Tip Of The Spear
Chapter 14
A/N;
Reading over this a few hours ago I found way too many mistakes and decided at 0200 that i would fix the chapter. Hopefully this reads better than the original post.
Last time on Tip Of The Spear,
"I can't believe you three, I said from the start that I would put people on teams with those that make the best mix, the only person that's more or less a given is Sasuke being trained by Kakashi because of the sharingan. If the Bastard had normal eyes he'd be going to whoever I said he was going to. Now, all that is decided, what is going to be in the treaty?"
"Well, we'll need some time to go over things but I think that I have my notes from when I had planned to meet with Rasa. That should cut a lot of time from the process," Hiruzen replied before adding one more thing, "Naruto, I think it would be in your interest that you have some say in this thing as well. Like you said, you're going to be the one that has to live with this thing so you might as well add your thoughts to it."
"Then it's settled then, Baa-chan, I'd like you to send a message to the Kazekage telling him that we are sending a delegation to his village to renegotiate the treaty. Tell him that in going over it while training me you noticed that there are things that are long out of date and that we'd like to fix things to give them more favor or at least give Suna equal footing. What was a good idea after a war is one thing but maintaining the punitive clauses for this long is just unfair. Allies do not treat each other in such a manner."
Hiruzen and Jiraiya looked at the blond, it was at times like this that they felt Minato's presence in the room. Naruto was shaping up to be a fine leader, when the time comes Konoha is sure to prosper under his rule.
"Very well worded Naruto, I'm sure Rasa will have no problem with renewing the treaty. Especially since it was us that are viewing it as unfair to Suna," Tsunade said, proud of her grandson and his way of saying things to the other side.
"Good, then we should have our answer in no more than three days. Once we get a reply we'll send the mission out first thing the next day. Now I don't know about you but I'm going to get some lunch with my lovely wife and then meet up with Zabuza. Sakura and I are starting to get the hang of those katas with that damn bokken. Let's go my love," Naruto declared as he offered his arm to his wife. Sakura latched on and snuggled into her husband with a contented sigh.
"At your side my handsome fox," Sakura answered as she led him out the door.
Looking at them before turning to her own husband Tsunade gave him a glare, "Now why can't you treat me that way you old pervert?"
"Because the last time I tried to you hit me because you were sure I was at the hot spring peeping, that's why. Now, before you lose your temper we need to see what sensei had proposed and what we need to change to bring it up to date," Jiraiya answered in a tone that said he was serious. In four days or less he and his sensie would be leading a diplomatic mission to Suna in the hopes that they could avoid a war neither side could afford to fight.
Now, On The Tip Of The Spear...
The hours after their meeting were very busy. The young couple ate lunch and then met Zabuza for kenjutsu training for the next three hours. During that time they alternatively did their sword katas and sparred with their cousin. Not only were the wooden training swords, bokkens, heavy they hurt too, much to both teens grief. While sadistic on the battlefield Zabuza was a much kinder teacher. He at least showed a little restraint when it came time to 'spar' with his family.
When they finished there the two were off to the academy to pick up the three kids that were now theirs. A few days after their return from Wave the papers were approved and with some reservations of a few clan leaders on the council Naruto and Sakura became Konohamaru, Moegi's and Udon's parents. While Kono kept his clans name as per the agreement, Moegi and Udon were now Uzumaki's. The most worrisome part of the proceedings was finding out that the pair were grandchildren of the disgraced and now very dead village elders and advisers.
Jiraiya and Tsunade were worried that finding out Naruto would quickly move to end the process. That didn't happen as Hiruzen knew the boy more intimately than the others and knew that Naruto would not abandon someone that was in need. Especially if that need was love and a place to live and be cared for. In fact that was one of the reasons the young couple did carry out the adoption process, to show that no matter how bad they had been hurt the children were innocent and should not have a grudge held for what their older relatives had done.
Now, at the end of the day Sakura sat up in her bed reading a scroll that Tsunade gave her, so she 'could advance her medical knowledge', as her grandmother had put it. She was reading it because of a request that she had made of the woman. When growing up the first time she remembered Naruto having a rich and deep voice by the time he had reached the age of fifteen, something he was close to now, but his voice had not changed much since their return. Instead of a deep rich and commanding voice that would make her and her friends in school get moist in the panties, his voice instead was a scratchy higher pitched one, a voice he's had since he was a child. Realizing that there was a problem she had asked Tsunade to look over her husband's larynx and vocal cords the next time he was to take a physical.
Two weeks later and Tsunade was in tears as she told her granddaughter the terrible news. Naruto's voice box and vocal chords had been repeatedly damaged by the villagers so badly they were a mass of scar tissue. Though Kurama had done what he could to heal the boy each time he was injured, over time there was just so much he could do. The only way to repair the damage is to remove the larynx and chords from a donor, a blood clone. It would be painful, Sakura could attest to that and no matter what in her mind she would always hear the deep richness to her lover's voice but she wanted that voice to be the one that gave orders to his subordinates not the scratchy and high pitched one he has now.
So Sakura studied and planned the surgery, She would be the on that did the operation with Tsunade and Shizune assisting or advising. It meant for a long procedure that would wear out all involved including the patient. It also meant that Naruto would have to make the clone and then willingly undergo surgery, something that he'd be loath to do. She remembered when the last time they had made blood clones, they were both six or so and Kurama was taking them to a safe place to grow as he trained them.
The process was painful and a bit scary having to be bled of nearly a quarter of her body's blood and then forcing half of her chakra into a shadow clone that when combined with the blood and a jutsu that transferred three quarters of the soul it became a duplicate in all aspects of herself as well as more durable than a shadow clone. Sakura was sure that it was painful for Naruto as well as he didn't care for bloodletting that much, especially if it was his blood.
Sakura set down the scroll and turned to face her husband as he walked into their bedroom, "Kids finally asleep?"
"Yeah," Naruto replied, "You know, for as busy as we keep them you'd think they'd run out of gas long before dinner. Were we always that full of energy?"
"More like you had enough for us two as well as what I had. You know the reason for that was thanks to Uncle, he and the other foxes and hanyo did a very good job raising us. I still can't believe all the food we had once we got to San Dawg," Sakura replied shaking her head at the memory, "Speaking of Uncle, did you ever find out about our new mate marks?"
"Huh? Mate marks, mate mar...Oh yeah I did," Naruto replied cheerfully, "According to Kurama the new one allows us to stay in contact telepathically but he's going to have to teach us to use that function."
"Anything else? I find it hard to believe that that's all it does."
"No, he said that it will have more effect on you and mine is just to compliment yours," Naruto answered as he began to list the things Kurama had gifted to themselves, "Now, the biggest thing for you is that you now have my healing ability, Uncle transferred some of his chakra into your system when I bit you."
"Oh really? And how were you able to transfer his chakra? I thought that they were separate in you until they were mixed by that seal," Sakura asked as she saw her husband begin to sweat.
"Well, ummm, well love, it's like this...I had to let Kurama take over my body and it's functions for as long as he needed, I mean he needed to do that to fix the mark and pump in the his chakra to activate the mark," Naruto haltingly explained.
"He, you mean at that point he was making love to me as he was controlling your body?" she asked as her face flushed bright red as she became first embarrassed and then grew angry. Before Sakura could do anything rash Kurama appeared.
Turning to Naruto the fox started to speak, "Kit, let me explain to her," seeing Naruto nod the fox turned to Sakura, "My little Vixen, I take no pleasure in experiencing mating with you through the kit over there. It's just that in order for the mark to work properly I have to be the one to inject the proper amount of chakra into it's construction."
"I see," Sakura said in understanding before Naruto caught the mischievous glint in her eyes, "But, Uncle, I have to know. Is it because I'm so unattractive that you don't want to claim me as your own vixen? Is that why you take no pleasure when Naruto and I are in the throes of passion?" the pink haired girl asked with a pout and crocodile tears.
