Chapter 3: To the Skies, Flight of the Tobishachimaru
Land of Waves
Kakashi gave a yawn as he reached his arm up and Rin rolled her eyes. The two had leisurely made their way to the Land of Waves from Konoha, arriving a scant day and a half. Rin was thankful that Kakashi had turned to the bottle after all the tragedies in his life, but he had still taken on Obito's traits. She had to wake him up the past morning since he had still decided to sleep in.
"Kakashi we still have a timetable here," Rin said as they started to walk on the Great Naruto Bridge. "Off duty is one thing but we're still on a mission."
Kakashi gave a wince. "Sorry Rin, I did have to go on plenty of other missions beforehand, so I guess the exhaustion caught up to me."
Rin's cheeks puffed out at that. "Seriously Kakashi, you don't have to keep going overboard. The world is at peace right now and you should at least use some vacation time after this mission.:
"I know, I know. But I can't help but keep going full forward, most of the missions I've been doing were to keep the peace," Kakashi said as they saw the Great Naruto Bridge in the distance. "Putting down up and coming terrorist and criminal organizations, safeguarding the late Daimyo's living families, helping merchants and refugees migrate around the continent safely…"
"Yeah, yeah I get it," Rin said as she took a deep breath and sighed. "Least you get to leave the village most of the time too. Until now I've been stuck in it doing minor missions or helping out at the hospital."
"Well, this'll be easy regardless," Kakashi said as he shielded his eye as the sun managed to hit it right and he winced a bit. Great, sun glare makes my vision even worse than it already is…
Rin nodded. "Yeah, the maiden flight of an Airship!" she said with a smirk. "Remember when we were with Minato-sensei during the War Balloon testing?"
"Hmph, how could I forget that? Obito nearly fell from the balloon when he wanted to show off to you," Kakashi said with a laugh, "Had to use a kunai to stop him from plunging from the height we were in…"
"And his underwear got exposed, yeah!" Rin laughed a bit at that. "Then he tried to play it off that he meant to do it."
Kakashi chuckled at that. "Yeah. Though our client was a little angry that we damaged the basket to save him."
"Heh, that's unlikely to happen now," Rin said as she leaned back and looked at the sky. "It feels like he's walking with us."
The Copy Ninja nodded. "He passed his Will of Fire to us…he'll always be there after all."
Rin nodded solemnly at that as both of them trekked across the bridge. There were thousands of people going to and from it. While steady it also slowed the two shinobi down due to the sheer amount of traffic going across the bridge all at once. Kakashi could see that on the edges were vendors and shops that had been added to it and there was even a unique looking hotel called the 'Great Naruto Hotel' that jutted out from the edge of the bridge, before being built down and under it before there was another entrance and exit on the other side.
"Huh, what a change from the days I saw it being built," Kakashi commented as they kept walking.
When they managed to reach the city, proper things had opened up. Rin looked around as Kakashi was swamped by people who had recognized him as one of their country's heroes from seven years ago! He winced, laughed and greeted then politely, which made several of the women who recognized him swoon at his humbleness.
"Still have a way with ladies don't you Kakashi," Rin commented with a bit of an eye twitch.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"…nothing, never mind," Rin said with a sigh. He's completely clueless…
After they managed to get through the crowd, they first stopped by Tazuna's. The carpenter, bridge builder, and inventor had a much bigger house than the one that Team 7 had stayed at all those years ago complete with a large lab that had been added to it. Tsunami poked out and greeted Kakashi happily with a hug.
"Great to see you Kakashi-san! We were really glad when we heard you accepted the mission!"
Kakashi smiled and pat her back a bit awkwardly. "Uh no problem, Tsunami-san, how have things been?"
"Much busier than normal," Tsunami said as she looked at the crowds. "Especially after your village helped root out those terrorists."
Kakashi nodded. "It's good we deployed Minato-sensei for that, Sai couldn't have handled them alone."
"Minato-sensei? I thought the Yellow Flash was deployed…"
"That's the title he got in the Third Shinobi World War," Kakashi explained with a smile. "Oh, Tsunami-san this is Rin, she's my teammate and one of my oldest friends."
"Oh, it's nice to meet you Rin-san!" Tsunami said with a smile and Rin bowed respectfully in greeting.
"Likewise," Rin said with a smile.
As they walked into the foray of the house Inari rushed down the stairs. He had gotten a lot taller since the last time Kakashi had saw him during the reconstruction of Konoha clearly having undergone a growth spurt making him nearly as tall as Kakashi himself. His hair was still spiky, but he had grown it a bit longer for a short ponytail and he was dressed in a business suit of all things.
"Kakashi!" Inari said with a grin. "Glad you could make it!"
The Copy Ninja smiled. "Likewise. You look like you're all set for the ship's launch."
Inari nodded. "Yeah! My mind is still swirling with the possibilities! The trade that these airships can bring over the world not to mention new industries!"
"Let me guess Tazuna has some other plans for future flying machines?" Kakashi asked and Inari grinned.
