Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto; I do own Coriander, as well as Shinji and Ruin – lucky me!
Recap: "This is my decision to the mission request given by one Umamoto Shinji and… superiors…"
Present: "…Nara Shikamaru will be brought in and presented to Umamoto-san, if Nara-kun meets Umamoto-san's requirements, he will be informed of all details pertaining to Umamoto-san's request and will be given the order to choose the most qualified ninja for said mission, as well as being entrusted with compiling the second and third most qualified ninja's for said mission's positions." Tsunade pauses for a breath, "Umamoto-san will be given the chance to meet the first round of ninja, if he approves of them, they too shall be given the details of said mission, and the option to decline. Should any of Nara's chosen shinobi not meet Umamoto-san's requirements or should choose to decline this mission, the second and if need be third waves of shinobi shall be presented. If all 3 most qualified shinobi for any given position should not prove satisfactory, or should decline, Konoha will refuse the mission request of Umamoto Shinji and superiors. Pleas summon Shikamaru-kun now Shizune."
"Hai, Tsunade-sama." With that, Shizune forced the brush out of her cramping hand and left the office.
Shinji raised a perfectly arched eyebrow in question.
Tsunade stared at him intently for a few seconds, then moved to answer his question, she really did mean to do that, unfortunately, that's not what came out… "Do you pluck your eyebrows?"
Shinji's eyebrow dropped and his left eye twitched, "Hai Hokage-sama, as is required of me by my superiors."
An awkward silence ensued, Tsunade trying not to laugh, but her amusement made itself clear as the twinkling in her eyes could rival a clear winter night's sky. The muffled snorts sneaking out from behind her hand (which was of course clamped over her rather large smile) wasn't helping either…
"So laughs the woman who uses a jutsu to make her little fountain of youth appearance." Shinji mutters darkly, not appreciating the Hokage's humor.
"Why you little –!" Tsunade snarls, and was halfway across the desk (sending stacks of paperwork cascading to the floor) with her hand wrapped in a very alarmed Shinji's expensive kimono and robe when…
Knock knock taptaptap
"Come in Sakura!" Tsunade barks, eyes never leaving Shinji's, hand still grasping his kimono.
The door opens and Sakura walks in, apple-green eyes widening as they absorb the situation. She runs up behind Shinji and attempts to get her master to release the man. Naruto and Sai file into the room silently, choosing not to get involved
"Tsunade-sama," Sakura uses her calm-the-psychotic-patient voice, gritting her teeth in the effort to pry her master's hand away from the material, "Remember! For the sake and prosperity of the village, we don't maul the clients!"
A deep, resonating chuckle fills the room, "You certainly haven't changed in the past ten years Tsunade-hime." Ruin had entered the room as well, a grinning Coriander sitting cross-legged on one broad shoulder.
A severely stunned Tsunade promptly let go of Shinji at the sight of the (once again cloaked and hooded) seven-foot tall man before her. Unfortunately her actions caused a suddenly released Shinji to slam into the back of the chair (upon which was perched an equally surprised Haruno who had valiantly resorted to violently trying to pull the man out of Tsunade's grip.
Consequently, the chair (and it's disgruntled contents) was overturned on top of the pink-haired kunoichi.
A muffled, "Help!" was heard amongst the pile of twisted clothing, limbs, and pieces of chair. Sai and Naruto were there immediately each grabbing a pale wrist below a dark pink glove and pulling.
Sakura was abruptly jerked free of the pile, flipping onto his face a now rather irritated Shinji.
"OUR GUEST TOO BAKA!" Sakura yells, snatching her wrist away and bonking Naruto on the head.
"How embarrassing! Why do these things always happen with the high-paying clients?" Sakura whipped Sai (who was still holding her wrist) around so his back was turned to everyone (especially Shinji) and buried her face into his chest, willing her blush to fade.
