And the homecoming continues, this time featuring things heating up a little.
I do not own anything.
Poison Dove & Maelstrom Fox
Chapter 21 - A Dove Amongst Leaves Pt.2
It was moments like this which made history-nay, where history began. The meeting of two rulers. Countless meetings had gone done in the annals of history, for one reason or another. Some had been good, some had been bad, and some had been outright disastrous. From time to time, war broke out between the leaders and their respective domains from a first meeting gone horribly wrong. In the shadows, there were occasionally plotting to ensure things did go wrong.
Semiramis was very aware of the position she occupied, albeit it wasn't one that she liked being in. She had no nation, no army, no subjects, not even an aide at her side. The woman before her instead had all of those things, and from what she'd gleaned from Naruto's memories, rightfully so. Those memories had given her some insight into what sort of ruler this Tsunade Senju was, it was enough for her to work up a modicum of respect for her before physically meeting her.
The real McCoy was more than what she was expecting; Semiramis was impressed. Like any ruler or queen worth their salt, she was somewhat vain as evident by her youthful appearance. While her beauty surely didn't compare to Semiramis', it was still enough to not turn a blind eye, especially her chest which the Assassin begrudgingly admits…surpassed hers by a good margin.
Not like it's the first time you've ran into something, or someone, bigger than you.
She bit back the impulsive rebuttal that was on the edge of her tongue. Fortune had turned against her in allowing her Master's inner demon to find a "back door" to her mind when they were in close enough proximity to one another, just as they were now. The demon enjoyed added his two cents when he felt it was convenient for him, or when he could get a rise out of the pointy-eared Servant. One of the numerous downsides to being bound to a Master was a said Master who had a second soul sealed within him, a catty and antagonistic soul who took every opportunity to poke at her just as she took every chance to poke at him.
This wasn't the time for that. Silence, fox, or would you rather suffer the consequences later on? Snapped back the Assyrian queen. It took more willpower than she'd like to admit in keeping her brow from twitching.
Sadly, the Nine-Tailed Fox couldn't help but take it as a challenge. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the fox cut in, his voice dripping with insidious delight. Hey, hey, it's okay to be jealous. After all, while you may have been a looker in your world, this one's an entirely different story. You have after all encountered women with busts twice as big as yours, like the hag over there even though her physical appearance now is nothing but a façade. Perhaps you could take some lessons from her.
That got the eyebrow twitch the demon had been searching for. So it seems I'll be cooking dinner tonight. You know what means…you overgrown rodent.
She could practically see the ear-to-ear smile on the beast's face. Good, I've been building up OUR immune system; by all means, your HIGHNESS, hit me with your best shot!
Yet another retort was on the verge of her tongue, mentally and physically. Semiramis would have fired it off if the third party hadn't intervened.
Eh, guys, first-meeting. Granny right in front of us. Semiramis, didn't you say something about knowing how to make a first impression? And weren't you the one who taught me to be a bit more…polite? You're acting like a kid on the playground. Chimed in the whisker-faced mediator of the divine-demonic verbal spat. Hidden beneath the sarcasm was an air of amusement. Naruto was very much taking some glee in seeing his two "partners" get into such a childish spat, but now wasn't the time or place. Especially for Semiramis.
Heat suddenly surged into the Servant's cheeks as reality came crashing down around her. What in Anu's name!? Thundered the Assassin, feeling a very real and very much human chill rush down her spine. She blinked, realizing that she'd been standing in unusual silence for close to three minutes thus allowing her blonde-haired counterpart to size her up and make her first assumptions. Those assumptions no doubt probably weren't anywhere near good as she'd stood like a statue, or a dazed oracle attempting to commune with the divine. Thank the gods that none of the noticeable repute were around to witness such a thing.
Except for her Master, said Master's friend and teammate, his teacher, and the Hokage and her assistant.
This round went to the Nine-Tails.
"Lady Tsunade, it is an honor to make your personally acquaintance. I have heard…much about you." She began, giving a polite bow with her hands pressed together.
"Oh, I'm sure you have, stories that I'm sure you have no doubt been warped by the two buffoons you've been bound to. Speaking of which, I suppose I owe you thanks for making sure they came back in one piece." Came her surprisingly jovial reply. Semiramis rose with a smile on her face, one that was echoed by the blonde-haired woman. Behind them, the student of the Slug Princess giggled as did her fellow apprentice. The two men in the room groaned seeing they were the unwitting centers of attention. "Anyhow, I too am pleased to finally meet you face-to-face as well, Semiramis of Assyria."
"I've done what I could to make improvements on them, especially the sage." Lightly jabbed the black-haired woman. Behind her, said sage let out a very audible groan of displeasure. This earned a chorus of laughter from the rest in the room, particularly since the ratio was skewed towards female over male, and the one male in the room knew the senjutsu-user's habits quite well.
"In that case, it sounds like you did something I've been struggling to do for decades. Well done." Complimented female Sannin. During the two-minute long-estranged silence following first instructions, the Fifth Hokage had done some examining of the woman who was bound to her surrogate grandson by magical powers beyond their understanding. At first, it had been hard to take in, but it made sense once she realized that it was Naruto Uzumaki who was at the heart of this. One way or another, the strange and unusual always found the boy like a magnet. Just another sign that there was something truly special about the blond jinchūriki.
Still, this time sure was…particular. The woman stood at a petite height just barely five-five, making her noticeably shorter than Naruto, who himself had undergone a very noticeable growth spurt during his years' long journey. Whereas before the genin just barely came up to an adult's chest, he was now eye-level with those such as herself and Jiraiya and Shizune and Kakashi. Making up for her average height was no doubt her looks, especially her eyes. Much could be told about a person through their eyes; Tsunade could see that this woman was every bit as dangerous as the serpents whose eyes she emulated. All she hoped for was that she didn't quite follow in the footsteps of the last serpent-themed individual she'd known. Especially since her fate was intertwined with Naruto's.
"I take it you know of my…unique situation?" Broached the gold-eyed Assassin.
