A/N: Before I begin I'd like to publicly thank White fox16 for their assistance in helping me navigate through an uploading problem I was having.
While it wasn't really what most would consider a dire problem, I want to try and make this story as enjoyable as possible for those who enjoy my idea as much as I do.
So, thank you White fox16, your help was much appreciated.
Ch. 3 Renascentia aquilae (Rebirth of the Eagle)
xxxxxxx
Naruto couldn't believe his eyes.
There, standing right in front of him, was essentially a giant statue of himself. It was seeing this, that made Naruto realize why Tazuna had been so insistent about speaking with him, why he'd told Naruto about Rome and the ruins of Wave country. Naruto was a descendent of Caesar; the greatest man in an empires entire history. It almost seemed too good to be true.
But then, years of hurtful words and scorn from an entire population began to rear its ugly head, and Naruto found himself feeling a bit of doubt.
'How can I be related to someone so important? This guy was loved by, basically, his entire empire; while I'm looked at like a disease on human society. It...just doesn't seem possible.'
Despite Naruto's recent enlightenment to his own advanced mind, he still found it hard to believe that he could be related to the powerful figure that stood before him. No matter how much his own mind screamed it was true.
But then Naruto remembered the family records that had been placed at the very back room of the temple. The records that had been continuously written in up until 50 years ago, and was bound to be able to tell the blonde if any Uzumaki's had written in it! With this hope in mind, Naruto began a mad dash for the rear of the temple.
Passing by several rooms, which Naruto had learned were used by the shrine maidens of old, the blonde found himself at the entry way to the last room. Stopping just outside the doorway, all Naruto could see from his position was the blank wall in front of him. He tried to take a step forward, so as to get a look at what was inside, but his legs wouldn't move. He was afraid.
Naruto feared that this was all a joke, or a dream. He feared that he would look through the log book and find that he was not related to the great man who's statue he'd just left. He expected, and slightly hoped, that this was all just a dream and that he would wake up as soon as he entered this room. He hoped for the dream scenario because it wasn't the first time he'd had a dream like this, only in those others he was related to the 4th Hokage, not a ruler of an entire empire.
As Naruto stood there, debating what to do, he felt the knot reappear in his stomach. Something that was happening a lot lately. Then he remembered that it was this same knot that he'd felt just moments ago as he was debating whether to enter the temple or not...and when he went along with the feeling he found the statue; something that wouldn't have come to pass had he played it safe and turned around.
So, armed with renewed faith, the young Uzumaki stepped through the doorway and into the final room of the temple. What he saw wasn't what he'd been expecting.
Where as Naruto had expected the final room to be immaculately furnished, the room he walked into was sparse and nearly empty.
The room was about the size of Naruto's apartment and consisted of a plain table and chair, with a black-leather bound book sitting in the middle of the desk, as well as a small shelf on the wall; both just out of sight of someone standing outside the door. The shelf contained two rows of books—all brown, leather-bound and four fingers thick. Naruto guessed those were Caesar's campaign journals...which made the black book on the table the family records.
With a lump in his throat, Naruto slowly walked over to to the chair, pulled it out, and sat down.
After scooting in the young blonde let out a breathe he didn't know he'd been holding, causing the dust on the table top to kick up and swirl around in the air. A testament to just how much time had passed since anyone had been in this room. He lifted his shaking hand and reached out towards the book.
xxxxxx
Almost immediately after Naruto had left the house Tsunami asked Hinata if she'd go out and get ingredients for dinner that night. Hinata, always the polite one, accepted the task with a smile.
And so, Hinata now found herself walking through the village with grocery bags in hand. She was happy to do a favor for someone who saw her Naruto-kun as the great person he was, a person who deserved nothing but the utmost respect.
'And unwavering loyalty', her mind spoke up.
