Chapter 11
So I still want to retype and fix everything, but I'll be honest, I have more interest to keep moving the story forward, mainly because this chapter was half written before I had made that decision. So Chapter 10 has been re-posted if nobody has read that one and now here is Chapter 11 as the plot thickens with a shocking revelation!
Sakura was amazed at how beautiful the halls to this mansion were, despite the fact that the building was built in the shape of a toad. "Such craftsmanship and technique, this is so beautiful." She marveled at the detail of the carvings and art that represented the long line of history that were the ninja toads. "Naruto, I had no idea you trained in such a tranquil and beautiful place like this."
Gamakichi, following them closely, made a snide comment to the woman. "Is it hard to believe that we toads are more than the slimy, undesirable creatures you believe we are?"
Sakura turned around, a scowl on her face, and looked directly into the eyes of the toad. "I never thought that the toads of Myobokuzan were undesirable and it is a natural thing for toads to be slimy as that is part of their natural makeup."
Gamakichi's eyes lit up as he gave her an evil grin, a grin that sent a small shiver up her spine. "Then why don't you touch me?" She backed away and gave him a look of distrust and disgust, not trusting his intention. "Come on Sakura dear" He pointed to his head and ran his front foot across his head slowly. "Come on, pet my head." She slowly extended her hand towards him, clearly uncomfortable with the situation, before Gamakichi held up his foot to stop her. "Without your glove." Again she backed up and looked over towards Naruto who now watched them, with an amused look.
"Just what the hell are you looking at?" She barked.
He smiled and pointed at her. "You" She jumped at his words, her cheeks blushing ever so lightly and her heart skipping in her chest. The way he had said that and the general direction of the conversation had brought back memories of that one night they had spent together, that one night that seemed so long ago. "It's not going to kill you, besides he's a toad, he won't do anything perverted."
Gamakichi smiled cheekily at her. "That's right, I'm a toad after all." He then pointed over his shoulder at Naruto. "Besides if I did anything perverted, that guy would kill me." Naruto turned and gave the toad an angry look. "You should hear this guy when he's here!" He pulled his front feet around and began hugging himself in a mocking manner. "Oh, Sakura! How I miss you!, you deserve better, but I'll kill anyone who wrongs you and get jealous at the slightest hint of another man so much as saying hello to you."
"You little bastard!" Naruto dove at Gamakichi and pulled him into a choke hold as they wrestled roughly on the ground.
Sakura, meanwhile, was smiling and laughing as she watched Naruto holding his own against a toad five times the size of normal human being. "Whether you were being serious or not Gamakichi, I know he feels that way, he always has and these past two years he has tried to hide it, but he was never very good at hiding something so dear to him." She approached them, still fighting on the ground, and placed her hands on both their heads. "I don't know about toads being slimy." She stroked Gamakichi's head and smiled, before turning and facing Naruto. "But you! You need to bathe and your hair is a mess, don't you properly take care of yourself anymore? Do you need me to start bathing you again?" It took a second before it registered in her mind what she had just said to him, she knew it was the wrong thing to say at this time, because once upon a time, they had bathed together and at the time everything was happy. Now however, such memories only brought him sadness, a sadness he himself had created. He looked up at her, their eyes meeting each others, and didn't bother to say anything, he only smiled and shook his head no, before finally climbing back to his feet and dusting himself off.
"Naruto-boy" Fukasaku spoke in a hushed manner. "Please be serious"
He bowed and nodded respectfully in return. "Of course Master Fukasaku, please forgive me" He motioned for Sakura to follow him into the room. A small pain tugged at her heart as she approached him, for the first time in so long he was smiling, genuinely smiling and having fun, all his troubles, all his cares, they all disappeared and in return the Naruto she knew had come back to her. Yet once again...it was only a mere moment before he seemed beyond her reach, her heart pleaded for him not go, to come back to her, but he still seemed so far away, so angry and so sad.
Hana jumped across the rooftops as she scouted the silent village below her, it was hard to believe that such a small and tranquil village was the source of such a gathered amount of evil. She stopped, waiting for the night patrol to pass by and began to think deeper about just what evil actually was or what it meant. It's true that evil is someone's wrongful act against another, yet what was truly evil? Did Akira take the actions she took because she believed Hana was evil in some way towards her? She clenched her fist and fought against her emotions as she held back the tears she had collected from a lifetime of pain and sorrow. What had caused her little sister to change? She had been such a loving girl, and caring and was always so determined... "Damnit!" Hana resisted the urge to punch a hole through the roof in the anger. Taking a deep breath, she started moving towards her target. She had only a few minutes to cause the distraction and give Konohamaru and the old man the chance they needed to start running.
"Lady Akira, Lord Kabuto would like you to prepare a written report for him and give him your recommendations on whether or not we should continue using this village as a base." Akira nodded and sent her subordinate away.
"My Lady, you seem awfully quiet this evening, is something bothering you?"
Hana crawled across the roof as silently as she could, stalking the woman she marked as her prey, now all she needed was the right moment. Akira looked around the village, ever so quiet and calm. "Something is a miss, everything is too quiet, too peaceful...I don't like it, it reminds me of those horrible nights in the leaf village listening to that brat whine all night about missing her daddy." Hana's blood boiled with rage as she listened to Akira spout her nonsense, almost as if she knew Hana was only a few feet away.
