This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Naruto, which is trademarked by Masashi Kishimoto. Everything aside from the original characters are created from the wonderful mind of Kishimoto.
Most of the following unrecognizable are original characters of mine.
Comments, suggestions, criticism, even just simple messages are welcomes, please feel free to message me anytime.
Thanks for reading!
Chapter 27:
Pretty soon they were back on their feet, with a short stop when an angry Yamato, who Naruto left, was able to catch up.
"Sakura" Misaki called out to her female friend once everything has died down. However, before Sakura can even open her mouth and acknowledge the red head, Misaki did something she had never done before. Shocking everyone down to their very core. Next thing they knew Sakura was stunned into silence with scalding angry red strike on her face, the indents of Misaki's hand print already beginning to manifest on her face.
Sakura honestly had it coming, but she never thought it would incur such reaction from Misaki, somehow who had always remained calm under duress.
"I'm not sorry Sakura, I believe you needed that" Misaki stepped closer to her friend and wrapped her arms around her in a hug.
"But I am happy you're alright, we were so worried, Sakura don't ever do that again. We're here for you. so don't go thinking you have to bear it alone" Misaki comforted her friend, who hugged her and began crying.
"I'm sorry" Sakura whimpered into Misaki as she slumped into the comfort of her embrace.
"As much as I would like to let you guys continue, we really should get going" Kakashi urged his companions into moving with one more person; Karin.
"Here we are" Misaki said in front of a seemingly empty space of lawn.
"What are you talking about there's nothing here! Sakura-chan what did you really leave?" Naruto groaned, still feeling under the weather, still not fully recovering from Sakura's poisoned kunai.
"Release" Misaki released the barrier around the area revealing four sleeping figures.
"I thought the drugs would have worn off by now, I guess I underestimated your dosage this time Sakura?" Misaki wondered out loud.
"This is what you left, how can this guys sleep here while Sakura-chan was in trouble?" Naruto judged his sleeping friends as he approached them.
"Um- Naruto please wake them gently-" Sakura was unable to continue her sentence when Naruto proved to do the exact opposite. Instead he joined them on the soft grass, complaining about how he is feeling.
"What the heck, you are going to sleep to" Sakura scolded, veins popping in her head
"Naruto is like that because of you umm Sakura, right?" Karin interjected the angry girl who was quick to remember her fault, just about as quick as Naruto fell asleep.
"We should really get going, Sakura wake them up" Kakashi instructed and Sakura did as she was asked. Although by the time she got to Sai, he was already awake, stating that the druug has worn off.
Kiba however, was none to pleased to find Naruto just sleeping soundly.
"Oi Naruto, wakeup" Kiba woke Naruto in only a way a friend could, by nudging him with his feet, much to the alarm of Sakura who repeatedly urged him to do it more gently.
"But why?" Sai phased out of the blue, holding on to his neck.
"Is there something wrong Sai?" Misaki asked approaching him.
"Nothing, it's just can you please check it for me" Sai said and opened his mouth towards Misaki, earning a gasp from her.
"What is it, is something there?" Sakura bent over next to Misaki to inspect Sai's tongue.
"There's nothing there" Sakura sighed in relief.
"Looks fine to me" Kiba commented.
"It's not what's there, it's what isn't Sai's curse mark, it's gone" Misaki answered.
"Danzo-sama placed a curse mark on my tongue" Sai explained.
"Danzo, you mean the new hokage, although he hasn't taken office yet" Kiba confirmed.
"Yes, but the fact the that curse mark had disappeared, then that must mean" Sai didn't need to continue as he looked to Kakashi for answers.
"It seems like it" Kakashi confirmed, a statement further solidified by Karin, by telling them the truth on who killed Danzo.
None other than the very comrade they set out to dispatch., shocking all of them.
"Why, he was the hokage" Kiba pressed.
"That's all I have to say" Karin snubbed.
"Tell us in detail, what the hell is going on? I don't understand at all!" Kiba demanded, this time Misaki interjected.
"That's enough Kiba, we don't know what had transpired there, and even if we knew, I don't think it would be as simple as black and whites" Misaki defended Karin, or at least gave her the benefit of the doubt. Kiba pouted, but let his case rest, instead he poured his frustration on the sleeping Naruto who was clearly having a good dream, probably in Ichiraku Ramen.
Thank god for Lee, who was able to restrain Kiba from throwing a tantrum. Though no physical prowess could have stopped him from complaining all the way home.
Before they left, Sakura held Misaki back by her hand.
"Misaki, I'm sorry too, and thank you I guess I needed that sort off wake up call" Sakura said, and in return, Misaki squeezed her hand, and smiled at her.
