Chapter two. Plot, class, and a dose of fluff. Not too much though. You can choke on that stuff.
.oturaN nwo t'nod I
The house was cushy…not too fancy, but certainly on the higher-end as far as houses go.
As Naruto walked through the hallways, after having kicked in the front door, he took some time to admire the place.
Oaken wood paneling, solid wood finished floors, high ceilings, solid cedar doors…the place was definitely built with class and sturdiness in mind. Probably by some high-class carpenters, if the construction was anything to go by. Not many people used four by eights anymore, especially not oak.
Maybe after he bankrupted this guy, and he was forced to sell his place, he'd buy it. It was certainly better than his current digs in the basement of Tayuya's parlor. Mind you, his room wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination…it was roomy, well insulated, and very comfortable…but…
Well, having a house would just be so much cooler. Especially a place like this. It wasn't really built with security in mind…but with the amount of money he had, he could definitely afford to hire some carpenters to outfit it with some extra stuff…maybe build an earthberm on the backside, reinforce the foundation, add an escape tunnel, and maybe even some pillboxes…it definitely had potential, at least.
Tearing his eyes away from the moderately sized crystalline chandelier on the ceiling outside of the old man's study, he calmly took his hand out of his pocket and rapped lightly on the door.
The old man hadn't answered him when he knocked on his front door…causing him to kick it in…he might have to kick this one in too. Which would just mean more work for him in the long run, but such was life. Great doors though. Mahogany, if he wasn't mistaken. The hinges tore long before the door cracked.
Quirking the side of his mouth in frustration, he rapped again, far more forcibly than last time. "Oi, old man! I'm here to collect! You're just making this harder on yourself, you know!"
He waited for a few moments, to hear anything coming from the other side.
No answer.
Naruto sighed.
With a chakra-enhanced kick, the door flew across the study, impacting with shattering force against the brick and mortar fire place on the other side of the room.
He stood in the doorway for a moment, observing the room with widened eyes.
"…shit."
Naruto shook his head in frustrated exasperation and lit up a cigarette, walking slowly into the study, and up to the body of the old man, resting limply in his chair in front of the fireplace.
There was a half-filled cup of…what smelled like whiskey on his side table. He dipped his finger into it, and swiped his tongue…moments later, he shook his head in resignation.
It tasted lightly of almonds.
Cyanide. The old man was dead within a minute of his first sip.
He, of course, was all but immune to poison, thanks to the Kyuubi's beneficial effects…but he was the exception to the rule.
Sighing, Naruto leaned up against the fireplace and puffed absently on his cigarette. "…damn it old man. It was just money. No sense in killing yourself over it."
He turned his gaze skyward, taking a long drag. "…obstinate old shit."
Flicking his cigarette into the dead man's ashtray, he absently drew Fuujin and activated it, causing the blade to sprout from the tip of the hilt. Casually, he made a swift, neat cut across the man's neck, severing his head. With a few hand seals, he performed a very basic Katon Jutsu, and incinerated the body.
He then drew a simple seal on the severed-head's forehead, causing it to vanish in a puff of smoke into a storage seal located on his forearm. He'd take the time to properly seal it in a scroll later.
Closing his eyes, he muttered a small prayer in respect for the dead.
Seconds later, he pushed himself off the fireplace and started walking towards a painting on the wall.
In his experience, most people thought that paintings were great to put in front of safes, ostensibly to hide them in plain sight and create a barrier for any potential thieves.
Most of the time, it was an absolutely useless tactic, at best. It was a comedy at worst.
Shifting aside the painting on the wall with a gentle push, he smirked slightly. Yep. Stainless steel, five combination safe with a blood-seal identification barrier present on the front.
Great against regular thugs, bandits and thieves who weren't Shinobi. Nearly impenetrable, actually.
Against Shinobi, you might as well have hidden your things underneath your mattress.
Engulfing his hand in chakra, he sunk his fingers into the front, and ripped off the door like it was made out of paper.
If brute force didn't work, you weren't using enough of it.
Taking a look inside of the now fully bared safe, he saw precisely what he was looking for. Not money…but the next best thing.
The man's life, all collected neatly on paper.
Account numbers, passwords, locations of his financial deposits, certificates of securities, annuities, real estate holdings, stock bonds…
And pictures of what looked to be a younger, hairy man sleeping with an older woman that had a ring on her finger.
Blackmail material, undoubtedly. Tayuya would find a use for it, if anyone could.
Taking a small scroll from his Kunai pouch, he unfurled it and began laying out the contents of the safe on top of a set of intricate seals. With a puff of smoke, all the papers that contained the old man's life vanished within the scroll's depths.
Making the trek outside through the same route he used to get in, he bit his thumb and drew a quick, simple seal on the front door, giving it a relatively small amount of chakra to activate it.
With a shimmer, the house gained a slight blue sheen, denoting that the shielding ward was working. It would prevent anyone from getting inside until he got back, which would prevent looting or larceny or anything of that family of crimes.
He still wanted the house and everything in it…and technically, after he got the right paperwork through the right channels, he could still have it. Mind you, there wasn't anyone stopping him from simply claiming the property as his own…but making it official would save him hassle in the long run.
His body seemed to stretch and dematerialize a split millisecond before he vanished, using Shunshin to travel to Tayuya's parlor.
---------------------------------------------------
Even from the day they met, Tayuya was under no illusions as to who precisely held the power in their rather complex and unusual relationship.
Naruto was not her subordinate. He was not her employee. He was not her soldier, or bodyguard or business associate or…anything to that effect.
He was simply her…
She frowned.
To be honest, she had no idea what he was to her. Her 'orders' to him were suggestions at best, as he had every right to disobey them or outright ignore them whenever he wanted. His 'job' as a house dealer was really nothing more than a mutually beneficial agreement wherein she waived all expenses he incurred for anything and everything he did at her parlor, and in return, he threw her twenty percent of his winnings…which totaled far more than he ever cost her.
He had enough money to buy her parlor ten times over, and enough reputation and clout to probably take over a small country without any objections.
