A/N - Okay, I know some of you were likely expecting me to update something else such as Mercy of the Shinigami or even one of my new fics, but I asked Dragon and Sword Master what he'd like to see updated next and he said this story, so I said "Sure! Why not?" and, well, here it is! lol. So here's an update for this fic after neglecting it for waaaaaaaaaay too damn long.
Anyways, this fic is so unloved. It really needs more followers and favorites and whatnot. More reviews too. But that's okay! I still love my baby. *pets it* It's okay story. I love you. lol. I'm just bein' weird people. Don't mind me. XD That and I'm REALLY tired. I really pushed myself hard to finish this chapter as quickly as possible. I'll explain why at the end of the chapter though.
Anyways, enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 5 - The Hero Competition Begins!
Kabuto was wincing in pain as he struggled to heal himself. The earlier wound inflicted on him was healing much slower than he would have liked, and now on top of that he was covered in burns from the fireball he had jumped in front of for his master like a damned fool. All-in-all, this fight was looking real bad for him. Still, he knew he could win. After all, this fourteen year-old brat in front of him was just some punk that didn't know what it took to be a real ninja. He was nothing compared to the likes of Sasuke-kun or Orochimaru himself! Right?
However, there was this niggling doubt in the back of Kabuto's mind. Something about this whole situation was screaming danger to the glasses-wearing shinobi and he just knew something was very wrong. There was just something about Naruto...something that was tripping every alarm in Kabuto Yakushi's mind that told him that he was up against a superior predator, someone that could and more importantly would kill him if given the opportunity. And right now? Kabuto's fight or flight response was screaming at him to flee. Sadly, if he were to do that, his master would kill him instead, of that he was most certain.
So, here he was, stuck between a rock and a hard place, as it were. Kabuto was trying desperately to think of some kind of plan to go about finishing Naruto off without suffering anymore serious wounds. He certainly wouldn't be jumping in the way of anymore fucking fireballs for his master! That was sheer stupidity on his part! The fucking wound in his side was bad enough, thank you very much!
While Kabuto was busy thinking over his options, Naruto couldn't help but smirk. It would seem his opponent had begun to realize how very, very screwed he was. It was at this point that he got a devilish idea and looked at the wound he had inflicted on Kabuto earlier thanks to his Searing Slash Addition that he had cooked up, inspired by the Additions his friends so frequently used. It hadn't fully closed yet, which was good.
Reaching into his one of his pouches, Naruto withdrew a small parchment where he kept his handmade seals. Looking through them, he found just what he was looking for and grinned before wrapping one around one of his kunai. After slipping the rest of his seals away again, he looked at Kabuto and smirked at him. "Ready or not Kabuto, here I come."
Kabuto grimaced and quickly activated his Chakra Scalpel technique again in preparation for Naruto's approach. As soon as his opponent was within range, Kabuto dodged around him and made a swing at Naruto's left side, almost connecting with him, but Naruto avoided the attack at the last possible second. Swinging his left hand towards Naruto's neck, Kabuto watched as this attack also failed.
Grimacing again, Kabuto realized he had left his exposed wound wide open to his opponent and came to the realization that this was exactly what Naruto had wanted, as he soon felt Naruto's kunai plunge itself right into his insides. He could only watch as Naruto quickly hopped away and held up a single hand seal. "Shit." Kabuto muttered as he waited for the inevitable.
Naruto couldn't help but smirk evilly at the silver-haired medic. "Mass Explosion Seal: Release. Boom baby!" he exclaimed as the seal on the kunai lit up brightly before a massive explosion went off with Kabuto's body being the center point of the blast. Naruto was just far enough away so that he wouldn't be caught in the explosion, but he could certainly feel the heat from the blast and the breeze was attempting to blow him backwards, if not for the fact he was rooted to the ground via chakra.
Everyone else had their eyes wide at what had just transpired. Orochimaru could only stare in shock as his subordinate was blown apart by what had to be the biggest explosion he'd seen since the likes of Deidara's creations when he was part of the Akatsuki. This shock quickly turned to fury as this fucking runt of a Genin had just cost him his most useful subordinate!
Jiraiya could only look on in pride at his godson. He had recognized his godson's plan as soon as he had begun rooting around in his bag of seals. Ever since he had begun instructing his godson in the way of fuinjutsu, Naruto had taken to it like a fish to water. He was a natural-born genius in the ways of fuinjutsu and Jiraiya couldn't be any prouder of him. This was just one of many seals his godson had come up with on his own and he had used it to maximum efficiency just now. So no, he wasn't horrified, he was simply proud.
Shizune and Tsunade, who had been helped to recover by her apprentice after Kabuto had played on her fear, watched on in awe of the explosion. This foe that had seen through her ploy and cleverly used her own fear against her to paralyze her, had just been blown to bits by her very own godson. Tsunade had to admit, she was impressed. Shizune on the other hand? She couldn't help but feel that Naruto might have gone a teensy little bit overboard. Still though, she was glad that prick was now dead.
The Dragoons, on the other hand? Shana couldn't help but feel a little sick as she watched bits and pieces of Kabuto rain down around them. Dart and Lavitz's stomachs held stern, and instead them simply stared at the back of their friend and travelling companion, Naruto, and nodded once in acknowledgement of his accomplishment. Rose, on the other hand, simply smirked. "Good job Naruto. A quick, efficient victory. A little over the top maybe, but I can't complain." she said.
Sadly, Naruto couldn't hear her. The sound of the explosion from as close as he was was quite deafening, so his ears were, unfortunately, ringing quite loudly. Still, it was a small price to pay for watching as Kabuto, that rotten bastard, was blown to smithereens. Sadly, he wasn't expecting Orochimaru to suddenly barrel through the smokescreen with the Kusanagi aimed right for his heart.
Eyes widening, Naruto did the only thing he could do and quickly shifted to the side as much as he could, allowing the blade to pierce through his chest just an inch to the left of his heart. Screaming out in agony, Naruto formed a Rasengan in his hand and attempted to plunge it into Orochimaru's chest, but the slippery bastard pulled back, blade and all, allowing Naruto to collapse face first to the ground.
It didn't take long for Jiraiya to attack Orochimaru, furious at what he had just done. Dart and Rose quickly followed suit, refusing to allow such an act to go unpunished. Meanwhile, Tsunade and Shizune quickly collapsed on their knees beside Naruto and rolled him over so they could get a look at his wound. His wound was bleeding badly and they could see traces of poison along the edges of the wound as well.
Together, the medics performed a quick diagnostic scan and found that the blade just narrowly missed his heart, but the poison was counteracting his natural healing ability. On top of that, the Kyuubi's chakra was so busy fighting the poison that it couldn't heal him! Before they could even begin to do anything to try and save him, Lavitz and Shana appeared by them and the young woman began to speak.
"How bad is he?" Shana asked. "Please, tell me. I might be able to heal him. I just need to know how severe his wound is and what I need to focus on." she explained, hoping that she'd be able to save her friend.
Tsunade frowned in slight confusion and was about to deny her, but Shizune spoke up before she could. "The blade just narrowly missed Naruto-kun's heart. It nicked a few arteries and severed a few veins. You can see the wound quite clearly here. If you look closely, you can see that around the edges it's coated with a deadly toxin. This toxin is making it so Naruto-kun's natural healing ability isn't kicking in and helping him. As you're all aware by now, the Kyuubi isn't able to help him right now either as its chakra is too busy trying to counteract the poison to be of any help in healing him. So if you think you can help him, then please, do so."