Hinata found nothing wrong with her devotion to the blue-eyed, blonde-haired genin. She'd seen how other girls acted around Sasuke when she'd gone to the academy, and felt she was different because her feelings were feelings of love; not just some schoolgirl crush. She didn't find it odd that she was so inclined to gain favor from her Naruto-kun, nor did the young Hyuga find it strange that she didn't share the depths of her feelings with her surrogate older sister Kurenai,
'She wouldn't understand anyway, she'd probably just think I was acting like those girls at the academy. Well she, and everyone else for that matter, won't have anything to say when my Naruto-kun is standing atop the Hokage building giving his inauguration speech. And I'll be right there by his side, he'll have finally realized that I've always been there for him and will reward me for my devotion.'
With that ending thought Hinata entered into a state of bliss as her mind began to play out the different ways her Naruto-kun would reward her for being so devoted to him. This lead the Hyuga princess to needing to find a secluded area where she could feel the full effects of her imagination.
'I don't think Tsunami-san will mind if I take a little detour getting home; it is rather warm out today after all .' And with that, the young kunoichi veered off towards the forest to help relieve herself of the heat.
xxxxxxx
Tazuna sat in his study staring at the map he'd shown Naruto yesterday, his eyes trained on one spot in particular. He was staring at Rome. He still couldn't fully grasp what he'd learned about Naruto, and his connection to Caesar.
He'd made the discovery a few short weeks after Naruto and his team left from Wave:
FLASHBACK-
Tazuna was stumbling about, just coming out of another drunken stupor. When he fully came to his senses he noticed that he had entered into some of the woods that encircled Wave. Although, he didn't recognize any of his surroundings. He looked around and noticed a stone road that seemed to go on for miles. Deciding that following the road was his best bet, Tazuna began to walk. He walked for what he guessed was an hour and a half before he noticed...broken columns and triumphal arches?
"But, columns haven't been used in ages! Not...since...Roman times", Tazuna's mind began to click everything into place: The stone roads, the columns, the arches; it could only mean one thing.
He'd found Roman ruins!
Tazuna could feel the smile that stretched from ear to ear across his face and the swelling of his heart upon realizing just what he'd found. He'd grown up on tales of the ancient empire, hearing tales of Marius, Hadrian, and of course, he was told stories of Caesar. He'd been raised with a high sense of patriotism which was why he'd fought so hard to free his country from Gato, because he refused to see a piece of the once great Roman empire put under the thumb of some low-level thug!
And so, Tazuna continued his trek through the ruins, taking in the craftsmanship of the columns and arches; true works of art.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Tazuna happened upon the entrance of a town—a real, still standing, town! His excitement mounting to new levels, Tazuna's pace quickened, wanting to begin exploring the ancient treasure he'd stumbled upon. He knew he was in for a long night.
xxxxxxx
Hours had passed since Tazuna had discovered the desolate, but beautiful, town. He'd explored the forum and all its shops; finding blacksmith equipment in some buildings. He'd scoured through homes; finding what appeared to be old world clay ovens in the homes of upper-class citizens and then finding braziers(stoves for the poor) in the insulae of the lower class citizens. He journeyed then to the temples and government buildings. What he would find there would forever change the course of history.
Having just exited a temple of Jupiter, the old bridge builder was greeted with light as the sun began to rise seemingly out of the trees. This brought the novice explorer to a standstill as he realized,
'I've been out all night, Tsunami's probably worried sick, not to mention how Inari probably feels. I should go home for now. I can always come back later; and next time I can bring others.' So, with his mind made up, Tazuna turned and started walking away.
The man had made it to the entrance to the town when he heard it. A bird call.
Normally Tazuna would just ignore it and continue with his business—but he'd never heard this type of bird call before. That, accompanied by the tightening knot in his stomach, enticed the older man to turn around and find the bird. What he saw astonished him greatly. There, perched atop the roof of one of the shops, sat an eagle. This shocked the man because eagles were not native to Wave country, and were never seen flying in its airways. So then what was one doing here now?
Then Tazuna noticed something strange. The bird...seemed to be looking right at him.
As Tazuna began to back away the bird let out another cry, and continued to do so with each step back the bridge builder took, "I-It's as if the bird's telling me to wait", he mumbled quietly.