"Kiba be a man and stop complaining" Naruto commented, effectively embarrassing Kiba out of his complaining. Sai was even in a good nature to insert something about Naruto's own comprehensive skills. Pretty soon they began their usual, casual banter, insulting each other's masculinity and what not.
Karin, being the last of the group, as she was perched on Kakashi's back, who was walking at the rear of the group had the chance to observe everyone as they bantered amongst themselves.
Naruto and Misaki in particular, who had the warmest presence she had ever felt, so kind and so endearing, and Karin wondered how those two ended up with someone who had an ice cold presence such as Sasuke, thinking about how their lives played out before Sasuke left to side with Orochimaru.
Karin then gasp seeing something so dark within Naruto, but the moment Misaki had placed her hand on Naruto's shoulder to whisper something, it's like their chakra recognized each other and they mingled, Misaki's chakra wrapping the dark chakra with her bright ones and then it was just bright once again.
Before them masked figures appeared, Sai automatically standing up front of the group.
"Eh, who are these guys?" Naruto asked curiously.
"They are members of the foundation from the Anbu black Ops," Kakashi answered.
"They belong with the same group as Sai, working under Danzo" Misaki simplified for Naruto.
"It seems you are aware of it too. The reason why the cursed mark placed on us by Danzo-sama is gone" Sai greeted his fellow members.
"Danzo-sama, is...dead?" the masked man in the middle asked, rather unsure of the formation of his sentence.
"Yes" Sai answered simply.
"What about his bodyguards Foo and Torune" they continued to ask.
"I am in the dark about the two of them too" Sai answered honestly.
"They were not at the site" Kakashi supported.
"Therefore, I would like to propose a discussion about the future of the foundation with you, and with the new hokage here," Sai motioned to Kakashi, shocking the rest of his party, except for Misaki who had it coming.
"We'll head back ahead of you" the masked men then left their group.
"Not so much of an answer huh" Misaki spoke her mind, crossing her arms.
"You're going to be the next hokage, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked her former instructor.
"Hmm, seems like it" Kakashi answered.
"Seems like an honor doesn't it? To be personally carried by the hokage all the way to the village" Misaki smiled at Karin who just humphed, looking away to hide her blush.
They continued to travel, until they took a break for a short moment, giving everybody time to rest whilst Kakashi attached informations on his hounds to send to the other villages.
"Being the hokage huh, kinda puts things in a different perspective" Misaki sat cross legged on a tree branch behind Kakashi as they both watched the dogs run off on their respective direction.
"It does" Kakashi answered with his head in the clouds.
"Well if it's any consolation, you were a student of a hokage, so you probably already know half of the job, the other half you've been, of course it helps there's also the fact that you're smart and probably one of the best shinobis I have ever met." Misaki complimented.
"That's the first time I think you actually complimented me, it must be a really special" Kakashi jested looking up at Misaki.
"Was that the first time I ever complimented you? Sorry, I'm always complimenting you in my mind, it thought I was stating out loud, sorry" Misaki smiled her trademark angelic smile she always does when she's in some sort of trouble.
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As they returned to the village, they saw of outlines of the people awaiting their return, nearing the gate, they can see Kaede standing next to the youngest Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Naruto exchanged a few words with team eight before entering the village.
Kaede gave Naruto a warm welcoming hug, before walking towards Misaki and Kakashi.
"Who is this?" Kaede asked after she hugged Misaki, eyebrow raised at her husband. Kakashi, who was known for being smooth, but no amount of smoothness can ever contest to the legendary jealousy of Kaede, who was having a hard time fending off Kakashi's admirers.
Misaki could remember a conversation they once had back at home, where Kakashi walked around home without his mask. Misaki had thoughtlessly suggested Kakashi to flaunt his face because he looks handsome without it. In a blink of an eye Misaki's arm was outlined by needles, hairline away from actually making any damages.
"That's one of Sasuke's teammates, she got left behind injured, so we decided to take her in for interrogation." Misaki explained for Kakashi.
And the heavens spilled forth gallons of ice water on Kaede's hot head, because she instantly forgot about her raging jealousy.
"So this was the girl that was present during Sasuke's battle with Danzo" Kaede confirmed.
" Maybe we should check her in for a day or two before handing her to the intel group, she was wounded pretty badly when we found her" Misaki suggested.
At the makeshift hospital, Misaki stayed to guard Karin after Kaede declared she was stable since Konoha is basically short on staff as of now.
Misaki quietly read a book on the corner of the room cross legged when Karin lost her mind, one with the silence, she wasn't used to it ever since she met Suigetsu and two she's been dying to ask about what is her relationship with Sasuke, especially since she was one of the audience of Misaki's declaration of love towards Sasuke.
"Ugh I can't stand it!" Karin suddenly whined surprising Misaki into throwing her book in the air. For a moment, Misaki stared at her in fear of the woman whose face was growing redder than her own hair whilst glaring at her.
