This is the longest chapter I have written so far for this story. There will be one more chapter after this, though it won't be out until Friday at the earliest and Sunday at the latest. Sorry for the delay, but my job hours are leaving me little time to work on the story.
It had now been two weeks since Naruto had left Konoha with the Tsuchikaze. Once he got to Iwagakure he sent a fox to tell Tsunade and Hinata. Everyone was relieved to get his message four day after he left. Hinata had been having Itazura take letter to Naruto every other day and he'd write her back. She had also been staying at the Saigen compound so she didn't feel so lonely without him. Her father along with many of her friends would check up one her everyday to make sure she was all right and not lonely.
" My Lady I'm back." Itazura said
" Itazura, has he said anything about coming home?" Hinata asked anxiously
" I'm sorry my Lady he won't tell me anything. He just takes you letter and hands me his." Itazura said
Hinata saddened at Itazura's news. Once she had gotten the first letter from him. She had hoped he would tell her all about what was going on, but the letter just told her that Iwagakure was really messed up because of the elders and he might be there longer than he had originally anticipated. She would ask him what was going one, but he'd never tell her. She knew it must be really bad if he wouldn't tell his own fiancée. On top of that now Hinata was the only one he'd sent any information too, so Tsunade and Jiraiya were getting really worried and mad at him.
" Hinata." Tsunade said
" Tsunade-sama." Hinata said not surprised at her visit
" Any word?" Jiraiya asked
" No I'm sorry he didn't tell me a lot, just it'll be a couple more day he thinks." Hinata said sadly
" I just wish he'd sent me something too. It's not like I don't worry about him." Tsunade said angrily
" I'm sure there's a good reason Tsunade." Jiraiya said trying to calm her down
" There better be or I might change my decision on making him the next Hokage." Tsunade threaten
" Awe, now you wouldn't do that to me would you?" a voice asked
Walking from the forest came Naruto in his Kyubi mode with his white coat on him then he changed into his hanyou form coat flowing behind him.
" NARUTO-KUN!" Hinata shouted running over to her fiancé
Naruto picked her up and twirled her around a number of times and then set her back on the ground and hugged her tightly.
" Oh, how I've missed you." Naruto said happily
" I've missed you too. Are you're alright?" Hinata now questioned standing back from him and looking him over
She could tell he was tired from his trip home, but next to a number of rips in his clothing he looked fine.
" I'm alright just a little exhausted from the run back." Naruto said smiling at her
" GAKI!" Tsunade said angrily
Naruto turned and looked at the upset Hokage. She looked into his eyes and saw the desperate look. She clamed down and decided on what to do.
" Naruto, since you just got back I'll let you rest. I want you in my office first thing tomorrow with a full report on what happened." Tsunade said
" Hai Hokage-sama." Naruto said and walked away Itazura following him
The three stood there shocked at what he just said.
" It must have been really bad. Oh little bother how I wish you could of stayed ignorant of the evil in the world forever." Tsunade said out loud
" He's seen moreof thatthan anyone of us has ever seen or ever hope to see and he's strong, just give him some time to rest Tsunade." Jiraiya said
Tsunade nodded and the two Sannin left leaving Hinata standing there alone. Itazura had followed Naruto into the Saigen house and once she came out of her daze she ran to the house to find him, but she had a feeling she knew where her was. As Hinata walked through the Saigen house she noticed how silent it was.
Well I now know he's defiantly at the shrine. Hinata thought
As she exited to the garden outside she saw Naruto talking to Itazura, thought she couldn't hear what he was telling the fox, she knew it was important with the serious look that was on Naruto face. The fox then nodded to Naruto and puffed away
" Naruto?" Hinata questioned
Naruto turned to look at her putting up he fox smile. Hinata frowned knowing what he was doing.
" UZUMAKI NARUTO, I DON'T LIKE YOU PRETENDING LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG WHEN I KNOW BETTER. YOU WOULDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING IN THE LETTER AND WHEN I ASKED YOU'D CHANGE THE SUBJECT." Hinata said sternly
" I'm sorry Hinata-chan it was just so horrible when we got there." Naruto said now started to cry
Hinata walked up to her fiancé and hugged him tightly. She couldn't stand to see him like this it hurt her so much. She wanted him to be the happy boy she always knew. To her it seemed like hours before Naruto stopped crying and was quiet. She looked down to notice he had fallen asleep in her arms. She smiled at him warmly.
