Chapter 33 Summary: Ino learns what fate has in store for her after her resignation from Team #10. However, Ino's life is not the only one that will change, as many of her friend's lives will be forever different after today.
Naruto vs. Sasuke: The Aftermath
Chapter 33: "Changes"
As Ino waited at the training grounds, she anxiously fidgeted with the bandages wrapped around her hands. Needless to say, she was quite surprised when she woke up this morning and her parents informed her she was to meet her new Sensei at the training grounds. Ino was relieved that her parents weren't upset with her decision to resign from Team #10. But they also weren't going to let their daughter throw her entire Shinobi career away because of one bad teacher, hence their swift action of getting Ino a new Sensei to take over her training. Ino wondered who they could have gotten for her, as her mind starting going through the possible candidates.
'Could it be Kurenai? Maybe they're looking for me to replace Hinata? I hope not, because I won't do that to her whether my parents like it or not. It can't be Kakashi, he's already disbanded his Genin team, but maybe they're thinking of reforming it? Well, they would have to be nuts to place me on any team with that billboard browed pink-haired bitch! Oh Kami, I guess that just leaves Gai's team with all that hideous green clothing of his and those eyebrows, not to mention his screaming about flames of youth. Uggh, please somebody kill me now!'
However, before Ino could contemplate the dreadful ramifications of being placed onto Team 9, an angry shout broke her train of thought.
"What the Hell are you doing here?"
Ino looked over and inwardly cringed, as she saw Asuma Sarutobi marching towards her followed closely behind by a pensive looking Shikamaru and Chouji. Ino sighed, as she knew this reunion was not going to go well. It was then she heard Asuma growl out in a rage.
"You got a lot of fucking nerve Yamanaka to show your face around me after yesterday! Because of that little stunt you pulled, that old hag Tsunade has personally assigned me nothing but D ranked missions for the next three months!"
Asuma then pulled a flask out of his vest and downed its contents before ranting on.
"Me, a Jounin of my caliber having to paint fences, pick up trash, or chase that damn cat around for the next three months and all because of one spoiled little diva who whined that she wasn't getting any training!"
Ino's quick temper rose to the forefront, as she spat with malice to her former Sensei.
"Nice breakfast, nothing like an 80 proof meal to get the day started. Perfect for painting those fences, picking up that trash, or chasing that damn cat around you're whining about!"
Asuma stopped drinking, as his hardened gaze fell upon Ino defiantly staring back at him. Before anyone could act, the bearded Jounin suddenly threw his flask down and charged at the Yamanaka heiress while screaming in a murderous rage.
"You little fucking bitch! You want some training, how about a Taijutsu lesson right now!"
Both Chouji and Shikamaru were caught by surprise at their Sensei's action and could not reach him before he got to their former teammate. Ino herself was taken aback by the sudden charge and didn't have the time to use her Shintenshin no Jutsu technique to stop the enraged Jounin. Just as Asuma was about to reach Ino and deliver a crushing blow to the girl, the ground between them erupted in an explosion of dirt and dust. A moment later, Asuma suddenly found himself encased in the coils of 25ft python, as a voice rang out with malevolence causing everyone to turn their head and grow wide-eyed at the figure approaching them.
"You loathsome piece of shit, how dare you try to attack my new student and protégé!"
Chouji, Shikamaru, and Ino could only look on in shock and awe, as the infamous Snake Mistress of the Leaf village Mitarashi Anko approached Asuma with a homicidal glint in her eyes. When she arrived, her summons hissed in response.
"Mistressssssssss, may I eat him now?"
"Normally I would say yes Slitheren, but judging by the smell coming off this worthless baka, you'd be crocked off your scales for the next two days and I might have need of you later on."
"Anko you fucking whore, release me now!" Asuma spat with fury.
Anko merely snapped her fingers and Slitheren tightened his coils around Asuma causing him to grunt in pain before he heard Anko state.
"I would choose your next words carefully you drunken asshole. A little more pressure from my pet and you'll be pushing up daisies. Because the only reason you aren't dead is because of the love and respect I had for your father! Now, be a good little boy and keep your mouth shut while I go talk to my pupil and her friends."
Ino suddenly snapped out of her stupor when she heard Anko once again refer to her as the Jounin kunoichi's student and stammered.
"But, but I thought after last night, you didn't think any better of me than Asuma does."
"Ha, ha, ha, please that sack of crap over there couldn't recognize talent if it bit him in the ass. And it's because of last night as to why I've decided to grant you the privilege of becoming my protégé and student.
(Flashback 12hrs ago)
Ino sat on the ground and softly blew on her bleeding knuckles as tears continued to stream down her face from the intense pain she was in. A moment later she heard a voice declare with sarcasm.
"Well, it's good to know the Leaf village is safe in case we're ever attacked by an army of Taijutsu posts."
Ino looked up and nervously gulped as she saw Konoha's Queen of Snakes the Tokubetsu (Special) Jounin Mitarashi Anko jump out of the canopy of trees and land on the ground. Anko bore her renowned smirk, as she approached the still weeping kunoichi and stated with annoyance.
"Kami, more freaking tears; I thought I was going to drown in them earlier today from your pink-haired friend. Now I come along to find you doing the same thing. Maybe Asuma is right and you are no better than she is."
"She's not my friend and Asuma can go to Hell!" Ino spat through clenched teeth in rising anger.
"Well, that's at least one thing we can agree on, but that doesn't mean he's wrong though. I've watched you for the last five minutes turn this post into kindling, when it should have only taken a quality Shinobi five seconds to do like this!"
Anko then whirled around and snapped off a chakra infused kick to another Taijutsu post that seemed to explode on contact, as wooden chunks of shrapnel fell about the training grounds like rain falling from the sky. Ino could only look on in amazement before her visage became disconsolate and she glumly asked.
"Why are you here Anko-san?"
"I was looking for you to see if I could talk you out of throwing your career away. There aren't that many quality kunoichi's in this village and I didn't want to see another potential one get lost. But after seeing what I have maybe it is for the best that you quit. From what I can tell you're right, your skills aren't any better than pinky's. But at least that girls not a coward and has some heart and isn't quitting to go run a hide because of what some guy did to her like you are." Anko replied, before turning around to walk away. Anko had gone about three steps when she heard a voice behind her say.
"What did you say to me bitch!"
Anko turned around and leveled a hard glare at the blonde kunoichi now standing before her and stated in a deadly tone of voice.
"I said you're a weak willed coward who has no heart because she let one chain-smoking asshole convince her that she's worthless as a Shinobi. I also said at least the Haruno girl has some heart because she isn't going to let what happened to her make her quit and runaway like you are. Now, I would advise you for your health in the future to watch who you call a bitch, as not everyone will give you a one-time pass like I'm doing right now!"