So he took a few steps forward, and was rewarded with a shrill chirping that sounded almost like 'yes'. Tazuna, still unsure of what was going on, remembered that the eagle was not only the symbol of Rome, but also Jupiter's favorite form to take when dealing with mortals. But, that was impossible...wasn't it?
Before he could ponder it any further the bird hopped from its perch and floated in the air, its wings gently flapping to keep it afloat, and then turned around and began to fly back into the city.
While still unsure what to make of what he was seeing, Tazuna decided that there was really no harm in following the bird. After all, he was already late getting home, what difference would it make? So he began to run, chasing down the eagle that had stopped again to wait for him. He ran for what felt like forever, passing by familiar buildings he remembered exploring the night before, and then catching glances at the buildings he had yet to explore as the bird carried him deeper into the ancient city.
Finally, the majestic bird settled on the rooftop of a building. And what a building it was! Tazuna now stood in front of the largest building he'd seen in among the ruins. 'Ruins, ha, this temple looks like it hasn't aged a day.' But he didn't have long to marvel as the bird began to call to him again.
Looking up Tazuna noticed, once again, that the eagle was looking right at him. It would look at him and then turn its head down, before lifting it again and letting out a cry that echoed across the city. Following the knot in his stomach, Tazuna began to walk forward until he reached the bottom step that lead to the temple. He could feel his heart race as he looked to the step, and then then to the bird perched above him. Only to see that the bird was gone!
The man rushed back a few feet to be able to see beyond the temple as he searched the skies, but there was no bird in sight, not even a speck in the cloudless sky to show that it'd flown away.
This only made the bridge builders heart race faster. He'd heard many legends and tales of how the eagle of Jupiter guided men and women to a path that would later lead to greatness, or appear and fly away from a place to hint at danger if Jupiter felt your life was worth sparing. Taking note that the bird had appeared and flown to the temple, Tazuna took heart in the knowledge that it was the former.
With a renewed sense of purpose Tazuna walked back to the steps, and began his ascent towards the temple door. What he saw once he'd reached the platform nearly knocked the man off his feet.
There, above the entry way, was the Latin words for: "Long Live Caesar"! This was unbelievable, Tazuna was floored. His legs felt weak, they shook, before he sank to his knees. Feeling wetness on his face he reached up, when he pulled his hand away he found he was crying. Tears of joy continued to stream down his face as he began to laugh. He'd found it, he'd actually found it!
One of the stories he'd been told as a boy was that one of Caesar's temples had been built somewhere in Wave country, long before it was ever known as such, and was the home of not only the mans military journals, but his family record as well! And now, thanks to the eagle, he'd found it!
While still on his knees the Tazuna did a quick prayer, and sent thanks to the gods, before standing on shaking legs and slowly making his way inside. Once he'd reached the entry way he noticed a large set of legs standing atop a platform, 'A statue of Caesar no doubt', and what he saw once he was finally inside astounded him.
The statue was a masterpiece. Every detail looked to have been sculpted with the utmost care, creating the most life-like image out of stone that Tazuna had ever seen. It looked as if the statue would step right off the platform and head right into battle. Tazuna spent long minutes inspecting the statue from his place on the ground, continuously finding something new to marvel at: the way the cape seemed as if it would begin to rustle in the unseen wind, the way the muscles in the arms expressed readiness in how they were positioned, and then there was the face. When the older man's sight reached the face of the great general, his eyes nearly rolled right out of his head.
He was staring Naruto.
-END FLASHBACK
Tazuna recalled, after coming out of his shock,searching the temple and found the family records. What he found made the man do something he'd never imagined himself doing...he fainted.
After awakening from his impromptu slumber, the bridge builder placed the book back on the table and rushed home as quickly as possible. He had to let everyone know what he'd found! First, of course, he returned home where he was engulfed in a teary hug from his daughter, who thought him dead in some hole or mauled by the wildlife of the forest. Tazuna quickly put his daughters mind at rest and told her of his discovery.
