Did a bit better this time, the first 8k was received by ncp soon enough for him to get back to me by Saturday. Unfortunately the last 2k that made up the final scene didn't make it in time. Still, only two days late is an improvement to recent weeks.
Thanks, of course, go to ncpfan for all his help.
Let's begin.
Half a day had passed since the rough roads had leveled out to a point that bumps were a minor inconvenience but when he felt the transition from earth to paved road he knew the journey had almost reached its end.
A quick peek out from the covered window- earning a concerned glare from the Wolf nearest the carriage on that side- revealed that they had indeed reached the far outskirts of the capital city. And when he said far outskirts, he meant it.
They were so far, in fact, that there had yet to be any city. Instead concrete foundations and plots marked by flag-tied metal poles stood in the cities place. Hi no Kuni, being one of the most financially secure, was constantly expanding. Knowing this, the Imperial Fire Court decided to get a head start for all future building and had set about having ten new sections prepared at any given time.
Each section was separated by the beginnings of a wall that flanked the road and merged as large, empty gates. Banners, similarly, were hung on either side of the road on these gates. The red fabric danced gently in the light wind of fire country but the solid black emblem of Hi no Kuni remained prominently displayed.
Naturally, that emblem was of a ball of fire and the fluttering banners gave off the illusion that it was burning. Intended or not, it certainly helped the city's image which was, unfortunately, somewhat impaired by the preparations made.
It was, however, practical, and that was far more important.
He had to remove his finger from the dark red fabric that hung over his window before one of his Wolves decided the window should be filled with wooden boards for his safety but he already knew what to expect when it came to the capital of Hi no Kuni. He had, after all, been raised in Konoha where they taught their students all about it.
The Shinobi academy, in particular, taught the most, covering everything from the drainage systems to the servant stairways within the Daimyo's personal bedchamber. This was for two reasons, the primary being that in the case of an attack on the capital the Shinobi of Konohagakure could be rapidly deployed to aid the armies of Samurai and evacuate the important residents of the city- namely those of the upper two tiers, the members of the Imperial Fire Court.
The lesser known reason was in case they were ever against the Daimyo and needed to mount an attack of their own against the capital. Shinobi tended not to speak of that reason, though, for it was the general belief that the Imperial Fire Court and the Daimyo would frown upon such. Which was completely understandable, for in that case they would be the targets.
There weren't many people, it would seem, who enjoyed being targeted by Shinobi. Unsurprisingly, most of them were Shinobi themselves itching for fights.
He was quite certain the Daimyo didn't fall into either of those categories.
On the off chance he was, however, Naruto- like every student to graduate the academy and even some who didn't- was well prepared to make his day.
The Main road he was currently on, the one whose main gate faced southwards to avoid the rising and setting sun for the sake of symbolism he really hadn't been interested in at the time, was the covered in smooth black pavement all the way from the Daimyo's palace to the outskirts of the latest prepared section of the city.
That same pavement would stop after a single street to either side where it usually reverted to cut blocks. Those paved roads tended to differ depending on which neighborhood one visited within the city. Some roads were made of regular brick, others with grey shapes in odd patterns, still others were created to show images. In poorer areas and occasionally in those belonging to the rich and paranoid gravel covered the ground.
Areas that contained official buildings tended to be covered in smooth concrete carefully maintained by those in the employ of the city itself.
In the end, it lacked uniformity and elegance but, like fire, it was bright and alive. It also made it really easy for one to know where they were for while similar neighborhoods would show the same characteristics there would always be something slightly different to set them apart.
The roofs, he knew, were all made of red- or, in the case of the light grey government buildings, orange- tile and worked with other buildings to form a rather unique drainage system that took advantage of the overlapping roofing and differing angles to direct the rainwater of the summer months away from the streets as much as possible to decrease the strain on the tunnels that ran beneath the roads.
Only the capital of Mizu no Kuni exceeded them in the management of water throughout the city but because it wasn't as critical as it was in the land of water it was nonetheless impressive work.
It also meant any trained Shinobi could easily make their way through the city without touching the streets. Compared to the road-like roofs of Konohagakure- probably a result of a partially failed attempt to avoid such a situation- it was like a highway and with no Shinobi patrols atop it to stop one from using it a thief or assassin was bound to find themselves in love.
The Imperial Fire Court, likely realizing this, made their homes in the second tier of the city, a slightly raised area with a better wall and patrolled by Samurai and the occasional Guardian at all times. The First tier, which housed the Daimyo's palace, was much the same, only to a substantially larger degree.
It was probably the only reason the Daimyo yet lived in a city so readily accessible by assassins.
Of course, being at the first tier, they would have to go through quite a lot of gates before reaching the palace. If her remembered correctly, the last count of tiers had been somewhere around twelve with talk of a soon to be started thirteenth. With the width of the seventh tier being the same diameter of Konoha and each tier increasing in size they still had a long ways to go before he could speak with the Daimyo. That was, of course, assuming he could manage an audience.
He felt the carriage slow down considerably. Considering they had stopped for a rest just a few hours ago he knew the four- there had been two in wave, where did they find the others?- horses couldn't be that tired which meant they were nearing the latest gate of Hi no Kuni's capital.
Another quick peek, lasting only a moment, showed that he was indeed correct and let his see the various construction crews working on the outskirts in the construction of another tier. He was of the opinion that the Daimyo should just make a new city nearby but it was his land and his money, he could use it as he pleased.
Despite having only peeked out for a few seconds, he could feel the glare of at least one Wolf through the wood of his carriage. He appreciated their devotion to him and his well-being, but they were really taking things just a bit too seriously.
The carriage eventually came to a stop and he wondered if now woukld be a good time to draw the curtains so the gate guards could take a quick look inside the carriage but ultimately decided to let the Wolves take care of it.
