Rippling Future
"What is your goal, Bushy brows?"
A beat.
As Lee recalled, Naruto had him reaffirm his goals, to keep reminding him to achieve and risk everything in the name of his beliefs.
"We didn't even have a proper match yet. So I'll be waiting for you."
In his own way, the blonde kept pushing for what Lee had always desired, a way to be recognized as a splendid ninja. Because Naruto understood his position and because Naruto himself had been subjected to the same life, Lee could somewhat understand why Naruto would be saying those words to him.
"Naruto-kun, I thank you for supporting me this far."
"Lee! Know that whatever happens, I and your team will be with you all the way! I will risk everything to make sure you become a ninja once more!"
Gai-sensei had reminded him that in his struggle, that he could never be alone. This was something that even the whole team felt as he was gravely injured. Even Neji, as Gai-sensei had explained, was worried about him. Lee began questioning himself before Gai and Naruto came into view, putting into perspective how hard he had trained and how little he had gained over the years. He couldn't fathom the idea of succumbing to his injury. Of how just a single second, took his entire future away. He could feel himself slipping and wasting away his vigour trying to desperately maintain his health in complete vain knowing that he may never be allowed to become a shinobi again.
But Gai-sensei had reassured him, made him completely sure of himself that he should not fear, he should not falter. For if he gave in now, everything he had been working for would have been for nothing.
"In a flash, my life is forfeit, but if I remain like this, it will be meaningless."
"Are you… Lee-san, by any chance?"
Lee stood quiet all of a sudden when a girl with brown hair stood before him, a hand on her chest looking concerned at him. He looked on in wonder as to why she was looking at him worriedly. She wore a sleeveless purple kimono with the hem just reaching her knees and a pair of wrist bands of the same color. Lee could not help but be awestruck to the beauty that stood before him.
"My name is Kurama Yakumo, and I could not help but ask you of your well-being. For I have seen you train almost every day near my home. I know it must be weird for you to just see me now and notice me, but I have been seeing you and noting your progress. I have seen you push yourself to the brink of exhaustion in your training, tirelessly jog around the village to improve yourself and make a mark in history as a ninja who only uses taijutsu. I know it may not seem much to you right now, but I have been inspired by you to work harder, see to my own goals and follow my own path. I wish to be like you, Lee-san. But if you take it away right now, your effort, it will mean nothing to me anymore. Like you, I wish to fight my destiny so please, whatever it is that must happen, do not give up."
And with those words, Yakumo left. Lee stood there at the edge of the bridge, at a loss for words.
"Through my work, I have raised the spirit of one person. And in my darkest hour, this stranger who has no knowledge of what has happened to me comes to me and tells me that I have inspired her to do the same. Gai-sensei, is this what it felt like when I came to you all those years ago?"
Unnoticed by him, his eyes were closed as he looked down, hands clenched on to his crutches so tight that the wood in them began to splinter.
And in that moment, he had realized, that tears were falling down on his face.
"I have decided; I will go through the procedure."
"I am a rock. And for that, I must be steadfast and unbreakable, unwavering and undeterred; for I am a rock as my name dictates and to that, I must be strong!"
"I WILL BE STRONG!"
Chapter Eleven: Flickering Flames
The light of dawn caressed the morning dew kissed lands of Konoha as the sun rose up. In its wake came the crow of roosters and the chirping of birds.
To Hyuuga Hinata, this was the hour for her training to begin.
As she wore her robes to begin her training, her thoughts began lingering for the day about her progress as a shinobi and as the heiress of the Hyuuga clan. She silently went down to the training dojo, careful not to wake the others who were still very much asleep at this time. When she finally reached her destination, she began to warm up and stretch for a few minutes before finally sliding down to a common jyuuken stance.
As her body fluidly performs every Kata she had practiced oh so many years ago. As she moved with a grace not beholden to anyone else in her clan, her thoughts once more drifted her focus slightly. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, she had indeed improved, but by how much, she was not certain. She could not quantify her increase in aptitude as she had no one else to compare to. As being trained within the house, she had not had a chance to test her skills since the rebuilding of the village began. Although her father would approve knowingly with a nod, she could still not see how far she had gotten in her training.
But during her father's training sessions with her, she had noted of Hiashi's comment that struck her a chord and one that she will never forget.
'Let not even a god stand between you and your goal.'
And the sheer ferocity she had displayed for the many days to come had shown up when she was sparring with her father or with Neji. It was probably the thought of Naruto that drove to such extents that she could overcome all sense of preservation and lose the sense of inhibition.
It was as if SHE was the one who could, if pushed to a certain degree, do things that to others, become unspeakable to them and to herself.
It had frightened her that she could be capable of murdering people in cold blood. Her father said to her once that those who lack the will to kill, lack the will to protect. It may have brought forth an impact that she was not aware of. But she knew she would not let ANYTHING happen to her family and to Naruto. Of that she swore with herself and she will do so without hesitation.
When it was time to activate her doujutsu with a single seal, she looked on in surprise. Now, not only can she see the pathways of her own chakra, but she could see the multiple points to which they dispel through the body.
She had now caught up to Neji's byakugan, she could now see the Tenketsu.
She deactivated her doujutsu and reactivated it in disbelief and what greeted her were the pathways riddled with points that she knew where chakra would be normally out of the body. Her amazement now setting in, Hinata was overjoyed seeing as her eyes had improved in such a short period of time.
Although she may never become as skilful as Neji, she knew that she was eventually going to try.
She activated her bloodline once more to get used to seeing the tenketsu present in her body. Now that this step of the Byakugan has been unlocked, she can now finally learn two important jutsu that she was dying to learn.
She had learned that as any first step in mastering any jutsu, they must study first to understand what jutsu they are about to learn before expanding on it. She sat down on the wooden floor and closed her eyes to meditate and focus on her eyes, to get the feel of using her new Byakugan and to challenge herself further.
Her concentration would last for at least half an hour before she closed her eyes to stop from straining them.
She breathes out a sigh of relief as she got up.
It was time to change and eat breakfast after taking a bath, she had been informed by her sensei before her mission outside that they were going to be having missions again and it would start today. They were to report to the Hokage's office immediately as of eight in the morning. It was now half an hour past six.
She hoped that the mission would be short and uneventful. The excitement of her new Byakugan had brought forth an enthusiasm she had thought she never had.
Hokage Tower:
Uzumaki Naruto gave a yawn as he stretched his arms on the way to the Hokage's office. Flexing his neck side to side, the boy looked over to his right and saw Shikamaru who was yawning the same as him but instead of stretching, he slumped his shoulders down.
"So early in the morning for a summons…" Shikamaru mumbled as Naruto had a bead of sweat at the back of his head.
'I usually start the day at least an hour earlier by comparison, but it's already eight in the morning to be too early.'
It had been almost a week since the inauguration ceremony happened and several more days since his training with Jiraiya begun. The man had done his part of homework by consulting Sarutobi Asuma on the ways to train in elemental chakra and had been subjected to cutting leaves for two days before finally performing a clean cut across the stem of the leaf with the help of his clones.
