Rants: HI! Yeah I know this chapter is long delayed and I would be giving any lame excuses this time (did that already last chappie TT) so guys please accept my sincerest apologizies. Also, addressing the question frequently asked in the review: "is that weird training jutsu?" I'll just let Itachi answer that probably on the next or the next nextchapter. I'd also like to thank my beta/proof-reader/editor. He's a really great guy.
Edited by: NefariousPhoenix
It was now an hour past twelve and the morning mist that once hung over the land had already lifted. The group was currently traveling through the dirt road stretching along the forest. Naruto walked along side the two clients, Mikoshi and Chitose while trailing a few steps behind was Itachi. So far the journey had been peaceful and quiet, not even the loud-mouthed blonde kid was making any sound. That was because he had been busy shooting heated glares from slitted blue eyes towards the newcomer up front who, in Naruto's opinion, had shamelessly taken upon himself to lead their small group.
"We're now nearing the next village. Itachi-san, Naruto-kun, please take off your hite-ates." Haku instructed.
"Why should we take them off?" Naruto protested. "Isn't the hite-ate the symbol that we are real ninjas recognized by our village? Something that shows off a ninja's pride?" he asked. The kid was greatly scandalized by the idea of someone ordering him into taking off the forehead protector that he had spent sweat and blood to obtain, not to mention that he almost lost his life in the process. And the fact that he didn't like this guy one bit only made things worse. "Taking the hite-ate off is just plain stupid." The blonde spat.
"Yes, that is true Naruto-kun." Haku said with a nod. "However we can't have anyone know that you are from Konoha."
"And why is that?" Naruto asked through squinted eyes.
"Because it might jeopardize the Alliance Treaty that is currently being ratified by the Water Country's government."
"Alliance Treaty?" Naruto asked innocently.
"What? You didn't know?" Mikoshi cut in, looking thoroughly surprised.
Naruto shook his head furiously.
"Honestly, that stuff was what made the headlines all the way from the past two months and you're telling me that you don't know. Do you ever watch the news on TV or read the papers at all?"
"If I know about it then I wouldn't have shook my head moron!" Naruto argued back, growing rather irritated. 'This guy's pissing me off!'
'He's hopeless.' The prince heaved a sigh whilst shaking his head in disbelief. "Okay, listen up. I'm going to explain this in a simple manner to save time. The Fire and the Water Countries are currently having negotiations about forming a political, economic and military alliance with one another. If passed, it would allow freer trade between the two countries. Also, the treaty will allow alliance between with its shinobi villages, Konoha and Kiri, so they could help each other especially on situations like if there was a great need to defend the countries from outside threats and such. Basically, the treaty promises bring huge benefits, not to mention peace, for both parties."
"That's great then." Naruto sounded, nodding his head in the process, his arms crossed over his chest. 'I don't really get anything about this political stuff and all but I'll just pretend that I understand.'
"If a Leaf shinobi were to be seen with the young master, it could create rumor that the Fire Country is trying to harass and pressure the Water's government into passing the Treaty and that would be bad for the relationship with the two countries." Haku continued taking over the explanations from Mikoshi. "If worse comes to worst, it could spark another round of fighting between the two which could possibly lead into an all-out war."
"Hmm…" Miskohi mused, scratching his chin after that talk about the alliance treaty made something to suddenly cross his mind. "Now that I think about it, this whole fuss about the Alliance Treaty was what convinced Hokage-sama to allow us to have a regular genin team as escort instead of a troublesome squad from the Leaf Anbu."
"What did you say!" Naruto suddenly sprung up right before Mikoshi's face in all hyperactive fashion surprising the prince's wits off his head. "Is it true that this mission was supposed to be given to the Anbu but instead it was given to me?" The blonde kid asked excitedly, shifting his head from Mikoshi towards Chitose, "Is it?" and then to Itachi "Is it?"
"Yes." Itachi answered in a rather cold voice that was very normal of him. "It is protocol for shinobi villages that missions, no matter what the circumstances were, as long as it involves the security of a daimyo and his immediate family were to be classified as A and the village's special unit such as the Anbu was to be dispatched to accommodate the request. As for this mission, Hokage-sama was going to deploy a squad from the Anbu to escort Kanamori-sama and Idaho-san but after having a dialogue with the prince and being reminded of its implications to the ongoing negotiations with the Water, Hokage-sama was forced to grant Kanamori-sama's request and assigned the mission to Genin Team Number Eleven." The stoic young jounin did not bother to glance over at his student as he spoke.
The smile that was on Naruto's face slowly turned wider and wider.
"Yeah, and he was being too stubborn about it too," added Mikoshi. "Not to mention that it'd blow up our cover. Where in the world would you hear a couple of plain-looking tourists being escorted by an entire Anbu squad? That's just totally stupid."
"YAHOO!" Naruto broke out, suddenly jumping gleefully around with his hands thrown up into the air.
