Happy Wednedsay Morning!
I managed to finish this chapter on time again! I'm so proud of myself. I've been procrastinating like crazy so I didn't get it done till like...1am. I should be putting this chapter out around 7am. I actually came straight home from work and took a nap because I told myself I wouldn't do anything procrastinaty until I finished this chapter. So worth it. Years from now I'll be able to look back on this story and be proud that I continued to work on it. Anyways, we had one question asked for the Q&A. I'll answer that real quick then get to the chapter.
Q: When referring to who Kyuubi has her eyes on, are you allurding to something with how Kyuubi always refers to Hiruzen as Sarutobi-kun? And with how she insists that he call her Kyuubi-chan? I'm confused by it to be honest.
A: This chapter should clear that up nicely~
"Kyuubi Speech"
"Midnight Speech"
"Everyone else's speech"
Chapter 27
On with the story
"Give me another one." Spoke a gruff, slurred voice.
"Are you sure Asuma? Don't you think you've had enough?" A different voice replied.
The voice belonged to a middle aged man currently standing behind the counter of a very active bar. He was cleaning a glass mug with a cloth. The person he was talking to didn't reply verbally. Instead Asuma sent the bartender an annoyed glare.
"Ok ok, coming right up." The bartender said while sliding Asuma another glass of alcohol.
Asuma caught it easily, tossing his head back and chugging at the contents before slamming the glass back down and letting out a small, groan. He had his forehead protector on, the symbol of the leaf village etched into it.
The bar he currently occupied was sometimes frequented by shinobi. Though this particular night there were very little shinobi. It was mostly inhabited by common villagers. It bustled as people drunk themselves into a stupor, especially during solemn times like these. The village was still recovering, many people were in mourning for their loves once and friends lost during the attack.
The shinobi sitting at the bar had a few distinguishing features despite being dressed in a standard uniform. He held olive skin, spiky black hair adorned his head leading down to a moderately thick beard. When he drank his alcohol he removed a cigarette from his mouth, only to put it back against his lips when he set the cup down. He stared blankly at the wall behind the bar counter, keeping to himself.
"We had the funeral today. Closed casket." Came a voice off to the side within ear range of Asuma.
It was a group of older men talking among themselves, speaking loudly to hear each other over the loud roar of the busy bar.
"Goddammit. Did they say anything about how the Kyuubi escaped?" Another man questioned.
"No they don't tell us shit. Hell, official story is that this was an attack by another village. We all know that's bullshit. It was the Kyuubi. I'd recognize those tails anywhere. I was there that day. I saw it with my own eyes." Another man replied, drawing a nod from the others.
"I did too. Don't know why they are bullshitting us. Probably to protect that demon. I swear the next time I see Naruto I'll kill him." The man stated angrily while spitting on the ground in disgust.
"I'll drink to that." His friend replied, raising his glass to toast the others around the table.
He never finished the toast because the man who had spoken ill of Naruto found a fist colliding with his face.
"Agh!" The man screamed as he was knocked to the ground.
He took a moment to compose himself, looking for the source of the attack while craddling the side of his head.
"Who the fu..." He began but stopped immediately when seeing the angry face of Asuma.
His eyes were immediately drawn to the forehead protector on Asuma's head. Oh shit, why was a shinobi attacking him? Asuma glared daggers down at the man.
"What the hell did you just say!?" Asuma barked out angrily while stepping forward with wobbily legs.
The others at the table were quite alarmed, frozen. This was a shinobi after all. More than fear, they had great respect for any leaf village shinobi, as most everyone did.
"What do you mean?" The man replied in confusion, watching his tone while looking at Asuma constantly.
Asuma gritted his teeth in anger before reaching down with both hands to pick the man up by his collar, lifting him onto his feet and glaring daggers.
"What did you just say about Naruto!?" Asuma snapped.
The man was frozen now, unsure of what to say.
"What's wrong? There aren't any kids around. Everyone knows what really happened. We can speak freely about it. No need to keep secrets here. It's a bar." The man stated in confusion.
Normally this was the type of place where everyone could freely talk about Naruto, the demon child. It was common place. Everyone who was old enough to be in the bar already knew that Naruto was the demon carrier.
"You piece of shit!" Asuma said while punching the man again, knocking him to the ground.
"Asuma calm down." The bar tender called out, running over to the scene and scooping his arms underneath Asuma's armpits to hold the man back.