"Yes, I've been made aware of it." Responded the caramel-eyed ruler, lacing her fingers together. Though her eyes never once waved from Semiramis, she remained cleanly aware of the expressions of those around her. When the nature of "Masters and Servants" was first explained to her and Shizune, the first thing their minds jumped to was a summoning animal bound by a summoning contract. Semiramis herself had supposedly verified the relationship was something of the like, though she clarified that what she was was technically called a "familiar". Tsunade had heard the term, an ancient by-word for creatures and entities bound to summoners through sorcery. Never in all her life did she think she'd meet such a being. Neither did Shizune, who was closely examining the pointy-eared woman as she was. Behind her stood Sakura. She'd been left out of the loop, something that Tsunade couldn't help but feel would have repercussions later on. Her face was one of confusion as she looked between the two of them then to Naruto. She watched him lean over and whisper into her ear how he'd explain everything later. That later would not come for a while.
"Then if you would, I would kindly have a chance to speak first." Semiramis stated, bowing her head ever so slowly. It was the formal thing to do, the right thing to do for one in her position. Tsunade had seen such behavior before, usually from rulers who knew how to conduct themselves when they were the ones making requests and going off the assumed mercy of another.
That still didn't change the hidden guard she had up in case something went array. "You may, I'm assuming this is regarding Naruto." At the mention of his name, the blond looked up.
Let me handle this.
But, Semiramis-
Naruto, Physically, she remained stoic, mentally speaking though, she was smiling at him. Her heart again tinkled at the concern he showed for her, even when faced with the presence of what and whom he saw as a maternal figure. This is my presentation, my oath. I had planned on taking my oath of allegiance when we returned to his village; I have no plans on reneging on that promise. Besides, this is for them just as much as it is for me.
While he couldn't fully hear the silent conversation playing out between the pair, Jiraiya could certainly feel it. He'd watched them over a year and half, taking record of the bond that formed between the human and the Servant. It had grown strong, and he was looking forward to that strength being displayed to the rest of the people of the Leaf, specifically those who saw his godson as family.
"I am an Assassin, the Heroic Spirit of Silent Killing. My claim to fame as you may have heard is poisoning…in my world, I was the first mortal to use poison to kill another. My husband." Declared the long-haired beauty. Immediately, the temperature in the room dropped to arctic levels. Quite a normal response given the dark secret she'd just laid bare. It wasn't something that she normally did; in fact, most of the time she was summoned one would have already known of her story and been on guard. These people knew absolutely nothing about her or her history.
Remarkably, Tsunade took the bombshell with ease, physically ease at least. Her eyes though were sharp and analytical as she now had a clearer idea of what she was dealing with. For a brief moment, her gaze swerved to Jiraiya. Apparently, the precise identities of her victims had been a detail he chose to leave out. "A marriageable dispute has gone wrong?" She remarked with an edge of sarcasm in her voice.
"Something of the like. I had no wish to marry him and his death served me far more than him remaining alive. So I poisoned his drink, and upon his death, I inherited an empire I successfully ran until my eventual death." Semiramis responded in a flippant tone.
Behind her, Naruto's eyes bulged, but not out of shock at what he was hearing. He'd heard all that before, and the little nugget that the husband Semiramis had poisoned was her second and had orchestrated the death of her first, whom she very much loved and treasured. The urge to speak up burned hot within him, yet a firm hand clapped it down. All he did was bite his lip.
She does things the hard way, just like you. You two become a more perfect fit for each other day by day. Mocked the orange-furred demon within him.
Tsunade's posture spoke of a woman alerted, ready for anything. "Now…having said all of that, you're asking me for permission to remain by Naruto's side? If you've been with him for so long then surely you know of his…importance, and the fact that if one hair on his head is harmed and you're responsible, I'll be the one to personally send you back to these 'Throne of Heroes' and ensure you never come back."
Threats issued by the strongest kunoichi in the world weren't things to brush off. Had Semiramis still be fresh and new to the ninja world, she would have done exactly that. She had learned though, and she'd begun the long process of assimilating. Not to mention she was the one asking for permission, not demanding.
"I am asking you for that permission, as Naruto's superior and as his maternal guardian, a role that…you have greatly fulfilled, even if he won't say as much." Continued the Assassin.
Naruto's expression went from concern to annoyed. "You know, going back onto the road is sounding like a good idea."
There was a playful roll of the eyes on the Servant's part before she redirected her gaze to the Fifth Hokage. "I know that words account for little, actions speak louder. All I ask is you give me a chance to prove myself before your eyes and those of others, all of whom care for Naruto just as I do."
"What is he to you?" Came her busty Hokage's immediate response, eyes sharp as razors.
The Servant's eyes were equally intense, showing her seriousness. "He is…he is my Master, but also my partner and associate. One whose company I…enjoy."
What followed was a heavily pregnant pause as all parties in the room digested the words she spoken, or most of them. For Naruto and Jiraiya, though mostly the former, it was nothing more than a confirmation of what was already known. Jiraiya, on the other hand, while knowing the words were serene, couldn't help but pick up on the lack of usage of one word in particular.
Rather because there's an audience or her own reluctance, probably both, she still won't acknowledge Naruto as her friend, even though she considers him such. Geez, kid, you really ended up partnering up with quite a difficult woman, just like your old man. Personally, he wondered how his student and wife would have taken to Semiramis. She would have no doubt had an easier time with Minato than with Kushina. The latter no doubt would have been giving Semiramis a glare that could melt steel and get even the usual stoic and unflappable queen to sweat a little. Jiraiya supposed he should have counted his blessings, they'd ended up with Tsunade instead. Still, that came with its own assorted dangers.
Tsunade didn't look at Semiramis, she looked at Naruto and Jiraiya, the pair who'd seen the most of this mysterious newcomer. Both stood straight, meeting her gaze with resolution. That was all she needed.
"Very well. From this moment onward, you, Semiramis of Assyria, are hereby made a citizen of the Hidden Leaf Village. And…special ninja, let's say." Declared the Hokage, at last turning the full attention of her gaze toward the Servant. "One that will be under the supervision of Naruto, who himself will be under the supervision…"
"Yo, long time no see."
"Kakashi-sensei!" Exclaimed the orange and black-garbed blond. He was beginning to wonder when his sensei would step out from behind the wall and make himself known. Probably when the Hokage gave the signal. "Since you were outside, I'm assuming you heard everything?"
