"You pushed him off from a cliff Jiraiya! Do you think I can trust him with you again?"
"I-I-I-It wasn't supposed to happen Sensei! I-I-I thought that the boy would surely summon Bunta!"
"Then you should've chosen a better method! I did not fill your brain with dust after all those years did I not?"
Naruto thought that it was a great idea to tell about what happened to the old man—it's not like he won't know about it—but now…he almost felt sorry for the old pervert. Almost. Currently in the Hokage's office, Naruto was having a first class seat watching the old man and the old pervert bickering and arguing like father and son…or a pair of old men. Meh, whatever way works. Naruto felt uncomfortable but not from the obviously tense atmosphere in the air… in fact, the moment they took her away from him, he felt strangely uncomfortable.
It's hard to describe what this uncomfortable feeling he's currently feeling, but if he were to connect lines between this and that; he'll have to describe the feeling as…insecurity. He's feeling insecure? Now he's confused. Why on earth would he feel insecure at this exact moment? He's with two of the world's strongest Shinobi in one room right now; even if said strongest Shinobis are current bickering…but how or why is he feeling insecurity all of a sudden—no, the real question is, why is he uncomfortable without her around?
Along with that, he has more and more questions. Like: who is she, where was he when he's in that cliff, he was sure he was dead then why is he still alive… those are some of the more important questions that left him in a state of dilemma. He then remembered. The Kyuubi!
"Don't ask me, I'm just as clueless as you are right now… all I know is that you won't die that's all." The giant being in the most inner depths of his mind replied through their link. The Kyuubi's tone was confused and clueless, and perhaps Naruto will have to delay some questions for later.
'But…how did you know that I won't die, exactly?'
"Now that's the five billion ryo question. How did I know? I…. I don't know." The being of chakra answered flatly. "At that very moment, all that I know is that you won't die even after becoming meat paste stuck to the ground. But Limbo…. I felt that we were there the moment I realize where we are."
'So how, I mean, it just doesn't make sense if I put my mind into it…' the blonde teen was lost. He's totally and utterly lost.
The Nine Tailed Fox inside of his mind snorted out of pure amusement and its host's short tracked mind. "Do you think what has transpired made sense? Keeping the fact that your so called Sensei did send you down a cliff, you're suddenly in Limbo and in a shrine like place…thing. What's more, you got to meet a major vixen tied up to the ceiling of said shrine. Sound's like a bad story plot to me."
True… what the fox is saying is true. It just doesn't make any sense; he was sure he was dead. No human, Shinobi or not, would survive a fall that high and after becoming a literal paste of meat. He doubt that even with the fox's power, it would be able to pull him back into shape again.
"True."
So now, to sum it all up, the question is this: what exactly happened to him?
His mind is still. He's completely deaf to the arguing pair in the background, all of the things he deemed unimportant were cast aside by him. He's having a lot in his mind that he needs it to have; it's all jumbled and messed up. These things did happen to him, but there must a cause as to why he experienced—and is experiencing—all of this, right? He supposed that the only to get his answers answered is for him to meet this woman who he found in that shrine before.
"Naruto?"
But she's in the hospital. She wasn't even conscious. He didn't have time to check for her pulse or anything; since the ANBU carried her away the moment he gave her to them… 'he gave her to them'. Naruto grimaced when he rephrased that sentence in his mind. It sounds so wrong, so wrong that it's increasing this uncomfortable feeling in his chest. Just…why is he feeling like this?
"Oi, Naruto?"
She's definitely involved in all of this, why wouldn't she? He did found her all tied up and tangled up and the next thing he knew, poof, he's right there in the cliff's bottom with said girl in his arms. She still has his jacket too.
"Naruto-kun!" the loud and sudden voice of the Sandaime snapped the blonde Genin out from his inner conflict. Naruto turned towards the leader of his village with a blank look on his face. The aged Kage sighed deeply, he took a moment to rub his temples. Sometimes, there are just times where life gives you bad lemons that you can't make lemonade with. "Please, take a sit." Hiruzen's wrinkled hand gestured towards the empty chair in front of his desk. From the stern and serious look the old man is giving him, Naruto doesn't have a choice.
The orange—currently black since he's only wearing his muscle shirt—wearing teen took a few steps to reach his seat, before eventually slumping back to the chair. Naruto blinked once, twice, thrice…he knew what's coming up next.
"What exactly happened, my boy?" Hiruzen asked with a voice so commanding that it sent chills down the boy's spine. Jiraiya is no better. He'd gotten a lecture from his Sensei and he'll have a punishment following later on. The Third Fire Shadow of Konoha looked at Naruto with his thin and shriveled eyes.
He wants him to be honest. And he's going to be without even him wanting to. The young teen rubbed the back of his head as a sign to show his own confusion and cluelessness to all of this. "I…I don't know Jii-chan, it was so fast." Then he gave a sour look to the white haired toad. "After he send me flying kilometers away into a cliff, I began falling."
