"Guilty Until Innocent"
By: Shadow and Janime
"Search everywhere!" Goro ordered. "Leave nothing unturned, and check anything suspicious! Now go!"
The ninjas of the Shadow of the Fallen Moon Clan began their sweep throughout the village, going over every nook and cranny that was visible and trying to locate any possible hiding places. Four ninjas were searching in an ally when two of them finished their area.
"You two stay here and make sure you recheck everything before you leave," the taller one said. Two silent nods were his answer and then they were alone.
"Good thing these outfits are unisex," Taka said quietly.
"Good thing they come with eye-shields and you have to wear them," Naruto replied. "Lucky for us we found that storage room."
"You got that right," Taka nodded and they went deeper into the alley.
The news of their escape spread like wildfire. While avoiding a search patrol, Naruto and Taka stumbled upon a storage room loaded with uniforms and weapons. They quickly went through the uniforms, finding ones that managed to fit over their clothing and grabbed the kunai, shuriken, and two katana.
With the ninjas everywhere they could easily leave and head back to Suna but they had to be careful. Since they couldn't speak they used very minimal hand gestures so not to draw attention. They pretended to be looking for the escaped hostages but they were also being seeking a way out. Taka noticed a gate and merely touched Naruto's arm. He looked back at her then followed the small yet deft direction. He gave her the briefest of nods, understanding.
The patrols searched everywhere, invading their own people's homes but all attempts were failures. Goro, enraged, ordered the search parties to check outside in the surrounding areas. Several groups left but no one noticed as two of their kind moved farther and farther away from the village.
"What do you think?" Naruto whispered.
"A few more yards and we're out of here," Taka answered.
"Hey!" a voice shouted. "Where do you two think you're going? Halt!"
The impersonating duo stopped and turned around.
"What are doing out here?" the Fallen Moon ninja demanded.
Taka and Naruto looked at each other then as one, punched the ninja directly in his face and took off.
"So much for that!" Naruto said, hearing the shouts from the other ninjas.
Taka reached into the pouch at her left hip and pulled out a handful of black marbles.
"What're those?" Naruto asked.
"A parting gift!" Taka grinned and tossed the marbles behind them. The explosion caused the fleeing pair to stumble a bit but they caught themselves and continued on. The trees soon began to thin out, and the two skidded to a stop near the edge of a cliff overlooking a fast moving river.
They looked behind back into the woods, knowing that the explosion only hindered their pursuers. Naruto and Taka looked each and nodded. They sprinted and jumped off the edge. By the time the Fallen Moon arrived at the ridge, all they saw when they looked down were two identical breaks in the water where the couple had landed.
--
"There has to be something we're missing," Temari said mostly to herself, the permanent scowl marring her pretty features. They had been searching since the moment their friends had been kidnapped and it was well into the night. The one thing that kept the group slightly calm was that Naruto refused to give up so easily and that Taka regained her sight at night.
Iruka's eyes darted over the maps that were scattered over the table in the kazekage's office. There were several x's marked on the locations the search parties had checked with no results. They were quickly running out of locations. He looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Here," Hidama said as she pressed a warm mug into his hand. No one refused to sleep until their friends had been found but patience was wearing thin and time was running out. Setting hers down she scanned the maps. "Where else could they possibly be?"
"I don't know," he replied, realizing the liquid was a thick broth seeped with herbs. "The area is mostly sand so unless they managed to have an underground base." She just shook her head.
"I highly doubt it. They're not native to this land but fifty years is a long time to adapt." Flipping through the maps she frowned and looked up. "Do you have any more maps besides the ones centered around Suna? Possible something along the borders or even beyond."
Gaara frowned as he tried to remember. "I think so. Old records from the past kazekages are kept in the Achieves; I think we have old maps in there as well."
"We need to check them out."
"I'll show you where it is," Kankurou said, standing. He wasn't used to sitting around and he was dying for some actions no matter how small it was.
"Iruka and I will see if we can find anything," she said and the three left. The redhead watched but was relieved that the jounin was still waiting for a message from Konoha's hokage to arrive. He still didn't trust him.
Luckily the Achieves were located in the tower if a few floors down. As Kankurou opened the door they were assaulted with years--possibly decades--of dust. This sent the three of them into a coughing fit but with a simple wind jutsu they could breathe easier. The shelves had been built into the room's walls, filled with scrolls and books from floor to ceiling. In fact, the room was quite large and circular, the height of the room twice as big as its width. They took one look and began searching.
