Chapter 11-Freedom
Naruto awoke to find himself in a empty wasteland. It was a place where everything was just...bare with no real life to speak of. Looking further to his right, he saw Ryu Hayabusa was lying next to him, also sitting up, and looking around in curiosity.
"Where are we?" asked Naruto with Ryu shrugging while looking confused.
"I don't know. I've never seen this place before today," answered Ryu before a shadowy figure appeared in front of them.
"You are at the boarder between the realm of the living...and the realm of the dead," said the figure before light washed over him to reveal his appearance to the two shocked ninja.
"Genshin," whispered Ryu while Naruto quickly kneeling before his teacher, Master, and surrogate Father in the ways of all things ninja.
"Lord Genshin," whispered Naruto while keeping his head down.
Even now, the man before him deserved the utmost respect.
"Rise Naruto. No son of mine has to kneel at my feet," ordered Genshin with the boy now standing and standing at attention as if to await further orders from the man.
"Are we dead?" asked Ryu with Genshin smirking at them.
"No Dragon Ninja. If you were dead, we would be here right now talking in this realm. I came here to provide...assistance," answered Genshin before holding out the Blade of the Archfiend in his hand.
"Assistance?" asked Naruto curiously while Genshin focused on Ryu, who reached for the Blade of the Archfiend.
"You said at my grave that you needed to borrow my soul this one time. I have seen your troubles Ryu Hayabusa and such...I am willing let you use my soul and this sword...to its fullest potential," answered Genshin with Ryu grasping the sword and seeing it come alive once more like it did during the time used by the dead Master Ninja.
"Thank you Genshin," said Ryu with Genshin nodding.
"Make sure Naruto gets this sword when your enemy is no more Ryu Hayabusa. It is his by right and I will not have inheritance destroyed before he has a chance to wield it," said Genshin with a stern look on his face.
"I understand," replied Ryu before taking the sword from the man.
"Lord Genshin...I...I...," said Naruto though he was hesitant to speak up against him.
"What is it Naruto?" asked Genshin with the man turning to look at the boy.
"I wanted to...to know something. Questions that I needed to be answered. Questions only you can answer," said Naruto with Genshin focusing on him fully now.
"Yes?" questioned Genshin before the boy took several steps forward until he was nearly toe to toe with the towering Master Ninja of the Black Spider Clan.
"Are you proud of me? Proud of all I have done since leaving your service? Am I still worthy of being called your student and son?" asked Naruto with Genshin's one eye seemingly piercing into his soul.
"You have always been worthy of being my student and my son. I have watched from the land of the dead. I have watched you train and grow into a great ninja who will one day achieve the title of Master. One day, you will forge your own path as a Shinobi, and fight for a purpose greater then yourself. Remember, when the time comes to walk this path in life Naruto, fight for this purpose with all your being. Never stop, never quit, and never kneel to your enemies for an instant because if you do, they will never making you kneel until the day they die...or rather you do," replied Genshin with Naruto nodding.
"I already know to what to fight for when the time comes to walk this path and I have every intention of fighting for it with everything I've got!" said Naruto with conviction and passion in his voice while Genshin nodded.
"Go. Both of you. The world still has need of ninja. Your time to enter the realm of the dead is not yet upon either of you," replied Genshin with the two nodding and bowing to the Dark Lord of all Ninja.
"Thank you for your assistance Genshin. For what it is worth...I am sorry about what my Uncle did your brother. I had no idea he would betray my clan...much less your brother," said Ryu while Genshin nodding.
"I could easily blame the entirety of his death on you, your clan, and Murai himself. But in truth, I am also to blame in his death, for I did not listen to someone, who told me that Gamov was in trouble. Had I not been blinded by my own arrogance in Gamov's skills being second only to myself...perhaps I would have listened to the advice given and my brother might still be alive," said Genshin, as he had made peace with his brother's death, and that his own arrogance prevented him from acting sooner on Naruto instincts.
