Ok, everybody. Here's the latest chapter. Sorry, I didn't mean to take so long, but a chunk of my life was swallowed up by a black hole I refer to as Madden 06. I'm over it now so I hope everybody enjoys. Please, review.
I don't own Naruto in any way shape or form, but if I did this is how it would go.
TALKING
After they finished eating dinner. Jiraiaya looked at his companions and asked. "Shino, Hinata, could you please put everything up? I have to have a talk with Kiba." Everyone looked at him with mild surprise. Why did he want to talk to Kiba? There was a long pause as they waited for an explanation, but none was forthcoming. Instead he got up and looked at them and asked. "So can you?"
That brought them out of it. Kiba was most interested, but he was the one that was about to talk to him so he needn't ask. Hinata answered however. "Hai." She shot a look at Shino and finished. "We'll take care of it." She got up and began to pick up. Shino hesitantly got up and began helping her.
Jiraiya looked over at Kiba and asked him to follow him. "Alright follow me. Akamaru can come too if he wants. Though it isn't really something to do with him." Jiraiya turned around and began making his way across the clearing. Giving Kiba and Akamaru time to decided on whether they would both go. Kiba ended up following alone. He followed Jiraiya to a smaller clearing, Jiraiya put his scroll on the ground and used it like a log sitting on it. He turned to Kiba and said. "Take a seat Kiba." Kiba did so curious as to why they were out here. "I know you're curious about what I wanted to talk about so I'll get to the point. Hinata talked to you earlier, I don't know what she said exactly, but I have an idea. Anyways, I know you didn't choose to come out here with me, but for the time being we're a team. So I called you out here to get to know you a little bit better." Kiba didn't fully trust him, but he didn't say anything. "I would ask you what you think of me, but I don't feel like getting insulted right now. So instead I'll ask do you understand why I've done the things that I've done?" Jiraiya asked.
Kiba let out a hmph, but tried to answer as best he could. "You wanted to test us. Is that it? Whatever, all you really wanted to do was piss me off and you succeeded. Happy now." He said.
Jiraiya hmphed right back at him. "Wrong. Pissing you off was just a bonus. It's true I did it so that I could see where you all were at and other various measurements of your skills. However the other reason I did it is so that you guys could reflect on your own skills and deficiencies. I split each of you up and attacked individually to give you a chance to gage yourselves in an individual environment." Jiraiya could see that Kiba didn't really care about this so Jiraiya kept going this time with a little edge in his voice. "You know why I did that?" He asked.
Kiba looked at Jiraiya dead in the eye and said. "I don't need to know why a weird person like you does what he does and frankly I could care less."
'Restraint Jiraiya, restraint, don't kill your team mate' Jiraiya thought to himself. "You should care, you know why I called you out here before Hinata?" Jiraiya didn't give Kiba the time to answer. "It's because you're the weakest in the group! I'm here to try to help, if you don't want to better yourself fine. Hinata will take what I say seriously and take advantage of the help I'm offering. Shino is the most complete shinobi in your group so he's already on the way to getting better. You on the other hand are too stubborn to even know what it is that you need help with!" Jiraiya said, almost on the verge of yelling.
Kiba wasn't about to let this bastard talk to him like that. "Old man you don't know anything about me! Don't talk to me like that!" Kiba yelled at him.
Jiraiya didn't yell back instead he met Kiba's eyes and said in a much calmer voice. "I know how to kick your ass. Don't I? I know something about you alright, I know that you can't do anything to stop me from whipping your ass like a dominatrix." That shut Kiba up.
Kiba knew that was the truth, even though his pride didn't want to accept it. His mind and body knew this was the truth, even though he didn't know what a dominatrix was, it sounded pretty bad. Like a sullen child he sat down and said. "So what?"
Jiraiaya looked at the young shinobi and knew he wasn't hopeless. "Like I said earlier, I'm willing to offer you help, it can't hurt to listen. I'll make a deal with you. If you can find out your biggest weakness by tomorrow and swallow your pride enough to tell me what it is you want me to help you with...then you will only have to pay for half of the meals you were supposed to pay for. Does that sound fair?" Jiraiya said that as he was getting up.
