Disclaimer: Ok Hubby is in the kitchen cleaning up the mess his Tax Write-offs left for him (heehee) and that leaves me free to work on this next chapter without interfering comments about misspelled words and forgotten punctuation. Once again I don't own the Narutoverse. Kishimoto still does but that doesn't mean I can't have fun with his creations.
Hubby: Just get on with the story, Rose. I'll check your typing when I'm done with the dishes.
Disclaimer: Oh crud apples. I got to get this typed up fast and get it posted before he can vent it.
Chapter Nineteen: Shattered Peace
Around the village people were going about their daily lives. Most had gotten over their surprise at the return of Naruto, whom they had thought dead. But in isolated pockets some were gathered together still discussing the return of their most unpredictable, self-declared protector. Store owners who knew they had taken unfair advantage of the young ninja wondered if he was back for revenge and wished they had just respected the stated words of the old Hokage when he had informed them of the words of the Yondaime. Some people had already gone into hiding, knowing in their hearts that there was no way Naruto could ever forgive them for what they had done to him over the years, which just went to show they had never really bothered to get to know Naruto. But they were drunks who used to be ninja and they fully believed he was the same as they were. One did not forgive someone who had caused them as much pain as they had caused him and so they hid and prayed he wouldn't find them.
Other ninja, who knew of the unfair treatment Naruto had suffered over the years, wondered if they could take advantage of his return to extract some payback for the jinchuuriiki. Too many times had these ninja had to rescue the boy from beatings he didn't deserve and watch helplessly as he fought for his life. They knew the face of every man, woman and child who had ever gone too far in their desire to hurt Naruto for crimes he wasn't guilty of and long had they wished to even the score. They met in small groups and discussed quietly how they could possibly even the score for him without getting themselves into trouble.
Tsunade, Shizune, and Jiraiya were in her office poring over old documents looking for evidence of who had been behind the mysterious orders to leave Naruto behind on that old rescue mission. They found odd comments but no definite proof pointing towards anything useful. Thinly veiled comments about secondary orders coming from outside the Tower but no indications as to where outside the Tower. Many people on the council wanted to see the position of the Hokage undermined and stripped of the authority it held and the thin trails they found in the reports were inconclusive evidence. They dug further back hoping to trace the trail to a name and then trace the name to the power-hungry shadow.
Most the Rookie Nine were sitting in the Ichiraku Ramen Stand and discussing how they could convince the Hokage to allow them each to see Naruto. They had no idea that it really was up to Naruto who he saw and when. Of course, some members of the Nine were not there, as Sakura was definitely persona non grata at the moment and Sasuke, as the reason for her atrocious behavior towards Naruto, was also not welcome. It was with some surprise that they noted Hinata walking up to the group. She had been almost as scarce lately as Sakura and Sasuke. They expected her to greet them all shyly but instead she asked Shino and Shikamaru for a moment of their time. The sunglass wearing nin nodded and without a word, left his companions of the morning stewing over a bowl of ramen. Shikamaru muttered his trademark word as he left Temari's side to join the two on the sidewalk.
They walked down the sidewalk and when they'd passed out of hearing range, even the range of Kiba and Akamaru, she told them quietly that Naruto would like to see them if they wished to visit. "I will, of course, be able to guide you to where he is staying at any time you would like to go if you wish to see him. But I warn you he is not the same Naruto we always saw before and I ask, for his sake, that you not tell anyone else about the visit until he or Tsunade-sama says it is ok."
"He's the Naruto you always saw though, isn't he?" asked Shino shrewdly. Hinata nodded. "That explains why he would not wish to see Kiba." He nodded and spread a hand before them. "Lead the way. I would be honored to visit with him." Hinata turned to Shikamaru and he shrugged. "It's troublesome but I'd like to see him also." She nodded and ducked her head to hide her grin. Then she turned to lead the way in a twisting path to the cabin. All three picked up the chakra signature that tried to follow them as they progressed through the village. But Sasuke wasn't the only one watching them and in their concern to lose their fellow nin they failed to note the presence of the other watchers.