"Goodbye Genshin," said Ryu before slowly vanishing.
"Goodbye...Father," said Naruto while Genshin nodded while seeing the blonde's body vanish seconds later.
"Goodbye...my son. We will all meet each other again one day. Know that the spirit of the ninja way will always be with you...and so will I," whispered Genshin, as his body vanished as well, and returned to the land of the dead now that his mission had been complete.
(JSDF Destroyer Zangetsu-At the Moment)
Ryu and Naruto were awake. Both were sitting up, looking around at their surroundings, and finding they were not alone. Mizuki was beside Ryu while Ayane was beside Naruto with both women looking at each ninja with concern. Mizuki had a look of concern on her face for Ryu while Ayane...well...she shaking Naruto violently for nearly dying and scaring the crap out of her.
"Ayane, your lover won't be able to recover properly if you keep shaking him like that," commented Ryu while Ayane stopped shaking Naruto to look at him while Naruto was still moving his head around before finally getting control of it.
"Amen to that," said Naruto while a little dizzy and saw Ayane glaring at him.
"You shut up! You nearly died Naruto! I ought to tie you to the bed and keep you there for a month!" exclaimed Ayane with Naruto smirking and realized his mask was off.
No point in hiding his name now.
"Only if you are on top for the whole month riding me," remarked Naruto with Ayane blushing and she soon began to strangle him.
"Ero-baka!" exclaimed Ayane while Naruto tried to pry her hands off his throat.
"It was worth it! It was worth it!" exclaimed Naruto with some difficulty while Ayane wasn't letting up in choking him.
"Are they usually like this?" asked Mizuki with Ryu letting out a chuckle at their antics.
"Sometimes. You should hear how those two first met," commented Ryu before Ayane went from strangling the boy to kissing him passionately on the lips.
"Don't do that to me again," whispered Ayane with Naruto smiling at her.
"I'll try. No promises," Naruto whispered back.
"Fair enough," said Ayane before she moved away from him and leaned against the wall.
"How long have we been out of it?" asked Naruto curiously.
"A little over a day. It was fortunate that the creature, which rose from the Black Narwhal was dead center in the middle of the ocean, or else it would have reached land sooner. It is currently heading to Tokyo and we are heading there to catch up before this Goddess the LOA created can do any real damage," answered Ayane with Naruto and Ryu looking at each other.
"Its not a creature. Its my daughter," remarked Theodore, as he entered the room, and it was clear that Mizuki's or Ayane's lack of surprise meant the two had met earlier.
"I thought as much. Even in her current state, it still looks like Canna," said Mizuki, as she had a feeling this was the end result of the LOA's machinations, and Canna being at the forefront of it all.
"My brother did this to her and I was a puppet to further the LOA's plans. We need to get to Tokyo and stop Canna before she causes further harm," said Theodore with the group in front of him nodding.
"There is the issue with her wielding the Dragon Sword. While the sword itself according to Muramasa won't kill an innocent, she can do it indirectly do it by destroying buildings, and vehicles with people around them. The damage caused by her presence alone walking through the streets will be high," said Naruto with Ryu nodding.
"And that's just with Canna alone. We have gotten reports of LOA troops, their chimeras, and artificial Fiends heading for Tokyo too. All of them right behind her so they don't get caught in the crossfire of the Dragon Sword's power," said Mizuki with Naruto running a hand through his blonde hair.
"We need to disarm Canna of the Dragon Sword...and use it to destroy her current body," said Naruto with Theodore glaring at him.
"Absolutely not! She maybe something else, but I will not have you kill my daughter. As her Father...I won't allow it!" stated Theodore firmly with Naruto raising his hand.
"Hold on! Let me explain. Muramasa said the Dragon Sword cannot kill an innocent. A child is the symbol of innocence and so is Canna regardless of what she has now become. The Dragon Sword will only kill the form Canna is in, but it won't kill Canna herself, and the power of the sword should return the poor girl back to normal," replied Naruto with the man not liking this one bit, but clearly understood it might be the only way.
