~~Flashback After Experiment~~
Naruto walked through the village in his usual dark blue shirt and black shinobi shorts, on his left shoulder was the Namikaze/Uzumaki swirl that now represented his clan since his brother adopted the Uzumaki swirl as the symbol. He personally would have gone with a star or something, but shrugged it off and accepted it.
"N-Naruto-sensei?" a brown haired girl with two purple marks on her cheeks asked as the blonde Super Shinobi walked past. Naruto paused and turned to look back, seeing with the girl a raven-haired boy wearing orange goggles on his head as well as a white-haired boy, significantly younger than the other two, wearing a mask over the lower half of his face. The girl had a brown baggy shirt and a darker brown skirt on as well as standard prepubescent sandals. The white-haired boy wore a black shirt with shoulder guards attached to either side with black shinobi pants and a belt.
With a smile, the blue-eyed man nodded, "Ohayo Rin-chan, Kaka-san, Bito-san. A great day isn't it?"
"Naruto-sensei! W-What...How...YOU'RE FRIGGEN HUGE!" Obito, the raven-haired boy exclaimed, gesturing wildly as he hopped around, examining the man. He wore a black T-shirt, showing that he was "off duty", and white baggy shorts, his relaxation clothes.
"Baka," Kakashi muttered, flicking the excited Uchiha over the back of the head, "You shouldn't just assume he's who he is."
Before the blonde could correct the white-haired boy, Kakashi raised two fingers and explained, "Kai!"
When no genjutsu dropped or a significant amount of chakra fell, Kakashi looked back up at the man and gave him two eye smiles, "He checks out...Besides, Naruto-sensei's only good for Taijutsu."
"Oi!" Naruto snapped, embarrassed from the three snickering preteens, "I'll have you know I just got promoted to commander right!?"
The three stopped laughing and looked at him for a minute before breaking out in even more laughter. Naruto sighed and rubbed his forehead before snapping his fingers and unsealing his custom shield Ao* forged for him at his family shop. The three stopped laughing and stared wide-eyed at the gleaming shield in front of them.
"See this?" he asked them, getting nods of confusion, "This is my Shield. Or rather...the shield of Captain Konoha. Now, why would I have it sealed in my left arm?"
Instantly he was bombarded with question after question from Obito, a wide-eyed Kakashi that stared speechless at the shield in his hand, and a blushing Rin that shifted her gaze from the blonde to the shield and back. Naruto grinned before beginning to answer Obito's questions and resume his walk to his training ground.
Sometimes it was good to have a reputation.
~~Present~~
"Who is the Captain Konoha again, Sasuke-Kun?" Sakura whispered as she, Kiba, and Sasuke walked behind their sensei, Hana, their client, and the unconscious shinobi lying on a dog-sled Kakashi unsealed from a scroll. The Haimaru Trio pulled the sled that held the unconscious shinobi to shelter while Kakashi remained silent, professional...and listened to his star pupil explain who the man was.
"Captain Naruto was the brother of the Yondaime Hokage," Sasuke whispered back, unknowingly attracting the attention of their client and a very curious Inuzuka Hana, "He also trained my parents and Kakashi-Oji-sensei. Taii, as my Tousan called him, was as strong as the Gama Sennin Jiraiya and is the jinchuriki of the Kyuubi no Yoko that was defeated by the Shodai. Some people say he had to go to all nine tails to defeat the Yondaime in a spar."
"That's a lie!" an indignant cry came from the now fully conscious Super Shinobi. Everyone looked forward as the blue-clad shinobi rolled his neck and hopped off the sled. He stretched for a moment before he walked down to the three genin and looked at them all with a slightly upset look on his face.
"I only have to go to three tails to beat Minato!" he corrected with a foxy grin, making the three face plant (along with many other eavesdroppers) and their sensei laugh. Naruto chuckled before sighing and walking back alongside Kakashi.
"How is my brother anyway, Kakashi?" the blonde asked, frowning when he saw the white-haired man visibly tense.
"I...I think it's better if you wait until we get back home, Captain," quietly replied the white-haired man. Naruto frowned and pushed the ache and hurt aside, willing to wait until he returned home.
"Ok...then what's the mission here?" he asked, getting the attention from the now relieved white-haired man, "Get me up to speed, Kaka-baka."
Kakashi chuckled, happy to hear an old nickname no one had used in over seven years, before replying, "It was supposed to be a simple escort mission for once...C, borderline B, but..."
"It upped itself because of cheap clients?" the blue-eyed shinobi asked, earning a nod before looking back at the blue-haired civilian, who blushed under his gaze, and looking back at Kakashi said, "How in the Hell is she cheap?"
