Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Never did, never will. Masashi Kishimoto does.
This is one last part before the action begins. Thanks again to all of those who have sent me reviews. I appreciated every single one of them. Sorry for the slow update. Anyways, I was pissed with myself, after checking my previous chapters to find that there were a few spelling errors. I decided to fix the few glitches, the upcoming chapters will be worth the long wait. Hope you enjoy!
There they were, standing with their eyes locked on the other. The famous, legendary Toad Sannin and the infamous, Uchiha clan murderer. Each with their own aura of power. Jiraiya was waiting for Itachi to say or do something in return, but Itachi just kept on looking at him. Jiraiya thought the condition was playing out rather fine since Itachi didn't just moved in for an attack, and start casting Jutsus or anything.
Itachi finally spoke, "Jiraiya."
Jiraiya was very pleased with himself, since the Uchiha had acted very much like how he thought he would.
"Uchiha Itachi," replied Jiraiya like it was first time the two met in recognition.
"We should move before we talk any further," continued Itachi before leaping up onto the branches above exactly where Jiraiya saw him 'falling'.
"Move?"
Jiraiya didn't expect this one coming, since he thought that the Uchiha would go down straight to business, talk whatever there is to talk, right on the spot. He just followed Itachi without a word. The two shinobis tree hopped for a whole half an hour straight, Jiraiya noticed along the way that the scene around him was changing. It was getting slightly darker as less sunlight penetrated through the roof of leaves above. The trees were getting bigger, from swamp green vines to the dirt brown tree barks. He could barely hear the sound of various insects like crickets or cicadas, much less the chirping of birds anymore. Occasionally hearing the ranting of monkeys or slithering snakes here and there.
Itachi still remained silent, and finally came to a stop one particular tree. Simply by looking at it, it was just as tall and old as the rest of the trees around.
"Why talk here?" asked Jiraiya in curiousity. The two could've simply talk anywhere else, but as why his acquaintance decided to talk here, he didn't know. "You live here or something?"
Itachi remained quite, moved near to the bark of the tree, and placed his hand into the small hole. Jiraiya could hear the rustling of leaves, probably some animal's nest inside he thought. Then, he sensed the presence of chakra coming from the tree. Itachi gave a second glance at Jiraiya before walking straight into the tree.
The Toad summoner moved in. "Genjutsu, huh?"
He was even more surprised when he saw a tree house right after passing through the illusionary wall.
"Hei…nice. Real nice." complimented Jiraiya.
Several minutes later, the Toad Hermit found himself sitting cross-legged with the Uchiha while drinking some green tea.
"How long has it been since we last saw each other?" wondered Jiraiya after a sip.
The great author of the Icha Icha chronicles remembered it perfectly like it happened yesterday. Around two months since he and Naruto had left Konohagakure, they were at Lightning Country. Handling the young Jinchuuriki wasn't much of a problem than he thought it would. Maintaining a low profile was very easy since Naruto took every chance he could get to avoid walking into villages, towns, or cities. Jiraiya monitor his training, go down to do his 'research', buying the necessary supplies every now and then, to the info gathering: either from brothels, pubs, etc.
Leaving Naruto all to himself in some forest, which he didn't complain one bit. In fact, that was the very main reason he wanted to Konoha in the first place. He wanted to be alone, away from anyone as long as he could. Naruto would train once in a while just as Jiraiya ordered, either that or return back to Konoha. It was a simple routine both made and followed for the past two months. That was until all nine members of the Akatsuki decided to make their appearance and captured Naruto.
"One year, three months, two weeks and six days." specified Itachi as he looked at the scratch marks left on a bamboo wall.
"Didn't know you'd be the sort of person that kept such track of time." replied Jiraiya. His smile grew wider.
Again, Itachi reacted the way what Jiraiya thought he would.
"Not really." simply answered Itachi. The young Uchiha already knew what this was all about the moment he spotted Jiraiya from above.
"Hide it all you want, but I know deep down that you're curious as to how all of them are doing." said Jiraiya as he watch steam rising from the bamboo mug.
"Don't need to. I can already guess how they're doing in Sunagakure." countered Itachi.
"Knowing all four of them, they probably had registered themselves into Suna's ANBU division."
Jiraiya was impressed, Itachi continued on "Kabuto would follow around those three anywhere they'd go. I don't even have to talk about Asami, seeing how Naruto and her are going. Kisame's hunger for challenges and fighting could be satisfied if he takes in S-Ranked missions. Only special Jounins and ANBU members are certified to receive those types of missions of difficult missions. Naruto would have different reasons for becoming an ANBU Sand-nin. Being ANBU members, they're the least known type of shinobis that would mix around with a lot people. Too busy with missions, and their identities are kept as secrets from the public. In general, the public wouldn't know too much about him. Being Naruto, the less things people would know about him, the better. He easily gets missions that don't involve too much contact with the public.
