New Tenants and the School & Study Wars Arc


Cast of Current Main Characters Recap (As of Chapter 10)

Keitaro Urashima (20): Recent 3rd Year Ronin.

Naru Narusegawa (17, almost 18): Newly dubbed Ronin and soon to be graduate student of K' High School.

Naruto "Ruto" Urashima (13): Soon to be 2nd Year Junior High in Konoha Academy.

Shinobu Maehara (13): Soon to be 2nd Year Junior High in Konoha Academy.

Kaolla Su (14): Soon to be 3rd Year Junior High in Konoha Academy.

Motoko Aoyama (16): Soon to be 2nd Year Senior High in Raika All-Girls Academy, Ruto's sparring partner and sometimes frenemy.

Mitsuné "Kitsuné" Konno (19): Jobless - - er... Correction: "Freelancer", Moocher, and Ruto's former baby-sitter.

Haruka Urashima (27): Teahouse Annex Manager, Assistant Landlady, and 'Aunt' to Keitaro and Ruto.


Chapter 11

Anxiety's Shower!

The Search for the Runaway Ronin

§

Previously...

The long awaited 2 week-long exams are off - - to an ugly start. A wrong turn into a different campus, being chased by a minivan with a crazy driver, a (nearly) dropped-dead gorgeous brunette with a turtle companion, and a returned ticket were the keys to the catastrophic misadventure, but it all turned out fine in the end.

Elsewhere, Ruto had a run-in with Danzo's flunkies as he was preparing the party supplies, but managed to put them in their place, hard.

But during the exams, Naru mentioned that she made a promise to someone else that utterly made the older Urashima literally 'turn to stone' and feel utterly crushed, thinking she's not one of the girls of promise. What's worse is that not only Keitaro failed to make the mark, but somehow, Naru didn't pass the exams, either! After going to a tea & beer bar to drink their worries away, they got themselves into a heated argument that caused both of them to separate... by means of force...

Trying to cope with their misery, Keitaro tried to take a trip to nearby Kyoto... With Naru surprisingly not far behind.

And now...


Early to Mid March XX, 1999

|Hinata-sou, Sunday; the day before Spring Break|


Ladies and Gentlemen.

Before we start the story, there's going to be a scenario where young teenagers heading off on an unsupervised trip to far off locations and a bath scene that may be disturbing to some audience members.

Viewer discretion is advised.

Thank you.


Naruto "Ruto" Urashima got a phone call on the desk phone from both Keitaro and Naru about where they are. It turns out that both of the ronin somehow hitched an express line to Kyoto after they left a message that made the tenants scratching their heads. After a bit of a scuffle, and a couple of well-deserved losses that Kaolla Su has gotten, the girls are assuming about what Keitaro and Naru were planning: a romantic getaway‽

That's when Kaolla (in her boyish casual clothes) and Shinobu (in her spring dress and her formal Junior High School cap) gathered some clothes, belongings, toiletries, and allowances, they stealthily made their escape, leaving their note on the lounge table.

"Alright! The search party for Naru and Keitaro mission begins-ya!" the island girl declared.

"Is it really alright?" Shinobu nervously asked.

"Not without me, you're not!" the voice in the wind spoke to the surprised young girls and revealed in an appearance with the falling leaves by Ruto, "I have a responsibility to take care of you girls. Besides, I know that Kaolla-chan can get lost in the expandable cities..."

Kaolla scratches the back of her head and makes a goofy grin, knowing that he's right.

And so, the 3 Musketeers roamed across the roads to search for their lost upperclassmen.

Later, the trio went to take the express train station trying to get to Kyoto. They know that Kaolla's native currency doesn't work in Japan and Shinobu doesn't have much money. So Ruto decided to pay the tickets himself. But in Kaolla's rush, they were forced to take the wrong train to Shizuoka (due south of Kyoto). Kaolla then learned that Shizuoka and Kyoto are not in the same location, but there they go off on their first big adventure together.

-LNH-

|Meanwhile, back at the...you-know-where|

"Seriously!" Kitsuné interjected to Motoko, "What's with everyone‽" She holds the message on a notary paper saying that Kaolla, Shinobu, and Ruto are away, looking for the lost ronin duo, "They're still kids out in the cold, cruel world. Especially when it comes to Shinobu..." Motoko's face was paling in fright as she imagined the poor meek girl fatally stabbing Keitaro to death with a hidden knife (with Naru as a witness), while Kitsuné drooled as she imagined Shinobu, Kaolla, & Ruto are having a 'naked', more intimate moment together in bed. Without them.

"And what's that supposed to mean?💧" Motoko rhetorically asked.

Kitsuné snapped out of her bubble of thought and yelled, "Aaah! Both of these ideas would be terrible!"

"What should we do, Mitsuné-san? Call the police?"

"No, that would be snitching. We go after them ourselves! We can't let those three have all the fun, Motoko."

Thus the remaining tenants packed their belongings, as they are determined to try and find the lost ronin and the younger residents as Kitsuné said, "Alright, we'll head off to Kyoto as well!"

"I think staying here and waiting for them to call should be better," Motoko somewhat disagrees, but was outweighed.

So they told Haruka that they're checking out before they went on their leave to search for the younger tenants and the ronin.

-LNH-

|After 8 days into the trip|

The '3 Musketeers' got off course... frequently, and they inadvertently went on a Japanese tour around most of the country. From Shizuoka, to Yokohama, to the greater part of Tokyo, to Yamagata, to Sendai, by boat to Hokkaido (to see the Ainu Tribe and their ancient history), by plane to Osaka, a brief detour to Okayama, back to Nara, and finally, to Kyoto. They traveled to most of Japan's famous cities and got souvenirs along the way, stored in Ruto's scrolls.

At least, they saw the sights along the way and they decided to record their progress in their unused journals for future projects. It was getting late in the night and they had to find a place to stay. But when the girls are 13/14, the surroundings can be cruel sometimes. But 2 girls plus one male companion their age that is stronger and smarter than he looks can likely even things up.

During their trip in Tokyo, the group decided to go to the nearest Barber Shop and Beauty Salon in town to manage their long, untidied hair issue after going through a long year in school. Ruto gets his haircut to a manageable 2 inch (but still manageably spiky) style, Shinobu managed her hairdo into a fashionable bobbed style, and Kaolla just had to manage a difficult head-scrubbing (with a little guidance from her friends) and then got her hair cropped into a shoulder-length fashion before tying it to a wild ponytail again. Later, they visited the infamous Tokyo Tower where they heard about many strange stories and confrontations that have happened at the site. And, by Ruto's lucky (or unlucky) streak, the trio got some tickets to the Kabuki display runned by the Kyoshiro Senryo foundation.

(They've been running their occasional shows since the late 18th century.)

They also had some occasional desserts from the bakery, especially since Shinobu has developed an unusual craving for sweet adzuki bean soup, (better known as [zenzai]), and an occasional cinnamon roll. (Strange...) Kaolla likes banana-based sweets (as usual) and actually enjoyed some zenzai, (since it's sweet), and Ruto likes to try any of the desserts.

After getting some souvenirs and exploring different locations, it was getting late and Kaolla is worn out from too much excitement again and is getting really hungry, so Ruto carries her on his back and hauls his backpack backwards (around his chest) to help counterbalance the weight, while holding hands with Shinobu. They went to the nearest vacant inn in Kyoto and asked the hostess for the lowest cost room for the night.

What surprised the hostess is that there are three students in a party, including a boy that is stronger than he looks.

