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I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER OR THEIR SUCCESSORS IN ANY SHAPE OR CAPACITY. I ONLY OWN MY FICTITIOUS OC'S.
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Upload Schedule: Sundays and Thursdays
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Glossary: Scene breaks will be denoted by a line of X's
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Demonic or summons speech"
'Demonic or summons thoughts'
Jutsus shall be rendered in Japanese or English depending on which they are. For example, I will not be saying Almighty Push, I will be saying Shinra Tensei, or Rasengan instead of Spiraling Sphere. However instead of Raiton: Gian I will be saying Lightning Style: False Darkness
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"I kind of love coming home and being with family and feeling comfortable and knowing where I come from; I kind of like it." - Michael Angarano
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So I will be letting you know that this chapter will be mostly filler, so if you wish to ski it, then do at your own leisure. I am doing this mainly so I will have more time to write parts of the Chunin Exams. This chapter will feature familiar faces and maybe some new ones as well, only time will tell. Till this chapters Epilogue,
~Ardent Chronicler
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Sakura had never been so bored in her life, having to sit in a hallway while her team aits for the Hokage to finish his meeting. For some reason the Hokage requested to see them instead of delivering their report to Shikaku. Sighing for the twelfth time that morning she shifted in her chair but a wince made her Master place his hand on her shoulder.
"Be careful Sakura, your body is still recovering."
"This is nothing master, just some soreness, I'll be fine." Sakura patted her Masters hand with her own and leaned back into the chair she was seated in. Looking to Naruto and Sasuke who were chatting about some random topic, but she couldn't hear what was going on. She heard the door open and the four members of Team 7 stood as they watched the Third Hokage leave from the office room, though she noticed his gaze lingered on Sakura for a tad bit longer than he probably should have. Watching the man walk away the team of four entered the office to see a frustrated Minato.
"Good morning Team 7, I hear your mission was eventful." Minato narrowed his eyes cutting them at Itachi.
"Indeed it was Lord Fourth." Itachi matched his gaze and knew that this had become more than a mission report.
"I was expecting you back two weeks ago, if it wasn't for Lord Irohs message I would have dispatched a retrieval team."
"Well we are lucky that Lord Iroh, in his benevolent mind, sent a message ahead of time."
"That is something to be thankful for, though I hear your team have experienced their first kills?"
Itachi cursed, he knew Minato detested fresh Genin being blooded, that was why he postponed most Bandit missions for second year teams.
"Yes sir, though not by choice, sir."
"There is always a choice, Jonin Uchiha. Now tell me, is the mission accomplished?"
"Yes sir, with a small bit of difficulty, though with Lord Irohs assistance the mission was accomplished with efficiency."
"Then why is Sakura having a hard time standing for this period of time?"
Naruto stepped forward.
"During our first fight I was poisoned by an unknown toxin, but it flushed quickly from my system but left me taxed physically. When we were in the middle of our second fight my physical taxation cause me to miscalculate an arrow and the enemy used that to his advantage by making Sakura hit the arrow." Naruto watched Minatos eyes widen before he looked into Narutos with a hint of fear.
The only thing that was going through his mind was fear that Naruto would become similar to Kakashi for hurting his team mates, but when Naruto talked he didnt see fear. That is what scared him most, was Narutos seeming apathy to the situation.
"I see, it wasn't your fault Naruto."
"I know Lord Hokage, Lord Iroh and Master walked me through the time, and in time I came to see it as they did. I might have fired the arrow, but the enemy was never in our control and his actions were his own, not mine." Naruto stepped back in line as he saw Minato nod.
"So, I want you two to turn in your missions and get some R and R. Naruto, everything has been moved into your new home while you have been gone, and Itachi, I need you to stay. We need to have a talk."
Itachi bowed to his Hokage before bringing Naruto, his, and the teams' scrolls forward to Minato. Placing them on his desk Itachi motoned for his team to leave and with that their mission in Wave was officially over.