"Yep. Though lots of them will take work…" Inari said as he went over and took out a model. It had four wings and a spinning…windmill at the front of it. "We call it the 'aero plane', and with the funding from the Tobishachimaru's success we'll be able to make the first prototypes!"
Rin smiled. "Seems quite ambitious…"
"We have to be," Inari said as he grinned. "After all, with every success we'll be able to make the people of the Land of Waves happier and not return to the times of Gato ever again."
Kakashi grinned. "Great attitude there. And I know Naruto will support your projects every step of the way."
Inari beamed at that. "Thanks, I needed to hear that…well we should head to the Tobishachimaru before it sets off!"
"What sort of people will be there for the maiden voyage?" Rin asked as the three started to set out.
"Mostly VIPs and investors," Inari replied as they walked through the city. "Though we're keeping it small for now, that is why we needed skilled bodyguards for this."
"Called the right people there" Kakashi said with a smiling eye. "Though it'll be sure something to be that far up in the sky."
After a few minutes they were at the drydock. The airship was moored on a elevated platform and there were loud hisses as the air sacks were inflated with helium. Tazuna nodded happily as he saw the fruits of his labors and research come to life in front of him! He chuckled to himself…thanks to Team Kakashi, specifically Naruto, a lifelong dream of his could finally be achieved.
Originally, he had planned on using hydrogen as the primary gas to make the airship fly but after several nearly deadly accidents during the testing phase, he decided on the more expensive but safer helium. Tazuna gave a grin as he also looked at blueprints for future inventions that his engineers were planning…more types of flying machines that wouldn't require them to be lighter than air.
"Alright men! Keep filling the air sacks, we have a deadline to keep!"
The workers gave a cheer at their boss' encouragement and began to make sure each of the air sacks were filled up. Tazuna gave a satisfied nod as a wind and weather resistant cloth was put around the metallic superstructure that housed each of the air sacks which had begun to float slightly like balloons.
Shortly the Tobishachimaru was ready for its maiden flight. There was a large crowd that had gathered at the docks to see the first airship off. Reporters from all over the continent were also there for the historic moment and the VIP's, mainly surviving Daimyos of the lands that had minimal involvement in the Fourth Shinobi World War were there. Kakashi and Rin helped run security and check to see if everyone was on the up and up. The two seasoned Jōnin presence had gotten even more praise from the people there especially when Kakashi was recognized.
"Its…it's the Copy Ninja!"
"One of the heroes of the Fourth Shinobi World War?!"
"The guy who taught the Sixth Hokage and his teammates?!"
Several reporters immediately began to converge around Kakashi as news cameras focused solely on him as several flashes from ordinary cameras hit his visible eye. He winced a bit but forced himself to smile behind his mask a little awkwardly. Rin winced at that, Kakashi had been the subject of several interviews after the War and even had a documentary and movie being based on him coming out in a few months.
Ever since, due to the Kage having taken over the duties of running their countries which brought, for lack of a better word the ninja 'out of the shadows', many prominent ninjas had become well known to people outside of their ninja villages. Those like Kakashi especially so; he was one of the great heroes of the past War, teacher of Naruto Uzumaki the Sixth Hokage, and had scored many victories over several fronts…thus he had gotten into plenty of interviews after the war.
"Mr. Hatake! What do you make of this tremendous moment?!"
"Are you one of the VIP's?! If so, would you consent to an interview?!"
"What is your opinion of the recent economic growth in the Land of Fire, economists would love to hear the opinion of a seasoned shinobi like you!"
"What about the refugee crisis?! Our borders are being flooded with people and we don't know where to relocate them?!"
Kakashi winced as more and more questions were asked, and he awkwardly waved and tried to answer their questions. Rin was a little surprised that her old teammate didn't just try to vanish with a shunshin to avoid the press. As he answered, a woman with long curly hair tied in a ponytail and dressed in a businesswoman's outfit practically bullied her way through the crowd of reporters with her own microphone.
"My name is Yuki Kahyō of Wave Country News at 10! What is your opinion on the latest terrorist attacks that plagued our country?! Are we in danger?!" the reporter demanded as she cut through the less important questions and Kakashi blinked.
"I…wouldn't say so," Kakashi said as he met her eyes and for the first time…his heart started to accelerate in beat. "I mean, thanks to the efforts of my village most of them were either apprehended or killed."
Kahyō pursed her lips, and the Copy Ninja gulped a bit as he was glad, he was wearing a mask to hide the blush that had appeared on his cheeks. Rin noticed the slight change of his body movement and she leaned forward and mused to herself at that.
Oh…can it be? 'Lady Killer Kakashi' has had his heart stolen? Rin thought with a little giggle.
Kakashi forced himself to compose himself again. "There was already a strike force sent to Wave personally requested by Tazuna and Inari-san, the creators of this invention behind you as well as the builders of the Great Naruto Bridge. I can confirm my comrades managed to kill or capture the bulk of the terrorists and they are being held at a undisclosed location until processing is done."
