A day passed after the battle, or rather, the massacre at the bridge. The ninjas from Konoha is currently recovering in Tazuna's house, the Kiri-nins returned to their country with a healthy amount of Ryo, sneaking in Gato's stronghold.
Team 11, though without Naruto as he is currently on guard duty at the bridge, even the threat was gone, were inside a room where Sasuke is cooped up, along with Menma, exhaustion hit them right before the one-sided battle finished.
Both senseis were recounting what happened after they passed out, though not much interesting, with the Bridge builder's grandchild appearing with a mob of townspeople, and Gato was left alive for them. At the mention of Gato, Sasuke and Sakura shivered, the latter noticeably.
"Wait, where's Naruto?" Sasuke questioned, his voice a bit hoarse.
"He's at the bridge, with your sister. Sensei said that until the bridge is complete, we'll be staying here in Wave." Sakura said with Kakashi nodding at the back.
Sasuke nodded back. "What about the missing-nins?"
"They went back home. They still have some important things to do." Kakashi replied. "You want something to eat?"
"Yeah, but I think I can go down there now, don't bother bringing me food here." Sasuke said.
Sakura looked worried, though Kakashi approved after a moment of silence. "Okay but don't push yourself. Kushina-san, Mito, Menma, you want something to eat?"
"Hm? Ah no, we're good." Kushina replied. "Kakashi-kun, do you have a minute, I have something to ask."
Kakashi nodded, having a guess of what she would ask.
"Well, I guess I'll go straight to the point. Did you know that Naruto can create... strings? Webs?" Kushina asked. Mito and Menma perked up.
"No, that's the first time I saw him do something like that, though I guess that's how he did what he did back in my bell test." Kakashi said with Kushina nodding back.
"Hm? What is it? What did that failure do?" Menma asked. Mito also looked interested.
"Oh that? He's using those strings, or webs, to float in the air, maneuvering mid-air when we fought back at the exams." Kakashi said with an eye-smile.
"That's what he said, now he can use it to people like puppets. And I guess that's how he's flying towards the bridge yesterday, by jumping through those strings, thou-" Kushina was cut-off as Mito intervened.
"No. He's not using whatever it is to fly. I'd sense it if he's using those strings but I didn't." Mito said.
"Are you sure?" Kakashi asked.
"Yes."
"Looks like Naruto's got a bag of tricks with him." Kakashi said. "Though I don't know why he's showing his abilities. It will be troubling for him on the long run, he could be labeled as a flight risk."
"Why do you say that?" Mito said, though it sounded almost a demand. Kushina and Menma looked at her oddly.
"Well, considering Naruto hiding his abilities, his very small circle of connection in the village, and his...'healthy upbringing', as he said," Kakashi said, Kushina twitched, unnoticed by the genins, though Kakashi noticed. "...it is definitely a recipe to make a rogue ninja. But also considering that we're talking about Naruto, and from what I've observed, I can safely say that Naruto is not bothering to use his more destructive abilities because there's no need to use it."
"What do you mean?! Are you saying that we're too weak to force him to go all-out if we spar?! Please, I'll hang him up using his own strings or webs, whatever, any day of the week!" Menma said arrogantly.
"Maybe, maybe not. I'm not saying that no one can fight him toe to toe in the village. All I'm saying is that there's no threat against the village to warrant Naruto to use his full capabilities. And no, he won't fight you even if it's just a spar." Kakashi concluded.
"Well, it's obvious that he knows that I'm too strong for him!" Menma boasted.
"No." Kakashi replied immediately. "He will fight you if you have a valid reason to fight him. If it's something petty reasoning, well, I guess Naruto will just ditch you for something what he does in his own free time." Kakashi eye-smiled. "Well, I'm hungry. I'm gonna join my cute little genins downstairs. Kushina-san, are you gonna join us?"
"Later Kakashi, we're still full." Kushina replied.
