A/N: When I updated the third chapter I added an authors note which is riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes. But, I am not going to replace it for just that. I've been doing a lot of replacing lately and I don't feel like replacing it again.
This chapter will shed some light on some things and advance the plot. lol- I did not get the idea of the Ice Country from "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." I just wanted you to know that. This should be a rather long chapter. Don't forget that three years have passed. During those three years the relationship between the Earth Country and the Fire Country has eased just a slight bit. You'll also notice that in this chapter the two countries relationship increases dramatically as you see Tsunada and Tsuchikage get along very well. Also, if you see any miss-use of the word/term Hokage in this chapter or any before, i'm sorry.
R&R
Chapter 4: It Wasn't You?
It had stopped raining. It seemed eight hours of sleep was still not enough to the blonde. Naruto rose with a yawn. Looking around the room he noticed that Sakura was not in bed. He rubbed his eyes groggily and stumbled off the couch. He pulled his hat off and slipped off his shirt as he reached the bathroom. He thought he heard water running from a faucet. The cobalt-eyed teen noticed Sakura as he walked in on her brushing her teeth.
"Ohiyo Naruto." Sakura mumbled through a toothbrush and toothpaste.
In his half-asleep state the blonde accidentally acted upon his normal routine that he carries out at his apartment- but was thoughtful enough to moan out to Sakura before acting. "Hmmm… I'm taking a shower…"
Sakura's eyes flinched as she saw something she never wanted to see- Naruto took his sleep pants off in the mirror and opened the shower curtain. He then closed it, never realizing what unforgivable law he had just broken in his tired state.
Sakura's hand seemed to have a seizure apart from the rest of the body, which turned around calmly. The toothbrush flew across the room. "BAKA NARUTO!"
She slipped her hand in through the shower curtain immediately after the shout, which was shocking enough to cause Naruto to fall down in the shower. The scalding hot water rained upon the jinchuuriki boy.
A cry from their bathroom woke the whole building.
Normally Naruto would have been clumsy, but somehow had managed not to be and he promptly jumped out of the shower. Sakura had already escaped the bathroom before he left the privacy of the shower.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto moaned, guiltily.
Sakura just sat on the edge of her bed, fuming. Naruto moaned some more from the bathroom. "Sakura-chan… I'm sorry! I was still so much asleep!"
Sakura tried to relax. "Ohh. Baka boy! I thought you were just going to brush your teeth or something. Just finish your shower! Afterwards we'll separate to look for information. Remember to meet the others and I at noon! Don't forget!"
Sakura left to scout for information before he finished his shower. Naruto left afterwards.
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It was a sunny day in Iwa. The morning air refreshed Naruto. He had no idea where to look for information or who to ask. Sakura, on the other hand, was searching in all the likely places. She disguised herself with Henge and infiltrated a few offices looking for anything that looked alien to the Earth Country. The blonde had the same approach, but wasn't using Henge or looking through office buildings, he was just roaming the streets.
He came upon a shop that was two stories high and had lavishly adorned jewelry as its wares. The way the shop was decorated didn't seem native the Earth Country. It's merchandise seemed foreign, but popular amongst the civilians of Iwa. Naruto didn't recognize the goods as any countries that he had been to on missions; so, he naturally assumed it was from somewhere else. The blonde walked in and received confused looks from all the shoppers and staff.
An employee walked up to Naruto. "May I ask what you want sir?"
Naruto looked up at the man. "I just want to look around for a bit. Thank you." The man was about to leave but Naruto stopped him before he left. "I almost forgot to ask. Where do these jewels come from?"
The man bluntly answered. "I don't know. I just work here."
"Okay. Thanks."
The man then remembered, "But- you can ask Iaru on the second floor behind the counter. He should know."
"Ohh. Thank you very much." Naruto was pleased. The employee walked away. Naruto climbed up the circular stairs to the second floor. He saw the counter that the staff member must have been talking about. There was a man placing merchandise inside the glass container.
The blonde walked toward the man and stood beside the counter.
"Hello. Do you need anything?" The man didn't look away from what he was doing.
"I heard your name was Iaru from another employee downstairs. He said you could tell me where this jewelry came from."
"Ohh. Yes. I would know. I used to live up there." The man looked at Naruto and then back at what he was doing. "What may I ask is your name?" He wasn't very polite, but was becoming a little less awkward to talk to.
"Naruto Uzumaki." The blonde thought for a moment about the mans attitude and then he got back to the point. "What do you mean up there? Is that where that stuff comes from?" Naruto arched his eyebrows questionably.