"I only call them as I see them!" Ino countered, before dropping into a Taijutsu stance.
A notorious grin appeared on Anko's face as she thought to herself.
'Good, I knew this one had fire, I just had to push the right buttons. Now let's see how much heart she has to go with it?'
"You're pushing the limits of my patience little girl. I'm telling you right now go home to mommy and daddy before you get seriously hurt."
"Why don't you shut up and fight you snake bitch! Or are nothing but talk and tits underneath that coat of yours?"
Anko let escape an ominous chuckle before declaring.
"Alright girlie, if that's the way you want it; show me what you've got!"
Ino then rushed the purple-haired Jounin full-bore and unleashed a series of punches and kicks, which Anko was blocking and dodging effortlessly, as she thought with disgust.
'Kami, her Taijutsu is horrible! It's nothing but that basic academy crap that they teach. Asuma you son of a bitch, her Taijutsu should be much more advanced if you had done your job as a Sensei!'
Ino was growing incredibly frustrated as the kunoichi before her was blocking all of her attacks with ease. Breathing heavily, Ino threw a wild off balance punch that completely missed, but left her wide open to Anko who spun around and delivered a vicious side-kick to Ino's gut. The force of the kick was so strong that it drove the Yamanaka heiress tumbling back about 20 feet before stopping, as Ino clutched her stomach and gasped for air. Anko looked at the blonde kunoichi in front of her on her knees and gasping before shaking her head sadly and turning to walk away when Ino wheezed.
"We're not through yet!"
Ino then quickly flashed some hand seals and held her hands up while calling out.
"Shintenshin no Jutsu" (Mind Body Change Technique)
Anko's smirk became even more pronounced as she dodged the slow moving straight-line spirit technique which then caused Ino to crash to the ground in a heap unconscious. A couple of minutes later the blonde kunoichi came to as her spirit returned and saw Anko sitting on the ground still 20 feet away from her with that same annoying smirk planted on her face as she commented.
"That's a pretty stupid maneuver to use on someone with my kind of speed and agility. At the very least you should have tried to immobilize me first before using your clan's famous jutsu. That way I couldn't have dodged such a slow moving jutsu. Because you should know better than anyone that if you miss with that jutsu, you're completely vulnerable to your enemy until your spirit returns to your body. Not very bright are you, I guess pinky has you beat not only in heart but in brains as well."
Ino could only glare daggers at Anko who got up and dusted off her jacket before turning and walking away while saying.
"Well, it's way past your bedtime little girl. Why don't run on home and let mommy tuck you in while daddy reads you a bedtime story."
A second later a kunai whizzed through the air and landed in front of Anko who turned back around to see Ino pull out another one and ordered the Jounin kunoichi with venom dripping from her voice.
"Pick it up, I told you before we're not through yet!"
Anko stared at the girl before her in silent amusement while thinking to herself.
'This girl definitely has heart I'll give her that. She knows she's totally outclassed yet she still wants to fight on, I like that. Now to just give her one more test.'
"Sorry little girl but we are through. I see no need to waste my time or skills taking care of a runt like you. So I'll just let a friend of mine do it and be on my way."
Anko then slammed her palm to the ground while releasing a massive amount of chakra and shouted.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" (Summoning Technique)
A second later in a brilliant flash of light and a massive amount of smoke appeared on the ground where Anko had struck. After a moment, the smoke began to dissipate to show a massive 25ft purple and black striped python, which reared its body up to the height of his summoner who whispered to the mammoth serpent.
"Slitheren, I don't want you to hurt the girl over there, just scare her alright."
The python nodded his head in acceptance and turned to face the blonde kunoichi, as Anko pointed at Ino yelled out while turning and walking away.
"DINNER!"
Slitheren then lunged forward with astonishing speed, which belied his massive girth. Anko heard Ino let loose a shriek from behind her and figured the girl was running to the hills, when suddenly the purple-haired Jounin heard the padded footsteps of someone fast approaching behind her. Turning back around, Anko was caught with a glancing punch to her chin, as shockingly Ino was now there in front of her.
'Damn, I don't believe it; she actually landed a hit on me!'
Unfortunately, Ino had put some much effort into the wild swing; it once again left her unbalanced and vulnerable. As the blonde kunoichi stumbled forward to try and regain her balance, Anko dealt a vicious chop to the back of Ino's head knocking her unconscious. Anko then caught the Yamanaka heiress before she hit the ground and hoisted the girl over her shoulder while turning back to see what had happened to Slitheren. The huge serpent was currently writhing on the ground with a kunai embedded into its mouth. Anko knelt down and removed the weapon and asked in bewilderment.
"What happened to you Slitheren?"
"I don't understand it Mistresssssssss? Every mortal female I've ever encountered in my life other than you have always runaway screaming in terror from me. But thisssssssss one when I charged suddenly charged back at me while screaming. I was so stunned by this that before I could react, she had driven that object into my mouth and run past me. I apologize to you Mistresssssssss; she should never have gotten by me to attack you."
"It's alright Slitheren; the girl caught me by surprise as well." Anko commented while rubbing her chin before adding.
"Thank you for your assistance Slitheren, I won't require your services anymore tonight, you may go."
"As you wish Mistresssssssss." The powerful serpent replied before disappearing in a flash of light and smoke.
Anko then readjusted Ino on her shoulder and began her trek to the Yamanaka home, as she said to the unconscious young girl.
"Well princess, you are full of surprises. Now let's go talk to mommy and daddy and see if they're willing to let you become my protégé?"
(End of Flashback)
"So, so our fight last night was some sort of test you were giving me?" Ino stammered in astonishment.
"You could say that, I needed to know if you had the fire and the heart to become my student. Because if you do decide to become my protégé, I'm telling you right now it won't be easy. I will work you so brutally hard that within a week you'll hate my guts. But if you do everything I say without argument and take this training more seriously than anything else you've ever done. I promise you will become one of the most badass kunoichi's this village has ever produced. Ino stood there in muted silence for several seconds before shaking her head and exclaiming.
"Oh, this is just crazy, even if I did agree my parents would never allow it!"
"They already have girl." Anko stated, as she held out a piece of paper for Ino to read which had both her parents' signatures on it. Ino looked up from the document with shock and disbelief plastering her face as she asked.
"How in the world did you convince them Anko-san?"
"Well……."
(Flashback 11hrs ago)
Anko shifted on her feet restlessly as she stood on the porch of the Yamanaka residence and inwardly debated with herself about how to handle this. She had worked with Inoichi a few times in the interrogation department and he seemed to be a decent enough guy. But still Anko doubted he would be prepared for the sight of his unconscious and beaten daughter in the arms of the infamous Snake Mistress of Konoha. Not to mention how the girl's mother may react, as Keko Yamanaka was a high caliber Chunin kunoichi in her own right. Swallowing nervously and shifting Ino off of her shoulder and into her arms, Anko rapped on the door with her foot and waited for the inevitable bedlam to ensue.