"What's the deal with you?" Karin yelled at Misaki pointing accusingly. Misaki on the other hand stared at her with a confused expression.
"I'm sorry, but I am going to need more than that" Misaki said.
"You, you claimed to love Sasuke yet you're cohorting yourself with that Naruto dude, not even that. You claimed to love him so why didn't you stop him in the first place, then now that he's too far gone, now you have the guts to tell him you're going to stop him?" Karin finished her burst, panting like she had finished a marathon.
Misaki stared at her, slowly realising that her confusion, her anger towards her was more than justified. Misaki slowly closed her book and stood up from her place and walked until she reached the end of Karin's bed where she sat.
"You must have cared deeply for him, you know in some ways I envy you. You did what I couldn't do, you supported him, even though you knew he was going down the drain with something terrible still you didn't leave his side, for that I am eternally grateful" Misaki took a deep breath and continued.
"The reason why I didn't stop him was because I loved him, it's because I believed his pain, his grief, it was justified. He had every reason to be angry at the people who took everything away from him, that's why I didn't stop him" Misaki explained.
"They why didn't you come with him? Why didn't you come to Orochimaru to help him?" Karin gritted her teeth. Being so closely involved with experiments because of her ability to heal by biting into her, Karin knew of Orochimaru's plan with Sasuke and Misaki, more specifically with what he planned to do for their supposed offspring, Orochimaru would have welcomed her with open arms just as he had to Sasuke.
"Even though everybody believed Itachi to be the villain then, he was still Itachi to me, he was my best friend, my teacher, I guess some parts of me couldn't bring myself to believe that his actions was to his own accord. I couldn't bring myself to help Sasuke to kill him." Misaki explained.
No
"They why now? After all these years? Why try to stop Sasuke now if you think that Sasuke's anger was justified" Karin egged.
"I still think his anger is justified, but he is letting it overrule his judgement. He is wielding his blade like a blind man in the battlefield. He has no sight of the bigger picture, nor of friend or foe, even the innocent will be at the mercy of his blade, and once all it's done, once the blindness of anger subsided, all that's left is the aftermath of his actions. Death, regret, loneliness. I don't want that for him, I am stopping him now for the very same reason I do not stop him then, because I love him" Misaki finished her explanation.
Karin looked at her, in that moment, she saw the other side of the picture, the side of story in Misaki's eyes, the part where she isn't Sasuke's villain. A part where Sasuke wasn't the left alone, casted aside one.
"But wait, that doesn't explain why your relationship with Naruto, you're even so close to him that your chakras mold together. That's not something ordinary friends do, it takes some sort of intimacy to do that!" Karin anger returned tenfold, this person was just trying to trick her into believing that she loves Sasuke.
"Well, Naruto and I are pretty intimate on a different level" Misaki scratched the back of her head with a smile.
"I knew it, what sort of person are you, telling Sasuke you love him, while you're in a relationship with another guy" Karin scolded.
"Well, my relationship with Naruto has nothing to do with Sasuke, I love them both" Misaki answered.
"No, it doesn't work like that! You only get to choose one! End your relationship with Naruto if you really want to be with Sasuke" Karin lectured.
"Well it's going to be a little more complicated than that, after all I did share a womb with Naruto for nine months, so breaking up will be quite hard" Misaki revealed with a smile.
"Why the hell not, you can break up with him just as ea-" Karin stopped in the middle of her sentence, processing Misaki's sentence, then looking into her smiling eyes, then remembering the identical set of eyes in Naruto.
"WWWWHHHHHHHAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT?!" Karin exclaimed at the top of her lungs causing a mini earthquake and temporary deafness to people within ten miles radius.
Later that day when Kazuhiko and Kakashi went to pick Karin from the hospital, the sight before them was a surprise.
"Why the heck didn't you tell me he was your twin brother in the first place" Karin yelled throwing random stuff at Misaki, who one the other hand was dodging Karin's efforts with ease. When you lived your whole life with Kaede, you'll get used to furnitures and what not flying your way and then you'll learn to dodge them.
"Well you were the one who had malicious assumptions" Misaki answered back, wondering exactly where is Karing getting all the stuff she is hurling her way.
"Well, this is an interesting turn of events" Kakashi wondered.
"She's not alone, before Misaki told me, I assume Naruto was some sort of rebound material from Sasuke" Kazuhiko admitted, remembering the time she confronted Misaki about it.
"But they have the same eyes" Kakashi reasoned.
"It was an honest mistake okay"
Moments later Misaki and Kaede were on their way to the hospital after collecting herbs from medicine when something that resembled a hurricane passed by them, almost making them drop their packages.