"Yes. These all come from that country I lived in." Iaru lifted a silver ring up in the air, allowing light to shimmer out of the green stone. "The country I used to live in is known as the Ice Country due to the climate that makes the earth and stone a tundra. It is about a four-day slow walk, with breaks for food and stops to sleep, from the border of the Earth Country to the Ice Country Border. The coast it has to the north is just a frozen bay in the winter, but for a single month each year during the summer, it melts, allowing traffic to come in and out of the small harbor." Iaru was still unloading expensive jewels into the glass display case. He spoke to Naruto, trying to look unsuspicious. The blonde didn't catch his odd actions.
"May I ask you some more questions about the country?"
Iaru narrowed his eyes and said yes, trying to be polite. It was obvious he was becoming annoyed.
"I assume the country isn't associated with shinobi? They don't have their own, so they hire from you guys, the closest ninja village around them."
Iaru looked around the room, as if to make sure no one was there, before speaking again. "You could evenly compare the size of the Ice Country to the size of the Bird Country. The only difference is that, even though the Ice Country is mainly tundra, it has no mountains other than one large crater, allowing for more of it to be populated. The capital, which is also their hidden village, Hyotongakure no sato, is built around and in the large crater that is now a lake. The way the city is laid out is hard to explain, you would have to see it yourself. With its vast amount of natural recourses and a high and dense population, it was perfect for a dictator such as herself to come in and force them to work double the hours and twice as hard. Anyways, are you done asking me questions?"
"I'm sorry. I just have a few more. Bear with me. The country is mostly tundra, so the recourses can't be organic? They're mineral?" The blonde asked, confused. He realized how indirect the man was when answering his questions, which never really got answered.
"Yes. Although it's hard to break through the tundra, they've utilized the abilities of the single clan to the maximum. Those poor people are worked like slaves up there."
Naruto had a shocked expression on his face for just a moment and continued to ask questions. "They have a clan? Do you know if it is a bloodline clan, or have they just mastered a certain jutsu art? And you still haven't answered my question about whether or not they train shinobi in academies? Like in this country."
"Well…" Iaru sighed. "… The country isn't like most of the other countries in that not everyone is allowed to become a shinobi. It used to be like that, but now… Now only people who are completely loyal to that woman can be trained. And don't think these are weak ninja. The highest trained are equal or greater in strength to Jounin from any other country. The country never hired ninja. The Ice Country only allows a fraction of its shinobi out to complete missions at a time. They do that because the remaining shinobi must stay in the country, keeping rebellions down, protecting that woman, and spreading propaganda. Though the majority of the countries populace is against her rule, most of the rebel groups are silenced through bribery or wiped out immediately. There are a few shinobi groups who have kept themselves secret. I don't know the state of the rebel groups now, since I managed to moved out of the country to Iwa after she gained control."
'I have so many questions, but this guy is so indirect.' Naruto thought for a moment. "I'm sorry for asking you so many questions but I am just really interested." Naruto gave a fake laugh. "Who is this woman you have been referring to as if I know her? Can you expand on the clan a bit for me? Please?"
The man sighed again. "It's okay. I don't mind. I just don't like talking about that country." His tone was more gently now. He was more polite and willing to answer. "It's like hell up there. The shinobi are always wandering the streets, making sure no one is blaspheming the queen. Ohh yes. The queen. She is the dictator I was talking about. Her name is Acharia. Although the next in line to take the place of Otaka Nikoto was Otaka Kimshara, Nihoisha Acharia came out of nowhere and became the Daimyou by force- but she promoted herself to queen in an effort to seem more intimidating. She is ruthless. Some say she doesn't have a soul. There were rumors that she was a jinchuuriki whose demon took control, but those were proven false." Iaru finished setting the jewelry out in an elaborate pattern under the glass. He stood up and walked out from behind the counter. "Lets sit down and continue."
They walked over to the windows and sat down in a pit full of fat, black leather couches. They looked at each other from across the pit and continued to talk. Iaru spoke as he watched the passerby's in the street from the second floor window he was sitting beside. "I had said earlier that there was a clan that is basically just used for labor. The clan has a bloodline limit."
Naruto's eyes widened as he became more interested. "What is their bloodline limit?"
Iaru shook his head. "If the country had a decent ruler and strategist, it could make the clan prosper and it could have a great shinobi village. Unfortunately Acharia is only interested in economic gain and the feeling that she has power and control. The clan has deadly accuracy and innate knowledge of all katon jutsu's. I'm sure they have some other clever things hidden up their sleeves, but… that is all I know about the clan. I don't know much about all that ninja stuff anyways. They are worked until they can work no longer by the higher ranking shinobi that are loyal to Acharia. With their expertise in explosive fire jutsu's the clan members can blow away tundra and earth. They can also refine some of the ores and minerals, such as iron and copper with their abilities. That is basically all I know about the country."
