A/N: Minor plot holes might be noticed, like the date or little things I might forget. If anyone notices anything weird, please make do and contact me so I can fix it ^-^
Let us continue our journey...
Towards The Heaven
Chapter 11: City of Light
Part One
"What of it?" asked a husky old voice. Before him was kneeled a warrior in dark armor, his thorny helmet locked between his waist and hand, his head bowed, be it respect or fear, none knew.
"You failed yet once again. And what was your obligation? To conquer a foolish, empty valley. And yet you were defeated…" the man was sitting on what seemed to be a throne, his chuckle evidence of his disbelief.
"Forgive me milord… they had unexpected preparations for us…"
"Silence!" the few other figures that were illuminated within the deem light of the room could easily be seen shivering at the shout. The kneeled man though didn't falter for an instance.
"Regardless of what your opponent had, 'prepared', the fact remains that you failed to take over the valley. And from what? A handful of knights? That was all it took to stop you?" he was leaning forward, a pale red his old eyes were, peering towards the kneeled warrior, expecting an explanation, a comeback, anything.
The man in question grunted silently as he looked up, long black hair caressing his back and shoulders.
His eyes where a deep color of red…
"We didn't expect them to have a Shrine there! The damn banshees where supposed to prevent them from building any defense line in that valley! And yet they did!" his anger was evident as he began standing up, said anger clearly directed towards the old man on the throne… and his own foolishness.
"You must have been taught a long time ago, that the unexpected is part of war. You should always be prepared for anything, even the earth tearing in half to swallow you!" his frustration equaled that of the one before him, said younger man gritting his teeth.
With a small sigh, he stood straighter
A fist on his chest.
"The next time we meet, none of them will survive. Every last fiber of life will be decimated, their city will lie in nothing but dust! I shall slaughter anyone who stands in my way! This I vow!" his voice was intimidating, his red gaze piercing and relentless as he gave this oath before his lord.
Said man only sighed… he knew well what such words meant. It was an ancient tradition… an unbreakable tradition.
"You are aware of what awaits shall you fail, are you not?" he asked slowly, his voice holding a tad of softness, sadness, disbelief, a mixture of emotions that staid void on his old features though…
The man nodded, his will unwavering.
"I am well aware of the consequences… but I worry about them not." He quickly turned around, walking towards the exit of the chamber…
"I will not fail…" he whispered to himself as he stepped outside, the dark sky of the night above him…
XxxxX
"Guys… we're really ought to get going, you know" Dankan said, eyes disbelieving at the fact that they still gaped at the city. He looked back at said town… nope, still same old Tomogakure… what the hell, it wasn't as if there was some kind of godly light falling down on its pristine walls and making it glitter otherworldly… ok he was taking it a little far… yeah, it was kind of a big city… there was also that mountain that it's tip would touch the clouds…
'Hmm, must be the moon…' he thought with a shrug as he noticed the pale star in the sky, shining down upon the city with clouds hovering around it. Well, it was a beautiful night. Wait, where did the sunset go…?
'Damn time flies so quickly…'
XxxxX
After Dankan finally got them out of their daze, Itachi already being out of it after a matter of a minute, they finally started walking towards their destination.
It was only then that they really noticed the farmlands that surrounded the city. They had expected it, nonetheless. A far away township like this with no ties on the outside world surely would need a way to produce food for itself.
The farmlands seemed to go all the way around the city, covering the fields with a variety of plants and foods. Small farmhouses could be spotted here and there, some having their lights on and some not. Corn, wheat, even an orchard could be seen in the distance.
"Wow, you guys are really self preserving…" Naruto spoke his mind, earning the attention of everyone around him, before they turned to Dankan to hear his response.
Said man chuckled "Well, we don't have all kinds of food in Tomogakure, we are limited to what the nature around us can offer, along with the help of the Light." He let a happy sigh escape his lips as he thought of his home, proud as he was of it.
"Uhh…"
"No, we don't have electricity here, Naruto. It's not that we lack the technology… but the Light is far more useful and less of a bane to natural resources. What we could spend on creating energy generators, we use to build other useful things, mainly developing our agriculture. It's what we live from, anyway." He shrugged, their feet on the wide dirt road the only sound of the night.
"You don't look much of a farmer" Sasuke whispered, Sakura who walked besides him noticing the note of tiredness that accompanied his words. She extended one hand, gripping his and entwining their fingers. He looked at her with sleepy eyes, and she only smiled encouragingly.
Dankan, on the other hand, only smirked as he heard his little comment.
"As I said, farming is what we live from. In this town, there is a variety of jobs you can do, civilian or not." He said, raising a finger in the air as if he was about to give a lecture. The four teenagers had a flashback of Iruka for a moment…
"I am part of the military, if you will. My job is to protect and serve Tomogakure, as well as police it. Unlike the other 'hidden' villages…" he briefly wondered how one could call a village 'hidden', when nearly everyone in the world knew where it was…
"We greatly value our citizens and their jobs. If I'm not mistaken, the job of a ninja is one of high esteem in Konoha, am I wrong?" the others only shook their heads in agreement as he looked back at them.
"Here in Tomo, one should be proud whatever his contribution to community is. Even the ones that clean the city are people who deserve respect. Imagine your village if it had no street cleaners for example." They all had the image of Konoha flashing through their minds, it drown in countless garbage and dirt, the stink of them all reaching the heavens.
They resisted the urge to wrinkle their nose…
Dankan nodded to himself "Being in the military is just another job, you know. My father always said that I should follow the career that most intrigues me… well, so I did" he turned and grinned widely at them.
"Oh, by the way, in our military we have different ranks than ninjas do" that perked everyone's attention. They had now entered a paved road, it leading straight for the gates of the city. They could already see it as they came closer, step by step.
"Clerics here could be considered Genin. They usually help around town or in the rituals and generally, they are considered mere foot soldiers when it comes to battle." Everyone nodded in understanding.
"Then comes the lieutenants. It might look like a high jump in rank, but it's not that easy to change ranks here, as it is in your system." They all reminded themselves how easily they had gone from Genin to Chuunin… well, easy for Itachi. Naruto and the others had to take the Chuunin exam again due to… unlucky circumstances.
"Lieutenants are field commanders. In battle their job is to guide the troops and generally boost their morale. A lieutenant is considered an average when it comes in combat prowess, but that's only the word of mouth. There are elite people who stayed at the rank of lieutenant because their leading capabilities in the field are high. So, short to speak, the first level of ranks doesn't clearly show your skill."
He really seemed to like hearing himself talk, didn't he?