"Pretty much." He affirmed, jumping through the window earning an aside glare from the blonde Hokage. His focus was entirely on the pointy-eared woman who'd presented herself to them all. Another round of sizing up and analysis followed, even as the one-eyed ninja put on an air of ease and laxity. "Semiramis, right? Well, welcome to Team Seven."
"Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja." Answered back the Assyrian queen. As with the Hokage and her assistant, his appearance was exactly as it was in Naruto's memories. His aura was unmistakably that of a warrior's, even if he didn't try to come off as such. "Very well then, I shall follow your every order and command so long as they do not come into conflict with my stated goal of ensuring Naruto's safety."
"Devoted, aren't you?" Remarked the masked man with a slight upward tick of his lips. The statement was malicious, if anything, it had shades of curiosity more than anything. Semiramis spotted the way his eyes wandered over to Jiraiya.
He's wondering if I know Naruto's true identity. My, oh my, so many secrets that I fear I may get a tad too excited. Her role as a monarch had become so ingrained in Semiramis that a part of her had come to long for some sort of secrecy or cover-up. It certainly made things exciting, but she also knew there times secrecy was needed. Her Master's true identity was an interesting example of such.
"I take it between this newcomer and Jiraiya, you've gotten a bit stronger, eh, Naruto?" Spoke up the blonde-haired Kage, turning her gaze upon Naruto with a smile.
"If I hadn't, then that would have been two and a half years wasted." He cockily replied. While he'd physically grown, all present could see that at heart, the hyperactive blond had remained the same. Still burning bright in his eyes was the fire of determination that they had all come to recognize, and admire. His confidence spilled over into his traveling companions; the sage smiled proudly at his young charge and the Servant turned her head to the side, a visible smirk on her lips.
Sakura herself smiled affectionately. Yep, still the same Naruto we all know and love. It's good to have him back…surprises included. She added mentally, directing her attention to the black-haired woman. She'd observed the reactions of the adults in the room when the little "info dump" came; needless to say, Sakura was quite shocked, but was doing her best to process it. What made it possible was the defensive look on Naruto's face and in his posture. It was all too familiar to her thus she knew where things would go. Oddly enough, that put her somewhat at ease and even made her happy, happier than she realized.
"So, who is it you want me to fight? Any chance you're willing to let me take a crack at your, Granny?"
A vein appeared on the Kage's forehead, accented by a sweet smile which those who weren't fooled by it; behind the sweetness in that smile was murderous. Shizune and Semiramis both smiled seeing it, not for their own private amusement. "As much as I'd love the chance to send you flying through the forest or toppling into the dirt again, I have things I have to do. Being Hokage isn't all fun and games you know."
"Yep, she tries to sneak out almost every other hour for sake." Commented Shizune with an exhausted sigh that was cut short by a glare from her superior.
"Oh come on, it's Tsunade, she'd do that even if she wasn't Kage." Added the Toad Sannin, earning himself a murderous glare.
"Anyways, no, your opponent won't be me." Finally admitted the wearer of the Hokage hat.
"Then who is-"
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Again, Semiramis found herself combing through the presented memories to place names to faces, as well as personality traits for future reference. Through the door came a pair, a black-haired teenager with his hair done up in a shape that somewhat reminded her of a pineapple and a woman of equal stature with blonde hair pulled back into four pigtails. Shikamaru Nara, of the Nara Clan. Their clan's specialty involves the manipulation of their shadows for attack, defense, and support. She immediately placed watching her Master step up to gleefully interact with the black-haired teen. He and Naruto are…they are…they are close. He is a friend. That was the conclusion she'd come to from the memories she'd seen, and from Naruto's own personal admission. She saw that friendship on full display as the vest-wearing ninja's eyes lit up ever so slightly as he spoke to him. He was happy to see him.
The woman was harder to place, for her and Naruto as well. Annoyance was the natural reaction as she quickly introduced, or rather, reintroduced herself as Temari.
A flood of previewed memories came washing back to her, memories centered primarily on a young redhead who also possessed a demon inside of him. This was his sister.
"A diplomatic envoy from the Village Hidden in the Sand?" She whispered to the seated Tsunade.
She must know of the Sound-Sand Invasion. Good, means she's up to speed for the most part. Thought the blonde. "You could say that. Have you heard who the new Kazekage is?"
"I can take a guess, Naruto doesn't know." They had nothing to worry about as the subject of their discussion was completely engrossed in conversing with the two newcomers.
"Nope, kind of interested to see what his reaction will be." If they'd been traveling together, then surely the long-haired woman knew of the whisker-faced teen's desire to become Hokage, to sit behind the same chair she now sat behind.
"He'll be motivated." Semiramis was looking at his back with a visible smile on her lips; she carried not for who saw her.
"So then…Kakashi-sensei, you'll be my opponent, huh?" Finally deduced the Leaf's one and only Jinchūriki, looking tat the gray-haired jonin with an audacious smile. "Looks like I'll finally be getting my wish at a chance to go at you."
"Not by yourself, I'll be joining in too, ya' know." Came Sakura's equally confident voice, drawing the blond genin's attention.
"Well, you two are my students and we're all back together again." Laughed the masked shinobi. Behind the laugh, there was a ping of regret. Or almost all of us. He tried not to dwell on the thought, even though he knew it would inevitably pop up once Squad Seven reconvened. Perhaps this wasn't the full thing though, only part one of what could end up being a two-part event. Almost like a play if he were being honest. How many surprises would there be before the final curtain fell?
Gradually, his focus shifted to Semiramis, who was very aware of the state of things. She'd been formally integrated into the village and Team Seven, albeit the question was where did she go from there.
Semiramis turned to Kakashi, "With all due respect, I believe it best if you only fought Naruto and Sakura, Kakashi. Respectfully…fighting me along with them would perhaps prove too much, not to mention I can't promise I'll hold myself back and keep the damage to a minimum. As my attacks use poisons of all varieties, the collateral damage will get…extensive." Her gaze flickered across to Jiraiya, who let out a nervous shudder as it did. "I'm sure some of it was covered in the reports that were sent."