Naruto nodded. "Thank you so much. You don't know how much I appreciate your patience."
Iaru smiled. "It was a pleasure. Remember to come back when you are looking for something for a special someone." He winked and then waved as he vanished behind a door behind the counter.
Naruto looked at the clock. Before he excited he asked a clerk where the fountain of Iwa was. Once told he promptly headed for it.
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The blue-eyed boyarrived just before noon. Sakura had arrived before him.
After waiting until five after they both began to wonder where the others were. Sakura was still a slight bit angry with Naruto from the incident that morning but tried to act as if she wasn't. "Well, this is not like Neji or Shino to be late. Ino might arrive late every once in a while so it doesn't matter. If they don't come in 20 minutes we'll go back have lunch and then resume our searching for information."
Naruto smiled at her. "I don't think we'll have to search anymore Sakura."
"What?"
"Well, I found a lot of worthy information." The blonde grinned.
Sakura crossed her arms. "Well then, tell me." She was doubtful that the fool had gotten anything.
"There is a country about a four-day walk from the northern border of this country to a country called the Ice Country. There is a huge climate change in the distance in between here and there. The Ice Country was taken over by a ruthless dictator named Acharia a few months ago. She did this by force. She supposedly is interested in economic gain and made everyone work ridiculously long hours. The country has a lot of natural minerals and ore, but because it is mostly tundra it is hard to reach it. She basically enslaved a powerful katon using clan to reach these minerals faster. I learned a lot more unimportant information as well, but I'm sure I'll have to tell the old medic-kunoichi all of it."
Sakura's eyes were wide. "I'm surprised. All of that in one day? Wow Naruto. You outdid yourself." Her tone then turned annoyed with him. "But, I guess you've redeemed yourself for learning all we need to know in one day. Hmm, I'll just warn everyone that you can't be trusted when half-asleep." She laughed.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Whatever…"
The pink haired girl got serious again. "Anyways, if they don't show up in an hour, we need to go back to Konoha and tell Tsunada-sama."
"What are we going to do for an hour?" The whiskered boy frowned.
"We can run and get some food and come back. If they do come while we are gone, which shouldn't be very long, then they will have waited for us. While we eat here we can discuss this so-called 'Ice Country' some more."
They found a small take-out restaurant in the courtyard where the fountain was. They had an eye on the fountain the whole time, hoping their teammates would show up. By the time they got back they still weren't there. After an hour of Naruto telling Sakura more details about the Ice Country they went back to their hotel room. They decided they should skim through Iwa before leaving and then head back to Konoha.
They took the quickest route to Konoha, which was a southeastern route. They made it inside Fire Country borders before nightfall. The two slept in a forest, beside a small creek. The next day they were in Konoha by noon.
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Before they entered Tsunada's office they discussed how they should confront Tsunada. She would be angry with them for leaving them, but pleased with their information on the Ice Country.
Tsunada had her hands clasped in front of her chin. She spoke sternly. "Where are Neji, Shino, and Ino?"
Sakura summoned the courage to answer an honest answer. "Tsunada-sama, as your student you know I would not lie to you."
Tsunada coughed. She then laughed and smiled, trying to ease the tension.
Sakura continued, but with a less serious tone. "Well, Naruto did a great job in finding out the information that we needed but… When we met at the fountain, the others never showed up."
Tsunada thought for a moment. "That is not like them."
Naruto spoke. "In my honest opinion Tsunada-sama… If they had been at Iwa, they would have met us."
Tsunada closed her chocolate eyes. "Yes. I thought the same thing Naruto. Something happened to them."
Everyone's thoughts were interrupted as Shizune slammed the door open. She gasped for air as she spoke. "Tsunada… sama!"
"What is it Shizune?" Her eyes were wide.
Shizune had almost caught her breath. "We had the permission of the Rain Country and Waterfall Country to let out ninja walk through their lands… Well… A fisherman reported to the local Daimyou that he saw a small battle through his window. All the Daimyou's had been told about three leaf ninja that might be coming through their country… The Daimyou immediately told his local leader as he was informed to do if he heard about any abnormal activities!"
No one had gotten the point. Tsunada narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Shizune was shocked that no one understood, even though she hadn't really said anything coherently. "The battle the fisherman claimed to see included three leaf ninja and five ninja without forehead protectors!"
