3

-Foreign Affairs-


Land of Tundra

Across the eastern seas and beyond the Hidden Mist was a foreign continent home to a way of life fundamentally different from the culture of the shinobi. Taking up much of the northwest's chilled, rocky coast lies the Land of Iron, home to the last remnants of the samurai. An idealistic people, these sword wielding warriors were resilient and deeply spiritual.

Directly southeast of the samurai's nation was an equally cold, largely uninhabited region known as the Land of Tundra at the convergence of the four greatest territories on this flea shaped landmass. The rolling expanses of snow stretched out for miles, spotted with abandoned towns and mines.

Nestled in the icy earth someplace between the sprawling tundra and forsaken settlements were three shinobi, utterly devoid of detection beneath the powder.

Sat at the far end of this cramped foxhole was a member of the Hyuga clan holding a sign of sealing, focusing his chakra amid flickering candlelight. "She'll be here in fifteen minutes."

To his flank was a green haired kunoichi who guarded the only entrance. "Is she still coming from the north?"

"Northeast, looks like she's going to circle us. It could just be a scout."

She pushed her curls behind a pointed ear, "I don't understand how she knows."

Their third teammate sat between, polishing a sheen upon her curved kunai. "I agree with Kiken, I still don't get it. How could they know we're tracking them? I didn't sense any surveillance at that base."

The horned girl turned back, "What do you think, Neji?"

Their captain turned to face them as the bulging veins around his eyes receded. He rested them for a moment of thought, "It is possible they devised something we have yet to discover. By all accounts their base appeared to have been abandoned for some time, maybe years. It could be possible they have a hidden detection system. Or perhaps it was a decoy of some sort."

The black-haired girl laughed softly, "Foolish to send a single ninja."

"Do not underestimate these opponents, Yume. We never know what a single shinobi could be capable of. Keep in mind we are hunting our own."

The Uchiha nodded, returning to her blade.

Before long the trackers left their hole, finding it best not to start a fight already cornered.

The Leaf soldiers were dressed in thick white ponchos save for the kunoichi who stood barefoot in the snow between them. Hailing from the secret and annihilated Land of Dragons, Kiken was seemingly impervious to extreme heat and cold, only wearing her signature forest green dress. "Here we go."

Barely visible through the snow stood a lone woman. Dressed in white, her neck length silver hair blew ghostly under the lunar beams.

Neji's white eyes powered through the haze, stripping all obstructions for a pure view. She was clearly older than them, though not by much, and he immediately recognized her from his personal mission briefing in the Hokage's office. "That's Iwate Reina. She went MIA on a solo mission six years ago. Be cautious."

The missing-nin approached, walking atop the knee-deep snow with a mocking grace. Halting some four meters away, they realized she wore a grin.

"If I'm being honest, I thought Konoha would have sent someone with a little more… experience. Asuma, perhaps? Obito, or maybe even the mighty Kakashi? Though I can't say I'm disappointed. Now I get to play with an Uchiha, a Hyuga, and a freak."

The freak took a definitive step forward, "You were lucky to have been raised in Konoha. You're a fool for leaving."

Yume nodded, posting a hand on her hip, "With that said, you will have to come back with us. There are questions we'd like you to answer."

"Oh, is that all? Well if you can stop me from killing you and your freak friend here then I'm all yours." She lunged in the opposite direction, casting a spray of nigh invisible metal needles.

The young jonin scattered in the defector's direction. Neji launched straight at her, knocking away the projectiles with his bare hands, "Kiken!"

Midair, she answered the command with the release of a sick black arrow having summoned her bow from the small scroll kept on her lower back. Reina ducked the missile as Neji gained on her, throwing two dangerous fingers at her chest.

She bent away, but before her feet could leave the ground she found herself wrapped in a crimson whip held by Yume. Reina's gold eyes glistened in the liquid moonlight, "This is going to be fun!"

A soft splash greeted Neji as he exploded through a human shaped pillar of snow, tracking their target with his byakugan. "Behind!"

Kiken was already on her, landing a twirling kick against her back. Reina buckled forward and spun to catch her with a kunai, deflected by the length of her bow. The traitor made a slash for her throat and the length of Kiken's dark bow thwacked across her face, eliciting a growl.

Neji swooped in, narrowly missing her with the devastating Gentle Fist technique. Reina escaped a crack of Yume's whip in succession, creating distance between the three as she giggled maliciously.