Hearing that Kurama turned bright red and began to sputter an answer as he sought to soothe his adopted nieces hurt feelings, "What?! No! No Sakura, it's not like that, not like that at all. It's because...because I view you as my own kit. I mean I and my family raised you and your husband after all, I see you as much my own daughter as Amanda is. I would never dream of taking you as my own mate, it wouldn't be fair to either you or Naruto," the Kitsune No Kyuubi argued before Sakura's laughter filled the room.
Walking over to the now confused fox daemon she stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek, "Uncle, I'm sorry. That was a very mean thing to do to you but you've got to admit, I'm only one of three females that can get you this flustered. Asahina and Amanda have more than an advantage over me since they are your flesh and blood and I've seen how you dote on all three of us. Now, what else does this mark do?"
Kurama huffed in annoyance before he gave his answer, "Well the first of the changes you'd have noticed by now is your enhanced sense of smell, hearing and sight. Your taste is sharpened as well, think about all that you can now taste the next time you eat at the ramen stand. Your healing factor is now increased and sped up and you should have noticed an increase in your strength as well as faster reflexes. Now, for the last part, ummm yes, the last part, I think it would be a good idea that the kit tells you. You can ask me about it later if you wish but today was a long day so I'll be off."
With a puff of smoke Kurama vanished back into the seal. Sakura watched as Naruto's eyes glazed over as he talked to his 'guest', prisoner was definitely not the word that described the cantankerous vulpine. At one point she could have sworn that he blushed deep red. She then realized that whatever the fox had to say was over and Naruto was the one that was to give the answer.
"Well?" she asked.
"Ahh, it seems that...umm...that..."
"Naruto, just spit it out already, it can't be that bad. Besides, how long have we been together?"
"Well hon, promise you won't kill me or Uncle?" seeing his wife nod Naruto pressed on, "Well, that last thing the mark did was to make you, ahhh, more receptive... sexually receptive when you are physically the most likely to...to get..."
"Naruto!"
"The mark makes you hornier than normal at the time you're most likely togetpregnant!Don'tkillmeplease!"
Sakura just looked at her now nervous husband and contemplating what he had just said, "The mark makes me hornier than usual," a nod, "And that happens when I'm my most fertile," another nod, "And it was Kurama's idea," one last nod.
"Sigh" Sakura just sat in thought as she went over the changes the mate mark had made on her body. Well enhanced strength, endurance and agility will be useful as well as her senses being sharper. All of those were a bonus and when she added in a healing factor like Naruto's well she may as well hit the lottery. The only question mark was her 'receptiveness', how much of her life was going to change because of this? Well she had a few last questions for Naruto and then she'd start to figure out how to work around her uncles 'gifts'.
"Naruto, just what will my enhanced receptiveness change in my body?"
"Well, you know that jutsu you use before we make love?" seeing her nod he pressed on, "Well, according to Kurama that jutsu is now only eighty-ninety percent effective since his chakra is now being mixed with yours and given time it will overpower that jutsu. The reason he did that is because of what happened in our junior year in school, he never wants you to go through that again. Sakura, that's something I never want you to go through again, it was because of my chakra that we lost Haruhi. Kurama thought that if you had his chakra mixed into yours it would negate any bad effects."
"Naruto," Sakura said as she put her hand to his cheek and began running her fingers along his whisker marks, "I know you two feel responsible for Haruhi-chan but believe me, it wasn't your fault or because of uncles chakra. Haruhi died because she was born too early, my body wasn't ready for having a child. You Listen to me, it...was...not...your fault. Now exactly how much chakra is in that mark?"
"Ummm, uncle says he pumped in about a tail and a half's worth. The mark is kind of like my seal, it filters Kurama's chakra into your own system in very small amounts and then blends the two chakras together. The plus side along with all the things he mentioned earlier is that one, you and I have a psychic link so we can talk to each other telepathically. The range will increase over time but right now it's at about 10 meters so we can 'talk' to each other in our own offices without being heard."
"And the other things?" Sakura asked.
"Well, should I lose myself and go beyond the amount of tails I can control, you having Kurama's chakra will make you immune to the toxic effects the Kyuubi cloak possesses. That's, that's so if you ignore my orders to stand fast you won't get harmed when you grab me," as he said that he was watching his wife's face for a reaction, seeing it he pointed a finger and spoke up, "Ah, uh, uh, ah. Don't give me that look, you and I both know that's exactly what you'd do and don't deny it either."
"Fine," Sakura said with a pout that Naruto found very cute and sexy, "But you're my husband and best friend, of course I'm going to rush in and do all I can to help or save your sorry hide, my handsome husband and Hokage. Even you big bad SEALs need the attention of your friendly neighborhood pecker checker," the pinkette said while more or less purring into her husbands ear.
"Really?, so umm, Doc, it's been a while since my peckers been checked. Can you see if it's...good...to...go?"
"Kill the lights and I'll give you my most dedicated and personal attention."
With that Naruto clapped his hands twice activating the privacy seals and shutting off all but the blue lighting sconces to set the mood.
The next morning saw the two in their offices as Naruto looked over the next phase of the genin pools training. Umeko walked in with Naruto's first cup of coffee and some reports that had just come in regarding the last of the long term D ranks. These were the ones that had been assigned outside the village. The genin assigned weren't part of DRACO but they were considered some of the best in the pool. Lighting up a cigarette he began to read the reports from these last missions. Most were straight forward missions inside and outside the village. The genin were sent to work on farms in order to learn how to fit into a farming village as a hired hand developing skills needed to fit the role.
Others were sent to work for the armorers and smiths that provided the basic weapons and protective gear for the shinobi. Once again these genin were chosen for their mechanical aptitude and willingness to learn the skills relating to metal working. Once their mission was over the clients would send an evaluation form for each genin they had trained. It was Naruto's intent to see who was a viable candidate for continued training for the next four years. It was to be a modified apprenticeship program, the training would be long enough that should they be needed to infiltrate an enemy metal works, ranch or farm they would have not only the knowledge as to how and why something was done but actually have the skills making their cover story believable.
The Genin Commander had just finished his second cup of coffee when he read the last report. While the majority of the reports were of high praise there were several that for whatever reason had seemed to do their best at failing the mission. Naruto sighed, he would have to have an interview with these four and possibly a session or two with one of the Yamanakas. Things like this tended to piss him off for no reason other than they could ruin the timetable for the completion of the training. As it stood, Naruto was pushing to finish the post graduate training in the next two or three months and with the Suna problem still open, time, especially Naruto's time was getting very high in demand. Looking at a simple file folder brought his spirits up as it was the grades of the Medic-nin Sakura and Tsunade were training.
Of the seven trainees in the program all were exactly where they were expected to be in their training. The program also provided data to back up one of Tsunade's theories, because of their smaller than their male peers chakra reserves, the civilian born genin had better chakra control. It had already been proven that the smaller the chakra pool a person possessed the greater control they had over it's, the chakra, application. Now it seemed to be proven, of the seven combat medics in training the demographic was split, four to three between civilian and shinobi clan offspring.
Three shinobi clan members, Hinata, Neji and Ino were the top students mostly because of either their high control the deliver pin point application of chakra in their clan jutsus like the Hyuga cousins or small reserves as in Ino's case. Of the remaining four, Ami was the best however she had gotten actual combat experience while on the Wave mission. The rest, all civilian males, had just under or as much control as the girls and Neji. As Naruto looked closer into the report he was surprised that they had been a tutored and mentored by Kabuto per Tsunade's request. It seemed the older teen was able to connect with the other boys and guide them in their studies.
Now as he took a little breather Umeko buzzed him, "Yes Umeko?"
"Uzumaki-san, the representatives from the Kinzoku clan are here for their meeting with you and Lady Uzumaki."
"Is it today? Fine send them in, I'll let Sakura know they're here."
Getting an acknowledgment Naruto concentrated his mind on his wife, "Sakura-chan, the Kinzoku clan representatives are here. Would you be so kind as to grace my office with your beauty?"
