There was a definite chill in the air.
Naruto's breath came out in large clouds, and then spread off in twisting and dancing curls.
Looking in the distance, he could see the characteristic notched peak of Mount Monado.
It wouldn't be too much longer now.
He hadn't come across any sign of Sasuke's passage, but had no doubt that the Sound ninja would be headed for the same striking landmark. It had been a shock seeing him again.For the past league or so, Naruto had gone over each sentence from their conversation. No matter how much he might wish it to be true, Sasuke was not there as a friend or ally. But, that didn't mean that he couldn't turn out to be of value in the long run.
What would happen if Sasuke somehow reached his personal goal, while Naruto was still struggling to save Hinata? Would his one time friend help him, if his own needs had been met, seeing that there was more at stake than one girl's like? Would he be too busy worrying about Orochimaru? Or, night he lash out, taking the opportunity to stick it to his old teammate.
Those were good questions. There were others, as well. If it got to a point where Hinata's safety was guaranteed, and his girlfriend would be able to escape on her own, should Naruto stay and fight along with Sasuke, knowing that any damage done to Akatsuki was in Konha's best interest? If Sasuke were in serious danger of dying, should Naruto rush in and rescue the other ninja, knowing that he would be unlikely to show any gratitude.
Yes, those were difficult things to consider. But, one thought trumped them all.
Should Naruto succeed beyond his wildest dreams, rescuing Hinata and dealing a mortal blow to Akatsuki, what should he do about Sasuke when he was done? Sasuke was listed as a missing ninja. For all extensive purposes, he was an enemy of the Leaf. And, were he recaptured by Orochimaru….
There was no dancing around the issue. There was something he had to come to terms with. The ultimate question:
Could he kill Sasuke?
Naruto stopped walking for a moment, wanting to massage a tight muscle. The increasing elevation was really beginning to test his endurance. Looking at the mountain in the distance, the young shinobi thought back over his past encounters. In the heat of battle, he had been capable of killing Haku. But, when his disenfranchised foe had begged for death, Naruto had been unable to act. His fights with Sasuke were not terribly different, in some regards. He could have killed Sasuke accidentally with ragengan, had Kakashi's intervention not lead to the destruction of that great hospital-top water receptacle instead. Likewise, the last attack he used at the Valley of the End could have ended Sasuke's life, even though it had been his intention to stop the other, not kill him. The first time, he had simply wanted to gain his friend's recognition. The second time, he had wanted to save the other ninja from himself. If there was a next time, things would be much different.
Could… he… kill… Sasuke?
Physically, he no doubt had the power to do so, even when the other warrior would be transformed and strengthened by that damn seal. It would not be easy to take down that freakish thing with wings, especially since Sasuke would have had more than two years of special tutelage under his own Legendary Sennin; but, with Kyuubi powers at his beck and call, there would at least be a fighting chance. If he didn't fall prey to the mangekyou sharing an. No, this wasn't about justsu and Blood Limit abilities. It was about his heart.
Could. He. Kill. Sasuke.
Three years of building resentment and anger might not be enough to push him to that extreme, not when he thought back to their last battle. Sasuke had seemed so eager to kill him. If it wasn't for the recuperative powers gifted to him by Kyubi's presence, Naruto would have died when his body had been pierced by the enhanced Chidori. But, when the Rasengan and Chidori collided, and the two fighters had put everything they had behind their attacks, it had been Naruto that was left helpless, and Sasuke who chose to walk away. A young boy with a kunai could have killed Naruto then.
Jiraiya's lessons wafted into his conscious thoughts again. Cowardice. Being too delicate in one's honor. Over solicitude.
YOU FREE ME. I TEAR OUT HIS THROAT. EVERYBODY WINS.
Kyuubi's comment actually helped. Naruto shook his head vehemently, wanting to clear his thoughts. This latest topic may not even be a realistic possibility. Why worry himself sick over it? He would face whatever came his way. He would do what he could. The best that he could. As the moment allowed.
As Naruto stretched and began walking again, he passed the time by reciting the various statements which formed the creed of an ancient sect of warriors. They had been fighters of great skill, remarkable honor, and unmatched faithfulness.. They had been men of true valor, with no fear of death. They would enter any battle no matter the odds. Perhaps their words would aid him today.