"I know what you mean. In general: no public services whatsoever." agreed Jiraiya. He had to admit, Itachi was indeed one very observant type of person. In fact, he was the one that came up with the idea and managed on how to lure Jiraiya away from Naruto. How easily it was when Jiraiya would leave Naruto at some inn, while the perverted Sannin decides to go out with some beautiful lady around town.
Public services he mentioned was just the missions like babysitting, escorting, pet handling: dog walking, finding lost pets, farming, picking litter, etc. In Naruto's case, the escorting only just any C or A-Ranked mission. He didn't usually get to escort Gaara around since the Kazekage didn't travel out of Sunagakure much. Wind Country hosted the Chuunin and Jounin exams while Naruto was in service of Suna. The Kyuubi vessel wasn't stupid to just linger around town while shinobis would come into Suna.
"He still avoids people whenever he can, but I'm sure he'll slowly recover little by little in time." sighed Jiraiya.
Itachi knew Naruto's predicament and why he acted such. It was wonder how Itachi only came to know him up close for some time, but managed to know how his student would go on with his life. "He's afraid of people shunning him away all over again, just like what happened in Konoha. How he wishes for people to accept him for who he is, not Kyuubi that's inside him. He knows people would treat him just like anyone else, like a human being, after living amongst his teammates and the rest of shinobis from his generation."
"So?"
"Kyuubi is now a part of him, that changes more things. It's a drastic change, Jiraiya. Kyuubi isn't just a bijou sealed in a Jinchuuriki anymore. Regretfully, the people in Konoha already hated him simply because the Kyuubi sealed inside him. They never got to know that Naruto isn't the very demon sealed inside him, let alone treat Naruto like a person. How do you think they would react the moment they know Kyuubi is now a part of Uzumaki Naruto?"
Both shinobis know the troublesome agenda that their ex-student has. For Naruto to keep this thing a secret, he'd be repeating everything he'd ever done in Konoha. Everyday single day: Lying to himself and to those whom that didn't know about Kyuubi. To live out a lie, something most people don't like doing.
"So you think that letting him becoming an ANBU member solves the problem?" asked Itachi.
"Indirectly, he's slowly socializing with people around. Being a very persuasive man that I am, I managed to get Gaara and the rest of the Village Council members to team up that stubborn kid with other ANBU members every now and then." answered Jiraiya proudly. A very persuasive man, since managed to set up a whole spying network and gather informations from complete strangers, it was a skill he'd sharpened over the years of traveling.
The Sharingan wielder caught on. "Clever. No matter what, Naruto would have to bear responsibility for the lives of the ANBU Sand-nins in his group."
"Nothing makes a person wonder especially after someone you judged wrong, saves your own life." added Jiraiya. "S-Ranked missions are very dangerous, shinobis lose their lives more in performing them than any other missions."
Itachi was reminded of his days serving as an ANBU member. "A service, a sense of commitment and patriotism in some, a sense of honor in others, others seek the challenges and test themselves to their limits, while some just take it for the amount of reward they get in the end."
"ANBU captain. Just like how you were. At a truly young age, holding such high position, you were only thirteen years old back then." compared Jiraiya.
"No matter what you do, it still doesn't change the fact that he will always hate those people back in Konohagakure." reminded Itachi, taking another sip.
"True…True…" agreed Jiraiya with a little regret. "The best thing I could do was to at least make sure that he's an ally to Konoha. I don't really like to admit it, but Naruto isn't one shinobi that you would want him to live a vagrant life. Tsunade that used to travel around aimlessly was one thing, but that boy is a whole different agenda. It would a pity to leave him that way, just like Tsunade."
"That and the fact that he's too powerful and dangerous."
"I guess sometimes he scares you a little too, huh?" asked Jiraiya in opinion.
Itachi nodded, "Yes, he does."
"You passed him down more than your teachings and list of jutsus. He's just like you in almost everyway now: very cautious around people, silent, and a very sharp observant." assessed Jiraiya. "It amazes me how you've taught so much in such a short time."
Itachi stared at his guest. "One year isn't what one would short."
Jiraiya tried to recall the moments when he talked to Kisame about the things Naruto had learned. "True. However, for him to learn all of those things, any shinobi would how a mere boy could learn and control various elemental techniques. I'm still baffled, about Naruto doesn't possess the Sharingan or belong to the Uchiha clan. Neither he, Asami, or had Kisame told me how he does it. Ninjutsus and seals…Kisame himself asked me if may be there was slim possibility that Naruto had at least the blood of an Uchiha, or perhaps some sort of unknown blood limit that enables to easily learn and control Jutsus."
"He doesn't." Itachi muttered in a stoic tone. "It isn't some special ability or influence by Kyuubi. He doesn't carry the blood of an Uchiha, or possess a bloodline limit."
"From how you said it, I take it you know how he did it?" wondered Jiraiya.
"I do." smirked Itachi with a sense of triumph, being able to outsmart a Sannin. "It's his great ability to understand and control Kyuubi's chakra that makes him that he is now."
Jiraiya was a little puzzled and astounded as his current state. Itachi wasn't half of the Jiraiya's age, how he spent his time with Naruto less than the Sannin did, the Uchiha was definitely a genius among geniuses.