Sakura, in here office jumped a bit before remembering what one of the gifts Kurama gave did. Focusing on Naruto she replied, "Wow! This wonderful, now we can talk dirty to each other and no one would ever know. I'll be there in a shake. Babe, all I could find out about this clan is that while minor they've produced some of our most skilled and deadliest assassins but that's all. They've tended to keep to themselves and withdrew deeper into their compound after Uncle had his...incident."
Standing up Sakura crossed her office to the door connecting the two offices. She was just taking her place by her husband when the outer door opened and Umeko escorted three teen girls a little older than themselves. They all dressed in a similar fashion, Doc Marten style above ankle boots that shone as if it was an inspection with knee high black stockings. Reddish orange and black Gothic Lolita style skirts with many layers of ruffled slips underneath the outer skirts with black accents to the deep orange cloth. Topping off the outfits were black leather armored blouses that fit their bodies while flaring at the waist before ending a quarter of the way down their skirts. The black leather had accents in the same red orange as their skirts. Both Naruto and Sakura noticed that the leather tops had slats of a light metal sown into the leather as if they were the outer scales of a pill bug but instead of allowing the wearer to curl into a ball, said wearer was able to bend and flex to accommodate a taijutsu style. Seeing how easily the girls moved the husband and wife team concluded that , one, the metal was of a chakra conductive nature, two, each girl was stronger than she looked, or three, both options.
Stopping in front of Naruto Umeko bowed in a formal style before she spoke, "My lord and lady Uzumaki, may I present Kinzoku Yui, Kinzoku Moa and Kinzoku Suzuka of the Kinzoku clan. Ladies, Lord Uzumaki Naruto, head of the Uzumaki clan and Rokudaime Hokage Koho and his wife Lady Haruno-Uzumaki Sakura, head of the Haruno clan and matriarch of the Uzumaki clan.
"My lord, my lady before I take my leave shall I prepare some tea and snacks?"
Naruto smiled at their secretary and nodded his head, "I think that's a very good idea Umeko-chan. Please, by all means allow these young ladies to sample your brewing skills."
Umeko blushed at her bosses praise as she left the office to bring in the tray she had prepared on her arrival that morning. As she left Naruto turned his gaze to the Kinzoku trio he suddenly noticed the porcelain fox masks that they were wearing on the side of their heads. Schooling his face Naruto made contact with his uncle as he sat down, "Kurama, are you awake?"
"Have been since I heard the Kinzoku name, I'm surprised that they're still around after all the trouble I caused."
"And why is that?"
"While they follow the teachings of the Fire Temple and aspects of the Shinto religion they're better known for their worship of the Kitsune No Kyuubi, better known as Kurama, your friendly neighborhood daemon fox."
Naruto face palmed at that statement before Kurama continued, "Look, Kit, what you need to know is that the father of the tailed beasts gave all of us certain duties like mine. You know look after children, elderly and those to weak to protect themselves things like that, I wasn't always looked on as evil, that was the works of those that captured and sealed us into you humans. The Kinzoku clan at one time openly worshiped me and from the looks of the outfits and masks still do. I'm impressed that they never gave up serving me."
"Serving?"
"You know, worshiping and venerating, stuff like that. They used to invite your mother to attend some of the ceremonies but she always refused. After all, it was a secret that she was my jinkuriki but somehow that clan always knew about Mito and Kushina. Look, they're getting antsy so I'm going to kick you out now, have fun."
Blinking his eyes Naruto gave a small smile as the girls were looking at him with concern and Sakura as well as Umeko were rolling their eyes. Both girls new about Naruto's zoning out when talking to the fox, it was at times...amusing.
"Ah, sorry about that ladies. I was just having a word with my umm..."
"Uncle," Sakura said finishing what her husband had begun, "As you know the Kitsune No Kyuubi is sealed in my husband and they share a mental link allowing them to talk to one another. Since he took us both under his wing or tails as in this case, we both view him as a favored uncle, I hope you understand how we view the furball."
"Yes, we understand my lady," the oldest girl, Suzuka, responded, "To our clan the Kyuubi is not a daemon but an important deity to us. Unfortunately after the night of it's rampage we had to seclude ourselves from the persecution of the villagers and surviving shinobi alike for continuing to worship him. It is our shame that we did not take you two into our protection before your exile. That is one of the reasons we are here, to beg Lord Uzumaki's and your own forgiveness for that failure."
Naruto looked at the one speaking, she was the oldest, Suzuka, if he remembered the introductions. She was asking forgiveness of something that her clan had no control of and it puzzled him. He and Sakura had seen and read the laws and decrees the old council had made regarding the pair. From day one the council had forbidden anyone from adopting Naruto and later Sakura, the reason was they said that it would give a clan an unfair advantage over the others should they take in the jinchuriki. He just had no idea as to why the Kinzoku clan.
Looking at the older girl Naruto gave her a small smile as he spoke, "I'm sorry Suzuka-san but I'm a bit curious as to why you feel your clan owes Sakura and I an apology? You understand that the first thing the council did was to forbid anyone from adopting me. When Sakura's parents joined the council and tossed her to the streets because of her befriending me and of our marriage contract they added her to the list. It's not like your clan chose to abandon us."
"I understand your confusion Naruto-san but our clan did have options. The law the council passed was illegal and they counted on the combined ignorance of the villagers as how the law of the land actually works and the hatred directed towards you for holding the Kitsune No Kyuubi. We were fearful that we would be targeted because of our beliefs, in fact we were for a time as there were and still are some of the jonin that refuse to work with us because we honor and venerate the Fox gods and goddesses.
"What you need to realize is that we, our clan, follow the way of the foxes, the tricksters of the land. We could have taken you while you both were on the streets and let no one know that you were in our care. We are a clan of assassins and shadows, we watch and protect from the dark. We failed protecting our Hokage and our god's representative on this world. Therefore Naruto-san, we ask that you forgive our lack of concern for you and your wife."
Naruto let out a long breath and looked at Sakura and then at the Kinzoku sisters. Resting his elbows on his desk the blond looked at the sisters and spoke, "I still don't understand as you and your clan did nothing wrong but I and Sakura-chan will forgive you and your clan for any and all trespasses you feel you did against the two of us. I'm sad to say that until today I was not even aware of your clan, most likely because you and yours never did anything to us. I am however curious as to your beliefs and the manor of your dress. My tenant is also curious. If you'd like he wishes to have a word."
While the older girl held a stoic look the younger two were trying to, failing badly, hide their surprise. One of the two spoke up, decorum be damned, "We would love to talk to the great fox god Naruto-sama," she replied.
At that Naruto rolled his eyes, "Please, as much as Sakura and I love the old flea bag, you're going to give him a swelled head, not like it was already," he said under his breath.
After that Naruto created a shadow clone but unlike a duplicate of himself the clone had reddish orange hair with black streaks. It's eyes were gold with black slitted pupils set in a angular but handsome face. It's teeth were white, even, with pointed canines. As it looked around the clone smiled, hit Naruto Gibbs style for his comments and bowed to the three girls.
"Good morning, I'm the Kyuubi No Kitsune. I'm very pleased to meet you young ladies. You'll have to forgive mine and my host's curiosity but we've seen clothing like yours only on our travels during our exile."
Suzuka looked at Kurama and bowed, "About four years before your return one of the goddesses appeared in clothing that looked so amazing that us and the other girls in the clan decided to copy the style so as to honor her."
"This vixen, did she state her name? The name she wished to be known by your clan?"
"No, Lord Kyuubi, she never told us her name," was the reply.
"Then, do you know how she appeared?"
"Yes, as a young girl about my sisters height. She had golden eyes and very bright red hair. Her voice was like a child and she was very friendly. What was funny was that she was asking how we felt about Lord Uzumaki-san, if it were possible would any of us would be willing to be his mate."
As Suzuka described the vixen that had been appearing to the clan that honors the foxes Sakura's mind began to spin. When it was stated that she asked about girls willing to marry her husband Sakura stood up with a growl. Before anyone could react she had bit her thumb and smeared the blood on the palm of the opposite hand. Making the hand signs she quickly slammed her hand onto the ground yelling "Summoning jutsu !"