FLASHBACK-
"Tsunami I'm sorry I worried you so much, I was out drinking last night," at this his daughter let out a huff of disappointment, "-sigh- yes, I know, but I was out drinking last and wound up wandering into the woods. When I finally came back to my senses I wasn't really sure where I was, and then I noticed a stone path. I followed the path and, Tsunami, you'll never believe what I found!"
He went on to tell her of everything he'd experienced while he was out, and by the end of his tale, Tsunami was just as excited as he was. She, like Tazuna, was raised on stories of the Roman empire. And now to hear that it had a chance to resurface? It was almost too good to be true!
So the two of them gathered up the people of Wave country and Tazuna lead them to the ruins. The town seemed to just...come alive again, with all the people walking around, "oohing" and "aahing" at the ancient world around them. This went on for several hours, everyone wanting to see and experience everything the old world treasure had to offer. Finally, after everyone began to settle in at the Forum, Tazuna spoke out,
"People of Wave, hear me! I know that this has been an exciting day fro all of you, but there is still more to see!" At hearing this,murmurs broke out:
"More?"
"What more could we want to see?"
"I don't know but it's got Tazuna excited so I wanna find out"
These, and more of the same, were what greeted Tazuna's declaration. He responded incline,
"Now, I know it may seem hard to believe, but what I have next to show you will surely be worth it. If you would all follow me I will show you the real reason I was so excited." When most of the village looked on in skepticism, Tsunami came forward in her fathers defense.
"People, please, trust that what my father says is the truth. You trusted him to save us from Gato and he did. You trusted him today, when you know in your heats how unlikely his tale seemed. All he's asking, is that you put your trust in him one more time, and let him bring you the same joy he feels now. What's so wrong with that?"
That did it. Every member of the village broke out into a smile, and a look of belief shined in their eyes as they stood straighter, bodies filled with a new sense of anticipation. They were ready to be shown this new great wonder. Tazuna sent a grateful smile to his daughter before turning and walking off towards Caesar's temple.
Upon arrival at the temple the villagers mouths dropped to the ground in awe of its greatness. Never before had they laid eyes upon something so immaculate. It was after hearing Tazuna's next words that sent the mass of people into a frenzy,
"My fellow villagers, each of us were raised by our parents on the stories and customs of the once great empire of Rome. Stories and customs we have passed down to our own children, who will no doubt pass it on to their own children. I bring you here today to inform you: the days of the Roman empire will soon rise again!"
Many of the villagers were weary of the bridge builders words. This wasn't to say they didn't wish for the return of those ancient days, but it just didn't seem possible. Tazuna, sensing their hesitation, quickly spoke up again:
"Wait, stay and listen! Inside this temple lies the tools to the empires glorious return, I promise you! For this is no ordinary temple. This, is the temple of GAIUS! JULIUS! CAESAR!" He finished his exclamation with the throwing out of his arms in excitement.
Tazuna's words struck a chord in every individual standing outside the temple.
While it's true that they'd all grown up hearing different tales of famous Romans, everyone's favorite stories were always the ones that involved the great Dictator. His very name caused a tingle to shoot up their spines. The children's eyes all widened in glee at hearing his name, as they had all gone to bed with stories of the mans bravery and heroic deeds.
Seeing that everyone was ready, Tazuna began funneling them into the temple.
-END FLASHBACK
Tazuna let out a laugh at remembering the peoples faces when they learned that their savior, Naruto Uzumaki, was also the descendent of their great Caesar. Suddenly Tazuna's belief in the resurrection of Rome didn't seem so far fetched.
He'd sent the mission request to the Leaf as an excuse to get Naruto here, so Tazuna could show and teach Naruto about Rome. Then, with the boys curiosity stoked, he'd tell the blonde about the ruins. He wasn't at all surprised at the boys ability to ward off that Jounin; he knew the kid was more clever than others gave him credit for. And now, with the knowledge that Caesar was his ancestor, he knew that the boys cleverness would only become more dangerous to his enemies.