They where only a few minutes away from the gate.
"There's also the Captain rank in the First level. They are the elite of the foot army and also, leaders of it. The lieutenants are considered second in command. Captains are also known to have a good handle on how to use the Light. Their superiors are only the Second level ones…"
He took in a deep breath.
"But, I think I'll leave all these for tomorrow. You guys must be tired, right?" he asked with a smile. Everyone really wondered where the hell did he find the energy to be so cheerful… wasn't he in a life and death situation mere hours ago…?
"What are you talking about? We still have plenty…" a loud thoud followed these words as Naruto fell face first to the ground. Strangely enough, the impact didn't seem to affect the sudden state of sleep he got himself into in the least.
After everyone managed to reduce their diner-plate sized eyes (except Itachi of course) to normal, Itachi easily picked Naruto up and placed him on one shoulder. That being done, they all made the final steps towards the gate…
Dankan raised a hand, and with precise movements drew a symbol on the large wooden barrier. The symbol for 'Door' glittered brightly before dissipating, leaving a smaller wooden door behind. Well, small in comparison to the whole gate, that is.
"The gates are closed during nightfall to prevent unwanted intrusions. But, there is always the small door available for night travelers…" he pushed and the door smoothly slid open, the group easily heading straight inside.
The gate immediately led to a large plaza, what seemed to be stores and houses surrounding it, a fountain with rising water in the middle and a sculpture of what looked like a warrior holding his blade high manufactures on the face of a large and tall rock. Three pathways seemed to lead deeper inside the now sleeping community…
Dankan stretched, a grunt leaving his lips.
"Well guys, it would really be a pain to get you good accommodations right now, seeing you all tired like that" he said, eyeing them all from head to toe, easily noticing their fatigue…
"I suggest you find an inn. The night is young and I'm sure plenty are still open" he threw at them a few silver coins and they all looked at them questioningly…
"What did you expect? Yen?" he laughed "We have a silver mine right behind the city, that has been working for over a hundred years now. It is said that the silver never runs out…" he shrugged "so we cut our own coin. This should be enough for all of you to stay one night."
"This is all I can do for you now. Don't worry, I'll find you again tomorrow morning. G'night" with a wave and an ever-cheerful grin, he vanished in a flash of light.
Itachi sighed as he griped the coins in his hand. Four silver coins… one for each of them? If he wasn't mistaken, Silver was quite a valuable material in old times where coins were made from metal. His expression remained emotionless at the man's kindness though… Dankan probably wanted them to get the best available bed for the night…
With a small grunt, he started walking forward, Naruto still on one shoulder, said boy snoring loudly. Damn Dankan… he had forgotten to mention were they could find an inn… this place was big!
But he supposed it wouldn't be that hard…
XxxxX
After they walked for a couple of minutes around town, they finally found what they were looking for.
"Traveler's Refuge…" Sakura read the sign as Itachi, Sasuke and Hinata walked inside. She didn't waste any time as she herself strode forward and in the cozy structure…
Cozy it was indeed. A fireplace could be seen at the far wall, an old lady gently warming her hands on it, another lady sitting in the opposite chair and doing the same, said women chatting quietly.
The bulky innkeeper seemed to polish a glass of beer as he sat behind on a wooden stool behind hiscounter, whistling quietly, a variety of drinks, alcoholic or not, resting behind him in neat rows of shelves. The floor was wooden and so seemed to be the rest of the building. It gave off the calming scent of a forest, along with the coziness of a warm home in a cold winter night. The patrons themselves seemed ordinary people, adult men and women chatting happily around their tables and drinking various kinds of beverages. The inn was quite alive tonight, it seemed.
No one seemed to pay any mind to the weirdly, from their perspective, strangers. Unlike them, who were all dressed in shinobi gear, these people were dressed in ordinary citizen or farmer clothing, some wearing expensive attires and some simple cotton ones. All in all, it seemed as if this place was a heaven for anyone, no matter his appearance, age or gender.
They quietly walked towards the innkeeper, said man lifting his eyes from the glass to look at them. A hint of bewilderment crossed his features before joy took over…
He cleared his throat "Welcome to the Traveler's Refuge, how can I help you tonight my friend's?" he said in a kind, deep voice. He seemed to wear a commoner's clothing, though it seemed kind of heavy. Come to think of it, wasn't winter coming along already…?
"We are looking for two rooms, two beds in each would be preferable, if available of course." The taller and expressionless one of the group said in a calm and cool voice, letting the four silver coins Dankan had given him fall on the counter. The innkeeper took them and brought one close to his eye, examining it for anything suspicious.
Biting it and seeing that it didn't bent, his grin became wide as ever.
"Well, of course. Glad you chose us for spending your night" he hummed happily as he turned around, grabbing two keys and handing them to Itachi
"Your rooms are right upstairs, the two to the left. Food is not served here, but we have plenty of drinks if you'd like" the innkeeper said with yet another big smile. Itachi nodded to him before going off towards the stairs that lied on the opposite side of the fireplace…
The girls smiled at the kind man before following after Itachi, Sasuke too tired to even hide the expression that came with said lack of energy.
Thankfully for their aching legs, the stairs weren't many and they soon found themselves before their respective doors. Looking inside both rooms, there seemed to be not much of a decoration. Only two beds lying a foot afar from one another, each room connected with it's own bath. Come to think of it, it was a pretty large inn if the number of hallways was any indication.
Itachi handed one key to Hinata and she nodded with a small smile before walking inside the first room after the stairs, Sakura following behind swiftly, not forgetting a goodnight kiss to Sasuke before retiring for the night. She giggled quietly as it seemed that the teen still had the energy to blush…
"It was a tiring journey, wasn't it?" Hinata commented with a wry smile, remembering all they did before they managed to get here, their destination…
"Yeah, I guess it was" Sakura commented as she took a couple of scrolls out of her waistband. Unrolling them on the wooden floor, she pressed a hand on both before whispering 'kai'. A small poof of smoke accompanied this word and swiftly as it dissipated, two backpacks revealed themselves.
"Oh, so you had them in storage scrolls all this time?" Hinata asked, quite disbelieving.
"You think I would get into that forest with our things out in the open? Haven't you seen any movies? People always lose their things in dark places like this. I didn't want to lose mine…" she replied with a pout. Hinata giggled, realizing that all this time neither she nor any of their three other companions had noticed the lack of weight their backpacks normally gave. She wondered when exactly did Sakura do this…
"I gave Naruto's and Sasuke's scroll to Itachi. He should be unrolling them right now…" the pink haired girl said as she rummaged in her rather large reddish-pink pack of luggage. With a small squeal, she drove out a neat pair of brown pajama legs, accompanied by its respective long-sleeved top.