"It wasn't supposed to—!" the toad Sage was not allowed to defend himself. His Sensei's palm was there to stop him for speaking further.
"Please, continue, Naruto-kun." The Sarutobi gestured to the Genin.
Naruto nodded, a little bit pleased that the pervert got scolded. "Okay, so I was falling and I immediately do what the pervert wanted me to do all along. I tried to get access to the Kyuubi's chakra, but before I could even demand more from it, I went SPLAT" Both Hiruzen and Jiraiya cringed. "to the ground."
"Is that it? Then, how are you able to be here right now? You…" no matter how Hiruzen don't want to say it, he knew that it's true. "were dead Naruto. You were carcass when Jiraiya found you on the ground, how were you able to return back?" Hiruzen asked.
Jiraiya too is eager to know. Because after all his years of travelling, he'd never met someone who could return back so suddenly after becoming minced meat. Not even Orochimaru…
To the Hokage's further dilemma, and Naruto's own, the blonde haired teen shook his head. "I don't know. But that's not all that's happened when I became…eh…paste." The two older men in the room leaned in to get a clearer understanding of what's to come from Naruto's mouth. "After I 'died'…I was in Limbo—please don't say anything yet pervert, I wasn't done."
Jiraiya was about to speak and ask, but Naruto's tone of voice stopped him entirely.
"Okay, so where was I… oh, Limbo. So after I went SPLAT I found myself in Limbo, at least that's what the fox told me."
"Wait, wait…" this time, it's the Hokage who interrupted. "The Kyuubi told you? You spoke to it?" his tone sounded unbelieving. But Naruto can't really blame the old man. He's the one experiencing all of this and he's as confused as the old man is right now. "You actually communicate with it? Did it…" Hiruzen left it hanging.
Getting the point, Naruto shook his head in negative. "No. It didn't promise me anything or like that… as I've said before, I was paste before I could even demand its power. So back to Limbo, the fox told me that I was in Limbo, a place where humans—or as the fox would say, us, mortals, be when we are going to die. I was dead, just a few inches away from it, but suddenly…everything began to get, shaky."
"Shaky?" The white haired toad Sage parroted what the boy said.
"Yeah, shaky." Nodding his head, Naruto knows no other way on how to describe what he felt when he's in Limbo. "Everything started to shake, I was floating in the darkness. I can't feel or speak, really. Then after the shaking, all the darkness around me started to crack, then they collapse." At this point, it might start to get more and more absurd. "When my vision cleared… I can finally talk and walk, I can feel my body again. But I'm in a whole new place."
Jiraiya and the eldest Sarutobi listened in carefully, eager to know what happens next. It might just sound like the babbling of mentally unstable person but they know what comes out from Naruto's mouth is true. Even if he chose to hide it, it's for them to ask further later on.
"I was in a place of some sort, standing on a dirt road surrounded by trees. A few feet away from me was a shrine…I think, that's what the Kyuubi said but whatever, so the first thing I did was to look around this shrine, maybe I'll find someone who'll tell me where the heck I was. But when I stepped into the shrine…" he looked away, a pink tint appearing on his cheeks. "I found her."
The Sarutobi blinked. "You found her? You mean the woman in the report?"
"Yeah, she was… unconscious when I found her. After finding her, the Kyuubi told me that it felt a sudden presence of chakra from outside. I immediately rushed outside with her—still unconscious—to find this pillar of blue flame like thing appearing in mid air. Without further thinking, I jumped into the flames and…you know what happened afterwards."
"So you're telling me is that you died, went to Limbo, went to this shrine, meet a total hottie and then you went through a fire and finally returning here to the land of the living?" Jiraiya asked, still trying to process what was told by the blonde teen.
"Yup." Blue eyes glares sharply. "No thanks to you, you old pervert!"
Hiruzen sighed. He's getting older and older, yet there he's still dealing with mind stressing situations like this… maybe this job has gotten the best of him? Putting all things aside, he has no choice but to trust Naruto fully on this one. Because after he heard what the boy said, he got no other choice but to believe the kid. This is as absurd as it could get, trust him, but the more absurd it is; the easier it is for him to believe him. Which is not good.
"Uh… Jii-chan?" Opening his eyes, Hiruzen turned to look at the boy who addressed him. The Kage could see the uneasiness that the boy is currently feeling just by looking at his body gesture and stance. "Can we go to the hospital and check up on her? I-I mean, I know that you want some questions just like I do…" the Sarutobi was surprised to know that the boy figured out what he wanted to do, but not before noticing the sense of distress in his voice. Is Naruto worried about this…woman that he brought with him?
Nodding, Hiruzen accepted the teen's suggestion. "Very well Naruto-kun. We will go and visit our…guest…and get ourselves some questions." Before saying anything else, Hiruzen turned to his student without batting an eyelash. "And you Jiraiya… I want you to return to the cliff with a couple of ANBU to investigate the place further. Also, I'm banning you from every public baths there is in Konoha, period."
