Sorry this chapter took so long everyone. I've been writing another fic that shares the one's world. It will serve as a sort of companion for the coming chapters because the coming chapters will be about Kakashi and Shizune. It will also dive deeper into Malhavoc's persona and how Kakashi and Shizune came to know him. In other words, the companion fic will be a KakashixShizune pairing and it's timeline will be before this fic's timeline. But reading it will help people understand Malhavoc's hatred for Kakashi much better. Anyway, enjoy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The three traveling companions were little more than half a day's distance from wave country. For the most part, things were going as Jiraiya expected. Naruto and Morrigan talked and joke away as Jiraiya observed. And his student seemed much happier than normal with their new female addition. However, this wasn't a social trip for his student. And he knew to assert this fact.
"Naruto!" Jiraiya abruptly broke Naruto and Morrigan's conversation
"Uh...yes sensei?" Naruto answered, sounding fairly off balance
"I need you to rest up a bit. We lost a lot of time and we need to make up for it." Jiraiya began
"Let me guess, we're gonna train" Naruto could figure what was on his sensei's mind
Jiraiya let a small smirk give way on his face.
" I'm going to find a place to make camp. Stay here and prepare yourself."
"But Jiraiya sensei, don't you..." Naruto cut himself off as Jiraiya was gone in an instant.
Morrigan looked at Naruto, concerned about what he wanted to say to Jiraiya. She walked up behind him and place her hand on his forearm. Naruto turned to look at the young female grasping his arm.
"Something wrong?" Morrigan allowed her concern to voice itself.
Naruto's thoughts
"He usually makes me help with these kinds of preparations"
"Nope! Nothing at all" Naruto replied grinning to cover his curiosity
Morrigan was happy to hear his words. However, her face still had a worrisome look plastered onto it. And that was something Naruto was unaccustomed to with the normally upbeat princess. Naruto decided to take the initiative.
Naruto's thoughts
" Maybe he wanted this. To leave me alone...with Morrigan" Naruto began to ponder if Jiraiya purposely left the two alone.
"Wanna go sit by that lake over there Morrigan-chan?" Naruto pointed to a nearby lake
The view of the lake and its outskirts was truly amazing. On the other side of the lake was a glorious mountain range which almost beckoned exploration. Naruto definitely had a way about him when it came to picking out locations. And Morrigan's expression of awe was direct proof of such.
Morrigan's thoughts
"...It's so...majestic..." Morrigan thought, still basking in the view's aura.
"Well?" Naruto gave a warm smile as he held out his hand, awaiting hers.
Morrigan broke out of her internal trance and turned her attention to Naruto. She softly placed her fingers into his palm and gave him an inviting smile.
"...Alone in the forest,...the perfect view...I think you're coming on to me..." Morrigan stepped closer to him with her fingers still placed in his palms.
Naruto's hand began to tremble as Morrigan's finger tips slowed moved repeatedly north and south, gently massaging his palm.
"...I'm not...coming on to you..." Naruto nervously replied, red-faced in all.
Morrigan knew his words weren't meant as they sounded. But she still wanted something more. She needed to know, to feel that she was special to him. But even without mistaking his words, the sound still was quite piercing. Morrigan removed her smile and turned her face away from Naruto
"...Yeah...why would you come on to me...you don't think I'm appealing enough to be hit on anyways right?..." She said sadly as she slowly moved her hand out of Naruto's palm and across to her opposite forearm. It was as if she was shielding herself. She slowly began to walk away, beckoning Naruto the chase after her.
Morrigan's thoughts
"Come on foxy...let it out. Give me some kind of assurance here..." Morrigan awaited Naruto's next move.
"No wait!" Naruto exclaimed as he grabbed her hand quickly.
Morrigan's thoughts
"... 'gasp'..." Morrigan turned around and was speechless.
She didn't even consider that Naruto had that kind of impulse. To outright grab her was quite a feet for someone like Naruto. She was gazing down at her hand. And sure enough, Naruto's hand warmly blanketed her own. Slowly, her eyes rose from the met hands to Naruto's blue orbs. She was in complete amazement. She expected him to shyly look the other way. However, that was not to be the case. His eyes showed her something she was searching for. Something she needed
Naruto's thoughts
"...Why did I do that?...I can't believe this...Does the thought of her feeling I think little of her scare me that much?..." Naruto thought to himself as his eyes never blinked or wavered.
Morrigan's thoughts
"...thank you foxy...thank you..." Morrigan had found what she was searching for in Naruto. A hint of desire and care. Something to show that things weren't all one-sided.
"Morrigan-chan...I...I'm sorry...I didn't mean that. Any man with sense would take you in a heartbeat...and..." Naruto began to stumble with his words.
Morrigan took her free hand and pressed it to his mouth, stopping any further attempts at speech. She could feel his breath within her hand. She giggled and moved her hand once she saw that he wasn't going to utter another word.
"Foxy, I'm not asking about just any man's thoughts of me..." She began to glide her fingers over
"Morrigan-chan?..." Even Naruto could feel the energy around them. And even if he didn't want to admit it, he made him feel different. It made him feel significant.
"...See?..." Morrigan removed her free hand from Naruto's warm face.
Naruto did see. He did understand. He released his grip from Morrigan's hand. His feelings began to scare him. Princess Morrigan was almost a gateway to an entirely new world for him. A world of warmth, love, and compassion the likes of which he'd never had before. The realization of this was frightening enough for him. However, the most terrifying reality for him was that if he ever accepted this new world, the old one would be lost to him. Konoha would be lost to him. And with that, so would Sakura. And this was the most frightening possibility of all.
Naruto's thoughts
"... Morrigan-chan..." Naruto could only repeat her name in his mind. Being around her steadily began having a deep impact on him.
Naruto couldn't deny the truth that was now fully realized and imbedded within his soul. His heart was in dire need of acceptance. And while despite Sakura's adulterous actions still left deep scars within him, his love for her was still undaunted. However, Morrigan's place in his life was ever-growing. And where Sakura's past actions scarred him, Morrigan's present actions began to heal him.
"I won't deceive myself...or you Morrigan-chan..." Naruto began
Morrigan's gaze was fixed on Naruto.
"...I ... like you a lot. And...I hate myself because...I like you more than I should. You accepted me through so much already. You're the first person to ever treat me like a normal human being. I never had to prove anything to you...I never had to fight for your recognition...But I..." Naruto was once again stopped by Morrigan's hand
She heard all she wanted, all she needed to hear.
" Foxy,...thanks" Morrigan said
" I didn't do anything special" Naruto thought his actions had no value
Morrigan leant to his cheek and softly kissed him. Her lips stayed pressed to his cheek for a few seconds. Just enough to take in his scent and have a general feel for the object of her affections.
Naruto's thoughts
"...This...is nice..." He welcomed the feeling of Morrigan's lips to his face.
"Says you. Foxy, you make me feel special. You appreciate me..." Morrigan smiled and held out her hand, awaiting for Naruto to take it.