"You are certain getting the Dragon Sword and using it on my daughter is the only way?" asked Theodore with Naruto nodding and Ryu doing so as well after thinking it over.
"I trust the source of the information. When it comes to the Dragon Sword, there is no one better then Muramasa," said Naruto with Theodore sighing.
"All right. I'll help you get close to her, but first things first. I need to remove the Grip of Murder you Ryu," said Theodore with Ryu looking shocked.
"I thought the curse couldn't be stopped?" questioned Ryu with Theodore smirking.
"I never said that. Though for this to even work, I need you to stab me with your sword," replied Theodore with Ryu looking unsure.
"Is that really necessary?" asked Mizuki with Theodore nodding while Naruto understood the reason.
"The curse required contact with the blood of the caster and thus can only be removed via the blood of the caster," concluded Naruto while snapping his fingers in realization with Theodore nodding.
"Correct," said Theodore while Ryu slowly took out his sword.
"You already knew this tidbit of knowledge when you gathered the information from his head while we awakened his mind on the Black Narwhal. Why did you act like you didn't know this?" said Kyuubi curiously while Naruto inwardly smirked.
'To throw everyone off that I knew. I can't exactly say 'I know how to remove the Grip of Murder from you Ryu thanks to invading Theodore's mind and taking his knowledge on the subject without his express permission.' Now can I?' thought Naruto since he knew it may put him at odds with some of the people in the room.
"Good point," said Kyuubi while conceiting.
"Are you sure about this?" asked Ryu while Theodore nodded.
"Yes. You have to run me through. Don't worry. I'll be fine. A tad sore, but I will heal," answered Theodore before Ryu nodded and thrust the Blade of the Archfiend into the man's torso.
Within moments, Theodore grabbed the Dragon Ninja's right arm, an arm now practically consumed in crimson veins all the way up to the right side of his face, and began chanting in another language. Soon ancient symbols wrapped around the arm and the veins faded with the arm looking like a healthy normal limb. Quickly pulling the sword out, Ryu saw Theodore fall to his knees, and clutch the wound to put pressure on it to help ensure he didn't bleed out.
"Get a medic. Hurry!" said Ryu while Mizuki moved to head out of the room.
"No! No! I'm fine. I'll heal soon enough. Besides, once I heal up, I have to go with you, and your young charge here to ensure nothing stops us from saving Canna. I wouldn't be much of a Father if I didn't come with you to save her," said Theodore before standing up and felt his wound was closing up slowly.
"How long until we reach Tokyo?" asked Ryu to Mizuki.
"The ETA last I checked was in a few hours. We should arrive shortly after Canna does," answered Mizuki while Ryu left he room to head outside of the ship with Mizuki and Ayane following him.
"Theodore, if I could borrow you for a moment to ask a question," said Naruto with the other blonde man looking at him curiously.
"Yes?" asked Theodore curiously.
"I was wondering and when this is all over...is it possible I could get a copy your armor and robes?" asked Naruto with Theodore looking at him curiously.
"For what purpose?" asked Theodore with Naruto shrugging.
"Well...I already have the mask you wore and the thing is...I might need the complete set for where I have to go in the future," answered Naruto before explaining his situation to the man, who nodded in thought, and could see why the boy would want to use such a disguise.
"Provided that we all make it through this alive, I will see if I can't make some kind of arrangement for you to receive something similar. At the very least, I'll get you the robes, but the armor may prove difficult, and even more for someone not fully grown," said Theodore with Naruto nodding.
"If you can't get me the armor that's fine. Maybe schematics of the armor itself so I can make it myself in the future? Oh and copies of the mask too. I have yours, but I would like a few spares just in case I lose it," offered Naruto with Theodore extending his hand out while smiling at him.
"Deal!" exclaimed Theodore while Naruto shook the man's hand.
"Deal," said Naruto with a grin of his own.
