Vervada Chapter II

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Naruto gave a small grunt as he shifted the straps of his backpack. The pack gave off a small sound which, fortunately, neither of his teammates heard. A smile appeared on his face as he fished out a strip of meat from his pocket and put it in the pack, getting a happy mewl from within.

"It's surprisingly cute for a supposed creature of mass destruction." Kakashi noted with a chuckle. "Is that all you have to tell me?"

"At the moment. Come on, I don't even know all that much." The fifteen-year-old Gennin muttered at his Sensei's look. "And most of what I don't know and some of what I do is still reserved only for the Order. Not even the Hokage can know." Kakashi nodded in agreement.

"How much do you want to tell him?"

"Nothing, at least for another month or two, and even then, only if I have to."

"Why? I thought you told me the Order was pretty famous back then."

"It was. But I'm the only one now, and my dragon's still so small. I won't allow anything to harm it." Naruto shot his Sensei a hard look.

"Then why are you telling me?"

"Two reasons. First off, you already saw the dragon. And I do trust you."

"And what about that thing?" Kakashi motioned to the sword Naruto was carrying in his left hand.

"I need a weapon, right. It's either this, or maybe like a spear or something. I'll see when we get back home. Anything else?" Kakashi shook his head and the rest of the trip to their home village was spent in silence.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It took the team five days to get to Konoha with a moderate pace, since their Sensei wasn't in any hurry. Naruto was glad for the pace, but his dragon was growing rapidly. It was almost too big to fit in his pack, and already twice as large as when they had left Nami. He was just thankful, for the first time, that Sasuke and Sakura were too absorbed in the former to notice.

But it was on the fifth day, just a couple of miles from the gates of the village, that Naruto froze mid-step.

"Who am I?" The words echoed in his mind. The ancient presence that signified his dragon was there full force. Naruto nervously shifted his pack. The dragon inside was quiet.

"Was that you?" he muttered lowly.

"Yes." Came the amused reply in his mind. "Who am I?"

A name. The dragon wanted a name, Naruto realized. He closed his eyes in though, trying to recall the dragon names the book held.

"Firnen." No longer startled by his dragon's sudden ability to speak the human language, Naruto sent his words through their link, just as he did constantly through the five days they had travelled.

"No." Amusement was sent back through the link.

"Very well then, Glaedr." The next name was also rejected, and those after it. "Eridor."

"No. Naruto." The amusement was no longer there.

"That's my name, you can't… Oh." Naruto slapped his forehead with his palm. The dragon was female. "I'm sorry." The next few minutes were spent in listing a couple of female names Naruto could remember. By now, all three of his teammates had noticed he stopped, but could only see him with a far-away look in his eyes, his right hands clutching the strap of his backpack and his lips moving soundlessly.

"Vervada." Finally, after at least a dozen names, he could feel content seeping through the link.

"Yes, I am Vervada, daughter of Saphira. It's a pleasure to meet you, my Rider." Naruto gave a small chuckle and looked ahead, seeing a mop of pink hair and a fist drawn back, getting ready to punch him. He could hear his dragon's quiet growl from behind him and, sharing her sentiments, caught the fist in his hand and squeezed, bringing Sakura to her knees in pain.

"What?" He growled at her.

"We're almost there." Kakashi called ahead of him, eyes glued to the book in his hands. "Please let go of your teammate Naruto." The blond grunted but let go, glaring at the pinkette who now had a slightly scared look in her eyes.

"Do that again and you'll lose that hand." Naruto walked ahead, followed by the occupied Sensei, scared Sakura and uncaring Sasuke.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hiruzen Sarutobi was no fool. Being one of the longest-acting Kage in all the five Elemental Nations meant he really couldn't be, not if he survived that long. So, of course, the Third Hokage knew when his underlings were keeping things from him. One had to get up very early in the morning indeed to pull the wool over his eyes.

He could tell that Kakashi and Naruto conspired to keep something from him. And judging by the other two Genin, it was a secret even to them. Whatever it was. Being able to tell when he wasn't told everything didn't mean he knew what it was he wasn't being told.

Best case scenario, it was something small and stupid which they were entirely too embarrassed about to tell in front of anybody, let alone their teammates. Worst case scenario… well, Hiruzen really didn't want to think about that one. But he trusted both Kakashi and Naruto, they were among the most loyal ninja he had access to (which was quite a feat considering one was still a Genin, and a fresh one at that).

He'd let them keep their secrets, for now. And pray to the gods what they kept quiet didn't kill anyone.

Well, anyone useful.

"Is that all that happened?"

