Desert Fox Redux
A story by Zaion Indulias
Chapter 2: A History that Never Was and the Future that Will Be
As Temari finished her story the blond kunoichi closed her mouth and looked over at the boy sitting by her side. Like the others in the room the young boy was looking at her with a mixture of shock, incredulity, and fear in his eyes. If what she had told them was true, then all of them, every single person in that room, had died. In a future that had yet to happen. In a future that thanks to Temari's actions would now never have to happen.
The silence in the room was deafening, and Temari had no doubt that should a mouse make a peep it would promptly find itself being killed six ways to Sunday in an instant. Finally, after nearly a minute of everyone just staring at her, she sighed and stood up from where she had been sitting next to Naruto on the couch in the large office. Turning before anyone could react she dropped onto Naruto, embracing the still shocked blond boy in a hug, muttering "I'm sorry" over and over again as she buried her tear-filled face into his chest. The other four inhabitants of the room, including the blond boy she was currently clinging onto for dear life, stared at her in shock, not quite sure what to do.
Sarutobi Hiruzen still hadn't gotten over the news that he had supposedly died in this future that the Suna kunoichi claimed she had lived; and that his old student Orochimaru had been the one to kill him.
Hatake Kakashi could not believe that his student, the last of the loyal Uchiha, could possibly have betrayed Konoha. His eyes narrowed and the only thought in his head was 'this must be a trick'.
Morino Ibiki attempted to keep his stoic mask up on his face, but inwardly he was shook up. The knowledge she had presented as proof of her story had included facts about himself that no one could possibly have known, facts that only the Hokage himself had ever known.
And Uzumaki Naruto, the fourth and final occupant of the room next to Temari her self, had the most to absorb. This girl who held him in her arms and was crying claimed that she was his wife. That they had met when he was older, fallen in love, gotten married, and lived relatively happily until his teammate Sasuke betrayed him.
But Sasuke's my teammate! He's like a brother to me! He even said he wanted to face me in the finals!
But then Naruto looked down at Temari's tear-filled eyes as the blond girl paused in her sobbing to look up at him. He saw loneliness there, a need that he understood quite well. He saw the raw desire and need she had for him- no, not just for him, but for his acceptance and understanding as well. All too well he recognized that look, one which he had seen in the mirror far too often when he was younger. This girl, this gorgeous girl who made him wonder why he had ever been interested in Sakura in the first place, wanted him! She needed him, no one else!
Slowly Naruto leant his head down as his arms closed around Temari's back, his grip firm but reassuring. The occupants of the room watched silently with baited breath as the couple's lips brushed lightly against one another. The kiss lasted for only a moment, but when the pair broke apart Hiruzen Sarutobi could see that Temari was smiling once again.
"I love you, Naruto." She whispered softly as she leant her head back against his chest and snuggled in against his body. "And I always will. That's my promise of a lifetime."
As the two blonds curled up on the couch in the Hokage's office, drifting off to sleep after the mental and emotional exhaustion they had just suffered, the Sandaime ushered Ibiki and Kakashi quietly into his small private study. Once they were inside he closed the door securely behind him and channeled some of his chakra into an innocuous spot on the wall, triggering the privacy seals that the Yondaime had placed around the room before his death.
"Now, I feel this goes without saying, but I must say it anyways to make sure you both fully understand. What has been discussed here is an S-Rank secret. Should you ever repeat a word to anyone, or even mention this meeting, I will have you declared a missing-nin and bring all the forces at my command down upon you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was strong and full of power, despite the fact that he was still quite shaken by the revelations that had been presented to him by the young daughter of the Yondaime Kazekage. He would still need to investigate some of the information she had given him, but every instinct in his body told him that the girl had been telling the truth. Her emotion had been too real, too wild and unrestrained to have been false. He would bet the lives of the entire village of Konoha that that girl loved Naruto unreservedly and with her entire heart, and that everything she had said was the truth as she knew it.
"But Hokage-sama, she's an enemy. And the wild accusations she has made against loyal Konoha shinobi, frankly I find them offensive." Kakashi's responded to his Hokage. The Hatake was most certainly not pleased that his prized student had been so maligned by the blond girl, nor with the undue attention she was showing towards Naruto.
"That is enough, Hatake." Ibiki said as he cut the silver-haired Jounin off. "The boy is impressive, and I am beginning to think that his relative lack of skill is not from any lack of ability, but either a lack of proper training…or perhaps even active attempts to sabotage his training."
The scarred Tokubetsu Jounin who ran the Torture and Interrogation division of the ANBU stared pointedly at Kakashi.
"You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you, Hatake-san?"
Ibiki's voice did not sound friendly.
Kakashi swallowed before replying.
"I have trained my students in teamwork and chakra control. Also, I am going to train Sasuke in the use of the Shunshin and the Chidori for the finals of the exam."
As the Hokage regarded a portrait of the Yondaime with a thoughtful expression on his face Kakashi smirked at Ibiki. His smirk was promptly wiped from his face as Ibiki spoke again.