Everyone could tell that Asuma was wasted. Despite being a shinobi his punch was relatively weak, he was slurring his words and wobbling, barely able to stand up. His outburst drew quite a bit of attention from most of the people around him.
"What'd I do?" The man on the ground called out while rubbing his cheek.
Everyone looked to Asuma bewilderdly.
"Don't you dare speak that way about Naruto-Sama. You piece of shit. Don't you fucking dare." Asuma stated in a seething tone.
Hearing Asuma speak Naruto's name so respectfully caused a few shocked faces to appear across most everyone's faces. Asuma continued while shaking with rage.
"The Kyuubi escaped because of pieces of shits like you who attacked Naruto-Sama, beating him within in inch of his life. Naruto-Sama was the fox's jailer. All this time he has been holding it back, struggling every day to keep it contained. And when those fucking villagers attacked him it took advantage of him weakened state and escaped. Don't you understand? My brothers and sisters died because you stupid villagers attacked him. I'll be damned if I let you speak ill of him. Over my dead body!" Asuma explained while trying to walk forward towards the man on the ground.
The bartender was still struggling to hold him back. Everyone who was listening had disbelieving expression on their face.
"But how could Naruto stop the Kyuubi? From what I've heard he isn't even exceptional in his class?" A voice spoke out in disbelief.
Asuma shot a glare over to a random women who spoke those words.
"He was hiding his strength to fit in better. He's just a child and you all treated him like garbage. He isn't just any child. He is the son of Minato. He sealed the fox away into his own son in order to save us and Naruto carried that burden his entire life. When the Kyuubi escaped no one could stop it. It killed so many of my brothers and sisters. It would have wiped out this entire village but Naruto-Sama was able to stop it. He was able to drain some of it's' strength despite his weakened state from being attacked by those villagers. Those goddamn traitors." Asuma raged before breaking free of the bartender and storming towards the man who was still cowering on the ground.
What Asuma was saying was a hard pill to swallow. Traitors? How could that be? But this was a leaf village shinobi saying that. It had to be the truth.
"He is the son of the Fourth Hokage!?" The man on the ground questioned with a wide eyed expression.
Literally everyone looked like their brains just exploded. Asuma didn't answer the man verbally. If anything the question made him more angry.
"You ignorant, traitorous piece of sh..." Asuma began, not able to complete his sentence as he was silenced by a sudden attack.
Asuma had made it to the cowering man and raised his fist to send down another drunken strike before being stopped by a chop to the back of his neck. The man's eyes closed as he began to fall over, only to be caught by another man wearing a green tracksuit.
Everyone immediately recognized this man, arguably the most recognizable shinobi in the village. Might Guy.
Guy threw Asuma over his shoulder and looked out on the crowd.
"Forget what you heard this night. The attack was perpetrated by another village, end of story, got it?" Guy called out to everyone in the room drawing a few silent nods.
Guy began to walk up but not before sending a heated glare down to the man on the ground. He made no attempt to hide his disdain. Many people caught that look. Most had never seen anything of the sort from Guy. He was known for his chipper, up beat attitude.
As Guy departed the bar whispers immediately began discussing the recent events.
"The demon child, no...Naruto...he saved us?"
"He's Minato's son? All this time...I can't believe it."
"If that's true then what have we done?"
About a week later...
"It seems our plan is working. We've been monitoring the chatter of many known gathering locations, bars, the shopping districts, clubs, work sites. The village is beginning to accept the narrative." Sarutobi spoke out while looking out on the village from his office window in the Hokage tower.
"Clever. You announced the official story as a calculated attack by a foreign village. A clear cover-up for the apparent truth. At the same time you undermine your own story by engineering situations where your shinobi leak details of the narrative you really want the village to believe." Kyuubi drawled out in an amused tone from behind Sarutobi.
Sarutobi nodded and turned around to see Kyuubi laying across his desk. The fancifully dressed woman was laying on her side, a single hand across her own wide hip. She had on a new dress today. It was a silky, scarlet, spaghetti-strap dress that revealed her shoulders and a good bit of her cleavage. The skirt of that dress flowed down to her ankles but had a long opening along the side to show off one leg. The woman even had on red high-heels.
She had been checking in every once in a while to follow up on her business with the counsel and Hokage as they attempted to meet her demands.