With that in mind, the two left the room, and headed for the outside of the ship to meet with the others.
(Tokyo-Sometime Later)
"I was expecting these LOA soldiers to be a bit tougher. Or are my expectations of them too high?" remarked Theodore, as he moved swiftly through several of his enemies with the rapier slicing through their bodies with ease.
"A little bit of both. I'm thinking these are the reserves. Ryu and I did kill quite a lot of them before reaching this point," commented Naruto, who was now wearing his mask again, and slicing through a chimera.
"True," said Theodore before stabbing a soldier in the head after slicing his arm off.
"We are getting closer. Keep moving forward," commanded Ryu before quickly killing a few soldiers in a few quick slices.
"Before we advance further, there is something I want to ask you Ryu Hayabusa," said Theodore with Ryu finishing the last artificial Fiend in the area.
"Do you have to ask me this now?" asked Ryu before flicking blood off of his sword.
"Yes," answered Theodore while Naruto walked over to the two.
"Then ask it," replied Ryu while Theodore's face became serious.
"Canna adores you. From what Mizuki told me earlier, she sees you as a Father figure. A role I have failed to truly perform until now. And while I do intend to live through this day to be a Father to Canna, I do not want her to be out of your life either. What I am asking you Ryu Hayabusa is that when this is all over...will you be Canna's Godfather?" said Theodore with Naruto whistling in surprise and saw Ryu was surprised too.
"Her Godfather?" asked Ryu with Theodore nodding.
"I want to make up for lost time with Canna. To be a Father to her once more. But if I cut you out of the picture after all of this, I fear it will have Canna create a negative outlook on life. As I said earlier, Canna adores you, and sees you as Father figure Ryu Hayabusa. I can think of no better position where you can still have that same Fatherly role as me and ensuring Canna is happy," explained Theodore with Ryu looking uncertain for a few seconds.
"That's a big responsibility to give him Theodore," commented Naruto while Ryu and Theodore looked at him now.
"I know it is. But still, at least consider the offer Ryu. If only for Canna," said Theodore before the sound of Canna's presence creating destruction wherever she went turned their attention that way.
"We'll talk about this later. First we have to save Canna," replied Ryu before rushing forward and the other two right behind him.
"Where is your female ninja companion Ayane?" Theodore asked Naruto curiously.
"She is helping Master Jo and Momiji with the fighting going on in other places in order to protect our flank. The last thing we need is to be ambushed when we are close to our objective," answered Naruto with Theodore nodding.
The three heroes made their way to where Canna was, but the giant Goddess of a child had erected a massive energy barrier made of alchemic energy. Knowing Canna was beyond it, Theodore used his power to rip open a hole just big enough for them to get through, and saw Canna off in the distance smashing her way through the city.
"This brings back memories," commented Ryu since it reminded him of the giant Buddha statue and Stature of Liberty being possessed.
"I bet it does. Are you ready?" asked Naruto while drawing the Biju Sword and Ryu had the Blade of the Archfiend in hand.
"Yes," replied Ryu while seeing Theodore hesitating.
"You must fight her without me my friends. The very idea of raising a hand much less a sword to Canna fills me with dread. I will provide support in terms of killing LOA forces around us, but that's as far as my help in this matter goes. I am truly sorry," said Theodore with the two ninja nodding.
"We understand. Come on Naruto. We have work to do," said Ryu while he and Naruto rushed toward Canna with swords drawn.
"You do know that the Blade of the Archfiend and the Biju Sword will hurt her. It's the only way to weaken Canna to the point where she relinquishes the Dragon Sword," said Naruto with Ryu nodding.
"I know. I take no pleasure in hurting her with this sword or you with yours," replied Ryu before they moved to a tall building where Canna now stood in front of with the Dragon Sword in its currently massive state in her hand.
"Speaking of hurting, why do I get the sudden feeling we are going to be doing a lot of that soon?" asked Naruto before dodging a vertical slash by Canna that cut deep into the building.