It felt like an eternity as they searched, trying to find something to help them. Records of the village, the leaders, elite ninjas, even the implantation of Skukaku was here but still no maps. The pale woman refused to give up as she scaled the ladder against the walls, occasionally throwing down scrolls to the teacher and puppet master. She rubbed her eyes, feeling her strength begin to give out when she noticed something. A thick scroll wrapped and sealed with the wax seal of the kazekage. Pulling it out she noticed the date going back five decades.
Could it be...? Breaking the seal she unrolled it and quickly scanned the parchment. The more she read the more a smirk grew on her lips.
"Hey, find anything?" Kankurou called up to her. She didn't reply. Instead she tucked the scroll into her belt and quickly slid down the ladder, starting the both. He noticed the grin on her face and knew she had found what they were looking for. "A map?"
"I like to think so." She pushed everything off the mall table in the middle of the room, ignoring the teacher's scolds as the books and scrolls he had been looking at were thrown to the floor she rolled her scroll out for them to see. "Whoever was leader of Suna at the time wrote a very detailed story about it."
The Konoha teacher quickly scanned the scroll, trying to find indication when he stopped and pointed to a passage. "Right here it says before the fall of the Shadow of the Fallen Moon they found evidence that they were going to move their rituals to a hidden cavern located within a mountain," he looked up at them. "When the leaders attacked they found the cavern though."
"Wait, a mountain?" the sand sibling asked before going to a wall and quickly searching, pulled out a rather large book and slammed it on the table, causing a cloud of dust to rise. He ignored it and opened it, flipping through the pages. "The only mountain I can think is the one those bastards took Gaara to when they stole Shukaku. Here!" he pointed to a page where a mountain ridge could be seen.
"Let me see," the woman hissed, quickly scanning the map. "The area is huge--we're gonna need help."
--
"I'm starting to think the gods are testing us," Naruto said as he sat next to Taka in front of the small fire. It had been lucky that they had lost the Fallen Moon ninjas, lucky they had survived the jump into the river, and even now found a small shack hidden by the vegetation and surroundings.
After finding a way inside the two of them quickly set up a small fire and removed their wet clothes so they wouldn't get sick. It was also luck that they found a few meager (if threadbare) blankets but it was better than nothing.
"And laughing," Taka grumbled as she pulled her blanket tighter.
Naruto saw her shiver. "Cold?"
"A little," Taka smiled at him quickly then returned her gaze to the fire. "Hidama was right."
"About what?"
"How your weakness can be an advantage over your adversaries, and that it can become your strength."
Naruto smiled. He silently watched Taka, licking his lips as his eyes traveling along the contours of the left side of her face, watching the light from the flames dance along her creamy skin, the smoothness of her neck going down to her collarbone-
What the hell am I doing!
Naruto jumped up and moved to the other side of the room, keeping his blanket tightly around him.
"What's wrong?" Taka asked.
"Uh… nothing!" Naruto said. "I just needed… some space." That was lame.
"... Okay..."
Naruto closed his eyes, trying to focus his mind on anything but the woman in the room with him. But it was no use. All the chuunin could think about was the supple body hidden underneath the blanket, and how she would look beneath-
"Those bastards!" Taka exploded.
"What?" Naruto turned his head and looked at her. He could tell by the look on her face that she was pissed, and for some reason Naruto found it cute.
"Naruto, are you feeling a little…" Taka waved her hand.
"Uh..." he quickly turned away from her. "Well..."
"So am I."
"Huh?"
"We've been drugged."
"Drugged?"
"They must have put an aphrodisiac in our food, and with all the running we did--plus the adrenaline and the stress from our escape--it's kicked in."
"Oh," Naruto shifted and wished that he hadn't. "So now what?"
"There's two-point-three ways to handle it," Taka started. "One, wait it out. Two, take care of it yourself if you know what I mean."
"I can guess on the point three," said Naruto. "I wouldn't do that to you, Taka. You're a good friend and I don't want to do something that-"
"I know," she interrupted. "So we wait it out."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. I'll stay over here and you stay there."
Time really dragged on for the two and their current dilemma was only getting worse.