So then…why was he even bothering with her in the first place? He'd obviously come a long way from the distraught and confused teenager she met five years ago…surpassing her in just about everything they'd ever had in common. Money, power, reputation, ability…he trumped her in every aspect.
And yet…he still agreed to do things for her as if he was a subordinate…he still agreed to 'work' for her as a dealer…he still told people that he was 'Tayuya's enforcer'.
When there was no reason whatsoever for him to do, be, or say any of those things.
Her frown deepened, her pipe forgotten on her desk.
It unnerved her, to be honest. Why would someone like him, bother with someone like her? Why would someone like him be subservient to someone like her, even if only somewhat? She'd helped him out in the beginning, sure…but his debt to her had been repaid years ago. If anyone owed anyone anything, she owed him.
So what was the reason for him to even give two shits about her?
"Hmm…you look constipated."
Her head snapped up, her face twisted in surprise, to see Naruto sitting on the edge of her desk, giving her a very curious…but amused…expression.
She snarled. "God damn it Naruto! I've told you once, I've told you a thousand fucking times! Don't do that!"
Naruto had the gall to grin. "But your face is so cute scrunched up like that when you're thinking! You've got this look like a young puppy staring at a piece of tin foil, wondering why you can see your reflection…it's just adorable!"
Her eyebrows twitched. "…I look like…a puppy?"
He reached out and pinched her cheek, like a grandma visiting her grandson. "A cute, adorable, red haired puppy!"
Drawing a Kunai, she stabbed him in the crotch. Of course, the clone just puffed out of existence.
Naruto…the real Naruto, appeared across her desk, sitting in the chair meant for visitors. He had a wry, mischievous, and amused look on his vulpine façade.
Tayuya, only with the thinnest of margins, resisted the urge to draw her wakizashi, strapped to her thigh, and impale him. She'd even activate her seals, if only for the chance to make him bleed!
Across her desk, Naruto laughed lightly and rubbed the back of his head. "You're cute when you're angry."
Her hand twitched at its position on her thigh, close to the hilt of her blade. She'd only cut him a little…just a little bit…just enough to make him bleed…
Seconds before she would have drawn her wakizashi and charged him, Naruto waved his hand dismissively, his face relaxing into a much more businesslike complexion. He flipped a cigarette up to his mouth and lit it with a spark of flame that appeared on his thumb. "I guess, before you kill me, I should start talking about the old man and the money, right?"
She nodded dangerously.
He blew out a puff of smoke, rubbing his chest absently. "Right then." He tapped his cigarette off. "When I got there, I found the old fucker dead…suicide; cyanide was his poison of choice." With a snap of his fingers, the severed head of the man appeared in his hand. He set it carefully on Tayuya's desk. "As per usual, I got his head so we can prove that he's deceased…and of course…"
He reached into his shuriken pouch and pulled out the scroll with the old man's financial documents sealed into it. "…I got whatever important documents I could get my hands on. What's in the scroll was in his safe…" he unfurled the scroll and applied a small amount of chakra into the seals. The papers popped out. "…and it includes anything and everything from old war bonds to promissory notes from some rather high-society people. Near as I can tell, all the stuff combined probably runs around twenty five or thirty million ryo in total…around what his debt was."
Now fully calmed down at the mention of money, she nodded and puffed on her once-forgotten pipe. "And his estate?"
Naruto shrugged. "Put a warding seal on it and left it as is. I figure once we get everything settled out, I can move in."
Quite unexplainably, her stomach lurched.
He yawned. "It's a pretty nice pad though. High ceilings, solid wood construction, various and sundry accoutrements of moderate to high value…all in all, a pretty sweet place." He took another drag and smirked. "It should be a far sight better than my room in your basement, at least."
She flinched. If he noticed, he didn't outwardly show it.
She stood and turned around, walking absently to a window that looked out over the city of Taira. At twilight, the city was beautiful…the lights of different businesses illuminated the almost-night in countless different colors, causing the city to look almost like a festival town if the light from the waxing moon caught it just right.
Her voice came out far softer and reserved than she intended. "…moving out then, eh? Gonna make the place your own?"
From behind her, Naruto snorted. "Bah. Don't make such a big deal out of it. It's less than a mile out of town anyway…do you know how quickly I can travel a mile?"
Quite unwillingly, a soft smile bloomed on her face.
For whatever reason…
She'd thought he was leaving her.
She chuckled and shook her head. "That's not the point, dumbass." Again, her voice was far softer than she intended it to be. "…it won't be the same around here without you."
For a few moments, Naruto was silent.
She felt strong arms encircle her waist, and Naruto's mane of soft, almost furry hair brush against her neck. Her eyes widened. His breath on her neck…was sending shivers down her spine.
She wasn't used to displays of affection…puerile groping was one thing…but this was genuine, heartfelt affection…
From Naruto of all people.
He chuckled near her ear…and she savored his deep baritone. "You worry too much, you know that?" The arms around her waist tightened slightly, as he raised his head and rested his chin on the peak of her head. Her hands found his around her waist, and their fingers intertwined. They both just stared out at the city for a long, comfortable moment.
Taking a chance, she leaned back into him. Kami, the man was built like a brick shithouse…
"Idiot…if I don't worry about you…who will?"
Again, Naruto chuckled. "I know."
He kissed the top of her head, before resuming their previous position.
She could barely breathe.
"…if you didn't worry about me…no one would. For that, Tayuya…I'm grateful."
Tayuya couldn't help but smile.
"Don't thank me…" Her head leaned up against his chest. "…asshole."
He laughed.
For what seemed like hours afterwards, they just stood there…comfortable, happy, and contented.
For Tayuya…all was right in the world.
---------------------------------------------
Being a Shinobi wasn't always about assassinations, stealing information, or fighting to the death.
For example, a Shinobi given a bodyguard job often never fought during the duration of the mission. Depending on the client, they were sometimes expected to act as consorts, or perhaps escorts…including suits, ties, formal dress, conversation, proper etiquette…and only act the part of the bodyguard if a genuine threat presented itself.
On his trip with Jiraiya, when the old man had been explaining this to him, Naruto had made the joke that they were basically high-paid, well trained male geisha.
