Grace
Side notes: If anyone is willing to help me out on translations that would be wonderful! Thank you!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anything to do with naruto other than this story which all ideas and plot twists have been of my own creation (unless specified, where as certain ideas will have credit given due)
Mrs. Nozomu Sohma – I agree, for very minor character's names don't matter so much. What's you're opinion on Yondaime's name though? People keep using Arashi… I don't know if that's true or not. ;
AngelHinata – No worries! I'm not changing it to M, there aren't going to be any pairings if I can help it. The only reason I said that in the beginning was because at one point there will be mentions of M material in the story, and of course, I'll edit and put warnings up when/should that occur. but they're only mentions of such things.
Eevetta – Your wish is my command… well... actually only for today XD;
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"You called, Sarutobi-san?" came a slightly nervous voice from the doorway. Everyone turned to view the new arrivals; A pink haired Kunoichi, a spiky blond shinobi and a dark haired shinobi.
Naruto had a silly fox grin on his face, standing shoulder width apart with his head slightly back as if he was observing the occupants in the room. Sasuke on the other hand was leaning against the doorway with his head bowed and slightly to the side and his hands stuffed in his pant pockets giving off an air of impassiveness. Sakura stood beside Naruto on his other side, shoulder witch apart with her arms folded, frowning, but her eyes never leaving Sandaime's eyes.
"Please take a seat" Sarutobi motioned to 6 empty seats remaining in the large meeting room. Everyone was eyeing the trio with awe, skepticism, and some… mistrust. Most people however just seemed to not know what to think of them. Naruto sat near the end with Sakura and Sasuke on either side of him. He sat Indian style on the seat while Sasuke and Sakura sat properly.
"Ah… Ah.. Old Geezer, can you tell me what day it is?" Nartuop asked with a seemingly innocent look on his face.
"14th of September." He responded calmly, wondering what the older Nartuo was so interested in. No one expected him to be so loud and shocked.
"NANI! NO WAY! GAH! Wait.. I have no money! Even worse! GAAAA-" Smack. Sasuke glared at him and Sakura looked ready to throttle him (though with her strength, Sasuke took initiative.)
"What are you on about, Dobe?"
"What! You don't know!" Sakura exasperated a sigh and asked what everyone was thinking
"Know what, Naruto?"
"Its Kakashi-sensei's birthday tomorrow!"
Dead silence. Everyone looked at Naruto like he had sprouted two more heads on his shoulder each covered with mustard and marinara sauce.
"Huh? How did you know that, Naruto-kun?" Came the Copy Ninja's voice from the wall. Naruto looked over and grinned. People's heads turned too and fro like they were watching a tennis match as Kakashi and Naruto exchanged words.
"Why, you told me. Or rather, you will in 6 years."
"Is that so?"
"Yep, but I have no money... and getting you a gift IS important since ya know, you're my sensei.. er.. will be."
"That's not necessary-"
"Nonsense, I insist"
"No really-"
"Sorry we're late, Hokage-sama" interrupted Sabruo's voice as the last 3 attendants of this meeting walked in and took a seat (after bowing to the hokage). But Sandaime just waved the apology off and turned his attention to the tree young shinobi.
"Now that everyone is here, I have something that I wish to ask you."
"Go ahead, geezer!" Naruto exclaimed. Sandaime didn't mind the crude words as much as everyone else in the room. They were, after all, true. He smiled at Naruto cheerfulness.
"I wish to know your reasons for leaving Konohagure." The mood shifted so abruptly that Sarutobi looked monetarily stunned at the killer intent and… guilt radiating off the three. They fidgeted under the watchful eyes of their parents and family friends (and in Naruto's case, Sandaime) Finally Sakura sighed.
"We left it to protect it"
"What do you-" Ebisu started to say.
"From who?" Kakashi interrupted, earning a glare from the closet pervert. Kakashi's eyes were narrowed, sharingan and all. But out of the 3 time travelers, Naruto seemed the most at unease.
"Oroshimaru." Sasuke
"Takako" Sakura
"Akira and Akatsuki." Naruto. The Trio simultaneously sighed in their interrogation in front of every clan head and miscellaneous ninja's in the room. They actually had some foreign hope to avoid this question, after all their respected families didn't seem to care about that minor aspect. Naruto was the one that took initiative to explain.
