Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Naruto or the contents of Naruto, I only own my own original ideas
Chapter 7
This is only a preview the full chapter should be out soon
The weeks that had followed the grisly death of Gato and the collapse of his empire had been an industrious one for the Country of Wave. Tazuna had swiftly spread the news of the tyrant's passing and had set about rebuilding what his people had lost. Vaults were raided and properties seized. Though the ruling Daimyo had not seen such renew. In fact, the people of wave had elected to remove the previous government in favor of electing Tazuna as the new leader of Wave. Oh how the bridge builder hated the idea and the extra responsibility that came with it, but he too saw the value in it. Never again would Wave be at the mercy of the political and financial power of a sleezy business man. Never again would he and his people suffer the hardships brought on by another's greed.
This was the desire that drove the aging architect, though there was another reason he had accepted the mantle of leadership. He had seen much that was beyond his station as a mortal man. So much that was beyond the comprehension of his small existence, and it was here that he had found a new faith. For how could you gaze upon the impossible realm divinity and be found unbelieving.
Their old gods had failed them, had left their prayers for salvation unanswered. Jashin had not been so idle, she had sent an unearthly force upon their enemies and delivered Wave from the clutches of ruin. He had accepted Jashin into his heart that night after the showdown on the bridge. He had prostrated himself before their mighty savior, who mascaraed as a child and begged to receive Jashin's mercy and love. Smiling Naruto had laid his hand on the older man's shoulder and whisper arcane truths into his mind.
Even now, sitting at his desk in his newly appointed office, he could hear the soothing voice of his goddess guiding his hand as he drafted new laws into act. Absent-mindly letting the puppet strings of his hand be pulled, he wondered what his fellow countrymen would think if they knew the truth of the situation. Shaking his head with a rueful chuckle, he concluded that it hardly mattered what they thought. Wave belonged to the dark goddess in all but name. Tazuna would make sure of it and they would be all the better for it.
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Sighing with content and rolling the tension out of his shoulders, Tazuna neared his house as the sun set on another newly free day for wave. Opening the door with a smile he was assured in his recent choices as he saw the radiant smile on his daughters face and heard the joyful laughter of his grandson. Truly his family had regained much of their lost happiness. Taking a seat at the table, Tsuname served him a fresh fillet of fish before returning to the kitchen. Seated around the table with him were the other ninja instrumental in the liberation of Wave. Though the subject of much praise himself was absent as he had been since the day after the clash on the bridge.
Many had sought him out to give thanks and parties were even thrown in his honor but none save his new servant had seen him. Haku herself had simply said that her new master wished to be left to his solitude. No one really wished to intrude upon their savior and the jonin simply left the avatar to his own devices.
Naruto watched the lights of the nearby village as the sky grew dark, his face betraying nothing of the thoughts that ran threw his mind. He had pushed himself beyond what his growing power was supposed to be capable of and in return he had glimpsed past what he was ready for as a newly forged agent of the divine. Jashin left him to sort these new revelations on his own, though she was never really absent from him as his very being was connected to her. His lone exposed eye stared in to the velvety darkness of the night and far beyond to what only he could perceive. Below the tree branch he perched in, Haku rested her back against the trunk of the tree. She was content to wait until her master had need of her.
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It was only a few days following that saw the genin teams assembled at the end of recently finished bridge to give their farewells and return to the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Most of the village and even those from other regions of the country had gather to send the ninja off. Though with the way Jashinism had spread across Wave it was safe to say more than a few had come to see the young avatar in person and to show their respects to the manifestation of their new god.
With much fanfare the ninja began their trip home, Kakashi supremely enthused that they had decided to name the bridge 'The Great Jashin-sama Bridge'. He looked forward to the Hokage's reaction to the whole debacle. Anko was of a similar mind, taking every chance she could to cause the old man stress. Sasuke watched the newest addition to their group with uncertainty. Haku, for her part, strode one step behind the younger of the grayed-haired ninja with a silent air of grace. Naruto himself had his usual manic grin on his face. He had spent many sleepless nights on introspection and had found the answers to many of his questions. He better understood his place in the grand and chaotic universe, both as an avatar as well as the one closest to Jashin's heart.
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The return trip having lacked a civilian had the benefit of a drastically reduced travel time. So it was that close to noon on the second day saw the hybrid team of ninja standing before the mighty gates of Konoha. Before the chunin guards to do much inquiry into the additional member a territorial growl and rumble of 'mine' from Naruto had them striding by. Though they had spent nearly a month away the populace of the village still more than recognized the grey-haired terror. With a wide berth being opened in the crowd streets the ninja plus one made a hasty arrival at the Hokage Tower.
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The aged Hokage reclined in his chair while taking steady pulls from his well-used pipe. He stared at the wall left of the assembled teams, contemplating the brief he had just been given.
"Hey you old-" Naruto's aggravated outburst was cut short.
He was sent flying off his feet as a kunai impacted his forehead with enough force to carry him out the doors of the office.
"What the fuck old man?!" Demanded the assaulted genin as he stomped back into the room.
"Just reminding you of the difference in our strength" Sarutobi chuckled as his target ripped the blade from his flesh "I know that look"
Naruto huffed before turning his head to glower at a wall. The Hokage knew that he would be feeling cocky with his new power and so laid to rest the matter before his strength could be challenged. He had grown used to young ninja getting full of themselves and attempting to come for his hat, they all failed of course.
"We seem to have a unique situation on our hands but not one I am unprepared for" The leader of the village puffed out "I have expected for some time that Naruto would manage to spread his religion beyond our walls and therefore have seen to have the proper measures already in place"
Turning to face the assembled ninja the Fire Shadow pulled an overly adorned scroll from a drawer before breaking the wax seal of the Imperial Fire Court. Taking a moment to glance over it before handing it to Naruto and speaking on the matter.
"What you have in your hands Naruto is official recognition of Jashinim as an established religion in the Land of Fire so long as you, its leader, remain a loyal ninja of Konoha"
Taking a pause to gauge the boy's reaction, he was not disappointed by the growing grin that spread across the avatar's face and he read further and further down the scroll. Ignoring the muted giggle and faint thanks carried by the wind that reminded him that some god did actually exist, he continued.
"Young Haku here is covered under Para 3-17 and is therefore welcome to stay here in the village with you as an attendant" Naruto looked up from the scroll with a beaming smile "Thanks old man"
"Think nothing of it Naruto but I am not the only one who had a hand in this" The Hokage said returning the smile with a small on of his own "Be sure to give Kuro-kun a visit to thank him for his help"
Nodding his head, Naruto didn't wait to be dismissed before leaving the office accompanied by Haku. The two jonin shared a searching look, both wondering who the Hokage had referred to. Quickly exiting the tower, Naruto turned left to enter an alley before both him and his companion disappeared into a shadow. He had an old war hawk to thank after all.
AN:
Just a short preview to tide you over. I'm no inactive I just have a busy life with work. BUUUUUUT anyways I should have time to write a few chapters before I get busy again.