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Chapter 2: Saving Face

There were few times in his life that he'd ever say he hated his senior commanders. Incredibly few. He couldn't help the rage and anger growing in his rumbling stomach; the chopsticks dripping with ramen broth had even snapped, catching the chef's attention. As the boisterous voice began to fade, the flaps of the stand had parted to reveal the beaming smile and bowl cut hair of none other than Might Guy, the strongest, the most ferocious and the most foolish jōnin the Uzumaki had ever had the pleasure – displeasure – of meeting.

Beside him was the woman Tokiwa, face painted with confusion, her eyes boring deep holes into his skull with a steely deadpan. He turned in his seat, swiveling with the chair. Time sat still for the Uzumaki; his sapphire eyes were wide, skin frozen. Their eyes locked for a few moments, burning with a fiery hue in those irides of hers. Naruto felt it; hell he had his own. Damn woman was looking for him – because of his foolish former sensei. Sure Naruto loved the old man like a grandfather or even father, he just couldn't stand that this was probably some sort of confession from some woman.

"Y-You're Jiraiya of the Sannin's apprentice?!" the woman looked at him incredulously. "But you yourself said -"

"Only a fool would give his identity away to just anyone." Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Okay, let's cut to the chase; since you're not here asking me what happened to the old perv; I assume he doesn't have any kids running about that no one knows of. What do you want with me?"

Aoba looked to Naruto and the woman, slowly inching away to take a different seat. The tension in the ramen stand was palpable. Taking a tense seat next to the Uzumaki, the woman raised a hand and quickly ordered a bowl of ramen as well. Her eyes were planted with the counter, staring aimlessly.

"I'm surprised the irony of this all…" Tokiwa began. "Who would have known that the one person we are about to leave to seek out would wind up here…"

"The power of coincidences." Naruto slurped at his bowl. Reaching for another, he grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the container across the counter. Still nervous in the woman's presence. "I'm sorry for being the way I was…I just…"

"It's smart." Tokiwa responded quickly. "You have nothing to worry about, young Naruto. Jiraiya-sama must have taught you well."

"He did…" A small smile grew on his face. "Sadly enough; he never told me about any of this."

"What do you mean?" The woman looked up from her bowl, almost face-faulting at Naruto. He was already filling his face with ramen, all the while stacking the previous bowl he had. The tower of empty bowls astounded the kunoichi, seasoned and having seen many things through her warrior's tenure – but never had she seen something so profound and…disgusting. "Jiraiya-sama never once spoke of his duel – of Nadeshiko?"

Naruto continued shaking his head. "He taught me a lot of things; chakra control, rasengan mastery, other things. He taught me the history of the shinobi world and his own ideology on how to change it. Nadeshiko and any of this…not a sound from the old sage."

"Well…" Tokiwa awkwardly slurped at her bowl of ramen. "I guess there's no use in beating around the bush…"

Naruto slowly placed his chopsticks next to his bowl. "Let me guess…this story starts out how almost every story involving my sensei starts, huh?"

"Well…"


Decades ago…

Explosions rocked the village. Kunoichi of Nadeshiko ran back and forth, shouting orders and crying out for blood. Sure, it was totally justified but damn – these women were stingy as hell. Jiraiya hung beneath one of the great bridges by a simple rope of sticky gum. Sweat fell down his cheeks like bullets, building and then finally growing too heavy and drifting against his skin. He could hear the drawing of swords and kunai, the singing metal sending shivers up and down his sweaty back. Such a sound never brought the sight of a woman's breasts or the curvaceous figure of a woman's hips and legs. Oh no – this sound brought pain and torture.

They were after him and they were out for blood – his blood. Jiraiya frowned, scoffing at his perfect, never failing luck. Of course following rumors and leads would bring him to this. A village of nothing but beautiful, bountiful women, just perfect for research purposes, just so happened to be the most stingy and cruel women he'd ever met. Who would have known that being Jiraiya of the Sannin would be so negatively received that he'd have to sneak into the village? To be fair of course; women from Tsuchi no Kuni to Mizu no Kuni probably have set out messages and warnings to all the free women of the world.