Kakashi nodded and walked out of the room. Kakashi shook his head. All the things he said were all crap. He didn't really know Naruto, all he got was from various reports and from his observations. But he trust Naruto, he didn't know why, but he just felt that he could trust him. He just hoped that he was right.
*LINE BREAK*
Teams 7 and 11 approached the gates of Konoha, returning from their mission. Their walk back to village is peacefully calm, aside from the small talks from the female genins. They made their way to the Hokage Tower, greeting the secretary and making their way inside.
Inside the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya, and Tsunade Senju, the last one just came back from the Fire Capital as the personal doctor for the father of the current Daimyo though he still died of old age, as both teams went inside(not gonna describe Tsunade, I know you know how she looks like).
"Tou-san! We're ba-! Baa-chan!" Menma shouted, receiving a fist to his head, his face dug to the floor.
"I told you to stop calling me that, brat!" Tsunade yelled. She looked at Mito, said girl shake her head, and Tsunade proceeded engulf both brats in a hug. "I miss you brats! Kushina!"
"Tsuna-nee!"
After an exchange of hugs, the Third cleared his throat.
"As heartwarming this reunion as it is, Kushina, Kakashi, report!" Hiruzen ordered, and Minato laughed sheepishly. And report they did, all things happened were said. After the report, all listeners looked incredulously.
"So you're saying that," Minato rubbed his forehead, "...your teams faced with not only a former member of the Seven Swordsman, an unknown ninja with an Ice Release kekkei genkai whose clearly a strong one, but also the one leading the rebellion in Kiri..." He sighed heavily, "...and you only got away because the boogeyman, Gato, showed. Then Naruto here," he waved a hand to Naruto, "showed up and-"
"Showed up and scarred us." Sasuke cut in, with Sakura nodding determinedly. Naruto just grinned on their way as usual.
"What? Did you really think so low of me?" Naruto said dramatically.
"Yes." All genins replied in unison and Naruto just chuckled.
"Alright, where was I? Right, Naruto appeared and... he beat up Gato by controlling his thugs?" Minato asked, not sure of what he heard. He received nods from both jounin.
"He used some kind of strings and he used those thugs like puppets." Kakashi confirmed.
Hiruzen looked interested. He didn't know that particular technique. He guessed Naruto just made it not too long ago.
"Naruto-kun, would you show us how you did that... puppetry?" Hiruzen asked.
"Of course, anything for you, Old Man!" Naruto replied, grinning mischievously. All adults shivered at the grin, recognizing the mischief from experience from Kushina long time ago.
Naruto raised his hand, moving his fingers like he was pulling something they couldn't see, and then...
Sasuke face-planted, with Sakura's hand raised high, definitely slapping Sasuke on the back of his head.
"What the hell was that for, you Pinky?!" Sasuke roared, his teeth looked like from a shark.
"I-I don't- I don't know what happened! My hand just mo-!" Sakura whirled to Naruto, Sasuke also followed suit, coming to the same conclusion with Sakura.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR, YOU SMILING BASTARD/JERK?!" Sasuke and Sakura both exclaimed. Naruto just laughed his guts out, clearly enjoying his work.
"What a cute couple you two! You're already in sync!" Naruto teased and he laughed more as both his teammates turned red. Even Kakashi chuckled a bit.
"As entertaining as this is, brat, how did you do that?" Jiraiya broke spectacle.
"Why don't you ask the Old Man? After all, he knew this all along." He replied, his grin aimed at Hiruzen, receiving a glare.
"What a troublesome kid, letting me explain..." Hiruzen mumbled. "Well, he's an Uzumaki, Jiraiya. Kushina and Mito has chakra chains, and he has his own, chakra strings. And don't mistake like the ones used by Suna puppeteers. And yes, it's tough as Kushina's chains."
"Care to put that to the test?" Menma said in a challenging tone, looking directly at Naruto.
He looked back, grinning, "nah, I'll pass."
