Standard Disclaimer: I own Naruto! Well, not really.
Author's Notes: Well, here's the chapter you've all been waiting for! The truth about how Naruto's parents met! How did Mantarou and Rin end up conceiving everyone's favorite ninja? Let's find out!
Begin!
xxxx
A Doomed Love…Mantarou and Rin!
xxxx
/Present Day/
/Plains, 17 Miles Northwest of Konohagakure/
It was odd.
Naruto thought he would've reacted differently. He thought that – whenever he would find out who his parents really were – he'd break down and cry, like characters did in those sappy stories Sakura used to blab about. Or he would just fall to his knees, overwhelmed with shock.
He never would've guessed that his first feeling would be a mixture of numbing confusion and subtle rage. Confusion…because his mother was apparently a former teammate of Kakashi's. Rage…because his father was the leader of Akatsuki.
It was an odd combination. And it was driving him crazy. At least, that's what one would think considering how twitchy his three tails of red chakra were acting.
FEELING CONFUSED? YOU SHOULDN'T WORRY; YOU'RE ALWAYS CONFUSED.
Not. Now.
AND SINCE WHEN DO I LISTEN TO YOU?
"Hmm."
Naruto refocused his attention on Mantarou, who was gazing at Kakashi for some reason. The Copy Ninja stared back at Akatsuki's Leader with a strangely deadly focus.
Finally, Mantarou said, "It seems that I've come to an interesting point…"
Everyone was silent.
"Kakashi…you were also present during my time at Konoha…and there were parts of this tale that you could fill in…from your point of view." His blue irises, so similar to Naruto's, gazed at Kakashi. "I was unconscious until I was carried to Rin's residence…so there's a gap to fill in. Mind sharing?"
Hatake Kakashi hated those eyes. Eyes of a former student…eyes of a ninja he respected…eyes that now – as some kind of cosmic joke – were on an enemy.
Naruto's eyes. Mantarou's eyes. The bodies were different…but the eyes were just like mirrors.
It was horrifying in a way…to see the eyes of someone who you respected so much to belong to an enemy.
"Well?" asked Mantarou.
Finally, Kakashi growled, "I'll speak…if only because I want to find out what really happened with Rin. Now that I'm thinking back…I'm really curious as to what you did with her."
Mantarou couldn't help but chuckle at that remark. "Hmph. What I did to her? I did nothing. I only succumbed to the most human of needs: companionship. Belonging. After my hell of a life, I…" He suddenly paused. "I'm skipping ahead a bit. Kakashi…begin your account."
"Fine," snorted Kakashi.
xxxx
/Kakashi's Flashback/
/East Wall of Konohagakure, Fire Country/
The 12-year old Jonin was silent as his right eye scanned the horizon, his left eye hidden by a Leaf hitai-ate. His spiky silver hair was his identifying mark as Hatake Kakashi.
And right now, he was still in a funk.
"It had only been a month since the mission…"Kakashi sighed as placed a palm over his hitai-ate, as if he were covering his left eye.
"…where my teammate had fallen in the line of duty."
"Obito…" murmured the young Jonin, his eye showing a distinct sadness. He had always regarded Obito as a slacker…a weakling. For an Uchiha clan member, he had showed little promise. Kakashi had been convinced that the inept ninja had nothing to offer. Even though Obito had been a year older, he had still only been a Chuunin.
And yet…Obito may have yet been a better ninja than he was…at least when it came to the proper ideals. Had he really been so wrong as to put the importance of the rules so high above the safety of his teammates? Sure, he knew it was a bad idea to put his fellows above the mission itself…that would lead to failure.
But to utterly disregard them entirely…that was also something that couldn't be done. Doing that would remove any care one had for their subordinates…that meant that, if one truly did have to save them…one wouldn't care.
Kakashi briefly thought of Rin. To be honest, he wondered if she might have been hit harder by Obito's death than he himself. After all, he couldn't exactly fathom how one might feel if you were told someone loved you AFTER that someone had died. I hope she's okay…
And what of the Yondaime? Their sensei had only become the Fourth Hokage recently, soon after their mission. It had coincided with the end of the Third Great Ninja War, as a matter of fact (though Kakashi knew his teacher had been a big part of helping to bring to an end.). He wondered if he was pondering over Obito's death as well.
"So confusing," mumbled Kakashi to himself as he gazed down towards the path leading to Konoha.
"That's when I first set eyes upon you."
Hatake Kakashi couldn't help but blink at the sight of his teammate Rin hauling a bloodied body towards the village. Who on earth…? He quickly leapt down onto the dirt road, gazing at his teammate. "Who is that?"
"I don't know," muttered Rin, her body straining under the sagging weight of the unknown boy. "He just…fell down a hill and landed right in front of me."
The Jonin stared at the bloodied teen with a wary eye. Is he a ninja? Why else would he be so injured…? What happened to him?
"Kakashi, help me take him to my house. It's closer than the hospital, and I can at least do some healing. After that, I want you to go get the Fourth Hokage." She quickly added, "Sir." After all, Kakashi was of a higher rank.
Kakashi blinked. "The Fourth? He's not our sensei anymore." Not technically. "I can't just bother him. He might be in the middle of something important."
Rin smiled. "But we know what kind of man he is."
Kakashi was silent. Would the Hokage drop whatever he was doing to come see a bloodied boy who just came out of nowhere and was probably in danger of dying?
Of course.
Kakashi wrapped his arm around the unconscious teen, taking some of the weight off of Rin. "Let's go."
Rin nodded as the two dashed into Konoha.
"My head had been swimming with questions…I knew that much. But I could barely make any sense of it all. All I knew was that I was taking this boy to Rin's home, and I had no idea who he was."
Rin's home was a small little residence wedged between a bazaar and an antique shop. After entering the doorway, one would see the single partition separating the kitchen from the bedroom (in a way, this formed an E-shape). The kitchen floor was made of glossy marble, and there was only a refrigerator, a freezer, a sink, and a stove. Of course, there were wooden cabinets for utensils, bowls, plates, and cups…but that goes without saying. The bedroom sat beyond the partition, and the floor was covered with a tan-colored carpet that was cheap, yet soft to the feet. There was a single bed with red sheets (with one window sitting in the wall above it), a wooden rocking chair in the corner, and medicinal cabinets lining the walls.
Hey, Rin WAS a medical ninja.
Kakashi and Rin set the wounded boy on the bed, ignoring the stains he was causing on the sheets. The medical ninja immediately reached for bandages and began to methodically take his clothing off.
The Jonin was silent. There was nothing more he could do here. "I'll go get the Fourth." Kakashi bounded out of the door and into the open air, speeding towards the Hokage's Palace.
