Hello all you readers out there, I'm back and sooner then you expected huh? Well it turned out most wanted to see this story continue as just one story, and I always go with the majority vote so that's how it's going to be. So strap yourselves in because it's going to be a long one. Anyway enough talk let's just get on with it!
Chapter 37: Sasuke's Interest
Two figures could be seen crossing the countryside. Both were dressed in long black cloaks with red cloud imprints on them with unusually high collars that obscured their faces. The last fragment that defined their appearance was the conical hats they wore that hid the remaining bits of their face, and bells hanging from the hats that chimed as they walked.
"So were about a day away from the leaf huh Itachi?" The taller of the two figures questioned as he flashed a row of filed down teeth.
"Yes Kisame." Itachi answered in a smooth tone that would have made any female shiver. "We near our destination and there for our objective."
Kisame chuckled. "I must admit I'm excited about this brat." Kisame confirmed to his stoic partner. "Not only did he put Hidan six feet under, but he also got rid of Orochimaru. To be honest I think I'm actually feeling a bit nervous about this."
Itachi tuned out Kisame, considering he had no intentions of actually capturing Naruto. He would be sure to make their efforts fail. Besides he had other things on his mind like the status of Sasuke. It had been six years since he last laid eyes on his little brother and he looked forward to seeing how he had grown.
(Konoha)
Jiraiya had led Naruto along with Shibi, Shina, and Shino to a part of town they never once ventured through. The section was located in the far north were the land had more forest then actual buildings. Jiraiya stopped at a large gate that couldn't be seen over without putting in some effort. Placing his hand on the gate Jiraiya stared at the people he was escorting. "So what do you think gaki?" Jiraiya asked as he pushed open the large gate, and stepped aside to allow Naruto to see inside.
Naruto took a slow step past the gate and his eyes widened at what he saw.
"Yep Minato always wanted to have a big family." Jiraiya explained. "Even though no matter how you slice it this house is still a bit much." He added.
"That may be an understatement." Shino added while pushing up the brim of his shades, and staring at the mansion in front of him. "It just may well be as large as our own compound; did one man really need something of this size?"
"Beats me." Jiraiya answered with a shrug. "It's not like I bought it. Anyway what do you say we have a look around then?" Jiraiya offered gaining a court nod from the Aburame family.
Jiraiya led the family directly to the door while shuffling in his pockets, finding what he wanted he tossed it to Naruto.
Naruto looked at the key Jiraiya had just thrown to him with a quirked eyebrow.
"Well what are you waiting for?" Jiraiya remarked. "It's yours after all so open it up." Jiraiya advised and Naruto obliged.
Sticking the key into the door Naruto turned it, unlocking the door and pushing it open. A cool breeze flooded through the door as he did so. Squinting his eyes into the darkness, he fumbled his hands around until he finally located the light switch. The moment he did so numerous lights turned on illuminating the large room.
Naruto whistled. "I don't know if it's even possible but this place looks even bigger on the inside then it does on the out."
"Yeah some places have that effect." Jiraiya agreed, before he remembered something. "Oh yeah I'd almost forgotten gaki." Jiraiya announced while pulling out an envelope from his pocket and handing it to Naruto.
Naruto took the envelope from Jiraiya and opened it and pulled out its contents, which only consisted of a slip of paper. Reading over the papers contents Naruto's eyes brows flew over the brim of his shades.
"What is it Naruto?" Shino questioned seeing that Naruto appeared to be too stunned to speak.
"I figured his reaction would be something like that." Jiraiya proclaimed with a chuckle.
Shina adjusted her shades. "What exactly was in that envelope Jiraiya-sama?"
Jiraiya grinned. "Oh just a check for all of Orochimaru's collective bounty's. With that money along with what he's inheriting from Minato and Kushina, it goes without say Naruto just maybe the richest person in this village. Which in turn makes you the richest considering the Aburame and Namikaze are now a joint clan." Jiraiya concluded.
"We are more then satisfied with what we have." Shibi proclaimed. "Were not taking anything away from our son, everything here belongs to him and that's how it should remain."
"I'd always thought that money was one of those things you could never have to much of." Jiraiya supplied with a shrug.
"Besides I'd be more then willing to share everything I own with my family." Naruto cut in. "Just look at this check, there's no way I'd ever be able to spend so much money."
"Perhaps, but you mustn't forget your tendency to eat your own weight in ramen." Shino countered.
Naruto grinned. "I guess that could add up eventually."
After Jiraiya and Naruto shared a light laugh at the comment, Jiraiya had brought Naruto and the others to the clan library.
"I know this is what you've been waiting for." Jiraiya acknowledged, as he pushed open the door revealing rows upon rows of books and Jutsu scrolls. "Pretty nice huh, Minato had affinities for lighting and wind so you'll find pretty much anything on those types. There's also a good assortment of water and earth scrolls from Kushina." Jiraiya added while walking over to a portrait on the far wall, and stopping in front of it.
