E
Naruto: Stray
By ghettomusick23
Summary: AU –
Chapter 06 – On Returning
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its many money making properties.
" " – Speech
Italics – Thoughts
She looked around the assembled group of shinobi, organizing her thoughts into proper order. It had been a hectic day yesterday and only when she woke up this morning did the gravity of the situation finally weigh upon her. It had taken no time at all to move Naruto into her home after all the technical details had been worked upon, mainly making sure the medical staff swore to secrecy. Jiraiya surprisingly had carried the unconscious boy to her home, carrying him like a sack of potatoes and after she physically let him know of her displeasure with the tactic, it came to her that maybe she had hit him a bit too hard, because even after the examinations he remained blissfully ignorant to the world, not waking until this morning.
She had sat in his new room, a guest room she rarely used except when Shizune stopped over and watched him for hours. Taking in the changes that he underwent since she'd seen pictures of him as a fresh faced, wailing newborn baby, often marveling at his resemblance to his father. She noted the forming of angles in his face, the small dose of baby fat that still remained making him look so young despite what she knew about him.
There were moments, during his sleep when he murmured names, places she had only heard about in passing, spoke in a language she'd never heard and she wondered where had he been, who had he seen. They had barely had a full conversation and she was already feeling the huge gap between them just by watching him sleep and that thought churned in her head for hours, staying with her until the sun rose, warming the room and driving away the last vestiges of night.
This morning Jiraiya had stopped by, offering, with a suspicious grin his availability to watch over Naruto. Her first response was a quick 'hell no.' Not that she didn't appreciate the gesture, it was the thought that her grandson was already walking the wrong side and Jiraiya and his unhealthy habits were not the first things she wanted Naruto to take part in. Just the idea of that pervert sweeping Naruto out of her home and taking him on one of his sickening information gathering voyages was enough to make her see red.
He in turn informed her of her need to tell her people about this. It was well within her power to keep it to herself but somebody was going to find out and instead of creating a panic she may as well nip it in the bud. She didn't want to but she acquiesced, agreeing with his statement and that was why she was here, Homura and Koharu flanking her sides with the most senior shinobi in attendance along with the more prominent clan affiliates. Nobody knew the reason for the abrupt meeting, not even the council members but she made it clear in her message that everyone contacted was to attend, no matter what.
Sitting down and observing the shinobi in attendance she didn't know where to start so she decided to treat it like she did everything else in life and dove in head first.
"I know you all are wondering why I called for a meeting with such short notice but this could not be avoided." She paused, making eye contact at random, silently letting them know how serious she was being. "Three days ago Jiraiya managed to bring back a former villager of great importance and I'm sure all of you would like to know who."
She watched for the reaction and could see several raised eyebrows, widening of eyes, and overall interest ramp upward, not even the council members and their politically toughened blank expressions could keep their silent wonder contained.
"Uzumaki Naruto has been brought back to Konoha."
Nothing. Nadda. Her sentence was met with total silence and she felt a slight wave of… something come over her. This was not the answer she wanted. She had prepared herself for the screaming and throwing of insults concerning what he was but she scrambled to fill the silence with information.
"Apparently there was an altercation with Orochimaru in the Wind Country. Jiraiya found him unconscious along with Orochimaru and another shinobi who is known as Haku."
One of the newly appointed Jounins in attendance; Udo if she remembered correctly, looked up, his mouth hanging open in shock, "Haku, the S-ranked criminal form Kirikagure."
She nodded in answer and then suddenly there was an uproar of questions.
"Orochimaru, what is he doing in the Wind Country?"
"The demon-child, I thought he was dead?"
"Is Orochimaru aligning himself with the Wind Country?"
"How did Jiraiya find him?"
"Is Orochimaru dead?"
She let them speak, noting with some dismay that some of the questions she didn't have answers for herself.
"Tsunade-san," she blinked, looking over at the elderly Koharu in question. "It would appear that you have us at a disadvantage. It would be best if you started from the beginning."
Tsunade tried to keep the frown off her face but failed. The woman was right in a way and she suspected she knew far more than she was letting on, the council hadn't made it to old age by being dumb. She turned to look at Homura and sighed at the knowing look on his face. There were so many, too many additional points that she would need to skim over. Raising her hand to bring the crowd to silence she began from the beginning, telling what little she knew, mainly what Jiraiya had informed her of.