A sudden puff of smoke erupted from the floor. As it cleared a girlish figure was slowly revealed wearing a shower cap and holding a wash cloth. Sakura stormed over and grabbed the girls ear turning her head to face the three sisters. Pointing out the clothing Sakura yelled just one word,
"EXPLAIN!"
"Ow ow owwww, that hurts you know. Why Naruto-kun married you is beyond me, you're so...so...mean!" the nude and wet girl yelled as Naruto and Kurama tried to hide their eyes. Naruto so he wouldn't have to fight Sakura later and Kurama, well, no decent big brother would try to see his little sister naked. Aside from that Sakura was still in control, "Asahina, I said explain."
"Explain what and do you mind if I get a robe or something? It's cold in this room," Asahina pouted.
Just as she said that her other brother, Makoto, arrived with a warm robe. Handing it to her he went and stood by Kurama, "So, Sakura figured it out huh?"
"Yes, what are we going to do with her anyway?" Kurama asked more to himself than anyone. This wasn't the first time she'd tried to find other mates for Naruto and it most likely won't be the last.
Makoto smiled as he spoke with a fake accent, "Luceeee, ju haf some 'splaining to do." before the three males collapsed into fits of laughter.
Crossing her arms and glaring at Sakura Asahina pouted, "Fine, when our big brother went into exile I decided that someone had to watch over and reward our devoted followers."
"That's not explaining the clothes or your matchmaking Asahina," Sakura ground out through clenched teeth.
"I'm getting to that, anyway, I was just getting home from a concert at the Budokan and the Kinzoku clan was holding one of their ceremonies. Instead of changing I just wore what I had on."
Kurama just face palmed, "You were wearing one of those Loli-Goth outfit weren't you? The ones I asked you not to wear because they show off your considerable assets? The one that made all those boys but the Kit drool and make idiots out of themselves? That one?"
"Yes, yes, yes and yes. Face it big brother, you...are...behind the times. Look at the fashion trend I set in this dull village."
"Asahina, why would you be asking other girls if they would want to marry me?" Naruto asked, "I mean, you know I only have eyes for Sakura-chan."
"You said it yourself," the vixen replied, "at some point you'll have to enter the CRA, you know it, she knows it," referring to Sakura, "And, these girls and their clan mates know it. I was just trying to help you out."
Sigh, "Fine, look, I understand that you don't like Sakura-chan but she's my wife and has been for a while. Please don't do this again and please apologize to her and these ladies for your unwarranted actions."
"Geez, you really are getting to be no fun you know that? Sakura, I'm sorry for my actions against you. Ladies, I am sorry that I misrepresented your young Hokage's marital status. However, at some point he will have to take at least two other wives so it would do you all so good to get close to him now," Asahina finished with a smirk before vanishing in another cloud of smoke.
"And that's that," Naruto said as he rested his chin on his hands, "Uncle, do you wish to continue talking to these young ladies? After all, it's not everyday you get such lovely guests."
Turning, Kurama smiled at the teen before facing the sisters, "It would be an honor. Ladies, should we step into Lady Sakura's office? My host and his wife have a busy day today and there are things that they must attend to," with that he led the sisters into the adjoining office and closed the door.
Looking at Sakura Naruto spoke up, "Look, I know she can be a pain but it's Asahina. The one thing you two have in common is me, you two both know about the CRA and you both want a partner for me that the two of you can agree on. I'll have Kurama summon her later so we all can talk but I want this petty jealousy put behind you two."
"It's not me Koi, it's her, you know that!" Sakura replied.
"Yes, but, never mind, I'll talk to Kurama later. For now let him enjoy being the center of attention and actually respected for awhile." the teen said as he and his wife began to start their day.
/
Sasuke Uchiha was nervous, it had been months since that afternoon in Naruto's office, the one that revealed not only the reason his brother had decimated their clan but the traitorous actions of said clan's elders as well, his mother and father included. Now as he read a passage from his mother's diary he felt so sick he could vomit. Not only did his mother conspire to betray the village, she had actually done worse, she betrayed a friend.
In her writings he discovered that his mother was ordered to befriend Kushina Uzumaki in order for the Uchiha to be as close as possible to the host of the Nine Tails so the could seize control when it was needed, like for instance an Uchiha revolt. Reading through the book Sasuke realized that he had to tell Naruto the truth and just like his last meeting it was going to hurt, he just didn't know who was going to be hurt more, himself or his best friend and adopted brother. With a heavy sigh he pocketed the small tome and took Ami's hand. His girlfriend said that she would be with him through thick and thin, well, today is going to be very, very thin.
It took the couple twenty minutes to reach their destination, the Hokage tower, more specifically, Naruto's office. As they walked in Umeko nodded a greeting and escorted Sasuke and Ami into her boss's inner sanctum. As Naruto looked up at his friend he smiled one of his bright smiles reserved for those close to him. Seeing that smile made Sasuke's heart sink, here his friend was happy to see him and here he was, living up to his name of 'The Bastard', come to deliver information that could potentially destroy the first friendship he had ever made outside the clan.
"Sasuke, Ami-chan, to what do I owe you the relief from all this, this evil that's paperwork?" Naruto asked with a grin only to hear from the other room,
"It's not evil you idiot and before you go and do anything I'm coming in to keep you out of trouble," Sakura had yelled at her better half.
As Sakura entered Sasuke spoke up, "I...ahh, I was given my parents personal effects a few weeks after you slid me that folder."
"Really? Anything good or interesting in there? Like did your old man write that he'd been having an affair...OWWW! What the fuck Sakura-chan?"
"Something like that is none of your business and you know it Petty Officer Namekazi," Sakura replied as she glared at her husband for being insensitive.
"Right, sorry, so Sasuke, you were saying?"
"Uhhh, Naruto I wish that the old man did have an affair but that's not what I discovered. Before I tell you I want you and Sakura to know that this is going to be painful and I'm sorry that I'm the one to do this," Sasuke replied to his friend and brother in arms.
"Sasuke, what could be so painful that it's almost making you cry? You're my best friend here, the first one I made after I returned. Just tell me what's got you upset."
Taking a deep breath to calm himself down Sasuke began to speak again, "One of the things they returned was my mother's diary, it's something that should have been burned as far as I'm concerned. Naruto, I know that you said in your mother's writings that she saw my mother as her first and best friend, correct?"
"Yeah, mom was always writing how much she and your mom did together and all the fun they had."
"It...it was a lie, on my mother's part it was all a very shallow and shameful lie. What my mother did at the behest of the clan elders was very dishonorable and had my father know he'd have had her killed. This is very painful but while my father was a traitor he was a man that loved and respected your father to the point he was very loyal to him and him only and he, according to some of the older cousins changed when your dad and mother died. One of them ventured that he had a crush on your mom while they were all young, and as he saw how you father treated you mother, well, he decided that the Uchiha clan would be the first to recognize your old man as the new Hokage," Sasuke said as he began to explain what he had found out.
"Okay, so your old man was close to mine, possibly had a crush on mom and pledged the Uchiha's loyalty, so what? How's this painful? Sasuke, man, you just ain't making sense," replied a confused Naruto.
"Naruto, my mother...that woman betrayed not only the village but your mother as well. She let Danzo and Orochimaru know where she was going to be taken when she gave birth to you! She fucking sold out her best friend only she was never friends with your mother to begin with! She and the elders wanted the Nine Tails and fuck all to anyone else, you included! They were mad because father wasn't chosen to lead the village, that the title of Hokage went to who they saw as an outsider, a no clan orphan, not a member of one of the founding clans. Naruto, I...I'm so sorry and ashamed of my clan that I'm beginning to think that the best thing to happen to it was Itachi!" Sasuke shouted as he broke down in tears holding the diary out to his friend.
Taking it with numb fingers Naruto heard Ami's voice as if she were miles away, "Sasuke marked the one page that is more like a confession than anything else. That page pretty much sums up what his mother had done over the years. Naruto, my boyfriend is so, so sorry that he found all this out and even more sorrier that he had to tell you. Please don't hold the actions of traitors against him."
