The Dragon Dilemma
I don't own Naruto and Zoids
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"Talking"
'Thoughts'
/-- Scene change
)-()-( Different point of view
?-? Flash back
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Chapter 14
He yawns as he glances at the screen. It's been about two days since the incident at his ex-apartment building. The Third had given him a third of the money he found in the safe before he had left the office. He then found a place for his pack and headed off to visit with Shikamaru and Choji.
He had spent most of the remaining day with the two before heading off to find Shadow. Shadow was enraged at the antics of the man that owned the building and had wanted to do something personal to the man; he managed to talk Shadow out of exploding the building by using explosive tags as well as keeping Shadow from fusing with the Liger Zero to put the fear of God in the man as and then destroy the building. Some how, he offered to do something that Shadow wanted him to do, so that's how he ended in the cock pit of the Liger Zero looking for opponents to battle. He's also learnt how to sleep within the cock pit just in case someone tries to steal the white Zoid from him.
He blinks as the scanners begin to beep and he goes through the process to find out what kind of Zoid is approaching them. "Shadow, I think you need to hide." He says once opens a com link with the black Organoid. Shadow growls his agreement. He brings up the specs of the Zoid that's on it's way towards him. According to the info that the computer is printing out, the Zoid is a Sinker which is a Ray type Zoid. It's small and highly manoeuvrable in the water and in the air. He grins as it attack with missiles; he wonders just what attacks he should try out during this battle.
)-(Sasuke)-(
He frowns as he checks the time, not only is Kakashi late, as usual, but so is Naruto. It's about time for Kakashi to appear and yet Naruto isn't here. He frowns wondering if the blond did something stupid like try and set free the animals from the pound because he couldn't stand the thought of the suffering the animals are going through. 'Dobe needs learn to control his emotions.' He thinks as he frowns at the spot Naruto usually leans on as they wait for Kakashi.
A familiar figure walks towards them and he scowls as he notices that it isn't Naruto. "Where's Naruto?" He demands once their instructor is within speaking range. "He had an appointment with the Third, so it'll just be the three of us for the day." Kakashi says. "What happened?" Sakura asks in a curious tone. "It's just something to do about Naruto's living arrangements." Their teacher replies lightly.
He frowns on hearing this and asks, "That's it?" Kakashi just nods and they soon follow the jonin to their next mission. As they went, he couldn't stop thinking about what their teacher told them about. 'You had better be fine.' He thinks before asking Kakashi about what mission they have to do.
/----
They had done about four D ranked missions this day and he's irritated at how many D ranked missions that they received without Naruto being with them today. He frowns as he wonders if they were kept busy so they don't go hunt for Naruto and find out what's happening with the blond. He glares at Kakashi as he asks, "Will Naruto be joining us tomorrow?" Their instructor replies, "It depends on how things work out today." "And just what was supposed to happen today?" He asks. "Naruto finding a new place to live, well you're dismissed." Kakashi says and then vanishes in a whirl of wind and leaves, leaving him alone with Sakura.
He scowls and turns on his heels and walks away, but before he's taken five steps Sakura asks, like usual, "You want to eat super with me, Sasuke?" "Not really." He answers and continues on walking away without looking back at his other team mate.
He didn't keep an eye on where he's going, he was too busy pondering about Naruto and whether the Dobe was fine. He blinks as he finds himself before the entrance to the base they were keeping the Zoids and that small red dragon-like Zoid. He then notices that there's a thin crack and walks towards the doors. He scans the area, then squeezes through the crack.
He trips and falls as his right leg gets caught between the doors. He frees his leg and then looks up into the air. He gasps at the sight before him, he slowly gets up off the ground as he continues to stare wide eyed at the black Zoid before him. He then begins to circle the black Zoid with golden trim. He notices the canine appearance of the Zoid and after surveying the Zoid, he decides it looks like a fox. There's a mounted gun on the back and he wonders why it has four pipes as the exit point.
He then glances around the area, then begins to climb up the left foreleg to get to the cockpit. It was strenuous but it was worth it as the cock pit opens and he slides into the seat. He grins as he watches the Shadow Fox come to life. He blinks as he tries to figure out how he knew what this Zoid is called. After about a few seconds he just shakes his head and begins to try and figure out how to get the Shadow Fox moving.