The reporter gave a nod. "I see! Then the reason why you're here specifically in Wave…"
"Is to test out Tazuna-san's new airship and keep it safe."
Kahyō gave a nod. "I see! And our viewers will love your expert bodyguarding on the airship when it takes off."
"I assume that means you're also a guest?" Rin asked as the reporter and the cameraman turned to see her and she smiled awkwardly. "Uh I'm Nohara Rin, Kakashi's teammate."
The reporter gave a nod. "Nohara Rin? Oh, one of the fabled medics of the Third Shinobi World War?!"
"Uh…yeah…"
Before the interview could continue there was the sound of a microphone adjustment from a podium that had been built near the Tobishachimaru. All cameras then turned and focused on Tazuna, who was dressed in a formal black suit, as he adjusted his tie and then put his hands on the podium before he took a deep breath and put on a smile.
"Greetings everyone! I am so glad you could come to the Land of Waves to see our latest innovation!" Tazuna said with a smile. "As you know, the Land of Waves used to be a impoverished country that was barely scraping by until we completed the bridge to the mainland-thanks to the immense help of Hatake Kakashi's team from Konoha. In the years since then we've began to research into several different technologies that were just a dream two decades ago!" A large projector screen lowered as Tazuna's company logo appeared on it then several pictures and films of the citizens of the country prospering appeared before the research and development was shown as well as the testing of smaller models of airships, before trials were shown being done in modified hot-air balloons. "It has taken years but we're ready to issue a new way to travel to the masses!"
Kakashi gave a nod as he watched. Who would have thought this was the same depressed drunk that called Naruto short while insulting us? Tazuna-san has become quite the orator and showman…
"As you all know, traveling through the continent can take days to even weeks, even for shinobi! But that will be a distant memory," Tazuna continued with a grin. "As more airships are constructed and become available, air travel will usher in a renaissance of connection between everyone here!"
With that over, Tazuna began to field questions. Specifically on the safety as well as the specifications of the airship that they would be flying in. The old carpenter and inventor answered everything he could before the time to depart came.
Several fireworks were shot into the sky to herald the embarking of the Tobishachimaru. Kakashi and Rin made their way up ramp onto the airships cabin, and they noted that the reporter, Kahyō was also embarking onto the ship as she kept talking to her camera crew about getting the perfect shots of when they were at full altitude.
With all the passengers on board…the helium sacks filled up in seconds as the blue cloth that covered it also expanded as a mixture of air was pumped in to make it fill out. The propellers that were on the aft of the cabin then started to spin as the airship slowly began to lift off the mooring. Kakashi looked out the window as they began to fly higher…and higher…and higher before the people on the ground below looked like ants. With that the Tobishachimaru turned to the northwest and began to fly on its maiden voyage…just as a little creature with a large Sharingan main eye appeared within the scaffolding where the cloth was covering the air sacks. Everything was now in place for Orochimaru's forces to strike.
Konohagakure
Naruto had managed to finish his paperwork and was now talking with Hinata, the two walking down the street towards Ichiraku for a well-deserved lunch break. The young Hokage's stomach grumbled and groaned which made his girlfriend giggle a bit. Hinata still was in her mission clothes since she had completed a few D-Rank missions throughout the village.
"I guess I should have made a bigger breakfast this morning," Hinata commented, and Naruto laughed a bit and rubbed his stomach.
"Heh, you always make a lot Hinata-chan! It's just all the paperwork really drains me, on top of keeping my training up," Naruto said as he rotated his arm. "Can't effectively protect the village if I slack off after all."
Hinata giggled at that. "That's true…we should spar together more since we're on a similar level now…" she looked up at the sky a bit wistfully. For the past few days, she had been for lack of a better word, experiencing several 'cravings' that she usually didn't have and had a bit of an increased appetite. "Still hard to believe I was able to get to the same level as you…I started so far behind…."
Naruto grabbed her hand. "I started off at the bottom too, remember I failed to graduate the academy three times? We both worked extremely hard to get where we are now…"
She smiled at that and squeezed his hand before she rested her head on his shoulder. The two soon arrived at Ichiraku and took a seat. Hinata looked to see there was an eating contest that day; whoever won would win one free bowl of ramen per visit for life! She smiled and then took the challenge…
For the next half-hour Hinata finished bowl, after bowl, after bowl while Naruto watched on. His jaw lowered as his girlfriend broke his old record of 19 bowls and just kept going. Teuchi and Ayame were amused as they kept bringing out every single bowl.
"My, my Hinata-san, you can really put it down!" Ayame said as she gave her the next bowl.
"I'm just really hungry today," Hinata said with a smile as she began to dig into the next one.
"Man Hinata-chan you're amazing!" Naruto cheered as his girlfriend continued…
When she had finished, Hinata had eaten a whopping thirty-seven bowls and broke the all-time record of thirty that Kushina had set back in the day! Teuchi waved a bell and gave a grin.