Kiba stayed sitting down looking sullen as ever. "Whatever...I'll think about it." he said.
Jiraiya picked up his scroll and swung it onto his back once again. He then began walking back to the camp and in an almost enthusiastic voice called back. "That's good kid. We gots to get going now. We gotta make tracks if we wanna get to where I wanna get to tonight!"
After a few seconds Kiba got up and began to follow. He looked at Jiraiya's back and muttered under his breath. "What an asshole."
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Naruto had no idea what had turned Chiyo around, but he felt they were making progress and he was loving it. Even though he knew this was a dangerous mission he couldn't help but enjoy the wind rushing through his hair, the strain of his muscles, the anticipation of a battle. Knowing that he could do that in order to help someone he cared about just made it that much sweeter.
While Naruto was looking forward to the encounter, thoughts and replaying all the events leading up to this were occupying Kakashi's mind. He wanted to stop and get everything in perspective, yet the mission was urgent and time was of the essence. There were so many questions they brought up he would rather have answered before their encounter. He went through his memories an plucked the most recent one out. Naruto and Sakura seemed not to notice, but Kakashi had seen it clearly. When Chiyo laid eyes on Naruto's seal there was definitely recognition in her eyes. Not a vague recognition, but almost as if she saw a ghost of her past. This seemed to have been the turning point in her attitude and he had to make sure it wasn't some sort of act she was putting on. He moved closer to Chiyo as they ran so that they could speak. "Chiyo-san I have a question. How do you recognize the seal on Naruto's stomach?" Kakashi asked.
Chiyo looked at Kakashi briefly and didn't answer. She had been thinking as they were running and even though she knew she wouldn't get over the resentment she had towards this mans father she came to see that he knew nothing about it. She didn't feel like answering his question, but as she thought about it, it seemed like a small request and remembering the boy's words she decided she would answer. She searched through he vast storage of memories until she found the ones she wanted. "Long ago, when I was a young girl myself, before the last great shinobi war I saw it. Not on skin of course. I studied under one of his clan members, masters of seals they were. I learned the seal I used to seal the Shukaku in Gaara from him." As soon as those words left her mouth however she was violently grabbed by the cuff of her robe. Intense power coming from the boy who now had her in his hands.
Naruto had been traveling a little behind them and had not been paying much attention to what they were saying. He became curious quickly though, thinking maybe they were about to discuss a strategy on how to handle the mission. However as he came within earshot the news that he heard were not what he had expected to hear. ' the seal I used to seal the Shukaku in Gaara.' The implication of her words hit Naruto immediately and the anger rose in his chest to fast for him to prevent him from thinking it through. He was instantly in front of her grabbing her robes in his hand murderous intent in his eyes. She met his eyes, fear beginning to come into them when Naruto began yelling at the top of his lungs. Completely unaware of the crazy chakra that his body was giving off. "YOU DID THAT TO GAARA! YOU BITCH!" He planned to go on yelling at her, but he was tackled by Kakashi before he had a chance to do so.
Kakashi couldn't believe she was going to answer him. When she did start speaking though it was information Kakashi knew would be of relevance later on. He was listening intently and was completely taken by surprise by Naruto's actions. He had no idea what Naruto was thinking, but Kakashi knew that he was once again acting recklessly. Kakashi wasn't about to let Naruto's impulses ruin the mission after coming so far. He tackled Naruto as he was yelling at Chiyo. Kakashi looked down at Naruto and saw his eyes shut tightly, Kakashi didn't know if he was right but he thought that Naruto was holding back tears. "What's wrong with you Naruto." Kakashi's worst fear came bubbling to the top, was the Kyubi taking over Naruto. Naruto's response put that fear to rest though.