But then, the suddenly awakened Kaolla excitedly asks about dinner. The hostess decided to give the kids a discount for their dinner. So, after thanking the hostess and the heavens for the meal, the three musketeers enjoyed the eloquent cuisine provided by the hostess and the cook.

|Later, in the Hotel's Onsen|

It was a mixed bath that the 3 Junior High Students had all to themselves. Both girls except Ruto (in a towel around his waist) are completely naked.

Shinobu is in the onsen next to a swimsuit wearing Ruto, both looking at the moon. They are wondering when they will find Keitaro and Naru and get themselves back home. But then Kaolla makes a harmless scare tactic, surprising Shinobu, asking them, "Is there something bothering you two?"

"Yeah," Ruto sighed, "We just missed Aniki and Naru-senpai. I hope they managed to get over their... escape."

The girls agreed and then they asked Ruto if he could help them in the showers, to which he obliged. Shinobu is washing her hair with the help of a shampoo visor and Kaolla is rinsing off with the bucket while Ruto and his double scrubbed and massaged their backs and shoulders.

Then Kaolla asked, "Hey, hey, Shinobu! What are ya going to do once we get into finding Keitaro?"

"I'll... I think I'll bring him back... or..." Shinobu nervously explained.

"I've been thinking the same way," Ruto explained as he finished cleaning himself up and dispelled his double, "But how about we wait 'til we get back home and we'll share our experiences around the whole mainland to our friends, 'ttebayo."

Then as Ruto sits in his stool, facing parallel to the girls to relax from his work, Kaolla climbs up on his back, wrapping her legs around him (ignoring the shivers coming from her 'bestie' that is feeling her bare breasts and her womanhood tantalizingly rubbing against his back) and suggested to Shinobu in a frisky manner, "I see, you're really in love with Ruto, aren't ya, Shinobu?"

Shinobu blushed madly from the embarrassment and she chased Kaolla with a bucket (inadvertently bonking Ruto's hard head once and apologized to him), while denying the childish suggestion until they ran near the lion head fountain and the former accidentally smacked it. A strong stream of water blasted at the girls from the pressure, sending them flying into the pool.

(The spray also happened to have hit both girls in the 'sweet spot' in the process, leaving them in a state that shouldn't be said in public.)

Ruto quickly fished them out of the water to let them catch their breath, just as the hostess was checking in the onsen at the awkward scene.

Later, the dressed students apologized to the hostess, but the latter already forgave them. Ruto then noticed the pictures that she had on the album, "Isn't that Aniki and Naru-senpai, Oba-san?"

"Those two people? I remembered them stopping by in a couple's suite some time ago," the lady said.

"Eh‽ Is it true?" Shinobu curiously questioned.

(Hostess)» "Yes. If memory serves me correctly, They said they were going to take a ferry to Kyushu."

(Ruto)» "I see. But by now, Aniki and Senpai are probably past Kyushu and are probably docking at a distant location."

But right now, the '3 Musketeers' decided to retire for the night as they went into their lodging.

As Ruto was about to think about the future of the Hinata-sou, he told Kitsuné, Motoko, and Aunt- - Err...'Miss' Haruka that he and his fellow classmates were searching for the boneheaded brother and the ill-tempered upperclasswoman. He missed them. They were even this close to reaching them. At least, the adventure is worth it, as he got some photo stickers of themselves together, far different from Keitaro's hobby.

While he was asleep in his futon, he hears the voice of moaning and an unpeculiar scent from the girls' hands as they lie close to their best friend. ::They must have one of those 'private moments' in their sleep, but who are they lusting for? It surely isn't Aniki and it certainly is not with the other girls - - Heavens, no. But what on earth do they want?:: were Ruto's racing thoughts, until he hears Shinobu and Kaolla calling out for Ruto as they remove their futon covers, flaunting their panties and bare chests in the dark of the night.

He can't quite tell if it's one of those darndest dreams or in the form of a nightmare as the girls crawled over and rubbed against his legs in their sleep, as well as kissing his face, until something 'wet' was felt... Not from his shorts, but from his dormmates' bodies. The girls 'bursted' in their sleep until they collapsed on top of their 'fearless leader'.

::Dattébayo... keeping the promise of holding that inhibition is going to be harder than I thought…:: the hapless loverboy murmured as he kissed the girls on their cheeks and said good night to them before he fell to the bliss of slumber, but not before he got a whiff of the girls' unique scents.

(This has been going on after Day 4 of their adventures. It may be risque for teenagers, but Ruto is still trying to keep a stiff upper lip on his promise to his companions not to get too deep and stay abstinent before completing Senior High and make a living.)

-LNH-

The students changed out of their clothes and packed their belongings and checked out of the hotel and thanked the hostess for the service, right after they got a picture from the camera, making a moment together. As the students planned to find the location of their upperclassmen, Kaolla unpacks her device that is ingenious as it is unnerving. Shinobu asked her classmate what was the portable device and the latter replied as she looked through her visor for a personal computer screen and an iridium satellite system on top of her head, "It's my secret weapon-ya, Shankachi-kun. This baby is used to searching for people and their progress."

She searched through the digital records via her portable screen in her visor, and found that Keitaro and Naru went to the ferry from Kyushu to Okinawa 3 days ago and the good news is that they are coming back by ferry to the nearest port from Kyoto, but not until sunset. But there is also news that Motoko and Kitsuné are not far from where they are.

Ruto texted the message on his phone to Kitsuné's number (Motoko doesn't like modern technology, much); it turns out that they're in town somewhere. He messages them to meet together before going to the beach where they'll meet the wayward prodigals.

As they were walking to the town square, Ruto sensed danger from behind. "Girls, I'm getting a feeling that somebody's trying to tail us," he softly said to his companions.

And he's right. A small group of 8 Yakuza, known infamously as the "Akatsuki" Familia, are trying to track the whereabouts of their target ever since they left Shizuoka. Among which is a burly man with green eyes and black sclerae, has two scars on his mouth as if both ends of his face were once slit open from cheekbone to cheekbone, wears black sleeveless garbs, and a mask to hide his hideous mug. He's in company with a another man who has a slicked back, silvery hairstyle, wears a black T-shirt with red clouds embroidered on it, carried a stolen stop sign like a pole-ax with a elongated icepick, has a thirst for spilling his victims' blood, and is also acting very paranoid as if he's high from having a bad trip.

They were conversing with each other.

"Hey, Kakuzu! You sure our client wants that brat and the wenches? We've been trailing them day and night for over a week and missed them by the time they hit that village in the west while we hardly had anything good to eat! These f******** doesn't seem like much!" the man with the slick hair complained.

"Shut the f*** up, Hidan!" the man named Kakuzu grumbled, "Our client paid us good money to track and capture that scurvy little whelp and his lovebirds. I'm sure he'll make every yen count for the hitlist."

"Yeah, yeah. It's always f****** money with you, whoop-dee-f******-doo. But to me, Jashin would love to have those little girls for pleasure!"


A/N: Jashin isn't the false god in this story. Instead, it's Hidan's death metal idol due to his paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and delusional fanaticism that kinda went too far.


Ruto quickly puts Kaolla's equipment away and hides them away with his doubles to draw the Yakuza's fire by means of force. And just then, the Yakuza gave chase at their prey as Hidan surrounds the original Ruto on one side and Kakuzu on the other side, Ruto taunted the gangsters, saying, "«COME AND GET SOME.»" And in their greediness, the two gangsters charged at the boy, but then ended up crashing together without hide nor hair of their target. Then the 2 mugs looked down and found a letter written by the boy and it read:

To whom it may concern,

I can smell your association with your damn boss from a mile away. You dare try to not only kidnap me and my friends, but you're doing this for the sake of that greedy, ruthless, arrogant, no-good scoundrel that is to be named‽

I warned him to never come around me or my friends anymore. For if he does, it's 'curtains' to his career, so give it up!