Sakura and Naruto gasped. Tsunada's eyes were full of anger. "What!" She stomped over to her desk, grabbed a pen and wrote something quickly. She handed it to Shizune.
Shizune was frightened by Tsunada's odd reaction. "What do you want me to do with this Tsunada-sama?"
The Sannin's reply was cold and harsh. Each word was punctuated. "I want you to tell that bastard Tsuchikage that we need to have a meeting."
Everyone was startled.
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A day went by and the Konoha council had just received word from the Earth Country that the meeting was going to take place in three days at Iwa. It was obvious Tsunada was waiting for the moment she could pop Tsuchikage in the mouth, but Shizune would stop her.
It took two days for Tsunada, Shizune, a few council members, and a few ANBU to arrive at Iwa. Iwa had their ANBU guarding Tsuchikage as he sat peacefully with a grin on his face. He knew what his easily-to-enrage friend, Tsunada, was thinking.
Tsunada, accompanied by Shizune, council members, and her ANBU, walked hastily towards Tsuchikage's office. As she marched down the hallways she reached the door. She collected herself.
The door almost flew off its hinges. Shizune wanted to cry because of how much Tsunada was embarrassing Konoha.
Tsunada marched into the room and stomped angrily towards the small table in the middle of the room, which Tsuchikage was sitting cross-legged behind with an awkward look on his face. 'Tsunada-sama better not say anything rash.' Shizune pleaded inside her mind.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Tsunada threw a document at Tsuchikage, which landed in his lap. Still standing, and not having done any of the ceremonial bows done by Kage's when they greet, Tsunada continued to yell. "This is not a joke!"
Tsuchikage nodded his head in agreement. "I know. I know. This is not a joke." He said, humoring Tsunada, which made her even angrier. "I knew all along that you were sending your shinobi to Iwa."
Tsunada was fuming. "You did not have to go and attack my pupils!"
He responded, offended that she would say something like that. "What? You think…" He laughed. "… You think that I sent ninja to attack your Chuunin?"
Tsunada was about to snap. 'That bastard has the nerve to say that he didn't attack them!'
"Yes! I do believe that you sent your ninja to attack my shinobi. Your ninja supposedly sent two kunai into my female Chuunin's back!" When she said ninja, she said it sarcastically, as if to tease earth ninja.
Tsuchikage was annoyed. "I already read a copy of this. Let me tell you!" The man composed himself. "You, without my permission, sent five of your ninja into Earth territory and I didn't attack! You should be thanking me! Out of the kindness of my heart I let you do your business this time."
Tsunada was baffled. "Wait- I know you're not lying." The look on her face was pure confusion. "So, you didn't send ninja to counter-attack the kids I sent."
The earth Kage shook his head. "No. I did not send any ninja to attack you." He was about to say something else, but was cut off by Tsunada.
The chocolate-eyed woman sat down on the tatami mat. "So it must have been that country."
Tsuchikage held in a laugh successfully. "So you really didn't know anything about the Ice Country?"
She shook her head. "No. My council and I never even knew the name."
"If I tell you then all the information your two Chuunin collected would have been collected in vain." The earth man chuckled trying to hide the fact that he knew nothing about the Ice Country either.
Tsunada sighed. "Yes… and I know that they had gotten everything we needed."
The man looked at her, startled. "Really? If your ninja learned as much as I think you sent them here to learn then I need to be told their information as well."
"Why do you say that?"
Giving up his pride, the man confessed his own naivety of the country. "My advisors know nothing other than the location and name. The country never had asked for services in the past and they were really of no importance to us, so we never cared for information on the country. We were desperate so we had asked citizens if they knew about the country at one time, but no one came forward to answer."
Tsunada nodded to Shizune. Shizune, with pig in hand, handed Tsunada the report that Sakura had made. "I read this on the way here. It has everything you need to know about the country."
She smirked and bragged as she handed the papers to her new ally. "It's really quite interesting…" She looked at Tsuchikage. "…that my Chuunin gathered so much information on it…"
Tsuchikage ignored her, purposely, as he looked through the document.
"…in your village." Tsunada added as she laughed.
"This is very interesting. All of these things have been happening under every countries nose. A tyrannical leader has taken control, a clan was enslaved, and a countries cries for help were silenced."
Tsunada shook her head in agreement. "It really is depressing. The woman, Acharia, must have great manipulation skills to have been able to do all of this so…" Tsunada shuddered. "…so deceitfully."
"We should handle this with great caution. We should tell the other countries just so they can be informed. We should advise others not to take immediate action against the queen."
"It would be best if Acharia didn't know the rest of the world knew what was going on in her country."