Within the hour, they were sitting with Naruto, watching with awe as the forest animals came for their daily grooming. Naruto had something for each of them no matter how many birds, squirrels and rabbits there were. He even fed the fish he'd found in the brook behind the cabin. No one had known the brook held any fish. Shino and Shikamaru just observed the differences in their old friend, and accepted them for what they were. There were enough of the animals that came around to keep Naruto busy feeding for a couple of hours but he didn't lose his patience with the activity as he gave them all attention and food.
Shikamaru decided it was too troublesome to go on a nature hike through the densely over-grown woods. If he wanted to feed and groom the wild animals, he could have just stayed on the Nara estate and taken care of the herd of deer that called the place home. He sat down in the open area of the front yard and leaned against the base of a tree to partake of his favorite pasttime.
Shino followed Naruto with his hands clasped behind his back. They didn't spend a lot of time on conversation. Neither had much they felt the need to say. After traveling for half an hour Naruto lifted aside a leaf and allowed Shino to see what he'd led him into the forest for. There curled under the shelter of the leaf was a new kind of bug. Shino fell to his knees observing the insect as Naruto freed a butterfly from a web spun by a hungry spider. When the butterfly was free it flew off and Shino noted there was no damage to the web. An unusual trick but he'd see Choji do the same thing so he caught the rare bug and made sure it was safe for the trip back to the Aburame Estate. But Naruto beckoned him to gather others of the species and again he dropped to his knees. It never occurred to him to question Naruto's knowledge about bugs. If this Naruto thought he needed more than a single bug he wasn't going to argue.
All Naruto said was, "Gather the nest entirely. The breed will be healthiest with the full hive." Shino did as he instructed, taking not only the bugs but also some of the nest itself. He knew the bugs would survive best if they had some of their natural enviroment in which to live. His father and the elders of his clan would be very happy with the discovery of a new type of bug in Konoha. They would spend hours studying ways they could possibly benefit from the small brown and gold spotted insects as well as the purpose of the bugs in the ecology of the area. Shino knew that every creature had a role to fill in nature and like all those of his clan he enjoyed seeing the role of the local bugs. The Aburame clan was thought to already posess full knowledge of every type of bug that lived and worked anywhere in fire country but the clan knew that new species were always coming along as the world around them changed. Old species of bugs would die out as their natural purpose disappeared and be replaced by new species who were designed better for the conditions of the world they lived in.
On the way back to the cabin, a fox kit came up to them whining and yipping. Naruto followed the anxious kit to where it's sibling was trapped in a snare. Patiently he knelt down and freed the animal. He held a hand over the fox's leg until the wound from the trap disappeared and then watched as the pair ran off to go find their parents. Shino raised an eyebrow. He hadn't known Naruto had any healing jutsu as there really wasn't a need for him to have to use the jutsu to heal himself and his teammate knew them all, being a student of the Hokage. Silently he trailed behind Naruto, craddling the container of precious bugs, as Naruto led the way back.
At the cabin they found Shikamaru waiting with his Shogi board. The trio passed the rest of the morning playing Shogi while Shino observed his new friends. Shika asked few questions accepting that Naruto would tell him what he felt he needed to know. Truth was Temari had already told him a lot and he felt he knew what he needed to know. She had already told him Naruto was only back for a short period of time. She said Gaara was upset but wouldn't tell them why and that Tsunade and Jiraiya seemed to be upset also.
Finally, as the guys were leaving, Naruto sighed and said, "I don't really know how much you guys know or even care to know but I have a favor I need to have done. And truthfully I don't know who else to ask."
"How can we help?" asked Shikamaru.
"It's complicated but I need someone to watch over Oba-chan, Hinata and Jiraiya when I'm gone. Could you two do it please?"
Shikamaru frowned while Shino raised an eyebrow. "Still the most troublesome person I ever knew. Where are you going and when?" asked Shikamaru.