"Lady Akira, what do you mean?"
Pulling back her hood, she revealed her long blonde hair and the soft facial features of her face. Her comrade was somewhat shocked to see such a young woman had been his superior for the last five years, this being the first time she even bothered to show her face to anyone other than Lord Kabuto. "It's something in my past, from my days-" She hesitated for a moment and scanned her surroundings, there was someone here, she sensed that someone else was listening. "my days as a leaf ninja."
Gripping her kunai, Hana very, very slowly, got to her knees, her eyes never leaving the face of her sister. "You are no family of mine, not anymore!"
"Lady Akir-" The two ninja that stood next to her fell within seconds of each other, a kunai sticking from each of their necks. However, she remained unfazed by the situation as she heard the perpetrator land several feet behind her.
"You have some nerve attacking my subordinates like that, but you also have some skill for remaining undetected for so long." Hana undid the clasps of her mask and slowly took it off; her blue eyes shining brightly in the dark night and her own long hair waving wildly in the wind, much the same as Akira's. "So you choose to reveal your identity to me? It's of no consequence to me, I need not know your identity for me to kill you." Unsheathing her sword, she held its blade towards the night sky, the moon giving its shining surface an eerie glow. "Its been so long since my blade tasted the blood of a worthy opponent." Bringing its tip to her mouth, she licked the edge, cutting her own tongue and letting the blood drip onto its steel surface. "She tires of tasting the blood of a weakling and so I am forced to give her a taste of my own, whether it be a drop from my tongue." Using her finger, she traced the outline of her left breast before rubbing the tip of her nipple, eliciting a small moan from her lips. "or a more pleasurable place." resting the blade against the thinly woven fabrics of her shorts, its tip resonated with the desire of tasting and pleasuring her master.
The look on Hana's face was filled with rage as she crushed her mask into nothing more than splinters and dust. The image of a peaceful time filled her mind as a small girl ran up to her, eager to show her older sister her birthday present.
"Hana! Hana!" Reaching the base of the tree she looked up at her big sister, greeting her with a loving smile. "Look what papa made for me!" Stretching out her arms, she showed her the wooden doll, before pulling it back and embracing it with a big hug. "I'm gunna love it forever and ever!"
A tear escaped her eye as she drew her own sword.
"You sound angry" She started to laugh cynically at her opponent. "perhaps you hold some vendetta against me?" removing the clasp of her cloak, she threw it off to the side, revealing the outfit, or lack thereof she wore. Her shorts, if you could call them that, covered only the curves of her hips and butt, cutting off at where her thighs connected to her pelvis. Around her chest was a large, tight, piece of leather that fully covered her breasts, but did nothing for modesty. revealing her nipples as though she hadn't bothered to dress at all. On her feet she wore a pair of leather boots that stretched up her leg stopping just beneath the joint in her knee. "You'll have to forgive the way I am dressed." She placed the dull edge of the blade between her legs, moaning as she rocked its smooth edge back and forth, causing her adrenaline to rise with each pull. "I would normally wear...mmmm...something more formal to battle."
Hana's tears were burning her eyes as she held them back.
"Daddy made me such a nice gift!"
"I'll do my best to bring honor to our house."
"Mr. Onema said that if all goes well, the Tsuchikage will give dad the contract for the year!"
"I will never let father down, I promise you that Hana."
"This outfit does allow me to get myself ready for battle much quicker though."
She finally opened her mouth, a task much harder than she ever thought it would be, words however, were still hard to come by.
Dragging the dull edge beneath her nostrils, she inhaled the metallic scent of the steel that was coated by the smell of her own sex. "It seems my little friend has had her fill of me and is desiring the scent and the taste of your blood." In one fluid motion, as though she were dancing, Akira twirled around and faced her opponent, her sword positioned diagonally across her body to defend against her opponent's attacks.
Hana's eyes pierced her sister's as the shocked expression on her face, did nothing more than amplify the anger and rage that was now ready to boil over. "You" through clenched teeth she spat. "Disgust me"
Narrowing her eyes, she met her sister's piercing gaze with one screaming of shock and anger. "This is impossible." Dropping her guard, she let her sword fall to the side, leaving herself open to attack. "You're supposed to be dead, I killed you myself!"
"Twelve long years I desired my revenge." Hana pointed the tip of her blade at Akira. "Eight long years I hunted you." Akira brought her own sword back up from her side and pointed it at Hana. "Four long years I lived without the touch of my husband, the love of my family, to search for my aggressor." Both women started circling each other. "Now I found you, if I had only listened to him, if I had only believed him." Her voice was rising with every passing word. "Yasashiku would be alive! We would be living happily with Gina, raising our daughter to be a proud Shinobi!" She kept her guard up as she let her emotions flood out of her, like water flowing down a falls. "I couldn't believe him, I couldn't believe my own husband on a mere hunch, there was no way my little sister would try to kill me!" Stopping at the spots they had started at, she screamed at the top of her lungs. "Why did you do it? Why Tanaka?"
Unfazed by her pestering questions, Tanaka took a step back, grasping the hilt of her sword with both hands and took a deep breath. "Because, Hana Yamagata, for this reason. You forgot your priorities and fell in love with that bastard Yasashiku, a man who forgave the murderer of the Fourth Hokage."