"Tell me, what do you know about Kyuubi's chakra?"
"It's red, anyone could feel a sense of wickedness coming the chakra…" answered Jiraiya. It was like he's the one sitting down as a student, Itachi being the teacher.
"It's unstable. The chakra is exceptionally unstable. If it weren't for the Fourth's seals, Naruto would've died if he kept using it over and over. It's a demon's form of energy."
"He doesn't have the Elephant Seal and double layered Four Season Seal anymore." pointed out Jiraiya.
"That's why Kyuubi had to teach Naruto how to control his chakra. Back then, we thought the seal was weakening, due to the strain of continuous and various seals Sakai performed. The moment it would break, both Naruto and Kyuubi dies. Think how enormous amounts of chakra flowing without control since both are unable to do anything, as the body would disintegrates from inside. Something both didn't look forward to."
Jiraiya tried to imagine the horrific scene, but stopped before Itachi would add one more details.
"We didn't come to know of his education on controlling the chakra. Kisame, Raetsu, and I came to notice how he started learning Jutsus like he was swallowing bowls of ramen, after several weeks later. We knew it had to be something to do with Kyuubi's teachings. Kyuubi told only me the reason why, Naruto had learned to achieve perfect chakra control. Down to the smallest bit, extreme precision in any amount. Learning Jutsus that require chakra was nothing more but to learn how to manipulate and convert them into any other form."
"Chakra to fire, water, ground, and so on." elaborated Jiraiya. "You even taught him the Uchiha fire techniques."
Itachi kept going. "To him, it's not a matter of needing a source of water to perform a Suiton (Water Element) anymore. Like Kisame and the Second Hokage, they could just convert their own chakra into water."
"Naruto still had to take time in learning any technique," commented Jiraiya.
Itachi frowned. "He maps them down. Separate down a technique down to scratch, the number of seals, its sequence, how it actually works, find any possible flaw,
"He may not be a natural born shinobi, but let's not to forget he is a different kind of clever person. Not the book smart type…it's more like--"
"His mind's capabilities don't work simply by memorizing down some text off books. He's cunning, not surprisingly just like a fox's own. Having the greatest trickster of the whole world as your teacher." said Itachi.
"Exactly. However, I've heard that he's well known as a prankster way before he knew about Kyuubi existence inside him. I don't care whether it was from Kyuubi's influence or just coincidental." discussed Jiraiya.
Again he was quiet, staring into the small reflection on the surface of his green tea. He chuckled all alone, something that made Itachi wonder what was going through that mind of his.
"Care to share the thought?" asked Itachi.
"It's really funny when you think about it, how some of the most powerful men would eventually succumb to the beauty of women." answered Jiraiya. "You know what who and what I mean right?"
"Fuusetsu (Snowstorm) Asami." smirked Itachi as he recalled Asami's full name. It rhymed perfectly with her father's name, Fuusetsu Raetsu. He thought about idea of those two being together. "I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes, I think Naruto would either succumb to her looks, or to her strength."
Jiraiya laughed out loud, it took him a while to stop. He actually cried out a tear, from laughing too much. "Ahahaha…I couldn't have said it better myself. To tell you the truth, that kunoichi doesn't carry that name anymore. Fuusetsu Asami 'died' on the same day she joined Sunagakure. "
"So she changed her name?"
"Yup." Jiraiya took another sip of green tea.
"What do they call her?"
"Asami. Uzumaki Asami." answered Jiraiya all too happily.
The Sannin added to the sudden possibilities that was currently was occupying Itachi's mind. He scratched off one of the possibilities down, "She didn't have that name changed in acting as Naruto's sister, so that she could live with him together."
Itachi just rested the back of his head on the wall behind him, surprised, looking at the ceiling of his tree house. "So Naruto finally gathered the courage to pop up the question…"
"I didn't know he was really the romantic type, not for his standard. He proposed her on the very same day the two, along with Kisame and Kabuto, got their Suna head protectors and were officially announced as Sand-nins. You should've seen him on that day, it was like he couldn't be any happier." said Jiraiya recalling the memories.
The Sharingan wielder was curious, "What do you mean by 'romantic'?"
"Why the sudden interest? I didn't know you had a sensitive side." replied Jiraiya.
"Hei, you're the author of the most famous perverted, romance novel. I would like to at least know how an old man such as yourself would come in terms of saying the most thick headed shinobi around be a romantic sort." justified Itachi with a faint hint of anger.
"You'd be surprised that he's just as good as in making things romantic, very much how he comes up with those incredible jutsus of his. I mean, imagine you living in a place where there's no walks around lakes, rivers, or ponds, special trees like a Sakura (cherry-blossom) tree around to sit under. I like to see you come up with something good under such limitations."
"You still haven't answered my question." pointed out Itachi. "By the way, I think he'd rather ask the question under a date tree, dead tree, or no tree at all if he has to choice between that or a cherry-blossom tree. It just reminds him of this Konoha girl with the name Sakura."