"And there we have it! A new Eating Champion of Ichiraku!" Teuchi said as Ayame then took Hinata's picture. "Hyūga Hinata is now the Unbeatable Queen of Gluttony!"
Hinata flushed at that. "I…well…I was just particularly hungry…" she pat her stomach a bit. Come to think of it…I've been having many more 'cravings' lately…
Naruto rushed over and hugged Hinata happily. "That was amazing! I have the best girlfriend in the world since she loves ramen as much as I do!"
"Heh, I wouldn't go that far…" Hinata said until she kissed Naruto gently. "Though I do love the sentiment!" she pat her stomach and thought to herself. Maybe I should ask for a quick appointment at the hospital…don't want to make eating all that a regular thing after all no matter how tasty it was!
At the same time Ino had gotten a new office in the Hokage Tower for her new duties as Konoha's Jōnin Commander. She was already at work, checking mission reports, salaries of the civilians who aided shinobi in the village, as well as going over defense and intelligence reports. Her responsibilities were second only to that of the Hokage, and she was determined to make the people who voted for her proud. She heard a knock at the door and Sai came in with a few reports from the ANBU.
"Thanks Sai," Ino said as she moved her bang out of her eyes. "Man, I don't know how Uncle Shikaku did this for so long…"
"Oh?" Sai asked as he laid the reports down. "You look like you're doing a good job though, beautiful.
Her cheeks flushed a bit at that before she grabbed a mug of coffee and sipped it. "Erm…well Uncle Shikaku became the Jōnin Commander of Konoha when the Yondaime became Hokage, and he was consistently re-elected to the position due to how he excelled at the job. And I feel like I have to live up to his legacy…"
She sank further into her chair as she sipped the coffee, and she pursed her lips. Behind her were portraits of every Jōnin Commander since the Nidaime Hokage created the position decades ago. Each had contributed to the growth of Konoha and helped it through times of crisis. Nara Shikaku, the elder Mitokado Homura, prior to him Uchiha Kagami and many others had been put in charge of expanding and tending to the 'branches' of the great tree that was Konoha.
"Maybe you should talk with Naruto about this," Sai suggested as he put his hand on hers' comfortingly. "After all, being Hokage is living up to quite the legacy too."
"That's true…" Ino said as she leaned back and slumped in her chair before she balanced her pen on her finger. "Just…hurts without being able to talk to my dad or uncles for advice…" The pen lost balance in her hand and she caught it before it could fall to the floor easily before she clutched her chest. "…even after a year it hurts."
Sai came over to her and gave Ino a comforting hug. "I…wish I could relate more to this sense of loss you have Ino. I don't even know who my parents were, the closest thing I had to family was Shin. But…I'll be here for you, whenever you need to talk or a shoulder to cry on."
Ino's lip trembled a bit before she pouted. "When did you get so good at comforting people, Sai?"
"Well, I did read a lot," he said, and they held the hug for several moments before breaking away. "Feeling better?"
"A bit, thank you," Ino replied warmly before kissing his cheek, and then she went right back to work. "Got a bit energized after that actually, time to finish things up!"
Land of Waves, Tobishachimaru
Kakashi yawned a bit as he turned a page in his book Icha Icha Violence, the airship slowly raised into the sky, Rin looked out the window in awe at the altitude they were getting. Much of the passengers were also enthralled as the ship got further and further into the sky, the few children that were on board were giving shocked gasps and 'awws' at the sights.
"I can't believe we're this high up!"
"I can see my house from here!"
"Look at that, the fishing boats are leaving port!"
"All the people down there look like ants!"
Rin grinned. "Isn't this amazing, Kakashi?" she asked while she looked out the window.
Kakashi looked up from his book with his visible eye and glanced out and his vision began to blur from his eye's degradation. "…yeah, it is." He pulled the book back up as he tried to keep his mind off of his deteriorating eyesight. …its accelerating…this mission can't end soon enough…
Within the airship's skeletal framework, Orochimaru's men were fanning out. Rahyō frowned as he read his sister's report from down below and Shin pulled his hood up. The Hyōton user read through the scroll before he tossed it to the floor angrily. Shin glanced over at the reaction.
"We managed to arrive undetected, what is the problem?"
"We have trouble. Konoha put the Kakashi of the Sharingan in charge of guarding this maiden voyage," Rahyō said with a scowl.
"So?" Shin's own Sharingan's spun. "I have the Sharingan as well and that robs any advantage the Copy Ninja has."
Rahyō calmed himself at that. "…that's true. And my sister is here, right under his nose and he doesn't suspect a thing."
"Kunoichi are invaluable in that regard," Shin commented as their shinobi began to place paper tags throughout the skeletal balloon's superstructure. "Able to slip in unnoticed, using their looks to throw men off guard…"
Down below Kahyō had took a drink and sipped it while she watched the ascent from the window. Kakashi's mere appearance had forced her to move before he could get wise to her true allegiance. And to make matters worse he had an ally that Rin woman, someone who was certainly jōnin caliber.