Rushing through a series of hand signs, the deserter expelled a plume of thick greenish smog from her mouth. Retreating before the cloud could roll over them, the Leaf ninja kept a triangular watch from outside the smoke.

For a moment nothing moved in the quiet of the night. Gentle curls of wind twisted whisps of snowflakes, unable to disperse Reina's poisonous ninjutsu.

A wave of senbon rushed from the smog toward Yume, sparkling under the moon with malevolence. With a flick of her wrist the thick red rope snaked through the air before her, swiping the needles away as Reina emerged from the earth behind Kiken.

Neji cut through the air to defend against the killing blow, but the distance was too great. Though she spun to intercept, Kiken's sharp scream curdled in his chest as he reached her and landed six consecutive hits on Reina's shoulder and chest before she turned to powder, using another substitution jutsu.

Protruding from beneath the kunoichi's ribcage was the dark handle of a kunai. Yume arrived wide eyed. Furious, she blazed through hands signs and expelled a spiraling cone of fire at the gas and the ninja within. The savage flames rolled against the cloud, pressing against it but otherwise unaffecting the retardant substance.

A brownish sphere hurtled from the thick, wet gasses, prompting Neji to jump ahead as Yume grabbed their horned companion and disappeared in a flicker of motion. Spinning at a blinding speed, the Hyuga produced a blue dome of chakra that protected him from the globular jutsu. It struck his defense in a concussive splatter, releasing a spray of jagged crystalline shards in all directions.

A short distance away, Yume set Kiken in the snow urgently, "How bad is it? How do you feel?"

"I'm okay," she stifled a bloody cough, receiving a frown, "but we don't have the time for this. Can we gauze it quickly?"

"Depends. Do you want another scar?"

Kiken's small sharp fangs showed when she smirked, "Bring it on."

Neji sighed, keeping watch over his teammates through the back of his skull. Reina paced within the safety of her heavy toxic mist, awaiting retaliation. The kunoichi arrived quickly after a yelp from Reina's victim.

Kiken arrived on Yume's arm, clutching her singed abdomen. Their captain scanned her worriedly, "I'll be fine. She got me good though."

"No, Neji she needs medical attention fast."

Kiken's glacial eyes peeked up, "We have to see the mission through, Yume."

The Hyuga huffed, conflicted. "We cannot risk being caught in that gas. We need to strike while she's out."

"We could lure her out." The Uchiha gave Kiken over to him and cupped her mouth, "Hey, Reina! If you're so confident, why don't we settle this one-on-one? Think you can handle that?!"

An echoey, disembodied laugh emanated from the dark cloud, "You can't fool me, child. You're going to have to do better than blatant deceit."

"No deceit. Just let me inside your ninjutsu and we can fight, just you and me. Neji doesn't dare risk entering and Kiken is bleeding out in the snow. So what do you say? Think you can beat an Uchiha?"

Silence answered her, an eerie pause under a frozen sky. Like a living organism, the noxious smog extended toward Yume, a single bulging tentacle of death. It replied, "It's your funeral."

Neji grabbed her wrist, "No. What are you thinking?"

"I have a plan. Reina underestimates us. She hurt Kiken. She hasn't avoided my eyes, Neji. Let me go, I know what I'm doing. Please."

Kiken shook her head, "We cannot let you kill yourself."

"Neji." Yume's black eyes drilled him, full of certainty. He released her with colossal reluctance.

The Hyuga supported his comrade wearing grim features. "You better come out alive."

Yume nodded and the living fog opened, enveloping her in a bubble of fresh air cycling through vents that seemed to breathe in and out. It swelled into a domelike shape, taking the appearance of some grotesque beast with their comrade in its belly.

·:·:·:·:·.·:·:·:·:·

A country's Daimyo was of utmost authority. Being the majority stakeholder of its resident shinobi force, they were even integral in the appointment of a hidden village's Kage. Just as Konoha has grown in strength over the years, the frequency of assassination attempts had grown as well.

The Fire Daimyo was a modest man for being the highest lord of the most powerful shinobi force on the planet. A true businessman, he provoked little amongst the other nations, holding beliefs very near to the hearts of his ninja. Peace, prosperity, and wealth for all were his ambitions, difficult to achieve when the attempts on his life steadily increased each year.

Kakashi's jonin students were requested directly, having gained notoriety through a nigh flawless record of successful missions alongside their elite tutelage and own individual heritage. Now the trio was tasked with his protection en route to a meeting with the Lightning Daimyo to discuss the specifics of a deeper alliance between their states.