"As some of you may or may not know, eight years ago, following the Uchiha Massacre Uzumaki Naruto disappeared. From the reports I have read numerous patrols and search parties never found him. With nothing to go on he was listed as a casualty." She paused, steeling herself, eyeing the scowling Hyuuga Hiashi. It was becoming more than obvious that he wasn't too pleased with the turn of events for whatever reason. "Obviously the reports were wrong because he wasn't killed by the Itachi, he left with him."
Again the silence came and she used it to look, really look at some of the people who this affected in one way or the other. She easily located the silver haired Kakashi. His expression was dull, almost lifeless and she inwardly felt a swelling of pity for him. Since Orochimaru's destruction of Team 7 the Jounin had never been the same. She hadn't been Hokage then but everyone silently mourned the lose of his last lifeline to something tangible, people that were his own family in a way. She could see the parallels to her own life and everyday waited for the moment when he would come through her door and ask for a leave of duty. But she supposed in a way she learned from her experience and that was why she asked Shizune to look after the low key Jounin. It helped that Shizune hadn't complained one bit about the request. Her former apprentice was the only thing keeping him in Konoha it seemed.
There were plenty of others. She glanced out the corner of her eye at Iruka. The anguish that warped his face was enough that she felt it as well. She supposed he felt guilty in some way, blaming himself for not reaching out to the wayward youth. An emotion that was useless at this point and time in the picture. There were some, almost all the elder clan heads, who still wore the look of hatred, angry at Naruto for things done he had no hand in doing and there were some who hated him simply because it was what everybody did. But eight years was a long time to hate somebody and even longer when that person wasn't around and it was a sad admission to think that for all his years here there were so few people that actually cared what came of him.
She brought her attention back to the task at hand and spoke in clear, sharp tones. Wanting to finish the meeting, to get away from here and return home. Today was going to be a short work day. "What they did in the interment time is unknown but it is believed that they joined forces with a group of other S-ranked criminals, naming themselves the Akatsuki. A lot of you are hearing this for the first time but we have been discreetly monitoring them for several months and still our information is spotty at best. It was pure chance that Jiraiya happened upon the battle at all. Now we…"
"Is he a threat?" The voice was deep, almost commanding in tone, tiptoeing on the edge of humility and hostility.
Tsunade kept the shield in place, refusing to allow the head of the Hyuuga main branch goad her. He was one of the many that were currently having problems with the surprise. She locked gazes with him, effortlessly giving him the coldest look she could produce. The vindictive part of her wanted to lie and tell him that yes; Naruto was a threat, that he wielded a power even the mighty Byakugan couldn't compare but she did no such thing.
"No, he is not a threat, not the threat that you are thinking of."
Hiashi's eyes lost the hard edge look, stepping down from the silent challenge. He was far smarter than he appeared. The victory was short lived because he asked, "What threat are you referring to Hokage-sama?"
Her eyes narrowed in annoyance, "He has been sealed. Orochimaru has applied a second seal upon the first, completely blocking the Kyuubi's chakra flow. As of right now, there is no way of undoing it."
Unlit cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth, Asuma asked, "Can't you or Jiraiya fix it if you wanted to?"
Tsunade shook her head no, "Neither one of us has seen this particular seal before and wonder how Orochimaru learned it."
"Why is he not getting a criminal trial?"
Another one of the clan elders joined his comrade in asking, "If he is affiliated with such a dangerous group of traitors, why is he not dead?"
Her fist came down hard, smashing a hole in the desk. The mask fell away and she gave them a look that almost chilled the blood in their veins. "You want to know why he walks this village free from imprisonment instead of meeting the edge of a blade."
Tsunade stood and could see the startled, almost frightened expressions on some of the faces. Most of them had never seen her this angry before and she decided to use this opportunity to make her point. She could here Komaru and Homura pleading with her to show some restraint but she distanced herself from their voices. Their fear was going to be the death of them and she needed to correct it.
"Before my time as Hokage began Orochimaru waged a small scale war against Konoha. His purpose during the attack was to kill the Sandaime, but along with that was to draw Uchiha Sasuke into his fold." She narrowed her focus to encompass the two figures who recently spoke out. "That was four years ago and we have sent spies into the Sound Country but they have not returned, at this point we believe they all are dead. Our inability to gather information on his activities has left us in the dark, for four years we have heard nothing from him and just recently I have come to find that Orochimaru is now capable of using the Sharingan."
Not one single person in attendance succeeded in keeping the horror off their face. Everyone in attendance, even the most grizzled of Jounins, such as Morino Ibiki knew what that statement entailed.
