Gah, I miss school already D: working sucks! Anywho, its almost been a month (and I apologize) since I've posted a chapter so uh, "bon appitete"! Also, if anyone is interested in being a beta reader for this story please let me know, cause I'm not the best grammar nazi. Plus, my spell check ins't exactly the best.
ThugsBunny009: Nice name btw haha. But thats fine, everyone has different tastes. I appreciate you voicing your opinion, thanks for the review!
AwesomeNinja101: Thanks for the reviews! As you have wished, the next chapter is here! Sorry for the long wait D:
AnimeFan972: Thanks for the review! Hope this chapter pleases you lol
: Thanks for letting me know! I'll be sure to go back and fix those errors (can't believe I let so much slip past me).
Bageltiger: Salamat po (thank you) for the review! :D
TheBeauty: Super thanks for the review!
Naruko-ナルコ-
Chapter 11
Tazuna the Bridge Builder
"Alright. The next available mission for team seven are..." began the Hogake as he read down the list. "Babysitting the chief counselor's three-year old, digging up potatoes, and-"
"No!" Naruto whined as he threw his hands up in an X. "I wanna go on a real mission! Something exciting, not these stupid chores! Come on old man!"
"How dare you!" Iruka slammed his hands onto the desk. "You're just brand new genin with no experience! Like everyone else you start out with easy missions to develop your skills!"
Naruto was in it to win. He would argue until the end of time if it meant getting a more intense mission. "Seriously?! Hows babysitting developing my skills!-"
Losing the patience he had Kakashi sighed and knocked Naruto to the ground. "Will you knock it off?"
"Naruto!" The Hokage spoke with a strict, serious tone. Grabbing the genin's attention he began to go into detail about missions and how the system is broken down by a ninja's rank. In the back of his mind, he hoped that at least something would get through Naruto's thick skull. Despite all of his numerous attempts of lecturing him in the past.
Did the Hokage really... Naruko's mind wandered elsewhere. Back to the night Mizuki had tried to attack Naruto.
"The Third Hokage went as far as to using your beloved sister as a decoy to even cover the truth." His word's still rang inside of her head as if they were spoken just minuets ago. Naruko felt conflicted, what the Hokage did was understandable. He was trying to protect Naruto...but it was also shady. Naruko couldn't help but feel there was more to it. She couldn't say what it was exactly, after all she had no leads whatsoever.
Her attention was then driven back to Naruto who had gotten sidetracked from the Hokage's lecture. "So I had this tankatsu ramen yesterday and I'm thinking of eating miso ramen today-"
"Silence!" The Hokage shouted at the knuckle-headed ninja.
"Why do you always treat me like I'm a brat?! I'm not the same kid who used to pull pranks anymore, I'm a ninja and I want a real mission!" Naruto complained.
The Hokage smirked as he adjusted his hat "Alright. Since you're so determined I'm going to give you a C-ranked mission. You'll be bodyguards on a journey."
"Yes!" Naruto cheered, tasting the sweet taste of victory. "Who are we body guarding?! A princess?!"
"Don't be so impatient," the elder warned. "Guards! Let our client in!"
The client was not what anyone expected. He was a tall older man with tanned skin and who was on the border line of being tipsy and drunk.
"A bunch of snot nose brats are going to be my bodyguards?" his words slurred as he leaned against the doorway. "And you, short one. You expect me to trust my life to you?"
"Hahaha!" Naruto laughed. "Who is the short...one?" Mentally measuring everyone's height, Naruto confirmed it himself. Sasuke was the tallest, followed by Sakura, then Naruko. And last but not least, Naruto himself.
"I'll crush you-!" Before Naruto could pounce onto the client, he was held back by Kakashi.
"You can't hurt the client Naruto, it doesn't work that way." Kakashi said, holding Naruto back with one hand.
Finishing off his beverage, the old man then introduces himself "I am Tazuna, a master bridge builder and I must return to my country. I'm building a bridge that will help my country and the world and I expect to get back safety even if it means sacrificing your lives."
Naruko observed the tipsy elder as he introduced himself. For a C ranked mission he seemed too on edge and almost afraid...almost. Could he have ninja after him? Naruko was in no position to question the client.
Once the mission's objective was cleared and discussed a bit more, squad seven was then dismissed and ordered to pack their belongings. Naruko mentally sighed, it looked like she was leaving the village once again.
"Yeah!" Naruto chanted "I'm a traveler now! Believe it!"
"Is this your first time out of the village?" Naruko asked as their small group made there way on the highway.
"Uh huh!" he nodded, Naruto could barley contain himself. He was practically laughing with joy.