" Rest Naruto-kun you don't have to tell me till you're ready." Hinata told him quietly
" Thank you Hinata-chan." Naruto mumbled in his sleep
Hinata just smiled at this and she also started to fall asleep with Naruto. When Hinata woke up she noticed she was in Master Bedroom in the Saigen house.
" How did I get here?" She questioned out loud
" Oh good you're up." Naruto said entering the room, " I woke up and we were outside by the shrine I must have fallen asleep there. I'm sorry Hinata-chan you should have woken me up."
Hinata just shook her head, " I could tell you've been through a lot in the past two weeks Naruto-kun you needed to sleep. I'm guessing you brought me in here." Hinata said and got out of bed and walked towards Naruto
" Yep, I tried to wake you, but you wouldn't wake up. So I decided to carry you to my room and let you at least sleep comfortable and not outside." Naruto said
" But I was comfortable." Hinata pouted, " If I'm with you I'll always be comfortable."
Naruto just smiled at her and hugged her, " Now I know why I missed you so much when I was gone."
" Naruto-kun, I won't force you to tell me what happened, but you will have to tell Tsunade-sama and the others tomorrow. What are you going to do?" Hinata asked
" I'll tell them what happened, but I'd like you to come with me. I don't know if I'd be able to tell everything without you to support me Hinata-chan." Naruto said sadly
" If you want me to go then I'll go Naruto-kun. I love you and can't stand to see you sad like this." Hinata said to the boy
" It's late Hinata-chan I already called your father and told him what happened he said it was alright for you stayed the night. He figured you weren't going to come home after he heard my voice." Naruto said smiling at her
" After how I've seen you acted today I'm not leaving your side until you return to normal." Hinata said
" That Hinata-chan might be a while. After what I tell you guys tomorrow, we might all change." Naruto said sadly
Hinata just looked at him upset he was so sad.
" Come on Naruto-kun let's get to bed. We'll get up early to head to the Hokage tower." Hinata said leading Naruto over to the bed
" Yeah, I think that's a good idea." Naruto said following her and moving into the bed with her
" Good night Naruto-kun." Hinata said
" Night my sweet Hinata-chan." Naruto said sleepily
The two held each other in their arms and fell asleep. The next morning the two woke up around eight and got ready to go over to the Hokage tower. Because of Hinata staying at the Saigen compound for the last two weeks she had a change of clothes already there.
" Ready Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked worriedly
" I guess." Naruto replied
Hinata hugged the boy, " I'll be alright Naruto-kun. Nothing bad will happen." Hinata reassured the boy
Naruto just smiled at the girl and nodded. They then headed towards the Hokage tower, once inside they could see a group of people waiting outside of her office. Once they got closer Naruto recognized whom they were. It was all the Chuunin 9, their senseis, and a number of the head clans of Konoha.
" Great and here I thought it was just going to be you, me, Obaa-chan, and Ero-Sennin." Naruto said
Hinata just held his hand and squeezed it showing she was going to support the boy no matter what. The others in the hallway had not see the two and hadn't heard Naruto even speak.
" So who's going to go in and wake here up?" Genma asked
" I will." Naruto said smiling
" NARUTO! YOU'RE BACK." A number of the Chuunin 9 shouted
" Of course that might have just done the trick too." Naruto said covering his fox ears
At that a loud crash was heard inside and Tsunade came to her door vary angry.
" Obaa-chan I thought it was just going to be us?" Naruto said
" Sorry little brother, but they all must know what happened." Tsunade said, " Come in and be seated."
Once inside everyone saw what the loud noise had been. Jiraiya had obviously been trying to pull something on Tsunade and when the commotion outside woke her up he received the punch normally one of her Jounin guards received.
" Well at least he wasn't hit out of the window again." Naruto said amused at the sight
" This happens often?" Tenten asked
" Yeah, every time someone tries to wake her up, or when Ero-sennin had done something stupid. Which I can tell you is like everyday." Naruto said looking at his teacher, " Sukebe."
