Disclaimer: I do not own any of the content following this statement. All titles, names, and plots are owned by Masashi Kishimoto even thou he ruined the story for so many of us.
Author's Note: As this is an AU the age of graduation from the Academy is now 14 and the age of our hero at the start of this story is 17 as he/she was held back. The other members of the group are now 15 at the start.
Reflections
Chapter 5
The mission
…
A week later, Sakura found herself standing on the small bridge looking at all the little cut marks on the railing as Naruto and 'that girl' stood on the other side with their heads together talking about some new jutsu they were working on. She had tried to talk to Naruto over the past week but couldn't find the words to say to him that would make the world go back to the way it was. Even Ino had told her she needed to move on and start seeing more people so she would have 'experience' when Sasuke came back.
Hearing the two blondes stop talking Sakura looked up to see Kakashi walking down the path to them. Without his little porn book in his face and only being an hour late she figured something must be up.
"You're almost on time, did you forget to check your watch", said Nariko having gotten to the point of not caring what her sensei thought of her.
"Ah, you see I stopped by the mission hall this morning to pick up a mission for us,", he said pulling a scroll from his vest and waving it in front of them.
"What is it Kakashi Sensei, not pulling weeds or chasing that cat is it?", said Naruto getting in front of Nariko to prevent her from doing anything stupid if it was the cat mission. She really hated that cat and he has stopped her a couple of times from killing it.
"No No, it's a simple B-Rank guarding mission, there is a large shipment of lumber going to Tea country and the merchant has hired team seven and team ten to protect it.", said Kakashi. He seemed happy about it but a B-Rank for lumber didn't make a lot of sense to any of the Genin standing in the training ground.
Nariko was the first to speak, "Who are we protecting them from? Two full teams seem to be a lot for wood.", it seemed like a simple question and they waited for Kakashi to answer.
"It is believed that Iwagakure will try to stop the shipment if not outright destroy it to prevent Tea Country from using the lumber to finish building their shipping port on their northern shore.", said Kakashi as if that explained it all, seeing his team didn't understand he continued,
"Tea Country will be able to ship directly to Fire Country bypassing all the land routes, this will bring more income to Fire Country making it stronger, making the village stronger and by that Iwagakure will be weaker on the world stage.", he finished hoping that they understood the complex politics of the mission.
"Wouldn't that start a war between the two villages.", said Sakura recalling her history from the academy and how Iwagakure had gone to war with the Konohagakure over the years.
"Yes if Iwagakure used their own shinobi but it is believed they will be using mercenaries, that is why it is only a B-rank mission with only two Jonin with their Genin teams.", said Kakashi clearly not wanting to have to explain this anymore he pulled out his little book and started reading from it.
Pulling the scroll from Kakashi's vest Sakura opened it and read it over and handed it to Naruto as she walked away. "See you tomorrow,", she said over her shoulder as she headed home to pack. Reading the scroll Naruto can see that the mission starts in a week and they have to meet the caravan at the great northern lumberyards five days travel north of the village, from start to finish this would be a six-week mission as they would have to travel at the slow pace of the lumber wagons. Noticing Nariko had read the scroll over his shoulder Naruto tossed the scroll back to Kakashi who caught it without looking up and headed off to who knows where a Jonin goes.
"What do you think?", said Naruto to Nariko as they stood abandoned, "It sounds like a trap but for who and why is another question.", she said scanning their surroundings just in case someone was watching them.
"We are leaving first thing in the morning, so we should go home and pack.", said Naruto thinking about how he could pack enough cup ramen for both of them that would last six weeks. He still didn't learn the storage scroll jutsu and Kakashi didn't seem to want to teach him saying he should have learned it at the academy.
"Let's go train on the new combination jutsu, I already packed two go bags, there are enough supplies in them to last two months.", said Nariko walking toward the training ground with Naruto pausing for a second as he wonders why she would have packed two go bags already. He had wondered why she had placed two backpacks next to the window in his apartment but figuring it wasn't anything he needed to worry about he said, "You're so smart Nariko-chan, I wouldn't have thought of that.", as he jogged behind her.
The next morning as the sun just started to shine over the village walls team seven and team ten stood at the main gate as their two respective Jonin sensei's talked about the mission. Not one to think about such things Naruto walked over to his old school friends and started to joke with them about all the things they had gotten away with while at the academy.
Nariko stood to the side as she watched Naruto talk to the large Akimichi and the shadow using Nara. Having worked with their clans in her world she wondered if they are as well trained in this world. The Nara were known for their ruthlessness and the Akimichi for their blood rage in battle. They always seemed to be teamed up with a Yamanaka, the combination of brains, brawns and psychopathic blonde made them a force on the battlefield.
Hearing them all laughing, Nariko knew these shinobi were not of the same mindset as the ones she had worked with but didn't know if that was for the better or worst for this mission.
Ino and Sakura walked over to Nariko and looked over at the guys talking Ino said, "Look, I am sorry for calling you names, we need to work as a team on this mission and I don't want any bad feelings between us." Looking at Sakura, Ino pokes her in the side to get her to speak up.
"I am sorry, let's try to work together.", said Sakura holding out her hand to Nariko.
Not sure if this was one of those tricks the mind walkers like to play on her Nariko reached out and shook Saruka's hand bracing herself for something to happen. When nothing happens but Nariko being surprised at how soft and weak Sakura's hand shack was.
The Hokage looked down on the group at the great gates getting ready to leave when the Jonin commander joins her at her rooftop vantage point. "Are you sure sending these two teams is a good idea.", said Shikaku as he stood behind the Hokage.
"All of the reports from Jiraiya's spy network say any attach on the lumber convoy is a distraction for the real attack against the northern mines. Do you have any new information I am unaware of?", said Tsunade turning her head to look at her Jonin Commander.
"No, but I have a bad feeling about this.", said Shikaku
"I didn't know Nara used their feeling to lead, what are you a Yamanaka now", said Tsunade now fully facing Shikaku.
