About halfway through typing this chapter, I came up with an idea to add more conflict to things, you know, to sort of shake things up after eveyrone's thinking all's well that ends well. It's not going to be a big deal, but it's a twist no doubt.
Oh, and I can't remember who all posted what, but as for a question brought up about what happened to Kabuto, he's still alive. I just totally fucked up on that one and forgot he even existed. I'll put some closure in about that topic some time I hope. Someone also posted a review, wondering what would happen to Itachi now that he was posessed by the Kyuubi. You didn't pay attention to the story. He died as a result of the Kyuubi's negative energy. I guess I didn't explain well enough. The whole point of Naruto's salvatoin was that the Iris gave him the ability to transfer all the negativity of the Kyuubi's demonic stress to another person so that they instead would die. I believe I even at one point had Naruto say that it would be Itachi who died as a result before the battle began. Anyway, I hope that clarifies things. As for Gaara, as I believe someone also asked what happened to him, he died, but we'll hear more about him later.
Chapter Twenty-One
In the center of town that evening, just about the entire populous of Konoha had come out to party, ready to have a good time and celebrate the end of a violent period of panic. Once again, Konoha would be enjoying a period of peace and tranquility. No one cared how long it would last.
It didn't matter how long the peace would last. They didn't worry about it. For now, everything was perfect and it was time to take time to just relax, kick back, and throw the biggest party the town had ever hosted.
There was music and singing and dancing. There was food of all sorts, snacks and punches and sake. Lots of people were talking, smiling, laughing, chattering.
"Naruto!" shouted Kiba from nearby. Naruto turned on his heel to face the dog boy as he squeezed through the crowds. Kiba gave him a huge, powerful slap on the back. "I can't believe you did it man! You're a frickin' hero!"
"Hi Kiba," said Naruto sheepishly and smiling. "Good to see you here. Glad you could make it!"
"Are you kidding me?" asked Kiba. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Ever since that time you took me out in the Chuunin exams, I knew you were something special. You've got guts man." A large white dog walked up to Kiba's side and gave a hearty series of barks, followed by the dog jumping up onto Naruto and flattening him.
"What's up Akakmaru?" asked Naruto, patting the dog's head while trying to not get his face licked off. "Good to see you're doing well."
"I'll be seeing ya' 'round," said Kiba, taking his leave. "Hinata'll be wanting to know where I am."
"Huh?" asked Naruto. "Why's that?"
"We're engaged man!" said Kiba enthusiastically. "You have to come to the wedding man. It'll be awesome. Of course, you're invited for sure."
"Congratulations, Kiba," said Naruto with a laugh and a smile. "Tell Hinata I send my congratulations as well."
Not long after meeting Kiba, Lee had hunted him down. "Naruto! You promised me a fight when you returned from your training!" He pointed an accusing finger at the blonde like it was somehow that boy's fault that he'd not been able to keep the promise.
"Oh, hey Thick Brows," said Naruto. "I'll fight you some other time."
"I know you will," said Lee, bringing him into a bone crushing hug. Lee was vidently super strong as a result of that tough training. Naruto swore he slipped a disk in his spine or something. "We'll fight some other time."
"You bet," said Naruto. "It's a promise." Naruto gave Lee a dose of his own nice guy pose, baffling him with how much better he executed it. "How's that for you?"
"Amazing!" said Lee joyously, his eyes twinkling with tears. "Simply beautiful!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" laughed Naruto. "How're Neji and Tenten doing?"
"They're fine," said Lee. "Married actually."
"No way!" shouted Naruto. "I don't believe it!"
"Yeah, I was surprised too," said Tenten, coming up from behind him and startling the two boys. Naruto was shocked to see that Tenten was… huge…
"Tenten!" shouted Naruto. "You're pregnant!" Neji walked up to his wife and joined her side.
"Nice call, Naruto," said Neji with a strange facial expression that Naruto assumed must've been a smile.
"We're expecting in just about a month, now," said Tenten with a smile. "Thanks for all you've done for us, Naruto. You saved our village."