"Sasuke."
The answer came from the stone faced Kakashi. She made eye contact and sighed before she explained, "Orochimaru knows a forbidden technique that gives him the ability to transport his soul into another persons' body, giving him complete control over whatever bloodline techniques or prior knowledge they posses. His abduction of the Uchiha was to possess the Sharingan for himself all along."
"Naruto still lives because he is the only person we know that has any information about Orochimaru and his movements. We just recently learned of Orochimaru and the Sharingan, surely that isn't the only thing that has occupied him for these years. We cannot turn anyway anything or anybody that will help us."
There was a slow session of quiet mumblings before Yuuhi Kurenai spoke lifted her hand and asked, "Hokage-sama, how can you know that he will help us?"
"You all," she spread her arms out, letting them know she was talking about more than the assembled group, "must let go of this hatred you have let fester towards him. If you don't change and find a way to…" She stopped, deciding to change course again, "Orochimaru's seal is the only thing keeping him from channeling the Kyuubi's chakra. If or when he finds a way to remove it we may not be able to stop him from leaving here again and if we cannot heal the rift that exists between this village and him, then I fear Orochimaru will not be the only enemy we will have to prepare for."
Whatever torture technique they were using on him was highly effective and he would have to remember to use it on the old hag when she got back from whatever she was doing. It was fairly simple in execution, simply employ Jiraiya to accompany someone for several hours of the day, then watch in evil glee as your prisoner claws his ears off his own head only to bleed to death.
"I think an expedition into the wonderful world of Konoha marketplace would do us some good."
For the fifth time that morning Naruto turned him down. He knew a decoy tactic when he saw one and knew the pervert to end all perverts was trying to use him for something. "I know who you are and what you do in your spare time, so go ahead. I won't stop you."
Jiraiya deflated a little. The boy was no fun at all. Instead of going along with him to view the beautiful sights a.k.a. ladies, he wanted to sit around and do nothing. Folding his arms across his chest, Jiraiya glared at the youth, "I hope you don't plan on sitting her all day?"
Keeping his annoyance in check, Naruto glared right back at the older man. "Listen, I could care less about the sights and sounds of Konoha. In a couple of hours I'll be out of here anyway."
"You are mighty confident, considering some of your present liabilities," Jiraiya iterated in a somewhat surprised tone.
Naruto leaned his head back against the couch, "You're a Sannin. You know that any ninja worth their salt should be able to fight even without certain genetic enhancements. Just because the Kyuubis sealed doesn't mean I can't wipe out half this village."
Jiraiya frowned after hearing the statement, his good mood all but gone. To hear him talk about killing people so readily, without a hint of remorse made something inside Jiraiya clench up in sorrow. His father had never been like that. He always went out of his way to help others, sometimes defying orders to make sure his teammates survived or that his friends returned home. It was what endeared the man to the whole village, His willingness to put everything on the line for them.
His son he could already tell was a direct contrast to that. After eight years with somebody like Itachi, Jiraiya thought they were lucky he wasn't some homicidal serial killer.
"You look like him, you know that?"
Naruto rolled his head to the side, to lazy to do anything else, "Who?"
"The Fourth, Kazama Arashi. You're the spitting image of him. Eyes maybe a little rounder and you're not through growing but anybody can tell," Jiraiya answered.
Naruto still sat but looked at the Sannin, seemingly sorting through something in his head. "I think that's where I remembered you from. They told me about who my old man was and I remembered them telling me about you. It was the white hair that tipped me off."
He didn't know what to say to that. That they intentionally let him know about his heritage and yet the boy never returned was more telling than anything else he could have heard. It meant that Naruto could care less about bloodlines but when Jiraiya thought about it why would he, which also made Tsunade's job a whole lot harder.
"Look," He started catching Narutos attention, "I'm not going to preach to you and ask you to help out or tell you to stay; that's for Tsunade to handle. What I am going to say is that this village needs your help." He quickly held up his hand to stall the negative comeback. "I know you don't have too many good memories of this place but if it is razed to the ground there is going to be a whole lot of trouble for a whole lot of people, you included."
Naruto casually folded his arms behind his head, looking at the ceiling as if something was going to jump down and attack him. "This morning I had a lot of time to think and I came up with a couple of scenarios. A lot of them might bore you but one in particular had some credibility. Tell me Jiraiya are you the one that's been spying on us lately?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"You know what, I think I will go with you and take a stroll around town."