"I have no parents: I make the heaven and earth my parents."
That statement fit him well enough. Heaven and Earth. He could certainly do worse than that for family.
"I have no home: I make awareness my home."
He may indeed have no home when this was done, should he live. But, his actions today would be in honor of the home he once had.
"I have no life or death: I make the tides of breathing my life and death."
He would do what he could while he could, unconcerned about his beginning or his end. How many people would miss him when he was gone?
"I have no divine power: I make honesty my divine power."
Naruto had told Hinata that he wouldn't give up. He hadn't meant this mission in particular; but, he had given her his word, nonetheless. That took precedent over everything else.
"I have no means: I make understanding my means."
Well, that damn Ero-Sennin was the one who made certain that his apprentice was never a man of means! But, he had gifted Naruto with some semblance of understanding in return.
"I have no magic secrets: I make character my magic secret."
That's right. His character had served him well in the past. Perhaps it would serve him well again today.
I HAVEN'T EATEN IN SIXTEEN YEARS. EVEN SO, THAT NONSENSE MAKES ME WANT TO VOMIT
Naruto scowled. Well, if his reciting the words of the Warrior's Creed annoyed Kyuubi, that was one more reason to keep on going!
"I have no body: I make endurance my body."
He would need that today. He had already come very far vest quickly. Before too long, he would no doubt be using every bit of chakra his body could channel safely.
"I have no eyes: I make the flash of lightning my eyes."
That one sounded cool. But, the thought of lightning had him thinking about Chidori again. He remembered Kakashi using it against Zabuzan, killing Haku by mistake. He remembered his mentor teaching the jutsu to Sasuke, not him. He remembered Sasuke using it. No, he didn't want to think about lightning.
Feeling the moist caress of the wind against his cheeks, Naruto looked up at the gathering clouds. He may see lightning just the same. The elements might soon follow their own inexorable course, unconcerned by the petty squabbles of mere men.
"I have no ears: I make sensibility my ears."
Sensible. Showing the ability to reason. Governed by good judgment or common sense.
Shit! Next….
"I have no limbs: I make promptness my limbs."
No problem there. He would be on time. No one and nothing to delay him in his chosen duty. He only hoped that his actions would be prompt enough to save Hinata.
"I have no strategy: I make 'unshadowed by thought' my strategy."
Yeh. There would be no time to get bogged down in too much though. He had done more than enough thinking today as it was.
"I have no designs: I make "seizing opportunity by the forelock" my strategy."
Bingo. Now, that was his kind of strategy. He was more than willing to seize opportunity by any body part it provided! His thoughts wandered to Hinata again. Ooops! There was no time for thinking about that kind of thing.
"I have no miracles: I make right action my miracle."
That was open to debate today. Tsunade, Jiraiya, the elders, his friends… they may all see things differently than he did. But, he was doing what he felt had to be done. A miracle wouldn't hurt, though.
IT'S A MIRACLE YOU GET YOUR BOOTS ON THE RIGHT FEET
Naruto blushed. He had actually taken a moment to look down at his boots. At least they were on the correct feet.
THIS TIME
"I have no principles: I make adaptability to all circumstances my principles."
That would be put to the test soon enough. Just how adaptable he proved to be might mean the difference between victory and defeat, if victory was even possible.
"I have no tactics: I make emptiness and fullness my tactics."
Right! Tell that to Jiraiya! There was no need to lecture him on all that stuff. 'Emptiness' and 'fullness' had Naruto taking note of his hunger again. He reached into his pouch, broke off a piece of travel bread, then began to chew absentmindedly as he mumbled his words.
"I have no talents: I make ready wit my talent."
Hmmmm. I would be better if he never mentioned that one to his sensei. It was a matter of definition. Did being witty count?
NO
Naruto cursed.
"I have no friends: I make my mind my friend."
He swallowed hard a moment. His thoughts flashed back to the time when he indeed had no friends. It was painful to remember the time that he spent as a youth, hated by almost everyone. There had been no one to turn to. No one had cared. Nothing had really gone well until he became a member of Team Seven. Sakura and Sasuke were the first people he came to consider friends after Iruka. Well, Iruka and the old guy who spooned out the noodles!
