Naruto and all characters and things related are owned by/copy righted by Masashi Kishimoto, Viz, Shonen Jump, and Studio Pierrot. I don't own or make any money off of these characters, I just have fun with them.
Chapter 20
The trip to the Hidden Mist Village hadn't been very eventful, minus a few stupid bandits along the way. Naruto, Hanabi, Moegi, and Konohamaru had traveled through Fire country and into the Land of Waves on foot, but couldn't travel all the way that way. Thanks to Squad 7's and Naruto in particularly, helping the land of Waves on the often spoken about mission that ended with the death of Zabuza Momichi of the Seven Ninja swordsman, the squad easily got someone to take them across the waters by boat.
Konohamaru had gotten sea sick on the ride over…several times, and Naruto thought it was kind of cute the way Moegi was trying to take care of him. Naruto just laid down on the boat, watching the clouds, while Hanabi sat close by him, conserving her energy for the mission.
They eventually arrived at the borders of the Water Country, home to the Hidden Mist Village and the area of their mission. The boatman said he'd wait in area till they needed a lift off of the island, so the squad headed out, with Konohamaru feeling better now that they were on land again. They got on jackets, due to the raining, cold weather and the fact that the area seemed to be perpetually surrounded by mist and headed off to meet with the guards to the Hidden Mist village and showed them their mission passes from Tsunade and the Mizukage.
They were granted access and escorted through the misty city, towards the Mizukage's tower. Many Kunoichi and civilian females, waved and blush at Naruto as the group passed, though he of course tried to be polite and just wave back, but nothing more, for fear that Temari would somehow hit him for accidentally flirting in some manner. Besides, he love Temari, had eyes only for her and wasn't a pervert, which is why he was quick to cover Konohamaru's eyes and close his own, when one well endowed girl flashed him her bare breasts out of nowhere.
The guard escorting the group , had the woman arresting for public nudity and apologized on behalf of the village for the situation.
"Uh…it should be ok, as long it doesn't happen again, since I am married and I'm fairly certain my wife, Temari, would be more then happy to travel to the mist village just to kick the ass of another women" Naruto said, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "So um.. Lets uh.. Get going to the Mizukage.."
"Yes of course sir.. Please follow me" The guard said, walking quickly to the destination before anything else happened.
The managed to get to the tower without any other problems and the guard escorted them to the Mizukage's office, before leaving.
"Hey.." Naruto said knocking on the door. "Squad 11 from the Leaf village is here"
" By all means, please come inside" said a sultry female voice.
Naruto opened the door and his team walked inside, to see Mei Terumi the Mizukage straightening up her desk.
"So you here about the.. Naruto?.. Well, well.. Looks like I struck gold here" The Mizukage said walking around the desk. "Just as handsome as ever"
She grinned and pulled Naruto into a hug, that had his face jammed in between her enormous chest. He struggled to pull away, but she just hugged him tighter and made a sound of contentment before finally letting go.
"What.. What the hell was that!?" Hanabi demanded, looking at the smiling Mizukage. "You can't do that.. He's married!"
"Oh relax, child… it's not my fault that Naruto here is so irresistible" Mei said, licking her lips and looking at the red faced Naruto. "If your wife ever agrees to share you.. Be sure to send me message"
"Um.. The mission!" Hanabi said, hands on hips.
"hmm?.. Oh yes of course.. The mission.." Mei said, somewhat reluctantly as she sat down on the edge of her desk, crossing one leg over the other. "I need you to escort my step brother's daughter from here to her home in the Land of Tea"
"Doesn't seem that difficult.." Naruto said, thinking while crossing his arms. "So why did you need someone from a outside village to do the mission?"
"Normally I would agree.. But I needed a trustworthy ninja and their team to guard her...she is the niece of a Kage after all" Mei said, pushing her long hair off of her shoulder. "Who better then the hunky hero of the Ninja world to escort her?"
"Um….. Yeah… ok" Naruto said, trying to humor her. "Well… we should get going right?… where's your niece at?"
"Oh right…" Mei said snapping her fingers. "Anbu catfish? Please retrieve my niece"
Only moments later, an Anbu appeared in a swirl of mist with a average height, thin girl with short auburn colored hair, brown eyes, a tight, dark blue, mid thigh length robe, knee length spandex shorts, and standard black ninja sandals. She smiled politely and bow slightly to Naruto and his squad.
