Chapter 36: Immortal
Since he became Kazekage, Gaara had presided over his fair share of funerals. It was never pleasant, but it was his duty, and he had known many of the deceased personally, which allowed him to honour their departure in a manner they deserved.
Chiyo's funeral had been a quiet affair. A moment of silence had been held in her honour as soon as her death was confirmed, and her body had been laid to rest without any delay. Her grave had been marked with a headstone by her brother Ebizo, something that she had opposed in her life.
Many of the villagers had gathered to pay their respects to the esteemed elder. All that was left was for Gaara to give a short speech.
"Lady Chiyo showed incredible courage in choosing to aid our comrades from the Leaf in battle, long after she had retired from active duty. Her expertise proved to be a key factor in defeating Sasori of the Red Sand and bringing our village's greatest criminal to justice. She is the reason why I am standing before you today.
"A ninja's legacy is said to be defined by the nature of their death, whether it happens in ignominy or in honour, at peace or in war. Lady Chiyo was a pillar of our village, someone whose contributions have made an enormous impact that will help our village grow for generations to come. She was also someone who made many mistakes, mistakes that were greater than you might imagine.
"In her final moments, Lady Chiyo showed the strength of character to acknowledge her past and make amends. She gave her life so that the next generation of the Hidden Sand could live to succeed where she could not.
"I urge you to take heed from her example. It does not matter who you are or what you've done, for as long as you draw breath, you have the chance to right your wrongs and change yourself for the better. It is in our nature to stumble and to fail, but it is also within our capacity to rise up and help those who are struggling. By doing so, the Hidden Sand and everyone who calls this village home shall truly prosper."
After he finished, Gaara closed his eyes and gave a silent prayer.
He had not known Chiyo very well before her passing, but he had known of her role in sealing Shukaku within him. She was following his father's orders, and as such, he had hated her on principle. The main reason why she had avoided his wrath was because there were always other targets in front of him.
When they'd met for the first time, however, it was after he had let go of his hatred. She had regretted his sealing, and he had accepted her apology for what it was. What good was expressing remorse when the deed had already been done? What good was harbouring resentment for something that could not be changed?
Positive action could be manifested from remorse. Acceptance could be found when resentment was re-examined through reflection. There was no point in clinging onto hatred. Although, he knew from experience that learning to let go was far from the easiest of tasks.
Gaara opened his eyes and saw the awe and adoration of the villagers reflected in their gazes. There was no hint of fear that he could detect. People had cried tears of joy because he had returned to them.
It was still hard to grasp that he was respected, but he cherished it. It was harder to believe that he was alive. He had failed to defeat Deidara, yet he had succeeded in defending the village from his explosives. Knowing his people would continue to live helped him make peace with his imminent death.
And yet, here he stood, because Chiyo had sacrificed her life to bring him back from the dead.
It would take time for it to sink in, and after the crowd had departed, Gaara lingered at Chiyo's grave, reflecting on how so much had changed. What would his father say if he could see him now? What would his uncle Yashamaru say?
Their treatment and betrayal was a wound that had long since closed, but every now and then, a remnant of the pain they inflicted would flare up, reminding him of his past. He took heart in knowing that he would not repeat the mistakes of his predecessors, confident that he had found a better path as a leader and as a man.
Gaara heard the rustling of the wind, then the shuffling of light footsteps.
"So this is where you've been," Naruto said, and when Gaara faced his friend, he saw him smiling.
When Naruto had left the Hidden Sand, he had still been dealing with trauma and despair. He had bottled up his pain and closed himself off, but Gaara had empathized, for he had gone through a very similar ordeal. It was only fair that he helped Naruto heal, as Naruto had helped him.
Now, his posture was relaxed, hands at his sides and shoulders loose. They were still the same height, and his blue eyes were shining with barely any hint of anguish or anger.
"It's good to see you," Gaara said. The sun was pretty low in the sky. Perhaps his musing had taken more time than he assumed.
"How are you?" Naruto asked.
Gaara let the question settle in his mind. It wasn't a conversation starter, and Naruto's voice had quavered slightly, so saying that he was doing well wouldn't be a satisfactory answer.
"Tired." He had been healed, but fatigue was an anchor weighing on his limbs, and for the first time in his existence, sleep seemed like an appealing prospect. "Grateful. Most of all, I am happy to be here, among the living."
Naruto beamed. "So am I. I'm glad you're with us, Gaara."
Gaara nodded. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing really well," Naruto said. "I got my head sorted out, I learned a bunch of new jutsu, I made some good friends. I even got the Nine-Tails to help me out!" His friend's smile dimmed. "Oh, right."
Gaara frowned. "It is an unfortunate loss."
