Title: Wishes Are Free
Author: Cheza-chan
Rating: R
Pairing: KakaIru, SasuNaru, SakuOC
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto—oh, I wish I did—but I own Kan'you, all the characters of the Hidden Wave Village. I own the Hidden Wave Village because I created it! I own the Hidden Wave Village's special jutsus, etc.
A/N: Wa-ho:;sets off noisemakers;: Yeah, babeh! I got 100 reviews on my own—all my own! No friends getting different names and leaving reviews to make me feel better, just me and my hard work:;does her hip-thrust dance;: XD Whee, look, I'm winding things up. Hopefully not too quickly, I don't want all my "hard work" to end up being anti-climactic.
/ ….. / the kyuubi speaking.
I think this chapter's long, so put on your reading glasses. I was on a roll.
Chapter Twenty-Four – Shuku Atsuko
Sakura hung upside-down from the roof of the hospital. With her pink hair wrapped up under her hitai-ate for the particular moment, she remained as a part of the darkness and continued staring through the window into the dark room.
Hizaku had left Oyasa's room for the night not quite five minutes ago—a persistent nurse urged him to rest.
'His conscience is eating at him,' the girl mused about her former Shuuha leader as she released the chakra in her feet to silently fall onto the sill. She knew if too many doubts and concerns ran through her head, Atsuko would be here for her by the next breath she took, so Sakura kept her thoughts limited. She pushed the hitai-ate up.
Atsuko's empty eyes slowly slid open. 'Sakura-chan…'
Sakura pulled the headband down over her eyes and disappeared with a swirl of smoke from the windowsill.
"What do you think she's up to?" the man asked the silent boy standing at his side. He reached up and brushed the dark blue hair out of the way of the closed eye. "Hmm? What's on your mind?" Atsuko chuckled, sliding a hand down the boy's cheek.
A pale, empty orange eye stared down at the man.
Sakura found herself climbing through a window to stand in Taka's dark and empty room. She glanced back down at the street to see the boy walking up to his house. With a smile, she took a seat on his bed to wait for him.
After entering the empty house and storming down to his room, Takai opened and slammed the door to his room shut. He turned and pounded his fist against it. He growled and punched the door. Sora and Aki were staying with Miyako, who was under protection because of the surprise attack that had been pulled on her. They needed the extra protection.
"What's wrong, Takai-kun?" a voice asked sweetly.
The boy spun, gray eyes wide, and noticed the figure sitting innocently in the middle of the bed.
"This is just like a boy's room—no decoration, just the necessities," Sakura murmured. There was no poster of any kind; just a bed, dresser, worktable, and closet.
Takai pushed aside the thought of not having sensed her in any way and rushed to the bed. "Sakura… How… What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you." Sakura reached up to caress the side of his face with soft and gentle hands. She pulled her hands away until her fingers ghosted over his face, and led him onto the bed to wrap both arms around his neck. "Kiss me," Sakura ordered in a soft voice.
"Sakura…"
"Takai-kun, please."
The boy licked his lips nervously and started to lean forward, but stopped. "I want to see you," he mumbled, reaching up and undoing the knot of the blank hitai-ate headband. It fell between them and Sakura closed the gap before he wondered why her eyes remained close. Takai tilted his head, mouth slanting over hers more firmly. "Have you come back?" he whispered, kissing the tip of her nose.
"I haven't." She pulled away and picked up her headband, retying it in the normal way over her eyes so her hair was visible. With a small smile, Sakura inched her way to the edge of the bed and stood. She backed up to the open window then stopped before climbing through. "You should visit Oyasa sometime. I'm sure he would appreciate it." And with that, she was gone, leaving a frustrated Takai.
With a childish smile, Sakura took her time getting back to the hideout. She came to the double doors and pressed her palms against the cool wood, pushing open the doors. No one was lingering in the lobby, not even Atsuko. Sighing, the young girl closed the door behind her and lowered her head at the increased brightness as the room got darker.
Sakura crossed the empty floor to get to the hall where the room she shared with Shikyo was to get some sleep; tomorrow was supposedly a big day. She reached the door, only to find another youth standing there.
Kaoru pushed away from the wall and Sakura's plans changed for she was obviously supposed to follow. They came to a large door at the end of another hall and he stood down as she continued through.