Signed,

-Don't Give A Darn!

P.S. - This message will self-destruct.

Self-destruct‽ The hired hands were stupefied at what the letter meant as the paper heats up and *BOOM!* The money-grubber, the paranoid, and the grunts are blasted with a trick explosive paper with a large amount of gunpowder. This made the blackened thugs very angry from the dirty trick that Ruto pulled, but just as they about to set their foot down, they stepped on some marbles that Ruto had set with his sealing art for his trap combo and they crashed into each other again, then the marbles exploded in purple smoke, covering the gangsters in purple dye. And then, the purple-colored Kakuzu and Hidan's temper reached a state of high tension as the chase ensued.

-Explanation-

(The trick marbles actually contain material similar to dye packs found in certain stores and banks for evidence making. Kaolla somehow found the recipe from the internet and she and Ruto worked together to make the non-lethal bombs, just for kicks.

-End Explanation-

-LNH-

The students ran across many crowds, streets, and alleyways until they ran into an unusual scene that looks old-fashioned like it's from a samurai flick. Ruto unseals his Tachibana clothes-rod from his backpack and defensively armed himself as they see the crooks coming for them, with chains and knives. But the unfortunate thing is that the thugs crossed paths with a traditionalist swordswoman as she and Ruto slashed at the crooks with the blunt side of their weapons.

"Ouch! That f****** hurts!" Hidan exclaimed after being beaten.

"These are not mere people, Hidan," Kakuzu snarled from his wounds, "They're elusive, flying f****** devils!"

"Impeccable timing, Motoko-chan, as usual," Ruto said as both warriors sheathed their blades.

"Thank you, Ruto-kun," Motoko said, "However, you owe me and Mitsuné-san an explanation." Kitsuné was standing behind Motoko from the corner.

"Well, I guess you got us, 'ttébayo," Ruto said with a sheepish grin.

"Alright, Ruto-san," Motoko said as her Dubhe power began to glow from her shoulder, "We still have a score to settle for your punishment."

"I couldn't agree with you more on our long-awaited match," Ruto replied with his Alkaid power and his blue beast-like eyes showing, "The last time we had a full duel was during the vacation in Kyoto that my family and I had over the last year, and then you showed up at the worst moment..."

-Flashback-

(Ruto: Age 12 - 6th Grade)

In December '97, Ruto and his family were visiting Kyoto to have a good time for a much needed winter vacation. He also wanted to visit the Aoyama residence to see if Tsuruko is doing well with her baby boy named Ken who was born that summer and had to take maternity leave, so he decided to buy gifts for his sensei, the baby, and for their well-being.

While trying to use the outdoor onsen to relax after a stint of training and honing his variety of skills, both armed and unarmed (with a little help of his Shadow Clones) at the roof access, Ruto senses somebody approaching the onsen. He was expecting some male company, but then the blond Urashima senses a form of energy that he can't put his finger on yet. It's nearly the same signature as his Alkaid power. And he forgot that it's a mixed bath, so that means that girls are coming in too.

That was when Motoko (just shy of 15 and just recently had an unusual growth spurt, making her taller than the average schoolgirl her age) came in, butt naked, as she tries to relax in the hot water while Ruto tries to hide himself underwater with a nearby reed as a makeshift snorkel. But then she senses an intruder and she cracks her knuckles, because her blade is stowed away for safety's sake, and she nearly steps on the Urashima, forcing him out of the water and catching his breath.

That's when they looked each other in the eye as they begin to negatively react by killer instinct, as did the previous incarnations of the Septentrions before, and then they begin to fight like they're David (Ruto) and Goliath (Motoko), mixed in with a couple of feral wildcats.

"Alkaid!/Dubhe!" both warriors yelled as they grappled with each other despite the size difference. With the energy of their power conflicted so much, the onsen and part of the surrounding area got partially disheveled and wrecked.

After a few minutes of fighting by means of defensively using his school's fist techniques, Ruto gets knocked down on his back after losing his footing. And just as Motoko was to deliver the final blow to her foe's face, she looked down and saw his growing circumcised manhood, mistaking it for a certain reptile. Her face turned pale, while developing a nosebleed, and then screamed with a very high octaved pitch that sounded like a discordant scratch on glass, "Kyaaiii~!" Then Motoko whited out, with her eyes rolled upwards as she dropped down from her discombobulation with her current high B-cup breasts on top of Ruto's chest, her womanhood a little too close to his manhood, and nearly kissed his lips in the process.

("«IT WAS TOO LATE, SHE'S DONE BEEN INCENSED,»" the famous American comedian commenting from the blaring TV inside the hotel with the local audience laughing at the video from its Japanese subtitles.)

Ruto, on the other hand, felt totally embarrassed that a girl who is bigger and taller than him (by 1½ heads length), shrieked like a banshee when she saw his exposed member. So, with a sigh and the use of his unusual strength, Ruto carried the tall woman in a fireman's carry into the dressing room.

As Motoko woke up from her fainting, she sees that her modesty was covered with a towel and she has some tissue covering her bleeding nostrils (partially used as a joke) and sees the 12 year old student wearing his casual clothes trying to help her relax and she heard him mutter, "Dattébayo. Had to take a vacation to get away from it all and here I have to meet my sworn enemy, who happens to be a girl... All I wanted was to have a moment to myself in relaxation and bring a gift to Sensei and now I almost ended up kissing that woman. *deep sigh*..."

Motoko didn't know that her newfound archrival just saved her life and she didn't even know his name. So she asked the boy, "Why do you spare me, Alkaid?"

"Well, because you're a girl and you're about to catch a cold after fighting so much, Dubhe-chan," Ruto answered, "But... forgive me. My name is Naruto Urashima. Elementary, 6th Grade. Friends call me 'Ruto'. What's yours?"

"Aoyama. Motoko Aoyama. 3rd Year, Junior High," she said as she slowly sat up next to him with a feeling like she never had been like this before. Not since her elder sister had been in love with her newlywed husband. And Ruto thinks that Motoko looks a bit like his kendo teacher.

However, Motoko (still having her pride as an Aoyama swordswoman) decides to not get too attached to the unusual kid. So she regained her countenance and said, "I guess I should be thankful, Alkaid. But I must leave before I finish my skills as a swordmaster."

"So am I, Dubhe-chan," Ruto remarked, "But there is something that helped me that I learned from my sensei that lives near here, since she saved me from myself 3 years ago."

"And what's that?"

"My raison ďêtre that my teacher taught me was that to become a great person and a swordsman is to protect the loved ones close to me, and that's my family, my friends, and the next generation."

After giving some thought, the Shinmei-style apprentice asked her rival if she knew a place known as the Hinata-sou that her sister and father recommended. Ruto said that that was his family's former inn before they turned into a dormitory. He also said that there are several schools that are closest to where the former inn is. Raika All-Girls Senior High is the school Motoko wanted to attend for her education after taking the Senior High School acceptance exams.

That is when Ruto mentioned that his grandmother and aunt run that particular dormitory in Hinata City and there are currently 3 other residents plus one other relative that could probably get along with her rather well. He pointed her to where the Hinata-sou is located and said that when she sees a gate the name 'Urashima' at the post and a long set of stone stairs until searched the dormitory and a annexed building settled on a firm foundation straight ahead, then she's come to the right place. He also told her to mention to Grandma Hina and Aunt Haruka that their relative, Ruto Urashima, had sent her.