Jiraiya's teachings were actually much more lecture oriented this time as Elemental training tended to be something that was different from his training with the Rasengan. Jiraiya had to teach him the basics to get creative and had since been supervising the boy's training with it. As of now, Naruto had nearly learned how to apply chakra to a weapon to increase its range and subsequently, offensive power. Jiraiya had told him that Fuuton chakra was so sharp that almost nothing could stop it from cleaving everything in its path.
Another event that occurred during the past few days, Suna and Konoha had come to a decision and a deal. Although Suna had more to lose, they couldn't risk their only jinchuuriki falling to another village's hands. Konoha had one bijuu enough to topple over several countries. They certainly wouldn't need Suna's own jinchuuriki to be used by a village that they had betrayed a few weeks ago.
Gaara, Temari and Kankuro left without much of a goodbye to the people that knew them. Gaara, however, came to say his farewells to Naruto as they were by the western gate with Gaara's promise of aiming for the seat of Kazekage much like what Naruto was doing for the seat of Hokage.
As they knocked onto the door of the Hokage's office, Naruto saw a sight that surprised him. Standing before him were members of his team and team eight. With Sasuke now sporting a real katana just on his back, light white armor that protected his upper torso and a pair white light weight black arm guards that reached just below his elbow as he gave a stoic look at them and then turning towards the Hokage. Sakura was now sporting a longer pair of sandals that reached just slightly below her knee, making it more like a pair of boots than anything else and a pair of black gloves that covered her hands as well as a pair of beige elbow guards.
To the other side, stood team eight with Kiba now sporting a pair of bandages on his hands as Akamaru sat on top of his head while he wore his hood. He wore a pair of black knee guards that overlapped his navy blue pants. From what Naruto could tell, it looked more like Kiba had some form of accident rather than additional accessories for his wardrobe if the band aid to his nose wasn't an indication. Shino, however, now stood with a small corked gourd on his hip and his former jacket was replaced with something with a much duller hoodie. Other than that, nothing has changed much from him.
It was Hinata that caught him off guard. Instead of the baggy, definitely thick sweater that she wore, she wore a much thinner wardrobe that was modest enough but wasn't really that form fitting as the sleeves were still lose enough for her arms and a small obi tied primly on her waist and her usual grey pants that reached just below her knees. Naruto could tell that the long sleeves overlapped her hands as they remained obscure and he could definitely tell that Hinata looked stunning in her current attire.
"Now that you two are here, let's begin."
Tsunade then handed a brown folder to Shikamaru with a label at its upper left corner written as 'C'.
"With the commercial district slowly recovering since the attack, we'd need some people to recommence trading with neighbouring villages and countries to jumpstart our economy again as well establish new ones. We've received a formal letter from Wave Country that they would like to become an economic partner as well and has since provided us with a list of materials that they are willing to trade for some of ours."
She then turned her head and pointed a finger to the two chuunin in the room casually and said, "Unfortunately, Kurenai and Kakashi are pre-occupied with a mission of their own, so your teams are stuck with two team leaders for this mission for them to get a hang of things. Don't worry; this isn't too much trouble, just a simple escort mission of a caravan to Wave Country."
Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto looked at each other and shuddered at the thought.
The last time they took a mission to Wave, it involved the machinations of a corrupt millionaire and his syndicate intent on monopolizing the entirety of the country by violence.
"Tsunade-sama, did anyone bother to proofread the mission?" Sakura asked rather nervously and the woman in question raised her eyebrow at it.
"Don't worry. We've made sure to read through the text this time. The chances of you encountering a shinobi of Zabuza's calibre were one in a million. I doubt it would happen again."
Shikamaru mumbled something about lightning never striking the same place twice, but Naruto chose to ignore it in favour of Kiba whining about something.
"Why do we have to take orders from you two, again?"
And the blonde was looking quite as irate as ever at it.
"It's because we passed the exam that you otherwise failed, mutt boy."
Shikamaru shook his head and held the bridge of his nose.
"Two minutes in and we're already at each other's throats. Do I really have to deal with this?"
Sakura merely scoffed at it, "Try spending a month in my shoes and see if it's bad. Stop being a baby already and be a man. Naruto, don't antagonize anyone anymore."
Naruto merely clicked with his tongue and said, "Fine, I'm taking the high road from here. Let's all meet up at the southern gate within an hour. Pack for several days of travel, we'll probably need it."
Sakura and Kiba looked at each other in surprise as Kiba mumbled, "I've never heard of Naruto conceding to an argument before, what gives?"
Sakura merely replied with a shrug, "You got me there. The Naruto I know would never let even the slightest argument go against his favour."
"Having bigger responsibilities tend to turn someone different, as they say." Shino had butted in causing Sakura to yelp and Kiba to look in exasperation.
"We weren't exactly talking to you there, buddy." Kiba remarked with a bead of sweat at the back of his head.
"Of course, the fact that you were whispering amongst yourselves while I am behind you automatically puts me out on a conversation between friends." Shino remarked as he walked away from the two.
Silence reigned between the two as they went out the office.
"I can't honestly tell if he's sad or mad." Sakura muttered, Kiba had to nod sagely.
"Well, he's probably just sulking. He can't stay mad for long, anyway." Kiba remarked offhandedly and made a note to himself to apologize to Shino later.
Hinata, to her credit, never spoke a word during their conversation, preferring to listen more about Naruto's changed behaviours recently, it probably had to do with his promotion and as Shino said, more responsibilities being given to his shoulders.
Not that Shino ever knew of Naruto's responsibilities that made her all the more attracted to the blonde, but Shino had a point nonetheless concerning many of Naruto's new attitude since after the invasion. Naruto seemed so composed and poised enough that it had started an inquiry within her.
She made it a point to ask Naruto about his recent activities once they were on the move and it would be best if they were alone. She could not handle it if she were to be noticed by not only HER teammates, but with Naruto's as well and the ever guile Shikamaru.
'I must muster my courage more often…' She thought of this mantra over and over again as they went their separate ways and headed for home to pack.
Naruto, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck internally. This was the first time he was about to lead a team for a mission. Sure, it was awesome that he was being recognized as being leader material, but this time, he was going to apply it further than just using his shadow clones on a REAL mission.
Like any person who was tasked into taking a new job or something entirely different, Naruto himself was not immune to the anxiety of pressure. Shikamaru, from what he could see, certainly felt like he was simply hitting his stride well enough but he was just good in acting well under pressure. Too bad for him, the laidback attitude wasn't with him compared to the Nara.
As he thought about the possibilities of what the mission would entail when going to Wave, he had a run in with Rock Lee who was looking much chipper than what he was a few days ago.
"Good morning, Naruto-kun!" Lee greeted with a salute and a grin on his face.
Naruto couldn't help but grin back as well, "Well, what's gotten you in a good mood today, Lee?"
"Tomorrow is the date of my operation, Naruto-kun! It is time that I put this injury behind me. I wish to partake in training once more and become a splendid shinobi for my hard work!"
Naruto had to raise an eyebrow at this, "Just last week you were having a hard time trying to decide what you should do, what changed that?"
To this, Lee's eyes fired up and burned with the all too familiar passion he always had.