"She's not the client," Kakashi said, pointing at Yukio and then at her agent, "He is. She's an actress we have to defend."
"...She's not an actress," Naruto commented, earning an angered 'Hey!' from the woman in question, "She's the Princess of Yuki no Kuni."
Yukio, her agent, and the entire film crew and shinobi paused while Naruto kept walking. He stopped when he realized he was a good forty-five paces ahead of them and looked back.
"Did I say something?" he asked. Upon receiving nothing but silence, he continued, "Then let's move people! Doto-teme might be older, but I doubt he's just as cunning!"
That got everyone moving once again, Kakashi taking the time people had paused to re-seal his sled back while Hana removed the harnesses from her dogs and they ran up to Naruto's side. Ever since they had come in contact with his scent, they had shifted their loyalties slightly, as if he was an alpha Inuzuka. It perplexed Hana profoundly while Kakashi looked at the sight with even more sadness. He wondered how his friend would come to terms with such drastic changes while he was away.
"Go back to your pack-mate, boys," the blonde said quietly as they happily yipped and pranced around him, "She is the one in charge, not me...not anymore..."
Obeying the man's words, the three ran back to Hana's side and kept guard while conversing amongst themselves. Hana was surprised to find she couldn't understand her partners, something that only happened when an Alpha was giving them a secret order. Now she was beyond perplexed; Hana was now in full-out investigation mode.
The group stopped outside a cave where Naruto began giving orders out to the cast and crew of the film, directing them to where they would be safe. Hana watched him with suspicion, the feeling of knowing him overcoming her. Ever since he had woken up from whatever he was in, the man's eyes and voice just rang bells in her mind, setting off alarm after alarm but whenever she tried to connect it with a face, nothing came up. It was as if something was blocking her from remembering him.
"Inuzuka-chan?"
Speak of the devil, Hana thought before turning to face Naruto and noting he had removed his helmet-like headband, giving her a concerned glance.
"You ok?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder, "You look troubled."
"I-It's nothing Captain," Hana lied, giving him a forced smile, only causing him to frown even more.
"If you say so, Inuzuka-chan," Naruto replied, removing his hand and giving her a small smile, "Might want to get inside before your brother kills his teammate."
No sooner had he said that did a crash echo from the cave and the pink-haired girl named Sakura shrieked, "KIBA-BAKA!"
"Correction, before his teammate kills him," Naruto chuckled out as the sixteen-year-old girl groaned and ran inside to deal with her brother. Naruto's face dropped into a concerned one once again and he lowered his head, sighing heavily before resuming his patrol for any Yukigakure shinobi.
"It seems Hana-chan doesn't remember me..." the blonde muttered sadly as a tear went down his cheek and he looked at the cloudy sky as he walked, "What happened while I was gone?"
~~Somewhere Within Yukigakure no Sato~~
"You're sure of this?" a man wearing a large dark regal cloak asked the three Yukigakure shinobi kneeled before him. They had informed him of the return of his niece and of her guards. This didn't worry him. What did worry him was the fact that a blue armored shinobi with a shield suddenly appeared in the battle.
"Positive Doto-sama," the Yuki shinobi confirmed. Doto growled and interlocked his hands in front of his face.
"This...is very...unnerving..." the current daimyo of Yuki no Kuni growled before he stood, "Prepare the train if they are where you say they are, I know exactly where to head."
"At once, Doto-sama," the three said, bowing their heads before vanishing in small blizzard winds. Doto frowned and walked over to his messaging hawks before writing down a small scroll and tying it to one. Grabbing the hawk's beak, Doto gave it strict instructions.
"Go straight to Otogakure no Sato," he growled before opening the window and throwing the bird out it. He shut the window and turned around, walking over to his personal chambers and opening a closet, revealing his personal chakra armor.
"This time, Konohagakure no Taichou, you shall not escape..." the man smirked sinisterly before laughing aloud and pulling the armor on.
Naruto sneezed before rubbing under his nose as he watched the crew set up the materials for the next scene. He glanced over at the training genin that Kakashi lazily watched as he flipped through his (Naruto's) Godfather's prized novel. Naruto shook his head in disbelief and looked back at the forged set when a cry of 'NOOOOOOOO!' earned his attention. He turned to see the director screaming at a cameraman who was bowed and begging forgiveness.
Curious he walked over and stopped next to the male lead, asking, "What's his problem?"
The lead actor, Michy, sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "The cameraman lost all film before the attack on the mountain. So now basically we have to redo everything...again."
"Ouch," the blonde said, taking his helmet off and running a hand through his hair, "That sucks..."