Jiraiya had looked him dead in the eye and told him that he was exactly right.
Naruto, at the time, had gulped nervously.
Now, years later, as he was putting on his formal suit, he merely smiled.
The training Jiraiya had given him when he was still young hadn't all been combat training. Instead, Jiraiya had sometimes focused on other facets of life, especially facets that related to both being a Hokage, and performing missions other than simple combat. This had included how to dress formally, how to act presentable and classy, how to converse, how to be quiet and dignified…basically, how to act like a 'stuffy noble bastard'.
At the time, he'd all but disregarded the training, but still retained it.
He adjusted his red tie around his collar.
Now…he was relishing in it.
Tonight, a banquet was being held in town, hosted by the city council. The banquet was, ostensibly, to celebrate the town's good fortune over the past year, both in business, and otherwise. As such, prominent business owners from all across the city had been invited…including Tayuya.
Bringing a date, or consort, was optional, but…most people there would have one, even if they were just hired bodyguards or Shinobi or even geisha.
Naruto had been drafted unilaterally by Tayuya to be her 'consort'. After their 'hug' in her office, she had informed him of the banquet…told him, simply, to 'dress nice'…and then promptly dismissed him.
Essentially, it was her way of asking him on a 'date'…such as a 'date' was when it came to Tayuya, anyway.
His 'nice' outfit was actually one of the few outfits Naruto had chosen for himself, as opposed to having Tayuya, or one of her girls take him shopping to get clothes. Most of his clothing, therefore, was chosen by the various and sundry women in his life.
This suit, however, was one of his few rare acquisitions in regards to anything other than weapons or supplies.
He wore black, shiny leather dress shoes with, of course, black socks. His pants were black, with red pinstripes running down the legs. He wore a darker silver silk dress shirt, with a red tie, and above that, a black suit with matching red pinstripes to his pants. In his coat pocket was a neatly folded red handkerchief, sticking out just an inch or so from the pocket itself. Resting on top of his head was a silver fedora with a black ribbon around the base and a red feather poking up, propped in the ribbon. Completing the ensemble was a relatively expensive silver watch on his left wrist, and a thick golden ring with an inset onyx, his birthstone, on his right ring finger. The necklace Tsunade had imparted to him as a child hung freely from his neck, contrasting with the red of his tie rather well.
Neither Tayuya, nor anyone else had ever seen him wear this particular suit. In fact, he'd only ever worn it once…when he was being fitted for it.
Standing in front of a full body mirror, he put his hands in his pockets and turned diagonally, putting one of his patented roguish, devilish smiles on his face.
He looked…dashing…if he did say so himself.
Walking out of his room, he grabbed a dark maroon leather evening coat and slung it around his shoulders. He plucked a cigarillo from a rather fancy case in his coat pocket, and sticking it unceremoniously in his mouth, lit it.
He walked up the stairs.
And straight into what was, quite obviously, an ambush.
Tayuya had gathered her girls, and a few of her closer friends, at the top of his stairwell, probably to ogle him.
He sighed out a plume of smoke.
Silence reigned for a good thirty seconds.
Tayuya, dressed in a crimson form fitting, strapless gown that came down to about mid calf on her, black stilettos, and golden earrings with a pearl necklace, was agape.
"Holy shit."
He groaned.
High paid geisha's indeed.
--------------------------------------------
The walk across town to where the banquet was being held was a very comfortable, if awkward event.
On the streets, there was no shortage of people dressed up. Aside from the banquet, there as also a large festival being held, replete with fireworks, food, games, and street merchants…the whole 'festival' thing as it were.
However, what was different, was that the richest and most powerful man in town…him…was both dressed up, and 'escorting' unarguably the richest and most powerful woman in that same town…Tayuya.
As such, they were a spectacle. People would stop at the side of the street to smile or wave at them, people bowed to them for no real reason, it seemed, and kids openly gawked at them from behind or beside their parents.
Naruto, for his part, was…well, not used to it, but far more acclimated to it than his 'date' for the evening. As such, when she put her left arm in the crook of his right, and all but cleaved to him, he didn't say a word. Being stared at or talked about or just noticed by anyone and everyone was scary, even if the looks, stares and talking was positive.
He knew first hand just how bad it could be if they weren't.
Looking down at the woman clinging to him, he noticed that she seemed to be taking it…as well as could be expected under the circumstances. Because Tayuya ran a 'house of ill repute', she rarely ventured out and into society, save for a few times…such as now. As a result of that, she wasn't used to being the center of attention.
She was out of her element.
What, exactly, her 'element' was, could be debated.
Looking ahead, he grinned at the people who in the street, chomping at his cigarillo which had burned down to a stogie. "Tayuya…are you doing alright?"
He felt the woman tighten her grip on his arm, almost painfully. "Of course not, dipshit. All this attention is your department, not mine."
Laughing, Naruto reached his left hand over and patted the top of her hand gently. Expectedly, she threw him a glare.
"It's fine, trust me. Just nod and smile and wave, and they'll go right back to doing what they were doing before they saw us." He absently waved at a passerby who waved at him jovially. "See? Nothing to it. Just be…congenial."
Tayuya scoffed, but made an effort to smile at least. It looked extremely tense on her normally severe features. "You've known me for almost five years…have you ever seen me be 'congenial', asshole?"
His own grin took on a wry quality. "Well, no, not really. But, there's a first time for everything, right?"
She elbowed him in the ribs. He just laughed again.
After about fifteen minutes of walking, they arrived at their shindig, being greeted at the door by a very enthusiastic pageboy, and ushered into the event by an equally as enthusiastic maitre de.
Almost as if they were in some kind of movie, they were told to wait in a hallway leading to the actual hall itself, as the maitre de went up and talked to a man in a tuxedo. The man in the tuxedo glanced back at them, smiled cordially, and then went to the top of the staircase leading down into the banquet hall.
Naruto groaned. If this was what he thought it was…
"Ladies and gentleman! It is my pleasure to introduce two of our most esteemed guests this evening! Please join me in welcoming Uzumaki Naruto, and Tayuya!"
