This is the next installment of Blood is Thicker than Bone and is Part II. I've decided to go ahead and do the timeskip and continue this onward as I've reached the end of the first part.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Three years later...
Naruto Uzumaki entered through the gates of Konoha, The blonde haired boy looked on with a smile on his face as he had been gone for a while.
"Good to be back right guys?" He asked Team 7 as the fifteen year old looked around taking in the usual sights.
"Its good to be home after we've been gone for almost a month on that Mission." Sakura Haruno said the Pink Haired girl stepping beside him. Clad in a red shirt with black shorts with a skirt hanging onto it.
The other teammate of Team 7 who was older than them stepped beside them. A girl with long red hair who wore a beige outfit, on her head she wore a black hat. "Never thought I'd be happy to be back here." Tayuya said as the three had returned to Konoha having been on an A Class Mission for the past month. Around her arm she wore the hitai-ate which she had been badgered into wearing until she finally did as the Former Sound Four Ninja was now a Leaf Nin.
Naruto looked on at his teammates as Team 7 had returned to Konoha having done a Mission which they had completed
He stretched out his shoulders that were covered up by the green vest he wore over his red and black outfit he had on. That which symbolized him as the rank of Chunin. He had gotten the promotion as a reward for saving The Fire Daimyo from an assassination attempt one year ago, having been rewarded for doing so and this time he had accepted the promotion unlike the last time as he knew he was ready to become Chunin.
"Alright then," A voice said and they turned and saw The Jonin standing behind them. "I believe we've all spent enough time together and want some alone time." Kakashi said to the group. "I'm going to go to Lady Tsunade and give her the full details of our mission. I'll see you all soon." He told before disappearing.
"Heh, don't know about you two but I know where I'm going." Naruto said with a smile as there was only one thing on his mind. Ramen, and lots of it. He had almost forgotten the taste of it after so long
"Of course we do." Sakura dryly said with a good natured smile to him. "First thing I need though is a hot bath and then I'm going to see if The Hospital needs any work done." She said as she had gone under tutelage of Tsunade, The Legendary Slug Sannin, learning medical Jutsu as well as the Super Strength she possessed. Thanks to her knowledge of pressure points and body, The Chunin had told Naruto that just by hitting the right spot with only her finger, she could rupture his lungs and make him die from internal bleeding if he thought about taking up The Toad Sannin's habits. That had put a stop to any thoughts he had of doing that
"I'm heading out," Tayuya replied to them. "I could do with some peace and quiet for a change." She told them as the red haired girl despite people in Konoha being skeptical of her joining them thinking that she was only biding her time to betray and escape, had proved her worth over the years as she was now a Jonin. She had also gotten better in handling her language as she didn't curse nearly as often as she did before as she had found a measure of peace in her new life.
Naruto walked through the streets of Konoha looking on. Most of the people and inhabitants noticed and waved and smile at him and he smiled back. A big contrast to the glares and jeers he would receive beforehand from tehm. The people in The Hidden Leaf were accepting him as one of their own it seemed like as though his hard work had paid off at last. He could walk around without any concerns of someone calling him names or insults.
The Blonde boy went on and his smile grew when he saw a similar sight that was all too welcoming to him.
Jiraiya The Toad Sannin had offered to take him on a three year training trip after The Valley of The End incident but Naruto had opted to decline it, thinking he could do more here in Konoha than going off elsewhere. He had decided to stay home and do missions and be with his family as he couldn't just up and leave them. What kind of scumbag would he be if he did that?
He came to the door and pulled it open and stepped inside.
"I'm back!" He exclaimed with a grin as he entered Ichiraku's.
"Naruto," A voice said behind the counter and his grin grew as he looked on at the figure standing there.
It was a woman with short red hair that went down to her neck who had green eyes and was clad in grey clothing. "Its good to see you home." Ayako Uzumaki said to him as she looked on at him.
"Hi Ayako." Naruto said as he approached the bar counter and took a seat. "Yeah I'm back from my mission with Sakura-chan and Tayuya-chan." He informed her and she nodded her head.
"The special we're serving today is shrimp, would you care for a bowl?" Ayako asked him.
"Sure! In the biggest bowl you got!" He said with a smile placing money down and she laughed at him.