He wouldn't have said that if Yugito Nii had never introduced the idea that tailed beasts were more than just monsters. During the handful of times they had met over the years, she had given him tips on how to communicate with Shukaku through her own experience, and they had forged a bond that went beyond their shared burdens.
Admittedly, Gaara had been concerned. Shukaku had made his life miserable, preventing him from falling asleep and doing everything it could to erode his seal. The Sand were adept at sealing, but Shukaku was good at adapting. After all, it had managed to escape from a tea kettle.
Occasionally, the tailed beast would talk, which was how he learned that Shukaku was not a spirit that had taken the form of an old priest. The myth had formed because Shukaku's first jinchūriki had owned a tea kettle and was kept under a strict guard, locked away from the outside world.
At any rate, the jinchūriki – Bunpuku – had shown kindness to Shukaku, but that had been the exception to the rule, and Shukaku was not willing to be friends with anyone who would eventually die. Still, Gaara persisted, and he was close to befriending Shukaku before the Akatsuki attacked.
The clarity of mind their separation brought was not worth the pain that Shukaku must have been experiencing.
He held up a hand, particles of sand floating around his fingertips. "He will not be forgotten."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah, he won't."
It was a surprise to find that he could still control sand. He had assumed that it was a gift from Shukaku being sealed within him just before his birth, but it appeared that this ability might have had another source. Perhaps Yashamaru's theory that the sand contained his mother's will and her love wasn't a fanciful lie.
As he knew how to control the sand with his own chakra, such pondering was ultimately wasteful thinking.
"I beat Deidara," Naruto said, clenching a fist. His expression was unguarded, eyes brimming with emotion. "I killed him, because he kidnapped you. He... he sat on your corpse, and he told me that nobody would come to rescue you. He was wrong."
Gaara felt something warm emerge in his chest. "Thank you, Naruto."
Naruto smiled again, before glancing at Chiyo's gravestone. It reminded Gaara of how Chiyo walked to the village while being held upright with one of the Nine-Tailed Fox's tails.
"Why did you help Chiyo?" Gaara asked.
Naruto kept his gaze locked on the gravestone, but loosened his fist. "She saved you. It was proof that whatever she did, she was willing to make things right. So I thought she should see the village she fought for one last time."
He frowned. "Why do you think people do such bad things for their village? I get it when it comes to fighting an enemy, but when it comes to hurting your own people, especially your friends or family? I just don't get why."
Gaara frowned as well. This was an answer he still hadn't found. "It might be because they want their village to prosper, and see no better alternative to stopping the violence and suffering this world of ours inflicts on us. However, finding that alternative is a challenge in itself.
"I have sent my fellow ninja to their deaths, and even if it is always with their consent, and the understanding that they are never doing something that I wouldn't do, it is always disheartening to see my comrades' lives cut short. If it meant preventing their deaths, I would do whatever it takes to protect them."
"Would you betray your people?"
"Never," Gaara said.
He was grateful that he had never been forced to make the decisions his father had made. It would be something he'd immediately refuse, and the cost in doing so might be too great to endure. Death was not the worst fate one could face.
"Our way of life is a harsh one, too harsh. I want the Hidden Sand to be a village where nobody is treated as a tool to be discarded or a weapon without a heart. The day may come when we do not have to kill one another to achieve success, and no one will ever know the suffering we faced."
Naruto's eyes glazed over, like a smooth piece of glass. "Do you think you'll ever achieve that kind of peace?"
Gaara sighed. "I don't know, but it is a dream worth fighting for."
Naruto faced him, and his smile was bittersweet. "You're really something, Gaara. Lady Chiyo said that I had the power to change the world for the better, and I wasn't sure how to do that. After listening to you talk... maybe there is a way."
He frowned, and the change in his demeanour was so sudden that it nearly gave Gaara pause. The only visible emotion on his face was determined focus. "We have to defeat the Akatsuki first, though."
"What will you do after the Akatsuki are defeated?" Gaara asked.
"I'm going to enjoy my life," Naruto said. "I always thought that I'd become Hokage, but even if you became Kazekage, things are different in the Leaf."
Gaara stared at Naruto. "There's no reason why you can't become Hokage. Even if you believe that there are people who will oppose your bid, you are more than capable of convincing them."
Naruto chuckled. "Maybe."
He didn't seem convinced. It might have been related to his past trauma, but if someone was foolish enough to betray Naruto, then that was their loss.
"Whatever you choose to do, you will have my support," Gaara said. "You have saved my life twice now, so it is only fair that I return the favour."
A genuine smile blossomed across Naruto's face. "Thanks, Gaara, but you've already saved me."
Gaara's eyes widened. He'd helped Naruto, but to think that his words had that much of an impact...
Naruto turned around, and Gaara heard someone approaching them. He recognized the girl: it was Matsuri, a genin with short brown hair. He had personally trained her while she was in the Academy.