It was hard to think about having no friends. Especially if his actions today would send him back to square one. It was also difficult to think about his duty, if it meant that he had to kill Sasuke. The dark-haired ninja had been one of his earliest companions, even though it had not been by either of their choice. They had trained together. The two of them, Sakura, and Kakashi, had been through so much together, in a relatively short period of time.
Naruto jerked to a halt. He tensed his muscles. His vision clouded over for a moment.
Iruka, Sasuke, and Sakura had been amongst the first people he had considered friends. Them, and Kakashi. He could count Konohamaru in there, too. But, they had not been the first people to see any value in the town pariah. Someone else had been quietly watching. Another person had seen value in Naruto long before anyone else did. Including himself. Hinata.
Yes. Sakura had rejected Naruto's feelings. Sasuke had turned against him. Iruka and Kakashi had offered him encouragement, but it had taken them a while to see his worth. Even the Third had been surprised by his later successes. Not Hinata.
One lone girl, someone with enough problems of her own, had seen his true strength. While Naruto had been busy making a fool of himself for attention's sake, Hinata had admired his perseverance and never-ending drive. If he had to choose between her and Sasuke, the choice would be simple. If killing Sasuke would somehow make Hinata safe, then that Uchiha clown would be a dead man. Likewise, if keeping Sasuke alive somehow helped Hinata, he would do what was necessary and face the consequences later.
Yes, he would make his mind his friend today. Sasuke might never be a friend again.
Hinata was more than a friend. She was his girl, regardless of whatever her father had said. If he had never realized that before, he did so now.
BLAH BLAH BLAH. SHE'S A FEMALE WHO NOTICED YOU. GET OVER IT
Naruto stopped in mid curse. He smiled. Kyubi sure seemed to harp on that a lot. It was only natural that the great beast would want Naruto to forget about Hinata, if this rescue attempt threatened its very existence. Was there something more as well?
"So, fur ball, I take it that you never had lady problems before…."
There was a sudden feeling of blankness. Ha! Bulls-eye!
"Hmmm…."
Still no sense of Nine Tails at all.
"No one ever noticed your worthless carcass…."
MANY DID, WHILE THEY EXISTED ON THIS PLANE
Naruto coughed. Some of the images that Kyuubi projected were rather graphic, even for a giant fox-like animal. Bleh!
"Oh. I see. Not the one you wanted…."
There was one particular image with a name attached. The Lady. The only fox youma with ten tails. The most enlightened of them all. Naruto grinned. He had a golden opportunity to pay back hat damn fox demon for all the snide comments it had ever made. But, he bit his tongue instead. Thinking about Hinata, the danger she was in, and the fact that they may never be together again, Naruto couldn't bring himself to benefit from anyone's misfortune with females. Not even the demon sealed away in his belly.
"I have no enemies: I make carelessness my enemy."
That made sense in one fashion. He couldn't have enemies that would cause him to lose control through hatred and anger. No. He had opponents that he must defeat. The distinction was a subtle but crucial one. He could not affords to let his feelings distract him or make him incautious.
Hell. Who was he kidding. They were his enemies! And he hated them. He could have enemiesand be still focused.
"I have no armor: I make benevolence and righteousness my armor."
Yes to the second, no to the first. He was thinking about enemies again. Naruto knew that he saying actually had to do with benevolence towards one's fellow man in general. Well then, he would be considered exceptionally benevolent if he wiped Akatsuki off the face of the earth! That would do a shit load of good for his fellow man.
He actually laughed. What was wrong with positive thinking? It was his Ninja Way!
"I have no castle: I make immovable-mind my castle."
Right! He would be strong. An immovable will. An indestructible force of nature. The poor Nine. They wouldn't know what hit them.
"I have no sword: I make absence of self my sword."
That was where he had Sasuke and all others like him beat. He could put others first. Routinely. With no doubts, and no regrets. Time and time again. Was he selfish, choosing Hinata over Konoha and the Leaf? Maybe. But, he had no doubt, and he had no regrets. Konoha… the Leaf… his friends, peers, and superiors… they could all survive without him. Hinata would not be not lucky.
The creed done, Naruto picked up his pace. At some point, he might take to the wing again, or select some other animal form that might let him sneak past the lesser Akastuki members without being detected. He stopped. Something was teasing him at the fringe of his senses. There were people approaching.
