Ashikabi no Naruto 9

AN/: Here another chapter for you guys. I'm really pleased to see how well received this story is. I got over seventy reviews for the last chapter most of which were quite flattering. So here's me saying thanks to everyone who took time to review and hoping to keep hearing from you all. On another note I've noticed over the last few chapters many people feel Kazehana is the 'main girl' in this story. The only thing I feel is disappointment in myself there. I'm trying to write a harem. In any good harem story there is no such thing as a 'main girl'. Everyone has deep intricate characters and unique relationships with each other. Any story with a 'main girl' is just the author trying to write his own favorite pairing while adding other popular characters to get reviews… in my opinion anyways. I'll try my best to eliminate this stupid 'main girl' concept from the story as much as possible. Also some people feel the need to point out some discrepancies in characters compared to cannon or just generally. I'd only like to say that those are ON PURPOSE. If I wanted to re-write cannon I'd go to just watch the anime again. Everyone IS different from their cannon selves as

1. I have changed the history somewhat. Some of the changes I have revealed and others will be revealed in time.

2. This story started before the cannon timeline. I find it hard to believe that a person doesn't change at all over the years. Like Kazehana isn't as much of a depress drunk before her winging in my story simply because not as much time has past. Similarly Yume who technically died in Canon is now alive and has lived her own life away from M.B.I from the point of Musubi's death till her winging. Obviously she won't be the same as in Canon…

Anyways I'll stop here. Please enjoy the story and review as always! Special thanks to 'Druss The Legend' Reading his review last chapter really motivated me to write this chapter. Otherwise it wouldn't have been up for quite a while probably :p

•••••

Naruto sighed he leaned back into his chair. He had just finished his homework. Yume was out shopping for groceries and Kazehana was watching T.V. It was the re-run of some old animation. It still amused him a bit how they could be hooked to such things despite their age, granted he probably wasn't one who should be able to say such a thing. Even for him it was something of a guilty pleasure. Suddenly two hands obscured his vision and a familiar voice said, " Guess who!"

Naruto would have rolled his eyes if he could. Suddenly he thought of a great prank. He suppressed his smile as best he could and leaned back into the generous chest of his 'captor' and said, " Hmm I think I know who it is."

His captor tightened their hold on him and said, " Well then speak up!"

Naruto pretended to think for a moment before saying, " It's one of the most beautiful women on earth. She's smart and funny. She happens to be an amazing cook. She can make me smile no matter the situation. She's an amazing person…"

His captor seemed quite pleased at the description and said, " Go on…"

Naruto couldn't hide his smile anymore as he said, " It's… Miya-chan!"

He was promptly swatted quite hardly by an irate Kazehana who glared at him and said, " Ugh you idiot! You really know how to ruin the situation!"

Naruto grinned as spun the chair around and pulled her into his lap. She was obviously still displeased with him as she turned away from him in a huff without acknowledging him. Naruto just rested his head on her shoulder burying his face in her hair and said, " Hey… I was just joking around. Besides I know someone even more amazing. It's someone I love with all my heart and I could never live without. Do you know who that is?"

She seemed curious as she finally turned back to him and said, " Who?"

Naruto kissed her on her forehead and said, " Why it's obviously you silly."

She smiled and kissed him rather passionately now obviously quite happy, a complete 180 from her mood a few seconds ago. It made him wonder if she was on her period. While they occurred with less frequency Sekerei also had a mensuration cycle. Unfortunately he was not aware of all the intricacies of the inner working of a Sekerei's body so he could only guess. She leaned into his chest and said, " I've been wondering for a while now… what's bothering you?"

Naruto frowned and said, " What do you mean?"

Kazehana didn't get up from his chest as she said, " Well ever since we met Karasuba you've seemed worried… if your scared of her don't be… even as dangerous as she is she can't stand against both me and Yume."

Naruto sighed and said, " Well your half right. I am a bit worried but not about her. I've never doubted your abilities to protect me… even if I still say I don't need protection…"

Kazehana rolled her eyes already having had that conversation with him a million times. Instead she said, " If not her what are you worried about?"

Naruto sighed again and said, " It's Yume… ever since we met Karasuba she's become even more paranoid about my safety. I understand that she feels the need to look after me but its been getting a bit out of hand for the past few days… and even before then she doesn't like talking about her past… I don't want to force her to talk but if she keeps it bottled up for so long it can't be a good thing…" he trailed of thinking of his old friend turned enemy Sasuke who had always kept his feelings bottled up until he finally burst.

Kazehana frowned and said, " She's had a hard life… the M.B.I wasn't exactly the best chapter of her life… but I guess your right… what do you want to do?"