Sitting back and reading the pages that Ami indicated Naruto's blood ran cold. Sakura watched him for signs of a flashback but none came, instead he just sat in silence and shook with rage. Just as the tears erupted from his eyes he hurled the offending book back to it's bearer, "WHEN? When do you plan on turning against me like your parents did you bastard?"
"NARUTO!" Sakura yelled before Sasuke held his hand up and replied,
"Never! You may hate me for the rest of your life but I will never ever betray you Naruto. I'm not like my parents, elders and the other coup plotters. The Uchiha have disgraced themselves and this village and I and the surviving members have to live with that stain. But I will say this here and now, our loyalty is to you and your clan and until this stain on our honor is erased or forgiven and our honor restored then I pledge myself to you."
"So you can get even closer? Like hell I'd let someone from one of the few clans that can control the Fox near me. Get out Sasuke, just get out of this office, I need time to think," Naruto spat at his friend before turning to Ami, "Ami, inform the senseis and genin that training is suspended until further notice. I...I have to rethink some things."
"At once my lord, Sasuke, let's go home," Ami said as she took her boyfriends hand and lead the stunned and crying Uchiha clan head out of the room.
Naruto just sat in his chair in silence, as much as he wanted to believe his friend there had been too many times in the past that someone had befriended the boy only to hurt or try to kill him later. In a way Naruto was more than a little paranoid concerning Konoha and it's citizens. Sakura just looked at her husband in shock, she'd been with him from nearly the beginning and she'd never seen him this way before. As she walked to Naruto her mind was spinning, she had to be very careful at this point not to set him off. With his mindset, training and the firepower he had access to nothing would be able to stop him, not even ANBU or the villages jonin.
"Naruto, what was that all about?" she asked softly, "Think about it, if Sasuke was planning on something he'd never would have come here to talk to you," the girl continued in a quiet voice hoping to get through to him, "Come on, it's Sasuke, you know, your friend, one of the first you've made here? Don't tell me you're going to throw that away because of his damn mother's actions."
Sigh, "I know it's Sasuke, that's why this hurts but I'm not going to be hurt and betrayed like my mother and father Sakura, I just won't," Naruto replied, "Tell me, you ever hear of the Uchiha's 'curse of hate'?"
"No, never heard of it, care to explain?"
"Well, as I understand it the Uchiha are very controlled with their emotions, most of the time. However, at certain times they will become mentally unstable and let their emotions rule their actions, the most prominent and strongest is jealousy" Naruto explained, "At some point I'm afraid that Sasuke is going to start thinking that he'd be better at running the village, just like his family did. When that happens it'll be me that has to fight him and when that happens it will destroy the village just like Hiruzen has always feared. As much as it hurts me it's better to do this now than later."
"Not Sasuke, not after all the time Ino's father and I put in treating him. Naruto, Sasuke..."
"Is not up for discussion. Now, don't you have a training session with Baa-chan to be at?"
Narrowing her eyes at her husband Sakura exploded, "You mother fucking bastard! You dare just dismiss me like I'm one of the genin or students? I'm your wife and I'll be..."
"You'll do as I say Sakura, now Sasuke is not up for discussion and you are to go to your training. Do as you're told Petty Officer Namekazi, that's an order."
"You seem to for get who has seniority my love," Sakura replied in a very sweet tone that promised pain in the near future, "I'll leave but this is far from over. By the way, don't wait dinner on me, I won't be home, have a fine Navy day," with that Sakura walked out of the office and made her way to her training. While she held a stoic face inside she was crying, Naruto had never, ever spoke to her like that. It was ripping up her insides as his words ran through her head, as she entered the hospital she had made up her mind, if he was going to dismiss her like a Sailor then she'd act like one.
True to her word Sakura didn't make it home for dinner, in fact she never came home. Instead she checked into one of the community houses that provided rooms to genin and and other shinobi that needed a place to stay. He arrival in fact caused quite a stir as it was unheard of that a clan head would 'slum' around in what was actually a transient barracks. Not that Sakura cared, she and Naruto had made their home in buildings like this for nearly all their Navy career.
The next day instead of going to the tower Sakura stayed in her room, she had requested and had been given one of the rooms with an attached office so after making an early morning call to Umeko she had all her files and paperwork in place and was plowing through it all. Thanks to Naruto this would actually be easier since he'd canceled the post grad training 'until further notice'.
"I bet Tsunade are letting him have it right about now," she fumed, "What the hell is wrong with that idiot?"
"He's scared Vixen, that's what he is," Kurama's voice echoed in her head.
"Uncle? Where are you?" Sakura asked looking around the room.
"Sadly still trapped in an idiot, he won't even listen to me about this. Sasuke, as he's put it, 'is not open for discussion', just as he told you. Oh, and before you ask again, the mate mark allows me to talk to you too via the mental link."
"Thank god, I thought I was losing my mind. So, what do you think I should do about this?"
"Let him stew, stay here and do what you're doing. It's been only a day and his grandparents and mentors have yet to know the full extent of his actions. I'm sure that your three little monsters will break him down pretty quickly and let's not forget, the longest he's ever been away from you was a few weeks during his training, he'll get over this soon enough, with you at least. You know how insecure he gets without you sleeping next to him without good reason."
"Yeah, I know, but what about Sasuke? Naruto was the first friend he made since his family was wiped out, I'm afraid that Naruto's mention of the Uchiha's curse of hate my be a self fulfilling prophecy. Sasuke was Naruto's first friend here too, I'd hate to see them become enemies."
"I don't think that'll happen, the Kit values his friends, give him some time and let me talk to him in a few days, by then things should have worked themselves out. As much as I hate that clan and their cursed eyes young Sasuke has my respect, he earned it in Wave by stopping the Kit from getting his hand blown off by a booby trap. Had he an ulterior motive the boy would have stayed quiet and let Naruto suffer an injury that I would not be able to heal. That says a lot about his character."
"That's something then, oh, by the way, how did it go with the Kinzoku clan?"
"They know how to treat me with the respect an important being such as myself deserves, unlike a certain blond idiot that's for sure. Those girls are quite talented, actually, if I could get them to agree I'd take them back to Earth and introduce them as the newest music act in the world. I'd be rich! I mean who could resist three cute girls like them, first we'll take over Japan and the idol market and then the rest of Asia and after that the U.S. And the WORLD! I, Kurama the Great Nine Tailed Fox will dominate music for all time! HA HA HA HA!.."
"Uncle, Uncle...UNCLE! Snap out of it! As much as you like to dream of world domination you know you're stuck inside my idiot of a husband. You know, I hate to say it but after one night I miss that bastard."
"I know, don't worry he'll come around. Actually I have a plan if all else fails we'll use that. It's sure to work."
"I hope you're right Uncle, now, if you'll excuse me Uncle I need to get these reports finished. Oh, and Uncle? Thank you."
/
Three days later Naruto was sitting in his office talking to Umeko, "Umeko, I've noticed that you're running Sakura-chan's paperwork to and from the tower. Could you at least give me a hint as to where my wife is?"
"I'm sorry sempai but Sakura sempai asked me not to tell you until you make amends with Sasuke-san she doesn't want to talk to you or come home. She said the second you ordered her like a Sailor she decided would act like one and sleep in the brown bagger's room, whatever that means," the office assistant replied giving her boss the message that Sakura asked her to deliver.
"I see," Naruto said quietly, "well then it looks like I'll be sleeping alone for a while then."
"Just so you know sir, the Regent is asking to see you as soon as you came in, she's waiting in her office now."
"Okay, tell anyone that comes by I'll return as soon as possible. Oh, and Umeko? If my wife stops by tell her that I need to talk to her, it's...it's important."
"As you wish Uzumaki-san, give my regards to your grandmother."
