Chapter 36: Storms and Meetings
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Lane plots against the Lord of Fang.
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Start date, January 31
Naruto was curled up in a ball in the center of his bed. That was where Lane found him, hidden under his covers. She pulled back the blankets, but found his feet instead. She smirked as the boy curled and gave a whine at the loss of warmth. Moran shook his head, watching her do a set of one handed hand signs. A small ball of water appeared in her open palm. It swirled and Moran let out a sigh as the woman poured some of the cold water on the boy's back. Moran winched at the yell from the boy. He watched the boy stand up on the bed in a flash, looking at the woman. Moran blinked, seeing the marks on the boy's cheeks darken for the faction of a moment. He watched the boy's eyes return to blue round orbs, from red slits. Naruto stared at the woman as she laughed. He crouched down, glancing to the ball of water in her hand and back to her, seeing her smile.
"Now get changed boy, we will be going to the academy today."
Naruto watched the two leave. He shook his body, frowning at the rude wake up call. He let out a yawn and went in search for clothes to wear. He was kind of glad he did not have to go swimming today, but was mad with the seal placed on him. It kept him from using his chakra and the kyuubi could not get rid of it in one day. It would have to be many days, before it could. Outside the room, the woman still had the ball of water in her hand. Moran eyed it warily.
"Yesterday's meals were nice."
She shrugged her shoulders and moved to the kitchen, stopping in front of the stove. She stirred the oatmeal that was cooking. Moran kept from sighing when the woman dropped the ball of water in the sink. He never knew how the woman developed that jutsu. She had many that branched off from just it, like the pea size balls of ice she use to make and throw at her students, to get their attention. She threw them with enough force, leaving burses on foreheads. He turned around and headed towards the table. He jumped when a small ice ball fell down back of his shirt. He cussed, since he should have known she was going to do that. Naruto walked out of the room and sat down at the table. He poured him some milk, watching the woman divvy out the oatmeal. He looked to the windows, watching the snow come down still. He could not believe this, but he had been in the place that once was called the Snow County. He watched the woman as she set a bowl in front of him. His eyes widen slightly, seeing the amount of honey she put on his food. He looked to Moran, seeing a small squirt on his. Moran frowned at that. He did not argue; expect he scraped some honey out of Naruto's bowl when the woman's back was turned. Naruto ate, watching the man finish very quickly. Moran got up and washed out his bowl and turned his attention to the woman.
"Thank you for breakfast. I have to leave for a mission. I should be back tonight and how about I cook."
"I'll warn the hospital."
Moran let out a sigh and left. The woman sat next to Naruto. Naruto looked to the woman when the door was shut. She ate her meal, looking through a type of newspaper. Naruto got up when he finished and cleaned out his bowl and the pan. He took the bowl from the woman when she handed hers to him. He looked to her as she dug through her pocket, her eyes narrowing when she could not find what she was searching for. She smiled and pulled out something, concealed in her hand. Naruto raised an eyebrow as she placed a rectangle piece of paper over the seal that blocked his use of charka. She smirked as she flattened it out over his shirt and crossed her arms.
"That will allow me to know when you're lying to me."
Naruto tugged at his shirt, finding his it was stuck to his skin where the tag was. He looked to the woman as she walked to the living room and found the small radio. She turned it to soft music and sat at the loveseat. She pulled out a brush from her hip pouch and pointed to the spot on the floor before her. Naruto hesitate. She raised an eyebrow and reached to the bracelet around her wrist, touching a yellow bead. He furled his eyebrows and his eyes widen, felling a shock from the tag. He looked to her as she smirked at him.
"It will be wise you sit."
He did as told and sat down. He frowned as she brushed his hair, humming to the music. He glanced back when she spoke.
"Uzumaki, I never heard of that family name before, even here. Is that a new clan name?"
Naruto was close to fidgeting. Kyuubi told him to answer and he would help when needed.
"No, the Hokage named me that. I was found shortly after the battle with the demon fox, no father around. I was told my mother died shortly after birth, compactions arose since no doctors were able to treat her at the time. No one knew of my parents."
She glanced down, seeing the tag glowed green. She nodded, still brushing his hair. Naruto relaxed slightly, closing his eyes. He ignored the brief snickering that came from the fox.
"Now like I said, I will help you to get home. Many of the councilors agree with me. The old lord would be furious about a child being kidnapped, no matter what the so called excuse was. This lord, lets say he is a complete idiot. If I had my way, you would have been sent home right when you were well enough, a personally apology, maybe some jutsu and money. So it will be wise you get rid of any ideals of escaping again. The man will not hesitate bringing you close to death and I don't want to see you hurt any more."
He nodded, not for sure to trust her or follow her word of advice. He flinched when she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He looked out the corner of his eyes as she moved her head next to him. She grabbed one of his hands, looking at his claws.
"When we get to the academy, I want you to write out all that has happen to you since you been kidnapped, from your home, dragged through your country and ours. You be good."
He watched her remove the tag, but frowned as she slip her hand under his shirt and place it on his skin. She pushed him to stand and walked to the door, picking up her coat and throwing his. He frowned as he followed her out of the room and through the halls.
"Do you think we should trust her?"
"I don't know. This woman seems the one to trust the most of all, even the man. It looks like she has hate for the lord here. We will have to see."
"I fell okay around her, but she is a something to fear. Moran, he does not hate her, but fears her."
