Alright guys, sorry for the long delay. College is giving me a fair amount of work, so there's that.
Anyways...
On with the show!
"It's good to see Konoha again!" Naruto exclaimed.
"It is," Haku chimed in.
A day had passed and the herd of shinobi had taken two whole days to arrive back in sight of their village. Zabuza and Kimimaro had sat laden in chains and wire the whole way back with Kimimaro's eye affixed on Haku, not only pissing off Haku herself but Naruto and Tenten as well. That wasn't to say that he didn't get punished for it, oh no. Ibiki patted his back every time either Zabuza or Kimimaro even thought about Haku because of his 'fun little games'. A crack to the wrist and a stomp to the foot and Ibiki's torture session began. Though it shamed him that he couldn't bring Haku in to the mix—she truly did enjoy the more sadistic walks of life in the most subtle of fashions. Although after everything that happened he couldn't blame her for wanting to stay away from those two. Oh well, Heh heh heh... more fun for him.
And oh, did he have fun.
On their walk, Konan was under guard by the anbu as well, and as such she was playing the calm role. Keeping her distance. Walking slow. Eyes straight. After a while of this with her observations running deep, she couldn't blame them too harshly. She was an unknown. Someone who had taken something very precious to them. Or just one. A very annoying one at that.
But...
Just the amount of observation perturbed her to no end as she couldn't help but notice just how loud they were. They walked close. So close as to crumble the stones beneath their feet so small it might as well be fine. The crunching noises ground her ear, brisk steps sounded off in what the anbu thought was 'stealth', complete insanity made her fleeting patience almost unbearable to hold.
It wouldn't stop, she could hear it all. Konan felt like she wanted to rip the hair out of her skull with just how vexing their 'stealth' was. Kami, so annoying!
Konan's eyes flickered over to Naruto off in the distance and her blood cooled. She would need to keep calm just a little longer.
Now, as they walked towards the village, Naruto, Tenten, and Haku nodded to one another in what was definitely a predetermined plan. They disappeared when the guards came in sight, as soon as the trees preceded open ground. They hopped and galloped high into the treetops before quickly shooting over the wall. They punctured open sky and flew over the wall as fast as they could before even the Chuunin's eye could catch them. There was no time to waste.
Unbeknownst to the trio, Konan followed, now that her 'anbu' friends were too lazy to get up she held pursuit, ridding herself of those amateurs.
By the time Ibiki noticed, it was too late. The anbu were scattered and his charges were gone. All he had to his reputation were the two cladded prisoners trudging behind him.
The three students walked briskly down memory lane as they passed the academy under the midday sun, all of them talking about their adventures before, measuring every step they took with a nostalgic grain of salt. It had been approximately a week since they went out for that mission, however they felt like it had been so much longer. They felt… older. More experienced. Whatever they felt in the academy before sincerely didn't empathize with the way that first kill hit them.
The way the kunai touched white skin so sensitively. Everything went in slow motion for each of them. It pierced the man's skin, letting blood methodically pour out as the kunai lodged itself ever deeper, if only to open a dam of red crimson sea, nothing mattered then. Nothing.
Nothing more than their own hatred and utter damnation. Their eyes couldn't have looked anywhere else, for how could they? The kunai's length penetrated even further, it's claws gored out the middle of the man's brain, it pushed on the man's eye as to cause bruising and bleeding and to make room for the Kunai's intrusion as if it were greedily making a home like a bird.
Life was being taken away.
Naruto, Haku, and even Tenten knew how precious that was. All of them had experienced the horrors of starvation at one point or another. Whether caused by intention or not they knew the feeling. Grumbling noises. Glazed eyes. Sometimes even the occasional hallucination.
But it was never so quick. It was never like that!
Even after the mission they didn't recognize their deed. Only now when they're safe did they finally take note of what they had done.
It hurt.
It hurt so much.
