charles cdv: Thanks for reading.
Cerb57: Thanks for reading.
McGeezel: Plowing in straight ahead is a very Naruto trait but he likes his prank-like tricks as well.
Animaman: Later chapters will discuss Sakura's parents and their feelings about the punishment. I hope you find it interesting.
Suave Jiraiya: No comment.
Please enjoy the next chapter.
Naruto returned to the camp to find Hinata and Ino very angry with him. Both expressed their concern. In true Ino fashion she was loud and dramatic. Hinata was surprisingly vocal as well. He apologized for worrying them. They seemed content that he was safe so they let it drop after a few moments. He had to put more energy into winning over Sakura. She was the key to his dreams. If he could bring peace to the world, winning her heart was possible.
They were about half way back to the village the next morning when Kiba suddenly stopped and dropped to one knee. Akamaru whimpered as he fell to the ground. Naruto felt the effects a moment later. He dropped to one knee. He was suddenly extremely heavy. He turned his head to see Ino and Hinata trapped as well. Naruto drew out the Kyuubi's chakra. He forced himself to his feet. His movement was still hindered.
"Very impressive," said an unwelcome voice.
"You," growled the blonde.
Naruto fought harder to move but it was ineffective. Hiro shook his head.
"Such bad manners, Naruto-san," replied the red head.
He wore loose robes with the Uzumaki symbol on them. The robes were a light gray with red accents.
"What do you want?" growled the blonde as he tried to take a step.
It took most of his energy to lift his foot. He couldn't risk throwing a weapon or jutsu. The gravity was too great.
"To talk," he replied. "This gravity seal is good for traps but poor for attacking. I can't throw a kunai at you because of the enhanced gravity. My jutsu will be negatively affected by the high gravity. I doubt they would give you a bloody nose let alone kill you."
Naruto slammed his foot back to the ground. A small crater was left in the ground. He made it an inch.
"I came to ask you to join me in my mission," said Hiro. "We are clansman after all. I have no interest in harming you."
"Really," growled the sage. "That wave of gold dust in the desert says otherwise."
Naruto struggled to move forward again.
"My control over the Edo Tensei soldiers was incomplete. I have fixed that flaw now. Please accept my apology."
Hiro went on to describe his goal of vengeance against Konoha. Two Uzumaki women were sent to Konoha; one to marry the First Hokage, another to serve as the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi. In return, Konoha let the Land of Whirlpools fall. It was simple 'eye for an eye' logic.
"I won't join you. Konoha is my home," he growled back.
Hiro shook his head.
"Your help would have greatly accelerated by plans. I figured you would not be receptive to my plan, but it was worth a try," said Hiro casually. "Too bad."
He turned to leave.
"Get back here and fight me," demanded the sage.
Hiro turned and smiled.
"Not yet. It is not time for our battle, cousin. You have things I need. Killing you does not serve my purpose," said the red head.
Naruto watched as he walked off into the woods. His attitude was so aloof that it was infuriating the blonde. The jinchuuriki took another step.
"Naruto," gasped Ino.
The sage turned to see her pressed flat against the ground. Hinata was in the same position. It took twenty minutes for Naruto to escape the seal boundary. He pulled several of the kunai around the seal disrupting it. He helped Ino and Hinata.
He turned toward Kiba.
"Are you alright, mutt?" yelled the sage.
"Tired but otherwise fine," said the brunette.
The feral part of the blonde wanted to hunt his clansman, but he had to protect his comrades. Kiba was more than tired by his movements. It seemed he had strained muscles at a minimum. Akamaru was lipping along as well. Ino and Hinata were exhausted just trying to breath. Both kunoichi relied on flexibility and speed rather than brute strength. This was one time that brute strength was an asset.
"We need to get off the road and rest," said the blue eyed Jonin.
He helped the others to the side of the road. It took hours to tend to their injuries. Hiro was long gone. The squad limped into Konoha. Naruto went to report to the Hokage while the other went to the hospital. He knocked when he reached Tsunade's door. He wished he hadn't got so close to the door. It seemed that someone infuriated the Hokage. After a moment, the door opened. Shizune smiled at him nervously.
"It's Naruto-kun, Tsunade-sama," said Shizune.
"Get in her brat," roared the Hokage.
Naruto walked in. Sakura was standing in front of her master. She seemed to be the object of Tsunade's anger.
"What took you so long to return?" demanded the angry Kage.
Naruto explained the encounter. Tsunade nearly split her desk in two.
"Do you have any idea what he wants?" she demanded.
The sage shrugged his shoulders.
"Scrolls I have, the Kyuubi…I don't know," he answered honestly.
Tsunade paced behind her desk. She was muttering to herself.
"Shizune," roared the Hokage after a moment.
Her assistant stood at attention.
"I want a meeting in the morning to plan our next move. We need to locate this man and deal with him."
Shizune gave a loud 'Hai' in response.
"Naruto. I want you there. You've had the most personal contact with him."
"Hai," replied the blonde.
"Now both of you out of my office," said the Hokage. "I'm not in the mood for any more antics tonight."
