Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Kishimoto does. 'Nuff said. Read the last chapters.
Kyuubi Speaking
Kyuubi Thinking
Text
"Words"
Thoughts/Dreams
"Words in Mind/Dream-state"
"Jutsus/Techniques"
"Summons Speaking/Demonic Naruto"
(Translations)
Naruto hadn't remembered when he last had a good, warm shower while on this mission, but it was perhaps too long for his present concern as the blond Genin scrubbed over a week's worth of sweat, grime, and blood off his skin. When old man Tazuna had offered the demon vessel the first shower, Naruto was more than thankful since his ranking smell was enough to curl his own nose, and he intended to take full advantage of his time. He had a hard time keeping the smile off his face while he thought back to the Battle of the Bridge.
After Gatou had been killed along with his henchmen, Team 7, Zabuza, Tazuna, and the unconscious Haku carried in Naruto's arms trekked back to Tazuna's home, inadvertently running into the mass of villagers armed with many various make-shift weapons and blunt objects, ready to fight the already dead business man. It seemed Inari and Tsunami had spread word quickly and rallied the villagers to defend their homes. When Kakashi had addressed to them that Gatou had already been killed, the villagers cheered ecstatically and thanked the shinobi gratefully for ridding their home of the tyrant. Tazuna was still in tears when they had reached his house. Even after promising to take the old man's life, Tazuna invited Zabuza and his servant to stay with them until further notice in gratitude for personally killing the business tyrant. Zabuza accepted with a nod and trailed beside him and Kakashi.
Even though Sasuke hadn't sustained any serious injuries, he was still very weak from blood-loss and having been placed in a death-like trance by Haku. While on their trek back to Tazuna's home, Sakura and Sasuke purposely lagged behind the rest of the group to level with Naruto. When Naruto asked what was wrong, Sakura apologized deeply and thanked him for saving their lives from Zabuza from their first encounter. Touched by her honesty, Naruto accepted her gratitude and forgave her.
As for Kakashi, Tazuna had offered to help him limp his way back to Tazuna's house since his injuries and depletion of chakra were too taxing for him to walk on his own.
As for Haku, Naruto had carried her through the town -earning him more than a few looks of envy and approval from the male populace- and took her to Tazuna's home where he left her sleeping on the couch downstairs just before Tazuna had offered him the first shower.
Through the sound of splashing water that echoed in the small bathroom, Naruto heard the door opening and closing with a click, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching the shower stall. Naruto guessed it was someone that needed to use the toilet since it was next to the shower, so he didn't consider there being any reason to reply.
That was until his hyper-sensitive hearing caught the sound of rustling cloth.
Due to the Kyuubi's alterations to Naruto's senses, his sight, smell, and hearing were not only enhanced to super-human limitations, he also possessed an extra-sensory perception that allowed him to "feel" -or sense- the environment around himself using his enhanced hearing by way of sound waves like an advanced sonar. Every sound ripples and bounces off -and through- objects comes back to his ears to be interpreted as visual information, where in the world of absolute blackness, the echoes of the rippling and reflecting sound vibrations would highlight every solid surface around him. Thus far, he'd found the limit of his sonar sense to be fifteen meters in diameter.
What his sonar sense interpreted wasn't an attacker ready to attack, but a robe slipping off a very slim figure's shoulders as though undressing.
Naruto's mind raced with suspicion and alertness. He had thought that only the other males in the house would come in the bathroom, since it was plainly absurd that Sakura would consider coming in the bathroom while the blond Genin was bathing, but who in the house wore a robe? His hands were already flashing through hand seals to fight whoever was outside the curtain while his mind raced with questions asking who it could be, until he received his answer in the most unexpected means.
When the face of Haku poked inside the shower curtain wearing the most innocent of smiles.
"May I join you, Naruto-sama?" she asked sweetly.
Forgetting his previous readied preemptive attack, Naruto's hands shot toward his groin in reflex to preserve himself as modestly as possible and backed against the shower wall while the geisha-like Ryounin (Hunter-Nin) unabashedly entered the shower stall with only a white towel covering her feminine extremities. Naruto felt the blood rush to his face -as well as his lower anatomy- and knew he was going to burst a nasal vessel soon, this being his first...inappropriate encounter with a female. A very beautiful female at that.
Oblivious to the blond Genin's unease, Haku fully stepped into the shower and began lathering a bar of soap in her hands, her eyes never leaving Naruto's form. A dark blush covered her pale cheeks as her eyes soaked in the view.
Despite being half a head shorter than her, Naruto's body belied a frame of thick, corded muscles throughout his body's expanse. His limbs were thick with steel-hard muscle that rippled with every twitch and a core of proverbial armor, a powerfully muscled chest with a belly of bulging, brick-like abdominals. The young man in front of her had the build of a wild hunting cat, coiled and ready to kill. But that wasn't the only thing her eyes found.
Scars. Dozens of them were scattered throughout Naruto's form. His limbs were covered in jagged, crisscrossing scars, as well as his torso. Four in particular caught her attention: A cross scar on his left pectoral muscle like a jagged X, six parallel slash scars on his right pectoral, a jagged line across his throat, and a diagonal slice scar half an inch wide that went from one side to the other of his belly like a lightning bolt, folding into his bulging abdominals. Being an expert on human physiology, Haku knew many of his past wounds were severely fatal, but also saw they were at least a few years old. Strangely, she couldn't see where Zabuza had cut him from their first encounter.
"What are you doing in here, Haku?" Naruto said nervously, noticing her lingering expression while she looked at him. His voice snapped the kunoichi out of her trance and made her blush a deeper red, but didn't hesitate to answer.
"I'm here to clean your back, Naruto-sama." Again she answered in that sweet tone of hers that made Naruto's knees feel weak, but he steadied himself with effort. "I was told from Kakashi-san about what had happened at the bridge after you knocked me unconscious." Naruto winced when he was reminded of what he did, but Haku was far from sour about the incident. "I want to thank you for saving Zabuza-sama from Kakashi-san's attack. I don't know what I would do if my master died without me. Or should I say, former master."
Naruto looked at her in confusion, still keeping his hands on his groin and waited for her to elaborate. The water clinging to his skin was begining to chill. "Zabuza-sama and myself took an oath many years ago when he began training me. It is an old, ancient tradition for a shinobi to pledge when they are independent and hunted: Anyone who defeats and spares us, will be our master until either death or your command allows us reprieve. I, along with Momochi Zabuza, hereby pledge to be your obedient servants until death and will follow your every order."