"Lord Gaara!" she said. "Lady Temari asked me to come find you."
"Lady?" Naruto asked.
"Temari is one of my most trusted advisors," Gaara said. "And you are aware of her skill."
Naruto smiled, but it was restrained. Was it because of Matsuri's presence? "I know. Well, I'll won't keep you. It was nice talking to you, Gaara."
The wind burst around Naruto, and he was gone, leaving Gaara alone with Matsuri.
"Is Temari still at my office?" Gaara asked.
Matsuri shook her head. "She said she had something she wanted to take care of." Her cheeks flushed when they made eye contact. "That was the guy who saved you, wasn't he?"
Gaara smiled. "Yes. He is a good friend."
As much as he would have enjoyed talking to Naruto, there was work to be done. Routine had a peculiar habit of asserting itself in times of dramatic upheaval, and time waited for no one, not even the resurrected.
The talk Naruto had with Gaara had been really invigorating, and he was incredibly proud of what Gaara had accomplished so far. The villagers loved him and respected him, and it made him believe that becoming Hokage could actually be more than just a childhood dream.
Of course, he'd need a reason to become Hokage, and try as he might, he couldn't really think of one. He'd earned a strong reputation as the Blade of Illusion. He had real bonds with Jiraiya and Gaara, and he was good friends with Temari. Kakashi had proven himself to be trustworthy, and Naruto had amicable dealings with a good number of ninja from the Leaf.
All he'd wanted from becoming Hokage was acknowledgement and respect, and he already had both. So taking on the gargantuan responsibilities that came with the position wasn't necessary. It wasn't really enticing, either. He wasn't like Gaara, a man with a dream and the conviction he needed to achieve it.
Destroying the Akatsuki was his goal, and as long as they were still around, there wasn't much point in thinking about becoming the next Hokage.
Since he'd already eaten dinner, it was high time that Naruto returned to his hotel room. The sun was about to set, and it had been a really long day. Just as he was about to head there, he felt a familiar chakra signature approaching him.
"Naruto?" Temari said, after she came around the street corner.
"Hey, Temari," Naruto said.
Temari's eyes turned upward, meeting his. "You've gotten tall."
Naruto smiled. The top of Temari's head was level with his nose. "I know. It feels great."
"I can tell," she said. She came up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, enveloping him in a warm hug. He immediately returned it.
"It's good to see you, Naruto," she said, whispering in his ear.
"It's good to see you, too," he said.
She released him first, and when he let go, he saw her smile at him.
"You're not busy, are you?" Temari asked.
Naruto shook his head. "Not really."
"Excellent," she said. "There's a place I want to show you. I'd like it if you could come with me."
He smiled. "What are we waiting for?"
If it wasn't for the fact that it was pretty late, he might have assumed that they were going out for another long day of training. Except, that wasn't the case. They were on an excursion, walking through a village that was so familiar to him.
He hadn't been in the Hidden Sand for more than a year and Gaara had just come back from the dead, but the villagers he saw were still burning the daylight oil like they always did. There were shopkeepers in the midst of business, ninja running on rooftops and people enjoying an early supper.
Routine had a way of keeping people tethered to reality, and routine had helped him re-align himself when he was wallowing in the mire created by his thoughts. If Gaara had shown him that he could truly move on, Temari had made him realize that he didn't have to punish himself because of someone else's wrongdoing.
"We're here," Temari said. "What do you think?"
They were standing on a cliff overlooking the Hidden Sand. The sun was setting, bringing a comforting warmth in its rays that reflected off mirrors and scattered everywhere in dazzling orange and red light.
"It's a nice view," Naruto said. "I'd go on top of the Hokage Monument whenever I was feeling down. It helped me forget about whatever was bothering me."
Temari smiled. "That's why I like coming here. Seeing the village like this reminds me of what I have, and what I've fought for. It gives me the courage to keep on fighting."
"Is it because of the village itself?"
"Not exactly," she said. "I love living here, but the Hidden Sand is what it is because of the people inside it, and the culture and ideals we've made for ourselves. Everything we have, we've earned through hard work and grit. It's made us strong and resilient... but it's made us harsh, too."
"How do you mean?" Naruto asked.
A frown crossed Temari's face. "I used to love lording my superiority over people I thought were weaker than me, because I fought for my strength and they had the gall to be complacent. I never thought I was wrong to do that until someone else did it to me."
They made eye contact, and Temari's teal eyes were laced with remorse.
"Did you ever get a chance to talk to Tenten?" Naruto asked.
She nodded. "I did, not long after you left us. I apologized for how I humiliated her, and fortunately, she accepted it."
"That's good to hear."
He saw the pensive look that enveloped her face. "It's one thing to condemn someone for being weak, but it's another thing to help them find their strength. That's what I try to live by these days."