"The little twerp is quite the extraordinary boy, isn't he?" asked Neji. "You've come a long way since we first met, Naruto. I've still never forgotten your advice since the day you beat me at the Chuunin exams."
"That's good, Neji," said Naruto, starting to chuckle. "Because I'd hate to have to kick your ass again some day. I daresay it's not beyond my ability or rationale." (Just an interesting tidbit of info: Naruto stole this phrase from his fight with Orochimaru just before it started.)
"There won't be any need of that," said Neji with an uncharacteristic laugh of his own. "We'll be going now, but I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of Konoha's loudest and favorite ninja in the future."
"You bet!" yelled Naruto, only verifying Neji's comment about him being the loudest. The team left, and Naruto turned to the snack bar, where he saw Chouji getting busy with the many different edibles.
"Hey Chouji!" said Naruto, coming up behind him and patting his shoulder. "Don't eat too much now." Choujin's physical appearance hadn't changed much over the years, except he might've been a little taller and might've had a bit more muscle to add to all the girth.
"Oh, hey Naruto," said Chouji after he swallowed his food. (At least he was polite) "Great party."
"Thank Tsunade-sama," said Naruto with a smile. "She's the one who put it together. I'm only a fellow guest."
"Well, thanks for giving us a reason to party anyway," said Chouji, turning to the snacks again. Naruto decided to leave him to eat. Chouji wasn't one to talk too much anyway, so Naruto didn't mind. He ran almost head first into Shikamaru, who seemed to be neither smiling or frowning, completely stone-faced.
Naruto could guess that reason was that Ino was hanging off of his arm, holding on tightly so that the boy-genius couldn't get away. "Hey Naruto!" yelled Ino, letting go of Shikamaru immediately upon seeing him and hugging him. "It's so good to see you!"
"Err, hey Ino," said Naruto. "What's up?"
"I'm out with Shikamaru, obviously," said Ino. "He asked my to come with him to the party."
"Excuse me?" asked Shikamaru. "I believe I only just met you here and that you instantly latched on to me."
"Such a sweet guy," said Ino sarcastically. She grabbed Shikamaru's hand again.
"So troublesome," said Shikamaru before receiving a glare from the girl. He shut up.
"I can't believe you did it Naruto. You defeated Orochimaru and Itachi. You've gotta be, like, the most powerful ninja ever!" said Ino.
"I don't know about that," said Naruto meekly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Well, I never got the chance much to be around you," said Shikamaru, "but if you ever get up in rank and need a team, you're more than welcome to be with me on my missions. I could use guys like you in my ranks."
"So you're a jounin now, huh?" asked Naruto.
"Yeah," said Shikamaru. "Hokage-sama put me as head commander of military troops, and I consequently get a lot of the harder missions, having to choose who goes out on them with me. So, if you get up to at least Chuunin anyday, give me a call. That is, if you intend to remain a ninja."
"Are you kidding?" asked Naruto. "I'll never quit being a ninja."
"I figured as much," said the other boy with a smirk. "Well, it's a lot of troubling work as commander, so thanks for giving us a reason to party and whatnot. Otherwse, I'd still be working. So annoying."
"Come on, Shikamaru-kun, buy me some ice cream," said Ino, pulling the boy away. Shikamaru gave Naruto a look that obviously meant something to the effect of "I'm in a living hell and would like nothing more than to get away." However, Naruto was sure that, if the smartest ninja ever wanted to really get away from Ino, he could do it easily. He suppressed his laughter as Sakura walked up to him.
"There you are," she said as she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a kiss. "We've been looking for you."
"You have?" asked Naruto. "If I'm to get one of those every time I'm being looked for, I should get lost more often."
"Cute," said Sakura. "Come on, all off our teammates are waiting to hear from you. The Rookie Eight and a few are wanting to hear from you."
"I met a few of them already," said Naruto. He was dragged by the wrist over to a large tent, where a bunch of tables were placed with people eating and talking. At one long table sat all of what remained of the rookie nine team, his fellow classmates from the Academy from so long ago.
"Hey Guys!" he said as he sat down next to Sakura. Present at the table were Shikamaru and Ino and Chouji now, along with Shino, Akamaru and Hinata, and now himself and Sakura. Iruka had even just come along and joined them.