"Watch it! While that sword won't kill an innocent, it has the power to kill the both of us! Especially in the state the weapon is in now. That much purity will wipe the two of us off the face of the planet!" exclaimed Kyuubi while Naruto dodged multiple blasts of energy, the Dragon Sword swinging down on him, and the falling debris from the other buildings around him.
'Ya think?! What was your first clue? The fact it is a giant sword? Or the fact said giant sword is glowing with a lot of pure spiritual energy?' thought Naruto while attacking the giant Goddess on one side with the Biju Sword while Ryu attacked with his own on the other.
"Don't get snippy with me kit! I'm just making sure neither of us meets our end here today an-DUCK!" commanded Kyuubi with Naruto diving just in time to avoid being cut in two at the waist by the Dragon Sword before using his momentum to roll to his feet and then sliding back while ducking again when Canna brought the sword back.
"That was too close," whispered Naruto while seeing Ryu looking at him to see if he was okay.
"She's weakening! Canna's attacks are getting wilder! Help me attack her sword arm so she can be disarmed of the Dragon Sword!" commanded Ryu with Naruto nodding and the two assaulted Canna's right arm with their swords.
However, Canna was not one to simply lose to two powerful warriors, even if they were ninjas from the Dragon Clan, and moved to finish them off in one strike. Looking at each other, Naruto and Ryu stood side by side, putting their swords in a X-shape, and braced their legs while the giant sword came down to finish them off. The impact of the giant Dragon Sword hitting the two ninja nearly made the ground around the two collapse underneath them, their arms and legs screaming in pain, which they had to ignore, and they felt their own swords cracking under the pressure.
"PUSH!" yelled Naruto to Ryu with both ninjas using their strength to push the sword back and successfully managed to dislodge it from Canna's grip before it shrank back to normal human holding size.
"Time to end this," said Ryu before taking the Eye of the Dragon and putting it in the hilt of the sword to make it glow.
"Hurry! It looks like she's pissed off at losing her weapon," said Naruto with Ryu handing the Blade of the Archfiend to him and rushed forward to finish the job.
Using the arm Canna had on the ground, Ryu rushed up the limb to the neck and leaped onto the forehead of the giant Goddess, and stabbed the girl right in the center of her forehead. The power of the sword spread through the giant child creature, shattering it in a massive explosion, and Ryu grabbing Canna before the two landed on the ground with the now unconscious girl safely in his arms.
"Daddy," whispered Canna while Ryu simply looked shocked at her saying that while in a slumbering like state.
"Canna!" exclaimed Theodore, as he arrived in front of Ryu, and knelt down to look at his little girl.
"Here. It's only fitting she wake up to see her Father," replied Ryu while handing Canna over to him.
"And her Godfather," added Theodore while Ryu looked from him to Canna.
"I never said I would agree to it," countered Ryu with Theodore smirking at him.
"As if you wouldn't. You could have said no from the start when I first made the offer. The fact you haven't and still haven't officially said no yet means you want to be in her life. You're just afraid since you don't know how," Theodore offered with Ryu sighing since former Masked Regent was right.
"He's got you there Ryu. Besides, think of this as training for the day you have a kid of your own. Either with Rachel, Irene, Mizuki, Momiji, or maybe all of them if you play your cards right," said Naruto while Ryu sighing again, but this time in annoyance, and gave the blonde boy a small glare.
"I'm finding myself getting an increasingly strong desire to run you through with the Dragon Sword right about now Naruto. Don't push it," said Ryu with Naruto lifting his hands up in front of him in surrender.
"Okay! Okay! I'm just saying that with all the women wanting to be with you, its going to be hard to choose one without breaking the hearts of the others...unless they share you," said Naruto while Ryu felt increasingly annoyed by the teasing and slowly reached for the handle of his now sheathed sword.