Jiraiya did not like the smile plastered on Narutos face. His nonchalance, especially after the scene from yesterday in the hospital meant that he was far more dangerous than he let on. He was waiting for them to slip up. It brought to mind caging a wild animal, then forgetting that very same fact until it attacked. At that thought Jiraiya had to smile, maybe he wasn't as dissimilar from his father as he initially thought.
Smile just as devilish as Narutos, Jiraiya waggled his eyebrows, "You will never have a better tour guide in your life. Who else but the greatest lover of lovers to show you the most beautiful and eligible ladies."
"Geez, I'm already regretting opening my mouth."
Grabbing Naruto by the shoulders he lifted him into a standing position. "With my good looks, charm, and intelligence all you have to do is stand there and reap the spoils."
Naruto looked at the older man, "Why did she leave me with you again?"
Jiraiya slapped his back good naturedly, laughing out loud like a madman. He was going to be a tough nut to crack but so was Arashi when he first became his student.
"Well, on to the hot baths."
It was like walking into the past. Nothing he could see was any different than he remembered. The buildings and shops had not moved. The same people worked the same stalls, only now they seemed a bit older. Looking around, noting the minuscule differences didn't bring a smile to his face, it did the exact opposite. He turned his head and found the middle aged woman working her clothing store, the same woman that always glared and called him 'demon spawn'. He looked a bit to his left and located the elderly man who never failed to remind him that he killed his only daughter and son-in-law. There was dark haired fruit vendor that hated him so much, he punched him hard enough to blind him in his right eye for a couple of weeks.
That was just a few that immediately came to mind but everywhere he looked he could find something or somebody that brought another unpleasant memory. Like something black and sinister, vengeful, he could feel his anger building up and was glad that the Kyuubi couldn't feed off it, instead of following through with the disturbing images coming to mind he kept his face blank, internalizing and wrapping the dark emotions into a nice, tight little ball for later use.
"It doesn't seem as upbeat as I thought it would be," he commented offhand.
Jiraiya had to agree. Konoha always managed to give off this aura of joy, peace, of being able to bounce back no matter how hard they were knocked down. Sometimes it took the as a whole a little while longer to get up and recently after repeated blows from Orochimaru right now was one of those times.
"Things have been kind of rough lately since Sasuke's defection. I don't think too many people think this village is going to stand too much longer."
Naruto looked up at that, "Because of one person everyone's thinking of throwing in the towel."
His face must have showed his disgust because Jiraiya said, "Sasuke was viewed by the regular populace as some sort of celebrity, the future of Konoha because he was the last of the Uchiha and extremely talented at that. When he left, the fallout from that action was a lot worse than anybody realized."
Naruto listened and with every word found himself hating this Uchiha Sasuke even more. The one time he did come in contact with the younger Uchiha he hadn't come away too impressed. Gaara was almost literally wiping the forest floor with him before he showed up…
"That's Gaara of the Sand?"
Haku nodded in answer. The reports they read over had been thorough concerning the Sand Genin so the sight of him metamorphosing into a demon himself did not surprise him at all. He dragged his gaze to the cursed seal powered Uchiha Sasuke and shook his head. Even as old as he was he was constantly learning the lengths people went through to gain power.
Naruto voiced his displeasure. They made him run all the way out here to save one rank Genin who didn't know when he was out of his league. "He doesn't seem like much. I don't know why we got to come and save his ass."
Haku tried to placate his new partner, "You won't be fighting Sasuke. We were sent to take care of Gaara. This is supposed to be a test to see how far you have come."
Walking upside down along the tree branch, Naruto eyed his new partner, "Haku, where is your thirst for adventure. If you're going to be my teammate you gotta know when to bend the rules a bit."
Haku pushed himself off the base of the tree, walking along its length so he could easily keep track of the escalating battle. Even with the cursed seal activated Haku could see the end as clearly as someone screaming it in his face. He looked down at his companion, mentally coming to grips with the situation as a whole. To think there were other people like Naruto existed, special people that many of the jutsus in the world would have no chance in defeating was interesting because he initially thought Naruto one of a kind.
He watched the Uchiha get tossed into a tree and spoke, "We should make a move before this gets out of hand."
Naruto could hear the Kyuubi, its constant pleas to be let loose was becoming little more aggravating. Naruto figured it was because of this Gaara and whatever he was possessed with was in the vicinity, setting of the furball in what he amounted to some sort of demonic territorial feud. He himself could care less and made sure his tenant knew.
"Well, I guess so. I just expected more from Itachi-sensei's brother."
