A big thank to Furonknight and Sukki18 for their reviews. The adventures that will follow are based on canon episodes of Naruto, and sometimes I will jump from scene to scene when things happen like in said episode.

So for those who don't know Naruto enough, I advise to watch episodes 102 to 106, and episodes 136 to 141, or at least read a summary to refresh the mind.

For those who don't need to, or don't want to, please enjoy this 25th chapter and don't hesitate to review

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Chapter twenty five

A new member, a marriage and a proposition

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Damaru helped Itachi sit on a cushion before taking her place beside him.

Kakashi and Rin imitated them to their right, Rin a bit behind her husband in case Kumori woke up from his nap.

Tazuki, Deidara, Zabuza and Kisame sat on the couple's left, the swordsmen putting their swords at their sides.

Damaru's gaze swept around the room, making sure everyone was settled down and securing the place from unwanted ears with a discreet hand sign.

"Okay Guren-chan." She beckoned when she deemed the group ready "Come in."

The blue haired woman entered, Utakata following after her.

The man kneeled at the centre of the almost circle and Guren went to sit next to Rin.

Itachi's dark eyes bore into the young man's golden ones.

"We heard your reasons, and Guren accepted to be responsible of you. Frankly, there aren't any real problems to your admission in our group" He said.

"But before we can give our agreement." Damaru continued "You need to understand that our main goal is making sure the children have a place where they can grow up peacefully, away from the fights. If you think you can't adapt to our lifestyle, say it now and we'll escort you to the town of your choice."

She let the man a few moments to answer.

"I agree to your terms." He simply said, crossing his arms.

Damaru looked at him silently before nodding and turning to Itachi.

"Alright." The young man's gaze swept around "Does anybody have a remark to make?"

When nobody answered, Itachi looked back at Damaru and nodded.

"Alright then." The white haired woman smiled at the jinchuriki "Welcome into the family Utakata."

The young man blinked, unused to the warm smile Damaru was sending his way. He glanced aside, unsure, only to come face to face with Guren's own smile.

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"I think he's warming up." Damaru smiled before sipping her tea.

Guren glanced at the man stoically listening to a babbling Yukimaru.

"…Apparently." She slowly replied, a bit sceptical.

Tazuki snorted "This man is more closed up than Itachi. Even Gin shows more emotions than him.

"You know Itachi more than this guy." Rin reasoned "Give him time. Yukimaru certainly likes him."

"That he does." Guren smiled "I admit I was a bit worried when I brought him home, but apparently I had nothing to fear. My little boy is practically glued to his hips all day long."

"Utakata sure doesn't seem to mind." Damaru commented "It could be a good thing. Yukimaru does need a male model in his life. And he might be able to help Naruto and Gaara. He's older and has been a jinchuriki longer than them."

Rin nodded before changing the subject.

"So?" she smirked "Ready for the big step?"

"Careful Damaru-chan." Tazuki warned playfully "If you listen to her she might succeed in giving you wedding jitters."

Guren chuckled "She would."

Rin took on a hurt expression and the other women laughed.

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"Look at them." Rin smiled fondly as the priest did his prayers "They're in their own little world."

Kakashi nodded, glancing at the couple standing together in front of the priest. Damaru was radiant, looking up to Itachi who only had eyes for her with a glazed smile.

He felt a bit sad handing his little sister to another man, the wedding making things seem so much more official. Of course it wasn't like she was going to disappear, they would still live together, but now that she was married…

A hand on his knee brought him back into reality and he looked down at his own wife.

"She will always be your little sister." She crept up enough to kiss his cheek "But you have to let her go now."

"I know, I know." Kakashi sighed and took his son from her arms, letting the four years old play with his hand and fingers "But you know, I remember when we married. You were the only person I could look at the moment you appeared in the room."

Blushing, Rin glanced at her husband and smiled tenderly when she saw his gaze, full of the love that made her say yes ten years ago.

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"Don't forget to send hawks from time to time." Tazuki hugged tightly Damaru before briefly hugging Itachi.

"We'll miss you." Guren added, imitating the red head before letting Yukimaru do the same.

"We will." Itachi assured them before turning to Kakashi "If anything happen, send a message."

"Don't worry." The silver haired man patted his shoulder before hugging Damaru "You two go and enjoy your honeymoon."

Kisame and Zabuza shared a smirk but Guren smacked their heads together before they could say anything.

Itachi and Damaru took their time to hug and say goodbye to everyone, the white haired woman saying a few words to the children before following Itachi into the forest, Gin and Yuki trotting at their sides.

Damaru sighed as their home disappeared from view "I hope everything will be okay."

"Knowing our luck, probably not." Itachi chuckled when she sent him a frown before lacing their hands together.

Damaru rolled her eyes but couldn't stay angry when her husband offered a kiss.

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"Who goes there?" The guard asked, gripping his spear tighter.

Tsunade held back a snort. The guy was just doing his job after all.

"We're here to see Jirocho-sama." Shizune answered, hugging Tonton close to her "Could you tell him Tsunade-sama wishes to see him?"

A bit sceptical, the man nodded nonetheless before disappearing inside.

He came back a bit later to escort them to a room.

"Tsunade." Jirocho greeted them with a smile, motioning them to sit before ordering sake "It's nice to see you, and Shizune-san too of course."

Shizune smiled before sitting beside Tsunade.

A servant entered with sake and served them before retreating.

Jirocho sipped his cup before asking "And what brings you here today Tsunade?"

"Nothing really." Tsunade downed her own cup before refilling it "I was passing through. The town doesn't seem really lively though. It seems much have changed since my last visit."