"Naruto...run!" said Ryu before chasing after a now worried Naruto, as they ran up the side of buildings, up walls, and the blonde boy dodging various projectiles the Dragon Ninja was throwing at him.
"Theodore! Canna!" exclaimed Mizuki, as she saw Theodore holding Canna close, and then saw the two ninja with their own antics.
"We're all right. Just tired and rightfully so," said Theodore while Canna woke up to see her Father and Mizuki.
"Daddy? Where is Ryu and Kitsune?" asked Canna, as she wanted to see them both, and thank them for saving her.
"Yes sweetheart. I'm here. Ryu and Kitsune are...relaxing right now in their own way," said Theodore, as he couldn't exactly tell Canna that Ryu was trying to kill the blonde boy over some teasing in the older ninja's love life.
"Will we see them again?" asked Canna with Theodore and Mizuki smiling.
"I'm sure they will see us before leaving Canna. Don't worry," said Mizuki with a smile and saw the two ninjas had eventually calmed down in their antics.
(JSDF Destroyer Zangetsu-Sometime Later)
"Thank you for everything Ryu. You too Kitsune," said Ishigami while standing in front of the two ninjas while their chopper was ready to take them home.
"You are welcome. I trust the issue regarding Theodore has been resolved?" said Ryu with Ishigami nodding.
"It took some doing, but thanks you two I was able prove to the higher-ups that Theodore is not the villain we first thought he was when playing the role of the Masked Regent, and I had a few favors called in for good measure. The LOA's financial assets have all been seized with a nice sizeable chunk money wise was sent to your village to cover your time and effort in doing this mission," said Ishigami with Ryu and Naruto nodding.
"Can't you stay a little longer?" asked Canna while appearing in front of Ryu.
"I wish I could Canna, but being a ninja requires I attend to my other duties back in the village," replied Ryu while kneeling down and putting his hand on the girl's head.
"He's right Canna. But don't fret. Your newly made Godfather will make time in his busy schedule to visit," added Naruto while grinning without his mask on so the girl could see his face.
"That I will. You just be a good girl and listen to your Father and Aunt Mizuki," said Ryu while Canna nodded happily, as she felt her family was rebuilt into something new, and truly wonderful now.
She had her Father back, her Aunt Mizuki, a Master Ninja for a Godfather, and a one day soon to be Master Ninja for a crazy Uncle figure of sorts in Naruto.
"Can I visit your village sometime Ryu?" asked Canna with Ryu smiling.
"Of course Canna. Now that I'm your Godfather, my friends are your friends too, and they will treat you as friends should," said Ryu with the girl beaming with joy and then proceeded to hug him tightly.
'She's roughly about Sanji's age. I wonder if Momiji will try to play matchmaker with the two. Only time will tell,' thought Naruto in his own mind.
"Before you both go, I have a small gift here for the young Kitsune and Master Ninja in training," said Theodore before presenting the blonde boy with several duplicates of the red robes, masks, and schematics for the armor he wore as the Masked Regent.
"Thanks Theodore. I knew I could count on you," replied Naruto since he was going to enjoy using this in the Elemental Countries when the time came.
"It was the least I could do. Just...try not to overdo it. I may not be the Masked Regent anymore, but...I would like the reputation with the persona I took on be a respected one," said Theodore while Naruto shook the man's hand.
"Without question," said Naruto before getting on the chopper and Ryu doing the same.
"Be safe," said Mizuki with Ryu looking at her with a smile.
"You too Mizuki. Take care of Canna," said Ryu before shutting the door to the chopper and the vehicle took to the air.
"Mizuki really likes you Ryu," whispered Naruto to the Master Ninja looking down at the shrinking form of the family they just saved.
"I know Naruto," replied Ryu softly while not bothering to glare at him since this wasn't a teasing moment.
"You know this issue with the women in your life has to find some form of conclusion one day and fast. These women will not focus on you forever. Its one or all at this point. Provided they are willing to share in regards to the latter," said Naruto while taking out the Blade of the Archfiend to examine the damage done to it and using Kyuubi's chakra to repair the damage like he had done with the Biju Sword earlier on before the chopper had arrived to take them home.