Tayuya, on his arm, tensed like a deer in the sights of a hunter.
Naruto shook his head in exasperation, but quickly composed himself, almost dragging Tayuya along with him.
When they got to the top of the staircase, he stopped, and put on his brightest, happiest, goofiest, most fake grin ever. He felt Tayuya, again, tighten herself against his arm.
The members of the impromptu audience, milling around, drinking, smoking, talking and generally being pompous, actually clapped.
For a good thirty seconds, the invitee's of the ball gave them a polite ovation. Naruto took it in stride, waving occasionally, laughing lightly, and smiling brightly. As soon as the applause began to die down, he started to descend the staircase, again, almost dragging Tayuya along for the ride.
When he got to the bottom, he was greeted by a second maitre de. "Uzumaki-sama, Tayuya-sama, it is indeed a pleasure to have you here. May I get you two anything to drink or eat?"
Naruto shifted into his more debonair persona, giving the man his 'devil in a suit' smile. "Indeed…I'll have Courvoisier, ten fingers, and she'll have a Bordeaux of blackberry brandy, the finest in your stock. No food, for now."
The man smiled politely and bowed, hurrying off to gather their chosen alcoholic beverages. Naruto turned his attention back to the room, taking it in for the first time.
It was large…at least as far as ballrooms went. It was probably at least one hundred and fifty yards from the entrance to the back, and at least one hundred yards side to side. Window-doors lined the far side of the room, leading out to a spacious balcony that overlooked a waterfall. Tables were set up on either side of the main thoroughfare, though they were spaced so that one didn't get a feeling of being divided. The floor was made of some kind of white marble…and the ceiling was multi-vaulted, with five large chandeliers hanging from it. The walls were an inviting color of light beige.
There were a few possible exits if shit hit the fan…the door where the maitre de's entered and exited…the main entrance…and of course, the balcony. The tables looked sturdy enough to use as shielding if necessary, but…
He smiled exasperatedly and shook his head. He was thinking about all of this like a Shinobi, not an escort. It never hurt to be prepared…but for now, he should worry about enjoying himself…and helping Tayuya to enjoy herself as well.
Speaking of which, Tayuya was cutting off blood circulation to his right arm.
"…I kind of like my right arm, Tayuya. I'd appreciate it if you didn't kill it."
The woman looked at him again, still pissed off…or rather, scared shitless with a pissed off façade. "You can grow back another one later…for now, this one's mine."
He barely resisted the urge to sweat-drop.
"Uzumaki-sama! Or should I say, Ryuujin-sama? Which do you prefer?"
Oh shit. They'd been ambushed.
Keeping himself collected and 'cool', he turned both himself and Tayuya to face the woman who had addressed him. She was short…fat…and dressed in a pink dress that was entirely too small for her. It was also rather obvious she was wearing a wig.
He threw her a lady-killer smile, satisfied and repulsed as she blushed. "Either one is fine; though…I can't say I know your name."
The woman fluttered her eyelashes in a supposedly flirty way. "Oh, where are my manners. You can call me Chichi…" She tried to be cute, and failed. "…or Chichi-chan if you prefer…"
His smile widened…and he very much resisted the urge to flinch. Now he remembered why he hated formal company. You always had to keep up appearances. No matter how much you wanted to tell someone off or shove a Rasengan through their skull, you had to just grin, laugh, and bear it.
"Chichi-san it is then. I'd love to stay and chat, but if you'll excuse me, I really need to attend to…" he gestured out towards the tables with his free hand. "…certain matters of importance. You understand, right?"
The woman frowned slightly, but managed to nod and give him another flirty glance before she bowed. "Of course. You just got here, I'm sure you need to find a place to sit and order some food…try the roast duck, it's simply divine." She threw a glance at Tayuya, who was busy trying to smile, and mostly failing. "Oh, my, I forgot to greet your lady friend, Uzumaki-sama. I'm sure that's forgivable, all things considered, of course."
His smile almost faltered. "Oh? I'm afraid I haven't an idea what you mean."
She laughed lightly, her bust bouncing in the process. Naruto threw up a little in his mouth.
"Oh, civilized women don't say such things, Uzumaki-sama. It's just…" She smirked at Tayuya, whose eyebrow was twitching dangerously. "…well, some people make money more easily than others, through more scurrilous means than normal, you see."
Naruto cocked his head, though he knew exactly what the women meant. "…you mean like bounty hunting?"
The woman grinned at him. "Oh, no darling. Bounty hunting is truly a noble profession, especially considering the targets you go after. You're doing quite the service for both this town, and all decent and honest people."
He smiled bashfully, playing his part perfectly. Inside, he was…a tad mad.
"Thanks…that means a lot. But…that still leaves the question, madam…" he put on his most innocent face. "…of what you're referring to."
The woman's smile drooped, ever so slightly.
She drew her lipstick-stained glass to her lips and took a sip of some extremely strong smelling alcohol, before waving her hand dismissively. "…well, you see, some businesses appeal to the more…human nature within people." She took another sip of whatever her drink was. Naruto felt Tayuya shaking.
The woman actually blushed. "…and you know, some people are just…tempted by these businesses, or rather, the people running them. My husband, actually, was tempted rather recently, however…" She smiled smarmily. "…I managed to help him…overcome that temptation."
Before Tayuya could burst, Naruto laughed lightly.
"I see, Chichi-san. How, exactly, did you break him of this temptation?"
Chichi laughed again, and Naruto swallowed his puke this time. "…I have my ways, Naruto-sama."
Quite suddenly, Naruto's innocent face and pleasant grin morphed into something more befitting the beast sitting in his stomach.
His eyes opened wider, violet.
This woman had insulted Tayuya. She deserved this.
"…You know…it might just be me…"
The smile of the woman in front of him vanished.
"…but I can see how you could break a man of his temptation for the fairer sex."
Before the woman could so much as stammer, he bowed lightly, evil smile never faltering, and turned around to find a table.
Tayuya, still cleaving to his arm, head down, tried very hard not to smile.
------------------------------------------
"You didn't have to do that."