"No, logic says the spies are right, there is no real value in destroying the lumber, it will only set back the project for 1 or 2 months at most.", said Shikaku, "If we allow the mines to be destroyed it will take years to repair."
"Then what is it?", said Tsunade, to many years of her life had been spent on the battlefield and she had learned to listen to her people's feelings when it came down to missions.
"It may be a father's overactive imagination but I still feel this is some type of trap.", said Shikaku.
Turning back to look at the gate as both teams form up and leave the village Tsunade thinks about what Shikaku said and say to him, "Change the patrol patterns of the Anbu so they cross the convoy's route. It will put at least one team of Anbu within range if backup is needed."
Bowing, Shikaku steps back to leave saying, "Thank you Hokage", before using a body flicker, finding herself alone on the roof Tsunade hopes that he is wrong.
…..
Traveling all day at nearly top speed, at least the top speed of Sakura and team ten they stopped to make camp as the daylight was fading. The two Jinchuurki had made a game out of running ahead a couple of miles and then returning to try to spring some playful trap on the Jonin. Kakashi put up with their games but Asuma didn't want anything to do with them. Checking the map he took out of his vest Asuma said, "It looks like we are ahead of schedule, good job team, now let's make camp."
He didn't have to say that twice as Team ten broke out their camping gear and Choji was the first one to start the fire and put a cooking pot over the flames. As everyone busied themselves with setting up camp Nariko climbed the largest tree she could find and started scanning the area looking for anything out of place. Naruto soon joined her and looked around not knowing what she was looking for.
"What are we looking for Nariko-chan", asked Naruto as he squinted into the setting sun.
"Everything.", was her cold reply, she couldn't believe that two Jinchuurki and three heirs of the noble clans of the leaf were not being followed. The spies of the other great nation had to have people watching the village gate, the Hokage must know that and sent them out the gate for a reason.
Dropping his hand down and facing the blonde girl Naruto said, "I don't see anything, come on let's see if anybody needs help or we can make ramen." Nariko didn't move for a whole minute and Naruto started to panic. "You did pack ramen didn't you?", he said in his most worried voice.
"Of course I did, who do you think I am,", said Nariko giving up on her search for nothing and joined Naruto as he jumped down through the tree to walk back into the camp.
The tents were set up in the surrounding underbrush and were partly hidden even from overhead. Nariko was a little impressed that they at least knew how to set up a field camp in this world.
Getting out a scroll from one of their packs Nariko handed it over to Naruto who with a quick hand sign pulled out a fully formed tent that with the help of a couple of clones he moved into place like the others.
Kakashi seeing Naruto using his clones yelled out, "Naruto why don't you send some of your clones out and hunt down some fresh meat for us." With a quick thumbs up, Naruto created a dozen clones but before he could send them all off Choji said, "There was a small rive about a mile back, try to catch some fish if you can."
As the small army of clones ran off Kakashi and Asuma walked off into the trees to have a private talk about the mission so Naruto joined Choji at the fire pit with Nariko standing behind him still scanning the tree line for anything out of place. Over Choji's shoulder, Naruto could see Ino and Sakura working on setting everything up in their tents so it would be just right for a good night's sleep. They had placed their tents very close together and were talking through the tent's walls to each other as they worked.
"I didn't know Kakashi Sensei had a daughter.", said Choji looking at Nariko still standing over Naruto's back. Her all-black outfit didn't hide anything about her figure, he liked his girls with a little more meat on the bone, but with her face covered by the same mask Kakashi uses Choji figured they must be related.
'I am not related to Kakashi.", said Nariko not looking at Choji as she scanned the forest. The thought of being the daughter of one of the worst mass murders in her village's history almost made her feel something before she pushed it to the back of her mind. She was in mission mood now and feeling were for later.
Getting a laugh out of the large Akimichi as he tossed some vegetables in the stew pot and stirred it. Sitting around the fire as it got darker everyone joined in a circle as some of the Naruto clones returned with their catch of rabbit and fish. Choji made quick work of cleaning the food and adding the rabbit to the pot while cooking the fish over the open fire.
"Didn't you bring a tent Naruto", asked Shikamaru pointing at the one tent he had set up.
"That is my tent,", said Naruto taking a fish from Choji as he started to pass them around as they finished cooking. The smell of food finally got Nariko to sit down and take a fish, as she learned into Naruto's side while eating her fish she still keep her eyes on the forest.
"Then where is Nariko going to sleep?", asked Shikamaru now being mildly curious having never been on a mission with team seven.
"I am sharing the tent with Naruto,", said Nariko throwing the leftover fish bones into the fire and giving the Nara her full attention, Nara always gave her the chills as they always had plans within plans on how to use her.
Deciding to stand up she placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder and said, "You have a problem with that Nara, I don't like problems", even in her soft voice everyone but Naruto could feel her killer intent directed at Shikamaru.
"Why do I care", he said under his breath followed by, "This is too troublesome"
Looking between his teammate and best friend and the two blondes sitting at his fire Choji wasn't sure what had just happened but not liking the idea that there seems to be a fight brewing he said, "Wow that is great Naruto you have a girlfriend. I didn't know you guys were that close."
Naruto had been so busy eating he had missed most of what was going on around him, he knew Nariko could take care of herself so he didn't pay it much mind when she stood up.
"What do you mean?", said Naruto putting his finished bowl of rabbit stew down. He knew Nariko would be making Ramen later but rabbit stew was still good for a starter.
Feeling she didn't have control over what was happening and not really understanding why they seemed so focused on her Nariko pulled Naruto to his feet making him almost drop his second bowl of stew. "Come on we have to set up traps for the night,", pulling the confused boy by his jacket he stumbled backward until he got free from her grip and together they jumped off into the trees.
"Traps? Why would we need traps around the camp we are only a day out from the village.", said Ino having joined them at the fire as the two blondes ran off.
Kakashi had stayed in the shadows watching the interactions of the two teams, but in truth, he was watching the two Naruto trying to socially interact with people outside of their very small circle of friends, he could only wonder just how he could get them to allow other people in even just a little.