"those 4 organizations and people are out for our blood, bodies, and demon. Because of their desires, Konohagure has suffered war and crippling battles between Orochimaru and Akastuki especially." He looked pained; surprisingly many felt sympathy for them. "Therefore, because they were after us, mostly just me and Sasuke, we left. Originally it was to be Sasuke and I, however Sakura-chan refused to let us go alone, saying something about family and healers." This earned him a light smack from the pink haired Kunoichi. A very light smack. "We left to draw our enemies away, essentially. It worked for the most part. Orochimaru only attacked once after that, but no lives had been lost, or so Idate-kun told us when we passed through Tea Country. There was also the fact that at the time in which we left, I also considered myself a threat to Konoha. That was because Kyuubi-chan's power was flowing stronger into me, causing me to lose control at times.
"We met Takako and Akira after we left, Takako wanted Sakura and Akira… well… he just... wants me and Sasuke. What for, I rather not find out. We were able to find Sanction in the Snow Country under disguise. The only person who knew who we were was Princess Koyuki."
"Kakashi found us there not long after. He tried to make us come back. It was only a month into our absence." Sakura added.
"He didn't succeed" What more could Sasuke say? It wasn't like he was going to give details. Kakashi didn't need to know how he was defeated (though, Koyuki walking out of her room in only a towel was rather a stroke of luck… poor Kakashi must have lost a few pints of blood) this memory caused Sasuke to snicker lightly, Naruto to grin and for Sakura to throw annoyed looks at the boys. They all lapsed into silence, processing this new information and weighing it. The ninjas gathered didn't know this wouldn't affect the future at all, according to Naruto. But then, there's the snag. Naruto. He was hiding something, this Sarutobi Hokage could tell. What startled him was that he didn't mind at all.
"Every Shinobi is faced with a difficult decision." Brought up a voice, unsurprising to Naruto, it was Nara Shikamaru (yes, the father of Shikamaru, poor kid was named after his father). "It is against the principal of the shinobi to abandon one's own village. However, when the lives of so many hang in the balance of that decision…" he trailed off for a moment. "Must have been painful." Was what he ended with. Everyone lapsed into silence once more.
"There is also the question of the Nine-tails-" Sandaime's quiet question was answered before he could ask it truly. Naruto smiled softly.
"Not. A. Threat. Any parent within their right mind would seek vengeance for the death of their kittling; such was the case with Kyuubi's new born son. A one tailed fox demon that was hunted and killed by unknown Ninjas. Kyuubi trailed the scent to Konoha. Demons aren't known for getting along with humans, but relatively both species leave each-other alone. Demons don't like humans by habitual rule, for me, I can understand why he attacked and lost his common sense all the while." Naruto grew sad, his eyes pained and the blue eyes deepened.
"It's painful to lose a precious person…"
Sasuke gave him a sympathetic look while Sakura touched his hand briefly. And in a few moments of saddened silence Naruto was cheerful again.
"Kyu-chan doesn't like humans still, but he has a soft spot for me and my brother and sister here. So to help us, he has taught us some very cool heavy Jutsus. Sasuke always reviews the battles we fight in, and teaches our enemies movements and techniques, while Sakura reads in texts and scrolls and teaches what she learned from them as well as healing techniques, and I teach what Kyuubi-chan teaches as well as take Jutsus and alter them to our needs. We're a dream team…. Hahaha!" he scratched the back of his head while Sasuke smirked and Sakura beamed her lovely smile. Others were not so impressed (Sandaime was though!)
"Then there is another thing I must ask, or rather ask OF you."
"You want us to help with the coming war with Cloud and Stone, right?" Sasuke. Everyone blinked, and immediately people started speaking at once. How did they know that? Were they spies? Sandaime tugged his hat over his eyes while sinking slightly in his chair. Geez, didn't they realize that as time travelers from the future, that it would be a given that Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura would have such knowledge. Although the stone bit was surprising.
"Quiet!" Sarutobi wasn't used to yelling, and the effect was immediate. Even Anko and Naruto stopped trying to pound each-others heads in; although he would have paid to see that.