"I'm gonna take a quick bath. I don't think I can stand doing anything else right now…" she said with a yawn as she walked in the small bathroom. There wasn't anything extraordinary about it… the bathroom was as simple as their room. A toilet, a bathtub and a sink with a mirror before it. The room itself had a small balcony that allowed view on the street, a pair of purple curtains flowing gently with the breeze of the night. Hinata simply sat on her bed, waiting her turn to use the bathroom before getting to sleep. She sighed as she wondered what awaited them with the new day that was to come. Glancing over at the small counter that lied in between the beds, the small digital clock showed that it was nearly eleven o'clock…
Wait…
Digital… clock?
Rubbing her eyes to make sure her sleepiness didn't trick her senses, she looked again, only to realize that there was indeed a digital clock lying on the counter beside her.
She gaped at it for a few moments… from what she had seen so far, this city was quite western-medieval style. What the heck was such technology doing here, anyway?
Too tired to contemplate on it, she fell back in the soft silky pillows of her bed. It itself was wooden, the wood on the head and end of it being trimmed and decorated with various flowers entwined with other strange symbols.
Before she knew it, Sakura was done and had already plopped into her bed, fast asleep in a matter of seconds. They had woken up early today and also traveled and tired themselves a lot… it was only natural for their bodies to need rest.
Taking a quick shower herself, she fell in her bed right after drying her long, raven-blue hair. It didn't take long for dreams to take over her consciousness…
Dreams of a certain blond boy…
Who, in particular, seemed to sneeze in his sleep as he lay on his bed, fully clothed and all. Sasuke lied under his own sheets, mumbling something about 'damn-sneezing-saying' and letting it slide. It was pretty warm in there… a refreshing quick bath, a pair of boxers and an amazingly soft and warm blanket was all he needed for his tired body to quickly fall asleep.
Itachi himself was lying on the floor with a futon he summoned from one of his scrolls. He was a hardened warrior… simple things like sleeping on either a bed or a futon made little difference to him whatsoever.
Naruto's and Sasuke's backpacks lied at the side of their respective beds…
Itachi sighed… Storage Scrolls was the most basic form of Fuuin (sealing). Why did they have to carry such large backpacks around anyway…? He shrugged, such large travels truly would need more preparation. But then again, it was only around a week's walk to get here from Konoha, as he had calculated so far. Imagine if they had gone full throttle with their ninja skills, not counting the monsters they had encountered of course…
Oh right… and he also had that little thing to do…
XxxxX
The night went by peacefully, the occasional sounds of celebration coming from downstairs, cheers and laughs that echoed within the empty hallways of the upper floor. The moon had risen outside, high in the sky of the night, illuminating with its pale light the city down bellow.
Naruto was more than awed at the sight before him. Having walked down one of the hallways, he found a large balcony at the end of it, said balcony being open with a wooden railing protecting sloppy people from… 'accidents'.
He smiled to himself as he gazed down at what lied below. The particular balcony was looking towards the gates, the view magnificent as endless fields carried on till they reached the green forest they had come through. He had only now realized that, in their search for a place to stay the night, they had reached one of the upper levels of the city, allowing them a view that wasn't accessible from any other side.
Why he had come out here, anyway…?
He remembered himself waking up in a soft bed that somehow came out of nowhere. Finding Itachi on a futon and Sasuke on the bed next to him, he quickly realized that they probably found a place to sleep in while he was unconscious.
Also judging from the sounds that came below, they were either in a house that celebrated or in some kind of inn. The multiple bedrooms encouraged the latter situation.
In the end, finding it impossible to sleep again for some reason, he decided to just take a walk within the confines of this building. He could look around the city, but scouting such unknown streets at night and alone, wasn't that much of a wise decision.
He sighed, looking up at the moon once more. The sounds of celebration from bellow had quieted down, the hour probably late, even for them. Judging from the position of the moon, it should be far past midnight. Maybe dawn would near in a couple of hours…
He had changed into his pajamas when he woke up, as he had expected the reason for his unrest to be the dirty battle-everyday clothes he wore. Finding himself unable to sleep yet, he also took a hot, shooting bath. Though he had made it quick as to not wake up anyone.
Looking down at his hand, he clenched and stretched his long fingers, gazing at it with wonder, as if expecting it to give the answers he sought at the moment. Another fact that bewildered him was from where had their backpacks come from…
He thought they had lost them at one place or another…
Shrugging, he looked up at the starry sky once more. Nope, no sleepiness at all. Damn it, he would need energy for the coming day! He expected endless walks around town as well as… well, anything. Hell, he had seen a digital clock on his counter, he could wait for anything!
He reminded himself that he didn't have the fox's power as it was. Maybe that was why he couldn't sleep, an uneasiness that the demon within him brought.
Would he get the chakra back…? As he had realized, his own chakra had returned quite quickly, thankfully to Hinata's help. Even though most of his power was still unstable, he could still use basic jutsu. He had worked up most of his edible chakra in that battle in the forest anyway…
So, here he was, not able to sleep for unknown reasons, probably the fox's chakra acting weird or something, contemplating on what awaited them now and waiting for sleepiness to reach its warm touch to him as well.
They had finally reached this world-forsaken village while having gone through hell to do so. Traveling the forest of Konoha, fighting back hunters from the Hyuuga and Danzo's nins, going through Sand and meeting Gaara along with his fiancée, Itachi having come along somewhere in the middle of all these, the Uchiha brothers having reunited, they having pass through the dessert, fought off against that mysterious swordsman not once but twice, meeting these white-robed people that seemed to be the military of Tomo, passing through forests and valleys full of undead creatures and hell, this was even before they got here!