"Am I supposed to trust my life to his kid? Hes a joke!" Tazuna asked in disbelief. Naruto's mood flipped and within seconds the two began bickering.
"Naruto your supposed to protect the client," Kakashi said as he held Naruto back again.
Why'd we have to guard this old jerk? Naruto crossed his arms. He really wished it was a princess they were guarding.
Turning her attention elsewhere, Naruko almost found herself staring off into space. It was such a nice day and not a cloud in the sky. No wonder Shikamaru liked to lay in the grass. It was relaxing, and in a way seemed invigorating. As the group continued to walk further Kakashi managed to kill some time with small talk and pretty much answering Sakura's questions about shinobi culture.
A puddle...? Naruko noticed. Slowing down a bit she catches Kakashi's eye who had noticed it too. Guess he spoke too soon when he told Sakura there would be no ninja encounters.
"I'll handle it," Kakashi whispered with a calm, casual tone.
"But Kakashi..." Naruko began confused. She could understand if it was just one ninja, but she knew the probability of there being just a single ninja lurking was very slim.
Kakashi then patted the young girl's head "Relax. I promise no one will get hurt."
There coming! Turning her head she watches as the two shinobi ambush the group and take out 'Kakashi'.
"Kakashi sensei!" Naruto thought his eyes were deceiving him. The two ninja then split up. One charging to Naruto, while the other to Tazuna and Sakura.
"Naruto!" Naruko's adrenaline pumped. Running to his aid she throws a kunai at the ninja's chain, stopping his attack. Concentrating chakra to the back of her foot she then slams her foot down against the back of his head and knocks the ninja out with a blow.
"Are you okay?" she asks, grabbing his shoulders. He seemed okay, no cuts or bruises whatsoever.
"Sakura! Sasuke!" Naruto shouts. Turning her head she watches as Sasuke throws his arms out, protecting Sakura who was protecting Tazuna.
You promised...Though she had the chance to go to their aid, Naruko put her trust in Kakashi. As the ninja got closer she found herself biting her lip hard, almost breaking the epidermis of her lip. She was nervous. Then, right at the last second. Kakashi shows his face and knocks the other ninja out.
"Kakashi sensei!" Sakura shouted in relief.
"What?! How did he?!" turning his head to the small pile of logs, everything then clicks in Naruto's head. Kakashi had used the replacement jutsu.
"You broke your promise..." Naruko said as she glared at Kakashi.
"Did I?" he asked. Nobody seemed to be hurt, besides the two unconscious shinobis.
"If I had did what you said and leave it up to you Naruto would've gotten hurt," she could feel her blood begin to boil.
"Sorry, I just didn't expect Naruto to freeze up like that."
Gah! I was useless! How could I freeze up like that?! Naruto was mentally slapping himself. How was he going to become Hokage if he froze in battle?
"There is a reason I asked you to stay back." Kakashi told Naruko as he tied the two ninjas to a tree. "I wanted to know who their target was."
Naruko's anger then diminished. She became so preoccupied with everyone's safety that she didn't even consider that.
"If you and I had taken them out immediately we would've learned nothing," Kakashi continued. He was one step ahead of her.
"Just what are you getting at?" Tazuna asked.
"I wanted to see if they were after us, ninja attacking ninja, or you, the master bridge builder. When you put in your request, you asked for standard protection from thieves and highway men. You said nothing about ninja looking for you. Had we've known, this would've been a B-rank mission or higher. Our mission was to escort you back and protect you as you build your bridge. If we knew we would be encountering ninja, we would've charged you with a B-rank mission. You may have your reasons, but lying to us is not acceptable."
As Kakashi finished, Tazuna looked down in shame. He had been checkmated.
"We're only genin, this is too advanced for us. We should go back," Sakura suggested.
"You're giving up already?" Naruko couldn't believe what her comrade was saying.
"Its called being smart! You should try it!" Sakura put her hands on her hips.
"All talk and no bite," Naruko replied with a cold tone.
"Alright thats enough you two." If it wasn't Naruto and Sasuke bickering, it was Sakura and Naruko. Kakashi sighed at the group of teenagers. "As for you Tazuna, I need to know the name of whoever is after you. If you don't tell us, we will end the mission at once."
Tazuna paused for a moment then lifted his gaze back up to Kakashi "The man who wants me gone is a short man who casts a big, yet deadly shadow. The shipping magnet, Gato."
After crossing the river, and listening to Tazuna's story Kakashi decided on continuing the mission (mainly because Tazuna told such a sad tale that gripped the group with guilt). His reasons for paying the fee for a C-rank mission was due to the lack of fund his country had and if the bridge remained uncompleted it would leave the land of waves poor with no business.