The old man sighed "Indeed. I suppose you know what the Todoroki Taisha dedication ceremony is?"

"I remember, I think." Shizune frowned, trying to recall what she was told when she was younger "It's a race based on a legend no?"

Jirocho nodded "Yes, but recently this race had taken a new meaning. To settle the constant dispute between my clan and the Wagarashi family that was getting out of hand, the feudal lords decided to turn this race into a competition. The family that wins the race will rule over the port for the next four years."

"Let me guess." Tsunade gulped down her sake "The Wagarashis won the last race."

The man nodded "I have full faith in my runner this year, but last time the Wagarashis won by hiring ninjas, and this year they did it again."

He stopped talking and the silence settled for a few minutes.

"Tsunade-sama." Shizune glanced at the blond woman "Perhaps…?"

"Hn." She nodded slowly.

"Tsunade?" Jirocho asked, now curious.

"A little while ago." Tsunade explained "I healed a young man and his family owes me. I can call in my favour and ask them to help you."

"Do you think they will?"

Shizune nodded "We're sure Jirocho-sama."

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For once Tazuki was relaxed, peacefully reading in her room.

"Enter." She called when someone knocked.

The door opened and Tazuki looked up, freezing when she saw Deidara walk up to her, looking everywhere but at her.

"What do you want?" She asked, trying to keep her voice from sounding too aggressive.

Not answering, the blond man sat down beside her, stubbornly looking down.

Tazuki wasn't known for her patience, and soon enough she was scowling.

She was about to yell at him when he spoke, cutting her.

"I was wondering…"

"Wondering what?" Tazuki snapped when he didn't continue.

"Oy!" Deidara frowned "I'm trying to ask you out on a date so the least you could do is to be patient!"

That effectively shut the young woman up and she gaped at him before blushing.

"Y-You want to in-invite me on a date?" She asked, unsure.

It was Deidara's turn to blush.

"W-Well, only if you want to."

Tazuki gulped, slowly closing her book and putting it on the low table.

Deidara was getting ready to get up and leave, already half convinced she was going to reject him, when Tazuki smiled shyly.

"I would like to."

The blue eyed man blinked, blinked again, and jumped when a hawk entered the room, screeching.

Tazuki held back a giggle and took the message from the animal.

She opened and read it before frowning.

She turned back to Deidara, her expression serious "We need to take this to Kakashi."

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Damaru dunked her head into the hot water before swimming to the shore.

She was a bit disappointed that the onsen wasn't co-ed, but she was really filthy from travelling and needed to get cleaned.

She was about to get out to wash herself when she felt a presence nearby.

Again? She sighed, shaking her head. If she was able to sense it, then her husband surely…

A shrill scream followed her musing, confirming her thoughts.

Getting out quickly and dressing into a light yukata, she exited the onsen with Yuki to see a glaring Itachi towering over an unconscious Jiraiya, Gin lazily standing beside his partner.

Damaru sighed, kneeling next to the man to check his vitals "Don't you think a sharingan induced coma is a bit too much?"

"No." The young man simply answered, still glaring down at the unmoving man.

"Well." Damaru straightened "We can't leave him like that. He did help us find Tsunade."

Itachi scoffed but still helped his wife carry the unconscious man inside.

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"Let's go!" Naruto pointed a direction before running, Inazuma barking enthusiastically at his heels.

Sasuke sighed before calling "Baka! The tea country is in the other direction!"

In a golden blond blur boy and wolf zipped past the group, going in the opposite direction.

"We better catch up to them before we lose them." Kimimaro sighed, adjusting his bag.

Sai snorted lightly "Knowing those two, they'll get lost and we'll have to search for them."

"If this happen, we'll be late." Gaara pointed out neutrally.

"You worry too much." Sasuke said as the group moved forward "I'm almost sure they'll come back in a few moments after realising they have no idea where tea country is."

"Most likely." Amaru nodded before turning to Shin "What's the name of our client?"

"Jirocho Wasabi." The boy announced, unscrolling the parchment in his hands "And we have to protect his runner during the race. His name is Idate Morino."

"Morino?" Haku frowned "Where did I hear that name?"

The group fell silent, trying to recall where they had heard of a Morino before.

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Jiraiya groaned, blinking his eyes open, trying to remember what had happened for him to suffer this much now.

"You're awake." Damaru noted. Her hands stopped glowing green and she straightened "You're suffering from a light post-genjutsu trauma, as well as a bad fall. You'll probably have headaches for a while."

"Where am I?" The white haired man asked, sitting up and holding his head when the pain intensified from the sudden motion.

"In our hotel room." Itachi answered, his dark stare bordering on a glare.

Jiraiya turned to him and froze, his eye twitching.

The room's atmosphere became heavy and Damaru and Yuki shared a look.

"May I ask what brings you here Jiraiya-sama?" The green eyed woman asked.

The old man turned to her with a smile which quickly disappeared when she added "Apart from doing your 'researches'."

Grumbling, he still answered, crossing his arms "I'm looking for informations regarding Ororchimaru's lair. I was heading to the rice country when I decide to do some…researches."

He couldn't help but grin lecherously at his last comment, earning a glare from Itachi, the young man's ire echoed by Gin's growl.

"I see." Damaru nodded slowly, immediately interested "If you find anything, could you communicate us your finds?"

Jiraiya turned thoughtful for a moment, eyeing the couple and their wolves.

"How about a deal?" He said "You help me, I help you."

"How so?" Itachi asked.

"You accompany me to the rice country to find informations. Like that you know first-hand any clues I find. And like that I have some back up in case things turn bad."

Itachi and Damaru shared a look, thoughtful, and Jiraiya patiently waited for their answer.