It really was true that you first had to go through hell in order to reach paradise…
He wondered if they had gone through hell yet…
Clenching his fists, he reminded himself of the reason he was here, along with his friends. They were searching for something better… no, he was searching for something better and they had come along to accompany him in this journey. Maybe it would be better for them to go back to Konoha now… maybe Sasuke and Itachi could resurrect the Uchiha back in Konoha… Sakura could see her parents and their friends again. He was sure she missed Ino…
But… Hinata…
What would be of her if she got back now? Sure, Sasuke and Itachi would be accepted back with open arms from the whole village, especially if Itachi told them his story. Sakura would also be seen as a heroine who helped the Uchiha to be reborn…
But Hinata had no place to return to… had no place to call home back in Konoha. Hiashi had most likely disowned her already and made her little sister the heir… what was the name? Hinabi? Something like that…
Plus, that man had even sent Hyuuga hunters after her… she would probably live hell if she went back…
But what if he was wrong? What if all these were just delusions of his selfish mind? Wait, why selfish? He really wished the best for her… then why did his heart ache at the thought of her leaving…
Maybe it was the best for them all. He was really thankful that they got here with him, really thankful that they stood by him in such a time of peril. But now he was here, he had reached Tomogakure… they were free to go back now, if they wanted…
He really wished they didn't. He really wished they would all stay here, that they would all live together and start anew…
He was selfish, he knew he was selfish. But he was also human… a human that knew what loneliness meant more than anyone. Sure, he would make friends around here, but none would be the same as these guys…
Chuckling to himself, he actually felt a lone tear falling down his eyes…
"Naruto-kun…?" he heard a soft voice behind him.
He didn't turn. He had long since realized she was there, from the moment she got in the hallway and started walking towards him. She had probably used the Byakugan to find him…
For some reason, he was really sensitive to her chakra signature as of late. Maybe it was the chakra transfusion she had used… such techniques required a top-notch chakra control, transferring chakra from ones body to another was no easy task.
Yes… Hinata really was amazing.
"Ah… Hinata…" he replied to her previous call.
Silent footsteps brought her next to him, he not averting his eyes from the sky. She looked down a bit, admiring the shape and structure of the buildings bellow them, taking in what the view of the balcony had to offer.
"Can't sleep?" her soft voice held a tone of amazement. He chuckled
"Yeah, don't know why. I just woke up and then couldn't sleep again."
"Ah, I see…"
Silence conquered once more as they both looked up at the moon, it ever so slowly continuing its journey in the sky, unhindered by anyone.
"Well, I've been thinking…" he whispered, catching her attention. She turned to look at him, his blue eyes still locked with the round form of the moon.
"Hm?" she asked… God, her voice was always so soft. It was as if her vocal cords were made of silk or something…
"You guys, you don't really have to stay with me you know. I mean, I'm really thankful that you came all the way up here with me, and I'll never forget what we went through to get here…" he chuckled, humorless and sad as it was…
"But I don't want you to stay here if you don't want it to. I mean, you guys had a real life back in Konoha, people that cherish you. I can't take that away from you. Heh, aside from Baa-chan, a few others and the Konoha 9, I doubt anyone will miss me…" he once more chuckled humorlessly…
So drown he was in his own little world of despair, self-doubt and disbelief that he didn't notice the girl next to him inching closer.
Before he knew it, he felt two slender arms circling around him, a warm body pressed against his.
He slowly looked down. Hinata wasn't looking up to him, she had her face buried in between his arm and chest…
She didn't want him to see her blush like that while hugging him, nor see the couple of tears that his words brought to her…
'…I cherish you…'
"Naruto-kun…" thankfully, she thought with relief, her voice wasn't cracking.
"We came all the way here, because we believe in you. I really cherish you…" she felt his body stiffen a little...
"And Sasuke-san and Sakura-chan too!" she covered up her own words, her own feelings…
"That's why, that's why we came with you! Naruto-kun, Konoha would and will never be the same without you there."
"You deserve to be happy… so we wanted to help. Sasuke-san found his brother on this trip, and they are getting along now like siblings should." She painfully reminded her of her cold relationship with her own sister… how she wished things would be different…
"And Sakura-chan is really happy that she came too!" now she had lessened her hug to get a little away from him, if only to look up at his face. She knew she would be blushing, but she hoped the darkness of the night would hide it, or, as Naruto always did, he would mistake it for a fever or something.
"She is together with Sasuke-san now and she hopes she will learn a lot of things here!"
"… what about you?" he asked, his expression a mix of emotions, sad, questioning, amazed, everything was just mixed and thrown in a whirlwind of emotions that now decorated his face. She couldn't see which feeling rose above the others, she couldn't make them out…
"I… I…" she was at a loss of words. How could she tell him that she left Konoha, because without him she wouldn't survive there? That without him, she… she…
She really didn't know what she would do. Without him…
Even so, if she stayed her future was most likely already programmed by her father and the clan. She would probably continue her ninja career as a shinobi of Konoha for a couple of years before she was forced in a marriage with another clan, therefore being bound there for her entire life, living under the rules of her clan, living under all the pressure they would forcefully bestow upon her. She didn't even think that her father would allow her to lead the Hyuuga's… he would probably make Hanabi the heir anyway, giving her instead the caged-bird seal and terminating her freedom for ever…
No, she didn't want this… she didn't want any of this. For once in her life, she had found a reason and an excuse to make a brake for it, to live her life like she wanted, with whomever she wanted, wherever and whenever she wanted. She was free…
She smiled up at him, and the brightness of it could even dull the moon…
"I'm really happy with my choice." Was all she said before hugging him again. Well, she was a little selfish and took advantage of the moment… maybe a little bolder than usual… it just felt that the moment required it and plus, he hadn't gotten away from her in the time that she thought.
In adition, she even felt his large, strong hands circling around her themselves, taking here even deeper within his warmth…
"A… a…" his voice was cracking… was it a sob that she heard?
She just hugged him even tighter…
"Arigatou… Hinata…" he whispered, relief evident in his teary voice, his heart now more at ease with the situation. She could make so many doubts be washed away… she could make his world a brighter place with just a few words.
Truthfully, he couldn't think of a better name for her other than 'Hinata' (Sunny place)… she really lived up to it.
Another thing he absentmindedly noticed amidst all the other emotions that whirled within him, was how warm and soft she felt… warm like a blanket…
He felt his eyelids faltering as sleepiness finally started taking over, his previous sobs now nothing but slow, deep breaths.
He sighed "We should go back to sleep…" she said, his tone a little tired. She nodded, her face still pressed against his body, trying hard to hide her blush… and take in as much of his scent as possible.
She savored the moment… slim were the chances when she could really stay close to him and keep consciousness… be close with his permission of course.
But she couldn't stay like this forever, no matter how she wished for it. Such wishful thinking slimly came to pass anyway…
She looked up at him, the moon reflected in her pale orbs…
He really looked entranced for a moment, before looking her up and down. Whoa, they were both dressed up in pajamas…
"You're really cute!" he said, clearly happy at his own comment, nodding to himself, as if proving to said self that what he said was true.
"Ah, ah… thank you…" she said, this time her blush having reached up to her head at full speed.