Shana nodded and took hold of her Dragoon Spirit and held it over Naruto. Placing her free hand atop of her hand holding the Spirit, she began to focus all of her willpower on healing Naruto of what ailed him and healing his injury as well. Slowly, but surely, Naruto's wound began to heal and, by the time it had disappeared completely, he let out a gasp and opened his eyes, almost shooting upwards if Tsunade and Shizune hadn't held him down.
Looking around at his surroundings, he was surprised when Tsunade hugged him tight and began to cry into his shoulder. "I...I thought I was a goner. How bad was I?" he asked quietly.
Shizune frowned and shook her head. "Don't think about it Naruto-kun. Just know that you're better now thanks to Shana-san. Jiraiya-sama, Dart-san, and Rose-san are dealing with Orochimaru right now, so you just rest right here until it's safe to move. Okay?" she stressed.
Naruto could only nod before he wrapped his arms around Tsunade and patted her back gently. "Tsunade, it's okay. I'm not dying today. I'm not going anywhere. I promise. I just...wasn't expecting an attack like that. If I hadn't moved at the last second…" shaking his head to rid himself of the thought, Naruto smiled up at Shana and nodded. "Thank you Shana-chan. Truly."
Shana blushed a bit and nodded her head in return. "You're welcome. Just...promise me you won't end up in a position like that again. Okay Naruto? I like you. You're my friend. You had me really scared. I thought you had died! It...hurt a lot to see that happen to you." she admitted as she knelt down placed a gentle kiss upon his cheek. "There. Think of that as a charm to protect you from any further danger, okay? No more getting seriously hurt mister!" she said with a teasing grin as she stood back up and skipped back to Lavitz' side.
Lavitz looked at Shana slyly for a moment before looking back to Naruto. "Well well, to get a kiss from Lady Shana. Boy, wouldn't our dear Dart be jealous? Lucky you Naruto. I wonder, is there perhaps something between the two of you that I don't know about?" he questioned, quirking a brow as he looked back and forth between Naruto and Shana.
Naruto sighed and shook his head. "Shana-chan is sweet, and while I admit it would be...nice to be in a relationship with her...and don't get me wrong, I have thought about it, it's just not meant to be Lavitz. Her heart is set on one person, and we both know who that person is: Dart. Shana would never betray Dart for anyone, no matter how nice it would be." he admitted with a wistful sigh.
Lavitz quirked a brow at this before turning to see what Shana's reaction to this admission would be. When he looked at her, Shana's face was tinted red with a blush and she quickly turned away from Naruto, unable to face him at this moment in time. Smirking at this, Lavitz turned back to Naruto and decided he just had to speak up, if only to add some more fuel to the fire. Sure, he was likely to get hit for this, but he couldn't help himself.
"Sure, sure, but you have to keep in mind that Dart continues to see Shana as little more than his younger sister that he needs to protect and keep safe. So far, he seems blind to his own feelings for her. I bet there's only so much our dear Shana can take of such obliviousness before it becomes too much for her to take." he stated sagely, nodding his head a couple of times with his eyes closed as if in thought. At least, he did this before he felt someone clonk him on the head with their fist.
Shana pouted cutely at Lavitz as he simply turned and chuckled softly at her. "T-That's not funny Lavitz. I...I know Dart's a clueless idiot sometimes, but...but…" Sighing to herself, Shana crouched down and began to draw circles in the dirt. "It's hopeless, isn't it?" she said despondently. "I don't know what to do to make him notice my feelings for him. I swear I try and I try, but whatever I do seems to just go right over his head. Instead he just...he just...ugh! Sometimes I want to just throttle him and shout right in his face: "I love you, you stupid moron!" you know? But...I can't. I just...can't."
Naruto frowned at this as he detached himself from Tsunade and walked over to her, gently placing a hand onto her shoulder. When she turned to face him, he hugged her close and gently began to rub her back. "Shana...you may not want to hear this, but you might have to do just that if you want to get your feelings across to him. I'm sorry to say that. I really am. I know how hard it must be on you. If it helps any...I'm here for you whenever you need me. You can always come to me if you ever need to talk, or if you need a shoulder to cry on, or anything. I'm here and I always will be. Okay?" he assured her with a kind smile on his face.
Back in Konoha-Lohan
Back in Konoha-Lohan, Hinata couldn't help but sneeze as she felt this strange sensation that somebody was talking about her behind her back. Looking up at the sky, she couldn't help but think about her beloved Naruto-kun and giggle a bit. "Oh Naruto-kun, I wonder what you're up to right now."
Back with Naruto & the Gang
The brunette archer couldn't help but let a few tears trickle down her cheeks as she heard his kind words. Before she could say anything however, the situation dawned on her and she began to giggle, even as more tears began to stream down her cheeks. Naruto blinked in confusion at this, but waited until she calmed down to ask his question. "Umm...what's so funny Shana-chan?"
Shana giggled a few more times before reaching up to wipe away her tears. "It's just...I watched you nearly die. That hurt so bad. I thought I had lost you, that we had lost you. And then we go from that to you cheering me up after I have a near breakdown because Dart can't recognize my feelings for him? It just seems so silly. How could we go from something so serious to something so stupid like that and treat it as if it's more serious than you nearly dying?"
Naruto frowned at this and flicked Shana in the forehead, causing her to wince and bring a hand up to her head. "Your feelings are not stupid Shana-chan. Just like your feelings are important to you, you are important to me. Therefore, talking about what's troubling you is a serious matter. So don't go selling yourself short Shana-chan. Even if nobody else will listen to you or take you seriously, I will. You matter to me. Do you understand me?" he asked seriously.
Shana's whole face was beet red at this point and all she could do was nod. "Good." Naruto said before he leaned up and placed a kiss upon her forehead. "There." he said with a smile. "A kiss for a kiss." he said with a grin. "Although mine isn't any kind of good luck charm. It's just because I felt like it." he said cheekily before he turned around and went to go chat with Lavitz.
As he walked off, Shana became a stuttering, blushing mess. She couldn't process what had just happened. Only when Shizune walked over did she finally say something comprehensible. "I'm...so confused." Shana said. "Exactly how does he feel about me?"
Shizune could only smile and shake her head. "Who knows? Naruto-kun's something of a mystery to me. I know he cares deeply about Rose-san. But you? I don't know. I think he knows you love Dart-san, but at the same time...I honestly don't know the extent of his feelings for you. Perhaps it's a crush? Or perhaps he's just teasing you? It could be anything really. The only way to know for sure is to talk to him and find out. But that's only if you truly want to know."
Shana looked perplexed at this. "What do you mean? Why wouldn't I want to know?" she asked, unsure about the answer to this question.
Shizune frowned and shook her head. "Well, think about it. If it turns out he genuinely does have romantic feelings for you, wouldn't that throw your own heart and mind into conflict? You'd be stuck between two guys. On the one hand you've have Dart, the guy you've known and loved since childhood. Then on the other hand, you'd have this new guy from a new world that you've known for a short while, but he helped save your life and he's a really nice guy, and so on and so on, and it turns out he's got feelings for you. Well, I know that if I was in that kind of situation, my mind and heart would be torn. But at the same time...who knows? Maybe one can bring you happiness whereas the other couldn't? Who's to say? I know which path is easier to take, but as to which path is better? Who knows?"