"I notice that you have not mentioned anything about actually training all of your students to fight. And even if you might want to focus on the two who are competing in the finals more exclusively for the next month, you didn't mention a thing about Naruto. That tells me that your focus is on teaching the Uchiha, and that any training you give Naruto is an afterthought."
Ibiki was if nothing else, extremely fucking perceptive.
"Is this true, Kakashi?" The Hokage asked as he turned away from the poster he was contemplating. He did not look happy. "Have you really been neglecting your teacher's son in favor of training the Uchiha."
Kakashi just stared right back. "With all due respect, Hokage-sama, Naruto will never be anything more than a cut rate shinobi. He is better used as a rival to drive Sasuke to train harder until such time as Sasuke masters his Sharingan and then relegated to duties guarding unimportant areas of Konoha. I will not be training him for the finals as Sasuke requires all of my attention, but I already have someone lined up to train him for the next month."
Kakashi was banking on the Hokage accepting his reports of Naruto's abilities and agreeing with his point of view.
"Very well. Hatake Kakashi, until the finals you are currently assigned to train Uchiha Sasuke at your discretion. However, I will make arrangements for your other two students to receive training during this period. You are dismissed, and are hereby under orders to forget everything that happened here tonight. Should I find out that there has been a leak, I will hold you personally responsible."
Kakashi smiled behind his mask before nodding and exiting the room. As he left the Hokage's office he didn't spare the sleeping blond couple wrapped in each other's arms on the couch a first glance, much less a second.
Back in the study the Hokage waited for the door to close behind Kakashi and for the privacy seals to reengage. Once he was sure that they were secure he turned to face Ibiki.
"I want you to put together an analysis of Haruno Sakura's capabilities. Determine what training she would most benefit from, and present to me a list of possible Jounin who can be assigned as her instructor, at least temporarily." The Hokage said firmly. "After these exams are over, Hatake Kakashi will neither be in command of or responsible for Haruno Sakura or Uzumaki Naruto. He has proven incapable of training them properly, and thus they will be assigned instructors appropriate for their abilities."
Ibiki smirked at how skillfully his Hokage had played Hatake Kakashi. By seemingly agreeing with Kakashi's position the silver-haired Jounin was now out of the way, and by the time he might even consider complaining about the events that had been set in motion, both of his neglected students would be firmly out of his control.
Sarutobi regarded the Yondaime's picture one last time before nodding silently to himself and turning back to Ibiki.
"I want you to issue standing orders to the ANBU. Jiraiya of the Sannin should be arriving shortly if he is not already in Konoha. I want him found and brought to me as soon as possible. Tell them to keep their eyes open around the public baths as he tends to spend a lot of his time peeping on the women bathing there." The Sandaime said in the tone of voice his subordinates dubbed "The Professor" after his nickname. "I also want you to issue standing orders to Alpha Division. They are to begin tracking the movements and activities of certain individuals who have been revealed to be disloyal to Konoha."
Ibiki nodded, his face stern as always. He did not say anything, as long years of service had taught him to anticipate when his Hokage still had more to say.
"If everything that that girl has said is true, then there may be a way to help Naruto, and to make up for all the mistakes I have made. But as Temari told us her self, the seals are apparently quite complex. I highly doubt that she has the ability to transcribe them properly, and the slightest mistake could doom them both." Sarutobi sighed. "I want you to select a skilled member of the Yamanaka Clan, one who you can trust with your life. If this is going to have any hope of success then we will need to use their clan techniques to transfer the image of the seals from Sabaku no Temari's mind directly into Jiraiya's."
As the Hokage finished speaking he turned to regard the portrait of the Yondaime again, dismissing Ibiki with a wave of his hand. He felt no need to add any further orders, as he trusted Ibiki with his life and knew that the stern man would do everything he had asked of him. As his underling exited the room a single tear dripped from the Sandaime Hokage's right eye.
I'm sorry, Minato. I failed to do as you wished, and I fear that Konoha may one day lose your legacy forever.
The Sandaime Hokage had known Naruto his entire life, and he had no illusions as to what drove the blue-eyed blond. The blond boy may very well have found his soul mate, and if that was true, then Sarutobi Hiruzen was certain that it was just a matter of time before Naruto would be forced to make the decision between his love and his village.
Back in the main part of his office Naruto and Temari slept on, blind to the world around them as they silently snuggled together for warmth and comfort.
When the Hokage woke him an hour later Naruto attempted to rub the sleep from his eyes when he realized that he was pinned and that someone had his arm in a death grip. He immediately tensed, but after a few moments he realized that whoever the figure was wasn't moving. Opening his eyes he looked down at the body that laid draped across him, taking in the blond hair and sleeping features of Temari as the memories of the last several hours came flooding back. Blinking in confusion for several moments Naruto just stared at the girl as she too came awake, stretching almost like a cat before meeting his eyes. To the surprise of Naruto and the Hokage the blond girl merely smiled, leant in, and kissed Naruto lightly on the lips.