Well, with such pale lavender orbs, long fluttering eyelids, a matured face, an embarrassed expression and an attire of pajamas to add to it… yep, she really was cute!
He laughed "Ok, let's go in. We don't want to wake up in the noon right?" he said with a wide grin.
She nodded and with that, they both walked inside, never noticing the fact that they still clinked to each other in this now quiet, cold night…
XxxxX
Morning came by rather quickly. Naruto opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling of his room. He could easily make out the sounds of a normal morning… birds chirping, people talking and having breakfast downstairs, the sounds of business on the street…
It just reminded him so much of his own apartment, the way he would wake up every morning, the familiar sense of the sun on his face, the smell of a new day, life that roamed its way around in the streets…
But it was different now. He wasn't in Konoha, he was in Tomo. He was far away from his home…
What he once considered his home.
Looking at his left, he noticed the empty bed that lied not more than one foot beside him. He didn't sense Itachi or the others either, so it was likely that everyone was up before him…
He sat up on the bed and stretched, a yawn escaping his lips. Getting up and rummaging through his luggage, he was glad to find that he still had civilian clothing with him.
Dressed in a white shirt, loose black pants and his usual shinobi sandals, he started walking down the stairs in search for the others…
It didn't take that long to find them. Everyone was sitting around a round table, chatting happily. Well, at least Hinata and Sakura did. Itachi and Sasuke were more composed, as was expected. He grinned widely.
Approaching the table, he noticed that everyone already had ordered their respective drinks.
"How cruel, you couldn't wait for me huh?" he asked, pretending to pout. Hinata and Sakura giggled, the Uchihas regarding him with nothing more than a grunt.
It seemed that they all had a round of green tea, except for Itachi who seemed to drink…
Coffee…?
Weird.
Not giving it much thought, he grabbed a free chair and sat between the Uchiha brothers, they shooting him a glance before returning to their drinks, Sasuke talking quietly with Sakura on his right.
"Glad you're up and going Naruto-kun. We can finally go and have some breakfast" Itachi commented as he put his coffe cup down. The blond only just noticed, but Itachi seemed to be dressed in his Akatsuki robes…
Noticing his stare, Itachi only shrugged
"The cloth is comfortable." Was all he said before standing up to head towards the door.
Naruto wasn't satisfied with that answer, but he knew better than push Itachi. Ok, so he wasn't a bloodthirsty traitor, that didn't mean his tolerance was stable as well…
He clearly remembered yesterday's morning where he had a cup of steaming ramen on his head.
'I can still feel the burn…' he shivered under the fandom pain before turning back to the others.
"You guys done too?" he asked and they turned their attention to him. Naruto's intense gaze was piercing them, as if demanding and begging them at the same time… Well, food was one of the few things Naruto could never deny himself…
With a smile, all three nodded as the blond of the company grinned like an idiot, which, many would agree in that he was…
"Alright!" and with that one yell, he run after Itachi and out of the 'Traveler's Refuge'…
XxxxX
The streets did seem pretty crowded people walking here and there, hurrying to their business while salesmen yelled about their wares on one corner or another.
Thankfully enough, they didn't seem to stand out in this crowd of strangers. Most people, especially the young ones, wore clothes similar to the ones of the modern world, the exception being the weird design some of them had.
But all in all, this town seemed like a mix of civilizations. People spoke Japanese and their clothing was a mixture of the west and the east. The buildings generally seemed more like of the medieval era, but the modern technology they would spot here and there would bewilder them as to when exactly in time they were.
Nevertheless, once they passed through what must have been the market of the city, they found themselves in a more quiet road. Colorful shops and restaurants shone in the light of the sun, the contradiction that was made with the shadows giving the atmosphere the sense of tranquility.
The weather was cool, gentle breezes blowing every now and then. Winter was coming, albeit slowly as it seemed. Still on the doorstep, it wouldn't take long for the cold season to take over the warmness that once must have resided here…
But that was the natural course of things. What could they do about it?
Finally having found what looked like a small restaurant that served food, they stepped inside, a cozy warmness their welcome after hours of walking through unknown streets…
XxxxX
They all sat around a fairly sized table, roomy enough for their company. Having ordered, they now only awaited their morning meals to arrive…
"So… what goes after this?" Sasuke broke the silence as he peered at each of his comrades and friends.
"For starters, we should consult with Dankan-san or Rikou-san, they are natives of this area, after all." Itachi commented, his eyes closed, his expression relaxed and motionless.
Everyone nodded at that
"But how do we find them? I mean, it looks like a pretty big village if you ask me." Sakura voiced her own thoughts, elbowed resting on the table and supporting her head.
"Village? This place is more like a large town or something" Naruto said, arms crossed before his chest.
"Well, Konoha is fairly sized for a village too." Sakura said and the others nodded again after a second of thought. Truthfully, Konoha was rather large to be considered a 'village', but that's how things were anyway…
A minute of silence passed, each member of the fellowship minding their own business while waiting for their meals to arrive. Thankfully, the food they served around here looked Japanese enough. There were a few names in the catalogue that seemed strange though…
Minutes passed by as meaningless yet happy chatter was exchanged between the members of the group, lost in their own small world as they where, discussing what could possibly happen next and what could the future abide for them.
Itachi, being who he is and that is, an intelligent person, knew better than to interfere with their discussions, only talking when it was needed. He knew very well that he wasn't one of them… he was Sasuke's brother, but that was as far as it went. He wasn't one of Team 7, he hadn't lived what they had lived together…
He just wasn't one of them.
XxxxX
"Ah, finally! There you are!" Dankan said breathlessly as he walked inside the small restaurant the five were having breakfast at. All said five heads turned to look at the newcomer, bewildered at his sudden appearance.
"I was looking all around town for you guys!" he said, his frustration evident.
"Not our problem. You just suck at tracking." Sasuke commented with a shrug, taking a bite from his bacon. These things were really tasty…
Dankan fumed silently, not able to argue with the Uchiha…
He really sucked at tracking…
"Anyways, what's up Dankan?" Naruto said with a big smile, having finished his third bowl of miso ramen… How lively, they even had ramen here!
The man sighed as he pulled a chair to sit down beside them "Get over with your food. We have things to do today."
"Like what?" Sakura asked questioningly.
He only smirked as his dull grey eyes darted over her
"Getting you in Tomo's military, of course"
XxxxX
"A generous offer as it may be, I still have obligations outside Tomogakure…" Itachi commented as they all exited the restaurant, his expressionless face and monotone voice intact and unwavering.
