A/N: This is my first try as an author so bear with me. English isn't my first language so don't hesitate to pm me with any fault you find, I am always eager to learn.
Hello everyone, it is with great pleasure that I give you my first chapter of this new year. So happy New Year everyone and the best wishes.
Seems like the original arc in Kiri is pretty well received, got unanimous praise for the last chapter. We all saw that Naruto's current limits were reached during his fight with Yagura, that only means that it is time for a new power up of course :)
I've tried to reply to anyone who posted a question in the reviews so don't hesitate and continue to review, your inputs are always appreciated and I will answer any questions, provided that they don't reveal too much or key points about the plot.
Anyway, welcome to the next chapter of Kaze No Kami.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any other manga for that matter.
Chapter 29: Savior
Kirigakure – Hospital
Naruto slowly opened his eyes and wondered where he was. The distinctive chemical smell and the white color all over the room immediately told him what he needed to know, he was in a hospital. He quickly got out of the bed and tried to communicate with his girlfriend Natsuki.
"Na-chan are you here ?" Asked the blond.
"I'm here Naru-kun, it's good to hear your voice again." Replied Natsuki.
"What happened ? The last thing I remember is me fighting Yagura in Kirigakure and then nothing." Naruto said in confusion.
"You won the fight and then lost consciousness after you used all of your chakra. You were so low in chakra and energy that your body simply shut down and you couldn't even access your mindscape. I'm not sure how much time has passed since that moment, since my perception of the outside time in here is a bit vague." Natsuki told him.
"No point in worrying about it alone in this room, let's go find Mei and the others." Naruto replied.
He then unsealed a spare set of clothes and changed into them. He noticed that his katana had been put on a small table on the left of his bed. Once he had all his equipment back on, he left his room and the hospital.
Remembering what the Mizukage tower looked like, he slowly made his way there. He didn't feel the need to use Shunshin and did not want to strain his body just after recovering from chakra exhaustion so he took the safe and long way.
On his way to the tower, he was a little surprised at how the people around looked at him. Those weren't looks of fear or hatred he was used to get in his own village, the population looked at him with nothing but admiration and awe. Naruto decided to keep his distance and only discretely smiled back to them, still not sure of what was going on. He picked up the pace and then arrived at the tower.
Mizukage Tower – Mizukage Office
Naruto was immediately allowed access to the Mizukage office when he arrived in front of the leader's room. He was relieved to see Mei siting behind the desk when he got inside, in his daze he could recognize one or two familiar faces on his way there but most were new ones he never saw before.
"It seems you're finally awake Uzumaki-san, I was starting to think you would never wake up after you lost consciousness at the end of the fight against Yagura." Mei said to him as he went inside the room.
"Just call me Naruto please and I kinda came here to talk about that. How long did I sleep and what's the situation ?" The blond asked.
"Sure Naruto-kun, if you say so." Mei said with a grin on her face while a certain vixen in his mind had a tick mark appear on her head. Mei then told him everything.
"First of all, a week passed since your fight with Yagura. As expected, after the defeat of their master the loyalist army completely collapsed in a matter of hours and our forces were able to best them easily." Mei started.
"Most of them are currently being held in a temporary camp we created just outside of the village. They will all undergo physical and psychological exams before we can decide which one can be reinstated and those who can't. For those who perpetrated crimes against us, bloodline users, they will be trialed, then if they are found guilty they will be executed. For the others, they will be exiled from Water Country." She continued.
"Moreover, it seems that most of the civil population of the village was terrified by Yagura and his men. No one could oppose him and they all lived in fear that he would suspect any of them to be on the side of the bloodline users and kill all their family. They were relieved to see our troops overrun the loyalists and were very helpful and cooperative with us since we took the village back." She said with a smile.
