Daze
Chapter 14: Encounter
A/N: Here's chapter fourteen sorry to leave you on a cliffhanger for so long I had a lot going on in my life. I promise the next couple chapters will be worth it.
X X
Naruto awoke in darkness after two weeks without vision. It was something he was learning to live with though he could hardly say he was used to it.
He heard the familiar whistle signal the doctor used to warn him of his arrival didn't want to startle him and risk injury.
"Good news Karasu-san today the bandages come off."
Naruto sighed in relief but was also worried he wasn't sure how his vision would change.
He heard the snipping of the scissors and felt the pressure from the bandages dissipate.
When the man finally removed the bandages the light was blinding causing Naruto to wince as he saw the bright grey only offset by the blue fire like chakra in the man's stomach.
"How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Two your right index and pinky unless you're counting the hand behind your back in which case it's five not counting the thumb."
"Amazing what else can you see?"
"I see Kisame leaning against the entrance to the cave and I see four.. No five birds flying overhead.
"Quite impressive Karasu-san for a non Uchiha to acclimate this well to the Sharingan,"
The man cleared his throat and took a few steps back.
"I think it's safe to say you're good to go, just make sure to cover one of your eyes whenever possible to prevent Chakra exhaustion."
Naruto gestured and the man handed him a white medical eyepatch.
He used it to cover his right eye.
"Thanks for everything doc."
"Thank your friend he paid top dollar for my services."
Naruto chuckled darkly.
"Well you've earned your pay, now leave."
The man paled at the boy's sudden coldness but nodded and walked away.
Naruto climbed to his feet and walked over to the alcove where Itachi used to meditate.
"Nii-san."
He brushed his hand gently against the alcove, sighing sadly.
He swept his long blonde hair to cover his eyepatch walking out to meet Kisame.
Konoha...
Tayuya washed her face letting out a beleaguered sigh.
She had been on D-ranks for the last three weeks but her probation was finally over and she could return to full duties as a leaf chunin.
She stepped out the door of her shitty apartment and saw a pink-haired girl leaning against the railing at the base of the steps.
"Sakura-san?"
"Tayuya we have a mission."
"This early is that baa-chan crazy?"
Sakura sighed.
"I'm not thrilled either we've gotta go grab Ino and head for the mansion."
Tayuya nodded.
"Let's do this shit then."
Naruto knelt in front of the wooden cross which had a tomoe necklace on it.
He set a bouquet of flowers down and said a few silent prayers before standing and facing the blue-gilled man.
"Ready?"
"As ready as I can be."
The shark man smirked.
"Don't sweat it gaki this is the fun part."
Naruto shrugged, following him into the cave.
He saw the familiar statue but through his new eye he could see the massive chakra wells of the shinobi atop each finger.
"Karasu."
"Pain-sama."
"Step forward."
Naruto obliged the man ignoring the glances of the other nin who hadn't been informed of his operation.
"Itachi is dead, and as I'm sure you know that leaves a void in our outfit, a void you can fill."
"Hai Pain-Sama."
"I wonder child, where do your loyalties lie?"
"With you of course Pain-sama."
"You say that child but is it truth you speak or merely a deception?"
Naruto stared at him impassively, his emotions void his body language unreadable, he was cold as ice.
"You either trust me or you don't.. it's as simple as that."
Pain nodded.
"You speak the truth and you see as Itachi does that alone is proof of my faith."
Pain sighed wearily.
"Karasu Otsutsuki you have walked in the shadows and seen the light therein you are ready to join the fold."
"Who will speak for him."
Kisame nodded.
"Aye."
Deidara and Kakuzu echoed his approval.
"Very well from this day on you are one of us, a creator of the better world I have envisioned welcome to the Akatsuki."
Naruto nodded.
"May I leave now or am I still to be a prisoner?"
"You can do as you wish but be ready to work at a moment's notice. Also you can stay at the headquarters now, Kisame will show you."
Naruto sighed.
"Oji take me to the HQ. I want to take a nap."
The gilled man grunted.