Now, all that was left to do was wait, and be ready for the rebirth of the eagle.
xxxxxx
Naruto sat there, his hand hanging in the air above the black book on the table in front of him. He wasn't really sure how long he'd set there; it felt like days. But what he did know, was that he wouldn't ever find out the truth if he didn't open the book and take a look inside!
Swallowing the lump in his throat Naruto pulled the cover over and revealed what appeared to be an authors note on the the front cover:
"Caesarem quasi hydrae amputavit caput , et multo plures tantum locum dedit."
Unfortunately, Naruto had not learned enough Latin from Tazuna that day to be able to read the whole thing, the only word he'd really been able to decipher was "Caesar".
After adding 'learning Latin' to his list of things to do when he left, Naruto began to once again flip through the book, scouring through the names in hopes of finding his own.
xxxxxx
While Naruto searched for a link to his past, Kurenai stood atop the balcony of Tazuna's home deep in thought.
'I just can't seem to figure it out. What could those two have been in such deep discussion about? And then there was this morning! They go into the study again, and then Naruto comes out and just decides he's going to check on some grave? I highly doubt it.'
In fact, the ruby-eyed Jounin doubted it so much that she'd sent a clone out to the graves soon after he left and she got the location from Tsunami. She learned, after it dispelled itself, that the blonde genin never actually visited the graves. He'd lied, which could really only mean one thing:
He knew she was watching him.
'That kid's a hell of a lot smarter than Kakashi-san gave him credit for. I wonder how he'll react when I inform him of just how clever his student really is.'
Speaking of informing others, she knew she'd have to report her charges strange behavior to not only the Hokage, but Master Jiraiya as well. Perhaps they could shed a little light on just what Naruto's strange behavior could mean. Until then all she could really do now was wait.
Ino was bored.
Ino Yamanaka hated being bored.
But then there wasn't much else she could do right now anyway. For the first time she didn't feel like going out and browsing the shops of another village. She just wanted to: GO HOME! She didn't even understand why she'd been given the mission in the first place.
'I mean yeah, I'm a future clan head, but that doesn't mean I really need to go on these kinds of missions does it? And I don't even have anyone to interact with on this team! Hinata's no fun to talk to, and the only thing she probably even wants to talk about is Naruto, which is a subject I am...not...interested-' The female blonde let her thoughts stop for a moment as she thought about the other blonde on the team. The one who'd been acting strangely.
She'd never really been close to Naruto, but she didn't necessarily dislike him as Sakura seemed to, she just never found any merit in being his friend. In the academy he was so loud and annoying, his stupid pranks and his awful jokes, Ino wasn't sure what Hinata saw in him. But now, the Naruto that was on this mission with her, seemed like the complete opposite of what she's used to.
The Naruto she'd gone on this mission with was quiet, calculative, and dare she say it...cool.
'Pfft, "Naruto" and "cool", two words I never expected to have in the same sentence unless there was a "not" in-between them. But, something's been up with him since he learned about our mission from Wave. Almost as if he was expecting something to happen after we got here, which something did happen. He met that guy, Tazuna, and ever since their little conversation in the street the two of them have been acting weird.'
Ino wasn't sure what was going on, but when she thought about Naruto and his strange behavior she could feel the beginnings of a knot start to form in her stomach. What that meant, she dreaded to guess. Her thoughts were broken by Hinata's return with the groceries for dinner that night.
"I'm gonna have to talk to Shikamaru about this when we get back."
xxxxxx
Hinata wiped her face on her sleeve.
After relieving herself from the heat she'd been feeling, the young girl went in search of a body of water to help her cool off from her activities. Luckily she was in a country that was surrounded by water.
She couldn't believe she'd really just pleasured herself out in the middle of the woods! What her Naruto-kun think of her if he'd learned of such a thing!?
"H-He might never accept me i-if he knew w-what I just did, I-I have to make sure he doesn't find out."