"No, it doesn't suck," Michy muttered as he crossed his arms, "It's a complete and utter waste of my time. I may be loyal to the film, but not to an incompetent director that can't make up his mind. I'm done."
"What?" Naruto repeated in confusion, looking at the actor, but he was already walking away, "Oh...this is not going to end well."
"NOOOOOOOOO!" the director cried after hearing about Michy walking offset towards a nearby village (not Yukigakure), "Now what shall we do for romantic interest? I mean, we can easily write off Sukeakuro easily, but...we're doomed!"
"Well...what about him?" Kin, another male lead, asked, gesturing to Naruto. The Super Shinobi jerked his head back when the director and the writer suddenly appeared in his face. The two began examining him, poking and prodding him as well as muttering to themselves.
"Take the helmet off," the writer said, earning a worried look from the shinobi. Noticing his hesitation, the Director barked, "Now!"
"H-hai!" Naruto complied quickly, removing his helmet and allowing the movie cast and crew to get a good look at him. Yukie donned a small pink tint on her cheeks and Kin and Hideo grinned widely as the director and writer suddenly released an excited squeal.
"He's perfect!" the director said, grabbing Naruto's face and pulling him down to their height, "The innocent eyes combined with the spikey blonde hair give off the childish vibe while his chiseled face reveals his more masculine side. Not to mention those whisker marks! Women will kill just to see him on screen!"
"Thir? Pwease welease my fash..." Naruto mumbled out as the Director kept squeezing his head. The Director apologized and released him, letting the blonde Super Shinobi rub his abused jaw before standing back at attention and continuing, "I regret to inform you that I am only here to protect Fujikaze-hime as are the other Konohagakure Shinobi."
"B-B-But...this is a MOVIE we're talking about here!" the writer shouted, "with THE Yukie Fujikaze! Men would kill just to be in her presence, who knows what they would do to be in a film alongside her!"
"I reiterate," Taichou said with narrowed eyes, "I am not an actor. I am a Shinobi."
"Oh come on, Cap'n," Kakashi said with an eye smile as he approached his sensei's brother, "I'm sure it will pay off in the end, ne? When's the last time you even kissed a girl?"
"When's the last time you kissed a girl, Kaka-baka?" Naruto countered, crossing his arms over his chest and eyeing the white-haired man suspiciously. The man remained silent and Naruto smirked, knowing he had him.
"...Will you do it for me, Captain-san?" Yukie meekly asked, earning everyone's attention. She smiled softly and put on her best 'Puppy Dog Eyes of Doom' before asking, "Please?"
Naruto groaned while Kakashi gave his sensei's brother a perverted smirk. Poor guy never could deny those eyes.
A few days passed, Naruto had begun shooting with the cast and crew, hating a good portion of it, while also spending time with Fujikaze Yukie. The actress had taken a liking to the blue armored Shinobi and often stayed by his side, despite her 'agent's plea against getting too friendly with the Captain; she was a famous actress after all. She had a reputation to protect.
Hana kept her eye on the armored man as well, often noticing sad glances towards her from the blonde or somewhat paternal smiles in her direction. It scared her sometimes, but it was welcome. Her mother had told her that her father had died during the second war, a good fifteen years ago, and said that Kiba's father had earned a special place in Hana's heart when she was a pup (child). Hana, however, didn't recall any of it.
Kakashi and Sasuke took their time talking to Namikaze Naruto, the former reflecting on the past happily while the latter asked questions about his sensei's youth. Something Naruto was all too glad to share with the 'Green' Genin as he called them. Kiba and Sasuke were enthralled by the many antics Naruto had found himself in while Sakura was suspicious of the man, believing he left a good portion of his story out. Whenever she addressed it though, he'd grimly state, "That's a tale for another time..."
It was during the time after they resumed traveling that Yukie had tried to 'run away' as they neared Yukigakure no Sato, the main village of Yuki no Kuni.
"Yukie-Hime!" Naruto called, his gloved right hand cupping the right side of his mouth while his shield rested at the ready on his left arm, "Where are you? Yukie-hime!"
The sound of a light grunt hit his ears and Naruto turned his head before dashing towards the woods near where he searched. The helmeted blonde sighed in relief when he came across the exhausted woman, her heavy breathing the only evidence of her exhaustion. Naruto pulled his shield off his arm and placed it over his back before crouching next to the woman and slipping his arms behind her back and under her knees.
"Hey, what are you-yipe!" Yukie squeaked out as he effortlessly picked her back up. The blonde was unaware that there was a camera crew nearby, capturing every moment of the Super Shinobi's rescue.