"Little shit."
Naruto followed the man out turning to give one crimson gaze to the inhabitants of the room.
'Min'na no awa.'
He clenched his fist under his jacket.
Tayuya arrived at the Hokage office with the other girls and entered the room to see the blonde kage.
"Oi Bachan you wanted me."
Tsunade sighed in annoyance.
"Tayuya inside voice please I have a hangover."
Tayuya grunted.
"You all have an A+ rank mission you are to accompany Anko to On'na no kuni, the lande of Femme.
Sakura looked at her confused, speaking for the group with the exception of Shizune and Anko.
"The land of Femme?"
Shizune spoke for her.
"The land of femme is a small island Northwest of Kumogakure it was named so because it's an independent shinobi nation that only allows women with very few exceptions."
Ino peaked up at the idea of a mysterious girly land.
"What's the mission?"
Shizune pulled out a scroll and tossed it to Sakura.
"Jiraiya has a spy in the deepest level of their government and he is our only in with the Akatsuki, however,"
The kage folded her hands thoughtfully.
"- he has been terminally sick for a long time and is expected to meet his replacement in six days time."
Tsunade raised her hand, finishing off Shizune's statement.
"You have to go there and establish a connection with the new informant."
Tayuya nodded.
"Easy enough but why isnt the dirty old man doing this himself?"
"That's classified, just do your job and don't ask questions, now Anko, take them away."
Anko nodded.
"Let's go girlies."
Sakura, Ino, and Tayuya followed her out.
Naruto woke from his nap when Deidara flicked a brown clay pigeon at him.
"Wake up gaki it's missiontime."
"Five more minutes."
"Don't make me blow your arms off kid."
Naruto sighed, tossing off his covers.
"Kami I'm up, I'm up."
He climbed out of the bed removing the sleep mask from his eyes and putting his eye patch on.
"Let's go."
Naruto and Deidara left the cave and began the long three day trek from Suna to Kumogakure.
"Wouldn't it be faster if we rode one of your birds?"
"Sure if you want half the elemental nations on our asses."
Naruto sighed.
"Good point."
They walked in bored silence for what felt like an eternity before Naruto finally broke and committed the cardinal sin.
"So tell me about your art."
Deidara's eyes lit up with excitement.
"My art, you're really interested in it!?"
Naruto nodded.
"Well the thing about MY art is…"
One Day Later...
"-And that's when I realized that art isn't a craft it's a way of life."
Naruto fell to the ground either from exhaustion or information overload.
"Karasu?"
"I'm okay just give me a second."
He climbed back to his feet and sighed.
"Hey we're in Kumo already?"
"Oh I hadn't noticed we must've been running and not even noticed."
Naruto's eye twitched.
'I started running after the five hour mark in the hopes I'd lose you.'
"Did you say something?"
"No just thinking let's keep moving we're almost there."
Sasuke and Jiraiya sat at a teahouse in the land of grass waiting for their mysterious contact.
A man walked in and they both tensed up immediately.
"Jiraiya."
"You."
The blue gilled man took a seat and poured himself a cup of tea.
Sasuke growled standing up aggressively.
"You're an Akatsuki."
"So was Itachi, So is Naruto, what's your point?"
"Easy Sasuke let's hear him speak."
Sasuke nodded begrudgingly returning to his seat.
"So, based off the fact I'm not mid combat I assume Itachi delivered his message."
Jiraiya nodded.
"Where's Naruto? We were supposed to meet him."
Kisame sighed.
"Itachi told him the plan was in his hands and he could change it as he saw fit."
"And?"
"Aaand he decided I could handle this while he took care of another contact point."
Sasuke sighed.
"Typical Naruto."
Naruto and Deidara arrived at the port to the Land of Femme as the sun set on the second day.
"You ready Deidara?"
"You're going without me."
"What?"
"The land of femme is very stringent about men this is the last ship for weeks and we barely got you a pass."
"Okay then what do I do?"
"Once you get there you have to meet with a man who goes by the moniker N."