Naruto nodded and turned to leave. Sakura remained standing. Tsunade caught her eyes.
"Naruto, remove the chakra suppression seal before you escort your fiancé home."
The sage nearly stumbled when Tsunade gave him the order.
"She is free so you two are engaged as of this moment," said the Hokage.
Sakura nodded. They left the Hokage tower in silence. This was a measure of the strain in their relationship. They used to talk so freely and now they couldn't say anything to each other. They reached Sakura's family home. He stopped and looked at the building. Her family's shop was on the lower level with an apartment above. It was a common merchant building in Konoha. He must have looked at the building for too long. Sakura touched his arm.
"What?" she asked with some concern.
He shook his head and focused his attention on her.
"Let me take the seal off," he said.
The rosette held out her arm. Naruto made some handsigns before touching the seal. The intricate tattoo-like symbol on her arm glowed red before shattering like glass and fading away. Sakura held out her hand. She closed her eyes. A soft green glow formed over her hand. She opened her eyes and examined her chakra.
"Can I," she asked looking at his chest.
"I guess," he said.
She touched his chest over his vest. He could feel the slight tingle of her chakra probing his chest and spreading to his limbs. After a moment, she withdrew her chakra. Her hand followed and instant later. She mumbled something about taking too long. Sakura was lost in medic nin land when Naruto cleared his throat. She looked at him.
"I haven't been very nice to you and I'm sorry," he said.
She looked surprised by his apology.
"Naruto," she started
He shook his head and she fell silent.
"I hate people that lie to themselves and I lied to myself in the prison. I always try my best not to make you feel uncomfortable with my feelings. I can't help how I feel about you."
She appeared to be getting angry. She probably felt he was going back on his words. He reached out and touched her cheek gently. She looked ready to smack him.
"You are my most precious person. I cannot deny that. I'm still angry about what you did and other things."
She glared at him but didn't knock his hand away.
"Give me a chance and I think we can be happy together as friends at least."
He withdrew his hand. Her look remained intense.
"I love you. I'm not happy with you at the moment, but I can't deny how I feel. I agreed to do this because of our duty to each other, but I hope it can be about more than duty in time."
Sakura gave him a sharp nod. She turned toward the door when he grabbed her wrist. She turned back to him.
"Can you tell me how you feel before we get married?" he asked.
She looked deep into his eyes.
"I want to know the truth for better or worse," he said.
Lights turned on in the shop. Naruto knew her parents heard him. The shop door flew open. Sakura's father had a kunai in his hand. Her mother was behind him. Her father saw Naruto holding his daughter's wrist.
"Release her," he growled.
Sakura stepped between Naruto and her parents.
"I'm free," she said to her parents. "You know the price of my freedom."
Her father continued to scowl. Her mother rushed to Sakura and embraced her. Naruto released her wrist. Sakura's father stepped out of the shop.
"It is late and my daughter needs to rest," he said through clenched teeth. "You can see her another time."
Naruto looked at his soon to be father-in-law.
"As you wish, Haruno-san," he replied.
Naruto turned to leave before looking over his shoulder.
"I suggest you don't greet me with a kunai in the future. We've already had one bad incident. My toad might not let you out next time."
Sakura turned and looked at Naruto. She looked ready to hit him but she restrained herself.
"Naruto, please don't use your toads on my parents again," she growled out trying to sound polite.
He bowed to her slightly.
"As you wish," he said neutrally.
Sakura looked at her father. He slipped the kunai up his sleeve.
"We should talk about the wedding soon," said the blonde.
Ume looked ready to attack him. Sakura stayed between her and Naruto.
"We should. How about lunch next week?" suggested the medic nin.
Naruto smiled.
"I know a great place. I'll let you know when I can get a reservation."
Sakura nodded and smiled. The blonde shook his head.
"Don't fake smile at me," he said firmly. "The only way we are going to endure this is with honesty."
She agreed. Sakura's father ordered her into the shop. She gave Naruto a quick wave before vanishing into the shop. Her mother followed her.
"If you defile my daughter," her father threatened.
Naruto cut him off.
"Why do you hate me Haruno-san?" he asked.
Sakura's father looked ready to spew his hatred of the Kyuubi, but the look was wrong. This was a different kind of hate.
"Those are the right eyes," said the blonde.
"What?" growled the former chuunin. "You're a monster. We know that."
The blonde kept trying to figure out his eyes. It wasn't the cold glares normally directed at a jinchuuriki. It was something else.
"Leave my home demon. You are not welcome here," hissed her father.
Her father spit on the ground in front of him before entering the shop and slamming the door. Naruto turned to see a man looking out his door. The blonde smiled at the man.
"I kept his daughter out too late," said the blonde with a smile. "Over protective father."
The man nodded and smiled.
"Fathers are like that with their daughters, Naruto-san. You should remember that in the future."
Naruto nodded.
"Thank you. I will," he said.
Naruto gave the man a wave before walking up the street. The man bowed his head slightly before closing the door and re-entering his house. The blonde was left to his thoughts. He knew the look of the so called demon haters. This wasn't that look. It was something else.