Naruto smiled a bit at Kazehana's obvious concern for Yume and said, " Well if I ask her I know she'll tell me everything even if she doesn't want to… she seems to have this ridiculous notion that she can't disobey me unless it pertains to my safety … so I was sort of hoping you would talk to her and encourage her to open up on her own. It won't do any good if anyone forces her to do it."

Kazehana nodded. For Yume the M.B.I was like a black hole of unresolved issues and it affected her greatly even if she ignored it with all her being. Unlike Kazehana and who both the support of her friends in the form of Miya and Matsu along with the benefit of time to get over her problems with M.B.I Yume had had no one to turn to except herself, so it wasn't surprising she still had some issues with that period of her life. Kazehana said slowly, " I'll try to talk to her when I get the chance… hopefully we can nip this in the bud before it becomes a bigger problem."

Naruto stroked Kazehana's hair lightly and said, " Don't let my paranoia worry you… Yume is a strong person… she would have resolved her issues on her own if she had to… I just want to show her she can rely on us if she needs to… that's what family's all about right?"

Kazehana smiled softly at the word and said, " Yeah… it is…"

•••••

Kazehana smiled at Yume as they both went came out of the cosplay store carrying various costumes that had caught their fancy. She couldn't help but chuckle as she saw Yume eyeing the food court and said, " How about we get a bite to eat?"

Yume smiled and said, " Thanks senpai! I was starting to get hungry!"

Kazehana rolled her eyes and said, " When are you never not hungry! I swear people would kill to learn how you stay so fit with all the food you eat."

Yume blushed and said in and shy voice, " senpai…" Kazehana had spoken quite loudly drawing quite a bit of attention. Of course they already had been drawing quite a bit of attention being to quite good-looking women shopping on their own for various undergarments and cosplay costumes.

Kazehana blushed a bit at her sudden outburst and said, " Come on let's get in line."

After a few minutes when they got their food they both took their table and started eating slowly. Yume did occasionally glance at the time though and said, " Are we going to go to any more stores senpai? It's almost time to pick up Naruto-sama."

Kazehana rolled her eyes and said, " Yume you have a full two and a half hours before you have to pick him up and it takes fifteen minutes at most to get to his school from here. We have a lot of time."

Yume sighed and said, " I know I know… I just get worried when he's on his own… what if Karasuba turns up again at the campus… no doubt he peaked her interest with that stunt he pulled last week…"

Kazehana nodded and said, " Speaking about worried, you're not the only worried person apparently."

Yume tilted her head and said, " Are you worried about something senpai?"

Kazehana shook her head and said, " Well I am a bit worried as well but I was talking about Naruto."

This seemed to make Yume more alert as she said, " Why is Naruto-sama worried? Has something happened? Did someone try to harm him?"

She would have continued but Kazehana bonked her on the head slightly and said, " You idiot he's worried about you!"

Yume sat back and said, " Why would he be worried about me? I'm perfectly fine…"

Kazehana sighed and said, " Actually he's worried about you bottling up your feels about your time in the M.B.I."

Yume leaned back in her seat and said, " I'm not bottling them up… I just don't feel I should be talking to him about it…•

This made Kazehana a bit curious and she asked, " Why would you say that?"

Yume closed her eyes briefly and said, " Naruto-sama is the most perfect Ashikabi in the whole world and I don't think I could love him more possibly then I do… but you know about his own past… he's had a harder life then any of us and I don't feel like I should be burdening him with my own problems… it's my job as a Sekerei to cherish him and protect him… not cause him more trouble."

Kazehana sighed and said, " I understand how you feel perfectly… he really is the best isn't he… but I think your wrong about one thing… it's not our job as Sekerei to do those things but rather as people who love him… as his family…"

Yume frowned and said, " But the rules…"

Kazehana cut her off and said, " And that is why I really started to hate Minaka and the M.B.I… what rules… what game… Sekerei are beings of love not war… we shouldn't be fighting each other like this… it's… it's barbaric…"

Yume frowned and said, " I understand that… I've never wanted to do anything other then protect all my fellow Sekerei… that's why I joined the Disciplinary Squad in the first place… but I'm a bit curious… if that's how you feel why participate in the game at all?"

Kazehana sighed as she also leaned back and said, " It's because of all the other Sekerei that I participate as well… I can't just abandon them…"

Yume asked curiously, " What do you mean?… how would you be abandoning them?"