"You shouldn't sneak off like that, Yukie-hime," Naruto said quietly as the freezing actress didn't object to his way of carrying her, soaking the warmth he emitted up like a sponge, "You'll only put yourself in danger, 'tebayo."
"..." Yukie remained silent, staying in character while also admiring the jawline of the shinobi carrying her.
Naruto resumed his walk to the camp, walking through a long cave he came through when he searched for the actress when he suddenly stopped. Confused, Yukie looked up at him, keeping her eyes off the camera that followed behind them.
"What is it, Captain-san?" the actress asked quietly. Naruto turned around, not noticing the camera crew as he scanned past it when a faint horn hit his ears.
"Did you hear that?" he asked quietly as he set the actress back on her feet and knelt to the ground. He looked down and furrowed his brows behind his helmet, reaching out and touching a long metal bar that was frozen over. His eyes widened when something pulsed through it.
"Was that...chakra?" he asked no one in particular. The actress peered over his shoulder and gasped when another horn rang through the air.
"The train!" she whispered, as horror crossed her features and she looked at the entrance they both used for their return.
Naruto looked back at the actress and arched a brow, "The what?"
"We have to go...Now!" she shouted as the horn blared even louder. The sound of a machine's hydraulics working hard echoed in the cave and Naruto stood, drawing his shield as he reacted to the strange sound. Yukie quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him with her as she ran towards the exit. Naruto looked over his shoulder and his eyes widened when he saw a large metallic cylinder barreling through the tunnel. He barely registered the camera crew on wheels that sped past them, the cameraman swiveling around to catch this scene as though his job depended on it.
Which it did.
Naruto acted quickly and pulled Yukie back into a bridal carry, pumping his tenant's chakra to his legs as he raced at an unnatural speed.
"Hold on!" he shouted, moving the girl to wrap her arms around his neck as he ran with his shield now back on his arm. His right arm hooked under her right leg and her tightly, but not tight enough to choke him, held her arms around his neck.
"We'll never make it!" Yukie cried, the fear in her voice reflecting the look of terror on her face.
"The Hell we won't!" the Captain snarled as his thoughts turned inwards, Come on, Kyu...let's show em why we're the best!
A growl echoed in his mind and the blue armored man's pupils slit as he sped up. His whisker marks became more profound and his nails grew into short sharp claws.
Almost there...He thought as the train blared its horn once again.
"I'm sorry for doing this!" Yukie cried, slightly distracting him, "I...I'm sorry I acted so cowardly, Father!"
Called it, Naruto thought smugly before a small smile crossed his face, I knew it was you, Koyuki-hime...Hard to forget the face of the princess you defend, after all...
"We'll make it, Koyuki-chan," Naruto whispered soothingly, his words not making it past the sound of the ominous horn echoing in the cave, but his tone reached the Yuki Daimyo's daughter's ears all the same and her fears were slightly brushed aside. "I promised to protect you with my life...and I always keep my promises. For that is my Nindo: My Ninja Way!"
He shouted the last part as he kicked himself into overdrive, speeding through the tunnel and past the awaiting camera crew that parked themselves just outside the entrance.
"Tell me you got that line!" the writer begged the sound man, earning a nod of confirmation from the audio specialist, and the writer squealed in joy, "This will be Cinema Gold!"
Naruto skidded to a stop on the tracks and about-faced as the train's headlights became visible. He dropped Koyuki/Yukie onto her butt in the snow and put his shield back in place on his back. The blue armored Super Shinobi began racing through hand seals before throwing his hands out before him and exclaiming, "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
Exploding from his outstretched hands were massive winds that collided with the ice wall forming the top of the tunnel's entrance/exit. With a grin on his face, Naruto watched as the ice boulders fell and trapped the train in the tunnel. Staying in a position to be sure the train wouldn't bust through, Naruto eventually relaxed after staring at the makeshift barrier for about three minutes.
"That...was...AMAZING!" The director shouted from his spot next to the cameraman, "Did we get it?"
"We got it, sir," the cameraman sighed in relief, "We got all of it...thank Kami..."
"Naruto-sama/Cap'n/Captain Naruto!" the Konoha shinobi all cried as they approached the blue armored shinobi. Naruto looked over and gave them a thumbs-up before turning to help Koyuki/Yukie back to her feet.
"T-Thank you, Captain-san," the actress whispered as he helped her up and lightly dusted her shoulders off.
"Anytime, Yuki-chan," the shinobi replied with a smile. Before the celebrations could commence, however, a large explosion from the side of the tunnel reached their ears. Naruto and the rest of the Konoha shinobi all looked to see a now smoking pillar coming from the tunnel's side and roof, a large mechanical device rising from it.