Atsuko turned away from his window to stare at the girl. She closed the door and walked to the center of the room where she dropped into a bow. "Stand," he instructed.
Sakura rose, keeping her gaze straight ahead. The lighting of his room was just perfect and she saw everything clearly, but it was just the same as Takai's—devoid of emotions. Atsuko strolled towards her then by her. Sakura followed. She took a seat in the chair by his window, folding her hands in her lap. "Gomen nasai," she said softly.
"Why'd you apologize, Sakura-kun?"
"Because I can feel you in my head."
Atsuko smirked and stood behind the chair. He removed her headband and placed his hands on her shoulders. "You still feel. None of the other children do. That's going to be a problem. Right now, you're asking yourself—"
"Why me?" Sakura cut in. "Why any of us?" Why children? Why not Naruto and Sasuke? They're—"
"Stronger than you are?" Atsuko hissed, sliding his fingers around her neck. "They're not. I give you the power you need. Your pain and sadness gives me unimaginable strength and I give that strength back every last child I've taken in. Uchiha Sasuke fights for himself and revenge. Uzumaki Naruto fights for loved ones and to make things right. He's too emotional."
Sakura took a breath after he stopped talking. "Then why do you still want Naruto?" she asked.
"I don't," the man sighed. "You do. You want him for his power. Which, as you've seen, you really don't need."
Sakura's eyes slid open halfway and in a narrowed state. There was only one way she wanted Naruto.
"Very well," Atsuko murmured. "If that's your desire, so be it. See… Haruno Sakura, Hitsu Shikyo, Hotaru Kaoru." The man stopped, chuckling softly at the fact that their last names all began with the same letter. "You and the rest of my students have different emotions. You're easier to manipulate." He undid the bun and let her growing pink hair fall just over her shoulders. He placed his hands to her temples. "Relax," he whispered. "You won't be able to recall much from tonight, but it won't matter."
"Hai, Atsuko-sama." Sakura allowed her body to relax as she was told and everything went black.
Kaoru was called into the rom to take the girl away. As Sakura's choice had changed, so was his mission. Once given his new order for tomorrow, the young boy was allowed the leave. Atsuko chuckled softly, tightening the grip he had on the girl's hitai-ate.
"I need you to go grocery shopping."
Naruto and Sasuke glanced at each other then back at the weary-looking dolphin. Things had calmed down after everything that had happened yesterday. "Of all the times…" Sasuke shook his head. "Now?"
"I've been doing the shopping so it seemed like the fridge magically restocked itself, but…" Iruka placed a hand to his head. "I'm too worn out." Both boys smirked and he glared at them. "Just take the list and get food for the house."
"Hai!" Naruto saluted then winced, dropping his arm. He was still healing. Sasuke shook his head and dragged the boy along. The blonde snatched his arm away, wincing once more.
The Chuunin couldn't smile; in his heart, he wanted to, but his broken spirit wouldn't allow it. The other's presence wasn't helping. The conversation last night hadn't gone too well—it veered far off the original course—and ended with both men sharing the bed in an uncomfortable sleep. He turned back into his room, glaring at the Jounin.
"You sent them shopping… to make them believe, what?" the silver-haired shinobi muttered.
"To ease their minds," Iruka admitted. "If they believe a trivial thing such as food has become more important to me—"
"It'll lessen the burden they've been carrying all these months," Kakashi snorted. "Naruto, maybe. Sasuke likes to harbor things."
"You've changed Hatake Kakashi," the dolphin whispered. "And I'm not sure if it's for the best. I've seen the way you look at me when you think I don't know. If proof is what you need to confirm the fact that I am a Chuunin…" His ninja status was what had been questioned last night because it seemed unlikely for a middle ninja to be sent on such a high-risk mission. He gripped his left sleeve and began rolling it up.
Kakashi tensed, then relaxed when the young man's arm proved to be bare; no ANBU tattoo like the one that would remain permanent on his own arm. Even more relieving was that there was nothing symbolizing the other as a hunter-nin.
Iruka watched the relief flood into the other's visible eye and sighed, rolling the sleeve back down his arm. "Do you think I should've sent those two out together?" he mumbled. "I mean… I'm not sure they've really fixed things. They just slept in the same room."
"Let them be," the Jounin muttered, dropping onto the bed. He was feeling much better now, so the boys were of little concern to him.