Sai stiffened, not only did he not know how to react, but his hand was also in an awkward position. The kunoichi had forgotten about Sai's grip on her wrist when she brought her hands to her chest to grip his jacket…
'Shit! If I move, she'll notice where my hand is and get all angry… and as entertaining as that would be… what would Little-dick' –– Naruto sneezes and drops a fuming Shinji –– 'do?' Sai's mind was running a hundred miles per hour, though of course his face showed nothing.
Naruto finally managed to get Shinji up after many failed attempts. He had finally resorted to lifting the surprisingly light man in the air and holding him there while Shinji meticulously straightened out his clothing and shook out splinters of chair.
Tsunade and Ruin simply continued to stare at each other, one shocked, on amused.
Sai finally decided on putting his free arm on Sakura's back and holding her head lightly.
"Thank-you for your assistance, you may put me down now." Shinji spoke clearly.
"Sure you aren't going to trip on your robe again? You're lucky I was tall enough to do this for you, I'd hate to have to pick you up… again." Naruto teased, still holding the man aloft.
"Put me down you twit!"
Laughing, Naruto puts Shinji down, who proceeds to pick his way carefully through the remains of the chair. He then takes his hair out, letting the black locks fall to his waist and using his fingers to comb them out, glaring at the blonde Godaime all the while… who's still staring at Ruin, who's staring back.
The tension in the room began to rise again, almost tangible until…
"Aw!" Coriander sighs/wiggles happily from her perch, "Mommy and Daddy used to hold each other like that!"
All eyes in the room turn to Sai and Sakura, whose blush that had nearly disappeared not only returned but also intensified with a vengeance.
"Oi! GET OFF SAKURA-CHAN!" Naruto screams.
Tsunade smiles softly at Sai and Sakura's position. "You asked for me Hokage-sama?" A thick voice drawls close to Tsunade's ear.
The Godaime released an obnoxiously high startled yelp, disrupting another pile of papers.
Shikamaru stood, in all his standard jounin uniformed, pierced eared, spiky pony-tailed glory. Pointer finger twisting back and forth in his left ear, "Tch. Troublesome noise," he pauses to cast a resentful glare at the Hokage, "You summoned me woman!"
A snort, "I'm sure you were soooo busy!"
"Hey, cloud-watching relaxes me and clears my mind so I can be prepared for all you troublesome schemes and 'missions'."
"Don't push it Nara, Umamoto Shinji? Nara Shikamaru, our village genius –"
"In the same room as the village idiot, how appropriate." Sai says cheerfully.
Naruto sneezes mid-grab for Sakura, whom Sai is holding behind himself out of the blonde's reach.
"Sai! Let go!" Sakura hisses, still aware of Ruin and Coriander's gazes.
"He will do. Will it be you or I filling him in?" Shinji asks briskly, deftly twisting his hair into another perfect bun.
Finally getting off of her desk, Tsunade coughs slightly, "I shall do this. My apprentice Sakura –"
"Nani?! Not us!" Inner Sakura begged… to no avail.
"—whom attempted to save you earlier, will escort you to a place to eat and to your hotel."
Shinji viciously jabbed his chopsticks in his hair, tucking his left bang behind his ear, "I do not have such accommodations Hokage-sama."
"You do now," the Godaime continues, unperturbed, "Konoha prides itself in it's hospitality." Shinji's slanted eyes widen in disbelief, mouth pressed in a thin line.
"And you," The Hokage turns to Ruin, "I will see you in two hours, here. Sakura will escort you as well, along with Naruto and Sai," She spoke their names especially sternly to get them to behave. Both boys ceased immediately, Sai releasing Sakura.
Ruin inclines his head, "I shall look for candidates along the way hime."
"You will not." She hisses through gritted teeth.
Ruin smirks, casually tossing back his hood, I'm nearing my tenth year Tsunade, sure you want to cross me?"
Amber eyes narrow, "Don't get cocky kid, now go! Here in two hours! Leave my people alone until then!" She turns to the others, "You too! Everyone out!"