Yet…he couldn't quite shake off the odd feeling that the wounded teen had been emanating…something…deadly…
"I shook it off. I had to get the Fourth, as Rin requested. I believe…that at the time, I was thinking that a little distraction like this would get my mind off of Obito."
As Kakashi leapt from one roof to another, he suddenly paused.
Standing on the roof he was about to jump towards was a tall man of great stature. Although he seemed to wear a standard shinobi uniform – blue pants, green combat vest, and blue long-sleeved shirt – it was covered by a large, short-sleeved coat of red. The only exceptions were the white flames lining the bottom of the coat and the characters for 'Fourth', 'Fire' and 'Shadow'…together meaning 'Yondaime Hokage'. His spiky hair was a blazing golden color, and his piercing blue eyes complimented a gentle face.
He was Kazama Arashi.
He was Konoha's Yellow Flash.
He was the Fourth.
He smiled gently at Kakashi. "Hello Kakashi. How've you been?"
The Jonin couldn't help but stutter. "Uh…just fine." He quickly regained his composure. "If you don't mind my asking sir, how come you're out here?"
Arashi grinned. "Well…to be honest, I felt something odd enter the village. Is that why you've come to get me?"
He already knows, thought Kakashi with a small smirk. And why should he be surprised? This was the Fourth Hokage, the greatest ninja in the village. "Well, yes…Rin brought in a teenage boy from outside Konoha. He was heavily injured."
The Fourth was silent, as if understanding the situation already. "You know Kakashi, I don't mean to be disrespectful to your talents…but would you mind staying behind? I want to speak with this boy alone."
Before the Jonin could even protest, he was silenced by the look in the Yondaime's eyes. It instantly made him pause; that look alone was telling him to stop and leave him be. It had no killing intent whatsoever…but it froze him nonetheless. Was it because of the Fourth's tremendous power?
Needless to say, the Fourth calmly moved on towards Rin's home, leaving a slightly bewildered Kakashi behind. Who was this boy…who would even attract the attention of the Hokage?
"I was confused. That goes without saying…"/End Flashback/
xxxx
/Present Day/
"…but knowing what I now know, I'm not surprised the Fourth was intrigued by you." Kakashi shot a brief glare at Mantarou, who looked unperturbed.
The Leader of Akatsuki smiled. "So even before I told him, he knew about the demonic chakra I possessed…just by sensing it. He was indeed a powerful shinobi."
Tsunade couldn't help but raise an eyebrow out of curiosity. Mantarou had spoken with the Fourth? THAT was new. "I'm curious as to how your conversation with the Fourth went…"
"I'm sure you are," commented Mantarou, his eyes never leaving Naruto's. "Allow me to pick up where Kakashi left off."
xxxx
/Mantarou's Flashback/
/Rin's House, Konohagakure, Fire Country/
Mantarou's eyes fluttered.
Then they opened.
Then he saw a tall man with golden blonde hair and blue eyes staring down at him. Father…?
No. The face was a bit smoother…and hair was spikier. Besides, the hair of his father was more blonde than gold. "Who…are you?"
"I am Kazama Arashi. You'd probably know me better as the Yondaime Hokage, the Fourth Fire Shadow." He gestured toward Mantarou's left arm. "My former student was kind enough to heal you…though she did notice something odd."
Mantarou was silent. Then what the Fourth said finally hit him.
He sat up upright, staring at his body. He had been bandaged, his wounds treated…but his left arm was bare from the elbow down, and both legs were visible. Which meant that the seals on his limbs were ALSO visible.
The teen's eyes darkened. "So…you're aware of my power."
"I'm aware of your situation," calmly retorted the Fourth. "Judging from the seals on your arms, you're the one who killed the Jinchuriki from the Earth and Lightning Countries. It got you on the private hit list of a lot of ninja. So much so that the Stone and Cloud refused to put your profile in their bingo books; they wanted you to remain under wraps. As the Hokage, I was able to find out about your criminal record…but legally, Konoha can't do anything about you."
Mantarou's nostrils flared. "And I suppose you want to hand me over to them to gain a favor…? Or perhaps you want me to stay here, to make your village stronger?"
"Nothing of the sort," remarked Kazama, his frame towering over the bedridden Mantarou. "I'd just like to know the particulars; Rin found you in a rather horrible condition. And to be honest, I'm curious as to why you've seemingly dedicated yourself to acquiring the legendary Tailed Demons. You have no alliance to any ninja village, yet you have enough power to practically become a Jonin immediately. So why?"
Mantarou gazed silently at the Hokage. Then, his eyes hardened into a glare. "I'll tell you…but you have to swear to me that you won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you. If you say one word to anyone – and I mean ANYONE – then I will do whatever I have to to kill you. I'm on a mission, and I won't let anyone get in my way. So swear to me…swear on your LIFE."
The Yondaime couldn't help but feel pity for the young boy. After all, who but the truly desperate would go so far as to threaten a Kage with DEATH? Especially when he was weak and bedridden? "So young to be so untrusting…very well. I swear to you I won't tell anyone, on pain of death."
Mantarou forcefully exhaled – calming himself – before lying back down. "Okay…it all started in the Earth Country, at my home…the Hidden Valley."
"In the span of nearly two hours, I told him everything. My life at the Hidden Valley. The coming of Kyojini and the massacre of my friends and family. My quest for revenge against the No Tail and his ogre demons. Meeting Ryu and Matsuda Koshu in Kinmachi. Journeying to Iwagakure and ending Sagara Kozo's life, so that Kyojini would be under my control. Koshu's last words to me, and my new mission to erase the existence of demons from the world. Ending Ryu's life, and taking the Three Tails from him. My life on the run, killing demons wherever I went. And finally, my battle against Akudaija."
The Fourth cupped a hand around his chin, looking rather thoughtful. "Hmm…so that's what really happened to Hyuga Hiatari…and knowing that your father was Uzumaki Keihan makes a lot of sense. After all, it's not often one has knowledge of seals like the ones on your body…"
"So now what?" murmured Mantarou.
To the demon slayer's surprise, the Hokage turned away. "Would you like to stay here?"
The boy's surprise immediately faded, replaced by suspicion and anger. "So you DO want me to become a part of your village. Well I'll tell you that-"
"You have me wrong." The Yondaime turned his gaze to Mantarou. "You are quite wounded from your battle with the Five Tails. It wouldn't do you any good to leave as you are. You'd probably keel over without even doing anything." With that said, the Hokage left.
Uzumaki Mantarou was silent. For all intents and purposes, he had just been given free housing (or at least free travel) in Konohagakure.