§§§
"See! Firm!" The tomato flew into Sasuke's head, bursting. Naruto grinned broadly, feet firmly planted and arms crossed.
The brunet reached up, wiped the mess from his hair, and dropped it with a splat. He turned slowly, features shadowed, and reached for the nearest produce. "Let's see if this has any… bad spots!" He launched the red apple at Naruto's head with amazing speed. There was a loud crack and the fruit was airborne before dropping. Sasuke smirked, eyes fading back to dark. He blinked and looked at the hand that landed on his shoulder, then up at the shinobi it belonged to.
Chou Shin smiled sweetly, grip tightening. "There were complaints about a fracas taking place here," he stated.
"What the hell is a fracas?" Naruto squawked. "Itai!" he screeched, turning to glare death at the person who had hit him where the hard apple had a moment ago.
A female Jounin he was unfamiliar with waved. "Watch your language," she warned with a smile. "The grocer doesn't want you in here anymore."
"We have to finish shopping!" the blonde yelled.
"We'll do it," Shin said calmly, taking the list from Sasuke. He released his shoulder and the boy reached up to rub it, throwing a scowl in the man's direction. The woman took the money pouch from the reluctant blonde, then ushered the Genins out of the grocery store.
Once on the street, they started up again immediately. "It was all your fault," Sasuke muttered.
"Me! If you hadn't taken the list and tried to do the shopping by yourself—"
"You can't shop!"
They walked down the street, squabbling loudly, unaware of the stares that were shot in their direction.
§§§
Iruka opened this door with a yawn, then groaned, rubbing his temples roughly. Shin stepped in, the young teenagers each under an arm, and his partner followed, groceries in her arms. Covered in blood, dirt, and snow, the boys were dumped on the dining room floor.
Iruka looked at the woman and pointed at the kitchen counter. "You can… just… Who are you?"
"I thought you knew everyone," the Jounin smiled. "Mitsuki Tomoko. Hajimemashite."
"Aa…" Iruka stared down at the Genins and sighed deeply. "What am I going to do with you two…?" Naruto grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Go upstairs and take a shower. Sasuke, you'll go after he comes out." The ebony-haired boy scoffed softly.
"I think you give them too much freedom," Tomoko stated, always one for speaking her mind. She leaned against the counter after setting down the bags and smiled sweetly at Sasuke after he'd shot her a "mind your own business" glare. She turned her gaze to the blonde as he ran off, then to her comrade.
"I guess I'm not the type of parent too keen on punishment," Iruka sighed, holding out a hand to Sasuke. The Uchiha took it and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.
"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto roared from upstairs.
"He just went up there," Iruka groaned, massaging his temples.
"Too much freedom," Tomoko repeated in a sigh. "They do as they please."
Now the Chuunin glared at her.
"Let's leave poor Umino-san alone," Shin chuckled, unsure of whom he was rescuing. From the looks of things, Iruka was ready to fight. He bowed then pulled the other Jounin out of the house with him.
Iruka clenched his hand into a fist and turned on his heels sharply, running into the second hall and up the stairs. He didn't have to go far for a half-naked blonde teenager blocked the remainder of his path.
"Iruka-sensei. I go in to use your shower because the one at the end of the hall only has cold water right now, and find him!" Naruto arm snapped up and he pointed into the Chuunin's bedroom. Iruka moved up the last two steps and looked in. Kakashi raised his hand to symbolize a wave, droplets of water glistening on his soaked body. A towel also covered his lower half.
"Why is he taking a shower here?" Naruto hissed, stomping a foot. He fumbled with the towel that came undone, muttering angrily to himself as he gripped the cloth tightly.
Iruka shook his head; there was no way he would continue to subject himself to this sort of daily torture. He smiled weakly and made his way back down the stairs. Sasuke watched the dolphin take everything necessary to make a perfect pot of coffee, then leave. He looked at the empty hall then stood, following his "father" to the empty house across the street.
As much as he and Naruto fought now, he was still unsure of how much trust he placed in the blonde to continue being true to him. If he could be so easily "caught up in the moment", what's to say it wouldn't happen again? Sasuke sighed as he closed the door, feeling a wave of dread wash over him; the house brought it on as he realized that he had been nothing but awful to Sakura.
"Would you like some coffee?" Iruka asked from the kitchen. "Un." Sasuke nodded and pushed himself away from the door and across the room. He placed a hand on the handrail and started up the stairs to visit the girl's room. Reaching the end of the hall, he tried to doorknob to find it locked.