Tsuchikage agreed. "But- Acharia already knows something. If I didn't attack then it had to have been Ice shinobi. We both know that the Waterfall Country wouldn't attack Leaf Shinobi."
"You're right. They must be advanced ninja if they could take down Hyuuga Neji. If they have killed my ninja or are keeping them hostage, I have to do something." Tsunada looked at Shizune and then back at Tsuchikage. "I think we have had a wonderful discussion. I look forward to our next meeting."
It seemed that the Tsuchikage and the Hokage were similar. They got along very well. When everyone completed the ceremonial farewells the Hokage and her escorts left for Konoha.
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A day after their return to Konoha, Naruto, Sakura, and Lee were called to Tsunada's office. None knew what for, but all arrived at the scheduled time.
As the three shinobi were standing in a line in front of Tsunada's desk, she began to speak. "You three are here today to be informed of some things. The first thing I want to discuss is about you." She looked at Lee.
"Yes ma'am."
"You have completed the all of the required exams and trials to become a Jounin. I want to personally congratulate you on being an outstanding example of what a shinobi should be. Unfortunately the council and I cannot declare you a Jounin because of recent complications with one of your teammates and two other Konoha ninja. I have already informed Maito Gai, Sakura, and Naruto that Neji, Ino, and Shino were attacked and/or taken as prisoners by a recently unimportant country." She paused, allowing time for Lee to be take it all in. "Well, Naruto and Sakura can inform you about this new Country as you three head there on your next mission."
Shizune walked into the room and stood beside Tsunada's chair. "We are going on a diplomatic mission to the Ice Country to discuss the meaning of Queen Acharia's aggression towards our ninja. You three will be accompanying me."
The three nodded their heads. Naruto wasn't complaining like he normally would. He was excited about going to a previously unknown country.
Tsunada spoke as she looked out the large windows overlooking Konoha. "We do not have concrete evidence showing that it was Ice ninja who attacked Neji, Ino, and Shino yet, but it is the only lead we have. Shizune will be doing the talking with the queen. You three are to have no interaction with her other than eye contact." Tsunada stared at Naruto as she said that. "If anything goes wrong. And I mean absolutely anything- Lee is to escort Shizune back to Konoha. I know Lee is the most experienced as of now, but Sakura and Naruto were the ones to learn about the country and were the teammates of those three when they were attacked. If Lee does have to leave, Sakura and Naruto will stay behind until our ninja's situation is confirmed- dead or alive. Once you have found out whether they are alive or not, you are to come back to Konoha."
Naruto shook his head in confusion. "Wait. What are we going to do if they are still alive? Aren't we going to go back to rescue them from that hag? Achaia or whatever."
Tsunada looked at Naruto. "If you find out they are alive but captive, then you two are going to be replaced by higher ranking ninja to rescue them- that is, of course, if Shizune is unsuccessful in negotiating with Acharia to let them go. Anyways, she has no reason to want our ninja."
The three nodded their head in agreement again.
Shizune looked at Ton-Ton and then back to the kids. "Well, we'll be leaving in two days at daybreak. We have permission with the Earth Country this time so we don't have to take any awkward paths this time. We'll be able to get to Iwa before nightfall. Once at Iwa we will stay for a day for any last minute preparation. On the second day we will leave at midday. From that time onward anything could happen."
Tsunada dismissed everyone. Shizune would be able to inform them of anything else they might want to know when they are on their way to the Ice Country. Two days were ahead before the next chain of events would start.
I can't wait to write the chapters after and during the negotiation with Acharia! I CAN'T WAIT! lol Anyways, I hope you enjoyed that chapter. Remember, Acharia is pronounced Awe-(as in awesome)–car-(as in the word 'car')-e-(as in the letter 'e')-awe-(again like awesome).
I'll probably get the next chapter done within a couple days. The next chapter is going to be long as well. The more people the more reviews, and I like reviews- Even though I yet to receive many. (cough cough)
Next Chapter: The First Encounter With an Icy Devil
"That witch has of lately been acting like I didn't help her get to where she is today." The snake-eyed man spoke with his usual eerie voice.
Kabuto knelt before Orochimaru. "Orochimaru-sama. She doesn't matter anymore does she?"
Orochimaru's shadow danced around in the candlelight. "Kabuto. Your wickedness surprises me at times." Orochimaru laughed as Kabuto smiled at his previous statement. "You're right. She doesn't matter. Although I warned her about what is about to happen she won't be around long enough to see the end of her rule. I as Sasuke-kun will take that country and its clan to hell soon enough."