"Indeed. By making the official story so obviously appear like a fabrication it made the "real" story seem more believable." Sarutobi replied back while walking back over to the table and taking a seat in his chair.
He grabbed a stack of papers and a pen, intending to work on some paper work. Kyuubi was watching him with an alluring gaze.
"Must you lay across my desk every time you come here Kyuubi-Sama?" Sarutobi asked with a soft sigh.
He already knew her answer.
Kyuubi laid her head across her forearms, giving no effort to move from her spot. The desk was rectangular and straight so her body took up most of the space. Though she was skinny enough to give him space to sign papers while she relaxed.
"I like you desk Sarutobi-kun. It's grown on me." Kyuubi stated simply while dipping one manicured finger down to draw small circles in the wood.
Sarutobi nodded in defeat, taking out a pipe and packing it.
"Anyway, at the rate that we've calculated rumors to spread it should only be a few more days before our narrative is known and accepted by most everyone. Breaking a belief that has perpetuated for over a decade is no easy task. A few more events have been set in motion to continue to push the narrative. We've even woven Naruto's new residence into it." Sarutobi explained while huffing a bit of smoke and taking a far off gaze.
"I'm impressed. Though perhaps I shouldn't be so surprised. You are the one who originally spread the news of Naruto becoming the jinchuriki in the first place. Doing it in such a way as to hide that fact from the younger villagers." Kyuubi spoke out with a narrowed gaze, a subtle hint of resent in her tone.
Sarutobi caught Kyuubi's subtle inflection. He had been getting to know her well recently. His eyes shifted down in shame.
"I shouldn't have revealed that Naruto was the jinchuriki. I thought that they'd treat him like a hero but..." Sarutobi trailed off.
"You were naive." Kyuubi responded with a huff, drawing Sarutobi's eyes to her.
"You believed in the good of humanity. Believed so strongly in how good people are that you were willing to put Naruto's childhood under the mercy of their temperament. They showed you who they truly are. They proved you wrong. And they'd do it again if given the chance. You think you are the first village to treat a jinchuriki this way. It's simply who you are. And because of your naivete my baby's childhood was stolen away." Kyuubi stated with a stern gaze towards the old man.
Sarutobi nodded while placing his pen down on a paper in front of him.
"A mistake that still haunts me to this day. Still, I can't stop believing in my people." Sarutobi explained, reviewing a paper and signing it before moving onto the next.
Kyuubi stared at him silently before a small smile grew along her luscious lips.
"I know."
She'd grow to respect the man more than probably any other human within the time she'd spent with him. He reminded him of a certain someone from her past. It wasn't enough for her to view humanity as a whole any differently, but it was enough for her perception of him to be slightly different than her initial impression.
"Do you have to stare Kyuubi-Sama? It's a bit of unnerving." Sarutobi spoke up after moving to another paper.
He wasn't looking at her but he could feel her eyes on him. Kyuubi let out a sultry chuckle.
"Oh don't ruin my fun. I'm just enjoying myself. You do look particularly delectable today." Kyuubi teased while reaching a hand forward to lightly caress the side of the man's face.
Sarutobi allowed this, still focusing on his paper. He'd gotten used to her excessive touching. It seemed to come with the package. He sighed again, moving on to another set of papers.
"Just...not when I have company." The man complained while placing his paper to the side and looking to the door of his office.
Kyuubi nodded a bit and sat up to instead sit on his table with her legs dangling off the front. As she sat up a woman entered Sarutobi's office. She was carrying a large pile of papers in both her hands.
"Today's reports Hokage-Sama." She announced while placing the stack of papers in front of Sarutobi atop the desk.
Sarutobi nodded, pulling the pile towards him. The woman bowed respectfully, sneaking a glance over to Kyuubi before turning around and hurrying out of the room, closing the door behind them.
"More fun for you I see." Kyuubi taunted in amusement.
Sarutobi watched the woman leave tentatively before beginning to shift through the papers.
Kyuubi's presence had become a very talked about subject among the various employees of the Hokage tower and increasingly the shinobi population as well. No one knew who she was. No one except the elder counsel who denied knowing her. She had her fox ears in her human form but no tails. Everyone just assumed it was some foreign Kekkei genki. Her official title was a "consultant" to the Hokage but no one really knew why she was there. It was especially strange that she and the Sarutobi seemed so...casual. She didn't show him any of the respect that everyone else did. Even being so insolent as to always be seen occupying his desk. A few woman were spreading rumors that Kyuubi might have been a concubine based on how she dressed. Those were short lived as being quite the disrespectful notion. Even Sarutobi, who could at times be a bit perverted, wouldn't be so bold.