So he really had only one thing to say.
"Huh."
That's when Rin walked backed into her home, treading quietly towards the bandaged teen. The medical ninja calmly sat down beside the bed, applying some tape to keep the bandages in place. "I hope your talk with Hokage-sama went well."
"It did." Mantarou stared quietly at the girl, who looked more like a young child than a 15-year old teenager (though he didn't know that, at present). "I take it you saw the three demon seals."
Rin paused. She felt a small bit of fear slowly swell within her. When she had seen the seals when treating him, she hadn't known what to think. Honestly, she had hoped that they were mere ornamentation. But that wasn't the case. They were demon seals. DEMON seals. That made him a Jinchuriki. And she could sense a strange killing intent from him…and she didn't want to risk making him angry.
What would he do now?
"Well…yes."
"Then you know that if you tell anyone else, I'll kill you." Mantarou closed his eyes to sleep; he was still weak, and the discussion with the Hokage had tired him.
Rin couldn't help but gulp. She hoped that the Hokage hadn't made a mistake by letting him stay here.
"Hmm hmm hmm…it's funny."
/End Flashback/
xxxx
/Present Day/
"Looking back, I must have scared her to death…" muttered Mantarou.
"No kidding," growled Kakashi. He had not been privy to that conversation. In hindsight, he wished he had been; it might have saved them so much trouble.
Naruto snorted. "Not a lot of people skills, eh?"
"If you had denied human contact for years, the same would happen to your people skills," retorted Mantarou.
Tsunade couldn't help but comment at that. "True. Naruto's people skills are even more horrible."
HU HU HU…SO TRUE. EXCEPT YOU HAVE NO SKILLS AT ANYTHING ELSE EITHER.
Naruto seethed.
"Needless to say, I wasn't keen on accepting the Fourth's offer…I had to get back on the road. After all," Mantarou paused to rub his neck. "I had a mission to complete."
xxxx
/Mantarou's Flashback/
/Rin's House, Konohagakure, Fire Country/
Nighttime.
Mantarou opened his eyes. He glanced over at the rocking chair; Rin was sitting there in silence, her eyes closed. She was asleep.
Good.
He calmly lifted the sheets and walked towards the door, tiptoeing across the floor. He was through being bedridden; he wanted to get back on the road.
The brown-haired teen calmly unlocked the door and-
"Where do you think you're going?"
He scowled out of irritation. The blasted girl had still been awake after all. He turned to see a rather cross-looking Rin standing there, eyebrow arched out of slight irritation. "What do you want?"
"You still haven't completely healed from your injuries. I may have sped the process along, but you're still too weak." Rin yawned; it was late at night, and she was tired.
Mantarou snorted. "It doesn't matter what you think."
"You're not going."
"Or what? Are you going to stop me?" Mantarou couldn't help but snicker at the thought. A mere girl standing in his way? "I've slain far greater creatures than you. I don't like taking human life…but if you stand in my way, then your life will be forfeit. Understa-?"
Rin punched him in the face. Mantarou, completely caught off-guard, was sent backwards, his head banging against the door. The girl couldn't help but smile; that had to have taken his haughty attitude down a bit. "Don't forget: I may have focused my growth on medical ninjutsu, but I AM a ninja."
Mantarou blinked, suddenly feeling woozy. That hit couldn't have done THAT much…was he really still so weak from his battle against the Five Tails? He couldn't hold out any longer. He could only murmur, "I see," before falling to the floor unconscious.
"That's when I realized that I wasn't fully healed yet."
Rin sighed out of annoyance. This boy was going to get himself killed…though she wondered why he was dead-set against staying. Oh well. Another question for another time.
Now she had the task of dragging him back into the bed. Joy.
"So I was once again consigned to the darkness of sleep."
/End Flashback/
xxxx
/Present Day/
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Mantarou was interrupted by Naruto's howling laughter (which, admittedly, looked a bit odd when he is in his three-tailed form, fangs and all). He couldn't help it; the sheer idea of Akatsuki's Leader being punched out cold by a MEDICAL ninja was just so danged amusing.
OF COURSE, YOU WOULDN'T BE LAUGHING IF YOU WERE BEING PUNCHED BY THE OLD WOMAN.
Naruto paused. Then he remembered Tsunade's freakish strength. Uh…yeah.
HU HU HU. SO BRAVE. BUT AGAINST THOSE STRONGER THAN YOU, YOU ALL BUT WET YOURSELF.
I do not!DO TO.
Not!TO.
Not!TO.
NOT!TO.
NOTNOTNOTNOTNOOOOOT!…
Heh. Showed you.
THE IDIOT SAYS 'WHAT'?
What?The Kyuubi immediately started chuckling heartily. Then Naruto got the joke. "RRRRRRRRRR! YOU DAMN FOX!"
On the sidelines, Sakura couldn't help but sweatdrop. "What the heck is going on with him…?"
"One can never be too sure," admitted Jiraiya. "The private talks he has with the Nine Tails are always private. Unless the Demon Fox manifests himself on the outside as an aura."
Lee pumped his fist. "So many questions! Is Naruto-kun's father really the heartless monster that led Akatsuki and attacked Konoha? So confusing!"
"You'll just have to wait for him to finish his story Lee," commented Neji. "I have a hang of his motivations for his anti-demon crusade already…but not as to why he founded Akatsuki…"
Lee's eyes bugged out of his head. NEJI UNDERSTANDS? He growled silently. Of course; Neji is a genius! But I will understand this story! His eyes lit aflame with the fire of his youthful vigor. If not, then that means my spirit is unfocused! It's the only explanation as to why I can't understand the will of another warrior! I'll have to refocus my spirit with 10,000 push-ups on each hand! "OOOOOOOOOH! THAT IS WHAT I MUST DO IF I FAIL!" shouted Lee, causing those next to him to yelp out of surprise.
Kibamaru responded by knocking Lee on the head with his furry fist. "Stop randomly shouting like that you jackass! You're gonna give us all a heart attack."
Hinata was still silent. Above all else, she was getting intrigued. She wanted to know about Naruto…so it would help if she knew more about his ancestry. Perhaps it would allow her to sympathize with him even more…? She didn't know what to think.
Sasuke calmly glanced at Kakashi, who was glaring at Mantarou with both eyes. The Sharingan was swirling, most likely trying some way – ANY way – to copy Mantarou's abilities. But it's no use…that guy's power isn't a jutsu in and of itself…it's just the manipulation of chakra. A high degree of manipulation, but it's something almost anyone can do with practice…it's like trying to copy something you already know how to do. Sasuke knew that Kakashi knew this already…but the Copy Ninja probably didn't care.