As long as none of those blasted Hokages arrive we'll be able to pull this off… Kahyō thought to herself as her camera crew were putting their equipment away. They weren't shinobi-she had hired them to make her act look authentic.
Her thoughts then drifted to the War, while she didn't take part herself, she still felt the effects. The shockwaves from battles taking place hundreds to thousands of kilometers away, the summoning of all available medical personnel to the battlefield from every corner of the continent. To hiding with her son…her son from rumors of the pale monsters known as White Zetsu were on the hunt for human flesh. Nightly patrols were launched throughout the villages and towns where they lived to make sure there were no unwanted infiltrators.
She didn't understand it. Kahyō had been trained as a kunoichi by the survivors of Kirigakure's Yuki Clan that had fled to the Land of Waves and had taken part of her own fair share of missions just like her brother. But a war on the scale that was being fought seemed just senseless. The Shinobi Alliance even fought like they were trying to prevent the end of the world…
And she didn't believe it until, like everyone on the continent, witnessed the destruction of the Land of Frost. The crater was a permanent scar that wouldn't go away, and the fear struck the general populace of the world. Massed, frenzied evacuations of nearly every population center were launched as everyone tried to get to safety. The magnitude of the situation caused mass panic and many people were injured or outright killed through the final hours of the Fourth Shinobi World War.
And in those final hours…her son's panic disturbed a nest of poisonous wasps and he got badly stung. In desperation she had taken him to the closest clinic but nearly all the staff had been taken to help on the war front even the non-shinobi doctors. The few remaining nurses tried to stabilize his condition but with the shock waves of the battle, power was knocked out…and her son passed away before the backup generator could activate.
Kahyō found her hands shaking as she remembered the past and she closed her eyes to calm herself. She didn't like the thought of allying with the likes of Orochimaru but if it could get her one step closer to her goal…
"Are you alright?" she heard and nearly jumped and turned around to see Kakashi had walked over.
"…yes, just getting used to the altitude," Kahyō lied as she forced a smile onto her face. "How are you…adjusting?"
"Very well. Actually, during the War, I ended up even higher in the air," Kakashi said as the reporter smiled.
"That must be quite a story, I'd love to hear it later," Kahyō said as she forced a sneer off her face at the mention of the past conflict. Shinobi of the Five Great Nations pride themselves on their performance in battle…Kakashi is no different…. the damn braggart…
"Uh…would you like to have something to drink?" Kakashi offered with a smile behind his mask. "The waiters are starting to cater now too."
"I'd like that," Kahyō said as Rin took a drink from a waiter.
While she was initially all for Kakashi getting himself out there something began to rub her the wrong way. Rin watched Kahyō and saw some of her interactions with her teammate and former crush. The two started another conversation after they had to a table and began to enjoy some of the food and drink.
Seeing Kakashi flustered was good at first, but he's really got it bad… Rin thought as she saw the normally suave Copy-Ninja start stumbling on his words and the pretty reporter chuckled. For a split second though the medic could swear she saw a look of contempt on her face, but she shook her head. Nah, just imagining it.
On the bridge Teuchi was captaining the airship like he had been doing so all his life. The officers of his the Tobishachimaru were chosen from skilled sailors that hat crewed shipping vessels all over the great sea as well as a few fishermen who knew the air currents better than he did. The gauges and readings were all stable as he made slight alterations to keep the ascent stable.
The maiden voyage of the Tobishachimaru was going to head to a pre-made landing strip in the Land of Waterfalls. A journey that would normally take several days if not a full week or more for normal people on the ground would take just two days within the sky. If he calculated the speed of the airship right, they would arrive just in time for the Takigakure Autumn Festival where there would be a huge feast and plenty of entertainment for the passengers! Then they would refuel the helium sacks and head right back to the Land of Waves by Sunday.
As this happened Orochimaru's men started to finish their preparations. Explosive tags were being put on the air sacks, linked by detonation markings that had been drawn into the floor and sacks. Shin watched while nodding and Rahyō smirked as he folded his arms.
"We're almost done…" one of the Oto Ninja said as he finished attaching his tags.
Just as he said that there was the sound of footsteps coming up. Shin vanished into his space-time vortex just as Rahyō hid using a genjutsu. One of the airship's crew members walked onto the deck and glanced around. He pursed his lips and put his hand to his chin.
"I could have sworn I heard something up here…" he started as Orochimaru's lieutenant appeared from the vortex behind him.
"You did," he uttered and grabbed the man by the mouth to stop him from calling for help. "You'll be a good source of organs for me."
Before he could even comprehend what was said…a spinning blade floated next to his neck and his jugular vein and voice chords were cut. He cried out silently as blood shot out of his neck and Shin then threw him into the vortex to hide the murder. Despite this his cloak and face were now drenched in blood as Rahyō reappeared.
"We need to make sure that blood isn't discovered until it's too late, sir."