It made him wonder why she never helped Gaara before, but she had been terrified of him to the point that her little brother was her greatest fear. He couldn't blame her; Gaara was a monster back then, and she didn't have much chance of helping him understand.
Witnessing someone's pain wasn't the same as experiencing it.
"I wish more people could understand that," Naruto said.
"That's why what Gaara's doing is so important. He's living proof that you can be better than what you were the day before, that even if things seem bleak, you can turn your whole life around. It takes courage to make that choice, and it's up to us to help them realize that."
"You're right."
It was almost exactly what Gaara had told him, and if Temari was working as an ambassador and as one of Gaara's advisors, she was expressing Gaara's ideals on a larger scale than he imagined.
"How long has it been since you left the Leaf?" Temari asked.
Naruto gazed at the Hidden Sand, mouth pressed in a thin line. "Almost three years. Why do you ask?"
"Shikamaru was asking about you," she said. "I told him you visited us, and he wanted to know how you were doing."
He tensed up. "What did you tell him?"
"I said you were doing well for yourself. Getting stronger. It wasn't my place to tell him everything that happened to you."
Naruto sighed in relief. "Thanks for doing that. How are things going with Shikamaru?"
"Pretty well, actually. I've been trying to get him to take a promotion to jōnin, but he's perfectly content in staying at chūnin. He's gotten a lot stronger and he knows how to lead, but apparently, all the work would be too much of a drag."
A broad smile tugged at Naruto's lips. "That sounds like him." He stared at her once more. "I can't thank you enough for how you've helped me."
Temari smiled, tenderly. "Seeing you like this is thanks enough."
"What do you mean?"
"You're a lot happier than you were before. More sure of yourself."
He shrugged. "I had a lot of help." The sun's last rays flashed in his eyes, and he held his arm over his head to block out its blinding light. But Temari was basking in the light, almost glowing from its radiance.
"It's funny," Temari said. "I always wanted my brothers to know that they could rely on me for advice. I can do that now because you respected me enough to listen to what I had to say."
Naruto smiled. "I'm glad I could help you out." He took another look at the sky. It was dark purple, now that the sun had set. "It's getting late, isn't it?"
"It is, but before I let you go..." She kissed him on the cheek. "That's for saving Gaara. Thank you for everything you've done for us, Naruto."
His cheeks turned red, and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Just doing my job."
Naruto returned in his hotel room, sitting on its only bed. It just so happened to be the same room he'd lived in during his last visit to the Hidden Sand, and this time, it had been prepared just for him. It was a pretty nice gesture, and without having to find a place to stay, he could make the most of his time in the Sand.
It was really nice to know that he had helped Temari grow as a person. Considering how they first met and how ruthless she had been, it was a surprise that they were such good friends. But when she brought up Shikamaru, it had triggered some strange feelings in him.
Of course he didn't want his friend to worry about how he was doing, but at the same time, a small part of him wasn't sure if Shikamaru could be trusted. When he thought about it, though, it didn't seem right that Sarutobi would let a genin do such a secretive mission, no matter how smart Shikamaru was.
Even if he had been, the meeting that made them friends wouldn't have happened if Naruto never stumbled onto Team Ten's training ground, and when he thought about all of their interactions, Shikamaru hadn't ever lied to him, even if he could have spared his feelings.
Shikamaru had been a loyal and steadfast friend, someone he could truly trust. The same could be said for Teuchi and Ayame, since they weren't ninja, and he had a good feeling that he could trust Iruka, since he'd been friends with Iruka for such a long time.
He'd never forget how Iruka had fought for him against Mizuki, how he explained why he had grown to like him. There was no reason for Iruka to be given a loyalty mission, and even if he had, he'd only interacted with Iruka a handful of times since becoming a genin, and he had initiated those interactions.
Paranoia was poisonous, and unlike caution, there was never any good reason to feel it, since all it brought was doubt that distracted him and decayed his relationships.
He heard someone knocking on his door, derailing his train of thought. "It's open, Samui."
His partner came in, carrying her equipment. "This is your room, correct?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. Were you given a room?"
"Yes." Samui closed the door behind her. "I'll be staying here."
He didn't even blink at the statement. He didn't mind it, either. That didn't mean others wouldn't. "Are you sure that's –"
A kunai slammed into the wall. It was buried up to the handle, mere inches above his head. He looked at Samui, staring at his fellow blonde's blue eyes, then he smiled, and she nodded.
"I'll be taking a shower," she said, and she walked over to the adjoining bathroom before he could object.
"Don't waste the water!" Naruto shouted after her. He eyed the kunai once more. As soon as he heard the flowing of water, he pulled it out. Hopefully the hotel staff didn't complain, though he wouldn't be surprised if they did.