Shana frowned at this and looked over at Naruto, seeing his back turned to her as he and Lavitz talked animatedly about something or another. She could see Jiraiya, Dart, and Rose making their way back towards the group as well, but she wasn't focused on that at the moment. No, all she could think about at the moment was Shizune's wise words. Which is the right path for me? She thought, wondering which was the right path to follow.
Jiraiya frowned as he walked up to Tsunade and the others. "That damn bastard got away. Not before we took off one of his arms though. Damn thing was already useless as it was, but still, it's the thought that counts I guess." he said with a sigh. "Anyways, it's good to see you up and about again Naruto. You feeling okay?"
Naruto nodded once and patted his chest where the wound once was. "Oh yeah Pervy Sage! Shana-chan fixed me right up. I'm feeling perfect!" he exclaimed. "Sorry you guys couldn't gut that slimy bastard though. At least we got Kabuto. One out of two. That's better than nothing, right?"
Jiraiya chuckled a bit and nodded. "True, true. Kabuto was his right-hand man. It's no wonder Orochimaru-teme was so pissed off to the point he...he tried to kill you Naruto-kun." Jiraiya said, having a hard time admitting that his godson was almost killed by that rotten bastard. "Damn I'm glad you're okay now. When I saw what happened to you, I thought you had died. Thank Kami you're alive and well."
Tsunade stood up at this point and wrapped Naruto up in another hug, burying his face in her bosom, much to Jiraiya's envy. "I don't care what you say Naruto. You got very, very lucky. You're lucky I love you or I'd pound you into oblivion for worrying us so much." she said before she turned to Shana. "And you...thank you for healing him."
Shana smiled and nodded her head. "You're welcome. He's...he's a dear friend. I wasn't about to let him die when I knew I could save him." she said, though everyone noticed how she paused when she went to call him a friend. It was almost as if she had to think about what he was to her. How odd.
Deciding to put that off until later, Dart made his way up to Naruto and placed his hand atop Naruto's head. "I'm glad you're alright Naruto. The Hero Competition just wouldn't be the same without you." he said with a smirk on his face.
Naruto chuckled and shook his head. "You mean you just can't wait for me to kick your butt and take first place, right? Don't worry, I won't kick the bucket until after I win first place, I guarantee you that." he said with a chuckle.
Rose walked up and bopped Naruto on the head. "You mean you won't be dying for a very, very long time, right Naruto? Because I don't want to see something like this happening again in my lifetime. Ever. Do you understand me?" she said so seriously that it sent chills down everyone's spines.
Nodding repeatedly, Naruto clutched himself tight as he shivered before finally speaking. "R-R-Right Rose-chan. I promise. No dying for a VERY long time. Gotcha." he said, giving her a thumbs up. When she lowered the killing intent she was releasing, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and the cold presence in the air dissipated immediately, allowing the temperature to return to normal as well. Naruto immediately breathed a sigh of relief as he smiled at Rose. "I'm glad to see you worry so much about me Rose-chan. I'm glad you care." he admitted.
Rose sighed and shook her head. "I swear I'm going too soft around you." she said with a sigh. "But yes, I care about you Naruto. Now shut up and let's get going already. I think we should rest at the hotel for the night before setting out first thing in the morning. After all, don't we need to return to Konoha-Lohan so Tsunade can be inducted as the Godaime Hokage?"
Jiraiya nodded at this and looked to his female friend. "That's right. You did agree Tsunade-hime. Are you still willing to become Konoha-Lohan's Godaime Hokage?" he asked hopefully.
The busty blonde nodded a few times, somewhat reluctantly, before she looked to the sky. "Yes, I will. Though it will take some getting used to, running a village that's been combined with one from another world. Still, I'm sure I'll manage it somehow." she admitted as they all began to walk back into the city. "Why don't you all tell me a little more about this city of Konoha-Lohan? What's it like now?" she asked curiously.
"Well…" Jiraiya began…
On the Road - Hot Springs - Three days later
Shana slid herself down into the hot springs beside her friends and let out a soft, relaxed sigh with a happy smile on her face. Immediately she felt all of her stress melting away, though inside her mind was still in turmoil. It had been three days since Naruto's brush with death, and three days since her talk with Shizune about the consequences that would follow should she seek an answer to how deep Naruto's feelings for her went.
Sighing to herself, Shana leaned her head back and stared up at the night sky. They had stopped at this inn for the night precisely because it had these hot springs and they all felt they needed to just relax for a while. They had earned it after everything they had all been through, especially Naruto. That poor young man had been through so much lately and he was still trying to process it all, and then with this near death experience on top of everything? They dearly hoped that this dip in the hot springs would help ease some of his stress and help him to relax.
Seeing her friend seemed rather distracted, Shizune frowned a moment and tapped her on the shoulder. "Shana? You're thinking about Naruto-kun again, aren't you? About what I said before? I didn't mean to cause you so much stress over it. You should just forget I said anything and just try to let it go, okay? Just act like you always have with him. Be his friend and someone he can trust and depend on. Besides, you have Dart. You don't need to worry so much." she said.
Shana frowned at this and shook her head. "But...you were right Shizune. I can't just let it go like that. Even if it causes my mind and heart turmoil, I still have the right to know, don't I? I'm going to ask Naruto how he feels about me. If I don't do it soon, I'm only going to become more and more distracted by it and it's going to start affecting my abilities in combat. I'll become a liability. I'll get somebody killed!" she shouted out with tears brimming in her eyes.
Shizune quickly hushed her, but it was too late. Rose heard what was being said and quirked a brow. Moving over to the pair, she placed a hand on Shana's shoulder and turned her to face her. "What are you so worked up over Shana? Is something troubling you?"
Shana sighed and decided to just come clean with Rose, figuring that the more mature woman would be able to offer some sagely advice. "It's Naruto." she said, causing one of Rose's eyebrows to raise slightly. "After he nearly died and I healed him, we were talking. I kissed him on the cheek and told him it was a good luck charm so he wouldn't ever end up in such a situation again."
When Rose heard this, she came to the realization that a small part of her felt jealous, but she quickly squashed that little rebellious part of her and simply listened on with a small smirk present on her face. "And?" she questioned, waiting to hear the rest of this little tale.
"Well...we talked for a while, and he cheered me up after we talked about Dart not recognizing my feelings for him. I remember Lavitz teasing the two of us and Naruto admitted that he'd thought about a potential relationship with me, but how it wouldn't work out…" at this, Shana noticed a scowl come across Rose's face for a moment before it quickly vanished and she motioned for Shana to continue. "Um, anyways, I can't quite remember how it happened or why, but towards the end of our conversation, he kissed me on the forehead and then went off to talk to Lavitz before you and Dart showed up with Jiraiya."
Rose frowned to herself as she thought about what she had just been told. Why do I feel...jealous? Damn it. That stupid kid is really getting to me. The Dark Dragoon thought to herself with a sigh. Deciding it would be best to put those thoughts aside for now, Rose decided she would offer up some advice to the younger Dragoon.
