Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Goodbye cruel world...
Sono Saishuu Konwaza
Chapitre 13
"How many times to I have to explain it to you?!" shouted Naruto, slamming his hands on the cold metal table in front of him.
The minute Naruto and the gang returned from Suna, after a grueling mission, he was hoping to get some rest. He was expecting walking up to the Hokage offices, occasionally being stopped by the locals on a job well done. He thought he would be congratulated by some of his friends and fellow shinobi, like Hinata or Neji.
Instead, the instant Naruto walked through the gates, he was picked up by ANBU, and forced to have them escort him to god only knows. He could've taken on the black-op squad, but decided it would be a mess for himself, his teammates, and the Hokage to try and clear that up. They placed him in this cold room, like a basement or dungeon. The walls were made of brick, with a one-sided mirror placed directly on the opposite side of Naruto. There was a cold metal table, and a small cup of cold water atop of it. Inside the room, Naruto was in the company of an ANBU with a mask in the form of a wolf. 'Wolf' was pacing himself, or herself, for he didn't know; back and forth on the other side of the table.
"Until I'm satisfied," replied 'Wolf' in a male's voice. "Now, go through it again with me."
Naruto rubbed his temple, losing his patience with this guy. "For the seventh time, I was fighting against cout shinobi. I got hit from behind and fell to the ground. I looked up to see Tenten and Sakura in danger, and that's all I remember."
"You didn't see or hear anything else?" asked 'Wolf'.
"I was almost blacking out, I already told you," replied Naruto.
"Come on," said 'Wolf', taking a seat, "try and think. What else can you remember?"
Naruto just growled as he shook his head. He tried to think of something to satisfy this guard.
"There was...well, my heartbeat suddenly got really loud," said Naruto.
'Wolf' leaned forward in his chair, looking at Naruto. "What else?"
"I felt like I was...being pulled."
"Being pulled where?"
"Inside, and it was a burning sensation."
"This is good, anything else?" asked 'Wolf'.
Naruto shook his head. He was digging for information, but that was all he could muster into a coherent answer. Of course, this ANBU might not give a damn about that. 'Wolf' leaned back in his chair.
"You know that I'll report all of this to the Hokage as soon as we're done, right?" he asked Naruto.
"Yeah, so?" asked Naruto. What was this shinobi trying to get at?
"The council might ask her to do something...drastic," replied 'Wolf'.
"She wouldn't do that," said Naruto. "She would have no reason to do that."
"Are you sure?" said 'Wolf', now getting out of his chair. He began to circle the blond, much like a hyena, knowing its prey is helpless and just waiting for the final blow. "You've been gone a long time, and Tsunade-dono might have gotten an impression of you from the villagers."
"She wouldn't let them cloud her thoughts," said Naruto.
"Oh really now? And since when did you know the Hokage so well?" asked 'Wolf', getting no response.
"I thought so. You've suffered greatly at the hands of this village, haven't you?"
"I was young back then," said Naruto. "I've been gone so long, they've probably forgotten about me."
"But you haven't about them, have you?" pressured 'Wolf'. "You've kept that suffering inside for so long, and now that you're back, its the perfect time for revenge, isn't it?"
"That's crazy," replied Naruto, starting to get irritated again.
"Is it? How do you know that you didn't want Kyuubi to be released? No one would blame you for your feelings. Yes, if you let Kyuubi out, you could have your revenge all too easily, wouldn't you?"
"You're twisting my words," interjected Naruto.
"You are an angry, tormented soul, aren't you Uzumaki Naruto?" said 'Wolf', getting right next to Naruto's ear. "You would use Kyuubi to destroy all those you deem guilty, including your team, your friends, even your lovers, wouldn't you?"
A snapping sound echoed in Naruto's mind at the mention of Sakura and Tenten. His right hand started to tense up, still gripping the metal table in front of him. He growled, and just yelled at the ANBU, trying to get his wicked words out of his head. His need to release was so great, his fingers punctured the table.
"Well you're a piece of work aren't you?" said Naruto, getting some nerve about him again. If he wanted to get anywhere with this guy, he might as well be as blunt, and also, insulting as possible to the man. 'Wolf' sat back in his chair, leaning on leg over the other as he listened to the young blond.