"Naruto? This is my niece, Eri Terumi" Mei said, standing behind Eri and putting her hands on her shoulders. "Eri? This is the hero of the ninja world himself, Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze and his squad he leads"
"Oh really?.. He doesn't look as impressive as the stories being passed around" Eri said, folding her arms. "Is this really the hero of the ninja world, aunt Mei?"
"Hey! take that back, you brat!" Konohamaru yelled shaking his fist at Eri.
"Oh please, are you suppose to intimidate me kid?" Eri said sarcastically.
The Mizukage sighed and pounded her fist onto thee top of Eri's head, making Eri crouch down and hold her head in pain.
"Sorry about that Naruto…" the Mizukage said, shaking her head at her niece. "She gets her rudeness from my brother in law, who is her father.. Apologize to him at once Eri"
"Um.. R-right.. Sorry Naru-.. I mean Mr. Namikaze sir" Eri said holding her head where her aunt had hit her.
"In any case.. Why don't you all stay here for the night since it's late and even in times of peace it can be dangerous to travel at night" The Mizukage said summoning a Anbu, different then the one who had fetched her niece. "Please show my guests to rooms at my mansion… they'll all be staying with me tonight"
"Are you sure that's ok?" Naruto asked, while Konohamaru and Hanabi argued over something trivial behind him. "Don't wanna be any trouble"
"Nonsense, Naruto" Mei said with a flirtatious smile. "You are the hero of the ninja world and a friend of both the Hidden Mist village and myself…so it's no trouble at all, you delicious, polite young man you"
Naruto did his best to ignore the Mizukage's flirtation and nodded, following the Anbu out the door along with his squad. After they were gone, Mei turned to her niece and told her to sit down with a harsh tone.
"Do you have any idea what you just did, Eri?" Mei asked glaring and flaring her chakra. "You insulted someone I consider a friend,.. Not to mention someone who is also the hero of the ninja world and next in line as Hokage of our allied village, the hidden Leaf village… you have no idea how lucky you are that Naruto is not the type to get mad over something so trivial at your outburst"
"Well I wasn't trying to, I just-"
"I don't wanna hear it.. Maybe I should send someone with you to make sure you don't embarrass me or the Hidden Mist village any further" Mei sad folding her arms. "I'll think about it tonight as we eat dinner with out guests… you had better be on your best behavior there tonight do you understand me? Cause even though your father spoils you and lets you get away with a lot, my sister, your mother, will not hesitate to beat your ass if I tell her what you've been up to…do you understand me?.. I expect only a yes ma'am response"
"Y-yes ma'am" Eri said stuttering slightly.
"Good.. Now leave.. I have things to do before dinner with Naruto and his team later tonight" Mei said, sitting down at her desk. "I better not hear of you causing any more trouble.. And I will find out.. Now go"
Ten minutes later, Naruto, his young squad, and the Anbu escort arrived at the Mizukage's mansion and came to a stop as messenger ninja appeared in a swirl of water. The Anbu looked over a note that the messenger gave him before turning to the ones he was escorting.
"The Mizukage says that you have approximately 3 hours before dinner will be ready and are free to explore the village after your shown your rooms" The Anbu stated looking at Naruto.
"Sure" Naruto replied, before the ninja disappeared and the group headed inside with the Anbu.
The Anbu showed them their rooms and each member of squad 11 was able top have their own room, which they all liked. After they saw their rooms, they decided to do their own thing before dinner and split up, except Hanabi who stuck with Naruto. Naruto decided to see if he could find out any history on Zabuza.. And maybe see if his last place of residence was still around so he could pay tribute to him and Haku.
After looking around and asking around as well, Naruto and Hanabi found their way to the last known home of Zabuza Momochi.. Or at least what was left of it. The house had been vandalized severely, and looked like a bomb had gone off at some point.. Simply put.. It was a mess. Naruto and Hanabi walked up to the mess that was once a house, and looked in the opening, since the front door was missing, and was laying on the ground near the opening.
"Looks like crap here sensei" Hanabi commented, glancing inside. "How long do you think it's been abandoned like this?"