"Will you continue now?" asked Kakashi.
Mantarou nodded.
xxxx
/Mantarou's Flashback/
/Rin's House, Konohagakure, Fire Country/
"I awoke some time later…no more than a few days, I'm sure of that."
Mantarou awoke.
Daylight.
Rin was not in the house. His arms and legs were fully bandaged, hiding the three demon seals from view.
Good.
The demon slayer calmly got to his feet and started walking. He opened the door to the home and entered the streets, not caring that people were staring at his heavily bandaged body. He had lingered long enough; it was time for him to move on. There were more demons out in the world, waiting to be slaughtered.
However, by the time he reached the gate…
"Hey."
Mantarou glanced upward. Standing atop the village wall was Hatake Kakashi…who still wasn't known as the Copy Ninja. He had only had the Sharingan for a month. He had since taken to hiding the 'Mirror Wheel' eye with his Leaf hitai-ate, leaving only his right eye visible. "Where are you going?"
"And who are you?" demanded Mantarou.
"Hatake Kakashi, Jonin of Konoha. Where are you going?"
Mantarou couldn't help but scowl out of anger. I knew it. I knew it I knew it I KNEW it. The Fourth can't afford to let me leave…I'm too valuable. "Hmph. So the Fourth sent you to keep an eye on me, is it? To keep me from leaving?"
Kakashi arched an eyebrow out of slight confusion. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He leapt down, landing several yards away from the wounded teen. "I'm just making sure you don't leave because you're still injured."
Mantarou said nothing.
"You see," continued Kakashi, almost in a nonchalant tone. "Rin may be a gentle person, but she prides herself on being a medical ninja. She'd get angry if one of her patients walked out on her while she went to obtain more medicinal herbs."
"And am I supposed to care?" muttered Mantarou as he continued walking.
Kakashi sighed. "You know, MOST people would wait until healing before moving around."
"I can take care of myself."
"I somehow doubt that."
"Would you like to test me?"
"I'd rather not."
"Good. I feel the same." Mantarou continued walking on.
Then Kakashi leapt in front of Mantarou. "You're not going anywhere."
Mantarou's blue eyes narrowed. "Out of my way."
Kakashi could only blink as two tendrils of orange chakra emerged from Mantarou's right hand, wrapping around his body. "What the-?"
He was tossed aside like garbage, his body slamming against the edge of Konoha's wall.
"Remember that Kakashi?"
"Unfortunately."
Mantarou sneered at the young Jonin. "Told you." He turned to continue his journey…but Rin was standing in his way, arms filled with long, green stalks and red fern leaves. "Move."
Rin stepped out of Mantarou's way. However, as he walked by, she said, "You're still not fully recovered."
"I know my limits girl," grumbled Mantarou as he took another step.
Then he promptly coughed up blood before collapsing to the ground.
"Apparently, you didn't."
"Clearly."
Rin sighed out of exasperation as he knelt beside the body of the unconscious teen. "I swear…" She looked over at Kakashi, who was scratching at his neck. "Are you okay?"
"Just fine," remarked the 12-year old Jonin. "Don't know what kind of technique he used…but if I had to guess, it was just his chakra."
Rin blinked. "He tossed you aside with his chakra?"
"As if his aura was as malleable as the earth itself." Kakashi frowned; something troubling came to mind. "I know he has a lot of chakra…I can sense it…and that 'technique' of his, if you can call it that…it can be deadly."
Rin suddenly realized what Kakashi was getting at. "Then…his injuries when I first found him…what hurt him so badly like that…?"
Kakashi wasn't sure he wanted to know. "Well…better get him back to your house…and this time, I'm binding him down."
"Just don't wrap them too tightly. You don't want to accidentally hurt him," cautioned Rin as she got a better grip on her freshly cut medicinal supplies.
"I know," muttered Kakashi as he heaved the body of the unconscious Mantarou over his shoulders. What a pain…
"I ended up being bedridden again…this time for at least a week."
Mantarou opened his eyes. It was the familiar sight of Rin's ceiling.
The only difference was that he was bound by thick leather belts and burlap straps that crossed over the bed. "Huh."
"It was a precaution."
Mantarou tilted his head to see Rin, sitting in the rocking chair. "You tried to leave twice before you were fully healed…and the last time, you bled internally from moving about too soon. The scuffle with Kakashi didn't help either…"
"So that's the name of the little runt," remarked Mantarou casually.
"So…a 'runt', eh?"
"I'm telling a story here."
"Hard to believe he's a Jonin."
Rin smiled lightly. "I told him to be careful with you. After all, can't have you accidentally getting killed."
Mantarou laughed. Then he coughed. "I've faced far worse."
"If you say so," calmly remarked Rin as she bit into an apple. In her lap was a basket filled with the red fruits. "Want one?"
"…why not." A tendril of orange chakra emerged from Mantarou's head, clutched onto an apple, and pulled it back over to Mantarou. He held it over his mouth with the chakra 'hand' and bit into it. "Juicy."
"That's a useful ability you have," commented Rin.
Mantarou swallowed before answering, "An ability I've mastered over time." He took another bite. "Though…" Chomp chomp chomp gulp. "I am curious as to why you're so dead set against me leaving." Chomp.
Rin looked at him as if he had asked a question with the most obvious answer in the world. "You're my patient. I can't let you leave until you have a clean bill of health. Silly."
Mantarou paused for a moment. Then he continued chewing. Perhaps he was unused to the idea of a human being keeping in one place for any other reason other than to stab him in his sleep. He had been on the run for a long time…no surprise, considering he was an S-Class criminal.
Rin was silent as she watched Mantarou chew at the apple. The teen was obviously powerful…and he possessed the power of three Tailed Demons (how could he have sealed three in at once?). And he had done so willingly. Yet he didn't use the power to destroy or conquer…and even though he had threatened her with death, his actions earlier with Kakashi hinted at a hesitation to kill. But he was very untrusting…he had even tried to leave Konoha TWICE, despite his injuries.
An enigma.
Huh…odd, thought Rin.
Then to her bewilderment, Mantarou sat up and started walking. He had sliced through the straps with his chakra. "Hold up! Where are you-?"
"Oh, I'm not leaving," muttered the teen as he bit into the apple once more. The fact that he had been stopped from leaving Konoha TWICE was a sign that enough was enough; he would wait until healing before leaving the Hidden Leaf Village. "Don't fret little girl. I just want to stretch my legs."
Rin couldn't help but huff indignantly in response. "Hmph! Well, just to let you know, I'm not a girl. I'm a teenager."
THAT caused Mantarou to chuckle. "Then how old are you?"