"What is this? Are you trying to get me to spit out some bullshit confession? Trying to get me to say that I want this village burned to the ground or something, so you can go snitch on me for your own sick motives?" continued Naruto. He motioned with his left hand like he was pinching something or someone.
"You are this close to the edge pal," he threatened the ANBU. "You want to harp on me, and try to get me to dig my own grave, that's fine. I've dealt with assholes like you my entire childhood. But if you ever mention those important to me again, and try to involve them, I will not hesitate to kill you, and you know damn well that I can!"
Naruto leaned back in his own chair, huffing as he tried to calm himself.
"You want to do something about this bastard I'm stuck with? Be my guest, but as of now you sure haven't come up with any fucking solutions," he huffed, then he shut his yap. 'Wolf' stood up, and walked himself over to the room's door. He opened it before turning his head back to Naruto.
"You're free to go," said 'Wolf', and then used a teleportation technique to leave Naruto's sight. Most likely, he was on his way to deliver a report to Tsunade. Naruto let himself out.
It was a bit later that Naruto managed to find himself at the Hokage's office. That damn ANBU had dragged Naruto almost out of the village to interrogate him. It was probably so that the bastard had enough time to brief the Hokage. Well, no matter now, for Naruto was ready to talk to Tsunade himself. He approached the office to find someone in the way blocking his entrance. By his memory, he remembered this person in the past. That's right, this was Tsunade's companion and former student: Shizune.
She looked him dead in the eye as she kept him from barging into the Hokage's office.
"What do you want Naruto-san?," she asked him politely.
"I'm here to see Tsunade-dono," he answered. "I need to clear things up."
"She's in a meeting right now, so I can't let you in. I'll let her know you're here."
"But-"
"No buts!" said Shizune, stomping on Naruto's foot. He winced in pain, as he was pushed back by Shizune from the door.
"Now, you sit here and wait!" she ordered. Naruto, with a dumbfounded look on his face, obliged her.
"I'll let her know. Given the situation, she'll probably see you in a few minutes," Shizune said, as she entered the office.
'Jeez, one minute I'm threatening an ANBU with death, and the next I'm being ordered around by a girl I could beat with one finger,' thought Naruto, a sigh emitted from him. 'Why am I so spineless when it comes to women?'
It was a minute later, and Shizune peeked her head out of the doorway to find Naruto.
"Tsunade-sama will see you now," she said, and opened to door to allow Naruto entrance.
Tsunade sat there behind her desk, loaded with papers and all sorts of junk. There was a chair in front of the desk, and Tsunade motioned for Naruto to take a seat. Naruto took the seat, as the Hokage leaned back, her hands together in thought.
"Naruto, I have some good news and bad news," she said. "Since I like to end things on a high note, I'll start with the bad news."
Naruto nodded. As it was the Hokage herself speaking, he thought it best to follow the rule 'speak when spoken to'.
"The bad news is that in light of recent events, I'm placing you under an order of house arrest. The council is meeting with me later about this, and I've no doubt they're going to try and light a fire under my ass," she said, getting a smirk from Naruto. He found it refreshing that Tsunade, despite her position, still talked like she was still a gambling drunk.
"However, they can't do anything to you, only I have to power to decide that. And besides, I think I have a solution for your little problem. But until then, I have to keep you in a place for both your and the village's protection. Any questions?"
"How long will this be?" he asked her.
"Not too long I think," she answered. "I probably have to keep you in house arrest for one, two days tops. And its not a strict enforcement. If you need to go somewhere you can, but you will have an escort for such a situation. News travels fast in the village, and someone with a grudge might think twice if there's another innocent shinobi they'd have to deal with."
"Do they really mean to kill me?"
"I honestly have no idea," said Tsunade, sighing. "But I can't rule out the possibility. Still, you are an asset to this village, so anyone who would think of such a crime will pay for it, politics or not."
"So, you don't think badly of me Tsunade-dono?" asked Naruto
"Of course not," she said. "I've barely known you Naruto, so I would have no right to think such thoughts about you. I know of your history as well, but it will not be me to decide your fate, it will be you." She smiled at the young man. "Now for the good news," she said, as she fumbled under her desk, and brought up two items: two small pouches.