"There will be a big battle for me to fight. It's why I'm here but when it's over I will go away. I have to. I won't be back. I will have to trust Temari and Make-up face to take care of Gaara but you two will be here and I am hoping you can help those who will be most hurt when I go home."
"Home? Troublesome Boy, this is your home," he said, provoking a small grin, at the nickname, from Naruto.
Naruto sighed and shook his head. "This used to be my home. It stopped being that six years ago when I died. If you don't think you can help them, it's ok. I'm sure Kami will show me someone who can. Thanks for coming to visit. It was fun playing with you, Shika. You really are good at Shogi." He turned to walk back into the cabin.
"I don't claim to understand, Naruto, but I will try to help them as much as I can. If you'll let me, maybe I can come back tomorrow. You're good also and since the death of Asuma I haven't had any really good opponents. I do enjoy a challenge," called Shikamaru.
Naruto looked back and said, "Of course you can come to visit. I would like the company very much. You also Shino. Enjoy the new bugs." He grinned his trademark grin. Well, it was close enough to count for the two young men watching him.
"Just one question, Uzumaki-san," said Shino. Naruto paused and looked at his bespectacled friend. "How did you discover this colony of bugs?"
"Kami told me they were there," he said provoking the eyebrow to rise again. "She said to show them to you and let you give them a new home."
Shino inclined his head and he and Shikamaru left together, silently discussing what they had learned and puzzling about where he thought Tsunade would let him go and just how was he able to communicate with Kami. Both were highly intelligent people and it amazed them to learn that the most surprising ninja had done it again. Once again he had gone beyond the capabilities of the normal person to do the impossible. But one thing was very clear to both of them. If either of them knew anything about the present Hokage, it was that, without a doubt, she would be a long time in letting that particular ninja out of her sight, let alone out of the village. Everyone who knew the pair, knew that the Hokage held a connection to Naruto that was usually only shared by sole mates or by parents to their children.
As they walked they picked up on a large mass of chakra signatures moving quickly in the direction they had just come. Both pushed aside the questions raised by their visit and hurried to where they had left their friends a few hours earlier. Whatever was going to happen they knew without any doubt if they were left out of it the rest of the group would never forgive them.
At the cabin, Naruto went inside to change into his practice clothes. He changed quickly and was just walking out the door when several Anbu landed in the yard. Two broke off from the main group and pushed him back inside as the rest took up defensive positions around the cabin. They were the protective detail Tsunade had assigned to guard him while he recovered.
The two that had pushed him inside took a ready stance in front of him as they motioned for him to be ready for anything. Outside he could hear the sound of fighting. Swords and kunai clashed with the loud ring of metal on metal and every once in awhile someone would scream out in pain. Naruto dropped his head in sorrow. He had hoped to be able to just stay quietly until it was time for the battle but it looked like someone had found him and his peace was to be interrupted. He debated whether or not to go out and join the battle. His new found techniques weren't really meant to be used on mere mortals but he did still know his old techniques he had learned when he was just another ninja of the leaf. He just couldn't stand by and allow the invaders to hurt and possibly kill his precious people.
He centered his consciousness inside his mind where Kami had left a small part of himself. Without words, Kami reassured him that this was not a battle he was to fight. So, as much as he longed to protect them, he did not go outside.
Outside on the battlefield, he felt Tsunade pop in. One of Kami's gifts to him was the ability to separate chakra signatures into individual people. If he knew the person who's signature it was he could identify exactly who was nearby but no matter how many signatures there were he could count each one. From the various chakra signatures he was picking up, he could tell she did not come alone. She had company in the form of Gaara, Jiraiya, and the Hyuugas. Though the defenders were still out-numbered, Naruto smiled and sat down to listen, sure now that the battle would result in victory for his friends. Two legendary Sennin against a bunch of semi-trained thugs. He almost chuckled at the thought of Tsunade baa-chan having to heal up tomorrow the injuries she caused today. He could hear her blasting away at each of the attackers as she sewed up their wounds and fixed their internal booboos.