She was taken aback by her statement. "...What?"
The look of pleasure she had been wearing was gone, one of hatred and loathing stood in its place. "We owed the Fourth Hokage our lives! He saved us and when he died the Third let his murderer live! That fucking little bastard Naruto, how could our leaders let that monster live?" A feeling of disgust washed over her. "You were poisoned by that asshole Yasashiku, you, like him, believed that Naruto Uzumaki was merely an innocent boy, I did what I had to!"
"That's your reason?" She was gripping her sword so tightly that blood was now leaking through her fingers. "You killed Yasashiku and tried to kill me because we wouldn't blame the boy as a scapegoat like everyone else did?" Her body was shaking from the rage resonating throughout her nimble frame. "That was your reason!"
No words could describe the affect Tanaka's vicious smirk had on her sisters' emotions, but the trigger was something entirely different. "If I had known you were alive...I would have killed Gina too." Hana's heart felt as though it had stopped dead. "I was naive, thinking I could train that girl in our family's arts, but she was nothing save for being a worthless ninja and a spawn of that bastard." Marveling in the looks Hana was shooting at her, she continued her taunting. "Don't worry though, I would have tortured her first, taught her why I was doing what I was doing, taught her that her daddy had made her nothing more than a piece of street trash." Positioning herself defensively, she went in for the vicious kill. "Imagine Hana, all the nights she cried because her daddy was dead, she never knew her mommy and her only family had left her to die, though I am sure Konoha made up some excuse. You look at me as though I am some kind of villain...what kind of mother would leave her little girl to live a life of loneliness and sadness? You are no better than what you make me out to be, I was more a mother to her than you ever would have been!"
"Hmph, I never expect Gina to forgive me, let alone know that I'm alive, but I'll kill you right here, right now and redeem our family's name!" Raising her sword above her head, she took a step towards her. "There was a time, when you were the hope of our family, the shining star...now you're nothing more than the whore of a snake!"
"Then show me Hana, show me just how you use the Aione family's techniques and I'll show you mine, this time though...I wont let you leave here alive." Their swords clashed in a violent wave of steel and chakra, creating a noise loud enough to wake the entire village.
The night skies were quiet and calm as the citizens of Konoha were calmly ending another prosperous and happy day. The members of team nine themselves were walking carelessly along the river that ran through the village. "I can't believe they never showed up!" Jumping onto a ledge that was overlooking the river, Leiko started skipping and hopping as they moved leisurely towards the Hokage mansion. "Lady Hokage is gunna be so mad and we're the ones who are going to get yelled at."
Shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, Raidon put his hands in his pockets and grunted. "It was only a class-D mission, not like it really matters, weren't we just supposed to help out at the hot springs anyway?"
"Tch, I don't want to keep doing these stupid kid missions, I want to be recognized and given a mission that actually has us using the skills we were trained for."
Sighing, Hiroshi shut his eyes and groaned at the day that was wasted. "She's got a point Raidon, we're not going to get paid for an incomplete mission and these missions are really boring." Grinning madly, he nudged Raidon with his elbow. "Although the hot springs would have been full of naked women! Not only that, we probably would have been able to relax ourselves!"
Raidon rolled his eyes. "You're such a pervert, how many times do I have to tell you that your twelve years old!" Hiroshi was about to continue arguing when they felt an ominous and threatening presence. "Hey Hiroshi...what is that?...it's really scaring me..."
Turning around they were met with the cold, steely gazes of Leiko and even Gina piercing their very souls. Jumping behind Raidon, Hiroshi ducked his head below his friends' shoulder height and inconspicuously pointed at him as the guilty party. "Him, it's all him, please don't hurt me."
Looking over his shoulder, Raidon sent his friend a shivering glare. "Traitor!" Turning his attention back towards the girls however, turned what little confidence he had into a pile of mush. "I really wish you wouldn't look at me like that...I was berating him!" He started to plea as they were moving towards the two boys, Leiko cracking her knuckles and Gina following suit. "Look I didn't do anything come on!" He pointed at Hiroshi. "He's the one who lives with his dad and is the eldest of three boys! He's the one with all the nudie magazines and likes to look at older women!"
Hiroshi furrowed his brow, looking frustrated and confused at how his friend had just put that statement. "Wait a minute..." Holding up his hand, the girls stopped and looked at him curiously. "I have to defend myself against that statement." Jumping out from behind Raidon, he turned towards his friend and made his counter point. "I would like to point out that your words make it sound like I am into really old people, this is not the case, when he says older women I refer to ones such as the models in the magazines, Sakura-sensei, and Lady Ayame over at Ichiraku Ramen." Feeling satisfied with his defense, he grinned proudly at the girls, feeling as though he had made his point valid.
Tapped on the shoulder, Hiroshi turned to see Raidon glaring at him. "Are you some kind of idiot?"
Blinking a couple times in confusion, he cocked his head in question towards Raidon, until he turned his attention to the girls, who looked even more pissed off than before. "Oh, I get it!" He tapped his fist in the palm of his other hand as he realized the gravity of the situation. "Crap"
Attempting one more desperate plea for safety, Raidon held out his hands and knelt on the ground. "As I said, it's all him, I was berating him, you can't possibly be angry with me over that" he gulped. "Can you?"