I'm not going to take advantage of her, Naruto gritted his teeth. Taka is my good friend, she is putting her trust in me, I cannot do this to her… I'm not gonna last if I don't-
The young man froze as he felt Taka wrap her arms around him just under his shoulders and rested her head against the back of his neck.
"I'm sorry, Naruto," she whispered.
He reached up, gently taking her hand in his and pulled her arm away. "It's okay," Naruto said and turned to look at her. "It was gonna happen anyway, right?"
Taka nodded and leaned towards him, lightly brushing her lips against his. She cupped his face as the kiss became more fervent and Naruto lowered Taka to the floor.
--
Kakashi sighed and once more was wishing he was with any of the other search parties except the one he was in right now. When he had returned with Tsunade's message he was delighted to hear that they had possibly found the location of the Fallen Moon. He hadn't minded when they made search parties of no less than two but he was less than pleased that he hadn't been paired with Hidama or even Iruka.
He silently looked at the redhead who refused to acknowledge him. He had been less pleased but kept any comments he had to himself. The fan wielding kunoichi left with a team herself, Kankorou with another team, and the pale woman with Iruka but rather than take any of the jounins of Suna as a third member--that was another surprise.
A white fox with blue eyes and three tails with black rings around the bases, the same fox that had helped Iruka protect the children of Konoha several days ago.
Hidama's daughter.
I still don't know who was more surprised at that, he thought to himself. He could feel eyes and turned in time to catch the glare sent his way before looking straight ahead once more. "I get the feeling that you don't like me very much," he commented.
"You aren't worthy," Gaara said simply, increasing his speed but the jounin kept up.
"Am I missing something?"
"..."
He sighed. He's worse than Sasuke. "I don't what I did to make you distrust me but we need to work together. Let's just forget-" Wrong choice of words as he nimbly dodged the sand trying to suck him under. The redhead stopped and was glaring at him angrily. If his gaze could kill the ninja would find him himself incinerated. "What is the matter with you?"
"... You are not worthy, period," he said coldly. "I heard about your so-called training methods, I know your habits with those damn books, but I will not let you take my mother away from me." He didn't wait for an answer as he continued running. According to the map there was a river close to the mountains. They were asked to check out that area. He quickly noticed it as vegetation seemed to be striving with such an abundant source of water. He slowed then stopped. He heard the other ninja stop next to him but refused to speak or even look at him. If their friends were here, where could they be hiding?
"How I teach my students and what I read is my business," Kakashi said, causing the kazekage to look at him. "And what goes on between me and Hidama is our business. We do not need anyone's permission."
Gaara narrowed his eyes at the Konoha jounin.
"Maybe you're right--I'm not worthy of her," Kakashi went on, "but she permitted me to be near her. She could have just as easily killed me instead."
"That can still be arranged."
"Listen, Gaara, I know that you don't like me very much, but for now focus on Naruto and Taka. The sun's coming up, we've been out here half the night, and the gods know where the two of them are and if they're alright. So for now, just drop it."
All he got was a growl as an answer but at least it wasn't followed by a wave of sand. Silently the two began searching the area but they couldn't find anything. It was sheer luck when they found a shack that was completely hidden by the surrounding area. At first they thought it was a jutsu to fool them but it was real. Gaara used his sand to unlock the door from the inside before slowly pushing it open. When no one came out to investigate or try to attack them they ventured inside. And stared in--surprise.
--
Naruto blinked as the first rays of sunlight hit him in the face. He yawned and tightened his arm…
…Which was around Taka's waist.
Oh yeah… Naruto thought. I thought I was dreaming again.
Taka moved slightly, pressing up against him.
Nope, not a dream. We definitely did. "You awake?" Naruto asked.
"Kind of," Taka answered and opened her eyes. "Where's the sun?"
"I think it just rose." He looked at her for a few minutes. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be alright." She snuggled against him and sighed quietly. Naruto said nothing, only ran his fingers through her hair. Suddenly, Taka raised her head, frowning.
Naruto followed. "What's wrong?"
"I think I heard something," she whispered.
Slowly the door to the shack creaked opened. Naruto readied himself for an attack but his eyes widened at the two figures staring at him in shock.
Oh my gods...
"... Whoa..." was all that Kakashi could say.