"Naruto!" said Iruka, walking up to him and hugging him. "It's great to see you're okay. Welcome back boy!"
"Hey, Iruka-sensei!" said Naruto. "It's good to officially be back home for good."
"So you're not going to leave again?" asked Shino, breaking his usual code of silence. "After you left so quickly following your return last time, are you sure you can stay in one place?"
There was a little laughter. Naruto rubbed the back of his head the way he always did when he was embarrassed. "Nope, I'm in town for good this time," said Naruto. "I will not be leaving Konoha again."
"So how does it feel to be the most celebrated ninja in Konoha now?" asked Hinata with a smile. "You're finally acknowledged."
"I have to be the happiest ninja in town," said Naruto with a laugh. "It's what I've been fighting for all my life, and now I've finally amounted to something. It feels great. Now that everyone doesn't hate me, I might actually make it to being Hokage someday."
"Oh, you can count on it," said the Hokage herself as she walked up to the table and placed her hands on Naruto's shoulders from behind. "Ladies and gentlemen, you're looking at the next Hokage. I have no doubt about it. If you continue to b the Naruto everyone now knows and loves, there's not a single thing in the world that will stop you."
"Thanks, Old-Maid!" said Naruto. He was clobbered on the back of his head, snding his face into the table top and cracking it.
"Of course," said Tsunade, "if you're not killed by me first, there's nothing that will stop you." Naruto came up and rubbed his forehead painfully. "I've got duties to tend to. Shikamaru, Iruka, could you come with me please?"
She left, followed quickly by the jounin commander and the academy instructor. The boys and girls at the table watched them depart curiously, wandering what could possible be wrong, if anything was indeed wrong at all.
"What's the matter, Hokage-sama?" asked Iruka outside the tent. Shikamaru's crossed arms and face were readable enough to the extent that it was evident he was silently asking the same question.
"There's already reports that Akatsuki is out for revenge, as is the Sound," said Tsunade quietly. "Akatsuki doesn't have much left, but they may try something soon. Shikamaru, step up security with our Jounin forces and make sure we're keeping an eye out.
"Iruka, round up the jounins and Anbu," continued Tsunade. "It might be best if you get a hold of Kakashi. He'll get the word out quick enough. Tell Asuma and Kurenai and the like. We need to be careful and alert. Though it's not likely, they may even choose to attack tonight."
There was an explosion somewhere behind Tsunade in the distance. They turned to face where now great, billowing plumes of smoke were pouring into the sky. "Speak of the devil," said Tsunade. "It's too soon, dammit!"
"How irksome," said Shikamaru. "I'm off. I'm sure it's safe to say the mission has changed to seek and destroy all enemies."
"Indeed," said Tsunade. "Iruka, be ready to fight."
Tsunade turned to enter the tent. The class was looking at her with confusion evident on their faces. "What was that explosion?" asked Ino. "Someone let the fireworks off early?"
"Neji, Lee, Shino," said Tsunade. "Follow me. We've got some uninvited guests in the party, and they're not here to celebrate."
End Chapter Twenty-One
This idea just sort of came to me for some reason. This'll extend the story by another chapter or two for sure. Neji, Lee, and Shino are Jounin, so that's why Tsunade asked for their help only. It seems some people have come to make a final attack on Konoha.
Don't worry, nothing bad will happen.
Oh, and I'm slightly drunk right now, so I hope that didn't affect anything in the story. I'm underage, only being seventeen, but it's still legal to drink if it's served in you're own home by your parents. So yeah, I was allowed to enjoy some booze tonight. I've had my share of alcahol before this night, but I've never tried typing while drunk. I'm surious to hear from you reviewers if it affected my typing at all. I don't know. I do'nt feel a whole lot different from normal when sitting down, but everything is extremelty swimmy if I try to move at all. I even stagger around and everything. It's fun to be a little drunk now and then, though I'm not compeletely blind-faced wasted or bombed.
Oh, but it sure does feel good, doesn't it Jesus?
Yes, Jin, being drunk is fun.
Sweet...hiccup