair.
"I win, Tsunade. You took a gamble, and as always, you lost. As of right now, Naruto Uzumaki is both my adoptive son and brother. I know, I know, its weird. But we're not of blood, so I don't it really matters. Besides, I see him more like a son then a younger brother anyway." Tsunako said grinning. He stretched his hand out to Tsunade.
"You played a good game, but its over now. All I need is your signature on those release forms, and I'll be on my way."
"I'll have to discuss this with the council before..."
"The council doesn't need to be bothered with this. The signature. Please. Before I get angry." Tsuanko said, still smiling. He sighed as he heard a familiar voice.
"Tsunako-sensei, you won't believe this! We just left Naruto's apartment, and as soon as we did a bunch of thugs came in and torched the place! You gotta come quick bef-" Ira shouted, barging into the Hokage office with Naruto on his heels. They froze as they saw Tsunade.
"Ah, Naruto! Just wrapping things up. Good news! Leaf isn't gonna chase after you anymore." Tsunako said, grinning as he took the pamphlet and stuck them in his kimono. Naruto stared blankly at Tsunade.
"Naruto please. You don't know what you're getting into. Don't go with him. Please. Sakura and Kakashi and everyone need you here." Tsunade pleaded. Naruto was not moved.
'Did you give Iruka-sensei the order?" he asked, calmly.
"Naruto..."
"Did you... give Iruka-sensei... THE ORDER?!" Naruto screamed, heaving for breathe. Tsunade nodded weakly.
"Yes, Naruto, I did. But the council..."
Naruto reached inside his gi and slammed something down on the table.
"No buts. No excuses. My only words to you Lady Hokage are good bye, and good riddance." Naruto said. Tsunade looked down and saw it was his Leaf head-band with a scar across it.
"Well, I think that's enough drama for one day." Tsunako said brightly. "Naruto, before you go, I think there's a party going on outside. Anything you wanna do about it?" Tsunako asked, putting a hand on Ira and Naruto's back.
"Infact, sensei, there is..." Naruto said, clapping his hands together. There was a clash of lightning and it began to rain heavily outside. People began to pack up their stands and dashed inside from the rain. It was coming down like a monsoon.
"Now thats something to make Meta proud. He always did enjoy crashing parties." Tsunako said, laughing as they vanished once more.
They appeared in complete darkness, unable to see anything.
"Tsunako-sensei, where are-" Naruto began, but noticed his sensei was no longer with him.
"Where is he?" Ira asked, pulling out his bone katana. He got back to back with Naruto, who drew a kunai.
"I don't-"
"SURPRISE!"
The lights came on so fast that Ira and Naruto almost had simultaneous heart attacks. In a semicircle in front of them were Meta and Tsunako, and some of Naruto's friends from Mist, the former seated on oppositely positioned chairs and drinking glasses of sake, the latter standing behind them.
More surprising than that, Sanjo Hoshigame stood front and center of the Meta and Tsunako, a cake in her hands.
"Happy Birthday Ira and Naruto!" the group said, happily. Naruto and Ira blushed.
'What is this all about?" Naruto asked, rubbing the back of his head.
"Please, like we forgot about EITHER of your birthdays..." Tsunako said, laughing.
"Now blow out the candles, you guys. This cake his heavy..." Sanjo said, holding it up for them. It was decorated with white icing and had a chibi Naruto and Ira on it. They two grinned, and everyone cheered as they did so. Sanjo proceeded to set the cake onto the table behind her.
"Oh, and Gaki!" Meta shouted, just as Naruto was about to cut the cake for them. A Mist forehead protector knocked Naruto in the face.
"Happy birthday." Meta said, chuckling as he pretended to sip his sake. Naruto put it on proudly on his head.
Needless to say, there were presents involved. Lots of presents. More then any other birthday that Naruto could remember. He had received clothes, money, and ninja-gear from some of his friends, but his favorite was from his team.
From Ira: A bone kunai made at last minute, so "no matter where they were, part of his nii-chan was always with him."
From Konamo-sensei: A scroll of high level water jutsu, as well as some sweets, rice cakes, and dongo for him and Ira to share.
From Tsunako-sensei: A orange yakuta with a red fox on the back. A red swirl, the crest of the Uzamaki clan, was just above the heart. "Be sure to wear it tonight at the festival!" Tsunako had told him, grinning.
