Chapter 43: Family Reunion
"Uzumaki-san, if I may?"
"Of course Mizukage-sama," Mei frowned at the title and glanced at Yagura, who shook his head.
"The Title is yours, Mei-chan." Mei huffed but turned back to the house in the middle of the woods they had reached after a day of travel in silence.
"Did you make this?"
"Yes. I was testing out if I could really use Mokuton on our way to pick you up."
"It seems a bit small for twenty people."
"That's true." Naruto flashed through seals again and slammed his right hand into the ground.
"Mokuton: Shichuka no Jutsu!" with those words, another building sprouted right next to the original. "There, that should do. One for the men, and one for the ladies." Mei looked at him in surprise. "What? You thought I'd expect you and your..." he did a quick count. "six female companions to share sleeping quarters with men? Hell no." Mei and Honoka, along with the other women appeared flabbergasted for a moment, before smiling brightly and prancing into the wood house on the right, the newer one. Naruto stepped into the left one, followed by Sasori, Kisame, Zabuza, and Yagura. The other males appeared torn, before Mei's voice came from the womens' building.
"Don't even try it you perverts!" the Kiri men paled and all but stampeded into the mens' building, then stopped and whistled collectively at the inside.
The next day- midday
"Is that what I think it is?" Yagura asked, with an excited gleam in his eyes and a bounce in his step.
"Welcome, Mizukage-sama, to Konohagakure no Sato," Naruto answered with a flourish, gesturing to the Village. "After everyone is signed in, I will take you to the Hokage, and then escort you to your hotel."
"Thank you Uzumaki-san."
"Please, Naruto is fine."
"Only if you stop calling me by my title."
"Very well, Mei-san."
After everyone who was staying had signed in, Kisame and Sasori saluted Naruto, in their own ways, and left, once more ignoring the jumpy Chuunins at the gate. Naruto led the way through the winding streets of the Leaf Village, pointing out various points of interest.
"Over there is the Clan's district," he gestured to his left with a passing wave at a Sarutobi clan member. "Oh hey, Nakima!"
"Hey Naruto!"
"Where's your farming district?" Ao asked nonchalantly.
"Can't tell you that," the blond immediately answered. "Standard procedure is to not tell visitors where any of our key districts are in case they could be spies."
"Why you little!"
"I meant no disrespect, but would you tell me where your food was grown so I could target it if I attacked?"
"He's got a point, Ao," Yagura piped in, then siddled up close to their blond escort. "So... where's the red-light district?" Naruto cast him a gaze of mixed confusion and alarm. "What? A man can't let loose?" Naruto sighed and gestured in a southern direction.
"If you want to go, though, you'll have to have an escort so you don't wander." Yagura nodded and fell back in line. Several blocks of chit-chat and small talk later, and the group had reached the Hokage Tower. "I have to ask only Mizukage-sama and one other Shinobi come up with me, the rest will have to remain here with Zabuza and several other Jonin on standby." Mei nodded acceptance and gestured to Yagura. The trio was up to the top floor in short order, and Naruto pushed open the door to Hiruzen's office without knocking.
"Jiji, I brought the Mizukage," he announced as he barged in. Hiruzen looked up with a smile.
"Thank you, Naruto, you may go." the blond saluted and backed out. After quickly heading back downstairs, he passed the large group of Kiri Shinobi without a glance, only to be stopped by a hand touching his shoulder. He tensed, but made no action.
"May I join you?" Honoka's voice asked. Naruto looked over his shoulder at her.
"You want to find out about the clan, don't you?" his answer was a hesitant nod. He smiled a bit to calm her nerves. "Come on, I'm just about to meet Karin to see about a seal." Honoka brightened and stepped into line behind the blond, a bounce in her step. They travelled three blocks in silence before she spoke up.
"How many of us are here?"
"Two, myself and Karin. My cousin Nagato is probably on his way from Ame for the Finals, though."
"There's only four of us?"
"For now. The Uzumaki were spread far and wide, Honoka, and our clan has always been exceptional at hiding. But soon, any other survivors will know how to contact us." As Naruto finished his small speech, he stopped in front of a hotel and looked up to the third story. "KARIN!" he shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice. A messy head of red hair popped out the window on the corner and looked down at the teen.
"WHAT?! I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A BATH YOU BAKA!"
"LOOK, DO YOU WANT MY HELP OR NOT?"
"STOP SHOUTING YOU FUCKING BRAT!" a random voice screamed from down the street, causing Naruto to gesture rudely in that direction.
"FUCK YOU AND YOUR SHITTY ASS TERIYAKI STALL YOU PRICK!" When no reponse was forthcoming, Naruto smirked triumphantly and turned back to the hotel. "COME DOWN HERE, AND WE'LL GO SOMEWHERE AND TALK!"
"I'LL BE DOWN IN A MINUTE!" Karin called as her head vanished into the window. Naruto leaned against the wall to wait while Honoka took in what had just happened. Several moments later, Karin strolled out the front door, looking fairly chipper. "Who's this?" she asked with her head cocked to the side as she looked at the other red-head.
"Karin, Honoka. Honoka, Karin," Naruto said simply with a small gesture to each. He remained leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and one leg hiked up to plant his foot on the wall. (A/N: Okay, seriously, if any of you could draw this pose with his outfit from this story, I am willing to pay for that. I'm not even joking. PM me) "Now, aside from Nagato, all known Uzumaki are in one place. I feel all warm and fuzzy. Let's go." he said gruffly with heavy sarcasm as he pushed off the wall and began walking, not looking to see if his cousins were following. Honoka frowned as she and Karin fell into step behind him.
"He seems a bit gruff and cold..."
"Agreed," Karin said quietly. "But I just think it's because of how he's treated in the village. I've seen him interacting with some of his friends, and he brightens considerably."