"Oh, I planned for that, which is exactly why I have another match set up just for you, Semiramis."
Now all eyes went back to the Fifth Hokage, whose attention was directed entirely upon Semiramis, who met her look with an arrogant smirk.
"Oh? A challenge just for me? Now that has me truly intrigued, Lady Tsunade." Remarked the Servant. Battle had never particularly been to her tastes, but her time on the road with two ninjas, one particularly impulsive, had changed that. "I do hope that the opponent you've picked out is of equal caliber to the Copy Ninja that my Master will be doing battle with. Not to mention I hope you've set aside some ground for us."
"No kidding. When you seriously start fighting, you start lobbing poison and acid all over the place." Groaned Naruto. Memories of his personal training returned, causing his battle-tested body to groan in slight pain. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he'd always thought about how such things would go over once they returned to the village. During their younger days, Sasuke's fire attacks left their mark on a few training fields, albeit that was the damage that could be healed over time; some of his fondest memories of their time as a team were of such. With his Servant on the other hand…
"No worries there, I've had the chance to analyze some of the poison she uses, I must say that I'm impressed." Clarified the blonde Hokage in a nonchalant tone. It easily caught the Servant's attention. She looked at the Hokage with a questioning glare, it was quietly redirected toward the male Sannin, who remained resolute as he became the target of the Assassin's cold stare. For all we know, if things go south, this could mean the difference between lives saved and lost. At heart, Tsunade highly doubted that this woman would willingly allow them to study her toxins so they could come up with antibodies and vaccines in the event of something…unsightly. That, and they were ninjas so such underhanded actions weren't entirely off-table.
Semiramis was actually impressed by that.
Internally, Jiraiya breathed out a sigh of relief. It seemed he'd escaped any potential ramifications from his actions. For now.
"Eh, before we get down to punching the snot out of each other, I guess I should probably give you this." Naruto said, reaching into his backpack. Apparently, he had returned with gifts.
"Hm? Brought me something back? How kind of…" The words died in the Copy Ninja's mouth as his one visible eye slowly widened when he spied the object that his student was giving him. Suddenly, his legs lost strength, causing him to wobble. Kakashi felt like he was going to faint, and he hadn't even physically taken hold of the precious treasure! He slowly reached for it as if he were being granted ownership of the sun. "This is…this is…!" Finally, his battle-worn fingers took hold of the green-covered book. "Naruto, is this-"
"Yeah, yeah, it is." He cut off, sounding somewhat detached but none the less happy in his sensei's reaction. "The first new issue of the Icha Icha series in three years. Pretty boring if you ask me, but I know how much you like this stuff so here ya' go."
The reactions of the Jinchūriki's two companions couldn't have been any more different. Jiraiya stubbornly crossed his arms and looked away, annoyance clear on his face. All this time and he'd failed to educate his pupil on what true and worthwhile literature was! The book he was handing out hadn't even been officially released yet, not to mention he'd signed it himself! It was times like this he wished that his godson took more after his father, who knew how to show a bit more appreciation for his work. In stark contrast, Semiramis watched the display with amusement, contrary to the groans and looks of displeasure on the faces of the other females. She was glad that Naruto hadn't taken an interest in the smut that his teacher chose to spend his time putting to paper. How long that disinterest would last was something she worried about though.
"All this fuss over porn." Grumbled Temari, watching the legendary ninja go completely starry-eyed for the book. "Unbelievable."
"Considering that the series is a constant best-seller, it must be of some worth." Offered Shikamaru with a slight upward tick of his lips. He wasn't going to reveal he'd caught his father, and even his mother, reading an entry in a series a time or two. Perhaps with the return of his troublemaking friend, he could snag a copy for himself for a read when he wasn't catnapping.
Tsunade coughed, catching the attention of all those in the room, or almost all of them. Her face quickly became cross as she absorbed the almost enchanted look on the Copy Ninja's face. To think this is one of the village's best ninja and the most likely candidate to replace me in case something happens! Dammit, what I wouldn't give for a drink! Even worse, after this little meeting wrapped up, she'd have to go back to work. "Kakashi!" She snapped, finally snapping the one-eyed ninja out of his mystified stupor and he managed to hide his sheepishness with the return of his lax jonin professionalism. Seeing she finally had everyone's attention, Tsunade decided it was high time she brought things to an end. Everyone had things they had to do, and something told her Naruto still wanted to show Semiramis around the village. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about that, but she had faith in her godson, and she had to show some goodwill towards the mysterious woman. "Sakura, this is be your chance to show how strong you've become, to myself and other parties."
The implication as clear as day. Briefly, the Assassin flickered her gaze to the pink-haired medical ninja, then to her own charge.
"I'll keep the commentary to myself until the battle is over."
"Liar, I'll be hearing you in my head." Naruto smirked.
"Then just fight hard so I'll have nothing negative to say about you." She retorted with a haughty smirk.
"Are they always like this? I'm surprised that Naruto's not…blowing up like he usually does?" Questioned Sakura in a whisper to the Toad Sannin.
He grinned. "Trust me, he may not look it, but Naruto's done some growing up of the emotional kind. Semiramis has managed to actually hammer in some discipline and restraint into him. Albeit some."
"Ahem, we don't really have to have this out right now." Spoke up Kakashi. "Naruto, you just got back, and you brought a friend with you who's going to be standing in the village and from what I can gather, living with you. Take some time to keep on showing her around the village, drop by your old apartment. In fact, you may want to start making some arrangements for another bed. It's not like you can take sleeping on the couch forever."
Normally, this was the part when most thought Naruto would ask why he should be the one sleeping on the couch. He surprised them.
"Yeah, I kind of figured that. Luckily, Semiramis told me she'd take care of it. She has this really cool ability called Territory Creation! It lets her set up shop anywhere she wants!" Explained the spiky-haired teen with a beaming smile…one that wasn't exactly shared by those around him as they all, save for Jiraiya, looked at him then to Semiramis with wide eyes.
"While I am an Assassin, I also possess the attributes of a Caster, a sorcerer if you will."
"So that means you're going to turn Naruto's place into your sorcerous lair?" Drily remarked Shikamaru. "What a drag, guess this means that you'll be spending half your time crashing at our place."