"...I'll always appreciate you Morrigan-chan..." Naruto was blushing as his voice softened
Morrigan chuckled. He was still nervous and offbeat when it came to enacting with the opposite sex. But she was happy. Happy because he was learning. Naruto was slowly beginning to let out his feelings. And Morrigan felt that this was a big accomplishment.
Morrigan's thoughts
" I'm really proud of you foxy..." Morrigan took great pride in him
"Well, are you getting cold feet again? I'm waiting for our 'date'." Morrigan said with playful impatience.
"Our...date?" Naruto nervously
"Um yeah...didn't you promise me we'd go sit by the lake?" Morrigan pouted
"I did..." Naruto looked down at her hand as he grasped it.
He smiled as he held her hand. Delicate, exciting, and soft. These were the things that described her persona which he could in a karmic sense feel just from the touch of her gentle hand. And in his hand, she felt courage, strength, and loneliness. These were the things that described his touch to her. Silently, the two began walking toward the lake in tow. With nothing but the moment and each other in mind.
Naruto's thoughts
" She's nice...I have the feeling that she can teach me so much about myself. I'm...happy she came with us." Naruto thought to himself while looking at the lake.
Morrigan's thoughts
" My foxy is learning... and you have your Morrigan-chan here to guide ya..." Morrigan thought as she happily squeezed his hand.
Hand in hand and with their minds in complete unison, they continued on their way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
During this time, Jiraiya was alone, doing as he said he'd be doing. Steadily, he made easy work of gathering firewood. The firewood was separated into two bundles and wrapped together loosely. Once he was done, he perched himself under a shaded tree, thinking of past events and things to come.
Jiraiya's thoughts
" What a mess this is... my student's inner demon is on the verge of resurrection, Unknown enemies assail us, and now we're to protect my best friend's daughter to boot."
Jiraiya saw the culmination of events to be quite a quandary.
At that moment, one of the bundles loosened and some of the firewood was lost due to the hill in which they rolled down. Jiraiya just watched with a disappointed face.
"Guess that was my fault..." Jiraiya sighed as he began to tighten the one remaining bundle.
Once he correctly secured the remaining bundle, he began gathering more firewood for the pieces that were lost. He looked up into the sky and to the clouds. And for a brief instant, he felt he saw his stern yet good friend Atwright's face in the clouds. Serious and direct, he felt as if that very cloud spoke to him.
Jiraiya's thoughts
"Just like my bundle...it will eventually be my own fault if my student is lost and becomes displaced...won't it old friend?..." He thought to himself as he continued to stare at the familiar cloud.
Jiraiya's karma was indeed poor. For with nothing more than the shifting of the wind, the cloud's quickly dispersed and the sky was clear. Almost as if even his envision of his friend became disappointed in him.
Jiraiya's thoughts
" But...doing what's right...isn't always the same as doing what's best... Dammit..." Jiraiya's thoughts became drastically heavy.
Jiraiya finished up and began preparing to head back to Princess Morrigan and Naruto. Before he carried on about his way, he took one final glance to the sky.
" Even out here, you find a way to get on my case...Atwright..." He spoke as if Atwright was truly embedded into the clouds.
With the gathered bundles of firewood secured and in his grasp. He returned to the young teens he had left behind, hoping Naruto did as he was told and actually rested. For he would need his strength.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ballistic mime and his brother, Mad clown had stopped for a brief moment of rest. Without the proper rest and treatments, Mad clown's condition steadily worsened. Ballistic mime new his brother was in the most dire of needs for help. All he could do was pray that Mad clown could hold out long enough to make it back to Wave country. Ballistic mime removed his brother's arm from around his shoulder and carefully helped him sit to the ground, leaning his back on a nearby boulder.
"..." Ballistic mime tried as best he could to hide the concern in his face. But as brothers go, they felt each other's pain.
"Heh heh...I'm a mess huh?..." Mad clown decided to converse with his silent brother
Ballistic mime looked at his brother. After carefully observing him, he answered.
"..." Ballistic mime shook his head negatively.
"...Stupid!..." Mad clown knew his brother lied
With his brother resting, Ballistic mime decided to forage around the surroundings. Looking for anything that could be of assistance to his heavily injured sibling. He turned around to leave his brother. But Mad clown's familiar voice stopped him.
"Wait!...I'm not in THAT bad of shape...I'll help you." He knew what his brother was planning to do even without him saying it. He began to attempt standing up
In almost a parental fashion, Ballistic mime gave his brother a hardened gaze. It wasn't a look of anger or dominance. Rather, this was more a gaze of worry. With his eyes and body language, he told his brother it was best he had his rest.
"..." Ballistic mime's eyes spoke volumes.
And is if it were natural, Mad clown understood his brother's silence to perfection. He then retreated back down to the ground. He leant his back to its original spot on the boulder
"...hm hm hmm hahaha hmm...It would be a good idea to take it easy huh?..." Mad clown without protest followed his brother's wishes.
Ballistic mime smiled, seeing his brother did the smart thing and rested. After he saw his brother took his concern to heart, he then continued on. Anything no matter how small would be a major help in the prolonged health of his brother. Mad clown was now left to his own devices.
"...I'm an elite assassin...reduced to a messes of shattered bones and leaking fountain of blood...hmhmhm..." Mad clown laughed although he knew all too well his situation had no room for humor within its severity.
Mad clown's thoughts
"...Too...quiet. This is very wrong..." Mad clown began to carefully watch over his surroundings.
He felt the strong and dangerous chakra headed in his direction. As strong as this impending chakra was, it also had its presence of familiarity.
Mad clown's thoughts
"I KNEW IT!...we WERE being followed" Mad clown thought to himself as he slowly began to stand up
With much effort, Mad clown rose to his feet. His back was still leaning on the boulder behind him. He was the very definition of 'unable to fight'. However, in true warrior's pride and fashion, if you're going to go down, you're going to go down fighting. Mad clown, despite his less than healthy appearance, would have nothing of 'going quietly into that sweet night'.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back in Konoha, both the day and air were fresh. The streets were busy with people following their own individual routines. One of such many individuals was Kakashi. He had begun training heavily again after his long recovery hiatus. In his house, Kakashi was wearing nothing more than his pants and shoes. He felt he moved more freely that way. And a certain set of alluring eyes didn't have any qualms with the topless Jounin at all. She sat on Kakashi's bed and watched.
"You know, I think I'm almost back in top for Shizune gal..." Kakashi spoke as he grabbed a towel from a rack on his wall.
Shizune's thoughts
" Yes...yes you are love..." She thought to herself as she stared at her mate adoringly
"I see love. And it's great to see you in a good mood again. Shizune replied while she still marveled at his appearance.
Shizune's thoughts
" He's even more...sculpted than before he was injured. When did my sweetie get THIS well...toned..." Shizune's elbows were propped to her leg and she rested her cheeks into her palm, blushing like a young schoolgirl.
