The Fox Hidden in the Leaves
Chapter 52: Blonde Trouble
By: MikeJV37
----October 10, 5:42 PM, Konoha Side Street----
"Thank you for healing me Tsunade-sama.... and it's ok Anko, I know you didn't mean to hit me that hard.... I've had worse." Ino said and smiled.
Anko laughed. "Thanks Ino.... I know you've heard it a dozen times already, but you really impressed the hell out of everyone."
Ino blushed for the fifteenth time on the walk to the Festival. "Like Sakura, I got my own kick in the butt. I got tired of being the weak link on the team. Chouji is the power, Shikamaru is the brains, and what was I.... I was a one trick kunoichi with big tits. I did what many have done, I thought about Naruto-kun. He was the deadlast at the academy, but by the time he left with Jiraiya he was one of the most powerful shinobi in Konoha under the Jounin and Tsunade-sama.... and no matter what happened to him he never quit. Hell, even Forehead had passed me by then and gotten Tsunade-sama to train her. That's when I decided I wanted to create my own style and be strong enough to protect my friends like Naruto does."
Naruto smiled and blushed lightly.
"You could of come to me, Shizune, Anko, Kurenai, or even Asuma for help instead of training alone Ino." Tsunade said.
Ino gave an apologetic grin and nodded. "I know, but I needed to prove to myself I could do it, at least get as strong as Forehead first." Ino said and grinned playfully at Sakura.
"Here we are!" Hinata said happily and pointed to the crowds walking around the main square, going from booth to booth.
Naruto grimacd slightly. "I know it's safe and everything.... but I don't know if I can do this now Hinata-chan." Naruto said nervously and stopped.
Hinata tried to pull him but he didn't budge. Hinata waved Tsunade over to help, and both of them together couldn't budge Naruto in the slightest.
"He anchored himself with chakra Hinata-chan.... come on brat, I know this was never your favorite day of the year, I've read the files, but it's okay now, nothing bad will happen." Tsunade said as she tried to physically lift Naruto but couldn't, despite her incredible strength.
Naruto looked at Hinata then turned to face all his friends, nervous. "Promise me nothing bad will happen."
Everyone sighed sadly, underneath everything part of him was still terrified. Everyone suddenly turned to Tsunade.... including the crowd enjoying the festival about thirty feet away.
"DAMNIT!!!!" Tsunade screamed with almost demonic rage then stomped her foot hard enough to shake the ground, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles were white.
Everyone but Naruto started to back away from her slowly.
"This shit ends NOW!" Tsunade screamed, grabbed Naruto's collar and forcefully walked him through the crowd, who parted as she approached, her killer intent rolled off her in waves even the cilivilans felt without looking at her. She dragged him to the center of the festival where a big stage was set up, and dragged Naruto up onto it. "I want everyone's attention.... NOW!" Tsunade said powerfully, everyone in the village heard her, and she hadn't used the microphone.
Everyone rushed to the stage as fast as they could, nobody dared do anything that would get her attention when she was like this, even the ANBU avoided her when she was mad.
Hinata cautiously walked up on stage, went to Naruto and took his left hand.
"As everyone knows today is October Tenth, and up to last year everyone knows how today was usually celebrated, particualarly by Naruto up to about four or five years ago!" Tsunade yelled then looked at Naruto so everyone clearly saw her. She sneered when most of the crowd suddenly hung their heads in shame. "Hinata has spent the last month setting up special gifts for Naruto, the final one at the Festival.... and a few minutes ago Naruto, despite everything that's happened this year, was so terrified to get close to the festival he froze, even Hinata and I couldn't move him. Up to now this was the greatest day of his life.... come here you two." Tsunade said as she pointed to two people near the stairs.
They walked up on stage and over to Naruto very nervous.
"As most of you know this is Kouseki Fujino, Jounin Sensei of Team Four.... what we found out earlier today is that she's really Kouseki Namikaze, Naruto's older sister!" Tsunade said.
A collective gasp of shock rose up like a tsunami from the crowd.
"The beautiful redhead next to her is an old friend of mine I haven't seen in sixteen years.... she's Kushina Uzumaki Namikaze, widow of Minato Namikaze the Fourth Hokage of Konoha and Naruto's mother!" Tsunade said then watched the face of everyone that didn't already know go ghostly pale. "I want EVERYONE that ever even doubted Naruto was anything but a boy that should of been the hero of this FUCKING VILLAGE, to come up here one at a time and apologize to Naruto, his mother, his sister, and if I don't believe your apology is genuine.... I SWEAR TO KAMI I'LL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND!" Tsunade screamed with all the power and authority at her command.
Everyone in the crowd, civilian and shinobi, either dropped to their knees in fear or outright fainted.