Naruto stared at the portrait that featured a man and obviously pregnant woman in it. The man Naruto recognized as Minato and he was grinning quiet similar to how he often grinned. The woman on the other hand he had never seen before. She had long red hair and violet colored eyes, and shared an equally bright smile as Minato in the portrait.
"She's just as beautiful as I remember." Shina noted quietly in the background.
"Isn't she though?" Jiraiya added while grabbing onto the portrait and sliding it aside revealing a safe hidden behind it. The safe was decorated with many intricate seals on it.
"What's this?" Naruto asked curiously while eyeing the vault carefully.
"Were Minato hid his most prized arts on sealing and one of his greatest accomplishments of his life." Jiraiya answered as he took a step back. "As you can see the damn things covered in seals, and right now there's only one person that can open it."
Naruto nodded his understanding as he recognized some of the lesser seals on the safe were blood derived. Biting down on his thumb Naruto smeared his blood across the safe, and the sound of the safe being unlocked echoed throughout the quiet home.
Grabbing onto the safe's handle Naruto slowly opened it up and peered inside. Reaching into the safe the first thing he pulled out was a long white coat. Naruto's eyes widened as he observed the garment that read yellow flash on the back of it.
"I take it you recognize that coat then?" Jiraiya questioned while observing Naruto carefully. "Although this isn't the one he actually did battle in it's just as good."
Naruto nodded before reaching back into the safe and pulling out the next object which he found to be quiet heavy. Wrenching out the object he discovered it to be a scroll larger then any scroll he had ever laid eyes on. "This can't be…" Naruto muttered to himself while moving his hand across the scroll, but Jiraiya caught Naruto's statement.
"Yep that's the one and only scroll containing the mechanics of the Hiraishin no Jutsu." Jiraiya confirmed. "The Jutsu that made Minato a legend and one of the most feared men in all of the five elemental nations.
Naruto for the first time in his life found himself too excited to even speak. He wanted nothing more then to rip open the scroll and emerge himself within its contents right away. After a moment of stunned silence Naruto finally spoke. "When can I start learning this?" He asked eagerly.
Jiraiya laughed lightly before he reached into the vault and pulled out a handful of scrolls. "Well if I were you I'd read through all these scrolls and master their contents before you try performing Hiraishin."
"Why's that?" Naruto questioned, feeling a bit irate with Jiraiya considering he wanted to get to work immediately on learning his fathers prized Jutsu.
"Because you won't even be able to comprehend the mechanics of that Jutsu without the proper knowledge in sealing." Jiraiya explained in a serious tone.
"Proper knowledge? I've got plenty of knowledge in the art of sealing." Naruto countered.
"Oh right I'd forgot you made that little storage compartment on your forearm, truly you're a genius." Jiraiya remarked sarcastically, as he shoved the scrolls he was holding into Shino's arms. "Look gaki, you may think you know something about seals but the truth is you haven't even scratched the surface of what can be done with them." Jiraiya reasoned with Naruto. "Just look at your teammate Fu, even she's more adept in seals then you are."
Naruto couldn't deny that claim considering Fu was able to unseal thunderstorms from the sealing scrolls she'd created. Not to mention the various attack scrolls she'd also produced.
Jiraiya took note of the dejected look on Naruto's face and figured he'd try to perk him up. "Don't sweat it kid, you're forgetting the fact that your godfather is one of Konoha's few seal masters." Jiraiya boated loudly with self-worth radiating from his voice. "I'll help you become a seal master in your own right and you'll have that Jutsu down in no time." Jiraiya assured Naruto.
Naruto simply nodded his acceptance.
"Well anyway kid I've got to get going; I'm already way behind schedule on research." Jiraiya explained with a perverted grin on his face. "I've already shown you the key points of the house, so there's nothing a little exploring want cover what I hadn't." Jiraiya offered to the Aburame family.
"Actually I need to be going too." Naruto added with a small blush on his cheeks. "I promised Hinata-chan we'd celebrate our promotion to Chunin together."
"Is that so huh?" Jiraiya questioned with a grin on his face. "To think you'd be so smooth with the ladies at such a young age."
Naruto simply rolled his eyes at the toad Sannin. "Give me a break you pervert."
"Pervert?" Jiraiya shot back indignantly. "What happened to Jiraiya-sama? And besides calling me a mere pervert is an insult." Jiraiya rebuked. "The correct term would be super pervert!"
The Aburame family merely sweat dropped at Jiraiya's proclamation, as they watched him leave and they followed a short distance behind.
(Elsewhere)
Sasuke had just turned in his drawn up plans for the construction of his new home to a renowned contractor. He recalled how stunned the man seemed to be as they discussed plans for his new estate. Apparently the man figured Sasuke didn't have a clue of what the price would be considering he wanted all the works. From training fields to a clan library, armory and numerous rooms. Not to mention the damn stream and miniature waterfall he wanted in his back yard.