"Shana, I don't see why you're so conflicted about this. It would be a good idea to ask Naruto about his feelings for you, yes. But, I think what you should do afterwards is to take a good, long look at yourself. I think what's really troubling you is the fact that you aren't sure how you feel Shana. You know for a fact that you're in love with Dart. But at the same time, you're starting to wonder if you feel something for your new hero in Naruto. So after you talk with Naruto and learn the extent of his feelings for you, I suggest you take a look at yourself and ask yourself: "How do I feel about the men in my life? Whom do I really want to be with?" If you can answer these questions, you will then understand what you should do." Rose explained, offering a kind smile to her younger companion.
Shizune was about to say something in protest to this, but after a moment to think it over, she realized that Rose was right. If Shana was really having such a hard time with this, she might actually feel something for Naruto. Blinking, she looked at Shana and found that she couldn't exactly tell her to focus purely on Dart anymore. It just wouldn't be right to try and force her to focus strictly on one guy if her heart was torn between the two of them. It would have to be Shana, herself, that found the answer to what her heart truly desired, after all.
However, at the same time, Shizune couldn't help but notice that Rose seemed a bit...envious? Yes, envious at the thought of Naruto and Shana getting together. It wasn't obvious, but to a trained ninja, the signs were there. It would seem that, whether Rose knew it or not, she had developed some romantic feelings for Naruto herself. They might be small now, but who knows how smoldering the flames of passion would become for him in the future?
Shana, on the other hand, clutched at her bare chest and blushed prettily. "I...I didn't think about that. I've always loved Dart. But...but…" Sighing softly, Shana allowed a smile to appear on her face as she thought about Naruto. "Even though he's a little younger than me...Naruto's just...he's wonderful. Oh! But what about Hinata? She's so in love with him! It wouldn't feel right if I…"
Rose slapped a hand over Shana's mouth and glared sternly at her. "Forget about Hinata. If you decide that you want to be with Naruto, and you haven't decided yet, then that is your choice and you are welcome to pursue it. You shouldn't let anything stop you from doing so." she said before slowly removing her hand from Shana's mouth.
Shana giggled and looked away bashfully. "Y-You're right Rose. I wasn't thinking. I was only thinking about the 'what if' scenario. But...thank you. Truly." she said, smiling as she wrapped her friend in a hug. Naturally, Rose felt uncomfortable with such an affectionate gesture, but she slowly wrapped her arms around Shana and patted her back to show her support regardless.
When they released one another moments later, Shana spoke up again. "Well, I'm going to hop out and go see if I can find Naruto. I want to get this talk out of the way as soon as possible. Wish me luck!" she said with a giggle. And with that and a wave, she was off.
Once she was out of sight, Shizune turned to Rose and quirked a brow. "Are you really okay with letting things go like that? I can tell you have feelings for Naruto-kun yourself. What's stopping you from admitting you like him?"
Rose narrowed her eyes at Shizune for a moment, but eventually let out a frustrated sigh and folded her arms across her chest as she glanced away. "I'll admit that Naruto's...grown on me. I didn't expect to start feeling an attraction to another after...after I lost my husband. Please don't ask and don't you dare pity me." she said quickly as she saw the look in Shizune's eyes. "Anyways, there's just...something about Naruto that just draws a person to him. And...I'll admit that I don't feel like I deserve him. I've done a lot of bad things in my life. Things that I'll admit I'm not proud of. I just...I want Naruto to be happy, and I truly think he deserves better than someone like me." Rose admitted shamefully.
Shizune frowned at this and shook her head. "Rose-san, I don't know what you've done in the past, but what matters is who you are now. And the person I see before me is a good person. Someone who truly cares about Naruto and wants to see him be the best that he can be. Someone that truly wants to be with him, but is denying herself the chance to be happy with the one person that could truly bring out the best in her and make her happy because she thinks she's a monster. I see someone truly special in you Rose-san. And if you don't tell Naruto-kun how you feel, then I think you're stupid." Shizune said with a smirk before she got out of the hot springs, grabbed her towel, and left.
Rose's eyebrow twitched a bit at this, but she sighed and closed her eyes. Touche. I wasn't expecting that, Shizune. I suppose I am being a bit...stupid. Perhaps I should talk with Naruto. But not now. I need to take the time to really think about how I feel for him. She thought to herself as she took the time she had to really relax in the hot springs.
With Shana
It had taken Shana a little while to find Naruto. At first she thought he might be bathing in the hot springs like she had been, but she scrapped that idea as she remembered he had bathed earlier. Then she had checked the lounge to see if he might be there, and it turns out he wasn't there either. He wasn't in the dining area either. Finally, she checked where she figured she should have checked first: his room. It was there that she had found him.
"Shana-chan? What's up? Is everything okay?" Naruto asked her as he opened the door to his and Jiraiya's room. Naruto was wearing a black kimono with gold trimmings and it had a beautiful gold chinese dragon with a ruby red eye traveling up the left side of the kimono. Looking past him into the room, Shana could see papers scattered about on a table as well as an inkwell and a pen. She could easily tell he was working on more seals again. But, as she looked back at him, Shana couldn't help but think that Naruto looked very handsome right now.
Blushing a bit, Shana coughed into her hand to compose herself and nodded once to steel her nerves. "U-Um, Naruto? Can I come in and talk with you for a while? It's important." she asked, hoping that he wasn't too terribly busy with his seals.
Naruto glanced behind him before looking back at Shana and offering her a smile. "Sure thing. Just let me put away my things and we can talk." he said, moving aside so Shana could come in. Once she had, Naruto shut the door and walked over to the table where he quickly, but neatly piled everything together and sealed it all away into a storage scroll. Afterwards, he turned around and saw Shana sitting on Jiraiya's bed, so he sat on his bed and looked at her with his hands folded neatly on his lap. "Sooo, what did you want to talk with me about Shana-chan? You look like you've got a lot on your mind."
The Dragoon of Light scratched lightly at the tip of her nose and glanced away from Naruto for a moment as she tried to build up her nerve. Finally, she took a deep breath and looked squarely into Naruto's eyes as she began to speak. "Naruto, how do you really feel about me? And no jokes. I really want to know."
Naruto frowned a moment at this and shook his head. "Shana-chan, if you're this serious about such a question, I'm ashamed that you'd think I'd joke about such a topic." he said before he reached over and poked her nose. "There." he said with a smirk. "Now...how do I feel about you, hm?" Folding his arms across his chest, Naruto looked towards the ceiling and cocked his head to one side as he furrowed his brow in thought.
Shana watched Naruto for a time, wondering why it was taking him so long to respond. Was he just as confused as she was, or was he making her wait on purpose? The wait was starting to get to her, but she knew that she should be patient. Still… "N-Naruto?" she questioned.
Naruto sighed and looked into Shana's eyes. "It's...complicated Shana-chan. In my mind, I know you're dedicated to Dart. And I'm fine with that. You know what I mean?" Seeing her nod in understanding, but also seeing her about to speak up, Naruto held up a hand to silence her. "Please, wait for me to finish. Let me get all of this out of the way and then I'll hear what you have to say Shana-chan." Shana nodded, but inside she was a mess. Still, she watched and waited, waiting to hear what else her dear friend would have to say.