"Attention, Captain Konoha," a voice that made Yukie/Koyuki cower behind the armored shinobi with fear and made said armored shinobi growl angrily as he reached for his shield, "This is Kazehana Doto, Daimyo of Yuki no Kuni. I demand that you surrender Kazehana Koyuki over immediately and surrender yourself. If you meet these demands, no one else will be hurt."
"That lying sack of-" Naruto was cut off by Doto's voice, "Furthermore, I give you ten seconds to comply. One...Two..."
"Ten!" the blue-eyed Super Shinobi shouted, flinging his shield into the air, aimed at the ropes that connected to the large inflate keeping the machine airborne. Two small cylinders emerged from the side facing Naruto's shield and began firing a barrage of kunai at the blonde as well as the approaching shield. Naruto quickly raced through some hand seals and extended his hands once again.
"Wind Style: Control!" he exclaimed, a small pulse rippling through the air from his hands that halted the kunai in their flight. Slowly, the kunai began about facing and fired themselves back at the machine from whence they came, the shield belonging to the Konohagakure no Taichou leading the way. The kunai began plugging the tubes they emerged from while the shield struck the aircraft, knocking a single strand that attached to the balloon keeping it airborne out of commission.
Before Naruto could focus on taking the machine down, a shriek of terror reached his ears and he turned to see Koyuki being carried away by the flying Yukigakure kunoichi. Only one word ran through his mind as he saw this.
Shit!
~~Flashback 12 years ago~~
"Hold on to Yuki-chan, Cap!" the white-haired young man shouted as he shot down the side of a snow-covered mountain at an alarming rate. He wore a black mask over the lower half of his face, revealing a right chocolate brown eye and a left scarred red-eye with two tomoes within it. His attire was that of the standard Konoha ANBU winter uniform; a black long-sleeved shirt with a scarf wrapped around his neck that fell over the standard grey chest plate as well as black shinobi slacks and sandals. He rode on the back of his sled, which carried two other passengers, as they shot down a mountain while arrows fired after them.
"It's gonna be alright Yuki-chan!" The Captain shouted over the whistles of arrows following them. The blonde's armor was covered in burns and melted spots due to the acid and poison-tipped arrows being shot at them. He kept his shield positioned over the young Princess of Yuki no Kuni while occasionally looking over his shoulder and deflecting the arrows with his wind manipulation. He narrowed his eyes at the armored archer shooting arrows at them. The white armor decorated with occasional grey splotches did well to conceal his position...when he wasn't moving, that is. The Archer had dark hair and coal-black eyes, only visible to those gifted with amazing eyesight due to the speed of his descent on his skis.
"Just hand her over!" The Archer shouted, his voice revealing his irritation at the situation, "Give me the Princess and no one has to die today!"
"You can take your offer, and shove it up your ass!" The Captain shouted back, ducking as an arrow whizzed over his head's previous position. Now completely pissed off, the blue armored warrior looked at the white-haired student of his brother and said, "Get Koyuki-sama to safety, Dog!"
"What?" he replied, his eyes widening while the girl in the sled shut her eyes as the blonde shinobi leaped from the sled. 'Dog' looked over his shoulder, shouting, "CAPTAIN! NO!"
The Captain looked at the receding form of his younger friend and nodded grimly before turning around and hooking his shield back into its slot on his left arm. He cocked his arm back just as The Archer became larger than an ant. As the white chakra armored foe began approaching, he swung his shield and slammed the edge into The Archer's stomach, knocking the wind out of him and the man off his skis.
"You'll...You'll pay for that, Captain Konoha," he coughed out as he slowly got to his feet. The Captain narrowed his eyes and walked towards him, readying a punch with his left hand, when the Archer looked up and held his palm out.
"Ice Release: Secret Freezing Technique!" The Archer shouted, causing an immense gust of ice and snow to cover the blue armored man. The Captain lifted his shield to defend himself, only just to allow his current foe to deliver a powerful kick to his stomach, causing the blue armored shinobi to slide on his back down the mountain.
"I'll see you in Hell, Captain!" The Archer laughed out as he formed another pair of skis with his Ice Release, "Give the Shinigami the regards of the Patient Winter!"
Captain Konoha opened his mouth to reply vulgarly, only to release a cry of pain when his head connected with a rock and he began slipping into unconsciousness. As the numbing cold started to get past his unusually strong healing abilities, one Namikaze Naruto aka Captain Konoha could only think, 'I'm sorry, Tsume-chan...I won't be home as soon as I thought…'
~~Present~~
"You son of a bitch, Doto!" Naruto roared as he ran after the princess being hauled up to the blimp that was attacking them. The blue armored super shinobi caught his returning shield just before leaping after the captured princess of Yuki no Kuni. He barely managed to grasp her ankle, causing her to scream in shock.