The man had questioned Sasuke of why he wanted to build such an ambitious home. Sasuke responded by saying he wished to give his future family all they could ever desire.
Now Sasuke was traversing though the streets of Konoha with no particular destination in mind. Staring down at the vest he was wearing he debated whether or not to go out and celebrate his promotion to Chunin, Had it been any day before his conversation with Naruto he wouldn't have mind going out to do something alone. Now the last thing he wanted was to be alone figuring he had done too much of that.
He toyed with the idea of asking out one of his fan-girls to accompany him for the evening but as quickly as that thought had come it was gone. Sighing to himself he really did hate his decision to shelter himself from people, for now that he desired companionship he didn't have it. Unless he counted Naruto, but he knew Naruto had plans with Hinata and it wasn't his place to intrude.
Deciding to do what he would normally do when he had a day off he made his way to the training fields. Training was always a good way to pass the time, and it wouldn't do him any good to waste the opportunity to get stronger.
Hearing the sounds of feint grunts and shouts in the direction of a training field that was deeper in the forest Sasuke decided he may as well check it out. As stealthy as he could he made his way through the brush so to not disturb what ever was transpiring.
When he came into view he was somewhat surprised to find one lone figure in the middle of the area training. Narrowing his eyes to get a better look he noticed he had seen the girl before. 'That's right, I believe that's Tenten from Rock Lee's team.' Sasuke noted to himself before he had to dodge a kunai that just barely missed his face.
"Why don't you go get your kicks somewhere else you perv?" Tenten advised before she noticed it was Sasuke who came rolling out of the bushes. "Oh it's you." Tenten stated while spinning a kunai on her index finger. "Sorry about that, I guess you just wanted to use this training field too huh?" Tenten questioned with a bashful grin.
Sasuke dusted himself off and stared at Tenten evenly. "Those were my intentions." He answered coolly.
"Well don't let me bother you." Tenten offered with a shrug. "Or would you rather be left alone?" she quickly added.
Sasuke didn't answer for a moment, and Tenten took that as a signal she should probably leave.
"Suit it yourself" Tenten stated as she moved to gather her gear and stray kunai.
"You don't have to leave." Sasuke announced quietly as he watched Tenten picking up her kunai.
"What was that?" Tenten questioned, considering she hadn't actually heard what he said.
Sasuke sighed, 'Damn this is hard' Sasuke thought to himself. "I said you don't have to leave." Sasuke announced a bit louder.
"Really?" Tenten questioned with a raised eyebrow. She figured that Sasuke would have most likely preferred to have his space considering of how much he reminded her of Neji.
Sasuke simply nodded his response, but Tenten narrowed her eyes at the gesture. She'd had enough of how every time she trained with Neji he would simply nod and grunt in response to mostly everything, and she'd be damned if she allowed Sasuke do the same thing.
"Listen Sasuke I know you're capable of talking so why the hell don't you speak up!?" Tenten interrogated Sasuke forcibly. "It's only the two of us here, and I promise I won't tell anyone that you just might be a decent guy when you're not acting so chill."
'Chill?' Sasuke thought to himself. He heard himself referred to as arrogant, conceded, and even egotistical. But Tenten thought his attitude was…chill?"
Seeing that Sasuke still wasn't speaking Tenten grit her teeth and launched another kunai towards him. Sasuke without much effort evaded the thrown kunai, before turning his attention back to Tenten.
"What was that for?" Sasuke demanded to know.
"To get your attention." Tenten answered simply. "Now that I have it, let's spar." Tenten challenged, not giving Sasuke much of an option considering she charged right in and attempted a precise slash with her kunai towards him.
Sasuke ducked under the blow, and blocked Tenten's incoming kick with his own leg. "I don't remember agreeing to this." Sasuke noted as his leg struggled for dominance with Tenten's.
"It's not like you have much of a choice in the matter." Tenten retorted "Unless you want me to cut you up, then by all means don't fight back." Tenten offered while pulling her leg back and unsheathing the bow staff from her back.
Sasuke smirked as he shifted into a fighting stance to counter the bow Tenten was now wielding. He had to admit to himself he liked the fact that Tenten was the first female he couldn't defeat with words alone. Had he told any other girl he had no intentions to train with them that would have been the end of it. But Tenten seemed to be a type that asserted herself no matter the outcome and simply telling her no wouldn't be enough to get through.
Tenten grinned at seeing the smirk on Sasuke's face. "Could it be you're actually enjoying this?" Tenten questioned as she charged in and delivered a vicious cross shot with her staff. Sasuke leapt off the ground and grabbed the staff between his legs and tried to yank it form Tenten's grip with his body weight.