"First, your pay for a successful mission," she said, handing him one of the pouches. "And also, in recognition of your heroics in Suna, their offices sent you this bonus for killing those traitors to their armies."
Naruto looked in the first pouch, and whistled as he saw the ten gold ryou inside. The second pouch made him whistle a second time, as inside that one was an additional fifteen gold ryou. A-ranked missions certainly rewarded its participants well.
"And also before you go," said Tsunade, as she laid out a document in front of her. "For successfully meeting the requirements of your contract, you are hereby instated among the Konoha shinobi, and given the rank of Jonin." She used a stamp on the paper, its mark was shaped in the mark of the Konoha symbol: the signet of the Hokage.
Naruto came inside the Hokage office with a supposed scowl on his mug. But as he left the office of Tsunade, he had on a satisfied smile. He wanted to rest up anyways: even great shinobi like himself can't just go out on another mission right after another. Besides, Tsunade and the Konoha Academy had its share of capable genin, chunin, and jonin; and those numbers were continuing to climb. Still, he wondered what the hell to do with all his freed-up time. Watch some TV? Read a few books? Ramen eating contest with himself?
Naruto shrugged off his thinking, believing he'll just do what he feels like. He walked up towards his house, unlocked the door, and let himself in. He took off his vest, let the clasps on his shoes loosen so he could shake them off, and jumped straight onto his couch, hitting it with a soft thud. He started to let his eyes get heavy; guess the first thing he would do is get some rest and let all this crap with the ANBU get out of his head.
However, he heard a knock at his door. He grumbled incoherently, and slumped off his couch to answer the door.
Tenten appeared on the other side with a smile. "Surprise Naru-kun!" she said in a bright voice.
Naruto apparently didn't get the occasion, as he looked at her with a queried eye.
"Surprise?" he asked her, trying to get a believable smile on his face.
"Got a call from Tsunade-dono," said Tenten, as she let herself in. "Apparently she wants me to keep an eye on you, make sure no one tries something funny and all that." She plopped herself down on Naruto's couch.
"Well, then that is a surprise I guess," he said, as he joined her on the couch.
"So, where the heck did those ANBU take you too?" she asked him.
"It was the old inquisition," he said with a sarcastic smirk. "This one son of a bitch tried to get me to confess that I let Kyuubi out on purpose."
"What?" she shot out quickly. "Why the hell would he try to do that?"
"I don't know," Naruto shrugged, "but I told him off, and after a few more minutes he let me go."
Tenten let out a whistle at that comment. "Takes some pretty big balls to talk back to an ANBU member like that Naru-kun."
"Ah, he was the one giving me the proper motivation," he said, getting up off the couch and walking over to his kitchen. "Talking about how I'd kill Sasuke, Sakura, and you just because I was a deranged little boy." He turned his head over to Tenten. "Speaking of the others, maybe I should give them a call? I'm sure they're looking for a little down time as well."
Tenten shook her head at that remark, confusion overlapping Naruto's face.
"Sorry hon," she said, "but Sasuke's already been sent out on another mission. Ino has the same case as well. And Sakura? She's got a full schedule over at the hospital, then she's got lessons with Tsunade-dono."
"Well, that sure sucks," he said, walking over to the couch, two glasses of juice in his hand. He offered one of them to Tenten. "So, how about you?"
"Just this mission I guess, if you can even call it one," she said. "I just have to keep an eye on you is all."
"Jeez," said Naruto, rubbing his head, "what the heck does a shinobi do when he's got all the time in the world?"
Tenten gazed at him, a devilish smirk appearing on her face.
"Well," she said, "I know of something we can do to kill time."
"What would that-" said Naruto, but he couldn't finish.
The glasses in the pairs hands fell to the floor, leaving a mess of juice and shards...
"This situation requires us to make a swift and absolute decision Tsunade," spoke Yasuko. Tsunade, across the large table from him, nodded in agreement.
"And what exactly do you gentleman suggest?" she said. "I am first and foremost against killing the boy."
"So are we," said Daisuke, "we've put a lot of effort into keeping him alive. It would be a waste to let him just waste it all."
"You act like we're helping the boy," snorted Rotaru. "When the fact of it is, we manipulated the situation right after the Yondaime's death, and before the Sandaime's reinstatement."