"Easy!" the helmeted shinobi shouted when she kicked at him, "I'm on your side, remember?"
"Then stop climbing all over me!" Koyuki shouted back.
"It's either me climbing on you, or your uncle!" the armored shinobi shouted as he grabbed her arm as lightly as he could and hoisted himself up to grab the rope wrapped around her, "Now don't move!"
"Believe me, I won't!" the princess shouted back as Naruto dropped a shuriken into his hand and used the edge of it as he started to cut her loose. The princess's breathing increased at the proximity of the armored shinobi and her face flushed as his hand accidentally grazed against her breast.
"Sorry," Naruto muttered, his face a slight shade of red as he started to cut the princess free. Just before the last rope was cut, an arrow was embedded in his shoulder and the blue-eyed shinobi roared in pain, his eyes flashing red for the briefest of moments. The shock of the pain made him release his hold on the princess and he started to fall before a metallic cable shot out and wrapped around his ankle.
"Ugh," the blonde groaned as he was hauled up and onto the aircraft, his wound bleeding profoundly and his healing factor working hard to keep him conscious and to a lesser point, alive. He did see his shield fall from his back to the ground and the small figure that ran towards it. A memory flashed through his mind and tears filled his eyes.
~~Flashback~~
"Tousan!" a small girl with brown hair and two red fang marks on her cheeks cried in joy as she ran towards the blue armored blonde that smiled as he put his helmet under his arm and crouched down to catch her.
"Hana-chan!" the blonde shouted as he caught her in his arms and stood, tossing the girl into the air and catching her in a hug. Hana squealed in glee before laughing happily as the blonde rubbed his cheek against hers. Naruto smiled as he heard the five-year-old Inuzuka's cheerful voice again.
"Miss-sed you, Tousan!" Hana exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck, before frowning at him, "Why leaf me n' momma?"
"I don't mean to, Hana-chan," Naruto replied to the girl with a small smile, "But as a Commander of Konoha, I have to do all I can to keep the village safe."
"You aw-ways come back dough, right?" Hana asked while looking at the slightly saddened blue eyes that belonged to the man she thought of as a second father. Naruto walked further onto the Inuzuka clan grounds and stopped outside Hana's home, setting the girl on her feet and placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I'll always try and come back for you, Hana-chan," Naruto whispered with a small smile, "You and your mother are all I have. I'll do anything to come back for you."
"Otway," the girl replied just as quietly before giving him a hopeful smile, "Can I pay wif your shield?"
"Of course you can!" Naruto replied with a big grin and reached over his back to take his shield off, carefully doing so while removing his hidden weapons pouch hidden on the underside of the shield, "Now, can you hold it?"
"Couse! I's supa strong!" the young Inuzuka heiress cried before struggling to lift the shield and making the blonde laugh.
"Looks like you've got a long way to go before you can use my shield," Naruto said with a smile before he took it back and snickered at the pout on her face, "Now, now, let's go eat, Hana-chan."
~~Present~~
"Wake up!" a male voice cried as a hand slapped across the Captain's face. Naruto groaned before looking down at his assaulter, seeing the Yukigakure shinobi that had attacked Kakashi's squad standing before him while he was chained to the wall of what seemed to be a frozen cell.
"Ugh..." the blonde groaned before a fist embedded itself in his gut and he released a grunt of pain, "Wh-What the hell?"
"You haven't aged at all," a familiar voice said to him, making Naruto looked up and scowling as the white armored Archer that had caused him to be frozen stood before him, only his goggles and helmet that hid his identity were off, allowing Naruto to see who was the Patient Winter.
"Doto...y-You're the...?" the blonde struggled to get out before coughing as the blood clot formed by his healing factor shot out through his mouth, expelling the poison that was along with the arrowhead that hit his shoulder. Doto stepped back as the small bubble of blackish-red liquid landed where his foot once was.
"Charming," the armored ruler of Yuki no Kuni deadpanned before looking back up at the blonde glaring holes into his head, "Oh, come now Captain. We've come full circle! You could at least try and die with dignity."
"You can bite me!" Naruto spat, his eyes narrowed as he struggled against his binds, "These won't hold me here, and you won't win!"
"Yes, yes, keep telling yourself that," Doto said with a slight yawn as he snapped his right fingers. With a smirk, he turned to allow the blonde to see who walked in at the cue. Standing with new royal clothes, Koyuki Kazehana stared at the floor with defeat written on her features before looking up at the disbelieving face of Captain Konoha.