"Yes, our spies have confirmed that cloud is on the move. I was not, however, aware that stone was involved." He turned a meaningful gaze towards the three. Sakura explained.
"The first attacks won't be with allied accompaniment. But cloud will be beaten so severely on Konoha soil that they will go to stone for aid. Konoha will lose 50 of its shinobi during the second attack. But will come out on top. However, I take it with this information, you wish for us to tip the scales?" Sandaime nodded. People were muttering, Hisashi, Kakashi, Shikamaru, Itachi, Yutaka and Saburo were all surprisingly impassive. Anko was licking her lips, Ebisu looked worried, and Ibiki was frowning.
Sakura exchanged a look with Naruto and Sasuke, using her hands to sign to them.
-What's your verdict, Naruto?- Sakura asked.
-Good Practice at least.-
-So it's a yes, then?- Sasuke asked, and Naruto nodded.
"We'll help. We know Cloud will attack Christmas eve, but we're unsure on the date for the combined attack." Sakura spoke over everyone, effectively quieting them. By now they had all gotten used to their presence (at the very least)
Sarutobi let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. "Thank you.-"
"Oi! I have a condition for this though." Naruto spoke up, earning a lot of glares. Sasuke perked an eyebrow and Sakura looked surprised. They hadn't been told about this.
"And what would that be, Naruto-kun?" Anko asked in a falsely sweet voice. Naruto grinned evilly, causing many to be on instant guard and quite a few to shiver. Sandaime had a feeling he would like this Naruto quite a bit. He had… flare.
"Everyone in this room must learn off me, Sakura and Sasuke in order to fight at all in this war."
Outrage. Pure outrage. Naruto was grinning ear to ear stupidly while Sasuke and Sakura hung their heads in shame. Sakura was itching to cleave Naruto in two, but alas, all their weapons (aside from Akiras katana) had been left behind in their time. Damn. Sandaime Hokage started to chuckle, earning the attention of a few heads. And then he started to laugh outright and capture everyone's attention.
"Deal. I look forward to see what we will learn from you. For now, disperse and spread the word. We, who are here, will meet tomorrow at dawn, training area with the poles." Sarutobi was still laughing as everyone left. However, Naruto and Sakura and Sasuke remained. When they were alone, the 4 of them stared at each-other.
"I should warn you, I don't know about who killed you're clan, Sasuke-kun, but Orochimaru isn't a missing-nin in this time-"
"I know." It looked like it took a lot of effort for Sasuke to get that out. Sandaime was surprised. When everyone had left Sasuke seemed to let his emotions show. He was barely keeping it together.
"If I can stand the one who killed them, I can stand Orochimaru... again" he got out rather forcefully. Naruto frowned and Sakura looked far more worried than before.
"Saskue, think of this as a reason to beat both of them up…. If you can. Uchiha isn't much these days." This earned him a snarl. Sakura sighed and sat down again, looking tired and weary. Sarutobi suspected it was from their lingering injuries.
"Good practice at least." He mused to himself out loud, earning some rather disbelieving looks from the Haruno heir and the Uchiha second. "What?"
"That's what Naruto said about the war." Sakura chuckled out.
"Are you saying I'm like Saru-geezer?"
"Naruto, I'm not a monkey."
"Notice he didn't deny he was a geezer!" this was enough to set the 4 of them laughing until their eyes were leaking. After a good while later, before they left Sarutobi pulled out a pouch with some lingering words.
"This is for Kakashi's gift, take it as a loan. Also, will you be up to teaching tomorrow?"
"I am, Sakura and Sasuke need a bit more time, about a week. But we have until January to train everyone." Sandaime jerked up at that.
"I thought you said December?"
"Hrm? We lied." Simple. For a moment Sarutobi looked startled and tried to find the logic behind that. Noticing the grins on Sakura and Naruto's faces he chuckled. Sneaky kids. They lied about the date to make everyone work harder. Noticing they were gone, Sandaime indulged himself another good laugh at that. Sneaky, Sneaky indeed.
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Hehehehehe…. Surprise surprise… I came out with another one this week oo