"Hey, it's not so bad. Well, once you get past all the weird smells Semiramis creates when she's cooking up her… poisons. Anyways, you're right, Kakashi-sensei, I should finish showing Semiramis around the rest of the village so she'll know her way around!"
"Great! Meet me at the old training field in an hour!" Came his overly upbeat reply before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"Hey, Kakashi, wait! You still have a…" The black-haired medical ninja's head fell as she put the dots together.
"Should have seen that coming." Sighed her fellow apprentice.
"I know I'm going to hate saying this, but will an hour be enough time for him to…" Trailed off Tsunade, turning to her old teammate with a tiring, quirk brow.
Jiraiya felt his eyebrow twitch. "What's with that look? Is it really my fault he knows good literature when he sees it?"
"Yes, good literature, whatever helps your frail ego along." Remarked Semiramis.
"Well isn't that the pot calling the kettle black." He shot back.
"Aaand I think that's my cue, come on guys, you're going to help me show Semiramis around the village!" Boomed the orange and black-garbed ninja with a huge grin, grabbing the Assassin by the arm and dragging her along. She offered no resistance, only a slight, very slight smile as she did so. Sakura looked at Shikamaru and Temari with encouraging smiles before they followed after them, leaving the two Sannin and senior jonin to their own devices.
As soon as the door sealed shut, a mixture of tension and relief swirled about in the room.
"She's quite a character, I'll say that." Breathed out Shizune. "Honestly, I don't know rather to…well, on one hand, I feel a sense of unease, especially with her being around Naruto. But from what you've said, Lord Jiraiya, she's mellowed out by interacting with him."
"The kid tends to do that, it's arguably the greatest strength that he has, more so than his wit, fighting ability, or growth ability." Stated the male Sannin, crossing his arms. All things considered, things had actually gone a tad better than he'd expected. Still, he didn't consider them out of the woods yet, or rather, he didn't consider all of the tension to be completely aired out. A good deal of it still remained. It had taken nearly a full year for Jiraiya himself to personally come to place a large amount of faith in the otherworldly woman known as Semiramis. She carried herself with the arrogance and intelligence of a queen as she proclaimed herself to have been when she was alive. That came with its assorted blessings and curses. "One thing I'll definitely say, she talks a big game and can back it up, especially since unlike Naruto, she's perfectly willing to be ruthless."
"Ruthless in her goals…or ruthless in protecting Naruto?" Pressed the gambler with sharp eyes.
Jiraiya wasn't at all taken back by how his old friend separated the two instead of seeing them as one in the same. "Both, she has her own agenda, believe me…but she does care for Naruto. As his Servant, she will fight to defend him."
"Have you seen such commitment with your own eyes?" Tsunade further argued.
"I have." Answered back the Toad Sage with his serious-mannered form suddenly carrying an aura of a certain wise old man who was his and Tsunade's sensei, there's uncharacteristic calmness if not more with certain wisdom in his eyes as he's still staring intently at the closed door where his student and the poisonous woman had exited.
Hearing that, Shizune sweated a bit while she felt her ears burn as she attempted to muster up the courage to say what her mind had come to. "So…basically…she's a…she's a…she's a tsundere?" She almost whispered.
"…"
"…"
Comically, both the mysterious air caused by Jiraiya in the atmosphere and his sudden wisdom-mode had broke when the two Sannin looked to one another, then to the assistant with deep sighs escaping their lips. "Like father, like son." They said in a joint tone, their minds thinking back to one person in particular. Shizune did so as well, recalling…fond and otherwise funny memories of her fellow Sannin apprentice.
"You both are going on like them getting together is going to be a sure thing." Noted Shizune.
"If not a romantic venture, she's certainly going to be an important presence in Naruto's life. Scratch that, from what I understand, she already is. It's just…" The Fifth Hokage caressed her brow, feeling the makings of a headache coming on, exactly what she needed at the moment. Even worse, she'd have to work through it instead of attempting to drink the problem away. "Naruto really has a knack for attracting problematic people, doesn't he?"
A smirk adorned on the Sage's face. "It's part of his charm. It certainly worked for you, didn't it?"
Stretching across the Hokage's face was a smile that one could have likened to a candle's flame. The Toad Sage had spoken the truth. Naruto was in many ways a magnet for the bizarre, the odd, and most importantly - the troubled. It was rather fitting as he himself had led a very troubled and tragedy-laced life, yet his optimism shined like the sun overhead outside. Personally, those like Tsunade called it a miracle, one that continued to touch the lives of everyone he interacted with, though sometimes not always in the way that was desirable. As far as she was concerned, the jury was still out on this Assassin, this Semiramis.
Gradually, the smile fell as her gaze found her old teammate's. There were a few things that had to be discussed before they could move on. Moreover, there were a few things that she had to know if Semiramis had been made aware of. "How much does she know of…Sasuke?"
A heavy sigh slipped from the old ninja's lips. "Enough, Naruto himself told her…she's promised to let him handle it, saying it's 'his duty' as his friend and teammate."
"…And you take her word for it?"
"There's not a lot else I can, you know how he gets whenever he gets involved." There was a pregnant pause as the three adults took the time to sit upon their current situation, and how it could evolve. They lived in a world where the things could change at the drop of a kunai, which had the power to shape countries depending on where it was thrown and who threw it. Now they had poison to deal with. "She…Semiramis just promised me that when that time comes, she'll let Naruto deal with it. I believe her because she's actually been tutoring him if you can call it that. To be frank…she comes off more like his older sister than anything. Or rather, another older sister who's more strict." He added with a chuckle, shifting his gaze to Shizune.
Her reaction was as amusing as one would have expected when she went defensive. "For the record, I can be stern, I just don't like having to be. Usually that falls to Lady Tsunade."
"But you should do it more." Cracked the blonde.
"Just so work can be taken off from you." Sniped the white-haired sage.
"Is there anything else you'd like to tell me or can I get back to working?"
"Um, just out of curiosity, what story is Naruto going to tell the others? In particularly Hinata?"