She was working at Ichiraku's having done so for the past three years. Naruto having talked Teuchi and Ayame into giving her a job there as she had no real means of money on her. Her days of being a ninja were long gone and now she was a cook at the Ramen Shack. Having adapted well and earning praise from Teuchi for her cooking.
Naruto watched on as she went to work preparing the ramen as she skillfully made it and added ingredients to it. The two lived together in his apartment, having made adjustments to it so she'd have room of her own and expanding to it. Naruto was no longer a slob anymore ever since she started living with him as he started taking care of his home.
Ayako was his aunt, meaning she was his Mother Kushina's sister as well as the Mother of his Cousin.
They had talked for hours when he had first met her, staying up all night with her as he asked her endless questions about his Mother Kushina Uzumaki.
She had answered everyone of them with a smile, no matter what he asked as she had tales to tell him about her Sister, how she had a fiery spirit and how Ayako looked up to her elder sister. How she had no fear and that she wasn't afraid of anything. They were very close and it warmed Naruto's heart seeing the love the siblings had for each other.
She had told him everything she knew about The Uzumaki Clan as well, their history as they were prized for being great strategists as well as experts in sealing Jutsu she had told him.
They didn't realize that it was Dawn when she had finally finished telling him.
Naruto then told her about who he was, about what he hid. He informed her that he was The Vessel for The Kyuubi, The Nine Tailed Fox and the Demon resided within him. Naruto was worried about how Ayako would react, afraid that she would respond with fear and scorn and leave him, would leave this place and never return and he would be alone again.
Instead however Ayako warmly smiled at him and told him that it didn't matter that he was a Jinchuurki. He was her Nephew and she would love him all the same even if he wasn't one.
Naruto had hugged her wrapping his arms around her in response as happy tears had flowed out of his eyes, thankful to her forever for the kindness she had shown.
"How is Kimimaro?" Naruto asked and Ayako went silent.
"My Son is currently on an ANBU Mission." She told him as he was in The ANBU Ranks now. "He left last week." She informed Naruto who nodded his head in understanding. "I haven't talked to him much lately although I know he's well."
"Still stubborn as usual." Naruto noted as he felt that the reason Kimimaro Kaguya, the cousin and family he never knew he had until he unlocked Shikotsumyaku was an ANBU now was so he could keep his distance from her. He didn't live with them, living in his own place on another side of The Village.
Although his cousin was more open to her than he was when she had first come back and would see her and talk with her. Kimimaro was still distant at times towards Ayako, Ayako didn't disagree with him. Kimimaro was but a child having grown up in the cruel barbaric style of the Extinct Kaguya Clan watching them all be wiped out in the Battle with Mist when he believed she had died and her coming back after so long having thought to be dead, he had been angry at her for how in his eyes she had abandoned him. Although he would talk to her now and occasionally showed glimpses of happiness, things between them were still rough.
Ayako couldn't blame him. She had sworn to protect him when he was young and when he needed her the most she wasn't there and he had believed her to be dead for so long until she had appeared one day.
"Don't worry, you're making progress with him." Naruto comforted her. "I know that Kimimaro is gradually opening up to you. He fully will one day, I promise." He said to Ayako as she placed the bowl before him.
"Thank you Naruto." Ayako said as she wiped a tear away from her eye.
"Its good to be home." Naruto said as he began to eat his meal.
Three years...
Three long years he had been stuck on this wretched island.
Sasuke Uchiha looked on at the land before him from the rooftops of the Castle that served as Orochimaru's newest hiding spot.
The air around was thicker and harder to breathe in than The Elemental Nations as this place was plagued with constant war and battles.
Orochimaru had come to this place, fleeing The Elemental Nations taking Sasuke, Kabuto and a few others with him when he had abandoned his bases and had groveled before one of The Warlords, offering assistance in exchange for sanctuary. Having come to this place, which was far, far beyond the eyes of The Elemental Nations as they had disappeared off the face of The Earth it appeared with how far they went. The Warlord, Sasuke having known his name to be Kimu had accepted the deal forming a tenuous partnership between them neither fully trusting the other. He would give him a place to stay and in exchange Orochimari would aid him in his conquest, using his inhuman experiments to strengthen his army.