Kazehana sighed and said, " About this game… you must understand something… why do you think you, me or any of the strongest even bother to participate? Its not like Minaka could force us could he? It's because of all the younger Sekerei most of us participate… if course some like Karasuba just want to fight… but that is besides the point. If we don't participate Minaka has all of the younger ones as hostages. So he can force us to play his little game."

Yume frowned and said, " Wouldn't it be better to just kill him then?"

Kazehana chuckled and said, " Naruto said the same thing to me once… but no… as evil as Minaka is…at the end of the day what he does and makes us do is nothing compared to what others would try to do. Minaka is the lesser of the two evils…"

Yume pressed, " But surely if you kill him someone more qualified could take over?"

Kazehana nodded and said, " And there in lies the problem. With Minaka if you kill him who can replace him. At best that would be a gamble. And another problem comes with the technology. Even if he is not exactly the sanest person he is still a genius. No one else can manipulate the system as well as he does. Even when it comes to technology he is ahead of the best of the best amongst the Sekerei." She finished thinking of Matsu. As smart as she was even she wasn't a match for him in a purely intellectual battle.

Yume sighed and said, " I guess that makes sense… and as more and more Sekerei are released they are refining that 'disgusting' adjustment program… he's basically brain washing the younger generation that the Sekerei plan is the only way to go."

Kazehana nodded and said, " Exactly. Until we find a suitable replacement for Minaka we can't make a rash move against M.B.I… and even if he is human he isn't someone you want against you… even that battle crazy Karasuba knows that…"

Yume slumped a bit and said, " So there really is nothing we can do…"

Kazehana noticed her defeated posture and said, " For now that is… we don't know what the future holds for us… and besides we have a lot of times to make our own plans… for now let's just enjoy this peaceful time we have with Naruto." She finished giving Yume a pointed look.

Yume sighed and said, " I understand senpai… I'll talk to Naruto-sama when I am ready."

Kazehana smiled and nodded before saying, " That's all I'm asking Yume, you should always remember that both me and Naruto will always be there for you no matter what the problem is."

Yume smiled back and said, " Thanks senpai… you guys really are the best."

Kazehana scoffed as if scandalized and said, " You doubted us before! Hurry up and finish your food so I can punish you for this transgression!"

Yume giggled a bit and said, " Hai senpai!" before digging into her food with her usual gusto.

•••••

Naruto grunted in exhaustion as he fell backwards finishing his last exercise of the day. He would sometimes come and train on the roof of his building, as it was relatively isolated and difficult for normal people to access through any other means then the stairs. Of course it was usually only light physical training. It wouldn't do to have someone flying by to see a bunch of clones blowing stuff up on a rooftop.

He heard the door open to see Yume walk onto the roof. Naruto smiled at her and said slowly, " Hey what's up Yume-chan?"

She came up to him hesitantly and said, " I wanted to talk to you…"

Naruto realizing where the conversation was headed sat up and said, " Sure, what did you want to talk about?"

She pushed her fingers together, a gesture that reminded him of his old friend Hyuuga Hinata. She also did the same thing when she was feeling nervous… well that or fainting. He hadn't realized why she always fainted around him until much later in life of course. She sat down next to him and said, " I… want to talk about the M.B.I."

Naruto nodded and said, " Anything in particular you had in mind?"

She seemingly steadied herself and said more confidently, " Yes I want you to know about my past and why I hate the M.B.I and Karasuba so much. You deserve to know."

Naruto held up his hand and said, " Wait. If you want to talk to me about this it has to be because you want to talk about it Yume-chan, not because I deserve to know as your Ashikabi."

She seemed to falter for a moment. He almost thought she would actually leave now that he had given her a way out of the conversation. But it seemed her natural stubbornness kicked in and she said, " No I also want to talk about it… your the one I love and there should be no secrets between us."

Naruto smiled before nodding and said, " Well said Yume. There should be no secrets between lovers."

She blushed a bit despite the situation and said, " I guess I'll start at the beginning… you know I was the captain of the Second Squad. I always looked up to the First Squad. They were my heroes even though they weren't that much older then me. They were so strong and protected us from everything. Eventually the group fell apart and I decided was chosen as the next leader of the Squad. I was excited to learn I would be working with one of my heroes. But then I actually let Karasuba. I tried hard to get along with her and understand her viewpoint. She hates humans with a passion and sees them as valueless existences. In a way I could see where she was coming from. Humans kept trying to control us for our abilities and even Minaka ordered us around like he was above us. But the longer I stayed on the squad the harder it was to cling to my own beliefs. We hunted humans and Sekerei alike. Intimidated businessmen into selling to the M.B.I to actually stealing technology or military secrets. Anything needed to further M.B.I and the S-plan…"

Naruto nodded and said, " Yes I gathered as much from Kazehana. Minaka isn't above using force to get what he wants."