"Preparing for the unexpected is best done when you don't expect something to happen.", said Kakashi as he entered the circle of light that the fire cast in the small clearing they had made camp in. "I think you should talk to Asuma Sensei for tonight's guard rotation as Naruto seems to have picked the first watch."
…
Moving around the camp in ever widening circles laying trap after trap Naruto felt he was in his element as traps just like any good prank were something he was skilled at. "Are you mad about something?", he asked Nariko as she pulled a tripwire between two trees that would trigger a very sharp spear to fly into anybody that walked into the wire.
"No, Yes,", she said, "I don't know", finishing tiring off the wire she walked over to Naruto, "How can you put up with their endless chatter, we need to stay focused on the mission not on what tent we sleep in."
Seeing she was mad and glad it wasn't at him, Naruto said, "They just want to get to know you is all."
"I am a shinobi of the leaf, I am loyal and live to serve what more do they need to know.", she said in that emotionless voice he had heard her use whenever she talked about her past life.
"Do you like Ramen", he asked, "What?", she said looking at him like he lost his mind again, but it did break her out of her mission-focused training.
"Tell them you like Ramen, how it tastes, and what you like in it, it's what I do when I don't know what to say and most people will stop asking you questions once you do that a couple of times." Seeing a spark of wisdom in his words but then remembering what happened the first day they talked she said, "So is that what you did with me? So I wouldn't ask you any more questions?"
Laughing Naruto shook his head, "No of course not, the funny thing is I really do like talking about Ramen, you know it's the food of the gods." She put her hand over his mouth before he could launch into his Ramen sermon and moved her face close to his to whisper in his ear.
"Let's talk about it later, we have more traps to set," she said, he could feel her hot breath flow across his ear and it made him think of things he shouldn't.
Nodding his understanding he jumped to the trees to look for another spot to lay his next trap with Nariko close behind.
….
On the third day of the mission, they entered the village of Quarjin to pick up some supplies. Having been to this village many times in the past Asuma went to talk to his contacts to see if he could learn anything about what was happening in the local area. Being this close to the lumber yards they should know of any strange shinobi in the area.
Kakashi, never one to let an opportunity pass him by found a quiet tea house to read in, and thinking he knew some deep Jonin-level secret the two Genin teams followed him inside. As soon as he pulled out his little orange book Sakura ordered tea and snacks for everyone telling the waiter Kakashi was paying.
Nariko found a table that was farthest from the door but gave her a good view of the room sat down with her back to the wall and waited. She knew something was going to happen, it always did and it was best to be prepared for the worst. Naruto waved over to the waiter and asked, "Do you have any ramen." Getting a yes from the waiter he turned to Nariko and asked, "How do you want your ramen?"
"Just bring me black tea with honey, lots of honey", she said trying to ignore the look on Naruto's face as the waiter walked away. "Is something wrong Nariko-chan?", asked Naruto seeing the intense way she was watching the room. "Something is going to happen, this is an unplanned stop, something always happens on unplanned stops."
Looking over his shoulder and seeing all his friends drinking tea and eating the food Sakura had ordered on Kakashi's tab Naruto turned back to Nariko and said, "How do you know? Everything looks normal to me."
Waiting for the waiter to place her tea down and quickly returning with the three bowls of Ramen Naruto had ordered she said, "Every mission report I have ever read. Each time the team or shinobi stopped for an unplanned reason something happen."
Figuring Nariko knew what she was talking about and the smell of Ramen filling the air Naruto forgot about asking how she had gotten to read so many mission reports and quickly got to work emptying the bowls in front of him.
Spooning three large spoons full of honey into her tea Nariko watched and waited as Naruto moved on to the next bowl of ramen as she drank her tea. When Asuma walked in and loudly greeted everyone before sitting down with Kakashi, Nariko finished her tea and stood up.
"Come on, we have to go,", she said to Naruto allowing him to drink down the last of his broth.
Walking along the wall of the room Nariko worked her way to the front entrance as Naruto tried to walk straight through the middle of the room and got stopped by half the people in the room before joining her at the door. Slipping out of the door into the street as the sun started to set she quickly moved into an alley and pulled out a kunai.
Pulling out a kunai of his own Naruto looked up and down the street before getting pulled back into the alley by Nariko. "Stay in the shadow as we talked about, we have to watch and wait for it to happen.", she said.
"What is going to happen?", asked Naruto scanning the street as best she could from the alley.
"I don't know but it always does", she answered fingering her blade, it had been too long a time since she has been in a real fight and she was looking forward to it.
As their teammates enjoyed a night of eating and drinking tea the sunset and the moon cast a soft light onto the village. The two shinobi in the alley hadn't moved at all as the night grew long. Naruto believed in Nariko and didn't question her as they waited.
The movement was small and almost was missed by the young shinobi. Putting her hand on Naruto's shoulder she pointed down the street with the point of her knife as the first one and then another figure formed out of the shadows and started working their way down the street moving from one shadow to another.
"Go to the roof and work your way behind them and when you see me make my move you attach from behind.", said Nariko removing four shurikens and holding them between her fingers. "But how do you know they are going to do something, we should talk to them first.", said Naruto.
Nariko looked at Naruto for a second as if he had grown an extra head, "How many of your friends' lives are you willing to give away for a chance to talk to them.", she said pointing again down the street at the approaching figures.
"I hope you're right about this,", said Naruto as he climbed up the alley wall and started running across the rooftops. Nariko waited until she was sure he had made it behind them before using a genutsu making her fade away into the shadows as she exited the alley, she was using the same shadow jutsu as the enemy as she started to move down the street.
Once she reached the halfway point she stopped and tried her best to completely fade into the doorway she was standing in, she knew the approaching shinobi would have to walk right by her. She felt like a spring ready to burst out of hiding as she waited for the best time to attack.
"Stop right there!", yelled out Naruto, just as she expected, he was going to try to talk to them, using his distraction to her advantage she looked around the edge of the door to see Naruto standing in the middle of the street with all eight shinobi facing him.