With that everyone took their seats Naruto and Hinata were in front with Tsunade and a bruised Jiraiya
" Hinata you can take a seat my dear." Tsunade said to her
" Tsunade-sama I asked her to be here with me and I want her to stay by me side for now." Naruto said calmly
Tsunade nodded, if it was as bad as she feared it was then she understood. Everyone else in the room was shocked that Naruto had just addressed the Hokage in a respectful manner for the first time in his life in front of other people. If he did that then whatever he was about to tell them must be bad.
" Hokage-sama are we going to find out why we are all here?" Tsume asked
" I'm sorry I forgot to tell the messenger. Well we are here to listen to Naruto's tale on what happened in Iwagakure, seeing as I have no idea because someone stopped writing me a week ago." Tsunade said eyeing the boy
Naruto though didn't look up to meet her gaze his head was down trying to think of a way to explain all the horrors her had witnessed and occurred with Iwagakure and the Tsuchikaze.
" Naruto-kun? Naruto-kun?" Hinata said retrieving the boy from his thoughts
" Huh, oh I'm sorry it's just a lot to tell and I'm not sure where to begin." Naruto said sadly
" Start at the beginning dope. What's so hard in that?" Sasuke said
He waited for the normal shouting to be retorted back to him, but nothing came. Naruto just remained silent.
" Sasuke-kun I don't think it's a good time to be messing with Naruto whatever happened there must have been bad if he's like this." Sakura whispered to her fiancé
Sasuke just nodded in agreement none of the people in the room had seen the blond boy like this ever, I was unnerving to them that the normally hyperactive boy was being quiet.
" Naruto we need you to tell us what happened and I think Sasuke I right at starting from the beginning is the best place." Jiraiya said looking at his student worried
I remembered when Arashi got like this and the only one who could ever bring him out of it was his wife Raimei. Jiraiya thought
" I guess you're right Jiraiya-sensei." Naruto said sadly
Again everyone was shocked at his response. Hinata move towards the boy and whispered in his ear he then smiled, looked at her and nodded.
" Well to start it took us four day to get to Iwagakure. The Tsuchikaze informed me it would normally only take three, but with a number of the ninja's were still worn out from the fight it took us a day longer. When we arrived the village was in total chaos." Naruto started to explain
" Naruto what do you mean?" Hiashi asked
" The elders somehow had gotten wind of what had happened here and the sealing of Jishi. They knew with the Tsuchikaze back to normal they'd be in big trouble, so they started to eradicate and anyone in the village that was against them." Naruto had to stop when everyone gasped, " When we arrived a lot of the village had been burnt to the ground the only things left were the Tsuchikaze's tower, the hospital, and the ninjas academy. All the shops, homes, apartments, everything else had been burnt to the ground."
Naruto started to cry at this point and Hinata now held him to make sure he didn't fall to the floor. Kakashi, who had been standing got two chairs and placed them behind the two so they could sit down.
Flashback
" I want you all to stay hidden here until we come back." Tsuchikaze said
" How will we know if it's really you sir?" one Jounin Iwa-nin asked
" Here." Naruto said and handed the man one of his father's kunai's, " These are special kunai's my father made. The Tsuchikaze and I will each have one with us. There is a jutsu on them, so that if someone were to take them from us and disguise themselves as one of us it'll glow orange. If that happens throw the kunai on the ground in front of the imposer and he will be sealed in place until I return."
Flashback interrupted" Naruto I don't remember you father creating any kind of jutsu like that for his kunai's." Kakashi said
" He was working on it before he died he never finished it. That month I was at the compound I figured out how to finish it. Though dad didn't originally have the seal for a person on it. I thought it would be better if I added it." Naruto said explaining this
" The Tsuchikaze and I headed towards the tower in the middle of what was left of Iwagakure." Naruto started again
Flashback Continued
" Naruto I want you to go around the village and see if you can find any survivors. We have a number of hidden areas even the elders don't know about; so many might have taken refuge there or in the nearby forest. I'm heading towards the tower to find the elders." Tsuchikaze explained
" I think I should go with you." Naruto said
" No I believe it'll be better if you stayed out here and looked for survivors. You are young and I don't wish to damage you mentally." Tsuchikaze explained
" I think that happened when I saw this village in ruins, Seiryoku." Naruto said sternly
" If you finish what I asked you to do meet me in the tower." Seiryoku said knowing how stubborn the boy was
" Yes, Sir." Naruto said leaving in a flash of gold
" Just like Arashi." Seiryoku said
Naruto then headed toward the outskirts of the village he knew that if Iwa had hiding places for villager and ninja's it would be there. Once outside Naruto summoned a number of foxes, including Gatsukoosen, Taki, their twin boys Sekitan and Yuki, and a number of other foxes. In all they totaled ten.