Tenten saw it coming from a mile away and twisted her staff, and it disconnected it into three sections. No longer holding on to a stiff object Sasuke fell to the ground, but Tenten quickly fired a shot with the end section of the staff that caught him in the stomach. Sasuke went stumbling backwards from the blow before he righted himself.
Wiping the small trickle of blood from his lip Sasuke smirked at Tenten. "Not bad." Sasuke remarked smoothly as he shut his eyes. A moment later Sasuke's eyes reopened revealing his matured Sharingan. "But let's see how well you do now?" Sasuke challenged while charging in with speed Tenten hadn't expected.
Tenten began to avoid Sasuke's hits to the best of her abilities. She could tell that Sasuke was holding back his punches but that was fine with her. She was just happy to actually have someone willing to actually fight her back in their training. Lee was usually too busy with their Sensei Gai for him to spend too much time sparing with her. That usually left her and Neji to train together, but any training they did together usually consisted of her just throwing as many weapons at Neji as possible. To say that wasn't fun would have been an understatement, but right now she was genuinely having fun with Sasuke.
'Fun' She thought to herself, how in the hell could she be having fun with Sasuke of all people!? Tenten pondered causing her focus to slip and Sasuke connected with a straight right jab to her gut knocking the wind from her.
Tenten went skidding across the ground from the blow. She chose to just lay there for a moment before Sasuke walked up to her and stared down at her.
"Looks…like…you…win this round." Tenten panted.
"I guess so." Sasuke offered while extending his hand down towards Tenten
Tenten stared up at the offered hand for a moment before she grasped it in her own, and allowed Sasuke to pull her into a standing position. "Thanks for the match." Tenten stated. "I've been really frustrated lately considering I never got to fight my match during the Chunin exams. It was nice to relieve a bit of that pint up anger."
"So trying to pound me into the dirt was therapeutic for you?" Sasuke asked, not entirely sure how he liked being used as the girls punching bag.
"To each his own right?" Tenten supplied with a chuckle, before she took notice of Sasuke's vest. "Well at least you got promoted." Tenten offered.
"Along with four others." Sasuke confirmed.
"Damn, if only I had gotten the shot who knows I might have been wearing one of those vest too." Tenten proclaimed.
"Maybe" Sasuke stated bluntly. "You did best Sakura easily enough during the preliminaries."
Tenten chuckled slightly. "I hardly see that as a grand victory, considering Sakura was just a love sick fan girl then. Maybe if she had been taking her training more serious then I might have had a problem."
"Has Sakura really improved that much?" Sasuke questioned allowed. He hadn't really seen Sakura since the prelims for the fact he went to train with Kakashi for the month they had between the prelims and finals to prepare.
"Yeah she has." Tenten answered with a nod of her head. "She's been doing a lot of training with Lee and Haku lately, and those two haven't exactly been going easy on her."
"I see" Sasuke muttered. "Perhaps I'll gauge her abilities for myself."
"That sounds like a good idea to me, who knows she just might surprise you." Tenten stated as she dusted herself off. "Anyway I think I'm going to head out, I've been training all day and frankly I'm starving." Tenten summarized before going back to picking up all her equipment.
Sasuke decided to help her pick up all her scattered weapons and the two worked in silence. As they performed the task at hand Sasuke kept stealing quick glances at Tenten, he couldn't believe he of all people was actually doing something of the sort. If he was going to be completely honest with himself he admitted Tenten interested him, like no girl had.
He had never been one to consider a girl for their looks not that he thought Tenten wasn't a looker herself. But the fact that she possessed qualities he found more important then looks is what really sparked his intrigue of the bun wearing brunet. She had drive, determination, confidence, and above all strength that he could acknowledge and respect.
Before Sasuke could even comprehend what he was about to do the words had already escaped his mouth. "May I join you?" the question came out quiet and steady.
"Excuse me?" Tenten returned for she didn't hear Sasuke.
'Damn, why didn't she hear it the first time?' Sasuke berated himself for feeling as nervous as he was. "I said may I accompany you to dinner?"
Tenten was speechless for a moment as she stared at Sasuke the village heartthrob. She may have never considered herself a girly girl by any stretch of the imagination, but she still had that fantasy of being swept off her feet that most girls did. She had always wanted Neji to be her prince charming, but deep in her mind she knew that would never happen as much as she hated to face the facts. But here Sasuke was actually asking her out even if he didn't phrase it that way. He may have been a little rough around the edges personality wise, but he was definitely Mr. right in the looks department.
Grinning on the inside she could only imagine the looks on the faces of Sasuke's fan-girls if they caught the two of them spending the evening together.
Seeing that Tenten had yet to answer his question he suddenly felt bad for all the girls he had rejected. Had he known what it felt like to be rejected he would have given consideration into their request… well maybe. "Sorry I wasted your time." Sasuke stated as he tried to hand the kunai and weapons he collected to Tenten.
