Naruto: Threads of Fate
Chapter 9 - Come Back To Me . . .
"You're lucky you have the Nine-Tails chakra or you would not be able to do that technique," Jiraiya commented. "How did you come by that jutsu?"
Naruto was breathing heavily, sweat drenching his clothing and pouring off his face. In front of him were smoking tree stumps and craters of scorched earth. "Kakashi taught me a few new techniques; it was just a matter of combining them with what I already knew. I figured if I spun all the chakra together at the same time, the effect would be more devastating."
The Frog Hermit nodded his head as he listened to the boy's explanation. He's come up with a devastating combination and he can do it multiple times. Not even the fourth would have been able to achieve such a powerful technique. Kakashi has done a good job with him, he thought. Now that he's got his, new rasengan, Kage Bunshin, and the Flying Thunder God jutsu, I feel sorry for anyone that tries to piss him off. "You've done enough for the day, Naruto. We should head back to the village. I have more research to do."
"Research my ass!!" Naruto shouted while pointed in accusing finger at Jirayia. "You just want to go peeking again!"
"Don't pout. I always put business before pleasure. I've taken care of business and trained you today, so now I want my pleasure!" Jirayia told the young shinobi. He rubbed his hands together as a devious gleam formed in his eye.
"Enough jokes, Old Pervert! I need to train!"
"Go find some of your friends to help you!"
"If I don't become stronger it's going to be your fault!"
The two of them glared at each other, their stances equally aggressive. They were about to continue their shouting match, but were interrupted by a black cloud of smoke. Jirayia and Naruto turned their attention to the Hidden Leaf ninja who appeared next to them. He appeared to be a Chuunin, his face partially covered by a mask.
"I have a message from the Hokage for Naruto Uzumaki," the shinobi told them. "She wishes to meet with you immediately."
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"You wanted to see me, Old Lady?" Naruto asked as he walked into Tsunade's office. A vein in the woman's forehead began to form and she clenched her fists, a clear indication that she was angry.
"Naruto! You'll refer to me with proper respect!" she snapped as she slammed her fists down onto the desk, rattling everything inside the spacious office. Even Naruto felt his balance waver. "I won't tolerate insubordination, even from you!"
"Ok, ok. Geez, don't bite my head off," Naruto protested.
The Hokage composed herself before continuing. "Naruto, I called you because the village is faced with a serious matter and it involves you."
"Me?"
"Yes, Naruto," she started as she took as seat. How do I say this? she wondered as she looked at the blue-eyed shinobi. She could see the questioning way he looked at her and it made her feel even worse than when she summoned him to her office. Might as well get straight to the point, she decided. "I've learned recently that the Akatsuki are once again on the move. I'm sure you remember your run in with them once before."
Naruto frowned slightly and averted his glance from the Hokage's. "Yeah, I remember." he grumbled.
"Our spies have discovered one of their members is moving within our country and possibly headed towards our village. I believe they are once again after you."
"So you want me and the rest of our team to look for this person?" he asked her.
"No, Naruto, I called you here to tell you that I'm sending you into hiding."
"What?!"
"I don't want to force you, Naruto, but it's for your own good," she said as she saw the anger form in his eyes. "Believe me, I don't want to do it, but I also have to protect you and this village. Once we find this person, I will send for you. It won't be for long."
"So someone is coming for me and you want me to go run and hide with my tail between my legs?" the blonde boy almost shouted fiercely. "To hell with that! I'll kick whoever's ass it is if they come here looking to hurt me or anyone in this village!"
"Naruto! Don't argue with me!" Tsunade barked at the young chuunin. "I have to do what's in the best interest of this village, and if that means you have to go and hide then you will do so!"
Naruto wanted to yell back at her. He gritted his teeth as he felt heat rising through his body. He wanted to shout, scream, cry out and perhaps destroy a few things in the process, but he knew better. The boy knew Tsunade would knock him senseless if he tried to throw a tantrum. While that was a good enough reason to keep him from doing something foolish, the real reason he didn't say anything was that he could see the hurt in her eyes. Behind that scowl on the Hokage's face, Naruto could see the pain she was going through. I know she doesn't want to do it, but it hurts me too, the young man thought as he stared her down.
"So are you protecting the village from me?" Naruto asked sullenly.
"Of course not!" Tsunade said quickly. "I'm trying to protect the village from someone who doesn't care about who he has to hurt to get to you. I'm also trying to protect you from people who would harm you," her voice softened as she spoke to him. "Naruto, I knew you wouldn't want to run. It's not in your nature to run from any challenge or anyone who threatens what or who you care for. But this is one time you have to listen. Put your feelings aside and do what's right for everyone. That's what a Hokage has to do."
Naruto's fists were shaking at his sides. Damnit, I hate having to run! he wanted to shout. But the Old Lady is right; leaving will protect everyone. That's what I want to do, isn't it? This isn't fair! I can protect myself. . . I can protect EVERYONE!