The same thought had crossed Haku's mind as well but he could understand why the younger paled in comparison to his older sibling. Not taking anything away from the younger brother because as Haku sat there and watched him fight he could see the talent but his brother was a once in a generation fighter, blessed with skills shinobi gave their lives training to develop.
"Be that as it may, we have to finish this. The curse seal is slowly eating him alive."
Naruto watched Sasuke and something that felt close to respect came over him. To chase Gaara down and give him a pretty good, was something he doubted few people could even manage or attempt but as he watched the black flames slowly crawl themselves over Sasuke's body he remembered being five years old and struggling to reach the little bit of change on his kitchen counter his caretakers left for him. Walking down into the market and having to pick from food that dogs should never have to eat and as he mentally replayed his everyday turmoil; that small inkling of respect vanished. For him, no anybody to whore themselves out to Orochimaru and his delusional imitation of power was a fool. Maybe Itachi was right for sending them out here because his brother was a lost cause in Naruto's opinion.
Gaara sent out a hailstorm of sand shuriken's intent on impaling the slumped over Uchiha to death. Sasuke now dealing with the effects of using the cursed seal could only watch as the shurikens sailed unimpeded toward him. Closing his eyes and praying for his body to move he felt movement in front of him before flash of light destroyed the projectiles.
Naruto turned around and smiled at the bemused expression on his face and because Naruto was Naruto, "You're brother sends his regards…"
To think that a whole village place their hopes on somebody so substandard, "I see why he left this place."
Jiraiya suspected he knew who he was talking about and asked, "Why?"
"What did he do? What impossible mission did he accomplish or did he defeat some rouge Jounin nobody could best. Tell me, what did he accomplish to inspire such devotion."
When Jiraiya failed to answer, Naruto didn't bother disguising how he felt. "I bet he had the shittiest attitude this side of the equator and everybody turned the other cheek because of the blood that flood through his veins."
Jiraiya sighed, his hand scratching the slight stubble on his chin while trying to come up with some retort but constantly coming up empty. It was more than a little akward but he was correct in a sense, as detrimental as it sounded. Sasuke had been giving everything he could need to make it. He had people who honestly wanted to help him; friends whp wanted to become family and he turned his back on them too many times to count. He could remember numerous times when he would see him and every time he was alone.
Jiraiya hadn't told anyone that he'd thought him a lost cause the moment he laid eyes on him. His goal of killing his brother shadowed everything he did; his hate, a blanket he kept wrapped tightly around himself to keep out things he thought were disposable and in doing so he ended up destroying far more than himself. Still walking at a leisurely pace he looked at the frowning Naruto and couldn't help but point out the unintentional irony. Where Sasuke was determined to kill his brother, forsaking everything in that one goal; here in front of him was his brothers' protégé, all pent up hate and demon powered allowed a free pass through Konoha. Sarutobi-sensei must be rolling in his grave.
"You're too young to be thinking like that. Your time should be spent chasing girls, falling in and out of love, doing teenager things," Jiraiya said, waving his arms to add power to his words.
Naruto stopped, turning around, eyebrow raised in question and asked, "What makes you think I haven't been doing regular teenager things."
And at that Jiraiya had no answer.
"Where's the closest ramen stand."
Tsunade sat behind her desk, elbows resting on the top and head pressed up under her hands; all in all she looked like the perfect picture of misery. The meeting hadn't went as well as she hoped but that wasn't saying much since she expected as much from the beginning. At one point when it had gotten especially heated she considered grabbing Naruto, packing a couple of bags and leaving the village all together again. She would never do it but that didn't stop her from thinking about it.
She wondered though if telling them of his connection to the Akatsuki was a smart move. She would have had to eventually but to give them one more thing to through on his back maybe hadn't been the right move, not when his cooperation was so crucial to them beating Orochimaru. The thought of cursing the birth of Uchiha Sasuke and his whole clan was a childish one, but his betrayal left so many people, so many families broken and now because of their abilities they were walking through fire once again.
"Hokage-sama?"
Slowly lifting her head, she noticed the two teenage girls quietly walking into the room and the smile came naturally, "Hinata, Ino, how are you today?"
The Hyuuga heir swept her navy blue bangs away from her eyes and took a seat in front of her former teacher, "Tsunade-sama, you don't look to well."
Tsunade waved the girls concern away, happy to have something to take her mind off of this morning, "You always worry too much. I doubt anybody could get a full night's rest working this job."