With Orochimaru's aid he had given, the land had been conquered in one years' time with how the rest of the opposing warlords having been brutally murdered and killed. Kimu ruled with an iron fist and any who dared to speak up against his rule was brutally executed
Sasuke had been on the frontlines of that war, fighting foes who had sought to kill him with no hesitation as there was no rules in war. He lost count of how many soldiers he had slain and villages and fields he had watched been razed and destroyed. Men, Women, Children, all that had been on the opposing side had been killed until the entire island had been conquered at long last, it was said that each of the other warlord's skulls were used by Kimu and made as goblets to be drank from.
Sasuke had never seen the man's face or features, except for his grey eyes which were openly cruel. He always had his helmet and face plate on preventing anyone from being able to see what he looked like.
But it did not matter to Sasuke what his appearance was, he could be handsome or heavily disfigured behind his helmet for all Sasuke cared.
All that mattered to Sasuke was getting stronger. That was the only thing on his mind He had spent every waking moment training and getting stronger, using whatever means necessary to do so.
Beforehand he had only wanted to kill his Brother, but now he had another person he wanted to kill.
Naruto Uzumaki.
A snarl formed on his face as he remembered how Naruto, an unknown, someone who was suppose to be fodder how gotten stronger and had surprassed him. He always had that cocky smile on that miserable face that Sasuke hated. That which always mocked him, he didn't know of the two who he hated more.
Having put his body through the wringer in order to strengthen it, getting a Summoning contract with The Snakes as well as enhancing his Cursed Seal of Heaven to get the power he desired.
"Sasuke-kun." A voice said and Sasuke didn't bother to turn around to see the glasses wearing figure.
"What do you want Kabuto?" Sasuke demanded from him.
"Lord Orochimaru has requested your immediate presence." Kabuto Yakushi stated to him and he as always had that smile that made one feel filthy on his face
"Hmph, so be it." Sasuke said and turning around brushed past him paying him no more mind.
The Castle Guards said nothing to him as he went his footsteps silently touching on the ground as he went on until he came to the Throne Room as he could hear voices from there.
He looked on as he saw Orochimaru there, there in the room clad in his armor as always was Kimu as the two were apparently discussing something.
"The Time is now! Three years I have offered you sanctuary as we agreed upon and now the time has come." He stated to Orochimaru. "I shall return to The Elemental Nations at long last." He said to him
"Patience, we should not be rushing in blindly like a wild bull into The Elemental Nations. I still have much work to do regarding my newest experiment." Orochimaru said to him "We should wait until the moment arises for us to return and strike. A moment when they are showing weakness is the best opportunity to attack." He said to him
"For years, almost half my life I have been cast out and exiled from there, driven from The Elemental Nations, watching my first army be destroyed." Kimu said and brought his hand up into a fist remembering his first defeat. "Now I shall return at last. My army is at its full strength and I shall crush all who oppose me." He said and the blades on his gauntlet he wore extended.
"Good." Sasuke said speaking up and stepped forward. "Its about time I return as well. I shall be going as well back to there." He said and Orochimaru looked on at him.
"Sasuke-kun, know your place, you serve me remember?" Orochimaru said to him. While he had longed to return to The Elemental Nations and have his revenge, he only wanted to do so after he had taken Sasuke's body. The boy was getting too ambitious in his eyes with his constant harping on about wanting to get stronger these past three years.
"You forget I never swore any servitude to you," Sasuke corrected him. "I am your apprentice that is all I am to you." Sasuke coldly said to him. "I know I am now strong enough to fulfill my mission." He stated to Orochimaru before turning to Kimu. "I care little for your dreams of conquest, once we return there I shall be going my own way, but if you wish for a place to start, I know just the place to begin. A place that will be an easy foothold to obtain." He said before smirking.
Orochimaru curiously raised an eyebrow as this was something new from Sasuke. Just what as he planning?
"We leave in two weeks," Kimu informed them "My fleet shall be prepared and ready to depart by then, I shall leave this place and never come back." He said before turning and leaving the room.
Orochimaru looked on at Sasuke. "Just what is this place that you are so eager to go to Sasuke-kun?" He asked him geniunely wanting to know. "Its not like you to be so straightforward and making suggestions."
"A place that's very special to an old friend of mine." Sasuke responded to him. "We had our first major fight there and its only fitting that I go there first." He told Orochimaru.
"I see," Orochimaru noted bringing his arms up over his chest. "I look forward to just what it is you happen to do there."
Sasuke allowed his smirk to grew. "Once we get there, you'll know why I chose that spot."
A/N: That's it for this chapter. Review please