When she didn't break the kiss for several long seconds Sarutobi cleared his throat to get their attention. The pair of blonds immediately shot apart, both of them turning bright red in embarrassment, but for different reasons. Temari was normally a very private person, so being caught in such an intimate moment by anyone, much less a man with the power of a Kage, was highly embarrassing to her.
Naruto on the other hand was thankful she had moved as the kiss had triggered a very noticeable biological reaction. He was also very thankful that his baggy clothes concealed it from the Hokage's view as well.
"I believe that it is about time for Sabaku-san to be heading home. If she remains here any later her teammates might become suspicious."
The Hokage watched as the blond girl's eyes fell at the realization that she needed to separate from the boy she claimed to love and as Naruto's eyes fell too.
That boy, he's fallen completely in love with her, for a second time if all she told us was true. I have no doubt in my mind that if he were forced to choose between her and anyone else that she would be the one he saved.
"I will personally get you out of the building without anyone knowing you had been here. I want you to meet Naruto at noon at Ichiraku's in three days time. Hopefully by then I should have everything gathered to determine if what you have told me is the truth. If the facts check out, then we may be able to extract those seals from your mind so that Konoha's greatest seal master can study them and if he thinks it is safe apply them to the both of you. As long as you both do not give away the events of this evening, any contact you have before then will be at your own discretion."
The look of unabashed happiness on Temari's face as the blond kunoichi spun and grabbed Naruto's head in her hands as she kissed him brought a smile to Sarutobi's wrinkled face.
To Temari the following three days felt like a dream. Her teammates, having been used to her disappearing for hours on end to train on her own or reflect on her memories, had not even bothered to ask her where she had been. Baki trusted her, Kankuro was afraid of her, and Gaara knew that whatever she was up to was her business and no one else's.
She had awoken early the next morning and promptly showered and gathered her gear to head out. She had immediately made a beeline for Ichiraku's and sure enough she found Naruto sitting there eating a bowl of ramen. She was about to run to him and embrace him in a hug when she noticed that he was hunched over in his seat and his eyes were down cast.
"What's wrong Naruto?" She asked as she quietly slid into the seat next to him, worry evident on her face as Naruto tensed momentarily. Then, much to her surprise – and her pleasure – the blond boy spun in his seat and leant across to her, kissing her firmly on the lips. The kiss was sloppy and clumsy but it made her smile because it was Naruto, her Naruto kissing her, and she didn't care how unskilled it was.
Temari smiled into the kiss before Naruto pulled back and looked sheepishly at the ground.
"Um, good morning, Temari." Naruto said as he flushed red.
Temari slid off of her stool but paused as Naruto tensed at her movement. Then memories of the way the Uchiha's whore had always treated Naruto flooded into her mind and she realized why he had tensed. He was afraid that she was going to hit him for kissing her.
Well, I better disabuse him of that notion right now.
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise as Temari's arms wrapped around him and he found her kissing him again. Completely oblivious to the surprised looks that Ayame and her father were shooting them and the looks of disgust or hatred that various passerbys were shooting them Naruto and Temari embraced one another, a mismatched but oh-so-perfect couple.
Across the street a dark-haired teen clenched his fist and his jaw before he turned and stomped away.
I will find Kakashi and make him teach me what I need to defeat Naruto in the finals. I'll prove myself the stronger and then I will make that woman my own.
The Uchiha's laughter as he stalked away took on a slightly insane characteristic.
When the third day finally came around Temari could find no sign of Naruto. She had been told to meet him at Ichiraku's at noon though, so she just assumed that he was being kept busy by the Hokage for whatever reason. It still made her feel lonely, since she had grown used to having him close once more, even if he was still a young idiot in serious need of some maturity.
As she wandered around the village, bored without her foxy ninja and his over-the-top energy she eventually became aware of four presences trailing her. Three were blatantly obvious, and she had caught the trio out of the corner of her eye on numerous occasions.
Seems that Konohamaru and his friends are curious about me. I bet it's because I'm all over his rival. Temari thought to herself with a small smirk. The way Konohamaru had looked up to her husband in the future had cemented her appreciation of the kid, even if he could be an idiotic brat like her foxy ninja.
The other presence was much harder to track, and she was only certain it was there because she had felt a brief chakra flare at one point when she had spun in an attempt to catch whoever it was had been following her.
The further through the village she went though the greater her suspicions became. Finally she ducked down an alley and used a technique that her husband and lover had taught her in the future. She didn't really have the chakra capacity yet to use it effectively in combat, but it would serve its purpose well here.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." She whispered softly as she formed a cross-shaped seal that always brought up memories of Naruto when he was in his element, fighting to protect those precious to him.
Temari hid herself and let the clone take her place walking out of the other end of the alley. With a little luck her mysterious pursuer would follow the clone thinking it was really her, and she could figure out who it was and what their interest in her was.
Fifteen minutes later Temari stood before a shaking Hyuuga Hinata. The blond girl had been surprised when her mysterious follower had not followed the shadow clone but rather made a beeline straight towards her. She had been even more surprised when the dark-haired girl had finally confronted her in another alley, shaking with repressed emotion.