"Enough playing on your harp Rotaru," said Yasuko. "The fact of the matter is, we have a situation without a real answer."
"Correct," agreed Kotaru. "Not only is the seal on Naruto weakening enough to have Kyuubi escape from it, but the only man who would know about it is dead."
Tenten and Naruto collided with the bed like it was a safety net, and they were free-falling. A line of clothing led to his room, like a trail of breadcrumbs.
"So," said Naruto, as best as he could between the air and Tenten's mouth. "This is what you do with...your spare time?"
"When I can," she replied, in a quiet tone, like the breath was stolen from her. She saw Naruto trail along her body, and soon enough she was gasping for air again. She was screaming at his minstrations.
"How..."she struggled to speak, "did you...learn...to...do...this?"
"Don't ask," he told her. "Just enjoy it, I want you to." He then lowered his head again, and proceeded to make her scream some more. Was he glad he payed extra for sound-proof paneling.
"There is one person who might know," spoke Tsunade.
"By all means," said Kotaru, "let us in on this idea of yours."
"The only man I can think of is the man who trained the Yondaime himself."
"You're referring to him?" assumed Daisuke.
"Of course I am," she answered. "But the problem is twofold..."
Naruto was pushed onto his bed, back against the wall, Tenten crawling to his naked form on all fours.
"Your turn Naru," she said. She lowered her head onto him.
He gripped the sheets at her actions. He was shaking his head like he was having a seizure. After a few seconds he just stared at the ceiling, like it had a TV in it or something. And before he knew it, his great time was over, as he looked down at her, smiling like a minx.
"Did you learn that in Kunoichi class?" he asked her, still catching his breath.
"Does it matter?" she said with a chuckle. She was flipped onto the bed now, Naruto staring holes into her retinas.
"Are you sure?" he asked her.
"What a stupid question," she answered. "I love you Naru-kun. So please, love me as well."
With his assurance from Tenten, he positioned himself before letting himself envelop the weapon master. She sighed a loving sigh, as she looked into his serious, yet gentle eyes.
"So you have to look for him, what does that matter?" asked Kotaru.
"After the way Konoha just abandoned him, I don't think he'd be too eager to do us any favors. I mean, it's because of this very council that he left the village to become a hermit," answered Tsunade.
"But you've kept ties to him right?" asked Rotaru. "I mean, he was your teammate, surely you ran into him a few times."
"I will contact him," she said. "But I'm telling you right now, do not expect the best results from this."
"We have no choice," said Yasuku. "If this plan doesn't work out, we'll be forced to plan for Kyuubi's eventual escape."
"I understand," said Tsunade, as she then stood up and left the meeting.
Naruto lay in his bed, looking down at the beauty lying next to him, her arm wrapped around him.
"So," spoke Tenten, "didn't I say that this was a good way to kill time?"
"I should get house arrest more often," Naruto chuckled to her. "I wonder what's in store for the three of us now?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, looking up to him.
"Well..." hesitated Naruto.
"Come on," she said, "spit it out."
"Well, this three-way relationship was complicated already. I was just wondering the consequences when it comes to...sex. I mean, surely there will be times when both you and Sakura want private time with me, and I'm worried this will make things tense."
"Naruto," said Tenten, climbing up a bit onto his chest to get a better look at him. "Knowing what I know about you, do you think if I was so closed-minded, that I would be here cuddling with you naked?"
"Point taken," said Naruto. "I really got to stop thinking. Never did any good for me before. I used to be the knucklehead of the group, now I'm over thinking everything."
"People change Naru," said Tenten. "You're no different, not to me and Sakura at least. Besides, Sakura and I have a mutual understanding about this. We're just going to have to learn to share you."
Naruto let out a small laugh at that remark. "So in other words, I'm a toy for you and Sakura in this relationship, am I right?"
"You see?" said Tenten with a smile, tapping him on the nose with her finger. "And who says you men don't learn fast?" She then got off Naruto and rolled off the bed.
"I'm going to take a shower," she said.
"By all means," said Naruto, motioning to the bathroom door. Tenten closed the door behind her. Naruto heard a tapping at his bedroom window, and looked to see a bird pecking at it with its beak.