"What are you so happy about?" Mikoshi inquired, not catching the reason for the blonde to be happy like that. For all he know and considering all the dangers that they had gone through, any normal kid would have been pleading right now to turn around and go home.
"Don't you get it? This mission was supposed to be given to the Anbu but instead it was given to me! It means that Hokage-jiichan acknowledges my strength!" Naruto said aloud, still laughing and hopping ecstatically all over the place. "I knew it! I am incredible! I'm really going to be hokage! HAHAHA!"
'Actually, this mission was assigned to this team not because you were here but because of Itachi-san,' thought Mikoshi who was narrowing his eyes at the obnoxious blonde. 'You're so loud I wouldn't be surprised if more nukenins were to find us and appear right now.'
All of a sudden, Naruto came to halt and became completely silent that it caught everyone by surprise. Itachi, Haku, Mikoshi and Chitose all stopped on their tracks and cast their attention on the orange clad boy.
"What's wrong, Naruto-kun?" Chitose worriedly asked.
"AHA! I got it!" Naruto blurted out after a light suddenly sparked inside his head. "The no-eyebrows and his flunkies were after you because of that Alliance Treaty! They don't want Konoha to help Kiri in finding these missing-nins so they wanted to kidnap you so that they can demand from your father to reject that something treaty. That's got to be it!" 'Damn I'm good!' The blonde bragged inwardly, nodding his head vigorously up and down for emphasis.
"Engk!" Mikoshi sounded, imitating the sound of a buzzer from one of those cheap late night game shows. "No." He said flatly.
"WHAT!" Naruto exclaimed in disbelief. Apparently, it seems that only he found those to be of a great revelation as the other didn't look surprised one bit.
"If you were the hard-headed heir to the throne of the Water Country that loves to sneak out of the palace and travel around from place to place with not a single shinobi in tow, then it's natural that the enemy will be going after your trail like mad dogs, knowing full well how totally defenseless you are. And after all I am a very important person." Mikoshi added as an afterthought.
"I don't understand," said Naruto.
"You see I've been hearing a lot about how great the Autumn Festival at Konoha is, so 'neesan and I decided that we'd check it out for ourselves and snuck out of the palace. We've been pulling off this disappearing trick for years, running away and touring other countries. It just so happened that we pulled another one at a critical time – while this Alliance Treaty is being discussed – so I guess that's why people are making such a big deal of it. Soon enough rumors like those saying that those nobles who were vehemently opposed to the treaty kidnapped me and were using me as a hostage to derail the passing of the treaty or that a minister or someone from the Hidden Mist is plotting another coup d'etat or something. You'd always hear stuff like that floating around here. It kinda gives you an idea of how chaotic things are in this country." The prince explained, shrugging his shoulders. "A very unstable political atmosphere, an economy close to falling into a full-scale collapse, frequent uprisings and civil unrest, plus a restless shinobi village to boot," he continued, shaking his head, "the Water is such a messed-up country. You simply just can't trust anyone here, especially when you're at the top."
"Kanamori-sama," Haku interrupted, "I don't think it's a good idea for someone of high stature such as yourself to be speaking so lowly about his own country, especially not to foreigners like Itachi-san and Naruto-kun."
Mikoshi simply waved the young hunter-nin off. "It's okay. There's always no harm in telling something that everyone already knows."
"Ano…" Chitose sounded. "Ryuji-sama, I think Haku has a point. You shouldn't really be telling things like…"
"Nonsense. I'm sure the Fire and Konoha know pretty well of the Water's true situation." Mikoshi said, cutting the young woman off. He then shifted his eyes towards the black-clad jounin. "Isn't that right Itachi-san?"
Itachi, however, was intelligent enough not to grace that question with an answer and simply kept his eyes straight on the road ahead.
"So you're saying that they're not after you because of that treaty." Naruto repeated.
"Yes." Mikoshi nodded. "Those nukenins have been after me from as far as I can remember. They just happened to be more active these days. Nothing new about that." He said casually as if being hunted down by a group of wanted and highly dangerous shinobis wasn't something to fuss about.
"So why are they after you?" Naruto asked.
Mikoshi sighed in exasperation. 'I give up. This guy is totally hopeless.'
Hidden on a small clearing somewhere within the huge span of the forest, Zabuza sat next to a sturdy tree to rest his beaten body and pulled the kunai off his damaged left arm. 'That bastard…' He cursed, still furious about his defeat from the hands of the so-called Uchiha genius. 'For some reason, I couldn't suddenly catch up with his movements. He seems to know what I am going to do next…' The 'Demon' paused for a moment, contemplating. '…It is as if he could somehow read the future...'
Then, the words of the enemy rang through his head.
'"Let me thank you, Zabuza-san. You have performed well… Unfortunately the play ends here."'
'Could it be…?'
Fresh from the sudden realization, his mind immediately reared back to the time when he was exchanging stares with the Leaf jounin who was then trapped within his Suirou no Jutsu. '"He is Uzumaki Naruto, Yondaime Hokage-sama's legacy. He won't die."' Itachi said back then.