Motoko kindly thanked him, in her form of an indifferent attitude, but in actuality, it appears that she's starting to open up her feelings when she begins to bond with her new rival.

Then the new Septentrions parted ways...

(A few days later, after receiving the title as a Journeyman Sword Master/Mistress, Motoko was given her father's blessings before boarding at the Dormitory. This happened about 4 months (give or take a few days) before Shinobu moved in. Also, when Grandma Hina, Haruka, and Kanako (who's been staying at the annex for a while to finish with Junior High studies) were mentioned by recommendation from Ruto, they knew that he still keeps in touch with each other, though he's far away.)

-End Flashback-

"And now, here we are on a fine day in March where we finally have our moment as rivals," Ruto finished as both sides bowed in respect and prepared their blades in real earnest.

"That's fine by me, Alkaid," Motoko agreed, "We are settling the score right now. Iza mai! (Let's dance!)"

And both sword fighters prepared their stances to prepare for the right moment as the wind breezed by them.

[Shinken shōbu. Hajimé!]

Both Septentrions crossed their blades as neither of them was willing to back down. While in the process of the battle however, there was a nearby film crew that was secretly and inadvertently watching as both fighters used their techniques. Motoko strikes first, followed by Ruto's...

(Motoko») "Hien Battoh Kasumi-kiri!

(Ruto») "Tsubame Gaeshi!"

The swordsmen began with their quick-draw attacks! The impact from the clashing sliced part of the scenery with a slashing wave and fire from their swings!

(Ruto») "Metal Slash!

(Motoko») "Zantetsuken!"

Both combatants focused their Chi into their blades to perform a metal-rending strike!

(Motoko») "Zankūsen!"

(Ruto») "Senpūretsuzan!"

Their attacks launched wind-imbued attacks that cancelled out on contact with a blast knocking almost anyone back!

(Motoko») "Ryūhazan!"

(Ruto») "Dragon Slash!"

The fighters jumped up and swung at each other as if they're targeting dragons, but the swordsmen got knocked back from the equal power!

(Motoko») "Raimeiken!"

(Ruto») "Shinmei Hayate!"

Their electric Chi techniques collided with each other until they cancelled out in an electrifying explosion!

Both sides continued to clash as the Chi flowed through their blades until they decided to do one final blow as they dashed towards each other, but Hidan and Kakuzu got in the wrong place as they tried to prepare an attack on both combatants...

[[Cue: Ultimate KO from Art of Fighting 3 (Gaiden)]]

And both enemies (that are Hidan and Kakuzu) were caught in the crossfire as they not only had their clothes partially shredded, but they suffered broken ribs, fractured spines, and possibly busted spleens.

(Kakuzu Don'yoku (alias Money-Pit Kakuzu) and Hidan Itan (alias Pretty Boy Hidan and the Priest of Jashin) and the Akatsuki gang were later arrested for their crimes. They are unable to continue, due to their wounds. 再起不能 (Retire))

Then both swordsmen withdrew their blades, knowing that they were satisfied as they respectfully bowed to each other. Then Ruto asked Motoko and Kitsuné for forgiveness because of him and the girls leaving the Dormitory without them. "Apology accepted, Ruto-kun," the Vixen said as she moved closer to her dear friend and hugged Ruto's face to her busty chest, trying to fluster him, "But you three could have been lost and possibly get Shinobu and Kaolla into deeper trouble! At least, you left a note at the coffee table to let us know."

"I agree," Motoko said, "Although you three gave us a bit of grief, you still protected each other from certain harm."

"Yes, we understand. We're sorry," the younger students admitted their guilt and the friends gave each other a group hug.

Then Kitsuné suggested, "OK, guys! Let's go to the seaport to see when Naru and Landlord-san are going to show up. Who's with me?"

The younger students cheered while Motoko gave an indifferent supportive role. The Hinata-sou tenants then left the movie set and trekked onward to the seaport.

(The filmmakers in the said set stopped filming as they print and use the footage as references to their upcoming film, with the later consent of the Hinata-sou, of course. Ironically, the production company ended up getting awards for the best historical drama and special effects for their diligence.)

-LNH-

|At the seaport|

The Hinata-sou tenants finally managed to meet Naru and Keitaro as they disembarked at the seaport and beach, almost kissing each other before Kaolla pulled a flying split kick onto the hapless landlord's face. "Heyas, Naru! Keitaro! Long time no see!"

The tenants were absolutely worried that the ronin were having one of those suicidal tendencies as they went off to Kyoto and beyond. And how did they find Keitaro? Motoko found the wallet, but its funds had to be spent to get here. "My life savings!" Keitaro cried.

Then Ruto said, "Don't worry, Aniki. I got you covered. Say, did you by chance run into Mutsumi-oneesan?"

"How - - how did you know about her, Ruto-niisan?" Keitaro nervously asked.

"Oh, come now," Ruto noticed, "I told you I was there with you when she nearly died from her fainting spells and I know about her... 'kissing' habit." (Naru and Keitaro remembered the time being with Mutsumi and her quirky ways. She kissed Keitaro and later with Naru to help calm her down.) "By the way, what happened to the little turtle?"

"Myuu?" the unnamed sea turtle chirped and crawled on the boardwalk and Ruto crouched down and petted it, and said, "Hello again, little guy, So you want to stay with us?"

"Myuu!" the turtle happily chirped while Ruto placed it on his head to keep it company.

Kitsuné and Shinobu find the green-shelled, yellow-skinned sea turtle rather cute, but Kaolla has dinner plans on eating it, but Ruto told her not to eat it, and Motoko is still having the case of Chelonaphobia and finds the half-shelled reptile repulsive.

Keitaro then promised to stay back at the Hinata-sou in case something else happens.

And Naru apologized to Keitaro and Ruto for her selfishness and for letting them down. The brothers forgave her, only to promise that they had to work harder from now on.

Then the Hinata-sou company decided to take their route by boat back home... But not before they took a wrong turn off a wrong boat ride to a far off place known as Nemuro (the easternmost location in the Hokkaido mainland in Japan). At least their Gojiro footprint-shaped Hot Springs weren't all that bad. And the turtle is very comfortable being there.

"Myu!"

*Iris in*

§

To be continued…-»


Extended Story

One Night in Okayama and The Musketeers' Origins


Warning! Warning!

May contain scenes that may be disturbing to some audience members. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. Thank you.


[Day 6 into the Trip]

The "3 Musketeers" managed to land in Osaka by plane when, as usual, Kaolla took a wrong turn on the train, almost leaving her friends behind as they took a brief detour to Okayama (southwest of Osaka). As the trio were viewing the country comforts of the area, they saw the hills, the fields of crops, the quaint little buildings, the lakes, and what appears to be a woman with outlandish clothing carrying a jug of saké in her hand, while flying through the air... Wait a second! A woman that can fly in the air without any outer means of transportation‽ It's enough to make even Kaolla look out in awe.

As they exited the train, Ruto and company decided to explore the sights around the sleepy little town. It's more rural than Hinata City, but it seems to be much more peaceful. The local people looked at the trio as if they're tourists or something out of the ordinary. Shinobu nearly panicked from being watched, while Kaolla felt overly excited at the many different things that normally wouldn't have happened back in the Hinata-sou or in her old homeplace in the islands. And Ruto tries to keep his company under control while maintaining his poise in front of the crowd.

They came across the school building that looks a lot like Konoha Junior High. Ruto remembered years ago that this particular building was partially leveled due to an "explosion in the gas line" from the news that he watched. Now, it's rebuilt, and this time, with better equipment.

What's even more strange is that the Great Seto Bridge was destroyed a day after the school incident. It, too, was rebuilt.