"Not sure.. Probably a real long time.. In fact…" Naruto replied, looking around. "…I'd say it's been many, many years since Zabuza lived here, when he was part of the Seven Ninja Swordsman"
After paying silent respect to Zabuza, Naruto and Hanabi returned to the Mizukage's mansion to eat a surprisingly well behaved dinner and get some sleep to be ready for the trip to the Land of Tea. They all got up bright and early the next morning, except Naruto and Konohamaru who both lingered in their beds , not wanting to get up. But they did get up, Naruto lured by the promise of ramen by Hanabi and Konohamaru threatened by bodily harm by Moegi.
After getting up and eating a quick breakfast, Naruto, Hanabi, Konohamaru, Moegi and Eri began their long trip to the Land of Tea with all of squad 11 wearing ear communicators to keep in touch . They walked with Naruto in back, Moegi and Konohamaru on either side, Eri in the middle and Hanabi in front to occasionally scan the area ahead with her Byakugan.
"So what's the Land of Tea like, Eri?" Moegi asked, Eri as they walked side by side.
"It's a nice fairly peaceful place" Eri replied ,looking forward. "I heard that squad 7 including your sensei here came to the Land of Tea a few years back.. I'm surprised he didn't tell you about it on your trip to the Hidden Mist Village"
"You went to the Land of Tea before" Konohamaru asked, looking back at Naruto. "How come you didn't tell us on the way here?"
"Well it was a while back…and we were here for a mission to help escort the Wasabi family against a rival family for a race" Naruto recounted to the group. "We met the younger brother of Ibiki Morino and boy was he arrogant at first…oh and we also got to fight several Rain village ninja around the same time"
"I also know it has a lot of tea houses in the Land of Tea.. But.. I don't really know much else about it" Naruto said, rubbing his hand on his chin.
"It's called the Land of Tea because long ago it was found to have the best type of land and weather in the world to grow all types of Camellia tea plants" Eri said in a matter-of-a-fact tone. "To this very day it remains the best place to grow tea plants, including rare and expensive varieties purchased only by noble clans"
Eri looked over to see the look of awe on Naruto's face, only instead to see that Naruto wasn't even paying attention . He was talking with Konohamaru about ramen, ignoring Eri's speech pretty much entirely much to Eri's extreme annoyance.
"Are you two ignoring me!?" Eri shrieked, fists balled. "I was explaining something poignant and historically significant.. And you two weren't even paying attention!"
"I was.. But I don't really care miss" Said a male voice from around them somewhere.
"Who said that?" Konohamaru asked, as Naruto moved in front of Eri, holding a Kunai.
"Didn't you see them with your Byakugan Hanabi?" Moegi asked, looking at Hanabi.
"I've faced Byakugan users before… I know all about your blind spot at the back of your neck…" The man replied, still not showing where he was. "It helps that you have a young, member of the Hyuga clan that isn't as sharp in battle as a more experienced member"
"Either way.. Just tell us what you want pal!" Naruto shouted, glancing around.
"The girl of course" The voice said. "The niece of the Hidden Mist Village's Mizukage"
"W-what do you want with me?!" Eri demanded, trying obscure her fear.
"Your worth quite a bit of money of course….plenty of people would love to get a hold of you and ransom you off" The voice said ,with a light laugh. "Isn't that right my crew?"
"Can't exactly argue with that"
"I'm a girl and I'd love to get a piece of her.. If you catch my drift.. Hahaha"
"So as you can see… we'd love for you to come with us…. So why don't you?" He said, smugly. ""It will be easier for you if you don't struggle"
"Do you know who I am, you bastard?" Naruto yelled out, glancing around, trying to pinpoint the owner of the voice. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki.. The Jinchuriki of Kurama, the 9 tailed fox"
"The 9 tails bastard himself?" The man said in slight surprise. "Well this changes things.. I better at least meet you in person before I take the girl… it's only right for a "Hero" like you"
A man appeared in front of them as a black shadow figure that shifted away leaving a normal human being. He was a tall, semi muscular man with short grey hair, a seemingly permanent scowl, and narrowed green eyes who was dressed in dark red pants, black, open toed ninja sandals, no shirt, silver wristbands and a slashed head band with a moon symbol across his forehead. The most striking feature was a large tattoo of a black skull that covered his entire front.. From the top of his chest to the bottom of his stomach.
