Chapter 7: author note

Hey everyone,

This is an author note that is dreaded by (most) readers. My father has passed away recently and ever since then I have not been able to write. So for now I will not update. However, do not worry; someday... eventually I will actually finish what I've started. Hopefully that will be soon.

Until next time,

Fumes43

Updated author note

It has been a very long time since my last update, I wrote this one as a start into the story again but I am just not happy with it so I might rewrite the whole story, take all the mistakes out etc. However, this is still to be decided and won't be done that fast due to time management. Here is the next chapter :)

"Jeez Naruto you didn't have to do that, it was only a suggestion!" Kurenai sighed. She had been arguing with him for hours on end. How could her pseudo brother not understand that wearing kill me orange clothes during a survival and stealth training week-long class would not help him?

Frustrated Kurenai pinched her eyebrows together, why did she even bother again? And how did she get into this whole mess in the first place? Oh yes, Anko... That woman was as good as dead when she returns to Konoha. "Fine! Naruto, I'll make you a deal. You can wear the jumpsuit if you can give me one good reason why you should be allowed to wear it" Naruto immediately wanted to reply he was emotionally attached to it however before he could Kurenai continued "and just because you like how it looks isn't a good enough reason."

Silence.

Naruto thought hard.

'Orange was indeed his favourite colour and he didn't want to lose this piece of him. The jumpsuit was part of him, it was the sole thing they had wanted to sell to him which annoyed him but at the same time it was the very first thing he ever bought. He had worked hard for the money, saving the stipend he got from the Hokage and everything. Most kids had stuffed toys or loving parents tugging them in at night, he didn't. He had been invisible to almost everyone until he started wearing the jumpsuit; people finally took notice stating how hideous it was. It wasn't the best of attention but at least he was finally no longer invisible, that's what truly mattered to him. To him wearing a kill-me-orange jumpsuit was better than the isolation as his sister had chosen. Although now-a-days he didn't need the jumpsuit for those reasons anymore but he had grown attached to it. Furthermore, it was comfortable and easy to move in. Also he performed his very first pranks in these jumpsuits, gaining further attention of people. It did make it much harder to hide but he was getting better at that too... Hold on, that was it!'

Kurenai had enough, Naruto had gotten more time to think than she initially wanted and she was sick of arguing. "Naruto, you've –"

"I've got it!" was the overly excited interruption. "Well, hehe you see Nee-san, first I wanted to tell you that I am attached to it but that isn't the only reason." Seeing Kurenai nod he continued "I pull eeurh –" Naruto trailed off, unsure if he should tell everything regarding his pranking ways. Noticing Kurenai's frustrated expression he quickly went on, damn the consequences he wanted to keep his jumpsuit Dattebayo! "... a lot of pranks. And well wearing orange will help me with becoming better at stealth as it is a lot harder to hide." He finished in one go barely stopping for breath between words. Another silence followed, he waited anxiously for Kurenai to say something. It seemed like hours to him.

In the meantime Kurenai was stumped. She was about to interrupt Naruto's crazy arguments until she paused to think about it more. What he said was actually on point. It would help his stealth immensely. Besides, he could now afford to get caught in a safe learning environment. Darn was this kid a secret Nara? This was brilliant! Here he was practising, intentionally or not, not one but two of the most important aspects of being a ninja. Stealth and creativity. Pranking people would need creative ideas and getting away with it would require stealth. Creativity is also immensely helpful on the battlefield where you could surprise an enemy-nin by doing something unexpected and turn the tide of the battle. For some missions you had to be extremely resourceful and stealthy, you would have to think on the fly and this was not something that could be easily trained for. Untill now, that is. Naruto just found an unique way, this was major but at the same time she wasn't sure if she should mention it to the Hokage, having one prankster was enough but actually teaching it to a class? She wasn't sure if the academy teachers would be very thankful to her.

"Well what do you think? Can I keep my suit?"

Kurenai was interrupted from her thoughts. "Oh eurh yes you may keep it."

"Yatta! Haha, thanks nee-san!" Naruto bounced up and down doing a little happy dance.

"That was a great argument you've presented. However, I do want to make a deal with you. You can wear at as long as you're an academy student. Once you've graduated it will have to go."