"What are sound ninjas doing in fire country?", asked Naruto as if expecting them to tell him their mission.
"We were told you were an idiot but I didn't expect our target to come to us.", said one of the sound ninjas getting a laugh out of the rest of them. That was all Nariko needed to hear as she moved up behind the nearest sound shinobi and buried her blade into the back of his head. One down seven to go was her only thought as she kicked the body to the ground and backflipped away as all the sound ninjas jumped into action.
Not seeing her they all rushed to Naruto thinking he somehow was able to kill their comrade without moving.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu", yelled out Naruto filling the area with dozens of clones hurling shurikens as they ran into battle. Using a coil of ninja wire Nariko tied it to a Kunai and threw it as hard as she could burying it into a building creating a trip wire causing two of the shinobi to fall.
Jumping onto the back of the nearest one she pulled back his head to cut his throat when a blast of sound hit her in the side throwing her across the street into a building. Now with her genutsu broken she no longer needed to hold back.
"Great Fire Ball", she yelled out filling the whole street with flames. "Now Naruto.", she screamed, and a split second later "Great Wind Breakthrough", yelled out Naruto causing the flamed to turn bright red, then white as they trapped the sound shinobi between them.
The heat from the flame destroyed all of the clones leaving Naruto standing alone on one side and Nariko on the other of the ball of fire. "Sound Shockwave", could be heard from the center of the ball of fire as it exploded and the blast of sound knocked both young shinobi off their feet and sent them flying.
Rolling over and looking up Naruto could see three of the sound shinobi standing with their backs to each other with the burned bodies of the others laying around them slowly turning into dust. He couldn't see Nariko and the thought that she was hurt filled him with rage as the fox flooded him with chakra.
Jumping to his feet he ran full speed at the three shinobi yelling, "Rasengan", forming a ball of chakra in his hand. Weeks of training on this one Jutsu show as the Rasengan was screaming with power.
The center sound shinobi pulled off her head covering releasing long black hair that fell down her back, whipping it around she called out. "Howling Hair Sound Waves", this generated high-frequency sound waves that simultaneously disoriented Naruto by overwhelming his hearing and at the same time were able to slice at him with blades of sound cutting small but painful cuts all over his body.
Falling forward at a full run Naruto Rasengan lost all form as he landed on his face half unconscious from the effect of the sound jutsu. As the leader of the sound started laughing her two companions ran to Naruto and started to kick him. "You're lucky we have orders to bring you back alive.", said the leader as she walked confidently over to Naruto's prone body.
As the three shinobi looked down at Naruto thinking they had won Nariko dropped down from the building overhead and landed on the back of the leader with a kunai in each hand driving them deep into her neck and pulling back with her knees planted in the woman's back. With a mighty pull, she cut the woman's head off before backflipping off her dead body. The amount of killer intent coming off Nariko was making it hard for the other sound shinobi to breathe as they turned to face her.
"Oh fuck", said one of the shinobi right before being hit in the gut by an overpowered Rasengan blasting his body in two and throwing his remains all over the front of a building panting it red.
Watching the guts of his teammate slide down the wall the last sound shinobi looked from one pissed-off Naruto still holding his arm out to a stone-cold stare from Nariko.
Pointing both of his arms straight down he screamed, "Sound Blast Wave", as the sound from his arms hit the ground he was launched high into the air arching over the buildings. "Naruto", screamed Nariko to get his full attention as she ran straight at him. "Throw me!", she yelled, knowing what she wanted to do Naruto cupped his hands together, and as soon as he felt Nariko's foot touch his palm he threw her as hard as he could at the flying sound ninja.
The world seemed to slow down as Naruto looked up as the two ninjas grew closer and closer. Seeing Nariko form a Rasengan in each hand he marveled at her control just as she slammed her hands together with the sound shinobi in the middle. Wiping the rain of blood from his eyes Naruto ran down the street until he was under Nariko's falling body and caught her limp body right before it hit the ground.
The blowback of the two Rasengan had knocked the wind out of her but she was able to wrap her arms around Naruto's neck and rest her head on his shoulder as he stood motionless in front of the tea house covered in a spray of blood.
"I guess you were right, something was going to happen.", said Naruto with his trademark grin looking at the girl in his arms.
As the tea house doors opened and both teams came walking out laughing at some joke someone had told they all froze at the sight of Naruto standing there holding Nariko.
"Naruto you pervert, what have you done.", screamed out Sakura as she stomped her way over to them in righteous fury ready to beat him over the head for acting like this in public. Kakashi moved to stop her as he and Asuma noticed the bloody carnage in the street behind Naruto.
"Now now Sakura, let them be, it's late and I am sure Nariko is just tired.", said Kakashi as Asuma motioned for everyone to start walking down the street away from the gore, it being dark and the clouds now covering the moon none of the genin even noticed what had happened only two blocks away.
Looking to Naruto and Nariko in his arms and then over to the street with burned bodies and blood-covered walls Kakashi said, "Are there any others I need to worry about?", Picking her head off of Naruto's shoulder Nariko looked at Kakashi and said, "No Sensei, all hostiles have been eliminated." Hearing no emotion in her voice he knew that her root training was in full force even as she clung to Naruto.
"I will need a full report in the morning but for now Asuma found us all a nice hotel to stay in tonight, we will have plenty of nights sleeping on the ground on this mission.", said Kakashi, looking them both over once again he made some quick hand signs and said, "Water Wash Jutsu", causing a waterfall of water to fall from the sky washing over the two removing all the blood and pieces of gore still on them.
"Can you walk", asked Kakashi thinking that Nariko was hurt in some way, "Yes Sensei said the small blonde but wrapping her arms even tighter around Naruto who gave her one of his rare real smiles.
"Ok, follow me, I am sure Asuma put aside a room for you," said Kakashi but as he walked away he summoned a couple of ninja dogs and sent them to track was the sound shinobi came from.