Tears should have been singing their skin, but the village they were in now would not allow such weakness, not without ridicule, not without false care. So they stayed silent as they walked. They made sure to keep silent, and to move quickly, to utter a single syllable now would no doubt leave them unnecessarily incapacitated.
Only the sound of crunching echoed about between the walls of the buildings and them, could be heard. It was the sole sound. And it was soundly annoying, Naruto concluded.
After a time of this the girls decidedly pulled Naruto over to their favorite tree just outside the entrance doors to the academy. Apparently, they were about to pass it... Huh, he didn't even notice. Naruto looked over at the two girls and smiled. He would need to just forget about it for the moment.
"Why don't we do that more often?" Naruto asked, trying to change the thoughts rolling in his head.
"I don't know, Naruto-kun, why don't you tell me?" Tenten stuck her tongue out half-heartedly.
"I don't know," he stuck his tongue back out and smiled a little, "That's why I asked."
This time Tenten looked over to Haku and merely raised a brow.
"It's because you two are too loud," she stated softly before she hid her demure little grin behind her robe. And as if for the first time, Haku decided to be the smart-ass.
Both Naruto and Tenten's faces were comical and their balance nearly lost as they could've sworn the world turned on its heel just then to walk the other way. When did Haku get a sense of humor?
Naruto was the one who responded first with an almost pseudo conniving stare, "Or, it could be that you're just too loud, and because your senbon clatter when you walk."
He smirked and in as much time as it took to say that he snatched a peck on Haku and Tenten's cheek before he slipped on his long forgotten friend. His mask. Tenten and Haku blushed lightly, Haku punching him lightly after they stood beside him to reciprocate his pose. They tried to look cool, not the stereotypical, look at me cool, but cool—ice cool.
They understood, they just needed time.
Time to think.
Time to process and... to let the tears flow.
The three slid close together, pressed, warm, their bodies cozied up to the tree as they watched more and more people haze by as time held brief consequence, provided people kept moving and didn't linger like some poltergeist wondering in matters that held no sentiment. Things went like that for a long time, they just stood there and let their minds wander, they let time be their friend as all they wanted was to be left alone.
If someone were to peer behind the masks they would see three children shedding tears with dulled eyes as they hopelessly tried to cope with their grief. For what seemed weeks they had to be with their sensei, and then strangers. Their lives were in danger, they nearly met death's blade, and they made their first kill...
That's why they skipped the check-in, and that's why they came back to the one thing that bound them to their pasts. This one small tree. It signified a unity not bound to only them but to whoever bore the same mask they did and was recognized as a sort of comfort zone for the mask wearers no matter who joined.
At some point they all came to feel at home near the tree and each other.
Then, when the sun came to say two in the afternoon, the three moved again, but this time to their apartment where they would hopefully stay for the rest of the day, and then some.
"What do you want?" Konan asked.
Up above where the three sat no longer, Konan rested herself against the bark easily, letting one leg dangle off the edge.
For what seemed eternity, she watched them, she smiled at the interaction, and frowned when they sat still—she knew they were crying out for help, someone to guide them with a motherly hand. Konan wanted to watch him, to make up for her past mistake. Her hand itched to help him up when he fell down. Her lips tingled to kiss his head when he was sad.
She longed to make up for lost time.
And now that she found him, she wouldn't make the same mistake twice, she wouldn't hand him over ever again.
Ibiki responded, attempting to heed his breathing, "You've had us on the run for over two hours now, and now you're surrounded, come to the Hokage's so we can get this settled. You're not in trouble, but it would be in your interest to come with me, now."
Konan appeared to simply disregard his existence for merely a moment, provided she ever was. After a mild glare from Ibiki, Konan finally answered.
"Only if you can persuade Naruto to come," Konan stated, her muted eyes affixed off towards the broken sect, or better known as the slums of Konoha.
"No."
Her eyes met his and he could've sworn he saw that fire and slight insanity become palpable.