"What the hell is that?" Kaede exclaimed, holding on to the medicine.
"It looks like Guy-san and Kakashi are having some sort of superhuman race once again" Misaki deducted watching the said people with her hand above her eyes.
"Geez doing a challenge at a time like this! This is no time to be doing ridiculous things, soon he will be instated as hokage" Kaede groaned.
"That's why it makes this a perfect time for it, when Kakashi is instated, he won't have time to do much other stuff" Misaki answered still staring at the figures running rampant across the village before smiling back at Kaede.
"You're probably right, still doesn't change the fact that it's ridiculous!" Kaede sighed in acceptance, resuming their walk.
"This is Guy we're talking about, nothing about him isn't ridiculous" Misaki chuckled as she followed her mother.
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"Excuse me" Kaede knocked in respect before entering the room where Tsunade was lying in.
"Kaede, Welcome back Misaki, I heard from your mom and Shikaku, how are you holding up?" Shizune greeted the two.
"With everything that's happening, I think it's best to focus on more pressing matters" Misaki answered segueing the attention from her actual predicament.
"How is Tsunade-sensei doing?" Kaede asked giving the medicine to Shizune.
"Well, not sure, with how things are going we're going to need her with us, with the war upon us and all that" Shizune answered.
Both Kaede and Misaki stayed there for a little while then decided to leave to help the other medics. They haven't even left the hallway when Shizune began to scream for them.
"Kaede! Misaki, somebody please come quick" that was all it took to have them plus two others run down to the room.
When they slammed open the door, Shizune was crying as she held Tsunade in her arms.
"Shizune what is it" Kaede asked, walking over to the other side of Tsunade to feel examine her when a single touch of her pulse, Kaede too froze.
"Sensei" Kaede too began to cry hysterically.
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"Alright, Hatake Kakashi, you will be-" the fire daimyo didn't get to finish his sentence when another person joined their conference without permission and very abruptly.
"Please Excuse me" Misaki materialized before them kneeling down.
"What is the meaning of this, we are in an important conference" Daimyo scolded at the child.
"Pardon me, but this cannot wait until after the conference, I have come to report the sudden change in the state of affairs" Misaki lifted her chin before standing up.
"What a sudden change?" Daimyo wondered.
"Yes, daimyo-sama, Godaime Hokage Senju Tsunade-sama has awoken from her comatose" Misaki revealed making everybody gasp in surprise, except for Kakashi who sighed in relief.
"Well, that is a development indeed" Homura commented.
"Send this message to the other villages quickly. Tsunade, the hokage of konohagakure is alive and well" Koharu ordered the anbu with them.
"You too, Report this to the other daimyo of the other lands as well," the fire daimyo ordered his council.
"We should let the people of konohagakure know at once" head jounin Shikaku said.
"I will leave that to you" Homura said.
"Umm, may I leave now?" Kakashi awkwardly asked, since he did not feel to be of essence at the moment, and none seem to notice he was still there.
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"Now that was an interesting turn of events, I guess you dodge the kunai for a few more years huh?" Misaki laughed as she and Kakashi made their way to Tsunade.
"You're right, with the upcoming war, we need Tsunade-sama who has more experience with wars" Kakashi agreed.
"True, Tsunade-sensei has seen quite a lot, how old was she again, it's hard to guess when she always looks so youthful" Misaki wondered to herself as Kakashi opened the door to Tsunade's quarters.
Before them sat Tsunade surrounded with towers of finished bowls of food.
"I'm glad to see you so well" Kakashi greeted.
"This is nothing, I'm just getting started" Tsunade replied.
"After all you've eaten it doesn't make any sense" Shizune sulked.
"If that is getting started, I'd wonder what finishing would look like" Misaki mused, in awe at how the hokage stays in shape after that, she will give the whole Akimichi clan a run for their money.
"I am relieved, I was dangerously close to becoming the hokage, I'm not much of a hokage material and considering the present situation, we need someone like you, lady Tsunade with wide influence to be the hokage" Kakashi laid out his opinions.
"Not to mention the years and years and YEARS of experience above your head" Misaki added, earning her a glare from the hokage.
"I meant that as a complimentary testament to you wisdom of course sensei" Misaki laughed nervously hiding behind Kakashi.
"I must say, I am amazed to hear about the Allied Shinobi Force, and I am surprised that the Tsuchikage and the Raikage agreed to cooperate" Tsunade commented.
"Well, it wasn't without motivation and threat, and a great one at that too, trust me" Misaki hinted crossing her arms.
"That just goes to prove what an awful situation we are face with" Kakashi answered.
"Uchiha Madara, is he really still alive?"Tsunade asked.
"We don't have absolute proof, but considering what they are trying to do, I'd say there's no doubt about it" Kakashi replied.
