Chapter 11
AN: SOO….I kind of forgot to mention this last chapter but Ren's Mokuten was COMPLETELY planned. I swear! If you remember her first scene I mentioned it in a sense. However, I have it planned where since it was injected into her DNA long after birth she will have to work for control…and the results are comical and pitiful. Also, hopefully I will have another chapter by Monday afternoon but again I need to watch the Naruto episodes with Ranmaru and Raiga (or find an extremely detailed summary) before that section can be written. But enough of that! Let's continue on with Mei's scheme, Naruto's sleep deprivation, and Ren's frustration!
I don't own Naruto. I mean seriously, if I did then I would be on a beach basking in my fortunes rather than wondering about how tuition keeps getting higher.
With Naruto and Sai, nineteen hours later…
Almost seventy-two hours without more than three hours rest and I was going to snap if Ao, a guy with the stolen byakugan that Mei assigned to us for the mission, didn't stop eying me with suspicion and doubt.
We were currently staking out one of Yagura's four main towers, waiting for the nightly fog to settle in. Our mission: infiltrate and set some of my seals, both hirashin and disguised exploding matrixes while the main forces from the tower were focused on the loss of the caravan Sai and I raided, as well as a raid Mei had staged in the northern part of the village. This mission was important so I knew snapping could end in us failing.
"What is it?" I manage to grind out in a somewhat civil manner, eyes focused ahead as Sai sits in another allyway, using his ink mice to travel and bind the guards.
"I don't understand what a kid like you is doing on this type of mission. Your kind are only good for mass battle fields and mass murdering," He replies, his hidden byakugan blazing for lookouts and trouble. I narrow my eyes.
"My kind, sir? If you are talking about my other chakra that your other eye sees, then I must inform you I have never used it in actual combat."
"Oh? And why is that?" He asks, genuinely confused.
"Because that chakra is a tool. I can use less than a quarter of it before it harms me and I lose control. I know about Yagura- Lady Mei told me about the genjutsu he's under. And I know that makes it hard for you to trust my kind. But know this," I pause and look him in the eye, my blue orbs blazing in the night, "I am not like that, and as long as we work together I will harm you. That chakra will not be used unless absolutely necessary." This causes Ao to nod, seemingly approvingly.
"I thank you for easing my misgivings, Kitsune-san. Though I must wonder why you are helping us. Lady Mei has mentioned an alliance with the reformed Mist, but as you are a mercenary…"
"How would an alliance benefit me, correct?" Ao nod. "Well, let's just say a long-term alliance between Konoha and I makes foraging a treaty between the two villages beneficial to everyone and leave it at that, okay?" Again, another nod. "Now I have a question- never mind that's the signal!" Two of my shadow clones, henged to look like the captured guards, signaled for us to move out, barely visible in the thickening fog. I summon one of the smaller foxes- a grey and white two tail- and take off. Dashing into the tower that held ninja, weapons, and information I suppress my chakra down to the smallest it can go-barely a chunin signature. Ao stays back, his job being to scan the building during our time in. If he spots anything he was to tell the fox who would reverse summon himself to me.
Making our way through the tower unnoticed was difficult, almost impossible. Sai was able to do it no problem with a cloaking jutsu he had learned in ROOT and was deftly setting sealing and exploding tags in places no-one without the byakugan would notice. I, however, had just learned the jutsu from him and it took intense concentration for me to maintain, made more difficult by Kurama.
Kit, just kill anyone you come across. You are my vessel and I won't have you cowering in the shadows like a coward, a-
A ninja? News flash I am a ninja. Hiding in the shadows is what we do, you know this.
Hmph. I never used stealth. Just crush everything and roar, that's my motto, The fox says proudly.
What a terrific motto, I sweat-drop while placing a hirashin tag at the bottom of a toilet. And that terrific motto is why you've been inside a human for ninety-something years. Clearly stealth isn't necessary oh great one. After that comment Kurama goes quiet.
Just as we are finishing an explosion goes off near Yagura's tower-our agreed upon signal with the distraction group- and we make a clean escape, Sai using his new ink-bird jutsu to carry us out. He got the idea after watching Ren cart around Angel in the sky and recently perfected it.
With Ren…
A parry and upward slash blocks Zabuza's mighty sword while Ren trains on the shore of a lake, not far from where the group met. A water clone pops up and tries to stab her but a vine pops up, protecting her.
"Arg, we've been doing this for hours! A day ago plants were as apathetic to me as they were to any human. And now I can't escape them!" Ren whines while trying to get free of the now clingy vine.
"Well at least you'll always have a friend, eh gaki? Just beat the plants into submission," Zabuza says, apparently trying to be supportive. Ren's glare shows the attempt wasn't appreciated. Haku steps up, the now indisputable male trying to stop a fight before it breaks out.
"Now, now Tori-chan. How about we work on separating the two elements that make wood-earth and water- and work on elemental manipulation of them? I did that for ice and it helped…" And with that, Zabuza was quickly replaced.
Hour later, back at Rebel camp…
After reporting to Mei the success of the mission I trudge off to the tent Sai and I share while Sai goes off to paint. Collapsing on the cot I don't feel the arrival of the new letters from Konoha, bringing bad news.
Konoha, Sarutobi's office, earlier…
Two years. Two years since he had last seen his surrogate grandson and while looking at a certain order on his desk, waiting to be signed, Hiruzen had never felt guiltier. He felt guilty for not protecting Naruto better from the village. For not being able to stop him from leaving. But most of all Hiruzen Sarutobi felt guilty for feeling slightly relieved that Naruto was gone. Shisui and Itachi informed him that the Uchiha coup was stalled and they were quietly taking out the leaders in some fashion (he honestly didn't want to know how- plausible deniability), the civilians were calmer, and the ANBU weren't stressed about protecting Naruto. Even Danzo wasn't bugging him for the chance to train the young blonde and agreed with him in most matters now during council meetings. Yes, though Sarutobi would love to see his surrogate grandson again he had to ask: was it worth it? Was wishing for Naruto-who was never a very good shinobi or child at all, even if his goofy smile and pranks brightened his day- to return even though he was more than likely dead or in a civilian setting, the right thing for the village? For Sarutobi? Naruto wasn't a genius like his father and his presence always caused a security risk with Iwa, Kumo, and even his own advisor Danzo. With Naruto gone…
Sighing after making the hardest decision of his life, Hiruzen Sarutobi signs off on the order. Naruto Uzumaki was declared dead, and the monthly search ops he had always pushed for were now suspended. If Naruto ever showed up again Sarutobi promised himself he would change things, but…no. The chance of ever seeing the Fourth's legacy again alive was too small. It was for the best, he decided.
It was time to lead the village to the future, and not dwell on the mistakes of the past. Naruto was a mistake. A precious and unfair mistake. But now the village could move forward.
End! Next chapter is training, Naruto's emotions at being seemingly forgotten, and hopefully I will get up to the rebellion's final stance. After that finishes there will be a time skip and one or two last arcs before the return. Have a great day guys!