"But a part of me still can't help but feel attracted to you. You're a wonderful person Shana-chan, and despite the fact that I haven't been able to spend as much time with you as Rose-chan and the others, I like you. I don't know what the extent of my feelings are for you. But I do know this: I have feelings for you Shana-chan. Do you understand?" Naruto asked, hoping that Shana would understand what he was trying to convey to her.
Shana smiled softly and nodded her head. "Yes, I think I do. I'm glad you told me this Naruto. Now I just need to take the time to think about how I feel towards you. I've...been in love with Dart for so long, but at the same time...you're a wonderful young man and...I don't know. Maybe…" Shana paused as she saw Naruto hold up a hand to stop her. Confused, she spoke up again. "W-What's wrong Naruto?"
Naruto shook his head and smiled softly at Shana. "Shana-chan, I didn't tell you this so I could be your backup guy. If you choose to be with me, I want it to be because that's what you truly want in the end. If, in the end, your heart chooses me over Dart, then that's fine. But right now, I think you truly desire to be with Dart still. Still, I need to be perfectly honest with you Shana-chan." Releasing a soft, yet wistful sigh, Naruto looked at the ceiling and chuckled a bit. "I've got feelings for Rose-chan as well. I don't know how deep my feelings for either of you go. I don't know what I want, because I've never been shown such affection before. I...I don't understand what a crush really is. I don't understand what love really is. I know I loved Gramps. I know I love Teuchi and Ayame. But...romantic love? How do I know when I'm in love? I was never given 'the talk' like others my age have been. I wasn't supposed to know. After all, why should the demon know about the 'birds and the bees'."
Naruto sighed and lowered his head. "Sorry...I don't mean to be such a downer right now, but I just...I don't know. I know that I have feelings for both of you. But...it feels like it's wrong of me to like you when you are in love with somebody else. There's just so much going on in my head and in my heart right now that I feel like I can't think straight and it's...it's...ugh! You know what I mean?"
Shana frowned and got off of Jiraiya's bed before walking over and sitting beside Naruto, pulling him into a hug. Neither of them said anything. Instead, Shana simply held him and rubbed his back while he held onto her, the both of them simply trying to show each other that they were there for one another.
It was to this sight that Jiraiya walked in on. Turning her head around to look at him, Shana frowned at him and said simply, "Jiraiya? Can you please go get Tsunade? It's important."
Jiraiya, not sure what this was about, but sensing the seriousness of the situation, simply nodded and turned around to go find his teammate. A few moments later, the two of them re-entered the room with Shizune right on their heels. Seeing them, Shana decided to explain the situation in a few blunt words. "Tsunade...that village has done far more harm to Naruto than we thought. You...you need to give Naruto the talk. They refused to give it to him!"
Hearing this, Jiraiya scowled and clenched his fists at his side. "Probably didn't want the 'demon' to think about repopulating. Fucking bastards! Tsunade-hime, mind if I sit in on this? I promise I won't fill his head with anything perverted. I'll be just as serious about this as you will be, I assure you. He's my godson just as he is yours. He deserves to hear this from the both of us."
Tsunade blinked at the seriousness in her friend's tone and nodded slowly, unable to deny him his request. "S-Sure Jiraiya." Turning to Naruto and Shana, Tsunade stepped closer and knelt down in front of him. "Naruto-kun, are you alright?"
Naruto sighed and shook his head slowly. "I'm just...stressed Tsunade. I'm finally coming to terms with everything that's happened to me lately, but now I'm trying to deal with my feelings and I'm so confused and it's just...it's getting to me. I don't understand, y'know? It's giving me such a headache."
Tsunade nodded slowly and rose to her feet. Looking at Shana, she nodded towards the door. "Shana-san, would you mind giving the three of us some privacy? Thank you for bringing this to our attention." she said politely before she used a healing jutsu to go about curing Naruto of his headache.
Shana nodded slowly and placed a light kiss on Naruto's forehead. "I'll be in my room if you need me Naruto." she said quietly before she got up and left the room with Shizune following her shortly thereafter, closing the door behind them.
Looking back down at Naruto, Tsunade figured she'd get started. "Now Naruto, since I'm assuming you were denied even the basic knowledge, we'll have to start at the beginning. So…" and thus began the long talk of the birds and the bees…
Konoha-Lohan - 4 Days Later
It had been a long four days back to the city of Konoha-Lohan. On top of being hounded by monsters on the way back, they had to deal with some of Tsunade's debt collectors, which Jiraiya had to pay off, much to his dismay. Aside from that, Naruto couldn't so much as glance at Rose or Shana for the first two days without blushing terribly, his entire face going red after that 'talk' with his godparents.
In the end, the talk had definitely done Naruto some good and he was definitely showing signs that he was feeling better about everything. Sure, he was still confused about his feelings, but that was only natural. After all, how does one go about figuring out which woman they liked more, if either of them?! What if they liked both of them equally?! And what if the woman they happened to like didn't like them in return?! These questions were common amongst any man or even woman that happened to be attracted to her own sex, that was in love.
So as they approached the western gates of the city, Naruto's mind still plagued by these questions and more, he certainly wasn't expecting for a large crowd to be waiting for them. Nor did he expect for all of them to be cheering at their arrival. Blinking, he looked around at everyone once they passed through the gates and recognized a few as his previous tormentors and saw them completely overlooking him and cheering for his companions for bringing back Tsunade. Sighing, he looked down at the ground and shook his head. Figures, even now they wouldn't acknowledge him for his efforts.
Shana, on the other hand, ignored them in favor of losing herself to her thoughts. She couldn't help but frown as she looked Naruto's way. Something about what he said the other day bothered her. Does he really think he'd just be my backup guy? No way, damn it! He's not just some rebound guy I'd go to if my first love doesn't work out! But...he likes Rose...I didn't see that coming. And then there's Hinata...damn it. Ugh! Damn it, Shana! Why are you so conflicted over this?! She thought to herself as she looked towards Dart. Dart...why do you have to be so dense? Things would be so much easier if you could just see how I feel about you… Yep, her thoughts and heart were a real mess.
Tsunade frowned as she saw how the villagers were completely overlooking Naruto in favor of the others in the group. They were acknowledging everyone else but him. Frowning at this, she decided she would set them straight as soon as she got the chance. But then she noticed something else. Certain people, those she assumed were the people from Lohan, were smiling proudly at Naruto as well as the Dragoons and Jiraiya. Thankful for that, she smiled at them and waved happily towards them.
Rose, however, could see how this was affecting Naruto and walked closer to him, reaching out to take his hand. When he responded by squeezing her hand gently, she smiled down at him and said, "Don't let their hatred get to you Naruto. They are fools. I promise you that one day things will change for the better...somehow. I don't know when and I don't know how, but your life will change in a grand way and you'll truly find happiness from that point forward. I guarantee it."
Naruto smiled up at her and gave her hand another squeeze. "Thanks Rose-chan. Somehow...you always know what to say to me to help me up when I'm feeling down. I...guess that's part of what makes me like you as much as I do. Did you know...that I have feelings for you Rose-chan? When Shana-chan asked me what the extent of my feelings were for her...I told her that I had feelings for both of you. That...that I was conflicted. So...there it is. I like you both. Now you know." he admitted as they made their way into the Hokage Tower.
Rose stopped and pulled Naruto aside, turning to stare down at him with wide eyes. "Naruto, do you know what you are saying? I'm so much older than you! I...I had a husband. I've...I've done bad things. Things I'm not proud of. Why would you have feelings for someone like me?"
