Summary: Orphaned at birth then kicked out to the streets sat the tender age of four, nothing seems to be going right for young Naruto. That is, until, a winter storm comes, forcing Naruto to seek Shelter in one of the many training grounds. Just as Luck would have it, another man was also seeking refuge in the same training ground. What happens when that man finds an underweight, undersized, and over all pitiable looking five year old sleeping under a large oak tree? Will the two finally find happiness, or is it all just another façade?
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Naruto. Though I do own this plot line and my few OC's.
Author's Note: ~Coughs~ So, I just not realized that I did not properly look over this chapter… Yeah. So here is the correct version. There are no major changes, I just went back and fixed all of the '[Insert name here]' things… Sorry about that ^-^'
Naruto and Ryuu sat in front of Shibuki's desk, going over some of the more important details concerning the mission that they were not able to talk about before. The three decided to inform the Takahashi twins what they discussed while traveling to Konoha instead of wasting more time by waiting for them to arrive and then re-explain things.
Naruto and Ryuu already received the headbands that showed that they were real shinobi of the village, both tying them around their foreheads. After that they moved on and began talking about the Takahashi twin's skills so that Naruto could get an idea of what he was working with before hand. In the end, Shibuki told him some of their known strengths and weaknesses.
One of their weaknesses was the use of genjutsu, but not how one would think when first told of it.
It appeared that in some weird, twisted way, fate decided to give Akimi the ability to be able to create powerful genjutsu's, but unable to sense them or dispel them even if her life depended on it.
Akimitsu, on the other hand, is able to sense them without even a second though, but unable to make even the simplest of illusions.
Usually, this would be a good thing; having one person able to make powerful illusions, and another able to both sense them and disable them, but in this case it only seemed to mess with the twin's heads and leave them irritated to no end with themselves and each other.
Some of Akimi and Akimitsu's strengths though are their pin point accuracy and skills with their Kanata's.
Naruto and Ryuu even found out what the metal containers at the twins hips were for as well.
Shibuki explained to them that the Takahashi clan trained themselves to the point where they could, to an extent, bend any form of both water and any other for of liquid to their will. They could not do it without charka, of course, but it took very little for them. In a way, it acted as the clan's Kekkei Genkai since others that attempted it were able to do it yes, but the cost was that of great charka use and they would only most likely be able to control small amounts and for only a short period of time.
The amount of water that the clan could 'control' varied from person to person as well as how long they were able to keep it up without running out of charka, with was more so for beginners of the clan, or fainting from exhaustion with happened to some of the younger clan members if used hours on end.
For example, some of the clan elders have enough control over the ability to command water in greater volumes then those just starting out and able to maintain the control for a few hours before they begin to feel the effects of charka drainage. For Akimi and Akimitsu, since they started learning younger then most, they could each control about the size of a small swimming pool, give or take a few gallons and could maintain the control for only a little under an hour, though they were improving as time went.
When that conversation was done and over with, Naruto, Ryuu, and Shibuki began discussing the names that the two were going to be using while on the mission. This one was, by far, not going nearly as well as the last conversation.
Ryuu leaned back in one of the two chairs that sat before Shibuki's desk, rubbing his temples with a scowl on his face. Naruto was not much better, though he hid his annoyance much better then his 'father'.
"So," Ryuu started out, his eyes now closed, "let me get this straight; your village council wants Naruto and I to not only go to Konohagakure to help your genin pass the chunin exams, helping them become chunin and gain some recantation for your village as a whole, but now your saying that you want us to go as Fox and Dragon? The two deadly assassins who also happen to be S-Class Missing Nin? Both of whom who just so happen to have some of the highest bounties in the Bingo Book? Are your council members insane?!?" He threw his arms in the air, eyes snapping open to glare at Shibuki.
Naruto would have commented on Ryuu's rude behavior and loud voice had he not fully agreed with the man. On the inside, he was throwing his own mini tantrum even though on the outside all that was visible was a slight twitch in his right hand which rested on his lap.
If Shibuki was completely honest with himself, he was more scared of Naruto's calm yet cold appearance then Ryuu and his virtual yelling. Nothing's scarier then Naruto hiding his emotions from him of all people.