The porch light suddenly flicked on illuminating both kunoichi's, as the front door opened to reveal Inoichi Yamanaka who grew wide-eyed at the sight before him.
"Good evening Inoichi-san, I believe I have something that belongs to you." Anko apprehensively announced. But before Inoichi could respond another voice feminine in nature called out from behind the clan leader.
"Inoichi-koi, who is at the door at this time of night?"
"Keko Yamanaka then peered around her husband's shoulder and she too grew wide-eyed in shock of seeing her unconscious daughter in the arms of Mitarashi Anko, before she shrieked.
"My baby!"
Keko immediately snatched Ino from Anko's arms and scurried upstairs with her daughter leaving behind one bewildered clan head and one uneasy Special Jounin kunoichi. Taking a moment to calm down and collect himself, Inoichi turned to his purple-haired comrade and said with a rational voice.
"Would you like come in for some tea Anko-san? I'm quite certain we have many things to talk about."
"Hai Inoichi-san, we do indeed."
As Anko sipped her tea and engaged in small talk with the Yamanaka patriarch, she wondered when the subject of his daughter would be asked. A short 15 minutes later it was, but not by the clan leader. Keko Yamanaka came storming down the stairs with a fire in her eyes and a voice filled malevolence as she yelled.
"Are you the one responsible for the condition my daughter is in?"
"Umm, no, yes, I mean kind of, it's hard to explain?" Anko stammered as she searched for the correct answer that would keep Keko's wrath from crashing down onto her.
"Keko calm yourself and please sit down. Let Anko-san explain herself before we make any rash judgments." Inoichi calmly suggested to his enraged wife.
Taking a minute to compose herself, Keko finally sat next to her husband who lovingly took hold of her hand, before turning his attention back to their guest and stated.
"Please explain Anko-san why you are returning our daughter in such a deplorable state?"
"I guess I should start from the beginning Inoichi-san, Keko-san. As I'm sure both of you already know, Ino attended a meeting today requested by her classmate Sakura Haruno."
"Yes, we know about the meeting, we don't know what it was about or its outcome, but that meeting was several hours ago. We were starting to grow concerned that we hadn't seen or heard from Ino since then."
"Well, what the two of you don't know is during the process of that meeting, your daughter officially resigned from Team #10 and gave up being a Shinobi."
"She did what!" Inoichi exclaimed.
"But why would my baby do that, she loved being a Shinobi?" Keko asked with confusion.
"I won't go into all the reasons why your daughter did this, I'll let her explain that to the two of you if she wishes. But the main reason why she did it is because her Sensei was purposely neglecting her training, because he felt she wasn't worth training."
"Asuma Sarutobi did that; I'll kick the crap out of that drunken piece of shit!" Inoichi roared, as he leapt up from his couch.
"Actually Inoichi-san, I can assure you that Lady Tsunade will be dealing with Asuma and his deficiencies of being a Sensei to his Genin team in the morning. Anko stated while holding her hand up to calm down the furious father.
Once Inoichi settled down and returned to his seat, Anko stated with concern.
"However, it wasn't Asuma's inattention to training or lack of care about your daughter that caused the most damage to Ino. I'm afraid because of it and some of the things he's said, Ino now believes she was nothing more than a detriment to her team. She now views herself as weak and ineffective at being a Shinobi."
Anko could feel the killing intent rise in both of Ino's parents before Keko finally inquired.
You still haven't answered our original question yet Anko-san. Why is our daughter in the shape she is in?"
"I found your daughter at one of the training grounds about an hour ago Keko-san. Where the girl was in such a rage she reduced a Taijutsu post into firewood without using any chakra to enhance and protect her hands and legs, which is where the majority of her injuries stem from."
Inoichi glanced over to his wife who nodded her head indicating that was correct.
"However, the bump on the back of your daughters head is courtesy of me from our fight."
"Wait a minute; you challenged my baby to a fight!" Keko exclaimed with rising anger.
"Actually Keko-san, your daughter challenged me. I did give her more than one opportunity to walk away. But to my surprise and approval she did not."
"Your surprise and approval, what are you talking about?" Keko asked before Inoichi held up his hand to calm her as he said.
"Anko-san, you stated earlier that you found my daughter which implies that you were looking for her, is that correct?"
"Hai."
"You also said that Ino challenged you to a fight. Now my daughter may not be as smart as her Nara teammate, but she isn't a fool either. I have a hard time believing that she would challenge one of the strongest kunoichi's in the entire village to battle without a reason."
"Hai, that is true as well Inoichi-san. I did sort of goad your daughter into making the challenge, but I needed to test her."
"To test Ino for what purpose Anko-san?"
"To see if your daughter has the fire, heart, and motivation to become the first ever protégé and apprentice of one Mitarashi Anko."
"You, you wish to take our daughter on as a pupil Anko-san!" Keko stuttered with trepidation.
"Why have you chosen Ino Anko-san?" Inoichi questioned while cocking an eyebrow.
"Well, both the Third and then Tsunade have been bugging me for years to take on a student, but quite frankly I never found anyone I felt could handle being my pupil until today. I chose your daughter because she initially sparked my interest when even after everything that prick Asuma did to destroy her confidence as a Shinobi. Ino still had the fire and guts to tell him off in front of everyone at that meeting. I became even more impressed with the girl when she continued to fight me even though she knew she was totally outclassed. You should be proud of her; she wouldn't give up and showed me a lot of heart in our battle. Ino even managed to down one of my summons and land a hit on me as well. Asuma is an idiot to not see the potential in your daughter, because I do and I think I can bring out that potential if you and Keko-san will let me?"
A pall of contemplative silence fell over the room, as both of Ino's parents pondered handing their daughters future as a Shinobi over to the Jounin kunoichi sitting across from them. After several agonizing minutes of waiting in Anko's mind, Keko finally spoke up.
"Anko-san, we appreciate your kind offer of taking Ino as your student, but I don't think . . . . ."
"We accept your offer Anko-san." Inoichi calmly stated interrupting his wife.
"Inoichi-san I know I can help your daughter if you just give me a . . . . . . wait, wait a minute, did you say yes?"
"Hai, Anko-san I did. Now I assume you have some paperwork for us to sign."
"Hai, Inoichi-san." Anko replied while reaching into her coat to retrieve the official document she had gotten from Tsunade earlier that day to take on a student for training. Inoichi affixed his signature to the document before passing it over to his wife to sign. Keko had been in muted shock since she heard her husband agree to Anko's proposal. Snapping out of her reverie, she looked at her husband with doubt.