While normal girls wouldn't have thought this way, Hinata Hyuga was no normal girl. Her devotion to the blonde Jinchuuriki was absolute; an order from him superseded even that of the Hokage or her own father. After years of neglect at the hands of her cla,n Hinata became dependent on the sense of confidence and self-worth she got from watching Naruto. He'd become her entire world, and he hadn't even known it.
"B-But that will all change. S-Soon, I'll be strong enough t-to not only tell him h-how I feel, but also s-show him as well. T-Then, when he sees what I've done for him, he'll a-allow me the privilege of s-serving him"
With those reassuring words, the fiercely loyal Hyuga princess began her return to Tazuna's house, where she would wait patiently for her Naruto-kun.
xxxxxx
Naruto sat there, his eyes glued to the page in front of him. It read:
Kagato Uzumaki
There it was, near the very end of the book. Naruto didn't know who this Kagato was, but he held the name Uzumaki, so that counted for something...right? 'Don't start panicking, Tazuna said it's been 50 years since anyone's written in this book. For all I know, this guy could be my grandfather or something. I'll just have to-'
Before the young Uzumaki could finish his thought he noticed something near the bottom of the page. It was faded, but it looked like letters. Knowing he would need better light to see, Naruto decided to head outside the temple.
Once outside, Naruto carefully opened the book back to the last page, and held it so that the sunlight would cause the paper to become see-through. When he looked at the bottom of the page again, there, in childish scrawl, was another name:
Kushina Uzumaki
Although Naruto still didn't know who this person was, "A girl from the sound of it", he was even more certain now that he was related to the man who's statue resembled him. He just had to figure out who was Kushina Uzumaki? For the moment though, he'd go back inside and take a look at all the things he'd passed over in his rush to find the truth. So, turning around, Naruto walked back up the steps and into the temple.
After returning inside, Naruto put the book inside one of the pockets of his jumpsuit; so as not to run the risk of laying it down somewhere and forgetting it. He searched through each room he came across, though most of them were boring bedrooms. Then, as he reached farther back in the temple, he came across something interesting.
He found a mannequin wearing the same suit of armor as the statue.
He noticed that, while not in the worst condition, the armor was still unreliable in battle due to its age and lack of use. And yet, despite its aged appearance, the armor still held its dignified look. Deciding he liked the look of the armor and the sense of power he felt coming from it, Naruto came up with an idea:
'Why not have my own set of armor made?'
So, after going back to where he found the records, the blonde genin found an inkwell and a quill, sitting on one of the shelves of the bookcase, that he took back to the room with the mannequin. When he returned with his utensils Naruto sat in front of the suit and began to sketch it on one of the blank pages at the back of the log. He followed this up by drawing it from both sides, as well as the back, until he had a perfect set of blue-prints for the entire suit of armor; from the helmet to the metal guards on the shin. Naruto also made sure to gently move back the folds of the red cloak, so as to get a better look at the whole curaiss. In doing so, the blonde revealed a set of leather shoulder pads that sat over the arm holes of the armor. Another thing Naruto discovered, as he made a full trip around the armor, was that the leather shoes, were actually more like boots. They went as high as the middle of the calf.
Figuring he'd spent enough time in the ruins, Naruto decided he'd call it a day. After grabbing a rucksack from one of the bedrooms and placing the records and his map back in his jacket pocket, Naruto exited the temple and began his walk back to town.
'Just have to make one stop before going back to the house.'
xxxxxxx
"Hello, and welcome to-" Tsuichi Nagita froze, his greeting left unfinished as he stared at who had just entered his store. 'Tazuna was right, he looks just like him'
Standing at the doorway to Tsuichi's shop was Naruto Uzumaki.
"Hello sir, I saw your sign outside and was hoping you could help me with something. You are the master blacksmith right?"
When Naruto first saw the sign that read "Tsuichi's swords&armors", he had been expecting to see a large, burly man standing in front of a forge with a leather apron and a smithing hammer in and. What he got was something totally opposite.