"Is that so? Well, can't you stay a week or so more? Pretty pleaaase?" Dankan pouted like a schoolgirl, rubbing on Itachi's shoulder, said man holding his own fist back from punching him in public…
He didn't like such shows of affection… especially from a male.
Brushing his shoulder with one hand, as if Dankan was nothing more than dust that dirtied his shirt, he stepped away from them before sighing. "I requested permission from the Kazekage to escort my brother and his friends to the end of their journey. Seeing as they are sound and safe here, I must return to my Kage now." The man said, his posture not even twitching as he spoke.
Naruto remembered that somewhere along the way Itachi had joined Suna and was now one of their nin…
He was saddened that the man would leave their company yet again. Sasuke was finally growing closer to his brother…
Dankan though didn't seem fazed by the news.
"Okay! Give the Kazekage Tomo's best regards. We will be expecting an ambassador of yours in the upcoming weeks." The grey eyed man commented as he took a scroll out of his robe.
"This is a message from Tomo to Suna. I spoke with the elders this morning and they too think that the time has come…" his face showed his disbelief, his hand reluctant from passing the scroll it held.
Nevertheless, Itachi still extended a hand and grabbed the document, seizing it inside his clothing with a nod. "Of course. Seeing what lies ahead, it is only wise that we unite under a common enemy." He paused for a moment in thought…
"I've heard rumors about a village being decimated in the borders of Suna. Is that true…?" he asked. Amidst walking such crowded streets, his trained ears couldn't help but catch any information that seemed important.
Dankan nod was grave "Yes, and that is another reason for us to communicate with outsiders. It seems that the matter slips out of our grasp as it is…"
"And you will probably need more hands in order to contain it"
Dankan nodded again.
Itachi shrugged as he turned to walk away from them.
"Otouto…" he said as he stopped, the four teen's attention suddenly sprang towards him.
"Be careful" was all he said before walking a few more steps…
Then vanishing in thin air, his shunsin taking him further than they could sense.
"Hey Dankan, where's Rikou-jii anyway?" Naruto said as he crossed his hands behind his head, looking around leisurely.
"Naruto-kun, show some more respect." Hinata said, her whole posture a slight pout towards him.
He grinned "Ok, where's Ero-Rikou anyway?"
"Naruto!!" Both Sakura's and Dankan's fist came to connect with the top of his head, sending the poor blond to the ground. Sasuke only sighed, starting to walk away as Dankan threw threats towards the outgoing boy for calling his master like this, and Sakura's own yelling for the disrespect he showed.
Hinata worriedly glanced between Sasuke's retreating form and the three other people he left behind. Sighing herself, she followed after him. Maybe this way the others would notice and come too, rather than standing there and yelling at each other…
XxxxX
Back in Suna, in the Kazekage's office, Gaara watched over a couple of disturbing reports that came in today. It was truly unsettling, what this texts said was near impossible to be real, as if it was a fairy tale his shinobi invented to prank him. But, considering the fact that his very own village was attacked by a horde of demons that came out of a sand-storm, this was something he should be well aware that could happen.
But… a whole town, brought to dust in one night? It wasn't a shinobi village, there must have been only a couple of his nin there on a mission, but yet again, it was a fairly sized community. To be leveled in just a few hours…
At least that was what these two reports said. Probably, his men had retreated the moment danger arose. It could be called cowardice, but it was better than getting slaughtered and wasting your life. In fact, what they had done proved far more resourceful.
It wasn't only his village that was in danger from such attacks… Suna was still recuperating from the damage that attack had caused a couple of days ago. Thankfully, not many had lost their lives back then.
It was so unnerving… according to these two, the demons were a menace that slaughtered woman and child alike, burning everything to the ground with no mercy, not even a hint of it.
And yet to add to the whole scene, this time the attack seemed to have a leader…
'… and while these monsters were killing people left and right, there was also a huge shadow in the sky! I could hardly make its figure out of the thick smoke the fires created and we where a fair distance from the scene too. But, I could easily sense a malicious aura from that creature… no, it must have been the rider! Animals don't have chakra…' and so on the first report went with meaningless and opinions on what the creature might have been as well as to how they managed to get away before getting they got caught.
Thankfully, the second report seemed more resourceful.
'… It was a dragon, a skeletal one to add to it. I have no idea how a real dragon could exist, let alone a bone-made one! It seemed to have a rider though, there was a man clad in armor on it. The night was really dark but thanks to a few jutsus in my arsenal, I could clearly make out both rider and beast. He seemed to notice me as his eyes connected with mine, even though we had around a mile of distance! Kami, for a moment I thought that I died… thankfully, he turned away from me…' the rest of the script talked about how relieved the nin was to be alive. In the end, both reports concluded that after the massacre, the army seemed to leave the village and head north, towards the forest that lied at the borders of Suna. Truth be told, none knew what lied beyond those woods. In years past, that land was known as 'No-mans-land', so no nation took claim of it, neither did anyone even go there. It was said that the forest itself was a labyrinth… none ever made it past it, not even from the sky.
Tales where told about what beauty lied beyond those enchanted woods, a valley full of flowers, a piece of nature unmatched by anything.
But, in the days that now came the forest seemed to have grown wicked, its natural beauty now deceased. None that entered ever came out alive…
He hoped against all hope that Naruto and his company had made it safely to their destination.
Itachi had still two days left before he was supposed to return. He brought a hand to his forehead, a headache starting to form from all the stress of the day, the worry, everything. If only things could just be simpler…
XxxxX
"So… why the message to the Kazekage? I thought Tomogakure was a really, really hidden village" Naruto said with his arms behind his head. They had once again passed through the crowded streets, what Dankan pointed out that was the Market Ring, though now they had taken another turn, heading for the more upper levels of the city.
"Yes, we have been isolated from the rest of the Elemental Continent for about… forever!" Dankan answered with a grin.
"But, as the circumstances are, it seems that things are beginning to grow out of what we can handle ourselves." He sighed
"And, Kaze no Kumi (land of Wind) is already involved in this. Never before had they attacked outsiders…" his eyebrows furrowed, his mind racing to find reasons, motives, anything…
"Wait, wait, wait, wait… what are we really up against?!" Naruto was waving his hands before him in frustration. Truth be told, they had battled with the enemy, yet knew little to nothing about him!
"Well, you do know Oni no Kumi (Demon Country) right?"
They all nodded. It was a small land to the south-western part of the continent. Naruto also reminded himself of that little adventure he had over that place in the past (Referring Naruto Shippuden Movie 1)
"Well, this land may seem small and insignificant, but there's more than what meets the eye… sadly." He sighed once again.