Stunned, Naruto could do nothing but look at Haku with astonishment. He was very much aware of the ancient pact that Haku mentioned from Sarutobi's studies, but that oath was interdicted some two hundred years ago when the shinobi powers began forming village governments, gathering all assassins and warriors to form the military powers of bordered countries. The oath of promising servitude to a single person when a shinobi was ever spared after defeat was considered as a means of treason if one were to rally great numbers of shinobi to do the bidding of their masters and raise oppositions and dividing factions against shinobi governments. In coalition with all opposing and allied countries, the shinobi nations agreed to ban the oath from the shinobi teachings.
Haku stepped closer to Naruto, making the blond press harder against the wall as if attempting to merge with it while watching the shower nozzle spray the geisha kunoichi with water, soaking her frame and giving her a breathtakingly seductive appearance. "Turn around so I can wash your back, Naruto-sama" she said seductively.
Forgeting his earlier embarrassment, Naruto's face became pained and looked away in shame, unmoving. Alarmed from his sudden change in demeanor, Haku approached cautiously, the bar soap forgotten. She reached out to grasp his shoulder but his hand quickly shot out and grasped her hand in his, startling the former Ryounin. Naruto's eyes looked fearful when his gaze locked with hers.
"Please leave" Naruto pleaded in a broken voice, "I don't want you or anyone else to see my shame."
Haku knew that disobeying her new master was a violation to her oath pact, but she felt she had to know what Naruto was hiding from not only her, but also his friends. Gently, she removed her hand from Naruto's grasp and took his shoulder to turn him around. Naruto didn't resist and choked in shame when he heard Haku gasp from the sight.
Another scar dominated the span of his upper back, like a gnarled, clawed-shaped hand that left a burning imprint, with several other jagged diagonal scars beneath it around his flanks. The skin looked almost as if it were freshly healed, jagged and rough like leather at the touch and contrasted sharply with Naruto's tanned skin. Now she realized why he wore such loose and long-sleeved clothes: To hide his scars out of shame.
"Most of the scars on my limbs are the price of my training and attempted suicides." Haku looked toward Naruto's face and saw his face downcast with emotional pain. Haku listened intently as Naruto continued his tale. "The scars on my torso, however, I received from a group of Chuunin who, about five years ago, attempted to force themselves onto a woman trapped in the woods of my village. When they saw me, they took out their weapons and struck me to the ground, and I was left bleeding from over a dozen wounds. I thought I was going to die that night, bleeding like a stuck animal. And then I saw the men advance on the trembling woman." Naruto trembled in effort to supress his rage and disgust from the memory that had haunted his dreams for five years.
"All I remember afterward was a raging bloodlust, a red moon, and...the sound of a thousand birds." Haku listened with stunned fascination. Naruto took another breath to steady himself and continued. "The next morning, I awoke with my clothes ruined and soaked with blood, and the Chuunin were found dead in the forest, their bodies mutilated beyond recognition. And ever since that day, I've carried these scars as reminders to myself of what I should never again allow or forsake. So I dedicated every minute of my waking hours to train and be as merciless as any, wanting to rid myself of any weakness in me. I was alone for many years because of the people of my village condemning me a monster."
"Why?" Haku asked, resting her hand on his shoulder and squeezing it urgently. "Why did they call you a monster? Why were you hated? What do you mean?"
Naruto looked back to Haku, seeing her confused and desperate to understand his words. Now was the moment of truth. His voice was devoid of any emotion when he spoke. "I'm a Jinchuuriki (Human Sacrifice). A vessel for the Kyuubi no Kitsune, sacrificed to hold the demon within me at the price of my identity and chance for a normal life, overshadowed by the hate of my village's people that suffered the demon's wrath only thirteen years ago, and to save my village from destruction."
Emotionally drained from telling Haku his most guarded secret, Naruto stepped out of the shower, wrapped himself in a towel to cover his scars, and left the bathroom, leaving an astonished and grieving Haku in the shower. When she had dried herself up and dressed, she immediately took to the forest hoping no one would follow.
Naruto spoke to no one afterward, always keeping silent and his eyes away from anyone else's. Dinner that night was uncomfortable and silent, and no one had anything to say, unsure how to deal with the confusing heaviness in the atmosphere. Not even Inari's cheerful attitude toward Naruto could break the silence, and his team mates were too confused as to what was troubling him. Haku was no where to be seen until after their meal was finished, saying she needed to "meditate", but Zabuza saw the tear stains on her cheeks when she entered Tazuna's house, the sun long ago setting behind the horizon. The kunoichi must have been crying in the forest.
Later that night, Naruto's dreams were restless as he tossed and turned in his futon, sweat erupting from his pores and groaning with phantom pain. It was the same dream as always before, but there was more to this dream than any of his other past night visions.
The Chuunins all lay dead at his feet, their heads crushed and their throats ripped, surrounding him in a circle. Their blood pooled the grass, making the tiny green blades glow red in the moon light and the scent of copper and iron wafted into his nostrils. His crimson eyes narrowed as he set his sights on the two last Chuunin only a short distance away. A growl trembled inside his throat as he bared his fangs at them. A soft sobbing behind the demonic boy made him turn to the noise. The woman, or older teen by her youthful features, was staring at him with uncertainty and fear.
"Leave." Naruto said hoarsely with his deep demonic voice, earning a confused look from the woman. "Leave now while you can. Please. I'll handle these bastards. I'll make them pay for what they almost did to you, but I don't want you to see it. Run!"
The woman did as Naruto told and took off at a frantic run into the depths of the forest toward the village, only giving him a brief glance from behind with a pleading look that almost begged him to make it through alive.
With the woman out of danger at last, Naruto turned back to the last Chuunins standing and flexed his claws. His blood-thirsty grin was bone-chilling.
Before either of the two Chuunins could bat an eye, Naruto leapt with blurring speed and plunged his clawed hands deep into the nearest shinobi's neck and ripped his throat out in one swift motion, blood splashing against the surrounding trees and bushes. The Chuunin stood frozen in shock for a brief moment, allowing his pain receptors to register the attack, then collapsed with a dull thud!, splattering into his puddled blood.
The last Chuunin stood stock still with shock and fear as he watched his partner fall before he took off at a frantic run into the forest, the demonic child following closely behind while bounding on all fours through the tree-tops. The chase lasted several endless minutes as the Chuunin stumbled in his attempt to escape the demon's wrath. He spared a glance behind and saw the child was nowhere to be seen. The Chuunin heaved a long, exhausted exhale and slumped to his knees, his lungs drawing desperate gulps of air. He thought he had escaped the monster's reach.
He thought wrong.