Something that he took great pride in was the fact that he was one of the very, very few people that was able to truly gained the other teen's trust and become something akin to a friend to the blonde, so Naruto almost never hid his true emotions or thoughts from him unless others, beside Ryuu, were present. He had to hold back a shudder.
Yes, much scarier.
Coughing lightly to clear his suddenly dry throat, he tried to calmly answer Ryuu's 'question'. Keyword here: Tried.
"Yes, that is what the council wishes to do. As far as the other villages will know, you two have joined our shinobi rank which clears you of your Missing Nin status for the time being. We even went ahead and contacted our country's Feudal Lord before hand, telling him of our plan and he was more than happy to help us in any way that he could if you two accepted the mission. So we now have a signed document with his seal which states that yes, you two are Takigakure shinobi; Ryuu being of jounin rank and Naruto of genin rank. We even have yet another copy ready for you inside a folder that also holds your four passes, reason for entering the village, and basic information on you four. For you two, all that was put down was your codenames Fox and Dragon, your choice of weapons that most people already know of, and a very small description of your past that only includes your Missing Nin status, some of the known jobs that you two have done, and small tid-bits of random information.
"All in all, you two will be untouchable from any of the villages if it is not part of the chunin exams or unless they wish to break our peace treaty and begin a war. And with our forces getting both larger and stronger, we would be able to give them a hell of a time. We may not be fully able to win a war just yet, but that doesn't mean that we would go down without taking a good chuck of them with us. But hopefully, we won't have to resort to that." Shibuki spoke, his voice getting stronger and more confident the more he explained and almost prideful towards the end.
Naruto narrowed his eyes at the ground, deep in though, trying to find anything that would cause any un-needed problems for either Ryuu and he, or Shibuki and his village. He really did not want a war to start over them just because someone might try something stupid or 'heroic'.
Thinking over everything that he was just told carefully, he was unable to find anything and could only hope that no one was dim-witted enough to in fact try something against him or Ryuu during their stay. Looking back at his childhood friend, Naruto gave him a questioning look, eyebrow raised.
"So I take it that you have already sent all of the needed documents to the different villages, telling them that we are no longer Missing Nin and that we wish to participate?" Naruto asked casually, no longer upset about the request. In fact, he was almost looking forward to the mission more then ever. Oh how much fun it will be to return to his birth village as the legendary assassin Deadly Fox and partner assassin Vicious Dragon with them none the wiser on who either truly are. He smirked at the thought.
Shibuki was torn between being relieved that Naruto was back to showing his emotions or frightened by the smirk on his face, not for himself, but for those that the other teen might be thinking of. He answered his question none the less though.
"Yes. When you two accepted the mission, I had various copy's sent out to the other villages, telling them and also had a letter sent to the Hokage telling him that you two will be coming to the exams as well. I also asked the Hokage to tell his shinobi that you two are coming, but asked him to not tell them from what village. Though I should tell you, because of your past Missing Nin status, either one or both of you might be called in to meet with the Hokage; not to mention that you two might be watched the moment you step inside the village and they find out who you two really are."
Naruto and Ryuu nodded, thinking the same thing. Though that thought only made them both look more and more forward to the mission.
"Very well then, we'll go as Fox and Dragon." Ryuu announced smiling widely yet dangerously all the same if at all possible.
Shibuki smiled back lightly, very much relived that they accepted without to much of a fight.
He was about to say his thanks when one of the double doors opened. The three of them turned to look as Akimi and Akimitsu walked in and from the looks of it, packed and ready to go. Nothing really changed about their outfit besides the addition of their own headbands which were also on their foreheads, a backpack on their backs, a scroll on each of their hips that was not taken by the metal water bottle, and both of their hair pulled up and out of their faces. If not for the fact that Akimi has a more feminine facial structure and breasts, one would not be able to tell one from the other.
The door closed, and the four future team members all just started at each other, much like when they first came face to face at the training ground.
Naruto, getting bored with his stare down with Akimitsu, turned back to Shibuki who was watching them with out right amusement.
"Well Shibuki-Sama, it seems that we are ready to leave." He stood, motioning for Ryuu to do the same which he did without hesitation.
Shibuki nodded with a slight twitch by his eye at being called Sama once again by the blonde, though said nothing of it this time since others were present.
