The Naruto concept is owned by Masashi Kisimoto. This story concept, and any original characters contained within, are my own property.
The Last Step 5: Our Happy Place?
Previously on The Last Step: Team 4 was sent by Konoha to a small village in the Fire Country. This village has been experiencing a problem with local gangs, and it's the job of Team 4 to eradicate the gangs. They were all set to start in the morning when in the middle of the night, the building in which they were staying was attacked?
***
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
That voice echoed through the room, unhampered by the smoke and dust flying around. As the area began to settle down, Naruto could make out shapes and silhouettes. He braced himself, fingers twirling and warming themselves up to form any number of seals. That familiar fire began burning within him, and he knew he was accessing Kyuubi's chakra.
A woman stepped out of the chaos. If Naruto hadn't been in complete control of himself, he would have gasped. She was hauntingly beautiful. Beside the Jounin, both Shikashi and Kutsu drew a sharp intake of breath. They were obviously not quite as prepared as Naruto was.
The innkeeper poked his head above the desk he was using as a bunker and pointed at the woman. "That's her!" He shouted. "She's the leader of the gang! She looks fragile, but don't be fooled! She's strong!"
The woman glared at the man, spitting in his general direction. "Ah, shut up. You're making your guests biased against me before I've even gone and introduced myself. I'm Kojiko."
She walked casually over to Naruto, offering her hand. For a moment, Naruto wasn't sure if he should shake it or kiss it. Then he shook himself, remembering the situation. "I'd rather not touch you, if it's all the same." He said with an easy grin.
More dust settled to the ground, and the ninja finally got a look at the gang members surrounding them.
"What?" Kutsu asked incredulously. "You guys are just kids."
The 'kids' glared at him. "We're just as old as you are, punk. Don't judge us by our size."
The lady coughed delicately, attracting everybody's attention. "Anyway. We didn't exactly come here for a fight right now. Rather, we came here to provide a courtesy warning."
Naruto smiled and laughed quietly. "While I appreciate the thought, you're wasting your time. We represent the village of Konoha, and it would be a black mark on our record if we gave up and left before we even got started. So I'm afraid we'll have to return your warning. Thanks anyway."
The mysterious woman smiled, and began to back away towards the hole in the wall, so recently created. "If that's how you feel, then I guess there's no helping it. We'll see you tomorrow, out in the town square."
She dropped a small marble, and the room filled with a thick smoke, obscuring everything. A sudden gust of wind came in through the brand new window, but it was too late. The gang was gone. Naruto scratched his head mentally. That woman had looked familiar, somehow. He knew he had seen her somewhere. He just couldn't remember where.
The room was silent except for one last plaintive comment by the innkeeper.
"Who's going to pay for that wall?"
***
Naruto awoke slowly, his eyes blinking in the surprising lack of sunlight. He made a mental note to ask the innkeeper how he had solved the problem [1], and rolled over like he always did. He was too lazy to get off of his futon in the morning, he'd rather just fall off of it.
"Hey! Get off, you fat lump!" Shikashi tiredly pushed at the adult, who had randomly rolled over, right onto where Shikashi was trying (and failing) to remain asleep through the morning.
Kutsu sat up lazily, blinking his eyes. "Hey, guys? What time is it?" He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, and began to stretch. Naruto checked the watch he kept under his pillow, and answered.
"It's almost nine. Why?"
Kutsu stood up hurriedly and began throwing on his ninja uniform. "Because breakfast gets served at nine, and they've got waffles. I want to be there right when they open so I can load up my plate!"
Shikashi nodded his agreement, and Naruto smiled. "Rookies. I slept in my clothes. I'm heading down now."
Ignoring the shouts of protest, Naruto stood up in his rumpled pants and vest, and strode out the door.
"Stand back", he called. "I take big steps." He paused to knock on Kimiko's door. "Hey, Kimiko? It's breakfast time." He prepared to knock again, when a note taped the door caught his eye.
"Naruto-sensei and team: Midomaru and I are downstairs, in line for the waffles. I'll save some for you."
Naruto smiled broadly. That girl….Whistling jauntily, he began to walk down the stairs to the breakfast room. He ignored the crashes coming from behind him, Kutsu and Shikashi were still trying to sort out where their clothes had disappeared to overnight.