With all the genin in their rooms, Asuma and Kakashi went down to the hotel bar to have a couple of drinks. "You have any idea what happen yet.", said Asuma lighting a cigarette and sucking down half of it in one draw before blowing the smoke up into the ceiling.
Kakashi downed his drink when Asuma wasn't looking and said, "My ninja dogs reported they are sound shinobi and are tracking them back to their base but I doubt they will find anything. As for their mission, it seems they were after Naruto and didn't even notice Nariko until it was too late."
"So they were dumb and stupid at the same time, sounds like sound shinobi.", joked Asuma lighting another cigarette from the burnt stub of the last one before taking a long drink from his glass.
"Are we going to report this to the Hokage? Naruto is one of her favorites," said Asuma allowing his dislike to show as he hated people that got special treatment. It was one of the reasons he left the leaf village and became one of the 12 ninjas that protected the fire Daimyo.
Kakashi looked at his fellow Jonin through the cloud of smoke around Asuma wondering if he really was saying to not report that the sound sent two squads into fire country to attach the Jinchuurki of the nine-tailed fox. He was sure that if it wasn't for Nariko, Naruto would have had to call on the fox's chakra, doing that would have taken half the village down in the fight.
Calling the bartender over to order another drink Kakashi said, "I will send one of my summons with a message to the Hokage in the morning. You know there are Anbu in the area and the sound was still able to get their people into this village." Getting a nod of agreement from Asuma he ordered his own drink and decided to stay watchful over all the Genin staying at the hotel tonight.
…..
Laying in bed after a very long hot shower Naruto looked over to the bathroom door as it opened letting a cloud of stream into the room. Nariko was drying her now shoulder-length hair with a towel while wearing one of Naruto's shirts. She decided it was easier to just cut her hair than it was trying to wash all the blood out of it. Checking to make sure she put on her nightshirt right, thinking that after getting the talk she had to start to be more aware of her body and she didn't want to upset Naruto by walking around naked.
Naruto looked at his angel walking toward him and said, "Do you want this bed or the one next to the window." Pointing out that the room had two large beds. Giving him that emotionless look he had gotten used to he watched as she walked to the other bed and tossed the pillows from it to the bed Naruto was laying in. Now with enough pillows she crawled into bed with Naruto and burrowed into the pillows arranging them to her liking.
"I like this bed,", she said laying her head on Naruto's shoulder.
Just as Naruto reached up to turn off the light a loud banging on their door caused them both to jump up looking for their weapons. "Naruto opens the door.", yelled out Sakura as she banged on the door again.
Walking to the door and opening it wide Naruto found himself facing not just Sakura but all of team ten. All the Genin had on their white hotel robs and holding towels over their shoulders. Ino spotted Nariko back on the bed moving her pillows back into place wearing her face mask and one of Naruto's shirts. Figuring now was as good a time to make peace with the blondes Ino said, "Come on you two, we found out that this hotel has free hot springs for all the guests and we are all going down."
Naruto looked over to Nariko trying to see if she wanted to join the group when Sakura walked right into the room and said, "Come, Nariko, get your robe and come with us, I think we all need a good soaking before we have to start sleeping in tents again."
"I have never been to a hot spring.", said Nariko not knowing what they wanted to do there.
"Oh my god get out of that bed and come with us, you'll love it.", said Ino from the door.
Nariko and Naruto shared a look as if talking with their eyes before she decided to get out of bed. All the males in the room froze as Nariko slide out of bed showing off her long smooth legs as her oversized night shirt road up to her waist giving everyone a good look at the small orange panties she had put on after her shower.
Sakura was used to Nariko's complete lack of modesty after months of training with her but was surprised to see the drop of blood on Choji and Shikamaru's upper lib as their eyes followed Nariko's ass as she walked into the bathroom.
"Perverts", said Sakura slapping both Genin upside the head. She wasn't allowed to touch Naruto anymore but these two fools were fair game as far as she was concerned.
Coming out of the bathroom in a white fluffy robe Nariko handed Naruto his robe along with a towel and walked out of the room. She hoped they didn't find the Kunai and shurikens she had hidden in their robes. With what happened already tonight she wasn't going anywhere without something sharp and pointy.
In no time they reached the entrance of the spa and Nariko had her first lesson in the rules of hot springs in fire country. There was a girl's side and a boy's side and as Ino pulled her into the girls changing room she turned her head to watch Naruto walking through the boy's side. She quickly learned that everything was made with white tiles and with small lockers built into the walls to store your clothes. She stood staring at Sakura and Ino as they took off their robes and removed all their clothes to put into one of the numbered lockers before wrapping a towel around their body.
"Are you going to change?", asked Ino as she looked at her fellow blonde just standing there in her white robe and black face mask. Nariko had tied her hair into a brad for sleeping showing off her long slender neck. "I was told not to display my body.", said Nariko remembering the many long talks she had with Akia about walking around naked, she still didn't understand why but if it made Akia happy then she would try her best.
Sakura just shook her head at that as she had found Nariko without all her clothes on so many times at Naruto's apartment she didn't even care anymore. Ino for her part hadn't believed all the stories Sakura had told her about how good-looking Nariko really was, this spa adventure was part fun, and part Ino wanting to see for herself what her competition for most attractive Kunoichi in the leaf village.
Sakura walked up to Nariko and said, "Come on it's not like I haven't seen all of you before", turning to look at Ino she shrugged her shoulders, "You guys do what you want I am going in for a long hot soak."
As Sakura walked off down the hall to the hot springs Ino grabbed her towel and with one quick movement held it open for Nariko to get a good look at her, "Ok, now it's your turn, let's get that rob off and head for the springs." Wrapping the towel back on Ino crossed her arms over her ample chest and waited. Nariko thought about it for a second and opened her robe and turned to put in it the locker as the other two girls had done, she had to be extra careful so that the weapons she had hidden in the robe don't fall out.
Ino was memorized, Nariko was naked under her robe and her figure was everything Sakura said and more. For the first time in her life, she felt inadequate as she watched Nariko bend over and place her robe in the locker.