Naruto held one hand out in front of him as the other made sure the blanket was shielding his lower half. "I know what this looks like," he stared, quickly looking over his should at Taka who was doing her best to cover herself and had her left hand over her eyes as her face turned beet red. "And… it is…"
"We'll wait outside," Gaara said in a calm tone and shut the door.
Neither of them said anything as they gathered their now dry clothing and pulled them off. Since they were with their friends they didn't need the face guard so the blonde tied his forehead protector around his forehead. He took a deep breathe and closed his eyes. "Taka."
She paused but couldn't look up at him. "Yeah?"
"... What do we do now? I-I like you but only as a friend."
"I feel the same way." She moved slowly and took his hand in her own, squeezing it tightly. "Nothing changes how we feel as friends."
He squeezed her hand back tightly, smiling lightly. Kyuubi had seemed pleased about last night but even now Naruto threatened the fox that if he mentioned one word about any supposed future plans he would make sure the demon would suffer. He wisely kept quiet. Coming out of the simple shack they found Kakashi smiling behind his mask and Gaara with his back to them.
"So, it seemed you two had an interesting evening," the jounin replied a bit too cheerfully.
--
"They've escaped, Lord Kaemon."
"Don't worry about it, Goro," the Fallen Moon leader smiled from his throne. "I was expecting it."
Goro frowned. "You were? Then why didn't you say anything?"
Kaemon chuckled. "If things work in our favor then you will see your great-grandchild."
"How is that possible? Naruto and Taka may not know exactly why we need them but I highly doubt that they would even think about… being together."
"So they need a little help with that." Kaemon held up a small vile.
Goro frowned. "You had them drugged."
"It was mixed into their food. All we have to do is wait."
"And what if the Suna ninjas find them?" Goro demanded.
"They can do nothing. You should not worry so much," he said simply. The other man frowned but didn't say anything.
Fool, acting so cocky. He'll have us killed if he continues to lead like this.
--
Everyone was glad when they returned to Suna with their missing friends. Iruka actually embraced the blonde, ignoring the pain his body was going through and nearly cried but that didn't stop the blonde as he hugged his father-figure back. They told them where they had been held but with Taka having been taken when she was unconscious and Naruto being blindfolded they weren't sure if they could lead their friends back to settle the score one and for all. Of course neither of them mentioned anything about the drug laced in their food but no one seemed to noticed.
Well, almost no one.
A loud boom was heard, startling the citizens of the Village Hidden in the Sand but it wasn't an attack. Hidama resisted the urge to make another foot deep hole in the solid rock wall but she took several deep breaths to calm her breathing. She had noticed the strange scents in the air but didn't realize what they were until her mind finally put a name with the smells. Without warning she ushered Naruto and Taka outside to the empty training grounds and asked them why they smelled like sex. They flushed brightly as she waited. When they told her the story, Hidama immediately grew so upset she plowed her fist into the wall.
The blonde had never seen his mother so mad before. "M-Mother? W-We tried to fight it but-" he tried explaining but stopped when she shook her head.
"I'm not mad at either of you. I'm just so disgusted they would do that to achieve their damn goal," she hissed as she removed her fist.
Taka blinked. "Goal? What are you talking about?"
"They want Kyuubi born as a human. Since you both harbor a part of him--his blood and his soul--it's possible. Once the child has been born, there is no doubt they would steal him and use him," she quickly explained. "I don't exactly like that nine-tailed hot head-" Kyuubi, who had been listening intently, didn't take kindly to the insult or that his vessel was laughing at him. "-but I won't allow this to happen. The next time I see those bastards, I will slaughter each and every one of them." Looking at her slightly bruised hand her eyes began to turn into slits, wishing to squeezing their still beating hearts in her hand.
"Um, I'm not… am I?" Taka fidgeted. "Because I've heard that it takes only once and it doesn't matter if you never have…"
"Kyuubi is still within Naruto," said Hidama. "You're not pregnant."
Taka let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Just please say that drug was a one-time effect," Naruto begged.
"Most of the time they are," Hidama answered.
"Most?" Taka and Naruto asked.
"Considering the drug you were given was made by the Fallen Moon Clan, it's possible, Taka, the next time your cycle is ready to begin you will feel the effects."
"Oh gods…" Taka covered her face.
"And Naruto," Hidama looked at her son, "you'll be able to tell."