"You have reminded me what I should continue to aim for and made it a focus on my goals, Gai-sensei has told me that he and along with my team, they are with me until the very end and for that, I have nothing to fear. But there was this girl, who told me that I inspired her to become better, to be something worth more than she was and modelled her mind set in the same manner as mine but with a different method…"
Lee had tears falling down his face as his free hand clenched into a shaking fist.
"… I was touched by her words and had truly made me desire to take the risk, Naruto-kun. With just my work I was able to inspire her to become better for herself. Do you know how it feels to be acknowledged like that for your effort?"
Naruto could only think of one thing when Lee spoke those words to him.
It reminded him of his conversations with Hinata.
"I kind of do, actually." He said with a smile that was sincere in thought.
"It is more uplifting than any of Gai-sensei's praises and more hearty than a congratulatory message. For once, I am looked upon as a person worth following and for that, I am glad."
As Lee started to limp away, Lee turned back to Naruto, "Please wait for me, my friend and rival, Naruto-kun. I will be healed in no time and soon, we will have our match."
Naruto merely grinned and waved at Lee as he walked away.
An hour later, most of the team for the mission were standing or leaning just beside the gate as the caravan of fourteen wagons stood in line going out.
Once Naruto had arrived, he and Shikamaru had to talk with their employer and begin doing an inventory count.
"Here's the item list of what I have and how many there are in them. They have been arranged by their materials and in nailed crates so you don't have to worry counting every single produce."
The merchant was a rather plump man with black to grey hair of middle age going for his fifties, wearing a long and somewhat regal dark blue yukata with a long sleeved Haori as he handed over the scroll for the inventory.
"Well, it's not like anything is too valuable in the boxes anyway, we're just produce traders and we're sharing some of it for some of their more fine seafood." The man remarked with a laugh as he got up into one of the wagons and continued, "Now then, if we have no more queries, then off we go!"
Once they were on the road, Shikamaru and Naruto both agreed to split up and guard two wagons each. Kiba took the first two, followed by Sasuke then Shikamaru, Sakura, Shino, Naruto and lastly Hinata.
He gave a simple wave at her with a grin and she shyly waved back at him. To the passengers watching this unfold, especially amongst the women inside the wagons, they began gossiping to themselves with words like, 'how cute!', 'Absolutely adorable!', and 'They're perfect!'
The gossiping would continue for at least half an hour until they all exhausted themselves and promptly began to doze off. It was at this time that Hinata had managed to catch up to Naruto, finally mustering up the courage she had within herself.
"N-Naruto-kun, c-can I have a moment of your time?"
Naruto once more had his attention to Hinata who looked at him with a shy but nonetheless sincere smile. Naruto had raised an eyebrow at this and performed a Kage Bunshin to guard his portion of the caravan and slowed down to pace with Hinata's side.
"What's this about, Hinata?"
"C-Congratulations in making chuunin, I-I knew you could do it!" Hinata tried to sound excited at the prospect and she thought she failed to look convincing at that.
Naruto grinned and turned his head upwards looking towards the sky, "Thanks a lot, Hinata. That means a lot to me. I probably never would have beaten Neji if it weren't for you."
Hinata was then reminded of the day that they spoke just before he fought Neji. She shook her head at this, denying herself that she had done anything that deserved credit for Naruto's win.
"I-It wasn't me, Naruto-kun. I-It was about you, y-you beat Neji-nii-san fair and square."
Naruto looked at Hinata still wearing that smile on his face as it turned to a grin, "What are you talking about? You made me affirm just how much I've worked for my position. I can't take all the credit. That would be unfair for you."
"I-I'm sorry, I…"
Naruto merely tapped her shoulder and said, "Stop apologizing, alright? You're a wonderful person. You're absolutely better than what you think you are. I know that and probably everybody that knows you maybe knows that. You just have to see it."
Years of verbal abuse must have left Hinata pretty much a shrinking violet thus her shy nature. Naruto may not be the brightest person in the village, but even he could tell there were signs of abuse on a person, being one of its victims as well.
For a moment, he frowned, the thought of a sweet girl like Hinata being treated that way brought forth anger that he couldn't fathom for a second as he tried to cam himself down.
"N-Naruto-kun?"
A mention of his name brought him out of his dark thoughts. He looked at Hinata who was looking at him with worry and he replied with a smile.
"Don't worry, it's just one of these times that I tend to overthink things. It's just that ever since I've become chuunin, I've been worried over and over if I can even do this right."
Deciding to believe Naruto for now, Hinata merely gave him something reassuring, "N-Naruto-kun, I-I'm sure that you will do fine as chuunin. I-If you're worried about us, I-I understand that and I-I'm happy that you are concerned. B-but please don't carry everything by yourself, t-trust us to do the right thing, okay?"
Naruto then happily gave a nod to Hinata as he said, "I can always feel confident whenever I know that you're with me, Hinata. Thanks."
Hinata simply blushed at his words. Naruto, for his thoughts, remembered something as they walked along with the caravan.
"This reminds me of the time when we first came to Wave Country." Naruto quipped out loud as Hinata looked at him curiously.
"I-I've heard the stories from other people that the m-mission details were falsified." Hinata had quipped and Naruto nodded.
"Yeah, but I understood Old Man Tazuna at the time. He wanted to free his people from Gato's dirty hands." Naruto said, recalling the bitter memories of Wave Country. The day that he had lost his grand vision of what it was like to be a real shinobi. Granted, he still dreamed of the great adventures that literally made up of his childish fantasies, but the day he saw people getting killed during that time was like a stone thrown at an ornate and fragile glass.
It made him seem weak to the world at large.
"I-Is that why you chose to continue the mission?" Hinata asked, seemingly worried over him about what he had encountered during that time. But she could somewhat tell that Naruto was handling it well enough.
"Yeah, that is part of it. I just couldn't take Gato's way of bullying the people of Wave lying down. Somehow, Gato had to be stopped one way or another."
Thus, he told the tale of his team's mission to Wave Country in his point of view, he left no detail out such as encountering Inari and even Haku who he had disclaimed as mistaken for a girl. At first, Hinata felt quite jealous of the fact that Naruto had eyed on someone who he described as 'prettier than most girls he knew' but quickly somewhat giggled when Naruto explained to him that he had been fooled into thinking that Haku was a woman.
Naruto, even if it was for his expense, laughed embarrassingly at that story when Hinata giggled. He felt so at ease with this person.
Then came the time he had told him about the fight he had with Haku and teaming up with Sasuke. Naruto explained everything in vivid detail at that one as his memories were a little vague on that particular event. He had recalled losing control of his emotions and feeling the rush of battle burning in his veins like quicksilver. Hinata once more, looked worriedly at Naruto as he seemed to drift off in that memory lane as his features darkened. It didn't look like Naruto was being warm all of a sudden. She was looking at his face fading to a sense of stoicism and inner fear that she had never seen before in him. When she looked into those deep blue eyes, they were whose eyes resembled closely to Gaara, Sasuke and even her cousin Neji. It was a terrifying sensation altogether. A side of Naruto that she clearly hadn't seen ever, it was dark, empty and filled with a void that was slowly consuming his sanity.
