Authors Note: Well here is the second chapter, sorry it has taken some time but, hey at least it's here now right? Although I am a little disheartened that, at the time of me writing this, almost two hundred people have read this, yet none have reviewed. But I can understand that no one has any questions or the like, but I am surprised that I haven't even gotten a flame, yet, is that a good thing or am I just not that known yet. But I have been rambling for too long now so on with the show!
Special thanks to Zimbolical and Dragonbike for being the first ones to favorite and alert respectively.
Key:
'Hmm': thinking
"Hmm": Speaking
"Hmm": Demon speaking
'Hmm': Demon thinking
Konoha 8:30 A.M.
Naruto did not break stride as he entered the tower, noticing the lack of clerks, belatedly realizing the next shift had yet to begin. As he ascended the steps he admired the architecture of the building, with it primarily being the red and white of the Uchiha clan, and the walls being designed with intricate flames. As he walked into the antechamber of the Hokage's office, he was surprised with seeing who was coming out of the office. It was the Hokage, his right side completely bandaged after taking a wayward fire jutsu during the traitorous Sannin's escape from Konoha with his Hokage robes, Itachi Uchiha, in his normal Uchiha attire of a sky blue shirt and white pants, and, surprisingly, the fire Daimyo, with his intricate embroidered robes, speaking as they walked out. "Ah, Hokage-sama, Itachi-sama, Daimyo-sama, a pleasure to see you" Naruto said as he bowed deeply, seeing three of the most powerful men in the country all in the same room tended to inspire respect. Danzo was the one to respond "And to you too, Naruto-kun. I was just finishing with Itachi-kun and Daimyo-dono, please come with me into my office." he started to walk into the office. As he walked into the office, he inclined his head as he passed by the two.
As the door closed, Naruto's posture became rigid, his eyes cold as winter, arms together behind his back. "You asked for me Hokage-sama?" he asked in a neutral tone. "Yes, I have an assignment to give you, it is the reason why you were not allowed to participate in the last Chunin exams. You will be sent along with another team, but be advised this will be a long term mission with no assurance of return." Danzo said while looking at the young shinobi standing in front of him. Naruto merely responded "No mission has an assurance Hokage-sama, I will accept.". Danzo merely smiled and nodded "Yes I thought as much, but since your old team has advanced you will need new ones, so let us go to the academy and see the new recruits". Naruto nodded and followed him outside, shunshining to the forest outside the academy. Seeing all the young boys and girls, training, hoping to one day fight for their homes, brought back memories of his own time. As he caught up to the Hokage, he put a lid on that train of thought. "So," Danzo started, "Tell me what you know of these new ones". "Well," he began, looking at the first student "there is Sasuke Uchiha, youngest son of head Fugaku Uchiha. From what I can see he seems to be a taijutsu specialist, most likely has not awoken his Sharingan. Next we have a Yamanaka from what I can see she seems to be fairly average, more than likely having proficiency in her clan techniques, along with a Nara and an Akimichi, a typical Ino-Shika-Cho team. A Hyuuga, Aburame and Inuzuka a clear tracking team. Oh and who is this?" he asked as he turned to look at the Hokage. Danzo smiled "I thought she might catch your eye, her name is Sakura Haruno, her parents are middle Jonin, nothing special about them. But she is a Ninjutsu prodigy, as of now she probably knows at least three elemental Ninjutsu, quite a large amount for a new recruit." he noted, "Now your partner team will be here soon, you will discuss with them which two you will take with you, oh and you should get along well with the leader of the other team he was an old sensei of yours." Danzo then turned and dashed away just as five others walked up.
The first two were nearly identical with only their grey hair being swept to different sides to differentiate between the two, in their tan outfits and green make-up. Naruto quickly shifted to a friendlier stance, with a smile on his face as he said "Sakon-kun, Ukon-kun nice to see you.". "Hello Naruto-san" Ukon replied, while his brother merely had a smirk and said "Yo red long time no see" as he walked over and started to rub Naruto's head for a minute. This was stopped when a black haired young man with six arms, and an irritated expression came up and said "Knock that off Sakon-baka, you might infect him with your idiocy.". Naruto merely chuckled at this exchange and said "Hello to you as well Kidomaru-kun, and is that Jirobo-kun over there?" as he looked to the tree opposite them. Sure enough the portly mohawked young man watching the events with the smallest of smiles, "Yes, Naruto-san" he responded "I am here as well". Then a new voice from over them came cutting in "Yes this is very much a reunion of your graduating class, no?". As Naruto looked up he quickly recognized this man, with the tan shinobi uniform, pale skin, and long hair, it was obvious who it was…
"Kimimaru-sensei!" he called with a smile threading its way across his visage, seeing the man who guided his original squad. "Now that we are here," he said as he dropped down to their level "have you put any thought into who your teammates shall be?". Naruto looked down at the recruits, "I believe Sasuke and Sakura would do well to complement my skills" Kimimaru looked over at him "How so?" he asked. "Well," Naruto began, "Sasuke is taijutsu oriented, covering the close-range, Sakura is Ninjutsu covering the mid-range and I am Genjutsu covering long-range, therefore we make the best overall team.". Kimimaru nodded a small smile playing on his lips "Very well I shall collect them and meet you at Hokage-sama's office for the mission details. See you there.". Naruto nodded and started on his way, but once out of sight, he made a turn deeper into the forest.
