I've had this on my HDD for a while now. Just kinda getting around to posting them. Or more accurately, I touched them up a tad until I was satisfied.
Two things.
Firstly, I enjoy writing this story FAR more than Dichotomy. Dunno what will come of that.
Secondly, I think this story is better by exponents than Dichotomy. Just my opinion.
Expect to see updates of this story more frequently.
Enjoy.
(Messed with the summary. Old one was...meh.)
As a child, by necessity, he had lived a very minimalist existence, mostly without luxuries, and only with necessities.
When he had become a Shinobi, that hadn't changed very much. In his apartment, he'd only kept his bed, his supplies necessary for being a ninja, and what few bits of clothing he owned. His only luxuries he'd allowed himself were his plants, and the picture of team seven.
During his time as a nukenin, that minimalist approach had been refined even further. Without a definite place to stay, being a wanderer of sorts, he'd only carried a bedroll, food, water, weapons…and again, the picture of team seven.
And while he was a tenant at Tayuya's parlor…he'd maintained that same minimalist attitude. His room was sparse…a bed, his clothing, supplies, a few bonsai trees, and the ever-present picture of team seven, along with a picture of both Tsunade and Jiraiya.
Hence, it was extremely easy for him to simply pack up his things to become a traveler once more. His clothing would go in one scroll, his weaponry in another, his general supplies in a third scroll, and whatever luxury items he wanted to keep…namely the pictures…would go in a fourth, and final scroll.
With the woman slung over his shoulder, and Tayuya at his side, he'd arrived at the parlor no more than ten minutes ago. Without explanation, he'd handed the Kunoichi to Tayuya, and promptly made haste to his room.
Within five minutes, he'd had his entire life packed within his sealing scrolls. Within another two, he'd changed from his formal attire, into what Tayuya called his 'heavies'.
It was a rather simple ensemble. Regular ninja sandals, black loose fit pants with orange stripes down the sides, a form-fitting navy blue tank-top with a standard Konoha Jounin vest above it, unzipped…matte grey hand and forearm bracers, as well as a brown leather dual bandolier and utility belt combination that held most of his weapons and tools that didn't fit in the vest pockets. Tsunade's necklace hung freely from his neck, as always.
Usually, this was what he wore when he was going into battle. Assassinations of nukenin were easy, day to day affairs. Battles…missions…this outfit was the perfect blend of utility, minimalism and just a tad of 'cool'.
This time, though…he would add one more piece to it.
Reaching into the back of his closet, and into a hidden compartment, he pulled out the one reminder of his old life…the one thing that kept him tied to Konoha, and his friends.
Naruto's unchanged, scuffed up forehead protector, bearing the unblemished spiral leaf symbol of Konoha.
For just a moment, he looked at it fondly.
In the next, he cut a small line, lengthwise, across the symbol, and then tied it around his neck loosely, letting it hang about three inches out from his Adam's apple, past the threshold of his chin.
Nodding to himself, he picked up his backpack, holding four scrolls and a strongbox full of Ryo and bank papers, and walked out the door of his room, shutting off the light and closing the door for the last time.
It was the next chapter of his life. By the time his work was completed, Oto would be a bad memory of the past…and Amegakure would be well on its own road to recovery. He promised that to himself.
And then…maybe…just maybe…he could find peace and solace.
He smiled and shook his head as he walked up the stairs.
Nah.
That was too boring.
Tayuya hadn't thought about it more than a few seconds, which surprised her…but at the same time, made quite a bit of sense.
It was quite obvious Naruto was going somewhere for an extended period of time. The last time he'd been this gung-ho to do something, he'd run off to Yuki no Kuni for about a month, helping Yuki-hime, the reigning ruler of the country, with some crisis or another. He'd also been much the same way before he left to kill Pain, and the same with Zetsu as well.
When he was focused, when he was hurrying, when he was completely and totally driven to complete something…those around him could feel it. It was this almost palpable aura of command, of urgency, of calm, collected intensity that oozed out of him like water from a sieve.
Obviously, whatever this unconscious Kunoichi had told him, had spurred him into action. The fact she was unconscious, and had subtle, but visible tear tracks running down her cheeks, must have meant it was an emotional speech of some kind…and probably had something to do with her country being under tyrannical rule, or her family captured by bad guys or…some such sob story.
She was all but immune to tragedy, having seen, experienced…and caused her fair share. But Naruto…
Well, he'd gone through quite a bit as well. The difference between them, was that he went out of his way to both not cause tragedy, and correct it as best he could when he came across it, using whatever methods available or necessary. It wasn't exactly a 'ends justify the means' attitude…but more along the lines of an attitude that ascribed to the theory that one had to commit a small amount of evil, in order to thwart, destroy and kill evil.
Such as capturing an enemy and torturing them for information…or wiping out an enemy encampment down to the last man…or killing off an entire royal family because they were evil down to even the children.
It wasn't so much the methods, as much as the targets, which made the monster. Torturing a killer or rapist was one thing. Torturing an innocent was quite another.
Naruto wasn't a monster. He was…he was…
She frowned.
She still had no fucking idea what he was.
All she knew…was that, to her, he was –
"Tayuya-sama…we've finished packing your belongings for your trip."
Broken from her musings, she looked up to see one of her girls…one of the younger ones, not involved in the 'trade', so to speak, looking at her with a blank expression. Way too blank, actually. Forced blankage. As if she was trying to hide something.
She tapped the ash from her pipe and nodded, standing in the process and walking around the table. In a swift motion, she'd knelt in front of the girl…one of the orphans she'd taken in, if she remembered right…and enveloped her in a hug.
It was fairly obvious what the girl was trying to hide.
She rubbed the girl's back soothingly. "It's alright. I'm only going to be gone for a few months…I think. You and the rest of the girls have to be strong, ok?"