Naruto ran quickly for cover, looking for some niche or hidey hole in the great water-carved walls of the dry ravine. Wedging himself in between two oddly shaped boulders, he watched carefully for any sign of movement. In time, a group of three individuals walked out from one crevice, standing at the confluence of many old river channels. Naruto recognized them immediately.
The one in the lead, a young woman with a high hairdo and a large fan on her back, was Temari. The one who was laughing, a young man with an odd outfit, face markings, and a huge wrapped form on his back, was her brother Kankurou. The final member of the group, a stiff looking boy with eerie eyes and a huge gourd set between his shoulders, was, of course, Gaara.
What were they doing here?
Naruto fought the impulse to slap his forehead. He had meant to slip away unseen, and had done do for the most part. So, what happens? First, he runs across Sasuke in one misbegotten stretch of woods. Now, in the middle of nowhere, he stumbles upon those three! Could they be headed for the same place he was?
How could Jiraiya and Tsunade have gotten communications out that fast? Naruto needed answers. If his friends were part of an advanced squad moving against Akatsuki, he could be screwed big time. The members of that organization might see fit to snuff out Hinata as soon as they caught wind of things, even though he had not called the siblings in! But, they might simply be passing through this area by coincidence. This particular geographical oddity could be used during a journey from Sunagakure to Konoha.
He stepped out from between the rocks, dislodging a stream of gravel as he brushed pat. Coughing, he shook sand and dirt out of his robe and off of his hair. His movement caught the other's attention.
While it was Temari who moved to the front, Kanakurou spoke up first.
"Hey, are you here to meet us? We don't need babysitters you know!"The Sand ninja raised his fist in greeting. He had grown fond of Naruto after the Leaf ninja had helped his brother make great strides as a human being.
Naruto raised his hand in answer. Simultaneously, he created a large scale illusion around the four of them. Even the most skilled observer would think that the ravine was devoid of life. Temari stepped out to meet her Leaf counterpart.
SNIFF HER BUTT. SHE MIGHT DO. BETTER THAN THAT SCRAWNY WHITE-EYED ONE
Kyuubi's comment had Naruto coughing, his eyes widening..
The girl put a hand to her cheek. "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" She smiled.
"No… your face is as fine as always…." Naruto flinched. He could have chosen better words.
"Whoa. Looks like Sis has hooked another one. Shadow Boy's not going to be too happy!" Kankurou slapped Naruto hard on the back, causing a huge cloud of dust to fly out. It was his turn to cough.
Naruto shook his head.
"The monster inside of him must have said something. " Gaara nodded to Naruto, who nodded back. "They are trouble that way. At least mine is usually asleep."
"Tell me about it!" Naruto smiled. He held his breath a moment. This wasn't the time for casual socializing.
INSECT
"No, tell us about it. What did your monster say?" Kankurou was the most easy going of the trio. He had been very serious once, and still was most of the time, but every once in a while he discovered an avid thirst for mischief.
Naruto blushed.
"Well?" Temari had her hands on her hips. She cocked her head.
GO AHEAD. SHOW HER. THEN KICK DIRT IN THE FACE OF THE OTHERS
Naruto closed his eyes and sighed. He shook his head again. "If I told you, one of you might try to kill me. I'm sorry, but I don't have time for that now. Maybe later."
"You are not here to meet us. You are surprised to see us here." Gaara was and always would be rather matter of fact. He was not one to waste words or time.
"Something's wrong." Temari predicted correctly, seeing the look in Naruto's eyes. "Something's very wrong."
Naruto nodded. Taking out the note, he handed it to the young woman. Her eyes narrowed, then widened. Her mouth fell open. Then she frowned and set her jaw. "It's a trap."
"Yes," Naruto said, taking back the note. He handed it to Gaara.
Gaara's eyes hardened. For a moment, he looked like the Gaara of old. Kankurou swallowed hard, wondering what was going on. Temari clenched her fists.
"This is wrong." Gaara said. "She is the girl who fought the other Hyuuga at the exams. She has become one of your important ones. You are going on your own."
"If I don't…." Naruto didn't need to finish the thought.
Gaara held the note out to his brother. "Shit. Akatsuki. We've heard about them." Kankurou walked over and put his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Word was that they are after someone with a monster."