"15."
Mantarou paused. Then he turned around. Then he walked towards Rin, standing tall in front of her. He then held his hand above her head, brining it towards the neck. "I'm 15…yet you are eight inches shorter. That would make you…4'10"."
Rin shrugged. "So I'm short for my age. Most ninja who practice medical ninjutsu from an early age wind up becoming short, due to the constant expenditure of rejuvenating chakra. I mean, you're two inches taller than the legendary kunoichi Tsunade, and she's the best medical ninja in the history of the Leaf!"
Mantarou couldn't help but blink out of surprise. For a teenager, she was short.
No wonder he had had trouble taking her seriously.
I'll need to rectify that, thought Mantarou as devoured the last of his apple.
"I suppose you could say that's where first seeds were planted…"/End Flashback/
xxxx
/Present Day/
Mantarou shrugged. "But neither Rin nor I saw it back then. Not surprising, really."
Naruto wasn't listening. He was too busy realizing that he was actually taller than Tsunade. "Dang. The old hag really IS short!"
Tsunade snarled at the fox boy. "My HEIGHT is not the issue here!"
"Eh, it's to be expected," casually remarked Jiraiya. "After all, her breasts DID grow tremendously. I mean, that missing height HAD to go somewhere."
SLAM!
Jiraiya's face was now firmly implanted in the ground. The Fifth cracked her knuckles out of irritation.
EVEN NOW, THAT FOOL IS A LECHER.
Yeah, tell me about it……HU HU HU.
What?YOU JUST IMAGINED THAT THE PINK-HAIRED GIRL HAD BIG BREASTS. WHO'S THE LECHER NOW?
What! I did not!FOOL. YOU'RE A HUMAN TEENAGER. HORMONES DEFINE YOU.
Yeah right!SAYS THE ONE WHO JUST IMAGINED THE FEMALE HYUGA AS A MEDICAL NINJA…SPECIFICALLY, A NURSE.
Naruto got the reference. He was currently damning Jiraiya for showing him that draft for a story involving hospital nurses. This is not the time to be getting a nosebleed!
YOUR DISCOMFORT IS TRULY PLEASING.
Shut up!"ANYHOW," loudly said Mantarou, trying to regain everyone's attention. "One month passed."
xxxx
/Mantarou's Flashback/
/Bazaar, Konohagakure, Fire Country/
"And now I was able to move without being heckled…but by that time, I wasn't attempting to leave."
Mantarou wondered – for the fifth time in the past hour – how (and why) he had become an errand boy.
Then he remembered – for the fifth time in the past hour – the answer.
His abilities allowed for extra hands.
Which explained why his aura had spawned over three-dozen arms, each one cradling a number of paper bags. Rin led the way, her arms also holding a paper bag…though it was only one compared to Mantarou's 100. Rin was on a simple C-Rank mission: obtain supplies for the Konoha Ninja Academy. Supplies included food, drinks, scrolls, ink, school crafts, etcetera…it was C-Ranked because of the sheer amount of supplies needed.
But then again, Mantarou was there.
"I hope you don't mind," remarked Rin as she glanced back at the brown-haired teen, who looked rather nonchalant. "But-"
"Don't apologize," remarked Mantarou. "It doesn't matter either way." He supposed he SHOULD have cared…after all, he was wasting time. He had demons to slay. Biju to absorb.
But nevertheless, Rin HAD nursed him back to health. And besides…he WAS fighting so that humans could live without fearing the demon scourge. Perhaps this little 'hiatus' would give him a better outlook on his whole mission.
"Well…is there anything else to get?" asked Mantarou. "Or am I going to have to sprout some new arms?" Huh. I just told a joke.
Rin giggled at the unintentional gag. Considering Mantarou's usually dour mood, it was a welcome change of pace. Whether it was to last or not had yet to be seen. "No; I think we're done."
As the two continued on their way to the Ninja Academy, Mantarou briefly glanced upward. Standing on a rooftop was Kakashi, who quickly disappeared from sight. The brown-haired teen couldn't help but smirk.
"How often DID you eavesdrop on me?""Discounting the time I spent on missions…nearly all the time."
"Oh well. After the mission ended, I would discover something Naruto likes VERY well…"
Mantarou's nose twitched. "What's that smell?"
Rin blinked. "What smell?"
His gaze turned towards a somewhat small stand, with a sign in red. "Ichiraku Ramen…what the heck is ramen?"
"Well, it's a noodle dish, and rather…wait." Rin blinked. "You've never heard of ramen before?"
"I've been on the road most of my life; eating in a city isn't one of my priorities. Besides, it apparently wasn't a favorite dish where I grew up. Now FISH…that is truly a delicacy."
Rin added, "There are multiple varieties of ramen. Pork, beef, miso, shrimp, chicken, even fish."
"Hmm…" Mantarou arched an eyebrow out of slight curiosity. "Well…I AM slightly hungry…"
"You know, I'm kind of hungry too. I'll buy." Rin calmly led Mantarou over to the small stand, taking a seat on two stools. "Excuse me sir."
A younger Ichiraku (complete with some black hair!) stepped forward and asked, "Yes?"
"Two bowls of ramen. Miso for me, and pork for him…with some extra katsuobushi (fish flakes, for the uninitiated) in the broth."
Ichiraku nodded as he turned towards the stand's small kitchen. "Daughter! We have two bowls that are needed!"
"Minutes later, the meal was ready."
Mantarou stared at the bowl tentatively. "Hmm…never had noodles prepared in this fashion before."
Rin silently slurped the noodles into her mouth. "You'll like it. Trust me."
For a moment, Mantarou briefly wondered if the food was poisoned. Then he wondered why he thought that. Then again, he had been on the run for over half of his life. Of course, the people here had been rather nice to him, save for the ever-watchful Kakashi. But he had been wary of everyone else for so long…on the other hand…
Ah, screw it.
Mantarou slurped down his noodles. To his surprise, they were quite good. "Good."
Rin smiled. "Good."
And so they ate. Even as Kakashi kept his eye on the two.
"That was a rather normal experience. Humdrum…but maybe that's why I remember it so fondly."
/End Flashback/
xxxx
/Present Day/
Mantarou glanced at Kakashi with a strange grin on his face. "You never did trust me back then, did you?"
"Never did," remarked Kakashi.
Naruto glanced back and forth at Mantarou and Kakashi. "Uh…can we continue the story?"
YOU DON'T WANT TO ASK HIM ABOUT HIS APPARENT TASTE FOR RAMEN?
Why should I?WELL, IT'S OBVIOUS YOU'VE INHERITED YOUR GROTESQUE TASTE FOR THAT ABOMINABLE DISH FROM HIM.
