Tip Of The Spear
Chapter Five
Remember The Days In The Old School Yard
A short walk from the tower found the trio in front of a rather large house in what Sakura realized as part of the Haruno clan holdings. Not only was the house large but the surrounding yard was proportionate to the house. As they entered the yard proper Naruto and Sakura took in their surroundings. The property was surrounded by a five foot tall stone wall that was topped with another three feet of iron fencing. As an added touch, vines ran up and down the walls adding visual interest as they broke up the monotony of bare stone.
The yard was well maintained and landscaped and as they walked to the rear of the house they found not only a fish pond but a small hot spring as well. That area was screened off by very thick hedges and walls. Sakura smiled at the privacy they had in this area, she, like Naruto, had fallen in love with Black's beach much to Kuruma's dismay. To them nothing beat laying out in the sun in nothing but their birthday suits and here in their back yard was a spot to do just that.
As Naruto turned to look at her he was rewarded with a smirk that promised more pleasure than he could dream of. Seeing that look he knew that this was going to be one of the first places that they were going to christen in their own special way. Suppressing a nose bleed that could launch a missile he turned away from her muttering "Vixen." Turning to Kakashi he pointed to the house itself. Nodding the man led the young couple to the front door.
The entryway was about three feet by three feet of tile with a bench on one side and a shelf for shoes on the opposite side. Once out of their boots, thank goodness for zipper inserts, and into their house slippers they walked into the house proper. They were awestruck, the living room was as large as the estate's in San Diego, the polished floor was covered in tatami mats with a foot and a half of expose wood showing.
The hallway floors were polished to shine like glass and the only rooms that were furnished were the common areas, baths and kitchen. The bedrooms were bare as the Haruno clan had no idea how to furnish their clan head's private quarters. The master bedroom was on the second floor as was the others, with a large closet and bathroom with a tub to fit two, or more considering how small they were at the moment.
Also on the second floor was a study and office. Inside they found shelves and shelves of books and scrolls on almost every technique and jutsu Naruto's side of the family possessed. Turning to Kakashi he just smiled and told them, " Shadow clones, when I spotted you at the gates I had two bring your clans scrolls and books out of storage and placed here. There is a blood seal on the door that we need to activate for the two of you so let's get started alright?"
After Kakashi had added the young couple's blood to the seal matrix he informed them that they were the only ones that now had access to that particular room. Once satisfied that all was in order Naruto made his own shadow clones and tossed them the scroll with his and Sakura's bedroom set was sealed in. Seeing what her husband had done Sakura created one herself and had hers supervise and then taking their weapon scrolls out she reentered the study and locked the scrolls into the wall safe there.
Going down stairs they noticed Kakashi's eye on them, knowing what he was going to ask Naruto decided to beat him to the punch, "I can't make a normal clone to save my life so Kurama taught us the Kage Bunshin. In fact shadow clones have saved my life when I was out in the boonies with my team."
Sakura decided to add her story, "I wasn't allowed to learn them until I was what? Fifteen love? Yeah, fifteen was when my coils and reserves grew to where I could handle the chakra expense."
"I see, so what else have you learned?" Asked Kakashi.
The rest of the evening was spent telling their favorite ANBU agent all they had learned both as ninja's, sailors and medics. Kakashi was amazed at what he had been told, these two in front of him had not only fought in a war so different it was alien to him but they had mixed in their shinobi training into their missions but had done it where no one ever noticed. Not only that, the fox had set them up to be the next ruling couple of a country that had a past that was like his present, if things had not gone right in the village the fox would have left them there to live their lives in peace.
Looking out the window the party noticed it had gotten quite dark and at that point Naruto's stomach made it's presence known. With that Kakashi laughed as he stood, "Looks like Naruto-kun's a little hungry, let's find a place that has something you two haven't had in a while."
Walking out the door and onto the street the pair followed their guide around the corner. As they rounded it Naruto's sensitive nose picked up a scent that he'd forgotten about long ago, ramen! Sure enough, there standing like an oasis in the desert was Ichiraku's, looking at Sakura he grinned as wide as he could and both ran to see the old man and his daughter as well as get a few bowls of the food of the gods.
Dropping into their favorite seats they both waited as Ayame turned to face them. Seeing two people in the chairs she and her father had reserved for the two children that they used to feed made her frown for a moment. Schooling her features she walked over to the couple as Kakashi sat next to them.
"Excuse me," she began, "but those seats are reserved for two very special customers. I'm very sorry to ask but could you please find other seats?"
Naruto looked down and softly replied, "I'm sorry but Sakura-chan and I haven't had the old man's ramen in a very long time. We'll take our leave then, thank you anyway."
Hearing the name Sakura-chan and taking a closer look at the boy's face Ayame's breath caught, "Na...Naruto? Oh my, and Sakura too? I should have known it was you two, who else would have pink hair and a blonde boyfriend?"
"Husband," Sakura replied to the older girl, "we got married a little while ago," she concluded while showing the other girl her wedding set.
"Oh my, it's beautiful. So when did you two tie the knot?"
"Oh about a year ago," Sakura lied, "We had to because of Naruto-kun's situation with his clans."
"I know, when it was announced who his family was the council was fighting tooth and nail to have him put in the CRA," the waitress informed Sakura.
Sakura's blood ran cold, 'They would do that, most likely to get their hands on his money and jutsu's' she thought to herself. "Well it's not going to happen now and if we do agree it will be my decision as to who marries my Naruto-kun."
"Well, you don't have to worry too much since every girl in town but a few are crazy over that little emo Uchiha," Ayame said calming the pink haired girls nerves, "Now what can I get you guys tonight?"
