Chapter
XXVI
The end is the new beginning! The reunion for the future
challenges…
Shikamaru
was with Temari, walking to Tsunade's office, with the purpose of
talking about the chunnin exams when they saw Nariko with Talon and
Azure running to the Hokage's.
"Something's wrong
Nariko-sensei?" he asked, looking at the red-haired sensei that was
right in front of him.
"Naruto is BACK!" She smirked and
started to run again, giving the lazy ninja no time to answer.
And
in seconds she was there, glomping a 16 years old Naruto, like a
teenage girl would do.
"Nariko-sensei!"
Naruto hugged his friend, smiling happily "See how much I've
grown! I'm not a kid anymore dattebayo!"
"Yes, you've
grown a lot!" She grinned at him and then turned to Jiraiya "He
was a good student I hope."
"Yes, he was great and got to
learn new things."Jiraiya answered, smiling too.
"Well
Sakura's here too… and Kakashi is coming, I have news for you."
Tsunade announced, getting up from her seat.
"Nariko-sensei,
you know everyone is a chunnin now?" Naruto whined.
Nariko
smiled, nodding.
"And that Gaara is the Kazekage and Neji is a
…"
"Jounin." Nariko finished "Yes I know but rank is
not all that matters Naruto."
"She's right you
know?"Kakashi came into the room, walking until he was right by
Nariko's side "Hello hone." He greeted.
"You are late."
Nariko sighed, annoyed.
"A black cat crossed my path
and…"
"Sensei, YOU ARE LYING!" Sakura and Naruto accused
and Kakashi laughed nervous.
"I forgot how you guys were…"
Kakashi hid behind his book, while Naruto, Sakura and Nariko
smirked.
"Tsunade, you should tell them now, don't you
think?" Jiraiya inquired, leaning against the wall.
"Ah!
That's right, I forgot!"Naruto took a book from his pouch and
handed it to Kakashi.
"The new Icha Icha? It's not even in
the stores yet!" Kakashi smiled at Naruto, failing at his attempt
to hide the great joy he was feeling "Thanks Naruto."
Nariko
sighed, and hid her face in her hands.
"Why did you give him
that? He is unreachable now!"
"Well you'll have to reach
him, at least for a few moments." Tsunade called.
Kakashi
looked up from his book soon after Nariko elbowed him in the
ribs.
"You are the new team Kakashi." Tsunade stated,
smiling.
The team-members smiled and left, after agreeing in an
hour for the training of the next day.
Yet, Nariko asked Jiraiya
to go with her for a walk, there were still questions in her mind.
Yuki was in the
leader's office when Itachi came, Kisame, Sasori and Deidara after
him.
The leader got up and leant on the wall.
"Akatsuki
Deidara, Sasori, Kisame, Itachi and little spider queen Yuki." Pein
called, and his subordinates looked up at him.
"Yes, what's
wrong Pein?" Yuki called, no fear in her voice.
"Simple, I
want to congratulate you for all the Jinchuuriki we captured. And I
want to talk about the two left."
"The shukaku and the
kyubi." Yuki whispered, nodding.
"Exactly. Deidara and
Sasori, I want you two to get the sand's Kage, Gaara, he is the
shukaku, be careful." Pein ordered, and Yuki, Itachi and Kisame
kept their ground.
"What about us?" Kisame asked as soon as
Deidara and Sasori left.
"I want you to catch Naruto, the
kyubi. I expect you to be careful, considering he is from Konoha and
had training with Jiraiya, the toad sannin." Pein explained "I
also want you to know more about Orochimaru because he has your
brother Itachi, and I can't let a Uchiha ruin our
plans."
"Understood Leader." Itachi nodded.
"But for
now our main purpose are the Jinchuuriki. Now leave."
Following
their leader's orders the tree ninja left. Their mission wasn't
over until they got what they wanted, and they wanted Naruto.
Meanwhile
Jiraiya and Nariko were walking around town, enjoying the silence for
a while.
"Jiraiya, how's Naruto?"
"He did good, don't
worry."
"No I mean… how is Naruto and the demon?"
"He
is losing some of the control over it, but he will hang on."
Jiraiya answered still smiling.
Nariko sighed, lost in thought.
Why a boy like him did would have such a heavy responsibility? It
wasn't fair…
"I'm worried about the Akatsuki." The man
next to her said, catching her attention.
"What's happening
now?"
"They got most of the nine Jinchuuriki. They'll come
for Naruto soon."
"And they are powerful…" Nariko nodded
to herself. "Can he take one of them?"
"It depends, but I
doubt it. "Jiraiya looked at the Hokage's faces "At least not
alone."
"What about Orochimaru?"
"That's other of
the things that worries me."
"He has Sasuke and Naruto wants
to get his friend back."
"I know, but I doubt Sasuke is going
to come of his own free will, and I also doubt Naruto can take
him."
Nariko looked up and sighed.
It
wasn't really the end, just the new beginning. Naruto
would have new challenges ahead of him, and even the Akatsuki didn't
knew what the future had for them
The challenges will just keep
coming, until death reaches them… and they hoped to live a while
more, enjoying their loves and skills. Still had so much to
learn…
But for the times ahead, there was nothing else on
Konoha's and Akatsuki's mind… but Naruto.
The end…