" Well, I have my Shizune to thank for that don't I?" Kakashi was giving credit where it was due.
It was true. Shizune's care and attention guided him through a great deal. She was there for him, nursing him back to health. She was there for him to ease his pain from the splitting and departure of his young gennin team. And most importantly, she was there to keep his heart whole.
"Damn right you do!..." Shizune exclaimed as she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
With Kakashi's body being worn out from training, he had no energy to support the weight of the woman leaning toward him along with his own dead weight. His body tipped until his back was pressed onto a wall behind him.
"Hon, I'm tired, sweat, and honestly, this wall is hell of cold." Kakashi felt the chill race down his back. The sweat of his body and the low temperature of the wall made him cringe a bit.
Shizune slowly began to lean her face toward his own. Slowly she began to tilt her face and her red lips began to pout.
"I'll be quick love, I promise." Her eyes were starting to close. She hadn't been with Kakashi in a long time and her needs were building.
"...Ok..." Kakashi had no problem following Shizune's lead. His cold, sweaty hands slowly slid around her hips, stopping and resting at her back. Their wants were mutual.
Before the two lovers lips could meet, one of the Hokage's messenger birds flew between their faces and perched itself onto Kakashi's table. In true ninja form, the two broke away from each other. However, they had very different reactions. Kakashi's action toward the intruder was simply one of surprise. Shizune, on the other hand, seemed very slighted and annoyed.
Shizune's thoughts
"Could she have picked a worse time?..." She thought in annoyance of her interrupted intimacy
Kakashi walked over to the bird and carefully removed the message that was attached to its leg. He opened up the folded piece of paper and read it over carefully. Shizune, being the Hokage's assistant had a feeling it was an important message.
"Love, What's it say?" Shizune asked concerned.
Kakashi removed his eyes from the parchment and focused on Shizune.
"It looks like the Hokage finally decided to retaliate on our enemies... She's calling for an investigation of the prison. She's asking for us both to come to her office immediately." Kakashi told Shizune the main issue written within the paper.
"Guess our alone time is on hold again, huh honey?" Shizune sighed sadly
Kakashi didn't like to disappoint Shizune. They both knew what the life of a ninja was about. Their personal lives were secondary in comparison to Konoha. Kakashi walked over to Shizune and attempted to reason with her.
"Shizune gal, we both know how hard it is. Me being a shinobi and you being a kunoichi. We have our duty. We see each other when we're free." Kakashi began to speak
"Hon..." Shizune responded sadly
All Kakashi could do was look. He didn't know what to tell her. All he could do was listen. Listen and do the one thing she had always done for him, be there.
"I know we have our duties...It's just we don't get to see each other that much. You're always on missions and I'm assisting at the Hokage's tower." Shizune sighed
"Shizune, we'll find the time for each other. But, things are kind of intense for Konoha right now." He spoke the truth.
Shizune hated what she was about to say in response. But even though she knew it was the wrong thing to say, it was honest. This was truly coming from her heart.
"Love...I'm sorry...but I honestly wish you were in the hospital again" Shizune said something horrible. However, she had her reasons. Her longing heart was to blame.
Kakashi couldn't believe his ears. His Shizune actually just said she'd wish for him to still need bedside manner. He too now had a demoralized expression on his face.
"...Why?..." He asked softly and painfully
Shizune knew how that sounded. She didn't mean that to sound so cruel. She took his hand and grasped it within both of hers.
"...Love...Kakashi...you don't realize something..." Shizune started to explain herself for her words
Kakashi, still with despair in his eyes, awaited Shizune to continue.
"...You leave on your missions...sometimes you're gone for just a few days. Sometimes it's weeks. And sometimes, even months go by with you being away from home..."
Kakashi continued to watch on. He was beginning to understand why Shizune said what she did. She was normally strong. But loneliness can take its toll on anyone. Even the strongest of people.
"Out of everyone... I get to see you the least..." Shizune began to look away as her tears began to run.
"...Shizune..." Kakashi walked behind her and embraced the woman he loved. He wrapped his arms around her stomach. His hands connected directly under her navel.
"When you were in the hospital and when you were her recovering your strength, I was happy...I had you back here with me love..." Shizune's voice became softer as her words continued.
Kakashi didn't know how to comfort her. He could feel the pain within her heart in is own. He pressed his head downward and into her collarbone. He was angry at himself as he truly began to understand Shizune's pain.
"...You'll go off on your missions...and again...I'll have to scratch and claw for whatever little time I have with you..." Shizune was about to wipe her eyes.
Kakashi took her hand in his, preventing her from wiping her tears away. He brought her hand to his mouth and gently kissed the inside of her palm. Shizune couldn't help but blush at they way he always made her feel.
Shizune's thoughts
"...Love..."
"...Things won't be like this forever Shizune...We...we'll build a home together one day... I'd like... I'd like...to give up on this shinobi way of life in a few years." Kakashi had plans for the future.
"You...were planning to resign your position?..." Shizune looked at him in shock.
"Shizune gal, you're right...I see the person I treasure most...the least. I've been thinking about this for a long time. And we don't live forever..." Kakashi was dead serious with his words
Shizune was trembling. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. For her this was like a dream.
"Shizune...can you...will you wait for me? Please, just give me a few years...Just long enough to see my students flourish..." Kakashi's words were honest and pure.
Shizune's thoughts
"...Oh my god...he's serious..."
"Just long enough Shizune gal...I want to see Sakura succeed and become a great chunnin leader. And I want to see her keep excelling. I want to see her become a woman she was meant to be. A woman that can have her teammates...but at the same time...can hold her own and stand with her head held high against any enemy foolish enough to get in her way.
Shizune listened on. She could listen to him forever. His words lifted her spirits sky high. She continued listening to him. Her sadness was slowly becoming a smile.
"I want to see Sasuke return here...For better or for worse...I want to see my student. Whether he made the right or wrong choice, he is MY student nonetheless. He will always be that. I want him to find out that power isn't everything...One day, he will fully understand that no man is a mountain onto himself...While he can be strong on his own...when combined with the strength of his true friends,...he will become immovable..."
Shizune wasn't trembling anymore. Her heart rate was through the roof. The more Kakashi spoke, the more he ignited her very soul.
"And...I want Naruto...to become strong...Strong enough to defeat the demon within...strong enough show everyone how wrong they were about him. I want him to be the unconventional ninja he is...because despite how everyone mocks him, he is the only one that has yet to be beaten in battle...Naruto...he's his own breed of ninja... I want to see the people acknowledge Naruto for the hero he is, not the demon within... And..." Kakashi became quiet for a moment.
Shizune turned to him and awaited his next words.
"And...I want to see my student fulfill his dream and truly become not only Hokage, but the greatest ninja of all time. And then,...I'll be able to live the rest of my life with you...knowing all is well with both Konoha and my students..." Kakashi was finally done
Shizune was now crying tears of joy. He had a passion about him that made her weak in the knees. She had learnt something about Kakashi this day. Kakashi wasn't simply following duties of Konoha like she had figured. It was his unyielding loyalty for not just her, but for all he held dear.