He opened the window to the bird. He noticed a ninja clasp on its left foot. He unclasped it, and took the note hidden inside the clasp. He then attached it back to the bird, and sent it off. He unfurled the note. It was quite simple, all it stated was "report to the Hokage ASAP." He shrugged it off, and then destroyed the note. He got himself dressed, and by the time he was done Tenten stepped out of the bathroom.
"Something up?" she asked Naruto.
"Hokage wants to see me," he answered. "I gotta go. Feel free to take your time, I probably won't be gone for long though."
"Sounds good," said Tenten, and gave him a chaste kiss goodbye. Naruto exited his house, and sprinted towards the Hokage offices.
He was led into Tsunade's office without any resistance from Shizune this time. Tsunade was standing up in front of her desk, instead of sitting behind it. She turned to Shizune and Naruto, and motioned for her friend to close the doors behind them.
"Naruto, you are to leave Konoha and find an old...acquaintance of mine," she told the boy.
"Huh? No offense Tsunade-dono, but what is an old friend of yours going to do to help me?" asked Naruto.
"Ah, but he's more than just an old friend Naruto," said Tsunade. "This man is the one credited with training the Yondaime himself. If anyone knows as much about your seal as the Yondaime, it will be this man."
"I see, find the teacher who taught the student," said Naruto. "When do I leave?"
"You can leave immediately, you'll meet up with your team at the entrance," answered Tsunade.
"Team? Wouldn't that just slow me down?" asked Naruto.
"This team is more along the lines of making sure things go smoothly, rather than assisting yourself. I'm sorry, but the council would want some...insurance," said Tsunade with a huff under her breath.
"No other way?" asked Naruto. Tsunade shook her head solemnly.
"I suppose it won't be so bad, better than traveling alone," said Naruto, bowing to Tsunade. "Thank you Tsunade-dono, I'll be going immediately."
It was a quick trip to the gates of Konoha. He left the village without a hassle, but he saw no sign of his team. He walked a ways up the dirt path, until he was almost out of sight from Konoha. He was starting to get confused: did Tsunade make a mistake about the meeting spot?
He then felt a threat approaching him from his right side. He quickly moved as a giant whirlwind skewered the spot he was originally standing on. Naruto immediately unsheathed Tezamuteki, and got into a defensive stance. Whatever was the origin of that whirlwind had concealed itself again. As if one opponent wasn't enough, Naruto suddenly felt an additional three threatening presences around him. He ducked as a flurry of kunai from his right flew over him, sticking into one of the numerous trees of Konoha's forest. He then jumped over a whirlwind coming at him from behind. He dodged another whirlwind approaching him from his left. He then struck at a presence in front of him, but he soon found he hit nothing but a mass of insects.
"So, you wanna keep playing hide and seek eh?" shouted Naruto, knowing his attacker heard him. He then started to preform several kata in quick succession. His sequence ended in the kata 'monkey'.
"Tsuchidon: Rifuto Wakunaku!" shouted Naruto, as he suddenly was raised on a pillar of earth, the surrounding earth rising in ridges and waves. The pillar then slammed down with tremendous force, sending it energy through the ridges and waves, which in turn lashed out in all directions. The trees rooted the earth tilted and angeled, as the earth beneath them moved like an ocean wave. His technique succeeded, as he saw a figure descending from the air, being flung from his hiding spot by the earth. Naruto rushed the figure, who he could now see was a man, and swung Tezamuteki downward on his skull. The man just let the great axe sink into his flesh, and soon it transformed into another mass of insects. He then felt something jab up next to his lower spine.
"Please surrender," said a kind, but deadly serious voice behind him. "If I hit you here, your spine will tense up, and you'll be paralyzed for quite a long time."
Naruto just smiled, he knew exactly what was going on now.
"Is this how you greet all your potential teammates?" he asked, never moving. After all, he was right where they wanted him.
"Just the ones we don't know that well," she said, in that sickly sweet voice again. Naruto was rather surprised that someone with such a voice could be so deadly. He then felt the object up against his spine retract, and Naruto calmly put away Tezamuteki. He then turned around to see the woman who defeated him.