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It wasn't big, but it was wide and long. The house was a simple beige, there were several large windows that ran along the side of the building. The door was a simple white with a half circle mae of window panes near the top of the door. Naruto walked towards the door and tested the knob. He turned the knob and opened the door and saw the small housing area for the shoes. He removed his shoes and laced the beside the others that sat in the cubby holes. He frowned, there were six sets of shoes, there should only be four. Naruto removed his quiver and bow fro his side and shoulder and walked into the first room, a hallway that seemed to span the length of the building. He placed his bow and quiver down as he stepped up into the house and began exploring. He had just passed a large room when he heard a voice all too familiar.
"Naruto!"
Naruto felt the white and grey blur impact his back before he could turn. He smiled feeling her form against his own, turning in her grasp he smiled looking at Ty Lee. She had let her hair down and out of her braid.
"Good morning Ty." Naruto wrapped his arms around her and noticed she was crying, so he began to gently rub her back.
"You weren't supposed to be gone this long idiot. You had all of us worried." Ty Lee unwrapped her arms from his form and took his hand in her own and led him to the living room. Naruto was shocked by the three people sitting on the couch. Muy, Zarehya, and a small bundled baby being held by Zarehya.
"Naruto!" Zarehya stood and handed Muy the small baby. Running across the room she hugs him painfully tight as she burry's her face into the crown of his head.
"I was so scared. You were supposed to be back two weeks ago! Where were you!" Zarehya took a step back tears in her eyes before a hand on her shoulder stopped her. Muy handed her back the small baby before nodding his head to the couch. Naruto followed the two over and sat as his mother sat next to him fussing over any scratch she found. Many of the people there who had met her before were confused by her actions. She was always the calm headed cold woman who would not comment over many things happening. Here she was fussing like a child over her favorite toy.
Naruto sighed before he hugged his mother and kissed her cheek. Standing he sat on the love seat to the couches right and Ty Lee joined him laying across it placing her head in his lap. Naruto then began to tell them all that happened on the mission while rubbing Ty Lees scalp.
"Well, the mission had been standard till the second day. We had been crossing a well known marketing road when we were attacked by Hidden Mist rogue ninja. The Demon Brothers, they were not that skilled. I managed to take one out before our Master stepped into th fray and dispatched the second ninja."
"Very good, was it a clean kill?"
"Single arrow, shot through the neck, severed the spinal column." Naruto watched Muy nod before he continued his tale. He told them about the boatman, the shark that Sasuke had seen, but it was when he got to the second battle that was where the questions began to pour in.
"We had just made it across the swamp land when we were attacked by another ninja, but this time, he had two benders with him."
Muy raised a brow before Zarehya cut him off.
"Who? Were they advanced? Were they the ones who we got the report on?"
"The man's name was Kai of the Southern Tribe. The females name was Kara, I believe also from the Southern tribe. They appeared alongside Zabuza Momochi and his apprentice Haku."
"Are you sure their names were Kara and Kai?"
Naruto looked over to Muy and Zuko the both of them having spoke the same words.
"Yes sir, Kai and Kara. Kai lays in ashes, and Kara at the bottom of the swamp with a hole in her chest." Naruto saw Muy about to speak but Zuko stood.
"You didn't happen to meet someone named Mya did you?"
"Yeah, I did. We ought, but in the end my arrow pierced her heart." Naruto was confused by his parents tired expressions and Zukos angry one.
"Did she have to die, was there no other way?"
"No, I was under orders to eliminate her, and she gave me no choice in the end." Naruto watched Zuko close his eyes and calm himself. With an exacerbated sigh he looked to Naruto and nodded.
"I see, well I suppose job well done."
"Naruto, that woman, Mya. She was the wife of the Tribal Leader of the Southern tribe, a non-combatant and mother of two."
"I know mom, her children were there. I nearly crippled on and almost killed the other." Naruto saw Zarehyas somber look before he felt a hand by his cheek, looking down he saw Ty Lee looking into his eyes searching for something.
"You're sad, over her death, and their wounds. The you before the mission wouldn't have been. Why? What changed Naru?" Ty Lee watched the confliction in his eyes before he sighed and began to tell them what happened during their break. His arrow rounding Sakura, nearly mortally, his guilt and Itachis words. He told them of his training, and Irohs arrival.