"Shizune... I lo..." Kakashi shockingly never finished his words.
Shizune's mouth was connected to his own. She felt as if this was the Kakashi she always knew. And at the same time, a Kakashi that was brand new. Her tongue massaged his own perfectly as her lips warmed his. She slowly released his mouth, allowing him a chance to collect himself.
" I love you too..." Shizune declared her feelings.
She took two steps back and the two look each other eye to eye. Their eyes spoke with each other. They were more than just lovers or a couple. They were connected on the karmic level. They were soul mates.
"...Ready to go Shizune gal?..." Kakashi held out his hand.
"With you,...anywhere..." Shizune took his hand
Together, and with a now new level of understand for each other, the two follow their orders and head over to the Hokage's tower. The matter was of grave importance and their attendance was mandatory.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ballistic mime had just returned. With him, he had brought some random herbs he had found in the woods, and some water to help clean and disinfect his brother's wounds. Upon his return, he had noticed the change in atmosphere. He and Mad clown look at each other.
"..." Ballistic mime, just like his brother could feel that someone was hunting them
" Just stay on guard...we're surrounded...eight maybe...hmhmhm..." Mad clown began to distinguish the various chakra energies which threatened.
"..." Ballistic mime felt the same number of enemies, along with one familiar and unfriendly one at the same time. He looked at his brother with wide eyes
"...haha...Yeah...I know, it's him..." He could read Ballistic mime's thoughts
At that moment, threatening silhouettes one after another made themselves apparent. One enemy became two, became four, and finally, became seven. Seven assailants surrounded the brothers. All except for the one that was familiar to them.
"..." Ballistic mime stood at his brother's side, dropping the things he had just gathered for his brother's sake.
"Hahaha...What are you all doing here?..." Mad clown asked an obvious question as he recognized their attire. It proved where they had originated from. The prison.
Not a single answer. Rather than answer through speech, menacingly, they all readied their weapons for battle. Two katanas weilders, two archers, a claw master, one sythe bearer, and one axeman. More the most part, these arms bearers had little in common. All except one thing, the slaughtering of the two brothers.
"..." Ballistic mime too was readied for a fight. He would never back down from a fight
"...I take it our... 'boss' doesn't have much faith in us...haha...hahaha..." Mad clown was now aware of the fate that was handed to he and his brother. Betrayal wasn't something that he and his brother were unfamiliar with.
"And why would he!" The voice of the eight assailant called out from the darkness. It was the voice of the only assailant that had yet to show himself.
The two katana holders opened up a pathway from the seven man-made circle. The brothers watched carefully as the impending figure laughing made his way into the circle. Once in, the two katana holders resumed their original positions. They new this enemy all too well.
"..." Ballistic mime was now even more prompted for battle than before.
"...I always knew you were weak...only weaklings need to play the numbers game Mal..." Mad clown mocked
The man gave a sadistic smile
" Weaklings travel the land half-dead...needing their mute little brother's to hold their hands..." Malhavoc had purposely trampled on the herbs Ballistic mime had brought from the woods.
"..." Ballistic mime was about to attack before his brother grabbed his arm
The two looked at each other. Ballistic mime did as his brother wished and backed down.
" What you doing here?" Mad clown asked with his voice raised
"Oh us? We'll, we have a mission" Malhavoc replied nonchalantly
"We have a mission too...to capture princess Morrigan." Mad clown relayed his mission. Not that he or his brother had planned to actually go though with it.
Malhavoc's men began to snicker and laugh. This was not a good sign at all. Malice was in the air.
"Wow..." Malhavoc acted amazed
"..." Ballistic mime carefully studied the man-made closure. The enemies were slowly moving closer, making the circle smaller.
"Don't mock me weakling...hhmhmhm..." Mad clown wasn't fond of Malhavoc's false awe.
"Well it's just that we have that SAME mission!" Malhavoc replied
Mad clown's thoughts
"The same mission?...For what?" Mad clown didn't like where things were headed.
"Hahahahaha...Why would you be given the same mission...?" Mad clown asked his next question.
The assailant's laughter became even louder and more sinister
"That brings me to our...other mission..." Malhavoc began to sadistically grin
The circle continued to gradually become smaller. Their footsteps were becoming eerie. And bloodlust was in their eyes
"... The enjoyable task of killing the two of you... NOW!" Malhavoc had given the order
The battle had begun. The two brothers, tired and wounded, were now in a fight for their very lives.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tsunade was giving Sakura last minute training. Today was the day for her exam to begin. She made sure not to push Sakura too hard. She just wanted to make sure her student was ready. Sakura's arm was dislocated and fractured in several places thanks to her attempt to block Tsunade's punch
Sakura's thoughts
" I have to concentrate...fast..." Sakura began to focus her chakra into her less than healthy places in her body
Tsunade was charging at her student fast. Preparing for another assault, her speed steadily increased.
Tsunade's thoughts
"Come on Sakura, I taught you better than this...hurry up" Even though she was currently the aggressor, Tsunade silently urged her student on. She was hoping Sakura would stop her.
Sakura's concentrated never dissipated. Her eyes stayed fixed on the coming Tsunade as she began to heal herself.
Sakura's skeletal structure shifted, compensating for the random fractures in her arm. The cracking and reconstructing of her arm's internal injury was jarring. However, within moments, Sakura's arm was completely healed. It was as if her arm was never broken at all.
Sakura's thoughts
"...YES!..." Sakura was proud of her shift recover and accomplishment.
Tsunade was still charging. Focusing her chakra into her right fist, she began her second assault on her pupil. Quickly, Sakura dodged out of the way and to her left. She barely got away from the attack. She staggered.
Sakura's thoughts
"What is this?...I thought we were training light today?..." Sakura thought to herself as she was down to one knee.
To Tsunade, this was light. For the average person, this would be considered nothing less than extreme punishment. But for Sakura, it was different. She expected the best from her student. She demanded it.
Tsunade's thoughts
"She healed herself in just seconds...before I got to her...very good Sakura..." She thought to herself, impressed with her student.
With Sakura now grounded, Tsunade prepared for another attack. Now, she began to focus her chakra into her left foot. Swiftly, she raised her leg and struck. Sakura again skillfully side-stepped the attack. The Hokage's foot smashed through the floor, releasing the opposite end of the floorboard.
Tsunade's thoughts
"She gotten much...much faster." She didn't expect her student to dodge her assault.
With little more than a single step and a swift contort of the body, Sakura now standing directly behind her sensei. With her fist, chakra infused in all aimed directly to the back of the Hokage's head, Sakura felt dominant.
"It's over...I win..." Sakura claimed victory.