"Who would have thought the karma of the Uchiha would engulf all the shinobi in the world," Tsunade said.
"Yet in the rise of a common, stronger enemy, all of the divided nations set their differences aside, and convened as one, now that is quite a feat" Misaki commented.
"I will call a meeting immediately after this meal, we must prepare for war" Tsunade declared, Shizune running to inform everyone just as Kaede entered the room, bringing more food.
"Oh, just in time you two, I made lunch for all of us, why don't you join us" Kaede invited raising what seems to be bento for twenty people.
"Thanks" Kakashi nodded, but Misaki raised her hand in decline.
"Sorry, I promised to have lunch with Kazu today"
"Suit yourself" Kaede shrugged and began to place to food in an orderly manner.
"Also, there's also something I want to say" Misaki began, taking everyone's attention from the delicious homemade food to her.
"There's been a development with Itachi. He's fine and well, his body is recouping better than it ever did in his whole life and his eye, he took Shisui's eye quite well too. But I've kept him hidden for now. The intel he provided was more than substantial, and I fear revealing him too early before the war would agitate the enemy into doing something...drastic" Misaki revealed.
"But I also think not sharing this with the other kage is not wise, it would root a stem of mistrust and doubt and that will cause some dangerous problems, especially from people who will be fighting alongside us in battle" Misaki explained further.
"She's right, we have to present this information forward at the pre war meeting" Kaede said.
"Hey thought you'd never show" Kazuhiko waved as Misaki entered the interrogation room.
"What's the matter, you look worn out" Misaki asked, Kazuhiko simply pointed at the fussing Karin.
"She kept raving about Katsudon and all that" Kazuhiko rubbed his head.
"That's too bad, I think only Ichiraku ramen is open at the moment, maybe would could ask the man to make a-" Before Kazuhiko's eyes Misaki disappeared in a puff of smoke.
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Misaki suddenly found herself in a room that had a table full of cooked...bugs?
"Oh, you're here Misaki-chan, we only have to wait for Naruto-chan" Fuukkasaku greeted the girl. Not long after Naruto appeared in a puff of smoke.
"Ittadakimasu!" Naruto yelled in glee and dug right into the bowl of worms, of course throwing it up.
"Well would you look at that, I guess he was summoned at the perfect time from the perfect place" Misaki chuckled crossing her arms.
"Why am I here again?" Naruto sulked.
"We did a reverse summoning on you, the elder frog will divine your future" Fuukasaku informed.
"Follow me" he said and once Naruto got a view of the table of food he threw up once again.
"So this is Mount Myoboku, it's my first time here" Misaki looked around, the place seemed lighter, more serene than any place in Konoha.
"Yeah, the food here is disgusting though" Naruto groaned, making Misaki gigile.
"I have brought them" Fuukasaku told the giant frog who sat in the middle of the room on a bowl of water?
"Hey long time no see Deka-jiichan Sennin" Naruto saluted as a greeting.
"It was indeed I who summoned you, er...um...Who're you again?" the giant toad said, making Naruto sweat drop.
"Uzumaki Naruto, I wish you'd hurry up and learn my name Deka-jiichan Sennin!" Naruto protested hands on his hips.
"Oh that's right, that's right, It's Naruto, and who are you?" he turned his attention to the little red head next to Naruto.
"I am Namikaze Misaki,Deka-Ojii Sennin" Misaki greeted with a nod.
"Good good, I have a prophecy for that will involve the both of you, so listen and listen carefully. You will soon be meeting an octopus. Then you will be fighting with a young man whose power lies in his eyes" At the mention of the last part, both Misaki and Naruto looked to each other.
"Do you already have a young man in mind?" Gamamaru asked.
"Yes, and I have already made up my mind" Naruto nodded in determination.
"Well, in that case, Gerotora I saw in that dream that you will be surrendering the instructions to this young lady" Gamamaru looked to Misaki.
"Wait wha?" The other frog below the giant one exclaimed.
"Give her the instructions to the fourth hokage's seal" Gamamaru ordered and once Geratora stood on his full height and opened his scroll, a sealing jutsu formula appeared on Misaki's right arm.
"That is the key to the seal on Naruto, press your hands on the storing square to receive the instructions of the yondaime hokage" Geratora instructed her. Misaki looked at the key then to the scroll where in the instructions were inscribed.
In her mind the turmoil and ruckus of Naruto whenever the kyuubi will manifest ran rampant. All the pain and the anguish Naruto is experiencing, that's not something Misaki would prefer Naruto to never experience.
"You're unsure aren't you? Well I can't say I blame you" Geratora huffed.
"Why is that" Fuukasaku asked, then Geratora proceeded to explain the concept of having a tailed beast sealed within a person.