***
Shikashi leaned back in his chair, contentedly. That had been a darn good breakfast, he reflected. The waffles had been top notch. The bacon had been expertly cooked, the eggs done to perfection.
And he didn't even have to pay.
"Alright, team. Let's get our gear together, and we'll go out and earn our keep here." Naruto stood up and motioned for his protégés to do the same.
Ah, yes. That, Shikashi remembered, was the catch. Now, he had to go out and do some actual work. Slowly, he stood up and followed his teacher out of the room. He pointedly ignored Kutsu, who was cheering happily about the commencement of his first real mission.
He quickly flicked his eyes towards the final member of his team. Kimiko caught him glancing at her, and flushed. She gave him a shy smile, before leaning down to pick up Midomaru and placing him in his special seat of honor on top of her head.
Why did that smile make him nervous?
His internal reverie was interrupted by the innkeeper, coming over to wish the ninja good luck.
"So you're all heading out?"
Naruto nodded assent. "Yep. We're heading out now. We'll probably be back late tonight, then we'll return to the village tomorrow morning. At least, that's the plan."
The innkeeper smiled. "Good. Well, just remember. When you're fighting those thugs, don't give them any mercy. They're evil, through and through. I don't doubt that they'll kill you, if you let down your guard."
Naruto's smile faded a bit. "We'll do whatever is necessary." He said stiffly. The Jounin's discomfort was lost on the oblivious host.
"Well, I'm sure you'll find it necessary to kill at least the woman. She's almost the devil, she is. And those kids aren't much better, believe you me. None of them had parents, so they've all grown up wild."
A fire began burning in Naruto's eyes. The innkeeper, lost in his tirade of self-righteousness, failed to see it.
"Honestly, I can't say I'm surprised. If you don't have parents to provide discipline in your childhood, then you're ruined for later in life. Those children are destined to become nothing more than petty hoodlums-"
Naruto stalked angrily past him, fists clenched in anger. The innkeeper looked at him curiously. "Well. I understand it's disgusting, but I've never seen somebody react that strongly to it."
It didn't escape Shikashi's notice that as Kutsu walked by, the genin took special care to trod directly on the innkeeper's toe. Kimiko did the same. To the same toe.
Who was Shikashi to break such a streak?
"Well…good luck, then" the innkeeper called out weakly. After waving to the departing ninja, he hobbled into the back room to examine his toe. The dang thing felt like it was broken.
***
For some reason, constant sounds of nature can be extremely relaxing. For example, a bird singing in the forest can be a lullaby for a crying child. Or a waterfall will lull a person to sleep.
Naruto could use some lulling right now. That innkeeper…his fist clenched again, and Naruto forced himself to relax. Deep breaths. Unclench the muscles. Take another breath. Hold, and exhale.
How ignorant could people get? Just because somebody didn't have parents, that didn't mean jack about how much they would amount to later in life. There were plenty of guiding forces other than parents. He had found Iruka. Kutsu had found him.
GOD, that innkeeper was annoying. He seemed pretty insistent that the gang be killed, or at least their leader. That woman…why did she deserve to die? Idly, Naruto wondered what she had done to piss off the town so much.
"Hey, teacher! C'mon, let's go! You said we'd meet that lady in the town square, right? Well, this sure doesn't look like the town square to me."
Shikamaru counted sides quickly. "I agree with Kutsu. This looks like the town dodecahedron, if you ask me."
The silence brought on by that comment was broken only by the soft giggles of Kimiko. If they had made noise, it also would have been broken by the glares that both Kutsu and Naruto were shooting him.
"Smartass." Naruto muttered. Shikashi wisely hid his grin. He got the sense that Naruto would slap him if he started laughing. Turning his back, Naruto stood up and strode off towards the town square, Kutsu in tow. Shikashi chuckled softly, /very/ softly, to himself and began to follow them. He passed Kimiko, and she began to walk next to him, matching his stride. As they drew close to their teammate and teacher, she leaned over and whispered in his ear. "I thought it was funny."
Shikashi ignored the red he knew was staining his cheeks. There was no reason to be blushing now, was there? He stole a glance at Kimiko out of the corner of his eye, and saw that she had the same red she did.