"Why not?" Konan's voice was calm, but in that hid a predator, a very silent predator.
He gulped, "I think you know why we can't allow that."
She merely stared.
"Enlighten me."
His voice held no room for argument. "You're a foreign kunoichi that has proven to be a liability, your status as Naruto's 'mother' means nothing until it's been proven, and just so you know, a picture can be changed with today's technology."
But Konan made room.
"Is that how it is?"
Ibiki's blood chilled.
"So you're asking me, a mother of my child, to leave him alone, again," Konan chuckled, placing a single finger to her lips. "And if I was a liability, then why aren't those children dead?"
"You took them away from me!"
Konan responded just as quickly and concisely, her voice not rising in the slightest, "And I saved them by doing so."
Ibiki growled fiercely to himself, now she crossed the line. Konan had pushed each and every one of his buttons. First was the bullshit about being Naruto's mother, their resemblance was slim. Second, she ran away, and chased his students to spy on them. And third, she said that he was dangerous for them to be around. He couldn't be around her much longer or else he knew he might do something he would regret.
After a moment of thought, again, he sighed and shook his head. He couldn't do it.
Just breathe, Ibiki.
"Fine, whatever you say."
"Oh? Then we need to go pick up Naruto-kun."
"He'll be called in by anbu," Konan offered him a deadly stare. "and if he's not there, you are free to leave."
Konan appeared to inspect something of him before she offered her opinion, "If Naruto-kun isn't there, I will personally go find him, and tell him, without you and your Hokage-sama," she mocked.
Ibiki offered her a hand, which she assumed meant he was offering that as the deal. She shook and then promptly disappeared to the Hokage's office, Ibiki not far behind..
Now, back in Naruto's apartment, the three laid together in bed. Sleeping. The stress on their bodies and their minds took a toll. So their plan was to resort to the one other thing that gave them comfort, something they had done for years, even if Tenten did think it strange at first.
All of them laid together in their pajamas, holding onto Naruto, as he held them by their waists while their heads nestled close on his shoulders. Until Tenten spoke.
"Naruto-kun."
He barely budged an eye, but spoke nonetheless, "Yes, Tenten-chan?"
"I have something to tell you."
This time Naruto did open his eyes so he could address her directly. Smiling, Naruto blew a strand of hair off his shoulder. That strand flew through the air and then sunk back down to Tenten's nose, making her cross eyed for merely a moment, a very embarrassing moment, if then to be blown off and out of sight.
Tenten stared at Naruto monotonously. "You did that on purpose."
He grinned and shrugged. "It can't be helped where the wind blows."
"Sure it can," she joked.
"Hmmm, so what did you want, Ten-chan?" Naruto responded, changing the subject.
As if she were a slow rising giant Tenten sat up heavily against the crest of the bed and cleared her lungs before she instigated a riot of thought again.
"I know something about that woman."
Naruto's brow arched.
"Konan-san?"
She nodded. "Hai."
Naruto regarded her carefully, his back coming to meet the crest with a relaxed tinge as he gentled an arm around her shoulders.
"Is it about how she saved us on the bridge? 'Cause I still don't believe she managed to carry all three of us at once."
Tenten giggled slightly and shook her head. "No, that's not it, though..." Tenten couldn't help but wonder just how Konan managed to pull that off either but for now she needed to get the news out.
"Alright, what were you saying?" Naruto said quietly.
"I heard Konan and Ibiki talking."
Naruto could feel an echo of disquiet uncertainty lather itself over his friend, so he did the only thing he could, he softly fingered her shoulder before smoothly shifting her almost in his lap when she nodded at his concerned gaze. It was true that they hadn't really trusted Ibiki as much as everyone probably thought they had. It was difficult to explain.
"They were talking about why she took us away from the battlefield and hid us."
"I know that, I figured sensei would ask her."
"No, but you don't understand."
Gently, Tenten turned to face him directly, careful not to wake Haku.
