Hey ya'll! I adopted this fic from a good pal, RamenLoverNaruto. They told me they killed the fic, and I stepped in. Vola~ My new fic. I skip the events of the War because it is currently unknown who wins, thus rather than drag this story out until then, I decided to: first, write about it on my deviantArt account, and secondly, skip it entirely.
Pairing:
NaruHina
SasuSaku
Hints of ShikaIno
Hints of KibaMisaki [[These two will get a side-story, don't worry]]
Hints of ItaTema
Chapter Twenty: An Announcement
Everyone had a pure look of shock on their face when Misaki finally finished telling them what the Kage told her. "That's why I wasn't looking where I was going.."
"I.. Wow... I can see why.." Sakura said.
"Are you considering it, Misaki?" Naruto asked.
"Well, yeah a little. Part of me is looking forward to this opportunity to finally prove myself worthy of my father and step-mother. But... The other part is sad and not wanting to leave the only family and friends I've known just to accomplish it." She sighed and nearly deflated onto the railing. "I don't know what to do..." She shut her eyes tight and balled up her fists.
Ino smiled softly and placed her hand ontop of Misaki's. "No matter what you decide... We'll be behind you... Supporting you as friends and in Naruto and my case, family... Just be sure you want that choice enough."
Misaki glanced up at her cousin with a wobbly lip and watery eyes. "Oh, Ino-itoko..." She threw herself into her cousin's arms and began crying. "That's the thing... I want both bad enough, but I have to choose!" She hiccuped.
Ino stroked her hair. "Shh.. Let it out..." She cooed.
When she finished, she took a napkin from Naruto and wiped away her tears, glancing at Kiba, knowing he was only acting as her friend in front of Ino. When it was Naruto or anyone else, Kiba snubbed her every chance. Maybe she would take the opportunity and leave, just to give herself time to heal. The hard thing was, she still loved Kiba, the way she did when she first met him three years ago. A wave of hurt rose up before she shoved it down. "I've decided... I'll go tell Lady Tsunade my decision." She said, smiling and returning to the Kages. "Lady Mizukage, I accept."
"Let's go inform the village then." Tsunade nodded as the six went to where Tsunade first gave her speech upon becoming Hokage. "Attention all Leaf residents! I bring both sad and happy news today. The sad thing is... one of our own is leaving and will no longer be residing here. Yamanaka-Uzumaki Misaki has accepted a position as the Mizukage's heir and permanent bodyguard. As such, she will be leaving in four days, giving her time to say goodbyes and prepare for departure." Tsunade said to a huge gasp from the villagers. "The happy news is that I have also decided on the one to surpass me... Hatake Kakashi will be the true Sixth Hokage. The elders have chosen him due to his excellent teachings to his three famous students. And for becoming-"
While Tsunade went on announcing Kakashi as her heir, Misaki smiled sadly at the crowd, knowing this might be the last time she'd see her fellow friends like this. The next time she'll see them she might be with the Mizukage and a resident of Kirigakure. By the time the speech was over, she was heading back to her house when her friends stopped her.
"Y..You're leaving?" Hinata asked.
"But there was so much more I wanted to teach you... More styles of the Rasengan!" Naruto whined.
Misaki smiled. "Nii-san, I'll be fine. I'll be visiting when I can... Believe me. You're my brother now, I'd never forget you, nor Ino-itoko." She hugged her brother before grinning at Sasuke. "Make sure he doesn't do anything too crazy, Sasuke-san. I'd hate to return one day and see half the village gone."
"Hn. I can do that." When she glared at him and stomped over, he actually gulped. "What?"
"And be nice to Sakura-chan. If one of her letters even has a hint of her being sad mentioning you, I'll come back and use one of my strongest jutsus on ya!" She threatened before grinning. "Now, I have to pack up and get ready." Closing her door, she collapsed into tears. 'I can't turn back... But... Kiba-kun... I'll still love you.. I'll be willing to be friends forever...' She dried her eyes and went about packing.
Naruto sighed. "I can't believe she's leaving..." He poked at his ramen and glanced around his room, remembering when Misaki first saw the mess. A chuckle escaped his lips before he put his food back into the fridge, not feeling hungry at the moment. "Gotta be happy. She wants this! Yeah! I'll send her off with a grin and we'll stay siblings forever, dattebayo!" After the preptalk, he left his house, meeting up with Hinata halfway to the gate. "Hey, Hina-hime."
"You alright, Naruto-kun?" She asked.
"Well, not really. But I guess if Misaki wants to leave, I can't exactly stop her. I'll miss her, that's for sure." He sighed.
"She'll visit. She promised, remember?" Hinata replied, smiling gently.
"Thanks. I guess that's true." Grinning, Naruto pecked her on the cheek, chuckling when she went as red as his late mother's hair. "Come on, I wanna be the first there!" He took her hand and they dashed towards the gates.