/
Tsunade looked at her grandson as he entered her office, she hadn't seen him this sullen since his return and their awful first meeting. Now she could see that his eyes had lost their gleam and his shoulders were drooped. At this point Naruto was going to crash and burn spectacularly. If that happened he had no one to blame but himself, his stubborn streak that he inherited from both his parents sides of the family was not letting him back down from his actions even though he must know that they were wrong and it was hurting not only himself and Sakura but Sasuke as well. If the reports were to believed the Uchiha was in a deep depression and if it lasted too long he would be lost as well.
While wanting to hold Naruto Tsunade suppressed her smile as he entered and spoke in a lifeless tone, "Good morning grandmother, Umeko said you wanted to see me?"
"Yes, yes I did Naruto, please sit down. Now as to why I called you in today, as you know I and your grandfather have let you do as you please in how you manage your private life but there are times when a parent, or in your case, grandparent has to step in. This is one of those times, I asked Kakashi to talk to you but he refused, said it was your choice and you were the one that had to live with the result. I call that bullshit and a being a bad parent. Naruto, your actions are hurting more than your friendship with Sasuke."
"So, you going to tell me to make up with him to?"
"No, but as Regent and Chief Medical Officer for the village I'm telling you that as of today Uchiha Sasuke is suspended from his duties as a shinobi and removed from training and missions. His bi-weekly evaluation, the one you okayed and mandated, came back yesterday and it flagged him as unfit."
"Unfit? Unfit how? He's not thinking of betraying the village like his parents did is he?"
"No, the one thing we've learned about Sasuke is that he's loyal to two things, this village and his Hokage. Naruto, I relieved him because he's been placed on suicide watch. This belief that you have of him selling you out like his mother did Kushina is unfounded and you've done a great harm to a friend," Tsunade told her grandson as she watched his reaction intently.
"I...I don't know what to say but..."
"Naruto, I want you to think about something okay? I want you to remember how you felt when the villagers called you a daemon and the fox, how did you feel?"
"Horrible, that was all I ever heard from nearly everyone in the village, that I was the fox and I was going to kill them eventually. I never felt so alone but I had Sakura with me so it didn't hurt as bad."
"But it did hurt, didn't it? How do you think Sasuke has felt ever since you threw him out of your office accusing him of just being nice so he could get closer to you so he could hurt you when you least expected it, just like his mother did to yours? How do you think he felt when his first friend not only rejected him but tarred him with the same brush as his parents?"
"I...I...oh god. Baa-chan, Baa-chan, what kind of friend am I? No one is going to trust me after this, hell even Sakura-chan hates me right now, she won't even speak to me."
"Naruto, I'm not going to say you're a terrible friend but you need to listen and trust. Sasuke is at home under watch but I'm sure that he'd like some company. I suggest you go visit him and let him know how sorry and wrong you were. After that I want you to spend as much time as you can with him, since you suspended training the week is shot so take the rest of it off and spend it with your friend, okay?"
"Y...yeah, I'm going. You'll let Umeko know I won't be returning today?" Naruto asked his grandmother who nodded, "Okay, thanks Baa-chan, tell Sakura-chan that I love her and miss her a lot."
With those words Naruto was out the door and on his way to Sasuke's house. Arriving he walked up the steps to the porch and knocked on the door. His knees were actually shaking while he waited for his knocks to be answered, his stomach twisting as it opened. Standing there was his best friend and said friend's girl, Ami. Trying to smile and failing Naruto just stood there before opening his mouth,
"Ah...Hi! I was walking by and I remembered that I had told you that I needed time to think and well..."
"You're more of a dope than usual, come in before someone sees you and thinks I have a thing for taking care of strays," Sasuke snapped interrupting his friend.
Naruto walked in and removed his boots, putting on the slippers Ami insisted that Sasuke buy for the occasional guests, "So, like I was saying, I had time to think and I was wrong Sasuke. Man am I so wrong about how I treated you and what I said to you. I forgot that at one time I was treated the same way, I forgot that everyone in Konoha it seemed viewed me as the Fox because I was it's jailer, although he hates when I'm called that but you know..."
"I know what you mean idiot. Naruto, I'm not going to lie, what you accused me off hurt very badly to the point that it set me back. I'm not...Lady Tsunade has removed me from the force, I'm not sure if I'll be back."
Seeing the look on Sasuke's face sunk Naruto's heart even more before something inside pushed it back in place, "Bullshit, my second in command isn't going anywhere but back to training come Monday. No, don't give me that look, you're not gong anywhere but where I tell you and that means training next week, understand?"
"But, what about your grandmother? She's going to flip out when she finds out that you're overriding her orders, especially since she suspended me on medical grounds."
"Well," Naruto began with a smirk, "if that's the case I'll just have my own doctor clear you."
/
"No! Don't even think about asking me again Naruto, I'm not going against your grandmother," Sakura told her husband as she sat at her desk, "Sasuke failed his last evaluation and it's for the best that he's removed now than later."
"Dammit Sakura, the only reason he failed the eval is because of me and my big mouth. Do you really think that if I hadn't said anything and hurt his feelings he'd have been suspended?"
"No, but like you said it was your big mouth that set this in motion. Look, I'll talk to grandmother and see if I can't get him back on a probationary status," the pink haired girl conceded, "but, one more stunt like this last one and..."
"I get it, I get it, now will you please come home to me and the kids?"
Sakura let out a huge sigh of resignation and relief, it had taken longer than what she figured but four days was better than forever at least, "Yes, I'll be home tonight. I shudder to think of how the house looks with you and those three monsters running loose though."
"Oh, you needn't worry about that. Ren-chan runs our house like a company commander, the kids have been fine. Hell, she even made sure that they went to their lessons with Haku," Naruto replied to her relief.
/
At the start of the next week things between Naruto and Sasuke had been resolved and they had returned to their normal bickering. On Naruto's part however he made sure that he never said anything to his friend that could hurt in the long run. Sure he still called Sasuke 'the Bastard' and ribbed him about his goal of revitalizing the Uchiha clan but he never again called into question Sasuke's loyalty to him and the village.
Sasuke on the other hand...
"Remind me why I thought this was a good idea to come back to the forces? I could have just stayed home as a medically retired shinobi and concentrated on my clan," the Uchiha heir complained.
"Dude, just suck it up and admit the fact that you'd go crazy sitting on your ass while your girlfriend got stronger," Kiba replied as he finished setting the snare for a small game trap.
"I agree with Kiba, why? Because unlike the Nara you Uchiha have an innate drive to be the very best," Shino added in as he adjusted his glasses. Turning to his comrades he spoke again, "Hurry and set that trap, my insects are telling me something is coming our way."
With that the three genin took to the trees and left the area. They like the others were in training ground 44, better known as the Forest of Death, for another training exercise. This time it was for what Naruto and Sakura called Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape. Better known as SERE, the three man cells were blindfolded and then subjected to a jutsu that disorientated them and dropped into zone 44 with a random item apiece and told to last seven days.
Naruto and Sakura asked Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka to choose the make up of the cells. In fact the cells were designed to be the as fragile as possible. They were picked to represent a group of fighters that were trying to make their way to friendly lines after being separated from their own forces or as part of a defeated offensive. There were many ways things could go wrong and only one correct way for them to go right, teamwork. The ideal that Konoha prided itself on.
Naruto watched from the Hokage's crystal ball as each cell struggled to survive. As well as trying to survive he had set Anko and several teams of chunin and jonin on the rookies as well. The exercise had been going for five days already and four of the seven teams had been caught already and had been taken to Ibiki. After all, the cells had been told it was not a question of if but when they were caught. The trip to T&I would last three days, the only thing Ibiki was forbidden to use was lethal force and nothing that scarred or disfigured. The purpose was to introduce the rookies to what they may go through after capture, not traumatize them to inaction later in life.
Sasuke's team was one of the last and it was made up the way it was for a reason, all of it's members either saw themselves as leaders, Kiba and Sasuke, or was a natural one, Shino. The team so far has fared well with the three working together instead of against each other. Shino was easy going and would go with the flow but at times he could, in his own way, direct his team to a better plan of action. Kiba, was still brash and prone to rush into things but he was learning to accept others as being in charge. He had his moments but he was getting better.