It was moments like this that the role of an assistant became clear - pointing things out which their superiors usually missed. Another joint gaze was shared between the two Sannin. Though Naruto's reputation had improved, a considerable portion of the village still saw him as a pariah. Put him together with someone as eye-catching as Semiramis and there was bound to be trouble, and questions, and rumors. It wasn't for Naruto they worried about, but for Semiramis. Jiraiya, in particular, knew of what the woman could do when it came to addressing a problem; more accurately, "taking care of it". All the thoughts and calculations he'd made upon returning home slammed back into him like a morning gale.
He, of course, looked at his long-time teammate for an answer. Moments like this was one of the many reasons why he turned down the position of Hokage when it had been offered to him. That, and it cut too much into his leisure time; better Tsunade's than his.
"Lucky for us, or rather Naruto, she and the rest of her team are out on a mission. In fact, several teams are. It's only in the last two weeks that the village has gotten back to some sort of sense of normalcy after Orochimaru's little stunt. Since then, thankfully, we haven't had to deal with anything too hectic." Spoke the blonde. Her stony gaze locked on Jiraiya, who caught it and stood tall and rigid as an ancient tree. "Tell me right now if that's going to change, Jiraiya."
His grim expression was all the answer she and Shizune needed, yet he spoke anyway. "Let's just…call it a hunch. A bad feeling. Anyways, I've got some things to tell you about how the trip went, and what information I picked up."
It seemed Tsunade would get her drinking in, and of course, it would be over work.
"So…Gaara became Kazekage, huh?"
Kage, the position of leadership of ninja villages. Semiramis had studied up on the title and had learned it did not come easy, as no position of leadership should have. What surprised her though was how relatively…clean the records of succession were in most cases. Albeit she'd worked with limited resources as the Hidden Villages were quite secretive in their respective histories and such. That, and as she'd learned, the Five Great Nations and their assorted villages had only been around for just over one-hundred years. Every village had at least three past Kage, the Hidden Stone Village being the exception as she'd learned from Han that the Third TsuchiKage, Ōnoki, clung onto the reins instead of passing the hat onto a fourth successor. He was the oldest of the current five Kage beating out even Tsunade, who certainly didn't look the part.
And now, she'd just learned the Kazekage, the Jinchūriki of the One-Tailed Beast, and a close friend of her Master, had taken up the position making himself the youngest.
He was no older than Naruto, with a past just as dark given the malicious power he carried inside of him.
The conversation had of course turned to what Temari was doing in the Leaf, leading to discussions of the Chunin Exam. Semiramis had seen through her Master's memories; she had to admit, it was quite an interesting chapter in the lives of not just Naruto, but those around him, friends and rivals alike. Especially this Sasuke character. It was doubtlessly their first true taste of outside interaction, of competing against one another as soldiers of their countries sworn to fight and die for their lands and their ideals.
And funnily enough, from what she gathered, Naruto ultimately came out the victor of the exam's final round. Unfortunately, much had happened thus rendering the victory somewhat null and void. As Shikamaru and Temari explained this latest attempt, her eyes drifted over to her Master, watching for his reaction. First, of course, there was shock, its stride being reached upon learning that his one-time rival-turned close friend had achieved his dream of being Kage before Naruto. Semiramis kept it hidden, but she shared Naruto's feelings of sadness, if only for a brief instant.
Then, like the passing clouds overhead, the sun shined again. "That's great." Came the genin's voice, dripping not with envy, but genuine happiness. "I'm not about to be outdone by him." His hand rose, fingers pointing to the Stone Faces in the distance sporting five heads instead of four as they had when he'd departed and what Semiramis had seen in memories. "I'm still going to be Hokage one day; just you wait, Gaara!"
Such declarations which usually the sort that Semiramis laughed at, especially coming from hotheads. She had heard him make the boast several times, and gradually…she'd come to believe them to be possible. Nay, they are possible, especially as he now has her by his side, and the plucky young blond has succeeded in catching her interest. Not many can boast of that.
She stepped over and placed a hand over his thus catching his attention. "It seems the next step to making that claim a reality will be overcoming your old teacher. I trust you won't hold back, Naruto."
"Nope, you should know that by now."
"Geez, all this time I was thinking it'd be Sakura or Lady Tsunade who'd do the whipping you in, instead it's this stranger from no knows where." Remarked the heir to the Nara Clan, watching the display.
"Seriously, what is it with you? You're going on like I've lost all my dignity!" Snapped the blond.
"You're a man who interacts with women, and there is a chance you will marry. Such a fate is inevitable for every man interested in a woman. Whoever you marry, she will undoubtedly have to rein you in. I personally see it as my duty being your Servant to save whoever that woman is the struggle."
"Good luck with that, this one's about as hyperactive as they come, not that that's always a bad thing."
"Temari, I'm pretty sure that's the first time you've stuck up for me." Stated the genin, giving the female blonde a thankful look.
"Well, consider it the first step in me repaying a debt. You did help give me back my little brother, and I never really got to thank you or…well, any of you, properly for it." Explained the Sand Village native, looking at both the genin and the pink-haired chunin. "Since we've got a little bit of time, anyone feel like getting something to eat?"
"Yes!" Answered both young members of Squad Seven, a little too close in unison and too enthusiastically.
It drew Semiramis' attention, albeit she knew better than to reveal any more than she had to. "I take it there's a bit of a story behind this?"
The two looked at her with faces that resembled ghouls more than humans. "You have no idea…that…lying bastard…" Spoke the two in unison.
Recovering first was the pink-haired medical ninja. "A quick bite to eat won't hurt, and I think I know a place." In a flash, she wagged her finger at Naruto, whose eyes went wide seeing the stern look in his old teammate's eyes. "No ramen, since this is going to be Semiramis' first time eating in the village, we have to make it special. Got it?"
"But I promised her!" He pleaded.
"You can take me to this Ichiraku for dinner then. You did say it'd be your treat when we got back." Proclaimed the Servant off-handedly. Truthfully, she was curious as to what this Ichiraku Ramen tasted like after hearing her Master prattle on about it so much.
Her words hit like a bomb in regards to the other three ninja. Their eyes widened and swerved from her to Naruto then back to her then to the blond genin. Wait a minute!? They all thought unison while the genin shaped up.