Naruto smiled and ordered three miso ramen with pork for him and one miso with chicken for Sakura. After he placed their order he looked Ayame in the eyes, "Say, Ayame-niichan, who are those seats being saved for anyway?"
"You two of course," came a man's voice from the back, "Everyone in the village knows not to sit there since those were the seats you two always sat in. We wanted to make sure you had a place to sit whenever you returned."
"That's a relief old man, I thought that you started thinking..."
"Not on your life Naruto-kun," Ayame said as tears welled into her eyes, "Of everyone in the village we missed you as much as Kakashi and the Hokage."
"Ma, ma, I didn't miss them that much," Kakashi joked getting a light slap on the arm from Ayame after she had served her and her fathers favorite customers.
As he laughed at Ayame's antics Kakashi turned to the couple next to him, "You two need to finish up and get some sleep. Don't forget, you have another meeting with the Hokage at eight A.M. And you don't want to be late."
"What's this meeting about?" Naruto asked.
"The Hokage needs you to be there so he can make sure you're placed in the class he wants you two to attend, remember?"
The mission, thought Naruto, we need to be placed in the class the suspected traitor is in, "Right, it's going to be fun seeing everyone's faces when they realize who we are, isn't that right Sakura-chan?"
"Oh, yeah! I can't wait to see Ino again, what about you Naruto-kun, excited to see Shikamaru and Choji again?"
"Yeah, those two always had time for me, and wasn't Ino your best friend?"
"She was, well, it's getting late, good night all. Let's go home husband of mine," Sakura said with a smile.
The pair were soon home, the place being with around the corner of the ramen stand, and in their bedroom. Having dispelled their clones once they saw that everything was in place and set up almost like it was in their room back home. It was funny that the world they grew up on was considered home, not the place of their birth but it didn't matter in the end, after a turn in the military they found home was where you made it and if they were needed here then so be it.
Having had such a long and tiring day the pair took a quick shower, even though they had returned to their 13 year old bodies to them they looked the same and no matter what, they were like the foxes who they were tied to, they were together for life. In their minds they were still twenty-two year old Sailors, not the little kids their minds were physically trapped in. Once done and dried they fell into their bed, too tired to make love they settled for some kissing and petting.
Seeing the look on her husband Sakura just huffed and rolled her eyes, it was way to late in the evening for that. She just kissed his cheek and told him that they had all the time in the world to rediscover each other, besides, her new body was not ready to accept him in her womanhood, for her it would be vary painful. Seeing him nod in understanding Sakura wrapped her arms around her man with a contented sigh. She then held on to him until sleep over took them. Oh-six-fucking-hundred would come early.
At eight in the morning found the two standing before their leader and grandfather figure. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked the two over scrutinizing their choice of clothing. Both were wearing smaller versions of the camouflage uniforms they had worn in the other world, complete with name tapes that read 'UZUMAKI' kanji script. On their collars were their Crows or rank devices which were repeated on their covers, an eight point Marine style hat.
Above Sakura's name was her Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist badge, below were her Aircrew Wings. On Naruto's was his SEAL Trident badge. At the moment they were explaining what each badge meant and Sakura was explaining why her collars sported two separate devices.
"As Naruto-kun explained, this one with the bird and stripes is called a 'Crow' and it shows our rank. As we have three stripes we are the highest ranked as far as working supervisors. That means we still have hands on duties, consider it as the same as a high Chunin or low to mid Jonin," the girl told her new commanding officer.
"Now this is called a caduceus and it means that I'm a medic. The wings, that's a tough one to describe," she told Hiruzen, "In our our last world there are machines that can fly and are manned by pilots and crewmen just like a ship. Well, these wings mean that I went to a very difficult school and OJT to earn these" she told their leader as she pointed to her AC wings, "After I earned them I rode in one of those machines and was flown out to recover injured soldiers or sailors and treat them on the return trip."
"I see," the elder man said as he took a drag from his pipe, "and the badge on Naruto's shirt?"
"It's called a Trident, it's earned after surviving one of the most grueling training courses ever devised. It also means that you are one of the best in the country's armed forces," Naruto explained, "I suppose the equivalent to here would be ANBU or the Hunter Nins. I was tasked to work in a small team and do the jobs that required a very small foot print, most of it being black operations. Stuff I couldn't even talk to Sakura-chan about."
"What...what did you and Sakura-chan call you and your comrades?"
"SEALs, it's name is from the environments we operate from, SEa-Air-Land. I have a couple of books you can look through but I would label them as an X class secret and they can't leave my compound's library. And to answer your next question, with all my training and combat experience I figure I'm low to mid Jonin."
"If what you and your wife says is true I would ask you to hold back almost all of your strength and techniques in spars while in class. Now, I know that you hate being trapped in a room Naruto-kun, but it's only a few hours a day and when you figure in breaks and vacation periods it's still less than a year."
"As long as I have my Sakura-chan with me I'll tough it out."
"Good, now I need the two of you to follow me," their leader said as he stood and walked out the door heading for the academy.
Following the Hokage the pair entered the academy and stopped at the headmaster's office. As they entered both Naruto and Sakura noticed the barely concealed glare the man gave them before the Hokage spoke up.
"Something the matter Hiro-san? I thought that this had been settled after Naruto-kun's heritage was revealed as well as what the fox said that night. Remember? If you kill his jailer then you release him and he will not be happy. Perhaps it's time for you to retire if you, one of the most intelligent men in the village forgets that a seal holding a kunai is not the kunai."