Tsunade was truly impressed. Sakura reminded her of herself when she was younger. But just like her younger self, Sakura claimed victory too early. Slowly, Tsunade began to clap
"You're right...it is over..." Tsunade stopped clapping
Their was an odd creek sound behind Sakura. She turned her head to see what it was. It was the opposite side of the floorboard that Tsunade had broken. The board was directly behind Sakura's head, with its now exposed nails geared to her skull. If Tsunade had move her foot even the slightest of inches, Sakura's skull would have been impaled.
Sakura's thoughts
"When did she..."Sakura now realized her victory was premature.
Tsunade allowed a triumphant smirk graze her face.
Defeated, Sakura dropped her fist. Tsunade turned to her and began to praise her student.
"Don't get depressed like that. Sakura, don't you realize the progress you've made? You just went toe to toe with a sannin." Tsunade tried to cheer her student on
Sakura looked at her sensei with an almost disgusted gaze. Sakura was definitely growing into the woman she wanted to be.
"Depressed, Please, I'm just upset that we can't go on" Sakura answered back.
Tsunade's thoughts
"Oh reaaally!..." Tsunade's thoughts became competitive.
"Well!... I think we'll be having another round of this once your exam is done..." Tsunade acknowledged that she wanted another go.
" Yeah..." Sakura agreed.
Sakura was getting ready to leave. Due to her persistence and Tsunade's extensive training, Sakura was truly becoming a force to be reckoned with. Sakura was headed for the door. But before she left, the feeling of overall appreciation needed to be voiced.
"Thanks sis..." Sakura ran up to the Hokage and hugged her.
Tsunade snorted at the title.
"Sis?...I'm old enough to be your mother twice over" Tsunade replied with her nose in the air.
The two giggled at the joke. The sad part about it was, the was a great deal of truth in that joke. The age gap between Tsunade and Sakura was at least 2 generations wide.
There was a knock at the Hokage's door. Sakura walked over to the door and opened it. She was preparing to leave anyway. She opened the door to see two figures. The first of the two was Gai, a rival of Kakashi's in every way imaginable. And the second was Hiashi, a stern elder with Konoha with powerful ties.
"Hello!" Sakura bowed and greeted the two.
"Haven't seen you in quite the while lil lady. How are ya!" Gai greeted her in return.
Sakura smiled
"It's been great. I have to prepare now. It was nice seeing you she said her goodbyes to the two men standing in front of her.
She passed the two men and exited the door. Once through the door, Sakura turned around looked toward Tsunade. She stuck her tongue out at her and pulled down her eyelid. Tsunade smiled and returned the favor. Once the playful banter was done, Sakura closed the door, leaving the three people inside to privacy.
Tsunade's thoughts
"I hope that knuckle head comes back strong and ready. His Sakura-chan is going to be quite a handful." Tsunade thought, proud of Sakura's progress.
Hiashi quietly watched on and was most scolding in his thoughts
Hiashi's thoughts
" Pathetic...utterly pathetic." He thought in his own unyielding serious manner.
Gai on the other hand, took a more light hearted approach to Sakura and Tsunade's bond.
"Guess even they old grandma can let herself go. At least she's not a grouchy old crab. Just an old crab. Huh Hiashi?" Gai was less serious than Hiashi
Hiashi gave no answer. He had no patience for socializing. And even less patience when it came to his time being wasted.
"Crabs are very angry, snippy creatures by nature Gai..." Tsunade's eyes were sternly fixed on Gai.
Gai was learning to be very wary of his words. Here a Jounin stood, looking like he was going to wet his pants for his mouth's insolence.
Gai's thoughts
"I was only joking madam Hokage..." He thought as he trembled, attempting to make excuses for himself within the confines of his thoughts.
"...Yes madam Hokage..." Gai, still scared, humbly apologized.
Tsunade sat behind her desk and propped her elbows on her desk. Folding her hands over her lower face, she let out a dominant smile. Gai wouldn't make the mistake of sassing her again.
"What are you wasting my time for?" Hiashi bluntly asked
Tsunade looked at Hiashi with an almost menacing glare. Hiashi was not like Gai. He was much more hardened. And she knew her intimidation tactics would not work with him. She didn't mind it. Just so long as even he knew his place.
"Your patience is such a virtue Hiashi" Tsunade sarcastically mocked
Hiashi and Tsunade made eye contact. Hiashi was indeed one not to be trifled with. But even he knew not to challenged Tsunade. He broke his stare. Both he and Gai took seats in her office and sat in silence.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naruto had relieved himself of the huge backpack once he and Morrigan were by the lake. He then opened up the bag and took out a sheet to set onto the ground. Upon browsing the bag, he came upon an odd book.
Naruto's thoughts
" This definitely isn't mine..." Naruto was unfamiliar with the object.
"Morrigan-chan,...?" Naruto called to her
"Hmm?..." Morrigan smiled adoringly and responded to his call
"What's this?" Naruto had shown her the book he found inside the bag
Morrigan gently took the item from Naruto's hand
"This is my photo album...wanna look through it with me?" Morrigan offered, hoping he would accept. She handed the book back to him
"Yeah...I'd like that..." Naruto was more than happy to take her offer. He took the book from Morrigan.
Morrigan smiled. Once Naruto laid out the sheet, both he and Morrigan sat on it. He began and opened the photo album. Morrigan was sitting at his side. She leant on his back with her hands grasping his shoulders. Her legs and knees her clamped together and pressing into Naruto's thigh.
Naruto's thoughts
" She smells really nice..." He thought as her closeness allowed him to take in her scent.
Her head was gently titled, leant to his cheek. Naruto began to look through the book with princess Morrigan. One picture caught his eye
Naruto's thoughts
" Who...is this woman..." Naruto attention was fixated on one particular photo.
"She's beautiful..." Naruto stared in awe at the photo
Morrigan giggled
"...she looks...just like you..." Naruto then turned his head and look at Morrigan
Morrigan's thoughts
" You always say the right things...and without even trying Foxy..." Morrigan's cheeks turned rose color from his words.
"That's my mom..." Morrigan responded
Naruto looked at the picture, then to Morrigan, back to the picture. Finally his head turned one last time, to the female at his side.
Naruto's thoughts
"She's going to be amazing one day..." Naruto thought of how beautiful Morrigan would eventually turn out to be. Even more so than she already is.
"What was she like?" Naruto wondered and asked.
Morrigan halted for a moment. She knew that Naruto never had the chance to know his mother. The problem resided in the fact that she too was young when she lost her mother. It was one more thing they had in common
" I asked something dumb, didn't I?" Naruto asked feeling he asked something he shouldn't have
"No foxy...I'm glad you asked. I like that you take interest in getting to know my life..." Morrigan gave a reassuring smile.
"Of course... you're interesting to me..." Naruto admitted.
Morrigan's thoughts
" I should hope so" Morrigan's thought
"I didn't know my mother too well...my memories of her...they're very parse..." Morrigan tried to recollect any memories she could.