Sweating profusely over his imminent fate, it became worse as Gina, whose look of anger was so unlike her, got within inches of his face. "And just how do you know what he has them Raidon? Sounds to me like you've seen them."
"Crap..." Resigned to his fate he stood up and shut his eyes.
"We're under attack! Sound the alarm!"
Konohamaru peeked around the corner, observing as the guards ran recklessly towards the commotion on the other side of the village. "Looks like she didn't disappoint Master Kenjin" He whispered. "Alright let's move" The sound of clashing steel and ninja attacks filled the night alongside the panic and confusion the guards were adding to the mix. Taking advantage of the shadows the two men moved silently from house to house as quick as their tired legs could take them.
"I want every house checked from top to bottom and I want it done now!"
"Yes sir!"
The two men stopped behind a run down hovel as they listened to the lieutenant shouting orders to his men. "And you two go check the prison I want an update every ten minutes and I wanted the first one ten minutes ago!" His men nodded and took off quickly, leaving the Lieutenant alone.
"Do you have any strength to fight Master Konohamaru?" The young Sarutobi silently observed the lieutenant as he paced back and forth in the front of the building across the road.
"That's where Mitsuki is?" Kenjin nodded, wresting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I see...I don't have too much strength, I could have enough to kill to him but after that I may not have enough to escape."
"I'm an old man with rusty skills." Adjusting the headband he had taken from a dead guard, he stood up and looked at the boy. "I don't know what's about to happen, but no matter what you are to grab my granddaughter and run."
"You can't be serious!" He whispered sharply. "There's no way you're going to be able to kill him!"
"Do you promise to get her out of here?" The old man grew frustrated with the boys' hesitation and grabbed him by the collar pinning him against the wall. "I'm not the least bit concerned about my life!" he whispered harshly. "Either promise me to get my little Mitsuki out of here or else run away like a coward, the choice is yours."
His eyes stared into Kenjin's very soul, either this guy had very good luck with his choice in words or he knew what buttons to push and make him burn with passion and pride. "I am no coward old man!" He retorted. "But I am no fool either, your plan is risky and dangerous and could ruin our only chance of escape."
"If we had the actual time to plan and formulate a fool proof plan with both of us well rested and at full strength, then I would agree with you!" He released his grip and let the boy back to his feet. "But we do not have such luxuries at this time, my only goal is to get the one person left in my life that I truly love and move her to safety and that safety is Konoha." Konohamaru's frustration was evident with the look he was giving the old man. "If we get caught, we will not get another chance like this and your comrade's effort would have been in vain."
Realization gripped the young ninja's mind as he let go of his hesitation and accepted the only viable option. "I understand Kenji." Resting his hand firmly on Kenji's shoulder, he looked the man straight in the eyes. "Be careful."
The old man nodded and took off around the corner, his years of captivity had caused his skills to have a great deal of rust, however he found his speed to be of adequate use. The Lieutenant turned his attention to the new the figure that was coming at him. "Oh great" he mumbled. "Another damn rookie completely lost at what an emergency situation is..." With a heavy sigh the Lieutenant stared hard at Kenjin, oblivious to his actual plan and took an imposing posture. "Alright listen up trash! You are to go immediately and join scout group A and re-..." He took a step back as the figure showed no sign of slowing down. "What the hell are you doing!" Kenjin pulled out his kunai and leaped towards the Lieutenant. "You bastard!"
Watching from the rooftop, Konohamaru stealthily made his way across each building until he was out of the enemy's peripheral vision and jumped across the road landing quietly on the Mitsuki's house.
"You bastard!" the Lieutenant snarled. "I don't know who you are, but you're going to regret going up against the soldiers of the Sound!"
"So this disguise really is worth all the trouble then?"
"What are you blabbering about you fool!"
"Don't you recognize me boy?" Kenjin started snickering in an overconfident manner. "Hurry it up Konohamaru...if this bonehead figures out I have no strength, there's no way you're going to get out of here."
Sneaking around the back of the building, Konohamaru jumped down and quickly placed his back against the wall alongside an open window. "I've got to make this quick, there's no telling when those idiots realize what's really going on." Inching his way towards the window's frame he could hear, clear as day, the fight between old Kenji that sound ninja.
"It's...you!" the Lieutenant staggered about in shock. "Master...Master Kenjin...how are you alive?"
"Temu...you were supposed to be my little Mitsuki's hero weren't you?" Clenching his fists, he continued on. "You betrayed me, you along with that accursed brother of mine have sought only death and destruction!" Regaining his composure Temu hardened his resolve and stared at his opponent. "You were supposed to lead us into the next generation, take us on a straight and noble path." Gathering what little chakra he could, Kenjin began making signs. "Now you are the same as my brother, a stepping stone, a means to someone else's end and you've brought our people along with you to ruin!"
"Master Kensei's ideals and ways are the correct ones, war and fear are the only things this world deserves and the only means of Konoha paying for the crippling attack they launched upon are people!"
"You're not the gentle young boy I once knew. How can you believe such violence will make everything right? We as a village do not have the men or the power to fight and win a war against one of the great nations let alone all five of them!"