"Mmm…right," Shin said as one of the secondary Sharingan on his head pulsed…and the blood that had stained his cloak and body slowly evaporated as well as ground until there was nothing left but a red mist that was dissolving into the air. "Mmm…Orochimaru really improved these eyes, allowing me more access to their powers than I had before."
As this happened, back in the gondola portion of the airship Kakashi's nose twitched. He looked around as he frowned behind his mask. Rin noticed that he was now on alert and walked over to him.
"Something wrong, Kakashi?" Rin asked as the Copy Ninja frowned.
"I thought I smelled the scent of blood," Kakashi said as he looked around and his teammate glanced around.
"I didn't detect any chakra manipulation from passengers," Rin said as she glanced around the group. "Maybe someone couldn't handle the altitude?"
"…maybe…" Kakashi said as he kept on alert. "Just feels like something is off now…"
"Should we alert Tazuna?" Rin asked in a whisper as most of the passengers were still engrossed in the flight to Takigakure.
"…not just yet. I don't want to cause a panic," Kakashi replied as he bit his thumb and then summoned the small ninja pug Pakkun appeared on the floor.
"Hey Kakashi, didn't expect you to summon me," Pakkun said in his usual gruff voice, and he saw Rin…whose eyes turned into hearts. "Rin? Man, this takes me back…"
"You're just as cute as I remember Pakkun-chan!" Rin said as she scooped him up and Kakashi sweat dropped as his teammate cuddled his ninja hound like he was a puppy.
"Uh…Kakashi…" Pakkun said as he was snuggled by the medical ninja.
"Rin, focus," Kakashi uttered seriously, and Rin nodded and slowly put Pakkun down and he shook his body to straighten his fur. "Pakkun, I'm going to need you to go through the ship. I detected the smell of blood, so I want to be sure that no one is hurt or injured."
"Right, will do Kakashi," Pakkun said with a nod.
"And be sure you're stealthy, I don't want to make the passengers panic," Kakashi instructed, and the pug ninja hound gave a nod.
"Right, they won't even know I'm here," Pakkun said as he then took off and started to smell the air.
"…now…we wait," Kakashi said as he glanced out the window as a cloud passed by. If a battle takes place at this altitude…what would happen to those fighting?
Konohagakure, Konoha Hospital
Hinata had just finished her checkup and physical and she was sitting on the hospital bed as the doctor, Shizune, walked in. She had a clipboard and looked over the test results and the Hyūga looked at her as she waited. The medic then smiled as she put the clipboard down and Hinata waited for her to say something.
"Your chakra levels are increasing by the day, Hinata," Shizune started, and she looked at the results. "At this point you and Naruto should have equal reserves which allow you to go on longer duration missions. And your reflexes and speed also looked like they've increased since the War ended as well."
"I have been training with Naruto-kun almost daily, Shizune-san. But what about the other test results…? You said I needed to take that test after I started to get strange…cravings."
Shizune nodded. "Of course…and I'll get straight to the point," she then smiled. "Congratulations."
Hinata blinked at that and slowly put her hand over her stomach. "You…you mean…?"
"Yes. You and Naruto are going to be parents," Shizune said with a smile. "At this stage we don't know if it'll be a boy or girl, but we'll schedule follow up appointments to discover the sex of the life growing inside you."
Hinata's eyes widened, and she put her hands to her cheeks. I'm…I'm pregnant! I'm going to be a mother! And Naruto-kun is the father…is this a dream?! She pinched her own cheek ad winced in pain. No, it's real…this is real…!
"I'll start scheduling the follow up appointments now," Shizune said with a grin, and she hugged the younger woman. "Happy for you Hinata!"
"Thank you…Shizune-san!" Hinata said as she hopped off the hospital bed and wet for her clothes in the other room. She got dressed in record time, putting on her sundress and sandals before she bowed in thanks to Shizune and then rushed out the room.
Naruto was back at their house and was tending to the garden now. His father was now at the Hokage Tower and was doing his share of the paperwork…which meant there'd be a far less load for him to do in the morning. The young Hokage grinned as he did some trimming of the rose bush that was at the center of his garden.
"Gotta thank Ino for recommending these, they're gorgeous," Naruto said, and he then rubbed under his nose. "And I grew them from seeds so I'm feeling really accomplished at that!"
Always seemed to have a knack with plants Naruto. Surprised you didn't have Mokuton already in your blood, Kurama commented in his mind. I believe it's called having a 'green thumb'.
Naruto hopped onto his feet and dusted himself off. "Gonna go plant some vegetables next! Fresh grown ones from my own garden will taste so good with Hinata-chan's Ramen!"
He then glanced over as Hinata flew over the small wall, bypassing the gate entirely before she tackled her boyfriend happily. He grunted and fell back before laughing, hugging her happily and he pat her back!
"Hinata-chan! You floated in!"
"N-Naruto-kun…I have news!" Hinata said as she looked him right in the eye as tears of joy started to leak from her eyes.