Sakura yawned slightly and streched before remembering today Misaki was leaving. "Shoot!" She quickly got dressed and darted out the door, bumping into a person. "Sorry, I was in a hurry."
"Hn. Don't apologize. I was just wondering if you'd ever wake up." Sasuke's chuckle replied.
"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura blinked before grinning. "Let's get going then. I'm sure we'll get yelled at by Naruto if we're late." She giggled as the two dashed off towards the gate.
Misaki inhaled and saw every one of her friends there, except Kiba and Akamaru, which stabbed her in the heart, wondering why she believed he'd show up. Even the parents she had called her own were there. Mrs. Haruno, or Mebuki, walked forward first.
"Dear, all us parents wanted to give you something to remember us by. I made you this so you don't get to cold in Kirigakure." She handed her a pink sweater with a cable-knit pattern and a wool-blend construction. "I've been working on this since the end of the war for you." She said.
Misaki smiled and hugged her as Yoshino, Shikamaru's mother, walked forward. "You better take care, alright? Or I'll be sure to scold you good next time you visit! And be sure to eat healthy!" She scolded gently, hugging her tightly.
"I promise." Misaki said as each of the mothers gave her a gift, even the fathers joining in before leaving their children alone with her. "Well, this is it." She said.
"We'll miss you." Sakura said.
"Come back sometime. I'll play some shogi with you." Shikamaru said.
"And I'll beat you, just for old times sake." Misaki said.
"You're on." He replied.
"Do be sure to get some cute things while you live there. I would love to hear about all kinds of clothes and flowers that are there!" Ino rambled, hugging her cousin.
"Will do." She answered, promising to inform them all of the thing they would want: Tenten with the different weapons, Lee with how different their taijustsu was compaired to the leaf, Sasuke with how strong their own chuunin were compaired to them, Hinata with promising to occasionally get out and train, same for Naruto. With promises for each of her friends, she was enveloped in a group hug that included everyone minus Sasuke, who all but grinned at their antics, and Kiba and Akamaru, who weren't there to begin with. "I'll write to each of you! Bye!" She waved and took off with the Mizukage to her new life.
However, in the shadows of a house nearby, a figure clenched his fist while watching the entire scene. Another nudged his hand, whimpering. "I guess we should've been there, eh, Akamaru? But after what I've said and done, I'd be lucky if she even listened to half my words. That and Ino and Naruto would skin me alive for hurting her so deeply." Kiba sighed. "It's too late now... Can't change it. She's gone and probably going to be better off without me."
"WRONG, brother." His sister Hana said, startling the two. "You've been moping around ever since the War ended all those months ago. What's going on. Mom and I are tired of accepting nothing." She said as their mother, Tsume, joined them.
"Listen, it's just... I don't know.." Kiba said.
"You do, but you don't want to admit to it, stupid boy!" Tsume said, grinning. "You've done well training with Akamaru, I admit, but when it comes to Misaki, I believe you still are weak in that area."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Kiba asked.
"You are blind, little brother... We won't answer the question. YOU have answer it." Hana replied. She couldn't believe her brother was that stupid. Even Naruto, whom she only had a few run-ins with, was smarter apparently than an Inuzuka. "Tell us why you shut her out after the war."
"I actually shut her out during the war." He muttered.
"WHY?!" Tsume demanded.
"She was getting too close. She was interferring with my training." Kiba replied. "Something you've pounded into my head, mom, since I was a kid 'train more in order to become strong'. That's what I've done for the past three and a half years. Train. When Misaki first came to the village, I was alright with it... But after awhile..." He paused, sinking into his memories.
"She became something else, huh?" Tsume asked.
"I guess so... Somehow, she got through the defenses you had me put up and just... made herself at home." Kiba sighed. "Shit... Well, I just can't exactly stop her."
"Yes you can. Use your nose." Hana reminded before they returned to the Inuzuka compound.
Kiba blinked before looking to Akamaru, who tilted his head in equal confusion. "I guess we'd better go then..."
Misaki sighed happily and looked out her window of her new house. 'It's been a wonderful four months. I couldn't be happier!' She blinked as she opened the door before Chōjūrō knocked. "Hello, Chōjūrō. What's up?"
The man chuckled. "Sorry to bother you, Lady Misaki, but I have a message for you. It's from the Leaf Village." He said, handing the scroll over and grinning. "You still keep in contact, huh?"
"Well, yeah. My cousin and brother live in the Leaf. I made a promise to keep in contact." She explained, opening it and squealing in excitement, scaring Chōjūrō. "Sorry. Apparently... There is going to be a huge wedding back in the Leaf! I must let Lady Mei know!" She darted past and dodged past those not moving fast before arriving where the Mizukage was. "Lady Mei?"
"Ahh, yes, deary?" Mei asked, clearly surprised.