Hmph! As if! The only thing I inherited from that loser is his blood!SO YOU ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AS YOUR OLD MAN.
Yes, and…what? WAIT A SECOND! YOU TRICKED ME!TOO EASY.
"Of course," said Mantarou as he inhaled. "Perhaps I should move a bit further…to about four months after I had arrived in Konoha."
"Hold on," interrupted Kakashi. "This is when you went to the Honorstone for the first time, correct?" Mantarou nodded. "Then allow me."
xxxx
/Kakashi's Flashback/
/Southeast of Konohagakure, Fire Country/
It was a cloudy day. It was probably going to rain soon.
Kakashi and Rin calmly leapt over the small rive, landing in the grassy field near the Honorstone. Ever since Kazama Arashi had become the Yondaime Hokage, the two had been making trips to the Honorstone alone…to give their respects to Obito. Their comrade. Their ally.
Their friend.
"So, how have things been with Mantarou?" asked Kakashi.
"You should know Kakashi. You've been spying on him whenever you could," replied Rin.
The Jonin sighed. "You know what I'm talking about."
"You still don't trust him?"
"And you do?"
Rin was silent for a moment; DID she trust Mantarou? She knew next-to-nothing about him…all she really knew was part of his name – Mantarou – and that he was a Jinchuriki. But aside from that…she nothing about his past. He was a distant individual…but he had been lightening up in the last few months.
Basically, the big picture was that she knew little about him…but that he was slowly becoming a part of Konoha. Slowly.
"Well…so-so. Maybe. A little."
"Uh huh…" droned Kakashi with a wary eye. He didn't trust Mantarou at all. He held a lot of chakra within him for such a young man…and judging from his horrific wounds when Rin found him, he battled often. There was just something about Mantarou that didn't sit right with him.
"And I know what it was now. I was looking at the future head of a criminal organization."
"May you please continue without those attempts at humor?""Fine."
Kakashi and Rin stopped in front of the Honorstone. They both stared at the name of their teammate.
Uchiha Obito.
"It seems like such a waste now, doesn't it?" mused Kakashi. "Obito would've made a fine ninja…slacker that he was."
"You mean he WAS a fine ninja," corrected Rin, a small smile on her face.
Kakashi sighed. "Yes…" He wondered if Obito was smiling at him now. All of the times he spent looking down on the Uchiha…and he ended up being wiser than he was…as well as a better friend.
"Hello."
Kakashi and Rin turned to see Mantarou walking towards them, wearing nothing more than a long-sleeved blue shirt and black pants. The young Jonin frowned at the sight of the teen. "What brings you here?"
"Nothing in particular. Merely doing a role reversal." The smirk on Mantarou's face indicated he was enjoying tailing Kakashi for a change.
The silver-haired ninja couldn't help but groan. "I have a mission to get to…I'll see you later Rin." He leapt away, disappearing from sight.
"If you don't mind, I'll take over from here."
/Mantarou's Flashback/
Mantarou chuckled as Kakashi left. "I personally think he's jealous."
"He just has trouble trusting you," said Rin. She was on her knees, hands pressed together in a praying motion. "Considering that your demonic chakra, I'm sure some people with sensitive senses would get the chills standing next to you."
"You haven't TOLD him that I'm a Jinchuriki, have you?"
Rin shook her head. "No. Only I and Hokage-sama know about your demon seals." Kakashi didn't know…but not for lack of trying. Kakashi wanted to know as much as possible about Mantarou…and neither Rin nor the Yondaime were saying anything.
Their response every time?
'I made a promise not to tell.'
"Good," remarked Mantarou as he stared at the Honorstone. "I don't want to be forced to kill you."
For a moment, Rin thought of that as a small compliment. So he didn't want to kill her? She supposed that was an improvement over his first death threat. Then again, most anything would be, she thought with a small smile.
"So…what is this?" asked Mantarou.
Rin answered, "The Honorstone. It is a monument dedicated to those who fell in battle, giving their lives for Konoha. This is how we honor them."
Suddenly (and to Rin's great surprise), Mantarou knelt down, his eyes scanning the stone slab.
Then his eyes widened at one name.
Hyuga Hiatari.
For some reason, the demon vessel couldn't help but laugh at the inclusion of that name. Rin looked on with confusion. Why is he laughing?
BOOM…The sound of rumbling thunder. Rin and Mantarou looked up to see the churning sky of dark gray, barely holding in the tremendous downpour that was about to be unleashed.
Then the first droplets came.
Mantarou quickly formed a large barrier above their heads. Moments later, the downpour began. Thousands of droplets bombarded the shield of orange chakra. The blue-eyed turned his gaze toward Rin. "I think we should head back now."
"Yes," whispered Rin as she remained close by Mantarou, his aura serving as an umbrella. "This ability of yours…it's more than just useful."
"…it is, isn't it," muttered Mantarou as the two walked along, their footsteps erased by the rain.
"And that was that."
/End Flashback/
xxxx
/Present Day/
"You know, if you were anyone else, I'd say you were coming onto her," casually remarked Jiraiya.
Mantarou sighed. Would the perverted lecher EVER get his mind out of the gutter? "Your mind may entertain more perverted scenarios than I care to think about, but romance was the farthest thing from my mind back then. Friendship…perhaps. Yes…but not to the degree YOU'RE thinking of."
"Well, if you're Naruto's father," Naruto shot the Pervert-Sennin a quick glare, who continued on without delay."Then you had to have made the beast with two backs, as the phrase goes."
Tsunade's face sunk into her hand. I can't believe he's asking this…
Kakashi sweatdropped at his teacher's teacher. Jiraiya…
Naruto grumbled. Stupid Ero-Sennin.
INDEED.
Jiraiya noticed that everyone was glaring at him. "Oh come now, don't tell me you're mad. I'm RESTRAINING myself."
Mantarou groaned out of distaste. "FINE. I was going to tell this anyway, but I'll go ahead and skip to it if you'll shut up."
Jiraiya nodded as he pulled out a notebook and pen. "Continue on."
xxxx
/Mantarou's Flashback/
/Rin's House, Konohagakure, Fire Country/
"Almost 13 months had passed since I had set foot into Konohagakure…over one year."
Nighttime. The moonlight shined through the house's lone window.
Mantarou calmly sat on his bed, his hands clutching a small scroll. In the months since he had – more or less – 'moved in' to Konoha, he had fashioned his own bed out of trees cut down from the forest outside the village walls. One supposed it would be an odd life, living in the same home of a girl your own age…but the constant human contact had probably been a boon for the distant teen.
