Chapter 2: The Search
Mangetsu eyes widen in horror as Naruto said those words "Whoa! What do you mean by brother?"
Naruto swallowed "My brother. Kimimaro. Where is he?"
"Well... he... you know... he is... well..." Mangetsu started to say, trying to find a way to give the Kaguya kid the bad news.
Naruto tilted his head to the side "I... don't know."
Suigetsu grinned, deciding to help his bro out "Your brother is dead!"
Mangetsu smacked the little runt on the back of the head "Bro! Why you hit me!?" Suigetsu whined as Mangetsu glared at him.
"For being an idiot! That's why!"
"I'm not an idiot! Take it back!"
"Or what!?"
A sob escaped from Naruto as he started to tear up. Both Hozuki brothers stopped their bickering to turn to the kid. "Kimi..."
Mangetsu sighed as he rubbed his templates "Oi, bro; what's wrong with him?" Suigetsu asked and Mangetsu rubbed his brother's hair.
"He is realizing what happened." Suigetsu blinked confused.
"People die all the time. What's the big deal now?"
Mangetsu sighed "Let's put it like this; what will you do, if I die."
Suigetsu's eyes widened in horror at the thought "B-But you can't die! What will happen to me then!?"
"I know. It is hard to imagine that lil' bro." Mangetsu said as he bends down to be on an eye level with his brother "But he," He looked at Naruto "Doesn't need to imagine it. He just lived it."
Suigetsu was silent as he turned to the crying Naruto. He always had his Bro by his side. Always protecting him, always looking after him... what if he was the same?
Suigetsu sat on the bed and grinned at Naruto "I bet that your bro is still alive."
Naruto sobbed as he turned to Suigetsu "But you said-"
"I say a lot of stupid stuff. If you lived, why can't he?" Suigetsu said and Naruto blinked and snifled.
"Yeah... Kimi is stong... he must be alive..." Suigetsu grinned.
"That's the spirit! Say it louder!"
"He is alive."
"Louder!"
"He is alive!" Naruto said smiling.
"I DON'T HEAR YOU! LOUDER!"
"KIMIMARO IS ALIVE!"
"Okay! Okay!" Mangetsu exclaimed covering his ears "He is alive!" He said smirking "We can search for him tomorrow. It can be training."
Suigetsu grinned "Hell yeah! Ya hear that! We are going to train and have an adventure!"
Naruto smiled softly "That sounds fun."
Suigetsu nodded with a gigantic grin on his face. "It is!" He turned to his brother "Bro! Can we have a sleepover!?"
Mangetsu shrugged "Why not. Have fun you two." He said and turned to leave.
"YAHOO!" Suigetsu exclaimed and ran to his room to grab pillows and bed sheets. He started to build a pillow fort, with Naruto watching confused.
"What are you doing?"
"Why aren't ya helping?"
"I asked first." Naruto said and Suigetsu smirked.
"A pillow fort! We will sleep here!" He exclaimed proudly and Naruto tilted his head.
"What's that?" Suigetsu opened his mouth in shock.
"You have a lot to learn... what's yer name?"
Naruto smiled "Naruto Kaguya. Nice meeting you Suigetsu."
*Same Time, Konoha*
Kimimaro eyes snapped open as he stared at the white roof. He doesn't recall ever being in a place like this before. He tried to sit up, but his abdomen hurt. Wasn't he injured? Wait...
Wasn't he in a forest?
"Heya kiddo!" Kimimaro glared at the man who said that. He remembers. The man that talked to him in the forest. "How're ya feeling?"
Kimimaro answer was to glare "Where's Naruto?"
The man raised a confused eyebrow "Naruto? The food?"
That only angered Kimimaro more as the glare intensified "Don't mock me and answer. Where is my brother?"
"Oh..." The man said "You mean someone else escaped?"
Kimimaro had enough. He created a tanto out of his bone in his elbow, took the handle and threw at this unsupportable man.