"That bastard!" Zabuza was clenching his right hand so tight in his anger he feel it become numb. 'How could we be so stupid as to fall for his trap!'
Going back to the time of the ambush, nine Mist nukenins, under Zabuza's instruction, had leapt out of their hiding places and rained down upon the prince and his aide. Itachi then vanished from his place in front of Naruto and reappeared before the clients in a burst of godlike speed and quickly dealt with the attackers. A second later and all nine bodies fell lifeless on the ground.
Next, the young jounin turned his head, eyes focused on a particular tree where Zabuza was hiding.
'Back then, after he disposed of the nine and found my location he must have also noticed Gouzu's presence even though he was keeping himself some good distance behind.'
'"There seems to be no other alternative in this situation." Itachi stepped forward and narrowed his eyes at him. A heavy feeling suddenly floated through the air catching the missing-nin's attention. When he looked back, the Uchiha heir's eyes were no longer black but instead were colored red. Three dots shaped like commas marked inside each of his pupils. "Let's begin."
"Ah. I get to see the famous Sharingan. I'm honored." Zabuza remembered himself saying back then.'
'When he activated his Sharingan, the moment I saw his eyes he had already subjected me under his hypnosis and started to suggest subconsciously what I was going to think and do next. From that point on everything became all but an act.'
'"Did I get him?" Itachi whispered to himself as he watched the faint flickering of light from the fire burning a few yards behind the mist.
"No."
Zabuza had suddenly appeared right behind him, already performing a set of hand seals. "Suirou no Jutsu!" He announced as the water underneath Itachi quickly rose up becoming a spherical water containment that trapped the young jounin helplessly inside.'
'He allowed himself to be captured by the Suirou no Jutsu and let Gouzu fight that little brat.'
Several scenes from when Naruto battled Gouzu flashed through Zabuza's mind. However, what he remembered the most was when Naruto used the Karyuu Endan no Jutsu to force him to abandon the Suirui no Jutsu. He was going after the prince then when suddenly, the kid appeared from out of nowhere in a burst of speed that he could have sworn to have almost rivaled that of Itachi's.
'"Take this!"'
That was the first time that a rookie genin, not in any way worthy by his standards, to have ever landed a punch on his face. And there's nothing he wouldn't give up to pay the kid back for the humiliation he'd received that day.
'It seems to me that he did all that just to test that blonde kid's abilities.'
Zabuza could clearly picture the grin that curled from Itachi's lips while he was trapped inside the water prison. It revealed a sense warped of satisfaction from the Jounin's face.
'I didn't expect that one mere glance from those unpleasant eyes was enough to invade my mind. That one fatal mistake was what completely rendered my Sharingan counter strategy useless. How could I be so careless?'
"My, my, looks like you've taken quite a beating there kid."
Zabuza, snapped from his reverie, glanced up and saw a tall man in a long black cloak decorated with red cloud designs standing on the tall branch of one of the nearby trees. A huge sword, its blade wrapped in bandages has hanging behind his back, the weight of which kept his long dress from being swayed too much by the wind. He could tell that man was particularly taking notice of the long nasty wound up on his face.
"What are you doing here, Kisame?"
"There's been a change of plans following your recent screw up," answered Kisame while taking his wide straw hat that covered his head and face off. The long slash that span across his hite-ate running through the Kirigakure symbol engraved on the metal plate revealed him to be another nukenin. "We won't be needing the prince anymore. At least not yet."
"Hmph. You came all the way here just to tell me that?" Zabuza snorted, his voice revealing a small hint of dislike for the new comer. It didn't help that the features of the man's face happened to be somewhat shark-like in appearance. "Either way, I've already sent someone to trail after them."
A man, whose face was covered in a white mask marked by two black slits for eyes, black colored lines for design and the mark of the Hidden Mist Village on the forehead, raced his way through the thick forest. A hunter-nin on the first glance, his long black cloak floated through the air in his wake.
"You're still as wasteful as you are inefficient, kid."
Zabuza narrowed his eyes on the man hovering above, a clear indication he did appreciate that last remark with all the mockery it had with it. However, he didn't do a thing about it and simply chose to keep his quiet.
"There's one more thing."
"…?"
"Next time, I'm going to fight that Uchiha Itachi seeing that you can't handle him."
"Uchiha Itachi is mine." Zabuza growled. He released all the killing intent that he could muster given his current condition to back his claim. "I'm going to make him and his little brat pay for what they did to me."
"Suit yourself." Kisame shrugged, completely unaffected by the recent display of hostility. "However that doesn't change anything. You will play your part of the plan, whether you like it or not." Leaving the threat, Kisame turned into a blur disappearing from sight and leaving Zabuza alone to count his loses.
"I'll make him pay." A furious Zabuza mumbled. He clenched his fist so tight in his anger that pain was starting flare from it out of the nails biting the skin in his hand, the knuckles already turning white. "No one treats me and my men like guinea pigs. No one."