"Y…who are you?! What are you t-to my Nar-Narut-to my Naruto-kun!!!?"
Temari blinked in surprised.
I knew she had this inner strength and resolve when she was older, but who would have guessed it reached this far back into her past. She must have loved Naruto fully well before this.
Temari knew full well that in her original life, Hyuuga Hinata had been the one romantic obstacle that had stood between her and Naruto's love. The girl had loved Naruto with all her heart, and when Temari and he had begun dating the girl had snapped. She had tried everything to break them apart, even attempting to drug Naruto and trick him into sleeping with her in order to make Temari think he had cheated on her, and even going so far as to-
No, no, I will NOT remember that. I will NOT!!!
Temari had to fight the tears that threatened to come as she briefly remembered what had been one of the worst experiences of her entire life…and the reason she would burn the entire world to the ground to protect her Naruto.
Temari's harsher personality aspects came forth as she attempted to head the problem off at the pass. No way in hell would she allow the surprisingly strong-willed Hyuuga heiress to interfere with her and Naruto's relationship a second time around.
"I am his mate, his lover, his soul mate. And you, Hyuuga Hinata, better learn to accept that."
The dark-haired girl with the pale eyes that was Hyuuga Hinata paled even further at this announcement.
No! It can't be! I'm supposed to get Naruto! Me, not this foreign fangirl bitch, ME!! I'm the one who's always cheered him on from the sidelines, I'm the one he cheered on to win during the exams, I'm the one who's always seen how amazing he is. Me, me, ME!!
Temari just gazed at Hinata coldly as she watched the emotions play across the normally soft-spoken girl's face. Finally Hinata spoke, her voice cracking from the intense emotion she was fighting to control.
"NO!! I won't accept that!! Naruto-kun is mine, do you here me?! I won't let some foreign trash come marching into Konoha and steal my love from me!! I will win his heart from you, just you watch!!" The girl screamed.
Hinata spun and ran away. Temari smirked and narrowed her eyes.
I bet she's gone to look for Naruto, or to ask her fellow kunoichi for advice. Either way, it won't help her. Naruto-kun is mine twice over.
Silently Temari prayed to whatever god was watching out for her in thanks that Naruto had fallen for her of his own will a second time, without suffering a devastating tragedy to bind them irrevocably.
She wasn't sure that she would have remained sane had fate thrown her that curveball again.
Temari arrived at Ichiraku's at five minutes to twelve to find Naruto already waiting for her. The blond boy looked glum until he saw her approaching. When he caught sight of her his face brightened into a wide smile and he shot out of his stool, racing towards her and tackling her into a hug before she had a chance to react. Temari chuckled and smiled down at the shorter blond as she ruffled his unruly blond hair.
"Careful, my foxy ninja. You won't always be scrawnier than me. If you aren't careful you could hurt me doing that." She said as her Naruto-kun smiled up at her. She distinctly remembered tackling him in just such a manner on their wedding night, only there was a distinct lack of clothes at the time and Naruto had been standing in front of a bed.
"Now, let's get some lunch before you lead me wherever we're supposed to go. I'm starving and some of Ichiraku's ramen sounds perfect to me right now."
If she hadn't witnessed it her self once long ago Temari would have sworn that Naruto's smile couldn't have been bigger.
The pair hurried back to Ichiraku's and dug into their meal with abandon. Temari had missed breakfast so she was almost keeping up with Naruto. She was on her tenth bowl when she finally had enough to eat, but rather than suggest they leave she just sat there and smiled as she watched Naruto dig into another eighteen bowls. She was pretty certain he must have missed breakfast as well, because he hadn't eaten nearly that many during any of their other dates over the past several days.
Finally Naruto had finished and with a happy cry of "thanks for the food" and after tossing money on the counter to pay for both his and her food (apparently the Hokage had given Naruto money to pay for their food and other expenses during the three day wait) he grabbed Temari by the hand and then took off at a breakneck pace for the Hokage's tower. It was only her training as a ninja that allowed Temari to keep up rather than being dragged through the air like some sort of human-shaped kite.
When they finally reached the Hokage's tower Temari was surprised when Naruto dragged her straight through the front doors and up to the Hokage's office. She kept shouting at him, asking why they weren't sneaking in, but all he would say was that "she would see when we get there. The old man's been really cool."
Temari had just sighed and shook her head as they crested the final set of stairs. The same old Naruto, always so impulsive and such a prankster at heart…she wouldn't change him for the world.
When the blond ignored the angry shouts of the Hokage's secretary and burst into the room she chuckled and flicked the teenage girl the bird. She remembered the bitch from one particular incident in the future where she had attempted to pick Naruto up in a bar. It had of course failed, since Naruto remembered the treatment she had always given before everyone had known that he was the son of the Yondaime.
What she saw when they entered the office made her blood run cold as glacial melt.
The Sandaime was standing in front of his desk. He was flanked by the tall stern man she remembered from the first meeting, a tall blond man with a long ponytail, the psycho-woman from the second exam, and a grey-haired man with long spiky hair who eyed her trim figure lecherously.