Sasuke was the surprise, as much as he wanted to claim being the leader of their cell he didn't. It took all he could to force down the 'Uchiha superiority' syndrome as Naruto called it. He would deffer to Kiba in tracking and listen to Shino in planning a strategy. In fact, what surprised Naruto and Sakura was that he had become the one to hold things together.
The biggest disappointment was Shikamaru, not only was he lazy but he didn't take the exercise seriously getting his cell caught in less than twelve hours, 'because it was a great day to watch clouds', he pissed Naruto of so much that Ibiki was given the green light to 'do what was necessary'. Right now the lanky shadow user was sitting in a very cold room cuffed to a chair. Not only was he cold he was as naked as the day he was born and hungry. Anytime he started to doze off one of the interrogators would rudely wake him up, either with a bucket of ice water, a shock jutsu or in one case a hot foot. The one time he showed anything resembling a ninja like move was when an interrogator was dumb enough to leave his lunch within arms length to Shikamaru. In a flash the soy sauce flavored bonito flake filled rice ball and lukewarm tea was down the teens throat with such speed it made Choji seem slow when he ate.
The now pissed off and hungry jonin asked if he was happy that he had gotten a free meal. Shikamaru just smiled, that rice ball was food from the heavens as far as he was concerned. What could they do to him he asked, he was already a POW so whatever they did couldn't be any worse than his present situation. Anko them came in smiling, it turns out things could get a lot worse. Now as he was turning blue from cold again he was blindfolded. As he sat cold, naked and in the dark he heard the door to the room open. As he listened he could make out three persons entering before sensing them nearing his seat. As one began to speak Shikamaru began to panic, the new occupants were all female and were all talking about him.
"So, this is the one that allowed his team to be caught?" the first asked.
"Yes," the second replied, "The lazy bastard did nothing to protect his cell, just put his hands up and surrendered."
"Poor girls," said the third, "But, look at him. I mean, he's pretty skinny, does he even train? I know Naruto-sama has the genin in a program to get them ready but...look at him, I bet he does just enough to get by."
"Yeah," number one said, "If this is what our future leaders are going to be then I'm going to retire before someone like him gets me killed or raped."
"I know what you mean, I heard that one of the girls with him was someone he grew up with, almost like a little sister, she put up more of a fight than he did. I bet the section two guys are having fun breaking her," number three replied.
"Hey, shush, you know that we're not supposed to talk about that," number two interrupted, "After all, it's not how I would want my first time to be but...what do you expect depending on a bum like this?"
"Pathetic really," number one said getting close enough that Shikamaru could feel her body heat, "I mean, look at him, lazy, skinny, weak and can you even call that a di..."
"I know, for such a tall guy with feet like his you'd think it would be larger. Face it girls, this is one ninja that I have no confidence in I fwwl sorry for his clan if he's the heir. Let's go and check out that fat kid, I heard that he took down at mix of at least six ANBU, jonin and chunin. Lost his mind when of of the capture team mentioned how much he was looking forward to personally breaking one of the civilian girls in his cell," number two said as she began walking towards the door.
"Yeah and I heard the he fought so hard he put two of his captors in the hospital. For his size the kid has some pretty fast and deadly moves. I heard that one of his clan jutsus lets him enlarge his limbs, I wonder if it's just limited to his arms and legs. Guys like that turn me on," number three said as the door closed.
Shikamaru sat there and cried, as soon as Ino was mentioned and the fate that she had met he began to sob. What those women said was true, he was so lazy that he not only let himself captured but Ino and another girl as well. Now while he was sitting alone with his thoughts his little sister was being taken advantage of and it was all his fault. Until now he thought that he was doing well, refusing to give up the information that he was being asked for. He had just made a game of it, sooner of later it would be over and he could go home and watch clouds.
He didn't take Naruto and Sakura seriously when they said that this was going to be conducted as if it were actually real. Evidently they and the village leaders were willing to take things as far as they had concerning the girls. He had failed he now realized, not only himself but his cell as well and Ino and the other girl were paying the price. No wonder they hadn't worked him over as much as they could, the girls had the same information and it would be easier and more fun to break them. Those women that had looked him over were right, he was worthless and untrustworthy as a leader, they had looked him over with a critical eye and found him severely lacking. So he sat and cried for Ino as visions of what befell her flashed in his mind.
Looking at the three girls Naruto nodded, "Yui, Suzuka, Moa, I thank you. It seems that what you said has struck a chord with our Nara. Maybe now he'll take this seriously."
"You're welcome Uzumaki-san," Suzuka replied, "It's good that we teach these new genin the realities now than for them to learn later in combat."
"We went through this in our own training before our return and decided that this was not a bad idea. It's one of the make or break moments for these persons and so far Shikamaru is the only one that we need to deal with," Sakura told the trio.
"I see, and what will you do with the Nara now?" Yui asked.
"Well, the first thing is a performance review and possibly a metal evaluation since he's obviously having a breakdown of some kind. After that I will allow his peers to voice their opinions on whether he'll be allowed to continue."
"Doesn't that go against your view on waste of resources? I mean to drop Shikamaru this late in the game is kind of extreme," Tsunade asked as she watched her grandson talk to the trio of assassins.
"No, losing one is acceptable, washing out sixty-six percent of a class for no good reason isn't. This is why Sakura and I had this done near the end. You'd be surprised at the attrition rate Sakura-chan and I had to fight while in training, I knew a guy that quit BUDS with one hour to go. I mean all he had to do was put up with the shit for sixty minutes more but he just didn't have it in him."
"I see, so, how much longer?"
"Another day and a few hours, I..."
"Excuse me Naruto-kun," a cat masked ANBU interrupted, "The team consisting of Sasuke, Shino and Kiba have been captured. They, ahh, they put up a bit of a fight. As you predicted, the longer they were left in the forest and the more we stressed them the more they began to think that the exercise was the real thing."
"I see, any injuries to the capture team?" Naruto asked.
"Only their pride however one had to be treated for bites and scratches."
"Wow, I didn't think Akamaru could get that mean!" the teen exclaimed.
"Umm, Naruto-kun? The dog didn't do that to the guy, Kiba did."
"Oh, well make sure the guy is treated and we'll see if Kiba has had his shots after this is over. Oh yeah, one last thing, allow the guy Kiba bit a few minutes 'interrogating' him."
"As you wish my lord," with that the ANBU vanished.
Turning to his grandmother Naruto spoke in a calm but serious voice, "They'll put Sasuke's team in the isolation cells for a few hours to soften them up. Afterwards the questioning will begin. I want a full medical team with at least one veteran Yamanaka counselor on standby and observing."
"I'll make sure the most experienced are there, this is breaking your protocol though, why is that?
"Sasuke is my friend, and the one I want as my second in command after Sakura-chan. If what you said about his mental state is true then I'm not going to be the one that triggers a psychotic event. The Yamanaka has authority to stop Sasuke's questioning at the first sign of mental distress."
" I'll make sure your orders are followed," Tsunade answered in a serious tone before she smiled at Naruto, "Now, go home and get some rest. You've been here and awake for nearly five days, I'm sure your family misses you."
"As you wish Baa-chan," Nartuo replied as he hugged the older woman and then turned to leave, "Make sure nothing happens to Sasuke, but I want the Nara to understand what his attitude led to"
/
Hinata glared at her tormentor, the session was longer than the last, 'They must be getting desperate and the clock is running out,' thought the girl. In the briefing they were given information that needed to be passed along before three days after their capture ran out. After that time elapsed it became useless so before that happened T&I were pulling out all the stops.
Striking the girl openhanded across the face the agent snarled, "I asked you, what is the timetable for your forces assault! Now answer the question!"
"Hinata Hyuga, genin, ID number 012612, Konohagakure. Under the Five Villages Treaty of 4376 AS (After the Sage) I'm not required to answer your questions, however you are obligated to provide humane treatment to me and my fellow prisoners as well as informing the nearest neutral country of my situation and reason I'm being held."