From Meta-sensei: Explosives upon explosives. It wasn't even funny how many fire-crackers, smoke bombs, and gag kunai he had received. "All home made" he had been promised.
That night was a night to remember for Naruto. The sky was clear, and beautiful, with thousands of dazzling stars, spread across the sky like glittering sand. There was a new moon, so not even the light from its glare could impede the star's brilliance.
Naruto spent the night running through the streets, in his new yakuta, with Ira, who followed in a similar white one given to him by Tsunako as well. The paper lanterns could be seen everywhere, casting pale glows on Mist. They adorned bridges, shops, streets, and homes, casting light on the water's running surface and the smiling, laughing faces of the people. It was like there were the millions of stars in heaven, and the billions of stars on earth. Naruto and Ira spent the night with other children, watching the fire works, playing with masks and lighting firecrackers in the streets. They watched a parade of men in a red dragon suit, throwing his head and mane left to right as it moved down the street.
But his favorite part was when he got what had to be his best present that night. He was watching a Noh play in the Mist central square. He sat with the other children, and watched as the white wolf Ameratsu joined forces with the Poncle, Issun to free Japan from the Bijuu. For hours he watched the play, up till the hero Susanoo defeat the eight-headed beast Orochi, bringing life back to the world once more.
"N-Naruto?" came a gentle voice as a hand tapped him on the shoulder. He looked back to see Sanjo behind him. She was wearing a light pink yakuta with sakura petals, and a red bow on her back.
"Yeah, Sanjo-chan?" Naruto asked, smiling. She blushed, and poked her fingers together.
"W-would you come here for a moment?" she asked. She moved away towards one of the streets away from the Noh play. Naruto got up, looking back to see Ira cheering with the other kids as Susanoo rescued his beloved Nami.
Naruto followed Sanjo through the streets to the central bridge, spanning across the central river. Here, there was only a few paper lanterns and things were a lot darker.
"What is it?" Naruto asked. Sanjo looked towards the waterfall, then at Naruto.
"I'm glad you decided to stay…" she admitted, shyly. She hid her blush behind the sleeve of her yakuta.
"Same here." Naruto said, smiling. He stood next to her, looking at the water fall. "I'm glad I could spend some time with you today…"
"R-really!" Sanjo said startled. Her heart started pounding.
"Yeah. Thanks for the party today. It meant a lot to me…" Naruto said. He gave her a foxy grin.
"I-I still have one more present for you…" Sanjo said, carefully. Naruto raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Really?" he asked. She nodded, her amethyst eyes seeming more jewel like then ever.
"Please, close your eyes Naruto-kun…" she whispered, softly. Closed them, still holding the railing. Gentle hands took hold of his cheeks, and turned his head towards their owner. A pair of lips touched his, and whether for a minute, or a year, or a lifetime, the festival and world were silenced. The only thing that existed was the here, the now, and her. Naruto tried to return the kiss, but the lips broke away, and the clattering of wooden sandals running made him open his eyes. He watched as Sanjo ran across the rest of the bridge and disappeared into the streets of Mist.
Naruto raised a hand to his lips, whether in shock, surprise, or awe, he wasn't sure. It was then that he noticed the red swirls on his hands and palms. He blinked away the tears that threatened to came, and looked up at the stars.
Tonight was such a beautiful night.
"Let me see him, damn it!" Konamo screamed, struggling in Meta's arms. The armor held her close, hugging her tightly.
"Konamo, calm down. Please calm down!" Meta begged. His eyes were an ash gray now
'No! I have to see him! I have to make sure he's okay!" Konamo said, crying. Meta stroked her hair, not letting go of her.
"We weren't expecting there to be a new moon tonight. The mark just keeps get stronger. He's fighting it, but you can't have your wedding tonight. I've done everything I can, but you need to let him rest…" Meta said, glancing at the door of the hospital where Tsuanko lay. A scream emenated from the room.
"Tsuanko is fighting his own demons right now… there's nothing I can do…"
*wears a mario outfit* Hey everybody! Lets review~ *inside joke that he knows only he will get unless anyone else goes to his school*
*takes off mustache* No seriously. Please read and review.
Thankyou!