"Finally, after everything was over and we captured every last one of them, a temporary council has been created and I was elected to be their leader and the new Mizukage of Kirigakure. Yagura being a special case, is currently detained in a cell of the basement of the ANBU headquarters. His chakra is completely sealed off and he is watched by guards at all time. He woke up two days ago and it seems he doesn't remember anything, no bloodline purge, no civil war, nothing. It is as if he was in a dream world during all those years. Our best interrogators seemed to think that he is genuinely convinced that all those things never happened." Mei finished.
"So I guess he won't remember anything about me being in the bingo book with a huge bounty for my head in Kiri ..." Naruto said.
"I'm sorry, I know you also came here to know more about that. That's why I decided that he cannot be executed, even if his crimes are real we still have a use for him." Mei said. However she saw that Naruto did not enjoy seeing a fellow jinchuriki treated like an object to be used or disposed of and she reassured him.
"Rest assured that I didn't mean to use him as a weapon or anything, I'll give you the two reasons I have to keep him alive. First, we are not sure about the process of a jinchuriki dying, killing Yagura off could easily doom us all if the Sanbi was released at the death of its host. Secondly, by keeping him alive there's always a chance to know what happened to him that turned him from a gentle and peaceful leader to the crazy monster he became. We could at the same time discover what made him put such a high bounty on your head in the bingo book." Mei explained to him.
"I understand and apologize to you for judging you too fast." Naruto said bowing down in shame.
"Don't worry about that, we're friends right, Naruto-kun ?" Mei said with a smile.
"Of course Mei-chan !" Naruto said with conviction and a huge smile of his own.
"And don't worry about the bingo book either. Even if we can't learn more about it from Yagura, I'll make sure to remove the bounty on your head from Kirigakure. I'll make it even better if you let me of course." The red head said to him.
"What do you mean by that ?" Naruto asked.
"You may have noticed on your way here how the people looked at you." Asked the new Mizukage, getting a nod from Naruto.
"Well, it turns out some of them saw you fight Yagura and by the end of the week every single soul in the village knew who the one that defeated the tyrant was. I know that you were supposed to act under the cover of secrecy for this mission but now that the previous Mizukage is out of the equation, there is no risk for Konoha anymore. I also know that you are really proud to serve Konoha but I'd like to offer you a position in Kirigakure, I would like you to join the seven swordsmen who will call themselves the Eight Swordsmen if you accept." Mei announced to her friend.
"But I can't … I'm ..." Naruto tried to speak.
"Before you say no please listen to me. What I proposed is a honorary position, I would have loved for you to really join us but I know where your heart is. What I want is for you to become the eighth blade of Kirigakure, it is the highest rank I can give to one of my shinobi. You would have the same authority and power of all the seven other members but still be a Konoha shinobi." Mei explained.
"Why would you bestow such a powerful position to me ? I am a nobody, most of my own village hates and fears me ..." Asked an incredulous Naruto.
"You are our savior, we won't be satisfied with anything less Naruto-kun. Don't worry, we will also officially open negotiations for peace and alliance with Konoha but the people of Kirigakure want you to become one of them, even if it is only a honorary position." Mei replied.
"Then I will also honor your people by becoming the Eighth Blade of Kirigakure." Naruto announced as he bowed again in front of Mei.
"Thank you Naruto-kun, now I know that you want to go back to the Leaf as soon as possible. The doctors said that you were good to go but I would advise you to pass one last night here and then leave tomorrow." Mei said with a smile.
"I think I'll follow your advice Mei-chan, I'll visit the village since I've never been here before and then tomorrow morning I'll head back to Konoha." The blond replied before leaving her office.
Water Country – Eastern Island
At the same moment, in a deserted island to the east of Kirigakure, Hidan and Kakuzu were slowly getting out of a thick forest, with Hidan holding the body of a young man over his shoulder.
"Damn, that one sure was a pain with his strange bubble techniques." Whined the silver haired man.
"It is your own fault, saying that you could take him out alone, you idiot." Replied his partner.
"I've never said anything about the other two though ! You could have prevented those two pests from interfering in the fight, you know !" Yelled Hidan.