Regardless; the rumors were flooding his ears and he'd even run into a few minor warlords raving like addicts about Nadeshiko kunoichi and their sublime beauty and renowned strength. Ironically, the Sannin had never heard of such a village until he overheard some girls in a brothel speak high praise for Nadeshiko. Of course though, lo and behold, the rumors of their beauty were truth. Worryingly so, their strength was also painfully true. He had snuck into the village, notebook ready and telescope preparing to draw. How they managed to catch him, the Sannin did not know. One thing was for certain; these kunoichi were efficient.

Within seconds of the reveal of his position, almost a dozen kunoichi practically appeared from the void of darkness. Their faces were fair, their racks were massive and their legs were thick and fit well with their skin-tight body suits. If he wasn't so worried for his physical well-being, he would have lost the shame and suffered a painful nose-bleed. Snapping from his fogging brain and thoughts, he dodged and ducked and back-flipped, doing everything he can to escape the inferno that is their ire. Absolute foolishness, really. Jiraiya regretted what he'd done almost immediately, seeing those kunai and swords and even spears. The gods must have watched after him; not a single ninjutsu was launched his way during the fight.

His thoughts finally faded, removing the reverie. Holding his breath, he wouldn't put it past these kunoichi to somehow sense and hear his own breathing and beating heart. Their footsteps had stopped just above him. One didn't need clairvoyance to know what would happen if they simply looked over the railing. He struggled, hearing their conversations, speaking of a white haired peeping tom. As all hope seemed lost for the young Sannin, the footsteps started once again, a few kunoichi taking off down the bridge. Slowly; his arms grew heavy and stiff. This is time for me to let go.

Descending to the ground below, he could hear the faint sound of enraged women and blades singing in the wind. Taking a moment to glance at the beastly kunoichi, the weapons were cutting through the air, almost imbued with wind chakra. Bracing himself, he smashed through branches and the thick forest canopy below. Stopping for a moment, he landed perfectly upon a thick tree branch. He steadied himself, watching his surroundings and basking in the dim lighting of the great moon above. But of course, in the midst of offended women, there was no safe haven until he left the country. Kunai and shuriken rained through the forest canopy, digging into the bark and trunk of the tree.

Almost a mirror image of what he had done, a beautiful ginger-haired woman appeared. Her eyes were glimmering like precious emerald gemstones in the night. Drawing the dangerous looking katana from her back, she along with her kunoichi sisters took a stance for battle. Their eyes screeched bloody murder. Jiraiya of course, came unarmed because what gentleman pervert would enter an all-female village with weapons?

"Ladies…" Jiraiya raised his hands in a false sense of surrender. "As much as I'd love to stay here…I'll take this as my cue to ditch…Kuchiyose no jutsu!"

Suddenly, a great plume of smoke appeared, ripping through the scenery. From the smoke a gargantuan toad of maroon-purplish color had risen from the epicenter. On its back a shield of equal proportions glimmered with the rays of the moon. With a bellowing, but somehow reserved call of 'ungracefulness' the giant toad hopped off into the distance, shaking the earth as its monstrous hind legs crashed with the dirt and forest.

He continued running, dashing through the horizon doing everything he can to escape their wrathful pursuit. Finally, well past the break of dawn and the early morning; Gamaken had dispelled hours before, leaving Jiraiya to continue on his way by foot. Escaping would be no easy task since Nadeshiko was on an island a significant distance from the mainland Elemental Nations. Taking a breather, he fell to a knee beside a Clearwater stream. Such tasty and clean drink had never felt so well-deserved. He cleaned his face a few times, dousing his skin and a few locks of his hair until he paused for a mere moment.

"Hmm…" He spoke. "I'm surprised that you managed to follow me all this way."