Team 7 met Sunday afternoon and received their mission the next morning. Travel took just under twenty four hours, arriving at their Daimyo's estate bright and early.

As team captain, Naruto approached the dark suited man first, "Nice to meet you Lord Daimyo, I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and these are my teammates Hyuga Hinata and Uchiha Sasuke. You can count on us."

He shook Naruto's hand, greeting them with a tip of his hat. "I believe that, and please, call me Ikkyu. How did the road treat you?"

"Very well sir."

"Good. Though I'm sure you would have said that even if it didn't. However, since I'm going to need to trust you, could I ask for your full honesty from here on out?"

Naruto blushed, flanked by equally sheepish teammates, "Eheh, yessir! Of course!"

Ikkyu chuckled, "Come inside, I'll show you to your quarters. We leave a few hours after midnight. You three hungry?"

After the gourmet brunch provided by several assistants in the Daimyo's absence, the jonin found themselves in the guest wing. They met in the lounge after unloading in their own, fully equipped rooms.

Sasuke leaned against the bar while the others sat across from each other, admiring the many pieces of art adorning the walls while attempting to find some manner of ease in the lord's lavish mansion. The Uchiha lifted an ornate rocks glass, admiring it, "To be honest, I did not expect our Daimyo to be so…"

Hinata smirked, "Nice?"

They laughed together and Naruto added, "Yeah, I was expecting some stuffy old fart, ordering us around and all that, ya know?"

Snickering, Hinata selected one of the plums displayed on the bronze coffee table. "Ino would lose her mind at this place. Sakura too, I hope they're not too jealous when they hear about us going to the Daimyo's own estate."

They shared a chuckle save for Naruto who all but recoiled at the comment. Subconscious tension crept into the room, and a confused Hinata looked for salvation.

Sasuke glanced between the two, drawing their attention in the silence. Always well timed, he waited just a moment or so before setting the glass down. "Talk. I'll find some more ridiculously expensive things to ogle."

He set a hand on the hilt of his sword and departed casually through one of the doors leading up to the lounge, leaving his friends in the strange quiet.

The awkward strain flushed Naruto's cheeks immediately and they both stuttered at each other, grappling with simultaneous apologies. "No, I'm sorry, you go first."

Hinata hesitated, playing with her fingers as a similar warmth reached her pale features. "I, well… Honestly I feel like something's wrong. You've been… different. With me, I mean."

"Oh, no! It's not you - I mean, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about, but nothing's wrong. Well, something not right did happen, but I'm saying that nothing is wrong with you! Er, us!"

"Then what is it, Naruto?" She blinked innocently, "You can talk to me, you know."

He rubbed the back of his golden spikes, lost on how to begin, "I…"

A telltale pat alerted them of some invasion as they turned toward the south door, where a lone servant stood blanching anxiously at the aggressive reaction of the duo. "Eh, I'm sorry to intrude, but, Master Madoka has requested you in the foyer. He wishes to conduct a 'briefing' of some sort. Again, I apologize for the disturbance."

Hinata offered a kind smile, rising to her feet. "Don't be sorry."

"We'll be right there," Naruto replied curtly, moving to rest his forearms on his knees.

"I'm sorry, but- Master Madoka is a busy man. He would like to see you now, if you would."

Hinata met her companion's blue eyed question, giving a nod before she continued out the door behind the aged woman.

The foyer was as grand as any other part of the manor, dressed in smoky marble and golden curtains they were certain of which contained the actual precious metal.

Here the Daimyo laid out their small journey to a safe house a few kilometers between the states of the meeting figureheads, within the borders of the Land of Hot Water. It was within these smaller lands which the bandits and mercenaries were likely to strike. Accustomed to the tendencies of criminals with such nature, Team 7 listened quietly, allowing Master Madoka to explain.

Before daybreak, an older gentleman not quite the age of the Daimyo appeared to wake the shinobi only to find them already suited and ready for the trek northeast.

They veered from any main roads, opting to travel through the deep woods of their homeland. The ninja quickly learned that Ikkyu was not one to complain, maintaining casual conversation about their militaristic lifestyle during the journey, admiring the trio and their shinobi duties.

Though managing to make good time, the Daimyo and his elite bodyguards made practiced use of caution. Hinata scanned the surrounding area every ten minutes, conserving energy and maintaining a steady sequence of thorough updates.