"So good to meet you.. Naruto Uzumaki.." The man said in a mocking manner. "I am the great ninja known by many monikers including the black skull and the ninja of the shadows.. But you may call me by my real name.. Fumihiko Yukata former ninja of the once great Hidden Shadow village"
"Hidden Shadow village?.. Nice try .. But there is no such place" Moegi stated trying to stay calm. "Where are really from?"
"It's not a huge surprise that you don't know about my village…" Fumihiko said folding his arms. " My village was home to the best assassins in this world and was meant to be a secret.. A whisper on the wind that gets mentioned and then forgotten just as quickly…"
"Wait… I've heard my father tell of such a village…" Hanabi stated, furrowing her eyebrows. "But I assumed it was just a story.. Not a real place… are you saying your from the village that primarily trains most assassins in our world and is believed to possibly be merely a myth?"
"Both me and my "friends" here are indeed from that very village that is merely a story to most" He replied with a small nod. "In any case.. Me and my associates have been hired to capture the niece of the Mizukage.. And that's exactly what we intend to do.. So the only question that remains is…"
"Will you hand the girl over.. Or do I have to stop being nice?" Fumihiko asked with a small grin on his face.
"How about this…" Naruto asked, with a grin as he gathered his chakra. "Chakra mode!"
Naruto assumed his golden fire chakra mode and disappeared from sight in a flash of yellow energy, and reappeared less then a second later near Fumihiko punching him in his face full force. However, Fumihiko somehow caught Naruto's fist mid air and then kicked him in his stomach, sending him flying back.
"How... How did you do that?.. Only the old man Raikage and maybe the fourth Hokage should be able to match my speed in Chakra mode" Naruto said in disbelief. "How did you match my speed?"
"That's simple really… I've personally faced both the Raikage and Fourth Hokage in battle numerous times before" Fumihiko said smugly. "Of course.. They had the speed.. But not the fierceness of the second Hokage that I once faced in battle"
"The second Hokage?.. That's impossible.. You couldn't have faced the second Hokage in battle and still be alive" Moegi said in a confused tone. " That was a long time ago. Too long for you to still be alive.. Or at the very least you'd be very old by now if you were alive"
"There was two people I faced along with Team Asuma, Kakashi Sensei and Captain Yamato before that were both immortal" Naruto said, narrowing his eyes at Fumihiko. "The one I defeated was named Kakuzu.. And the other one that was defeated was Hidan I think"
"Ahh yes.. Brother Hidan.. Fellow disciple of the cult of Jashin…" Fumihiko said thinking back. "As well as fellow immortal"
"Your like that Hidan guy?.. Your immortal too?" Naruto said widening his eyes. "Crap… that's not good"
"Indeed.. Is it not good.. At least for you five" Fumihiko said with a smile. " So I'll ask once more.. Will you give me the girl?.. Or do I have to kill you all and then take the girl?"
Instead of answering with words, Naruto and Konohamaru summoned shadow clones, while Hanabi fell back into her Hyuga style Taijutsu stance, Moegi brandished a kunai and stood in front of Eri who in turn tensed her muscles and reflexively fell back into a defensive taijutsu stance.
"I see… Ruri… Sanji… take care of the three brats while I deal with Naruto Uzumaki here" Fumihiko stated calm with a snap of his fingers. "Show the heathens what it means to face followers of the great lord Jashin"
"Sure" replied a man of average height with long black hair in a ponytail, green eyes, slight stubble, and was dressed in black ninja pants, red ninja sandals, a red and black jacket and a strap across his chest that held a katana on his back. "I guess"
"Agreed" said a tall, very thin girl with short messy green hair, narrowed eyes and wide grin on her thin framed face dressed in standard black ninja pants, black sandals, silver arm guards, and a dark red halter top featuring the symbol of Jashin on it. "I get the stoic faced Hyuga girl to myself.. I can't wait to break her and make her quiver in ecstasy as her mind and body bend to me.. Right before I kill her"
"I think I'm going to puke after this is all over.." Hanabi said shivering slightly. "Or maybe even
now.."
"Be careful and protect Eri at al costs.." Naruto said to his squad before engaging Fumihiko in battle.
Konohamaru and Moegi stood by Eri, with Kunai drawn as they watched Fumihiko's people carefully..
