Naruto
"I just don't understand why you have to go." Kushina Uzumaki glared at Naruto with all the displeasure of a wife scorned. She paced in front of the gates leading into Konoha. "I mean, you've only been off for a week!"
Naruto Uzumaki watched his students shuffle towards them with a slight grin. Emergency missions always managed to ruffle their feathers in just that way, allowing him to get a glimpse of the person beneath the headband. Kurenai looked grumpy, Asuma whined about being woken up so early despite noon, and Raidō still flipped through his booby magazine. He would have preferred not to have accepted to take on a mission soon after coming back from the frontlines. However, the fact that Iwa deployed one of their jinchūrikis meant that his skills were needed.
"Minato's team is fully recovered from their last mission," Kushina complained. "Kakashi is an expert in assassination, and Obito is no joke with his Sharingan. But, above ALL OF THAT, Minato is almost as talented as I am regarding sealing."
All valid points. Team Minato ranked among the highest-performing teams in the village, far ahead of his own team in many high-ranking missions completed. Between numerous tours of duty on the front and a composition unsuited for assignments requiring a subtle touch, Team Ten simply could not compete with Team Minato. He had to give credit where credit was due. Minato knew how to teach students.
He ran a hand through Yuan's mane and whispered soft words of encouragement to the horse. The decision to leave Jing-Ai behind in favor of Yuan was hard. Out of the three horses he used for combat, Naruto shared the strongest bond with Jing-Ai due to summoning her first. Yuan came second but had a personality that fought against authority, requiring extra focus when in the heat of combat. However, the horse's bulky frame and power legs made the trade-off more acceptable.
"Well, are you going to say something?" Kushina paused and tapped her foot on the ground. "We barely spent any time together!" Due to her position, she had been required to attend numerous meetings with prominent figures within the village, even during the weekend. He did not mind the alone time, but his future wife was growing frustrated.
Naruto shrugged. With the war's conclusion drawing closer by the hour, he enjoyed the opportunity for one final battle before a new peace settled over the war. "Minato finally accepted that I was the better fighter and decided to give me the glory for once. I'll be back by week's end."
Team Ten finally approached the pair, ready for the briefing and to get the mission over with as soon as possible.
"Very well." Kushina spun around to face his students. "Team Ten! Apologies for canceling your vacation so soon, but the matter is urgent. Our spies behind enemy lines have spotted Rōshi, Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails, moving towards our positions. We cannot allow our momentum to be halted by his interference. Therefore, the Hokage has asked that Naruto intercept Rōshi. Team Ten, you are going with him as support."
Naruto stepped forward with a smile. "I have requested you three due to your intimate knowledge of my battle style. It sucks that we must leave soon, but the Hokage promised us an extended vacation afterward. Even Minato agreed to it." He retrieved a small map from his belt and opened it up. "Now, Tsume Inuzuka and her team have made an outpost here in the village of Doro. We'll link up with her for the latest reports and commence our hunt for the Four-Tails."
"You are only required to engage him," Kushina cautioned. "While slaying an enemy Jinchūriki is a major victory, we need him only to withdraw from the front. Naruto," she narrowed her eyes, "use your good judgment when withdrawing. Do not overextend yourself in a quest for glory."
Naruto winked at his team. "As you command, Lady Hokage. I shall strive not to strive to collect his head."
Kushina groaned at the tone, knowing that arguing with the man was a waste of time. "Blessings upon you all. Return to us quickly." She hesitated momentarily before pulling Naruto into a deep kiss, running her hands through his hair. "Return to me quickly."
"As you command, Lady Hokage," his stupid grin grew wider at her blush. Then, in a single motion, he mounted Yuan and raised his polearm into the sky. "Standard formation! We march until the moon shows her ugly face!"
Team Ten departed Konoha at full speed, stopping neither for rest nor meal. His students' chatter filled the emptiness of the roads, and Naruto struggled to imagine that they would soon be out from under his tutelage. Kurenai, the blossoming Genjutsu expert of the entire village, was on the face-track of becoming a Jōnin or, at the very least, a Tokubetsu Jōnin. Asuma spoke to him about trying out for an apprenticeship among the legendary 'Twelve Guardian Ninja, the elite bodyguard of the Daimyo. As his teacher, he informed the Hokage that Asuma was more than ready for such an honor. Raidō, despite appearing lazy, seemed like a natural fit for the ANBU and would likely be tested next spring. Most likely, he thought with a bitter gladness, Team Ten was on their swansong mission.
"Asuma," Naruto did not bother staring at his student. "What is rule eight of the Musashi's Way?"
The Chūnin closed his eyes, remembering their first team meeting where Naruto forced them to recite the twenty-one rules of the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi from dawn until sunset. While not always fitting for the life of a shinobi, it forced them to think about their actions. "Never let yourself be saddened by a separation. Right?"