Temu's laughter was callous and cold and dripping with confidence. "There you are showing your senility old Master, have you forgotten just how powerful your precious little Mitsuki is?" Konohamaru listened intently to the battle, momentarily forgetting about his task. "You of all people should know that with the proper training, Mitsuki herself can slaughter a small, but well populated village in one simple attack!"
"What have you not told me Kenjin you fool?"
Grinding his teeth in anger, he leaped towards Temu with fire in his eyes. "I will never let her be trained for such acts and I will never let her become a mindless killing machine!"
Taking a defensive posture, Temu braced for the impact of Kenjin's blow. "It's time I show you that I passed your skills ages ago!"
The sounds of the battle did nothing to calm the frustration the young Konohamaru felt. That opponent was nothing any Chuunin couldn't defeat, however since all of his strength had been drained by those blasted cuffs he was unsure if he had it in to win, and on top of that Kenjin had been right in that he needed all his strength for the ensuing escape. Clearing his mind he stepped up to the window and took a peak inside. "It's still and awfully quiet." Scanning the room he could make out the furniture and the doors, but he saw no silhouettes or movement. "This looks like as good a place as any to enter." To his luck the window was already open and access certainly seemed easy enough. With all his years of training it seemed ever so simple and easy to stealthily enter and position himself in this room. As he stretched out his hands he felt something soft and springy. "Must be a chair or couch." Pulling himself in, he made sure he was careful not to knock anything over or to make any noise. Slowly he moved..."carefully now..." His eyes had not yet adjusted to the blackness of the room. "This couch is awfully flat and springy..." He continued blindly moving his hands. "It's..getting rather bumpy...and soft...and warm?" Unsure of what he had come across, he squeezed his hands a couple times. "These are some soft cushions...I think...but why are they so warm..." Confused he quickly rubbed his eyes as they finally adjusted to the room. Looking down he noticed his hands were not grabbing pillows but rather two round decent sized..."Shit..." He shifted his eyes upwards, sweating profusely in embarrassment, and was greeted by two large blue orbs looking at him in shock and disbelief. "Uhm...hello."
"Uhh...hi..." She whispered.
"Would uh... you be Mitsuki?"
She nodded slowly. "Would you be some stranger I do not know?"
"Uhm...Yes."
"Alright...I'm going to scream now." She took a deep breath, an action Konohamaru noticed right away as he had yet to move his hands. "AH-" Quickly he fell, straddling her and covering her mouth before she could alert the man outside.
"No No" He panicked. "Please don't do that, listen I'm not here to hurt you or do anything funny..." She furrowed her brow in anger clearly showing her mistrust. "Ok I get why you're looking at me like that and believe I'm sorry that was not my intention as I had no idea you kept your bed near the window and so I didn't mean to—doh..." She had brought her knee up as hard as she could hitting him square in the groin. "I guess..." He groaned in pain. "I deserved that, but please...damnit you kick hard!" He took a deep breath in order to relieve himself of some of the pain. "Listen carefully please, I will tell you why I am here if you promise not scream." Her eyes continued to stare at him distrusting the strange boys motives. "I can understand why you don't believe me but I am here by my own accord as a promise I made to your grandfather Kenjin." Her heart skipped a beat and her guard relaxed as her eyes clearly showed a great deal of shock. "Ok, I'm going to get off you now, do you promise not to scream?" She nodded. "Alright." As quick as he could he jumped of the bed and stood up next to it watching as she quickly sat up.
"Ho..How is it you know my grandfather?"
"I was imprisoned with him in the dungeon here, we were rescued by a companion from my village."
"Who are you exactly?"
"I am Konohamaru Sarutobi of the Leaf."
She jumped slightly back in fear as she stared at the boy. "You're lying about my grandpa...he's dead and if you're really from the leaf you would know that because your damn village killed him!"
"No!" He snapped harshly. "Your uncle spoke lies to you, Kenji was imprisoned these past few years by him because he wanted an alliance with Orochimaru and the Sound over your grandpa's desire of peace with Konoha. It was he who asked me once we were freed to get you out of here, a promise I intend to keep."
"You're lying!"
Grabbing her wrist he quickly pulled up so she was standing and looked her straight in the eye. "You don't have to believe me but the proof is on the other side of that door." He pointed over his shoulder. "Whoever was standing guard out there is doing battle with him as a distraction to make sure you and I escape from this village." He released her wrist after realizing how hard he was gripping her.
Mitsuki dropped her head and ran her hands through her hair. "Grandpa...he's alive?...he's really alive?" With tears in her eyes she quickly blew past the unsuspecting Konohamaru and bolted for the door.
"Wait Mitsuki! Don't go out there!" Ignoring his plea's she opened the door and jumped outside the house.
"Grandpa Kenjin!"
Temu turned around and saw the tearful girl. "Mitsuki..."
Kenjin, seeing his opportunity, charged his opponent with vigor. "Take this!" Slashing at the man with a wide sweeping motion he clipped Temu's shoulder, however his Temu had regained his composure and saw the attack coming giving him time to dodge it by spinning with the attack and coming around slicing Kenji across his lower back. "Augh!" Kenjin fell to his knees tired and in great pain.
"Grandpa!" she cried.
"This is where you die old fool!"
"Temu no!"
Temu walked up to his fallen mentor and raised his Kunai. "Farewell Master."