If she was doing it to, then it couldn't be completely wrong, right?
***
Kojiko almost felt sad, watching people around her. They avoided her like she was a plague carrier. Like she had some sort of force field, which they couldn't, or wouldn't, breach.
She didn't deserve this. Nobody did. Nobody deserved to be ostracized like this. Didn't everybody deserve to have somebody love them, somebody accept them?
Didn't everybody deserve to have a home?
A call brought her out of her reverie. "Oi, lady? Are we gonna fight here, or what?" She looked up, startled.
"I don't suppose I could convince you to leave us alone?" She ventured. Naruto shook his head, grinning slightly.
"Nah. My team and I have a job to do, and I'd rather not just abandon it without even trying."
Kojiko nodded, standing up. "Very well. In that case, we should proceed to where we'll be fighting. It wouldn't be good if you trashed the town square while eradicating the town of pests." Her tone was slightly bitter.
"Actually-" Shikashi started. Kutsu smacked him quickly.
"We don't care about how many sides this place has, dumbass. It's not a perfect square. Deal."
Kojiko stifled a laugh at that. How long had these boys known each other, she wondered. They treated each other like family. At that, her eyes began to tear up, and she quickly turned. It wouldn't do to allow her enemies to see her cry. Never let them see you cry, she remembered.
"Follow me. Don't worry, it's short walk."
***
"This is it?" Kutsu asked incredulously. "This is where we're fighting?"
The location in question was a dilapidated old building. Kutsu's concern was well founded; the building looked like it could collapse at any second, even without going through the rigors of ninja fighting.
Kojiko glared at him briefly. "This is where my gang and I live. Be respectful, brat." Naruto easily snagged the back of Kutsu's collar as he charged angrily towards the lady.
"Ease up there, big man." Naruto cautioned. "You'll be fighting her soon enough. No need to be hasty right now." He looked closely at Kojiko. He /knew/ he had seen her somewhere. "Before we fight, I have just one question."
Kojiko looked at him uneasily. "What is it?" She asked, her eyes blinking slowly. Naruto examined her face questioningly.
"Why are you doing this?" He asked quietly. She looked down and shut her eyes.
"All I wanted was a place to live. A place for me and my family of orphans to stay. Doesn't everybody deserve a place to be happy?"
The Jounin frowned. "According to my job description, you've burned down around four houses and destroyed three different storefronts. That's not looking for a place to live; that's just intimidation and destruction."
Kojiko's eyes flashed open angrily. "There are extenuating circumstances you couldn't hope to understand. I can tell, you've never felt the pain of being truly alone in this world. You're a ninja. You've had your team, you've got your parents, your teachers. Your genin now. I never had any of that."
A tear dripped slowly from one eye, falling to the ground. Kojiko ignored it, continuing with her tirade. Out of the corner of his eye, Naruto noticed shapes coming into resolution as people. His team was being surrounded. He quickly accessed the Kyuubi's chakra, just in case.
"My mother died giving birth, my father died right along with her. I passed the genin test in my village, only to be rejected in my team. I abandoned them first chance I got. I haven't had anybody my entire life. Don't I have the right to make my own family?"
Recognition dawned in Naruto's eyes. He knew where he had seen her. Her pictures was in the book of Missing-nin. She wasn't a criminal of very high class, not being deemed that dangerous.
"You're Kojiko of the Mist Village?" He asked incredulously. She nodded, eyes blazing. "So that's where I saw your face. It's been bugging me ever since last night."
Kojiko smiled, her expression full of pain. "And now," she continued, as if Naruto had never spoken, "You understand why I have to do what I have to do. I'm all the family these orphans have. I cannot and will not allow you to take them from their home."
Without warning, she clasped her hands rapidly in seals. With his training, Naruto was able to recognize them all. His team wasn't quite as skilled.
"What? What's she doing?" Kutsu shouted. Shikashi didn't bother wasting time with words. He activated his Kagemane no Jutsu quickly, and shadows from all around began streaking towards the kunoichi. Kimiko began activating a jutsu of her own, Midomaru growling at anybody who came near. Naruto hung back and let the genin handle it. It was their mission, after all. He'd come in if it looked like they needed help.
