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.
According to the reviews for the previous chapter, the lemon scene was fairly well received. Felt realistic enough for the most part, Naruto not being a sex machine for his first intimate intercourse with Natsuki might have contributed to that. There are still some issues with the vocabulary I used, or lack of in this case. There's also the level of detail I should give to the physical description of the characters during said scene, should I mention the size of his "tool" or Natsuki's cup and so on. I guess it felt weird for me to mention those details when I wrote the chapter. Whether my writing style changes or not in the next lemon scene I'll write remains unknown for the time being.
Now, about the question on Sasuke's surgical operation. Sadly no one found the good answer, and no, he didn't get a gender change surgery nor did he get Itachi's eyes. I'll leave it to your imagination for now, but no one gets a reward this time. Try to remain patient with the story though, as always, everything shall be revealed in due time.
Finally, I'm pretty sure I've already mentioned it somewhere along the previous chapters but the pairing is exclusively Naruto x Natsuki. I have no problem with Harem stories, just didn't want to write one for my first try. I don't think it was a bad call since I already experienced troubles in creating the one I'm working with. I may try a Harem in the next story I write, whenever that is.
Anyway, welcome to the next chapter of Kaze No Kami.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any other manga for that matter.
Chapter 51 : Crossing Borders
Namikaze Compound
The main gates of the Namikaze Compound made a loud sound as Naruto closed them, since neither the previous nor the current owner of the manor really used them that often. Minato and Naruto always preferred the use of the Hiraishin when they moved in or out of that place, the Shunshin being blocked by the numerous seals protecting the perimeter. The only exceptions were for the times when they had guests with them, they would walk through the doors, just like today, it seems.
Natsuki woke up from her bed when the she heard the noise outside the house and made her way to the living room. She greeted Konan when she arrived downstairs, the two women had become great friends ever since Naruto came back with the Angel of Amegakure from his last mission. Konan acted like an older sister for Naruto, something he always wanted when he was a child and no one was there for him.
The front door was suddenly opened, revealing Naruto with Kurenai, his former sensei from his genin days as a member of team 8. Much like Konan, Kurenai was more like an older sister to Naruto than simply his former teacher. That was the main reason why he chose her as his representative for the Council Meetings when he couldn't attend to them. She was also with the Sandaime and Tsunade the only person who knew about Natsuki's true identity.
"Kurenai-sensei, this is Konan, the woman we spoke about in the Hokage Office with Ba-chan." Naruto said as they entered the room.
"Naruto, I already told you to stop calling me sensei, it's really making me feel old that a young man like you would call me that. It's nice to meet you, Konan, please call me Kurenai." Replied the Genjutsu Mistress of Konoha as Naruto was grinning from his spot.
"It's nice to meet you too, Kurenai." Konan said as she stood up from the couch and came to meet with Naruto's former teacher.
"And here is the love of my life, Natsuki, my fiancee. Technically, you already know each other but this is the first time you can meet face to face I guess." Naruto said as he moved next to his blushing red haired vixen.
It still amazed Kurenai that she was standing right in front of the mighty Kyuubi no Yoko, the most powerful demon to have ever walked the Earth. Not wanting to sound rude, she quickly regained her composure and greeted her student's future wife.
"It's nice to finally be able to speak with you face to face, Natsuki." Kurenai said with a smile.
"Likewise, Kurenai. You are one of the few in this village who has my respect, for being there for my Naru-kun when he was younger." Natsuki replied, smiling back.
"Alright, now that everyone is introduced, there are things we have to discuss." Naruto said, gaining the attention from the three women.
Naruto then explained the current situation in the Elemental Nations to the occupant of the room, from the fall of every minor Villages and Nations that weren't part of the Great Five to the current loss of contact with their allies from Sunagakure and Iwagakure. He also mentioned the very high probability of Akatsuki siding with Otogakure in this conflict and then pulled out a map of the Elemental Nations and showed it for everyone to really understand the situation. Allied territories and enemy ones were marked with different colors, making it easier to see where the problem was.
"Now that everyone is on the same page, I gathered you here to explain the action plan that was decided with Ba-chan." Naruto said as he finished his report.
"Our allies from Kumo and Kiri are sending reinforcements to us in order to fortify our positions along the borders we share with the enemy. Fortunately they were able to secure Yugakure and Shimogakure before Oto could reach those villages, we would have been really isolated otherwise." Naruto announced, getting understanding nods from his audience.
"That seems logical, Oto was racing against time with the goal to reach the other side of the line, River Country in the West, in order to separate us from Suna and Iwa. Yugakure and to a lesser extend Shimogakure in the East were not that much of a strategic position for them, so they concentrated their efforts to the West instead to cut our forces in half." Kurenai said as she looked at the map.