The girl in her hug started crying softly. "…bu…but Tayuya-sama…what will we do without you? I mean, Suzu-san is strong…and smart…but…you're twice the man he'll ever be!"
She tried really hard not to laugh. Honestly. She at least managed to hold it to a few snickers.
Pulling out of the hug, she wiped away the girl's tears. "I know. But he's more than capable to run this place in my absence. Be strong for him too. Lord knows he'll need it."
The girl, probably no more than twelve, wiped her eyes and nodded. Tayuya patted her on the head affectionately, before turning her around and gently dismissing her with a ruffle of her hair.
Once she was out of the room, Tayuya sighed.
She had no idea why she was doing this…she had no reason to go with him. The decision had been easy, and quick. Following through with it was proving to be…hard.
Suzu-san, her accountant, bouncer, confidant and drinking partner, when Naruto wasn't available, at least…was a good Shinobi. He was easily A-class, and had a master's grasp of Genjutsu.
The problem was that he was as queer as a two ryo bill, and more womanly than she would ever be. He abhorred fighting, as it meant he had to get dirty, and he hated having to protect anything, because he wanted to be the damsel in distress.
It didn't help that almost every male that came into the bar mistook him for a woman. He was just that pretty. Hell, even Naruto, when he was sufficiently drunk, made passes on the man…which of course, didn't much help matters, considering Suzu had a crush the size of Tsuchi no Kuni on the blonde.
But when push came to shove, she knew she could count on him. If one of her girls was in trouble, he'd step in and 'take care of it' in an instant…going from a thin, delicate, beautiful bishounen, to a trained, hardened killer in the blink of an eye. He'd been trained in Oto, same as her…and just like her, he had a cursed-seal mark on his neck. His Genjutsu could make a man's mind break in a wonderful fashion, and his skill with the two hidden ninja-to in his sleeves was almost legendary.
This all meant that she had nothing to worry about, really, during her time spent with Naruto. Her establishment would be taken care of, her girls protected, and her assets would be un-fucked with.
The only real problem, was –
A strong, firm, deep voice from behind her. "…if you think you're going with me…you're very mistaken."
She sighed.
The problem, was Naruto. Overprotective, always-concerned Naruto.
Turning around, she put her hands on her hips and glared at him, only somewhat nonplussed to see him in his heavies. "Contrary to your fucking hero-logic, I'm a Shinobi, Naruto. I haven't had a good outing for…" she made a 'face'. "…damn near three years now. I'm going. I don't know what the fuck's going on, but if you're going, then it's big…important and shit." She threw up her hands in exasperation. "I'm not some damned frail, delicate little flower."
Quite unexpectedly, she felt an extremely firm hand on her shoulder, squeezing tightly. After a moment, he spoke, with that same extremely serious, hard face of his.
"…you're not a delicate little flower. You're a Shinobi. I know that." he squeezed tighter. "…but where I'm going, you could…and probably would, be in a lot of danger."
She snarled and grabbed his arm by the wrist, attempting…and failing…to pry it off her. It was like it was bolted onto her shoulder or something. Scowling harder, she settled for digging her nails into his skin.
"Then tell me where the fuck you're going, and I'll tell you if it's too much for me!" Her nails bit into his skin, drawing the smallest amount of blood. "I'm sick and fucking tired of you underestimating me!"
Naruto's face didn't change. "Then get out of my grasp. If you can take my hand off your shoulder, I will allow you to come. If not…" his eyes narrowed. "You stay here, where people need you."
Tayuya grit her teeth so hard she thought she might break a molar.
He knew damned well she couldn't pry his hand off. He knew damned well that he was stronger than her, far stronger. If he wanted to, he could kill her without even making an effort. If he wanted to, he could kill the entire population of Taira in the space of a few minutes. He was a god among Shinobi. No one that knew him thought he was anything less than the most skilled ninja in the entirety of the elemental nations.
Break out of his grasp? Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Didn't mean she wasn't stubborn enough to try.
Noting that the skin on his arm had already healed over her fingernails, she viciously ripped her nails out of his flesh, tearing a few inches of skin off in the process. He didn't so much as flinch, and by the time she had her hands in a seal, half of the strip of skin she'd ripped off was already healed.
Focusing, she tore open her first seal.
She couldn't use chakra anymore…at least, not hers.
The seals on her body were designed to mimic the eight-gates opening process, but not with her own chakra. Rather each seal contained about twenty minutes of chakra…Naruto's chakra…at moderate use. Or, enough chakra for maybe two high level Jutsu each. When one ran out, she ripped open the second, and the third, and so forth. Each one contained progressively more chakra, up to the last seal, which contained two full 'tails' worth of Kyuubi's chakra.
And if she opened that one, she would die. Or at the very least…be severely hurt.
She wasn't planning on going that far. She'd only need one seal…maybe two.
Just as she was ready to unleash her first Jutsu…his hand left her shoulder.
Somewhat stunned, she stopped her flow of chakra, closing the first seal after having only expended about an eighth of it.
Looking up, she saw Naruto looking at her with a sad smile.
She scowled, but it lacked any of her usual fire. "…what the fuck are you smiling about, asshole?"
He had the gall to laugh, while shaking his head. Reaching into one of his bandolier slots, Naruto pulled out a cigarette and lit it quickly, before hoisting his backpack higher onto his back. For a moment, he just stood there, looking at her, smoking his death stick.
His eyes gained a slight edge. "…you want to come with me that badly?"
She turned around abruptly and crossed her arms…principally, so he couldn't see her small smile.
"I'm just going to have some fun, that's all."
Silence.
After a minute of awkward, pregnant silence, she heard him chuckle lightly, before hearing footfalls towards the door. Turning around, she saw him at the door, half out, and half in.