"I could feel the ice shattering from my punch. What Sasuke couldn't beat down, I destroyed so easily in that state of anger. It was a different feeling, it was too strong. The Kyuubi had injected his chakra with mine and amplified my anger so much that all I could see was red. It was a dark place, Hinata. Something that even today, it scares me very much. If I even stumble and sink deep, I don't even know if I can ever come back up again."
He looked into his right hand as it clenched into a fist, remembering the claws that grew at his nails as he swiped at Haku's mask in feral anger and unstoppable rage. Blood was pouring from his hand, a mixture of his and Haku's blood well within them. Of course, he knew well enough of Kurama's tendencies to manipulate his emotions to a certain degree and he knew that even if he was like that he had to find a way for him and his prisoner to get along just for Kurama to stop such torture.
Hinata, in a moment of courage, held his clenched fist with both her hands.
"Do not hold on to those memories anymore, Naruto-kun. You are here today, you are alive, and you are safe. You do not have to keep this within you."
"That's not it, Hinata, what if… What if I hurt anyone I cared for in that moment? What if for some reason, I hurt you with it? It's too much even for me." Naruto said as he stopped his eyes closed and couldn't bear the thought of hurting his most precious people.
"Then we must learn. Like we always have and you will find a way. I know you, Naruto-kun. I know you so much that every time you keep struggling, that it too, becomes my struggle just to understand what you are going through. I cannot fathom the burden placed upon you, but I can be here to help you. I will not be afraid of you, Naruto-kun. No matter what, I'll be with you. Because you are…"
In this moment, she was blushing hard due to her shy demeanour. But her smile had truly shown forth. Naruto looked at Hinata in such a new light at this very moment. He could feel himself fading away from his own worries.
"Because you are also precious to me."
Ba-dump
It was in this moment that Naruto felt his heart beat faster to, in his personal view, a radiant and glowing sight. In turn he had to hide a growing blush on his own cheeks as he looked away.
'Was Hinata… Always this pretty?'
Naruto couldn't recall the time that he paid attention to her. He can blame his weak attention span for that when he was younger. It had hit him like a ton of bricks of how much he had missed someone like Hinata, for all her meekness and shy nature, she was possibly the one that he could have grown to have a bond with deeper than most of his other friends just like with Iruka.
Regrets were possibly the one thing Naruto didn't want in his life. For all of his very limited things that he would always consider important, regrets were the last thing he had wanted in his life. His own reminders to not take things for granted sometimes couldn't be applied to himself. He sighed as he thought of what a waste it was to squander away all that he could have ever wanted in one person who accepted him wholeheartedly in his own age group.
'Did Iruka-sensei have an idea when we were still in the academy? What would he think about Hinata?'
Hinata however, held on to his right hand firmly but also gently as possible. What she was doing was strictly out of her own nature. But if Naruto could afford to be someone who looked like he wanted peace of mind, who, as she had known, become as every bit of human as anyone else and who could have very well had become someone else entirely, then she was entitled to become a person who he could lean on and put him at ease, someone who he could talk to even beyond that of Sasuke and Sakura.
Their thoughts were completely derailed when they heard several women gasped and gave a quiet squeal inside the wagons as they looked at both Naruto and Hinata.
The two shinobi merely blushed and just as quick as lightning, Hinata had let go of Naruto's hand and stared at the ground she was walking on. Naruto had to quicken his pace and go back to his original post as Hinata did the same.
Naruto for the first time, looked at his right hand and the image of his clawed hand were changed with his normal one but now, Hinata's hands were present there and her lingering touch had made him feel somewhat disappointed that it could not last much longer.
Soon, it was nightfall and the group had to take set up camp while the shinobi had begun setting up traps and drawing lots on who should take the nightly watch. Shikamaru was disturbed when the leader of the caravan had called for him to ask a few questions with a nervous laugh.
"I am deeply sorry for disturbing your operations, shinobi-san. But my wife and my daughters are here hounding me with questions and all."
Shikamaru sighed, "What is it about?"
One of the girls, the youngest, Shikamaru presumed, had raised her hand and asked him, "Who is that boy with the blonde hair?"
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at this, "That's Uzumaki Naruto, he's like me, a newly promoted chuunin. May I inquire as to why you are asking about him?"
It was then that the women began to swarm him with questions that involved his peer. Shikamaru had cursed his luck and Naruto then and there.
'Damn you, Naruto. Because of you, I'm in hell!'
After setting up their traps, the shinobi had agreed to rest with Kiba taking the first shift as they all went to their respective tents.
Before he had left to take to the treetops, Kiba noticed a peculiar event ever since leaving Konoha.
He had gathered that it was more out of casual talk than anything else, but Hinata was almost never one for such things as she was the type to listen more and speak later much like Shino was. If anyone was the one to start a conversation, it was him. Yet from what he had observed, Hinata and Naruto were beginning to trade words well enough as if they were the longest of friends.
He had raised his eyebrows at this. Then when they were setting up traps and gathering dried wood for a fire, Naruto and Hinata came back together and almost ignored them once they dropped the pile of wood that they had collected.
"Curious…" He muttered.
Great, now he was mumbling in the same rhetoric like Shino. Whatever the hell it is that Naruto has done to his teammate; it certainly seemed to improve the chemistry that existed between them. So Kiba had one thing in mind as he got to the treetops.
"Well, if it gets Hinata out of her shell, then I'm all for it. She needs it after all."
Morning had come from what was a peaceful evening. The merrymaking of the merchant family was very lively the night before but it was not unbearable for the ninja to rest their bodies. By now, Sasuke had noted that they were already past halfway on their trek to Wave and they would be arriving later this afternoon. He noticed the atmosphere was getting slightly cold as they went and the merchants had explained that this was the time where winter was fast approaching.
He was glad to have read the mission report and had packed well enough just in case he might need it. Looking back, he saw the same equipment being brought out by his current teammates and even Naruto packed to bring his as well.
'The harshest of teachers gives his lessons well. The life of a shinobi changes everyone, even the most staunch and most stubborn of shinobi always fall to the hands of change. There are no exceptions.'
Those words were uttered by his father who had warned him of the impending change that any shinobi will go through in their life and Sasuke gladly took those words with him as this was the last lesson his father had told him before he was killed.
Sasuke shook his head. It would not do well to recall painful memories that involved his family while on a mission. A simple distraction could cost him dearly.
Once they had arrived in Wave Country, they were met with a sign on an arc that perplexed most of his teammates and excited Naruto.
"AWESOME, THEY NAMED A BRIDGE AFTER ME!" Naruto was shouting and pointing to the name of the bridge while Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose while shaking his head.
'Great, we wouldn't be hearing the end of this while we're here.'
Looking over at Kiba, he noticed the canine lover had figuratively dropped his jaw on the floor as he was looking over at the sign that stretched wide at the entrance.
"Gah."
"Breathe, Kiba." Shino reminded but was only met with a single incomprehensible phrase.
"Gah."
Naruto held a steady grin as the group crossed the bridge to the other side. Once they were finally in what was officially Wave Country, the townspeople quickly recognized Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura and were promptly swarmed over by the people of Wave.
"They're back, the heroes of Nami!"
Pretty soon, the whole town was flocking towards the members of Team Seven particularly to Naruto who even had a following in the country in the form of young women swooning over as he was ganged up by the over appreciative mob.