Jiraiya had never felt so hopeless in his life.
Naruto had never felt so happy in his life.
"Jii-chan—even if the pervert's an ass—should he really be away for this? I mean, I know that he has his own questions that need to be answered…" Being thoughtful of others is probably one of the many good traits that Uzumaki Naruto posses. Even the aged Hokage himself has to admit that the boy is rather selfless when it comes to things like this.
Naruto may be pissed at the pervert…but it's just unfair to exclude him out from this.
Currently walking one of the most desolated and quiet hallways in the central hospital of Konoha, Hiruzen nodded; agreeing up to a point with the boy's statement. "Indeed. But we need to conduct investigation at the scene too. Think about it like this; if that place has something to do with you being…revived…or conscious from your…death…" No matter how hard he tried to force himself to say those words, the Sarutobi cringed. "it means that the place is in need of immediate investigation. I have sent Jiraiya and a couple of ANBU purely to conduct further investigation, I am not excluding Jiraiya out of this."
It might seem that way…but for Naruto, there's a deeper meaning than that. The old man is worried about him. He knows he'll be! Ever since he was young, there's only the old man, Teuchi-jiichan, Ayame-neechan and Iruka-sensei who were and always been sincerely worried if he gets into sticky or troublesome situations.
"It's what makes you humans so damn interesting and annoying kit, just deal with it. You'll be in the monkey's position later on in life…" the ever deep voice of the Kyuubi echoed from within the seal, commenting.
'Still…aah, whatever. I just want to get to where we're going quick!'
The Kyuubi raised an eyebrow at its host's distressed state. Those red eyes of the Kyuubi narrowed as a rousing suspicion grew inside of it. Why is the kit so damn worried about the vixen he just met? On second thought forget that, this: why is he so feeling so damn uncomfortable without her around him?
Being inside its host's body means that Kyuubi gets to feel some of the feelings that Naruto is able to produce. Thankful, pleasure and pain are not included. And right now, at this very moment, the feeling that his host is giving off is akin to that of a mother hen being separated from its baby chick… a sense of worry and discomfort of being separated. But why?
Little did the Kyuubi know, Naruto is even more eager to get his own questions answered from this woman. After a minute of walk, Hiruzen and Naruto reached a door that has two ANBU members standing guard in front of it. This must be the room. Taking a step forward, Naruto could feel himself feeling better; the sense of discomfort began to slowly diminishing. The boy clutched his chest. Just what is wrong with him?
Hiruzen sent the two ANBUs a look. Both mask wearing Shinobis nodded before stepping aside to allow entry for the two newcomers. Naruto entered the room first, followed by his grandfather figure behind him. Upon entering, the blonde could feel his heart had just skipped a beat when he saw the face of the unconscious red haired female—presumably—sleeping on the hospital bed. Walking forward, Naruto took his position to the girl's side.
His wide blue eyes went bitter as he examined the girl's face closely. He does not know her. They have never met before, nor has he seen someone like her. So why… why is his heart aching so hard just to see her like this? Naruto, for the lack of better term, was conflicted. He's conducting an orchestra of mixed feelings inside of his heart. Just what is his connection with this? Why is he like this? It had been nothing but questions, and Naruto hates it when it stays that way.
Unknown to himself, he's gripping on the railing of the bed with his teeth biting his lower lip. 'Please…wake up, I have so much to ask…' he plead from the bottom of his heart.
Wake up.
That was all she heard.
Her eyes snapped open, akin to the scenes in most horror movies. Her eyes now opened, reveal to be a pair of exotic and rare soft shade of pink. Pink hair is as strange as it gets…but pink eyes? She suddenly sat up straight, surprising the two males in the room. She looked around slowly, her head slowly looking from left to right. Through all this, her face remained blank; completely lacking any particular emotion. If blankness is an emotion of its own, then she's using it professionally.
Naruto inched away, he backed away slowly; surprised to see that she had awaken just as he wished for her to be. It was soon later—to the boy's major confusion—that Naruto found her staring at him with a pair of eyes that he did not know that a human could have. He suddenly felt tense, he forced himself to swallow the lump of air that has been gathering in his throat.
Hiruzen, who was watching the female closely, was narrowing his eyes. Her attention was focused at Naruto all this time… just what is she thinking?
The seemingly ever so stoic girl was dressed in a hospital gown, the nurses and doctors had probably changed her onto one before leaving the Genin's orange jacket folded nicely on the small table beside the bed. The girl's eyes were wandering sideways, back and forth until her gaze strictly landed on the piece of folded apparel.
"…Want."
Naruto went wide eyed and so did Hiruzen. She finally spoke! She spoke! Hiruzen felt a little bit relieved, he thought that the girl wasn't capable of speaking which will be a lot of problem. At least, the aged Kage knew that he'll get things answered in a second. Coughing to his wrinkly fist, Hiruzen readied himself to speak.