When one of the drivers mentioned that they had just taken over a country and would like to speak with the Daimyo at his earliest convenience Naruto slightly regretted that decision. He could hear the sputtering of the guard and the laugh of another and wondered if they would even make it inside the city.
The laughing eventually stopped and the sound of flesh impacting flesh- a hand on the shoulder of the first guard, if he had to guess- managed its way through the dark wood of his carriage.
"Alright then, we'll send word to the Daimyo and see how he wants us to proceed." There was still some faint chuckling in his voice and his amusement was clear. "Until we hear back I'd ask that you proceed over there-" Naruto could only assume he pointed somewhere- "and just hold tight."
After a moments pause he proceeded to ask;
"Now, who should I have announced at being at the gate?"
"The Wolves escort our lord, Tsukiyomi-Sama."
"I'll make sure he knows. Any refreshments?" The disbelieving sputtering of the first guard resumed in force. Naruto suspected the Wolf shook his head because the second guard continued. "Suit yourselves, this shouldn't take more than an hour."
With that he heard two steps of footsteps walking off- or, rather, one walking and the other being half dragged- and the carriage pulled off to the side of the road by the guardhouse.
He had to wonder if the Daimyo would actually allow them in the city- let alone in his presence- after an announcement like that.
Not for the first time, he wished Mai had joined him on this journey.
An hour later Naruto was still shaking his head in disbelief. It had taken twenty minutes for word to reach them from the Daimyo and he had immediately cleared his schedule to meet with them. Despite the fact that his Wolf had openly stated that they just took over a country- which would imply the murder of another Daimyo- they were going to be allowed in his presence. In fact, Naruto had a feeling that it was because the Wolf had said such a thing that they were admitted so quickly.
Evidently the Daimyo's curiosity was peaked.
He had certainly heard that the man could be a bit strange, but this was something else. Not that he felt the Daimyo was being foolish, the man had an army within his walls that would tear them to shreds as soon as they stepped out of line. And while he wasn't being as careful as he could be, he was still in a good position and couldn't be blamed for being interested in meeting someone who claimed to have taken over a country.
News like that would usually spread quickly enough, so for there to be a change in ownership he didn't hear about must have been sufficiently enticing for a Daimyo who was likely finding himself rather bored as he took care of the affairs of his country.
Naruto and his Wolves were likely a very welcome break.
And probably an excuse to completely wipe his daily schedule. Naruto, having dealt with the paperwork solely from a hidden organization for a while, knew only vaguely what it must have felt like but it was enough to understand that some of the things removed from that day's plans weren't going to be finding themselves on one anytime soon- if ever.
He had certainly been guilty of that himself, much to Mai's ire. That's not to say he managed to avoid it, of course, for, like he said, it hadn't earned any points with Mai and she had been more than happy to find some way to squeeze it into his full schedule.
He didn't regret handing most of that work off to her, but perhaps he should get her something to show his thanks- like a vacation. A long vacation. A very long vacation. She had Sai and the Wolves doing as much as they could on that front but she still managed their relation with both the Inuzuka which meant pouring over reports of council meetings and deep research into Konoha law and with Hinata's little cult. Seeing as Hinata had very little idea as to what exactly she was supposed to be doing she often sought out advice from the older girl.
Just the Wolves had been enough work in his opinion, and back then Sai and Mai helped tremendously. With her managing all three he couldn't imagine her workload which, he had to remember, might mean distracting her from it was a bad idea. It would seem as though he couldn't start planning something to thank her- and latter Sai, though he had been given an army and dual governance (to a degree, not that the people knew such) of a country under his control- until after they met again.
Whenever that ended up happening, of course, as he still didn't have a concrete schedule for this trip which had, most likely, gone on far too long. People were going to start getting suspicious if he didn't return soon and afterwards he wouldn't be able to leave again for quite some time. Because team or not, the boy living on his own and working only the occasional mission with other Shinobi- B and C rank or not- should not be able to afford constant vacations out of the country lasting for weeks.
Though maybe next time he could pass it off as further survival training. It would be a simple matter to convince Anko, especially if he offered pay, and he could probably trust her with the knowledge of where he was going and who he was dealing with- something that wouldn't seem so bad as soon as he( or, rather, the Wolves) were recognized by the Daimyo.
And if it came down to it, he could always offer her a spot amongst the pack. It wasn't like she hadn't already become close to him and the pack was supposed to be the equivalent of his family. Considering how much time she spent with him, how often she crashed at his place because she was bored, and the number of times they had shared a bed it didn't seem like too much of a jump to induct her as a trusted member of his personal army.
Oh, yes, that sounded like the best option. Well, that or a mission near Nami no Kuni, perhaps he could have one of the villagers personally request him on a mission? No, still suspicious, but they could ask for Anko. She was well known for her bloodthirst and love of explosions, Naruto was sure he could fabricate a mission perfectly suited to her.
On second thought, he'd have to ensure there actually was a mission to avoid her ire. It wasn't a good idea to promise the woman one of her favorite things and then not deliver. He liked his balls just where they were, thank you.
So, the problem with him getting back to Wave seemed to be sorted, now he just had to get a bit of insurance to ensure it was still his Wave when he did. He felt the carriage roll to a stop and took one last peak to confirm they had reached their destination.
Taking a quick moment to ensure his scarf and black cloak kept any distinguishing features hidden he made to open the door only to be beaten to it by one of his Wolves on the outside. Taking it in stride he stepped out from the carriage that had served as his moving home for the better part of two weeks.
The courtyard they were in was rather plain, all things considered, paved with tightly packed stone tiles and completely empty save the two gardens that flanked the walkway- marked by being grey instead of the burnt orange of the rest of the courtyard- in the shape of outward facing crescents, the middles of which were filled with additional gardens arranged in perfect circles around small ponds.