Outside the newcomers surrounded the uninvited guests. Tsunade and Jiraiya took up opposing positions as the Hyuuga pair stood side by side and Gaara just stood patiently off to the side. Tsunade invited the invaders to leave before more of them ended up in the hospital.
Koharu, from the council, looked around at the opposing force and her own forces before she sneered and said, "We are not leaving so long as that traitor is roaming free. When he is in chains and on his way to the prison where he belongs, we will leave. We know the beast is working for someone else and we will find out what he knows before we execute him. You have overstepped your bounds, Tsunade. We will correct your mistake now."
"So you are the traitor I have been looking for. It is you who have overstepped your bounds, Koharu. This cabin is private property and, if you didn't notice, not actually within the bounds of Konoha proper. But even if it was, you would still be outside of your authority in calling for his imprisonment. Only I have the right to declare one of my nins a traitor. I declare Naruto is not a traitor to a village that sent him out on a mission and left him for dead without bothering to check his condition first."
"You are the one that sent him on that mission," answered the crafty old woman.
"Though I may have sent him on the mission, I did NOT order him to be left behind. Nor would I have ever ordered it. Even deceased, he needed, and deserved, to be returned here. However, I am not surprised to find you would not have thought things through. You always were short-sighted when your emotions are involved."
"I am neither short-sighted nor emotionally involved in this situation," snapped Koharu. "And just what do you mean he needed to be returned here?"
"Oh really? Since when? Or are you going to try and tell me you aren't still having nightmares of your grandchildren that you in your own fear caused the death of during the Kyuubi attack. You were so scared of dying you left them to fend for themselves as you stuffed yourself into their hiding spot. A house collasped on top of them and buried them beneath the rubble. They died in agony and you still hear their screams in your sleep. Or are you going to deny it now? Are you honestly going to stand there and tell me that isn't what you really want to punish Naruto for? The death of your own grandchildren. He didn't kill them and you know it. Even Kyuubi didn't kill them though the demon did knock over the building that fell on them. You killed them by pushing them out of their hiding spot to take it for yourself." Tsunade had never liked Koharu and it showed in the tone of the words she flung at the feeble looking old woman. Koharu had always suffered from a massive superiority complex and blamed others whenever she failed at anything. That her grandchildren had died in the attack was something she had always blamed on Naruto though there was no way in hell he was to blame.
Koharu hid her rage at the reminder of her old wound. With some difficulty she pushed theimages of her mangled grandchildren from her mind and concentrated on the situation at hand. "If he is not a traitor, then where has he been for the last six years? We know he has been in another village and now he is back as an agent for them intent on finding out our strengths and weaknesses in order to assure that village victory over us. Do not deny it. Before he dies, we will find out who he is working for and what their plans are." She gave Tsunade a small quirk of the lips that was supposed to be a smile before continuing. "If you will not hand him over to the proper forum of justice, then I must conclude that you are in cahoots with him. Be careful you don't topple yourself for such a one as him,"sneered Koharu. "Lie down with Demons, wake up in Hell. Arrest the Hokage on charges of suspected traitorism also."
"And just which village would he have gone to? Suna is the only village that would have welcomed him and you know it. Gaara would have let us know immediately if Naruto had shown up in his village."
"I do not know and that is why he must stand trail for his behavior. Six years is a long time to be gone and you can not deny the beast has changed his ways. He is not the same as he was and I wish to know why," said Homura, deciding to try and get the conflict resolved without any more bloodshed. "I am not saying he has betrayed Konoha, Hokage-sama. Just that he has been gone for too long not to keep that possibility in mind. If he is truly innocent, then of course, he will be welcomed back. I am curious though, as to why you say he needed to be brought back even if he had died on the battlefield."
"Like he was ever really welcome in Konoha," whispered Hinata just loud enough for her father to hear. The two Hyuugas were standing in defense positions next to each other so as to be able to lend a helping hand to whichever one came under attack. Her Father smirked and whispered back, "There is virtually no possibility of them finding Naruto innocent either. For too long they have been seeking his death for that to happen."