"That could work. Especially since we'll also be celebrating our big win against Kakashi-sensei. In fact, that's actually better!" He proclaimed with a hearty smile.
Naruto has a date!? With an older but undoubtedly beautiful woman way out of his league like her!? And all of the food delicacies from the menu for dates, their dinner to eat is going to be RAMEN!? Pondered the three wide-eyed ninja with immense shock as they were watching the Master and Servant converse with one another like everything in life was normal. As if the three shocked ninjas were watching two contrasting animals of predation - subjects of an educating wildlife podcast - defying the laws of the food chain and their education about animals hunting other animals; witnessing an ignorant and energetic prey and its natural and deadly predator deciding to share and eat human junk food as their meal together peacefully. The longer they stared at the scene the less sense it made!
Needless to say, over the next hour, the "Demon Brat" got his usual assortment of looks and glares, albeit greatly toned down. Several backed off immediately as they felt an unmistakable wave of sheer dread wash over them the moment they looked at the blond with anything resembling scorn in their eyes. It was surreal, horrific; an invisible serpent walked with the now-teenage prankster like some sort of evil spirit. Or guardian spirit.
It was, without a doubt, the beginning of a trend that would continue into the coming weeks until those who looked at the genin with spite simply gave up. Others would find they had no reason to continue to glare at the orphaned ninja. The name "Naruto Uzumaki" had begun to spread, and for quite a number of reasons. Those reasons would only increase, and become more outlandish as time went on. Along with it would spread another name, one that would be spoken of with a mixture of awe, fear, envy, and eventually hatred.
"Home sweet home." Spoke the teenage blond, taking the first steps inside of the place that had been his home, his sanctuary, for the first fourteen years of his life.
He kindly parted to the side, allowing Semiramis to step into the apartment that had been kept up in his two-and-a-half-year absence. No longer clouded by the haze of memory, the demigoddess was able to scoop out the place for the first time with her own eyes. Admittedly, it was nothing special, especially nothing in comparison to the lavish living she had been blessed with or the grand displays shared by other monarchs and royalty. Instead, it reminded her of her father's hut when growing up; that made it perfectly acceptable and even appealing in Semiramis' eyes.
Konohamaru and his teammates had kept their word in ensuring that the place was kept clean and tidy for the eventual return of its sole occupant. Or former sole occupant. Taking several more steps inside, Semiramis noted how it was enough for a single person to live in for a time. A bed directly in front of the door while to the right sat a moderately sized kitchen with a square-shaped table and four chairs. She took some quiet relief in knowing that at one point, more than one of the chairs had been occupied. That would be the case in the future. To the front of the kitchen, practically sharing space with the "bedroom" sat a somewhat faded couch and coffee table that sat before a TV and corresponding stand. Upfront lay a patio that Naruto quickly rushed over to examine.
At first glance, one wouldn't assume he was the top of person that had gardening as a hobby, but he did. It was one of the ways he and his Servant had been able to connect with one another. Quietly, she joined him, her footsteps echoing through the once empty room.
"Seems like you left your plants in good hands." She noted, observing the vibrant colors upon which the flowers and leaves they grew with.
"I left good people in charge of them. You already met Konohamaru, though to be honest, I think Hinata might have helped him out. She's great when it comes to taking care of plants, she's almost as good as Ino! I'm wondering where she is so I can introduce you to her and Kiba and Akamaru and Shino."
"Hm, I'm sure I'll come face to face with them in time." Quietly comforted the Assyrian woman. Together, they looked out over the horizon. Overall, the apartment was modest; for one with a bloodline like Naruto, it was less than what he deserved, but it was something he could be happy with. She imagined that must have been the Third Hokage's intention. While he couldn't' do all that he wanted, he still must have found ways to make Naruto's life a tad enjoyable. Still, she felt a ping of sadness as she looked out over the neighboring block, she wondered how many times did Naruto stare out at the same scenery contemplating his existence and why it was so harsh. "Naruto," She began, drawing his attention. "Get going so you can make it to the practice match. I'll be there-"
"Watching from the shadows." He smirked.
A rare laugh slipped from the Assassin's lips. "And I shall give my score when the battle's reached its conclusion. I'll set up shop here."
"I'm not going to win then come back to find my apartment's become sort of weird castle or something from an RPG, am I?"
She reached up and lightly flicked him on the side of the head. It hurt as much as a breeze of evening wind, causing them both to laugh.
"Alright! Just don't go too overboard! I really don't want to make something that'll have everyone staring as they're walking by!" Cautioned the Uzumaki, leaping from the railing through the air. In what had been a quick decision, he'd entrusted his home which he'd just returned to and all of its household items to her. Her, a woman whose most famous feat was murdering her husband.
At the very least, it could be said she wasn't going to be cooking him dinner, and that Naruto had built up resistance to her poisons.
As she watched him vanish into the distance, an uncomfortable feeling began to spread through Semiramis; it bloomed in full force as she turned about to face, ironically, the kitchen.
Images of a blue and green-colored cookbook flashed in her mind, along with a price tag that would have normally had her arm moving if her mind hadn't caught up to her body. That brought it all to a screeching halt. Semiramis shook her head, clearing her mind of all distractions as she focused on the task at hand. At best, she had perhaps an hour or two; her goal was to be done by sunset which wouldn't be for another three hours at best. That should be enough time.
The slow-growing flower of discomfort was quickly burned away, allowing for the birth of something new, something…foreign. Breathing in through her nose, Semiramis flexed her fingers, her hands glowing with mystical purple light while her eyes crackled with amusement. If this place was to be her residence of living then so be it, she'd accepted that. What Naruto had agreed to was that his ordinary apartment space simply wouldn't do for a Caster, much less a queen.
That was about to change in the most radical way possible.
This time for sure! Proclaimed the blond genin, setting his azure-colored eyes on the twin silver bells that hung from his teacher's fingertips. In the back of his head, he had a feeling his and Sakura's "trial match" against their old teacher would be repentance of their original test, the one that truly determined if they were ready to become ninjas. As Kakashi himself had pointed out, all was the same except one person was missing…and it had fittingly sent the blond and the pinkette sulking to the ground, dark clouds hanging over the two of them while he looked on with visible shock and sympathy. That was just one of the many things that would be different this time around.
