Next chapter of A Father's Wrath. After being healed and back in action, Naruto heads back to Sound. Also Tsunade is made Hokage as well. This and more.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
"I am not pleased." Said the Leader of Akatsuki as the entire group was meeting. All of them where there though some of them where projected by an image due to them being away.
"Sir, it would have been suicide if we stayed to fight them." Explained Itachi Uchiha to him. He and Kisame Hoshigaki had attempted to capture the boy that contained the Kyuubi a day ago but due to the unexpected resistance of The Three Sannin, they where forced to retreat and Kisame had suffered a humiliating blow by The Slug Sannin when he attempted to fight her. "All of our combined might not be enough to defeat the Three Legendary Sannin of Konoha."
"Enough Itachi," Said the Leader and he looked over all the members. "It seems now that he is healed and is well again that luck is not on our side for the moment."
"If that broad hadn't sucker punched me I would've had him!" Said Kisame no doubt he was trying to save face after his humiliating defeat. "I would've killed Orochimaru and captured the boy if the rest of them hadn't-"
"Silence Kisame!" Ordered The Leader not wanting to put up with his whining. Some of the members such as Hidan and Deidara snickered as the swordsman had been defeated easily by Tsunade and he was trying to restore his reputation. "It appears for now we need to bide our time before we attempt to capture the fox again."
"We can handle whatever Orochimaru throws at us easily enough." Said Deidara with his arms crossed.
The leader ignored him. "Right now we need to make sure that an alliance between Oto and Konoha never happens."
"That is doubtful." Replied Konan the only female of the group. "I highly doubt that will happen considering what has happened. No doubt they still consider themselves enemies if Orochimaru is still in charge in Sound."
"True, but fear and uncertainly leads to alliances between groups. And the only reason they hate each other is because of that foolish snake. If he was gone and someone else ruled Sound an alliance between the two would not be out of the question."
"Do you truly believe that?" Asked Sasori to him.
"I have not lived for as long as I have and taken command of Rain by overlooking what many would think impossible. If Oto and Konoha somehow managed to put aside their differences and work together they would be a powerful force."
The members looked around at one another. "Now, now we wait, we still have other business to attend too aside from the fox who we would have to hold in a cell until we got the other eight. Go gather data on others and report what you find." Said Pein to them and the group slowly disappeared from the place leaving him all alone.
Pein sat on his throne and brought a hand to his chin and a small smirk showed on his face. He was willing to wait five centuries to achieve his goals. All he needed to do that was to have the one thing the man who gave him the idea to start the organization had told him.
"Patience…"
At The Land of Sound in the Village there was much cheering and celebration going on over the return of the Otokage and his son who had recently returned.
On the steps leading to the Otokage's headquarters stood Orochimaru, on his left side was Kabuto, Sakon, Kidomaru, and Haku who had also returned with Zabuza's sword. On his right side was Jirobo, Kimimaro, Tayuya and the newly healed Naruto. A smile was on Orochimaru's face as he looked down at the cheering throng of people who where overjoyed that he and Naruto had returned.
Orochimaru turned to his bodyguards who bowed in respect to him. "I trust you ruled well in my absence Kabuto?" He said to his advisor.
"Yes my lord, but it was Tayuya who helped us the most in your absence as she organized the scouts and your men to find you." Kabuto said to him.
Naruto looked over at Tayuya who was standing beside him. The girl looked back at him but didn't say a thing to him. Although he could tell she was happy that he was back and alive as well.
Orochimaru looked out to the mass sea of people. "I have returned and so has my son! Now healed from his wounds the strength of Sound increases! Our strength shall continue to grow. We still have those that would wish to do us harm and take away what we hold dear. But we shall not waver in the face of our enemies! We shall defeat all those who dare to attack us, my people I only ask that you keep lending me the same strength that you have given me since I become your ruler five years ago!"
The crowd cheered as one and Orochimaru looked over them and turned to the others and spoke to the crowd again
"When the day comes when Naruto takes over the position as Otokage from me I ask that you serve him as well and as loyally as you have served me so that The Land of Sound shall continue to prosper!" The crowd cheered again this time louder than before showing their support.
Orochimaru turned and exited smirking as he heard the cheering.
The others left as well but Naruto stayed behind and looked over the village that he would one day rule.
In Konoha there was also a celebration and festival going on due to the newly made Hokage. Jiriaya had returned and he had brought with him a person no one expected to see again. Tsunade had returned to the village after a twelve year absence taking up the position of Hokage from her departed Sensei Sarutobi. There was much celebration going on as the people had a reason to feel good about life again. Already some sculptors where getting ready to carve her face into the mountain along with the past Hokages.
Sakura Haruno looked around the village as she saw children running around playing and noticed how much differently it was only a day ago. Now that Tsunade had returned and has taken up the position of Hokage the village was on its way to recovering. But she couldn't up but think about a certain teammate of hers who she had seen gotten attacked. From what she had heard Tsunade had healed him. She still wanted to see him and tell him she was his friend.