"No you don't!"
"What?" Temu turned to see the charging Konohamaru, but his actions were too careless...and too late.
"Rasengan!" The force of the blow carved through the unsuspecting ninja's abdomen and sent him flying hitting the side of the house. Looking down at his hand Konohamaru cursed the amount of blood on his hand and the killing of the ninja. "Not only did I hit him too hard." He looked at the injured Kenji, who was getting helped up by Mitsuki. "I used too much Chakra."
Out of breath and panting hard, the old man smiled cupping the girls' cheek. "I'm so glad to see my little girl all grown up and safe. I mean..you are safe right? They didn't do anything to you did they?"
"Grandpa...you're alive..." Placing her head in the crook of his neck, she started to sob from the sheer shock and joy at seeing her most beloved person alive and well...well sorta doing well.
"Yes my dear." He stroked her hair gently. "I'm here now." He turned his attention to the approaching ninja. "And thank you, Konohamaru for saving me."
His expression was stoic and serious. "I am sorry to cut this short, but we don't have the time to dawdle, we need to get moving and now." He looked at his fallen opponent one last time. "I'm sorry I killed him Kenjin"
"Don't be." He gently pushed the girl of his shoulder. Quickly eying her over, he concluded her t-shirt and shorts she was wearing was adequate enough to start moving. "Konohamaru is right Mitsuki, we have to start moving."
"I..don't understand, why?"
"I can't explain it all right now, but if we don't leave now we will all be caught and executed. Now let's go!" grabbing her wrist he pulled her along as he started to jog towards the woods with Konohamaru in tow.
Her blood was boiling furiously, her sister Hana had been alive all this time hiding from her, looking for revenge. Tanaka gritted her teeth. "The mere thought of you being alive all this time leaves a horrible taste in my mouth sister!" Dodging Hana's swing she rolled across the ground and threw three shuriken at her.
Sidestepping the projectiles Hana quickly repositioned herself defensively. "You lost the right to call me sister a long time ago you snake's whore!" Using her superior speed she charged head on towards her. "Dance of the Crescent moon!"
Smirking Tanaka shut her eyes and dropped her guard. "So unlike you sister dear!" Bringing her sword out to the side she made a wide sweeping motion throwing a gust of wind towards the doppelgangers charging her and spun around blocking her attack from behind. "You never were one for such finesse and technique!" She grunted holding back Hana's powerful strength. "I thought you always preferred brute force and the straight and narrow!"
"I do!" Pulling back her right leg she swung for Tanaka's ankles causing the woman to dodge the blow and loosen her guard. With a quick move Hana slashed at both her arms and legs cutting her in the right bicep, and left thigh.
"Damn you bitch!" The cool and callous Akira was beginning to disappear as Tanaka because angry and frustrated at how strong Hana still was. "I was going to give you a swift death for old times sake, but now I am going to make sure you bleed as I gut you from head to toe and make an example of you, no one damages the Lady of Sound Akira!"
"Tch" Hana observed her surroundings, a smug and confident look on her face. "You're still an inexperienced and cocky fool little sister. As much as I'd like to gain my revenge now, your men have almost completely surrounded me so I can only hope I've done my job well enough and escape before you pull something dirty on me." Turning she started running at full speed towards the treeline grabbing her cape along the way. "You'll never sleep soundly again Tanaka!" She called. "I promise you that so long as I live, you will die!"
Using her sword for support she looked at her retreating sister with an icy glare of pure evil. "You bitch...what did you mean your job?" She looked around the hills to see several hundred, if not all, her soldiers beginning to pursue the opponent that was now fleeing from the battle. The shock on her face turned to pure rage as she stood as tall as she could. "YOU FUCKING IDIOTS! FORGET ABOUT THAT FUCKING HARLOT, YOU BUMBLING FOOLS GET AFTER THE PRISONERS, THE FUCKING PRISONERS ARE ESCAPING!" Her voice rang loudly through not only the village, but the entire forest as her men, many crippled in fear, began stumbling to the other side of the village as quick as they could.
Hana meanwhile felt a small bit of joy for the first time in over a decade, yet it was still overshadowed by the rage she felt in her heart. "My own two hands will kill Tanaka, then I will meet my little Gina and tell her everything, then I will join you in death my beloved Yasashiku."
"It seems they're on their way Kenjin." Konohamaru mumbled.
The old man nodded. "They'll start tracking us soon." The three started running a bit faster in hopes to put as much distance between them and the village as they could. "I can only hope my body holds up..."
Naruto was kneeling before the great sage, his eyes shut and his mind in mediation. Sakura was behind him bewildered at the calmness the room presented and at the fact that were was a really old, really large, and really wrinkly toad resting upon a throne like atmosphere as though he were a king of some sort. "I shouldn't be surprised, he is the great Toad Sage after all..."
"Great and Honorable Sage" Fukasaku announced honorably. "As you have requested Naruto-boy has been brought before you."
The old Sage opened his eyes ever so narrow and looked down towards the blond ninja. "Ah Naruto, so good you have come to me." Naruto bowed respectfully. "Now...why have you come?"
Sakura blinked in confusion as the rest of the room sighed rather loudly. "What does he mean? Isn't he the one who called him here?"