He raised an eyebrow. "…are you coming or not?"
Walking to the doorway, she leaned into his face.
And promptly slammed the door on it.
"Dumbass! I need to change my clothes, get my stuff together, set things up and that Kunoichi of yours needs to wake up! Don't be so fucking dramatic!"
From the other side of the door, he rubbed his nose and smiled.
Headaches stemmed from one of many things.
Increased blood pressure was one. Sinusoid pressure was another. Blunt trauma could cause headaches rather readily, as could neck strain and eyestrain.
All in all, there were a plethora of causes for headaches.
Listening to a Kunoichi spill her tale to you while sobbing was definitely a cause.
Tsunade rubbed her temples, noticing that the dull blonde Kunoichi had stopped crying…at least, stopped sobbing uncontrollably. "…are you done?
The Kunoichi nodded pitifully. She sighed.
The woman had come in not a day before, claiming to be a Kunoichi of Amegakure, and asking for an audience with the Hokage as soon as possible. After seeing that she got a full medical workup for her wounds, accompanied by a subtle 'talking to' from Ibiki, she had been given a room, a bed, and told to sleep. She'd complied with gusto.
First thing this morning, she'd all but busted her way into her office, pleading with her to 'hear her out'. Tsunade, barely awake at the time, had just groaned…which her secretary had taken as a cue to let the woman in.
She made a note to fire her secretary.
Regardless…her story had been heartbreaking. Their country, their village, and their people were suffering under the oppressive aims of both Oto, and these 'noble families' she kept referring to. All in all, Ame was definitely in a state of barely controlled anarchy.
But…she really couldn't see how they could help. Without a village there, any help she could send could be construed as an invading force. What's worse, now that their capital was under control of Sound, Ame was technically under their sovereignty. Of course, it's not like Konoha recognized Oto's sovereignty in the first place, but it would still provoke undue conflict. Regardless of the fact that Konoha and Oto were enemies, Konoha didn't have the resources to wage war at the moment. Most of her most skilled Shinobi were on assignments, or on sick leave, or injured leave, or…any number of things that precluded them from going anywhere or doing anything. Hell, Jiraiya was off somewhere, gallivanting and probably peeking on women. Getting in touch with him would be an act of Kami.
Sighing again, she gave the Kunoichi the most comforting smile she could under the circumstances. "I…empathize with you. Honestly I do. Be that as it may, Konoha at the moment has neither the resources nor the impetus to go to war, even over something like this. If you want, I can give you whatever information I have on Oto, and I can refer you to Suna, assuming they aren't in the same situation we are…but aside from that…"
Her smile turned into a much sadder one. "…I'm sorry. Really, I am."
The Kunoichi shook her head. "It's alright. I'm not looking for a miracle." Her head rose slightly. "I'm not even really looking for Konoha to wage war on our behalf. In truth, I came here under the assumption that we wouldn't be able to get an army. Rather, I'm asking for a few skilled Shinobi, versed in strategy, tactics, and with knowledge of war under their belt already." She smiled slightly. "…to be honest, we already have the 'muscle' lined up. Or at least, I hope we do. What I'm looking for here is simply a few of your best."
Tsunade perked up slightly. "You already have another village that's willing to help you? As in, provide you with the manpower necessary to wage war?" One of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose. "Excuse me for asking…but might I ask which village has agreed to this?"
The Kunoichi shook her head imperceptibly. "I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say, Tsunade-sama. However, I can say that it's not a village, so much as…well, it's not a village, anyway."
Tsunade's other eyebrow rose. "…I see. Well, I suppose that's your prerogative. Regardless, if you're asking for some of our 'best'…well, I can't just give them away." She clasped her hands in front of her. "I'd need compensation. Either monetary or otherwise. Without it, I cannot justify putting some of my best Shinobi in harms way."
The woman smiled, genuinely, for the first time that she'd seen. "I understand completely. By proxy of Amegakure, and our interim leader, I'm authorized to extend an unconditional alliance treaty towards Konoha, in the event that Ame is restored to its previous state. This includes, but is not limited to; export rights, import rights, tariff exemptions, mutual defense treaties, intelligence sharing, Shinobi and Jutsu exchange…as well as anything else you might want or need of us if and when we are rebuilt as we once were."
The Hokage's expression changed to one of barely veiled astonishment. "You're willing…to go that far to gain our aid?"
The woman nodded without hesitation. "We are desperate, Tsunade-sama. Far more desperate than you may realize. Even if Ame is to become nothing more than a puppet state under Konoha…as long as we have our sovereignty, freedom, peace and our people's safety…" she lowered her head in a sign of respect. "…we're willing to do whatever it takes."
For a moment, Tsunade just stared at the Kunoichi in front of her.
"Shizune."
In less than an instant, the woman had appeared at her side, pig on her head. It would have been comical if the situation had been any less serious.
"Yes, Tsunade-sama?"
She grabbed a few papers off the side of her desk. "I need you go summon some Shinobi for me. I know one is currently on injured leave…but he'll be with a healer, so it shouldn't be a problem."
Shizune bowed curtly towards her. "Which Shinobi, then?"
She looked Shizune in her eyes. "Get me Team Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten. Also, assuming they're not unavailable, get Anko and Ibiki as well."
Her first apprentice looked at her in astonishment. "…are…are you sure? Those are some of our most skilled Nin…"
Tsunade nodded. "That's precisely why I chose them. Now go. Time is…of the essence, I think."
With only a moment's hesitation, Shizune bowed and performed Shunshin to go find those who she was supposed to.
Looking back at the Kunoichi, who was currently tearing up, and beaming at her, she smirked and reached into her secret sake drawer. Casually, she poured them both a saucer.