Naruto pulled out Tayuya's chair, waiting until she'd sat in it before pushing it back in. He unceremoniously plopped himself in one adjacent to his 'date'.
"I know." He grinned and pulled out another cigarillo. "But she pissed me off."
Tayuya scowled and leaned her head on her propped-up arm. "Still. I could've taken care of her myself, asshole."
He cocked his head. "Without killing her?"
She was conspicuously silent.
"I thought so."
"Quiet."
He grinned again.
"Uzumaki-sama…Tayuya-sama…your drinks."
The maitre de had arrived at their table, carrying a small tray with a mostly-full tall glass of amber liquid, and a far larger bell-bottomed glass filled with a much darker red liquid. He set them down in front of them before bowing and scurrying away.
He took a sniff of his drink and then a sip. "…hmm. Not bad. Not as good as the stuff I usually drink, but not bad."
Tayuya took a gulp of hers, before sighing contentedly. "It's alcohol…it's good."
Naruto raised his glass. "I'll drink to that."
She raised hers and smirked. "You'll drink to anything."
They both took a sip.
"Oh, Uzumaki-sama…I didn't think I'd get to see you here."
Another ambush. Why he hadn't sensed them, he'll never know.
He turned his head towards the new arrivals, satisfied that they were far easier on the eyes than their previous acquaintance had been. The man was tall, with a small, well trimmed goatee, dressed in a formal, nondescript black suit. The woman was in a black gown similar to Tayuya's, shorter than him but taller than Tayuya, her pale and delicate features a contrast to the man parallel to her.
She was a Kunoichi. Absolutely no doubt about it. That stance…the tone of her muscles…it was quite obvious to the trained eye.
Reaching across the table, he shook the man's outstretched hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr.…"
The man smiled cordially. "Tamanaka. Ritsuo Tamanaka." He gestured to the woman at his side. "…and this is my wife, Ritsuo Masato."
He gave them a warm, inviting smile. "Welcome to our table, then." He motioned to one of the chairs at the table. "Please, have a seat."
Bowing slightly to him, they did just that, the man performing the same service for his 'wife' that Naruto had performed for Tayuya, before sitting himself down directly across from him on the other side of the table.
It didn't go unnoticed by him that the Kunoichi was between him and the man she was guarding.
"I have to say, Uzumaki-san, I hadn't expected someone like you to be able to attend a rather formal affair such as this…or rather…" he smiled roguishly and took a sip from his own beverage, a scotch if he wasn't mistaken. "…I didn't know that you even liked things like this. Forgive me, but your reputation is one that suggests your proclivities lie elsewhere."
Naruto waved his hand casually. "Reputations are eighty percent rumor and twenty percent truth anyway." His rather fake smile increased in volume. "To be perfectly honest though, I wouldn't have come if not for my employer asking me to. That's not to say I'm not enjoying myself, but rather, formal events are outside my normal resume, you understand."
Tayuya sent him a warning glare. He paid it no real notice.
Tamanaka laughed lightly. "Well, you certainly act the part of nobility rather easily. One would think you were raised in it by your manners." He took another sip. "Forgive me once again, but the image of a nukenin is one that doesn't lend itself to a polite and well mannered individual."
Naruto's 'date' chose that moment to perk up. "Shinobi are often called upon to act as bodyguards…as such, they must learn to at least be presentable at formal events."
So, she knew that the woman was a Kunoichi too. Good.
The man's smile noticeably dimmed, but he recovered rather quickly. "Is that so? I'm afraid I'm a neophyte when it comes to knowing anything about Shinobi or their trade."
Tayuya took another gulp of her brandy. "That's why Shinobi exist in the first place. So that civilians don't have to learn how to fight or anything of that sort." She waved her hand absently, not exactly looking the part of a refined lady. "If civilians knew about how the Shinobi caste worked so easily, I'd be worried."
The Kunoichi across from her took a light sip of something that looked like seltzer. Her voice was rather soft, but carried a definite edge. "…and what's your opinion of Kunoichi, Tayuya-san? The term 'Shinobi' usually refers to males, doesn't it?"
The red haired woman scowled. "I never bought into the whole Shinobi-Kunoichi term difference. A Nin is a Nin, what the term for that Nin is doesn't matter, so long as they do what they're supposed to."
'Masato' laughed lightly and politely in a tone that irritated him. "So you believe that the term 'Shinobi' refers to males as well as females then?" Seeing Tayuya nod, the woman continued with a slight smirk on her almost delicate features. "…so then, why is it that Naruto-sama has learned how to act the part of a refined gentleman, and you, by your own words, a Shinobi as well, have not learned how to act the part of a refined lady?"
Tayuya slammed her hand down on the table quite suddenly, standing in the process. The man looked surprised, but Naruto and the Kunoichi didn't seem fazed. "Are you trying to pick a fight, girl?"
Said 'girl' laughed condescendingly. "Oh? Why would I ever wish to pick a fight, Tayuya-san? I'm merely a woman…I believe fighting is best left for men."
Naruto calmly set his drink down on the table, his eyes hidden beneath his hair. Tayuya gave him a wide-eyed look, feeling the buildup…
He took the limiters off his Ki, and directed all of it towards the Kunoichi to his right. She froze in mid sip, eyes wide and sweat breaking out on her skin. Her 'husband' didn't seem to notice.
"…yes, fighting is better left to men, isn't it, Masato-san?" He took his own sip from his cognac. The woman was shaking. "…but, Shinobi don't really fight, as much as they…solve problems…quickly and quietly, without anyone noticing. Don't you agree?"
He glanced fleetingly at the woman who was currently trying not to suffocate, before laughing lightly. "I mean…in my line of work…I could easily kill someone before they even notice they're in danger." He set his drink down again. "…or…I could even kill them without even drawing a weapon…"
For a good fifteen seconds, tension and fully directed Ki hung pregnant in the air.
He lowered the floodgates.
The woman gulped air, simultaneously grasping her throat.
He stood slowly, giving a polite smile to those at the table. "I'm sorry, but if you'll excuse me for a moment…"
The man at the table, staring confusedly at his escort, seemed to fluster for a moment. "Uh…yes, yes of course."