The man moved his head aside as two ANBUs jumped and restrain both of Kimimaro's arms "Answer me! Where is my brother!? What happened to him!?" He begged in despair as the man made a gesture and the ANBUs left.
"I don't know. But know this, I will find him. In the meantime, you should rest." Kimimaro swallowed and nodded.
"Fine. But where am I?"
The man grinned "You kid, are in Konoha's Hospital, thanks to your server, Jiraya the Galant."
*Next Day, Naruto*
"Something wrong kid?" Mangetsu asked Naruto that seemed uncomfortable in his clothes.
Naruto tugged on the neck of his red tank top. "I am not used to this." Naruto explained and Mangetsu nodded.
"Welp, your kimono top was destroyed basically. Let me see if I have something." He said before going back into the hut.
"What's wrong with my clothes?" Suigetsu asked with a confused frown.
"I don't like them." Naruto said honestly before sniffing the clothe "And it reeks of salt water. They used to give us that sometimes and-" Naruto started to explain a story when Suigetsu interrupted.
"OI! I like salt!" Suigetsu exclaimed with a glare and Naruto glared back.
"And I was talking."
"Apologize first!"
"For what? Speaking my mind?"
Both kids were head to head, glaring at each other. A bonk on the head broke their starring match and turned to Mangetsu that was smirking. He threw a lime green kimono top to Naruto that caught it. "That's what I could find. It used to be mine, but ya can keep it."
Naruto nodded as he took the tight tank top off "Thanks." He said as he put on the kimono. He still had the grey camo pants, but that isn't a problem.
Mangetsu grinned "Well Naruto! Do you know how to fight?" Naruto nodded and Suigetsu grinned.
"Awesome! I love fighting!" Suigetsu exclaimed and Naruto looked to the ground.
"I don't."
Suigetsu looked confused and even Mangetsu raised a brow. He knows the Kaguya clan. A clan of berserkers, with a thirst for battle. Seeing one that isn't like that feels... odd.
"Eh? But why!?" Suigetsu whined and Naruto shrugged.
"They tried to force me to fight. To make me a weapon they said. I don't want that." Naruto explained "Kimi told me to fight for my loved ones. I will do that."
Mangetsu grinned and rubbed Naruto's white spikey hair "I like that attitude kid!"
"Hey Naruto;" Suigetsu said and Naruto turned to him "Am I in the list?"
Naruto shrugged "Why not."
"Then let's fight!"
Mangetsu sighed as both brats started to argue. Naruto seems to be a pacifist. That in itself isn't bad. But in this world, peace doesn't work at all most of the time.
*1 Week Later, Kimimaro*
"Hello Kimimaro. You know who am I?"
Kimimaro nodded with a blank expression "Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."
Minato nodded with a small smile "That's right. I wanted to see how you are feeling."
"A lot better. Thank you for your hospitality Lord Hokage." Kimimaro bowed his head. He has manners, only that he never had to use them before.
Minato chuckled "Don't worry about that. Now, is it true you have a younger brother?" Kimimaro nodded. "And do you know where can he be now?"
"In the land of the mist." Kimimaro answered and Minato nodded.
"I see... I'll send Jiraya, the man who saved you to find him." Minato reassured him with a smile.
Kimimaro blinked at the act of kindness and bowed his head "Thank you, Lord Hokage."
Minato smiled at him "Never mind that. Hey, I bought lunch made by my wife. Want to try it out?"
Kimimaro raised an eyebrow "Why?"
Minato chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head "Well, I know that the hospital's food is good, but it is kind of stale. So, I decided to bring you lunch. Consider it, a small welcoming gift to Konoha."
Kimimaro opened the bento and he blinked. The food... looked different. Not in the bad sense. But in the sense that it looked complete.
Minato caught Kimimaro starring at the food for a long period of time and got worried "Ehm... is there a problem with the food?"
"I don't know..." Minato raised an eyebrow as Kimimaro blushed of embarrassment at his question "What this is..."