"No that's not it!" Tenten hastily explained. "It's just…no one has ever asked me out before, it's just so much to take in. Besides I'm surprised you would want to have dinner with me considering how sweaty and dirty I am."
Sasuke's eyes quickly darted to the sun to gauge what time it was. "We have twenty minutes of day light left." Sasuke noted. "An in hour meet me in front of the academy, I'll escort you from there." Sasuke summarized before turning on his heels and walking away.
Tenten watched Sasuke go with a smile on her face. Even though he always acted cool and calm she could tell that something as simple as asking a girl on date just may have been the hardest thing the Uchiha had ever done. After quickly sealing away her weapons Tenten darted out of the training field to get ready for her outing with Sasuke.
(Inzuka Clan Home)
Kiba sighed for what he felt was the millionth time as he observed his reflection in the mirror. He just didn't think the eye patch covering the socket where his right eye once occupied was exactly his style. Not to mention the scar running along the upper and bottom portion of his eye that looked shockingly close to Kakashi's scar.
"I hate this damn thing" Kiba grumbled to himself while adjusting the eye patch to fit better. "I had enough problems with the ladies before this, how the hell am I going to get one with one eye!?"
Tsume Inzuka let out a hardy laugh at her son's frustration. "Ah what's the matter pup? Kuromaru has been sporting the one eyed look, and he had no problems and finding a mate." Tsume teased.
"I think you'll be fine" Haku offered politely. "I'm sure you'll find someone that's able to see past such a thing."
Tsume let out a roar of laughter at Haku's statement. While everyone there simply stared at her questionably. "What?" She asked curiously taking note at how everyone was staring at her. "She said see past, he has one eye its funny!" Tsume explained as she went back to laughing. "What you girls don't get it?"
Kiba rolled his eye as he walked away from the mirror and back into the room where his mother, Sakura, Hinata, Haku, and Fu were all seated. "They get it Kaasan; it's just not very funny." Kiba grumbled.
"I think the eye patch gives you more character." Hinata offered trying to cheer her teammate up.
"Yeah it gives you a rugged kind of look." Sakura added in. "You know that kind of look some people have when they've seen and been through a lot."
Kiba quickly shot a glare to his mother that silenced her considering he could tell she was about to burst out laughing again. Sitting down on the chair next to Fu Akamaru hopped onto Kiba's lap and he began stroking the dog quietly.
All the girls stared at him carefully each of them feeling bad for his misfortune, but none more so then Sakura. She felt that it was entirely her fault Kiba had lost his eye and she had sworn to repay him no matter the cost.
After a moment of silence Fu was the first to let her opinion be known. "Oh come on Kiba it's too weird seeing you all depressed where's the cocky, energetic, knuckled head we all love?" Fu questioned.
"Yes Kiba-kun you're usually the most lively out of all of us, it sadness me to see you so upset." Hinata piped in.
Kiba smiled slightly, it wasn't one of his famed grins but it was a start. "Thanks for the concern but I'll be fine." Kiba proclaimed but the girls weren't buying it.
"Nice try Kiba, but I'll be damned if I don't see you smiling by the end of the night." Fu announced while standing to her feet. "What yah waiting for, were going out all of us." Fu ordered.
"What?" Kiba muttered.
"You heard her." Sakura interjected. "Were going to take you out to have a good time, we'll get you back to your old self in no time at all."
Kiba stared speechlessly at the girls. Haku simply nodded her agreement, while Fu had a determined look on her face and Sakura was smiling brightly. Kiba then noticed Hinata was twiddling her fingers together nervously.
"What's up with you Hinata?" Kiba questioned.
"Well actually I can't join you." Hinata explained with a slight tinge of pink on her cheeks. "I and Naruto-kun have a date tonight."
"That's fine." Kiba offered with a shrug. "Besides I got three gorgeous babes taking me out, what more could a man ask for?"
All four girls giggled lightly considering Kiba's remark was all in good fun. Besides their goal was to cheer him up, and they were already off to a good start.
(Some Time Later)
Naruto was in his room getting ready to escort Hinata out for their miniature celebration for becoming Chunin. He'd already sent Sukushi over to Hinata's home to give her a heads up. For the most part his mind was focused on what needed to be said to Hinata. He had no problem in telling Hinata about his birth parents, but the Kyubi was another? He felt he had kept Hinata in the dark about it for too long and if their relationship was ever to go further this was a bridge he needed to cross.
After looking himself once more in the mirror Naruto's eyes found the message that had been sent to him curtsey of the Hokage sitting on his desk. Apparently he and two others were being sent out on a priority mission to retrieve some lady that would be further discussed during the debriefing the following morning. Sighing to himself he wished he could decline considering he really just wanted to take it easy for a few days. Hell it had only been four days since he went toe to toe with Orochimaru, but that was the downside of being a ninja. When duty called there were no if when's or buts about it.