"Keko, do you love me?"
"Hai, you know I do."
"Do you trust me Keko?"
"Hai, I do."
"Then please believe me when I say this is best for our daughter and sign the document."
Keko hesitated a moment before exhaling a heavy sigh and scratched her name next to her husband's. She then shakily handed the paper over to Anko who pocketed it and rose from her chair. Bowing politely and in honor of the Yamanaka's, the purple-haired Special Jounin contritely said.
"Arigatou (Thank you) Inoichi-san and Keko-san, I promise you will not regret this decision. I will do everything in my power to make your daughter into one of the strongest and most skilled Shinobi of this village if not all of the elemental nations."
"I expect nothing less than that from you Anko-san, make it happen."
As the Yamanaka's watched Anko leap off into the night, Inoichi stepped inside and winced when he heard the front door behind him close a little harder than normal. Turning around, he gazed at the hard look Keko bore on her face as she complained.
"Are you out of your mind Inoichi?"
"I thought you said you trusted me."
"I do, but, but Mitarashi Anko!"
"Yes Keko Mitarashi Anko, one of the most skilled and strongest kunoichi's we have in the entire village. Quite frankly, I can think of very few people who would be better suited at training and turning Ino into a very fine Shinobi."
"Yes, yes I know she's very strong and skilled Inoichi, but her reputation."
"Is undeserved Keko, and is made up mostly by closed-minded idiots who distrust her because of her association with the traitor Orochimaru, which by the way she had no control over. You forget, I've known Anko since her escape from that madman and she has proven time and time again to be one of the most loyal Shinobi this village has despite all the vile crap that gets said about her. I've worked with Anko on several occasions in the Anbu interrogation department and the fact that she feels Ino has talent and is offering to help mold it says a lot about the woman."
"Why are you so adamant about this Inoichi?"
"Because I want Ino to be as strong and as skilled as she possibly can be and I don't want what happened to Sakura to happen to her. I saw the things that bastard of an Uchiha did and had done to that girl. And I would rather die than to imagine our daughter having to experience that same thing because she wasn't strong or skilled enough to stop it. And right now, Ino would be unable to stop it at her current level of training."
"But Inoichi, what you speak of is a fear we kunoichi's have always carried in the backs of our minds. Ino training under Anko doesn't guarantee that what happened to Sakura couldn't happen to her in the future Kami forbid."
"No Keko it doesn't, but at least training under someone as skilled and powerful as Anko does give our daughter a chance to fight back were that to occur Kami forbid."
"I suppose it does Inoichi-koi. It has been a long day husband, let's go to bed."
"Hai Keko-koi, that sounds like a good idea."
(End of Flashback)
"Well……. let's just say your parents are two highly intelligent people who recognize my brilliance and talent and felt deeply honored that I would be willing to impart some of that onto to you and leave it at that."
Anko answered while grinning mischievously before asking.
"So how bout it princess? Do you think you have what it takes to become the apprentice of infamous Snake Mistress of the Village Hidden in the Leaves? Because I think you do."
Ino took a minute to digest everything she had just heard before looking up and smiling at the purple-haired Special Jounin then bowing and stating with sincerity.
"Thank you Anko-Sensei, I would be honored to become your apprentice. I promise you, I will never let you down."
"Anko-Sensei, I like the sound of that!" Anko commented while throwing her arm around Ino's shoulder and giving the young girl a squeeze. She then turned her attention to the wide-eyed and flabbergasted ex-teammates of the Yamanaka heiress and said with authority.
"Now as for you two, you're both being reassigned per Lady Tsunade's orders."
"Re, reassigned!" Shikamaru and Chouji exclaimed with shock in unison.
"Yeah reassigned, you two are to report to Lady Tsunade right now to find out where you both will be going. And if I were you two I'd get over to Hokage Tower ASAP, as Lady Tsunade isn't in a very good mood right now. As for you apprentice, you're coming with me to the hospital so we can get your hands and legs healed. After that, then your training starts to become sexiest and deadliest kunoichi in the whole village . . . . . . . next to me of course, ha, ha, ha."
As Chouji and Shikamaru watched there now ex-teammate and the purple-haired Jounin walk away, they suddenly heard her shout.
"Slitheren, release and return!"
The powerful viper hissed loudly in understanding before disappearing in a flash of light and smoke, leaving behind Asuma now laying on the ground and clutching his chest while heaving for air. As the Nara and Akimichi heirs watched their former Sensei writhe on the ground, Shikamaru asked in curiosity and concern.
"Should we help him Chouji?"
"Screw him Shika; because of that jerk we've now lost Ino as a teammate forever. Let's just go see the Hokage like Anko-san told us to" Chouji answered, the disgust and anger evident in his voice, as he turned around and started walking away. Shikamaru could only shrug his shoulders and mutter "troublesome" before quickly following after his best friend.
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Kakashi was staring at the memorial stone, which honored all of Konoha's fallen heroes of the past. He had been there most of the morning as in truth he had nowhere else to go and nothing else to do. The silver-haired Jounin had visited the hospital earlier to see the remaining members of his former Genin team still in the village and both encounters had left him shaken to the core. Both Sakura and Naruto's attitude and demeanor had changed so much in such a short amount of time. Sakura was now a shell of her former self and in such a depressed state that Tsunade had reinstated a suicide watch on the girl. The pink-haired kunoichi had barely acknowledged his presence while he was there and just seemed to have shutdown emotionally. Kakashi knew the girl had been destroyed by the words of Naruto the day before and to a lesser extent the words and actions of her former best friend Ino. But it was Naruto's refusal to even acknowledge Sakura anymore that had done the most damage to the girl's psyche.
It saddened Kakashi that Naruto felt such rage against Sakura to be mad at him about it. Kakashi remembered how he felt after the deaths of his father, Obito, Rin, and finally his Sensei Minato had driven into such a rage he soon became a legend in the Shinobi world during his time in the Anbu black ops. Truth be told, Naruto had every right to feel the way he did about Sakura. Learning that Sakura was the one to inadvertently put a target onto Hinata for Kakashi's greatest mistake Sasuke to go after was the final straw that broke Naruto's back when it came to his ex-kunoichi teammate. In actuality, the destruction of Sakura and Naruto's relationship wasn't their fault at all, but his own the silver-haired Jounin mused to himself. If he hadn't focused all of his energies on training Sasuke and taken the time to break Sakura out of her fan-girl mode for the Uchiha, he could have shown her the loyalty, strength, and value of her other teammate. Instead, Kakashi ignored the girl's outbursts and abuse of Naruto to try and gain favor in Sasuke's eyes, thinking if Naruto didn't seem to mind it, then why should he?