"What wouldn't? She's a kunoichi with pink hair like a cherry-blossom flower, green eyes, and with the name Haruno Sakura (Spring of Cherry Blossom)." added Jiraiya.
"That's not the point, we're drifting off the subject." stated Itachi in realization. "Just how did Naruto propose Asami?"
"Well, I wasn't actually there to see it. But he explained it only after I wouldn't stop pester him and kept asking him. Naruto took out Asami to dinner, nothing fancy really. You know she is with any matter that concerns about money, even if someone's paying. Besides, both of them are not the high class, luxury sort of--"
Itachi gave a cold glare, though not activating his Sharingan at all.
"Sorry. Now, as I was saying, he took her out for a little walk right after everything was over. They weren't strolling down through forests or besides any river, lake like I was saying earlier. The two just walked under the night sky, right in the desert, harsh cold temperatures. Naruto said it was perfect, all alone with her, away from the village lights, how it was a terrific scene to gaze up to the sky filled with clusters of shining stars, like scattered diamonds--. "
"I take it you wrote down all the things on what he said into that silly notebook of yours, and then added a few here and there." commented Itachi, which was all too obvious.
"Okay, fine, he brought her down to a walk at the desert after dinner. He gave his jacket to wear, even though we all know how she doesn't mind the cold being a Snow-nin and all, express his love to her, and then drops down on one knee, braced himself and then gave her a very nice present in her hand in marriage."
"That was too sketchy," scowled Itachi. He kept the hard cold eyes, "Since you're you, when you meant 'express his love', do you mean sharing his feelings and thoughts out with her, or having sex with her right there on the desert?"
"I meant sharing his feelings," answered Jiraiya. "I never liked him calling me 'Erro Sennin', either when we're training, with Asami, Kabuto and Kisame. Especially not when we were in public. Totally messes up my reputation. Though the last one was a very rare occasion for him to walk into any town or village,"
Itachi asked further, "Naruto gave her a ring?"
"Ring? No…he gave her something else. You'd be surprised. It's actually a necklace, very much the same like the one he has. It has the identical shape and size, along with the pearls on both sides. The only difference is that the crystal is red in color, he said it's some ruby crystal he got off from his 'father'. You know what I mean, Itachi. I bet its worth would be just as the same as necklace of his, probably more. If you consider the fact that it's a rare precious stone found in another realm." said Jiraiya.
"He should be thankful we managed to change his thick, idiotic personality during that training." Itachi counted the years knowing Naruto, Asami, and the time they get to spend together. "Naruto finally did it, I thought he'd taken more time in making that decision."
"Here I thought you were going to say it's too early for him." replied Jiraiya.
"No. If you count the time, they have spent more than enough time to really get to know one another. She'd come up down to Naruto's prison cell, and exchange stories way before we even came with the idea of training. Naruto's maturity is much too ahead for someone his age, a different scale compared to the average young shinobi to grow up and learns to kill and learn the hardships of life. Having a bijou as a burden and suffer loneliness at a very young age can change one's self. Only another Jinchuuriki will know exactly how another feels."
"Hei, I only thought you're going to react the opposite way. That doesn't mean I didn't agree about him marrying Asami. I agree with you there, he is too matured even for his age. I guess that aged body of his does go with that mind of his."
Itachi drank some of his green tea. "Kyuubi made the right choice in choosing to age his body a little. Tell me, how'd the marriage go?"
"It wasn't big at all, on the contrary, very few people even came to the marriage ceremony. It was…how do say this…an interesting one. The only people present were of course Gaara, his two siblings, me, Kisame, and Kabuto."
"A private wedding?" noted Itachi in realization. "Secret wedding?"
"Yeah, but I'm not finished yet. We were also greeted along with the presence of Naruto's adopted family. There we were, along with foxes the size of Gamabunta altogether. Just when I thought it couldn't get anymore…interesting…other types of foxes showed up. It was like a gathering of the leader of the clans in Konoha, each one of them presented to Naruto's father. What spooked me a little more was when the Kyuubi manifested himself, and chatted around in fox language with the other foxes. I wasn't the only one, since Kabuto and Kisame were like sweating a little. In the end, that boy said that the only thing that would've made everything perfect was if you were there to see him" finished Jiraiya.
Itachi remained stoic as he possible could, however Jiraiya knew something was stirring up inside him. Perhaps it was a sense of guilt?
"He can hold a secret wedding, but in the end, everyone in Sunagakure knows about their relationship. Living together in the same house, how the ANBU members they work close with eventually knew the thing between those two. You'd be surprised how some people give out rumours that they were young shinobis in love, and fled their villages to elope."
The super pervert stopped for a moment, he had a lecherous smile as he blushed, "Well, you know what happens on that very night of their wedding. Kisame and I were like nudging and discussing the endless possibilities how it'd turn out. Hehehehe…Let's just say he finally made use on my birth control seals and jutsus."