Sighing to himself Naruto cast those thoughts aside before he made his way out of the Aburame estate. Walking down the busy streets of Konoha Naruto took note of the stares he was receiving from various girls, all civilian. Ignoring the girls Naruto continued on his path to where he was to meet Hinata.
Locating their rendezvous point Naruto stood patiently and waited for Hinata to show up. He didn't have to wait long for he spotted Hinata along with Sukushi flying happily above Hinata's head walking towards him.
Naruto smiled as he laid his eyes on Hinata, she was dressed in a lavender kimono that was perfectly modest for the occasion. He had to admit he'd been so busy lately that he may have been neglecting his responsibility as a boyfriend, and wished to make up for it.
Extending his arm forward to Hinata she smiled and connected her arm with his. "Thank you for making sure Hinata-chan arrived here safely." Naruto stated to Sukushi.
Sukushi fluttered around enthusiastically. "Anything for Naruto-sama and his fair maiden." She chorused happily before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"Sukushi-chan is certainly spirited." Hinata noted as she and Naruto walked arm and arm down the streets of Konoha.
Naruto nodded his agreement. "Pretty much what you'd expect from a child of her age."
Hinata was about to contribute more to the conversation when she noticed a group of civilian girls huddled together giggling and staring in their direction. "Uh what are those girls staring at?" Hinata questioned curiously as they passed by.
Naruto shrugged even though he definitely had a clue, considering the look that council woman had shot him during the meeting about his heritage.
"Looks like some people weren't able to keep their mouths shut, like they were told." A new voice cut in from behind the pair.
Naruto and Hinata both turned around only to find Sasuke and Tenten a short distance behind them. Both Naruto and Hinata didn't know what to say as they observed Sasuke and Tenten walking side by side seemingly together.
"Hey there!" Tenten announced as she and Sasuke strolled up to the pair. "Fancy meeting you two out here tonight."
After recovering from their initial shock of seeing both Sasuke and Tenten together, Naruto and Hinata greeted the paring appropriately.
After some light conversation between each other Hinata's mind backtracked to more important things, like why those girls were eyeing Naruto. "Sasuke-san you mentioned some people weren't able to keep their mouths shut, what did you mean by that?"
"It's not my place to say." Sasuke answered simply, just in time for a girl that had been watching from a short distance to come strolling up to them and thrust an envelope into Naruto's hand. After her task was complete the girl walked away swaying her hips suggestively.
Hinata was speechless at the exchange before she rounded on Naruto. "What was that?" she asked sweetly which unnerved Naruto considering he could tell she was definitely mad.
"Oh…well uh you see…hehe…the thing is." Naruto stuttered out, but Hinata decided to take matters into her own hands and she snatched the envelope from Naruto.
Naruto was taken slightly aback by Hinata's forwardness.
Meanwhile Sasuke couldn't help but smirk as he watched Hinata begin opening the envelope. He figured things were about to get interesting considering he had a pretty good idea what was inside for he had gotten more then his share of…letters from fans.
Hinata gasped when she finally pulled the contents out of the envelope. "Why that hussy!" Hinata snapped before glaring in the direction the girl retreated to. "I'm going to show her." Hinata announced as she dropped the letter and photo and stormed off after the girl.
Naruto sweat dropped and he quickly took off after Hinata, to make sure she didn't beat a civilian into a pulp.
"What do you think that was all about?" Tenten questioned to Sasuke.
"Let's find out." Sasuke suggested plainly while reaching down to retrieve the photo and letter. Sasuke face tinted red at the image on the photo, and Tenten stared at him questionably.
"Let me see that." Tenten demanded as she took the photo from Sasuke's hand. "The hell" Tenten muttered while observing the photo. "No wonder Hinata was pissed." Tenten announced while dropping the picture back to the ground.
Next to Tenten, Sasuke snickered as he read over the contents on the letter he retrieved. "I have to admit even I never received one this explicit." Sasuke noted with a deep blush growing on his face.
"What tha, give me that?" Tenten stated while snatching away the letter from Sasuke and quickly ripping it to pieces. "I swear some girls have no shame."
A moment later Naruto returned with a kicking Hinata slung over his shoulder. "Calm down Hinata-chan, I'm telling you she was just a silly fan-girl." Naruto tried reasoning.
"Fan-girl? When did you get those?' Hinata asked nervously.
Naruto sighed as he sat Hinata down. "Apparently since my heritage was discussed earlier today, that's what Sasuke meant by someone couldn't keep their mouth shut." Naruto explained. "Even though the Hokage forbid discussion outside the council room until the official announcement, someone obviously leaked it anyway, hence the fan-girls."
Hinata looked at Sasuke's face for confirmation, and he simply nodded.
"Heritage?" Hinata muttered. "What do you mean?"