Money truly corrupts people... In a way Naruko could relate the business tycoon to Jiraiya. Whenever Jiraiya had extra money his serious personality switched into a super pervy sage, sometimes she wouldn't even see him for days.
"Grr..."
"Tch."
Naruko felt slightly amused, as she watched her brother and best friend walk in front of one other. It was almost like a race for them. It gave her some sort of relief for a moment, but she knew she couldn't let her guard down. Not for a minuet. If Gato sent chunins the first time, she was sure that the next ninja to come would be at least jonin rank.
Suddenly, a stabbing pain surged to the side of her neck. Without conscious thought, Naruko slapped the area with pain. Earning herself with looks of concern and curiosity from everyone.
"I'm okay," she smiled "It was just a bug." What a lie that was. As soon as everyone turned their eyes back on the road her smile fell into an expression full of pain.
Why is the curse mark acting up all of a sudden? It had been years since anything had happened with the curse mark. Ever since Jiraiya had sealed it. But why now? Why was it burning her skin all of a sudden?
"Whats wrong?" Sasuke murmured, slowing his pace to match Naruko's.
"I don't know," she replied with honesty. Naruko wish she had the answer.
"Its that mark isn't it?" Naruko's head dashed up and looked at Sasuke. She didn't think anybody had noticed since she managed to cover it with her jacket.
"How long have you known it was there?" she immediately asked.
"Since the bell test. When you blocked Kakashi's kunai with your shoulder."
Naruko turned her gaze back on the road "I'll tell you later." Now wasn't the time to go into depth. After all, the enemy could show up any minuet.
"Hey!" Naruto yelled pointing to Sasuke. "What do you think you're doing?!"
"Naruto! What are you talking about?!" Sakura exclaimed, nearly losing her temper.
"You think you can convert my sister into another fangirl of yours then your wrong! She'd never go for a jerk like you!"
"Brother-!" Naruko gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
"Idiot! Can you for once stop causing problems?" Sasuke immediately noticed his body language was off. Suddenly he found it difficult to look the knuckle headed ninja in the eye. And his palms were becoming slightly sweaty. What the hell...
"What?!" Sakura gasped "Naruto what are you saying? Sasuke doesn't like Naruko!"
"You can't fool me! I see you walking close to her, and whispering secrets over to her!" walking up to Naruko, Naruto grabs her hand. "Come on, lets get going."
"Tch! Teenagers..." Tazuna mentally prayed that his grandson would not end up like Naruto.
"Everyone duck!" Kakashi screamed.
Yanking her hand out of Naruto's grip, Naruko pulls her brother to the ground. Just missing the large blade swinging at them. As the blade stuck against a tree, everyone got back up to see a ninja with gray, pale skin standing on the neck of the sword.
That sword... Naruko recognized it, it belonged to one of the Seven Swordsmen from the Hidden Mist.
"Well, well if it isn't Zabuza Momochi. Rouge ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist." Kakashi stated.
"Lets take this guy down!" Naruto was more than ready to redeem himself.
"No Naruto," Kakashi threw his arm out in front of the blonde. "This guy is in a whole different league."
"Kakashi of the sharingan eye," Zabuza began. "Did I get that right? And what a pleasant surprise, you must be Naruko Uzumaki."
"You know me?" Naruko became intrigued.
"How could I not? You have a very high bounty on your head in the black market." Everyone, even Naruko was surprised.
"You have a bounty?!" Sakura questioned.
Who set up the bounty? Akatsuki? Orochimaru? Naruko was at a loss for words. She was shocked that she had never encountered a flyer during her travels.
"Now is not the time to talk." Kakashi stated. As curious as he was about the bounty that would have to wait till later. "Looks like I'm going to need this..."
His eye! What is that?! Naruto mentally exclaimed, as Kakashi revealed his sharingan.
"I'm honored. I get to see the sharingan in action," spoke Zabuza.
"What the heck is sharingan?!" Naruto wanted to know. He was getting more lost by the second.
"Its a rare power that resides in the eyes. The user of it can comprehend any genjutsu, ninjutsu and taijutsu. And can reflect it back on the enemy." Sasuke informed him.
"Thats right, but you only scratched the surface. The sharingan can copy and jutsu down to the smallest detail," Zabuza began as a heavy mist began to cloud the area. "As for you jonin. There is a standing order to kill you on sight. Your profile is in the Hidden Mist's bingo book as Kakashi: the copycat ninja. But enough talk, I need to kill the bridge builder."
"Quick! Mongi formation! Protect the bridge builder!" As Kakashi ordered, everyone surrounded Tazuna. Sakura to the left, Sasuke to the right, Naruko to the back and Naruto to the front.
"Then after that, I'll be taking ponytails over there."