"Naruto-sama!"
Shikamaru looked on with a bead of sweat at the back of his head while Kiba was shaking in pure jealousy to his friend and current superior.
"Well he's been busy." Shikamaru remarked, and then something chilled him to the bone as if he was feeling as if the shinigami was walking beside him. The hair on the back of his neck was standing upright as he glanced to his right peering at Hinata who was only smiling while her eyes were closed. She was unleashing a little bit of her killing intent without even knowing about it as she looked on at the crowd. Akamaru was cowering beneath Kiba's hood and covered his head with his forelegs and decided not to show himself until the bloody violence was over.
"It would be prudent if we disperse the crowd. We would not want an incident to occur during our stay here, Shikamaru-san."
Shino reminded as the other chuunin sighed and gave in to Shino's advice to disperse the crowd. But seeing as they were relentless, Shikamaru wasn't so sure on intervening much. Those ladies were all savagely eyeing his blonde teammate.
"Naruto-nii-san!"
The seven shinobi all turned around and saw a kid with a fisherman's cap running towards them while waving his hand. The boy had a slightly spiky pattern for his jet black hair, almost reminiscent of an Uchiha, but this one looked much more sociable than the only actual Uchiha that they personally knew.
Sasuke couldn't help but scowl for some reason.
"Inari!" Naruto quickly recognized the boy and gave the child a high-five.
"You're back! And you brought more friends with you!" The boy pointed out with a grin, glad to have seen his brother figure once more.
Naruto returned the boy's grin with his own and replied, "Well, we're officially on a mission in Nami no Kuni. Can we maybe go to your grandpa's place so we can talk?"
Inari nodded immediately and dragged the shinobi towards the house of their former client.
Sasuke then thought it best to stay behind and guide the merchants to their destination and current lodgings before catching up with the rest of the team.
When they began scouring the town, Sasuke noticed that the price of the shops significantly dropped. The former destitute small town in shambles back then was slowly recovering, with electricity back in every home and the shacks began turning to proper and strong housing projects. The town's overall depressed atmosphere was now being replaced by a much more welcoming bunch of people.
The small fishing town was slowly turning into something worthwhile for many other people.
'No one is exempted to change, everything changes sooner or later.'
Sasuke thought, he could hear the laughter of children and several villagers echoing in his head as they travelled throughout town. His hands in his pockets, Sasuke turned to the right and then casually pointed their clients to an affordable but good inn.
Sasuke turned back, having done his job and vanished from the scene in nothing but a cloud of white smoke.
Tazuna's house:
Naruto whistled as he looked at the house that was once humble. From what he could see, the house that stood just outside of the small fishing town was expanding. Lumber was neatly stacked just behind or near the house and it looked like Tazuna decided to add another floor to his house as well.
"Are you super impressed by the architecture, brat?"
Naruto turned to the source of the voice as did most of his colleagues and saw an old man standing just behind him. His features were as Naruto had callously described, an old man with messy silver to white hair, a pair of glasses for his blurring vision, a moustache connecting with his beard forming a goatee, wearing plain brown clothing suitable for his occupation and a gourd of Sake on his right hand.
Like from what Sakura and Naruto can remember Tazuna, he still reeked of alcohol, much like their current Hokage only less pleasant to look at.
"Grandpa!" Inari, exuberant of seeing his grandfather, ran to the old man with a grin on his face as Naruto looked at the old man with a grin on his face.
"Tazuna-san! It's been a while, we're so glad to see you!" Sakura greeted with a smile, but she stayed far away as possible. The man reeked of alcohol and in no way was she going to get close to the man who made the thing part of his system already.
"That you, Sakura? What'd you do with your hair?" Tazuna asked as he squinted his eyes at the girl as he walked over to them.
"I thought your teammate liked long hair. Suddenly had a change of heart and decided to move on?" The old man continued, Sakura just shook her head as to what Tazuna was implying.
"It's not like that, Tazuna-san. I sort of had an incident a few months back when we were taking the chuunin exams."
Tazuna had that 'ooohhh' expression on his face as turned to Naruto and asked him about his current life.
"What happened to the orange, brat? Please tell me you wizened up and threw that monstrosity away." Tazuna remarked as Naruto's grin never faltered but a tick mark appeared just behind his head. To his back, Shikamaru and Kiba were laughing their asses off.
'Assholes.'
"Actually, most of my getup was ruined a few months back. But I still have some orange with me after I was promoted." Naruto then unfastened his vest to show the orange part of his long sleeved shirt.
Tazuna scratched his chin for a moment and then answered, "Well, it wouldn't be the same brat if he changed so suddenly in a few months. And a promotion? Don't tell me you actually have a head on those shoulders now!"
To this, Kiba and Shikamaru were already supporting each other with their hysterical laughter.
Another tick mark was added just behind his head.
'I swear to the Sage, if those two idiots laugh any harder I'll tear their guts out!'
Tazuna looked behind the blonde and saw several new faces. Four to be exact, he looked back to the blonde and gave a small grin. Friends were good to have. He had heard from their sensei that the boy was possibly as lonely as they come. He had put up walls most would never be able to break and his mind was completely locked down to those who were willing to open up to him. It wasn't really noticeable until Kakashi had pointed it out. The constant smiles and the sociable behaviour that the boy displayed were more than likely to be false constructs and a defence of the mind to not leave itself completely insane. In a way, Naruto may be stable, but that stability hung by a very thin and very poor thread.
In a way, the boy was far, far more messed up than his other teammate.
"Where's your other teammate?"
Naruto shrugged, "He's escorting our clients to a nice inn that they could stay in for several days. We'll be here for a few more days so we've packed for a week's worth of supplies."
Tazuna nodded, straightened up and walked towards his house, calling out his daughter as he did so.
"The extra guest rooms are all finished. You and your friends can stay there. No need to spend money on an inn, my boy. You're in luck too! We're having a festival in just two days!"
"Yeah! You could stay with us and maybe you could tell us all your adventures during your stay!" Inari butted in, eager to have Naruto inside their home once more.
"Oh no, we don't mean to impose…" Sakura was first to try and turn down that proposal as soon as possible but Tazuna shrugged it off.
"Please, I now have more money than what I can do with it. Since being free from Gato, we've been having a large influx of cash in trade and commerce. Let's talk about this more inside once your other teammate gets here."
A few minutes later, Sasuke had arrived and Tazuna once more gave a callous comment. Sasuke didn't seem to care though and roughly just ignored the frivolities of a drunkard that he had come to know for the past few months.
Once inside, Naruto introduced everyone to Tazuna's family and vice versa. It was then that Tazuna asked for another question.
"Your sensei is not with you?"
The three shook their heads, Sakura was the one to inform him, "Kakashi-sensei is on another mission. We're stretched thin since the invasion."
Tazuna seemed to nod at that, "Ah, I've heard about that. Frankly, I was worried about your team when news came out that Konoha was invaded by two nations with one of them being a major village at that. I trust everything turned out okay?"
The Konoha shinobi all had different expressions, Shikamaru was the one who answered, "We managed to weather the storm but we've lost a lot of comrades from the attack, including our Hokage."