"Correct! Fate flows in ways none of us can understand. What we have today can be stolen from us tomorrow. We can treasure the present more deeply by refusing to mourn a separation or loss." The lesson, while helpful to them, was a reminder to himself of the teaching. As their teacher, it was his duty to allow them to spread their wings when the moment was right.
The journey through the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass passed without issue. Due to the recent victories, attacks across the border had stopped entirely, with many frontier towns returning to some sense of normalcy. Merchant caravans began to move again, strengthening the economy and solidifying the Land of Fire's status as the sole superpower of the continent. With the defeat of Rōshi, the Land of Earth stood little chance of stopping an invasion. The Earth Daimyo would force Iwa into a ceasefire long before the first Konoha ninja approached the capital.
On the morning of their day away from Konoha, Team Ten arrived in Dobo. Located ten miles from the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Grass, the village served little strategic value outside a small garrison watching for enemy movement. Signs of battle littered the ground with corpses and broken weaponry baking in the afternoon sun. He poked the body of a young Genin wearing the red headband of Iwa. The state of decay told him that it had been a few days since the last engagement.
"About time you showed up," the raspy voice of Tsume Inuzuka called out from crude battlements. "Hiashi is getting cranky waiting for you."
Naruto chuckled at the Inuzuka woman. As a former member of Team Orochimaru, his relationship with Tsume started out as an annoyance, then developed into a familial connection with her guaranteeing to be his children's godmother. Her relationship with Hiashi Hyūga had spawned one daughter, a sweet toddler named Hana, that had become his godchild. The fallout of such a union nearly caused a civil war between their two clans until the Third Hokage stepped in.
"Tell him to shut the hell up." Naruto twirled his guandao around in a flashy display. "Some of us were enjoying a well-deserved break."
Tsume roared with laughter. "Tell him yourself! We've got hot food almost ready."
Most of Dobo's civilian populace had fled in the days following the 'Battle of Koharu' as the shattered remains of Iwagakure's forces withdrew to reform battle lines. The fighting saw the entire southern half of the village destroyed in a blaze by a fire-happy Uchiha and an insane bomber from Iwa. Those people that remained, mostly the elderly and those without anywhere else to go, huddled for safety in the crumbling chapel at the center of town. Their glares showed their loyalty to the Land of Earth.
"Any further sightings of Rōshi?" Naruto allowed Yuan to graze on a small patch of grass by the barracks. At the same time, Team Ten enjoyed a well-deserved meal of pancakes and sausage looted from a captured supply depot. "I have not felt any demonic chakra so far."
Tsume wiggled a cigar free from her jacket. "A few whispers but nothing solid. I expected an attack by now, truth be told." She fiddled with a cheap lighter. "Hiashi and his clan arrived yesterday to aid in the hunt. They've done a few patrol routes but have not found anything."
"The calm before the storm. The hammer is about to drop. We need to find Rōshi quickly." Naruto followed her into the inn-turned-command post. "I did not know the Hyūga was deployed in this sector."
Tsume finally managed to light her cigar. "Yeah. I did not expect six teams to arrive yesterday morning demanding meals and soft beds. Orochimaru was pissed and kept muttering about their interference."
"Sensei is here?" Naruto raised an eyebrow. "I thought he was in Konoha."
Tsume plopped down on a looted couch. "He showed up a few days ago on 'personal business,' his words, not mine. Seemed to be in a good mood."
Naruto took a seat next to her and frowned. Orochimaru rarely operated within the typical command structure, thanks to his position as one of the Sanin. Much like Jiraiya, the Snake Sage preferred to work alone on projects or assignments of the highest secrecy, with only the Hokage genuinely knowing what the man did. Recent years saw his former teacher take more interest in research and developing new Jutsu to strengthen Konoha's forces. Naruto paid little attention to such things, preferring to remain in battle rather than behind books.
"Guess he found something he wants really bad," Naruto scratched the side of his face. "Where is he?"
Tsume blew out a ring of smoke. "Don't know. He chatted with me for a few minutes about Hana and disappeared into the night. You should have seen his new friend."
"Don't tell me he is dating again." Naruto shuddered at the thought of Orochimaru's last significant other. He still had nightmares of the woman's obsession with spiders. "Boy or girl?"
"Neither, actually." Tsume handed him the cigar. "Looked like a walking plant with a face. Called itself Zetsu or something like that. Orochimaru says it was a new experiment. Super creepy looking with a split personality."
Naruto did not like the sound of that. "Let's pray that I am fortunate enough NOT to encounter that thing. The last thing I need is a phobia of my own garden. Is Hiashi here? Wouldn't mind chatting with him."
"Think he left already with his team." Tsume pouted slightly. "Did not even kiss me goodbye."
"And that is enough of this conversation. Don't need to know the strange rituals of an Inuzuka and Hyūga fucking." Naruto handed the cigar back to her after a few puffs.