Descending down from the heights of the trees, Naruto launched himself at the Chuunin and aimed his feet to the man's head, his legs flexed strait, and crushed it like a ripe tomato under the force of his own inertia and between the solid earth. Crushed brain tissue, blood and skull fragments puddled around his bare feet, soaking into the dirt and reflecting the red moon's glow. Raising his head high, the demon vessel howled in primal rage and liberation.
His howl of glory was short lived when he heard the chirps of a thousands birds behind him. Too late had he managed to turn around before he felt something white-hot sear into his back and ripped the flesh from him. His cry of pain was drowned with a roar of fury and back-handed the attacker with bone-crushing force, sailing his opponent into a thick tree and nearly splintering the old oak. The attacker coughed some blood into his face mask and Naruto saw something very familiar.
Within the man's left eye, there was a glowing red iris surrounded with black commas.
The dream changed.
He was in a field of soft green grass, lying on his back and watching the blindingly bright sky and clear of clouds. Naruto felt something soft supporting his head and looked up. There was someone kneeling above him with his head in her lap. Naruto couldn't see who it was, the sky's brilliance blinding him from seeing the girl's face, but knew it was a female, with short bowl-shaped dark hair with two long bangs and fair skin. She wore a white sun dress and held her hands beside his head, running her fingers through his hair.
Naruto's hand drifted to the girl's cheek and briefly caressed her face, surprised from the warmth and softness he felt from the touch. The girl's hand lightly grasped his hand and felt the softness from her palm. The feeling of peace flooded into the young Genin's chest and gasped when the girl bent down and lightly kissed his lips.
Just before his vision faded, he could vaguely remember seeing the girl's pale lavender eyes.
In his sleep, Naruto wept with joy and longing.
Four months had passed since Team 7 had been assigned their guard duty assignment, and Sarutobi hadn't even received word by either messenger hawk or by Kakashi's Ninken (Ninja Dogs) summons if either they had accomplished their mission or if they were in trouble. Even more troubling was that, despite being delayed for a few months to accord with Otogakure no Sato's (Hidden Village of Sound) new ratification as a shinobi power, the Chuunin Selection Exams were just another week away from commencing and would start with or without all the shinobi assembled in the village. Konoha would hold the Chuunin Exam after five years since the last exam, and the number of participating Genin this year easily dwarfed the number since the last three years hence.
Sarutobi looked at the pile of papers on his desk and frowned with both alarm and unease. By the number of documents piled, there were a total of 150 Genins participating -50 teams, excluding Team 7- with an equal number of Jounin Squad Leaders. Of the number of total Genins assembled, 84 were from Konoha, 30 from Sunagakure (Hidden Sand), 21 from Amegakure (Hidden Rain), 6 from Kusagakure (Hidden Grass), 6 from Takigakure (Hidden Waterfall), and 3 from Otogakure (Hidden Sound). All the papers were permission forms to enter Konoha territory, protection from the village's shinobi hostilities, as well as travel passports.
The Sandaime's office door opened and in stepped Kotestu, a Chuunin Proctor with porcupine-spiky black hair, narrow eyes, and white cloth wrapping across his face over the bridge of his nose, his hitai-ate firmly fastened over his forehead. In his hand was a green covered scroll, which he set on Sarutobi's desk and stood at attention. "Pardon the intrusion Hokage-sama, but I needed to deliver this message scroll to you immediately. It's a message report from Kakashi."
The Hokage looked at the scroll and back at the Chuunin. "Why hadn't I received a message hawk instead?"
Kotestu didn't miss a beat in answering. "The scroll was delivered by one of Kakashi's ninken just moments ago. The ninken told me just before dispersing that Kakashi and Team 7 with...some extra company are returning to Konoha as we speak. He and his team should be here within the next two to three hours. The scroll should hold all the information regarding the mission details and success, as well as the new charges in company with Team 7. Good day, Hokage-sama." And Kotestu left.
Sandaime Sarutobi looked down at the small scroll with trepidation, singling it out amongst of the dozens of other unfurled scrolls littering his desk. With shaking fingers, his hand clasped onto the parchment and bit his thumb to draw the blood to release the seal on the scroll. With a quick swipe across the paper rim, the seal magic hissed into a wispy smoke, and Sarutobi unfurled the scroll, scanning its contents.
The details involved escorting the bridge builder toward his home when they had been ambushed by the Demon Brothers, then learning of the billionaire Gatou of the trading industry had claimed control of Kiri no Kuni (Land of Mist), the confrontation with the Nukenin, Momochi Zabuza, the two weeks of progressive training, and the Battle for the Bridge. It was there that Sarutobi felt his heart nearly stop.
According to what Kakashi had observed at both the encounter with the Demon Brothers and the Battle for the Bridge, Naruto had actually tapped into the Kyuubi's chakra, altering his physical appearance, making the young Genin become blood-thirsty, and indescribably powerful. There was a great chance that the seal was weakening.
His terror was calmed considerably after reading the passage beneath it that described Naruto's controlled behavior as he fought on the bridge. The seal might be weakening, but Naruto appeared to have grasped control of the demon's energy without any side effects aside from his new attributes. Kakashi suspected Naruto might have established a contact with the Kyuubi, but the Copy Nin wasn't certain.
Another passage was written after the details regarding Kyuubi, the description of Naruto's new "servants" that pledged their loyalty to him after the battle was over and the business man Gatou had been killed by Zabuza, and of Sasuke having awakened his blood-limit; the Sharingan, at the Battle for the Bridge before Haku had rendered him unconscious. The four month stay was a team vote to wait to recover from their battle and guard Tazuna until the bridge had been completed -which it had about nearly two months ago- and to receive their proper payment for their assignment. Despite the brief horror he felt, Sarutobi felt enormous pride for Team 7's accomplishment, especially for Naruto after reading what the bridge builder had named his new village master-piece:
The Uzumaki Bridge; named after the hero who saved the bridge from destruction, partook in its construction, and slain the business man Gatou, freeing the land from his oppressive hold.
Sarutobi arose from his seat and walked toward the window, looking out toward the village gates with an excited smile, expecting Team 7 to emerge into the village at any moment.
What he didn't anticipate were the changes in the blond Kyuubi vessel that would only ignite the fuse to fire the cannon. Danger was rapidly approaching and its coming was almost inevitable.
Four Months Ago...
When the sun rose the next morning, garish red light spilled into the window of Naruto's room. The brightness of the light immediately roused Naruto from his slumber and yawned. The gentle sloshing of the water below the house gave a rhythmic lull to Naruto's keen ears, followed by the crisp scent of river water from the breeze that blew into his room from the open window.