"Here we are." Mikoshi announced.
"Yunohana Village…" Chitose said as she read through the traveler's guide book she had in hand. "…This village which is situated right on the foot of the dormant volcano Mount Ohjin is host to a number of world-class hot spring resorts and health spas and has been a popular getaway for the citizen's of the Water Country who wished to heat up during the long cold season…"
"A hot spring?" sounded Naruto who was clearly doubtful of the idea. "Hey! Weren't we going straight to the capital city? The sooner we get there the sooner we can get off each the enemies' tail!" Naruto yelled at the prince though he did glance sideways at Haku when he said the word 'enemies'.
Haku easily noticed the gesture with all the distrust and dislike Naruto embedded on it however he did not say anything about it and chose to simply let it slide.
"Don't worry. The capital is just a day's walk away and it's already three in the afternoon." Mikoshi reassured him. "We'll rest and spend the rest of the day here and get back on our journey the first thing tomorrow morning just like originally planned, right Haku?"
"Yes young master." Haku replied with a nod.
"Hmph. I still don't think this is a good idea." Naruto crossed his arms and grumbled.
"C'mon, let's go." Mikoshi said in a rather authoritative tone, taking the first step forward.
Away from sight, a shadowy figure landed behind the trunk of a large tree, efficiently using the thinning number of vegetation at the edge of the forest to conceal himself.
Itachi moved his eyes sideways after sensing something move behind the foliage along the roadside. After seeing a white rabbit pop out from the low-lying shrubs he was quick to discard the feeling, relaxing his guard as the group ventured into town. It didn't take long before they reached a fairly large hotel.
"We have five customers!" The manager exclaimed as the group stepped in.
"Welcome!" Five beautiful attendants enthusiastically followed, flashing their most brilliant smile at the customers. When the ladies caught sight of Itachi, their eyes immediately turned into hearts. Itachi, on the other hand, ignored the love struck girls who were giggling madly and patting their eye lashes seductively at him.
Mikoshi quickly approached the manager. "Hey old man, how much do you charge for an overnight stay per person?"
"It's one thousand ryou per person for an overnight stay, young master."
"Too expensive. Can't you give it at three hundred fifty ryou?"
"I'm sorry." The manager shook his head. "You see, that's the standard rate around here, plus with the winter season's approaching we have been receiving a lot of reservations. I suggest you check in now while we still have a couple of rooms available. Don't worry, this establishment is first class. I assure you, you'll be getting your money's worth with our top notch amenities and services."
"We'll just come back later." Mikoshi turned his back at the manager and nodded at his companions, silently telling them that they ought to go somewhere else. The girls withered with disappointment when the group, more specifically when Itachi stepped out of the establishment.
"Three hundred fifty ryou? Hey Mikoshi, aren't you being way too cheap?" asked Naruto.
"Oh just shut your hole and watch a professional tourist in action."
With so many establishments to choose from, the group wandered around for quite sometime with Mikoshi and Chitose taking the lead. They spent their time going from one resort to the next haggling with the owners for the cheapest rate they can get. So far not a single person in town had recognized Mikoshi which was a good thing.
However, their group could not avoid catching people's attention namely because of Haku, with his hunter-nin get up, mask and everything. The village did have their fair share of experiences in dealing with shinobis as Mist ninjas on vacation and sometimes those from other shinobi villages also visits the town's numerous hot springs but it is however rare that they'd encounter a hunter-nin. Things went on smoothly still as the locals would simply look away and get back to their own business once their curiosity was satisfied and the fact that Naruto and Itachi took off their hite-ates before entering the village helped kept it at that.
Finally, after an hour of searching, they have found an establishment that would take them in at a rate of four hundred and fifty ryou per person. Mikoshi paid the deposit and walked away from the reception desk with two room keys in hand. "Okay, we got two nice rooms plus unlimited usage of the hot spring at the back."
"Very well, I'm going to go patrol the surrounding areas for possible threats. I hope you have fun young master. Please excuse me." Haku nodded showing a gesture of respect for the prince in disguise and vanished without a trace.
Itachi scanned the lobby, searching for anything suspicious. He found nothing thus far. However, he wasn't going to take chances. His experience working as Anbu for years have taught him that much. "Naruto-kun, you go with the clients."
"Huh? You're not coming sensei?"
"No. I'm going to stand guard here to make sure that everything stays safe. Make sure that you stay alert and don't take your eyes off Mikoshi-kun and Chitose-san." He instructed, using the prince and his aide's fake names. "Understood?"
Naruto nodded in reply before going after Mikoshi who had already gone ahead. The two boys and Chitose all went for their respective locker rooms while Itachi went to sit by the couch on the other side of the lobby.
'So far everything seems fine.' Crossing his arms, Itachi sat patiently while keeping his senses attuned to the surroundings. It didn't take long before he caught the faint sound of footsteps approaching in his general direction. He glanced up and turned towards the building's entrance.
"AHH! This is refreshing!" exclaimed Mikoshi.