"It's not like they could kill you anyway, what are you complaining about." Calmly said Kakuzu.
"You let them escape ! And that damn jinchuriki stopped me from following them too, Jashin-sama will have your soul, I promise you !" Hidan continued to rant.
"The jinchuriki was the only one with a value, the other two were worthless." Replied Kakuzu.
"There you go again with the money …" Hidan said.
"Just shut up and let's go get our next target." Kakuzu continued.
"How will we get him, you said that he was protected by his army." Hidan asked.
"It seems the rebellion won the war, they won't take the risk of killing him since it could release the three tailed beast within him. They will transfer him to somewhere safe, when the time comes we will get him." Replied his partner.
"Why the hell am I the one carrying this one anyway ?" Yelled Hidan.
"You're the one who defeated him so you're responsible for him, until we deliver him to the leader." Kakuzu replied.
"You're lucky I can't kill you, bastard." Hidan said as he moved on.
"The lucky one is you." Kakuzu said as they both disappeared again in the darkness.
Kirigakure – Main Gates
Naruto exited from his hotel at dawn and made his way to the village's gates. The streets were empty, he still remembered visiting the village yesterday and how everyone treated him with respect and admiration. He wondered if the time would come for him to one day receive the same kind of treatment in Konoha. He absentmindedly made his way to the gates, lost in his thoughts he didn't notice until he was close that he wasn't alone.
Naruto's eyes widened when he looked up, in front of him and the gates stood Mei, Ao, Chojuro, Zabuza, Haku and almost every villager of Kirigakure. They all wanted to say goodbye to their savior.
"Take care of yourself, Naruto-kun." Said Mei as she kissed him on his cheek, again causing Natsuki to curse in the seal.
"I will Mei-chan, you too take good care of your people." Naruto replied to the red head.
"I'm sorry I was rude to you when we first met, Naruto." Said Ao as he bowed down.
"It's forgotten already Ao, you only did your job." Naruto reassured him.
"It was a pleasure meeting you Naruto-san." Shyly said Chojuro.
"You are a member of the Eight Swordsmen too Chojuro, be more confident in yourself !" Said Naruto with determination in his voice to show the young swordsman the way.
"Be careful on your way back Naruto-kun." Haku said.
"Don't worry, I will. I'm not so easily taken down, you can ask Yagura." Naruto said with a smirk.
"You better not screw up Gaki, now that you're a member of the Eight Swordsmen, even an unofficial one, your actions reflect on us all, don't forget it." Zabuza said seriously.
"You can rest assured that I will never tarnish the name of the Swordsmen of Kirigakure." Naruto replied.
And with that Naruto left the village of the Hidden Mist, under the cheers of the crowd and the smiles of his newest friends.
Konoha – Hokage Office
Tsunade was not having a good day, she was not one to believe in superstition but today she kept having strange things happening to her.
First she broke her favorite mirror while fixing her make up in the morning. Then when she arrived at her office, she dropped her favorite sake cup on the floor and it broke in several pieces. Finally when she was about to go out to get lunch, she accidentally pushed away a picture of her, Jiraya and Naruto away from her desk, making it fall to the ground.
It was now the afternoon and she had finished most of the paperwork she had to do for the day. Shizune suddenly entered her office, trying to catch her breath. Apparently she had a scroll for Tsunade from the Mizukage. With only Shizune and her knowing about Naruto's latest mission, they were both anxious at the content of the scroll.
"Is Naruto-kun alright, I hope his mission is a success." Thought Shizune.
"It's too soon, something must have gone wrong. I hope Yagura didn't catch him." Were Tsunade's thoughts.
The Hokage verified that the scroll had the seal of the Mizukage and then opened it. As she scanned the content of the letter, both hers and her disciple's eyes widened.
"Dear Hokage-dono,
It is with great pleasure that I send you this scroll to announce that the civil war in Kirigakure is finally over. I am Terumi Mei, former leader of the rebellion and the one who sent Haku and Chojuro to Konoha to enlist the help of one of your shinobi to help us win this war. From now on I am the new Mizukage of the Kirigakure village.