Naruto's thoughts
" It sucks...but...we share that Morrigan-chan...not know the woman that gave life"
"...Oh..." Naruto replied sadly, feeling like this conversation would open up painful thoughts in Morrigan's mind
Morrigan gave him a reassuring smiled. She massaged his shoulders and attempted to ease his tension
"...Dad told me that she was the only one I trusted for a long time. Anytime Dad tried to hold me I cried but... when my Mother came to hold me I was well-behaved...a momma's girl huh..." Morrigan began to talk about her not-so-familiar past.
"You didn't trust Atwright? Not even a little?" Naruto couldn't believe that considering the great relationship Morrigan and her father have now.
"Nope, I gave dad a hard time every chance I got from what he says... He says if it wasn't for my mom, I would probably have grown up to be a real headache for him." Morrigan laughed at the thought.
" That would have been fun. Trust me I know all about being a troublemaker" Naruto grinned, remembering how he used to pull pranks on a daily basis in Konoha.
"I bet you would know" Morrigan replied and smiled
"My mother was holding me one day and noticed I needed to be changed." Morrigan continued on
" Ick...poop story..." Naruto jokingly replied
"I'll poop you if you don't be quiet and listen" Morrigan pinched his cheek playfully and smiled
Once she released Naruto from her pinch, she continued on with her story.
"Normally my mother had to change me because as usual, I gave daddy a fit. One day, my mother decided to strengthen the father-daughter relationship."
"How did she do that?" Naruto was curious.
"She handed me over to my father to change me. And of course, there isn't a man alive that enjoys the changing of diapers." she answered
Naruto looked at her confused. He didn't need to ask another question. His expression asked the next logical one.
"Why would she hand a baby to someone the child isn't fond of you ask?..." Morrigan asked the question for him
Naruto just shook his head yes. Morrigan removed her hands from his shoulders and wrapped then around his waist. Her head was still leant to his cheek as she answered her own question.
"To make the crying little girl see that her daddy may not be her mom. But he loves her all the same... Dad began to change me and you better believe I gave him hell in one hundred forms.
"That was probably fun to watch for your mom" Naruto laughed at the image
Morrigan laugh along with him
"Oh it was, it was...she laughed like crazy and dad said he thought he was fighting a war. I kicked and fought him over and over. I even peed on him." Morrigan continued to laugh
"I wish I could have seen that!" Naruto's ribs were ready to explode from so much laughter.
Morrigan's grip around Naruto tightened
"But...eventually, he changed me,...and...I stopped crying. I was laughing right along with my mother with my dad reeking of pee... From that point on...our relationship only grew from there..." Morrigan began to smile
"Your mother...she was a peacemaker..." Naruto said
" Yeah..." Morrigan shook her head and agreed in a soft voice.
The laughter was done and silent crept in on the two. Naruto could tell that the next question on his mind needed to be asked. And she felt it coming. It was something she needed to get off of her chest.
" How did she..." Naruto didn't finish the question. He hesitated
Morrigan knew what he was going to ask. So she finished the question for him.
"...it was cancer..." Morrigan began to tear.
Naruto was deeply struck by her despair. He gently set the photo album on the ground and slowly turned to Morrigan. Slowly, he brought her head into his chest.
Naruto's thoughts
" I'm sorry...Morrigan-chan...guess I wasn't the only one to grow up without parental guidance..." Naruto thought. He made sure not to voice his thoughts however. He didn't want to pity her. She needed strength, not pity. And he would give her the strength she needed as she had done for him already.
Naruto's hand was stroking through Morrigan's hair as his free arm was wrapped around her, bring the two close together.
Morrigan's thoughts
"...Thank you...foxy..." She began to close her eyes and take in the feel of Naruto's body close to her own.
Jiraiya had just came back from his short excursion. He saw the two in their embrace. And as much as he knew they wouldn't appreciate the broken moment, now was the time to train.
Jiraiya's thought
"Sorry kids...but like I said...it's time to train" Jiraiya thought as he focused his chakra and began to attack.
Naruto felt the imposing chakra speeding his way and was broken from his bliss. His senses were dead on. He roughly pushed Morrigan out of the way just before impact. Morrigan hit the ground hard as a huge dust cloud lay before her.
"OUCH!...Foxy, what was that..." She cut herself off in confusion as she saw the dust cloud.
The dust settled and gave was to a perfect circle of scorched earth. It was the result of a powerful rasengan attack. And in the middle of the now heated ground stood a man with an equally heated fist.
Morrigan's thoughts
" Why?..." Morrigan was scared and confused.
"Jiraiya-sensei, what are you doing?" Naruto angrily demanded an answer
Jiraiya looked at his student enraged
"DO YOU THINK YOU'RE ENEMIES WILL GIVE YOU AN ANSWER!" Jiraiya once again began to attack.
Jiraiya with lightning speed appeared directly in front of his student. Jiraiya forced his fist deep into Naruto's abdomen, causing his body to raise off the ground.
"...agghh..." Naruto voiced his pain
Jiraiya then raised his arm and thrust his elbow into Naruto's back. Naruto's body crashed hard into the unforgiving ground. Face first and on his stomach, he now laid on the ground in acute pain.
Jiraiya's thoughts
"Naruto, you're better than this...get off your ass dammit..." Jiraiya knew his student's potential.
Quick and furious, Jiraiya raised his foot of the ground, prepared to smash Naruto. His foot began its speedy decent towards Naruto's head.
Naruto's thoughts
"...NO!"..." Naruto opened his eyes and quickly shifted his body. Now he was on his back.
Seeing Jiraiya's foot closing in, he grabbed the soles of his show with both hands, halting the attack.
Jiraiya's thoughts
"WHAT?" Jiraiya didn't expect the sudden turn of events.
Like a gymnast, Naruto forced his shoulder blades to the ground. Swiftly, he brought his legs together. Using the ground for leverage, he thrust his legs into the air, attempting to attack Jiraiya's face.
Naruto's thoughts
"Almost!" Naruto came close to pulling off a clean hit.
Naruto used the residual motion the flip back to his feet. With that very same motion, Jiraiya was now in the air. And Naruto used this to his advantage. Literally, Jiraiya was flung to an open plain. However, with control of his body back in his own possession, Jiraiya landed on his feet thanks to a mid-air somersault.
Jiraiya's thoughts
" That attack...deceptive...he actually almost land it..." Jiraiya thought of how accurate Naruto's counterattack was.
With that very thought, a small trickle of blood began to ooze from Jiraiya's mouth. Once he realized this fact, he was in total disbelief.
Jiraiya's thoughts
"...he DID land it...unbelievable..." Jiraiya couldn't believe Naruto was able to land his counter.
Jiraiya wiped his mouth and grinned. Naruto had improved from their last practice session.
"The only way you can beat me is with that rasengan Naruto..." Jiraiya stated
Naruto knew Jiraiya was right. As skilled as he was, he knew going head to head taijutsu with Jiraiya would result in his failure. Even worse, he knew his left arm was restrict from using chakra.