"I doubt any woman would be interested in sharing the man they care about with another woman much less more then one Naruto," countered Ryu with Naruto sighing.
"And people wonder why divorce rates are so high everywhere. Let's face it Ryu, in some extreme cases, polygamy is needed to keep a family together. To make a marriage work. You think the whole issue of a man cheating on a woman with another would come up if the second woman in question was also married to the same man? When more then one woman loves a man, it can cause strain on the relationship he has already with a woman unless all female parties who are involved in it agree to share the man in question. You currently have four women who love you Ryu. Four! Choosing one over the other three will hurt them. Make them question their very identity, their very existence, and could cause problems in the fact they will question every decision they make in the future. The only true path available to you at this very moment is to find a suitable way to share all four women romantically and hope to the Dragon Gods above that they also accept this idea. Besides, you and I both know its the only way everyone comes out of this happy," countered Naruto with Ryu sighing again while looking out the window of the chopper.
"I need to speak to my Father about this. If I do something like this at all, I need to make sure it doesn't conflict with any clan laws, or rules setup during the clan's founding," said Ryu with Naruto nodding.
"Fair enough. Just...don't string them along. They are good for you Ryu. Each one of them brings out the best in you. Each one gives you a reason to push yourself because they are the four main reasons to get up and fight the evil that arises from the abyss to take it," said Naruto before sheathing the Blade of the Archfiend once Kyuubi's chakra ran its course and sealed the cracks in the sword.
"I know. Thank you for your advice and help on this mission Naruto. Things could have gone differently without your assistance," said Ryu while knowing things could have been much worse without the blonde's help.
Way worse.
"Anytime Ryu. Anytime," replied Naruto with a smile on his face while leaning back in his seat to enjoy the ride home.
(Dragon Tower-Days Later)
"You have done well Ryu. You as well Naruto. The world has been saved and another dark entity has been vanished. Not only that, but a family used as a puppet in this has been healed, and we have the honor of being apart of it," said Jo Hayabusa with both Ryu and Naruto kneeling in front of the Master Ninja currently sitting in seiza before them.
"Thank you Father. It was mostly through Naruto that we uncovered certain things during the events of the past few days. If he hadn't...most of what happened would have turned out very different," said Ryu with Jo nodding since he knew that was the case as well.
"Agreed. Thank you Naruto for assisting my son in this mission and helping him with his curse," said Jo with the blonde lowering his head slightly to acknowledge the thanks he had been given.
"I am honored by your praise Master Jo. I will continue to serve the clan no matter what," said Naruto while Jo's face had a small almost unnoticeable sad look to it.
'Sadly, I can only have the honor of having you here for a few more years young Naruto. You are indeed the spitting image of both my brother and his son, my nephew that is your Father,' thought Jo while sensing the Blade of the Archfiend on Naruto's back and now wondered why it wasn't returned to the base of Mt. Fuji.
"With your permission Master Jo, I would like to retire for the day," said Naruto with Jo nodding.
"Go rest. You have more than earned it," said Jo with Naruto nodding and vanishing in a swirl of wind.
"Sometime troubles you Father," stated Ryu, as he saw his Father's face while Naruto kept his head lowered, and missed the sad expression on the blind man's face.
"Naruto has done so much for us in such a short time since coming here. He has done everything in his power to prove his worth in us after taking him in following the fall of the Archfiend. The boy knows his time with us is short, given the ruling of the clan once it was learned of his blood mixing with Genshin's in his Great Fiend state, and for a lack of a better word 'tainting' the Dragon blood in his veins. I do not believe it is the blood of the person that makes them who they are, but their own choices in life, and the decisions made at critical moments in time which define us. As such, it saddens me to know that my Great-nephew will be exiled from the Dragon Clan in a few years, and I cannot do anything to stop it," answered Jo with Ryu nodding since he too felt powerless here.