" Alright listen up everyone. I want you to spread out ad look for survivors. I know the smoke is messing with our scent of smell, but it can't be helped. So just do the best you can if anyone finds a hidden door or passageway see if you can enter and if there are survivors take them to the Iwa-nin's hiding in the forest." Naruto announced to the group of foxes
" Yes, my Lord." They all said and everyone disappearedNaruto then turned into his Kyubi mode to find the people better. He was able to pick up the sent of many humans and the smell of fear that was coming off of them. He headed in that direction it was coming from the academy. Once inside he found that the smell was coming from behind two large file cabinets in the principal's office.
" Why is the smell coming from these two cabinets?" Naruto questioned
The cabinets creaked opened and Naruto saw a little girl sticking her head out the gap. When she saw Naruto he was still in his Kyubi form.
" KITSUNE!" The girl screamed and hugged the boy, " Kitsune-sama have you come to save us?"
" Yes, are there any adults with you?" Naruto asked
" Yes everyone for the school is in here even the sensei's and principal." The little girl explained
" Well then can I come in to talk to them?" Naruto asked
The girls looked around to make sure no one else was in the room and nodded.
" I'm Tomo." The girls said
Naruto laughed at her name, " That you are little one, I'm Naruto. Let me give you a lift little Tomo."
Naruto picked her up with two of his tails and set the girl on his back. Tomo started to giggle from all the fun she was having. Naruto managed to open the cabinets up more with his muzzle and Tomo shut it once they were in.
" Alright Tomo where to I go?" Naruto asked
" Strait ahead Naruto-sama." Tomo said
Tomo and Naruto headed strait for a number of minutes.
" I can see how all the school is in here this passage goes on forever." Naruto said
" It's like that because father made it that way." Tomo said smiling, " He wanted everyone to be safe incase of an attack, so he made deep cave for us to hide in without the elders knowledge."
Tomo shuddered at the thought of the elders.
" Tomo who is you father?" Naruto asked
" The Tsuchikaze." Tomo smiled
" Well Tomo let me tell you you're father is back and is going to take care of those nasty elder for you." Naruto said smiling at the girl
" But father isn't well." Tomo now said sadly
" He's back to normal Tomo I helped him get better." Naruto said
Finally Naruto spotted some light coming from an opening.
" Here we are." Tomo said
" Tomo what are you on?" on of the sensei's asked
" This is my friend Naruto-sama. He said father's back and he's not sick anymore. He's gone to take care of the elders." Tomo explained
" Tomo kitsunes can't talk dear." The principal told the girl" Actually I'm not a kitsune I'm a Kyubi." Naruto now spoke
All the adults went on guards brandishing Kunai's and Shurikan's.
" Whoa, Whoa, I'm on your side. I was sent by the Tsuchikaze to find survivors and take them to the ninja's that are outside of the village." Naruto explained
" How can we believe you?" the principal asked
Naruto transformed into his hanyou mode. Everyone first noticed his hitaiate.
" KONOHA-NIN. YONDAIME!" the sensei's said one started to attack Naruto
Naruto just moved out of the man's way and let him fall to the ground.
" Sorry as Tomo told you my name is Naruto, I'm the son of the Yondaime. I was able to seal the lion demon in the Tsuchikaze, so now we're here to get rid of the elders." Naruto explained
He then held out his hand for the sensei to take it and helped the man up off the ground.
" Please I need you to follow me and I'll take you to where the Iwa-nin's are currently waiting for us." Naruto pleaded with them
" Ma'am?" The sensei looked at the principal
She nodded and everyone followed Naruto to the woods there the ninja's waiting were glad to see survivors. A couple minutes later a number of Naruto's foxes showed up with villagers and children behind them.