'What a monumental error in judgment that was Kakashi, just one of many I made with all of you.' Kakashi stoically thought to himself.
After Kakashi had left Sakura's room he traveled the lonely corridor to Hinata Hyuga's room where he knew Naruto would be. His normally hyperactive pupil was also a shell of his former self. And while Naruto hadn't completely shutdown emotionally, the only two emotions that ever surfaced anymore with the boy were feelings of sorrow or feelings of rage. The grief he felt was in seeing the first girl to ever acknowledge and love him in such distressful state. And the fury he felt was in knowing that both of his former teammates, people he once considered precious to him were indirectly responsible for Hinata's present condition. Everyone had learned by now not to mention either name of his ex-teammates in Naruto's presence anymore. Kakashi had offered to take Naruto out for some training this morning to try help the boy focus on something other than Hinata, but it was to no avail. Naruto swore that when Hinata woke up he wanted to be the first person she would see because he knew if the situation was reversed that is what she would do. Taking one last look at the two young Genin, Kakashi shook his head in sadness that two people so in love with one another are now so tragically torn apart.
'I pray to Kami that Hinata wakes up soon for you Naruto. In a way, I'm envious of you kid that you've been able to find something that has eluded me my entire life.'
So engrossed in his thoughts, Kakashi didn't even sense a presence coming up behind him until a deep voice asked with curiosity.
"Have you given any thought to what I discussed with you yesterday Kakashi?"
"I have Jiraiya-sama."
"Well, what is your answer? I mean I know it's a long time to be away from the village, but it's not like you have anyone here you'll be leaving behind."
An image of Kurenai's face flashed in Kakashi's mind before it was quickly replaced by an image of Kurenai with Asuma, as the one-eyed Jounin closed his eye and said with a hint of dejection in his voice.
"No, I have no one I'll be leaving behind. You're right Jiraiya-sama; I have nothing to keep me here. So I accept, but we'll never convince Naruto to go along with it."
"I know the boy is hurting, but we have to convince him it's for the best. Between the Akatsuki, Orochimaru, and now that punk Uchiha bastard after him, if we don't train Naruto to his full potential pretty damn fast, his days on this planet are numbered."
"I agree with you Jiraiya-sama, but I've seen Naruto and it will take an army to pry him away from Hinata's side anytime soon."
"I know he loves that girl dearly. We need to check with Tsunade about the girl's condition and we need to convince her as well to do this. Because our adorable Hokage loves Naruto just as much as he is in love with the Hyuga girl."
"I know, though she would never admit it, I think Lady Tsunade loves Naruto like he was her very own grandson at times."
'You've no idea how right you are Kakashi'
"So who do we persuade first Jiraiya-sama?"
"Tsunade, if we can get her to agree then that will be one more person to help us sway the little gaki."
"I agree, because I have a feeling we're going to need all the help we can get to convince Naruto to do this."
"I'm afraid you're probably right Kakashi."
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Shizune exhaled a disgruntled sigh at seeing Tsunade asleep at her desk, as she let Shikamaru and Chouji into the Hokage's office. Clearing her throat loudly in an attempt to awaken the blonde Hokage proved to be useless, as the woman kept snoring away. Shizune finally resorted to the age old trick only she knew to bring the Slug Sannin out of her slumber, as she yelled at the top of her voice.
"Lady Tsunade, there are collections officers at the front door!"
Tsunade immediately shot up out of her chair and bolted for the balcony while yelling as she jumped over it.
"Shizune, grab Tonton and our belongings and meet me in the back alley in an hour!"
Shizune, Shikamaru, and Chouji all sweat dropped at the scene they had just witnessed. A few seconds later Tsunade jumped back into the room with a homicidal look on her face, as she leveled such a harsh glare at her apprentice, it caused the young woman to squeak and exit the room immediately slamming the door behind her. Tsunade walked over to her desk and fell slumping into her chair, as she turned her attention to the two young men in her office and said in a deadly tone of voice.
"You two are never to repeat to anyone what you saw just now!"
Both Shikamaru and Chouji could feel the killing intent rolling off of their Hokage and quickly nodded their heads in understanding. Taking a moment to calm down, Tsunade folded her hands while she rested her chin upon them and asked.
"What's going on with Asuma Sarutobi?"
"What do you mean Hokage-sama?"
"I mean Shikamaru what has caused Asuma to go in less than a year's time from being a sober and dedicated Sensei to his pupils, to being a drunken louse who doesn't give a damn about whether or not he trains you?"
"It's not for me to say Hokage-sama."
"What about you Chouji, do you have anything to say?"
"No, Hokage-sama."
"Alright, I can't force either of you to tell me, so until further notice you both are being reassigned, as I've decided to suspend Asuma from his duties at being a Sensei for the time being. You Shikamaru will report to Team #8 under Yuuhi Kurenai to replace Hinata. Your chakra control due to your family's use of shadow jutsu's is quite good. So I believe Kurenai can teach you some useful Genjutsu techniques to add to your arsenal. Chouji, you will be reassigned to Team #9 to replace Rock Lee. You are probably the strongest in a physical sense out of everyone in the Konoha 11. But your stamina is woefully lacking and I believe Gai can help to increase that so in the future, your endurance can match your strength."
"May I ask a question Hokage-sama?"
"Of course Chouji, what is it?"
"Are breaking up the Ino-Shika-Cho group to punish us for what Asuma has done?"
Tsunade sat silently in her chair and stared at the Akimichi heir, before replying with assurance.
"No Chouji, it may seem like I am, but I'm not. I know both you, Shikamaru, and even Ino were proud to carry-on the tradition of your fathers' famous assault squad. And as much as I would like to keep your group intact, circumstances have forced me to make these changes. I have to do what I think is best for the village. Because right now I don't have a single Genin team I can truly count on and not worry about getting their missions accomplished. At one time I had four such teams I could rely on without concern. But with Team #7 implosion, Team #8 down a member because of Hinata's injuries, Team #9 the same with Rock Lee, and your team's resignation of Ino and Asuma's failure of his duties as your Sensei. I need to get at least two of those four teams up and running again. We are getting backlogged with missions that we couldn't proceed on because all four of those Genin teams were out of action."
"Will this be a permanent transfer Hokage-sama?"
"No Shikamaru it will not. It will only last until Hinata and Lee have been cleared medically to resume their duties on those teams."
"So does that mean Ino will be returning to our team as well in the future?" Chouji hastily exclaimed, the hope apparent in his voice.
Tsunade paused a moment before answering in a soft voice.