As he came to a clearing deep in the forest he walked up to a pillar of stone with a few weeds growing around it. He came up to it and started to clear away the weeds as he talked "Hey there, I know I'm a little early but I'm going on a long term mission and will not be able to come and see you for at least a year, but this will hopefully bring me one step closer to vengeance.". As he finished he put his hands together, bowed his head, then stood up and made his way to the Hokage tower.
He entered right after Kimimaru and the others and closed the door to the office as he walked in, Danzo then looked them over and smiled at the occupants. "Now that we are all here, I shall explain the mission parameters. We have reports from one of our spies in Suna that a merchant in one of the western ports has found new markets across the Arashi no Kabe." he said as he observed each of their reactions. Sasuke was the only one who showed any kind of outward emotion with his shoulders slumping and a sigh escaping his lips as he said "So you just want us to go in and silence him? And I thought it was going to be challenging.". Danzo merely narrowed his eyes and replied "No I want you to go with him," seeing everyone perk up at that he internally smiled "the reports sent have stated the lands this merchant found are apparently another version of own, only different in almost every way." as he saw all but Sakura and Kimimaru become visibly intrigued by this. Naruto was the first to voice his questions "What are the mission parameters?", Danzo responded "You are to cross over, find the opposite Konoha, if possible see if they would join us if not then check how effective they are militarily how you do this is up to the mission leaders Kimimaru of team two and Yamato of team one, although I suggest new names and covering of recognizable markings, especially you Naruto, if they also have a jinchuriki then your looks will give you away. Understood?". All in the room responded in the affirmative and left for the hallway.
When there Kimimaru took charge standing in front of team one and said "Alright for the new names I have decided that they will be close enough to your original ones so they will not be that hard to remember, Sakura will be Ringo, Sasuke shall be Senshi, Naruto you will be Menma any objections?". They all muttered to themselves "Apple blossom hm? Seems fitting enough." ,"Warrior, probably for the best.", and finally "I'm… bamboo?". "Now," Kimimaru started again, "Naruto-san's disguise should be simplistic yet hide what it's supposed to… how about wrapping you in bandages? Yes that might work hide your whiskers and hair at the same time, leave a small tuft of hair so we don't forget you." Naruto was unable to respond still in shock from his new 'name'. Kimimaru finally ended saying "So we will meet at the gates at seven-thirty tomorrow morning, I will send Yamato a message saying this so until then, Ja ne." thus he and his team left, Sasuke and Sakura following soon after, Naruto finally left his trance an good twenty minutes later. Going home to pack and tell his mother his goodbyes, he wondered what this other land would be like and more importantly if They would be there alive and well.
Unknown Location 11:30 P.M.
Two shadowy figures stood opposite one another on a statue's giant fingers, neither saying anything for some time until the one on the left hand spoke his eyes opening to reveal concentric ringed eyes. "So there is land beyond the Arashi no Kabe, I might have to visit to see if there is an opposite me.". The man on the right hand merely shook his head and said "No, you are needed here leader-sama, but I must be going now I have a big day ahead of Me.", as his form was about to disappear he stopped and quickly added "oh yes and give my regards to Nawaki-kun won't you?", and then he was gone like so much wind. Leaving the last man to say to empty air "Oh don't worry I will, but I don't think he will take too kindly to it though." Then a flash of lightning illuminated his body for a split second, showing a black cloak with dark blue crescents covering it.
Authors Note: Well this is chapter two, hope you guys like it, any questions, comments, or anything else will be answered as quickly as I can. Next chapter we get back to the Naruto-verse we all know and, probably, love.
So until then, stay classy Internet