Naruto bowed slightly, before walking off, drink in his hand, towards the balcony.
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It was a starry night…nary a cloud in the sky. A full moon hung high in the black void, its light shining off the waterfall in front of him. The balcony was empty, save for him, and he was well away from the hustle and bustle of the banquet.
An overall poignant scene.
He sighed.
"You can come out now."
From behind him, he heard a slightly startled gasp, and then a chagrined chuckle. A figure in a tight black dress began walking towards him from the shadows. "…of course. How silly of me to think I could hide my presence from you."
He took a sip from his cognac. "I'm not in a particularly good mood at the moment, Kunoichi…thanks to you. Speak, before I find cause to feed you to the waterfall."
The Kunoichi who had replaced herself with a clone at the table, to guard her charge, just sighed and relaxed her stance. "As you wish." She walked up to the railing of the balcony and stood parallel to him, staring at the serene waterfall. "I apologize, for what it's worth…it was the only means I had of possibly getting you alone…and I had to gauge your strength. You did not disappoint."
Seeing his increasingly peeved expression, she got down to business. "…to put it simply, Ryuujin-sama…I represent Amegakure…and I have been authorized to extend an invitation to you in regards to becoming our Kage."
Only slightly startled, Naruto gave her a sideways look, before shaking his head. "I refuse. If I were to become the Kage of any village, it would be Konoha, not Ame."
To his surprise, she simply nodded. "Our current leadership anticipated as much. However…we thought we might as well try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
She turned towards him and regarded him with a very guarded smile. "…to be honest, though…my true purpose is to give you…or perhaps, offer you a mission of sorts."
He raised his eyebrow, taking another sip of his cognac, and lighting up a cigarillo. It wasn't exactly uncommon for people to try to hire him for missions…but rarely did villages attempt to offer him work. It was usually private corporations, persons or at some times, organizations of vigilante's, not unlike him. He rarely took them, regardless.
Something about her though…and the fact that she was from Amegakure…served to give him pause. Last he had heard, Ame was in…dire straights. At least some of that was due to his actions…but then again, how much worse could it be under anyone other than Pain?
He puffed out a cloud of brown, savory smoke. "A mission, you say? Normally, I wouldn't give you the time to explain it before refusing…however…" he turned towards her, so that she could see how serious he was. "This time…and this time only, I'll let you speak. Make it worth my time."
She bowed. "I am grateful, Ryuujin-sama. I shall endeavor to fit that requirement."
Raising herself to her 'full height', easily a foot and a half shorter than him, she became all business. "To put it quite simply, Amegakure is in a state of chaos."
Naruto nodded. He knew this. Most people 'in the know' did.
She continued her explanation. "Before Pain…the nukenin 'god' you slew a few years ago…the Kage of Ame was a man named 'Hanzo'. He was extremely powerful…if corrupt. The people of Ame harbored nothing but resentment towards him." She turned back towards the waterfall. "However…one of the reasons for his power, political, I mean…was due to the fact that he was backed by all eight 'noble' families in Amegakure, unconditionally, due to his policy of 'overlooking' what indiscretions the families participated in."
He gave her a guarded look. "That much is common knowledge. But I'd heard that the noble families were killed off after Pain took over…down to the last man woman and child."
She grimaced. "…that is true. For the most part, anyway. Soon after Hanzo died, the noble families sensed that their 'end' had come, and most of them fled to take refuge in other countries under the guise of exile." Her eyes closed, and her voice softened. "…very few actually made it."
Naruto nodded again, taking a puff on his cigarillo. "And after that, your borders were closed off to outsiders almost indefinitely, right?" He exhaled another large plume of aromatic smoke. "…meaning that anyone left would have been trapped."
She nodded matter-of-factly. "Essentially, yes. We became extremely isolated from the rest of the elemental countries, going so far as to stop imports and exports, and only send Nin outside the country when absolutely necessary. This resulted in a very steep depression of our economy, which had an even greater effect on the people."
She was silent for a moment, before continuing in a more neutral tone. "…but I am getting off topic. You said that the noble families were killed off, and I said that such information was mostly true. I say mostly, because…"
The Kunoichi turned towards him with a very serious look. "…some of them managed to make it out of the country. And now…they're back."
Naruto's eyes widened.
She nodded curtly. "I see you understand what that means. These noble families operate under the same 'rules' they operated under before Pain killed Hanzo. Because Amegakure is extremely weakened in its current state, we do not have the power or prestige to bring them under our thumb, or even stop them from doing anything they wish. They have even gone so far as to hire Nin from outside the country to act as their own personal armies to counteract anything we may try that is contrary to their wishes."
He flinched with a grimace. "…in essence…they've made the existence of Amegakure completely meaningless."
She smiled resignedly. "Precisely. The position of 'Kage' within our village is nothing more than a paper tiger…our Nin go nukenin at a staggering rate, and those that don't are often the bottom of the barrel in terms of overall quality of character. The people have lost faith in us, and other countries have even made overtures as if they wish to simply annex us and do away with what was once Ame no Kuni once and for all."
Her smile became a deep frown, coinciding with her soft, sad voice. "In truth…should they try, we could not stop them. Amegakure is a shadow of its former self. We are a broken country, a broken village, and a broken people at the whims of the powerful and rich. The Shinobi of Ame are irrelevant."
Naruto, once again, flinched.
To be meaningless to the people you had protected and served for so long…to be irrelevant to the place you loved…to lose all hope, all dignity, and all sense of pride…
It felt familiar, for some reason.
He threw his almost-done cigarillo over the edge of the balcony, exhaling his last plume of smoke with a sigh. His eyes turned skywards, staring at the full moon, and the fine mist the waterfall kicked up that made it look so eerie, and yet so beautiful simultaneously.
His voice and countenance were conciliatory, but firm. "…to be honest…Kunoichi-san…" He sighed and looked back down. "…I recently killed the Amechisan." He heard her gasp, but continued regardless. "If the majority of your Nin are like those three…then I really can't see how the downfall of Amegakure can be a bad thing. I know you said that the ones currently loyal are…the bottom of the barrel…but…Ame has always had a reputation for producing merciless, ruthless Nin that prey and feed off the weak."