"What? You scared or something?"
"Oh no, no no no no... you see, I have more important things to do, like groceries for example. Speaking of which, the payment?" Naruto said to the current Hokage, his held out.
Minato, sensing the tension between the two, change the subject and dismissed the gennins. He then looked at Hiruzen.
"Why didn't you tell me about Naruto, Hiruzen? Why did he hide his abilities from us?"
"Why? Because he asked me to. Because he clearly didn't trust all you three. I've barely earned his trust to have a decent talk with him. And you're asking why I didn't tell you?" Hiruzen answered.
"Minato, Kushina, how can Naruto trust you two when all you've given to him is a roof to sleep at?" Hiruzen said.
"I know that we're not the best of parents but you know that Menma and Mito needed us training the Kyuubi's chakra." Kushina replied. "Plus he's not as talented as the twins and he's just causing trouble to the villagers with his pranks!"
"Sensei," Kakashi intervened. "there's something I am concerned about Naruto."
"What is it?"
"It's better that I just show you." With that, Kakashi lifted the cover of his Sharingan eye, using a genjutsu as the office shimmered. They looked around and saw that they were in Wave. Starting from when Gato appeared and to his... 'beating'.
Hiruzen sighed deeply. Minato looked visibly disturbed, as well as Tsunade and Jiraiya.
"Gato deserved that, I felt satisfaction and I won't deny that. But what I'm concerned is that Naruto's the one who did that." Kakashi said, a tinge of worry rang in his voice. "I can say for sure from what happened that night scarred Naruto deeper than we thought." He received a nod from the Third.
"W-when did this happen?" Minato asked weakly.
"I think when he's 5, maybe six years old." Kakashi answered.
"Back when you denied him to join his siblings to train and you decided to... describe... him in negatively. From what Naruto said to me, you, Kushina, called him a failure." Hiruzen said, frowning heavily.
"I understand that the twins needed training, Kushina, but did you really have to leave Naruto on his own? He learned how to cook his own food early in his life! Too early for a kid at the age of five!" Hiruzen yelled. "The same goes for you too, Minato." Tsunade, who was watching on one side, exploded.
"What?! What on earth made you two do that?!" Tsunade demanded. "No, don't answer that. I bet, that Jiraiya has a hand in this." She said, glaring at the white haired Sennin.
"Wait, hime, I know it sounds bad but it's for the peace in the future! The twins are the Children of Prophecy! They will have a long way to achieve that peace and if sacrifices is to be made, we'll do it!" Jiraiya reasoned.
Tsunade just looked at him blandly, and walked out of the room, shouting about going to the hospital.
"What's wrong with her?" Jiraiya asked confused.
"Sensei, just... just get out for now, please." Minato said, looking very tired right now. Jiraiya complied, seeing his student was pleading for him.
Kushina just stayed silent. She knew what was said to her was right, though she justified her reasoning that it was still the right course of action in her mind. After a moment, she bid her husband and the Third goodbye, Kakashi already left with his students.
After she left, Minato groaned tiredly, he really didn't know what to do for now. His son didn't trust them, his sensei just said that he would sacrifice his child just to attain peace, and his wife didn't even defend his son.
He really didn't know what to do, aside from doing the cursed paperwork.
*LINE BREAK*
Satsuki walked behind her brother, both basking in the silence. She didn't know what to say when he saw her brother's predicament earlier at the Hokage's office. She couldn't remember when did he acted so childish ever since that day. Just replaying what happened earlier made her giggle out loud.
"What are you giggling about?" Sasuke asked. He also looked calmer than ever.
Satsuki ran beside him, "nothing. Just remembering what happened earlier back at the office."
"Tch." Sasuke didn't reply. He just looked ahead, grumbling about blonds and kicking that blond's ass in the future, when he suddenly turned to her.
"Hey, come with me. I'll introduce you to someone." Sasuke said.