Vivid recollections of his last night's dreams flash through his mind like static electricity, carrying with them the feeling of oneness he felt when the girl touched and kissed him. When he attempted to remember any distinct details about her, they eluded his grasp like mist through his fingers despite his photographic memory. While he wasn't certain whether the dream was Kyuubi's doing or his own sub-consciousness trying to tell him who the girl was, Naruto felt a longing to experience that sensation once more.
Slowly slipping out of his futon, Naruto recalled the more violent images of his dream from the night before. His features hardened to stone when remembering the glowing red eye with floating black commas. A single Sharingan left eye. That could only be one person: Hatake Kakashi.
The events from the Battle for the Bridge flashed in his mind. That technique Kakashi used was the same attack that scarred the demon vessel on that night five years ago. He was there that night, and he had nearly killed him.
But there was something amiss that Naruto couldn't quite understand: If Kakashi had acted alone to kill him, then he would have likely reported to the Hokage of what transpired that night, since he wasn't too injured or wounded to get to the Hokage's tower. But if he did, why hadn't there been any attempts on his life from any of the Anbu? Sarutobi wouldn't risk the lives and safety of the whole village for just his life, no matter how close they were. No, Kakashi hadn't told Sarutobi. If he had, then the Sandaime would have ordered his Anbu to kill him. That left only one conclusion:
If Kakashi hadn't told the Hokage that Naruto tapped into the Kyuubi's chakra, then the Copy Nin was working for someone else entirely.
Now Naruto understood why Kakashi was assigned to Team 7: To train Sasuke with his blood limit, keep watch over him and Naruto and train them into susceptible subordinates, and kill the demon vessel should he become a danger. Sakura was just an uninvolved variable to what ever plans Kakashi's superiors had in store, who ever they were, and to appease the Uchiha to keep him under their control. Naruto had his suspicions, but he couldn't be certain as to who it was that wanted his life despite the number of possible suspects, the Head Council among them. He'd have to wait until the return to Konoha and inform Sarutobi before Kakashi decided to kill him in his sleep.
He dressed quickly back into his new blood-red jumpsuit after fastening his body armor and fish-net attire. He didn't bother to strap his weapon pouches to his belt or thighs, and exited his room. Upon going downstairs, Naruto found everyone's gaze focused intently onto him when he entered the dinning room. Team 7, Zabuza, Haku, Tazuna, Inari and Tsunami were eating breakfast and had apparently kept quiet since Naruto hadn't heard much conversation passed around on his way down the stair case. The smell of fresh food instantly made the blond's mouth water and took his seat gleefully and tore into his food with gusto.
Tsunami broke the silence with a flattered comment "I'm glad you like the food, Naruto-kun. Had you slept well?"
"Best sleep I've had in years, thank you. By the way, Kakashi, when are we scheduled to leave and go back to Konoha?" Despite his cheerful demeanor, Naruto was seething on the inside when addressing so formerly with the Copy Nin. He made a silent vow to kill the man with his bare hands should he get the opportunity.
Unaware of the blond Genin's thoughts, Kakashi answered casually, "We'll be leaving once Tazuna-san has paid his fee to us. However, because of his lack of funds due to the land's on-going poverty, we'll have to wait until trade circulates once more and a steady stream of economy comes into the land. That means we wait until the bridge is finished."
"Yay! Naruto-ni-chan's staying for a while!" Inari cried excitedly, drawing the stares from everyone at the table. "I'm glad! I like him, and he was so cool when he fought those samurai thugs!"
Kakashi and Sasuke looked at Inari for a moment to gauge what he said, then turned to Naruto with questioning gazes. Naruto was quick to answer their unasked questions. "Before I came to the bridge, I followed the trail of scored trees that lead to Tazuna's house. When I saw the samurai attacking Inari and Tsunami, I dealt with them quickly and told Tsunami and Inari to gather the villagers to the bridge incase there were more hired arms."
"But how did you suddenly appear out of nowhere like that when the samurai were about to cut Inari?" Asked Tsunami, her food momentarily forgotten as she looked at Naruto expectantly. "And what did you do to that samurai's arm? It looked like it had been crushed and twisted."
"I can move at instantaneous speeds with a Jutsu I've learned just recently. My control with it isn't perfect, but it has its uses." Naruto's tone wasn't bragging, but only factual. "As for what I did to that samurai's arm, that would be the result of my new combat killing technique. I call it Assai Te (Crushing Fist). The title says it all." Naruto didn't care to elaborate and looked unwilling to continue. Sasuke and Sakura were curious, but knew they wouldn't receive an answer if they asked him.
Sasuke clasped his hands together under his scarred chin, a thoughtful expression gleaming in his dark eyes. "Back at the issue of bridge, it doesn't seem likely we'll receive our payment if we wait for Tazuna and his crew to finish by themselves, no matter how hard they might work themselves. You've all seen the progress building that monolithic structure demands. It'll take six months at least before it's anywhere near finished, and we can't afford to wait that long. We need more man-power. Much more." His eyes wandered back to his blond haired team mate, chewing the last piece of his bread before swallowing it with a gulp.
When Naruto caught his gaze, it was then that Sasuke's words registered, and he grinned with an excited smile. "Smart thinking Uchiha. Sure, I'll help. The sooner the better after all."
When everyone at the table but Naruto and Sasuke looked perplexed, Naruto explained, "Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clone). I'll just create a score of doubles and have them work. Each clone has its own independent will and even have the same strength and speed as the original, namely myself. Their only drawback is limited chakra supply. With them, we could get more done in one day than a whole week."
Kakashi gave both Naruto and Sasuke approving nods for improvising such an effective plan and addressed to everyone present. "It's decided then. We'll stay and wait for the bridge to be completed, then receive our pay once the economy stabilizes. We'll continue training and practice drills while Sasuke recovers from the battle and Naruto assists Tazuna with building the bridge. Now, what to do with you two?" He said the last part while looking in the direction of Zabuza and Haku, both having donned more casual wear than their battle cloths.
The Ryounin gave a coquettish smile that belied mischief and said absently, "I told Naruto-sama just yesterday that Zabuza-dono and I pledged ourselves to Uzumaki-sama's services in return for sparing our lives. Naruto-sama happily agreed from what I deduced from his reaction in the shower. He was...quite agreeable." She said the last part with a breathless lilt.
Inari looked curiously around the room, wondering why the temperature suddenly raised a few degrees. He looked to his left to Naruto. "Naruto-nii-chan, why is your face so red?"