Benches were scattered about so that the front gardens might be appreciated but he didn't think they got much use. It was too simple, to plain, to be of much note to the royal family. The Daimyo himself, from what he had heard, might be satisfied by them but he was too busy for such a luxury when his time was limited and his family was no doubt spending their own time somewhere more grand.
It was enough, however, to show that the lord did, in fact, care for his image and was willing to ensure the first impression of guests was elegance of a simple, natural variety. He didn't overwhelm with opulence but gently ease one into his home with a grand display of something common, almost as if to say he didn't need anything fancy to set himself apart and stand far above you.
Considering he ruled the greater country of Hi no Kuni, one whose financial power was more solid than the mountains of Tsuchi no Kuni, more vast then the deserts of Kaze no Kuni, and with coffers deeper than the coasts of Mizu no Kuni, it kind of went without saying.
At least he wasn't gloating about it from the get-go. That was certainly a point in his favor. Unfortunately, Naruto doubted that would remain once he entered into the palace proper. Even if the Daimyo didn't need the extravagance his family would crave it and the palace itself was built long before his time and had spent many generations amassing decorative treasures.
Unless the Lord had removed it all- unlikely, it would be more than enough to keep a smaller country running for centuries- it would still be there in its overwhelming grandeur.
Of course, he really hadn't expected anything else. The fact that the courtyard was so plain was an unexpected and very welcome surprise. He had spent the better part of two weeks within that carriage, stopping only to rest when they absolutely had to and he was glad the first thing he saw upon exiting wasn't the overwhelming wealth of Hi on Kuni's royal family.
You wouldn't be able to see that relief- nor the distaste he felt for what he was going to see within the palace- however, not just because his face was covered but because it was kept carefully blank, the very image of professionalism. The Wolves would accept him no matter how he acted- he was their master, after all- but the idea that he, the one representing them, might look foolish, even in just their presence- was unacceptable. He always- without fail- addressed them properly as a commander to his soldiers.
He was now putting all that experience into practice, ensuring his movements were calm and controlled, flowing with the grace of the predator he was. He did not walk, eating up the distance between himself and the palace with long strides, so much as he stalked towards it with the unstoppable purpose of the Shinigami coming to collect a favored soul.
The palace guards were taken aback by the authority and power he seemed to radiate despite his size and so unprepared were they that they found themselves momentarily stunned. By the time they regained their senses and remembered what it was they were supposed to be doing- snapping back into the proper mindset of their station as the Daimyo's palace guards- Naruto had nearly reached the doors.
Two Wolves flanked him- the identities of which he didn't know but observing them from the corner of his eyes he could tell they were female – and his cloak fluttered protectively behind him. He stopped before the door, black fabric catching up to him in a loving embrace that further shrouded his features in darkness.
The guards were addressed curtly but with an underlying hint of disdain that gave the distinct impression that they were beneath it. That wasn't' actually unusual for them, they had grown to expect it after years of dealing with the lords and ladies of the Imperial Fire Court, but the sense of danger that radiated off this newest guest was certainly new. He was short- almost comically so now that they could see him close up- but the way he held himself and the relaxed posture of his guards made it clear that he wasn't to be underestimated.
"Our lord is expecting me, be gone from my path that I might meet with him."
The impatience was characteristic of the other lords but the way he had addressed the Daimyo wasn't. The other lords always referred to the man respectfully but here was an outsider proclaiming that he, too, was beneath the Lord of Fire.
It was an oddity without a doubt, this new, enigmatic guest of their lord's, but perhaps that's why the Daimyo was willing to meet on such short notice. In the end, however, it was not their place to question.
With nods to the strange young- or maybe just unfortunately short- man they opened the two and a half story tall double doors revealing a waiting man. He was plain, so plain it was suspicious, but the mark of fire rested upon his hip to proclaim him to be one of the Twelve Guardians.
He gave a polite smile, small and disarming, before beckoning the three forward. Without waiting he turned heel and began walking further into the palace. Appreciative of the no-nonsense meeting between the two, Naruto was quick to resume his aggressive pace, two Wolves slinking behind their alpha.
The hallway, as he suspected, were just dripping with riches in ways he found to be distasteful. Red walls had veins of gold that alternated between looking like whisping smoke and burning flames, highlighted with careful accents of silver. The solid marble beneath his feet was likewise covered in flowers of all sizes made of everything from precious metals, rare stones, and even ivory. A crimson carpet, at least a good inch thick, went straight down the hallway, no doubt an effort to protect the precious flooring that could easily place several struggling lesser countries back on their feet.
As they traveled further and further into the Daimyo's domain things increased exponentially. Displays of weapons, armor, rare relics, and even strange mutated animals that had been preserved lined the walls to impress any who were granted the honor of visiting the palace. Guards were stationed regularly, whether to protect the Daimyo and his family or ensure the safety of the displays unknown.
It made him sick. There was no elegance in this gaudy display of opulence, it served no real purpose but to shove the fact that the lord of this place was far too wealthy for his own good down one's throat. He sup[posed a civilian might be in awe, and a lord wary of angering one with such resources that they could wantonly show off such splendor but for a Shinobi it just felt wrong.
It wasn't that Shinobi didn't like wealth- quite the opposite, they were a bunch of greedy bastards- but it was the manner in which the wealth was being used that wasn't right in their eyes.
To put it bluntly- this was all useless. There was no point to any of this. Yes, it could make lord hesitant and civilians feel small, but there were better ways than in such an untasteful display of one's coffers. Power is what it all came down to. Money was a form of power and displaying it reminded others of the power you held. He understood that, but it would be so much better used to do something.