Kyuubi had her own reasons for spending so much time around Sarutobi. Partially because she had little to do now that Midnight was occupying most of Naruto's time. Though the ancient demoness had very complex motives for every action she took. And truth be told, she liked seeing the reaction on everyone's faces when she came and left so frequently in broad daylight.
As Sarutobi sifted through the papers Kyuubi laid down again, this time vertically across the table on her back instead of horizontally. This made her head hang off the edge of the desk, casting an upside down gaze towards Sarutobi. Her long, flowing red hair fell down to the ground in a pile.
"The bandit's base of operation is in the Tonto village." Kyuubi suddenly spoke out seemingly out of no where.
Sarutobi quirked a brow while looking over to her.
"What?"
"The bandits that have been raiding a few merchant caravans recently, taking advantage of the chaos. They are based out of the Tonto village. It's a small village so a little investigation and questioning of the residents should reveal them easily enough. Based on the description of the wounds, the location of the attacks, and the methods of attack there is no other logical conclusion. Their weapons are even known to that region." Kyuubi explained while taking a small comb from her cleavage and running it through her hair.
Sarutobi stared at her dumbfoundedly. He scanned through the pile of papers to find the report detailing the most recent attack on a merchant caravan. It was buried at least 20 pages within the pile.
"How did you know?" The hokage asked in disbelief.
Kyuubi smirked, her violet eyes staring intensely at him.
"I can see." She stated cryptically.
Sarutobi paused for a long moment while contemplating her meaning. His eyes then widened in realization.
"You've been monitoring documents while you've been here?" Sarutobi questioned.
Kyuubi let out a little chuckle.
"I am your consultant after all. That's my job." The demoness explained.
Sarutobi narrowed his eyes at her.
"I should have known. Of course you know I don't address documents beyond a certain clearance level in your presence." Sarutobi explained.
Kyuubi maintained a knowing grin.
"You don't have to. I see all." She said while turning her head to the side.
She looked in the direction of a particular spot along the office wall. Sarutobi followed her gaze, the man freezing. That was the exact direction of a hidden room that contained many scrolls of Konoha's secrets. It was there for easy access to any Hokage, covered with warding seals that was even immune to the Byakugan and Sharingan. It was in a secured vault. Probably the most secure vault in all of the world. It was so secure that it was able to exist within the tower of the Hokage, having never been compromised.
"No." Secure whispered in disbelief.
"So that's why she has been spending so much time here. I should have known. But if her eyes can see through the barrier and solid objects then what could we have done to stop her?" Sarutobi lamented inwardly.
Kyuubi turned her gaze back to him, watching him with a satisfied expression.
"You've been a naughty man. Do calm down Darling. I've learned very little I didn't already know or heavily suspect. Actually what I have learned can be of great use to you. Starting with capturing those bandits." Kyuubi went on, the woman finally sitting up now and turning around to face the old man.
Sarutobi looked up at her hesitantly. It wasn't like he could punish her for spying on him. Did she really know everything now? How long did it take her? Was she bluffing? How could she see and read Konoha's secrets from here? Were her demonic eyes truly that powerful. The man's mind raced with questions like this. As Sarutobi became lost in his thoughts he was snapped back to reality when feeling a weight drop down on his elderly form.
Kyuubi settled atop his lap, resting her covered ass along his robed thighs while wrapping her arms around his neck. She pressed forward, squishing her ample bosom against his chest.
"You're cute when you get lost in your thoughts." The demoness drawled out with her face an inch away from his.
A dark blush painted the old man's cheeks. He turned his head to the side and raised a hand to cover his cough.
"Kyuubi-Sama, please." He stated in a fluster.
The woman maintained her gaze, licking her glossy, painted lips. She made no attempt to pull away, deciding to stay upon his lap and continue to tease him.
"Squad 17 went missing 2 weeks ago. I know where they are." Kyuubi went on, ignoring his protests.
Sarutobi snapped to attention when hearing her confession.
"You know where they are? How?" He stated in a more serious tone now.
That particular squad failed to report back recently. Their disappearance was a mystery. They were a relatively fresh Chunin squad and he'd sent them on a moderately dangerous mission, he feared the worst.
