Chapter 14. Afterwards.

Arashi walked down in such a slow manner like every step caused pain for him. Naruto ran first to him.

"Have you won?" the blond genin asked examining Yondaime for any visible damage.

Arashi nodded hesitantly. He wasn't sure of it himself.

"Where is Taki?" Nami made a step ahead meeting with Arashi's eyes.

Yondaime shook his head sadly.

Nami sighed desperately punching the air with her hand.

"Subborn fool," she whispered.

"Look!" Naruto pointed his finger to the crowd of people running to them.

A moment later they were surrounded.Arashi muttered.

"Looks like we have a problem…"

The people came closer and closer and Yondaime considered all the possibilities of sneaking from this deadly circle without any victims. Nothing came into his mind so it left them only one choice.

"Naruto," he whispered. "Stand by my back. We'll fight 'til we find a way of getting out of here."

The blond genin nodded soundlessly and took a kunai preparing for the battle. The people made another step, the blonds prepared to attack and then…

"Stop it!" another figure appeared in front of both the men, protecting them from the crowd. People backed away in fear.

"Mizukage-sama," Arashi heard the whisper.

She turned back to them her hands ready to release some jutsu. She had black hair, completely white skin, blue eyes. Her face was like a stone wall, without any emotion. It was beautiful, in some way, but this beauty was frightening. Cruel chakra was flowing from her. So cruel that Arashi almost shuddered.

"Back off," she ordered. "Didn't you see the scene? This man won in a fair battle. Second mizukage challenged him and lost."

"He killed our mizukage!" somebody from the crowd shouted. "Let's kill him!"

The crowd started moving once again and the woman's hands began to glow blue.

"One more step," she said in a low voice. "And I'll punish everyone here."

The people stopped and after a few seconds of waiting she lowered her hands.

"Mizukage…" she sighed. "Has gone crazy. He stole this boy from Konoha and declared him to be his long lost son. This man only had an order to retrieve the boy back, that's all. He did his best not to start the war again. So go home, I'll handle our guests myself."

Naruto suppressed sharp exhale. So everything was lies after all. He wasn't his father.

Seeing her frightening appearance people quickly disappeared from the clearing. Finally only Arashi, Naruto, Nami and the Mizukage were standing at the seashore.

"So," the black haired woman turned to Arashi. "The infamous fourth hokage. Nice to meet you."

"I would like to say the same to you," Arashi met her eyes and sighed. "But under circumstances…"

"Yes," she looked at the waterfall sadly. "He completely lost it. When he realized you were alive he went crazy completely. He loved his sister too much. He was a good mizukage…before."

"He was a good man," Arashi trailed. "I still remember…"

He remembered a boy with the biggest desire to become jounin, to protect his village, his sister. He remembered all his pranks, all their disputes and fights. He remembered evenings when the three of them – him, Umi and Taki were sitting at the seashore talking about different things.

He closed his eyes for a moment trying to stop the ache in his heart.

Strong but thin hand touched his shoulder and Arashi raised his head catching the sight of the mizukage. She said nothing only nodded her head.

"You did all you could do," was written in her eyes.

"Looks like I returned from the mission just in time," she nodded to Nami.

"Yes, mizukage-sama," answered the red-haired woman simply.

"Well," the dark haired woman straightened keeping her eyes on Arashi. "Your mission here is complete, hokage-sama. Though I won't mind if you stay here longer."

Her smile reminded Arashi of Umi for a moment but the next moment he understood the difference. When Umi smiled he felt all the world blossomed around him. Now he felt nothing.

"No one can't enter the same water for the second time," he remembered the old saying.

"No, thank you," he heard his voice earlier than he could think up what to answer.

"I see," she nodded still examining him. "That's a shame; I heard you liked being here."

"Not anymore," Arashi answered with his lips.

"Then all I can wish you is goodbye," she continued smiling but not in friendly manner anymore. "I can't guarantee your safety if you decide to return here, you are not welcomed here. Our villages are at war. Next time I'll have to fight and kill you, hokage."

Naruto watched their dialogue with different emotions. He didn't like the way the black haired woman looked at Blondaime. He couldn't find the exact reason of it – he simply hated it. It felt terribly wrong in her presence. He wanted to shout that they must stop the war, to do something but he couldn't – like the dark haired woman put some jutsu on him – he couldn't say a word. He just knew that he couldn't change anything here and now. Only with time. Maybe when her daughter – Naruto was sure that dark haired kid with blazing ice eyes and intent of becoming mizukage was her daughter – will accomplish her goal, he will try to stop the war. Yes, it was the right thought, he liked it.

He squeezed his hand looking at her – now without any fear.