Minato blinked a bit before smiling softly "It is called ramen, Kimimaro."
*1 Month Later*
"What's that?" Suigetsu asked as he and Naruto were hiding in some bushed as they stared on a bear sat on a clearing.
"I don't know. It looks fluffy." Naruto said and Suigetsu nodded.
"Should we pet it?"
"Probably. You go first." Naruto said and Suigetsu shook his head.
"Your idea, you go first."
"I insist, you can go first."
"I tell you to go!"
"Just go!"
Both kids stopped when they heard a growl. They slowly turned to the sound and saw the angry, hungry bear above them.
"Suigetsu."
"Yes Naruto?"
"Should we-"
"Run? Yeah."
Mangetsu was resting against a tree as he heard both brats scream. He opened one lazy eye as he saw the after mentioned brats running away from a bear.
Mangetsu closed his eyes and sighed. He took the Hiramekarai and hit the bear with it, killing it. Suigetsu jumped to his brother's arms with comical tears in his eyes "Bro! I was so afraid!"
Mangetsu grinned as he ruffled his brother hair "Don't be a crybaby! At least you two got us dinner."
Naruto smiled sadly as he saw the brothers interact. He shook his head. Kimi is alive. He just knows it.
*1 Month Later*
Mangetsu stared at the two brats under his care, plus, the new one. He had orange hair, grey clothes, a t-shirt and some shorts with no shoes. He was looking at both runts, one with a neutral face and the other grinning.
After some seconds he sighed and turned to Suigetsu "Who's he?"
"His name is Jugo." Naruto answered and Suigetsu grinned.
"Yeah! We found him crying in the forest! Can we keep him?"
Mangetsu slapped Runt N.1 on the head "He is not a pet."
"Why you hit me!?"
"Because that's the only way to get things into ya head."
As both Hozuki brothers argued, Naruto turned to Jugo "Jugo, do you like flowers?"
Jugo fidgeted with his fingers "I... don't know what that is. Sorry."
Naruto smiled softly at him "Don't worry. Here, I'll show you."
Naruto went to the border of the forest, where the hut was still visible and grabbed a white rose. He carefully handed it to Jugo that was watching it with wide eyes full of awe "It is beautiful..."
Naruto nodded with a small smile. "My brother taught me how flowers are. I am glad you like them."
Jugo nodded shyly before Suigetsu got back into the group as the three kids continue to talk.
Mangetsu smiled seeing the scene before he frowned, hearing something. "Get back in the house." Mangetsu ordered before Suigetsu whined and Naruto raised a brow.
"But why!? We're having fun!"
"Just go." Mangetsu ordered and seeing how serious his bro was, Suigetsu nodded and went to the hut followed by Naruto and Jugo.
Once they locked themselves inside the hut, they peeked out the window to see what was going on. "They're here..." Jugo said, shaking in fear.
"Who?" Naruto asked and Jugo swallowed.
4 ninja, with a headband with a musical note on it, landed in front of Mangetsu that narrowed his eyes.
"Where is he?" One asked.
"Who? It is just me here." Mangetsu answered.
"Don't play smart! We know that Orochimaru's-sama experiment is somewhere here!" Another screamed as Mangetsu took the Hiramekarai.
"Y'know? If you want to fight, just come."
Suigetsu, Naruto and Jugo watched with wide eyes how Mangetsu fought off the enemy nin. "He's so cool..." Suigetsu said as Mangetsu kicked one at the head sending him against a tree.
"He... is winning?" Jugo asked and Naruto nodded smiling.
"Yes,he is. And don't worry Jugo; I'll protect you if anything happens."
Jugo gulped with tears in his eyes "Naruto..."
"Bro!" Suigetsu screamed, jumping out of the hut, shatering a window, as his brother fell to one knee.
"Suigetsu! Get back inside!" Mangetsu ordered as one nin kicked him on the face and laughed.