Within the span of the first week after, Naruto, Tazuna and crew, and the blond demon vessel's Kage Bunshins were fast at work to building the monolithic bridge, with some extra volunteers from the village. With Tazuna issuing more orders than partaking of the actual workload, Tazuna's crew and Naruto and his Kage Bunshins had managed to finish thirty feet of runway and set three support pillars on both sides of the bridge from the water. Supplies were frequently being brought in thanks to Naruto's Kage Bunshins constantly moving back and forth with supplies at the ready.
While that was going on, Sasuke and Kakashi were left bedridden until they regained their strength from the Battle for the Bridge. Kakashi had no complaints since he had his Icha-Icha-Paradise novel to occupy his time, even sharing his smutty book with Zabuza who had plenty of free time after training and assisting in building the bridge along side his new master -regardless of Naruto's half-hearted attempts- whom he found a grudging respect for in terms of his strength and compassion toward he and his ex-servant.
Sasuke wasn't so lucky in being distracted from his boredom, since he had no reading material nor could Tsunami provide any articles of amusement, and Sakura couldn't be beside him too often with having undertaken a new training regimen with Haku acting as her training partner and learning the ex-Hunter Nin's combat style. But that didn't mean he did nothing in his time in bed. Naruto had been very aware that the Uchiha would grow restless and anxious, so he left Sasuke a training task that would occupy his time until he was fully recovered: Making all twelve hand seals in rapid succession for hours on end until it became second nature; which, at the time, seemed like a waste of effort, but it grew to his liking after seeing how much progress he was making.
Another month passed with little notice as Tazuna's family and Team 7 were eating dinner, along with Haku and Zabuza. Kakashi and Sasuke had recovered within the first week and were hard set on getting in some productive training time, with Naruto and Sasuke once again continuing their game of rivalry in learning Ninjutsus, with Sasuke finally teaching Naruto his Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu (Fire Element: Art of the Grand Fireball) in exchange for Naruto teaching him Meisaigakure no Jutsu (Art of Hidden Concealment), a technique that allowed the caster to become completely invisible, which Naruto learned from observing Kakashi some years ago when the Copy Nin was escaping some one who called himself "The Beautiful Green Beast of Konoha". Naruto also elaborated to Sasuke that it was with his concealment technique that he acheived the upperhand on Zabuza on their first encounter with the Nukenin, turning himself invisible while running across the water as one of his Kage Bunshins released its Shadow Shurikens on Zabuza.
Sasuke asked once if he would willingly teach him his signature technique, which the Kyuubi vessel declined saying he didn't have the chakra capacity to conjure any without exhausting himself. Suspicious of what Naruto was witholding from him, he dropped the issue.
Predictably, Kakashi only took to training with the Uchiha and excluded both Sakura and Naruto. It was only through Naruto's persuasions that detired Sakura's questioning which might have led to a difficult situation.
Tazuna stretched his arms over his head and gave a satisfied yawn, sitting at the dinning table with all his guests. "The bridge in nearly done, and we have only another few yards of runway to complete before it's finished. You have my greatest thanks for your help, Gaki (Brat -a friendly endearment-)." Naruto gave the old bridge builder a foxy grin for the gratitude.
The peaceful atmosphere was all but shattered when Sasuke's impassive face stared directly at Naruto and said "Isn't it about time you tell us what it is you're hiding from us? Or refusing to tell? Like those beastly changes, such as the red eyes, sharp canines, deepened whisker scars, and black claws I saw you use. Even how you seem to never get exhausted from chakra depletion?" Sasuke's voice became slightly harder, "Isn't about time you stop lying to us?"
No one spoke, too surprised by the Uchiha's sudden demanding question to raise question until everyone in the room felt the room suddenly dropped to a slightly chilling temperature. Haku looked fearfully at her master, while Zabuza looked more intrigued than surprised, while Tazuna and his family were silent with anticipation, along with Sakura and Sasuke. Only Kakashi seemed unaffected by the change in atmosphere.
Naruto's voice was devoid of any emotion when he finally answered. "What I'm about to tell you should remain secret from the other villagers. Do I have your word you will tell no one?" Everyone at the table nodded, though some did so hesitantly. "Understood then. To put it simply and bluntly, I am the vessel for the Kyuubi no Kitsune (Fox of Nine-tails), the same demon that attacked Konoha thirteen years ago. Any questions?"
Everyone at the table looked at Naruto with complete disbelief as if they had just heard the worst joke in the world. Their reactions varied, where Sasuke and Sakura looked flabbergasted, Tazuna looked pale, Inari and Tsunami were sweating slightly, Haku looked down at her food solemnly, and Zabuza looked intrigued.
Sasuke was the first to break out of his stupor with a question. "Didn't the Kyuubi die by the Yondaime's hand? What do you mean you're the vessel for the Kyuubi? Does that mean you're the fox reincarnated? And why weren't we told about what really happened?"
Naruto didn't meet the Uchiha's gaze, only staring at his food when he said emotionlessly, "Let me ask you a question to answer your question. If you had known that I was the vessel of the demon fox, would you -or anyone else for that matter- consider coming near me, or treating me like an actual human being?"
When Sasuke didn't answer, Naruto continued. "As for whether if the Kyuubi died or not, in a sense, he did. His body was empty and without a soul, and had no life in it, and still his remains feed the soil. But his soul -and his chakra- was sealed into me by the Yondaime when I was born on that very night of the attack. He needed a newly born child with a freshly cut umbilical cord since the child would not have developed any chakra coils to be ruptured and destroyed by the Kyuubi's limitless supply of energy, which would allow the infant to develop chakra coils with the Kyuubi's chakra without harm or danger as the child grew. That's what Sarutobi told me anyway.
"And as to the reason why you weren't told about all this is because, just before the Yondaime sealed the demon into me, he made a decree that prohibited anyone from telling the younger generation about the truth of the battle -including myself- to allow me a chance for a normal life. Anyone who violated this decree would be punished with death." Naruto laughed bitterly. "As you can see, that didn't work out too well. The adults passed their hatred to their impressionable children so I would suffer the pain they felt by the Kyuubi's attack. They still to this day think me nothing more than the demon himself." Naruto paused to gather his thoughts and gauge everyone's reaction. With Kakashi being the exception, everyone was looking at him with mixed emotions, the most prominent being astonishment.
Sakura found her voice with some difficulty. "What about those physical changes; like the ears, the eyes, and the claws? You're not becoming a demon, are you?" She said the last part barely above a whisper. Naruto just chuckled from her question.