"This is warming me up," followed Naruto. The two boys relaxed themselves, their bodies immersed into the pool of steamy warm water all the way up to their necks.
"Of course it's warm. That's why it's called a hot spring, idiot."
"SHUT UP! Are you trying to make fun of me!" Naruto screamed in indignation. He stood up; the water now only reached inches below his waist, and flashed his shaking fist threateningly at the other kid. Mikoshi simply looked away wearing a smug smile of satisfaction on his face.
The door suddenly slid open catching the occupant's attention.
"Wow! This is great! There no else in here! It's like we rented the whole place!"
"Wha…" Speechless, Naruto's mouth dropped and almost fell into the water. His face blushed profusely. There Chitose was, not a single piece of clothing on her, standing by the walkway at the edge of the pool.
"'ne-ne-ne-neesan, what are you doing here?" Naruto stammered in protest.
"Didn't you know, Naruto-kun?" Chitose sounded. She didn't seem to be a bit surprised to see Naruto here and wasn't in a way embarrassed despite knowing that the boy was staring on her naked self. "This is a mixed bath. Men and women are supposed to bathe here together."
"A-a-a mixed bath…" was all that the blonde could say. The information and the sight of Chitose's voluptuous, perfectly shaped body caused an overload on his head. He remained in that state of shock, gaping for the next couple of minutes.
'Heh. Have a taste of your own medicine, you bastard.' A vengeful Mikoshi thought, grinning profusely. It seems that he had seen Chitose in this state far too many times already that the closet pervert had become immune from its effects. The humiliation he received from Naruto's hand during their first meeting at Konoha flashed before him. Back then Naruto and his little sidekick used their vulgar jutsu, the Oiroke no Jutsu, to cause him a terrible nosebleed rendering him unconscious while they made their escape. Truly, revenge is such a sweet thing.
'What a shameless woman…' That was the thought that run through Naruto's head.
The once refreshing stay in the hot spring became completely uncomfortable with the addition of a naked Chitose. He didn't want her to think of him as a pervert now, did he? Invoking the sense of delicacy that people thought he didn't have counting the numerous pranks he'd pulled off in the past, Naruto really wanted to make his leave but unfortunately he could not do so without having the young woman see his privates so he had no choice but to stay in the water. At least the fact that Chitose was on the other side of the pool and the water covering her 'unmentionables' came as a welcome consolation.
"This feels so good!" said Chitose who was completely enjoying her stay in the steamy water.
"Umm, 'neesan…"
"What is it Naruto-kun?"
"No… nothing…." A deeply embarrassed Naruto sank half of his brightly red face into the water. He wanted to ask her when they were going to leave since they had been staying in the hot water for quite some time now but he didn't want to sound rude, something that was completely out of his character.
"Cut the 'courteous gentleman' act already. It doesn't suit you at all." teased Mikoshi.
"Sh-shut up you closet pervert!"
"By the way," Mikoshi ignored the blonde's outburst and began to muse aloud. "How is Itachi-san doing out there?"
"Tee hee." Chitose giggled. "Don't worry about him. Itachi-san is having a very good time."
Back at the entrance lobby, Itachi was being surrounded by a horde of girls, all screaming amongst themselves and trying to ask him for a date. The place was in chaos and the bath establishment's security was completely helpless against the crowd of rabid fan girls.
"Girls please…" the security guard pleaded. Too bad his protests fell on deaf ears.
Itachi continued to act his composed and cold self, filtering off the girls with the racketing sight and noise they made off his mind. Little did he know that his ignoring them only made the girls fall for him even more.
"So that's why no one is coming inside." Naruto said aloud. Both he and Mikoshi were howling in laughter after hearing Chitose's tale.
"Oh, it's almost time for dinner. What do you say we go fetch ourselves something to eat." The young woman suggested. Glancing up, the sky's colors have turned in a mix of orange and red while the few clouds that floated above had the shades to dark purple in them.
"Sure. We've stayed here far too long already. I feel like I'm boiled down to the bone." Mikoshi seconded.
Nodding once, Chitose was first to stand up and leave the water bestowing the boys with a final glance of her naked body. The free 'show' lasted until she stepped inside the locker room and pulled the sliding door close.
Again, Naruto's mouth hung at the sight. Suddenly, he felt something nudging at his shoulder which brought him back to reality. Shifting sideways, he Mikoshi looking at him with a sleazy grin on his face.
"I have some pictures of 'neesan bathing. I can give you some if you want."
"SHUT UP!"
"I feel dizzy staying in there too long." Naruto complained. He insisted on staying in the hot spring for five minutes more after Chitose had left to make sure that they wouldn't catch her dressing inside the shared locker room. Right now the little group composed only of him, Mikoshi and Chitose had been wandering around in search for a nice ramen stand.
Too bad the boys didn't get a chance to confirm what Chitose had told them earlier in the baths because when they got there the lobby was already devoid of people with the exception of the receptionist and the guard on duty. When asked where the handsome teenager with longish black hair who was sitting on the couch had gone to, both the receptionist and the guard replied that they didn't see him because they had just started their shift.