"So, about this 'muscle' of yours…does he still wear that necklace I gave him?"
"You know, Naruto…this is the one place I never expected to find you."
Naruto looked over at his former master, apathy and relaxedness written on his face. "…why? I mean, Shinobi go to war all the time, right?" He went back to staring at the sky, a brilliant hue of blue with fluffy clouds floating amongst the birds. "I'm just another mercenary."
Jiraiya huffed and sat down, crossing his legs and propping his head up on one palm. "You'll never be 'just another mercenary'. Whichever side a Jinchuuriki sides with in a war, is the side that invariably wins."
"Just be glad I chose the right side then." He smirked a bit. "Besides, I haven't had to use Kyuubi even once yet. I can thank you, at least somewhat, for that."
The old man huffed again, but chose to say nothing. He simply let the mostly companionable silence hang in the air.
It was Naruto that broke it. "You know…I might not come back, right?"
Jiraiya closed his eyes. "…I know."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "…and the old woman is ok with this?"
He huffed again. "If by 'ok' you mean stark raving mad and nearly grey from stress, then yes, she's fine with it."
Naruto had the good grace to wince. "That bad, eh?"
"Yeah." Jiraiya laid back on the grass. "That bad."
"Shit. I mean, I don't want to hurt her, or any of my other friends, you know? That was never my intention." He gestured lazily with his hand in the air. "I just wanted…you know…to take the leash off for a bit. Go for a run, feel my oats…all that clichéd bullshit. I mean, it's not like she throws a fucking tantrum whenever you leave and don't come back for a few years."
Jiraiya had the gall to laugh. "Yeah, but I'm not you, Naruto. Tsunade sees you as a little brother, or something like it. I mean, what if the positions were reversed? What if you were Hokage, and it was Konohamaru that had just up and left, eh?"
"…that's different, and you know it."
"What, because you're a Jinchuuriki?"
Naruto frowned. "…yeah. Being a Jinchuuriki changes everything. I shift the paradigm for any situation I'm in." He looked over at his mentor. "…for example, I didn't leave because I was forced to. I left because I was a danger to others." His eyes gained a harder edge. "…a man, a father died for me, Jiraiya. I deprived another kid of his father, created another potential orphan…" His fists clenched. "That kid will grow up without a father, without ever knowing his father, because of me. That makes me no better than Kyuubi –"
Quite without warning, he found himself pinned to a nearby tree, held by the scruff of his shirt, with a growling mad Jiraiya inches away from his face.
"Don't you ever say that again."
Naruto, trying to show he was unfazed, merely scowled. "What? That I'm no better than –"
A punch to his gut. "Kyuubi killed hundreds. He killed entire families. Men, women, children, good Shinobi, he killed them all." The grip on his shirt got tighter. "And you want to compare yourself to something like that?" Jiraiya picked him up higher by his shirt and threw him to the side.
For a few moments, there was silence, broken only by Naruto spitting out a bit of dirt.
"They all died for you, Naruto. They died for the village. They died for a cause, and you spit on that by calling yourself no better than the beast you're considered a hero for jailing. Do you want to make your father's sacrifice meaningless?" Jiraiya was yelling now. "Do you? Are you such a child that you're going to spit on the grave of someone who saved you, just because you feel sorry for yourself?"
Naruto picked himself up slowly, eyes shadowed by his hair. In the clearing, the wind had stopped…the birds had fled. All that could be heard was Jiraiya's angered breathing.
For minutes, both Shinobi simply stood their ground.
Naruto put his hands in his pockets and began walking away. "Tell the old woman I'm alright. Tell all my friends something that'll make them stop worrying."
Jiraiya scowled. "Oh? And just what am I supposed to tell them, eh?"
Naruto put his hand up in a farewell wave. "…you'll think of something."
As a parting shot, Jiraiya sighed. "And what are you going to do then?"
The blonde haired young man stopped, head pointed up at the sky, as if looking at the sun.
He turned his head back towards Jiraiya, tear tracks staining his cheeks, but a bright smile on his mouth. "I'm gonna grow up and show those fuckers that had the gall to die for me that I can take care of myself."
"Thanks, Ero-Sennin."
With a wisp of smoke, he disappeared.
His eyes slowly pried themselves open.
That dream…the true turning point of his maturity. He would never forget that feeling in his gut.
Grunting, he sat up. It had been around a half hour, judging by the moon…Tayuya had to be ready by now. He was still anxious to leave as soon as possible. The more time wasted here, was more time that the country had to suffer.
"Your burden is a tad more than one person should have to bear, you know."
Tayuya, bathed in the moonlight, stood next to him on the roof, leaned against the chimney. A half-burned long-pipe rested in her mouth, just below two concerned eyes.
Which was rare, for her.
He sighed. "If I don't bear it, who will?"
"Someone. Anyone." She kicked off from the chimney and stared at him. "Anyone but you. It doesn't matter who. You've got a right to be selfish, Naruto."
"I also have a right to be as stubborn as a mule." He smiled wryly. "We've had this conversation before, haven't we, Yugito?"
The woman sighed into the puff of smoke her Henge gave off when it dissipated. "…you know, just once, I'd like to fool you. Damn that sixth sense of yours."
Naruto grunted as he sat up. "Not going to happen, I'm afraid. Once I've met a person and gotten a good idea of who they are…fooling me with a Henge becomes just another impossibility."
"…in a long line of impossibilities, it seems." Yugito snorted. "Oi, you three…get out here. The dog sniffed us out."
In a blur, three shapes appeared next to Yugito, obscured partially by shadow, but illuminated enough by the moonlight to make out.
Naruto's eyes widened. "…you two…what are you doing here?"