"N...no, Hokage-Dono , I haven't forgotten. The fourth was a genius when it came to sealing. I assure you that Namekazi-san and Haruno-san will be treated as we treat the other students," the man replied his fear of what could happen if it were to be found that some of the teaching staff still held hatred at all to the two youngsters in front of him. No matter what the man told them, some of the most educated persons in the village refused to listen to reason when it came to Naruto, they just found it easier to continue to hate than admit they had been wrong.
"Actually Sensei, my name is Uzumaki as is Naruto's, Naruto and I married just before we returned to the village to fulfill certain...ah, Uzumaki clan requirements before he could be recognized as the clan head," the girl told the headmaster for the record.
"I would also prefer to use the name that everyone knows me by, Uzumaki, as well sensei. Until I take office I feel it would be an insult to my father to use his name to what would be seen as usage for personal gain. I would like to actually earn my place in the village and not depend on my family's name," the blonde in front of the man explained.
"Ah yes, after looking at your paperwork I see it is indeed Uzumaki, and not only do I understand your reasons but I feel it's most mature to understand the concept of working for something. I only wish some of our other students felt the same way," the headmaster told his new pupils, a sense of pride now replacing his earlier feelings towards the boy.
The Hokage's law and wishes aside, this was not the brat that the village at one time wished to be rid of. This was the son of Minato and Kushina, two of his favorite and beloved students that had sat in his classroom years ago. Not only had this boy grown up so did his companion, gone was the team of the shy little girl and the brash prankster. These two had gone through the fires and had been forged and tempered as warriors. That much he could tell just from looking at the eyes.
Just before they left the office the headmaster spoke one last time, "Uzumaki-san, before I take you to your classroom I would like to say I'm sorry. While I never held your...status as jinchuriki against you I did turn a blind eye towards your so called teachers mistreatment and sabotaging yours and Sakura-san's education. While I would like to say that no one would do such a thing now that would be wishful thinking. I want you and your wife to come to me, Iruka or Kamina-sensei if you experience anything like you did before you two left the village."
"Why are you telling me this now sensei?" Naruto asked not used to anyone in the academy giving him any form of respect.
"Because, your parents were two of my finest students. I'm not ashamed to say that they were my favorites out of all the children I taught. They stayed close to me and I was one of the first people that they told that you were on your way, the man replied in a soft voice, "They would be very disappointed in how I not only treated you but allowed you to suffer at the hands of others as well."
"I see, I forgive you Hiro-sensei, better to leave things that happened in the past in the past once they are addressed. Sakura and I are making a new start here, something akin to feeling reborn, thank you for letting me give you a new start with my wife and I," was Naruto's reply.
Seeing that they were going to be late for the morning class the Hokage spoke up, "Hiro, I'm going to escort these two to their classroom. Where will I find Iruka's class?" the Hokage asked.
"Room 305, he should be calling roll at the moment so if you hurry you won't be interrupting a lecture," he was told.
Finding the mentioned room Hiruzen slid the door open and stepped in causing the roll call to come to a screeching halt.
Iruka quickly walked over to the old man and bowed deeply, "Hokage-Dono, welcome. What can I do for you today?"
"It has come to my attention that you have two empty seats in here and I have two youngsters that are quite qualified to fill them," the Hokage said with a smile.
Once he handed over the pair's modified school records to the teacher he turned and called out, "You can come in now and before you sit introduce yourselves to your classmates."
Iruka suppressed a gasp of surprise when he saw his new students. He had been informed just before classes restarted that the Godaime Koho, the Fifth Hokage in waiting, would be returning to the village in the near future. Now he was being told said person is to be his student, that was almost too much. As he began to bow to the couple the boy waved him off, telling him that until he was installed in office he requested that he and Sakura be treated like the rest of the students.
At the same time this was going on the rest of the class was getting curious. While it was not unusual for the Hokage to visit the academy and see how the kids were getting on, it was unusual for his to be escorting two children. What also surprised them was that their teacher had begun to bow to the newcomers only to be stopped by the boy. At the moment all they could do was sit and watch, the conversation they were watching was spoken in hushed tones and gestures.
One student that was watching was the last "Loyal" Uchiha. Sasuke was not happy at this new and unexpected event. All through his education after that 'event' years ago the teaching staff had gone out of their way to provide him with more attention and private tutoring in advanced techniques. Now, from the looks of things that was in jeopardy judging from the secretive nature of the conversation and the presence of not only that fool of a leader, the Hokage, but the headmaster as well. Whoever these two interlopers were they were going to find out that you didn't take things from an elite clan like the Uchiha and by extension, Sasuke himself.
As the conversation ended the students watched as the small group walked to the front of the room. Most of the students bore looks of curiosity. A few, like Ino and her two male companions, surprise and recognition with the exclamation of "troublesome" issuing from the Nara. What was not lost on the small party was the resent filled and hateful glare the Uchiha was sending their way.
Slowly walking in the two stood before the class, waiting silently for the teacher to say something. Realizing that they were waiting for him Iruka spoke up, "I'm Iruka as the Hokage mentioned and over there is Mizuki your assistant sensei and you two are?" he asked with a smile.
Facing the class Sakura went first, "I'm Sakura Uzumaki. I was born in the village but was sent out of Konoha for training as an apprentice to a retainer of my mother in laws clan that must not be named when I was six. I remember a few of you from first year so I would like to catch up with you."
Naruto stepped forward next, "Good morning, my name is Naruto Uzumaki, I too was born here but was taken with Sakura-chan out of the walls for intensive training. As many of you should know I am the Fifth Hokage but for the time being I'm to be considered apprentice to Lord Third. That does not meant that I don't have duties of the office I'm to fill, I do. Most of them will be in regard to the operation of this academy."