Naruto smirked up at Rose and shook his head in disbelief. "Rose-chan, why are you trying to dissuade me from having feelings for you? I know exactly what I'm saying. And...I'm glad you're opening up to me a little more, but it's okay. I don't care what you did in the past. It doesn't matter to me. You're still you Rose-chan, and I like you for who you are."
Rose began warring within herself, trying to find some argument that she could use to truly dissuade Naruto from falling for her. Then...she realized that she was being ridiculous. Why was she acting this way? But… Sighing to herself, Rose decided to spill her biggest secret to truly test the extent of Naruto's feelings for her. First though, she looked around to make sure they were truly alone.
Seeing they were too out in the open, Rose took Naruto by the hand and pulled him into a room and closed the door behind them, locking it. Looking down at Naruto, she closed her eyes and released a deep sigh. Slowly opening her eyes, she looked down into Naruto's eyes and spoke her darkest secret. "Naruto...I'm the Black Monster that Dart's sworn vengeance upon. I'm the one that razed his village to the ground and killed everyone he held dear. Do you understand now? I'm...I'm not worthy of your love." she said as she looked away, clutching onto her left arm with her right tightly.
Naruto's eyes went wide and he found himself unable to talk for the longest time. Rose stood in place and waited for him to speak, refusing to move until he did. She would wait as long as it took for him to respond. When he finally did, Naruto released a sigh and shook his head. "Rose-chan…" he said, still using the affectionate suffix, "you must have had some reason for why you did that. I won't ask you why, because that's still your secret to keep. I won't ask you to tell Dart about this, as that's your prerogative and you are the only one that can decide when it's the right time to tell him about this. And...this doesn't change how I feel about you. If anything...the fact that you just trusted me with one of your darkest, most horrifying secrets...it shows me that you really, truly trust me Rose-chan...and I can't help but, well...love you more for it." he admitted with a smile on his face.
Rose was astonished. Looking deeply into Naruto's eyes, she couldn't quite believe what she had just heard. Naruto had just displayed such a deep amount of wisdom for a boy his age. He was only fourteen years-old for God's sake! And yet...he...he was so sweet and kind and...Rose blushed badly as she realized that she was really falling hard for this damned boy! Still, she couldn't help herself.
Grabbing Naruto by the shoulders, catching him by surprise, Rose leaned in slowly and placed her lips on his, kissing him sweetly. After a time, Naruto began to return the kiss and the two of them slowly began to lose themselves to the passion of said kiss. After what felt like an eternity but was in reality but a few short minutes, the duo separated and looked one another in the eyes, panting as they tried to catch their breath. "Wow." Naruto said before they both began to laugh.
"Naruto, I know you're still confused about your feelings, but I'm willing to wait until you've got everything sorted out. Okay?" she assured him. "I...care about you a great deal and I do want to be with you, but not at the expense of your happiness. Just know that that kiss just now? That's just the first of many amazing things you'd get to experience with me if you ended up choosing me." she said with a smirk as she sauntered away from him, a wonderful sway in her hips as she opened the door and left, leaving his eyes glued on her amazing behind.
Damn. Just...damn. Naruto thought to himself as he tried very hard to will a certain 'something' to go down so he could leave the room and return to the others.
Hours Later
Tsunade had made sure to inform everyone that it was because of Naruto that she had even been willing to return to Konoha-Lohan, but the news had been received in a mixed way. While the majority of the people were okay with that and reacted as she had hoped, there was still a large group of people that reacted with denial and shouted for his head. All she could do was shake her head in sadness for what had become of her grandfather's village in her absence.
Now here she was, in her new office, staring across at her godson with a smile on her face. "Naruto-kun, I have some news for you. I spoke with the Council regarding your heritage. I told them to Hell with the Sandaime's decision, I'm telling you who your parents are. You've waited long enough. But, as a result of this, and because of the fact that you're the last of the Uzumaki clan that we know of, you're being placed in the CRA, which is short for Clan Restoration Act. Do you know what this means Naruto-kun?"
Naruto blinked at this sudden information drop and shook his head. "Umm, I'm afraid I'm not quite following you Tsunade. What the heck's the CRA and who are my parents? And...I have a clan? How come nobody told me about this before?" he asked somewhat angrily.
Tsunade sighed and shook her head sadly. "It was the Sandaime Hokage's decision Naruto-kun. Your 'Gramps', as you called him. He decided it would be better to hide these things from you for some reason instead of trusting in you." Seeing the look of utter betrayal on Naruto's face, she sighed and nodded. "I know...it must hurt a lot to hear that he betrayed your trust in him. I'm sorry Naruto-kun."
The Godaime Hokage reached over her desk and gently took one of Naruto's hands in hers. "Naruto-kun, the Uzumaki clan were, in a word, amazing. In fact, my grandmother was an Uzumaki. Her name was Mito Uzumaki. They were masters of fuinjutsu. They were so skilled at it that people from all over the Elemental Nations feared them for their talent in it. On top of that, many of them also specialized in skills such as kenjutsu, bojutsu, and other weapon arts. But something that truly sets an Uzumaki apart from the rest of the clans is the fact that Uzumakis have unnaturally large chakra reserves. Their chakra is also incredibly dense and one, Kushina Uzumaki, who happens to be your mother, was able to create chains using her chakra that were capable of holding down the Kyuubi! Imagine, a single Uzumaki using their chakra to subdue a bijuu of that magnitude. That is the kind of clan you come from Naruto-kun. You should be proud." Tsunade said with a proud smile on her face.
Naruto blinked a couple of times in astonishment at what was just revealed to him. After a moment, a wide grin appeared on his face and he couldn't help but laugh. "Damn, Mom was awesome, dattebayo! But...I'm guessing she and Dad are dead...aren't they?" he asked sadly.
Tsunade frowned and nodded her head. "Naruto, your father and mother died on the night you were born...the night of the Kyuubi attack. Your father...is Minato Namikaze. He's the one that sealed the Kyuubi inside of you that night." she explained, a small scowl on her face. "From what I understand, he wanted you to be seen as a hero. The blind, dumb fool had too much faith in his villagers to see what they would do to his only son."
Naruto's eyes were wide at this and he began to clench and unclench his fists repeatedly, anger boiling to the surface. "My...my own father sealed the fucking Kyuubi into me? He's the one that cursed me to this fate?! What the fuck, dattebayo?!"
Tsunade sighed and shook her head. "I know sweetie. I hate it too. But we can't change the past. No matter how much we may want to. All we can do is look to the future and try to make the best of what we have." she said before she placed three scrolls and a few keys in front of him on her desk. "Two of those scrolls are from them. One from your father, one from your mother. They're your inheritance from them, as well as their last will and testament. The keys are to your new home in the clan district. I'll be guiding you there personally after this meeting is over. The third and final scroll is from myself and Jiraiya. I think you'll really like what we put in there for you." she said with a bright smile on her face.
Naruto smiled at his godmother and quickly pocketed the scrolls, though he seemed a bit hesitant on taking Minato's. Still, he felt it wouldn't be right not to take what belonged to his father just because he was angry with him. Once he was ready to go, he stood up and was about ready to leave before he blinked as something came to mind. "Wait, you never told me what the CRA is!"