"After the confrontation with Zabuza, I fell unconscious due to an imbalance with my chakras. Chakras, as in plural. My Kyumon (Rest Gate) and Shomon (View Gate) had ruptured when I was younger and first used the Kyuubi's chakra. The energies had merged together and formed a completely different chakra, which battled for dominance with my old regular chakra. Kyuubi had found the problem and dealt with it by altering my body's internal anatomy into a more durable composition so I could endure the Kyuubi's caustic energy, as well as my own, without being harmed. That's why I'm more feral-looking now, because the Kyuubi's chakra physically alters my body to varying degrees. And here is the seal used to hold the demon within me."
With barely a moment of hesitation, Naruto stood upon his feet and discarded both his jacket and armor, along with his fish-net attire. Sakura and Haku blushed a healthy scarlet when they saw his rippled muscles and tan skin, while Sasuke, Zabuza, and Kakashi looked on his numerous scars with astonishment and horror. Thankfully, no one could see the scar on his back from his position. Forming the 'Goat' seal in front of him, Naruto gathered his energy to his belly and there his seal flared to life before them.
Surrounding his navel, a pitch-black spiral coiled around the expanse of his belly, with eight lined seals like fire ember runes merging with a ring of archaic runes surrounding the main spiral, forming like a sun-burst crown. Never had either anyone seen such a crafted seal. The Yondaime must have been a genius to construct such an elaborate seal design.
"The main spiral is what connects to my chakra coils where my chakra culminates and forms. The eight lines of separate seals are interconnected with my Hachimontonko no Tainaimon (Eight Celestial Inner Gates) to regulate the Kyuubi's chakra and spread it throughout all my Inner Gates, while the ring of seal runes act as a counter seal to prevent tampering with the main spiral seal. Without one part of the seal, the whole collapses."
Sasuke looked at the seal, then back to Naruto's face. "Can you speak to Kyuubi?"
Naruto nodded while slipping his jacket and armor back on. "He and I have spoken several times during our two-week training period, but he sleeps more often than not, so our conversations are very brief. Why do you ask?"
"I want to know exactly why the Kyuubi attacked Konoha."
Tazuna soon found the atmosphere too uncomfortable and ushered himself and his family into another room while the exchange continued. "That is something that will have to wait for another time. Kyuubi asked me I keep it secret until the time is right, and I won't break my promise to him." Naruto looked at the clock hanging on the wall, showing it was nearing 10:00. He decided to cut the conversation short. "We'll talk about this another time. It's late, and I'm tired. See you all in the morning."
When the Kyuubi vessel sauntered upstairs with his armor and jacket safely slipped on, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi looked at one another in silent question before resigning to their own exhaustion, while Zabuza and Haku headed upstairs to sleep near their master; demon vessel or naught. The whole household was asleep within only an hour.
The only exception was Naruto, who stared at the ceiling of his borrowed room while his mind was elsewhere. What can I do if they start distrusting me Kyuubi? Naruto asked the fox. If I lose their trust, then I might very well have signed my death warrant once we head back to Konoha.
The demon shrugged, though Naruto couldn't see it because he hadn't gone into his mind's recesses. "It's difficult to say at the moment. You know not to trust Kakashi, but your friends are another matter. Even the most skilled hunter has to wait for conditions to turn to his or her favor before striking. Just let it be for the time being until they decide for themselves if they want to still be your friend. If not, then they don't deserve your friendship or trust for all you've done for them. Just sleep and wait for tomorrow."
Naruto gave the demon a quiet "thank you" before finally succumbing to sleep.
After two months of progressive construction and heavy labor, the bridge was finished and stood as a masterpiece of architecture, with cylindrical support columns of stone and a rectangular pathway like a square-shaped tunnel. For over two hundred yards the bridge extended from Tazuna's village to the mainland, with neighboring shinobi keeping watch from any bandits. Within two months after the bridge's completion, and trade circulated smoothly with the village and the economy was balancing steadily.
Tazuna and his family were seeing Team 7, Zabuza and Haku off for their departure. "Thank you so much for all you've done for us. We could not have done it without your help, and for everything else you've done. I just wish there was more we could do to repay you for your services."
Kakashi rubbed the back of his head modestly, while Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura grinned proudly for themselves. "You've done enough to repay us", Kakashi said smoothly, "We have our pay, you allowed us stay in your home, and we were all treated comfortably. I think we're even."
Inari rushed past Tsunami and hugged Naruto around his waist fiercely with a few tears rolling down his cheeks. "Come back to visit some day Naruto-nii-chan" the boy blubbered, "I want to see you again."
Naruto chuckled while ruffling the boy's hair and patted him on the shoulder. "I'll come back, but I don't know when I can. I'll come as soon as I can, okay Inari?"
Inari nodded and wiped his eyes with a jerk, smiling at Naruto even as he and his team mates and servants trekked toward their home village and out of their sight into the enshrouding mist that floated from the sea. And just like that, they were gone.
"What should we name the bridge Ojii-san (Grandpa)?" Inari asked after a few moments.
Tazuna rubbed at his beard with a thoughtful expression before snapping his fingers and saying happily, "We'll call it 'The Uzumaki Bridge'! After all, Naruto did save the bridge, you, me, Tsunami...Yes, I think that'll do just fine. Everyone who hears its name will know the hero who saved us from a tyrant." He grinned to himself as he looked in the direction of Team 7's departure. "You better be grateful, brat" Tazuna whispered to himself. "I've never given one of my bridges the name of someone else. Consider this my thanks...for all you've done. You've earned it after all."
Team 7 and Haku and Zabuza made great time traversing toward Konoha on the main road while keeping a comfortably silent walk, listening to their surroundings and remaining alert despite their relaxed postures. Tall pine trees towered over the group of travelers which condensed into thick patches of forest that surrounded Konohagakure no Sato (Village of Hidden Leaves), and the clouded sky was repeatedly plowing giant clouds to cut the sun's bright light to give those on the surface a much appreciated reprieve from the sun's hot rays. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Haku were up front of the group shoulder to shoulder, while Kakashi and Zabuza lagged only a pace or so behind to guard the rear.
Naruto for one was secretly relieved that he and his team mates had come to an understanding and rekindled their friendship. It had been several days before either Sasuke or Sakura had managed to look him directly in the eye without seeming like strangers, but they settled their uncertainties when remembering Naruto's actions to help them as well as how he was treated by the villagers as told from Kakashi when they asked him.
Along their treck, Naruto's sharp hearing caught the sound of rustling in the bushes, at least several meters away. He panned to the direction of the noise and focused his chakra to his Kopekigan (Azure Eye) to see a further distance, awakening his visual clarity to alarming acuity to where he could even see and identify a person's profile from a mile away. Not a daggar-toss away, his blue-slitted eyes took in the scene.