"I do not condone favoritism towards certain individuals or groups, on the other I will not tolerate the willful neglect of a student's welfare. Should either of these actions come to mine or Sakura's attention there will be a teaching position open before the day is over," as he said that Naruto cast a look at Mizuki.
"Sakura and I were trained to be military leaders for the last half of our training. In fact we both commanded units in the field and have been already blooded. That said we are in the academy to learn what couldn't without the luxury and safety of a classroom. Old friends aside I look forward to making friends with all of you."
As the pair were introducing themselves Hiruzen noticed the hateful glares that Mizuki sent the two Uzumaki's. 'Soon,' he thought to himself, 'Soon Ibiki and Anko will have a new plaything. Leaning over towards the man he softly asked, "A problem Mizuki-san? Perhaps with Naruto and lady Uzumaki?"
Knowing that he was caught the man averted his eyes and mumbled an apology all the while plotting a way to continue the campaign to keep the Kyuubi Brat ignorant. That task was going to be harder now that the fool of a Hokage gave him duties in the running of the classes. As he was debating what to do next he remembered the look Naruto had given him, the eyes the boy had were those of a ninja that had seen one mission too many. The girl was the same as the daemon, a look that screamed danger to any that crossed her.
Once the introductions were done Iruka let the students ask questions.
One girl with purple hair stood up as if she were trying to be intimidating and asked a question aimed at Sakura, "You both have the same family name but look different, are you two related?"
Sakura smiled at her husband and answered, "No, we're not siblings if that was what you wanted to know, why?"
"Because, you're new here so I'm telling you that Sasuke-kun is off limits to you. I don't want you anywhere near him, he's mine!"
Sakura looked over at the mentioned Uchiha as he sat glaring at her then at the girl that just staked a claim on him just as the others did day after day. What she saw was a very ugly personality glaring at her as if to dare her to squeal and fawn all over him.
As the brooding emo continued to stare Sakura burst out laughing, "Him? Oh please you must be joking. I'm sorry sister, brooding emo's just don't turn me on."
"Oh and for the record? This," she said taking Naruto's hand, "this is my husband, so hands off. I'll make a deal with all you fan girls, stay away from my husband and I'll ignore your Uchiha. The emo is not my type."
Next a boy, an Inuzuka judging by the markings on his face and a puppy sleeping on his head stood and asked a question, although from his phrasing it sounded like a statement, "You're the Hokage in waiting? More like the liar in waiting. I call bullshit, the Hokage Koho is the son of Minato Namekazi, not Uzumaki. Coming in a saying that like you plan to be the Alpha male in this classroom. I'll tell you here and now, there is only one Alpha male in this class and I'm it."
He then turned to Sakura and tried to impress her, "Hey beautiful lady, I'm Kiba and I bet I can show you a better time than that blonde you're with now. What do you say? Pick you up at five and spend the evening in paradise? I bet I'm better in everything than him."
Naruto just glared at Kiba, not for the insult to him but for his ballsy attempt to win Sakura over. Turing to her husband the girl began speaking in rapid Spanish, "Can you believe this bastard? How much you bet he goes home after school everyday and tries to fuck his sister?"
Laughing Naruto answered back, "Now we don't know that, but he might be humping a cousin or two, he looks inbred. Hell, he might be like that kid that played the banjo in that old Burt Reynolds movie."
"Babe, that's mean, that kid in the movie looked a hell of a lot smarter that this Kiba kid."
Hearing his name but like the others not understanding a word said Kiba yelled at them, "You two do know that it's rude to speak in a different language that no one else understands yeah? What the hell are you saying about me!?"
Naruto had to bite his lip to keep from laughing, "Sakura and I were speculating if you use that line when you go home and try to fuck one of your cousins."
Kiba shouted out in rage at what the new kid had said to the class. In his mind he was the Alpha male in the class, Sasuke not counting because although he runs around saying his dream is to restore his clan he rejects every girl that has taken an interest in him. Scowling the Inuzuka sat down, at least he wasn't called a 'brooding emo' by the new girl so it wasn't a total loss.
After the laughing died down Shikamaru looked at his old friend, "Troublesome, so you came back huh? I suppose I should congratulate you and Sakura-chan, you always said that you'd marry her."
"True, but had we stayed her parents would've continued to retract the contract Sakura's mother made with my folks. I hate to say this about my in laws but they are just as hateful and ignorant as the rest of the village when it comes to me. But enough of things I can't change. It's good to see you again Shika, we missed you, Ino and Choji," Naruto replied.
At that moment Ino Yamanaka was brought out her day dreaming about the hot looking blond boy and looked at the girl next to him. "Sakura? Is it really you? Where've you been all these years?"
As Ino was asking these questions she was running towards her best friend, the friend that just left one night without a goodbye. As she slammed into Sakura the tears just came out, "I missed you so much, you and the idiot. Where did you guys go? And why didn't you write?"
"Ino, we had to keep everything a secret until it was safe for Naruto-kun to return. It's all still a secret for now but forget about all that, we're back now and me and the Baka are here for good," Sakura said as she held on to Ino for dear life.
Ino then noticed the clothing her friends were wearing, "What is up with those clothes? You two planning on hiding in a tree?"
Sakura rolled her eyes as Naruto laughed. She then did a little pirouette, turning completely around to show off her clothes, "Like them? Naruto and I had to wear these during our last years of training because of our being involved in a war."
That got the classes attention, as far as they knew there was peace between nations and only Mist was involved in an internal conflict. Ino looked at her friend and asked the question that needed to be answered, "Where would you fight in a war Sakura? You don't mean to say you and Naruto were involved in Mist's civil war?"