"Well that's one of the things I wanted to talk to you about tonight." Naruto explained.
Sasuke saw were the conversation was most likely headed and decided he and Tenten should probably leave. "We'll give you some space." Sasuke offered to Naruto.
Naruto shook his head. "No Tenten will find out soon enough anyway, so she may as well hear it from me." Naruto summarized.
"You must be related to someone very important, to have fan-girls after you so soon." Tenten stated.
"You could say that." Naruto agreed. "Most consider him to be one of the greatest ninja to be born in the leaf.
Sasuke sighed at seeing how Naruto intended to drag it out. "Just get on with it." Sasuke deadpanned while folding his arms over his chest.
"Way to ruin the suspense Sasuke" Naruto retorted. "Very well my full name is Aburame Namikaze Naruto, the son of the late Yondaime and Uzumaki Kushina."
Hinata's eyes grew as wide as saucers while Tenten whistled.
"Damn Hinata you're gonna have your work cut out for you once the announcement is made official." Tenten figured.
"That's not the case." Naruto countered. "Hinata-chan has always seen me for me, unlike any of these new girls that only wish to be apart of my fathers legacy." Naruto explained while tilting Hinata's head up to look her in the eye. "I'd be a fool to betray everything you've given me." Naruto proclaimed as leaned over to kiss Hinata full on the lips.
Sasuke and Tenten both turned away, feeling watching the exchange was quite awkward.
Hinata was speechless when Naruto pulled away.
"Do you still have any doubts you have my full loyalty and heart?" Naruto questioned.
Hinata smiled. "None what so ever." She answered while pulling Naruto back into the kiss.
"Well not that this isn't fun but I think we'll be on our way, I'm still starving after all." Tenten cut in on Naruto and Hinata's make out secession
"Sorry" Hinata supplied with a deep blush. "But if you two are going out for dinner maybe me and Naruto-kun could join, it'll be fun." Hinata suggested.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Naruto agreed considering he really wanted to see how Sasuke and Tenten interacted with one another.
Tenten turned to Sasuke. "Well whadya say?"
"It makes no difference to me." Sasuke answered with a shrug.
Tenten turned back to Hinata and Naruto. "That's Sasuke speech for you're welcome to join us."
"I figured as much." Naruto proclaimed at the group of four walked off to their destination.
Once they had gone Jiraiya crept out from the nearby bushes he was spying from. All the while grinning like an idiot. Leaning down Jiraiya pulled his hand into a hand seal and the torn letter instantly minded it self. Grabbing the letter and nearby photo Jiraiya giggled like a pervert as he read over the contents inscribed on the letter. 'I knew things would get fun once that kids heritage got out, and the best part is it hasn't even been announced publicly yet!'
'I won't have any lack of material for my next book if this photo is any indication of what's to come.' Jiraiya thought lecherously while observing the photo of a very nude woman in her lower twenties posing exposing all the goodies. 'Hehe oh kid you'll be like a gold mine!' Jiraiya thought to himself as he continued on his way whistling a happy tune as he did so.
(Some Time Later)
Naruto and Hinata stared speechlessly at the two people seated across from them at the restaurant they chose to have dinner at. Tenten had insisted that they have a round of sake with their dinner. Unfortunately for her she proved to be a light weight, and one saucer of the stuff was enough to have her acting like class A idiot.
This in turn led to her challenging Sasuke to see who could put more of the alcohol away. Not to be shown up Sasuke took her up on her challenge without question. Which was a mistake on his part; for once he started he didn't know when to stop.
"Um perhaps we should have limited their drinking?" Hinata acknowledged, while observing Sasuke and Tenten's bizarre behavior.
"Ay howz about another…(Hiccup)…one!" Sasuke stated while holding out his saucer to be tipped off once more.
Naruto slapped his hand over his head. "Sasuke I've told you that plant isn't our waiter."
Sasuke stared at Naruto with half lidded eyes. "Whoo are youuuu?" Sasuke slurred.
"Great, he's completely loaded." Naruto noted.
"You're so dumbz." Tenten proclaimed. "That's Choji how could yah forget?"
"Make that double for her." Naruto announced with a sigh.
"Look…don't you disrespect me in front of company." Sasuke advised while pointing an accusing finger towards Tenten. "I'm an Ucihiwa the elite of the village." Sasuke boasted as he made to stand up on top of their table clumsily.
Hinata looked away in embarrassment considering everyone in the entire restaurant were now staring at them.
"Damn it Sasuke get down!" Naruto hissed.
"Yah here that huh? I'm the last of the… Uchiwa!?" Sasuke proclaimed as he swayed back in forth.
"This is why kids shouldn't drink, I don't give a damn if their ninja or not." A nearby noble man whispered to his wife.
"Hey!" Sasuke shouted. "You over there, yah gots somethin ta say!?"
"I might, you little brat." The man returned while standing up.