"Excuse me, miss?" as a common courtesy, he started out polite. But it was no use. Her attention wasn't focused on him one bit. Instead, it was aimed at the folded piece of clothing. Hiruzen eyed the orange jacket and to the owner of said jacket. He gained Naruto's attention by tapping the floor twice, prompting the blonde to look at him. The Sandaime sent the boy a silent gesture to bring the jacket to her to which the blonde immediately did.
Naruto placed his jacket, which was folded nice and neatly in front of the female right at the foot of the bed. He watched with curious eyes as her gaze shifted along, following the movement of his face and unto the jacket. After setting the piece of clothing down, the blonde backed away silently.
The girl is still sitting there on the bed motionless. The only thing that has been moving all this time were her eyes and head, and right now both are focused on the piece of clothing in front of her. She blinked once, twice, thrice… then, she reached for the jacket, holding it close to her and finally burying her face into the soft fabric.
"…Good." To both men, it's as if she's taking a deep whiff of the jacket. Which is very confusing, who on earth would sniff at someone else's clothing? That's just unhygienic. But it seems that the woman got what she wanted, it could be shown by the still stoic—though content—expression she's showing.
Hiruzen quickly shook everything aside, deciding that this is the time that he will finally ask. "Excuse me miss?" by a single wave of his arm, he had managed to shift the woman's attention to him. "Who are you?" don't blame him for the near blunt answer. It's logical, after all. This woman, she appeared as if she was air before.
The girl who was questioned blinked once, twice, thrice… until she slowly lifted her right arm to point a finger at the aged Kage.
Hiruzen was mildly stunned at the gesture, but he was even more stunned when she says, "Jii-chan."
An odd moment of silence passed through the room. It took Naruto of all people to break it. "Uh… hi?" the boy started lamely, but nicely. Unlike Sarutobi, who needed to wave an arm to get her attention; all it took was for the blonde to finish his last word to get the girl right in front of his face…literally.
"WHOA!" Surprised, Naruto tried not to back away. He managed to keep a still ground, a couple few inches from his earlier position before. His cheeks turned a light pink color at the sudden closing of distance. "E-Eh… what?"
She did not answer him, but instead she raised both arms in front of her; akin to that of a child who wanted to be carried by their mother. "Hug."
Naruto never knew that a simple word could make him blush so hard. "W-W-W-What?! W-Why?!"
"Nii."
.
.
.
"…Nii…?" surprisingly, it's Hiruzen. The old man was silent ever since the moment she had start to smother her face unto the blonde's jacket. He's been observing the way she's interacting, and it's pretty obvious that she's not one for talking. "What do you mean, 'Nii'?" The Sarutobi asked for further clarification.
Naruto placed his five cents along with the old man. He too is as confused as the old man is right now. Just why would this random girl he just met, who—for some reason—managed to make him a worrywart, and is beautiful down to the bones; would call him her brother?
The girl with the red hair nodded, her cheeks puffing out slightly. Naruto personally found it cute. "Um. Nii is Nii."
Seeing that this is getting nowhere, Hiruzen decided to compromise. "Then… if Naruto is…Nii, then who are you?"
It's like asking the billion ryo question. The girl sitting on the bed adopted a thoughtful look. After exactly five seconds of thinking, she looked back at the only Genin in the room with a look that one could say as questioning. She parted her lips slightly as if to start speaking. "Nii…Name?"
Naruto knew that she's asking him. But what he didn't know is why on earth would she ask him what's her name is. Isn't that, like, weird? Scratching the lower part of his chin, Naruto was unsure on how to reply. "Uh…" he turned away to look at the Sandaime. "Jii-chan, I think she's asking me what her name is… what should I do?"
The Kami-no-Shinobi took a moment to think, though the term contemplate was far more appropriate at this point. "Hmm… then, give her a name, Naruto-kun." It might have sounded like the most outrageous suggestion ever but…yeah. "We can't leave her like this all the time now can we?"
"Well…. You're right but, my naming sense isn't as good as yours." Then the boy looked bashful. "I called my wallet Gama-chan for God's sake!"
Hiruzen let out a hearty chuckle, his old bones feeling refreshed after a short laugh. "Haha… indeed you did. But we still can't leave her nameless like this."
Welp, so much for not doing anything. Naruto began to think of a name, one that is simple and easy to remember and to call. His short tracked brain wasn't exactly made for thinking.
"Psh, you got that right…"
'Shuddup.'
So, what is short, nice, simple and easy to remember… hm…
As he was thinking, his eyes trailed to her face. Now that he had gotten a better look… she actually looked younger than him, though her height completely contradicts that statement. Not to mention her br-br-bre…assets…which she possess. To other's eyes—maybe even his own—she looked like a girl who's at mid teens, about fifteen or sixteen or something. And for some reason, she's really taken a liking to his jacket. A red haired girl who is extremely beautiful, and likes jacket… uh yeah, not much right there. But… the first and second point should suffice.