"Too be honest, I'm not fond of fighting children.. It seems cruel" Shinji said, looking bored. "It would be better for me if you just surrendered instead of fighting"
"We're not backing down so easily!" Konohamaru exclaimed, seemingly a spitting image of a younger Naruto. "Shadow clone Jutsu!"
"Shadow clones huh?.. Not bad kid.. But I'm more interested in the girl.. The Hyuga girl of course" Ruri said, licking her lips. "So uptight.. This is going to be fun"
She pulled out a kunai and grinned before beckoning Hanabi to fight her, to which Hanabi tried to ignore and stand near her squad. Slightly frustrated, Ruri threw a arc of several Kunai that Hanabi blocked with her eight trigrams palm rotation technique as she jumped in front of Eri and Moegi. Ruri grinned and held her hand together in a hand sign that Moegi thought seemed familiar.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu!" Ruri yelled, stretching and connecting her shadow to Hanabi's. "Shadow Possession success…"
"Impossible .. That technique is only usable by a member of the Nara clan… or maybe someone with a Sharingan" Moegi said confused. "Does that mean your from the Nara clan?"
"So smart little girl.. To bad your not my type" Ruri replied , keeping a tight hold on Hanabi. "We are from the Shadow Village after all.. the techniques name is what our village is named after.."
"Let go of me, you psychotic bitch!" Hanabi yelled, trying and failing to struggle against the shadow that held her.
"Let you go?.. Why would I do that?" Ruri asked, tilting her head. "I haven't had a change to have some fun with you yet.. Your so young and firm.. I'm getting excited just imagining the things I'm going to do to you"
"Rasangan!" Konohamaru ran at Ruri, forcing her to let go of her shadow technique rather then get injured. Though she managed to dodge getting killed his Rasangan managed to scrap deeply across her face causing her to shriek in pain as blood slid down her face.
"I'm going to skin you alive you little asshole!" Ruri shrieked with eyes practically on fire with anger. " Shadow piercing ju-!"
Hanabi, now free of Ruri attack, launched several small Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palms at Ruri before she could finish speaking and was knocked her back into a large tree behind her. Ruri hit the tree with a loud thud and a bit of blood was ejected from her mouth upon impact. She fell to the ground and stayed there for a moment before painfully staggering to her feet and wiping the blood from her mouth.
"Shouldn't have dropped your guard Ruri.. Especially around a member of the Hyuga clan" Shinji said shaking his head. "I guess I'll have to get involved or Fumihiko's going to talk my ear off.. Sorry kids"
Shinji pulled his sword out of the sheath on his back and swung it in the air from where he was standing, and Moegi barley dodged a shadow on the ground that shot up off of the ground somehow and nearly hit her. Moegi glanced to the side an saw that the sword's shadow had cut a small tree in half and went wide eyed as she understood that they were all in serious trouble.
"How the heck?.. I've seen that guy Shikamaru Nara fight before and he's never used shadows like that" Konohamaru commented as he kept an eye on both opponents. "What is that you just did?"
"Sigh…. I manipulated shadows.. The difference between what I just did and what members of the Nara clan in your village do is that I didn't abandon the more deadly attacks of the Shadow style techniques" Shinji explained as he flipped his sword around in his hand. "The part of our clan that left our village for the newly established Hidden Leaf decided to not use our more deadly techniques because they thought they were cruel"
As Naruto's team and their companion Eri were dealing with the Shinji and Ruri, Naruto himself was fighting against Fumihiko a short distance away.
Naruto, who was still in chakra mode, narrowly dodged a show fist that belonged to a smirking Fumihiko. He created a Tailed Beast Rasangan in his hands and prepared to dash at Fumihiko to attack.
"Not bad kid.. You've obviously had a good deal of training in your ninja career so far" Fumihiko stated as he quickly did a hand sign. "Shadow whip jutsu!"
Fumihiko created a long whip made of a shadow and whipped it forward, forcing Naruto to stop mid dash and change directions to avoid it. Upon skidding to a stop, he shot out of sight again at high speed and through sheer Uzumaki luck he managed to hit Fumihiko's side with his Tailed Beast Rasangan, tearing through him. Naruto turned around and was ready to attack again when he saw Fumihiko standing there laughing slightly.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and brought a kunai up, staying on his guard as he stared at Fumihiko. "What's so funny?"