Jiraiya's face blushed even redder as he stared off. He always wondered how it would've played out, even until now. He though up in his mind. 'With that stamina of his…not to mention how great Asami looks…heck Kyuubi probably gave him a few pointers or something in experience...'
Itachi knew what was going through that perverted mind of his.
He took out the small notepad he'd carry around to jot down anything that's usually things from his spy network or more ideas for his upcoming books.
Itachi narrowed his eyes, "I suggest you'd stop that."
"Why's that? It's not like he'll ever find out, since he doesn't read my books at all. I've manage to publish a new book only recently, though it didn't contain anything to with him or Asami." explained Jiraiya. He gave a heavy sigh, "I need new materials you know, it's hard coming up with ideas when you stay at a place where there's no such thing as a public bath. I managed to get only some while on the way coming here. Anyway, I've only put a few things. Put it all up from the whole book, it'd only be at least a page."
"It's for your own safety, they would find out eventually. You're really lucky I haven't done anything yet, for that matter. Remember, he was your student as he was mine." warned Itachi. He still didn't have his eyes change into the Sharingan, "A man of your age should have at least know to have the decency or know when to draw up the line."
Jiraiya thought of the possible aftermaths, and finally succumbed. "Fine. Fine."
The Toad Sannin scratched off the few sentences he wrote down earlier. If anyone would flip back through several pages of the hand held notebook, the upcoming book already had its title written down.
Special Edition
Icha Icha Chaos: Engagement ring, Wedding ring, and Suffering.
Sasuke's brother slowly stood up at gathered the empty bamboo mugs that used to have green tea in them. He left the room without a word, leaving Jiraiya all alone in the room. The solitude didn't last long enough for the Sannin since Itachi came back pretty much after less than five minutes flew by. He didn't sit down, just looked out the wild scenery just right outside his small window, and with the whole tension in the air seem to change.
"I take it you didn't come all the way here just to check or idly chat with me."
"No, I didn't." replied Jiraiya. "It's about you."
Itachi didn't bother to see Jiraiya even when he was talking right at him. He knew his guest wasn't offended at all, "It's useless, Jiraiya. The answer is still no."
"What…? I didn't even ask anything." The fifty three year old shinobi didn't know what to do.
Itachi elaborated in a stoic manner. "You were going to ask it anyways. Naruto did, Asami, even Kisame did."
"Aah, but I didn't." Jiraiya thought convincing him wasn't going too easy. In fact everyone he'd try to convince anything were never easy, they were all really hardheaded and stubborn like donkeys. Prime examples: The Fourth, Tsunade, and Naruto.
Jiraiya was all too excited in his mind, 'you forget, I had that stubborn Arashi and Naruto as my students. Cracking you might not be as hard as cracking those two, but this definitely still going to take the time and effort.'
"I know you'd eventually come down and ask me personally. The answer is still no, Jiraiya." repeated Itachi. "I won't join Suna, any other village, let alone Konoha for that matter."
"Why not? I know there's no way in the world you'd consider returning back to Konoha. But why not consider Suna? You'd be just like Naruto, get a whole new chance to start up all over again." argued Jiraiya, now standing up.
"Well, Naruto deserved it. I don't. His life was messed up the day he was born, while mine wasn't. It was going perfectly, one would dream to live the way I did. But I chose to mess up my life." debated Itachi in justification.
Itachi's guest smiled, behind Itachi. 'This may not be as difficult as I thought it would.'
Uzumaki Naruto sat down on a one-seated couch while Kisame was found sitting across his captain. All four of them had finished their meeting minutes ago, since now they were free to do whatever they please. Already four in the morning, it would only a few more hours before they'd be down at the stadium to execute their plan. Naruto and Kisame had chosen to spend their time by having a look over their weapons. It's what Asami and Kabuto would say quality time between two swordsman and their beloved weapons of mass destruction. Two buckets of water, and a block of whetstone on the table were right there.
In other words, their swords were getting a check up.
Naruto had his set of twin blades summoned, while Kisame merely took off the white strips of cloth that covered Samehada. It would take the same or more amount of time to look over Samehada when compared with two katanas. Samehada, a sword around six to seven feet long, covered in numerous gray sharp scales, no hand guard that separates between the hilt and the blade, with a skull at the end of its hilt. Naruto's set of blades didn't look as deadly or powerful in comparison with Samehada. They were nothing more but a two average looking katanas, they only differed in terms of color of the hilt. They were just red in color, with the name of the swords smith and the place engraved on the metallic surface that was encased to make the hilt. The katanas looked plain average, but for having Kisame as one of Naruto's teacher, they had names and didn't have the guard that separated the hilt and the blade.
"Which one did you use to cut that Uchiha's forehead protector? Rikimaru or Kirimaru?" asked Kisame while giving Samehada a wash for no reason.
Naruto was currently sharpening the sword with a long block of whetstone, this sword he always held with his left hand. "Kirimaru."
"You could've at least leave that ex-teammate of yours with a scar." suggested Kisame with a sharky grin. "That cut you gave him wasn't deep enough. Can't believe you weren't cold enough to tarnish that face of his. Either you went all 'not worth the effort' or you're just getting sloppy with your sword techniques."