"I don't know Chouji, perhaps, but that will be her decision to make alone. Right now she has officially resigned from your team and been assigned to train under the tutelage of Anko and learn all she can to improve her skills as a Shinobi. The same as you two will be doing under your new teams and Sensei's."
Chouji's face took on a dejected appearance, as he nodded his head slightly in acceptance.
Tsunade took notice of the look on Chouji's face and sympathized with the boy, but knew there was nothing she could do. Handing a piece of paper over to both young men, she stated with authority.
Those are your official transfer orders and the locations of where Team #8 and Team #9 will be meeting this afternoon. I want you two to get yourselves acquainted with your new teams and Sensei's as quickly as possible. Now if there is nothing else on your minds, you two are dismissed. As Tsunade watched the Akimichi heir slowly shuffle out the door followed by Shikamaru, the Nara heir stopped at the doorway and turned around before saying.
"We really don't know what happened to Asuma-Sensei Hokage-sama. I can only tell you that his decline started about a year ago and I think it involves both Kurenai-san and Anko-san in some way, but I have no idea in what way?"
"Thank you Mr. Nara, I appreciate your honesty."
As Tsunade watched Shikamaru close the door behind him, she leaned back in her chair and shook her head in frustration while silently wondering if this week could get any worse than it already had been, and it was only Tuesday.
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It was the late in the afternoon when Inoichi Yamanaka arrived at the Hokage's office per her orders. When he arrived, he notice Shizune was standing at her desk while doing some paperwork. Peeking around the brunette assistant to Tsunade, he noticed her chair had been smashed to bits. Shizune looked quite weary when she finally noticed the blonde Jounin in her reception area and escorted him into Tsunade's office. Inoichi offered to take one of the chairs inside the office out to Shizune's desk, but a glance from her to Tsunade who shook her head and the Hokage's assistant politely declined and exited the office. The blonde-haired Hokage then motioned for Inoichi to sit down before she began her explanation of why she had called for him.
"Inoichi-san, I called for you because I need you to setup some counseling sessions between you and Sakura. She's had a relapse recently and fallen into a deep depression. It's so bad that I've got her under a suicide watch once again."
"I don't understand Lady Tsunade what happened? I mean just last week you had told me that Sakura had improved enough psychologically that you had lifted the suicide watch order on her.
Tsunade exhaled a weary sigh, as she leaned back in her chair and sadly stated.
"That's true; Sakura had improved somewhat for me to do that. But I learned at yesterday's meeting that Sakura actually believes she deserved what happened to her at the hands of that bastard Uchiha."
"That is not a good sign Lady Tsunade."
"Unfortunately, the results of yesterday's meeting also had some unforeseen and dire consequences for Sakura's mental stability as well. You see two people who Sakura cherished dearly effectively broke their bonds with the girl at that meeting and cut her out of their lives seemingly forever."
"May I ask who the two people were?"
"The first person and the one I think affected Sakura the most judging by her demeanor was Naruto. The other person was . . . . . . . . Ino."
"I see, I was afraid that is who you were going to say." Inoichi cooly stated while his face bore a look of deep concern.
"Please don't be upset with the girl Inoichi-san, Ino did nothing wrong."
Inoichi's head popped up in surprise, as he quickly stated to Tsunade.
"No, no, you misunderstand me Lady Tsunade. It wasn't Ino who I was worried that you were going to say, but Naruto. I'm sure whatever happened between Sakura and my daughter affected the girl to some degree. But truthfully, they had already severed the majority of their bonds with one another years ago over the Uchiha brat. No, what troubles me for Sakura is if Naruto has cut all ties with her, she may never recover."
"What do you mean she may never recover?"
"I'm sorry Lady Tsunade I'm not saying that's a certainty, but with what I learned when I was inside Sakura's mind, then her recovery will be most difficult to achieve."
"Refresh my memory Inoichi-san, what exactly did you learn?"
"Well Lady Tsunade, from my conversation with the Naruto entity within Sakura's mind. I learned two vitally important things that I fear will hamper her recovery if what you have said about Naruto is correct. The first is that on a subconscious level Sakura loves Naruto every bit as much if not more than she loved the Uchiha. I believe that love of Naruto which Sakura had kept buried in her subconscious surfaced into her conscious mind after Sasuke's attack on her. So, if Naruto no longer wishes to be a part of Sakura's life that is a crippling blow to the girl's already fragile psyche."
The Yamanaka clan leader took a deep breath before continuing on, his voice laden with anxiety.
"Because another thing I learned from the Naruto entity is when he left with the Inner Sakura entity to a deeper realm or level of Sakura's subconscious. The girl will no longer be able to access Inner Sakura entity anymore as she did in the past. As you already know Lady Tsunade the Inner Sakura entity is what Sakura had developed to help her draw upon her strength, vitality and confidence in herself. And that strength, vitality, and confidence won't return until Sakura learns to believe in herself once again. Now imagine the one person you have always loved and who has always believed in you now decides they've had enough and no longer wish to be a part of your life. In effect it says that if they no longer have any faith, trust, or even love for you any longer, then why should you believe in yourself anymore?"
Tsunade sat in petrified silence, as the last two sentences of Inoichi's statement seem to echo inside her mind. While thoughts of her and Jiraiya's recent relations with one another had suddenly left the blonde Hokage feeling very alone and very scared at that moment. Tsunade was finally roused from her disturbing thoughts by Inoichi.
"Are you alright Lady Tsunade, you're trembling?"
Tsunade quickly shook her head and cleared her throat, as she threw up the facade that everything was fine with her and attempted to answer as calmly as she could.
"Yes Inoichi-san, I'm fine. I was just a little taken aback by your prognosis for Sakura. Let me ask you this Inoichi-san, can you help Sakura through counseling or not?"
"I cannot Lady Tsunade."
"Are you giving up on the girl Inoichi?"
"No Lady Tsunade, but I'm not the right person to be counseling Sakura. Because so many men have hurt Sakura both emotionally and physically recently, she would never open up or trust another male, not in her present state of mind. I believe my wife Keko would be best suited to counsel Sakura. The girl knows her and because she is a woman, Sakura won't feel threatened or frightened like she would with a man."
"That sounds logical, is there anything I can do to help?"
"The best thing you can do Lady Tsunade is to completely heal Sakura physically before she begins her counseling. We don't want any visible reminders of what happened to her to present setbacks during her counseling sessions."
"Well, Sakura is scheduled for her final surgeries in a few days. I don't foresee any complications and if there are none, the normal recovery time to heal is about 4 to 6 weeks. We could plan on starting her counseling sessions then."
"That sounds reasonable Lady Tsunade. Keko and I will discuss scheduling and other issues about Sakura with you next week." Inoichi replied, as he rose from his chair and gave a small bow before departing the room.