His face went white, eyes going wide. "Again? Isn't there like an antidote or something?" he pleaded.
"No telling. The next time, I suggest you two lock yourselves somewhere away from everyone."
"Alright... mother, um you aren't the only ones who... who knows what happened."
"... meaning what exactly?"
"Gaara and Kakashi are the ones that found us," Taka said quietly.
"Enough said." She looked at them for a long time before moving forward and grasped their shoulders in each hand, pulling them into a tight embrace. "I'm glad you both are safe. Now, go get something to eat, you both deserved it." She watched them go and sighed. Her fist shook, trying to resist making another hole but the sound echoed as she made another hole in the rock. This time she used her other hand but quickly pulled her fist out, cursing. Her armored hand screamed as her in pain but it would pass. "Bastards. Should have made sure they were all dead," she hissed to herself.
--
Iruka smiled as Naruto greedily ate the ramen. After what he and Taka had gone through, the teacher decided that the young man deserved it despite Hidama's once a week restriction.
"Gah! Naruto!" Taka yelped. "You're spraying me with the broth!"
"Sorry!" he laughed and pressed a napkin in her hand.
Iruka chuckled. "Forgive me, but the two of you make a cute couple." He watched as Taka paused in wiping her face and Naruto froze just as he was about to put a large amount of ramen in his mouth.
"You haven't been talking to Kakashi, have you?" Naruto asked.
"No, why?"
"Never mind."
He studied the two of them. "Did something happen?" But they just shook their heads.
Slurping down the flavored brother the young man sighed happily. "Man, I've missed this stuff!"
"We can tell," she smiled. "It does feel good to be back though. I'm surprised they let you out of Konoha."
Iruka chuckled softly under his breathe. "What kind of parent would I be if I didn't come to help find my son?"
Naruto beamed. "How are Sasuke and Sakura?"
"They should be here in a couple days. I had a quick talk with them before I left. So far Konoha seems ready to defend itself from another attack…"
Taka picked up his hesitation. "But?"
"We've lost some of our best fighters from the last invasion," Iruka sighed.
"And they're blaming me," Naruto grumbled. "If I had never been born, blah, blah, blah."
"Naruto-"
"It's true, Iruka. How many times have you heard it?"
"Just because they say it isn't true. They're hurting but they have to get over it," he said firmly. "I admit, when I lost my parents I wanted to kill the fox as well. When I found out what the 4th hokage did, I wanted to kill the one housing him but I didn't. I learned that it wasn't just a coincidence that he chose to attack Konoha that night. It was just a case of bad timing. I was 12, going on 13 at the time."
"What made you change your mind?" Taka asked quietly. He just smiled at them.
"When Hidama brought Naruto to me for the first time. The second I looked into those innocent blue eyes, I knew that he wasn't the one that killed my parents and so many others. Even now I see that most ninjas will never live to a ripe old age. My parents knew this but they never chose to give up. Even as a teacher I know I may not live to an old age but I can die knowing I made a difference in the lives of my students."
Naruto smiled, resisting the urge to cry. "You sure did, Iruka-sensei. But why didn't he just kill the fur ball? I mean I know he wanted the person to be revered as a hero and I'm not saying I don't mind the perks of having Kyuubi inside me but wouldn't it have been easier to kill him?"
"I really don't know but you aren't the only one to ask that. I think Hidama is the only one to know that answer."
--
Kaemon walked down the steps to an empty chamber. Making sure that no one had followed, the bald man pushed a small part of the wall forward and went into the hidden room behind.
"Ah, Kaemon," a feminine voice spoke, a slight lisp in the wake, "so nice to see you."
The man forward to the two-tailed feline perched upon a massive blood-red silk pillow.
"Everything is going according to plan," Kaemon said as he rose.
"Very good," the nekomata purred. "I am pleased."
"My lady, ninjas from Konoha have been spotted here in Wind Country."
"And why does that concern me?" she asked, yawning large enough to reveal gleaming teeth the size of daggers.
He swallowed, knowing how those fangs could tear him to shreds within the blink of an eye. "O-One of them is the fabled Copy Hound and they appear to close allies with the kazekage."
"Hound?" A deep growl as curved claws emerged from the almost dainty paws. "I hate those mutts. No matter. Make sure everything goes to plan. I will have my revenge against Kyuubi."