Tsunade blinked as the realization struck her as well. "Oh yeah! Can't believe I almost forgot about that!" she said, palming her forehead lightly. "The CRA is used in order to bring back a clan that is in danger of going extinct. In this case, the clan in danger is the Uzumaki clan, your clan. The CRA is primarily used on men as well, which I will explain why in a moment." Taking a moment to breathe, Tsunade continued on. "When placed under the CRA, a male member is instructed to take on a number of wives in order to repopulate their clan. This way, by taking on multiple wives, they can impregnate multiple women at a time and thusly have a number of children at once after the necessary amount of time has passed." she explained.
Before Naruto could ask his question that she knew was coming, Tsunade continued on. "The CRA is used on women only in the most dire of circumstances. If they are truly the last of the clan, only then is the CRA used on them. But if a clan has at least one surviving male member, then the male is always chosen. You're wondering why the female isn't chosen instead, right? The answer is simple: when a female gets pregnant, it takes at least 9 - 10 months on average for them to give birth, thus slowing the rate at which they can repopulate the clan. It's much easier to simply have a male marry multiple women and impregnate as many women as possible than it is to wait for a single woman to get pregnant, give birth, get pregnant again, and continue that cycle endlessly." she explained patiently.
Naruto could only nod as all the information was processed in his mind. After a moment, a thought struck him and he spoke up before he could stop himself. "So...does this mean that if Shana-chan chooses me over Dart, I can be with both her and Rose-chan at the same time?" As soon as he realized what he had said, Naruto slapped his hands over his mouth and went wide-eyed, a deep blush covering the entirety of his face.
Tsunade found herself smirking as she looked at him. She hadn't known about this juicy tidbit of info. "Oh? I didn't realize you had a crush on Shana. I thought you were only interested in Rose. Do tell me, what will you do if Shana chooses Dart over you?" she queried curiously.
Naruto frowned, but shrugged his shoulders and smiled softly at his godmother. "Nothing. I'll...try to be happy for her. That's all. Anyways, why don't we go to my new home and see what my parents left for me, huh?" he suggested somewhat bashfully, hoping to change the subject.
Tsunade smiled and shook her head. "Fine, fine, but don't think you're getting out of this that easily mister." she teased lightly. "Now, how are things going between you and Rose?" she questioned as she led him out of her office.
Naruto blushed deeply again and began to speak, "Well...she k-kissed me…" he admitted shyly as they walked out of her office…
The Next Day - Hero Competition
It was finally the day of the Hero Competition and Naruto couldn't be more excited! Finally he would get to test himself against warriors from Dart's world and see how he measured up! Of course, they couldn't use chakra like he could, but there were rules in place specifically for him saying that certain things couldn't be used. Ninjutsu was out of the question, as was genjutsu, which was okay because he really couldn't use genjutsu anyways. Not being able to use his ninjutsu was a bit of a pain, but he could manage without it. It seemed that everything else was being allowed though, which meant they didn't know about his fuinjutsu. His fuinjutsu could be just as deadly as any ninjutsu in his arsenal, but he wouldn't go using it unless he was up against an opponent that was either a) too strong for him or b) trying to kill him. He hoped that he wouldn't have to face either variety in this tournament.
As the group approached the man behind the booth, they could hear the him saying this, "Hey, if any of you people out there are live fast, die young types, and want to test your courage, step up and fill out the application! My advice to those of you who are feeble, cowards, or have cold feet, don't register. I guarantee you will die." Noticing the two standing before him, Ginger smiled and pushed forward a couple of applications. "So you'll register now?"
Dart said, "I'll participate."
Ginger grinned and shouted out, "That's my man! And, who will be participating?" as he looked around at the group that was with Dart.
Dart pointed at himself and then at Naruto. "Of course I am. And my young friend here is as well." he said.
Naruto nodded in agreement. "Yep. I'm going to participate and I'm going to win the whole damn thing!" Naruto said with exuberance.
Dart then turned to Lavitz and grinned at him, expecting him to participate as well. "Hey Lavitz. Don't go easy on me."
Lavitz shook his head and folded his arms across his chest. "I'm not participating." he said simply.
Dart blinked and asked a simple question. "What?"
Lavitz decided he had best explain to his friend as he closed his eyes and frowned. "I am a Knight of Basil. I am not eligible to participate in these kinds of competitions."
Dart nodded at this, understanding dawning in his eyes. Turning to Rose at this point, he looked at her expectantly, only for her to shake her head at him. "I won't either. I don't like the word, "dude". Besides, it'll spoil the competition if I participate. I'm too good." she said with a smirk on her face.
At this, Naruto couldn't help but snicker a bit. At least he did, until Rose sent him a sharp glare. "What do you find so funny, Naruto?"
Naruto quickly waved his hands in front of him and smiled at her. "Nothing Rose-chan. I just think you're cute is all. Besides, I kind of have to agree with you. I highly doubt anyone here would be much of a match for you." he said with a shrug.
Blushing a bit, she turned away and scoffed, trying not to show how much his words meant to her. "R-Right. Thank you." she said, allowing a small smile to show itself on her face.
Shana took this moment to run in front of both Dart and Naruto and took one of both their hands in hers. "Good luck!" she shouted before she placed a kiss first on Dart's cheek before leaning in and placing a kiss on Naruto's cheek. Afterwards, she stepped back and grinned at the both of them.
Dart blinked as he reached up and rubbed the spot he was kissed. Naruto, meanwhile, blushed a bright red and quickly glanced away, unable to look her in the eyes. "Th-Thank you Shana-chan. I'll do my very best!" he exclaimed before finally looking her in the eyes at the end.
"We will be watching from up there." Lavitz interrupted as he nodded his head off to the side to indicate that the three of them would be watching from up in that direction. And with that, they began to walk off. However, after a moment, while the girls continued to walk away, Lavitz stopped and turned around to offer a few last words of advice to both Dart and Naruto. "Don't embarrass yourselves in front of Shana." he said with a teasing grin.
However, after a moment of thought, Lavitz rushed back to Dart's side and leaned in to whisper something into his ear. Naruto heard it though. "Just don't turn yourself into a Dragoon. It'll create a big mess." he advised cautiously. Dart nodded to show that he understood and both he and Naruto watched as their friend walked off to join Shana and Rose.
Ginger chose this time to interrupt their thoughts. "When you are ready, go to the waiting room! We'll be waiting for you!" he said with a grin. Dart and Naruto both nodded before they quickly filled out their application forms and handed them over to the guy. Once that was done, they both prepared to enter the waiting room before Naruto heard someone calling his name.
Glancing over his shoulder, he saw someone he didn't expect: Hinata Hyuga. Blinking a few times in shock, he looked at Dart and motioned for him to go on ahead. Nodding, Dart patted Naruto on the shoulder and said, "Don't take too long Naruto." and with that he moved towards the waiting room, but decided to remain waiting just at the top of the stairs, leaving Naruto to speak with Hinata.
Naruto nodded to Dart as he left and then turned back to Hinata. Looking her over, he was glad to see that she had recovered from what Neji had done to her. Smiling at her, he decided to see what she wanted. "Hey Hinata-chan. How are you doing? What's up?"