The trio noticed that there's a few hours of sun left and there's no hotel to spend the night and they had to resort to using a tent a few times to sleep the night off. But all that changed when they saw a woman with sky-blue hair in a seifuku that has an aire of beauty with a younger beastly-looking girl that almost has the same personality as Kaolla's and a little boy that is energetic. The younger kids were surprising their older family member while finishing off her 'euphemism' and she tumbled into the water nearby. Just for that little remark, she grabbed the two youngsters and threw them bodily into the lake, leaving them all wet from the excitement.

Ruto then casually asked the bluenette as he reached out his hand, "It looks like fun, doesn't it?"

The bluenette girl blushed as she pulled her panties back on while Ruto and Kaolla reached out their hands to get the soaked people out of the lake, "Oh, bite your tongue... I just wanted some privacy and this happens." She looked at Ruto's, Shinobu's, and Kaolla's appearances and asked, "Are you three tourists or are you on a field trip?"

The three students looked at each other and Ruto said, "Well, you might say we are, either way."

"We are looking for our - - mmph!" Kaolla almost blurted out when Shinobu covered her blabbermouth friend's yap and she said, "Kaolla-san!"

Ruto stepped in trying to keep his company from getting out of hand and said, "Actually, we're from Hinata City. We kinda took a wrong turn on a train from Osaka trying to get back to Kyoto for our field trip. And we wound up here." And he said that they're just doing their own projects before coming back to their school.

"I see. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Sasami Masaki Jurai. The two little squirts here are Kenshi Masaki and Ryo-ohki." She pointed to the boy and instead of a human(oid), an unusual creature known as a "cabbit" was on top of the boy's head. "And this is the Masaki family household."

The students pardoned their intrusion and introduced themselves to the Masakis, including the name of their school and rank. Then Sasami invited them to the house for the night.

As the Hinata-sou students took off their shoes, they saw a violet-haired woman with a regal, yet humble appearance named Aeka Masaki Jurai, coming down the stairs. She asks Sasami for an explanation about why they're all wet and why there are guests in the house.

Sasami wrings the water off her hair and said, "You see, Onee-sama, after you sent me away after peeking through Onii-chan's room with him and Noiké, I was "busy" when Kenshi-chan and Ryo-chan surprised me and I fell into the lake. After that, I gave those two what for. That's when these 3 students came by and helped us out of the water."

And the students (Ruto and Shinobu embarrassingly blushed and Kaolla naively unabashed) greeted themselves to Aeka.

Later, as the students explored into the hallways, they bumped into Mihoshi, in her maid's clothes, and she dropped the laundry to the floor in her own clumsy and bungling fashion. Shinobu and Ruto helped pick up the clothes pile, but when Kaolla sees the Kuramitsu, she feels the sense of elation that she and Mihoshi looked like they're related to each other and she spoke in her native Hindi tongue about many things. The clumsy GXP officer-turned-housewife didn't know what Kaolla was saying, until Ruto saying to his senpai in Hindi to control herself and it's not Mihoshi-san's fault that she doesn't understand a word she was saying and he reverts back to his native tongue and said to Mihoshi, "You'll have to forgive my close friend. She hasn't seen another one of her kind back in her homeland."

"It's alright," Mihoshi replied, "Other than my family's complexion, I just didn't expect to meet any other people coming here. Oh, dear! I gotta put away the laundry!" And they parted ways as Mihoshi hastily leaves the hall with a crash or two.

-LNH-

Along the beaten paths, the students viewed the farming fields as far as the eye can see; although the crops were mostly carrots. They even see the legendary tree in the middle of the lake that's been around since late 13th century A.D., and the training grounds that he and his double demonstrated as they practiced with their sheathed clothes-drying poles. Then they visited the shrine where they were greeted by an elderly man living in the house nearby and chatted for a while and then they went to the flying onsen.

When they entered the onsen, it was a different sight than the springs they have back home. It's like the Hanging Gardens of Mesopotamia, a giant greenhouse, and a jungle all rolled into one location.

Ruto was reluctant to take a bath with the girls, but Kaolla and Shinobu insisted on letting him come over (with baby-doll eyes gleaming at the poor Urashima), to which he reluctantly obliged. And while they were undressing on separate sides, Kaolla got Shinobu's attention and whispered to look at Ruto's body. They were looking at their companion's swimmer's build, his scars from his progress, his hind, and his manhood (leaving the girls with a slight nosebleed for their boyfriend). Then they looked at themselves; Shinobu and Kaolla have different perspectives on their growing breasts, curvatures, and their differently shaped womanhood (with traces of hair covering the center portion of their pubis). Then they wondered about what it's like to be a lover, friend, and a wife to a guy such as Ruto. And they see the only boy in the group putting his towel around his waist, knowing that the show's over... for now.

The student trio washed together and then they soaked in the hot water. As they relax, they see the sun sink slowly in the west as the Winter season is (nearly) coming to an end and Spring begins to arrive. Ruto is thinking about how his wayward brother and Naru are handling it. But Kaolla, still naked as a jaybird interrupted that thought as she rubbed Ruto cheek to cheek, making him purr like a cat. Shinobu wanted to do that as well. Both hugged their chests and nipples against Ruto's skin, making him feel like he's a lucky guy.

(Must be his karma.)

But while they're lost in the revelry, all of the sudden, they heard a voice of an older woman that's getting closer and closer, as if she's intangible and goes through walls, and it was the same wild-haired woman from earlier that entered the bath absolutely butt naked like she's a habitual exhibitionist (that is worse off than Kaolla's habit) and realized that she's not alone as then she sees the younger students relaxing together. Ruto, trying not to have a nosebleed and steadying his willpower, is caught between a [rock] and a [soft place] when a younger woman with long dark pinkish hair 'magically' (or rather dimensionally) summons a dishpan and landed on the taller woman's head and said, "Ryoko, don't be rude to our guests."

"But MOM!" Ryoko snapped after having a comical bump on her head, "There's a boy in the baths hanging around us womenfolk! And Tenchi and Kenshi are the only other men in the house! Can I keep him?"

*Bo-o-o-o-ng!*

A downsized version of a giant bell hits the shameless Ryoko on her head, knocking her out and she falls into the water as the 'mother' said to her daughter, "That boy is not your pet to play with. Besides, you have your husband and little brother-in-law to mess with. I should have raised you better than that, sweet Ryoko-chan!"

Then she turned to the bathing students and introduced herself as Washu Hakubi (ex-Kuramitsu) and the taller woman that was KO'd is her daughter, Ryoko. And likewise, said the students, but just as they were getting out of the bath, they suddenly felt like their strength's being drained out of them and they collapsed on the dry floor, face first. Just before Ruto faints, he gets a glimpse of Washu's face as she shows a sign that she is up to something devilish.

-LNH-

There, inside a pocket dimension located in the closet underneath the stairwell, three more subjects were on Washu's to-do list as they lay on tables with their towels stripped off and their clothes being sent to the dimensional cleaners. She examined their bio-signs, their health, psychological being, sexual hygiene, drug tests, metabolic rates, genetic capabilities for possible reproduction, and then she slightly modified their bodies to her own desires: making them live longer, be able to bear children with less pain and no unnecessary complications (with the added sense of pleasure in place of that), and age gracefully, but still witness what happened in the world.

(They're not going to be immortal of age in the flesh, per se. But they may be close to being the prototype Abh (Seikai series) but with longer longevity. Think Tenchi Muyo GXP on that standard), etc., etc.