"Kakashi-sensei doesn't want anyone in there." The Uchiha boy spun around, staring at the sullenly smiling man. He composed himself and stuck his hands in his pockets with a deep sigh; knowing when he had been followed wasn't important now.
Iruka walked over, wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulder, and walked them both back downstairs to where the coffee was boiling for them. He had never imagined that he would become this close with the young Uchiha, and he'd also never expected to be involved with Hatake Kakashi. What did the Godaime have in mind when she sent them on this mission?
Still peeved at the events that took place earlier, and troubled about the entire situation unfolding, Naruto decided a walk would do him good. He ended up a little further than he had intended. He stood in the middle of the bridge named after him, now torn between two homes. He had been away from Hidden Leaf for so long that he could admit that even seeing Chouji would be comforting. The blonde sighed and turned to head back to Hidden Wave, only to find he was moving away from it.
"Naruto!"
His name echoed as it traveled with the wind and he turned to see a figure running up to him. As they got closer, he grinned as he saw it was Kaoru. Konoha could wait just this one time; he had planned on visiting the boy, so this was perfect timing.
"Where are you going?" the brunet gasped as he stopped before the other. He leaned against the rail to catch his breath. "I'm not sure we're allowed to just leave like this." He straightened with a stretch, his long-sleeved black shirt rising.
Naruto blinked as the dark attire caught his eye. Kaoru usually wore dark colors, sometimes red, but never black. "Are you mourning someone?" he mumbled, stepping back to get a better view.
Kaoru smiled, but his uncovered orange eye never got any brighter. It hurt—all the light—but he didn't want to destroy the blonde with his right eye. He wanted him to suffer.
Naruto stepped back as he finally noticed the blank slate on the hitai-ate slanted over the other side of the boy's face. "Hotaru…"
The brunet held out his hand with a sweet smile. "I won't hurt you," Kaoru chuckled, hand still open. "Not yet, at least."
"This isn't you!" Naruto yelled, reaching out to snatch the headband off. He grunted as his wrist was painfully grabbed.
Kaoru smirked and raised the blonde's arm as high as his own could go; it was a benefit of being taller. The look of pain on the other's face as his feet left the ground had no effect on him. His grip tightened. "Let's go somewhere… where we can be alone." The pair disappeared from the bridge in a burst of smoke.
Naruto nursed his wrist after being thrown aside, and glared up at the blue-haired shinobi. Kaoru was Kaoru, just like Sakura was Sakura. He would never give up hope and was positive he could get them back. Giving up was something he had refused to do ever again a long time ago. Blue eyes widened at the sound of the katana being removed and Naruto raised his head slowly to see the blade inches from his face. He winced then opened his eyes once again as his blood trailed down his cheek.
Kaoru smirked and tilted his sword upward, licking the blood on the blade. "Demon's blood," he whispered.
Naruto sprang to his feet from the forest floor, hand covering his cheek as the kyuubi's advanced chakra began healing the wound. "What are you talking about?" he stammered.
"Move your hand," the brunet ordered. "Now." Naruto did as he was told and wiped the blood away. The cut was there, but slowly fading. "That's what I thought." Kaoru pressed the tip of his blade against the blonde's neck. "What if I slit your throat? Would you still be able to live?"
"This isn't you talking!" Naruto yelled, knocking the katana away. As there was no dull side, the back of his hand was now bleeding.
"How do you know?"
The kyuubi winced, instinctively reaching up to grab the sword as it was buried in his shoulder. He couldn't bring himself to hurt the boy, but he was bleeding. Yelling loudly, he pulled the blade back out and released a bloody fist into Kaoru's jaw. Naruto sank to his knees, panting, and squinted at the blood decorating the pure snow under him. Absently, he wondered when it would all start melting, but then realized something—this was all real.
"Fine," Kaoru hissed. He sheathed his blood-tainted katana then pushed the headband up.
The blonde's body jerked, shuddering, and Naruto grunted deeply. He strained to keep himself from screaming as he felt frigid fingers digging their way through his body, following his chakra pathways to the source. He clutched his gut and struggled to raise his head.