"That's correct, Kurenai. Now we have another issue, we have no information about what's happening behind the enemy's lines. Forces, resources or defenses, we know nothing from their current capabilities to stand up to us in this war other than they can move their troops pretty fast. That's the reason why a recon mission has been authorized, with two objectives. The first is to make contact with our allies from the West, and then for the Second, we are to infiltrate and assess the enemy's side and then report back to the Kage Council." Naruto added.
"Alright then, who's going to be on that recon mission Naruto ?" Konan asked.
"I was selected because of my ability to transport myself or others with the Hiraishin, it will definitely come in handy for that kind of mission. It is also my duty, as the Alliance's Leader to go help to Suna and Iwa, should they need it. Finally, as you ladies all know me, I'm not a sit back and look kind of Leader, so there was no way I'd sit this one out." Naruto replied with a grin while the three women chuckled at his answer.
"I'm guessing by my presence here that I'm also going, Naruto ?" Kurenai asked.
"Yes you are, Kurenai. Your genjutsu skills will be needed during the mission, I'm also quite fond of the art but I may need to use my chakra for something else this time." Naruto said and Kurenai nodded in understanding.
"Konan will be coming too, since she is the one with the most experience when it comes to Akatsuki and we may very well meet them along the way. The fact that we will infiltrate the enemy's line by going through Amegakure is another the reason why she is a very valuable asset to this mission. Finally, her bloodline will also be useful for camouflage purposes. We're leaving tomorrow at dawn, please pack equipments for a long term mission." Naruto said, getting another nod from the blue haired kunoichi.
An awkward silence then took over in the room as Natsuki was expecting Naruto to give her the role she would be playing in the upcoming mission. She narrowed her beautiful red eyes towards the blond.
"You've got to be kidding me ! There is no way I'm not taking part in that mission, Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto." Natsuki shouted as she understood Naruto's embarrassment.
"Please, Na-chan you have to understand. You're still recovering from the unsealing and we don't know if you'll ever regain the youki you lost during the procedure. All the techniques you knew were based on the use of youki ..." Naruto pleaded.
"Don't you dare Na-chan me. I'm the one who taught you everything you know, the one who gave you that bloodline you're so proud of ! Now you would leave me behind because I'm not strong enough to follow after you ?" Replied the red head, tears forming in her eyes.
Konan and Kurenai decided to leave the couple some privacy, the two women went into the kitchen where Konan started to make some tea for them while they waited for the storm to pass.
"You don't understand, the enemy still doesn't know that you're free. They won't go after you if you stay hidden, but if I take you with me they will notice and you will be in great danger from there. I can't allow that, I won't. You are the best thing that happened to me in my life, I won't be able to concentrate during the mission if I worry about you every single second. Please Na-chan, I'm trying to build a new world for us to live in, where we can raise children and have the family I've always dreamed of." Naruto said to her, closing the distance between them and giving her a gentle hug.
"C-Children ? You want to have children with me ?" That caused Natsuki to stop going berserk. In the thousands of years she had existed in the world, she never considered the possibility of having children. This wasn't something that she needed, not that she found anyone worthy of being her mate before Naruto.
"Of course, I mean if you want them too." Naruto replied as his mate started to kiss him.
"Fine, you're safe for this time. Now come, we still have "training" to do if we want to have children when the time comes." Natsuki whispered in his ears as she dragged him away, towards their room upstairs.
When they finished their tea, Konan and Kurenai wondered if everything went fine between Naruto and Natsuki, as they couldn't hear the red head scream anymore. Well, they would, if Naruto didn't activate the soundproofing seals in the master bedroom, not that it would be screams of an angered Natsuki though.
Sunagakure – Council Chamber, One day later
The Hidden Village in the Sand was on a high alert state, civilians were asked to remain in their home unless they had to deal with life threatening emergencies. Academy students were also sent back home, since their instructors were reassigned with more urgent matters for the Village's safety.
The Kazekage, Gaara, was currently seated in the council chamber with his two counselors, Temari and Kankuro. Contrary to Konoha, the council in Suna didn't allow any civilians to take part in it, so the only people currently present in the room were highly qualified jonin or veteran elders that retired from active duty but could still participate in the administration of the village.
In the guest seats was none other than the new Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi herself, escorted by two of her ANBU officers.
"Still no words from our allies, Kazekage-dono ?" Kurotsuchi asked.
"I'm afraid so, Tsuchikage-dono. Our couriers must have been intercepted and it is suicidal to send any team across the enemy's lines right now." Gaara replied.
"I see, we also tried to send out our fastest messenger birds, but now I fear that they never reached their destination, seeing as we haven't heard from the other side yet. How are the preparations going on your end then ?" Kurotsuchi asked.