Tsunade turned to Hinata, her face showed how sad she was. "I'm sorry if I ruined your last surprise Hinata-chan, but I've wanted to do that for years and when Naruto-kun asked us to promise nothing bad would happen something snapped in my head.... I couldn't hold back my emotions anymore."
Hinata leaned in and kissed Tsunade. "It's ok Tsunade-chan, this is even better."
Naruto stepped close, gave Tsunade a hug and kiss. "Thank you Tsunade-chan.... I don't think that was very legal.... but I doubt the new Council will mind.... after you chose them anyway, the Clan Heads won't object.... I know any of them would of adopted me if the Council had allowed it."
----6:48 PM, The Festival Stage----
"That was the last one.... Kushina-chan, Kouseki-chan, would you two care to join us and enjoy the rest of the Festival. I know Naruto-kun would love to share his first time with his new family." Tsunade said with a huge smile and ruffled Naruto-s hair.
"I'd love to join Naruto-niisan, there's this booth with the best chocolate covered...." Kouseki said and stopped when she noticed everyone was staring at her with a smirk. "What.... am I drooling?"
Everyone laughed, then Kushina and Naruto hugged her before they all headed down to enjoy the rest of the Festival.
----October 11, 10:00 AM, Hokage's Office----
Ino walked into Tsunade's office followed by Shizune, and sat in the chair. To her right of Tsunade was Anko and now Shizune, on the other side was her Sensei, Asuma. "You wanted to see me Tsunade-sama, if this is about yesterday I apologized to Anko-sensei for...." Ino said nervously.
"It is, but you aren't in trouble." Tsunade interrupted and smiled. "For the last three years you've been holding back during training with your team, and more importantly on missions.... when were you going to tell us Ino?" Tsunade said and glared at Ino, but her smile never left her face.
Ino winced, glanced at Anko and Asuma who also glared at her, but like Tsunade it wasn't the 'you messed up' glare she'd seen so often at the academy and during training. Ino took a deep breath and sighed. "You want a full explination of why I didn't tell anyone and hid what I could do.... I knew this was coming." Ino explained her reasons, expanding on what she'd said yesterday. When she finished she was blushing red.
A red-faced Tsunade looked at the red-faced Anko and Asuma, who also had a small nosebleed. "Well.... I didn't expect a.... forty-five minute explanation, and very detailed too.... but you always were a talker Ino. I take it Naruto is the only other person that knows this?"
Ino nodded. "Hai, there's a little more, but I can't tell you Tsunade-sama. I know as Hokage you need to know anything important about your shinobi, but I promised Naruto-sama I won't tell anyone.... and no offense Tsunade-sama.... but nothing you can do to me is worse than what Naruto will do if I break my promise to him. Without his permission I can't tell you, but I ask you not to go to him." Ino said and bowed in her seat.
Tsunade raised her eyebrows and glanced at Anko, Asuma and Shizune. "Ino, is it anything that would hurt Konoha or anyone living here?"
Ino thought a moment. "No Tsunade-sama, only myself and someone very important to me.... not Naruto, but I'd trust this person with my life." Ino said seriously.
"I'm guessing you have a.... special relationship with this person, and since you didn't say if they were male or female you want to protect their identity. If it is strictly a personal matter I'll let it go as you're entitled to your privacy, but from now on I want to be kept informed about any new techniques or jutsu you create.... understood?" Tsunade said seriously.
Ino nodded. "I guess you want a full debriefing on my fighting style and all my jutsu."
Tsunade nodded, opened a drawer in her desk, took out a large manilla folder and pushed it across her desk to Ino.
Ino leaned forward and read the label on it. "This is my private personal file, only certain Jounin, the Council and Hokage can see this, it has everything every teacher, Jounin, and doctor knows about me, and every psychological evaluation I've ever had whether I knew I was taking it or not, this file knows more about me than I do. I don't understand Tsunade-sama, legally I could be executed for even seeing this...."
Tsunade smiled. "Exactly Ino.... in four days you're going to be tested, pushed to your limits in every area.... and if you pass...." Tsunade paused to watch Ino squirm before she let her off the hook. "You'll be promoted to Special Jounin like Anko and given what ever help you need to truely master your own fighting style and jutsu.... and you'll be officially registered as it's creator and given similar rights as a Clan for their jutsu and techniques. Because of her special history and who trained her, Anko has a similar deal for her jutsu.
Ino's jaw hit the floor. "But Hinata, Hanabi, even Naruto...."