Naruto had indeed held back tears of frustration. He had gone through so much and all that because of the damn seal on his belly. He knew the pain Gaara had gone through and at that moment when he heard her saying that so casually he felt hatred for her and acted on impulse. Even though he had successfully reigned in his emotions, his thoughts were still the same. "How could she say that so casually." Naruto said through gritted teeth. "Gaara's gone through so much. How can she say that like it's nothing Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi looked at his former pupil and his heart felt heavy. Even though he had been through so much he still had a lot of innocence in him. Kakashi tried to explain it to him as best he could. "Naruto, I'm not going to stand up for her actions because I don't know her motive. I will tell you this though, nobody realizes the full extent of the repercussions of their actions. You can try to explain it to others, but to them the pain you feel is an abstract concept, only those who have gone through it know what it really is." Kakashi put his hand on Naruto's shoulder in a friendly gesture. "I know you deserve a better explanation, but now is not the time. Gaara is counting on us Naruto, we have to make haste." Kakashi liked the determination he saw return to Naruto's eyes.
Naruto knew Kakashi was right. He stood up and waited for them to get up and then he looked at Chiyo and said "I won't apologize for my actions. After this mission we should talk." Naruto said.
Chiyo felt chills hearing him say that in that tone. Not because of the actual threat in them, but because they reminded her so much of somebody from long ago. She did not respond however, instead she gathered herself and began to run once again, quickly finding the ferret and following it. Kakashi in the others once again began to follow.
Kakashi was still interested in what Chiyo had to say. He moved closer once again hoping that Chiyo would again talk to him. He hoped the incident with Naruto would not have pissed her off to the point she wouldn't talk. He got close enough and apologized for Naruto. "I'm sorry about Naruto's actions. This is personal for him." Kakashi said.
Chiyo looked at him and kept running. It wasn't a long wait before she spoke though. "There's no need to apologize, I can understand where he's coming from. I don't take what I did to Gaara lightly. However it had to be done. I can't imagine what they go through and if Naruto hates me for it, I can't say I blame him." Chiyo said.
The response took Kakashi by surprise somewhat, he had not expecte the response he got. It made him more confident she would not be against continuing her story. He broached the subject once again. "So you were telling me about how one of Naruto's clan taught you the sealing technique." he asked.
Chiyo let out a loud hmph. "I never said he taught it to me. I learned it from one of his scrolls. It was never his intent to teach that technique to me." She answered. That was all she said.
FLASHBACK/ A young Chiyo was sneaking into her room, she went to her desk and unrolled the scroll she had taken from her teachers study. He was away and wouldn't be back for a couple of days. She had gone through most of his scrolls and that is where she had seen the seal on Naruto's belly. At the time however she could not understand all the language of it. So she didn't take it. Instead she kept going through his scrolls until she found one she could understand. She stole out of his study and now in her room she unrolled it to study it more closely. She was fascinated by the scroll in front of her. She knew she would have to return the scroll soon so she took out one of her own scrolls and began copying the contents of the scroll by hand. It took her almost half a day to finish her task and when she finally finished it was already four in the morning. She rolled up both scrolls and hid her copy. She would return the original when she awoke. She fell asleep almost immediately. She looked at her watch and began to panic, it was already noon. She got her bearings quickly though and realized that she had to take the chance that he hadn't returned yet. She quickly dressed and returned the scroll. He had not returned her mission had been successful.
Her teacher didn't return for another day after that. She breathed a sigh of relief and thought herself in the clear. That day as she sat in class she remembered him walking by her desk before the class began. He looked down at her with eyes that haunted her for a long time and put his hand down on her desk. "Chiyo, after this lesson we should talk." She remembered not being able to pay attention to anything that day. She remembered the anxiety that she felt after class walking to his office and the desire to run away. The feeling of being foolish, for her nervousness, because she had nothing to worry about.
She remembered going into the office. She didn't remember anything about the room and very little about her teacher. The only thing she remembered was his eyes. That's the one thing that followed her for years after that experience, that and the power he showed.
She took a seat in front of him and he began to speak. "Chiyo you remember you weren't going to be in my class?" She nodded. He continued. "You remember how you begged me to get you in here?" She nodded once again. "You remember I spoke on your behalf to allow you to join my class?" She nodded once again. "Then why?" He asked.
"Why what?" She asked playing innocent.