Yamanaka Inoichi, Morino Ibiki, Mitarashi Anko, Jiraiya. She mentally named the four shinobi before her. She had gotten to know Ibiki and Anko quite well in her previous life. Inoichi she knew in passing, as he was rumored to have been an expert interrogator in his younger days and was the father of one of Naruto's friends. And Jiraiya, she had never had the honor of actually holding a conversation with the man. He had died fighting Pein before she had ever begun dating Naruto.
But it was the other three occupants of the room who had made her blood run cold and made her tense up. Her hand was halfway to drawing her weapons when the Hokage spoke.
"There is no need for that, Sabaku-san. I assure you that you are safe."
Temari looked towards the remaining three members and analyzed their faces.
Kankuro was smirking, inwardly impressed by how sneaky his sister had been.
Gaara was frowning as he looked at her and Naruto, but it was a contemplative frown. He was still attempting to understand what the Hokage had told them, and at the same time he was attempting to determine whether this…boy who stood before him was really worthy of his sister.
And Baki was standing, his face stern and emotionless as he crossed his arms before him. But his eyes spoke a different story, and Temari finally relaxed.
"Genin Temari." Baki began formally. "The Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure has informed us that you are in possession of information indicating that the Kazekage of Sunagakure has been replaced by Orochimaru of the Sannin. These men are here to determine the veracity of your claim."
Temari glared at the Hokage for a moment.
"So you didn't believe me? You didn't trust me?" She asked angrily.
The Hokage, surprising her, smiled.
"Quite the contrary, Sabaku-san. It is precisely because we trust you that we have arranged this. Yamanaka Inoichi will use a technique that will link your mind with Baki's. Inoichi will not experience any of your memories, but rather form the link that will allow you to share your proof with Baki."
Temari's glare slowly disappeared as she understood what the Hokage hadn't said.
It can also be used afterwards to connect my mind…with Jiraiya's.
Temari smiled as she realized that she may be closer to getting her Naruto back than she had hoped.
"Very well then." She said, taking Naruto's hand again and clasping it tightly. She stepped forward and stood at attention. "Let's get this over with then."
After receiving a nod from the Hokage Inoichi stepped forward and performed a series of hand seals before reaching his hands out and taking hold of both Temari and Baki's wrists. To the occupants of the room it merely looked as if a faint haze of chakra spread from his hands onto their arms and their eyes glazed over. To the two involved, it was as if they were suddenly sucked into a sudden impenetrable blackness.
After a few moments of heart pounding fear Temari found herself standing in a small nondescript room. There were two chairs and a table in the center of the room and the walls, floor, and ceiling were a light tan. As she watched Baki materialized on the other side of the table, shaking his head to clear it. When he saw her he finally smiled before stepping forward and taking the seat before him. Temari eyed him warily and then took the other seat.
The two sat there, staring at one another in silence before Baki finally spoke.
"I know that you didn't have the best relationship with your father, Temari. I know you hated him, for what he did to your mother and your brother. And I know that you feel no sadness at his loss. This is merely a formality, to satisfy that interrogator of the Hokage's, Ibiki. I have not raised you to be deceitful, not to your own teammates and village. If you say you have proof that Kazekage-sama has been killed and replaced then I believe you. And I will do everything I can to assist Konoha in silently preparing for the invasion. The better prepared they are, the better the chance we will be able to save Suna lives and prevent an all out war that could destroy our beloved village." Baki said.
Temari opened her eyes wide in surprise. Baki's words had amounted as much to treason as her own actions had, should they be caught before they proved that the Kazekage had already been killed. After a moment she smirked and then reached across the table to grasp Baki's hand.
"Then trust me now, Baki-sensei, and see what I have seen."
With that there was a flash of orange and memories began to enter Baki's mind.
Naruto held onto Temari's hand tightly as he watched her face in worry. There was no sign of emotion, and her eyes were glazed over. This worried the blond boy, as he had begun to truly care for the girl who stood before him. She was bright and cheery, but with a fire that she didn't hesitate to unveil when something annoyed her. He could tell that she truly cared for him, and he could feel her love and passion when she kissed him. He could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice. It amazed him how intense it was, and how intense the feelings she had created in him were.
It was nothing like the crush he had had on Sakura. Even now he could barely remember or understand why he had liked the pink-haired girl. Sure, she was cute and smart and spunky, but…she utterly treated him like crap. When he thought about it, she just used him, like many others had. Temari on the other hand cared for him and him alone. Hell, she had proven that when she had come looking for him after the Sasuke incident. She had been crying and worried about him. Him, the village pariah. It was almost all he could do not to burst out laughing at the irony of it all.
When Temari finally blinked and Inoichi released her hand Naruto smiled and cheered, wrapping the taller girl in a hug. Temari smiled into the hug and shot a pointed look at Gaara when her younger brother started to look a little angry and sand began to drift slowly across the floor.
"That's enough of that, Gaara. I told you there was someone in this world I was seeking, and this is him. My Naruto, my foxy ninja, my love. I won't let anyone take him away from me. Not even you."