"News? Hinata you're crying…" he started, and she cuddled against him before giving him a happy, but passionate kiss which surprised him.
"We're…we're going to be parents!" Hinata exclaimed as she grabbed his hand and put it onto her stomach. "Just…just got confirmed today!"
Naruto's eyes widened as both of them stood up. His mind began to process what Hinata said, and a smile began to break onto his face. He then kissed her again before lifting her up and spinning her around before both of them hugged each other tightly. She rested her head on his shoulder and cuddled against him.
"That is…amazing…we're going to be parents…!" Naruto exclaimed and they started to jump up and down with happiness. "Is it a boy, girl?! Twins?! Do we know!"
"Not yet! Not yet! But we'll find out in a few months!" Hinata replied as her boyfriend pushed their foreheads together and they cuddled more.
"We gotta tell everyone! I'll call my mom and call dad too…oh and I'll tell Iruka-sensei and send word to Kakashi-sensei and Rin-san…and and and…" Naruto said in his excitement. "Oh, we gotta start getting a baby room made right?!"
Hinata laughed. "Yes…yes we do! But we can just celebrate tonight!"
With that Naruto kissed her again before they rushed into the house! Kurama shook his head within Naruto's mind and closed his eyes…determined to go to sleep so he wouldn't see this particular…celebration. He gave a huff and snuggled on the bed that Naruto had conjured up for him within the seal.
Just don't do it too loudly Naruto, I don't want to wake up to that sort of scene again…
As Naruto and Hinata settled in for their…celebrations…Ino finished her workload for the day at the Head Jōnin's office. She had spent hours preparing mission specifications, budgeting the Jōnin Union's activities through the fall and winter, and finally preparing a visit from members of the late Daimyo's surviving family. On one side of her desk was a full, finished stack of paperwork. Sai walked in with some coffee for her, and she smiled.
"Ready for your break? And I remember your preference, two sugars and some milk," Sai said as he offered Ino her mug.
"Thanks Sai," Ino said as she took a cup and sipped in. "Man, when I was younger, I hated the taste of this stuff, but after getting this job it's the only thing that keeps me going!"
"Heh, that is the caffeine," Sai said, enjoying his own cup which had nothing in it. "And like I said you should be proud of yourself; you've done a lot of good since you've become Head Jōnin."
Ino flushed. "Thank you, Sai, I need to hear that…" she took a deep breath and leaned back, and she took another deep sip of her coffee. "Well, I'm done for the day!"
She finished drinking and then jumped to her feet. Ino performed several stretches-being stuck behind a desk all day really did a number on her posture. She bounced on the balls of her feet and then reached for the sky while Sai smiled.
"If that is the case," Sai said as he pulled out two tickets. "From the books that I've read, movies seem to be the perfect place for a 'date' if your significant other has had a long day."
Ino's eyes sparkled and grabbed his hand. "Thank you, Sai, that sounds wonderful! Which movie?"
"The latest Princess Koyuki of the Land of Spring's movie franchise heard this one had gotten good reviews. Fujikaze Barrage: Love in the Land of Flames I believe it's called," Sai replied and Ino smiled at that.
"Ohhh I've been dying to see that one," Ino said as she glomped him and he hugged her back.
"Well then, shall we go?" he asked and offered his arm. Ino took it and the two walked out of her office.
Finally, at the Hokage Tower, Minato met with Konan for tea. They were sharing stories of their training with Jiraiya, and they laughed at their late teacher's former antics. The blue haired kunoichi sipped some tea and she leaned back and mused to herself.
"I wonder how much things would have turned out differently if Nagato, Yahiko and I managed to come in contact with you and your team before Danzo's and Hanzō's betrayal of us," Konan said with a smile.
"Jiraiya-sensei was always a little saddened when he talked about his previous team, I wonder if he had hoped he could have brought you three to Konoha one day," Minato said, and Konan smiled.
"The thought had crossed my mind and Yahiko's quite a few times, but Nagato had a grudge against Konoha due to the wrongs it did to him personally," Konan said as she put her tea down. "Thought as much as I love the walk down memory lane, I doubt you invited me for this meeting just to reminisce."
"Quite sharp," Minato said as he folded his hands. "You can fly, correct?"
"With my paper ninjutsu, yes," Konan said and the Yondaime Hokage folded his hands.
"…then I'd like to send you to aid my students," Minato said as he breathed out. "Just…call it a gut feeling but I think they are in danger."
Konan lifted her eyebrow up. "Me? But if they might be in danger…"
"A Hokage, even a former one being sent there would cause too much of a scene," Minato said as he sighed. "You've heard about the mission I recently participated in against the Ryūha Armament Alliance?"
"How you nearly single handily demolished their operation, yes. The papers showed you standing in their base," Konan replied and the Yondaime nodded.
"Then I'll cut to the chase," Minato said as his eyes narrowed. "There was a Sharingan user there, and from the residual chakra I discovered…a space-time user as well."