"How will I know who he is?"
"Excluding you and any new arrivals there are only three men on the island the odds are in your favor."
Naruto sighed in annoyance.
"It's never simple with you is it."
"Tough love kid it helps you grow."
"When I'm done?"
"See the sights, bag some hotties, do what you will, the return ship arrives in three weeks."
"Three weeks!?"
Deidara grabbed his ears wincing.
"Damn kid, keep it down, will you do you wanna blow this thing."
Naruto blushed embarrassed.
"Sorry."
"I got to keep a low profile. I'll see you when you get back."
Naruto nodded.
"Thanks again."
"Don't mention it."
Once Deidara vanished in the distance Naruto smirked.
'I guess I can play dumb well I did have thirteen years of experience to base it on.'
He scoffed.
"Three weeks? Damn."
Sakura and co. arrived at the port just as the last people boarded the ship.
Anko flashed their tickets and the captain loaded them on before sealing the gateway.
"You girls are lucky I was just about to anchor off if you had missed this vessel you'd have to wait three weeks for the next one."
Sakura and the others sweatdropped.
'That was close.'
"Helmsman, Anchors up."
"Aye cap'n."
Sakura and co. surveyed the deck and saw various women mostly kunoichi with a few merchants and even fewer civilians.
The only men discounting the crew was a handsome raven haired merchant, and a red-haired Kusa nin.
Anko turned to the girls.
"Well I'll go get our quarters situated, see if you can make any friends and Tayuya play nice."
Tayuya chuckled.
Naruto lay in his cot underdeck; it was a cozy enough room though he wasn't hot on sharing it with four others.
In his time as Karasu he had grown fond of solitude with the exception of Itachi of course.
This thought brought the emotions back to the surface as he stared at the nearby fan.
"Oi what crawled up your ass."
"What?"
"Why are you so moody."
"Do I know y-"
Naruto's eye widened.
'Anko?!'
He quickly looked away.
"Just thinking."
"What about?"
"Why do you care?"
"Well we're gonna be bunk mates for the next few days besides you remind me of a kid I used to know."
Naruto chuckled.
"I bet he was an obnoxious little gaki."
Anko nodded.
"How'd you know?"
"I'm perceptive."
Naruto sighed.
'It's a good thing my whisker marks aren't as prominent as they used to be Anko would've made me in an instant.'
He touched his cheek unconsciously thinking about this.
His whisker marks were still there but faint more of a darker skin tone outline as opposed to the thick black marks they once were.
Anko stared at the red eyed boy with long blonde hair. He looked vaguely familiar but something was off.
"Can you not stare at me."
"Why are you uncomfortable?"
"No I just don't need anymore lovelorn fangirls."
Anko busted out laughing.
"I like you gaki you are just like Naruto was."
Naruto muttered to himself
"Poor kid."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"I'm gonna go grab my students, wait here."
Naruto paled.
'Shit more leaf ninja!?'
"Sure."
Once she left he popped open a port window sliding out and sticking to the side of the boat with chakra.
He closed the window behind him and henge'd without thinking into a younger gray haired man vaguely resembling a certain scarecrow.
Stealthily climbing up the boat's hull he hopped onto the deck and made his way to the more populated area.
This plan backfired on him as the Kakashi-esque transformation immediately drew the attention of several older kunoichi as well as a familiar pink-haired girl.
"Kakashi-sens-Oh sorry you looked like a friend of mine."
Naruto smiled nervously.
"No worries."
A few moments later Anko arrived and did a double take.
"Kashi-kun? Oh, no.. obviously."
She chuckled.
"Hey girls, let's go meet our bunkmate. He's a cutie."
Ino shrugged and the others followed.
Naruto let out a sigh of relief dropping his henge and earning several curious glances.
He put his fingers to his lip and the kunoichi shrugged.
'This is gonna be a looong trip.'
X END X
A/N: Sorry for the wait I was burned out on writing but I'm back now and better than ever next chapter will be out soon.
2/2/21: Chapter fourteen revised.