Sakura decided to use their fallback cover story, hopefully it would work, "Ino, there are other places in this world that have wars going on. To tell the truth we were fighting for a nation in the west," the words flowed out of Sakura's mouth without a hint of deception since her homeland that she and Naruto grew up in on the other world was often called 'The West'. It made the cover story that easier to maintain, a grain of truth in a package of lies.
Suddenly it all made sense regarding these two as the class realized that these two new students had the look and mannerisms of combat vets such as their parents, grandparents or family. West was place of unknown adventures and dangers beyond the border regions. The further one went into that side of the continent the less known it became and those who went rarely returned. Either their new classmates were very lucky or very strong.
At that point Iruka had them take their seats as the Hokage left the room and headed to his office. Ino pulled the pair up the steps and to the last row sitting them next to herself, Shikamaru and Choji. Just before he sat down Naruto hugged Choji tight and told him to bring the other two by his and Sakura's place on Saturday so they could catch up and have a barbecue to which the fa...large boned boy readily agreed to while Shika muttered "Troublesome blond trouble makers."
As this was the first month of the new school year much of the classes were a review of the last year's lessons. As was the custom in Konoha, Iruka was the classes primary instructor and had been so for the last four years. He and Mizuki were responsible for the student's basic academic and shinobi foundation.
There were other teachers that funneled through the classrooms daily to teach specialized applications of techniques such as genjutsu, sword work and other shinobi disciplines. Both Naruto and Sakura had the basics of sword work down from their training with Kurama and his family. Sealing was more or less self taught with Uncle Tetsuo giving them a hand when one or the other found themselves stuck with a difficult seal. Most of the knowledge was via scrolls that Kurama wrote down from his memories while in Naruto's mother and grand mother. The scrolls from the family library were for some reason missing when the library was sent to the kids. It was later found in an unmarked storage scroll that had been left in Kakashi's possession to be given to Naruto when he became a genin.
Lunch came after a very boring session on the history of the five hidden villages. To Naruto it was a very sanitized version of what he had been taught. While it may let the civilians sleep better at night believing the fairy tales that passed for history not knowing the true picture of your country and and it's friends and enemies can get you either killed or starting an international incident. When that happens a young genin could destroy years of work building trust and friendships. That would change once Naruto talked to the Hokage, history classes would be retaught. Those ninjas that had already graduated, under eighteen and still chunin would have to take remedial classes but said classes would count as a solo D rank mission.
At the end of morning classes Sakura and Naruto followed their old friends out to the school yard. Ino insisted on sitting under this certain tree so she could be close to her Sasuke-kun. Sakura rolled her eyes at hearing that come out of her friends mouth. Naruto gave the other boys a look which was returned with two "you don't want to know" looks in return. Once they had sat down Naruto got himself comfortable while the others save for Sakura brought out their bento boxes.
Naruto then pulled off his pack and opened it up revealing an small ice chest and a picnic blanket as Sakura pulled an insulated hot box from hers. Looking at his wife Naruto asked what was for lunch, "Something light, just a few soft beef tacos, rice, beans and sweet tamales."
"When did you make that? I didn't smell anything this morning."
"Who said I cooked Baka? I had Makoto pick up take out from Manny's."
"You used Uncle's little brother to make a food run to our old place to get lunch? He's going to make you pay during training if he finds out."
"No he won't," stated Sakura with a grin, "Uncle thought it was a good idea and had the little guy pick up his regular order as well."
"Only you two would do something like that and not worry about it coming back to haunt you," Naruto said with a sigh.
As they began to eat they handed Choji and the others samples of what they had brought. Choji, being the budding food expert he was gladly ate all that he was offered. As they ate Naruto filled them in as to who Makoto and Manny's was. Manny's, they told their friends was a restaurant near their old place. It served what they called Mexican food something that Choji fell in love with at first taste, the food was something that hit the spot and for a budding gourmet like Choji the need for more was powerful.
All in all it was a very peaceful time until Naruto saw movement in the corner of his eye.
Getting Sakura's attention he began to speak in Spanish, "I see that a hound is beginning to sniff around. Not sure if it's the food or you however .
"Yeah, he looks like, I don't know, angry that you knocked him down a peg in class. Remember what jijii told us about showing our true talents."
"And you remember what I told him. Any little fucker starts anything and the bastard will learn a very painful lesson."
As soon as Naruto had stopped speaking he felt Kiba approaching. Not bothering to turn around Naruto continued to eat and catch up with his friends. As he reached for his last taco it was snatched away by the dog boy who then took a bite, spat it out and threw the rest into the waste can, "What the hell man? How could you eat something like that? it's barbaric!" Kiba yelled in outrage.
"What do you mean coming over and taking a bite out of my lunch and then tossing it away? That's good food man!" Naruto yelled back.
Kiba just glared at Naruto and then to Sakura when she offered to share her last taco with him. "Kami in all her heavens!" he yelled, "Seeing you eat that forget about going out with me, you...you...AHHHHH!"
Naruto and Sakura just looked at Kiba as if he lost his mind before Naruto yelled back, "Dude, seriously what the fuck is your problem with our food?"
"You don't know?"
No, wait! Know what?"
"Your food, it's dog! How could you eat dog?" Kiba yelled as he held Akamaru in a tight embrace, fearful that his partner wound also end up on the menu.
"Dog huh?" Naruto asked with a grin. Turning to his wife he held out his hand and told her, "I was right so pay up!"
Rolling eyes Sakura replied, "I don't believe it, fine, what ever you want in bed tonight you get."
"Anything?" Naruto asked waggling his eyebrows.