Sasuke smirked. "Well brings its on then." Sasuke challenged. "Fire… fire sty…fire style…great…fire ball…jut…jut…suuuu." Sasuke slurred out before passing out on top of their table.
Tenten let out a roar of laughter at seeing Sasuke collapse to his back on top of the table, before she clutched her hands over her mouth. "I think I'm gonna be sick." Tenten announced before she vomited onto the floor.
Naruto's head hit the table at that point. "Check please." Naruto stated in a defeated tone.
(Thirty Minutes Later)
Naruto found himself supporting Sasuke by the underarm as he led him to the Aburame estate. He didn't know where Sasuke actually lived so he figured he would just have him stay at his home for the night.
Hinata had insisted that she would bring Tenten to her home considering Tenten wasn't any better off then Sasuke was at the moment. Naruto had agreed to that idea and produced a clone to escort Hinata and carry Tenten back to the Hyuuga estate.
When the Aburame estate came into view Naruto sighed. He had really hoped for the opportunity to tell Hinata about the Kyubi, but after the nights events he decided the timing for it just wasn't right.
Upon entry Naruto was greeted by Shino whom stared at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Do all of your celebrations turn out with you dragging in an intoxicated guest?" Shino questioned as he recalled Naruto dragging Haku in the night Anko made Jonin.
"You know how it is Shino. You can't end a party without someone on the floor." Naruto answered, as he continued on his way to his room.
Once he got there he dropped Sasuke onto his bed. "You owe me one Sasuke, because of you I get to sleep on the couch tonight." Naruto stated as he turned to leave, but stopped once he heard Sasuke's voice echo through the silence.
"Sorry." Sasuke announced while looking up at the ceiling.
Naruto quirked his eyebrow. "Sorry for what?"
Sasuke turned his head to look at Naruto. "I ruined your time with Hinata. You wished to tell her something important I could see it in your eyes despite the shades."
"Oh" Naruto stated while rubbing the back of his head. "Don't worry about that, I'll have another opportunity." Naruto assured Sasuke as he turned to leave, but Sasuke cut him of once more.
"What is that?" Sasuke says while pointing to an object on the wall.
Naruto's eyes followed Sasuke's hand to the spot he was pointing at. "That's the Kusanagi, a little souvenir for defeating Orochimaru." Naruto answered.
"It seems like such a waste to not use it." Sasuke stated.
"I guess." Naruto supplied with a shrug. "But swords really aren't my thing; I prefer the weapons I already have." Naruto explained. "But maybe it better suits your taste." Naruto offered.
Sasuke eyes widened. "You'd give it to me?"
"I don't see why not" Naruto answered simply. "It's like you said, it would be a waste to not use it. So if you feel you still want it when you sober up feel free to take it." Naruto concluded as he dug into his pocket and tossed Sasuke a pill. "You should probably take that, other wise you'll feel like Rock Lee used you as a punching bag in the morning."
Sasuke nodded his head before swallowing the pill.
"Well anyway I'm going to crash; I've got a debriefing first thing in the morning, so lights out." Naruto stated before exiting the room and shutting the door behind him.
(The following Morning)
Naruto was surprised to find that Sasuke had actually awoken before him and had already left. He also had taken notice that Sasuke had gone through with taking the Kusangi. Apart of him thought that it was the alcohol talking for Sasuke but obviously he was wrong in his assumptions.
Casting those thoughts aside Naruto prepared himself for the day and headed out to the Hokage's tower to be debriefed on his first assignment as a Chunin.
When Naruto arrived at the Hokage's office he gingerly knocked on the door, before he heard the Hokage's familiar voice biding him to enter.
Upon entry Naruto realized he wasn't the first to arrive and he was somewhat surprised to see who else was there. Hinata was standing at full attention, and so was Sasuke. Naruto noticed that Sasuke's attire had somewhat changed.
He was still wearing his black uniform he wore at the Chunin exams, but his Chunin vest was navy blue as opposed to olive green with the Uchiha crest printed on the back of it. His outfit was topped off with the Kusangi Naruto had given him strapped to his back.
"Ah good Naruto you're finally here." Sarutobi offered cheerfully despite how early it was. "Now tell me what do you three know about Senju Tsunade?"
Okay you readers I hoped you liked. I figured I'd give you guys a couple of less serious chapters considering how action oriented they have been lately. I don't know how the humor I tried to add turned out, but I hope you at least chuckled at some parts. Also I used these last two chapters to work on some character development for Sasuke, I hope the changes I'm making with his personality come off as believable, and if not hey I tried.
Also I threw in a bit of SasTen in this chapter as well, to be honest this was one of the first parings I decided on when I was mapping this story out. That's why you never saw any NejTen in this because I was saving her for this purpose. Well that's all I have to say pertaining to this chapter so if you could please review it would be most appreciated and good day.