But at the same time she remembered her father and why he placed the kyuubi in Naruto, she remembered her time with Killer Bee. She knew that there is a way where both the jinchuriki and the bijuu could live in harmony, growing stronger together, and in order to do that, both the container and the contained have to meet in the same level without any barriers between them.
"No that's not it, I believe in Jiraiya sensei and my father's vision. The seal isn't going to last forever and it's going to only weaken in time, and in order to confront the kyuubi Naruto will have to overcome the barrier between them. Jiraiya-sensei, My father placed their trust and their will on Naruto's hands, and so will I" Misaki declared.
"Misaki" Naruto tried to stop her, and one look in his eyes, and Misaki knew what he was thinking, and through their bond Misaki assured Naruto that they will get through this together, this experience will make them stronger together, just as their parents had designed it to be.
Misaki took a deep breath and walked forward to receive Minato's instructions.
"Storage complete, I will take my leave now" Geratora then disappeared in a puff of smoke Misaki watched as the formula too began to disappear on her skin.
"Now we can take you back to the village, after that we'll have to look for an octopus" Fuukasaku said.
"Oh right, you prophesied that I would encounter an octopus, where is this octopus, can't you give any more details" Naruto inquired.
"It's not clear, but it's a solitary island, people don't go near it, it's like a paradise for creatures, to me it would seem like a fun resort" Gamamaru added to his prophecy and in the twin;s mind they can already picture an island paradise in unison.
"Fun resort, now that doesn't seem too bad"
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Few days passed and they spent it all in preparation of the upcoming war, but today Misaki stood with Tsunade and Shikaku at the headquarters at Kumogakure. A meeting has been called for the kages to talk about what to do with the remaining jinchuriki.
"You all came quickly" A commented looking at his counterparts from other lands.
"The situation calls for a quick action" Gaara replied.
"By the way Tsunade-hime, are you alright already, this is the perfect opportunity to hand things over to a youngster, you're old too" Ohnoki greeted the newly awakened hokage.
"Speak for yourself you fence sitter-jiji" Tsunade snapped back.
"Setting aside the matter of Danzo, I am relieved that you are back as the hokage Lady Tsunade" Mei welcomed.
"Let us be done with the greetings and get right into business, first on the agenda here, are the jinchuriki of the Hachibi and the kyuubi, then we will go through intel relating to the enemys headquarters and military strength" General Mifune began the meeting with an itenerary.
"My men have pinned down something that may be the enemy's stronghold, but it also maybe a trap. We have no choice but to wait for more intel on this," Tsunade informed.
"I also have a reconnaissance team gathering intel, we need to sort through the intel from each village quickly" A said.
"How about forming a separate unit within the Allied force, that only handles intel" Mei offered.
"Good idea, share and share alike!" Ohnoki seconded the motion.
"That goes without saying! If each nation becomes driven by self interest, the akatsuki will pull the rug out from under us" A added.
"So, where will we hide the crucial jinchuriki" Ohnoki asked.
"Hide them?" Tsunade turned in shock.
"Naruto and Bee can lend so much strength in this battle, why hide them" Tsunade yelled.
"I thought so as well, but those two are what the enemy is after in this war, considering what could happen, we cannot let them participate, it was decided last meeting but you of course were still ill" Ohnoki explained.
"Our enemy is Madara, If we hold back battle strength and lose the prospect of victory, we are not going to get another chance, we must hit them with everything we've got" Tsunade argued.
"The five great nations joined together and our aim in this war is to protect those two, your sole siddent as hokage is not sufficient, we will decide this majority rule," Gaara cut her off.
"You child, Naruto is-" Tsunade tried to continue, but was once again cut off by Gaara.
"I know him quite well, if it's for a friend he gets too reckless, that's exactly why" Gaara reasoned with Tsunade.
"Before we even talk about military strength the five kage must reach a consensus, otherwise there will be no victory," Mifune interjected so as not to waste precious time.
"I agree Tsunade-sama" Shikaku advised Tsunade.
"Fine" Tsunade grumbled.
"The slug-hime is back to her natural impudent self, it's proof enough that she is well." Ohnoki jested.
"We will now need to decide where to hide the hachiibi and the kyuubi, any objections hokage" A pressed, making sure that there will be no objections from Tsunade anymore.
"I understand get on with it!" Tsunade snapped. Misaki sighed, A's temper was already bad enough as it is during the first summit, and now with Tsunade's temper added, how many destroyed furniture would be up on that list.
"I have a place in mind, and it is appropriately located in kumogakure, which has not produced any akatsuki members, I set it aside, just in case" A paused to watch Tsunade's reaction before resuming.
"Also, I will have Misaki with them to seal the whole island, both from what is inside and the outside, I don't want anyone leaving or entering without permission from the five kages" A said.