"What why?! You promised!" Indignation and hurt was seen on Naruto's face. She did break a promise to him.

"Think Naruto, why would I say that?"

This time Naruto didn't take nearly as long to answer, his class recently had one of the diplomacy classes and although it bore him to tears he did pay attention thanks to the help of Hinata-chan.

"For missions eh? I guess those who hire us want a professional look otherwise they might not have as much confidence in us and make it harder for us to take control in dangerous situations. But sensei, isn't that what a team-leader is for? Also wouldn't the orange make enemy-nin underestimate me?"

"That is indeed one of the reasons. However, a team-leader won't always be around or able to take command. Moreover as a genin you're not much to a fully seasoned jonin, or even a chunin for that matter. Yes, it is good to be underestimated by your enemy however there are other ways to go about that. Furthermore there is another important reason you haven't mentioned. Here you can practise your stealth and evasion skills in a safe environment. If you're captured the worst that will happen is detention. Out in the field it could mean the difference between life and death. And I'm not just talking about your own life, your team too. Should you all need to be stealthy and yet you were unable to do so due to being spotted by your orange jumpsuit it could potentially forfeit all of your lives."

Despite the rather lengthy explanation of Kurenai Naruto did pay close attention. His dream was to become Hokage in order to protect his precious people. Things that could make a difference between life and death he would always pay attention to.

"Alright Kurenai-nee I understand."

Naruko could not believe her ears. She had overheard the whole thing and almost considered wearing her own orange monstrosity again, almost being key here. She was happy with her stealth as it was. Her interest wasn't stealth as much anyway. She wanted to know more about kenjutsu, the art of sealing and the interrogation unit Anko-sensei mentioned in one of her scrolls she left behind seemed far more interesting to her. "Ok if that is sorted can we finally go shopping please?" She really was growing impatient.

"Hai" and with that the trio were on their way to the ninja shopping district of Konoha.

A little while later the twins each walked out with 12 new sets of clothes. Accounting for the seasons, breaks and tears as well as some specialized training gear. Kurenai told them they would need to shop again once they were genin to account for the different environments they could have missions in. For now they had enough variety and clothes to last them for a good year.

Part of her knew she should have done this months earlier but she only just received her pay from her latest mission and it was a costly affair. Who knew that having kids was so expensive. Hold on, since when did she start calling them hers in her thoughts? I guess being called nee-san so many times did have an effect. She knew without a doubt that she loved them to bits in such a short time. At times they vexed her and managed to annoy her but times like these with genuine smiles and grateful expressions seemed to doubly make up for that.

"Hey nee-chan, I bet you want to show Hinata-chan your new clothes soon eh?" Naruko teased her brother. "Of-course, why wouldn't I?" came the dumbfounded reply. Both women sweat dropped at the nonchalant reply. Despite his earlier stroke of brilliance and deductive reasoning he was still thick-headed in some aspects. "Nevermind Naruko, Naruto, she was just teasing you. Let's head home I don't know if it is me alone but I've gotten hungry from all this shopping!"

"Hinata! You must try harder, your own sister is miles ahead of you in her progress. Again!" Hiashi commanded. It was rare for him to train her these days, ever since the academy started a few months back her rarely paid attention to her. A part of her wished he had continued to ignore her, this was pure torture.

"Tou-san, I- I" She never got to finish.

"Keep your defences up at all times. You are truly worthless and not worthy of the name Hyuga. I will access your training again later. You better show some improvement child or else." He let the threat hang as he turned around and headed back inside.

Groaning with pain Hinata sat back up. Her hands tightly grabbing her bruised ribs as she stumbled back inside. Along the way she saw her little sister, for a brief moment there was a look of worry and hesitation on her sister if she should help her or not. Hinata knowing her own status in the clan softly smiled at her sister and whispered "Don't worry Hanabi I am fine." Being called out seemed to shake Hanabi out of her stupor and quickly moved on, not replying to Hinata. Hinata was happy that her sister moved on as she had noticed an elder observing their interaction. She didn't know why but she had the distinct feeling that as long as Hanabi seemed indifferent, her sister would be safer.