Kaoru's eyes narrowed and the icy fingers plunged beyond the normal chakra to what it desired: the kyuubi's. Naruto cried out, covering his ears as the fox demon within him snarled viciously. The brainwashed boy's smirked broadened and he stepped closer as the void that was his right eye took its fill of powerful chakra. "Nine-tailed… fox… demon. You slaughtered thousands."
/ He wants me. Let me get rid of him—all of them. /
'No! Hotaru's my friend.'
/ Your friends always seem to want to kill you. /
'Urusai…'
/ At least let me rid him of that accursed eye/
"No!" Naruto's growing fingernails were reduced to their blunt state and his eyes widened as the fingers plunged into the normal chakra of his body.
/ Don't die, bozu. /
The blonde grinned weakly, wiping the sweat from his brow. He scowled, looking up at the other boy. "Why are you doing this?" he hissed.
"I'm doing this for Atsuko-sama," Kaoru replied automatically.
"Who the hell is Atsuko? Hotaru, why are you doing this?" the blonde repeated.
'Why…' The mental band wrapped around Kaoru's free will slackened. "I'm doing this… for Shikyo."
"I thought it was for this Atsuko-sama," Naruto snickered, hands still clutching at his abdomen. The pain had lessened but it was still there and he was able to force through it.
Kaoru staggered backward and raised a hand to press its palm roughly into the socket of his left eye. 'Why am I…' The band snapped and he fell to his knees with a soft gasp, both eyes wide.
Naruto inhaled sharply and rushed to the other boy. He wrapped an arm around Kaoru while pulling the hitai-ate back over the void.
"Uzumaki… Naruto…"
His blue eyes widened. "I always knew there was something special about you…" the brunet whispered.
"Hotaru…"
A cold breeze blew through the bare trees and both boys were aware of it. "I wanted Aoi…" Kaoru whimpered. "I wanted to be with him." He smiled sadly. "But he was meant for Rei—that much was obvious. Then I met you…" Tears slid down the boy's face and he buried it in the front of Naruto's orange jacket.
Naruto held his friend and continued to let him cry. They sat there, time rolling by, until Kaoru pulled away and began struggling to free himself. "They're coming," he gasped.
"Who?" Naruto grabbed his hand, squeezing it. "Who's coming?" he asked urgently.
"I failed…" The orange eye that had regained his life was now filled with fear. He yanked his hand away and stumbled to his feet. "You should go. They—"
"No! You're coming with me." With a grin, Naruto hoisted the blue-haired Genin over his shoulder—both were now damaged, but he took the pain to mean he was still alive—and took off running.
Sasuke raised his head as the door banged open and sprang to his feet. "What the hell happened to you?" he yelled.
"Don't just change houses!" Naruto yelled, slamming the door. "I've been over there for almost ten minutes searching for you people." He acted as though the blood covering him was no big deal. He sighed deeply and jumped over the back of the couch to slid into the cushions.
Sasuke stared up at Iruka, who shrugged, and they both returned to staring at the blonde. Kakashi hovered nearby—he was sprawled in the one-seater with an Icha Icha covering his already hidden face.
"Oh, this?" Naruto sighed, dropping his hands. "Hotaru attacked me."
"Bakayero!" Sasuke snarled. Iruka wrapped his arms around the brunet to keep him away from hurting the other boy.
The novel slid to the floor as Kakashi sat up. "Why?" he mumbled. "I thought you two were friends."
"The guy that got Sakura-chan got him, too," Naruto offered as an explanation. "I took him to Shuku-obasan."
"How'd you get away?" Sasuke grumbled, pushing the man's arms away. He bit back his yell and turned to glare at Iruka. The Chuunin smiled and tousled the ebony hair where he'd clouted the Uchiha.
"I talked to him," Naruto rushed out in a reply. "Iruka-sensei, I'm hungry."
Iruka's smile faded and he sighed. "Naruto. You were almost killed."
"And now I'm hungry."
A tick appeared in his jaw. "You're bleeding. You weren't even healed properly from the wounds Kakashi inflicted on you."
"I'm hungry!" the kyuubi whined.
"I'll kill him," both Sasuke and the dolphin growled.
"Not yet," Kakashi intervened. He groaned loudly with his languid stretch, then stood after picking up his book. He didn't want to be a witness to unnecessary, voluntary manslaughter.
"I want to meet this man," Naruto scoffed, crossing his arms. He winced. "When I do meet him, I'll give him a piece of my mind. No one messes with my friends!"