" Good I don't smell anyone else next to people in the tower. I'm heading there now. I want all of you to stay here and guard the Iwa-nin's and the villagers." Naruto orders the foxes
They all nodded and circled around the group
" NARUTO-SAMA!" Tomo shouted and ran towards him
" Tomo I have to go and help your father I'll be back in a little bit." Naruto said
Tomo nodded and hugged the boy. Naruto transformed again and raced towards the tower. Once Naruto got inside the front doors he was hit with the smell of blood and lots of it. Some smelled old and some smelled new. He transformed into his hanyou form so the smell wouldn't be so overpowering to his nose.
Seiryoku this better not be your blood I smell. I don't want to go back and tell Tomo you died on me. Naruto thought as he raced up the stairs
When he reached the second floor he noticed a large door was opened inside Naruto was horrified at what he saw. In the middle of the room were three bodies. As Naruto got closer he saw the bodies were of three men.
" They performed seppuku." Naruto said
Flashback interrupted
" THEY DID WHAT!" Tsunade screamed horrified at all the things Naruto had just explained to them
" Yeah the three I found in the room had been dead for a number of day three at the most, so that's where to smell of old blood was coming from." Naruto said depressed
" How did you know?" Kiba asked
" They performed seppuku because they had done everything by the book; all in white, small sword, the works. The first two even had their head cut off where the third had just cut himself in the stomach." Naruto said flinching at the image that had just manifested in his head
Hinata again reassured him by squeezing his hand
Well after I left there I headed towards the third floor and the Tsuchikaze's office.
Flashback Resumes
Naruto ran up the stairs leaving behind the scene he had just found.
Maybe Seiryoku was right and I shouldn't of come. Naruto thought
"Aahhhha!" Naruto head a scream
" Shit that sounded like more than one person. I hope Seiryoku hasn't let Jishi out, though I wouldn't blame him if he did." Naruto said
Once inside the office Naruto saw three elderly men huddled in the corner scared out of their minds. The Tsuchikaze was in the middle of the room surrounded by black chakra, having a feral look.
" SEIRYOKU!" Naruto screamed
The Tsuchikaze tuned and looked at the boy. Naruto saw all the pain that was in his eyes how much the elders had hurt him because of what they had done to the village. Naruto moved over to the elders, who were so scared they didn't even move when the boy spoke to them.
" I SAID GET UP OR I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF." Naruto said angrily
The remaining elders now looked at the boy and saw the tails swishing angrily behind him.
" OH KAMI, HE BROUGHT THE KYUBI WITH HIM TOO." On elder said
" GET UP NOW OR YOU ALL WILL DIE." Naruto said angrily having his nails grow into claws
The three petrified elders got up and walked to where the boy was. Naruto then proceeded to tie their hands behind their back. He then turned to the Tsuchikaze who was watching it all from the middle of the room, chakra diminishing.
" Naruto everyone's gone they told me." Seiryoku said collapsing on the floor and starting to cry
Naruto kneeled beside of him, " No their not they're with the your ninjas right now. Most of them are fine a number are battered and bruised."
The Tsuchikaze looked up at the boy in disbelief.
" Come lets head there with these traitors. I'm sure your ninjas would like to have a few words with them alone." Naruto said smirking at the three men
" Yes let's go." Seiryoku said and got up and started walking back to the ninjas hiding spot
When Tomo saw the men coming she ran up towards Naruto.
" NARUTO-SAMA YOU'RE BACK." Tomo said hugging him
Naruto handed the elders off to two older looking Iwa-nins and picked the girl up and hugged her
" I told you I'd be back and look who I brought you." Naruto said and turned the girl to see her father
" DADDY!" Tomo shouted
" Tomo? TOMO!" Seiryoku questioned
The Tsuchikaze took the girl into his arms and hugged her for dear life.
" Oh my precious Tomo I thought I had lost you." Seiryoku said
" No daddy that tunnels you made in the school helped us all hide when the elders started attacking. Since they didn't know about it everyone there was safe. Just like you said daddy." Tomo said excitedly
The Tsuchikaze just hugged the girl glad she was safe.