"Very well." He smiled kindly at the four of them, his annoyance gone in a flash. "Good luck you guys. Show those other nin what the hidden waterfall village is really capable of!"
The twins grinned broadly, Ryuu smiled, and Naruto smirked lightly.
"Yes Shibuki-Sama!" All four of them spoke, the twins bowing lowly while Ryuu and Naruto bowed lightly.
Shibuki watched as they left his office, still smiling. When the doors finally shut, he let out a low sigh. Leaning back in his chair, he stared at the ceiling.
"Stay safe all of you…" He mumbled out, his smile dropping lightly, but still there.
The four stood a few feet in front of Konohagakure's mighty double doors, gazing past them into the village that the walls protected. They each had different points of view on the village. Akimi and Akimitsu's eyes were wide with awe, while Ryuu and Naruto's were narrowed with resentment though one would not be able to tell with the blonde.
Like Naruto had said, it took them three days to reach the village, and during those three days, Naruto and Ryuu went over with them what Shibuki told them while they were packing.
To say that the twins were shocked would be an understatement. Finding out that the two of them were going to be going by Fox and Dragon was one thing, but what really shocked them was the fact that they were going to be going as themselves. No henge's, no disguises, nothing. Besides Ryuu's and Naruto's Waterfall headbands, Naruto's new black mask that had a red smirking mouth with a few fangs showing that resembled a foxes, covering both his mouth and nose and stopping just below his eyes, they changed nothing.
When they asked why they were going as themselves, Ryuu answered for the both of them.
"Well, Fox's reason is to see if anyone will be able to recognize him at all. After all, before I found him and took him in, he use to live there. My reason is since Fox is going to be appearing as himself, to be fare, so will I. Besides, we just kind of figured that it's about time to appear as ourselves for once, you know?"
Ryuu also said that the reason that Naruto started to wear a mask as they grew closer was because of the markings on he cheeks. If he was to walk in Konoha with them showing, it would be a clear give away on who he was, and as Naruto said, 'Where's the fun in that?'
Also during the three days, they spent the time to really get to know one another and for Naruto and Ryuu to get use to the way that Akimi and Akimitsu speak back and forth, finishing each other's sentences.
Even though neither Naruto nor Ryuu told them everything about them, they did tell the twins enough to get them to trust them more. Ryuu described some of Naruto's past training experiences and how the two met, though he left out some parts that he felt should not be discussed out in the open, even if they were alone.
Naruto even showed the twins his weights on his wrists and ankles when he told them about how he acquired them and how they worked. The twins were amazed and when they asked how much they now weighed, Naruto replied with a blank stare then after a few seconds, he said a simple 'Your guess is as good as mine'.
Naruto also told them of some of Ryuu and his past missions that weren't to horrifying.
One of Ryuu's favorite was how a few years back, when Naruto was twelve and they were still traveling from country to country, they arrived at a poor looking village that use to be full of life in the water country. Both being there before and knowing how it use to be, they went and visited the town's bridge builder who Ryuu became friends with on their last visit.
As it turned out, Gato, a corrupt business man, decide to come and overtake their small village. Tazuna, the bridge builder, was even getting ready to go and ask Konoha for help, but Naruto, to Ryuu's great surprise, stopped Tazuna. He told him that he would help them instead and for free. Ryuu, finally coming out of his shock, also agreed to help, saying that if Naruto really wanted to do this, then he would help him, also for free.
At this point, both Tazuna and his daughter Tsunami were hugging each other and crying joyfully, thanking Naruto and Ryuu over and over again for doing so. Since neither Ryuu or Naruto wanted money, Tsunami offered them a place to stay with them for when ever they visited.
So, after a week of scouting out the surrounding area, fallowing some of Tsunami men, and valuating their level, the two finally made their move.
As usual for the two, to mess with their target's head, Naruto went and snuck into the man's office while he was away tormenting the village once again, and placed a painting of a smirking fox's head on the man's desk. Under the painting were the words 'Death is always closer then one thinks'.
The next day at dusk, the two left Tazuna and Tsunami house, heading back to Gato's hideout. Along the way, the two took turns picking off all of the new guards that they came across that Gato no doubt hired in an attempt to stop them. Most of the men were common bandits, unskilled samurai, and few rouge shinobi. It nothing that Naruto or Ryuu could not handle.