"Lord Iroh knew that Sasuke and I needed help. Sasuke with patience, and me accepting reality instead of keeping an air of ignorance. He opened my eyes to what happened, and who was truly at fault. He trained me for weeks on my mind, emotions, and in the end he even saved me after Myas death. I felt guilt, extreme guilt, my chest hurt and I couldn't move. Lord Iroh sat down with me and walked me through what I was feeling, and he gave me the clarity of thought to realize a harsh truth. I am a warrior and a ninja, but more importantly, I am human. I'm not meant to be a machine, to just be a weapon, but a living being. One day we all will be dead, and even if our actions make others ends come quicker." Naruto looked to them all and saw Zuko stand, walking over to his friend he laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Uncle taught me the same lessons. I was arrogant, hateful, and even spiteful to my father for giving me this scar. Uncle walked me through my anger, and when the time came to act on my aggression and give in to hate, he showed me another path. He taught me to forgive, to learn from my mistakes and the actions of others and forge my own path." Zuko smiled to his friend before rejoining Mai in the lounge chair his arms around her waist as she leaned back against his chest.
"This is so sappy. Come on, where are the gruesome details, what about the bridge, was there a slaughter? We heard there was an army coming at you all." Azula was getting sick and tired of the kumbaya bullshit.
"Yes Azula, there was an army, though we didn't handle it. Master did."
"I find it hard to believe a pink eyed teen handled an army."
"Azula, remember, Itachi was Uncles student. His only true student before the death of his son. Itachi is more powerful than we can imagine." Zuko looked to his sister who just turned away putting her head on her right arm leaning the elbow on the arm rest of the chair.
"We all went on our different ways, fighting our own opponents. I fought Mya, her children, a Southern Bender, and a Southern warrior. Master fought Zabuza, Sasuke fought Kai, and Lord Iroh fought Haku. The battles were pretty short but the deciding factors were set early on." Naruto leaned back and closed his eyes.
"Well, all that matters is you are safe and are home. Well, your father and I want to introduce you to someone very special." Zarehya stood slowly and walked over to Naruto, Ty Lee sat up and leaned against his frame. Zarehya carefully lowered the baby into Narutos arms, smiling softly to her two little ones she saw Narutos smile, something he reserves for those special to him.
"What is her name?"
"Yin, Yin Yu." Muy looked to his two children, his wife sitting back down against him curling up to his side. He wrapped her shoulders with his arm and felt her snuggle against his side. Looking around the room he had to laugh quietly to himself. There were two couples, and three single teens, though he had his suspicions about Ty Lee and Naruto. Looking at his two kids interacting, he felt for the first time in two months, that his family was whole and complete.
Naruto smiled down to the little girl in his arms, dark skin like her mother, but her eyes were the mint color of her father's. Though what made Naruto happy, was the small bit of dark red hair on her head, similar to his own. Naruto held his gloved hand above the baby and the small baby reached up grabbing on to his hand, cackling from being happy Naruto played with his baby sister.
Ty Lee was conflicted, she saw the smile she so covetously regarded as hers being given to a baby. She knew it was stupid and selfish, but she was jealous of his smile. She looked to the baby and her heart melted, like all the other times she had seen baby Yin. She leaned her head on Narutos shoulder, and whether it was him being absent minded or not she felt him lean his head against hers.
Azula stood being tired of the quiet and decided she was going to go out into the city to get some sun and keep herself occupied. Maybe she would even try to go and track down that yummy Uchiha guy she saw.
"Azula? Where are you going?"
"Im going to take a walk Zuzu don't worry, I'll behave." Azula did something uncharacteristic of her attitude and she gave him a soft smile.
"Im just bored now that everyone is being quiet, so, I'll be out and back before Dinner don't worry." Azula stretched high when she stood and left her armor in the corner of the room as she left in her red tunic and black pants.
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Naruto cut into the cooked pork roast checking if it was done thoroughly, seeing no pink he lifted the piece of meat from the dutch oven with two sets of tongs. Placing it on the large plate he placed it on the opposite side of the kitchen in the window that opened to the dining room. He sighed as he looked to his mom, now with her hair in a high ponytail, working furiously over the stirfry in the wok.
"She's nice."
Naruto looked to his mother who had her devious smirk on her face.
"Ty Lee, she's very nice. I approve wholeheartedly Naruto, you chose nicely." Zarehya knew that he had taken her bait as he walked over to her and leaned back against the counter next to his mother.