Temari leant down and kissed Naruto, smiling to her self as Naruto's kiss was a definite improvement from that first day on top of the Hokage's monument. The two lost themselves in the kiss as Baki shook himself back into reality and turned to address the Hokage.
"Hokage-sama, I formally offer my services as a spy and agent for Konoha for the duration of this crisis. Temari has proven to me conclusively that Suna has been betrayed by Orochimaru. As you have accused, we are planning an invasion working with Otogakure. However, it is now clear to me that this entire situation has been manipulated by Orochimaru. My only desire now is to prevent a war between Suna and Konoha, which I believe would be devastating for my people, and to save as many Suna lives as possible."
Baki knelt before the Hokage, surprising everyone in the room except for the old man.
"I am at your service, Hokage-sama."
That day the future of Konohagakure was changed. Whether it would be for the better would remain to be seen.
When the meeting with Baki had been completed the Suna-Jounin led his team out, loudly thanking the Hokage for acquiescing to his request of increased training space. It was necessary to conceal their arrangement until such time as the invasion actually began. It wouldn't do to tip off Orochimaru that they knew what he was up to.
Temari however had sent one of her Kage Bunshin off with them after reassuring her brothers that everything was ok. She just had a personal matter to discuss with Naruto and the Hokage. After giving Gaara a hug and reassuring the younger boy that she was not under any sort of duress she turned her attention to the Hokage, waiting until the room was clear before she began to speak.
"So, I'm assuming that you plan to use Inoichi's ability to help with the other matter that we discussed." She said cryptically.
"There is no need for secrecy here, Temari. Inoichi is one of my most trusted shinobi, and any secrets he learns here today he will take to his grave." The Hokage replied with a reassuring smile.
Temari still looked iffy, but after a moment she nodded and sighed.
"Well, let's get this over with. I don't like the way the Ero-sennin is looking at me."
"Hey, I'm not a pervert!" Jiraiya said, taking a stance. "I'm a-"
"A super pervert, I know." Temari said with a glare. "Naruto told me everything he knew about you, because he looked up to you more than almost any other person in his life. But I warn you now, if I ever catch you eyeing me in the wrong way, Naruto won't even have a chance to defend my honor. There won't be enough of you left for them to identify the body. Is that clear?"
Despite their clear difference in age and power, Jiraiya still swallowed.
"Um, I'm a little confused, but, can we begin? I need to get home to help my wife plant some new flowers this afternoon." Inoichi interrupted, a bit confused and wondering just what the hell he had just gotten himself into.
Both Temari and Jiraiya stared at one another for several more long seconds before turning towards Inoichi and nodding. The pair of them held out their arms and Inoichi performed his jutsu once again. As soon as they felt it take hold Temari took a deep breath, preparing her self for dealing with Naruto's single most perverted teacher of all time.
The second mind-to-mind connection took far longer than the first had. Inoichi was beginning to get worried when he felt the two minds finally separate and the drain on his chakra began to wane. As soon as the two subjects' minds were securely back in their bodies he let the jutsu end and stepped back, dropping onto the couch in exhaustion. It had taken nearly a full hour for Jiraiya to get the memories of the seals, so as far as Inoichi was concerned that man had better appreciate it.
Temari nearly collapsed from the strain of standing in one place for nearly an hour, but luckily for her Naruto was there to catch her. Her foxy ninja wasn't able to break her fall completely, but he was able to drop to his knees behind her so that she fell into his arms.
"Hey." Temari said softly as she looked up into Naruto's bright blue eyes with exhaustion evident in her voice. "Next time, I want to be lying in your arms before I do that."
Temari closed her eyes and Naruto could feel the change in her as the blond girl drifted off into sleep. He just stared down at her, unsure of what to do.
"Here." Ibiki said as he walked over. The older man knelt and lifted Temari, carrying her over to the other couch. "I suggest you sit down and get comfortable. I'm sure that your lover here will want to wake up to find herself in her arms. Inoichi's technique can be a trying ordeal if experienced for too long a period of time."
And the side effects of doing so often cause nightmares for a day or two in the subjects.
Naruto nodded and sat down, getting himself comfortable. As soon as he was he motioned for Ibiki to lay the blond girl down. When he was done Temari was laying on her back on the couch between Naruto's legs, her back against his stomach and her head nestled against his chest. Both Ibiki and the Hokage chuckled as they watched the blond girl roll onto her side and snuggle further against Naruto in her sleep, much to the confusion of the blond boy.
It's not surprising this close contact unnerves him a little though, given the upbringing he had. It's hard for him to even hug someone when it isn't just an impulse driven by happy thoughts. If he has to think about it he gets scared and worries that he will be punished for the contact.
Jiraiya on the other hand had stumbled over to the Hokage's desk and pulled a large bottle of sake out of a hidden compartment in the wall behind it. Not waiting for anyone else he took out a saucer and filled it three times, downing it in rapid succession. Before anyone had realized what was going on he had finished half the bottle and had set both the bottle and his saucer down in time to hear Temari's comment about wanting to be lying in Naruto's arms. He had to cheer the gaki, he had snagged one hell of a looker. The Ero-sennin was about to grin his usual lecherous grin when the Hokage turned to face him, speaking quietly as Ibiki went to help Naruto move Temari.