"I don't care about who you are and where you're from, I want to know about that timetable!" the man shouted as his patience came closer to breaking.
"Hinata Hyuga, genin, ID number 012612, Konohagakure. Under the Five Villages Treaty of 376 AS (After the Sage) I'm not required to answer your questions, however you are obligated to provide humane treatment to me and my fellow prisoners."
Ibiki turned from the observation window to face to Anko with a thin smile, "They've been at it for the last sixty-six hours off and on and she's yet to crack. Tell them to knock off, if she hasn't talked by now she's not going to anytime soon."
/
Sasuke Uchiha sat at a table with a bowl of tomato soup in front of him. He and his team lasted nearly five days in zone 44 before being caught. The three of them fought hard and nearly made an escape but in the end they were caught. No one in the capture team went unscathed with Kiba and his dog biting and scratching everything and anyone that got too close. After that they were placed in cells that alternated between too hot and too cold. The final touch or indignity according to Shino was the music that was blasted into the cells.
Sasuke hated the first song that was played over and over at an uncomfortable level. The singer sounded like he was drunk or stoned but the tone and meter of the song meant it was for children. Something about the singer loving the listener and the listener loving him back. Sasuke swore that when he had kids that song would never be played.
Kiba hated the second song, in fact, little did he know that this song was hated by parents and grandparents nearly world wide where Naruto and Sakura trained. It was a children's chorus that sang the same verse in many languages over and over and over about a world that was small. All three boys thanked Kami for the small mercy of not having that song available in this country. Where ever their future leader trained seemed very uncivilized indeed. It was the other songs that ran in rotation that tipped the three off that the 'music' was from Naruto and Sakura's personal collection.
The songs were loud, fast and in Kiba's words, painful to listen too. Sasuke just decided to make the most of the situation and meditated. He was sure that this was meant to weaken their resolve to make questioning easier. To him all it was was a loud distraction. The questioning was the hardest part and the worst was being strapped naked to chair in a cold room with a fairly good looking young woman asking questions. That didn't bother him as much as it did the others, it was when the door opened and three girls he had never seen before walked in and just made idle talk as they looked him over like a side of meat. What hurt was that they seemed to know all about him and goal of revitalizing his clan.
His dream of that, rebuilding his family, was ridiculed the most. Well, along with comments of his personal 'equipment' and how inadequate it seemed for the job. Sasuke ignored the comments as he just went into 'brooding emo' mode. After the trio of girls were done with the comments he was left alone with his thoughts in the cold and now silent cell. After an unknown amount of time passed the questioning began again, the the tone and sense of urgency had increased. Realizing it was near end game the Uchiha clan head smirked, it wouldn't be much longer.
Seventy-two hours later Sasuke sat in a warm room looking at the bowl of soup. As he sat there the door opened up and Naruto and Sakura walked in. Sasuke said nothing but glared at his friend, while not broken he was subdued. At some point in the last week and a half he realized the extent that his friend and leader would go to in order to strengthen their village. It took a leader strength to put his friends and comrades through the hell they had been in. It also took lots of love to do it in peace so he and the others would be ready in times of war. As he sat he allowed Sakura to look him over, finding nothing wrong she nodded her head at her husband.
"Do you remember what was said in the briefing about the end of this exercise?" Naruto asked.
"That at the end of the exercise I would be served a bowl of soup and you would speak to me," Sasuke replied.
Smiling, Naruto placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder before walking away, "You did good, eat the soup."
A/N:
Sorry for the long wait, I got lost on the road of life after helping a black cat with her kittens.
Actually, I got block and it's going to be that way the more from canon that I stray so I'm going to shoot for just one chapter per month instead of the pace I had been doing. Should I get inspired enough to do more then I'll post when I'm done.
Now, a few things about Naruto and Sakura, while they've had spats in the past they have never fought like this. And for Sakura to not come home to teach Naruto a lesson for his behavior regarding Sasuke. Naruto referring to Sakura as Petty Officer Namekazi is a sign of his anger and displeasure with his wife. I based this on a little known and sad fact of Navy life, to address your best friend on an off duty setting as Petty Officer, Airman, or what ever the rate along with their last name can be meant as an insult depending on the tone of voice used and yes, I've done it more than a few times, it's especially insulting if the one being addressed is of equal rank. One other phrase that we in the Navy can take as an insult or a covert way of saying 'Fuck you!' to someone depending on the situation and tone of voice is 'Have a fine Navy day,' that and calling someone you have no respect for 'Shipmate' are some of the ways you can be insulted or cursed and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
That Naruto is using his fathers name is to enhance the insult as his Namekazi blood line is that of a bastard. Sakura is right to point out that she's senior to her husband in Navy rank and she understood the insult. While I was single in my 20 years of Naval service I saw plenty of guys end up in the 'brown bagger room' of the barracks because they were fighting with the old lady. The brown bag room was for guys that had to stand their Duty Section watches on the ship or hangar and were not allowed to leave the base or ship for the next 24 hours. Since as I said I was single I didn't have this problem but I knew guys that did and having a Shipmate that was using the spare bed in the barracks to hide from his wife made lots of folks upset.
As to Sasuke, he has gone back and forth over telling Naruto the truth of his mother's relationship with Kushina. Going into that meeting would be hard on all attending but he was prepared, or so he thought, for the consequences. Failing his eval was not something he thought of but it was something that he accepted. I felt at some point I needed Naruto to act and then feel like an ass over his reaction and while I could have made this part longer I feel I had made my point.
And no, Sasuke did not magically get over his mental issues, they're still there. What happened was that Naruto got Sakura to waive Sasuke's suspension and increase his sessions. In time Sasuke will not need to be seen by Inoichi except for his annual eval like all the other ninja of Konoha but that is a long way in coming.
I won't comment on the Kinzoku clan, I'll let you figure out who they are. And yes, I do listen to their music and have both of their albums, if I ever can score tickets my granddaughter and I will do see them. Comment if you figured out who the trio is.
As for the mate mark and the amount of chakra that was given to Sakura, in both canon and all the stories I've read Kurama's chakra was toxic to not only Naruto but those near him. What if that chakra was toxic in other ways such as interfering with a pregnancy? We don't know what really happened to Haruhi but because Sakura was so young, 15 or 16, at the time it could have been anything not just the fact that the baby was born early. Naruto and Kurama blame themselves because of Kurama's chakra but how do you explain that to doctors that have never heard of chakra and would view it as a superstition? In this case Kurama is taking no chances and yes, should another girl be added as a second wife she'll get the mark as well. All the other benefits of the mark were taken by various stories and my own twisted imagination.
The last bit is SERE training. Personally I, thank God, Never had to take that course. I had many friends that did and an Uncle that was a POW who was captured by the Japanese on Wake Island in 1942 and suffered under them until the war ended in 1945. What I wrote is based on not only what they all imparted to me and yes I could have made a whole chapter in itself, but I chose not to, sometimes less is better. If anyone wants to take a crack at what the others went through during SERE school feel free to write your story and post it. Should you flesh out any of the unnamed genin I will use them in the main story and give you credit for the OC.
I also based some of the events from Andy McNab's book on his life in the SAS. It was published in late 80's, early 90's and was quite good. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Special Warfare units as the SAS was in a lot of cases the model that other militaries built upon.
Even though I didn't go through SERE and at one point I was slated to go, I wanted to make this a defining event in some of the Rookie Nine. I singled Shikamaru out especially because of his slothful ways, I always hated that he was given a pass because of his IQ for his laziness and decided that he learned a very harsh and painful lesson. His fate will be shown in the following chapter. I just wanted to give the lazy SOB a dose of reality. That's another thing about SERE, according to my friends, at some point while in the wild cold and hungry the situation stops being a training session and in their minds becomes very real.
So, that's all I've got, comments are always welcome and they make my day but that's not why I write, I just like telling stories.
Next chapter, Shikamaru's fate, Ino's honor, planning the mission to Suna and a Nine Tailed Fox that's got his already inflated ego even bigger.