Tsume shrugged with a smirk. "I want more Hyūga puppies. These hips are made for breeding!"
Naruto rolled his eyes. All Inuzuka women carried a desire to rapidly multiply. Their lust for procreation knew little bounds, with them resorting to kidnapping when no male was willingly available. He felt glad that Tsume desired Hiashi only.
"I'll give the little ones a day of rest, then start the hunt."
Tsume frowned slightly. "Naruto, can I speak honestly?" The normal relaxed tone in her voice became tense. He gave her a nod to continue. "Something feels wrong about all of this."
"Oh?"
"Why would Iwa choose to deploy Rōshi now? Their army is barely able to hold their positions. Even a Jinchūriki is not enough to turn the tides."
Naruto shrugged and took the cigar from her. "Desperation? The earthworms are prideful and will not want to end the war on a sour note. They want to achieve one more victory, no matter how small, to regain some lost honor."
"And Orochimaru?" Tsume rubbed the back of her head. "He poked his head out from his labs until now."
Once again, Naruto shrugged. "Not our business. Sensei has always been the secretive sort. Perhaps he wishes to see the end of the fighting with his own eyes. But, at the end of the day, we are all loyal soldiers of the Hidden Leaf. Although, of course, some of us prefer to be more expressive with our dedication."
They remained silent as Tsume finished her cigar; both lost in the memories of the past, troubles of the present, and hopes for the future. Naruto thought of Kushina waiting at home for his victorious return. Their life, bounded by marriage and entwined with love, was about to change radically once she took the mantle of Hokage. His own role in the village would need to change. Peace had no place for a God of War. If allowed, he wouldn't mind taking on a second group of students or working part-time in the academy. Most of all, at the war's end, he wanted to be in her arms again.
Dawn arrived the following morning with rain.
Hiashi and the Hyūga returned without detecting anything remotely relating to Rōshi. None of the forward scouts mentioned spotting the Jinchūriki or any enemy movement for the past six hours. Growing frustrated, Tsume paced the battlements uncaring about soaked. None of the Inuzuka or regular shinobi dared approach their commander when she was in such a mood. Still, Hiashi stood by her, shielded with an umbrella and an expression of lethal boredom. Finally, having eaten a hearty breakfast and assembled his squad, Naruto strolled onto the barricades dressed for battle.
"You'll catch a cold doing that," Naruto smirked as Tsume glared at him.
"That is correct." Hiashi extended the umbrella but yanked it back when she tried to tear the fabric with her claws. "So uncivilized."
Tsume glared at the forests across the open field surrounding Dobo. She emitted a low snarl as if smelling something foul. "They two platoons sitting there with another three further behind them. But all rights, they should have attacked us multiple times." She gestured to what remained of the village. "We shouldn't even be able to hold this place!"
Naruto rubbed his chin gently. "Maybe they're waiting for something. Rōshi would be a good distraction."
"Assuming that Iwa deployed him here." Hiashi frowned. "Have we received any reports of an attack from anywhere else on the line?"
Tsume rubbed her temples gently. "Nothing. There was a minor skirmish last night by Bagu, but that was just two patrols stumbling across each other."
"Hmph." Naruto looked down at his waiting students. "I shall ride forward and look for the enemy. Perhaps, if I engage them, we can force them to reveal any plan." He paused upon noticing a single figure strolling towards Dobo. Deep within, the Nine-Tails began to stir as the malicious chakra of the Four-Tails filled the air with evil intent. "So, he appears!"
Rōshi of Four-Tails, known to the world as 'The Volcano of Iwa,' raised a magenta banner bearing the kanji of 'Earth' and wielded a sword in his free hand. He wore the standard battle armor of his village and an ornamental headdress bearing the symbol of Iwagakure. His voice, deep and primal like the muttering of a volcano, echoed over Dobo. "Naruto Uzumaki of Nine-Tails!" He planted the banner into the ground. "Come forward and answer the slaying of the Third Tsuchikage with battle!"
The scene earned a slight chuckle from Hiashi. "Only an idiot would answer his challenge."
Naruto Uzumaki charged forward with his weapon raised.
And that is an end for now.
So far, I have some mixed feelings about this story. Got some really good, constructive feedback from the last chapter. The original idea for the story took inspiration from a few different sources, including the 'Count of Monte Cristo' and David Grimmel's 'Legend' (both really good books). I am dedicated to the idea of a good NaruKush (non-incest) story but am unsure if this satisfies you, the reader. Let me know what you think. Is this something you would like to see continued or should I head back to the drawing board?
In other news, I have a small chapter planned for 'Finding Ourselves' that should be out by the end of the week. Forgot my notebook at home so it is taking a little longer to throw together. With my outline in said notebook, 'The Dreamer from the Stars' will have to wait a little longer for another chapter. In the meantime, I'll probably knock out a five-part (17000) story between Mito and Naruto.