The fact that he was more worried about property damage than Samui attacking him would have unfathomable to an outsider, but to him, it was a clear sign that Samui trusted him. Samui could have stayed at her designated hotel room. It would have been well-stocked and well-furnished, more than enough for anyone to get a good night of rest.
She chose to stay with him instead. There was no risk of her being attacked by anyone inside the village, but she was aligned with him and no one else. That was why she had effectively handed him a weapon to kill her with while she was completely vulnerable in the shower, because she knew he'd use it to protect her if the need ever arose.
After all, they were comrades, so he knew that this action of hers was her way of expressing that. He'd thought that knowing how a woman was supposed to feel without them saying a word was ridiculous, but he could quickly decipher every little movement Samui made. He was in tune with every nuance of her expression and every shift of her mood.
How he'd gotten so familiar with her, he wasn't completely sure, but he wasn't complaining.
Samui walked back into his room, towel wrapped around her body. He let out a deep exhale, watching her approach his bed and sit on its edge. She didn't turn, granting him a glimpse of her shoulders and the nape of her neck. Her skin was smooth, almost completely pristine.
"There wasn't a shower," Samui said.
Naruto chuckled, before laying down on the bed. "It'd waste too much water. They have running water, but you saw the sponges, didn't you?"
"I did. Are you speaking from experience?"
"I spent a few weeks here to do some training." Naruto hooked his finger inside the kunai's circular tip and spun it a few times. "It really helped me."
"Did you get used to the lack of water?"
"I did."
"How?"
Naruto stared at the ceiling. "There were more important things to worry about."
"Like the Akatsuki?"
"Yeah," he said, flippantly. "How did you find out where I was staying?"
Samui looked over her shoulder, down at him. "One of the Sand ninja showed me. She said she was a friend of yours."
Naruto smiled. "Temari, right?"
"Yes. I remember seeing you fight her one time, and now you're friends."
His smile widened. "You'd be surprised at how often that's happened."
"Not when you're involved," she said. The corner of her lip tugged up. "How did it happen?"
"She helped train me when I was here. It's why I'm so good at Wind Style jutsu."
"Do you train with every girl you meet?"
"Only the ones I grow close to," Naruto said, and when he thought about it, it turned out to be pretty accurate, even if it hadn't been his intent to do so.
Samui blinked. "I see. So you feel like you're close to me?"
"Well, we are pretty close right now."
Her mouth twitched. One day, he'd see her laugh openly, but unfortunately, that day was not today.
"Are you close to the Kazekage?"
Naruto thought about responding, but he held back. It wasn't a secret that he was friends with Gaara, but the exact nature of their bond was valuable information. If Samui relayed this to the Raikage, it could be used as leverage.
As long as they were partners, he trusted her with her life, but her true loyalties lay with her Raikage, and he'd be a fool if he forgot that. That was why he didn't share everything with her. He knew she did the same thing.
"We're friends," Naruto eventually said.
"Is that why you were so angry earlier?"
Naruto's smile slipped. "You know why." It was like she wanted him to tell her everything she already knew or suspected.
"I know," she said. "And I don't blame you."
He sighed, somewhat relieved that she didn't press him. Then he sat up, and looked her in the eye.
"Thanks for backing me up back there," Naruto said.
"I said I'd protect you," Samui said.
Blue eyes were locked on blue, and their faces were awfully close. Samui turned away first, standing up.
"I'm going to change."
Naruto shook his head, trying to ignore the sudden flare of warmth that emerged under his cheeks. "Should we get an extra bed?"
Samui didn't answer. She went to the bathroom and came out almost as quickly, clad in her nightwear of a loose red shirt and orange pants. It was fairly modest, but she'd been his roommate since their second mission together, so maybe that was why. In any case, she set her scrolls on the bedside drawer and climbed into bed next to him.
"You're gonna be comfortable like this?" Naruto asked, voice slightly strained.
She glanced at him with one cold eye. "The bed is big enough for both of us."
It wasn't as if they hadn't been in the same bed together, but there was a difference between a massage and sharing the same sleeping space. On the other hand, this was the only bed in the room, and he didn't feel like sleeping on the floor.
"Let me get changed." Naruto ran into the bathroom and pulled out his beige pajamas from one of his scrolls. He could have made some excuse and waited for Samui to fall asleep first, but he'd already washed himself. Being clean was something he always enjoyed, and the desert sand stuck around relentlessly.
It only a couple of minutes for Naruto to change and when he returned to his room, he saw that Samui had already pulled the thin blanket over her body. Her body was still, but her eyes were open.
He stood there, considering everything laying in front of him, what it meant. The floor couldn't have been so bad.
"Are you sure you don't want to sleep in another bed?" Naruto asked.
"I'd prefer sleeping next to you," Samui said. "Unless you have a problem with that."