"Hey forehead girl! Are you gonna join the fun or not?" Asked Ino to her. Sakura shook her head and went to join the festival.
Though she did put it in the back of her head to visit The New Hokage.
Not everyone was happy about the New Hokage though. Although he had a happy facade and seemed glad to everyone else the evil man known as Danzo was furious on the inside. In his home along with some of his most trusted men of ROOT he cursed Jiriaya and that damn woman for coming back. He ranted and raved as his followers where silent as they had ruined his chance to become Hokage which was something he desired so much only to have them snatch it away from him.
"Damn them, Damn them all!!" He cursed shaking his fist at the fools outside. "The position of Hokage was suppose to be mine! I have given an arm and an eye for this pitiful village, fought in the Great Wars, and this is how they repay me? By getting that blasted woman to take what should rightfully be mine!"
"But sir I thought that you where-" One began to speak up
"Silence!" Shouted Danzo slapping him with his one arm. "Don't ever interrupt me again! These damn fools, they are like sheep. They will follow anyone if they think they will lead them to safety, yet they are unaware that I, only I am worthy of being their leader!"
"You did plan a coup with Hanzo the former ruler of Rain before sir, but that failed when he died and was replaced." Another said bravely.
Danzo shook his head if it hadn't been for Hanzo's untimely death he would be the ruler. "Think Danzo think! There must be a way to get those fools to realize the truth! If only that blasted Orochimaru had killed Jiriaya as well-"
An idea dawned on him suddenly as he was mumbling to himself. An idea that if it worked would be enough to give him the support he needed to take what should rightfully be his.
He exited his chambers and headed for the Headquarters of ROOT which he ruled over, they where all well trained expert assassin's and fighters, each one a deadly foe with no remorse over killing as they had no emotions and as he looked over them he saw one that interested him.
"Sai! Come here my boy." He ordered with a sly smile and the emotionless ninja stepped forth and bowed respectfully to him. "I have a mission for you, come with me."
The two walked and Danzo pulled him aside. "Do you remember that accursed brat Naruto Uzumaki?" He asked him and Sai nodded. "He once lived here you know, until he abandoned us and joined Sound who he no doubt aided in attacking our home. He is a missing nin and a criminal as far as I'm concerned."
Sai looked at him. "But sir, Sarutobi-"
"Is buried under a pile of rocks." Danzo said dryly. "Sarutobi's main weakness was that he was too soft hearted, if it was me I would've had the boy assassinated the minute he was born. He may have pardoned him but look what happened. Women lost their husbands, children lost their fathers, due to one old man's foolishness. This is what I want you to do Sai, I want you to go to Oto, find him and kill him." He said coldly.
"Would that be wise Danzo-sama?"
Danzo smirked. "Imagine if Sound gets its strength back again, they would try to attack us again and this time with the full power of a nine tailed fox we would not be able to stop them. We must cut off their source of power before its too late. Do it Sai, do it for me." He said putting his hand on his shoulder.
Sai bowed to him. "I will do it, I will accept this mission."
"That's my boy, now plan carefully and don't rush off right away as you will be in enemy territory. Learn his strength and weaknesses first before you attack, I give you one month to complete the assignment, understood?"
Sai nodded and left prepared to get ready for his mission.
"Stupid fool…" Muttered Danzo with a grin on his face as he watched him go off. "But if he succeeds and what I suspect happens does, I'll take what is mine."
In Oto…
It was nighttime in the village and three figures where walking around. It was a rare time for them as they where out of their ninja gear and dressed in casual clothing instead, which was something they didn't do much due to all that had happened recently.
Haku was wearing a pair of blue pants and a brown buttoned up shirt. Tayuya had a pair of jeans and a white blouse with her hair out as she didn't have her hat on and Naruto was wearing a black shirt and grey pants.
"A lot has happened since I got knocked out huh?" Asked Naruto to them.
"I guess you could say that, I got Zabuza-sama's sword." Answered Haku.
"Yeah but a lot of crazy shit happened here with those two jerkasses attacking." Muttered Tayuya to them.
"There's also something I want to talk to you guys about." Naruto said and the two stopped walking. He turned around and looked at them. "Why? Why didn't you guys tell me about that attack in Konoha?" He said quietly.
Both Haku and Tayuya didn't answer, instead they both looked down at the ground. "C'mon guys speak up why didn't you tell me that was going to happen? I would've liked to know what was going to happen before you know I'm almost trampled to death and fighting for my life."
Haku started to speak up. "We…"
"Haku you started to say something before but stopped leaving me in the dark, Tayuya you didn't say a thing." Naruto interrupted with a frown. "That's all I want to know is why you guys didn't tell me that was going to happen."
Tayuya didn't say anything and Haku had a sad look on his face. Naruto however was starting to lose his patience with them. "C'mon dammit! Tell me, that's all I want to know. You guys are my friends right? In some places friend means trust, and if I can't trust you then that means you're not my-"
"We were afraid you would hate us…" Tayuya said stopping his outburst. He turned his head to look at her. "You are pretty much the first friend either of us had had before, I had thought at times about telling you when I learned what was going to happen but I feared that you would hate me and the rest of Sound for what we planned to do."