"I feel the same way. All we can do is keep training him and make him get as strong as possible under us before he is forced to leave," replied Ryu with Jo nodding in agreement to this.
"Have you spoken to Hayate about Ayane? Will the clan let her go with Naruto if she is exiled around the same time as him?" asked Jo with Ryu nodding since it was another subject that had been painful for them.
"Yes. According to Hayate, her aiding me ever since Vigoor all the way up until now has given Ayane more then enough 'currency' of sorts within the clan. He has assured me that the Mugen Tenshin Clan will release Ayane without any form of pursuit to hunt her down out of some misplaced fear she will reveal anything to anyone," answered Ryu with his Father nodding.
"Good. The same will be with Naruto. I don't want them hunted by either clan. Those two are meant for each other my son," said Jo while Ryu fully agreed with his Father on the matter.
"I will pray they live a long happy life when the time comes for them to leave," replied Ryu while Jo nodded and smiled a bit more.
"And speaking of a long happy life, I heard you have gotten the interest of several strong women Ryu," remarked Jo while sensing his son groaning and knew who was responsible for that.
"Father...," groaned Ryu while Jo let out a chuckle.
"Don't be ashamed to admit it Ryu. I knew about this situation long before Naruto started his teasing on them matter. I also know of your hesitance to be with any woman overall given your occupation as a ninja and them being possible targets by our enemies," added Jo with Ryu stiffening from his kneeling position since it was true.
"That and clan laws, which I do not wish to break," whispered Ryu while Jo nodded.
"Again, you are showing a great deal of maturity my son. As for our clan laws, there is nothing in them saying you can not be with multiple women so long as they are strong, and truly love you for yourself. Do these women love you for you my son?" said Jo with Ryu thinking it over in his head.
"I believe they do. I have fought beside them in one way or another. They are strong in their own way and are unique as well. Whenever I am around them, I feel happy, and a weight lifted off my shoulders," answered Ryu with Jo nodding.
"That burden you feel is the responsibility of being a Dragon Ninja my son. When these women are around you, the weight becomes lighter because they are helping you carry the weight placed on your shoulders," explained Jo with Ryu nodding in understanding.
"So I am free to pursue them in a romantic relationship?" asked Ryu with Jo nodding.
"Provided you inform them of the situation and if they are willing to share you with any of the other women in your life. I will not have my son being a womanizer on the side and stringing women along for his personal amusement. Your Mother would never let me rest in peace on the other side if you did that," replied Jo with a hint of amusement in his voice while Ryu rolling his eyes.
'As if I would be like that. Anyone who flirts with women and strings them along without any hope of committing to the relationship is not a man,' thought Ryu since he believed if you are in a relationship with someone, you make it work, and by some chance it doesn't work...at least no one can say you didn't try.
Not to mention ending it where you can still be friends with the person afterwards.
"I sense you are still unsure on this matter my son. Meditate in the comfort of your home about this matter Ryu. The decision on what to do will make itself known to you," said Jo while Ryu nodded in agreement.
"I will Father. Thank you for your advice on this matter," replied Ryu before he vanished in a brief swirl wind.
"Life for ninja is short my son. I was lucky to find your Mother when I young. I only wish she had lived long enough to see you become the man I always knew you would be in life," said Jo to himself while hoping that his son would find true happiness in life one way or another.
That was all Jo could ask for now.
(A/N: YAY! Another update. The end of the NG3 arc is over. Next time, we go through a time skip where Naruto, and Ayane leave for the Elemental Countries. I have everything set up for them in terms of a plan to make them ready for the different ninja they will no doubt face in the Elemental Countries. Also, FYI to some people concerning my other fics, they are NOT abandoned in any sense of the word so please stop asking me about them, and if they are gone. I know you are concerned about them, but rest assured they are still alive. Sleeping, but alive. Until next time...PEACE!)