In the shadowed bushes deep in the far right of the forest, Naruto saw a red fox as large as a dire wolf with its fangs revealed in a snarl and crouched to attack a long black snake as thick as a man's wrist. The serpent was coiled in on itself with its tongue darting in and out its fanged mouth. Naruto waited with anticipation as he watched while time seemed forgotten, unaware he wasn't drawing breath.
In the blink of an eye, the snake retreated back to gain some distance between the fox and turned back around sharply like an arrow in the wind, rushing to strike at the fox's throat to deliver its venomous bite. The red fox charged in response to the snake's forward rush, its feet scarcely touching the soil for more than a fraction of a second, and met the snake in charge.
The snake stopped suddenly, coiling its body like a spring, then shot forth to the fox in a gliding leap, and its poisonous fangs bit into the flesh of the fox's shoulder, spraying blood from the open wound. The injury didn't deter the red fox in unleashing its own attack, and it snapped the snake's neck into its jaws, crushing the serpent's meat and bones in a single bite. It was over in less than a ten-count.
When at last the animalistic fight came to its end, Naruto exhaled and stopped. A deep sense of strange foreboding filled the Kyuubi vessel's chest while he witnessed the fight unfold, like an omen of what was to come, and he was the fox itself. Who then was the snake?
His team stopped about five paces ahead of him, all looking back and curious about Naruto's behavior. "What is it, Naruto-sama?" Haku asked beside the demon vessel. Naruto didn't answer her question directly, only saying he would be back to join them in a moment and strode to wear the fox knelt, batting aside the growth of bushels and vine vegetation while stepping over blocky rocks.
By the time Naruto reached the injured fox, the snake's poison had paralyzed the fox's leg and left the swelling flesh to the devices of the bacterial enzymes of the venom, turning the flesh of the shoulder a dark purple and irritated red. When the fox saw Naruto, its lips pulled back into a threatening snarl as a warning, revealing its bloody teeth and fangs that just moments ago killed a dangerous predator-turned-prey. Naruto took to its warning and stopped to wait.
Unexpectedly, Naruto heard Kyuubi's voice sound in his ears. Don't stop your advance, Kit. Approach it closer while I give you some of my chakra to have him recognize you as a fox. Have your chakra ready to heal his wounds and destroy the venom in its limb.
Naruto nodded and did as the Kyuubi instructed, culminating his chakra to his lungs and breathing it out like a blue mist as the demon fox had taught him during his two week training session, and applied the mist-like energy to the fox's injury. Kyuubi's youki (Demonic energy) once again flooded through Naruto's body in a familiar rush of blood-like heat. The red fox visibly relaxed its guard after catching the scent of a great fox coming off of the blond shinobi and allowed Naruto to heal its wound. In under a minute, the swelling receded, the color returned to normal, and the wound was healed along with the limb free from the venom's petrifying toxin.
The fox gave its healed appendage an experimental flex, then stood on all fours to test its strength, and gave out a barking yip when feeling its foreleg rejuvenated. The fox turned back to Naruto and rubbed its head affectionately against his leg to express its gratitude and Naruto in turn scratched the canine behind the ears, rewarding him with a purr.
Still affected by the Kyuubi's youki, Naruto asked the fox in a demonic voice that translated his words into beastial speech by the demon fox's energy. "Would you like to come with me as my companion? I would certainly like a strong partner such as yourself to help me in my quest. Will you come?"
The fox tilted its head to one side in curiosity, considering Naruto's proposal. At first, the fox eyed the red-clad shinobi with suspicion, seeming to have a deep sense of distrust with humans and any other foreign species, but it seemed to sense neither ill-intent or distrust in Naruto's voice or actions. After a moment it nodded its head and skipped along side the Kyuubi vessel as they both strode to rejoin the group, stepping and jumping over minor obstructions.
When they set foot onto the main road, Team 7 and Naruto's servants took a surprised look at the large red fox. Naruto gave them a fanged grin and retold about what he had seen in the forest and thought it beneficial to help the fox and have a reliable animal partner. Team 7, Haku and Zabuza accepted Naruto's answer and welcomed the new addition to the squad with affectionate pats and scratches, which the fox purred to delightedly. They moved on with their newly named fox, Akeginu -"Red silk" for his red fur.
"When will we reach you're village, master?" Haku asked Naruto, deliberately brushing her shoulder against his.
Naruto tried to answer without making his voice sound strained and unintentionally give Haku any misunderstandings in his nervousness by her close proximity, but barely managed. "Another half-hour or so and we should be seeing the village gates. After all, it's almost impossible to miss them if one isn't blind."
Just as Naruto predicted, the twenty-meter high gates of Konoha loomed into view, where the red double-arched doors were spread wide open like a book, allowing anyone passage into the shinobi sanctum, where two Chuunin and three Anbu were guarding incase of any dangerous disturbances, where the former were standing visible gaurd by the wooden signing stands beside the doors and the latter were in hiding in the tree-tops to observe from a distance and react to a moments notice. Kakashi gave the Chuunins friendly waves hello while surreptitiously giving the hidden Anbu secret hand gestures that all was fine. Naruto could only guess how they responded, especially with a fox in their company, but no one came to intercept them.
Naruto thought it ridiculous that these village gates are always left open, which would undoubtedly allow possible enemies within the village borders. Even if the shinobi wars were over and peace was still in effect with the other nations, why be so careless and leave one's self open? They were practically asking for an attack to come. Naruto's servants would personally agree with his opinion, but his team didn't concern themselves about thinking of home-land defense sensibility. They moved on and into the bustling village.
Immediately upon striding through the streets of bustling shop patrons, buyers, workers, or common folk out for a stroll, Naruto found himself and his animal companion the object of the citizen's hateful glares as he and his team and servants made their way toward Hokage's tower. Naruto ignored them, finding their animosity wasn't worth his attention, and Akeginu didn't bother to acknowledge them either.
His servants, on the other hand, weren't so ambiguous or forgiving.
One stray citizen, a middle-aged man with a brown trench coat and short black hair, came toward Naruto from the opposite direction and stepped within two feet of his space, hauchted and spat a glob of mucus near the blond Genin's feet and gave the young shinobi a slit-eyed sneer and laughed cruelly as he walked on, thinking he would get away without a single reprimand.
With unseen speed, the coated man's laugh was effectively cut short when Zabuza back-handed the middle-aged man in the temple and sent him spinning through the air like a string-less puppet to bodily crash into an adjacent building, where his body fell lifeless and broken to the ground after cracking the mortar wall with the force of his body's inertia. It all happened within the time span of a heartbeat.