"Then…" both Hiruzen and the girl perked up. "How about, 'Kohaku'?" the name, for some reason, felt right in Naruto's tongue. The name's short and he knew how to write it in ink. The character 'Ko' is written as 'red' while the character 'Haku' is written as white. One might wonder why he preferred this…sort of alternative name instead of the normal Kohaku which means 'amber'. Well, Naruto is apparently a literal person. Red is for her hair, and white is for the expression of her just being there; and since the color is associated with something that has begun—or in this case—her being here.
Hiruzen let his wrinkled eyes blink for three times before nodding. "I see. It should suffice." He then looked considerately at the girl. "Is that okay for you?"
If her blank look could tell, then she would be saying that she's thinking. "…Like."
Naruto swore that he just saw the corner of her lips tugging upwards. He felt his skipped heart beat for some reason, and no, he's not really sure on why he's feeling like this.
"Good." Hiruzen said. "Now if you don't mind…Kohaku-san, I would like to question a few things from you."
In reply, Hiruzen received a tilt of a head from the girl. He took it as a way to express confusion, which is apparently right on the spot since she was totally clueless. "Who are you?" he repeated again, asking his previous question.
The girl in question was still tilting her head sideways, before she remembered what happened a few seconds ago. "Kohaku."
Both Naruto and Hiruzen blinked. Is she referring herself to the new name that Naruto had given her? Pinching the bridge of his nose, the aged Kage could feel something building up inside of him. And he's pretty sure that it's frustration. Well, she wasn't exactly wrong on answering but it should be obvious that he's asking of her origins.
"Nii? Hungry?" The now newly named Kohaku asked her 'Nii'. Her soft and round feminine face was just too much for Naruto to handle.
"N-No… I'm not hungry if that's what you're asking." The boy answered while stammering a few words. He then looked at her straight in the eye, a wondering look on his face. "Are you?"
With a blank look on her face, Kohaku shook her head. "No."
'This is getting nowhere…' Hiruzen thought with a mental slap. If it has come to this… then he has no choice of bringing someone from the professional field into this matter. "ANBU." With a simple utterance of his word, two ANBU members that were guarding the door in front appeared into existence behind the Kage with their posture kneeling. Stroking his short grey beard, Hiruzen said. "Bring me Yamanaka Inoichi here. Quick."
"Yes Hokage-sama." Both ANBU replied monotonously before disappearing.
Naruto wasn't overly shocked about those ANBUs suddenly appearing, because he knew that he could give those guys a run for their money. Literally. Oh those days were so memorable… but back to topic. Looking at the girl who he had just named, he still can't believe that she appeared so suddenly. In fact, from the dots he had connected; she was just a figure of his imagination, she was literally in his mind… right? He was unconscious when he met her… right?
'Dammit…' the boy cursed mentally. 'This is getting even more confusing.'
"Hm…" the beast inside of the Genin hummed.
'You got something, fox?'
"Not exactly. Let's just say that she is indeed a part of your mind, she's a sentient being just like me. Let's just say that. So, she is technically a part of you…of some sort. Kind of like me, since I was sealed inside of you ever since you were still a baby." The Kyuubi wondered openly to its host. "But it doesn't make any sense. If she is indeed a part of you then… what's with you getting to Limbo, and why on earth would we find her in a shrine of all places?"
'Don't ask me. I'm lost ever since you started speaking about her being a part of me…'
"Idiot."
'Oi!'
As the boy was having his inner conversation with his tenant, he failed to notice the pair of longer hands reaching for him from his back. "WHOA! What the heeeeeeee?!" reasons be damned, Naruto needn't to hold back when showing his surprise. Kohaku had just suddenly wrapped her arms behind the boy's back, catching him in a backside hug; embracing him from behind. The blonde was not concerned about the fact that she had just hugged him. He's more concerned about the two fleshy, meaty things pressed onto his back at the moment. Oh, he just remembered that she's only wearing a hospital gown. How nice!
'You lucky bastard Naruto.'… was what Hiruzen thought. But he's too wise to say that out loud. "It seems that she has taken a liking to you, Naruto-kun." In all honesty, the aged Kage is pretty amused to see this rare and—what he thought was—impossible sight. He could feel a sense of nostalgia hitting him right in the spine. These two are so much alike. And he's not referring to the both of them via context. If only a certain blonde and red haired was here…
Surprisingly, it wasn't Naruto who responded. With what one could say a proud look on her face, Kohaku nodded her head once. "Um. Kohaku likes Nii." She took that moment to emphasize her statement by burying her face into the blonde's nape, taking a deep whiff of his odor; which also cause her to emphasize her forbidden fruits clearer to the blonde.