"Hoh? Who is it? A girlfriend? If it is, I already know her." Satsuki teased.
"Shut up! And I don't have a girlfriend. You just follow me." Sasuke grumbled.
"Okay, okay. I'm just teasing you."
They walked in silence. After fifteen minutes, they arrived at...
"The orphanage? What are we doing here?" Satsuki questioned, confused.
He didn't answered and just knocked on the door. The caretaker opened the door and let them inside, though she looked suspicious.
They made their way inside, Sasuke suddenly ducked, a pillow passed his head and instead it hit Satsuki. She grabbed the pillow, looking around ready burn qho threw the pillow.
"You failed again, squirt." Sasuke said, amused.
"Next time, duckhead! Next time I'll get you!" A young girl ran up to his brother, who was kneeling down and accepting the hug, greeting each other. The girl then faced Satsuki.
"Hi! I'm Shizuka, Shizuka Uchiha! Nice to finally meet you, Satsuki-san!" The girl, Shizuka, greeted her.
Satsuki was shocked. She didn't know that there was a survivor on that night other than the two of them. She observed her, recognizing Uchiha's black hair and eyes.
"H-hello, nice to meet you too." Satsuki whipped her head to Sasuke, demanding an explanation.
Sasuke explained to her, saying that Naruto brought him here, that Shizuka was left in Naruto's care after the massacre.
"What took you so long? Did'ja know how borinv it is when y'all are not here!" Shizuka whined childishly.
"I told you that we had a mission outside the village, squirt. I'm sure Naruto also said that to you before we left." Sasuke replied. Shizuka just pouted, turning her head away from them. Satsuki turned to her brother.
"Why didn't you told me sooner?"
"Well, I forgot." He replied, and dare she say, he looked embarassed.
Oh? Why does little Shizuka angry?" A voice rang behind them. "Is your big brother Duckhead bullying you again?" Naruto said, grinning.
Shizuka ran up to him, and punching him in the stomach. He clutched his stomach dramatically, before giving he ruffled her head.
She watched the two boys interact with the girl. She couldn't believe that they could act like this. Naruto was smiling widely as usual, thoough without the creepy feeling. Sasuke also smiled, a small one but still a smile, and his face didn't have that constant frown.
"Ah! We really didn't meet formally! I'm Naruto!" Satsuki was slightly startled, though she recovered and returned the gesture.
"I'm Satsuki, Satsuki Uchiha. I've heard of what you did for Shizuka here, and I just wanna say thank you for taking care if her." Satsuki replied, bowing.
"Don't mention it. Besides I promised someone that I'll take care of her." Naruto said. Satsuki noticed a touch on sadness when he said that, though she didn't pry further.
"So you two are already here, huh. Oh, Suki! You're here too huh." Satsuki turned her head and saw Sakura approaching them waving a hand.
"Yeah, Sasuke brought me here earlier. I didn't know that we had another living relative alive because someone forgot to inform me." Satsuki replied.
"I said I was sorry, alright!" Sasuke replied. She didn't reply and just talked to Sakura.
They stayed at the orphanage for a couple of hours before they went back home.
Satsuki, for the first time since that night, was content. Unlike having a competent teammates, right now she was content with her life. Her brother was happy, he smiles more than the whole time he spent at the academy.
"Sasuke, thank you for letting me know Shizuka-chan. I feel content for the first time since..." She trailed off, not wanting to remind her brother of that night.
"Don't mention it. And I introduced you to her not just because she's family, but because I... no, we need your help protecting her. Me, Naruto and Sakura... we can't be everywhere at the same time, I realized that back after our first mission outside, and I'm sorry to ask, but I ask of you," Sasuke turned to face her and bowed slightly, "please take care of her."
'This jerk! This buffoon of a big brother!' Satsuki enveloped Sasuke in a big hug, crying in his chest.