"It's simple really. For two people who grew up with The Professor I am surprised at how little the two of you are able to see. Sensei would be very disappointed in the both of you. Naruto has the king of all the Demons sealed inside his naval. It never once occurred to either of you that the demon might not follow Naruto into death right away and that there might have actually been time for someone to extract the demon from him as he lay dead upon the field unable to stop them. At the very least his corpse should have been destroyed there and then if Kakashi had truly believed him to be dead, though I am glad he wasn't," said Jiraiya.
Two more chakra signatures flared into the small clearing as Kakashi showed up with Anko. He looked at Koharu and then at Homura and finally at Danzo, the final member of the council who desired Naruto's death. He said, in a quiet voice, "As for why he stayed away for so long, it was because he had no choice. He was in no condition to return, not that you three would have welcomed his return anyway. But just as you claimed Sasuke was not a traitor, I will claim Naruto is not either. At least, Naruto didn't leave to go train with an enemy of the village. He was abandoned as you ordered. I should know. I left him there as I was ordered to. When you gave me my orders, Danzo, you didn't care that he might wind up in another village. You didn't even care if he was healthy enough to be of a benefit to another village. You just wanted him gone from the Leaf since Hokage-sama would not give him to you to train as a weapon."
"And you failed. He's come back and now it'll be worse for the tree that is Konoha. I thought you had the good sense to make sure he was dead before you left him behind. Or at least so close to it there was no chance of his return but here he is. Alive and well, from what I can tell. If I can not control the weapon that is the jincuuriiki then it must be destroyed and those who protect it as well. Now die!" Danzo lunged at Kakashi but was cut down from the side as the Anbu had been waiting for just that move.
With blood leaking from his side, Danzo backed off as Kakashi drew a deep breath and said, "Since Naruto returned in the horrible shape he was in I have had plenty of time to think. To think about what I did and didn't do. To think about what I believed and why. About how I have failed both my team and my Sensei. I have come to see that he never did half the things I thought he did. I saw Naruto as weak and unfit to be a ninja. As nothing more than a bully picking on good ninja and trying to cause them harm but that wasn't what he was doing at all. He fought with Sasuke all the time but Sasuke enjoyed those fights and looking back I can see that with every battle Sasuke improved. Most of the time Naruto lost those battles because he would stop when Sasuke ran out of chakra. Naruto didn't need to rest but Sasuke did. I disregarded my best student to shore up my most fragile." He stopped speaking to look the old warhorse in the eye before continuing, "You have done the same thing. To shore up the weaker roots of the tree, you will destroy the strongest one. But don't you know the tree will die if you cut away it's strongest root? If you try to take him from here, I guarantee I will make sure it is not easy for you to do."
"I thought you understood, Hatake," said Danzo.
"I understand perfectly now. Like I said I've had time to think things through. You spent years telling me he was responsible for my sensei's death and for Jiraiya being away from Konoha. That was a lie but you're good at lying. Naruto was not in any way responsible for Yondaime's death. A mere baby of less than a day is never responsible for the death of anyone or anything. Yondaime-Sensei chose his fate and Naruto's as well. Naruto is the one who had no choice in the matter. I can't believe I was ever so stupid not to see that. It was just his bad luck to be born that day."
"Me either," muttered Anko beside him to the comment about his stupidity.
"Bad luck. Ha ha ha. I like that. He was forced into being born that day. He was taken from his mother's womb so that he could be the container for the Kyuubi Demon. The Yondaime was so full of himself that he refused to believe any other child could possibly be suitable. So he forced his own son into being born two weeks ahead of schedule just to confine the Demon. From the moment of his demise the Yondaime's son should have been turned over to me so I could mold him into the perfect weapon to defend this village and lead it to the glory it has always deserved but no the Hokages had to get in the way. First that old fool who refused to see the container as anything different than a normal child and then this foolish soft woman who never should have become Hokage. Now it is too late to mold his character and so he needs to be destroyed as all failed weapons should be." Finished speaking, Danzo snapped his fingers and members of his ROOT organization poofed into existence around the cabin. They immediately went on the attack.