"They started to talk about why she was there, and that got me thinking, why was she?" Tenten shrugged. "So I stayed up and kept listening and—"
"What did they say?" Naruto interrupted.
"Quiet! I'm getting to that!"
"Sorry, please continue." Naruto rose a hand and almost bowed in place, surprisingly. Though what surprised her more was the fact that Haku hadn't woken from their talking. But then that also wasn't much of a surprise in and of itself.
She nodded and did so. "Before they got into anything interesting I'll tell you now that one of the anbu came back from some secret mission Ibiki-sensei gave them, that's why we left why we didn't stay for the rest of the mission. There wasn't one anymore."
Naruto arched a brow. Did Ibiki finish the mission without them?
"Then I heard Konan-san and Ibiki-sensei talk. It was casual, almost like they were talking about the past, I couldn't make out everything thing but there was one detail that I definitely could."
Naruto nodded in response.
"I heard that-"
A knock on the door cut her off immediately. A shying stillness hung remarkably in the air as palpable as a thin veil of silk. So precious. So quiet.
Each breath added to their surprise and utter astonishment, sending ripples down the misted veil like an ocean's wave. Even Haku awoke with her hair blindly running off their paths and carelessly falling off the sides of her head. Tenten sighed gently at the look Haku was making half-heartedly before she ran a hand lightly over her hair to hopefully fix some of the eloping strands.
Who could that be?, Naruto wondered cynically.
Picking himself up, Naruto muttered to Tenten, "Tell me when I get back."
She nodded, though her mind staggered to think of another time she could tell him. But as she watched him tower over her and walk out of the room she conceded reluctantly and pulled Haku up to lay beside her if only to mess with her hair more. Tenten sat anxiously, waiting conscientious to whoever was knocking on their door.
Then her eyes befell Haku, who by now was merely staring up at her with innocent eyes. If she was going to tell someone then it was going to be Haku after Naruto, but she was going to tell someone before the day was done, damn it...
Opening the door just after another fist struck the door he almost scowled at the sight of Kakashi and his genin.
Why were they here? He scratched his head and stared at them blankly, just waiting for them to be gone. But alas, his hopes were trashed as Kakashi merely stared at him.
Though withholding any unnecessary comments, Naruto crossed his arms and asked the question he knew they would answer with a vexed stare.
"What do you need Kakashi-sensei?"
"Hokage-sama has summoned you. He mentioned something revolving that woman your team brought back with you."
However, what surprised him even more so, it wasn't Kakashi that stated the reason for their presence. It was Itsuki.
He stood tall, taller really, his stature seeming to have fitfully grown larger and more bulked since the short time they had met before. On his back the naginata hid faithfully under cloth and leather to keep it hidden.
His analysis was short and time consuming as the boy perspired under his stare as if he were in a sauna. Still, his stature remained taut and tight while he awkwardly squirmed under his gaze.
He tipped his head to the side and just chose to ignore what he said as much as Itsuki wanted to just leave. He was much more enticed by the other news.
"You've changed, haven't you," Naruto stated quietly, his demeanor returning to that of his former self, his quiet, soft self.
"Yes. I-I suppose."
Yet, his silence was the one mainstay that came alive no matter what it seemed.
Leaning over and planking himself to the wall like the true interrogator he was Naruto couldn't help but to smirk delightfully at them before he coolly stared, although his time to shine collapsed cruelly unto him at the voice of Haku, who saw fit to lean dutifully on his shoulder like a parrot.
"Why didn't you wake me up, Naruto-kun? You know I hate being the last one out of bed," she fussed.
Naruto merely met her barely open eyes with a forgiving gaze, even if he would do it again, he answered with the caring only a parent would show, "Sorry Haku-chan, I didn't want to wake you up," he glanced over to the four waiting people, "Kakashi-sensei and his squad came by and I decided to answer for you, gomen."
Haku hardly left a moment of thought before she sighed and nuzzled close to him... she really wasn't a morning person in the afternoon.