"You are of course… did you really think that hurt me? I'm immortal.. And can not be stopped by any injury" Fumihiko laughed again. Perhaps you should have asked your fellow leaf ninja who fought against brother Hidan about the abilities of us followers of Lord Jashin"
"I do know that Hidan was supposedly immortal.. But It's not like I saw it myself.." Naruto shot back. "That said, Shikamaru found a way to defeat Hidan.. So I'll find a way to defeat you"
"We'll see kid" Fumihiko released his whip jutsu and summoned a shadow in the shaped of a sword. "Let's see how you deal with this"
"…Shhhhit" Naruto rolled to one side as Fumihiko quickly brought his sword where Naruto was just standing. "Note to self.. Take sword lessons when you get back home"
"Sorry kid, but you won't be going home.. Well maybe I'll send your remains home when I'm done if I'm feeling generous" Fumihiko said, slashing at Naruto, who didn't dodge fast enough and wound up getting a deep cut across his shoulder.
"damn it.. That cut my muscle.." Naruto's arm was limp as he grimaced in pain and held up a kunai with his other hand. "Gonna need you to give me a hand Kurama.. This guy ain't going easy on me"
"I can see that kid… I'll divert my chakra to your arm and heal it faster for you.." Kurama said to Naruto in his mind. "I've heard of him and the Nara clan from the Shadow village… I once passed by there a long time ago"
"Any tips for facing him?" Naruto asked in his mind as he blocked Fumihiko's sword with his Kunai. "Any info would help"
"I know your smarter then that kid… you should already know this information…Lure him to a area with no sunlight.. Like a cave.. Members of the Nara clan need shadows to use their Jutsus" Kurama replied, swishing his tails. "Also I will say to keep your distance.. Nara clan members normally rely heavily on their shadow jutsu and intelligence.. But this Fumihiko guy is adept at hand to hand combat as well.. So watch yourself Naruto"
"Right…lets do this together" Naruto summoned numerous shadow clones and send them at Fumihiko while he readied to attack while he had the chance.
"Wind style: Massive Rasenshuriken!" Naruto used chakra arms created by his nine tails chakra mode and created the enormous rotating attack. "Take this asshole!"
Naruto connected, and tore away most of Fumihiko's stomach and side area, elavinga gaping, bloody hole, but Fumihiko just laughed as he healed.
"Told you kid, you can't kill me.. Not in a thousand years" Fumihiko laughed, as he created dozen of sharp, spear headed shadow blades and sent them at Naruto like long snakes extending from the ground as the sharp headed raced at Naruto.
Naruto ran along the ground with the shadow blades in hot pursuit, jumping first to a nearby side ofa rocky wall, bouncing off of it and then ricocheting off a large tree. He pumped Kurama's Chakra into his feet and legs, and used the tree as a spring bord to dart throught air at Fumihiko. But Fumihiko was also fast and grabbed Naruto as he moved to one side and flung him towrd the wasn't about to give up, so he used a Chakra arm to grab a tree and swing around it several times, using the momentum to send him sailing into the air.
"Multi-shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto summoned hundreds of shadow clones once in the air, each one with large Rasangans in hand and they all shot down at Fumihko at once. "Massive Rasangan, Ultimate Barrage!"
All of the Rasangans hit Fumihiko in one enormous explosion that could be seen for miles and made Naruto's squad all hope everything was ok.
When the dust cleared a huge, and deep impact crater was visible with smoke billowing out of it. Naruto stayed on his toes, knowing that he probably hadn't defeated his opponent. Sure enough, standing in the middle was a grinning Fumihiko,who was pivking up a severed arm and reattaching it.
"That was pretty good kid.." Fumihiko said, flexing his newly reattached arm. "So any idea how long you wanna keep this up? I can go on forever, literally… but you can't"
"Any ideas, Kurama?" Naruto asked in his mindscape. "Cause if huge attacks like the Massive Rasenshuriken and the Massive Rasangan Mega Barrage don't stop him.. I'm not sure what will"
"Hmm.. Lets see…" Kurama said, thinking carefully. "Try decapitating him Naruto… even the most powerful being can be defeated by removing without their head.. At least, most of the time anyways.."
"TAKE OFF HIS HEAD!?" Naruto shouted in his mind. "You can't be serious!.. How do you expect me to just do that anyways?"