"Elder you are the one who called him here!" Fukasaku grumbled.
"I did?" Scratching his chin slowly, he carefully thought of why he would have brought him here. "Oh yes, indeed I am the one who called him here. Naruto, soon you will face the evil that clouds the sky, the one who's plan shoots for the moon and aims to have a final battle with your heritages and destinies."
"What does he mean? Naruto is supposed to face someone?"
"Elder please forgive me for interrupting, but you already gave me this prophecy three years ago." The Sage blinked several times before Naruto continued. "It was right before I defeated Uchiha Madara..."
"Hmm...so it was...I wonder why I called you here then?"
Sakura hid her frustration as best she could hoping no one was noticing the sour look on her face. "They've got to be kidding, this is supposed to be the greatest of all the Toad Sages?"
"Oh now I remember." Clearing his throat he continued. "Listen well Naruto, soon in your future a darkness from your past will be repeated, a soul whom follows you will become tainted and darkened by the evil desires of the human heart. A choice this one will struggle with, the path for power, or the path of patience and peace a choice we all struggle with and one we must all face head on. However when one is struck with desires at too young an age then they will seem ever the more distraught and confused leading them down a dark and frightening trail...alone." Naruto eyed him curiously and with a great deal of seriousness in his eyes. "You have experienced this pain and confusion first hand, keeper of the Nine-Tail." Sakura's heart felt crushed at those words, pain and confusion...she had heard the stories from him and others he had told, the pain and suffering he went through as a child as all scorned, feared and hated this innocent little boy. "You have also seen this path in the blood red eyes of that one..." Naruto's look hardened with anger. "If the wrong choice is made, a choice that fate must decide, then it will spell doom for you and your loved ones." Looking over his shoulder at Sakura, Naruto clenched his fist as the old toads' words rang loudly through his mind. "Remain happy and true to yourself Naruto, for your choices affect your fate and those around you as well."
"I understand elder." Turning around he promptly exited the room, motioning for Sakura and Gamakichi to follow him.
Shima and Fukasaku watched him with concern in their eyes. "Papa, he seems changed, he gives off such a cold feeling."
"You're definitely spot on with that Ma."
"Do not worry children, his fire will never go out, though it is only flickering deep within his soul, it still warms his heart and will come shining through when the time is right." The elder smiled proudly.
Yuka stood by the bedside looking solemnly down at her brother. Seeing him lay there unconscious was out of character for him, she half expected him to jump up and scare her shouting surprised then laughing as loud as he could at her shocked and angry expression. However he wasn't going to look up, not anytime soon at least..."Ito..." It was out of character for her, showing her emotions like this, especially in front of the Kazekage; it's just...this one time...she couldn't hold back the tears.
Gaara and Touma stood by the door as the sound of the machines ticked like clockwork showing that the man was still alive...for now. "Did we learn anything from this Touma?"
"Well as you instructed this was a highly secret mission and I gave the orders to Ito just as you ordered, we were the only ones who knew about this." Touma flinched his hand ever so slightly an action that did not slip the senses of his leader.
"Something bothers you."
"It his wounds Gaara...Ito is one of our best and most skilled Captains, it's hard to believe he would have been put in such a predicament that led to his whole time dying and him coming back as bad as he is."
"What are you thinking?"
"He had to have let his guard down, he had to have been approached by someone he knows or someone he trusts and it couldn't have been one of his members betraying him, because they're all dead and he luckily escaped with the papers still on him or rather the scraps." Gaara eyed his Captain curiously. "It seems he became fearful enough to destroy the papers, seems he was afraid he would die before getting here and proceeded to eat most if not all the papers, there's nothing left for us to even piece together."
"This worries me Touma, I had hoped my suspicions were unfounded."
"I had too my lord, but we cannot ignore it any longer, someone we call ally or comrade is working against us."
"It seems we cannot trust anyone but those of highest loyalty and go from there."
"Shall I call for a council my lord?"
Gaara shut his eyes as he entered into thought. Would it be wise to alert all the leaders?..."No I want you to bring Baki, Kankuro, and Sera to your place tomorrow night, it will be safer meeting there than my office, you four are whom I trust most, I will send all of you out on missions tomorrow to avoid suspicion and to top it off Rikku should still be out on the mission I assigned him last week."
"Understand my lord." Touma looked over to Yuka, her body language was clearly visible and full of story, a sight rarer than most in eyes. "I will take my leave, it is best that you escort her home."
"Before you go, set your most trusted guards on this room, I want at least six of your best men."
"Understood." Touma immediately set out to gather his men as Gaara quietly approached the distressed Yuka.
"Yuka" He called out calmly. Hearing his call she slowly turned to face him and greeted him with a look he had never seen upon her face, sadness and vulnerability. His heart hurt at the sight of her tears quietly rolling down her face and the distinct swelling around her bloodshot eyes. "Come Yuka.." He opened his arms signaling her to come to him. He had expected some kind of reaction like this, after all Yuka rarely talked about her personal life, but when she did Ito was the only subject that came up. She stared at him for a few seconds before quickly walking over to him and falling into his arms. "Ever so dedicated to your duty..." He wrapped his arms around her as she did the same to him and buried her head in his chest. "Then I order you...to let it out..." No sooner had he given her the command, she began to wail loudly in his chest crying for her big brother, her protector to wake up and smile at her.