Naruto had that annoyed face. "Not funny, Kisame. That Sasuke-teme would have probably cry like a baby and scowl even more than he usually does if he finds out his face is ruined by a small scar on the forehead."
"Bah! Like you don't sulk around in public." Kisame laughed a little, like he always did.
Naruto frowned. "I don't scowl."
"Suit you yourself." Kisame pointed out his Samehada with one hand easily like it was nothing more but a kunai, at Kabuto. Orochimaru's ex-right hand man was going through some scrolls on the small dining table.
"Don't even try." warned Naruto without being bothered to look at what his friend was up to.
"Too late." mused Kisame in delight as Kabuto felt faint traces of chakra from his own reserve being drained away by Samehada. Kabuto already knew this was coming when he had a feeling Samehada pointing in his way.
The sword hummed a little in Kisame's hand since the chakra the sword clearly wasn't enough. It would vibrate and could emit crunching sounds if it managed to eat a huge amount of chakra. Samehada had a limit as to how much chakra it could eat, since neither have Kabuto, Naruto, or Asami had ever seen someone die out of chakra exhaustion due to the sword. Kisame hummed some tune that Naruto also heard when he was about to place a part of Samehada into a small bucket of water, giving it a wash. The shark face shinobi was about to scrub his sword with, seeing as it would be stupid to use a sponge to rub against a sharp scaly surface.
Naruto already had the fingers of his free hand ready.
FLICK.
"Hei!" reacted Kisame after he saw the water in the bucket now frozen solid. Samehada looked like an ice-cream stick, as it now stood upright without Kisame's support.
Naruto decided to flick again after seeing Kisame's disapproving look, despite the fact that Kisame knew why the Kyuubi vessel did it in the first place.
"I warned you." told Naruto.
The ice inside the bucket changed back into water in an instant. The ex-Swordsman of the Mist took hold of his precious sword and continued on like nothing happened. Kisame just gave his trademark sharky grin as Naruto just gave his won foxy grin. Kisame bared all the sharp saw like shark teeth he had, with his incisors and canine teeth were all like a shark's tooth. Naruto only bared his slightly longer canine teeth, obviously beaten in appearance by Kisame's own set of teeth.
Several minutes later, Kisame had cleared up his stuff and took Samehada back into his room, probably going to get the few hours of sleep available just like Asami did.
"You didn't have to do that." said Kabuto as he pushed the bridge of his glasses. He was too immersed in going through the scrolls and plans that his glasses were about to fall down. Naruto always wondered if he was far sighted or near sighted, whether he didn't bother of taking them off even if he was near sighted.
Naruto moved on to his other katana, holding Rikimaru with his right hand. "And he didn't have to use Samehada to suck your chakra."
"The chakra amount wasn't even noticeable, Naruto-kun. It'd been better if you gave the chakra you spent to Samehada than freezing the water from that bucket." said Kabuto, looking at Sand ANBU captain.
Naruto put down the now sharpened Rikimaru down and watched as it disappeared in a small puff of smoke. "Hei, if you didn't notice, I was actually sticking up for you. You should a little more appreciative."
Seeing as how Naruto could continue this until all four of them would have to go meet Gaara, Kabuto decided to do better things and continue on with his scrolls. "Okay then, thank you."
The ANBU captain got up from his seat, seeing as he had finished with both of his katanas, and began putting away the bucket of water and whetstone. Naruto went back to his room, probably checking on his wife, though he considered that she was probably fast asleep. It was pitch black since the lights weren't turned on. He never did sleep because of exhaustion anymore, seeing as how Kyuubi's red chakra could rejuvenate his body. Since his body's alterations, sleeping had always been just a need of being any ordinary human being and getting his mind to rest. He was a little bit surprised when he found her gazing through the window. They didn't have to worry about having their covers blown since Naruto usually placed seals around every place they stayed. Either Sound proof barriers, sound being able to travel in but not out (as earlier mentioned in chapter 3), or one-way glass windows…
He walked slowly, reaching her without making much of a sound. However, he knew that his wife already came to know of his presence since he opened the door.
"Hei." said Naruto as he held around Asami's waist and rested his chin on her shoulder from behind.
Asami turned a slightly to give a kiss on his cheek. "Hei."
"Couldn't sleep?" asked Naruto, enjoying every moment.
"After hearing you're crazy plan? I think not." answered Asami as she turned back, looking at the dark skies above. There weren't many stars to look at since there were large clouds obscuring them.
Naruto knew exactly what she was looking at. "Something's bothering you?"
Asami played around, seeing as she now had Naruto's full attention. "A lot of things. You spending your time with those swords of yours."
Naruto's hold loosen a little, "After all those times, you only complain about them now?"
"I was joking, silly." replied Asami. She took hold of Naruto's hands, pulling them together over her navel, gesturing him to hold tighter.
He could easily smell the sweet scent of Asami's red hair, which made Naruto wonder what brand of shampoo every time he smelled it.