"Yes, she is nice. Though I don't know what you mean?"
"She's got the hots for you, you got the hots for her. I don't see the confusion."
Naruto nearly slipped when he heard what she said, she was one of the only few people who could catch him off guard.
"She does not have the hots for me. I don't even know how to feel about her either."
"What do you mean?"
"She's nice, she's pretty and she takes care of herself."
"Come on, I raised you not to be that shallow."
"I like her eyes, they remind me of honey on the comb, sweet but they hold a promise of fury if you anger her. She is strong, but she's also frail, her time before I met her wore her down on the inside. I can't help but hate the man who did that to her, the person she called father. His duty was to protect them, and he failed, he hurt them, he hurt her. Her smile hides it, her laugh, but when you hold her and she lets you in. You can feel her vulnerability, and I need to protect her. I wont let her ever be like that again."
"So you want to protect her?"
"Yeah, I want to protect her and try to keep her from ever feeling that way again. I want to be by her side and be a rock she can rest on in her stormy sea. Before I left, we shared a bed, not in a sensual way, but she needed me there. To be honest, I missed her every step of the way."
Zarehya cracked a small smile and she turned to her son kissing his forehead.
"Then listen to your mother, tonight, either after dinner or before, go to her and tell her how you feel. She likes you, a lot, she told me herself. She sees you not as her protector, but a friend, and one she wants to be more than friends with. Just give her a nudge in the right direction and talk to her about it. You'll see, after all, mother is always right, ya know?" Zarehya watched her son nod as she got back to cooking.
Naruto walked into the next room, smiling to Zuko he nodded.
"I'm going to freshen up before dinner, which rooms are preoccupied?" Naruto watched Zuko stand as he led Naruto past all the rooms to the end of the hallway. Opening the door, a made bed in a room painted burnt orange, the two walked in.
"The master bedroom, your room. The room across from yours happens to be Ty Lees, the room next to yours is Lady Zarehya and Lord Muys for now. Azula is across from them, and next to Azula is Mai and my room."
Naruto nodded in thanks as Zuko left, Naruto sighed as he reached behind his head and unmade his braid. Letting his vibrant red hair flow around his shoulders he sighed, stepping out of his clothes and walking into the bathroom he started up a shower, more than ready to wash the past month and a half off. He stood under the water and he thought about everything that had happened, the fighting, the death, the blood. He sighed leaning his head against the cool tile wall, he began to wash his body off. He had to stop as he washed his arm, he felt the lines of where the gauntlet sliced him open, he still remembered the hot searing pain, the near absence of his mind. He remembered his Master sitting above him, the feeling of the blade slicing into the wounds forcing the poison to bleed out. He sighed as he finished bathing, walking out of the shower he toweled off and starred in the mirror. He traced his right thumb over his scar on his cheek and h frowned, the one scar that mattered most to him, and he knew nothing of how it happened. HE got dressed in a black t-shirt and maroon sweatpants. Naruto left the bathroom, collected his clothes into the hamper by his door and left to rejoin the others in the dining room. He sees Ty Lee sitting down with a spot next to her open, Naruto sits down and smiles to her.
"Feel better Naru?"
"Much, I do suppose I smell better."
Ty Lee laughed before Zarehya walked in carrying the last plate that had the freshly baked bread. Sitting down next to her husband the group of people began to eat. Regaling the teens in some of his tales of battle Muy kept his eye on his son. The family and guests were for one night, content in their and unbeknownst to them, near the end of the night, Naruto took Ty Lees hand and did not let go.
Ty Lee yawned and stretched like a cat laying in her bed. She sighed as she tossed and turned, and she finally decided what she was going to do. Ty Lee stood and quietly made her way across the hallway and opened Narutos door, slipping in as silent as she could. She turned and saw him looking at her, she was about to apologize and leave but Naruto folded back the covers and he motioned to the pillow. Ty Lee made her way over to Naruto, embarrassed about being in one of Narutos t-shirts and no pants on, she climbed into the bed and curled up against him. She felt him lower the covers over her and wrap an arm around her waist. She felt his warmth against her body and she felt her nerves unwind and she began to cry. Feeling the arm around her waist tighten she turned over burying her face in the crook of his neck her body wracked with sobs.