The shadows were closing in. Shikashi could feel the anticipation running through his veins, he was almost there.
Then, Kojiko began to sing. Her hands clasped in the seal of the Tiger, her voice was haunting but soothing, sad but hopeful, all at the same time. Unconsciously, Shikashi canceled his jutsu. Using chakra right now would take up his concentration, and all he wanted to concentrate on right now was that sweet, beautiful song.
"Hush, little baby, don't say a word…"
Kutsu yawned. That song was so beautiful…It was everything he had ever wanted. How many times had he lain awake, hoping somebody would sing something to him?
"Momma's gonna buy you a mocking bird…"
In that moment, Kimiko felt really, truly, loved. This woman, Kojiko, she loved Kimiko. Even with all her faults, even with her lack of confidence…Kojiko loved her.
"If that mocking bird don't sing..."
So this was what is what it was like to have a mother, Kutsu thought drowsily. It felt nice. It felt warm, and fuzzy. He liked it. His eyes began to droop closed.
"Momma's gonna buy you a golden ring…"
In his state of drowsy half-sleep, Shikashi had only one conscious thought. This woman, this Kojiko, this mother…He loved her, and she loved him. She would do anything for him. So shouldn't he do anything for her?
"If that golden ring turns brass…"
Naruto narrowed his eyes. This was very rapidly turning into a situation the genin didn't look like they could handle. He began to step forward, intent on stopping Kojiko from singing any more verses.
"Momma's gonna buy you a looking glass…"
A hand clapped on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. "Sorry, can't let you do that. You'll have to fight me before you try to stop her."
"If that looking glass does break…"
Kutsu shifted lazily. There was something he had to do, he remembered. Something even more important than his new mother. Something even more important than listening to this beautiful song. Something….
"Momma's gonna buy you a birthday cake…"
Naruto wheeled on his heels, hand flying up in a fist to punch the objector in the face. Before the blow connected, a slap echoed through the room.
"I don't have a mother, and you're not her. You never can be." Kutsu was breathing heavily from the exertion of breaking free. He had a job to do. He had to stop this woman. She wasn't his mother.
Kojiko gaped at him. Her bottom hurt; she had toppled from the slap. There wasn't very much power in it, but the surprise alone was enough to sap the strength from her legs.
In unison which was almost comic, both Shikashi and Kimiko shook their heads. They cleared the cobwebs out from their minds, and slowly began to understand what happened.
"A genjutsu.." marveled Shikashi. He knew he was in the middle of a fight, but still. Art always deserved some kind of recognition, and that genjutsu was an incredible work of art. He had even seen her make the seals, and yet, once she started singing, everything had disappeared. It was just him, her, and the song. A part of his mind wondered how Kutsu had managed to break the jutsu. Another part wished he hadn't. The music truly was beautiful.
Naruto placed a steadying hand on Kimiko's shoulder. She looked woozy from the jutsu, but Naruto's presence seemed to steady her. She shook her head from side to side and withdrew a kunai, preparing to fight.
"If you guys can take the gang members, I'll take care of Kojiko. Sound good?"
Team 4 nodded, and prepared to fight.
***
The battle was over within minutes. Kojiko was far too busy fighting Naruto to even think about helping her gang. And Kutsu, Shikashi, and Kimiko, with their ninja training, were more than a match for some street kids.
Kojiko looked around wildly. All over, her family was fighting and losing. They were hurting, bleeding. Sadly, she accepted what she had to do.
Dodging Naruto's punch, she jumped away and dropped to her knees. "I surrender." She said clearly.
Naruto stopped attacking, caught off guard. "What?" He asked. In all his days as a ninja, he'd never had somebody simply surrender before. Never. It just didn't happen. As a ninja, your commitment to the village was everything; you fight a losing battle to the death before surrendering. Or you'd try and run away. Whatever was easiest.
But simply give up? Unheard of. "Why?" he questioned.
Kojiko bit her lip, and answered. "If I surrender, then you'll leave my children alone. I can't bear to see you hurting them. You can take me back to my village, let me die. I don't care. But leave my orphans alone."
Naruto scratched his head. There had to be some way to fix this, he knew it. Slowly, a smile spread across his face.
"You just want a place to stay, correct?"