Hinata turned to her friend and catching the distant look in Ino's eyes, reached over and grabbed her hand. "Ino."
The smile on her face never reached eyes, but she reached over and grabbed the outstretched hand before lightly squeezing it in answer. Turning to the elder shinobi in their little group, Ino picked up the wrapped package of food and handed it to a surprised Tsunade, "We know how you miss out on lunch sometimes, so we brought you something to eat."
Almost snatching the bag away, Tsunade ripped open the plastic and was assaulted by the smell of beef sukiyaki. Looking at her two silent companions, she gestured to the plate, "Whose idea was this?"
Hinata raised her hand in a little wave, "It was Ino's idea but I had to cook the food. She doesn't work to well in the kitchen."
Tsunade removed the top plate, laughing at the indignant look on Ino's face. She had to agree with Hinata though, Ino's talents in the kitchen were nothing to hoot and holler about but she was learning and Tsunade made sure to make that point known, "I think she would surprise you. The lunch she brought yesterday was very edible."
A spark of anger lit in Ino's eyes and she crossed her arms under her chest, slightly raising her nose in the air, "Hokage-sama, I will make sure that your afternoons will no longer be filled with my detestable cooking."
Tsunade, noodles hanging from her chopsticks smiled at the other girl, "Ino, thank you for your concern. We can't have the Hokage getting sick can we."
Hinata hid her smile behind her hands as she watched her friend turning red. Ino never did like being the butt of jokes and the older they got the quicker she was to retaliate. Hinata had lost count of how many young, up and coming shinobi she left emotionally scarred with her well timed comebacks but apparently Tsunade-sama was off limits and rightfully so..
And for a while they all sat in companionable silence. Tsunade savoring every bite of her only meal in a very tiring twenty-four hours, Ino looking about the room, lost in her own thoughts but Hinata struggled with deciding to break the peace and ask the question that had brought her here in the first place. She remembered seeing her father storm into their home furious, casting withering glares at the servants, barking orders at his subordinates. It was so unlike him she'd feared he would hurt somebody if they looked at him wrong. The urge to question him had left the minute he mentioned one name, even if it was said with nothing but malice lacing his tone.
Though he no longer looked at her as the black splotch upon their clan, they lived in a cautionary balance. He still hadn't forgiven her for taking on Tsunade's offer to become a medic-nin. His thinking at the time was that Hyuugas trained in the style that was handed down by generations, nothing else was permitted but she had been weak, unable to help anybody or do anything without falling on her face. Failure had been synonymous with her name alone and she grew tired of being handled like glass, of avoiding the always disappointed gaze from family members. Till this day she never understood why Tsunade-sama offered her of all people the chance but she took it and four years later she knew it was the best decision of her life.
"Tsunade-sama, I overheard father this afternoon mention a name. Does that have anything to do with the meeting that took place earlier," Hinata could feel Ino's questioning gaze but didn't turn to her friend.
Tsunade paused mid bite and looked Hinata straight in the eye, her jovial personality disappearing completely. "You know I can't tell you anything."
Hinata didn't give up, spurned on by something she couldn't name. "He said the name Naruto. Is he talking about the one that left here eight years ago?"
And then suddenly Hinata found herself on the business end of Tsunade's temper. Slamming her chopsticks down, she stood and walked around to stare down at the young Hyuuga and where years before somebody invading her personal space would have sent her into a nervous shock, Hinata held her gaze. "How did you know Naruto?"
The question was laced with so many undertones and Hinata tried to decipher the reason for the intensity in her gaze but that was a talent her cousin wielded like his genius manipulation of the Gentle Fist fighting style. Try as she might she could only read a slight trace of hope but she stopped when the look intensified, focusing on Tsunade's left shoulder she answered. "I didn't really know him. I used to see him occasionally when he would be in the market by himself. I don't know him personally if that's what you're asking."
A look she could clearly tell was disappointment flashed in her eyes and Hinata blinked. Ino listened to the previous exchange and put two and two together. "Tsunade-sama, is this Naruto person here now. I overheard father talking to mother about him before I left out o meet Hinata."
Tsunade didn't answer. She walked around the desk and stood in front of the window overlooking Konoha. As Hokage she was given the responsibility of keeping her people safe. When they were at home, telling their children stories, watching television, maintaining a family, she was here putting in twenty four hour work days. It was grueling and hard but in the morning when they would congratulate her and give encouraging remarks, wishing for her sustained health, it all made it seem worthwhile and while not everyone agreed with her ideas and tactics she had their, her peoples, long term safety in mind. And just like now, she did what had to be done.