Stepping forward, in a white desert robe, Kankurou smirked. "Long story…I guess that confirms that your Kunoichi didn't tell you everything, if you didn't know we were coming."
Beside him, a female form dressed in black, much like her brother, sighed. "What a huge pain in the ass." She stepped forward, a smile belying her undertone of irritation. "Though, it's good to see you again."
Naruto stood and smiled broadly. "Likewise…it's been a few years, hasn't it? Man, we probably have a lot to catch up on." His eyes went to the fourth member of the intrepid group, whom he did not recognize. "…who's she?"
Temari patted the pre-teen Kunoichi's head affectionately, causing the girls snow-white hair to bounce slightly. "This here is Usagi. Sister to the Kunoichi you got passed out down in your room."
"Sister?" His eyes narrowed, but without any malice or irritation. "…right, I'm confused as hell. Let's go inside, we can sort this out with Tayuya awake."
Getting a nod from all present, he casually made his way to the hole in the roof, lovingly referred to as the 'Naruto hole'…the hole from which he gained egress and ingress to the house proper. The procession from Suna followed diligently, followed by the former Nibi Jinchuuriki.
Gesturing to a few cushy chairs in the room, he made his way to a pitcher of water and poured a few glasses. "So, I take it you four have been spying on me all night, right?"
Yugito sat down in a chair with her purple robes surrounding her like a blanket and raised an eyebrow. "Something like that. More to the point, we've been trying to make sure that what Usagi-chan here said was accurate."
Naruto put the glasses of water on a coffee table in the middle of the chairs. "And?" He sat down in the last recliner left, his 'personal' chair as it were. "What exactly did Usagi-chan tell you that our Kunoichi didn't tell us?"
"You didn't tell me we were going to have fucking guests."
"Don't look at me!" Naruto turned his head slightly to regard an only slightly disheveled Tayuya followed by a very reserved and wide-eyed Kunoichi. "I didn't know we were going to have guests either…" He grinned. "Can't really say I mind though."
Tayuya sat down on the armrest of Naruto's chair, using Naruto's body as a recliner. The Kunoichi hesitantly sat down in a formal position on the floor, casting concerned glances at the preteen white haired Kunoichi that was supposed to be her sister.
"…you're a fucking socialite, you know that?" Tayuya sighed. "Whatever. I take it this all has something to do with the fiasco you got yourself involved in?"
Temari, legs crossed with her robe hiked up a tad, leaned her head on her hand. "Yeah. It seems you guys don't know exactly what's going on…but Usagi-chan here…" She patted the girls head affectionately again. "…was a tad more forthcoming. She's a bit young to have anti-interrogation training."
It was Naruto's turn to raise an eyebrow. "You interrogated her?"
Kankurou, to Temari's left, laughed slightly. "Nothing like you might think. Gaara just kinda stared at her for about two minutes, and she spilled the whole story. Fucking creepy, but if it works…"
Naruto smiled wryly. "Fair enough…but that doesn't quite explain why Yugito is here." He reached into his bandolier and took out a cigarette, lighting it and then scratching his chest absently. "In fact, I don't even have an explanation for why any of you are here…and hell…" He looked over at the black haired Kunoichi who had her head down. "I didn't even get this chick's name yet. The one she used at the party is probably a fake…right?"
The Kunoichi nodded demurely. "It's a name I use for escort missions. My real name is…" she paused for a moment, before looking away slightly. "…Kururugi Rena.
Both his eyebrows rose this time. "…you're shittin' me, right?"
The girl shook her head.
"Wow. Well, that changes things a bit, don't it?" Naruto blew out a plume of smoke, shaking his head in exasperation. "I take it your family has disowned you for going against them?"
"Not…disowned. More like, disavowed." Rena sighed almost exhaustedly, raising a hand and resting it on top of Usagi's head, a comforting gesture for both parties. "It's complicated. I can explain it when it's more prudent to do so."
He stared at the girl for a moment before waving dismissively. "Well, whatever. We'll get to it when we get to it. For now, there are far more pressing issues to deal with." He yawned. "Mind explaining what it was you didn't tell me?"
The girl looked to the side, before sighing resignedly. "I suppose it doesn't quite matter now, does it?" Her eyes closed. "Basically, Ryuujin-sama…you are not the only person we have petitioned for assistance."
Naruto perked up slightly.
Rena continued. "At the beginning of all of this…we knew we were taking shots in the dark. We had no idea who would help us, if any of the major powers would lend us assistance, or even if you would accept our plea. As such, we decided on a quantity over quality policy, deciding to appeal to everyone for help individually, rather than a few simultaneously." She paused for a moment, before smiling slightly and running her fingers through her hair.
"Five different Kunoichi were chosen to contact five different powers for assistance. I, being the most senior of those still remaining, was the logical choice to contact you, while Usagi, a new recruit, was the one chosen to contact arguably the smallest of the five great villages."
Naruto closed his eyes and leaned his head back in the recliner. He knew what was coming…but he still wanted to hear it out of her mouth.
The girl, seeing this, sighed and looked downcast. "…the other three powers we contacted were powers we believed to have some amount of empathy at their highest tiers. Yuki no Kuni, with princess Yuki at the top, arguably one of the more sympathetic rulers in the elemental countries. The country of Waves, one of the richest and most philanthropic countries in this era. And…" she closed her eyes. "…Konoha. The greatest Shinobi power in the world, and the only one with a female Kage."
Tayuya snarled, before Naruto could react. "What the fuck? I don't know what's going on, but you come to Naruto asking for help, only to tell him that he's going to have to team up with people from the village he's estranged from?" She stalked over to the girl and grabbed her by the scruff of her shirt, lifting her up to eye level. "Who the fuck do you think you are, eh? Just what god given power do you think you're from, that you think you can ask Naruto this kind of thing?"