"Anything, even that," came the exasperated answer.
All of a sudden every male that had heard passed out from major nose bleeds. Sakura noticed that even Ino had a small trail of blood dripping down her lower face. What surprised those who knew him gasped at Sasuke's geyser. Naruto looked around wondering what the hell happened before Ino leaned in and whispered in his ear.
"WHAT? EWWW! No way do we do that! Last time we tried Sakura said it hu...Ow! What the hell was that fo...Ohhh, right sorry love," Naruto said to his wife as he rubbed the lump forming on his head.
Unfortunately the mental picture Kiba and Ino got started the blood works again. What nobody noticed was that shy little Hinata had passed out cold with a smile on her lips and a trail of blood from her own nose.
Naruto and Sakura looked around mumbling about this group being bigger pervs than their friends in the Navy. That also included the wives as well, which Sakura could attest to from some of the things that were discussed over coffee or the weekly dinners when the boys were on a Detachment. As she looked at her best friend she could only think, 'Et tu, Ino-chan?'
Coming to his senses Kiba glared at Naruto, "You really knew this food was dog and you ate it anyway?"
"Food is food dog breath, Sakura and I went through training that makes the academy seem like day care. The first thing you learn in the field is this, when you run out of rations and are starving your teammate begins to look tasty."
"But dog?" Kiba cried. Naruto understood the guy's reaction. It was one he saw a teammate give him in Korea in what seems long ago now. They had stopped at a barbecue on a push cart that was cooking some kind of meat. Well it smelled good, tasted even better, but Bob just had to ask what kind of beef they were having.
The answer was BBQ'ed dog. Poor Bob made a vow right then and there, he would never, ever, eat with SO3 Namekazi again. Shaking off the memory Naruto gave the kid a serious reply, "Kiba, don't worry, Akamaru is not only a family member to you but your partner and protector. Neither Sakura or would ever think of hurting an Inuzaka companion in any manner. We joke about the things we've eaten but we don't go out of our way to make a meal out of an animal that's viewed as a pet or member of the family."
As Naruto spoke Kiba noticed that Akamaru had walked up to the blonde and Naruto was absent mindedly stroking the small dog's fur. Kiba had never seen his partner so relaxed around another male before. Sure, the puppy loved Hinata but he never willingly sat in another boy's lap to be pet and stroked like was now. Kiba sighed, he knew the dog was a better judge of character than he was and if his dog liked someone, wellll, Akamaru seemed to always know best.
Putting his hand out Kiba looked at Naruto, "It seems that Akamaru doesn't care about what you eat and is happy with the attention you're giving him. If he thinks you'd make a good friend then I agree. Sorry about the comments I made earlier and trying to pick up your girl. Friends?"
Naruto looked at the offered hand and then to Sakura since it was her honor that was offended, to his relief she gave him a smile that told him she was fine. Taking the hand made Naruto give Kiba one of his rare, well in the village anyway, genuine smiles, "Friends, I promise to live up to Akamaru's expectations."
The little dog yipped at the remark as Kiba shook hands with his new friend, "You better, he has very high standards."
Sakura smiled at the exchange. It was a far cry from how kids their age reacted to him before they left. Back then he was hated and shunned. His only friends besides herself at that time were Choji, Shikamaru and Ino. Hinata found her way into that close circle when they saved her from a fate worse than death. Ino had asked Sakura one time how she and Naruto became friends. 'He saved me,' was her reply. Her mother had just left her to play by herself at the park near their house. Her pink hair attracted attention all the time and most of the time that attention was not good. That was what had happened the day the day they met.
Small Flashback
As she cried and rolled into a ball to protect herself from a group of boys and girls that were bullying her Naruto appeared, the small orange wearing blonde charged in with a feral cry on his lips. Within seconds the bully's were on the ground. The boys were actually unconscious- and the girls sobbing in pain as they held their cheeks. It had happened so fast that it was a second later that the females of the group had been slapped so hard in the face that the cheek that took the blow began to sting and swell. Sakura looked up and saw the brightest smile in the world, it was the smile that made her fall in love with the man it's owner was to become. Naruto had placed himself between her and harm, it was something he would do for the rest of his life.
Turning to the stunned group of Sakura's tormentors he loudly proclaimed, "No one is to hurt or bully this pretty girl anymore or you will feel the anger of the future Hokage!"
End Flashback
Coming back the present Sakura witnessed the beginning of Naruto's newest friendship and smiled. Walking to Ino she sat down and resumed catching up with the girl. Ino had just sat and watched as Naruto and Sakura defeated Kiba in a battle of wit. Not, wits as in smart, but wit, as in smart ass. Kiba had just been vanquished by a master. Naruto had turned his anger over his food to a bet and joke session with Sakura. Poor Kiba had been left standing ignored, his righteous fury over the ingredients of said food being the source of the humor. In the end Naruto had somehow won over Kiba's puppy and and the two of them had in turn won the Inuzuka heir over.
Ino just looked at Sakura, "Forehead, how did h..."
"Ino, trust me, I've lived with him almost his entire life, even I don't know how he does it," Sakura told her friend, "What you just watched was what Naruto does best."
"And just what is that Sakura?"
"Make friends," the pinkette said with a smile as bright as her mates.
Soon lunch was over and the small group of friends trudged back to class. The after noon went faster as the class was taking lessons on using the kunai as a thrown weapon. Naruto and Sakura, for all their training in the shinobi arts, sucked. Not just sucked, but SUCKED! Sakura had scored five out of ten. Naruto...well Naruto hit the target three times more from luck than skill. As the pair sulked at their debut performance Kiba walked up laughing.