"Ga-Ga-Gaaaara..." All she could do was cry and say his name, to her, if her brother indeed did pass on, he would be all she had left...
"Yuka..." He released his grip on her and gently pushed her away. "It is time to go, come I'll carry you home." he turned around and knelt down. "This way you can still cry on my shoulder." Sniffling loudly she quickly rubbed her eyes and wiped her nose before graciously accepting the gesture and positioning herself on his back. When he felt her arms stretching around his neck he firmly gripped under her legs and stood up, immediately he felt her tear-stained cheeks resting on his shoulder and gentle breath on the nape of his neck.
"My Lord" She whispered. "Thank you"
Nodding in approval Gaara began walking out of the room and down the long hallway.
Yuka meanwhile, taking in the warmth emitting from the Kazekage's back, comfortably settled in and shut her eyes as she remembered a conversation she had with her brother some time ago.
"Yuka!" Ito yelled happily as he ran up to his little sister embracing her and picking her up off the ground. "Congratulations!"
Yuka laughed alongside her brother as he twirled her around in the air. "I did it!"
"You sure did! Mom and dad would be so proud of you right now if they were here!" He set her down and laughed loudly with pride. "Look at you! A Jonin at fifteen, you did great passing your tests like that!"
"Thank you Ito!"
"Yuka"
Her heart started beating faster than she could handle as she recognized the voice that called her name. Trying to keep her composure she put on a nervous smile and turned around. "He-Hello Gaara" She chirped nervously.
"Congratulations on your promotion, you are definitely worthy of it" He smiled proudly at her, or at least what he considered a proud smile and most people considered a weak and callous smile.
"And congratulations to you Lord Kazekage." Ito approached him and bowed before him respectfully. "I hope you will lead our village proudly and with honor and integrity, you've already proven to me that you are worthy by saving my little sister's life and putting her on track for this promotion." He pulled Yuka into a bone crushing hug with his right arm.
"I can only hope to be worthy of your hopes and praise Ito, I have many meetings to attend to this day so I will let you two get back to your celebrating." He nodded towards Yuka before turning around and taking off.
"There goes one hell of a guy eh Yuka?" Turning towards his little sister he noticed she had not heard him and seemed to be in some sort of day dream as she just stared at the retreating Kazekage. Blinking twice Ito put on a sly face and tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey Yuka."
Snapping out of her daze she quickly turned around and greeted him. "Yes brother?"
"Do you have a crush on the Kazekage?" His eyes were sly and his grin was evil as he watched his little sister's face grow redder than a ripe tomato.
"na na na na na na no of course I don't!" She quickly hid her face behind her hands and turned away from him.
"Oh yea? Alright I believe, but perhaps I should tell you something. As you know, things in life are fragile and breakable, if we ignore the care of these things and leave them untreated they will eventually break and become lost to us forever so never forget to dust behind the cabinets!"
She looked at him with great confusion. "What are you talking about?"
He chuckled deeply at her confused look. "You'll know what I mean one day dear sister."
"Yuka...wake up we're here" Clearing her head she looked up to see that they had not only arrived at her apartment, but they were already inside her bedroom...had she really been that lost in thought? "Are you alright?" She could hear the concern in his voice.
"Yes sir..." She slowly climbed off his back and stood up stretching her limbs.
Turning around he faced her with concern in his eyes. "Is there anything else you need before I go?"
She felt frozen in her tracks as she stared into his eyes, his...gorgeous teal eyes...it had been so long since she had seen his face without her mask...it was becoming clear to her..."I...need to dust behind the cabinets..."
Blinking in confusion he looked at her curiously..."You...need to dust behind the cabinets?"
"Uh..Uh..Uh..." She felt flustered and embarrassed at how stupid she must have been making herself..."I mean...I mean...Do you have to go Gaara?"
His eyes softened as something clicked in his mind...but what was it... "What do you mean Yuka?"
"I, I, I, I, I, I, I mean..." She felt nervous, she felt like she was a schoolgirl again and not the fierce warrior who would take her life in blind devotion if the Kazekage asked her. "It's...not blind devotion damnit!" She quickly covered her mouth as Gaara, who uncharacteristically was now sweating buckets, looked at her in a very concerned and odd manner. "My face feels so hot, I must be redder than tomato!" She quickly regained her composure. "Gaara you-you-you're all I have besides Ito...I...I...don't want you leave...please I...I want you to stay here...with me...tonight...I...it isn't blind devotion like you said!...I...I..."
Gaara approached her slowly his eyes looking as void and unreadable as ever, as he closed the gap he placed his hands on the side of her head. "I know...and I to you."
Tears again filled her eyes, these ones from joy, as she wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and kissed him as deep and passionate as she could. She had always felt safe and secure when she was wrapped in his arms, ever since that first time he saved her life, breaking the kiss she took a small step back smiled at him. "I love you Gaara."
I thought about writing maybe some Lime or Lemon moments at the end of this chapter, but honestly I don't know if I have that talent in me :p besides I believe in a more gentle ending to this chapter as the whole "sex" thing is not the object of my story so I am quite happy with how I ended this chapter and will go more into their relationship as time goes on, meanwhile Enjoy!
Read and Review Please xD