"Yes, Shukakau is the One Tail," Temari turned troubled eyes on Gaara. "Two Tails is Nekomata, a youma in the form of cat. Three Tails is Isonade, a youma which looks like a giant fish. Four Tails is Sokou, a youma which looks like a reptile, a mixed creature of rooster and a snake within one body. Five Tails is Houkou, a youma which looks like a dog. It lives in an ancient tree, and its five tails possess the five elemental powers, fire, water, lightning, earth, wind. Six Tails is Raijuu, a youma in the form of weasel. Seven Tails is Kaku, a youma in the form of badger. Eight Tails is Hachimata, a snake youma, with its power rivaling that of the Nine tails, which Gaara says you know." She stared at Naruto, as if wondering about the truth of her sibling's claims.
"Were you suckered here somehow, then?" Naruto asked Gaara. "Or did they just think that I would be easy." Naruto looked ready to spit.
"We were sent on a mission to the leaf," Gaara said. "We had no knowledge of this recent occurrence."
"Right!" Temari frowned. "I don't like the idea of being here, if they are after those who bear the youma. We should leave this place. "You should come with us."
Naruto shook his head.
"No." Gaara said.
Temari and Kankurou turned to look at him, a look of concern in their eyes. They knew that voice. "He's our friend, Gaara. He's welcome," Kankurou misinterpreted his brother's objection.
"He will not go back." Gaara looked Naruto in the eyes. "He will not abandon one that he cares about. We learned that before."
"But, if he goes against orders…." Temari looked concerned. She and her brothers had been used in the past to track down missing ninjas.
"He will probably end up dead!" Kankurou swore under his breath, kicking hard at a small stone. "I doubt that anyone will bother to declare the corpse to be a criminal!"
Naruto gave the other three shinobi a brief run down of what he had taken from Jiraiya's mind. Gaara's eyes narrowed. Suddenly he twitched. "The Demiurge. Shukaku awoke at that name. He says that he has no desire to come out and play."
"Play?" Despite the situation, Naruto was curious. He wondered just what kind of relationship Gaara had with Shukaku.
"Things have changed some over the past years," Temari answered for her brother. "The sand spirit no longer consumes our brother's identity and being while he sleeps. Getting a good night sleep has done wonders for someone's personality…."
Gaara frowned, but didn't say anything.
"But, it came as part of a trade." Kankurou shook his head, clearly unhappy with the terms of that deal. "The damn thing gets to come out a lot more often. That's bad enough when there is a mission that requires it. But, in the quieter times…." He shivered ever so slightly.
GOOD ARRANGEMENT. WE SHOULD TRY THAT
'Dream on, furball. Shukaku probably doesn't go around sniffing everyone's ass.'
"I will help," Gaara said.
"Huh?" But…." Kankurou swallowed hard, seeing his brother's posture. The two of them got along very well these days, but there were still times that he felt uncomfortable around Gaara.
"No. You will not!" Temari turned to face her brother. "We have very specific orders. They are expecting us in Konoha. There is a joint mission, as you well know." Now that Gaara had become much less of a personal threat, Temari didn't hold back from speaking her mind.
"Think." Gaara said, as if that was all he felt like saying. Glaring at his sister, he forced himself to continue. "Our superiors know nothing of this situation. It was discovered after we had already set out." That should be enough.
"That doesn't change the command they gave us…." Kankurou shook his head.
"Are you trying to say that Konoha is likely to act on this, and that we would have been assigned to help?" Temari could see the reasoning behind Gaara's thoughts. He might very well be right. But, as it stood…
Gaara merely stared. He had said his piece.
"Thank you," Naruto said. He was nearly overcome by emotion. "But, I can't allow that. At least not until I openly start acting against Akatsuki's will. After that, I would be glad to have whatever help I could!"
"Yes," Gaara answered, nodding his head. "I will wait then. "You will provide some kind of sign."
"Just watch the mountain. When things start exploding or falling off…." Naruto smiled. "I'm in a bad mood today."
"Hey. Just a minute, Gaara. Aren't you getting ahead of yourself? I'm the one leading our squad. That means that I am the one who makes any changes in plans." Temari flexed one arm. "The last think anyone wants is Akatsuki to get what they are after." Naruto interrupted, explaining his intention to die before being taken captive. "That's all well and good if you still have the will to act. But, if any youma will do, it makes no sense for my brother to be here! Especially since he is destined to be the new Kage."