"And before you say anything Jiraiya, we had not even gotten intimate by that point. So shut up."
The Jinchuriki wore a different outfit now; he was accustomed to wearing sweatpants of dark colors (usually black, navy blue, or dark gray), and a cotton shirt with a left sleeve that always went down to his wrist. This effectively hid the demon seals from sight. And even so, he had been in an observant role for most of his time in Konoha. Sure, he occasionally partook in random jobs (farm work, heavy lifting, etcetera), and he never used his chakra to do so (couldn't risk too many people finding out about his powers…there might have been spies about.). It was body training that he was making up for; although he trained his chakra control in secret, the physical labor was a much-needed change of pace.
And he had to admit; it was nice to live in comfort.
Was he getting soft? Weak? No…he had kept up with his training. Was he losing his will then? Would he be unable to continue his mission…would he be unable to obtain the last two Biju that he needed…?
Maybe. Maybe not.
It was odd that he was entertaining these thoughts at all.
But why not? He was 16 now, and had grown a couple of inches since arriving at Konoha over a year ago. He had recently taken an interest in Rin's medical texts; learning how to heal himself with his own chakra would be a godsend; merely opening the Heal gate every time he had injuries would only tire him out more in battle, despite healing his wounds.
He had been in Konoha for so long now…he almost considered it a home.
Almost.
The door opened.
Mantarou raised his head to see Rin walk into her small home. She had also grown a couple of inches in the past several months…and her clothing was a bit less conservative than before. Not by much though; it wasn't as revealing as Tsunade's, to say the least. Crisscrossing strips of green cloth – stitched together to form a tank top – covered her upper body. She wore white pants with slits in the sides, revealing her skin. A number of pouches lined her pants, filled with scrolls, herbs, and medicinal remedies. Her dirty blonde hair had grown about an inch, coming down to her collarbone. The orange markings on the side of her face – ornamentation of sorts – had also been washed away. "Was your mission a success?"
Rin sighed as she sat down on her bed, sitting on the opposite side of the room from Mantarou. "Yes…Kakashi and I were partnered up with Mitarashi Anko and Hizashi of the Hyuga Clan. Both of them were helpful during our mission at the Hidden Waterfall…but Anko was creepy."
Mantarou recognized those names. Since he had relegated himself to merely 'observe', he had noticed a lot of things…of course, many of them were public happenings. He just happened to keep his eyes and ears open.
Mitarashi Anko: former student of Orochimaru, a Legendary Sennin that had betrayed the Leaf and fled a few months ago. Anko had been his student. Apparently, Orochimaru had done something to screw with her…and she hadn't taken it kindly, it seemed. It only further cemented the notion that some humans were utterly horrific, living only to prey on others. And some use the power of demons to prey on the weak…
Hyuga Hizashi: brother to the Hyuga Clan Elder. Mantarou was personally interested in the happenings of the Hyuga clan, seeing as how he had been taught by one of their own: Hiatari. The inner politics of the Hyuga clan were a bit of a puzzle…a puzzle he wisely stood out of. "Did you meet with the Fourth afterwards?"
Rin shook her head. "No. He's been busy up north, dealing with a trade dispute between the Fire Country and the Lightning Country."
"Hmm."
Rin arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'hmm'?"
"The Fourth Hokage never struck me as the diplomatic type…more like one who takes action," casually remarked Mantarou as he continued reading the scroll.
Rin shrugged. "That is true…but as the Hokage, he has multiple responsibilities. Some of them require restraint." She couldn't help but giggle. "Of course, he IS receiving advice from the Third on this matter."
Mantarou nodded as the Third Hokage came to mind. Sarutobi, the Sandaime. He had heard many stories about the man, just by eavesdropping. Apparently, he was known as the 'God of Shinobi'…a very lofty title. He must be powerful to merit such a claim. "Oddly enough, I haven't met him yet."
Rin shrugged again. "Since the Yondaime is the current Hokage, the Sandaime has retired. He lives quietly now, up on top of the mountain range in the middle of the village."
Mantarou chuckled. The mountain range always made him laugh; the notion of immortalizing one's leaders by chiseling their face on a mountain just tickled at him. He respected the idea that they wanted to honor their fallen leaders…but he thought of the whole mountain part to be a bit overboard.
Rin suddenly asked, "You've been here for a long time now."
"Mm-hmm," agreed Mantarou.
"And…I was wondering if you'd like to become a ninja-"
"No."
"Why not?"
Mantarou rolled the scroll up, sighing out of irritation. "Because I do not want to ally myself to any one village. I have one purpose in life, and alliances tend to be a bit messy." Then why had he remained in Konoha?
Rin's eyes became downcast. "It would help if I knew what that purpose is?"
Mantarou replied, "The only other one who knows is the Yondaime…speaking of which, has anyone else discovered my demon seals?"
Rin shook her head. "The answer is still the same. No."
"Good."
"…how come you don't want anyone to learn anything about you?"
Mantarou couldn't help but grin. Whether it was bitter or sardonic, one couldn't tell. "I am an S-Class criminal because I am a Jinchuriki. The more people that find out, the more likelihood I'll be discovered by my enemies. I'm not going to risk THAT."
Rin supposed she should've been surprised. But it really didn't. Why?
He was too enigmatic to be a stereotypical S-Class criminal. He was distant, observant, and powerful…yet he did not go on killing sprees (he actually tried to avoid getting in any altercations with humans). He did not plot evil schemes. He did possess the power of three mighty demons…but he obtained them willingly. He willingly became a Jinchuriki.
Who does that? Really; who willlingly becomes a demon vessel?
"So…I've never asked before out of courtesy, but I'd like to know about Uchiha Obito." Rin blinked as she stared at Mantarou, who continued to speak. "I'm just curious."
"I'm sure you were."
"Quiet."
Rin gulped as her mind flashed back to those old days…when they had still been a team.
Kakashi, the boy who became a Jonin at the age of 12.
Obito, a 13-year old Chuunin of the prestigious Uchiha Clan…and a slacker.
Rin, a medical ninja who hadn't graduated from the ninja academy until the age of 14 due to her extra medical training.
Finally, Arashi…Konoha's Yellow Flash…and the future Hokage.
Rin couldn't help but smile. Those had been some good times. "We were only together for a year…Team Four, that is. Kakashi was so serious and stern back then…and he never resisted the chance to put Obito down. I swear, those two were quite the pair…"
"You sound like you admired them."
"Well…yeah," replied Rin with a smile. "I always admired Kakashi for his dedication to the mission and his strength. I kind of always told him that, trying to impress him…I guess you could say I had a crush on him. But Obito…I admired him because he always tried. No matter how much Kakashi put him down – and no matter how many times he was late for a team meeting – he gave everything his all."