As Tsunade watched the Yamanaka patriarch leave she spied Shizune still standing at her desk. Tsunade rose from behind her own desk and grabbed the chair Inoichi had been sitting in and took it out to Shizune. The brunette apprentice blinked in surprise at this, as Tsunade trekked her way back to her office before stopping and turning her head to the young woman and said.
"Don't ever wake me up like that again."
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The sun was starting to set in the horizon, as Shikamaru finished off his friend Chouji in their last game of Shogi for the evening. Opening up a new bag of barbeque potato chips, Chouji asked before popping a chip into his mouth.
"So how was your first day as the new member of Team #8?"
"Troublesome, Shino is alright and keeps pretty much to himself. Kiba on the other hand is giving me the cold shoulder and complaining that I was stealing Hinata's place on their team. Kurenai-Sensei finally ordered him to run five laps around the village just to shut him up and let him cool down about me coming onto the team."
"So Kurenai-san is alright."
"Yeah, from what I can tell she's a decent Sensei. But I swear Kami must have it in for me Chouji. My entire life now is nothing but troublesome women telling me what to do. I mean when I'm at home my mother and during my free time Temari. Now I've got another woman telling me what to do when I'm out on missions now, it's all so troublesome."
"Well it could be worst Shikamaru. At least you didn't have to sit and listen to a four hour dissertation on the history and meaning of the flames of youth by your Sensei."
"So what are the flames of youth?"
"I still have no idea Shikamaru."
"This is all so damn troublesome. I can't believe the second the coming of the Ino-Shika-Cho team is broken up because Asuma-Sensei can't seem to crawl out of the sake bottle he's put himself into."
"I can't believe Asuma-Sensei tried to attack Ino this morning."
"What did you say Chouji?" A voice rang out in anger.
Both Shikamaru and Chouji turned around to see their fathers standing in the entrance way of the Nara compound. However, the voice that had asked that question belonged to neither one of them, as Inoichi Yamanaka stepped in between them from behind and marched over to the two young clan heirs with a fierce visage upon his face as he angrily repeated his question.
"Answer me Chouji, what did you just say about Asuma attacking my daughter!"
"Umm, well Inoichi-sama me and Shikamaru along with Asuma-Sensei accidentally ran into Ino-chan at the training grounds this morning. And umm, Asuma-Sensei then picked an argument with Ino-chan over her resignation from our team. Asuma-Sensei blamed her for the punishment Lady Tsunade handed to him. Ino-chan then made a comment about Asuma-Sensei's drinking which he didn't like and then tried to attack your daughter. Fortunately, Ino-chans new Sensei arrived and stopped him."
"I see, thank you for telling me Chouji-kun." Inoichi calmly replied, as he turned around to leave the room, before Shikaku Nara's voice cried out.
"Kage Mane no Jutsu!" (Shadow Imitation Technique)
The Yamanaka clan leader suddenly found he couldn't move and glared at his approaching friend and fellow clan head who asked.
"Where do you think you're going Inoichi-san?"
"I think I'm going to go out and find Asuma Sarutobi and turn his brain into sushi, as soon as you release me Shikaku-san!" Inoichi answered through clenched teeth.
"He's the son of the honored Third Hokage Inoichi-san. If you kill him, it will prove most troublesome for you and your clan in the future."
"I don't give damn Shikaku! If that drunken piece-of-shit thinks he can try and attack my daughter and get away with it, he is mistaken and I don't care who he is!"
"Troublesome, I can see that it isn't just Keko-san where Ino-chan gets her quick temper from. I'm sorry Inoichi-san, but I'm afraid we can't allow you to go out and commit murder. Chouza, if you we be so kind and do the honors."
Chouza Akimichi merely nodded before he delivered a Taijutsu chop to the back of his blonde-haired teammates head and knocked the Yamanaka clan patriarch unconscious. Shikaku released his jutsu and Chouza caught Inoichi before he fell to the floor and placed him into a chair. Both Shikaku and Chouza then turned to their stunned son's, as the Nara clan leader ordered with authority.
"Sochi (Son) you and Chouji-kun get some wire and bind your Kyoufu (Godfather) to that chair good and tight. I want to see Inoichi-san still in that chair when we get back. If he causes too many problems for you, bring your mother in to help. Do you two understand?"
"Hai!" Both boys said in unison before Shikamaru inquired.
"But where are you and Chouza-sama going otousan (father)?"
"It is most troublesome Sochi, but it is for the best that you two do not know."
As both Shikamaru and Chouji watched their fathers leave, they set about the task of getting Inoichi secured to the chair he was in. After they had finished and tested the strength of their work, satisfied it would be sufficient to hold the Yamanaka clan leader in place, Chouji asked his friend a question.
"Do you know where our otousan's went to Shikamaru?"
"No I don't Chouji, but I can tell you one thing, I wouldn't want to be in Asuma's sandals right now."
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Asuma winced in pain while he made his way through the red-light district of Konoha, as he still hadn't fully recovered from Anko's attack earlier that day. Heading for a local dive where the sake was cheap and the women even cheaper. Asuma failed to notice a large hand come out of a darkened alleyway he had just passed and grab the bearded Jounin before pulling him in. Before he knew what was happening the oldest son of the Third Hokage was suddenly flung down the alleyway and landed in some trash illuminated by a lantern hanging on a wall. Asuma cussed fiercely, as he emerged out of the trash and brushed himself off when he heard a jutsu get called out.
"Kage Mane no Jutsu." (Shadow Imitation Technique)
An instant later, the chain-smoking Jounin found he could no longer move, as Shikaku Nara and Chouza Akimichi stepped out of the shadows to face the entrapped man. Asuma recognized the two men and snarled with annoyance.
"Nara, Akimichi, what the Hell are you two doing? Release me from this jutsu at once!"
The reply Asuma received from the two clan heads he was not expecting, as Chouza slammed his fist into the bearded Jounins face breaking his nose with a sickening crunch that seemed to echo in the alleyway. Asuma groaned in pain as he could feel and taste the coppery liquid that was his blood flow down his face and soak his beard. Looking over to his two assailants, he could see a satisfied smirk planted on the Akimichi clan leader's face, when Shikaku spoke up.
"This is most troublesome Sarutobi, but you're about to take a very painful beating right now and you have no one to blame but yourself."
"But, but why, I've done nothing to deserve this?"
"You call attacking our goddaughter this morning nothing you drunken bastard!" Chouza spat with fury.
Asuma's eyes grew wide in fear and realization of whom these two men were talking about. When he heard the Nara Clan leader speak once more.