"I'll stay too." Kankurou stuck out his chin. The things that he had heard about Akatsuki truly troubled him. "It's simpler to kill rats when they congregate, all at once, rather than to try and root them out one at a time from every conceivable nook and cranny."
"What!" Temari's voice went up a couple of octaves. She was quickly losing control of the situation.
"Thanks," Naruto said. "But, if it gets you in trouble…."
Kankurou just smiled.
Temari threw her hands up. "Men!" She stomped her foot. "I have one in Konoha who can't be bothered to do anything that he doesn't want to. And now you two are giving me grief? I can't believe this!"
Kankurou chuckled.
"You will be staying as well, won't you?" Gaara shocked Naruto by actually grinning. That was new!
"Yes. But when we get back, I'll be sure to have a word with you know who. Maybe she can succeed where I've failed." Temari had a wicked look in her eyes.
Gaara surprised Naruto again by blushing.
Kankurou looked over at Naruto and made the hand gesture for 'girl friend.' Naruto smiled. He couldn't help but be happy for Gaara, given the kind of person he once was, and seeing all of the hardships he had been forced to endure. But, his smile soon faded.
He thought about Hinata.
"Alright….." Temari sounded as if she had agreed to sit in a chair and have half of her teeth pulled. "If the four of us survive, I guess we can start our own country." She looked Naruto up and down. "I guess that means I would get stuck with you. Some days, it isn't worth getting out of bed."
"Well, if you don't want to get out of bed, that's a good thing, right?" Kankurou dodged Temari's kick. "Welcome to the family." He held his hand out to Naruto, wincing when his sister slapped it down. Temari looked frightful. It was hard to tell if she was playing around.
SKIP THE SNIFFING. FURTHER YOUR PATHETIC SPECIES. JUMP HER BONES
Naruto almost collapsed. His tongue wouldn't move. He closed his eyes.
It was bad enough, some of the things that the fox demon said. The colloquialism and familiarity was amusing at times. But, 'jump her bones'…
WE USED THAT WORDING BEFORE HUMANS DID
'Bullshit!'
"You should be more serious in these situations. You are the leader. You have an example to set." Gaara's voice was very flat and serious. "But if you make jokes, do not expect our brother to remain silent."
"I should get going," Naruto said.. "Before I do, there is one more thing to tell you." Naruto gave everyone a synopsis of his meeting with Sasuke.
"Damn. He could get in the way." Kankurou looked dyspeptic. "Too bad one of you pansies didn't stop him before."
"As long as he presents a problem to our common foe, I shall not interfere." Gaara's voice was frigid. He thought back to his own battle with the Uchiha boy. "But, if he endangers my sister or brother, I shall destroy him."
Naruto nodded. That would make his life easier, in a way. If Sasuke needed to be killed, and someone else did it, he would have far fewer issues to work through.
"Not if I get him first," Temari said, steel in her voice. "Traitor." She hated Orochimaru, for what he had done to her family and her village. If Uchiha Sasuke had gone over to that man's side, he was cut from the same cloth as far as she was concerned.
"Yeh. Death to traitors." Kankurou started to laugh. He stopped, seeing the guilty look on Naruto's face. Puzzled for a moment, he grunted when he thought things through. "Death to evil traitors…."
"Can you stop him if need be?" Gaara cut to the heart of the matter.
"For me…I'm still not sure…." Naruto straightened his shoulders. "For Konoha… probably……" He set his jaw. "For Hinata… definitely……"
Temari nodded, a soft look decorating her beautiful features for a moment.
"You're the man!" Kankurou gave Naruto a thumb up.
THAT STRANGELY DRESSED HUMAN NEEDS TO HAVE HIS VISION CHECKED
Gaara stared at Naruto for a moment, and then nodded. "We will wait until your signal." He turned to his siblings. "Step close." When the three Sand ninjas were standing in close proximity to one another, a great wall of sand formed around them making it seem as if they were merely a part of the chasm wall. A small eye came into being, far above the sand fortress.
Naruto swallowed hard. That thing still gave him the creeps.
Turning to face Mount Monado, he took a deep breath.
There was no turning back now.