"Your skills are incredible." She praised. "I've never seen such powers used before."

"Look…" Jiraiya rose to face her. "I don't want to fight you –?"

"I want to fight you." She spoke with a steel tone. "If you beat me, you will have my hand in marriage."


"Wait, what?!"

Naruto's ramen broth showered forth, spraying against the counter walls. Even the chef was sprayed in his spit. His face was purple and red at the same time. Slowly backing away from the woman, it took a shot while for him to regain his bearings. I wanted to know what the deal was, not inspiration for Icha Icha Tactics!

"We are a matrilineal village; only women are allowed in the village." Tokiwa was quick to add. "We go around the world searching for powerful shinobi to find and bring home to Nadeshiko to have offspring with them. Jiraiya-sama and our previous leader fought so hard that they destroyed the scenery and even caused landslides. But in the end, they managed to battle to a stalemate."

The blond stared at his ramen, stomach no longer grumbling. Taking his silence as the cue to continue, she took another deep breath.

"As a stalemate, Jiraiya-sama and our last leader made a deal that they would continue their duel at another date and if they can't…their students would battle for marriage. Shizuka, the girl you saw defeat the robot, will duel you for her hand in marriage."

Her eyes never left the bowl of ramen in front of her. Reaching forward, fingers slowly brushing against the pair of chopsticks beside her food. As much as she wanted to continue eating – it calmed her stress – her mind wandered too far. Thoughts clouded and formed, growing into a full conversation in her mind, thinking of what she could say to convince him otherwise, going over every contingency. She could already hear his rage and screaming voice. Using her skills of deduction knowing what little of his personality and…

"It's too quiet…Naruto-san?"

The woman's head snapped up from her bowl of half-eaten ramen. Astonishment flooded her body, sending shivering cold and lightning up and down her nerves and spine. Quickly whipping her eyes back and forth, the blond shinobi and the two Leaf shinobi with him had disappeared as well. A small plate of barely bitten onigiri and untouched bowls of ramen remained where these men sat and ate. She slowly rose from her seat, hands and arms hanging at her sides completely awestruck once again.


"D-Did you not hear what that she was saying?!" Naruto panted heavily. Sweat dribbled down his forehead and cheeks. "All that marriage crap?! I…I can't do that! I…my heart belongs to someone else! Thank you, old perv! You've done me a real solid here! NOT!"

"Just calm down, Naruto." Aoba sighed, wiping the sweat off his own brow. "What is it with you?"

"Remember when stopping on the island was gonna be for R&R?! Because I sure as hell don't anymore!" Naruto frowned. "Come on, let's get to the Inn. I just wanna get off this island already!"

The three shinobi took off like a man in a crucible. Taking to the rooftops, the trio made it to the Inn with plenty of time left for leisure in the hotel. Sweat dribbled down the Uzumaki's face, slowly drenching his orange jumpsuit. The three hobbled along into their room to find Tenzo sitting at the coffee table, sipping at a cup of coffee and watching a show on the Television. As the door opened full swing, the smile he had on his face actually faded. It was so painfully slow, the Uzumaki felt bad for showing his face so soon.

"What are all of you doing here so soon?" Tenzo asked with a neutral expression.

"Long story short…" Naruto sighed as he collapsed in front of the jōnin. "Pervy Sage failed to say anything about setting me up to duel some kunoichi for her hand in marriage."

Tenzo, the ANBU, jōnin, wood-style badass, known for supreme composure and death face that sends terror into any man's soul; spit his steaming hot coffee like a garden hose. Naruto's face showered with burning hot liquid, steaming against his tanned skin. Normally, the Uzumaki would scream and yell and be a nuisance – this was a serious moment, no time for childish antics. The jōnin looked at one another, sharing looks of worry.

"He did what?" Tenzo looked at the Uzumaki with an incredulous look.

"Heard it all with my own ears as well, Tenzo." Aoba added. "Surprised me as well."