Nothing said power like buying massive amounts of other countries or erecting giant monuments to the greatness of your country, your family, and, most importantly, one's self.
Amass an army, corner the markets, take hold of a small country by the neck with the hands of plenty until it can't function without your express permission. That was power and that was how one should show it. Not by turning your home into some sort of museum for vastly overvalued knickknacks and heirlooms that as far as anyone could tell might have been created by your blacksmith the day before.
Of course, that was the problem with nobles, this was the only way they knew to show that power and financial power was the only they really cared about when the Daimyo had control of such a vast army. Even if the Daimyo felt the same way he did about this shit, he would have no choice but to show it off to remind visiting lords who it was in control here.
He really didn't have to worry about it in Naruto's case, though.
There were two people to whom he answered, as he had once told Mito upon their first meeting long ago, and that's why when they entered a large throneroom dripping with gold and bathed in a soft orange light he immediately dropped to a single knee.
As a Shinobi- and back then a Shinobi in training- of Konohagakure no Sato in Hi no Kuni he owed his allegiance to the Hokage and- above even him- the Daimyo. Even back before he had started his training he, as a citizen of Hi no Kuni and a subject of the Imperial Fire Court, his loyalty lied at the feet of this man.
Only two people in this room knew his identity, however, so the other occupants were understandably surprised. Bows were common between lords, kneeling not so much.
The Daimyo took it in stride though, hiding a small smile behind a favored fan as he rose from his throne. Pausing to shoot reprimanding looks at the other occupants of the room- a multitude of guards, a few maids, and two of his children- he continued smiling once the hushed whispers had ceased.
"Please, rise, Tsukiyomi-Dono, are we not both lords here?"
While he remained kneeling, Naruto's covered head rose to meet the eyes of the Daimyo.
"At the moment I am no lord, simply a subject of your court who has obtained land outside your domain." His voice was soft but carried well. It was neither assertive nor submissive, an even tone that did nothing more than convey words.
"A subject of my court?" One of the Lord's brows rose inquisitively. "Now that is interesting. Tell me then, Tsukiyomi-San, why, if you have managed to gain a hold of a country outside my grasps, do you now kneel before me? Surely it hurts your pride when you could just as easily declare yourself a lord of your new country."
"I was born here, my lord, within the land of fire. It is within this country I have lived my life and you to whom I have owed my allegiance since birth. Just because I have amassed land does not mean I have been removed from under your rule and so long as I am I shall serve as I swore."
"Swore?" He puzzled over it for a moment before it struck him, lighting up his face considerably. "Ah! I see! You are a warrior, then, not just a man who has created an army and used them to establish himself as a lord. What is it, then, that you are? Samurai, Shinobi? Maybe even a simple Warlord who has managed to avoid both on your rise to power?"
"I am Shinobi, as are those I command."
The Daimyo made an odd noise in the back of his throat, obviously having noted that the kneeling man before him hadn't claimed to be 'a Shinobi' but rather 'Shinobi', as if he were the archetype. It was arrogant and presumptuous, but most Shinobi had more than enough power to overthrow a Daimyo and all his forces with just a small group- a few dozen, should have been sufficient- and yet none had bothered to. Sure, people claimed that it would lead to Shinobi wars, but he hadn't heard of this group or the country they overthrew so it couldn't be that difficult to keep fellow villages in the dark.
He was of Hi no Kuni, too- or so he claimed- which meant Konohagakure no Sato, a place known for prodigies mostly because the rest of their forces were so painfully average- often times less than that, too- more than because they outshone the forces of fellow villagers. Oddly enough though, those same prodigies so easily seen amongst their lackluster comrades often outshone those of other villages. It truly was odd, almost as if all the potential from their fellows had been stolen and given to them instead.
If nothing else, it kept things roughly balanced.
This young man, however, seemed to slip beneath everyone's radar- perhaps on purpose- and managed to take over a country without anyone else being any the wiser.
Acknowledging him for that feat, if nothing else, the Daimyo accepted it.
"So you are, so you are. I have many more questions, Shinobi, but the first is perhaps the most important, as it will determine the path our dealings take." He stopped, looking deep into the purple eyes of his guest that glowed in a slightly ominous fashion amongst the gentle light of the room. "What country has fallen to the Shinobi who claims the name of Tsukiyomi and his pack of wolves?"
"One most coveted, my lord." All within the room could feel the grin that stretched over hidden lips. "I am sure you know of the riches it has amassed in the past and the potential it holds within its borders. I come before you today with that country in the palm of my hand-
"I kneel before you representing the new order of Nami no Kuni."
That, above all else, most certainly gained the Daimyo's attention and he broke out into a grin behind his fan.
"Oh? Is that so? In that case, I do believe it's safe to say we do in fact have further business to attend to, Tsukiyomi-Dono. Shall we retreat to my study?"
And with that, the first step was taken.
The rest would be soon to follow.
Two glasses were poured by the Daimyo's own hand, his fan having been left atop the table and a grin showing plainly on his face. He grabbed one before sinking into a red armchair by the empty fireplace, shoeless feet buried within crimson carpeting that was more like an unkempt lawn than proper flooring. If there was a limit then those who built and decorated this palace over the years certainly hadn't been informed.
With one arm the Lord lazily gestured to the remaining cup in silent invitation. For the sake of politeness he accepted it but made no move to sit. Seeing this, the Daimyo frowned slightly.
"It's only the two of us here, you don't have to worry about image. Have a seat and we can discuss these recent developments properly."
A curt nod later and he took his place in the chair across from the Daimyo of Hi no Kuni, letting his eyes roam quickly over his surroundings. The walls here, like most of the palace, were a deep red and in the gold light of the room seemed to glow warmly. To his left was the fireplace, unlit despite the eminent winter.