"Under the Land of Demons lies an underground kingdom. I think it's called Kagegakure no Sato, the Village hidden in the Shadows. It is there that everything evil comes from. The undead, the demons, everything." His fist was clenched "Tomo and Kage have been battling for ages now in the background. While the Ninja Wars took place and the world around us evolved and changed, we here in Tomo battled to keep the demons at bay, so that they wouldn't disturb the land."
"Too bad, nine of their pets had managed to escape, around a decade and a half ago…" his expression was serious, the matter of his speech a piece of history.
"We didn't manage to contain them, but thankfully, the Shodaime Hokage of Konoha managed to subdue them. Well, one brought the other and things are as they are now." Everyone noted that he refrained from touching the subject of the Bijuu too deeply. It was common knowledge among them now that Naruto was the Kyuubi container…
"As of late, their armies seem to expand, for what reason, I know not" his expression once more became troubled. "Normally, they never make it to the outside world that easily… maybe it's the corruption that's taking it's toll to our barriers…" the questioning looks they threw at each other and at him was a clear sign that they understood little of the last sentence.
"Naruto, you have noticed the change in the forest and at the valley, right?" he said, looking at the blond. Said teen nodded.
"Well, a while back these places where a pearl of beauty. Somehow, we know yet not, through dark magic these areas have been swallowed by the darkness and changed significantly. The barriers we had set to keep outsiders off Tomo have already been destroyed, but no normal man can make it through anyway as it is…" they where all thankfully that Itachi wasn't a 'normal man'. If the man was as elite as they knew him to be, he would have little trouble passing through these dangerous lands.
"Ah, I should point this out now. Don't get amazed if you see one of them using kage techniques like 'Shadow-Bind'. The Nara clan of Konoha is a side branch that escaped that kingdom and managed to find a piece of heaven in the Leaf Village. But, since they stayed away from the darkness for so many years, their powers have diminished to simple shadow manipulation." That was something new. It was hard to imagine Shikamaru to be an evil dictator… nah, he was too lazy for that.
"The Nara are nothing before the real Kages… they can hide even the sun." Dankan murmured to himself, even though the others heard as well.
After a few minutes of walking in silence, the group finally arrived to the last ring of the city. Before them stood a large building that seemed to melt within the rock behind it. Four-story tall with windows at each floor and a wide double-door. There was also a staircase that led to the rooftop, said rooftop leading to the cliff that narrowly expanded outwards from the mountain.
"Here we are. The Tenkage's (Divine Shadow) tower!" he said with a wide grin, his voice full of pride. Truthfully enough, there was the kanji was 'Light' in the center of the building's wall, embedded in a circle.
"You have a Kage??" Naruto asked, his jaw dropping at the irony. The Light users who despised the darkness, had a 'shadow' to lead them.
"Well, yeah. The reasons are many, but most of all it's so that we can fit with the other nations in matters of leadership. We even have a Daimiyo! Though he lives in the second to last ring…" He murmured the last part to himself. The four teens sighed as one, their feet now taking them towards the door of the rather large building. It wasn't that much of a surprise that a Daimiyo was also present. This title belonged to the man that controlled the culture, economics and finances of the country while the Kage focused mostly on military maters, as well as checking over the finances along with his counterpart.
Leaving the matter behind, they all stepped inside the wooden double-doors…
XxxxX
The building inside seemed traditional enough. Polished wooden floors met their feet as well as decorated walls found their eyes. Images of women sitting or dancing among flowers, images of battle and glory, images of tranquility and harmony… all these passed their eyes as they walked up a staircase after passing the secretary. Down a hallway they walked, occasionally meeting people in their path yet said people paying them no mind. Probably the casual clothing of them all helped in avoiding unnecessary attention.
Finally reaching another set of double-doors, they all failed to notice Dankan's smirk when his hand reached the doorknob. No guards stood outside the door, that was something they all noticed… except Naruto, who anxiously sweated at the fact that he was going to meet yet another Kage.
The door creaked open slowly, painfully, as if time slowed down just so that door would open at the slowest pace possible. And then…
"Welcome!" came a shout of joy from the other side of the room, the door slamming on the wall as a bulky, tall man in pale-golden robes hugged Dankan to death. He had a long, blond beard and a pair of mesmerizing green eyes…
"Ten… Tenkage-sama… You'll… kill…" before he could finish his rugged exclamation of pain, the Tenkage had already left him be to start hugging the other visitors, thankfully paying attention as to not crush the girls in his bear like embrace.
The three males, however, walked inside with aching bones as the bulky man walked inside and urged them in, closing the door behind them and turning to sit behind his desk…
The Kage's office seemed like an advanced edition of the decorations they had seen downstairs… the wooden floor here was a polished white color, the wall decorations recreating the scene of a gentle forest, puffy clouds taking place among a blue sky on the ceiling.
You would think that the moment you stepped in this office, you also stepped inside another world, one of peace and calmness…
The Tenkage cleared his throat and that got them all out of their dazed state. Even though it was rude, they couldn't help but scold him mentally for stopping their daydreaming…
It was a really nice daydream…
"Well, my friends, I would like to hear the reason that you decided to make such a long journey from Konohagakure no Sato here, to Tomogakure. I suppose you bring a message from your village?" he chuckled "Doubtful. None other than Suna even have legends about our existence." A sigh escaped his lips.
In contradiction to the carefree attitude he was giving off before, the power and authority he now emitted left no openings for questioning. His green eyes where piercing them, studying them for any fault or lie as they narrated why and how they got here, from the moment they left the village to the moment they stepped in Tomo. None of the teens even thought of joking around with him…
"… and that's how it is, Ten-jii" a vein was immediately visible in said man's forehead. Everyone started sweating as their incredulous looks all pierced Naruto, who visibly seemed to pay no mind nor attention to his own words.
"Watch your tongue with me boy…" the gentle man was gone as his threat became even more apparent…
"Of course, Tenkage-sama-jii" Naruto said, letting another vein bulge from the Tenkage's forehead…
The glass wall behind the Tenkage thankfully didn't break that day. The man was clever enough to at least not destroy his own office as he grabbed the boy from his shirt and yanked him towards him, bringing him to eye level, their noses touching as fury seemed to emit from the man…
It was then that Naruto really realized what was going on…
"G-guys… a hand?" he asked as he turned around with a worried grin, the others sighing as they dropped their heads, even Dankan.