Tazuna's seemed to recall an old man who wore a strange hat as he read his mission profile. He seemed nice enough from what Tazuna could tell.
"You have my condolences then."
In their small talk, they talked about what happened during the invasion, each shinobi told their story from their point of view right up until the climactic battle between Naruto and Gaara.
To say that Inari was impressed was an understatement.
Their small talk turned from the exploits of the Konoha shinobi to the surging economy of Nami no Kuni.
The old man had stated that their fishery was one of their main economic strengths and provided more money and food on the table than any of their other monetary exploits. Gato's floating funds were a great jumpstart for Nami no Kuni. The money was used to improve a whole lot of things that the townspeople needed to repair damaged tools and boats for fishing. They didn't have to spend a whole lot or didn't spend anything at all to revitalize their town. In what seemed to be an impossible task turned easier with the money Gato left behind.
"It's all thanks to this little thing." Tazuna then showed to them a small black marble like object and placed it on the table.
"A black pearl, huh? I bet this thing sells quite a ton. No wonder you all got back to your feet so quickly" Shikamaru remarked, looking at the black pearl in his fingers as he picked it up.
Tazuna gave a nod, "A whole lot, actually. Because of this, we've managed to get more agricultural products ranging from grain to vegetables and even livestock. The cost of living has decreased greatly and many of the people here aren't starving anymore, labor has become quite stable and I don't usually have to struggle for lumber supplies anymore what with the bridge and all."
It was easy to forget that the old drunkard was also a business man.
"That being said, I now understand why Gato was hell bent on controlling this place. He saw something and that something turned out to be a natural resource that we had in our midst and also to have a strong foothold for his organization. He was making Nami no Kuni the centre point of his supposed empire." The old man then turned his attention back to the pearl once Shikamaru handed it over to him.
"A single pearl like this costs millions of Ryo due to its rarity and oddity. Many noblemen and women use this as a status symbol of wealth and power. Pretty damn useless, if you ask me, nobles are flamboyant like that. I'm surprised this thing is worth so much. I'd have probably traded this for some Sake over here."
Sasuke scowled at the old man's story, "Won't bandits try their luck and pillage this town?"
Tazuna gave a sigh, "That's unfortunately one of the problems the country has right now and it will probably get worse as this country gets better. So far, the bandits around here have been few to minimal and it's nothing we can't handle. But I don't know how much longer we can hold them off until we need to ask for some help. I heard that some of the members of those bandits were remnants of Gato's thugs."
He slightly turned his sights towards Naruto as subtly as possible, possibly trying to guilt trip him once more. Sasuke rolled his eyes at this while Sakura flinched.
Shikamaru however, quickly picked up on the cue and said, "We'd be willing to lend our services, for a certain price."
Shino nodded his head, "As we should. We will be keeping this under the books however, as this is a kind of transaction that is not an official one approved by the Hokage."
Tazuna seriously had the nerves to jump back but didn't act on them when he remembered they also had an obscure looking ninja with them as well.
Shikamaru and Naruto looked at Shino before the two looked at each other with a single nod.
"So who's going to make the call?" Kiba asked, Shikamaru and Naruto were looking at each other.
The smarter of the two then explained his thoughts on the matter, "This is basically a mission that isn't listed so whatever we encounter, we are on our own and we don't know the first thing about our enemies. If you don't want to be punished, then sending for reinforcements is not a good idea if push comes to shove. On the other hand, we can establish a good trade route here and expand further our economic partnership with Nami no Kuni. This is a high-risk, high-reward scenario. If I were to make a call, I'd say we just skip this whole troublesome thing, ask for back up and let them handle it, but I'm not the only one here who can have a decision."
All eyes turned to Naruto who was looking at them with that emotion as if he was asking if something was wrong.
"I don't see the problem with helping them."
Kiba then added his opinion on it too, "Well, sure. Why not? It's not like we're going to deal with dangerous ninja over here."
Shikamaru held the bridge of his nose, "That would have to be determined. Nami no Kuni is a fast rising nation economically in the continent, Kiba. You think that Kiri and Kumo would not have heard of this by now? Don't kid yourself."
Sasuke then said his piece, "Kiri is too busy with their civil war, last time I checked. And Kumo would have to cross either a vast ocean or Hi no Kuni's borders to get here. This is a good opportunity to test ourselves. We can write this as an unfortunate encounter with the local bandits; no harm, no foul."
"What about sleeper agents? Possibly from Tsuchi no Kuni?" Sakura asked.
"It's a possibility, but it's a far stretch. Tsuchi no Kuni has been quiet for a long time and recently one of their biggest major economic giants is the mining industry and that is a boon for them. Going to Nami no Kuni is completely unnecessary. But like Sasuke said, they would have to cross Hi no Kuni's border first before they make it to Nami no Kuni." Shikamaru replied.
"T-Then our biggest concern would be…" Hinata trailed off as she understood what Shikamaru was now concerned about.
Shikamaru finished the statement for her, "Missing nin who are looking for an opportunity to get rich quick."
Naruto looked at Sasuke and Sakura and grinned, "So, initially like Zabuza?"
The two nodded and replied at the same time, "Like Zabuza."
With that agreement, the shinobi took Tazuna's offer for a much heftier price for the mission.
Outside the country:
Black cloaks emblazoned with red clouds swayed with the wind as their backs were turned from the country. Two individuals, wearing straw hats covered their faces as the paper like material dangling at the edge of their headgear swayed along with their cloaks. The only distinguishing feature from the two of them was the triple bladed scythe that was placed diagonally on the back of one of the men and the other with a rut sack.
"This has to be the shitiest mission I've had since I've joined this stupid group. I seriously had nothing to offer as a sacrifice for Jashin-sama for this! Why is it even called a mission? This is a fucking fetch quest!" The one with the scythe ranted on while the other one, another man with a baritone voice replied to his partner callously.
"Hidan, quit your whining and shut up."
The man with a scythe, now identified as Hidan, replied, "Hey, fuck you, Kakuzu! Unlike you, you atheistic rat, I have a dogma to fulfil as a follower of Jashin-sama! A hedonistic fucker like you can never fully understand those of the religious!"
"Religion is merely a congregation of simpletons who simply cannot have the logic to question something that doesn't even exist. You'd behave like me too, if you actually had any brains inside of that hollow head." Kakuzu replied.
"BLASPHEMOUS HEATHEN, THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE, KAKUZU!" Hidan shouted as Kakuzu merely glanced at his partner with an irritated look.
"Hidan, if you don't shut up, I'm going to pull your head out of your shoulders in the most painful way possible."
"BRING IT, BLASPHEMER!" Hidan shouted, Kakuzu then said, "Don't think that I'm not going to do it too, Hidan. I just went and started up shop that has black pearls in the market and it was pushing my patience just for the organization. Do not piss me off."
Kakuzu sighed, why was he always the one stuck with newbies and idiots?
He had set up agents within Nami to have an organized group of taking black pearls and selling them at exorbitant prices to other countries. They were basically smuggling these pearls outside the country and selling them high enough to attract any idiot that would actually buy them.