To the right, at the far end of the room, was a large ornate desk stacked high with papers and reports the Daimyo had yet to go through. There were curtains behind it but the complete lack of light indicated it was just for show and no window was hidden behind it. He could understand that, the Wolves had never been comfortable with him out in the open and a window to an office was a glaring vulnerability.
Directly behind the Daimyo's chair was a wall absolutely filled- floor to ceiling and left to right- with overburdened book cases. Behind his own chair and to the far right sat a few filing cabinets nestled into the corner. The door was also behind him, about halfway along the wall. In the end the room was pretty simple, focusing on functionality as it served its function as the Daimyo's study.
Naruto was certain there was a 'proper' office somewhere as well for other, more official, meetings. If the Daimyo was agreeable today than the next time they met would probably be there. If he gained the man's favor, however, he might be fortunate and future meetings might continue to take place here away from the bullshit of nobility.
Such thoughts were better kept for another time, however, for as soon as he appeared settled the Daimyo continued.
"There, isn't that better?" He didn't wait for a response. "Now, you come before me as Tsukiyomi and hide your face, but before we begin I need to know who it is I'll be dealing with, otherwise I'll never be able to tell you apart from an impostor and we wouldn't want that, would we?"
Naruto narrowed his eyes, flicking them around the room in a quick sweep to ensure there wasn't anyone hidden, before he complied with a nod. Not before, however, he hissed;
"This does not leave this room." If the Daimyo was angered by such he did precious little to show it, choosing instead to smile and lean back.
"Of course, of course, you, a Konoha Shinobi, just took over a country. I understand your need for secrecy."
The hood was pulled back first, exposing his blood red hair that seemed to burn like living fire under the dim golden light of the room. His skin, too, reacted to the light. In addition to the normal, almost ethereal glow his pale skin produced in the dark areas it contrasted with there was a tinge of gold around him similar to the light themselves.
Like the moon whose governing spirit he took his name from he reflected the light of the sun, imitating the sister spirit to such a degree that the Daimyo was momentarily stunned. As the scarf was pulled down, showing a face with features indicating noble blood, the lord commented on it.
"Had you not had yourself announced as Tsukiyomi I'd have likely believed you to be his wife and were I a deeply faithful man, I might have believed you truly were a child of Izanagi. But perhaps you are not wrong to style yourself after the moon god with looks so out of place amongst mortals."
Naruto gave a shallow bow from his sitting position before pulling his hood back up to block his features from the light. His scarf, on the other hand, remained pulled down to his neck so that the Daimyo could still see most of his face.
"I thank you for your most kind compliments."
It was obvious to the Daimyo that the young man before him really didn't care for the compliment and likely didn't think anything of his looks. That was to be expected, though, he came across as a man of action, one who favored the image he created with his work to his own physical appearance.
Still, there was something about his face that was familiar, reminding him of someone he had known long ago. It was close, so close, just at the tip of his tongue, and it probably would have remained as such. But he didn't have to rely on some faint whisper in the back of his head to drudge up whatever memory he was trying to recollect, he had his answers ready before him.
"Your face is not one I know," He started. "But it reminds me of one I did. Tell me, what name has been given to your flesh?"
"Bestowed upon me was the name Naruto."
"Naruto? Just Naruto? Your features indicated you are of noble blood, you cannot expect me to believe you have no surname."
"I had one, once." Usually that meant one had been banished from a clan or noble family in shame but that was not always the case.
Rather than immediately ask for clarification the Daimyo took a moment to ponder what he knew. The face was familiar, the noble blood was obvious, and he no longer carried his family name, why did he feel he knew something of this boy before him?
'Naruto, hmm? Where do I know that name from?'
And then it hit him, an official renouncement sent by one of an ancient clan had found its way to his attention two years ago after the official record-keeper realized exactly how significant it was.
"Yes, I remember now. You are the former Uzumaki prince, are you not?" Naruto grimaced slightly in response but the lord couldn't tell if it was because of the clan or his noble heritage being acknowledged.
Regardless, he answered.
"I am."
"My, my, how interesting. To think that not only did you end up before me but you did so in possession of a country. It was only four years ago your mother was here, you know, she brought along your sister and I wondered if I would ever have the chance to meet you personally." He grinned. "I suppose that question has been answered."
"I suspected she would have visited." Admitted Naruto. "With the death of her husband she probably needed to re-cement the ties between the Uzumaki formerly of Uzushiogakure and your land of Hi no Kuni."
"You refer to your father as her husband, is this because you have left the clan or do you have other reasons?" The Daimyo had always been fond of the man who had sired the former prince before him, it would be a shame if his son didn't feel the same.
"It is all I know him as."
That was troubling, surely he couldn't really mean that he knew nothing about his father besides the fact that he married his mother, right? It was more than some knew, admittedly, but any child of such a legend should know who they represent and who it is they would be trying to live up to. Anything else simply wasn't fair to them.
"Are you saying you don't know anything of him?"
"I know he was a Shinobi who died during the Kyuubi attack twelve years ago."
"And?"
"And nothing else, that is all I know of the man who sired me." The distress felt by the Daimyo had obviously made itself known upon his face. Some secrets needed to be hidden, he knew that, but others were simply too big to hide.
"Are you well, my lord?"
The voice broke through whatever thoughts had plagued him and he gave a weak smile to the young man across from him.
"I am fine, just a bit…shocked…I suppose. I would have thought someone had shared with you the knowledge of his identity, considering it is his shadow that will loom o'er your head until the day you die."
"I take it you know him?"
"Oh yes, I did indeed." The smile turned bittersweet. "I remember him fondly and considered him to be a friend. He was always welcome here, almost like the son I never had. He didn't stop by often, but he made sure to write and usually talked about the projects he was working on with one of the Sannin."