'I guess Itachi-sensei's running away from the girls right now.' Naruto chuckled at the idea of his sensei being chased by fan girls. Also, the hunter-nin Haku hasn't return from his rounds yet. Naruto couldn't care less what happens to him.
"Then why don't we go to bar and have a drink. Sake tastes good after a nice warm bath. Plus, it does wonders in snapping your senses back on track." Chitose suggested.
"Good idea! I think I saw bar that way." Mikoshi exclaimed pointing at the road branching from the on they're currently taking. "We could go check it out."
"W-w-w-wait a minute! You mean you guys are drinking alcohol!" Naruto asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, what about it?" answered Mikoshi.
"Aren't you guys too young to be drinking!" Naruto yelled aloud. He vigorously raised his arm and pointed accusingly at Mikoshi and Chitose. "You're not twenty yet! You can't drink alcohol!"
"Who said anything about not being allowed to drink alcohol when you're not twenty years old?" Miksohi asked innocently.
"Hmm. How should I explain this…" Chitose mused, taking her time thinking. "Naruto-kun, do you remember what I told you about the Fire and Water having different culture and customs from each other?"
Naruto nodded. That was after they left Konoha. The same time when they were first attacked by the missing-nins who were after Mikoshi.
"Well, this is one example of that. You see, in the Water Country where the temperature is usually cold the people here drink alcohol in order to warm themselves. Here, minors are allowed to drink alcohol." Chitose explained.
"I see…"
"Anyway, you're from the Fire so that means that you aren't allowed to drink, however that doesn't mean that you can't step inside a bar. You can just munch on the appetizers that they've got. They're really tasty, you know."
"Okay, if you say so…" resigned, Naruto followed the two as they made a detour on the next turn. Chitose did have a point and there's no arguing that. So much for his great ramen.
The person hiding in the shadows nodded, finally deciding to make his move.
"I've finally found you, young master." The man appeared into full view after stepping out from an alleyway just a couple of paces ahead blocking their way. His long black cloak, with its hood thrown over his head, and white Mist hunter-nin's mask looked ominous.
"Who are you!" Naruto called out. He immediately pushed the clients behind and lowered himself in a battle-ready stance shortly after the hunter-nin revealed himself.
"I assure you that my loyalties reside with the Mist and the Water. There's nothing to worry about."
Naruto tensed up when the hunter-nin started taking steps forward. Tightening his knuckles, he was ready to jump into battle the moment this person made one wrong move.
"Come." The man said as he raised his arm.
Naruto felt a strange sensation had fell before him and slowly his awareness of the things happening around them slowly dropped. Their eyes felt heavy along with their bodies. Now, the stranger's offer began to sound really inviting.
'…everything is going to alright…' They could hear a voice from deep within their minds kept on saying, suggesting.
From behind his mask, the man's lips curled into a smirk. 'Hehehe. This is so eas–' The hunter-nin's thoughts came to an abrupt stop. A great shock fell over his hidden face. Behind, a number of needles have embedded themselves on vital acupuncture points on his back and neck. However, instead of a thick red, clear liquid started to pour out off the various wounds and soon enough, the hunter-nin's body burst into water.
Following the Mizubunshin's dispersal, Naruto, Mikoshi and Chitose all snapped back into their senses.
"Are you okay, young master?" asked Haku who have just appeared before the group.
"Yeah, I guess so." Mikoshi shook the daze off his head. He too was affected by the same jutsu that affected Naruto and so does Chitose. "What happened?" The prince of the Water asked.
"It seems that the enemy had placed you under a hypnotic genjutsu. If the jutsu had taken full effect, you would have been completely under his power. That would most likely lead to your capture." Haku explained.
Naruto, on the other hand, seethed silently to himself. He could not believe that he had fallen for such a jutsu and was so short to handing over Mikoshi and Chitose-neesan to that hunter-nin without a fight. Also, the fact that this was the second time Haku had saved him made things twice as worse. It made him feel incompetent, useless, a complete waste of time. He had had enough of that feeling being an outcast of the village. He was sick of it.
"Kanamori-sama, this place isn't safe anymore and we cannot stay here any longer. The enemy is still lurking about and we don't know if there are more of them around. Please return to the hotel and start packing your belongings. We need to leave as soon as possible."
Mikoshi nodded.
"Naruto-kun," Haku said, glancing over at the blonde. "Please escort the young master back to the hotel and remain there. I will go find and inform Itachi-san of the current situation. If none of us is back within thirty minutes then take the prince and leave the village. We'll just catch up with you later."
Naruto did not offer a reply. Haku quickly took his silence as a yes.
"I'll leave things in your hands." That said and Haku became a blur and disappeared from sight.
"That was close," said the shadowy hunter-nin. All these time, his real self had been keeping an eye on the group from his vantage point on the rooftop of an adjacent building. Quite expectedly, the target and his escorts were now on run following his failed attempt. "Either way, I know were they're heading. Securing the target should still be a piece of cake."