"You…" even his breath carried venom
"Are really stupid, aren't you boy?" he threw him away as he laughed, Naruto amazed at the ease the man handled his body, as if he was nothing but a feather. He skidded a little before regaining his footing and incredulously looking at the Kage.
Said man was still slamming a fist on his desk, his whole body aching from laughter.
Needless to say, the three other teens couldn't help but worry about the man's mental state…
Dankan on the other hand, only kept grinning.
"You know, Tenkage-sama is a really kind-hearted man. He wouldn't mind if we all called him ojii-san, but due to respect we still call him Tenkage-sama anyway." He glanced at Naruto "Though you man, must have a really twisted understanding of the word 'respect'…" he sighed, his grin returning as the Tenkage seemed to finally calm down.
"Ah, that was a good one. You should all just see your faces." He said, the cheerfulness from before returning. Though it was still noticeable that he didn't let his authority slip, not even for a second… Kindhearted he may be, an idiot he was not…
Clearing his throat yet again, he smiled warmly as he glanced at each teen respectively. Hmm, the girls were both hotties…
Both Sakura and Hinata wore mini-skirts and a body-hugging shirt, each with their respective colors of pink and red and blue and lavender.
Hinata of course, didn't oblige to dress like this at first… but Sakura's nagging had paid off in the end.
Sasuke himself had decided on a black t-shirt with the Uchiha symbol on his back, as well as white shorts. They all wore their ninja sandals though.
"May I ask your names?" The man's smile had slipped as seriousness took over. Now came a matter that demanded it.
"Uchiha Sasuke." He said with a bow
"Haruno Sakura." She mimicked with a bend of her own.
"Hyuuga Hinata, a pleasure to meet you." She said without a stutter, as was the proper etiquette. Some habits from being a noble didn't fade easily…
"Uzumaki Naruto!!" the teen exclaimed with a shout and a wide grin. His friend's sadly noticed the missing of what usually accompanied the call of his name…
'… remember my name, cause I'm gonna be the future…'
"Tenkage!" yep, sad as it was that he had left that dream behind… wait, what?
The current Tenkage roared in laughter again, yet Naruto only kept his grin triumphant.
"Oh boy, I sure hope you will someday kid. But for now, let's start with the basics…" the man said with a kind smile.
"First of all, I should introduce myself as well ne?" he said, sitting up from his chair.
"I, Yondaime Tenkage of Tomogakure, Kengen Ryoku, am happy to welcome you all in Tomo no kumi." He had opened his arms in the gesture of a hug, a warm greeting to the travelers that had at last reached their new home.
"And of course, I suppose you would all like to enroll in our military ranks?"
After a few minutes of explaining their ranks and skills, the Tenkage nodded as he handed each of them a paper. "Registration entry. You people will have to attend our academy for a few months. Your skill in combat might be good, but your grasp over the Light is weak. None of my army know not how to cast at least low-level Meimeiton techniques." They all nodded, though sad that they had to once again get into the academy…
"And of course, I suppose you would all need accommodations for your stay in our village?" they all nodded once again. The Tenkage paused for a moment in thought… "Aha!" he exclaimed before reaching in one of his drawers, taking out two pieces of paper.
"Recently, there had been two forms given in for a couple of houses in the middle ring of Tomo, a ring above the Market. The price of their auction is low and the building are well maintained. Though, each of them has only two bedrooms as it is." He said as he handed them the forms, all four gazing at them with wonder as they checked over the details.
Kengen Ryoku seemed to be a kind man, allowing them accommodations here in Tomo so quickly.
"Ah, we also accept Yen here as our coin. There are also silver coins running around the market, but their actual value is low." The man was still smiling.
Their options were of no trouble. Hinata and Sasuke, having been heirs to formidable clans of Konoha, had plenty of money to spare. Hinata, having taken a sum from her family treasure (a generous one that is) and Sasuke being the only Uchiha in Konoha, had inherited the whole fortune of his family.
So it was settled.
"I and Sakura will take this one." He said as he signed the paper and gave it back to the Kage. The man looked at them with wonder. Hinata next to them blushed furiously, realizing what this meant, while Naruto was ready to yell at them for leaving him out. He felt a little dejected… the three of them were, Team 7 after all. Hinata was a member of their team as of late as well, but their own bond in this team was deeper…
"You two are a couple? How lively." The Tenkage said with a wide grin. Sakura blushed herself for a change, while Sasuke only 'Hned'.
The two houses where only a couple of blocks away from each other. Their price was reasonable. What else could they ask for? Sasuke couldn't help but congratulate himself and his luck at how things where rolling out.
"Well, Uchiha, now you have your own house here in Tomo! Hope you enjoy. Ah, mind though that you will need to get the furniture yourself." The man said. Sasuke nodded.
"Your training as shinobi of Tomo will begin in a week, when the new classes begin. Till then, please acquaint yourself with the rest of the village." They all nodded as Hinata reluctantly signed the other form for buying the house. The idea of living with Naruto was… weird, bewildering and pleasant, all at the same time.
She also noticed the cunning grin that now had conquered the Yondaime's face.
"Hyuuga-san, welcome to Tomo. Hope you have a nice stay." He grinned at both teens, Naruto arguing with Sasuke and said Uchiha ignoring him, while Hinata sighed.
"Now, you are dismissed. Any questions you might pose, Dankan will be more than willing to answer." He intertwined his fingers under his chin.
"Why it has to be me…?" Dankan said with a sigh as he dropped his head.
All four teens started walking out of the office and where the designated area of their new accommodations where, while Dankan stayed behind as the doors closed, the echoes of their arguments vibrating off the walls in the soothing atmosphere of the Tenkage's office…
"Such special treatment… Are you sure they're worth it, Yondaime-sama?"
"They sure are. Especially the blond kid. That Naruto… there's just something about him…"
"Heh, they can hide from us, but not from the Light, can they?"
"None can hide from it my child. None…"
XxxxX
A/N: Whoa, this time I reached 11k words... damn, I'm glad I finally reached Tomo! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! I sure did while writing it. Deciding how to make the tower and the office was a small challenge... I needed something unique ^^
Once again, I beg your pardon for any mistakes you might note. I'm too lazy of a guy to proof read such a long text... =P
Next Chapter: City of Light, Part Two
Naruto and his friends finally get to know more about their new home. Running around trying to fix up their own lives within the confines of their new houses and get to know Tomogakure some more, another part of said country's history shall be unraveled...
Till we meet again,
HoNdeR All Mighty
PS: Please review! As always, your opinion matters! And, I'll be happy to answer any question. I don't mind unsigned reviews, the only problem is that I can't respond to them -.-