The kunoichi heave a sigh "Watching the stars here isn't as good as in Suna."
"No, it's not." said Naruto as he too looked up to the heaven above. "There are clouds blocking, we're not in the middle of the desert you know."
"I miss the place already," whispered Asami. "That sandy sensation under the feet, there's not a single cloud in the sky, the chilling cold of the air at night…"
"Well at least we're still keeping ourselves warm." said Naruto, barely a whisper at Asami's ear. "Want me to drop down on one knee and ask if you'd marry me again?"
"May be another time." smiled Asami, Naruto seeing her reflection from the glass window.
Naruto gave a quick kiss on Asami's cheek, "You know I love you, right?"
"Of course I do, why ask?" Raetsu's daughter asked back.
"Oh nothing, just wanted to say that I love you." answered Naruto.
Asami looked at one star, "Here I am, the place where a lot of things took place. You grew up but then never called it home. It's the place where Kyuubi was sealed, where you were born, lived, and in the end left. Itachi killed everyone in his clan here, only leaving his brother alive. You met Gaara here for the Chuunin exams, right?"
"Yup. Though he was just a killing psychopath but then," Naruto teased the Kazekage in remembrance.
Asami turned around in her husband's arms and looked him in the eyes, "And you were some hyperactive, loudmouth, trouble making-"
Naruto hugged her slightly tighter, closing in the space between them, and just kissed her in the lips all of a sudden, taking her by surprise as usual. She liked it when she gets to surprise people, however she didn't like it when people surprise.
Well, except Naruto.
She closed her eyes and returned the kiss, with her hands slowly making way up and around his neck. They'd never get bored even if they'd repeat the same sequence over and over again. And again, Asami was the one to pull away from the kiss in need of air.
Naruto flashed his foxy grin, "You were saying?"
"You always think you're all that, every time after a kiss in shutting me up," huffed Asami in return. "or when I get angry."
"Of course I am," replied Naruto as he ran his hand through Asami's hair.
Asami looked up a little, since the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki was only a few inches taller than her. She touched Naruto's left cheek, gently holding and caressing over the skin that had the whisker marks. "It's a shame only a few people get to know the 'real' you."
"I'll try to change when we come back to Suna," replied Naruto. "May be I'll start mingling with people around."
Asami was glad, grinning in delight.
"Scratch that, may be just between us ANBU members. I don't want to end up like Gaara's current state." shuddered Naruto in thought. How Girls shrieking in delight whenever they could lay their eyes on the Kazekage. Kankurou did say how they'd go with the cool, high-ranking types.
"In your dreams, people in Suna already know about us being together. Living together in the same place, going out for dinner, buying groceries, patrol guards seeing us on our occasional walks out in the desert at night. If they knew you were single, I think Hirami and other women would go all love struck just like they do with Gaara." chuckled Asami.
"After what's going to happen today, at least it would be clearer." said Naruto.
Naruto just sat down on the bed, with Asami sitting on his lap, both still gazing at the few stars. The two continued watching, losing the sense of time around them, Asami dozed off after a few minutes. Naruto just kept on holding her and kept on looking outside, now with the grim memories surfacing. How Tsunade and everyone else that he knew would react. The Kyuubi vessel only to realize the current time when he saw the horizon just over the hills were slowly turning light blue. Dawn was approaching. He was just about to wake Asami up when the loud knocks on the door did it for him.
"Oi! Brat! Asami! Wake up!" ranted Kisame as the ex-Akatsuki member knocked on the door even harder. "I hope you two aren't doing what I think you're doing!"
That totally ruined the whole mood.
Samehada's wielder was already ready, down in his usual ANBU uniform unlike the Jounin vest he'd for three days straight. The only thing he kept the same was the usual pair of black pants, with no kunai holster. All four of them only wear their ANBU uniforms when they perform a mission, while Jounin vests and cloaks worn on usual days. Kisame had arm guards, and shin guards. Where he used to wear the warmers on his arms and legs. He didn't wear any fingerless gloves, saying how he would get a better grip on Samehada. No sleeves or any form of shoulder guards, giving him better maneuverability on his arms. He decided to wear his long favorite shark ANBU mask, decorated in waves of ocean dark blue, which was totally going to give away his identity. Then again, everyone already knew who he was ever since they saw Samehada.
Two swords suddenly penetrated the wooden door, with Kisame's head just in between and his hand that knocked door right below Kirimaru. The gray skinned shinobi turned and saw his mouth reflected on the surface on the blade. He bared his white shark teeth, having another check after just brushing his teeth.
Naruto opened the door with a death glare, pulling out the two swords out of the door with ease. Kisame saw Asami groggily rubbing her eyes and mumbling curses, before refreshing up a little in the toilet.
"Good. Both of you have your clothes on. I thought you two were having sex before the mission." Kisame grinning, not caring the killing attempt he'd been through just minutes earlier. "I know how you seem to have unlimited stamina and-"
Naruto slammed the door shut, right in front of Kisame's face, and went to back to his Jounin vest where he stashed his scrolls. Kisame peeked through one of the recently made holes on the door.