"Jiraiya…just what did she mean by 'next time'?" The Hokage asked with a raised eyebrow.
Jiraiya smiled sheepishly up at his old sensei.
"Just that, Hokage-sama. We will need to do this many times before I can be sure I got the seal transferred properly. It's so complex that simply giving me the memories won't be any good. I have to actually view her memories of it and study it fully before I will be able to apply it properly. It is…without a doubt…the single most complex seal I have ever seen. If we have a session like this once a day for the next month, I may be able to apply the seals by the final exam, but that's a big if. It would be safer if we waited until after the exams, when I can be sure I've memorized the seals properly. We are only going to get one chance at this, and the memories of how to apply the seal are millennia old. If I understood correctly, the technique used by the Kyuubi has drastic consequences, and there is a reason the Bijuu do not use it lightly just to change their own fates."
Jiraiya looked up at the Hokage with fear in his eyes.
"If the memories I was shown are correct, then the world itself has been nearly obliterated no fewer than eight times in our history, and the only reason we are even standing here is because one of the Bijuu sacrificed the bulk of their power and life energy to safe the planet. Whatever evil they may be, they wish this world to survive as much as any of us do."
On one of the couches in the room Temari and Naruto, who had fallen asleep stroking Temari's hair, slept on soundly, unaware of the revelations Jiraiya had gleaned from the memories of the last time the seal had been applied, in a world long lost to Time's relentless progression.
Within the back of Naruto's mind the Kyuubi was becoming more and more restless. He could feel the power within the female called Temari, and the longer it was kept away from him the more it began to burn at him. He knew that he had a pact to complete, and the longer they waited to place the damn seals the more pain he was in. He didn't even care about being trapped in the Yondaime's brat anymore. He just wanted the pain to end, to fulfill the damn pact and receive whatever the female had been forced to agree to in exchange. Even if it did mean that he would lose much of his power in the process.
Demons after all, keep their word. It's the one thing you can always count on with them.
AN: And there you have it, Chapter 2 of Desert Fox Redux. I rewrote about half of this after the first draft was completed, as I didn't quite like the way I had written certain scenes, and because I had decided to change an aspect of the plot since I had wrote the segments. The end result sits now before you, and I hope you all enjoyed it.
And yes, I know I ended with the same line. There is a reason for that, and it will all be clear in due time. That, or I'm just trying to emphasize the fact that demons can't break their words. You decide.
-ZI
Appendix 1A: The Music of Desert Fox and Desert Fox Redux
The music that I chose to represent both Desert Fox and Desert Fox Redux is intimately tied to the relationship between Naruto and Temari, and is the music that I feel best represents both parts. Now, it will be a while before I write Desert Fox, by virtue that it will be a prequel, but I present to you here the music that I feel best represents the two stories.
+Desert Fox
-Opening 1: Gotta Be Somebody by Nickleback
-Ending 1: Around the World by
+Desert Fox Redux
-Opening 1: Reach for the Sky by Social Distortion
-Ending 1: Wonderwall by Oasis
Review Responses
Innerstruggle88 – Thank you.
Kerensky02 – Thank you.
Kensington – Well, hopefully the gobsmacked Sarutobi didn't disappoint you. And yes, I was trying to avoid going over any more of the canon plot there than was absolutely necessary.
X-219 – Hope you enjoyed this.
Sh8ad8ow – Thank you.
TwiztidOne – Thank you.
Jbalman – Hehe, well thank you. I'm really enjoying working on this story.
Sweet Heavens – I personally felt there was no point boring you all with nine months of Temari fighting not to be emo and fighting the urge to kill things. And she has been careful not to change things before this point, as if she screwed up the timeline too early, she would miss her chance to get her lover back. As to Sasuke, well, let's just say that he will NOT be leaving any heirs behind when he passes on to the afterlife.
Jaa ne.
-ZI
rayderfan64 – Thank you for not asking me to rush. Too often people do rush their stories, and it's a shame when they do. As much as I wish I could write faster than I do, I simply refuse to ruin a story by trying to force my way past a case of writers block.
Chm01 – Perhaps. As you've read, it will be a few weeks before they can even possibly be safely applied.
FunnyLaugh – Oh you have no idea. This is a woman who owes her very life and sanity to one man, to the man she loves. She has watched in horror as he was brutally murdered, and as the demon within him was used to then destroy the village that he had fought so hard to protect, despite all the crap it had given him. So when she finally saw her lover, yes, she went for it. It took all her self control not to drag him back to her hotel and have her way with him right then and there.
-ZI
BackYard – It was a bit rushed for a reason. I really did not want to detail huge parts of what was essentially canon. I wanted to get on to the good parts where plot actually happens.