"Just connecting the dots." Kyuubi said before turning around atop Sarutobi's lap.
She grabbed a small stack of papers and leaned back against him. Sarutobi tried to ignore how good she smelled, how soft she felt. He could be a dog sometimes but he was an old man. Those days were done for him. Even if they weren't, he was the hokage. Who had time for such things? Despite this Kyuubi didn't seem to ever cease her teasing. Though at the moment Sarutobi's mind was focused on Kyuubi and those papers.
The woman flicked through the papers quickly, using her thumb to flutter over 100 pages within a few seconds. She then placed the stack back upon his desk.
"It's all here. So many answers are right in front of you. You receive so much information. A lot of it you write off as useless. But when looked upon with the right set of eyes, well...all is revealed." Kyuubi explained.
Sarutobi thought over her words, watching her carefully.
"What do you want? We've provided everything you asked for in your demands. What else could we possible offer you?" He stated simply, getting to the point.
Kyuubi turned her head to the side to look at him out the corner of her fiery violet orbs.
"For the location of the missing squad and the bandits? Well there is something I don't have that you can provide me."
Sarutobi narrowed his eyes.
"What do you want Kyuubi-Sama?" He repeated, a little weary of her games.
Kyuubi raised an arm to lightly run her fingers across his cheek affectionately while looking back on him.
"I want you to take me out on a date Sarutobi-kun." Kyuubi finally explained, drawing a shocked expression from the old man.
"What?" He questioned in exasperation.
Kyuubi frowned.
"A date. It's been a rather long time since I've been out with a man. I want to relive what that feels like. You do that and I can provide you with all kinds of useful information. Humans miss so much. A demon's mind can be rather useful." Kyuubi stated while lightly grinding her butt against his pelvis sensually.
Sarutobi was a bit overwhelmed by her behavior, he placed a hand against her hip to lightly push her away. He really couldn't take this at his age. Kyuubi got the hint, having no intention of being too forceful. She got up from his lap and planting her butt back on his desk. However she placed her foot atop his knee, wiggling her hips playfully.
"Well?" Kyuubi asked expetantly.
Sarutobi stared up at her with a blank gaze.
"I'm the Hokage. Where would I even find the time?"
"You can have a clone do a lot of this work for you. I've been watching you. You have plenty." Kyuubi retorted.
"I'm not exactly a romantic."
"You'll do fine."
"You realize my age?"
"Yes."
Sarutobi sighed before slumping back in his chair, staring up at the woman in deep contemplation. He grabbed the stack of papers that Kyuubi had picked up, looking down at them. He was still astonished at her deducative abilities. If what she said was true, if she could really discover things like that which even his best analysts missed then she'd be an irreplaceable asset.
"If you can do this, see so much, figure out so much, why not use this information to destroy us?" Hokage questioned, changing the subject.
Kyuubi tilted her head to the side.
"Who says I can't? Don't change the subject Sarutobi-kun. Is that a yes or no? I'm not going to beg you if you are truly opposed to it. And I won't ask again." Kyuubi warned while turning her back to him and taking out her comb again to lightly groom through her exceptionally long hair.
Sarutobi stared at her back, not being able to help his eyes trailing down her curvy, voluptuous frame. He shook his head, casting away his dirty thoughts while focusing on the papers.
"Ok." He finally stated after a long pause. "But on my terms."
Kyuubi stopped brushing her hair, turning her head to look back at him with a pleased expression.
"Of course Sarutobi-kun, on your terms." She stated with a slick smile, unable to hide her excitement.
Sarutobi closed his eyes and nodded his head.
"If you insist on continuing to refer to me in that way then you minds well call me by my first name." Sarutobi explained.
Kyuubi for once held a dumbfounded look.
"Oh? That was a boundry I didn't feel comfortable crossing." She explained.
Sarutobi shook his head. Of all the boundaries she has crossed, that's the one she chose to respect.
"You may call me Hiruzen."
"Ok, Hiruzen-kun."
Thanks for Reading. Please Review~
Yay! Another one of my personal favorite chapters because, again, Kyuubi is my favorite character in the story. Sarutobi is so old but that doesn't seem to matter to her. Anyways, hopefully I can get this next chapter done early. Knowing myself I won't complete it until the last moment~ Anyway, see you guys Sunday!