"Idiot! I know I'm not the best sister in the world. I know I'm a bratty child back then, I should be the one saying sorry! You're my brother! I didn't realize how precious family is, until that night... so I'm sorry!" Satsuki blubbered, tears and snot dripping from her face as Sasuke blushed in embarassment.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Get off of me! Your damn snot's staining my clothes!" Sasuke exclaimed, turning his head away and covering his embarassment.
"No! I won't!" Satsuki tightened her hold. "I won't let you go 'til you say it." She said resolutely.
Sasuke sighed. Though he didn't say anything, he just returned her hug. That motion answered Satsuki, as their bond as siblings reaffirming rebuilding.
"Don't thank me, you say that to Naruto. He's the one who took care of her. Now let me go and clean your face." Sasuke said.
Satsuki wiped her face. It may look a bit disturbing, but she didn't care. She was happy right now.
*LINE BREAK*
Months passed since their 'C-rank turned disaster mission', their missions returned back to D-ranks, they got a couple of C-ranks but nothing interesting like their first. Now Team 11 gathered at their usual TG. Kakashi informed them about something of interest, and now they're here waiting, as Kakashi is late, again.
"Where the hell is that cyclops?" Sasuke growled lowly.
"Heh heh heh, why so impatient, Sasuke? You lack some sleep? Or maybe... you're having your period right now?" Naruto chuckled, ducking from a kunai Sasuke chucked at him. "Woah! Chill out! Heh heh heh."
"Naruto, Sasuke..."
Both boys turned to their teammate, wondering what was this about.
"I have something to ask to both of you." Sakura said, but before she could say more, Kakashi appeared.
"Yo." None of his students paid him attention for a full minute, before they greet him simultaneously.
"Yo." Sakura bit her lip, stopping herself to laugh. Sasuke was smirking, not bothering to hide his amusement. And Naruto was grinning as usual, though his amusement was palpable.
'I really, REALLY, need to stop being late...' Kakashi sweatdropped. His habit of coming late was now biting him in the ass. He shook his thoughts and he eye-smiled.
"Well, my cute little genins, I have something to tell you that will surely catch your interests." All three looked interested. "A month from now, the Chuunin exams will start, and this, Konoha will be hosting the exams."
His two male students looked eager, though Sakura looked unsure. "I will give you this registration forms, and if you want to participate, just sign them and bring them to me before the day of the exams. I'll give you this month to think about it and if you decide to take the test, you can use this time to train, though I can't train you for three weeks as I have a mission." Kakashi said as he distributed the papers.
"Heh, don't worry. I'll ask the Old Man if he can spare us some time." Naruto said.
Kakashi nodded. "Just remember that give me the forms one week before the exam so I can register all three of you. Though you can skip these exams and take the next one. Just think about it. Dismissed."
After a moment, Naruto spoke. "So, Sakura, what are you saying earlier?"
She took a deep breathe, and bowed, "Please help me to get strong!"
Both boys were silent for a moment as they look at each other before Naruto looked back.
"Why?"
Sakura gathered her thoughts before she spoke.
"I... I want to be able to help you both. I want to get stronger so I won't rely on you every single time we faced something out of our scope. I want to become stronger so you can rely on me. I want to stand beside you two. I don't want to ask for help everytime. I don't want to just stand by and watch you fight. I don't want to be a burden! So please help me get stronger!" Sakura said. She sound like she'd cry any moment but her resolve was rang loud and clear.
Naruto looked at Sasuke, a silent conversation between them before Sasuke nodded.
"You listen and listen carefully." Naruto said, his smile gone and Sakura could tell he was serious right now.
The day passed by, Sakura's body is aching, bruises all over her body from the training she received, and she knew she'll feel the soreness tomorrow, but she's happy. She knew she has a long way to go, but she silently promised that she will not let her teammates down.
*LINE BREAK*Sorry about the late update. I'm from the Philippines and I think you know what happened in our country for the past few weeks. I only have very few freetime right now so, don't expect a new update for a week, three at most. Sorry again.