Turning to the two Chuunin's she decided right then and there that they were going to help her keep Konoha safe. "I need your help."
Their meetings were never well handled in her opinion. They got together, somebody gave out orders, somebody would crack a joke, and then they were left to their own devices. One word explained why she hardly ever showed up to these things- boredom.
She rolled her neck in an attempt to get the kinks out and when the right popping noises where heard she felt a whole lot better. The night before they left she always slept as hard as she could, practically staying in bed for hours and ordering anything that popped into her head. No doubt the hired help hated her but as long as they kept it to themselves they wouldn't run into any problems.
Glancing out the corner of her eye she ran her gaze over her partner in crime and frowned. Usually it was the other way around but she had the feeling she was going to have to be the one to try and keep all unnecessary violence in check, a role she was going to fail miserably at.
"If you keep looking like that I'm not taking you anywhere. The sexiest kunoichi duo in history must always be at the top of their game and you're going to bring us down."
Noriko finished with her braid before buttoning up and speaking at the same time, "Anko, I think men would stop and gape at you regardless of how you look. You have the strangely un-ninja like talent of drawing attention."
"I consider it a useful skill."
Noriko smiled at the comment, "Only you would."
She looked up to see the remaining four members of their group saunter their way into the empty room. Itachi as usual was accompanied by the former Mist-nin Kisami and as always they appeared the most ready to leave. Kisami already wore his jingasa, his word wrapped in that special chakra sealing cloth he always used. She figured they already had their plans A, B, C, and D figured out before they woke up this morning.
Coming in from an alternate door where the former heir to the Tsuchikage, Yamamoto Michio and his partner the shadow manipulating Kurai. From looks alone they would drive the sense of doubt into any opposing force. Michio, haling from the Earth Country, stood and awe-inspiring seven feet tall, ripped from head to toe and even despite that he was far quicker than any shinobi his size should be allowed. Kurai, the smaller of the two was no less imposing and since his since his induction into the Akatsuki Noriko treaded carefully around him. He wore the hitai-ate from the Lightning Country but in her short time there she'd never once, ran into a family with his set of talents. That assumption held little ground here when you looked around. She herself was the first and so far only successful product that came from the Raikage's gene manipulation program and everyone here was an individual blessed with superior talents. Maybe it was his eyes that were nothing but two unfathomable pools of blackness that always raised her guard. Caution was needed regardless, ally or not; especially when he could use your own shadow to kill you.
Michio began walking toward her and she regarded him with her usual icy coolness, blocking out the choking noises Anko were making behind her head. He stopped in front of her to speak.
"It seems like that runt of yours is always getting into trouble. This time he's bitten off more than he can chew. About time somebody fixed that mouth of his."
She pointedly ignored him but he would have none of it. He was use to being noticed and her constant refusal to do that was infuriating. He was a noble and even as a fugitive he acted as such. Leaning down so they were face to face his gray eyes were playful, "I think it's about time you left the children alone and became a woman. Why do you stay with him when there are others more capable?"
Noriko eyed the seven foot shinobi, her look of boredom a clear dismissal if you knew her. Tired of his presence she finally said, "Tell me Michio, does it bother you because you aren't the one warming my bed or is it that even if you did, your lack of anything considered decent equipment would fail to make me take notice."
Anko couldn't help herself and let everybody know how she felt by laughing her head off. Kisame followed her lead and his boisterous laugh echoed through the room they were in. Even the quiet, closed off Itachi failed to hide the slight smirk on his face.
The only one who didn't consider it even remotely funny was the butt of the joke and if looks could kill Noriko would have been lying in her own pool of blood. "Listen here bitch; your underage boy toy is gone and deservedly so. This place isn't for wannabes and little boys. I'm telling you now if I find him, I will kill him."
Instead of getting angry, she waved him off as if his words meant nothing, "You try and the only person you'll have to blame is yourself when he rips you apart. Of course you'll be dead so that won't be possible."
Already towering over her, Michio made a slight movement that everyone in attendance easily caught but before it got out of hand Kurai lifted his arm to stop his partner. "We have to more important things to take care of. Despite varying opinions our current mission is for us to locate the Kyuubi." Noriko bristled at the implied insult but maintained her silence. "He suggested we each take a country and search the hidden village. In three weeks meet up in the unclaimed lands north of Konoha and he will decide what route to take then."
"What of Haku," Noriko asked.