Naruto looked up as the woman turned a corner. He followed her, puzzled by the woman's interest on him. He stopped, causing her to look back. He sniffed the air, frowning at the scents he smelt. He moved closer to the woman, hiding behind her as footsteps echoed in the halls. She looked ahead, hearing a small growl from the boy. Her eyes narrowed, watching two people stop. She saw the man had marks across his face, guessing the boy meet him before. The other woman curled her nose, seeing the boy. She started to fidget when she saw who the boy was with.
"Lane-san, what are you doing with the boy?" Kara asked
The woman rolled her eyes.
"I am keeping an eye on the boy. Now excuse me, I have things to do."
She reached back and grabbed Naruto by the arm, pulling him with her. He kept close to the woman. He only glanced back, making sure they did not make a move on him. Once they disappeared around a corner, the woman let out a huff.
"There goes that idea."
"Shut up Kara."
The man walked off, anger shown on his face."
Around the corner, Naruto had heard them. He looked to the woman as she started to walk again, pulling him along. He tugged to get his arm free, but she would not let go. When they exited the building, she let him go and took off to the right. He followed her, a frown on his face as they walked to the academy and to her office. He found her office a large room. She sat him at the front of her desk and set down a pad of paper and pen. He looked up as she stared down at him. She tapped the paper, narrowing her eyes at him.
"I want complete details from your kidnapping to up to the point here. Write as much as you remember. I will talk to you later, seeking if it is true."
Naruto watched her walked out of the room. He curled his nose, feeling her chakra signature flare for a moment, then die down. He let out a sigh, knowing he was locked in the room. He picked up the pen, thinking back. He placed a date he knew he was taken, October 4. He frowned, as he wrote all that has happened to him and his actions.
-captured-
Jiraiya looked out the window from the room he was in. He curled his nose, watching the snow blow past and hearing the howling winds. He let out a sigh, since he had been here for three days, cussing the storm that kept him holed up here. He closed the curtains and walked to his bed, letting himself set down, hard. He let out a series of sneezes and cusses when he was done. He got caught up in the sleet for an hour, before entering the small town. He shook his head, since he was just in time to get the last room. He had glared at the men that glared at him for getting the room. He quickly entered and soaked in a tub full of hot water. He sent his thanks to Tsunade when she sent him medicine he asked for.
He shuddered, remembering her words from one of her slugs. He frowned as his door was knocked on. He got up and moved to the door, smiling when the owner brought his lunch he ordered. He set it on the bed, picking up the sandwich. He pulled out the map, looking at his course he chose. He decided to travel southwest. He planed to spend a day or two in a small village, before hading to the capital. He went over his plans, adding to grow out his hair as the first thing he did. He finished his meal, letting out sigh. He set the tray outside of his door and made sure it was locked. He went to bed, falling asleep.
-captured-
Naruto woke up with a start. He blinked, looking at side of the desk. The last thing he remembered was writing about escaping from the ninja on the train. He moved his head, to look who was stroking his head, finding it was the woman and his head was lying on her lap. He looked in the room, seeing more old people in the room, and others. He looked to back to the woman, seeing a firm face. He closed his eyes as she brushed his cheeks. He fell back asleep, feeling kyuubi's chakra form. He ignored it, felling more relaxed then he has. The woman looked up, a frown on her face. She held up the notebook, seeing where the boy left off. She looked to the others as they talked among themselves.
"How are we to persuade the lord to send the boy home." she asked
They quieted down once she started to talk. Silence was in the room for many minutes, before the woman spoke up.
"We out number him in our concern, we out vote him. If I am correct, we appointed him to be the next ruler, we can easily undo that. If you will, come up with compensation for the trouble that has caused and the apology letter to the Hokage. I will give you copies of the boy's statement when he finishes."
The group quietly left, either by the door, or teleporting out of the room. She looked down to Naruto's face, brushing a finger over his marks.
"I would think you have gone through so much little one. I doubt many others would fight like you have done, foolish as it is. You're a good actor for most parts. Patience now, something will happen soon, either bag or good. I will do what I can to keep you safe."
She brushed her over the boy's face, a smile on her own. It fell as she read over what the boy wrote. She set the notebook in her bag and woke the boy.
"Come on, let's head back."
Naruto got up slowly, fighting not to yawn. He looked around the room, seeing they were the only ones. He rubbed his eyes as the woman stood up. He pouted slightly, finding he was missing his boots and jacket. He noticed his boots next to the couch he sat on. He slipped them on and stood up. He pouted as his stomach voiced to be feed. The woman snorted and gave him his jacket. He pulled it on and followed the woman out. He peaked under his shirt, finding the tag gone. He raised an eyebrow, finding it was growing dark when they exited the building. He followed her back to; he guessed apartment would be the word to use. He entered before her, slipping his boots off. She set down her bag and jacket on the couch. Naruto took a sniff of the air, smelling what was cooking. He looked to the woman as she smirked. He took off his jacket and hung it on the peg on the back of the door. He walked into the living room, glancing in the kitchen as Moran frantically waved his hand, after burning it on the lid of a pan.
"Baby." the woman said
Naruto walked to the table, a slight push from the woman. He sat down as the man set a basket of rolls on the table. Naruto watched the woman pull one apart, letting out a sigh.
"It looks like he has improved on his cooking skills since his academy days."
The man frowned as he set a bowl of rice down, bit more forcefully. He looked to the woman.
"I have you know, it was you who rated me the best among the graduation class."
"Then I must have made a mistake."
Naruto could not help himself from smirking. He frowned as the man served him a large helping of vegetables. He frowned again when the woman ordered him to get a bath and go to bed, when he was finished with dinner.
End date, January 31
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