" Sir what do you want us to do with them." One of the older-nins asked the Tsuchikaze
" IF THE CAVES ARE STILL USABLE PUT THEM IN THERE UNTIL I'M READY FOR THEM." Tsuchikaze said angrily
" YES, SIR." The ninjas said and a number of ninjas walked off with the man
" What are the caves and is it wise to let that many ninjas go off with them. They might kill them?" Naruto asked
" The caves are where we do a lot of our interrogations on enemy ninjas. They are dark and have many unpleasant devices in them. As for those men they might ruff them up a bit, but they know not to kill them until I'm ready to punish them myself." Seiryoku explained
" So how about we start to rebuild?" Naruto said happily
End Flashback
" So that's what kept me there for so long. I was helping them rebuilt Iwagakure and also helped with the trial of the elders and finding new elders for Seiryoku." Naruto finished explaining
Everyone in the room was amazed at what had happened at Iwa.
" Naruto what did they do to the elder?" Inoichi asked
" They were kept in the caves for a week with Kutsuu and enjoyed his company." Naruto said smiling at the thought
" Who's Kutsuu?" Choji asked
" A highly skilled interrogator and torture expert in Iwa." Ibiki said
" Yeah he said him and Ibiki were well know in every ninja village." Naruto said
" Yeah he's well known. I'm surprised you're still alive to talk about meeting him." Tsunade said
" He likes ramen. What can I say he found a kindred soul in me." Naruto said shrugging
The adults just shook their heads in amazement at the people Naruto could meet and befriend.
" What happened after the week Naruto?" Neji asked
" The village had a trial for the remaining elders. The village was divided on what to do, half wanted them killed and the others wanted them to rot in the caves." Naruto said
" So what did Seiryoku do?" Kakashi asked
" Decided on both." Naruto said
" BOTH?" Everyone responded
" Yeah, They'll spend a year in the cave for each villager or ninja that they killed and then when that's up they'll be killed and removed from the earth." Naruto said sternly
" What does that mean?" Ino asked
" That only the adults here would know about. It's ninja' version of people who dishonor their village. That's all I'll explain." Naruto said
" So you know?" Shikamaru asked
Naruto hung his head, " Yeah I know, but I won't ever tell you guys. You'll just have to find out for yourselves."
The adults frowned knowing the boy knew what would be done when the elders' time was up.
" How long do they have in the cave?" Sakura asked
"Lets see…they killed three villagers, two ninjas, and they counted the other three elders that performed seppuku too, so they have eight years and then they're dead." Naruto said indifferently, " That's it Obaa-chan that's what happened."
" Right I'll have the paperwork ready tomorrow for you to fill out. I'm classing this mission as a S-ranked mission. You have the rest of the day off again, I don't want you doing anything but resting and relaxing is that understood little brother?" Tsunade told him
" Hai Obaa-chan." Naruto said smiling
Now that he had told everyone what had happened he felt better. Like an enormous weight had been taken off his shoulders.
" Come on Naruto-kun let's head home." Hinata said
" Which one?" Naruto said smiling at the girl
" Mine." Hinata asked
" Naruto before you leave I want to know what Hinata said to you before that made you so happy?" Tsunade questioned smiling
Naruto just started laughing and scratching the back of his head embarrassed.
" Yes, Gaki. What does you're wonderful fiancée have in store for you?" Jiraiya questioned laughing perverted
Naruto now frowned at his sensei.
" Ero-sennin you're disgusting. She just promised me some homemade ramen that she'll make for me herself." Naruto said smiling at Hinata
" Is that it little brother?" Tsunade asked her suspiciously
" Yes Obaa-chan it is. We're leaving! You all are weirding me out." Naruto said and walked out the door
Flashback
" Naruto-kun if I'll make you some ramen and we'll go on our moon ride again. Just please tell them what happened." Hinata whispered to the boy
Flashback End
As everyone was leaving Sasuke and Sakura stopped the two.
" Hey dope if you ever want to spar you know were I am." Sasuke said
" Yeah, but you have to wait in line. I still haven't spared with Lee yet and he asked first. Then if Gaara shows up you have to wait again." Naruto replied
" Are you trying to wiggle out of a fight with Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked
" Nope just stating the obvious. Beside if the three of us are going after Itachi we'll have to figure out a way to beat him for good." Naruto said
" RIGHT." Sasuke and Sakura said together
" Well I'll se you guys later." Naruto said heading off with Hinata back to the Hyuuga compound
Hinata hugged the boy's arm and he just walked with her smiling all the way back home.
Tomo – Friend
Seppuku – Hirakiri – Self-disembowelment
Seiryoku - Power