A lot would be different, he and Sakura agreed on that as they shared a glance between one another while their teacher pushed up his headband, revealing his lone Sharingan. To this day, Naruto wondered where his teacher got it, he and his teammates, especially Sasuke. None of them had ever asked; they'd certainly questioned what lay beneath his mask, even making several admittedly zany attempts to see, but never his eye.
What they did know was that he only brought it out when he was serious. The last time Naruto had been the target of such seriousness had been years back little after Tsunade had become Hokage and announced a village-wide fighting tournament. He and Sasuke had attempted to take down their sensei, separately of course as they were still young and hot-headed, doubly so given the mood. This time he was by the side of their team's one and only healer, it'd be interesting to see what she could do.
"You both know the rules of this, don't you? Anything goes meaning come at me like you intend to kill me…that's certainly what I'm going to be doing to the two of you." Though his voice was level, there was no denying the tinge of excitement in his voice. This was the aspect of being a ninja that baffled civilians and none-ninja alike. Arguably only samurai could understand, or really, just anyone whose profession involved putting their lives on the line in a kill or be killed struggle. Such traits were passed down as teachers taught students, who'd go on to do the same when their turn to teach came.
"Alright then…let's go!" His fingers flexed, then tightened around the blades that had become just as much a part of his arms as his fingers were. There was sudden heat in the air, one felt by both his teammate and his teacher. They took notice of it, and were rightfully shocked by what came next.
Kakashi's mismatched eyes widened seeing the cross-shaped blast of air coming straight at him. He dropped to the ground, feeling the weaponized gale pass over him. If he'd been hit, he'd be lying amongst the trees, likely with a fractured rib or two…and a few lacerations to the chest. The shock lingered in him, and grew as several more blasts of pressurized air came straight at him, forcing him to leap to the side like a frog. It was just what his blond student had been hoping for. From his left, he saw it coming, an orange blur that would no doubt hurt if it made contact.
CLANG!
There was a sound of chains rattling followed by the faintest hint of footsteps pounding against the ground. Reacting quickly, Kakashi ran thin layers of chakra through his drawn kunai and parried just in time.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLINK!
He bored beneath the earth, it was the only way to escape what was coming next, which was a ferocious x-shaped slash that would have left a bloody gash in his chest. From within the confines of the ground, he preferred a serious of hand signs that would end in the earth upon which Naruto and Sakura stood crumbling away into a sinkhole.
Such a thing never came to pass as the former slammed one of his blades down into the earth, sending forth a wave of ethereal energy that dug into Kakashi's sinkhole like a hoard of invisible bees. The pain was great, but he pushed through it, almost quite literally sending a mound of dirt and rock shooting upward. He heard Naruto and Sakura fall back. An idea came to him; hand signs were quickly formed and chakra was poured into the massive earthen flow shaping it into something else, something that would have scared the crap out of his little genin students years ago.
"I always thought he could do that, but I didn't think we'd be on the receiving end of it!" Barked Sakura, readying herself as the giant swirling storm of rock and rubble shaped itself into a massive earthen dragon with sharpening stalagmites for teeth and bright yellow eyes. A mighty roar was let out as the beast's shadow fell over the two teenagers. Though she felt an impulse to attack, something, or someone, held her back.
"Go for him when he comes up, I've got this." Spoke her blond friend with his usual confidence and smile on his face. For the first time, Sakura was able to take notice of the change that had taken place along his arms. Lettering, mystical orange lettering ran up the length of his arms, disappearing into his sleeves. Around his wrists were dark-gray-colored bands upon which there was more lettering, kanji. At the top were an orange swirl, a familiar symbol. At the bottom lay a chain that connected to the two blades that her teammate held in both hands.
He definitely didn't have them back when he left the village.
Sakura took a brief whiff of the weapons, the hairs across her body stood up as she recognized the smell all too well, even if she didn't know the precise ingredients used to create it.
"Kakashi-sensei, you wanted to see what we can do? Well, here it is!" Shouted the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki with confidence, launching his newly improved Kitsune-ken forward. The weapons howled with fiery-orange light as they traveled through the air to meet the oncoming rock dragon, colliding with it and thus stopping the beast in its tracks. Immediately, orange liquid surged through the construct, racing down its stony neck into the ground from which it had come. A surprised roar of shock erupted from its crumbling lungs before it and the "birthplace" exploded in a shower of dirt and steam. "Sakura, now!"
Shaking off her stupor, the pinkette spied the surroundings for a blur. Upon finding it, she kicked off the ground, her feet leaving deep imprints in the soil.
Kakashi looked through the shower to find his female student before him, fist pulled back and her face serious as it was supposed to be in the heat of battle. Through his mask, through his stoicism, Kakashi Hatake smiled in pride. You guys…seems like you've both grown if only just a little, that means I don't have to hold back as much as I thought I would have!
Then all of his thoughts and feelings completely fell off their rails as all hell broke loose at the very moment his student kunoichi, instead of her fist aiming at him, suddenly and purposely took aim at the ground resulting-!
BOOOOOOOOM!
To be continued…in 2020...
Maybe it's a bit cliché of me to end the last chapter of 2019 on a cliffhanger, but I figure it's best as the next chapter will be the conclusion of the "Dove Amongst Leaves" trilogy and set the stage for the next major story arc. Yes, it's exactly what you're expecting it to be, but they'll be some fun before them. Namely, Naruto bearing some "upgrades" and Sakura giving their sensei a run for his money, commentary from the spectators and Semiramis finally getting to stop by our favorite ramen stand! Oh, and when it's all over, a nice good rest in a…very improved and bed in a very new and improved apartment space. Curiously, what do you all think Semiramis will have done to modify Naruto's home? Are you expecting some sort of giant magnificent tower that stretches into the sky and overshadows everything else like as Shikamaru said some sort of sorcerous lair? Something modest? For that matter how will the fight with Kakashi go and who's going to be Semiramis' opponent? You all will have to wait until next year to find out.
In the meantime, Happy Holidays everyone, and see you all again in 2020 will the story continues!