"We were under attack not that long ago, so mobilizing was not really an issue." Gaara replied.
"A good thing that we were able to secure the Hidden Stone Village before it was overrun by the enemy. Your quick response to our request was a decisive factor in that battle, we managed to stop their advance before they could further isolate us." Kurotsuchi added.
"Anyway, the borders of Wind Country are now secured. Are you done with your borders too ?" Gaara said.
"Yes we are, although it took more time than for you since we lost many men during the battle in Iron Country where that Akatsuki man tricked my grandfather." Kurotsuchi replied.
"Now, all we have to do is find a way to reach our allies from the other side ..." Gaara started to say.
"That won't be necessary." Called a new voice from the back of the room, immediately alerting every member of the council and their guests from Iwa.
"Identify yourself, unless you want to die in the next seconds." Gaara said as sand was already leaving his portable gourd.
"Man, your hospitality is starting to become legendary Gaara." Naruto said as he got out of the shadows, Kurenai and Konan closely following behind him.
Amegakure – God's Tower
The rain was once again falling in Amegakure where the streets were now empty, as every civilian fled before Otogakure's troops could invade the city. Only the occasional patrols of Sound shinobi would now and then disturb the silence in the ghost town that Amegakure had become.
Looking through the window was the new master of the city, Uchiha Sasuke in person. In the office behind him, stood his most powerful subordinates. Sakura, Kimimaro and Juugo stood in a corner of the room while Karin and Suigetsu were seating in front of Sasuke's desk.
The door suddenly opened, revealing the last two members, Kabuto and Guren coming in.
"Report." Sasuke simply said, as he turned back from the window to face the group. The people in the room gasped at the sight of his still bandaged eyes, all wondering what kind of eyes were covered by the bandages. The only one who knew about those eyes was the one who implanted them in their leader, Kabuto, and even then he wasn't sure of their origins.
"The transfer is now complete, our main base has been entirely relocated here in Ame. That includes the research center as well as the private hospital. Guren and I are the last of the main base to come here, I made sure of that." Kabuto spoke first before stepping back.
"The Hero's Water is now operational. I managed to counter its destructive secondary effects on the user but it will be 50% less effective than the original source in terms of chakra output. It is ready to be used on whoever you deem worthy enough." Sakura said next, waiting for a praise of the Uchiha heir that never came.
"The shinobi from the defeated armies that passed our screening process have all been incorporated into our ranks, as long as we don't harm their families they will obey your orders." Karin added from her position.
"The borders have been secured, from Rice to River Country, we have fortified camps and patrols are in place too. We also managed to intercept all of their messenger birds, they have no idea of what's going on the other side." Suigetsu finished the report.
"Kabuto, Sakura, I want the research center to immediately mass produce the new version of the Hero's Water. Guren, Karin, Juugo and Kimimaro will be responsible for its distribution to every available shinobi in our ranks. Suigetsu, you are to prepare spies for infiltration missions in Konoha, Suna and Iwa. Now, you all got your orders, dismissed." Sasuke said coldly as he turned back towards the window.
When everyone left, the Nidaime Otokage went back to his desk and sat down.
"What about you, report." He said, apparently to no one, as he was in a seemingly empty office.
"The Ichibi is in still Suna, he has an interesting guest though." Zetsu said as he slowly rose from the ground with his unique ability.
"Who is it ?" Sasuke asked back.
"The Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi." Zetsu replied as he took a seat in front of Sasuke's desk.
"What of the other three, What of Naruto Uzumaki ?" Sasuke asked again, really interested in Naruto's whereabouts ever since their meeting in Ame.
"The Nibi and Hachibi have been sighted in Kumo but only briefly, I'm not sure of their current location. The Kyuubi is still as elusive as ever, I have no idea of his current location." Zetsu reported.
"Very well, come with me. I have a mission that will require your unique abilities ..." Sasuke said as they both vanished from the room in a familiar phase shifting jutsu.
A/N : What do you think ?
Pieces are starting to move on the chessboard as each side is trying to anticipate the other one's next move. Some short drama with Natsuki not being able to follow Naruto on his highly risky mission.
Finally some action for Kurenai-sensei, I'm sure that we all missed her. Konan will take part as well for her fans.
Sasuke has gathered his pawns as well, he is ready to send troops out of his territories too. Why are they now in Amegakure instead of Otogakure ? Why does Zetsu obey him like that, and what's the deal with his eyes ?
Read the next issues to find out :)
For the fans of action packed chapters, do not despair, it shall come back soon enough. Preparation and build up chapters are done, now place for the action.
As usual please Read and Review.