His cerulean eyes were moist with tears that threatened to fall. He knew what was right, but it was killing him to do so. Why does this have to be so damned hard? "Ok, if it means protecting everyone, I'll do it," he said finally.
Tsunade smiled tenderly at him as she walked around her desk towards the boy. "Thank you for understanding, Naruto,"
"It's ok; you would have kicked my ass anyways."
"Damn right," she said with a grin. "Now listen; you will be sent to the village of Hidden Sand. I have arranged it so they will house you and keep you protected. YOU have to keep a low profile and wait."
Naruto crossed his arms and frowned slightly. "I don't like this idea of sitting around and waiting while everyone else gets to fight," he complained.
"No lip from you," she told him flatly. "You'll do as you're told and wait until I send word for you."
"Ok, Ok . . . geez, so hard on me all the time."
"I have to be if you expect to take my place one day."
Naruto's jaw went slack as he heard Tsunade's last statement. "Eh?" he half-mumbled at her. The female Hokage only winked at him and continued to grin. He couldn't help but return the smile.
"You shouldn't get too comfortable, you're only keeping the position warm for me," he told her in a haughty tone. Tsunade only rolled her eyes at his comment.
"I'm going to send a few of your teammates to escort you to the border," Tsunade's mood suddenly became serious as she spoke to him. "Your team can't know the real reason why I'm sending you away so I'll have Kakashi tell them you've been sent off on a joint mission between Hidden Lead and Hidden Sand. I've already arranged for a guide to meet you at the border and take you the rest of the way.
"Ok, but I don't feel comfortable with lying to my teammates," Naruto told her.
"Would you rather tell them the truth about you?"
"No," Naruto replied. "At least not yet."
"Well, then we have no other alternative. You leave tonight and should make it to the border by morning."
"You can count on me!" He flashed his best grin and gave her a thumbs-up.
"I know I can," she told him. She bent down slightly and wrapped her arms around him, embracing him. "Good Luck, Naruto."
"Nothing's going to happen," he reassured her. "I still have to keep my promise to someone special to me and fulfill my dream."
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"Huh?" Sakura gave Naruto a perplexed expression. "You're leaving on a mission? With whom?"
"I can't talk about it," Naruto answered cryptically as he stuffed clothing into a backpack. He had run into Sakura on the way to his apartment, and he explained to her that he was leaving. "The Hokage said it's really top secret. I might be gone for a while."
"It's not like I'm not going to know who's left from our team," she explained to him. "I'll know right once we have training tomorrow."
"I'm going alone."
"Alone?"
"Yeah. Someone's going to escort me, but after that, I'm on my own. The Hokage will explain it to you all later." Naruto did his best to put his friend off, but he could tell from the way she talked to him that it was not working.
"Naruto, what's going on?"
"I can't tell you."
"Why not?!" Sakura couldn't keep the hurt tone out of her voice.
"Look, Sakura, it's a big deal. . . I'll explain it to you one day, but I can't talk about it right now. Please, just trust me on this," Naruto strapped up his bag after throwing in a spare set of ninja tools. He could see Sakura's mind turning as she processed the information he gave her and tried to figure out what he wasn't telling her. I know she'll figure something thing out, he thought as he slung the bag over his shoulder. Just as long as she doesn't know about the Nine-Tails.
"I don't like this one bit, Naruto," the pink-haired ninja told him plainly. She had her hands on her hips in defiance as she looked at him. "You're supposed to be my friend; you have to be able to trust me."
"I do trust you . . . but it's not my place to tell you right now," Naruto explained.
"You aren't going after Sasuke without me are-"
"Sakura-chan, lay off me, please! I said I would tell you when I get back." Naruto looked at his friend pleadingly. Please don't make me lie to you, he hoped. He could see the questioning look on her face as she examined him.
"The moment you get back home you come straight to me and tell me what's going on," she finally said, wagging a finger in his face.
"You'll be the first person I come to see when I get back."
"I still don't like it," she told her friend. "I have a bad feeling about whatever it is you are about to do. Just make sure you come back safely."
Naruto gave his friend a sincere smile. He didn't like worrying her, but he couldn't help but find it cute. "I'm going to be fine," he reassured her. "Nothing's going to go wrong. It's just a mission. I'll go, take care of business, and be back before you know it."
Sakura smiled warmly before wrapping her arms around his neck. "Promise that you'll come back to me," she whispered in his ear.
"I promise I'll come back," Naruto told her. "Now I have to get going."
Sakura didn't want to release her grip from her friend. Something is wrong, I just know it, she thought. I can't lose another person close to me, especially Naruto. She loosened her grip and slid back from Naruto, but not before giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"For luck," Sakura smiled weakly. "Now get going."