"So what's this thing he's helping you with?"
"I... uh..."
"She has a seal on her body she wants gone," Naruto said from his position several feet in front of the duo. Both appeared shocked he'd heard them. "And for the record, yes I do I act as I do because of those idiotic civilians."
"Where are we going?"
"To the forest."
"Why?"
"Because no-one will bother us out there. We're going to my most frequented training ground, if not my favorite."
"What's your favorite?" Karin asked out of sheer curiosity.
"We were in there about two weeks ago." Karin paled and stared at the blond in shock. He smirked in response. " and to answer your unasked question, yes I am crazy." with that declaration, Naruto gestured to the forest clearing the trio was currently in with a small flourish. "Welcome to Training Ground Sixty-Three, or as I call it, the Clearing of Tranquility. Most people don't even know where it is, so as far as a lot of people are concerned, we only have Sixty-two training grounds. This place is quiet and peaceful, so I enjoy coming here. Now, for the removal, we'll need some walls, so..."
"Oh boy... seems he likes to show off." Naruto shook his head at Honoka's muttering and flipped through handseals.
"Mokuton: Shichuka no Jutsu!" for the third time in nearly as many days, Naruto formed a house of wood and Chakra. "Hey, Honoka, practice makes better, and I seriously need to practice my Mokuton." he theen grabbed a gaping Karin and dragged her into the new building, before planting her down on her butt. "Strip." he ordered. Karin paled and Honoka looked ready to burst a blood vessel. He held up a hand, forestalling any outrage. "I can't remove the seal if I can't see or touch it. Plus, I need to be able to writing on her skin for the Fuinjutsu formula. So either strip or I'm leaving." Honoka looked quite peeved, ready to explode really, but Karin nodded slowly and began slowly removing her clothes.
"Karin keep your clothes on! He's just trying to perv out!" Naruto's face hardened at this declaration.
"I resent the accusation that I am a pervert, especially over my own cousin. This is just business to me, and the fact that Karin will be naked has no affect on my ability to remain focused. But if you want her to remain enslaved and in pain, then by all means, she can keep her clothes on." both girls paled at his words, Karin more at the implication he'd leave her to suffer and Honoka more to the 'enslaved' part. With quick, jerky movements, Karin had her clothes totally removed, and curled up a bit to try to cover herself, revealing her curse seal on her hip. "Karin, I need you to lay out flat and remain completely still while I draw the seal. That will take about five minutes, then the actual removal will take another three, and I'll be honest, it'll hurt like a bitch. But after that, you can get your clothes back on, okay?" Karin nodded fearfully and did as instructed, laying back and keeping her arms and legs straight. Naruto clucked and moved her limbs a bit, so that they were spread eagle. (Picture Leonardo Da Vinci's 'The Vatruvian Man') then, he made four clones and sent them to the walls to begin drawing the outer parts of the massive sealing array while he pulled out his own calligraphy pen and started on Karin's body.
He talked as he worked, explaining what he was doing to Karin so she would remain calm.
"Alright, I'm done with your hip, and I need to move down your legs. I'll have to write a bit on the inside of your thighs, so don't move and don't freak out."
"O-okay," Karin stuttered, her skin beet red. He moved quickly and efficiently away from her crotch, his brushstrokes quick but masterful. Once her reached her ankle, he moved back up and repeated the process down her right leg. Then, he moved up.
"After I get your stomach, I'll have to put some of the array over your breasts, neck and arms. It will tickle, but please refrain from laughing or giggling."
"Alright," Karin answered, still beet red. A few short moments later, and Karin's skin was covered in some of the most complex designs Honoka had ever seen. Naruto quickly moved to the floor around the girl, moving quickly, but his brush never going astray. Within moments, his clones had made it to him, and they dispelled just as he finished his final brushstroke.
"Honoka, please stand in the corner and off of the array." she moved to obey. "Karin, I'm about to activate the sealing array. It will hurt more than your can imagine, but will only last for five seconds. Would you like something to bite down on?" her answer was to open her mouth expectantly. Naruto nodded and placed one of his tanto in her teeth at the hilt, and she clamped down like her life depended on it. Naruto began flipping through handsigns at a good clip, as he moved to a large empty circle in the array.
" Uzumaki shīru: Noroi no jokyo (Uzumaki Seal: Curse Removal)" he intoned as he slammed both palms into the massive, complex arrangement of seals and signs. The entire array began to glow brightly and darted inward toward Karin, or more specifically, her Curse Seal. Wave after wave of text and symbols slammed into the curse mark, which was being visibly eroded by the onslaught. Karin's jaw clenched even more and she let out a blood-curdling scream around the hilt of the short blade in her mouth. But true to the blond seal-masters words, it ended after only five seconds, and the redhead lay there panting and sweaty. Honoka rushed over to her and began covering her hastily as Naruto fell to one knee, sweating lightly and panting somewhat.
"Damn it," he managed out through his huffs. "That bastard reinforced the seal with a bit of his soul."
"Is that bad?" Honoka asked in alarm.
"Well, it made it more chakra consuming to destroy it, but otherwise, no." Karin sat up, covered in Honoka's jacket, and looked at her blond cousin tearfully.
"Thank you," she whispered. "I was afraid that I'd be under that monster's control forever." Naruto shook his head as he sat back and propped up one knee.
"So long as I live, no Uzumaki will ever be a slave. I vow upon my blood and honor as an Uzumaki."
"Oh good," came a baritone voice laced with amusement from the door. "And here I thought we'd all be wiped out or forced to breed for our enemies."
"Can it, Nagato," Naruto huffed. "You know what I meant. So what say we all get some Ramen?" three excited shouts followed this question.
A/N: Sorry it isn't longer. I just ain't got it right now.