"I wouldn't count on that."
Surprised, the hunter-nin turned around towards the source of the voice. There standing on the same rooftop paces away from him was a boy. However, this boy wasn't just some ordinary kid. He was a hunter-nin just like him. "You…"
"I'm sorry but I cannot let you leave this place." Haku took out some of his needles, flashing them menacingly at the enemy as he spoke. "Please don't take this personally."
Packing up didn't take much time and now the three stayed inside the hotel room in silence. No, there's wasn't a tense feeling in the atmosphere in fact it was calm even with the knowledge that the enemy was fast gaining on them and could well burst in from the door or the window at any moment. It was just that no one felt like talking, not even the usually loud and obnoxious Naruto.
"Full of piss and vinegar, aren't we?" It was Mikoshi who broke the silence. He took the trouble of get up from his comfortable place lying over the queen-sized bed and walked towards the chair where a sulking Naruto was sitting in silence.
"…"
Mikoshi sighed. The Naruto he knew would have shouted back at him already. "That guy Haku. You're jealous of him, aren't you?"
"I'm not jealous of him. It's just that…" Naruto hesitated then decided to keep his mouth shut, not any utter a single more word.
Chitose took out a small bottle and a spoon from inside her traveling bag. She then walked towards were the boys were gathered. "Naruto-kun, open your mouth."
Naruto looked up glancing questioningly at Chitose, particularly at the spoonful of liquid something she was holding.
"This medicine will warm you up. You'll immediately feel better afterwards."
"I'm fine." Naruto said stubbornly. The young lady didn't seem to buy that and keep staring at the boy's blue eyes. It appeared that Chitose was more stubborn at the time than he was. Sighing, Naruto opened his mouth without any arguments or complains. When he tasted the medicine though, it felt like his tongue was going to burn. "Phew! 'neechan what was that disgusting thing!" Naruto asked aloud, reflexively spitting the liquid out.
"That was SA– KE." Chitose replied bursting in an all out smile.
"WHAT!" Naruto screamed. "I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT I CAN'T DRINK ALCOHOL! WHY DID YOU DO THAT!"
"See, you're already back to your old self already," said a chuckling Chitose.
Naruto dropped it, chuckling himself realizing that sometimes even he had to be on the receiving end of pranks.
"Back to the topic." Mikoshi sounded catching Naruto's attention. "What's your thing against that Haku? Is it that you're feeling suspicious of him or anything?"
"No. Not really. I think he's a trustworthy person. It's just that thinking how he'd fare against the no-eyebrows, the chain idiot and that hunter-nin we encountered just now, it's like he's just breezing through them and these guys were strong. Heck, Itachi-sensei nearly got his ass kicked by Zabuza but Haku drove him away just like that. You've seen how he killed Gouzu. He also saved all of us by defeating that mizubuunshin. It's just…" Naruto paused for a moment trying to find the right words. "…unfair. He's only a kid just like me and yet he can fight so well and not get his clothes soiled in battle. I makes me feel–"
"Listen Naruto-kun…" It was Chitose who spoke. "You should expect things like that… since you're a ninja."
Surprised by those words, Naruto glanced back at the woman and saw her filled with all seriousness. Her carefree smile now gone.
"Do you know why they called Zabuza the 'Demon of the Mist'?"
Naruto shook his head.
"Long ago, the Hidden Mist Village was also called the Village of Bloody Mist. Like the other hidden villages, they too had a graduation exam that one must pass before they become a full pledge ninja. However, this exam is very different from that of the other villages..."
"What kind of exam is it?" Naruto asked his curiosity piqued.
"Fight to the death between students." Chitose sounded grim, like she became a different person all of a sudden. Naruto felt his throat tighten after hearing those. "Friends who have trained and eaten at the same table are pitted against each other and goes at it… until one of them losses his life. These are the same friends who helped each other and shared their dreams."
"Terrible…" commented Mikoshi.
"I think around eighteen or so years ago the Mist graduation exam was forced to change. This change came about because the previous year, a demon appeared."
"What change? What did this demon do?" Naruto asked.
"A young boy who was not even qualified to become a ninja had killed over a hundred of the students that year… and killed them all without pause or hesitation."
"No way." was all Naruto could mutter. That no-eyebrows was that same heartless demon who killed his friends without hesitation or remorse? No wonder why he was so strong.
Chitose nodded, answering the question that never got out of the blonde kid's lips. "Momochi Zabuza is the Demon of the Mist, a missing-nin ranked A in the bingo book, probably even S yet Itachi-san who was nine years his junior was able to match up with him and Haku who has younger still drove him away. What does this tell you, Naruto-kun?"
Honestly, Naruto had no idea what all of that meant. He looked up at Mikoshi for answers but the older kid simply shrugged meaning that he too didn't know the answer. Finally, after wasting a few minutes trying to work it out and failing Naruto glanced back at Chitose and shook his head. "What does it mean, 'neechan?"