"Tayuya."
Said redhead looked back at Naruto, snarl still firmly etched into her features. "No, no sympathetic bullshit this time. You're not going to stand up for yourself, so god damn it, I will!"
He leveled a very calm, collected stare on his partner. "This isn't a matter of standing up for myself. It's simply an inevitability. I figured something like this would happen at some point."
Yugito, across the room, sighed with her head in her hand. "Give it a rest, Tayuya. Naruto's a big boy, he can handle these things himself."
Tayuya turned her snarl onto the cat-like woman. "Fuck you, bitch! Don't –"
"Tayuya!" She froze. Naruto took a puff on his cigarette. "Stop it. Now."
She turned to look at him again, an almost hurt expression on her face. "Naruto…but…"
He stood, grunting like an old man. "I've accepted the mission. I promised already. It doesn't matter who I'm working with, or what else is going on…what's done is done, y'know?" He walked towards the window looking out at the night sky. "…this had to happen eventually…and at least this time, I don't mind."
Rena, in the slightly loosened grip of Tayuya, turned an astonished face towards her savior. "…you don't mind?"
Naruto was silent for a moment, before chuckling. "Nah. It might be fun to see them again. Besides, I understand, at least, why you didn't tell me." He sighed, his posture crumpling. "…still. This…complicates matters considerably."
Temari took a gulp of water. "Not really. From what Usagi told us, none of the other powers were informed who else they would be working with, making it a double-blind operation. Konoha, ostensibly, doesn't know that you're part of the mission. Meaning, of course, that once they're committed, they don't have much of a choice in the matter but to work with you. Nukenin or otherwise."
Kankurou nodded. "Besides the fact that you've got good relations with both Princess Yuki and the country of Waves. Even if Konoha decided to back out once they knew you were part of this, we'd still have more than enough manpower to do what we have to do. They're really the only wild card in the equation."
Naruto shook his head. "No…Tsunade will figure it out." Everyone's eyes widened. "For all that she is, she's not stupid, or naïve. She's been in the Shinobi business too long not to see through this sort of thing." He cocked his head to the side, with a smirk on his face, looking at the corner of the room. "…right, you perverted old fuck?"
Everyone looked where Naruto was looking.
Only to see a shimmer, and a Genjutsu dispelling.
"I'd swear you had the Sharingan or something."
Naruto chuckled and scratched his chest. "It's the smell, not the sight. Sake and women leave a mark, y'know?"
Jiraiya, clothed in what he usually was, scratched the back of his head. "That they do…not that I'm complaining."
"Of course you wouldn't." Naruto sighed and sat on the edge of Tayuya's desk, disregarding everyone else's shock. "Whatever. Did Tsunade send you, or have you just had one of the frogs watching me all this time?"
"Neither." Jiraiya got a little serious, sitting down on the floor cross-legged. "This is pure coincidence. I was actually coming to check up on you…" he sighed. "But of course, it figures you're involved in something like this."
"Doesn't it just?" Naruto wore a smirk of his own, before yawning. "That's beside the point though." He looked over at the stunned audience, some recognizing the old man in the corner, and others simply recognizing the power the man held. "We need to get moving. It's almost getting bright outside. We can meet the rest of them in Ame no Kuni, I'm guessing?"
Rena, now loose from Tayuya's grip, took a second to react…before shaking her head. "No…that's another thing I didn't tell you." She repositioned herself on her knees in a formal position again. "The meeting point is in wave country. That is our first destination."
Naruto perked. "Really?" He smiled slightly. "Man, that should be fun. Right…" he stood and paced over to where his backpack had been laid down, before shouldering it. "Everyone, you've got about fifteen minutes before we head out. Rena, explain the situation to Tayuya in that time." He began to walk over to the door. "I'll be outside having a chat with Jiraiya-sensei."
Hearing the old man's name, Rena's eyes became the size of saucers. "Ji…Jiraiya? The Jiraiya of the Sannin? One of the legendary three?"
Jiraiya blushed, a perverted look etched on his 'wizened' features. "Yes, I am that Jiraiya! The Jiraiya that can cease the crying of children, the Jiraiya that women fall for again and again –"
Naruto pulled on his ear. "If he keeps talking, we'll be here all god damned day." He opened the door and almost literally pulled Jiraiya along with him. "Fifteen minutes…be ready by then."
Everyone nodded, standing.
Save for Tayuya, whose eyebrow was twitching violently.
"Fucking visitors."
"So? What're you really here for, then, Ero-sensei?"
Jiraiya leaned up against the side of the building, arms crossed and a serious look adorning his usually jovial features. "Like you said. Tsunade isn't stupid. When the appointed messenger from rain contacted us, it was really a given that they had contacted you as well." He scowled. "Tsunade went and used Sarutobi-sensei's crystal ball to find me, to find you. According to her, I needed to 'warn' you that Konoha Shinobi were coming…but I think she's just using it as an excuse to check up on you."
Naruto laughed lightly. "That certainly sounds like her." He leaned up against the side of the building as well, absently scratching his chest. "Regardless…just how is this going to work? I mean, if they just work with me without any sort of confrontation…"
The older man nodded. "It would send a message that we're weak when it comes to reigning in our nukenin…and it would send a message to our nukenin that their sins can be forgiven. Obviously, neither is an option."
"Hm…so? Tsunade's going to reinstate me for the duration, or…?" Naruto yawned. "Again, how is this going to work?"
Kicking off the side of the building, Jiraiya shrugged. "To be honest, neither of us could come up with a solution aside from simply rescinding your status as a nukenin. Mind you, I don't think we tried too hard to think up anything aside from that." He looked over at Naruto, whose face was a careful blank. "…people are really starting to miss you at home, Naruto."