He could have said yes and stopped her right there, but if she really wanted to do this, then why did have to get worked up over it? This didn't have to mean a thing.
"I don't."
"Then get in."
Naruto went around the bed and crawled inside, turning his back to his partner. Having Samui sleep next to him would be a new experience, but at the very least, sharing a bed with another woman wouldn't be some lucid dream.
"Good night, Naruto."
"Good night, Samui."
Besides, he had his own pillow, some breathing room and enough blanket to curl into. It was all he needed to have a good night of sleep.
Naruto had woken up with the dawn, just like old times. His mind was clear and his body was free from fatigue. Samui was still sleeping, a content look on her face. Seeing it was always a treat.
Because their mission was complete, there was nothing keeping them in the Hidden Sand. As much as he'd like to stay, the next mission could come from anywhere. He always had to be alert, ready to move at a moment's notice.
So when Samui woke up and got dressed, they prepared to leave. Fortunately, he had already handed Kakashi a completed mission report the day before – he'd gotten good at writing those down very quickly.
They were planning to leave without making a fuss, but when Naruto and Samui reached the village's entrance, they saw a large number of the Sand's villagers, all ready to see them off. He'd been known to some of them thanks to his previous stay, but since he killed Deidara and he carried both Gaara and Chiyo back to their home, many people had thanked him.
He hadn't been the only one who'd been shown gratitude, but his actions had been the most visible, so while he appreciated the compliments, he was sure to give everyone their fair due.
It was good to see Kakashi and Sakura and Team Guy, but they had to leave. Saying their goodbyes had been easy, because it was only farewell. Even if their life was fraught with danger, he didn't plan on dying any time soon.
Time went on, like it always did, and Naruto and Samui spent the next few days travelling north. No missions had been assigned to them, and when Naruto wasn't training, travelling or sleeping, he had free time.
If the biggest consolation from having so much free time outside of missions was getting some much-needed time to rest, an unexpected boon that came with it was getting really good at meditation. He was almost as still as a statue, and when he got into the zone, his thoughts became distant, abstract things that barely affected him.
Being on the move so often did get annoying sometimes, especially when the mission grind was overbearing. Sleeping in hotels or in makeshift camps was something he quickly grew used to, but it didn't compare to living in a proper home, and getting a mission just after another one ended kind of sucked.
It made him appreciate having a place to call home even more, now that he'd been away from it for so long. The Hidden Leaf was still his home, and knowing that he could always return to his little apartment had been a comfort he never thought he'd lose.
One thing that brought him solace was having good company alongside him. Jiraiya had lived away from the village for a long time, so he knew how to cope and helped him cope. Samui didn't let anything stop her if she could help it, and her attitude rubbed off on him.
He hadn't really thought about how much the Leaf had or hadn't changed, not when the memories of the village lingered so closely to the memories of his betrayal. But time had dimmed the fresh pain those memories had wrought, and he could safely say that he wanted to go back.
At the moment, he was meditating in a hotel room close to the Land of Grass's border, focusing his mind, while Samui was busy taking a shower. Energy vibrated all over him, from the electricity that ran through the walls to the energy that lingered in the air. That energy wasn't exactly chakra, but he couldn't touch it even if he could see it with his sensor.
A cat appeared out of thin air, landing on his bed. Naruto didn't jump from surprise. He merely opened his eyes and examined his new guest. The cat had dark brown fur, ears with sharp black tips and wide golden eyes.
"Master Yugito is danger," the cat said. "The Akatsuki have found her. She's currently hiding in a small town on the Land of Rain's border."
Naruto flinched. It was about a day away from their current location. "Did she fight them?"
"Yes," the cat said. "However, Master Yugito is having trouble eliminating the Akatsuki rogues, and she has been unable to get away from them. She's already sent word to the Raikage, but reinforcements will take too long to arrive, and she's been fighting them for a long time."
The bathroom door slammed open, and watery footsteps squished against the carpet. "Tell Yugito that we're coming for her," Samui said.
The cat nodded. "I will. Thank you." It jumped off the bed and disappeared, leaving Naruto and Samui alone in the bedroom.
Fortunately, he was still dressed in his orange shirt and black pants, meaning that he'd be ready as soon as he strapped on his gear. He couldn't say the same for Samui, since she'd rushed out of the bathroom dripping wet and completely naked.
He gulped and immediately focused on her face, watching it twist from a rictus of worry and fear to her regular stoic mask.
"I'm going to go on my own," Naruto said. His mouth was suddenly dry. "I can get there faster."
"You'll be using 'it', right?"
Naruto nodded stiffly, trying his hardest not to let his eyes feast on the rest of her body and engrave its tantalizing flesh into his mind. "I don't have a choice."