Finally arriving at the pathetic hideout, the two entered through the front doors, taking out anyone that they came across. On the second highest floor, the two found themselves in a bare room that held nothing except for them and two other people. Zabuza Momochi and his apprentice, Haku.
They were both disposed of in a matter of minutes; Ryuu taking on Zabuzaand Naruto fighting Haku.
At last they reached the final floor, the floor that held Gato.
Not wanting to hear any more of the man's plea's and begs Naruto ended his life in one move.
While Ryuu sealed the man's severed head in a scroll as he did with Zabuza and Haku, Naruto went through the entire office, gathering all of the money that he came a crossed for the villagers. In the end, he had two scrolls full of money; one for the village, and the other for Ryuu and himself though their scroll had only a twentieth of what was in the other scroll. As they were leaving, Naruto also took the mighty sword that Zabuza was using, sealing it in a separate scroll.
In the end, Tazuna was able to complete the bridge that he had begun before the two arrived. Tazuna even went as far as naming the bridge 'The Fox's Bridge' with medium sized wooden fox stature's on each side of the bridge; each fox smirking while in a sitting position.
In return of hearing all of this, Akimi and Akimitsu told Naruto and Ryuu about their family and how their control over water worked in more detail then when Shibuki told them. They even showed the two their favorite techniques.
For Akimitsu, he showed how he was able to make the water in his metal container into a bow with arrows. When Naruto looked doubtful at the power of a water bow and arrows, Akimitsu just smiled and showed Naruto and Ryuu just how powerful and deadly they could really be.
Making his bow and a single arrow, he took aim at a tree that stood at about forty feet from where they were resting. Naruto and Ryuu watched on in interest as he finally fired the arrow.
Ryuu's jaw dropped lightly while Naruto's eyes winded.
The water arrow sliced through the tree and from the looked of it, a few trees behind it. They were impressed to say the least. Ryuu even clapped to which Akimitsu bowed to, smirking.
After Akimitsu's display, Naruto and Ryuu were looking forward to seeing Akimi's favorite technique.
Unlike her brother' bow and arrow, Akimi created a long whip like looking weapon.
Not even waiting for them to ask, she walked over to a group of trees. Standing still for a few seconds with her eyes closed, she suddenly began spinning with the water whip spreading out around her body, almost making what appeared to be a half circle. Both Naruto and Ryuu watched on, almost memorized by the move, when Akimi suddenly stopped spinning, the water whip snapping into action; literally.
By the time it was over, which only took a mater of seconds, all of the trees that use to be surrounding the girl fell away from her, the cut clean.
All Ryuu and Naruto could do at the time was blink, Ryuu managing to get out a small 'wow'. Akimitsu grinned at his sister's smug look.
Naruto shook his head, clearing it of the thoughts and nudged Ryuu's side, getting his attention.
Sighing, Ryuu stood behind the twins, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Come on you two, you can stare all you want later, but let's first get inside alright?" Ryuu spoke, smiling at them kindly.
"Sorry Dragon." Akimitsu replied, using their codenames like Ryuu and Naruto asked. "It's just bigger then I though it would be." His sister nodding her head with a sheepish expression to show that she agreed with her brother.
Removing his hands from their shoulders, he motioned for them to continue walking which they complied to.
"Nothing to be sorry about. It's quite understandable. When I first saw the place I also had to stop and stare." Naruto caught the lie easily.
Another great thing that came along with learning to hide his emotions and learning to sense others, the blonde teen's able to catch when one's voice wavers, which usually means that said person was lying. There are, of course, other signs, but he found that to be the most reveling since most people don't A) notice it, or B) know how to stop themselves from doing so. Ryuu happened to know about it, but just never really cared enough to fix it since it seemed that only Naruto could tell when someone was lying on that level.
Taking the lead and seeing what looked to be a chunin guard staring at them with narrowed eyes, Ryuu led them over to him, smiling kindly at the now glaring man all the while.
Seeing the smile, Akimi slowed her steps to where she was walking besides Naruto. Her brother, curious, also slowed his steps as well so that he was on the opposite side of Naruto.
"Hey Fox," Akimi whispered, "why is Dragon smiling to the guard. I mean, aren't you two supposed to be 'deadly' killers and all?" She asked, making quote marks with her fingers when she said the word deadly.