"Honestly, I don't see what's wrong." Guy cried with the flames of youth burning in those eyes of his. "A thing such as marriage is a beautiful ceremony. The embrace of a man and a woman –"

"GAAH!" Naruto shouted, bringing his hands up in self-defense. "NO! Stop! It's not like that! It's all because of the old pervert making some asinine promise – and I'm the one picking up the slack!"

"Besides, this is a secret mission. We can't afford any distractions or unaccounted variables." Tenzo added. "We have our supplies anyway; we should leave as soon as we can tomorrow."

"Agreed." Guy shrugged his shoulders. "We can sleep early and head out under the cover of morning fog."

But Naruto knew better. As the jōnin gathered their belongings and packed their bags, he stayed still. He sat at the head of the coffee table, hands resting against his knees. A fresh hot pot of tea steamed carrying the scent of oolong. Next to the pot, a small and easy cup of instant ramen steamed with the tea. Strangely enough; he couldn't bring himself to reach ahead to drink and eat. Despite it, the jōnin didn't think much of it, not even taking a moment to check up on the Uzumaki.

Finally taking a moment to move, he sipped softly at the tea, feeling the scalding water press against his lips and skin. Barely wincing, the tea was sipped away, leaving him to dig into the cup of instant ramen. Time inched along at a turtle's pace, the moon glowing painfully bright through the inn's windows. He found himself in his bed, staring aimlessly at the ceiling. Aoba, Tenzo and Guy were knocked out cold. Their snores growing monotonous and drilling into his eardrums. But he suffered through it, reminiscing upon the journey so far.

Clones dreaming and the reoccurring theme of not being able to face himself. Turning in bed, his eyes misted softly, thinking of what that could possibly mean. He knew who he was – he did. Thoughts churned and grew larger with doubt and fears mixing into some monstrosity. His body went cold, despite the blanket wrapped around him. But as his mind churned, so did his stomach. It clenched and shuddered with a roaring pain.

"Agh…" He sighed with a whisper. Rising from his bed, he moved with an expert ninja grace, exiting the inn without a sound. "That tea…probably drank too much…"

Despite the raving rumbling within his core, the boy leaned against the railing of inn's walkway. There was a worrying feeling bubbling in his chest. He was being watched and whomever was watching him, made sure to let him know that they were watching –

Oh gods. Naruto's eyes locked with the shadowy figure of the kunoichi Tokiwa. SHE FOUND ME!

He subconsciously ducked beneath the walkway railings. His back pressed against the wooden walls, sweat growing on his brow once again. Slowly peeking his head over the railing, Tokiwa still stood there; her expression seemingly unimpressed. He slid down against the wall, eyes planted with the walkway floor. Oh what the hell.

Rising to his feet, he beamed a nervous smile at the towering kunoichi. Naruto practically jogged the rest of the way. Collapsing upon a jutting rock in the garden in front of the inn, he looked up at Tokiwa, almost awaiting her to get mad. "You f-found me…"

"It'll be difficult to get rid of me." Tokiwa spoke with a straight face. Highly professional.

"I'll cut to the chase, Tokiwa-san." Naruto crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not dueling her. I cannot wait up any longer – I have my own schedule to deal with. I'd say go find some other strong guy to fight her –"

A heavy punch met the stone garden lamp. Tokiwa's fist dug into the stone top. "Don't speak so carelessly! Shizuka-chan doesn't like this situation either! She may seem cold, but she is indeed a kind-hearted woman."

"She once had a lover…named Sagiri." Tokiwa began. "He was a trader granted access to the village. But a faction growing among our sisters believed that he was going to ruin our heritage and culture. So…no one knows for sure but one day he's attacked and is killed almost immediately. Since then, Shizuka locked her heart away, and chased after the strongest men only to kill them where they stood. It is almost as if she's punishing herself."

"Please, Naruto-san…" Tokiwa fell to a knee. "You must duel her."


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