However, as she fastened head modules to the subject's heads to see more of their psyche, Washu sees the first screen that is Shinobu's with her cooking and working with her friends and family. The second screen is Kaolla's, mostly what she sees are bananas (much like the same with Ryo-ohki and her carrots), but in the center of the clusters of bananas, there are signs of her wishing that she could see with her family again while still graciously living with her dormmates. The third screen shows a young man with a past life of ninjas, working at his family's former inn, and is willing to protect those people that are precious to him.

Washu somehow admired the blond Urashima's determination; he almost has the same kind of spirit that Tenchi has. But then something phenomenal happened.

"Hey! What are you doing messing with my head?" the voice from Ruto's screen demanded.

His body is still unconscious, but his mind is projecting from the screen and is looking at Washu like she had done something to him, "And what is the meaning of this, with Kaolla-chan and Shinobu-chan being strapped down?"

"Well, forgive me for doing this," Washu explains herself before bringing the news, "You see, my fine young man, I haven't been able to come up with new ideas for a while and I've experimented with the master of the house and his closest kin for too long. So I thought, 'Why not? I could use some guests to become my next guinea pigs.'" And she shed her childish persona and was revealed to be a grown-up version of the same woman that is still quite a looker of over 20,000 (Stardate) years and then she explained, "Seems to me that I looked into your memories, it seems that you went through a horrible ordeal that wasn't meant to be."

"I'm listening," Ruto murmured.

-LNH-

The motherly scientist explained, "You see, I was there with my sisters Tsunami and Tokimi when we saw what a terrible life it's been for you to have been through. You didn't have any friends and you lost one just when you got yourself out of your form of hell of being a victim of Danzo Shimura (never did like that war-mongering, contemptuous pig-dog), the sheep - - or rather, the group of civilians who didn't know any better (and probably never did), the distrustful and dishonest shinobi (who were in league with the civilians), the overauthorative elders of the council, a rather incompetent Head Leader of the village, and a unsanitary, no-good snake-in-the-grass watching from the sidelines. All of that happened to you because of a prophecy overheard by an unwitting Sage of the Giant Toads who did an cardinal sin in the eyes of the heavens as he intentionally loose-lipped the word to the worthless people about a "Chosen One" can change the world for the greater good, which was read like this:

A child borne of heroes and an heir of legend

A man full of immense power to help make things possible

A warrior to carry the legacy after the fall of a great beast

A savior is called for the future of the realm

But, should that child fail, their known world will surely fall into demise,

leaving the ways of ninjutsu and the fighting arts into the better hands of the innocent

Thus all of their world shall turn to the 'Sun' of Man

"...to save the people and destroy the Shinobi ways meant for war, that was the basis for the prophecy.

"However, the wart-hog got wind of it and perceived the intentions of the Greater Plans for the child as a threat to his own greedy, ruthless schemes. So he sows discord and reaped the heartache and pain from the Kyuubi incident to the villagers and let their anger and rage out on you, ever since the day you were born. And for 4 years you've suffered the abuse.

"But that's when a girl that you loved for some time, after the orphanage kicked you out. You were like lovers for each other despite being of preschool age. But unfortunately, she paid a horrible and unwanted price for being with you because of the so-called "uncleanliness from demon taint", when her traitorous family sided with Danzo and ultimately caused her untimely death on the spot; her soul was forcibly sealed into a cremation jar with her blood, decapitated head (with eyes still intact), her cut-off heart, and the ashes of her remains also being contained inside of it as a means of a sacrificial offering to appease the Kyuubi like it's a false god. Hinata Hyuga, was it? She was your first friend that ever cared about you."

(Ruto scarcely remembers the name of a girl that almost has the same qualities as Shinobu.)

"I don't blame you for what happened, especially since evil forces already wanted to end not only your already miserable existence, but countless other innocents, as they (the affiliates of Danzo and Orochimaru) ambitiously tried to rule the world and claiming that they're higher than gods and were doing those actions for the sake of their village, their deceased 4th "Hokage", and in the Heavens; but in actuality, they committed their ways by cheating their own allies and spread destruction by barbaric means through ninjutsu.

"And then Danzo, his grunts, the ninja, and the unruly mob of your old village were finished with their 'treatment', while you were there as you lay dying even with the Kyuubi's power after being weakened from not only from your beatings, unhealed scars, poisonings, and broken bones by the misguided villagers, but you were also being tampered with additional seals deliberately set by Danzo, and he even used a dead-switch array set by Orochimaru on your heart to force you feel tremendous pain before your body gave out and just about to breath your last. To spit on your grave even further, your body was burned on the spot by the Uchiha clan, knowing that the sinful deeds of man was done."

(Ruto remembers a particular phantom pain in his chest, followed by being burnt alive by the warhawk.)

"The villagers, young and old, thought they had triumphed, having overcome their so-called demons and prayed loudly to the heavens like they're Pharisees or something. But all the while, your spirit was crying from the ashes scattered throughout the earth and wished that you'll be united with Hinata and your family wherever the path the heavens lead to. Hinata's ghost also cried out from the buried container and prayed for a miracle to let her be with you so that you'll learn to truly love and be loved by your family and true friends like you're meant to be in the first place.

"Because both children never had a chance to start a living as proper warriors, start a family, as well as the other nations that never obeyed the warning about the abusing and mistreatment of their fellow men and jinchuuriki, and thus the prophecy of bringing a new age for the Ninja World was lost and was ruined by the schemes of evil people.

"So, that's when my sisters, including Yours Truly, our primordial Mother, and our Father decided to say enough's enough and we decided to intervene and awakened Kaguya from her prison of the Gedo Mazo statue without the use of the Jinchuuriki and, with a little persuasion, she brought forth utter destruction by either turning some of the wicked people into many androgynous and mindless white Zetsus and wandered aimlessly throughout the houses and buildings before transforming and twisting their bodies into forested areas and we thusly removed their corrupted souls from the foliage, and the rest of the culpable were simply killed in many painful ways or were offed instantly by the real [demons] from the Expanse for a time."

-Explanation-

When Washu talked about [demons] or Yōkai, she meant the type of monsters that resemble either man, beast, or earthly object fashioned by man's desires or imagination that either torment, hunt, and/or kill humans for sport or for sustenance, until they decided to return to their realm. The demons later became legends to the Japanese lore... However, not all the [demons] wanted to return back to their home, whether it's to continue their hunt for wild game or just wanted peace of mind elsewhere.

-End Explanation-

"We then reshaped the pieces of land from its foundations by means of volcanoes, tectonic plates, tsunamis, floods, and earthquakes to create the chain of islands that made the country and other islands you know now. As for the rest of the innocent people (most of which were nursing women and children) and the beasts of the earth, their chakra used for evil purposes were then removed from their bodies without the need of killing them; in all, their ocular powers, enhanced attacks, augmentations, and tools powered by chakra are considered useless, except for a selected few that honored their family, including the revival of unjustifiably executed ninja thanks to Tokimi's intervention.

"The Summonings and Eidolons then got word from us about how their world has come to their evil-mindedness. They were sent to a different realm to never show their faces nor be summoned by people ever again."

"Then, what happened to that sage, Danzo and Orochimaru?" Ruto asked.

"To put them in order, the now ex-sage of the giant toads was stripped of his power of Senjutsu (Nature Arts) and was turned into a giant toad statue for his transgressions, and the other people that contracted and made pacts in the eidolons' scrolls were struck off and blacklisted, never to summoned by man ever again.

"As for Danzo, he was given the worst of the suffering in the world of the living: he was delivered a fatal heart attack and a stroke, (from the same way he did to his intended victim), and finally combusted himself into flames by the black flames of Amaterasu from the stolen Uchiha Eyes turning against him.