Shrugging his shoulders, he glanced from Akimi to Akimitsu, then to Ryuu's back.
"He actual does it when ever we meet someone new that does not know who we are." He answered. "When I first asked him why he smiles and acts politely like he does, he said that it's to give them a false sense of security; to get a sense of their personalities and the like. Well, that and to see their reaction to when they do finally catch on to who we are." He rubbed his chin that was hidden by his mask, eyes looking up towards the cloudless sky. "Though I have to admit, it is quite fun seeing all of the different reactions that people give. My favorite by far is when the person's face goes pale and even though you can clearly see that they are petrified of us, they still try to stand up to Dragon and I. Quite funny, really." He gave a low chuckle.
The twins could only look between Naruto and Ryuu with a blank face. Finally shaking their heads, and hiding their own smiles, they went back to walking behind Ryuu, slightly in front of Naruto.
At last, they reached the guard.
"State your names and business." The chunin's voice was gruff, his tone making it seem as though he thought he was far superior then them all after he spared a glanced at their headbands.
Naruto mentally scoffed. He could now see what Shibuki was talking about when he said that everyone underestimated them all with one look at their headbands for identification. He was about to reply with a not-so-polite comment, but Ryuu cut him off before he could even get a sound out.
"Here you go, these papers should explain everything." He reached into his backpack and pulled out a thin folder that held their passes that Shibuki gave them along with their new headbands. Handing it over to the arrogant looking man, he continued to smile kindly. The twins expressions were calm, though they where also smiling lightly. It seemed that they were fallowing Ryuu's lead. Naruto's face and expression on the other hand were completely blank. Even his eyes looked lifeless. His shoulders slouched, shifting his weight from one leg to the other, and hands in his pockets, he looked like he could absolutely care less; though Ryuu knew that at a moment's notice Naruto could snap into action whither it be to defend himself or others, or attack if needed.
The four watched as the chunin opened the folder, flipping through some of the papers, nodding as he read them. Getting to some of the last few pages, he raises an eyebrow.
"Oh? Takahashi clan members? And twins at that, too." The chunin spoke, his tone slightly less ruff. He even spared a glance at the still lightly smiling twins, flashed them a smile of his own, and then went back to the folder. All four watched the man's face intently at he got to the second to last page which they all knew held both Ryuu's and Naruto's passes and information.
As the chunin read, his face grew paler and paler, his eyes widening as they darted across the page. Naruto took notice that the man's hands were beginning to tremble causing the folder and papers within it to shake.
The chunin quickly flipped the page, going to the last one that held a copy of Takigakure's Feudal Lord's written and signed document that confirmed their status. If possible, he paled even more, his jaw dropping slightly.
"N-no way…." The chunin snapped his fearful eyes to look from the still smiling Ryuu to the emotionless Naruto then back to Ryuu. "T-he…the Hokage told us all about you two becoming legal shinobi's again, warning us that you two would be coming, but we all though that he was just kidding. Just trying to get us to pay more attention. But you two are really here; The Deadly Fox and Vicious Dragon." His voice became a whisper at the last sentence, his entire body shaking now as his eyes darted from Ryuu to Naruto.
Ryuu gave a low chuckle, the smile still present.
"Ah, I was not aware that our reputation extended to even here, what with Fox and I wanting nothing to do with this country. But, I guess it can't be helped, what with our line of work…" Ryuu spoke as if he was talking about the weather.
"Dragon…" Naruto's voice was flat, dead. His eyes caught Ryuu's, then looked back to the chunin which Ryuu knew as his way as saying 'Well?'
"Ah, sorry Fox." Ryuu turned his attention back to the still pale and slightly shaking chunin. "So may we enter? We are all rather tired…" He trailed off, giving a piercing stare to the chunin.
Said chunin jumped before backing out of their way.
"O-of co-course!" He gave them a low bow as they walked past him; Ryuu smiling once again.
"Thank you Konoha Nin." To add to the effect, he waved to the man which was soon copied by the amused twin's. Naruto just walked past the man, making a sound in the back of his throat that sounded similar to an hmm.
He was back inside the village, and Naruto didn't know wither he liked that fact, or hated it.
Looking the place over, he gave a mental shrug.
'I'll just have to see.'