"Thank god she like that idiot Naruto", she said out loud without thinking.
In a blink, Ino found herself on her back with a blade pressed against her neck and a pair of bright blue eyes staring down at her. Nariko was straddling her, pinning down her arms with her legs as she bend ever closer until their noses were almost touching.
"If you say such a thing again about Naruto they will never find your body.", said Nariko in a tight low whisper, Nariko waited until she got a small nod from Ino before she pushed off Ino and as Ino watched from the floor she slowly walked back to her locker to pull out a towel.
Nariko hated mind walkers for what they had done to her and she wasn't going to let one of them anywhere near Naruto.
Touching her neck to check Ino didn't find any blood so she got up and followed Nariko into the hot springs. Finding Sakura neck deep in the water they stepped into the pool and dropped their towels to the side and slide into the pool.
Giving Ino a puzzled look Sakura turn back to Nariko and said, "see isn't this nice, you know you can remove your mask, we are all friends here."
Hearing a snort out of Ino, something between a laugh and a grunt Nariko tilted her head to look at her sideways before reaching up and touching the loop of the mask behind her ear.
Stoping she said, "Forgive me if I repulse you." with that she pulled off the mask and dropped it next to her towel.
"Oh my god,", said Ino, again she was shocked by Nariko's classical beauty and elegance and was surprised by the reaction her words caused. Nariko turned red and hid her face behind her hands. Ino could see a look that some would call fear but she knew girls and this was more clearly a look of shame even on an emotionless face such as Nariko's.
"There is no reason to hide Nariko, or be ashamed, you're the most beautiful girl I have ever seen,", said Ino then laughed, "that is beside myself of course."
"Ino-pig, stop talking like that, Nariko put your hands down there is nothing wrong with the way you look.", said Sakura as she leaned back into the water, this was an old fight she has had with her blonde teammate and it was getting old.
"What is going on?", said Ino now getting curious and putting out of her mind the little incident in the locker room, she has had fights with girls over some boy so many times it wasn't worth thinking about. Even when this was the first time blood was almost shed.
"I have been told my whole life my face is horrifying, I have been told it is not but it is still hard after all these years.", said Nariko lowering her hands and moving deeper into the water so only her nose and eyes are out of the water.
"That is just stupid so forget about all that.", said Ino not waiting to even get into talking about something so blatantly false.
Changing the subject Sakura said, "So Ino you dating Sai now, what is that like"
Ino dove into talking about her love life and the two old friend spent the rest of the night talking about boys and dating. Nariko for once knew what it felt like to be just one of the girls and not the center of focus. It felt nice and she just leaned back and listened to the two friends talk about things she had no idea about but it sounded fun.
Later that night as they all got out of the spa Ino give Nariko a long look as she dried off and had to ask, "So you and Naruto, you spend every night together, what it like you know to be with a boy."
"I have never slept better.", said Nariko as they entered the locker room .
"Well ya, but what about the other things you know…", said Ino seeing Sakura laughing into her hands at Ino's question as they all started to get dressed.
"What other things?", said Nariko still not understanding Ino's line of question.
"Ino, stop it, she doesn't know what you're talking about,", said Sakura knowing from a past small talk she had with her teammate that she really didn't know about such things.
"But how? I mean even if she doesn't you know 'understand' ", said Ino with air quotes, "Naruto is a guy, they always try to take advantage."
"Naruto doesn't 'take advantage of me or anyone else, it is not his nature.", said Nariko still not sure what they were talking about but not liking Ino talking bad about Naruto again.
"Ok, enough I am going to bed, it was fun but I need my sleep.", said Sakura heading out the door soon to be followed by the two blondes. Nariko entered her room and found Naruto coming out of the shower and heading to bed.
"How was it.", asked Nariko as she dropped her robe and headed for her turn in the shower. "You know, guys are a bunch of pigs, all they wanted to talk about are girls", said Naruto watching Nariko walk naked across the room and into the bathroom. "Ya, it seems girls are no different but they talk about boys,", said Nariko as she walked into the bathroom and closed the door.
…..
The next morning as the teams walked out of the hotel they could see Asuma talking to an Anbu off to the side before he walked over to join them. He looked a little tired having stayed up all night drinking and smoking while watching over the genin at the hotel. Kakashi had spent some time wandering the city with his nin-dogs looking for any sign of more sound shinobi but finding none had gone to bed letting Asuma stand his self-appointed watch.
Nariko seeing the Anbu fade into the shadows felt a little better about this mission knowing that at least someone was taking this seriously. Sound shinobi this deep into fire country was a breach of the border she hoped the Anbu would fix and fix soon.
"Nariko, how did you sleep, wasn't the hot springs the best.", said Ino trying to make small talk with Nariko and break down some of her walls. Ino knew from her training with her father that the first step into someone's circle of trust was showing them you're someone they can trust.
Taking a step back away from the mind walker Nariko had to remind herself that this wasn't one of the mind burners that had tormented her for years. Her hand still itched to pull out a kunai every time she looked at Ino.
"I slept as I always do.", said Nariko giving away nothing as she looked into her pale blue eyes of Ino. Without any visible pupils, Ino's eyes were hard to track.
Knowing she wasn't going to get anyplace with Nariko this morning Ino just smiled at her and walked over to join her team. This was going to be a long mission and she didn't give up easily.
"OK teams gather around.", said Asuma waving his hands to get everyone's attention. With them, in a semi-circle in front of him, he lit a cigarette and said, "After last night's adventure we are going to move away from any more villages, it will take us longer to reach our meeting point so prepare to travel later into the night."
"What adventure?", asked Sakura, having been too busy yelling at Naruto she hadn't noticed a thing. Even Ino had spotted the remains of the dead bodies sprayed on the walls down the street and had assumed everyone else had seen it too.
"We can talk about it later,", said Kakashi coming up behind his student and placing a hand on her shoulder. Nariko had moved to the side as soon as she felt him getting closer. Being touched by him would bring back to many memories of a past she was trying to forget.