"Don't worry! You'll live. It is just a paralysis toxin. It won't kill you." He said as Suigetsu hugged his brother that was inmobile on the floor.
"Sorry lil' bro, I got clumsy..." Mangetsu apologized and Suigetsu shook his head.
"Don't worry Bro... you'll win anyways."
The nin threw a kunai aimed at Mangetsu, but Naruto got in middle of the attack, and blocked the kunai with his forearm.
He hissed of pain before punching the nin in the stomach, with his bones hardening making him spit. "You will not take Jugo or harm Suigetsu or Mangetsu." He said removing the kunai from his bleeding arm.
The other two shinobi laughed "Look at the brat, playing ninja!"
"Yeah! Hey; do you think that Orochimaru-sama will reward us if we get him more lab rats?"
Naruto swallowed and involuntary took a step back. But before anything could be done a white spikey... something appeared from the forest and grabbed one nin and threw him against the hut.
"Well... we finally meet Naruto!" Naruto blinked at the strange looking man that just saved him.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked and he grinned. He jumped from the tree he was on, kicked the remaining nin into the ground.
"Well kiddo, I, am the one men are jealous over his acts of bravery, the one women fantasies about, the savior of your brother, Jiraya the Galant!"
Naruto didn't care for this man presentation, only one clue part "Kimi is alive?"
Jiraya nodded grinning "Yep! And he can't wait to see you again!"
"Where is he?" Naruto asked with eyes full of hope.
"W-Wait! What if it is a trap?" Mangetsu managed to say as he glared at Jiraya.
Jiraya waved his worries off "I'm not tricking you. Here," He said taking out a scroll with the hokage signature "Minato himself signed this paper."
"Who's Minato?" Suigetsu asked, ready to defend his friend if this weirdo tries anything.
"The fourth hokage moron, did you already forgot your classes?" Mangetsu asked his brother. Jiraya coughed into his hand to grabbed their attention.
"Well, I also came for the other boy, Jugo was his name to keep him safe from Orochimaru." Jugo hearing that, came out of the hut, and shyly stood next to Naruto.
"C-Can you do that?"
Jiraya grinned and gave him the thumbs up "You can bet on it! Also, you two are welcome to come if you want." He said looking at Mangetsu who was just getting the feel back on his body.
"Thanks. But no thanks. We still have to free Kiri from that bastard's reign." Mangetsu said sitting up. Jiraya nodded with a thinking look.
"That sure is a noble cause. One that can be facilitated with Konoha intel and equipment."
Mangetsu raised a brow and Jiraya grinned "Minato has been in talks with Mei Terumi, the leader of the revolution, to help them dethrone the mizukage."
Mangetsu felt smiling softly "No way... we actually got backup..."
Jiraya nodded "That's right. And don't you think that your brother's life will be better in a village? With his friends?"
Mangetsu turned to Suigetsu that was grinning at the idea. Mangetsu closed his eyes and smiled "Fine. We'll go."
Jiraya grinned "Then what are we waiting for!? Let's go to Konoha!"
*2 Weeks Later, Konoha Gates*
Kimimaro was released from the hospital two months ago and started to attend the academy ever since he was released. In that time, he also went every day to the entrance of Konoha to wait for his little brother arrival.
Today was no different. Sat on the outside on a bench, he waited as he saw dozens of people walk in and out the village.
"Yo! Kimimaro!" Kimimaro opened his eyes to see Jiraya walking to him. Kimimaro instantly stood up and walked to the man.
"Jiraya-sama." He bowed and the man laughed. "Did you find him?"
Jiraya grinned "Why don't you see for yourself?"
"Kimi?"
Kimimaro opened his eyes to see his little brother looking at him with tears in his eyes. Kimimaro gulped as he smiled to him.
"Naruto, I'm so happy." He said as he went and hug him, which Naruto give right back.
"Me too Kimi..."
Kimimaro broke the hug and looked at him at the eye "Welcome to our new home."
Next Chapter: The Academy