Mantarou was silent. Finally, he asked, "So what happened? How'd he die?"
Rin's eyes became downcast. Could she tell this without crying? Fellow ninja died in battle all the time…but it always hurt more when that 'fellow ninja' had been a close friend. "During the last Great Ninja War, we were tasked with a mission to blow up a bridge…to prevent forces from Iwagakure from crossing over into the Grass Country to the west. Our sensei went on ahead to the front line of the battle, while we would attack the bridge. During that mission, I was captured by the enemy…but my teammates came to rescue me." She paused to compose herself. "When they arrived, I discovered that Kakashi had lost his left eye. We were immediately attacked by the enemy…and a boulder crushed Obito after he pushed Kakashi out of the way." She paused again. "Obito told me to give his left eye to Kakashi before he died…as a gift for becoming a Jonin. That's why Kakashi has the Sharingan eye, which is a Bloodline Limit for the Uchiha Clan."
Mantarou was silent as he soaked this all in. "So Obito sacrificed himself for Kakashi," he stated calmly.
Rin nodded. It always hurt her to know that Obito had had a crush on her…it always hurt because she hadn't realized it until after she died. She wondered how Obito had felt when watching her pine over Kakashi, ignoring him entirely. She hadn't meant to…she had regarded Obito as a dear friend.
But she just hadn't felt for Obito that way…
She could've told him. So that he could've died without any regrets…but then again, who can truly die without regrets?
"I hadn't meant to open up old wounds. She told me, even though doing so would hurt her. In my mind, it was only fair if I did her a favor in return…Jiraiya, stop wiggling your eyebrows like that. That's not the kind of favor I had in mind."
Mantarou stood up and sat down beside Rin on her bed. He then said, "You didn't have to say anything…even though you knew it might've opened up some unfortunate wounds. But…you did so anyway." He inhaled deeply; he wasn't sure if he should do this.
But this was Rin he was talking about; she had proven to be a kind and compassionate person. And she would keep a secret if he asked. She was kind like that.
"In return, I'll tell you everything."
Those words made Rin's eyes widen out of shock. Had she heard correctly? "…what?"
Mantarou interlaced his fingers, his eyes staring ahead at the wall. "My full name is Uzumaki Mantarou…and this is my story."
"So I told her. I told her everything. Everything I told the Yondaime, I told Rin. Like the previous time, I took nearly two hours to tell my tale…it was around midnight by the time I was done."
Mantarou turned towards Rin upon finishing his story.
Considering her kind nature, he honestly had expected her to cry.
That wasn't the case. Instead, her eyes were downcast, and her hands were clutching tightly onto the fabric of her pants. However, the sorrow – and pity – in her golden brown irises was palpable.
"How long…do you intend to keep fighting?" asked Rin.
Mantarou said nothing as he unlocked his hands. It wasn't until a few seconds had passed that he finally replied, "Until either all demons are dead…or until I'm dead."
That answer served to only make Rin sadder. "But…that is a life drenched in blood…more so than the life of most ninja. That would only make you more lonely…more isolated…and more cold."
"It doesn't matter. I know that the human lives I've ended are only icing on the cake…" He gazed at his legs and left arm. "The power of the demons I wield…no human was meant to use such power. I've already consigned myself to the abyss…but for the sake of humanity's freedom from the demonic scourge, I'd do anything."
Rin's hand clutched his.
Mantarou turned to stare at the medical ninja. "No human such as yourself should be so burdened. You don't deserve it." She paused for a moment, gazing at their clutching hands. "You're still hurting, aren't you?"
The Jinchuriki said nothing.
"Treading onward through your bloody existence, fighting and fighting…killing all the demons you can, living as an outcast of human society…" She raised her head to stare at Mantarou's face. "Did you ever stop to rest after Ryu's death? Did you ever stop to give your mind, your SOUL, any rest? Any rest at all?"
"No. There was no reason to," replied Mantarou. And yet, the appeal of it was appealing…was that he had remained in Konoha so long? To rest his aching body, mind, and soul?
It made sense.
Rin placed her hand on Mantarou's cheek, gazing at those blue eyes that, deep down, screamed for a release. A release for anything. Anything to get away from the self-imposed hardness and coldness of Mantarou's chosen life. "Well…I helped nurse you back to health. Perhaps…you still need to be healed."
"…maybe," admitted Mantarou as he raised his right hand to clutch Rin's palm. "Maybe."
Then they kissed.
That was the point of no return. For teenagers, whose bodies are undergoing heavy changes…one spark can be all it takes. One spark to set off flames of passion, no matter the person.
Their minds – and hearts – became aflutter. They lost track of everything…the last thing Mantarou could recall was that he was on top of Rin, his bare arms feverishly caressing her naked body…
"And, as I've said before, that was that."
xxxx
To be continued…
Next time…
Night of the Nine Tails; Kyuubi's Deadly Rampage!xxxx
Author's Notes: Bah. I don't know why it took me so long to write this chapter. Probably because I was continually growing dismayed at how long it was getting. Finally, I just said 'screw it', and decided to split this chapter of Mantarou's past into two parts.
It's probably the lack of action. Next chapter has some in it…but we won't dive into the real knitty-gritty until after the next two chapters, where the battle between Mantarou and Naruto resumes.
Anyhow, just to note some things (this includes some retcons. Please forgive me.)…
Kakashi was 12 when he became a Jonin, not 13.
Rin, due to her extra training as a medical ninja, didn't graduate from the Ninja Academy until she was 14. She was 15 at the start of this chapter, and by its end, had turned 16. Thankfully, her age was never clarified, so it isn't technically a retcon to begin with. :P
And just to remind people, Orochimaru left Konoha shortly after Kazama Arashi became the Fourth Hokage.
And yeah, I gave the Fourth Hokage a name. It basically means (roughly) 'fiery appearance of a storm'. Roughly. Anyhow, I HAD to give him a name. It just wouldn't make much sense for a stranger who didn't respect authority that much to respectfully call the Yondaime by his title…and he needed a name anyway.
Also, some notes about previous chapters in regards to some goofs.
It is actually 'Hiraishin no jutsu' instead of 'Shunshin no jutsu'. And I need to replace 'Kinzoku' and 'Uddo' with 'Kinton' and 'Mokuton' respectively. By the time the next chapter is out, those goofs will have been fixed.
Anyhow, next chapter details the aftermath of Rin and Mantarou's night together, eventually leading up to the defining event: Kyuubi's attack on Konoha and the birth of Naruto…
See you soon, and please review!