Once they reached the outskirts of the village they broke into a full-out run leaping into the trees with Naruto and Nariko once again taking the lead but this time staying focused, they didn't know if any more sound ninjas were around the next hill.
"Why do you think they wanted to capture me?", said Naruto as they pulled ahead of the rest of the teams, he had created a dozen clones to fan out to the sides so they wouldn't be surprised. Kakashi had said to stay close but they had a hard time keeping to the slow pace of the other teams.
"You are a Jinchuurki same as me, they want power and we have it.", said Nariko not taking her eyes off the trees ahead.
"But there are other Jinchuurki in the world so why me and why now.", said Naruto
Taking a quick look at her fellow container Nariko said, "That is a question we will have to ask next time."
Naruto could only agree to that knowing that there would be the next time. Reaching the top of a ridge they stopped until they could hear the sound of their teams catching up to them before jumping down into the next valley. This was repeated throughout the day and the next as they moved farther north into the great forest.
At the end of the fourth day, Naruto found the tallest tree he could find, and reaching the top he looked down into this last valley to see a large lumber mill with smoke coming out of the steam engines and a small village of lumberjacks living in a small moveable house.
Nariko tapped him on the leg from below and pointed out the endless line of wagons full of cut lumber in every size imaginable waiting for them along a thin dirt path that some would call a road if they were being generous.
Dropping down to the ground they waited for everyone to join them. Waving them down they all formed at the bottom of a large oak tree.
"The lumber yard is in the next valley.", said Nariko giving her report to the two Jonin.
"We could see the wagons and everything.", said Naruto as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Good job you two, now they have been Attacked by shinobi before so we need to move in slowly and in the open so as not to spook them, got it.", said Asuma for once dropping his cigarette on the ground and stomping on it.
Getting a nod from everyone they walked down the hill until they entered the working village of lumberjacks. They got a couple of the men to run and pick up their axes but once they could see the leaf symbol on them they calmed down.
Walking out of the forming crowd of large sweaty men who all looked like they could break a tree in two with their bare heads walked out a man a head taller than most. With cleaner clothes and head held high it was clear he was the leader as he walked straight to Asuma and held out his hand.
"Welcome, I am Solum the leader here.", said Solum shaking hands with Asuma who he assumed rightly was the leader of the group of ninjas.
"I am Jonin Asuma and this is Jonin Kakashi and our teams.", said Asuma pointing with his head at the assembled teams behind him.
"Good, glad to meet you all. You are a day early as we still have to load the last of the wagons tonight.", said Solum, saying that he turned to his men and yelled, "You heard me load the wagons!"
As the men ran off to do as they were told Solum took a moment to look over the shinobi the Hokage had sent to him. The two Jonin looked hard as nails and that one girl looked like she could kill with her looks alone but the others looked more like a bunch of teenagers out for a morning walk.
"Don't worry our teams are highly trained shinobi.", said Asuma seeing the look on Solum's face as he had seen on many others before in his long career. Some of his clients had even asked for proof his teams were even ninja.
"I am sure they are well trained but the last time we were Attacked it took a squad of Anbu to chase them away.", said Solum.
"We are here to travel with the wagons. There are others who are tasked with protecting your men," said Kakashi as he looked around. He had no idea if that was true but knowing the Hokage she would have someone on watch if only to report back to her later.
"Is there a place we can stay for the night.", asked Asuma knowing they would be leaving very early in the morning.
"Yes come this way, I can have food and drinks brought over as while, it's not much but it is the best we have.", said Solum as he moved them deeper into the temporary village to a large bunk house near its center.
Finding rows of beds and tables in the center they could see this was meant to house twenty of the workers or even more if needed. Soon food and drinks arrived and they all sat down for the first hot meal in the last four days. A campfire was out of the question once they all were told what had happened in the village.
Sakura didn't believe Naruto had killed anybody but was not surprised at all that Nariko had pulled someone's head off with her bare hands. Ino tried to tell her that is not what she had said but Sakura wouldn't change her mind on that detail. She secretly was proud of her two teammates but didn't know how to say it.
Later that night as everyone was sleeping but for Naruto and Nariko, they had gotten so used to being in the same bed it was hard to fall asleep alone.
"You awake,", whispered Naruto toward the bed next to him.
"Yes,", was Nariko's soft reply,
"You want to seek out and look around.", said Naruto
Not getting a reply but feeling her get out of her bed he followed Nariko to one of the open windows as she jumped out without a sound. Once outside they jogged off away from the bunk house staying in the shadows so as not the frighten any of the workers that may be out and about this late at night.
They soon found the line of wagons and hearing the sounds of the Ox in their pens headed down the line trying to find the end. Nariko counted 60 wagons before they found the last one but she knew they had not started at the middle so had no real idea how many wagons were in the caravan.
"What are you thinking.", asked Naruto seeing her stare off into the tree line. With a moon shining brightly in the sky it almost felt like daylight for the two Jinchuurki whose night vision was greater than a normal shinobi.
"This should be a trap, but where and for what reason I do not know.", said Nariko turning to face her better half. Naruto looked confused and then focused as he thought about what she had said. This was a mission that as Kakashi had said they needed to look underneath the underneath to understand.
Giving it more thought Naruto said, "So you think this is a protection mission that is really a bait mission that is really a trap mission, but for who."
"We have three heirs of three of the noble clans plus Asuma and Kakashi that both have very large bounties on their heads add to that two Jinchuurki one of which everybody knows about. The only person I can think this isn't about is Sakura.", said Nariko telling Naruto her full reasoning for the mission.
"That is good but you having looked underneath farther enough.", said Kakashi from atop the last wagon as he looked down on them.
Nariko looked up at her sometimes sensei and said, "Then what have I missed."
"This also could be a trap not for use but for whoever is going to attach the wagons.", said Kakashi as he jumped down to join them.
"Then what is it?", asked Naruto
"It is a trap within a trap within a trap and all we have to do is spring our trap first.", said Kakashi looking bored but not reaching for his book to take his mind off the mission.