She shook her head, almost violently. "No. That was Hanzo's doing. The way the academy was set up under him didn't change much under Pain…meaning that children were turned into vicious killers by the time they graduated. That's not what it's like now. The Amechisan are…" she sighed. "…were, a relic of that system. That's not the way it's done now."
He raised an eyebrow curiously, but with an undertone of irritation behind it. "Then, how is it done? Who is your Kage? Come to think of it, what's your name?" He took a few steps towards the woman in a slightly threatening manner, and she flinched slightly. She was beginning to get on his nerves a bit. "…if you're asking me to do something so important, then I'll need more information. A lot more information. Right now, all you've served to do is look like some sort of damsel in distress."
Her flinch slowly morphed into a dry, humorless smile. "…damsel in distress. Funny you should say that."
Naruto looked on somewhat confusedly, his previous demeanor forgotten at the sight of her utterly heartbreaking smile.
Heaving a great, resigned sigh, the Kunoichi sat down leaning against the rail…her previous formal demeanor completely forgotten. "If you want information…I'll give it to you. I'll give you any and all information you want. But…" she looked up at him almost apologetically. "You're not going to like it."
He leaned on the top of the rail, flipping out a cigarette and lighting it, trying his best to look neutral. "Try me. We've got time."
She nodded lightly. "As you wish."
Closing her eyes for a moment, she seemed to steel herself and gather her thoughts, before opening them and beginning.
"As I told you already…with the death of Pain, Ame fell into a period of chaos, due to the re-involvement of the previously exiled 'noble families'. What I didn't tell you is who stepped up to fill the power vacuum."
Reaching into her bust, she pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Naruto raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"After Pain died…there were a lot of disparate factions that vied to take over the position of Kage for Ame. The war-mongers, the pacifists, those still loyal to the 'old' system under Hanzo…and even those still loyal to Pain. Everyone had a stake in who the next leader would be, and people actively fought, with much bloodshed, over which faction would gain control of the village, and therefore the country."
She exhaled a large plume of smoke. "After a while, though…things began to fall apart. The government had gone too long without a leader, and without anyone to tie everything together…" she shook her head slowly. "…Nin began going missing at a staggering rate…the economy continued its spiraling freefall downwards…crime became commonplace, and without a truly organized force of Shinobi to stop it, the civilians paid the price. Murder, rape, thievery, slavery…anything and everything that could go wrong, did."
Naruto grimaced seriously. For a Shinobi…he was entirely too sensitive to tragedy. "…that's horrible."
She slowly shook her head again. "That's not the worst of it. Not by a long shot."
He said nothing.
After a moment of silence, she took another drag and continued. "It was at the point where things began truly falling apart, that we got someone we thought would be a potential savior of sorts. After almost six months of being 'presumed dead'…Konan returned to the village."
Naruto's ears perked up at hearing the name of the woman he'd spared the life of.
The Kunoichi looked up at the stars, blowing out a cloud of smoke in the process. "But, as our luck would have it…this turned out to be more of a curse than a blessing. Instead of uniting the disparate factions…her reappearance caused the factions to fight that much harder to claim the 'throne' as their own. Even though most of our still-loyal Shinobi agreed that Konan had the rights and claim to become the new Kage, the factions didn't stop fighting for it. And it only got worse as the noble families returned to the country and threw their weight behind whatever faction was most beneficial to them."
He took his own drag, waiting for the 'but'. After a few moments, when it didn't come, he prompted her. "And? What did Konan do about it?"
She smiled that same sad, resigned smile. "Nothing. She was captured within the first month during her return. We haven't heard from her since."
Naruto's glass of cognac froze on its way towards his lips. So that's what she meant about 'damsel in distress'.
Not noticing, or not caring, she continued with a deep, shuddering sigh. "From there, it only got worse. Shinobi from outside the country were brought in, assassinations became a daily occurrence…anyone who didn't know how to fight were either continually victimized, killed, or taken as property and sold into slavery. There were very few places within the country where anyone could go to find sanctuary. There still isn't. Not much of that has changed."
Letting the silence hang for a moment, she put out her cigarette and stood slowly. "…but all of that was just a precursor."
He closed his eyes solemnly. The story kept getting worse. For whatever reason, he was feeling a sliver of guilt worm its way into his psyche…not unlike the guilt he felt the night when he'd learned of Kurenai…and her child…
The Kunoichi leaned on the railing and stared at the waterfall wistfully. For a little while, she just gazed out at the world, her orange-yellow eyes shining in the moonlight.
Wanting to get it over with, she shook her head and cleared whatever thoughts were in it.
"…this is the part you're not going to like."
Looking up, he glanced at her from beneath the cover of his bangs. She managed to look him dead in the eye; even though doing so was extremely hard…those blue depths could pierce one's very being if given the chance.
"…about six months ago, Oto made good on their overtures to 'annex' us…and set up base camps in the north of Ame no Kuni."
His eyes widened and his hand clenched hard enough around his glass of cognac to almost crack it. Quite without prompt, the beginnings of a snarl quirked at the edge of his lips.
She smiled slightly, seeing his surprise and anger. "I thought that might get your attention. Among all the other rumors circling around about you, your hatred of Otogakure seems to be one of the most accurate."
He nodded curtly. Even with Orochimaru and Kabuto dead…even with Sasuke no longer loyal to them…the village hidden in sound was still one of his peeves. His bane, if he were to be perfectly blunt. They still operated cruelly, they still oppressed their people, and the leaders that had taken over in the absence of the snake and his pet were almost as bad, if not worse than the previous.
Bulldozing Oto was definitely on his 'to do' list.
She continued before he had a chance to go postal on something. "At first, when Oto set up their base camp, we thought that they'd been hired by one of the families or factions involved in the fight over the position of Amekage. However, when we got reports on just how many Nin had been sighted, along with the raw amount of war material they brought with them…" she sighed. "It was fairly obvious that it was an unsolicited 'intervention'. In other words, the beginnings of a war."