Chitose smiled serenely at Naruto. "It means that in this world, there exist people who are younger than you yet stronger than both Itachi-san and Haku."
"...younger than me… yet stronger than Itachi-sensei…" Naruto repeated. Somehow he's beginning to see the whole point of this conversation and where it's headed.
"That's right." The young woman nodded in affirmation. "But just because you know that there's probably a kid out there who is miles way ahead of you doesn't mean that you'll have to sulk all day and give up on your dream, doesn't it?"
Those words hit him hard and they seemed to have done the trick. 'neechan was right, he wasn't doing anythingaside fromsulking and being envious. Can those things take him anywhere? "Hah. Who said anything about giving up?" 'That's right! I can't let something like this bring me down!' thought Naruto. Now that his systems were finally gearing back on track, the hyperactive blonde energetically jumped off his seat with both fists raised in the air. "I'm going to train even harder than before… I'll become stronger… then I'm going catch up and then I'm going to own these guys and finally…" Naruto bragged, blue eyes shining with determination. "I'm going to become Hokage!"
"Those are big words you've just said. Are you sure can do all that?" Mikoshi asked, his tone sounded doubtful much like the look that was etched across his face.
"Of course. I don't go back on my word." Naruto grinned widely and flashed a thumbs up in a way that's frighteningly similar to how his friend and fellow genin back at the Leaf would have done. "That's my nindo."
Mikoshi lightly shook his head, still looking pretty much unsatisfied. However, beneath the superficial show of disbelief, he trust the blonde kid would one day make it true to his words, no matter how unrealistic they seem to be.
On the same rooftop, Haku silently watched as the ravens devoured the remains of the hunter-nin he had just killed. The soft sound of sandals tapping against the concrete floor floated in the air. "I know that you were the one who has been following me around." Haku said, not taking his eyes off the flock of black birds that were engaged in a wild feeding frenzy.
The man standing several paces behind him did not utter a single word in response.
"It seems that I haven't completely gained your trust…" Haku continued, "Itachi-san."
"This mission is something that is of high importance. 'Trust' is not a luxury that can be carelessly given on a whim, especially not in this situation," came Itachi's cold reply. "…as a shinobi, you should be fully aware of this."
"I see…" Haku sounded bitterly. "It's just like what the young master has said. 'You simply just can't trust anyone.' That also holds true to shinobis, as it does to the nobility."
Silence reigned between the two for some time with the only sounds that can be heard were those of the cries of ravens and the noise of tearing entrails and splattering blood.
"Do you that this man was fighting for his ideals?" It was Haku who broke the silence.
"…"
"Shinobis are tools of war. They aren't supposed to hold trivial things like dreams and ideals. It is because he held one that this person now lies there, dead."
"Then what is it that you hold?"
"I don't have any ideals…" There was a short pause. "…but I do have a dream."
"You're contradicting yourself." Itachi snorted.
"So it seems." Haku chuckled lightheartedly. Slowly, he shifted his head and glanced over his shoulder at Itachi. "Itachi-san, from the stories that I've heard it seems that you have already achieved so much. Needed and loved by your family... Looked up to by your peers and the people of your village… For someone like you, do you have a dream?"
"No." Itachi flatly said. "Dreams are impractical, unrealistic, far removed from present circumstances. It is nothing more than outlived fantasies. I don't find things as trivial as that to suit me."
"That's too bad…" Haku lowered his head and for some reason his voice saddened. "Then you may not be as strong as I once thought."
Itachi was caught by surprise by those last words Haku had spoken he was left speechless. 'Is he teasing me?'
Haku turned around to face the Leaf jounin properly. "I deeply apologize for my rudeness." He said, lowering his head in a sincere gesture. He straightened himself shortly afterwards and raised his right hand forming a half seal. "Please excuse me." A gust of wind suddenly blew about carrying with leaves that spun around the boy's figure. Exactly after the hunter-nin disappeared from sight, the flock of ravens began to take flight.
Itachi sighed inwardly. 'I prefer to refer to it as 'goal'.' Focusing his eyes on the mess left by the birds, he immersed himself deep in thought. 'If you have just asked me what my goal is I would have told you.'
The next morning, three hunter-nins, all wrapped in long cloaks and mask over their faces, gathered on the spot up on the rooftop that was stained with dried blood from last night's battle. The hunter-nin on the middle, her long hair floating with wind, knelt down, took out a finger and scratched the blood stained floor. She then lifted her mask halfway so that her mouth was revealed and tasted the material scraped by her fingernail.
"There's no doubt about it. This is Toshiro's blood. Whoever did this, that guy is good," she said.
"Dammit! They've gotten here ahead of us." The hunter-nin left of the woman cursed.
"There's no time. We must informMizukage-sama about this incident," the guy on the right ordered. He appeared to be the leader of this squad.
"Hai!" The two others replied and in a blink of an eye the entire group vanished from the rooftop.