"Jiraiya-Sama?"
The Daimyo laughed.
"No, not his mentor, there was nothing left for the man to teach him aside Sage techniques but even he hadn't fully mastered them. He was working with another of the Sannin, Orochimaru, who he often described as matching and sometimes exceeding his own brilliance. The two of them were close, from what I know, and often collaborated on various ideas. Sealing, in particular, was of great fascination to them both- though they both approached it differently- and your mother's collection of Uzumaki sealing techniques were a great help to the two over the years."
Now that was interesting, it would also explain why the rouge Shinobi from Konohagakure was his godfather. The Sannin must have left Konoha sometime after his death and with him gone it was likely no one bothered to change the fact that he was one of his godparents. After all, with him off god knows where the chances of him ever being part of his godchild's life were slim even in the occurrence where something happened to his mother.
One should always expect the worst, but even that was a little too farfetched for people to worry about. It didn't seem to matter, either, as a living parent hadn't kept him from contacting his godson.
"I see, that would explain why he was chosen as my godfather." The Daimyo seemed surprised by this, but not in a bad way.
"Is he now? Yes, that does make a lot of sense, your father was well respected and quite loved but wasn't close to many. Besides your mother, Orochimaru was probably the person he was closest to. Have you been in contact with him lately, by any chance?"
Naruto's amethyst eyes narrowed.
"Godfather or not, he is a traitor. As a Shinobi of Konohagakure and a subject of the Imperial Fire court it would be frowned upon to do such."
The Daimyo waved one hand in a lazy dismissal of his comment.
"As a Konoha Shinobi perhaps, but being a subject of the court is completely unrelated." At Naruto's inquisitive look he continued. "Konoha is rather isolated from the rest of Hi no Kuni and we- the court- tend to turn a blind eye to most of it. As far as we're concerned he only ever harmed those of Konoha and they're partly to blame for living in a Shinobi village when those in the trade are so often known to suffer mental illnesses.
"Because it's Hi no Kuni Konoha Shinobi are free to apprehend anyone they've marked as a criminal and return to their village unless they've been granted sanctuary within Hi no Kuni by the court, in which case action can only be taken should they step foot within Konoha itself. Said criminals, however, are not necessarily considered criminals within Hi no Kuni itself, as they haven't yet gone against the country."
"Sounds like bullshit."
The Daimyo shrugged.
"You have to realize that the idea of hidden villages is still rather recent, only about a century old. We're still working to find the right balance between the hidden villages and the countries they're sworn to protect. To that end, we take a lose stance and simply tighten as needed. So far we've yet to see any benefit from making enemies with the rouge Sannin and in all these years he has yet to show any further interest in his old village."
"I suppose that's a good thing, then."
A brow rose in question.
"I've extended a standing invitation for him to relocate to Nami no Kuni."
"Your father would be pleased. Not many liked Orochimaru, he tended to rub them the wrong way, having his son get along with the Sannin would have done him proud."
"Were you intending on telling me who he was?"
"Ah, yes, I'm afraid I became distracted. Your father was the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato. I don't know why you wouldn't have been told. You're a fine young man with a good head on your shoulders. I suppose some might say it was for your own protection, but you conquered Nami no Kuni. If you can manage that I think you can keep yourself safe and even if you can't you would have likely been a target as the leader of the Wolves once discovered. There's no reason for you not to know."
"The Yondaime…" Naruto repeated lightly. "I'm the son of the Yondaime." He hadn't expected that, not in the slightest, but he really didn't have the time to ponder it either. He was here on business and couldn't forget that. Later, when this was all over, he could sit down and wonder what that would mean for him and, most importantly, how he could use it to his advantage.
"Indeed, do you need a moment? It's a rather heavy truth I've just placed upon your shoulders and I can't blame you if you need time to take it in."
"No, thank you. I'll be fine."
"If you insist."
A moment of silence passed anyway, the train of the conversation having been lost. It was Naruto who eventually broke it.
"Would it be too much to ask to borrow a courier, my lord? I have a letter I need to send to Commander Sai so he can forward it to his sister. I have some things I need her to look into and they should both be notified of this latest development."
"Not at all. Don't take this wrong, but it will allow me to confirm your hold on Wave. I, personally, would like to believe you, but I still need to make sure or I'll never here the end of it from the court."
"Of course, better cautious than defeated."
"I'm glad you understand though I do find myself a bit curious."
"About what?"
"Why you would be contacting the sister of your commander? Is he not the one you trust to lead the Wolves?"
"He is, but the Wolves are not my only project."
"Oh? My, you are a busy one. Didn't you just use the Wolves to take over a country?"
"The opportunity presented itself earlier than expected."
"I see, that was rather fortunate."
"It was, Nami no Kuni will prove useful in my other plans, especially should things go wrong."
"And you expect them to?"
"Better cautious than defeated." Repeated Naruto. "That's why I've come to you."
"Yes, I suppose that would be the real reason you decided to pay me a visit. Subject or not, you're far too ambitious to have approached me with your country with the intention of handing it over."
"Indeed, but that doesn't mean you can't benefit from this arrangement. I'm not so foolish as to ask of you without providing ample tribute."
"Nami no Kuni is well known for the wealth it can amass. This palace has been filled with priceless treasures for many centuries but the riches generated in your new country often threaten to encroach upon the domain that has rightfully belonged to it since the beginning. And while those riches are changing hands amongst the inhabitants and traders for the most part, I know you and your Wolves will be benefiting greatly.
"Supporting your rule, allying myself with your new country, would provide Hi no Kuni with untold opportunities." He gave a sly grin to the young man across from him. "It's also the only way to have anything reminiscent of a claim on the country without risking my standing amongst the elemental court, but I'm sure you're well aware."