Naruto's embarrassed expression and stammering, mixed with the way things had just gone, Hiruzen really found it hard to not laugh. The scene in front of him is one thing if not amusing. As a person who had taken care of Naruto ever since the boy was very young, Hiruzen felt touched to see his surrogate grandson interacting like this with a… person. He knew too well that the boy's life was hard. Hard for people his age, at least. No child should bear the burden that the boy is bearing right now, but Naruto was able to surprise him by staying positive this whole entire time. If he had the honor to say it out loud, Hiruzen was proud to have Naruto as a part of his life. The boy was able to both lift him and bring him into moods that he would never thought of experiencing once in a while.
At that very moment, Hiruzen could feel a tinge of chakra spike in the air. And in the blink of an eye, a figure appeared in the room accompanied by the two ANBU that was here earlier. The figure was revealed to be a man of average height, clearly taller over Naruto and Sarutobi—maybe Kohaku. He's a man with a long platinum blonde hair to which was kept neat into a long ponytail in which his clan was famous for. He's wearing the standard flak jacket over a black outfit, complete with hand-guards, forehead protector and a sleeveless red haori. He, just like the ANBUs behind him, was in a kneeling posture due to the figure in front of him.
"Do you call for me, Hokage-sama?" the gruff voice belonging to the man questioned with respect. He allowed himself to stand, showing a pair of bluish green eyes.
"I did Inoichi." The Hokage confirmed with a slight nod. The Sarutobi gestured to two teens who are still latched—it's more Kohaku who was still latching unto Naruto—on together. "I take it that you know Naruto-kun?"
Naruto, at hearing himself being addressed, slowly backed away closer to Kohaku.
Seeing this, Inoichi managed a small smile. "Ah, yes. I know. You are in the same batch as my daughter, Ino, right?"
At that, the younger blonde held a look of surprise. "You're Ino's father?" it might sounded like as if he did not believe that this man was related to Ino even a bit. But after taking in the consideration of the man's family name…he realized that he sounded like an idiot.
Inoichi laughed heartily. "Hahaha, it's not my fault that my daughter looks so much like her mom. But yes, I am her father." Throughout all of this, the smile did not disappear from his face. In fact, it might have gotten wider.
With a cough to his fist, Hiruzen managed to gather everyone's attention. He sent the two ANBUs a look, gesturing them to dismiss themselves, to which they did without saying anything. "If you are done… then, I would like you to do me a favor, Inoichi-kun."
Knowing that things are getting into business, Inoichi discarded his earlier expression. It never ceased to amaze Naruto on how a Shinobi is able to change their expression in an instant. The Yamanaka's silence was his reply to the Hokage's statement. Hiruzen, with his arms behind his back, gestured with a turn of his body towards the girl who is still latched onto the boy's back.
"Please meet Kohaku-san, Inoichi-kun. She is…a guest as for the moment."
Now Naruto is not very smart. But he's not dumb enough to not know that the old man was lacking a term to describe his relation with Kohaku. And he can't blame him.
"To be more accurate," Hiruzen continued. "she is a guest under the watch of Naruto-kun himself."
"Eh—ow! You hit me Jii-chan!"
Cheeky kid.
"But unfortunately, we do not have any idea as to where did she came from nor what her origins are. We tried asking her but…" the Kage paused to think. "she is not very familiar when it comes to speaking."
Well at least Naruto could agree with that. Still… he never knew that old people could hit that ha—
"OW! AGAIN?!"
Watching the scene, Inoichi was wondering if he had gotten too close to those mushrooms that he received for his shop earlier this morning.
"Ahem." The Sarutobi coughed silently. "So, could you please take a look inside Kohaku-san's mind and tell us what do you see?" it's not sure whether the old man was being polite or blunt but, hey, whatever way works.
While not being very familiar with clan Jutsus… Naruto was at least knowledgeable that the Yamanaka clan in Konoha is capable of using mind or psychic related powers. But he didn't know that they could take a look at a person's memory…
…wait, looking into a person's memory… isn't that an invasion of privacy?
Showing a troubled expression, Naruto wasn't too particularly keen on having the thought that someone's about to invade his own thoughts and memories. But seeing the circumstances given… there isn't really much of a choice. It's either this or something else entirely.
Noticing the face that the boy was making, Inoichi smiled to himself. "It's fine." He reassured the boy. "She won't feel anything in the slightest."
That did not calm the Genin down one bit. Turning his head, slowly, he stared right back into Kohaku's ever so stoic persona. His looks flashed a hint of worry in the girl's mind.
"Let us begin right away." At Hiruzen's words, both Naruto and Inoichi moved in opposite ways. The short and younger blonde stepped backward, while the taller and older man stepped forward. Moving backwards for Naruto meant that he's stepping closer towards Kohaku—who was still hugging him in this very moment.
Inoichi frowned. "Naruto… I can't do the Jutsu if she's holding to you like that and if she's not letting go of you."