"I thought you died, you promised Naruto, you promised me."
"I know Ty, there was nothing I could do." Naruto wrapped his arms around her frame and rubbed her back her tears and hiccups being the only sound left in the room. After a few minutes she had calmed down and Naruto began to tell her, everything he told his mother.
"Ty, I want to be here for you, to protect you from harm. You mean a lot to me, and I want to be your rock in your stormy sea." Naruto looked down to her puffy red eyes, she nodded and closed them leaning against his frame.
"I would like that, Naru." Ty Lee felt herself drifting, but she didn't miss the soft peck atop the crown of her head as the two began to drift off.
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Muy heard Yins cries and he sat up in bed looking to his wife who began to stir. He leaned over kissing Zarehyas cheek and stood.
"I got her my love, you rest." Muy watched her nod turning over in the bed, he walked over to Yins cradle. Lifting her gently out of the cradle he held her close to his chest and smiled down to her. Muy walked quietly from the room and made his way to the kitchen calming Yin with his soft bouncing. He poured himself a glass of water and downed the drink before making his way back to his and his wife's room. Looking at the clock in the hallway it was early morning, five o'clock in the morning. He decided to peek in on Naruto to settle his nerves, he cracked the door slightly and his breath caught in his chest. Ty Lee was spooning with Naruto, his frame wrapped with hers, and next to her face their hands were tangled with each other. Muy smiled before he closed the door, walking back into his room with Yin he sat softly on the side of the bed and Zarehya set up rubbing her yes. Stretching before she took yin, she removed her shirt exposing her breasts, holding Yin to her left breast cradling her. Muy smiled to his daughter and leaned over giving his wife a kiss before he laid down in the bed.
"They're sleeping together."
"What?" Zarehya looked confused to Muy.
"Ty Lee is in Narutos bed, clothed, but they're asleep." Muy watched his wife smirk cockily.
"Damn, he's better than you, took you two years to bed me."
Muy chuckled turning to meet his wifes gaze he reached up cradling her left cheek in his hand.
"It'll be ok love."
Zarehya nodded to him as she stared down to her baby, she smiled widely. Her two babies, son and daughter, one new to the world, and one deciding his own path. She was riddled with happiness.
"You know, by clan law, since he has slept with her, he has to marry her."
"You know that by sleep they mean fucking Muy."
"Hey, I only saw shoulders and partially torso, we don't know about what's beneath the covers. Who knows, maybe she is into freaky things." Muy laughed after Zarehya socks him in the chest.
"Hush you, for now, we do nothing. Let them enjoy themselves, and explore their feelings. After all, they have no clue of the storm coming. The Chunin Exams may even be cancelled this year, and if they are, things will be getting busy." Zarehya looked to her husband and remembered why they were really here. The Fire Lord wants them to stay in Konoha, Ninja were a useful military force that he would hate to lose.
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Naruto sat down on the couch, Ty Lee snuggling up to his side as they looked between their two sets of hands.
"Do you have a five, Naruto?"
Naruto shook his head.
"Go fish old man." Naruto chuckled seeing his fathers look.
"I swear you're lying to get past me again."
"No, he's not Lord Muy, he's telling the truth." Ty Lee had to contain a laugh herself when she saw the look he gave her. She looked at the hand they had and was about to ask Muy for a card when a knock on the door drew their attention.
Naruto stood and laid the cards down in front of Ty Lee. Walking to the doorway he opened the door and was surprised to see Sasuke.
"Hey Naruto, what's up?"
"Hey Sasuke, what brings you here?"
"Ah, well, you see the thing is. I mean, my mother invites you to dinner tonight. She wants to meet you and talk to you."
Naruto nodded to Sasuke inviting him inside, the next few house were filled with laughter due to Muy finding the one person worse than he was at card games.
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Naruto looked at the building in front of him. A single, traditionally styled wooden house with small wooden pillars holding a sunguard up around the length of the porch. Naruto follows Sasuke up the steps and into the house, removing his shoes he smelled something really good cooking. He followed Sasuke into the small dining room with a short table, taking a seat Sasuke left the room and headed down the hall.