"W-What...?" Naruto started, failing to discover any logical reason for this development.
"Ah, yes. You cannot fully understand this outcome as you believe in everyone always doing the right thing because you're the Will of Fire in human form," Doto chuckled out before sighing and looking at Koyuki, "It seems my niece is the lucky first to disappoint the 'Golden Boy' of Konoha. Well, let me explain my lovely niece's reason for submitting, which is simple really: She knew that I would win...I always win."
"You're nothing but a monster," the blonde growled, "You killed her father, your own brother for kami's sake! What humane being would do that?"
"The same humane being that would do business with the man that created you, Captain!" Doto snapped back, making the blonde's eyes glow red as he struggled against his bindings. The Yukigakure shinobi took a defensive stance and Koyuki stepped back with a hand over her mouth as Naruto's features darkened.
"WHERE IS HE?" Naruto roared, "I DEMAND YOU TELL ME!"
"Seeing as you're about to die, anyway," Doto chuckled out, "I'll humor your last requests."
Naruto growled in irritation at the man that cost him a good portion of his life while fiddling with the chains over his head. They were loose and he was close to breaking the cuffs. He just had to keep the Fuyu no Shashu distracted long enough.
"He's started his own village," Doto said, snapping the blonde from his thoughts of escape, "In the land of rice patties...or should I say, the land of Sound? He calls it: Otogakure no Sato."
Naruto narrowed his eyes before assessing the area. On the far right in the corner of the cell on the floor was his helmet and other weapons, while the three Yukigakure shinobi were standing behind Doto, in a triangular defensive pattern in front of Koyuki. Doto's bow and arrows were on his back and would take about fifteen seconds for him to draw and load an arrow if the blonde's calculations were correct. The Yukigakure shinobi relied on their chakra armor too much, so his taijutsu would be enough to put them down. Koyuki was the closest to the door so she could easily slip out as soon as he moves.
"Shall I send an invitation to him for your burial?" Naruto heard Doto ask as he looked at the princess with a silent warning. Koyuki blinked before nodding slightly and taking a step back. The blonde looked back at the current leader of Yuki no Sato.
"Doto..." Naruto started with a small scowl, "I'm going to beat that smug smile off your ugly face, put Koyuki on your goddamn throne, and then piss all over your grave."
Doto laughed and smirked, "That's a very good plan you have, Captain...except for one thing."
"Oh yeah?" Naruto countered, lightly tugging on his chains, "What?"
"This," Doto said as he lifted a small device and pressing a button. Naruto felt electricity course through his body beginning at his stomach before he violently convulsed. The blonde hero's cries of pain made Koyuki step out of the cell and cover her ears as tears began to fall. Doto smirked and looked at the convulsing blonde with a very faux sympathetic look.
"I'd love to stay and reminisce, but I have a weapon of mass destruction to use," Doto said, lifting his other hand and revealing the green gem that was once around Koyuki's neck, making Naruto's eyes widen as the convulsions die down.
Doto turned and gave the device to the larger Yuki Shinobi while leaving the cell with the other two, the girl turning back and giving Naruto a flirty wink as she left. Naruto scowled back at her before he began to convulse again.
"Come on!" Hana shouted as she led her brother and his team down a corridor of the large fortress they were in. She had the Konohagakure no Taichou's shield on her left arm, a warm feeling in her chest as she held it, and her three dogs barked wildly as they ran through the halls. Kiba ran behind her, his small white puppy running alongside him as they raced for the main hall.
"Kiba, Hana," Kakashi shouted, "You find Cap! Sakura, Sasuke, with me! We'll find Koyuki!"
"Hai sensei/Kakashi-san!" the four replied, the two siblings breaking off to the right and following the scent of their village's legendary hero. When they were fifteen feet away from the separation point, Kiba looked to his older sister.
"Hey Sis?" he asked, "Why are you wearing his shield like that?"
"I...You wouldn't understand, Kiba," Hana replied while asking herself the same question. Something...warm came over her whenever she thought of the blonde and when she picked the shield up, a small memory hit her. A man she called father played with her, pushing her on a swing set, training with her, giving her the Haimaru Trio and a voice echoed, "You and your mother are all I have; I'll do anything to stay with you."
'Why do I think of Captain-san's voice whenever I think of that?' Hana asked herself. She shook the thoughts from her mind and focused on the mission at hand. She ran after the Haimarus as they suddenly made a sharp left, causing her and Kiba to slip while Akamaru ran past them, yipping wildly.