Hinata smiled shyly at him and, as per her nervous habit, began to poke her fingers together. After taking in a deep breath to try and steady her nerves, Hinata finally spoke up. "N-Naruto-kun...I wanted to let you know that we're all here for you. We're here to cheer you on. Hokage-sama let us know what you were doing today and gave us the option to come watch you today and support you. So...surprise?" she said somewhat unsurely.
Naruto chuckled a bit and wrapped Hinata in a hug. "Thank you Hinata-chan. I'm glad to hear that. I just hope I don't let any of you down." he said. "But really, why are you here? I know you're here for another reason." he said with a small grin on his face.
Hinata blushed furiously at being caught and leaned back, looking around at everything but Naruto. When Naruto placed his hands on both of her cheeks and made her look straight at him, she blinked a couple of times and finally just spit it out. "I...I...I wanted to be the one to wish you luck Naruto-kun. I...I...I…" Head spinning, she built up all the courage she could muster and removed Naruto's hands from her cheeks before she moved forward and placed her lips upon Naruto's cheek.
Stepping back, Hinata looked into Naruto's eyes and smiled softly at him, the heavy blush still very evident on her face. "Naruto-kun...good luck. And...I hope we get the chance to really talk after this, because there's a lot I want to say to you that I've bottled up for so long now. But, for now...just do your very best, okay Naruto-kun?" she said, smiling sweetly at him before she turned and walked away to join her friends in the audience.
Naruto couldn't help but put a hand to his cheek where he was kissed and close his eyes. Releasing a sigh, he shook his head. "I didn't realize that she had feelings for me. This...certainly complicates things." he said aloud. Shaking his head, Naruto turned and made his way over to the stairs where Dart was. Seeing Dart smirking at him, Naruto punched him in the arm and sighed. "Don't even start with me. Let's go inside and get this thing started." he said before they both descended down into the waiting area.
As the two of them made their way down into the waiting area, they could hear a commotion taking place. "What?! Old Geezer! Say that again!" somebody demanded.
At this point, Dart and Naruto descended the stairs just far enough so they could see into the room, but still keep their presence undetected for the time being. It looked as if a rather big, burly man was harassing an older gentleman in a deep purple outfit.
After a brief moment, the man in purple responded. "Martial abilities mature along with the spirit. You have such an immature spirit. You are not a match for me." he explained calmly, much to the burly man's ever growing ire.
The other man turned away for a moment, clenching his fist angrily. After a moment, he turned back to the older gentleman and brandished his spear threateningly. "Urrggghh! I can't stand it anymore! I'll settle up with you here!"
At this point, Dart and Naruto both rushed down the stairs and into the waiting room in an effort to help, but before either of them could do anything, the older man thrusted forward and landed a fist in the burly man's midsection and sent him flying off his feet and crashing to the ground painfully with a cry of "Gwa!"
With a soft sigh, the older gentleman shook his head and looked up at the ceiling. "I told you so. You have to respect old people."
It was at this point that Dart recognized who the older man was. Stepping forward, he cried out, "Haschel!" catching the old man's attention.
The now named Haschel turned to Dart and quirked a brow inquisitively at him for a moment before a look of recognition crossed his face. "Oh!? Oh! It's you Dart!"
Dart smiled and replied, "You'll never change."
Haschel chuckled a bit before he replied with, "Well, I taught him some courtesy. That's all. Hmm, you...have become tougher since the last time I saw you." Haschel commented, a small, but proud smile on his face as he looked at Dart out of the corner of his eyes.
Dart smiled at his long time friend and nodded slowly. "You too, Haschel, you look even stronger."
Haschel laughed at this. "Ha ha ha! Even if you flatter me, I won't go easy on you!" he joked good naturedly.
Dart nodded once again. "I know. I missed you, man. Talking to you reminds me of our journey together."
Haschel smiled in remembrance at this before a question popped into his mind. "That reminds me…. What happened to...that black whachamacallit?" he asked curiously.
Dart frowned and was about to answer before Ginger rushed up shouting "Hey hey hey hey hey hey!" to get everyone's attention. Once he appeared in the entranceway, he shouted out, "Gents! The time has come to decide the strongest in Endiness! Enter the arena when you are ready!"
As the other competitors left, Haschel turned to Dart and Naruto and frowned a moment. "Before I head out there, mind introducing me to your friend, Dart?"
Dart smiled and looked at Naruto. "Haschel, this is Naruto. He's a resident of the world ours merged with. He's been a great help to my friends and me. Naruto, this is Haschel, and old friend of mine. He's a martial arts master and I bet he could really teach you a thing or two if given the chance. I bet you two would get along really well." Dart commented.
Naruto smiled and shook Haschel's hand in a firm handshake. "It's a pleasure to meet you Haschel." he said. "I look forward to fighting you in the tournament."
Haschel chuckled and nodded. "The pleasure is all mine young lad. You look like quite the capable young man. If we meet in the arena, I hope you give me your all. I will accept nothing less than your very best." he said with a happy smile on his face.
After their moment was over, Haschel turned to Dart and said, "Don't lose before our match!" and turned to make his way into the arena. However, he stopped in the entranceway. "This is it. Here I come!"
As soon as Haschel had left, Dart and Naruto turned to one another and they bumped their fists together, both sporting matching grins. "Let the best man win Naruto. Do your best." Dart said before making his way out for his first match.
"Likewise Dart. Don't lose before I get the chance to fight you in the final match, you hear me?! I want to face you at the very end!" he shouted out before rushing out into the arena to begin his first match of the Hero Competition. Whoever he ended up fighting, he would be sure to kick their ass and make a real name for himself in this new world. Ready or not whoever you are, here I come!
A/N - Okay, now that the long chapter is over with, I hope you all enjoyed it! I'm sorry I couldn't get to any of the fights in the Hero Competition. Don't hurt me! The chapter was getting to be way too dang long as it was, so I kinda just had to end it there.
Anyways, first thing's first. I won't be able to write anymore chapters until next week. This weekend I'm going to an anime convention called NDK (Nan Desu Kon). I'll be there from Friday - Sunday. Sooo...I simply don't have the time to write up another chapter before then. Sure I could begin writing another one, but by the time I got back to writing it, I'd have lost my train of thought and, well...it'd suck. lol. Still, I hope you can be patient with me and wait until I get back next week to continue writing my fics.
Aaaaanywho, as you can see, a LOT happened this chapter. Kabuto's been killed, Naruto nearly died, Shana and Naruto are confused about their feelings for each other, yada yada yada. Plus, Haschel! Yay Haschel! And of course, the Hero Competition has officially begun! Well, the first fight will be next chapter, but at least it's begun, right? Right? Please don't shoot me! lol.
Like I said before, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I certainly didn't expect for a lot of what happened this chapter to happen as I was writing it. A lot of it just kinda, well...HAPPENED. I don't usually plan for certain things to happen as I'm writing out a story. Dragon and Sword Master can confirm this for you. I'll talk with him about my ideas for things and as I'm writing, I'll suddenly spout out random crap like: "Well, I certainly didn't expect THAT to happen this chapter." and other random things as I'm writing. lol. One good example of this is the kiss that Naruto and Rose shared. THAT was COMPLETELY unexpected. I did NOT see that one coming AT ALL! Fun stuff though right?
Anyways, I'll see you all later! I'll try to get another chapter out next week if I can! Might take a little longer than a week, but...who knows? Depends on how long it takes me to write another chapter of whatever. lol.