Tsunade shook her head. "Hinata and Hanabi's styles fall under the Hyuuga Clan's Gentle Fist as modified versions, off-shoots, but still belong to them and by relation through Hinata, the Namikaze Clan. What you did Ino was create a style and jutsu from the ground up, there's nothing similar in our records. From what I've seen, and especially what you said earlier, this is based around sex.... and is obviously meant for use against other kunoichi, correct?"
Ino blushed and nodded. "Hai, Tsunade-sama. Most men I can handle.... most of my problems on missions are from stronger kunoichi. My family's Mind Transfer Jutsu aren't very useful in a battle, leave me helpless when I do use them.... and even then I can only use it on one person."
Tsunade, Anko, Asuma and Shizune nodded in agreement.
"I'm not a natural like her, but my control is almost as good as Sakura's before Naruto Marked her. It took me a year of intense training to get my chakra control where it is now, I had to create my own exercises, but have them refined now so they specifically help with my jutsu. Shall I demonstrate one?" Ino said.
Tsunade nodded.
"This one came out of the jutsu I used on Sakura at Naruto's housewarming party, but it really originated from Temari who first did it for fun and made that jutsu, the rest is all me, she never took it any farther. This is the advanced level, and I've never done it to people before." Ino said, then she relaxed and focused her mind.
Anko, Tsunade and Shizune traded glances, they heard Ino say 'done it to people' and got a little nervous as they all hoped Ino wasn't about to do what they thought she was.
"Anything stronger needs hand signs." Ino said calmly then focused her gaze on the three older kunoichi in front of her, but didn't move her eyes.
Nothing happened for several moments, then Anko, Tsunade and Shizune suddenly gasped.
"Enough Ino!" Tsunade said then took a few breaths to regain her composure after Ino stopped, she glanced at Anko and Shizune and saw similar expressions.
Ino smirked. "Unlike with the full jutsus, I can't hold you in place and these are easily distrupted or blocked." Ino said, then a moment later three, four inch high, barely visible tornados appeared on Tsunade's desk and danced in place. "These are what you felt.... I can make up to six of these at once, but I can't move them unless it's in my hand." Ino held up her right hnad, palm upward, and a moment later another appeared in her hand, she moved her hand around and it stayed on her palm.
"This reminds me of how a Rasengan is made." Tsunade said, noticably impressed.
Ino looked at Tsunade confused. "Huh?"
Tsunade gave Ino a devious smile. "Ino.... how focused can you make these little tornados?"
Ino was confused and nervous. "Why, Tsunade-sama?"
----10:12 AM, Namikaze Mansion----
Naruto stood in the bedroom at the other end of the hallway from his, it was currently occupied by Hanami and her husband Kyouda. "Are you sure you want to give up your room?"
Hanami smiled. "Hai, Naruto-sama. It's our pleasure to step aside for your mother." Hanami and Kyoudo bowed. "Besides, the Haruno Compound will be livable in two days, though the rest won't be complete for another two weeks.... far ahead of schedule because of your assistance with Shadow Clones."
Naruto smiled. "Well since I learned how to build with jutsu making my other place, I had to help you get your new home finished sooner."
"You mean Sakura-chan got sick of having us around all the time." Kyuodo said, chuckled and grunted when his wife elbowed him in the stomach.
Naruto and Kushina laughed.
"What my husband meant to say is we're smothering Sakura-chan's independence. She's a new bride and pregnant with her first child.... she doesn't need all her relatives hanging around her all day. We'll get hotel rooms while the living quarters of our new home are finished then move in. Your hospitality has been beyond generous, but we can't impose on you any longer Naruto-sama." Hanami said politely, then suddenly reached out and put her right index finger over Naruto's lips. "Please do not try to argue with us, we discussed this last night. As one mother to another Kushina-sama, I can't allow your son to be inconvienenced any longer." Hanami said then removed her finger.
"Naruto-kun please let her go, I know how much you care for your friends and family, but she's right.... let them do this." Kushina said warmly to Naruto.
Naruto looked at Kushina and sighed. "Hai, but they're my family too since I married Sakura, but you were going to move out soon anyway. I can't say no to my Kaa-san." Naruto said and smiled.
Kushina smiled and gave Naruto a huge motherly hug. "I'll never get tired of hearing that!" Kushina said as a small tear of happiness ran down her left cheek, her right cheek pressed tight to Naruto's face..
Despite the tight hug Naruto didn't even try to escape as he normally would, he wanted to savor every moment he could in his mother's arms, it was a feeling he'd been denied his entire life.
"Awwwww isn't the little baby cute in his mommy's arms, I can't wait to tell everyone." A female said in the overly sweet voice similar to what adults use on babies.
Everyone turned to see Sakura in the doorway with the silliest smile they ever saw on her face, Hinata and Tayuya stood behind her red-faced from holding in their laughter.