"You won't believe it! My brother AND cousin are both getting married!" She twirled as she read outloud the announcement. "'Dearest Misaki, We in the Leaf are excited to invite you to the double wedding between Hyuuga Hinata and Uzumaki Naruto and Nara Shikamaru and Yamanaka Ino. Please join us in celebration! Yours, Hatake Kakashi, Sixth Hokage.'" She grinned.
"Wow! Four months already? Well, go on. You have a wedding to go to." Mei said, waving her heir off with a huge smile. "Give my best to all of them."
"Thank you, Lady Mei!" Misaki bowed before dashing back home and getting things ready for a visit to the Leaf. Right as she had everything packed, a familiar knock sounded. Giggling a little and taking her bag, she opened it to see Kiba and Akamaru, blinking a little. "K-Kiba-kun?" She asked.
"Hey... Look... I have been fighting against coming to get you, but Naruto and Ino said I had explaining to do to you." Kiba said, seeing the bag. "I see you're packed already... Wanna go?" He asked as Akamaru looked up, wanting a petting.
Misaki smiled, knowing that Kiba hadn't exactly explained much the past few months, but they were back on even grounds and friends again. She rubbed Akamaru's head like she used to, getting him to nuzzle her hand. "Yeah. It's alright. I've figured it out." She stated as she locked her door.
"Huh?"
"I've figured out why you said what you did during the war, Kiba-kun." She clarified, seeing him tense up. "I understand... I was getting too close too fast... That's why I tried to back off... Even if it didn't work out sometimes.. I'm just glad we're back to talking and being friends again, Kiba-kun."
"Same here. And I was scared." Kiba admitted.
"Mhm... Hana told me about what your mother wanted from you..." She grinned at Kiba's shocked look. "Hana is a good sister. You know that I'd never ever do anything to hurt you... Right?" She asked, wondering if his opinion had changed over the past few months of her.
"Of course you wouldn't... That's.. Erm... Why.. I'm not afraid anymore." Kiba said, glancing at her.
Misaki dodged a tree branch before catching back up. "You're not?" She asked.
Kiba shook his head. "Not anymore. I realized that I need to stop trying to please my mom when it comes to training, since I've done a shitload since getting Akamaru. It's high time I focus on myself." He gulped a little before smiling. "That's why... I love you..." He flushed and muttered the last bit.
Misaki smiled gently, knowing what he muttered. "I always have felt the same way..." She agreed as they arrived in the leaf.
"MISAKI!" Sakura's excited squeal, along with the other girls, came as a warning before the four enveloped the young girl in a hug.
"Can't... Breathe..." Misaki choked out, getting released and seeing how her friends have changed in four months. "You all look older than we should be... Which is a good thing!"
Sakura chuckled before seeing the boys of the group joined, including Sasuke and even Kakashi himself. "See? Told you she'd come, Naruto."
Naruto rubbed his head. "I knew she would. Wouldn't wanna miss the event, eh, Misaki?"
"Nah. I figured I'd come and take Shika up on that shogi game." Seeing him deflate, she grinned and crawled out of the pile of girls to hug her adoptive brother. "I'm joking. I can't believe you're getting married, nii-san!"
"Believe me, neither do I sometimes." He admitted, smiling at Hinata.
"What brought it on?" Misaki asked, blinking.
"The moon falling, of course." He replied.
"Oh, yeah... Lady Mei said that we were lucky that Lord A didn't blow the moon up." She said, remembering the event very well, having to use a few of what she learned in Kirigakure. "Nice hair cut, by the way." Misaki noticed how short Naruto's blonde hair had gotten and actually liked how it looked.
Naruto rubbed it out of habit. "Can you believe Sakura-chan cut it? Without taking my head off?"
Sakura bopped him on the head. "Idiot! I would never do that. I'd have to deal with Hinata.."
"Hn." Sasuke smirked ever so slightly, his hair a lot longer, covering the left eye, where the Rinnegan was.
"I wanna cut Sasuke-san's hair one day! I've gotten a ton better!" Misaki teased, getting the Uchiha to flinch and glare at her. "Relax... Perhaps Sakura-chan likes it long, eh?" She jibed, making both parties flush to match a tomato and the group blink at the innuendo she made. "Oops.. My bad... I've been around Lady Mei a little too much, I've gained her innuendo-making problem."
"Heh heh. Man! Teme, I'll never take you two seriously now..." Naruto chuckled, holding his sides to reign in his laughter before grinning at Kiba. "I'd watch out, Kiba... Who knows what else she'll say?"
Kiba shrugged and smirked. "Can't be worse than that." He replied as he draped his arm on Misaki's shoulders. "Glad you're staying for the wedding."
Misaki nodded. "The only way I wouldn't is if something terrible happens back in Kirigakure."
Well... I need to catch up on the anime... I forgot how they sound! T_T
~~Skittles~~