"And Orochimaru? We made him and his floozies lose their feeling of their arms and legs and was forced to crawl on their stomachs like the snakes they are, until they came across a wild brood of vipers and giant pythons, that somehow had their sense of intelligence removed, were gathered around them and either envenomed them to death or been eaten alive by the larger varieties and became snake privy. or both. It's ironic, and yet it was poetic justice.

"Next, we separated the Juubi's tree from Kaguya, making the ancestor of the Ōtsutsuki as our loyal servant and then we sent the cursed Shinju tree, Black Zetsu (the true instigator of the deeds), and many of the evil souls into the pits of the 'Home for Infinite Losers [HFIL]' for their unspeakable and unmentionable crimes against us and humanity. They won't die nor would they cease to exist; instead, they will suffer in continuous, utter torment from its fiery sulfurous pits and be eaten by voracious worms for all eternity. The other crime-ridden souls that have committed those atrocities are awaiting sentencing in Tartarus to accept their fate for their evil deeds while the living innocents are to learn from their past mistakes of ill-treating their fellow man and to not repeat it as they left their old homes in shame.

"As for the 9 Tailed Beasts, they've been separated from their hosts without the need of killing them. We sent them to a different dimension so that they would never be used as weapons of destruction anymore, along with separating the Yin half of the Kyuubi from the previous sealer (who fouled things as he panicked from the crisis) and reuniting it to the Yang half.

"Then our Father and Mother took your souls from the Earth, gave their blessings unto you and Hinata to become the new lesser deities (or the Enigmas), alongside us and Kaguya; along with some education about the afterlife. After the crisis was over, we remade the moon and the new archipelago and helped create new life with flora and fauna on the islands as we let them start all over.

"That was less than 5000 (Earth) years ago, counting the majority of the old calendar and revised Earth calendar.

"However, I feared that Danzo, Orochimaru, and other evil souls that were supposed to be sent to HFIL have sworn to get even with us and they have made good their threats as they managed to escape and begin to reincarnate on Earth in a different time and space to avoid themselves from their certain oblivion. They knew what they did was wrong, and yet they are unrepentant and they still curse us with their blasphemous tendencies. Just for that, they will be receiving their just rewards upon their deathbeds."

Ruto is digesting the information about his past life about why he remembered his techniques and why his parents, friends, and acquaintances are involved. Then he asked, "Then, Hakase (Professor), if the Tailed Beasts are gone, then why have the Septentrions taken over in our daily lives?"

"It's likely that there are many other wars that's been happened all the time in the cosmos," Washu explained as she examines and reviews her gathered data, "Apparently, there are powers of the stars and constellations that seem to affected the destinies of their avatars that lasted many millennia in many different countries, but have been frequently happened throughout China. But recently, you, the Aoyama woman, and 5 others are currently scattered throughout the planet ever since the last 'World War'. If they wanted to be united on good terms, then we wouldn't need to have that unnecessary conflict, now would we?"

Naruto understood what the mad scientist had said, but as he looked from his perspective, he asked as Washu was doing something that was unnerving, "Hakasé, what exactly are you doing with our bodies? You're not doing anything 'funny business' using us for what you think you are planning, are you?"

"Of course I wouldn't, silly boy," Washu coyly played, "You wouldn't feel laughter from being tickled while being unconscious. No, I wanted to take a few samples from you, just in case you have 'infections'."

And she took some oral samples, some semen samples (from Ruto), and vaginal samples (from Shinobu and Kaolla), along with some handprints, plus some urine and rectal samples. (It's disgusting and revolting, but it's the way to get the job done.)

She studied and reviewed the results and found that Shinobu is mostly Asian (likely from her dark obsidian eyes, fair skin, and a mongoloid physique). It strangely turns out that Hinata's spirit is showing in Shinobu's body as she has a desire to be with her long-lost lover. She may not have the past Hyuga's bloodline, but it turns out that on the day she was born, Shinobu almost died stillborn when Hinata gave her a second chance and to let the baby live again with a new breath of life into her soul, When the event happened, baby Shinobu lets out a cry as she was cleaned up by the nurses who were lost in a moment of grief for a moment. It was a real 'miracle' for the Maeharas.

Kaolla is... well, Washu couldn't believe it, but it did! It revealed that she and Mihoshi are really distantly, yet closely related to each other. She later found that Kaolla's lineage is that her ancestor is that some Kuramitsu family members somehow got marooned from space onto an island archipelago about the size of Hawaii's islands combined, on Earth. The populace was mainly a melting pot of primarily Indian refugees (from India, obviously), intermingling with Aborigines, a few Caucasians with blond hair, the 5 marooned Kuramitsus (Seniwans that are naturally tan-skinned with bleached-blond hair), and a considerable number of African slaves that were marooned from a British slave ship a couple of hundreds of Earth years ago, with a population about more than 150 people (most of which are counted as adults over the age of 20) and growing; hence their now dark skin, blond to platinum-blond hair, and uniquely gem-colored eyes (or in Kaolla's case, green emerald eyes) to complete their complexion. Her structure more closely resembled that of a mongoloid with traces of negroid and caucasoid, likely from her ancestors' bloodlines. Overtime, they became a nation that is mostly hospitable with hostile deserts and lush jungles with flora and fauna unique to the island and yet is partially formidable as a military-based country after having their first taste of battles during the 2nd World War between the Japanese and Americans as a neutral side, for the inhabitants don't want their land being ravaged by war. After that, the same undisclosed Island Nation decided to make both worlds of power bury the hatchet on this island and began trading, as well as learn about medicine, immunizations, disease control (mainly from their "Anopheles Annie'' mosquito trouble that they learned from the films), and the technology to learn many ways to help their economy while still staying true to the island's traditions.

(But that's another story.)

As for Ruto, he's mostly Asian with about 30 percent European and nothing else. He did learn that his biological (and deceased) parents are not completely just from one area of the European side. The boy's structure is leaning mostly on mongoloid rather than caucasoid. He also learned that the Urashimas have a long, toilsome, but rich history that's been dated far beyond that of early 17th century A.D. (Earth Date). Coincidentally, there was an Urashima that helped found the stretch of land that is an economical point for the unfortunates and is declared a neutral zone during the Sengoku wars of the Tokugawa age. And there have been tales of the Uzumaki clan that once lived at some of the smaller islands of the archipelago since the founding of Japan and its eras; including Ganryujima (Ganryu Island), known for the infamous deadly battles on its rocky beaches.

(But that, too, is another story.)

However, there's more to Ruto Urashima that meets the eye as he and Washu did manage to meet again after a 'leave of absence'.

As soon as the crab-loving scientist finished typing up those reports, something happened with the screens as Shinobu's and Kaolla's inner consciousness started to show as the excess energy coming from Ruto's body affected both girls and they entered his screen and they begin to show signs that they are affectionate with their boyfriend, in their grown-up forms. They don't mind sharing him as long as they are on good terms.

Washu is enjoying the romantic scene as she summons up a box full of popcorn; it's almost the same way as she felt in her relationship with her alpha husband. She was about to tempt herself into genderbending the trio for further experiments, but then, she changed her mind and said to the kids at the screen, "I'm sorry to interrupt you three, but it's high time to end our test and return to your bodies. Your jolly little holiday will just have to wait in the near future. Besides, we don't want to keep your friends waiting."

The students agreed and they gave each other their last respective kiss before they returned to their proper bodies as Washu turned off the equipment and got some well-deserved shut-eye. A scientist's work is never done.