Ever since Hinata started to hang out more with the Uzumaki twins she had gained more confidence and was pulled out of her growing self-pity and depression. The side effect was that she started to notice things that didn't seem to add up. Her father's behaviour, he generally avoided her at all costs unless an elder was nearby. He then proceeded to be incredibly harsh to her, never leaving her without a form of punishment or training. Not that there was much difference between the two. She couldn't put her finger on it but something was up. Perhaps she should mention things to Kurenai-san? No it was best not to do so, Naruto or Naruko perhaps? She imagined how Naruto would barge in to protect her, a soft smile graced her lips. She knew she had a crush on him, it had started the very first moment she had met him. She was just a kid and she knew this and obviously she didn't want to be a fan girl like some of her classmates. The whole idea left a bad taste in her mouth. No she had her own goal and wanted to be a splendid kunoichi. Besides she was way too young to think about romance. Darn how long had she been day dreaming? Darn she was late to getting to Kurenai's place.

Hinata quickly took a shower and put some of her home-made lotion on her ribs to help against the pain. Throwing some clothes on she hastily left her clans compound hoping she still was on time to make dinner with them.

"Hokage-sama, news from Anko's team. They have yet to locate the base of Orochimaru. They do however have a solid lead on his whereabouts in rice country, they will be heading that way soon."

Smoking his pipe he took a drag before replying.

"I didn't expect them to find a trail this fast. Tell them to be cautious and report at least once a weak as soon as they arrive in rice country, I've got a bad feeling about this."

"Hai Hokage-sama." With that the messenger ninja left.

Taking another drag from his pipe Sarutobi stood up. Jiraiya should have been back by now, what was taking him so long?

Meanwhile with Jiraiya in a small village "Are you sure you wish to come back with me?"

"Hai, there is something I've heard from three passing Konoha ninja I've met a few weeks back. If this is true, I will kill sensei Jiraiya. That old pervert had no right to hide their existence from me."

"Tsunade-sama, please reconsider killing Hokage-sama." Shizune urged her mentor to no avail as both sennin ignored her.

"I was surprised to hear the rumours at first, then it started to make sense. But sensei had his reasons Tsunade-hime. You were devastated by the loss of Nawaki and Dan. You weren't even in the fire country when the nine-tails attacked. You didn't even come back afterwards. I do not blame sensei for not telling you." Jiraiya was unusually harsh with his words but he was hurt by her absence and although he understood the pain of loss all too well he didn't think it was an excuse to abandon them. Then again he did realise that she may have come back had she known about the twins survival. "Yes it was wrong of sensei to not tell you, but he wanted you to come back on your own terms not because you felt obligated to take care of two children. Especially not with your gambling debts and other issues."

Any protest Tsunade had died then and there on her lips. As much as she loathed to admit it, the old pervert was right. She had wallowed in self-pity forgetting about her village, consumed by her grief.

"That is why I won't let you return Tsunade."

"WHAT?!"

"CALM DOWN! I am in no mood to deal with this Tsunade. I've heard stressful news regarding an organization and I need to rapport back as soon as possible to Sarutobi-sensei. I should have been there a week ago but I got this news first and then by mere coincidence met you here. At this moment you're reacting to the news of them being alive but I've kept tabs on them. They have had it rough, if you were to come back only to disappear again it would hurt them beyond. It is bad enough that they have two godparents who never showed up to take care of them but to be abandoned once they do show up could potentially break them."

"Shut up Jiraiya, at least you know of their existence. I didn't so you cannot blame me for not being there. Unlike you."

"I can't be there as the spy network I maintain is too vital. Make a decision and stick to it that is all I am saying Tsunade-hime. I never saw them face to face only from a distance that one time I have been back in the village. Giving them each a present for their birthdays. Last I heard the gaki's still got it. Anyway stop getting me side tracked this is important and I do not have the time to dawdle around."

"Tell me what has you so scared."

"Not here"

"Alright, Shizune pack your stuff we are going home! I won't promise to kill sensei yet Jiraiya but I will hear what he has to say"

With that the three dispersed and headed out back to the fire country at top speed. Jiraiya wasn't kidding when he said he had urgent information. He was for the first time in a long time scared again. War was coming.