"No!" shouted Naruto and Sasuke in unison. For a second they looked at each other shocked and annoyed.
"You're not taking Naruko! Believe it!" Naruto told the assassin. I'm not letting Sasuke beat me! Naruko's my sister and I'll protect her!
"Over my dead body," Sasuke added on. As much as Naruko appreciated their protection, she knew it would only do so little. Zabuza was an S-rank criminal.
"Ah!" Naruko gasped, with pain surging near her neck again.
Now of all times? Naruko was pleading for the pain to go away.
"Naruko!" Naruto's eyes widened at the sight as black flames slowly slithered, wrapping around Naruko's skin.
Use me...Use me... echoed a dark-eerie voice. Naruko yanked her head up only to realize that voice was coming from her head.
What is this? Before she had time to think, Zabuza appeared in a blind spot, nearly harming Tazuna. Before any damage could be done, Kakashi stabbed Zabuza only to find out it was a water clone.
"Naruko move!" Kakashi ordered. As she went to lift her leg she found it to be paralyzed. It wouldn't budge, not one bit. With her other leg however, she was able to move it freely. Thats when she noticed, the left side of her body that had the flame markings was paralyzed, while the other half was completely normal.
"Under no circumstances are you to rely on the curse mark."
"The curse mark will begin to corrode from the inside out. And the more you use it, the faster the process." Jiraiya's words rang in Naruko's head. She would be lying if she said she didn't consider using the curse mark for a moment. Her team was in danger, and if Kakashi were to be defeated she could guarantee that it would be the end for them. Using her left leg and quickly forced her weight onto the limb and jumped away from the battle.
Those marks... Naruto couldn't take is eyes off his sister. He may have not had an idea of what was going on, but he could tell that whatever was happening to Naruko is wasn't good.
"Are those tattoos?" Tazuna was baffled. He was just as lost as Naruto.
"No..." Naruko shook her head as she watched Kakashi jump into the water to escape Zabuba's attack.
"Oh no!" A frightening silence swept everyone. As Zabuza disappeared into the mist he quickly re-appeared on top of the water, trapping Kakashi in a water prison before he could even get up.
"You think you can call yourselves ninja? Such an insult," Zabuza spoke. "Water Clone Jutsu!"
Use me...use me... pleaded the voice. Naruko could barley concentrate on the fight. Her body was heating up. It had been years since she felt so helpless, so useless, so weak.
No...Fight it, fight it...she told herself as she started to slip in and out of conscious.
"Shes burning up!" Tazuna gasped as he held the back of his hand up to her forehead.
"Everyone run! Zabuza is using all his strength to keep me inside of here, if you get far enough his clone won't be able to track you!" Kakashi exclaimed.
"Ah!" As the clone appeared, he knocked Naruto to the ground. Causing his headband to go flying off.
"Run away? Not an option," Sasuke muttered. Before Naruko could see what happened next, she blacked out.
"Why? Why are you so persistent on keeping me sealed?"
"Huh?"
"I can give you strength. I can help you save your comrades. I haven't given you a reason to distrust me."
Opening her eyes Naruko finds herself surrounded by darkness. Though she couldn't see much in the dense, dark purple fog she could feel herself standing in a body of water that went up to her ankles.
"You haven't given me a reason to trust you either," she spoke to the mysterious ominous voice. Naruko couldn't even figure out what gender the voice was. "Who are you?"
Before the voice answered, Naruko froze in her steps as she felt a pair of arms wrap around her "You don't have to treat me so cold. After all, we've been sharing the same body for a few years already."
"That doesn't answer my question," Naruko wanted answers. Since she had received the curse mark, she had never heard the voice or felt the presence of anyone else. It was all so sudden and new.
"My, my. For a young girl, you're very serious," the mysterious being spoke with a playful tone. "Very well, I'll answer your question. My name is Joro."
"Joro..." the same sounded foreign and unfamiliar to the blonde. "Why have you appeared all of a sudden?"
"Because Naruko."
"What?" Naruko became confused at her answer.
"Naruko," the voice repeated. "Naruko. Naruko."
"Naruko!" when she came to it, she woke up surrounded by her teammates along with two new faces.
"Idiot! You woke her up!" Sakura growled, pounding Naruto in the head.
"When did I turn into a punching bag?!" he cried, holding his head.
"Thank goodness," Tazuna sighed with relief. "You had us worried there for a moment."
What happened to Zabuza? Where is Kakashi?...Where are we? Naruko had only regained conscious for less than five minuets and already she felt overwhelmed. One thing was certain though, she would have a lot of explaining to do once she saw Kakashi.
Naruko-ナルコ-
Chapter 12
Girl's Day Out Bodyguarding