Sakura exits the fastest, an incredibly amused Ruin with Coriander still on his shoulder right behind. After a respectful – if somewhat strained – bow, Shinji swept out as well, robe swishing around the door. Sai and Naruto, at a truce now that Sakura was gone, walked out together, Shikamaru moved to follow…
"Not you lazy!" Tsunade's voice booms form her office.
"You said everyone."
"Stop being a smartass! Shizune? Come clean up this mess, and bring sake!"
Shizune passes the group making their way down the stairs, porcelain bottle and cups in hand. "Tsunade-sama? Do you really think alcohol's a good idea right now?"
"3… 2… 1…" Sakura mutters, counting down.
"EEEEEE!" crash "Tsunade-sama! What did you do???"
"Just clean it up! And down drop the bottle along with those cups!"
Sai chuckles from the back of the group, "It's like clockwork…"
"Yeah," Naruto agrees, "One of those really annoying clocks with the bird that pops out and screeches at you!"
The whole group erupts into peals of laughter, from chuckles to giggles to hold-your-stomach-and-cry extremes. This earning them strange looks from the pair of chuunin guards at the base of the tower.
The group of six swept onto the street, Sakura still in the lead, she turned and began walking backwards, shinobi skills and various eye-brow raise signals form Ruin keeping her from falling on her ass or tripping and further humiliating herself. Cheerful grin in place and singsong voice activated, she began, "I am sorry for the commotion earlier, it's generally not so hectic in the Hokage Tower –"
Sai and Naruto sped up and each said in one small ear of Shinji's at the same time, "Its usually worse!" Naruto's a conspirital whisper, Sai's cheerful and loud.
Shooing the boys away from the poor man with a death glare copied from a certain red-haired Suna nin, she continues, " – As I was saying, along with the commotion today, Hokage-sama forgot to give us time for proper introductions…"
"My name is Umamoto Shinji." Ruin seemed to have a spontaneous coughing fit.
"Are you ok Thalionar-san?" Sakura inquires, all concern.
Now it was Shinji's turn to choke on his spit and have a coughing fit.
"Suspicious…"'Thank-you Captain Obvious.' Sakura thinks dryly.
Inner Sakura sniffed, arms crossed and nose in the air, "You have nothing to gain from insulting yourself Outer." She spat out the last word our almost disdainfully.
Shaking her head, Outer Sakura asks cheerfully, "Do you two know each other already?" She stopped walking, they had reached the end of the street they would have to get the introductions over and decide where they were going to eat before they preceded any further.
Shinji merely looked at Ruin warily. Ruin however just closed his red-gold eyes for a second, when they opened them, his easy smile was back, "I think it would be more accurate to say we've heard of each other –" he turned around as well, facing Shinji, "We've never had the pleasure of actually meeting face to face. Right Umamoto-san? I am Thalionar Ruin." Ruin held his right hand out expectantly.
Shinji's eyes flickered back and forth, up and down Ruin, the only things moving, as if searching for some form of treachery. Then he too held out a slender hand, almost engulfed in the bell-shaped sleeve of his robe. "Correct Ruin-kun." His amber eyes remained fixed on Ruin's face, waiting to gauge his reaction."
Ruin simply smiled wider, "It's an honor to already be on such familiar terms with you Shinji-kun." Although Shinji blanched slightly at Ruin's return of using his name so casually, Ruin seemed to be genuine, and he quickly shook his hand and relaxed… well… as 'relaxed' as his perfect posture would allow…
The remaining tension solidified, then dissipated next: "I'm Caranluin Coriander." Chirped the little girl form Ruin's shoulder.
Shinji's almost-shaped eyes widened to the point were it'd be more accurate to describe them as lemon-shaped.
Coriander continued, either not noticing or not caring about Shinji's reaction, "But you can call me Cori-chan if you want!"
Shinji shook it off and smiled nearly as warmly as Ruin (quite the feat), "A pleasure indeed to meet you Cori-chan."