The smell of burning flesh hit the two Inuzuka heirs' noses and they pushed chakra into their limbs, speeding their movements by at least five percent. The Inuzuka came to a stop before the doors that were shut, looking worn down and nearly broken. Kiba growled as the scent hit him again and he drove his shoulder into the door, causing it to fall to the ground. The Haimarus ran past the downed boy, snarling and barking in a violent matter before darting to the right.
"H-Hey! What the- Oh shit! Get off! Get off! Get aaaaaahhh! Help me! For the love of Kami! Help me!" the rotund shinobi cried as Hana and Kiba walked into the cell to see the Haimarus mercilessly tearing his chakra armor off and biting into his flesh.
"Heel!" Hana shouted, surprised when the three didn't listen. She looked past the vicious dog attack and saw a lightly convulsing Captain hanging from the wall. She moved past the dogs, wondering why they would so quickly attack the enemy and then ignore her command to stop.
"Ha-Ha-Ha-Hana-ch-ch-ch-chan," Naruto sputtered out as the Inuzuka veterinarian began removing the already loose cuffs from his wrists.
"Kiba!" Hana barked to her brother, "Get over here and help me get him down!"
"Right!" Kiba replied before kicking the downed man once as he passed, "Oops...my bad."
"HH-Ha-Hai-m-m-Haimar-Haimarus!" Naruto struggled to bark out, "C-Ch-Check!"
As though someone said 'Steak', the three dogs immediately broke the attack and sat back at attention. Hana stopped fiddling with the chains for the moment as she looked with amazement at the control he had over her dogs before she resumed helping her little brother get the man down.
As soon as the cuffs were off, Naruto fell forward and his face hit the ground with a thud. Kiba and Hana winced and apologized, "Sorry..."
"I-I'm o-ok," Captain sputtered out as he pushed himself to his feet, "Y-Your dogs are disobedient...Less steak."
"Damn right," Hana muttered as the three hung their head and their wagging tails stopped. She went to the blue armored shinobi's side before helping him to his feet while also running a small diagnostic technique she knew.
"You've got several internal burns and a...is that a chakra armor?" She asked noticing the machine on his stomach. Naruto glanced down and scowled before grabbing it with his right hand.
"Come on..." he growled, his eyes flashing red, "GET OFF!"
With a roar, he ripped the restrictor from his stomach and panted heavily while falling to his knees. Hana went to his side and checked him again, blinking in surprise as the internal burns began healing at an immense rate while the visual burns began vanishing in steam. She then followed his drifting eyes to the shield on her arm and she blushed slightly before offering him the weapon.
Naruto smiled and lightly took the offered weapon, "You've got a long way to go before you can use my shield."
Hana froze after he said that while Kiba walked up to Naruto's right as he placed his shield on his left arm.
"Here's your helmet, Captain-sensei," Kiba said with a grin, "Those jerks barely scuffed it."
"Well, aren't I lucky?" the blonde shot back with a grin nearly as large and making the heiress watching widen her eyes at the similarity between their smiles. Naruto pulled his helmet on and strapped it under his chin before looking back at Hana with a serious face.
"Where's Kakashi?" he asked. Hana blinked before looking at the Haimarus.
"Lead us to Kakashi-san!" she ordered. The dogs tilted their heads up and took a sniff of the air before one barked and dashed through the cell door. Kiba and Akamaru shot after the running Haimaru Trio, but before Hana left, she saw Naruto walk over to the nearly-dead shinobi that had been torturing him. He knelt next to the man, earning whimpers from him, and whispered something before dislodging his shield from his arm and holding an edge in either hand.
"May kami spare your soul," Naruto quietly said before lifting his shield and driving the edge through the man's neck, severing it and killing the man quickly. Hana gasped and covered her mouth despite being a seasoned chunin, but never had she seen a Konoha shinobi that was so calm during a killing.
Naruto stood and shook his shield once, cleaning it of the blood, before he reattached it to his arm. The blonde looked at Hana, back to the body, and back to the wide-eyed veterinarian before speaking and making her jump, "Inuzuka dogs, when under control, are never that vicious. However...the Haimarus were...unsettled by my torture, as is any dog when a human ally is being harmed in a way I was."
"But...I...I never..." Hana sputtered out. Naruto placed his right arm on her shoulder and led her out of the room.
"They were lost to their instincts, Hana-chan," he whispered in a comforting manner while pulling her into a one-armed hug as they left the cell, "You couldn't have foreseen them doing that. It was out of your hands."
"Y-Yeah..." Hana muttered while shaking the nerves off, "S-Sorry about that, Captain-san."
"It's ok," The Captain replied with a smile, "Now, let's go save Koyuki!"