"I can see you…" sang Kisame as his eyes had caught on Naruto who just got hold on his weapons pouch and kunai holsters.
Hoshigaki Kisame quickly dived away from the door as it was now full of shurikens and kunais that managed to partially penetrated through the layer of wood. He knew Naruto could've thrown harder, but that was just a sign of warning.
Kabuto just shook his head while at his seat, already knew what was going to happen the moment Kisame walked out of his room to find only the medic-nin sitting there. The medic-nin rose from his seat, and strolled his way into his own room to get ready. Asami, Naruto, and Kabuto took out their desired scroll and let roll down a bit. This time, they had to smear a trail of their blood on the scroll unlike the usual drop. Body armor, arm guards, fingerless gloves with hand guards, and an average mineral bottle.
That's right, an average mineral bottle.
Naruto clamped on his arm guards while Asami just wore her fingerless gloves first. Kabuto in the other room preferred starting off with the pieces of body armor that goes on the chest and the back.
"Need some help?" asked Naruto, grinning, as he watched Asami now moving on with her plate of armor.
"No need. May be you can help me later on when I need to take my clothes off." replied Asami as she finally finished.
Naruto strapped the kunai holsters, one on each thigh. "May be I will."
Lastly, they opened the cap of the mineral bottle and poured out its content. The all brown sand came pouring out to a small heap. It was special, seeing as it was courtesy of their Kazekage, sand and the hardest minerals around from deep underground, those that he'd used in making Gaara's absolute defense. Their fingertips touching the small mass of sand, chakra flowing out and molding the sand like it was clay, into their own ANBU masks. Narrow eyeholes, a design where no two masks are alike, and this time the masks have the insignia of Suna on the forehead just like any forehead protector. Kisame was drinking a cup of coffee when the three made their appearance.
"Coffee anyone?" Kisame held the electric kettle.
"I guess." replied Asami as she sat and poured some herself. Naruto fetched his other set of cloak since the other one was currently being dried.
The four of them were still prepared a little bit earlier than planned, but no one complained. After performing numerous grand missions, none of them ever thought the weirdness of the situation that came before it. Naruto, Asami, Kabuto, and Kisame were actually calm, upon going with the plan of killing Orochimaru in front of over a thousand people.
'Drinking a cup of coffee, right before one of Naruto's craziest yet plans ever. I wonder how the Leaf-nins will react after what's going to happen today.' considered Kabuto, blowing his cup of coffee.
"I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?" asked Asami.
The male shinobis contemplated their current situation, the kunoichi before them wasn't getting grouchy yet. That meant she was just hungry, not starving yet.
"May be you should eat later. Then we can watch you beat the crap out of that bastard snake even harder before he dies." commented Kisame.
Kabuto just took drank his coffee in silence.
"Look in the fridge or something. That bastard might die in quick and painful death if Asami gets to nail a single punch," added Naruto. "The likes of him doesn't deserve such finish."
The ex-Sound-nin slip his hand into his hip pouch, and threw a pill, which Asami caught easily the rather small object easily.
"A food pill?" wondered Asami, she looked at the small crimson circular pill. Already able to differentiate between the various same looking forms of pills, being a soldier pill or blood pill.
Kabuto nodded, "That should be enough. For you, I think it'd probably last until lunch."
Asami just swallowed the pill, drinking in some coffee to get rid of the bitter taste that came every time eating one of those pills.
Kisame raised an eye brow, "I'd be careful if I were. May be that one is one of his experimental pills. He's just as crafty at making pills just how our captain here makes his own seals and jutsus, it's just that most of those things would come with a side effect or something. Last time I tried one, I got constipation for three days straight."
"Why Kisame, I'm hurt." replied Kabuto in sarcasm.
"The fact that you don't eat vegetables, I'm surprised that you don't complain about constipation all the time." said Naruto.
"Let's just say I don't like anything green in color. Everything green I've encountered throughout my life is just plain stupid and annoying." Kisame saying it like it was a curse.
The Kyuubi vessel tried thinking of something green that was would fit Kisame's description. Kisame and Naruto shuddered upon thought, not knowing they were sharing the same idea.
Maito Gai posing with his crazy hairdo, guarding stance, while shining his white teeth, and wearing the skintight green spandex.
Kyuubi winced as the demon watched the thought that bubble up in his vessel's mind.
'Stupid humans…'
A few stairs and rooms away, the three Sand siblings woke up in their own separate rooms, and looked at the scroll that lay on the counter next to their beds. Everyone including Lady Chiyo, Old man Ebizou, and all the Sand ANBU guards received one from Naruto, right before they went to their rooms to sleep.
Each scroll had different tasks for each one to perform.
But they all had something in common, it wrote in the end…
AFTER EVERYTHING LISTED ABOVE IS DONE, JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH.
Okay people, you know the drill. RATE AND REVIEW, and I'll write the story. They're heavily appreciated! I guess there are some major things that have changed, I could use the critics.