"I see you now know of what we are talking about it. Now, tonight we had physically restrain our fellow clan head and teammate from tracking you down and liquefying that alcohol soaked pea-size organ you call a brain. The reasons we stopped him are two-fold Sarutobi. The first reason is out of honor and respect that we hold for your departed father. The second reason is your death would cause many problems and be most troublesome for the Yamanaka clan. But still we can't allow you to get away with attacking our goddaughter, so Chouza and I came up with a compromise to your actual death."
Asuma gulped in dread and would have run by now if the Nara's jutsu didn't hold him in place like a living statue. He was about to start pleading for mercy when Shikaku held up his hand signaling the man to be silent before saying.
"As I said earlier, you're going to take a very painful beating tonight. You'll live, but you won't be attacking anything but a hospital food tray for the next few weeks. Now I suggest when the Hokage asks who did this to you, that you develop a case of amnesia as to who your assailants were."
"Why would I do that Nara?"
"Most troublesome, because if you don't Sarutobi we're going to let our hot-headed blonde teammate carryout the execution he had planned for you tonight. And as you know, he can turn your brain to mush from a distance and you would never see it coming. So, my advice is to take this beating you deserve and keep your mouth shut afterwards. Also, in the future if you ever try something like that again with Ino-chan, the original Ino-Shika-Cho team will come down on you in full force. And though it will be troublesome, I promise you they will never find your body."
Asuma trembled upon hearing Shikaku's final statement before his gaze fell upon Chouza who stepped forward and announced.
"Bubun Baika no Jutsu." (Partial Multi-Size Technique)
The Akimichi Clan leader fists and forearms suddenly tripled in size, as he stalked his way over to the shaking bearded Jounin. Who could only close his eyes in preparation of what was to come.
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Author Notes: Yes, it's true, no cliffhanger this chapter. Any of the one's that I had potentially thought of just seemed really lame to me. So, throwing one of them in would have been for nothing more than shock value rather than contributing to the story. I would like to thank all of you who reviewed the last chapter. Your reviews helped this story to achieve a milestone of 1000+ reviews, hip-hip-hooray! I thought it was a very important and poignant chapter to the story and I really appreciate all the thoughts given to me on it by you all. Sadly, although it came close, it did not set a new personal record for reviews of one of my chapters, as I expected much to my disappointment. I was feeling a little down about that, but then I got a review from a new reader and writer by the name of scorpiowarrior, which lifted my spirits greatly and inspired me to finish this chapter about 10 days sooner then I had planned. Thank you very much SW and if any of you enjoy Kakashi/Kurenai stories, SW has several that are worth reading.
I have nothing to say positive about the last two issues of the Naruto manga. I'm still thoroughly disgusted that Kishimoto hasn't done anything yet with the Hinata confession to Naruto in 20 issues. And now Danzo with the Sharingan is absolutely laughable to me. What's next Kishi, Akamaru with the Rinnegan? Now I know some people like the whole Danzo with the Sharingan twist. I do respect your opinion and your free will to make that choice. So please, no flames or pm's to me about it just because I don't.
*News on the Zombie Hefster War*
I recently received a pm from Zombie Hefster and it is my sad duty to report that it stated and I quote.
"lol. Germany is all mine now!"
To any Naruto/Hinata resistance fighters still remaining in Germany do not give up hope. Several reviewers have offered up suggestions and or are getting personally involved to combat the evil menace of Zombie Hefster and his minions.
THE HEE-HO KING – "The zombies shouldn't be a problem just dismember them with a flame thrower and blast some metal music it should do the trick."
violent werewolf-Dark Prince– "I'm already in the midst of creating a NARUHINA with a hint of SHIKATEMA animetomic bomb to stop the Hefster zombies! Don't worry, it's almost complete, and already sure to work!"
I'm Solo – "So Germany is in the grip of Zombie chaos eh?(must be the work of the Necronomicon...damn you Knoby)...looks like I have no choice but to put on my riped shirt,long pants,grab my boomstick(bought at S-mart $199.95...shop smart...shop S-mart)and Chainsaw,find my copy of "Evil Dead" and my book of Bruce Campbell quotes and my "I love NaruHina!!"keychain and nip this Zombie problem in the ...Oh yeah it good to be the King baby!"
jcogginsa – "If the head and heart are no gos, have the germans aim for the lungs."
These are all quality suggestions and actions being taken by noble Naruto/Hinata fans to the scourge that is Zombie Hefster.
To my reviewer Bloxham in the UK I sympathize with your plight. I have also learned of a means to battle the evil ZH army. I have found out that the use of romantic imagery involving Naruto with Hinata causes intense pain to the zombies when viewed by them. Kind of like what religious symbols do to vampires. The more loving and romantic the image, the more agony it brings them. Several fans of the story from the last chapter have avatars that will accomplish this for you. The most effective ones coming from Rose Tiger, Kage Bijuu, MarineWolf1994, narutos vixen, and shkamaru15. Display these images around your home and make sure all of your loved ones always keep an image with them at all times. It should ward off any pink-haired zombie attacks and keep you all alive and well. Don't give up; we will win the war for Naruto/Hinata supremacy.
*End of Zombie Hefster War News*
Back to more pleasant things, I've created a new poll in my profile/bio page. Naruto/Hinata won the previous poll by a huge margin. As I said it may or may not be the first lemon you see in this story. You'll just have to wait and see. Now the new poll does have significance and will be up for several weeks. I am rapidly approaching the end of the first arc to my story. And if you hadn't already figured it out from this chapter, Naruto, Kakashi, and Jiraiya will be leaving Konoha to train Naruto over the next several years. What I would like to know is the following.
Would everyone like to see a few totally A/U original and creative chapters showing their adventures while out on the road? As well as a few totally A/U original and creative chapters, showing what has been going on with the other characters in the village while they are gone? Or do you want me to ignore writing about the time-skip and bring them back immediately?
I will say that I do have some interesting and innovative ideas for original chapters for all of the characters, but I'm curious as to the opinion of you all. Please check it out and vote when you can, thanks!
As always, if anyone wants to discuss my story in greater detail, just shoot me a PM. I enjoy talking about the story with any readers who really have an interest in it. I'll try to respond back to you as quickly as I can. Now I'd like to give a shout out to a couple stories that I recommend and hope you all will check out when you have the time.
"NILF" by EroslackerMicha: What can I say; it's just a really funny and lemony story we have all come to expect from this writer.
"Closer" by Lynns:A wonderfully written story which takes place after Pein's attack on the village and Hinata's confession to Naruto. This story has been a breath of fresh air and a very good read if you are as sick of Kishimoto's inattention to that storyline as I am.
I hope that all of you can R & R these stories when you have a chance.
Take it easy and be good!
Kingkakashi
School time:
Glumly
Definition: Broodingly morose, dreary.
Etymology: Middle English 1547
Part of Speech: Adjective