"Why do you betray my confidence? Am I not teaching you enough?" He looked at her with those deep blue eyes.
Chiyo wasn't about to admit anything. "What are you talking about sensei. I didn't do anything wrong." She said.
Her teacher took this in and let out a long breath. "Chiyo, this is the last class I will be teaching. After this I am leaving." He said.
She thought he was joking. "Why are you saying that." She asked.
He looked at her seriously. "Because I am no longer happy here. I am returning to my clan. However the only thing that should concern you is that you will no longer be a part of my class." he said.
Chiyo was stunned. "W-WHY SENSEI!"
He calmly said. "I already said it you betrayed my confidence, I won't teach someone who insults me. Now leave." He said.
"I didn't do anything sensei. I swear." She said.
Her sensei stood up. "Stop it Chiyo, stop lying to me and leave now." he said.
She yelled at him. "I DIDN'T LIE!"
Anger came into his face. "You expect me to believe you, you keep insulting me!"
She wasn't about to get kicked out of the class that easily. "NO I'M NOT LEAVING! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" She yelled at him. She immediately regretted that decision. Fear gripped her as she saw her teachers eyes change. She would never forget that. Those eyes with the gold irises that formed a cross would never leave her memory.
"Can't I?" he said almost casually, anger underlying his every word. Fear gripped her as she began to feel his chakra. It was almost palatable at that point. She didn't remember what happened next, but woke up in the hospital two days later. When she asked what had happened, nobody told her. Nobody seemed to know or maybe they were to afraid to do so. She never knew which it was. However she never went near his class after that and what he said was true, after the class was finished he disappeared. /END FLASHBACK.
Kakashi was still waiting for her to continue and after a while when she didn't he asked again. "So what happened?"
Chiyo looked at him and said coldly. "I don't remember." That was the end of their conversation.
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Rock Lee and Neji were still running at full speed. Neji saw the dots begin to grow and as they ran began to take shape. They must have stopped he thought. He and Rock Lee weren't about to stop though they raced towards the figure. After a few moments they began to move again, but at this point a grin crept onto his face. "Lee we've found them, I recognize that disgusting orange outfit anywhere." Neji said.
Rock Lee smiled at that. He let out a loud whoop of joy. He jumped in the air and yelled. "WE'RE COMING NARUTOOOOO!" He began to laugh as they ran.
PREVIEW
Enemies await in the sand. Unexpected re-union.
RSO'S
dragonman180- Oh, I don't think so. I dropped a tidbit, or maybe a bomb in this chapter. lol.
demon of konoha- Were? All the members dead and gone? Are you sure about that? lol, am I teasing you hard enough yet? J/K. Who knows. I want to explore their history though. I think theres alot of things that would be interesting about them.
acrazygirlofmanynames- Thanx, I hope this one was great too. Was it? lol.
causeiambetta- yeah, mytery is a good thing, it keeps everyone guessing.
shiboito- thanx for the review.
danny- Thanx. Actually it was Itachi that made it appear. His jutsu makes it so that Naruto was trapped in his own mind. So in a way it was hiding Naruto from Itachi. Yeah they are and it's only beginning. MWUAHHAHAHAHAHA. yeah, its about time she stopped being a hag. lol. Not a problem, hope you did well on your finals.
warprince- Ey I remember you. Do you only review when I take a long time in updating. Lol, well thas cool, thanx for reminding me to update soon.
jeefus- Oh happy days. I'm glad your enjoying it. I think they'll get a chance to talk soon, it's just been so much going on they haven't been able to really sit down and have a pow wow yet. Oh, god if you only knew the things I had in store for Sakura. Wait till she finds out all about Naruto. I know I'm sorry, I didn't think it would take so long to get them together, but I'm setting it up so that they have a... well, I guess I really shouldn't talk about it yet. Sorry, my grammer sucks, I'm so sorry, I try though. Hmm, I don't know about making the chapters longer yet. I'll have to really think about it. About the updates I try to update once a week, sometimes more if possible, but I have a hectic life so there isn't always a guarantee when I'll update, but like I've said before. I'll definetely finish this arc.