After a few minutes of touching random switches and buttons, the Shadow Fox's screen activates and he studies the display. He then slowly moves this stick as well as slides this odd lever. Soon the Shadow Fox is moving… towards the door or through what's left of the door. They rammed through the door and where now running through the forest. He barely manoeuvres the Zoid from crashing through trees. Despite the fact that this was highly dangerous and that he's most likely going to be in trouble for this, he was having a great time. There was just something about controlling a large, mechanical beast that makes his blood sing with joy. He couldn't keep a grin off his face as he begins to figure out how to slow up and speed up.
Soon something is beeping and he pushes a few buttons in hopes that one of them will explain what the beeping is all about. An image of two Command Wolves and the Hell Cat appears, he then notices that the beeping has changed and is trying to figure out what that means. Soon something called a Com Link is activated. An image of a Leaf Ninja appears and the first words out of the man's mouth is, "Sasuke?" He slows the Shadow Fox and composes himself. He wonders just how he'll talk his way out of this.
)-(Naruto)-(
He can't believe he had to buy his own house. It just seemed so… observed that nobody would rent an apartment to him. Luckily, he got the house practically dirt cheap, it seems that the area the house is located in was part of the village that the Kyubi had been heading towards and nobody wanted to live within the area, henths how he could afford a three level house with a huge back yard.
"Well, it seems that we'll have to go furniture shopping tomorrow." The Third says. He smiles and nods as he studies the house. "Thanks for accompanying me today, old man." He says to the man that was the only family figure in his life, practically his grandfather. The Hokage pats him on the shoulder and says, "Think nothing of it, now I'll come by tomorrow morning, so get some rest." He smiles and nods as he says, "I'll be expecting you." He turns his head and watches as the Third walks through the small gate. He sighs and had to admit that it had been a while since they had spent a great deal of time together.
He notices that it's darkening out and he walks towards the front door and uses one of his keys to unlock the door. He finds a light switch and turns it on as he shuts the door behind him. He locks it and heads towards the kitchen, there was some of the fresh fruits and vegs that he bought from the market earlier today.
He finishes eating his supper, he sighs as his thoughts wonder about what kind of stuff he can decorate the house with. He blinks as he repeats that thought. 'What I want to decorate the house in. That's something I've never done before… Now I own a house, not renting it. I can't believe how things have changed since I met Shadow.' He closes his eyes and without knowing about it, he's fast asleep.
/----
He woke to find himself blinking from the lights that he left on. He grins sheepishly and looks outside to see if it's dawn, finding it isn't, he quickly heads out of the kitchens, turning off the lights as he goes. He unlocks the door, he makes sure he has money, and then steps out of the house. He locks the door and heads towards where the out door market is located.
After about an hour's walk, he makes it and buys some stuff for breakfast as well as has plans on having the rest for dinner tonight. He also makes note to buy a fridge today, along with some pots and pans. He makes it back to his house just as the sun rises up. He unlocks his door and walks into the house. He closes and locks the door then heads towards the kitchen. He eats his breakfast; he then decides to take a nap.
)-(Third Hokage)-(
He notices smoke rising up into the sky and for some odd reason, his heart plummets. He breaks into a run, moving surprisingly quickly despite the robe he's wearing. He notices a large group of people before Naruto's new house. He automatically does the hand seals for a jutsu that will knock out the whole crowd for a few hours.
He sails over one of the hedges that surrounds the property that Naruto now owns. He doesn't pause as he notices the raging fire, he moves into the flames without any concern for his safety. He covers the lower parts of his face as he moves through the main level of the building, hoping that Naruto's not on any other level. As he enters the kitchen, he's relieved to find the blond preteen laying on the ground.
He slings Naruto over his shoulder and then leaves the burning building behind him. He makes it outside and then begins to check and see if anything is wrong with the boy. He's relieved to find that Naruto's breathing, though shallowly. He sighs and then turns and studies the group before him. Instead of a look of righteous anger or disappointment, he's just sad and felt old. He puts names to faces and notices that a few members of the council had been part of this as well, which means that the council had been aware of this the whole time.
Even though the papers that Naruto gave him hinted that the council were beginning to move against Naruto, he hadn't expected it to be so soon. He then did a jutsu that will cause the ground to hold and hide the knocked out members of the highly organised mob. He didn't want anyone to come and take them away once he's gone. He turns to look at the burning house, then picks up the blond boy and heads to Kakashi's apartment, knowing that the jonin should be able to get Naruto the medical attention that he needed.
To be continued …