The man in front of him wasn't thin or out of shape, he just had a more...athletic build than one would expect from a master blacksmith. Although, he at least looked old enough to be a master blacksmith, 'At least he's got a beard'. The man was dressed in a sturdy tunic and probably strapped sandals, had shoulder length black hair that was tied back in a ponytail, wore a full beard on his face, and was covered in black soot. His muscled arms were crossed in front of his chest and were resting on the counter he stood behind. When Naruto asked his question the man blinked his charcoal eyes and refocused his attention on the blonde in front of him.
"Ahem, I can assure you young man, I am the blacksmith you seek," Tsuichi by this point had walked from around the counter and had extended his hand, "my name is Tsuichi Nagita, welcome to my store." Naruto extended his own hand and gripped the older mans in a firm grip.
"My name's Naruto Uzumaki, and I was hoping you could handle a request I'd like done? I have the designs here," Naruto pulled out the black book and opened it to the proper page, "but I have no skill in forging and require a skilled hand, preferably the best in the village, to bring it to life. Are you able to help me?" Naruto cocked his eyebrow in curiosity as he waited for the man to speak.
Tsuichi had taken the book from the young Uzumaki and looked at the page he'd turned to. Upon seeing the designs he was taking about Tsuichi's heart nearly stopped.
"T-These designs, w-where did you come up with such an idea? I-If I may be so bold to ask?"
The blonde merely smirked, giving him a wolfish expression.
"I think you and I both know where these designs came from Mr. Nagita. I came to this shop because I felt a...pull when I waked by. Now, make no mistake, this wasn't the first shop I passed. No, there were a handful of others, and I recall feeling a pull towards a few of them, but the feeling I got as I walked by your shop was so strong it nearly caused me to topple over. I knew then that this was the place that would help me begin my ascent to greatness...or was I mistaken?" Naruto ended his response with a slight turning down of his head, his brow furrowed as if in thought, and his eyes taking on a questioning gleam as if he were truly thinking about his decision.
Tsuichi, after hearing Naruto's tale, and knowing how good this opportunity was for him, quickly ate up the bait the blonde had thrown out. "NO! Ahem, I mean, no sir you were not mistaken. I would be more than happy to take on this request for you. It should be ready within the week." That wasn't good enough for the Uzumaki,
"I want it in two days."
"T-Two days!? S-Sir, you must understand, quality work takes time. Especially if you're hoping to wear this into combat."
"Funny, I seem to recall seeing a sign somewhere saying they offered the fastest delivery in town. Hmm, maybe I should go there, I'm sure they could have it done in two days. Heck, they might try to show off and have to me by tomorrow; what do you think?"
Tsuichi understood now. He understood the importance of the items he was being asked to create. These weren't just tools to be used in battle, no, these were a symbol. A symbol that the eagle had risen like a Phoenix from the ashes and was ready to take the world under its wing again. With this in mind, Tsuichi knew only one response was appropriate. He placed his fist over his heart and spoke:
"I fall to command, Imperator."
xxxxxxx
A/N: And there we go. Personally I feel like this one was a little lacking, but I figure you gotta just get those out of the way so you can get to the good parts. The team will be leaving Wave in the next chapter and be returned to the Leaf village. Once there Naruto will begin his physical training to become force to be reckoned with.
Hinata's part was a little...off to me to be honest. I'm trying to show the depths of her loyalty as well as feelings for Naruto, but I dunno. I think it's because she's still keeping it to herself that's making it difficult. And yet that's what I feel will maker her transition over to Naruto's camp more fun.
Kurenai didn't get much development here, but she'll be doing some conspiring once she's back in the village.
Ino has let her curiosity get the best of her and plans to seek out Shikamaru, which will take place next chapter. Shikamaru will become a major player once he truly gets himself involved.
And Tazuna. He was central to the beginning, but now he'll likely fade into the back, only to be brought up periodically, what'd you guys think of him? I tried to do something I'd never really seen done before by making him such a big influence in events.
Oh, and the authors note in the book means: Caesar is like a hydra, cut off his head, and many more will just take his place.
Please review and let me know what you think, constructive criticism is, and always will be, welcome :)