"The return of the Kyuubi is top priority. Haku will be taken care of after we retrieve the Ninetails."
Anko wrapped her arms around her partner and gave Kurai the cheekiest grin. "Ladies go first and we pick the beautiful Sunagakure."
Noriko jerked backwards, looking for some sign of sickness Anko had unknowingly developed. Anko practically hated the country as a whole. She remembered her saying something along the lines of, 'It's to boring there. Nothing but sand and dirt and they have the ugliest men.'
Leaning close enough so she wouldn't be heard Anko whispered, "This is the easiest one. All we have to do is go see that woman Haku's dating and we're covered. She has to know what's going on."
"Anko we are actually supposed to look for them," Noriko answered back, sounding a little angry.
Anko tried to placate her friend, mistakenly overlooking her emotional attachment in this particular mission. Trying from a different angle she said, "Naruto and Haku are always hanging around there so it would be a lot better if we started there. That was where the fight took place anyway, so wouldn't you rather us find them than them," and she pointed to the former Stone-nin and his creepy partner.
She had to admit the girl had a point and when she couldn't come up with another plan that also touched on the points Anko had made. "We'll go with your plan until we get more information. Depending on what we find out we may have to change course on our own volition."
Anko had no problems with that idea because when they changed course there was always fighting, lots of it and she was looking forward to it.
Itachi was already strapping on his jingasa and moving toward the room exit before he made the effort to speak. "Kisami and I will take the Lightning Country."
"He does not want any confrontations with the governing body of Kumogakure. You are to move in the utmost secrecy Uchiha Itachi."
Itachi barely turned, but he made eye contact. His Sharingan powered eyes locked onto the inky, empty blackness that were Kurai's and for several seconds they merely stood there, To those unused to the world of ninjas they wouldn't have noticed anything but to the people present the killing intent that came fuming from their persons was all too visible. The pressure in the air escalated several notches and when neither appeared ready to give in Itachi having grown bored with the display broke the stalemate and continued out the door, Kisami following after him with that same manic grin he constantly sported directed toward the shadow user.
"Now that was interesting," Anko commented. She had no idea what that was all about.
Kurai moved toward the exit as well, his partner still glaring at Noriko. "We will scour the Fire Country, though the odds of him being there are almost nil. Tsunade is a pacifist; she would have no need for the Kyuubi." And with that said they left out the door.
Noriko checked her equipment, the bare minimum was equipped. They always carried very little because the lighter the load the quicker they moved and anything else they needed would be procured in one of the villages they crossed. She turned to Anko, who was finishing up putting on her leg guards and nodded. The Wind Country was not hospitable to outsiders and now that they lacked the necessary man power to patrol their borders effectively they relied more on the unforgiving desert for protection. It would be a problem for an army or any small force but they wouldn't need an army. They were an army themselves.
"You ready?"
AUTHOR'S NOTES
A lot of new faces were introduced and next chapter we might finally find out what the hell happened when Sasuke left. It was tempting to let it all out now but all good stories have some sort of mystery, an anticipation factor and the effects of Sasuke's running off will be one. We also have two of the stories important people, Hinata and Ino. Hinata you just got a glimpse of but the real humdinger will be Ino. I think some people may like her, I hope. Alas her life has not been peachy. She may be turned off from men forever.
I unexpectedly found the deadliest combination that could assault your muse is college, work, and finding new fanfiction that sucks up your precious free time like some sort of leech. What is this evil story taking up my time you ask, 'Reflected Past' and its sequel 'War's Shadow' by InuOtaku2003. Two marvelous pieces of Inuyasha fanfiction if I do say so myself that star the badass of all badasses, Sesshomaru, or Sephiroth 2.0 as I like o call him. I also have a habit of when I like a story; I read that artists favorite stories as well and my free time just never stood a chance.
One questionfor the readers. In the Naurto manga, chapter 246, Sakura punches the ground and creates this huge crater when they're fighting Kakashi. It wouldn't have bothered me so much because I got kind of glad Sakura could quit being so useless but that was until I thought about it. Tsunade's strength came from her being the granddaughter of the first Hokage, it was inherited, I know I remember coming across something like that in the manga or anime. Furthermore the explanation they gave I don't think holds water- perfect chakra control; I thought ninjas in general had excellent control. I would be lying if I said I didn't see that developing from a mile away, but it just doesn't make too much sense to me.
Last but not least thank you all for the reviews, especially the people who have hung with me since the beginning of this.
Say it with me. Down with escalating college tuition costs.