"Naturally."
"Of course, you wouldn't come to me unless you were prepared. Now, with Orochimaru being welcome to a land of riches and a great pack of Wolves prowling for its protection, shall we get down to business and discuss all the wonderful ways we can help each other?"
"I'm sure this relation will prove most profitable."
The Daimyo laughed.
"In your case, boy, you have no idea. Hi no Kuni has coveted the land possessed by Nami no Kuni for many, many years. Now that we have it, well, I do believe that's worthy of a rather substantial reward."
They continued to speak long into the night, breaking only to sup at the Daimyo's table, and Naruto was eventually provided with the courier he had requested. With negotiations finished and only a confirmation of his control over Wave remaining before the Daimyo of Hi no Kuni officially recognized him as the Daimyo of Nami no Kuni, Naruto and his Wolves were offered rooms within the palace as honored guests.
A week later, after the courier's return, the two set their plan into action. Tsukiyomi of the Wolves was recognized formally by the Daimyo of Hi no Kuni as the lesser Daimyo of Nami no Kuni before being granted a seat within the Imperial Fire Court as dictated by a treaty that had been signed only seconds later. With the seat in the court came his own noble house, the first of its kind to be bound by oath rather than blood, and the House of Wolves was born.
Two Daimyo were pleased that day. One, who had managed to gain open access to the country that had traditionally served as the trading hub of the world, and the other who had managed to elevate his forces to a house in a greater court.
It was a day neither would be soon to forget.
Gently the carriage came to a stop, which couldn't possibly be right. They had left the capital of Hi no Kuni no more than an hour ago fully stocked and with a brand new set of horses. What could they possibly be stopping for?
Ignoring his desire to just peek out the curtains to try for a glimpse of whatever reason they were no longer moving- they had threatened to sic Mai on him if he didn't stop- and instead rapped the back of his hand against the door.
When he heard taping against the glass instead of seeing the door open a crack he had to roll his eyes. Naturally the one time he didn't look out was the time they wanted him to use the window instead. The fact that they refused to open the door, however, told him that they felt there was a possible threat to his well-being. More so than that which prompted them to keep him safely hidden away, at least.
Moving the curtains let him look out the window but the only thing he could see was a Wolf who was keeping one eye towards the front of the carriage. Naruto decided to just get to the heart of the matter. They had a long way to go and he really wanted to get this trip over with.
"Why have we stopped?"
"There's someone on the road, a woman."
Naruto raised a brow.
"And? It's a road, we can't be the only ones using it."
"She's not moving, Tsukiyomi-Sama."
"So have you checked to see if she's still alive?"
"She's alive, she's just not moving from the center of the road." The Wolf paused briefly before clarifying. "She's standing there staring at us, as if she's been waiting."
"Ah, why didn't you say that in the first place? No matter, have any of you spoken to her yet?"
"No, we've all just sort of stared at each other thus far, I think the others are waiting for her to say something first."
Naruto let out a sigh. The Wolves were better suited to act amongst the populace than Root but the failed conditioning they went through still left its marks.
"Then let the others know they have two options. Either they speak with her and sort everything out so we can continue or I'll do it myself."
The Wolf seemed almost horrified that he would even consider leaving the safety of the carriage when the Wolves had yet to check the perimeter and take up suitable posts. The idea that he would then approach an unknown in the open, however, was far worse.
Naruto was almost regretful that their uniform included the mask. The face the man would have been making would have no doubt served to be rather entertaining.
"O-of course, Tsukiyomi-Sama, I'll let them know immediately." He made to leave but faltered in his step, turning back to his lord. "Please, stay safe."
In the end that's what they were most concerned about and everything they do was in hopes that it would keep him out of danger. It was not so much because they believed him weak, he thought, but rather because they didn't want to lose him. He had given their lives purpose again and allowed them to be more than sleeper agents waiting for a time of crisis.
And for that, they loved him.
Naruto gave a soft smile to the man, seen only because he had taken the liberty of removing his scarf during the journey.
"I'll be fine, my child, I have all of you here to protect me, don't I?"
The Wolf seemed to perk up at his words, both because of the faith he was placing in them and the more affectionate way he had been addressed.
"Yes, my lord!" He wasted no time after that, hurrying off to see the will of his lord done. Admittedly, it was more for the purpose of keeping his Lord's will be done, because he knew he would much rather leave the carriage and speak to this person personally.
Tsukiyomi had really come to hate that carriage during the trip to the capital, more so than seemed reasonable. Perhaps it wasn't so much the carriage itself but what it represented- the useless role it forced him to assume and the slow burden it placed upon the journey. Or, perhaps, it was simply the journey itself. Tsukiyomi was a man who liked to get things done. Spending so much time on the road likely felt like a massive waste to the man.
The Wolf was quick to the front of the carriage where several of the Wolves had gathered across from the woman. The others were either flanking behind her in the trees, ready to strike, or surrounding the carriage in case they should be attacked from another direction.
The secondary driver seemed to be the one at the forefront of the group so he made his way to them. The relaying of their lord's words earned him a hurried nod, no doubt they felt the same as himself when it came to their lord's safety.
Stepping to the woman with no concern for his own safety to ensure this was taken care of before their lord grew too restless and took matters into his own hands, the secondary driver spoke quickly and quietly, eventually nodding and returning to the group.
"She claims to be here to speak with Tsukiyomi-Sama. She speaks of him as Naruto, which is a good sign, but check with Tsukiypomi-Sama to verify they know each other and she can be trusted."
"Did she give a name?"
"No, but she said he would understand 'Mother Crow'."
The Wolf that relayed Naruto's wishes gave a quick nod before returning to the side of the carriage.