Draton – Why thank you. I appreciate the compliments. NarutoxTemari is one of my favorite pairings as well. As to it being written well, well, I'm working damn hard to make it good. I hope you weren't disappointed by this chapter.
Jaa ne.
-ZI
Esuslol – Sasuke does not have kids. Whether that means he dies or wins a Darwin Award you will have to wait to find out.
Moonfal – Hope you liked it my friend, and would I be correct in guessing that you are getting ready for spring semester?
Jaa ne, watashi no tomodachi.
-ZI
Bobboky – Thank you.
TheShadowWolves – Thanks.
Jamez-08 – It has taken Temari nearly a year, and she still gets flashes of memories from the future. When the seals are applied, when Naruto finally awakens, he will only have a small fraction of his memories. The strongest ones from his past will rise first, the rest appearing more slowly. The seals will allow them to process faster though, but it will still take a while.
As to the Jiraiya's help thing, most of the stories I've read have all had memories be sent back and then transferred to him by either acts of god or with no one's real help. It just always struck me as odd that something like that could be done safely, especially without some sort of complex seal to help control it. Thus, when I started working on this idea, and thanks to a few other aspects of the 'pact', I decided on a very complex seal. Given what else it will cause, and the fact its supposed to help control the memory flow, it should be understandable why it is such a monstrosity.
Temari's refusal of Sasuke's asking her on a date will have many repercussions, and none of them pleasant.
Jaa ne.
-ZI
Kontraband – Again, thanks for the recommendation of "Chuunin Exam Day". I read it nonstop after your review reminded me of it, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I've encountered another time travel fic in my readings, I think it was called "Fuinjutsu", but I'm not sure. Either way, its absolutely amazing, and if I can find it again I'll try to remember to place a link to it in the AN for the next chapter of this.
Jaa ne, Kontra.
-ZI
DufFan – Thanks.
Postaled – Thank you. I'll do my best.
Ymere – As I've explained to people many times, it is my sincerest goal to never cease work on any of my projects. I intend to bring them all to completion.
Killjoy3000 – Thank you. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Kai Dragoon – Thanks. And yeah, the idea didn't actually occur to my either until I had read EroSlackerMicha's work.
JPMod – Yes, the previous timeline was an AU of canon. The divergence point is shortly after Itachi's death, but that will all be explained one day when I write "Desert Fox". Until then, it will mostly be told in flashbacks and internal monologues.
And who said Naruto's friends were even in Konoha when the betrayal occurred? Sasuke was Hokage, he could have easily assigned them all missions at the same time.
And are you not wondering just who Temari is pact-bound to kill?
-ZI
landoffire – Thanks. Hope you liked this chapter.
FenrirCrinos – The history of the alternate past will be revealed in a patchwork as this story progresses. The full picture won't become visible until I write "Desert Fox" itself once this story is completed.
CaptainPrice – Yup, well, I can't be perfect, and I haven't chosen a beta for my projects yet, mostly because I do all the work myself and the only errors that get in are ones that slip through my initial writing and occasional rewrites.
Darksnider05 – Sasuke will have no children. Draw your own conclusions.
ZortkiyaTheTroll – Thank you. There are some other good time travel Naruto fics out there, but too often or not I stop reading partway through. The two I mentioned before have so far pleased me to no end, partially because they have both attempted to deal properly with the whole "need to be retrained' thing.
GodricGryff – Thanks. I've had a number of highly emotional breakups, so I can begin to understand the depth of the emotion Temari would be feeling in my story. This is why I've worked so hard to show the emotion of those two and to do it justice.
Zrodeathwing – He's gonna be taken down more than that by the time the story is through. And as you can see, Hinata has already begun to act. And Sakura has been ogling Sasuke too much to really notice that she is losing Naruto's attention and unwavering support. When she does, it will cause her to reevaluate her self a bit.
King Hawke – Thank you.
Vamp's Angel – Why thank you. I hope you've enjoyed the continuing developments.
Firelordeg – Here's the next chapter, and I hope you enjoyed it.
Son of a peach – Thank you.
Shanedude – As you can see, yes he will. It will just take him some time to do so.
Shanedude – Well, I don't think that "Blonds Have More Fun" is cheesy. Well, maybe the Hyperbolic Time Chamber WAS a bit over the top, but EroSlackerMicha has always kept a certain level of humor in his fics at all times.
TgCid24 – Hi yourself.
Yeah, I have to agree with you on that one. I've been doing my best to keep this one on the right side of that line.
Yes, future Naruto knew who his parents were. The alternate history that now hasn't happened diverges shortly after Itachi dies fighting Sasuke, and Naruto has been informed of his parentage.
Your welcome, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.
-ZI
EroSlackerMicha – My my my. This is an honor. You are, as you well know, one of the three authors who's works inspired me to actually start work on my own projects, so I am greatly honored that you feel that way about my story. I'd never have even bothered writing a Redux fic if it weren't for your own works, as prior to that I had yet to find a single Naruto time travel fic of any decent quality.
Thank you, and I will strive to do my best. Hopefully you will approve of this chapter as well.
-Zaion Indulias, First Son of Solaris