He jumped off the bed and put on his flak jacket and backpack, placing his tantō on his waist. Once he was geared up, he double-checked everything to ensure that he wasn't missing anything he didn't immediately need.
"Naruto," Samui said. The way she said his name sounded commanding, seductive. "Turn around."
He turned around. Samui's eyes locked onto his, brimming with concern and another emotion he couldn't quite place. He ripped the sheet from the bed, but she grabbed his wrist before he could wrap it around her. She never liked being leered at, yet here she was, baring herself to him. Was this another sign of her trust in him? Did she want him to gaze at her body?
"Yugito is the priority," Samui said. "Not killing the Akatsuki."
"I know."
"Cool."
Samui embraced him, looping her arms around his. Her breasts pressed against his chest, sending a thrill down his spine. Her heartbeat was pounding at a faster rate than his. The sheet fell back to the bed.
Naruto wrapped his arms around her waist, holding his partner and revelling in her warmth, enjoying the smoothness of her supple skin against his calloused hands. This wasn't the first time he'd touched her body, but there was an intimacy between them that he'd never felt before.
Eventually, he pulled away, zipping up his flak jacket. His partner's gaze was smouldering.
"Stay safe," she said. "I'll be right behind you."
Naruto smiled. "I'll be waiting."
He turned around, knowing that Samui was on his side, and in the blink of an eye, Naruto had left the building.
Times like these – when he needed every drop of power he could muster – were the best time to ask his tenant for some rent. He'd need every advantage he could find to get to Yugito on time.
Three tails erupted from Naruto's tail bone, as the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra enveloped his body in the form of a orange-red shroud. This was the maximum amount of chakra he could handle without losing himself in the Nine-Tails' hatred, and while the Nine-Tails had made it easier for him to tolerate the strain its chakra had on his body, the strain was still severe.
So he ran like the wind, bounding across fields of grass that shifted into stone paths and smooth pavement as countryside made way for urban landscapes. The Nine-Tails' chakra burned through his body, bubbling from an endless wellspring. It was doing its job: in less than six hours, he was already halfway to his destination.
Eventually, the Land of Rain's border came within sight, and he heard a massive explosion in the distance, beyond the range of his sensor. He rushed in the direction of the blast, willing his body to move in spite of the agony he was experiencing; he'd never used the Nine-Tails' chakra for so long.
But that couldn't possibly compare to the stress that Yugito was going through, so he pushed onward. He saw a mountain cleaved in half, with rubble of what was once a large building strewn beneath it.
His sensor caught three distinct chakra signatures. The first two were the most bizarre chakra signatures he'd ever seen: one was saturated in chakra that seethed in manic bloodlust, and the other had five separate chakra natures stitched together with copious amounts of chakra threads.
Naruto scowled, immediately recognizing the third chakra signature. Yugito's chakra was fading fast. There was no way he could charge in against the Akatsuki, and he didn't want to fight them, not as he was now. He sent out a quartet of Shadow Clones to scope out the area, and when one dispelled, he saw Yugito staggering from phantom blows as a silver-haired man thrust a black spear into his body. His skin was pitch black, illuminated with white bones, and every time he stabbed himself, he screamed in ecstasy. Somehow, Yugito was taking all the damage.
The monster had already stabbed his leg and his stomach. He had to move now. Naruto formed another clone, and this one had blood-red eyes and a feral grin.
"Time to make our move," Naruto said.
The Nine-Tails laughed. Three tails twisted behind its back. "If you insist," it said, in its true voice.
They split apart to attack the Akatsuki from as many angles as possible. The clones he sent earlier seemed to be in on the plan, as they were converging on the fight from different directions. Naruto flew through hand seals, using the Nine-Tails' chakra to amplify the range of his illusions and ensnare both of his targets at the same time.
"Hidan," the massive man in the Akatsuki's cloak said. A black mask covered his mouth. "Hurry it up. We've got company."
The silver-haired man named Hidan howled. "Get bent, Kakuzu. Interrupt me again and you're next!"
One of his clones had reached them first and jumped high in the air, blasting a massive vortex of wind. Hidan spread his arms out wide, and deep gouges appeared on Yugito's skin. Kakuzu launched his arm and black tendrils extended it far beyond any regular arm could possibly go, spearing through Naruto's clone just as it landed.
The memory really hurt, but the sudden attack was all the distraction Naruto needed to catch Kakuzu in his illusion. He stumbled backward, holding a hand to his head, like he was falling over himself. Then he stomped the floor and stood up straight.
"Fool!" Kakuzu shouted, killing the clone coming in his blind spot. Forked lightning electrocuted Naruto's clone before it could slam a Rasengan into Kakuzu's back.
Naruto gritted his teeth. Kakuzu had broke through his turbulent genjutsu in seconds, and it hadn't taken hold on Hidan at all. In fact, Yugito's cheeks bulged out and blood exploded from her mouth.