With the admission from Danzo, the defenders fought back and the three council members ran for cover to await the victor. Only Homura hung his head in saddness. He had truly hoped the situation could be resolved without confict that would result in death and bloodshed. But as feet and fist flew every which way, blood dotted the ground as knuckles and weapons connected. People dropped down and stayed down bleeding from holes they shouldn't have and the council members, so brave mere moments before, cowered.
Just when they were sure Danzo's group would win, suddenly in the middle of the mess, new people poofed into the small yard. Shino and Shikamaru had returned with the Rookie Nine and although they didn't know what was going on they knew a fight inside Konoha wasn't a good thing. But being the Rookie nine plus six they really didn't care either. They all loved a good fight and this promised to be one of the best. They jumped right into the heat of the battle and started laying low any all comers they didn't recognize as friends of their blonde-headed friend. Shikamaru grabbed an unlikely fighter in his shadow bind as Choji waded in to bonk him over the head. Ino switched minds with another and held them for Choji also. He waded over and gave a giant sized one finger salute to the unlucky nin. Then he tapped her on the head and said, "Nitey nite" as she passed out.
Tenten was handing out her weapons to all those who'd run out on Naruto's side. And when she saw a nin take the kunai she'd just handed her and turn to slash at another in the line, she turned to the closest ninja she knew was on Naruto's side and said, "This one's not ours?"
The Anbu standing next to her shook her head and before the hidden Root nin could blink Tenten had snatched back her kunai and twirled it to plant the pointy end in the girl's mid-drift. "Don't get grabby with other people's toys, Yitch," she said as she watched the hapless girl slide to the ground.
Similar battles were going on all around the outside of the small cabin as members of the Rookie nine and the rest of Naruto's friends tried to show their support. Anbu squared off against Root and the Rookie Nine pitched in where they could while Tsunade's group took up defensive positions in front and behind the cabin. They kept anyone from diving inside the cabin. The Anbu and the Rookies were throwing kunai and shuriken at their opponents while the Root people were trying their best to use taijutsu in the small yard. The sheer number of combatants made it near impossible and the only one having any fun in the Taijutsu battle was Lee. He was having the time of his life as he jumped and twisted, kicked and dove, punched and bent in nearly every direction all at the same time. He loved the sheer volume of his enemies and he kept trying to exhort them to greater efforts in order to give him a good workout. His loud cheery voice rang over the battlefield until everyone- - from both sides- - was begging him to shut up. But what no one knew was Naruto had already left with his two guards. As soon as Danzo had summoned his troops Naruto had laid a hand on each Anbu's shoulder and poofed them all away to his favorite training grounds across town.
Naruto spent hours practicing his moves and waiting for things to clear. He knew Tsunade and Jiraiya would take care of it but he also knew he would not be going back to the cabin. It was no longer safe for him. Too many people knew where he was so Tsunade would have to find him a new place to wait. He just hoped it would still be close enough to Konoha for him to win the upcoming confrontation. For now, he just waited at the training field for Tsunade to show up or some other indication that the battle was over. The two Anbu who had come with him stood guard at the edge of the field keeping a wary eye on the people coming and going about their business beyond the boundaries of the field. Not for one minute did they believe the fighters at the cabin were the only ones to wish their Primary harm. They kept one hand on their weapon pouches as they waited for an attack to come.
Author Note: Ok Finally this chapter draws to a close. I thought it never would. This was definitely the chapter that just went on and on and on. But I hope it satisfies though I doubt it is as good as my previous chapters. Somehow, writing this chapter, I just never could get all the information in that I wanted to in a way that made sense and fit with the outline for the battle. I know new questions have been raised and they will be answered in latter chapters. Be assured the story is only approaching the midway point. There's lots more to come. Hope you enjoy and don't forget to review. (Those reviews really do help me to know what questions you as the reader have and to satisfy your thirst for knowledge. lol) Mother Rose