Itachi walked into the dining room and saw his red headed student. Smiling to him he set the pot on the tray in the middle, leaving and returning twice more he brought in a pot of rice and a tray of thin sliced steak strips.
"Good evening Naruto, how have you been?"
"I've been very good Master."
"Oh? I smell that peach scent again. For things to be enough for you to say very good, I suppose you made a move on Miss Lee?" Itachi chuckled as once again he caught his student off guard seeing Narutos scowl trying to hide the red dusting on his cheeks.
"Master, please don't tease me."
Itachi nodded and was about to say something, but Sasuke walked in with their mother in his arms. Gently setting her on the ground and helping her adjust her legs so she would be more comfortable Naruto looked to her.
"Dear god you look so much like her." Mikoto cupped her mouth and nose in her hands her eyes threatening to spill their tears. She reached out and placed her hand on his own, giving it a squeeze she smiled softly to him.
"I'm Mikoto, Kushina was my best friend and my sister in all but blood. I'm also your godmother." Mikoto watched the confusion in his eyes and wiped a tear from her cheek as she sat up and nodded.
"We eat, then we talk what we talk about tonight is a closely guarded secret, but you three deserve to know. For you Naruto, what really happened to your mother, and my baby boys, what happened to your father." Mikoto smiled to Itachi as she heard a knock on their door. Itachi stood and left the room, hearing voices she was ecstatic, it as the young woman who was marrying Itachi in three weeks time. Walking through the door with Itachi was Izumi Uchiha. Her long brown hair held up by a ponytail, two long locks framing her face. She sat down beside Itachi her kimono fanning around her as she smiled to Mikoto.
"Oh, you look beautiful Izumi!" Mikoto smiled widely.
"Thank you Miss Mikoto. I wanted to look nice today for Itachi." Izumi kissed Itachis cheek and she turned to see Naruto.
"Is that?"
"Izumi, this is my student Naruto, Aunt Kushinas son. Naruto, this is Izumi, my fiance."
Naruto gave her a bow but Izumi stood and walked around the table sitting down next to Naruto facing him. She hugged him tight burying her nose in the crown of his head.
"You are my Masters child. I'm Kushinas last living student." Izumi held the boy closely afraid he would break. Though with a cough from Itachi she let Naruto go and went back to sitting next to Itachi.
"Well, we will all talk after dinner, Itachi slaved over the oven all evening. So enjoy!" Mikoto began to dig into the food, and with that everyone began to eat their dinner.
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Mikoto was placed down on the cushion at the head of the table in the living room of her house. She smiled watching everyone file into the room as she counted their heads. Satisfied once everyone had sat down she frowned and took a breath.
"As promised, tonight I'm going to tell you all everything. Naruto, first off, I want to apologize for not getting in contact with you sooner, I was away in Tanzaku on business."
"It is fine Aunt Mikoto."
"Now, Itachi, Sasuke, Izumi, what I tell you tonight has to stay a secret. Do you three understand?" The three nodded to Mikoto and she sighed deeply mentally preparing herself as she began her tale. She told them everything, the day beginning with Biwako, the walk to the bunker, picking up Fugaku and dropping her boys off with Fugakus younger brother. She told them about getting ready for the induced labor, and how scared Kushina was that something would go wrong. She told them about Minato being such a worry wart about everything, and how much Kushina yelled and cursed at Minato. Then she got a somber look on her face.
"Everything was fine, Naruto had just been born, Kushina was about to hold him when we all heard a voice. A masked man and two other masked people came in and threatened us all. Fugau tried to fight the masked leader, but, but he was killed. The masked man seemed to be intangible, everything would go through him and he could go through everything. I still remember, seeing his hand in Fugakus gut, the terrible cold feeling as my back snapped in two. It was only on adrenaline that I managed to make it over to Fugaku to hear his last words. He told me to make sure Itachi never awoke his Mangekyou, they are a curse, not a gift. He was true, oh so true. I have not used my Mangekyou since that night, for some reason my eyes could keep the masked man from becoming intangible. After I had a breakdown Lord Jiraiya knocked me out, I woke up in a hospital room, bandages around my head, my jaw tied shut, and in a torso cast. My back had been severed in three places along my Lumbar. My L1 and L2 were severed from my L3, my L4 was severed from both the L3 and L5. I have no feeling along the lower half of my torso and I cant move my legs. The doctors say for all purposes, I should be dead, but I'm still here. I can't tell you much of what happened after that point, but you deserved to know even that much Naruto. I do know that the masked man is dead, Minato assured me of that. IF you want to know more, I know Muy as there for the whole time after he found Kushina, and the only other person who was told everything and would have a clear picture is Lord Jiraiya. He will be in town next week, the whole week in meetings with Minato and Lord Sarutobi. If you can catch him, you may be able to get him to talk." Mikoto watched the three throughout her time speaking watching her sons' reactions, and Narutos as well. She smiled to all four of the occupants of the room and not long after the talk had ended Naruto had gone to return home, but he promised to come by and visit.