"I thought you two had combat experience."
Naruto glared the boy, "We do, it's just that..."
"Just what loser?" Sasuke added with a self satisfied smirk.
"We were never in a situation that called for us to throw a knife," Naruto explained with a half truth. In reality if the enemy was too far away for a knife attack he and Sakura would use their guns. The problem was, they were jonin level at throwing kunai and shuriken but they had been told to hold back on their skills and using a firearm at this point in time was not too good an idea.
"So you hid behind others then?" the Uchiha accused.
Sakura sighed, they had expected this when they were told to hold back, "No, we were always close enough to our targets that we didn't need to throw a knife."
Ino looked at her friend, "Sakura just how close were you guys to your targets?"
Naruto gave his classmates an answer that they would never forget, even when they passed from old age and their grandchildren had surpassed them the words of their future Hokage would haunt them , "Close enough for me to feel the heat of their shit against my leg when their bowels loosened as I stabbed them in the heart."
Seeing Ino's shocked look Sakura nodded her head, "You guy's have never done real knife work have you? It's not like they teach you in class."
At this point even Iruka was listening as Sasuke began to relive that night, "You just don't stick it in and pull out. No, you have to hold the person in place as you feel his breath leave him and his body stops working. You have to hold the poor bastard because if you don't the noise he makes dying will compromise you and your team."
"Trust us when we tell you this, 'wet work' means just that, you're going to get wet with someone elses' blood, piss and shit depending on what he's wearing or in some cases, not wearing," Naruto added to their collective horror.
Looking at Sakura Naruto frowned and spoke in Spanish which was their default secure means of talking, "Something wrong baby?"
"Yeah, the Uchiha. It looks like he's having a flashback. I'm going to talk to him okay?"
"Sure, he needs an evaluation on his mental fitness anyway. This could give us a base line, after you're done see if Ino can help you with your findings. Just don't let her know who you're looking at," Naruto told his wife.
"Okay, but with her infatuation with duck hair I'm afraid she won't be as objective as she could be."
Walking up the the emo in question Sakura gave him a smile, "Uchiha-san, might I have a word with you? In private?"
Smirking at what he thinks is Sakura dumping her husband for the villages elite Sasuke gives her his normal response as he walked away from the class, "Hnn."
Topping a short distance away the onyx eyed boy turned to face the new girl, "If you have any thought of starting an affair behind your husbands back forget it."
"Please, do get so full of yourself Uchiha, I love my husband and would never think of betraying him," Sakura replied as she rolled her eyes, "No, I just want to talk to you about your reaction to what Naruto said earlier."
"Reaction to what?" Sasuke asked warily.
"His description of using a knife in a close up kill. You seemed to react in a negative manner."
"You know of what happened to my clan?" he asked.
"We were briefed on the major events that happened while we were gone, so yeah, we know."
"When Uzumaki was speaking that night began to replay in my mind. In class they never tell you what your husband told us. I thought I was the only one that..."
"Knew the truth about ninja and their methods?" Sakura asked as she continued to watch the boy in front of her.
"Yeah, I didn't know what to say when they told and showed us how to kill close in, I mean, who would believe me if I spoke up?"
"We would, you, me and Naruto share a common experience in how a person really dies. Don't give me that look, I, we, know that you didn't take a life that night and you only know from that person's abuse," Sakura told him withholding Itachi's name. In some cases Sasuke was like a rape victim, while not sexually assaulted Itachi had in a sense raped his brothers mind.
"You two know what it's like then having to replay your first kills in your mind at the worst possible times then?" while he meant it was a statement, it came out as a desperate question.
"Not as much as you think. And no, it's not because we both are cold blooded. Naruto and I, when we started having...nightmares, we were sent to someone that helped us deal with what we were going through," Sakura told the boy in front of her, "The people we were working for at the time made sure our mental health was still in good shape."
"Did it help? No one saw you as weak because you couldn't keep it in?" another desperate question was Sakura's thought.
"Yes, it helped. We were taught that there was no shame in asking for help. That it was a way of getting stronger mentally, not as a weakness to be feared," Sakura told him before asking a question of her own, "Sasuke, did anyone offer to help you after that...night?"
"The Hokage said I should see one of the Yamanaka counselors before I left the hospital. I wanted to but I remembered my father one time saying that seeing a counselor is a sign that a person was weak and useless. At the time he was talking about a cousin that I liked for some reason."
Seeing the look in his eyes Sakura asked the question she already knew the answer too, "What happened to your cousin? Was she a victim of that night?"
"No, she had been taken captive on a mission. By the time she was rescued she had been raped and tortured for information that she would have known as the team leader. When she began to feel fear at the touch of her lover she went to my father for permission to seek aid from the Yamanaka clan. Father refused, called her weak and had her leave the house," Sasuke told her.
"Did she...did...ahhh.."
"That night," Sasuke continued as if Sakura wasn't there, "That night she told her lover, a guy she grew up with in the clan, she wasn't worthy of his love. That the clan leader had called her weak. Kaneda argued that she wasn't, that she was strong, that she had to be to survive what she went through."
Drawing a deep breath Sasuke finished his story, "I read the report of that night in father's archive, Mikuru, my cousin, she set off a grade five explosive tag while she and Kaneda were in bed," looking into the girls eyes he then asked a question that had bothered him for years, "My father said she was weak for wanting help, but I still wonder if she had been allowed to get it would she have still done something like that?"
"I...I don't know Sasuke, maybe not, but we'll never know that answer. We do know the probable answer to your...issues though. That you'd most likely not be allowed to be a ninja," Sakura answered as honestly as she could, "Your flashbacks, they could cause you to freeze up at the wrong time and that could..."