"Misaki will you be able to do it?" Tsunade asked the short girl behind her.
"Yes, but not without help, five kages, in light of not withholding any information, I have something in mind I want to propose" Misaki started and formed several hand signs before slamming her palm on the ground. Instantly a puff of smoke erupted and slowly revealed two tall figures standing, one pair onyx eyes making everyone gasp and stand at an attention, except for Tsunade and the kunoichi five.
"Uchiha Itachi! What is the meaning of this, you brought an akatsuki member in here?" A demanded in anger, slamming his fist down.
"More importantly, he was supposed to be dead, it was confirmed already" Mei supported.
"Please calm down, and hear them out" Mifune urged the other kages who looked to him, surprised that he knew about Itachi being alive.
"We rescued Itachi in a nick of time, barely, but that's not important. His actions for being in akatsuki are justified, he was acting out on orders from the elders, he is willing for his mind to be searched. He was also the one who provided us the information that began the summit in the first place" Misaki defended.
"It is true, he has surrendered his memories and intel to us during his stay at the land of iron" Mifune supported.
"This information too was validated by us" Yoko voiced her support to her kage, followed by Ayako, Kazumi and Natsumi to their respective kages. It only take one awkward moment that felt like an eternity before the kages slowly nodded.
"Thank you for hearing us out" Misaki gaver everybody a deep bow, one that Itachi and Akihiko mimicked.
"This is Akihiko Kurama, and as you know this is Uchiha Itachi, I'm going to need them both to ensure that both Naruto and Killer Bee will be secure in the island. Akihiko is from the famed Kurama clan known for his excellence in genjutsu, one that can transcend almost anything. Itachi here has an intel from within and will know the enemies' movements and predict their actions" Misaki explained.
"Do you really think it's for an ex Akatsuki member to guard the two remaining jinchurikis" Mei pondered.
"Itachi may prove to also be a valuable ally, tell me, do you really think you have it in you to fight them and defend our ranks" A asked, Itachi looked him in the eye, no sharingan activated and nodded without missing a beat.
"Without a doubt" Itachi answered.
"Well it looks like where going to be dragged into this war" Akihiko complained placing his hands behind his head.
"However, under no circumstance can the enemy know that Itachi is alive and well within our ranks" Tsunade said.
"How do you propose to conceal him without getting detected" A asked.
"That's what Aki is here for" Misaki said and Akihiko on cue transformed Itachi into a regular common faced shinobi from Kumo.
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"So you're sending Naruto on a pretend mission where in he'll actually be held whilst the war rages from outside" Kaede asked pacing the room, together with Yamato, Tsunade, Akihiko, Misaki and a disguised Itachi.
"That's the plan" Yamato answered.
"He's not gonna like this, how do you think he's going to feel when the war is over and he is released from his mission only to find some or most of his friends have died in a war that was supposed to protect him" Kaede raved hands flailing around.
"I know how you feel mom, but think about it, until Naruto can control his powers, he would only prove to be a liability in war" Misaki reasoned with Kaede who paused to think about what Misaki had said tapping her foot on the ground hands on her hips.
"You're right, but still-" Misaki cut off her mom's worrying with a hand on her shoulder.
"We got this mom, trust me we got this" Misaki comforted Kaede who sighed in defeat.
"Well at least you guys are back, welcome home Akihiko, Itachi" Kaede hugged each men.
"Wait, Itachi you mean the Itachi" Yamato sputtered like he was having a heart attack.
"Yes, Yamato-taichou, the one and only" Misaki nodded to Akihiko who momentarily expelled the genjutsu on Itachi to show Yamato.
"He's with-, he's in here-, and he's-"
"With us, it's a long ass story taichou, but he is with us, he always has been" Misaki said placing a hand in Itachi's hand.
"So no one really cares that I actually kidnapped you before under Orochimaru's influence" Akihiko asked.
"Nope, we decided that you were confused back then, and you didn't actually do any substantial damage." Misaki explained with a smile.
The group waited for Naruto's arrival, wherein he will be assigned to a S-class mission with Yamato, Akihiko, Misaki and Ryotaro.
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"See you on the mission Akihiko, Ryotaro" Naruto bid his goodbye skipping on his way home.
"He's in a chipper mood" Akihiko said watching Naruto's retreat.
"Believe it or not, this is actual his first actual official S rank mission, and it's all a covert operation, it kinda makes me feel guilty" Misaki said.
"You're doing this for his and the safety of the world " Itachi cheered Misaki up.
"You're right, don't mind me, this is the first time you've been home for so long, so why don't we walk around and get some food, you know celebrate the homecoming huh?" Misaki said and began introducing the new konoha, which has changed a lot from what they can remember since Pein's attack.