Naruto looked at her and then Haku spoke up. "I didn't know what to do when I overheard what was going to happen, I was torn between telling you or keeping quiet. If I told you, you may have hated us or your father as you only wanted to compete in the exams, I don't know what would have happened if I told you and you knew what was going to happen."
"We didn't mean to hide it from you Naruto it just was, I was afraid. Afraid you'd hate me again like everyone else did when I was a kid after I lost my parents." Tayuya said to him as sincere as he ever heard her.
"How do you think we felt? We didn't want to betray your friendship, as friendship is one of the few things that is worth fighting and living for in this world. If you hate us I can understand why you're upset and may no longer consider us a friend." Said Haku
Naruto was quiet for a minute but then spoke up "I don't hate you, either of you. I still consider you my friends despite what happened. We are a team remember? But more importantly you guys are my friends first and foremost. You two where among the few people I've ever could first trust that I had and the first friends I've had ever since I came to Sound." The two raised their heads and looked at him. "I'm upset still that you guys didn't tell me yeah, but don't think I hate you, you guys are my friends."
The two looked at him and slowly a smile formed on their faces.
Naruto held out his hand in the middle between them. "Are we friends? Teammates who would give his or her life for the other? Is that what we are?"
Haku put his hand in the middle as well next to his. "We are." He said a grin on his face.
Tayuya looked at them and put her hand in as well in between them. "Until we all kick the bucket I guess we're stuck forever like this." She said to them.
The three smiled and looked at one another their friendship as strong as ever.
Later that night after saying goodbye to Haku who was heading back to his apartment, Naruto was walking with Tayuya to her home. As he walked with her to the door they stopped in front of it.
"Well, goodnight Naruto, I'll see you in the morning." Said Tayuya to him as she unlocked the door and went to go inside.
"Hey Tayuya," Naruto called out to her making her stop. He then stopped and hesitated for a moment. "Remember during the exams I asked if you wanted to go out on a date? Well if I wondering, if it's alright with you and if you're not doing anything this Saturday… will you go out with me?" Tayuya looked at him a surprised look on her face at the unexpected question. She had remembered it and had tried to get him to remember it when it was in a coma but she thought nothing would ever come of it.
Seeing her expression Naruto had a feeling in his gut that she wouldn't accept it. But to his surprise she smiled at him.
"I'd like that, we could go see a movie or some crazy crap." Said Tayuya. "I'll see you later Naruto." She shut the door leaving him outside.
Naruto smiled and left her home as he headed back feeling good that he had asked her that. All he needed to do was get ready for Saturday.
In Grass Country…
A figure ran through the woods at a fast pace, making sure that he wasn't leaving any tracks as he ran. Every now and then he would look back to make sure no one was after him. He stumbled and lost his footing and fell to the ground but quickly got up and continued running. If he was caught he would pay dearly for what he had done.
But if he succeeded the rewards would be beyond imagination so he was promised.
He kept running as fast as his feet would carry him, soon he saw a cave and he smirked as he reached his destination. Walking to the cave he peered inside and saw a light fire.
A man sat on the floor huddled to the small fire. He had on a cloak and a hood to cover himself as he raised his head and saw him enter. "Did you get it?" He asked him and the man who was a servant of the chieftain of a nearby small village smirked and reached towards his pant pocket.
"I had to steal it, this was the Chief's son's gift to his bride, I just stole it on the eve of their wedding. The groom has promised to find and cut off the hands of whoever took it and feed them to his pet dogs." He said as he pulled out a ring. A ring with a red ruby on in the center of it.
The figure stood up and took it and looked at it and smiled under his hood seeing that it was the real ring. "Good, you have served me well." He put the ring on his middle finger on his left hand next to a ring with a blue sapphire on it. He than started to head out of the cave when he was stopped by the villager.
"Hey! What about our deal? You promised that you would reward me handsomely if I got you that ring!" He shouted accusingly at him.
The figure turned to face him and bowed. "But of course…my apologies." He said and raised his hand with the rings on them.
A red light filled the cave followed by a scream of horror. When the light subsided The Figure walked to the entrance of the cave and looked at his two rings and then at the moon.
"Two done, six to go and I can feel the presence of the other rings." He said as he sensed them. The rings where drawn to one another able to detect the other's presence no matter how far they might be separated. "They are out there I know it, and I shall not stop until I've obtained all of them! But the chains of destiny are not made instantly, they are linked together piece by piece. I shall find them one at a time and when I do I shall have my revenge!"
Laughing as he exited the cave the figure made his way out of Grass as he continued his search.
A/N: And this chapter's done! I hoped you enjoyed it! Next time, Naruto faces his toughest challenge yet. It's not Sasuke, It's not Gaara, It's a date with Tayuya! But with Sai aiming for him Naruto's first date might be his last. Review please!