"Shut up," Sasuke spat. "You're not good for anything. So…" He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his pants. "What are we going to do, sit around and wait?"
Iruka stared at the scrolls in his hands, not really seeing the words written there. May had specifically told him not to confront this man because they would be unable to overpower him. He scowled slightly and Kakashi's eyebrow rose slightly.
Even though his fears—if he could call them that—had been confirmed that the younger man wasn't part of an assassination squad, the look in the deep brown eyes continued to tell him otherwise. Right now, they seemed almost identical to the stranger's his first night on patrol. Iruka felt the stare and looked over. He smiled sheepishly at the waving scarecrow then turned back to the boys.
Naruto's bright blue eyes snapped open and he laughed loudly. "I know what we can do! We'll form our own army and go out and get the children!" He looked around at the blankly staring faces and his grin slowly began fading; no one seemed as excited as he did.
"Heh." Sasuke smirked. "It would be nice to actually see Miyako in actual combat."
"We'll lure the children out," Iruka said with a small smile. "Shuku-san said he doesn't like to fight for himself—he uses others. And the others in this case, are the children."
"Naruto will be bait," Kakashi chuckled.
The blonde didn't care. He clasped his ankles and rocked back and forth in the couch as he laughed sheepishly. They had liked his idea.
"I think we should inform Shuku-san about this before we start taking action, though." Iruka rolled up the scrolls and tossed each to Kakashi. He smiled as the Jounin made them disappear, then realized they still had a problem to take care of.
All eyes fell on Naruto and the kyuubi squinted at them. "Nani? Nani?" he mumbled, pouting.
§§§
Naruto felt like a mummy. There was a gauze patch and his cheek and numerous bandages covered his body underneath the blue shirt and mesh black shirt over that. Iruka had told him he would have to go without the jacket. He huffed and Sasuke thought the boy looked like a chipmunk storing food for the winter.
The broken Hidden Leaf team and Hidden Leaf Chuunin made their way down the hall to May's room. They hadn't been expecting to see such a familiar figure as the door slid open. "Tsunade-no baachan!" Naruto yelled, pointing. His other hand came up to clutch at the necklace he'd won from her and he grinned.
Iruka froze as he spotted the female Sannin standing by the window. She wore her "gamble" shirt and had her hair in usually pigtails.
"Urusai, gaki. I could've been a clone." She turned, eyes narrowed. "You would've been captured on the spot." Naruto slowly realized his mistake and lowered his head, fist tightly clenched at his side as he scowled. The Godaime turned away from the window to stand in the middle of the room. "Close the door," she instructed. Kakashi reached behind Iruka, sliding the door shut.
"Iruka-sensei, I picked you for this mission because you're the only one who knows how to handle Naruto—that, in itself, is a miracle, but it seems the boy's team leader proved to be useless." Now it was Kakashi's turn to lower his head. "May knew you were coming," Tsunade continued. "She was the only one who knew you were coming, but you weren't supposed to know."
The special Jounin stood motionless in the corner, arms crossed over her chest and eyes closed in meditation. She really had no part in this conversation.
"I was surprised when she reported Sasuke's insubordination first," Tsunade mumbled. The Uchiha scoffed.
"Hokage-sama," Iruka interrupted. "Don't you think if Shuku-san had told us what she knew, that this would have sped things along—saved so many lives?"
White orbs flew wide and a crack started around the room on both sides of the wall from May's flaring chakra.
"Also, in the information about Shuku May that I was given, there was no mention of her parents or even siblings. There was nothing that said they were deceased."
"Iruka-sensei," Tsunade sighed. "You're treading a thin line."
The Chuunin shook his head. "No. Another thing. Jounins can't become village founders. You, Hokage-sama, are a Sannin."
"Iruka-sensei…" Kakashi sighed.
Iruka slapped the scarecrow's hand away from his shoulder, glaring at the blonde woman across from him. He wanted answers and some form of final closure for why they had been put through so much; he wanted his troubled soul to get relief. "Even Orochimaru is a Sannin, and he founded Hidden Sound."
Tsunade blinked at him and tilted her head with a smirk. "I think Iruka-sensei and May should have a talk," she stated.