That was when Naruto noticed it: a strand of chakra was connecting Hidan to Yugito, anchored to a bloody circle Hidan was standing on. It wasn't just physical attacks that Hidan could transfer to his target; any sort of damage he took would be inflicted on Yugito instead, even if its effects were induced by genjutsu.
Naruto had reached Hidan and Kakuzu, just as his last clone appeared next to Yugito, picking her up immediately and running as far away as it could.
"Take her as far as you want!" Hidan screamed, pointing the spear at his heart. "She's already done for! Nothing escapes Lord Jashin's wrath!"
Kakuzu was weaving through hand seals, but the clone the Nine-Tails was inhabiting lashed out with a giant chakra arm, pushing him straight through the crumbling wall. Hidan hesitated for a second, and it was all the time Naruto needed to shove him away from the circle of blood.
Hidan spun and thrust his spear at Naruto. He pushed it out of the way with his tantō, and grabbed both of Hidan's wrists with his chakra tails. Naruto formed a Rasengan and slammed it at the concrete housing the circle, crushing it immediately.
"You piece of shit!" Hidan screamed. "You ruined my ritual!"
Hidan was struggling against Naruto's grip with monstrous strength, but Naruto held on. An explosion suddenly rocked the area. The Nine-Tails clone sprung away from the point of impact. At the apex of its jump, it roared, unleashing a shockwave that annihilated the conflagration of earth, wind and fire that was approaching it. When the dust settled, Kakuzu was coming closer, green eyes roving the battlefield.
"Hidan, you moron, you let the jinchūriki get away!" Kakuzu yelled.
"Says the guy who couldn't even beat a clone!"
The clone holding Yugito was long gone, and as much as he wanted to shred Hidan and Kakuzu into tiny pieces, Yugito had been saved. It was time to go.
Naruto snarled, revealing his elongated fangs. "This is far from over. I'm going to kill you both. That's a promise."
Then he reached into his pouch and threw a gray smoke bomb, spreading it wide with a gust of wind.
"Here's my promise to you, jinchūriki!" Hidan shouted. "It doesn't matter how long it takes, or how far you run. I will get you, and you will be sacrificed to Lord Jashin!"
Naruto ran, putting hordes of clones in between him and the Akatsuki duo. In a flash, the Nine-Tails clone was next to him. Just as well, as Kakuzu had cut through the fog with wind chakra, and Hidan was mowing through his clones like a man possessed.
"What happened? Couldn't beat Kakuzu back there?"
The Nine-Tails clone grinned, and seeing its smile stretch Naruto's own lips to the edges of his face was disturbing. "If you released me from my seal, I would have obliterated them both."
Naruto snorted. "If you say so." He'd seen Kakuzu use four different chakra natures with such ease and Hidan was practically impossible to kill. There was no way Naruto could beat them both at the same time, not as he was and not without proper backup.
"Is the Two-Tails jinchūriki safe?" it asked.
"Yeah," Naruto said. "I'm surprised you care."
"The last thing I want is for you to have wasted my time and the power I lent you."
Naruto grunted, after feeling an influx of new memories. "Well, don't worry, we got what we came for."
They had reached a rendezvous point with Naruto's clone in a shallow forest several kilometres away from the duo. Yugito was out cold, bleeding out faster than her wounds could be healed. He was about to grab his first-aid kit to help her out, but the Nine-Tails clone moved first, wrapping Yugito in a cocoon of orange chakra. To Naruto's surprise, Yugito's wounds began to close up. Once Yugito's breathing stabilized, the Nine-Tails released the cocoon.
"How did you that?" Naruto asked. It looked like a more advanced variant of the trick he used to prop up Chiyo, and it had been done so effortlessly.
The Nine-Tails clone chuckled. "I know how to use my own chakra. Improving on your improvisation is child's play."
"You did this just to demonstrate your power?" Naruto asked.
It crossed its arms. "I see no need to explain myself."
Naruto's lip shifted. "Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad we could work together. Thanks for helping me."
The Nine-Tails clone glanced at him, its red eyes looking oddly contemplative. Then it dispelled, and Naruto was on his own, the trees and his Shadow Clone his only companions. Naruto released the chakra shroud and lurched forward, gathering himself on one knee as the adrenaline in his body spilled out.
His body ached in a thousand places, and Hidan and Kakuzu were still at large, but they were safe and Yugito was alive to fight another day. As far as he was concerned, that was a win. It wasn't over, not by a long shot, but when the Akatsuki were involved, every single victory counted.
Author's Note: I know some of you are eager to see Naruto return to the Leaf and see Kurenai. We're very close to that point. In the meantime, leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter or have an opinion you want to share.