All of the money they earn would be funnelled to Ame to support the Akatsuki's funding. Kakuzu would have settled for hunting bounties, but even that would be an even bigger problem as they would have no sustainable source of income. They wouldn't know how long Tsuchi no Kuni would be seeking for their services. So he settled with this little project.
On what seemed to be a devolving conversation between him and his partner, Kakuzu had the mind to not get into a fight with his newly recruited teammate. He had killed the last two and their leader was somewhat angered from his actions. If he were to continue such acts, then the leader warned him that he was becoming as much as a nuisance to the organization as a whole.
And the leader didn't want dead weights in his little club. Kakuzu soon understood that any more mistakes and it would be his head that will roll figuratively and literally.
It didn't occur to the two members of Akatsuki that one of their prime targets had just arrived in Nami no Kuni and they (him and Hidan) had just left the country via the sea route.
Two days later, Naruto's group had gone to the festival. All of them were given yukatas and additional accessories to their stay as per Tazuna's generous offering. Many of them refused to depart with most of their dangerous equipment for protection. They knew not to be taken off guard without a weapon at arm's reach should the need arise. It was here that Kiba began noticing his female teammate wasn't around with them much compared to Naruto.
He would frequently see Hinata being dragged throughout the festival by Naruto who looked like he was having fun. Much like how Naruto had left Sakura and Sasuke to do their own thing.
"Shino, is it just me? Or is Hinata spending a little too much time with Naruto all of a sudden?" Kiba asked, Shino nodded his head.
"That would be the case, since the start of this mission, Hinata-san has been spending majority of her time with Naruto-san for a while. Should we be concerned? We most likely shouldn't. I have faith in Naruto-san to respect Hinata-san's wishes. Out of all of us, it is Naruto-san who has shown the most growth after all."
Kiba grumbled at that. Why was Naruto so popular all of a sudden? It didn't make sense. The boy was loud and obnoxious, had a way to piss people off without even trying and pranked people on occasion when they were in the academy. Sure, he may have done something that may have been worthy of recognition, the bridge is a testament to that, but this was Uzumaki Naruto.
"I sense envy and frustration within you, Kiba. I take that you find Naruto-san's sudden rise to a respectable shinobi a baffling phenomenon?" Shino asked and Kiba turned his head to his teammate and sighed.
"Maybe. It's just hard to believe at certain times."
Just then, Shino spoke to him with all the wisdom that he could muster for a twelve year old.
"Nothing is impossible, Kiba."
"Shino, you haven't spent enough time with Naruto not to know what he's like. You get what you already see in that guy. He's as transparent as an open book, no more, no less." Kiba remarked. Shino raised an eyebrow at this.
"And whose fault is it that I don't spend enough time with my comrades? I should also remind you that all creatures create facades to defend themselves. It is to preserve their own health and in consequence, their own survival. There are no exceptions to this rule, not even Naruto-san. I believe the term is coined as 'defense mechanisms'. What you see is merely a small part of a person. You would be surprised at the subtle hints of understanding that Naruto-san seems so inclined to have."
"And you notice this, how?" Kiba asked his teammate and friend, Shino adjusted his sunglasses and turned back.
"A shinobi must leave no stone unturned." Was Shino's vague answer. Kiba, meanwhile, just decided to leave it at that. Shino had never given him a vague answer, his teammate and friend was always straight to the point and by using one of the rules that the academy had set to him, it made Kiba back off and respect Shino's refusal to answer him well.
If Shino didn't want to tell him, then it means that his teammate wanted him to find the answers all on his own.
This annoyed Kiba somewhat. But even if he did try to pry in further, Shino would not budge from his disposition.
Naruto and his team managed to stay for a few more days until the trading negotiations with the merchants were done. The extra work that they had put on driving potential bandits out of Nami no Kuni's doorstep had given their team the additional cash and more reasons for Nami to keep hiring Konoha shinobi for security reasons in the possible future, has been the reason why Nami no Kuni had more than willingly sealed the deal.
It would take another two days for Naruto's team to finally make it back to Konoha at a relaxed face. Naruto had kept smiling as he and his team with the exception of Sasuke, began talking about their wonderful experiences during Nami no Kuni's festival.
'I wish days like these would last forever.' Naruto thought with sentiment as they entered the village through its massive southern gate. He saw his friends go to their own directions one by one while Sasuke vanished in a cloud of smoke. Naruto didn't have the energy left to argue with Sasuke and he had much more important things to do like filling up the mission report along with Shikamaru.
For now, his home awaited him.
Unknown Location:
Kakashi looked at the dank stone walls with familiarity of the headquarters for the ANBU. Beside him was Sasuke, sword strapped on his back. Kakashi noted that the boy was confident enough to have hold of the sword, made from a chakra amplifying metal no less.
In truth, he knew that Sasuke's training with him was not enough for the boy. Along with the physical and academic skill, comes a certain mental fortitude that should be developed. And none can bring anyone to the brink of mental exhaustion than the ANBU who are trained to endure so much stress and pain in fulfilling the orders of the Hokage.
This was what Sasuke needed the most.
"Kakashi-sempai, what brings you here?"
Kakashi looked up, a member of the ANBU was looking the same at him while crouching on the ceiling. The ANBU member was wearing the standard clothes and white armor all the while wearing a white porcelain bird mask that seemed durable despite its composition. From what Sasuke could tell, the mask pattern resembled closely to that of a falcon.
"Ah, Falcon, I'm assuming you're the ANBU commander now? Has Tiger left his post? What about Rabbit?" Kakashi asked, the ANBU member shook his head to all the questions and answered him in a flat tone.
"I am one of the primary trainers here in the squad. Tiger has not left his post; I surmise that he intends to retire as an ANBU operative unless the Hokage wishes it wouldn't be so. Rabbit is on leave and currently going on a training trip on her own to perfect her fallen lover's sword style. I do not usually engage in small talk, sempai. You asking me questions wastes time, and you should know well not to waste mine with idle talk."
Kakashi nodded and gave an apology, "Forgive me. But I did come here on business."
Inside his mask, Falcon was raising an eyebrow.
"I am assuming that you wish to introduce your student first to a highly classified facility with a purpose."
Falcon then pointed to his student flatly while Kakashi nodded.
'This is it, once I leave this place, Sasuke will be thrown into the wolves' den. He will be pushed to the brink that even I won't be able to control. He will be literally on his own from here on out. He will only appear when the Hokage asks him to and be on team missions where Sasuke will be assigned to.'
Kakashi then continued to speak as he cleared his throat, "I came to you to introduce you to a good potential recruit into ANBU. I hope you can shape him into a shinobi loyal to nothing but the Hokage and Konoha."
Silence reigned on the three of them, until the one identified as the trainer spoke in a manner smoother than fine silk.
"Genin are usually not recommended here, Kakashi-san. Perhaps the time outside has dulled your senses concerning prospective members of ANBU.
Kakashi shook his head, "No, I made my decision with much deliberation and talks as I could have. He's ready for it."
Falcon stood there quietly once more to listen to Kakashi's word about his student being prepared for ANBU. Falcon almost certainly did not feel that venue.
"ANBU live at the edge of the sword, Kakashi-sempai. No matter what you do, no one is prepared to be gutted like a fish. No one can be prepared to be part of the ANBU."