"So Pein, did all this?" Akihiko asked looking around, remembering where everything used to be back in their days.
"Yeah, with one swipe of his almighty push and everything was just gone" Misaki remembered how she felt the first time she saw the aftermath of Pein's attack, understanding that it must be exactly what Itachi and Akihiko are feeling.
"How many people died?" Itachi asked looking at the area still unrecovered.
"Countless, whilst Half of the Pein were destroying everything in their paths, the other half were interrogating people, some to their deaths. But Nagato, in his final moments returned the lives everyone who ever died by his hands. So that itself is enough cause for celebration here, despite the damage" Misaki looked up to the skies, letting the breeze caress her face.
"Is that you Aki?" the somber silent the three shared ended with the arrival of none other than Sarutobi Akihiko.
"Nice to see you too Kazuhiko" Akihiko waved awkwardly at his old friend, the moment was so intense, that Misaki and Itachi both stepped back a few paces from Akihiko.
Without any warning, Kazuhiko sent fists of flames towards Akihiko which, the receiving party dodged, barely.
"Where-the-heck-have-you-been-the-last-few-years-we've-been-worried-sick!" Kazuhiko asked Akihiko, sending fireballs with every word of his sentence, leaving no mercy and no time to answer his questions.
Itachi sweat dropped next to Misaki as he watched the almost comedic display before them.
"Yeah, I know, Kazuhiko displays his concern in a very weird way. I think I remember receiving the same treatment when I woke up from a coma" Misaki pondered out loud.
"You know that's not comforting at all" Itachi told her with a sigh.
"You know what, I think mom made some dango at home, I can brew some tea, this doesn't seem like it's going to stop anytime soon" Misaki didn't wait for Itachi's answer and dragged him across Konoha, leaving behind Akihiko burning under Kazuhiko's 'concern.'
"You know, you could leave some for me, you know a stick, or maybe one dango would do just fine" Misaki stared blankly at Itachi who literally engorged himself with Kaede's homemade dango.
"You know, I've always known you were crazy for mom's dangos, but I never thought you'd miss them this much." Misaki said as Itachi finished the last of the dangos.
"I've tasted a lot but Kaede-san's dango feels like home" Itachi explained whilst nursing a cup of tea.
"You're right about that, I've travelled everywhere and tasted food way way better, but nothing is the same" Misaki laid down on the roof, with her hands behind her head.
"It was hard, but lucky for me I met the others, Yoko, Ayako , Natsumi and Kazumi" Misaki paused, realizing something.
"Which reminds me, what's the deal with you and Kazumi huh" Misaki sat up once again, wiggling her eyebrows at Itachi, trying to tease an answer, Itachi only responded by pretending to drink more of the empty tea cup, hiding behind the cup and his bangs.
"You're embarrassed! I've never seen you this embarrassed in well, a very long time. You haven't been this embarrassed since you went home in a daze, carrying a flower." Misaki then notice the rush of red climb up from Itachi's neck to his face.
"Oh my- no, was that it, the first time you met her? The one where you stalked her cause you didn't catch her name and ended up in another accident?" Misaki pryed and teased Itachi, until his face resembled Sasuke's favorite food. After Misaki had had enough of teasing Itachi, they finally fell into a comfortable silence, with Misaki leaning her small frame against Itachi.
"Do you think if Sasuke knew you were alive, will he come home?" Misaki asked, although both knew it was a rhetoric one. If Sasuke is one thing, is that he's determined as hell, and stubborn as hell.
"As much as I want to be with Sasuke after all this years, it's not safe for anyone to know I'm alive, especially Sasuke and the Akatsuki, even I cannot tell what Sasuke will do this time once he learns the truth" Itachi answered.
"You're right, it's just that I can't stop thinking about the night Sasuke left, everything just kept playing in my mind. So many what ifs and what could have beens" Misaki told Itachi. Sure Naruto was her twin, but there are things that you can only tell a best friend.
"In a shinobi's life there are things we simply have to do for the greater good" Itachi comforted Misaki, placing his arm on her.
"I miss this, when we can spend time together without a care in the world" Misaki closed her eyes, remembering the best moments of her childhood.
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DUN DUN DUN DUN !
The wars is upon us! Prepare yourselves, also prepare myself because that would be a great big challenge to write! I am so nervous about it. I know it's not as thrilling as the previous episodes, but still, hope you liked it.
How was your holiday? Truth be told, I was planning to post this before the holiday, but a lot can be lost in its rush, like time or rather its track.
How about the Akihiko and Kazuhiko reunion?
Or the heartfelt moment between Itachi and Misaki?
Can't wait for Sasuke's reaction when he sees Itachi is actually alive and not a reanimation jutsu? Me too…
Thank you so much!