"There is another solution to the trap problem.", said Nariko as she took her eyes off of Kakashi and back onto the tree line.
"And what is that.", said Kakashi for once paying a little more attention to his students.
"We just go out and kill them all.", said Nariko as if she was talking about the weather.
Knowing that was the brunt and truthfully the more straightforward solution Kakashi still marveled at her root training and give a quick look at Naruto who looked like he wanted to say something.
Cutting Naruto off Kakashi said, "Yes that would be the fastest way but also the most useless as we would learn nothing and only come back from the mission having only protected a bunch of lumber wagons."
"But isn't that the mission?", said Naruto now getting confused by all these traps inside of traps talk.
Walking over to stand beside Naruto, Nariko could only think that he still believes in the noble side of being a ninja and they and the village were only there for the good of the people. She knew differently but she could only hope that he would never learn the bloody truth she had learned on the day she could walk and they took her mother away to never return.
"This mission is the mission and we will do what we must to complete it.', was all she said as Naruto smiled at her in agreement and Kakashi simply faded off into the night.
…
The next morning was full of motion and standing still as the wagons got thee Ox assigned to them and the long long line began to move south to tea county. It was going to take six weeks if they didn't have to stop. Six weeks of the most boring slow mission anyone had ever been assigned to.
As the days moved on and they got into a route of getting up at sunrise and going to bed at sunset Nariko was getting more and more focused. She told Naruto that as soon as they relaxed they would be Attacked. This only made him jumpier as he ran from one wagon to the next trying to beat back boredom and be alert all at the same time.
"Will you sit down already. I can't stand you running anymore.", said Sakura as she sat on one of the lead wagons as it slowly rolled along the winding dirt road.
"I can't, Nariko said that as soon as I relax we will be Attacked.", said Naruto looking down at Sakura as she sat crossed-legged in the middle of the lumber.
"That is the most paranoia thing I have ever heard.", said Sakura, she did quickly scan the tree for any sign of attackers but soon convinced herself there was nothing to worry about and started to stare ahead again.
Knowing it was no use talking to her Naruto turned and ran back down the two hundred and three wagons to the end where he found team ten sitting around playing a game of cards on top of the last wagon.
"What are you guys doing, we have to watch for bandits.", said Naruto to team ten.
"Did you make all the clones I asked you to make.", said Shikamaru looking at his cards.
"Yes", said Naruto not seeing his point.
"Did you send them out in the pattern I told you to use around the caravan.", asked Shikamaru
"Yes but…", said Naruto
"Did you make sure that each of them has a paper bomb that will go off if they are destroyed.", said Shikamaru not even looking up from his game.
Thinking about all the wasted paper bombs he had to use Naruto looked pissed but said, "Yes they all have a bomb."
Looking up from their game the Nara said, "We will have more than enough warning then."
Now torn between what Shikamaru said and what Nariko was telling him he wasn't sure what to say. Thinking it was best to just find Nariko he turned his back on team ten and ran off once again.
Finding Kakashi sensei in the middle of the caravan of wagons Naruto stopped and looked around wondering where Nariko was he joined Kakashi sitting on the edge of the wooden planks.
"Have you seen Nariko-chan sensei?", ask Naruto, he could feel her close by but couldn't tell where she was, if only he had better chakra control.
Lowering his book Kakashi pointed to the front of the wagon before returning to his reading. Walking to the front and looking down he found Nariko sitting next to the two wagon drivers talking to them about the last time they were Attacked at the lumber yard.
Dropping down to stand on the handrail of the wagon seat Naruto said, "Nariko-chan I need to talk to you."
She looks up at him with those sky blue eyes that he still can't use to as they seem to look into his soul and said, "In a minute, Sasue is telling me how the last time they were Attacked the Chunin did use any fire jutsu on the lumber." Giving Naruto a questioning look with her eyes she continued, "Don't you find it strange they attack a lumber yard and don't use fire?"
"That's dumb, I would light a fire and use a wind jutsu to burn it all down before anybody could do anything.", said Naruto rubbing the back of his head while looking at the lumber in the wagon ahead of him.
Turning back to the two drivers, Nariko said, "So what did they do?"
Sasue, a very large man who had spent most of his life cutting down trees but lately had retired to wagon driving due to his back giving out said, "Most they used some rock spears to break the wheels off the wagons and run the Ox into the forest. Dam fools didn't understand Ox much as they will find their way back on their own."
Nodding her head in understanding Nariko stand up, "Thank you for your time.", giving a short bow she backflipped up and over the top of the wagon to land next to Kakashi Sensei with Naruto joining her.
"What did you learn.", ask Kakashi as he had sent the blonde girl down to the drivers, having gotten tired of her pacing back and forth.
"The last attack was only to disable the wagons but they didn't harm any of the lumber or kill the Ox.", said Nariko looking down at her lazy Jonin sensei.
"Why would they do that, if they want to stop the lumber from getting to Tea Country wouldn't make more sense to destroy the lumber.", said Naruto
Getting to his feet Kakashi said to Nariko, "What do you think?"
"The trap within a trap, they wanted us to be here so they could attach us not the lumber.", said Nariko seeing the surprised look on Naruto's face.
"Yes, somehow they knew we would be sent on the next mission. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to get us out here.", said Kakashi.
"When do you think they will attack,", said Nariko again scanning the tree line.
Folding his book closed and placing it back in his vest Kakashi also looked around and said, "Soon, very soon, if not today then the next, we will be entering the Anbu patrol paths in two days. If they know we would be sent on this mission then they know the Anbu patrol areas."
"We have a traitor in the village?", questioned Naruto now giving them his full attention.
Taking a deep breath Kakashi said, "It would seem so, tell the others to put away their games. I am going to talk to Asuma."
…
I hope you liked this chapter, I did my best to follow the formatting gods commands. Be aware that the next chapter or two will be very bloody. Please review as it makes me want to continue. So far the readership on this story is so low I am not sure anyone is out there.