It was noon by the time Hinata alerted them to three individuals along their path. After the Daimyo confirmed that this was his destination, their captain approached slowly.

Cresting a small hill in the thick forest, Naruto met with a bored looking shinobi boasting a mop of white hair and a thin mustache to match. "Hey Naruto, it's been a while."

"Good to see you again Darui." He turned, giving a signal to Hinata through the hill.

One would never find the entrance without the aid of dojutsu or proper knowledge of the hideout's intricacies.

The brown skinned shinobi pushed off the massive trunk, crouching to apply chakra between some of the gnarled roots. A white splash of light opened a trapdoor as Sasuke and Hinata approached behind their sovereign lord. "Darui! How are things?"

The ninja stood, offering the businessman a welcoming grin, "Dull as ever, Ikkyu."

Down in the ground awaited another ninja with small black glasses and a white goatee, dressed in a similar white chest piece to his fellow Cloud shinobi. "Yo, Naruto, fool, ya fool! Great to see you again with your Daimyo in tow, ya know!"

"Killer Bee!" Naruto exclaimed, clasping the jinchuuriki's hand excitedly, "How have you been? How's Master Gyuki?"

"Ho, yo, the beast residin' ain't hidin', no! Gyuki greets ya from within with a grin!" Bee rapped warmly.

The strangely official door in the small room opened, revealing the Lightning Daimyo as the rest of the party dropped into the secret pit. Ikkyu approached, silencing the minor chatter of their guard. The dark-skinned lord bowed, "I trust your travels were not too much trouble, Master Ikkyu."

"I had good company, Master Tekkan. Are we late?"

Rising, the Lightning sovereign gestured him toward the next room. "You are right on time. Come, let us begin. Our shinobi will have waited long enough."

Due to Hinata's byakugan scanning, the shinobi were able to remain concealed beneath the great oak roots. They passed the hours with idle conversation, having met briefly on previous occasions. Though it was evident that Naruto and Killer Bee shared a more personal history.

When a young Uzumaki became the keeper of the Nine Tails, the Hidden Cloud's Raikage, having eventually received the news, was prodded by his younger brother. Keeper of the Eight Tailed Beast, Killer Bee was an altogether different breed of jinchuuriki and was happy with the idea of sharing the method to his kinship.

Considered the 'perfect jinchuuriki,' Killer Bee had fostered a relationship with the creature inside him. Through significantly intense training in the Falls of Truth, the Hachibi was finally tamed of its enraged nature. This transcendent relationship allowed Killer Bee to fully transform into Gyuki's horned, tentacled form without ever losing himself along the way. If Naruto were to attempt this merging with his own bijuu, he would inevitably succumb to the Kyuubi's undeniable hate and ravage the land.

Thus a tentative unity was formed. For the betterment of everyone, Naruto trained for some time in the Falls of Truth. Though he devoted himself to the brutal regimen, the Kyuubi proved too stubborn and too powerful for teen Naruto, who hit a ceiling he could not pass. After repeatedly beating the same dead horse, he cut the bijuu training short and returned home entirely discouraged.

Feeling shame of failure, Naruto devoted himself to an alternative route while he nurtured the strength, experience, and wisdom to tame the Kyuubi of his own accord. In the short term he focused on raising the shinobi standard of the Leaf village with help from his influential team. Little could he predict the significant outcome of this inspiration during peacetime. The Uzumaki provided a refreshing source of morale and drive within the Leaf Village.

Seeing Killer Bee once again stirred something in Naruto. A longing to reclaim some honor from his failure as a jinchuuriki, perhaps. While he had tried on multiple occasions to find some level of peace with the fox locked inside him, its hatred was simply too vast, too ingrained, too molded by blood and fire to be swayed with honeyed words or kind intent alone.

"I think it's time, Bee." His teammates looked toward him, already on the scent of where this could be going. "I feel like I'm ready to finish my training with you at the Falls of Truth."

The Cloud's jinchuuriki allowed a suspicious grin, folding his arms in the corner. "You think you're ready, yeah? You thought that before, yo, didn't finish though, no."

"You're right, but I was naïve. My temper is better than before. I know I can master the Kyuubi now."

"It's not about being a master bound, it's about your common ground, fool, ya fool! Beast he may be but equals in reality."

Naruto considered this for a moment, nodding. "I know I have a lot to learn. I can do it, Bee."