"There's something wrong with that girl…" Inner Sakura mutters, "She's confident around people she barely knows but like Hyuuga Hinata (without the stuttering) around friends and loved ones… she's got it all backwards."
'Are you really surprised though? Cori-chan is obviously and most definitely not your average little girl. Also, her mother was buried alive in concrete and she witnessed an intense shinobi battle just a couple of weeks ago… that's bound to mess with your brain.'
"You're right I suppose."
Sakura nodded physically and moved to continue the introductions, "I'm Haru –"
"Haruno Sakura," Shinji finished before she could, then, turning to look behind him, "Along with Uzumaki Naruto and Sai-kun."
"Creepy…"
"I was at the town the refugees from your last mission were herded to, they were all abuzz about you three. Also the Hokage stated all of your names at one point or another back there," Shinji explained neutrally. Naruto and Sakura breathed sighs of relief and laughed nervously at the obvious answer, Sai loosened his grip and let go of the kunai he had been pulling out of his leg holster. Shinji continues, "And I've been observing all of you –" Naruto and Sakura's faces went from relief to grimaces in a second and Sai now had his kunai out in the open, knuckles white form the hard grip.
"—I wanted to see if you were really as wonderful as those refugee's had described you." Everyone relaxes slightly, "Kage's and their people will say almost anything to get you to come to their Hidden Village for help. I needed proof that Konoha was the kind, strong, village it was so cracked up to be. The best way to achieve that is by observing the shinobi loyal to that village," He shook his head, "The hypocrisy I have seen in some of the other Hidden Villages… it was enough to make me sick. I needed proof before I came to your Hokage to ask for aid."
Other than being slightly unnerved that they hadn't been able to detect him 'observing them', Team 7 was completely at tease again, Sai had even put away his kunai.
"How long?" Naruto asked.
"Almost 2 weeks." Shinji replied
Naruto and Sakura's jaws dropped, Sai's eyes widened.
"Are you a shinobi?" Sai inquired suspiciously.
"I am not, though I'm not your average civilian either."
The clear, resonating laughter broke out again, "Not your average civilian either indeed. Umamoto's are known for their sometimes painful honesty… when it's convenient of course…" Ruin glanced around at the teens, as if he was teaching them something.
"Are you part of a clan then Umamoto-san?" Sakura queried.
"Of sorts… as is Ruin-kun."
More laughter "Not any longer I'm afraid, I found a higher calling."
Shinji's head snapped up in shock and his eyes widened in… disbelief, admiration, question? Sakura couldn't tell. A semi-awkward silence followed, "Um-oh… what would you like to have for lunch?"
"ICHIRAKU'S!" Naruto immediately yelled.
"Not you baka! Our guests get to choose!" Sakura walks to Naruto and bops him again.
"Ow!" Naruto whines, "Sakura-chan!"
"Ichiraku's?" Ruin asks.
"It's Naruto's favorite ramen shop," Coriander clarifies.
"Ah." Ruin turns to Sakura, "I don't have a problem with Ramen."
Sakura looks at Shinji, who replies, "Ramen would be fine."
"YES!" Naruto jumps up, one fist in the air.
Sakura sighs in resignation, "All right, we'll get take-out form Ichiraku's, and eat in the park by your hotel that you'll be staying in, if you'll follow me?" She sweeps her left arm outward then turns and begins walking again… this time however, with Naruto in the lead, giving everyone an unfortunately good view of his victory dance.
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"So basically I need to decide the most qualified close range taijutsu shinobi, the most qualified with either mind techniques -or- unnaturally strong willpower, along with a decent diplomat and some good old-fashioned brute force?" Shikamaru drawls, leaning back in the newly replaced chair.
Tsunade nodes, "They'll need to also be shinobi that can keep their mouths shut, their tempers minimalized, and be able to take this mission seriously. As a matter of face, you seem to be taking this rather calmly…"
A sigh, then, "Life's troublesome. I've learned not to be surprised by anything anymore after some of the techniques I've seen used…" his face grows darker as memories of the fight with Hidan and Kakuzu came flooding in, "It's easier to stay relaxed if you're ready to accept anything."