Your subordinate served you and us well, his participation was a key factor in our victory against Yagura and his forces. He is leaving Kiri today and shall arrive in Konoha in a few days.
We would like to formally open negotiations with Konoha about alliance and peace treaties. Please find sealed inside this scroll a small show of our gratitude towards your village and this shinobi you sent.
Regards.
Terumi Mei, Godaime Mizukage of Kirigakure."
"He did it, that damn brat did it. In only two weeks he helped them win the war, I can't believe it." Tsunade said.
"What's sealed in the scroll Tsunade-sama ?" Asked a curious Shizune.
Tsunade used chakra and unsealed the item that was sealed inside the scroll Mei sent, both master and disciple's eyes widened again when they saw what the item was, the new edition of the bingo book …
Setting aside the déjà vu, Shizune opened the book to the S-Rank section and showed Naruto's profile to her master. It read:
Name: Uzumaki Naruto
Nickname : Konoha's Kaze No Kami
Kiri's Eighth Blade
Age : 16
Rank : S
Status : Jonin
Attributes: Kenjutsu(S), Ninjutsu(S), Genjutsu(S), Taijutsu(A) and Fuinjutsu(A)
Affinities : Wind
Bloodline : Unknown
Description : Has a very high affinity to the Wind element
Sage of the mythical Dragon summoning contract
Casts unbreakable genjutsu
Member of Kirigakure's Eight Swordsmen
Defeated A-Rank Kiri Nukenin Momochi Zabuza the Kirigakure No Kijin
Defeated Sabaku no Gaara the Suna's Ichibi Jinchuriki
Defeated S-Rank Konoha Nukenin Uchiha Itachi the Sharingan Prodigy
Defeated S-Rank Iwa Nukenin Deidara the Mad Bomber
Defeated S-Rank Kiri Yondaime Mizukage Yagura the Sanbi's Jinchuriki
Action : Kill on sight
Bounty : 100,000,000 Ryo in Iwa and Ame
"They removed the bounty on his head from Kiri." Analyzed Shizune.
"That's not all, it says Member of Kirigakure's Eight Swordsmen, and his stats have been upped again ..." Tsunade added.
"Well isn't he already a S-Ranked shinobi, why is it important ?" Asked Shizune.
"You may not know about it since their profiles have long been removed from the book, as they are all dead, but there is another rank above S-Ranked shinobi like Naruto or me. In Konoha only one man ever reached that rank, Namikaze Minato, Konoha's Kiroi Senko and SS-Ranked shinobi with a Flee on sight order." Tsunade told her disciple.
"So Naruto-kun may one day reached that level if he continues to improve ?" Demanded the brunette, worried about her surrogate little brother.
"I don't know Shizune … I don't know." Tsunade replied.
They were about to close the book when the ground shook, looking outside the Hokage and her disciple could see Gamabunta, Jiraya's summon. With him was a smaller toad, Fukasaku the elder.
"What are you doing here Fukasaku-sama ? Where is the pervert ?" Tsunade asked.
"I'm afraid I am the bearer of bad news Tsunade-chan ..." Fukasaku replied.
A/N: What do you think ?
Naruto's status in Kiri is something I'd like to try, I don't think I read somewhere else of Naruto being affiliated to two villages, even if his second position isn't an official one per say. It nevertheless gives him a huge load of military power in Kirigakure as well as political power in Konoha.
New Bingo book edition, obviously Kiri would not keep their bounty on Naruto's head after his good deeds for them ;)
We'll see how it goes with the rest of Konoha and especially the council the next time.
I'll give you all a New Year Cookie if you can guess what news Fukasaku came to announce …
As usual please Read and Review.
Last chapter beat all my previous records in terms of reviews per chapter, dunno if it's because I didn't release a chapter in 3 days due to the new year festivities or because you really liked it :)