The silence in the still street was almost deafening as every person in the avenue stopped to stare at the monstrous sword-wielder that just struck an unarmed man and killed him with one blow. Naruto and his team mates looked at the broken body of the man with slight suprise and...satisfaction for some. Namely everyone but Kakashi. Even Haku whispered under her breath "Too bad he didn't die more slowly for that disgusting display."
Behind the former Demon of the Mist, Kakashi held his kunai toward Zabuza's exposed neck and spoke evenly to his back. "I don't know what your village's customs were about dealing with people who act like buffoons, but we don't tolerate senseless killing here in Konoha. If you don't learn that quickly, then you'll be considered an enemy within Konoha borders." Kakashi let the threat hang in the air for effect to emphasize his seriousness.
Zabuza sneered at Kakashi's threat and scoffed with irritation. "And a fine teacher you're being to my master for allowing this shit to occur. Or are you as shallow minded as the rest of these ungrateful pond scum? If he was a monster, he would have killed you and I on the bridge, but he isn't, so he shouldn't have to tolerate any of these bastard's scorn."
"That's enough, Zabuza." Naruto said evenly to his servant. "There's no need to raise any more aggression on my behalf, but thank you for your consideration. Let's just get to Saru-jiji's tower, get our assignment filed as complete, and have you and Haku registered as Konoha shinobi. And ignore these fools and their glares. They mean nothing to me." Zabuza inclined his head in acknowledgement and once again fell into step about going to their destination, leaving behind the fearful, flabbergasted, and confused villagers that lined the street avenue and a dead man that didn't even have time to lament his costly mistake.
Even when they reached the Hokage's Tower, Naruto still sensed the presence of exactly nine shinobi watching them from atop the closed-in buildings, wary for a possible attack from the group. No doubt that the commotion in the avenue they left behind attracted the attention of the village patrolling shinobi and Anbu, and now they were left at the mercy of the shinobi's scrutiny.
The Chuunin known as Kotestu came out of the Hokage Tower entrance, garbed in the standard shinobi uniform of black body suit and green flak-jacket vest. His hair was black, long and spiky, and a length of cloth overlapped the bridge of his nose and across his cheeks. His eyes were sharp, narrow and slanted.
"Hokage-sama has been expecting your team's arrival for some time, Kakashi. Report to Hokage-sama's office immediately with these Anbu escorts." In a flash of movement, three Anbu's leapt from their respected roof-top areas and landed behind Kakashi and Zabuza, each one of different build and wearing a different animal mask. Ninjatou swords were fastened to their backs. Even Sakura could tell they were ready and willing to use them if they didn't comply. Team 7 and Zabuza and Haku walked in tow with their Anbu escorts into the Hokage Tower, passing several offices where desk clerks were managing filing documents and ascended the stairs to the top floor where Sarutobi's office resided. They were ushered in only a moment later and entered the Hokage's office.
The room had little furniture and great space, with only a single wide wooden desk covered in unfurled scrolls and semi-neat stacks of paper documents, and 12-shelf book cases stuffed with books flanked both sides of the desk against the walls. A large expansive window was behind the desk, giving the viewer a towering view of the south portion of Konoha village. Several foldout chairs were prepared before the Hokage's desk. Seated at his desk and writing furiously through paper document files was Sarutobi Sandiame, the current Hokage.
When he looked up from his desk, Sarutobi's face broke out into a wide grin when seeing Naruto and his team mates, even if it turned to surprise very briefly seeing Naruto's new animal companion but managed to keep his voice jovial. "I'm glad to see you finally arrived. That ninken summon of yours left this scroll for me almost three hours ago and I thought you would be delayed another day. Come, sit!" When Zabuza, Haku and Team 7 took their respective seats before Sarutobi's desk, Naruto guessed the old man was elated for an excuse to put a reprieve of signing anymore papers. Naruto couldn't blame him, since there were enough papers that needed signing to give even a child arthritic.
"I take it that you two are Naruto-kun's 'servants'?" Zabuza and Haku nodded. "Alright then. If you two wish to become part of Konoha's shinobi force, please go see Morino Ibiki for your debriefing and qualification. Kotestu!" The door behind the group opened and Kotetsu entered and stood at attention, awaiting further orders. "Please show these two to Ibiki-san's office for debriefing. That will be all." Kotetsu nodded and motioned for Zabuza and Haku to follow him. They did after giving Naruto their bows and left without a word.
As soon as they had left the room, Kakashi turned to the Sandaime and was about to apologize for what had happened in the avenue earlier but the old man held up his hand to halt any words Kakashi might have said. "I'm already aware as to what happened in the street not too far from here already, Kakashi. My Anbu reported it immediately after and had your team watched by my operatives. Suffice to say, I'm not angery or troubled about the man dying, since his family will be accounted for, but for how this Momochi Zabuza; the same Nukenin that attempted to overthrow the Mizukage's throne, had come under young Naruto-kun's services.
"That's for another time to discuss. I believe there was something you wanted to discuss with me, Kakashi-"
"Hokage-sama", Naruto interjected suddenly, "Before you and Kakashi have your discussion, there's something I need to address to you. In private." He said the last part while giving his team mates and Kakashi unquestioning looks that told them to leave.
Sarutobi nodded. "Alright then. I'll be speaking with you all after Naruto-kun and I are done. Congratulations, by the way, for a job well done and mission accomplished, Team 7." Even though Sasuke and Sakura nodded their thanks, they were still curious as to what Naruto had to discuss with the old man, but figured they would find out later and left the room without word, Kakashi following close behind and closed the door.
The moment the door closed, Naruto threw his kunai knife into the hard wood of the door with tag tied to its ring; a kanji of "Silence". A ninjustu paper that kept sound from passing the border of the magical barrier inscribed in the paper. Naruto repeated the action on all the window shutters, ceiling, and the walls while Sarutobi watched with amusement. The boy never failed to know how to keep secret.
"Now that that's done with," Naruto said in his seat and facing Sarutobi, "There's something you need to know before anyone gets suspicious. This matter is in fact important, so please bear with me and wait until I'm done."
The Hokage leaned forward in his seat expectantly. "What is it?"
Naruto paused for effect, trying to choose how to best tell the old Hokage. "...There's a traitor in our midst's."
To Be Continued...
Author's (Late) Notes:
I know I've been very late in my update and changing the the chapter up every now and then, so I apologize for this slight inconvenience on account that I've been rushing slightly to update, since my computer's been fucked like junk yard and it doesn't work to even establish an internet connection, so now I have to use the computer at Summer School to write my fics.
It might be a while before I'm able to update any of my other stories until I have a working computer again, so again, I apologize for the inevitable wait you'll have to endure.
Until then, I'm off! (P.S. thanks for all the great reviews.)