Naruto allowed one of his rare scowls to come to his face. "I know they do. Every frog you've been sending every month has been telling me the same thing." Naruto rubbed his head frustratedly. "…damn it…this freedom is addicting, sensei. How can you go back when you know you'll feel like a trapped rat? How can I go back when I'll think of this freedom every day, and yearn for it?" He kicked off the wall violently. "I cherish those precious to me, Ero-sensei. I'd go to any lengths to protect them, and to be there for them…but I still can't give up this freedom!"
Jiraiya was silent for a moment. "…Naruto…the day you became a Shinobi, was the day you gave up that freedom. That's the way the world works. That's the way the Shinobi way of life works. Freedom, especially to a Shinobi, is like a barbiturate…it never lasts. It's not meant to last. That's your burden, Naruto, as a Shinobi, as a man, and as the future Hokage."
"Have you ever known me to accept something I didn't like without trying to change it first?" Naruto shook his head and looked skyward in exasperation, seeming to contemplate his position in the cosmos for a moment. "…in this time, Jiraiya…away from Konoha, away from my precious people…I've grown up. I've been forced to examine myself, to examine my beliefs, and to hone both myself and my mind, lest I become stagnant and ineffectual. It is freedom that has allowed me to suffer, allowed me to blossom…"
He turned, staring at the moon absently. For a moment, all was silent.
"…I cannot be a slave. I will not be a slave. More than that…" he chuckled, which turned into a good hearted laugh. "…I will change any system that asks of me to become one. You have my word on that."
Jiraiya simply stared at his once student, a contemplative, if stern look on his face.
Which blossomed into a small, warm smile.
"Well, not much I can do, now that you've given your word." He cracked his neck, yawning. "I'll report back to the old woman…and we'll figure something out. She may not like it…but that's her problem."
Naruto smiled gratefully. "Thanks, sensei."
Jiraiya waved his hand dismissively. "Bah, you only call me sensei when I'm doing something for you, damn it." He turned a wry smile towards his apprentice. "…besides that though…I don't think I have the right to be called sensei by you anymore. Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Fuuinjutsu…even women…you've surpassed me, Naruto."
It was rare, but there were times, very few in number, where Naruto would honestly drop his walls, drop his concentration and even his situational awareness, because of some kind of shock.
Hearing his sensei, a man like a grandfather to him, tell him that he'd surpassed him…was perhaps the greatest shock of his life.
Naruto's mouth slowly twisted into a giddy grin, as Naruto calmly walked up to Jiraiya and gave him a familial, manly hug.
"…thanks, Jiraiya."
The toad sage patted his former apprentice's back, releasing the hug after a second or so. "You've earned it. I'm proud to have trained you, Naruto."
Naruto's smile widened.
"Oi, fruitcake! We're all ready up here!"
His smile died.
Turning around, he scowled up at the window Yugito was hanging out of. "I'll be there in a minute, damned woman!"
Said 'damned woman' gave him the finger before disappearing back into the room.
"That chick is a menace. Great lay, but –" Naruto turned back around.
Jiraiya wasn't there anymore.
He sighed after a moment, lighting up one last cigarette for the road and leaning up against the brick of Tayuya's parlor.
Looking at the moon again, he tapped off a few ashes. The full moon, as bright and unchangeable as it had ever been, stared back.
"…only the dead, eh?" He chuckled into the night, dropping his cigarette butt and walking towards the door.
"…time to go play soldier again."
It was strange, he had decided, to carry a small girl on your shoulders, piggyback style, while ninja-hopping through trees.
Chiefly because she hadn't stopped screaming, giggling and kicking much like a child her age was expected to do. It wasn't as if he minded…it was actually kind of endearing, cute, even…but it was still weird, because he remembered the few times when he'd done the same thing with Iruka. To have the positions reversed…he felt old, damn it.
"Naruto-niichan…faster!"
Despite himself, he chuckled.
The girl's wide smile and unrestrained laugh made a part of him feel…pretty good. He couldn't deny that.
God it was weird.
They'd set out for wave country not an hour ago, making good time in the process. Taira wasn't actually that far from the border to the country, but the city they were heading to…chiefly, the one he'd helped to save, was still a bit further. More than that, they were a tad slowed down by Tayuya, whose tree-hopping skills were sub-par due to her inability to use chakra.
Despite the relative ease of the situation though, he was tense. Various things played through his head, scenarios of battle, strategies he'd learned, how to establish a vanguard, how to take a city without harming the innocent populace…
War wasn't something you forgot. Especially in his case.
Regardless of everything though, Naruto knew that when the time actually came, he would have to think on his feet. Plans rarely lasted past the drawing board, and while guidelines and general strategy for battle can be a good thing, the ability to be spontaneous and innovative was far more useful.
The problem here was that he hadn't been given any concrete information that could help him devise a battle plan. He didn't have topographical maps, or intelligence on chokepoints set up by sound, or where the entrances to the country were or how they were guarded or the amount of troops they had at their disposal or how strong their allies were in comparison or how modular Ame's forces were or –
"Hey, hero. Calm down, eh? You're going too fast, and your Ki is putting everyone on edge." Yugito from beside him, put a hand on his shoulder, and he only then noticed that Usagi was on her shoulders, rather than his. "I know what you're thinking…but you'll have time for that later. For now, focus on the next step."
He blinked a few times, before he let out a sigh that seemed to drain the tension from his body. "…right. Sorry about that."
The cat woman smiled warmly. "Don't be…just remember that you're not alone this time, and it'll be fine. I don't want that hair of yours going grey before its time, eh?"
"…right." He smiled wistfully. "I guess it is a bit different, isn't it?"
From his other side, Tayuya scoffed. "Stop mothering him, bitch. You said it, didn't you?" She twisted her face into a mocking version of Yugito's. "Naruto's a big boy now!"