Naruto, instead of taking a sip of his cognac, downed it all in one gulp, before throwing his glass over the edge of the balcony. The woman had his full and undivided attention now. "A war requires two sides, Kunoichi-san. From what you're telling me, it sounds more like a controlled takeover."
The Kunoichi laughed dryly. "More or less. As you surmise, we didn't have the manpower, or the resources to beat them off…only slow them down. We still don't. For the past six months, they've been slowly, surely encroaching ever further towards the capital." Her previous bitter mirth turned into a cold hatred. "Not even the hired Nin of the noble families or the various factions has been able to stop them…not that they've really tried. To them, as long as they have power in the end, it doesn't matter if they gain it through Ame or Oto."
After a moment, he rubbed the bridge of his nose…and growled. This was starting to make too much sense. He didn't like this. Not at all.
"Are you trying to tell me…that the power vacuum…"
Beside him, the woman nodded gravely and slowly. "Precisely. As of about a week ago, Oto took unofficial control of the entire country, by seizing the capital. There wasn't even a battle. Something like twenty percent of our remaining forces simply surrendered the place, and themselves. Due to the fact that the country is still very much isolated, hardly anyone knows about this."
He didn't quite realize it, but he was clenching the railing hard enough to dent it. His snarl had grown into a full blown growl, his teeth bared. "…idiots…didn't they know that Oto never takes prisoners?"
Her expression drooped even further, her voice becoming deathly soft. "…I think…they did. That's the best indicator of just how hopeless it's become. They'd rather simply die, or be conscripted than continue to fight for a lost cause."
This time, his growl came out as a low rumble that shook anything within a few meters.
Letting the silence hang again for a moment, she turned towards him, becoming serious. For a few moments, she just stared into his eyes, as if trying to convey her feelings via naught but a look.
And then, she bowed formally, as if a vassal…nose to the ground, hands splayed at either side of her head, and back arched. His anger turned quickly into astonishment.
Her voice was pleading and wavering. "Ryuujin-sama…please. Help us. Help me. Amegakure isn't yet unsalvageable…though the people and its soldiers may have lost hope…I believe…" she stuttered for a moment, before shaking her head. "…I believe Ame can still be saved. I believe Oto can be driven out. I believe the people can still be reclaimed." If possible, her bow became lower. "However…to accomplish this…to make my dream a reality…we need a strong leader. Those of us who are left, us few stalwart protectors of Amegakure…we need you. The people need you. The country needs you. No one else is strong enough."
She looked up at him. He was more than surprised to see the beginnings of tears at the edges of her eyes.
"Even if you will not become our Kage…at least…" tears began to freely fall. "At least help us help ourselves! Help us…to reclaim…"
She couldn't finish her sentence, before she broke down completely.
He just stood there, watching the formerly stalwart woman cry, rivulets of tears cascading down her pale, porcelain cheeks. Her eyes were closed…she was heaving, as if under great exertion.
The feeling rising in his chest was…familiar. He'd seen something like this before…someone at the end of their rope, someone without the power to make their situation better…someone who had lost everything, but still held that sliver of hope, that last vestige of pride that allowed them to humbly ask for help.
Someone who didn't really expect to get it…and if they didn't…they'd break. Completely. They'd lose everything, including themselves.
During his training trip…and the war he became involved in thereof…he'd had an entire village ask him to help them. It had gone very much like this had. They'd been victimized, horribly, by the opposing army…and had lost almost all hope for a savior, for a victory.
And then he'd come along.
To this day, from what he heard, the village still held festivals in his honor.
That incident had solidified his new, improved Nindo…to help the weak. To utterly annihilate evil. To make the world a better place, one dead son of a bitch at a time.
He'd gotten too comfortable here. Taira…it was his home. It was his solace, his comfort.
He wasn't meant to be comfortable. Not until he'd succeeded. Men weren't meant to chase after, or find happiness. Jiraiya had drilled such a thing into him.
He couldn't call himself a man if he turned this down. He couldn't live with himself if he turned this down.
No matter how much he wanted to.
It was time to leave. Time to make a difference, again. Hunting nukenin was good…but…there was more to do. The works of a man such as he were never complete.
The image of Tayuya flitted through his mind for just a moment, before he violently forgot it.
Seeing the woman still on the ground, still crying…he softly walked up to her and knelt, capturing her chin in his rather large paw of a hand. He brought her tear-stained face up to meet his own, and looked directly into her desperate, pleading, broken eyes.
He smiled lightly, unguardedly, making the woman's eyes widen and tremble.
"Don't worry anymore, ok? You've convinced me. You've done your job. Now…I'll do mine. Everything…will turn out alright. I promise."
Her tears flowed more earnestly, and she hiccupped.
Naruto laughed lightly and wiped them away with one hand, before standing and extending a hand to the woman. After a moment of shock, she began to straighten, before taking his hand with her far smaller, more delicate one.
Backlit by the moonlight, her on her knees, him standing, connected by the grasp of their hands…the scene became almost surreal.
He smiled lightly again.
"Mission accepted."
The woman's eyes rolled up into the back of her head, before she fainted.
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Walking into a ballroom with a woman slung over his shoulder probably wasn't one of his best ideas.
Then again, it's not as if he cared. People could stare all they wanted. Come morning, he'd be a hundred miles away.
Strolling up to his table and plopping down a few ryo to pay for the drinks, he motioned Tayuya to follow him with a twitch of his head. "We've got shit to do. Let's go."
Tayuya blinked…stared…and then scowled, before downing what was left of her brandy. "This had better be damned good. I mean DAMN good."
His face didn't stop being serious. Tayuya's eyes widened.
Whenever she cussed at him, or berated him…he usually got a goofy, half-fake grin on his face and gave as good as he got.
When he didn't react…when his face was set in stone…shit was serious.
HE was serious.
Without another word, she put a hand on his free shoulder. Moments later, they dematerialized.
From within the crowd, four sets of eyes shrouded in the dark disappeared as well.
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I seem to have this propensity for cliffhangers. I'm a horrible person, I guess.
Again...don't like, or like, or whatever, let me know, otherwise, I hope you enjoyed.