-LNH-

The next day, when light broke through the guest room, the three students woke up from the 3 futons, dressed in traditional nightclothes inside a guest bedroom totally refreshed. They wondered if the encounter with Washu-san was really a... nightmare?

"No, it couldn't be," they said to each other simultaneously.

They looked at each and their bodies for anything out of the ordinary and everything is so far, so good. That's when they saw their clothes were neatly folded in their respective baskets, all clean without much of a hole being shown in their garments, and they immediately got dressed (while looking away from each other, because modesty forbids). Then they heard a knock on the door and it was Tenchi Masaki, the current head of the household, and he invited the students for breakfast before they could resume their journey back into Kyoto.

He apologized to the kids for their troubles and he welcomed them to visit them anytime they wished to do so. Ruto, Shinobu, and Kaolla thanked him and the ladies for their hospitality as Aeka (in her original skynette persona, courtesy of Washu's pranks), Sasami, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki (in her chibi-ish form, lived in the residence after the second reset), Noiké (with a sense of glowness from yesterday's romance), Mihoshi, Washu, Tokimi (chibi form), Ryoko, Ryo-ohki, Kenshi, Nobuyuki, Rea, and Katsuhito (alias Yosho) joined in on the family table for breakfast.

(Ten'nyo was away on business duty at the time.)

It was somewhat tumultuous, at first, but the three students enjoyed their company. As soon as they finished their meal, Mihoshi made one of her usual boo-boos as she found Ruto's backpack while cleaning and accidentally spilled the contents that nearly covered the floor of the guest room. She panicked and teared up in regret for she didn't know how to put the contents back in the proper place. Ruto sweatdropped and sighs as he said, "That would be a good time to sort all our souvenirs from our travels."

And he demonstrates his ninja abilities, "Kagé Bunshin!" and he instructed his doubles to masterfully sorted out the souvenirs from each location that they've been at, while the original unfurled the scrolls and placed them in separate areas and draw the sealing calligraphy with his ink and brush from a separate compartment and then sealed the contents into the scroll and then he stows the scroll back into the backpack. His doubles slowly dispelled themselves with a *poof* as they are finished with their jobs. And Ruto furled in his scrolls and put them away in his backpack with a bit of flair.

The Masaki household were impressed as were Ryoko and Washu while Ruto gave out his thanks.

Just before the '3 Musketeers' were about to leave and resume their journey, Katsuhito asked Ruto and the girls about the truth in coming here in the first place. The ninja senses that the Ruto sees is that the old man is more than what he seems as he saw through the disguise; (he sees a younger-looking person with still a great sense of authority); and admitted that they were searching for his wandering brother and upperclasswoman after they failed their Todai Exams. They also confessed that they've gotten lost by Kaolla's rushing wrong-way turns all around Japan, hence the various souvenirs.

Then the elder Masaki said, "To think that you three children have been roaming around the lands without much of an adult present is not only foolish, but it's dangerous!" (The three students flinched at the words of wisdom.) "And yet, you want to find your friends that are close to you. That is very admirable of you three to do. By the way, who were the only adults present at your home?"

Ruto shamefully admitted that only Haruka and Keitaro are the only legal adults living at the Hinata-sou and Kitsuné isn't legally an adult until next year.

Then the elder Masaki taught the students a lesson about respecting their betters, keeping the family together, how not to keep themselves separated, (he's onto Kaolla for that matter), and to stay vigil for anything out of the ordinary (besides this household).

Soon after, both parties exchanged addresses and phone numbers of where they lived and then the students parted ways from the Masaki residence, past the somewhat forgotten wooden log-golems named Azaka and Kamidaké that Ruto sensed and then they headed back towards their journey through Kyoto.

(As for the encounter with the mad scientist, the trio decided to keep the experience a secret to anybody else and wrote that part in the back insert of their journals in their own encrypted code.)

-LNH-

Little did they know, Washu had a brief conversation with Ruto's parents (in spirit form) while the students were sleeping at the time and she learned that it's tough being parents to an orphan, that is their only son, that is out there in the cruel world. It's enough to make a motherly scientist tear herself as she bit her bottom lip as she relates the time that she was forced to give up her first child...

But that is another story...

End... of a Story…→


A/N: And there you have it. A Naruto-centric chapter that focuses more on him and his classmates and the origins of how Ruto and Motoko got along... with a standing start and why he constantly had to wear a swimsuit sometimes when in the company of women.

And the turtle that hangs around with Mutsumi decides to join into the fold of the Hinata-sou as a family pet. But when there are turtles and Motoko, it's like people living in glass houses...

*Crash!*

And if you want to know about how Keitaro and Naru went on their misadventure with Mutsumi, I suggest reading the original manga story in order to get the idea, even if the series and other stories are currently out of print. (Thanks, TokyoPop... for nothing!)

As for Ruto's fighting prowess, he also borrowed other techniques that intertwined with the fighting style since he's not really an official member of the Shinmei-style dojo. They are based from other arcade and video games that he and his brother had occasionally played, he borrowed the techniques that his sensei taught him and skillfully trained with his Shadow Clones to bring out his own unorthodox style; hence how he managed to perfect and honed in his techniques. A little detail I forgot to mention is that Ruto's personality is that whenever he's good-natured or slightly nervous, he shows his fox-like expressions. But when the going gets tough or when the feelings begin to really show, his eyes are open, revealing his blue eyes to whoever the witnesses see.

Also, the Omaké was written some time after I finished writing down this chapter. That's when it occurred to me that I somewhat imagined Tenchi Muyo (main/OVA continuity) tying into the timeline of the Love Hina story. It's sad, sweet, funny, and sometimes very romantic. Also, like I said, this is not exactly a Naru/Hina pairing but given the relations and similarities between Shinobu and Hinata, I'd say this is close enough to one. And for complaining about that matter, bite your tongue.

Another thing is that Shinobu's origin is somewhat inspired by a Naruto/RWBY crossover story called "Naruto: Tornado of Souls" by Thayerblue1. It's a story about the lives of the RWBY world transcending into the Naruto world. I definitely recommend reading that good story.

Naruto's 'past life' is basically the same as the original story, only the scenario is changed with some coincidental characters that have their hearts hardened as the blond orphan and the Hyuga girl ended up getting killed for the stupidest of reasons, prophecy or no. Along which, in this fictional story, is how the other jinchuuriki was ill-treated as war deterrents and how the island archipelago was reformed into the location we know currently, and how Kagura became what she is after removed from the cursed Shinju Tree, and was sealed twice (one was for the age regression until she is the age of a grade-school girl and the second is to be sealed in a crystal-like container and had the memories of her past mistakes erased) until she wishes to be awakened by the Masakis. The youngest Masaki and his girlfriend/sister figure inadvertently stumbled into one of Washu's dimensional rooms and found the container containing the Ōtsutsuki and out of curiosity, Kagura awoke from her millennia-long slumber and she was starting to realize that a lot of things have changed since her imprisonment, including the horror of why she's turned into a child, But when she was given a carrot by Ryo-ohki, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Since then, Kagura, Kenshi, and Ryo-ohki have been good friends with each other.

Also, the money that Ruto used for his trip with the girls was only a small amount of his fortune that his unusual luck brought out; some of the funds are in the coffee can (personal) bank set aside for having them on hand, and the rest were put in the bank, with assistance from Keitaro, of course... with interest. Because when he and possibly his dormmates wanted to go to college, they're gonna need it, without the unnecessary loans to slow him down.

How much funds did the blond Urashima have? Probably enough to let the high school actress (at that time) Sana Kurata (from Kodomo no Omocha/Kodocha) have a run for the money, without the wasteful spending.

That's all... But the heat will be on!

- blukmage19