"Then can I at least be here when you do it?" asked the boy.
Eyes widening a little bit, Inoichi nodded eventually. "Sure. But make sure not to interrupt me, okay?"
At that, the boy gave him a silent nod. Inoichi smiled before grabbing a stool to sit on. He took his place near the girl, just enough to allow him to touch her forehead. When the man's hand touched the girl's forehead, Naruto felt like jumping. And what's weird is that, strangely, Kohaku does too. But both managed to stay still, with Kohaku now off from Naruto's neck. The boy chose to hold the girl's hand, tight. He gripped harder, and was surprised to feel the same response coming from the girl.
Inoichi closed his eyes to concentrate, and Hiruzen was observing the entire thing in the background, making sure that nothing goes wrong.
The Yamanaka performed the Jutsu, which is known as Saiko Denshin. It involves the user entering the target's subconscious by placing a hand on the target's head and extracts any information needed, even if the target has forgotten it or has had it blocked. Inoichi was and is familiar with this technique, due to his profession in the T&I division of Konoha. Due to his familiarity with this particular technique, Inoichi could do the Jutsu easily. He could shift through memories and uncover them quicker than those who are still new to this technique. It will normally took him about ten or twenty seconds in order to get a full and detailed feedback of the target's memories of the past day.
But in all of the twenty seconds provided… he found nothing.
Null. He only found the recent memories, and that is the moment when she opened her eyes to stare on the ceiling. Retracting and cutting the connection, Inoichi retracted his head from Kohaku's head. Seeing this, Hiruzen perked up. "So, what did you found Inoichi?"
The man's frown was as obvious as a fat duck in a chicken coop. "Nothing, Hokage-sama. Nothing."
Despite the disappointing answer, Hiruzen was not eager to give it up. "Are there any mental blocks placed on her?"
"No, there aren't any. I just can't find any memories inside her subconscious." From the man's tone, it's as if it's the first time he had ever encountered this kind of situation. Crossing his arms, Inoichi was staring at the girl. "I don't know what's the cause of it Hokage-sama but… Kohaku-san over here might not have a memory to begin with."
Naruto went wide eyed. She…what?
"Now don't be so surprised kid, I've seen this coming." The Kyuubi said almost knowingly.
'Then why didn't you tell me about it?'
"Because it will make you look suspicious as hell." The Nine Tailed fox answered simply. "The monkey had been getting edgy ever since you told him that you had talk to me. It's no use on giving the old bag a heart attack in the middle of this all."
'Well if you put it that way…'
Hiruzen, noticing the lack of response coming from the boy's part, concluded that he is currently having an inner conversation with his tenant. He will need to have a talk with him soon. "Is that so? It's impossible, don't you think Inoichi-kun?"
"It should be… because even if the victim were to suffer from a severe case of amnesia, I would still be able to catch a glimpse of their memories. But what I saw in Kohaku-san's mind was nothing but…emptiness. It's—excuse me—completely blank." The man explained as accurately as he could. "There are drugs that are capable of causing instant loss to the victim's memories, I recommend a blood check of the patient as soon as possible."
Hiruzen nodded at the suggestion. "Very well Inoichi-kun. You may be dismissed."
At the sign of dismissal, Inoichi nodded. "Yes, Hokage-sama." And then he disappeared.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, he got Hiruzen's eyes on him. "Phew…"
Hiruzen noticed it. Naruto has, throughout the whole time, been holding onto Kohaku's hand so tightly that he's even sweating. Is he nervous from Inoichi checking the girl's mind? If so, why? This is getting more and more complicated by the second answers are answered…
"Nii…cold."
Attention immediately shifting, Naruto blinked. "You're…cold?" then he remembered that she's just wearing a hospital gown for God's sake. He blushed at his own stupidity. He grabbed his jacket before offering it to her. "Here, wear this…" but she's not even taking the hideously eye hurting clothing from him.
"Nii…put it on me."
"!"
Now that was both Naruto and Hiruzen.
In the boy's part, he was completely surprised and unprepared for such words. Hence why he's reduced to a blushing and stammering mess of a recorder. "W-W-W-W-W-Wear i-i-it o-on you!?" he squeaked out, not knowing that he could squeak.
In Hiruzen's part, the Kage was—too—not expecting such words from the girl. But he managed to think and draw conclusions immediately.
'These two…'
So, while Naruto was busy trying to put on the jacket for the girl, Hiruzen was wondering…
Are they related?
In a place far, far, far away from Konoha; in a faraway shrine somewhere in a place where no one had ever set foot on…
"Ara? The shrine doors are open…" a female voice wondered aloud to herself. Said female was tall, reaching the height where normal women can't. Maybe that's it. Maybe she's just not a 'normal' woman in the first place? Her long beautiful auburn hair contrasts greatly with the collar of the yukata she's wearing, which is colored in a beautiful golden color. Her eyes, ever so squinting and narrow they are, showed signs of worry and distress.