"Yup." Kakashi gave one of his eye-smiles. "That about sums it up."

"Nothing else you'd possibly want to tell me?"

"Nope, not that I can think of. Oh, wait…" Kakashi rubbed his chin in thought. "Now that you mention it, there is one other thing."

"Yes?" The Hokage prompted his Jōnin.

"They named a bridge after Naruto."

"They did?"

"Yeah, the 'Great Naruto Bridge'."

"That's not quite what I had in mind, but congratulations Naruto."

"Thanks, old man." Naruto smiled, ignoring the fuming Uchiha behind him. The whole bridge thing was a very sore spot for him. "Can we talk for a bit?"

"If there's nothing else…" Kakashi shook his head. "Very well, the rest of you are dismissed." The Jōnin grabbed the shoulders of his other two Genin and, before they could begin to argue, disappeared along with them in a swirl of leaves.

Hiruzen just watched the leaves flutter in the air for a moment before sighing. "That man has no respect for the people who actually have to clean up his little leaves. You wanted something?"

"Yeah. A thought occurred to me while we were coming back. I am a ninja now, yes?"

"I should think so."

"And being a ninja makes me an adult, correct?"

"In the eyes of the law."

"That being said, as an adult I think it time to inherit whatever it is that my parents left me. I'm hoping for a house."

"Oh?" Sarutobi raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you think they left you anything?"

Well…" Naruto shifted the straps of his pack. "They had to have had something in their possession, and since I'm the lone heir it rightly belongs to me."

"Lone heir?"

"If I wasn't I hope I'd have grown up with some kind of family."

"True. And what if they're not dead or missing, but simply left."

"Thanks for that." Naruto deadpanned.

"Humor me Naruto."

"Then I assume most immovable objects and those they didn't have a great need for were left here. They should still go to me. Look." He added when he saw the pondering expression on the leader's face. "I'm not asking to know who they are, if you wanted to tell me you would've already. I just mainly want a new home, the apartment I'm currently staying at is beginning to crumble away."

"You really have thought this through. Alright." Hiruzen smiled at Naruto's whoop of happiness. "Although it goes against at least half of my better judgment, I'll give you the house your parents left. And who knows what you'll find inside, it's been completely empty since they died."

"Thanks for the hint." Naruto smiled as the Hokage handed him a ring of keys.

"The keys to the grounds. They're located farthest from the village proper, surrounded by hills on one side and forest on all others. It's a pretty private place, so I think you'll like it. I'll take care of the… paperwork." He shuddered. "You can begin to move in whenever you want."

"Thanks again old man."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"That went along much easier than I thought it would." Naruto commented out loud as he was packing his things.

"Why would it not?" His dragon was sitting on the bed, staring at the open closed with a puzzled tilt to her head.

"It's complicated. He never really told me who they were, for starters."

"And you think you may find something inside our new home?"

"More or less, yeah." He finished packing one bag and turned to look at her. She had hopped off the bed and trotted over to his closet, pulling out one of his orange jumpsuits and throwing it to the side. "Um… what are you doing?"

"Cleaning." She answered simply.

"Meaning what?"

"These things are bad." She motioned to one of his jumpsuits.

"What?" Naruto's eyes bugged out. "And what the hell is wrong with them?"

"They're orange, Naruto. I'll not be caught dead with an orange speck on my back."

"Fine." Naruto huffed. "I bet you'd like them if they were purple."

"Of course. Purple is the single greatest color there is and it makes everything automatically better just by mere association." Naruto just looked at her for a moment.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. It is a very beautiful color." He then froze in shock.

"Huh? Are you alright?"

"Dammit, this is all your fault! Orange was the greatest color ever until you came along." It could've been the light, but Naruto could swear that Vervada didn't look the least bit sheepish. "Fine, I'll go shopping later."

"I knew you'd see reason." She gave off a low, rumbling sound when he sent her a week glare.

"Are you… laughing at me?'

"Me? No. What on earth gave you that idea?"

"Right. Whatever you say." He opened the last pack. "Inside you go."

"I'm sure that's not necessary." She took a small step back, glancing at the pack wearily.

"Yes, because we want everyone to see you and blow whatever element of surprise we have right now."

"Fine." She sighed and got in. Naruto tied the string and hefted it on his shoulder, jostling it just a little bit more than strictly necessary. "You're enjoying this a bit too much."

"Me? No. What on earth gave you that idea?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

There we go. Three chapters in one day, two old and one new one. I'm not sure which story will be next; we'll have to see. If any of you have a preference, let me know.

I just… can't remember which character was supposed to be the GB one.