Naruto's thoughts
"...my clone jutsu..." Naruto had decided to clone himself, to have them assist in forming the rasengan.
Jiraiya was already aware of what Naruto would attempt. Watching Naruto attempt the clone jutsu, Jiraiya used his right hand to attack with the rasengan.
"Damn!" Naruto's focus was broken to dodge his sensei's assault.
Naruto began to try to focus chakra throughout his entire body to assist in creating a rasengan attack. To no avail, his efforts were in vain since the chakra in his left arm was nullified due to the armor.
Naruto's thoughts
" ...I can't do it..." Naruto tried his hardest to form the rasengan. But without the use of his clones or his left arm, it simply wasn't going to happen.
"What will you do Naruto?" Jiraiya seriously questioned.
Naruto stood battle ready. Desperate, but battle ready. Jiraiya saw he had his student cornered. Confidently, we would beckon his student.
"Cornered and depleted...WHAT WILL YOU DO NARUTO?" Jiraiya yelled out as he again charged his student.
Slowly, Jiraiya raised his arms as he ran. It was if a bird, preparing to take flight was running straight at Naruto. He began to focus his chakra into both of his hands.
Jiraiya's thoughts
" I know you feel like crap right now...but you're doing great kid...just pay attention" Jiraiya was prone for another attack.
Naruto's thoughts
"CRAP!" that one word was the only thing in Naruto's mind. He could barely react
Naruto crossed his arms and ducked his head in. There was no way for him to get away from his sensei's attack. He braced himself hard for the coming assault. His nerves were on end as he feeling the opposing chakra draw closer and closer. Jiraiya brought his arms straight out as his hands pointed directly to Naruto.
Jiraiya's thoughts
"Here it comes boy" was Jiraiya's final thought before the attack
A sonic boom rang in the air. Jiraiya's attack forced Naruto back. Naruto was thrown back several yards. The young gennin's body skid deeply into the ground. Eventually, the heavy friction of the ground halted Naruto's unnatural travel.
Morrigan's thoughts
"OH MY GOD!...FOXY!..." Morrigan was scared.
Morrigan rose to her feet. Her fear was evident. However, she would not allow fear to dictate her actions. She could either cower or be brave. And for Naruto she would be brave. She ran to Jiraiya. Knowing she had no chance against him, she attempted her attack anyway. Naruto was far more important than her fear in her opinion.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Morrigan began to fight
Morrigan faced Jiraiya head on. She attempted an uppercut. Jiraiya grabbed her fist with little to no effort at all. Although Morrigan didn't have the skills of a ninja, her courage and heart were not to be doubted or questioned.
"BACK OFF!" Morrigan attempted a hard knee to Jiraiya
Jiraiya sidestepped her attack and decided he had stop her now before she got herself in the way and REALLY hurt herself.
Jiraiya's thoughts
" You're a special little lady Morrigan...sorry I have to do this but..." Jiraiya raised his hand.
Jiraiya threw Morrigan to the ground hard. It wasn't enough to do any extensive damage. But it was enough to knock her out. Which is what he had intended to do. Naruto rose to his feet in anger as he witness what had just taken place.
"WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?" Naruto yelled at his sensei.
Jiraiya just as angrily replied
"YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT I DID? THEN YOU PAY ATTENTION AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BOY!" Jiraiya yelled as he prepared for a second rasengan attack.
Naruto felt an unfamiliar chakra in his left arm. His armored arm began to shake. It felt oddly powerful aura resonated from it. At that moment, Naruto remember what Dr. Mizrahi told about his arm.
Naruto's thoughts
"That's right...I can absorb chakra with my arm and use it as my own." Naruto remembered as he formulated a counter attack against Jiraiya.
Jiraiya began is second rasengan attack. Once again he rushed Naruto with his arms out like wings.
Jiraiya's thoughts
"Come on Naruto, pay attention" Jiraiya urged his student on as he continued is onslaught.
Naruto was better prepared for his attack this time around. This time he had a means of fending of the attack rather than simply trying to defend himself alone. Naruto began to counter with his own rasengan. With the chakra absorbed from Jiraiya's first attack and the chakra from the rest of his body, he was successful.
Naruto's thoughts
"Now if I can time this right..." Naruto prepped himself.
Jiraiya again pointed his opened hands toward Naruto. Naruto was ready this time around. With flawless timing, Naruto centered his own rasengan attack. With his attack centered, his assault evenly collided with Jiraiya's two rasengan attacks. A second resounding echo spread through the sky. And again Naruto was sent flying back. And this time, the feedback from the blast was even stronger than the previous assault.
Naruto's thoughts
" It wasn't enough...I can't win like this..." Naruto's thinking was sparse and desperate.
Jiraiya gazed at his student in anger.
"IDIOT! YOU WON'T PAY ATTENTION TO SAVE YOUR OWN DAMN LIFE!" Jiraiya angrily was attempting to get a point across.
Naruto's thoughts
"What does he want from me?..." Naruto had yet to grasp what was really going on.
Jiraiya walked over to the unconscious Morrigan. Now, slower than his previous two attempts, he rose his right hand and pointed towards Morrigan.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Naruto yelled, fearing for Morrigan's safety. The energy in his arm was drained as he used it to fend off Jiraiya's assault. And this very fact made him even more worried.
"If you can't learn to save your life...maybe you can learn to save someone else's..." Jiraiya began to gather his chakra and form the rasengan in his hand.
Naruto's blood began to boil like never before. He couldn't believe Jiraiya was threatening Morrigan's life. He would not stand for that. As for Morrigan, she couldn't have picked a worse time to regain consciousness. Her eyes opened to the site of a light blue energy resonating from Jiraiya's palm.
Morrigan's thoughts
"...Foxy...please..." Morrigan thought rather than spoke. Her body was frozen with fear, not allowing her to speak.
"Goodbye Princess..." Jiraiya acted as if he was preparing to kill her
Jiraiya's thoughts
"Learn damn you boy. Watch and learn" Jiraiya was hoping the drastic situation would help Naruto understand what he was trying to teach him.
Naruto's soul would not allow Morrigan to be hurt. Now, with Morrigan in mortal danger, Naruto's focus and fury both were undaunted. He rose to his feet
Naruto's thoughts
"I don't care...teacher or not...you WON"T HURT MORRIGAN-CHAN!" Naruto's fist trembled.
Naruto's right palm began to radiate a sky blue light, similar to Jiraiya's. His left arm began to tremble under the armor. The demon's chakra was attempting to release itself. Tried as the demon did, the armor held up. Whether Naruto knew it or not, this wasn't the demon's chakra assisting him. This was his own. His own determination, his own fury, and his own soul.
"GET AWAY FROM HER NOW!" Naruto yelled out, attacking Jiraiya
The rasengan in Naruto's hand was huge. It was even stronger than when the Kyuubi did it when it took over his body. Jiraiya immediately broke off from his pseudo assault.