"A Sharingan user?" Konan asked and she frowned. "And here I was hoping that the only ones left with those eyes were Kakashi and Sasuke."
Minato nodded. "Then you can see my concern. It might be an overreaction, but my gut is telling me that this is the right call. So…will you, do it?"
Konan closed her eyes and folded her hands. "If things are as dire as you think they're going to become on the Land of Wave's airship, this could be quite the propaganda tool," she leaned forward. "That could rehabilitate Amegakure, you're guessing?"
"Like I said, quite sharp," Minato agreed. "Amegakure's actions in the War has earned it a lot of trust but there are still naysayers that claim not enough has been done to welcome you fully into the Shinobi Union. Or make up for your own mistakes in Akatsuki."
"…then I'll take you up on this offer," Konan said as she stood up. "You have an idea of the Tobishachimaru's flight path?"
"I do, been doing the mental calculations in my head," Minato replied, and he offered her a map of the airship's flight path.
Konan took it and gave a nod. She walked over to the window in the Hokage Office and slid it open…and a burst of paper surrounded her. Wings of paper formed at her back, and she flexed them a bit, testing to see if she would have enough lift to get to the altitude and she gave a nod.
"Seeing your ninjutsu in person is quite impressive," Minato said with a smile. "Good luck and good flying."
"Thank you. Lets hope your gut reaction is off so this can be a more leisurely flight," Konan joked before she flew out the window and then flapped her wings to gain altitude and speed.
Minato watched her go and folded his hands. He hoped things would turn out right and hoped he wouldn't have to intervene himself. Especially due to the Tobishachimaru's flight path took it so close to the Land of Earth…even after the Fourth Shinobi World War he knew that quite a few people in Iwagakure still carried a grudge against him.
Good luck, everyone…
To be continued…
Author's Notes:
Forgive my long absence, 2020 and 2021 haven't quite been the best for me. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic work has been a lot more exhausting, both mentally and physically. While in previous years I was able to brainstorm and plan action scenes and plot points in my head, now…I'm lucky if I'm not half-dead after dealing with either a slow day that stretched on and on and on and made me mentally exhausted, or a fast day checking out hundreds of customers with huge orders in a single day to make me physically exhausted. Add to that the general decline of nice customers I often have to spend more than half my time helping other, newer cashiers not get their heads bitten off by 'Karens' and 'Darrens' which have been on the rise. And on top of that drama at the front end…my supervisor and friend was fired (justly) leaving everything in turmoil, the morning head cashier has become far more rude to the other cashiers, and we have only one closing head cashier who doesn't work Saturdays.
On top of that the direction of Boruto has really depressed me on the Naruto Franchise. I was hoping Kishimoto would start to tone things down, but everything has gotten bleaker, so it has taken away a lot of my usual motivation. I used to write after binge reading Naruto chapters while keeping up week to week, seeing what worked and what didn't so I'd be able to improve things. But with Boruto, due to what happened in the Isshiki fight as well as the general disrespect Naruto and Sasuke both got…and now current things happening in the manga…just made it a bit hard to write myself.
But now things have changed. I'm going to be writing more and please expect the first chapter of the War of the Biju sequel to be done in a few months. I have a lot of plans for it and I also have another story lined up that isn't Naruto related-a Clone Wars/Deep Space Nine crossover to anyone whose interested in that.
NOW…onto the chapter itself. Its basically a breather chapter as you can see, as well as set up for what's happening next. I tried to do some more worldbuilding to expand what we know of this time as well as show some of the cultures in Konoha. Also wanted to show how Naruto and Hinata's relationship has progressed and show…heh, that their first child will be born earlier than it is in canon. I figured that they would have a more 'western' version of a relationship compared to one you'd see in Japan, they do plan on marrying but want to take their time. And I believe even in the Hiden novels Kishimoto was going for the same thing considering Hinata was pregnant in Sasuke Hiden which is I believe right after The Last. Which brings up a bigger crisis for Naruto and Hinata when my version of the Last happens.
Also how did you like Kakashi and Rin's interactions? Been thinking over what Rin's specialty in combat is too that is different from Tsunade's, Sakura's, and Shizune's specific styles. And did you like Kakashi actually being rendered breathless by the 'intrepid reporter'?
I also wanted to show that Ino's new position as Head Jōnin is not only important, but she has her own legacy to live up to like Naruto does as Hokage. In many ways she's more important to the village than even the advisor position that Shikamaru occupies. And her and Sai (who I sadly didn't get to do much with in the main story, that's going to change for the Hiden and sequels) are just so cute together, I hope you enjoy.
And finally, Minato and Konan's interactions and the reason why I reintroduced her for this story. And think about it, Kakashi and Rin are technically outnumbered by shinobi who can either match or surpass them in ability…and if Minato shows up that might put the passengers in danger. So a person who can fly and turn into paper to stealth fully enter the cabin right under the enemy's nose makes sense.
Anyway, please read and review…and Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!