"My lord?" The curtains opened once more- he hadn't noticed they were shut and it comforted him to know his lord was taking steps to remain safe when he could easily discard the urgings of his Wolves- and Tsukiyomi of the House of Wolves peered out.
"Yes, my child?"
"She claims to be here to speak with you. She didn't give us her name, but she did say you would know 'Mother Crow'.
A smile tugged at Naruto's lips.
"Ah, yes, that could only be one person. She is welcome among us, bring her here so we can continue on our way."
"Yes, my lord." That eased him somewhat. Even if they didn't know who would be meeting with their lord he did and he trusted them enough to allow them in his presence. He'd rather the two not be alone together hidden from view but he didn't have much choice in the matter.
There was also the fact that his lord was a young man and his visitor obviously a woman. Considering he didn't know the relationship between the two, maybe it was better that the Wolves not be able to see the two of them in the carriage.
It only took a moment to retrieve the woman- this Mother Crow, perhaps, though it very well could be a simple phrase to confirm her identity to Lord Tsukiyomi. Maybe she was a spy of his lord's?- for she seemed quite eager to see Tsukiyomi.
When he returned to the carriage once more he knocked thrice before opening the door and allowing the woman to launch herself into the carriage. He tensed for only a split second before he realized she had wrapped herself around the young lord as she sat half in his lap.
It was starting to look like not being able to see the two interact was a good thing, he knew his lord enjoyed his privacy whenever possible and a situation like this seemed to call for more privacy than normal. Closing the door with a small smile- their lord seemed happy, if his warm chuckles were anything to go by- he went back to the front of the carriage to inform the others that they were to continue.
Back in the carriage Naruto wrapped both arms around his guest as she squeezed her own around his neck, her face buried into his chest much like the first time they had met. This time, however, her mask had remained on her face.
Removing one arm from around her, he lifted up her chin so he could remove the strange orange mask she was wearing. As soon as it was off she was once more pressing her face against him and her entire body seemed to relax.
"It's good to see you again, Mikoto-Chan. I take it you received my letter?" It was the most obvious explanation for her presence as he had informed her of his location within it. She had evidently seized the opportunity to pay him a visit, the first one they'd had in the past two years. Face still in his chest she gave a nod in the affirmative, her crow had returned with his letter before he left on his trip.
It had been hard to keep from visiting him immediately upon learning he was outside Konoha but with Ame being closer to the capital of Hi no Kuni than it was to Wave she decided to meet him there.
"I missed you, Naruto-Kun." The massacre of her clan left him- the son of her estranged friend- as the closest person she had and she latched onto the relationship with all her might, desperate not to lose all she had left.
That, of course, didn't mean she was completely reliant upon him or had any trouble exerting the fact that she was her own person, as shown when she pulled back and punched him in the shoulder with a pout that looked out of place- but not unpleasant- upon a woman of her age.
"That was for sneaking that money into my pouch when I told you I was fine." She leaned back in and gave his cheek a kiss. "And that was for the money, it made things a lot easier."
"I'm happy to hear it, how have things been in Ame?"
She pouted again, though he could barely see it.
"Wet."
He didn't even try to resist the smile that spread across his lips. She sounded like a child despite, quite literally, being old enough to be his mother. He supposed that with everyone else gone and her hiding from Konoha he was the only one she could allow herself to relax and be vulnerable around.
It was kind of cute.
"That so?"
She looked up at him, the same mischievous glint he had seen so many times in Anko's eyes shimmering in her own black orbs, as her lips curved upwards in a small smirk.
"Yep, that's right."
"Hmm, I would never have guessed. It must be horrible."
"Uh-huh, it was. During the summer winds from Hi no Kuni make everything all hot and muggy, so I can't wear much more than my cloak because it's too heavy and in the winter it's so cold that I have no choice but to wear my cloak." She looked down at the black cloak covered in red clouds she was currently wearing with a scowl. "I hate this damn cloak. If it hugged my body I could deal with it but it just blocks my clothes from view so no one can appreciate just how great I look."
His smile widened, he hadn't spent much time with the woman but she was like a cross between Mai's affection and Anko's fun personality, almost like the best of both.
"And do you look great?" She directed her scowl at him but it quickly melted to another pout. Standing up- which she could barely do within the carriage- she unclasped the cloak and let it fall to the ground, where she kicked it to the seat across form him. That didn't have his attention as much as her clothes did.
Black jeans hugged her lower body tightly but what stood out the most was her top- or lack thereof. It would seem right now it was getting cold enough for her to wear more beneath her Akatsuki uniform but not enough for her to wear anything but a black bra over her chest.
She gave a little twirl which would have been disastrous if they had hit a bump in the road before he realized she was answering his question and waiting to hear his opinion.
"I suppose you do, maybe I should start hating that cloak too." She beamed at him before returning to sit beside him, pressing herself as closely as she could as his arm wrapped around her waist. It had been two years since she had last had contact with another person- a decision on her part more than something forced upon her, though admittedly affected by the fact that she was now in Akatsuki- and she intended to both make up for it and get her fill before she had to leave.
Smiling down at the woman and couldn't help but think that his trip was already looking to be far better than the last.
He had been wanting the company of Mai, but a Mikoto worked just as well.
Thus concludes the chapter. I'm going say this right now, before the reviews start, that the bit about Orochimaru in relation to Hi no Kuni has been cut EXTREMELY short. I could go on for the better part of a standard chapter without too much difficulty talking about the full explanations and reasons behind the Daimyo's attitude towards Orochimaru and Konoha as a whole but I know most of you won't like that.
I tried to make it short and concise, but that still leaves it rather lacking. For the sake of the story and my readers, however, I have chosen not to focus on it and allow you all to follow the plot- what little of it there may be.
I look forward to seeing you all next chapter.