"Hmm…" Killer Bee itched at his chin, contemplating. "If all goes well in the meetin', man and beast may be greetin'. If my brother can agree, so will the Bee, ho!"

After just about three hours the Daimyo emerged, both hatless and in relatively pleasant moods. The lords were mum about what transpired, departing on good terms.

The road home was quieter than before as Ikkyu seemed to have plenty to think about. Out of respect, the Leaf ninja opted not to engage conversation, enjoying the cool canopy air.

As they neared the bend close to the main branch of roads, Sasuke looked to Naruto who winged the suited man opposite of him with Hinata at the flank. The Uchiha's obsidian eyes held a question to which Naruto answered by casually slowing his stride. Sasuke shifted his focus to the Daimyo just a pace in front, beginning with a humble question about the recent attacks.

"Hey, Hinata?" The men before him spoke in cool, low tones. Naruto slipped his voice beneath, "Can we talk?"

"About us? Now…?"

He turned forward, "We don't have to. I know we should stay focused, but I can't get this out of my head."

She searched his whiskered features, finding grief and reluctant perseverance. "Maybe we could talk. The sooner things go back to normal the better, right?"

Naruto's face lit up, "Right…!" An uneasy quiet broke between them, but he pressed through it. "Hinata, I… Before I tell you this, you gotta understand. I like you, ya know."

"But only as a friend?" The fear slipping from her pale gaze revealed she had been thinking along this path.

"No! No, the opposite. More than a friend." He took a shaky breath, "I want to be more than friends."

"Then why have you been acting so strange toward me? And if that's what you really wanted, why didn't you find me again after the party?"

"Hey, I could say the same. Not that I remember much, but small pieces have come back, and I remember that you left somewhere and that's the last time we ever saw each other." Hinata seemed frustrated and he was running out of time. He bit his tongue until he tasted blood, Now! Tell her now!

"Look, I don't know how to say this or why it happened, but I woke up with Sakura in my bed. Clothed! And sweaty and hungover. But I had to tell you that she… somehow got there."

A shockwave seemed to roll over Hinata, and her white eyes watered before focusing back on the hidden path before them. "I know you used to like her, Naruto. It's… fine if she's what you want."

"No! Didn't you hear me? It's you, it's always been you."

A flush pinked her cheeks and she wiped the oncoming tears, "Do you mean that?"

"I promise. I wouldn't do anything like that, I was beyond excited to be your date."

Hinata seemed engaged in some internal battle. Finally she replied, "Naruto, I… This is a lot to take in. I believe you, but I think I just need some time. Okay?"

Sasuke unsheathed his sword, shouting, "Naruto!"

Their heads whipped up and Hinata jolted in front of her Daimyo, veins bulging around her eyes. "It's an ambush!"

Naruto instantly spawned a dozen clones that scattered across the branches while Sasuke stood at Ikkyu's back.

Eleven or so minutes had passed since the last dojutsu scan, a small window of time ultimately allowing the rogue ninja before them to appear. There were four of them cloaked in brownish green ghillie suits.

Standing above on a behemoth branch, the one in front spoke first. "We're here for the Daimyo. If you hand him over we won't need to fight, and you can go home."

The larger of the headhunters added, "Home to shame, but at least you'll be alive to feel it."

"We won't kill him. He'll be used for ransom," a female added evenly.

"You're thinking about this all wrong," Sasuke replied. "The Fire Daimyo is not in any danger."

In unison, the black cloaked clones that dispersed reappeared, shouting with rasengans in their palms, "You are!"

Splinters exploded where the camouflaged bandits had stood, throwing up a column of sawdust. They dashed in different directions, regrouping behind atop another tree.

"I-Is that the Uzumaki boy?" the large one guessed treacherously.

The leader held an arm in front of the others, "These must be the students of Hatake Kakashi."

The fourth responded, "Foolish of the Hokage to send these kids. Makes our job easier. We've been hunting ninja for decades, don't bother trying to fight us."

Ikkyu chuckled, "Kids, huh? While my honorable Hokage did indeed send them, it was by my own request that they are here. This is because they're some of the most incredible ninja I've ever met. I'm sure you'll see what I mean. I should thank you, it'll be quite the show, I'm sure."

The leader lowered his hand, most certainly scowling. "So be it."

Two flickers swathed toward Sasuke with impressive speed. He leapt to intercept, blocking one of their kunai as he kicked the second across the wood. Hinata guarded the Daimyo against the towering man, baiting a swing of his long club before snapping a couple fingers into his hip, drawing a grunt as he retreated to maintain a safer distance.