Tsunade leans back as well, considering the jounin's words (yes Shikamaru made jounin, only to get his mom to stop nagging at him about it though). She hands him the paper Shizune had written her pervious decision on to the almost asleep Nara.
His chocolate eyes flicker over the paper, "Nani? I have to fine the three most qualified nins for each position?" He whines, "Tsunade, that's going to take forever !"
"You have until tomorrow to get it done!" she snaps, "If you don't fall asleep or get distracted while you should be working, with that genius head of yours, you should be done in a few hours!"
Shikamaru stands in dismay. "A few hours? But –"
"OUT NARA! You have your orders! I have paper work to do!" She stands, moving around the desk and pushing the bewildered Shikamaru out the door.
'Since when does she willingly do paperwork???' He asks himself as he's roughly shoved out one of the double doors, stumbling and catching himself on the wall, 'Troublesome woman! I could have fallen!'
"Tonton!" Tsunade calls sweetly from the door. The necklace-wearing pot-bellied pig comes trotting obediently around the corner, "There she is!" Tsunade coos and holds the door open for the pink animal, then with one final glare at the completely baffled deer caretaker, the well-endowed blonde disappears into her office, closing the door.
'That woman is insane! What's with the pig?' Shaking his head Shikamaru makes his way out of the Hokage Tower, meeting a rather flustered, arms full, and very off-balance Shizune. Sighing, the lazy shinobi takes the brown paper grocery bags from the woman, filled with sake bottles it seems, – no surprise there – rearranged them into a more efficient bundle, and handed them back to the now on-balance Shizune.
"Thank-you Shikamaru-kun!" She smiles brightly.
He shrugs, "It would have been more troublesome if you had dropped them… I would have had to help you clean it up."
Shizune laughs, "Thanks anyway. Any idea what the cranky old lady's up to?" She nods toward the Tower, as if Shikamaru needed any clarification.
"Yeah, she just got done throwing me out to do 'paperwork'."
The medic nin looks puzzled, " 'Paperwork' usually means 'sake time', but," Shizune holds up her bags full of sake as a testament, "Maybe napping?" she ponders.
"She had that little pig with her too."
"Tonton? I was wondering why she went running off up the stairs so fast… she's the one that set me off balance… What's going on?"
"I don't know but I've got to get going –"
"Oh no, you're coming with me!" She grabs Shikamaru's wrist and starts dragging him back up the stairs.
"No! I don't wanna go back there! Let go you troublesome wo–"
"Shh! We're trying to be sneaky!"
"Shizune –"
"Shh!"
Shikamaru groans as they reach the top of the stairs and Shizune sets down her fragile bundle. Then they both reach the Hokage's office doors, one on each side.
Shizune holds up 3 fingers, puts on down, then the next, and finally the last. Both of them grab a door and open it outward a couple of inches, peaking through the opening.
A line of paperwork stretches across the room, forming a wide circle. Tonton is on the inside of the circle, a pad of ink secured to her right front hoof, and the Hokage's official stamp secured to the bottom of her left front hoof. The little pig merrily trots clockwise from paper to paper, pausing at each to daintily cross her left hoof over and press the stamp into the pad of ink, then carefully stamping on the correct line at the bottom right corner of each page. A line of paper towels lines the inside of the circle, preventing the remaining ink on the stamp from staining the hardwood floor.
The Godaime, in all her blond glory, was slumped over her desk, face-down and fast asleep, steadily drooling.
"Genius…" whispers Shikamaru, word and expression filled with awe.
Shizune draws in a breath, shuddering from rage, "Poor Tonton!" she hisses, then… "TSUNADE!"
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Shinji looks up from his ramen, the Hokage's name still echoing off the surrounding trees, and looks at Sakura, who nervously laughs and scratches the back of her head, "Uhh… probably a medical emergency…" she lies unsteadily.