May pushed herself from the corner and walked towards the dolphin. She grasped his elbow without a word and led him from the office, closing the door sharply. Iruka lifted his head when she requested, but looked at the wall behind her. May took his face between her hands. "I know you have questions for me," she started. The Chuunin scoffed softly, but she ignored the sound. "Can we go somewhere to have this discussion, please?"
Fine, but… can you let go of my face?"
The woman smiled sheepishly and removed her fingers from Iruka's face. She requested he follow her as she continued further down the hall, away from the stairs.
Behind the doors, Naruto was on his tenth question and still going. "Are we off the mission?" he whined. "And where are all the villagers?"
Tsunade stared, unblinking. Kakashi and Sasuke both knew she had tuned the blonde out after answering the first two questions, but it was up to Naruto himself to figure it out. Naruto squinted at the woman then slammed his hands on the desk.
"I fold!" the Hokage yelled, jumping slightly in May's chair; she'd taken a seat at the single desk in the room. Kakashi bit down on his lip to keep from laughing. Sasuke shook his head with a scoff, and crossed his arms. Naruto was grinning with pride until he was clouted in the head.
"Kuso gaki!" the woman growled.
"I'm injured!"
Tsunade exhaled deeply and folded her hands atop the desk. She gave a lazy smile as she caught the sparkle from the pendant as Naruto rocked back and forth, nursing the bump on his head. She wouldn't let anything happen to him as long as she was alive. That's why she was here and Iruka and May were clearing things up.
With the teacher's conference room empty, it was considered the perfect place to confer, and that's where the two adults were. May took a deep breath, staring at the few sheets of blank paper still littering the desk. She reached for one, turned it over, and smiled as she recognized Tenko's doodling. "There's barely six years between myself and any other adult shinobi in this village. And my father trained us all."
The woman turned the sheet back over then troubled another one. "He became a Sannin in the Lightning Country and, I'm not sure how he managed it, he left to take up a residence here. He was training me ever since I could hold a kunai," she continued in a soft voice.
Iruka had never seen May like this and he was almost sorry about his actions in her office earlier. He figured—had he not acted the way he did, they would never be where they were now.
"My mother passed on during weather like this, and my father decided he should do something to help benefit the village with the knowledge he had." May moved around the table, collecting the papers. "Even though he founded the village, my father's credibility as to whether he would be a good leader was questioned.
"He became power-hungry, as do most people, and set out for a meeting with the other Kages. He never returned. By that time, I was the same age as you are now and still considered a fledgling ninja by the Kages." Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she smiled wistfully. "But I was named village founder and I created the symbol for this village." The special Jounin stacked the sheets in a neat pile right beside the young man. "The symbol you no longer have to wear."
Iruka leaned across the table, sliding the papers toward himself, and idly thumbed through them.
"My father wants his village back," May whispered, taking his hand.
Iruka's brown eyes slowly widened and he faced her. "Your father is… Atsuko?"
She cringed at the name spoken; she had no idea why, but hearing it was worse than still calling him her father. Coming from anyone else, she would have gotten violent, but she could never be harsh with Iruka.
"Shuku… Atsuko. May, I'm sorry—"
"No!" she interrupted. "You had every right to be angry." May released his hand and patted him on the shoulder. "Now let's get back to save your Hokage from Naruto. I hear he can be quite a handful."
"You don't know the half of it," Iruka muttered. He smiled and reached up to squeeze her hand before she pulled away. He stood and they moved toward the door to exit the conference room. "Oh." The young man glanced at the woman by his side. "Where are all the villagers?"
"I'm slowly moving them underground," May stated. "Tsunade-sama has agreed to let me use the Konoha tunnels. I'm unsure of what my father is capable of doing and I don't want anyone else to get hurt."
"I can understand that," Iruka murmured. He held the door open with a smile and waited for the woman to pass out before he closed it behind them both.
A/N: Wow… I put another Author Note down here. Um, okay, why again, now, did I do this? Oh! I wasn't sure how the whole Kage-found-a-village process went down, so I sorta kinda winged it. Also, I started catching up on watching Naruto. I'm on episode 98, I think… :;is on a downloading binge and just lets the files run without paying attention;: I watched the ones with Tsunade and Jiraiya, and Naruto's training and whatnot and got a better understanding of… something. See, I put in Tsunade's necklace that she gave to Naruto. :;didn't know there had been a necklace;:
Okay, that's enough now for my rambling. I'm going to work on putting out some more chapters for m stories.