But then Haku chimed in. Surprisingly, her narrowed eyes wanting to burn them to a crisp yet her voice sounded just outside annoyance. "It isn't very kind for you people to arrive unannounced. Especially just after a mission."
"You live with Naruto-baka?" Sasuke stated, befuddled.
Kakashi and Sakura in turn and raised unanswered questions while they crossed their arms. An unmistakable frown wrinkled their brow.
"Yes," Haku answered, wide awake. Her placid facade overbore anything she must've felt before.
"Why?" Sasuke questioned.
Naruto could see a discernible strain and drought in blood at the tips of his knuckles as he implied the hiding desire behind soft white skin.
"We're family. Isn't that obvious?"
As if to prove her statement Haku tipped her head, and grinned. Warm arms wrapped around Naruto's neck and pulled him closer to her.
Shaking his head, Kakashi coughed and disrupted Sasuke before he spoke again, lest he make more a fool of himself.
"Anyways," Kakashi curtly explained. "We have come to explain that the Hokage needs you now."
"That's it?" Tenten asked.
Almost as if they were bugs their eyes widened even further before Sasuke's exclusively constricted and he felt the gentle action reaction he was so familiar with. Sasuke took one step forward. That meant he needed one step back.
He did, while smoothly teetering Haku onto Tenten's shoulder, Naruto shielded his right side with one of his arms. He left his other hand free and his stance rigid.
Sasuke hit his arm shielding arm. Good.
To either side of Sasuke, Naruto could tell Itsuki and his teammates were both shocked by what he was doing, Kakashi not even there—his presence, gone.
But that was answered quickly, even if it did take him longer than it should have, he reappeared next to Sasuke and grappled his shoulder. Slowly, Kakashi muttered something shallowly in his ear. A warning by the look in his eye.
"Uhmm... what just happened?" Tenten asked, confused.
Naruto turned to address her, but was shocked with the sheer amount, or lack thereof, of clothing... or so it seemed.
Another look, a few steps closer, and Naruto could see she was actually fully dressed in her usual outfit, though none of that could be seen over the giant blanket she carried coyly around her bare shoulders.
Why did his life have to be so confusing?
"So you're starting a harem then, eh?"
Peering over to the boy, Naruto jested that he had calmed down with the little amount of words Kakashi offered. Itsuki and Sakura both rolled their eyes with this one. They were both done.
And Sakura expressed her annoyance, "Huh, just be quiet so we can go. You can have this talk later."
It was not a question.
Sasuke continued to level a hard stare towards him with him merely raising a brow. Even though he really didn't like Sasuke Naruto couldn't say that he didn't understand him at the very least.
"Come on, let's go."
And as wisely as he seemed Sasuke jerked his head away and walked down the cemented halls, and down the stairs, away from their gaze.
"Well, I think we've overstayed our welcome," Itsuki nodded to Naruto.
Then, they were gone.
Naruto sighed and turned, he needed to speak to the... Naruto blinked, looked at either side of his small apartment, blinked, then he sighed again. Figures...
While he had his back turned the two of them had made a disaster of their apartment. Even though he knew they were obligated to show up quickly for the Hokage's meeting... he ducked and watched as a sock flew over his head... this was getting a little ridiculous.
After a moment, and a paramount of flying clothes, Naruto rapidly noticed his own lack of clothing, aka he was practically nude with Haku hanging on his shoulder when he was talking to them, and what's worse was, he only had on his cloud underwear.
"Shit."
Naruto, after a moment of repent, stared over to the girls and merely offered a stern canvas as he blatantly represented his annoyance.
"Really?" He asked.
The two leaned into view fully dressed in their usual garb and smiled, slipping their masks on.
"Yup," they said in unison.
Now how many people saw that coming? Thought I would end a more serious arc with a lighthearted beginning.
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I will be updating Saving Venom next.
See ya.