"Get someone killed, I know, it's one of the things I have trouble dealing with. But say I do go to the Yamanaka's? What then?"
"Depending on the evaluation report there are several options, but those are for after a long eval period. If you'd like I could sit in on your sessions, I do have some psychological training. I was the medic for the unit I was assigned to as well as Naruto's unit. Since we were in a war zone I filled lots of roles and counselor was one of them," Sakura explained.
"You wouldn't speak about what I say in those sessions?"
"No, I took an oath that outweighs the ones we swear to the village. The only time I can betray that oath is to prevent harm done to a patients self, harm to another and a treasonous act or acts."
"Hnnn, the way you've put everything and the way I felt comfortable talking about Mikuru tells me I can trust you to be quiet. Can I let you know my decision in a few days?"
"Sure Sasuke, just tell the Hokage that you wish to speak to one of the Yamanaka therapists. He'll inform me and set up the session, is that okay with you?"
"I believe so, Uzumaki-san, thank you for at least listening to me and not making any judgements. This...talking to someone outside the clan is not easy. While there are still other clan members they are younger than myself and are in foster care and well..."
"I understand, if you need to talk you can come to me, Naruto would also be happy to help you," she told the boy, "Not only did he lose his parents on the day he was born, this village saw him as the fox and wanted him to die. He knows what being alone is really like."
"Only you, I allow no one else in a session with me but you. Naruto will have to gain my trust even though we share so much in the way of pain to the heart," with that the Uchiha walked off.
Sakura returned to her husband's side and joined him in practicing their kunai throwing. They had to keep up the fantasy that they were average students, not jonin level ninjas. With Mizuki in charge of the lesson they had to use the blades the academy provided. It didn't take a genius to figure out the the kunai they were given were out of balance. They weighed a few ounces more than the ones they had in seals but outwardly looked normal. Of course this went into the reports the couple were to make later in the day.
When throwing practice ended it was time to go home. The first day back to school was as productive as they could have wanted. Naruto made a couple of new friends, to gain the friendship and trust of an Inuzuka was not easy. Naruto, however, had done just that and in record time. Along with Naruto becoming friends with Kiba, Sakura had made contact with the Uchiha heir and acting clan head. Her talk was even more productive than Naruto's as she was able to get him to at least consider counseling sessions.
As soon as classes ended the two killed a little time talking to Ino as she had wanted to know what Sakura and Sasuke talked about. As Sakura began to tell Ino what was discussed was a private matter two ANBU appeared at her side. These were the Hokage's personal troubleshooters, Baboon and Weasel. No matter the task they were the ones Hiruzen called for to do the job. Soon they would be answering to Naruto when the boy began taking over more tasks while in his apprenticeship.
Bowing deeply the Taller of the two, Weasel addressed the blonde male, "Uzumaki-sama, you and Lady Uzumaki are needed in the Hokage's office at once."
"There are two people that would like to make your acquaintance," Baboon added as his partner waited for Naruto's response.
"Are they members of the council?" Naruto asked knowing that at some point he would have to meet and deal with the group that had made his and Sakura's lives miserable. Even though most of that council had been either executed, jailed or banished the boy was still wary of them.
"No sir, but they are very important members of the village," Weasel answered oblivious to the sudden tensing of Naruto's body.
Baboon however did notice. While he had a reputation of being a bit dim he took his duties very seriously, it was why Hiruzen picked him to balance Weasel's professional manner. He knew of the boy's fear and mistrust of the council because of all the things they had ordered done to the boy and girl. Seeing Naruto tense up as he did made the man hate the old council even more and to watch the new one very closely.
"What Weasel means is that they serve the Leaf and answer only to the Hokage Naruto. You mustn't worry, they have been waiting years to see you," the man informed the boy in a comforting tone of voice.
"If you say so Baboon. Okay let's go see who's wanting to meet us," with that Naruto took Sakura by the hand as walked to the Hokage's office. Once there he opened the door and stepped in with his wife by his side. As they entered the couple noticed the visitors sitting on the office's couch The man looked to be in his fifties and had white hair the was very long, while the woman was a blonde that appeared to be in her late twenties to early thirties.
Both wore more or less traditional clothes and sandals the man's the older style wooden geta. Their faces displayed unusual markings, the woman having a diamond shaped mark on her forehead while the man was sporting red lines running from under his eyes and down his was one other thing about the older man, his head band. Instead of the normal ones seen in the village with the Konoha leaf symbol on it his displayed two horn like protrusions and the kanji for 'oil' engraved in the metal.
Before Naruto could get ten steps into the room he was suddenly embraced in a tight hug from the woman. As he struggled to understand what was happening the woman was sobbing loudly saying something like, "He's really here Jiraiya. Our grandson, he's alive."
A/N:
To my reviewers, thank you for the kind words and encouragement. I didn't know how this would be received so I'm happy that a few folks like it.
I hope you liked this chapter as it was a bear to write. What you are reading is the result of no less than five edits or partial rewrites. When I was writing this I kept getting a head of myself in the story and each time I wrote this I found things I didn't like. Most of it was getting Naruto into conflict with Sasuke on the first day he was in the academy. After much trial and error, well, lots of error, I found something I could live with.
In the end I decided to make Kiba the heavy in this chapter who quickly warms up to Naruto. Kiba's reaction to the dog meat taco was based on a true story involving a good friend and myself while in a Team Spirit deployment to Korea many moons ago. The true story involved more elements but small island rules are still in effect and the parties involved are sworn to secrecy. The only thing I can say is that booze played no part in the story, a hooker yes, but no booze.