She also looked at him and for a moment it felt like she wanted to ask him about something. But she said nothing, only turned around and disappeared in a flash of water droplets.

"Let's get out of here," Arashi said immediately. "We don't have time to lose. The villagers are angry – they won't stay away." Everybody agreed with him.

So they quickly went to the sea shore. Nami muttered some words and a boat appeared from nowhere. They took their places and it quickly moved towards the other shore. Naruto turned around to look for the last time at the village that brought him hope and took it away.

"I really would like to return here one day," he thought.

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They walked in the clearing at the boarder of hidden leaf and hidden mist and Naruto saw a simple stone tomb without name. Arashi said nothing; he just went to it, kneeling. He put beautiful flowers, that Naruto hadn't seen in his life, on it, then brushed the dirt from the stone with such gentleness as if it was alive.

"So here is the place," Nami joined him.

"Yes," his voice was distant and sad as if the hokage was very far from here.

"How many years passed, Umi," Nami whispered.

Naruto just stood watching them. So that's where the previous Mizukage's tomb was. For a moment he was afraid that his companions will begin to mourn but nothing happened.

"She hated it when we became sad," Arashi finally managed to smile. "And here we are, come here after all these years and start brooding. Let's finish it, Nami!"

"Yes," Nami laughed. "Let's go!"

Obviously it was a show-off, Naruto understood. He knew that Nami will come here the other day and will be crying for hours. He knew that Yondaime will get out of Konoha once he gets a chance to visit this place. Still, they didn't want to show their feelings to him and he completely understood them.

Nami was the first to walk away, Arashi followed her. Naruto hesitated for a moment and then came closer to the tomb.

Strange feeling pierced his heart once again. The feeling of something familiar, something close and distant at the same time. He couldn't understand it.

"I never knew you, mizukage-sama," he whispered. "But I know that you were strong, kind and you protected your village. And you put your life to stop Kyuubi." His hand touched his stomach. "I want to become as strong as you to protect my village. I…" he trailed for a second. "I really wish I knew you."

"Naruto, we are leaving!" he heard Yondaime's voice, he took one step and then turned around once again.

"Also… I swear, I will do anything to stop the war when I become hokage, You have my word." he whispered and ran away.

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They walked for another couple of miles and then Nami stopped.

"Well, looks like it's time for saying goodbye," she said.

"Nani?" Naruto shouted. "I thought you are going to move to Konoha!"

"Naruto," the red Amazon smiled. "My home is at hidden mist. Nothing will change that!"

Naruto lowered his head.

"I really wanted you to live in Konoha," he whispered.

"Don't become crybaby, kiddo!" she slapped his back. "It's not a farewell after all! Yes, we live not so close but you still remember the place where I live, don't you?"

"Of course!" Naruto shouted.

"So just pay a visit when you come by…and I'll visit you when I have a chance!"

"Nobody will try to capture you at Konoha," Arashi told her. "I promise."

"Say it honestly, you are just too afraid for your people!" Nami laughed. "That I'll kick their asses!"

"You've caught me," Arashi raised his hands in humorous surrender.

Nami clasped his shoulder for a moment and muttered.

"Set everything in order at last, Arashi. Or I'll come to clean everything up myself."

"I promise," he simply nodded.

Naruto watched them in amusement. What things? Yondaime's house was rather dusty but it wasn't that bad! Why did she insist on setting everything in order anyway? He liked it the way they were.

While he was thinking about it Nami caught him in embrace and almost squeezed all the air out of him.

"Bye, kiddo! Don't get hurt anymore! I'll miss you a lot. I don't come across such a loud mouthed bragging ninja everyday, you know!"

"What?" Naruto choked out. "You are talking with the future hokage after all, pay some respect!"

"I'll remember," she nodded ruffling his blond hair. "Also, I'll remember your promise and you don't forget it."

"What promise?" Yondaime wondered and Naruto and Nami answered at the same time.

"It's a secret!"

Arashi just rolled his eyes.

Nami embraced Naruto one more time and disappeared in the forest.

Blond boy sighed desperately. Why did all the good people in his life tend to disappear sooner or later?

"Come on," Arashi smiled. "I miss Konoha, let's return there quickly!"

"Not all of them," Naruto thought watching him. "Some of them stay, and I hope, forever," and said aloud, "Me too! Wanna go to Ichiraku's ramen!"

"Maybe another contest?" Yondaime offered.

Naruto shook his head.

"No way! You are taller than me so you can eat more. It's simply not fair!"

Arashi laughed.

"You are surely becoming wiser."

"Come on, whoever reaches the hill first is treating the other!" Naruto shouted and sprinted ahead not waiting for him.

Arashi stared at the back of his son in disbelief.

"Looks like I was wrong," he muttered putting his hands into a familiar seal.

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