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Naruto closed the door to his home and kicked his shoes off leaving them by the door. He was emotionally drained from everything he had heard from Mikoto. He didn't even know what to feel or what to think, he just felt, numb. He stepped up into the house but he was stopped by a hand when he went to pass the living room. He smiled when he turned giving her hand a squeeze.
"Welcome home Naru, how'd everything go?"
"I'll tell you later, right now I just want to not think about it." Naruto let himself be led into the living room, and to his surprise Shizune and Lin were there. With a big hug Shizune greeted Naruto before Lin ran over and nearly football tackled him with a hug. All of them sitting down and were alone due to the Royals being out on the town and Narutos parents having gone to bed.
"So, Naruto, I heard your first C ranked mission was eventful."
"It was aunt Shizune, we ended up fighting a Jonin and two benders." With that beginning Naruto began to rehash the tale of his first C rank, though he gave more details. So much so that it took three hours with questions for Naruto to get through the whole tale.
"Goodness Naruto, you are lucky to have made it through that." Shizune tossed his hair smiling down to him.
"Kushina would have been proud of you. Taking down two benders and two warriors all by yourself."
"Geez big sis, your boyfriend tries really hard." Lin giggled at her sisters expression, though she was a tad bit jealous. She began to fill Ty Lee in on her training and everything she could do now but half an hour in with talking to her sister she was interrupted.
"Lin, we have to go."
"Ah, alright Master. Sorry Ty, I gotta go, but I'll be back this thursday ok?" Li hugged her big sister tightly and took off before anything else could be said.
Naruto sighed feeling completely drained as he looked over to Ty Lee and chuckled.
"What?"
"Nothing, just appreciating the view."
Ty Lee blushed before she stood, taking Narutos hand in her own.
"It's bed time, I need to get up to go to see Inoichi in the morning. So I need to sleep well tonight."
Naruto followed her into his room and shed his shirt while she shed her sweat pants. Climbing into bed he pulled her form against his own wrapping his arm around her waist. He began to tell her everything that was said at the Uchihas residence. He looked her in the eyes when he had finished his tale and instead of talking she hugged him tightly threatening to almost strangle him.
"I'm sorry Naruto."
Naruto hugged her back and buried his head in the crook of her neck as he breathed in and out performing the exercises Iroh had taught him. Though her smell was what soothed him quicker. He pulled back from her neck and laid his head down on the pillow as they sat there for a moment just looking at each other.
"Ty, I know we haven't known each other long, but I want to say that I care for you. I want to protect you, but I don't want to stand in front of you in your way. I want to be beside you, I guess what I am wanting to say, is I want to start a relationship with you. Do you feel the same?"
Ty Lee leaned forward kissing him closing her eyes. Though the kiss lasted for a moment it felt like an eternity for her. She broke the kiss and turned over so her back was to him. She felt his arm around her waist as he pulled her close to him his other hand snaking beneath the pillows. Her own free hand reaching up and taking his in her own, she closed her eyes and smiled.
"Good night Naru."
"Good night Ty."
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Well, I do believe that went well. I initiated the first steps of the relationship, but remember what I said. The true relationship doesn't start till Shippuden, and this is about as far as it will be going. The two sleep together and are in a relationship. This is more like the school yard romances, kissing, spending time, but nothing deep, not for a while longer. Well, I do hope you enjoyed the chapter. Remember to review, favorite, and add to your alert list.
~Ardent Chronicler.