***
"I don't know how I can thank you for this." Kojiko said, staring at the newly formed house. It looked like it had grown out of the forest floor. It had.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Ah, don't mention it. I don't get to use that jutsu often enough anyway, it's good to see that I made something useful with it [2]. As long as you guys live here, then I don't think anybody will bother you. And now that that's finished with, we should probably head back to our own home."
Smiling, Kojiko waved goodbye to the genin. They did the same, and their calls echoed through the forest.
"Bye, mom!"
***
"So did you kill her?"
God, that innkeeper was annoying. Naruto rubbed his head and sighed. "Hey, c'mere."
The innkeeper came closer. "So, what happened? She's dead, right?"
Quick as a flash, Naruto punched the innkeeper in the jaw. "You're one of the most ignorant, bigoted people I've ever met. And I've met a lot. You disgust me. Never hire from our village again." He hissed angrily. The innkeeper backed up against the wall, scared out of his shoes. Naruto stalked out of the inn, and his team followed him silently.
They did, however, take care to walk on the innkeeper's foot. The same toe as last time. All three of them.
Shikashi made sure to add an extra little twist when he stepped on it.
***
The moon rose over Konoha. Everybody was asleep, after a mission well done.
Well, almost everybody. Kutsu was still awake. Silently, he crept on to the roof of the house he now shared with Naruto. Looking up at the moon and the stars, he hugged himself and began to sing, quietly.
"Hush, little baby, don't say a word, momma's gonna buy you a mocking bird…" His voice cracked, and he sniffed softly.
"If that mocking bird don't sing, momma's gonna buy you a golden ring…" He kept on singing, though he knew he would never be able to capture that feeling of love and family again.
A strong arm wrapped around his shoulders, and Naruto's rich baritone blended with Kutsu's tenor.
"If that golden ring turns brass, momma's gonna buy you a looking glass…"
Naruto smiled, and hugged Kutsu just a little bit tighter. Neither of them had any family to speak of, but for the moment, they were content in each other's company.
***
Next time on Last Step: The Jounin exams are here! Inoka and Hana will finish their training, and learn that they are about to face something unlike anything they've ever done before.
***
Author's note: Okay. Everybody, one special reviewer deserves a quick round of applause. Himizu went out and found the picture I told you all about. The one of Team 7 at age 20, where Naruto has facepaint. You can find it at
And special thanks goes out to Gemin, who graciously agreed to beta-read the first part of this chapter after he messaged me on AIM. He comes in expecting a conversation, and instead, I rope him into beta-reading four pages of what I suspect was horrible. That's dedication for you.
[1]: That's a reference to the first chapter. If you didn't get it. You probably did.
[2]: The jutsu is Mokudon: Jyukai Koudan. It's the jutsu used by Shodaime in chapter 122. I read somewhere that this is the jutsu he used to make Konoha Village. Here, it's used to make a big house.
Okay. I am SOOO sorry. I meant to get this out on Saturday, then I realized that it WAS Saturday, and I only had about two pages done. Then it was Sunday, and I only had three pages done. Then it was Monday, and I only had four pages done. Then Gemin messaged me, and I buckled down and just finished the chapter. So what do you guys think? I'm not quite sure about the end. I know that it seems like I just did a cheap cop-out to finish the fight; that's honestly not what I did. That's really truly how I intended this whole thing to play out.
Writing this chapter was made harder by the fact that my computer kept on doing that thing where it constantly jumps to the bottom of whatever document you're reading. So I had to keep on saving and closing. Anybody know how to fix that? I'd be eternally in your debt if you could help me. It's really annoying, and it slows down how fast I can write.
Next chapter is the jounin exam. Oh boy! I'm looking forward to those, they should be exciting. Also next chapter, I'll post little descriptions of Shikashi, Kimiko, and Kutsu. Just so you guys know what they look like.
And by the way…Gemin went and did this. You guys shouldn't be afraid to add me to your buddy list, and message me if I'm on. I'm always happy to talk to a reviewer. I love a little ego stroking, just like any other author out there. If you've already added me to your list and I just haven't been on, I'm sorry. I'm working on a research paper right now, and it's sucking up my time. But it's due this Friday, so after it's finished, I should be able to be online more often. Okay? Great.