Naruto pulled out of his mother's arms and glared at Sakura. "You're soooo dead Sakura-chan! You say one word to anyone and I'll shove a Rasengan up your ass!"
Sakura squealed in mock fear, slipped past Hinata and Tayuya and ran down the hall to her room.
Naruto ran after her, but paused at the doorway. "Not one word from either of you!" Naruto pointed his finger at them and ran down the hallway to pound on Sakura's door while he yelled at her.
Kushina looked at Hinata in amused confusion. "Are they always like that Hinata-chan?"
"As long as I've known them Kushina-chan." Hinata said.
"He won't really hurt her will he?" Kushina said with only a tiny bit of worry.
Hinata shook head. "No. He'll get her back.... but Naruto-kun won't do anything to her she can't handle." Hinata said and giggled knowingly.
Kushina raised an eyebrow, she didn't like how Hinata said the last line, but decided to drop it, they seemed to have established relationships she'd have to learn. "Thank you Hinata-chan.... I'd like to talk to you later about Naruto-kun and his friends, there's a lot I need to know."
Hinata smiled, nodded, them turned and left with Tayuya.
----10:28 AM, Tsunade's Office----
Ino, a big smile on her face, stood, bowed and left Tsunade's office.
"You blonde bitches have all the luck." Anko said in a playful but annoyed voice.
"Thank you Anko." Tsunade said with big foxy smile and elbowed Anko in the side.
"If you weren't Hokage I'd take your giant tits and...." Anko said as she started to make a motion with her hands like she was wringing out a wet towel. "Oh forget it! I'm going home to see Kuri-chan. Later Tsunade-sama." Anko said, nodded and vanished in a swirl of leaves.
Tsunade turned to Asuma and Shizune. "Anko is really mellowing."
Asuma nodded in agreement. "Definitely.... she didn't even draw a kunai. You should see my office though.... I stopped trying to fix all the kunai holes in my walls and desk years ago." Asuma said and chuckled. "If this keeps up though maybe I'll finally be able to redo my office.... but please don't tell her I said that."
Tsunade and Shizune smirked and nodded.
----10:56 AM, Yamanaka Flower Shop----
Ino walked in the front door and saw her mom behind the counter. "Hi mom, is dad here I have big news!" Ino said excitedly.
Inoiki smiled. "Hai, he's in back."
Inoichi walked through the curtain from the back as he wiped his hands. "What happened Princess?"
Ino's smile grew ear-to-ear, she dashed across the room and leapt into her father's arms. "I'M GONNA TAKE THE SPECIAL JOUNIN TEST!!!!" Ino shrieked at the top of her lungs as she hugged her father's neck so tightly she almost cut off his air and circulation.
Inoichi went bug-eyed, Inoiki fell off her stool behind the counter.
Inoichi managed to pry Ino off him after a minute when Inoiki joined them. "Wait a minute princess.... how can they do that? No offense, but you're mid-Chuunin at best...." Inoichi saw the familiar 'I'm hiding something' look on her face, turned to his wife and was shocked to see the same expression. Inoichi furrowed his brow and crossed his arms over his chest. "Ino, Inoiki.... one of you start talking or neither of you will leave the shop for a month."
"I've been training myself in secret for three years, I created my own fighting style and jutsu, you saw a little of it at Naruto-kun's housewarming party when I fought Sakura-chan. I also have my own place in the woods that Naruto built for me, it's a couple miles from here, inside Konoha's walls, and I sparred with Anko yesterday when I showed it to all my friends.... and I almost beat her. I've been hiding my true skill level from everyone, except Naruto. Mom was there and saw everything, that's where she was yesterday while you were at that meeting with Ibiki." Ino said quickly but smoothly.
Inoichi let that sink in a moment. "Wait a minute Ino.... you mean you fought with Anko.... Anko Mitarashi.... and almost beat her?"
Ino swallowed nervously and nodded. "Hai."
"Inoichi-kun.... Ino-chan has gotten very strong, I'm really proud of her and hope you are too. I'm not sure we can tell you the whole story because much of it is classified an S-Rank secret right now, you'll have to talk to Tsunade-sama." Inoiki said and hugged her husband.
Inoichi looked at Ino. "If you really did almost beat Anko in a fight then I'm very proud of you Princess, but you know how I feel about lies. When I get back the three of us are going to have a long talk." Inoichi said then vanished.
"That didn't go quite like I expected, but I'm happy he's proud of me. I hope he'll train me in our family jutsu for the test. I know I haven't trained in it with him as much as he wanted, but I'm ready now. I may even have a trick or two for him I've learned in the last three years." Ino said and smiled at her mom.
Inoiki smiled back. "Just be careful Ino-chan, your father is much stronger than you think."
End Chapter 52