The first thing he noticed immediately was her eyes. Normally one has discernible pupils, but this girl's eyes were milky white. She almost looked like an undead with those eyes and those large veins pumping blood into them. Her midnight blue hair was cut short, but almost clumsily, as it seemed uneven in a few spots. She wore a tight shinobi outfit, with a fur coat and shorts to show at least some modesty. She wore her Konoha hate-ate on her neck, almost like a dog collar.
Naruto looking over her, had a smirk on his face. "You weren't using a weapon on me, weren't you?"
"Oh I was," she politely corrected him. "My name is Hyuga Hinata."
"Uzumaki Naruto," said Naruto with a thumbs-up. "So that's what it was, you're a Hyuga."
"You're certainly smart," she complimented him. "And my teammates always used to tell me that you were an idiot."
"Gee, thanks for letting me know," said Naruto, a little peeved at the back-handed compliment. Still, she didn't seem like a girl that would do that on purpose, so he let it slide.
"So, who are these teammates of yours?" Naruto asked Hinata.
"That would be us, ya jerk!" said a voice. Two males appeared behind Hinata.
"I should have have guessed," said Naruto under his voice.
The first was wearing a hoodie jacket, with the hood down, revealing his brown eyes and brown crew cut. He had many marks all over his face. Some were simple paint, others seemed to be old scars. He was light on his equipment, as he bore no real obvious kunai pouches, scrolls, or otherwise. He also wore long denim shorts, with sneakers on his feat.
The other was wearing a hoodie as well, with the top on. In fact, the only thing you could see of his face were the large bottle glasses he wore. He bore the same attire as his partner. With the lack of equipment about them, they must be shinobi from specialist family's. Of course, Naruto knew them, and exactly what their respective family's did for a living.
"Hello Kiba, Shino," said Naruto.
"Seems like you've improved since last time I saw your sorry ass," smirked Kiba. Hinata rewarded him with a jab to his arm.
"Now now Kiba-kun," she said to him, "that's enough bad-mouthing out of you. I think he did quite well considering he was dealing with four opponents he never knew."
"Four?" asked Naruto.
"Oh yeah!" said Kiba, as he put his fingers together to whistle. A large animal then bounded out of the forest. It appeared to be a dog, but one might mistake it for a full-grown wolf if they didn't take a good look.
"Is that Akamaru?!" exclaimed Naruto. "Kiba, what the heck have you been feeding him?"
"Hey, my family secrets are not for the likes of you!" defended Kiba. "Besides, Akamaru here is quite the prodigy in his own right, aren't ya boy?" asked Kiba, scratching the giant dog behind his ear like it was nothing. Akamaru wagged his tail in approval of Kiba's touch.
"Anyways," spoke up Shino. "I believe you know why we're here?"
"She told you three, eh?" asked Naruto, receiving a nod from all of them, including Akamaru.
"Yeah, I know what the plan is, here's hoping it works," said Naruto, patting his stomach.
"Then lets set out," said Kiba, as he climbed on top of Akamaru. He extended a hand to Hinata, who joined him on top of the beast. Shino and Naruto would have to hoof it.
The four set out for their target. According to Tsunade, he was last seen in a town two days from Konoha.
Recent Techniques:
"Kyuu Heika Ranmyaku" (9 Swords of Chaos)
"Tsuchidon: Rifuto Wakunaku" (Earth Technique: Rise to Tremble)
Footnotes:
(1)
I feel like I need to take a shower! (Upon writting this out, I did previously take shower). Some might take offense to the sex I mentioned, but it was just as uncomfortable for me as well. Still, it was no doubt, at least in my mind, going to be an element in this story one way or another, so everyone is just going to have to be mature and keep thier girlish giggling to a minimum (A/N: I am fully aware that the previous sentence suggests that giggling like a schoolgirl is a sign of maturity. No flames please).
(2)
As you can see, Kiba, Shino, and Hinata have tagged along with Naruto for this next arc of plot. And everyone can probably guess who's going to show up next time. Anyways, if you have questions, feel free to ask them (I only ask that they're given to me in a polite manner).
(3)
On a personal note, I might not have the next one out for a while. I have finals next week, and I REALLY need a good score on one of them. So, wish me luck, and hopefully I won't be writting the next chapitre from a dumpster.
KPAAF