Yume nodded and said, " Yes. After a few years I actually got used to it. Can you believe that? I managed to close my heart to all those things. I eventually met a young Sekerei girl in the facility. She was such a naive and hopeful little one. She reminded me of myself when I was a child like her. Whenever I saw the girl I remembered why I was able to close my eyes to all that suffering. To protect that innocence in her eyes and the eyes of all the others I was ready to sacrifice my soul… but then… Karasuba interfered…"

Yume had tears in her eyes that she stubbornly did not let fall. Naruto already realized what happened next scooted over to her and embraced her tightly. If he could have his way he would banish the painful memory forever but he didn't stop her from continuing the story. She needed to let it all out. He urged her slowly, " What happened to the girl Yume…"

Yume leaned into his embrace drawing strength from his presence and continued slowly, " To Karasuba battle is the most important thing. She loved fighting me since I was the only one who could fight on par with her since No.01 had disappeared. But she always knew I held back. It irritated her to no end. One day the worst happened. Some human researchers kidnapped the child I vowed to protect. Of course the Disciplinary Squad rushed to retake the girl. We could not let any secrets fall into anyone else's hands. I fought off the guards and entered the facility only to find Karasuba already inside the room… she just stood their her sword impaled in that little girl… and she turned to me as if she had done nothing and said ' Hey Yu-chan how about a fight?'… I couldn't handle it… I snapped and destroyed the entire area. Next thing I noticed was I'm in the M.B.I hospital with Karasuba passed out on the table next to me cover in so many wounds it was a wonder she didn't die… I still couldn't believe what had happened so I just got up and left…"

Yume had tears leaking slowly from her eyes as Naruto held her. He could feel her pain from their bond. It was almost like a physical wound, it hurt so much. He could only imagine what it felt like to her. He said nothing as he held her. There was nothing he could say that would make her feel better at that moment and it made him feel like the weakest person on the planet despite all his strength. When the tears finally stopped Naruto said, " The pain of loosing someone important doesn't really ever fade… it's like this bad feeling always in your chest… it gets weaker but it never vanishes completely. Someone once told me that you could never honor the dead more then by living your life to the fullest making sure they did not die needlessly… That kid died because of Minaka and the M.B.I. All we can do is make sure they don't claim any more innocent lives."

Yume nodded and said, " I know your right… but it just hurts thinking about it… I can't bear it… the thought of someone else dying…"

Naruto twisted her face gently until they were looking directly into each other's eyes. Naruto said seriously, " Then don't let them die. Become strong enough to protect what you believe in. That was something I learnt long ago. You'll achieve nothing if you just give up. It's a hard path and you can get lost easily but that why you have friends and family to guide you back to the right path… I gave up when I came here but you and Kazehana… you guys showed me the path again. And it's the same for you. You have Kazehana and me. Hell you have Miya-chan, Kagari-san, Matsu-san and even Uzume-san to help you. So you just have to take that first step and get moving."

Yume looked up at Naruto in wonder. This was a side of him she had never seen before. He could be serious, playful, charming, idiotic… but right then she just realized she had been wrong earlier. It was possible to fall even more deeply in love with someone you already loved with all your heart. In the spur of the moment she leaned forward and kissed him. Naruto wrapped his hands around her possessively, eagerly returning the kiss.

Kazehana watched them from behind a water tank as Yume kissed Naruto. She was a bit surprised. Usually Yume was not one to instigate and display of physical intimacy unless Kazehana pushed her quietly or Naruto started it. But that wasn't what she was thinking of. Her heart was beating so fast. She was experiencing the same thing as Yume. She couldn't help but consider herself lucky. She had the best Ashikabi ever. She had fallen for him more just then if such a thing was possible. She wanted so badly to be there next to him kissing him as well but she controlled herself. Yume needed this. And it was her job as the elder sister to make sure all her siblings were happy even if it meant sacrificing a bit of time with her Naruto. She would definitely show him her own passion for him later at night. But for now she would let Yume enjoy some much deserved alone time. She couldn't help but giggle. Both her and Yume could put some of those costumes they got earlier to use. She doubted Yume would be feeling shy for a few days and she would take full advantage of it before she went back to her old shy self.

Up in heaven Jiraya cried proudly as he saw his godson and son in all but blood make out with such a beautiful woman. And to think he even managed to get another one just as hot. He carried on his legacy well. Now all he needed was that sexy landlady and Jiraya could die happily again knowing his godson was indeed carrying on his legacy.