Coriander's eating next to Ruin, who's shed his cloak again and is stretched out languidly on his side, laying down and methodically slurping up is ramen. His skirt… thing… from the knees up, wasn't showing any more than it had when he was standing. The rest of his glorious body was showing however, something Sakura's apple-green's were taking full advantage of.
Naruto, already finished with his five bowls, leans over to Sai, "It's GOT to be some kind of jutsu." Hw whispers in amazement, pointing at Ruin's perfectly arranged skirt that still wasn't exposing anything.
Ruin looks up, and Naruto quickly leans away from Sai, cleaning imaginary dirt out from under his fingernails, "Sakura, Sai, Naruto…" All three look up at the red haired man addressing them.
"I wish our hair was that smooth," Inner Sakura sighs, eyeing Ruin's long hair that reached the bottom of this shoulder blades when he was standing and was now splayed over the grass, "We should have bought that conditioner… ooh! He's talking!"
"—wonder if you all could do a favor for me?" he muses, and without waiting for a reply continues, "Sit all in a row will you?" Sakura rises and goes to sit next to Sai and Naruto. "Now," Ruin continues, "Just sit still with your eyes open and allow me to touch the sides of your heads, there will be no pain I promise…" He stands and moves toward Sakura, kneeling in front of her and looking down, material of his clothing sliding comfortably in between his legs. Sakura resists rather valiantly the urge to look down, "What are you –" she stops mid-sentence as Ruin places his fingertips on each side of her head and she meets his eyes. Red-gold fills her vision and her pupils dilate as she seems to see an image of a younger Ruin, laughing. Sakura feels suddenly very much at ease, and smooth warmth seems to fill her head and her hands.
Shinji's eyes narrow suspiciously.
The warmth leaves and the vision of laughing Ruin melts back to a rippling sheet of red-gold, which reforms back into Ruin's beautiful eyes. He nods in approval and releases his hold, "Precise chakra control, hidden strength both physically and mentally." He winks at her.
"EEK!" Inner Sakura squeaks, "He knows about me!"
'What? How?'
But Ruin had moved on to Sai, repeating the process. However, when the vision is given to Sai, he tenses, not understanding how to react to it or the warm sensation. Ruin pulls away, shaking his head, "Exceptional shinobi, but emotionally stunted. Best left with friends…"
He moves on to a now completely lost Naruto, who's looking back and forth from Sai to Sakura and back again. Naruto feels Ruin's fingertips on his temple and hears a soft command, "Look at me." He does, and is immediately enveloped in red-gold and warmth. He reacts differently from both Sai and Sakura, suddenly appearing and feeling very happy. Smooth warmth filling Ruin's hands as well as Naruto's head and hands.
Ruin eyes widen and he pulls away, smiling, "A lot of potential, a freakishly large supply of power, and a giving personality. For your village's and the world's sake, I hope there are more people like you Naruto."
"Konohamaru…" Sai suggests, referring to personality.
"What exactly are you here in Konoha for Ruin-kun?" Sakura asks, somewhat shaken.
Ruin's white teeth flash in a smile and he leans back to sit, right arm propped behind him, the other slung casually over his raised left knee. The other leg was folded comfortably to the side, and he looks Sakura up and down, raising and eyebrow before, "An apprentice of course."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Author's Notes xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank a MASSIVE thunderstorm for this update. Our power was out for 14 hours and I had nothing to do so I wrote this chapter by candlelight with good old-fashioned notebook and pen.
Any suggestions or reviews hearts you have are welcome. I will incorporate your suggestions as long as they don't mess with the basic storyline I have compiled in my head.
Do you guys like more Action? Dialogue? Or is how it is now ok? Let me know.
Thanks to: numberoneklutz
FakeCompassion
Gizmo369 and
PinkxxxReaper
You guys make me feel all warm and fuzzy and most importantly, motivated. Hope you enjoyed the chapter
Anilmathiel.