Jiraiya's thoughts
"...His strength...and without the Kyuubi?" Jiraiya couldn't sense the demon's chakra. Only Naruto's was present.
"RASENGAN!" Naruto forced his attack into Jiraiya's chest.
Like a bullet, a smoking body named Jiraiya was hurtling straight and fast. His body was smashing through branch after branch, tree after tree. His body partially ended up smashing through a cliff. Thus, using Jiraiya's body, Naruto had made a man-made cliff. However, his fury was now subsided by reasonable confusion.
"Morrigan-chan, are you ok?" Naruto asked with deep concern for her well being in his voice
Morrigan stood on her feet.
"...Foxy..." was her reply as she wrapped her arms around him, desiring his comfort from her fears.
Naruto returned the embrace and closed his eyes. He could not bring himself to believe what had just transpired. He then closed his eyes.
Naruto's thoughts
" Sensei...why did you do this..." Naruto asked himself, confused and hurt.
A clapping could be heard in the area that Jiraiya had been sent. Both Naruto and Morrigan diverted their attentions away from each other and to the direction of the sound.
"You did it..." A proud voice spoke
Jiraiya began stepping out of the deep gash in the cave. He began walking towards the confused teens. With little more than a scratch on him, he continued to talk
"Naruto, you just learned how to do the rasengan one-handed. And without your clones no less. I'm proud of you." Jiraiya praised him
Naruto was still in shock
"...What was all this for..." Naruto asked
"Training boy, training" Jiraiya patted Naruto on the shoulder
Morrigan's expression went from confused to furious hearing Jiraiya speak. She picked up a rock and grasped it tightly. The veins in her hand was proof of that.
"TRAINING?" Morrigan threw the rock, attempting to stone Jiraiya
Jiraiya caught the rock easily enough. She threw the rock very hard. If it had connected, it would have been an instant concussion.
"Yes training. It's part of being a ninja." Jiraiya tried to rationalize with her
Morrigan began to become downright irrate. She walked right up to Jiraiya
"WHAT KIND OF TRAINING INCLUDES ATTACKING YOUR OWN FRIENDS?" Morrigan continued to scream.
"The kind that prepares you for the real world Princess. In case you haven't noticed yet, we're under fire. Enemies attack us from anywhere. You'd think the incidents in your home and in the city would have made you realize that." Jiraiya began to become more blunt
"Funny how that works out isn't it? Enemies can come and attack us right now...and you know what?" Morrigan awaited Jiraiya's response
"What?" Jiraiya expected something sarcastic.
"THEY'D KILL US BECAUSE WE FIGHT EACH OTHER TO THE BRINK OF DEATH. WE'D GIVE THEM EASY PICKINGS" She gave Jiraiya her answer
Naruto could only sit and watch. He wanted to say something. But they both had their points. Aside from that little fact, he wasn't sure on what he could have said to make things better. Silence was shared between the three after the arguing.
"...I'm going to clean myself up..." Morrigan softly said as she left and began to walk to the far side of the lake.
Naruto and Jiraiya remained quiet. The feeling in the air was odd for them both. Naruto was the first to break the silence.
"She had a good point sensei...why were you so extreme?" Naruto started.
Jiraiya heard Naruto's question. He sat on the ground and began looking forward.
"Naruto,...when you were attacked back in wave country and hospitalized, did your enemy give you the courtesy of waiting for you to finish your social endeavors? Jiraiya indirectly gave his reasoning.
Naruto heard Jiraiya's words and sat beside him.
"Guess not..."
The two became quiet again. That is, until Naruto needed is mind eased once more
"Sensei?" Naruto once again got Jiraiya's attention.
Jiraiya was at attention
"In our fight, you didn't allow me to make my clones...why?..." Naruto recollected the battle
Jiraiya looked at Naruto, then again fixed his position back to the mountain range in the distance.
" Because sometimes, you can't rely on the numbers game to see you through. Nor can you depend on that armor piece of yours. In a fight...it might be impossible to do the rasengan with your clones and with your chakra flow being incomplete, using your techinques one-handed may be your only means of survival..." Jiraiya explained
"In other words, you forced me to learn it..." Naruto replied
Once again, silence surfaced. Naruto pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. He wanted to open it up, yet for some reason a deep routed fear kept him from doing so. With many things on his mind, he broke the silence once more
"I'm not saying that you Morrigan-chan was right...or that you were wrong sensei...but it's like a pick-your-poison scenario." Naruto began to theorize.
Jiraiya looked at his student in a puzzling way
"What are you saying.
"Sensei, I agree that to fight hard and win, you have to train hard. Sometimes, maybe even to your mortal limits..." Naruto's statement fit Jiraiya's style of training
"Go on..." Jiraiya awaited Naruto to continue
"But when your enemies can strike at anytime, we run the risk of being unable to fight due to lack of endurance, injury,...or worse. Making it easy to off any of us with little to no effort at all." Naruto's second statement coincided with Morrigan's reasoning.
Jiraiya's thoughts
"...Is this Naruto here?...Since when did he have this kind of brain capacity?" He was shocked at his students newfound intellect.
He studied Naruto carefully. He watched as Naruto had the paper he pulled from his pocket in his hand. He noticed his students hesitance to open it. It was almost as if the world would burn if he unfolded the paper. Jiraiya became curious.
"Give me that!" Jiraiya snatched the paper from Naruto
"Damn you geezer, give it back!" Naruto wanted it back immediately
Naruto made various attempts to grab the paper. However, with little effort, Jiraiya placed his hands on Naruto's chest. In turn, this made it impossible for Naruto to properly make a grab for the paper. Jiraiya had a great wingspan than he did. Eventually, he gave up and Jiraiya glanced at the paper. He didn't read it. He just glance through it enough to understand the subject.
Jiraiya's thoughts
"...Why kid..." He realized what the paper really was.
Jiraiya looked up and noticed Naruto was looking in Morrigan's direction. Naruto was full of conflictions. And as his sensei, he would do his best to help him sort things out.
"Why didn't you finish your letter to her kid?" Jiraiya asked as he handed back the letter.
Naruto remained silent as he reached for the letter. Then he replied slowly
"Because...I don't know what to say to her..." Naruto was honest.
"I see..." Jiraiya figured as much
Jiraiya then notice Naruto was looking in Morrigan's general direction. The expression on his face was one of deep thought and confliction. Exactly like the expression he had when he was staring at the note in his hand.
"They're both pretty special girls, aren't they kid..." Jiraiya asked
"...Yeah...both of them..." Naruto replied
Jiraiya decided it was time to do something that was already long over due. With all the commotion, it was a matter that couldn't be settled properly. But now, with this brief downtime, it could be settled.
"Naruto, it's time we settled our bet..." Jiraiya looked at his student with a serious face.
Naruto froze for a moment. He hadn't forgotten about the bet. It just slipped his mind. He didn't want to answer. But it wasn't like him to go back on his word.
"...Ok..." Naruto replied hesitantly.
To be continued...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------