"Hmm.. You figure it out then…" Kurama retorted, snorting. "It's that or let him starve to death… which will take a while… taking a life is not something you enjoy but in this case.. If you don't kill him then he'll capture the girl and kill your squad.. Those who are precious to you.."
"Maybe you could switch places with me.. Like we did during the war?" Naruto asked carefully. "I know that I might have to kill someday.. But still…"
"Sigh…. Very well kid…" Kurama relented, holding out his fist to Naruto. "Let's bump fists and change places kid… But the next time.. You'll have to be the one.. Agreed?"
"Yeah… Agreed" Naruto held out his fist and bumped it against Kurama's. "Thanks partner"
"Yeah, yeah.. Don't get sappy on me" Kurama said with a slight grin. "Time to for me to kick his ass. Wish me luck"
"Ok, Fumihiko… prepare to meet yout maker" Kurama said through Naruto's body, speaking with a deeper version of Naruto's voice. "Hope you like pain"
"Hmm?… your voice.. It's different.." Fumihiko comented, furrowing his eyebrows. "You are using more of the powers of the 9 tails I presume?"
"Wrong, pitiful human.. I am the Nine Tailed Fox" Kurama stated with a toothy grin. "I am here to kill you"
"I see.. Then I have a real challenge on my hands here" Fumihiko stated looking mildly amused. "Show me what you got then"
"Gladly…"
While these two battles were happening, Temari was in the Hidden Leaf Village practicing some wind jutsu techniques at her and Naruto's training frield at their home. She put her fan down, took off her forehead protector and wiped sweat off her brow.
"That was good work out" Temari tied her headband loosely around her neck like she did when she younger and walked inside the house to take a shower.
"A nice shower is just what I need" Temari said to herself as she headed to her room to grab some fresh clothes.
She grabbed her stuff and went into the bathroom, disrobing as she turned on the water. Getting the right tempature, she stepped and sighed satisfaction as the warm water ran over her body. She started thinking about Naruto on his mission, wondering how he and his squad were fairing. She missed him, even though he hadn't been goen long. It was difficult for Temari to believe how attached she'd become to the blond knucklehead.
"When he gets home.. I think I'll do something nice..maybe I'll try wearing something sexy for him… although I might need top ask a girl that's used to wearing that stuff what's best to entice him" Temari murmured. "mmm.. I want him back here soon.."
Her fingers slide over her body, just past her belly button and was about to go further south when the doorbell rang, interrupting her.
"Fuck… I was going to.. Never mind.. This had better be good" Teamri growle getting gout of the shower and grabbing a towel to wrap around herself. "If they intruped both my shower and my "fun" for no good reason there's going to be hell to pay"
Temari stomped down the stairs, pushing her wet hair out of her face, before pulling open the door.
"What?!"
"Oh uh sorry miss I was. Wow.." A messenger ninja stammered, seeing her in a towel.
"Eyes up here asshole" Temari growled, pulling a kunai out from who knows where. " Keep your eyes off my body, speak up.. And it better be good or I'll gut you like a fish"
"Uh, sorry miss I was staring….I just.. Uh.. I'm here to give you message from the lady hokage" He stated, putting up his hands as if surrendering. "She needs to see you about a mission"
"Sigh.. Fine.. Tell her I'll be there soon as I can" Temari shut the door and sighed again as she she head upstairs to her room to ge dressed.
"Deprived of a full shower and some alone time.. This had better be an important mission" Temari got dressed in her outfit from when she was at the Kage summit minus the green cloth.
She put on her fingerless gloves to finish her outfit and grabbed her battle fan, sliping it on her back before heading to the Hokage's mansion. She used Chakra to run to town and got to the mansion fairly fast.
Temari knocked on the door to the Hokage's office and after getting permission, she entered, folding her arms.
"You wanted me?" Temari asked with a scowl on her face.
"Yes.. Thank you for coming so fast.. What's with the face?" Tsunade asked, raising an eyebrow.
"If you must know, I was in the shower and also enjoying some private time while thinking about my Naruto when your messenger interrupted me" Temari replied dryly. "So what's the mission?"
"Cough… please keep those details to yourself" Tsunade said with a tiny blush. "As for your mission.. I need you to coordinate the Chunin Exams that are beign held here"
"Wait.. The last Chunin Exams were held here.. Shouldn't it be in a different village?" Temari asked, slightly confused.