Falcon then gestured for Sasuke to come at his place. The boy followed suit and Sasuke know stood face to face with Falcon.
"During your stay here, expect to be treated like the lowest of the low. You are a mere trainee, you do not have the right to even be enlisted and wear the masks for your missions or even taking missions at all with an official ANBU directive. You are our sweeper, a cleaner, a substitute. If you wish to be treated fairly, then tough luck, I will decide if you can even lick my sandals."
Sasuke merely flinched at those words as Kakashi's back now turned at him while heading out of HQ and giving a casual goodbye.
Kakashi would most likely come once more to give a few pointers but needless to say, Sasuke would be trained majority by the ANBU's training officers and he best better prepare himself if he wanted to grow strong.
After all, they say true strength is measured when your own life is at stake.
Root HQ unknown:
The light from the candle flickered as Danzo steadied himself and the winds rushed at the top most bridge while a shinobi appeared behind him, kneeling at him as he turned.
"You have a mission. I want you to go undercover and monitor the jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tailed Beast. If it becomes a burden or perceived as a threat to the village, then until he is assimilated by the Kyuubi, you must take action and neutralize your target or if incapacitated, bring him to our southern bunker. Should anyone bother to ask or notice you, then you will simply be known as Sai. That will be your cover name."
To be continued…
Twenty-five pages for my hobby, two hundred for work. My bags are getting to me. This was supposed to have been released earlier in January but I got caught up with hospital work and then preparations for the papal visit (part of the medical team of volunteers). We had to run drills and oral recitations to remind us what we need to do during trauma scenarios, the most common cause and what we should be looking out for. A bit redundant if you ask me but that happens when you're part of a team for someone as highly profiled as the head of the Catholic Church. It's an experience worth having though, as you are basically performing triage and interventions where adequate medical care is impeded and the only facility you have is a paramedic ambulance… That is surrounded by FIVE MILLION PEOPLE.
Chapter Preview:
"Do you think she'll like it, Iruka-sensei?"
"You are trash if you think a genin like you could enter ANBU, why don't you just quit while you're on ahead? Shinobi exist for their village, and your motives, while understandable, must never come first before serving your village. DO NOT JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF YOUR HOME! YOU ARE A SHINOBI OF KONOHA BEFORE YOU ARE UCHIHA SASUKE!"
"You have run out of places to hide, Naruto-kun."
"I can't die here!"
Alright everyone seems to ask basically of what Naruto will be getting in terms of jutsu since most of you are finding it lacking for Naruto's repertoire.
Solvdrage, in particular, received a reply on basically how I manage and put in jutsu for characters and I answered them when he wasn't even asking for it but rather with something different. We had a pleasant talk and I am particularly stumped with his enthusiasm here.
Let's list, Naruto's current arsenal of ninjutsu first:
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu
Kuchiyose no Jutsu
Fuuton: Tenrin
Rasengan
Kawarimi
Henge
In my observations, just having Kage Bunshin, Rasengan and Tenrin alone make Naruto a deadly force to begin with. Most people will be overwhelmed and struck down by the unnaturally large quantities of clones from the blonde and then finishing it off with a Rasengan or god forbid combining Tenrin and Rasengan and multiplying it with Kage Bunshin. Kage Bunshin is, as I stated in earlier chapters, a boon for Naruto. By fight logic standards, Kage Bunshin alone is hard to beat even with highly trained martial artists. Especially if used efficiently, Kage Bunshin becomes a technique not for cannon fodder meatshields but for tactical takedowns, disarming, positioning and much more. A highly expendable army but a competent one, means an army that can take down an entire nation's military might if he so wishes without as much a waste. Generals would be salivating at such an asset if he can be controlled. He's certainly powerful and useful and the trick is how you play with it, not how you blast everything away with it.
But of course, we still have people who think this isn't enough, who think that he should have more. That he should be more powerful than canon or in this one. I daresay that he already is powerful even before learning the Rasengan. The general overview of what I see in the current roster, Naruto could beat anyone even Sasuke and Neji without Kurama's support. So what if Sasuke has Katon? It's not like it has done him any favours throughout the series especially in part one where it doesn't even do anything unless it's cannon fodder. Sasuke's Katon are more or less for long range capabilities and not even close range which Naruto can easily get into with Tenrin since he loves getting up close and personal with his battles (bonus for Naruto since he can do mid-range as well). Sasuke's Katon is pretty much only meant for projectiles in part one and nothing much else is needed to be said about it.
Someone else even got mad at me for even thinking that the Toad Summons are enough for Naruto's familiars and I somewhat understand your anger but really, let's look at this MORE objectively and answer this question, what animal summon has the most fleshed out characterization and more versatile arsenal than literally EVERY FUCKING SUMMON in the Naruto world? If your answer is the toads, then you are correct. Having a complete series has the benefit of reviewing particular chapters back to back especially when doing something like this. How many weapons have the toads shown us?
Discounting Gamahiro's twin blades, they have three handheld weapons, a knife, a twin sword set, and a spiked staff. How many elemental jutsu? Let's review them, shall we?
Suiton: Teppoudama
Katon: Gamayu Endan
Katon: Endan (If we're counting fillers)
Fuuton: Sunabokori
Senpo: Goemon
There's more ninjutsu but they're not exactly elemental in nature anyway.
And that's not to say they even have the Genjutsu part down pat too with Magen: Gama Rinsho
What does Manda have? Skin shedding, underground burrowing, anything else? Oh, I almost forgot, Toads can even stand on the water surface too if we're counting fillers.
"Well shit, Airheaded Dude, what's the use of summoning then?"
Summons have very specific uses in the Naruto world, and nothing comes close to the versatility of the toads presented. Let's review Enma, whose main purpose was to transform into the Kongo Nyoi or the second Mizukage's giant clam that induces genjutsu to a massive area. That is how specific summons are even when it came to Pain's summons except for a given few. He has a summon for flight, a summon for hiding, a summon for defense and three or four summons for causing havoc.
I find Naruto's use of multiple animal summons as redundant and unneeded because the toads are versatile and destructive enough that he doesn't need another. So I'm not giving something like the fox contract without reason or if there will even BE a fox contract. Naruto has the versatility thing down pat and it's thanks to summoning.
Also, Naruto has Godoudama (Most Broken Thing in the Naruto World) end of discussion to most topics then and there, tbh. :/
The process of improving characters takes time. I see it more as something like finding the right stuff for your perfect car. Or a jigsaw puzzle. You have to break down your character before stuffing them with Jutsu after jutsu. Why do you think I only have this much jutsu for Naruto currently? I don't plan to give him anything else for part one except for one or two more. I am very strict when it comes to giving jutsu after jutsu because then it wouldn't be interesting. He'd have a lot of jutsu, alright, but most of the stuff he'll be using will be forgotten if
Also, to the asshat that doesn't have the balls for engaging in the argument. Read the fucking story again, or is it I am dealing with someone who's a complete degenerate of an idiot that he can't even read and does "intelligent guesswork"? Man don't you feel like a complete jackass if you did read it and had a mind to say to me that I abuse jutsu after jutsu, huh? What a fucking idiot you are.