"Mother!" another voice belonging to a female, albeit lighter and younger, called out. The form of a young, shorter and identical form to the woman earlier came approaching. The now arrived female who called the woman 'mother' was panting for air. "Haah…haah… you are too quick mother dearest! This daughter of yours is not so quick when it comes to channeling Reiki for faster movements!" the daughter to the mother complained whilst panting.
The approaching female looked similar to the older looking woman. She is, after all, her daughter. Unlike her mother, who kept her hair straight, she chose to tie her into a long ponytail which is currently waving as she runs. She's wearing a purple colored Yukata just like a her mother, albeit with a different design and color. Her womanly assets are being emphasized greatly as she was running at the woman, still…those endearing orbs are nothing compared to her mother's. And she's just standing still!
"Hm? You have arrived daughter dearest." The mother acknowledged her daughter's present just recently, much to the daughter's subtle annoyance.
Said daughter was about to retort in answer of her mother's ignorance but she too noticed the particular thing that her mother was focusing on earlier. "Heaven's be pierced! Someone has broken into our shrine mother!"
The mother hummed. "Indeed… but I do not feel any presence or whatsoever around us, daughter dearest… I wonder, has she been lingering around our shrine again?" she asked her daughter who suddenly got ill faced.
"Ugh…" the younger of the two uttered in obvious disgust. "Please do not mention that…that…bimbo ever again mother dearest. It unnerves your daughter by the mere hinting of her…"
The older giggled onto the sleeves of her Yukata. "I take it that you still haven't gotten along well with Tao-chan, daughter dearest?"
"Uuu…please mother dearest…"
"Ufufu…" the mother giggled some more before retracting her sleeves. Her mouth returned to a thin flat line. "But still… it is strange. We do not have much, yet, who would want to steal from a shrine?"
"We do not know how the people here thinks, mother dearest!" the daughter said with a brash tone. "Methinks that they might have stolen our Komainu! What if that was what happened mother dearest?! We shall investigate at once!" she was about to drag her mother along into the shrine but was, fortunately, stopped.
"No. I think that the Komainu was not stolen… but… I think that it is something entirely else…"
The daughter, as slow as she is loud, was clueless to what her mother was hinting. "Please do explain it clearly, mother dearest!"
"Ufufu… what I am trying to say is…" her thin and enclosed eyes slowly opened, showing a pair of pink orbs. "Your sister…she has awakened."
At that, the daughter went dead quiet.
"...No."
"Uh… I can't exactly blame her, you know."
As a kid, Naruto had always hated getting shots. Which is why he always avoided getting into the hospital. Thankfully, his abnormal body rarely caught any form of sickness there is for a child to have. But there are times where he must take one whether he's sick or not. So seeing the sight of Kohaku latching onto his arm and hiding behind his back is a form of nostalgia to him. The difference is that there's no team of professionally trained ANBU to hold her down.
Due to the recommendation coming from Inoichi, a team of nurse and doctors were immediately sent into the room by the Hokage's order to get a blood sample of the patient.
Wait, blood sample? What is she, an animal?
Anyway…the team of doctors and nurses alike must rely on the Jinchuriki in order to get the job done. No. In fact, they could only ask him to stop the girl from running away naked and only wearing a jacket over a hospital gown. Naruto…he's not doing so well himself. Come on, he's a boy for God's sake! A healthy and curious boy!
Still… priorities are priorities. So, this has to be done either way. Turning his back to look at the shivering and quivering…taller girl. Naruto looked up while managing a huge smile. "H-Hey, it's okay! I-I-It's just a shot there's nothing to be afraid of hahahaha—COULD YOU GUYS PLEASE STOP STARING AT ME LIKE THAT!? IT'S HARDER FOR ME OKAY?!"
All the doctors looked away for some reason.
Sighing, Naruto shook his head. "Anyway, just take the shot." He still smiled. "I'll be here."
Those three words caused the slight widening of Kohaku's eyes. She felt…stronger inside. Almost as if she's brave enough now. After a few moments of silence, she eventually nodded. "But. Nii must get shot too."
Naruto paled.
One of the doctors pulled out an extra syringe.
Let's just say what happened next is Naruto cursing his big mouth.
After getting the shot… or shots down, it was now in reverse. Naruto's the one who's afraid, while Kohaku's the one who's comforting him.
"Nii. Liar."
"Sorry… I'm, sorry…"
It's a nice day in Konoha.
A/N: Aaaand that's all folks! I can't say for sure if this will turn out great or not, but I'll leave it to you guys to decide. How do you like our OC? I based her character from No Game No Life's Shiro, the little sister of Sora…attitude wise, at least. Now I won't promise anything between the two series but if you're planning to get your own hopes up, be my guess.
Oh, I'm also working on a new chapter for Flandre Scarlet is in My House. Please look forward to it!
Well… that is all folks and may you have nice day/night!