Naruto attacked the woman his comrade launched, sharing a few bouts of taijutsu before catching her jaw with an elbow so hard she crashed into the brush, tearing up several shrubs until she came to a grinding stop at the base of an oak. His clones made a perimeter around the skirmish, ready to throw their fuinshuriken or catch a fleeing coward.

Sasuke played it safe with his initial opponent as Ikkyu held onto his hat behind them. Turbulence whipped to and fro among the battlefield as Team 7 dispatched the unequipped bandits. Observing the upcoming opening with practiced insight, Sasuke lopped his enemy's arm off with a clean swipe of his katana. He turned to intercept the other, but Naruto had already appeared between his Daimyo and the lead bounty hunter's first attempt at capture.

Lasting only a few seconds, their captain had yet to realize that half of his team was already incapacitated. Now he stood before a jinchuuriki, paralyzed with fear. It was all he could do to watch as Hinata lunged with remarkable fluidity at his strongest companion, hitting the brute with what looked to be upwards of sixty or more consecutive strikes.

Unneeded, Naruto's clones vanished from all around as the third headhunter collapsed, unconscious. Hinata approached the shivering man between her companions, "You should go stop the bleeding."

"W-what?"

Sasuke gestured, "Your friend is missing something."

"Haruo!" Hesitating before he realized the surrounding shinobi would allow it, the criminal ran to his member laying in a puddle of blood.

"Well, that was quick. I guess I can't complain, but I was hoping to see you three go all out." The Fire Daimyo played with the grey bush on his chin, "Will they survive?"

"If he can't patch them up, then I will," Hinata replied as the insignificant mercenary fumbled over his partner, gauzing the limb where it ended just before the elbow.

Ikkyu nodded, "Just means more luggage then, yeah?"

Hinata kept her byakugan active the rest of the way as the men carried two now bound, blindfolded and gagged captives. The captain of this failed ambush carried his own patient, with the separated forearm wrapped up in a pouch within his cloak. He too, was partially bound, fully gagged and blindfolded; lead along with a rope held by the Daimyo at his insistence.

Naruto sent a clone ahead, eliciting the Land of Fire's elite guard who greeted them upon their arrival that night to relieve them of the felonious burdens. While it's true Naruto could have left a seal at the immense estate for an instantaneous return, it was not in their nature to boast elite techniques. This included the highest official of their nation, who even now was ignorant to the fuinjutsu mark hidden on his palm.

After Ikkyu gave his many thanks and paid the shinobi in cash even though his secretary had already sent their payment in motion through the regulated channels, Team 7 regrouped in the guest wing to bathe and prepare for their departure home.

Leaving the capital via main roads, the trio discussed what transpired and in turn what they yielded from their second, highly classified directive.

Hinata might have felt a bit sheepish after her exchange with Naruto. However, she kept any such feelings to herself during the exchange. "Yes, I was able to read their lips, here and there. It does feel odd deceiving our allies, though."

"Such is the nature of a shinobi," Sasuke commented. "Ikkyu wouldn't reveal much, though the agreement seems to be fairly standard. It seems like you may get your chance, Naruto."

Hope entered his eyes and the kunoichi continued, "The Daimyo were discussing some sort of mutual protection pact. It seems there was something else troubling them, though."

They shared a look before Naruto questioned further, "What kind of trouble?"

"Something about a new power overseas. A threat. They weren't talking about the samurai though, and I don't know of any other military force in that region that could be threatening to any of the hidden villages. Regardless, they are nervous."

Sasuke agreed, "Ikkyu mentioned something about there being 'a new player in the game.' Whatever that means."

They thought for a moment, absorbing the intel, proposing ideas and hypotheticals back and forth. In the end they would need more information.

Naruto felt optimistic, however. Partially due to the progress he made in mending some of the damage done by his underling. Hinata didn't seem to hate him, and he took that as a win. In addition, the prospect of training with his jinchuuriki superior was once again on the table. Things seemed positive for the time being, "Whatever it is I know we can handle it. I'm sure my dad knows more if our Daimyo has suspicions. What's some secret enemy against the shinobi of the Leaf?"


SURPRISE BITCHES, I'M STILL HERE MWAHAHAHHAHAHA

BOO!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Be safe everyone, and thank you for reading!

-Kyzer-