"Yes well, it was decided by all of the Kage's that it should be held here for various reasons…" Tsunade replied, shuffling some papers around on her messy desk. "I trust you'll do this? I know it's a lot of work, but I need someone trust worthy"
"Fine… I suppose I don't have anything else to do till Naruto gets back…" Temari stated, sighing slightly. "I'll need help though"
"Of course…" Tsunade poared some saki into a dish as she talked. " I'll have Shikimaru help you for now.. And as soon as Naruto get's back, I'll have him assist you as well.. It will give him further experience in preparation for his time as Hokage"
"Ok.. Where is the lazy ass Shikimaru right now?" Temari asked, uncrossing her arms. "Off staring at clouds?"
"Most likely.. I already sent for him and he should be here any minute" Tsunade replied, drinking her saki. "As soon as he is then you can be-"
There was knock at the door inturpting her, so she told them to come inside and in walked Shikamaru, looking lasy as ever.
"You wanted to see me?" Shikamaru asked sighing. "I just starting a good nap too…"
"Your nap can wait.. I need you to show Temari here what she needs to know when she oversees the Chunin exams" Tsunade said looking at him. "Given your past experience with the exams, your best suited for this..I may call on you again for when Naruto gets back, since I'm having both Temari and him run the exams this year"
"Sigh.. What a drag… glad it's you and Naruto instead of me at least" Shikamaru put his hands in his vest pockets. "Let's get this overwith then"
"Fine.. Inform her what she needs to know then.. I have paperwork to avoid.. I mean deal with.." Tsunade stated shooing them out the door. "Good luck"
"Thanks.. Come on lazy bones.." Temari stated, leaving the office. " Let's get started"
They walked down the street away from the mansion as they began disussing what Temari's responsiblities would be when a voice called out to her.
"Hey Temari.." Anko appeared, eating dango "What's this I hear that your going to be overseeing the Chunin exams?"
"Where did you hear that?.. And how? I just got asked" Temari came to a stop and looked at Anko who was in front of her and Shikimaru.
"The Hokage told me she was going assign you to the duty of the Chunin exams earlier" Anko replied, scarfing down the last of her dango. "I am the proctor of the second stage of the exams after all"
"Oh.. I see.. Dam that old women.. Just assumed I was going to say yes" Temari huffed, averting her eyes. "Does that mean me and Naruto have to go over things with you before the exams start?"
"Sure does… wait.. Naruto? He's overseeing the exams with you?" Anko asked, wearing an expression that was first confused and the became excited. "So.. The three of us wil be working together on the exams.. Nice.. Always wanted to try a threesome"
Temari sputtered and Shikimaru backed away with a red face, trying to avoid the situation as best he could.
"There most certainly will not be a threesome!" Temari exclaimed as loud as she could without alerting villagers to their conversation. "The three of us will be working on the exam.. And nothing more"
"Take a chill pill kid.. I was just kidding.. Mostly.." Anko said, with a grin. "But just because the exams are serious doesn't mean we have to be"
"Honestly.." Temari said putting her hand on her forehead.
"Well in any case.. We can chat later.. I gotta grab some more dango and then pay Iruka Umino a vist" Anko said with a evil grin. "Catch you later.. And then you and I can have some fun.. Even though I know it will so much better when Naruto comes back.. Then it will just be the three of us.. Alone together.. Just imagine what we can do for fun"
As soon as Anko disappeared again, leaving in a swirl of leaves, Temari let out a sigh of relief and looked over at Shikamaru.
"Just what did get myself into here, Shikamaru?" She asked with a look of irratation and disappointment on her face.
"Not sure.." Shikamaru answered, sighing as he did. "But I do know one thing"
"I'm almost afraid to ask, but what?" Temari reluctantly asked him.
"This is going to be a major drag"
"Truer words were never spoken, Shikamaru"
End of Chapter 20: The new sister and the coming of a storm part
To continue in Chapter 21: Legacy of the hidden shadow village
Yes, I'm still alive and so is this story believe it or not.. Even though it has been months since I updated it.. So pelase read, enjoy and review.. Any questions? Send me message via fanfiction and I'll answer you via a return message. No account? Ask anyways, and I'll answer the question at either the end or beginning of the next chapter. Thanks for reading