While Yugito scowled, Naruto guffawed, his laughter echoing off the compressed wind their speed created. "Oh god, I'm between a mother hen and a cock…" he avoided a swipe by Tayuya to try to hit his scar. "Seriously, the scar again? What the hell, woman?"
Tayuya looked at him for a moment.
And then solidly hit him in the meat of his upper arm.
"Better." He rubbed the spot she'd hit. "And…ouch."
The red head scoffed and shook her head. "Idiot."
Naruto's voice took on a saccharine quality. "But I'm your idiot!"
Tayuya's eyes widened, and she punched his arm again, cleverly hiding a blush. "Fuck that shit!"
"Yugito-neechan…what does 'fuck' mean?"
"Good question, Usagi! Why don't we let Tayuya-san answer?"
Tayuya glared at the former cat lady. "…I hate you so much."
Yugito smiled like a Cheshire. "I know."
From behind them, an amused voice chimed in. "Oi, lovebirds…you can save your foreplay for later." Temari pointed ahead of them. "I can just barely make out the signs of civilization up there. We should be no further than a few miles from our destination at the moment."
Remembering, offhandedly, that Temari's eyesight was second only to Tenten's, he nodded. "Right…we're going to go in cold, no flourish, no big entrance. We're just a band of travelers from water country if anyone asks." His 'business' demeanor took over. "We head to the rendezvous point, meet up with whoever we're meeting with, and then wait. Everyone clear?"
A quiet chorus of acknowledgements reached his ears. He smiled. It was nice dealing with professionals again.
Making one final leap out of the forest they were travelling through, he did a quick Henge and landed in a small clearing.
"Our code phrase, if needed, will be, 'A journey of a thousand miles…' with a response of, 'begins with a single step.'"
Looking around, he saw everyone in various different Henge's, all looking rather nondescript. He nodded, mostly to himself.
He took a step.
"Orders."
A tall figure shrouded by the night, took a small letter handed to him by his subordinate. Ripping it open, he quickly scanned it.
And then burned it.
Standing, he strapped a tanto with a wakizashi grip to his back, and picked up a small scroll that smelled of new ink.
"I'm leaving on a mission, your new commander will be here shortly."
His subordinates visibly slumped. "Already? But you just got here! And you're the best damned commander we've ever had!"
The tall figure chuckled lightly, a bit of pale skin reflecting in the moonlight. "I am merely emulating someone whom I admire. Emulate me, and you shall enjoy the same success you have always enjoyed."
The figure made a half ram seal and disappeared in a flourish of fluid darkness.
"Schedule an echocardiogram for him tomorrow. If necessary, I'll perform open heart surgery myself. Also, see to it the boys down at the sterilization plant are given a stern talking to…I don't enjoy bacteria in my operating rooms."
An attendant in common nurse garbs bowed slightly to her superior, before exiting thriftily out the door, admitting a man in ANBU armor as she egressed. Said man handed her superior a letter.
Ripping open the letter, the woman scanned it, and then burned it, a small smile crossing her features. Dismissing the ANBU, she quickly strode to the other side of her immaculate white office and disrobed from her common medical accoutrements, revealing a large bust and shapely figure underneath the lab coat.
In another moment, she was dressed in a simple red Kunoichi dress with patterns of autumn leaves dancing down from the shirt collar, a Kunai holster strapped to an almost naked thigh, and a pouch containing essential medical equipment resting just above her rump.
She laughed femininely, before laughing unrestrainedly.
She'd show him what he'd been missing, and then some. She was ready…the question was if he was.
"Hikari…you're beautiful tonight. I…I guess I've wanted to say this for a while, but –"
A man in ANBU armor appeared before the figure of a tall man with silver-grey hair. "Sempai…orders."
Said sempai stared at the man in ANBU armor for a moment, before gently caressing the blonde locks of his lady of this particular evening. "A moment, if you please."
The girl just giggled.
He…somewhat angrily…snatched a small missive out of the hands of his once subordinate, quickly opening it.
With a snap of his fingers, it burned, and he stood.
"Let's go."
The woman in the lounger pouted at him, more because he hadn't paid the bill yet than anything else. "You're leaving already?"
The tall man with silver-grey hair gave the woman a look. "Icha Icha tactics, chapter ten, page two hundred sixty eight. Did it work?"
The woman looked at him blankly.
He sniffed the air, nodding. "It did. Of course it did. He wrote it, after all."
With a half-ram seal, both men left.
The man whom even fate and destiny did not dare cross. He was coming. The dream had been lucid.
In her sparse quarters, she looked around in the dark, noting absently that she was covered in sweat.
The events themselves had been precise, accurate…as set in stone as any vision she'd ever had. And yet, in the middle of it all, there was a spot of void…a place where light did not touch, where the converging streams and essences of past, present, future and entropy simply vanished. Perhaps they didn't even exist in the first place within that void.
Her salvation. The salvation of the country. The messiah of their redemption. The man who, by his very existence, defied the very laws which gave her power.
It was her chance now. It was the chance of an entire country. Her next move would speak to the ages as either a triumph or a defeat.
Because now, she was powerless.
And now, she could by happy.
They all could.
In wave country, a man walking in a group of travelers stopped.
Before inhaling deeply.
Before sneezing, hard.
Before his Henge dissipated.
He looked around, noting that their inconspicuousness was now very conspicuous.
"Aw, fuck me."
"Yugito-neechan, what –"
Naruto leaned over and whispered something hurried into the girl's ear.
She turned beet red.
Tayuya raised her hand, which Naruto quickly high-fived.
Yugito rolled her eyes. "Idiots. Absolute, complete idiots."
Naruto grinned. "But at least we're fun, right?"